WILLOW: *gasping* Baby!! How did you do all of this?
FIONA: Magic.
WILLOW: Thank you, love. This was a really special surprise.
FIONA: Of course. You have been doing such a good job with your work and with the twins, love. I just wanted to show you how much I appreciate you and everything you do.
WILLOW: I don’t deserve you.
FIONA: (laughing softly) You know, I would have never believed I could ever trade the high rise apartments and nice pay raises for picnics at sunset and wildflower bouquets.
WILLOW: And yet here you are, with your beautiful fiancé and two babies waiting at home for you.
FIONA: You taught me about the parts of life that I never even knew existed. I didn’t even know how much I needed them until I met you.
WILLOW: (blushing) You only needed the softness. Not ambitions. Not goals. Just someone to nurture what was already in your heart.
WILLOW: You know... I’ve been thinking...
FIONA: That’s dangerous.
WILLOW: Rude!
WILLOW: Your parents.
FIONA (humming) Not exactly what I want to think about on our first date away from the boys...
WILLOW: Have they RSVPed for the wedding?
FIONA: Um. Not exactly. It’s fine though.
WILLOW: Is it fine? It’s your wedding... they’re your family. They should--
FIONA: (dryly) What? Be asking me about floral arrangements? Wedding gift ideas? Willow, sweetheart, have you heard me talk about my family?
WILLOW: (softly) I just want this day to be perfect. For both of us.
FIONA: It will be. We don’t need them to make our day perfect. Besides, I made my peace with them a long time ago. They’ve always been selectively supportive.
FIONA: Trust me, if I came home on the arm of a man, the plane tickets would have already been booked and our whole honeymoon to Sulani would have been taken care of. But our life? A little too much for them to handle.
WILLOW: (sighs)
FIONA: (adding quickly) Unless you want to attempt a last-minute intervention. You can show up in Willow Creek dressed as the world’s most respectable housewife.
WILLOW: (giggling) Oh yes, that’d go brilliantly. “Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Henriquez De La Flor, I am definitely not a free-spirited artist who intends to dance barefoot at your daughter’s wedding.”
FIONA: We’ll get you a handbag and a nice button-up like Mrs. Crumplebottom.
WILLOW: (giggling)
FIONA: I actually think you could make her outfit look pretty sexy...
WILLOW: FI! You are absolutely--
FIONA: At the end of the day, I don’t need them, princess. Any of them. Just you and the boys.
RAHMI: Maira! Imran! You’ve already lost your Voidcritter privileges for the weekend. Don’t make it for the week.
*Imran and Maira groaning* *bar chatter and friendly conversation*
THIAGO: Alright, fill me in—on a scale from ‘mild inconvenience’ to ‘angry mobs with pitchforks,’ how serious is this meeting supposed to be?
FIONA: It’s a town meeting, not a revolution. Keep your hair on; The Bachelor will still be on when you get home.
THIAGO: I do not watch--
WILLOW: (unconvinced) Kim looks pretty ruffled. She’s over there at the bar and she looks like she’s got a whole hive of bees in her pants. Reckon this’ll be a ‘nod along and move on’ meeting or a ‘full-blown debate’ kind of night?
WILLOW: (grinning) Five quid says a barstool gets thrown at someone tonight.
THIAGO: Oh, you’re on.
FIONA: That is if Sara--
MAYOR CHOPRA: (clearing her throat) Excuse me everyone! *The room starts to quiet*
MAYOR CHOPRA: I appreciate all of you for coming out tonight to a meeting regarding our beloved Henford. Our grocers and markets have always been a crucial part of our economy, and we need to make sure that it remains fair and stable.
MAYOR CHOPRA: That is why I am proposing a new small vendor permit fee and certain updated regulations for sellers in the town.
*The crowd is silent for a moment, stunned.*
*immediately angry chatter erupts from the townsfolk*
CECILIA KANG: There’s nothing small about a fee when we’re barely getting by!
*other members of the town just stare, quietly*
THOMAS WATSON: (angrily) You can’t slap fees on people selling honey and crops from their own land!
MAYOR CHOPRA: I understand the sudden change may be confusing and a little upsetting, but I don’t want--
KIM GOLDBLOOM: (speaking over the crowd) You always act like everything is a conspiracy, Cecilia.
KIM GOLDBLOOM: Let’s be honest—the market’s turning into a free-for-all. People are setting up wherever they please, taking up more space than they should, and don’t even get me started on the undercutting... I’ve been running my grocery stall for years, following the rules, paying my dues. But then you’ve got folks selling produce on the side for dirt cheap, no rules, no accountability. How is that fair to those of us who make a living from this?
WILLOW: (under her breath) Fair? (more loudly) You think charging people just to sell what they grow is fair? Some of these people aren’t running businesses, Kim. They’re just sharing what they have with the community!
KIM GOLDBLOOM: Sharing is one thing, undercutting is another. Maybe you don’t see it, Willow, but people like me—who rely on this market to survive—can’t afford to have half the town treating it like a hobby fair.
