Episode 40: Down and Out
Part 1
On the morning of the football game, Nancy comes down for breakfast after
showering, she pours herself a cup off coffee, and gets something to eat.
"Good morning winning team." She says to anyone that's in the kitchen
right now.
"Good morning Nancy." Tom says. "And I like your attitude."
"Thanks Dad, does that mean I can play?" She jokes.
"Ha Ha, No." he states. "If its of any consolation, Abby is being benched
too."
"I know." She says.
The telephone rings. Mary answers it. And after greetings are
exchanged. "Oh you wish.... Yeah he's right here." Mary hands
the phone to her Dad. "It's the head of the losing team."
"Max? Don't tell me you came to your senses and decided to forfeit."
"In your dreams Tom. By the way we want good seafood this year."
"But we are having a Barbeque." he jokes
"And you're the one paying for it." Max says to him.
"If you are trying to psych me out, its not working."
Max chuckles. "Sure it is, with both Nancy and Abby not playing we're going
to skunk ya."
"Oh really, well you do know Nancy's engaged right?"
"Which means she won't be able to distract Brad with a kiss during the game."
"True, but Noah will be playing." Tom smirks.
"So what, we'll still beat the pants off of you." Max says.
"I doubt that."
"Don't doubt it too hard. Tom I have to go but I'll see you at the
park."
"OK."
Max hangs up.
Tom returns to his family.
Abby comes downstairs.
"Hi."
"Hi." Abby does a double take. "What is that you're wearing?"
"My pineapple shirt, why?"
"It's..." Abby gropes for words. "It may just be what we need to win."
"I told you it was lucky."
"Yep. The Maxwells will be so busy laughing they won't be able to play."
"Funny." he sighs. "Want some coffee?"
"Yes, please."
Tom pours her a cup.
"Thanks," Abby says, trying not to look at his shirt.
"It's not that bad is it?"
"I've seen worse," Abby says cautiously. She sips at her coffee. "But not
in a long time."
"What's not that bad." Tom asks.
"Your shirt," Abby says, reminding him of what they've been discussing.
"You're all wound up this morning."
"It's an important game."
"It's just the Maxwells."
"Not just the Maxwells, its family honor."
"You take the game more seriously than anyone I've ever met, and that's
saying a lot."
"Is that a put down?"
"No, just an observation."
"Hmmm." he says. "Ok."
~Knew I shouldn't have said anything. Touchy subject~ Abby kicks herself.
Sam goes over to Nancy wanting to go out. "Wait till I'm done." She tells
him.
He whines.
"I'll take him." Mary laughs and takes Sam outside.
"Good morning." Nancy says to Abby.
"Good morning. Ready to cheer them on to victory?"
"I sure am, are you ready?" She asks.
"As I'll ever be."
"Cool." Nancy says.
"How do you want your eggs Abby." Mary asks when she returns with Sam.
"Oh, any way. If I'm not cooking, I'm not fussy."
Mary laughs. "I hear that." She makes Abby some eggs and serves them to
her on a plate.
"Thank you."
"No problem."
"Is it ok if Noah's little sister comes along. Their parents had to
go somewhere." Nancy asks.
"Sure," Abby says. "You and I can watch her."
"Thanks Abby." She calls Noah and let's him know it's ok. ~Holly and I will
also make sure Abby doesn't overdo it today.~
"You're welcome."
After hanging up with them. "They'll be here in ten minutes."
Abby looks around the table. "We'll still be in the middle of breakfast."
"Oh." Nancy didn't realise. She calls Noah back and tells them she'll call
him when they're ready to go.
"How are you feeling?" She asks Abby after hanging up with Noah.
"Fine," Abby assures her.
"Good." Nancy says.
Meanwhile outside, David pulls into the driveway and sighs. Joannie
had been driving him crazy for the past few days but he was trying to fight
it since he's the older one of the two and also since he loves his sister.
Joannie rushes out of the van, eager to get away from her stifling big brother.
David soon gets out also and goes inside.
"Good morning, everyone," Joannie says when she enters the kitchen. "Ready
to pulverize some Maxwells?"
