CollegeGirl
11-24-2002, 02:22 PM
Title: The Story of Chachi Arcola: From Happy Days to Charles In Charge
Setting: Milwaukee
Time: Approximately a year after Joanie's and Chachi's wedding
Characters: Chachi, Joanie, Fonzie, Roger, Howard, Marion
Disclaimer: All the characters were borrowed from Garry Marshall's Happy Days sitcom. The plotline is my own. The content deals with Joanie's and Chachi's divorce. I am sorry if this offends anyone. It is meant in good taste.
~THE CUNNINGHAM LIVING ROOM. JOANIE AND CHACHI ARE ARGUING. HOWARD IS STILL AT THE HARDWARE STORE. MARION IS UPSTAIRS CLEANING. JOANIE JUST GOT HOME FROM A LONG DAY OF TEACHING AT PATTON. CHACHI IS LYING ON THE SOFA IN HIS PAJAMAS, WATCHING TV. HE HAS BEEN THERE ALL DAY.~
Joanie-- Chach, I've found you lying on this sofa every day when I get home for the past two weeks! Are you even looking for a job?
Chachi-- Of course I am. It's just tough to find work in Milwaukee. No one has an opening for a musician.
Joanie-- Chachi, I know how important your music is to you. And I'm not trying to take that away from you. But, we're married now. We can't live with my parents forever. And we can't live on our own on my teacher's salary.
Chachi-- Then we'll move in with Mom and Al...
Joanie-- Chach...
Chachi-- What?
Joanie-- You're missing the point....
Chachi-- I know Joanie...*takes her hands in his*...Look, I love you. I'll find work somewhere. You don't have to worry.
BUT, BOTH JOANIE AND CHACHI ARE WORRIED. THEY BOTH KNOW THAT HE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO HOLD DOWN A REAL JOB IN OVER A YEAR. AND HE JUST ISN'T INTERESTED IN ANY WORK OTHER THAN MUSIC.
FONZIE AND ROGER WALK THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR. THEY HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING STUDENTS AT PATTON. DANNY TAGS ALONG BEHIND THEM. FONZIE EYES UP CHACHI
Fonzie-- Awwww....isn't this sweet. Chachi forgot to get dressed today. Boy, you must have really felt silly going out on job interviews dressed like that!
Chachi-- I didn't go anywhere today. And I didn't forget to change, I just didn't feel like doing it.
Fonzie-- Nooo.....(his voice is mocking)
Chachi-- ~WALKS OVER TO THE BOTTOM OF THE STAIRS~ You all don't know what it's like. You have your perfect jobs-- getting to do what you enjoy every day. But me? Well, there aren't any jobs for me. What am I supposed to do? I mean why even bother getting dressed or going out at all? It's always the same. I'm just a failure.
Fonzie-- ~HIS TEMPER STARTS TO FLARE UP. HE POINTS HIS FINGER AT CHACHI~ Chachi, the only way you'll ever be a failure is if you choose to be one!
Chachi-- Oh Fonz, what would you know about it?
~THE TONE OF CHACHI'S VOICE IGNITES FONZIES TEMPER. FONZ LUNGES FORWARD, READY TO PUNCH CHACHI. BUT, ROGER GRABS FONZIE AND HOLDS HIM BACK. CHACHI STORMS UPSTAIRS.~
Fonzie-- That kid is going to learn one of these days.
~JOANIE SIGHS AND SITS ON THE SOFA~
Joanie-- I thought our marriage would make things better. But, I'm just going to have to face it. Chachi and I are not meant to be together.
~FONZIE AND ROGER ARE SHOCKED BY JOANIE'S LAST COMMENT. THEY SIT DOWN ON EITHER SIDE OF HER AND TRY TO RATIONALIZE WITH HER~
Roger-- Look Joanie, you're just upset. Sure, Chachi's been out of work for a while, but give him time and something will turn up.
Joanie-- Roger, it's been eight months. He's had job offers. But, nothing's good enough for him. Let's face it. He's not going to be happy until he's out on the road touring with the band. And I'm what's keeping him from that. I love him, but if I'm keeping him from being happy, and not doing anything about it, then we're both going to be miserable.
Fonzie-- ~TAKES JOANIE'S CHIN IN HIS HAND AND TILTS HER FACE AROUND SO SHE'S LOOKING AT HIM~ Shortcake, you can't keep blaming yourself like this. It's not your fault that Chachi's out of work. That boy is just a bum!
