Family Ties Fan Fic: Ransom

[Jem]

Scene 1:
(Mallory and Alex in kitchen. Alex is helping Mallory with biology homework)

Mallory: Alex, help me! I don't understand this question.

Alex: We've gone over this before, Mallory. On the pH scale, all the numbers above seven are basic, all the numbers below are acidic. Seven is neutral.

Mallory: Oh.

(Steven comes through door carrying a bag of groceries)

Steven: How's the studying for the big test coming?

Mallory: Terrible. I'll be lucky if I get a C on this test.

(Andy comes bouncing into the kitchen)

Andy: Mallory, Mallory, look what I drew.

(Mallory looks at picture. It's full of scribbles)

Mallory: What is it?

Andy: It's you.

Mallory: That's nice, Andy. (smiles)

(Elyse enters kitchen)

Elyse: Hi, Mallory. Hi, Andy. Hi, Alex. Hi, Steven. Where's Jennifer?

Mallory: Over at a new friend's place. Her name is Susan.

Elyse: Well, call her at Susan's and tell her we're going on a family outing to the waterpark.

(Mallory exits kitchen)

Alex: Now, Andy. listen to me very carefully. There are different positions in government. A senator-

Steven: Don't bore him with that, Alex.

Alex: It's not boring, Dad. Every citizen should know how their country is governed.

Andy: I'm not interested in how my country is governed.

Alex: You will someday.

(Jennifer enters kitchen door)

Jennifer: Hi, everyone.

Steven: Hi, Jennifer.

Alex: Jennifer, you just missed a political discussion between me and Andy.

Jennifer: I'm not interested in hearing about it, Alex.

(Mallory enters kitchen)

Mallory: Hi, Jen. I just called Susan and she told me that you had just left.

Elyse: Everyone, get your suits, towels and sunscreen. We're going to the waterpark.

Andy: Yeah! (grabs red hat and puts it on)

(Mallory, Alex, Jennifer, Andy, Elyse and Steven all get bags together and go out kitchen door)

Scene 2:

(Steven, Elyse, Mallory, Jennifer, Alex and Andy at waterpark. Steven, Elyse and Mallory on side of pool, Alex, Jennifer and Andy in pool)

Mallory: Mom, are you sure the chlorine in the water isn't ruining my hair? (holding mirror, brushing hair)

Elyse: Your hair is fine, honey.

(Steven opens a book and begins to read)

Mallory: What are you reading?

Steven: The Sirens Of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. It's a master piece.

(Alex walks upto them)

Alex: Those kids don't know how to play political basketball. I tried to teach them, and they didn't understand a word I said.

Mallory: What's political basketball?

Alex: Political basketball is a game where you ask the person shooting the ball a question about politics. If they get it right, they get to shoot a basket, if they get it wrong, they have to give it to the other player and they try.

Mallory: Sounds like fun, Alex.

Elyse: Can't you just play regular basketball?

Alex: Mom, a game of basketball has to be educational. If they just shot the ball into the hoop, what would they learn?

Steven: Hand and eye coordination.

(Jennifer walks upto them)

Alex: Did you try some political basketball, Jennifer?

Jennifer: Very funny, Alex.

(Elyse looks at pool suddenly)

Elyse: Where's Andy?

(they all look around the pool. He's nowhere in sight)

Alex: I'll go check the washroom.

(Alex gets up from towel and runs off)

Mallory: God, I hope Andy is okay.

Elyse: Jennifer, how could you lose sight of Andy. You're supposed to look after your younger brother.

Jennifer: I'm sorry, Mom. I'm sorry. (near tears)

(Alex runs back to them)

Alex: I checked all the stalls. They were all empty. Andy was nowhere in sight.

Jennifer: Nooo! (sobbing)

Mallory: What are we going to do?

Steven: Don't worry, kids. We'll find him. I hope.

Scene 3:

Alex: I bet Andy just got tired of my political games. I'm sure if we wait long enough he will show up and wonder why everyone was so worried. Maybe he got bored of the pool and went home.

Mallory: I hope that's true, Alex. (biting her lip)

Elyse: I think we should go to the police. Who knows where Andy could be now!

(Alex gets up and goes to lifeguard)

Alex: Excuse me. Could you ask into the megaphone if an Andrew Keaton is in the pool or near the pool and if he would come to the lifeguard stand?

Lifeguard: (speaks into megaphone) Andrew Keaton. Would you come to the lifeguard stand? Andrew Keaton.

(Andy doesn't appear)

Alex: Give me the megaphone. (takes megaphone) Andy, this is your brother, Alex. I'm sorry about the political games. We don't have to play them anymore if you don't want to. Please don't be mad at me and come back. The whole family misses you.