David also enters, says good morning, and gets something to eat.
"Uh huh." Mary smiles. "Good morning."
"Good morning, and I'm ready to cheer you on." Nancy says.
"Too bad you can't distract Brad anymore."
"Oh I don't know, Noah might let me kiss him." She jokes.
"Sure..."
Nancy smiles and says. "Can I talk to you after you eat?"
"Sure."
"Cool I'll be in the tv room." She says and goes to see if there's anything
good on.
Joannie sits down to eat her breakfast.
"How have you been?" Mary asks Joannie.
"OK. You?"
"I've been ok."
"Good."
Nancy waits for Joannie finish eating and channel surfs hoping no on catches
her at it since she's must have told everyone in the family to cut it out
when they do it.
Joannie walks in.
Nancy turns off the tv. "I was wondering what day you wanted to go
to Charles Street."
"Can you do it Wednesday?"
Nancy nods. "Yeah, I only have one class that day."
"Then it's a date."
"Cool, so what time should Sam and I be ready?"
"Two."
"We'll be ready, are the others done eating yet?"
"I don't know. We could go check."
"Ok," they both return to the kitchen to check.
Meanwhile at Noah's while they're waiting for Nancy's call for them to come
over and leave for the game.
"Is Sam going with us?" Holly asks.
He shakes his head.
"Why not? He'd have fun."
"When did he tell you that?" Noah kids with her.
"The last time I saw him." She pretends.
Noah smiles. "Sorry honey he can't come he'd have to stay chained up the
whole time and that wouldn't be any fun. This way he can stay home and
sneak on the couch."
She laughs.
In the Bradford kitchen, David and Mary are done.
"Hey can you two help me put some stuff in the car." She asks Joannie and
Nancy.
"Ok." Nancy starts helping her.
Joannie goes to help, too.
They get everything loaded and wait for the others to join them.
While they're waiting Nancy has the sinking feeling that she's forgotten
something that morning. Mary has the same feeling. They almost
remember at the same time.
"The insulin." The both say feeling idiotic for forgetting.
They go inside and take care of it and soon return to Joannie.
"I wonder if it's too cold our for a water fight." Nancy says.
Mary goes back inside.
"Mary it was a joke!!"
"That girl's got no sense of humor," Joannie says.
"Yeah really." Nancy says. "At least not this morning anyway."
"Wonder what's bugging her."
"I don't know but she doesn't seem all that happy since her date last night.
She's acting happy, but I can tell she's not."
"Who'd she go out with?"
"Some guy named Phillip."
"Sounds stuck up."
Nancy nods in agreement. "He better not have been mean to her."
"Think she'd tell us?"
"I don't know but it's worth a try."
"Now or after the game?"
"It depends on whether we're leaving for the game soon or if we have awhile."
"Everyone should just about be ready. Otherwise we'll lose by default."
"Then we talk to her later after the game."
"It's a plan."
"Good."
"Let's go see what we can do to help get them out the door" Joannie suggests.
"Good idea." Nancy heads inside and waits for Joannie.
Joannie follows.
Once they're in the kitchen. "Everyone ready?" Nancy asks.
"I think so." Tom says
"Should I call Noah and tell him and Holly to get over here?"
Tom nods
"Good idea," Abby says.
"Ok," Nancy calls them and tells them to come over and a few minutes later
they show up.
"I'm ready whenever the rest of you are," Abby says.
"We're ready." Nancy says of her Noah, and Holly.
"I'm ready." Mary says.
Tommy and Nicholas arrive.
"Where's Elizabeth?" Nancy asks.
"She's coming." tommy replies
Elizabeth joins them soon after.
"Is Susan ready?" Mary asks.
"I'm ready." Susan says joining the rest of her family.
"Good, now is everyone here?" Mary asks.
"Good, let's go beat those Maxwell's." David says.
Holly tugs on Abby's shirt sleeve.
"Yes, Holly?" Abby asks.
"I thought they were going to play football."
"They are."
"Then how come David said that they're going to beat on them." Holly says
having misunderstood.
