Mike Senior has just arrived at his son's home for Thanksgiving, but his son isn't there yet. Senior talks to his grandson and daughter-in-law, then chats with Junior once he makes it in. Junior is dour and continually brings up deaths in the family and his unhappiness about his wood stove. Senior is surprised. At dinner, there isn't a turkey but a pan of lasagna. Junior brazenly tells his son that they are too poor for a turkey and that Shawn, his son, needs to learn that now. Senior is perplexed and upset that they couldn't even say grace. After dinner, the men go outside to get more wood for the stove. Junior makes Shawn carry everything — chainsaw, oil, rags, and axe — so that he can learn hard work. At the dead tree they plan to chop up, Junior's chainsaw breaks. Junior is bitter, even more so when his axe gets stuck in the trunk. He yells at Shawn for not getting enough kindling and shatters his axe as he chops at the tree with all his might. Senior doesn't know what to do about this. Junior runs off to the nearby lake as the sun sets, and Shawn reappears with more wood. Once everyone is back, they head home.