Happy Families

[DaVeyWaVey]

INT. JOHNSON'S HOUSE - EVENING

Harry and Jenna are sitting at the kitchen table, eating their tea. Harry looks exhausted, whilst Jenna has a smile of glee on her face.

Harry: What are you so happy about?

Jenna: I've got some news Harry, and I wanted to tell you at the right time!

Harry: Well we're both sat down at the table eating our tea, so maybe now is the best time to say...what is it?

Jenna: I'm pregnant!

Harry starts choking on the sausage in his mouth.

Harry: Your what!?

Jenna: Pregnant Harry, you know...I'm having a baby!

Harry: How the bloody hell did that happen!?

Jenna: Really love, do I need to tell you the tale of the birds and the bees?

Harry: No I mean...we've hardly done it! How can you be pregnant!?

Jenna: We've had sex Harry! That's how I got pregnant, I suppose we were just lucky as we've only done it once or twice, sometimes it takes ages for couples to concieve..

Harry: (annoyed) I don't believe this!

Jenna: (oblivious to his mood) Neither can I! It's such brilliant news isn't it!? Oh Harry, i'm so happy! It's like my dreams have come true, we're going to have a baby! We need to get over to the Cat Flap and tell everyone the good news!

Harry: Hang about... I don't want anyone knowing!

Jenna: Why not!?

Harry: You could tell everyone and then end up losing it! You'll look like a fool if that happened!

Jenna: Oh love! Stop being so cynical!

Jenna smiles at Harry, happily. Harry doesn't look impressed.

[DaVeyWaVey]

INT. GALLAGHER'S HOUSE - EVENING

Jack knocks on the Gallaghers' front door. Sean answers it, with a surprised look on his face.

Sean: Didn't expect you to be knocking on my front door! You really do have a nerve coming round here!

Jack: I've come to see my daughter actually, we need to talk..

Sean: Well i'm afraid she doesn't want to talk to you!

Jack: I'd prefer it if I actually heard those words from the horse's mouth.

Sean: Look, I know why your here...to get your precious daughter back home, but I'm afraid it's not going to work, you're wasting your time..

Jack: Christina will see sense! She'll know that her family is worth more than you and come back to her rightful home..

Sean: I wouldn't be so sure about that..she's decided to stay here, didn't you get the message over the phone when she rang you!?

Jack: You think a phone call is going to make me give up on my own daughter! Anyway, I've just come round to talk to her, I'm her father for god sake! You can't prevent me from talking to her!

Sean: When I've finished with her Jack, she'll mean nothing to you..you won't be her father, once I've got my way, she'll think that she no longer has a father!

Hearing these words, Jack angrily punches Sean in the face. Sean falls back, surprised by Jack's reaction.

Jack: You really couldn't give a crap about my daughter could you eh!?

[DaVeyWaVey]

INT. CAT FLAP PUB - NIGHT

Jenna has forced Harry to go to the pub with her.

Harry: I really don't think this is a good idea..

Jenna: Like I said, your being pessimistic!

Harry: It's not just that, I want to keep our private lives private! I don't want everyone knowing our business..

Jenna: Harry, everyone in this pub are our friends! They would want to know our good news..

Nina suddenly rings the bell, where the whole pub fall silent.

Nina: Ok everyone...Jenna has told me that she and Harry have a very special announcement to make, so please don't keep us in suspense, tell all!

Jenna starts talking with a beaming smile. She holds Harry's hand, as Harry tries to force a smile on his face.

Jenna: Well we just wanted to tell you all that I'm pregnant! Me and Harry are expecting a baby!

Nina: Jen! Congratulations!

The whole pub start cheering and clapping for the happy news. Mike looks over at Harry, guessing he isn't very impressed with this news.

[DaVeyWaVey]

EXT. CAT FLAP PUB - NIGHT

Pat comes out of the pub, leaving the celebrations of Harry and Jenna's good news to answer a phone call.

Pat: Yes..Hello..

Frank: I'm coming Pat...I'm on way, and I'm going to tell Dave who I really am..

Pat: Frank!

Frank hangs up.

Pat: Frank! You can't do this!

Pat smashes her phone against the concrete floor.

Pat: (to self) Jesus!

[DaVeyWaVey]

INT. PAT'S CAFE - MORNING

We see a middle aged man standing at the cafe door. He is Frank - Dave's real father. Pat opens the door.

Frank: Surprise!

Pat: Jesus Christ, your Frank!?

Frank: Yes.. Dave's real father, and I'm here to see him..

Pat: Just get lost will you!? I don't know why you've decided to interfere in my life now!

