Christmas Chaos
A slightly different ending to Bridget's Bell

Background: All the same from Bridget's Bell. This is simply an
alternate ending, with the Characters that have surfaced in Bay City since I wrote the first one. It begins at the Cory Christmas Party from the first story. Oh yeah now that we know Tito killed Grant, I put Josie and Gary back together. Enjoy!

Scene 1
Setting: Cory Household, December 25, 1999
Characters: Everyone in the first Party plus Josie, Gary, Sergei, K.C., Sean, Anne, and Carl

Everyone has gathered at the Cory estate for joyous Christmas party celebrating every one's good fortune. "The Magic of Christmas Day (God Bless Us Everyone)" by Celine Dion is playing in the background. Vicky is with Paulina and Remy as Dante opens a present. Nick joins them passing Marley, who is handing Steven a present. The shot pans to the foyer where Ali walks in with Sean. They see Rachel and Carl playing with Elizabeth and Cory by the Christmas tree. Amanda is gazing at them, she turns to Cameron and kisses him. We then see Charlie and Matt are helping Jasmine open a present while Cass and Lila sit on the couch in front of them looking content. Behind them are Josie and Gary who are smiling and talking with Chris who has Toni in his arms in front of him facing Josie and Gary. Etta Mae joins them juggling a stack of presents. Chris helps her put them under the tree. They rejoin Josie, Gary and Toni. Josie dangles her glass in front of Gary and he takes it and leaves. Toni does the same and Chris stands there looking amused. She hits him in the arm. He smirks takes the glass and follows Gary. Joe and Jake enter from the study, arguing. Paulina shoots them both a look and they immediately stop and smile. Nick and Remy walk towards the stairs, Remy is carrying Dante. Steven runs over and sits down next Charlie and they start talking turning their backs to Matt. Tyrone comes in the front door and gathers Marley in a kiss while still in his coat. K.C. enters behind him, looking a bit lost then lights up at the site of Etta Mae and Toni, and runs over talking excitingly. Felicia and Sergei enter from the terrace and meet Donna, who just came down the stairs. Anne comes in from the study and kisses Matt (oh yeah they're an item now, they fell in love while trying to break up Cass and Lila). Anne and Matt leave. Lila takes Charlie to the kitchen and Steven tags along. Paulina and Joe join Rachel and Carl and they all start talking. Felicia, Sergei, and Donna all make their way towards the kitchen. Jake crosses and helps Vicky up out of her seat. She laughs as he kisses her on the neck.

Vicky: (pulling away) Jake, honey where's Kirkland?

Jake: (beginning to scan the room) Um, I don't know, (he looks down at Vicky) he probably just wandered off in the crowd, (he kisses her on the cheek then places his hand gently on her stomach) I'll go find him, you two stay here, I'll be right back.

(Jake walks out into the foyer and disappears around the corner. Jasmine begins to cry and Cass picks her up and begins to cross the room but stops in front of Vicky.)

Vicky: (rubs her stomach with one hand and reaches up and tousles
Jasmine's hair with the other) Oh, what's a pretty girl like you doing crying at a party?

Cass: Oh Jasmine's just tired, all this excitement really wore her out. So how are you?

Vicky: Fine, except my feet hurt, my back aches, my ankles are swollen and I have to pee every five minutes, other than that I'm just peachy.

Cass: (rubbing Jasmine's back as she calms down a bit) Well it's almost over, when are you due?

Vicky: Tuesday.

Cass: See it will all be over in three days, then you'll have a beautiful little girl, and this will be you next year. Hey, want to hold Jasmine for a minute, I have go get Charlie's presents from
the trunk of my car.

Vicky: Sure, I could use the practice, it's been years, well Kirkland's
eight, so like seven years since I had a baby around the house.

(Vicky sits down and Cass places Jasmine, who's almost asleep, in Vicky's arms. Kirkland, Steven and Charlie walk in from the kitchen. Steven sits down and Charlie stands next to him talking. Kirkland is holding a plate of cookies as he crosses over to Vicky.)

Kirkland: Hi mom, want a cookie?

Vicky: Sweetheart, where have you been. I sent Jake to look for you.

Kirkland: I went into the kitchen for something to eat and Steven said you were looking for me, so sorry if I worried you.

