Nikolas: Did you say, "deliciously happy"? Oh, no, wait a second. That must be me, right?
Gia: I have something important to tell you.
Nikolas: What's that?
Gia: I'm weighing the option of not moving from this spot, possibly not in this calendar year. Is that all right with you?
Nikolas: Hmm.
Florence: {Her and Taggert barge in} Gia? Gia? It's your -- take your hands off my daughter.
Taggert: I got it, mom. Get dressed, Gia. We're taking you home now.
~*~
Nikolas: Would everyone just please calm down, all right?
Gia: Would you guys please get out of here? This is humiliating.
Florence: I did not raise you to ruin your life.
Taggert: {Throws Gia her clothes} This rich boy's going to turn you into some drug-crazed lobotomized plaything.
Nikolas: May I say something here?
Gia: Mom, I am not your little girl anymore --
Florence: You tried to break somebody out of jail!
Gia: What? You told her?
Taggert: No, I didn't tell her --
Florence: The police called me. No, they called about the cell phone that they confiscated.
Nikolas: Ok. Mrs. Campbell, lt. Taggert, you have good reason not to want Gia to be with me.
Taggert: Oh, you think?
Nikolas: But if you will do me a favor and just leave long enough for us to put our clothes on, I believe I can address your concerns.
Taggert: Oh, you know what? I got a few things I'd like to address with you right --
Nikolas: Well, I'm sure you do, Taggert.
Taggert: Mom --
Florence: 25 words.
Taggert: No, mom! {Him and Florence leave}
Gia: This better be good.
~*~
Gia: What are you going to say to them?
Nikolas: Something will come to me.
Gia: I think we should make a run for it.
Nikolas: Trust me, ok? I'll handle this.
Gia: Nikolas, I don't think you're seeing the real picture here. My brother can occasionally be reasoned with, but nobody handles my mother. I mean, she is not going to believe a thing that you say to her.
Nikolas: I'll wing it.
Gia: Ok. Well, the fact is that I am an adult. And it's not like she's supporting me, so she can't really cut me off. But I already did give her one heart attack, and if anything else were to happen to her, how could I live with myself?
Nikolas: Everything will be fine. Ok? It's going to be fine.
Gia: That's what you ink.
Florence: {Her and Taggert walk back in} All right, Nikolas. Let's hear your 25 words so I can collect my daughter and leave.
Taggert: {Nikolas starts counting on his fingers} Forget it. You're a clown, and we're out of here. Let's go.
Nikolas: Now, wait a second, wait a second. I can do it in exactly 18 words. I love and respect your daughter. And I intend to propose marriage to her. May I have your blessing?
~*~
Nikolas: Mrs. Campbell, lt. Taggert, I love Gia, and I want to spend the rest of my life with her. I will honor, cherish, and respect her. And I believe in my heart that I can give her a wonderful life. Now, I understand why you have your doubts, but I do hope that they will diminish over time because I would love for you to get to know me better and for me to have the chance to get to know you. I know that we both would love your blessing, but with or without it, I will marry her.
Florence: Well, that's a lovely speech, but where's the ring?
Gia: Mother!
Nikolas: It's ok. It's ok. Like I said, they have every reason to distrust me. {He gets the ring from a drawer and brings it to Gia's mother}
Florence: It's quite beautiful. But as for my blessing on anything -- we'll see.
Taggert: This is one of the smoothest acts I've ever seen.
Gia: Mom, you and Marcus need to go.
Taggert: Gia, he is no more going to marry --
Gia: Now.
Florence: Ok, honey. Let's go. {Her and Taggert leave}
Nikolas: Well? {Gia looks at the ring and then at him} Say something.
Gia: You say something first.
~*~
Gia: You were brilliant. Are you always this good at handling angry mothers?
Nikolas: It's part of my prince training. Do you like the ring?
Gia: Well, the important thing is my mother liked it.
Nikolas: So, you don't like it, right?
Gia: Well, it's exquisite. Forgive me for being crude, but is it real?
Nikolas: Yes, it's real.
Gia: Wow. So, do you always keep one of these handy?
Nikolas: Well, you know, I mean, timing is everything.
Gia: So, is it from your family?
Nikolas: No.
Gia: Well, that is gorgeous. If only it could speak. I bet it has some stories to tell. But, you know, you've only postponed the inevitable with my mother. I was right. We should have run. {She places the ring in his hand, kisses him, and walks away}
Nikolas: Not so fast. You're right. You're right. This ring does have a story.
Gia: Are you waiting for me to ask?
Nikolas: Yeah, I'm waiting.
Gia: What's the story behind the ring?
Nikolas: Ok. Once upon a time, there was this lonely prince, who -- well, he thought that he would never find his princess. And then one day, he met this feisty young spitfire with a mouth full of insults, but a tender heart. She was completely irreverent and unacceptable to his family, but she loved him and she made him feel whole. And he knew that if he was ever in trouble she would get to him and god help the person who stood in her way. And that's pretty much how he felt about her. So then, one day when they thought they had made it through everything, the girl's mother stormed in and insisted that the prince and the girl break up. She was concerned that the prince's intentions weren't honorable. But he was ready for her. So he went to this drawer and he took out this very ring, which {Gia turns around} -- ahem -- he had bought earlier to ask that very girl that same very night to marry him. Gia Campbell, will you marry me? {She wraps her arms around him}
~*~
Gia: I thought it was just a scam to get rid of my family.
Nikolas: I knew that. I just wish I had a video camera because you were so cute, trying to play cool.
Gia: Cute! You want cute? Oh, wait, the ring. You have to put it on me.
Nikolas: No, not until you say yes. No.
Gia: Yes! Yes!
Nikolas: Ok. Ok. {He puts the ring on her finger}
Gia: So, does this mean that I'll be a princess now?
Nikolas: Well, you were born a princess. Sparky, the princess, my future wife.
