Click to play audio title from Whomason.

Straightening Things Out

(Note: A favorite section, it contains a lot of funny banter as Wickersham brother 1 and Pippi Longstocking go down to KWHO in order to get them to fix an error-laden story broadcast from their notorious resident tabloid reporter, Marilee Who.)

Wickersham brother 1 pulled into a space and crawled out his window.

Pippi unbuckled and came out her side of the car.

Wickersham1 looked at Pippi. "'Mr. Wickersham'? I've been called worse than that, I guess." He shook his head. "Sounds weird, tho."

Pippi chuckled. "What would you like me to call you?" They began making their way to the building.

"After what we've been through, Miss Pippi...a very lucky guy," he replied. "It could've turned out a heckuva lot worse."

"I definitely agree with you on that," Pippi responded, smiling.

They got to the elevator, went inside and punched up the 4th floor. It was a gentle ride up, not fast and jerky like the one at the hospital without any stops.

The doors opened to the busy offices of KWHO.

The first thing apparent when they stepped out, was the deep air of sadness that permeated the office. Many of the office personnel were not doing much of anything other than talking quietly among themselves. Several were crying and being comforted by their co-workers. Most of the busy-ness was being conducted by temps that had been brought in to take up the workload from overwrought friends of the journalist.

A few large bouquets of flowers adorned several desks, sent by family and friends of the station...and several local businesses. Through a bank of windows that looked into the control room and beyond it, the newscaster's sets, there could be seen the few people that had to carry on, despite their pain.

The site caused Pippi's eyes to grow misty. She wondered if Indy really knew how much she'd be missed if worse had come to worse.

Wickersham1 merely looked on, offering no comment on the overwhelming scene before him.

"Well, there's no time like the present," Pippi said quietly as she began to walk into the office.

A smart looking man with dark hair was sitting at one terminal, and a red-headed girl at the one next to him. They looked like they were working but with no real interest. The young man saw Pippi enter, and motioned to her.

She approached, "Hello, there, I need to address a concern about the noon broadcast."

"Yes?" he asked. "What's your concern?"

"The report is not accurate," Pippi replied.

"In what way?"

"Well, Marilee is under the mistaken impression that several fatalities occured at Whoville General, that in fact, did not."

"Really!? The red haired reporter asked. "Oh, my goodness!"

But the young man interupted before Pippi could even explain any more, "Please tell me she was wrong about Indy...?"

"Yes, that was one of the mistakes...Indianna is recovering from meningitis, but she's out of danger."

"How do you know this, where is she, and who are you for that matter?" the girl asked.

"I'm Pippi Longstocking, a personal friend of Indy's, and a relatively new friend to Sarah-Marie. I've been helping Indy with her recovery."

"No kidding!" Jennah seemed to brighten up a little.

"You might also take note that one of the Wickersham brothers, who has also been reported as dead, is here with me," she said. She could see the disbelief and hope in the eyes of the two reporters.

"I'm Wickersham1," he replied, nodding.

"Well, I'll be damned!" the young man took a look at Wickersham1,."I'm Chad Raoul, sportscastor, and this is Jennah-Rae, she usually does the weather and other odds and ends."

"Hello, Wickersham1," Jennah greeted him. "This is some mixup we have here."

"Yeah....mixup...." he said, careful to not let on it was anything else yet.

"Where's Marilee?" Pippi asked.

Several of the other office staff gathered around them, word starting to spread of the erroneous report. Chad and Jennah along with Pippi, excitedly told the others that indy was sick but would be all right with time.

"Well," Jennah finally said. "We better correct this series of errors! Good grief!" she laughed.

"Where's Indy now?" Chad asked. "Is she at least able to get calls or anything?"

Wickersham1 leaned over and whispered to Pippi. "Uh, I don't think Luna's family wants their number being broadcast all over the place, Pippi."

The woman nodded. All she said to the reporters was, "She's staying with some friends, but is not quite up to visitors and calls, I'm afraid. You'll have her back in here, wisecracking and putting you all in stitches before you know it," Pippi assured them.

A general "hurrah" ran through the room.

Just then, Marilee and her crew consisting of Rick Frick and Zach Frack, but minus one other person, came up the elevator and into the room.

