Chesapeake Shores (2016) s03e10 Episode Script

Before a Following Sea

1 NARRATOR: Previously on Chesapeake Shores: Donovan's tour has been extended six months.
I know you have a million reasons why you think you should say no.
Actually, just one.
- MICK: What brings you back? - We're heading to Bali.
To renew their vows.
JESS: Without the inn, I don't know who I am.
- DAVID: We'll make a new future.
- For us, or you? You can't publish this.
It's your truth, not the family's.
MEGAN: I'm sorry.
And I will never forgive myself.
That doesn't mean I want the whole world to know.
ABBY: Once again, the O'Brien family sits in silence.
[SIGHS.]
This isn't gonna work, Abby.
S'mores, fire pit, you doing your magic-Abby thing.
Because life is one giant cosmic joke.
And not the "ha-ha" kind.
The wet, sad, soggy kind filled with ironic twists.
- Bree, it's not that bad.
- Really? Um, a fictional novel broke our family, and now a fictional character is about to break the rest of my life.
Caroline plans on ruining your life? She might, yeah.
I mean, based on how last night went.
Mm-hm.
- She might be too late.
- Oh, thanks.
Well, hey, for two years I ran a B&B for termites who slept in and then ate my house.
[SIGHS.]
Good book? Uh, no.
- What's it about? - [CHUCKLES.]
Sailing.
Kevin, thank you for coming.
This isn't going to work.
ABBY: Well, we're family, and that is what we do, so sit down.
CONNOR: I don't really feel like doing this right now either.
- I have a lot of reading to do.
- BREE: You have time to read about sailing but you don't have time to read my book, that's nice.
I read your book, Bree.
ABBY: Okay, well, now that we're all here I am just really hoping that we could try and talk this through.
I think we did that last night, and it didn't work out.
[.]
Well, does anybody have anything not hurtful to say? ABBY: Well Trace might be on tour to Europe for a really long time, so [CHUCKLES.]
There's that.
TRACE: So how'd the conversation go for you at home? Linda gets it.
It ain't always easy, but she knew who I was when she met me.
Besides, I got a family to look after.
Linda knows what a huge opportunity this is for us.
TRACE: It's a little different with me and Abby.
You know, I don't think she knew exactly what she signed up for.
But Abby was the one who pushed you to get back out there.
Give it another try, right? - Well, yeah, but I don't think she - LEIGH: So we're good.
Are we a go? [.]
Plane ticket already paid I'm gone But it don't mean nothing I'm close even though I'm far away That's how I remember you Stuck here on the red-eye special I can't wait to see you again So don't think of me Not being around Just listen for the sweet, sweet sound Of the taxi pulling up the driveway I'm coming home soon I'm coming home soon Da-da, da-da-da Da-da-da-da Da-da, da-da-da Da-da-da Da-da, da-da-da [.]
Rogue wave off the bow! Quick, me landlubbers, reel in the jib, ready about, hard alee! Avast, off to starboard! - It's the dreaded pirate, Shark Face! - I see him.
- Starboard be right, not to the left.
- [CHUCKLES.]
Whoops.
- Prepare a boarding party.
- A party did ye say? - CAITLYN: I like parties.
- ABBY: All right, it's time to be going.
You're interrupting our boarding party.
Oh, well, they be having to go to gymnastics there, captain.
Oh.
Well, looks like your captain has been overruled by his captain.
So down below you go.
Grab your gear.
And make it quick or you'll walk the plank.
ABBY: Well, it's nice to know I'm still in charge.
Abby, daughters are always in charge of their fathers, you know that.
Oh, really? So then what are you gonna do? Oh, I think I'll win the regatta and then possibly - plunder a passing ship or two.
- [CHUCKLES.]
Dad, I'm talking about Bree and her book and the family.
- Mmm.
- What are you gonna do to fix all this? I've always found that when sailing in uncharted waters it's best to take it slow.
I think we're safe, because in 17 years - our family hasn't left the dock.
- [CHUCKLES.]
Yeah.
What are you gonna do? - About the family? - No.
About Trace.
Ah, well, he hasn't made his decision yet, so That doesn't mean you can't make yours.
CAITLYN: Permission to disembark? MICK: Permission granted.
