"Pomp and Circumstance?"
Early the next morning, the DeLarges are preparing for the day.
Playing from Alex's stereo is a classical piece from Mozart.
Alex and Peggy have breakfast. Alex is dressed for work in a dark suit, and looks dapper, as expected. Peggy is dressed in a nice pink and white dress, with matching earrings and a pink hairband.
Little Alex Jr. is seated atop Peggy's lap. He's got on a cute yellow pajama set. Peggy feeds him scrambled eggs, a sautéed tomato with a drizzle of olive oil, and jam on a slice of lightly toasted bread. The youngster chortles and squeaks as he enjoys his breakfast of solid food.
He sees his pensive father seated across from him sipping his tea. He has a lot on his mind.
"Alex, love?", Peggy addresses him.
Alex looks up at her.
"What do you think the State people look like – who'll be watching you?"
"Honestly, Leggy, love, your Alex has no idea", he replies. "I have no messel what they'll be wearing. A dark-colored suit, perhaps? Maybe it'll be a cheloveck or dva (he shows her two fingers for two) wearing a shlapa each…"
"What's a shlapa?"
"It's the 'black thing' I wear to 'top off' my 'gang' clothes, Peggy-Leggy!"
Alex smirks, and playfully raises his eyebrows at his wife.
Peggy brightens as she realizes what Alex's shlapa is.
"Your derby, Alex?
"Mm-hmm!"
The youngster wriggles in his mother's hold, and tries to come down off her lap. He chortles.
Alex and Peggy turn in his direction, hearing him.
"What is it, love?", Peggy asks him. "You want to go to Daddy?"
Alex Jr. wriggles as he carefully holds on to his mother. His feet nearly touch the floor. Peggy lowers him.
Within minutes, he hastily toddles over to his Daddy's leg. He looks up at Alex with his bright blue eyes. He chortles at him. Alex's own bright blues twinkle back at his son as he smirks. He picks him up, and keeps him on his lap.
"Right right! You want to be with me, Alex Jr.?", Alex playfully asks him, kissing his cheek.
Alex Jr. lowers his eyes, and blushes like his mother.
Alex takes up his cup of tea, and sips more. Alex Jr.'s eyes follow what his father does. He chortles and gestures toward his father's teacup.
"What? You want some chai, love?", Alex asks him.
"Shai?", Alex Jr. cutely repeats in his little year-old way. He's watching the teacup
Alex and Peggy laughs.
"Shy? – Yes, Junior. You're shy like your mother!", Alex teases him.
Peggy giggles at her husband's witty comment. He knows Alex Jr. is trying to say 'Chai'.
Alex takes up his teacup, and brings it to his son's tiny lips.
"It's very warm, love…", he tells the youngster.
Alex Jr. sips the tea. Alex gives him a little more.
Alex thinks he's had enough, and moves it away from him. Alex Jr. briefly whimpers: He wants more.
Amused, Alex and Peggy laugh.
"I thought you were finished, my malenky one! Who's going to work here? Me, or you?"
Alex feeds Alex Jr. more of his chai, when…
There is a knocking at the door. Peggy gets up, and goes to see who it is.
"Who is it?"
"Good Morning, Missus. My name is Nigel Holland of the State", a male voice primly answers behind the door. "We're here to get your husband, Alexander DeLarge."
Peggy gasps.
"You're with the State?", she fearfully repeats.
"Yes, Missus. Please open the door. It is very important we see Mr. DeLarge, right now!", the male voice politely, yet seriously, insists.
Alex hears her from in the kitchen, and looks up from cuddling his son.
"Peg! Who is it, love?", Alex's voice calls from the kitchen.
"The State!", Peggy calls back to him. "A Nigel 'Somebody' is here with the State!"
"Holland, Missus!", the voice behind the door informs her (again) of his last name.
Within minutes, an alarmed Alex joins Peggy at the door, with Little Alex Jr. in his arms.
Peggy is near tears. Alex opens the door.
"I've got to go to work!", Alex comments as he regards the members of the State: About 10 men in dark suits stand at his door. They are all solemn-expressioned as they enter without being asked inside. Also entering with the members of the State is a priggish Englishman in a typical 'British' suit, with waist chain, derby, and a long umbrella. Apparently, this is Nigel Holland.*
(*I envision British comedian Rik Mayall of 'The Young Ones' as Nigel)
"Good Morning", Alex greets them. "Am I under arrest, Sir?"
