Scene 9 - INT: MIRANDA AND GARY'S HOUSE - Miranda is in the kitchen, it is dark outside, a car pulls up.
MIRANDA: Its Gary's parents! They're early!
She looks at the clock, it reads half past six. Gary's parents are getting their bags out of the car. Miranda runs into the hallway.
MIRANDA: Gary!?
She looks in the mirror, she has food in her hair. Her clothes are covered in all kind of stains from the children.
MIRANDA: Gary!? Your parents are here!
A knock comes at the door.
MIRANDA: GARY!
Miranda takes a deep breath and opens the door. In walks Gary's mother, Olivia. She is 5ft11, slim build with mousey brown hair.
OLIVIA: Hello sweetheart!
Olivia hugs Miranda very tightly. Olivia is a lot less up tight than her own mother, she's not used to the affection.
OLIVIA: So? Where are they?
MIRANDA: Gary took them up for bath and bed, I'll take you on through to the bedroom and then we'll go up.
Gary's father enters, carrying two suitcases and a small bag.
ARTHUR: Good Evening! How are you?
MIRANDA: Oh the usual, just a little tired.
ARTHUR: Yeah, I can see.
Miranda looks to camera, she looks very shocked. Arthur is 6ft5, stocky build, ex policeman, still has a full head of hair which is jet black, and a hefty moustache to match. He is very abrupt. Doesn't mince his words. Miranda takes them to the guest bedroom, it is on the ground floor. The ceilings in the hallways are quite low, so Miranda and Arthur are having to bend.
ARTHUR: As two tall people, you and Gary didn't think these low ceilings through very well now did you?
MIRANDA: I'm sorry, the ceilings are quite low in the hallways, but as soon as you get into the rooms they get higher!
Olivia smiles at Miranda.
OLIVIA: Don't worry about him, he just likes to moan! The house is beautiful. How long have you been here?
MIRANDA: About 11 months.
They get to the room, there are two single beds.
MIRANDA: Now please, let me apologise. The beds, we had all intentions of redecorating this room, but we got a little sidetracked.
OLIVIA: Its okay dear, we'll just push them together!
MIRANDA: I promise next time you stay there will be a lovely comfy double bed!
Arthur puts both of the suitcases on the first bed and the small bag on the second.
OLIVIA: I told her she didn't need all of these things, but did she listen. No. No she didn't!
OLIVIA: Right let's meet these gorgeous grandchildren of ours!
Miranda leads them back out and up the stairs.
MIRANDA: Gary? You're parents are here!
She knocks on the bathroom door, it opens slightly they're not in there. Miranda's walks over to the nursery, she opens the door. Gary is sat in one of the nursing chairs. He and the twins are asleep, the two of them resting on Gary's chest.
OLIVIA: Aww, they're asleep.
Olivia walks over to them.
OLIVIA: Oh Miranda, they're beautiful!
Gary wakes.
GARY: Mum!? Dad!? What time is it?
ARTHUR: Quarter to seven son.
OLIVIA: Oh Gary can I hold them?
She sits in the other chair. Miranda walks over and takes Grace from Gary and places her in Olivia's arms. Gary gets up and walks over to his father. They shake hands.
GARY: Do you want to hold him?
Gary hands William over to his father and then walks to Miranda who has sat in the other nursing chair.
ARTHUR: He's going to be tall isn't he!
MIRANDA: They both are, we've had to return most of their clothes and get a bigger size purely because their legs are too long.
OLIVIA: It was like that with Gary and his brothers. They're all above 6ft.
Grace starts to stir.
GARY: You can give her the rest of her bottle if you like? Its the one on the right.
Olivia picks up the bottle and starts to feed Grace.
OLIVIA: Are they good? Do they sleep well?
MIRANDA: They'll have this feed and then sleep through until three o'clock, for another feed, then they sleep until about eight o'clock. So yes, they're pretty good.
OLIVIA: (To Grace) So you don't follow your daddy then, he used to have us up every hour!
Miranda gets up to let Arthur sit down.
OLIVIA: And what about their names? Have you had them registered?
GARY: We have yes.
OLIVIA: And?
GARY: And, you'll find out tomorrow.
OLIVIA: Oh Gary! I'm your mother I should be one of the first people to know!
GARY: You will be one of the first people to know! You'll all be together! Everyone will find out at the same time.
William starts to stir, Arthur picks up another bottle.
ARTHUR: Is this his?
Gary nods, Arthur feeds the bottle to William. Gary and Miranda are stood with their arms across each others backs.
OLIVIA: Well Miranda, I can honestly say, you have made me the happiest person in the world. I always hoped you two would get together!
Gary and Miranda look to each other.
OLIVIA: No and I'm not just saying that because you are together now, I genuinely mean it! I just hope his younger brothers can find someone as kind and as lovely as you!
Miranda has tears in her eyes.
OLIVIA: I've never seen my boy so happy!
Grace and William both finish their milk.
OLIVIA: Shall I put her in her crib?
MIRANDA: That would be brilliant!
GARY: We have a lovely joint of venison for tea tonight. It was caught in the nearby woods but the rangers. So very fresh.
OLIVIA: Being spoilt!
Olivia gets up and places Grace into her cot. Arthur follows with William. They four adults walk towards the door.
MIRANDA: Why don't you go on down, I just want to check something.
Gary and his parents exit. Miranda tucks both of the children in.
MIRANDA: Goodnight sweethearts, mummy loves you.
She turns the light off and joins everyone downstairs.
EXT: THE GARDEN - The next day, Miranda, Gary, Arthur, Olivia and the twins have been joined by Penny, Charles, Stevie, Andrew, Tilly, Charlie, Ophelia, Alison, Chris and the boys. Ophelia and the boys are on the trampoline. The twins are being passed from Pilar to post.
PENNY: Come on then! We're all here, what are they called?
Miranda takes William from Tilly. Gary takes Grace from Andrew.
MIRANDA: Right. Okay. Well, we wanted to go for two names that compliment each other but were also family names. As you know we found it very tough. But finally we came to a decision.
GARY: Everybody, I would like to raise a toast to William Charles and Grace Olivia Preston.
Gary's mum and Miranda's Dad both look very shocked.
MIRANDA: Or, Billy Bean and Gracie Bear!
OLIVIA: I'm speechless!
Miranda walks over to Penny.
MIRANDA: Mum? What do you think?
PENNY: Miranda, they're perfect!
Penny kisses Miranda and then takes William off of her. Miranda walks over to her dad.
MIRANDA: I just wanted to say thank you!
CHARLES: For what?
MIRANDA: If it wasn't for you I don't think I'd be the person I am today! That's why I knew I had to name my son after you. If he turns out to be half the man you are I will be so very proud.
Miranda and her dad hug. Gary is with his mum who is holding Grace.
OLIVIA: Hello there Grace! Oh Gary, this means so much to me! The family tradition ended for a while with me, I graced with three sons so wasn't able to carry it on, I'm so happy you've been able to!
GARY: Well, we were struggling so much, but when you told me the story, I knew straight away!
Gary kisses his mother and they start mingling with everyone else.
SCENE ENDS