Episode 40: Down and Out
Part 2
Just then a knock on the door. "Dad, Abby. We have a problem."
Elizabeth says
"Of course we do." Tom mumbles.
"Eight of them," Abby whispers. Out loud she says, "Come on in."
Elizabeth comes in. "Nicholas climb the tree out back and now he can't
get down."
Abby sighs. "I thought he knew how to climb."
"He does, but he went too high and cant get down."
"Terrific." Tom says as he gets off the bed slowly.
"Tommy is halfway up the tree but he's afraid to go any higher, the branches
are starting to break." Liz explains.
"We do have a ladder, don't we?" Abby asks Tom.
"In the garage." Tom says. "Tell Tommy to get off the tree and get
the ladder. We'll be right down."
"OK." Liz says and runs out of the house.
"Abby, you are right.............a zoo."
"Better than a squirrel cage."
Tom sighs. "Care to make an escape?"
"We wouldn't make it past the door."
"Then lets see if we can get the monkey out of the tree."
Abby sighs and gets out of bed.
Tom kisses her before they leave the room. "Just a small taste of my 'desert's
for later." he jokes.
"Do I get to lick the bowl?" Abby whispers in his ear.
"I get the beaters."
"We'll discuss that."
Tom laughs.
They go out back.
"Nicholas, you ok son?" Tom yells up
"I'm scared." he replies.
"Just hang on tight and don't move." Tom says.
Tommy gets the ladder and climbs up. 'Will someone hold the ladder?"
Tommy says as he gets on the last rung.
Elizabeth does this while saying a silent prayer.
Abby waits and prays. ~Maybe it's time to trim these trees.~
"Tommy be careful." Tom states feeling helpless.
Tommy gets ahold of Nicholas and slowly gets him to the ground.
Abby rushes over to them as soon as they're down.
Tom rushes over and hugs his sons. "Nicholas why did you go that high?"
"I saw how you played today and I thought I could do anything too."
Elizabeth and Tommy say quiet
"Wonderful." Tom sighs.
"Time to call a family meeting," Abby tells him.
Tom nods.
"Want me to go bake you some crow?"
"That would be too generous." he says with guilt.
"I think admitting your mistake to the kids will be punishment enough for
any one man."
Tom shakes his head. "Ok everyone inside, family meeting."
Abby hurries inside to get the rest of the family gathered.
As Tom waits for his family to gather. He starts to think he could have
lost his sons out there.
Finally everyone is assembled and looking at Tom expectantly.
Tom takes a deep breath and says. "What I did out there on the field was
stupid and dangerous. I could have been seriously hurt and I'm sorry if I
made you worry."
"But why did you do it Dad?" Liz asks
"For a stupid reason Elizabeth, I was trying to prove something that didn't
needed to be proved."
"What, Dad?" Joannie asks, always curious.
Tom looks at Abby. "Lets just say I was trying to compete with someone that
I didn't have to compete with."
"Dr. Max? Does that mean no more football games?"
"No it wasn't Dr. Max." Tom sighs. "It was Frank." he admits.
"Oh." Joannie slides a glance at Abby. ~It's not fair that she made him
feel that way.~
Tom notices this. "It was all my doing Joannie. Abby had nothing to
do with this." and then turns his attention to his youngest son. "As for you
Young man, if you ever try anything like that. You will be in serious trouble.
Understand?"
Nicholas nods. "Are you in trouble Dad."
Tom sighs. "Yes son, I'm in trouble."
"How?" Tommy asks.
"I gave your father one of my infamous lectures already," Abby says.
"Ouch." Tommy says.
"And I don't get any dessert at dinner for a week." Tom says.
"Well, that's no big sacrifice," Joannie mutters.
"OK, Joannie what would you suggest."
"You'd enjoy being grounded too much..."
Tom sighs
"I think you should have to work late every night," Joannie decides. "An
anti-grounding."
"Why am I even discussing this with you, I made a mistake, I admit it and
I am the adult."
"You sure were acting like a kid today."
"And I am owing up to that."
"And when any of us--even the adults--does something wrong, we get punished."
"But I'm the father, big difference."
"Same old story," Joannie sighs.
"Since I have you all in the same room, one more topic. Abby's and my anniversary."
"What about it?" Joannie says, still bristling.
"Joannie." Liz chides and nudges her. "What are your plans?" she asks.
"Well Abby and I have two choices for you."
"What?" Tommy asks.
