Pop star Sabrina Taylor is asked to be a part of Sheffield-Babcock's new rendition of the production, West Side Story. However, Sabrina has a big secret that could make or break the infamous Broadway duo.
"It's on! Hurry up!" Maggie called out to her siblings. They were in the kitchen gathering snacks for the live concert showing that was showing on MTV. Even though Niles was supposed to do that job, Maggie was too excited on seeing her favorite pop star on TV and insistent to Brighton and Grace to help out.
The other two Sheffield children came out of the kitchen with some popcorn and candy rushing towards Maggie in the living room. "Finally! It's been a whole hour," Brighton said as he propped himself on the couch and hogged the popcorn to himself.
"I want some!" Gracie said trying to reach for the popcorn bowl. "Get your own," Brighton snapped at his sister and held the bowl to his chest. Gracie tried to reach for some of the food which caused her and Brighton to have a verbal quarrel. That happened up until Maggie interrupted them.
"Guys shut up! Sabrina Taylor's about to sing from her new album," Maggie said giddily as she ate a chip from the bag she held.
"Did someone say Sabrina Taylor?!" A nasally voice shouted. Of course. Any mention of a celebrity sparked Fran's attention. "Oh I love her! Did you see her music video for 'Dropping out of College for a Sugar Daddy?' I mean.. the girl's only 19, but she's sure where her path in life is," Fran said sitting between Maggie and Brighton.
"Fran, tell Brighton to share the popcorn. I'm famished," Gracie said pouting at her nanny.
"I told her to get her own!" Brighton replied. "You wanna end up like my father who's slumped on the couch hearing my mother's voice every five seconds? Because if you don't share with your sister, that's where ya headed," Fran said. That immediately made Brighton quickly hand over the bowl of popcorn to his sister and sit up.
As Fran and the Sheffield kids were watching, Sabrina Taylor was getting ready to perform her song for the show that she was on. It was a daytime talk show, and the hosts allowed her to sing. The pop star had short brown hair up to her shoulders, dark blonde highlights, blue eyes, light skin, a beautiful and powerful voice, and great style. She was everything all young women wanted to be. Sabrina started to sing, which made Fran and Maggie sing along to the lyrics. Brighton and Grace still ate their snacks as the show continued. "She's so hot. One of these days when I'm old enough, I'll just schmooze her into my life. I heard Sabrina was into younger guys," Brighton said smirking.
"Hey hey hey! Nobody's gonna schmooze no one, capisce? Oy, you kids learn too quickly. Just enjoy your life while you're still young. You don't wanna end up... like me," Fran said narrowing her eyes at Brighton. She sighed and continued to watch the show.
While Fran and the kids were too drawn to the show, Maxwell came out of the hallway looking exasperated with CC following suit. The fact that they had lost their lead female was enough to make him nearly lose his mind. He was more than positive that he was going to overpower Andrew Lloyd Webber this year with his rendition of West Side Story. The only problem? He lost their Maria. Now it was his mission to find someone else to play Maria before the end of the week. "Where did we go wrong with losing our female lead, CC? I don't understand! She was getting full treatment and a higher wage," Maxwell said running his fingers through his hair stressfully.
"Well, I didn't want to tell you this, Maxwell, but she got an offer from-" CC was interrupted by Maxwell almost immediately.
"DON'T... you dare say his bloody name in my house," Maxwell sighed pinching the bridge of his nose. "Our production just got underway and we have no lead female. Where are we going to be able to find a leading lady within the next few days?"
Just as Maxwell said that, he and CC heard the voice of Sabrina Taylor coming from the TV. She had just hit a couple of high notes and runs, which immediately made them so drawn to her. She had everything physically that they were looking for in their lead female. "Who is she?" Maxwell asked as he was very interested in Sabrina's talent.
"Dad, that's Sabrina Taylor! She's one of the biggest debut pop stars in the country right now. Isn't she great?" Maggie asked still enticed. "I was planning on going to her next concert whenever she's scheduled to go on tour."
"CC, are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Maxwell asked her giddily. The fact that it was that easy to find a new leading lady made him feel so much relief from the stress he felt earlier.
"Yes. We're still scheduled to have dinner tonight regarding the backers for our other side show," CC said honestly. She was just as interested in the girl on TV, but her main concern was the fact that she was going to have dinner with Maxwell alone. Finally. "You didn't forget, did you?"
"No! This Sabrina Taylor girl is perfect for our Maria! We can just cast her," Maxwell said.
