"EPISODE 1.7 - A Matter Of Family"

Written and produced By Alex Gregg. Copyrighted 2003.
Originally Aired November 10th 2003

Ashley:  Previously, on Chestaville High.

Ling:  What's going on?

Mrs Lee:  Ling, its Grampa...

Ashley:  Ling said he had a stroke...

Maria:  How is she?

Ling:  (shouts) Just leave me alone!

Ashley:  Not good...

Mrs Lee:  We've had some news. We're considering a partnership with uncle Shan, to run the place. Which means moving back to Hong Kong.

Ling:  (shouting) He's talkin' about us moving to a whole different country, starting a new school, making new friends, living a *whole* new way of life!

Mr Lee:  (gets up) If it all works out, We're going.

Ling:  (faces her, crying) Dad wants to move back to Hong Kong...

Ashley:  (shocked) What? Why?
 
Ling:  (crying) Grampa left him and my uncle his restaurant, and Dad wants to move back and run it... I don't wanna leave, I don't wanna leave...
 
 
 
Its Night. The Camera pans along Main Street, then up to the "Harris's Electrical Supplies" sign on Mr Harris's store. It pans up further to show lights on in flat above. Cut to Maria's room. She puts down the phone, goes to her closet and pulls her green puff jacket. There's a nock at the door.

Maria:  Yeah?

Mr Harris:  (opens the door and comes in). Maria.

Maria:  Oh, Hey Dad.

Mr Harris:  We need to talk.

Maria:  (puts on her jacket) Um, Can it wait until later? I gotta go out. Ashley just called, Ling's round hers and they need to talk to me.

Mr Harris:  No. We're gonna talk now.

Maria:  (sighs) Okay... (sits on her bed) What's up?

Mr Harris:  I got a call from your principal today.

Maria:  Uh huh... Nice Guy, for a Principal... Likes to give lectures...

Mr Harris:  He tells me that your not doing your homework, your grades are slipping, you don't turn up to class and when you do your late... We've just finished unpacking, and I'm getting calls from the the school?

Maria:  Dad, I'm trying, I am.... I just.... 

Mr Harris:  You know, I thought that moving away from the City, to a small town would solve our problems. I thought you where happy here, with your new friends. Maybe I was wrong.

Maria:  Dad it has, really, and I am.... I promise, it's *not* gonna be like it was in the City... (gets up) But I *gotta* go to Ashley's.

Mr Harris:  No.

Maria:  But, Dad!

Mr Harris:  No, Maria. Your grounded.

He leaves the room, pulling the door closed behind him. Maria can't believe what just happened. She leans against the closet door and sighs. Then opens her bedroom door, checks her Dad isn't in the hall, sneaks past the kitchen, goes down the stairs that leads to the back entrance of the store, opens the door and heads out down the street towards West Avenue.
 

The Credits

Special Guest Stars: Abby Tumbridge, Dylan Matthews
Guest Staring: Mr Harris, Mrs Ross, Mr Lee, Mrs Lee, Lok Lee

 
Cut West Avenue. Maria walks up the path towards Ashley's front door and rings the bell. Mrs Ross answers the door.

Maria:  Hey Mrs Ross.

Mrs Ross:  Hello, Maria. Come on in. (she does so).

Cut to Ashley's room. Maria enters. Ling and Ashley are sitting on there bed.

Maria:  (notices their sad expressions) Geez, are you guys okay?

Cut to Later. Cut to the three girls sitting on Ashley's bed. Ashley and Ling have told Maria what's going on.

Maria:  But, that's crazy! You can't leave. I've only just found you! (Ashley and Ling gives Mara a weird look). W-what I mean is, for the first time in my life I have people I can call real friends and then... I don't.

Ling:  Maria, Ashley's not going anywhere...

Maria:  I know, but... (sighs). Man, this sucks...

Ashley:  Well, how do you think I feel? I've know Ling forever!

Maria:  (to Ashley) I cant image it just being us two. You know? No Ling to keep us in line... imagine the trouble we'd get in...

Ling:  Hey. No imagining, okay? You guys are gonna be good for me, okay?  (nods). I'll be thousands of miles away, but I can still kick your ass's - somehow - (fake considers) maybe though e-mail.

They all try to make light of the situation. But they fail miserably.

Ashley:  You know, Li. As funny as that was meant to be... it really wasn't...

Maria:  (shakes her head) Uh-uh...

Ling:  (sighs) God, I wish this wasn't happening...

Next morning. Cut to the kitchen. Ling, Lok and their parents are sitting at the table eating breakfast. The room is completely silent.