Vicky: (stroking Jasmine's head) That's OK sweetie, so long as we know you're all right.

END SCENE


Scene 2
Setting: Same ( a few minutes later)
Characters: Same

Sean walks in with Ali but is stopped by Vicky.

Vicky: Sean, Ali, boy, am I glad to see you. Sean would you like to learn how to hold a baby?

Sean: Um, well...

Vicky: Sure, you would, Ali can help you. I'm sure she's had plenty of
experience living here with Elizabeth and Cory. Here, take Jasmine, Cass will be back in a minute or you can give her to Lila or Matt if you see them. I have to go to the ladies room and then I have to find Jake and tell him I found Kirkland.

(Vicky hands Jasmine to Ali and Sean helps her up.)

Ali: Come on, Sean, it's easy.

Vicky: Go on, your cousin Bridget is going to be here any day now and you could stand to know how to hold her if you want to be a good cousin.

(Vicky leaves and Ali sits down with Sean on the couch and places a now sleeping Jasmine in his arms.)

Ali: See it's not that hard. You've got the hang of it already.

END SCENE


Scene 3
Setting: The Hall and Study of the Cory House (10 minutes later)
Characters: Jake, Vicky, Remy, Nick, and Dante

Jake is in the Study, halfway up the spiral staircase in the corner
calling for Kirkland. Vicky hears him from the hall and enters the study. Dante runs down the hall. and closes the door to the Study. He shoves two wheels from a matchbox car in the keyhole, jamming the lock. Remy and Nick run down the hall and find him, not realizing what he has done.

Remy: There you are, I swear Dante you are the most michevious little brother in the world!

(Remy picks Dante up and Nick follows them down the hall.)

Nick: Come on, let's go join the party!

(Meanwhile, Vicky finds Jake in the corner.)

Vicky: Jake, Jake!

Jake: (bumping his head) What?! Are you OK?

Vicky: Honey, I found Kirkland, actually Steven did, but he's in the living room. Come on, let's go.

(Jake, still rubbing his head, climbs down the stairs and puts his arm around Vicky as they head for the door.)

Jake: OK, lets go have some fun! (tries the jammed door) Um, huh, honey, we have a bit of a problem.

Vicky: (a bit worried and annoyed) What? Jake, what's going on, come on I want go, what's the problem?

(Jake tries the door again and looks at Vicky questioningly with his hands raised and shoulders shrugged. Vicky tries the door as well and sighs, putting her head on his chest.)

Jake: If I were you honey, I'd get comfortable because I don't think we're going any where for a little while.

END SCENE


Scene 4
Setting: Same (20 minutes later)
Characters: Jake, Vicky, Tyrone, Marley, Nick, Matt, and Anne

Jake and Vicky are sitting by the door, Jake is listening closely in case anyone comes by. Marley and Tyrone pass, Jake hears them and tries to get their attention. He begins to bang on the door and yell.

Jake: Help! Help!

Tyrone: (grabs Marley's arm to stop her and moves closer to the door to listen) Hello, is anybody in there?

Jake: Tyrone?

Tyrone: Jake, is that you, what's wrong?

Jake: I came in here looking for Kirkland, Vicky followed me in here, somebody closed the door and now we can't open it.

Marley: Vicky, are you in there?

Vicky: Marley? Yeah, I'm in here. do you think one of you could get us out?

Tyrone: Here let me try, (Tyrone tries the knob but it won't budge) stand clear, (Jake helps Vicky up and they move away from the door Tyrone backs up and throws his weight against the door, but it still won't move) Whoa, that sucker's jammed, Marley why don't you...

(Matt and Anne walk past but Tyrone stops them.)

Tyrone:(cont.) Never mind. Matt, could you help us here?

Matt: I don't know, what's the problem?

Tyrone: Jake and Vicky are stuck in the study, the door's locked.

Matt: Sure, I have a master key in the library, I'll be right back.

(Matt turns the corner and heads towards the library.)

Vicky: Oh God, that can't be good.

Jake: What, what's wrong, is it the baby, Vic?

Vicky: Um, (her eyes widen as she places both hands on her stomach) I, I think I'm having a contraction!

Anne: Vicky, are you allright? are you in labor?