- Bye.
- Bye.
- Love you.
Bye, honey.
Love you.
- Bye.
- ABBY: All right, be careful.
- That was fun.
Land ho.
- Bye.
- Bye.
[.]
"I must go down to the sea again To the lonely sea and the skyª And all I ask is a tall ship And a star to steer her by" Is that a vague reference to me being on a metaphorical sinking ship or an actual sinking ship? [CHUCKLES.]
It was meant to be an obtuse reference to a long-dead poet.
Don't try to cheer me up with dead poets.
I assume that the confrontation with your family didn't go as expected.
No, it went exactly as expected.
Horribly.
Where my 82,103 carefully selected words inadvertently broke my family into 82,103 pieces.
- I'm sorry.
- And then I decided to read It's Always Caroline again.
And it's still full of hackneyed tropes and rom-com clichés but much like my fictional novel, which captured the truth about my family I finally realized what the Caroline books are.
Oh, a blatant cash-grab by a mildly-talented artist? No.
They're not memories of who you were - they're who you wanted to be.
- CAROLINE: Hi.
I hope I'm not interrupting anything.
I just had a break from classes and I was wondering if we could all grab lunch.
[.]
Mick O'Brien.
- Nice to see you on the water again.
- [CHUCKLES.]
Open division, please.
[CELL PHONE RINGS.]
Hey.
Wait, the caterer can't just quit.
- I heard you're still looking for crew.
- Ah, maybe.
I used to crew on a Pearson Invicta, but that was a long time ago.
Oh, yeah.
The old Charles O'Brien boat, I remember it well.
Well, I think if you can spare him for a few days, we could use you.
- All yours.
- [CHUCKLES.]
How are you? - We're good.
- Good, good.
How are you and the family? Come on, let's take a look at the boat.
Your mom and I used to compete against each other when we were your age.
Well, I really just won.
[CHUCKLES.]
That's true.
Miniature golf, board games, sailing toy boats.
I guess your daughters take after you.
Hey, I was thinking maybe we could decorate these together at my place.
- That'd be awesome.
- Thanks, Trace.
No problem.
Ever since the regatta posters have gone up the girls have been so excited.
Yeah, I picked up on that.
So how's everyone doing after the big family blow-up? Uh, well, I don't know, because no one is talking.
But, hey, um we need to talk.
- I know.
- CAITLYN: Mom.
But not right now.
Tonight? Yeah, tonight.
CAITLYN: Which one of us should be first mate? Hey.
Thought you'd be at work.
Thought so too.
Apparently flower shows and regattas are more important.
You should just tell your dad no.
It's not really that easy.
Uncle Thomas is crewing for him now too.
Kind of tough to say no to my boss/uncle/captain/dad.
Hey.
I am glad that you're getting along with your dad.
Yeah.
Well, it's news to me.
Connor.
Conn.
I'm sorry.
For everything.
Thank you for saying that.
[.]
This is your third time here today.
Either you are starving or you wanna make peace.
Maybe a little bit of both.
You know, the guys at the station, they love Sally's new menu.
Oh, yeah.
Everybody loves David's food.
Everybody.
- You okay? - Yeah.
I don't know.
The other night just brought up a lot of stuff.
It just feels like everybody leaves, somehow.
You know, Mom, Abby, Dad I just, I feel like David's probably next.
- Why? - Because everybody leaves.
DAVID: Okay.
I added a couple extra desserts for the guys at the station.
Oh, great.
Thanks.
I should get going, but talk later.
JESS: Okay.
- Is that about last night? - Last night and the night before.
Whatever.
Jess, David, the regatta needs you.
Our caterer just canceled on us and seeing how everyone is loving the cooking you're doing here we thought it would be great to feature the best of Chesapeake Shores so I thought of you.
No.
- No? - I mean we'd love to.
- Thank you.
- JESS: [CHUCKLES.]
- I think we're on a roll, don't you? - Yeah.
We're rolling.
I just don't know if we're rolling up or down.
DENNIS: David.
Jess.
- There you are.
- Definitely down.
DAVID: Mom? Dad? Hi, David.
Jess.
We'd like to apologize.
- What? - We heard about your inn and, well, we're really sorry.
But we're more sorry about what we did.
