INT HANSEN KITCHEN - EVENING
JOANIE enters through the back door after a long day at work. SYDNEY is at the counter fixing herself a before dinner snack.
SYDNEY
Hey Joanie.
JOANIE
Hey. Thanks so much for picking Hannah up from school. We were so busy at the Barkery this afternoon.
SYDNEY
No problem!
JOANIE
Where is she?
SYDNEY
In the living room watching ZOOM!
Joanie nods her head and slumps down into a chair.
SYDNEY
What's wrong.
JOANIE
I called Ritchie this morning. He can't come to the Open House at Hannah's school next week.
SYDNEY
He said that?
JOANIE
No, he wasn't even there. I spoke to Chris. Turns out he's off on a fishing boat for the next two weeks!
SYDNEY
Poor Hannah.
HANNAH comes running into the kitchen.
JOANIE
Mommy! Your home!
Joanie scoops Hannah up and sits her on her lap.
JOANIE
Hi sweatheart!
HANNAH
Did you talk to daddy? Is he coming?
Joanie looks at Syd, who smiles sympathetically, before turning back to Hannah.
JOANIE
Actually sweatheart, I did call daddy's house but he wasn't there. But I talked to Chris.
HANNAH
(still excited)
Is he coming to see me at school?
JOANIE
I'm sorry Hannah. But he can't. He's working on his boat for the next two weeks.
(beat)
I'm sure if he had known about it sooner he would have changed his schedule but he had already left and there was no way for Chris to contact him.
HANNAH
(eyes watering)
But everybody else's daddy will be there!
JOANIE
I'm sure there will be other kids whose daddy can't make it either. But you know what? You teacher said you can invite your Grandpa or Uncle Robbie...
Hannah hops down off her mothers lap.
HANNAH
(angry)
NO! I want my daddy to be there! It's not fair!
She runs out of the room in tears.
Joanie is crushed.
Sydney comes over and sits down next to her.
SYDNEY
She'll be OK Joanie. She'll get over it.
JOANIE
(angry)
She shouldn't have to get over it! She's five years old! It's hard enough for her to try to understand why her daddy doesn't live with her like all her friends! It's NOT fair and it's MY fault.
SYDNEY
(shaking her head)
Joanie...
JOANIE
It is!
(beat)
You know, when I stood up at that alter with Ritchie the second time, all I could think of was that this wasn't right for me! FOR ME! I should have been thinking about what was right for HANNAH not me! Because from the moment I found out I was pregnant SHE became the most important thing in my life.
SYDNEY
So you are saying you should have married someone you weren't in love with?
JOANIE
Yes! That is exactly what I am saying.
SYDNEY
That's ridiculous!
JOANIE
No it isn't Syd!
SYDNEY
Fine! Say you DID marry him. You would be married. You would be miserable. And he STILL wouldn't be here right now!
JOANIE
You don't know that.
SYDNEY
Joanie, he's a fisherman. That's his job. He travels for weeks at a time! Think about it. The only reason that Ritchie won't be at Hannah's school is timing! He was already gone before the school announced their plans. Whether you two are married or not is irrelevant!
Joanie doesn't say anything. She knows her sister is right. But that doesn't stop the tears from streaming down her cheeks as she thinks about her heartbroken daughter.
Sydney hugs her sister.
INT. ROBBIE and TINA'S APARTMENT - NEXT MORNING
ROBBIE and PETE are sitting at the kitchen table eating their breakfast as TINA enters carrying LUKE. She places Luke in his high chair beside Robbie and then turns to her husband.
TINA
Sweetie, would you mind doing the grocery shopping on your way home from work today?
ROBBIE
(whining)
Oh...I hate grocery shopping! Especially after working at the bar all day!
TINA
(sympathetic)
I know but Luke's got a little cold and he's so cranky. I hate taking him to the supermarket when he's not feeling well. Besides, I already have to take him to the Doctors and then Pete's teacher conference and I still have to sew those costumes I promised the PTA for the school play next week!
