Chocolate Cokes

Chocolate Cokes is a comedy about knowing who you are. Al Magistra is a widower, a father of four children, and the owner of a clothing store. He rules his life and those about him with an iron hand. He's a first-generation Italian American - and there's a strong element of ethnicity to what transpires. He revels in the sameness of his life - and in the comfort it brings. Then one day at lunch, something happens. Al is, as always, holding court with his friend Joe Gillini and his head clerk Nina Buonfigolla. Joe's life is messed up: he's in debt, his wife is unfaithful, his son is in jail. Nina, in contrast, presents a cool exterior. Then Al's son, Jim, who is "away at college" - just a ten-minute walk from the store - arrives with a girlfriend: Sally Burns from Montana. Jim went away to college to meet different kinds of people. Sally, who is actually half Italian, came east to meet some Italian boys. Learning this causes Jim "to explode." And as everyone joins in the debate - and in all manner of side debates - each person is forced to learn who they really are. Al and Nina - are right there for each other, but Al, as Nina says, seems intent on throwing away happiness with both hands. Joe has scheme after scheme to make money and straighten out his life - from becoming a priest to baking bread for sale; and it takes an insight from Sally to provide the solution. Jim almost throws it all away, but Nina sets him straight. And Al and his son can't seem to connect - until Al reveals the reason he drinks Coca-Cola mixed with chocolate syrup.