Well, let's see what we can do. Everyone ready to head out? :)
Peter: I wanna go home! :(
Mike: I have a bad feeling about this.
Micky: I need a nap. ;)
Davy: Mike, don't say that! I'm ready.
Lauren: Home sounds really nice about now. :)
(The group stands around Micky's tank as he and Lauren step out.)
Mike: Ok, we have a couple of things to discuss.
Maxine: A COUPLE?
Lauren: A couple HUNDRED.
Kimberly: What was with the sword back there?
Mike: (Mutters) Barnaby got on my nerves and I wasn't thinkin'.
Micky: It worked.
Maxine: What about the snow?
Peter: Christmas magic! :D
Mike: Would you believe the sprinkler system suddenly froze?
Micky: I would.
Davy: That's not surprisin'.
Chrissy: How 'bout the toys?
Maxine: And how are we going to get them back the way they were? I don't know WHAT the people who run this place would think if they came in tomorrow and saw GI Joes and Barbies running all over the place!
Emma: There's an easy way of setting ALL of this right.
Maxine: Don't tell me. More Christmas magic.
Peter: How'd you guess?
Lauren: Running gag.
(A crudely animated joke book with legs and arms runs through in the snow, squeaking.)
Mike: Oh, a running "gag." Very funny.
Micky: I'll say!
Emma: (Looks at her watch) It's now almost 11PM. I'd say it's time to get this little lady home and clean everything up, including us.
Valerie: Right. Dad will have both our heads if Chrissy is out too late!
Chrissy: (Looks at Valerie) Can we do this again sometime? I've really had fun. Except for Barnaby.
Valerie: We'll see, Chris. Maybe next Christmas.
Maxine: How are we going to clean this up?
Lauren: A really big mop?
Kimberly: There's toys walking around everywhere, snow and ice on the ground, and a toy plane on the ground!
Emma: (Elbows Lauren and whispers) The way we did all this. Our powers, silly!
Lauren: That's another way... ;)
Emma: (She and Lauren take Valerie and Daphne aside) Excuse us. We need to talk to these two for a few minutes. (Pulls them around the corner to the next eisle.)
Daphne: Hey, what's going on?
Valerie: Our superior imagination powers, right?
Emma: Right. We've got to put the toys back where they were, put the plane back, make us big again, and make this entire store DRY again.
Valerie: That's a pretty tall order. Do you think we can do it?
Lauren: Well, we DID all of this already, so why not?
Emma: (Yawns a bit) We could try. I'm getting tired myself. It's time to go home.
(The girls all close their eyes. There's a very faint blue light, but beyond that, nothing happens.)
Emma: (Opens her eyes and frowns) Oh, man...
Daphne: It didn't work!
Valerie: I guess we're all as tired as Mick.
Lauren: I think we have a short circuit somewhere. Mick won't be able to help, either!
Daphne: (Shakes her head) He's still wiped out from the plane, right?
Lauren: *nods* He looks about ready to fall asleep standing up.
Emma: What are we going to do?
Valerie: I...I don't know. Our powers never failed us before!
Lauren: First time for everything. Bah!
Daphne: Well, we know OUR limits now, too. When we did all of this, we did it one thing at a time. We shrank ourselves, THEN made the toys come to life, and I think Mick was the one who made the snow come.
Lauren: *nods* We're trying for everything all at once. *slaps forehead* We're in trouble.
Valerie: Maybe we all just need a re-charge.
Lauren: I wonder how long we'll need for recharging?
Valerie: I hope not TOO long.
Emma: What are we going to tell the guys?
Lauren: The truth?
Valerie: We're going to have to. They'll figure things out anyway.
Emma: Come on.
(The girls trudge back to the rest of the group. Micky sleeps soundly in the jeep. The others stand around. The toys have mostly dispersed. Barnaby is nowhere to be seen.)
Mike: What took you girls so long?
Emma: We just learned about limits, honey.
Lauren: Unfortunately.
Peter: You mean...
Emma: The Christmas magic needs a re-charge.
Lauren: We're stuck here for now.
Chrissy: Oh! (Frowns) Are we going to be able to go home? I miss Daddy.
Peter: (Puts his arms around Chrissy) We'll go home soon, Chris. We just need some rest, that's all. Even Christmas magic gets worn out after a while!
Valerie: Where's Barnaby?