Mr Lee:  (brakes the silence) Uncle Shan called earlier. The Funeral's on Monday. So We'll fly out Saturday night.

Ling and Lok ignore him and Mrs Lee nods and gives a small smile.

Mr Lee:  So, we've decided to pack what we need. And I'll fly back to sort out the house and everything.

Ling and Lok put down the spoons, grab their school bags and leave the kitchen with out a word. They head straight for the front door and head out.

Mr Lee:  (hears the front door slam) I see they've not changed their minds.

Mrs Lee:  (gets up to clear the table) Can you blame them, Chang? You're taking them away from everything they've ever known.

Mr Lee:  I thought you agreed this is the right move, for all of us?

Mrs Lee:  Yes, I do. But they've grown up in California. They wont admit it but, their scared more than anything else. Hong Kong is a totally different environment and culture to America. And they know that. Honey, you cant expect them to be okay with this right away...

Mr Lee:  (gets up) I'd better phone about the house.

He walks out of the kitchen, in to the living room and over to the phone. Mrs Lee sighs and starts to clear away the breakfast leftovers.

Cut to School. Ashley, Ling and Maria are walking down the halls.

Maria:  I got in major trouble when I got home last night. Dad totally blew! I'm grounded for a week. *And* I gotta help out in the store *every* night after school... Talk about going OTT! Parents! Ugh!

Ashley:  (not really listening) Oh...

Ling:  (not really listening) Yeah... 

Maria sees that their both depressed. She walks in front of them, which means they have to stop walking and look at her.

Maria:  Okay! (to Ling) I know it *totally* sucks that you've gotta move. (to both) But there's nothing any of us can do about it... (to Ling) You've got three more days with us. (to both) So lets make it the best we've ever had! Okay? (they both nod) Come on...

Ashley:  Where we going?

Ling and Ashley both follow her down the hall.

Maria:  You'll see...

Cut to them entering the sports hall. Its empty. Maria heads for the equipment room, the others follow. Cut to inside.

Maria:  (points to the stairs leading to the roof) Up there.

Ling:  What's up there?

Maria:  The Roof. Its so cool, you can see the entire town.

Ashley:  (tries the door) Its locked.

Maria:  (pulls a key from her pocket) Not for long...

Ling:  Where'd you get that?

Maria:  (unlocks the door) Ah! That would be telling...

Ling:  You realize, if we get caught, we are gonna be in *so* much trouble...

Maria:  Yup! Doesn't that make it even Cooler?! You two coming with? 

Ashley:  I vote yes!

Ling:  Come on, guys. I'm not sure this is such a good idea...

Maria:  (goes over to Ling) Look, Li, A, we wont get caught and B, even if we do, you haven't gotta worry. I mean, what are they gonna do? Expel you? Your leaving the country in three days... 

Ling:  That's true, I guess. (takes a deep breath) Okay, why not? (follows).

Cut to the Roof. They're all looking at the town. Its a brilliant view.

Ling:  Woah, Everything looks so small...

Maria:  Yup! Hey look (points) City Hall.

Ashley:  (to Maria) So, how'd you know how to get up here.

Maria:  Followed some Seniors guys up here when I cut Bio...

Cut to the cafeteria. The girls are at the steam tables selecting their lunch. Ashley reaches in, grabs a foil-wrapped burrito and sets it on her plate.

Maria:  Hey Ash, pass me one. (she does). Li, you want a one?

Ling:  Nah... I'm just gonna get some dessert...

They move down the line to the fruit cocktails and each take one.

Ashley:  (to Ling) So... I guess you won't miss the cafeteria food?

Ling:  Oddly enough... You know what? Yeah, I will...

Maria:  Man, that's serious depression...

They take their trays and head for a table. Cut to them sitting and eating.

Ashley:  So, are you gonna tell us where you got the key?

Maria:  Nope... A Magician never reveals his tricks - her tricks...

Ling:  You didn't get the key by magic...

Maria:  No, but still... - I mean! How do you know, I might have!

Ling and Ashley laugh. Abby walks up to their table. She faces Ling.

Abby:  Hey, sorry to hear about your Grampa.

Ling:  (shocked) Uh, thanks. (Abby walks off) Did that just happen?

Ashley:  (shocked) Uh-huh...

Just the Dylan comes over to their table.

Dylan:  Hi, guys.

Maria:  Oh, hey Dylan.

Dylan:  (sits) So, what's up?

Maria:  Nothing much...

Dylan:  (sees they're all looking depressed) Wow, you three look like you've just lost your best friend or something. (they all give him a look) What?

Ashley Voice Over:  I can't believe it... My best friend is moving way, far, far, far away... It just doesn't seem real... We've known each other for the last ten years, we've grown up together... Man, this week has just gone from Bad to Worse... I wonder what's gonna come next...

