(Rizzo's belly is so full he can't see his toes, which are propped up on Ru's knee. They are sitting side-by-side in the lime tweed recliner in the middle, looking at "The Pie and Pastry Bible.")
Rizzo: (crossing himself) I never thought of myself as the religious type, but I swear I'm thinking of converting.
Ru: Pretty good buy for a buck, don't you think?
Rizzo: Duh.
Ru: I love thrift stores and yard sales.
Gonzo: (coming in from the bedroom dressed to the nines) Did I hear Camilla?
(Ru and Rizzo exchanged puzzled glances, then Ru's eyes go wide and she laughs.)
Ru: No--that was me. (holds up the recipe book) I was just saying I got this book for a buck.
Gonzo: (still fiddling with his cufflink) Oh...good-looking pie on the cover.
Ru: (looking at Gonzo fondly) Speaking of good-looking...where you going tonight, Hot Stuff? You're all dressed up.
Gonzo: (acting nonchalant but pleased) Oh--nowhere special. Camilla and I are going to catch a film and then go out to The Grill.
Ru: Oh--what film are you seeing?
Gonzo: (still fiddling with his cufflink) What? Oh--I think it's "Food-Handling Safety is for Everyone."
Rizzo: (dryly) Mr. Romance.
Gonzo: (modestly) Well, it IS Salmonella awareness month.
Ru: (handing Rizzo the cookbook and leaning forward) C'mere, Honey--let me do that for you. (He approaches and she manages to loose the cufflink from his furry wrist and put it through the cuffs.) There.
Gonzo: (sighing in relief) Oh--thank you, Ru. Well, I'm off. (He grabs his coat and a derby-style hat and goes out.)
Rizzo: Eh, bless him, the little weirdo.
Ru: You know Camilla--she's a trooper. She'll probably have a good time.
Rizzo: Speaking of...where are the lovebirds tonight? Pitching woo? Or crockery?
Ru: Mmm, neither, I think. Piggy's gone to a Midnight Madness Mall event. She's been training for it all week.
Rizzo: Oh! I thought she was working out because she couldn't get into her bathing suit.
Ru: (mildly, eyebrows arching) You better hope she's out.
Rizzo: (looking around desperately) You said she was out--!
Ru: (smiling) She is. I'm just saying....
Rizzo: Hmmphf. So, Kermit went along to carry her bags?
Ru: Nope. He's had this date on the calendar for weeks. He and Fozzie did a guy's night out.
Rizzo: Bowling and nachos?
Ru: Probably something like that. I think it's nice that they got to--
(There are signs of a key in the door, and Ru and Rizzo turn and crane their necks around to see who it is. Fozzie and Kermit come in the door laughing and talking.)
Fozzie: So then I told them--he can't come to the phone--He's got a person in his throat!
(They laugh uproariously, then Fozzie looks up and sees Ru sitting with Rizzo. His eyes go wide with surprise, then he looks hastily away.)
Ru: Hi fellas! Have a good time bowling?
Kermit: Oh yeah. We had a good time. (flexing his arm) I'm a little rusty but I didn't do too bad. Fozzie here made two strikes and three spares, so we didn't embarrass ourselves, right Fozzie?
Fozzie: (looking away) Oh. Um, right, Kermit. (He will not look at Ru or Rizzo.)
Ru: Wow--two strikes! Way to go, Fozzie! Did you see anyone else you know?
Fozzie: Um, no. I don't think so.
(Kermit is now looking at Fozzie, surprised at his sudden change in demeanor, but when Rizzo elbows Ru in the ribs he looks up. Rizzo darts his eyes and does a fairly impressive job of conveying his opinion that Fozzie is upset about the fact that there is someone sitting in his chair! Ru opens her mouth to say something to Fozzie, but Rizzo jumps in before she can.)
Rizzo: (hopping up) Gosh, thanks Ru, for explaining about the difference between, um, kneading the dough and, um, rolling the dough. I sure don't want to waste all that flour.
Ru: (flummoxed at first, then catching on) Oh. I mean, oh, um, yes--it's an important difference. I'm glad you asked me and, er, brought me the recipe book so I could, um, show you what I was talking about.
Rizzo: Yeah. That was swell. (turning to Fozzie and Kermit) Well, I'm off to read a little before bed! (He trots out of the room. He has barely cleared the doorway when Fozzie is sitting in the recliner in his usual seat, cozied up to Ru. Over his head, Kermit smiles at Ru.)
Ru: Oh, good! I was worried you wouldn't get back in time for our reading time.
Fozzie: I wouldn't forget you, Ru. (looks up wistfully) You wouldn't forget about me, would you? Even if there were, um, other bears and, um, rats or things...?
Ru: Oh, no Fozzie! You are absitively, posolutely irreplaceable--promise. Now, what chapter were we on?
Fozzie: Fourteen! It was just getting to the good part!
(Kermit wanders over and climbs up into the recliner he shares with Piggy or Fozzie, depending on the state of his love life. He settles back, listening to Ru and Fozzie read aloud.) Nice.
(Ru nods without missing a word.)