Okay, so that didn't go as planned. Right now my sister, who has refused to talk to me, is not on her way to the airport to get whisked off to Hawaii. Nope. Instead she is probable packing up the car with camping gear to go to... No! I can't even say it. It's too depressing.

Maybe I was wrong.  God knows I don't have a perfect record anymore, and I've been wrong before, but I don't think so. I only worry that sometimes Izzy forgets that she deserves to be happy as well.

I am Emma Woodhouse, and my gut is telling me that something here is not Emma approved.

Alex: Emma can I speak to you for a second?

Emma: Sure, come in.

Alex: No.  This is private.

Emma: What?

Alex: Turn off the camera.

(intro)

Emma: I prefer the camera stays on.

Alex: Fine. But this is a personal family matter that should be discussed between just us.

Emma: Is this about Izzy?

Alex: And John. Izzy and John.  In case you forgot, there are two  people in that marriage.

Emma: Well, that's all I've been talking about for the past few days so, let's hear it.

Alex: I thought something was going on, but for once, just once, I wanted to believe that you weren't involved.

Emma: Wait, you knew something was wrong?

Alex: I do now!

Emma: Then you should absolutely know I would get involved!

Alex: Do you even actually know what's happening?

Emma: What's happening is Izzy is packing up the car to go to Joshua Tree because that's what her husband wants and she won't stand up to him!

Alex: No. I just listened to John rant on the phone for half an hour about how Izzy is refusing to pack the car and the kids!

Emma: She is?

Alex: Emma, what did you do?

Emma: All I did was tell her if she wants to go to Hawaii, John should take that into account.

Alex: And you booked their flights and their hotel!

Emma: It was a gift.

Alex: Not the way that he saw it. He saw it as Izzy going behind his back and deciding it would be better for everyone if she did all the thinking for both of them. Hmm, Who does that sound like?

Emma: She was doing what was best for her marriage.

Alex: Really?

Emma: I didn't put anything in Izzy's head that wasn't there already. All I did was listen like you have been telling me to do.

Alex: I didn't ask Izzy to come out here...

Emma: Oh, and thanks for trying to manage me too, by the way.

Alex: ... for you to meddle in her life.

Emma: look I had no intention of meddling until I realized how unhappy she was, and I had to help. I listened to my sister, now you need to listen to me.  Please, Alex Knightley.

Alex: Ok.

Emma: Ok?

Alex: Yes. I support you, Emma. And... look, your instincts are right more often than I'm willing to admit, and while I might sometimes question your methods, I know you would never do anything to hurt your sister.

Emma: Wait, so you're ok with me telling Izzy to stand up to John; John, your brother.

Alex: I'm ok with you strengthening the marriage between our siblings.

Emma: That still sounds weird.

Alex: So weird.

Emma: So what now?

Alex: Now I call John and I tell him to listen to his wife.

Emma: Alex, 

Alex: Yeah?

Emma: Thank you.

Alex: You're welcome.

Emma: I can't believe that Izzy is refusing to drive to Joshua Tree. Or maybe I can. She is my sister, and after all before she was a Knightley, she was a Woodhouse. But it's been so long since Izzy's done anything for herself. I guess our talk the other day really stayed with her.

Izzy: (enters) I guess it did.

Emma: Izzy. Are you ok?

Izzy: I've been better.

Emma: Alex talked to John, he said that you were refusing to drive to Joshua Tree, what happened?
Izzy: I just couldn't do it. You know, after I stormed out of here last time...
Emma: I'm so sorry I made you feel that way
Izzy: No, It's ok, Emma. You meant well. But after I left, I resigned myself to going camping, like we did last year and the year before that, but when I went to cancel the Hawaii reservations, I just couldn't do it.
And I kept thinking about what you said, and how I felt, and I even started having fantasies about getting in the car and pretending to drive to Joshua Tree, but instead taking us to the airport.

Emma: (laughing) Really?
Izzy: I know, silly, right? But I would pull up to the curb and hop out.

Emma: I can picture the look on John's face.
(laughing) Izzy: So can I... But at the airport, I would turn to John, and I would say in my best Emma voice:
Emma: (gasp) Yes?
Izzy: I would say John, I want to go back to school.
Emma: School?
Izzy: I want to go back to school. It hit me like lightning.
Emma: But I thought you wanted to stay at home with the kids.
Izzy: Kids are wonderful, but I'm so bored. I've redesigned the house ten times in my head, and I attack John when he gets home now, because I haven't talked to an adult all day.
Emma: That does sound boring.   Izzy: When I dropped out, it was only supposed to be for a semester so I could have Henry. But then it turned into one year, and then two...
Emma: Then you had another child...
Izzy: and then at some point John wrote his ten year plan, and nowhere did it include me going back to get my degree.
Emma: When did you figure this out?
Izzy: I think it really started when John hired a firm to design the restaurant expansion. I looked at the blueprints and I realized that I was a better architect than they were, except for the fact that I wasn't an architect. Henry's in kindergarten, and I want to put Emma in day care. I want to go back to school.
And I know it's going to be hard, and I might even have to use some of Dad's money, but, but that was money that was put aside for me to go to school anyway. I'm tired of telling myself no. But I've gotten so good at it that now I can do it before John can.
Emma: I didn't know you felt this way!
Izzy: You're the only one who did. I didn't even know how unhappy I was. But I don't know what to do now...
Emma: Now you have a conversation with John. Tell him everything that you told me, and do not back down.
Izzy: He's not going to like it. He doesn't want to change things.
Emma: You've made all the big compromises so far, it's his turn. He just needs a little practice. Sometimes we need to stand up to those we love even when we disagree. We come out stronger together because of it.
Izzy: Are you talking about John, or are you talking about me and you?
Emma: Both.
Izzy: I thought I was the older sister.
Emma: You are! I look up to you every day.
Izzy: Then I suppose I can't disappoint you.

(outro)