Ok, so is everyone ready to spend the holidays onboard? ;)

(Mike gulps, turns green, and runs for the nearest bathroom.)

Micky: I am!

Davy: Ready, mates!

Peter: Poor Michael's seasick again! :(

Micky: Oh, great. :P

(We open in the huge main dining room, which is set up for a buffet. Everyone in the group wears nice clothes, even the kids. Only Mike is missing. He finally joins them in one of his brown suits, wiping the back of his mouth and still looking a tad green.)

Peter: Michael, are you ok?

Mike: I'll be better when we get out on the open ocean and the water's calmer.

(The Abbies appear in nice dresses and pant suits.)

Maxine: This is so groovy!

Kimberly: I'm glad we were able to join you guys after finishing our album. We've had a GREAT time! :D

Jenny: And I've learned so much about Carribean art and crafts! :D

Maxine: (Watches three dreadlocked men with Carribean accents in white suits walk by) And I've enjoyed the local scenery.

Maxine: Hey, where's Davy?

Mike: Who was supposed to be watchin' him this time?

Micky: Oops. Sorry. :P

Mike: Who wants to go get him?

Chrissy: (Points toward a group of girls) I think I saw him talking with those girls over there!

Micky: Oh, brother. :P

Mike: I'LL get him. (He stomps over to the group of girls)

Mike: Ok, ladies, party's over. He's a married man, so if you'll just... (he reaches in the center of the group, plucks Davy out of it, and drags him back to the others by his ear.)

Davy: Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow! Mike! Ow! I was only talking to them!

Mike: Davy, I know that look. We ALL know that look. Another few seconds, and you woulda had stars in your eyes!

Davy: No, I... *makes a face* oh, alright. Yeah, I would've.

Emma: Davy, may we remind you that you are married now, with a lovely two-month-old daughter, and your wife is perfectly capable of skewering you if she so much as sees you doing more than just friendly discussion with a member of the opposite sex?

Davy: I know. It's so tough to stop! Mates, I need 'elp.

Mike: (Lifts his fists) I'll give you help, boy...

Peter: (Puts his hand on Mike's fist) Not THAT way. He needs nonviolent help. Like a 12-step program.

Micky: But maybe without so many steps.

Mike: We're gonna have to ween you off women again...and this time, there ain't no stage mamas around to make you break your promise.

Davy: Anything, mates.

Mike: Ok, now we just need Nyles and Jack and the Basses, and we can begin.

Micky: *points across the room to where Nyles is bent over the buffet table, while Jack chats with a brunette girl* I think I found Jack & Nyles.

Peter: (Indicates the kindly older couple Peter met while boarding; Kris wears a nicer suit, and Jessica has a lovely old red and green dress on) There's the Basses!

Katie: Santa Claus! :D

Mike: Nahh, Santa's too busy at this time of year to be foolin' around on cruises, cowgirl. (Looks at the others) Ok, everyone can go get their meals now that we're all together.

Emma: (Grins) Before Nyles eats the whole buffet.

Valerie: Emma and I will stay with the kids and take them up to get their dinners when all of you come back. :)

Micky: *rubs his hands together* Excellent! :D

Mike: (Takes Micky's arm) I'm gonna stay with you. You'd eat the whole buffet if someone gave YOU a chance.

Kris: I think I'll stay with him, Robert. He's just hungry. (Rubs his large belly) I know that feeling.

Micky: *grins at Kris* Hey, thanks! :)

Jessica: Kris, you're not much better. If there's any cookies up there, you'll eat the whole plate faster than a reindeer can fly!

Kris: Oh, I wouldn't do that! There's no cookies quite like your gingerbread men, dear.

Jessica: Stop trying to flatter me and go eat, you old coot.

Kris: (Chuckles as the rest of the group trickles out to the buffet) We've been doing the same old routine for as long as either of us can remember. I guess it's pretty obvious we're old marrieds.

(Jessica chats with Lauren and the twins as they get their food, laughing at the twins' questions and Lauren's stories about the group.)

Kris: (Sighs) I'm glad I ran into all of you. It's been...well, we've been having a hard time in the last few years. The toy factory just doesn't have the morale it used to.

Micky: You work at a toy factory? That must be fun!

Kris: Oh, it's wonderful! Jessica and the boys and I used to love it, keeping track of who was good and bad, who wanted what, and imagining what their faces would be like when they recieved new toys on Christmas day. (Sighs) But I'm afraid time has passed us by. The things we stand for just aren't in style.