Vicky: (her hands tighten and she cringes) I'm pretty sure. Oh OW!

Jake: (scrambling towards Vicky) OK, it's going to be fine, You breathe, and Matt's gonna come and let us out and then we'll go to the hospital and Bridget will be here and our waiting will be over. I just hope I'm OK.

(Nick passes and stops, wondering what every one's doing.)

Nick: Hey, what's going on?

Marley: Well, you see Jake and Vicky are locked in the study and Matt went to get the key, (Vicky screams) Oh yeah, did I mention Victoria just went into labor?

(Matt returns with the key.)

Matt: Did Vicky just scream?

Jake: Yeah, do you think you could hurry it up a bit, Vicky just went into labor.

(Matt frantically tries to open the door but to no avail, the lock itself is jammed. Anne takes out her cell phone.)

Marley: Who are you calling?

Anne: Well I don't know should I call a locksmith or an ambulance?

Nick: You call the ambulance and stay here with Vicky and I'll go call a locksmith.

Vicky: (shuddering during the contraction while Jake gently rubs her back) Oh Hurry! AHHH!

END SCENE

Scene 5
Setting: Cory Living Room
Characters: Nick, Paulina, Remy, Dante, Steven, Charlie, Kirkland, Ali, Sean, Jasmine, Rachel, Carl, Claudia, Cory, Elizabeth, Amanda, Cameron, Lila, Cass, Josie, Gary, Toni, Chris, K.C., Etta Mae, Felicia, Sergei, Donna

Meanwhile back in the living room, Remy had returned with Nick and Dante, and sat down near Paulina and Joe. Nick left to get a cookie for Dante. Steven, Charlie, and Kirkland started playing tag in the foyer. Cass came in with Charlie's presents and placed them under the tree. Charlie saw Cass and followed him, Lila came in from the kitchen and Charlie opened a present. Lila relieved Sean and Ali of Jasmine and gave her to Claudia to take to the nursery till they were ready to leave. Rachel kissed Carl as he took Cory and Elizabeth upstairs to bed. Amanda and Cameron stepped out on to the terrace and gazed at the stars, Amanda enveloped in Cameron's arms. Felicia and Sergei got their coats and left, stopping to say good-bye to Donna and then Rachel. Etta Mae found K.C.'s present and gave it to her. Josie, Gary, Toni and Chris gather around, curious as to the gifts contents. K.C. opens it revealing a framed copy of her first article at the Herald. (well actually second, the first one was about Anne, a story the caused a lot of friction for all involved.) Nick ran in frantically towards the phone. Donna and Rachel followed him.

Nick: (flipping through the phone book) Gosh, I hope they're open this late on Christmas.

Donna: Nick, what's wrong? who are you calling?

Nick: (still frantic) Shh, it's ringing, Hello?

Rachel: Nick what on earth are you doing?

(Nick puts his hands up to quiet her as Remy walks over.)

Nick: Yes, this is an emergency, I need a locksmith at the Cory residence.

Remy: (puzzled) A locksmith?

Nick: Come on buddy, I'm not fooling around. My sister is locked in the study and she just went into labor! ...... No, we tried the key ....... Yes ........ The Cory residence! Come on hurry up my sister Vicky is labor! .......... Thank you.

Donna: Oh my God, Vicky's in labor! How on earth did she get locked in, is she OK, where's Jake?

Nick: Jake's in there with her, they got stuck in there together. All I
know is she's in labor, and she's stuck in the study.

Donna: Thank God, at least Jake's in there with her.

Rachel: I'll go get the master key,

Nick: Um, I think Matt already tried that, but I'm going to go check on Vicky, you coming Donna?

Remy: Hey, did anyone call the paramedics?

Nick: Yeah, Anne's right outside the door on her cell phone.

Rachel: Remy, dear, why don't you take Steven and Kirkland upstairs, we don't want them to get upset over their mother, there's bound to be a lot of commotion when the ambulance gets here. While your at it take Charlie and Dante as well, no use having anybody upset.

(Remy goes and gets Steven and Kirkland, she whispers something into Paulina's ear and takes Dante in her arms, she walks across to Cass, tells him the same thing and he tells Charlie to go with her. Paulina tells Joe and they jump up and run down the hall, Rachel, Donna and Nick follow. Cass tells Lila and they go as well.)

