65. L is For Love

L is For Love

[Lincoln gets the mail and skims through it until he discovers something in it]

Lincoln: [gasps and runs inside] Emergency sibling meeting! I call an emergency sibling meeting!

[The sisters arrive in Lori and Leni's room slightly annoyed]

Luan: Come on! I was working on a joke.

[Lori lifts up her shoe and bangs it]

Lori: I hereby call this meeting to order. Lisa, can you read the minutes from the last meeting?

Lisa: [reading] Item 1: It was resolved that in the matter of Lily's diaper pail-

Lincoln: [takes the previous meeting's minutes and crumples it up] Forget that! We need to discuss... [takes out what he found in the mail] ...this! It's a love letter, and it's addressed to L. Loud.

[The sisters gasp]

Lana: [coughs] Oh, dang it. I just swallowed my gum.

[Lori takes the letter out and starts reading it]

Lori: Dear L. Loud, Day after day, I hope and I pine, I'm too shy to come forward, but I wish you were mine. Signed, your secret admirer?

Lynn: W-w-wait! Who's it for? L. Loud could be any one of us.

Lori: Clearly, the letter's for me, and it's from Bobby. I mean, duh, right?

Luan: No, not duh! That letter could be for any of us!

[Begin a series of flashback to various times Lori's siblings have come across someone they happen to like. First, Luan is practicing her pantomime at school when a boy mime bumps into her box she's trapped in. The two act it out. Next, Lana is working in a repair garage with a boy mechanic. Lana looks in her toolbox for a wrench, but can't find one. The boy gives her his wrench. Change to Leni at the mall tryng to decide between two matching sweaters, one pink and one purple and having trouble choosing. Chaz clears his throat to get her attention and shows her the sweater with purple and pink stripes, which Leni loves. Cut to Lola performing a baton twirling routine in a pageant. One judge gives it a 9, another gives it an 8, and another gives it another 9. One boy about Lola's age gives it a 10. Lola blushes and smiles. Switch to Lucy attending Embalm Con and looking at the booth for R.I. Pete's Coffins & Urns. Lucy sees and gasps at the sight of such an amazingly crafted coffin. A fellow goth boy admires it with her. Cut to Lincoln and Clyde playing at the air hockey table. Lincoln wins and a girl playing video games turns and gives him a thumbsup and wink for his victory, making the white-haired Loud boy blush. Meanwhile, in Ms. Shrinivas's class, Lisa is mixing chemicals which explode. A fellow genius her age squeegees her lenses clean to her gratitude. Next, at the baseball field, Lynn's team and another team are giving their regards for a good game. She stops to see one boy on the opposing team spit in his hand. She spits in her hand and the two of them shake. Now, Luna is rocking out in the cafeteria in school and turns to another guitarist along with a friend of his. Luna's friends throw up the goats as she rocks on. Finally, Lily is taking a nap in her crib when her teddy bear falls on her. She gives it a hug. End flashbacks]

Lily, Lola, Lana, Lynn, Luan, Luna, and Leni: [dreamily sigh]

Lucy: Sigh...~

Laney: [twirls her hair and smiles] You guys are so lucky have someone special.

Lola: You should know, Laney. [nudges her] Huh? Joey?

[Flashback to Laney in art class with Joey. She dropped her paintbrush and went to pick it up. But Joey picked it up for her. Laney smiles at him and he smiles back. End flashback]

Laney: [blushes] What! No! We're... just friends.

Lana: But we saw you confessed that you like him.

Laney: I said like, not love. Those are two relationship sensed words!

Lori: Needless to say. We all want the letter to be for us. How do we figure out who it's really for?

Lucy: Simple. Since the writer is clearly shy, we each need to send a signal to the person we think wrote it, letting them know we're interested. Then they'll probably send a second letter, giving us more information.

Lori: [confused] Um...how do you know all this?

Lucy: [holds up a book called "Immortal Secrets"] Vampires send a lot of secret admirer letters. They may be passionate, but they're also painfully insecure.

Lori: Sending a signal it is!