"Good Morning. Alexander DeLarge, you have to come with us: You, your wife, and your children. And please do not put up resistance!", the priggish Englishman – who has a slight resemblance to Alex, himself, with a similar hairstyle, but with hazel-colored eyes – addresses Alex.
"I'm about to go to my job! That is, my job with the government – yes? Am I under arrest, Mr. Holland, Sir?", Alex asks him. "
"No – but if you persist in your questionings, you run the risk of being arrested, Mr. DeLarge! I suggest you and your family get ready 'chop-chop'!", Mr. Holland replies.
"Oh! You're quite an English 'bloke', eh?", Alex snorts at him.
The English 'Secret Servicemen' accompany the DeLarges in their own apartment!
Alex gives Peggy Alex Jr. as he's about to use the bathroom. Peggy leaves. Four of the Servicemen quietly come behind Alex, who is unaware they are there. He positions himself before the toilet when he notices – in the mirror – he has company.
"What in bolshy yarblockos…?", he complains.
Alex 'zips up', and whips around at the intruders in his bathroom.
"Why are you here? I'm about to use the toilet!"
"Keep moving, Mr. DeLarge! We're waiting on you and your family!", one of the somber Servicemen tells him.
"May I please have some privacy, Brothers, as I pee?", Alex asks them, mustering up sufficient politeness. He's still shocked by their boldly entering the bathroom with him.
The Servicemen relent in disgust. They exit, closing the bathroom door behind them. They retreat into the kitchen, awaiting their subject to finish taking care of his personal business in private.
"Ahhhh! Thanks, Brothers!", Alex's voice playfully addresses them from behind the door.
Meantime, Mr. Holland is with Peggy and the six other Servicemen in the Nursery. Peggy is packing her baby bags for Alex Jr. and Auberine.
"Missus, is it necessary for you to do this?", Mr. Holland complains. "We're on a set time, you know!"
"Well, Sir, Alex and I are parents!", Peggy reminds him. "We have to tend to our children's needs. I've got to change the children's nappies* (*British word for diapers) each before we leave!"
"Ohhh!", Mr. Holland complains, dropping himself in the nearby rocking chair.
"Can't the Governor come upstairs, and speak with us, instead? Is he in your limousine, downstairs, Sir?", Peggy asks Mr. Holland.
"No – He's at the Office!", he counters. He starts to rock himself in the rocking chair as he complains to Peggy: "Now, we're all going to be 'off-schedule', apparently, as you have these other needs to attend to! – because you're a mother, of course!"
"Well, Sir, it's the State's idea to conduct this unnecessary 'Watch' on Alex!", Peggy politely, yet truthfully, counters. "Otherwise, this is our normal routine! All due respect, Sir, the State is disrupting our routine!"
Mr. Holland snorts. He's one of the priggish-type Englishmen, in his two-piece suit, bowler hat, waist chain, and umbrella. He has a similar hair-length – and style – like Alex. He's plainly handsome, but with more of an 'arrogant', upper-class snootiness.
"Well skazated, my lovely!", a familiar male voice agrees, and addresses Peggy, who eagerly looks up from her work.
It is Alex standing by the doorway. His arms are folded. He smirks at Peggy, who smiles back at her beloved husband. The four Secret Servicemen accompanied him to the Nursery.
"Ah! Are we ready, now, Mr. DeLarge?", Mr. Holland addresses Alex, who looks at him.
"Ready for what?", Alex asks him.
"To go wait downstairs in the limousine?"
"No, not without my wife and little ones, Sir."
Mr. Holland sighs, as the 'State' must wait, again, on Mr. and Mrs. DeLarge. Mr. Holland rocks himself in the rocker to calm down.
Alex and Peggy don't tell him to stop, or get out of their rocking chair. At least, the rocker keeps him quiet for the time being.
Peggy now reminds her husband:
"Did you call the job, yet, Alex, love?"
"Thanks, Peg, for the reminder!", Alex replies.
Alex goes over and helps Peggy with the children.
"Great bollocks! Another slow-down, again?", Mr. Holland complains.
Now, Alex becomes mildly irritated with him.
"Look! I have to call my boss and tell him I can't come in, today! That's me bleedin' job! I'm missing work, today, for this!"
"Go on, already! I'll radio the Governor, and tell him we're being delayed!"
"This is the State's idea, Brother, to 'watch' me! This is our routine the State's interrupting! I'm a regular veck, now. But nobody wants to believe me! All righty-right, then!"