Joanie-- He's happy when he plays his music, Fonz. I know him. He's not a bum. But, he also isn't cut out to live in Milwaukee. I've already talked to an attorney. He's drawing up the divorce papers as we speak.
Roger-- Joanie! That's drastic! What will your parents say?
Joanie-- Sure, it's drastic. But, you don't have to worry. I've been thinking about this for a long time. I can't come up with any other alternative.
Fonzie-- Shortcake, are you sure this is what you want to do?
Joanie-- I'm sure.
Fonzie-- Then, that's it. I'll support you all the way.
Roger-- So will I. We'll both do whatever is needed to help you. We trust your desicion if you think it's the right one.
Joanie-- Do you mean that?
Roger-- Of course we do!
Joanie-- Great! Then you can be the ones to break the news to Chachi! Just give me time to get out of town first...(joking)
Roger-- ~DOES HIS FAKE LAUGH~ Haha. Funny. But, you have to be the one to tell him. It's only fair for news of this proportion to come from the original source.
~FONZIE KISSES JOANIE ON HER CHEEK.~
Fonzie-- Shortcake, you know I'm always here for you. I love you. I'll do whatever you need. If you want, I'll be with you when you tell him, but *you* have to be the one to tell him. If you are right, and you are the only thing holding him back from his dream, then he will be relieved. Sure, he'll be angry. But, in the long run, he'll thank you.
Joanie-- I just wish I would have seen this before we got married.
Fonzie-- Sometimes, we don't see things until we're forced to.
~DANNY WALKS OVER AND HUGS JOANIE~
Danny-- Don't worry, Joanie. I love you.
Joanie-- ~LAUGHS AND SMILES~ Hehehe. Well, thanks, Danny. I love you too!
Fonzie-- Aaahhhhyyyy....the kid's already a chip off the old block.
Joanie-- One more favor, Fonz?
Fonzie-- Anything
Joanie-- Let me move in with you after I tell my parents. Dad spent a fortune on that wedding!
Fonzie-- ~LAUGHS~ I think you'd better. On second thought, I think you'd better move in with me first, and then tell your father over the phone!
~FONZIE, ROGER, AND JOANIE ATTEMPT TO LAUGH TO LIGHTEN THE MOOD.~
Setting: Milwaukee
Time: Approximately a year after Joanie's and Chachi's wedding
Characters: Chachi, Joanie, Fonzie, Roger, Howard, Marion
Disclaimer: All the characters were borrowed from Garry Marshall's Happy Days sitcom. The plotline is my own. The content deals with Joanie's and Chachi's divorce. I am sorry if this offends anyone. It is meant in good taste.
~THE CUNNINGHAM LIVING ROOM. JOANIE AND CHACHI ARE ARGUING. HOWARD IS STILL AT THE HARDWARE STORE. MARION IS UPSTAIRS CLEANING. JOANIE JUST GOT HOME FROM A LONG DAY OF TEACHING AT PATTON. CHACHI IS LYING ON THE SOFA IN HIS PAJAMAS, WATCHING TV. HE HAS BEEN THERE ALL DAY.~
Joanie-- Chach, I've found you lying on this sofa every day when I get home for the past two weeks! Are you even looking for a job?
Chachi-- Of course I am. It's just tough to find work in Milwaukee. No one has an opening for a musician.
Joanie-- Chachi, I know how important your music is to you. And I'm not trying to take that away from you. But, we're married now. We can't live with my parents forever. And we can't live on our own on my teacher's salary.
Chachi-- Then we'll move in with Mom and Al...
Joanie-- Chach...
Chachi-- What?
Joanie-- You're missing the point....
Chachi-- I know Joanie...*takes her hands in his*...Look, I love you. I'll find work somewhere. You don't have to worry.
BUT, BOTH JOANIE AND CHACHI ARE WORRIED. THEY BOTH KNOW THAT HE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO HOLD DOWN A REAL JOB IN OVER A YEAR. AND HE JUST ISN'T INTERESTED IN ANY WORK OTHER THAN MUSIC.
FONZIE AND ROGER WALK THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR. THEY HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING STUDENTS AT PATTON. DANNY TAGS ALONG BEHIND THEM. FONZIE EYES UP CHACHI
Fonzie-- Awwww....isn't this sweet. Chachi forgot to get dressed today. Boy, you must have really felt silly going out on job interviews dressed like that!
