Sally Reynolds, Author!........by Coralynn

Marilyn returns to the big house after listening to the jazz combo for an hour, as a great idea has just occurred to her.
She sees Celeste in the back yard, and yells over, "Celeste, let me try an idea out on you."
"Surely, dear," Celeste sits on a patio chair and Marilyn joins her around the patio table.
"I'm going to write a book!"
"Excellent. You have a lot of writing talent, Norma Jean."
"Ohhhh, that is so sweet of you to say, Celeste. You called me by my real name, too. But.....from now on we must think of me as Sally Reynolds. Won't be easy, but I think we'd better establish a new identity for me. Think William can forge me a birth certificate with that name and a new birthday and stuff like that?"
"I'm sure he can," Celeste agrees.
"Ok, then, here's what I do: I write a big bestseller titled "Confessions of A Sex Goddess" and it's really the story of my life."
"Sally Reynolds isn't known to BE a sex goddess, though, dear."
"I KNOW! So I'll use the name 'anonymous'....then, I'll change the names of all the characters, but everyone will recognize the story. They'll know who it's really about. Everyone will buy it, and I'll get a lot of money with which to pay Bethia back for all the money she's spent on me! Is that an elegant idea?"
"It could work," Celeste comments, "though you'll have to tell your Agent who you are, won't you?"
"Sure! I'll tell him or her that I'm Sally Reynolds, and they can make the million dollar checks out to that name. If I have a birth certificate, and, hmmm, I'd better get a driver's license, too......well, who will know?"
"I can see you have it all thought out!" Celeste smiles, "When are you going to write it?"
"This very minute!" Marilyn jumps up and runs into the house.


MM is busy writing her autobiography on a legal pad when Eleanor knocks on her door.
"Come in!" Marilyn yells.
"How are you this morning, all rested?" Eleanor asks.
"Oh yes! Beth and I took a walk to the Grand Union, and look what we found on the front of the NYTimes!" she tosses the paper over to Eleanor.
"WOW!" Eleanor exclaims after reading it for a few minutes, "They've found you already?"
"Not really," Marilyn stops writing and motions for Eleanor to sit on one of the chairs.
"See....if I hadn't died, but gone into hiding instead, I would be 76 years old. No way do I look 76!! So I'm going to call myself Sally Reynolds and they'll just have to think I'm a Marilyn-look-alike. Plus, now get this one: I've just started writing a book, which I'm going to call "Confessions of a Sex Goddess" by anonymous. I'll get a literary Agent and in no time the book will be published and I'll be rich. That way I can make millions of dollars and pay Beth back all the money she's spent on me! Like the idea?"
"That sounds pretty good, Marilyn, errr Sally, but is it safe to get an Agent who may have a lot of nosy questions?"
"You have a good point, El. I could just send the manuscript to Publishers, and cut out the Agent part of it, couldn't I?"
"I think it would work. Once a publisher gets a look at what you're writing he or she will jump at the chance to publish it."
"OK, then, that's what I'll do."
"But Marilyn, it would be a lot easier if you wrote it on the computer."
"Could I DO that? Beth said you were an expert about computers. Would you teach me how?"
"Gladly!" Eleanor is getting into the spirit of the thing. "In fact, we could buy you your own computer."
"Really?! I thought they cost millions of dollars!" Marilyn's eyes grow round.
"Not anymore they don't!" Eleanor laughs, "Let me run to the electronics store and get you one right now. Wanna come?"
"I sure do!! But Eleanor, you can't be spending money on me, too!"
"Just try and stop me!" Eleanor heads for the bedroom door, followed by MM.

In no time, considering how Eleanor tends to speed, they arrive at the huge electronics store.
As they enter the building and head for the computer area, the salesmen and other customers stare.
Eleanor halts in front of a display of computer components, reading the descriptions and the prices.
Three salesmen appear at once, asking "Can I help you?"
"Yes, Sally is in the market for a computer. What's your best value today?" Eleanor inquires.
All three men turn and gape at "Sally."
The oldest of the men is looking at her intently, "Has anyone ever told you that you look......"
"I know!" MM says in a disgusted tone, "Do you know what a burden it IS to look just like Marilyn Monroe? I would give anything to look different, but nature cursed me with this!" and she swings her right hand downward over her face and body.
Eleanor is having a hard time restraining her laughter.
Two of the salesmen are tapped by other customers and have no choice but to walk away.
The remaining man, the oldest of the three, who very well may be old enough to have seen MM's movies when they were first-runs, has a skeptical look on his face.
MM can't help but notice it and states, "I'm here for a computer, Mr. Electronics Store employee, now are you going to sell me one or not?"
He all but jumps backward at that blast.
As he explains the various possibilites to Eleanor, he avoids looking at Marilyn, which is using up all his willpower.
Eleanor decides on a grouping of components and wraps up the sale.

Several other employees knock themselves out volunteering to transport the boxes to their car.
After the women are back in the car with the doors shut, Eleanor laughs, "You sure do know how to handle yourself, girl!"
MM grins, "Practice, practice, practice!"

Marilyn and Eleanor arrive home and have Jerry and John help them carry the boxes into Marilyn's room.
Eleanor begins to unpack the contents, which look very strange to Marilyn.
"Sure hope I can learn how to make one of these work!" she worries out loud.
"I can teach you, don't worry. We'll start small and work up from there."
MM hears voices out in the living room, and goes out to see who it could be.
William is there, as is Daniel, who is standing there with a black eye and a bruise on his chin.
She chuckles when he throws a dirty look her way.
"William!" she draws him aside, "Do you think you can forge a birth certificate for me? I need one....I may shave a few yrs off my age, too. Why not? Can you do it for me?"
"I think so," he answers, and hands her a piece of paper and a pen, "Just write down what you want on it."
"OK! I'm Sally Jane Reynolds, born June 5, 1970, that makes me 32, so I drop four years, and I was born in Middletown, CT. That sounds like a real person, doesn't it?"
"As real as anyone else," he smiles at her, "you need names for your parents, too."
"Let's see: Leonard and Flossie. Do they sound ordinary enough?"
"Very!" William is amused, "Looks like you're adjusting to your new timeframe with amazing speed, Marilyn!"
"I spent all those years acting, William, so it's second nature to me to take a new identity. The biggest difference in this new one is that I'm going to be highly intelligent and no one is going to be able to take advantage of me, manipulate me, abuse me, you know, stuff like that!"
"Looks like you landed in the right household for that! Spend any time around Eleanor and you'll turn into an Amazon!"
Marilyn muses, "Hmmmm, an Amazon. I like the sound of that! Eleanor was a Queen, though, wasn't she? And YOU....." she points to William, "I am overwhelmed by who YOU are! Whoever thought little Norma Jean Baker would meet William the Conqueror? What were the chances??"
William laughs, "I'm just an ordinary person like everyone else, but.....don't let the others know. I have an image to maintain!"
She plants a kiss on his cheek and goes back into her room where Eleanor is setting up the computer.

"I like him!" she announces.
Eleanor has wires going in every direction and cables and cords, but straightens up and wipes the hair out of her face, "Who?"
"William!" Marilyn answers, "He's a nice grandfatherly like man, sort of like Santa Claus!"
Eleanor laughs, "I agree, he has softened somewhat from when we all first arrived in this country. He was like a Dictator till he found out that the rest of us weren't that impressed with his authority."
"You did a good job!" Marilyn comments, "Because I think he's an old sweetie!"
Marilyn gets a concerned look on her face.
"What's the matter with Luke? He doesn't talk. He plays the piano like an angel, but he won't speak! Was he born with an impairment?"
"I think he's struck speechless by your beauty," Eleanor confides, "He needs encouragement. You could always invite him out to see a movie or just over here to talk, or go over there....or....."
Marilyn is remembering hearing Luke play the piano,
"He plays Moonlight Sonata as if he WAS Beethoven!"
"OK, Marilyn, it looks like you're too smart for us. We didn't want to send you into a tailspin, but....he is Beethoven!"

Marilyn's eyes are big and her mouth drops,
"Ohhh my, this is even more exciting than when I found out who you and William are! No offense, Eleanor, dear, but you were just Royalty, whereas Luke composes music.....masterpieces!"

"No offense taken. I agree with you!"
Marilyn sits on the bed and takes several excited deep breaths.
"Hey, Marilyn, I mean, Sally, wanna grab that cord over there and thread it through here....?"
The women set to work.


After two hours of showing Marilyn how to use the computer, Eleanor returns to the living room.
William has fallen asleep with the Sunday paper draped across his form, which is in the fully extended lounger with the lever on the side.
She lays an afghan over him.
"Whaaaaaaa..." he wakes up.
"Sorry, William, I didn't mean to wake you. I just wanted to make sure you weren't cold."
"Thanks, Eleanor. Very considerate of you, but I didn't plan to fall asleep, so it's just as well. By the way, what do you make of John and Daniel going after each other the way they did?"
Eleanor sits on the other chair with the lever on the side, "Those two have never had an easy relationship, and since Rose has come into their lives, it just gets worse with each passing day."
"What's up with her anyway? She looks like she's been drawn through a knothole!"
"I think the strain is beginning to show, that's all," Eleanor downplays Rosemond's obvious change in appearance.
"Well, I never in the world expected all this commotion over one woman! You'd think she was the only female on earth! Why can't one of them just get interested in someone else? Such tomfoolery I never saw!"
Eleanor pats his left leg, which is still in the reclining mode.
"Sometimes you men get into contests with each other, and even when they make no sense, you guys just keep it going because you can't resist winning. That could have something to do with it."
"Well," William pulls the recliner back into an upright position, "Somebody had better 'win' as you say pretty darned quick or I'm going to have to step in!"
"I saw how you stepped in," Eleanor grins, "Did it work?"
William stands up and folds the paper, putting it on an end table, "Next time I go into that pool it had better be on purpose!"
Eleanor laughs and William can't help joining her.

Marilyn rushes into the living room with several papers which have printing on them.
"LOOK!" she says excitedly, "I have 15 pages written already! Here, take a look!"
Eleanor reads over the first page, then hands it off to William.
Marilyn stands there, scrutinizing their faces, hoping for a favorable expression.
"This stuff is HOT!" Eleanor concludes when she finishes.
William soon reaches the end of the 15th page, and, handing them all back to Marilyn, exclaims, "Do they actually print stuff like that?"
"Sure!! This is nothing! Wait till I get to the part where I pose nude for that Calendar!" Marilyn tells him, grinning.
"As Luke would say: 'MEIN GOTT!'"
"Speaking of Luke, what do you think I should do? Call him on the phone and invite him to a movie or a concert?"
William realizes this is a great lead-in, and tells her, "Yes! The poor man needs to get out. He spends too much time with Henry over in the Castle. Henry is busy working away on settting all 9 of Luke's Symphonies to words!"
"NO!" Marilyn is aghast, "That would ruin them! Tell Luke to stop him!"
"You might want to suggest that yourself, Marilyn, when you take him to the movies!" Eleanor suggests.

William gives Marilyn a little shoulder hug, "You know, Marilyn, I used to think that Bethia was the only naturally pleasant woman in our household. Now we have two of you."
"HEY," Eleanor objects, "I'm pleasant!!"
William shakes his head and goes outside to rake up the leaves.

Marilyn goes back into her room and writes for a few more hours and prints out another 30 pages.
Sticking her head out of her room, she spies Bethia in the kitchen chopping vegetables.
"Bethia, when you have a few minutes, would you read this and tell me what you think of it?"
Bethia sweeps all the veggies into a container and puts it in the microwave.
"I can read it right now. This is your autobiography, right? The one Eleanor told me you are writing under the pen-name Anonymous."
"Yes!" Marilyn hands the pages to Bethia and sits at the table.
It takes a little longer this time because there are 45 pages to read, but Bethia is obviously doing so avidly. Her face lights up, she smiles, she laughs, her mouth gapes, all manner of expressions play across her face.
Marilyn is watching her with anticipation.
Finally, Bethia finishes the last page and exclaims, "That is SO HOT! And this is all true?"
"Every bit of it," Marilyn assures her, "Not one thing is made up."
"You know, Marilyn, with these 45 pages, you might want to contact a Publisher right now and tell them that's just a sample of what the book contains. If I were a publisher, I would snatch it up in a heartbeat!"
"You would?"
"This stuff is riveting!" Bethia is very convincing.
"We can't let everyone know about it, though," Marilyn lowers her voice, "Especially that creep Daniel. Since he came here from what year was it, 1650?, he doesn't know a lot about me, but if he caught on to this book project, he might blackmail me and cause trouble."
"It's always wise to keep Daniel out of your affairs, out of your life," Bethia agrees.
Marilyn ponders, then asks, "Do you think I should ask Luke to go to the movies or a concert with me? Would it be too forward of me to suggest it?"
"You should ask him," Bethia says firmly, "If you wait for him, you'll be an old lady by the time...."
"But we aren't going to get any older!" Marilyn jumps up from her chair, "Remember what William said? Or was it Eleanor? Well, somebody told me we won't."
"I wonder how it'll be when everyone else gets old and wrinkley and we stay in our 30s, though," Bethia wonders aloud.
"It'll be Elegant!!" Marilyn says in glee as she scoops up all the pages and takes them back into her room.