To both of you.
[.]
[.]
You know, the toy-boat regatta was the first time I ever tried to talk to you.
Yeah.
That was the first year I won.
Of course.
But that's not what stood out to me.
I remember the sail of your boat.
It was It was a painting of your mom.
It was amazing.
I was impressed.
Well Dad told me that all boats were shes, so I just took him literally.
[SIGHS.]
I think even back then I knew something wasn't right at home and I guess I thought somehow that would help.
I'm gonna go, Abby.
But we'll work it out.
We always do, right? Maybe before school starts, you, Carrie and Caitlyn can come to Europe for a week or two.
And then we have two weeks off between Europe and Asia, so Yeah, I mean, it'll be different than before because you won't be going back and forth, commuting.
I know.
But I love you, and we'll make it work.
We'll talk all the time and I can FaceTime with you and the girls.
It's gonna be okay.
Abby we can do this.
[.]
So if this is port - then that's starboard? - Yeah.
And that's the bow? - And this is the stern? - Yep, you got it.
Okay.
So, what else can you teach me? When you see land, you say: - GIRLS: Land ho! - TRACE: [CHUCKLES.]
- You guys look like you're having fun.
- CARRIE: Mm-hm.
Are you gonna be there? The regatta? Absolutely.
And what about our gymnastics competition in Baltimore? It's the regionals.
You know what, girls, that is in a few weeks, so we will see.
CARRIE: Can we take Axel for a walk? Yeah, good idea.
Here.
Grab the leash.
What's up, buddy? You just laying on your bed? - All right, who wants to walk him? - CAITLYN: Me.
Come on.
Let's go.
- You wanna walk him? All right.
- Sure.
CAITLYN: Come on, Axel, let's go for a walk.
- Good boy.
Come on.
- [.]
Bree? - Hi, Mom.
- Hi.
I was hoping we could talk.
Yeah, um, Connor called.
I guess you're making the rounds.
Uh, no offense, but I have a lot on my plate right now and I can't really deal with this.
- What's going on now? - Doesn't matter, I'm taking care of it.
Okay.
I understand.
Caroline's real.
And she's here.
- Simon's Caroline? - Mm-hm.
All I can think about is they'll live their life like it's a Caroline novel and I'm gonna be here, reading about her "happily ever after" in one of Simon's next books.
[.]
DAVID: But they didn't ask for anything.
They sat and they talked, but they didn't ask for anything at all.
You always say that your parents manipulate you.
Yeah, but maybe this time they're serious.
David, our parents have disappointed us our entire lives.
That's true.
But you give your parents multiple chances.
I know.
Maybe I should do the same.
[.]
I'd sail directly towards the gate.
What about the lack of clear air? The extra distance would allow us to find clear air and make it back.
- That's right.
- [LAUGHS.]
I read the book.
Twice.
So it seems.
This may be the first time I've asked you to do something - you actually did it.
- Oh, yeah? Well, don't get used to it.
Hey, Dad, are you gonna be okay if we don't win? What? Why? Well, in theory, I'm an advanced sailor but I've never been on the water before.
Don't worry about it.
You make a mistake, you'll walk the plank.
[BOTH CHUCKLE.]
First Mate Thomas O'Brien reporting for duty, sir.
- Oh.
I thought I was first mate.
- You kidding? You've never sailed.
Kevin, you joining the ranks? Let me get back to you on that.
I just came to borrow Connor.
Okay.
- Hey.
Good to see you.
- Hey.
Good to see you.
CONNOR: What's up? I'm gonna drive to Philly.
See if you wanted to come.
- Why? - I need someone tough enough - to handle Sarah's brothers.
- Oh.
Then you found the right guy.
I'm gonna steal him.
See you.
So Robin's been talking to Megan.
Is everything okay? It's, uh not perfect.
But we're working through it.
- Buy you a beer? - Always.
- Come on.
- [CHUCKLES.]
Gran, did you ever regret marrying Grandpa? Whoa.
Now, why would I ever regret that? He was a wonderful man.
Yes, but he wasn't easy.
Every relationship takes work.
Right, but some take more work than others.
Well, if you want it to be a good one then it's worth every second.
When the going got tough I knew that my Charles would be there for me by my side.
