Lois: Sounds nice but not for me.

Brenda: Oh come on…you have every right to be there. In fact as a Quartermaine you will be expected to be there.

Lois: Uhg…family obligations I can do without. You know maybe I’ll hop on a plane down to Bensonhurst and have a thing with my mom and pops and my nephews.

Brenda: Oh that’s such a good idea but you can do that later. Just to this with me now…PLEEEASE…It’ll be so much fun and it’ll help you take your mind off of…

Ned: (peeking through a crack in the door) I’m back.

Brenda: Him.

Lois: Look at what the cat dragged in.

Ned: Alright…Lois I’m sorry. I hated missing that concert. And I tried like hell to be there. You know that, but I can’t predict the weather. If it makes you feel any better I spent the entire night freezing to death in the middle of a snow covered field. I hear that Miguel stood in for me admirably. So I guess it wasn’t a total disaster.

Lois: The audience paid to see Eddie Maine and the Idol Rich. The gig was to promote Eddie Maine and the Idol Rich. But we were short to the tune of one Eddie Maine, without whom the Idol Rich isn’t worth much in the way of promotion. So it was close enough to a disaster for me. Thank you very much.

Ned: I said…I’m sorry. (Lois walks past him to the closet.) Lois…Lois I risked life and limb to be there. Now what can I do to make it up to you?

Lois: Nothing. It’s way beyond making it up. (handing Brenda her coat) Her you go. Besides it’s not just to me, it’s to Sonny and to Brenda and to the band and to the career to which you have supposedly been committed to.

Ned: Look I know you’re mad and frustrated. I’m frustrated too, but accidents happen to everybody.

Lois: Yea…and you happened to me. Come on Brenda...we have a party to go to right?

{next scene}

Lois: Hey Mrs. Q.

Brenda: Well this must be an especially happy holiday for you.

Edward: Indeed it is.

Lila: Oh and we’d like to share it. We’re having a little family gathering at the home later on and we’d love to have our three show business friends there.

Lois: Oh that’s really very nice of you but I…

Sonny: You know if this is for family I don’t think we…

Lila: Oh but you are family and so is Brenda and you come with her. Now I got little gifts for all of you and I will not send them through the mail.

Sonny: Well I guess that leaves us with no choice…umm...thank you.

Brenda: Thank you very much.

Lois: Yea thanks…

Edward: Five o’clock.

Sonny: Five?…yea…

Brenda: We’ll be there.

Lois: Ok…great…(they leave Edward and Lila)…thanks a lot Benedict Arnold.

{next scene}

Sonny: She helped us to get our business started and she even went out of her way to invited us…even though I think she twisted Edward’s arm…the least we can do is make an appearance. Yea…

Lois: I have put in enough appearance at the mansion thank you. Christmas is supposed to be a happy time.

Brenda: Lois come on it’ll be ok…you’ll be with friends.

Lois: With who? You two traitors?

Sonny: Quit makin’ it such a big deal. We got, we say happy holidays, we have a drink, we collect our gifts, we split. What could be so wrong?

Brenda: Exactly.

Lois: You two keep acting like the Quartermaines are some kinda normal family.

Sonny: Well.

Lois: Oh come on…get a grip. What could go wrong? You name it and it’s gonna go wrong. That family is like a bomb waiting to go off.

{next scene}

Brenda, Lois, and Sonny enter the Q den.

Brenda: Oh look the train again.

Ned lights up when he sees Lois and approaches her.

Ned: Lois.

Lois: Oh look a train…

Lois passes Ned to see the train and sonny gets in front of him, cornering him.

Sonny: Merry Christmas.

Ned: Sonny…Sonny…whoa...I know that my grandmother invited you because she is a very nice person, but please don’t get in my way. I need to speak to Lois.

Sonny: Well I think you and I need to have a frank exchange of views when we’re not so filled with the holiday spirit.

Ned: If this is about me missing the concert I already explained what happened.

Sonny: I know…I know…umm…the snow, the chopper, the field. The point is you shouldn’t have been in that situation to begin with. You should have been with us in the van.

Ned: Try to comprehend this. I had business to take care of

Sonny: You always have business to take care of. That’s the problem. There’s always something getting in the way of performing. You told me you were ready to commit to this career but you8’re still riding the fence. You have to make a decision. Either you’re a singer or you’re not. Because you’re messing with my investment and with Lois’s head. It doesn’t cut it.

Ned: As far as your investment is concerned I am doing the best I can and as to Lois I plan on taking care of her right now as soon as you step out of my way.

Sonny moves aside and Ned walks over to Lois and taps her on the shoulder.

Lois: I’m leavin’ in a minute, so just don’t start…ok?

Ned: I know that I have messed up things once again. This is an apology.

Lois: Did I say don’t start? Don’t’ start.

Ned: I won’t. I just wanted to tell you that I’m sorry.

Lois: Sorry…shmarry…I don’t wanna hear it.

Ned takes out a black jewelry box with a gold bow.

Ned: Here…please take it…take the gift…(Ned takes her hand and places it in her hand.)…Merry Christmas.

Lois: I don’t want anything from you so take it back.

Ned: No it’s for you.

Lois: I’d really rather not.

Ned: Lois I really want you to have the gift.

Lois: Are you deef? I don’t want anything from you. Now take it back and go away.

Everyone is watching now.

{next scene}

Ned: I’m not asking for the moon. I just want you to have this.

Lois: I’m not really interested.

Ned: You have to forgive me Lois. I won’t let you not forgive me.

Lois: You understand this you don’t let ME do anything. How could I forgive you? Do you think I don’t see through every word you say?

Ned: I know you see through me so see this truth…I LOVE YOU. Now please take the gift I want you to have it.

Lois: You want? How could you after what you did to me last night?…(She turns to go but Ned stops her.)

I thought they…I thought it would match your eyes.

Lois: After what I said to you not four hours ago don’t you get it? Do you think none of your screwups matter to me? That you can just wipe it all away with a smile and a present? (She turns to go but stops when he yells.)

Ned: THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS TO ME IS I LOVE YOU…I will always love you and I will…I will never believe that you don’t love me!

Lois: (walking to stand in front of him) Then you are either the meanest man in the world or the dumbest. I’m not really sure which but I don’t wanna be around either one of them. (She turns to leave again.)

Ned: Lois?…Lois…

Lois: (turning back around) Merry Christmas everybody…ho ho ho.

Lois storms out. An Kenny G's version of Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas begins to play. Lois leaves. Ned turns around and sees that everyone has been watching. He drops his head and walks over to the doors leading out to the porch…looking through the doors at the falling snow he begins to cry and Brenda walks up behind him and puts her arms around him.