LUCKY LADY/DAY

The LUCKY LADY is buzzing with college kids, most seated at tables with coffees and snacks. ETTA MAE stands at the counter watching them with a smile. The front door opens and KC, TITO, and HAYLEY walk in. Etta Mae waves when she sees KC, but puts her hand down as she sees Tito behind her. KC notices and after a quick word to Hayley and Tito, makes her way towards her mother.

KC
Hi, Mama!

ETTA MAE
Don't you 'hi, Mama' me. What's that boy doing in here?

KC
(sighing)
We went to register today, remember, Mama? And now we're going to hang out here for awhile.

ETTA MAE
You know how I feel about him.

KC
And YOU know how I feel about him. So can't you make a concession for my sake? He's my friend, Mama. And he's Hayley's friend.

ETTA MAE
I don't know-

KC
It's coffee, Mama. That's it. I'm not marrying him. He happens to be my FRIEND, that's all.

ETTA MAE
Well-

KC
(with a grin)
See, I knew you'd see it my way. (She gives Etta Mae a quick hug across the counter.) Can I come back and get us all something to drink?

ETTA MAE
You most certainly may not. (She smiles.) I'll make them and bring them out to you. But you CAN take a plate of biscotti out. What do you guys want?

KC
Hayley and I want lattes, and I think Tito wants a cappuccino. (She takes the biscotti.) Thanks, Mama.

Etta Mae watches her go, then begins making the coffees. KC goes back to Hayley and Tito, who've sat at a table.

KC
Okay, we're cool. Mama's bringing our drinks.

HAYLEY
(looking around)
Is this one of the college hangouts or something?

KC
Sort of. When school's in session, people crowd in because it's so close to campus. Plus, Mama's started getting good bands in here on the weekends.

HAYLEY
Really? We ought to check the bands out this weekend, then.

KC
I think there's a good alternative band here Friday night. We might need to unwind after classes start this week.

TITO
Yeah…down to business Wednesday. I have a feeling that math class is going to kill me…I hate math.

HAYLEY
I'll help you, but you've got help me with those history classes. Memorizing dates isn't my cup of tea.

TITO
You have to look at them as events, not as dates. It's easier that way.

HAYLEY
Yeah, well, they start off as dates for me. I need you to change them into events.

TITO
(laughing)
Okay. We have the same professor for that class at least, even if we're not in the same class.

Etta Mae approaches with their coffees, setting them down.

KC
Thanks, Mom.

ETTA MAE
(smiling)
You're welcome. Hello, Hayley.

HAYLEY
Hi, Mrs. Burrell. Thanks for the coffee. KC was just telling us about the bands that you have on the weekends and we thought we might come listen this weekend.

ETTA MAE
Sergei's going to be playing this weekend. Have you heard him sing yet?

HAYLEY
(shaking her head)
No…but I know Felicia said he's really good. I'll definitely be here to hear him, then.

KC
And Mama…you know Tito.

TITO
(sheepishly)
Hi, Etta Mae.

ETTA MAE
(nodding curtly)
Tito. Nice to see you.

He smiles, but doesn't answer her.

ETTA MAE (cont'd)
I'll let you kids continue your talk. If you need anything, let me know.

She walks away.

KC
Just give her time, Tito. She'll crack.

TITO
Or she'll just crack me.

KC
(laughing)
No, she won't.

As the three continue to talk, they are approached by two guys and a girl, all dressed in a comfortable, worn, hippie style. The girl stops next to Tito. KC, Hayley, and Tito look up at them.

GIRL
Hi…sorry to interrupt…we just noticed you guys had the text for Professor Bailey's history class. Are you guys taking his class?

TITO
Yeah…well, two of us are, anyway. I'm in the Tuesday and Thursday 9:30 section. (Indicating Hayley) She's got the Monday night class.

GIRL
Cool…all three of us are in the Monday night class.

BLOND GUY
Actually…that's not why we came over here.

KC, Hayley, and Tito stare at them, puzzled.

CUT TO:

VICKY'S HOUSE/SAME DAY

The house is decorated in pink and yellow streamers, balloons, and a huge banner stretched across the entrance to the kitchen that says "WELCOME HOME, BRIDGET AND JOURNEY!". KIRKLAND stands at the front window, peering out. Suddenly, he jumps away from the window, running to NICK, STEVEN, and SEAN who are hanging the last of the balloons.