Who's Your Daddy??............by Terri


Rosamond paused outside of Marilyn's door. The door was open slightly. She hesitated, then knocked gently.
"If you are a female, enter!"
Rosamond tiptoed in.
Marilyn looked up."Well, I heard there was quite a ruckus downstairs."
Rosamond sighed. "Those two have been at it ever since Daniel came to us."
Marilyn patted the bed. "Sit down, honey. You look like you want girl talk."
Rosamond looked down. "I have a rather indelicate question to ask you. I hope you don't mind."
Marilyn grinned and shuffled her papers. "My life is an open book so to speak. Or will be!"
Rosamond whipped out the current issue of the Playboy magazine and opened it up to the centerfold.
Marilyn laughed. "Mighty nice, honey. I like that water on your body...really sensuous. Who was your photographer? Scavullo?"
Rosamond said, "I had no idea it was even being taken. It is a long story. My question is this--when you posed nude in 1949 for that calendar, did it hurt your career?"
Marilyn smiled, "Honey, that was the best career move I ever made! It is what springboarded me to stardom! No publicity is about the worst thing you have. Enjoy the moment, and don't be surprised if you end up a poster."
"Like Farrah Fawcett?"
"Ferrett who?"
"Never mind. Thank you!"
Rose stood up to go. Marilyn looked at her carefully. "Be sure to take your calcium."
"Why-why would you say that?"
"You're just looking a little peaked, dear.'

Rosamond got dressed in a hurry. She wanted to leave before anyone saw her.
As she was sneaking out the kitchen, William saw her.
"Where are you going, Rosamond?"
"I have plans, William. They don't include anyone from this household."
William put his hands on the table and leaned forward. "Well, chicky, you had better make some plans."
Rosamond blanched. " I don't know what you mean, William."
"I mean this household in an uproar because you can't make up your mind. I will not put up with the brawling that is going on with those two men. It's like the Trojans and the Greeks going to war over Helen of Troy."
Rosamond fired back. "OK, if you are pushing me, I choose NEITHER!! I am going out tonight, 'Daddy'. You and Moms don't wait up for me!"
With her cheeks blazing, she walked out the door and fired up the Mazda. Rosamond had no intention of staying out all night, but she just might do it to spite William. What a dictator, she thought. As if I don't have enough problems!
William thundered and called her a nasty name as she drove out.

John and Daniel each went to their respective rooms and changed. They met up in the hall. Daniel was holding a Kleenex to his nose, John was holding an icepack to his eye. They both started to laugh and in a briref moment of camaraderie, Daniel put his arm around John's shoulder and said, "Aye, like old days, right, Johnny?"
John took the icepack away. "How does it look?"
"Like mine!"
They both laughed.
"You do know that this is only a temporary cease fire, don't you? I am sure we wil scrap again!" Daniel said.
"Yeah, as long as SHE is in the house."
Daniel asked, "Hey, John, who's Romulus and Remus..." as their voiced faded down the hall.

Rosamond pulled up to Billy Bob's ranch and parked her car. She bounced up the stairs and rang the bell. Juanita answered.
"Why, Miss Rose! What a nice surprise! Was Mr. Montgomery expecting you?"
"Yes, Juanita, we had a dinner date."
"Well, he's out by the barn readying the stall for the new arrivals. Go on down there."
Rosamond walked over the pasture and down to the stables.
Billy Bob was cleaning out some stalls and pitching hay into them. He had his back to her and was shirtless.
Rosamond couldn't help but stare. She sang softly,
She thinks my tractor's sexy
It really turns her on

And Billy Bob turned around, smiled and sang,
Well, she ain't into cars or pickup trucks
But if it runs like a Deere, man, her eyes light up

They laughed and Billy Bob grabbed her and smiled.
"How goes the arrangements for the new horses?"
"I expect them by tomorrow afternoon."
Rosamond walked over to Merovin's stall. "He sure is getting big. A sturdy little fellow. Mommy Lucinda must be very proud."
Billy Bob said softly, "Isn't that what it's all about, Rose? Life going on."
Rose looked him in the eyes and said, "Yes, it is. When life hands you a lemon, make lemonade."
Billy Bob pitched the last hayful in the stall. He put his arm around her and she hugged his waist.
"I'll shower and then we can go out to dinner."
Rosamond waited in Billy Bob' s room while he showered. She looked at his dresser, where there was a photo album. She opened it up and saw pictures of BillyBob growing up with his parents, and a girl that was probably his sister and some boys his own age. Cousins, the picture said at the bottom. There were about five pages that were blank and then the pictures resumed again. Hmm, that's odd, Rosamond thought.
Billy Bob turned the water off. Rosamond quickly closed the book. She didn't want it to look like she was snooping.
He came out of the bathroom freshly shaved and dressed.
"Honey, you look great in my room. Like you belong here!'
Rosamond blushed and said, "Well, we'd better get a move on. Talk like that and I may never want to leave!"
Billy Bob grinned. "That's the idea!"
"Oh, no, you promised me dinner!"
Billy Bob grabbed the keys. "Let's go! Got something to show you!"
As they walked outside, Billy Bob led her over to something shrouded. He pulled the cover off and there under it was a classic 1959 T-bird, two seater in turquoise and white.
Rosamond gasped. "Oh, Billy Bob how adorable!"
He laughed and said,, "Well, that's not quite the word I would use to describe it! I had it for a while, restored it myself. So we don't have to take the pickup truck!"
He opened the cardoor for Rosamond and they headed out to Long Island.

As they breezed along the Long Island Expressway, Rosamond asked, "Just where is this place we are going to dinner at?"
"It's a little out of the way place that is very trendy. My cousin owns it."
"A TEXAS cousin owning a place out here?"
"No, actually it is the New York branch of the family. My mother was born in Southold. Do you know it?"
Rosamond was sipping spring water and started to cough. "I've been up that way a few times. What-what was her family's name?"
"Her maiden name was Gwinnett."
Rosamond started to choke on her water.
"Are you OK, babe?"
"Yes, just a little hard to swallow." Oh, boy, was it hard to swallow!
Could Billy Bob be related to Daniel and John? Maybe even a descendant?
They pulled into the parking lot. Rosamond looked up. No! It couldn't be! Not THIS restaurant! Surely it has to be the one next to it.
Billy Bob opened the car door. Rosamond said to herself, Gotta think quick, gotta think quick..
Billy Bob grabbed her hand. "Come on, I want you to meet my cousin Jameson. He has a real head for business. He's the one who got Uncle Ned to make the Dew Drop Inn what it is today."
Rosamond started to hyperventilate. Calm down, calm down, she thought. After all, I only saw Jameson for a few minutes. He can't possibly remember me...lots of people look alike...my hair is combed back...maybe I should put my sunglasses on...
Billy Bob opened the door.
Jameson Osgood was standing by the bar talking to the bartender.
"Jameson!"
"William!"
William?
Billy Bob turned and explained to Rosamond, "My New York relatives didn't approve of Mama marrying a wildcatter from Texas. They refuse to call me anything but William. Snobby Long Islanders, I guess!" He laughed.
Jameson turned to Rosamond. He held out his hand. A glimmer or recognition crossed his face.
Rosamond thought to herself, You are an actress. An Emmy winner. So act!
Jameson looked at her. "Don't I know you from somewhere? Have you ever been in here before?"
Rosamond drew on all her acting skills and flashed Jameson a smile. "I don't believe we have ever met. I am Rosamond Clifford. Oh, I know, maybe you have seen me on As the Planet Turns."
Billy Bob put his arm around Rosamond. "Rose just won the Emmy for her role. I am sure that's where you've seen her."
Rosamond looked around. "What a charming place! I've never seen such a lovely view. Have you owned it long?"
Jameson shook his head. "Only about six months. I have really turned it around. I grew up around here."
Billy Bob leaned over and said in a stage whisper. "Jameson comes from old money. The Long Island Gwinnetts, you know. Even though he is an Osgood. He has a townhouse in New York City and a condo out on Southold. Also a beach house for the weekends."
Rosamond said to herself, Keep it up, you're doing fine. Act, act, act!
"Really? How fortunate! Do you use it much?"
Jameson grinned. "Oh, it's just a little hideaway."
Billy Bob smiled, "When he's hiding away from MRS. OSGOOD! And I don't mean his mother."
Jameson and Billy Bob clapped each other on the back.
Rosamond felt faint. "Excuse me a minute."
She rushed to the bathroom and got sick.

Jameson looked at Billy Bob and asked, "Where did you find that little peach?"
Billy Bob sat down at the bar. "She came into the Dew Drop Inn one night and we both had too much to drink. She was at the bar on a mission, trying to drown the memory of some low-down good for nothing. We danced and she came back the next day for her car and her shoes. We started talking and the rest is history."
"How was Austin?"
"Got about 10 new horses. You should come out to the ranch, it's really coming along."
"I remember Aunt Tessie leaving you a run-down flophouse out there. You've really turned it around. I saw your ranch featured in the Thoroughbred magazine."
"Yep! I plan to enter one of the three year olds in the Derby next May."
"I can't imagine you in a tophat and tails at Churchill Downs!"
"Lucinda just foaled a beautiful little stallion. Bet he goes all the way to the Triple Crown."
Jameson hesitated. "Ever hear from you-know-who?"
Billy Bob picked up his drink and said, "No-and I hope I never do. Good riddance!"

Rosamond quickly washed her face and applied fresh lipstick. Oooh, this is going to be tough. She came out and walked towards Jameson and Billy Bob.
Jameson whispered to Billy Bob. "I swear, I have seen her before this."
Billy Bob whispered back, "Sorry, this angel is one of a kind."
He took Rosamond' s hand and led her out to the deck. A nice seabreeze blew through. Rosamond ordered a seafood salad and Billy Bob had the crabcakes.
"Is that all you want, Sugah?"
"Yes, I am trying to watch what I eat."
Anything to drink? A Tequila Sunrise?"
"No, just spring water with a twist of lemon."
Jameson stared at the two of them laughing and talking on the deck. Dang, I know her from somewhere...just got to think of where.

After dinner, Billy Bob walked over to Jameson.
"Thanks, cuz...that was terrific."
Jameson motioned Billy Bob over. "Here. I'm not using it."
He handed Billy Bob the key to the beach house.
Billy Bob smiled, "Thanks alot, cuz!"


Luke Gets Lucky.......by Coralynn

Bethia and Eleanor are clustered around Marilyn, encouraging her.
"Pick up the phone and call him!" Bethia begs.
"You know he'll say yes, Marilyn, so call him!" Eleanor adds.
"OK, here goes......" she dials the number over at the Castle.
It rings once...twice....three times, then a booming male voice comes over the wire, "Castle of Jazz here! Henry speaking!"
"Oh Hi Henry," Marilyn says, "Is Luke at home?"
"LUKE!! PHONE for you!!" she hears Henry yell. She holds the receiver away from her ear to protect her hearing. Bethia and Eleanor hear Henry yell and laugh.
"Castle of Jazz indeed!"
Luke picks up the receiver. Not knowing who is on the other end of the line, he speaks with no hesitation, "Hello, this is Luke. Who's calling?"
"It's me, Marilyn from next door. Remember? I'm hoping you're free tomorrow night. Would you like to go to the movies with me? There's a very cute one that everyone is raving about; has something to do with a Greek Wedding."
"I....I'd.....love......to," Luke stammers.
"Can you be over here for dinner tomorrow night? We can leave from here. I don't have a car because I don't have my drivers' license yet. Do you have a car?"
"No, sorry......."
"That's OK! William can drive us!"
"Good....."
"OK, then, it's a date!"
"Yes......"
They both hang up.
Marilyn frowns, "Why can't that man speak? He plays the piano and composes music like a vertible God, but he's awfully tongue-tied. Has he been like that right along as long as you've known him?"
"We only met him a couple months ago, actually," Eleanor tells her, "He was living in a blue house in the upper flat. Grace, Bethia's rescue, lives in the lower flat. She's so afraid of men that we suggested he move into the Castle with Henry."
Eleanor knows full well this isn't the whole story, but why give Marilyn information that makes Luke look ridiculous?
"Did he speak OK when you met him?"
"Better than he does now. But.....you realize, for some reason being around you overloads his circuits."
"Overloads his circuits? That's cute!! Hope he gets over it. I don't want to play speech therapist to a grown man. Who's Grace, and why do you call her Bethia's rescue."
Bethia groans,
"John and I went back to our old hometown, Southold, to get that miserable Daniel out of 1650, because we found out he was going to be murdered by the husband of one of the women he'd been having an affair with....and we found that Grace was about to marry my old husband, brutal Caleb, so we tricked her and brought her here to save her life."
"WOW! Was she grateful? I should think she would be!"
"Nooooo, actually, she was more confused than anything else. As hard as I tried, I never got her mind straight about Caleb's evil ways, and after she arrived here she proceeded to act like a mental case!"
"And now you can't send her back?"
"No!! Caleb would poison her the way he did several of his other wives."
"He didn't poison YOU, though," Marilyn's expression is one of concern.
"Didn't get the chance," Bethia grins, "My buddies whisked me out of there before he could."
"You guys should all get together and write a book!" Marilyn says with awe, "I mean.....what adventures!"
"Maybe someday one of us will!" Eleanor states, "Not that anyone would believe it!"

