Tom leads Abby to the car.
"Thank you," Abby says.
"For what?"
"For not getting dragged into a--situation."
"I'm learning."
Abby leans over and kisses him. "Very well."
Tom drives to a new night club.
"You really want to go here?"
"Well its not the 'morgue' "
"I don't mind that place too much. After all, I'm there with the only other live specimen in the place."
"C'mon, you can show me some new steps."
"I don't know--I think you know all the right moves already."
Tom laughs as he helps her out of the car. "Besides this is a different type of nightclub."
"Oh?"
"Its more sophisicated. Jazz and Blues music with dancing and a band."
"I didn't know you liked that kind of music."
He nods. "See I still have a few secrets in me."
"And I'll have fun discovering all of them."
He leads her inside where they get a small table near the dance floor. "Champagne?" Tom asks.
"When you wine and dine a girl, you do it in style."
After Tom places the order "May I have this dance?"
"I thought you'd never ask."
Tom leads her to the dance floor.
Abby sighs happily.
Tom holds her in his arms and they swing softly to the music.
"Is it that the complicated things seem simple when we're alone, or that the simple things become complicated when we're not?" Abby wonders.
"Both." Tom whispers.
"That's a diplomat's answer, not a journalist's."
"Tonight, I am just a man in love."
They continue to slow dance
Abby begins to sing, under her breath, to the music.
"You do have a great voice."
Abby kisses his neck. "You're inspiring."
"I am?"
"You most definitely are."
"I can't take full credit."
"Oh? Then who gets the rest of the credit?"
"You."
"How do you figure that?"
"You've heard the old saying: 'You are my better half.' "
Abby holds him a little closer. "Well, maybe one-third."
"One third?"
~Joan~ Abby thinks of what's been tensing her since Tom got home, but aloud answers, "I think you've got a few pounds on me; I'm not fully one-half of this couple."
Tom laughs. "Ok, you got me."
Abby smiles at him. "I certainly have."
"And don't ever doubt that."
"I'll try not to."
"Just try?"
"You know me."
"Yes, you dont give up with a fight."
Abby looks at him, startled, for a moment, and then laughs. "Yeah, I guess that's true."
"I meant you dont give up without a fight." he says embarassingly with his goof.
"I think what you actually said might be more accurate."
"Really?"
"I do tend to worry every fight we have, even after it's done."
"Why?"
"Like you said, I'm not one to give up a fight."
"So."
"So I'm like some old dog with a bone, worrying at it and picking at it long after all the meat's gone."
"That's just silly."
"Is it?"
''Don't you think it is?"
"You're the one with his Freudian slip showing, not me."
Tom sighs and holds her tight continuing to dance with her.
"It's kind of nice," Abby says, "Knowing you know my faults and still love me."
Tom laughs. "You love me in spite of my many faults."
"Many? One. Maybe two."
"More than that dear."
"Really? Such as?"
"Old fashioned, stubborn, yells alot and oh yeah the most important one of all...I leave my socks on the bathroom floor."
"Well, I yell a lot, too, so that's no fault. And as for your socks..."
"Yes?"
"Haven't you ever wondered why you keep having fewer socks than the week before?"
Tom ponders this. "You threw them away?"
"No. I would never do something wasteful like that."
"Then what?"
"You don't look in your briefcase often, do you?"
"You didn't..."
"Of course I did."
"That's not very nice."
"Neither is leaving your dirty socks for me to pick up."
"Touch'e"
"And now that you know, it might be more effective than nagging."
"And here I thought you were being nice.'
"Me. Nice. You ought to know better."
"When it comes to my socks, I guess I should."
"Only your socks?"
"There's more?"
"Not yet."
"Not yet?"
"If you start leaving anything else laying around..."
"You made your point."
"Glad to hear it."
The music stops.
"You have any point you want to make?" Abby whispers in his ear.
"I wish I could make my point in private."
"That might be arranged."
"Where? We can't go home."
"There's always Lovers' Lane."
"Yeah." he says.
"And then we can sneak back home after everyone's asleep."
"Let's go."
"No dessert?"
"I thought you were my dessert." Tom says
"Oh? So what's my dessert?"
"Me?" he jokes.
"Any toppings available?"
"Your choice."
"Have it my way?" Abby jokes.
