(We open at Sally's apartment. It's as small as the Bowery Boys' apartment, but neater and with more feminine touches like curtains and a pretty floral tablecloth on the table near the kitchen. Sally is tying an apron around her waist as we hear a knock on the door. She wears a pink gingham dress and a white ruffled paper cap.)

Sally: I'll be there in a minute! (She opens the door...to discover Slip, Duke, Myron, Chuck, Sach and Danny on the other side.) What the hell is this, a party? What are you guys doing here?

Duke: (He gives Slip a slight shove) Someone needs to talk to you.

Sach: We're here to make sure he says the right things.

Myron: He's been having some issues with that.

Danny: *Shrugs* He likes the taste of his own foot.

Sally: First of all, are you sober? (She leans over to smell Slip's breath)

Slip: I ain't gonna lie, Sally. It's only been about six hours since I left the bar, but I've had pain medication an' a LOT of coffee since.

Sally: Pain medication? (Sees his hand) What did you do to yourself?

Slip: *Sighs* Punched a window at...the sweet shop.

Sally: You punched a window at Uncle Lo...at the shop? Why?

Slip: Danny was tryin' to talk to me, an' I didn't wanna listen. That's the short story.

Sally: You're lucky you didn't end up in jail for destruction of property.

Slip: I know.

Sally: (Sighs) You might as well come in. You can't stay long, though. I have to be at work in an hour. (She opens the door and lets the boys troop in.) You're lucky Rachel is at work.

Sally: Ok, Slip, what do you want?

Slip: Sally, the guys an' I talked. I want that farm, Sally, an' I want you there with me.

Sally: (Sighs) Slip, I do still want that farm. However, I don't want you in your present condition. You have to stop drinking...and you have to admit that you have a lot of problems.

Slip: I... *Chuck elbows him* Yer right, Sally.

Sally: Slip, I didn't like Uncle Louie and Aunt Gertie moving, either. They practically raised me. Not to mention, I lost my job and had to get another one at a diner half-way across town. However, I love Uncle Louie, and I understand that he and Aunt Gertie both needed this. New York wasn't good for either of them anymore, and they both probably should have retired years ago.

Slip: *Nods* I realize that now.

Sally: If we get married, first of all, you need to work. No more schemes. I've heard that you're very close to losing your job at the real estate agency.

Slip: Right now, I'd be surprised if I still have a job, Sal.

Sally: Then you'll need to find another job...and another way to vent your anger besides drowning it in scotch.

Slip: An' I need help for both of those, Sal. I need your help.

Sally: I'm willing to help you, Slip...if you're willing to be helped. You know a lot of people. You could probably get another real estate job, if you promise to stay sober.

Slip: *Glances at the others* I got plenty of help behind me. I just need one chance.

Sally: (She takes his hand) Slip, I love you. I love you a lot. Trouble is, every time I give you a chance, you trample on it. Are you ready to live like an adult? Buy a home, get a job, maybe even (softer) finally get married?

Slip: *Whispers* I'd like that.

Sally: Are you ready to get that farm? We could drive into Connecticut and look at farms tomorrow. I'm off of work.

Slip: I'm ready. Sal, you have no idea how ready I am.

Sally: I'm ready, too. I think I've been ready for a long time. It's just...you never seemed ready. We kept postponing and postponing the marriage date. I wondered if...if you really....even wanted me...

Slip: Sal, it wasn't you. It was never you. It's been me.

Sally: Don't be hard on yourself. We both have very nasty tempers. (Sighs) I think we need to work on those tempers and learning to control them.

Slip: I do deserve it, though, Sal. I've been a huge jerk. I'm willin' to work on it.

Sally: And I’m willing to help. (She takes his hand) I want this to work. I want to run that farm. I want to get married, with a nice wedding with bridesmaids and all of the boys as ushers. I want to sell our own produce, raise our own horses, have children. And I want to do it with you.

Slip: I want that, I want that badly, Sal. I want...you.

