Synopsis of Thank You Providence
Written by TK
Syd is driving through heavy fog with her mom and she's lost. Her mother tells her to just look for the big billboard. She sees the billboard, and it's a happy picture of her family with the Thanksgiving turkey, but she's not in it. Even her mother's in it. She doesn't understand what it means, but her mother says that she will. They arrive at the Hansen house, and it's like a big movie opening, with a crowd outside and a red carpet leading up to the front door and big lights and cop car keeping things in order. Syd and her mom go up to the guard at the front and Lynda identifies herself and gets a ticket to go in. Syd identifies herself and automatically gets scorn from the guard, who says that she moved to California and is no longer welcome at the Hansen Thanksgiving. Lynda leaves her eldest daughter on the sidewalk and joins her family (and the pope, and Bill and Hillary Clinton) for Thanksgiving. Syd wakes from her dream tangled in her sheets in frustration.
The whole family is in the kitchen working on Thanksgiving plans when Syd comes down. They have decided to do Thanksgiving at home this year rather than going to a country inn for dinner like they have in the past. Robbie's doing wine, Joanie's doing turkey, and Jim is worrying about the fixings. Syd asks what her job is. Joanie says she thought Syd might do dessert. The phone rings. It's Syd's ex-boyfriend Jerry from California. He says he has a child actor who was terribly disfigured in a car accident and he wants to fly Syd out to do his plastic surgery. Syd reluctantly agrees, and then apologizes to her family for cutting out on the Thanksgiving shopping and all. They're very understanding, although Robbie does make a crack about her deserting the family.
Jim sends Syd off in a taxi to the airport. The taxi driver, trying to be friendly, asks Syd if she's going home for Thanksgiving, and she regretfully admits that she's actually leaving home.
As Jim is walking back into the house a priest, Father Duffy, drives up with his aging black Labrador named Pete. He apologizes for bother Jim on a Saturday, but Pete hasn't been himself lately. He brags about how Pete is such a great dog normally, and he even helped him find a hat that he lost a few days ago. Jim is very accomodating, and says he'd be happy to look at Pete. Father Duffy heads for the rectory where he's meeting his new assistant, a guy from Chicago who is just two years out of seminary school.
At the Barkery, a precocious girl named Frances Carlyle introduces herself to Joanie and asks if Joanie might be interested in sponsoring her effort to feed dogs on Thanksgiving at a local dog shelter. Joanie is impressed by the young girl and agrees to give her a discount on purchases from the Barkery in exchange for promotion. Joanie specifically says she doesn't want to have to go to the pound herself though because she hates the pound. Frances totally understands.
Syd arrives in California and walks into her room at the Ritz only to be greeted by Jerry. Jerry introduces her to Cameron Kent, the not-so-young child actor he was talking about whose face is near perfect and just has a little scratch. Jerry really wanted Syd to come do some totally superfluous surgery and give the actor a new chin. Syd is disgusted and kicks them both out of her hotel room, saying she's booking the next flight back to Providence.
Robbie is gossiping with a friend at work when a slightly rude guy demands service at the other end of the bar. He walks over and realizes that he recognizes the guy as an old pal named Tom Cromwell. He asks Tom where he's been and Tom says he went down to Mardi Gras one year and just fell in love with New Orleans and never left. He's now in the historic re-enactment business, and is making mad money. He's back in town because he's doing a re-enactment of the first Thanksgiving in New England here in Providence. When the pretty blonde he's there to meet shows up, he tells Robbie to call him at the Biltmore if he wants to get together later and walks off, leaving a fifty dollar bill on the table.
Syd is downstairs at the hotel concierge booking the next available flight for Providence. Unfortunately, due to the holiday season, the next available flight leaves tomorrow and goes through Denver. Syd books it. An elderly yet elegant woman stops Syd, introduces herself as Rose, and says that she's originally from Providence. She says she recognizes Syd's name, and with a fair amount of help gets her parents' names. She flatters Syd to within an inch of her life, and jokes that she herself never had Syd's beauty but had the next best thing: money. She basically insists that Syd join her for dinner, and at dinner spins a tale of leaving Providence, re-inventing herself in Pasadena, getting married, having kids, and now her husband's dead and her kids live in Europe. She says she's at the hotel because she's currently renovating her home. At the end of the meal she excuses herself to the powder room, but Syd finds out from the waiter that she actually just snuck out the side door.
