The Secret Life of the American Teenager and the character's are the product of Brenda Hampton and the Producers ABCFAMILYCHANNEL. I own nothing but the story and plot.
Sorry about the dates it is not 2019, but 2022. This scene takes place four day's after Ricky and Amy agree to separate. Amy has made plans to visit Ashley in Italy with the help of Ashley's husband. Ashley has been given strict instructions to remain in bed for the rest of her pregnancy. Grace wants to go to Italy with Amy, and connect with Ashley but she is also due to give birth soon. Ben and Adrian have yet to speak, and his operation is nearing and the Boykewich INT. Board are preparing to follow Leo's instruction on the company. John is angry about leaving and goes to see Ricky about allowing him to stay behind.
FATHER TO SON
John: Dad I don't want to go to Italy, with mom and Jaime. I have school, and friends here.
Ricky: John, your mom hasn't seen your aunt Ashley in almost eight years. You, haven't seen her either, and your brother has never even met her.
John: But, that is what she wanted, she is the one who left home to go to Italy. Why can't she come here.
Ricky: Well she's pregnant, and can't travel. Plus your mom and she have issues that they both need to work out, and have been avoiding. You mom is only trying to reach out to her before her children are born.
John: But, Dad shouldn't mom be going on her own then. It is her sister that is pregnant.
Ricky: Maybe, but your mom you and Jaimee to get some culture, and get closer as well.
John: Mom doesn't have a right to do this to me, and you. She's always messing things up for everyone.
Ricky: John don't say that about your mother?
John: But, Dad look at all of this. Mom only thinks about herself, and she wants to be with Grampa Leo's son Ben. I hate both of them.
Ricky: (looks at John sternly) John, I know that you are mad and angry at everything that has been happening to you. God knows, I would be too if I were you so I can't blame you, but you have no right to blame your mom or Ben for what's been going on between us. If you should blame anyone it's me.
John: Dad, you didn't do anything you're a guy and all guys have needs. If mom didn't want to meet those needs then you have a right to find someone who can.
Ricky: John you're only twelve years old who told you all this crap?
John: My friend Blake. His dad sleeps around on his mom all the time, and his dad told him that.
Ricky: Then your friend Blakes' dad needs serious help, even more help than me.
John: But dad?
Ricky: No more butt's John! (becoming harsh) Stop trying to blame your mom for something that is my fault.
John: Dad, how can I not. You're the one who is always there. How can you stand there, and defend them?
Ricky: That's because I owe it to both you and your mom, as well as your aunt Ashley, Grampa Leo, Ben, and everyone else.
John: You didn't do anything wrong Dad.
Ricky: (looks at John, and begins to reminisce about his past.) No John, I did everything wrong. Now I'm about to do what's right. (Ricky looks at John sincerely)
John: (looks odd at his dad) Dad, all of this happened because of Ben Boykewich, I wish he would die.
Ricky: (grabs John by the collar) Don't you ever as long as you live say anything like that about Ben. You of all people owe Ben, and your aunt Ashley more than you can ever repay.
John: (looks scared at how his dad for the first time ever did something like this) Dad what are you talking about?...
Ricky: John you owe your life to Ben Boykewich and your Aunt Ashley. I, your mom, Adrian, we all owe him. Let me tell you the whole story about our life in high school. (Ricky then tells John the whole story of everything that happened, from the moment he was conceived to now. Despite how some would view it Ricky knew more about Ben's life, and the ridicule he faced more than some would think.)
John: (shocked at all his father has told him) So, mom tried to kill me before I was even born?
Ricky: Yes, Ben and Ashley were the ones who fought to make sure she kept you.
John: Dad, no offense but you were an asshole. I just can't believe you would use people like that.
Ricky: Well I did. Back then I wasn't a good man.
