Ok, who's ready to paaarrrtay? ;)
Mike: (Hiccups) What was the question?
Micky: Party! Party! :D
Davy: I am!
(We begin...in darkness. Then, suddenly, we hear "I'm all right! I'm great!" as the dark thing pulls back and an unfamiliar person stumbles past a camera. Emma makes a face at Micky.)
Emma: I TOLD you not to give punch to the camera crew!
Mike: Hi, guys! How's thing's goin'?
Micky: Some are doing better than others.
Mike: That's good. How's ya, Em?
Emma: Honey, can't you spend five minutes with me? You've done nothing but drink wine and play poker the whole night!
Mike: I keep losin'!
Micky: Could it be because you suck? *chuckles*
Mike: I'm a good card player! I've been playin' for higher stakes than cake since I was 10! Your wife's just lucky tonight!
Lauren: Luck has nothing to do with it.
Mike: Sure it don't.
Emma: I'm about ready to go home. Some anniversary!
Micky: Hey, maybe some food would smooth things over for you two.
Mike: Could use some grub...
Emma: Well...
Micky: Of course you could, don't be ridiculous! What's an anniversary without dinner?
Mike: In this crowd?
Micky: You could go into the dining room, you know.
Emma: What about serving everyone?
Micky: Most of them are too drunk already to care.
Lauren: They'd be fine with whatever lands on the floor.
Mike: Well, I guess it couldn't hurt...
Emma: (Smiles warily) Ok.
Micky: Great! Give me just a few minutes! *runs into the kitchen*
*Lauren rolls her eyes and shakes her head.*
(Mike and Emma follow Micky into the dining room. Micky seats them across from each other at the table.)
Emma: (As Micky takes her seat) Thanks, Mick. At least SOMEONE knows how to act like a gentleman.
Mike: I'm a gentleman.
Emma: When you're in the mood to be.
Micky: *pokes his head out of the kitchen* No arguing at the dinner table!
Mike: We ain't five-year-olds!
Emma: You'd never know, the way you act.
Mike: Since when were you Miss Perfect?
Micky: Would you two shut up?! This is supposed to be your anniversary, and you're doing nothing but bite each other's heads off.
Emma: I'm only trying to make things better!
Mike: I am, too!
Emma: I just...
Mike: ...want everything to be right.
Micky: Well, at least you agreed on that.
Emma: (Leans over and takes Mike's hand) Honey, I wish you were home more often.
Mike: Em, I'm better than I used to be.
Emma: But I never see you!
Mike: I can't help if you have the kids and your assignments and I have my writin'.
Emma: You spend more time with the kids than with me!
Mike: I could say the same about you!
*Micky slaps his forehead and groans.*
Emma: (Smiles) We're doing it again.
Mike: Doin' what?
Emma: Fighting.
Mike: What's wrong? We always do that.
Emma: It's gotten worse over the years.
Mike: I don't... (then shakes his head) ...yeah, we have been fightin' a lot lately.
Emma: I just want everything to be perfect!
Mike: I do too, darlin'. Why do you think I was fussin' earlier? Five years is a big deal.
Emma: I didn't mean anything by it. I wanted this party....
Mike: (At the same time) I wanted this party to be good!
(They both blush as Micky, Kimberly, and Jenny bring out food.)
Micky: Are you two done being at each other's throats or do I have to play referee as well as maitre d'?
(two done being)
Mike: We're all right, Mick.
Emma: So, what's the menu?
Micky: Considering that if I made anything odd, I'd be fearing for my life. So your dinner consists of roast beef with gravy, broiled red potatoes, and green bean casserole. *pauses* So, do I get to continue living?
Mike: (As he digs in) Heck yeah! This is good!
Emma: He likes meat and potatoes and I'm not picky. You're fine, Mick.
Micky: *exaggerated* Whew!
Kimberly: (Swats Micky) And you were worried!
Jenny: Chris told me Mike likes roast beef!
Micky: When it comes to my life, yes, I worry.
Chris: (He stumbles in) Hi! Is this the party?
Jenny: No, Chris. It's that way. (She takes his arms) Why don't we go there together?
Chris: Where?
Jenny: (Sighs; to the others) I'll get him.
(She leads him back to the party. Mike raises his head, his mouth full.)
Mike: (Muffled) C'nIhavemre?
Emma: Mike, swallow first!
Micky: Typical.
Mike: Like you have the best manners when you eat, Mr. Vacuum Cleaner.
Emma: He's right, Mick. (Giggles; so does Kim)
Micky: *shrugs* I never said I did.
(Nyles wanders in next. He's sniffing.)
Nyles: Smell food...
Mike: (Covers his plate) It's mine!
Emma: Nyles, there are snacks in the Rainbow Room.
Micky: Yeah, man, this food is off limits.
Nyles: (Sees Emma's plate; grins) FOOD!
Micky: *grabs Nyles' shoulders* Out!
Emma: (Grabs her plate) Hey! Drool on your own food!
Kimberly: Allow me. (She karate chops him)
Nyles: *grins at Kimberly* Whatta woman!
Kimberly: I'll handle THIS one. (She takes Nyles' arm) Ok boy, time to go play with all your little friends and eat their nice vittles. (Leads Nyles out)
Emma: (Sighs) Oh brother. What the HECK was he drinking?
Mike: Same thing I was. (Leans back) Boy Mick, that was somethin' else.
Emma: It was excellent, Mick.
Micky: Thanks. *nods*
Mike: Em, what do you want out of this marriage?
Emma: Both of us raising our children together. (Sighs) And maybe...we should admit that...that...
Mike: We're not perfect?
(Emma just nods.)
Mike: Yeah, maybe we should hold off on the bein' boss. I mean, I know I like to be boss, and I know you like to be boss, but not everyone always wants us to be boss.
Emma: We want to be perfect and in control all the time...
Mike: (at the same time as Emma) ...but no one is.
(They laugh and take each other's hand.)
Emma: Maybe we still have something.
Mike: Maybe we do.
Micky: You two are something else.
Mike: Takes one to know one!
Micky: Yup. So how about we head back into the party area?
Emma: Yeah. Don't you have a surprise to spring on Lauren?
Micky: Yes, before she pounds me into the ground.
Emma: I'll talk to her. You boys grab whomever is still half-alive and spring the surprise.
Mike: Yeah... (but suddenly, John stumbles right across the kitchen, landing on the floor)
Emma: My lord! (She goes to him) Are you ok?
John: I tripped over a black blob!
Mike: Micky, where's Onyx?
John: Is that what that was? An Onyx?
*Onyx promptly jumps into Micky's arms.*
Micky: *grins and holds out the cat in his hands* THIS is Onyx.
John: Oh, THAT'S Onyx. Sorry, boy. You look sorta fuzzy to me. (Scratches Onyx's back)
Mike: Um, maybe we'd better get back to the party.
Emma: Before there's nothing left of Lauren or the anniversary gifts. (Looks at Micky)
Micky: No kidding.
(Cat, host, and party guests hurry out of the kitchen.)