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DECEMBER 1983: CHRISTMAS EVE [2]

(They enter the park. We cut to Billy and Mindy’s apartment, where they have just entered). Mindy (Hanging up the phone after checking her messages…and there are none) Oh, this is the worst Christmas of my life! Billy (Helping Vanessa take off her coat) No it isn’t, darling. Remember that time you broke your arm skating? Mindy (Angry) Don’t laugh, Daddy! I’ll run away. I’ll run away like Phillip and then you’ll really be sorry! (She angrily exits the room). Billy (To Vanessa) You…you sure you still wanna be a stepmom? Vanessa (Looking after Mindy) She’s really hurt, Billy. Billy (Brushing it off) Oh, no, she’s just sulking ‘cause I made her go over your Daddy’s house. (Grabbing Vanessa in a hug). Now, come here. You ready for the first installment of your Christmas present? Vanessa She’s not sulking. She’s hurt. Billy No, she isn’t. Vanessa I remember what being in love for the first time is like. Billy Oh yeah? Vanessa Hm-mm… Billy You tell me his name and I’ll beat him up. (Vanessa playfully hits Billy). Billy Don’t worry about Mindy. She’s old enough to take care of herself. And besides, it’s about time she learns. (The doorbell rings—and the lovebirds are ready to get an extra-strength dose of Reva Shayne, as we cut to the Spaulding Mansion. Alan sits alone on his couch. His assistant, Emily, enters to ask him if she could leave). Emily I was wondering if you needed me for anything else. My family is waiting, and I’d like to go. Alan (Standing up) Oh, Emily, yes, of course, by all means. And (handing her an envelope) Happy Holidays. Emily Oh, thank you, sir. (Pause) Will you be all right? Alan Oh, yes, yes, of course. I’ll be fine. Emily Well, your dinner’s keeping warm for you in the oven. Alan Thank you. Emily (As she leaves) Merry Christmas. Alan Yes. (He walks over to the mantle and looks at the photos of Phillip, sighing). Yes. Merry Christmas. (Meanwhile, Nick has led Phillip and Beth to the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park. He wiggles the chain that locks the gate, and it’s wide enough for he and Beth to crawl under. Phillip jumps over the chain, and they enter the theatre) End of episode (The Bauer home. Mike and Hillary have joined Ed, Mo, and Rick). Mike Mo, that was a great meal. Hillary You outdid yourself, Maureen. Maureen Oh, listen, it was nothing, nothing. Just four hours of shopping, a day and a half of changing clothes. (Hugs Ed) Rick That’s what I like about Maureen. She does everything so casually. (The doorbell rings). Hillary I’ll get it. (She leaves) Maureen What are we going to do first? Are we going to open presents or sing songs? What? Ed Let’s do presents. We’ve got some news tonight from Rick that’s going to change our plans. Hillary (off screen, barely audible. They don’t notice.) Mindy, hi! Come on in. Rick Yeah. Mike Oh yeah? What kind of news? Rick I’m going to drive to New York. I found out that’s where Beth and Phillip are. (Just then, a VERY interested Mindy walks into the Bauer living room as we cut to the prop room underneath the Delacorte Theatre. Props, chains, and fabric hangs from the ceiling and Beth, then Phillip, then Nick climb down the ladder. Beth is interested in the props. Phillip tries to get her to stop touching them). Nick We’re here. Right this way. Phillip Ah, excuse us just a second here, please. (Dragging Beth away to a corner). Come here. I think we better get out of here right now. Beth Why? Phillip (Exasperated that Beth doesn’t find their surroundings strange) I think we’d be better off on our own, okay? Beth Phillip, with no car and no money? Phillip Well, at least we would know where we are, Beth. This is very weird. Look at this place. I’m waiting for the Phantom of the Opera to hop out of the shadows here. Beth (Grabbing his scarf) Phillip, Phillip, Phillip. We’re with Santa Claus, right. (She points to Nick and he waves). He wouldn’t steer us wrong. Phillip We don’t know…have you LOOKED at this guy? Come on! Beth Phillip, I would bet you that there is the most wonderful Christmas Eve just waiting for us. Nick (Coming from across the room) She’s right, Phillip. Phillip How do you know my name is Phillip? Nick (Waving them deeper into the prop room) Come on. Come on. Beth (Excitedly and pulling Phillip by his scarf) Come on! Come on! Come on. Come with me. It’s okay. I can feel it. Come on. Phillip (Hesitant) I don’t like this. Beth Come on. (Nick pulls back a curtain, and reveals a virtual menagerie of people who are also finding shelter beneath the Delacorte: A woman and three children, a tap dancer, a gambler, and a bag lady). Phillip (NOT amused) Oh no… Opening credits. (The Bauer house. Mindy has just overheard Rick say that Phillip and Beth are in New York). Maureen (Running up to Mindy and taking the presents she’s carrying) Come on in! Merry Christmas! Mindy Merry Christmas! Maureen Can I get you anything? Some eggnog or something? Mindy No thank you, Mrs. Bauer. I can only stay a minute. Maureen Oh. Oh. Mindy (Hillary takes her coat) Rick, how did you find out about Phillip and Beth? Did Phillip call you? Rick No, Mr. Spaulding told me. Mindy Oh. Well that’s a great idea then. You’re going to follow them. I’ll go with you. Rick I’m going alone, Mindy. Mindy Yeah, you’ve got to take me. I’ll keep you company. Rick Alone. Alone. I’m going alone. By myself. Mindy Yeah, you’re right. That’ll be a better idea. My Daddy would never let me go anyway. Rick Good. Hillary You really should be careful, Rick. New York can be pretty hard to handle. Ed I gave him some cash and a credit card, and he promised he’d call home every night just to check in. Mike Still, it sounds pretty chance-y. Rick Yeah, but I have to go, Uncle Mike. Dad understands. Ed (To Mike) Listen, you drove out to California when you were an undergraduate. Mike Yeah, but that’s different. I was trying to find MYSELF. Hillary How do you plan on finding them, Rick? Rick Well, I thought I’d start by putting an ad in the newspaper, and Beth told me about an art school and a few museums. I’d like to check those out. And I have one or two other possibilities. Hillary Still, that can take a long time. Maureen Well, Rick promised us he’d be back in time for the winter quarter, no matter what. Mindy Oh, he’ll find them before then. You know, you’ve really taken a lot off my mind. Rick I have? Mindy Yeah, I was really worried. But now that I know you’re going to be looking for them, I can relax. Rick (Skeptical) I see. Mindy You know, you’re such a good friend to them. They are lucky to have you, because you always know the right thing to do. Ed Well, wonderful, Mindy. Now that we’ve gotten that all straightened out, would you like some eggnog, or… Mindy Oh, no thank you, Dr. Bauer. You know, I really better be getting back to my family. I just wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas. Maureen Well, thank you. Rick (Helping her with her coat) Thanks for coming by, Mindy. Mindy And good luck to you, Rick. Rick Thank you. Mindy Thank you. Bye-bye. Rick Merry Christmas. Mindy (Going out the door) Merry Christmas. Rick Merry Christmas. Bye. Ed Well, Mindy seemed to take that in stride. Rick I know. (Pause). I wonder what’s wrong with her.