DAVID'S PENTHOUSE/DAY

CINDY is standing at the window of the penthouse, a glass of wine in her hand, as she stares out of the window. She sighs, a quiet sigh, but loud enough for DAVID to hear as he walks from the bedroom.

DAVID
Something wrong, Cindy?

Cindy turns at the sound of his voice, obviously flustered.

CINDY
What? Wrong?

DAVID
You sighed.

CINDY
I sighed?

DAVID
You know. Sighed. A sound that usually indicates displeasure.

CINDY
I was thinking, that's all. Just thinking about my life and where I want to go from here.

She walks away from the window, taking a sip out of the wine as she nears David.

CINDY(cont'd)
Do you think about our future?

DAVID
(with a puzzled look)
I think about my future all the time---

CINDY
Not yours. Ours. Both of us.

DAVID
(recognition crossing his face)
Is this why you're so pensive? You're concerned that I might not think we have a future together? Cindy, you can put that thought out of your head. I want nothing more than to go through the rest of life with you.

CINDY
I guess I just find it hard to believe that this could be possible for me. All of this--(she waves her arm around the expanse of the room)---and even love to go along with it.

DAVID
Why? Why is this so hard to accept?

CINDY
You haven't experienced my life over the past several years. Hell, you haven't experienced my life since I was born. I was always second-best and I always got second-best. When I was a kid, I was second-best behind my sister, Sarah...second-best to my parents. Sarah was the golden daughter, I was the leftover. Anything I did, she'd already accomplished it. Then Gabe chose her over me. And when I finally thought I had a chance to be first in someone's life, Gabe fell in love with Lorna. And he died.

DAVID
But you're past all of that now....you're better than all of that now.

CINDY
I almost had a chance to be first in Grant's life. But he couldn't ever get past Victoria. And there was Kirkland.

DAVID
I promise you, Cindy...you will always be first in my life.

CINDY
Promises aren't enough, David! Can't you see that? Sarah promised all of that to Gabe and he lost her! Gabe promised all of that to Lorna, and she lost him, too! A promise doesn't mean anything!

As she turns away from him, despair and anger on her face, we:

FADE OUT

LUCKY LADY/DAY

ETTA MAE is at a table in the Lucky Lady, going over receipts. KC is at the bar, fixing a Coke.

ETTA MAE
KC, why don't you join me for dinner tonight?

KC
I can't. I have to work later.

ETTA MAE
Tonight? When is your last day?

KC
Not for a while.

ETTA MAE
When do you have to get back to school?

KC
Well, I'm not going to school, Mama.

ETTA MAE
(shocked)
What?

KC
With everything that's happened, I'm going to take a semester off and continue working at The Herald.

ETTA MAE
Like hell you are! Your butt is going back to school next week, young lady.

KC
Look, Mama, Harvard will still be there next semester.

ETTA MAE
KC, this is your future.

KC
It's my decision and I don't want to go! Not now.

As she and Etta Mae glare at one another, we:

FADE OUT

CORY PUBLISHING/DAY

AMANDA is sitting at desk looking around the office. CHRIS walks in.

CHRIS
Amanda.

AMANDA
Hi, Chris.

CHRIS
Wow, this place is still pretty bad, huh?

AMANDA
They're trying to clean up and restore everything.

CHRIS
So, what did you want to meet here for?

AMANDA
I found some of Cameron's files on his investigation. I was thinking you and I could go over it.

CHRIS
Maybe find some sort of clue to what happened?

AMANDA
A clue...an explanation. ANYTHING that will help.

She takes out the papers and Chris sits, as we:

FADE OUT

CASS and LILA'S/DAY

CHARLIE is on the floor of the apartment, playing with JASMINE on a blanket. Jasmine is giggling and laughing while Charlie talks to her in a quiet voice.

CHARLIE
When Dad and Lila get back, they might have a new place for us to live, Jasmine. I told them they should pick a house with a pool---

Someone knocks on the door as she's speaking. She jumps up.

CHARLIE(cont'd)
I'll get it, Rebecca!

REBECCA (off-screen)
Don't forget to ask who it is!

CHARLIE
(rolling her eyes)
I won't!

She reaches the door and stands in front of it.

CHARLIE (cont'd)
Who is it?

MAN'S VOICE (O.S)
Can't you guess who this is, Charlie-girl?

CHARLIE
(a slow smile spreading across her face)
I can guess. Is it Matt?

MAN'S VOICE (O.S.)
Nope. Come on, you can do better than that.

CHARLIE
(grinning)
It's Gary.

MAN'S VOICE (O.S.)
Guess again, kiddo.

Charlie flings the door open, a huge smile on her face.

CHARLIE
Uncle Morgan!

She jumps into his arms and he hugs her. He looks very much the same as before, although the shadow of a beard graces his chin and his curls are closely cropped.

MORGAN
I have missed you, kiddo! I can't believe how old you've gotten!

CHARLIE
I'm a kid, Uncle Morgan. We do grow, you know.

MORGAN
(laughing)
Where's your dad? And Lila?

CHARLIE
They're out looking at houses. We have a sitter. Let me tell her you're here so she doesn't freak out.

Charlie runs into the kitchen as Morgan looks around the apartment. As he walks further in, he sees Jasmine. He walks over to her and picks her up.

MORGAN
Well, hi there, little one. You must be Miss Jasmine Cory. Your stepdad's told me a lot about you.

Jasmine gives him a toothy grin and he laughs. As he sits on the sofa with her, the front door opens and LILA walks in. She sees Morgan holding Jasmine and stops short, a panicked look crossing her face. Morgan stands up with Jasmine and walks towards her.

LILA
I don't know who you are or what you're doing with my child, but give her to me!

As Lila moves over the grab Jasmine from his arms, Charlie comes out of the kitchen.

CHARLIE
Lila! This is my uncle Morgan! He came back to visit.

LILA
(stopping in her tracks and beginning to laugh)
Morgan? As in Cass' BROTHER, Morgan? My goodness, I am such an idiot. Now I recognize you from the pictures.

MORGAN
(smiling)
So you AREN'T going to have me arrested?

LILA
No, of course not! A bit of a strange introduction, but I'm your sister-in-law, Lila Winthrop.

MORGAN
Dr. Morgan Winthrop, at your services. I believe this little one belongs to you.

LILA
(taking Jasmine)
Yes, she does. Does Cass know you're here?

MORGAN
Not yet.

LILA
He is just going to be so excited when he finds out that you're here. He was parking the car.

The front door opens again and CASS walks in. He sees Morgan and stops.

CASS
I have GOT to be seeing things.

MORGAN
You're not seeing a thing, big brother. I'm home.

Cass begins to smile as Morgan goes toward him. The brothers embrace and we:

FADE OUT