SUBURBAN WAYS: A CHRISTMAS AFFAIR
In this special episode, we say goodbye to a long-standing resident.
THE CLUB
Ronnie stands against the bar as she sipped her drink that evening. Full of people were gathering on to the dance floor and she pondered what time her rival would be getting to the club. Hannah Smith, bride to be of Max Burns.
Not knowing what she would say, she knew that she had to say something and that she is in love Max and that she would be with him and not her.
He is shaking hands with regulars, smiles he spots her from afar. He shakes and touches the shoulder of his clientele and heads over to the bar. “Maxwell” she called to him excitedly.
“I thought you left” he replied to her.
“There is some things I could not just leave behind unfished,” she said.
“The results were clear I AM not the father,” whispered into her ear angrily.
“It’s not just that Max” she smiled. He grabs her by the arm and takes her into the office. It was the same office he and Ronnie had a romantic liaison.
“I told you to get out and never come back” she shook her head.
“Not going to happen” she smiled, taking out some keys from her bag and waving them in front of him.
“After numerous landlords. I have acquired the Inn and its mine, well Leo’s as well so we went halves” she smiled.
He leaned over and took her hand with the keys.
“If you ever come near me or Hannah or try and ruin our wedding. You’ll be sorry” She took her hand away and hurried to the door.
“NO Max, it won’t be me who will be doing that” she blew him a kiss.
“Chow until the next time” she said and left the room. Max slams his hand onto the table.
Scene: The Farm
He rushes into the barn and shuts the door behind him. “Where are you, are you in here?” From a shadow, the figure steps forward and there in front of him a woman stood with red silky hair. “I don’t know why you bothered meeting in here quite frankly Mickey!”
“THE only place we can talk you know that…when it comes down to business that is!”
She crossed her arms and leaned back onto the haystack. “So what is it?”
“I got a proposition for you and Marcus, you two want a business and I got one” she rolled her eyes at him.
“My father in law” he replied.
“So what you want to buy him out. His whole family is here Mickey you cannot just buy him out. He only just got here! Are you serious?”
“This is insane Mickey, I’m not sure”
Mickey stood by the door not letting her out. “You know who will also have capital interest on this property and I think if we pull our heads together we can manage to succumb some capital.”
Missy shakes her head. “No, not in a million years will I even think of contacting her!”
Missy sat on some hay as he knelt down towards her. “Look I know she can be tough as nails but she is the only one who can help us here” he called.
“We’re digging into our past Mickey I don’t think I can go there again, not with her and certainly not bringing up the ghost!”
“You have Marcus now, you got me and no one will pass this barrier! I do love Ivy I do but this place has promise and with Philip involved he is going to run In it into the ground.”
THE ROBINSONS’
Joyce Robinson Philips looked at her new wedding family photo and smiled, she took the old one with her deceased husband and daughter, stroked it a little and out it away into the cupboard. Life goes on she thought. Jasmine stood by the door, Kens’ wife. “Are you okay?”
“Just been thinking about this place that’s all and all that’s happened. My accident and new marriage. This place needs a revamp or somewhere new entirely”
“What are you thinking?”
“I don’t want us to move Jasmine I want us to begin afresh and I think a new lick of paint, furniture and the works.”
Jasmine sat on the bed and peered over the decorating magazines. “I see you have been looking at this all ready” she smiled.
“Mum has some great taste, you should ask her and she’s on sabbatical.” She clasped her hands. “I don’t want to do anything without consolidating you all first” she said.
Downstairs in the kitchen Taylor Philips sat on her laptop as she rubbed her eyes.
“Are you okay there?” Patrick called as he walked in through the back door.
“Oh I’m just trying to get this piece off to my editor before noon and its killing me!” Patrick fills the kettle. “My girl needs a pick me up I think, how about that?”
SCENE: THE FARM
Ivy Archer stands with some customers in the farmhouse shop. Mickey looks in the shop and waves at his wife. She leaves them looking around and comes outside.
“Hey” she kisses him passionately.
