Opening Montage
Song: "Tik Tok" by Ke$ha
We see Quinn wake up in the morning. Next, we see her emerge from a house with Jim. They jump into a Silver Camaro SS and race down the street. This is followed by a shot of Quinn and Jim fawning over Chuck and Stacy's baby. Next, a shot of Kevin trying to mow his lawn while talking to Quinn and Jim. Pan out to reveal that he has accidentally mowed down Brittany's rose bush. Next, we see Sandi at a restaurant with a girl. They look like they're more than just friends. Cut to a shot of Helen telling off Eric. Next, Daria and a guy on a double-date with Quinn and Jim. Finally, we see the new Camaro pull up to the house as Quinn and Jim walk in. Once the door closes cut to Quinn's smiling face in a circle with a pink background. Below that...
Quinn
in
"Helen's Odyssey"
Story by
WildDogJJ
Law Offices of Vitale, Davis, Horowitz, Riordin, Schrecter, Schrecter, Schrecter and Morgendorffer...
Helen is seated at her desk and looks miserable. She's alone with her thoughts..
How did I get to this? My lifelong dream of making partner has turned into a nightmare.
She shakes her head.
It wasn't my lifelong dream. I became a lawyer because I wanted to champion justice.
She thinks back to the day she and Jake left the commune. They wanted to change the world but now, thirty-seven years later, she's haunted by the words of her friend, Sunflower...
"You won't change the system, it'll change you."
Helen now knows that Sunflower was right. Her reflection is interrupted by the sound of her intercom going off. Helen presses the talk button.
"Yes?"
Over the intercom Marianne said "Helen, someone wants to see you."
Helen rolled her eyes.
"Tell them they need to make an appointment."
Without pause Marianne said "It's Mary Bailey."
Helen's eyes go wide.
"As in chairwoman of the New Jersey Bar Association!?"
"Yes."
Helen knew this was serious.
"Send her in."
A moment later the woman enters. Mary Bailey is a sixty-something woman in a business suit whose gray hair is in a bun that, combined with the business suit, gives her a stately bearing. Helen walks up to her and shakes her hand.
"Mrs. Bailey, how are you? Please, have a seat."
Mary said "Thank you, Helen. And please, call me Mary."
Mary sits in front of Helen's desk while Helen takes her seat behind it.
"What can I do for you, Mary?"
Without preamble, Mary said "Helen, I understand that since you made partner you've been trying to institute positive changes at this firm."
Helen said "Yes."
Mary asked "Off the record, how's that going?"
Helen frowned.
"Not so well, I'm afraid. A culture of loose ethics and sexism is so deeply entrenched here that change is impossible."
Mary explained "I'll get right to the point, Helen. One of my colleagues is retiring from the bar. I want to bring in people who will tenaciously enforce ethics. Based on your professional record you are just the person to do that."
Helen's jaw dropped.
"Are...Are you offering me a job?"
Mary nods.
Morgendorffer House, that evening...
Jake, Helen and Daria are seated at the kitchen table. Quinn and Jim are visiting and have decided to stay for dinner. Quinn is talking about her and Jim's upcoming wedding.
"So we decided for a honeymoon we'd go to Hawaii. A romantic getaway on an island paradise."
Nodding, Jim said "I couldn't agree more."
Quinn asked her parents "What do you guys think?"
Jake said "Sounds fun. After all, Helen and I didn't even get to take a honeymoon."
Helen said nothing but looked like she was a million miles away, which everyone noticed. Concerned, Quinn asked "Mom, are you okay?"
Helen comes out of her thoughts.
"Oh...Um..I'm sorry, could you repeat the question."
Worried, Quinn said "I asked if you were okay. Is something wrong?"
Nervous, Helen said "No. Why would you think something's wrong?"
Daria chimed in with "Because the last time you were this detached from a dinner conversation was when you were still doing ninety-hour workweeks at the firm."
Helen said nothing but sighed. Quinn eyes her mother with suspicion.
The Morgendorffer dinning room, some time later...
Helen is going over legal briefs. She is deep in thought.
We're defending an investment bank that's being sued for mismanaging funds and raiding it's employees pension fund to pay for private jets for it's executives. Fortunately, I've found a loophole that ensures we win that case.
Helen frowns.
God, what have I become?
It's at this moment that Quinn enters.
"Mom?"
Helen looks up and sees her daughter.
"Yes, Quinn?"
Quinn sits down next to Helen.
"Mom, something's on your mind. I can tell."
Helen said "I'm feeling dissatisfied with my job again."