Chachi-- I didn't go anywhere today. And I didn't forget to change, I just didn't feel like doing it.
Fonzie-- Nooo.....(his voice is mocking)
Chachi-- ~WALKS OVER TO THE BOTTOM OF THE STAIRS~ You all don't know what it's like. You have your perfect jobs-- getting to do what you enjoy every day. But me? Well, there aren't any jobs for me. What am I supposed to do? I mean why even bother getting dressed or going out at all? It's always the same. I'm just a failure.
Fonzie-- ~HIS TEMPER STARTS TO FLARE UP. HE POINTS HIS FINGER AT CHACHI~ Chachi, the only way you'll ever be a failure is if you choose to be one!
Chachi-- Oh Fonz, what would you know about it?
~THE TONE OF CHACHI'S VOICE IGNITES FONZIES TEMPER. FONZ LUNGES FORWARD, READY TO PUNCH CHACHI. BUT, ROGER GRABS FONZIE AND HOLDS HIM BACK. CHACHI STORMS UPSTAIRS.~
Fonzie-- That kid is going to learn one of these days.
~JOANIE SIGHS AND SITS ON THE SOFA~
Joanie-- I thought our marriage would make things better. But, I'm just going to have to face it. Chachi and I are not meant to be together.
~FONZIE AND ROGER ARE SHOCKED BY JOANIE'S LAST COMMENT. THEY SIT DOWN ON EITHER SIDE OF HER AND TRY TO RATIONALIZE WITH HER~
Roger-- Look Joanie, you're just upset. Sure, Chachi's been out of work for a while, but give him time and something will turn up.
Joanie-- Roger, it's been eight months. He's had job offers. But, nothing's good enough for him. Let's face it. He's not going to be happy until he's out on the road touring with the band. And I'm what's keeping him from that. I love him, but if I'm keeping him from being happy, and not doing anything about it, then we're both going to be miserable.
Fonzie-- ~TAKES JOANIE'S CHIN IN HIS HAND AND TILTS HER FACE AROUND SO SHE'S LOOKING AT HIM~ Shortcake, you can't keep blaming yourself like this. It's not your fault that Chachi's out of work. That boy is just a bum!
Joanie-- He's happy when he plays his music, Fonz. I know him. He's not a bum. But, he also isn't cut out to live in Milwaukee. I've already talked to an attorney. He's drawing up the divorce papers as we speak.
Roger-- Joanie! That's drastic! What will your parents say?
Joanie-- Sure, it's drastic. But, you don't have to worry. I've been thinking about this for a long time. I can't come up with any other alternative.
Fonzie-- Shortcake, are you sure this is what you want to do?
Joanie-- I'm sure.
Fonzie-- Then, that's it. I'll support you all the way.
Roger-- So will I. We'll both do whatever is needed to help you. We trust your desicion if you think it's the right one.
Joanie-- Do you mean that?
Roger-- Of course we do!
Joanie-- Great! Then you can be the ones to break the news to Chachi! Just give me time to get out of town first...(joking)
Roger-- ~DOES HIS FAKE LAUGH~ Haha. Funny. But, you have to be the one to tell him. It's only fair for news of this proportion to come from the original source.
~FONZIE KISSES JOANIE ON HER CHEEK.~
Fonzie-- Shortcake, you know I'm always here for you. I love you. I'll do whatever you need. If you want, I'll be with you when you tell him, but *you* have to be the one to tell him. If you are right, and you are the only thing holding him back from his dream, then he will be relieved. Sure, he'll be angry. But, in the long run, he'll thank you.
Joanie-- I just wish I would have seen this before we got married.
Fonzie-- Sometimes, we don't see things until we're forced to.
~DANNY WALKS OVER AND HUGS JOANIE~
Danny-- Don't worry, Joanie. I love you.
Joanie-- ~LAUGHS AND SMILES~ Hehehe. Well, thanks, Danny. I love you too!
Fonzie-- Aaahhhhyyyy....the kid's already a chip off the old block.
Joanie-- One more favor, Fonz?
Fonzie-- Anything
Joanie-- Let me move in with you after I tell my parents. Dad spent a fortune on that wedding!
Fonzie-- ~LAUGHS~ I think you'd better. On second thought, I think you'd better move in with me first, and then tell your father over the phone!
~FONZIE, ROGER, AND JOANIE ATTEMPT TO LAUGH TO LIGHTEN THE MOOD.~