Plots Part 2

Elizabeth goes back to bed.

"Elizabeth? You OK?" Abby asks.

"Yeah, I'm sorry I was rude to your friend."

"Dotty wouldn't recognize rude if it hit her over the head. I'm more worried about you."

"Nothing to worry about, I'm fine."

"You don't look fine."

Elizabeth sighs and then confesses. "I just feel like I have fallen in a black hole and I can't get out."

"It's going to take time, Elizabeth. You can't rush it. But staying home all the time isn't helping, either."

"I can't go back to school yet." She says.

"Why not? The longer you put it off, the harder it will get."

"I can't face them."

"But you didn't do anything wrong!"

"That's not what they are saying at school."

"Maybe by staying away you're just reinforcing the rumors."

Elizabeth just shakes her head. "I'm going to go take a shower." She gets up to leave.

"Elizabeth. Look, I didn't want to say anything until I knew for sure. If I get a job at Central, would you go back?"

"You are joking right?"

"No. Ann Cavalussi--the English teacher?--said your school needs a substitute to teach geometry, and I've put in my application."

"Look Abby, don't do it on my account OK?"

"I'm not going back to work on your account. And teaching at a school instead of home tutoring will let me have regular hours so I never have to work nights," Abby makes excuses.

"Did Auntie V talk to you and Dad about Memorial?" Elizabeth says hopefully.

"Elizabeth, that's the worst school in the district. Going there you're just taking a chance on something even worse happening to you."

"I knew it was a long shot." she sighs.

"Past long. Just try it a week or two back at school, and then we can talk again, ok?"

"I guess I have no choice." She replies.

"Of course you have a choice. I just don't want you giving up without even seeing if what you think will happen really will, or if you're just imagining a worst-case scenario."

Elizabeth nods. "I'll give it a shot."

"Thank you. Do you want to come back down for breakfast

Elizabeth pauses. "I guess I should apologize to your friend."

"You don't have to if you don't want to. But if you want to, that'd be nice."

"Say Abby, is she really wild like I am hearing?"

"Define 'wild'," Abby hesitates.

Elizabeth laughs. "That wild huh?'

"No wilder than I was. Just I got serious and grown-up and she never did."

Elizabeth looks up and down at Abby and shakes her head

"What? Don't you believe I ever was wild?"

"It's not that I don't believe you its just a little hard to comprehend."

"Why?"

"Well, for one thing you are always on my or Tommy's case about one thing or another."

"Do you think I'm too hard on the two of you?"

"No, but you could be a little bit more understanding when we do mess up because you probably did the same thing."

"Maybe that's why I'm so hard on you. I know just how some of the stunts the two of you pulled can mess you up."

"You turned out all right." Elizabeth says.

"I don't want you to even have to go through what I did to turn out the way I did."

"Like what?"

Abby takes a deep breath. "I stopped being wild about two days after they told me Frank had been shot down."

"Oh...." Elizabeth bows her head. "I'm sorry."

Abby shrugs. "I'd rather you and Tommy became responsible adults because your father and I hounded you than something like that."

Elizabeth nods.

"So. I'm kind of afraid of what your aunt and Dotty might get up to without supervision. You coming downstairs with me?"

"Sure." Liz says.

"Good." On their way into the kitchen, they meet Joannie, coming out with the tray she'd made for her sister.

"Thanks Joannie." Liz takes the tray. "I decided to come down, hope you aren't  upset."

"Not at all. I'll even refill your coffee cup when it's empty. After all, if I'm going to be an actress, I'd better learn to be a waitress, too."

"I don't leave good tips." She jokes.

"That's OK. I already know not to bet on the horses."

Elizabeth smiles as they go into the kitchen.

"I thought we were going to have to send out search parties," Dotty comments.

"Don't you start searching my house" Abby says. "I know the kind of stuff you try to turn up."

Elizabeth giggles as she sits down. "I am sorry about earlier." She tells Dotty.

