INT. HANSEN KITCHEN - AFTERNOON
JOANIE is sitting at the kitchen counter looking glum as she eats ice-cream, straight from the container.
SYD enters through the back door.
SYD
Hey Joanie.
JOANIE
(unenthusiastic)
Hey.
SYD
Wow, that doesn't sound good. I take it things haven't gotten any better in Hannah land.
Joanie tosses the spoon into the ice-cream container and turns to her sister.
JOANIE
I wish! Tomorrow is THE big day at school and now Hannah wants to know if she can be sick and stay home.
SYD
Poor kid. She is really taking this hard.
JOANIE
Can you blame her?
SYD
No I guess not. I just wish there was something we could do.
TINA, PETE and NICK (I'm correcting the babies name in this chapter) enter through the back door.
TINA
Hi guys? How's Hannah doing? Robbie said she was upset because her dad couldn't come to her open house?
JOANIE
Heartbroken is more like it.
PETE
Yeah, I know how that feels. My dad couldn't make it to a lot of my school events when I was a little kid either.
Syd, Joanie, and Tina all smile at Pete's description of himself as a "little kid" - as if it were ages ago.
PETE
Maybe I could talk to her?
JOANIE
Wow Pete. That is so sweet of you! Thank you!
PETE
No prob. What are cousins for?
As Pete heads out of the room, Tina turns to Joanie.
TINA
Well, now that that little man is off to cheer up Hannah, maybe this little man can cheer you up!
She hands Nick to Joanie who accepts him with a grateful smile.
JOANIE
Oh, this little man ALWAYS cheers me up!
SYD
(tickling Nick)
I think this little guy could cheer anyone up.
NICK
Da! Da!
TINA
Oh yeah, I almost forgot! He's starting to talk. And of course the first intelligible words out his mouth are...
JOANIE and SYD
Da! Da!
JOANIE
Of course! Don't feel bad. Hannah was the same way and her father wasn't even around!
SYD
Nick! Say Mama! Mmma...Mmma! Mmm...
TINA
Don't bother. I've been trying all day. I've pretty much accepted the fact that he will probably say "Robbie" before he says "Mama!"
They all laugh.
TINA
Ooh! Speaking of Robbie. Did you guys hear I made him give Pete the old sex talk?
JOANIE and SYD
Robbie?
SYD
That's a scary thought.
TINA
Actually, the whole situation was quite humorous.
JOANIE
Poor Pete. Hope Robbie didn't traumatize the poor kid.
TINA
I think the only one traumatized was Robbie.
SYD
Pete probably taught him a thing or too.
INT. HANNAH'S ROOM - SAME
HANNAH is playing with her dollhouse as PETE appears and knocks on her open door.
Hannah turns.
HANNAH
Hi Pete.
PETE
Hey Hannah! Whatcha doing?
Hannah lays her doll down in the dollhouse and shrugs.
HANNAH
Nothing.
PETE
What's wrong?
Hannah turns to her cousin-her eyes brimming with tears.
HANNAH
My daddy's not coming to school tomorrow! All the other kids will have their daddy's there!
PETE
Oh, that sucks!
(catching himself)
Ooh, don't tell your mom or my mom I said that. That's not a good word.
HANNAH
(wiping her eyes)
Don't worry I won't. But you're right. It does suck!
Pete tries not laugh.
PETE
I'm sorry your dad won't be there. I'm sure he would have been there if he could.
(beat)
My dad missed a lot of my school events too, so I know how you feel.
HANNAH
You do?
PETE
Sure! But you know, there were other kids whose parents couldn't be there. I guarantee you won't be the only one. And you can always invite someone else. One year, when my dad couldn't make it, my uncles showed up in their police cruiser. It was totally awesome!
HANNAH
Wow! Did they flash the lights and turn on the siren?
PETE
Yep! I was the most popular kid in school that day!
HANNAH
Maybe I will ask Grandpa to come.
PETE
Good idea! Hey, maybe he can bring one of those new puppies I saw down there in the clinic the other day.
Hannah gets very excited and jumps to her feet.
HANNAH
That's a great idea! Everybody loves puppies!
(she hugs Pete)
Thanks Pete!
PETE
No problem! Come on. Let's go downstairs and see if we can find Grandpa!
INT. KITCHEN
JIM has joined SYD, JOANIE, TINA and NICK in the kitchen. They are all in hysterics as Jim tells them about Robbie's visit to the clinic the day before.
JIM
...And then Heather had to go and mention that Jennie Jones episode. I thought Robbie was going to pass out! The look on his face...
Joanie is practically in tears she is laughing so hard.