(Alex gives megaphone back to lifeguard. Alex looks around the pool)

(Mallory gets up from towel and slides shorts and a shirt over top of her bathing suit. She ties her hair in a ponytail)

Mallory: I'm going to look for Andy. I'm too worried to sit here.

Jennifer: Can I come with you?

Mallory: Of course, Jen.

(Jennifer puts on shorts and a shirt over her bathing suit and Mallory and Jennifer walk off)

(Alex joins Jennifer and Mallory)

Jennifer: This is all my fault. If I had just watched Andy...

Mallory: No-one's blaming you, Jennifer. No-one knew this was going to happen.

(They pass the washrooms)

Alex: Hey!

Mallory: What?

Alex: Isn't that Andy's red baseball cap?

Mallory: Oh, God! Andy! Andy!

(Alex picks up baseball cap)

Jennifer: It's someone else's cap, right Alex? Some kid has the same baseball cap as Andy? Right, Alex?

Alex: His name is in the cap. It's Andy's.

Scene 4:

Jennifer: There's a note in there. What does it say?

(Alex takes paper out of cap and unfolds it)

Alex: Dear family, if you wish to see Andrew again, you will have to give me an amount of $400,000. I want this money by next week. If you don't pay the money one week from today...

(Alex looks away from note)

Mallory: What? What does it say?

Alex: If you don't pay the money one week from today, Andy will be dead.

Jennifer: Oh god!

(Mallory turns pale. Alex, Jennifer and Mallory run back to Steven and Elyse)

Alex: Mom! Dad!

Elyse: What's wrong, Alex?

(Alex thrusts note at her. Elyse looks at it. Shows note to Steven)

Mallory: Dad, I'm scared. What should we do?

Steven: Right now, the best thing to do, I think, is go to the police.

Scene 5:

(Jennifer, Alex, Mallory, Steven and Elyse enter police station)

Officer Manson: Hello. How may I help you?

Elyse: Our son has been kidnapped and he's being held for ransom.

Officer Manson: Your names, please.

Elyse: My name is Elyse Keaton, this is my husband Steven, (points to Steven) our two daughters, Jennifer and Mallory and our other son, Alex.

Officer Manson: Name of the child kidnapped.

Elyse: Andrew. Andrew Keaton. (digs through purse) Here's a picture of him.

(Officer Manson looks at photo)

Officer Manson: Okay, we'll see what we can do. In the meantime, try not to worry. Our police department has been very successful in the past years for finding kidnappers.

Steven: How about kidnappers who hold for ransom? How successful is the department in those cases?

Officer Manson: I'm not sure.

Scene 6:

(back at Keaton residence)

(Alex in room, emptying coins and dollar bills on desk. Knock on door)

Alex: Come in.

(Mallory walks in)

Mallory: Ellen's here. She wanted to see you. (Mallory leaves)

Ellen: Hi, Alex. I'm sorry to hear about Andy.

Alex: Thanks, Ellen.

Ellen: What are you doing with all those coins and bills?

Alex: I give up on economics, Ellen. (they sit on bed) My brother being alive and safe is way more important to me than some stupid savings bonds.

Ellen: Wow! If I only had a nickel for every time you said those words.

Alex: I think I'll change my major to police studies. Spend my life giving to people for every cent I ever took spending my time on economics.

Ellen: I'm proud of you, Alex. You're doing the right thing.

(Alex and Ellen hug)

Scene 7:

(time 11pm. Alex and Ellen counting money on table)

Ellen: From my half of the pile I counted two hundred ten dollars and ninety cents.

Alex: I counted two hundred eighty four dollars and seventeen cents.

Ellen: Four hundred ninety five dollars and seven cents in total.

Alex: I wonder how much my car model would be worth. (picks up model of rolls royce)

Ellen: I'm not sure. We can take it to the pawn shop tomorrow.

Alex: There's one just a couple blocks from here that's open until midnight. We could go there now.

Ellen: If you want to go now, we can. By the way, where did the note say to leave the money?

Alex: I was too upset to read the whole note.

(Alex pulls out note from pocket)

Alex: Please bring the $400,000.00 to the pool at midnight on Saturday to the fountain in the park.

Ellen: Today's Wednesday. That's three days away. We have to go to the pawnshop tonight before it's too late.

Scene 8:

(At pawnshop)
(Alex and Ellen walk into shop. Walk upto man at till)

Fred: Hello. I'm Fred. What can I do for you?