"Believe what?" John asks, as he and Daniel and William come in the house from the back yard.
"All the adventures you guys have had!" Marilyn answers.
Daniel looks around for Rosamond, "Where is she, Eleanor?
"Where is WHO?"
"You know who!! Where is she?"
"I am deliriously happy to inform you that I don't KNOW!" she says through clenched teeth.
"She tells you everything. I know you know!" Daniel insists.
Marilyn is taking this all in and if Daniel were looking at her instead of glaring at Eleanor, he would see what was about to transpire.
"Cough it up! Where is she? Out with that miserable cowboy?"
Marilyn has had about enough, walks over to him and lands a hard punch to his midsection.
"OWWWWW! Damn! Why'd you do that?!"
"Think it over, you creep! Next time I'll aim even lower!" Marilyn flounces off into the living room.

By this time John has poured himself a cup of coffee and is watching all this with amusement. At last, a real firebrand woman other than just Eleanor! This one not only talks tough, she also hits!
William has also gone into the living room and smiles broadly at Marilyn.
"Where'd you learn to punch like that?" he asks her.
"I'm not sure! I always knew I was physically strong, but till now I've never had the chance to use it!"
"Well done, well done!" he laughs.

Eleanor emits a loud squeal of excitement, which is not her wont.
She rushes into the living room, carrying the much-read, battered Sunday paper.
"Marilyn, read this!" she exclaims as she plopps the newspaper in MM's lap.
Marilyn reads the item Eleanor is pointing to and giggles, "Ya think I should try it?"
"YES! You could win five thousand dollars if you win, for one thing!"
"That would be wonderful! I could start paying you and Bethia back...."
"We don't care about your paying us back, Marilyn, we just want this for YOU."

Marilyn shows the newspaper item to William, who adjusts his reading glasses, looks it over and nods in the affirmative.
John is getting curious and sits on the couch, "What is it?"
Marilyn holds the paper in front of her face and reads, "Tuesday evening at the address below, there is an Open Call for Celebrity Look-Alikes. You don't have to be employed as such, just come to this address, and you may be picked to appear on TV in our Look Alike Contest, which will be televised at 8pm." Marilyn looks further, "It says to be there at 6 sharp."

"GO! You know you'll win!" John tells her.
"Ya think??" Marilyn laughs.
Bethia, who has just come in from the kitchen after hearing the excited talk, picks up the paper, looks it over and exclaims, "YES! And you can wear that famous dress you wore in 'the Seven Year Itch'...you know, the one that blew upward when you stood over that grate?"
"Ohhhh I loved that dress," Marilyn exudes, "But where would I get one like it?"
Bethia stands tall and mocks herself, "Bethia of the Marilyn Monroe Dress Collection at your service, Madame!!"
Marilyn stands up, does a little dance and announces,"OK then, watch out world, here comes Sally Reynolds, look-alike Queen!!"



"Beach baby, Beach baby, Give Me Your Hand...in Marriage!"...........by Terri

Billy Bob and Rosamond pulled out of the restaurant parking lot. The air was balmy and smelled of sea air. Rosamond stretched out her legs.
"Can this night be anymore beautiful or perfect?"
Billy Bob smiled, "Maybe."
Rosamond looked out the window. "We're going in the opposite direction of New York City. The water is on the other side."
"Got a surprise to show you."
They passed the old signpost and the lighthouse. Rosamond bit her lip to keep herself quiet. Five hundred feet ahead, there it loomed. The grey clapboard beach house. How well she remembered it!
"What is this?"
"This, my dear, is Jameson's beach house. He wanted me to check on something. Would you like to come in and see it?"
Rosamond thought to herself, yeah, like I've never seen it before. Acting is second nature to me anymore.
They bounded up the steps. Billy Bob took the key out and unlocked the door. He turned the light on. Everything was exactly the way she and John had left it. Jameson must have been here because John's check on the table was gone--thank goodness.
Wood was freshly stacked by the fireplace.
"Jameson has a caretaker across the street who looks in on it and replenishes things like the wood and keeps it stocked in staples. I think Jameson uses this for a little lovenest. He's married to Anastacia , and she is not the easiest person to get along with."
He showed her all the rooms. When they got to the bathroom at the far end, he looked behind the door. "I smell perfume on this robe! Isn't that a co-incidence, it smells just like yours, darlin'. "
Rosamnd was trying to keep her voice steady. "Yes, but it is a popular scent. Arsenic. I've used it for years."
Billy Bob laughed. "I think you mean Opium or maybe it was Poison."
Rosamond grabbed his hand and led him out of the room. "Yes, that's it. Well, we'd better head back to Chappaqua."
Billy Bob stopped. "I thought you weren't in a hurry to get back there. I know this stop wasn't planned, but Jameson said I could use it anytime and he gave me the key."
Rosamond looked around. Everywhere she looked it was as if she could see John's presence.
Billy Bob said, "I have to check the car in his garage. It's a dune buggy. Jameson wanted me to get the keys out of the ignition. I'll be right back. Make yourself at home."
Make yourself at home! Like I didn't already! She ran her fingers over the couch pillows and smiled. Her cell phone rang. Darn I never should have turned it on!
She looked out the window and could see Billy Bob open the garage. She answered cautiously. "Hello?"
Daniel was on the other line. "WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU AND WHY AREN'T YOU HOME?"
Rosamond said calmly, "Hello to you too. I decided to get away after that disgusting performance you and John put on this afternoon."
"ARE YOU THERE WITH HIM?"
"Him who?"
"MR. BILLY BOB MONTGOMERY, THAT'S WHO!" then there was a muffled, "Stop it, I'm trying to find out..."
"Stop yelling, I can hear you all over the house...."
"Give me that phone, I'll get to the bottom of this....."
William got on the phone. "WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?"
Rosamond said, "I just had this conversation with Mr. Testosterone, thank you very much, I don't need to have it with you, Tubby!"
"Well, Little Missy, you have exactly a half hour to get your bottom home!"
Rosamond was furious. "Or what, William? You will take me out to the woodshed and tan my hide? Turn me over your knee and spank me? I didn't think you were that kind of guy! Careful what you say, I could do donuts on the rosebed and never bat an eye."
"If you don't get home, you will be one sorry little girl...."
"William, I am not fourteen years old. I have sustained the abuse of my parents, the treatment at the hands of Henry, the birth of a child, time travel and the old switcheroo by the Twins from Hell. Read my lips! YOU DON"T SCARE ME!"
"If you are not home by 10:30 I'll....."
Click! Rosamond switched the phone off just as Billy Bob came in.
Rosamond said, "You're right, Mr. William Montgomery, I don't have to go home."


Underneath her cool exterior, Rosamond was seething. How dare they question me or tell me what to do! Little girl, my arse!
Billy Bob went to the wine rack and selected a nice white chardonnay.
He had a fire going. He went through the CD's and picked out Anita Baker.
"I love her stuff, " he said.
Rosamond looked about ready to scream, this was so deja vu.
Billy Bob poured two glasses of wine and handed one to Rosamond.
She asked him, "So your mother was a Gwinnett?"
"Yes, where have I heard that name before?"
"Maybe from Daniel--his last name is Gwinnett."
"I'll be! Wonder if he's related. My mom has the family history stuff. I guess they settled in Southold in the 1600's. I didn't pay much attention to it. Supposedly there was some family scandal. Some Gwinnett was a real scoundrel, took on half the women in town. A real stud!" He laughed. "Wonder if I got any of his genes!"
Rosamond thought, Probably, I know I sure did!
Billy Bob continued. "Well, I hear tell my 9X great grandmother was a woman named
Mehitable Glover and this Daniel got her in the family way and when her father Elias realized the pregnancy was confirmed, he went looking for Mr. Gwinnett. Never did find him or what was left of him. He either hightailed it to Virginia because the entire male populace was after him and the female populace was after him --for different reasons---or one of the men caught up to him and he's now buried in a grave in Southold. Heard a Mr. Bradley finished him off catching him with his wife. But you know how these stories get twisted 350 years later. Anyhow, this Mehitable refused to name her baby Glover, she kept hoping Gwinnett would come back and marry her. So the family kept the name. He had a brother, I never knew his name, who up and disappeared. But enough talk about me. I really don't know too much about you, Sugah. Where you are from, your parents...."
Rosamond sighed, then plunged in with her elaborate web of half-truths and out and out lies.
"Not much to tell. My parents both descended from the upper class of Britain. My ancestress, one of them, was mistress to King Henry Beauclerc and her daughter was the mistress of Henry II. So I guess you can say we know our way around the royalty. I don't think too much of the new..I mean present...ones. Too much German blood. I am sure the Plantagenets are rolling over in their graves over it. I was born in Somerset. Anyways, my family used to own Loverlock castle. I went to boarding schools in the English countryside and I never lost my accent. I had a falling out with my parents and haven't spoken to them in years. My mom is very domineering and my father is nice and sweet but the spine of a jellyfish. He didn't approve of my lifestyle when he found out and I suppose by now he has cut me out of his life."
"What lifestyle is that?"
Rosamond thought quickly, "Why, an actress of course. He thought they were one step above being a kept woman. So I ran away to New York to seek my fame and fortune.'
"And to get away from the..the older man that died?"
"Yes. But please...no more talk and no more questions."
She took Billy Bob's wineglass down and moved closer to him.
He held her in his arms and said, "My heart is lost to you. You have captured me completely. That night at the Dew Drop when I saw you there dancing, I was mesmerized. That was some kind of magic."
Rosamond put her fingers to Billy Bob's lips and whispered, "That's enough talk, Mr. Montgomery!"


Ahhhhhhh Monday........by Coralynn

"Celeste, you make the best scrambled eggs on the planet!" Marilyn says as she digs into her breakfast.
"Secret recipe, my dear," Celeste grins.
"These are good," Bethia agrees.
"Do you have a secret recipe for making toast, too?" Eleanor asks, "Because yours tastes 10 times better than the toast I make!"
Celeste chuckles, "I love to cook for an appreciative clientele."
William joins the group, "Clientele? Seems we're all more like family, Celeste. You are the Grand Matriarch of the clan."
"Love the sound of that!" Celeste hands William his full plate.
"She is NOT!" breaks the train of conversation. John and Daniel have entered the kitchen.
"Is SO!!" Daniel yells.
"Is NOT!" John insists.
"What in thunderation is your problem, you two? If you don't stop fighting over Rose I'm going to have both of you neutered!" William thinks this is a great idea and smiles.
Daniel sits down by William and pulls on his shirt-sleeve, "She's out with that cowboy!"
"She's upstairs asleep! Can't be in two places at once, you dunce!" John retorts.
"Hey, that rhymes!" Marilyn comments.
"She is NOT upstairs!" Daniel starts up again.
"Is TOO!"
"Is NOT!"
William stands up and whacks them both on top of their heads, "GO take a look, then, and leave us to eat in peace! How can we properly enjoy our food with that nonsense?" then, turning to the women, asks, "Would one of you go up and see if Rose is asleep in her room so we can have some peace and quiet around here?"
Marilyn jumps up, races up the stairs, and a minute later comes down at a slower pace, shaking her head.

SEE?!" Daniel says, victoriously.
"She must have gone out for an early morning walk," Marilyn tries to cover for Rose.
"I think I saw her heading out from my bedroom window," Bethia catches on and plays along.
"I ran into her in the hall this morning," Eleanor adds.

Daniel sits down with a thump.
"You lie!" he looks accusingly at the women.
William is getting more disgusted by the moment, "Daniel, you are the main troublemaker around here. GO TO YOUR ROOM!"
Daniel's eyes grow big and his mouth drops open in surprise.
"To my room?!"
"YES! Either go to your room or the rest of us will take you there! Do you get my drift?"
He stamps off up the stairs to the room he and John share.

