#67 Tuesday, April 29th

Carol is at her office at Donahue, when JC peeks in the door.

Carol: Well, this is a nice surprise. What brings you here?

JC: Curiosity.

Carol: About what?

JC: About this whole feud between the families.

Carol: It's a business rivalry, nothing unusual about it.

JC: It just seems like there is so much more to it.

Carol: What made you start thinking about all this?

JC: There was report on the television earlier that said Donahue has something to do with the proxy fight among the McGregor shareholders.

Carol: I see.

JC: Is it true? Are you in on it?

Carol: It's a stellar business opportunity.

JC: Do you really think it's necessary to take it this far?

Carol: Donahue needs growth.

JC: If you do this, the whole feud is just going to get worse. For once, I would like there to be a little peace

between both sides of my family.

Carol: I bet your father and Anna sent you over here to ask me to cut some slack.

JC: Gran, I came over here on my own, nobody sent me. I do have a mind of my own you know.

Carol: I know you are very bright, but sometimes bright people can be manipulated.

JC: I'm just asking for civility. I don't want to feel like I have to support one side of my family over the other.

Carol: No one has ever asked you to pick sides.

JC: Some times, it feels that way though.

Carol: You aren't a part of this feud, you never have been.

JC: But I'm affected by the back and forth sometimes. I know this visit probably didn't do any good, but please, at least

consider toning this whole thing down.

JC leaves.

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Meanwhile, over at McGregor, Anna walks into the boardroom where the board of directors is waiting.

Anna: The shareholders are starting to vote right now.

Alma: Are you saying we're out of time?

Anna: I was able to get some of them to hold off voting, but I don't know how long it will last.

Leonard: Any preliminary numbers yet?

Anna: So far it's very close, almost 50-50.

Yvette: We need a plan.

Anna: What could we possibly come up with at this point? we've got less than a few hours to call the undecideds.

Just then, the office secretary comes into boardroom.

Secretary: Mrs. McGregor, someone is here to see you.

George walks into the boardroom.

Anna: What are you doing here?

George: I'm here to make an offer.

Anna: Whatever it is, we don't want it.

George: I think you might want to hear this. I'm making you an offer that

could spare you a lot of humiliation.

Anna: I guess since the voting is so close, you aren't to confident about your chances.

George: I'm just trying to avoid doing this the hard way. A hostile takeover is harsh,

not to mention it was bring out secrets that you probably don't want in the tabloids.

Alma: Anna, what is he talking about?

George: Didn't anyone tell you? I'm Andrew's son.

Leonard: What?

Anna: It's a long and complicated story, but he's telling the truth.

George: I'm sure you wouldn't want all that to be exposed to world.

Anna: I'm going to fight this out, I won't give into threats.

George: I'll offer you a very good price to get out of this company.

Anna: You have got a lot of nerve.

George: I just want what is mine.

Anna: And you're delusional too. This company does not belong to you.

George: I think after what my father did, I'm entitled to something.

Anna: I don't condone what Andrew did, but it's not fair for you to blame it on me or my family.

George: I'm not assigning blame.

Anna: Then what is it?

George: Like I said, I'm claiming what is mine.

Anna: You are pathetic, just as bitter as your mother.

George pulls out his checkbook and writes a check, then handing to Anna.

George: My only offer.

Anna takes the check and rips it in half.

Anna: Oh, no. You wanted a fight and you're gonna get one.

George looks at Anna and chuckles.

George: Don't ever say I didn't try to play fair.

George walks out as the board is still stunned by the revelation.

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Lynette: (into phone) I'll talk to you later.

Lynette hangs up the phone and continues to look nervous.

Lynette: I wasn't expecting you back until later, where are the kids?

Jim: With my parents, I decided to let them spend a little more time there

so we could have some time to ourselves today.

Lynette: That's good, because I do have something to talk to you about.

Jim: Does it have anything to do with who was on the phone? You were telling whoever it was

that there was something I had to know.

Lynette: This really isn't easy for me at all.

Jim: This sounds serious.

Lynette: It is. I was raised to always tell the truth, no matter how hurtful it might be.

Jim: What exactly is it you are trying to say to me?

Lynette: First off, I need you to understand that I never intended to hurt you.

Jim: Whatever is, just say it.

Lynette: I'm afraid it's impossible for me to stay in this marriage anymore.

Jim: I see.

Lynette: I thought we could make it work, but I've come to the realization that it isn't possible.

Jim: Lynette, I know that the separation was hard for you and I said some things I didn't mean, but we can make it.

Lynette: No, we can't.

Jim: I don't understand, not too long ago you wanted us back together and were going to therapy, why the sudden change.

Lynette: It's just better for the both of us if we just go our separate ways.

Jim: If you think that I'm not capable of change, you are wrong. I'm ready to make concessions and be a better husband to you.

Lynette: It's not that.

Jim: Then what is it?

Lynette pauses for a moment, becoming a little emotional.

Lynette: I've been unfaithful.

Jim: What?

Lynette: It hurts me to tell you this, but I've got to be honest.

Jim: (scoffs) I should have known something was up, I should have known.

Who was this guy? Somebody from work?

Lynette: Not exactly.

Jim: It's got to be somebody you know, I'm sure it wasn't just some random person.

Jim thinks for a second and then a knowing look comes over his face.

Jim: God, how could I have been so stupid? It's the damn doctor, isn't it?

Lynette: Yes.

Jim: When you were so anxious to switch doctors, I should have figured it out.

I knew there was something that wasn't right with that man.

Lynette: It's not his fault.

Jim: What sort of doctor goes around sleeping with one of his patients and a married one at that?

Lynette: It didn't happen when he was still counseling me, it was after. It was last night.

Jim: I guess you had to wait until a got out of town, huh?

Lynette: It wasn't planned, it just happened.

Jim: That makes it so much better.

Lynette: Please, Jim, I need you to understand---

Jim: Understand what? That my wife cheated on me?

Lynette: Everything inside of me just built up ever since the separation. Greg was there for me when I needed a shoulder.

You had walked out.

Jim: Am I having hearing problems or did I just hear you try to blame me for what you did?

Lynette: I wasn't trying to blame you, I was just--

Jim: I'll admit, I was a real jerk toward you last year, but you can't lay what you did at my door. I moved back in months ago.

You had every opportunity to tell me you had feelings for this man and you didn't do it.

Lynette: I didn't want to hurt you.

Jim: And pretending that you wanted to save this marriage wasn't hurting me?

Lynette: I do care about you and I was hoping that things would straighten themselves out.

Jim: If you care someone, you don't deceive them.

Lynette: Jim, I--

Jim: That's it, I'm done. I've heard everything I needed to hear.

Lynette: No, you haven't.

Jim: Right now, I'm breaking inside, so I can't listen to anymore.

Jim goes outside and slamming the door behind him. He breaks down in tears as he walks away.

On the next Novi: The results of the shareholder's vote are in, with a surprising twist.