CUT TO:

CORY LIVING ROOM-SAME DAY

CARL and VICKY are seated on the sofa. Carl has his hand clasped over Vicky's.

CARL
Twins, eh? You're in for a real treat. But you've got those two boys to help you out. How are they reacting to the news?

VICKY
Kirkland's just happy he'll have two people smaller than him to boss around. After all these years of Steven picking on him, he figures it's his turn.

CARL
You do have two extraordinary boys. You are incredibly lucky.

VICKY
I know, and I count my blessings every day. How are Cory and Elizabeth doing?

CARL
Running amok, wreaking havoc, the usual two year old terrorizations. But delightful, as always. But children are not the reason I wanted to see you, Victoria.

VICKY
I kind of gathered this wasn't the usual catch-up session from your call. So what's going on?

CARL
I realize that you'll probably want to take it easy once this pregnancy gets a little further along, but I have a small proposition for you.

VICKY
A proposition? Sounds serious.

CARL
It is rather serious to me. It has to do with Cory and Brava. I want you to come work with us, for just a few months.

VICKY
Me? Work at Cory? Carl, what in the world are you thinking?

CARL
I'm thinking that you once had a very promising writing career, and I'm thinking that you've got the brains and the experience we need to get Brava back on top in the US market. In seven months, you're going to be up to your eyeballs in children. While you've still got the energy, I'm asking you to do me this favor and come to Brava.

VICKY
I don't know, Carl...I've been thinking about kickstarting my writing career again, before the twins arrive, but I just don't know....

CARL
If you find that coming to the office is too taxing for you, we'll set up a home office. If you decide after the first week that it's not what you want, or expected, we can end our partnership, right there. But Vicky, this business, it will one day be part of Steven's inheritance. And Kirkland's, if he wants it.

Vicky's face is torn and she and Carl watch each other.

FADE OUT

CUT TO:

ACT I

Scene 2

INT.JOSIE AND GARY'S APARTMENT-DAY

JOSIE and GARY are seated on the sofa, looking over their old wedding pictures. As they smile at one another, there is a knock on the door. Josie gets up to answer it, and sees JOHN, SHARLENE, and GREGORY. Gregory is now around fifteen years old, athletic with blondish-brown hair and eyes.

JOSIE
Oh, my God! What are you all doing here?

SHARLENE
You didn't think we'd miss tonight, did you?

She hugs Josie tightly. As they let go, Sharlene reaches out to hug Gary and John hugs Josie. John and Gary shake hands, while Josie grabs an embarrassed Gregory in a hug.

JOSIE
Wow, look at you, little brother. You've gone and grown up on me!

GREGORY
(twisting away)
Come on...don't do that. You look great, Josie.

JOHN
You look beautiful, sweetheart. How have you been?

JOSIE
Pretty good. Taking everything one day at a time, but things are really starting to look like they're going our way. Why didn't you guys call us? We would've come to get you at the airport!

SHARLENE
Well, we had a stop to make first.

JOSIE
A stop?

JOHN
At the hospital. I needed to talk to the current administrator. What would the two of you say to us moving back to Bay City?

GARY
You're coming back to town?

JOHN
I've been offered the Chief of Staff position again. I'm thinking about taking it.

JOSIE
That would be wonderful! Mama, John, I would LOVE it if the three of you moved backto Bay City!

SHARLENE
I can't think of anything I'd like better than to be close to my baby girl again.

GARY
Just let us know when you need help moving in.

They all laugh and move into the living room, where they sit.

SHARLENE
So tell me about tonight. What's planned?

JOSIE
Nothing big. A few people on the dock of the Harbor Club, we'll renew our vows, and then there'll be a cocktail party inside. I know it might seem silly to everyone that we're renewing our vows, but we really wanted to do this.

JOHN
You two have been through a lot. You deserve this night. And you deserve to be happy.

GREGORY
So, are you going to have any cute girls there tonight?

JOSIE
Oy! You really are growing up. When you left Bay City, I seem to recall a kid more into Nintendo and skateboarding than into girls.

GREGORY
Hey, I'm growing up. So answer my question, Sis.

