JAKE AND VICKY'S/DAY

VICKY is on the sofa, putting photos into an album. She looks up as the doorbell rings, hesitating a minute. When she realizes there are no heavy footsteps running down the stairs to answer it, she hauls herself up from the sofa. Opening the door, she sees AMANDA and the private investigator that they've hired, FRANK.

VICKY
Hi. News on the kids?

Amanda walks into the house, a determined look on her face.

AMANDA
Is Jake here?

VICKY
He's upstairs. Amanda, do you have news on the kids?

AMANDA
I need to talk to Jake.

Vicky rolls her eyes, and moves towards the stairs.

VICKY
Jake! Amanda's here! Come down, please!

She waits for Jake, giving Amanda the evil eye. JAKE rushes down the stairs.

JAKE
Amanda? Frank? What's going on? Did you find Sean and Alli?

FRANK
We found them. I managed to track them down to a cheap motel--

JAKE
Where? In Bay City? They wouldn't have been right here under our noses without us knowing.

AMANDA
They weren't, Jake. They're in Seattle.

JAKE
Seattle. As in Seattle, Washington? As in the Pacific Northwest, as in all the way across the COUNTRY? How the hell did they get there?

FRANK
They took the train. Easy way for two kids to get anywhere.

JAKE
So how did you track them to Seattle?

FRANK
Credit cards.

AMANDA
Alli must have taken my credit card with her, and we were able to find a charge in Seattle.

FRANK
I did a sweep of the hotels in Seattle. They're at some little hole-in-the-wall on the marina. Seedy, cheap...but a perfect place for two teenagers to hide out.

AMANDA
And we need to go and get them. If they find out we're onto them...they'll run again, Jake. I know they will.

She fixes a hard gaze on Jake, who looks at Vicky.

CUT TO:

MARLEY'S HOUSE/SAME DAY

MARLEY is sitting on the sofa, glancing through a magazine as TYRONE walks into the room, wearing a pair of dress pants…and nothing else. Marley looks up at him, a smile crossing her face. She stands up and puts her hands on his chest.

MARLEY
I love seeing you half-naked in front of me.

TYRONE
You'd better get used to it…we'll be doing this for the rest of our lives.

MARLEY
I like the sound of the rest of our lives…I love trying to think about what's going to happen in the next fifty years.

TYRONE
How about what's going to happen in the next half hour?

He grabs her around the waist, and they begin to kiss. As they start to move from the room, there's a knock on the door. With a groan, Marley pulls away.

MARLEY
Go put some clothes on, Montgomery. We'll have to continue this later.

She walks over to the door, as Tyrone exits the room. Opening the door, DONNA stands in front of her.

DONNA
(reaching out to hug her)
Hello, darling. I hope I'm not interrupting anything.

MARLEY
(with a backwards glance)
No, not at all. Come in, Donna.

DONNA
I'm sorry to come over without warning, sweetheart, but I needed to talk to you.

MARLEY
More Lila?

DONNA
(with a nod)
More Lila. I haven't been to see her since Christmas.

MARLEY
How WAS Christmas, BTW?

DONNA
Awkward. I mean, we're both trying. But I don't think either of us will be happy until we know for sure.

MARLEY
I think you do know for sure, Donna. I think we ALL know for sure.

DONNA
We need concrete proof, though. In order for your sister to accept this-

MARLEY
Vicky isn't the main concern here, Donna. You are. And the only person who needs to accept this is you.

DONNA
I know. Maybe I'm just afraid to find out for sure.

She stands there, twisting her hands.

CUT TO:

LORNA’S HOUSE/SAME DAY

HAYLEY is at the dining room table with a course catalog and papers spread out in front of her. She sighs as she writes, then crosses out what she’s written, and goes back to the course catalog. JENNA walks into the living room, a pair of earrings in her hands.

JENNA
(not seeing Hayley)
Lorna! Can I borrow your rhinestone earrings for tonight?

HAYLEY
(without looking up)
She’s not here.

JENNA
(glancing over at Hayley)
She’s not? Where is she?

HAYLEY
She went to the store with Gabrielle. She’ll be back in a few minutes.

JENNA
Oh. (She watches Hayley without speaking for a minute) What are you up to?

HAYLEY
(looking up from her papers)
Trying to pick my classes for this semester. Everything that’s required looks boring as anything. Can you tell me what the difference is between the Fundamentals of English and English Composition I?

JENNA
I have no idea. Do you have to take all required classes?

HAYLEY
(nodding)
Yeah…I’m trying to find something fun to take, but all of the required classes are prerequisites of all of the fun classes.

Jenna sits next to her at the table.

JENNA
Have you decided on a major yet?

HAYLEY
Nope.

She pauses, pushing her things aside.

HAYLEY (cont’d)
Jenna…can I ask you something?

JENNA
(unsure)
Anything, Hayley…

HAYLEY
Are you okay with me? I mean, I know I was a surprise to everyone…and I just kind of came in and it’s this automatic acceptance by Felicia and Lorna. I don’t want you to feel put out.

