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Morning, on Muneca Lake Beach.   

Zenobia: Because the village of Barbieville stopped hosting Pride Events, it's been unfairly labeled.  Mayor Rose-Grace Pike has been accused of homophobia and transphobia, but nothing could be farther from the truth.  (laughs) The 1810 village charter contains the following:  "Private acts by adults, inflicting no harm upon others, shall not be governed by law.  If such is sin, each of us will answer a higher authority."  The simple fact of the matter is this: Behavior of celebrants at past events brought private acts into the streets.  Celebrants who chose to be more discrete were openly mocked.  (pause for effect) This event is being hosted by me, Zenobia Malfoy, as a private citizen.  It's not fancy because almost everyone participating has volunteered.  Love is love, the details don't matter, so let's not focus on them. 

Crowd cheers.  

Zenobia: We've got no parade, but a nice little festival.  Including live music by my band Sarcastic Fringehead, which starts as soon as I pass this microphone to the lovely Whitney Darling. 

*****

Later, down by the floodwall. 

Ken: Hey, your band is good!  

Tanner: Yeah, we do all right as long as some jackass isn't yelling "Free Bird" from the crowd. (To Peeta) What the hell is that? 

Peeta: We won these for Tommy at the arcade.  Cost us a good bit, but it was totally worth it. And by the way, that was his mom yelling Free Bird.  She laughed so hard when the entire band "freed their birds" at us I thought she was gonna hurt herself. 

Tanner (shrugs): We're gonna do another set later, but Whitney had to go to work, so it'll be when she gets back.   You guys more comfortable here?  No one telling you to act more gay?

Ken: Our matching outfits and holding hands doesn't seem to be upsetting anyone on either side of the fence.  I really wish people'd stop thinking all gay men are flamers.  

Tommy: Your dad looks more like people think a gay dude should than my brother does, and he's walking around with a pretty woman! Is that your mom?  Did she rainbow her hair just for today? 

Casey: You know Dad.  He ain't gonna let being straight keep him from looking fabulous.  And no, Mom's hair is always like that.  (to Stacie) If Angus is here, who is pulling the carriage?  

Stacie: Our new mare, Ka-Gae.  She's kinda scary looking, almost totally white and she's got the blackest eyes!  Really sweet, though.  Angus will get his turn later, when Ka-Gae is tired. 

Tommy: Hey, Mommy, did you meet Casey's mom and dad?  They're so cool. 

Doreen: Yes, I met Iris and Coby at teacher conferences.  Coby is one of Ken's college instructors, too. 

Coby: You kids can ride the carriage together, if it's okay with Doreen. (laughs when Tommy and Casey get excited)  I thought you'd like that, but y'all better behave for Mr. Windu. 

Speaking of the carriage rides, The Hernandez family is returning from a pleasant jaunt around town.  

Esperanza: This is the worst Pride Festival ever.  I keep waiting for the hog-calling contest. 

Daisy: It is a little dull, but I don't mind.  (To Bertie) How did we raise a city slicker? Small town life is so much nicer. 

Bertie: Probably because we were living in a city for most of her life.  Of course, she is a grown woman and could go back if she chose, but I don't see her packing.  

Tate: I'm thinking, now that I've got the house in some kind of order, of getting a job here.  Do the rest of it at my own pace, you know?  It's not like I've got anything to go back for. 

Albus: Witch's Cove is always hiring, but it's mostly summer.  What kind of work are you looking for? 

Tate: Well, I've worked lots of janitor type jobs.  Some construction. 

Albus: Joe Montez is a contractor.  I don't know the number, but you can google him.  

Leia: Who is that fine looking slice of man? 

Boudica: Which one? 

*****

The evening winds down.  

Luna Jones relaxes at her face-painting station on the beach, listening to Sarcastic Fringehead perform requests.  One of twins is singing a duet with Whitney, some ancient love song.  Luna hopes Mom or Aunt Gwen picks her up soon - it's gotten chilly since the sun went down. 

 

 

Family Business

Albus and Pocahontas are hauling the salvageable pieces from the Haunted House fire into the woods.  By spring, the wild west train will be a spooky train.

Pocahontas: You didn't have to bring everything at once.  We can make several trips.

Albus:This isn't even close to everything.  Phoebe's still cleaning props.  (laughs)  It's a good thing she's going into a line of work that doesn't make much money - it'd be a shame to lose her.  That girl is a worker.  

