THE HARBOR CLUB/SAME NIGHT

HAYLEY'S face appears worried, while LORNA'S is angry.

LORNA
I want you to tell me something, Hayley, and I want you to be honest. You were looking for my mother before that first meeting, weren't you? The chance meeting in the Harbor Club wasn't a chance meeting after all, was it?

HAYLEY
Yes, I came looking for her! Someone told me she had a job available! That's not a crime!

LORNA
No, it's not. But there's something more with you, Hayley, I know it. And I want to know what it is.

HAYLEY
(flustered and angry)
You don't want to know. Just leave it, Lorna. Don't.

Lorna is stunned into silence with this last sentence. She watches Hayley without speaking.

HAYLEY
I'm not going to cheat your mother, I'm not here to destroy her life, I'm not here to give her a hard time. Once my baby is adopted, I'm leaving Bay City.

LORNA
Who are you, Hayley, if that's even your real name?

HAYLEY
Yes, my real name is Hayley Shepard. That's always been my name. I have nothing to hide and no reason to change it. I'm serious, Lorna, please just drop this. Nothing's going to be gained.

LORNA
I will NOT drop this, Hayley! I want to know why you've become so close to my mother in such a short period of time!

HAYLEY
Fine...you want to know? I'll tell you...or better yet, I'll show you! But don't say I didn't warn you that you wouldn't want to know! (She reaches in her purse and pulls out a picture) This is me when I was a child. This is a picture my mother took of me and my father. This man is my father.

Lorna takes the picture as Hayley passes it to her. She looks at it, her eyes growing wide, then looks back up at Hayley.

LORNA
Oh...my...God....you can't be serious.

HAYLEY
Very serious. He was my father.

Lorna sits staring at the picture in shock as we:

FADE OUT

BRAVA OFFICES/LATE NIGHT

AMANDA holds VICKY'S story in her hands.

AMANDA
Vicky, this needs more editing.

VICKY
Amanda, it's late. I'm going home.

AMANDA
(handing VICKY the story)
This story is supposed to go to print tonight.

VICKY
(handing the story back to AMANDA)
Then edit it yourself.

AMANDA
I'm not going to fight with you about this. Either you make the changes I suggest, or it just won't run in the next issue.

CAMERON walks into the office

CAMERON
Hey, beautiful.

Amanda turns around as Cameron gives her a kiss.

CAMERON
Are you almost finished?

AMANDA
As soon as Vicky rewrites her story.

VICKY
It ain't gonna happen, Amanda. Not tonight. As soon as I'm finished with this, I'm leaving.

CAMERON
I think I'll leave you two alone.

AMANDA
You don't have to go.

CAMERON
It's ok. I have to pick up a package for Carl. Toni's meeting me anyway.

AMANDA
Here?

CAMERON
Yeah, we have some things we need to discuss.

AMANDA
(looking puzzled)
Oh, okay.

Cameron gives Amanda another kiss.

VICKY
If you two are going to continue to be lovey dovey, would you mind doing it in another room?

AMANDA
Vicky, would you --

CAMERON
No, no, it's all right. I'll go wait for Toni in Carl's office. I love you.

AMANDA
I love you, too.

Cameron walks out. Amanda turns to Vicky, who gives Amanda a sickly-sweet smile.

FADE OUT

UNKNOWN OFFICE/SAME NIGHT

A MAN sits at a desk, his face shaded by darkness. His voice is deep and rich, as he speaks into a phone.

MYSTERY MAN
It should be taken care of by now. He should be taken care of by now. If all goes according to plan, everything will be working my way very shortly. (laughs evilly) No, I'm not concerned about the consequences. This plan has been too long in waiting to worry about consequences. And I don't expect to have any consequences.

He laughs again as we:

FADE OUT

CARL'S OFFICE AT CORY/NIGHT

CAMERON is looking around the office as Toni comes into the office.

TONI
Hi, Cameron.

CAMERON
Hey, Toni.

TONI
What are you looking for?

CAMERON
Carl received some kind of letter about picking up a package here.

TONI
A letter? Why would someone leave something for him here?

CAMERON
I don't know. That's why I called you. Carl's been receiving mysterious phone calls and letters and even gifts.

TONI
What do you mean mysterious?

CAMERON
He doesn't know who they're from.

TONI
What are these gifts?

CAMERON
He got a pendant.

TONI
No card or return address?

CAMERON
Nothing.

TONI
So, what do you think it's some kind of stalker?

CAMERON
I don't know what to make of it, but if the letter he got tonight about the package here is part of the mysterious calls and deliveries, then this person has access to Carl's office.

TONI
Let me see the letter.

Cameron hands the letter to Toni, who reads it over.

CAMERON
What do you think?

TONI
I think we need to have this checked out.

CAMERON
I agree. Maybe we can find out where it came from.

Toni's pager goes off and she looks down to see the number.

TONI
It's Joe. May I use the phone?

CAMERON
Yeah, help yourself.

TONI
Thanks.

Toni picks up the phone and calls Joe.

JOE
(on phone at the police station)
Carlino.

TONI
Joe, it's Toni.

JOE
Toni, where are you?

TONI
I'm at Cory. What's up?

JOE
I need your help with something.

TONI
Funny, I think I need yours too.

JOE
Okay, you first.

Cut To: AMANDA and VICKY in the other office. Vicky puts the story on Amanda's desk and walks towards door.

AMANDA
Vicky, this isn't done.

VICKY
It's as done as it's going to be.

Vicky opens the door and Amanda closes it from just behind her. Vicky turns to face Amanda with her back to the door.

AMANDA
You know, I knew it was a bad idea for you to come back to work here. You're going to have to accept the fact that I'm in charge.

VICKY
Oh, what are you, Amanda - five?

AMANDA
Shut up, Vicky.

Cut To: JOE and TONI are on phone. CAMERON finds the package and lays it on the desk and examines it.

JOE
You're kidding. So what's this package?

TONI
I don't know, Cameron just found it. We haven't opened it yet.

Cameron begins to open it.

JOE
This is weird, Toni.

TONI
I don't know what --

Toni is cut off as the package explodes and flames erupt in the office.

JOE
Toni? Toni? Toni, what's going on?

Cut To: AMANDA and VICKY are still in the other office when the bomb explodes. They're both thrown down by the force of the explosion. Vicky falls by the desk and hits her head on the corner. Amanda falls a few feet away. Both are unconscious.

Cut to: JOE at the police station.

JOE
(To Officer Peterson)
Peterson! Find out what the hell's going on at Cory.

PETERSON goes to his desk and picks up phone. Joe continues to call Toni.

JOSIE
Joe, what is it?

JOE
I was talking to Toni and I hear this loud crash or something and she's gone.

JOSIE
What do you mean gone?

JOE
The phone was cut off.

JOE
(into phone)
Damn it, Toni, what's happening?

Cut To: Carl's office is engulfed in flames. TONI and CAMERON aren't seen. The fire is slowly spreading.

Cut To: AMANDA and VICKY are still on the ground in the other office. Both are still unconscious as the room begins to fill with smoke.

FADE OUT

END OF EPISODE THREE