Quinn said "I figured it was something like that."
Helen said "I remember why I wanted to practice law in the beginning. I wanted to help change the world for the better by helping the little guy. Instead, I'm helping corporations screw the little guy over."
Quinn said "Mom, it can't be that bad."
Helen said "Our latest case. If we win a lot of people will lose their jobs and their life savings."
Quinn said "Okay, it is that bad. Remember that conversation we had last year, when we were trying to get Grandma Emma to accept the fact that she was broke?"
Helen nods.
Quinn went on "I said that if you were so unhappy you should consider an opportunity to leave."
Now, Helen looks thoughtful.
Oakland, CA 1974...
Jake and Helen are sitting in a small, sparsley furnaced apartment. They still look like they do in most flashbacks to their hippie days. Helen asked Jake "How was work today, Jake?"
Jake said "Terrible. Working as a gopher for a marketing manager at a radio station isn't what I had in mind for post college life."
Helen sighed.
"Jake, you're not thinking long term. By learning how business works now you're placing yourself in a position to change it as you move up."
Jake looks thoughtful.
"You know, Helen, you're right. At least we haven't sold out. I wish I could do a better job keeping my eyes on the prize. But enough about me. How was your day?"
Helen said "I got the results of my LSAT today. I passed. In fact, I scored higher than anyone else."
Jake's eyes lit up as he said "Wonderful. Now you can go to law school, become a lawyer and really shake up the system."
Helen looks doubtful.
"Actually, Jake, that'll have to wait until we've saved enough money to pay for it."
Jake frowns.
"It would've been free eight years ago."
He shakes his fist.
"Damn you, Governor Reagan!"
Helen agrees "If it were up to that facist women would never leave the kitchen and black people would be back on the plantations."
Jake said "Damn straight!"
Helen said "It doesn't change the fact that we need a way to pay for law school."
Jake asked "How? We barely make enough to get by as it is."
Helen said "I've figured that if I put money aside then by this time next year we can afford it."
Jake said "Great thinking, Helen."
They kiss.
Morgendorffer house, 2010...
Helen is telling Quinn the story. She said "It didn't work out that way, though."
Quinn asked "How come?"
Williamsburg, VA January, 1975...
Music: "Get Down Tonight" by KC And The Sunshine Band
It's the wedding of Rita Barksdale and Bruce Chambers. The reception is at the ballroom of an exclusive country club. There's a DJ, the dance floor has multi-colored lights that change in time with the music and there's a huge disco ball hanging from the ceiling. Everyone is dancing and having a wonderful time, except Helen. She and Jake are sitting at a table. Jake is nervous because Helen is furious. Helen's anger is due mostly to the gaudy, outrageously expensive ceremony that she knew Rita didn't pay a penny for. Helen grunted "So, Rita gets spoiled again. This wedding defintely cost my parents a fortune."
At this point they are approached by Helen's parents, Emma and Richard. Richard immediately notices that his daughter is upset.
"What's the matter, cupcake?"
Smiling, Helen said "Oh, nothing Daddy. Just wondering how much this wedding cost, that's all."
Emma glared at her daughter and Jake with very obvious contempt. She said "Still living in sin, I see."
Richard tries to defuse the situation.
"Now, Emma..."
"I'm only saying that if they want to live together they should get married. It's the right thing to do."
Richard said "But, Emma..."
The death glare from his wife immediately shuts Richard up. This conversation plus the wedding have now awoken Helen's competitive instincts.
"For your information, Mother," she said, the word mother sounding especially harsh, "Jake and I are getting married."
Jake has a surprised look on his face while Emma clearly isn't buying it.
"When?" Emma asked in an accusing tone.
Unwilling to give an inch, Helen said "June 26."
Emma asked "Jake, is this true?"
Helen kicks Jake under the table. Jake's reaction...
"Er...It sure is."
Emma chooses to believe them.
"Humph, Very well!"
Richard shakes Jake's hand.
"Congratulations, Jake."
Nervous, Jake said "Uh, Thanks."
With that, Richard and Emma walk away. Once they're gone, Jake turns to Helen.
"Helen, I thought we'd agreed that marriage is a pointless institution that perpetuates the patriarchy?"
Crossing her arms, Helen said "I've changed my mind."
Jake gulps.
Morgendorffer house, 2010...
Helen is telling the story to Quinn. She said "That's how it went down. Not much of a proposal. When my mother refused to pay for either the wedding or the honeymoon we had to dip into my savings."
Quinn asked "How did you pay for law school?"
Helen said "I took out a student loan. At least your father and I got the kind of wedding we wanted out of it."
