Niles and C.C. are in bed. The room is in the semi-darkness, Niles's arm is protectively thrown around his wife's shoulders.

The alarm clock rings. C.C. moans, Niles grumbles. The alarm clock stops, but their moans don't.

They start giggling and tickling each other under the sheets. Then the alarm clock rings again, louder. Their giggles stop.

C.C. pushes back the sheets with an annoyed look. She sighs, then extends her arm to switch off the alarm clock.

She pushes back the sheets and sits on the edge of the bed to get up.

The moment her feet touch the floor, a "CRACK" is heard.

C.C. freezes.

Niles sits up straight and looks at her.

I told you to stop eating or you'd not only look, but you'd weigh like an elephant!

C.C.:

Niles, this is not funny and besides, I'm pregnant with YOUR offspring Dumbo! You'd better go see what it was!

Oh come on, Californian houses are made of wood and wood cracks from time to time.

He lies back down. C.C. tries to put her slippers on.

C.C.:

Niles, get up!

Oh come on, you slave driver! What's a small crack in a wooden house...! I'm thinking of some slavery much more interesting than go and check cracks in this house...

He tries to tickle her playfully but she takes her pillow and hits him over the head. The moment she does that, their bed sinks a little in the floor.

Niles and C.C. both sit up straight dishevelled. Niles pushes back the bed covers, gets up, and looks at the feet of the bed. They are one inch embedded into the floor. He looks at C.C. with a worried/surprised look.

Suddenly, a LOUD "CRACK" is heard in the house. Niles exits the bedroom in a hurry followed by C.C..

They arrive in their dining room, and find that an enormous part of one dividing wall has turned to dust.

They stare at each other with a horrified look.

Fran is feeding Jonah some baby food while Grace is doing the same with Eve. Brighton is eating his breakfast, talking about his latest assignment at school.

... They want us to write a short script and we're all going to analyse each other's... But I'm not good at writing... I'd rather direct or edit or any other technical stuff... Writing is for the girls...

Where did you get that idea from B.?!... There are a lot of male authors!

Brighton:

Yeah right... the authors of the books you read on the beach in the summertime... I'm sorry Fran, but except maybe for Clancy... Or Grisham... Or Crichton... Or... Oh OK there ARE male authors... but I'm definitely not one of them...

Fran pulls a face at Brighton. Then she turns to Grace.

Fran:

And you sweetie, what are you up to today?

Grace:

I'm going to the library with a friend, we have to do some research over Plato and Socrates. You know, Philosophy is a fascinating topic...!

Brighton:

... Gracie still wants to win the Nobel Prize for her works on human psychology... Like there is one...

Grace shakes her head, looking skywards.

Grace:

... Yeah right, as well as YOU think you're gonna win the Oscar for best director...

... Okay I'm off... I have to find a nice idea for this script, and I hope I'm gonna find it on my way to school... 

Brighton exits.

Max comes in. He goes to kiss Fran's head and tickles Jonah's cheek before kissing Grace and doing the same with Eve.

Grace:

Hi Dad, I should go too Fran... My bus isn't going to wait... You don't mind taking over Daddy?

She gives her sister to Max, takes her bag, and exits too.

Max: [cooing]

Hello my little princess, hello...

... Another quiet morning or so it seems... Timothy told me he was going to buy food, did he prepare anything for breakfast before he left?

Fran:

Sure, it's on the counter... "Breakfast at Tiffany's"... It's a new takeout store specialized in Breakfast...

Max:

What?! Are you telling me that I'm paying a domestic to order takeout...?!

Fran:

MmmMmm...

Having finished feeding Jonah, she wipes the food off his mouth.

Max looks very annoyed.

Max:

This domestic issue has been going on far too long now... Where is Niles when you need him?!

Fran:

... In his house, with his wife, and [checking her watch] probably still in bed...

Just then, Niles and C.C. come frantic into the kitchen. They are carrying bags.

Maxwell, Nanny Fine, we have no place to go tonight!!!!!!!

WHAT?!

Our house is infested by termites. The Terminex people are treating it right now. We won't be able to go back until they are finished, and the chemicals they're using evaporate...

C.C.:

What are we going to do?!!! All the hotels in the area are booked because of this stupid football championship!!!

Calm down Energizer doll....

[mouthing]

... Mood swings...

Well at least you'll join us for lunch and dinner, and I don't see why you couldn't use the guest house for the night... The renovations are finished now, and it's totally habitable, although barely furnished, but the master bedroom is...