"It's OK. I've heard teenagers are moody, though from what I hear you're not too bad. Everyone has an off day."

"Thanks."

Later Vivian takes Dotty to that restaurant she was talking about for lunch.

"Order what you want, money is no object." V says.

'The food's not as important as the company and the plotting," Dotty says, looking over the menu.

"You are right on that one so who should we rescue first?"

"You know them better than I do, except for Mitch. Who needs it the most?"

"Nancy seems to have it together; however, I have rarely seen her this trip and you know what they say about all work and no play. And Elizabeth she needs some fun." V goes on to say why everyone in the family needs to be rescued.

"But we have to start somewhere."

Vivian writes their names down on scraps of paper puts it into a cup and shakes it around. "Ok Dotty pick one, and don't worry you won't see the name til you open the paper."

"Can we put a few extra in with your brother's name?"

"Why would you want to do that?"

"If we could rescue him from his crankiness, it would go a long way towards rescuing everyone else."

"Hmm good idea, then maybe we should rescue him first."

"Is it possible?"

"Nothing is impossible but this will come close."

Dotty laughs.

Vivian laughs also while trying to tell Dotty that she's very serious.

"Well, then, let's forget the lots and do it."

"I'm with you."

"We need a plan."

"And a very good one at that."

"You've got to have some blackmail material available."

"On my brother? Always." V smiles.

"Think it will help us?"

"I'm pretty sure it will."

"OK, so how do we handle this? Gotta puncture his balloon and liberate the drudges at the same time."

"Very carefully, he can't suspect that we're up to anything."

"I've never met a man who was the equal to a sneaky woman."

"Neither have I."

"Then it's a go. Do we need any other accomplices?"

"Hmm, it wouldn't hurt to have backup but I don't think we'll actually need it."

"Not from what I've heard about you," Dotty answers.

"What exactly have they been telling you about me?" Vivian asks. "And don't leave anything out."

Dotty spills it all.

"Oh I see, well most of it is true."

"Only most?" Dotty asks, a little disappointed.

"Ok all of it but you never heard my confession."

"I'll never tell."

"You are a good friend."

"Anything for the privilege of apprenticing under the master."

"My life isn't always fun and games."

"Yes, I heard that was the reason you're in Sacramento and not at  home with your husband."

"Men can be impossible at times."

"Sing it sister. But we're going to strike a blow for the female of the species, starting with your little brother."

Vivian cackles.

Dotty pours V another glass of wine and raises her own glass in a toast. "To us, the soon to be heroines of the Bradford family."

Vivian raises her glass for the toast. "To us."

"And to unsuspecting men."

"And to all who will soon be free of them."

"Hear, hear!"

They clink their glasses together.

After they drink, Dotty asks. "Boring practicalities--how are we actually going to do this?"

"We'll wine him and dine him and get him so relaxed he'll forget what uptight means."

"Um, Vivian? I'll bet Mitch gets him plenty relaxed--doesn't seem to help."

"That's where the blackmail comes in."

"And just what are you blackmailing him with?"

"I don't know yet."

"This could be a problem."

"Tell me what you have and I'll help you choose."

"Ok." V tells her what she has.

"I think the one about the hooker is good material." V whispers.

"Especially if we threaten to leak it to someone at the Sacramento Bee," Dotty agrees.

Vivian laughs. "I like the way you think."

"I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship."

"I completely agree."

"You know, I almost feel sorry for your brother."

"Almost?"

"Almost. If I really felt bad for him, I wouldn't do it."

"Well sometimes he can make you feel sorry for him. He's got this pout..."

"Oh, yes, I've heard about that pout of his. What do you want to bet he knows exactly how women respond to it and uses it on purpose?"

"I wouldn't put it past him."

"He should have to pay for that."

"Oh but he will."

"Good."

They continue to plot.

