Chapter 4:
Continued directly from last chapter:
Jan: I remember when I told mom and dad I was pregnant with PJ.
Early 1996
Phillip and Jan exit the doctor's office. Both are in shock.
Jan: Giggling from disbelief. I can't believe it! We've waited so long!
Phillip embraces his wife.
Jan: After all these years. I... I never thought... Looks at the ultrasound pictures. Phillip, this is our baby!
Phillip: Let's go tell your folks first, since mom and dad live a couple blocks from the daycare.
Jan: Embraces her husband. I can't wait to tell them!
The happy couple drive to her parents' home. Jan nearly leaps out of the car and runs to the front door
Phillip: Chuckles. Jan.
Jan: What? I want to tell my folks about the baby.
Phillip: Embraces his wife. Me too. He gives her a light peck on the lips, as he rings the doorbell.
Carol: Holding a sleeping Ruby, answers the door. Jan, Phillip! Hello!
Jan: Embraces her mom and niece. Is Dad here? Phillip and I want to talk to you about something.
Carol: Yes. He's in the family room with Crystal. Grins. You look like it's good news.
Jan: Not tellin'!
Carol: Phillip?
Phillip: Smirks. Not tellin' either.
Carol: You guys are tough!
Carol, Phillip and Jan walk into the family room. Mike is rocking Crystal.
Carol: Look who I found.
Mike: Phillip, Jan! How are you?
Jan: Grinning from ear to ear. Good.
Mike: How's the firm?
Jan: It's fine. I landed the Smith account.
Mike: Congratulations!
Carol sits beside her husband. Jan and Phillip sit on the couch across from them.
Mike: How are classes going?
Phillip: I have a new TA this semester. He's teaching the entry level courses, and it's a big relief to be able to dedicate more time for research.
Mike: Good! I hope it goes well. Crystal shifts in her grandfather's arms. You waking up, kiddo? Crystal briefly opens her eyes.
Jan: How's Carolyn? I bet she's ready to have the baby.
Carol: She is. She's got a couple months left to go.
Jan: She still not telling what it is?
Carol: Nope. She thinks it's another girl, but Jason really wants a boy.
Jan: But they do know, don't they?
Carol: They do, but they're not telling anyone.
Jan: Looks at Phillip and grins. I understand too. Phillip and I will probably find out, but aren't going to tell anyone.
Mike and Carol sit in stunned silence.
Carol: Smiles, as she realizes what her daughter is saying. Jan, are you?
Jan: Grins. We are! I'm nearly four months along.
Carol: Excited. What?
Jan: Takes a couple pictures out of her purse, handing one to each of her parents. We just found out today.
Carol: Embraces her daughter. Congratulations!
Mike: Shakes Phillip's hand. Congratulations!
Carol: Do the girls know?
Jan: Not yet. We came here straight from the OB/GYN's office.
Phillip: We're going to my folks' house next.
Mike: Hugs his daughter. Congratulations.
Jan: Chuckles. I just can't believe it! We tried for so long. Then, we decided that having one naturally wasn't what was meant for us.
Carol: I guess it was meant to be.
Jan: Grins. Since we have two girls, I hope this one is a boy.
They talk a few more minutes about the baby, sharing their excitement about this surprise.
Phillip: Checks his watch. We've got to get to my folks' house before we have to pick Grace up from daycare.
Carol: Still holding Ruby. Congratulations again.
Back to the present:
The Brady kids are crying.
Carolyn: No matter how many grandchildren they had, mom and dad were just as excited as they were when they first became grandparents.
Greg: They were proud of our kids. They were proud of us too.
Jan: Cindy, remember when you won football homecoming queen as a freshman?
Carolyn: Mom and dad were so surprised.
Cindy: So was I.
1977.
Westdale is playing Coolidge. Because Cindy is in the Homecoming Court, she doesn't cheer with her team. Greg and Nora save seats for the rest of the family:
Greg: Mom, Dad! Up here.
Ryan: Races up the bleachers. Greg! He trips and hits his head on one of the seats and cries.
Mike: Scoops up his son. You okay, Buddy?
Ryan nods.
Mike: Comforts him. I think you'll be okay. Next time, don't run up the stairs.
Ryan: Yes, Daddy.
Carol holds Carolyn's hand as they join Greg and Nora.
Nora: Hi, Carolyn!
Carolyn: Hi, Norwa! I wearned to dance in bawwet. She starts to dance.
