THE PARK/SAME DAY

REMY is walking through the park with Danté in his stroller. As she stops to give Danté a dropped toy, Tito comes up behind her.

TITO
Hey, Peaches.

REMY
(whirling around)
TITO! You scared the hell out of me!

TITO
(holding up hands)
Whoa, sorry. I didn't mean to. (He kneels down to Danté) Hey, there, kiddo. Remember me?

REMY
Unfortunately, he probably remembers more of you than he should. Did you forget that you almost caused this little boy to lose his mom?

TITO
He didn't, did he? And he got a big sister out of the deal. Much better than the loser big brother he was almost stuck with....

REMY
(surprised)
Tito...you aren't a loser.

TITO
Come on, Rem! You don't think that all that your mom and stepfather have been telling you isn't true? I'm a loser. I always have been and I always will. They're absolutely right in telling you that you shouldn't be hanging around me.

REMY
I'm an adult and I'll hang around with whoever I want, including you. If it weren't for the fact that I'm still so angry with you that I don't know what to say to you...

TITO
I'm going to college in the fall.

REMY
You are? How?

TITO
My counselor at the shelter. Pulled some strings at BCU and got me in. I'm starting a new job next week, too, working in the campus bookstore.

REMY
Well...it sounds like you might be getting your life together.

TITO
I'm trying, Remy. I really am trying. I need to be a better person.

REMY
You killed a man, Tito...you really can't go anywhere but up.

TITO
I never really thought I killed him. I didn't...I just wanted him to shut up. I thought all of my dreams were going to come true, all of the dreams I had for you and for me...but I was wrong.

REMY
You were wrong about a lot of things, Tito.

TITO
Do you ever think about being a parent, Rem? About having kids?

REMY
Not anytime soon.

TITO
How can I be a good role model to a kid if I'm not even one to myself?

REMY
Tito, aren't you looking a little far ahead here? You've got plenty of time to have kids. It's not like it's next week.

Tito turns away from her. As Remy watches her with concern, we:

FADE OUT


THE PARK/SAME DAY

ALLI and SEAN are rollerblading. They stop by the bench as Alli sits down to fix her rollerblades.

SEAN
What's wrong?

ALLI
Nothing. They're just a little tight.

SEAN
Here, let me see.

ALLI
It's okay. We have to go anyway. I need to get ready for the memorial service.

SEAN
Yeah, you're right.

ALLI
Thank you for this. I really needed to get out of the house.

SEAN
Anytime. How's your mom?

ALLI
Terrible. And I don't know what to do for her. I'm not sure she even wants me to help her right now.

SEAN
Why do you say that?

ALLI
Well, I wasn't exactly a ray of sunshine when it came to Cameron. I treated him really badly. And now he's dead and I wish I could take it all back.

SEAN
Your mom knows, and so did Cameron.

ALLI
I'm not so sure. Sean, I was a real jerk. I really didn't hate him, you know? I just didn't like him with my mom.

SEAN
I know.

ALLI
You think he knew?

SEAN
I'm sure he did.

Sean puts his arm around Alli as they walk away.

FADE OUT


FELICIA'S APARTMENT/SAME DAY

HAYLEY'S arms are crossed and she is glaring at FELICIA and LORNA defiantly.

HAYLEY
I mean it. I won't take money from either of you.

LORNA
Offering to send you to a doctor isn't taking, Hayley---

HAYLEY
Yes, it is. And I've done fine on my own until now. Whether you think that it's an obligation, or you owe it to me because of Lucas---

LORNA
Let's get this straight right now...it's not an obligation. Far from it. This is what family does, Hayley.

HAYLEY
This isn't going to be what MY family does. We've got to get that clear from the beginning. I've always been responsible for myself...even when my mother was alive.

FELICIA
And it's time for you to let your family help you along. Maybe that's why you have a hard time letting us in...you've never had a real family. So please, Hayley...accept that we're not going to take no for an answer. (She grins at Hayley)

As Hayley opens her mouth to speak, the front door opens and SERGEI enters. He stops as he sees the group congregated in the room.

SERGEI
I am interrupting?

FELICIA
No, Sergei, not at all. Come on in. Hayley, this is Sergei Radzinsky...my husband...for now.

Hayley's mouth drops open but she doesn't say anything.

FELICIA (cont'd)
Sergei, this is Hayley Shepard. She's Lorna's half-sister.

SERGEI
Oh, this is other daughter? But I thought her name was...Jennifer?

FELICIA
Jenna. And no, this isn't her. Hayley is not my daughter.

HAYLEY
(to Lorna, quietly)
Speaking of which---

LORNA
I know. We'll call Jenna later and I'll talk to her. She's going to want to meet you.

Hayley glances at her watch.

HAYLEY
Shoot...I have to go meet someone. Can we finish our discussion later?

LORNA
(nodding)
And we're definitely finishing it, okay?

HAYLEY
All right. (She turns to Felicia) Thanks for everything, Felicia.

FELICIA
We'll talk later, all right?

Hayley gives her a quick hug, then squeezes Lorna's hand, and leaves the apartment.

LORNA
(looking at Felicia)
Are you sure you're okay?

FELICIA
Positively. I won't say it's not a shock, but I'm not upset about it, if that's what you mean. (She turns to Sergei) So, how did the job search go?

SERGEI
I have gone to many places, Felicia. I go to newspapers, I go to restaurants, I go to stores. I do not get hired and I think this is because I am Russian. But I do not want to be jobless long. I will look again tomorrow, and maybe Matt will be helping me record CD?

FELICIA
You can't count on that, Sergei. You'll just have to keep looking for work.

LORNA
Speaking of work, Mom, how's the book coming along?

FELICIA
It's not. I've given up for now.

LORNA
Mom! You can't. You've got to get back into your writing.

FELICIA
Actually, I've been thinking about that...I have an idea to run by you.

As she and Lorna look at one another, we:

FADE OUT