Nancy tries to keep from laughing.
"Well, you know how guys get when they get all competitive," Abby says,
sneaking a glance at Tom.
Holly thinks it over but still doesn't really get it. "I guess."
~Talking about me or Frank?~ "Yeah, lets go.~
They all head out to the cars.
Tom doesn't say a word on the way over there.
"You all right?" Abby whispers when they get out of the car.
"Sure, why wouldn't I be?"
Abby shakes her head. "You don't have to jump on me like that."
"I'm not jumping down on you."
"If you say so..."
Tom sighs and goes and plays the game. ~I can be as tough as Frank.~
He nearly gets killed in the process.
"Abby, what is Dad doing?" Elizabeth asks.
"I have no idea. I knew he wanted to beat the Maxwells, but this is ridiculous."
"I've never seen him play like this before, its like he's trying to prove
something."
"He and Greg must have some side bet he didn't tell me about."
"Maybe." she says cringing at the sight.
Meanwhile Tom does a dangerous stunt that throws him to the ground.
Nancy shakes her head at the way her dad is playing and continues to keep
an eye on Holly.
In the cheering section. "I didn't know you weren't playing Elizabeth."
Nancy says.
"Dad benched me because of my head injury."
"But isn't it better now?"
"Aren't you better now? You know how Dad is."
"Next game."
"Yeah."
"For you maybe."
"You too." she states.
"No it won't, because they think I'm china that might break."
Holly laughs thinking she made a joke.
"Dad'll calm down, alot has happened between the three of us."
"That's true."
"Want a soda?"
"Yes, Holly?"
"Yes please."
"You got it." Liz grabs a couple of sodas for them.
"Thank you." She says.
"Thanks Liz." Nancy says.
Nicholas passes by and Holly hides behind Nancy.
~Girls, ugh.~ Nicholas thinks.
"Don't let him near me." Holly whispers to Nancy and Elizabeth.
Nancy tries not to laugh. "It's ok Nicholas doesn't have cooties does he
Elizabeth?"
"Not the last time I checked."
"See you're safe."
Brad comes up to the cheering section. Noah sees this and gets within
hearing distance.
"Too bad you can't use your old ploy this time." He goads Nancy.
"Sure I can, can't I Noah?"
"Sure honey you can kiss him if you want." Noah jokes. "As long as you're
going home with me."
Brad shakes his head. "There are children present." He walks away.
"Remember what Noah and I told you in the car." Nancy says to Holly.
"Yes, that you're not really going to kiss that guy, it's a plan to throw
that guy off while he's playing."
"Exactly."
Nancy and Holly take their cheering positions. When Nancy notices the way
Tom is playing she asks Abby.
"What's with Dad?"
"I don't know. I guess he just really wants to beat Max, and with his best
players on the sidelines..."
"Yeah but if one of us were out there playing like that he'd freak out."
"I know."
"Maybe if one us went out there and tried to play he'd ease up?"
"Just because he's crazy doesn't mean we have to be."
"I suppose."
Abby sighs. "If you really think it'll help, Nancy, I'll go play."
"Abby, you have to stop him. He's going to break his neck." Tommy says as
he comes over to the sidelines. "He won't listen to me."
"I'll try," Abby sighs and calls for a time out.
"What?" Tom asks.
"You're going to kill yourself playing the way you are."
"So I'm not Mr. Macho, I know what I am doing."
"Yeah, you're trying to get yourself put in the hospital," Abby says. "Would
you please, please do me a favor and calm down a little? It's just a touch
football game, Tom. It's not the Super Bowl."
"And you would know that wouldn't you."
"What?" Abby asks, bewildered.
"You've seen Frank play the superbowl, I realized this isn't a 49'ers game."
~What the...?~ "No, it isn't. You're more likely to get yourself killed
here than if you were at the Super Bowl."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well, at the Super Bowl you wouldn't even be playing, would you?"
Tom storms off. "Max, I forfeit."
"But Dad....." Tommy tries to say
Tom gets in the car and drives away.
"You got to be kidding me." Nancy is stunned.