She looked around, narrowing her eyes at the strange goings-on. When she had left, it had been a morgue in the office. Now it was bright faces and happiness? Had everyone suddenly forgotten one of their own had just died?

"Marilee?" Pippi looked right at her. "Just the person I need to see."

"And you are?"

"My name is Pippi Longstocking, I'm Indy's friend."

"My condolences." Marilee said, extending her hand.

Before Pippi had time to react, or Marilee could try to catch her grief on camera, Jennah burst out with, "Marilee, our broadcast was in error!" and she seemed all too happy about it.

"Error?" the reporter echoed. "Jennah, honey, you're out to lunch."

"I am not," Jennah retorted.

"I *saw* the records at the hospital...from their own database," Marilee insisted.

"There was a...problem with the records, Marilee...They were grossly inaccurate...Indy, and Wickersham1 here, are very much alive."

"The records, somebody must've really goofed up somewhere. I wonder why?" Jennah asked.

Marilee sauntered over to Wickersham1. She popped a large bubble from her gum in his face. "Right..." she said, not believing it. "You got any i.d. on you, toots?" She waved her long-nailed fingers, palm up, in front of him.

Pippi shook her head at Marilee in disgust.

"That's Wickersham1 all right," someone in the back of the room yelled. "I recognize him from the mug shots we've run - "

"Yeah, well," Number One interrupted loudly. "Those weren't the best shots 'o me."

"Is Wickersham2 dead?" someone else asked.

"No...he ain't dead," his brother replied.

"Wickersham2 suffered a concussion, but is fine," Pippi informed them.

Wickersham1 eyed Marilee. "Sorry to invalidate yur story - toots," he taunted her, annoyed with her attitude.

"We'll need to go over the list of names in that report and correct it ASAP," Pippi suggested.

"What about that crazy family?" someone else yelled who no one could see. "The Whoot-of-a-Times?"

"Yeah....did they have something to do with this?" another voice.

Pippi cleared her throat. "No," she replied a little forcefully.

"Hey!" Wickersham1 yelled. "You watch your mouth about my girl's family!"

Marilee continued to crack her gum loudly in the Wickersham's face, though she turned slightly towards Pippi. "It'd be their style....causing chaos," she said. "So....grossly inaccurate, eh? Sounds rather - improbable t' me."

"Sounds like a story," one of her surly camera crew said loudly from the back.

Marilee nodded. "Yeah..." she pushed her face nearly into Pippi's. "Don't it."

"No," Pippi replied firmly, "They are not the story here...and I'm not at liberty to tell you who is," Pippi finished.

"How did those records get goofed up?" Jennah asked.

"All I can say about that is someone at the hospital, wasn't doing their job," Pippi replied smoothly.

"Forget it," snarked a member of Marilee's crew in disgust, "You'll never get anything outa her."

"Ah...." murmurs ran through Marilee's crew. Marilee sneered, backing up slightly, put off by Pippi's refusal to be intimidated. "'Wasn't doing their job'? Boy, is that a lame-arse excuse."

"I agree, there is no excuse for such sloppy record keeping..." Pippi replied coolly.

Wickersham1 had shown an amazing amount of restraint up until now, but his temper with this tabloid queen was wearing thin. "It's the only excuse you're gettin', wench - " he said acidly.

"All right people!" Chad raised his voice above the others. "Miss Pippi, Wickersham1, we're listening. If you could go through our last broadcast and help us to correct these mistakes, we'll do a rebroadcast immediately."

"Thank you, Chad, the sooner the better," Pippi replied in her characteristic, quiet, satisfied tone.

"Of MY story?!?" Marilee said, raising her voice in offense. "I don't think YOU have the clout to authorize that - "

"I have more than that--" but Pippi's sentence was interupted.

"No, but I do," came a voice from the back.

Heads turned back towards the door.

Marilee sighed heavily, like she was being inconvenienced. "Mr. Whomason - "

"Marilee! My office...NOW!" he ordered, coming through the crowd towards them.

She looked first to Pippi, then to Wickersham1, who grinned at her with what he meant to be one of his charming, smart-Aleck smiles. "Shart!" she cursed, obeying the Station Manager.

