"It's Ten O'clock, Do You Know Where Your Kids Are?"
Part Two
by Rachael (char1ie@ix.netcom.com)


DOCTOR:  "You were lucky, Mr. Sheffield.  The guy couldn't shoot 
and when the gun hit the ground it only grazed you.  Unfortunately the 
tackle caused you to break your left arm," the doctor said to Max as he 
wrapped his arm.

MAX:  "Thank you sir.  I don't feel very luck though.  My children 
were kidnapped."

DOCTOR:  "I know, Miss Fine told me."

MAX:  "How do you know her name?" (sounding jealous)

DOC:  "She has asked me out on several occasions, something about 
because I'm Jewish and a doc. Unfortunately I also recently lost my 
freedom! (He smiles as he holds up his hand with a wedding band.)
Max breathes a sigh of relief.

DOC:  "Actually she sounded quite worried about you.  She seems like 
a nice girl."

MAX:  "She is."

He walks out of the room half expecting to see his children with 
worried looks on their faces but all he saw and all he needed to see 
was Miss Fine.  He runs over to her and gives her outstretched arms a 
place to rest.  As he pulls away he notices a tear in her eye.  With 
the backside of his hand he wipes it away.  

MAX:  "Miss Fine.  We'll find them.  Hey," (he lifts her chin)  "Trust 
me."

'How can you say no to those eyes or not believe him with that 
adorable accent,' Fran thought to herself.

They walk to the exit arms around each other, leaning on each other 
for support.  Fran puts her head on Max's shoulder and Max doesn't 
budge.  
They walk as if in a dream out to the car and drive away.

When they arrived home, Gracie was sitting on the couch fast asleep 
with a picture of the entire family including Sarah (her mom).  Max 
fights back tears as he goes to pick her up but realizes with some 
agony that the stitches on his side might produce just a little bit of a 
problem, not to mention the cast.  Fran notices his pain, picks Gracie 
up and takes her to bed.

MAX:  "Wait."

Fran turns around.  Max walks over and kisses Gracie gently on the 
forehead.

MAX:  "I love you sweetheart."

Fran begins to walk upstairs.  Fran (to herself):  "He says it to her, now 
why does he take it back for me?"

Max sits down on the couch and not realizing how tired he is, falls 
asleep.  Fran comes down later and throws a blanket over him and 
moves his hair back and kisses him on the forehead.

FRAN:  "I love you."

MAX in his sleep mumbling:  "But, I'm afraid to be hurt again."

FRAN:  "Now he even says it in his sleep. OY!"

She walks off to bed.

The next morning, Niles is dusting off the coffee table and his 
walkman is on his ears but he can hear, he just pretends he can't.

C.C. knocks on the door.  Niles doesn't answer.

C.C. knocks harder.  Niles still doesn't answer but a smile has 
appeared on his face.

Max comes down from upstairs, straightening his tie.  Niles takes the 
earphones off.  Max begins to pick up his blankets from last night.

C.C. pounds on the door.  It shudders in it's frame.

C.C.:  "NILES!  LET ME IN YOU INCOMPETENT, NO GOOD..."

Max opens the door.

C.C.:  "MAXWELL!!"

Max:  "Don't yell at poor Niles like that if you don't ring the bell or 
knock NICELY.  How is he supposed to know you're standing there?"

Niles (behind Max):  "I'm sorry sir.  I'm not as quick as I used to be."

He smiles at her.

C.C.:  "You would've if it was Cindy Crawford."

Niles:  "Yes but Cindy Crawford doesn't look like she modeled for an 
Alpo commercial."

C.C. glares at him and walks away.



2 hrs later,  Max is sitting at his desk with the list of starving actors 
that he wants to give a job to, in front of him.  

Max:  "How about Greg Mckhinxsi?"

C.C.:  "G-d bless you.  Can you even spell that last name?"

Max:  "Mck.."

C.C. doesn't even look up and says:  "Without the paper."

Just then the phone rings and Fran comes bounding into the office.  It 
seems like every time he has a call she is standing there.  She thinks 
one of these times it will be Ed McMahon on the other end.  

Max:  "Hello."

Anonymous caller:  "Give me $10,000 dollars in small unmarked bills 
or you will never see your children again, ..Oh by the way your other 
daughter's name is Gracie right?  She is wearing a pink blouse and has 
brown wavy hair.  He he he."

Max:  "Who the Hell are you?"

A. caller:  "Don't you wish you knew."  BANG. (a gun shot is heard)
The line goes dead.

Max is clearly almost in hysterics.  It's amazing that he has held out 
this long.  His face turns a ghastly pale. His jaw is dropped and his 
eyes are filling up with tears.  

Fran:  "Oh my g-d Max, who was it?"

Max looks up at Fran with those please help me eyes, then over to 
C.C. and to his other side where Niles now stood.

Max:  "He..he's..g-ggot..GRACIE." and he runs for the bathroom 
where his knees buckle under him and he hugs the porcelain throne for 
about an hour.  His temples throb with every heart beat and he thinks 
'Why did I let her go out this morning.  Jesus they must have been 
waiting for her.' There is no feeling left in him.  His world is 
crumbling around him and in between crying and throwing up 
he remembers when each of them were born and how happy he and 
Sarah had been.  Then just before he faints he thinks who/what was 
shot?  His mind races with questions as his world turns black.


                TO BE CONTINUED...