8:31 A.M.
The Bartlet Household
Master Bedroom
"Abbey, it's 8:30."
Jed sat on the edge of the bed beside his sleeping wife.
"What?" She asked, groggily, eyes still closed.
"It's 8:30, honey. You gotta get up."
"Why?"
"Just a cruel twist on the road of life, I'm afraid," Jed replied.
She groaned.
"Very cruel."
He laughed, then leaned in and kissed her on the forehead.
"That's all I get?"
"Until you agree to get up, yes," Jed answered.
"Talk about cruel," she muttered, sitting up against the headboard.
"Good girl. Would you like a cookie or a kiss?"
"Cookie."
"Tough," he replied, kissing her on the lips this time.
"Mmm. That was nice, but where's my cookie?"
He rolled his eyes and stood up.
"Get up, Cookie Monster."
"Or else what?"
"Or else I'll send Zoey in."
"Ok! I'm up!"
She threw her legs over onto the floor and stood before him.
"Ready?" Abbey questione dhim.
"If you are."
"I don't have to see any of our parents until the party, right?"
Jed nodded.
"Then I'm ready."
"You're sure?" he asked, pushing a strand of her hair out of her face.
"Yeah, I'm sure. Girls ready?"
"Yep. Mom and Marti will be here in an hour to pick them up."
"Ok. You're going out with the guys?"
"Unless you want me to stay home."
"Of course not. Go. Have fun."
"We won't be gone long."
"Yes, you will. I don't want you home until we're done setting up for the party."
"Yes, ma'am. I'll have my car phone if you need me."
"I won't need you," Abbey said, defiantly.
"Abbey..."
"I won't!"
"Now, honey, I'm just thinking of your fatigue spells."
"Screw them."
"Stop being stubborn and listen to me for one minute please."
She folded her arms across her chest.
"Fine."
"Ok. If you have one of your spells, I want you to call me."
"Jed."
"I want you to call me, is that understood?"
"Well, I won't have one so it doesn't matter."
"But if you do..."
"I will call you."
"Thank you. By the way, I've decided something," he said.
"Oh?"
"When this weekend is over, you and I are signing up for the class."
"What class?"
"Lamaze class."
"What made you decide this?" Abbey asked.
"Watching you last night."
"You thikn Lamaze class is going to calm my nerves?"
"I do, yes. We're going."
"Together?"
"Yes, together!"
"Just checking. Cause, ya know, it's been twelve years since you've gone. Jenny went with me last time, Millie before that...I've been a Lamaze class lesbian for years now."
He grinned proudly.
"My wife- the Lamaze class lesbian. Save that one for when I run for President too."
"I'm sure the press would love that."
"I doubt it not."
"So you really wanna do this, huh?"
"You're scaring the hell out of me, Abbey. Your nerves are shot, you have spells of fatigue, your stress level keeps rising...I don't even know what I should do, so this is what I'm doing."
"Jed..."
"I am not going to lose you in childbirth, Abigail."
"Jed, you're not going to lose me," Abbey said, matter-of-factly.
"That's right. I'm not."
"What is it? Why are you..."
"Ellie asked me what I would do if you died suddenly," Jed said.
"Why the hell would she ask you that? Does she know something I don't?"
"It was the day I told the girls about Michael. We were discussing your mother and..."
"Ohhh. I see."
"And Liz asked me if I would date at all."
"And you said..."
"I said no."
Abbey laughed.
"Don't be ridiculous, Jed."
"Why does everyone think I'm being ridiculous when I say that!"
"Because it's ridiculous!"
"You mean you would date if I died suddenly?" Jed asked.
"No."
"Well then...?"
"You're a man, Jed."
"That's what Liz said too!"
"Liz is a smart girl."
"I would not date, Abbey."
"Yes, you would."
"It would be like cheating on you!"
She laughed.
"No, it wouldn't."
"Yes, it would!"
"I'm done with this conversation, Jed."
"For now."
"Whatever you say. Is there any decaf left downstairs?"
"Abbey, you are the only one in this house currently drinking decaf. I think you're safe."
"I don't know! Sometimes you devour all the regular stuff and start in on the decaf, you coffee fiend."
"I'm done with this conversation, Abbey."
"For now."
10:17 A.M.
The National Mall
As the man strolled down the sidewalks past the American History Museum, Jed Bartlet and Scott Griffith walked ahead of the rest. Both brilliant and accomplished men married to brilliant and accomplished women, Jed and Scott had never been at a loss for words around each other. Jed advised Scott on economic and political matters, and Scott advised Jed on psychological matters. It seemed to be a perfect partnership.
