FADE OUT
FRAME FARM, the BARN--NIGHT
SEAN, ALLI, and GREG are hanging out by the barn.
GREG
So, anything new going on in Bay City?
ALLI
Of course not, when I came home from Switzerland, it was just the same boring stuff.
GREG
Figures, nothing exciting ever happens in Bay City. (Turns to Sean) So what did you do in Idaho?
SEAN
Not much to do there, either.
ALLI:
Come on, there had to be something to do.
SEAN:
Not really. I'm telling you, when you're a teenager, life's a bore.
GREG
Well we need to find something to do around here. I don't want to spend my whole summer bumming around.
ALLI
Me either.
SEAN
Good luck. You can't exactly backpack around Europe. And it's not like you can get some fabulous job, either. More than likely, you'd be flipping burgers.
ALLI
(tapping him lightly)
You're no fun.
SEAN
I'm just realistic. (He looks up to the sky) Hey, the fireworks
are starting.They all watch the sky as it's illuminated with color.
FADE OUT
CORY GAZEBO--SAME NIGHT
The party has grown quieter as the night grows darker. PAULINA is in the gazebo, DANTE on her lap, half asleep. JOE joins her.
JOE
Hey, Blue Eyes. Ready to take this sleepyhead home as soon as the fireworks are over?
PAULINA
I think that might be a good idea. Remy said she probably wouldn't be in until late, so we can have some time to ourselves.
JOE
Have you told her...about Tito yet?
PAULINA
No. I haven't seen her since this morning. Joe, promise me that you won't give her a hard time about him. She needs to work things out with him herself, without our interference.
JOE
You'd just let her go back to their friendship--if you can call it that--even after everything he did to you? And to her?
PAULINA
It's not a matter of letting her, Joe. Remy and Tito have been through a lot together, more than you or I will ever know or understand. They have a bond.
JOE
She has a bond with you. A bond that Tito tried to make sure neither of you ever found out about. I can't just drop that and let it be over with, Paulina!
PAULINA
I'm not asking you to drop it. I'm asking you not to interfere. There's a difference.
JOE
I don't see a difference.
PAULINA
Please, Joe. Do this for me and for Remy. Just understand that sometimes things are beyond our control and we won't be able to make things go the way that we want them to all the time.
JOE
I can try. But that doesn't mean I have to like it.
PAULINA
Neither do I. But we have to do this for Remy. (She kisses him gently) I love you.
JOE
I love you, too.
He puts his arm around her shoulders and they look to the sky for the fireworks to begin.
AMANDA and CAMERON are on a blanket on the ground, lying on their backs, Amanda folded in Cameron's arms.
AMANDA
Am I being overprotective?
CAMERON
Of who? Alli?
AMANDA
No, of you. Yes, of course of Alli! Am I wrong to worry about her with a boy? I mean....I can trust her, right?
CAMERON
I think you're a mother who's watching her daughter bloom before her eyes and it's scaring you.
AMANDA
It's just that...well, when I got pregnant with her, I had to grow up quickly. I didn't have a choice. I don't want that for her, I want her to be able to stay a teenager. I don't want her to have to make the same difficult choices I did.
CAMERON
You've raised her well. She'll never have to make those choices.
AMANDA
I hope. Who knows, maybe next time, I'll get this parenting thing right.
CAMERON
Next time? Is there something you'd like to tell me?
AMANDA
(twists to look up at him and laughs)
No. I'm just speaking hypothetically. Maybe in a couple of years or something...
CAMERON
Hey, I'm ready whenever you are. I think we'd have a pretty cute kid between the two of us.
AMANDA
You think so, huh? What about 2 AM feedings, changing diapers, you think you could handle all of that?
CAMERON
I'm pretty sure I can do that. Tell you what, though. Let's put aside the baby talk for now and watch the fireworks. I think they're about to start.
AMANDA
You've got it. I love you.
CAMERON
(leaning down to kiss her)
I love you, too.
LORNA, SERGEI, MATT, FELICIA, CASS, LILA, CHARLIE, GABRIELLE, and JASMINE are all sitting on the ground, away from Amanda and Cameron.
CHARLIE
Dad, this is really cool. Our whole family is here tonight. For the first time.
CASS
You, me, Lila and Jasmine. You're right.
CHARLIE
Not just us. Aunt Rachel, Uncle Carl, Aunt Felicia, Lorna, Matt, Sergei, Gabrielle, Cory, Beth....they're all a part of our family, too. It's like Mom told me when I was little. Family isn't just who you're related to...but who you love.
FELICIA
Your mom was a smart woman, kiddo. And I think we have a pretty nice family here.
LILA
And I'll second that! This is just the beginning of our family. We're going to have more good times, and more laughter, and more memories.
CHARLIE
Now you sound like a Hallmark card.
LORNA
And there's nothing wrong with a little sentiment once in awhile. (She grins at Charlie) I happen to enjoy Hallmark cards.
CHARLIE
It must be something about babies. Once you have them, you turn into mush.
SERGEI
What is 'mush'? Is this bad thing?
CHARLIE
(laughing)
Sappy, Sergei. All sappy and silly. Don't ever have a baby or you'll get that way, too.
SERGEI
Somehow...I do not think this is a possibility, Charlie.
MATT
At least not medically. I think these fireworks are about to start.
CARL
They should be right over the bay in about twenty seconds...(He looks at his watch)...and here they are.
As the sky begins to explode in light, they turn their faces to
the sky to watch.HARBOR CLUB DECK--SAME NIGHT
DAVID and CINDY are standing on the deck. They are alone, David's arms around Cindy as she looks out over the water, and Cindy's face still looks devastated from the encounter with Lorna.
DAVID
A hundred thousand dollars for your thoughts.
CINDY
No thoughts. Nothing important, at least.
DAVID
You're still upset over earlier, aren't you?
CINDY
Me? Upset? Because of Lorna Devon? No, not at all. She just managed to dredge up some of the most horrible memories of my life.
DAVID
Who was Gabe?
Cindy pauses for a few moments before she speaks.
CINDY
Gabe was my brother-in-law. Former brother-in-law. He was married to my sister, Sarah. She was killed in a fire five years ago. Gabe was shot and killed two and a half years ago.
DAVID
Were you in love with him?
CINDY
(looks up at him in surprise)
What?
DAVID
You were in love with him, weren't you? But he was in love with Lorna. And you tried to get him away from her. Am I hitting the nail on the head?
CINDY
That was a difficult time in my life. I've been trying to put that out of my mind.
DAVID
It never helps to ignore the past.
CINDY
Well, in my case, ignoring the past is my best choice. Besides, why pay attention to the past when we have the future? (She smiles and kisses him softly) This is our future, David.
DAVID
Our future is in Bay City? Even if Lorna Devon is here with the child of the man you loved?
CINDY
Even then.
They look out on the water, silently.
As they finish their conversation, HAYLEY steps out from the dining area. She watches them, silently, having heard every word, and moves to a part of the deck where she's not within their view.
A few seconds later, TITO rounds the deck, but stays away from the others. He and Hayley are about fifteen feet apart, but after a cursory glance, they don't pay attention to the other. As the fireworks begin to ignite in the sky, all four of them look up to watch them and we:
FADE OUT
Happy Fourth of July!
From Kassie, Elizabeth, and Sydney.
Have a safe holiday!