Chapter 4

About three months later, the Partridges are at the tailor's shop getting fitted for new costumes. Reuben and Shirley inspect Chris, Danny, and Tracy's outfits.

Shirley: How do they feel?

Danny: Chris needs the seat reinforced because he wears his out drumming.

Chris: (Rolls his eyes) I do not.

Tracy: The pants are too short. I look like I'm going wading.

Shirley: (Kneels down and studies her daughter's outfit) Looks like we'll need to lengthen them a couple inches. You've grown since our last fitting! Danny, how does yours fit?

Danny: Fine.

Shirley: Can you move around in it?

Danny: Yes.

Shirley: Try playing your bass.

Danny: (Plays a few riffs) Works okay.

Keith: (Walks out in his new costume) Mine fits fine.

Laurie: (Whines from behind her dressing room) Mom!

Shirley: (Still adjusting Tracy's slacks cuffs) How's your costume fitting?

Laurie: (Voice trembling) Uhh, I need your help.

Shirley: All right. (to Reuben) Have the tailor work with Tracy while I see what's going on with Laurie. (to her sons) Keith, Danny, Chris, go ahead and change out of your costumes so we can have the tailor press them.

As the Partridge sons change out of their costumes, Shirley enters Laurie's dressing room and her jaw drops.

Shirley: (Shocked) Laurie?

Laurie: (Stammers) M... my... my shirt won't button up and I can't fasten my slacks. (Somber) I... it... it won't fit.

Shirley: (a tear rolls down her cheek) Laurie, you're pregnant!

Laurie absently brushes her hand over her slightly rounded abdomen. The buttons at the top of her blouse strain against the fabric. Her abdomen prevents her blouse from being buttoned all the way down and she is unable to zip and fasten her slacks.

Laurie: (Crying) It's Lester's.

Little did they remember that the rest of the family can hear everything. Their jaws drop.

Danny: (Mouths) Pregnant?

Keith: (Mutters) I'll kill him!

Shirley: How long have you known?

Laurie: A couple months. (Cries into her mother's arms) Mom, what am I gonna do?

Shirley: Oh, Laurie. (Brushes back a lock of her daughter's hair) We'll get through this.

Laurie: I... I'm not getting rid of it. It's not the baby's fault this happened.

Shirley: (Relieved) That's fine.

Laurie: I... I wanna keep it. I... I don't know if I could give it away.

Shirley: (Looks her in the eye) We can talk about that later, okay?

Laurie nods and wipes her eyes.

Shirley: Why don't you get dressed and come on out in a few minutes?

Laurie: (Sniffs) Okay.

Shirley: I love you.

Laurie: I love you too, mom.

Shirley exits the dressing room and tries to compose herself. She sees her other kids and Reuben staring in shock. Keith storms out of the shop.

Shirley: Keith!

Keith finds Goose and his buddies working on their motorcycles at their local hang out spot.

Guy 1: (Picks up a wrench) Well, look at who we have here?

Goose: (Sarcastic) Chill, dude. Let's see what he wants.

Three of Goose's entourage stand behind him as Keith walks up.

Keith: Goose, I've gotta talk to you.

Guy 2: (arms crossed) Why should he give you the time of day, Nancy boy?

Keith: C'mon, Goose. It's a matter of life and death.

Guy 3: (chuckles) Yeah, yours if you don't scram.

Goose: (Hands up, dismissing the others) All right, Partridge, you've got five minutes, so spill.

Keith: (Sighs, relieved) Thanks. You know Lester Braddock's been spreading rumours around school about my sister.

Goose: Are you sure those are rumours?

Keith's nostrils flare as he exhales.

Goose: Hey, I'm just kidding. Yeah, I've heard them and that's waay outta bounds. No one should be dissin' Laurie like that. She's a good egg.

Keith: (Fumes) Well, he raped her and got her pregnant.

Goose: That's low!

Keith: And when he figures it out, he'll be impossible.

Goose: Yeah, well... (he starts working on his motorcycle again) that's too bad.

Keith: I was wondering if I could get a gun from you?

Goose: (Pauses, then rises, looking him in the eye) You want a what?

Keith: Gun... a gun.

Guy 1: (Bursts out laughing) Ole Partridge here's gonna bust a cap in Lester's ass.

Goose: Knock it off, Spider.

Keith looks at Gus, stone-faced.

Guy 2: (Shocked) No, he's gonna kill 'em.

Goose: Are you sure you know what you're doing?

Keith: He's gotta pay.

Goose: I can understand roughing him up a bit, but killing him? That's a bit extreme.

Keith: (Growls) He raped my sister. He got her pregnant. So, he's got to pay.

Goose: I just can't do that, Partridge.

Keith: Why not?

Goose: You're too nice of a guy. I'll have my guys rough him up, but I won't lend you a piece.

Keith storms off, but Spider follows him.

Spider: Keith, wait.

Keith: (Spins around, annoyed) What?

Spider: I'll give you a piece.

Keith: (Not trusting) Why?

Spider: I like your sister. I hate what Lester's done. I've got a sister too. If he'd done that to my sister, I would blow his head off.