Tom nods.
"Sounds good to me."
"Let's take the champagne with us, since it hasn't been open yet."
"I can think of a few things to do with it."
"I'm curious."
"Don't worry, dear. It won't hurt."
Tom pays the bill and leaves a big tip and takes the bottle.
Abby takes his arm as they leave.
"Why is it when I am with you, I feel 30 again."
"You feeling my age is better than me feeling yours, isn't it?"
"MMM...Sometimes."
"When would you want me to feel close to 50?"
"Never mind."
~Guess I hit a sensitive spot.~ "Sorry."
Tom kisses her. "No harm."
"Good."
"Want to drive?"
"What's wrong?" Abby asks, worried.
"Nothing, I'd rather watch you than the road."
"What's got into you tonight?" Abby laughs.
"Just love."
"I thought that was always, not just tonight."
"It is always."
"So why do you want me to drive? Are you feeling all right?"
"Abby, I'm fine."
"OK," Abby says, not quite believing him.
Tom gets in the car.
Abby gets into the driver's seat, then takes another look at Tom to make sure this is what he really wants.
"Why are you so surprised that I am letting you drive?"
"You usually don't. 'It's the man's responsibility to provide the transportation'," Abby says, imitating Tom.
"I thought you'd be thrilled I was trying to change."
"I am. A little concerned, but thrilled."
"Why?"
"You don't like change."
"No, but life changes anyway."
"You usually fight it kicking and screaming."
"I'm tired of kicking and screaming." he sighs.
"I push you too hard."
"Huh?"
"I keep pushing you to change."
"And now you are not happy about it?"
"Not if it's making you unhappy."
"If it makes you happy, I'm happy."
"Tom..." Abby chides.
"Abby..."
"Your happiness can't depend on me."
"I didn't say it did."
"You said that if I'm happy, you're happy."
"So, what do you want me to say? If you are miserable, I'm happy?"
"No." Abby starts the car. "Just forget it, all right?"
"It's forgotten, I dont know why we are fighting to begin with unless...."
"Unless?"
"It's a prelude to making up." he winks at her.
Abby lets out the breath she's been holding. ~So I'm not being blindingly obvious.~ "Making up is one of my favorite things about fighting with you," she flirts.
Tom chuckles. "Me too."
"One of your favorite things? What else do you like about fighting with me?"
"Promise you won't get mad?"
"OK."
"I love how the way your eyes light up when you are trying to make a point."
Abby smiles at him. "That's the nicest thing you've said to me in a long time."
"It is?" Tom says surprised.
"Probably the second nicest thing you've ever said to me," Abby nods.
''What was the first?"
"That you love me."
Tom smiles. "With all my heart."
"And I love you."
"I know. I'm a very lucky man."
"Glad you realize it," Abby teases.
Tom laughs. "Well it took a few knocks to my head."
"Oh, so that's the secret. I have to beat you up."
"Darn, now you know all my secrets." he pretends to pout.
"Not all, not yet."
"Oh you think?"
"That I'll find them out? Sure. I've got all the time in the world."
"No, that I have more secrets."
"Every time you say that I discover some whopper of a secret."
"Touch'e." he sighs.
"But one day, 50 years or so from now, there will be no secrets left."
"You mean I'll be six feet under."
"No, I mean I'll have learned everything there is to know about you, silly."
"Oh.." he cracks a smiles.
"And I have a feeling you'll enjoy my worming them out of you."
"It is kinda fun."
"You aint seen nothin' yet, mister."
"I'm intrigued."
"You ought to be."
"I ought to be?"
"You definitely ought to be."
"Hmmm."
"Hmmm?" Abby repeats.
"You are a woman of mystery."
"Oh, definitely. It's going to take a lot longer than 50 years for you to figure me out."
"I'll just have to try harder."
"Wouldn't help."
"No?"
"Nope. Not one little bit."
"Like you, I have my ways."
"Think you're that irresistible?"
"I can be."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes really; You fell for me didn't you?"
"You've got a point."
"Finally."
"Of course, back when you got me things were different."
"How so?" he asks with concern
"Back then you were an intriguing man of mystery."
"And now I'm not?"
"Well, you're not quite as much a man of mystery anymore."
"Ouch."
"Mystery is highly overrated."