JOANIE
Oh stop! No more! I have to pee!
They continue laughing as ROBBIE enters through the back door.
ROBBIE
Hey guys! What's so funny? What did I miss?
TINA
Oh nothing honey. Private joke.
JOANIE
What are you doing here Rob?
She cracks a devilish smile before adding...
JOANIE
Come to watch our cable?
Everyone starts laughing again except for Robbie who turns to Tina.
ROBBIE
You told them!
TINA
I'm sorry honey. You just have this natural talent for turning the simplest tasks into a comedy of errors. I had to share! It was so cute!
ROBBIE
Well, thanks a lot! And I will have you know there is nothing simple about discussing sex with a thirteen year old. Especially when that thirteen year old is...
PETE enters the kitchen with HANNAH.
ROBBIE
Hey Pete! I didn't know you were here!
PETE
I came with Mom. What are you doing here? Having cable withdrawal?
He winks at the others as they once again burst into laughter.
ROBBIE
That's it! I'm leaving! If anyone wants me I will be in the living room-watching cable!
He storms off.
TINA
Oh honey! Don't go! We're just teasing!
Robbie ignores her and exits as everyone tries to calm themselves.
Hannah approaches Jim
HANNAH
Grandpa, I want you to come to my school tomorrow and talk to everyone about being a veterinarian!
Jim scoops Hannah up into his arms.
JIM
Well, I would be honored to come to your school tomorrow.
HANNAH
Can you bring one of the new Bidderman puppies to show the class?
JIM
Well, if it's OK with your teacher. I don't see why not.
JOANIE
That's a great idea Hansky. I call your teacher first thing and clear it with her.
HANNAH
It was Pete's idea. He always has good ideas.
Tina pulls her son closer and gives him a quick squeeze.
JOANIE
He certainly does.
PETE
What can I say? It's a gift.
JOANIE
Well, now that everyone is happy...Is everyone hungry? Because I am suddenly motivated to create the best dinner you have ever tasted.
SYD
Great idea. I'll help. Just let me call Owen and tell him to come over here after work.
She heads off to the phone.
TINA
And I have to go do some damage control with my husband before he never speaks to me again!
She heads toward the living room.
JIM turns to Hannah and Pete.
JIM
I guess that leaves the three of us in charge of setting the table. Let's go!
THE END
JOANIE is sitting at the kitchen counter looking glum as she eats ice-cream, straight from the container.
SYD enters through the back door.
SYD
Hey Joanie.
JOANIE
(unenthusiastic)
Hey.
SYD
Wow, that doesn't sound good. I take it things haven't gotten any better in Hannah land.
Joanie tosses the spoon into the ice-cream container and turns to her sister.
JOANIE
I wish! Tomorrow is THE big day at school and now Hannah wants to know if she can be sick and stay home.
SYD
Poor kid. She is really taking this hard.
JOANIE
Can you blame her?
SYD
No I guess not. I just wish there was something we could do.
TINA, PETE and NICK (I'm correcting the babies name in this chapter) enter through the back door.
TINA
Hi guys? How's Hannah doing? Robbie said she was upset because her dad couldn't come to her open house?
JOANIE
Heartbroken is more like it.
PETE
Yeah, I know how that feels. My dad couldn't make it to a lot of my school events when I was a little kid either.
Syd, Joanie, and Tina all smile at Pete's description of himself as a "little kid" - as if it were ages ago.
PETE
Maybe I could talk to her?
JOANIE
Wow Pete. That is so sweet of you! Thank you!
PETE
No prob. What are cousins for?
As Pete heads out of the room, Tina turns to Joanie.
TINA
Well, now that that little man is off to cheer up Hannah, maybe this little man can cheer you up!
She hands Nick to Joanie who accepts him with a grateful smile.
JOANIE
Oh, this little man ALWAYS cheers me up!
SYD
(tickling Nick)
I think this little guy could cheer anyone up.
NICK
Da! Da!
TINA
Oh yeah, I almost forgot! He's starting to talk. And of course the first intelligible words out his mouth are...
JOANIE and SYD
Da! Da!
JOANIE
Of course! Don't feel bad. Hannah was the same way and her father wasn't even around!
SYD
Nick! Say Mama! Mmma...Mmma! Mmm...
TINA
Don't bother. I've been trying all day. I've pretty much accepted the fact that he will probably say "Robbie" before he says "Mama!"
They all laugh.
TINA
Ooh! Speaking of Robbie. Did you guys hear I made him give Pete the old sex talk?
JOANIE and SYD
Robbie?
SYD
That's a scary thought.
