Synopsis/Details
Logline & Treatment: Brothers-In-Law: 30-minute teleplay by Teri L. Foster
Logline: Newly divorced Larry moves in with his recently deceased sister's husband, agrees to serve his three girls, and crash in the basement. But Larry oversleeps, temporarily “loses” one kid, and commits a “secret” fender-bender with Marcus's Buick—on Day One.
LARRY Adams backs a rental U-Haul up brother-in-law MARCUS WILLIAMS'S driveway, and parks close by the garage door. Climbing out of the cab, deranged-looking, unkempt Larry is besieged by three giggling girls: MARY WILLIAMS (14), TAYLOR WILLIAMS (11), and JORDAN WILLIAMS (4). They are happy to see their uncle, despite that Marcus—in so many words—reminds his newly divorced brother-in-law the living arrangement is “temporary,” then proceeds to lay in a few barbs about understanding why Larry's wife dumped him. The poor sap asks for help (anybody?) unloading boxes, but the others turn and walk back into their nice home.
Later, Larry makes the mistake of asking where he'll be sleeping, and Marcus points to the basement stairs. So long as Larry agrees to help with the very rambunctious girls, well, everything will be fine (or else). Marcus, who was married to Larry's recently deceased sister, LISA, opens up and admits he still has bad days haunted by the anguish of losing her. The kids (loudly) claim they can take care of themselves, prompting Marcus to remind them of the time a distracted Mary failed to stop Taylor from super gluing Jordan's hands to the kitchen table. Larry asks Marcus what he'll be doing while Larry is busy cooking, cleaning, shopping, etc., and Marcus responds to this cluelessness: “Going to work like millions of people every day.”
Larry, hurt by this harsh declaration of reality, resents having fate rubbed in his face, and Marcus repents by admitting how rough it is raising the girls without their mother. Everyone really misses her. Larry jokes that, come the morning, his new name will be Alfred—the girls show their glee over this fresh living arrangement.
Finally, Marcus offers to help Larry finish hauling boxes out of the U-Haul while the girls scamper upstairs to their rooms.
Larry tragically oversleeps, thus failing to prepare the much-expected breakfast for Marcus's three angels. They let him know they aren't particularly happy about this blunder, and give him the drill about how things work in the Williams home. They complain about the lack of food in the fridge, and Larry is tasked with going out into the real world to purchase (with Marcus's funds) real groceries.
Abruptly the side door opens and in comes CHRISTOPHER (“call me Chris Cross”) STEWART, 15, wannabe rapper. So far, he's got the sagging pants but not much else. Larry complains about this stranger barging into “my house,” and says so. Marcus objects to Larry's false sense of entitlement, while Chris complains to Jordan for calling him Christopher. Larry slaps away the boy's hand when offered an introductory shake. Marcus announces he—and the girls—must leave for the school (he's principal Williams); Larry hits him up for grocery money. “And give me my change back,” Marcus says.
Determined to pursue the “good life,” Larry grabs a soda and chips, props his feet on the living room coffee table, and begins the hard labor of channel-surfing. Maury's guests raise Larry's ire, but he's saved by the annoying ring of the telephone. No, he's not Mr. Williams—and slams down the handset. The doorbell follows up on the phone. Answering, he tells the COURIER (who asks if Larry will hold a neighbor's package) to shove off—and slams the door.
Later, cooking a big meal of spaghetti with all the trimmings, Larry is startled when JOY STEWART (single mother of wannabe rapper Chris) cavalierly enters the house without so much as a knock. Openly attracted to Larry at first sight, she flirts . . . but no dice. Larry's not (yet, anyway) interested. He shows her the door, but Joy blows kisses and promises to return.
Mary warns that Larry's culinary skills might produce a meal that sucks, and he defends himself by claiming to be a chef. Hearing this, the girls ask Larry where he learned to cook, and he regales them with bittersweet recollections of training at Paris's iconic Le Cordon Bleu, meeting (and eventually parting ways with) a young woman named Charlotte . . . “the one who got away.” Is he telling the truth? Taylor gives Larry a thrill of terror by casually mentioning she's a handy girl—and even helped Dad put new Brakes on the Buick . . . thus explaining an “incident” in the grocery store lot.
After a long day (and basketball practice at the school, filling in as “Coach Williams” until a replacement is hired), Marcus comes home to find Larry actually has saved a plate of spaghetti and all the trimmings for him, and the two share formerly private grief over the death of beloved Lisa, and agree to be open and honest with one another. Marcus admits the food was good, and that maybe Larry might join forces (as a cook) with lusty neighbor Joy, who owns a small bakery. When Larry realizes the time, he panics—the rental truck he used to move his belongings was supposed to be returned by five o'clock. Marcus calms him down, and says he'll cover the late fee.
Honoring the new honesty policy, Larry admits to temporarily losing—while shopping—four-year-old Jordan, and that there “might have” been an accident in the grocery store parking lot involving the Buick's bumper. Now Marcus flips out (what have I gotten myself into?), but calms himself as Larry scampers off into the basement sanctuary. Life for the new and unconventional family is about to become very interesting.
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