Freddie's appearance on The Tonight Show also caught the attention of a certain executive producer who was interested in him returning to Los Angeles to screen test for a new pilot.
Toward the end of January all heck broke loose again within the walls of CC when Lorie spotted Freddie on The Mike Douglas show while watching TV in the break room. Everyone quickly gathered around the set. "And to think we know him," Lorie gushed at the end of the show.
*****************************
"Michelle, line one," Danielle's voice came over the intercom. "It's you-know-who."
Michelle pushed the flashing button on her phone and lifted the receiver to her ear. "Hi, Freddie." She had to hold the phone from her ear as he yelled.
"I got it!!!" There was a pause. "You hear me, Michelle? I got it!!!"
"I heard you. I think the whole block did."
"I am such a good actor."
"Well, I told you...."
Freddie laughed. "I don't mean about the pilot. I mean when I talked to Danielle. I didn't let on at all even though I wanted to explode. You proud of me?"
"You know I am."
"This also means I'm moving out there."
"If it's picked up?"
"It will be." He was still talking excitedly. Michelle could also hear voices in the background. "Gotta go. Love you." He made a kissing sound into the phone. "Bye."
Freddie stayed with the Stokers for a few days before moving in with a roommate. Michelle's colleagues knew he had moved but did not know why. The speculations were endless. February 25 he began rehearsals for Chico and the Man.
The day of the taping Michelle rushed to get out of the office. Her colleagues were used to seeing her dash about so there were no questions when she left early. Michelle still managed to get caught in traffic on her way from Carson to Burbank but finally pulled into NBC Studios. She moved quickly, following directions given by a guard.
Outside of the make-up room two PA's were on a mission: find Michelle Stoker. They started down the hall. "What's she look like again?" one asked.
"Five-two, long brown hair, big.... how can you even ask. He must have told us six-hundred times. Look, you take that hall... I'll go..." He stopped mid-sentence and pointed at the figure coming towards them at quite a rapid pace. "That's got to be her." They shortened the distance between them causing her to stop abruptly. "Please tell us you're Michelle." the one implored.
Michelle looked puzzled. "I am."
"Thank God," the other said, literally grabbing her arm and just about yanking her through the make-up room door. "Here, we found her," he announced sounding extremely relieved.
Freddie was pacing the room and seemed agitated. He stopped in front of her. "Where have you been?" he asked rather anxiously.
"On the freeway," she replied matter-of-factly.
An almost embarrassed, yet apologetic smile appeared on his face. "Oh, yeah," he said sheepishly.
"This Michelle?" the make-up artist interrupted. Freddie nodded. "Good. Then do you suppose....?" He indicated the make-up chair and then told Michelle. "He refused until you got here and since you're here..."
Freddie relented and sat, Michelle moved to the chair and stooped beside him. The make-up guy began his task. Freddie remained quiet but latched onto Michelle's hand. Finishing, the artist made a remark that he was glad that was over and left the room.
Freddie released Michelle's hand, leaned forward and started fumbling with a chain that had several pendants. He again grew agitated. "Damn." he muttered.
"What's the matter?"
"There's supposed to be a Star of David on this thing. There's no star." he panicked, his fingers sorting through the items on the chain.
Michelle clamped down on his hands. "Will you relax?"
"But..."
"Here," Michelle let go of him and unhooked the necklace she was wearing. Handing it to him she said, "You can use mine."
He looked at her gratefully. He then slid the star from her chain and attached it to his. "I don't know why I'm so nervous."
"I don't either," Michelle told him. "You're going to be terrific."
"How do you know?"
Michelle didn't really know. But she was sure anyway. "You know all your lines. And you're good at what you do."
"Just good?"
"Freddie..."
"No, I mean it. I'm no actor. I do stand up. What am I doing here."
"You're here because you auditioned and beat out however many other guys. So somebody must know what you're doing here."
"You sure?"
"Have I ever lied to you?"
"Yes."
Michelle's eyes went wide. "When?" she demanded.
Freddie's demeanor changed. "Last year in New York when you told me you weren't going to miss me."