Syd gets on the plane and meets the friendly girl sitting next to her. They bond over the fact that mothers lay the best guilt trips and introduce themselves. Syd's new friend is Kathy Evans, and she's headed to Providence to have Thanksgiving with her dad.
It's Sunday morning, and Joanie is in the backyard eating brunch, hanging out with Hannah, and reading the Sunday paper. Robbie comes out, followed by Jim with Pete trotting at his heels. Jim explains that Pete is Father Duffy's dog, and Robbie assumes Jim is treating the dog on the weekend to get points with God. Joanie is disgusted with Robbie's attitude. Then Robbie launches into a diatribe on how he's not going anywhere in the bar business, and he's thinking he needs to kick his career up a notch. Joanie and Jim say that since it's Thanksgiving week, maybe Robbie should concentrate on being thankful for what he does have and not be so self-centered. Joanie gloats that she's helping feed homeless dogs on Thanksgiving. Syd calls and lets everyone know she's on a plane home earlier than planned since Jerry tricked her. Jim says perhaps they could then have Sunday dinner as a family. Joanie says she has to meet Frances at the Barkery, and Robbie says he'll be meeting Tom to talk about his career. Jim says it's a good thing Thanksgiving is coming up so they can actually have dinner as a family.
Syd and Kathy are still chatting in the plane. It turns out Kathy is pre-med in school, so Syd invites her to come check out the clinic while she's in Providence. Kathy would love to. The pilot announces that they're descending into Denver. Kathy looks out the window and sees a lot of snow.
Joanie meets with Frances at the Barkery. They chat about Hannah, Frances's little 2-year-old sibling, Frances's parents' divorce, and the fact that he father lives in Coral Gables now where Frances will spend Christmas. Then they get down to business. Since the dogs in the shelter only get one meal a day (moistened kibble in the morning), Frances figures she should give them late-night snacks. With the money already raised and some pledges she recently got, she can spend about three dollars per dog, so she and Joanie start looking through the Barkery menu book.
On the advice of an airline worker, Syd and Kathy decide to rent a car and drive to Kansas City to get out of the snow belt so that they can catch a flight to Providence, since it doesn't look like any planes will be leaving Denver anytime soon. Kathy stops at the restroom, and while Syd is waiting outside watching their bags, she runs into Rose. Rose apologizes for disappearing the night before, but there was an emergency at her house when a workman fell and hurt himself. She offers to write Syd a check for the dinner and Syd says it was her treat and not to worry about it. It turns out that Rose has made the spontaneous decision to fly to Providence, but she's also stuck in Denver, so Syd asks her to join them.
Robbie, dressed in a jacket and tie, meets Tom at the bar. Tom wanders in with the blonde on his arm, gives her a kiss, and then leaves her to join Robbie. Robbie chats him up a bit, and gives him the pitch that he is the banquet guy at O'Neal's, and he could help Tom with the food aspect of his latest project. Tom is impressed with Robbie's ambition, but says there isn't much money up front. Robbie eagerly says he'll work for free just for the experience. Tom welcomes him on board.
At the car rental place, the women are disappointed when the guy behind the counter says he's all out of cars. Syd insists there must be something. The guy says a car just came in from Boise, but it hasn't been serviced yet and they'd have to sign a waiver. They eagerly sign the waiver and go outside to the car. They pile in their luggage, pile in themselves, shake off the snow, and then Syd tries to start the car. It starts on the second try, and as they pull out, it backfires and slips in the snow.
Jim calls to tell Father Duffy that Pete check out just fine, and he can pick him up anytime. He leaves a message since Father Duffy is unavailable.
The women are driving along, they have left the snow behind. They pass woman with a broken down purple Cadillac who is waving at them for help. Kathy and Syd want to stop, but Rose doesn't because she says the woman could be a murderer or worse, a drug user. Syd overrules Rose and they stop. They meet Vonda, who was driving from Las Vegas to New York, but her crappy car broke down. She's happy to leave the car there and drive to the Kansas City airport with these women. She's crass and rude to Rose and insists on listening to Anita Baker.
