(We open with a long shot of Micky and Lauren's porch. The sun is just rising, creating shadows around the house. As the camera moves in further, we find that Micky is passed out on the porch, his head lulled to one side. A hand leans over and shakes Micky's shoulder.)

Peter: Micky? Mick, it's time to go!

Micky: *still mostly asleep* ...Five more minutes, Mom...

Peter: (The camera pulls out to reveal more of Peter, wearing a jacket and his two-tone pants) Micky, come on! (Yells in his ear) MICKY!

Micky: *Head whips up. He falls over backwards, sprawled on the porch; whines* Peeeeeete!

Peter: (He pulls back, laughing) Sorry, Mick, but it's time to go! You guys DID agree to go shopping with me!

Micky: Yes, we did. *sits up with a confused look on his face* WHY did we agree to this?

Peter: So we can take advantage of all the sales today and get started on our Christmas shopping.

Micky: *gets up* Peter...oh, it's too early to argue. Let’s just go.

Peter: All right. We're going to stop at the Pad next. Emma promised she'd have Mike up and moving.

Micky: *slight chuckle* Em I believe, but Mike's almost as bad as I am. On the other hand, I DID get up on my own...

Peter: (Puts an arm around Micky's shoulder) If YOU can get up, there's hope for Michael.

Micky: Yeah, there is.

(Cut to the outside of the Pad. Mike sits there, leaning against the siding and drinking coffee in a Styrofoam cup.)

Peter: (He waves Mike over) Hey, Michael!

Mike: Hi. (He tosses the cup inside the door and saunters over) Why are we getting up at 6AM to do this again?

Peter: If we go later, we'll be swamped with shoppers! This way, we'll miss the worst of it.

Mike: (As he gets in the second seat) I ain't too sure about that.

Micky: *shakes his head* Me either.

Peter: Oh, come on, guys! This will be fun!

Mike: Pete, just go get Dave, ok?

Peter: Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.

*Cut to Davy's house. He sits on the porch railing and jumps off as he sees the car pull up.*

Davy: *as he jogs up* Wow, Petah, and 'ere I thought it would've taken you longah to get these two to come along.

Peter: No, they were just sitting around, waiting for me to come.

(Mike grunts.)

Davy: It's a bloody miracle, it is.

*Micky's snoring again.*

Davy: Almost a miracle.

Peter: We'll wake him up when we get to the mall.

Davy: Fair enough.

(Mike grunts again.)

Peter: Well Davy, jump in, and we'll be on our way!

*Davy does so.*

Peter: Hopefully, the GTO will make enough noise to drown out Micky's snoring.

Davy: We can only be so lucky, Petah.

(Mike nods and grunts.)

(We fade out as Peter takes off down Beechwood Street. Cut to a parking lot alongside a large mall. The mall mostly looks like a series of white cinder blocks joined together. Peter parks as far up front as he can...but it's not that far, as the lot is already half-full.)

Peter: Everyone out!

Davy: *pokes Micky* That includes you, mate.

Micky: *opens his eyes* Huh? Oh, okay.

Mike: Yeah. (All four get out, Micky as well as he can while still half-asleep.)

Peter: Why don't we start with shopping for the kids at Lionel Kiddie City and Child's World?

Mike: Can't we shop somewhere quieter first thing in the mornin'? I don't think my head can take all those tootin' trains and whinin' mama dolls.

Micky: *nods* Gonna have to echo that statement.

Mike: Why don't we go shoppin' for the girls in Macy's or Wanamaker's or somethin'?

Davy: Sounds alright to me.

Mike: Em ain't hard to shop for. She likes books and jewelry and clothes that ain't too fussy.

Peter: I wanted to get Valerie something extra-special.

Davy: Daph was wanting some new blouses.

Micky: *grins* I've got a few things in mind for Lauren.

Peter: (Sighs) Valerie's been acting so spacey lately. Her pregnancy is starting to get to her again.

Mike: You two ain't quite gettin' along like you used to, are you?

Peter: (As they head for a large opening with the words "Wanamaker's" in front of it) No, we're not. Valerie's understandably still upset about what happened this summer. I don't know if I can ever make things right between us. Jordan's still a little afraid of his daddy. (Peter looks like he may cry.) My son is afraid of his own father...

Mike: Man, Pete...

