Ok, everyone ready for Christmas Eve?

Mike: Sure.

Peter: I can't wait for Christmas at the Montgomery House! :D

Micky: Ready! :D

Davy: So am I! :)

*We open on Christmas Eve with Micky in his backyard. Several already-assembled toys are scattered around near the porch. Micky plays with a remote control plane.*

Mike: (Ambles into the backyard) Mick? Micky? Where... (raises an eyebrow) what are you doin'?

Micky: *still concentrating on the plane* Assembling the kids' toys.

Mike: (Looks up) Looks more like you're playin' Sky King to me.

Micky: Gotta test the toys, too, you know.

Mike: You just want to play with the kids' toys. (Makes a face at the parts scattered around) Or avoid puttin' them together. Where's the rest of the family, anyway?

Micky: Lauren went to drop the kids off at Mom's and visit for a little while. She should be back shortly.

Mike: I was gonna ask you if you had a few tools in your garage I can borrow. I was workin' on Urse at home and two of my wrenches gave up the ghost.

Micky: *lands the plane* You're working on Urse NOW?

Mike: Em's finishin' the cookies and baked goods for tonight. I figured I might as well get out of her way.

Micky: Well, the wrenches are up here on the porch.

Mike: Great! (Sighs) I'm just glad Katie didn't ask for anythin' that really needed puttin' together. The dollhouse she wanted already comes assembled.

(Mike goes to the porch, carefully stepping over toy parts.)

Mike: What is all this, anyway? Besides toys.

Micky: *slight grin* A whole lot of stuff I would've loved as a kid.

Mike: Any really good remote control cars? I'm getting Katie one, but it's not that big, and Robbie's not old enough yet.

Micky: Got those, too. They didn't need assembly, so they're already wrapped.

Mike: Did the twins ask for bikes? Katie already got her big-girl bike for her birthday, so I'm spared having to try to wrap that.

*Micky jerks a thumb toward the other end of the porch where two bikes sit. One is blue. The other is light purple.*

Mike: Ahhh. Nice-lookin' bikes.

Micky: But a pain in the ass to put together.

Mike: Anythin' you need a hand with?

Micky: I've got pretty much everything all set. Was just killing time until Lauren got back.

Mike: What else did you need to put together for the kids, anyway?

Mick: Leah wanted a ride-on toy so she could keep up with her sister and brother. (Points to a small wooden scooter-like vehicle with hard plastic wheels.) That wasn’t a lot of fun to put together, either.

Lauren: *comes out the back door* You haven't finished putting every thing together yet, Mick?

Micky: No, I'm done. The plane was the last of it.

Mike: Yeah. Hi, Lauren. I just came over to borrow some tools. Em was bakin' and I wanted to get out of her way.

Lauren: Well, if Mick's ready, we can head over to the Montgomery House.

Micky: I'll use the quick way to put all this stuff back so we can head out.

Mike: (Looks at his watch) I'd better get movin'. We're gonna be leavin' soon, too. See you guys at the party! Tell the kids they get to open one present tonight if they're good.

Lauren: We will.

Mike: Oh, and Em says she hopes you guys like cinnamon swirl bread. It's from the same mix she sends her brother every year. He adores that stuff.

Micky: Of course we do!

Mike: We'll see you in a few! Tell the kids Uncle Mike and Aunt Ursula said "hi." (He heads off.)

Lauren: Alright, Mick, stop playing with the kids' toys and put them back inside.

Micky: *wraps an arm around her* You know me too well, Babe.

*As they head inside, all of the toys slowly disappear, headed back inside as well.*

(Fade out on Micky and Lauren's backyard. Fade in on a shot of the Montgomery House, all decked out for the holidays, with it's outdoor garlands and window wreaths and the tree outline on the roof. Cut to the dining room. Peter sets bowls of dip and crackers, trays of meat, cheese, and vegetables, baskets of rolls, and platters of cookies buffet-style on the table. Two cheesecakes sit on a dresser across from the table. Valerie comes in with a large pumpkin pie.)

Valerie: I think that's the last of it. I hope no one minds that the cheesecake and pie came from Millie's and Sophie did just about everything else.

Peter: (Kisses Valerie's cheek) I don't think they'll care. You know these guys. They'll eat anything they can get their hands on.

Jordan: (He comes in with a basket of plastic utensils) Here you go!

Valerie: Thank you, sweetie. (She leans over as well as she can and puts the utensils on the table)

Peter: The guests should be arriving any minute. Val, why don't you go take a load off while Jordan and I play hosts?

Valerie: Peter, I'm all right. I'm really too excited to sit down. You finish up the table. I'll play hostess with Jordan.

*There's a knock at the door.*

Peter: The guests are here. Why don't we alternate? I'll get the first ones. You get the next ones.

Valerie: (Sighs) All right. (She returns to the pie as Jordan and Peter hurry over to the main hallway. Peter flings open the door.)

Peter: Merry Christmas!

Jordan: Uh, hi!

*Micky and Lauren remain at the door while the twins run inside, followed more slowly by Leah, who's still trying to get the hang of running and keeping up with her older siblings.*

Lauren: Merry Christmas, Peter.

