INT. FAIRWINDS (LIVING ROOM)

Emily, relaxed, sits on the sofa reading a copy of The Intruder when Susan comes storming into the room. Susan looks a total wreck, like she hasn't slept in days even though it has only been a night.

Susan: Have you heard from Allison?

Emily: No. She hasn't called?

Susan: I'm worried.

Emily: Mom, I'm sure that Allison is fine.

Susan: Em, this is Allison we are talking about!

Emily thinks about if for a second, then

Emily: You're right. (getting up) Let me get dressed and we'll drive over to Carbondale to find Allison.

Allison (OS): It would be a wasted a trip.

Allison enters into the room just as much of a wreck as her mother--mascara stains all under her eyes showing she has clearly been crying, her hair tossed all over the place, and still wearing the dress from the night before. Susan and Emily rush over and take Allison by the arms, guiding her to the sofa.

Allison: Why are you guys helping me?

Susan: What are you talking about? You are my child!

Allison: I guess that explains why I am such a total wreck.

Emily: At least she hasn't lost her sense of humor.

Susan cuts her eyes at Emily, letting her know that she is not in the mood.

Allison: Casey, have you guys seen Casey?

Susan: Who cares about him at this point.

This causes Allison, highly emotive--on the verge of crying, to jump up from the sofa. Emily manages to grab her and pull her back down to the sofa.

Emily: (calmly) Yes. He came to the party in a drunken mess, slandering your name.

Allison: Well it is not that hard to do seeing as what he said is probably true.

Susan: (easing down next to Allison) Is it true? Did you sleep with your professor?

Allison does not answer for a second, then

Allison: (sighs) Yes.

Emily: Allison!

Allison: I wasn't thinking.

Susan: Well we can see that.

Allison: But I need to find Casey. I need to just sit down and talk to him. I just--

Emily: Lie down. That is what you need to do. And Casey probably does even want to see you at this point.

Susan: And you'd never get past the guard dogs guarding him. Kim, Lisa, Margo, Tom--they are probably guarding him like is a prisoner at Guantanamo Bay.

Allison: (starting to cry) I just want to tell him why--go into details as to why. . .

Susan: It can wait. You need to rest.

Emily: Mom, is right. How about you go and lie in one of guest rooms and when you wake up, we'll think of way to fix the problem then. OK?

Allison: Fine.

Emily gets up and helps Allison up the stairs. Susan watches on, heartbroken for her daughter.

Susan: (to self) Damn you, Casey.

CUT TO

INT. HOTEL SUITE

Casey is straddle across the bed--a mess too.

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

Margo (OS): Open the door, Casey!

Casey slowly opens up his eyes and trudges over to the door where he opens it to see Margo bearing a bag of donuts and a coffee. She pushes her way past him into the room. Casey closes the door.

Casey: Mom, it is too early.

Margo: It's 10 A.M.

Casey: Like I said, it is too early.

Margo: Well we need to talk.

Casey: I really don't want to talk about last night or Allison or--

Margo: (sitting on the bed) Sit down.

Casey trudges back over to the bed, doing as Margo says.

Margo: (handing him a doughnut) Eat this. (passing the coffee to him) Drink this.

Casey: Mom, coffee is not going to sober me up.

Margo: Oh I know. I am a cop. A good shower and rest does but you don't deserve a either. Not after that stunt from last night.

Casey: I'm the injured party here!

Margo: But that does not mean for you to go barging in a room in a drunken stupor and scream out how much of a slut someone is.

Casey: It's true and you know it. Heck, you are probably thinking the same right now.

Margo: You wouldn't be in this mess if you would've listened to me.

Casey: Mom. . .

Margo: It is the truth! I told you about her. I told you about Emily but did you listen? Did you?

Casey: No.

Margo: For now on, you'll listen to me. Now I'll meet you home and set up a room at the new house for you seeing as you'll be moving back home with us. And don't worry about switching your credits over from Carbondale State as I am already on it.

Margo kisses Casey on the head and exits. On Casey biting his doughnut, annoyed.

CUT TO

INT. JAVA

Lisa and Barbara sit a table in deep discussion of what occurred last night.

Lisa: Poor Casey. But that is a Stewart woman for you. Only due time before Paul suffers at the hands of Emily . . . again.

Barbara: Lisa, I am not getting into this with you. I have my own issues to worry about.

Lisa: Oh c'mon. You expect me to believe that you like Emily.

Barbara: We are fine.

Lisa: But you still did not give an answer. Yes or no?

Barbara: Yes, I like Emily. . . for right now.

