FELICIA'S APARTMENT/EVENING

HAYLEY is sitting on the sofa, GABRIELLE on her lap. She's talking to Gabrielle in a baby-ish tone, but her face reflects nervousness. FELICIA and LORNA can be heard talking off-screen, from the bedroom.

FELICIA (O.S.)
Honey, you look beautiful. It's just dinner with Matt, why are you so nervous?

LORNA(O.S.)
I'm NOT nervous. I just want to make sure I look all right.

FELICIA(O.S.)
I don't suppose there's a reason for the nerves---

LORNA(O.S.)
For the LAST time, Mother, I am not nervous. Matt and I just have a couple of years to catch up on.

SERGEI enters from the kitchen, a bowl of soup in his hands. He stops and listens to the exchange coming from the kitchen, then grins at Hayley and Gabrielle.

SERGEI
They are fighting like cats and fish?

HAYLEY
(laughing)
It's cats and dogs, Sergei. And I think Lorna's just freaked out. She keeps saying this isn't a date, but I think it is.

SERGEI
(a puzzled look crosses his face)
She is dating Matt?

HAYLEY
(shakes her head)
No, they're going out to dinner. But I think it's a date.

SERGEI
Oh, I see...but man and woman can go have dinner without the date, am I right? Is called....plutonic?

HAYLEY
Platonic. I don't know...women aren't usually this concerned about looking nice for a platonic relationship.

SERGEI
So she is nervous because she likes Matt?

HAYLEY
She's more nervous than she cares to admit, I think.

LORNA (O.S)
I am NOT nervous, Hayley!

She walks into the room, followed by Felicia. Lorna is dressed in a simple black cocktail dress, her hair swept back from her face.

LORNA(cont'd)
If one more person calls me nervous, I'm going back into the bedroom and locking myself in for the rest of the night.

HAYLEY
You look beautiful.

LORNA
(smiling wryly)
Thanks. Are you ready for tonight?

HAYLEY
Ready to meet the future parents of my baby? Sure...what girl doesn't dream of that her whole life?

FELICIA
You're going to be fine. But if you're having second thoughts about the adoption, Hayley---

HAYLEY
(sighing)
Felicia, I'm going to be having second thoughts long after I sign the papers giving this baby to another set of parents. Second thoughts won't stop me from making the decision.

LORNA
You can still keep the baby. We've told you we'll help you.

HAYLEY
And I've told you that I'm not accepting money from you. I appreciate all of the emotional support you're giving me. And right now, that's all I need from you. It means more to me than any money ever could.

FELICIA
(looks at her watch)
We'd better go, kiddo. We're supposed to meet them at Carlino's at seven o'clock.

HAYLEY
Is this normal? To meet adoptive parents in a restaurant?

FELICIA
It makes the meeting a little more casual than meeting in a lawyer's office.

HAYLEY
(standing up and handing Gabrielle to Lorna)
Okay. Let's go before I chicken out.

She and Felicia walk towards the door.

LORNA
Hay?

HAYLEY
(turning around)
Yeah?

LORNA
(with a small smile)
Good luck.

HAYLEY
(returning the smile)
Thanks.

She and Felicia leave, closing the door quietly behind them. Lorna turns to Sergei, who has put his bowl down and is holding out his arms for Gabrielle.

LORNA
You're sure you don't mind baby-sitting for me?

SERGEI
For little angel such as this? It is no mind. It is fun.

He takes Gabrielle and she immediately starts laughing at him.

SERGEI(cont'd)
See? She loves to laugh with Sergei.

LORNA
(laughing herself)
Yeah, she definitely does. Okay---you've got my cell phone number?

SERGEI
I have cell phone number, I have pager number, I have Harbor Club number, I have doctor number, I have Felicia cell phone number and I have number to the Kremlin. Last number will not help me much here, but is nice to have.

LORNA
You need to start up a comedy act, Sergei. (She kisses Gabrielle) Bye, sweetie. Be good for Sergei.

She starts to rush out, but on a whim, suddenly turns around and kisses Sergei on the cheek.

LORNA(cont'd)
Thanks.

With a smile at him, she runs out the door. He stands, slightly stunned, for a moment, then looks at Gabrielle.

SERGEI
It is just you and me, little girl. I wish your mother had stayed.

With a wistful glance towards the door, he settles down on the blanket of toys and begins playing with Gabrielle as we:

FADE OUT

JAKE AND VICKY'S COTTAGE/SAME EVENING

VICKY is straightening up. JAKE comes up behind her and kisses her neck.

JAKE
Hey, gorgeous.

VICKY
Hi, yourself.

JAKE
We have a few minutes. What do you say we go upstairs and --

VICKY
Joe and Paulina will be here any second.

JAKE
We'll hear them knock. 1, 2, --

VICKY
(Cutting Jake off)
3!

Vicky runs upstairs. Jake follows, but as they hear a knock on the door, they both sigh and come back down the stairs. Opening the door, they find JOE and PAULINA.

