Transcribed by Siggy

Scene opens with Rick, Abby and Michelle walking in the front door at the
Bauers....

Rick: Lookie here, we're home.

Michelle: Yes, thanks for establishing that for me.

Abby: Yeah, you're very good at that Rick

Rick: Lucky me, I am surrounded by hysterical women...(Rick walks to the
kitchen, M& A take their coats off and go to the kitchen) Okay, this is the
deal... I'm going to start some nice, soothing tea here and Abby is going to
get some brownies or cookies... whatever is not stale around here ....and we
are going to talk about what’s going on.

Michelle: Okay now there’s nothing to talk about Rick.

Rick: No.. sorry Michelle, that's not the answer I was looking for.

Michelle: (sighs) Can we please drop it?

Rick: You know...no.. we're at Millennium, we're dancing .. were you having at good time(to Abby)…I was having a great time…

Abby: great time...

Rick: (making tea) when suddenly your husband your husband snaps over… what
was he upset about?

Abby: Well, it was kind of weird Michelle.

Michelle: He was just upset, okay.

Rick: About what?

Abby: Did you have a fight?

Michelle: No...well yeah...I mean yes, well sort of

Rick: (looking at Abby) Yes.. no.. sort of ... I think we are getting somewhere,
don't you think?

Abby: Be nice.

Rick: I'm trying...

Michelle: Danny got upset because I told him that I wanted to come here without
him, okay.

Abby: (walking toward M) Why...he's your husband…

Michelle: (touching Abby's shoulders) I know he's my husband...we've just been
spending every waking moment together and I just wanted to spend some time
with my family, you know.

Rick: (shaking his head no) No, Michelle, I'm sorry... you didn't come back
here because you missed your family, come on...

Michelle: ( trying to be convincing) That's what it's about Rick!

Abby: Michelle...

Michelle: Okay, I just feel really suffocated with him, in that house, with his
mother and those people and… I know it's just newlywed growing pains...you
guys know how that is...it's nothing for you to worry about AT ALL.

Rick: I tell you what... I promise you I'll stop worrying about you if you can
just try to explain to me why you were pretending you were going blind
again...

Abby: Good point...

Michelle: Well I told you that a couple of days ago... I just wanted Danny to pay
attention to me…

Rick: Right, that's why you're here and your husband is at some bar getting
tanked by himself ...Michelle come on...stop making this more
difficult than it has to be....now, for us to really understand what is
going on with you in this marriage, Michelle, you've gotta be truthful with
us and why don't you start right now?

Drew: (serving Danny another shot) Enjoy…

Danny: I don’t want to enjoy…

Drew: Neither do I.. I want it to go down like a bunch of rocks…

Danny: Sharp rocks…

Drew: I have found that the only thing that takes away pain Danny is.. new pain.. so drink up - let’s go… (pours them another shot)

Danny: or death…or death…don’t forget death…

Drew: …figures that you would say something like that.

Danny: (waving his finger and standing up) yeah.. how much do I owe you?

Drew: You know what.. it’s on me okay.. it’s one of the benefits of being the boss here…free drunken…

Danny: Thanks…

Drew: nights for me and my friends…

Danny: We’re friends?

Drew: I don’t know.. what do you think?

Danny: (smirks and starts to leave but turns back around to sit at the bar again) So how long do they last?

Drew: (pouring another drink…happily) These nights with me and my drunk friends.. they don’t last long enough I’ll tell you that…

Danny: No.. no.. no.. no…these stupors…

Drew: (walks around the bar to sit with Danny and sort of stammering her speech) Well.. that’s what I’m talking about Danny, they don’t last long enough.. you know the numbness, it goes away in the morning and you feel everything again…(they drink another shot) …would you like some more?

Danny: (grimaces from the drink) Yeah.. double or nothing…

Drew: (pouring another drink) You know what…why don’t we ..uh.. drink this one with a toast.. huh?

Danny: You know what… I’m not really in the mood to toast anything or anyone…

Drew: Well why don’t we drink to ourselves and let the rest of the world go to hell…

Danny: Sounds good…to us…screw the rest…

Scene opens with Michelle drinking tea walking up behind Rick...

Michelle: It's kind of a long story.

Rick: Well Michelle we have all the time in the world, okay?