"Well, if you really want to, you could make a small party for our anniversary,"
Abby says. "But if you'd rather, we could throw a real bash here Thanksgiving
or Christmas for your friends. We'd stay out of the way or go out for the
evening, if you'd prefer, maybe take Nicholas off to do something while you
had your party."
Tommy and Elizabeth smile. "Cool."
"What's the catch?" Joannie asks.
"The catch is, you all let us decide how we want to spend our anniversary."
"In other words, the two of you are going off somewhere."
"No not necessarily."
"Sure."
"Look we don't know what are plans are, as well meaning as you guys were
last year, we just don't wont to have a repeat of last year."
"In other words, keep our noses out," Joannie grumps.
"It's been no secret how you feel about our marriage." he tells Joannie.
"So why would you want to go to the trouble of helping us celebrate it?"
"You're still my father," Joannie says.
"And you are still my daughter."
"But you don't want me to be part of your celebrations." Joannie gets up.
"It's OK, Dad. I can take a hint."
"Joannie sit down." Tom states. "If you guys want to throw us
a party then go ahead. But let us in on the planning."
Joannie sits down and refuses to say another word.
"Abby and I will leave so you can discuss it amongst yourselves." he sighs.
"Now if you excused me, I am grounded to my study." he says for his daughter
benefit.
He goes into his study and gets the aspirin from his drawer.
"They don't want a party and I don't think they deserve one," Joannie tells
her siblings.
"Why do you always have to give Dad a hard time Joannie.?" Liz asks
"Don't you start on me."
"Why not? We were perfectly happy to have a party for ourselves."
Tommy states.
"So then have a party for yourselves. What do I care? I don't live here
any more."
"But you made Dad and Abby feel guilty because they want to celebrate. With
you its damn if they do or damn if they don't." Liz states. "What's
going on anyway?"
"Nothing. Nothing at all."
"Joannie, talk to us." she says.
"About what?"
"About this...."
"About the party? Funny, I don't remember any of us starting to plan anything,
and I don't see why Dad assumed we would."
"Easy, because in the past we did." Tommy states.
"A lot of things in this family are in the past," Joannie reminds him.
"So what you are saying is, life is over." Liz asks
"No, you know I'm not saying that. All I'm saying is that our doing something
in the past doesn't mean we have to keep on doing something. We're grown up
and the times, they are a'changing."
"Yeah whatever." she sighs.
"Do we *want* to make them a party?" Joannie asks.
"I want for them to have what they want." Elizabeth says.
"They don't want a party. We don't want a party. Sounds pretty settled to
me."
"And that thrills you, doesn't it." Elizabeth says.
"You know what? I really don't care one way or the other. I don't need Dad
and Abby to throw a party for me and my friends, and I sure don't need your
tone of voice."
"That's the problem Joannie, since Mom died you haven't really needed anybody
have you?"
"Since Mom died there hasn't really been anybody, has there?"
"You know I hope one day you can get to know the Abby I know, because big
sister you are missing out." Liz says. "Excuse me, I'm going to start dinner."
"And I have to go. There are people who actually want me around," Joannie
says.
"Wait." Tommy says.
"What?" Joannie says.
"Stay for dinner, please?"
"Thanks, Tommy, but I don't think I'm really wanted around here."
"Come on since when does fights in the house ever interrupt food?" he jokes.
"Well, I guess you have a point."
"Besides you have to tell us about the talent show you are proposing."
"If you want me to do that, then I suppose I should volunteer for dishes
afterwards."
Tommy smiles.
"Don't tell me--it was supposed to be your night to do them," Joannie guesses.
"Would I do that to you?"
"In a minute," Joannie smiles.
Tommy laughs and leads Joannie back into the kitchen where Elizabeth is
peeling potatoes. "Smelled the food huh?" she says trying to make up.
"You know us starving actress types. We'll eat anything," Joannie says and
tries to sneak a bite out of the pots.
"Hey." Liz says pretending to be angry. "I'm glad you came back."
"You won't be for long..."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because I have a favor to ask of all of you."
"Sorry, I am broke."
"Nah, I want something a lot more expensive than money."
"Uh oh."
"Don't worry, it won't hurt."
"That's what mom used to say when we had to go get our shots."
"Trust me. Wait--she used to say that, too."
"Uh huh." she says.
"Really." Joannie grabs the tableware. "I'll go set the table."
~This must be really big.~ she sighs.
Abby soon joins Tom in the study. "Why is it every family meeting turns
into a disaster?"
"Good question." he sighs.
"I don't know how much more of this I can take."
"What does that mean?" he says with worry.
"All this tension, the constant fighting. I don't know."