Lisa: Knew it. (looking at her watch) Now where is Carly?

Barbara: I don't know but she is running late.

Lisa: Well I can't blame her. She is meeting with two people who have not been her biggest supporters.

Barbara: But that is in the past. Today is us moving forward.

Carly enters.

Lisa: There she is. (to Carly, waving) Over here.

Carly: (making her way over to them) Coming! (to herself) Dear God, strike me dead. (with a forced smile) Hi, ladies.

Lisa: Hey, Carly. (patting the seat next to her) Have a seat.

Carly hesitantly eases down in the seat with a forced smile still on her face. She looks at Barbara, who is calm and collected and smiling back at Carly; however, her smile is genuine. This scares Carly.

Carly: (breaking the facade) OK, let's get to the point. What have I done now?

Barbara: (puzzled) Nothing. Like I told you last night, I have a business proposition for you.

Carly: Like what?

Barbara: Seeing as we are all in a good place with each other--

Carly: We are?

Barbara: Carly, don't start. (continuing) I think that we should go into business together--the three of us.

Lisa and Carly look at each other. Then Barbara. Then back at each other.

Lisa: Us three?

Barbara: Yes. You, me, and Carly. I think that we should open a fashion house with all of us doing the designing, Lisa, you still running the store, and me and Carly getting the press for the line--

Carly: With the three of us, that shouldn't be too hard.

Lisa laughs.

Barbara: I am serious. I already picked out a name for us, logo, and everything.

Barbara digs into her bag and Carly leans back, scared.

Barbara: What?

Carly: (hesitantly laughing) Just you digging a bag sets me off, Barbara. Who knows what you might pull out. (to herself) Like a gun.

Barbara pulls a folder out and opens it to reveal their logo: "BLC Fashions: Barbara, Lisa, & Carly."

Barbara: Like it?

Carly: (taking the folder) I love it.

Lisa looks on with Carly, and a frown comes across her face.

Lisa: I hate it.

Carly & Barbara: Why?!

Lisa: Shouldn't it be LBC. I mean I am the original fashionista in Oakdale. My name should be first.

Barbara: But I thought of it.

Lisa: And?

Carly: But I like BLC. You being in the middle shows your importance in the operation.

Lisa: (glowing) How so?

Carly: Well its symbolic of what the work situations will be. You'll be the mediator between Barbara and I, thus preventing us from killing one another.

Lisa: True. (thinking about it) Alright. I love it now.

Lisa takes the folder and grins over the logo. Barbara mouths "thank you" to Carly before taking a sigh or relief.

Barbara: Now ladies, (pulling out another folder) I wanted you both to look over what markets I want us to hit.

Carly takes the folder and turns it to page one.

Barbara: Now if you see, I think we will be able to hit all markets. Lisa, you being more aged--

Lisa: Hold up!

Barbara: . . .And refined. . .

Lisa: Keep going.

Barbara: I think that it'll be better if you target older women. I named your line, "Matriarch."

Lisa: Ooo. I like it.

Barbara: Seeing as I the middle aged one of the two, and hoping to target women in their 40s and 50s, who want to feel like a queen, which is why my line is called, "Queen."

Carly: And mine is what?

Barbara: Belladonna. It sounds sexy and youthful.

Carly: Oh h*ell yeah. That's hot.

Barbara: Exactly and I want to have all three lines to have their Fall, Spring, Winter, and Summer lines. We could also do some fragrances which I think we should call "Bold and Sassy" seeing as it describes all three of us. Not only that but a men's line too--for all ages called Esquire. I was also thinking about getting with Janet to do a domestic line called--

Carly: Janet? As in Janet Ciccone?

Barbara: Yeah.

Carly: Let's just hold that thought.

Barbara: C'mon Carly.

Carly: (rolling her eyes) Fine. But she cannot be an equal partner.

Barbara: She wasn't. I was thinking of splitting it 30% between the three of us. . .

Carly: And giving Janet 10%?

Barbara: Yes.

Carly: I'm cool with that. (sitting back and relaxing) Keep going.

Barbara: All I need for you two to take this contract and let your attorneys go over and send it back to me. Simple as that. Then we can start looking for a location to house the fashion house, etc.

Carly: I'm down.

Carly places her hand in the middle. Lisa places her next, followed by Barbara.

Barbara: 1. . .2. . .3. . .BLC.

Carly/Lisa/Barbara: (shouting) 1. . . 2. . .3. . .BLC!!!!

The three ladies burst into laughter and enjoyment over their new business venture, a new journey, a new chapter in life.

THE END