Later that night Nancy comes in dragging from work again and finds her dad in the study. "You ok Dad?"

"Yeah, why do you ask?"

"You don't look ok."

"Well you know, the last few days have been trying. That's all."

"Yeah I know, and I'm sorry that I ran out when I had the flu."

"Why did you anyway?" Tom asks.

"A lot of things. I talked it over with Abby."

"Want to tell me about it"

She tells him what was going on. "One insecurity lead to another and then... Well you heard the rest."

"Nancy, I am sorry I wasn't there for you."

"Well you had a lot of other things on your mind right?"

"Yes, but that is no excuse."

"Dad it's ok."

"No it isn't but I guess that is the way it is." he sighs.

"Yeah."

"Next time, don't run out."

"That's it?"

"Well....." Tom tries to figure out what she is talking about.

"Mary said... You know Dad I think I'm going to bed I'm tired." She says trying to forget what Mary said.

"Wait a minute....Mary said what?" Tom stops her from leaving.

"Dad I don't think she knew what she was talking about she was angry." Nancy says.

Tom asks calmly. "Nancy just tell me."

"She said that you didn't care that I was driving around with the flu."

"I did care, I yelled out the window to try and stop you."

She smiles. "You did?"

"Of course I did. Ask Abby or Tommy, I am surprised the whole neighborhood didn't hear me."

"I knew she had it wrong." Nancy says. "I love you Dad."

"I love you too, you should know that."

"I do."

"Good."

She gives him a hug and then a good yawn. "But now I think I better hit the sack, but first how did it go today?"

"How did what go today?"

"Dotty and Vivian. Can we call her Dotty yet?"

"I suppose, if she says its OK." Tom says.

"Ok, so how did it go?"

"Let's just say It was interesting." Tom rolls his eyes.

"Sounds like fun." She says. "Ok now I'm really going to bed. Goodnight Dad."

"Goodnight honey."

She goes upstairs to bed.

While Tom is still sitting in his study, Dotty knocks on the doorpost.

"Come in."

Dotty comes in and stares at him a minute or two. "You don't much like me, do you?"

"Of course I like you."

"Your wife might buy it, but it's only love that's blind. OK, and maybe a few good piano players. So what's your problem with me?"

"There is no problem." He says on the defensive.

"You know, she's right--you are cute when you're defending yourself."

Tom blushes. "I guess I have been rude, I apologize."

"That's all right. Mitch says you can be when you want to be, but you're good at the charming bit, too."

"Well, Abby is very easy to be charming to."

"But not everyone else is, you're saying."

"That's not what I meant at all." he says. "I did it again, put my foot in my mouth." he sighs.

"Why don't you just tell me what's got you antsy, and we'll take it from there?"

"I don't know if Abby has told you what has been going on around here,  especially with Elizabeth."

"No, she hasn't. What's going on? Did I come at a bad time?"

Tom chuckles. "No, if you would have waited for a good time. You and Abby would be old ladies." Tom explains about Elizabeth.

Oh, my, I really did come at a bad time. If it will make things easier, I can go and come back when things have settled down a little."

"No, don't do that." Tom says. "Abby is glad you are here and besides I want to know more about her sordid past." he jokes.

"Oh, well, if you want to know that, you've certainly come to the right place. But are you sure you can handle it?"

"Will I need a tranquilizer?"

"From what I've heard about you, more likely pie ala mode."

"Would you like to join me?"

"After what you told me, I could use it. Good thing your wife isn't the jealous type."

"No, I am afraid that's my dept." Tom confesses.

"And she puts up with it? She really has changed, then. She used to dump guys for less."

"Really?" Tom asks, horrified.

"If she ever brings home a sack of pig feed, pack your bags."

"I'll remember that." Tom says. "So Frank wasn't a jealous type?"

"I don't know. He didn't have much time to be."

"Yeah." He says and leads her to the kitchen

"Your first wife put up with your jealousy?"

