#72 Friday, July 4th

Jim is back in Novi, his parents have driven him and the kids home.

Jim: You really didn't have to drive us home.

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Eleanor: Just thought we'd help you out as much as possible.

After everything that has happened, we thought the last thing you wanted to do was take a long drive.

Jim: I appreciate the concern, but I'll be fine.

Eleanor: I think we should talk.

Elliot: I'll take the kids upstairs so you can talk.

Jim: Okay.

Elliot takes the kids upstairs.

Jim: Look, I know it seems like I'm a little on edge, but it's nothing to get alarmed about.

Eleanor: I'm going to ask you something and I hope you answer me honestly.

Jim: Of course.

Eleanor: Have you started drinking again?

Jim: No, how could you even think that?

Eleanor: You were always great at hiding it, but I eventually was able to figure it out anyway.

Jim: This is absurd.

Eleanor: Remember, you have two children to think about. Don't let something push you

so far over the edge that you destroy your life and can't be there for them.

Jim: Believe me, I know that.

Eleanor: I just hope if you have a problem, you'll tell it before it's too late.

Just then Lynette walks in the front door. Jim looks at her and scoffs.

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Leigh as at the Donahue Ranch with Norm.

Leigh: So how's the rest of the plan coming on along?

Norm: It's moving along.

Leigh: How long before we can drop the bomb?

Norm: Patience. We don't even know how far Edmund and Christina's relationship will go.

Leigh: He was having coffee with her at his place this morning, I'd say it's going nicely so far.

Norm: It's still not time.

Leigh: I can't wait. A few tabloid headlines about Edmund being caught up with a black market ring leader and I'm sure the courts will question his judgment.

Norm: It's not a sure thing.

Leigh: What do you mean?

Norm: Remember, the McGregors hold a lot of clout around here, who knows what the judge could rule?

Leigh: Okay, I don't need the negativity from you right now.

Norm: Only trying to keep things realistic, as you should.

Leigh: You're right, I'm sorry I snapped at you. I take this very seriously.

Norm: I know. I wouldn't be doing this if getting your kids didn't mean so much to you.

Leigh: I want the opportunity to raise them the way I think they should be raised.

Norm: You might be a schemer, but you certainly are sincere. I like that about you, always have.

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George is at the CoffeeRoom, Cassandra walks in holding the newspaper.

Cassandra: What are we going to do about this new annoyance Anna has sent out to do her bidding.

George: He's not that big of a problem, he's all talk.

Cassandra: I think you are underestimating him, he seemed serious.

George: I'm not worried, I've steamrolled right over guys like him.

Cassandra: Maybe I should handle him, I think I'm a better match to go up against him.

George: You taught me everything I know, you think I can't take this on?

Cassandra: That's not what I'm saying, I just think it would be better for me to deal with him.

George: You have a tendency to make things worse sometimes.

Cassandra: What?

George: Like when you didn't tell me about your whole little savings and loan fiasco, that almost cost us a lot.

Cassandra: That's not fair, it was years ago and I didn't think you needed to know.

George; Right, because it was so insignifcant.

Cassandra: Well, that has nothing to do with this, this is a completely different situation.

George: Mother, please let me take care of this. It's all just a stalling tactic by McGregor, it means nothing.

There's no who can stand in our way now.

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Jim: If you are here to try to justify your actions some more, I don't want to hear it.

Lynette: I'm not, I was wondering you had come home yet and came to check on you and the kids.

Jim: Nice, you took time from your affair to come check in.

Lynette: I've tried to apologize.

Eleanor: An apology doesn't undo the damage.

Jim: Mom, don't start anything.

Eleanor: I want to talk to Lynette, privately.

Jim: I don't know if that's such a great idea.

Eleanor: I have some things I need to say.

Jim: All right.

Jim goes into the kitchen.

Eleanor: I really expected better of you.

Lynette: Could you try to understand that I feel horrible about this?

Eleanor: Are you asking me to feel sorry for you?

Lynette: Of course not.

Eleanor: Good, because if you were, I'd think you were insane.

Lynette: It's all very unfortunate.

Eleanor: My son is really on the edge right now, I think he might have started drinking again.

Lynette: My god.

Eleanor: For your children's sake, you better hope that he hasn't.

Lynette: I was afraid this would happen.

Eleanor: He told you about his drinking problem?

Lynette: A few years ago.

Eleanor: So you knew that this could push him over the edge, but you went ahead and hurt him anyway?

Lynette: No, I tried to make the marriage work to avoid hurting him.

Eleanor: You knew it wasn't going to work out, yet you lied and created false hope, only to then destroy

him. That was an incredibly reckless thing to do.

Lynette: I realize that now.

Eleanor: You know, I never imagined you of all people would do this, but I guess I was wrong. I really don't understand where your logic was, I just don't.

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Aaron and Roberta walk into her law office.

Roberta: A lot of information about shareholders and shareholder agreements is here. Andrew had me archive it years ago.

Aaron: What about the company charter?

Roberta: I think I have a copy here. Andrew structured this company well to avoid takeovers, but Lightner found a loophole.

Aaron: I'd like to look over it.

Roberta looks in a file cabinet and pulls a folder.

Roberta: Here it is.

Aaron: Thank you. Looks pretty standard.

Roberta: I assume this is the first place the family looked when the company was taken over, but

there's not much in there that could help.

Aaron: It appears not.

Roberta: Another course of action is probably going to be your best bet.

Aaron: Do you know anything about Lightner's internal structure, things like their board, shareholders?

Roberta: Not in detail, since I've never worked with them.

Aaron: I've got some research to do then. I'll contact you if I find what I'm looking for.

Roberta: What are you looking for?

Aaron: The key to everything.

Aaron steps outside and makes a call on his cell phone.

Aaron: Nothing new yet, but I'm working on it. I'm on my way over now.

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