LORNA'S HOUSE/DAY

HAYLEY lays on the sofa in Lorna's new house. Hayley has a magazine on her lap, but her eyes keep closing as she drifts off and on. LORNA walks into the room, carrying Gabrielle.

GABRIELLE
(with a finger to her lips)
Shhhh! Aun' Hayley sleep!

Hayley opens her eyes and smiles at Gabrielle.

HAYLEY
I'm awake, kiddo.

Lorna sits on the edge of the couch, putting Gabrielle down.

LORNA
How're you feeling, hon?

HAYLEY
(shrugging)
Pretty good. I'm about ready to be up and going.

LORNA
Well, you still need to take it easy. You've been through an ordeal. I know you think you can just bounce back, but it's not that easy---

HAYLEY
I want to get on with my life, Lorna. It's Christmas Eve. I don't want to sit around moping--

LORNA
--I'm not saying you should mope. I'm just saying that you've been through a heavy emotional and physical event, so you need to take it easy for awhile. I don't want you to worry about work, OR about school. And I want you to enjoy this Christmas.

HAYLEY
You've already let me move in. That's more than enough. I can pay for school---I'll go back to working at the Harbor Club in a week or so.

LORNA
You'll do no such thing. When Lucas died, he left money behind. I talked to Jenna and we both agreed that we'd help you through school, WITHOUT you having to work at the same time. You've done more than enough taking care of yourself for two years. It's time you let us take care of you.

HAYLEY
But why? You two have your own lives---you have Gabrielle--shouldn't you save that money for her education?

LORNA
You're family, Hayley. That's all there is to it. Now, if you'd like to argue with Jenna, I'd be happy to call her. (She grins.) If you think I'm tough....

HAYLEY
(smiling)
Okay. I give up. I totally give up. (She glances at Gabrielle.) You're going to let me baby-sit, at least, right?

LORNA
Of course. That's what sisters are for, right?

They grin, but suddenly Hayley falls into silence, her eyes filling with tears. She brushes them away impatiently.

HAYLEY
I'm so sick of crying. I feel like I've cried myself out this week.

LORNA
Have you talked to Tito since last week?

HAYLEY
(shaking her head)
No...not since the day we signed the papers. I think it might be for the better.

LORNA
So you don't know how he's feeling?

HAYLEY
Nope.

They fall into silence. Lorna walks over to the Christmas tree and turns the lights on.

LORNA
Be prepared for a houseful tonight. And a screeching two-year-old waking us up at 6 AM. (She grins.) Santa's been her main word today.

GABRIELLE
(with a smile)
Santa!

Hayley laughs.

HAYLEY
Hey, Gabby-girl...what do you want Santa to bring you?

GABRIELLE
(a serious look on her face)
Toys.

LORNA
(laughing)
I kind of figured that.

Hayley and Lorna watch Gabrielle with smiles on their faces.

CUT TO:

CASS and LILA'S APARTMENT/SAME DAY

LILA sits on the floor, surrounded by a mound of wrapping paper, gifts, and bows. She glances up as CASS approaches, smiling.

LILA
I can't believe how much we still have left to wrap. Two kids...eighteen hundred gifts.

CASS
And a few of our own gifts.

He pulls her to him and kisses her gently.

LILA
Why, Cass Winthrop, it isn't Christmas morning yet. You can't give me gifts like that and expect me to wait for the rest....

CASS
The best is yet to come, Mrs. Winthrop...and we have many, many more Christmases awaiting us...

Lila sighs and pushes the gift in front of her away.

CASS (cont'd)
You're still thinking about it, aren't you?

LILA
(sighing)
It's been over a week. You'd think I could get past the fact that I've gotten this news and it's a shock, but it's not going to enormously change my life. I have my family and I love my family. I can forget that this man ever claimed to be my father.

CASS
Can you do that? Can you just let it go like that after finding out?

LILA
What choice do I have, Cass? Acknowledge that that monster is my father, or go on with my life now, with caring for our family?

CASS
If you're giving up acknowledging him, you're giving up your potential family, too.

LILA
A potential family who'd probably like nothing more than to forget that I exist...we have too much history between us.

CASS
But having known Donna, and Vicky, and Marley for as long as I have...nothing is unforgiveable. They all have their own checkered pasts.

LILA
Why can't I just be happy with I have now? I love our family, Cass...I love our girls, I love you...

CASS
--And I love you. But I want you to know your own history, and maybe put some of those questions about your mother to rest.

LILA
Can we just change the subject? I'd like to NOT think about this for Christmas. It's difficult enough not having Jasmine on Christmas Eve.