Alex: My brother was kidnapped and I need some money to pay off the ransom. So, I brought my car model of a rolls royce to find out how much it's worth.

Fred: Ha! Ha! That's a good one. Now tell me your real reason for needing the money.

Alex: That is my real reason.

Fred: Oh. I'm sorry. (realizing Alex is serious) Ah-hem. So, I guess this would be worth... (inspects car) The year of the copyright date is 1976. Lets' see....Hmmm.....I suppose $500 at the most.

Alex: That's all?

Fred: You're lucky it's worth that much.

(Fred hands Alex $500 and Alex and Ellen leave pawn shop)

Scene 9:

(Alex and Ellen back at Keaton residence)

Ellen: I better be going home now.

Alex: You want a ride back?

Ellen: No, thanks. I'll be okay.

(Alex and Ellen kiss and Ellen leaves through door)

(Mallory enters kitchen)

Mallory: Alex! Where were you? It's nearly one thirty in the morning.

Alex: At the pawnshop. I sold one of my rolls royce's to the shop.

Mallory: Oh, wow! I can't believe you sold it! You loved that model. How much was it worth?

Alex:$500.

Mallory: That's all?

Alex: That's the exact same question I asked the guy in the store. He told me I was lucky it was worth that much money.

Mallory: So, how are we going to raise enough money to get Andy back?


Alex: I was thinking of selling my portrait of Reagan in my room.

Mallory: You keep a portrait of Reagan in your room?!?

Alex: Don't act so surprised Mallory. You know I'm into politics.

Mallory: I didn't know you were that into politics.

(Steven walks into kitchen)

Steven: Hi, kids.

(Steven goes to fridge and takes out orange juice. He opens cupboard and takes out glass. Sets glass down on counter and pours orange juice into glass. Puts orange juice back in fridge.)

Mallory: Dad, Alex sold his rolls royce.

Steven: Rolls royce!?! But, Alex you loved that model.

Alex: I know. But, I figured my brother being alive was way more important to me than some stupid car model.

Mallory: Wow, Alex. Those words were so deep. I'm amazed. I mean, you giving up politics?!? It's like a miracle.

Alex: It will be more of a miracle if we ever get Andy back.

Scene 10:

(midnight, Saturday)

(Alex and Ellen in park beside fountain)

Ellen: Alex, I'm so proud of you. You went through so much trouble to help Andy. You sold all your politics stuff. Threw away the one thing you really loved in life, money, to save the life of your brother.

Alex: I know.

Ellen: It's very admirable.

Alex: Thanks, Ellen.

(A man walks upto fountain. Beside him is Andy.)

Alex: Andy!

Andy: Alex! I'm so glad to see you. Hi Ellen.

Ellen: Hi, Andy.

Arnito: I'm Arnito. Do you have the money?

Alex: Yes. (gives money to Arnito)

Arnito: Yes. Very good. (looking through money) You can have the child.

(Andy runs to Ellen and Alex. Ellen holds Andy's hand.)

Arnito: Well, I best be going now. (turns to leave, turns to face them) Oh and by the way, don't go to the police about this money matter or else the boy will be back with me.

(Arnito turns and walks away)

Alex: Come on, Andy. Let's go home.

Scene 11:

(back at Keaton's residence)

(Alex, Ellen, Andy, Jennifer, Steven, Elyse and Mallory in living room)

Elyse: Andy, we're so glad you're back.

Mallory: We missed you so much, Andy. I kept thinking what would we do if we never found you.

Jennifer: I'll never leave you out of my sight again, Andy. You're my little brother. And, as your big sister, I'll watch out for you.

Alex: And, as your big brother, I won't force you to learn about politics. I'll wait until you're old enough to appreciate the subject better.

Elyse: Alex!

Alex: I'm kidding.

Steven: Andy, we're just glad you're safe and sound.

Ellen: Andy, you're very lucky to have a brother like Alex.

Andy: I know.

Mallory: I'm even starting to appreciate him more, even though there are times that he annoys me.

Steven: Now that we are all together again as a family, let's have a family night. Andy, what would you like to do?

Andy: I get to pick?

Elyse: Yes. We can do anything, Andy. What do you want to do?

Andy: Political basketball.

Alex: That's my brother. I knew you'd become political one day.

( Alex grabs basketball from out of closet and Elyse, Steven, Jennifer, Mallory, Andy, Alex and Ellen all go outside and start playing.)

THE END

[~Tropical Punch 19~]

cool

[Bea]

That was Okay.

[Kirstie]

That was cute

[Race's Girl]

That was so awesome

[susan150]

That was awesome. Thanks for sharing.