(The town of Somerset is drawn line-by-line on a white screen as the music swells to its climax)

This... is Somerset.

SCENE ONE

The serial opens today at the Petterino house, where Victoria has just arrived home from the hospital. Rose is in the kitchen reading the day's Register as Tori comes in through the back door.

ROSE: (Looks up and removes glasses) Well, that was a long day at work.

VICTORIA: (Shuts door) No later than usual, Mom. Did you lose track of time? I was supposed to work until 9.

ROSE: And you left the house... a 12-hour day?

VICTORIA: Mom, I don't work every day... I'm on the schedule just four days a week, and I have three days off.

ROSE: Whatever happened to the 9-to-5 type jobs that were out there?

VICTORIA: (Bends over and kisses Rose on the cheek) They disappeared. Just like you and Dad at the restaurant.

ROSE: I see. Hey, we got some good news from overseas... Annabella's coming home for a visit.

VICTORIA: (Rifling through refrigerator for the milk, but she looks up and smiles) All right! I get to pick on my older sister!

ROSE: Somehow I knew you'd say that. (Laughs)

The scene changes, as we see an overhead shot of Washington D.C. with the word "Washington" below the cityscape. Back at the bar, Nick is engaged in conversation with the young woman who descended the stairs on Friday. The woman has turned herself toward Nick and is flashing a big smile at him.

WOMAN: So what's a guy like you doing alone at a bar like this?

NICK: Nursing a drink and watching a ballgame. What's your excuse?

WOMAN: I had to come downstairs. These barristers' parties can be fun, but it's worth it to escape the stuffed shirts. Besides, I had to come find out how my Marlins were doing.

NICK: You realize you could get booed out of this bar by saying that. Not by me, of course, but...

WOMAN: (Makes face) Sweetheart, please. Not with the way the Nationals are doing this year. It's a battle of last place.

NICK: You from Florida?

WOMAN: I lived down there for a while. Went to school in Gainesville...

NICK: So you must be on cloud nine about the basketball.

WOMAN: Damn straight, handsome. That deserves another drink... it'll be my third down here, but who cares... (cell phone rings) Doggone it, hold on. (Picks up) Hey, what's up? (Looks up) You couldn't come downstairs to tell me that? All right, I'll be right up. (Puts phone away and motions to bartender) Can I settle my tab?

BARTENDER: I would if I could, but I'm afraid you have no tab.

WOMAN: No tab? What... (Suddenly gets it and smiles devilishly at Nick) Thank you for the vodkas. I promise I'll come back down for a nightcap, OK?

NICK: I'll hold you to it.

Nick looks as the woman leaves the bar and heads back up the staircase. All the while he's staring, first at the shape and then at the legs as they disappear upstairs.

BARTENDER: Another drink, sir?

NICK: Can I just have the seltzer button to spray myself off? Yes, I'll take a Manhattan.

As the bartender laughs, he begins preparing another drink and the picture fades... the Somerset logo reappears.

Somerset... brought to you today by Cheer. Washes well in hot, warm and cold water. All-tempa Cheer... and by Camay, the soap that's like washing your face in cold cream. Available in unscented or scented.

SCENE TWO

At the Petterino kitchen table, Victoria is drinking milk while Rose finishes the paper.

VICTORIA: Mom, have you or Dad ever had any run-ins with George Cleypool?

ROSE: (Puts down the paper) Why do you ask, honey?

VICTORIA: His son was in a motorcycle accident last night. I hear he lit into the driver who supposedly caused the accident... then this morning his son banged his shin on the hospital bed and suffered an ankle injury. You'd think we committed malpractice or something.

ROSE: George Cleypool is not a nice man. The sooner you know that, the better.

VICTORIA: (Surprised by Rose's comments) Did he ever do anything to you or Dad?

ROSE: No, but I don't like his tone when it comes to improvements for Somerset. Giovanni is solidly on Jack Martin's side when it comes to the new Somerset vision.

VICTORIA: Looks like Mr. Cleypool doesn't have an ally in town.

ROSE: Oh, he does. But I think Jack has more of a leg to stand on.

VICTORIA: (Finishes milk) His son seems nicer. He's almost embarrassed at how his father acts from time to time.

ROSE: I would be too. (As she puts the paper back up to read, the scene changes)

CUT TO: Giovanni's, where Scott and Mike are sitting at the bar having finished dinner. Mike is nursing a beer when he sees Alana walk in.