Micky: *Frowns; puts an arm around Peter's shoulders* He'll get better, Pete. Just keep showing them both how much you love them, and they'll finish coming around.

Mike: (Nods) Yeah, Pete. Em an' I are always fightin', but we stay with each other in the end. You'll work things out. You need each other.

Peter: I hope so.

(They enter the brightly-lit department store. Peter wanders over to a jewelry display case. Micky goes with him.)

Peter: Mick, I want something that'll really show Valerie how much she means to me. I want to show her that I'll always care for her and Jordan.

Micky: Well, there's a huge selection of jewelry staring us in the face.

Peter: I need something nice enough for Valerie to wear to one of those dinners she holds for her stockholders, but sensible enough for the office.

Micky: I know that once you see it, you'll know what to get her.

Mike: (He carries what looks like a pair of jeans under his arm) Hey, guys. What'cha lookin' for?

Peter: Something nice for Valerie. I only hope we can afford it. We're basically living off whatever Valerie makes from Headquarters right now.

Mike: Em said she needs new jeans. She's lost so much weight, her old ones are hangin' off of her.

Peter: Oh, look at this! (He pulls out a simple gold pin in a yellow and green swirl design) Look at the colors! They're our colors! And the design is almost modernist. It's perfect.

Micky: I knew you'd find something, Pete! *Claps Peter's shoulder, then slowly starts for another department.*

Davy: *joins them* 'Ey, mates. Wot you got there, Petah?

Peter: (Shows Davy the pin) Something for Valerie.

Davy: *whistles* Oh, that's beautiful! Valerie will LOVE that!

Peter: I sure hope so! (He hands the pin to a young woman, who puts it in a box. As she wraps it, he turns to Davy) Did you find anything for Daph?

Davy: *holds up a couple shirts* Sure did!

Mike: I'm gonna pay for these (holds up the jeans) for Em. I don't think most of these stores have a toy section any more, unless any of the kids need clothes. Katie and Robbie both do. Those two just grow like prairie grass! Katie needs a new good coat and no matter what she says, new good shoes...and Robbie needs just about everythin' he can get.

Davy: Lizzie could use pretty much anything. She still fits in a lot of her clothes. I'm thinking she's got my height.

Mike: Yeah, well, I'm thinkin' the kids got mine. Katie's just shootin' up like a beanstalk. Her pants are already too short for her.

*Micky rejoins the fellas, holding a bag and whistling innocently.*

Mike: Ok Mick, what did you buy Lauren, and will it squirt in her face?

Micky: Oh, it won't squirt her. *smirks*

Davy: Oh mate, you weren't just ovah in the lingerie section, were you?

*Micky just whistles.*

Mike: Micky, she'll never wear that! Em would kill me if I bought one of those lacy things!

Peter: (Blushes) Oh my...

Micky: *grins* We'll see. I think I know my wife.

Davy: Sure, mate. When should we 'old your funahrel?

*Micky swats at Davy, who ducks away.*

(Mike chuckles. Peter bursts into laughter. The saleswoman gives them a weird look as she brings Peter the package and he pays for it.)

Peter: Ok, guys. Why don't we head out? Maybe find a nice, quiet book store. All the girls like to read. Or a candy store for the kids.

Micky: Book store. Don't think my head is quite up for a kids' store yet.

Mike: Yeah. (Looks at Micky) I'm not ready to turn him loose in anything that sells food, either.

Micky: Hey...

(Fade out as the guys head over to the small BK Dalton Bookseller's store. Fade in on a small Formica table in the food court. Mike is already there, eating a large burger, soda, and fries. Two large bags and a small bag lay next to him. Peter walks up to him, carrying a large paper bag and a tray with a salad, dressing, and an iced tea.)

Peter: Hi, Michael. I see you had a fruitful morning.

Mike: (As he swallows his burger) Hi, Pete. How'd you do?

Peter: (Drizzles what looks like Italian dressing over his salad) Not bad. Mr. J's had some great children's instruments. You?

Mike: Pretty good. (Bites into his burger again)

*Micky walks over next, carrying three bags in each hand, for a total of six LARGE bags. He sets them down at the table next to Mike and Peter and grins.*

Peter: Micky, did you clear out Macy's?

Micky: I left some stuff.

Mike: I ain't sure I WANNA know what you have in there.

Peter: (Sighs) Well, you do have more kids than the rest of us.