Tom holds her. "It's no fun for me either."
"I know. But you're not the bad guy in all this story."
"Want to bet?" he says.
"Oh, I'd bet my life on it."
"Honey, there's not a lady on this earth that Joannie would not have given
a hard time with one way or the other."
"I thought things would get easier when she moved out."
"I did too, but I can't coddle Joannie."
"So we just let her come in, create havoc, and flit back out?"
"Only if she thinks she can manipulate us."
"Thinks she can? She knows she can."
"Not anymore she can't. I love Joannie and we've tried but she has to meet
us half way. She's an adult and if she wants to act like a spoil brat
then she's not welcome in our home." Tom finally realizes he can do no more.
"You know you don't mean that," Abby tries to calm him.
"Abby, I am tired of trying to make peace with her when it gets slammed
into my face. I can only take so much."
"You would really tell one of your children that she's no longer a part
of this family?"
"No of course not, but I'm not going to beg either."
~You will~ Abby thinks to herself, knowing her husband too well.
"Care to take a nap with me?"
"Your family is falling apart out there and you want us to just go out there
past them and upstairs?"
"The house is not on fire is it?"
"No," Abby says, wondering what Tom is getting at.
"There always going to be one crisis after another, so lets go rest up to
face it later."
"This isn't just another crisis. From the looks those kids were giving each
other, this is going to be out and out war."
"Which we survived many times."
"Maybe we're not the only ones who can't take things the way they are much
longer."
"So what; do we stay down here, pace and worry?"
"Isn't there any way to fix what's wrong?"
"Is there?" Tom says.
"There has to be. Doesn't there?"
Tom sighs. "I just don't know."
"So you're just going to watch this family fall apart?"
"Of course not, but I am at my wits end. If you have any suggestions. I
am open to hear them."
"There's only one thing that's ever worked, at least for a little while."
"What's that?"
"Talk to her."
"I have talked to her, until I am blue in the face."
"You have any better suggestions?"
Tom shrugs.
"We can't keep on going as we have and we can't ignore her."
"Have you tried talking to her?"
"Wouldn't that involve her agreeing to be in the same room as me?"
"Wouldn't it be worth a try?"
"I have to admit, I'm kind of afraid to."
Tom kisses her. "Just remember, I love you, the kids love you and
I know deep down Joannie does too."
"Way deep down."
Tom hugs her.
Nancy comes home from Noah's not knowing there had been a family meeting
and goes into the kitchen. David and Mary had been out the whole time
also.
"Hi," she greets her siblings who are still in the kitchen at the time.
"Hi." Liz says
"What's for dinner?'
"Meatloaf and Mashed potatoes."
"Ok, did I miss anything?"
Elizabeth laughs. "Oh yeah." she tells her what happened.
"That doesn't make sense to me. Why would they let us throw a party
for ourselves as supposed to having a party for their anniversary. If
they don't want us to throw them a party. Then we have to deal with
it. Doesn't mean we can't get them gifts or anything."
"I guess they were worried we try and overblow the party."
Nancy laughs and shakes her head.
"Well you cant exactly blame them after what we tried to do for the wedding."
"No I guess I can't, but for once it sure would be nice to be trusted with
something. How are we ever going to prove that we won't do something like
that again if they don't give us the opportunity to prove it to them?"
"I guess that's why they gave us a choice."
"What was the choice again?" Nancy says needing to hear it one more
time.
"Make them a small party for their anniversary or if we rather, we could
throw a real bash here Thanksgiving or Christmas for our friends. They'd stay
out of the way or
go out for the evening, and maybe take Nicholas off to do something while
we had our party."
"How is us having a party for ourselves doing anything for them? I
say we have the small anniversary party maybe in the morning during breakfast
and then clear out for the evening to give them some time alone so they can
do what they want to do."
"Not a bad idea." Liz says. "I like it."
"Thank you." Nancy smiles. "So when do we vote on it?"
"Tonight at dinner."
"Ok."
A knock is heard at the study door.
"Come in." Tom says
"Sorry, but dinner is ready." Liz says
"Saved by the dinner bell," Abby says.
"Uh...Joannie decided to stay."
"Oh."
"She has a favor to ask."
Abby looks at Tom with fear and trepidation.
"You know, I had that same look." Liz sighs.
"Really?" Abby says.
She nods.
"And?"
"We'll see."
Abby sighs.
"Shall we see what she wants?" Liz asks.
Tom nods.
"Might as well. With Joannie, it might only get worse if we wait."
They go to dinner. Nancy, David, and Mary are already seated.
