User blog:MrTyeDye/Fanfiction: It's Not Too Late (Making the Case Sequel)

So... Making the Case is an episode I've seen discussed a lot on here. I've seen at least two rewrites/alternate versions of the episode in the past week alone.

I've had an idea for an extended ending to the episode for a while now, and I figured I might as well share it. LMK what you think!

''[We pick up where Making the Case left off. Lincoln is looking at his no-longer empty spot in the trophy case.]''

Lincoln: I did it. My sisters no longer despise me, Christina's switching classes, and I finally made the case.

[Rita and Lynn Sr. suddenly approach him from behind.]

Rita: Lincoln? Can we speak to you for a moment?

[Lincoln loses his smile.]

Lincoln: Um... sure, mom. What's up?

Lynn Sr: Lincoln, we heard what you did to win that contest. And believe me, we weren't happy.

Rita: Uploading those embarrassing videos of your sisters without their consent? Entirely unacceptable.

Lincoln: I know. I'm sorry.

[Lincoln points to the "Most Improved Brother" trophy in the case.]

Lincoln: But look! I made up for it! My sisters forgive me now, see?

Lynn Sr: Yes, your sisters told us about that too. And we appreciate that.

Lincoln: But...?

Rita: Well, when we heard about the incident, we took it upon ourselves to punish you. We, uh...

[Rita looks sheepish.]

Rita: ...we arranged for you to go see Aunt Ruth this Saturday.

Lincoln: W-what?! But I embarrassed myself and deleted the old video! I should be off the hook!

[Lynn Sr. nervously scratches the back of his head.]

Lynn Sr: Yeah, we kind of jumped the gun on that one. We told her you'd be coming over before we heard about you making up. We don't want to cancel it now, or we'll hurt her feelings. Sorry, sport.

[Lincoln groans.]

Lincoln: Dang it.

''[We fast forward to that Saturday. Lincoln is at Aunt Ruth's house, and he's massaging her feet with an absolutely miserable look on his face.]''

Ruth: Harder, Lincoln. My bunions are aching something fierce!

Lincoln: [Sighs] Yes, Aunt Ruth.

Ruth: And where are your sisters? Tell Lori that Mittens needs feeding!

Lincoln: [Rolls his eyes] Lori's not here, Aunt Ruth. It's just me.

Ruth: Why?

Lincoln: Well... I kind of did something wrong, and Mom and Dad decided to punis- I mean, have me make up for it by doing chores for you.

Ruth: What'd you do?

Lincoln: [Sighs] I posted embarrassing videos of my sisters on the internet.

Ruth: That's mean! You kids these days are so inconsiderate.

Lincoln: I know, I know. I only did it to win a contest. My sisters have all these trophies and awards, and I wanted one of my own.

Ruth: That's no excuse. I bet your sisters were very upset with you.

Lincoln: They were. But I made up for it! I deleted the video and uploaded an embarrassing video of myself in its place. I still didn't win, though.

[Lincoln starts to smile.]

Lincoln: But my sisters made me a trophy afterwards, just to show that they forgive me. "Most Improved Brother"!

[Lincoln's smile disappears.]

Lincoln: ...which actually sounds pretty lame when I say it out loud.

[Lincoln pouts and goes back to massaging Ruth's feet.]

Lincoln: Who am I kidding? I'll never measure up to them. They'll always be something, and I'll always be nothing.

[Ruth furrows her brow.]

Ruth: That's enough massaging, Lincoln. [Points across the room.] Now go over to that bookshelf and bring over my photo album. The blue one.

[Lincoln groans, stands up and trudges over to the shelf.]

Lincoln: [Under his breath] Great. More photos of her cats.

[Lincoln walks over to the shelf, retrieves the photo album and places it in her lap.]

Ruth: Thank you.

''[Ruth starts flipping through the album. She stops a few pages in and raps her finger on one of the photos, beckoning Lincoln to look at it. Lincoln sees a black-and-white photo of a fully stocked trophy case.]''

Lincoln: A trophy case?

Ruth: Mmm-hmm. My family had a trophy case just like yours does.

Lincoln: Oh. How many of those are yours?

[Ruth's face falls.]

Ruth: None of them. All of those belonged to my older brother, Albert.

[Lincoln's eyes widen with intrigue.]

Lincoln: You mean... Pop-Pop won all of those?

Ruth: He sure did. Your Pop-Pop was a stellar young man, Lincoln. He got straight As, he was great at sports, and he was quite the ladies' man. It seemed like there was nothing he wasn't good at.

[Ruth sighs.]

Ruth: Ever since I was a little girl, I just felt so... outclassed. I thought that no matter what I tried to do, I'd always be left in his shadow.

[Lincoln gives her a sympathetic look.]

Lincoln: Oh, geez. So what did you do?

Ruth: I gave up. I was convinced that I'd never be anything compared to him, so I stopped trying. I settled for being mediocre because I didn't think I was capable of anything more.

[Tears well up in Ruth's eyes.]

Ruth: Now look at me. I'm a fat, embittered old woman who never got married and never did anything with my life. I'm seventy-five years old and I have hardly anything to show for it.

[Ruth leans over her recliner, takes hold of Lincoln's hand and looks him in the eye.]

Ruth: Lincoln... there's something I want you to do for me, before you leave.

Lincoln: Eat your old pudding?

Ruth: Aside from that. Lincoln... I want you to make me a promise.

[Tears start falling down Ruth's face.]

Ruth: Promise me you'll never stop trying to improve yourself. Try new things. Seek out new experiences. Read books. Learn new skills.

[Lincoln's eyes start to water.]

Ruth: And don't do it for some silly trophy case. Do it for yourself. Mold yourself into someone you can be proud of, while you still can. Don't let yourself end up like me.

Lincoln: [Weeping] I promise.

[The two of them share a gentle, tearful hug.]

''[We cut to the following Monday, at school. Lincoln is walking down the hallway, when he stops to take a look at the bulletin board. He notices a signup sheet for the school drama club that still has several spots open. Tears start welling up in his eyes as he takes out a pen and signs his name at the bottom.]''

Lincoln: [Thinking] Thank you, Aunt Ruth.

THE END