SARA SCOTT: Hold on, let’s not turn this into a personal thing. Mayor, what exactly are we talking about here? What kind of fees? What kind of rules?
MAYOR CHOPRA: Nothing drastic. A small permit fee, scaled based on how often someone sells. Casual vendors would pay a little more, while established sellers—like Ms. Goldbloom here— would pay less. We also want clearer guidelines on stall placements, crowd flow, and product safety. It’s about maintaining order, not driving anyone out.
WILLOW: (calling out) And who decides what’s ‘too big’ or ‘too often’? What if a single mum just needs to sell a few baskets of fruit here and there to make ends meet? You’re telling me she has to pay just for that?
KIM: I get it, Willow, I do. But people have to follow some rules, or we’re going to end up with a mess on our hands. It’s already heading that way...
MAYOR CHOPRA: The goal is not to push anyone out, Ms. Everwood. But markets don’t run on goodwill alone. If we want to keep it thriving, we need structure.
DEREK MCMILLAN: Doesn’t sound so bad. Keeps things from getting overcrowded...
IAN MCMILLAN: (snoring softly)
MAYOR CHOPRA: I will outline the proposed fees and criteria in the coming days. We’ll hold a formal town meeting next week. I encourage everyone to come and speak their minds!
MAYOR CHOPRA: I want this to work for everyone—but I also want a sustainable future for our market.
WILLOW: (fuming silently)
THIAGO: Would it be a bad time to cash in on that five quid?
WILLOW: (grumbling) Just give me five minutes and it’ll be me cashing in.
date night with willow and fiona! (rashidah to the rescue)
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Transcript:
*doorbell ringing*
WILLOW: Babe! Could you grab the door? I think it's Rashidah!
FIONA: Yep. On it.
(she goes to open the door)
FIONA: Rashidah! Hi, welcome in.
WILLOW: We can't thank you enough for being here on such short notice, Rashidah. Mr. McMillan just called me an hour ago saying Ian's back was hurting him, so they had to cancel on us. Are you sure you don't mind watching both of the boys? I know they might be a handful at times, and I don't want you to feel overwhelmed.
RASHIDAH: Not at all, Ms. Everwood. Trust me, it's better than being stuck with Imran and Maira.
WILLOW: We cannot thank you enough. We've been wanting a night out for a couple of weeks and I just don't know when we'll get another chance...
FIONA: We should only be gone for an hour and a half at most. If you need to call us, I left my number on the fridge.
RASHIDAH: It's really no trouble at all. I didn't really have anything else to do tonight and who could stay away from these cute little babies?
WILLOW: (smiling) They already ate their dinner and they're already in their pajamas, so they shouldn't be too much work. Fawn is a bit clingy so he might only fall asleep if he's being held.
FIONA: Let me go grab Fox so we can say goodbye.
WILLOW: (cooing) Who's mommy's clingy boy?
FAWN: (babbling)
WILLOW: Yes, you are! Yes, you are!
RASHIDAH: Awww, Fawny. He's so cute! Not to worry, Ms. Everwood. The boys are in good hands with me. After my siblings, I feel like I could handle just about anything!
FIONA: And here's Mr. Cranky... He won't cry as much as Fawn will, but he still might need a distraction.
WILLOW: Are you gonna take care of your brother, Fox? Are you gonna be a good big brother?
FOX: (cooing)
WILLOW: That's my smart boy.
RASHIDAH: Say goodbye to your mommies, boys!
WILLOW: Aww... our babies... Think they'll be okay?
FIONA: Stop worrying, princess. Let's enjoy our night alone.
FIONA: So… did you really need the handmade lavender soap, or was that just another ‘ooh, this smells nice’ purchase?
WILLOW: *pouting* I also wanted to support Cecilia...And I’ll have you know, it’s not just lavender—it has hints of chamomile, which, if you must know, is very relaxing.
FIONA: You realize we have about six different ‘very relaxing’ soaps at home, right?
WILLOW: That’s irrelevant. Besides, don’t act like you didn’t sneak that fancy coffee in your basket when you thought I wasn’t paying attention.
FIONA: That’s different. Coffee is a necessity. Soap is a luxury.
WILLOW: Personal hygiene is NOT a luxury!
FIONA: Hey! I didn’t mean it like-- I’d never say that! Just that you might have a tiny problem when it comes to buying things we already own.
(WILLOW chuckles and ducks under FIONA’s free arm.)
WILLOW: Well, now you’re holding me and I am absolutely a necessity.
FIONA: Can’t argue there, princess... Think Thiago’s okay with the twins?
MEANWHILE...
THIAGO: *sighing, exasperated* Come on, Kit. Aren’t you hungry?
FOX: *whines*
THIAGO: Come on...
FAWN: *giggles and bats at his toys.*
RUDY: ...
THIAGO: I love my nephews... I love my nephews... Look, Fox! Look, little Kit....