John: But, you had a hard childhood, and that made you do those things right? (trying not to let on he was losing the hero worship he had toward him)
Ricky: It was the excuse I used to use, but it was never the reason. John, I learned that everyone has a choice in everything they do. It doesn't matter how bad your life is, or the bad things that people have done to you. We all choose what we do, and how we handle situations. I might have had a horrible upbringing, but that doesn't give me the right to hurt people, to use people, or lie to people. I never realized that until after I caused so much turmoil in the process. I made other people suffer for all of my mistakes, because I could. I spent so much time trying to get over what my father did to me, that I never saw I was becoming like my father. My father made himself feel better, by making me, and your grandma Nora feel horrible, and treating us like crap. I did the exact same thing to every girl I slept with including your mother. The reason I changed was because of you. But Ben and Ashley loved you, and cared about you before your mother, me, or anybody else, that made me feel ashamed. It made me look at myself, and see that I was a mess, and I realized from them that I was an asshole. I changed because I didn't want you to see me as that person. I didn't want my son to be ashamed of me the same way I was ashamed of my father. I didn't want to give you a reason to be ashamed of me. Most of all I didn't want you to hate me, the way I hate my father. But, in the process I ended up hurting Ben, your aunt Ashley, and others for making the shame, my father made me feel about myself. Ben didn't know it, but he helped me more than anyone else.
John: How did he do that, Dad?
Ricky: He challenged me to be a better man. I used to use what my dad did to me to get pity, from everyone. Ben, never asked for pity from anyone for anything. He and Ash faced everything head on. Ben usually fainted, (remembering the many times Ben would collapse during a stressful situation) but he always got right back up and asked for more, that really impressed me. By him doing that it made me want to do the same. That way I knew you would be proud of me, the same way I know his daughter is proud of him.
John: But, dad you are a good man now. Doesn't that count for something.
Ricky: Yes it does. But, I only became that good man because of Ben, Ashley, and everyone else. I wanted to prove myself better than Ben, and I realize now a good man doesn't need to try and prove himself better than anyone. Your mom, and I always use to think of Ben and Ashely as just losers who couldn't cut it. Truth is they were more than any of us could hope to be. They didn't help us to get praise, or to get rewarded. They helped us because they cared about us, and they believed in us.
John: Why did they leave if they cared about everyone so much? (shocked at how Ben, and Ashley just left after everything)
Ricky: Because they were strong enough to help us when we needed them, but we weren't strong enough to help them when they needed it. Ben and Ashley gave so much of themselves that in the end they had nothing left for themselves. In the end they left to find people that were strong enough to give them what they needed.
John: What was that?
Ricky: Understanding, compassion, guidance, faith, and...love.
John: Did they find anyone?
Ricky: Your Aunt Ashley most definitely, but Ben... he is still looking, but I think now we are finally strong enough to help them, and your mom, me, and everyone else are going to try. Which is why you should go there, and help your Aunt Ashley and your mom.
John: But, Dad I'm thirteen. What can I do to help anyone?
Ricky: John you are more important than you think. Your mom loves you so much, and so did Ben and Ashley. You were so important to both of them at one point. Also at one point they were important to you.
John: Did was Ben really my first word?
Ricky: Yes, it was. It's what made me hate Ben so much. It also made me blind to all Ben lost.
John: What did he lose?
Ricky: He lost your mom, Adrian, his daughter, faith in his dad, his friends, in love, and he also lost you. I felt bad that Ben's daughter died, but I never realized he actually lost two children. You and his daughter. I knew all the names, and rumors Ben suffered through in high school. I never told anyone about it, because I always figured it wasn't my problem and none of my concern. I always thought that Ben deserved it for trying to take you from me. But the truth is he never tried to take you from me. He just loved you as if you were his own. He gave you up, because, he knew I was your father, and he didn't want to come between us.
John: Really...?
Ricky: The day you were born, your mom didn't even want me there. She told me he spoke up on my behalf so I could be there the day you were born. He even gave me a few words of wisdom that day.
John: Did he do all of that because of the relationship he had with Grampa Leo?
Ricky: Yeah, part of it was for that very reason.