Laney: [thoughts] Could Joey really feel the same way I do? Only one way to be sure...

The very next day at school. Laney went over to her art class where she meets up with Joey. Laney was determined to go to the next level with the boy.

Laney: [thoughts] Okay, Laney. Remember what Lori said. You gotta be subtle. [clears throat] So, Joey... Uh... Read any good books lately?

Joey: Uh. No. Not lately?

Laney: Well, I've read a great romance novel called "Love Letters". Where the two lovers express their feelings with letters.

Joey: Well, that sounds like a great read.

Laney: Yeah, I'm really fond of the ending. [Got close to Joey] Where the couple finally found each other and kissed.

Joey: [Uncomfortable] Uh... [Laney winks in her left eye]

Laney: [whispers] You can't tell but I'm winking. [Joey looks to the viewers confused and then walks away] Was I too subtle?

[The next meeting]

Lori: Meeting called to order.

Lisa: I'll begin with the minutes from the last meeting. [reads them] Item 1: No one would let me read the minutes from the previous meeting, so-

Lola: [snatches the minutes] And we still won't! [crumples them up and tosses them aside] Now, did everyone send their signals?

Lori: I texted Bobby a series of romantic emojis.

Luan: Yep! I toot-ally sent mine to Benny.

[Flashback to Luan and Benny rehearsing for a school play. She slips a whoopee cushion onto his throne which he sits on. He blushes and gives Luan an embarrassed grin and she gives him a wink. End flashback]

Lola: I let Winston know the score.

[Flashback to the playground where Winston goes down the slide, but botches the dismount. Lola gives him a 10 nonetheless and winks to him. End flashback]

Lana: [wiping her hands] And I let Skippy know I'm game by souping up his ride.

[Flashback to Skippy riding his bike which now has turbo engines on it down a hill while screaming for his life. Lana winks as he goes by. End flashback]

Laney: I don't think that was much of a signal more than a restraining order wating to happen.

Lori: Laney? Any luck with Joey?

Laney: I don't know. Was I too clingy when I mentioned romance novels to him?

[Enter Luna with the next letter]

Luna: Dudes! The second letter! You called it, Luce Change!

[Lucy shrugs off what Luna called her. Lori opens it up and finds a rose falling out of it in slow motion. Her siblings gasp]

Lana: [coughs] Dang it, I swallowed my gum again!

Lori: Okay. [reads the letter] Roses are red, they brighten our town, like your sweet smile, and your hair, which is... [beat; upset] ...brown?

[The brunettes are surprised while the others are disappointed]

Laney: The romance novels worked!

Lincoln, Leni, Lucy, Lola, and Lana: Aw, dang it!

Lily: [just as upset] Ah, poo-poo.

Lori: [angrily texting] I have some different emojis for Bobby now!

Lincoln: So, the secret admirer contest is down to Luna, Luan, Lynn, Laney, and Lisa.

[Luan, Lynn, Laney, and Lisa cheer, but Luna doesn't]

Leni: Luna, why aren't you cheering?

Luan: Yeah. And come to think of it, you never told us the signal you gave Sam.

Luna: [insecure] That's 'cause I didn't give one. The more I thought about it, the more I realized...Sam's way out of my league, dudes.

[The others disagree and encourage her]

Lincoln: No way. That's not true.

Lori: Yeah, Luna, you are totes still in this. Okay, Lucy, what's the next step?

[Lucy consults her book]

Lucy: Well, since the secret admirer sent a rose as a token of their affection, we need to deliver a token in return. Then there should be a third and final love letter requesting a rendezvous.

[The brunettes start cheering]

Luna: Rockin'!

Luan: This is so exciting!

Lynn: I hope it's me!

Lisa: Me too!

Lola: [wearing a large brunette wig] Me three!

Lana: [takes Lola's wig off her] Nice try, Blondie.

[Lola concedes]

The next day at school...

[Joey was walking by until he saw Laney leaning on the lockers]

Joey: Oh, hello Laney.

Laney: Hey, Joey! I have a surprise for you!