"It is."
"Dating is mysterious," Abby says with a shudder.
"Marriage is much better."
"It's certainly less fraught."
"That's for sure."
"Comfortable," Abby says, seeing how far she can go before Tom starts squawking.
"I don't know about that."
"What? Marriage makes you uncomfortable?"
"No, but if it becomes to comfortable then it starts to become dull.'
"One word I could never see applying to our marriage is dull."
"You do have a good point."
"Oh? Does it match yours?"
"I say its even."
"Sounds very comfortable."
While Tom and Abby are out, Nancy is upstairs trying to fall
asleep having been tired when she came upstairs but no longer tired she finally
gives up and tries studying. And for the first time in a long time she's
able to concentrate. When she's done she looks over at her pill day
reminder container and realizes she forgot to take her meds for manic
depressive condition and cringes. "Way to go Bradford."
She shakes her head and takes them knowing it's not to late.
Some time later she goes downstairs to get something to snack on.
"Dad and Abby still out?" She asks whoever is in there at the time.
"With any luck they'll be out half the night," Joannie answers.
"Hmm, the question is do we risk a party?"
"No, let's cut them a break, just this once."
"Well.............ok."
"But next time, we'll party."
Nancy smiles. "Darn straight." After a pause. "So are you excited about tomorrow?"
"Terrified."
"Things went wrong in the dress rehearsal, so that means...."
"I just hope we get an audience."
"We will, and we'll also get a lot of donations."
"I hope so."
"We will." She checks the fridge. "You want anything? Sometimes raiding the fridge eases fears."
"We have anything interesting?"
"We sure do." She takes out all the ingredients for Joannie's favorite sandwich.
"Ah, you're a good sister."
"I learned from the best."
"Mary?"
Nancy shakes her head. "No not just Mary."
"Susan."
"Not just Susan either."
"Elizabeth. I always knew you like her better than you let on."
"Nope not just Elizabeth either. I've learned from all of you."
"Yeah? Whaddya learn from me?"
"How to have fun, be cool, and how to be nice and understanding."
"Well, the first two, sure."
"Why don't you agree with the last two?"
"Because sometimes I can be awfully mean to people."
"So can all of us." Nancy says. "Remember when I teased Susan about her ski trip with that guy?"
"And we all pick on David..."
"Yeah but I think he likes
it."
"Our brother the closet masochist."
Nancy laughs. "That's for
sure." She finishes making Joannie's sandwich and hands it to her.
"Thanks. You eating anything?"
"You're welcome, and of
course." She gets started on making her own sandwich.
"Good. I hate eating alone."
"So do I."
"Live around here, you get used to always being in a crowd."
"It's never dull that's for
sure. I guess that's why mom and dad had so many of us so we wouldn't get
bored and whine about it."
"You really think they planned on all of us?"
"Um yeah, why is there something I
don't know?"
"Just speculation."
"Speculation? Do you suspect that
some of us were accidents?"
"Would any couple in their right mind have 8 kids?"
"No I guess not." She says
and wonders how many and which one of them were accidents.
"And you know they wouldn't start again after a seven year break," Joannie adds.
"Or have some babies so close
together in age. There's only a one year difference between some of
us."
"Let's just hope Dad's learned some caution in his old age or that Abby is more careful than Mom was."
"He's already gotten her pregnant
once." Nancy remembers and tries to quash the sadness she still feels over
Abby losing her baby.
"That's true. And why wouldn't she want a baby or two? I guess they'll try again."
"Yeah, if they do I hope the baby
makes it this time."
"We're just going to have to treat Abby like she's delicate china. No stress, no chores, no worrying. She'll go crazy, but she'll thank us in the end."
"I agree completely." Nancy says and finishes making her sandwich.
"And we're going to have to watch her like a hawk. By the time she told us this time, it was almost too late."
"But how will we do that? Between everything we have to do each day?"
"Mealtimes. If Abby stops eating, we start fussing."
"Sounds like a good plan to me."
Joannie raises her glass. "Here's to the next set of Bradford kids."
Nancy raises her glass also. "I'll drink to
that."
Joannie taps her glass against her sister's.
Nancy does the same.
Joannie eats her midnight snack.
Soon Nancy is finished with hers. "Is there anything good on tv tonight?"
