CORY MANSION/DAY

CARL is holding the pendant as RACHEL walks in.

RACHEL
Carl? (Carl doesn't reply and just stares at the pendant). Carl?

CARL
Yes?

RACHEL
You're in another world. What's going on?

CARL
What do you mean?

RACHEL
What is that you're holding?

CARL
(sighing)
Rachel, I have to be honest with you.

RACHEL
What?

CARL
Someone is trying to tell me something.

RACHEL
What are you talking about?

CARL
I received this pendant in the mail. And I've been receiving phone calls and letters form some anonymous person.

RACHEL
Is that what's been bothering you? Why didn't you tell me?

CARL
I didn't want to worry you.

RACHEL
That's silly. We're in this together, remember?

CARL
Of course I remember.

Carl kisses her.

RACHEL
Is that why we had to leave Josie and Gary's wedding so quickly?

CARL
Yes. The detective I hired had to go out of town unexpectedly. That's what the phone call was about. I had to go home to take care of it.

RACHEL
So, where is he now?

CARL
In London. I'm going to have to get to the bottom of this myself.

RACHEL
Not necessairly.

Carl watches her as we:

FADE OUT

BRAVA OFFICES/DAY


VICKY is reading a sheet of paper, while AMANDA watches her with a devilish grin on her face.

VICKY
(slamming the paper down on the desk)
Amanda, you can't be serious. This is not the kind of article I had in mind to write when I came to work here.

AMANDA
We all have to start somewhere, Vicky.

VICKY
This is total fluff, and you know it. Can't you give it to someone else?

AMANDA
Sorry, Vicky, but we're already short handed enough this summer. Unless some maginificint writer walks through that door, you're just out of luck.

VICKY
(sitting down)
What have I gotten myself into?

DAVID walks into the office.

DAVID
Hello, ladies. You're working hard, I take it?

AMANDA
What are you doing here, David?

DAVID
Amanda, that's no way to talk to a shareholder.

AMANDA
Would you please leave?

DAVID
I'm afraid I can't do that. Not until I talk to you about something.

AMANDA
I'm not going to ask you again. You told Cameron that you weren't going to cause any more problems. I'd hate to have to call security.

DAVID
I just came by to give you some news.

AMANDA
Have you finally decided to leave Bay City for good?

DAVID
(laughing)
No. This is more of a business proposition.

Vicky and Amanda look at each other as David smiles, devilishly.

FADE OUT

Cass' Office/DAY

CASS is seated at his desk, looking over casefiles. As he stands and goes over to the file cabinet, the door to his office opens and JOSIE pokes her head in.

JOSIE
Cass?

Cass turns and smiles, motioning her in.

CASS
Josie! Come on in. Is Gary with you?

GARY
(behind Josie)
I'm right here. How was the honeymoon, Cass?

Cass hugs Josie and shakes hands with GARY.

CASS
The honeymoon was wonderful, and being a newlywed is just as wonderful. I forgot what being newly married was like.

JOSIE
Yeah, so did we. (She grins slyly at Gary) There's nothing else like it.

GARY
So did you get a chance to talk to your friend, Cass?

CASS
Yeah, I did. We've got a few things to discuss. And then, if it still sounds like something you want to follow through with, we'll see what we can do about getting the ball rolling.

JOSIE
Why wouldn't we want to follow through? We've talked about this, Cass.

CASS
I know you want a child, Josie. But there's a lot to consider...much more than just the child.

JOSIE
The child is the main concern, Cass.

GARY
Honey...let's listen to what Cass has to say. We've got to do this right.

JOSIE
(sighing)
I know. I just...I want everything to go perfectly. We've lost two children, Gary, we've lost Rain...I don't know I can handle losing another one.

CASS
Which is why we need to talk before any decisions are made. Okay? Have a seat, you two.

Cass sits at his desk, Gary and Josie seat themselves in the chairs right across from him.

CASS
The first thing I need to ask....are you two going to be able to take having your hearts broken? Because if you're not...we don't need to go any further.

Josie and Gary stare at him, speechless, as we:

FADE OUT

FELICIA'S APARTMENT/DAY

LORNA is sitting on the floor on a blanket with GABRIELLE. FELICIA is at her desk, working on a manuscript. She turns from her typewriter and watches Lorna playing peek-a-boo with the baby. Lorna notices Felicia watching and looks up at her.

LORNA
How's the book coming?

FELICIA
Oh, dashing heros, weak heroines...same as usual.

LORNA
Sounds like you're a little burnt out on romance novels.

FELICIA
Maybe. But I have a contract. I can't let Cory down.

LORNA
Why can't you write something else? "Into the Fire" got such wonderful reviews, I'll bet Cory would be thrilled with another book like that.

FELICIA
I don't know if I can do a book like that again. You know how difficult that was, for both of us.

LORNA
I really think you ought to look into it, Mom...it'd be worth it for you---

She stops talking as someone knocks on the door. Felicia walks over to the door and opens it. HAYLEY stands there, looking shy.

FELICIA
Hayley! What a nice surprise to see you!

HAYLEY
(looking around uneasily)
I'm sorry...I don't mean to bother you. But you said you wanted me to let you know how I was doing and Ms. Love told me where you lived...I hope that's not a problem.

FELICIA
(ushering her in)
Not at all. I'm glad you stopped by, I've been wondering how you were. There's someone I'd like you to meet...this is my daughter, Lorna.

LORNA
(unsmiling)
We've actually met. (She stands up and moves over to them) It's Hayley?

HAYLEY
Yes. Is that your daughter? She's just as cute in person as she is in the picture.

LORNA
Yes. Her name is Gabrielle.

FELICIA
So, come, sit down. (She brings Hayley to the sofa and they sit) How do you like the Harbor Club?

HAYLEY
It's great. Ms. Love is so helpful. I can't thank you enough for asking her to hire me. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't been there to help me.

LORNA
You asked Donna to hire her, Mother?

Lorna stares at Hayley, her face unfriendly, as Hayley stares back.

CUT TO: OPENING CREDITS