Robbie is at Tom's office, and Tom is frustrated 'cause his turkey guy can only deliver in the morning and that means the turkey might be soggy. Robbie suggests portable ovens, and Tom is psyched and puts Robbie in charge of setting that up while he goes and finds an Abraham Lincoln. Tom runs off and Robbie is left wondering why he needs Abraham Lincoln for Thanksgiving. Tom's assistant tells Robbie that Lincoln was the president that made Thanksgiving an official U.S. holiday.
The women are still driving, listening to "Respect." Vonda is complaining about the state of Vegas and how it's becoming a family resort and it was time for her to get out. She says she's going to Brooklyn to see if any of her family will still speak to her. The women start talking about the difficulties of family until Rose chimes in that they should be greatful they have families since she doesn't. Syd reminds her of her kids in Europe, and Rose says she sometimes forgets they exist because they're so far away.
Frances and Joanie are meeting. Joanie kids her about her project and Frances shows that she's sensitive because the kids tease her. Joanie comforts her and shows her a new idea she had to give the dogs turkey and carrot casseroles in the shape of dog bones.
The driving women have stopped for dinner at a diner. Rose offers to drive if Syd is tired, but Syd says she's fine. Vonda jokes that if Rose drives she'll walk. Rose tells Vonda that she could offer to help. Vonda says she has an eye problem. Syd says she noticed and offers to look at it, but Vonda says it's fine. Rose offers to pay for dinner. Rose says that her traveling companions feel like daughters... if she had ever had any daughters. Vonda goes to the bathroom and stumbles a bit as she gets up from the table. Rose pays for dinner with a personal check. Syd calls her family to give them a travel update, and on her way to the bathroom bumps into Vonda who drops a syringe and a prescription bottle. She looks guiltily at Syd as she picks up her things and Syd doesn't say anything.
Jim wonders why he hasn't heard from Father Duffy, but he figures he'll keep Pete overnight and then bring him back to the priest in the morning.
Syd is driving and once again, Rose offers to drive. Syd says it's only another twenty minutes and she'll be fine, but if the women want to help keep her awake it's always welcome. They suggest car games, but no one is enthusiastic. Then Syd's mom comes up with the idea of singing. They sing along with "Respect." Suddenly Syd realizes that if her mother is here, she must be asleep, which means she's asleep at the wheel and is about to kill everyone. She freaks out and screams, awaking to flashing lights. It turns out she was sleeping in the passenger seat, Rose was driving, and they've been pulled over by a cop. Rose swears she wasn't speeding. It turns out that Rose has been using many aliases, and she's being arrested for passing bad checks.
Syd and Kathy decide to try to bail Rose out of jail. Vonda is against it but goes along with them.
Jim goes by the rectory to drop off Pete. A woman answers the door and brings Jim and Pete to where Father Duffy is sitting in the garden with a vacant look on his face. He doesn't recognize either Jim or Pete. The woman walks Jim back to his car, still with Pete in tow. She apologizes for not warning Jim about Father Duffy's Alzheimer's, it's just that he's been doing so well lately. He always gets worse around holidays. Father Duffy is being put in a home and he can't bring his dog, so he was hoping that Jim would find a good home for Pete. Jim says he'll take care of it.
Syd talks to Rose in jail. Rose admits that her husband dies, she has no kids, she had to sell their house to pay back taxes, and she's basically homeless and jobless and was only passing bad checks to survive. With the help of Vonda, who happens to have a fair amount of money, they bail Rose out and cut her a deal where she can pay back everyone that she stiffed in organized payments. They decide to drive all the way to Providence so that Rose can afford to come with them.
Robbie is doing a great job of managing the food people on the phone. Tom brings him along to the farm where he's holding the dinner, and introduces Robbie around as his right-hand man, saying if there are any problems people should talk to Robbie.
Joanie and Frances are making dog casseroles together. Joanie tells Frances how she learned to cook from her mom, and asks Frances if she hangs out with her mom. Frances says her step-father takes up most of her mom's time, but being involved with the dog pound helps because it makes her realize how much worse off those dogs are than her. Joanie is very impressed with Frances. They have a great time cooking together.
The women are entering Illinois, and Vonda talks about a great country bar that she went to there once where she got lucky. The women start joking around about men, and it turns out that all of them are currently single.
Joanie says she'll be closing the Barkery early tomorrow due to Thanksgiving, so they can start baking early. Frances says she needs to stop by the pound to make final arrangements, but then she'll be by to help. Joanie offers to give her a ride. Frances says she can take the bus since she knows that Joanie doesn't like the pound. Joanie says she'll just wait outside.
