Full of Surprises

Act 1

Robbie: The mailman just dropped some mail in our box, Grandpa.

Grandpa: Probably a lot of advertising and bills. Why don't you write to me, Robbie, so I can get some interesting mail?

Robbie: You were right, Grandpa. Advertising, bills, bills, advertising.

Grandpa: Yes. It's just like I said, Robbie. Nothing interesting.

Robbie: You won't believe it, Grandpa, but there's a letter here addressed to you, Mr. Malcolm Stewart, and it looks like a personal letter.

Grandpa: Oh, it must be a bill.

Robbie: I don't think so. The return name and address is Pete Waters, RFD Number 1, Chesterton.

Grandpa: You're joking. Pete Waters?

Robbie: Pete Waters, RFD Number 1, Chesterton. You know him?

Grandpa: Do I know Pete Waters? You bet I do! He was my roommate in college. He visited with Grandma and me in Florida about five years ago.

Robbie: What does he say? Is he OK?

Grandpa: Yeah, he's fine. Just fine. He's writing to invite me to spend a weekend with him at his farm. He's planning a get-together with two or three other college friends. The kind of a fifty-year anniversary reunion.

Robbie: Sounds like fun. Fifty years? Wow!

Grandpa: It sounds like fun to me, too, Robbie.

Robbie: What kind of farm does he have?

Grandpa: I've never been there, Robbie, but he has chickens and cows and all. That means fresh eggs and fresh milk.

Robbie: Does he have a family?

Grandpa: No, he doesn't, Robbie. He never married. He's not as lucky as I am to have a family and grandchildren. I'm a lucky man.

Robbie: How come he never got married?

Grandpa: That's a good question, Robbie. A very good question. He never married because the girl he was in love with in college married someone else. As simple as that. He never got over it.

Robbie: He must have loved her very much.

Grandpa: Yes. Very much. Lillian Winters. She was in our class.

Robbie: And what happened?

Grandpa: She was in love with Donald McGrath, the quarterback on our football team.

Robbie: Football players are always popular with the ladies.

Grandpa: She liked Pete, and they went to dances together. But her heart was with Donald.

Robbie: Did he ever get over it?

Grandpa: No, he never did.

Robbie: Where is she today?

Grandpa: I don't know. Maybe Lillian will be at the reunion.

Robbie: You think so?

Grandpa: Pete's full of surprises.

Robbie: I wish I could go there with you, Grandpa. What do you think the surprise will be?

Grandpa: With Pete, you never know, Robbie.

Robbie: Won't it be exciting to see all your college friends there again?

Grandpa: It is already. I'm kind of excited about going now. Next weekend... sleep over Friday and Saturday night and come back Sunday. I can't wait!

Robbie: Don't you think you ought to call Pete and tell him you're coming?

Grandpa: You're reading my mind, Robbie.

Act 2

Attendant: Hello. What can I do for you?

Grandpa: Hi. Fill'er up. I need a full tank.

Attendant: Check the hood?

Grandpa: No, thanks.

Attendant: Whereabouts are you headed?

Grandpa: Pete Waters's farm, near Chesterton.

Attendant: I know it well. Pete Waters has lived around here almost as long as I have.

Grandpa: How long is it going to take for me to get there?

Attendant: About fifteen minutes. There's a shortcut—if you know it.

Grandpa: No, I don't. Could you tell me how to use the shortcut?

Attendant: Sure. You take the next left turn. You'll see a stop sign. Make a right at the stop sign. Stay on that road, and you'll cross a blue bridge. Then you'll see a big old red barn. That's the back of Pete Waters's place.

Grandpa: That's quite a difference from the directions that Pete sent me.

Attendant: Now, if you take that route, it's probably a lot simpler, but it'll take you ten minutes longer.

Grandpa: OK. Let me repeat it. I take the next left turn to the stop sign. Then a right across a blue bridge, and then a big red barn.

Attendant: Can't miss it.

Grandpa: How much do I owe you?

Attendant: Well, that'll be eighteen dollars and seventy cents. No charge for the cleanup. It's on the house.