Upon hearing that, Fran furrowed her eyebrows and stood up to meet Maxwell and CC's level. "Now wait a minute, Mr. Sheffield. The girl is a nationwide pop star. She's probably got so many things on her plate. How is she gonna squeeze in being in a Broadway show? I betcha she's booked until the new millennium hits," Fran remarked hoping that would somehow get Maxwell to change his mind.
"So Sabrina, now that you've finished working on your next project. What do you plan to do now? Go on tour? Write a book?" the reporter asked the young pop star. Sabrina smiled and leaned into the microphone. "I don't know actually. I'm thinking about kind of taking a break from the spotlight and singing in general. Even though I've worked hard with this album, I'm just like every other girl who just wants to take a mental break from everything, you know?" she said.
Maxwell's eyes widened and his excitement got even bigger. "Perfect! Then it's settled."
"But Mr. Sheffield, the poor girl just said that she needed a mental break. Don't just throw another project on her," Fran said trying to defend Sabrina's busy schedule, despite the pop star herself saying she didn't have anything coming up.
"Miss Fine, you heard her. She's free as a bird, which means I've got my Maria and my production! CC, go in the office and try to get ahold of Sabrina Taylor's agent. We're going to recruit this young lady into our show," Maxwell said excitedly.
CC furrowed her eyebrows. She was anticipating on the private dinner with Maxwell. Even though they were going to discuss adding backers to their side show, she was planning on other things with him that didn't involve work. Now that he changed plans so quickly, her heart dropped. "But... but Maxwell... what about the dinner we were supposed to have tonight?"
"Change of plans. Gaining a full cast for West Side Story and beating out Webber this year is my top priority. We're most likely going to spend the rest of the night on scheduling changes and other accommodations for Miss Taylor," he said as he handed over a stack of papers to his business partner. "You go ahead and try to contact her agent. I'll catch up with you later."
CC reluctantly took the papers from Maxwell and sighed heavily. She rolled her eyes walking away from the family and back into the office. After she closed the door shut, she leaned against it and huffed in frustration. Why did the change of plans always have to happen to her? Anything she anticipated with Maxwell was always butchered by some sort of plan or Nanny Fine. She was especially frustrated tonight, because it was finally the night where she was going to tell Maxwell something she had kept from him for years. Yes, the dinner was not supposed to be about backers for a side show, but something more dire and important to her life. CC dropped the stack of papers on the table and reached for her purse. Tears started to fill her as she fumbled through all of her belongings in her purse until she reached for a folded picture. As she unfolded the picture, the tears in her eyes started to pour out and roll down her cheeks. The picture she unfolded turned out to be an ultrasound picture of a baby from the year 1978. It wasn't just any baby... it was CC's baby girl that she had given up 19 years ago. She cried more watching as the tears from her eyes hit the picture in her hands. "I'm sorry.." she whispered bringing the picture to her chest and holding it close. The regret and remorse she felt not being able to raise her daughter was immense, but the girl had no father in her life. Unfortunately, CC's baby came from a one night stand, and she couldn't afford to be a single mother, especially when the man who fathered her child was married at the time. Yes, CC had an affair with a married man... but it wasn't just any married man.
"I'm doing my best to make sure your daddy knows the truth... when we're finally together... I'll find you... and we'll be one big happy family. I promise, sweetie.." The tears kept pouring from her eyes. "His stupid rain checks and that... damn nanny... if it weren't for her, I would finally have the family I always wanted." That married man CC had an affair with was none other than Maxwell Sheffield himself.
Dozens of screaming fans were waiting outside the studio parking lot to get a glimpse, picture, or autograph with Sabrina Taylor. Even though the talk show had ended a half hour ago, Sabrina wasn't ready to face the fans that were outside. This immediately meant that she probably needed to add another half hour to her day before she was officially retired for the night. Right when she walked out, she didn't expect anything less. Of course, she was grateful for her fans and the love and support they had shown her over the years, but she was really needing this mental break she spoke of earlier in the day. After a while of interacting with her fans, an older Hispanic woman lead her away from the crowd and into the limousine that was waiting for them. Once they got inside, she immediately rolled up the windows. "Drive. Now," Sabrina demanded as the limo started to drive away from the studio. The young pop star let out a sigh of relief once the screaming had died down.
"Ugh. I thought this would never end!" she said exasperatedly as she reached for a drink. "Can't people see that I'm not in the mood for this again? One of these days, I just want to be able to come home with no hassle and not have ringing in my ears from fans," Sabrina ranted to her agent, Bernie Gonzalez.