Michelle: Okay, it started when Mick died and Danny got a job at Millennium to find
out who killed his brother…

Abby: (she & Rick turn to face Michelle)Okay, what was he going to do when he found
out?

Michelle: (hesitant) I don't know...but we became friends and then he found out
that I killed Mick and then I thought I was in a lot of trouble.. you
know(anxiously)

Rick: Michelle, everybody knew that was self defense…

Michelle: Yeah, everybody new except Carmen and Deitz but Danny believed me...he
went up against his family and he protected me...

Abby: Protected you.. from what? Did Carmen threaten to hurt you?

Michelle: (leans her head back) No. This happened because she would make things
very difficult for me...okay(walks away)...very difficult

Rick: Michelle, you know what...if you would've given us that little bit of
information...we could've gone to Ross and made life much simpler for you...

Michelle: (Aunt Meta has quietly appeared in the background)...you know what, I
didn't want you involved then, I don't want you involved now!

Rick: (firmly, Rick is on one side of M now with Abby on the other) Michelle,
it's too late... I am involved and I want you out of this marriage!!

Michelle: I DON'T WANT OUT!!

Abby: Okay.. okay... are you serious about this.

Michelle: Yes, I'm serious... I want to stay married to Danny...

Abby: We want to understand why that's all... are you in love with him?

Michelle: (totally confused, speechless, turns toward Abby) All I can do is just
to ask you guys to support me please...

Abby: Okay...

Michelle: Can you do that ?

Rick: (calmly) To be honest with you, I'm not sure I can...

Michelle: (raising her voice) Rick, you want a chance to help me here it
is...STAY OUT OF IT!

Abby: guys, guys.. Rick....(to Michelle)Are you positive this is what you want
Michelle?

Michelle: (firmly) YES.

Abby: (looking at Rick) Okay, this is what she wants...If you can swear to me
that you won't be in any danger if you go back to Danny you won't be in any
danger... then...I will not only back off but so will Rick...

Rick: Its not that simple Abby...

Abby: Can you swear that?

Michelle: (firmly and honestly) I can swear that, yes.

Abby: Okay then, good enough for me...

Rick: No, it's not good enough for me...

Abby: Well...she's a big girl Rick and it's time to let go…(walks over to
Rick)

Rick: (starts to leave) You know Michelle, I'm sorry, it's just ...I'm your
brother and I can't help worrying about you...just remember you don't have
to do anything in your life you don't want to do...just remember that, okay?
(walks over to Michelle, kisses the top of her head)...I love
you...goodnight...(he and Abby leave)

Michelle:...goodnight... (Michelle sighs and starts to turn around, she jumps when
she sees Aunt Meta there) Hi...how long have you been standing there?

Aunt M: Oh, long enough to know you almost told the truth ...but not
quite...(points to the door)

Michelle: (trying not to be upset) What do you mean?

Aunt M: Oh I think you know what I mean...but I'm still here... so tell
me...what did happen?

Michelle: (starting to cry) I have to tell somebody... I have to tell somebody,
I'll tell you everything, I will.

End of Scene shows Michelle’s face...she’s starting to cry…

Employee: You wanna take a look at these boss…

Drew: No, not right now.. can’t you see I’m busy?

Employee: But you told me you wanted to see them…

Drew: (she & Danny start to laugh) Daryl what part of not now don’t you understand…huh.. huh.. huh.. yeah…(laughs and taps Danny on the shoulder) you know what…um…I gotta get out of here I can’t.. I can’t drink in peace with these morons here so…(starts to walk away from the table)

Danny: (turns around and grabs Drew’s arm) Well.. hold on.. whoa.. whoa.. whoa.. where you going? (sort of gives her the look over)

Drew: (all smiles with the bottle of tequila in hand) I’m going to get drunk…

Danny: (still holding her arm) .. um.. you want company…

Drew: uh.. what the hell.. yeah.. um.. follow me…(She’s holding Danny’s hand and he is picking up his drink)…leave them…

Danny: (Drew is leading him behind the bar and he’s trying to finish his drink) whoa.. whoa .. uh.. wooo… you got any place in mind?

Drew: (grabs 2 tequila bottles) Not yet…

Michelle: (tears down her face) …sigh… This is so horrible...I don't even know
how I got myself into this mess...