Michelle leaned against the counter in front of the mirror. She was relieved but at the same time wanted to slug him. "That wasn't a lie. I didn't miss you at all."
"Not even a little?"
Michelle shook her head.
Freddie feigned hurt. "How come?"
"You didn't give me a chance. I mean how could I get the opportunity to miss you when there were two dozen messages from you waiting on my desk when I got back... or the twice daily phone calls."
"You missed me," he insisted. "You took every one of my calls."
Michelle threw her hands up in mock surrender. "I give up."
At that moment the door opened. "Mr. Prinze, they're ready for you. Oh, and Mrs. Stoker, if you'll come with me you'll be watching the taping with the executive producer."
Freddie rose from the chair. "Laugh real loud and applaud real hard," he told her.
Not that Michelle's opinion mattered to the powers that be but she was very excited by the pilot. "You've got a winner," she told the executive producer. And as usual Freddie asked her if she liked it.
Mike and Michelle traveled to New York for a special screening. While there Mike got to have the full Washington Heights experience. "So that's what you did when you stayed behind last year," Mike commented, amused. All Michelle could do was nod.
Was there ever any doubt? Chico and the Man was picked up for the fall season. Michelle still said nothing to the others at Cooperative Charities.
***************************************************************************************
May 1974
Lorie leaned back against her headboard and listened to Ed McMahon announce the guests for that night's Tonight Show. She sat upright as she heard him say, "Freddie Prinze." This time she knew who it was. Quickly she grabbed her phone and dialed. "Wendy, are you watching? You are. I can't believe he's going to be on again. Okay." She hung up and leaned back. When Freddie was introduced Lorie bolted upright once again. Johnny Carson mentioned that Freddie would be co-starring in a new TV series. Before she could make a move her phone rang. "Hello? Hi, Wendy. Yes, I heard. That's why he moved out here. He's going to be in a TV show. Why didn't Michelle say anything? Why didn't he say anything? I mean he's been at our office like a gazillion times." And they told two friends and so on and so on and so on.
****************************************************************************************
July 1974
Freddie sat on the table in the Stoker's kitchen listening to the conversation Michelle was having on the phone. Two large bowls of cookie dough sat beside him waiting for final ingredients. "I really look forward to finally meeting you at the picnic on Saturday. Yes, they are a lot of fun. If you think of anything that you and Mr. Breck will need... Okay. You too." Michelle hung up the phone and began tearing open bags of butterscotch chips.
"Was that that guy from 'Nanny and the Professor?"
"Yes."
"I wish I could be there."
"You want to meet him that bad?" Michelle joked.
Freddie laughed. "No. But it sounds like fun."
"It is. But there'll be many other events."
He watched Michelle pour the chips into the bowls then add pecans. "How're you gonna mix all that?"
Michelle pushed her sleeves up a bit further. "Let's just say I really get into what I do."
Freddie's eyes twinkled. "Can I help?" Before she could answer he had slid from the table and was at the sink washing up. He turned back to her drying his hands on a dishtowel. "You were going to say yes weren't you?" He tossed the towel to the counter and returned to the table.
"Give me your hands."
Freddie held his hands out to her. "Do I get them back?"
Michelle grabbed a can of cooking release agent and coated his palms.
"This is kinky," he told her.
Michelle ignored the comment. "It's so the dough won't stick to your hands as much."
"I knew that." Freddie watched as Michelle plunged her hands into one of the bowls of dough and began mixing. He then started in on the other bowl. There were a few moments of silence. "You don't let many people get close to you," Freddie observed out of the blue.
Michelle looked up. "That's right," she said evenly.
"You ever regret letting me inside that stone wall you've got built up around you? I mean I am inside aren't I?"
Michelle didn't even pause. "No... and yes, you're inside." He grinned almost stupidly at that. "You found a weak spot in the foundation," she continued. "And you chiseled away and chiseled away. I figured anyone that determined to get close was worth having that close."
"Am I worth it?"
"You know you are."
Freddie turned solemn. "Then why won't you hug me back?" Michelle gave him a blank look. "The whole time I've known you.... when I hug you... you don't put your arms around me."
