Episode 40: Down and Out
Part 3
"Hot fudge, here we come." Liz jokes.
Nancy laughs. "Darn straight." She says and parks the car in front of
the place.
Elizabeth orders a banana split.
Nancy plays it safe and orders a single cone with chocolate ice cream.
Liz starts to feel guilty and changes her order.
But Nancy doesn't let her. "Honey, I can handle it." She says.
"You sure?"
"Yes I'm sure."
"Ok." she says and keeps her original order.
After they get their orders they find a place to sit down to eat and chat.
"I've been thinking about college." Liz tells her.
"Hmm, well I guess it's never to early for that. Are you going to go?"
She nods.
"Good, have you picked any yet?"
"Well I found one, but its out of state and expensive."
"Do they have scholarships?"
"I don't know." she says. "I am just dreaming."
"Sometimes dreams come true."
"Maybe she says. Hey do you think we should take some ice cream home to the
family?"
"Yes I do think we should do that, but what if David and Joannie are gone
by the time we get back?"
"There lost."
Nancy laughs but then says. "Maybe we should call home first."
"Ok."
After finishing her ice cream. Nancy phones home and waits for someone to
answer.
In the study: "Look, if you don't want to do the show. Don't."
"Everyone in the family is doing something. Not participating would be as
good as saying I'm not part of this family."
"Then blow her away with your talent. From what I've heard in the shower,
you are good."
"And if I do, you won't start with the jealousy bit again?"
"Hey, I have learned my lesson."
"We'll see," Abby smiles at him.
"So am I forgiven for messing up during dinner."
"It wasn't really you I was upset with, anyway," Abby concedes.
Tom sighs. "I'm sorry."
"Not your fault. Unless you're just taking the blame because you're her father."
"Part of it."
"Part of the blame, or part of why you're feeling guilty?"
"Both." he states.
"Why else would you be feeling guilty?"
"Because she's my daughter and the way she hurts you hurts me."
"It's better now that she moved out, at least usually."
"I just don't know why Joannie has to act the way she does."
Abby shrugs. "Does it matter? She does, and we have to deal with that."
Tom comes around from his desk and gives her a hug.
Abby buries her head against his shoulder. "We'll get through this."
"Yes we will."
"I'll hold you to that."
He squeezes her tight.
"Now if you'd only tell Joannie we'll get through this, we might start getting
somewhere."
"Maybe the talent show will help."
"Maybe. Think it would help if I blew her away?"
"She loves talent."
"Well, at least she'll love something about me."
"I can think of other things."
"We're talking what Joannie might love, not what you do," Abby smiles at
him.
Tom laughs. "Well sometimes my kids don't know a good thing."
"And in my more sanguine moments I say it's their loss."
"I agree."
"I suppose we'd better get back out there, or some of them will think we're
conspiring against them."
"Do we have to?"
"Not if you really don't want to," Abby whispers in his ear.
Just then the phone rings. "Sometimes I hate technology."
"I did offer you my answering machine when I moved in," Abby reminds him.
"I know."
"Answer the phone."
Tom sighs as the phone rings. "Hello."
"Hi Dad, are David and Joannie going to be there awhile?"
"I don't know, hold on a sec. David, Joannie." he calls for.
"Yeah," David says.
"For you, its Nancy."
David talks to her awhile and then says to his Dad. "Will you tell Joannie
that Nancy wants to talk to her?"
"Why can't you? You two are still roommates aren't you?"
David sighs. "Fine." He goes looking for Joannie.
Tom rolls his eyes and shakes his head.
Joannie is upstairs, rooting through the linen closet.
"Nancy wants to talk you." David says when he finds her upstairs.
"Well, tell her to come up here."
"She's not home, she's on the phone."
Joannie nods and heads for Tom and Abby's bedroom to take the phone.
"David? Dad? Anyone still there?" Nancy calls out.
Tom picks up. "Yes Nancy, David went to look for Joannie."
"Ok, so what kind of ice cream do you want us to bring you back?"
"Butter Pecan." Tom says. "Abby?" he says.
