LORNA'S HOUSE/SAME DAY

LORNA doesn't answer MATT. He stands up and begins pacing.

MATT
That wasn't the first time…you've kissed him before?

LORNA
(almost silently)
Yes.

MATT
(with a controlled anger)
When?

LORNA
Christmas. Christmas Eve…it was just a friendly kiss under the mistletoe…

MATT
(sarcastically)
You were pretty friendly with him on New Year's Eve.

LORNA
Matt…I didn't plan for any of this to happen! I didn't expect any of it!

MATT
What else has happened? Have you been sleeping with him, too? Behind my back?

LORNA
(jumping up)
No! I have not SLEPT with him! You know BOTH incidents that have happened now!

MATT
And I've been trying to take it slow, not wanting to rush things, not wanting to push you, wanting to make sure you're really over-

He stops, not wanting to finish the sentence.

LORNA
Make sure I'm really over what? (Matt is silent.) Over WHAT, Matt?

MATT
Over Gabe's death, okay? I wanted to make sure you'd put that behind you!

LORNA
(almost in tears)
No matter how slow we take things, I'll never be able to put him behind me. I'm raising his daughter, Matt! Can you put Lila totally behind YOU?

MATT
Lila's not a ghost. She's got a huge advantage over Gabe right there.

Lorna raises a hand to her face, almost as if Matt had physically slapped her. She turns away from him.

MATT (cont'd)
I'm sorry…I didn't mean that.

LORNA
(quietly)
Yes, you did. And maybe you're right…maybe you HAVE been competing with Gabe's memory, but it doesn't mean that I feel any less about you.

MATT
What about Sergei?

LORNA
Sergei…Sergei has been very helpful to me since I've come back here…he's been wonderful with Gabrielle-

MATT
--being wonderful with your daughter isn't exactly a good reason to kiss him. Do you have feelings for him?

LORNA
(tears beginning to form in her eyes)
I don't know. Yes. No. At this point, I don't know what I'm feeling.

MATT
Do you want to continue with this? With us?

LORNA
I don't want this to end…

MATT
(his voice quivering)
I don't either…

LORNA
I just…I don't want to lead you on, Matt. I don't KNOW what my feelings are for Sergei. I don't know if I can let them go.

MATT
And I can't sit by quietly and wait for you to make up your mind. It's too hard. I went through that with Lila…I can't do it with you, not again.

LORNA
I know…it's not fair to you. But you've helped me, Matt. I didn't think I could care about anyone after Gabe…you've shown me that I can.

MATT
I don't want to be just a rebound, Lorna.

LORNA
I don't want you to BE a rebound relationship! I WANT to be with you, but I have…I have to figure out what my feelings are for Sergei.

MATT
Then I guess that's the answer…you'll have to figure out your feelings. And when you do, I just can't promise I'll be there if your feelings are for me.

He kisses her lightly, then walks towards the door. As he leaves, she sinks down onto the sofa, not crying, but hugging her arms around herself, watching the door shut.

CUT TO:

CORY MANSION/SAME DAY

RACHEL sits at her desk, going over a sheaf of papers in front of her. CARL comes up behind her, putting his arms around her.

CARL
How can you work on a day like today?

RACHEL
(turning around and smiling at him)
I've got to…we have a shareholders' meeting next week, remember?

CARL
Ah, yes…a lovely thought. (He grimaces.) Stodgy old men arguing to keep Cory Publishing stuck in the fifties.

RACHEL
(grinning)
It's not that bad. It shouldn't be much different than the last meeting. We'll have them in, discuss the figures, serve them coffee and scones, and have them out in under two hours.

She looks over one of the papers, then holds it up to Carl.

RACHEL (cont'd)
Have you seen this?

Carl takes the paper from her.

CARL
William Charles has given up his share in Cory?

RACHEL
Yes…he's sold it. Normally, I wouldn't find this strange, except that Arthur Douglas notified us of the same last week. Both men have been major shareholders since before Amanda was born.

CARL
What reasons have they given?

RACHEL
None…you'll see it in the letter from William. He's only said that he's enjoyed the time with Cory, but it's time to move on.

CARL
And Arthur gave no further information either?

RACHEL
Arthur said virtually the same thing. And I'm surprised to hear that from him, since he was one of Mac's best friends way back when. After Mac's death, he told me he'd never give up his interest in Cory.

CARL
I don't understand…perhaps they've heard of our financial difficulties from several years ago?

RACHEL
Well, of course they've heard of them…everyone's heard of them. But Cory's doing quite well now. You know that. There's no reason our shareholders should want to pull out right now.

CARL
Who's purchased their interests?