Joey: Really? What is- [Laney grabs Joey's hand and they run through the halls] Whoa! [They stop in the cafeteria in front of something hidden under a tarp]

Laney: To commemorate our friendship. I have made you this lovely piece just for you. Behold! [She pulls out the tarp and reveals to be a sculpture of Joey out of mashed potatoes]

Joey: Wow, Laney. You made all of this?

Laney: Yep. Out of all the mashed potatoes in the cafeteria.

Joey: Oh...

Laney: Is something wrong?

Joey: No no. It's fine it's just that... I don't really like mashed potatoes.

Laney: What? Ah! I should've known! [smacks herself in the head three times] Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!

Lunch Lady: [off-screen] Hey! [Pan to the lunch lady, who's angry at Laney] What are you doing with my mashed potatoes you creep? [throws a ladle at Laney and then she falls in the mashed potato sculpture. Leaving her in a big mess]

Joey: Oh dear... Um. I'll go get the custodian. [Joey runs off to do so. Laney sighs]

[In the living room, another meeting is being held]

Lori: Okay, brown-haired Louds, did everybody deliver their tokens?

Lynn: Check!

Luan: You betcha!

Lisa: Affirmative!

Laney: [Despondent] Yeah.

Lincoln: What's wrong, Laney?

Laney: I'll tell you what's wrong! I messed up! Both figuratively and literally! How was I supposed Joey doesn't like mashed potatoes? [sighs] I spent the whole day cleaning the whole cafeteria. Now I'm not sure Joey doesn't feel the same way I do.

[The other sisters disagree]

Lori: Don't say that. We all do crazy things for love. Luna, how about you? Were you succesful with your token?

Luna: I didn't gave a token. I bailed, dudes. I'm telling you, there's no way Sam digs me.

Lola: [grabs Luna's shirt collar] Some of us blondes would kill to still be in the running! [Luna looks scared] Don't you quit now!

[Leni screams in surprise]

Leni: O-M-Gosh, you guys! The secret admirer is the mailman! [takes out another love letter] He just handed me this letter! I don't feel the same way about him, so I let him down gently.

[Everyone looks at Leni dumbfounded for a second. Lori takes the next letter and opens it]

Lori: [reading] Dear L. Loud, Here's a third letter, 'cause I'm still feeling skittish, I dig your sweet sounds, and love of all things British.

[Everyone except Laney gasps at the sound of it, especially Luna]

Lincoln: Luna! It's definitely you!

Lori: Guys, Lucy was right about what happens next! Listen! [continues reading] I think it's time we put love on the menu [pauses] Aw. [continues] Meet me tonight at Banger's & Mosh, the British eatery and rock venue.

Luna: [surprised] Whoa! This is really happening! What do I wear?

[Her siblings cheer and carry her upstairs except Leni]

Leni: I'll be right there! I-I just wanna make sure the mailman is okay.

[At Banger's & Mosh, the kids are looking around for Sam]

Luna: Guys, I don't see Sam anywhere.

Lana: Maybe Sam's hidden behind that dork in the big British hat.

Lynn: Whoa! That dork is sitting with Mom!

Laney: That's dad.

Lynn: [Realizes] Oh.

[The kids approach their parents]

Lynn Sr.: Kids? What're you guys doing here?

Lincoln: Luna got a secret admirer letter from Sam telling her to meet here.

Lana: We're here for moral support.

Lola: And dessert.

Rita: Oh, honey, I'm so sorry. There's been a mix-up. That letter was meant for your father.

Leni: Wait. Sam likes Dad?

Rita: No, sweetie. I sent the letter.

Lynn Sr.: Secret admirer letters are kind of our thing. It's how we met.

Rita: Back in the day, I had a wicked crush on your father.

[Flashback to the day Rita and Lynn Sr. first met]

Rita: [narrating] Every morning, at my crossing guard job, I'd listen for his melodious voice. [British accent] And when he talked to me in that cute accent- [normal voice] -he picked up from his semester in England, I'd swoon.