Peter: Hey, guys. Let me take your coats. Just set your presents under the tree in the parlor and your food in the dining room.

Jordan: (Follows the twins) Hi, guys! Merry Christmas!

Little Mick: Hi, Jordan! Merry Christmas!

Shelly: Merry Christmas!

Jordan: Do you guys want to see our tree? It's so pretty! Daddy even set up the record player and radio so we could listen to music while we open presents!

Leah: *catches up with them* Wanna see tree!

Jordan: Hi, Leah. Yeah, we'll all get to see the tree.

Peter: Micky, why don't you go with the kids to see our tree? I'm going back to the dining room to get the food ready. (He leans over the kids) We'll open presents as soon as everyone's eaten, and maybe after we've played a game or two.

Micky: Okay, come on, rugrats! Let’s go see that tree!

Jordan: You'll like our tree! It's really big! Daddy an' I picked it from the lot at the Perry Street Inn downtown!

(Micky herds the kids to the parlor. Valerie comes out to the hall as Peter returns to the dining room.)

Valerie: Hi, Lauren. Did you get here all right?

Lauren: Sure, just fine.

Valerie: I'm glad we decided to do the Christmas Eve party here this year. There's plenty of room for everyone to run around, kids and adults.

Lauren: *nods* Yeah.

Valerie: (Hears a knock at the door) Wonder who it is this time?

(Valerie goes to the hall and opens the door. Emma, Mike, Katie, and Robbie are on the other side. Mike holds Robbie, who looks around curiously. Katie holds a box. Emma holds a large basket and a big box.)

Emma: Hi, guys! Merry Christmas!

Katie: Hi, Auntie! I gots the cookies!

Robbie: Hi!

Valerie: Hello, everyone! Why don't we give you a hand? (She takes the big box from Emma)

Valerie: What's in here, anyway?

Emma: A red velvet cake. Mom's recipe. The loaves are cranberry and pumpkin bread. The smaller box is cookies.

Katie: Aunt Lauren, where's the twins n' Jordan?

Valerie: Katie, the twins and Jordan went out to the parlor with Uncle Micky.

Lauren: He's showing them the tree.

Katie: Oooh, that's right! I want to see the tree, too!

Valerie: Mike, why don't you take Katie into the parlor? Lauren and I will take the food into the dining room and tell Peter it's his turn to greet guests.

Robbie: Tree! Tree!

Mike: Guess I don't have a choice. (He takes Katie's hand with his empty hand) Come on, Cowgirl.

Katie: (As they head for the parlor) I love Christmas!

(The camera follow Emma, Valerie, and Lauren as they take the food to the dining room.)

Peter: Hi, girls. Em, just set the boxes on the dresser.

Valerie: It's your turn to get the guests, Peter.

Peter: And you need to rest.

Valerie: Honey, it's Christmas Eve. I'll rest tomorrow.

Peter: But... (hears a knock at the door; sighs) I'll be back. (He hurries out to the hall and opens the door again) Merry Christmas, everyone!

*Davy and Daphne stand at the door with Lizzie between them, looking around curiously.*

Peter: Hi, everyone! (Leans over Lizzie) Leah's in the parlor with Mike, Micky, and the other kids. (Looks up at her parents) Davy, the other guys are there, too. Daph, the ladies are in the dining room. I'll take your coats.

Davy: Thanks, mate.

Peter: We're going to eat as soon as we can round everyone up, then play a game with the kids before we open our Christmas Eve presents.

Valerie: (She comes out) Hi, everyone. The food is just about ready. Peter, Davy, why don't you two get the guys?

Davy: I think we can handle that.

Peter: I just hope Micky isn't messing around with the lights on the tree or something.

Valerie: Daph, you can come with me. The other girls are in the dining room.

Peter: (Looks down at Lizzie and grins) Would you and your dad like to see our tree...if Uncle Micky hasn't done anything to it by now?

(Lizzie nods eagerly.)

Peter: Come on. (He leads the two down to the yellow parlor room. The camera follows them. Mike and the kids surround the large tree in the back of the room by the windows. There's holly on all the pictures and greenery on top of the cabinets and tables. Mike is on one side of the tree. Only Micky's legs can be seen sticking out of the other half.)

Peter: Ok, what ARE you guys doing to my tree?

Micky: Trying to get the lights plugged back in.

Jordan: Our tree ate Unca Micky!

Katie: (She runs over to Jordan) Hi, Jordan! Merry Christmas!

Jordan: Hi!

Peter: How did they get Unplugged to begin with?

Mike: Someone was messin' around back here and tripped over the cord.

*Micky distinctly grumbles.*

Peter: Well, I know something that will make you feel better, Mick. Val said the food's ready.

Mike: Sounds good to me. I've been dyin' to try that red velvet cake Em made, but she said the person who snitched wouldn't be gettin' no Christmas goodies.

*The lights on the tree come on & Micky wiggles his way out from under the tree.*

Micky: Good. I'm ready for food.

Katie: Let's eat!

Jordan: You guys will like it! There's lotsa food!

Mike: Good. That might just cover Micky's appetite.

Micky: Maybe.