(They follow the others down the line. Jack finally leads Nyles away from the food. His plate is filled almost up to his head.)

Kris: (Chuckles at Nyles) Good boy, that Nyles. Not too bright, but the best appetite I've ever known. Only kid in the world who ever asked for nothing but food for the Christmas the year he was twelve.

Micky: I've considered doing that, but there's always been something else that I've wanted.

Kris: Oh, I know. I keep track of the things that come out of my toy factory. ;)

(Kris smiles as he watches the twins pull their mother and Jessica, both carrying many plates of food, over to the table, trying to avoid running into others.)

Kris: What a handful those two are! They're lovely children, both of them, very bright and good.

Davy: Amazing condahring their dad.

Micky: Funny, Dave. *pauses* Thank you, Mr. Bass.

Kris: You're welcome, my boy. (Grins again) Come on, let's go eat. I don't know about you, but there's something about sea air that makes a man famished.

Micky: Amen to that!

(They join the others. Emma and Valerie stand with Katie and Jordan and take them to get their dinners.)

Jessica: (As she begins eating) This is very kind of you to invite us to eat with you.

Kris: (Smiles) Yes. You barely know us.

Peter: Oh, you seem nice enough, and you helped me on the dock! :)

Micky: It doesn't seem like we barely know you, though.

Kimberly: Just watching you two, I feel like I've known you all my life.

Kris: (Small smile) Perhaps you have. :)

Mike: There's somethin' funny 'bout you two. Somethin' I can't quite place.

(Chrissy just stares at them.)

Kris: I guess it's we just haven't been outside our factory in a long, long time, except for once a year, when we (another small smile) deliver our inventory.

Chrissy: What inventory?

Kris: We run a toy factory. It's been very profitable for many, many years, but I don't know if we'll be continuing.

Jessica: Of course we will! We're just trying to find a little Christmas spirit, that's all.

Peter: You came to the right ship! I have lots of Christmas spirit! :D

Kris: (Laughs) You always did, Peter, enough for a whole army. :)

Micky: So do I! :D

Jessica: You too, George. :)

Micky: Thank you, but, *cringes slightly* um, would you mind terribly calling me "Micky," though? :)

Kris: (Nods) Sorry, Micky. "George" is how we always knew you on the lists. :)

Chrissy: Lists?

Kris: Our inventory lists. ;)

Micky: Those must be major inventory lists.

Jessica: (Nods) Pages and pages and pages long! Some of our workers have been going over them for decades!

Chrissy: Wow, you must have been in buisness for a long, long time!

Jessica: Long enough to remember when your father's first wind-up tin grocery cart was part of the inventory. ;)

Chrissy: But that would make you really, really old! You don't look THAT old!

Jessica: You'd be surprised what snow and ice can do for the complexion, dear. ;)

Mike: You guys up north?

Kris: (Waves a hand as he eats) Up in Canada.

(We also see the snooty couple and the group of men among the guests in the room. The snooty couple argue; the men lean back, burping over beers and copious liquor.)

Mike: (Grins and juts a finger at the guys behind them) Hey, they aren't bad. ;)

Micky: You're right, Mike.

Nyles: I give them a 9. ;)

Chrissy: Nyles can do better. He showed me how! Wanna hear? ;)

Valerie: (Groans) Chrissy, you are NOT one of those men! Not at the table! You're a young lady! :p

Chrissy: Aw, that's not fair! :p

Kris: I don't see why... (but Jessica elbows him) :p ;)

Micky: *leans over to Kris* Competition later tonight. ;)

Kris: (Grins) You're on. Your room. Ours is too small, and Jessica likes to turn in early. ;)

Mike: (Grins) Hey, who wants dessert?

Kris: I think I'd rather have a walk on-deck. I'm rather full.

Jessica: Oh, I'll go with you. I don't think I could eat another morsel! (Looks at Micky, who stares at her plate) You may have it, Ge...Micky. I know you want it. You've always been a good eater. :) ;)

Micky: *grins* Thanks, Mrs. Bass! :) ;)

Mike: Yeah, with Mick around, who needs a garbage disposal? ;)

Peter: (Pats his own stomach) Why don't we ALL go out on the deck, before it gets too dark?