Abby stands there, bewildered.
"What's with him?" Liz asks
Tommy puts his arm around Abby. "Are you OK?"
Abby shrugs.
"I guess. I'm not quite sure what just happened, though."
Nancy is angry about her fathers behavior. "We do not forfeit Dr. Max."
She says and gets out on the field.
"Nancy!!" Liz yells. "Noah stop her."
Noah is about to but then Abby stops her.
"No, Nancy," Abby insists. "Max, can we call the game on account of temporary
insanity?"
"Of course." Max smiles.
"Thanks. Why don't you all wait here and I'll see if I can get him to come
back," Abby suggests.
Nancy settles down a little and nods. She then returns to Liz and Holly.
Tom drives around. ~Why am I acting like this?~ He soon drives back
to the park but doesn't get out of the car.
Abby heads off to the car and then sees that Tom's car is back. She knocks
on the window.
He rolls down the window. "Feel like talking to a jerk?"
"Sure, if you can find me one."
"You are looking straight at him."
"No, I'm looking at you." Abby walks around the car and gets in the passenger's
side.
"I'm sorry." Tom says.
"I still don't understand what even happened. Why'd you run off? And why
were you trying to get yourself killed out there?"
"I guess I was trying to prove to you I was as macho as......"
"As?"
"Frank." he mumbles.
"Frank?" Abby repeats. "What does he have to do with anything?"
"This morning remember? When you said I took this game more seriously
than anyone you knew?"
"Oh. But I wasn't talking about Frank--I don't compare you, you know."
"You don't?"
"Do you keep comparing me to Joan?"
"No." he sighs.
"Then why try to get yourself hurt to prove something no one cares about
but you?" Abby asks.
He shrugs not knowing the answer.
"You really want to forfeit the game?"
"If I did, I'd have a riot on my hands at home."
"That's true. But if you keep playing like a madman, you still might."
"I'll be good."
Abby leans over and gives him a kiss.
Tom smiles. "Come on lets go beat the Maxwells."
Abby breathes a sigh of relief. ~But we are going to have to talk this out
later.~
Meanwhile in the cheering section.
"At least he came back." Nancy says.
"Yeah."
"Something's wrong with Dad." She says getting over her anger and realising
that wasn't like him.
"I know."
Nancy considers asking her counselor for a recommendation. Nancy is hoping
they come back soon so they can get on with the game and everything.
She wanted to call Cassie when they got home and see how things were going
with her. She goes over to the refreshments table and grabs an apple.
"Anyone else want one?"
"Yeah, throw one over here," Joannie says.
Nancy does this. "Good catch." She says when Joannie catches it.
"Good throw."
"Thank you." She goes over to her and sits down. "These games are never
uneventful."
"At least this time no one's breaking anything."
"That's a definite plus."
"Especially if it was me who would have broken something," Joannie jokes.
Nancy laughs at this at first but then says, "don't even want to think about
that." Nancy says shuddering at the memory of Joannie's car wreck.
"Neither do I," Joannie agrees.
Nancy eats her apple.
Tom extends his apologies to everyone and the game continues.
Abby keeps a close eye on Tom to see if his attack of macho returns.
The game ends in a tie. "Max, what do you say we just take everyone
out. Dutch treat."
"I think that's a great idea," Daisy says.
"All right, to the grease pit?" Max jokes.
Tom nods going along with the joke.
Max smiles
Later at home Tom starts to have back spasms. But tries to hide it from
Abby and to avoid a ~I told you so lecture.~
Joannie passes by. "You OK, Dad?"
"Can you help me upstairs quietly without any fuss?"
"Sure. Your back again?"
He nods grimacing.
"Figures," Joannie mutters under her breath before helping her father up
the stairs.
"Thank you."
They walk into the bedroom, only to find Abby there.
"Uh Hi." Tom says.
"Hi."
"Joannie the money you need is in my coat pocket." he says trying to explain
why Joannie has walked him to their room.