Oh, and that is everything.
- Yeah.
I remember that about Grandpa.
- [CHUCKLES.]
That's what I want for me and for the girls.
Well, I can only imagine with the way you grew up, with your dad always gone.
[.]
I don't know what to do.
I just I don't know how to fix anything.
Well, now, who says that you have to? [LAUGHS.]
I don't What? Abby sometimes you have to look at the world the way it is and people for who they are.
And you have to take care of yourself first.
It's not that simple.
Oh, but it is.
When it comes to the heart don't ever allow yourself to settle for not-good-enough.
[EXHALES.]
PAULIE: Hut! - Hut.
- JOE: I'm open.
- KEVIN: Yeah.
- SARAH: Yeah.
- PAULIE: Want some? - CONNOR: Ungh! [GASPS.]
- PAULIE: Yeah.
- JOE: Whoo! - Oh, yeah.
- Oh! CONNOR: All right, let's do it again.
- Hang in there, Connor.
- CONNOR: Yeah.
PAULIE: Set, hut.
- Oh, yeah.
- KEVIN: Whoo! [CHUCKLES.]
Ooh! SARAH: Think Connor will give up? - No, but, you know, he might sue them.
- They might remove his head.
I know we said we'd wait for the weekend, sorry.
- CONNOR: Yeah.
Let's do it.
- Apparently I was driving everyone crazy.
Why do you think Joe and Paulie are taking it out on Connor? [CHUCKLES.]
- I was driving them crazy too.
- [CHUCKLES.]
So how's it going, the job? Great.
I guess.
Yeah, they're nice guys, one other woman at the station - which is a huge plus.
- Mm-hm.
And I'm getting used to buildings over three stories tall.
What about you? It's great.
It's It's going [.]
Great.
I know that we said we would commute and that you're with your family.
I would never ask you to do anything for me that I wouldn't do for you.
But I can't keep doing this.
Not being with you.
So before I left, I applied to the Philadelphia Fire Department as a paramedic.
What? - Really? - Yeah.
It'll probably take them a year to even look at my application.
Who knows where it'll go from there.
You'd leave your family for me? The way that I see it is I wouldn't really be leaving my family.
PAULIE: In the air.
- CONNOR: Oh, what out.
- JOE: Whoo! I got you! [ALL GRUNTING.]
- You wanna play them next? - No.
- PAULIE: That's how we do football.
Yeah! - JOE: Whoo! [.]
MEGAN: Does it really matter what I think? ABBY: I wouldn't mind someone weighing in.
Oh, honey.
Sometimes love just isn't enough.
No.
Not when you want different things.
I just I want everything with Trace.
A marriage.
To be a family.
A house, a home together.
Stability.
Of course, you do.
It's not wrong to want everything, Abby, you deserve that.
You spent your whole life just trying to take care of everyone else.
Yeah.
And for once I am going to put myself and the girls first.
[SIGHS.]
So you don't really need me weighing in on this, do you? I guess not.
MEGAN: Oh, my beautiful daughter.
- Mmm.
I was thinking, the reason you're getting a little sag on your mainsail is the tension on your backstay.
- Yeah, that could be it.
- You check the shrouds? - What? - Of all the times we'd go sailing - why do you remember the worst ones? - Because heading out into the bay on a 14-foot Blue Jay that you can't turn without snapping the mast is hard to forget.
- Oh, yeah, that was fun.
- Ha.
You and I have a completely different definition of fun.
Uh-huh.
You check the gooseneck? Yeah, it's secure.
Ah.
Seven hours on the water, and I wasn't scared once.
That's because you were 10.
We were more concerned with Dad's reaction than sailing into the Atlantic.
Which is why I had you make the call from Cape Henry.
[CHUCKLES.]
- Spreaders? - Ninety degrees.
Yeah.
Dad couldn't stop laughing.
Two hours later he pulled up, spliced the shroud handed us a six pack of soda and a bag of chips - and told us to sail home.
- I can't believe he did that.
No, that was pretty crazy, even for him.
Remember what he said when we finally pulled the boat out of the water? "Our worst times define us.
" It wasn't the worst for me.
I always knew you'd get us home.
"Never forget what's important in life.
" Another one of Dad's? No.