A Beach in northern California, June 26, 1975...
Music: "More Than A Feeling" by Boston
Helen: (VO from 2010) "Six months later, your father and I got married. It was a simple ceremony, but not without it's problems."
A bunch of people are gathered for the makeshift ceremony. One of Helen and Jake's old commune mates, Tempest, is talking with Helen.
Helen said "Thanks for doing this, Tempest."
Tempest said "Actually, I'm going by Cheryl now. And my pleasure. We can hold true to our ideals and , since I'm now a licensed notary, it's just as legal and valid as a bougois traditional wedding."
Jake, meanwhile is greeting guests. He is approached by his mother, Ruth, and his older sister, Eve. Eve looks like Daria, only taller and without glasses. Mad Dog is absent. Jake hugs them both.
"Mom, Eve, how are you?"
Ruth said "We're good, Jakey."
Jake notices that Mad Dog isn't there.
"Where's Dad?"
Ruth and Eve both look nervous. Eve said "Um...Well...You see..."
Ruth said "You're father couldn't come. He said the dog needs it's nails clipped."
Unconvincing, Eve said "He wished you a happy wedding, though."
Jake looks like he was just punched in the gut. "Fine!" he bitterly uttered before shuffling off. Once he was gone, Eve asked "Mom, I know Dad holds a grudge, but isn't this extreme?"
Ruth said "It's better if Jake doesn't know the real reason your father didn't want to be here."
Eve said "He still blames Helen for turning Jake into a hippie, doesn't he?"
Ruth nodded. Meanwhile, Emma and Richard have overheard this conversation. Emma is particularly offended.
"That psychopath wouldn't even come to his own son's wedding!? How incredably rude!"
Richard tries to calm his wife down.
"Now, Emma..."
"How dare that man snub the house of Barksdale!"
Morgendorffer house, 2010...
Helen continues to tell Quinn the story.
"Your father and grandfather never got a chance to make up. Less than two months later Grandpa Adam was dead."
Quinn looks saddened by this.
"He sounds like Jim's father."
Helen said "Jake's father and Tony are mirror reflections of each other."
Quinn said "Tell me about it."
Helen went on "That fall I started law school. Three years later I graduated with a massive student loan debt. I had to take the first job I was offered. That's how we wound up in Highland."
Oakland California, 1978...
Helen and Jake are arguing. Helen said "Jake, I'm fresh out of law school with a huge debt to pay. I have to take this job."
Jake whined "But, Helen, I don't wanna move to Texas. I just got promoted at the radio station."
Helen barked "Dammit, Jake, this is my opportunity. Once I pay back those student loans we'll finally be in a position to make a positive impact on the world."
Jake exclaimed "IN TEXAS!?"
Helen said "Jake, we need to do this."
Jake barked "No, Helen, you do!"
Helen looks like a deer caught in headlights.
"Jake, wh...what are you saying?"
Jake said "I'm saying that I'm not moving to Highland, Texas. You wanna go to a backwards hick town you're going without me!"
Angry, Helen said "FINE!"
She walks away from Jake in a huff.
Helen: (VO from 2010) "The next few weeks were awkward as we both refused to give an inch. I moved to Highland while your father stayed in California. We were only seperated for a week, though."
Highland, TX 1978...
Music: "Big Shot" by Billy Joel
Helen is driving home from work. She's deep in thought.
I miss Jake. Why can't he understand what an improtant opportunity this is for me?
Helen frowns.
Then again, was it fair to ask him to put his life on hold just so I can pay off my student loans?
Helen pulls into the parking lot of her apartment complex. She's surprised to find Jake sitting on a curb waiting for her. She parks her car and walks toward him.
"Jake, what are you doing here?"
Jake said "I missed you, Helen. After you left, I did some serious thinking. I realized that I was starting to turn into one of the fat cats we're rebelling against. At least you're trying to make a change in the world."
Helen said "Yeah, although I'm not having an impact."
Jake said "Well, I decided to ask myself what's more important, my career or you. I decided the answer is you. I'm sorry, Helen, and I love you."
Tears of joy form on Helen's face.
"Oh, Jakey!"
They hug.
Morgendorffer house, Lawndale, 2010...
Helen is still telling the story to Quinn.
"So, your father and I made up."
Smiling, Quinn said "Mom, that's so sweet."
Helen sighs and looks sad.