“I thought you might be busy,” he said to her.
“Don’t worry, it’s going well and the new stock is so right for this produce” she replied excitedly. “Dads gone to the local markets” she added.
“Really, I think that’s a great idea but I think I have a better one” he said.
SCENE: THE CAFÉ
“I don’t know what he is doing or where he goes Ronnie, why do you have your little mittens on him anyway he’s not your fiancé is?” Gladys Knight ponders around clearing up pates from the table followed by Ronnie like a toddler behind her.
I’m just wondering that’s all, he is the only one I really know around here and I just need his advice that’s all” she sighed.
“If you take my advice from someone who runs a café and use to run a bar like yourself, use your own intuitive” she glared at her. “Now if you excuse me I am busy, so should you be getting your so called local back up and running.”
SCENE: THE ARCHERS
Ivy drank her coffee as her husband Mickey strolled in through the door. “Mickey you’re here” she smiled as she took another cup from the side and began making another cup of coffee.
“Started to get cold” Mickey replied rubbing his hands together.
“Tell me about it, I was just thinking over what you said” as she poured a cup for him.
“Oh” he wondered.
“He won’t give up that easily Mickey, he won’t just say yes to the matter” she looked at him. “I mean, I know where you’re coming from but I want this as a family run business and I’m sorry I won’t be assisting you in your little plan…dear” she handed him his coffee and walked off rushing him aside.
There was a knock on the door. “I’ll go and get that then” Mickey headed for the door and opened it. “Joyce” he looked startled.
“What are you doing here?”
“I have come to see you…bad time?” He stood aside for her and let her in.
“I just thought I pop by and see how things are going and to see if the debt has been cleared. Well it certainly looks that way. You did good for yourself” she smiled.
“Well it’s an investment, when the time is right and the right time is now” he replied.
“It’s like I knew” she called. She handed him a card.
“This is for you, best to open it on your own” she hugged him.
“Merry Christmas Mickey” she smiled and left.
SCENE: THE CLUB
“This is the last time that I am going to have to do this before we close over the enxt few days” Hannah called out to Max as she was typing out the last few words onto the computer.
“I know we can have our holiday and the one the one thing I promised you “ he said stroking her engagement finger.
“Knock, knock” said a familiar voice as they peered through the door.
“Joyce” Hannah looked up from her computer.
“Is it okay to come in” she replied.
“Yes of course, I’ll go and see what the bartenders are up to” Max kisses Joyce.
“Merry Christmas” he said as he left.
Hannah leant back on her chair. “So what do I owe this pleasure, usually you come to gloat, tell me off or shout abuse at me” Joyce walked over to her desk, leant in and gave her a peck on the cheek.
“Spreading some Christmas cheer dear” she smiled.
“Well thank you, I guess right back at you Joyce. So what has been happening in the world of the Robinson’s?”
“Frank is cooking, I’m just doing the rounds before Christmas and I thought I come and see you, because I know you are pregnant” Hannah was amazed.
“How?”
“It’s obvious and you need to tell Max soon. I know you will do right by this child Hannah. I know, don’t mess it up.”
Hannah rolled her eyes. “There, there I knew you wouldn’t go without giving it just a little.”
Joyce put her finger on her lips. “Oh and don’t let that aunt of yours boss you around either” she smiled, stood up and went to the door.
“Joyce, merry Christmas” Joyce nodded and left.
Scene: The Church
“Dominic?” Joyce walked down the aisle of the church as Father Dominic Flynn was practising his sermon for the Christmas Day.
“Joyce it’s so good to see you” he smiled as he stepped down from the altar.
“It’s good to see you to” he hugged her and held her hands.
“I hear it has been quite a year for you” he nodded as he took her hand and sat down at a pew.
“It certainly has been that Father,” she agreed. She took an envelope from her handbag.
“This is for you and the Church,” she said. “I wouldn’t open it now but I like you to on the day itself,” she said with a sigh.
“You will be making an appearance I hope with the family” he said.
“In some way or form I will be” she smiled.
“Well would you like a sneak preview?” She nodded.