John turns to Eleanor, who he is sitting next to, and whispers, "You didn't really see her this morning, did you, El?"
Eleanor puts her index finger to her mouth and whispers back, "I'll never tell."


REACH OUT and TOUCH SOMEONE.........by Terri

The sunlight streamed in the windows. Sunbeams played on the pillow. Rosamond opened up her eyes. Where am I? She thought for a minute. She rolled over and saw Billy Bob sleeping. Oh, yes, Jameson's beach house. She looked at Billy Bob's handsome face. Thank goodness he isn't a snorer! Still sleeping, he flung an arm over her. She eased her way out from under it and got up. Whoa, I've got to get up slower!
She headed for the bathroom and almost got sick again. What is it with this? I didn't get sick with Will.
She put her robe on and gently shook Billy Bob.
"Honey? I'm going to put coffee on."
"Mmmm? un, huh..." He covered his head with the pillow.
Rosamond got the coffeemaker out and scooped coffee out. She picked up her cell phone and retrieved her voice mail.
"ROSE? WHERE THE HELL..."
Beep!
"HEY, YOU LITTLE...."
Beep!
"ROSAMOND CLIFFORD, THIS IS WILLIAM...."
Beep!
"IF YOU ARE WITH THAT COWBOY...."
Beep!
"I'LL KILL HIM AND YOU...."
Beep! (Idle threats, Rosamond dismissed it)
"ROSE, IF YOU EVEN THINK OF TOUCHING THOSE ROSES, YOU ARE ONE
SORRY LITTLE GIRL..."
Beep!
"YOU THINK I'M MAD NOW, WAIT UNTIL...."
Beep!
"Rose, this is Eleanor. Look, I don't care where you are or what you are doing, but
in the interest of household peace, the girls and I lied for you. We told the
men you went jogging this morning. So help us out and act appropriately.
Call me back!"
Beep!
"ROSE, HONEY, I"M SORRY I YELLED....."
Beep!
"AW, HELL, COME ON, SUGAH, LET'S KISS AND MAKE UP....."
Beep!
"Rose? I know you are probably out jogging and never go without your cellphone. If
you get this message, Marty wants us in at 1:00 PM for a taping. I can drive
you there, maybe we can stop for dinner..."
Beep!

Rosamond sighed and looked at the clock. Seven thirty. Plenty of time to get back.
She dialed Eleanor's cellphone.
"Eleanor?"
"Where the hell have you been all night? Your bed hasn't been slept in! Daniel and John are champing at the bit. The whole "is too, is not" routine."
Rosamond yawned. "I've been out, Eleanor. OK, do this. I have a 1:00 taping with John. Tell the guys you forgot, I went jogging and then drove straight to the gym that I had an appointment with a personal trainer and it will take several hours. I've got gym clothes stuffed in my car and I can change at...well, I can change. Don't worry, I've got it covered."
"But Rose..."
"Don't worry. It will be fine."

Rosamond poured two cups of coffee and found a carton of orange juice. The breakfast tray was right where John had left it. She felt a momentary sense of sadness and guilt. She loved John, she knew that. But was that enough? With Billy Bob she got unconditional love and most of all RESPECT.
She went into the bedroom and set the tray down on the dresser. She leaned over and kissed Billy Bob on the ear. I never noticed this before. His ears are shaped just like Daniel and John's.
Billy Bob smiled in his sleep and gradually woke up. "Good morning, Beautiful."
Rosamond smiled and brought the tray with coffee and climbed back into bed.
"I hate for this wonderful time to end but I have a taping at 1:00 PM today and it looks like it is going to go late into the evening." She sighed. "I'm tired just thinking of it!"
Billy Bob sat up and reached for his coffee cup.
He said, "Jameson swears he knows you from somewhere."
Rosamond almost dropped her coffeecup. "It's probably from TV. I hear that alot."
"Maybe. He's got a good memory, though."
Billy Bob looked at Rosamond and held her hands. She sat there in that terrycloth robe that she had worn only a few days ago--with John.
"Rosamond, will you marry me?"
She withdrew her hands. "Oh. Oh, Billy Bob, it's too soon. When I get married it has to be forever. I think we are moving too fast on this. Let's-let's just enjoy the moment and think about this later. I'm not saying yes. But I am not saying no."
Billy Bob said, "I guess I'll have to settle for that. I'll go take a shower and then we can leave."
Rosamond stood up and said, "I'll take one in the other bathroom. See you in a few minutes."
She went down the hall and stepped into a hot shower. She felt light-headed. If I can just hold out a few more weeks...
When she dressed and put a touch of make up on, Billy Bob was washing the dishes. Rosamond went in to make the bed, but Billy Bob had already made it.
She came out and smiled at him. "You are just too too perfect!"

When they reached the Double B ranch, Billy Bob said, "Can't you stay for a little while?" But Rosamond said, "I really have to get back. I have makeup and hair and wardrobe.."
She got in her car and gave Billy Bob a kiss and a hug goodbye. "I'll talk to you tomorrow."
He stood and watched her drive away and headed for the barn to see if the new arrivals were there yet, humming all the way.

Rosamond pulled into the gas station and filled the car up. She took her gym bag out and changed into shorts and a tank top and laced up her Reeboks. She put her hair in a ponytail and filled up her water bottle, thanked the salesclerk and drove off.

As she pulled into the driveway of Winding Willow, she took her water bottle and poured it over her back, her chest and her face. That should fool anyone!

When she pulled into the drive, she hid her dress and shoes in her gym bag. She hoisted it out of the rear storage. Daniel came thundering out.
"WHERE THE HELL WERE YOU? WHY DIDN'T YOU RETURN ANY OF MY MESSAGES SINCE LAST NIGHT?"
Rosamond looked at him calmly, "Excuse me, are you addressing me?"
"DAMN RIGHT I'M TALKING TO YOU!"
"Well, then, I guess you don't deserve an answer."
She pulled back the sliding glass doors on the first floor. Everyone else was sitting around the table.
"Don't worry, William's rose bushes are safe." They all let out an audible sigh.
"So where were you last night?" John asked. The three women looked up expectantly. John looked seriously interested.
"If you must know, I went into New York and did a little shopping."
John automatically felt in his hip pocket for his wallet.
"Then I had a doctor's appointment."
Bethia breathed out, "Oh, Rose, NO! NOT YET! I was supposed to go with you!"
John turned to Bethia. "What doctor's appointment?" To Rosamond he said, "Are you ill?"
Rosamond gave Bethia a look to kill but realized she was at fault because she made a bad choice of excuses. "No, I have allergies. The doctor wanted to do a bunch of tests and I told him no."
John narrowed his eyes. "Rosamond, I have never even so much as hear you sneeze. No watery eyes."
Rosamond said, "That's why I have a doctor, William."
Daniel was avidly listening to this exchange.
Eleanor prompted her. "So then what happened?"
Rose continued. "My car was acting up so I left it in the city and got a room for the night."
John said, "Why didn't you call? I would have picked you up."
Rosamond looked at Daniel and said, "With all the nasty voicemails and insinuations, I thought it would be better to stay away. By the way, Daniel, don't ever threaten me again. I had an 8:00 AM appointment at the gym with Biff the personal trainer and I just got home. Don't I look it?"
She fanned her face and pulled on her tank top as if to dry the perspiration. "So if the third degree is over, I would like to take a shower." Again, she thought.
She held her head high, ponytail swinging as she walked out.
Daniel snarled, "Any one believe that load of garbage raise your hands."
All the women raised their hands. John got up and slapped Daniel on the back of the head.
Marilyn, Eleanor, and Bethia let out an audible sigh and exchanged glances.
John said , "I've got to see her about the TV scripts." and left the room to go upstairs and talk to Rosamond.
Daniel left the room rubbing his head. DAMN, he thought. You'd think the mother of my baby would think of better excuses than that. He spied her gym bag. Stealthily he opened it up and saw a new dress, slingback pumps and pantyhose.
Daniel's temper began to flare but he got it under control. Mama don't get dressed up for nothin' , he thought. Little Miss Honkey Tonk was out with the Midnight Cowboy. He crammed the clothes back in the bag, marched out and dumped them in the pool.


Marilyn Gets Rolling........by Coralynn

Marilyn has been eagerly waiting for William to get back from taping his cooking show.
When she sees him pull into the drive, she rushes out.
He exits the car and holds up a file, announcing, "Got 'em for you."
He hands the file to her, and she eagerly looks at the papers in it.
"Not only a birth certificate, but a Social Security number? How can I thank you?"
"All in a days work, now.....let's get you over to the DMV to get your drivers license."
"NOW?"
"No time like the present!"

They get into William's car and drive to the DMV. Since it's about noontime, the parking lot has had quite a few hours to fill up.
They circle several times looking for a parking space.
"Has the population increased so much in the last 40 years that now the parking spaces are all jammed up?" she asks.
"Not exactly. But more families have more than one car. Look at US....we have 5 or 6 of them, or will have after you buy one."
"I'll be able to do that after my book is published," Marilyn says assuredly, "Because it'll be on the best seller list. Lots of money from that!!"
"Ohhhh, I think we can buy you a car before then," William tells her as he finally finds a spot someone is pulling out, and prepares to pull into it.
"But I won't have it in time for tonight, when Luke and I go to the movies," she says unhappily.
"Borrow mine!" William offers.
"How elegant! Thank you! I thought we were going to have to ask you to drive us there, but now....."

Since the parking space is quite a distance from the DMV building, they have a long walk.
Wiliam smiles as he asks her, "So you and Luke are going on a date? Hard to believe he got up the nerve to ask you."
"NO! I asked him!" she answers, "In fact, he has a problem saying more than one word at a time when he's around me! Ya know, William, I really like the guy, and I love the fact that's he really Beethoven, who would have thought!!....but he has to get over being so tongue-tied!"
"He'll come around when he finds out how easy you are to talk with," William is sure. "Just chat with him and hang on his every word!"
"'Word' is exactly right," Marilyn laughs, "What I'd like to hear are complete sentences! Oh, here we are. Big building. Oooooo, lots of people in front of us!"
They get in one long line and wait and wait and wait to get applications to fill out.
The sit down and do so.
Then they have to turn them in, and sit down and wait.
Then they have to wait for their name to be called.
Marilyn asks, "William, are all of you in 2002 to STAY, or are you going back to whenever it was you lived?"
"Hard question to answer. I know Eleanor and Rose and Bethia want to stay in the 21st Century indefinitely, as does John. Daniel has no choice. You don't like Daniel any better than I do, do you?"
"I loathe him!" she says with intensity, "He's horrible, just like some of the Studio Heads I had to deal with back in the 1950s. What a bunch of creeps!" she shudders.

"Sally Reynolds!" is called over the loud-speaker.
She jumps up and starts for the area where the drivers tests are given.
Noticing she's alone, she turns back and motions for William to come, too.
"You can ride in the car with me while I take the test, I think," she tells him as they walk together.
"We'll see if they let me!"
The DMV person who takes applicants out for their test drives looks up from the paperwork he's holding and looks shocked.
Marilyn thinks, 'oh no, not that again!'
"Miss......er......Reynolds?" he looks from the paperwork to Marilyn, back and forth several times.
"Yes!" she states boldly, trying to make eye contact with 'Gregory Smith' as it says on his nametag.
The man is obviously rattled. "Come this way....." then he notices William. "You can wait here."
"He comes with me!" Marilyn insists.
"I don't think that's policy...." the man opines.
"Sure it is!" she grabs William's hand as the three go out into the lot to where William's car has been parked.
Mr. Smith says nothing as they trudge through the lot. He is old enough to know just who this person resembles right down to her toes.
When they reach the car, Marilyn yanks open the back door and motions William in.
Mr. Smith gets in the passenger seat.
Marilyn gets in the drivers seat and puts the key into the ignition.
Smiling, she announces, "Fasten your seat belts, this is going to be a bumpy ride!"
William wants to groan but resists.
As Marilyn backs out of the parking spot, another car gets in close, ready to take it.
Marilyn doesn't have enough room in which to back out far enough.
William sits in the back seat thinking this is the exact scenario they experienced last Thanksgiving when Henry8 was on his way to the Macy Parade. That turned out badly, and he hopes this one doesn't as well.
Fortunately Mr. Smith gets out of the car and tells the driver to please give them room.
The driver is a red-faced burly fat guy who yells out, "How ya gonna make me? You and what Army?"
Diminuitive Mr. Smith is at a loss.
The big bully gets out of his car and advances on the smaller man.
Just as he is about to do God-knows-what to the poor frightened man, he feels a fist rammed suddenly into his gut.
Bending over in pain, he looks up to see......a vision.....he must have died and gone to heaven.....this is Marilyn Monroe.
But she doesn't sound like the purring sex kitten when she yells, "Ya heard the man ask ya nicely, now GIVE US SOME ROOM!" and get back behind the wheel, slamming her car door with great strength.
He complies.