"It turned out to be the beginning of the end for both of our ideals, though. Over the next five years, your father and I sold out even more and more. Eventually, I became a workoholic while your father, after years of bouncing from one job to another, finally took one he couldn't stand just for the money. We just compromised more and more. Sometimes, we compromised out of necessity, but other times we compromised because we wanted more money and more stuff. We had you and Daria. We wanted to provide you both with a decent standard of living and couldn't keep to our ideals whiles doing it. Eventually, your father and I lost interest in changing the world but by then it was the eighties so no one noticed. We became so caught up in the Reagan era culture of materialism that there was no going back."
Highland, TX 1983...
Music: "Eighties" by Killing Joke
Jake and Helen, with a 21 month old Daria and 6 month old Quinn, are being shown a house. The realtor looks like a young Peggy Hill. The realtor said "...so, as you can see, this house is a real bargain."
Helen asked "What do you think, Jake?"
Smiling, Jake said "It's perfect."
The realtor asked "So, you'll take it?"
Helen said "Of course we will, Mrs. Hill."
Jake said "It's a lot roomier than that cramped apartment. And in a much nicer neighborhood, too."
Mrs. Hill said "Perfect for your two little bundles of joy."
Helen said "Tell me, Mrs. Hill, do you have children?"
With a sigh, Mrs. Hill said "No. My husband and I have been trying to conceive, but it's tough going." Whispering in Helen's ear, she added "He has a narrow urethra."
Helen: (VO from 2010) "Then came that fateful November day..."
Highland, TX 1984...
Music: "Born In The USA" by Bruce Springsteen
Helen and Jake are at the public library, which serves as the neighborhood voting precinct. Helen and Jake each enter a booth with their ballot. Jake thought Reagan's not so bad after all. He's revived the economy and for the first time since I was a small boy I actually feel proud to be an American. With that, he votes for Reagan.
In Helen's booth, she appears to be agonizing over the choice.
I used to think this man was a facist. Now, I'm tempted to admit he was right and Jake and I were wrong.
She remembers what Reagan asked in the 1980 presidential debate...
"Are you better off than you were four years ago?"
Helen takes a deep breath.
Yes. She thought, Yes, we are.
With that, she votes for Reagan.
Helen: (VO from 2010) "That was the final nail in the coffin of our old hippie beliefs."
Morgendorffer House, Lawndale, 2010...
Helen is continuing to tell the story to Quinn.
"By the mid-eighties your father and I hadn't just turned our backs on our old idealism. We were now actively opposing all of the things we used to stand for."
Quinn said "That's kind of sad, but it also makes perfect sense. You didn't have time to save the world. At first it was because you were having trouble getting your feet in the door, then because you had two kids to raise."
Shamefaced, Helen admitted "We also quickly grew accustomed to the yuppie lifestyle. We wanted to both take care of you and Daria while becoming richer. We didn't care about others anymore."
Quinn said "Mom, that can't possibly be true."
Helen said "We wanted the best for you and Daria but it took us twenty years to finally wake up to the fact that Highland wasn't a good place to raise a family. I just wish your father and I had noticed it sooner."
"Considering how hard you and Dad were working it would've been easy to overlook."
Helen said "At least we eventually saw what that place was doing to you and your sister. I started sending my resume to as many law firms as possible in the hopes of getting as far away from Highland as possible. Meanwhile, your father made plans to finally quit his job and go into business for himself."
Highland, TX 1997...
Music: "Monkey Wrench" by The Foo Fighters
Jake and Helen are at the kitchen table. Jake waits nervously while Helen's on the phone.
"I've got the job!...Thank you, Mr. Schrecter...I can start September 14...Looking forward to it...Bye!"
Helen hangs up and turns to Jake with a huge smile on her face.
"I got the job!"
Jake said "Helen, that's wonderful. Where are we gonna live?"
Helen said "While I was in Lawndale for the interview I did some house hunting."
She shows Jake a photo.
"I really like this red brick one."
Jake's eyes go wide.
"That's not a house, it's a mansion!"
Helen said "And with what this new job pays I can afford it while you start up your consulting business."
Jake leapt out of his chair with joy.
"Finally! I'm finally free of that mini-Mousolinni. Morgendorfer Consulting, here I come!"
Helen calls out "DARIA! QUINN! COULD YOU COME TO THE KITCHEN, PLEASE?"
Daria and Quinn enter. Jake said "Girls, your mother and I have some exciting news!"
Daria deadpanned "You're replacing us with robo-kids."
Rolling her eyes, Helen said "No. We're moving to New Jersey next month."
Quinn's jaw drops.
"New Jersey! What's there?"
Helen said "I've taken a job at a law firm in a town twenty minutes east of Philadelphia. The town's called Lawndale."
