CORY MANSION/DAY

PAULINA walks in and joins CARL in the living room. She gives him a kiss on the cheek as they sit down on the couch.

CARL
I'm so glad you're here.

PAULINA
I can't believe this. How's Amanda?

CARL
She's heartbroken. And now she's vengeful.

PAULINA
What do you mean vengeful?

CARL
She wants to go after the person who did this.

PAULINA
What? That's crazy!

CARL
She won't listen to Rachel and she blames me for Cameron's death.

PAULINA
Carl, I'm so sorry.

CARL
You have to make Amanda realize that this is a dangerous game she wants to play.

AMANDA comes in.

AMANDA
Talking about me again, I see.

PAULINA
Hi.

AMANDA
(Hugging Paulina)
Hi, Paulina.

CARL
I'm going to go check on the twins.

CARL leaves. PAULINA and AMANDA sit on the couch.

PAULINA
Carl's worried about you.

AMANDA
The only person Carl ever worries about is himself.

PAULINA
That's not fair.

AMANDA
Fair? My husband just died, Paulina. How fair is that?

PAULINA
How are you?

AMANDA
How do you think? Cameron was my life, Paulina. I don't know how I can go on without him.

PAULINA
You have to.

AMANDA
I don't want to.

PAULINA
What's this about you wanting to go after the killer?

AMANDA
Carl doesn't miss a beat, does he?

PAULINA
I told you, he's worried about you, and so am I. What you're talking about doing is dangerous.

AMANDA
That didn't stop Cameron.

PAULINA
You're not Cameron.

AMANDA
Well, maybe I want to be. I'm going to find his killer, or die trying.

PAULINA
And what about Alli?

AMANDA
What?

PAULINA
Your daughter, remember her?

AMANDA
Alli has nothing to do with this.

PAULINA
Are you even thinking about her in all this? She just lost her step-father and now she may lose her mother too because you're only thinking about what you want - about what would make you feel better.

AMANDA
I'm doing this for Alli. If it's open season on the Cory family, then Alli is in danger.

PAULINA
Then back off and let Joe handle it. Take your daughter and get away from Bay City for a while. It might do you both some good.

AMANDA
The only thing that will help me right now is to make sure the bastard who killed Cameron and Toni pays for it.

She falls silent as we:

FADE OUT

FELICIA'S APARTMENT/SAME DAY

FELICIA stares at HAYLEY as LORNA looks from one to the other. As the silence in the room becomes uncomfortable, Lorna takes Hayley's arm.

LORNA
I know, Mom...I know it's tough to believe, but I've checked it out. I've done the double-checking, and it's true.

FELICIA
How can it be true? Lucas never told me about another daughter...another child. I don't believe it.

HAYLEY
Ms. Gallant, I don't blame you for not believing me.

FELICIA
After what I've done for you...helping you get this adoption started...getting you a job...you were going to pull this?

LORNA
(holding up her hands to Felicia)
Mom, don't! Don't say anything else because you need to listen to me. No matter what you're thinking right now, Mother, this is true. I wouldn't come to you with this unless I was absolutely positive that it was true, and you know that.

FELICIA
(quietly)
You're right. But I find this very hard to take, Lorna.

LORNA
I know. It was difficult for me, too.

HAYLEY
I want both of you to know that I'm more than willing to walk out of here and never interfere in your lives again. I don't want to disrupt them.

LORNA
You aren't going anywhere, Hayley. Let's all sit down and discuss this.

FELICIA
I need some water.

HAYLEY
I'll get it.

She goes into the kitchen.

FELICIA
(looking to Lorna)
You're positive about this?

LORNA
Absolutely. I've done my homework, Mom.

Hayley comes back out with a glass of water and hands it to Felicia.

FELICIA
Thank you. Okay. Let's start from the beginning.

Hayley and Lorna look at each other nervously as we:

FADE OUT


VICKY'S HOSPITAL ROOM/SAME DAY

VICKY is fully dressed, standing and smelling the flowers. JAKE walks in.

JAKE
Hi, Beautiful, ready to blow this joint?

VICKY
I thought I'd never get out of here.

JAKE
Doctor says everything is fine, all the paperwork is done. All that's left is my taking you home.

VICKY
How's Chris?

JAKE
He's devastated. Toni was the love of his life. He's lost without her.

VICKY
What about Etta Mae?

JAKE
I think after you're feeling a little better, you should go see her. She could use a friend right now.

VICKY
I will.

JAKE
Ok, now lets get you out of here.

Jake attempts to pick Vicky up and put her in the wheelchair.

VICKY
Jake, I'm fine.

JAKE
I'll be the judge of that. Who are the flowers from?

VICKY
(Pointing to flowers on counter)
All of those are from Joe and Paulina, and Mom and Marley. I don't know who these are from.

JAKE
What do you mean you don't know who they're from?

VICKY
Kirkland was here. He went to the bathroom down the hall and returned with them - said some strange guy gave them to him to give me and tell me that he's happy about our twins.

JAKE
Is there a card?

VICKY
No, nothing.

JAKE
What do you think is going on?

VICKY
I'm sure it's nothing.

JAKE
I don't know. There's a bomb at Cory, you get hurt and now some stranger is sending you flowers?

VICKY
Jake, you're overreacting.

JAKE
I don't like this, Vick.

VICKY
There's nothing not to like. (Playfully). Now are you going to take me home or am I going to drive myself?

JAKE laughs and wheels her out of the room.

FADE OUT