Carol: Stops her. Not here.
Nora: I'll have to come over sometime to watch you dance.
Carolyn: Okay!
Soon, Alice and Sam join the family.
Carolyn: Waves. Sam!
Sam: Hiya, cutie!
Carolyn: Hi, Sam! Hi, Awice!
Sam: Speaks and signs. How are you?
Carolyn: I wearned to dance in bawwet!
The pre-game show is heating up. The announcer starts the show.
Announcer: Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Westdale High School Homecoming, Nineteen seventy-seven! Tonight, the mighty Westdale Cyclones plays the Coolidge Farmers.
Thunderous applause erupts as he continues.
Announcer: At half-time, we crown the Homecoming Court, including crowning this year's Homecoming Queen. We welcome back Nineteen seventy-six Homecoming Queen Jan Brady, to crown this year's queen. As tradition dictates, Jan leads off the parade. In the car behind her, we have this year's senior nominees, Shelley Jenkins, Theresa Fields, and Darci Brown. Next, we have this year's junior nominees Maddie Brush, Aspyn Fields, and Mary Sue Hobbs. Behind them are this year's sophomore nominees, Martha Pope, Sylvia Perry, and Deanna Tripp. And in the last car, are the freshman nominees, Cindy Brady, Pamela Murphy, and Ashley Johnson
Ryan: There's Jan and Cindy!
Mike: Go Jan! Atta girl, Cindy!
Carol: Oh, my baby girls! They're growing up so fast!
Nora: I love Cindy's dress! It's is absolutely gorgeous! She is stunning! Marcia, did you make it?
Marcia: I did.
Nora: It's gorgeous.
Alice whistles.
Announcer: Next, we've got the class floats, and team floats and kool kars... Coming up, is the Sophomore kool kar, driven by Bobby Brady.
Ryan: Hey wow! There's Bobby!
Peter: The car looks great!
Soon, it's time to announce the members of each team. The president of Westdale's student council delivers the invocation, then the announcer introduces Freemont's team. The Westdale and Fillmore cheerleading squads gather into two lines, with each school's squad holding banners through which the team will run.
Announcer: Here's the moment we've been waiting for! Introducing the 1977 Westdale Cylcone Varsity Football team!
The crowd cheers as the percussion line of the marching band begins to play. Greg and Peter take pictures. As the announcer introduces each member of the football team, they run through the make-shift tunnel and burst through both banners. The cheerleaders run behind the football team, and take their places on the track.
Halftime!
It's halftime. Westdale has a sizeable lead over Coolidge. The crowd's a buzz with excitement. The band performs their halftime show.
Carol: Mike, it's time! She squeezes her husband's arm. She's almost giddy with excitement. Go Cindy!
Announcer: It's time for the crowning of the Nineteen seventy-seven Homecoming Court. In ninth grade, we have Cindy Brady, escorted by Luis Freeman. Cindy is the daughter of Mike and Carol Brady...
Carol just about can't control her excitement.
Announcer: Here are the nominees for Homecoming Court, nineteen seventy-seven. And now, to crown the Nineteen seventy-seven Homecoming Queen is Jan Brady.
The crowd breaks out in applause. Carol hangs on to Mike. Greg and Peter take pictures and movies on the Super 8.
Carol: Oh Mike, Cindy's just gotta win!
Ryan: Go, Cindy!
Carolyn: Go, Jan!
Shelley and Cindy look at each other with excitement, and send good vibes each other's way.
Mike: Carol, loosen your grip. You're hurting me.
Carol: Sorry.
Jan takes the field. Cindy and Shelley are getting very nervous.
Announcer: For Sophomore Princess, the winner is Martha Pope.
The Bradys look at each other in confusion.
Carol: Getting excited. Mike! They didn't announce Freshman Princess. That means Cindy won Queen!
Mike: Chuckles. We don't know yet.
Jan crowns Martha, and the announcer continues. Shelley becomes increasingly nervous.
Announcer: For Junior Princess, the winner is Aspyn Fields.
Jan crowns Aspyn. Cindy, too, becomes increasingly nervous.
Announcer: And for Senior Princess, the winner is Shelley Jenkins.
Cindy: Way to go, Shelley!
The Fillmore Varsity Cheerleaders cheer with excitement for their former captain, and the Westdale Cheerleaders also cheer for their varsity captain.
Jan crowns Shelley
Announcer: For the first time in the history of Westdale High School, our homecoming queen comes from the freshman class.