Sally: I want you, too. I want to help you stay away from the bottle. I want to help you run that farm.

Sach: Chiefy, just propose to her again!

*Chuck slaps his forehead.*

Slip: First, I'm ignorin' Sach. Second, Sal... *takes her hand in both of his* If my leg weren't throbbin' I'd kneel, but...Sally, will you marry me?

Sally: (Sighs and nods) Yes, I will. I'll give you one more chance.

Sach: Oh boy! (He grabs Sally and Slip and hugs them) My two favorite people, together again!

Sally: Oof! Sach!

Slip: Saaaach...

Duke: (As Sach lets them go) So, are you going to set a real date this time?

Sally: Yes, we are.

Slip: Definitely.

Sach: (Sobs) First Whitey's gettin' married to Marsha, and now Chiefy n' Sally! (Turns to Chuckie) Chuck, don't you ever get married!

Chuck: Sach... *shakes his head*

Duke: Hey Slip, why don't we go back to your place and celebrate your makin' up with Sally?

Sach: Yeah, I think you have some of your Irish Stew in the icebox!

Sally: I wish I could join you, but I'm going to be late to work. (She gives Slip a kiss on the cheek) We'll talk this over later tonight, after I get off.

Slip: I'd like that. *gives Sally a small kiss on the lips* I'll be waitin'.

Sally: See you later! Don't forget to lock the door on the way out. You know where I keep the key. (She grabs her brown coat and hurries out the door.)

Duke: I'm glad you did that, Slip.

Slip: Me, too. An' I'm glad you guys knocked some sense into me.

Sach: I'm gonna miss ya, Chiefy...but I'm glad we did, too. You really love Sally, an' she likes you.

Duke: Why don't we get back to your place and talk about this over some of Slip's great Irish Stew?

Chuck: An excellent idea. *goes to Slip* I'm glad to have you back, even if you are going to move away eventually.

Slip: I still got some work to do on myself, but I'm glad I still have you, Chuckie. Now, how about we go eat?

Sach: (Throws his arm around Slip) Chiefy, I always did like the way you think!

(Cut to the Boys' apartment. The regular table and folding table from the Thanksgiving story are set up in the middle of the room. Every sits around the two tables, eating Irish Stew, thick Italian bread, and butter. They have glasses of juice and milk and bottles of soda.)

Sach: (He grins and stands) I'm gonna go get more! I'm sure gonna miss your Irish stew, Chiefy!

Slip: I'll leave Danny the recipe.

Danny: You're entrusting me with the recipe!?

Slip: Yer the only one who can cook.

Sach: I can cook!

Duke: Yeah, I know. I can hear the explosion half-way across town.

Slip: Sach, no, you can't.

Duke: I can cook a little, but I'm not exactly Julia Child.

Chuck: Don't look at me.

Myron: I burn toast.

Slip: *stands* Listen, fellas, I know we're all still eatin', but there's a little business I gotta take care of. First, I wanna thank all of you for not givin' up on me when I did.

Sach: Of course we didn't! You're our Chief! You wouldn't give up on us!

Duke: You're a good guy under that hide. We all know that.

Slip: Thanks. An' especially to Danny *looks at him* for not walkin' away when I punched ya. Sorry 'bout that.

Danny: *Slight shrug* No permanent damage done.

Slip: *Nods* Secondly, since I'm gonna be movin' on... *sighs* I won't be yer Chief anymore.

Sach: (His eyes widen as he sits down with another bowl of stew) You won't? But who's gonna lead us?

Duke: Yeah. Who's gonna be in charge of these guys?

Slip: *Turns his gaze to Duke* Duke, would you accept it?

Duke: Me?

Sach: Dukey? Not a bad choice. He's a good guy.

Duke: I'm flattered, Slip.

Slip: Duke, I got confidence in ya. You've led these guys before, an’ ya done well. I trust ya. I would like to make one particular point, though. *looks to Chuck* Chuck, I know you have intentions with Rachel in the near future, an' I'm glad. If you didn't, I woulda turned leadership over to you. Ya done good, Chuckie.