No, that's Jim Nelson.
That's the note he left me with the boat.
Hm.
[CHUCKLES.]
- [.]
- [UMBRELLA CLICKING.]
- Hi.
- Abs.
Paint finally dried.
So I figured I'd make sure they actually float.
[CHUCKLES.]
Those look amazing.
- Thank you for doing that.
- Before you thank me - let's make sure they're seaworthy.
- Okay.
[GROANING.]
All right.
[BOTH CHUCKLE.]
ABBY: Can I talk to you for a sec? Yeah, what's up? Um I just, um wanted to discuss you leaving.
I thought we talked about that.
Hmm, yeah.
I've been thinking about it a lot.
And [.]
I don't think I can do this anymore.
[SIGHS.]
Look, we've been doing it.
And from my perspective, it's been working.
Yeah.
And I know this might sound selfish and I want you to be happy this isn't the life that I want.
And I can't share your dreams by giving up mine.
I'm living my dream.
Right here, right now.
And I thought this was your dream too.
I want a life with you, Trace.
I want a family with you - I wanna spend my life with you.
- Abby, Abby.
We can make this work.
We have before and we're doing it now.
- We can have it all.
- No, we can't have it all.
Because we want different things.
Trace, when I came back home for my family I knew everything I was giving up, and I don't think you're ready to do that.
I would do anything for you, Abby.
And the girls, you know that.
Yeah.
I'll always love you.
I'm sorry.
Sorry.
[ABBY SIGHS.]
[.]
Welcome to the finals of the 43rd Annual Children's Regatta.
Everyone, ready your boats.
And let the race begin.
[WHISTLE BLOWS & CROWD CHEERING AND APPLAUDING.]
I heard you decided to leave.
Yeah.
Well, good luck.
[CROWD CHEERING.]
Mom, come on.
Come on.
I thought you and Bree were on the mend.
Considering how deep this wound is, the healing's far from over.
Oh, maybe eventually.
Eventually.
Yeah.
The O'Brien family crest.
[CROWD CHEERING.]
- Thanks for coming.
- Of course.
I'd never miss a yacht race.
Even a small one.
- With even smaller sailors.
- [CHUCKLES.]
[CROWD CHEERING.]
So how was your, uh, lunch with Caroline? I didn't go.
Okay.
- You're not remotely jealous, are you? - What? No.
I don't get remotely jealous.
Okay, I'm a little remotely jealous, but I don't wanna be it doesn't feel good.
But it's Caroline.
And I'm not sure my fears aren't completely unfounded.
You do know that you can trust me? Yeah.
Yeah, but I don't know that I can trust her.
Bree I'm with you.
I like you.
So maybe all this stuff with Caroline maybe it's not about Caroline.
- Maybe it's - Don't say Martin.
I was going to say your mom.
- WOMAN 1: Come on.
- WOMAN 2: Come on, guys.
[CROWD CHEERING AND SHOUTING.]
Come here.
You did great.
Caitlyn.
CAITLYN & CARRIE: Thank you.
MEGAN: Good job, ladies.
Good competition.
[LAUGHING.]
[.]
MEGAN: I thought it would be different.
That clearing the air would mean clear the air.
Yeah, I'd hoped so too.
You know, Mick I came back here to help heal the family and all I've done is just make it worse.
You haven't made things worse.
Ugh, what I wouldn't give for just a little glimpse of the finish line.
Or just have a few moments of smooth sailing.
Well, if we're responsible, then we're the ones who have to fix it.
Maybe it's time to take the boat out.
[CHUCKLES.]
[.]
Look.
What do you guys think? Dad kept all our old boats in the attic.
I'm thinking of using them - as decorations for the regatta.
- I love that.
Considering I'm living with Dad again, I figure anything in the attic is mine.
- [CONNOR IMITATES HORN TOOTING.]
- King Connor.
- Didn't your boat sink? - [LAUGHS.]
Okay, I was king of Atlantis.
[CHUCKLES.]
Abby, we're really sorry about Trace.
Yeah, if there's anything that any of us can do - Yeah, anything.
- No, I'm fine.
- No, you're not.
- CONNOR: Definitely not.
- She needs a hug.
- ABBY: [CHUCKLES.]