Jake said "I've seen pictures. Lawndale's a much nicer town than Highland. And it's only one hour's drive from the ocean."
Quinn salivates at the prospect of summers at the beach.
"I need to update my swimwear."
She scampers to her room.
Morgendorffer House, Lawndale, 2010...
Quinn giggles at the memory.
"I can't believe bikini's were what was on my mind when I found out we were moving to the East Coast."
Helen can't help laughing herself.
"It was somewhat amusing."
Quinn said "I actually remember something else from that night."
The old house in Highland, 1997...
Quinn passes by Daria's room and notices the door is open. Curious, she peeks in. Daria is looking out the window and has a huge smile on her face. The smile weirds Quinn out because she's never seen Daria more than half smile. Looking out the window, Daria dreamily thinks out loud.
"It's finally happening. We're finally leaving this hell hole of a town."
Quinn now walks away. She has a huge smile on her face.
Maybe now she'll stop acting so weird.
Morgendorffer House, 2010...
Helen, having just heard what Quinn told her, said "That's no surprise. Of all of us your sister hated Highland the most."
Quinn now turns serious. "Mom," she asked, "Why this trip down memory road?"
Helen said "I guess I just felt like confessing my sins."
Quinn gives her mother a curious look. Helen said "Do you know who Mary Bailey is?"
Quinn said "No."
Helen explained "She's the chairwoman of the New Jersey Bar Association. She came into my office today."
Worried, Quinn asked "Are you in some kind of trouble?"
Helen said "She offered me a job."
Quinn's eyes go wide.
"Are you gonna take it?"
Helen said "I don't know."
"What do you mean you don't know?"
Helen said "On the one hand, I'd be in a position to make a difference. On the other hand, I've been in corporate law for so long I don't know if I could just walk away from that. I've turned into the kind of lawyer I swore I'd never become. I just came here and worked myself sick trying to make partner while your father tried to get his consulting business off the ground. In the end, I had to threaten a gender discrimination suit to make partner." Bitterly, she added "At least your father had a chance to see his dreams come true."
Putting a reassuring hand on her mother's shoulder, Quinn said "Now, so do you."
Helen gave Quinn a curious look. Quinn explained "Look, Mom, you just told me how you turned your back on the reason you went into law in the first place. This is your chance to make it right. I know how unhappy you are at the firm. As a member of the bar you'd be in a position to change how lawyers operate for the better. You wanted to make a difference, now you have the chance."
Helen smiled.
"I always thought Daria would be the one to give me this pep talk."
Quinn said "I remember you once told me that Daria and I are more alike than people think. This is just one of those moments that proves that."
Helen smiles proudly at her daughter.
Law Offices of Vitale, Davis, Horowitz, Riordin, Schrecter, Schrecter, Schrecter and Morgendorffer, a few days later...
Helen is in Eric's office handing him a letter. Eric asked "What's this?"
Helen said "It's my letter of resignation. I've handed one to each of the other partners too."
Eric's eyes go wide.
"RESIGNATION!?"
Helen said "Yes, I'm selling my share of the partnership."
Eric said "You can't retire now! You're only 59!"
Helen said "I'm not retiring."
Eric said "Then what are you gonna do? Lawyer's in your blood."
Helen said "I'm going to continue to be a lawyer."
Eric glared menacingly at Helen.
"And I'm going to sue you for breach of contract. Remember the non-compettition clause?"
Helen said "That won't be an issue."
Eric threatened "THE HELL IT WON'T! I'LL SUE YOU INTO BANKRUPTCY AND THE FIRM YOUR LEAVING US FOR WILL LOSE EVERYTHING WHEN I REPORT THEM TO THE BAR!"
Holding her ground, Helen explained "I'm not joining another firm. I'm joining the New Jersey Bar Association. Hence, no compettition."
Eric's eyes go wide and his jaw drops.
Music: "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" by Tears For Fears
"B...Bar Association?"
Helen said "Yes," she hands him a second letter, adding "...and this is Maryanne's resignation. She's coming with me."
Eric is now struggling to contain his rage. He wants to lay into Helen, which she notices.
"Eric, I've given this a lot of thought. I'm going to be on the state bar association, and that's final. So you and the other partners would do well to keep on my good side."
Helen turns around and walks away. She has a triumphant smirk while Eric looks like he was just stabbed in the heart.
End Credits.
Next Time
We've finally arrived. The big day is fast approaching. Quinn and Jim are about to get married. There are Morgendorffers, Barksdales and Carbones involved. What could possibly go wrong?