Frank: I don't want to interfere with your life, I just want to get to know my son! I want to make up for lost time..

Pat: Well like I've said countless times before, it's too late!

Pat tries to shut the door on Frank, but Frank overpowers Pat and barges into the cafe.

Frank: Got a cup of coffee going?

Pat: You've got a nerve!

Frank: Asking for a cup of coffee!? It's cold out there now, I need something to warm me up..

Pat: Just get out! Leave! I don't want you here!

Frank: But Dave might want me to stay here, he might want to see his father..

Pat: He's only ever mentioned you once Frank, and that's when he was a young boy, wondering where his father was!

Frank: And what did you say?

Pat: I told him that you were dead..

Frank: You told him what!?

Pat: What was I meant to say eh!? That you buggered off abroad and couldn't give a **** about your own son!? That would have really helped wouldn't it!? And besides, when you left, you never gave any hint whatsoever that you might come back!

Frank: Well it's about time he knew the truth wasn't it eh!?

Pat: He's going to hate me if he knows your alive!

Frank: Serves you right for lying to him then doesn't it!? I don't know what's worse, me leaving in the first place or you lying to your own son!

As Frank says this, Dave walks into the cafe.

Dave: Lying to me!? Mum?

Frank: It's about time he knew the truth Pat, and if your not going to tell him yourself, I will..

Pat looks at Frank and then at Dave, a paniced look on her face. She realises she has no choice.

Pat: Dave..this is your father, Frank..

Dave looks at Frank and then at his mother, in utter shock and amazement.

[DaVeyWaVey]

EXT. LOCAL HOSPITAL - MORNING

Luke and Tanya are walking towards the car. Tanya has just been discharged.

Luke: Are you feeling ok?

Tanya: Really, I'm fine! And when I get home, I don't want a fuss alright!? I'm perfectly capable!

Luke: We're not saying that you aren't, we just all want to look out for you that's all, take care of you..

Tanya: I can take care of myself! I don't need looking after!

Luke: Ok, but just promise me to give up on the drink a little yeh?

Tanya: Your speaking to me like a child! I'll do what I want Luke, I'll drink whenever I like..you think a trip to the hospital is going to stop me drinking!?

Luke: You put your life at risk Tan! You were lucky, it could have been a lot more serious!

Tanya: Just drop it Luke, yeah!?

Tanya gets into the car. We see Luke with a concerned expression on his face.

[DaVeyWaVey]

INT. PAT'S CAFE - MORNING

Pat: Dave..this is your father, Frank..

Dave looks at Frank and then at his mother, in utter shock and amazement.

Dave: (confused) My father!? But my father is dead!

Frank: Your mother lied Dave! I'm your father..

Dave: What!? But my mum wouldn't lie!

Frank: Well I'm afraid she did...I walked out on you and your mother.. and she told you that I was dead!

Dave: Is this some kind of joke!?

Dave looks at Pat, to try and get an answer. She has a nervous look on her face. Dave's face turns to anger.

Dave: Don't tell me it's true!

Pat: It's true..

Dave: He's my father!? But you told me that dad was dead!

Pat: Well I lied alright!? I'm sorry!

Dave: You lied! How could you mum!? When I asked you about him, I wanted a truthful answer, but you lied!

Pat: Look your dad pissed off abroad! What was I meant to say eh!? I didn't want to upset you..

Dave: Upset me!? You upset me by telling me he was dead!

Pat: I didn't want you to think that your father didn't want you!

Dave: I can't believe you lied!

Pat: (to Frank) See what you've done!

Frank: I didn't want to start any fights, I came back to get to know my son! It's your own fault that you told him I was dead!

Pat: If you didn't turn up, he wouldn't have found out the truth! You made your choice years ago when you decided to leave, so why didn't you stick with it eh!?

Dave: I just can't believe this...I just can't! I can't get my head round it!

Frank: You just need time to take it in..

Pat: (to Frank) You're just here to cause havoc aren't you eh!? Thought you would throw a spanner in the works!

Frank: It's not like that! This would have been easier if I you didn't lie about me being six feet under!

Pat: I was doing what I thought was best! I thought you pissed off forever!

Frank: Well you were wrong, so don't blame me, if your own son disowns you!

Dave is sat down, struggling to come to terms with his father turning up. Pat looks at Frank, clearly very upset.

[DaVeyWaVey]

INT. CAMPBELL'S HOUSE - DAY

Luke gets a phone number from a phone book and dials the number into the phone.

Luke: Hi..I would like to sign up for a drinking class...yeh, Tanya Campbell...every Tuesday afternoon? Yeah...11 Hinston Street, ok that's great, thanks..bye now..