I need a hug.
JESS: Mmm.
[.]
[COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS.]
- You know, I looked you up last night.
- Did you now? And I listened to some of your music too.
It was good.
- Well, I'm glad you liked it, Chris.
- Very catchy.
- That's what I was going for.
- So I was thinking maybe you and I can talk music at some point.
Go over some bands and you can throw in your two cents.
Or maybe I should just hold onto my pennies.
Now that you'll be running the club while I'm gone.
I have to say, I really like this band.
John, not now.
I get it.
But in a weird way, you really can't stop listening to them.
John, you can stay and join them if you'd like.
Sit in on a set or two.
Or you can come to Europe with us.
You know what, I don't really like them that much.
[LEIGH LAUGHS.]
LEIGH: I am gonna miss this place.
Yeah, me too.
It's gonna be okay.
I know.
[.]
[.]
Light-bottom soles, I got it.
Do you mind if I have one? - Could I stop you? - Not really, no.
Sarah, what are you doing here? I know you had your heart set on Philadelphia but I asked for my old job back.
Actually, I had to do a little begging.
Really? Why? Because you were gonna give it all up for me.
So the least I could do was do the same for you.
- Yeah? - Yeah.
[.]
I love you, Sarah.
I love you too.
I'm also really hungry, so if you're not gonna eat your burger you mind if I do? [CHUCKLES.]
We just wanna give you your book back.
And tell you how we feel about it.
[.]
So we wrote something down.
- Oh, and, uh, one more thing.
- Yeah.
For the regatta, make sure you wear white-bottom shoes.
Did Dad just invite me sailing? Sounds like.
[SOBBING.]
I don't know if I should go.
Bree it could be good.
Okay.
[CHUCKLES.]
[.]
- I think we did great.
- We did.
DAVID: Everybody's giving me business cards.
They want to hire us.
JESS: They want to hire you.
Jess, that's not true.
DENNIS: David.
Jess.
Excellent food, David.
Thank you, Dad.
Which is why we've had an idea.
I know we've been hard on you in the past but you really need to run your own kitchen.
With an inn.
We'd like to buy you a new bed and breakfast in Tanglewood.
Full kitchen, 15 rooms.
It's our way of saying we're sorry.
Just think about it.
Welcome to the 43rd Annual Chesapeake Shores Regatta.
Timed starts will begin in 45 minutes down on the bay.
[.]
- You made it.
You're on time.
- Hi.
- I'm actually still on the clock.
- Right.
Right.
Well, thank you for stopping by, it was great seeing you.
- You too.
- And I'll, uh, catch you later.
- That's for being a little bit gullible.
- A little bit? - What do I get for being a lot gullible? - [CHUCKLES.]
[.]
[EXHALES.]
MEGAN: Dear Bree when we were married, we had a simple dream.
We were gonna create a happy family better than how we both grew up.
We wanted you all to feel loved, to never worry and to know that we would always be there for you.
But sadly, life didn't work out the way we'd planned.
We quickly learned that sometimes what should be easy isn't and what is simple becomes complicated.
Because love doesn't always hold families together.
And second chances sometimes come too late.
But we're sorry.
We're sorry for what happened we're sorry for what we did, and we're sorry for what we didn't do.
MICK: Cast off! - Like a pro.
- Lots of reading.
- MICK: Bye! - MEGAN: Bye, everyone! - Bon voyage.
- BREE: See you guys.
- MICK: Bye! - BREE: Be safe.
- Have fun.
- MEGAN: So, looking back we never intended to hurt anyone.
But in our efforts to save ourselves we made decisions that hurt us all.
Instead of taking care of the present we focused on pushing our troubles into the past.
And we worked so hard to move forward that we left the ones we loved behind.
Hey, man.
- You mind signing an autograph? - Of course.
It's, uh, for my daughter.
Come on in, honey.
My pleasure.
- What's your name? - Nina.
Here you go, Nina.
- Thank you.
- Enjoy the show.
Thank you.
[.]
MEGAN: So this is our hope that we can return to who we were so that we can move forward, together.
While these first steps will be small and sometimes hard to see we promise that this time we'll be there for all of you.
And if we lose our way we also promise to find our way back.
Because where there is love there will always be hope.

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