LORNA’S HOUSE/NEARLY MIDNIGHT

KC, HAYLEY, and TITO are stretched out on the floor, surrounded by pillows.

HAYLEY
I am so stuffed right now. I don’t think I can eat another bite of food for days.

TITO
Give me an hour.

KC
Guys are like bottomless pits. You guys could eat out entire grocery stores in a day if given the chance.

TITO
It’s growing up in group foster homes, too. You never felt like you got enough to eat there.

KC
Didn’t they feed you?

TITO
They fed us…but you gotta remember…you’ve got all these kids to feed and there’s only so far a government budget’ll stretch.

KC
No kid should have to go hungry because the government can’t afford it.

TITO
No…but it happens. (He turns to Hayley) You know that.

HAYLEY
Not the way you do, but vaguely.

KC
I guess I’m lucky since I never had to worry about that. I’ve seen some of the things my sister Judy has had to deal with as a social worker, and I wouldn’t wish that on any kid.

HAYLEY
Your sister’s a social worker? I thought she was involved in AA…Felicia told me that.

KC
Yeah…she knows your…Felicia pretty well. I remember hearing horror stories from when I was younger about—

KC stops talking.

HAYLEY
About what?

KC
Nothing…

HAYLEY
No way…you start a thought, you’re required to finish it. (She grins.) House rules.

KC
(reluctantly)
Okay…your sister, Jenna. She didn’t like Judy very much.

HAYLEY
(with a wry smile)
Why doesn’t that surprise me? I don’t think Jenna likes anyone that doesn’t fit her standards of perfection.

TITO
(under his breath)
Uh-oh.

Hayley smacks him on the arm

HAYLEY
I’m not going to start in about Jenna again. I’m just glad to know I’m not the only one who’s had problems with her.

KC
(looking back and forth from the two of them)
Why? What’d she do?

HAYLEY
Oh, sister dear doesn’t like me very much. She’s decided I’m only using Lorna and Felicia for their money.

KC
(rolling her eyes)
Whatever…does she need to get over herself, or what?

HAYLEY
I don’t know. I was really rude to her, though, and I felt bad about that. Not for her, but because I don’t want Felicia and Lorna to think less of me.

KC
I don’t think they’d do that.

TITO
Besides, Jenna deserved it.

HAYLEY
Maybe things’ll get better tomorrow…we’ll see. (She glances at the clock.) Hey, guys, it’s almost midnight! We’re about to miss the countdown.

She reaches out and turns on the TV, changing the channel to the countdown in New York City. Standing up, she grabs a bunch of party hats off of the table. She pulls both KC and Tito to their feet, and sticks a party hat on each of their heads as they groan.


HAYLEY (cont’d)
Come on. Don’t be party poopers. Sorry about no noisemakers, but Gabrielle’s asleep.

KC
Hey, we have a tradition in my family…Toni started it. That we all make a group resolution before the ball drops…

TITO
Okay. I have one.

Hayley and KC look at him.

TITO (cont’d)
We all spend New Year’s Eve together next year. No matter what.

KC
Okay. We all spend New Year’s Eve together next year.

HAYLEY
Okay. (She glances back at the TV) The countdown’s starting.

ALL THREE OF THEM
TEN-NINE-EIGHT-SEVEN-SIX-FIVE-FOUR-THREE-TWO-ONE!

TITO
Happy New Year, you guys!

KC
Happy New Year!

HAYLEY
We’ll forgo that kissing tradition. How about a group hug instead?

Laughing, the three of them put their arms around each other in a hug.

CUT TO:

CORY BALLROOM/NEARLY MIDNIGHT

LORNA and MATT are standing near the stage, waiting for the emcee to begin the countdown, as Matt's pager goes off. He reaches for it, glancing at it.

MATT
Darn it. It's Jasmine's sitter. I've got to go call…she doesn't page me unless it's important.

LORNA
Hurry…don't miss the countdown, okay?