"There! Now isn't that better?" she asks the two men. "You can always work out these problems if you talk honestly with another person."
Mr. Smith shakes his head in disbelief. William would have chuckled, but resists.

Marilyn completes the assigned route in record time, being a rapid driver. She does run a stopsign and doesn't use her signal indicators for a left turn, and exceeds most of the posted speed limits by about 15 mph.
Pulling into the DMV again, Mr. Smith announces, "Perfect! A perfect drivers test. Come in and wait for your temporary license. We'll need you to get a picture taken to put on the regular license, which will be mailed to you and you should receive it in 7 to 10 days."
Mr. Smith is glad he's memorized this because he doesn't want to say anything that might set this woman off. She hasn't passed the drivers test, but he doesn't have the courage to tell her. Her approach to conflict resolution is more like that brutal "SmackDown" show on TV!


Rosamond Twists.......by Terri


John bounded up the steps two at a time. He knocked on Rosamond's door. No answer. The shower was running. He waited on her bed for her to come out.
After about five minutes, Rosamond came out draped in a towel. She screamed.
"GET OUT OF HERE, YOU PIG!"
John jumped up. "ROSAMOND! Take it easy! It's me. John."
Rosamond calmed down. "I'm sorry. I am just jumpy where Daniel is concerned. He comes up with idle threats and I don't appreciate it."
'I just wanted to know if you wanted a ride to the taping, with your car acting up. What was wrong with it?"
Rosamond thought quickly. "The battery. I forgot to check the water. It wasn't charging right so I went to the station first thing this morning and got a new one. Only took a minute."
"Why didn't you call me for a ride?"
"I wanted a break."
Rosamond looked down at the floor. Terror struck her heart. Bethia's cat Misty was batting something around. It was the pregnancy test stick! Misty was swatting at it next to John's feet.
Rosamond almost dropped her towel. She ran after Misty and grabbed her and picked her up just as John was reaching for her.
"What does she have in her mouth?"
Rosamond's heart was thumping. She grabbed it out of Misty's mouth.
"Just a wrapper from a vitamin bottle. Bad kitty!"
Se handed the cat to John and threw the stick in the garbage.
"OK, so let's ride in together. Maybe dinner and a movie afterwards?"
"We'll see. I remember what happened last time we went out to dinner."
John smiled in reverie. "Yeah, that was a nice dinner! Especially the breakfast in the morning."
Rosamond looked out over the balcony and saw Daniel sitting in a lounge chair in his swim trunks. What a pain! Look at the swim toys that are just floating out there...
Reality kicked in and she realized that the red thing floating out there was her dress..and her red slingback pumps....and her pantyhose....and her strapless bra was hanging on the ladder..."
"THAT BASTARD!"
She threw off her towel and grabbed her robe, heedless of John sitting there.
She ran down the balcony stairs.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING GOING THROUGH MY GYM BAG?"

Daniel sat there on the lounge chair, sunglasses, suntan oil and a beer in his hand. A cigarette dangled out of his mouth.
Rosamond ran down there and started kicking his feet off the chaise lounge.
"OWW! What are you doing?"
Rosamond was livid. "WHAT ARE MY CLOTHES DOING IN THE WATER?"
Daniel raised his shades. "I haven't the foggiest. Oh, are those YOUR clothes?"
Rosamond ran to the side of the pool and fished out one of her pumps. She sat there and turned it upside down. Water ran out. "These were 300.00 shoes."
"And guaranteed John is still paying on them!"
Daniel picked up her bra. "Yep, that's about the size of it. It's yours, alright!" It dangled off his little finger.
Rosamond snatched it out of his hand. "That's the last time you'll ever touch my stuff, Daniel!" Then she sat down quickly and bent over to keep from fainting.
Daniel ran over to her, "Hey, babe, you allright? Should you be getting this excited, I mean, shouldn't you take it easy....?"
Rosamond sat up. "What are you talking about?"
Daniel sat next to her. "I mean, with you working so hard, you'd better start taking better care of yourself."
"Daniel, for about 5 seconds I actually believed you cared. But the real Daniel will reappear just as quickly."
Daniel sat there quietly. "I care, Rosamond. I know this is hard to believe and hard for me to say...but I think I love you."
Rosamond jumped up and yelled, "Yeah, right! What would William say about the so-called death threats you left on my voice mail? Yeah, that's really rich!"
Daniel jumped up and threw his cigarette down. "That cowboy is not right for you, Rose!
You need a man with fire, with passion, some one who challenges you, who looks into your very soul and ignites your passion! I thought that love was something I never could do! I never knew I could feel this much but this yearning in the deep part of my heart is for you. It's more than a reaction to you. It's a perfect passion! It's the way you look, the way you laugh, the way you love with all your heart...there isn't anything about you that doesn't do something for me!"
Rosamond stood there, unable to speak because she has never seen this side of Daniel.
He continued. "In my life I have been hammered by some heavy blows but they never knocked me off my feet until now. Charles was perfect and inherited everything. John was Mother's golden boy. I had to fight for what I wanted all my life. But all you have to do is smile at me and down I go!"
Rosamond stood there, incredulous. When she found her voice, she said softly, "Did you say these same words to Mehitable Glover?"


Bethia, Dressmaker Extraordinaire......by Coralynn

Marilyn comes dashing into the house, all excited.
"I have my license!" she announces to Bethia, who is sitting at the sewing machine making a dress.
"Now all you need is a car!" Bethia tells her as she breaks off a thread. "There! That should do it. Try it on!"
"You're done making my dress already?" Marilyn holds it up and marvels, "This is the exact dress! Bethia, you're a genius! If you want to make a complete Marilyn Monroe dress line, feel free!"
"I was considering that," Bethia is musing, "We could bring back the lush dresses of the 1950s. I've been doing some research on the internet and they were quite lovely. Especially on you!"
"How about that red dress I wore in....oh....what was it.....I sang "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend".....that one!"
"I saw that and it's wonderful! That's the next one I'm going to make. Now hurry, try it on so I can make alterations if I have to."
Marilyn takes the dress into her room, and in a few minutes emerges wearing it.
"Perfect!" she says happily, as she turns round and round.

They hear yelling in the back yard, and turn to see what's going on.
"Looks like Daniel threw Rose's clothes in the pool!" Marilyn is mystified, "Now why would he do a thing like that?"
"Why does he do anything? Even William can't seem to keep him under control, and he's a very controlling guy. John is hopeless because Daniel is his brother. A little smack on the head hardly gets Daniel's attention!"

They hear music wafting over from the Castle.
"The guys are jamming again," Bethia laughs, "They really are good! Wonder if they'll get any jobs. Aren't you going to the movies with Luke this evening?"
"Yes, he's had to cancel dinner here, but I'm going to pick him up in William's car. Bill is the guy I don't know much about...did one of you say he used to be the President?"
"That's right," Bethia tells her, "For eight years. There's a picture on the internet of him as a very young man shaking hands with John F Kennedy, who was President back in the early 60s. I believe someone shot him in 1963."
"Shot him? NO!"
"Yes."
"Did he die?"
"Yes."
Marilyn collapses on one of the dining room chairs, "He was a real skirt chaser, but getting shot?! That seems like an awful price to pay."
"I don't think he was shot because he was a skirt chaser, though," Bethia isn't sure, not being the expert on history that Eleanor is.
"So he died a year after I did," Marilyn tries to fit all the pieces together. That's sad. Did his brother, Bobby, ever get elected President?"
"Eleanor told me that he was shot in 1968, as he was campaigning."
"Both of them? I'm totally shocked! But we can't go back and rescue them, can we, because they were in politics, is that it?
How about that adorable John-John, what did he do, did he go into politics, too?"
"No, but he died in a plane crash a few years ago."
"That is just too sad! I guess I'm not the only one who had problems!"
They hear Eleanor coming down the stairs and look up.
"Wonder Woman!" Marilyn exclaims, obviously somewhat recovered from the shock of hearing about the Kennedy deaths.
"I'm Eleanor the Wonder Woman sportcaster," Eleanor laughs, "And this outfit is getting tight again, Beth. Instead of you letting out the seams again, I'm simply going to have to stop eating so much!"
"OK, so if you do sports, and William does cooking, and Rose and John are on a soap, let's see, who have I left out...." MM begins.
Eleanor takes it from there, "Bethia is going to be a highly successful dress designer, and the guys over in the Castle are going to be.....what.....famous.....they don't hold down regular jobs. I think Bill wrote a book, so he has that, and Luke has written some tunes for TV Commercials..."
"He has?"
"Yep. He had to make some money, so he wrote a bunch of tunes for those silly tooth paste ads and foot powder ads, and stuff like that."
"Ohhhh boy, Beethoven writing commercial jingles? What a come-down!" Marilyn is distraught. "What does Daniel do?"
"Not a blessed thing. Not really. He sings at the Dew Drop Inn once in awhile, but that can't pay much. He more or less lives off his brother like a leech."
"A vampire!" Marilyn adds.
"A tapeworm!" Bethia is getting into the spirit of the thing.
"A........."
They all struggle for more comparisons, but nothing comes out.

"That dress is sensational!" Eleanor compliments both women.
"Who is going down to that place with you tomorrow night, Marilyn?"
She ponders that, "Who can I get to go?"
"I'll go!" Bethia volunteers.
"So will I!" Eleanor said, "And Jerry, and maybe we can get Rose to go, too, that is if she isn't embroiled in her problems, of which she has no end."
Marilyn gets her head close to the other women and whispers, "I can tell she's pregnant. She looks peaked and tired and I've heard her in the bathroom throwing up. That has to be one of her problems."
The other women nod.
"Who's the father?"
Bethia and Eleanor lean in closer, "She isn't all that sure!"
Marilyn's hand flies to cover he mouth as she gasps, "Ohhh nooooo!"
"BUT," Eleanor goes on, "They have DNA testing in the 21st Century! That's what brought us here in the first place. Rose pretended to be pregnant back in the 12th Century when we were all at a Royal Gathering, and at that time William said he'd take her into the future so she could have a DNA test. Found out later she'd just made it up to get away from Henry the 8th. But now.....it looks like her lie has come back to bite her on the butt!"
Marilyn gasps again.
Bethia is curious, "Do identical twins have identical DNA, Eleanor? Have you looked that up on the internet?"
"Their DNA is close, but not identical."
Marilyn frowns, "You can't mean that she slept with......D......I can't say his name! Both twins?"
"Yep. Daniel fooled her though. She thought he was John. But John was in his room doped up, tied up in bed. She didn't even know there were two of them at the time. Please keep it under your hat though, Marilyn."
"I'll not only keep it under my hat, I'll keep it under the rug, under the floor, under the....."
"Shhhhhh, William just came in."
The room falls silent.


Rosamond Twists....the Knife!.......by Terri


Daniel got a look of shock on his face. "Me-Me-Mehitable?"
Rosamond said, "Yes, Me-Me-Mehitable. You DO remember her, don't you?"
Daniel said, "Yes, but how did YOU know about her?"
Rosamond was not ready to reveal what she knew. "Bethia told me that someone named Elias accused you of spoiling his daughter."
Daniel laughed, "I wasn't the only one! She and her sister Hester were women of relaxed morals."
Then he took a step towards Rosamond. "I meant every word I said. I have never wanted a woman the way I wanted you. I was willing to risk drugging my brother. Who, as hard as it may be to believe, I really do love you and not in that heart and flowers way that the cowboy does."
Rosamond turned to go.
Daniel said quietly and emphatically, " Besides, Mama, you are carrying something that is mine."
Rosamond froze.
Daniel held out his hands. "My shades. May I have them back, please?"
Rosamond gave him a sweet smile. "Of course, darling!"
She flung the sunglasses at the deep end of the pool.
"Happy diving, Daniel."
He just stared at her retreating back, smiled and shook his head. "You forgot your dress and shoes!"
Rosamond turned around. "They are ruined now. Oh, but here, take the complete outfit. Something to remember me by!"
She flung her bra in his face and never broke stride.

John was standing out at the balcony watching the entire exchange between Rosamond and Daniel. He smiled. Yeah, that girl is able to handle Daniel now!
Rosamond marched up the stairs grasping her robe. She was feeling exhilarated, having temporarily won the battle.
"You still here?"
John said, a little hurt, "I just wanted to drive you to the taping and take you out to dinner."
Rosamond softened and saw Daniel glaring out at them from the pool. He was dripping wet from having to dive for his sunglasses.
"Why, yes, John, I'd like that very much. I can be ready in an hour."
"I'll meet you downstairs then."



