The Walnuts

A journalist reluctantly signs a contract to write a story about far away earth. He books passage on a Galactic Transport operated by strange little humanoids far advanced to himself. On the long voyage he perfects his English, but doesn't realize his thoughts are not entirely his. By the time he arrives at earth, his contempt for their haughty attitude is well known aboard their ship.Seg Thouge has a contract to write about the Planet Earth and books passage on one of the Travelers’s ships. The Travelers are strange little humanoids far advanced to Seg.Seg’s contact on Earth, Ray Camper, informs Seg he’s now John Helms. Ray asks John why he’s here, and Seg explains. Ray laughs, saying it will be quite a project considering all the possibilities here on Earth. Ray suggests a family he knows called ‘The Walnuts’ who are slightly out of the norm and John might fit in.The Walnuts comprise of the patriarch, Jeb, a tall, handsome, self made man who tries to keep the rest of the dysfunctional clan in check, but only ends up writing checks.Martha, his wife, is a spoiled, beautiful, rich woman and knows it. Martha is keen on her own pleasures and seldom affords anyone any consideration, unless it suits her own needs. She is a witty, provocative character who immediately zeros in on unprepared John.Danielle, the youngest daughter, is a beautiful, fun loving, devil may care person, that can’t figure out why her life is so chaotic.Ferkle, Danielle’s new suitor, is an obnoxious braggart who tries to convince everyone that he is a great entrepreneur, but is currently cleaning pools.Heather, the teenage granddaughter, is trying to separate herself from the lunacy, but her young age limits her independence. Heather is the first to suspect the truth about John and starts calling him Space John.Ricky—aka Ricky the Rat—the son, is out to have fun and make a buck. He is intensely self promoting and can’t figure out why everyone isn’t the same.Wanda, the hippy daughter, is a throw back to the age of drugs, sex, and rock and roll, shunning anything responsible. Wanda becomes John’s friend and his advisor to the mechanics of the Walnuts.When John says he must leave, Danielle decides she wants to go with him, but John says it’s impossible. She accuses him of running out on his friends and says, “Prove it!”Ray and John take Danielle with them for the pick-up. When the space ship descends, Danielle realizes the truth.