SCENE: THE BADHMAN’S
“Oh for goodness sake, Lizzie and Eddie will be arriving soon and we have not got the place together yet or even a tree in the room. I have to do everything around here” stormed Gladys through the kitchen sliding doors as she came into the room she was astounded to see the 6-foot tree glistening in the corner. She clasped her hands together. “Oh how wonderful” she called to Max beaming, with Hannah standing beside him. “Yeah we had a bit of time on our hands, so we thought we surprise you with this” she clasped her hands together with excitement.
SCENE: THE ROBINSON’S
Jasmine Robinson laid the final touches to the table with Adele helping her. “That’s brilliant, it seems more people this year than ever,” she said giggling.
“Yeah well we got Philips daughter, your side of the family and all of us, it looks wonderful,” she said and as they were about to leave the room. Joyce came in and was startled. “Girls this is marvellous,” she added with excitement. Joyce hugged them both.
“Well I enjoyed doing it,” said Jasmine happily clasping Joyce’s hand. Joyce yawned.
“Oh excuse me, I need to go and lie down. Wake me before dinner, won’t you? Frank is cooking tonight” she said and headed upstairs. Joyce stepped inside her bedroom, walked over to her dresser, and sat down looking in the mirror. She sighed. She took out the picture of Cliff from the drawer, smiled, whispered Merry Christmas, and placed it back into the draw.
Joyce headed to the bed, took her shoes off and lay down.
SCENE: THE BADHMANS
All the family had arrived and cheers and celebrations began for the festivities.
SCENE: THE ARCHERS
Philip poured champagne to each family and welcomed Marcus and Missy.
SCENE: THE ROBINSON’S
“Come on everyone it’s time to sit down and have something to eat” Frank said happily.
“Oh mum” called Ken. “I’ll go” he kissed Jasmine and headed upstairs to his mother’s bedroom. He unlocked the door and peered inside. “Mum mum it’s Ken” he went over to her bedside and sat beside her and touched her shoulder. “Mum?” He held her hand tightly and did not let go.
In this special episode, we say goodbye to a long-standing resident.
THE CLUB
Ronnie stands against the bar as she sipped her drink that evening. Full of people were gathering on to the dance floor and she pondered what time her rival would be getting to the club. Hannah Smith, bride to be of Max Burns.
Not knowing what she would say, she knew that she had to say something and that she is in love Max and that she would be with him and not her.
He is shaking hands with regulars, smiles he spots her from afar. He shakes and touches the shoulder of his clientele and heads over to the bar. “Maxwell” she called to him excitedly.
“I thought you left” he replied to her.
“There is some things I could not just leave behind unfished,” she said.
“The results were clear I AM not the father,” whispered into her ear angrily.
“It’s not just that Max” she smiled. He grabs her by the arm and takes her into the office. It was the same office he and Ronnie had a romantic liaison.
“I told you to get out and never come back” she shook her head.
“Not going to happen” she smiled, taking out some keys from her bag and waving them in front of him.
“After numerous landlords. I have acquired the Inn and its mine, well Leo’s as well so we went halves” she smiled.
He leaned over and took her hand with the keys.
“If you ever come near me or Hannah or try and ruin our wedding. You’ll be sorry” She took her hand away and hurried to the door.
“NO Max, it won’t be me who will be doing that” she blew him a kiss.
“Chow until the next time” she said and left the room. Max slams his hand onto the table.
Scene: The Farm
He rushes into the barn and shuts the door behind him. “Where are you, are you in here?” From a shadow, the figure steps forward and there in front of him a woman stood with red silky hair. “I don’t know why you bothered meeting in here quite frankly Mickey!”
“THE only place we can talk you know that…when it comes down to business that is!”
She crossed her arms and leaned back onto the haystack. “So what is it?”
“I got a proposition for you and Marcus, you two want a business and I got one” she rolled her eyes at him.
“My father in law” he replied.
“So what you want to buy him out. His whole family is here Mickey you cannot just buy him out. He only just got here! Are you serious?”