Oh that's an excellent idea sweetie!

You wouldn't mind?

Of course not! What's the point of having a guest house if we don't use it?!

Thank you...

Hey, that's what friends are for, old man!

He pats Niles's shoulder. Eve starts wailing. Max frowns painfully, holds Eve in front of his nose, and grimaces.

Oh-oh... Duty calls... Fran darling, why don't you show them how nicely the guest house turned out?

Sure sweetie... Just one sec Niles, lemme put Jonah in his baby seat...

Oy!... Sweetie... You'll have to change him too!... Boy, do those babies have a fast intestinal tract or what?!... We've just fed them!

Max looks skywards with a smile, C.C. looks disgusted, and Niles chuckles.

Just then Timothy, the latest of the domestics, enters with several bags full of takeout and quick frozen food. He stops walking as he realizes the kitchen is full of people. He smiles sheepishly, then stumbles to the refrigerator.

Max scowls.

Niles chuckles, winks to Fran, and mutters.

Amateur!...

Fran nudges Niles.

Max looks at him pulling a face.

At least no-one knew when YOU were doing this...

Niles pulls an offended face but has no time to reply as Fran pushes him outside.

Fran, C.C., and Niles carrying their bags, enter the guest house. Niles leaves the bags in the entrance.

Fran starts to show them around the ground floor.

C.C. looks at Niles with a despaired look. She mutters.

Niles, do something! I'm going to throw up if she goes on making me spin like this with her nasal buzz in my ears!!!

Niles chuckles and stills Fran with his hand. She turns to face him, a bit startled.

The house is very nice Fran, but we're only staying overnight...

Fran winks to him.

... And you would like to see the bedroom right?... [elbowing him] Niles you beast!

Niles smiles and nods playfully.

OK!... Follow me upstairs! 

Fran, C.C. and Niles go upstairs.

[once again, Fran shows them around the second floor, but there are only three bedrooms and two bathrooms, so the tour is shorter]

They end up in the master bedroom.

And there's where you'll sleep... I'll ask Timothy to bring you some fresh towels.

Niles nods.

Fran smiles broadly and waits.

So?... Whaddaya think?

Fran, it's just for one night...

C.C. shoots him a deadly look, then she turns to Fran with a broad smile.

It's perfect Nanny Fine!... Just perfect!

All right!... Well, I'll leave you now!... Niles, you've got to tell me the latest news when you are finished here!

Of course!

Fran exits.

C.C. collapses on the bed, sighing.

Thank God she's gone!... I thought she was going to dig a trench in the floor with those high heels and the speed she was walking at!

I heard that Ms. Babcock!

Niles chuckles and lies down beside C.C.

C.C. and Max are having a meeting with the director of the sitcom, Charles Shaughnessy, Connie Velour, Daniel Davis, Dana Nozak, Rick Shaw and Frank Lombardi.

Timothy comes in carrying a tray with cups, a tea-pot, sugar, milk, and a box of cookies. He sets the tray on Max's desk, and starts opening the box of cookies, tearing the cardboard apart rather noisily. All in the room shut up and look at him.

Max has a most annoyed look.

Timothy stops, looks around, and finishes opening the box. He pulls out the plastic container inside which the cookies are in, and leaves it as if it were a dish.

Max looks at him again, really annoyed.

Timothy, if you're not baking the cookies, at least take the wrapping off before coming into the office, and put them in a proper dish...!

Timothy ignores the remark, and starts pouring tea in the cups.

Max tries to keep his self-control, but he's visibly boiling inside.

Timothy hands out a cup to everyone. When he's finished, Max starts drinking. He almost spits his beverage out, and puts the cup down on his desk, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

Timothy!... This is NOT "Orange Pekoe" tea!... This is Orange HERBAL tea!!!

Timothy looks at him with an outraged look.

Well Sir, how would I know?!... I've been here two days and I've never prepared tea in the afternoon, you always had the meetings at the studio! I just took the first box stamped "tea"!... What's that silly habit of yours, drinking TEA in the afternoon anyway?!... Why can't you British people drink coffee instead, like everybody else?!

I'm not paying you to judge British habits Timothy! Besides, there're TWO British people in this room, so if I were you, I'd be more careful about what I say! And many other people in the world DO drink tea in the afternoon, right Charles?

Most definitely!

Well nevertheless, they should drink coffee, that would make things easier...

