(We open in the ballroom of the Montgomery House the day after Christmas. The guys rehearse "I'm A Believer" while the mothers chat at the tables and the kids chase each other around and play with their new toys.)

Katie: (She's chasing Little Mick, holding a stuffed brown cow) Clarabelle's gonna get'cha, Little Mick!

(Robbie leans against his mother, still holding the yellow dog he was given Christmas Eve.)

*Little Mick laughs as he continues to outrun Katie, but not by much.*

Emma: She's really catching up to him now! (Strokes Robbie's head) You couldn't have given Robbie a better present, Lauren. He loves music, and Big Jake fascinates him. He's barely let that dog go since he got him.

Lauren: *Grins* I'm so glad. I remember loving my own version of that dog when I was little.

Emma: Katie loved every single thing we gave her. I told Mike she wouldn't care if she got less this year. She got what she wanted - stuffed animals, a Viewmaster, and that doll house.

Valerie: (Sighs as Jordan follows the others) Jordan loved his sheet music. He wants so much to be a real musician like his daddy!

Jordan: Hey guys, wait for me!

Katie: Come on, Jordan! (Grabs his hand) You can catch up! I know you can!

Daphne: Lizzie was quite happy with her pile of dolls & stuffed animals.

Lauren: I'm still not sure who had more fun with the toys, the kids or Mick.

Emma: Katie and I played with her doll house all morning. Thank goodness we bought it already put together!

Valerie: (Looks out a large window in the Montgomery House) I don't like the look of the weather. We were supposed to get ice and sleet tonight.

Emma: We'll probably just get rain.

Lauren: I hope it's just rain.

Emma: At least it's not snow. Remember when we were all snowed in at Micky and Lauren's house a few years ago?

Valerie: Yes. Lauren was pregnant with Leah and Daph just had Lizzie.

Daphne: Yeah, THAT was interesting.

Valerie: And Micky bought that 100-foot tree. He and Jack and Nyles brought it home.

Lauren: Well, that was funny.

Emma: God, that thing was HUGE!

Mike: (As the boys wind down the song) WHAT thing was huge?

Emma: That 100-foot Christmas tree Micky bought a few years ago, the year we spent that night at Micky and Lauren's when we got snowed in.

Mike: Come on, Em, that thing had to be at least 110 feet hight!

Peter: (Grins at Micky and Davy) You guys are going to sound great at the concert with Boyce and Hart!

Micky: Thanks, Pete!

Davy: That's what we're hoping for.

Mike: Yeah. Maybe we could do one more...

Peter: Michael, we've done enough. I don't like the sounds of the weather reports, and the kids need dinner.

Mike: Peter, this is Southern California. We'll get rain if we get anythin' at all.

Peter: That's what you said the day we got that snowstorm.

Micky: Yeah, so no jinxing us!

Katie: (As they run back to their mothers) Snow? Is it going to snow, Mama?

Emma: No, Katie. It's too warm for snow. We might get some ice or sleet.

Katie: Aw! You can't play in ice!

Jordan: I wanna see it! Let's go look out the windows in the hall!

Emma: Lauren and I will take you. We want to check out the weather ourselves.

(The two women take the four older children to the main hall. Jordan presses his nose to the window.)

Jordan: Oooh, snow! Look! (Points at the glittery translucent flakes falling)

Emma: No Jordan, there's nothing white on the ground. I think it's sleet.

Katie: What's sleet?

Emma: Ice. That's tiny ice falling to the ground. If enough of it coats the ground, it can make it very slippery.

Emma: (Looks at Lauren) Maybe we should turn on a radio or the TV. Nyles' show should be on now.

Lauren: Good idea. Let’s listen to Nyles' show.

Emma: Jordan, do you know where your Mommy keeps a radio?

Jordan: Uh, Daddy listens to a radio in the kitchen!

Emma: (Smiles) Ok, then. We'll get that radio. I think I've seen it there before. It's one of those little battery-operated transistor radios.

(Cut back to the ballroom, where the guys play "Daydream Believer." They end as Emma, Lauren, and the kids return with the small radio.)

Mike: What do you need that for? We're already here an' makin' music!

Emma: (Rolls her eyes) We're hoping to hear some weather reports on Nyles' show.

Valerie: Good idea. I can see the sleet coming down from in here. (She flips the radio on.)

