Chapter 3: Lulu's Plan
(On the patio…Dillon, Georgie, Brook Lynn, and Diego are talking.)
Georgie: Oooh. It's cold out here.
Brook: Would you rather be in there with the rest of them?
Georgie: Of course not.
Dillon: Any word on Lulu?
Georgie: I can call her.
Lulu: (approaches them) Don't bother.
Georgie: Lulu! You're here!
Lulu: Unfortunately. You think I want to spend Thanksgiving with my father and my evil stepmother?
Diego: Evil stepmother? A little overdramatic, aren't we?
Lulu: Do you even know Tracy?
Diego: The lady's a piece of work, but evil? (laughs)
Georgie: Trust me. She is evil.
Brook: Very evil.
Dillon: All right, you know what? I know my mom isn't the greatest person in the world, but can we lay off of her now? Please.
Brook: Wow. Dillon. You two have a bonding session or something?
Dillon: No. I just don't think we should be talking about her behind her back. I mean, don't we have better things to do?
Lulu: Yeah. Like get outta here.
Brook: Hey, I'm in!
Georgie: I don't think this is a good idea.
Dillon: Me either.
Lulu: Oh you two are no fun. Why not have Thanksgiving in the boathouse?
Brook: Sounds good to me.
Dillon: I'll think about it. How we going to take the food?
Georgie: I don't know if I want any part in this.
Diego: Why not? Scared?
Georgie: No. I'm just…
Lulu: Oh come on! It'll be fun.
Georgie: I don't know. Dillon, what do you think?
Dillon: Well, I never promised my mother I'd have dinner with the family.
Brook: That's a "yes."
Georgie: All right. You know, it is REALLY cold out here.
Diego: You wanna go in?
Georgie: (bites lip) I guess.
Dillon: Take a deep breath.
(They enter; the family doesn't notice.)
Brook: Whew.
(Skye notices Lulu.)
Skye: Lulu! Look who's here everybody!
Lulu: Ugh.
Tracy: Get her out of here!
Skye: Tracy! That is no way to talk to your stepdaughter.
Tracy: Lulu and I aren't exactly on the best of terms, are we sweetheart?
Lulu: Do NOT call me sweetheart.
Justus: (sarcastically) Well, isn't this a lovely family gathering?
(Luke enters.)
Luke: Lulu.
Lulu: Hi Dad. Surprised you noticed me.
Skye: All right. All right. Let's give them some time alone.
Monica: In my house?
Alan: I gave it to you!
(Tracy rolls her eyes.)
Skye: Lulu lives here too.
Tracy: Don't remind me.
Alan: (puts arm around Tracy) Come on. Let's go. Let's go.
Alice: Clear the room, people!
Tracy: Oh would you shut up?
Luke: Leave Sunshine alone!
Alice: Thank you, Mr. Luke.
(The family, including Coleman, exits.)
Edward: And WHERE do you think you're going?
Coleman: Your daughter needs me; she just doesn't realize it.
Dillon: Ewww.
(The family leaves.)
(Skye and Lorenzo are talking among themselves in the foyer.)
Lorenzo: You are a very compassionate lady.
Skye: Oh I don't know about that. (laughs)
Lorenzo: I am serious; Luke and his daughter need to spend some time together.
Skye: Maybe you and your son should do the same.
Lorenzo: We have.
Skye: Good. Good. That's good. (pause)
Lorenzo: Uh, Skye?
Skye: Hmm?
Lorenzo: I am flattered that you considered me your date, and I'll gladly go along with it to please you, but…
Skye: Oh! Lorenzo! I am so sorry. I…What I…It's just that Tracy…Oh that woman…I…
Lorenzo: Am I making you nervous?
Skye: (boldly) No.
Lorenzo: I think I am. (laughs) (pause) My heart belongs to Carly.
Skye: I know.
Lorenzo: And your heart belongs to Luke.
Skye: (shakes head) I don't know who my heart belongs to.
(Ned, Lois, and Brook Lynn are in another section of the foyer.)
Brook: So…Are holidays ALWAYS this hectic?
Ned: That's a rhetorical question, right? (laughs)
Lois: Of course they are!
Brook: (sighs)
Ned: I'll understand if you want to leave, Princess.
Lois: Oh, Ned! Don't be ridiculous. This is her family!
Brook: That scares me. (laughs)
Lois: As it should. (laughs) Honestly? The Quartermaines are not all bad. I married your father after all! He is a wonderful man!
Ned: (smiles)
Lois: And Dillon! He turned out to be such a gentleman. And Emily…
Brook: Ma defending the Quartermaines? You're kinda scaring me. (laughs)
(Dillon, Georgie, and Diego approach Brook.)
Georgie: Excuse me, but can we talk to Brook for a second?
Lois: By all means…
(Lois and Ned leave the teens alone.)
Dillon: Listen, we're going to head out to the boathouse. (winks) Wanna come?
Brook: Sure.
Georgie: Just for a bit, though. (winks)
Diego: No kidding. I need to be here for the food.
(They all laugh.)
Dillon: You all go ahead. I'll let Lulu know.
(Cut to Luke/Lulu in the den…)
Lulu: What do you want?
Luke: Nothing.
Lulu: I don't understand you, Dad. You tell me you love me. You ask me to move in with you. But you can't even manage 1 conversation with me? 1 conversation a day! That's all I'm asking for! Even Tracy has something to say.
Luke: (laughs) Well, that's my wife for you.
Lulu: I don't want to argue with Tracy, Dad. I want to talk to you.
Luke: What do you want to talk about? How I ruined your entire childhood by not being there?
Lulu: That's a good place to start.
Luke: I didn't sign up to be your father. It was your mother's idea.
Lulu: How could you say that? You are supposed to be there for me. You are supposed to love me.
Luke: I do love you.
Lulu: (pause; tears in her eyes) You sure as hell don't act like it.
Luke: (quietly) You remind me of your mother. When I look into your eyes, I see Laura. I—
Lulu: You still could have been there for me.
Luke: Without your mother there, there was no longer a reason.
Lulu: (shakes head) That's really stupid, Dad. Really stupid! (leaves in frustration)
(Dillon meets Lulu.)
Dillon: Hey! How'd it go?
Lulu: Don't ask.
Dillon: Georgie and the others are out in the boathouse.
Lulu: Already? What about the food?
Dillon: We all have to go at one time. We need a lookout and all that. (laughs)
Lulu; Sounds good. I just wanna get out of here.
(Tracy approaches them.)
Tracy: Dillon, darling, where do you think you're going?
Dillon: We're just going to the boathouse, Mom. We'll be back for dinner.
Tracy: You better be. (walks away)
(Lulu looks upset.)
Dillon: Is everything all right?
Lulu: I told you not to ask. Let's just go.
Dillon: I can talk to Luke. I can—
Lulu: Forget it, Dillon. Let's just set this plan in motion.
(The two head outside.)