CINDY AND DAVID'S PENTHOUSE/EVENING

CINDY twirls around in a gold sequined gown. DAVID, dressed in tux and tails, comes up behind her, a masquerade mask held up to his face. As Cindy twirls, she comes to a screeching halt at the sight of the mask on his face, and starts laughing.

DAVID
What? Does the mask take away from the outfit?

CINDY
No…I'm just having flashbacks to Lumina.

DAVID
Ahh, yes, the famous Lumina masquerade ball. I wish I'd been present.

CINDY
You were.

DAVID
In body only. If I'd been present in mind and soul, there's not a way I'd have been able to ignore the charms of one Cynthia Harrison.

CINDY
Cindy Brook. I'm not using Harrison any longer, remember?

DAVID
Maybe sometime soon, you'll be using Cindy Halliday.

CINDY
Maybe. Or you could take my name. David Brook. I like the sound of that.

DAVID
(laughing)
Cindy, my darling, I am a modern man, but even I am not that modern.

CINDY
(with a playful glance)
And then again, I could just keep my own name…of course, we're talking eventually…down the road. This isn't an issue we have to deal with for awhile.

DAVID
Is that a hint?

He takes the mask off and kisses her lightly.

CINDY
No hints. I love what we have right now. I love our life together right now. No expectations. Nothing more, nothing less than what we see in front of us. However…

DAVID
(taking a step back)
However…?

CINDY
I'd be even happier if we were putting our plan into action.

DAVID
Patience, my darling…patience.

CINDY
I've BEEN patient, David…I want to feel the power of being at the forefront of Cory Publishing…I want to know what it's like to be royalty in this town…royalty over Rachel Cory, over Amanda Cory, over all of them.

DAVID
And you shall feel that, Cindy…but a takeover doesn't happen in a day.

CINDY
But it's been MONTHS and you've done nothing!

DAVID
Nothing that's visible to the naked eye, darling. However, if one takes a glance over Cory stock, they'll see that I'm just a small distance away from obtaining a controlling interest in the company. What I have now is simply a share…give me a bit more time, and we'll be able to order Amanda Cory to empty the wastebaskets if we so desire.

CINDY
When?

DAVID
You really are impatient, aren't you? (He grins at her) When the new millennium begins, we'll be ready and waiting.

CINDY
Soon.

DAVID
Soon. I promise you.

CINDY
I hope so, Halliday. I want to know what it's like to run the world with you…even if that world is Cory Publishing.

DAVID
Let's go have a quiet look at our soon-to-be-domain this evening. We've still got that New Year's party at the Cory Ballroom.

CINDY
I'm ready. I'm always ready for a party.

DAVID
So I've learned, Cindy. So I've learned.

Taking her arm, he leads her from the penthouse.

CUT TO:

SEATTLE AIRPORT/EVENING

The airport is packed with people as JAKE, AMANDA, ALLI, SEAN, and FRANK enter. Something is obviously up, but there is no indication as to what.

AMANDA
Jake…this doesn't look good.

JAKE
I'll find out what's going on.

He stops a passing flight attendant.

JAKE (cont'd)
Is something wrong? Are the flights running late or something?

The flight attendant stares at him a minute before answering.

FLIGHT ATTENDANT
You haven't heard, have you?

JAKE
Heard what?

FLIGHT ATTENDANT
There's a blizzard going through the Pacific Northwest and the Midwest. All flights have been cancelled until further notice and the airport is being shut down.

JAKE
No…that can't be. My wife is in Bay City, Illinois, and she's in labor…she's having TWINS tonight. I have to be with her…flights have GOT to go out!

FLIGHT ATTENDANT
(with an apologetic shrug)
I'm sorry, sir. Everyone's stranded. It looks as if we'll all be spending the New Year in the airport.

She walks off, leaving Jake stunned.

AMANDA
(putting a hand on Jake's arm)
Jake…I'll see what I can find out.

She walks off, leaving Alli, Sean, and Frank with Jake. Jake looks as though he's about to burst into tears.

SEAN
(remorsefully)
Jake, I'm sorry…if Alli and I hadn't taken off-

JAKE
--It's not your fault, Sean. We have a lot to work out, but none of us could have predicted a snowstorm.

ALLI
Maybe we can charter a plane, Jake…you can do that, right?

JAKE
That's an idea…if the major airlines won't take off, maybe we can hire someone to do it! You're a genius, Alli.

Amanda returns, looking grim.

AMANDA
It won't work, Jake. The attendant was right. The entire airport's been shut down until further notice. No one's getting out of here, either on a chartered flight or on a major airline.

JAKE
Dammit!

He slams his hand into the wall. As he does, his cell phone rings.

JAKE
Oh, God…(he takes it from his pocket)…Hello?

CUT TO:

VICKY'S HOSPITAL ROOM/SAME NIGHT

VICKY
Jake, you'd better tell me that you're disembarking at the Bay City Airport.

JAKE
I wish I could, honey…

VICKY
I've been watching the news…did you get on a flight before they shut down Seattle?

JAKE
We're grounded here, Vick…they aren't letting any flights out.

Vicky begins to cry, holding the phone tightly to her ear. Jake looks near tears himself as he attempts to calm Vicky.

JAKE
Vick…I'll be out of here on the first flight, I promise you…and I'll stay on this phone with you as long as I can…

VICKY
(sobbing)
I wanted you to be here with us, Jake…I don't want to do this alone!

