BAY CITY FOREVER



This is a work of fan fiction, written by Rochelle Theresa Brown for entertainment purposes only, and not for profit. All characters not invented by me are the sole property of Procter and Gamble Productions.

This work is under copyright.

BAY CITY FOREVER is rated TV-14 for an occasional mild expletive.



CHRISTMAS, 2003



(This episode does not affect the regular storyline.)

SCENE ONE
(The scene is the front yard of the Carlino home, one week before Christmas. It is around four in the afternoon. Dante and Ryan Gabriel are building a snowman. Naturally, it isn't very tall.)
RYAN GABRIEL: When are we gonna see Santa Claus?

DANTE: When Daddy gets home from the police station, he'll take us to see Santa Claus.

(An older boy, about nine or ten, approaches.)
OLDER BOY: Hey, Dante, why are you telling your brother that stupid lie?

DANTE: What stupid lie?

OLDER BOY: Santa Claus. There's no such thing as Santa Claus.

DANTE: There is too, Chucky!

RYAN GABRIEL: Is too!

CHUCKY: Look, I'm telling you, there is no such thing as Santa Claus.

DANTE: Sure there is.

CHUCKY: Then how come there are so many commercials on TV telling everyone to buy presents for Christmas? If there really was a Santa Claus, nobody would have to buy anything. Well, I'll see you around. (Walks away.)

DANTE: I hate that Chucky.

RYAN GABRIEL: (looking very troubled) What if he's right? He's a lot bigger than us.

DANTE: So what?

RYAN GABRIEL: So maybe he's right about Santa Claus.

DANTE: Look, Mommy and Daddy say there is a Santa Claus, right?

RYAN GABRIEL: Uh huh.

DANTE: Well, if Mommy and Daddy say there's a Santa Claus, then there is a Santa Claus.
FADE OUT



SCENE TWO
(The scene shifts to the squad room of the 2-3. Joe is talking to his officers.)
JOE: Now, here's what we're gonna do for Christmas this year. Everyone of you is going to hang a stocking

JOSIE: Like we're a bunch of little kids?

JOE: And you will each draw one person's name, and buy a little gift, nothing too expensive, for that person.

TONI: Sounds like a family Christmas.

JOE: Exactly. Now, I've gotta get out of here. I'm taking Dante and Ryan Gabriel to see Santa Claus.

ADAMS: Before you know it, Dante will be too old to believe in Santa.

JOE: Watch it, Adams. You don't want to get coal in your stocking. (Officers laugh.)
FADE OUT



SCENE THREE
(The scene shifts to Dante and Ryan Gabriel's bedroom, later that night. The little boys have been tucked into their beds. Joe is in the room with them.)
DANTE: Daddy, you know that big kid, Chucky? Well, he says there's no Santa Claus.

RYAN GABRIEL: That's just what he said.

JOE: Well, you didn't believe him, did you?

DANTE: No. But he said if there really was a Santa Claus, people wouldn't have to buy Christmas presents.

JOE: You know, that's one of the nicest things about Santa Claus... that he _doesn't_ give all the Christmas presents.

DANTE: I don't understand.

JOE: You like giving Christmas presents, right?

DANTE: Well, sure.

JOE: And until the people open their presents, nobody knows what you got for them.

DANTE: It's like I have a lot of secrets.

RYAN GABRIEL: Why can't I have secrets, too?

DANTE: You can share one of my secrets, okay?

RYAN GABRIEL: Okay. Which secret?

DANTE: What I'm giving Angela Rose.

JOE: You see? If Santa Claus was the only one who gave presents at Christmas, we'd all miss out on one of the nicest parts.
FADE OUT



SCENE FOUR
(The scene shifts to CARLINO'S, three days later.
It is about twelve-thirty in the afternoon. Cass, Lila, Sergei, Felicia and Derek are at a table together.)
CASS: Did you know that Joe is opening this place early on Christmas Day?

LILA: And everything's going to be on the house.

SERGEI: (smiling) On the house? Like the roof is on the house? These American expressions!

DEREK: Yes, I know. Joe and Paulina wanted to give people who would otherwise have to go to a soup kitchen a chance to eat in a real restaurant. Now, I'm not saying anything against soup kitchens, God knows, but

FELICIA: But on Christmas Day, there should be something better.

DEREK: Exactly. Something more than food. By the way, do you know what else Joe is doing?

CASS: What?

DEREK: He's getting all the restaurants in Bay City to donate ten percent of their profits to local charities.

LILA: That sounds like something he would do.
FADE OUT



SCENE FIVE: CLOSING SCENE
(The scene shifts to the squad room of the 2-3, early on Christmas morning. The place is crowded with police officers; every cop who serves at the 2-3 is there. They are looking in their stockings.)
JOSIE: Wait a minute. Did two people get my name?

I've got two presents in my stocking.

TONI: So do I.

ADAMS: I think everybody does.

JOHNSON: You're right.
(Everyone is opening his or her unmarked gift, and saying things like "I love this!" and "Just what I wanted!")

JOSIE: Joe, can I ask you something?

JOE: What, Josie?

JOSIE: (suspiciously) Well, we each picked just one name, right?

JOE: Right.

JOSIE: But everyone has _two_ packages. Now, how did _that_ happen?

JOE: (shrugs his shoulders)Search me. It must have been Santa Claus. Now, how about if we all go outside and sing Christmas carols? (Joe leads his officers outside, and starts singing) Joy to the world, the Lord is come

All join in. People start streaming towards the police station, until it looks as if all the citizens of Bay City are in one place. Everyone stands there, singing together.)
FREEZE FRAME
A blessed Christmas to everyone.
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