TINA
Actually, the whole situation was quite humorous.
JOANIE
Poor Pete. Hope Robbie didn't traumatize the poor kid.
TINA
I think the only one traumatized was Robbie.
SYD
Pete probably taught him a thing or too.
INT. HANNAH'S ROOM - SAME
HANNAH is playing with her dollhouse as PETE appears and knocks on her open door.
Hannah turns.
HANNAH
Hi Pete.
PETE
Hey Hannah! Whatcha doing?
Hannah lays her doll down in the dollhouse and shrugs.
HANNAH
Nothing.
PETE
What's wrong?
Hannah turns to her cousin-her eyes brimming with tears.
HANNAH
My daddy's not coming to school tomorrow! All the other kids will have their daddy's there!
PETE
Oh, that sucks!
(catching himself)
Ooh, don't tell your mom or my mom I said that. That's not a good word.
HANNAH
(wiping her eyes)
Don't worry I won't. But you're right. It does suck!
Pete tries not laugh.
PETE
I'm sorry your dad won't be there. I'm sure he would have been there if he could.
(beat)
My dad missed a lot of my school events too, so I know how you feel.
HANNAH
You do?
PETE
Sure! But you know, there were other kids whose parents couldn't be there. I guarantee you won't be the only one. And you can always invite someone else. One year, when my dad couldn't make it, my uncles showed up in their police cruiser. It was totally awesome!
HANNAH
Wow! Did they flash the lights and turn on the siren?
PETE
Yep! I was the most popular kid in school that day!
HANNAH
Maybe I will ask Grandpa to come.
PETE
Good idea! Hey, maybe he can bring one of those new puppies I saw down there in the clinic the other day.
Hannah gets very excited and jumps to her feet.
HANNAH
That's a great idea! Everybody loves puppies!
(she hugs Pete)
Thanks Pete!
PETE
No problem! Come on. Let's go downstairs and see if we can find Grandpa!
INT. KITCHEN
JIM has joined SYD, JOANIE, TINA and NICK in the kitchen. They are all in hysterics as Jim tells them about Robbie's visit to the clinic the day before.
JIM
...And then Heather had to go and mention that Jennie Jones episode. I thought Robbie was going to pass out! The look on his face...
Joanie is practically in tears she is laughing so hard.
JOANIE
Oh stop! No more! I have to pee!
They continue laughing as ROBBIE enters through the back door.
ROBBIE
Hey guys! What's so funny? What did I miss?
TINA
Oh nothing honey. Private joke.
JOANIE
What are you doing here Rob?
She cracks a devilish smile before adding...
JOANIE
Come to watch our cable?
Everyone starts laughing again except for Robbie who turns to Tina.
ROBBIE
You told them!
TINA
I'm sorry honey. You just have this natural talent for turning the simplest tasks into a comedy of errors. I had to share! It was so cute!
ROBBIE
Well, thanks a lot! And I will have you know there is nothing simple about discussing sex with a thirteen year old. Especially when that thirteen year old is...
PETE enters the kitchen with HANNAH.
ROBBIE
Hey Pete! I didn't know you were here!
PETE
I came with Mom. What are you doing here? Having cable withdrawal?
He winks at the others as they once again burst into laughter.
ROBBIE
That's it! I'm leaving! If anyone wants me I will be in the living room-watching cable!
He storms off.
TINA
Oh honey! Don't go! We're just teasing!
Robbie ignores her and exits as everyone tries to calm themselves.
Hannah approaches Jim
HANNAH
Grandpa, I want you to come to my school tomorrow and talk to everyone about being a veterinarian!
Jim scoops Hannah up into his arms.
JIM
Well, I would be honored to come to your school tomorrow.
HANNAH
Can you bring one of the new Bidderman puppies to show the class?
JIM
Well, if it's OK with your teacher. I don't see why not.
JOANIE
That's a great idea Hansky. I call your teacher first thing and clear it with her.
HANNAH
It was Pete's idea. He always has good ideas.
Tina pulls her son closer and gives him a quick squeeze.
JOANIE
He certainly does.
PETE
What can I say? It's a gift.
JOANIE
Well, now that everyone is happy...Is everyone hungry? Because I am suddenly motivated to create the best dinner you have ever tasted.
SYD
Great idea. I'll help. Just let me call Owen and tell him to come over here after work.
She heads off to the phone.
TINA
And I have to go do some damage control with my husband before he never speaks to me again!
She heads toward the living room.
JIM turns to Hannah and Pete.
JIM
I guess that leaves the three of us in charge of setting the table. Let's go!
THE END