1969---
"Sweet Loretta fat thought she was a cleaner, but she was a frying pan," John sang playfully as he tried to warm up before recording.
"Eh, Geo, did you ever get the demo for that song done?" Paul asked, flipping through the pages of his song notebook.
"Yeah," George nodded. "I even came up with a title for it."
"Really, what's it called?" John asked curiously, practically dancing across the room to peek over George's shoulder.
"Something," George replied.
"I know it has a name, but what is it?" Paul asked, looking up.
"Something," George repeated.
Paul heaved a heavy sigh and slapped his notebook down on the piano. "George, just tell me the songs name already. We don't have time for games, we have a dead line y'know."
"Something," John said, managing to read George's hand writing.
"Not you too..." Paul sighed.
Ringo got up and glanced at the copy of the song George was holding. "Paul...that is the name of the song."
"It's named after me?" Paul asked in confusion.
"No. Something," the other three said in unison.
"Oh...so the name of the song is Something?"
"Good boy, you deserve a treat," John teased, patting Paul in the head.
"Come off it Lennon," Paul laughed
"I'm not on anything," John replied, looking around the area he was standing in.
Big George came into the room, flipping through a few pages on a tablet. "Alright, George, I need the name of that other song you were going to put on the record besides Here Comes the Sun."
"Something," the four said together.
"Well? What's the song's name," Martin asked in a slightly aggrivated tone.
"Something is the name of the song," Paul piped, not wanting to get into another conversation like they had previously had.
"Okay...I get it now," Martin chuckled. "Ringo, do you have a song? The public is awaiting the day you sing us another song you wrote."
"Uhhh...yeah. It's a little nursury-ryhmne-ish. I'll bring it in tomorrow," Ringo promised.
"Let Macca be the one to judge if it's a nursury ryhmne..." John giggled. "He's good at writing those."
"Alot of people write nursury ryhmne type songs when they first begin writing them," Paul defended.
"So...What's your excuse?" John gave Paul a cheesy grin.
Paul balled up a peice of paper and threw it at John, hitting him between the eyes when he tried to duck out of the way. "And what about your Bungalow Bill song on the White Album? That's as nursury ryhmn as they come..."
John stuck his tongue out at Paul and returned fire with the same peice of paper.
Big George left the four of them alone in the studio.
"It's been a few days since I've seen Olivia around. Anyone happen to know what happened to her?" Ringo asked
"Something came up and she had to move back to America. She's working for AMI in L.A.," John provided. "Big George transfered her so she could work closer to her family."
"I remember that time in London...after Rita finally got out of the hospital..." George started. "Speaking of families that is..."
***
late 1967--
Jealousy is a horrible thing, George thought as he helped Rita through the door of her new flat. She had moved to London after getting out of the hospital in Los Angeles (she had been transfered to an LA hospital after she had been stablized in a San Fransico one).
"Are you sure, you're alright?"
"I'm fine George. It's just a slight case of heartbreak and jet lag," Rita snapped. "I can't believe my own sister would try to take my son from me. 'Not physically able to care for him' Ha! The bitch threw me in the path of a car. Where is Len anyroad?"
"He's picking out his room," George assured. "With a little help from John."
"Oh wonderful," Rita sighed sarcastically. "Would you say Len looks alot like me?"
"Yes. If there is a trace of who his father is, then I don't see it. Unless the dark colored hair is a hint..."
"No, actaully, my hair was that color until I was about two, then it started getting a red tint. Then one day it was the color it is now," Rita explained, playing with the tips of her dark strawberry blond hair. "I told Paul who Len's daddy was...that's why he's not speaking to me for now."
"Because it's him?"
"No. Because it's not him," Rita scoffed. "Me, a mother, imagine that?"
"It's easy if you try," John commented coming from one of the rooms in the flat. He had Len on his shoulders. "But still, amusing."
"So, Johnnie, what do you want for your birthday?" Rita asked, carefully sitting on the new couch.
"The one thing ever guy wants..." John grinned wickedly then continued in a serious tone. "Someone to make me happy for the rest of my life"
She thought a moment. "Don't think I can help you there. We're too alike for me to make you happy...and most of my friends are married already."
"One of the hazards for working for AMI Rit," George laughed.
"Speaking of my friends...Where's my phone? I have to call one of my mates I met at an art show...she should be in town sice she has a thing tonight."
"Over here," John said, retrieving the phone for Rita and stretching it's cords to the limit. "What's the number?"
Rita called out the number and John happily dialed it for her.
George and John evesdropped on Rita's end of the conversation.
"Mrs. Ono please," Rita said sweetly. "Hi, Yoko, this is Rita. . . . Really? . . . Groovy. . . . Yeah, I talked to him. That's why I called. You'll have to ask Paul yourself . . . He's sort of ticked at me right now . . . Don't ask. It's a stupid reason. But I'm sure he'll get over it. Usually, if Paul gives the ok, John will too."
"What? I heard my name," John yelled, intentionally being loud. He jumped up and sat beside Rita. "Hello, whoever is over there. Rita is me bestest friend in the whole world and I'm here bestest friend too."
"Go away," Rita laughed, pushing John off the couch, after Len had crawled into her lap. "Don't mind him, he's a looney. Actually, he's made a new friend so he's energentic and stuff. . . . Yes, him and Len get along like two normal one and a half year olds. . . . No, he's going to be 26 tomorrow . . . Hai, it is sad. . . . Yeah, there's supposed to be some kind of mass gathering tomorrow, Paul's going to be there. . . . Of course you're welcome to come, why wouldn't you be? If Paul says anything, I'll . . ." She glanced down at her napping son. "I'll spank his hiney."
John instantly fell back laughing.
