BURRELL HOUSE/DAY

ETTA MAE is bustling around her living room, cleaning things up, when KC enters, putting her bag on the floor next to the door. Upon seeing her daughter, Etta Mae makes a point of checking her watch.

ETTA MAE
I thought you'd be home about an hour ago.

KC looks a bit sheepish.

KC
I hung out with a friend this afternoon.

ETTA MAE
Friend? What's her name?

KC tries to tease her mother, though Etta Mae isn't in the mood.

KC
Investing in a new career as an attorney, Mama? I bet that Cass Winthrop could give you some pointers.

ETTA MAE
Karen Camille Burrell, I am in no mood for the jokes. I was just curious about your friend.

KC begins to pace, her anxiety showing. It is obvious that she does not want to discuss Tito, but can see no way around it.

KC
Actually, my friend's not a "she", Mama.

Etta Mae stops cleaning and stares at KC curiously.

ETTA MAE
Really? Well, then, who is *he*? Another student?

KC
Yes, he's...

KC stops, takes a deep breath and looks her mother in the eye.

KC
It's Tito Banacek, Mama. You remember him, don't you?

Etta Mae's expression goes from curious to appalled.

ETTA MAE
My daughter is hanging out with a killer, and you don't expect me to remember him? I never thought I'd be glad that your sister isn't here, but at least she won't ever know.

KC, sounding frustrated and a bit annoyed.

KC
How can you say that, Mama? Everyone makes mistakes! *You're* one of the people who took Tito under your wing...

ETTA MAE
To be slapped in the face with it later! The boy's no good. I found it out the hard way, but I did.

KC
That's not fair. Tito's going to BCU, he's turning his life around! I know that he killed Grant Harrison, but he's sorry! He's...Anyway, I can take care of myself! We're meeting tonight. Coffee at school.

ETTA MAE
The *hell* you are. No child of mine will associate with a murderer. Not while you're living under my roof.

By now, KC is also angry. It is a simmering calm when she speaks.

KC
Well, then I guess I'd better live elsewhere. Opening the door, KC walks out.

With Etta Mae yelling after KC, then hitting the doorframe, we

CUT TO:

THE DAILY GRIND/DAY

As TITO sits waiting for KC to arrive, he spies HAYLEY as she walks through the door. Seeing Tito, Hayley awkwardly makes her way over to him.

HAYLEY
Tito, I...I didn't think you'd be here.

TITO leans back in his chair, motioning for Hayley to sit. She does, slowly, as she eases her pregnant frame onto the chair.

TITO
Yeah, I stopped in for coffee. Can I get you something? Wait...you can't have caffeine. Water, milk...?

Hayley interrupts quickly.

HAYLEY
No, no thanks. I'm fine. Actually, I'm kinda glad I did see you, Tito. There's something you should know...it's about the baby.

Tito leans forward, putting his elbows on the table, his expression alarmed.

TITO
Hayley, is something wrong with the baby? Is it okay? Are you?

Hayley nods her head and bites her lip, clearly uncomfortable and just wanting to say what needs to be said. Holding up a hand, she motions for Tito to stop with his questions.

HAYLEY
I'm...we're...fine. Besides, you shouldn't get so attached, Tito.

TITO
What do you mean? This baby's my kid, too, Hayley. No matter what happens to it.

Hayley wrings her hands.

HAYLEY
Not anymore, Tito.

Tito is immediately wary.

TITO
What's going on, Hayley?

HAYLEY
Tito, I...I...

TITO
What, spit it out. Tell me what's going on!

HAYLEY
If you'd quit yelling at me, I will!

Tito leans back from Hayley again and runs a hand through his hair in agitation.

TITO
Sorry, okay? It's just that I'm tired of being excluded from things.

HAYLEY
I told you, it's not your business anymore. Look, I'll just say it and then we both can move on.

TITO
Say what, damn it?

HAYLEY
I gave Josie and Gary permission to adopt our...to adopt the baby after it's born.

Tito is hurt, frustrated, and angry.

TITO
How the hell can you do this to me?

Hayley's voice is thick with tears.

HAYLEY
I'm doing what's best for the baby.

TITO
No, you're doing what's best for *you*!

Hayley gives a laugh.

HAYLEY
That's rich. You sleep with me, then bolt. You come to town to hurt people, con them, worse...but I'M the villain? No, Tito. This baby deserves better and I'm making sure that he or she will have it. Lorna and Felicia are supporting my decision. I wish you would, too.