"Someone's getting ice cream? Macadamia Brittle."
"Did you hear that?" Tom asks Nancy.
"Yeah I heard it."
"Better bring Nicholas chocolate."
"Of course and Mary wants chocolate mint." She mentions what Susan
and Tommy would want. "What do you think?"
"I'll pay you when you get home and thanks.
"No problem Dad and you don't have to do that."
When he hears Joannie on the other end, he hangs up. "What's up, Nance?"
"Not a whole lot Joannie, will you be staying for ice cream? And if
so what kind should we bring you?"
"Yeah, I'll be staying. Get me something very fattening."
"Not a problem, we'll see you in a few."
"Thanks." Joannie hangs up and heads downstairs.
Nancy hangs up and gets back to Elizabeth. "They'll be staying."
"Cool."
"Let me know when you're ready and then we'll get theirs and head on home."
"I'm finished."
"Ok," Nancy gets the others ice cream and then they get it to the car and
head home.
Tom sees Joannie. "May I have a word with you?"
"I was just going to ask you that."
"You were?" he says shocked.
Joannie nods. "In your study?"
"Ok." he says.
They head in. When they're seated Joannie says, "You first."
"No, ladies first."
Joannie takes a deep breath. "Can I stay here tonight?"
"David's not working out?"
"He's a jerk."
"Not exactly a nice thing to say about your brother."
"Neither is what he did. Or rather, what he's not going to do."
"What you said to Abby at dinner wasn't very nice either."
"Huh? What did I say?"
"Any warm body will do? How'd you feel if someone said that to you?"
"Oh, Dad, it's just an expression. No one in their right mind would take
it seriously."
"Joannie, you hurt Abby's feelings or was that the idea."
"You always want to believe the worst about me, don't you?"
"No Joannie I don't."
"It certainly seems like you do."
"I am just trying to figure out why you and Abby can't connect in some way."
"Why don't you ask her?"
"Why don't you ask her." Tom nearly pleads.
"Like she'd give me an honest answer?"
"She's always given me an honest answer."
"Well, sure. You're married to her."
"And you don't think she'll give you a fair deal?"
"Dad, can't you just leave it alone?"
Tom shrugs. "I guess I have no choice." he says. "As for your other question,
your bed is still vacant."
"Thanks, Daddy."
"Yeah."
"I'm going to head on upstairs."
Tom nods. "Goodnight."
"Good night, Dad." She gives her father a hug and rushes up the stairs.
Tom sits in his chair with his head in his hands.
Abby walks back in.
"Hi."
"You look like you've been through the wringer."
"Joannie." he says without explanation.
Abby sighs. "We're going to have to do something about her. Wait--didn't
I already say that once?"
He nods. "I give up."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning, the problems between you two are out of my hands."
"I don't believe you."
Tom half way smiles. "You know me too well."
"I ought to."
"I just don't know what to do anymore."
"Then we have a problem."
"I guess we do."
"And we just leave it at that?"
"For now, yes." he says.
"OK, if you think that's best."
"Abby, what do you want me to do?"
"Make things be the way they were supposed to be?" Abby says, knowing that
can't happen.
Tom gets up out of his chair and gives her a hug. "I wish I could."
Abby rests her head against his shoulder. "I know. No one said it was going
to be easy."
"No, but give it time, things can change."
"Well, I'm not going anyway. I'll give it as much time as it needs."
"Good." he kisses her.
"Do I at least get a reward?"
"What do you have in mind."
Abby kisses him. "Oh, I'm sure you can think of something."
"Lets go upstairs." he smiles
"Sounds like a good start."
He leads her upstairs.
Meanwhile, Joannie heads upstairs to her old room.
Meanwhile Tommy sees Joannie. "Moving back?"
"Just until David buys a heart."
"The charity event?"
Joannie nods.
"I don't know what to say that'll help."
"Nothing. You know David."
He nods.
Joannie yawns. "I'd better get to bed."
"Ice Cream is here." Nancy puts it in the kitchen and then goes to watch
tv.