JENNA
(without looking at Hayley)
You are Lucas’ daughter, just like Lorna and me. That’s all that matters.

Before Hayley can address Jenna’s cold tone, Lorna walks in the door, a bag of groceries in one arm, and Gabrielle in the other. Hayley jumps up to help her, taking the groceries.

LORNA
Thanks, sweetie. (She sets Gabrielle down, who runs to Jenna.) The store was packed. I guess with the threat of the snowstorm coming in, everyone wants to stock up.

HAYLEY
It’s not even supposed to hit us, is it? It’s only supposed to hit west of here, isn’t it?

LORNA
(nodding)
Yeah, but when does that stop anyone? (She grins.) Hey, Jenn, you’re going to be Morgan’s date tonight, right? You don’t think Dean will get jealous?

JENNA
Dean’s not getting jealous of much lately. (She ignores Lorna’s curious glances) But, hey, can I borrow those rhinestone earrings of yours?

LORNA
Sure. (She turns back to Hayley) What are you planning for tonight, kiddo?

Hayley shrugs, setting the groceries on the table.

HAYLEY
Nothing. You need someone to watch Gabrielle, don’t you?

LORNA
I was going to drop her off with Charlie and Jasmine’s sitter.

HAYLEY
Don’t bother. I’m not going anywhere.

LORNA
Hayley…

HAYLEY
Don’t Hayley me. It’s not like I even really know anyone to hang out with. I’ll just stay here with Gabby-girl.

LORNA
(sighing)
Hale…why don’t you ask Tito and KC over? I know KC’s still having a tough time with her sister’s death. And Tito…well, you two still have a lot of emotions to work through.

HAYLEY
I don’t know…

LORNA
(smiling)
If you don’t ask them, I will.

HAYLEY
(holding up her hands in mock protest)
Okay, okay, okay. I’ll call them.

LORNA
And why don’t you go pick up some takeout lasagna from Carlino’s then? You guys can have a little dinner party.

Hayley turns to Jenna.

HAYLEY
Honestly, Jenna…has she always been this demanding?

JENNA
(laughing)
This is mild.

Hayley shrugs in defeat, and takes the money that Lorna’s handing her. She leaves, and Jenna turns to Lorna.

JENNA
So…we have to talk.

Lorna gives her a puzzled look.

CUT TO:

CORY MANSION/SAME DAY

CARL stands by the desk, the folder that Amanda and Chris brought back from New Orleans in his hands. As he thumbs through it, the front doorbell rings.

CARL
(waving a hand at CLAUDIA as she comes into the room)
I'll get it, Claudia, no mind.

CLAUDIA
Yes, Mr. Hutchins.

She disappears back into the study. Carl goes to the front door and opens it to find LILA standing there.

CARL
Lila. Glad you're here. Please, come in.

LILA
Thank you, Carl. I'm sorry to ask you to meet with me on New Year's Eve, but I just couldn't wait any longer. It's been hell the past few weeks.

CARL
I know, and I'm sorry we haven't chatted before now. It's just with Alli missing, this family's had a lot on our plates.

LILA
I understand. Anything new on Alli yet?

CARL
Not that I've heard. But she's got to be running out of money, so hopefully, she'll call for help soon. We've got a PI trying to track her down.

LILA
I can only imagine what Amanda's going through…when Jasmine was missing…I can't imagine ever going through that again.

CARL
Yes, well, hopefully, you'll never have to go through that again. Now…we should get down to business.

Carl leads her into the living room, where he picks up the file as Lila sits on the sofa. He holds the file in front of him.

CARL (cont'd)
This is what will give you most of the answers that you desire. Anything else, I can fill in the blanks.

LILA
Can you just tell me, Carl? Start from the beginning?

CARL
It's a long story…

LILA
I have time.

Carl sits in the chair across from her.

CARL
All right. Where should I begin?

LILA
When you first met my mother-

CARL
Your mother. Your mother, my dear, was a ravishing beauty. She was an aspiring dancer living in the French Quarter. Any man who saw her was immediately transfixed by her. Very much like you, Lila. You look so much like she did.

LILA
I always thought she was beautiful growing up, but I didn't know if that was just a child's admiration for her mother.

CARL
The night that Reginald and I met her, we were standing outside of a small restaurant in the French Quarter. She came by, alone. She was dressed in a gauzy white dress, which almost looked as though it had been made from tissues…it was very fine. Reginald was charmed by her immediately. It didn't seem to matter to him that he had a wife and three children at home.

LILA
He didn't mistreat my mother-

CARL
--No, not at all, Lila. He did love her. He introduced himself to her that evening, and she was charmed by him. From that point on, Reginald and Jessie became inseparable lovers. And as Reginald's partner, I got to know Jessie.

LILA
So you knew my mother well?

CARL
Well enough. We grew to become friends. I had to keep her in the dark about our dealings, though. Unfortunately, that may have led to her murder.

Lila watches Carl quietly, and waits for him to continue.

CUT TO:

OPENING CREDITS