Keith: But what about Goose?

Spider: (Scoffs) He's all talk. I'll help you out.

Keith: Thanks.

Spider: Meet me at the taco stand tonight.

Keith: (Nods) 'Kay.

Spider: (Warns) Don't tell anyone or I'll knock your head off.

The next week

It's the middle of the school day. As Laurie walks to Algebra class, she wraps her sweater tighter around her midsection, trying to camouflage her growing midsection. Lester and two other students approach her.

Lester: Hey, how's my baby?

Laurie: (Furious) This is NOT your baby!

Lester: (Strokes her cheek) I know it is, and I can't wait to be a daddy.

Laurie: (Chin quivering) Lea... leave... leave me alone!

Lester: I'm only trying to help. After all, that is my baby you're carrying.

Laurie: (A tear escapes) I said to leave me alone.

Keith rounds the corner and sees Laurie's upset. He walks toward her and stops when Mr. Howard steps out of his classroom, confronting Lester.

Mr. Howard: (Sees that Laurie looks frightened) Is there something wrong, Mr. Braddock?

Lester: (Holds his hands up) No... no... I was just leaving.

The students walk off without another word. Laurie begins crying.

Mr. Howard: You okay?

Laurie: (Dries her tears) Yeah.

Mr. Howard: If those guys ever bother you again, you either let me or Principal Brown know, okay?

Laurie: (Nods) Okay.

The tardy bell rings

Mr. Howard: (Writes her a hall pass) Here, use this and go get freshened up. If you want, you can skip my class. We're going over Chapter Six and homework is the review at the end.

Laurie: (Smiles weakly) Thanks.

Mr. Howard nods and leaves. Keith has watched both exchanges and fumes.

Keith: (Tries to hide his anger) You okay?

Laurie: Yeah.

Keith: He's been bugging you lately, hasn't he?

Laurie: Not all the time, but yes, he says something to me when he gets the chance.

Principal Brown: (Walks down the hallway) Keith, get to class. Laurie, go ahead and freshen up.

Keith: (to Laurie) I'll see you after school.

Laurie nods.

At the Partridge House

Shirley and Reuben are reviewing the fall concert schedule.

Shirley: (Distracted) So, we play for the Rotary Club on the 19th?

Reuben: (Notices) No, on the 18th.

Shirley: Oh.

Reuben: Things with Laurie are really weighing on you.

Shirley: Is it that obvious?

Reuben: I know you. You seem distracted.

Shirley: (Sighs) I am distracted.

Reuben: Care to talk about it?

Shirley: My daughter was raped and now she's pregnant, and Keith... (sighs again) Keith seems so angry. I'm afraid he's going to do something stupid.

Reuben: (Concerned) Oh?

Shirley: He's said many times that he's going to kill Lester. I was hoping that it was just... you know...

Reuben: (Supplies) That it was just something he said because he was angry and upset about learning she was raped and then that she was pregnant.

Shirley: Yes.

Reuben: Have you talked to him about it?

Shirley: Not since right at first.

Reuben: You might want to talk to him again.

Shirley: (Panics) Why? Do you know something I don't?

Reuben: (Puts his hand over hers; assuring) No, but it might help.

Shirley: You're right. I think I will tonight.

Reuben: (Smiles) Good. Now, where were we?

That evening

The rest of the Partridge children have gone to bed. Keith is in the garage, sitting at the piano, working on a new song.

Shirley: (Knocks on the door) May I come in?

Keith: Sure.

Shirley: What are you working on?

Keith: A new song. It's called "Rainmaker." (Shows her his draft)

Shirley: Sounds good. (Changes the subject) May I talk to you?

Keith: Sure. About what?

Shirley: About Laurie... and Lester.

Keith: (Stiffens up) What about Laurie?

Shirley: I know you're upset. I am too. It's horrible what he did to Laurie, but...

Keith: (Feels anger welling inside) But what?

Shirley: (Sighs) I'm concerned about you.

Keith: Me?

Shirley: Yes. (Whispers to herself) How can I put this? (Regroups) Keith, I've heard you say, on many occasions, that you're going to kill Lester.

Keith: So?

Shirley: So? I'm afraid you're going to do something that you can't undo.

Keith stares at her, not saying a word.

Shirley: (Direct) Are you going to kill Lester?

Keith still stares, wordlessly.

Shirley: I know you're angry...

Keith: (Interrupting, furious) Yes, I'm angry! Lester raped my sister and now she's pregnant. She's got to live with that for the rest of her life!

Shirley: And if you do something stupid, she'll have to live with the fact that her brother's in jail! Do you know what that would do to her, knowing that her brother was so angry that he decided to kill someone?

Keith: What am I supposed to do? Let him get away with it?

Shirley: I don't know, but doing harm isn't the answer.

Keith: Then, what is? (Gets up)

Shirley: Where are you going?

Keith: Out!

Shirley: We're not done talking.

Keith: I am.

Shirley: (Angry) Don't walk away from me, Keith!

Keith storms out. Shirley cries into her arms.

-End of Chapter 4-