Episode One, Part Eight

JOSIE and GARY are talking with JOHN and SHARLENE, Sharlene clasping Josie's hands in hers. As they talk, FELICIA walks up behind them.

FELICIA
Congratulations, you two. (She hugs Gary, then hugs Josie) That was a lovely ceremony.

JOSIE
Thank you, Felicia. I'm really glad you could come.

FELICIA
I wouldn't have missed it. Hello, John. Hello, Sharlene.

John hugs Felicia, and Sharlene follows suit.

JOHN
You look wonderful, Felicia.

FELICIA
So do both of you. I saw Greg over there...he's really grown, hasn't he?

SHARLENE
Getting taller than his mom. He'll be taller than his dad one of these days.

JOHN
How's Lorna doing?

FELICIA
She's okay. She's over with Sergei right now...

JOHN
Oh, yes, the singing Russian.

JOSIE
He's very good, John. You'd be surprised.

SHARLENE
Is Lorna staying here?

FELICIA
I think so. At least, I hope so. You know as well I do how difficult it is to be away from your children.

SHARLENE
I certainly do. But that'll change soon, I think...we're moving back to Bay City, Felicia.

FELICIA
You are? That's wonderful. So you'll be near Josie again.

JOHN
I'm taking the Chief of Staff position at the hospital again.

JOSIE
If you three will excuse us, we're going to go say hello to Vicky, and then to Lorna, I think.

SHARLENE
Sure, sweetie.

JOHN
Just save me a dance, okay?

JOSIE
Would I miss a dance with you?

She and Gary walk off.

FELICIA
Before we go any further, I just want the two of you to know something--

SHARLENE
--Felicia, this isn't necessary.

FELICIA
Yes, it is, Sharlene. I want you to know that I'm happy for both of you. I hope we can all be friends again, but I just want you to know that I'm not expecting any miracles.

JOHN
We're all adults, Felicia. I'm pretty sure we can all handle ourselves in an adult manner.

SHARLENE
So am I. Shall we all let bygones be bygones?

FELICIA
(relieved)
Sounds wonderful to me. And it really will be nice to have all of you back in Bay City.

SHARLENE
(looking around)
It'll be nice to be back here. Back home.

They smile at each other as we:

FADE OUT

THE HARBOR CLUB-SAME EVENING

LORNA and SERGEI are talking at a table.

SERGEI
So I am driving limousine and scaring your mother. She is yelling to me that she will be having me deported and now she is my muse!

LORNA
(laughing)
That's my mother for you. The biggest heart this side of the Mississippi.

JOSIE and GARY approach the table.

JOSIE
Lorna?

Lorna looks up at Josie, a smile crossing her face. She stands up and wordlessly she and Josie hug. Finally they let go, and Gary hugs Lorna.

JOSIE
I can't even tell you how great it is to see you.

LORNA
Both of you, too. I'm glad you did this, especially for those of us that missed your wedding in the first place.

GARY
We're glad you're here. When did you arrive?

LORNA
Just this morning. I haven't really seen very many people.

JOSIE
I have so many things I want to talk to you about. I know we've sent letters and emails, but there's so much that we have to catch up on...

GARY
And I think that's our cue...come on, Sergei, let's go get these lovely ladies something to drink. Two sparkling ciders for two sparkling personalities coming up. (He and Sergei walk away)

Josie sits down next to Lorna

JOSIE
How are you doing? Really? Be honest with me.

LORNA
I'm okay....really. It's difficult, but I feel like I'm facing this head-on. I couldn't put off coming back here forever.

JOSIE
And how's the baby?

LORNA
She's great. You're the only one I even told about her. Thanks for keeping my secret, Josie.

JOSIE
Hey, what are friends for? I can't wait to get my hands on that little one, though.

LORNA
She's yours as soon as you want to see her. And Josie....my mother told me what
happened with Gary, Jr. I'm so sorry.

JOSIE
(her eyes tearing up)
Thanks. I think about him all the time...but I know that he's safe now, away from all the pain that he was in when he was born. And Gary and I will have our child someday....I know we will. But anyway, onto a happier subject...

LORNA
I'm really looking forward to being back here now. Everyone's been so sweet to me, and that's just today. Even Vicky seemed glad to see me.

JOSIE
Everyone knows what you went through losing Gabe...and they know how much you loved him and he loved you.

LORNA
I know this isn't the place, Josie, but sometime...I need you to tell me about that day. I need you to tell me what happened and how it happened.

JOSIE
Lorna--

LORNA
--I mean it, Josie. I really need to know. I have to be able to tell my daughter when she's old enough to ask. I want to be able to answer her questions about her father.

JOSIE
All right. Sometime.

LORNA
Thanks. (She smiles softly at Josie) Why don't we go help the guys with those drinks?

They get up from the table and go after Gary and Sergei..

FADE OUT

HARBOR CLUB BALCONY-SAME NIGHT

TONI, CHRIS, JAKE, and VICKY are standing on the balcony talking.

JAKE
You know, Toni, I have to tell you how relieved I am that you and Chris are staying in Bay City. I didn't know how I was going to handle the Herald without my number one reporter.

CHRIS
(puts his hand on Jake's forehead)
Number one reporter? You're admitting it? Are you feeling all right, man? You must be sick.

VICKY
(laughs)
I think this father-to-be thing might be affecting Jake more than we first thought.

JAKE: This is the new me. I am now a man who is not afraid to express his feelings.

CHRIS
(laughing)
Yeah, right man. This should be an interesting eight months.

TONI
You know what I'm looking forward to? I can't wait to see two little Jake McKinnons running around.

JAKE
(puts his arm around Vicky and kisses her cheek)
Well, if we're lucky they'll be like their mother.

CHRIS
Oh, yeah, man, you've got it bad.

Jake smacks him teasingly and we:

FADE OUT

HARBOR CLUB-SAME NIGHT

CARL and RACHEL are dancing. CARL's cell phone rings.

CARL
Just excuse me for one moment. (He walks over by the bar) Hello, Hutchins here. (pause) This isn't a good time. (He quickly puts the phone back in his pocket and walks over to Rachel, taking her hand.) Its time for us to leave, darling.

RACHEL
Carl, what's going on?

CARL
Nothing of importance. Now come along.

(They exit)

HARBOR CLUB DANCE FLOOR-SAME NIGHT

JOSIE and GARY are in the middle of the floor.

SINGER
And now, Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair will lead off our first dance of the evening.

The band starts to play Shania Twain's "From This Moment".

Gary and Josie dance, smiling at one another. After a minute, Joe and Paulina join them on the dance floor, followed by Jake and Vicky, Chris and Toni, Amanda and Cameron, and John and Sharlene. Matt walks over to Lorna and Felicia, where Lorna is smiling wistfully at the dancers.

MATT
Lorna, I was wondering if you wanted to dance.

LORNA
(grinning)
Sure, Matt...we haven't danced in awhile, have we?

MATT
A lot has changed since D&M, hasn't it?

LORNA
More than a lot, Matt. You'd never know we were the same people.

FELICIA
You two are wasting the song. Would you go?

She gives Lorna a little push, smiling, as they go onto the dance floor. Sergei holds out his hand to Felicia, who shakes her head, then sighs and takes his hand, going onto the dance floor.

The couples dance to the song, as we:

FADE OUT

End Episode One

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