"Finally." Mary says. "Thanks you two."
Nicholas gets his chocolate. "Thanks."
"You're welcome." Nancy says to the them.
The day after the football game with the Maxwell's, Mary and Nancy go shopping
for anniversary gifts for their parents and finally arrive home.
When they get inside the phone rings. Nancy answers it. "Hey...how's
it?.... What's wrong?......when did it happen?.......thanks for calling me."
She says to the caller and soon hangs up.
"What's wrong? Who was that?"
"A friend of Jason's. Cassie got hit by a car earlier." Nancy says
in a daze.
"Is she ok?" Mary asks.
"She died instantly." Nancy tells her. "I have to go see Jason." She
looks for her car keys.
Mary stops her. "Why don't you give this a little time to sink in before
you go over there."
"Jason needs me." She finds her car keys. "Cassie would be there for Noah
if..." She then leaves.
Mary finds Tommy pacing impatiently where Nancy was supposed to meet him
for practice.
"Tommy are you expecting?" Mary asks not knowing about the magic act yet.
"Huh?"
"The pacing." Mary points out.
"Oh, waiting for Nancy."
"Oh," she sighs. "You might be waiting for awhile."
"Why?"
"She's at Jason's." Mary says and then tells him about Cassie.
"You are joking."
"I wish I was." Mary says to her.
Tommy sighs.
Mary doesn't know what to say.
"How's Nancy taking it?"
"I don't know." Mary shrugs. "She went straight to Jason's as soon as she
found out."
"Poor Jason."
"Yeah really." Mary says. "How will he raise that baby alone?"
Tommy sighs and goes upstairs.
Sometime later at Jason and Cassie's apartment. His parents are there
keeping an eye on the baby and Jason. Some friends from high school
are also there.
"Where's Jason?" Nancy asks the closest person she can find.
"In the kitchen."
Nancy goes there and finds him. They both look at each other for a
moment and then start crying. She then goes over to him and they hug
each other. They stay like that for awhile hugging and crying.
Not long after Jason demands to see his son so the baby is brought to him.
The baby is crying and has been for hours. Jason takes him and holds
him whispering that everything is going to be all right that Daddy will take
care of everything. Soon the baby is sleeping in his arms.
"He'll never know her. He won't remember his mommy."
"That's why we're going to tell him all about her as he's growing up."
"That's right, and I know one thing. Ray will never take him away from me.
He doesn't deserve him."
"Darn right he doesn't." Nancy agrees.
They stay there talking, crying every once in awhile until Jason sends Nancy
home telling her she needs to get some rest.
She walks into the house a little past curfew and notices a light on in the
kitchen. She goes in there to see who else is there.
She doesn't find anyone there only a light on.
She fixes herself something to eat and drink and sits down at the table with
it.
At that point a family member does walk in.
Liz walks in. "Hey."
"Hey, did Mary tell all of you?" She asks.
"Tell us what?" she says as she gets some milk.
Nancy tells her what happened.
"Cassie?"
"Pretty unbelievable huh?" Nancy says.
"Man, I am sorry."
"Thanks, does Dad know I broke curfew?"
"Yes I do, young lady." Tom says overhearing the conversation. "Where
were you?"
"I was with Jason. Which is exactly where I should have been."
She tells him what happened.
Tom calms down. "Honey, I'm sorry. Poor Cassie."
"Yeah." She saddens a little more
"How's Jason?"
"Not too good but at least he has the baby to sustain him. She had
a boy." She tells him leaving out the birth date.
"Wait a second; a boy? When?"
She sighs. "The day after I fell at David's apartment."
Tom sighs. "Terrific."
"I didn't want to hurt you and Abby." She says.
"I don't understand."
"Dad it happened...." She stops not being able to go further with the explanation
when she's hit with grief over Cassie's death.
Tom holds her.
"I'll leave you two alone." Liz says.
Nancy cries in Tom's arms.
After she's done crying. "I thought she'd always be there."
"Well, we both know it doesnt always work like that."
