A Zack Brady Christmas (Read 2,308 times)

[André DiMera]

Previews

Christmastime is here.
ZACK: Good grief!

And so is a new Christmas special.
ALLIE: You need involvement.

Watch as one boy is distressed with commercialization...
ZACK: I can't stand it!

Until he learns the true meaning of Christmas.
J.T.: Lights, please.

A ZACK BRADY CHRISTMAS starts Monday, December 16th.

[fluffysmom]

Thanks for the preview André DiMera.

[sportsgirl]

Looking forward to this!

[André DiMera]

As with my other two Christmas stories, this is set within a different universe than the show. As such, you will see some similarities and some differences. Two of the major differences are: Zack and J.T. In this world, Zack did not die in a hit-and-run, and J.T. still lives in Salem. There will be other similarities and differences along the way, as well. Enjoy!

Chapter 1

It's 2013 and my, what a year it's been! Events, both famous and infamous, have been happening at a rapid pace. The peace maker Nelson Mandella, passed away at the age of 95, from a respiratory infection. The second film in the Hunger Games trilogy, Catching Fire, was released. Though both are good films, the second one was better. 48 years ago, Charles Schulz comissioned a story based on his beloved comic strip, Peanuts, to be adapted for television. He comes up with the story of a young boy who is distressed by all of the commercialization he sees around him, and goes in search for the true meaning of Christmas. And it is that tale which I offer to you tonight. Ladies and gentlemen, I am proud to present my adaptation of Charles M. Schulz's "A Charlie Brown Christmas"

Garrett and Spencer Gray

Aaron and Griffin Kunitz

Carolyn and Campbell Rose

A Zack Brady Christmas

Also Starring
Lauren Boles

Jacob and Joshua Rips

and
Nadia and Talia Hartounian

PARK
It is now a few days before Christmas. Zack Brady and Johnny are walking through the park.
ZACK: I don't understand it, Johnny.
JOHNNY: What's that, Zack Brady?
ZACK: I don't know. I think there's something wrong with me.
JOHNNY: Why's that?
ZACK: Well, Christmas is coming, but I'm not happy. I don't feel the way I'm supposed to feel.
JOHNNY: What do you mean?
ZACK: Well, I guess I just don't understand Christmas. I mean, I like getting presents and Christmas cards. and all that. And, I do like decorating the tree and such. But, for whatever reason, I'm still not happy. Somehow, I always end up feeling depressed.
JOHNNY: Zack Brady, you're the only person I know who can take Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year, and turn it into a problem. Maybe Allie's right: of all the Zack Bradys in the world, you're the Zack Brady-est.

[MrsM]

Great start Andre!!

[sportsgirl]

Johnny is still cute!

[André DiMera]

Chapter 2

BO & HOPE'S HOUSE
Zack was in the back yard, watching his dog, Pookie, build something on his dog house.
ZACK: What is going on here?
Pookie barked and pointed at a nearby poster. Zack walked over and read the poster.
ZACK: "Find the true meaning of Christmas! Win money, money, money! Spectacular super-colossal neighborhood Christmas lights and display contest!" Lights and display contest?! Good grief! My own dog has gone commercial!
Zack walked around the house and looked inside their mailbox, which was empty.
ZACK: Hello in there?
Seeing nothing, Zack shut the mailbox and went on walking.
ZACK: Nobody got me a Christmas card this year. Sometimes, I almost wish there wasn't a holiday season. I mean, I know that no one likes me, so why have a holiday season to emphasize it?

PARK
As Zack was walking along, he saw Claire walking the other way.
ZACK (sarcastically): Thanks for the Christmas card you sent me, Claire.
CLAIRE (smugly): I didn't send you a Christmas card, Zack Brady.
Claire continued walking. Zack called after her
ZACK: Don't you know sarcasm when you hear it?
As Zack was walking along, he saw Allie with her psychiatry booth set up. He walked over and sat sown in the chair in front of the booth.
ALLIE: Here to see the doctor?
ZACK: Yep.
ALLIE: Do you have an appointment?
ZACK: No.
ALLIE: That's okay. We don't appear to have many customers at the moment anyway. So, what's up?
ZACK: I'm in bad shape.
ALLIE: Wait, before you go on, i must insist that you pay in advance. That'll be 50 cents, please.
Zack dug into his pockets, pulled out two quarters, and dropped them into a tin can on the booth. Allie picked up the can and started jangling it.
ALLIE: Boy, what a sound! I absolutely love that sound! The sound of cold hard cash! I think that's the best sound in the world! That beautiful sound of clinking quarters! That beautiful, beautiful sound!