JAKE
You won't be alone…you'll have Donna next to you, and I'm still going to be talking you through all of it…I promise, Vick…

VICKY
You won't see them!

JAKE
I'll see them, Vick…you promise those girls that their daddy will be there to see them as soon as he can…

VICKY
Keep trying to get a flight, Jake…tell them it's an emergency.

JAKE
I will, Vick…I'll go right now…

VICKY
Call me back…

JAKE
I will…I love you, Vicky.

VICKY
I love you, too.

She hangs up the phone and looks at MARLEY, who's just entered the room. As Marley puts her arms around her sister, Vicky dissolves into loud sobs again.

CUT TO:

LORNA’S HOUSE/SAME NIGHT

HAYLEY’S face is red with anger as she stares at Jenna.

HAYLEY
Is that what you really think of me?

FELICIA steps in between the two of them.

FELICIA
Okay. We’re not doing this right now.

HAYLEY
I think it’s a perfect time to deal with it, Felicia. Obviously, Jenna doesn’t like me, and I want to know why. What better time to deal with it?

JENNA
I didn’t mean for you to hear that, Hayley.

HAYLEY
Oh, I get it. You’d rather just be snide and bitchy behind my back. Perfectly clear now, thanks. You know, all week, I’ve felt like you didn’t like me for some reason. Now I know why. You think I was after Lorna’s and Felicia’s money. Well, fine, if you want to think that, go right ahead..

LORNA
(in a warning tone)
Hayley…

Hayley is apparently on a roll and not about to stop.

HAYLEY
But I’ve got a couple of things to tell you. When Felicia and Lorna first found out about me, they OFFERED me money to take care of me and my baby. I wouldn’t accept it. I found my family because I NEEDED to know who they were. I didn’t want money. I’ve taken care of myself for two years and I would have done the same no matter what.

JENNA
So you just had a change of heart when you realized how much better you could be living WITH Felicia’s and Lorna’s money.

HAYLEY
No, I took Lorna at her word that this was what family did for one another. And yes, Jenna, I was sick of fighting for myself. It was my fault I got pregnant, I know that. But even before then…I didn’t have anyone taking up for me. I didn’t have anyone offering to send me to college. I turned eighteen, graduated from high school, and suddenly it was ‘You’re an adult. No more government support for you’. I was forced to take care of myself, I wasn’t coddled like some spoiled little rich brat!

FELICIA
All right, you two. That’s enough.

JENNA
No, I don’t think it IS enough, Mom. Maybe living like you did made you think you deserved better, huh, Hayley? If you deserved better, then why didn’t Lucas find you when he was alive?

HAYLEY
(laughing ironically)
Yeah…that’s it, Jenna. Lucas didn’t find me because he didn’t care about me Sure. You go right ahead and think that. Ignore the facts, ignore them all you want. Live in your fantasy dream world.

JENNA
Look at you. Not a month after giving your son up for adoption because you’re penniless, you’re going to college. Not too shabby. Did your boyfriend teach you how to scam people?

LORNA
That’s unfair, Jenna. You haven’t been here to see the hell that Hayley and Tito have been going through, and it’s unfair of you to belittle it!

JENNA
(turning on Lorna)
Oh, come on…you can’t tell me that the thought didn’t cross your mind, too. It’s just a little too convenient that Hayley’s little boyfriend just happens to be a resident scam-artist.

TITO
(turning to leave)
Okay, I’m sorry. I’m not going to be dragged into this. Hayley, call me later.

Hayley grabs him by the arm.

HAYLEY
Don’t leave. I live here, she doesn’t. I’m not letting her drive my friends off.

JENNA
No, I don’t live here, but I have a hell of a lot more history with this family than you do.

HAYLEY
Longevity is no excuse for ignorance.

FELICIA
(sharply)
Hayley!

HAYLEY
I’m sorry, Felicia, but she’s gone too far! (Turning back to Jenna.) You have no right to speak to me, or to my friend that way. You barely even know me!

JENNA
And it might be a good idea to keep it that way.

HAYLEY
And I should care because…? I mean, for heaven’s sake, you’re not even my real sister. You were adopted, weren’t you?

Jenna is stunned speechless, and Hayley looks almost remorseful at the remark.

FELICIA
Hayley, that was completely uncalled for.

LORNA
No, Mom, there have been a few things said by both sides that were uncalled for. I think we should all just consider this a stopping point and a truce. And I think you should both apologize to each other before we leave.

HAYLEY
(almost silently)
I’m sorry, Jenna.

JENNA
So am I.

An uneasy silence prevails as Lorna walks into the other room to retrieve Sergei. Finally, Felicia breaks it.

FELICIA
We need to get going. Hayley, you guys have a good time tonight.

HAYLEY
(softly)
We will…you, too.

Felicia and Jenna go outside as Lorna comes in from Gabrielle’s room, followed by Sergei. She waits until Sergei has gone outside, then turns to Hayley.

LORNA
We won’t get into this tonight. But we have got to talk about this, Hayley.

HAYLEY
I know.

LORNA
Gabrielle’s asleep. (She notices that Hayley is near-tears.) Cheer up. Everything’s going to be fine.

She gives Hayley a quick hug, then leaves. Hayley moves towards the kitchen, Tito trailing after her.

FADE OUT