PAULINA
Hi, guys.

JAKE
Hey, you two...if it isn't Captain Carlino and his beautiful wife!

VICKY
Come on in....Jake and I were just....relaxing.

JOE
Vicky, how are you feeling?

VICKY
Much better, thanks.

JAKE
So, what's this big news you have to share?

PAULINA
We passed by the construction workers building the new house next door.

VICKY
Yeah, can you believe it? The neighborhood is expanding.

JAKE
We'll be in a cul-de-sac when the new house is up.

JOE
So, do you know anything about the people moving in?

JAKE
No.

VICKY
We're just hoping they'll be friendly.

PAULINA
I'm sure they will be.

JOE
Yeah, I'm pretty sure you can count on that.

VICKY
(Smiling)
What's going on?

PAULINA
Well -- meet your new neighbors.

VICKY
What?

JAKE
You two?

PAULINA
Yeah, we bought the lot!

JOE
Paulina wanted it to be a surprise.

VICKY
I can't believe it! We're going to be neighbors!

Vicky and Paulina hug as Joe and Jake shake hands.

PAULINA
We figured we'd tell you when they started building the house. And they're building, so we're telling you!

VICKY
This is great! The kids can grow up together!

As they all begin talking excitedly, we:

FADE OUT


CARLINO'S RESTAURANT/SAME EVENING

TITO is seated at the counter, REMY is behind it. She's glancing around nervously as though she's looking for someone.

REMY
If Joe and Paulina come in here and see you, I'm going to get killed. And you won't make it to the door.

TITO
Quit worrying. You said they went to the lot for the new house. They'll be gone forever. We have plenty of time.

REMY
I don't even know why you're here. I thought we said everything we had to say the other day.

TITO
I wanted to talk to you. We never finished our conversation.

REMY
I told you that I would be your friend, Tito. But I will not let you con me again. I've got my mother...my stepfather, my little brother...and I've got Nick.

TITO
Him...again.

REMY
Yes, him, again. I love him, Tito.

TITO
How can you say that you love him? He's not right for you, Rem.

REMY
(with a short laugh)
And you are? You're kidding me, right?

TITO
You know I am. We're good for each other, and you know it.

REMY
Tito...I mean it....either drop the subject or take off. I don't feel like getting into this.

TITO
We have to. Because I have something I need to ask you, something important.

REMY
(sighing and turning around, away from him)
Don't, okay?

TITO
I'm going to be a father, Rem.

Remy turns around again and stares at him, her mouth wide open.

TITO(cont'd)
I know. It's a shock. But I just found out about it. This girl...she and I were together months ago, and she never told me she was pregnant.

REMY
(sarcastically)
And I thought I was your only love...

TITO
It wasn't anything special, we were both lonely--

REMY
Some loneliness. Pardon me if I don't feel sorry for you, but being lonely isn't a reason to create a baby.

TITO
She said she's giving the baby up for adoption. I can't let her do that.

REMY
What exactly can you give a baby, Tito? You just got out of PRISON, for God's sake!

TITO
I don't want to put my kid through what I went through, never knowing who I was or where I came from---

REMY
Good reason, Tito. Don't give your kid a real home because you had a lousy childhood.

TITO
That's not what I mean!---(He stops talking as the door to Carlino's opens and HAYLEY and FELICIA walk in. Remy follows his gaze to the door.)

REMY
That's her, isn't it? She's the one you were talking to in the park.

Tito stares at them, as we:

FADE OUT

CORY MANSION/SAME EVENING

AMANDA is talking on the phone as CARL and RACHEL come in.

AMANDA
(Into phone)
No, of course not...I will, I want to find the bastard...Chris, I don't think the police are going to help very much. We have to do this on our own...I won't rest until I find Toni and Cameron's killer...Definitely, I always am...Ok, I'll see you then. Bye.

Amanda hangs up the phone and turns to Carl and Rachel.

AMANDA
Hi.

RACHEL
Hi, honey. I heard your conversation with Chris.

AMANDA
Mom, please --

RACHEL
Amanda, it's dangerous.

AMANDA
I don't need a lecture right now.

RACHEL
What do you need?

AMANDA
You to stay out of my way.

CARL
Amanda, she's only concerned about you.

AMANDA
Shut up, Carl.

CLAUDIA comes in.

CLAUDIA
Mr. Hutchins, this delivery came for you.

Claudia hands Carl a long box.

CARL
Where did it come from?

CLAUDIA
I don't know, someone left it on the doorstep.

CARL
Thank you, Claudia.

RACHEL
Carl, be careful. Maybe we should let the police open it.

AMANDA
Why? He hasn't killed enough people yet.

RACHEL
Amanda, please.

CARL
(To Rachel)
Darling, there's no bomb in this box. It's probably more flowers.

Carl opens the box and finds a dozen dead roses as we:

GO TO OPENING CREDITS