The Plot point that never was.

So, in finding ways for the stories to combine, and unite; I had a phenomenally brilliant idea. It's a clever plot twist that would have blown everyone away, and would have ruined the show.

SPOILERS!

I mentioned in the previous post that Emily is struggling with her sexual identity because of the conflict between her dedication to her father, and her personal feelings. She watches video clips from her father where he talks about her "finding a nice boy," and other such stereotypical assumptions about what girls should be. The audience will assume that they're Skyping, but it is later revealed that they are video diary clips that he made before he passed away. These really create the conflict. Finally, the last clip will drive home his final message to her: Above all, be true to yourself. He'll do this by telling her a story of when he was younger, in a dead end job that he did only for the money. He quit to pursue his dream, and although there was some struggle, it was more rewarding, and the hard work to overcome it was worth it.

It then occurred to me that this was basically the Brian/Lena story line. So, I thought... what if Emily's father IS Brian? The Brian/Lena storyline would be a flashback, and Emily's story takes place 18 years later. Mind. Blown. Not only that it's a clever twist, but I love it when shows come together like that. These disparate stories shouldn't mix so easily, and when they do, it's like it was meant to be.

There IS a problem, though. If Emily's story takes place in present day, then Brian's takes place 18 years ago. Brian and Lena have a newborn child, their first, which motivates him to work in order to support them. I would like to have technology throughout the show, and impacting on the plot whenever possible; and the teleconferences that open the show and that will happen throughout would not have happened in 1996.. Alternatively, if Brian's story takes place in present day, then Emily's story, and indeed the rest of the show, takes place 18 years from now. This raises all kinds of questions such as: Will coming out be easier in the future? (I hope so) Also, what does this do to the technology featured in the other story lines?

So, I figure that we should keep all story lines in 2014, and Jerry's message to Emily will be told in a song. I have been toying with the idea of Brian taking more and more demeaning jobs throughout the show just to make ends meet. By the end of the piece, he's working at a coffee shop where this final scene takes place. Emily and Christine are meeting there so that Emily can apologize for her previous behavior. To explain her actions, she shows Christine the videos. (This is where the audience finally finds this out.) And she plays her the final video. On a video screen, we see the performance of the song. Brian, bussing tables, happens to pass by, and eavesdrops, hearing Jerry's message. This inspires him to quit this job, and follow his bliss, which is taking care of his family.