LUCKY LADY/DAY

KC stares at Tito.

KC
We're not open yet.

TITO
I know. I came to talk to Etta Mae. Is she here?

KC
She went out to run an errand...you look really familiar.

TITO
I used to work here.

KC
No, that's not it. You--I know who you are! You're Tito Banacek! You're the one who murdered Grant Harrison!

TITO
(embarrassed)
Yeah, that's me.

KC
They let you out of prison? How come?

TITO
Coerced confession. Not enough evidence.

KC
But you did kill him, right?

TITO
Yeah. But it was kind of self-defense.

KC
How is something "kind of" self-defense?

TITO
He told me he was going to kill me. Because I was going to ruin some plans of his...he was going to kidnap his kid that night.

KC
So you killed him first.

TITO
Something like that.

KC
I've never been alone with a murderer before, but you seem fairly harmless. You used to work here?

TITO
Before...before everything happened. Etta Mae gave me a chance here. I blew it. I came back to apologize to her and to tell her that I'm getting my life on track. She probably won't want to hear it, but I had to try.

KC
She's already angry at me this morning. Might as well give her someone else to yell at.

TITO
Do you work here, too?

KC
(laughing)
Not quite. Etta Mae's my mother. I work over at the Herald.

TITO
I heard about Toni...your sister, I guess? I'm really sorry.

KC
(looking down)
Thanks. It's been tough. But that's what my mother's mad at me about. I'm not going back to college at Harvard. I've decided to stay here and go to BCU.

TITO
Hey, I'm starting at BCU, too. What's your major?

KC
Journalism. What's yours?

Tito shrugs.

TITO
I haven't decided yet. I'm lucky I even get to go, but I have a counselor at the shelter helping me out. I'm working in the bookstore, so stop by and say hi to me sometime.

KC
I will. Aren't you going to wait for my mother?

TITO
(moving towards the door)
Nah. I'd better go. I have enough people in this town angry at me, so I don't want to compound it.

KC
I understand.

TITO
(at the doorway)
Hey, do you want to grab some coffee or something sometime?

KC
(thinking a moment)
Sure, why not? I'll stop by the bookstore and see when you're free.

Tito grins at her.

TITO
Okay, cool. Nice meeting you---I don't even know your name.

KC
It's KC. KC Burrell.

TITO
KC...is that short for anything?

KC
(rolling her eyes)
Karen Camille. I hate it. So I go by KC.

TITO
Karen's not a bad name. (He smiles at her). I'll see you later.

As he leaves, KC watches him.

KC
(to herself)
He's a murderer?

FADE OUT

DAVID AND CINDY'S BEDROOM/SAME DAY

DAVID is sitting up in bed, CINDY resting her head on his chest. Both are wearing self-satisfied smiles, and Cindy is holding one of David's hands, lacing her fingers in and out of his.

CINDY
You were saying about taking over Cory Publishing?

DAVID
(laughing)
Right back to business, are we? You aren't even going to take a short breather?

CINDY
That was the breather, Halliday. Come on, tell me some more about these magnificent plans of yours.

DAVID
You'll learn more about them as they come together. Right now, I'm working on enlisting the aid of someone who could prove VERY helpful to our cause. While I make sure that Halliday Enterprises is running smoothly, of course.

CINDY
Who's going to run Halliday Enterprises while you're ensconced in this takeover?

DAVID
I've been in contact with one of my heads of command back in Omaha. He's already taken over the day-to-day operations, and he assures me that he can handle being on his own for quite awhile. Besides, with email, faxes, and Federal Express, anything of importance can be handled quite easily.

CINDY
Are you ever going to go back there? After all, you haven't returned since your...experience as Jordan Stark. Don't you think you should go see if you have...you know...family, or something out there?

DAVID
I've already taken care of that, as well.

Cindy sits up and pulls away from him.

CINDY
So you DO have family out there? Why haven't you told me about them?

DAVID
You didn't ask.

CINDY
(rolling her eyes)
Give me a break. Okay, so I'm asking now. What's the deal with your family?

DAVID
The usual. A mother, a father, a couple of siblings.

CINDY
No wives hiding in the back of a closet? No kids that you have custody of for six months out of the year?

DAVID
None that I know of, at least. I have a dog. Does that count?