FOX: ??
THIAGO: Mmmm. Yummy yogurt. Don’t you want to try some?
the baby was too stunned to speak...
THIAGO: Hey, don’t look at me like that!
FAWN: *intense concentration*
THIAGO: There we go... now you want some, don’t you? Good boy, Kit. One down... one to go. Don’t think you’re getting out of this, Fawn.
FAWN: ??
WILLOW: Well... the house isn’t burned down... That’s a good sign, right?
FIONA: pfft. That’s the least he could do.
THIAGO: Good job! You finished your whole thing of yogurt!
THIAGO: *exhausted* Oh, thank Jesus you’re home.
FIONA: Good lord. Remind me to pay for your whole order next time we go to the pub...
just got out of a tornado warning and went to post this immediately...
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TRANSCRIPT:
FIONA: It feels like you want to say something. Is it about Chopra’s new initiative?
WILLOW: *sighing* Sorry, I know we discussed it already, but it felt like you just weren’t on my side. I don’t like feeling like that.
FIONA: I am on your side, sweetheart. Always will be.
WILLOW: I know that. I do. But in the moment, it didn’t feel like it.
WILLOW: Sometimes, when you take the logical route, it feels like I’m fighting on my own.
FIONA: *sighs, frustrated*
WILLOW: I’m sorry.
FIONA: No, it’s not at you. I just don’t want you to ever feel like that. You’re never fighting alone. I just can’t always be the one to charge into battle with you. Sometimes, I need to be the one standing back, making sure we’re thinking everything through. That doesn’t mean I don’t care.
WILLOW: (laughing softly) You’re always the logical one and I’m always the emotional one, right? That’s how it’s always been?
FIONA: That’s how we work best, Princess.
WILLOW: I love you for it. I love that you’re steady, that you make me stop and think before I throw myself into something. I just need to feel like you’re with me, even when we don’t agree on something.
WILLOW *taking her hand* I love you, Fi.
FIONA: I am forever with you, Will. I love you, too.
FIONA: I’m glad you told me. I need you to always tell me when something’s bothering you. Even if it’s me.
WILLOW: I will. And same to you. I know sometimes I don’t stop to think about how things might affect you, especially when I’m caught up in something I’m passionate about.
FIONA: It’s part of what makes you you. And I love you for it, even when it drives me up the wall.
WILLOW: *laughing* Fair. (She leans in to pull FIONA into a soft kiss).
FIONA: *snorting* Could it have? Realistically? (sarcastically) I don’t know if it could have gone more civilly if we tried.
WILLOW: At least some of us tried...
FIONA: Excuse me?
WILLOW: (quickly) No, I didn’t mean--
FIONA: What, did you want me to flip a table?
WILLOW: Oh, come off it, Fiona! No one’s asking you to start a pub brawl, but you sat there like you were watching a play, not an argument about something that actually affects us. You could have spoken up.
FIONA: And how exactly does this affect us? Will, we don’t sell at the market.
WILLOW: Oh, right! So unless it directly impacts us, we just don’t care? Is that it?
FIONA: That’s not what I said.
WILLOW: Really? Because it sure felt like I was sitting there defending something that you apparently think doesn’t matter.
FIONA: I was listening.
WILLOW: Oh! Maybe next time you can even nod along.
FIONA: I sat there and listened, because I wanted to know exactly what Chopra was planning before I decided how to handle it. We don’t have all the information yet. And if you throw yourself into the middle of this without a plan, what happens next?
WILLOW: We’d figure it out!
FIONA: People like her thrive off emotion. Trust me, if you get upset and argue from the gut instead of from the head, it’s easy to dismiss you as overreacting.
WILLOW: In the meantime, people like Michael Bell and Cecilia Kang are the ones left scrambling, Fiona. They don’t have time for you to sit back and observe.
FIONA: Acting without thinking is just as bad for them.
WILLOW: (quietly) And is that what you think I did?
*FIONA hesitates.*
WILLOW: (scoffing) Unbelievable. You really think I don’t have a clue what I’m doing, don’t you? If I didn’t speak up, who would?
FIONA: I really don’t want to talk about this here. Let’s just reset and revisit this conversation later, okay princess?
*They walk in silence for a few moments before FIONA reaches out to grab WILLOW’s hand.*
WILLOW: I just—I don’t like feeling powerless, Fi. I don’t like the idea that someone could decide something for us and we’re just supposed to sit around and wait to see if it ruins everything. Even though this doesn’t affect us, something else could.
FIONA: I know you, love. I know your heart. And I know you wouldn’t throw yourself into something if you didn’t believe in it.
FIONA: I get that. I’m not saying we should do nothing. I just think… maybe there’s a way to do something that doesn’t burn the whole village down in the process.
WILLOW: *pouting* I wouldn’t burn the village down.
FIONA: Maybe metaphorically.
WILLOW: You’re annoying when you actually talk some sense into me.
FIONA: You’re cute when you get mad at me, princess.