MATT
I won't miss it…

He rushes off to a nearby phone.

SERGEI moves away from FELICIA, who's engaged in quiet conversation with CASS and LILA, towards LORNA

SERGEI
Your date has disappeared?

LORNA
(with a wry smile)
Phone call to the sitter.

SERGEI
Oh. He will come back?

LORNA
I hope so.

Lorna seems uncomfortable next to Sergei, who picks up on it. Felicia, noticing the two, walks towards MORGAN and JENNA as the countdown begins.

EMCEE
Let's bring in the new millennium!

ROOM
TEN, NINE, EIGHT!

LORNA
Come on, Matt, you're going to miss it!

ROOM
SEVEN, SIX, FIVE, FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE!

EVERYONE IN THE ROOM
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We look over the room to see couples embracing. Lila and Cass share an intimate kiss in the corner. RACHEL and CARL smile at one another after a quiet kiss near the stage. PAULINA and JOE kiss, then both of them reach out to hug REMY, who stands alone next to them. DAVID and CINDY share a passionate kiss, as Morgan and Jenna have a friendly peck on the cheek, both reaching out to hug Felicia.

Sergei glances at Lorna uncertainly. As she realizes that Matt's missed the countdown, her shoulders sink in disappointment.

SERGEI
Lorna?

LORNA
Yes, Sergei?

She turns to look at him, then seems unable to take her eyes off of him. He leans in and kisses her. As the kiss becomes more intense, she reaches up and puts her arms around his neck, and he strokes her hair. Their kiss goes unnoticed by everyone in the room except for Felicia…and Matt, who sees the kiss from across the room.

CUT TO:

SEATTLE AIRPORT/NEARLY MIDNIGHT

JAKE'S plight has gained the attention of most of the airport, and one of the airlines is kind enough to provide him with a working phone and private office in order to be on the phone with Vicky. AMANDA, ALLI, SEAN, and FRANK are in the room with him while he's on the phone with VICKY.

JAKE
Vick? I'm here…everything's going to be fine.

CUT TO:

VICKY'S HOSPITAL ROOM/NEARLY MIDNIGHT

VICKY is in the delivery room, DONNA and MARLEY in the room with her. MARLEY has a video camera, as DR. DOYLE and several nurses prepare Vicky for the birth. Jake is on the speakerphone.

VICKY
Jake! This hurts! I wish you were here so I could rip your damn head off!

JAKE
Maybe it's a good thing I'm not there then.

VICKY
Not funny, McKinnon!

JAKE
I'm not TRYING to be funny, Vicky. Just do what Dr. Doyle says, okay?

DR. DOYLE
Somehow, I don't think that's going to be a problem-

Her voice is drowned out as Vicky screams in pain.

DONNA
Breathe, honey…do your breathing…

VICKY
Don't tell me to breathe! You had drugs with me and Marley! Can't I have drugs? Please?

DR. DOYLE
(shaking her head with a smile)
Sorry…it's a little late for that.

JAKE
Come on, Vick…we decided to go natural, remember?

VICKY
What's this 'we' crap, McKinnon? You're sitting in a nice, comfortable airport in Seattle, and I'm trying to shove two Cabbage Patch Dolls out of my nostrils…I don't think there's any WE about it.

JAKE
(with a laugh)
I was involved in the fun part of this, remember?

VICKY
You suck.

MARLEY
Don't worry, Jake, we're videotaping the whole thing…so you can see what you're missing.

VICKY
And when I get ahold of you, I'm going to make you FEEL what you're missing, McKinnon.

JAKE
Vick, were you this violent when Steven and Kirkland were born? I don't remember this hostility with Steven.

VICKY
Quit the levity, McKinnon. You….

She begins to cry in pain. Jake immediately tries to soothe her, all hints of humor gone now.

