Reincarnation,
Part Five
INT.THE HERALD NEWSROOM-DAY
The newsroom is humming with activity and people running around. JAKE and CHRIS are
huddled over Chris' desk.
CHRIS
Okay, man, so you want to run this front page?
Jake doesn't answer and Chris smacks him on the arm.
CHRIS (cont'd)
What is wrong with you, Jake? You've had your head in the clouds all morning.
JAKE
Kat's coming in soon to go over the job.
CHRIS
Yeah, so? She's got a decent background. We'll get her situated okay.
JAKE
We just found out something yesterday...changed the whole dynamic of Kat moving to Bay
City.
CHRIS
Don't be so melodramatic, Jake.
JAKE
No, I'm serious, Chris. Kat got this stuff from Social Services in Lassiter. She's my
sister.
Chris stares at him.
CHRIS
You're serious? She's your sister?
JAKE
Yeah. It was so strange. She had a birth certificate that listed her as Ray McKinnon's
daughter. My sister.
CHRIS
That's wild, man. Very wild.
JAKE
She thought I might be upset. Can you believe that? She honestly worried that finding this
out might upset me. I can't explain it Chris, but this is the best news I've ever had.
CHRIS
You're not just putting on for her sake?
JAKE
(forcefully)
No. I am thrilled that Katie is my sister. You don't understand, Chris, I was so
protective of her when she was little. Maybe I always knew, subconsciously, and that's why
I was that way with her. You've got to realize, Chris, my only experience with a sibling
has been with my brother, Kevin, and we weren't exactly Wally and the Beav.
CHRIS
You were probably Eddie Haskell.
JAKE
Oh, you are just the comedy KING. Maybe it's time you left the newspaper business and took
the act on the road.
KAT sneaks up behind them.
KAT
If he does, can I have his salary?
JAKE
Sure. Anything for my kid sister.
CHRIS
You're whipped, man. Between Vicky and Kay, you're whipped. You're whipped like the
filling in a cream puff.
JAKE
Just lucky, my man. Come on, Katie, let's go in my office.
Jake follows Kat into the office, shutting the door behind them.
JAKE
So did you get to the school and get everything started?
KAT
Yeah. I'm enrolled for two summer courses, which will only leave me with twelve credits to
finish. And the university has a day care, which is really light on kids during the
summer, so Claire's all set.
JAKE
Great. Let me have your bills for tuition and I'll send them a check--
KAT
(putting a hand on his arm)
No, Jake. You've already done more than enough for us. I refuse to let you pay.
JAKE
I WANT to help you out, kiddo. I haven't been able to do that for your entire life. Let
me, okay?
KAT
I want you to know that I expect nothing from you. You know that, right? I have a family.
That's all I've ever wanted. That's all I need from you.
JAKE
I know that. Which is why I'm not asking you, I'm TELLING you to let me help you. Vicky
and I both want to do this.
KAT
Arguing isn't going to do me any good, is it?
JAKE
Get used to it, kiddo, your big brother doesn't take no for an answer.
KAT
All right. But you WILL let me make this up to you someday. To you AND Vicky.
JAKE
You've got a deal. So you ready to get started?
KAT
Ready as I'll ever be.
JAKE
(slyly)
I'll show you where the cleaning supplies are.
Kat punches him lightly.
JAKE (cont'd)
Actually, let's go and I'll introduce you to the staff.
Jake puts an arm around Kat's shoulders and they leave the office.
FADE OUT
CUT TO:
INT.THE HARBOR CLUB-SAME DAY
VICKY walks into the restaurant, carrying Claire. She sees Donna and grins, walking over
to her.
VICKY
Hi, Mom
DONNA
Hello, Victoria. Who's this beautiful girl?
VICKY
She's Kathryn's daughter, Claire. She's a cutie, isn't she?
DONNA
Adorable. Baby-sitting?
VICKY
Yeah. Kat went to register for classes and then to the Herald. I don't mind, gives me the
chance to get to know my new niece.