Aunt Meta: It's not important...tell me what happened and we'll figure out
a way to get you out of it...this has something to do with his mother,
doesn't it...(cringes) that... witch Carmen...

Michelle:(turns to look at Meta) Yeah...yeah she had something to do with it...

Aunt Meta: I knew the minute I laid eyes on her she was dangerous...

Michelle: yeah, you got that right...

Aunt Meta:(worried) …and you have been afraid for your life haven't you
...and all this time you've kept that inside...you've been carrying this
around all alone...

Michelle: (distraught, shaking her head yes) If I told anybody, if I told Rick or
you, you would not have let me stay with Danny and then everybody would have
been in danger...

Aunt M: ...these whole two months have been a nightmare for you (shaking
her head no)

Michelle: (nodding yes) ...that's why I decided I had to have it end one way or
another....I figured the only way for me to be free was to send Carmen to jail and to bring down the whole Santo’s family so I called the FBI to act as an informant...isn't that great...

Aunt M: ....do you have any idea.. how much danger you put yourself in...

Michelle: ...I thought it was my only option at the time...

Aunt M: What if they find out?

Michelle: What if...they already have...Danny knows...

Aunt M: How...how does he know...

M: (looking down)...because I told him...(sighs and rolls her eyes)

Scene ends - goes to D & D entering the apartment...Drew is locking the door behind them…

Danny: (looking around the room) You know…I think this is the first time I’ve actually been invited up here…

Drew: (sitting the bottles on the table and getting glasses) Oh please, since when did you need an invitation?

Danny: It’s an interesting change…

Drew: Interesting…okay…lot’s of things change…

Danny: Doesn’t Jesse live here?

Drew: Yes, he does…sleeps over there (points out to the room)

Danny: Okay you wanna explain that to me…

Drew: Not really…

Danny: Come on.. I’ve been wondering about this… you, Jesse, Bill and Michelle all living here in this little loft.. what is up with that?

Drew: (nervously aggravated.. pouring drinks) You know what is up with that Danny…

Danny: What you guys knew that Michelle killed my brother and so what.. you were protecting her…

Drew: (hands Danny a drink) And I wonder who we were protecting her from.. hmmm…

Danny: (he raises his glass in the air) and now I am the protector…

Drew: (raises her glass) Oh yeah… well you earned it.. you saved her life right…

Danny: (drinks his drink.. very solemn) yeah…I’m a real hero…Michelle’s hero…

Drew: What’s your problem?

Danny: (smiles.. points at Drew.. puts his empty glass on the table) Come on.. you know…you probably were in on it…

Drew: (playing stupid) In on what…I don’t know what your talking about.. look I got enough problems, I don’t need to worry about yours…

Danny: (leans over the table toward Drew) Would it surprise you if I told you that Michelle betrayed me?

Drew: (gets in Danny’s face, smacks down her glass on the table) You know what Danny.. if you wanna drink - drink…if you talk about Michelle and cry about Michelle you can go find Jesse and you can both cry on each others shoulder - okay..(she walks over to face the window, her back toward Danny)

Danny: What’s your problem?

Drew: Your not the only one who’s been stabbed in the back, okay…

Danny: (walks over behind Drew…smirky laugh…talks in a pout) Is Drew having relationship troubles…hmmm (smirky laugh)

Drew: (turns around to face Danny and then starts to walk away) You need to get the hell out okay.. I don’t even know why I brought you here in the first place.

Danny: (grabs Drew’s arm and turns her to look at him) Oh no…hey.. you can’t get rid of me that easily Drew…

Danny: You’re not scared of me tonight… are you?

Drew: I don’t know why…should I be…hmm?

Danny: I don’t know.. you tell me…

Drew: (sort of laughing) No…actually you are not half as scary as you think you are…

Danny: (sort of laughs) I’m not…

Drew: No…I’m sure you like to think that you walk in a room and people shiver and run.. but..

Danny: So you’re not scared of me.. at all?

