SEATTLE HOTEL/LATE MORNING

SEAN and ALLI stand at the front desk of an upscale hotel, Alli with her wallet in hand. The clerk is at the other end of the desk.

SEAN
Come on, Al, can't we find somewhere a little less...expensive? I mean, cripes, this place probably costs as much as my laptop for just one night.

ALLI
I told you...I'm paying for it so chill out. (She pauses.) Hey...do you think they know we're gone yet?

SEAN
I'm sure they do. It's been overnight. If they haven't noticed, then they're even worse than we thought.

ALLI
Should we call and tell them we're okay?

SEAN
No...that's the worst thing we can do. Give it some time before we call them.

ALLI
All right. I just hate to think about them worrying over us---

SEAN
They should be worried. It's not like they've been worrying before this.

They both fall silent as the CLERK approaches.

CLERK
Can I help you two?

ALLI
Yes...we'd like a room. For several days.

CLERK
(with a dubious glance)
All right...single or double?

Alli and Sean glance at one another.

ALLI and SEAN
Double.

CLERK
I have a seventh floor double for $89 a night. That doesn't include tax.

ALLI
Okay. (She pulls a few bills fom her wallet.) Can I pay now?

CLERK
I'm afraid we need a credit card to secure the room. You can pay in cash when you check out, but a credit card is necessary for security.

ALLI
Oh. All you're going to do is hold the room with the card?

The clerk nods. Alli pulls the credit card from her wallet.

ALLI (cont'd)
Okay. Here.

The clerk takes the card and runs it through the machine. He hands it back to Alli silently, then hands her the credit slip to sign. After she signs, the clerk gives her a key to the room.

CLERK
Room 717. Up the elevator, to the right. The indoor pool is on the second floor, the health club is in the basement, and the restaurant will begin serving lunch in twenty minutes. Enjoy your stay, Ms... (He glances at the credit slip)...Cory.

ALLI
Thanks.

She takes the key and begins to walk to the elevator. Sean shrugs and follows her.

CUT TO:

CORY MANSION/AFTERNOON

AMANDA has returned from giving her statement at the police station. She sits on the sofa, a photo album in her hands. RACHEL walks in and sees her.

AMANDA
Look at her, Mom...when she was two...she was so cute. And so trusting. She always depended on me and Sam for everything.

RACHEL
She still depends on you, Amanda

AMANDA
(quietly)
She's grown away from me. I let her grow away from me and now she's run away. If I'd been a better mother, if I'd paid more attention to her---

RACHEL
Amanda...you've been going through a lot. You lost Cameron. I'm afraid that none of us have given you the concern that you've needed and I'm sorry for that, darling.

AMANDA
You're right, Mom. It HAS been hard for me since Cameron...but that doesn't excuse ignoring my child. And losing Cameron...I can't take losing my daughter, too.

RACHEL
You won't lose her. We're going to find her and we're going to find her soon.

Amanda stands and reaches for her purse. She pulls out her wallet.

RACHEL (cont'd)
What are you doing?

AMANDA
I'm getting out the latest school picture of her so I can give it to the PI. (She pauses) Mom...my credit card is missing.

RACHEL
It is? Did you have it last night?

AMANDA
I had it yesterday. But I left it here most of the night...

RACHEL
Amanda...do you think Alli might have taken it?

AMANDA
I don't know...but if she did, then the credit card company can tell me if she's made any charges, right? I can find out where she is that way!

RACHEL
Call them, Amanda, call them right now.

Amanda grabs for the phone.

CUT TO:

JOSIE AND GARY'S APARTMENT/SAME MORNING

We see the front door as it begins to open. It opens and JOSIE and GARY are in the doorway, the baby in Josie's arms. As we look back into the apartment, we see JOHN, SHARLENE, and GREGORY standing under a large 'Welcome Home' sign that's stretched across the room. Several large stuffed toys are on the floor and a bassinet sits by the sofa. Josie stops short at the sight and tears fill her eyes.

SHARLENE, GREGORY, and JOHN
Surprise!

SHARLENE
Welcome home, all of you. All three of you.

JOSIE
Look at all this....

JOHN
We thought you'd have your hands full so we wanted to make sure everything was ready for you at home.

GARY
And you did an amazing job...thank you.

SHARLENE
Don't thank us...just let us get a look at our new grandson.

Josie peels the blanket back as Sharlene, Greg, and John lean over the baby.

SHARLENE (cont'd)
Josie, honey, he's beautiful.

JOHN
(grinning at her)
I told you.

GREG
So, does he have a name or are you just going to call him 'he' all the time?

Gary and Josie look at one another.

GARY
We both wanted him named for important people in our lives. Somehow, 'Sharlene' just didn't work for a boy.

Sharlene grins and smacks him in the arm.

GARY (cont'd)
So, we'd like to introduce you to Cameron John Sinclair.

JOSIE
CJ.

GARY
CJ Sinclair.

John leans forward and gives Josie a kiss on the cheek.

JOHN
I'm honored. Thank you.

GREG
So what now? Do we just stand around and look at CJ for the next eighteen years?

SHARLENE
Maybe we should show Gary and your sister the baby's room.

Smiling, they all move towards the nursery.

CUT TO:

BCUH-HAYLEY'S ROOM/SAME DAY

HAYLEY is sitting up in her hospital bed, the wires and tubes removed except for an IV in her hand. TITO is at the foot of her bed, playing with the blankets. They both seem uncomfortable.

HAYLEY
So...we were parents for a few hours. Do you feel any different?