During dinner Nancy brings up her suggestion.
"The house to ourselves?" Tom asks.
"I know it's scary, almost twilight zone like even, but yep." Nancy answers.
"Or the outer limits." he says. "Abby?"
Abby shrugs. "What's the catch?"
"There is no catch." Nancy says. "Instead of a big party, we'll make
it small, maybe during breakfast with gift giving."
"Tom?"
"Whatever you want dear." Tom tells her.
~Gee thanks. Make me make the decision.~ "Maybe we should talk it over?"
"Ok." he says.
~When?~
"So you'll let us know?" Nancy confirms.
"Of course."
"Cool." She says and then eats some of her food.
"Abby do we have any Ketchup?" Tom asks.
"Yes, I think so. I'll go check."
"I'll go with you." he says excusing himself.
Abby hurries into the kitchen.
"What do you think?" Tom asks.
"You trust this idea?"
"It might work." Tom says.
"So we trust them?"
"Do we have a choice?"
"Of course we have a choice. We could tell them no, let them throw a party.
If that's what you want."
"I just want to spend time alone with you."
"OK, then we'll do it."
"I'll make it romantic, I promise."
"You always do, or try to."
Tom kisses her.
Abby kisses him back.
They return to the dining room with the ketchup.
Nancy waits for their answer.
"Your idea was a good one Nancy."
"So it's a go?"
Tom nods.
She smiles. "All right."
"Thank you for suggesting it," Abby says.
"You're welcome."
Joannie starts acting nervously.
"Joannie, something going on?" Tom asks.
"I need a favor," Joannie admits. "A big favor."
"How much?" Tom asks
"How much is your time worth?"
"Huh?"
"It's going to cost your time."
"Doing what?"
She tells them about the children's home and the talent show. "And I need
talents."
"Joannie we arent exactly the Osmonds."
"Those kids will take what they can get."
"I guess Nicholas and I can do a comedy routine."
"Thanks, Dad."
"You're welcome."
"When is it?" David asks hoping it's not the same time as a ski trip that's
coming up.
Joannie tells him the date.
~Oh sh**~ "I can't make it."
"What?!" Nancy exclaims.
"David you have to." Mary says. "You can play the guitar and sing."
"I'm sorry but if it were any other weekend."
"What's more important than this?" Joannie asks.
Nancy gives him that look. David looks at both his sisters and cringes.
"I have a ski date that weekend."
"A ski date???"
"I'll figure out some kind of act." Nancy tells Joannie.
"I'll help organize." Mary says.
"That I've been planning for months." David points out.
"You can postpone it," Joannie insists. "Everyone else is pitching in."
"No I can't." David says getting a little irritated.
"But David, think of those kids."
"Joannie."
"What?"
"Are those kids really counting on us?" David asks starting to feel
guilty.
"Well, not you. You've got a ski date."
He sighs in frustration. "I'm sorry Joannie, but I can't."
"I didn't think you could," Joannie sneers.
He shakes his head and continues to eat.
"Joannie if David has other plans, he has other plans." Tom says.
"David always has other plans."
"Yeah." Nancy chimes in.
"That's his right as it is our decision to drop whatever we have going to
help out. So do you a job for Abby?" Tom asks Joannie.
"Well, what can you do?" Joannie asks Abby.
"I can sing a little," Abby says.
"What do you say Joannie." Tom asks putting himself on the line.
"I guess we can use any warm body."
Tom sighs.
~If there's going to be a fight I'm out of here.~ Nancy thinks.
David sighs also.
Mary fiddles with her food.
"So who else is in?" Joannie asks.
"I can play the guitar." Tommy states.
"I guess I can dance." Liz says.
"I can come up with a gymnastics routine." says Susan
"That's great. Thanks, guys."
They nod.
Abby begins to clear the table.
Nancy decides to help her.
"Thanks."
"Anytime." She says and gets the aluminum foil out.
"I'll be in my study if anyone needs me." Tom says.
~Oh, you'll be hearing from me~ Abby thinks. "Nancy, could you take over,
please?"
"Sure," she says figuring she wants to go and talk to her dad.
"Thanks." Abby makes a beeline for the study.
Nancy starts putting stuff away wishing a sibling or two would help her.
"Let me help you." Susan says getting up and putting stuff away.
"Thanks Susan." She says.
In the study, Tom is typing his column.
Abby walks in and closes the doors behind her.
"Hi Honey."
"Don't you mean 'hello, warm body'?"
"Huh?"
"Didn't you hear Joannie at dinner? 'I guess we can use any warm body'."