"That's for sure." She glances over at him. "I would've told you about
the baby sooner but it was so soon after..." She sighs. "And after
awhile too much time had passed and it got harder to say anything."
"I understand." ~Poor Jason, a single father.~
"I'm going to go up to bed."
Tom nods. "Ok, try and get some sleep."
She goes upstairs to her and Liz's room.
"You OK?" Liz asks.
"Not really, it'll take time I guess."
"I'm sorry."
"Thanks," ~I have to call Joannie and tell her we might have to reschedule
for Wednesday.~ She thinks not knowing when the funeral will be yet.
"I'll be back in a minute."
"Ok."
She goes and knocks on Joannie and Susan’s door.
Joannie answers.
"Hi, sorry it's so late, but we might have to reschedule for Wednesday, I'm
not sure yet."
"Why? What's up?"
Nancy again repeats what she had told Tom and Elizabeth earlier.
"Poor Jason. It's going to be rough on him."
"That's for sure."
"Don't you go helping him out too much."
"What if helping him is the only thing that will get me through this?"
"Hasn't he hurt you enough?" Joannie asks.
"That's water under the bridge and besides Noah's the one I'm going to marry
after college."
"As long as you remember that."
"I will, girl scouts honor."
"You were a lousy scout."
"Ok, so I only lasted one day. Sister's honor?"
"That's better."
"Good, and I'll let you know something as soon as I know."
"If I'm not around, just leave a message with my secretary."
"And what if she's not there?"
"Then I'll have to get back to you."
"Works for me."
"Then we'll be in touch. We'll do lunch."
"I'd like that, I'd better try and get some sleep."
"Good night, Nancy."
"Good night Joannie." Nancy says. She then goes to her room. "Sorry
bout that." She says to Liz.
The next day, Nancy finds Noah in her front yard after returning from Jason's.
"How is he?"
"Not too good but his parents are taking care of him now." She says.
"And how are you?" He puts an arm around her.
"Not too good. This wasn't supposed to happen for another 70 years or so."
"I know." He holds her when she starts crying. After she's done they're
about to head inside when she sways a little bit.
"High or low?" He asks.
"Low I think." He gets her inside and tends to her. Afterwards.
"It will sure be nice when they let me check it every day." She says.
"Yeah I know, but it won't be much longer." He says.
They talk for awhile and soon he goes home.
After Noah goes home, David walks in.
"Hey." Nancy says.
"Hey there, how are you doing?" He asks.
"I'm ok, this to will pass." She says not wanting to break down.
"Yes it will, but not if you hold it all in." He points out.
"David."
"What? I can't be honest here." He goads.
"I have studying to do." She tries to retreat but he stops her.
"Who are you trying to be strong for? Jason? Well sweetheart
he's not here right now." He tells her.
She looks into his eyes and can no longer hold it all in and finally let's
all her grief over losing Cassie out.
Twenty or thirty minutes later.
"Now about Jason."
"What about Jason?"
"Do you know what you're getting yourself into?"
"I didn't at first but Jason and I talked it over today and both of us realised
where it could head if I continued to come over all the time, so I'll be
there for the funeral tomorrow and for the wake tonight but after that we
won't see each other as often."
David sighs in relief. "Good, so is Noah taking you to the wake and
funeral?"
She nods. "Will you tell Joannie that I'll still be able to make it
Wednesday and that I'll call her later to confirm."
"Of course I will."
Tuesday, after the funeral, Noah drives Nancy home and goes inside with her,
hanging around a little just to make sure she's all right when a family member
walks in.
"Hi." Tommy says.
"Hey Tommy." Nancy says.
"Are you OK?"
"No not really." She answers truthfully.
"Brings back memories?"
"Yes, but that's not the only reason."
"Oh?"
Nancy looks at him like he's grown a second head. ~I swear sometimes
the men in this family can be so insensitive. Do I have to spell it
out for him?~ "Well I am upset about losing my best friend."
She retreats to her bedroom.
Tommy shrugs and goes to his room. ~Geez, just trying to be helpful.~
Noah goes after Nancy. "I don't think he meant it the way you took
it."
