NOTE'S
Lindsey wanting the upper hand in crushing GOB had on her way to the office, stopped to buy a lighter. What better to go along with GOB's failing fire trick?
Tobias earlier out on the streets, in search of more newspapers: Had looked up just in time to see Lindsey driving the company car down toward the Bluth building. Fearing she was going to meet a new man, he quickly stole a an 8 year old girls pink Barbie bike and went in pursuit of his wife. (Just imagine a very blue Tobias, riding a pink child's bike, complete with sparkling, ribbon flyers attached to the handle bars.) Pedaling as hard as he could, Tobias was determined to prove once and for all that he was a real man, a man of men if you will…
GOB had started his day without Michael very well, "See I don't need Mikie babysitting me!" he declared to no one in particular. Soon realizing watching other people work was boring he had an idea how to liven things up a bit. "I have a very important announcement to make to all of you, so important it can only be said…on the roof!" This caused the employees to look at each other nervously before going back to their jobs. "Listen people you all don't follow me up to the roof right now, or I'll be forced to take out my bleep and bleep-bleep all in your faces!" Unsure of how to react the Bluth company employees began filing into the elevators on their way to the roof. "What a better way to start the morning then with your president performing a magic trick of surprise proportions?" smiled GOB. No one offered a retort, a woman in the back of the elevator called her sexual harassment lawyer.
Lindsey showed up at the Bluth office only 3 minutes after opening, 1 minute after all the employee's had been herded to the roof. It took her all of 2 minutes to find everyone on the roof. GOB standing in he front of the crowd, dancing around like a drunken stripper didn't see his sister approach until she was standing next to him hold a lit lighter. "What are you doing here, been sent here to check on me?" he accused. With anger still in the fore front of her mind, Lindsey said nothing and held up her lighter. "What is this, for helping my trick?" his frosty façade melting. "NO" snapped Lindsey taking a step in toward GOB. Feeling suddenly trapped GOB took a step back, away from Lindsey. "You ruined my ad!" her voice rising, she stepped closer. GOB's panic alarms wailing internally, took another step back. Just then Tobias burst through the roof doorway, still straddling the pink bike. Distracting GOB from Lindsey, GOB began to laugh. Lindsey feeling her upper hand slipping, hit her last resort. Snapping the lighter with her other hand, suddenly realized she had no idea how to work the thing. "Damn it!" she felt deflated. "Ha ha" scoffed GOB "you cant even use a lighter" in frustration she continued flicking it. "Well since we have been interrupted I shall skip to the main course!" everyone groaned, hands folded across chest and waited. Tobias finding his white bike tire stuck in the door tried to un-jam the doorway, by in his manliest way ramming his body into the bike in hopes of breaking through. Unfortunately as soon as GOB's botched fire trick sprayed out butane fluid, Lindsey got the lighter to work. Flames came to life around them, GOB's coat arms and the tips of Lindsey's hair all burning. The first one to react from the sudden incident was the lawyer woman from the elevator. Running back toward the door, she easily knocked Tobias and the bike out of the doorway. She is followed by a flood of screaming employees. GOB manages to rip of his coat and shirt, throwing his shirt on Lindsey's head to smoother the flames. What they did not notice was that GOB's burning coat fell over the ledge and into the open window of the floor below them, causing the building to catch aflame as well. Cheap, highly flammable, banned building materials caused the building to catch on fire 100 times faster then more expensive, legal materials. So its really no surprise at all that only after 3 minutes of the fire taking root, that most of the offices are already burning high above the city streets. Luckily though, the downtown fire hall sits only half a block down the road. Making it no time before the building is surrounded and barricaded from rubbernecks driving through town.
As you can imagine with only eight minutes since the Bluth Company opened for business that morning, it was now on fire. With all its employees scrambling to get out, well all of them except one.