Davy: A couple of toy soldiahs were gonna find a place to put 'im until we were ready to take 'im 'ome.
Kimberly: What are we going to do? We can't stay like this all night.
Lauren: We ought to find a place to stay for a little while and rest.
Chrissy: I saw a couple of doll houses in the doll section. Maybe we could rest there.
Jenny: All the comforts of home.
Mike: I'll take anyone who's up for it in the plane. Everyone else can head there in the jeep or the tank.
Emma: I'm with you of course, honey.
Davy: I'm in the jeep. I'm startin' to like it.
Daphne: I'm in the jeep with him, so he doesn't start to like anything else.
Lauren: I'm sticking to the ground route. Anyone wanna ride in the tank? I've gotten pretty good at driving it!
Chrissy: Can I ride in the tank, Valerie?
Valerie: (Smiles) Why not? I think most of the Joes have gone elsewhere, and Lauren says she knows what she's doing. (Gently turns Chrissy to Lauren) Keep a good eye on her, Lauren. (To Chrissy) Now, you don't go running off anywhere else! Stay close to Lauren and the others!
Chrissy: I will! I've had enough of this store!
Lauren: I'll keep an eye on her. :)
Valerie: (Takes Peter's arm) We'll go on the plane. It'll give us some reletive quiet time together.
Peter: Plane rides are fun!
Jenny: I'll hitch a ride in the tank. *grins*
Maxine: I'll take the jeep. You can count on it not shooting something.
Kimberly: I think the tank is full. I'll take the jeep.
Mike: Maybe we could take Micky on the plane. More room for him to stretch out, and since he won't know he's on there, he won't be able to freak out.
Emma: And the propellers will cover his snoring.
Lauren: That's true.
*Micky snores extra loud in response.*
(Mike easily and gently scoops Micky into his arms and carries him on the plane.)
Emma: Don't worry, Lauren. We'll take good care of HIM.
Lauren: You'd better!
Peter: We wouldn't dream of hurting him.
Valerie: Unless he somehow figures out how to out-roar the propellers.
Lauren: And he probably could.
Emma: Just follow us. We'll find a nice little house to settle in that isn't occupied by Barbies or other dolls.
Lauren: Gotcha!
Kimberly: Any requests?
Peter: Could we live in a Lincoln Log cabin? :D
Valerie: Can't imagine that's too comfortable in the snow.
Peter: It would be really cozy, though. Kind of like pioneers.
Lauren: Cabins are rather nice, actually.
Emma: The Barbies probably have their idea of a mansion.
Mike: (Peers out of the plane) I'm all set.
Davy: (Gets behind the wheel of the jeep) Let's find a nice place to settle for the night. (Winks at Daphne as she, Kimberly, and Maxine climb into the back of the jeep) Daph 'n me are sharin' a room.
Daphne: Um, I think I'll take a room with the girls. (Grins and whispers) We'll do something romantic by fake plastic candles later.
(Davy sighs romantically as he starts up the jeep.)
*Lauren chuckles and leads Chrissy and Jenny to the tank. They climb in and Lauren starts it up.*
Chrissy: Oh, wow! This is so cool, like an old John Wayne war movie on TV! (Grins) I watch them with Dad sometimes.
(The roar of the propellers are heard behind them.)
Lauren: Mike's trying to outdo me with noise.
Jenny: It's a guy thing.
Chrissy: Peter's not too noisy, but Daddy is, and most of the boys at school are!
Lauren: Peter's the exception to the rule.
Chrissy: Boys are a pain sometimes, but they're more willing to play basketball than most of the girls!
Lauren: True. *sighs* You'd like to think that boys get better about not being a pain when they get older. Here's a hint, Chrissy. They don't.
Chrissy: Micky and Davy look kinda noisy sometimes! Mike...well, sometimes he acts like a pain, and sometimes, he's more like Peter. He's sorta weird.
Lauren: Micky's noisy almost all the time. Davy can be noisy, but he can be quiet if he tries really hard. Mike can be really loud or really quiet. Depends on his mood.
Chrissy: I like you guys. Tonight's been fun! (Thinks for a minute as the jeep rumbles to life) Except for the parts about Barnaby.
Lauren: Yeah, I haven't been too fond of that myself.
Jenny: I love a good adventure, and this has certainly been one!
Chrissy: (Looks at Lauren) Is there REALLY Christmas magic? Some of my friends say there's no Santa Claus. Valerie and Peter say there is. I always thought he was kind of...Christmas magic-y.