"I don't know if she put up with it or not, she just did."

"Your a lucky man, to have such understanding wives."

"I second that." Tom says. "I've been fortunate to have two wonderful women in my life." he says as he takes the ingredients out of the refrigerator.

"Two wonderful *wives*--you've got a lot more wonderful women than that in your life."

"You are right, I stand corrected." Tom says. "You have any children?"

"No way. I'm more the aunt type. Of course, I don't have any brothers or sisters, either. I always figured Mit--I mean Abby--would give me kids to dote on. Another plan bites the dust."

"Well it might happen, someday..."

"Really? She'd be a great mom--she and Frank always planned to have kids someday, but from what she's written me, sounds like she figures you have enough already."

"I must admit. Its not exactly on my top 10 things to do list. But I wouldn't mind having a child with the woman I love. That is if that's what she wanted."

"No offence, but by the time you had space for more kids, you'd be too old to start over."

"We could manage." he replies

"Next question--what are you doing down here brooding?"

"I'm not brooding, just didn't feel like sleeping."

"I thought that's why men got married, for those sleepless nights."

Tom starts to choke on his pie. "You like to come right to the point don't  you." he says after drinking a little water.

"Saves time and misunderstandings."

Tom looks at his watch. "Oh my look at the time. I better get some sleep."

"Good idea--send Abby my love."

Tom smiles and goes upstairs. He crawls into bed.

Abby turns to him. "I was wondering if you'd forgotten where I live."

"Never." he says. "I was talking with Dotty."

"I didn't hear things being thrown."

"By who? Her or me?"

"Dotty would never throw things, at least not in someone else's house. Well, except for that one time...."

"What one time?"

"We went to spend the weekend with her then-boyfriend, who was one of Frank's teammates. His brother made a pass at Dotty. Looked like a hurricane passed through that house."

"I bet it did," Tom chuckles

"Hey, your sister would have done no less."

"You are right there." Tom says. "Did Ann Cavalucci call you today?"

"Yes, but I'm not so sure this is a good idea. Elizabeth sounded less than enthused, and I wouldn't even be teaching her class."

"Just try it out, if it doesn't work; well then, we'll think of something else."

"Geometry class, here I come..."

"Think of it as research for your book."

"Hope the girls in class like football..."

"Me too."

"If I flop, it'll be even worse for Elizabeth than if I never tried."

"It'll work out."

"That's what you always say."

"I have to." he says.

"Why?"

"Somebody has to."

"In front of the family, maybe, but not here, between us."

"Habits die hard."

"I think you'd have the habit of confiding to your wife down pat by now."

"Touche'" Tom says. "I guess I am just trying to convince myself."

"She'll pull through, sooner or later. But that doesn't mean it'll happen this week, or that she'll be thrilled I'm teaching at her school and forcing her to go back."

"She has to get back some normalcy."

"Normalcy? With a trial coming up, waiting to see if she's pregnant,  and her friends staying away because they believe that boy?"

"It really stinks, doesn't it."

"It really does."

"We better get some sleep, who knows what tomorrow will bring."

The next morning Nancy comes down to eat breakfast and a family member enters.

"Good morning" Susan says

"Good morning, do you want some coffee?"

"Sure thanks"

"No problem."

"So, what do you think of Abby's friend Dotty?"

"Very cool." Nancy says. "What do you think of her?"

"Well, I haven't met her yet, but from what I understand she sounds a neat person."

"I get a day off tomorrow so I can spend some more time with her and Auntie V."

"That sounds like fun."

"Want to play hooky and join us?"

"Okay"

"Cool."

The next morning Nancy comes down to breakfast and sits across from Dotty. "So who is this Dalton person?" She inquires

"Ego on a stick. Thought he was a player," Dotty answers. 'He was just looking for someone to cut him down to size."

"And Abby did a perfect job?"

"Everyone in Pasadena thought so--at least, all the people that counted."