Pocahontas: She could make money at it if she joins one of those ghost hunter shows.

Albus: She says the quest for ratings would ruin the science of it.  She's a keeper, I'm telling you.  (Music comes from his pocket.)  I get six calls a day telling me the IRS is after me.  

Albus: No, that's a local number.  (Answers the phone)  Hello? Yes, what is it?  What?!  No, no, I'll be right there!   (To Pocahontas) I have to go.  My camper's been destroyed!  

Pocahontas:  What happened?

Albus: I'm not sure.  It's been hit before by people pulling in or out of the spots beside it, but if Lynch said destroyed...

Pocahontas: Then it's destroyed.  Take my car, I've already unloaded it.  

As she watches him drive away, a plan begins forming in her mind.  

******

At the Barbieville Museum, a secret meeting has taken place.  

Helena: I'm meeting my children for dinner, but I wanted to show you this on the way out.  It's a good example of the variety of our exhibits. 

Morgan: When I signed on to teach at the college, I spoke to your husband and he didn't seem to think you would be open to including paleontology.

Helena: My focus is on human history, but I've hosted traveling exhibits about natural history and they were always very popular.  Children in particular find it fascinating.  

Morgan: And some of us never outgrew it!  (Both laugh)  Enjoy your lunch with your children.  I'm off to surprise my brother with the news that I'm moving to town permanently. 

Zenobia: I was starting to think you'd forgotten us.  

Helena: Don't be silly.  I'm only five minutes late.  Have you given any thought to my appearance on your show?  I want to use every source available to shut down this nonsense about The Point.

Zenobia: Didn't even have to think about it.  Did you know my subscribers doubled when I changed the name to Openly Biased?  Tris pointed out that it wasn't really a vlog, at least not any more, so my name for it didn't fit.

Boudica: I'd like to go on there and tell everyone how Charlotte Jackson treats her husband.  The poor man is in a coma and she barely stops in once a week to check on him.  His kids live halfway across the country and check in on him daily.

Helena: We do not air people's dirty laundry publicly.  

Boudica: I know.  That's why I'm not doing it.  But I sure want to! 

Helena: Speaking airing the dirty laundry of others.  Draco. 

Draco: Me?  What did I do? 

Helena: Albus Dumbledore is a pillar of the community, strange as that may be.  I've also heard that you've been making antisemitic comments about the Mellarks.

Draco: Anti-what?

Leia: He doesn't even have a working vocabulary.

Draco: Shut up.  You're adopted.  The only one with brown hair.  

Leia:  You're adopted.  The only one with -- 

Helena:  Leia! 

Leia: -- an attitude problem? 

Parenting Challenges

Pocahontas meets Midna at Sunburst for their usual lunch chat.

Esmeralda: Midna's making your lunches and will meet you on the patio.  She said it's a shame to be indoors on such a nice day.

Pocahontas: Why do you have a menu for me?  I always call in my order ahead of time.

Esmeralda: Just an old habit.  I was waiting tables when I met Marcus and my boss at the time insisted we greet customers with a menu in hand. 

Pocahontas: Really?  No wonder you took to it so quickly.  Waitressing, I mean.  

Midna:  Should you be eating burgers and fries?  Aren't you trying to lose weight for the wedding? 

Pocahontas: Seriously, girl, you are as bad as the kids.  We need to sort out more practical matters before planning a wedding ceremony.  

Midna: I still say let John make the decisions about the kids and you deal with the money matters. Even before he got any kind of formal training, he was always so good with kids, and you are...  Okay, I'll shut up about that.

Pocahontas (laughs): That is pretty much what we've decided.  The big issue right now is finding a house we all like.  The girls did say they'd be all right with sharing a room but I think Nakoma's not really on board with that.  They're so much younger than her.

Midna: Well, she's going away to college in a couple of years. 

Pocahontas: She's planning to live at home and go locally, just like I did.  Anakin's custody is still in question - his mom is doing really well in her recovery.  And John wants to have more children. 

Midna: Well, how about that.  I've never seriously pictured you as a mom. 

Pocahontas: I think I'm offended. (Laughs) Nakoma said the same thing.  Anakin said John will be the mom and I'll be the dad.  

Midna: That actually makes sense, if you ignore biology and look at traditional family dynamics.

Pocahontas: Where would any child of Cash Nedakh have learned about traditional family dynamics?

