INT. LA MAISON ROSE – DAY – LIVING ROOM

Roseanna sits on the sofa donning a silk robe, glasses, and hair tied up in a bun. Though she is dressed comfortably, she is determined.

Roseanna: (on phone) Yes . . . I want as many flowers and candles as you can fit in there and I want it to look nice . . . Now how much is that? (jots down something) . . . That’s perfectly fine. You can bill my account.

Craig walks in dressed in a nice tuxedo. All the life is sucked from him—he himself seems dead.

Roseanna: (whispering, in phone) Just have it done, OK?

Roseanna hangs up the phone and focuses her attention to Craig, who looks out window, in a glazed reverie.

Roseanna: Craig . . .

Craig: You don’t have to put up a front. I know what you are doing.

Roseanna: I don’t know what you’re talking—

Craig: The funeral. I know that you’ve been up all night planning it. You didn’t have to.

Roseanna: But I wanted too.

Craig: (slight smile, then) Why are you so nice to me? After everything I have done to you over the years?

Roseanna eases over to Craig and places a hand on his shoulder for comfort.

Roseanna: Because I’ve learned that everyone deserves a second chance.

Craig: But this is like my one-thousandth chance with you. My fourth chance to be a father and I just keep blowing it. (to Roseanna with tears in his eyes) I’m cursed. I have to be. First Bryant’s death, Lucy won’t even talk to me, Dusty practically has more rights to Johnny than me, and now Gabriel is dead. This must be my comeuppance.

Roseanna: You’re talking crazy.

Craig: I beg to differ. (moves to sofa and sits) Maybe this is God telling me that I suck as a father—that I don’t deserve to be one. If that is the message he is trying to convey then dammit, I have heard him loud and clear!

On Craig burying his hands in his face, completely destroyed,

FADE OUT

INT. TOM/MARGO COTTAGE

Margo stands at the stove cooking. Tom sits on the sofa going over some files when Casey descends downstairs trying to fix his tie.

Casey: Are you sure about this, Mom?

Margo: About . . .?

Casey: The funeral, Mom. Are you sure we should go?

Margo walks over and starts to fix Casey’s tie.

Margo: Why wouldn’t we go?

Casey: Because Uncle Craig hates us.

Margo: Us, no. Just me, and I thinking about it, I totally understand why he would feel that way.

Tom: Oh c’mon, Margo! You not believing that crap that Craig spewed a week ago, are you?

Margo: Actually I am, Tom, and he is right. I’ve sucked as a sister. I’ve done nothing but scold and berate him time and time again when I should’ve been there for him . . .

Margo finishes fixing Casey tie and goes back to cooking.

Margo: Sad part is he’s always there for me when I don’t need him to be. Always.

Margo wipes the tears from her eyes. Casey comes overs wraps his arms around his mother.

Margo: Just seeing him in pain all over again over the loss of another child—it just makes me wanna go back in time and do things differently.

The doorbell rings.

Tom: I’ll get it.

Tom heads to the door and opens it revealing Katie with Jacob, Chris, Lyla, Cricket, Ernie, Billy, and Suzie.

Margo: Oh, Momma!

Margo runs over to Lyla and collapses in her arms. And on Lyla consoling her daughter,

CUT TO

INT. BLC

We open up on an article from The Intruder that reads:

We pull back to see the article is being read by Barbara. The takes a sip of her coffee and closes the article—understanding the pain Craig is going through.

Suddenly, Mo struts in with a file in hand and cell to her ear.

Mo: (on phone) Oh thank you for the drink last night. It was much appreciated! . . . Alright, Alonso—

Barbara snatches the phone away from her.

Barbara: What do you think you are doing?

Mo: Umm . . . talking.

Barbara: I don’t think so, missy! You were supposed to be here thirty minutes ago.

Mo: (brushing past Barbara) I got stuck in traffic.

Barbara: (following her) I don’t believe you.

The two enter into the

INT. BREAK ROOM

where Mo grabs a mug out the cabinet and flicks on the coffee machine.

Barbara: You do realize that you work for me!

Barbara snatches the mug away from Mo, leaving her shocked yet amused too.

Barbara: I will not accept you being late. Do you understand me?

Mo: (taking the mug back) Whatever, Babs.

Barbara: I beg your pardon?

Mo: Look, Babs, can I have a second to breathe? I mean I’ve been working here for two weeks and you’ve been working me like a slave on a plantation. Lisa and Carly don’t work me as much as you do.

Barbara: You do realize that—

Mo: I am intern, I know, I know. You let me know every day. (handing her the file) Here! I did what you asked now could you back off?

Barbara is about to have a comeback when,

Paul (O.C): Mom!

Barbara: In here, Paul! (to Mo) You better be lucky . . .

Paul enters.

Paul: Mom, hey.

Paul kisses Barbara.

Paul: Monique, how are you this morning.

Mo: Doing great, Paul.

Barbara: It’s Mr. Ryan to you.

Paul: But I told her to call me Paul.

Barbara: But she works for me and when is on the clock—

The phone rings in the B.G. Mo brushes past Barbara to exit.