Rosamond was passing by Marilyn's room and saw Bethia and Eleanor sitting there with Marilyn modeling her new dresses.
"OH, I love that!" She looked longingly at the dress and sighed. "Guess I won't be wearing these for a while."
Eleanor narrowed her eyes. "Care to tell us where you were last night?"
Rosamond looked outside the door both ways and closed it.
"OK, but you can't breathe a word of it. It was just too freaky! But first let me get some beer and I'll tell you the story!"
Rosamond sneaked downstairs. Daniel was still out by the pool and William was pruning his precious roses. John was nowhere in sight.
She came back with a couple six packs and started popping the tops and handing them out.
Eleanor asked her, "Do you think you should be drinking beer, Rosamond?"
"Why not! I'm already probably carrying the spawn of Satan!"
She went on to explain about the dinner on Long Island, Billy Bob's cousin Jameson and the beach house.
"Honestly, I felt like I was visiting the scene of the crime again!"
Bethia sat there with her mouth open, Marilyn looked at her incredulously and Eleanor started to laugh. After all, she had been with Rosamond since day one.
Rosamond said, "But here is the corker! Billy Bob told me that his mother's family always called him William. And do you know why?"
All three women sat there shaking their heads.
"Because his mother's maiden name is Gwinnett! He told me of a scandal with Mehitable Glover having an illegitimate baby that supposedly was Daniel Gwinnett's.
Do you realize what that means?"
All threre women still shook their heads.
Rosamond said, "I am sleeping with Daniel's 9X great grandson!"
There was a moment of silence and then all four women burst out laughing. They started laughing and couldn't stop.
Eleanor said, "Ooooh, I just had a wicked idea! Let's try google search and see what comes up under Daniel's name!"
The four women scramble over to Marilyn's computer. Eleanor, being a computer whiz, typed in "Daniel Gwinnett" and hit enter. A genealogy sheet came up as follows:
**********************************************************************
GWINETT

Daniel, illeg.son Mehitable Glover, b 12/3/1650, L.I., alleged father Daniel Gwinett
Daniel, m Lucretia CLARK, 9/22/1674
Daniel, son Daniel & Lucretia CLARK, b 7/4/1675
Daniel, m Sarah BIGELOW, 4/14/1700
Daniel, son Daniel & Sarah BIGELOW, b 12/19/1701
Daniel, m Hannah FULLER, 9/22/1726
Daniel, son Daniel & Hannah FULLER, b 2/24/1728
Daniel, m Anna KELLOGG, 12/4/1752
Daniel, son Daniel & Anna KELLOGG, b 9/19/1753
Daniel, m Elizabeth WRIGHT, 8/9/1778
Daniel, son Daniel & Elizabeth WRIGHT, b 8/24/1779
Daniel, m Clarissa FOWLER, 11/30/1801
Daniel, son Daniel & Clarissa FOWLER, b 3/30/1803
Daniel, m Temperance GORDON, 10/5/1829
Daniel, son Daniel & Temperance GORDON, b 7/6/1830
Daniel, m Sophia LOOMIS, 5/12/1855
Daniel, son Daniel & Sophia LOOMIS, b 10/22/1856
Daniel, m Harriet HULL, 11/24/1778
Daniel, son Daniel & Harriet HULL, b 11/29/1780
Daniel, m Mary FOWLER, 8/1/1808
Daniel, son Daniel & Mary FOWLER, b 9/28/1810
Daniel, m Deborah BUELL, 9/23/1837
Daniel, son Daniel & Deborah BUELL, b 11/2/1838
Daniel, m Molly HAMILTON, 8/23/1858
Daniel, son Daniel & Molly HAMILTON, b 5/13/1860
Daniel, m Sybel CRANE, 9/1/1883
Daniel, son Daniel & Sybel CRANE, b 8/19/1889
Daniel, m Nancy GRAY, 4/2/1916
Daniel, son Daniel & Nancy GRAY, b 10/3/1919
Daniel, m Cynthia LORD, 3/20/1943
Mary Ellen, dau Daniel & Cynthia LORD, b 8/3/1945
Mary Ellen, m John Robert Montgomery, son John R Montgomery Sr & Marie Emile DuPRE, b 2/6/1941 Texas

**********************************************************************
There was silence all around. Rosamond pointed to the bottom line. This must be Billy Bob's mother--Mary Ellen Gwinnett. Born 1945 in Southold. Married to John Robert Mongomery aka J.R. Montgomery born in Austin TX 1942. Hey, look! The
Montgomery family is originally from New Orleans!
Eleanor and Rosamond looked closer at it. Bethia read out loud.
"Parents of John Robert Montgomery Jr.---John Robert Montgomery Sr. and Marie Emile
DuPre of Shadowdown Plantation."
Eleanor and Rosamond sat speechless as Eleanor whispered, "It can't be!"
Rosamond turned white and ran into the bathroom. She came back a minute later.
Eleanor typed in "Marie Emile DuPre" "Shadowdown Plantation".
The name of Marie Emile's father came up.
Pierre DuPre.

Rosamond whispered, "No! It can't be! What are the chances?"
Eleanor whispered softly. "It has to be! The dates fit! Look! She was born in 1908."
Rosamond said, "That means that lecher was married with a two year old daughter when he..when he...."
Eleanor said, "Exactly!"
Bethia and Marilyn were jumping up and down on the bed. "WHAT?! WHAT?!"
Rosamond flopped backwards on the bed. "Why me? Why me?"
Eleanor started to laugh and then she couldn't stop. Rosamond started to laugh too.
"Why don't I just toss my heart up and see where it lands?"
Bethia was practically screaming. "WHAT IS GOING ON?"

Eleanor went on to explain how Wiliam, John, Rosamond and Eleanor had to go to New Orleans in 1910 and pick up Henry VIII's butt before he was murdered by Nunzio LaRosa.
Pierre DuPre was a rich sugar planter and had mistaken Rosamond for 'fresh hot merchandise' at Hilma Burt' s house of ill repute. That John had punched his lights out and Pierre DuPre had stalked them and finally caught up to them on the banks of the Mississippi and how Eleanor had hog-tied him with Rose's underwear.
They made their escape."
Eleanor said, "I don't know, Rose. Billy Bob Montgomery has the blood of Daniel Gwinnett and Pierre DuPre in his veins. Can your heart stand it?" "What do I do? Put on Sinatra and start to cry?"

All the girls sat crosslegged on Marilyn's bed. They popped another beer each.
Bethia said, "What do you intend to do, Rosamond. Seriously. What are you up to?"

Rosamond said, "I honestly don't know. I love John with all my heart. I love Billy Bob too because he is such a good match for me. And as for Daniel...well, I have never known such a man like that..."
All three women said, "Ewwwwww!"
But Rosamond smiled to herself, You girls just don't know what it was like..."
Then she came to her senses and remembered all the grief.

Marilyn said, "Aren't you playing with fire with the two Gwinnetts and this Billy Bob Montgomery?"
Rosamond hiccuped. "The worst that could happen already has. I can't get pregnant again!"
Bethia said, "What if it's not theirs. I mean, what if this is a baby of royalty? Could he or she usurp the throne of England? You could become the Queen Mother!"
Rosamond and Eleanor looked at Bethia.
"Oh."
"Yeah, get a grip, Beth! How would I explain I was 'enciente' by a man who has been dead for almost 800 years! They didn't have cryogenics then!"
Eleanor started to giggle. "Henry could be cold as yesterday's toast and he'd still be wenching!"
Rosamond sighed. "I dont' know how long I can keep this up. I want to keep my options open. If Billy Bob doesn't see me sick or fainting for the next few weeks, he may very well assume this baby is his. If I decide to marry him, Daniel or John will never know that this baby could be one of theirs..his...theirs...whatever!"
Eleanor said, "What do you mean, IF you decide to marry him?"
Rosamond sighed. "Mr. William Robert Montgomery has asked for my hand in marriage, ladies."
Daniel was passing the hallway at that time and had heard only Rosamond's last sentence. He went to his room and punched a hole in the wall.


Designing Woman.....by Coralynn

Eleanor, Bethia and Marilyn are stunned.
"What are you going to tell him?" Marilyn whispers.
Rosamond gives them all a cheshire cat smile and gets up from the bed.
"Oooops, better get ready, John's driving me into Manhattan," Rosamond looks at her watch and runs out.
Marilyn looks at Eleanor and Bethia and exclaims, "I never knew anyone could GET in such a pickle! Makes my life look like 'The Bobsey Twins at the Seashore!'"
"Totally!" Eleanor agrees.
Bethia brings out a grouping of sketches and lays them out on the bed.
"Would you look at these and tell me if you think some of them would fit in well with my Marilyn Monroe Dress Line?"
Eleanor and Marilyn trade pages back and forth.
"Oooooo, I love these GOWNS!" Marilyn waves the sheet in the air.
"These are my favorites!" Eleanor points to a page with sketches of Suits and Jackets.
"Look at the one with the little peplum on the jacket. That is soooo flattering to the waist. I'd better stop eating so much or I won't have a waist anymore!"
"I think you look elegant!" Marilyn compliments her.
"Then going with the 1950s retro look is a winner?" Bethia asks them.
"No doubt about it!" Eleanor is still poring over the drawings.
"Then that's the ticket!" Bethia puts the sketches back in the file. "Tomorrow I go shopping for material!"
"You'll be rich and famous!" Marilyn says excitedly.
"Speaking of getting rich, Marilyn, or rather SALLY, it's time to fax those 45 pages of your book to these Publishing Houses," Eleanor adds.
"Let's DO it!" Marilyn jumps up from the bed and heads out of the room.


UNTITLED.......by Terri


Rosamond put her hair in a ponytail, slipped on some stretch pants and a sweatshirt and went downstairs.
John was waiting for her. "Ready to go?"
"Yes, I just have to fill this cooler pack with a sixpack of gingerale."
"You never drank gingerale before."
"There's a first for everything, isn't there?"
He held the door open for her.
Daniel passed them as he was coming in from the garage, a carton of plaster in his hand.
"Going to make a mold, Daniel?" John said. "Since when are you into ceramics?"
Daniel just glared at the two of them. "The wall hit my fist."
John and Rosamond just shrugged as if to say, 'Whatever' and left. John opened the door for her.
"Always the gentleman, John."
They drove into the city and John parked his car in the parking garage. Rosamond was on her third gingerale.
"Honey, you are sucking them back pretty fast!"
"I can't help it, I'm thirsty."
"Are you alright? You look a little pale."
"My tan is fading. I'm afraid to lay out by the pool anymore." She ate a saltine cracker. Slowly.
Both of them went to their respective dressing rooms. Gwen, her wardrobe mistress, took one look at her. "Have you been losing weight?"
"No, why?"
"This dress is just hanging on you." She pinned and stitched.
Rosamond looked at Gwen in the mirror. She said hesitatingly, "Gwen, you've been around this town for a long time."
"All my life!--so far!"
"Do---do you know any good OB-GYN's?"
"Why?"
"I'm asking for a friend."
"Well, tell your 'friend' that the best one is Dr. Roger Bidwell on Park Avenue. All the big stars go to him." Gwen narrowed her eyes. "Why are you drinking gingerale and eating saltines?"
"I had a touch of food poisoning earlier today."
"Un huh. A touch of food poisoning is like a touch of pregnancy. Either you were food poisoned or you weren't."
"OK, I was food poisoned."
'Yeah" Gwen said.

John and Rosamond ran their lines, did their dress rehearsal and did the final taping. Marty was in awe. He said to Phil, John's assistant, "Look at the two of them! I swear, sometimes I find it hard to believe they are acting! I haven't seen chemistry like that since Gable and Lombard...Tracy and Hepburn...."
Phil smiled, "Laurel and Hardy?" Gwen snorted as she held back a laugh.
Marty yelled, "CUT! That's a wrap, kids!"

Rosamond ran into her dressing room and headed for the bathroom. Gwen came in as Rosamond emerged, looking green.
Gwen gave her a card with the number 212-776-3928. "Here, honey. He's the best. For your 'friend'. And I won't say a word."
Rosamond smiled weakly. "She'll appreciate it."
Gwen looked at Rosamond fondly. "Does John know?"
Rosamond looked surprised. "Why do you think it would be his business?"
Gwen said, "You can't fool me."
Rosamond said, "No. He doesn't."
Gwen said maternally, "Try sucking on a green olive. Sometimes the salt will settle the stomach."
Rosamond said, "Thanks, Gwen."
"Let me know how your friend makes out, Rose."

