Laura:Hi
Luke:Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up.
Laura:You didn't. Nice to see you.
Luke:Guess I needed some familiar walls to stare at after the Nurse's Ball.
Laura:What happened this year?
Luke:The usual. Except Alan Quartermaine.
Laura:What?
Luke:He went on stage to do his number whacked to the gills!
Laura:No way!
Luke:Yes. I swear! Like lit up like a Christmas tree! It was amazing. What a spectacle!
They both laugh.
Luke:And Edward Quartermaine's face was worth the price of admission.
Laura:Oh, really?
Luke:Lucky was great, by the way.
Laura:I know. I snuck in just long enough to catch his act. I thought that he might have fun, and I guess I just wanted to see that, and I knew if I watched from the back of the room that he wouldn't be able to see me from the stage.
Luke:I didn't see you either. You're good.
Laura:Thanks. Years of practice. After learning from the master.
Luke:Did ... Were you there long enough to see the surprise guest? Or was it a surprise?
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Laura:So. Who was this surprise guest?
Luke:Well, actually there were two. Sonny's back in town.
Laura:Sonny! You're kidding. Why?
Luke:I don't know. He just walked in, he and Jason, and enough beef to feed a small village and sat at the table next to Stefan Cassadine. He's out on bail. Apparently you knew that.
Laura:It was on the news. Something about the judge having had a change of heart. I still can't believe that Sonny came out of hiding.
Luke:Why are you so interested in Sonny?
Laura:I'm not. It's just something --- that's all..
Luke:It wouldn't be a way to deflect answers you don't want to answer?
Laura:No.
Luke:Alright. You want to talk about Sonny? Well, let's talk about Sonny. He looks great. He's tan. He's healthy. For a man in exile it looks like life is pretty good for him.
Laura:What does that mean? The concept of leaving me is appealing to you?
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Laura:I wake up alone every morning and I tell myself this is reentry. It's bound to be bumpy. We've done marriage long-distance for over a year and that change isn't easy, but I
know that this is a good change! And I think in your heart ... you'd agree. You want to be with me, Luke. Otherwise why would you have come here tonight? And you were happy to see me. I could tell that you were. And I feel the same way. So how did we get from there to you implying that you don't want to be with me at all anymore? I don't get it. What's wrong? Just say it.
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Laura:Please tell me. What's pulling you away from us?
Luke:I don't know. We are. We see things differently. Maybe that's it. Our kid moved out on my watch. Maybe it's that. And our past is bulldozing its way into the present. And I'm seeing it through my kid's eyes. And maybe it's just Cassadine being accused of murder.
Laura:What does he got to do with us?
Luke:That's what I wanna know.
Laura:I'm not gonna let Stefan or Nikolas come into this marriage.
Luke:They're already here, baby! They've been here for a long time, even before I knew it, they were here! It's become quite a crowd, don't you think!
Laura:Only if you let it be! I love YOU, Luke. And Nikolas is my son and I love him too.
They turn and see Lulu standing on the staircase.
Luke(picking up Lulu):Hello, sweetie. Did we wake you up? Oh, I'm sorry. It's so late. Oh, look, I found a new dolly. I haven't seen this one before.
Laura(takes Lulu): C'mon, honey. It's so late. Mommy should put you back in bed. I'll sing you a little song ...
Luke:I'll be up in a minute.
Laura:You'll stay?
Luke:Is that alright?
Laura:Yes. Yes. (whispers)
Laura kisses Luke.
Laura:Thank you.
Luke:Thank you.
Laura (to Lulu):Daddy's coming home tonight! Come on, honey. Time for bed.
Luke smiles. Then he looks thoughtful again.