What they should or should not be drinking is not your bloody concern! Your concern is to behave like a butler! THAT's why I supposedly hired you in the first place!

Well that's not why the agency sent me here!

Oh for Heavens' sake!...

Okay... Would you like me to change the tea then?

No!... We have no time for this, we're working, don't you see that?!...

[he mutters] I'm never calling this agency for domestics again!...

[louder] Go ask Niles for some advice!

Timothy pulls an offended face and exits, slamming the door.  

I can't seem to be able to find a proper domestic...

Everybody nods comprehensively.

Niles and Fran are in the kitchen chatting while taking care of the twins.

Niles is trying to finish feeding Jonah, who keeps decorating him with his mashed carrots, and seems to find this very amusing.

Timothy is in the background, emptying the dish washer before putting in dirty things.

Niles wipes his face one last time, and puts Jonah in his baby seat. He turns his head to watch Timothy absentmindedly.

Yetta enters the kitchen and watches Timothy quizzically. She gives him a slap on his butt.

Nil's, that plastic surgery did you great!

Timothy looks at her surprised and not understanding what she means, but she's already left. He shakes his head and starts arranging clean dishes and plates in the cabinets.

No, no, no!

Timothy freezes and looks at Niles with a set of plates in his hands and a surprised look.

Niles stands up and goes to take the plates from Timothy's hands, before putting them in another cabinet, next to the stove.

Timothy puts his fists on his hips.

I can't believe that! Who is in charge here?... Oh you're Niles, right?... OK... The Englishman said I should learn from you, so... Keep talking old man...

Did I miss our butlers' association graduation party?... I don't believe you are close enough to me to call me "old man"... I'd rather you called me "Sir"... Besides, the "Englishman" is Mr. Sheffield...

Hey relax pal!... Okay, I have some work to do, I'll listen to you later...

Timothy exits, leaving Niles flabbergasted.

Service is not what it used to be! I wonder how Maxwell can tolerate this!

Oy!... Tell me about it Niles!... Let's go into the living room, Eve has finished. Can you take Jonah?

Sure... that little fellow seems to like my white shirt very much, now that he's decorated it with orange spots...

They stand up and head for the door. Just then, Max comes in wearing his bathrobe, and looking rather mad.

Fran, do you know where Timothy put my shorts?... I can't seem to find them!...

Huh... Hello Niles... Sorry for this...

No problem... I used to iron your underwear, you know...

Timothy comes in with a basket full of bags coming from the dry cleaners'. He goes straight towards the stairs but Max interrupts him.

Timothy, would you happen to know where my... huh... underwear is...?

Sure... Mr. Sheffield... Sir...

[eyeing Niles]

There it is...

He pulls one short from a bag, and throws it at Max who barely catches it. Red as a tomato, he stuffs it in his pocket.

Timothy starts for the stairs again.

Timothy, freeze!

Timothy stops walking and turns towards Max.

Yes Sir?

Timothy, we do have a washing machine...

I know Sir...

Then why don't you use it?!

Because I would have to iron!

And that's what I am BLOODY paying you for!!!!!!! And what about our meals, they all are takeout!... We DO have a stove and an oven!

I barely know how to cook, and I don't have the patience to iron...

Oh My God... NILES!!!!!!!!

Yes?

... Oh sorry Niles... Bad habits die hard...

It's all right...

Timothy, you'd better learn QUICK, or tomorrow you'll have to find a new job!!!... Niles, old man... Would you mind teaching him a few things while you're here?

Of course!... Might I remind you that I've been doing this ever since we moved here?

Max nods a silent "thank you" and climbs the back stairs. Timothy shudders and follows him with his dry cleaners' bags.

Max, Fran, C.C., and Niles are seated eating. Timothy serves the meal from the usual silver dishes.

Niles observes him cautiously, and mutters something in his ear from time to time. Timothy doesn't seem happy, but he proceeds.

Suddenly, the phone rings.

Timothy goes on serving.

The phone rings again. 

Max looks at him with insistence.

Timothy doesn't seem to mind.

Max coughs.

Niles rolls his eyes in exasperation, stands up, and goes to pick up the phone.

Hello, Sheffield estate?... [...]Yes, that's me... [...] WHAT?!... Wait a second!

He turns towards Max, Fran, & C.C., with a horrified look.

It's the people from Terminex, they say the infestation is too extended and the best way to get rid of it would be to tear the house down, and to burn it!!!

WHAT?!...