"Huh? Oh, yeah, thanks, Dad." Never one to look a gift horse in the mouth,
Joannie takes some money from her father's pocket. "Bye." ~Poor Dad.~
"So what are you doing?" Tom asks standing not moving.
"Catching up on some school work. You could just have sent Joannie up here
on her own; I'd have given her money."
"I was on my way up here anyway."
"Oh, OK." Abby waits for Tom do something other than just stand there.
Tom sighs finally gives in when he realizes he can't move on his own. "Abby,
can you help me to the bed."
Abby gets up and helps him. "Your back? Come on, let me rub it for you."
~That's it?~ Tom sighs in relief."Thank you."
Abby starts to rub his back, trying to figure out how to reopen their earlier
conversation. "So much for the shirt bringing you luck."
"Donate it to good will."
"Were you really playing kamikaze football because you thought you had to
prove something to me?"
Tom nods. "I know it is idiotic now."
"Maybe not."
"Huh?"
"Maybe it's not idiotic for you to wonder how you compare."
"And?'
"And what?"
"How do I compare."
"In what sense?"
"Never mind its a no win question."
"Well, I will tell you--you're nowhere near the football player he was.
Then again, he was never half as good a writer as you are."
"I'm not even sure I am a writer, I haven't heard anything about my book
yet."
"That's all right," Abby leans down to kiss him. "I'm sure enough for both
of us. With or without a book contract."
"Thanks." he states. "At least one Bradford got published." he says as he
hugs her arms.
"More than one."
"What?"
"You're published in the paper, and some of Joan's photographs were published
too, weren't they?"
Tom nods. "I never thought about that."
"I have. A lot."
"Really?"
"You're not the only one who wonders how you compare."
Tom shakes his head. "I'm sorry."
"For playing the way you did today?"
"That and realizing what a airhead I've been. If I ever in the past
made you feel like I was comparing, I was wrong."
"If you ever did, I know it was accidental. Just like today. I really wasn't
even thinking about Frank when I said that."
Tom kisses her. "Could you do me one more favor?"
"Anything."
"Get a hot pack for my back." he says in agony.
Abby stops rubbing his back. "You could have just said," she tells him and
goes to get it.
"Honey, I love it when you rub my back,I just thought the heat might help
first."
"You're right," Abby concedes. "It probably will. I should have thought
of it myself."
Tom slowly lays on his stomach. ~What an idiot Bradford.~
Abby soon comes back with the heat pack and a broad smile.
"What are you smiling about?"
"I was just thinking that it's awfully impressive, your doing this to yourself
just to prove yourself to me. Stupid, but impressive."
"I love you, but I sure set a bad example with the kids today, if any of
them did what I did, I'd hit the roof."
"That's exactly what they said."
"So what do you suggest I do?"
"Admit your mistake."
Tom nods and I wont have any dessert for a week." he jokes.
"That's a pity. I was planning a very special dessert for you tonight."
"Oh what?"
"Just a chance to prove yourself to me--without hurting yourself."
"Hmmm, thats not the dessert I meant."
"That's a relief."
Tom smiles.
"Your back any better?"
"It's a lot better."
"And you'll never do something like that again?"
"Scouts honor.."
"You were a scout?"
"No, but Army."
"I've heard about you Army guys..."
"What have you heard?"
"Well..." Abby hesitates, remembering that most of what she heard about
Army men came from Marines.
"Well?"
"Well," Abby sighs, "let's just say that other branches don't always have
the highest opinion of Army men. But I do."
"That's all that counts."
Abby kisses him. "You're learning."
"It takes a few poundings into my brain."
"I'll have to remember that for the future."
Tom laughs
Abby sighs and lies down next to Tom. "Speaking of the kids, have you spoken
to them yet about the party?"
Tom sighs "No, you?"
"Are you kidding?"
"Tell them together?"
"A suicide pact."
"A civilized suicide pact."
"Our kids? Civilized?"
"Civilized to the point they aren't in a zoo."
Abby makes a show of looking around. "You're sure they aren't?"
"I see no bars on the windows."
"Oh, yeah? You try escaping."
