CORY MANSION

CARL continues his story.

CARL
We were threatened. We had to leave New Orleans because one of our business deals had gone wrong. It nearly killed Reginald to leave Jessie, but he knew her life would be in danger if he didn't. He knew that she could be killed if he didn't.

LILA
(beginning to get upset)
She was killed anyway! Eight years later!

CARL
I'm getting to that, Lila. Reginald and I dissolved our partnership at that point. It was too dangerous to continue. We ended it and went our separate ways.

LILA
What did you tell my mother?

CARL
I simply told her that I was moving onto other ventures. Reginald…

LILA
What did he say to her?

CARL
He told her that it had to be over. That he didn't have the same feelings for her. I assume that's when she would have told him that she was pregnant, but because he was ending it, she decided against it.

LILA
And so he left her, pregnant and alone.

CARL
In Reginald's defense, he didn't know about you.

LILA
In Reginald's defense, he left her pregnant, alone, and defenseless. It got her killed. He has no defense.

She glares at Carl, defiantly.

FADE OUT