Give it to me Niles...!

Niles reluctantly gives the phone to his wife.

Hello?... [...] Ye... Are you saying that we can no longer live in our house?!... [...] Oh my God!... [...] Yes [...] No [...] All right, thank you...

She hangs up.

Niles give me the phone number of the guy who leased that damn house to us...

Niles fumbles in his breast pocket, retrieves his wallet, and takes a piece of paper out of it, which he gives to C.C. She takes it and dials the number.

Hello?... Mr. Swindle?... [...] Yes I know you're not Mr. Swindle, you idiot!... [...] Remember the wonderful house you leased us?... [...] C.C. Babcock and Niles... [...] Yes?... Well it appears that we have a tiny problem... [...] You don't see what?... [...] ... Let me give you a hint... Termites [...]... Oh? ... You gave us the certificates the house was perfectly all right with termites?... [...] Of course it's perfectly all right with termites, in fact, they like it so much that THEY HAVE TO TEAR IT DOWN!!!!!!!!! [...] WHAT?! [...] No YOU listen to me!... The certificates are FAKE, so if you don't want to have investigators digging in your little affairs and discover some more of these, you find us a new place to live WITHOUT TERMITES!!! [...] What?!... [...] I don't care you're not a real estate agency, find one or find us a decent house! [...] What if you don't?!... I'm gonna give you a Hell of a time Mister, and I MEAN IT!!! [...] Oh yeah?!... Ask my sister if I'm not capable of that, I sued her for less than that!!! [...] Let's meet at our "place" so you can talk to the Terminex people for yourself!... [...] Oh you don't want to?!... I DON'T CARE!!! 6.00 p.m. at our place! ... Oh and by the way... You're paying for the move too!!! [...] Really?... You want me to call my attorney?... [...] then move your DAMN BUTT!

She hangs up, her cheeks are a little flushed, and her blue eyes shine with rage.

Niles looks at her in adoration, Max and Fran look at her in awe.

Oh C.C. you're so adorable when you get enraged!

He takes her cheeks in his hands and kisses her on the lips.

But... We don't know the certificates are fake...

We didn't, Rochester... We do now...

Niles smiles and kisses her once more.

Act 2  

Niles is still kissing C.C. Max coughs discreetly.

Niles stops and turns to him.

Err... Look Niles, C.C... You are our friends, so let me suggest you stay in the guest house while seeking another place to live.

That's awfully kind of you, but you don't have to do that!

Nonsense Niles, you would do the same...

I don't know how to thank you!

Well in the meantime, you could continue to "shape" Timothy into an acceptable domestic...? I've decided to give him another chance...

Niles chuckles.

Max smiles imitated by Fran. 

Niles and Fran are seated at the kitchen table, reading the papers. The twins are in their baby seats next to them, trying to find out what rattles could be used for, other than making noise...

...Now that's interesting!... You know that Liz Taylor has just recovered from another treatment for alcoholism?...

Yes?

Well it says here that she was caught drinking in her cellar full of bottles of "Bordeaux". Her physician confiscated them, only to be found drunk as Hell a couple of days later, thanks to the same bottles!... He drank about half of them with a bunch of friends!... Liz sued him for taking advantage of her distress, and asks $500,000 in damage!

Really!... Oy! Has the lady gone over the deep end or what?!

Indeed!

Meanwhile, if she had been sober the day I lost her black pearls, I wouldn't be talking to you right now... Thank God for vineyards...

Niles smiles.

... And my life would be very dull!

They both chuckle heartily.

Niles turns his eyes, and looks carefully at the panel of kitchen utensils above the stove.

He shakes his head, sighing, and stands up to go and rearrange it.

Niles:

This fellow is not the least logical!...

Meanwhile, where is he?... He should already be here preparing lunch!

He goes to open the fridge and starts rummaging inside, muttering.

There's nothing but fast food and the remains of takeout in there!... I'll try my best, but I'm not sure I can...

Just then, Timothy enters, his arms full of bags with - once again - takeout.

He sees Niles emerging from behind the door of the fridge.

May I ask what you are doing in MY fridge?!

Well when I looked at my watch I thought something had to be done if we wanted to have the chance to eat something!

Listen, I may not be very clever, but I am the one in charge here, and I've just taken care of it!

You don't seriously think that I'm going to let you get away with that lame excuse for a meal?! I already taught you a few simple things, you should be exercising already!

I don't have time to cook if I want to get these [showing the bags again] on time!