END SCENE


Scene 6
Setting: Hall and Study of the Cory mansion
Characters: Jake, Vicky, Anne, Marley, Tyrone, Matt, Rachel, Donna, Nick, Paulina, Joe, Lila, and Cass

Anne:(on the phone) Yes ..... she just went into labor ...... two minutes ago .......... no, I can't get to her ....... she and her husband are locked in a room .......... I can hear them, I'm on the other side of the door ........ Her brother just called for a locksmith .............. No ......... I don't know .. Vicky, are you full term?

Jake: Yes, she's due on Tuesday.

Anne: Yes, she's due on Tuesday ...... Vicky how old are you?

Vicky: Thirty-one

Anne : How many kids do you have?

Jake: Steven and Kirk, this baby is going to be her third.

Anne: She has two boys, this is her third ............ OK ......... wait
your breaking up, ...... The Cory residence , Um I don't know ............ Yeah Yeah. What? I can't hear you...... Hello ......... Hello? (frustratedly banging the phone) Crap the battery went dead, Well at least their coming.

Jake: What do you mean the battery went dead? Are they going to send an ambulance or not?

Anne: Yes, the ambulance is on it's way.

(Paulina and Joe arrive.)

Paulina: Hey, Vicky, are you OK?

Vicky: Oh, yeah, I'm great, I'm just about to give birth and I'm trapped in a room with no escape.

Joe: Isn't there a staircase in there?

Matt: Yes, but it only leads to a storage room.

(Donna, Nick, and Rachel arrive.)

Donna: Victoria, are you all right darling?

Vicky: Oh just dandy, (clenching her stomach with one hand and grabbing Jake's collar with the other) AHHHH!

Nick: You just hang in there Vic, help is on the way.

Rachel: How did you two manage to get stuck in there in the first place.

Jake: I came looking for Kirkland and then Vicky came in looking for me because she had found him. We went to leave and the door was closed and jammed.

(Cass and Lila show up.)

Cass: How you doing, kiddo?

(Vicky screams.)

Cass: Oh, well Vicky, I must say you really have a knack for this sort of thing.

Lila: What are you talkin' about?

Cass: Vicky always manages to go into labor at the worst times.

Anne: Huh?

Cass: That's right! You two don't know! Steven was born in a blizzard while Jake and Vicky were snowed in at her apartment, and she went into labor with Kirkland while she was signing her divorce papers with Grant.

(Lila hits him in the arm.)

Lila: Like you aren't the same way.

Cass: Excuse me, but when did I ever give birth?

Lila: You know what I mean, Frankie had Charlie in a stalled elevator and then I gave birth to Jasmine in one too.

Paulina: Yeah, and Dante was born in a barn, literally.

Anne: My Gosh, why did they even waste their money on a maternity ward, has any body ever had a baby at the hospital?

Marley: Well Vicky, did make to the hospital with Kirkland.

Vicky: (screaming) Oh God!

Marley: What, what's wrong?

Jake: Her water broke!

Donna: Call 911 again and tell them to hurry!

Marley: Somebody open the door!

Nick: We can't wait we have to break it down!

Donna: We have to help her!

END SCENE

Scene 7
Setting: The nursery upstairs
Characters: Remy, Carl, Claudia, Steven ,Charlie, Kirkland, Jasmine, Cory, Elizabeth, and Dante.

Claudia is putting Elizabeth down as Carl rubs Cory's back. Remy has just put Jasmine down when she picks up Dante. Carl leaves passing Steven, Kirkland, and Charlie who are playing Go-Fish.

Steven: Hey Kirk, got any 3s?

Kirkland: Nope, Go-Fish!

(Remy picks up Dante's favourite matchbox car and notices that it's
missing two wheels.)

Remy: Hey sweetie, what happened to the wheels on your car?

Dante: They went bye-bye.

Remy: What do you mean they went bye-bye? Where'd they go?

Dante: They are in the hole on the big brown door.

Remy: What door, sweetie?

Dante: The one by the potty downstairs in the big hall.

Remy: (realizing he means the study she puts him down on the floor by Charlie and gets up) Claudia, watch the kids, I'll be right back!

(Remy runs out.)