Kimberly: Yeah, there might be guys out there! :X

Jenny: In that case, let's get moving! :D

(Everyone heads out as a rock-ish, 70s-synthesizer version of "The Nutcracker Suite" begins. Mike just leans against the wall, looking a little ill again. Emma takes his arm gently and leads him to a chair on-deck, where he puts his head between his knees. Katie tugs her mama's arm; she wants to go with the twins while Mama helps Papa. Emma asks Lauren if that's ok. :) )

*Lauren agrees & brings the three kids along.* :)

(Kris and Jessica stroll together, holding hands and chatting and arguing. :) )

(Katie and Mick run ahead, as usual. Shelly stays with her mama. Katie isn't looking where she was going and accidentally runs into a leg encased in a silky stocking. The camera moves up to show the snooty woman from the buffet from Katie's downwards point of view. She makes a face and checks her stocking for runs. Her male companion tries to help, but she shooes him away. :p)

*Micky, Davy, Jack, and Nyles find a shuffleboard game. Micky slides one of the discs off the "board." It finds the snooty man, causing him to trip as his female companion continues to check for runs.*

(He falls over her as the kids get out of the way, laughing. The pair try to untangle themselves from each other as she squawks over her ripped dress and ruined stockings and he just squawks.)

(Peter, Jordan, Chrissy, and Valerie walk along the other side of the deck, enjoying the sea air and being together.)

(Emma pats Mike on the back. He groans. The three guys walk past them, laughing, burping, and eating. Mike groans louder.)

(The Abbies walk into a bar and flirt shamelessly with a hunky-looking musical trio.)

(Katie and the twins run over to a huge Christmas tree in the main common room. Kris and Jessica follow them. Katie finds an ornament depicting Santa and his sleigh and points it out. Kris frowns and explains that's not quite what Santa looks like, and the reindeer should be smaller, and Cupid is where Donner should be.)

*Micky leaves the other three guys to their shuffleboard game while the kids run around Kris and Jessica. He pulls Lauren along and prop themselves out of the way to have a little private time.*

(Chrissy talks Peter and Valerie into letting her dip her toes into the pool, even though it's late. She takes off her stockings and shoes, then helps Jordan, who says "Me too!", take HIS shoes and socks off. They put their feet in the kiddie pool. Chrissy splashes Jordan a little; he laughs.)

(Chrissy splashes a bit harder. Jordan continues to laugh, but there's a squawk behind them. The snooty woman complains about the bit of water on her silk dress. The man tries to clean her off, but she hits him with her purse and flounces away before Valerie can squawk at HER. Peter frowns - he didn't like their auras. Jordan cuddles close to Chrissy. Those people's auras scared him!)

(The group rejoins in the hallway outside their rooms. It's just a bare hallway with doors lining it, very narrow.)

Mike: Um, yeah, well, we'll meet after breakfast for rehearsal, since we're playin' for lunch and dinner tomorrow afternoon.

Emma: (Mutters) If his stomach's up to it.

Peter: Michael, are you sure you're ok? You look a little green.

Mike: I'm fine, Pete. Just ain't a water person. I spent all my life growin' up on the flat praries.

Chrissy: (Looks at the kids) Hey, guys, how would you all like to hear a story in our room before going to bed? :)

Valerie: That's a good idea, Chrissy.

Peter: Valerie and I wanted to go back on-deck to the lounge and listen to that musical trio. They're really good!

Kimberly: Oh mama, are they good!

Maxine: In more ways than one.

Mike: I'm just goin' to bed.

Emma: (Yawns) It's been a long day. I think I'll call it a night, too. I'll read for a while in my room.

Kris: Jessica and I will join you for that musical trio. They do sound marvelous.

Peter: (Looks at Micky) Would you guys like to join us?

Micky: *turns to Lauren* Whadaya say, babe?

Lauren: *yawns* I think I'm gonna say you can go, Mick. I'll put the kids to bed, then put myself to bed.

Micky: Guess it's just me then.

Emma: Why don't you bring Nyles, Jack, and Davy?

Micky: *nods* If I can get them away from the shuffleboard game.

Mike: (Mutters to Micky) It'll be easier to keep an eye on Dave that way, too. I don't trust Nyles with him. Jack maybe, but Nyles...

Micky: *nods; mutters* Good point.

Chrissy: (Puts her hands on the twins) Would you guys like to hear a story before bedtime?

*The twins cheer.* :D

Chrissy: I guess so.

Jordan: Me too!

Chrissy: Of course!

