CARLINO'S-DAY

PAULINA and JOE are talking by the counter, while REMY is clearing a table. NICK walks in and Joe looks up at him.

JOE
Hey, Nick, any news on Tito?

NICK
Yeah, he was just released.

Remy stops what she's doing and walks over to them.

REMY
(In surprise)
Tito was released? What happened?

NICK
His confession was thrown out.

PAULINA
Thrown out? Why?

JOE
(angrily)
I knew this would happen! Damn it!

REMY
What? Why was it thrown out?

NICK
The confession was coerced, or so they say. "Unethical methods", was the exact term used, I think.

JOE
And they wasted no time using that as an excuse.

REMY
Now wait a minute. If he was in jail unfairly, then --

NICK
Unfairly? Remy, that guy deserves whatever he gets. He committed a MURDER!

PAULINA
(sighing)
So what now? A trial?

NICK
No, there's not enough evidence to go to trial.

JOE
And the bastard gets off!

NICK
And the first place he'll come to is Bay City. I bet he can't wait to make Remy "understand" why he did what he did.

JOE
He'll try to use her all over again.

REMY
Hello? Can you all please stop talking about me as if I'm not even here. If Tito gets in touch with me, it's going to be my decision whether or not I talk to him and it will be up to me whether or not I want to understand why he did it.

JOE
And you'll forgive him?

PAULINA
(with a warning tone)
Joe.

REMY
I don't know. But the one thing I do know is that he's been hurt too. And he's alone. I can't turn my back on him when he has no one.

NICK
He has no one because of the things he's done, Remy. He had you and Paulina in his corner and he ruined it. He did that, not you.

REMY
Nick, you don't know him.

JOE
Yes, we do. We know the real Tito. He showed his true colors when he scammed you and Paulina. I mean, don't you even care that he tried to take your place in Paulina's life? He knew the one thing that mattered most to you was finding your mother and he took that away from you.

NICK
How can you forgive him for that?

PAULINA
(Putting her arm around Remy and talking to Nick and Joe)
Ok, hold it, both of you. Whatever Remy chooses to do is her decision. And we don't even know that Tito is going to get in touch with her. But if he does, it has to be up to Remy, and no one else.

REMY
Thank you, Paulina. (Paulina and Remy walk away).

NICK
So, you think he's headed to Bay City?

JOE
I'd bet my life on it. And we'll be waiting when he does.

Joe and Nick stare at each other as we:

FADE OUT

THE PARK--DAY

ALLI, GREG, and SEAN are walking through the park.

ALLI
I still can't believe how much you've changed, Greg. It seems like yesterday that we were playing in that sandbox over there.

GREG
You've changed a lot, too, Alli.

ALLI
Do you remember that time when I climbed up that tree and you were going to call the fire department to get me down?

GREG
Don't remind me. We got in so much trouble that day.

Alli and Greg laugh. Sean continues to walk with them silently.

ALLI
Anyway, Sean and I have been going blading a lot. You should come with us the next time.

GREG
Yeah, that sounds like a plan. If that's cool with you, Sean.

SEAN
Sure. Why not?

ALLI
Great! So, want to go tomorrow?

GREG
Yeah, but I have to get going back to the farm. Why don't you guys come with me and then you can stay for the party.

ALLI
(to Sean)
Is that okay with you?

SEAN
Yeah. I think my aunt and uncle are showing up there anyway.

GREG
Who, Vicky and Jake? They should be. Let's go.

The three of them head out of the park to go to the farm.

FADE OUT

BAY CITY POLICE STATION--DAY

JOSIE is on the phone.

JOSIE
(Holding up phone to her ear).
Yeah, that's right. No, the press release won't be ready until morning.

GARY walks into the station. Josie sees him and motions to him to come over.

JOSIE
(Still on the phone).
The media will get the release at the same time. Captain Carlino isn't here -- no, you're just going to have to wait until tomorrow.

Josie hangs up phone and smiles at Gary.

GARY
Who was that?

JOSIE
Just some jerk from Channel 5. What did the doctor say?

GARY
(shaking his head).
It's hopeless, J. It's irreversible.

JOSIE
(hugging him tightly)
It's okay.

GARY
No, it's not okay. I know how much you want a kid.

JOSIE
I love you, Gary. You're all I need.

GARY
Josie, you deserve to be a mother. I know how much you loved Gary, Jr.

JOSIE
There are other ways to be a mother, you know.

GARY
What, like adopt? It's not the same.

JOSIE
Gary, it's exactly the same. It doesn't matter where a child comes from, as long as you love it.

GARY
But you can't love it like you could if it was your own.

JOSIE
That's not true. What about Rain?

Gary turns away from her.

JOSIE
We both loved her as if she was our daughter. Why can't we do that with another child?

They watch each other as we:

FADE OUT