CORY MANSION/SAME NIGHT

AMANDA is still on the phone with ANTOINETTE

AMANDA
So, did you find out who the woman is, or did you find out who commissioned it?

ANTOINETTE
Both, actually. I mentioned the painting to Grandmother, and since it's always been a particular favorite of hers, she had a bit of information retained on it.

AMANDA
Did she know the subject?

ANTOINETTE
She says that she didn't know her. But as I said, Grandmother's memory has been affected by the stroke. She may just not be remembering as well as she'd like.

AMANDA
She's remembered the subject and who commissioned the painting. That's more than enough for me.

ANTOINETTE
She says that the subject of the painting was a young woman named Jessie Hart.

AMANDA
(in shock)
Jessie Hart?

ANTOINETTE
Yes. Grandmother says that she was a young dancer in New Orleans, on her way to a promising ballet career.

AMANDA
I can't believe it....Jessie Hart.

ANTOINETTE
You've heard of her?

AMANDA
I know her daughter...

ANTOINETTE
Then perhaps you'd know the man who commissioned the painting. His name was Reginald Love.

Amanda is speechless for a moment.

ANTOINETTE (cont'd)
Amanda? Does that make any sense to you?

AMANDA
It makes more sense to me than I can explain, Antoinette. Thank you, thank you so much. When this is all over, I'll call you and tell you the full story.

Amanda hangs up the phone and rushes from the room.

CUT TO:

BAY CITY TOWERS-PENTHOUSE B/SAME NIGHT

VICKY waits for Reginald to give her a name.

REGINALD
I need you to promise your help, Victoria. I'm in need of an ally while in Bay City and we have always counted on one another, haven't we?

VICKY
(coldly)
This is different. I haven't even seen you for ten years. I have a family, a husband, children...I'm not the same schemer that I used to be.

REGINALD
Yes, I can see that. But you are still MY granddaughter, above all.

VICKY
No, not above all. I'm a mother first and foremost. And my children are the most important parts of my life.

REGINALD
Then we have the same priorities, Victoria. My children are the priorities in my life, especially this unknown child. I want to give her a name, a family, but I'll have to fight the prejudices involved.

VICKY
I don't understand why you're so intent on doing this NOW. Is she about to meet some horrible fate?

REGINALD
No. But there's more...an enemy that I must fight while I'm here. I need your support in bringing his past crimes to justice.

VICKY
Who?

REGINALD
Unfortunately, it's someone that you're close to...although, how, I'm not sure.

VICKY
Wait...you're here to get revenge?

REGINALD
Not revenge. Justice.

Vicky stands up and picks up her bag.

VICKY
I'm leaving before this goes any further. I don't want to be involved in this, Grandpa! I'm not like I used to be, you know that!

REGINALD
Victoria--!

VICKY
No! If you're here for revenge, you can do it without me. And you can meet your long-lost child without me. I won't help you!

She runs from the room, leaving Reginald watching after her in stunned silence. He shakes his head.

REGINALD
Oh, Victoria...I thought you would be on my side. I'll have to face this alone. It's time to meet my daughter.

He stands up, walking slowly across the room.

CUT TO:

BCUH WAITING ROOM/SAME NIGHT

Both Lorna and Tito arrive back in the waiting room at the same time. Gary and Josie are still talking quietly and Felicia is sitting with her eyes closed. She opens them as Lorna approaches.

FELICIA
You saw the baby?

LORNA
(smiling)
Felicia he's beautiful. Perfect. I just want Hayley to see him.

TITO
She woke up. A few minutes ago.

LORNA
(turning on him)
You saw her?

TITO
I went in for a few minutes. She opened her eyes. She knows about the baby, she knows he's here.

LORNA
She's awake? I want to see her if she's awake.

MORGAN walks into the waiting room, his face grim. Lorna rushes to him.

LORNA
Morgan! Tito said that she woke up! That's great news, isn't it?

Morgan glances at Tito.

MORGAN
Lorna, I just examined her…she's gone into a coma.

Stunned silence follows his announcement. Lorna shakes her head at him.

LORNA
No, no, no, Morgan! Tito just told her! She knows about the baby, she knows she has a little boy!

Morgan grabs her by the shoulders.

MORGAN
We're keeping a close eye on her. If anything happens, you'll be notified immediately.

LORNA
I want to be with her.

MORGAN
I'll take you to her in a few minutes, all right?

Lorna nods, fighting tears. Morgan gives her a quick hug, then leaves. Felicia takes Lorna to one of the sofas and sits with her. Tito walks tentatively over to Gary and Josie.

TITO
You're going to make good parents for him.

GARY
(looking up at him)
We didn't know he was yours.

TITO
Does it matter?

JOSIE
(vehemently)
No.

TITO
I've changed. I'm trying to become the kind of person that my son would be proud to know when he's older. If I want to do that, I have to let him go. I didn't know how Hayley could give him up, but now I understand. Her decision…I support her and I won't fight it. Not now. It's what she wants.

GARY
That means a lot to us.

TITO
Just make sure he knows that we gave him to you because we loved him…not because we didn't want him.

JOSIE
We will.

Lorna has been listening to their exchange, and suddenly walks over to them.

LORNA
Wait.

Josie, Gary, and Tito look at her.

LORNA(cont'd)
I'm sorry…Josie, Gary, I'm so sorry…but if Hayley…if my sister dies, I can't let the adoption go through.

Over Gary and Josie's protests, Lorna continues.

LORNA
I can't do it. I just found out about her…if I lose her now, if I let you adopt the baby, I'm giving up the one piece of her that I have left. I can't let him go too!

With a cry, Lorna rushes from the room, Felicia following. Gary, Josie, and Tito watch them leave, stunned.

FADE OUT