Michelle studied him for a moment. How had the conversation gone from mixing cookie dough to this? "It's not you," she finally said. "Freddie, that stone wall you mentioned was built for a reason... and see most of the time... touch is very uncomfortable for me...." She paused trying to decide how to say what she wanted.
In that moment, the two looking each other in the eye Freddie suddenly let out a breath. "Oh, my God," he said barely above a whisper. "How old were you?"
Michelle was not surprised that he'd figured it out so she went back to mixing and answered. "Twelve."
Now Freddie looked about to cry. "Must've been a relative," he wagered. His hands worked the dough as if he were angry with it. "I guess I'm lucky you let me hug you at all." He pulled his hands from the dough. "It's okay, you don't have to talk about it anymore. When you're ready you'll hug me. Is this mixed enough?"
Michelle smiled, grateful for the subject change. "It's fine."
Freddie tasted some of the dough that had stuck to his hands. "These are going be really good."
*************************************************************************************
September 1974
Lorie seemed to be the self-appointed ring leader. After having heard the announcement on The Tonight Show about the new sitcom Lorie suggested to the others to "play it cool". Someone was sure to tell them about it. This, of course, did not happen.
She had waited with bated breath for the TV Guide Fall Preview issue to hit the stands. Then she made phone calls to everyone instructing them to "make sure to get a copy and keep it at the office."
Wendy entered Lorie's cubicle. "I got it," she announced holding up the small magazine. "And everyone else says they've got theirs. But are you sure he's going to be here to sign them? I mean with the show airing and all maybe he won't be coming around anymore."
Lorie gave a wave of the hand. "Oh, he'll still be coming around. Michelle thinks he's a regular person."
Sure enough a few days later Freddie walked through the doors of Cooperative Charities... and the women pounced presenting him with not only their TV Guides open to the Chico and the Man page but TV Guides belonging to their friends as well. Gracious as always he signed them all and chatted with the women before heading down the hall to Michelle's office.
Michelle was rifling through her file cabinet. Freddie slipped into the office and sat on her desk. He silently watched her. Michelle selected a file, slid the drawer closed and turned. She startled, but only slightly.
"So, where's yours," he asked.
"Where's my what?"
"Your TV Guide. I just signed about twenty of them."
Michelle tossed the file to her desk and folded her arms. "You didn't have to do that."
Freddie shrugged. "I don't mind. Besides, if I don't they'll blame you."
"I can handle them."
"You shouldn't have to."
"No, you shouldn't have to be accosted every time you come here. This is supposed to be a safe haven, a place where you can switch it off."
"So. Where is yours?" he insisted.
"At home. Next to the TV. Why?"
"I want to sign something for you."
Michelle started to round her desk. "You're weird."
He raised his leg stopping her. "I know you just didn't figure that out now." He picked up a pen from the desk and began writing something on a memo pad. He started hand it to her, returned it to the desk and wrote something else. He tore the sheet from the pad and handed to her.
"Freddie," Michelle protested.
He gave her a look which convinced her to read what he had written. "Michelle, thank you for being my friend. I love you, Freddie (Pruetzel)"
Now Michelle gave him a look. "What am I going to do with you?"
Without missing a beat he said, "Hug me." There was an uneasy silence. "It won't hurt. I promise."
Michelle turned her head and glanced at the clock on her wall. She craned her neck a little further to the wall calendar but she still felt those eyes on her.
"I'm over here," Freddie's voice cut through the quiet.
Michelle chuckled slightly at what she assumed was a joke but when she turned back to him he had a most serious look on his face.
"Just put your arms around me," he implored. "It's not that hard."
"That's easy for you to say."
"Come on. You know you want to."
"Wanting to has nothing to do with the comfort level."
"Do it anyway."
Michelle inhaled and let it out slowly. Then tentatively she reached around his neck with her left arm and leaned in.
"The other arm too," he told her.
Michelle rolled her eyes but brought her right arm around him. Freddie waited a few seconds before completing the embrace. Michelle resisted the urge to pull away even though her body stiffened as usual, but she held on. After about a minute inexplicably her body relaxed. Freddie felt the change and tightened his hold. He would always consider this their first hug.