In this episode... Grant, Charlie, Frankie, Jake, Vicky, John

P.I. FIRM

Frankie is at her desk and she gets a visitor...

Frankie: Charlie?

Charlie: The one and only.

Frankie: Wow I'm surprised to see you after the way we left things downstairs. Did Cass encourage you to come here?

Charlie: Sort of. Do you mind if we...go downstairs to get a latte or something?

Frankie (smiling): I'd love that.

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MCKINNONS HOUSE

Jake: So...the memorial's tomorrow?

Vicky: Yep. I told Donna and Marley.

Jake: What about Bridget?

Vicky: Jake, can we not go there right now? It's hard to try and prepare for this without thinking about Bridget.

Jake: How are we gonna say goodbye to Michele, when we can't even agree on the daughter we still have.

Vicky: Because you're in denial about what she's done.

Jake: How long are you gonna hold it against her? She's hurting, too.

Vicky: You haven't listened to a word I've said about this whole thing. Bridget did some questionable things before Michele's accident.

Jake: And so did you. Have you forgotten what you were back then?

Vicky: Oh you wanna rehash the past Jake! Weren't you a wannabe playboy who slept with my mother, shot by Paulina, and raped my sister when she turned your marriage proposal down!?

Jake (building with anger): I'm gonna leave before I say something I regret.

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DR. BENJAMIN TAYLOR'S OFFICE

Benjamin: Sure Sharlene...we'll see you tomorrow at 2.

Dr. Taylor hangs up and looks up....at Grant.

Benjamin: She wants me to try hypnosis.

Grant: Let her try, you make sure that she doesn't remember anything about that day I was shot.

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BAY CITY CENTER

Frankie and Charlie sit and sip coffee.

Frankie: So how have you been? What's going on with you?

Charlie: You know mom I'm not gonna fake it. It was hard enough to come and see you. We haven't talked in a long time.

Frankie: I know and it's my fault.

Charlie: Understatement of the year.

Frankie (sighing): I guess there's no way I can make you understand why I stayed away.

Charlie: I probably won't be able to put that together, but can you tell me why. Was it me? Was it something I did?

Frankie: No...honey of course not. You could never make me stay away.

Charlie: Then why did you let us think that you were dead?

Frankie: I saw you, your father and Lila, and you all had moved on and I didn't want to interfere.

Charlie: I loved Lila, and Jasmine is like a little sister to me, but she is not my mother. I wanted my mother back. Dad and Lila had to console me a lot of nights, because I was missing you.

Frankie (eyes welling up): My God. I'm so sorry. I had no idea.

Charlie: Dad missed you, too. You, dad and me were a family, and you decided you didn't want one.

Frankie: Charlie it's not like that.

Charlie: Well yeah it is mom. Your selfishness hurt dad and me, and you don't even see it. Staying away was not best for us, as you seem to think it was.

Frankie: I love you. I just wanted my little girl and your father to be happy.

Charlie: I'm not a little girl anymore.

Frankie: You're all grown up. You're so beautiful.

Charlie: And a failure. I flunked out of school mom. That's why I'm back in Bay City...living with dad.

Frankie: Oh baby. Is there anything that I can do to help you?

Charlie gets up.

Charlie: I don't know mom. I really don't know how to answer that right now.

Frankie: If you ever need me, I'm here. I'm not going anywhere.

Charlie: Sure mom. I've heard that before.

Charlie leaves and Frankie is hurt at the level in which she hurt her daughter.

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P.I. FIRM

Frankie sits at her desk thinking about the way her conversation with Charlie turned out, and her well eyes well up.

Frankie: Oh my little girl. I had no idea how much pain I've caused.

Jake walks in and notices Frankie wiping her eyes quickly, but it's too late.

Jake: Frankie? Have you been crying?

Frankie: No...allergies. I'm gonna have to get a cleaner for the carpets.

Jake: What's wrong?

Frankie (eyes welling up again): I've been a terrible mother.

Jake: Why are you saying that? Of course you're not a bad mother.

Frankie: I just met with Charlie. I had no idea how much I've hurt her. I don't know if she'll ever forgive me.

Jake: Well at least you still have a chance to make it right with your daughter. One of my daughters is gone, my other daughter is living with her grandmother because her mother doesn't want her around. Did you get all that?

Frankie: Oh my goodness. Here I am moping about Charlie, and you're dealing with Michele's death. I'm so sorry.

Jake: And things are getting strained between Vicky and me.

Frankie: They say a loss of a child can test a marriage.

Jake: We've never been tested like this before. I'm wondering if we're gonna make it.

Frankie: If you want to make it, then you will. If anyone deserves happiness, it's you and Vicky.

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Benjamin: I'll do what I can but I can't make any guarantees.

Grant: Well you better try. Your career depends on it.

Benjamin: As you've said before.

Grant: You just make sure Sharlene doesn't remember one single detail about that day, because I have a lot of pull, and it will be very very hard for you to get a job as a trash collector. You'll be living on the streets.

Grant turns around and gets a shock.

Grant: John? How long have you been standing there?

John: I was hoping you were getting the help you so desperately need but I'm disappointed again.

Grant: I was just leaving.

John: Come on Grant, where are you running to so fast? I heard enough..

Grant: Whatever you thought you heard, it's not what you think.

John: Oh come on...I'm not stupid. I heard you telling Dr. Taylor here to make sure he helps suppress my wife's memories...and I'm in.

Grant: Come again?

John: Dr. Taylor, I don't want my wife to remember either. I'm afraid of what's going to happen to her.

Grant: You're afraid of her D.I.D. resurfacing.

John: If she remembers what happened, a lot of people could be hurt, most of all...her.

FREEZE FRAME ON JOHN ----END OF EPISODE 27----