CINDY
Not as long as you don't put the dog in your will.

David laughs and pulls her closer. She smiles at him, kissing him softly on the lips.

CINDY(cont'd)
So...when does this takeover start? When do I get to tell Victoria McKinnon and Amanda Cory that their professional lives are in my hands?

DAVID
Soon, my dearest. Very, very soon. In the meantime...

He kisses her again and pulls the blanket further up over them. As they burrow down underneath of it, we:

FADE OUT

CORY PUBLISHING/SAME DAY

CHRIS
Amanda, we can't just go to New Orleans based on that.

AMANDA
Why not?

CHRIS
Look, calm down, okay? We need to discuss this a little more.

AMANDA
There's nothing to discuss.

CHRIS
Why are you so sure we'll find something in New Orleans?

AMANDA
I can't just do nothing, Chris!

CHRIS
I'm not asking you to do nothing.

AMANDA
I loved Cameron more than anything in the world. I can't stop until I find out who killed him. Why can't you understand that?

CHRIS
I do understand that.

AMANDA
(tearing up)
Do you know what it's like to lose the one person you wanted to spend the rest of your life with?

CHRIS
Yeah, I have some idea.

AMANDA
I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking.

CHRIS
It's all right.

AMANDA
(crying)
I just miss him so much. I have to do something.

CHRIS
(hugging her)
You really think going to New Orleans is going to help?

AMANDA
Yeah, I do.

CHRIS
Okay. I'll make the arrangements.

AMANDA
Really?

CHRIS
Really.

Chris hugs her as she smiles and we:

FADE OUT

FELICIA'S APARTMENT/SAME DAY

FELICIA walks out into the living room, where LORNA is hanging up the phone.

FELICIA
Everything okay with Hayley?

LORNA
Yeah. She mentioned that she's having lunch with Josie tomorrow. She doesn't really seem nervous, just anxious to have all of this over with.

FELICIA
Well, she's only got less than two months to go before she delivers. It's natural to feel anxious.

LORNA
She does seem okay with Josie and Gary, though, doesn't she? I mean...she doesn't seem like she's afraid of them taking the baby?

FELICIA
No, she doesn't. I don't know if it will be difficult for her to still be here, though. She's bound to run into them at some point.

LORNA
I can't stand the thought of her leaving town, though, Mom. Not after we just found her. We'll help her through the adoption. If she has us...she'll be okay.

FELICIA
(smiling)
I know that she's lucky to have you. Very lucky---

Someone knocks on the door as Felicia is speaking.

FELICIA(cont'd)
I'll grab that.

She walks toward the door and opens it to find Morgan standing there, a huge grin on his face.

MORGAN
If it isn't my favorite romance writer....

FELICIA
Morgan!

She reaches out and hugs him, as Lorna rushes over at the sight of him. As he disentangles himself from Felicia's grasp, he grabs Lorna in a huge bear hug, swinging her around. As he sets her down, she smacks him on the chest with both hands.

LORNA
You jerk! You didn't even bother to tell your best friend that you were coming back to Bay City, did you?

MORGAN
I wanted to surprise you. So sue me.

LORNA
(grinning)
I might just do that. So come in! What are you doing here?

She leads Morgan in and they sit on the sofa. Felicia sits in an armchair across from them.

MORGAN
I came to visit, but I think Cass has talked me into moving back here.

LORNA
Are you serious? That's great! Have you talked to John about a job yet? Where are you going to live? What about Cedars? Have you given them notice yet?

MORGAN
(holding up a hand)
Whoa! (He laughs) I just made a final decision today. I haven't informed Cedars, I haven't told anyone yet, but you, Cass, and Lila.

LORNA
You haven't told Andrea yet?

MORGAN
(with a quieting look to her)
No, I haven't told Andrea yet. So....where's my goddaughter?

LORNA
Sleeping. You caught her on nap time. She'll be awake in an hour or so, though. You can spare an hour to catch up with your best friend, right?

MORGAN
Of course I can. Besides, you've got some explaining to do. What's this I hear about you and Matt Cory?

Lorna is stricken speechless, as Felicia grins and taps Morgan on the arm.

FELICIA
It's great to have you home again, Morgan.

As the three begin to talk, we:

FADE OUT