RACHEL
I don't know. I haven't been able to find that information out. I've got Cass looking into it for us, though.

CARL
Do you think this is a deliberate attempt to gain interest in Cory?

RACHEL
I'm not sure, but it's beginning to look that way. I don't know who would be attempting to do it, however.

CARL
I have an inkling…

RACHEL
(Puzzled)
Who?

CARL
Halliday.

RACHEL
David Halliday?

CARL
(nodding)
He's quite a shrewd businessman. And he does already own a fair share of the Cory stock. Perhaps this is his way of granting himself more power within the company.

RACHEL
I don't know…why? He's certainly wealthy enough himself to start his own publishing company if he wanted to.

CARL
Cory presents a more viable opportunity…he wouldn't have to start from the ground up.

RACHEL
That's true…can you imagine if Cindy Brook were presented with the opportunity to put herself right in the middle of Cory? She'd be like a four year old surrounded by new toys.

CARL
BREAKABLE toys, at that. I'll do some hunting around this week. But for now, I wouldn't worry. Between the family, we still maintain a large enough interest in Cory to take care of anyone who might try to intercede.

RACHEL
(smiling)
You're right…now, I'll put these papers away if you'll help me wake the grubs up from their nap.

CARL
And we shall take a walk to the duck pond?

RACHEL
(laughing)
You're as bad as they are. Yes, let's go feed the ducks.

They put their arms around one another as they move towards the stairs.

CUT TO:

JAKE AND VICKY'S HOUSE/SAME DAY

SEAN and VICKY sit at the table, as KIRKLAND, STEVEN, NICK, and JAKE sit with the babies. Sean stares at Vicky.

VICKY
Sean-

He holds a hand up to her before she can finish.

SEAN
Wait…let me go first. (She nods and he continues.) I'm sorry, Vicky. I'm sorry that I took off, and I'm sorry I made Jake miss the twins' birth. If I'd known that would happen…well, I never would have gone so far and I'm sorry. I just…

His voice trails off and Vicky looks at him in concern.

VICKY
You just what, Sean?

SEAN
I just…I just didn't feel like anyone wanted me here. Especially you. And I know I kinda came in at a bad time, but I figured if you guys didn't want me, there wasn't any reason for me to stick around.

VICKY
(as if she's trying to remain calm)
Sean. I know that Jake and I have been extremely preoccupied since you arrived here…and that's our fault. But you take off with your laptop, head off with Alli…you don't make much of an effort on your part either, you've got to admit.

SEAN
Yeah…but I always felt like I was in the way.

VICKY
So…it's a circle, isn't it? We just go around in a circle. You and I have got to come to some sort of an agreement here.

SEAN
I know. No drugs.

VICKY
That's one thing. Absolutely no drugs at all. That one's non-negotiable.

SEAN
Okay.

VICKY
And we do expect you to help out around here somewhat. I'm not saying you're going to be chained to the house. But Steven and Kirkland both have a list of things to do every day, and we can do the same thing for you.

SEAN
Okay. But don't make me check it off when I do them, okay?

VICKY
(grinning)
We won't. We'll trust you on that. BUT…you ARE grounded for a month.

SEAN
A MONTH?

VICKY
A month. No going out with Alli, no hanging out with friends, you come home after school, and if you have to go anywhere, Jake or I will take you. I think that's pretty fair.

SEAN
(shrugging)
I guess.

VICKY
And we need to set some limits. When your punishment is up, you're going to have a set curfew, and I expect it to be followed. Jake and I want to know where you are…and no more skipping school. I don't want any bad reports from the school.

SEAN
(nodding)
I can handle that.

VICKY
Now…you get to make a few demands.

SEAN
Huh?

VICKY
We've told you what we expect of you, now it's time for you to tell us what you expect of us.

SEAN
I don't know…don't treat me like a little kid, I guess. I'm not Steven and Kirkland.

VICKY
No, you're not, but you're going to have to earn the right to be treated like we can trust you. And you can do that this month while you're grounded.

SEAN
And I want to be able to see my dad.

VICKY
(nodding)
That's something we can do. If Jake or I can't take you, Marley or Tyrone can take you. Someone will make sure you see your dad.

SEAN
Thanks. That's all I really care about.

VICKY
So…can we start over?

SEAN
Yeah…I'd like that.

VICKY
Me, too.

She stands up and gives him a quick hug.

VICKY(cont'd)
And I won't do that in public, either. (Sean grins at her) Come on, let's teach you how to change a dirty diaper.

SEAN
Ick…is that part of my punishment?

VICKY
You bet it is…

She pulls him over to the babies with a smile.

FADE OUT