Lauren: Christmas magic is real, Chrissy. The main thing is to have that Christmas spirit. The magic comes from your heart. *shrugs* It's really kinda simple when you think about it.
Jenny: I thought I saw Santa last year.
Chrissy: That's what Peter and Valerie say. Daddy says there's a Santa, but he won't say much else. Valerie and Peter have lots of Christmas spirit! Valerie says she has a very special present she wants to give Peter. (Whispers to the girls) Don't tell him! It's so big, Valerie says she can't wrap it and put it under the tree!
Lauren: Really? *eyebrows raise* I wonder what?
Jenny: A horse?
Chrissy: Maybe a piano or a big guitar. Peter likes music.
Lauren: Those would make sense.
Chrissy: Daddy says he's going to let Peter give me guitar lessons next year! :D
Jenny: All right! You'll be part of a band before you know it! :D
Chrissy: I can't wait! I already take piano lessons. I want to play good music and be on variety shows! When I get big, I'm gonna be on "Laugh-In!"
Jenny: You have good taste.
Chrissy: I watched you guys on KLAC the other night with Matilda, my nanny. You looked like you were having fun! I've never seen "The Nutcracker" done like that!
Jenny: That was wild.
Lauren: Oh, man, we WERE having fun! Matter of fact, that's the most fun we've had in a while.
Chrissy: It LOOKED like fun! I wish I could have been in the Children's Choir, so I could watch you have fun up close!
Jenny: We'll bring you along next time we do something like that.
Lauren: As long as it's okay with Val.
Chrissy: Yeah! Can we bring Valerie, too? And Peter? :D
Lauren: We'll bring the entire group! We could almost load up a bus with all of us.
Chrissy: Oh, that's right! Valerie said you guys have babies! I'll bet they're cute!
Lauren: *sighs* The twins are great. I miss 'em right now though. With all this stuff going on, we haven't seen much of them. Their nana's having a grand time watching them, though.
Chrissy: Nana? Oh, their granma's watchin' them! That's cool! :)
Lauren: Micky's mom. She loves them to pieces and embarrasses Mick at every available opportunity.
Chrissy: My grandma and grandpa live in Bakersfield. We're going to see them on Christmas Eve. Grandpa always gives new sheet music.
Lauren: We went to visit my parents during the summer. We had a HECKUVA time getting the twins away from them. ;)
Chrissy: (Makes a face as they turn a corner, following the plane into the doll eisle) Oh, man, so does my Grandma! (Grins) She embarrasses Valerie, too! She once talked about how she took off her bathing suit as a baby and swam in the baby pool naked in front of Peter! (As the plane stops before a cluster of various doll houses) Where do your parents live?
Lauren: *grinning* My parents live in Massachusetts. Waaaaaay east of here.
Chrissy: I know where THAT is! We learned about the states in geography! It gets really cold there!
Lauren: It sure does! It snows alot in the winter, too! *sighs* It was actually nice to see it snow here.
Chrissy: Is that near Connecticut? Peter lived in Connecticut! In fact, he's lived in a LOT of places! (Sighs) I've never lived anywhere but Los Angelas.
Lauren: Connecticut is south of Massachusetts. I've only lived out there and here. I've visited some places in between.
Jenny: We haven't been out of California! Lately, anyway.
Lauren: Hey, yeah, you really got rained out in Seattle.
Jenny: Stupid rainy season... :P
Chrissy: Oooh, you were in a flood, like the one a few months ago? The mansion wasn't hurt, but some of my friends had leaky roofs and lost stuff in their basements 'cause they got so flooded!
Jenny: We kinda got flooded out of where we were playing. It was awful!
Chrissy: (As the jeep and the tank come to a stop before a row of doll houses of various sizes) Oh wow!
Davy: All out! (Nods at the houses) These look like nice litt'l places.
Lauren: Looks like we've found our home away from home!
Maxine: We'll have to make sure they're not occupied.
Lauren: As long as they don't take one look at our motley group and run in the opposite direction.
(Everyone in the jeep and tank chuckles as the occupants of the plane disembark. Mike and Emma are arm-in-arm. Peter now carries Micky. He and Valerie are as red as Santa Claus' suit.)
Mike: Hey, kiddies! How was the ride?