~Gulp~ "Abby, I'm sorry, it must have went over my head."
"Yeah, why wouldn't it have?" Abby sighs.
"I'll talk to her."
Abby sinks into one of the chairs. "Oh, what's the use?"
"I've never seen you like this before."
"I think I finally realized that it's not going to help."
"What's not going to help."
"Your talking to her. Anything else, for that matter."
"Don't give up, things can change."
"Right."
"Abby....."
"What?"
"I hate seeing you so defeated."
Abby shrugs.
In the dining room: "You can cut the tension in here with a knife." Mary
comments.
"Mary stay out of it." David says.
"Don't tell me what to do." She glares at him.
He sighs and goes to see what Sam is up to.
When he passes through the kitchen Nancy glares at him.
"Don't even start." He says.
"I'm not, those poor orphans." She says while she and Susan finish up.
He mumbles something and then goes to the sunporch. She shakes her head,
and also considers locking Abby and Joannie in a room till they truly hash
out their differences and come to some kind of understanding. Truth
was she's had it with the rift between them, but hasn't wanted to interfere.
~Oh come on Bradford's always interfere.~ After she and Susan are done she
seeks Elizabeth out.
She's reading.
Nancy finds her reading. "Hey can I talk to you?"
"Sure."
"Somewhere a little more private."
"Let's take a walk."
"Ok," They go for a walk and Nancy tells her the plan.
"I don't know Nancy...."
"Well doesn't it get to you sometimes that they don't get along?"
"All the time, but its between them."
"I know it's between them but it affects everyone."
"Look Dad has tried, unless it comes from Joannie, whatever we do won't
work for long."
"I suppose you're right."
"It was a good idea though."
"Thanks, so I guess we should go back inside."
"Who knows, maybe the charity show will break the ice between them."
"Yeah maybe."
They go back inside.
"Figured out what type of act you are doing?"
"No not yet, I've been really wracking my brain on this one, and I can't
come up with anything."
"I don't know what type of dance to do either."
"What's your best one?"
"Maybe Tap."
"That would be cool." Nancy says still trying to think of something.
"Hey, remember that magic kit you used to have?"
Nancy laughs. "Yes, I played with it for 2 days max when I discovered I'm
no magician."
"Well give it a try again, you never know."
"No thank you that's more Tommy's thing these days."
"What's my thing?" Tommy asks as he is behind them.
"Magic tricks." Nancy reminds him.
"Yeah I was just thinking about it, Would you like to be my assistant?"
"I'd love to be your assistant." Nancy says glad that she finally has something
to do in the show.
"Great." he says. "Are you available tomorrow to practice?"
"Yes, after I get back shopping with Mary."
"Cool."
"And Tommy thanks, you're really helping me out here."
"No problem, you are helping me too."
"Cool." She says and glances at the closed study doors. "They still in there?"
Tommy nods. "Abby looked upset."
Nancy remembers what Joannie had said. "I would have been too."
"I know, me too. I mean Abby isn't mom, but she's cool most times."
Nancy nods in agreement but says. "Maybe Joannie's just having a rough time
adjusting."
"I wish she'd snap out of it."
"She will when she's ready too, not when the rest of us are ready for her
to." Nancy says finally coming to this revelation.
"Yeah."
"If I'm angry with anyone it's David."
"I know."
"Those poor kids have nothing and he acts like it's no big deal."
"Maybe he'll change his mind."
"I sure hope so."
"I have an idea. Maybe have David pick you or Joannie up there, that
way he could see the place."
"Hmm, I like that idea." Nancy starts plotting.
"Well I am late for band practice, tell Dad and Abby I'll be back later."
"Will do, do you need a ride?"
"Nah, Ernie is picking me up on the corner. But thanks."
"Anytime." She answers.
Tommy goes off to band practice.
Nancy tries to figure out if it's cheating day or if that's the next day.
Liz looks at her."You ok?"
"No I'm not ok, I have a serious craving for ice cream right now, how bout
you?"
"Yeah, but is it ok for you?"
Nancy nods. "I haven't had anything sweet since last Sunday. I'll just change
cheating day to Saturday's."
"Ok." she says not convinced.
"Elizabeth one day early won't make a difference." Nancy tries to assure
her.
"Ok, I just worry."
"I know, but you don't have to, I know what I'm doing."
She nods.
They go to the kitchen to check for ice cream but they're out again. "I
know a very good ice cream parlor."
"Lets go." she says.
"Ok." They leave a note for Tom and Abby and then they leave for the ice
cream place.
Part 3