Carol: Nervous. She's gotta win!
Mike: Chuckles. Calm down. You're about to crawl out of your skin.
Announcer: And now, the moment you have been waiting for, our nineteen seventy-seven homecoming queen is Cindy Brady!
Carol: Squeals. Mike, our baby won!
Marcia: Yeah, Cindy!
Ryan: Yeah, Cindy!
Nora: Greg, she won!
Greg takes pictures as Peter films. Cindy, speechless, steps forward and Jan crowns her. She tries to fight back tears of joy.
Announcer: Here is your Homecoming Court for nineteen seventy-seven! The crowd cheers as Cindy gets in the lead convertible and waves. Here is her Court. The crowd cheers as Shelley, Aspyn, and Martha get in the second car. Give a cheer for Homecoming Court, Nineteen seventy-seven! The cars circle the track and the girls wave to the crowd.
Carol: Tears of joy are rolling down her cheeks. Mike, she looks so happy!
Peter: Yeah Cindy!
Nora: This is so neat! I'm so happy for her.
Greg: Me too.
The game winds down with a Westdale victory. Jan makes her way over to her sister to congratulate her.
Jan: Embraces her sister. Congratulations, sis!
Cindy: Thanks!
Shelley and Cindy give each other celebratory hugs.
Shelley: Congratulations!
Cindy: You too!
Shelley: You deserve it!
Cindy: I could've sworn you would've won.
Shelley: Dismisses. Ah, that's okay. I'm happy you won.
The Bradys find the newest Homecoming royalty. Carol hugs her daughter.
Carol: Congratulations!
Cindy: Thanks!
Mike: Congratulations!
Cindy: Grinning from ear to ear. Thanks!
Peter snaps a picture of Cindy, with Jan and their parents.
Carol: I'm so proud of you!
Cindy: Blushes. I can't believe I won. I figured Shelley would win. A senior always wins.
Jan: Hugs her sister. It was an honour to crown my sister Homecoming Queen.
Marcia: Hugs her sisters. We each got to crown our younger sister.
Cindy takes her crown and puts it on Carolyn's head.
Cindy: Playfully. And now, I'll crown my younger sister.
Carolyn giggles and Greg takes a picture of the Brady girls.
Greg: Mom, dad, let me get a picture with you two in there.
Mike and Carol pose with their girls.
Back to the present:
Jan: Mom kept the picture the four of us girls made with each of us crowning the younger sister beside her bed.
Nora: Did you guys use one of Marcia's or Jan's princess crowns for Carolyn?
Carolyn: No, they used Jan's basketball homecoming queen crown.
Christine: Carolyn, did you ever get homecoming queen?
Carolyn: No, I was never nominated. Really wasn't my thing.
Cindy: Peter, mom was so proud when you got elected to State Senator.
Christine: That was one of the happiest moments in my life too.
Peter blushes.
Election night, 2010:
The Bradys are at Peter's campaign headquarters, watching the election returns. The mood is festive, with California state flags and colours adorning the room. There is a net above, holding balloons, that will drop when the final returns are in.
Campaign Assistant: Latest returns are in! You're ahead of Senator Castro, 51 to 49 percent!
Christine: Hugs her husband. You won!
Peter: Blushes. Only ten percent of the precincts have reported.
Carol: Christine's right. I think you've done it.
Chris: I wish I'd been old enough to vote. You would've had my vote.
Joseph: Mine too.
Jonathan: Sardonically. Not mine.
Joseph glares at his younger brother.
Tiffany: I had fun working on your campaign, getting to meet lots of new people.
Peter: And that's the main thing. We've gotten to know people and hear their concerns.
Tiffany: When I'm old enough, I want to run for Councilman, then mayor, and then Senator.
Peter: Smiles. And you'd be a good one.
Campaign Assistant: Less jubilant. Twenty percent of the precincts reporting. Senator Castro leads you sixty to forty percent.
The room grows somber.
Carol: Tries to cheer the crowd up. The night's not over. There's still a lot of the state yet to report in. We can still do this. Remember, we're stronger together!
Crowd: Cheers. Stronger together!
The night continues to be tense, as the vote tallies alternate from being in Peter's favour to Castro's and back to Peter's. The optimistic mood waxes and wanes. Robbie and his garage band, The Flamingo Testimony, plays heavy metal versions of "The Star Spangled Banner," "God Bless America," "California Dreamin'," and "I Love You, California."