"Miss Sabrina, I know that the show was planned at the last minute, but this was a good way for you to end your album premieres. Now you are more than free to relax," the older woman said with a soft smile.
"Yeah, right. That's what you told me last week after that charity benefit I raised money for," Sabrina replied running her fingers through her hair. The girl was always feeling some sort of stress no matter what day it was. "Just quit the crap and stop lying to me, Bernie. How do I know when it's over when it's not really over?"
Bernie sighed and wrapped an arm around the girl. She practically raised her ever since she was eight or nine years old. After Sabrina spent her entire childhood in the foster care system, Bernie decided to take it upon herself to raise the girl while living with her grandmother. Sabrina wasn't legally adopted by her, so she was just a prolonged foster mother towards her. Bernie knew that Sabrina's birth mother was still alive, so she didn't want to pry in the way just in case they were to find each other in the future. "My dear, being famous comes with a price. Remember when I kept telling you to not audition for any of those commercials and you kept on insisting you do? Now look where you are.. successful and busy as a bee."
Sabrina sighed and shook her head. "Okay, maybe my ego got the best of me when I was younger. I just didn't really have any realistic dreams back then. How would I have known that those dreams were to become a reality in the future?" she asked.
"No one truly knows the fate of their future, mia cariña. You just so happened to be one of the lucky ones. Not a lot of girls like you can say that they made it in Hollywood," Bernie said trying to reassure the girl.
"I guess. It's just... I don't know if I love my life or not. Sure, I'm super grateful to have gotten this far and to have so many amazing fans.. and of course you. But... I always felt like something was missing in my life... or someone.." Sabrina pulled out a locket that was attached to a golden chain she was wearing. She opened it and a picture of a young blonde woman with blue eyes was in it. No matter where she went or what day it was, she never left anywhere without that locket. She smiled down at the picture and closed the locket.
"Mia cariña, I'm sure your birth mother is still out there. You best not give up hope," Bernie encouraged the girl. She did feel slightly jealous of the woman in the locket, but she knew that for Sabrina's happiness, she wanted her to meet her birth mother more than anything else in the world. "One of these days, you two will find each other and make up for lost time. I cannot say when it will happen, but I'm not going to let you give up on your dream."
Sabrina found her agent's words very touching. She smiled softly and hugged the woman tightly. Even though she felt somewhat of an affection towards Bernie, that motherly affection wasn't there, and that was what she craved the most over the years. "Gracias, Bernie," she said with a chuckle.
Before Bernie could respond, her mobile phone started to ring. Of course, she had to answer it, because it could've been a new opportunity to arise for Sabrina. Hearing the woman's voice, Sabrina sighed and looked out the window. Bernie's excitement in her voice escalated to the point where she impatiently tapped on Sabrina's shoulder. "What?" she asked with concern.
"Take the phone!" Bernie said as she pushed it towards the pop star. Sabrina sighed and held the phone to her ear. "Hello, hello! This is Sabrina... oh, yes! I've heard of you. Aren't you the one who recently got knighted..? That was Andrew L - okay... so sorry... I... really!? I.. I'd love to! Yes, that would be great... when should I get there? Where am I going to stay? Oh my gosh, Mr. Sheffield, thank you! Thank you so much! Yes goodbye..." Sabrina hung up and smiled widely before handing the phone back to Bernie. "I'm gonna be on Broadway!" she cheered excitedly.
"Oh Dios mio! Sabrina, I'm so happy for you!" Bernie cheered with the girl. "First your debut album for all audiences came out and now you're going to be a Broadway star! What did he say?"
"He wants to meet me next week and get started on the production for the show as soon as possible. I'll be playing Maria in West Side Story! I'll be staying in New York for a few months, so when I get back, I'll have to start packing my bags," Sabrina said excitedly.
"New York?" Bernie asked hearing the last thing Sabrina stated. "You know that's your birth place. Maybe you will meet your birth mother there."
"Bernie, you know I adore you, but I really don't want to get my hopes up. What if I do and I end up never meeting her? That's happened to me five different times where I thought I found my birth mother and it didn't turn out to be her," Sabrina said leaning against the window again and gazing out at the scenery from the limo.
Bernie shook her head at the girl's doubts. "I've known you for almost your entire life, mia cariña. I know Sabrina Taylor herself doesn't give up on anything. You've done so many other things that took a lot of risk and sacrifice. If there's anyone who can search for their birth mother successfully, it's you," she said to her, making Sabrina smile softly.
"You're right... damn it, you're always right!" Sabrina chuckled before she opened up her locket to look at the picture again. "I'm coming, Mom.."