CARLINO'S/EVENING

JOSIE and GARY are watching one another uneasily after HAYLEY'S question. After a moment, Josie looks at Hayley.

JOSIE
I can't exactly tell you that we're a perfect couple, Hayley. We've had our share of problems, but so far we've overcome all of them. I'm sure Cass told you about the death of our son?

HAYLEY
(nodding)
He said you'd lost your baby boy a few months ago. And I'm really sorry to hear that.

JOSIE
Thank you. But what you should know is that we were split up for a few months and were on the verge of a divorce. We did get back together and now we both think our marriage is stronger than ever, but I don't think it's right to keep that from you.

HAYLEY
You went through a traumatic event. That's got to be difficult on anyone.

GARY
And we both have some skeletons in our closets, but they're our own personal skeletons and ones we've been dealing with for a long time.

FELICIA
And both of you have gone through so much and overcome so much that it's not fair to place blame on yourselves for some things that happened in the past. I know that Hayley is looking at NOW, not two months ago, not a year ago. She wants to know what kind of parents you'll be to this baby in a few months.

HAYLEY
Felicia's right. I don't care if you trashed a car when you were seventeen. I just want to make sure that my baby will have love and attention and everything he or she needs.

JOSIE
That we can promise you without a doubt, Hayley.

HAYLEY
(smiling)
Good. Now, can we eat? I'm starving.

Josie, Gary, and Felicia laugh as they open their menus.

FELICIA
I think I'm going to try the lobster ravioli. Paulina makes the best.

JOSIE
(looking over at the counter)
She does, but it looks like she's not here tonight. It's Remy and Nick....oh, my God...and that little creep, Banacek.

GARY
(turning around and looking at the counter)
He got out of jail, didn't he? It's amazing what they let run free now.

HAYLEY
Who? Which one?

JOSIE
The blond guy. He was convicted of murder a few months ago and somehow got off on a technicality. I can't believe he dared to come back here.

HAYLEY
(her voice squeaking in surprise)
Murder?

Felicia is the only one who notices the change in Hayley's voice and she glances at her, scrutinizingly.

GARY
He murdered our mayor. Not that the guy wasn't a son-of-a-bitch, but he also conned one of our friends into thinking he was her son. He's not very well-liked around here.

Hayley quickly turns her attention back to the menu. Felicia, Gary, and Josie fall silent as well, as they read their own menus and we:

FADE OUT

HARBOR CLUB/SAME EVENING

MATT and LORNA are still seated at their table, the bottle of wine chilling in a bucket next to the table. They each have a glass in front of them.

LORNA
Right after Gabrielle learned to walk, I left the room for ONE minute, no longer, I swear. She's in the kitchen, when I hear a thud and this laughter coming from her, and I'm talking HYSTERICAL laughter from this child. So I go into the kitchen, and I look, and there's Gabrielle, COVERED with flour. She'd pulled the tub of it off of the counter, and it had opened up and gone all over her. Not only did she look like a ghost, but she was grabbing at it and throwing it everywhere, just giggling away.

MATT
She sounds like a handful. I can't wait to see what Jasmine's like once she starts walking.

LORNA
They become so much more of their own person, I think, because they aren't relying on you as much to get around. Every time she learns something new, it's like I'm learning something new, too. And I wonder what Gabe would think of her if he could see her---

She stops talking and looks down at the table, twisting her hands.

MATT
(softly)
I imagine he'd feel the same way I do about Jasmine. That he has the most beautiful, smart, and perfect daughter in the world. Lorna, it's okay if you talk about him.

LORNA
I thought coming back to Bay City would help me to come to terms with him being gone, I thought having Gabrielle here would help. But I still think about him all the time. Every corner I turn is another rememberance of what he and I had here.

MATT
You never got to say good-bye.

LORNA
I never got to say a lot of things.

MATT
Do you regret coming back to Bay City?

LORNA
Regret? No, I don't regret it...I've really missed my mother. And if I hadn't come back, I might not have ever known about Hayley.

MATT
That's really wild---I can't believe you had a sister that Lucas never told you about. Are you guys catching up?

LORNA
We're getting closer, I think. It's really strange, just to suddenly have this girl be family. She's a great kid, don't get me wrong. It's just weird. I think she's more comfortable around Felicia than she is around me right now, because Felicia's been helping her with the adoption.

MATT
Did she ever tell you who the father was?

LORNA
No...just that he didn't want anything to do with them. She's been open about everything else, though, just not really that. So, anyway...enough about me. Aside from the cold, how has Miss Jasmine been?

MATT
(with a smile)
She's great. Adorable. Half the time, I don't even think she realizes that her mother and I aren't living together anymore.

LORNA
I'll bet you hate giving her up to go to Lila's every week.

MATT
It tears my heart out. I don't want her to think that her daddy doesn't want her.

LORNA
I don't think she'll ever think that...you're such a great father to her, Matt.

The server arrives with their meals, and they begin to eat, keeping the conversation light.

FADE OUT

CARLINO'S/SAME EVENING

NICK is sitting at the counter next to TITO, his face angry, both of them silent. REMY has been waiting on customers, and walks back to them.

REMY
You two haven't killed each other yet?

NICK
That's not funny, Remy. One of us isn't a murderer.

TITO
(mimicking him)
One of us isn't a murderer. Good line, Nick. How long did it take you to think of that one?

NICK
You know, Tito, I've been pretty damn calm. If I wanted to, I could pound your face into the ground.

REMY
No one's getting anything pounded. Tito, we've talked. I think it's time for you to go.

TITO
We haven't finished our discussion, Remy. I haven't asked you what I needed to ask you.

NICK
She wants you to leave, Banacek. Or can you not understand that in plain English?

REMY
Nick...knock it off, will you? What, Tito? I'll answer your question and then you'll leave.

TITO
About Hayley...will you help me?

REMY
Will I help you? No, Tito, I will not help you. I don't think you're doing the right thing.

TITO
I'm taking some responsibility and I'm not doing the right thing?

REMY
It's the wrong kind of responsibility, Tito! And I won't help you when I think she's taking the right steps!

TITO
She's not right. And I'll prove it to everyone...thanks for nothing, Rem.

Tito stands up and walks out briskly.

REMY
(her tone disappointed)
Tito---

NICK
You don't need that guy. Why do you insist on talking to him?

REMY
Nick, I know you don't understand this, but Tito and I connect on a level that you'll never understand.

NICK
I don't want to understand it.

REMY
And I'm not asking you to understand. I wish you'd just accept me for who I am, and who my friends are, okay?

NICK
I can accept you, but I can't accept him. I'm sorry, Remy.

REMY
Fine, Nick. I'm not going over this with you again. I refuse to do that. Look, I'm out of here in another hour or so. Can we go somewhere after that?

NICK
Yeah. I'll come back and pick you up. (He begins to walk away, but comes back and kisses her lightly.) No matter what, Rem, I still love you.

REMY
(calling after him)
I love you, too.

FADE OUT