Syd and her new friends are at the country bar having a great time and dancing up a storm. Suddenly, Vonda faints on the dance floor.
Joanie comes into the kitchen carrying Hannah and a large grocery bag. She's finished all the shopping she needs to do for Thanksgiving dinner. Jim comes in and tells Joanie that he just talked to Syd and she said she'd be back in time for Thanksgiving dinner. Jim also tells Joanie about Father Duffy having Alzheimer's. Joanie says she's off to the pound with Frances. Jim is surprised she's going since she hates it there so much.
Vonda is in the hospital and Syd comes up to her bed. Syd says she sent their travelling companions to get Vonda some food so she doesn't have to eat hospital food. Syd encourages Vonda to confide to her as a doctor what's going on. Vonda doesn't want to talk about it, but insists that she's not a drug user. Syd says from her symptoms and the drugs that Vonda was taking she's guessing Multiple Sclerosis. Vonda admits that Syd is right. She was diagnosed four years ago, but only recently did the symptoms get bad enough that she had to give up dancing in Vegas. Kathy and Rose return with food for Vonda, and the four of them head back to the road.
Joanie and Frances go to the pound. When Frances goes in to visit with the dogs, Joanie stays outside with the Mr. Tillman who runs the place. Mr. Tillman tells Joanie how a few years ago, Frances had to bring her own dog to the pound. Her parents got it for her as a pup, but when it grew up they didn't want it anymore. Frances came to the pound every day to play with it until the day it was put down. Joanie is amazed at the story. Mr. Tillman goes on to say that ever since then Frances has spent a lot of time with the dogs in the pound, and constantly does stuff to make their lives better. Joanie decides to join Frances in with the dogs. Mr. Tillman says she'll be inside on the right, where the Thanksgiving 8 are. Mr. Tillman explains that the Thanksgiving 8 are the 8 dogs that were due to be put down today, but after Frances petitioned they were given a one day reprieve so that Frances could give them a last meal. Joanie is even more amazed, and joins Frances with the Thanksgiving 8. Frances knows them all by name, and they play with the dogs for awhile. While driving her home, Joanie asks Frances why she didn't tell her about her own dog before. Frances says honestly that it makes most people uncomfortable, so she doesn't talk about it.
The women are on the road again. They talk about how they can stop off in New York to drop of Vonda and then continue on to Providence. Vonda says not to bother, that she called her family in Brooklyn from the hospital and they definitely don't want to see her. The other women encourage her to come to Providence with them and she agrees. They sing along with "Respect" again.
Robbie and Tom are in the final planning stages for the re-enactment dinner. Tom tells Robbie that he's been doing a great job, and he'd like to talk to him about a long-term contract. Robbie is very psyched. Tom also tells Robbie that he'll be delayed during the actual dinner, and Robbie should just run things without him until he gets there. He also gives Robbie the keys to his Porsche... consider it a bonus.
Father Bell, the replacement priest, comes by the Hansen house and asks Jim if Father Duffy has been by. It seems that he wandered off and now no one can find him, and since Jim still has Pete they thought they'd check with him. Jim is concerned, but of course can't really help.
Syd calls from the motel they've stopped at and tells her family that she will definitely be home tomorrow in time for Thanksgiving dinner. She is reminded that she's supposed to bring dessert, so she starts looking up local bakeries in the phone book. Suddenly Kathy gets anxious and says she's going outside to use the pay phone (she wants privacy, so she won't use the motel room phone). She's going to call her dad. Syd sees she's upset and reassures her that everything will be okay with her mom. On her way out, Kathy snags the car keys off the table. Syd finds a bakery and looks for the car keys so she can drive to it and get some pies for dessert. She can't find the car keys. The women notice out the window that Kathy is driving away. They run out the door calling after her, but Kathy pulls out of the parking lot and drives away at high speed.
Joanie is working on the turkey and Jim comes into the kitchen. Robbie comes in with a case of wine and invites his family to the re-enactment that he's running. Neither Jim nor Joanie can make it, Jim because he's going to the rectory to check and see if Father Duffy has been found, and Joanie because she's off to the Barkery.