CASS
Matt will bring her in the morning...you'll have her with you for Christmas Day.

LILA
I know...I'm just already missing my little girl. But we'll have a good time at Lorna's tonight. It was sweet of her to invite us all over for dinner.

CASS
Of course, if we don't finish wrapping all of these, we'll never make it.

They smile at each other and continue wrapping.

CUT TO:

JAKE AND VICKY'S HOUSE/DAY

VICKY walks down the stairs, carefully. As she reaches the bottom, the door flings open.

VICKY
Watch it! Pregnant woman with a major stomach right behind this door!

A head peers around the doorway and we see JAKE, shopping bags in his hands. He sets them down and places his hands on Vicky's stomach.

JAKE
Sorry about that...I got a little overzealous with the door.

Vicky begins to peer into the bags, but Jake pushes her away, gently.

JAKE (cont'd)
Excuse me. I don't go peering into YOUR gift bags.

VICKY
I just want to make sure you got me something good....

Jake puts his arms around her and kisses her.

JAKE
And just your luck...everything is wrapped. So you won't be able to see them.

VICKY
(her voice growing serious)
Look, Jake...we still have a problem...Amanda hasn't heard anything from the PI about Alli and Sean yet. Don't you think it's time you called Kevin and told him that his son is missing?

JAKE
Sure, Vick, I'll just make a quick call...'Hi, Kevin, it's Jake, your brother to whom you've entrusted your child? Merry Christmas. Oh yeah, he's gone. We made him mad and he ran away. But don't worry, I'll call you back if and when we find him.'.

VICKY
Jake. Sean is HIS son. He has a right to know.

JAKE
You're right. And I hate it when you're right.

He reaches for the phone, taking the address book from the desk drawer and flipping to a page. With a finger on the page, he begins to dial. Waiting, his eyes indicate to Vicky when someone picks up.

JAKE (cont'd)
Hi, my name is Jake McKinnon, and my brother Kevin Anderson is an inmate there. I know this isn't one of the regular days for phone calls, but my brother's son is in my custody and there's a bit of an emergency---his son is missing. Is there a chance I can speak with him?....great, thanks....

He cups his hand over the phone

JAKE (cont'd)
(To Vicky)
They're getting him. (He waits for a moment.) Kevin...hi, it's Jake...yeah, I know this is out of the blue....actually, Sean's not okay....he took off....no, we had an argument...he and Vicky and I....I know, Kevin....we've got a PI after him and we think he's with Alli Fowler...Amanda Cory's daughter....yeah, I'll call you with anything I know...Kevin, I'm sorry....I know...all right...bye.

He hangs up.

VICKY
He's pretty upset.

JAKE
Yeah...why wouldn't he be? It's his only son.

VICKY
Who wasn't exactly being a model child. Look, Jake, I know you feel guilt,y but Sean WAS in our care, and he had marijuana in a house with OUR children. We had every right to punish him.

JAKE
I know that, Vicky, but on the other hand, he's also been shoved into a new environment. I hope the PI finds him quickly, because I want our family to be whole when the twins arrive.

VICKY
Which could be soon, Jake....I saw Dr. Doyle for an exam today while you were cleaning out the mall. She said it could be any day now.

JAKE
We'll all be together, Vicky. I promise.

Vicky hugs him.

VICKY
I'm holding you to that promise, McKinnon.

They kiss.

CUT TO:

CORY MANSION/EVENING

RACHEL stands in the foyer while observing AMANDA, who is desolate at not having ALLI there to share the holiday with her. Hearing footsteps and a delicate clearing of a throat, Amanda sees Rachel.

AMANDA
Mom! How long have you been standing there?

RACHEL
Oh, just long enough to see that you're miserable and may need a sympathetic ear.

Rachel sits on the couch next to Amanda and puts a hand on Amanda's shoulder.

RACHEL
I know this is difficult for you, honey. Between Cameron and Alli, you've been through a lot.

Amanda raises sad eyes to Rachel.

AMANDA
The trouble is, it's not over. I was so looking forward to Christmas with Cam, and that was taken from me! And now... (Amanda sighs, running a hand through her hair) Somewhere, I have a daughter who wants nothing to do with me. I'd give anything to have my baby home for Christmas.

Rachel is about to say something when the phone rings.

AMANDA
I'll get it!

Amanda practically flies off the couch and grabs the phone. Forgoing a hello, she simply says:

AMANDA
Alli?

The phone is silent, and Amanda speaks again.

AMANDA
Sweetie, is that you? Please, Alli...

CUT TO OPENING CREDITS