Lauren: Not as much fun as Val and Pete's. ;)
Chrissy: Valerie! (Chrissy runs to her sister) I had a great ride! I got to talk with Lauren and Jenny!
Valerie: (Nods, somewhat distracted) Hmm? Oh, that's good, honey. As long as you behaved.
Jenny: She was an angel!
Chrissy: That's me, Chrissy the Angel!
Valerie: Why aren't you an angel for me?
Peter: You don't drive a tank.
*Lauren laughs.*
Valerie: Maybe I ought to see if I can get Dad to borrow one from the military for the day.
Peter: (Nods at Micky) He was an angel too, Lauren. He slept the whole time.
Davy: Fancy that, someone called Mick an angel!
Lauren: *grins* I figured as much. That's the ONLY time when he can be an angel. *pauses* And even then, sometimes he isn't.
Chrissy: How could he not be angel when he sleeps?
Valerie: I'll tell you when you're older.
Chrissy: Does he slobber, like the guard dogs?
Lauren: *grins; winks* When he snores... (Rolls her eyes) He has slobbered before. Don't ask.
Mike: (Ducks his head in the largest of the houses. Some of them have "lights" on) This one looks like it's empty.
Lauren: We'll take it!
(The enter a large, Victorian-style wooden doll house, complete with minature furnature and Christmas decorations.)
Daphne: This place is soooooo cute!
Peter: Is there somewhere to put Micky? He's not as light as he looks!
Lauren: I could've told you that.
Davy: There's an upstahs. Come on, there's probably rooms there.
Lauren: Find one with a really BIG bed. If I'm not there, he'll roll all over the place. If you hear a *thud*, that means he rolled off the bed.
(Davy and Peter chuckle as they head to the living room. Peter takes Micky upstairs without a look at the table, but Davy stops halfway up, grinning.)
Davy: 'Ey guys, come check this out! Theah's a whole dinnah set up 'ere! :D
Lauren: You're kidding!
Jenny: Food! :D
(The others hurry in. The tiny table is, indeed, set with minature plastic food on button plates, with little bits of fabric used for napkins and toothpick "candles." There's even a tiny tree covered with bits of tinsel and ribbon.)
Davy: It ain't real, but it still LOOKS nice.
Emma: This is too cool!
Mike: Must be the biggest one in the display. That's why it's decorated.
Lauren: Someone did a fabulous job!
Emma: I saw a tree and little felt stockings in the main room, too. The "presents" are old costume jewelry pendants and little toys.
Jenny: I hope the decorator got a bonus! ;) :)
Chrissy: Wow! This is even cooler than my doll house! I'm going to have to find some Christmas decorations for mine!
Valerie: This is so nice. The dolls who get to live here are lucky.
(Peter and Davy finally come downstairs.)
Peter: Micky's ok, just sleeping. I put him in the first room on the right.
Lauren: *nods* Thanks, guys.
Davy: There's three bedrooms and an attic room. No bathroom, though. If anyone's gotta go, they're gonna have to go in the snow.
Jenny: What do you expect from a dollhouse? ;)
Mike: (Peeks in the room behind the living room) There's a kitchen, though. Probably can't cook nuthin' in it, but it looks nice. There's lots of fake garlands and red ribbons and more fake food. :)
Lauren: I think I'm almost ready to eat fake food.
Emma: I wonder...
(Emma pulls Lauren upstairs.)
Emma: I wonder if we have enough left to make that food real? Chrissy in particular has to eat. She's just a kid. Micky's going to want to eat when he wakes up, too.
Lauren: We probably do. I say we give it a try.
Emma: It's just a minature dinner, not four things at once. (The two girls close their eyes. There's a soft blue glow downstairs)
Chrissy: (From downstairs) More Christmas magic! :D
Lauren: I think it worked.
Valerie: I guess we believed enough.
Maxine: How...
Emma: Let's go down there and see! (Pulls Lauren downstairs. The others are standing about, gawking at the button plates of now-real food.)
Lauren: Get a load of this!
Mike: Oh man... (pokes the "turkey" in the middle)
Lauren: *takes a long sniff* It SMELLS good, too!
Kimberly: What are you all staring at? Haven't you seen minature food turn real before? (Grins) And even if you haven't, why aren't you eating it anyway? (Sits down and reaches for a silver cup of cranberry sauce)
Mike: Hey, don't start without the rest of us! (Sits at the head of the table)
Jenny: Dive on in!
Lauren: Don't have to tell me twice!