"I know, that's why I've decided something."
"Decided what?"
"I'm moving back into the penthouse for awhile at least till I'm over this.
This family doesn't need to be tip toeing around me."
"You shouldn't be alone right now."
"So come over a lot." She says to him. "And help me pack?"
"Of course." He says to her and helps her pack.
They're still packing when a family member walks in.
Joannie stands in the doorway, watching the activity. "What's going on?"
"I'm moving back into the penthouse for awhile."
"Why?"
"Because I might not be very easy to live with for awhile."
"Since when have any of us been easy to live with?"
"Joannie this is different."
"Why?"
"Yeah why." Noah says now that he has backup.
"Because I don't want people to worry about what they say in front of me."
"Oh, like they don't always. Or worry about what they say in front of me.
Or Nicholas. Or Dad or Abby, for that matter."
Nancy finally manages a smile. "So basically leaving is a waste of time?"
"Always said you caught on quick."
Nancy sighs. "Ok, I'll stay."
"Good." Noah starts unpacking her stuff and mouths a thank you to Joannie.
Joannie smiles back at him.
"Thanks Joannie." Nancy says. "We're still on for tomorrow right?"
"If you're up to it, of course we are."
"I'm always up for that." She says. "So, are you home for good?"
"Well, until I find my own place. I wouldn't live with that inconsiderate
lunkhead any more if you paid me."
Nancy shakes her head. "I really don't get him. Sometimes he is so
great and then other times. Why won't he do the show?"
"I can pound some sense into him if you'd like." Noah offers.
"And hurt your hands? Besides, you can't beat sense into someone's brain
if they don't have a brain to begin with."
"Yeah David's not like the rest of us." Nancy quips.
"After him, they perfected the model," Joannie adds.
"Well obviously." Mary says as she walks in.
"OK, well, after Mary," Joannie back-tracks.
Mary attacks her with a pillow.
"Hold it!! There will be no pillow fights in this room before 1 pm!!"
Nancy insists and then looks at her watch. "Ok carry on."
Joannie grabs a pillow, but instead of hitting Mary she catches Mary's eye
and throws a questioning look towards Nancy.
Mary nods and proceeds to attack Nancy next.
Joannie joins in.
Noah decides to help Nancy out.
Joannie tackles the new adversary.
Nancy tries to rescue him but Mary intervenes.
"Don't worry, Nance. We'll give him back in one piece. Maybe."
"Or maybe not." Mary goads.
Joannie makes another lunge for Noah.
Sam starts barking and leaves the room. The pillow fight continues.
Abby is coming up the steps. "What's got you all worked up, Sam?"
He turns back to Nancy and Elizabeth's room and then turns to Abby again
whining a little and barking every now and then.
Abby follows Sam to the girls' room. ~She just came back from her best friend's
funeral and she's having a pillow fight? She's sure a Bradford...~
Noah looks up and sees her. "Hey Abby."
Nancy looks up also and sees the look on her face. ~Why do I suddenly
feel like I've been doing something wrong?~ She thinks having only
been escaping from her grief if only for a little while. "Noah can we go
somewhere for awhile."
"I'm going to be starting dinner soon, so don't be too long," Abby tells
them.
~Uh uh.~ Nancy changes her mind. "Abby can we talk alone?"
"Sure. Your father's not home yet, so why don't we step into my office?"
"Ok," Nancy says.
They head to Abby and Tom's room.
Once they're in there. "Have I done something you don't approve of?"
"Huh? When?" Abby asks, confused
"Just now in the bedroom? The pillow fight?"
"You were just letting off steam, weren't you?"
She nods. "Trying to let some of the grief go."
"Do you think having a pillow fight was wrong?"
"No, but I felt like you thought it was wrong. Maybe I took it the
wrong way I don't know. But Abby it doesn't mean I've forgotten Cassie
and not missing her at all."
"I know that. There are a lot of different ways to grieve. It doesn't matter
what any one else thinks of the way you're doing it; all that matters is
you and how you're remembering Cassie."
