"Rest Period"
Late that afternoon, following his aggravating day at work, with Lardface upsetting him, Alex relaxes at home...
Well – he tries to relax… that, also, being impossible as he's under watch there, too.
At present, Alex is relaxing with Peggy and the children in their living room – all are sleeping.
Alex and Peggy sleep on the sofa, stretched out. Alex Jr. sleeps in his playpen, and Auberine in her bassinette – both children near their parents.
Music plays at a low volume from Alex's stereo. It is a waltz from Tchaikovsky.
Alex stirs in his slumber. He moans a bit, and stretches his body a little. He's got one arm about Peggy. The other is under his head.
He opens his ice blue glazzies, which glint in the room's natural light. Alex looks about him – first, at Peggy, who's soft head rests on his chest. Then, at Alex and Auberine sleeping in their respective 'beds'. The two offspring are okay.
Then, Alex's glazzies shift to across the room:
Also present – and sleeping – are Ms. Hibbert and Ms. Crompton! The tall Ms. Hibbert sleeps in the recliner; short and plump Ms. Crompton sleeps on the loveseat. Both matrons have fleece blankets over them. The matrons appear snug and toasty under them.
Alex's eyes are on them for a bit. He notices their small notebooks – and pens – have dropped onto the floor.
Alex quietly sniggers, watching the two women sleep. It's amazing that they do that, too! – being so zealous in observing him under this 'State Watch'.
Alex sighs, and, turning his head back to the center, closes his eyes – and relaxes, listening to the classical music softly playing. He'd like to hum a bit – but forgoes it as everyone in the living room is sleeping.
He focuses on the room's peace and quiet… which will be short-lived.
Ms. Hibbert stirs a bit. Then starts with a squawk, and jolts awake in the recliner. She nervously looks about her, holding the fleece blanket about her.
"Don't try to get up so quickly, Missus. You'll get dizzy…", a familiar male voice calmly tells her.
"I fell asleep?", Ms. Hibbert muses, almost ashamed for sleeping. "How could that happen?"
"You both saw the four of us sleeping. And the apartment is quite warm and comfortable… and with you both under those fleece blankets..."
Ms. Hibbert sits up, and looks in the direction of the smooth voice speaking to her. Alex is looking at her with those blue glazzies of his.
Ms. Hibbert then discerns how warm and comfortable she actually is. She smiles as she looks down at the fleece blanket over her.
"Ah, yes! How sweet of Mrs. Peggy to cover us!", she gushes. She looks up at Alex, and smiles. Alex smirks in turn.
"Oh? Peg covered you, and the other Missus – did she?", Alex asks her.
"I'm quite certain she did! You've got such a darling wife! 'Tis a pity she's married to a rogue as you!"
"Mm! It is a pity, indeed! – By the way… I covered both of you", Alex admits.
"You what?"
"Yes, Missus. It was I who covered you both."
Ms. Hibbert regards Alex – who calmly regards her – in total disbelief.
"Huh! Well!", she snorts.
Alex smirks, chuckling. He wasn't expecting to hear 'Thank you' expressed to him. He knew it. He takes it all in stride.
"So, you two ladies were sleeping on the job, eh? When you should be watching me!", he tells her. "Don't worry. I wouldn't tell the Governor – right?."
Alex draws the covers over him and Peggy, who continues to sleep. He continues to relax.
Ms. Hibbert isn't too happy to learn Alex was the one who covered them both. He also didn't throw them out of his apartment, either – although it is now 5:45 PM.
That means, Alex is (rather) nice.
Alex being nice contrasts greatly from how the State wants to describe him: as the notorious juvenile hoodlum, and 'brutal bastard' (according to Chief Barnes), of all London.
For Alex to be described as nice goes totally against the grain.
Ms. Hibbert snootily glares at Alex. Then rises off the couch, and hastens over to Ms. Crompton on the loveseat. She awakens her.
"Crompton? Crompton!", she whispers, shaking her arm.
Ms. Crompton groggily stirs, and awakens.
"It's time for us to leave! We both dozed off!", Ms. Hibbert tells her, complaining in a whisper.
"WHAT?", Ms. Crompton utters, whispering, throwing off the fleece blanket, and rising. "How could that happen?"
"Because you're both tired from this bloody 'State Watch' on me!", Alex playfully responds in his familiar low voice.
Both matrons turn in Alex's direction as he speaks to them. His eyes are closed, yet he's awake.
"You're bound to be tired, ladies – because you've seen sufficient proof what Peg and I've been trying to tell you: I'm changed. I'm a good husband, father, and son. But none of you want to believe me. So – and welly welly well: I messel at the end of your 'State Watch', you'll all be 'worn out' – yes?"
Alex opens his glazzies, and looks at the women, who now scowl at him. He smirks at them.
The matrons are angry, and start collecting their items, and put on their shoes.
"You have some nerve to insult us! – you vicious hoodlum!", Ms. Crompton angrily tells him in a low voice.
"I'm not insulting you, ladies. I'm only being honest: All of you are 'burning yourselves out' with this 'State Watch'. Don't you have enough proof of what I've been telling you from the start? – along with my wife? Mm?"
Alex's charm and relaxed manner annoys the matrons, who get to their feet.
"Let's get out of here, Hibbert! We'll be back tomorrow!", Ms. Crompton first addresses Ms. Hibbert; then Alex – who coolly reminds them:
"No, no: Saturday. Nigel returns tomorrow with me. Have you both forgotten? I'm getting to know the 'State Watch' schedule real horrorshow, now!"
Alex smirks, chuckling. Disgusted, the matrons begin to storm out of the DeLarges' apartment.
"Good Evening, Mr. DeLarge!", Ms. Crompton sputters.
She and Ms. Hibbert angrily storm towards the door – when Ms. Hibbert stops, and looks back at him.
"Oh, yes: Thank you for your bleedin' hospitality!", she angrily tells Alex, who continues to regard them.
"That's all right, love. That must've been difficult for you to tell me that!", Alex playfully – yet truthfully – counters, giving her a wink.
At the wink, the matrons gasp; then are infuriated.
"You fresh thing!", Ms. Crompton tells him.
"If it weren't for your sleeping wife and children present, I'll throw me purse at ya!", Ms. Hibbert threatens.
Ms. Hibbert is about to slam the door – but remembers the other 'innocent' sleepers present. She quietly shuts the door; then storms off with her partner. Their complaints are faintly heard as they leave.
Alex chuckles, once again. He truly wasn't being rude: He was just telling them the truth.
"I guess I'm an honest sociopath, for a change, then?", Alex playfully muses to himself.
He sighs; then continues to relax a bit more with his sleeping family.