"How's Abbey doing?" Scott asked.
"You know Abbey, she's a fighter."
"Is that all you're going to give me?"
"That's right. No psychoanalysis today, Dr. Griffith."
"Ok, fine. It's my goddaughter's birthday, let's talk about her," Scott suggested.
"Good deal."
"I think Ellie's really going to like her present."
"Yeah, what'd you get her?" Jed asked.
"Well, Abbey said she's getting really interested in science, so we bought her a chemistry set."
"Oh, she'll love that."
"What did you guys get her?"
"A variety of things. Books, music cassettes, a new pair of cleats."
"Sounds good."
"I know she's going to be so disappointed though," Jed admitted.
"Why?"
"The only things she asked for, we couldn't find."
"What'd she want?"
"First editions of Peyton Place and This Side of Paradise. Abbey and I went to every rare book store in the city and couldn't find either of them."
"Well, those are really hard to find. She'll understand," Scott reasoned.
"I know, but I wanted her to have them. To have something she really wants."
"You did your best."
"But it wasn't good about this time, Scott. I let my little girl down yet again."
10:54 A.M.
The Bartlet Household
Basement
"I know it's around here someplace," Abbey said, searchig through boxes.
"Maybe it's in the attic," Julia said.
"No, it's down here. I put everything in one box after Zoey's party last December."
"Did you move it after Liz's in May?"
"Liz had her party at the Sheraton last year, remember?"
"Oh, yeah. How could I forget that night?"
"It has to be down here."
"Hey, Abbey, can I talk to you about something?" Julia questioned.
"Is it Andre?"
"No..."
"Ok, go ahead."
"Why would it be Andre?"
"Julia, say what you have to say."
"I want to take Liz to New York."
Abbey stopped searching and looked at her sister.
"What?"
"For the day. Tomorrow."
"Oh. Just Liz?"
"Yeah."
"Well, you can't just take Liz, Julia. The other girls will feel left out. Not to mention Michelle's kids," Abbey said.
"She's my goddaughter and she's pregnant."
"Thank you, Captain Obvious."
"You're not listening to me, Abbey!" Julia complained.
"Sorry. I'm listening."
"I want her to have a...last hurrah, you could say. Before she has her baby. She's going to be chained down here soon, what with the baby and school too. Let me take her to New York."
"I'll talk to Jed."
"Thank you."
"Now help me find those damn decorations."
12:09 P.M.
Potomac River
River boat deck
"This is so relaxing," Joanne Bennett said, leaning back in her loung chair.
"I'm glad we're doing this now. It's going to get cold soon," Nick said.
"I love DC."
"It's nice"
"I'd love to live here," she said, wistfully.
"Eh…I don't think so, Joey"
"Why not? It'd be a refreshing change of pace for us"
"Because Abbey would kill me!" Nick said.
"Don't be silly, Nick"
"One of her favorite things about living here is that ig gives her a little space. She'd hate it if we moved here. She'd never admit to it, but she would"
"I'm not talking about moving across the street from her"
"Doesn't matter"
"Nick"
"The answer is no, honey"
"Fine"
"Abbey comes first"
"I know"
"I'm worried about her, Joey," Nick stated.
"Why"
"You saw her last night"
"She got angry. We deserved it. What of it?" Joanne asked.
"I don't know. Sometimes I just…wonder if she's happy or not"
"She's happy, Nick"
"Lexi wasn't"
"What"
"For a long time, when the kids were little, Lexi wasn't happy. And there was nothing I could do. I tried everything. Then, shortly before she was diagnosed, I guess she found some kind of…inner peace or something. And everything got better. She reconnected with the kids, and with me, and then…it was all taken away"
"I didn't know that, Nick," Joanne said, softly.
"And Abbey…she is so much like her mother. She's so much like Lexi. I don't want her to go through that too"
"That's why Abbey's your favorite, huh"
"I don't play favorites with my children, Joanne"
"Come on, Nick. If you don't want to use the word, fine. But even you have to admit that you have a slight preference for Abbey. You always have, since I met you. You treat her like…like the baby of the family, when Michelle's actually the youngest. I've been watching you do it for twenty-five years. It's not a criticism, it's an observation. And it's because Abbey most resembles Alexandra"
"Yeah," Nick said, quietly. "But it's not a matter of favorites"
"Ok, fair enough"
"She resembles Lexi personality-wise, but she looks just like me!" He said, with a proud, childish grin on his face.
Joanne laughed.
"Yes, dear"
"She's beautiful too"
"Yes, she is"
"Beautiful," Nick repeated.