"Oh, dear..." Pippi sighed.

The reporter purposely bumped into several other people, including her crew who were snickering at her as she passed by them.

The Station Manager extended his hand to Wickersham1, who shook it, then to Pippi. "I'm the Station Manager, Bud Whomason," he introduced himself.

The red-headed woman spoke up, indicating the young man with her. "Hello Mr. Whomason, this is Wickersham1, and my name is Pippi Longstocking, Indy's friend."

"And what can I do for you?" Mr. Whomason asked.

"We're here because of some stats in the last broadcast that need to be corrected." Pippi explained to Whomason what she had to the other reporters, with a smile.

He shook Pippi's hand vigorously. "I heard the whole thing from my office. Indy's quite a reporter - and a heckuvan asset to this station. Is she really okay?"

"She's out of danger, but still has a way to go before she'll be back. She'll be fine," Pippi assured him. "She's one heck of a fighter, you know."

"The records at the hospital were in error because someone wasn't doing their job," Jennah put in. "Marilee doesn't believe it."

"More likely, doesn't want to admit to being wrong - again..." Chad muttered.

Pippi shook her head. "I realize she and all of you are considerably shook up at thinking Indy was dead...It took Indy by surprise as well."

"She saw the report?" Jennah asked, eyes going wide.

"Yes, she did," Pippi replied rather darkly.

"Oh, migosh!"

"I know Marilee was only reporting what she saw, and believed," Pippi said a little sadly.

"Well, yeah, hospital records of all things - aren't supposed to lie," said Chad. "But - wow."

"It'll all be sorted out...It's a matter for the police now," Pippi stated. "In the meantime..."

"Yes! Sheesh, let's get cracking, and apologize to all those for the earlier broadcast," Jennah added. People started to scatter back to their desks and their jobs.

"Chad, Jennah, please take them into the editing room and pull that tape and fix it," Whomason ordered. He shook Pippi's hand again, and Wickersham1's. "Thank you for bringing us the news. Please tell Indy we miss her and to get better quickly and have her call us when she does!"

"We'll do that, Mr. Whomason," Pippi replied with a pleasant smile.

Marilee was standing at the door to Bud's office. "But Boss - " she called.

"Oh, don't worry, Marilee," he said slightly sharply. "You'll get your time on the screen - apologizing for this inaccurate mess you made!" He turned around and stalked back towards her and his office.

People all around them laughed and hugged each other and threw shredded paper in the air like confetti. It was a joyous scene. Except for Marilee's face as her boss herded her back into his office. The door closed behind them and he could be heard yelling at her through the door.

Marilee's crew slunk back to their seats and tried to remain inconspicuous from then on. They could hear Mr. Whomason shouting at Marilee, and they knew they would be next to get it.

Pippi observed these goings on with mixed feelings. Happiness at the joy of the others who learned their Indy would be coming back. Unease and a strange pity for Marilee. A peculiar sense of outrage at Whomason yelling at Marilee as if she was a misbehaving child.

Once Pippi had helped Chad and Jennah with their corrections, she turned her attention back to Whomason's office.

The office door was closed, so Pippi wrapped sharply on it.

"Come in!" Whomason yelled.

Pippi opened the door and stepped inside. "Mr. Whomason, this will only take a moment but I'd like a word with you..." she stated. Marilee gave her an acid look.

Whomason calmed down, motioning for Marilee to leave. The reporter walked rather slowly past Pippi, cracking her gum, wanting to say something sharp, but not in front of her boss. Pippi didn't even acknowledge Marilee's sullenness, but moved out of the doorway to let her by.Marilee swaggered out.

Pippi closed the door once Marilee was through. She turned to look at WhoMason. "Was *that* really necessary?" she asked quietly, but deadly serious.

"Miss Pippi..." he began, "I am grateful to you and Wickersham1 for bringing us the news about Indy, don't get me wrong. But THAT one," he gestured at the door, indicating the recently exiting reporter. "is a constant liability risk to this station and I have to keep her under a tighter leash than the others." He indicated the phone. "I got a scathing call from the Mayor's attorney who's putting together a restraining order against Miss Marilee because she wouldn't leave Augustus alone at the hospital."