Grandpa: Well, here's a twenty.

Attendant: Ah. OK. That's a dollar and thirty cents change. There we go... will make twenty. Thanks.

Grandpa: Thank you. And thanks for the directions.

Grandpa: This must be Pete's barn. Turn right to the house. Hi.

Worker: Hi. What can I do for you?

Grandpa: Is this the Pete Waters farm?

Worker: It is.

Grandpa: I'm a friend of Pete's. I'm looking for the house.

Worker: It's just over yonder. Keep along this road till you get to the end of the fence. You'll see the chickens. His house is on the left.

Grandpa: Well, thanks.

Grandpa: "Have gone to the railroad station. Back soon with a surprise. Make yourself at home. Have a look around. Pete." Same old Pete Waters. Always full of surprises.

Act 3

Arnold: Don't tell me. Please don't tell me. I recognize you...

Peggy: Oh, don't be silly, Arnie. Of course you recognize him. Except for the beard, he hasn't changed in fifty years. It's Malcolm Stewart!

Arnold: I know it's Malcolm Stewart. You haven't changed much in fifty years.

Grandpa: Peggy—Peggy Pendleton! You're Peggy Pendleton!

Arnold: Who am I, you old rascal? You don't recognize me, do you?

Grandpa: I know who you are. You're Arnold Franklin! I know who you are!

Peggy: You look wonderful, Malcolm!

Grandpa: Sit down. Pete isn't home.

Arnold: Really?

Grandpa: No. He left a note on the door saying he was going to the railroad station to pick up a surprise.

Peggy: He's so funny. Always full of surprises, even fifty years later.

Grandpa: The two of you look unbelievable!

Arnold: How's your family? Oh, I was sorry to hear about your wife having passed away.

Grandpa: Yes. About four years ago.

Peggy: And you're living with your children now? In New York? Pete wrote us and told us.

Grandpa: Yup. Retired and moved to New York to live with my son and his family.

Peggy: By the way, what do you think this big surprise is?

Arnold: It could be most anything, knowing Pete.

Grandpa: Hey, that must be Pete! Now we'll find out about the surprise.

Pete: So good to see you all!

Peggy: Oh, Pete, Pete! Oh, it's so good to see you!

Pete: Remember Lillian?

Lillian: I remember all of you. You haven't changed a bit.

Peggy: Lillian! Oh, my gosh!

Arnold: Lillian Winters. We were together in the Thursday night drama society.

Lillian: Remember me, Malcolm?

Grandpa: Oh, beautiful as ever, Lillian. How's Donald?

Lillian: That's OK, Malcolm. Donald passed away a couple of years ago.

Arnold: Sorry to hear that, Lillian.

Peggy: Oh, I'm so sorry.

Arnold: I would not have missed this get-together for the world!

Grandpa: And your little surprise, Pete? You really surprised me by having us all come together.

Pete: You don't know what the surprise is yet? Come on! We'll tell you the big surprise.

Pete: I've invited you here for the weekend to help celebrate.

Peggy: Celebrate?

Grandpa: Our fiftieth reunion?

Arnold: No.

Lillian: No. Pete wants to tell you...

Pete: Now, let me have the honor, Lillian.

Grandpa: For goodness sake, Pete, tell us! I can't wait much longer.

Pete: Well, I am pouring this iced tea so that we can toast Lillian—and me.

Peggy: You don't mean to tell me that you and...

Pete: Yes, I do. I have loved Lillian all these years, so I asked her to be Mrs. Pete Waters.

Lillian: And I said yes.

Grandpa: I knew it! Congratulations!

Peggy: Oh, Lillian, I am so happy for you both.

Arnold: It's wonderful!

Pete: It's wonderful for me. Lillian will make me a happy man finally.

Grandpa: You are full of surprises, Pete.

Pete: We are going to spend the entire weekend having a good time together here on the farm. We are going to celebrate all weekend.

Peggy: When is the wedding?

Pete: That's another surprise. Lillian and I were married two weeks ago in Detroit. She's come here to stay.

Grandpa: Wait till I tell my family about this!

Peggy: Why, that's wonderful!