Cut to the dining room at Ashley's house. She and Her Mom are having dinner. Ashley is just picking at her food.

Mrs Ross:  What's wrong, honey?

Ashley:  Oh, nothing... except that my best friend, who I've known for ten years, is moving away on Saturday... (puts down her fork) Its not fair! (upset) I'm gonna miss her so much, Mom...

Mrs Ross:  I know... (there's a short silence) I've got some news that might cheer you up? I've booked the wedding date, October next year.

Ashley:  (forces a smile) Great.

Cut to Ling's house, cut to the upstairs hall. She knocks on a bedroom door

Lok:  (from inside the room) Yeah?

Ling:  Its me, can I come in?

Lok doesn't answer so Ling opens the door and looks in anyway.

Ling:  Hey...

Lok is sitting on his bed messing around with his electric guitar.

Lok:  What?

Ling:  I just wanted to spend some time with my big brother.

Lok:  (gives her a look). Okay, you've either broken something of mine, or you want something from me... which is it?

Ling:  (sits on Lok's desk chair) None of the above... I guess I just wanted to be with some who feels the same way as me about leaving...

Lok:  Oh...

Ling:  (watches him strum the guitar) I guess you'll miss the band,  huh?

Lok:  (doesn't look at her) Yup...

Ling:  I talked to Mom before... She reckons Dad wants to move back to Hong Kong and run the restaurant 'cause its the closest thing to Grampa.

Lok:  Ling, I really don't wanna talk about this, okay?

Ling:  We leave on Saturday, how can you not wanna talk about it?!

Lok:  'Cause I don't! Okay?

He puts down his guitar grabs his glass, goes to the door, opens it and heads out of the room. Leaving Ling sitting in his room. He heads for the stairs, but stops when he hears his parents talking. Cut to Downstairs, Mrs and Mr Lee are in the living room, sitting on the Sofa.

Mr Lee:  Lana, As I said from the start. Its a great opportunity. And I thought you agreed with me.

Mrs Lee:  Yes, I think its a great opportunity. But I don't think its the right time. I don't feel happy taking the kids out of School and imposing a whole new culture on them. Lok is in his Junior year, Ling has just started High school. And I'm not convinced that, with all that's happened over the past few days, you should be making life changing decisions right now.

Cut to upstairs. Ling comes out of Lok's room.

Lok: (whispers) Ling, over here. (he put his finger up to his lips).

They listen to their Parents talking. Cut to Downstairs.

Mrs Lee:  To be honest, I'm not sure I want to start a whole new way of life again, either. It was hard enough moving ten years ago, because we had to, but moving back when we don't need to, seems pointless. Besides, remember the reason we moved in the first place? I don't feel safe in the City back home and I *don't* want the kids in that sort of environment.

Mr Lee:  Why didn't tell me this was how you felt before?

Mrs Lee:  Chang, over the past few days, nobody has been able to get though to you. You've been adamant on making all the decisions.

Cut to Ling and Lok upstairs.

Ling:  Do you think she'll convince him?

Lok:  Maybe... 

Cut back to Their Parents.

Mr Lee:  (sighs) Lana, your right, what was I thinking? The kids don't want to go, you don't want to go. I'm not even sure if I want to go. I just thought, that if I could run the place, I'd be closer to Dad...

Mrs Lee:  (hugs him) I know... And there are other options you know?

Mr Lee:  What do you mean?

Mrs Lee:  Well, for example, its a big business, you and Shan could split it and maybe we could open up our own small business in Chestaville?

Mr Lee:  You know, I hadn't thought about that.

Mrs Lee:  I know. And that's just one option, there are many more.  

Mr Lee:  I guess we should phone Shan and tell the kids.

Cut to upstairs. They've heard it all. They do a "high five". Then hug each other, but suddenly realize what they're doing, they quickly pall back and look at each other in disgust.

Cut to Ashley's. She's in her room, on the phone to Maria.

Ashley:  Maria, its Ash. I've just had a call from Ling. Guess what!

Cut to Maria's Room.

Maria:  Oh man, that's great! 

Ashley Voice Over:  Oh My God! Oh My God! Oh My God! I can't believe it! Ling just called, apparently, Ling's Uncle is gonna buy her Dad's share of the restaurant and her Parents are gonna save up the to buy a small one over here. Which means Ling is staying in Chestaville! Woo! Their gonna still fly out to Hong Kong on Saturday for the funeral and stuff, but their coming back a in a couple of weeks! Just in time for the Thanksgiving!

The Camera Fades to black.