"So if anyone questions it for real ignore them because one day they'll know
that to?"
Abby nods.
"Got it." She says glad that she talked it over with Abby instead of
running off with Noah. "But now that that's cleared up. Is there
anything you wanted to ask me?"
"Just how you're holding up."
"Truth be told, it still feels like a bad dream and that it hasn't really
happened."
"It'll take a while."
"I know." She says as tears well in her eyes.
Abby hugs her.
Nancy let's her tears fall.
Abby continues to hold her, rocking her slightly and humming.
Meanwhile back in the bedroom.
"I'd better go downstairs before your dad sees me up here." Noah says to
Joannie and Mary.
"Unless you never want to be up here again, that's a good idea," Joannie
agrees.
Noah makes his way downstairs.
"So have you and David talked since you left?" Mary asks Joannie.
"What's there to talk about?"
Mary thinks it over and can't come up with anything since David refuses to
give up his ski trip. "Want me to talk to him? Maybe I can convince
him to change his mind."
"If you want to."
"I want to."
"Good luck."
"Thanks, I'll need it."
"Tell me about it."
Back in Tom and Abby's room. After Nancy is all cried out.
"Do you need help with dinner?"
"I never say no to help."
"Neither do I."
Abby smiles at her.
Nancy smiles back. "And I feel a need to keep busy right now."
"Well, then let's head downstairs."
They head downstairs
"Incidentally--what was Noah doing in your room?"
"He was worried about me so he threw caution to the wind."
"He certainly did. You're lucky I was the one who saw him."
"I know, I'm going to have to talk to him. Tell him to send someone else
after me when he's worried."
"Good idea. I'll bet Holly will volunteer."
"As long as she gets to dress up Sam."
"I think for her he'll put up with it."
Nancy nods in agreement and snacks on one of the carrots. "He loves
kids." She says between bites.
"In this family, he'd have a hard time if he didn't."
"That's for sure."
"Pass me the celery, would you?"
"Sure," Nancy passes her the celery.
"Thanks," Abby says wondering if there's something more Nancy wants to talk
about.
"I didn't spend enough time with her the last few weeks."
"No matter how much time you spend with someone, when something like this
happens you think you didn't spend enough time with them."
"Yeah you're right." She says and wonders if her Dad told Abby about the
baby Cassie left behind.
"How is Jason holding up?"
"He's doing the best he can under the circumstances."
"Circumstances?" Abby asks.
"Did Dad talk to you yet?"
"About Jason? No. Why?"
"Cassie had her baby before she died."
"Oh.I didn't know that."
"It wasn't the right time to tell you when she had it."
"Why not?" Abby says, then realizes when Cassie's baby must have been born.
"You still could have told me. I'm not that self-centered."
"I didn't want to hurt you and Dad."
"We do both know that life goes on."
"I know, but at the time I thought it was the right thing to do."
"I guess you did. Does your father know?"
She nods. "Yes he does."
~Wonder why he didn't tell me.~
~I thought for sure he was going to tell her.~ "I'm sorry I took so
long to tell you."
"It's OK."
"I have to go now, are you going to be ok?" He asks Nancy.
She nods. He kisses her says his goodbyes to Abby and then leaves.
After the carrots are done. "What's next?"
Abby looks around the kitchen. "We're pretty much under control, I think."
"I'll set the table then." She gets started on that.
Abby finishes up in the kitchen.
"How long before it's ready?"
"About ten minutes. Why?"
"So I can let the rest of the family know and that carrot wasn't enough."
"So take something more--but not too much."
"Ok," She gets a slice of bread.
Abby begins bringing things out to the table.
Soon Mary walks in and helps.
Not long after, Abby asks Nancy to call everyone in.
Nancy goes and does this.
"What smells so good?" Tom asks
"Dinner." Mary says.
"Which is?"
"Roast Beef." Nancy says.
Tom smiles.
"Somehow I'd knew you'd react that way." Mary says.
"Potatoes?" he asks.
"And carrots." Nancy says.
"Great."
"Yeah." She waits for the others to show up before she starts eating.
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