KIRKLAND
They're here! They're here!

NICK
Okay, everyone head to the door…come on! And remember…WHISPER surprise!

All of them stand in front of the door, waiting for it to open. When it does, VICKY is the first one through, carrying one of the babies in a car seat.

STEVEN, KIRKLAND, NICK, and SEAN
(In a whisper)
Surprise!

Vicky pauses, then smiles at them in surprise. JAKE follows her with the second baby in a car seat, looking around and grinning at the decorations.

VICKY
Did you guys do this all by yourselves?

KIRKLAND
Uncle Nick and Sean helped.

Nick grins. He hugs Vicky.

NICK
Welcome home, Sis. How are you feeling?

VICKY
(with a wry smile)
Tired…and sore…but very, very happy. Want to hold one of your nieces?

NICK
Yeah, I do…but not if they're sleeping. I don't want Jake to kill me for waking them up.

JAKE
(grinning)
Go ahead, Nick. You can hold them. Get a little practice for youself.

NICK
(As Vicky hands him a baby)
Don't worry, Jake, that'll be awhile. Who've I got?

VICKY
That's Journey. We've already found a way to tell them apart. She's got a little bit of a rounder nose than Bridget does…and a very tiny little birthmark on her right cheek.

NICK
I don't see a birthmark.

VICKY
(with a wicked grin)
Not that cheek.

Nick laughs, as he settles into a chair with Journey.

NICK
She's beautiful.

JAKE
Both of my girls are gorgeous and perfect.

Kirkland goes to Vicky and hugs her around the waist.

KIRKLAND
I missed you, Mom.

VICKY
I missed you, too, kiddo. But now I'm home…and I've got two babies for you to play with.

KIRKLAND
Are we going to be able to play with them now?

VICKY
Maybe not in the way you want…but pretty soon they'll get big enough to play fun games with you. And you'll have fun trying to make them smile while they're still little.

STEVEN
Can I hold Bridget?

JAKE
Of course you can, Steven the Man. Have a seat.

As Steven sits, Jake places Bridget in his arms. Sean stands to the side watching. Vicky makes her way towards him.

SEAN
They're cute.

VICKY
I hoped you'd think so since they're your cousins. Sean…you and I need to have a talk.

Sean watches her with apprehension.

CUT TO:

BCUH/SAME DAY

REMY walks through the hospital hallway, glancing up at the doorways. She stops in the middle of the hallway, and looks at the piece of paper in her hands.

REMY
(to herself)
The lab should NOT be this hard to find. It's a hospital. There should be signs everywhere.

As she stands staring, MORGAN comes up behind her.

MORGAN
Can I help you?

Remy whirls around to see him standing there. She glances at her paper again, then back at Morgan uneasily.

REMY
I'm trying to find the lab…but I can't figure out where it is…

MORGAN
(smiling)
You're on the wrong floor. Second floor. If you get on the elevator, make a right, and go down the short hallway, it should be on your left.

REMY
(still looking unsure)
Okay, thanks…

MORGAN
Want me to show you where it is?

REMY
Actually, that would be great. (They begin to walk towards the elevator) It's so silly, I stayed in this hospital last year. You'd think I could find my way around.

MORGAN
You stayed here? For what?

REMY
(making a face)
Car accident. It's a long, long story.

MORGAN
Oh, sorry to hear that. So I guess you're not new to Bay City then?

REMY
No…I live here with my mother and stepfather. And my little brother.

MORGAN
That's where I know you from!

REMY
(glancing at him with surprise)
Excuse me?

MORGAN
You're Remy, aren't you? Paulina's daughter?

REMY
Yeah, that's me…Remy Woods. Who are you?

MORGAN
I'm Morgan Winthrop. Cass Winthrop's brother. I used to live here awhile ago, but I moved away for several years. It must've been strange to move to Bay City and find your mother.

REMY
(shrugging)
No…it was almost like we'd never been separated. She's great and I love her.

MORGAN
She's always been a great person. (The elevator doors open and he steps back.) Shall we?

Remy goes onto the elevator, Morgan follows, and the doors shut.

FADE OUT