TITO
Not really. Maybe it just hasn't sunk in yet.

HAYLEY
I feel different. Not like I've lost something...just...kind of empty. Kind of like I had something, but I didn't know what. And then is was gone.

TITO
Maybe it's just easier not to think about it.

HAYLEY
Him.

TITO
Him. (He pauses) I wonder...I wonder if he'll think about us. When he's older, I mean.

HAYLEY
Why wouldn't he? I didn't know my father growing up and I always wondered about him. Didn't you wonder where you came from?

TITO
(shrugging)
No reason to. Obviously, my parents didn't want me---

HAYLEY
So you never tried to find out who they were? Why you were in foster care?

TITO
No. I never wanted to find out.

They're silent for a minute.

HAYLEY
I guess we just go from here, don't we? Start again where we began?

TITO
What are you going to do now? Go to school?

HAYLEY
Maybe. Lorna's offered to pay for me to go. She's being so generous about everything. I think if I turned down the offer, she'd be hurt.

TITO
She really loves you. You got lucky. Most people wouldn't give a damn if some unknown kid sister crawled out of the woodwork.

HAYLEY
I know. I'm luckier than I deserve.

TITO
I wonder what he'll look like when he's older.

HAYLEY
(Teasingly)
Hopefully, not a bleached blond.

TITO
Very funny.

HAYLEY
I don't know. Maybe it's easier NOT to think about that, you know?

TITO
Maybe.

HAYLEY
I hope we get to see him before they take him.

TITO
(standing up)
I'll go ask if we can see him again.

As he walks towards the door, it opens and a nurse walks in.

TITO (cont'd)
Oh, good. I was coming to ask if we could see the baby.

The nurse looks confused.

NURSE
The baby? I'm sorry...the Sinclairs took him about a half hour ago.

HAYLEY
They already took him? We weren't even told!

NURSE
I'm sorry. Your attorney presented the paperwork to the hospital and they took the baby home.

HAYLEY
(Her voice grows increasingly higher)
We didn't know it was so soon! We thought we'd get to see him again before they took him!

NURSE
(apologetic)
I'm really sorry.

She leaves.

HAYLEY
(To Tito)
We didn't get to see him...He doesn't know that we loved him!

TITO
(soothingly)
He knows, Hayley....I know he does.

As Hayley begins to sob, Tito reaches out and holds her tentatively. She she sinks into him, he holds her tighter, almost cradling her in his arms. Her head rests on his shoulder and he strokes her hair. Neither of them notices as KC stands in the doorway, watching them silently. She leans against the doorjamb, her face somber at the scene in front of her.

CUT TO:

POLICE STATION/MORNING

VICKY begins to laugh after DONNA points to LILA.

LILA
(angrily)
What is so funny, Vicky?

VICKY
'Aunt' Lila? He couldn't have been talking about you...there's no way.

LILA
So there's no reason, that's why he came to my house and held a gun on me, Carl, and Amanda, with my CHILDREN in the house?

VICKY
He did that?

LILA
Yes, he did that. Maybe you have some strange connection to this man, but as far as I'm concerned, he's a monster. Nothing short of a monster.

VICKY
And he told you he's your father?

LILA
And Carl didn't deny it.

VICKY
How would Carl know?

LILA
Because he and Carl apparently knew my mother in New Orleans years ago. Before I was born.

VICKY
This is weird.

DONNA
Tell me about it.

JOE walks up to them.

DONNA
Joe...what the hell is going on?

JOE
We've had a chance to question...your father, Donna. He's not denying the events of last night, but he'll be arraigned tonight.

DONNA
He's not getting bail, is he?

JOE
There's a possibility. Dana's going to fight against it, but it's still possible.

DONNA
He's dangerous, Joe!

JOE
I'm not the judge, Donna.

DONNA
I want to talk to him.

LILA
So do I.

JOE
He's being taken to meet with his lawyer soon. If you want to talk to him, I need to take you both in at the same time.

DONNA
I don't know...

LILA
Oh, come on, Donna. If we want answers, it might be better to tag team him.

JOE
Come on, you two. I haven't got all day.

Lila and Donna follow Joe towards lock-up.

CUT TO:

LOCK UP-JAIL

REGINALD is sitting on the bench inside of the cell. He stands as DONNA and LILA approach, a sinister smile on his face.

REGINALD
Why, look. Have you met your sister, Donna?

DONNA
(Her face shaky and pale)
I can't believe it...you're....

REGINALD
I'm alive, my dear. Yes, it's true, get used to it.

DONNA
How are you alive? How...

REGINALD
It's a long sordid story, but one that I'll tell you eventually. Your Michael didn't manage to put me out of commission permanently. And I'm sorry to hear of his loss...for your sake, at least. I never liked the boy.

DONNA
I can't do this...I can't be around you...

REGINALD
Bringing back nightmares, Donna? Imagine the nightmares I've suffered over the past twelve years.

DONNA
(hissing)
You deserve all the nightmares you've got!

LILA
You're pure evil, aren't you? I can't believe that I'm related to you...

REGINALD
Believe it. Carl can fill you in on the details, I've got an appointment with my judge.

DONNA
It's true?

REGINALD
(waving a hand)
Good-bye, Donna.

He closes his eyes and ignores them. They walk away from the cell.

DONNA
I'm in shock.

LILA
You're in shock?

DONNA
Come on. Let's go figure this out...(she gives a sideways glance to Lila)...let's go see if Carl says it's true.

They walk out of lock-up.

FADE OUT