Chuck: *Smiles* Thank you, Slip.

Slip: Yer welcome. *turns back to Duke* Whadaya say, Duke?

Duke: (He nods and grins) I say...why not? I'm not doing anything right now anyway.

Sach: You will, Dukey?

Duke: (Shrugs) Sure. I only hope I can measure up to the great Slip Mahoney.

Slip: You'll be better.

Duke: (Nods) Thanks.

Sach: What about me, Chiefy?

Slip: What about you, Sach?

Sach: I'm still the other head guy, right?

Slip: Sure, Sach.

Sach: (He bites his lip) You know, Chiefy, I'm really gonna miss you. I like Duke, but he ain't like you. (He smiles) But I know you an' Sally need this, too. Maybe livin' on a farm will be better for ya. Cow don't give Scotch, unless they're from Scotland.

Slip: *Grins* Yeah, Sach, I think I'm gonna miss you, too. *turns to Duke* An' Duke, I give ya full permission to belt this guy *jerks a thumb at Sach* when needed.

Duke: (Grins) Permission accepted, Slip. I'm sure I'll be doin' it often.

Slip: I know ya will.

Sach: (Frowns) But where are we gonna hang out now that Louie's gone?

Duke: (Grins and looks at Slip) You know, we heard Mike Clancy the other day talkin' about closin' his tavern. He wants to concentrate on food that won't give people hangovers. And his Irish stew is almost as good as Slip's.

Slip: Almost. *sighs* I don't remember him sayin' that.

Duke: (Makes a face) You were gone. He did say it. I even suggested him lookin' into Louie's old store.

Slip: Ya did? *nods* Good suggestin'.

Sach: What does that have to do with us?

Duke: It sounds like Mike wants to run a cafe, like Louie's with soda bread instead of bagels.

Sach: Mike makes great soda bread! And come to think of it, St. Patrick's Day is soon. I hope he makes those little round coconut candies covered in cinnamon. He puts them on the bar on St. Patrick's Day, and I can't get enough of them.

Duke: You know, If I talked to Ma Kelly, I could probably even move in here after you leave. The rent on my current room is kind of high for my bank account anyway.

Sach: (Nods) We'll need one more guy to move in after Whitey leaves, an' then we'll have the full gang again!

Duke: Slip, I really appreciate this. I hope I can make you proud.

Slip: An' I appreciate ya acceptin'. Makes it a little easier to step away.

Duke: And you know what? I could use the change of scenery, too. I've been on my own since I came back from World War II. (He smiles) It'll be kind of nice to belong to a group again. We always did have a great time when we were kids.

Slip: Yeah, we did.

Duke: (Sighs) But Sally's right. We're not kids anymore. (Grins) Even if I consider checking the racing form to be a kind of work.

Sach: I work! I work on my inventions!

Slip: That ain't work.

Sach: Yeah it is! Do you know how long it takes to work on my stuff?

Duke: About as long as it takes for your stuff to rock the neighborhood.

Slip: *Raises his glass of water* Fellas, to you. I'm gonna miss ya.

Sach: Yeah, we are too, Chiefy...but we're happy you're finally gonna be with Sally.

Duke: (He raises his glass of orange juice) A toast to Slip and Sally. May they have a long, happy marriage on the most beautiful farm in Connecticut or anywhere.

Sach: And a toast to Dukey, our new Chief.

Chuck: To Slip, the man I look up to.

Myron: To everyone. May the changes occur smoothly.

Danny: To Slip, for not breaking my nose outside the sweet shop earlier today.

Slip: Pretty tough wit' such a large target.

*Danny laughs.*

(The other guys laugh, too.)

Sach: (He just grins) To us.

All the Guys In Unison: To us. (The camera fades out on their glasses clinking together...and Slip and Duke smiling behind them.)