Drew: No… You don’t mean a dam* thing to me Danny…(goes to sit on the couch) you’re nothing to me…

Danny: Wow….thank you.. at least you are honest about how you feel…

Drew: That’s right… I don’t give a dam* about you.. I don’t give a dam* about anyone… you know why cause when I give a dam* about someone they lie to me…they lie to me.. they hurt me and then they leave…

Danny: Jessie Blue…

Drew: (adimantly) No…not Jesse Blue okay…the world does not revolve around you men…

Danny: (walks over to sit next to Drew) Excuse me…well then what are you talking about…huh?

Drew: (sadly) Let me think.. oh yeah now I remember…hello Drew…nice to see you.. by the way you are adopted…

Danny: Well who told you that…aren’t your parents.. I thought they were dead…

Drew: They are…and they’re not my parents… you would think they would tell me the truth but no I have to find out from Jesse who thinks he was doing me a favor…

Danny: Oh that’s rough…

Drew: I know…

Danny: (laughing) It’s a good reason for getting smashed…

Drew: (smiles and turns toward Danny who is taking off his jacket) Do you ever .. um.. feel like life is a big joke and everyone is in on it but you…

Danny: Oh.. um.. let me see… yep.. a lot lately..

Drew: (completely serious) You do?

Danny: Well let’s see Drew.. my wife has been trying to send me to prison and my mother has been trying to get me to kill my wife …smiles.. that’s a big joke.. you’re looking at the punch line…

Drew: (seriously) I’m not laughing.. are you?

Danny: (laughing) Do I look like I’m…do I look like I’m laughing…

Drew: You’re sick…

Danny: You know what…I am sick.. you know what.. to hell with them…

Drew: To hell with who?

Danny: (leaning towards Drew) All of them.. all of them.. to hell with your parents.. all of your parents.. to hell with Jesse…

Drew: …to hell with your mom..

Danny: .. to hell with them…

Drew: …to hell with Michelle…

Danny: (whispering) …to hell with her… to hell with all of them…

Scene opens with M & M standing in the kitchen...Michelle is touching up her
makeup...

Aunt M: (thinking aloud, rubbing her chin) I just realized ...there's
still something your not telling me...

Michelle: No...I have, I've told you everything

Aunt M: No...you're leaving out the most important detail...

Michelle: (turns to Aunt Meta, confused) ...what?

Aunt M: You have strong feelings for Danny...

Michelle: (firmly but unsure) ...No.. No, I do not... I feel bad... for hurting
him...

Aunt M: (voice of wisdom) You don't risk your life if you just feel sorry
for someone...

Michelle: (stressed) ...okay, so maybe I have thoughts...

Aunt M: ...what kind of thoughts...

Michelle:(raised voice) I don't know...thoughts.. just thoughts, okay...

Aunt M: ...you do care for him...

Michelle: (actually having to deal w/what her feelings are, finally) ...there's
something about him...I don't know if it's the way he looks at me or the way
I feel when I'm around him, I don't know what it is but..I can't explain
it...I can't…

Aunt M:...do you think it's love...

Michelle: ...I don't know and I wish to God that I did know because it's there and
it won't go away...

Aunt M: ...does Danny know?

Michelle: (forlorn) ...he wouldn't believe me even if I told him...not
now...

**Scene opens with D & D laying in bed…after the fact…Danny has one hand on the headboard and the other on Drew’s pillow…

Drew: (attack of the guilty conscience) Oh my God…

Danny: What… what…

Drew: (sitting up) Oh my God.. what did we do…what did we do?

Danny: Well if you don’t know…then we have a little problem…

Drew: This was wrong…I mean this was wrong Danny…

Danny: Oh come on Drew.. Drew…you know you weren’t thinking that a minute ago…

Drew: (turns to look at Danny who is still lying there) You’re Michelle’s husband…I slept with MICHELLE’S HUSBAND…Oh my God!

Danny: All right.. just don’t worry about it…she’s not my wife.. not after what she did…

Drew: (stressed) she…you guys are still married Danny…this was dumb…this was really dumb…

Danny: (sitting up) Drew…relax, okay.. relax…forget about it…

Drew: (their foreheads are together.. Drew looks worried) Listen.. no one can know about this okay.. please.. no one…

Danny: Okay…

**Scene closes with them hearing a noise…they look towards the door and we see Jesse fumbling with his keys to open the door…the scene flashes back to Danny and Drew looking at the door…