Berry: The Bluth family attorney had arrived at the company only 9 minutes after the doors had opened. Not caring enough to notice the people screaming and running by him, he continued up the office stairwell since it appeared the elevators were not working. As he neared the main floor he thought he detected the smell of burning walls. But assuming he was still wasted from the prior evening continued trudging on. Well until he reached the stairwell door handle. Laying his hand on it to open, he quickly recoiled, wincing in pain. Shaking his head he walked back down the stairs. Now I know I'm too messed up to work, since doors are burning me. Exiting the building he was suddenly rushed upon by a police officer. "You the last one out from the building?" he asked holding a black two way radio Berry believing to be hit on by one of GOB's hot cops Berry nervously stuttered, "I'm the last one out! If anything Tobias isn't out at all!" He defended. The officer quickly rushed away, sending out a message the there was one more man inside the burning Bluth company building. Figuring the hot cops were out today to publicly "out" whatever men they could, in an attempt to humor GOB. Berry jogged back to his car. Well if these hot cops are all "outing" people today that would explain why everyone's running around screaming and acting strange." he concluded,Speeding back home to avoid being "outted" he didn't see a disoriented Buster step out in front of his car at the intersection. No not until he looked up to find a shining metal hook caught into the front windshield of his car. "This really isn't my day!" he cried, just as he passed out.
Just as Michael arrived, sweat running down his face, and breathing hard. He stopped to watch in awed horror to see flames reaching out the Bluth windows. Somewhere in the distance he thought he heard Buster scream, and breaks screeching. Too distracted to care, the reflection of flames burning in his eyes, only one word echoed through his mind; GOB!
George Michael was excited, even though common sense warned him to be skeptical of finding Maeby in a diner instead of school, where she should have been. But all of that responsibility was blocked out by his shear joy of being so near her.
Maeby on the other hand was caught in a jam and not nearly as thrilled to be standing with George Michael. Fearing that any minute now what's his face would be coming in to join her, she made a quick decision. Grabbing George Michael by the shoulders she faced him, knowing he would better buy into her story if she acted dramatic. Quickly leaned forward, letting her hair brush against his cheek, and whispered something quickly into his ear. Looking confused, and slightly nervous he nodded and took off out the door, stair car keys in hand. Maeby dug around in her purse until she came out with a pen and monogrammed note card. Quickly scribbling an explanation for her quick departure for what's his face and leaving it with the closest waitress. Maeby exits the diner from the side door, just as what's his face enters from the front: George Michael pulling the stair car around, in perfect timing for Maeby's escape.
George Michael fueled by fear and hormones drove slowly down the street, finding himself surrounded by fire trucks, cop cars and ambulances. Driving, thoughtlessly on his own personal auto pilot he made his way toward their high school. Coming up to the corner, which appeared to be the focal point of the commotion, he was just about to see the Bluth building up in flames, when he felt Maeby's hand lightly touch his own.
Feeling temporary relief for having been spared an awkward scene back at the diner, Maeby settled into her seat next to George Michael. With all the passing emergency vehicles it made it easy for them to drive in silence without Maeby having to elaborate on what lie she had conjured up back in the diner. "You've got to help me George Michael; I haven't been to school because some crazy old man has been stalking me. Don't try to act like a hero, I think he has a gun, and he'll be in here any minute! Just let me call the police while you see if an angry man in his 50's with a black suit on his coming this way." It had actually played out better then she had hoped, with George Michael pulling up in the stair car to whisk her away. Now sitting together, watching the flashing lights wiz pass them it suddenly occurred to Maeby where George Michael was taking her. To school, that was one of the last places she wanted to go now, no not after all this. Her missing some much school, George Michael thinking she's in danger it was too much pressure even for her. Turning to her cousin she watched his determined face fixated on the road, his shallow breathing since she had sat down next to him. Without intent or realization she softly laid her hand over his hand tightly gripping the steering wheel. It really wasn't until George Michael turned and met her eyes with such intensity that she pulled away. Completely surrounded by fire trucks now, George Michael pulled over the stair car. Turning in his seat to face Maeby he felt his heart flutter around madly within his chest. Neither said a word, and just as George Michael lowered his lips to meet Maeby's she turned away, staring out the window. "I never meant to drag you in to all this mess…" The red emergency lights dancing in her curly hair, he felt his hand twitch, desperately longing to touch, caress her face in his hands. Deciding to take the high road and disperse some of the sexual tension surrounding them, he smiled weakly. "Mess, what mess I've always heard the two most important things are, family and breakfast. So far today I've had both, spending time with you and dad not to forget that tasty diner food." The emphases on tasty made Maeby laugh, both of them smiling at each other; distracted them entirely to Buster Bluth flying over the stair car windshield and into the lawn bushes next to them.
TO BE CONTINUED