SCOTT: Is this my cue to scram?

MICHAEL: No, you can stay here and vouch for me. (Motions Alana, who smiles and comes over)

ALANA: I see this is where the crime reporters hang out? (Shakes Scott's hand) Hello, Lt. Garfield. Is he bothering you?

SCOTT: No, not at all, Alana. Have a seat and relax.

ALANA: Thank you. Don't mind if I do... sit, that is. Relax, I'm not sure.

SCOTT: I'm going to go over and say hi to Jack for a bit. Have fun, you two. (Scott smiles devilishly at Michael and walks over to Jack and Susannah's table)

MICHAEL: Now why do you suppose he went and did that?

ALANA: Cut the act, Wagner. How much did you pay him?

MICHAEL: (Feigns shock) Alana Singleton, you wound me deeply. You must have gotten my note. When do I get a drink thrown in my face?

ALANA: I never said I'd throw the drink in your face, Wagner. Maybe pour it over your head to cool you off...

MICHAEL: All I said in my note was asking you to meet me for a drink, nothing more.

ALANA: And I'm here, aren't I? (Smiles) You are a hard guy to understand. Did you think I was going to chew your head off?

MICHAEL: Well... (gulps) the thought did cross my mind.

ALANA: I may have told you... and others... that I'm not ready for a relationship with anyone, but it doesn't mean I can't have a good time.

MICHAEL: (Looks relieved) I'll take your word on that.

CUT TO: Another bar, this one in Washington, where Nick is watching the game and scouring the staircase for the mystery woman to come down.

NICK: (Drinks) Wonder if she was pulling my leg?

BARTENDER: Naaa, I don't think so. I've got a good view of that staircase and I haven't seen her come down.

NICK: The game's almost over, that's why I was wondering.

BARTENDER: I'm sure she'll... wait, I see her now.

As Nick turns, he sees the woman draped around the arms of another guy.

NICK: I figured it was too good to be true.

(The picture fades to black)

We'll return to Somerset in just a moment.

SCENE THREE

The scene is directly picked up from before the break, as Nick turns back to his drink. What he doesn't see is the young woman hugging the guy and he walks out. The woman bounds down the stairs and back into the bar.

WOMAN: Miss me?

NICK: (Turns, a bit surprised) I thought you were leaving the bar.

WOMAN: What.. with that guy? Heck no, I was just saying goodbye. Bartender, another vodka tonic.

BARTENDER: Are you sober enough, both of you?

NICK: I'm fine.

WOMAN: There was plenty of food upstairs. It'll wreck my diet, but...

NICK: Puh-leeze. With that figure?

WOMAN: (Looks a little incredulous, in a good way) What are you implying, hot stuff? That I have a killer body?

NICK: I never said any such thing. (Smiles) Now the red hair, that's another story.

WOMAN: You keep this up and I might have to believe it. (Drinks her vodka) I just wanted to come down and have another drink before I took off.

NICK: So soon?

WOMAN: The party's breaking up upstairs. How are the Marlins doing?

NICK: Still trailing, 4-3.

WOMAN: Damn. That'll teach me to follow a team like Florida. (There is a commotion behind Nick and the woman)

NICK: What's going on?

WOMAN: (The woman turns to see her friends) Now?

NICK: Do you have to go?

WOMAN: I'm afraid so. (Leans in and whispers in Nick's ear) I had a real good time. It was a pleasure talking to you. (She runs her fingernails down Nick's right arm)

NICK: Wait... (He locks his hand with the woman's right hand)

UNIDENTIFIED MAN: Come on, the party's just starting.

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: You coming or not?

WOMAN: (Holding Nick's hand tightly before she breaks loose and blows a kiss to Nick) Go Marlins.

NICK: (Realizing the opportunity slipping away) Go Nats.

The woman joins her friends and they rush out of the bar, but not without her looking inside through the glass. Nick, nursing his drink, realizes what just happened.

BARTENDER: Man, that's tough. Need a refill?

NICK: No, hit me. (Motions to the seltzer trigger)

The bartender takes the seltzer trigger and pulls it, spraying Nick's face with water as the picture fades to black and the Somerset credits roll.

Join us each weekday afternoon at this time for the continuing story of Somerset. And on most of these same computers, be sure to watch Salem Lives, as Salem deals with the death of a beloved heroine. Weekdays on SONBC. The preceding program was pre-recorded.