John said, "It's after 8:00, Rose. Want to stop to grab a bite to eat on our way home?"
"OK-can we put the top down? The fresh air will do me good."
"I've never known you to be carsick."
She didn't answer him.
They went to an Italian restaurant with red checked tablecloths and a wine bottle with a candle stuck in it.
John ordered a bottle of Chianti and they decided on a vegetable pizza. Rosamond picked all the green olives off and ate them.
"Didn't know you liked green olives!"
"I do now."
John frowned. "Rose, honey, I'm worried about you. You looked peaked. Tired."
Rosamond got mad. She threw down her napkin. "Why does everyone keep saying that? I'm fine. Read my lips. FINE! I am living in a nuthouse but other than that I am FINE!"
John sat there quietly.
Rosamond's eyes started to fill with tears. "I'm so sorry, John."
"It's OK."
"So---so sorry..." she whispered.
"Sorry for what, darling?"
"For everything." She could barely whisper.
"Come on, let's go home."
He put his arm around her and led her to the car. He got a blanket out of the storage space and wrapped it around her.
"I'm worried about you, Rose. REALLY worried. You should see a doctor."
She stared out the window. "I probably will. But don't worry. This too shall pass. I probably just need vitamins."
They pulled into the carpark at home. John was very solicitous of her.
Eleanor, Bethia and William were in the game room playing Trivial Pursuit. William looked up at Rosamond's wan face. "She OK?" he said to John.
"Just a long day."
"Thank you, John. Where's Marilyn?" Rose asked.
Bethia said, "She went out with Luke. Henry was in his castle pouting so Daniel went over to keep him company. They are probably eating ribs and watching adult movies!"
At the mention of ribs, Rosamond ran upstairs and closed her bathroom door.
John sat down. "Something is really wrong with her. I think she needs to see a doctor."
Eleanor looked at Bethia. "I think it's overwork and food poisoning. Bethia, weren't you nauseous from that bacon you had a breakfast?"
"Huh? OH! Oh, yes, that was some greasy stuff!"
"She'll be OK, John. But to make you feel better, I'll go upstairs and check on her."
Bethia said.
Bethia ran up the stairs and knocked on Rosamond's door.
"Come in" said the muffled reply.
Rosamond was stretched out on her bed, sick to her stomach and crying.
Bethia gathered her in her arms. She rocked Rosamond and said, "Oh, sweetie, it's going to be all right!"
Rosamond sobbed, "I don't know what I am doing anymore, Beth!"
Bethia was firm. "First thing we are going to do is go to a doctor."
Rosamond took the card with the phone number out of her bra. "Safest place in the world!"
Bethia laughed. "Sometimes, Rose!"
Bethia read the card. "Dr. Roger Bidwell. Park Avenue. Tomorrow I will call for an appointment and go with you when he can see you."
Rosamond burst out in a fresh round of tears. "What if it's Daniel's baby?"
Bethia said comfortingly to her, "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."



The DATE.........by Coralynn

"Time to drive over and pick up Luke!" Marilyn announces, "We're going to see that movie about the Greek Wedding."
"You'll love it!" Eleanor exclaims, "I've seen it twice!"
"OK, then, here goes nothing!" Marilyn says as she goes out the door, swinging William's car keys as she goes.

It isn't far to the Castle, and when Marilyn pulls up in front, she sees that Luke is already outside waiting.
"I'm here!" she says loudy, "All aboard that's going aboard!!"
Luke walks over and gets in the passenger seat, obviously confused.
"I thought....." he begins.
"I know, I told you William was going to drive us, but today I got my license, so all I needed was his car."
Luke had been counting on William being there to break the ice, or help Luke with his verbal log-jam, but that is not to be the case.
He takes a deep breath and concentrates on getting words out.
"I appreciate your....invitation to....go to a.....movie!" he mentally congratulates himself on finishing a complete sentence.
"Eleanor says this one is a real upper!" Marilyn says cheerily.
"Upper?"
"You know, as opposed to a downer!"
"Downer?"
"Upper means happy and downer means sad," she explains, "I don't like sad movies. I was in a couple of them because at least they weren't silly movies based on my face and figure, but they didn't have much joy in them. Oh welllll."
Luke doesn't know how to respond to that, as the only movie of hers he's seen is "The Seven Year Itch" over at the big house Saturday evening.
"So I hear you've written a 10th Symphony!" Marilyn makes another attempt to draw him out.
"Yes......for jazz ensemble....."
"Now, Luke, don't let Henry put words to all your symphonies, ya hear? They're divine just the way they are!"
"O.K." Luke now realizes that Mariyn knows his true identity. Good. Now he doesn't have to explain it to her.
They reach the theater parking lot and find a space close to the building.
"That was a break!" she says happily, "You should have seen where we had to park when William and I were at the DMV earlier today. It was awful."
"DMV?"
She turns off the ignition and looks at Luke till he has no choice but to look back.
"I think you need more exposure to the culture in the 21st Century, Luke. You're a musical genius for sure, but if you'll let me, I can bring you up to speed on a lot of the modern things that you obviously have had no reason to deal with yet. You need to get your drivers license, too. By the way, what last name are you using now? I'm using Reynolds. That sounds like a real person: Sally Reynolds. So, what is it, Luke what?"
"I haven't decided!" it's beginning to dawn on Luke how remiss he's been.
"How about Bennett? Luke Bennett. YES, that one is perfect!"
"OK."
"You get to keep your same initials, too!" she says breezily as they exit the car.

The movie is an hour and a half long, which is an hour and a half Luke doesn't have to wrack his brains for topics of conversation.
Marilyn laughs at the funny parts of the movie, so Luke follows her lead and laughs, too, though he isn't sure what the jokes are.
As they're walking back up the theater aisle to leave, Marilyn is still chuckling, "Ohhhh that was good! How fun! Now that was one funny wedding!!"
Luke agrees, "very funny," but he's so concerned about the ride home and what he'll say to make Marilyn want to go on another date with him, that his expression isn't what you'd expect to see on the face of someone who had actually enjoyed something.

They get back in the car.
"I have an idea!" Marilyn exudes, "Let's go to a movie next Monday night too!"
"You want......to......"
"YES! Silly man, I think you're sweet. I like you, and I'll like you even more when you start talking to me!"
This makes Luke feel more secure and at last the verbal log-jam breaks loose:
"OK, then, it's a weekly date!" he starts in, "And maybe we can even have dates on Friday or Saturday nights. We can go to concerts, I know you like classical music because you said so. We can go into Manhattan and see the concerts at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall and....." he takes another deep breath, "There's the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, there's the Cathedral of St. John the Divine up on Riverside. We can go to plays, too. Do you like plays? There's a new one named 'Resurrection Blues' by Arthur Miller that's still on Broadway....."
"Is he still alive? Good God, he must be in his 90s by now!" she interrupts.
"I guess so. Did you ever meet him?" Luke has obviously forgotten what Eleanor told him on the flight back from London.
"I just got divorced from him in 1961!"
Luke grimmaces and thinks "oh-oh, strike one!!"
"You are ever so much more talented than he was, or IS," she says with determination.

They arrive back at the big house.
"Come on in and let's see who's home!" she suggests.
Luke is still smarting from having stuck his foot in his mouth, so to speak, but brightens when she takes his hand and holds it as they walk toward the house.




Separated At Birth.....by Coralynn

"Look at the long line!" Marilyn is distressed when they arrive at the location for the Look-Alike Contest.
"Never mind," Eleanor tells her, "You'll still win. You were smart to wear that hooded trench coat, though, and those big dark glasses. If these others ever saw you at this stage of the contest, they'd all give up and go home."
"Ya think so?" Marilyn is dubious.
"Absolutely!" Bethia says with conviction, "Nothing like the real article, after all!"
The line moves ahead a few feet.
Some people are seen emerging from the door that Marilyn is waiting to enter. They look none too happy.
"Those are the rejects," Jerry comments, "Apparently they looked nothing like the people they thought they did."
The line moves ahead another few feet.
Several more rejects emerge, passing by our group. "Those people are stupid! I do so look like Anwar Sadat!" one man grumbles.
"Hmmm, must be there isn't much market for Anwar Sadat look-alikes!" Jerry jokes.
"Who's he?" the others ask.
"Never mind. OH look! Here comes a naked woman! That cloak she thinks is hiding her is most definitely NOT!" Bethia laughs.
"Must be a Lady Godiva look-alike!" Marilyn concludes, "I guess there isn't much of a market for Lady Godiva either!"
"Oh my God! She's leading a horse!" Jerry chuckles, "At least no one knows what her horse looked like!"
"This is a riot!" Marilyn is beginning to enjoy the whole thing, then says to Eleanor, "Why don't you go as an Eleanor of Aquitaine look-alike?"
"No likenesses were left behind," Eleanor informs her, "Besides, I did do that stint as Eleanor of the Renaissance Festival, so I've already mined that connection. No, YOU are the star tonight, Marilyn!"
Marilyn smiles as the line moves another few feet.
Other rejects come out of the building, swearing and muttering.
Jerry points at one of the rejected men: "He's wearing a Charlie Chaplin outfit, but he's about 6' 2" and 400 pounds. Sorry, fella, but a suit of clothes does not a look-alike make!!"
Marilyn adds, "I remember Charlie Chaplin! No, that guy sure doesn't look like him. I'm wearing my famous dress from '7 Yr Itch'......do you think that will work against me?"
"Not at all!" Eleanor assures her, "It will definitely get attention, but it's the person wearing the outfit that counts!"
Marilyn ponders, then says, "I'm going to tell everyone it's from Bethia's MM Dress Collection, too. Then the manufacturers will be lined up to get a contract with her! They'll be lined up clear around the block. The line will be even longer than this one...."
Suddenly the line moves very, very rapidly, as several people who were in front of our group give up when they see the rejects emerge from the building.
"Guess they figure if those folks didn't make it, they wouldn't either, and I agree with them!" Jerry states, "I have no idea who some of them thought they looked like! Nobody I ever saw!"
Our group is by now standing in the doorway and can see the tables with officials sitting around them.
"Those are the people who decide who gets to enter the contest!" Marilyn is now getting jittery, "Should I take off my trench coat and glasses?"
The others nod.
As she takes off her trench coat, the contestant behind her gasps and runs up to her with a paper in his hand.
"You autograph, Miss Monroe!" he pleads.
She wrinkles up her face; takes the paper, and writes 'Love eternally, Sally Reynolds,' winks at her friends and hands it back.
The man is confused.
Eleanor, Jerry and Bethia then step away from the group and watch from inside the big room with the tables.
Marilyn proceeds up to the first table and when the official looks up and asks the required question "Who do you look like?" his mouth drops open.
"Marilyn Monroe," Marilyn tells him.
"Real name?"
"Sally Reynolds."
He writes it down but after every pen stroke looks up at her, disbelieving.
He hands her a card with both names on it and motions her to get in the line with the contestants who have been accepted.
She waves the card at Eleanor, Jerry and Bethia.
They do High-5s and dance around like football players after a touchdown.

Soon Marilyn has disappeared from sight into wherever it is the accepted contestants have to go.
Our little group takes seats in the third row from the front.
They settle in and wait.
And wait.
And wait.

When 8pm at last rolls around, the stage lights come up and the announcer takes her place before the curtain.
"I'm Christie Brinkley, and I want to welcome you to the first annual Look-Alike contest!"
Everyone claps enthusiastically.
"We have twenty of the best look-alikes to be found in the Tri-State area! Some of them you won't be able to tell from the originals! Are you ready?"
The audience claps loudly.
"Our distinguied panel of Judges," she motions toward the orchestra pit where several people are sitting, "consist of: Diane Sawyer, Jerry Seinfeld, Venus Williams, Hugh Downs and Arthur Miller."
Perfunctory clapping is heard. These people are here to see the show, not the Judges, after all.
"Alright then, let's DO it!" Christie steps to a mike on the left side of the stage as the curtains part.
"Our first contestant comes to us from Newark, New Jersey. Please give a rousing welcome to: Larry Potter as Spencer Tracy!!"
The man comes onstage carrying an upended broom.
"Now, Katharine, I'm sure you realize that men rule the world!"
"The Hell you say?"
"I'm here to tell you that you can never beat me in Court, whether it be judicial or tennis!"
The broom doesn't answer.
He bows.
Tepid applause.
Our group looks from one to the other and gestures thumbs down, way down.

Christie resumes her announcing, "Now, from Fairfield, CT, we have Susie Jones as Mae West!"
Susie Jones is bosomy, that is the first thing the audience sees.
She's wearing a blonde wig that may have been made expressly for imitating Mae West, but it's not on straight and keeps listing to the right.
Susie emits a growling sound, "Come up and see me sometimes, big boy!!" and bows.
Slightly less tepid applause, but not by much.

Christie is back: "NOW, from Brooklyn, please put your hands together for Tony Rudolfo as Bill Clinton!"
Tony has blonde hair with about a 2-inch black area near the roots.
Our group exchanges looks and shakes their heads.
"I did not have sex with that woman!" Tony states in a voice heavily laden with a Brooklyn accent."
Bethia leans over to Jerry, "They actually picked these people?!"
He shrugs.

