It's the same evening, but much later. Marcus Grimes is in the study at his mansion, reading the newspaper and listening to WLIT, the easy listening station. Lance Grimes enters.
Lance: Dad?
Marcus: Hey Lance, you're home early. Everything okay?
Lance: Fine. Eliza has to co-anchor the early show tomorrow so she has to get up at 4 tomorrow morning. And I've got work tomorrow too.
Marcus: The look on your face says everything isn't fine. You've been moping around the house and at work for weeks. Now please son, tell me what's wrong.
Lance: If I told you, you wouldn't believe it.
Marcus: I've been around for a while. I've heard practically everything. Now tell me Lance, what's troubling you?
Lance: Dad---Dad, I don't love Eliza. In fact, I don't think I ever did.
Marcus: That's not much of a shock. I didn't think you did. Eliza is a beautiful, intelligent woman, but she can be shallow. That's not your type.
Lance: There's more. (hesitantly) I'm in love with another woman. And the woman I'm in love with is----is----Rosie.
Cut to Marcus looking very suprised.
We're at the Harper mansion. Quentin Michaels is in his room, also listening to WLIT. As usual, he is thinking of Tess Sherwood.
Quentin: Tess Michaels. Mrs. Quentin Michaels. Sounds so much better than Mrs. Paul Harper. (Joanna enters)
Quentin: Don't you know how to knock?
Joanna: I don't have to knock on doors in my own house. How quickly you forget Quentin.
Quentin: I don't forget anything. You're always here to remind me. Your house. Your plan. Your Paul. But Tessie isn't yours. She's mine. Mine!
Joanna: If you don't stop Quentin I'll---
Quentin: You'll what? Send me back to Wakefield? (laughs) No Joanna. You won't. Because I know your secret remember? The one you told me while we were in the hospital together?
Joanna (looking frightened but trying to control it): I don't know what you're talking about. You're delusional as usual.
Quentin: You're lying and you know it. If this town--and your son--finds out he's really adopted, you're going to be at the bottom of their Christmas card list. Don't you think Paul deserves to know the truth?
Joanna: No! I am his mother! And I have been his mother since the day he was born. Trust me Quentin, I would kill you or anyone else first before that secret gets out.
Quentin: Of course you would Joanna. Then your plan to break up Tessie and Paul would have no merit. Because Paul isn't a blueblood. He comes from a family just like my Tessie. A normal, middle class family. Not some pompous, brownosing, wealthy, arrogant vicious circle!
(Joanna slaps Quentin hard, but it only makes him laugh)
Quentin: You can do anything you want Joanna, but remember this: Paul hates you. He hates you for what you did to Stephen. He's already on his way to finding out what you're doing to him and Tessie. This game of yours is going to end up nowhere. Paul has no feelings for you now. What makes you think he will after all this is over? After the smoke clears, I'll have Tessie, Paul will want nothing to do with you, and you'll be all alone. You know I'm right Joanna. Admit it.
(Joanna runs out of the room in tears. Quentin laughs, sinks back on the bed, and goes back to dreaming of Tess).
Back to the Grimes study.
Marcus: Rosamond? You're in love with Rosamond?
Lance: Yes Dad. Very much. For a long time.
Marcus: Does she know?
Lance: No. I've tried to tell her several times, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I was afraid she would freak out if I told her how I really felt.
Marcus: Rosamond is very content right now without a man. She was so badly hurt last time I don't think she would believe another man telling her he loved her. Besides, she has her family here now. She's going to put all her concentration on them.
Lance: I know but Dad, I can't walk around not telling her. I feel like a bomb waiting to explode.
Marcus: What about Eliza?
Lance: Our relationship is just sex. I want what you and Mom have. I tried to break up with Eliza tonight, but she kept going on and on about how happy she is with me. I couldn't hurt her feelings.
Marcus: Lance, you're a wonderful man. I think you need to take this slow. Maybe in time, Rosamond will come to realize how you really feel. Then in time, she might return those feelings.
Lance: I don't know if I can wait that long Dad. I love her so much! (Marcus gives his son a big hug).
We're at Loretta Sherwood's house. Tess is spending the night there but she's alone. Loretta and Dorothy went back to the diner to get ready for tomorrow, Paul is back at his condo, and Larry and Deanna went to a movie with Roark Grimes and his girlfriend. Tess is in the kitchen listening to WLIT, trying to take her mind off the phone calls.
DJ's voice: Night has fallen, and you're listening to The House of Love on WLIT. We have a dedication to Tessie, from the man that really loves you. He says he can't wait to be your husband. (Tess perks up and smiles, silently expressing her love for Paul). Tessie, this is for you. (The song "Unforgettable" plays).
Tess: That's not our song. Oh well, Paul Harper, you are one of a kind. I love you.
(The phone rings. Tess picks it up).
Tess (thinking it's Paul): Paul, that was so sweet of you to---
Quentin: It wasn't Paul Tessie. I dedicated that song to you. Do you like it? It's such a pretty tune.
Tess: Damn you! What sick game are you playing? Joanna must really have something over you doesn't she? Doesn't she?
(Long pause)
Quentin: The less you know, the better off you'll be.
Tess: Tell me the truth. Tell me what Joanna's role in all of this is, and I'll promise you that you won't be sent to jail. I know this wasn't your idea. Tell me the truth!
Quentin: The truth is, I love you Tessie. And you will be mine very soon! (Hangs up phone)
(On a whim, Tess dials Star 69. She discovers the call came from Joanna Harper's mansion. She then dials the police).
Tess: Hello? This is Tess Sherwood. Is Russell Gault there? Yes, I'm the one getting the phone calls. I just got another phone call. And I found out where the call came from.
End of Episode 8
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