DONNA
(A bit skeptical)
Jake is really okay with this?
VICKY
Jake is more than okay with this. You should see him, Mom. He's really surprised me.
DONNA
Well, I'm glad. Did you come for lunch?
VICKY
Takeout. The boys have a half day, so I need to be home to meet them.
QUINT walks up behind the two of them.
QUINT
Donna?
Donna turns around smiling.
DONNA
Yes, Rob?
QUINT
I've sent Claude home since he wasn't feeling well and put Andre on sauté. If we get
overwhelmed, I'll jump in and help.
DONNA
That's fine. Rob, have you met my daughter, Victoria? Victoria, this is Rob McGill, my new
assistant manager.
Vicky and Quint shake hands.
VICKY
Nice to meet you, Rob. Has she been a slave driver?
QUINT
(smiling)
No, not at all. She's a pleasure to work with. Adorable baby, is she yours?
VICKY
No, she's my husband's sister's.
QUINT
She's about the same age as my daughter.
DONNA
You didn't tell me you had a child, Rob.
QUINT
She lives with her mother in Chicago. I don't see her often.
VICKY
That's too bad.
DONNA
Well, darling, let's get you set up with your takeout so I can get some of my paperwork
done.
She and Vicky walk towards the bar, Quint watching them.
QUINT
(to self)
Don't worry, Claire. Daddy's going to take you home soon, I promise.
FADE OUT
CUT TO:
EXT.VICKY'S FRONT PORCH-SAME DAY
VICKY is sitting in the porch swing, her arm aroun KIRKLAND and CLAIRE in her lap. JAKE
and KAT come up the walk. Jake goes over to Vicky and kisses her.
JAKE
Now this is a sight I like to see.
Kat takes the baby from Vicky.
KAT
Hi, sweet girl! Did you miss Mommy? Thanks again for watching her, Vick.
VICKY
Anytime. She's an angel.
KIRKLAND
Mom, when do we get our own baby?
Kat, Jake, and Vicky laugh and Vicky cuffs his neck.
VICKY
Soon. But I'm sure Kat doesn't mind you playing with Claire as much as you want.
They all look up at the sound of a car pulling into the driveway.
VICKY
Oh, great, it's Nick. He promised to bring something from the farmhouse over to me.
She gets up and walks out to meet Nick. Jake leans over to Kat to whisper in her ear.
JAKE
She's trying to play matchmaker with you and her brother.
KAT
(shrugs)
I kind of figured that. Well, let her try.
JAKE
Nick's a nice guy.
Vicky and NICK approach the porch.
JAKE
So, Nick, my man, what are you doing over here?
NICK
I thought I'd bring the chair that Vicky wanted. The one that belonged to Grandma Clara.
VICKY
And I really appreciate it, Nick. Will you stay and have dinner with us?
NICK
Actually, I thought I'd see if Kat wanted to go out to eat tonight with me. There's a
great singer at the Lucky Lady, and I thought you might like him.
KAT
That Sergei guy?
NICK
Yeah, how'd you know?
KAT
(laughing)
Someone at the university today told me about him. He sounds interesting, I'd love to go.
But I don't have a sitter...and VIcky's watched the baby for me all day. Can we do it
another night?
VICKY
No, you can not do it another night. We don't mind keeping Claire here with us.
You two go and have a great time. We'll be here when you get back.
JAKE
(pulling Nick aside with a teasing grin)
Nick....I'm trusting you with my little sister here. Behave yourself, okay?
NICK
Anything you say, Jake.
He turns to Kat
NICK (cont'd)
Ready?
KAT
I'm ready.
They walk down the driveway to the car and leave. Vicky sighs and leans back against Jake.
VICKY
I think we've just seen the start of something wonderful.
JAKE
You know, I think you're right. Now how about we get these kids to sleep and we can start
our own wonderful?
VICKY
(laughing, as they head inside)
One track mind, Jake McKinnon. One track mind.
FADE OUT
