Everyone ready to begin?

Mike: Sure.

Micky: Well, I'm already in the doghouse...

Davy: I'm ready.

(We open in Micky and Lauren's kitchen. The kids eat lunch as the adults talk.)

Emma: A party? Didn't we just have one of those last month?

Micky: There's no such thing as too many parties.

Emma: Still, this will require organization. We'll need food, decorations, invitations...

Katie: Party! Can we go, too?

Emma: No, sweetie. This is an adult party.

Katie: Awww! No fair!

Emma: We'll hold you and the twins a little party on Valentine's Day, and I'll make you cupcakes. How does that sound?

Katie: (Crosses her arms in that grumpy Nesmith fashion and grumbles) Well, ok.

Emma: You'll need to find music, get help decorating everything...

Davy: We've got the music, and we can all decorate.

Emma: We'll need decorations, food, and to pass the word on to our friends.

Micky: I can pass the word on.

Lauren: No kidding.

Emma: (Rolls her eyes) What am I saying? This is Micky we're discussing. Everyone in the San Fernando Valley will know within an hour that we're having a party.

Lauren: Exactly.

Micky: Okay, okay. :P

Mike: (As he comes in from the steps) Well, their standin' as much as they're gonna without help. (He grins) What's for lunch, darlin?

Emma: Grilled ham and cheese sandwiches. (Looks at Mike) Honey, we're going to have a party.

Mike: Why? Micky's birthday ain't until next month, and Valentine's Day's only a party holiday for the kiddies. (He sits down as Emma serves him a sandwich)

Emma: We're going to have an anniversary party for Micky and Lauren.

Mike: Oh, is that what all the fuss was yesterday?

*Micky gets swatted by Lauren.*

Micky: Don't mention that! I get smacked every time.

Lauren: It's fun.

(Emma lets out a hearty laugh; Mike snickers.)

Mike: (Between bites) When are we havin' it, where are we havin' it, who are we invitin', what are we gonna feed them, where are we gonna get the decorations, and what are we gonna do with the kids?

Emma: Don't give orders with your mouth full.

Davy: *wipes himself off* Yeah, mate.

Micky: Say it, don't spray it.

Mike: (Swallows) Well?

Emma: (Looks at Lauren) I guess we'll have it here. You have the most room.

Lauren: Sure, why not? I'm sure Mick would like it here.

Mike: When are we gonna do it? Valentine's Day? That's a week away!

Emma: Certainly would be a good day for an anniversary party, but other people might be busy.

Micky: How about this weekend?

Mike: Ain't that cuttin' it a little close?

Emma: It doesn't take that long to make food and buy decorations.

Mike: What about invitations?

Davy: We already decided to just send Micky around.

Mike: That'll do it.

Emma: You know, if we're going to get this done by the weekend, we'll need to start preparing now.

Mike: (Nods and turns to Mick and Lauren) I know you guys probably have some things leftover from the New Year's party, but we'll need some more Valentine's-y stuff for an anniversary party.

Micky: Good idea.

Katie: Can we help?

Emma: Robbie and the little girls need their naps, but your daddies could take the older kids out for a trip to Woolworth's.

Katie: Yeah! Let's go!

Mike: Now, wait a minute, Cowgirl. You gotta eat first.

Katie: Aww!

Emma: The kids can help you decorate the day of the party, too. It'll give them something to do (mutters to Lauren) and keep them from fussing because this party's not for them.

*Lauren nods.*

Emma: We ladies will work on food ideas and round up records.

Mike: Ok, then, it's settled. We'll start announcin' it tomorrow. Today, we'll get supplies.

Emma: (Nods) Right.

Katie: We'll help dec'rate!

Emma: But for now (hands the twins their plates) you eat.

(We fade out on the kitchen and fade in on the entryway to Woolworth's, the same Woolworth's where Davy, Mike, and Micky pushed Katie around looking for Halloween decorations in "Icing On the Cake." This time, each guy holds a child's hand. Katie looks around excitedly. She loves big stores like Woolworth's! There's so much to see and do! Mike holds onto her hand as he scans the more-or-less unchanged store for the Valentine's Day decorations.)