“This is insane Mickey, I’m not sure”
Mickey stood by the door not letting her out. “You know who will also have capital interest on this property and I think if we pull our heads together we can manage to succumb some capital.”
Missy shakes her head. “No, not in a million years will I even think of contacting her!”
Missy sat on some hay as he knelt down towards her. “Look I know she can be tough as nails but she is the only one who can help us here” he called.
“We’re digging into our past Mickey I don’t think I can go there again, not with her and certainly not bringing up the ghost!”
“You have Marcus now, you got me and no one will pass this barrier! I do love Ivy I do but this place has promise and with Philip involved he is going to run In it into the ground.”
THE ROBINSONS’
Joyce Robinson Philips looked at her new wedding family photo and smiled, she took the old one with her deceased husband and daughter, stroked it a little and out it away into the cupboard. Life goes on she thought. Jasmine stood by the door, Kens’ wife. “Are you okay?”
“Just been thinking about this place that’s all and all that’s happened. My accident and new marriage. This place needs a revamp or somewhere new entirely”
“What are you thinking?”
“I don’t want us to move Jasmine I want us to begin afresh and I think a new lick of paint, furniture and the works.”
Jasmine sat on the bed and peered over the decorating magazines. “I see you have been looking at this all ready” she smiled.
“Mum has some great taste, you should ask her and she’s on sabbatical.” She clasped her hands. “I don’t want to do anything without consolidating you all first” she said.
Downstairs in the kitchen Taylor Philips sat on her laptop as she rubbed her eyes.
“Are you okay there?” Patrick called as he walked in through the back door.
“Oh I’m just trying to get this piece off to my editor before noon and its killing me!” Patrick fills the kettle. “My girl needs a pick me up I think, how about that?”
SCENE: THE FARM
Ivy Archer stands with some customers in the farmhouse shop. Mickey looks in the shop and waves at his wife. She leaves them looking around and comes outside.
“Hey” she kisses him passionately.
“I thought you might be busy,” he said to her.
“Don’t worry, it’s going well and the new stock is so right for this produce” she replied excitedly. “Dads gone to the local markets” she added.
“Really, I think that’s a great idea but I think I have a better one” he said.
SCENE: THE CAFÉ
“I don’t know what he is doing or where he goes Ronnie, why do you have your little mittens on him anyway he’s not your fiancé is?” Gladys Knight ponders around clearing up pates from the table followed by Ronnie like a toddler behind her.
I’m just wondering that’s all, he is the only one I really know around here and I just need his advice that’s all” she sighed.
“If you take my advice from someone who runs a café and use to run a bar like yourself, use your own intuitive” she glared at her. “Now if you excuse me I am busy, so should you be getting your so called local back up and running.”
SCENE: THE ARCHERS
Ivy drank her coffee as her husband Mickey strolled in through the door. “Mickey you’re here” she smiled as she took another cup from the side and began making another cup of coffee.
“Started to get cold” Mickey replied rubbing his hands together.
“Tell me about it, I was just thinking over what you said” as she poured a cup for him.
“Oh” he wondered.
“He won’t give up that easily Mickey, he won’t just say yes to the matter” she looked at him. “I mean, I know where you’re coming from but I want this as a family run business and I’m sorry I won’t be assisting you in your little plan…dear” she handed him his coffee and walked off rushing him aside.
There was a knock on the door. “I’ll go and get that then” Mickey headed for the door and opened it. “Joyce” he looked startled.
“What are you doing here?”
“I have come to see you…bad time?” He stood aside for her and let her in.
“I just thought I pop by and see how things are going and to see if the debt has been cleared. Well it certainly looks that way. You did good for yourself” she smiled.
“Well it’s an investment, when the time is right and the right time is now” he replied.
“It’s like I knew” she called. She handed him a card.
“This is for you, best to open it on your own” she hugged him.
“Merry Christmas Mickey” she smiled and left.
SCENE: THE CLUB
“This is the last time that I am going to have to do this before we close over the enxt few days” Hannah called out to Max as she was typing out the last few words onto the computer.