Robbie continues to sulk but doesn't object.
Tina walks over grabs the list that she clipped to the fridge.
TINA
(continuing)
Here! I made you a list and you will even notice that I removed all the feminine products from the list. I'll swing by the drugstore tomorrow and get those myself.
(giggling)
I don't want a repeat of what happened last time!
Pete starts laughing too.
ROBBIE
(defensive)
Hey! That aisle is very confusing if you don't know what you are looking for!
TINA
I know it is sweety. Thank god for cell phones!
Robbie grabs the list from her-still scowling.
Tina wraps her arms around him and starts kissing him on the cheek softly as she whispers...
TINA
Just think. If you do this little thing for me...
(she kisses him again)
I will be in such a good mood when you get home tonight!
ROBBIE
(smiling)
You are such a tease!
PETE
(getting up from the table)
Oh Robbie! She's not TEASING you! She's MOTIVATING YOU!!!
(to Luke)
Right Lukey? See Daddy can dish it out, but he can't take it!
Luke giggles and slaps his hands on the tray of the high chair excitedly.
Tina starts laughing as Robbie scowls at Pete!
TINA
All right Pete. You're gonna miss the bus. Let's get moving
PETE
Fine!
He walks over and kisses his mom and then kisses Luke's head before turning to Robbie.
PETE
(sarcastically)
Have a nice day!
ROBBIE
Yeah! Whatever!
Pete exits.
Tina turns to Robbie.
TINA
Hey! Did you talk to Pete yet!
Robbie looks at her as if he is shocked she would even ask such a thing!
ROBBIE
Well, I was planning on doing it this afternoon but since you I have to go grocery shopping now...looks like I can't. What a shame!
TINA
Don't be silly. You can do it after dinner.
She gets up, kisses Robbie and then starts clearing the breakfast dishes as Robbie sits there sulking as he thinks about they day ahead of him.
To be continued...
JOANIE enters through the back door after a long day at work. SYDNEY is at the counter fixing herself a before dinner snack.
SYDNEY
Hey Joanie.
JOANIE
Hey. Thanks so much for picking Hannah up from school. We were so busy at the Barkery this afternoon.
SYDNEY
No problem!
JOANIE
Where is she?
SYDNEY
In the living room watching ZOOM!
Joanie nods her head and slumps down into a chair.
SYDNEY
What's wrong.
JOANIE
I called Ritchie this morning. He can't come to the Open House at Hannah's school next week.
SYDNEY
He said that?
JOANIE
No, he wasn't even there. I spoke to Chris. Turns out he's off on a fishing boat for the next two weeks!
SYDNEY
Poor Hannah.
HANNAH comes running into the kitchen.
JOANIE
Mommy! Your home!
Joanie scoops Hannah up and sits her on her lap.
JOANIE
Hi sweatheart!
HANNAH
Did you talk to daddy? Is he coming?
Joanie looks at Syd, who smiles sympathetically, before turning back to Hannah.
JOANIE
Actually sweatheart, I did call daddy's house but he wasn't there. But I talked to Chris.
HANNAH
(still excited)
Is he coming to see me at school?
JOANIE
I'm sorry Hannah. But he can't. He's working on his boat for the next two weeks.
(beat)
I'm sure if he had known about it sooner he would have changed his schedule but he had already left and there was no way for Chris to contact him.
HANNAH
(eyes watering)
But everybody else's daddy will be there!
JOANIE
I'm sure there will be other kids whose daddy can't make it either. But you know what? You teacher said you can invite your Grandpa or Uncle Robbie...
Hannah hops down off her mothers lap.
HANNAH
(angry)
NO! I want my daddy to be there! It's not fair!
She runs out of the room in tears.
Joanie is crushed.
Sydney comes over and sits down next to her.
SYDNEY
She'll be OK Joanie. She'll get over it.