******

Later that day, the Malfoy siblings have an unexpected reunion in the park.  

Zenobia: Hey!  Long time no see! 

Leia: You're insane.  You just saw us at the country club over the weekend.

Boudica: We're gathering fall leaves for Draco's school project.  Seems a bit juvenile for his grade level, but maybe he's in Remedial Botany or something. 

Draco (indignant): It's for extra credit, I told you.  

Leia: Well, if you did your regular work properly, you wouldn't need extra credit, would you?  

Draco: Zenobia did her school work properly and look how she turned out.  Waiting tables, living in the slums, and associating with people like (indicates Albus) him.

Albus (to Zenobia): Thank you for walking with me from the greenhouse.  I'll go on ahead and let you visit with your sisters and brother. 

Zenobia: What was that?  

Boudica: Rude much?  What is wrong with Albus? 

Draco: He's probably a draft dodger and a dope fiend.  He's homeless!

Boudica: How does a draft dodger get VA benefits?  I've seen his medical records. 

Leia: Dope fiends can't keep a job and he lives at The Point in a camper.

Draco (scoffs): You call that a home?  

Albus pauses to make a call.  

Albus: Dude, I don't think Zenobia is the kid you should be worrying about.  

The Lazy Days of Summer

Leia: Can we ride this?  

Sylvia: Sorry, but no.  The opening of the Windigo has been delayed.  (Surprised, to Zenobia)  Holy cow, is that your little sister?  She's grown.

Zenobia: That's her.  She and Draco are both nearly high school age, can you believe it?

Leia: Draco can't stay in one school long enough to learn anything.  We're in the same grade now. 

After they've gotten their tickets, Zenobia leads Leia toward the gate.

Leia: I'm pretty sure Draco was the jerk commenting on your vlog that only your white friends could be bothered to help you move. 

Zenobia: I don't know who makes me madder, the ones accusing me of racism or the racists defending me.  Besides, Nakoma is an Indian and the Eaton boys are Gypsy.  

Leia: That boy Peeta was really cute.  Is he one of the Eatons?

*****

As they walk away, Nakoma arrives to relieve Sylvia at the ticket counter.  

Nakoma: Anything interesting?

Sylvia: Not much.  Except the boss says not to sit on the counter.

Nakoma: What's she gonna do?  Fire me? 

Sylvia: She'll put you on janitor duty.

Nakoma recoils at the thought and hops down as Sylvia leaves.

Nakoma (teasing): What's this?  You're slacking off while Sylvia does all the work?

John: Taking advantage of a little down time to do some studying.  Sylvia didn't mind.

Nakoma: Me, either.  I'm glad for you - not glad that you made the mistakes that put you in this position, but glad you get the chance to fix them. 

John: It was only one mistake, but she was a huge one.  If it weren't for Roxy and Kelly...

He's interrupted by Pocahontas bringing the lunchbox Nakoma forgot.

Pocahontas: Please don't finish that sentence, John.  

**** 

McG has fled the noise of Lee's home restoration, but her quiet time with a book gets interrupted.

Fred: Grandma, can you find us some ghost videos?  

Kelly: Ghosts are pretend!

Fred: No way, she lives in a ghost house, don't you, Grandma?

Nikki: Have you seen anything, you know, ghostly?  They say renovations can stir spirits up.

McG: Nothing of consequence.  Movement in the edge of my vision, perhaps.

Taylor: Alex's dad is part of a ghost hunter team.  I bet they'd come check it out for you. 

McG: I'll keep that in mind in case our cabinets start opening themselves and spewing their contents.

*******

Brent relaxes after a long day at work by video chatting with his sister and her family.

Brent: Good news.  The Tank is ours for the week, but we are bringing along another driver.  One of Whitney's friends, a real nice girl.  Where's Esper?

Esperanza (stepping into frame): I'm here!  Rehearsal ran over and then I got stuck behind a granny with no gas pedal.

Daisy: Sit down.  We don't want to look up your skirt and neither does Uncle Brent.

Esperanza: Shove over.  The camera range is only so big, you know.

Daisy: Sorry, Brent.  You know how teenagers are.

Brent: Well, she's right.  I can't imagine if we all crammed into view on my end like you suggested.

Bertie (laughing): The little one could sit on your lap.  That only leaves, what, four of you? 

Daisy: Why isn't Whitney's boyfriend driving?  His parents own the thing, right?