Cherreads

Chapter 12 - Episode 12: “Sibling Wars & Retail Therapy”

--- INTERVIEW – JOEY DUNPHY ---

[Joey sits in his perfectly organized family car, adjusting the air vents while Haley, Alex, Luke, and Manny bicker in the backseat. Buddy rides shotgun, wearing tiny aviators.]

JOEY: Sibling bonding is like assembling IKEA furniture. You start with good intentions, then realize someone hid the screws. [Pauses] …But at least there's meatballs at the end.

DUNPHY LIVING ROOM – MORNING

Haley holds up a shredded notebook, glaring at Alex. Luke and Manny wrestle over a toy lightsaber.

HALEY (waving the notebook): You ruined my DIY crop top! Do you even know how hard I worked on it! It was my art!!

ALEX (sneering): Oh no, the world will never recover from the loss of your "art." Meanwhile, my quantum physics notes are gone!

LUKE (yelling): Manny said he's my uncle! That's not fair!

MANNY (adjusting his scarf): Technically, I am. Through marriage. It's called genealogy, Luke.

LUKE: You're not my uncle! You're just a weird kid who drinks espresso!

 

--- INTERVIEW – CLAIRE DUNPHY ---

CLAIRE: I left them alone for five minutes. Five minutes! Phil was supposed to be watching them.

PHIL (offscreen): I was calibrating the sprinklers for optimal rainbow arcs!

DUNPHY DRIVEWAY – AFTERNOON

Joey herds the group into his car, clipboard in hand. Buddy claims the front seat.

JOEY: Ground rules: No science talk. No fashion talk. No uncles. [Pauses]… And no licking the windows.

LUKE (licking the window): Too late.

HALEY: Where are we even going?

JOEY: Therapy. [Deadpan] …Retail therapy.

--- INTERVIEW – ALEX DUNPHY ---

ALEX: Joey's idea of "fun" is color-coordinated spreadsheets. This'll be a disaster.

SPRINGFIELD GALLERIA – LATER

The group navigates the mall. Joey's itinerary includes:

"Nerd Haven" Bookstore (for Alex), "Glimmer" Accessories (for Haley), Toys & Turbulence (for Luke), Poetic Brew Café (for Manny)

JOEY (handing out gift cards): Stick to the budget. Or else.

---LATER IN THE LOBBY---

HALEY (gasping at a sequin jacket): This is everything.

ALEX (rolling eyes): It's a disco ball with sleeves.

MANNY (sipping a chai latte): Luke, toys are fleeting. Poetry is eternal.

LUKE (wielding a foam sword): Nerd fight!

[Chaos ensues. Haley "accidentally" maxes her gift card. Alex debates a cashier on string theory. Manny performs slam poetry to confused shoppers. Luke gets stuck in a ball pit.]

--- INTERVIEW – LUKE DUNPHY ---

LUKE: Joey said I could buy anything. So, I got 37 glow sticks, a fart gun, and a cactus. [Pauses] …for Mom.

POETIC BREW CAFÉ – LATER

The group collapses at a table, surrounded by shopping bags. Joey distributes kale smoothies.

HALEY (dramatic): Ugh, kale? Can't I get a Frappuccino?

JOEY: You blew your budget on glitter. Suffer.

MANNY (raising his cup): To family. The beautiful, bewildering tapestry of chaos.

ALEX (reluctantly): …Fine. To Joey's credit card.

LUKE (burping): To fart guns!

[A rare moment of silence, then Haley pulls out her phone.]

HALEY: Group selfie! [Pauses] Joey, smile!

JOEY (forced grin): This is my "I regret everything" face.

--- INTERVIEW – MANNY DELGADO ---

MANNY: Joey's like a Swiss watch—precision with a hint of existential dread.

DUNPHY HOUSE – EVENING

Claire and Phil review Joey's receipts, stunned.

CLAIRE: He bought Luke a cactus? And Haley a jacket that blinds pilots?!

PHIL (grinning): Our boy's a natural mediator! And a shopping savant!

JOEY (walking in):  [Tosses a "fart gun" to Phil] For your collection.

CLAIRE (softening): You did good, kid.

--- INTERVIEW – PHIL DUNPHY ---

PHIL: When did Joey become the dad? [Pauses] …I'm okay with it.

FINAL SCENE

The siblings gather in the living room. Haley models her jacket, Alex reads a new book, Luke "tests" the fart gun, and Manny composes a haiku. Joey smiles, secretly snapping a photo.

[Post-credits: Buddy wears Haley's sequin jacket, chewing the cactus. Text overlay: "Fashion Icon 🌵"]

More Chapters