*The twins try to pull Micky and Davy to different shelves.*

Mike: Hold your horses, cowpokes! We gotta find all the Valentine's decorations first, and don't you guys need your Valentines, too?

Katie: I want "Sesame Street" or Yogi Bear!

Mike: Well, we gotta find them first. (Nods at one of the eisles) I think the seasonal stuff's down here.

(He leads the kids and their daddies to an eisle filled with nothing but pink and red items - candy, hearts, fake flowers, Valentines featuring popular children's characters of the early 1970s.)

Katie: (Points to a shelf filled with pink, white, and red stuffed animals) Look! (Grabs a big pink frog covered with red hearts) Froggie!

Mike: Sorry Cowgirl, but we ain't here for toys.

Katie: (She ignores her father and runs over to the twins) Come on! Come see the froggies!

*The twins follow Katie to see the froggies.*

Mike: (Groans) Kids! (Turns to Davy and Micky) Man, we've gotta distract them, or we'll end up spendin' all our money on toys instead of decorations!

(We launch into "Oh My My" as Mike chases after the kids, who run to the pink, heart-covered frogs Katie shows off. Mike takes the frog from Katie and puts it back, then takes her hand. They're there to buy decorations, not frogs.)

*The twins run over to some shelves and pick up various colors of crepe paper.*

(Mike nods or shakes his head at their choices. He lets the twins put the ones they want his his cart.)

(Katie runs over with a great big foil heart! It's so pretty and shiny! Mike nods; it'll look great in the Rainbow Room. He puts that in the cart, too.)

(Mike inspects paper napkins and cups.)

(Katie inspects boxes of valentines. Hmm, such choices! Yogi Bear or Scooby Doo?)

*Micky returns with a large, brown stuffed bear holding a single rose.*

(Mike nods; great anniversary presents for Emma and Lauren! He goes to get one, too.)

(Katie pulls the twins over to the toys. She grabs a plastic sword and swings it around.)

(Mike puts bags of candy cinnamon hearts and boxes of chocolates in his cart.)

(Katie and Little Mick have a mock duel with plastic swords.)

(Mike looks up as he adds a bag of paper hearts to the cart. He can see the kids from where he is...but where's Mick and Davy?)

(Mike goes to the kids and takes their swords away. Katie makes a face and Little Mick pouts, but Mike shakes his head. They have to find their dads!)

*Shelly pops out of an aisle, then points down the aisle.*

(Mike pats Shelly on the head, then sighs and wheels the cart down the eisle. He sees a bit of curly hair from behind one shelf. Hey, there's Mick! He turns the corner with the cart, the kids following along.)

*They find Micky and Davy playing with some Nerf toys, shooting soft balls at each other.*

(Katie claps. That looks like fun! Can we do it too, Papa? Can we? Can we?)

(Mike rolls his eyes. No, you can't do it, and your uncles shouldn't, either. He gets between Micky and Davy and takes their balls away.)

*Micky shrugs, but puts the Nerf set in the cart.*

(The song ends as they head for the counter.)

Mike: And you guys wonder why I'm always callin' ya kiddies?

Davy: We were just 'aving some fun.

Micky: And we are buying the set.

Mike: You can buy the set all you want, but can't you test it at home? :p

Micky: Where's the fun in that?

Mike: (As he rings up the items) What if you hit somebody with those?

Micky: They're soft!

Mike: Just be careful. You never know who you'll hit with those. I know they're soft, but some folks ain't got no sense of humor. (The guys all take bags) Damn, we got a lot.

Katie: (She carries a small bag) Oof! Lots n' lots!

Mike: We're gonna need all the help we can get puttin' these up and gettin' invitations out.

Micky: I'll get Nyles and Jack to help us out.

Mike: Good idea. They know a lot of people. The girls will be a big help, too.

Katie: We help?

Mike: You can help decorate.

Katie: Ok!

Mike: We'd better be gettin' home. The girls will start to wonder if we're still alive.

Davy: They wondah that daily about us, anyway.

Mike: Yeah. Considerin' everythin' we've run into, they have good reason to.

Katie: I wish we could go to the party!