"Don't know. We could check."
"ok."
They head into the den.
Nancy leafs through the tv guide.
"Anything?"
"A lot of movies that we've already seen before."
"We're too young for all of TV to be reruns."
"We sure are, this is completely uncalled for."
"Maybe Mary could show us how to organize a protest."
"I wonder if she's still awake?"
"If not..."
"We're going to have to wake her."
"Exactly."
"Let's go then." Nancy says already on her feet.
"Right behind you."
"Cool." They go to see Mary.
"Should we knock?"
"No, she never expects us to knock."
"OK," Joannie says, and storms into Mary's room.
Nancy does also. Mary looks up from studying.
"Geez can't you two even knock after Midnight?"
"And put you into shock we love you too much for that." Nancy says.
"We wouldn't dream of being so cruel."
Mary can't help but laugh. "Ok so now that you're here whadda you want?"
Joannie flops down on Mary's bed. "We're bored, and there's nothing good on TV. It's all reruns."
"So go to the late movie." Mary suggests.
"Nah, we can't stay up that late," Joannie says. "Big day tomorrow."
"Oh yeah, so what do you two want me to do?"
"Well, you can either entertain us or give us ideas on how to let the networks know we're not happy."
Mary gets a gleam in her eye. "First we'll need markers and poster board."
"I knew she was the right one to come to," Joannie whispers to Nancy.
"You were very right." Nancy whispers back.
Mary goes on naming everything they'll need for the protest.
"I never realized protests were so big."
"Yeah really." Nancy agrees.
"Well you can either do that or have a writing campaign or a petition
before you consider the protest." Mary says.
"Think it might work?"
Mary shrugs. "It might, you'll at least get them thinking about it."
"I think it's worth a shot."
"So do I." Nancy says.
"So how do we do that?" Joannie asks Mary.
"The petition will require plenty of legwork. How many signatures do you want to get?"
"How many would we need?"
"At least 300."
Joannie whistles.
"Wow that's a lot." Nancy says.
"Where would we get that many people to sign about bad TV?"
"Schools." Mary makes a suggestion.
"The college, the high school, the elementary school."
"What about Junior High?"
"You don't have anyone on the inside."
"The elementary schools? Will anyone listen to 4th graders?"
"They don't have to know the ages of the signers."
"They won't check?"
"They can have their parents sign for them."
"Would parents do that?"
"They enjoy tv as much as their kids."
"But they like to pretend they don't."
"Well scratch the elementary school then."
"Let's start with the college and then see what's what."
"Works for me." Nancy says.
"But maybe we should wait until you get home," Joannie says.
She nods. "Good idea."
"Then it's a deal." Joannie yawns.
"It's a deal."
"You guys should get to sleep. I need you all awake tomorrow."
"I will in a little bit." Mary says.
"Ok." Nancy says.
"What about you, Nance? Gotta get your beauty sleep."
"I'm not tired yet." She admits.
"You're going to be tired tomorrow."
"I know and what I need is to be tired right now."
"You could try cracking your books. The subjects you're taking always made me sleepy."
"Yeah that's a good idea." Nancy says thinking that she'll still be able to concentrate like she had earlier before remembering that she had forgotten her medicine and then took it.
"What's the worst that could happen? Either you'll sleep or you'll study."
"True, goodnight you two." She says.
"Goodnight." Mary says.
"Sleep well."
"You too." Nancy says and leaves the room.
"I'd better hit the sack, too."
"Don't hit it too hard." Mary quips.
"Why not? It always bounces back."
Mary laughs. "Good point."
"I've got lots of 'em."
"So do I."
"You do?"
Mary nods. "At least I hope so."
"If all you've got is hope, kid, you're in trouble."
"Ha ha."
"You'd better get some sleep, too. Cracking the books won't help if you fall asleep during class."
"I'll be in bed in twenty minutes mom ok."
"Hey, I've got to take care of my staff, don't I?"
"Yes and you are very good at taking care of us."
"I try my level best."
"And that's all we expect."
Joannie gets up. "And now I'd better let you finish studying so you can go to sleep."
"Hey you get some sleep too."
"I will, Mother."
"Good dear."
Joannie musses Mary's hair.
"Oh not the do.."
"It's gotta be the 'do."
"But why?" She mock whines.
