CASS AND LILA'S/SAME DAY

CASS comes down the stairs as CHARLIE sits by the tree. She sees him coming and hastily puts down the present she's been shaking.

CASS
(laughing)
I saw that, young lady.

CHARLIE
I couldn't tell anything. Besides, it's almost Christmas.

CASS
'Almost' Christmas isn't the same as 'Christmas'. No more gift shaking, Charlotte Frame Winthrop.

CHARLIE
(smiling)
Yes, Dad. So...is Lila coming, or what? I'm getting hungry.

CASS
She's on her way.

CHARLIE
(pleadingly)
Can we open ONE present tonight? Please, please, please?....

CASS
We might. AFTER Lorna's, however.

CHARLIE
(grinning)
Good.

LILA walks down the stairs.

LILA
Okay, are we set? (Looking around) Well, looks like for once I'm not the last one ready. Where's Morgan?

CASS
(vaguely)
We're still waiting for him. I think he made a phone call earlier...and it upset him a bit.

LILA
(nodding with understanding)
Ahh...okay. We'll wait for him. Charlie, you've been into the presents, haven't you? They've moved.

CHARLIE
Well, I had to make sure they were all perfect.

LILA
(laughing)
You're too impatient, kiddo. Just like me. Did you ask your father to open one tonight?

CASS
You put her up to that, didn't you?

As Lila shrugs with a smile, the phone begins to ring. Lila reaches for it.

LILA
Hello?

CUT TO:

THE HARBOR CLUB/SAME DAY

DONNA is on the other end.

DONNA
Lila? It's Donna...Love...

LILA
Donna?

DONNA
Yes...look, I was thinking....since we're family now...and I know it's not exactly something either of us would have chosen...

LILA
I don't know if we really should get into this now, Donna...it's Christmas Eve.

DONNA
Which is why I'm calling. I wanted to invite you and your family for Christmas Day tomorrow at Vicky's.

LILA
Me? Spend Christmas Day at Victoria McKinnon's? Are you sure she's not planning to have water balloons thrown at me as I make my way up the walk?

DONNA
I promise you, that wouldn't happen. I just think...if we're really related...maybe we should start acting like it.

LILA
I appreciate the offer, Donna, but I'm not comfortable spending Christmas with Vicky...I doubt she or Marley would be comfortable with it either.

DONNA
I understand...I really do...

LILA
But that doesn't mean you couldn't stop by here. After all, you and Cass are friends. Why don't you spend some of tomorrow with us?

DONNA
(with a pause)
Well...I guess that would be nice. Okay. I'll come by tomorrow around two?

LILA
That sounds good. We'll see you then.

She hangs up the phone, looking stunned.

CASS
Did I just hear you invite Donna over for Christmas?

LILA
You heard right. We haven't even had a blood test yet, and already we're 'doing Christmas'. Who would've figured?

She grins at Cass, as Morgan comes down the stairs.

MORGAN
Okay, I'm starving. Let's go!

They all gather coats and leave through the front door.

CUT TO:

LUCKY LADY/EVENING

KC and ETTA MAE are still sitting at the Lucky Lady, talking. The subject inevitably turns to the subject of TITO.

KC
Mama, I just cannot believe that Tito would keep something as important as his child from me! I thought we were friends, but I guess you were right. He was just conning me, just like he cons everyone else. Just do me one favor?

ETTA MAE
And what is that?

KC
Please don't say "I told you so, Karen Camille!"

ETTA MAE
What kind of a person do you think I am?

KC
(smiling at her mother's indignant expression)
Blunt and to the point, which is a reason I both love and am exasperated by you! But there's one other thing, Mama. (KC's smile fades, as if wary of Etta Mae's reaction) I'd like to keep my friendship with Hayley. She could really use a friend and to tell the truth, so could I.

ETTA MAE
You're a good girl, KC. Do you honestly think I'd want you to ignore Hayley? That poor girl was made a victim by Tito. I'm sure knowing that other people aren't out to just use her would make a difference. You'd be good for her.

KC
Spoken like a mother.

She squeezes her mother's hand in thanks

KC(cont'd)
I'm glad you agree with me.

ETTA MAE
This time, anyway.

She winks as KC laughs.

CUT TO:

HUDSON FARM/SAME NIGHT

SHARLENE is in the kitchen, putting a pie in the oven. JOHN comes up behind her and puts his arms around her waist.

JOHN
What smells so good?

SHARLENE
Store-bought pies.

JOHN
(laughing)
You've become a career woman, Sharlene Hudson.

SHARLENE
No career woman, just a working mom. Somehow, homemade pies don't seem to have the same draw as they used to. Is the table set?

JOHN
Set and ready. Josie and Gary should be here soon, your son is lighting the tree, and your grandson will hopefully be warm, dry, and quiet.

SHARLENE
You know, it doesn't seem so long ago that Gregory was CJ's size. Has time really flown by that quickly?

JOHN
Yes, it has. We're onto a new phase in our lives, but I can't say it's not one that I'm looking forward to. When Gregory's off to college and you and I are alone...

SHARLENE
(tapping him playfully)
Don't wish him to college already. It's not that far away.

GREGORY (off-screen)
Mom! Dad! Josie and Gary just pulled up!

John and Sharlene smile at one another and head towards the living room.

CUT TO:

LIVING ROOM/SAME NIGHT

JOSIE and GARY walk in through the front door, carrying CJ's carseat, the baby inside covered by blankets. Gary sets it down and lifts CJ from the seat, taking the blankets from his face. SHARLENE and JOHN walk up to them, hugging each of them.

JOSIE
Well, your grandson is fed and happy, and ready for his first Christmas Eve at the farm.

SHARLENE
I hope so. He's got a ton of presents to open.

GARY
Of course, he won't appreciate them for another two years.

JOHN
Which doesn't mean we aren't allowed to spoil him rotten.

Sharlene brushes Josie's hair off of her forehead.

SHARLENE
You look tired, sweetheart.

JOSIE
Yeah, well, no one ever told me that babies don't sleep through the night immediately.

GARY
He's a great alarm clock, though.

They laugh and move towards the dining room.

FADE OUT