FELICIA'S PENTHOUSE/SAME DAY

SERGEI is gathering up wrapped gifts, putting them into a large shopping bag. FELICIA walks in, her coat and hat on, putting a pair of gloves on.

FELICIA
About ready to go, Sergei? We have a plane to meet.

SERGEI
I don't know if these will all fit into one bag, Felicia...did you buy the mall?

FELICIA
I love Christmas, Sergei, especially when my family is around me. And I have a granddaughter to spoil rotten, too.

SERGEI
This is so much things compared to Russia. In Russia, we would attend Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. Christmas Day was having time with our families. We never had money for many presents...

FELICIA
But spending the time with your family was what was important...right?

SERGEI
(nodding)
I have sent them gifts for this year...but I know my mother wishes I was with her.

Felicia puts an arm around his shoulder.

FELICIA
Next year, Sergei. Or your mother can come here with you. This year, you're a part of our family.

SERGEI
And I thank you for that, Felicia. You have been good to me, as have your daughters...I mean, Lorna and Hayley.

FELICIA
It almost does seem as though Hayley's my daughter, doesn't it? I have to say, Sergei, every time I talk to her, I see another facet of her father. Of Luke...

SERGEI
You miss him still?

FELICIA
(with a quiet smile)
I will always miss him. He was the father to both of my daughters. He was my soulmate.

SERGEI
Soulmates are a lovely thought. I am still looking for my soulmate.

FELICIA
She's out there, Sergei. You'll find her soon. (she glances at her watch) And if we don't get a move on, we're going to miss getting to the airport on time.

She picks up the bag of gifts and moves out the door. Sergei pus his coat on and follows her. As he closes the door, he whispers to himself.

SERGEI
I know who she is, Felicia. She's closer than you think.

He shuts the door.

CUT TO:

CASS AND LILA'S/SAME EVENING

CASS and LILA still sit on the floor. Cass places the final gift on the floor.

CASS
That's it. The last gift wrapped.

LILA
(with a grin)
I thought we were never going to be done. I hope they all fit under the tree.

CASS
I'm not so sure it'll matter. Charlie'll have them unwrapped by the time she sits down. And Jasmine will be more interested in the boxes.

LILA
I guess she'll be over here in the morning as soon as Matt drops her off. I know she'll have a good time with her daddy.

CASS
And you and I will have a good time tonight. I know that Felicia's looking forward to all of us being together. And I think she's got a special surprise planned...

LILA
Which is?

CASS
I can't spoil the surprise. (He grins.) It won't be much of a big deal to you, but Lorna and Morgan should appreciate it.

LILA
So why can't you tell me?

Morgan walks into the room.

CASS
(smiling)
That's why. You'll see later.

MORGAN
Hello, you two. Are we about ready to hit the road for Lorna's?

CASS
Another hour or so. Finished your Christmas shopping?

Morgan holds up the bag in his hands.

MORGAN
I'll learn not to put it off until Christmas Eve again. The line to have them wrapped was twice as long as the line to buy them.

CASS
I hope you got me something good.

Morgan taps him teasingly on the shoulder.

MORGAN
You're getting a lump of coal.

Lila stands up and brushes off her hands.

LILA
I think we probably should go get ready to leave. Cass?

CASS
I think you're right.

He follows Lila up the stairs. Morgan watches them go, then turns to the phone, eyeing it. After a minute, he picks it up and dials a number.

MORGAN
Hi...it's me. I know you're not home right now, and I hate to leave this on your machine, but I will...look, I've had a lot of time to think while I've been here. I know you want it to be over...but I don't. I'm not ready to let go of you. I'm not ready to let go of what we had, of what we could still have, of what we were MEANT to have. I know you can't be ready to let go of that either...please, Andrea...call me. I love you. I still love you.

He hangs up the phone gently, then runs his hands over his face.

CUT TO:

THE HARBOR CLUB/DAY

DONNA closes the register and moves to a table, where MARLEY sits alone. Donna sits across from her.

DONNA
I've got to find a new hostess, at least until Hayley returns from maternity leave. I didn't realize how quickly she'd learned and how much I depended on her. I need someone who can close this place out without me.

MARLEY
Well, Donna, I'd be more than willing to come in and help. You deserve a bit of time off.

DONNA
I'd prefer to keep busy right now. It keeps me from thinking about....him.

MARLEY
Reginald?

DONNA
Who else? I know that the judge denied bail, but I still get these nervous tingles when I think that he might get out sometime soon. I'm terrified...if that happens...and Michael isn't here to protect me from him this time.

MARLEY
He won't hurt you again, Mom. Vicky and I won't let him. We'll never let him.

Donna reaches across the table and takes Marley's hand.

DONNA
So, tell me what you think of the news about Lila....honestly.

MARLEY
Honestly? I don't know. It doesn't seem to have made any major impact just yet. She's Lila Roberts Cory Winthrop...same as she's always been.

DONNA
And she's always been somewhat of an enemy to this family. And suddenly she IS one of the family?

MARLEY
It has to be proven, Donna. After the holidays, why don't you suggest a blood test? Just to be positively sure.

DONNA
I know that Lila would probably agree to it. But in the meantime, we can't just sit around here thinking everything's the same. No matter what, if Lila's willing, I'm willing to work on accepting her in our family.

MARLEY
And no matter what you think, I'll support you.

DONNA
I don't know if your sister will feel the same way.

MARLEY
She'll do what's best for you. Now, how about some more coffee?

She stands up and walks over to the coffeepot.

FADE OUT