"Mmm hmm. Though THAT she did not get from you"
"Hey! I'm quite a catch, Joanne. I'm a world-class hottie"
Joanne burst out laughing.
"Yes, dear"
1:37 P.M.
Abbey Bartlet's SUV
"This is what I don't understand"
"Millie"
"I don't understand how you could have expected to make a cake without sugar, flour, eggs, or a baking pan"
"It was an innocent mistake!" Abbey insisted.
"An innocent mistake? You don't even have a pan to bake the damn cake in"
"I've been preoccupied"
"Yeah, because it takes full concentration to realize you don't own a baking pan!" Millie exclaimed.
"I screwed up, ok? Can we move on now"
"Fine with me"
"Ok then"
"So you've been needed a baking pan before"
"Millie"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm done now"
"Thank you," Abbey replied, exhasperately.
Silence took over for a few moments.
"You know what we haven't done in awhile?" Millie said.
"Gone to a keg party"
"No"
"Looked for hidden treasure"
"No"
"Rode in a hot air balloon"
"No"
"Listened to Robert Goulet records"
"No!"
"Jumped Bob Dylan"
"No, Abbey"
"Played strip poker with a bunch of Yalies"
"No, but we really need to do that again soon"
"Ok, I give up"
"Gossiped!" Millie said.
"We haven't gossiped in awhile"
"Yeah! You know, girl talk. Talking about things we shouldn't"
"Like what?" Abbey asked.
"Like…finding a great outfit at the mall, getting hit on by a Croatian guy, sleeping with the boss, going to a party and waking up in Tahiti"
"Millie, has ANY of that ever happened to us"
"Well…I'm sure one of us has found a great outfit at the mall at one time or another"
"Ok, yeah, that doesn't count"
"Then…let's share makeup tips or Hollywood rumors or steamy sex secrets"
"What are you, Cosmopolitan magazine"
"Come on, Abbey! We don't have fun anymore"
"We also don't live in the same state anymore," Abbey said.
"Come on, give me a makeup tip"
"Um, ok. I…found a really great lipstick the other day"
"Where"
"I don't remember"
"What brand was it"
"I don't know"
"Damnit, Abbey, you suck at this!" Millie complained.
"Well, excuse me for growing up and acting like an adult"
Millie sighed.
"What about steamy sex secrets"
"What about them?" Abbey replied.
"Tell me some"
"I don't know, Millie"
"You must know SOME! I know you and Jed don't lay in bed and stare at the ceiling every night"
"I don't know any…secrets. I mean, we just…do it"
"Wow. That's inspired"
"Well, why don't you tell me a…steamy sex secret, Millicent? I'm sure you and Scott don't stare at the ceiling either"
"No, we do actually"
"What"
"We haven't had sex in six weeks," Millie admitted.
"Oh, my God"
"It…it's not that bad. I mean, when was the last time you and Jed had sex"
"Yesterday"
"Yesterday! But…we were all here yesterday"
"Before you got here"
"Good lord, woman!" Millie exclaimed.
"What's going on with you two, Millie"
"Nothing! We're fine. We're just…temporarily celibate"
"You realize how crazy that sounds, don't you"
"There just hasn't been time or motivation lately"
"But, Millie, six weeks!" Abbey said.
"Six weeks"
"How often do you normally"
"Once a week, maybe"
"So…on average, you've missed out on six different times"
"How often is it with you and Jed"
"It varies"
"Well, in general"
"Oh, I don't know…three times a week"
"THREE"
"Yeah"
"What the hell kind of aphrodisiac is your husband on"
"Millie"
"My god! I need to get Scott some of THAT"
"For your information, there are no aphrodisiac involved. Because I am as good an aphrodisiac as any"
"Well then"
"You asked"
"I didn't actually. Not that"
"Do you want me to ask Jed to talk to Scott"
"No. It's not his fault, it's mine"
"Mil, you're not"
"No, no. I've just been so busy, with work"
"You need to make some time for him, honey. You need to. When the passion in a marriage dies, it's not long before the communications goes too. And after that…there's nothing left but the kids," Abbey said"
"I know"
"Passion is the first casuality of marriage"
"Yeah…that saying doesn't really work, sweetie"
"Well…you know what I mean"
"After thirty-five years of listening to you conjur up nonsensical phrases like that…yes, yes, I do. Isn't it gossip fun"
"Hey, you're the one who wanted to gossip! I wanted to ride in a hot air balloon and look for hidden treasure"
"Yes, I suppose those would have been better ideas"
"Not to mention time well spent," Abbey added.
"What was I thinking"
"More valid questions have never been asked, my friend"