JOANIE
(angry)
She shouldn't have to get over it! She's five years old! It's hard enough for her to try to understand why her daddy doesn't live with her like all her friends! It's NOT fair and it's MY fault.
SYDNEY
(shaking her head)
Joanie...
JOANIE
It is!
(beat)
You know, when I stood up at that alter with Ritchie the second time, all I could think of was that this wasn't right for me! FOR ME! I should have been thinking about what was right for HANNAH not me! Because from the moment I found out I was pregnant SHE became the most important thing in my life.
SYDNEY
So you are saying you should have married someone you weren't in love with?
JOANIE
Yes! That is exactly what I am saying.
SYDNEY
That's ridiculous!
JOANIE
No it isn't Syd!
SYDNEY
Fine! Say you DID marry him. You would be married. You would be miserable. And he STILL wouldn't be here right now!
JOANIE
You don't know that.
SYDNEY
Joanie, he's a fisherman. That's his job. He travels for weeks at a time! Think about it. The only reason that Ritchie won't be at Hannah's school is timing! He was already gone before the school announced their plans. Whether you two are married or not is irrelevant!
Joanie doesn't say anything. She knows her sister is right. But that doesn't stop the tears from streaming down her cheeks as she thinks about her heartbroken daughter.
Sydney hugs her sister.
INT. ROBBIE and TINA'S APARTMENT - NEXT MORNING
ROBBIE and PETE are sitting at the kitchen table eating their breakfast as TINA enters carrying LUKE. She places Luke in his high chair beside Robbie and then turns to her husband.
TINA
Sweetie, would you mind doing the grocery shopping on your way home from work today?
ROBBIE
(whining)
Oh...I hate grocery shopping! Especially after working at the bar all day!
TINA
(sympathetic)
I know but Luke's got a little cold and he's so cranky. I hate taking him to the supermarket when he's not feeling well. Besides, I already have to take him to the Doctors and then Pete's teacher conference and I still have to sew those costumes I promised the PTA for the school play next week!
Robbie continues to sulk but doesn't object.
Tina walks over grabs the list that she clipped to the fridge.
TINA
(continuing)
Here! I made you a list and you will even notice that I removed all the feminine products from the list. I'll swing by the drugstore tomorrow and get those myself.
(giggling)
I don't want a repeat of what happened last time!
Pete starts laughing too.
ROBBIE
(defensive)
Hey! That aisle is very confusing if you don't know what you are looking for!
TINA
I know it is sweety. Thank god for cell phones!
Robbie grabs the list from her-still scowling.
Tina wraps her arms around him and starts kissing him on the cheek softly as she whispers...
TINA
Just think. If you do this little thing for me...
(she kisses him again)
I will be in such a good mood when you get home tonight!
ROBBIE
(smiling)
You are such a tease!
PETE
(getting up from the table)
Oh Robbie! She's not TEASING you! She's MOTIVATING YOU!!!
(to Luke)
Right Lukey? See Daddy can dish it out, but he can't take it!
Luke giggles and slaps his hands on the tray of the high chair excitedly.
Tina starts laughing as Robbie scowls at Pete!
TINA
All right Pete. You're gonna miss the bus. Let's get moving
PETE
Fine!
He walks over and kisses his mom and then kisses Luke's head before turning to Robbie.
PETE
(sarcastically)
Have a nice day!
ROBBIE
Yeah! Whatever!
Pete exits.
Tina turns to Robbie.
TINA
Hey! Did you talk to Pete yet!
Robbie looks at her as if he is shocked she would even ask such a thing!
ROBBIE
Well, I was planning on doing it this afternoon but since you I have to go grocery shopping now...looks like I can't. What a shame!
TINA
Don't be silly. You can do it after dinner.
She gets up, kisses Robbie and then starts clearing the breakfast dishes as Robbie sits there sulking as he thinks about they day ahead of him.
To be continued...