JAKE
Come on, Vick…you're doing fine…just keep breathing…and picture yourself holding those two babies in a few minutes…

VICKY
(crying)
I can't do this without you, Jake…

JAKE
You're not doing it without me, Vicky…I'm right here…

DR. DOYLE
Okay, Vicky…I want you to take a deep breath and hold it, and while you're holding it, I want you to push as hard as you can while I count to ten, okay?

Vicky nods, managing to control her tears. She grips Donna's hand as Dr. Doyle positions herself at the end of Vicky's bed.

DR. DOYLE(cont'd)
Okay, Vicky…take a breath…hold it…good girl…now push!

Vicky begins to push with all of her might. Jake, Marley, and Donna offer encouragement as she does.

DR. DOYLE (cont'd)
Eight…nine…ten…let it out. Good girl…these babies are moving fast…

The same process continues for a few minutes. Finally, Vicky rests her head against the pillow, her breathing shallow.

DR. DOYLE (cont'd)
Last time, Vicky…at least for Baby number one. One more push and you'll have your first baby…take a deep breath…hold it…push…

Vicky pushes again, and as she does, we hear the sound of a baby crying.

MARLEY
(with her eye still on the video camera)
Oh, Vick, she's beautiful!

DONNA
She's here, Jake! One little one…she's here and she's perfect!

Dr. Doyle placing the squalling baby on Vicky's chest and Vicky examines her new daughter tearfully.

VICKY
Jake…I wish you could see her…she's just perfect!

JAKE
(his voice in tears)
I know she is…she's ours, Vick…

One of the nurses takes the baby to clean her off. Dr. Doyle looks at Vicky.

DR. DOYLE
Okay, Vicky, I know you're tired, but you've got one more baby waiting to be born…I need you to push for me again…

As Vicky pushes again, they can hear the countdown beginning in the airport and in the hospital.

HOSPITAL STAFF AND PEOPLE IN THE AIRPORT
TEN, NINE, EIGHT, SEVEN, SIX, FIVE, FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

They can all hear 'Auld Lang Syne' being played over the phone and in the hospital hallway.

DR. DOYLE
Looks like your girls will have different birthdays, Vicky…come on, one more time, and it's over. Hold your breath…and push, Vicky!

Vicky pushes for a final time, and the second baby is born, her voice joining her sister's with a cry.

DR. DOYLE (cont'd)
And you have a second daughter…she's just as perfect as her sister.

VICKY
(reaching out and stroking the baby's head)
They're both…they're both perfect…oh, Jake…we have two beautiful girls…

JAKE
I love you, Vicky…

VICKY
I love you, too…I love you so much…and our daughters…

DONNA
(Standing up)
I'm going to go outside and tell the boys that they have two new sisters…they've been waiting out there with John and Sharlene all night.

VICKY
Tell them I love them, Mom…

DONNA
(bending over and kissing Vicky's forehead)
I will…and I love you.

She leaves, but as she leaves, we can see she's about to cry.

Marley walks towards the bed, as both of the babies are placed in Vicky's arms.

VICKY
(with a smile)
Marley and Vicky all over again?

MARLEY
(shaking her head)
No…not us all over again. These girls are going to grow up together, with all the love that we didn't share growing up. They're going to be two very special little girls.

She kisses each baby on the forehead, then hugs Vicky carefully.

MARLEY (cont'd)
I'm going to be right outside. You and Jake need a minute.

She leaves. Vicky leans over towards the speaker phone.

VICKY
Jake?

JAKE
(from the phone)
I'm still here, Vick…I'm speechless…

VICKY
I can't wait for you to see them…they have dark hair all over their heads, just like you…

JAKE
I can't wait, either…as soon as I can get a flight, I'm on it…

VICKY
Jake…their names…

JAKE
We have one name already, don't we?

VICKY
Yes…for our first daughter…and I know exactly what I want for our second daughter. It's the perfect millennium name for the millennium baby.

As Jake and Vicky begin discussing their daughters' names, we:

FADE OUT