Chrissy: Yeah! I'm so hungry, I could eat everything here!
Valerie: Don't eat too much! Remember, save some for Micky, too!
Davy: (As he sits) We'll save him a wing.
Mike: Maybe. ;)
Micky: *appears in the doorway, rubbing his eyes* I KNEW I smelled food. (Makes a face) And I HEARD that, you two. :P
Lauren: *grins* Welcome back to the land of the living, Mick. *smirks as he pulls up a seat next ot her; he sticks his tongue out*
Peter: Wow, this is a real Christmas dinner! (Sits down next to Valerie, who is next to Chrissy; looks at Micky as he sits down) Your aura is still a little tired, Micky, but it's much better than it was. :)
Chrissy: Come have dinner with us!
Kimberly: (Between bites of cranberry sauce) Before we eat it all!
Micky: I did say I needed a nap. (Grins widely) Food! :D
*Lauren moves aside, giving Micky plenty of room to gather food.*
Davy: Food 'll get 'im fastah than a speed racah doin' 80 on the Expressway.
Mike: (Closes his eyes - a big knife appears in his hand) Ok, guys, shall I carve?
Kimberly: After that demonstration with the sword earlier, I'd be afraid NOT to let you!
Micky: You're the one with the big pointy knife.
Davy: Mike is very good at 'andlin' sharp objects.
Emma: I hope it isn't too dry!
Mike: How dry could it be with Christmas magic?
Lauren: As long as it doesn't go *poof* when he cuts into it, I think we'll be okay.
Mike: You're all cute, guys. (He cuts it open. There's a great deal of steam and lots of juicy, white meat) Ok, who likes white meat and who likes dark?
Micky: I'll take whatever you've got!
Davy: 'E'll take the whole dahn bird, and 'e'll 'ave it to go.
Micky: Yes I will, as a matter of fact!
Lauren: *elbows Micky* Save some for the rest of us, please.
(Everyone laughs as they pass around plates to Mike, who cuts the turkey. We next get a montage of everyone eating and chatting to the tune of "I'll Be Home For Christmas." Emma goes in the kitchen as everyone is finishing up. There's a soft blue light, and she emerges with a huge cake with red and green icing.)
(Micky is practically drooling as Emma slices the cake and hands it around to the crowd. Lauren puts a cup under him.)
(Everyone is sitting back happily as the song comes to an end, patting their stomachs.)
Mike: Oh, man, my compliments to the chefs of the toy kitchen! That was some meal! I can't remember the last time my belly was this full!
Emma: Thanksgiving at my parents' house.
Mike: Right.
Lauren: Now that was a dinner, even if it was fake to start with.
Chrissy: That wasn't fake! That was the best turkey I ever had!
Peter: And REAL stuffing, with celery and seasonings and everything!
Micky: It might actually be two hours before I have a snack.
Davy: That WAS quite a dinnah. Even Micky's full!
Micky: I didn't say I was full, Dave.
Maxine: Who gets to clean this up, and HOW are we going to clean it up without running water?
Lauren: Good question, Maxine. Could use snow, I guess.
Emma: (Whispers to Lauren) When everyone has cleared out, we'll just imagine it back the way it was.
*Lauren nods.*
Mike: So, whaddya wanna do now?
Valerie: Now that we've all eaten and rested, maybe we'd better try to get along home again.
Kimberly: Does anyone know where Barnaby ended up, anyway?
Davy: The toy soldiahs said somethin' 'bout puttin' 'im in theih barracks.
Micky: PlayDoh barracks, perhaps, or Lincoln Logs?
Lauren: Tinker Toys? Legos?
Davy: I'll bet they put 'im in the Lincoln Logs.
Chrissy: I hope they put him in jail and locked the key! Do we have to take him, too?
Valerie: I'm afraid so, dear. We just can't leave him here shrunk like that.
Peter: As odd as it may seem to say this, it's not fair to him.
Lauren: Even Ebenezer Scrooge reformed, so there's hope for him.
Chrissy: I hope the orphans get to keep their home!
Peter: Maybe there will be another fundraiser to help fix their home.
Valerie: (Grins) Maybe another concert.
Micky: *grins* When and where?
Valerie: Nothing definate yet. I'll have to talk to Dad.
Chrissy: I want to help, too! Maybe we could have fund-raisers in my school!
Valerie: That's the spirit, honey!