JOSIE
Alli will be there. You can hang out with her. And if you're staying in Bay City, you'll probably want to meet Jake's nephew, Sean. I think he's around your age.

GREGORY
Cool.

GARY
Where are you guys going to live?

JOHN
We thought we'd look for a house out near Vicky. Since we're pretty sure we can't get the farmhouse back, we'll have to start from scratch.

JOSIE
Did you ask Nick about Grandma Clara's farmhouse? I mean, Nick's still young. He might want to sell you the farmhouse and get his own place in town.

SHARLENE
That's an idea. BUT, today isn't about us. Today is about you two.

GARY
(standing)
And I have to go to the Harbor Club to finalize a few things. John, Gregory, want to join me? There'll be some heavy things to lift, we can pretend to be macho.

JOHN
Sure. Come on, Greg, let's go help your brother-in-law.

Gary, John, and Gregory leave the house.

Sharlene (turning to Josie)
So....let's talk.

They smile at each other and we:

FADE OUT

INT.FELICIA'S APARTMENT-SAME DAY

FELICIA is sitting on the sofa with GABRIELLE. She smiles at the little girl and holds a toy in front of her. SERGEI walks in from the kitchen and sits next to them.

SERGEI
She is beautiful child. Much like her mother and grandmother.

FELICIA
I can't tell you how wonderful it is to have my granddaughter here with me, Sergei. And to have my daughter here. It feels like my family is almost whole again.

SERGEI
Almost?

FELICIA
My other daughter, Jenna, is still in California with her fiance. But I'm happy to have Lorna and my Gabrielle here. I just hope I can convince Lorna to stay here.

SERGEI
She would not like to stay with her mother?

FELICIA
Bay City holds some bad memories for her. Her fiance---Gabrielle's father---was killed here.

SERGEI
She mention this before you arrive. Terrible thing to happen. How did he die?

FELICIA
He was shot. Part of an inside police job. My heart broke for my little girl when that happened. She wasn't here, she was away recovering from an accident, and when I had to make that phone call to her...to tell her that Gabe was dead...well, it was the most difficult thing I've ever had to do.

SERGEI
You are strong woman, Felicia.

FELICIA
I didn't feel so strong that day. And this little one, to know that she'll never know her father...it's so unfair. It's unfair that MY daughter lost her father the same way, and that HER daughter won't even know the kind of man her father was.

SERGEI
Lorna's father was shot?

FELICIA
(nodding)
I know, strange twist of fate, isn't it? He died in Lorna's arms. She's had to fight those demons ever since it happened.

SERGEI
How sad. You both lose man you love for same reason.

FELICIA
I want Gabrielle to know who her father and her grandfather were, though. She's going to grow up with a love and respect for those men, I know that both Lorna and I will make sure of that. But I'm selfish, I want my daughter and her daughter here with me.

SERGEI
You are not selfish, Felicia. You love them. You are very good mother.

FELICIA
Sergei, will you do me a favor?

SERGEI
For you? Anything, my Felicia.

FELICIA
Try to subtly convince Lorna to stick around Bay City, will you? I know you just met her, but I know as well as anyone that you've got amazing powers of persuasion.

SERGEI
I will do my best, for you, my Felicia....

The phone rings.

FELICIA
(handing Gabrielle to Sergei)
Will you hold her for me? (Sergei takes Gabrielle and begins to make funny faces at her. The baby begins laughing, as Felicia reaches for the phone.) Hello?....This is Ms. Gallant....yes, Dr. Ramsey, thank you.....you did get the test results?....everything's fine?....well, that's good to hear, but that doesn't explain....yes, I know....all right...thank you, Dr. Ramsey. (She hangs up).

SERGEI
Everything is okay, no?

FELICIA
Everything is okay, yes. (She takes Gabrielle back) I had some tests run for this nagging sore throat and fatigue I've had. It must just be a virus, though, because everything came back negative. I just wish it would go away.

SERGEI
I will make you tea with honey. I use for my throat when my singing is irritating.

FELICIA
(With a grin at his choice of words)
Thank you, Sergei. (Sergei goes into the kitchen) And you, my little one, let's wait for your mommy, okay?

FADE OUT