"Yes, but..." Pippi started to say.

"I was also - discussing that with her before you walked in."

Pippi nodded. "Yes, but she--"

Mr. Whomason continued. "I would rather not also be facing criminal liability charges for her unauthorized access of patient's private medical records to boot."

"That's understandable, and normally I'd agree you were within your right to blow your top at her...but, considering the stress she's faced, not to mention all the others here, of thinking Indianna Who was dead...Isn't that punishment enough? I'm just asking you to go a little easier on her this once."

Mr. Whomason was unmoved, and shook his head. Pippi continued. "From what little I've interacted with Marilee, I can tell she's far from easy to get along with, but if you saw her broadcast, you would've seen how shaken she was when she believed Indy had died. I just don't think yelling at her so loud that you can be heard all over the station is going to help anybody right now."

He shrugged. "I don't think you noticed, Miss Pippi, but Marilee wasn't exactly - relieved like the rest of us to hear the good news that Indy was alive."

"Yes, her behavior at learning the truth was - very odd, but she seemed so shaken during the broadcast, and disbelief at finding out someone isn't dead after thinking they were isn't unusual." Pippi appealed.

The station manager looked at Pippi with mingled understanding and dismay. "True, but Marilee wasn't acting that way from being distraught, I'm afraid that shaken act was all that it was - an act.

It was Pippi's turn to look dismayed, and incensed. "You're telling me that she...?"

Whomason nodded. "She was more concerned about her story being invalidated than what she should have been concerned about - a person's life."

Pippi shook her head, disgusted. "I see..." she said quietly.

"I make sure all my reporters know the rules and Marilee conveniently forgot them in this case and caused this station and it's personnel a lot of painful emotional grief because she forgot to verify her facts before broadcasting this - news."

"Yes," Pippi agreed. Her expression and posture had relaxed considerably.

He stood, putting his hands in his pockets. "If I don't emphasize to her the graveness of this error, she'll walk all over me and take this place over." He leaned slightly closer to the investigator. "If you think Wickersham1 and Sarah were scarey hyped up on grabies - you don't EVER want to see Marilee catching that disease. She is hard enough to handle as it is."

"I agree, that is a scary thought. There was another grabies patient in the footage who might be an equal match." she replied.

"This is a hard business, Pippi, and the only reason I put up with that woman and her ambulance-chasing crew is because of the ratings she pulls in. But I will take your advice under consideration."

Pippi smiled, looking a little embarrassed. "Thank you...but it would seem that my concern about what I perceived as your harsh treatment was unwarranted. I'd hate to think this could happen to Indianna if she made a similar error...Not that she would ever use the same obnoxious and unethical tactics as Marilee..."

Bud put a sympathetic hand on her shoulder. "My dear, I would never HAVE to talk to Indianna like that because she would never do that, as you pointed out. And even if she had made such a grave mistake as this, my first reaction would be to ask her what was wrong and expect there was a demn good reason."

Pippi nodded.

Mr. Whomason continued. "She and Marilee are like night and day. Indy always checks her facts AND respects people's feelings. She considers a story from all angles before proceeding and has my respect for that."

"Yes," Pippi nodded. "I'm relieved to hear that, Mr. Whomason," she replied with a soft smile. "Well, I won't keep you, I just saw something I didn't like, obviously didn't understand fully, and had to say something about it. My seriously jangled nerves did nothing to help my perspective either. I apologize. Thank you for easing my mind." she finished.

He softened as well. "Well, I am glad that Indy has such good friends that care so much about her. I'm glad to talk to someone so rational and level-headed - for a change."

Pippi laughed quietly, "Thank you for the compliment. Indy's a lucky girl to be so cared about, by you among others." she smiled. She opened the door, "I'll tell Indy you wish her the best. I'm glad to have met you. The corrected broadcast must be nearly over by now, and I shouldn't keep Wickersham1 waiting." She grinned. "Good afternoon."With that, she slipped out, and closed the door quietly behind her.

It was a much more relieved, serene Pippi who stepped out of the office than going in.

Wickersham1 was waiting outside the editing booth when she got out.

"I see you're all set to go?" Pippi said, smiling at him.