In the morning, Syd, Rose and Vonda are talking to the cops, trying to get them to look for Kathy. The cops say that unless they want to report the car actually stolen, there isn't much they can do. The women don't want to get Kathy into trouble. Suddenly, the phone rings. It's Kathy, and she tells her companions where she is. They grab a cab and go to meet her. She's pulled off on the side of a deserted road, leaning on the car and obviously still upset. She apologizes for her actions of the night before. She admits that she's actually never met her father before. She looked him up against her mother's wishes, because her mother claims that her father left them. She's spoken to her father on the phone, and he claims that it was her mother that took off on the marriage. She just really wants to meet him, but she's scared and the fact that her mother is so upset about it isn't helping. Syd and the others promise to help her through it, and they decide to get back on the road. They all pile into the car, and then suddenly Kathy realizes that the reason she stopped was because the car was out of gas. They all run after the taxi as it's pulling away.
Jim talks to Father Bell at the rectory and finds out that Father Duffy still hasn't been found. Jim says that Father Duffy used to walk down by the river with Pete, maybe they should go down there and look for him with Pete. Father Bell thinks that's a great idea.
Joanie and Frances feed the dogs at the pound, and as they're leaving, Frances mentions that she'll just be having leftovers for Thanksgiving because her mother went to spend the holiday with her step-father's family. Of course, Joanie invites the girl back to her place for dinner. Frances happily accepts.
Robbie is running the re-enactment. The food people arrive and ask for payment for the food. Robbie is surprised that it hasn't been paid for already. They delivery people say that they were told to get the check from Robert Hansen. Robbie says he doesn't have any checks.
Back on the road, the women figure that if they don't make any unscheduled stops, they'll still make Providence just in time for dinner. Suddenly there's a bang and the car starts smoking. They pull over. Syd calls AAA, but the guy she reaches doesn't know where they are. Meanwhile, Rose has been tinkering with the car and manages to fix their oil leak with some duct tape that Vonda has. They're off again!
Jim and Father Bell are wandering around looking for Father Duffy. They're about to give up hope when the realize they now don't know where Pete is either. They call out for the dog and hear barking. They follow the noise and find Pete and Father Duffy. Father Duffy is much more together now, and apologizes to Father Bell for greeting him out here in the woods. Father Bell tells Father Duffy that the older priest should continue to live with him at the rectory, and therefore can keep his dog. Jim, of course, invites both priests back to the Hansen household for Thanksgiving.
Joanie and Frances are in the kitchen, Frances basting the turkey. Frances is still lamenting the fact that the dogs will be put to sleep and there's nothing she can do about it. Joanie says that there will be no dogs put to sleep in Providence tonight!
Robbie is dealing with more bill collectors, and then finds out that Tom has left town. Just when he thinks things can't get worse, the cops show up.
Jim walks into the house with the two priests. Joanie is there with Frances and eight dogs, but the turkey has been burnt. Robbie comes home with 200 guests dressed like Pilgrims and Indians from the failed re-enactment.
Syd is driving into Providence, and all her passengers are asleep. Kathy wakes up and then wakes up the other two women in the back seat to show them the beautiful city of Providence. Their first stop is Kathy's dad's house. She bids a tearful farewell to her travelling companions. Meanwhile, the folks in the house have spotted her outside and her father comes out onto the porch. Syd and her friends are pleased to the see the father and daughter embrace. As they're driving away, Rose and Vonda say to just drop them at the nearest hotel. Syd insists they come home with her and stay in the guest house for a few days while they figure out what to do with their lives. As they walk up to the front door of the brightly lit Hansen house, Syd realizes she forgot her keys so she knocks. Frances opens the door and brings them into the madhouse. Syd is bewildered, and Frances directs her towards her family in the kitchen while she takes Rose and Vonda off through the sea of Pilgrims and Indians to get them some food. Syd walks into the kitchen to find Joanie, Jim and Robbie sitting around with the eight dogs. They give her a brief synopsis of what happened while she was out of town, and Syd admits that she didn't manage to get the dessert. Joanie laughs saying that she burnt the turkey, and Jim says he got so tied up that he completely forgot about the fixings. Robbie pats himself on the back and hands out a glass of wine to each member of the family. They toast their crazy new Thanksgiving tradition.
Syd goes upstairs to her room and collapses on her bed. Her mother is sitting on a chair eating a plate of leftovers, saying that this is her favorite part of Thanksgiving. Lynda shows Syd the billboard outside her window: Syd is now in her family picture.
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