As Tito is left to stare at Hayley, we

CUT TO:

THE HARBOR CLUB/EVENING

LILA rushes into the Harbor Club, looking around frantically as she enters. Her demeanor changes and her shoulders sink in exasperation as she notices that she's the first one to arrive for dinner. As she begins to walk over to the bar, LORNA enters the restaurant.

LORNA
Lila!

Lila turns around, and smiles when she sees Lorna.

LILA
Lorna, I'm glad you're here! I thought I was running late, but I guess we're all a little late today. Where's Matt?

LORNA
He's late at Cory. He said he'd be here in about a half hour. Don't tell me Cass isn't coming?

LILA
(laughing)
No, he's running late, too. Why don't we go ahead and sit? We can catch up on the past couple of weeks.

The hostess leads them to a table, and seats them. After they've ordered a bottle of wine from the waiter, there is an uncomfortable silence. Lila breaks it.

LILA
So...tell me how the Herald is going. I can't believe you'd voluntarily work with that Jake McKinnon.

LORNA
(grinning)
Jake and I have known each other awhile. This isn't the first time we've worked together. What's so strange is to see Jake McKinnon turning into a family man. That's something I NEVER would have pictured.

LILA
Seems like there've been a lot of changes since you last left.

LORNA
TONS of changes. This isn't the same Bay City, but you know...it's not a bad place to come home to. So...where are you from originally?

LILA
(taking a sip of wine)
I grew up in New Orleans...until I was eight, at least. Then I went to live with an aunt in Atlanta. I went back to New Orleans when I was eighteen.

LORNA
What about your parents?

Lila begins to look uncomfortable. Lorna senses this and begins to apologize.

LORNA (cont'd)
If it's a bad subject---

LILA
---Not a bad subject. It's just something I don't talk about often. My mother was a single parent. She raised me alone and I never knew who my father was.

LORNA
We have more in common than I thought.

As Lila watches her in puzzlement, we:

CUT TO:

JAKE AND VICKY'S/EVENING

DONNA is sitting with VICKY and JAKE, simply chatting as they sit on the couch. A knock on the front door has Jake get up to answer it.

JAKE
Chris....Amanda. To what do we owe this visit?

As Jake is talking, he is slapping Chris on the shoulder, while motioning them in. Vicky looks up from talking with Donna.

VICKY
Chris, hi.

Vicky nods toward Amanda.

VICKY
Hello, Amanda.

DONNA
Well, this certainly *is* a surprise. And you both look so incredibly glum. Not more bad news?

Jake turns toward Chris and Amanda.

JAKE
Donna's right. You both look rather intense. Does this have anything to do with Toni and Cameron?

Jake remembers his manners.

JAKE
Sit. Sit down, both of you. Want a drink?

Both Chris and Amanda decline the offer. Donna, meanwhile, does not.

DONNA
Well, I certainly can use one.

Vicky rolls her eyes. Donna notices.

DONNA
What, Victoria? Are you becoming one of those staid, prim and proper matronly types? MY daughter?

With that, Donna gets up.

DONNA
You DO have something stronger than milk, I hope?

VICKY
Well, Mother...

Before Vicky and Donna wrangle, Chris interjects.

CHRIS
Actually, Donna, what Amanda and I came by to discuss involves you. And you, Vicky.

Vicky goes from looking annoyed with Donna to curious about Chris and Amanda's visit.

VICKY
What's up?

Amanda plays with the end of her hair nervously for a moment before wringing her hands in her lap.

AMANDA
Chris and I recently took a trip to Louisiana, looking for any clues as to who was responsible for...for...well, anyway, we came across something that is rather unbelievable but...it certainly appears to be true.

VICKY
Well, are you going to tell us or are we gonna play charades?

JAKE
Come on, Vic.

VICKY
Okay. Sorry, I really am. I just haven't slept much lately. What's going on.

DONNA
This sounds fascinating. But Victoria takes after me in that I am rather impatient. So...

Chris looks at Amanda, who returns his stare.

CHRIS
Looking through some things in Louisiana...well, we have reason to believe that...

Chris stops, looking from Vicky to Donna, then to Jake.

JAKE
That? C'mon, man, spill it.

Amanda takes a deep breath and her words tumble out in a hurry.

AMANDA
There is reason to believe that Reginald Love is not dead and gone, as we all thought.

As Vicky looks at Jake in surprise, we see Donna go pale. She says to no one in particular...

DONNA
I think I could use that drink now.

As everyone is left staring at each other, we

FADE OUT