"I've tried." he jokes
"Exactly. It may not look it, but this place is definitely a zoo. And you
and I, my love, are not the zookeepers."
"Inmates."
"And it's high time we took over the asylum."
"I like the way you think."
"Only because I think so much about you."
"So what do you suggest?"
"Well, what is it we really want?"
"Other than to be in control?"
"Specifically about our anniversary."
"So no party?"
"Do you want a party?"
"Just a party of two." he says. "But I know if we dont we might have an
affair by keith on our hands."
"Do we even know if the kids want to throw a party?"
"No."
"Then maybe we're just looking for trouble."
"Maybe, so lets just make our own plans then."
"And if the kids tell us they have plans?"
"We will tell them to break them."
"Unless..."
"Unless, what?"
"Unless we offer them a choice--a part for us or a party for themselves."
"What? pardon me, but are you insane?"
"A party while we're home. Thanksgiving, or Christmas maybe."
"With us upstairs?"
"Or in your study. Either should be enough of a deterrent."
"Fine with me, but what about Nicholas?"
"If they're going to have the kind of party they could have with us around,
why wouldn't Nicholas be at the party, too?"
"Teenagers wanting a 8 year old at a party?"
"You're right. We're doomed."
"No, not unless......"
"Unless?"
"We take Nicholas out for the evening."
"But then who'd be here to make sure the party didn't get out of hand?"
"They know we'd be back in a few hours." Tom says. "Not a whole lot
of time to hide evidence." he jokes.
"It could work," Abby says, not entirely certain.
"You don't sound convincing."
"Give me some time to think about it. Or you could try convincing me."
Tom passionately kisses her. "Are you getting convinced?"
"Beginning to be. I may need a little more effort here."
Tom kisses her some more.
"OK, OK, we'll try it your way."
"I knew you see it my way."
"On one condition."
"Which is."
"I'll let you have your way," Abby whispers in his ear, "if you let me have
mine."
Tom sighs. "If you must." and winks at her.
"I'll try to make sure it's not too much torture," Abby assures him.
"I appreciate the consideration." he jokes. "Man, I really missed you."
"And I missed you. I used to think I liked being on my own, but..."
"It's lonely?" he tries to finish her sentence.
"Very. I didn't used to think so--I guess it was a necessary adaptation.
Nine years is a long time to be lonely."
Tom hugs her. "It hurts me to think you were alone that long."
"I had to wait around for you, didn't I?"
"Yes, but still. When I think how lonely I was, it was so short compared
to yours."
"After a while you get used to it. In some ways, I think you had it much
worse."
"How so?" he wonders
"It was more gradual for me--he was shipped out, then he was captured, and
then he...well, I was already alone, just the reason changed. And I had time
to get used to it; you never did."
Tom sighs. "One morning she was alive and that night she was dead."
he remembers clearly.
"There was nothing to prepare you. You didn't even know there was anything
at risk."
Tom just holds her tightly and doesn't say another word.
"At least I don't have to worry about you going off to war," Abby adds.
Tom laughs. "They'd have to be pretty desperate."
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe good journalists are like fine wine."
"Now that was a great compliment. Thank you my lady."
"No fair thanking me for something that's so easy to do."
"You are a remarkable woman, Mrs. Bradford and I love you so much."
"Ha. You only love me because I love you so much."
"That too." he jokes.
"And you thought I'd never uncover your deepest darkest secret, didn't you?"
"Now you know." he sighs. "You'll be bored now."
"Bored? In this zoo?"
"Then I guess we are zookeepers."
"You wish."
"Ok we may be the keepers, but they have the keys."
"And I can't think of anyone nicer to be locked up with."
"Me either."
"You can't think of anyone nicer to be locked up with than yourself?" Abby
teases.
"Well I am pretty interesting." he jokes back.
"Says who?"
"You for one." he says.
"And since when am I any source of authority?"
"If I said never, you'd have my head. You can't have it both ways."
"Think I'm going to let you off that easily?"
"I was hoping."
"I might be able to be bribed."
"What type of bribe?"
"Use your imagination."
Tom starts to kiss her again.
Part 2