Campaign Assistant: Ninety-five percent of the precincts are reporting in!
The crowd grows silent, anticipating the results.
Campaign Assistant: Congratulations, Senator Peter Brady! Senator Castro's preparing to give his concession speech!
Chris: What's the margin of victory?!
Campaign Assistant: Fifty-five to forty-five! This includes Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County, Riverside, and San Bernardino! You won all but Los Angeles county.
Christine: You did it! She embraces her husband.
Peter: No, we all did it.
Carol: Hugs her son. I'm proud of you!
Campaign Assistant: It's Senator Castro on the phone.
The crowd cheers, and Peter walks off the stage to answer the phone. Robbie's band resumes playing.
Peter: Steps back on the stage. That was Senator Castro, calling to congratulate us on our win tonight. I don't say "my win," because it took all of us, all of our hard work.
The crowd cheers, and the nets open up, releasing the balloons. Robbie's band plays "Celebration." Peter invites his wife, children and mother on stage. The crowd cheers and some play with the balloons.
Carol: Hugs her son. I'm proud of you and your father would've been so proud too.
Peter: Thanks, mom!
Back to the present:
Greg: And when Ryan joined the architecture firm.
Jan: I asked Dad to pick out the top five resumes, and Ryan's was one of the top five.
Peter: Wouldn't he have known whose was whose?
Jan: I scrubbed the names and the identifying markers.
1996:
Mike and Jan look through resumes. He picks out five he things are the best.
Mike: I like these. They really stand out... especially "G". If I were the hiring manager, I'd hire that one.
Jan: Smiles. You sure?
Mike: Absolutely.
Jan: Grinning. You want to call him, and let him know he's got the job?
Mike: How would I know who this one is? You did a good job making the resumes blind.
Jan: You picked Ryan's resume. Takes a paper out of her briefcase. Here is his resume.
Mike: Reads it and chuckles. I did pick my own son's resume.
Jan: I'll call him and then you can tell him. Dials Ryan's number. Hey, Ry. I'm here with Dad and we've gone over the resumes. He's got something to tell you.
Ryan: 'Kay?
Mike: Ry, you've got the job! Congratulations!
Carol walks into the office at this time and smiles.
Ryan: Shocked. What? I got it?!
Mike: Yes, you did. Your resume really stood out.
Ryan: Still in disbelief. But there were others with more experience.
Mike: But yours showed the most potential. It's not always the one with the most experience, but the one who shows growth potential. Grins. So, are you okay with working for your sister?
Ryan: Excited. Yeah! I've always wanted to work at your... erm... her firm. Remember when I was three and drew on your plans?
Mike: Chuckles. I do. A tear escapes his eye. I still have that drawing. I'm really proud of you, son!
Carol: Lemme talk to him.
Ryan: Thanks, Dad!
Mike: Your mom wants to talk to you.
Carol: Grabs the phone. Congratulations! I knew you could do it!
Ryan: Thanks, mom!
Jason rushes into the office, in a panic.
Jan: Jason?
Jason: I'm taking Carolyn to the hospital. She's in labour.
Carol: Oh! Ryan, we've gotta go. Carolyn's in labour.
Ryan: Okay. Tell her good luck.
Carol: We will.
They hang up.
Jason: Crystal and Ruby are asleep.
Carolyn: From he living room. Jason!
Mike: You'd better get going. We'll take care of the girls.
Jason: Thanks. He rushes out.
Carol: Smiles. You're next.
Jan: Places her hand over her baby. I never thought I would be.
A baby cries.
Carol: That's Ruby.
Mike: Bring her to me. I know Crystal will be up shortly.
As if on cue, another baby cries.
Jan: I'll get Ruby and you get Crystal before I go.
Back to the present:
Jan: Somber. Ryan was my best employee ever. I wanted to make him a partner like dad did with me.
Greg: Kevin loves working with you.
Jan: Don't tell him, but I plan to make him a junior partner soon.
Nora: Excited. Really?
Bobby: Halee's really enjoyed interning there.
Jan: And she's a great intern. Does she know where she wants to go next?
Tracy: She's going to put her app into your firm.
Jan: Remember, I don't personally look at the resumes until the committee hands me the top five, and then I look at them blind. So, when I pick my favourite, I won't know whose it is until the committee tells me. That way, there's little chance of nepotism going on.
Tracy: She knows it's a long shot, but she hopes to work for you.
Jan: She's a good worker. I'd be happy to have her.
-End of Chapter 4-