“I know we can have our holiday and the one the one thing I promised you “ he said stroking her engagement finger.
“Knock, knock” said a familiar voice as they peered through the door.
“Joyce” Hannah looked up from her computer.
“Is it okay to come in” she replied.
“Yes of course, I’ll go and see what the bartenders are up to” Max kisses Joyce.
“Merry Christmas” he said as he left.
Hannah leant back on her chair. “So what do I owe this pleasure, usually you come to gloat, tell me off or shout abuse at me” Joyce walked over to her desk, leant in and gave her a peck on the cheek.
“Spreading some Christmas cheer dear” she smiled.
“Well thank you, I guess right back at you Joyce. So what has been happening in the world of the Robinson’s?”
“Frank is cooking, I’m just doing the rounds before Christmas and I thought I come and see you, because I know you are pregnant” Hannah was amazed.
“How?”
“It’s obvious and you need to tell Max soon. I know you will do right by this child Hannah. I know, don’t mess it up.”
Hannah rolled her eyes. “There, there I knew you wouldn’t go without giving it just a little.”
Joyce put her finger on her lips. “Oh and don’t let that aunt of yours boss you around either” she smiled, stood up and went to the door.
“Joyce, merry Christmas” Joyce nodded and left.
Scene: The Church
“Dominic?” Joyce walked down the aisle of the church as Father Dominic Flynn was practising his sermon for the Christmas Day.
“Joyce it’s so good to see you” he smiled as he stepped down from the altar.
“It’s good to see you to” he hugged her and held her hands.
“I hear it has been quite a year for you” he nodded as he took her hand and sat down at a pew.
“It certainly has been that Father,” she agreed. She took an envelope from her handbag.
“This is for you and the Church,” she said. “I wouldn’t open it now but I like you to on the day itself,” she said with a sigh.
“You will be making an appearance I hope with the family” he said.
“In some way or form I will be” she smiled.
“Well would you like a sneak preview?” She nodded.
SCENE: THE BADHMAN’S
“Oh for goodness sake, Lizzie and Eddie will be arriving soon and we have not got the place together yet or even a tree in the room. I have to do everything around here” stormed Gladys through the kitchen sliding doors as she came into the room she was astounded to see the 6-foot tree glistening in the corner. She clasped her hands together. “Oh how wonderful” she called to Max beaming, with Hannah standing beside him. “Yeah we had a bit of time on our hands, so we thought we surprise you with this” she clasped her hands together with excitement.
SCENE: THE ROBINSON’S
Jasmine Robinson laid the final touches to the table with Adele helping her. “That’s brilliant, it seems more people this year than ever,” she said giggling.
“Yeah well we got Philips daughter, your side of the family and all of us, it looks wonderful,” she said and as they were about to leave the room. Joyce came in and was startled. “Girls this is marvellous,” she added with excitement. Joyce hugged them both.
“Well I enjoyed doing it,” said Jasmine happily clasping Joyce’s hand. Joyce yawned.
“Oh excuse me, I need to go and lie down. Wake me before dinner, won’t you? Frank is cooking tonight” she said and headed upstairs. Joyce stepped inside her bedroom, walked over to her dresser, and sat down looking in the mirror. She sighed. She took out the picture of Cliff from the drawer, smiled, whispered Merry Christmas, and placed it back into the draw.
Joyce headed to the bed, took her shoes off and lay down.
SCENE: THE BADHMANS
All the family had arrived and cheers and celebrations began for the festivities.
SCENE: THE ARCHERS
Philip poured champagne to each family and welcomed Marcus and Missy.
SCENE: THE ROBINSON’S
“Come on everyone it’s time to sit down and have something to eat” Frank said happily.
“Oh mum” called Ken. “I’ll go” he kissed Jasmine and headed upstairs to his mother’s bedroom. He unlocked the door and peered inside. “Mum mum it’s Ken” he went over to her bedside and sat beside her and touched her shoulder. “Mum?” He held her hand tightly and did not let go.