(The screen turns white, and the town of Somerset is drawn line-by-line as the music builds)

This... is Somerset.

SCENE ONE

An outside shot of an imposing-looking mansion nestled in on a hill. This is the Cleypool mansion, formerly owned by Emily Moore and Philip Matson but sold in the mid-1970s. The property was abandoned for several years before George Cleypool stepped in to buy it.

George is inside sitting in his richly decorated study, looking at what appears to be a legal document amid the darkly-lit room. His butler, Fenwick, interrupts.

FENWICK: Excuse me, Master Cleypool... you have a package waiting for you.

GEORGE: (Looks up) Oh, good! I hope it's the special one I've been waiting on for a while.

FENWICK: It better be... (lifts it up to bring it in) Because it is one of the heaviest packages I've ever seen you get.

GEORGE: You know I'll compensate you for it.

FENWICK: With combat pay, I hope. (Dryly smiles) Will that be all, Master Cleypool?

GEORGE: Yes, Fenwick. You may go.

As Fenwick exits, a younger man enters the study. After exchanging pleasantries with Fenwick, Zachary Cleypool approaches his dad.

ZACHARY: Dad, I haven't seen you this excited in a long time.

GEORGE: Wait until you see what this is... that is, if it's what I think it is.

ZACHARY: You want to run that by me again?

GEORGE: Never mind. (Opens package and sets it on the table)

It is what George believed it was. Inside is a model of downtown Somerset.

ZACHARY: Dad, other millionaires collect model trains. Planes. Cars. What are you doing collecting miniature cities?

GEORGE: Take a closer look, son! (Encourages Zach to look down)

ZACHARY: (Realizes what he's looking at) Uh... Dad, what are you doing with a model of Somerset?

GEORGE: Playing God, that's what. Playing God.

(George and Zachary look at the Somerset model as the picture fades to black and music plays)

Somerset... brought to you today by Lilt. The only home permanent with gripper sponges. The way to shiny, beautiful hair.

SCENE TWO

We see the Grant's Preserve subdivision sign and condos behind it. Inside a condo, Susannah is unpacking some items with the help of Lahoma.

SUSANNAH: Why did Dad decide not to help us and take off with the car?

LAHOMA: I think he got a little misty-eyed looking at Somerset and how much it had changed. Realizing these condos are built on top of the plant where he worked for so long took a little getting used to and he wasn't ready.

SUSANNAH: They're just condos.

LAHOMA: (Looks over from the closet) Not to your dad. This town was a big part of his life. OUR life. This is the town where you were born. I know you didn't live here too long, honey, and I really admire your desire to come back to Somerset and start a new chapter...

SUSANNAH: But you think coming back here opened up a lot of wounds.

LAHOMA: Not really wounds, honey. (Comes over and helps Susannah with a load of clothes) We had some tough times here in Somerset, and most of them were connected with Delaney Brands. When you and I left town, I thought we'd have to start a new life without Sam.

SUSANNAH: Then you had second thoughts and told people where we were.

LAHOMA: God, when Ada found out, I swore Sam broke the speed records getting to Oklahoma. It only showed how much he loved me and you. But for a long time in our household, Somerset was a bad word.

SUSANNAH: I intend on making it a good one. (Leans in and hugs Lahoma)

CUT TO: Another house in a different part of the subdivision. This is the home of the Petterinos, and we see a car driven by Victoria pull up in front of the home. She goes inside.

In the family kitchen, Rose Petterino is testing a sauce in a pan when Victoria walks in.

ROSE: Mmm, Tori dear... taste.

VICTORIA: Hello to you too, Mom. (Tastes off the spoon) How many different kinds of pesto can you make?

ROSE: It's not pesto, honey...it's a different sauce Giovanni is thinking about testing in one or two dishes. Good?

VICTORIA: Well, if you say it's not pesto then it's not... it's good.

ROSE: I'll tell Giovanni it means with Tori's seal of approval. How was work today?

VICTORIA: Good... I got to see the vaunted nurses lounge for the first time.

ROSE: You act as if it's a state secret.

VICTORIA: Before, the student nurses just had coffee in the hospital cafeteria. I feel like I've been admitted to the inner sanctum.

ROSE: Honey, I think Alana really likes you as a nurse. She's raved about your abilities every time she stops in for takeout.

VICTORIA: I like Alana too. She's a great mentor. She and Annabella are good friends... they don't do a lot together lately with how their jobs have fared...

ROSE: But the family socializes very well. Alana's almost like a sister to both of you and another child to us with Johnny in Denver.

VICTORIA: Alana thinks I'm jealous of Annabella, that I'm in her shadow. I'm not... am I?

ROSE: (Comes over and puts hand on Victoria's shoulder) I know it's been hard listening to Giovanni moan on and on about Annabella this, Annabella that. But Giovanni and I love our children equally.

VICTORIA: I know. I know. And it will show in the end. (Pauses) Need a hand with the sauce?

ROSE: Sure, honey. Roll up the sleeves.

(Rose and Victoria work on the sauce as the picture fades to black)

We'll return to Somerset in just a moment.

SCENE THREE

Michael is still at Bernard's bar when another younger gentleman walks in. The man, Nick Barclay, bellies up to the bar for a beer.

MICHAEL: If it isn't Somerset's youngest-ever city manager.

NICK: On the prowl for a story, Mike?

MICHAEL: Naa. Just got done with Lt. Garfield on a story about crime in Somerset.

NICK: Or lack thereof... we've been pretty lucky there. Knock on wood.

MICHAEL: (Reaches up to rap Nick on the head) Okay.

NICK: Very funny.

MICHAEL: I'm talking to Jack tomorrow regarding his big project... any light to shed with me on it?

NICK: On or off the record?

MICHAEL: Your choice.

NICK: Either way, I couldn't help you. Jack has yet to brief me on what's going on and I'm like a son to him.

MICHAEL: Well, you'll find out sooner or later what's going on. I think we all will.

NICK: That's Jack's plan, anyway.

CUT TO: The Cleypool mansion, where Zachary and George are studying the model.

ZACHARY: Whoever worked on this model really knew what he was doing.

GEORGE: It's pretty lifelike, isn't it?

ZACHARY: Soon I'm going to wonder if you've got little people running around this model. (Sees something interesting) Wait a minute. These buildings aren't a part of downtown Somerset. Nor are those. (Looks at George) What is this?

GEORGE: Oh, it's Somerset, all right. (Pauses) When I'm done with it.

(The music swells to its conclusion as the picture fades to black and the Somerset credits roll)

Join us each weekday at this time for the continuing story of Somerset. And on many of these same computers, be sure to watch the romance and drama of Novi. Weekdays on SONBC. This program was pre-recorded.