Young Lynn Sr.: [British accent] Ello, love! Pip-pip! Mind the gap!

[Young Rita sighs with admiration. Just then, some cars come by wanting to cross and Rita quickly picks up her stop sign she dropped from admiring her future husband]

Rita: But I was too afraid to speak to him because I thought he was out of my league. So, I started slipping notes in his pocket as he passed by.

[Young Rita puts a note in his pocket as he plays the cowbell]

Lynn Sr.: [playing and unaware of the note; scats] Crossing

[Young Rita swoons. Cut to Banger's & Mosh]

Rita: By my third note, I got up the nerve to ask him to meet me here.

[Young Lynn Sr. arrives with the note and Young Rita holds up her stop sign and flips it over with a "signal" saying "Go". Lynn Sr. sits down with his new love. End flashback with the two of them in the same position from the past]

Rita: And my boldness paid off, because here we are, celebrating the 20th anniversary of that first date.

Lynn Sr.: Best day of my life, love.

[Rita swoons and giggles hearing that accent; her husband kisses her on the cheek]

Rita: Luna, I'm sorry that letter wasn't for you. I hope you're not too disappointed.

Luna: Well...I was at first, but now that I've heard your story, I'm totally inspired. If you took a risk with Dad, why can't I take a risk with Sam? [turns to her siblings] Why are we sitting around waiting for them to come to us? We should go to them!

[Her siblings cheer in agreement]

Lynn Sr.: This is cause for celebration! MEAT PIES FOR EVERYONE!

[The other restaurant attendants cheer, thinking he's buying for all]

Lynn Sr.: Uh, I-I meant just for my family.

[The attendants groan in disappointment]

Lynn Sr.: Oh, come on! There's 14 of us!

[Cut to a montage of the kids sneaking love notes to their crushes. Lincoln gives one to Paige while she's playing Dance Battle. Lynn sneaks one under Francisco's helmet. Skippy gets one in his toolbox. Lana smiles with her finger near her mouth because it was from her. Benny finds one on the stage floor and tries to pick it up, but it gets pulled he gleefully chases after it, it's revealed to be from Luan who's using a fishing rod to tease him. Lisa lures herself down on grappling wires and sneaks one under David's microscope, which he discovers to his joy. Chaz finds one in a pair of jeans for sale and Leni smiles disguised as a mannequin again. Lucy slips one in a coffin that Silas is resting in. Silas rises out of the coffin and smiles. Winston finds one in the sandbox and admires it. Lola looks dreamily at his response. Lily gives to her teddy bear a drawing of the two of them and hugs it again. At Laney's art class, Laney slipped a note into Joey's hoodie pocket. Once the class ended, Joey reached into his pocket to find the note inside and he reads it. As Laney went up to her locker, Joey went to her.]

Joey: Laney. Did you wrote this?

Laney: Yeah. What do you think? [Joey looks at the note and smiled]

Joey: I think it's lovely. Just like you are. [leaves; Laney smiles]

Epilogue

[Laney was sittng in the living room watching TV with Luna. Luna notices Laney smiling and blushing]

Luna: You seem happy.

Laney: Well, yeah. Joey loved my note and now. [Looks to see if anyone was around and whispers in Luna's ear] I think I might be in the next level.

Luna: Awesome! Don't worry, Lanes. I won't tell anyone.

Laney: Thanks. And I bet you were just as successful with Sam.

Luna: [blushes] Yeah... Guess I'm in the next level too.

Laney: He's very lucky to have you.

Luna: Uh... Lanes. Can you keep a secret?

Laney: Sure, what is it? [Luna whispers in her ear; Laney is shocked] SAM'S A G- [Luna covers her mouth before she could finish that sentence]

Luna: Don't tell anyone. I'm not ready yet.

Laney: Don't worry. Your secret's safe with me.

Luna: Thanks sis. [Luna leaves]

Laney: [Thoughts] Wow. Guess everyone found love today. And as for Luna. [giggles] Let's just say It'll take some time until she's ready to come out of the closet. [Heart shaped iris on Laney; she winks to the audience; iris out]