Micky: I really worked up an appetite, too! I'll be right back. Just gonna leave my bags here. *Heads toward a pizza place*

Mike: (Shakes his head at the bags scattered around their table) I don't know why he don't just start his OWN Macy's.

Peter: Well, he does have more children than you or I do.

Mike: Half of that's probably for his wife.

Peter: He just loves making his family happy, Mike. You know how he is. He just can't help himself. (He takes a bite of salad)

Davy: *Carries two bags and a food tray with a salad and a bottle of water; sees the bags* Bloody...did Mick buy out the 'ole mall? *sits across from Micky's bags*

Mike: That's what we were wonderin'.

Peter: How did you do, Davy?

Davy: Pretty well. Obviously, I didn't empty a store, but I bought everything I wanted to find today.

Mike: Did as well as I could. Things just cost so MUCH lately... (He makes a face and picks at his fries)

Peter: I hope Val and Jordan are happy. This is the last Christmas we'll have as just the three of us before Jordan has a brother.

*Micky returns to the table with his tray, which holds a large soda and a calzone with dipping sauce.*

Mike: What's that, the Calzone that ate California?

Peter: Won't all the grease give you indigestion?

Micky: Nahh. I don't get indigestion.

Davy: I believe that.

Mike: (As he finishes his fries) Hey, what did you get your women? I got Em the pants, a red turtleneck to go with the pants, and a book about old-time movie serials. She really loves readin' 'bout old movies.

Peter: I got Valerie a few books. I can't really get her clothes right now, with the baby coming.

Davy: I got Daph a couple books, the blouses, found a couple pairs of jeans, a necklace, and a couple othah bobbles.

Peter: And I have the pin for Val.

Micky: I got Lauren some t-shirts, a couple ball caps, some puzzle books...and a few other things.

Mike: You didn't give her a whoopee cushion or somethin', did ya?

Peter: No, he gave that to her for her birthday, remember?

Micky: That's right.

Mike: Katie's gettin' that new coat, a stuffed Scooby Doo, her first Viewmaster, a Mr. Potato Head, a couple of packs of Hot Wheels, and a picture book of nursery rhymes. Robbie's gettin' lots of clothes, a couple of cloth books, and his first tambourine and maraca set. He's still too young for a guitar. Katie's big gift is gonna be a dollhouse. Em an' I are gonna pick that up together next week from the big Kiddie City in LA.

Peter: Jordan will be getting a small book of sheet music of simple children's songs, a Mr. Potato Head of his own, Hot Wheels, and a book of words. Val said she'd get him his big gift, a tricycle so he can keep up with the other kids.

Davy: Daph said she wants to do most of the shopping for Lizzie. *shrugs* I didn't complain.

Micky: My list for the kids is way too long to ramble off.

Mike: (As he finishes his burger) Maybe we should finish what we've got to do and get outta here. The crowds haven't been great all mornin', an' they're only gonna get worse. I had to stand in a line for 10 minutes for the kids' toys.

Peter: Let's go to Woolworth's. I want to look for some smaller stocking stuffers for Jordan.

Mike: I want to get some nuts for Em and Katie. Robbie's too little for them.

Peter: (He takes one last bite of his salad as Mike gathers his food wrappers) Do you two need anything else today?

Micky: I wouldn't mind going to Woolworth's myself. There's a couple more things I'd like to look for.

Mike: You just want the fresh peanuts from the lunch counter.

Micky: Maybe I do.

Peter: (He gathers his plastic bowl in his tray) Let's get going.

Mike: Yeah. I saw the line to see Santa Claus. It was half-way across the main lobby. I can only imagine what the lines in the stores are gonna look like.

Peter: I'm just glad the girls agreed to take the kids today.

Mike: Yeah. We REALLY didn't need them underfoot in these crowds.

Peter: Or begging for toys.

Mike: (Stands with his tray and bags) Everyone ready?

Peter: Yeah. (Also stands)

Davy: I am. *stands*

Micky: *gathers his bags* Wait a minute, I'm not ready yet. *Hefts all his bags* Okay, I'm ready.

Mike: Need a little help there, Mick?

Micky: I got 'em!

Peter: Leave him alone, Michael. I'm sure he can handle it.

Mike: (Shrugs) All right. (They make their way over to the trash cans, Micky struggling, and throw their things away. The camera fades out on the guys disappearing into the crowds.)