Alex and Nigel exchange annoyed glares with one another.
A while after, the DeLarges leave their Flatblock Linear 1 apartment complex, accompanied by the Secret Servicemen. Two of the men assist with carrying the children's diaper bags. Nigel primly follows, complaining how they're all late and behind schedule in going to the Governor.
"This is totally preposterous! Damned outrageous! We should have been half way over at the Governor's! But, no! What should have taken 30 minutes gets stretched to a bloody hour and 45 minutes!"
Alex and Peggy only regard him. They remain silent as he vents.
The couple settles in the back seat. Alex holds Alex Jr. on his lap. He's still in his yellow pajamas, and has a child's blanket thrown about him to keep him warm. Peggy has Auberine in her arms. Auberine is awake, and contentedly sucks on her pacifier.
The fussy Nigel sits with the teenaged married couple. He faces them.
Just then, one of Alex and Peggy's neighbors, a young woman of about 25 or 26, sees the limousine. She notices the elegant man in the back seat…
No, it's not Alex she's focused on. It's Nigel she notices.
Nigel turns and notices her. The working class brunette regards him. He regards her back, serious-expressioned.
The girl boldly goes over to the limo.
"Get back, please, Miss", one of the Servicemen tells her.
"I'm not doing anything!", she counters.
She then addresses Nigel, who looks at her.
"Why are you taking them away? They are married with children!", she tells Nigel.
"Uh-huh. And you are…?", Nigel counters, in turn.
"Their neighbor! They're in my building!"
"Yes, yes. Well, my dear, that's for me to know; and for you to find out!", Nigel tells her. "Don't worry about it, Madame. Go on about your affairs, if you please!"
"You're quite a smartass, aren't you?", she mildly retorts at him.
"Very - Especially if it's going to involve disrupting my work for gossip!"
The young woman and Nigel exchange more glares between one another. They look back at each other once more – before the woman enters the Flatblock Linear 1 complex.
Alex takes notice of what's going on. He senses something 'in the air' with the two.
"Is this visit going to take all day?", Alex asks Nigel, bringing him back to earth.
"No. You should be finished by late morning", Nigel replies. "We'll all bring you back home – not minding 'Miss Busybody' snooping about! - Is she your neighbor?"
"Yes. That would be her, among many… Do you fancy her?", Alex asks him, baiting him. "Ya like her?"
"What? That lower-class brat?", Nigel complains.
Alex smirks.
"I noticed how you and her were viddying at one another here in this limo!"
"Videoing? – What did you just say?"
"I noticed how you were both looking at each other."
"Focus on yourself being under 'State watch' very soon, Mr. DeLarge!"
"No need to get sarky, Brother. I'm quite a playful veck, y'know! That's my personality!", Alex tells Nigel, smirking.
Nigel returns the smirk.
"Your charm fails to impress me, Mr. DeLarge!", he snorts at Alex.
Peggy solemnly regards the snooty Nigel, who regards her back – in slight defiance. He's aware she's not happy with his wisecrack at Alex.
Peggy maintains her calm. She holds her husband's hand, and caresses it.
"It'll be all right, Alex. I'm with you", she tells him. "Don't worry."
Alex and Peggy tenderly regard one another. So does Nigel, who notices their tenderness for each other.
The limousine and two Service cars drives off from the area.
As the State caravan drives on, it passes a Police patrol car. Two familiar policemen are having a quick breakfast of an English muffin with bacon and eggs, and a cup of coffee each.
Alex tries to look back at the Patrol car the limo passes. He barely catches a glimpse of the two officers inside. He's got Little Alex Jr. in his hold, so he cannot freely move about.
"What's the occasion?", Officer Dimitri asks his partner, who sips his coffee.
"I was just going to ask you that!", Officer Georgie replies. Dim munches into his English muffin combo. "It looks like some crap with the State!"
"If I'm not mistaken, Droogie: I thought I saw Alex in the limo! He was dressed in a black suit with his bowler schlapa. But, shouldn't he be at his cantora, by now?"
"Yeah! The veck looks like Alex – but it isn't Alex. Not only because Alex is probably at his cantora: The veck in that limo doesn't have Alex's blue glazzies!"
"Oh, I didn't viddy his glazzies!"
"You do have some bastards who do look alike. But, man, Dim! That bastard in the limo does look like our Droogie a malenky bit!"
If only Georgie and Dim knew who was trying to catch a glimpse of them in the back seat of the limo!