Nyles: *over the radio* ...Weather is NOT looking pretty. It's doing that sleet thing right now, but has a good chance of changing to snow. I've already got my sleeping bag, ready to hang out for the night, so I'm suggesting all of you stay put, too...

Katie: That's Unca Nyles, isn't it?

Jordan: Sounds just like him!

Emma: Oh dear. Did everyone hear that?

Daphne: Damn.

Valerie: Everyone, we have a rather important announcement. (Turns up the radio)

Nyles: Yup, got my sleeping bag right here. Again, the weather's looking really cruddy, so I suggest that everyone stays put...

Mike: Oh man.

Emma: We saw the sleet out there. It's really coming down.

Micky: That stinks.

Katie: Does that mean we get to sleep over Jordan's house?

Emma: (Sighs) It means we don't have any choice but TO sleep over Jordan's house.

Katie: Yay! (Turns to Jordan and jumps up and down) We get to sleep at your house tonight!

Jordan: And I won't be all alone!

Emma: (Looks at her watch) We're going to have to figure out some way to feed all of us.

Micky: I'm willing to head into the kitchen.

Valerie: We should have leftovers from yesterday. Why don't you form a committee? Half of us will keep an eye on the kids, and the other half will make dinner.

Emma: I'll head the cooking committee.

Valerie: I'll keep an eye on the smallest children.

Peter: I'll stay with Valerie.

Jordan: I want to stay with Mommy!

Emma: No kids on the cooking committee, Jordan. We're going to have enough adults underfoot.

Lauren: I'll help with the kids.

Mike: I ain't cookin'. I'll watch the kids.

Daphne: I'll cook.

Davy: What the heck, I'll cook, too.

Micky: *grins at Davy* You cook? Since when?

Davy: Very funny, Mick.

Mike: There goes dinner. Davy's the only guy I know who can burn cereal...the cold kind.

Emma: I'm sure he'll be fine, baby.

Valerie: Besides, Daph will be there. She'll make sure he gets it right.

Daphne: *puts an arm around Davy, who makes a face* That's right.

Emma: Ok, so, why don't we get started? Those of you who are watching the kids can stay here or take them to the parlor. It might be better if we stayed at least somewhat together in case we lose lights.

Valerie: (Nods) Peter and I can round up flashlights and candles, just in case the power does go off.

Katie: I almost hope it does! That would be spooky! (She jumps at Little Mick and Shelly and makes what she hopes looks like a scary face) Boo!

Mike: (Takes Robbie, who is asleep) This little guy's already nappin'. I'll take him upstairs.

Valerie: He can go in the nursery.

(Mike heads out the door.)

Little Mick: You're not scary!

Katie: I am too! I'm really scary!

Little Mick: Nuh uh!

Jordan: I don't want you to be scary, Katie!

Katie: (Frowns and turns to Jordan) Oh Jordan, I'd never scare YOU. (Grins as wickedly as she can at Little Mick) Just him.

Emma: (Grabs Katie's hand) Ok kids, enough. Don't start a fight - especially not tonight! Do you want us to call Santa and tell him to take back all your new toys?

Katie: (Eyes widen) Oh no!

Little Mick: No way!

Jordan: I don't want Santa to take my music back!

Emma: Then you're going to have to behave for your mommies and daddies tonight, kids. The weather's really bad, and we don't want you guys arguing all night and making things worse.

Katie: Ok, Mama.

Jordan: I don't like fights!

Emma: Ok then, you'll go with Aunt Lauren to the parlor. Uncle Mike is watching Robbie.

Katie: Ok! Let's go play in the parlor! :)

Emma: (As they leave; turns to the remaining adults) Let's get dinner ready.

Micky: Right.

(Cut to Peter and Valerie's large, sunny yellow kitchen. Emma enters first, followed by Micky, Davy, and Daph.)

Emma: Ok, first thing's first. Daph and Davy, I want you to look in the refrigerator and see what's there. Micky, help me check the cupboards and shelves.

(Emma peers in shelves, occasionally pulling out items.)

Emma: We could make pasta, and the kids can have bread and butter...

Micky: Or let the kids have some plain spaghetti with butter and make regular pasta with garlic bread for the rest of us.

Emma: Yeah. I could really go for some garlic bread right now.

Emma: Hmm. Maybe we could go for random Italian. Valerie always keeps a ton of seasonings for her cook, and there's enough bottles of spaghetti sauce to feed the entire country of Italy for several years.