"That's good." Nancy tries to think of something else to say but can't come up with anything.

Dotty looks around. "If you could change one thing about the way this house runs, what would it be?"

"Hmm," Nancy ponders this. "Well Dad would do more things for himself and not delegate others to do them for him."

"I've heard he mainly likes to brood in his study."

"Well if he did more for himself he wouldn't have time to brood in the study."

"And you've never tried to make him do more for himself?"

"How can I do that?"

"You know him better than I do."

"Yeah but I can never make him change like that."

"Change him one little bit at a time."

"It would be easier to climb Mt. Everest."

"We could try that afterwards."

"Really?"

"If you can get him to change his ways, anything is possible."

"I'll try, but are you serious about this Mt. Everest thing?"

"I could be. It's just a matter of money."

"I have a job I can pay my own way."

"Then you don't need me to take you--you could go on your own, if you really wanted to."

"It's no fun going alone."

"What? You wouldn't take some handsome man along to keep you warm up on the mountain?"

"Well um yeah." She smiles.

"You ought to do that more."

"Kind of hard to do that lately."

"Why? You can do anything you want to."

"Not all the time."

"What's stopping you?"

"My family needs me and there's work and school, and Noah."

"Your family can get along without you for a while, there's always vacation, and you can take Noah with you."

"Maybe this summer."

"You should get some brochures, start planning."

"Good idea, this is going to be a lot of fun." She says as Abby walks into the kitchen.

"What should be fun?" Abby asks.

"Climbing Mt. Everest this Summer."

"You're joking."

"Nope."

"Dotty, did you put her up to this?"

"Not me, no way."

"I'm the one that brought it up." Nancy says.

"It takes months to climb Everest if you want to do it right."

"It does?" She starts to reconsider this.

"There's more than just the climb. There's the altitude, the cold, the climate changes..."

"The thrill of making it to the top." Vivian says as she enters.

"The cute Sherpas," Dotty adds.

"Yeah but it would take months." Nancy says. "And the climate, I wouldn't be back in time for school, I'd lose my job."

"There'll be other jobs and school will always be there." Vivian continues to encourage her.

"Make sure you dress warn," Abby says. "Wouldn't want to lose some fingers or toes to frostbite--might make it tough to get jobs afterwards."

Nancy gulps.

"Don't listen to her," Joannie says, coming into the kitchen. "You can always become an actress. People would think you were interesting. Or you and Dad could write a book and make a fortune."

"Oh yeah well I bet I can do it and avoid frostbite." Nancy says.

"You'd better plan to avoid your father, too," Abby says.

She gets another cup of coffee. While Tom walks in.

"Avoid me for what?" Tom asks.

"Dad what do you think when you hear about someone climbing Mt. Everest?" Nancy asks.

"Nuts." he replies. "Why?"

"Why do you think it's nuts?"

"Because, they are risking their lives."

"Come on Tommy Belly Button. Life itself is a risk."

"With you around, that risk doubles."

"But you love me anyway." She teases him.

"I do?" he jokes. "Yeah, I guess I do."

"This is going to be a hard decision." Nancy says and leaves the room to ponder.

"What's going to be a hard decision." He asks anyone who is listening.

Vivian waits to see if Dotty, Joannie, or Abby are going to say anything.

"Your daughter is thinking of being nuts," Abby says.

Mary walks in. "Which of my sisters is thinking of being nuts this week?" She jokes.

"Nancy, at least this morning," Abby says. "She wants to climb Mt. Everest."

Mary does a double take. "Excuse me, Nancy flunked gym, what makes her think she'll be able to climb a mountain?"

"Frick and Frak over there," Abby points to Dotty and V.

"Nancy can do anything she wants if she puts her mind to it." V says.

"Excuse me." Mary says and goes to track down her younger sister. "So what do you want us to have them put on your headstone?"

"Come on Mary don't be silly."

"Why not you sure are being silly."