Luke hangs up. Tanya comes into the room.

Tanya: Who was that?

Luke: Look Tan, I was thinking..

Tanya: Who was on the phone!?

Luke: I've signed you up for some drinking classes, that's who I was speaking too...I was speaking to the drinking specialist who runs the classes..

Tanya: What!?

Luke: Look I know you might react badly to it at first, but it's for your own good!

Tanya: You went behind my back to phone some shrink for me!

Luke: Tan! It's not like that!

Tanya: What was like it then!? How could you?!

Luke: You need help...I'm just looking out for you!

Tanya: I don't need any help at all! I'm fine and I don't understand why you don't see that!

Tanya storms out, angrily. Luke is left frustrated.

[DaVeyWaVey]

INT. CAMPBELL'S HOUSE - DAY

Tanya is sitting at the kitchen table, reading a magazine. Tina comes into the kitchen, and pours out some orange juice in a cup. She sits down next to her mother.

Tanya: Shouldn't you be doing your homework or something?

Tina: Mum...I've come to talk to you..

Tanya: Oh dear, what's the problem? You've only ever wanted to speak to me when you have some kind of problem! So come on, spit it out, tell me everything...that's what mothers are for!

Tina: Mum, this isn't about me! It's about you..

Tanya: What do you mean?

Tina: You know what I mean mum! I've been talking too dad, he's really concerned about you, well, we all are..

Tanya: Look there's nothing wrong with me! Just drop it yeah!?

Tina: No I won't drop it! Mum, why can't you see that you have a problem eh!?

Tanya: I don't have a problem!

Tina: You do and it's about time that you seen that! If you carry on, your going to drink yourself to death! And all because of dad and his affair! I can't believe he's resorted you to this!

Tanya: It helps me blot out the pain that I got hurt by your father, can't you see that!?

Tina: No I can't see that! You drinking just makes things worse! Surely to get dad back, you shouldn't be drinking yourself into oblivion!? Your wasting your life away by getting drunk every night of the week, and we are left to worry and pick up the pieces! If you carry on like this, your gonna lose me and probably the rest of this family...is that what you want!?

Tina storms out of the kitchen after giving her mother a lecture. Tanya is left to ponder on what her daughter has said.

[DaVeyWaVey]

INT. PAT'S CAFE - DAY

Dave is sat down in shock, following the revelation that Frank is his father. Pat and Frank are sitting down opposite him. Frank keeps composed, whilst it's clear that Pat has been crying.

Frank: Not going to open the cafe today?

Pat: What do you think eh!?...Of course i'm not! I don't want the residents in here finding out about what's been going on!

Dave: Oh yeah! We wouldn't want anyone else finding out that you lied about my father being dead!

Pat: Please Dave, don't make me more upset..it's hurt me that your father has turned up in the first place, I don't need you having a go at me as well..

Frank: What do you expect eh!? You lied to your own son!

Pat: (to Frank) You should be the one that he's having a go at! You were the one who left us after all, so dpn't try and pin all this on me with the white lie I told!

Frank: (to Pat) It was more than a white lie!

Dave: (interrupting, to Frank) All I want to know is why you left!

Pat: He left because he didn't want me or you!

Dave: Enough mum! I want to hear this from the horse's mouth.

Frank: I left because I couldn't handle the responsibility of becoming a father, it's not that I didn't love you or your mother..

Pat: If you loved us, you wouldn't have pissed off to Spain, simple as that!

Frank: I was scared alright!? That's why I left you both! The day I left, I didn't even know if I could go through with leaving, I loved you both...but I couldn't get my head round, being in a family...I wasn't ready for that commitment, I needed to get away.. think about things..

Pat: For 19 years! How pathetic!

Frank: I was pathetic, yes! Now I look back, I don't know why I even left you both...coming back today, made me realise how much I truly left behind, and back 19 years ago, I suppose I didn't know how much I was leaving behind, but believe me, I've changed!

Pat: People never change! No matter how hard you try Frank, you will never change! To me, you'll always be the one that left me in the lurch with Dave, left me to cope all on my own! Do you know how much hurt I felt!? Those first few months of having Dave, I felt so cheated, so hurt! I loved you, loved you so much, and you betrayed me, it hurt so much that I nearly felt like giving up, but I knew I had to stay strong, for Dave and Felicity's sakes, which is why I never gave up!

Frank: You have to believe me though, I have changed! Back then, I was an idiot, I didn't know how much I hurt people and I wasn't facing up to responsibility, but now I'm back, the complete opposite to all I've said and I want to get to know my son, if he'll let me..

Frank looks at Dave, hopeful. Dave looks on, trying to take in everything that has been said.