Barbara: (stunned) Did she just—?

Paul laughs.

Paul: Looks like you’ve met your match.

Barbara: (leaning in close) Well don’t tell her that. I’ll end up having to strangle that girl in here. (beat) But what brings you here?

Paul: Craig . . .

Barbara: Oh, Paul!

Paul: Don’t worry. I’m not going to do anything drastic today.

Barbara: I doubt that.

Paul: I swear I won’t go anywhere near him.

Barbara: And Emily?

Paul: She’s at home busy with Daniel. I think that Gabriel’s death has had an effect on her.

Barbara: Good. I don’t want anyone near that church giving Craig a reason to blame us for his losses.

Paul: But does he not have a reason to blame us?

Barbara: Huh?

Paul: I mean all of his losses have resulted because of us. He blamed Jennifer for Bryant’s death, your entire marriage to him—

Barbara: . . . Is something I’d like to forget . . .

Paul: Fine. And it didn’t help that I’d later come back and take both Meg and Roseanna away from him. Followed by Dusty getting custody of Johnny . . . I mean thinking about it—

Barbara: Don’t! Craig’s misery is his own doing, and I do feel sorry him; however, it is no one’s fault but his. Don’t sit here and beat yourself up over Gabriel’s death, Paul. It was an accident.

Paul: Craig doesn’t see it that way and I don’t blame him.

Barbara: When has Craig Montgomery been known to think rationally? Never is the answer. Just let it go, Paul.

Barbara exits.

Paul: But I can’t . . .

On Paul feeling guilty,

INT. OAKDALE MEMORIAL (NURSE STATION)

Jami goes over some files. A few moments later, MJ comes up behind her, placing a hand on her shoulder.

MJ: You alright?

Jami: Yeah. Why?

MJ: I’m just wondering seeing as you took his death very hard.

Jami: Well it was totally unprofessional.

MJ: It’s fine. We’re human.

Jami: Yeah, but I should’ve held it together. (beat) It just hit me so hard to hear that Gabriel and Craig recently reunited after all those years of not knowing each other, and finally developing a relationship only to . . .

Jami becomes overwhelmed again, and MJ draws her in, hugging her.

MJ: I understand. Makes me appreciate my relationship with my parents and family . . . Don’t know what I’d do if I was in that situation.

Jami: (mutters) Tell me about it.

CUT TO

INT. LA MAISON ROSE – LIVING ROOM

It is after the funeral and the Montgomery/Peretti clan (Craig, Lyla, Margo, Tom, Katie, Casey, Lucy, Chris, Cricket, Ernie, Billy, Suzie, and Roseanna) are all scattered about. Craig sits off to the side, isolated, still reeling from what just happened.

Lyla approaches her wounded son bearing a cup of tea and eases down next to him.

Craig: What?

Lyla: Drink this.

Craig: I don’t want it.

Lyla: It’ll soothe you.

Craig: (tuts) If I need anything, it is a d*mn drink. Something strong. Something that is going to put me out of my misery.

Lyla: Trust me, this tea can put you out of your misery too if you drink it.

Craig takes the glass and guzzles it down before handing the glass back to Lyla.

Craig: There. You happy?

Lyla: Craig . . .

Craig: You know what, why are you bothering me? As a matter of fact, why are you even here? (standing up, loudly) Why the h*ll are any of you here? Why?

The room gets silent watching Craig. They are all on edge.

Craig: I’m being serious, why is anyone here with the exception of Roseanna? Why? Huh, Lucy?

Lucy is at a loss for words.

Craig: I mean you wanted to be as far away from me as possible. Why come back? Same applies to you too, Cricket. You got your happy ending with Ernie and kids. Why pop your head back in Oakdale? I haven’t heard from you in YEARS. Why show up now? Did Mom make you come?

Cricket lowers her head, embarrassed.

Craig: And Margo and Katie, you two are just as bad. At least Cricket and Lucy had the decency to actually put space in between us, so it would be easier for them not to claim me. You two never acknowledge me unless you need something, or you want to scold me. Otherwise, I am dead to you.

Katie: That’s not true!

Lyla: Katie, hush! Let him speak.

Craig: Tell ‘em, Mom! Let me speak! Today is about me and MY SON! . . . MY SON! NO ONE ELSE! HE WAS NOTHING TO ALL OF YOU! JUST HOW YOU ALL TREAT ME!

Craig goes for the exit when Manly, Roseanna’s butler, bearing a floral reef, collides into him.

Craig: D*mmit, Manly! Watch out!

Manly: But Mr. Montgomery, this was for you.

Manly hands him the card. Craig reads it aloud:

Craig: To the Montgomery family: We send our condolences for your loss. Sincerely, WorldWide Enterprises, Lucinda Walsh and Paul Ryan . . . ARGGH!!!

Craig rips the reef up, tossing everywhere.

Craig: Loss . . . LOSS! Oh! You and Paul will loss when I am done with you, Lucinda, you old, shriveled up b*tch!

On Craig, enraged

FADE OUT