John: I don't get it Dad, if Ben and Grampa Leo were so close what happened between them?
Ricky: A lot of things he (rubs his hands over his face trying to wipe away the shame he felt for his part in Ben's and Leo's separation) Mostly I think it was me. When Ben lost his daughter, something in him changed. Or I think something in him died. Instead of being his friend, and trying to repay him for all he did to help you, your mom, and me, I kinda took advantage of the situation.
John: How? (wondering what his father did to help put a wedge between Ben and Leo)
Ricky: I started taking Ben's need to be separate from Leo, and his need to be destructive as an advantage to get closer to Leo. I would even help point out some of the mistakes Ben was making to make myself look like the good guy. When actually I just wanted to look better than him too everyone else.
John: Why would you do that, I mean that was kind of low considering everything he had already went through. (feeling kind of ashamed of what his father was telling him of what he did)
Ricky: I know, but I was jealous of Ben. He and Leo had this great relationship that I always wanted to have with my own father, but never did.
John: But didn't you have Grampa Sanjay, and Grampa George?
Ricky: Yes I did, but you know how great of a man Leo was. I was a selfish person then, and even now, so I wanted that relationship. He was so strong, brave, wise, and understanding I wanted that him to be my Dad. But, I saw that with Ben around he would never see me as his son. So I just used to let Ben destroy himself, that way I couldn't really be blamed for his problems.
John: So you didn't really do anything wrong.
Ricky: No I did. I claimed to be his friend, and real friends John help you when you need them, and are there for you even when you don't need them, even if they don't want you to be. Ben and Ashley were like that to all of us.
John: So you and Aunt Ashley were friends too?
Ricky: For a time we were. When I first met her she was you mom's best friend in the world.
John: What happened between all of you.
Ricky: Me... Like everything else I started it. When your Grampa George, and Gramma Anne were together they started to have problems lots of problems. Your mom was kind of dealing with you, me, and Ben so she didn't really get affected by it. But, your Aunt Ashely was exposed to all of it. Your mom, you, me, Ben, and unlike Ben she had no outlet. She was a real loner when she was growing up, and she barely had anyone to talk to about what was going on.
John: So how did you get involved.
Ricky: I saw she was lonely and needed a friend, she also didn't like me so I thought I should win some brownie points and became her friend.
John: How did you become her friend if she didn't like you?
Ricky: I'm me, so I used to charm her, and flirt with her. Soon she and I were buds.
John: So if everything was going so well how did it all fall apart?
Ricky: I did like I always did, and I let my hormones get the best of me before I let my common sense get involved. I took my friendship with her to another level without thinking. Before I knew it she and I had gotten too close for us to separate without one of us getting hurt.
John: And the person who got hurt was Aunt Ashley?
Ricky: You're catching on real quick.
John: So you're the reason why she moved two continents, and two ocean's away? Dad you were an asshole.
Ricky: Language I'll let you get away with that once and only once... But, it wasn't just me it was all of us. Your mom, her parents, and everything else. Ashley was more mature than any of us, and that made her even more lonelier than anyone could realize. She left to stop being part of a family that kind of forgot about her. The same way Ben left because he didn't feel as if anyone cared what he was dealing with. I guess none of realized how much Ashley and Ben were sacrificing, and suffering so we could all be happy.
John: So, I was really that important to them.
Ricky: You get a birthday present, and a Christmas present from both every year don't you?
John: Yeah.
Ricky: Then yes, they really loved you just that much, and you were that important to them.
John: Well, after all that I guess I have to make an effort to get to know them, and try to help them huh?
Ricky: It's your choice, but yes you should. Do what your mom and I couldn't do.
John: Which is?
Ricky: Be the friend and family to them, that we weren't.
John: I'll try Dad, but do you ever think that maybe someday you Ben, and Aunt Ashley could ever be friends again.
Ricky: (Looks at John and considers the question) I really hope so pal, but that is up to them. If they can give us a chance again, we would really appreciate it.