Chrissy: It's not right that those kids can't have a home. Everyone should have a home.
Mike: Well, this is going to be our permanent one if we don't get a move on.
Valerie: And this girl really needs to go to her home and get some rest.
Chrissy: But (slight yawn) I'm not sleepy.
Valerie: Chris, it's way past your bedtime. You're going upstairs as soon as we get home.
Chrissy: (Even as she yawns more) Awwwww!
Lauren: Same goes for you, Mick.
Micky: *grins* Promise?
*Lauren rolls her eyes.*
Peter: See, Chrissy? Micky WANTS to go to sleep!
Chrissy: But he got worn out using Christmas magic!
Micky: *grin widens* That wasn't... *Lauren elbows him HARD*
Peter: (Puts his arm around Chrissy's shoulder) I saw a piano in the living room! Why don't we play something together while everyone else cleans up?
Chrissy: Only if Valerie plays, too!
Valerie: (Puts her arm around Chrissy's other shoulder) Of course.
Kimberly: I think I'll join them. I could use a little nap after tonight!
Jenny: I wouldn't mind sprawling out on the floor right now.
Davy: I'm going to go walk around. Want to go wit' me, Daph? We could work off some of that big dinnah.
Daphne: Sure! It would be kind of romantic.
Davy: (Puts his arms around Daphne) You, me, togethah in the darkened store, alone, just the two of us...
Daphne: Not THAT romantic, Casanova.
Davy: (Shrugs to the group as they head out the "back" door) Well, you cahn't blame me for tryin', now can ya? (Winks and heads out)
Micky: And you guys picked on ME.
Mike: You're bad influences on each other. (Shakes his head)
Maxine: Do you guys want help cleaning up?
Emma: No, we're ok, Max. Thanks for asking.
(Maxine joins the others in the living room.)
Mike: (Sighs) Ok, girls, I know you're the ones who created that dinner, and for that, thanks. We needed the food, especially Chrissy. Question is now, how do we get rid of it and put everything back the way it was?
Lauren: *shrugs* A little more blue light, assuming we have some left.
Mike: I'll help as much as I can.
Micky: Me too. Don't know how much I can promise, but...
(Emma closes her eyes. The food vanishes, and the table is swept clean.)
Emma: Laur, you and Micky can bring the plastic food back and make the table the way it was again.
Lauren: I got it. *closes her eyes. The plastic food arrangement from earlier reappears.*
Micky: *taps some of the food* Yup, that's plastic all right.
Mike: (Grins) If I wasn't so full, I'd say that's looks good enough to eat!
Micky: It DOES look good enough to eat! *grins* Sounds better coming from me.
Emma: (Chuckles, as the sound of "O Holy Night" in a three-handed piano rendition drifts in from the living room) Sounds like the entertainment's started.
Mike: You know, I kinda like this. It's real homey-like. Much better than a hotel for gettin' stuck in away from home.
Lauren: Definitely.
Mike: Why don't we join the others and get them rounded up to go to our REAL homes?
Micky: *nods; grins at Lauren* And besides, we have kiddies we haven't seen all day!
Emma: Sounds good to me, honey. I want to finish working on my new Christmas story at the Pad.
(The four head into the living room, where the Abbies are sprawled on the furnature or floor while Peter, Valerie, and Chrissy play the piano. Everyone greets the newcomers.)
Peter: Hi, guys!
Chrissy: Can we do another one?
Valerie: Honey, we really have to be going home.
Chrissy: Awww! I want to play more Christmas songs with you and Peter!
Micky: What's one more song?
Mike: We really should go.
Peter: Just one more, Michael? Please?
Mike: Oh, man, not those damn eyes again! (Sighs) Fine. ONE more, but that's it. Lauren and Micky have gotta get home to their kids.
Valerie: (Nods) And this little lady is going to need some sleep.
Chrissy: (Yawns slightly again) Awwwww... :p I-)
Valerie: What do you guys want to hear?
Peter: Requests from the house!
Micky: *cups a hand to an ear* The house isn't responding.
(Everyone chuckles. Lauren elbows him.)
Mike: 'Ow 'bout somethin' simple for the little cowgirl?
Emma: We could do "Angels We Have Heard On High."
Kimberly: WHAT angels? Don't see any of those here!
Lauren: *laughs* Hey?
Peter: (Grins as everyone laughs) I think we know that one.
Emma: Lauren's an angel, and she's worn the costume to prove it!