Well that's certainly not the good way to start being a real butler!!!

Timothy: [dropping the bags on the counter]

Oh yeah?!... Now I'm sick of it! If you are so much better that I am, DO IT YOURSELF Mr. Perfect Butler, I QUIT! The agency sent me for a driver's position anyway, not a butler's!

He exits leaving Niles and Fran agape.

Max enters with a quizzical look.

Why has Timothy just stormed out of the house?

Well I believe he was not happy with the latest comment I made about his way of preparing lunch...

He just quit sweetie...

Oh great!... I have a dinner here with the production team in three days!...

If I may interrupt...

I'll have to hire a whole bunch of professional caterers!... How is it that I can't find any suitable domestic! I cannot...

SIR!

Max freezes and looks at him.

What is it now Niles?!

I would consider it a kind of "return service" for you letting us use the guest house, to take over while I'm here, and help you find a suitable domestic. 

... Really?... But what about your writing?

Oh I'm stuck anyway... It will be a kind of "vacation" for me...!

Well if you put it like that...

Yetta comes in. She sees Niles and puts her hands on her cheeks with a horrified look.

Oh Neil! You should sue them!... You look terrible!

Niles is sitting on the bed. The room looks smaller with some of Niles & C.C.'s furniture. C.C. is in the bathroom, the door is open, she talks with Niles from the bathroom.

... You know, I was really happy to help the Sheffields with this dinner... Strangely enough, I was rather excited to go back to my former job full time... It brought back good old memories...

... Of your pathetic life as a servant?...

... No, of my interesting time when I had the opportunity to make fun out of your misery regarding Mr. Sheffield...

C.C. emerges from the bathroom with a less-than-happy face.

That will be rewarded Niles!...

Come on, don't tell me you did not appreciate my dinner the other day... You had three helpings!...

I must admit that you topped yourself there...

... And I could also help Fran with the twins better, which is always a very nice reminder training...!

C.C. comes out of the bathroom, rubbing her swollen stomach and smiling.

Niles stands up and puts his hand on her big stomach, stroking it lightly.

That way you can help me out of "new mother's traps" Niles... Changing the subject, you did a wonderful job with our furniture in this house!... It looks like it's always belonged here!

Oh Fran helped me, and she's quite a decorator you know!... She supervised it personally when they renovated the house...

It was nice being able to do something with my days... To have planned things to do I mean... Not that I'm complaining about our life, but I missed a little organization, and a little action... Writing is thrilling, but you just write when inspiration kicks in, and when it's not, you feel miserable, having nothing else to do...

Now what about you... How was your week?

Well I was glad not having to drive half an hour before getting to work, it was far less tiring, and...

... You must have noticed I was far more available in the evening...

Oh you're a vampire!

Niles pulls her to lie on the bed and starts kissing her feverishly.

The phone rings.  

Niles and C.C. stop, looking very annoyed.

The phone rings again.

Niles sighs and goes to pick up the phone.

Hello?

Oh!

... Well Tomorrow is Saturday, we haven't planned anything special ...

All right...

He hangs up.

C.C. looks at him with a quizzical look.

It was the real estate agency... They have found several houses...

C.C. doesn't answer, but looks a bit sad.

Niles comes to sit next to her and puts an arm around her shoulders.

C.C. dear, what's wrong?...

Oh nothing... I was becoming used to this house... Plus I'm a bit tired of moving again and again...

Me too, but we can't possibly take advantage of the Sheffields' generosity much longer...

Yes... You're right... OK, we'll visit those houses then...

Niles hugs her, rocking her a little. Then he looks at her with a spark in his eyes and a crooked smile.

Let's focus on something else, shall we?...

 


Scene 3

Niles, C.C., and another man arrive in front of a huge flashy orange house. The neighborhood is really ugly with other big flashy houses, and an industrial park in the back ground with a lot of electric wires.

C.C. looks at Niles with a horrified look, and mouths "NO!". They go back to their cars. 

A little later, they enter another house. The man lets Niles and C.C. inside.

The entrance is all white with four doors and 2 opposite staircases leading upstairs.

This house was designed by an architect who loved symmetry...

He opens the first door leading to a larger room. There are two windows at right angles lighting the room, and two doors (at right angles too): one which they came in through, and another one leading to another room... which is the exact opposite copy of the one they left, and so it is for all the rooms on the ground floor but the kitchen which is built in a symmetric way too... then the man goes back to the entrance and heads for one of the staircases.