"Yeah...we just have a little something extra to take with us..." Wickersham1 responded.

"AhhhhhCHOO!" Marilee sneezed loudly. She sniffed and blew her nose. "Yeah...get these things outta here," she said, sounding like her sinuses were stuffing up on her. "Fat load of good they are now." She waved a handkerchief around. "Take Jennah's silly little sentimental suggestion and - leave."

Pippi sent Marilee a very disgusted glance, then turned, about to leave with Wickersham1.

Jennah, sitting at her terminal, was seen turning and hurling a tube of lipstick in Marilee's general direction.

Marilee dodged the missile. "Not my color, honey," she sneered. "I don't do streetwalker red."

"You could have fooled me," Wickersham1 muttered.

Racuous laughter could be heard from Marilee's crew at the Wickersham's sharp comeback. Pippi turned to Wickersham1 and grinned. "I'm starting to see why this place needs Indy here to lighten it up."

"Oh, for Horton's sake, Marilee..." Jennah protested. "You know, you were a lot nicer when you thought Indy was dead...why is that?"

Marilee merely shot Jennah a condescending look.

"Well, I think we better head out before the next catastrophe hits," Pippi suggested.

But Marilee, with a sullen glare on her face, came closer to where they were. "Well, hope you're satisfied, Pippin - whatever-your-name-is. You're keeping the truth from the public and they have every right to know what is going on there since the hospital is a public facility."

"You?! Interested in the truth," Wickersham1 laughed. "Oh, please, don't make me laugh!"

"He's got a point, Marilee, and I agree; the public does have a right to know...the *truth*..." Pippi looked at Marilee, hoping she'd get the message.

Marilee's expression grew even more sour, and she scoffed contemptuously. "Pip-Squeak, since you apparently know so much about the goings on at the hospital, why didn't you come forward before now? You could've prevented this whole misunderstanding.

"Now just a minute..." Pippi cut her off, perturbed. "My first priority is not getting YOU a good story; second, how could I have prevented this? I didn't know you thought Wickersham1 and Indy among others were dead until the broadcast aired. Third, my name is Pippi, can you at least make a token effort at keeping *that* straight?"

Several people laughed.

Insulted, Marilee opened her mouth, but didn't get a chance to make an ill-tempered retort.

"You're as obnoxious as the blood nurse crone from hell, Tora. Her and Whoticore make a fine right pair, they do," Wickersham1 railed at her.

"Uh, Mr. Wickersham, let's get out of here," Pippi suggested, and was about to turn and do just that.

"I'll have the flowers brought down to your car," Jennah said to Wickersham1. "I am sure they will cheer Indy right up."

He smiled. "Thanks."

"What a suck-up," one of Marilee's crew sniped, indicating Jennah.

"Yeah," Marilee herself agreed. "She thinks they'll give her the story if she's nice to them."

Pippi looked at Wickersham1, and then indicated the rather cutthroat crew in the back. "They are unbelievable!"

Wickersham1 just looked at Pippi and sighed. "I should have let Whoticore kill me when he had the chance. It would have spared me listening to this garbage."

Pippi put her hand to her mouth.

Marilee picked up on the slip like a shark to the scent of blood in the ocean. She said nothing to let on it meant anything to her, but her eyes betrayed a bit of interest.

Jennah, who had been about to rail at Marilee and company, did look shocked, however. She approached. "Did you say Dr. Whoticore was going to kill you?" she asked quietly.

"Nah...he's just not that good a doctor," the Wickersham muttered, trying to cover up his mistake. "Come on, Pippi," Wickersham1 urged. "I still feel like I'm at the hospital," he said, glaring at Marilee. "Getting dissected."

"I agree." Then, Pippi turned toward Jennah and the others. "If you want the story, you'll have to wait until the police decide to let you know anything further," she stated firmly. "Oh, and, Marilee, try not to let your...concern...for Indy get in the way of your work, and do remember to pick a piece of gum that matches your outfit next time..."

"Ooooo....." her crew snickered as the two visitors passed by them on their way to the elevator.

Marilee sneezed again, unable to come up with a reply before they got in and the doors closed. "Aw....shart!" she cursed.