Micky: Yeah, but that was just a costume. *grins*
Lauren: Don't make me prove Emma wrong, Mick.
(Everyone laughs as Peter, Chrissy, and Valerie begin the lovely old Christmas carol. Lauren and Micky settle on a big, plump recliner. Mike and Emma sit on the couch, while the girls remain on the floor. Chrissy lets out another big yawn as the song comes to an end.)
Valerie: I think it's time for someone to finally go home and go to her own bed.
Chrissy: (Yawns again) I'm still not sleepy, Valerie.
Peter: You just need a good night's rest, Chris.
Lauren: We really should get going.
Maxine: (Yawns herself) We ALL could use a good night's rest.
Kimberly: Been one HECK of a night! :D
Mike: The others should be home soon.
(Davy and Daphne walk in, laughing and covered with snow.)
Daphne: Hey, if you ever REALLY want to see him dance, stick snow down his pants. ;) :D
Davy: That were bloody COLD!
Micky: But it'll sure get you moving! ;)
Daphne: We found Barnaby! He's in a Lincoln Log cabin with barred windows.
Davy: It's paht of the cowboys 'n Indians display. Must be their jail.
Micky: Groovy!
Mike: Ok, gang. Let's get out of here. We'll make us big first, then him.
Chrissy: (Looks around as the others stand or brush snow off of them) I'm never going to forget tonight. For the first time, I really felt like I had a big family, with aunts and uncles and cousins. Some of my friends come from big families, but Daddy only has one older sister, and Mommy was an only child. My grandparents don't live around here.
Emma: Micky and Davy and I all come from big families. It can be crazy sometimes, but very rewarding. I love my sisters and brother and parents and little nephew.
Lauren: My brother's been away for well over ten years now, so it was always just me and my parents. It's great having so many people around.
Mike: And my family was just me and my mom.
Chrissy: Not even a sister?
Mike: Nope, not that I know of. Just a couple of cousins.
Daphne: I have brothers! Two older ones!
Maxine: One brother.
Kimberly: Three younger brothers and a sister. HUGE family.
Jenny: Younger brother, the little rat.
Maxine: (Grins) Mine's older, like yours, Lauren. He's back in New York somewhere, taking classes in stage acting.
Lauren: Mine's in Texas. He was in the army, that's how he ended up there.
Mike: Good man. Maybe we'll run into him when we visit Aunt Kate.
Lauren: That's possible.
Emma: I've never had an older brother, just a much younger one, so I envy you guys. I love my little brother to death, but I've always been the oldest.
Peter: I have a big sister and a little brother, so I guess I'm lucky.
Valerie: (Puts her arm around Chrissy) We just have each other.
Kimberly: That's why I took up martial arts, to defend myself against my brothers!
Jenny: Yeah, you oughtta see them run!
Kimberly: (Goes into martial arts stance) You'd better believe it!
Chrissy: Cool! :D
Emma: (Looks at her watch) Man, it's getting late, guys. We'd better go fetch Barnaby and hope there's enough Christmas magic left to fix everything, including us.
Mike: Everyone nice and rested for the journey home?
Lauren: Ready!
(Everyone nods and says variations on "ready" and "yeah.")
Chrissy: This has been fun, but I miss Daddy.
Valerie: (Sighs) I don't know how I'm going to explain why you were late to your father!
Peter: Tell him the truth. We were playing around in the toy store and we lost track of time.
Chrissy: But that's not...
Mike: Kid, that's all anyone needs to know.
(The group heads rather reluctantly out of the house. There's a slight blue light before Emma joins them.)
Emma: Just tidying up a few things. We don't want any store employees to know anyone human was in there. Had to make the bed and clean up the living room.
Mike: (To Daphne and Davy) Ok, you two, where did you see Barnaby?
Davy: (Points to a shelf a little ways up) Up theah.
Emma: Not more climbing!
Peter: Why don't we do this the easy way?
Valerie: What do you mean?
Peter: This! (A blue light surrounds the group. When it subsides, they're on the shelf where several "cabins" made of Lincoln Logs are surrounded by colorful plastic cowboys and Indians. One cowboy sits on a chair that's leaning back against a log cabin with bars on it. Barnaby sits behind the bars, making a face.)
Micky: Well, it was easier.
Maxine: This is just getting TOO weird!
Kimberly: This is SOME Christmas magic!
