Evening soon came. As was their usual after dinner routine, the whole family was gathered in the living room. Lurch was giving Wednesday lessons on the harpsicord while Pugsley and Thing played a game of tug-of-war. Uncle Fester and Mama were at the fireside, waiting for Fester's caldron full of chemicals to boil. Gomez was on the floor trying out the latest Zen yogi position as he puffed on a cigar. Morticia, meanwhile, worked away at the sweater she had been knitting for a distant relative.
"Mama, Uncle Fester," Morticia spoke gently above the music, "how is the potion coming along?"
"Not quick enough!" Uncle Fester quipped.
"Now Uncle Fester, you must have patience," she said in a motherly tone. "With Mama helping you I'm sure it'll turn out splendidly. Just look at how well Cleopatra is doing." Then turning to Gomez, she said, "She ate all her zebra meatballs tonight."
"That's wonderful 'Tish, just wonderful!"
With a twinkle in her eyes she added, "And she even tried to strangle another plant."
Gomez jumped to his feet. "Even better! My dear, I am curious…" He walked over to the small end table where the empty poison bottle was placed and picked it up. "If I didn't do it, and you figured I was the only one who could've, who did?" With the bottle in tow he began pacing in a circle from the conservatory archway, past Mama and Uncle Fester, and to Morticia and back.
Morticia put her knitting down to watch him. "I don't know darling, but I'm just so happy Cleopatra is back to normal."
Uncle Fester had also been watching Gomez. On his third lap, Uncle Fester stopped him. "Gomez, where'd that come from?"
"Morticia and Mama found it this morning in the conservatory." He handed the bottle to Morticia.
Uncle Fester snapped his fingers. "So that's where I put it!"
"What?!" Morticia rose from her chair, shocked and mortified. Her eyes were saucers. The music stopped.
He gave her a strange look. Then, grinning ignorantly at Gomez, he said, "I ordered it the other day for my experiment. It looked too yummy to waste on that though, so I had a couple drinks after our outing yesterday. Poison is always good before bedtime you know. Gee, I must've been so tired I didn't even think to put it away."
"Uncle Fester," Morticia scolded, "you mean to say you poisoned Cleopatra?" She defiantly stood by Gomez's side.
Uncle Fester bowed his head like a child being reprimanded. "Well - I – Gee, Morticia, when you put it that way…"
Her chest was heaving. "Uncle Fester you nearly killed Cleopatra. How many times have Gomez and I told you not to leave your poison laying around? What if it was one of the children who got ahold of the poison instead?"
"Oh, I didn't think about that," he said solemnly. "I really am sorry." He plopped down on the stool, thinking about worse consequences that might have been.
Morticia and Gomez shared a glance. Perhaps she was being too hard on him. She stroked her soft black hair and, clearing her throat, handed him the empty poison bottle. "I suppose accidents happen. Besides, Pugsley and Wednesday both enjoy poison too much for it to do any harm."
Bearing a cheeky grin, with his cigar in hand, Gomez chimed in, "They do have an exceptional immune system!"
She smiled at Gomez. Then, tilting her head, she turned her attention back to Uncle Fester, "Just don't let it happen again Uncle Fester. Hmm?"
He grinned widely. "I won't Morticia. I promise! From now on, all my poison will be safely stored away in the pantry right next to all the other spices, herbs, and condiments."
She nodded her head in approval.
"Now that the mystery is solved – music Lurch!" Gomez emphatically took Morticia by the hand and walked her to the open floor. The two blissfully danced to Lurch's melodies. Once the beat picked up, it didn't take long before the rest of the family joined in.
"By Jove! Would you look at that?"
Morticia turned around, wondering what Gomez was looking at. In the moonlit conservatory, a straggly, vine-like plant was swinging around in tune to the rhythm of the music. If the poison was still in Cleopatra's system, no one could tell.
"A true Addams!" Morticia proudly exclaimed.