[standing beside TJ as Trevor says good bye to the boys] Please stay.
[to TJ and Finn] Well, you know why I have to go. But I'm gonna come back as soon as I can, and when I get home, I'm gonna tell you guys stories about everything I've seen. So, be brave for me, okay? Take care of your Mom, she's gonna need it. Come here. [kneels to hug both boys, and picks up his rucksack to leave, as Roxy tries not to cry]
[TJ stands still, still staring at Trevor]
What's the matter, buddy?
TJIt's just that we've never had a Daddy before.
[bending to look TJ straight in the eyes] I love you.
[TJ and Finn enter the bedroom dressed up in their suits and ties]
TJ
I wish we had uniforms for the Silver Star ceremony.
No. [kneels down to straighten out their shirts and ties] I like you guys just the way you are.
TJ
We wanna be like you.
TJ
Most of the time.
So when are the times when you don't want to be like me?
TJ
When you yell at Mommy.
[sits on bed, the boys back off] Come here. Come over here, I'm not going to bite you. Come on.
[The boys sit on the bed on either side of him]
I promise you, no more cranky times.
No more yelling. Just kissing. Lots and lots of kissing.
[Roxy is vacuuming while Trevor is studying and the boys are lying around in the living room reading and studying]
Blame the dang dog. He's the one who dragged in all the dirt. [to Trevor] You want me to fix you a snack while you're studying for your finals?
This isn't high school, Rox. It's the promotion board. I gotta earn enough points to make Sergeant.
[picks up a tattered sock chewed off by Lucky] Thought you already had a whole heap of points.
Still gotta ace the board.
TJ
What's the board?
A bunch of NCOs lock me in the room and grill me with questions, that's what. [looks at Roxy] I'd better know the answers.
But we need to make Dad's brain Army strong.
We need to make your brain Army strong.
[...]
[Roxy finds a teacher's note in Finn's textbook]
How long have you had this?
[irritated] You don't know?
I think Miss Hayley says I have a listening problem.
Yeah. Well, I think you have a remembering problem. Were you ever gonna give this to me?
[to Finn] Hey, what you meant to say was "I'm sorry Mom. It will never happen again".
[smiles at Roxy] What Dad said!
[TJ and Finn look at her and Trevor]
Wow. Come on. Your mom's having a baby!
TJ
[unenthusiastically] Really?
Uh...because...we thought it would be fun for you guys to have a little baby brother or baby sister?
[Still no reaction from the boys]
TJ
You were there too.
TJ
No you didn't!
All your mom and I wanna know is why.
TJ
You never asked us if we wanted a new baby.
TJ
You're gonna love the new baby more than us because it's really yours and we're not.
Buddy, is that what you think?
TJ
It's true.
TJ
We saw at the park playing with that baby.
[takes a deep breath] Look, guys. Maybe I wasn't there when you were born. But for me, you two are mine and you're always gonna be mine. No matter what. Ok?
TJ
Ok
See, it doesn't matter if somebody is your birth parent or not. All that matters is that they love you. And your dad and I love you so very much.
And you need to know that there's a lot of love inside every person. It's just not something that gets used up and then there's no more.
When this new baby comes, there's gonna be just so much more love in this house.
TJ
You mean like when we got Lucky?
Yeah. Like when we got Lucky.
[Trevor shows TJ and Finn the gold necklace he bought for Roxy]
What do you mean, "is that it"???
Buddy, that's real gold. It doesn't have to be big to be good. Remember that.
TJ
[skeptical] You really think she'll like it?
Like it? Guys, she's gonna love it.
TJ
[sternly to Finn] So no blabbing.
Ok, so let's go over tomorrow's battle plan. Atten-hut! [TJ and Finn stand at attention] First we let your mom sleep in till 0800 correct?
TJ
Breakfast in bed with cards and flowers.
Perfect. Now I'm gonna be going away on Army business but I'll be back in time for dinner with you guys, Katie, Lucas and Mrs. Moran, ok?
TJ
And then the special present?
[on his laptop] [to TJ and Finn] Ok, men, commence "Operation New Car" and by that I mean new, used car.
TJ
This is cool.
Ok, so what kind of car should we get?
TJ
I want a truck with really big wheels.
Hmm, a purple monster truck, huh? That's interesting.
TJ
[angrily] You said three years!
[trying to calm TJ] And I meant to be here that long.
But he Army needs your dad in Afghanistan right now.
'Cause we're fighting over there.
TJ
You lied!
We didn't lie to you, bud.
TJ
You said you got a new job. You didn't say you were deploying.
We wanted to find the right time to tell you.
TJ
You never told us anything! [goes into his room] You think I'm just a little kid! [slams door]
[Trevor follows TJ to his room]
Your brother's upset, that's all.
[sadly] Dad'll miss my birthday.
TJ
What are you doing here?
It's me Whit. Remember? Your Mama's friend?
TJ
Get out!