Stop!!!

What?

The second floor is exactly like this, isn't it?...

Yes...

Let's move to the next house or I'll go crazy!!!

They leave.

[succession of images of uglier houses, or too big, or too small, or in a terrible neighborhood,...]

At the end of the day, they visit a very nice house with a small garden, and a view over the beach in a wooded area.

... Well this house is exactly what we are looking for, but we'd like it a bit closer to where my wife works, in Beverly Hills... Palos Verdes Peninsula is at least an hour drive from there...

Well... trouble is that it's a sellers market in LA at the moment, and it's going to become harder and harder to get you exactly what you want, and WHERE you want it...

We'll give you our answer first thing Monday morning...

OK... I'll let you take one last look...

Niles and C.C. look at each other. They don't look very happy. They sigh and nod...

I'll tell Maxwell when we get home...

The room is dark and silent.

Can you sleep?

No...

Max switches on his bedside lamp. He turns towards Fran and looks at her seductively.

What if we exercised a little to help us to sleep?

He kisses her and switches the light off.

Sweetie...

Mmmm yes?...

... Ya know, ordinarily, your fingers would send electric jolts throughout my body, but today, it seems that the batteries are dead...  

Mmmm are you sure?... Give me five minutes... Mmmm

OUCH!... Darling!... Can't you me more subtle?!

Sorry... Oy!... It's gonna be tough...

Fran!!!

Well, what do you expect me to say!

Shhh... I'm losing my concentration...

Sweetie... I don't think it's gonna work...

Max sighs. He switches the light on and props himself up on the pillows with a puzzled/annoyed look. He's bare-chested.

Oh sweetie, it's just that I was so happy when Niles was back full time, helping me with the twins whenever I needed him, and soon he'll be gone again!

... And C.C. will be on the other side of the town... What am I going to do if I need her here while she's home?...

... Funny how fast you can go back to old habits...

... He did a wonderful job the other day... better than any of the domestics we've had in two months!...

... Let's offer them the guest house!

They smile fondly at each other and hug. Then suddenly, Max's face lights up in a broad smile.

Ooops!... Attention!!!

He jumps to switch the light off.

Grace and Max are holding the twins. Fran is preparing some tea, and Brighton is eating toast.

... So?... What do you think?... 

... Back to the old times-huh...

If they accept...

Grace:

... It would make things look so... normal...

Brighton looks skywards.

At that moment, Niles and C.C. come in, holding each other's hand.

Oh Niles!... C.C.!... Come on in, we have something to talk to you about!

He gives Eve to Brighton and stands up.

Well Maxwell, we also have something to talk to you about...

They all start talking at the same time. 

... Maxwell, we can't reasonably take this house in Palos Verdes, it would take ages for me to come here, and frankly in my condition, I'm not very keen on driving hours every day ...

... Niles, you can't go to the other end of the town, I'll lose my best friend once and for all...!

... Sir, I can't take care of the household if we live more than an hour from here...

... Niles, C.C., we never offered you any real wedding gift...

... Can we stay in the guest house?... 

... Why don't you stay in the guest house?...

Grace smiles, bumping Jonah softly, and making him giggle.

... Nothing's better than harmony... 

... So what you're saying Maxwell, is that you wouldn't mind?...

No... In fact I'm offering it to you both...

Fran's face lights up in a big smile and she squeezes Max's hand.

C.C. looks at Niles with a broad smile too. 

... Then let's move into the guest house...

Huh... Well Niles, is your offer to help me find a suitable domestic still on?...

No...

Oh?... May I ask why?...

Because I have found one...

A shadow passes over Fran and Max's face.

... C.C. and I have discussed this at length, and it would be an honor for me if you would accept me as your new butler...

Max's jaw drops. Fran starts jumping up and down in excitement.

But... What about your writing?...

Fran swats Max's arm.

Don't worry about it Sir... My free time will suffice for that...

Fran goes to hug Niles.

... Besides, she likes to think I'm at her service...

Max looks skywards.

Niles!

At that moment Jonah and Eve giggle loudly as if to approve what has just happened. Fran smiles broadly at them.

A shadow is creeping between both and pulling a roll with some wiring on it. The shadow enters the guest house.

Niles switches on and cuts the extremities of the wiring before stripping them. He then plugs them into an intercom, and turns it on.

Niles smiles from ear to ear, and rests his head against the intercom closing his eyes, and switching the light off...