"I'm just thinking about it ok."

"No you're not thinking. Look Nancy we've all been under a lot of strain but there are better ways to relieve the tension."

"I can think about it if I want to and if I decide to go through with it I can do that to with or without this family's approval."

"OK," Abby asks Dotty and V, "what are the two of you up to?"

"What's wrong with a little encouragement." V says.

"You planning to stick around and see?"

"Abby."

"What? I've heard of some of the things you got the kids to do. It sounds all glamorous now, but who's going to have to take care of her when she comes home? And deal with Tom until she does?"

Vivian sighs. "I've gone and done it again."

"Can't you just encourage them to do something crazy that doesn't involve flying off to the other side of the world?"

"You're right but I find it so hard not to when they're excited about something."

"It's my fault," Dotty says. "I was talking about things changing around this house, and she said it would be like climbing Everest. I didn't know she'd actually want to do that."

Nancy walks back in. "Actually I don't and Happy April Fools Day everyone." She grins.

Abby groans and rests her head on the table.

"Um sorry." Nancy suddenly feels guilty.

Mary exchanges a look with Joannie. "Let's kill her."

Joannie launches herself at Nancy, arms extended to tickle.

"No not that." Nancy tries to run for cover but Mary prevents this.

Joannie grabs her and starts tickling. "I'll show you April Fools..."

"Can't you take a joke?" Nancy laughs.

"That wasn't funny that was scary." Mary says as she tickles her.

"Can't you take one?" Joannie retorts, tickling some more.

"Help!!" Nancy calls out.

"I'll help all right." V says and starts tickling Nancy also.

"Need any more help?" Abby asks.

"No!!" Nancy is still laughing.

"Don't listen to her Abby, of course she does." Mary says.

Abby joins in. Dotty looks at the assorted Bradfords, shrugs, and moves with her coffee to a safer corner of the kitchen.

David walks in, takes in the scene and sits in the safe area with Dotty. "Hi I'm David."

Dotty looks him up and down. "Not bad at all. I'm Dotty, and what do you say we blow this madhouse?"

He smiles. "But won't they miss us?"

"I don't think they'd even notice."

"I'd love to but I'm seeing someone."

"Don't flatter yourself. I just meant a drink. Anyway, I'm married. Technically."

"Well in that case ok."

"Let's go. You pick the place; all I know of in this town is the Marimba Lounge."

"Ok." He and Dotty leave. Moments later the tickling session ends.

"Hey where did Dotty go?" Nancy says.

"I could have sworn I saw David come in," Abby adds.

"You don't think."

"Dotty? In a minute, if David were her type. But he's not."

"And they're both taken."

"That's never stopped Dotty before."

"Good for her." Vivian says.

"Spoken like someone who never lost a boyfriend to her best friend."

"What?!" Nancy says.

"You try competing with someone like her. Or even your Auntie V. I can understand why men like the lively type instead of the studious ones."

"That's not true, men like all women." V says.

"Maybe when they grow up. As teenagers? Take Tommy, for example."

"Tommy's in a class all by himself." Mary says.

"Ha. Tommy's a normal teenaged boy."

"Tommy's not normal. He's a Bradford."

"Hey," all the other Bradfords protest.

"Come on guys when have we ever been normal?" Nancy says.

"We're better than normal," Joannie says.

"That's right." Mary says.
 

"So did Dotty really do that or are you trying to get me back for the Mt. Everest thing?" Nancy asks Abby.

"Oh, she really did. But I guess I knew even then they weren't really the right boys for me, because I stayed friends with her, even so."

"Even so that's not an easy thing to do." Nancy says thinking about Cassie.

"I know. There were times I wouldn't even talk to her. But," Abby looks over at Tom and smiles, "boys are a dime a dozen. Friends are much more important."

"Even when it doesn't feel like they're really friends?"

"You've just got to figure if they meant to hurt you or not."

Part 3