CORY MANSION/MORNING

JOE has arrived, and stands in the living room with PAULINA, RACHEL, AMANDA, MATT, CARL, JAKE, VICKY, and REMY.

JOE
The problem is that we can't really classify them as missing persons until they're missing for twenty-four hours---

AMANDA
They're MINORS, Joe! Why isn't there an exception made?

JOE
If they were six year olds who disappeared out of a yard, then we'd have more to go on, we could pull in the FBI. But since they're older teenagers who have quite obviously run away, our resources are limited, Amanda!

AMANDA
You're supposed to be able to help us find them.

JOE
And we're doing all that we can. We've alerted all of the transportation out of Bay City and they're watching for them. Your best bet might be to hire a private investigator to search their tracks.

RACHEL
Isn't there ANYTHING else you can do, Joe? After all, this is your niece!

JOE
I'm doing my best, Rachel. But there are other crimes out there, and we're shorthanded. I can't justify putting more men on runaways. If I could, they'd be here. As it is, the commissioner will probably have my head for the number of officers already on the case.

PAULINA
Then we'll get a PI after them. There's got to be a way that we can all track them down ourselves.

JAKE
With what crystal ball, Paulina? It's not like we're full of knowledge for HOW to track down two wayward teens.

PAULINA
No, but between all of you, you have a resource that most people don't have. You have money.

AMANDA
You're right. I'll hire a PI immediately...I'll call Gary...

REMY
You can't.

Everyone turns and looks at her.

REMY (cont'd)
I mean...he's probably going to be too busy to take on a case right now. He's taking a baby home today with Josie.

PAULINA
And you know this how...?

REMY
(in a low voice)
Tito called me this morning to tell me.

PAULINA
(with a sideways glance to Remy)
Well, Gary's not the only PI in town. We'll figure something out.

CARL
Joe, will you still require Amanda and me for questioning at the station this morning?

JOE
I'm afraid so, Carl. Amanda, I know your emotional plate is full right now, but we still do need you to make a statement.

AMANDA
I understand, Joe. I'll come down to the station with you now.

Amanda grabs a coat and follows Joe and Carl out the front door.

VICKY
Jake...I think we need to go, too.

Jake doesn't answer, just grabs their coats as they follow the others.

CUT TO:

POLICE STATION/MORNING

DONNA is seated in one of the chairs, her face obviously shocked at the news Lila gave her. LILA and CASS are standing in a corner, talking quietly.

LILA
So this man is the one who stole your first wife's mother? Then brought her back fifteen years later?

CASS
That's him. He's not exactly the world's nominee for Father of the Year.

LILA
No wonder Donna and Vicky are the way they are--

CASS
Now, Lila, that's not fair. Donna and Vicky--and Marley--are nothing like Reginald. Aside from a bloodline, they have nothing else in common.

LILA
And now I'm a part of that bloodline?

Donna stands and walks over to them.

DONNA
We don't know if it's true yet.

LILA
We don't, but what if it is, Donna? What if everything that he told me is true?

DONNA
We'll find that out for sure later. Right now, I have to learn how my dear old father is even alive.

LILA
He limps.

DONNA
What?

LILA
He limps. Like he had an accident. His right leg...it's twisted, or something.

DONNA
He fell off of a building! How in the hell could he have survived?

LILA
Since he seems to be unreal, maybe he bounced.

DONNA
I wouldn't put it past him.

OFFICER TIBBS moves up to them.

TIBBS
Mrs. Winthrop, we're ready to take your statement.

LILA
Can my husband come with me?

TIBBS
You really have no need for a lawyer. We just need your statement as to the events of last night.

CASS
He's right, honey. And I don't want to leave you here, but Hayley's waiting at the hospital for me. The adoption is going through today.

LILA
Oh, I forgot about that. You go, I'll be fine here by myself.

Lila kisses him, then follows Tibbs to the interrogation room. Cass turns to Donna.

CASS
Donna...whatever happens...it's not her fault. Remember that.

He leaves, Donna staring after him.

CUT TO:

BCUH-HAYLEY'S ROOM/MORNING

TITO is sitting in a chair next to HAYLEY, who's holding the baby quietly. She glances up at him.

HAYLEY
Can you believe something this perfect could come from either of us?

TITO
From you maybe. He IS beautiful, isn't he?

HAYLEY
(distantly)
He's got my nose, but that's definitely your mouth. I wish we could see him smile...Tito, we're doing the right thing, aren't we? Tell me we're doing the right thing.

TITO
(gently)
We are, Hayley. I know it might not seem like it just yet...but we are. He's going to a good home.

HAYLEY
(bitterly)
You make him sound like a puppy from the shelter. He's a baby, Tito, a living, human being.

TITO
And we're doing the right thing.

HAYLEY
He's just so little...what if he grows up and thinks we didn't want him? And that's why we gave him up?

TITO
He'll know. Gary and Josie will tell him.

HAYLEY
Do you want to hold him?

TITO
Can I?

HAYLEY
He's your son, too...for now anyway.

Tito carefully lifts the baby from Hayley, cradling his son for the first time. He smiles at the baby but there are tears in his eyes.

TITO
Look at you. I know that I should remember every little detail now. You're going to grow and change so quickly. And your...mother and I won't be there to see it, but we'll always be in your heart...and you'll always be in ours. Just always remember that there are so many people who love you. You're always going to have someone to turn to.

Hayley reaches out for the baby and Tito reluctantly gives him back to her.

HAYLEY
Don't ever let anyone tell you that they're better than you because you're adopted. You tell them that you're special because your parents chose you. And you are so very special.

The door opens and CASS walks in with MORGAN. He gives Hayley a quick kiss on the cheek.

CASS
Ready to do this, Hayley?

HAYLEY
Ready as I'll ever be. (She looks at Morgan.) I guess he should be taken to the nursery so they can get him ready to go.

MORGAN
Yeah. He'll just be down the hall.

Hayley kisses the baby's head.

HAYLEY
Bye, angel. I love you, little one.

As she hands the baby to Tito, Tito strokes his head, then gives him to Morgan, who leaves. Cass opens his briefcase.

FADE OUT