[MrsM]

Loving this Andre!!

[sportsgirl]

I love how this is sounding like A Charlie Brown Christmas.. Love how you used Pookie as Snoopy!

[fluffysmom]

Good start to the story.

[André DiMera]

Just so everyone's informed, this will be posted every day, including weekends. Glad you're all enjoying it!

[André DiMera]

Chapter 3

PARK
While Allie was going on about the sound of money, Ciara walked up.
CIARA: I've been looking for you, big brother.
ZACK: Hi, Ciara.
CIARA: Will you help me write my Christmas list to Santa?
ZACK: Okay, sure.
CIARA: You write it and I'll tell you what to say.
Ciara hands Zack a pencil and a piece of paper.
CIARA: "Dear Santa Claus, how have you been? Did you have a nice summer?"
Zack begins writing.
CIARA: "How is your wife? I have been a very good girl this year and I have a long list of present requests."
ZACK: Good grief!
CIARA: "Please note the size and color of each item. If it seems too much to handle, make it easy on yourself and send money. How about $20s and $50s?"
ZACK: $20s and $50s?! Augh! Even my baby sister!
CIARA: What? All I want is what I have coming to me. All I want is my fair share.
Ciara walked away as Allie finished her speech on her love of money.
ALLIE: Anyway, what's the problem?
ZACK: I think I'm depressed. I feel a sort of dread inside.
ALLIE: Do you have Ablutophobia?
ZACK: What's that?
ALLIE: The fear of bathing.
ZACK: I don't think that's quite it.
ALLIE: What about Cyberphobia? That's the fear of technology.
ZACK: That's not it either.
ALLIE: Are you afraid of working? If so, you have Ergophobia. What about Melissophobia, the fear of bees? You may have Turophobia, the fear of cheese. Or, Ombrophobia. That's the fear of rain. Or maybe you have Panphobia. Do you think you have Panphobia?
ZACK: What's that?
ALLIE: The fear of everything.
ZACK: That's it! Actually, no, that's not it. You see, Allie, my trouble is Christmas. I know it's supposed to be a happy time of year, but, for whatever reason, it always leaves me feeling depressed.

[MrsM]

Poor Zack!!

[fluffysmom]

Zach needs a real friend.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 4

PARK
ALLIE: Okay, I think I've got it. What you need is involvement. Why don't you help with the school's Christmas play? You could be the director.
ZACK: Me? Are you sure you want me directing the play?
ALLIE: Sure, Zack Brady. We need a director, you need involvement. It'll be a great play. It's even got a Christmas queen.
ZACK: Okay, sure. I'll direct the play.
ALLIE: Great. By the way, I know how you feel, getting depressed about Christmas and all. I never get what I want. i always get some stupid toy or clothes.
ZACK: So, what do you really want?
ALLIE: Real estate.

AUDITORIUM
The auditorium of Salem Grade School. Everyone is decorating for the upcoming Christmas play. J.T. is over in a corner, playing music on a piano. To hear the song he is playing, click here:
Allie walked over.
ALLIE: What are you doing?
J.T.: Playing the music I've selected for the Christmas play.
ALLIE: What kind of music is that?
J.T.: Paul McCartney Christmas music.
ALLIE: Paul McCartney? What's the big deal with him, anyway? He wasn't that great.
J.T. stops playing.
J.T.: What do you mean "he wasn't that great"?
ALLIE: He never went on American Idol, did he? How come you never see him on American Idol? How can you say someone is great if they've never been on American Idol?
J.T.: Good grief!
ALLIE: By the way, can you play "Jingle Bells"?
J.T. starts playing.
ALLIE: No, no. I mean "Jingle Bells". You know, deck them hals and all that.
J.T. restarts playing, this time sounding like he is playing on am organ.
ALLIE: No, no, no. You're not getting it at all. I mean "Jingle Bells". You know, Santa Claus, "ho ho ho", mistletoe and presents to pretty girls?
J.T. stops playing Allie bats her eyelashes while J.T. looks at her crossly. He plays it as if playing a child's toy piano.
ALLIE: That's it! Perfect!
Then, a few of the others walked over.
THEO: Allie, who's gonna direct the Christmas play?
ALLIE: Oh, didn't I tell you? I chose Zack Brady to be the director.
All the kids moaned.
CLAIRE: Great. We're doomed.