CARLINO'S--DAY

PAULINA
So, what time are you taking off tonight?

JOE
I don't know yet. It's going to be a hell of a day.

PAULINA
Joe, it's the Fourth of July. Take a break.

JOE
Honey, crime doesn't take a break on holidays.

PAULINA
I really wanted us to take Dante to see the fireworks tonight.

JOE
I'll tell you what, if I don't make it, we'll buy our own fireworks and have a private party in the backyard. Is Remy going to the party?

PAULINA
I don't know.

JOE
I'd keep an eye on her if I were you.

PAULINA
She's big a girl, Joe.

JOE
Paulina, she's not immune to that scum.

PAULINA
(exasperated)
You've got to stop this. You're not going to be winning any points with Remy if all you do is go on and on about how awful Tito is.

JOE
I don't trust him, Paulina.

Paulina watches as Tito enters. Joe turns back and sees him.

PAULINA
What are you doing here?

JOE
(Walking towards him)
You have a lot of nerve!

Joe grabs Tito's arm, but Paulina holds him back.

PAULINA
Honey, don't. What do you want, Tito?

TITO
I'm looking for Remy.

PAULINA
Remy has nothing to say to you.

TITO
Well, I have something to say to her.

JOE
Why don't you just leave? No one wants you here. Just turn around and walk out.

TITO
(To Paulina)
I know you don't want to talk to me, but please hear me out.

PAULINA
I don't think so. I've heard everything I ever want to hear from you.

TITO
Okay, fine. But tell Remy I was looking for her?

JOE
We're not telling Remy anything. We don't even want her talking to you.

TITO
Why don't you back off for once? Remy can make her own decisions. If she wants to see me, she will!

JOE
Get out of my restaraunt! Now!

Tito looks at Paulina for help.

PAULINA
You should go.

Tito shrugs helplessly and walks out.

BRAVA OFFICES--DAY

VICKY and AMANDA are on opposite sides of the office, each throwing the other an icy glare. CARL walks in, sees their animosity, and laughs.

CARL
Well, I see things between the two of you didn't change in the course of my absense.

AMANDA
No, they haven't. Vicky still thinks the world revolves around her.

VICKY
Oh, please! Look whose talking!

CARL
It is extremely vital that the two of you come to some kind of understanding while working here. You're going to working together quite a bit.

VICKY
I am working here for you, Carl. Not Amanda.

AMANDA
Fine, then report to Carl. I'll be in my office.

Amanda walks into her office and slams the door.

CARL
Victoria, is it really that terrible?

VICKY
No, it's worse. I just don't know where she gets off pulling this little act of hers...

CARL
Just do the best that you can. All right?

VICKY
For you?

CARL
(smiling)
For me.

VICKY
You've got it.

They smile at one another, and Carl leaves the office, leaving Vicky to her work.

FADE OUT

OUTSIDE THE HARBOR CLUB--SAME DAY

LORNA and CINDY are still glaring at each other as DAVID watches, a slightly amused look on his face.

LORNA
I've got a few things to say....and when I'm done talking, Cindy, you're going to tell me a few things.

CINDY
Lorna---

LORNA
--don't even try to talk your way out of this, Cindy! Do you know that I've both dreaded and looked forward to meeting you again? To talking to you again, so that I could tell you EXACTLY what I thought of you. Exactly the pain that you put me through, word by hideous word, inch by excrutiating inch. And then I'm going to tell you the other person you've hurt in this, someone you never would have imagined.

CINDY
Lorna, you don't know how sorry I am....

LORNA
I know how sorry you are, Cindy. I know what a sorry excuse for a living, breathing person you are. And you know something else? You're not worth it. You aren't worth the time to tell you this.

DAVID
Look, I don't know who you are, but I don't think Cindy deserves your venom.

LORNA
(eyes flashing at him)
Oh, really? Has she told you her part in my fiance's death? Has she told the story of how she punctured one of my lungs, then left me in the burning bathroom of....(feigning surprise)...why, Cindy! We're right back where it all transpired! Doesn't that bring back memories for you? We can go another twenty feet and you can look on where it all began.

CINDY
I am so, so sorry for what happened to Gabe, Lorna. If I could go back, if I could change it---

LORNA
Well, you can't, okay? Nothing can be changed, nothing can be corrected. Because of you, I was alone. I was alone...and I was pregnant.

Cindy stares at her.

LORNA (cont'd)
Yeah, Cindy, you heard me right. I was pregnant with Gabe's child. Gabe's daughter. And she's the only piece I have left of him....how do you like that? How do you like the fact that you've caused a little girl to grow up never knowing her father? Never feeling his touch on her face, never knowing that he's watching her while she's sleeping like an angel, never knowing that she's safe and protected because her daddy is holding her.

CINDY
You have a child....you have a daughter?

LORNA
My daughter, Gabrielle, Cindy. Mine and Gabe's child. We share a bond that you will never know. And I hope you rot in hell for the pain that you've caused my baby, now and when she's old enough to understand who you are.

DAVID
I think that's more than enough--(He takes Cindy's arm)

LORNA
Managed to snag onto another one, huh? (To David) You might want to be careful. She's like insecticide. She kills anything she comes into contact with, including those that she claims to love.

David turns to lead Cindy away, but she stops him. Tears stream down her face as she takes a deep breath and opens her mouth to speak to Lorna.

FADE OUT

INSIDE THE HARBOR CLUB --SAME DAY

FELICIA walks over to DONNA, leaving HAYLEY at the table.

FELICIA
Donna, do you have a minute?

DONNA
For you, Felicia? I might. What can I do for you?

FELICIA
I have a favor to ask you. (Lowering her voice) You're looking for a hostess, right?

DONNA
Are you applying for the job? Did your boy-toy husband steal all your money?

FELICIA
You're one to talk about boy-toy husbands, honey. No, I'm asking because do you see that girl over there at my table? She needs a job. She seems like a sweet kid, and I was hoping you'd give her the hostessing job.

DONNA
Felicia....she's pregnant.

FELICIA
So were we once. You remember what it was like to be young and pregnant and scared. She doesn't have anyone.

DONNA
Yeah, I guess we're both pretty familiar with that feeling. Do you know if she has any experience?

FELICIA
Donna. It's a hostessing job. Not fixing the Mir Space Station.

DONNA
(sighing)
All right, Felicia, but if she messes up my business, I'm holding you responsible.

FELICIA
(grinning)
Thank you, Donna. I knew your heart was in there somewhere.

DONNA
Send her over and we'll get started on the paperwork.

FELICIA
I will do that. (She turns around and walks back to Hayley, who's puzzled) Well, your problem is solved. Go talk to Ms. Love and you'll have a hostessing job here.

HAYLEY
Here? Really?

FELICIA
Really. (She opens her appointment book, and writes on a scrap piece of paper, tearing it off and giving it to HAYLEY) And I want you to call me. Let me know that you're okay. And let me know if you need anything.

HAYLEY
Ms. Gallant...why are you doing this for me? I mean, you just met me.

FELICIA
I was once where you are, honey. I know how scary it is. But I had someone. You don't have anyone. No one should have to go through that.

HAYLEY
(gives her a quick hug, impulsively)
Thank you. Thank you so much.

She walks away, heading towards Donna, as Felicia smiles after her.

HAYLEY (cont'd)
(to herself)
I wondered why he loved you. Now I know.

She goes to Donna, who leads her into the office.

FADE OUT