Christie is back and peppy again, "Wasn't that amazing? Now, from Westport, CT, meet Julie Cook as Katherine Hepburn!"
This Julie person comes out in slacks and a man's shirt, tied at the waist.
She has cheekbones which are obviously the result of eyebrow pencil markings.
"The calla-lillies are in bloom, reaaaaly they are!" she intones.
Horrible. Our group does the thumbs down exchange yet again.

"This is getting so exciting!! Who will win? We have some amazing look-alikes!" Christie says with forced enthusiasm, "Next we have Esther Collins as Oprah Winfrey!"
Well, the woman is black, at least she and Oprah have that in common, but little else.
Esther comes onstage smiling and nodding to an imaginary group of women who are supposed to be flanking her, clapping their heads off.
"OK, now, enough, enough. Sit. Today is Tuesday and you know what that means. Dr. Phil!"
Esther is so happy with her performance she all but dances off into the wings on the other side of the stage.
The audience claps a bit harder for her, probably because they like Oprah, not because this woman bears much resemblance to her.

Christie is back. "Our next contestant comes to us from Chappaqua, NY. Meet Sally Reynolds as Marilyn Monroe!"
Marilyn swirls onstage in that famous dress; stops in the middle of the stage and sings "I Wanna Be Loved By You".....
but only gets a few words out before a loud cry is heard from the Judges Table, which is positioned in the Orchestra Pit, "MY GOD, IT'S HER!!"
Marilyn stops singing and peers out over the footlights.
Everyone else peers as well.
Arthur Miller has fallen out of his chair.
"Oh dear," Christie goes back to the mike, "Is there a Doctor in the house? We seem to have an emergency."
"I'll be fine!" Arthur Miller insists, "Fine! Go on with the show!"
But he looks stricken.
Christie is reluctant to proceed if there is any chance the man may be in cardiac arrest or some such trouble.
Arthur sits and folds his hands, though he is staring intently at Marilyn on the stage.

Marilyn smiles, sings a few more bars of the song and flounces off stage left.


"Our next contestant is from Queens. Here's Sam Wilson as Elvis Presley!"

The man does bear a striking resemblance to Elvis. When he reaches the middle of the stage he swings into a few bars of "Hound Dog," his voice pretty close to the sound Elvis made.
Our group looks worried.

"Wasn't that amazing?" Christie seems to like to say that, "Now, hold on to your hats, girls, we have Jack Carbaugh as Sean Connery!"
Jack Carbaugh has the white head and facial hair of Sean Connery, and even has a bit of a Scottish accent as he says some lines from "Finding Forrester."
Not bad, not bad at all.
Our group is not feeling very confident about now.

Several mediocre contestants then pass across the stage.
Nothing to worry about from any of them!

"Lastly," Christie reads from her page, "We have another Marilyn Monroe impersonator! Two Marilyns, what are the chances? This is Nancy Duncan from Staten Island!"
Nancy Duncan comes out in the red dress from "How to Marry a Millionaire" and starts singing "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend."
Only problem with Nancy is that her red hair is peeking out from behind the blonde wig, and her voice sounds like fingernails across a chalk board.
Our group smiles with satisfaction.
Nancy thinks she's done well and smiles and bows and bows and smiles, and would be doing it to this day, had Christie not approached her and guided her off the stage.

"Our distinguished panel of judges has been rating the contestants as they appeared. Do we have a winner?" she asks the orchestra pit.
Hugh Downs stands as the lights illuminate the pit.
"We have a winner!" he hands the results to Christie.
She opens the folded paper and proceeds.
"The second runner up is: hang on to your hats, ladies, Jack Carbaugh as Sean Connery! Come on out, Jack, and get your thousand dollar check!"
Jack appears and accepts his award as the audience claps.

"The first runner-up is: Sam Wilson as Elvis! Come on out, King, and get your two thousand dollar award!!!"
The audience claps harder than before.
Sam was so sure he'd win. Why didn't he win? he wonders. True, the men were kept in a different dressing room from the women, so he didn't see any of them, but he was so GOOD! he thinks.
He grabs the check from Christie's hand and thunders off stage
The audience boooos.

Eleanor and Bethia and Jerry are holding their breaths.
Christie then says in a dramatic voice, "Our five thousand dollar winner, and recipient of this pure gold statue IS: Marilyn Monroe!"
Both Marilyns then appear onstage.
Both Marilyns walk up to Christie and reach for the statue. The other Marilyn, Nancy Duncan, actually grabs it out of Christie's hand.
Christie is taken aback and doesn't know what to do.
The Judges begin to call out to her, "It's Sally! It's Sally!"
She tries to get the Nancy to relinquish the statue, but the woman has a deathgrip on it.
"I WON!" Nancy says aggressively.
Our group looks from one to the other. What will Marilyn do??? God help Nancy Duncan if she doesn't back off.
Christie tries to straigten out the mess, "I'm sorry, Nancy, but Sally here is the winner!"
"I WON!" Nancy repeats.
Diane Sawyer, always a diplomat, comes onstage and tells Nancy, "My dear, you were marvelous, but this time the winner is Sally Reynolds. Would you kindly hand the statue to her?"
"BUT I WON!" seems to be all Nancy is capable of saying.
By that time Jerry Seinfeld is coming onstage.
"Well, folks," he quips, "If you had to choose a winner, who would it be? A drop-dead replica of Marilyn Monroe or a woman who looks for all the world like Sarah Ferguson! Honey, you entered as the wrong look-alike!"
The audience laughs.
"I WON!" she yells out.
Marilyn sees how far diplomacy and humor have gotten them; walks over to Nancy and puts the arm that is attached to the hand that is attached to the statue behind Nancy in some kind of Judo hold, making Nancy release it.
Nancy stamps off yelling "I'll sue!" over and over.
Christie is rattled.
Even Diane Sawyer is looking distressed.
Jerry Seinfeld is laughing his head off, then says to the audience, "She might have won as Marjorie Main or Ma Kettle, but as Marilyn?? Give me a break!"
Marilyn is embarrased that she had to use force on the other woman, and has to take several deep breaths as Christie tells the audience,
"The real winner: Sally Reynolds!"
The audience goes wild.
Diane Sawyer and Jerry Seinfeld walk over to Marilyn to take an even closer look.
"Are you sure you aren't her?" Jerry is flabberghasted.
"No, silly," Marilyn puts on her best breathy voice, "The real Marilyn would be 76 years old today. Do I look 76?"
Arthur Miller, who has been staring at her intently every time she's been onstage yells out, "She's been cloned! Don't you see it? She's been cloned!" and passes out.


Eleanor, Jerry and Bethia rush toward the stage, but are restrained by the security guards.
Marilyn sees this and tells them, "They're OK, they're with me!"
They get up onstage and hug her and Jerry swings her off the ground, twirling her round and round.
Flash bulbs pop, and a TV cameraman and reporter approach the group.
"Are you really a clone?" one reporter asks.
"What's a clone?" she giggles.
One of the reporters recognizes Eleanor from her TV sportcasting.
"Eleanor! Eleanor! Is this woman a friend of yours?"
"I think SO, considering we all live together!" Eleanor shoots back, just to shut the guy up.
"Didn't I see you on the At Home with William the Conquering Chef show a while back?" another resporter yells.
"YES!"
"So you all live together?"
"YES!"
"Even Marilyn....I mean Sally?" the second reporter presses onward.
"YES!"
"Marilyn is living with William the Conquering Chef?"
"YES!"
The reporter writes on his pad, "Marilyn Monroe clone shacked up with William the Conquering Chef in Westchester County love nest!"
He rushes out to get his article in before the deadline.


She'll Leave You with a Smile...... by Terri

Rosamond's cellphone rang. She had just got done with her routine as it had now become. Hot shower, wash hair, throw up. Brush teeth, blow dry hair, get nauseous, throw up. Stand up, almost faint. Try to throw up. Give up. Go to bed.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Honey, it's me. Are you coming down tonight?"
Rosamond laid down on the bed. "Oh, Billy Bob, I would love to but I put in a full day at the studio. I am just heading for bed now."
"It's only 7:30, Rosamond. Don't leave me sitting down here all by myself."
"You won't be by yourself. Bobby Joe is there, Verla is there, and if you get really desperate, Daniel is probably there."
"It's not the same."
"I've got a short day tomorrow. I PROMISE I'll be down there tomorrow. OK?"
"Well, if it has to be that way, I guess so."
"Did the horses arrive?"
"Yes, all tucked away in their stalls. They've adjusted beautifully."
"I've never known anyone who knew more about horses. Billy Bob--has your family been in Texas long?"
"Well, originally they came from New Orleans. My greatgrandfather was a French sugar planter if you can believe it. Name was Pierre DuPre."
"Really. I'd better get some sleep. I'll talk to you tomorrow."
"OK. I love you, Rose."
"Right back at you, cowboy!"

Billy Bob sat down and talked with Bobby Joe.
"From the look on your face, I take it Tequila Sunrise isn't coming in tonight."
"No, one of the drawbacks of getting involved with an actress."
"So how involved are you?"
"I asked her to marry me when we spent the night at Jameson's beach house."
"And you are just now telling me?"
"About the beachhouse or about the marriage proposal?"
"Both! By the way, how is Jameson?"
"He's great. He swears he knows Rosamond from somewhere. If I know Jameson, he won't stop until he remembers."
"So what was Tequila Sunrise's answer? Do I buy a tux or rent one? When? This spring? Winter?"
"Hold on. She wants to take it slower."
"Did you tell her about..."
"No. And maybe I won't have to. If I never hear from her or her name again, I'll die a happy man."

Rosamond bundled up in her terrycloth robe and went downstairs to get some green olives. They really did help.
John was passing through the kitchen with a bowl of popcorn and a beer.
"William is at a gardening club meeting, the rest are at that look alike contest, and it looks like you and I are the only ones left in the house. Daniel is at the Dew Drop Inn."
Rosamond's blood chilled in her veins. No one to keep an eye on him?
"I was just getting ready to sit down to a movie. 'Casablanca'. A great love story. Care to join me?"
Rosamond smiled. "Why not? I'm tired but not sleepy."
She followed John into the living room and they settled on the couch. John put his arm around her. He handed her the popcorn bowl. She curled up on the couch and leaned her head on his chest without even thinking.

Daniel walked over to Billy Bob at the bar. Daniel was still pretty p.o.'d about Rosamond blowing off his cellphone messages. Plus Daniel had already had some whiskey shots. Liquid courage.
"Rose not coming in tonight?"
"No, she's put in a full day. She went to bed early."
Daniel said, "I'll bet she did."
"Meaning?...."
"Nothing. She probably did."
"Remember what I said, Daniel. She's done with you. She is with me now."
Daniel said, "Well, let me play this scenario by you, Cowboy. At first, she's gonna come on real strong, love you like it's going out of style. You can't help but love her. Then she leaves. All the hurting was more than worth it. I can see you are falling for her. You know she was once mine. And it was longer than 'briefly'. When I held her, it was like heaven. It was worth the losin' pain, like I said. When she's gone, she'll leave you wishing that she would roll your way again. It's a heartache. But I'll only tell you this once. No matter how hard she tries, Rosamond will never forget me or the time we spent together. Not now."
Billy Bob hauled back and punched Daniel in the jaw. He went down and rubbed his jaw. Daniel smiled. "I'll give you that one, pal. But it was just something I had to say. She's a heartbreaker when she leaves you. But she will leave you smiling."
With that, Daniel walked out to catch some fresh air.
After a few minutes, Bobby Joe went outside and caught sight of Daniel leaning against the railing and smoking his cigarette.
Daniel looked off in the distance. "Did he send you out here to fire me?"
Bobby Joe walked over to Daniel.
"No, as a matter of fact, he didn't. Did you know Billy Bob asked her to marry him?"
"Really." came Daniel' s response. "And she said..?"
"She's in no hurry right now."
Daniel smiled in the dark. "Well, well..."
Bobby Joe touched Daniel's sleeve. "A word of advice, friend. Don't get in the way of love."
Bobby Joe walked back inside.
"Too late, my man, too late." Daniel said softly.

Eleanor, Bethia, Jerry and Marilyn came in chattering and excited over Marilyn's win. They skidded to a stop as they entered the living room.
There was Rosamond and John, stretched out on the couch, their arms wrapped around each other.
Asleep.
Bethia grabbed a blanket and covered them up.
Eleanor whispered, "Breaks your heart, doesn't it?'"
Bethia could only nod. "He's the one she should be with."
They turned out the livingroom lights, turned off the airport scene in Casablanca and shut the door.

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