Woah, woah, woah. What did you just say?
TJ
Why is he here?
Do not sass me. This is Whit. He's my friend.
TJ
Like the friends you used to have before Dad?
TJ
[angrily] No! If Dad was here he would kick his ass and you know it!
[points to his room] TJ, get in your room right now and do not come out until I tell you different! You hear me?!
Ok, so, you're in line, door opens, winds howling, jumpmaster shouts:
TFTJ & Finn
Green light! Go!
Affirmative. Each trooper jumps in order. Go, go, go. It's your turn. You jump. Static line deploys the chute and then TJ order performance..
TJ
Proper exit. Check the body position. Check canopy. Gain canopy control. Keep a sharp lookout. Prepare to land. Lands.
Outstanding. Now Finn, in order to stick your landing where are your five points of contact?
Balls of the feet, calf, thigh, butt, pull-up muscle.
Beautiful. [to an amused Roxy, who is standing behind them] We've got two ace paratroopers in the making.
Whit says he's already finished the wiring and he says the duct work won't take more than a day tops.
[Trevor nods, Roxy is unsure of what to say]
[reassuringly] Babe, it's ok. It's all good between me and Whit. I don't want you feeling guilty every time his name comes up. Whit's a good guy. And just because he's Finn's dad doesn't mean he can't be a friend.
[walked into kitchen unnoticed] Whit's my dad??
[Later]
[hands Finn a photograph of Whit] I was saving these for you. For Sunday. This is Whit from back when I knew him before. I met Whit when I was your age and we were best friends right off. Not boyfriend-girlfriend, just very close. And we stayed that way through high school.
[looks at photo] Why didn't you get married?
Because we didn't love each other that way. Not the way you're supposed to love someone when you get married.
But we were lucky enough to have you. And I was happy to raise you by myself. Until I found a person who I did love in the right way. [looks to Trevor] But Whit is a good man. And he loves you very much. He loves you so much he let Trevor adopt you so that you could have a real daddy. You understand?
[looks at Roxy] So, do I have to call Whit "Dad" now?
No. Trevor is your dad, same as always. Whit is just a friend.
TJ
What about my father? Will I ever get to meet him?
Honey, I don't think that's gonna happen.
TJ
Why not?
Because there were times when he wasn't so nice to me and I didn't want that happening to you. So I got away. To protect you. [TJ looks away dejectedly] I'm so sorry, but I think you're old enough to know the truth. And I would never let anyone hurt you.
TJ
So why did you marry him?
Because I was young and I didn't know better.
People make mistakes, bud.
That does not mean that you are a mistake. You are the only thing that brought me happiness during those years. And I have never ever regretted having you. Not for one second. You understand? [takes out a photo] I saved this for you so you could see what he looked like. You want to talk about it?
TJ
[looks at photo] May I be excused?
[TJ gets up and goes out to the porch without saying a word]
[Later]
TJ
It's not fair.
I know. [pauses] Look, I told you that I was adopted like you and Finn. But what I didn't tell you was that my natural father wasn't very good to me either. He wasn't good to anybody. In fact, he's in jail. And I haven't seen him since I was Finn's age.
TJ
How come you never told me?
Because I didn't think it was important. Until now. [looks at TJ] I know how you're feeling, TJ. Angry, disappointed, embarrassed. It's hard. And that just doesn't go away. But I'll tell you what I figured out. You get two families in this life. The one you're born with and the one you choose. The one I was born with didn't measure up, but I love the family that I chose. And that means you, bud. I hope you feel the same way about me.
TJ
[smiles] I do, Dad.
TJ
[bangs on the bathroom door] Katie, hurry up!! Come on Katie! Open up! You've been in there forever!
[from inside the bathroom] Have not!
TJ
Have too! [to Lucas] Is she always like this?
TJ
[knocks on door] Hurry up!
[angrily] Ok, TJ! Knock it off!
Katie! The boys are waiting! [knocks on door] Put it in gear!
[walks past the boys] Can't find my patrol cap.
LLucas
Is that like a baseball hat?
TJ
[sheepishly] We were sort of playing with it in my room. [Trevor goes to the boys' room]
LLucas
[bangs on bathroom door] Katie! The toilet flush!
[Lucas and TJ groan and grumble loudly]
[from inside the bathroom] It's not my fault!
Katie! Open the door. I'll deal with it.
[continues knocking on door angrily] Katie! Katie Moran!
[Trevor grabs his hat and storms out of the house, Roxy rushes after him]
This is getting old, babe.
Ok, it won't be much longer.
[sarcastically] How long? Do you realize we haven't had sex in two weeks?
Well, maybe we could get a room.
If we could get a room I'd put the Morans in it. That's the problem. There are no rooms.
Ok, well, she's my best friend. And she saved Finn's life. So, just a little longer.
[Trevor looks at her and says nothing, gets on his bike and leaves for work]
Army Wives · 293 quotes