"Unwritten law."
"Uh huh, I bet you say that to all your siblings." She kids.
"Darn right."
Mary laughs.
"Good night, Mary."
"Goodnight Joannie."
"Goodnight Joannie."
When Nancy gets to her room she tries studying but is unable to concentrate
again. She shakes her head and eventually winds up falling asleep.
Nancy awakens in the middle of the night to get something to snack on. She goes to the kitchen in time to see someone close the kitchen door on their way out of the house. She doesn't get a good enough glimpse to see if it's a man or a woman. She peeks out the door but the person is already gone. ~I wonder who forgot to lock the door.~ She thinks as she locks it. She checks to make sure nothing was stolen and freezes in her tracks when she finds another threat against her written with dark red marker on one of the mirrors in the living room. She tries to yell out for someone to call the police but it comes out in a whisper. The sound of the front door being unlocked breaks her out of her deep freeze. She grabs the fire poker from the fireplace and hides in wait thinking it might be the stalker not knowing it's a family member starting to come in.
Tommy comes in. "Whoa Nancy, its me."
She catches her breath. "I'm sorry." She puts the fire poker down.
"Whats wrong?"
"Tommy they were in the house." She leads him to the living room and shows him the mirror and tells him about seeing someone leave from the kitchen.
"Have you told anyone else yet?"
"I was trying to yell for someone to call the police but I couldn't. I couldn't even move till I heard you opening the front door."
"Well we better get Dad and Abby." Tommy replies. "The one time I am glad I broke curfew."
"I don't even know if they're home yet. Yeah." She laughs about the breaking curfew part and after she's done she asks. "Hey Tommy you didn't happen to see anyone outside did you?"
"No, but I wasn't looking either."
She nods. "Let's go check if they're home."
"Their car is in the driveway.''
"Then let's go and tell them."
Tommy nods.
They walk upstairs and knock on their parents door.
Tom groans.
Nancy waits for them to answer.
''Abby, can you get that?''
"Anyone ever tell you your kids have lousy timing?" Abby sighs.
"Constantly." he says.
"Well, let me tell you again. Your kids have lousy timing," Abby says as she starts to get out of bed.
"I love you." he says trying to soothe her feathers.
"Unless we start doing something about these kids, it's going to be in theory only."
Nancy overhears their parents comments and makes a decision. "Nevermind Tommy, I'll call the police myself, no need to bother Dad and Abby with this." She heads downstairs.
"Nancy..."
She turns around, her eyes not showing any emotion at all. "What?"
"Just wait, you know how Dad is."
"Yes, and he and Abby don't need
anymore burdens do they?" She says and then makes her way downstairs
and picks up the phone.
Tommy sighs and knocks on the door again.
"It is late, maybe somethings wrong."
"I know, I know," Abby says, getting into her robe and throwing Tom his.
Tom sighs and puts his robe on.
Once they're both decent, Abby opens the door.
Tommy tells them what is going on.
"Oh no." Tom states and rushes downstairs.
"Nancy, let me do that." he says.
"Dad it's ok, it's my problem, you and Abby go back to bed."
Tom takes the phone from Nancy. "It's all our problems."
"No not this time, I'm 19, I can't come running to you two every time something happens. I'm sorry I woke you both."
"Nancy…"
She sighs and concedes. "Ok." She nods.
Abby steals a quick glance at Tom. "Come on, let's sit down while your
father is on the phone."
"Thanks." Tom says. He calls the police.
He notices Tommy still dressed. ~He wasn't home, after I told him not to go out
tonight.~ he sighs and then a cop answers.
"Officer Bernstein." Is his answer.
"Officer Bernstein, Tom Bradford."
~Oh no~ He inwardly groans but then remembers about the car and the threats against one of his daughters and gets over the fact that Bradford is calling him. "Mr. Bradford what's wrong? Have there been anymore threats?"
"More than threats, actions." Tom explains what happened.
"I'll be right over, was anyone hurt?"
"Not physically."
"I'll be right there." He says to Tom and soon
hangs up.
"Can I go?" The newest rookie asks.
"No, you stay here with your partner and fill out reports and stop trying
to get out of paperwork Morris."
He sighs. "Yes sir."
Bernstein leaves with his partner and soon they arrive at the Bradford's.