(Cut to inside Chrissy and Jordan's stateroom. It's fairly small but not unattractive, with two beds with stripped counterpaines and pillows, two bed tables, two dressers, two small cabinets, and a chair. Chrissy sits in the chair with Jordan on her lap. Katie and the twins lay under blankets on the bed. All four are in their pajamas.)

Chrissy: And I heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight, "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!" (Smiles) And that's the last one. It's lights-out for you guys, too. Katie and the twins have to go back to their folks.

Katie: (Shakes her head) One more!

Jordan: Santa!

Chrissy: (Sighs) How do you guys know there IS a Santa?

Jordan: Book! (Indicates the copy of "The Night Before Christmas" on Chrissy's lap)

Chrissy: But that was written over a hundred years ago, Jordan! No one can live that long!

Katie: Santa at the mall!

Chrissy: That's just one of his helpers.

Mick: Santa has magical powers!

*Shelly nods, agreeing with her brother.*

Jordan: Santa ship!

Katie: Santa here!

Chrissy: No, he isn't! If there is a Santa, he's at the North Pole, getting ready for Christmas.

Katie: Mr n' Mrs. Bass!

Chrissy: They're a nice old couple, but...

Jordan: Santa!

Chrissy: If they're the real Santa Clauses, why are they traveling by boat? Where's the sleigh and the reindeer and the elves and everything?

Katie: Va-ca-ton?

Chrissy: (Shrugs) Maybe they ARE going on vacation, but why now? Isn't this their busy season?

Jordan: Don' know.

Chrissy: They ARE really nice, though. They knew an awful lot, too. They even knew Micky's real name is George and Mike's real name is Robert...and I doubt they read teen magazines.

Shelly: Maybe they just need a rest?

Mick: It's gotta be them!

Jordan: Santa!

Chrissy: Everyone at school says there isn't a Santa Claus. They tell me he's something the advertisers made up to sell more stuff. Daddy says he's real, though. So does Valerie. (Looks at the other kids) There has to be a way to prove it!

Katie: Sack!

Jordan: Sack?

Chrissy: Oh, Santa's magic bag of toys!

Mick: Yeah!

Katie: Find sack!

Chrissy: If we find his sack, that'll prove he's the real Santa.

Katie: Yeah! :D

Chrissy: I saw a lot of sacks on the gangplank this morning, though. There were at least three red sacks alone, and they ALL looked like something Santa would carry.

Katie: Sack magic!

Chrissy: The right sack WOULD be magic. It would probably have Mr. Bass' name on it, too.

Katie: Find magic sack!

Chrissy: If we find the right sack and it's magic, that's Santa?

Jordan: (Nods) Santa!

Chrissy: We'll have to be careful of the other people with sacks, though. I think I saw that snobby couple pick up a sack, and those three guys who got really drunk in the dining area had a sack, too. We'll have to make sure we find the real sack.

Katie: Mean lady!

Shelly: We can find it! :)

Chrissy: And I don't think they're really rich, either. Valerie told me she got a quick look at them, and the lady's dress is a cheaper version of a fancy Paris gown, and he's wearing cheap versions of Italian suits. I think they're up to no good.

Jordan: Bad! :p

Katie: See, Jordan?

Jordan: (Nods) Bad.

Chrissy: That's right, Jordan, you and Peter can tell what people are feeling in that weird way. You can tell they're bad?

(Jordan nods.)

Chrissy: What about the three guys who got drunk?

Jordan: Bad. (Grins) Siwwy! :D

Chrissy: Snobby bad guys and silly bad guys and Santa! (Frowns) Maybe we ought to ask some of the grown-ups to help us find the sacks. Peter and Valerie might be willing to help. Emma too, and definately Micky.

Katie: No tell!

Jordan: No! Us!

Chrissy: (Sighs) Then again, they may not believe us. Grown-ups REALLY don't believe in Santa. I know Mike doesn't.

Katie: Papa no like Cwissmiss.

Chrissy: How come?

Katie: Dunno.

Jordan: Sad unca.

Chrissy: Peter told me Mike was really poor as a kid and didn't have a dad. I guess Christmas wasn't much fun for him.

Katie: Poor Papa! :(

Chrissy: Maybe we could help cheer him up, too. I think making the movie is just getting him really stressed, like I do before a big test at school. :)

Katie: (Looks at the twins) You help, too?

Mick: You bet! :D

Shelly: We'll help!

Chrissy: (Grins) Good. We're all in on it, like on "Mission: Impossible" re-runs. (She and Jordan join the other three on the bed) Ok, guys, this is what we're going to do...