"Hai. I'll be there luv. I'll be the one limping around . . . oh, my physical therapy should fix it up soon enough. . . . Oh, ok. What time is it taking place? I'll try to be there if I can find a sitter. If not, I'll see you tomorrow. Bye Sweets." Rita hung up the phone and took Len to one of the other rooms. When she came back she was glaring a John. "You are so obnoxious!" she laughed, kicking John in the knee. "That was a very important call."
"Do I even want to know why you call her 'Sweets'?" John grinned.
"It's an in joke between me and her," Rita smirked. "And don't even think about it. She's married."
"Can't blame me for trying can ya?"
"Is there anything else to bring in?" Rita asked, looking at George.
"No, we got it all," George replied. "Nice flat you have here. And at street level so you don't have to over work that bad leg of yers."
"Thanks you guys. you have no idea what this means to me. I wish there was a way I could repay you..."
"Let me baby sit tonight!" John said happily. "That'll be repayment. I can take 'im to Ringo's house. That way Mo can help me watch him. Come on Rit, you can go to that thing yer mate is having tonight."
"Alright..." Rita said hesitantly. "Oy vey...this day has been so hectic! But thanks you guys for having all of this set up by time I got here."
"You're welcome," George gave Rita a friendly kiss on the cheek.
Rita laughed. "Mustach tickles! I like how you guys changed the look. It looks alot better than those moptops you guys used to wear."
"Glad you like it Rit," John snickered.
***
Yoko looked around nervously for her friend Rita. She finally spotted her talking with an older man by a refreshment table. "Rita," she said, tugging on Rita's green dress.
"Oh, hi Yoko!" she chimed, hugging her friend tightly. "This is George Martin."
"Hello Mr. Martin," Yoko smiled, shaking his hand. "Rita, can I talk with you a moment?"
"Sure. Please excuse me Mr. Martin." They walked a bit away from the refreshment table. "What can I do for you Yoko?"
"I talked to Paul at the studio earlier and he said I would have to check with John. Problem is...I don't know which one John is," Yoko explained. "And don't say the tall English guy with red hair. That's most of the people in here."
"Darn," Rita snapped her fingers. She looked around for a moment. "Ah. I see him. Come 'ead."
Rita linked arms with Yoko and the two of them walked across the room. They came up behind a guy that had his back turned to them. When the sunlight came in through the window at just the right angle, his hair looked firey red.
"Johnnie," Rita chimed, grabbing his elbow.
"What is it Shorty," John teased, glancing over his shoulder slightly. "I'm busy staring blankly out the window."
Rita smacked his arm playfully and he turned around. He took a look at Yoko and a smile instantly came to his face. "Johnnie, this is me mate Yoko Ono..."
"Thanks for the wonderful birthday present Rita. She's beautiful," John said sweetly, as he took Yoko's hand and kissed it. "My name is Dr. Winston pleased to meet you Mrs. Ono."
"Mr. Lennon," Yoko started. "I needed your permission to use some of your music for---"
"Yes," John replied without hesitation or waiting to hear what else she had to say. "You can have anything you want from me."
"Thank you Mr. Lennon," she replied.
"Please, call me John...or Winston...or whatever you want. I'm not much for titles and such. Is there anything else you would like from me?"
"Umm...actually, yes," Yoko said.
"Name it and it's yours," John grinned.
"My hand," she suggested, trying to pull her hand out of his.
"Oh...sorry," John laughed as if he was embarassed. He let her hand go, even though he didn't want to. "Do ya think I could see you again Yoko?"
"I'm not sure," Yoko said hesitantly.
"John," Rita said in a warning tone.
Yoko knew her friend's tone well. That tone was Rita's way of reminding John that she was a married woman. Apparently, John got the point and sighed slightly. "Can blame me for tryin' can ya?" he grinned.
Yoko couldn't help but smile at his playfullness.
"Sweets, remember you and I are having a girls night out tonight," Rita piped, leading Yoko away from John. "You know what that means right?"
"Ah, yes," Yoko sighed. "Chinese takeout, big box of tissues, and the poetry reading...That is...after Len goes to bed."
"Correct!"
"Can I come?"
Rita and Yoko stopped walking and looked behind them. John had been following them. He had a pitiful puppy-dog expression on his face.
"No, John," Rita said. "It's girl's night out."
"I can play with Len in his room then," he smiled hopefully.
"John...no." Rita said one last time, hoping he would drop the topic.
***
"Just tell me how Rit . . . Please???" John begged, getting on his knees.
"Look, John, she's married and so are you," Rita argued. Finally, she surrendered, "Besides, she's not easily won with simple things such as chocolates. You'd have to think of something better than that. Something that comes from the heart."
"I can do things from the heart," John smiled. "What's some embarrassing things I can do to impress her?"
"I don't know. She's the artsy type so...do something creative. I can't believe I am actually encouraging you to go after a married woman..." She sighed and went back to cutting her lettuce."
"Could you bring her by the movie set tomorrow," John's eyes lit up hopefully. Please say yes...please say yes.
"I'll see what I can do. You had better be glad I do not get along with her husband otherwise I would be fighting this to the end," Rita scolded. "What do you have in mind to empress her?"
"Does she like flowers?"
"Hai. Her favorite is the sunflower though...I can't imagine you getting a boquet of those anywhere."
"Oh...I have my ways."
Rita grabbed John's shirt collar. "If you hurt her, I swear I will bury my foot so far up your---"
"Don't worry luv. I'm not going to hurt her. I'm in love."
Rita sighed heavily. "Alright. I trust you. I'll see what she's doing tomorrow and bring her by."
"Thanks Rit, I really appreciate this. Guess what."
"What?"
"You brought me the one thing I really wanted for me birthday," John grinned.
"I think she will make you happy Johnnie. Very happy."
