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DECEMBER 1983: CHRISTMAS EVE [1]

(Later, Rick is on the phone with Bert, who’s out of town). Rick We miss you. Okay, hold on a second. Dad wants to talk to you. And listen. I love you, and I miss you. Bye-bye. (Hands the phone to Ed). Ed Hi mom. How are you doing? Good. I just want to tell you that we all love you, and we miss you, and wish you a Merry Christmas. Yeah, and the same to Aunt Meta. I hope the two of you take care of each other, okay? (The doorbell rings. Maureen motions for Rick to get it). Rick Yeah, sure. (He gets up and walks to the front door). Ed (still on the phone) I love you. Bye-bye. Hillary That’s a beautiful sweater, Mike. Mike Yeah, isn’t it? Hope really has very good taste, doesn’t she? I really miss her. I wish she wasn’t so far away. (Rick opens the front door). Kelly Oh, Merry Christmas. Rick Merry Christmas, Kelly. Ed Kelly! It’s not nice to fool the Chief of Staff. Kelly (Confused) Huh? Ed (Referring to the presents Kelly is carrying) You said you didn’t have the chance to go shopping. Kelly Well, that was yesterday. Maureen (Taking the gifts) Oh, Kelly, you didn’t have to. Kelly Sure. I’ve been machete-ing my way through department stores all day. Ed Well, listen, no wonder Dr. Wilcox couldn’t reach you. He called here and left his number. It’s in the den. Kelly Would you excuse me? Can I return that call? Maureen Go ahead. Go ahead. (Kelly exits. Ed turns and grabs Maureen). Ed Okay, darling. Maureen What? Ed Santa Claus left a present for you, but he’s hid it so you wouldn’t get a hold of it and find out what it was. Maureen Oh, you mean so I couldn’t scratch and poke and rattle it. Ed That’s right. That’s right. I know you Reardons. But it wouldn’t be any good in this case. (Hands Maureen a large box). Maureen Ah, well, we’ll see. (She sits down). Well, there’s no rattle. Ed No. Maureen There’s no smell. Ed No. Maureen (Opening the box) Not a dead fish. Ed Not this year. Maureen Well, it’s much too heavy to be diamonds. It’s a food processor! Ed Oh, you guessed. Maureen (Rummaging through paper inside the box and pulling out a smaller box) Yes. Oh, honey, what is this, a rock? What is this? Ed This is fun, isn’t it everybody? (All laugh). Okay, look. Let’s take a guess. What’s in the little red hoodilybobby. (Referring to a red envelope attached to the gift). Rick Gift certificate for a hamburger and fries. Hillary Bowling alley. Maureen Oh my God…Oh, it’s airline tickets! To Bermuda! Oh! (Gives Ed a kiss). Ed We had such a good time on our honeymoon, I thought it’d be even better the second time. Maureen Oh, honey, when do we leave? Ed That’s your choice. You consult your calendar. Whenever you’re ready to go that’s fine. Maureen Well, I think Bermuda’s a great place to make a baby. Ed So do I. (The doorbell rings again). I’m going to answer that. Mike So, Rick, when are you leaving? Rick Well, I thought I’d leave tonight. Beat the traffic. Hillary I hope you have snow tires on. Rick Yeah, anti-freeze, dry gas, jumper cables, the whole thing. Mike Flares? Ed (Opening the door to find Claire) Hi. Claire Hi, Ed. Maureen Oh, Claire! Hi. Come on in. Merry Christmas. I didn’t think we were going to get the chance to see you today. Claire Well, it is Christmas Eve, and I wanted to spend it with the nicest family I know. Ed Can I take your coat? (And proceeds). Maureen Oh, thank you. Didn’t any of your family show up for Christmas? Claire Well, as a matter of fact, my brother Sam did show up. He’s having dinner with his fiancée and I’m going to join him later. (Kelly enters the room behind Claire). Maureen Well, terrific. Claire Actually, none of this would have happened if it wasn’t for Kelly. He arranged the whole thing without me knowing about it. Can you believe how fantastic he is? Kelly You really think so? Claire (turning to face him) I really do. (She walks to him and puts her hands on his shoulders). That was the nicest present anyone ever gave me. Ever. (They kiss). (Meanwhile, the Reardons and the Company staff are celebrating in the restaurant, exchanging gifts. As they go to take a closer look at the Christmas tree, a very alone Lillian enters Company sheepishly). Annabelle Lillian, Lillian. I’m so glad you came. Come on in. Lillian Thank you. Annabelle, I’m really not filled with the Christmas spirit, I’m afraid. Tony (Walking over) That’s okay, Mrs. Raines. You look so pretty, no one will ever notice. Lillian I have to tell you, one of the main reasons I came is I was hoping that maybe my little girl would call here tonight. Annabelle I hope she calls too. Lillian Thank you very much for inviting me, Tony. That’s very nice of you and your family, especially after what happened with Bradley the other night. Annabelle Lillian, can I offer you a little hard won wisdom? Lillian Of course. Annabelle You’re not responsible for the actions of anyone else. That’s something that I learned quite recently (putting her arm around Tony) from the Reardons. Tony Welcome to my place, Mrs. Raines. (Shakes Lillian’s hand). Merry Christmas. Lillian Merry Christmas to you. Annabelle (Ushering Lillian toward the party) Come on. (The Reardons and company are now opening their gifts). Floyd (Opening up a framed photo of his daughter Stacy) Aw, look everybody. A picture of the most prettiest little girl in the world. Bea She sure is. (Annabelle notices that Lillian is distracted, worrying about Beth). Annabelle Lillian, you know what, we’re almost out of punch. Would you like to come help me make some more? Lillian (Almost inaudible) Yes. (She and Annabelle head out). Bea Oh, poor Lillian. It must be so hard on her not knowing where her daughter is. Especially tonight. Henry Yes, we are so lucky, Bea, having our children with us and well, hmm? Bea We have a lot of blessings. Soon we’re going to have a grandchild in common too. Lola Just think. Next year there’s going to be a new little face at this party. Henry Asleep in her grandfather’s arms. Quint Or yelling her head off. Nola (Feeling her stomach) Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Katie What’s the matter? Quint (Bending down) What’s wrong? Nola Wait a minute. I felt something move. (Everyone says what. Quint and Bea feel her stomach). Nola Right here. Right there. Do you feel it? Quint It moves! It moves! There really is a baby in there! (Everyone exclaims how wonderful that is, when Tony and Annabelle re-enter the room…without Lillian). Lola Where’d Mrs. Raines go? Tony She went home. She said to thank everyone for inviting her here, but… Bea She couldn’t get her mind off Beth. Tony Yeah. Annabelle I wish there were more we could do for her. Bea Well, there wasn’t any more we could do for her, honey. When one of your children is missing, and you don’t know where they are, there’s nothing anybody could do to help.