CORY MANSION/SAME EVENING

AMANDA walks into the foyer of the Cory Mansion, followed by Chris. Her face is determined, and she looks around the living room to see if anyone's there.

AMANDA
I don't see Carl. I'll have to find him so we can talk to him.

CHRIS
Are you sure this is a good idea, Amanda? Don't you want to wait a little while? Let things settle down?

AMANDA
If we let things 'settle down', Chris, someone else could end up dead.

Amanda stops talking as she sees ALLI come down the stairs.

ALLI
Mom!

Alli reaches out to hug her, and Amanda returns the hug half-heartedly. Alli can sense her disinterest and steps back.

ALLI (Cont'd)
When did you get back?

AMANDA
A little while ago. Sweetie, have you seen Carl?

ALLI
I think he's in the study. Do you have time to talk, Mom? I want to talk to you before you talk to Uncle Matt.

AMANDA
Not now, Al. I have something to discuss with Grandpa Carl. We'll talk soon, all right?

Amanda walks into the living room, heading for the study, Chris following her. Alli watches, anger flashing across her face.

ALLI
(to herself)
It's always soon. It's never now. I'm sick of soon, Mom.

She stomps up the stairs.

CUT TO:

JAKE AND VICKY'S/SAME NIGHT

KIRKLAND is walking downstairs, with STEVEN following him. VICKY is cleaning up around the cottage.

KIRKLAND
Mom?

VICKY
Yes, sweetie?

STEVEN
Kirk. Don't.

KIRKLAND
We should tell her.

VICKY
What's going on?

STEVEN
(glaring at Kirkland)
Nothing.

VICKY
Steven? What is it?

KIRKLAND
Tell her.

STEVEN
I will, will you back off?

Vicky motions to Steven, who walks closer to her.

VICKY
What is it you want to tell me?

STEVEN
Well, Kirkland and I were up in Sean's room, and --

VICKY
What were you doing in Sean's room?

KIRKLAND
We were looking for Steven's video game---

STEVEN
---I let him play it last week.

VICKY
So, what happened?

STEVEN
We found this.

Steven hands the bag to Vicky. She looks at it, anger spreading across her face.

VICKY
Where did you find it?

STEVEN
It was taped under the desk.

KIRKLAND
Steven didn't want to tell you.

VICKY
No, I'm glad you did. Why don't you guys go do some homework, okay?

STEVEN
Okay. Come on, Kirk.

Steven grabs Kirkland and they head upstairs. JAKE comes out of the kitchen and grabs Vicky from behind.

JAKE
Hey.

VICKY
Not now, Jake.

JAKE
Wow, should I be offended?

VICKY
We have a problem. Steven and Kirkland were looking for something in Sean's room, and they came across this.

She holds the bag up in front of Jake.

JAKE
What - is that what I think it is?

VICKY
Oh yeah. It's pot.

JAKE
That's just great.

VICKY
I don't like drugs in the house with the boys, Jake.

JAKE
We'll talk to him about it.

SEAN walks in the front door.

SEAN
Hi.

Jake and Vicky both glare at him.

SEAN
What's wrong?

Jake holds the pot up to Sean.

JAKE
Do you want to explain this?

Sean doesn't answer immediately.

CUT TO:

THE DAILY GRIND/DAY

KC and HAYLEY are still sitting at the table where TITO has left them. KC had asked Hayley about her baby's father.

HAYLEY
He was...just someone I knew. I thought he cared about me. Things didn't work out.

KC nods.

KC
But to just skip out on you...it's so wrong.

Hayley attempts to change the subject.

HAYLEY
Trust me, it's for the best. Anyway, you're going to BCU? You're lucky. I wish I could go to school...really *make* something of myself.

KC
No reason that you can't after you have the baby. I'm sure Lorna could help you out...or you get a job. Don't let anything detour your dreams. Life is...too short, trust me. What would you major in?

Hayley ponders the question.

HAYLEY
I don't know. I've thought about psychology, medicine, something like that. I just don't know if I'm smart enough for something like that.

KC
You don't strike me as being dumb at all, Hayley. I'm going for journalism.

HAYLEY
Oh, KC...that's great! You could crack the next Watergate someday.

KC grins.

KC
Sure. And when you become a world-famous doctor and discover a cure for cancer, I'll interview you.

HAYLEY
Skip right over the middle stuff and head for the top, huh?

KC
Why not? We can do whatever we want.

HAYLEY
(laughing)
I like that idea. You're on, in about 20 years, you think?

KC
Ten. We'll go for the gold.

As they smile at each other, we

FADE OUT