Mike: Not this one, Cowgirl. We'll have a special party for you guys next week, ok?

Katie: (Sighs) Ok.

Mike: Good. Let's get home.

(Fade out on the boys and kids climbing into the car; fade in on the girls. Emma carries piles of books out to the kitchen table, where Lauren and Daphne chat.)

Emma: Here you go, ladies! Books on entertaining, party menus, cake decorating...everything you could possibly want for a party!

Lauren: There's so much to choose from!

Emma: Well, we don't want to do an elegant party. (Puts a book aside) Micky's idea of an "elegant" party is one where the guests don't use paper napkins.

Lauren: No kidding. He's also been know to wear the folded napkin as a hat.

Emma: Hmm...some of these cake designs are awfully fancy...

Daphne: All we need is a couple sheet cakes. I doubt our party guests will care what they look like.

Emma: True. By the time I get them out, they'll probably be so inebriated, they'll be trying to wear them.

Lauren: More than likely.

Emma: Here. These are on menus for "semi-formal" dining. See what there is that'll be good for rowdy drunk people.

Daphne: Anything that doesn't require utensils.

Lauren: Good point, Daph.

Emma: Ok, then, check for finger foods that can be easily cleaned off of wood floors, walls, and carpets.

Daphne: I'll make up the list.

Lauren: And I'll point out what looks good.

Emma: Ok, then, let's hit the books! (Frowns) You know, it's been a while since we heard from the guys.

Lauren: We let them loose in a store. Of course it'll be a while.

Emma: Maybe we should have gone and they should have selected the menu.

Daphne: And end up with bags of M&Ms, cheese puffs, pork rinds, and other assorted snacks that are not good for you.

Emma: Good point. I HATE cheese puffs, and I'm not a big fan of pork rinds, either.

(Emma pages through one of the cake decorating books.)

Emma: Still, I'd like to do a decent sheet cake for us. This IS a double-fifth-anniversary party.

Lauren: How about some fancy writing and small decorations on it?

Emma: (Nods) That's a good idea. Maybe some flowers in purple and red...

Daphne: Or how about some hearts? I'm not sure how well the fellas would take to flowers.

Emma: That's true, too. (Sighs) I can't believe it's been five years. Where has the time gone?

Lauren: It's either gone out the window or into a time warp.

Emma: I really need to sit down with Mike. I'm really afraid he's going to spend us - and himself - bankrupt. He says it's for the kids, but...

Lauren: Too much is too much.

Emma: I know he was dirt poor as a child and feels he needs to make up for lost time, but...no matter what he thinks, we don't NEED half the stuff he's buying. He wants to move to a bigger house!

(Emma sighs, then smiles. She points to one book.)

Emma: This might be workable. Lots of finger foods, some of them use fruits and vegetables. (Shows it to Lauren)

Lauren: *glances it over; nods* I like this one. I think this'll work.

Emma: (Nods) We can get anything you don't already have in your kitchen tomorrow. (Frowns) Hey Lauren, how are you and Micky doing financially?

Lauren: We're doing okay, mainly because Mick's always working on something.

Emma: Mike says he's going back into the studio to begin his part of the next album after the tour. I hope he does. He hasn't done anything but tinker for months.

Mike: (As he and the kids and other guys walk in with arms filled with bags) Did I hear my name?

Emma: Hi, honey. We were just picking out the food.

Mike: Hope it's tasty.

Emma: You underestimate our taste in food, dear.

Mike: (Puts the bags on the counter) We got everythin' we should need.

Emma: (Points at a larger bag with only a few items; a fat yellow round foam thing sticks out) What's that?

Mike: What we shoulldn't need.

Micky: What's wrong with a little fun?

Emma: Well, I have to get Katie home for lunch, so how about we continue this tomorrow?

Mike: (Nods) We'll round people up and send out invitations.

Katie: See ya later!

(As Mike turns his back, Micky tosses a Nerf ball at his rear end. Mike grabs his rear and jumps!)

*Micky looks every but at Mike innocently.*

(Mike grumbles and storms off. Katie snickers and Emma giggles. As Mike leaves, Micky and Davy explode in laughter...and we fade out on their chortling.)