Chrissy: I think it's great! :D
Jenny: Beam me up, Scotty!
(Mike goes up to the sleeping cowboy and taps him on the shoulder.)
Mike: Hey, Sheriff?
Cowboy: (Pulls his hat up and looks sleepily into Mike's eyes) Huh? What in tarnation are you starin' at me like that for, sonny? Can't a man get any dang-burned sleep around here?
Mike: We need to get the prisoner out of jail, Sherrif sir.
Cowboy: Is that an order from the Marshal?
Mike: (Puffs out what chest he has to look important) Sheriff, I AM the Marshal.
Micky: You tell 'im, Marshal. ;)
Peter: You are? I didn't know that! (Valerie elbows him)
Cowboy: (Gets up, stretching) Well, if you're the marshal, I guess it would make sense to turn the prisoner over to you. (Gets up, unlocks the door, and sticks his head in) You're spurng, sonny. Mr. Marshal here is gonna take you to Ablene for your trial.
(Barnaby comes out, looking quite weary. Peter puts his arms tightly around Valerie and Chrissy. Chrissy sticks her tongue out at him; Valerie clamps her hand over her sister's mouth.)
Cowboy: I'll just let you folks take him to his trial. Send the Pony Express along when you get word of the verdict. I'll just be gittin' along with my sleep now. (Yawns deeply) Nighty...night..fo....(he's asleep and snoring away before he can finish the phrase.)
Micky: *grins* Gotta admire that.
Peter: Guess we're not the only ones who had a long night!
Barnaby: (Rolls his eyes) If you're a marshal, I'm Frank Capra.
Mike: Got you out, didn't I?
Barnaby: Look, you got what you wanted. I'm not going to be able to build a mall. I missed my meeting.
Valerie: The house belongs to you. Why don't you fix it up?
Barnaby: (Shakes his head) It's a very old house, and not in the best shape.
Peter: Maybe if everyone helped...
Chrissy: I want to help, and I'll bet other kids in my school would, too!
Micky: It isn't impossible! They've done renovations on tougher, older buildings.
Mike: I'll bet you could get up some fund-raisers to help the Starlight Home, like the concert tonight.
Barnaby: (Shakes his head) It's not bringing in money.
Emma: There must be a way to build that mall AND keep the kids' home.
Valerie: There is. There's an empty parcel of land near one of Dad's older supermarkets. The mall wouldn't be as elaborate as you planned it, but there would still be a mall, and it wouldn't take out anything but trees we could replant.
Peter: (Puts his arms around Valerie) That way, everyone wins. Valerie's Dad will have a nicer store for his customers, and other stores for them to shop in, too.
Chrissy: And the kids will still have a home!
Emma: Maybe you could even get the home registered as a National Historic Landmark. You said yourself it's very old, didn't you? There aren't that many examples of Victoriana left in that part of LA.
Micky: And that house is a beaut!
Maxine: You could give tours in the parts of the house that the kids aren't using at the time, or while they're in school.
Barnaby: (Sighs and shrugs) What do I have to lose? I lost my old deal. They wanted me to close it tonight, or there would be no sale.
Peter: (Puts his hand hesitantly on Barnaby's shoulder) You're old, and you don't have children. You don't understand them. You're scared, but you sort of feel guilty for causing all this trouble.
Barnaby: (Eyes widen) How...how did you know?
Peter: (Now he shrugs) I just know. It's...like a part of me just knows how people feel.
Valerie: A very special kind of Christmas magic.
Barnaby: (Nods) We'll see what I can do. I don't know much about restoring homes. I'd have to hire some consultants.
Chrissy: You'll do it? You'll let the kids keep their house? :D
Barnaby: I have little choice now.
Mike: These fund-raising projects and the tours and the new store will make up for the lost deal tenfold, Mr. Barnaby.
Micky: And I'm sure we could drum up a construction crew for you.
*Lauren rolls her eyes.*
Davy: (Nods at Micky) Me friend 'ere is an upcomin' architect.
Barnaby: Do you work cheap?
Micky: *puffs his chest out* What else would I work?
Mike: Watch that ego, man! It might knock you over!
(Everyone chuckles, even Barnaby.)
Micky: Ha ha. :P
Emma: (Grins) Come on, guys. I think it's time to go home. To our REAL homes.
Lauren: And quick. I don't know how much more ego I can take.
(Everyone just bursts into laughter again.)