Emma: (Looks over her shoulder) Found anything useful in there, Davy? Daph?

Davy: A large selection of veggies...

Daphne: And a lot of cheese.

Emma: Darn it, I forgot Peter's a vegetarian. (Looks down) Found any canned goods under the sink, Mick?

Micky: *holds a bottle of Marinara sauce* Hey, Dave, any eggplant in the fridge?

Davy: Yeah, mate, there is...

Micky: Eggplant Parmesan with spaghetti and garlic bread.

Emma: I want the kids to get some protein in there, too. Is there any tuna down there? Maybe I can make a tuna salad.

Micky: Yup, got some of that, too. *Hands her the can*

Emma: Ok, then. Everyone will have eggplant Parmesan, garlic bread, and steamed herbed vegetables. Carnivores will have tuna salad as well.

("Apples, Peaches, Bananas, and Pears" begins as Emma gathers the contents. Let's see. Daph can make the vegetables and the pasta. She'll make the tuna salad. Mick will make the eggplant Parmesan, and Davy can do the garlic bread, since he's not as good of a cook as the rest of them. Emma opens four cans of tuna, then goes back for more, wondering if that'll be enough...)

*Micky slices up the eggplant, puts oil in a frying pan, and plops the slices in.*

(Emma chops celery, humming along with the song. She spoons large dollops of mayonnaise into the bowl.)

(She takes a long, deep sniff and leans over Micky at the stove, checking his eggplant.)

*Micky grins, then grabs a jar of sauce and pours it in a pot to heat up.*

(Emma lets out a long sigh, trying hard not to drool.)

(She returns to her tuna salad, rummaging through the spices. She raises her eyebrows when the spices seem to move on their own.)

*Davy has sliced and started toasting some bread.*

*Daphne cuts the vegetables and puts them in the steamer. Now she's boiling the pasta.*

(Emma adds the seasoning and goes to look for the onion she had out, but it's gone. She asks Micky if he's seen an onion.)

*Micky shakes his head. Nope, haven't seen it.*

(Emma hunts around the kitchen, stopping by Davy and Daphne. Have you two seen an onion?)

*They both shake their heads.*

(Emma sighs. She finally spots the onion on a shelf with some cookbooks. She points it out to Micky. How on earth did an onion get there?)

*Micky shrugs. He has no idea.*

(Emma takes it down and starts chopping it, ignoring her eyes watering. How's the eggplant coming, Micky?)

*Micky grins. Great! He flips the slices.*

(Emma takes deep sniffs. They sure smell great!)

*Micky reaches for more oil, but it's now on the other side of the counter.*

(Emma shakes her head. She didn't do it! She puts the large bowl of tuna salad on the table as the song ends.)

Emma: That should be it. Got the eggplant, Mick?

*Micky nods, turning off the burner. All set.*

Emma: (Frowns when she sees that her bowl of tuna has been moved to the other side of the table) Micky, did you move my bowl?

Micky: No, I didn't.

Emma: And you didn't move my onion, either. Have you seen anything move where it shouldn't?

Micky: My oil swapped sides, and where did my platter go?

Emma: I don't see it. (Looks up) Davy, Daph, have you seen Micky's platter?

Davy: No, I thought he had it.

Emma: It disappeared. (Shakes her head) I have the feeling I know what's going on. Emerald, where are you?

Emerald: *appears, giggling* Aw, caught Emerald!

Emma: Hello, Emerald. Where's Micky's platter? We need to feed the kids.

*Emerald opens a cabinet and the platter floats out.*

Emerald: Here platter!

Micky: *takes the platter* Thank you, Emerald.

Emma: Maybe you can help us. Why don't you tell everyone that dinner's served while we bring this out to the dining room table? There isn't enough room for all of us to eat in the kitchen.

Emerald: *giggles* Okay! Emerald can do that! *floats out of the kitchen, bobbing along the way*

Emma: That'll give HER something to do. Maybe we could recruit Peter or Lauren to help set the table, or the older kids could help.

Micky: I'm sure someone would want to help.

Emma: Micky, why don't you see if you can get Lauren? We'll put the food on the table.

(Emma gathers her bowl of tuna...before Emerald comes back and decides to be cute again.)

Emma: Ok, guys, let's get the masses fed.

Micky: Gladly.

(They head out to the dining room as we fade out on the kitchen, and the sleet falling softly in the windows.)