JOSIE and GARY'S APARTMENT-SAME DAY

JOSIE comes out of bedroom with her hair in rollers and makeup on. SHARLENE looks at her and smiles.

JOSIE
What?

SHARLENE
Nothing. Just my beautiful baby girl looking radiant on her wedding day.

JOSIE
Yeah, well, we've done this before.

SHARLENE
So what? It's wonderful that you want to renew your vows.

JOSIE
We wouldn't have to if it hadn't been for me.

SHARLENE
Hey, that's over. Gary has forgiven you. Now it's time you forgave yourself.

JOSIE
I am lucky, aren't I? I mean, to have Gary.

SHARLENE
Yes you are. And Gary is also lucky to have you. You two were meant to be together, Jos. (Josie hugs Sharlene).

JOSIE
I love you. Thank you so much for being here. (They pull away from the hug).

SHARLENE
Where else would I be?

JOSIE
I just want everything to be perfect today. And knowing you're here, makes me think it will be.

SHARLENE
It will be. You're going to have the most beautiful wedding ceremony, honey.

JOSIE
You know, there was a time when I didn't think Gary and I could ever be happy again.

SHARLENE
You were wrong.

JOSIE
I'm not going to mess things up this time.

SHARLENE
I know you're not. You're going to have a wonderful marriage. And who knows, maybe in a few years, there will be a Gary and Josie Jr. running around. (Josie's smile disappears as she turns away). Jos? I'm sorry, I didn't --

JOSIE
No, no! (She turns to Sharlene). It's just hard to think about that right now. I do want children, Mama. But I can't handle another accident. I can't put myself through that again because this time, I don't know if I can move on from it.

SHARLENE
You have to give yourself time, Honey. When you're ready, you'll know. But, Josie, don't deprive yourself of the most joyous experience in the world out of fear. Having you and Gregory and watching you two grow up is the most amazing thing in the world. I want you to know what that feels like. (She takes Josie's hand). And when you're standing here, on your little girl's wedding day, you can tell her the same thing. (They hug).

JOSIE
(with tears in her eyes)
Thank you, Mama.

FADE OUT

FELICIA'S APARTMENT-SAME DAY

FELICIA and LORNA are on the sofa, looking at pictures.

FELICIA
Aww, look at this one! Where was this?

LORNA
Disneyland. Jenna and Dean decided that Gabrielle wasn't too young to appreciate it, and took us. Gabrielle's happy in this picture. You should see the one with Mickey Mouse where she's screaming her head off. And you know, it was ONLY Mickey that scared her? She went right up to Donald and Winnie the Pooh.

FELICIA
Maybe it was the ears. Oh, I love this one with Jenna.

LORNA
Jenna is so good with her. You know, one thing I leanred while in rehab and spending so much time with Jenna these past couple of years is how much I've missed by not being close with her. I really feel like we're sisters now.

FELICIA
You always have been. Maybe it just took Gabrielle to draw the two of you closer.

LORNA
Maybe. She helped me through my pregnancy, and you know how terrified I was, Mom. But then when Gabrielle was born, and I held her for the first time...it was like these maternal instincts that I never knew I had kicked in. I would have died for her from the very beginning.

FELICIA
I missed so much with you, but to see you with your own daughter...it makes up a little for not being with you when you were a child.

LORNA
Well, I learned how to be a mother from you. Can you believe that? Hard-nosed Lorna Devon, who NEVER thought she'd have children, a MOTHER?

FELICIA
I can believe it.

LORNA
Did you ever think that we'd be here? We'd be looking at pictures of my child, Jenna and I would be the best of friends, and you didn't have to threaten us to get to that point? (She grins) I hate to admit it, but I think this is where we were meant to be.

FELICIA
You were meant to be here, with me, and with your daughter. And if Jenna and Dean were here, our family would be complete.

LORNA
Well, maybe we can convince them to come for a visit. I know they've missed you.

FELICIA
We'll get them back here eventually. Now, I think I'm going to go get ready for Josie and Gary's party.

LORNA
I'm going to check on the baby. Are you absolutely POSITIVE that Rachel doesn't mind me leaving Gabrielle with her nanny?

FELICIA
With the Cory Brigade of Staff? No, not at all. They'll take good care of her.

LORNA
All right. I'll go get her ready to go.

Felicia and Lorna disappear into the bedroom and we:

FADE OUT

CARLINO'S--SAME DAY

(REMY and PAULINA are cleaning up).

REMY
Paulina, should I leave these cookies out?

PAULINA
No, we'll put them in the back.

REMY
Or -- we could eat them (SHE grins).

PAULINA
(smiling)
I'll get us some milk.

She goes into kitchen and comes out with two glasses of milk. She hands Remy one glass and keeps one for herself. They sit down at a table and begin eating the cookies.

REMY
When I was little, Tito and I used to always steal cookies out of the cookie jar at one of our foster homes.

Paulina laughs

REMY(cont'd)
You know they'd only let us have one cookie every night. So, we'd wait for everyone else to go to bed, then we'd get up and eat them all.

PAULINA
And how would you explain the disappearing cookies in the morning?

REMY
We wouldn't admit to it. There were 11 of us. Any one of us could have taken the cookies.

PAULINA
But it was always you and Tito. You must have been very close.

REMY
Yeah. He was my only friend growing up. It's hard, you know, being in foster care.

PAULINA
I do know, sweetie. And I am so sorry you had to go through that.

REMY
Oh no, Paulina, I didn't mean --

PAULINA
I know, I know.

REMY
I can't believe I'm sitting here, having milk and cookies with my mother.

They laugh

PAULINA
I can't believe I finally found my daughter. I never stopped thinking about you, Remy.

REMY
I never stopped thinking about you either.

PAULINA
We could have found each other a lot sooner if --

REMY
If Tito hadn't tricked us. Paulina, I think Tito was just so lost. He didn't know what he was doing.

PAULINA
(smiling)
You always see the good in people, don't you?

REMY
There is good in Tito. I know him and I know that he must have been so incredibly out of his mind to do what he did. He's not a bad person.

Paulina puts her hand over Remy's.

PAULINA
I know.

REMY
Growing up without your mother is unbearable sometimes.

PAULINA
And not watching your child grow up is the same way. I can't tell you how much I regret not watching you grow up, Remy. I look at Dante and I think of all the things I missed with you. There's nothing more precious than a child. That's why I want to fill up the whole house with them. (She smiles coyly).

REMY
Paulina, are you --

PAULINA
No, but Joe and I have talked about it.

REMY
(excited)
Really? That's wonderful.

PAULINA
Shhh, we want to keep it to ourselves for now.

REMY
Oh, no problem. I won't tell a soul.

PAULINA
Thanks. Now we better hurry up here before we're late for the party.

They get up and begin picking things up and clearing off the tables

REMY
Paulina?

PAULINA
Yes?

REMY
Do you want a boy or girl?

PAULINA
I would be happy with either one. But if I have a little girl, I know she'll have an excellent role model.

REMY laughs and they leave Carlino's.

FADE OUT