EXT. FAIRWINDS (BACKYARD)

Emily quickly lights the candles on the cake. She then grabs it and rushes up to Paul with a big grin on her face.

Emily: Happy birthday!!

Paul laughs, but stops when he notices his quiet and now awkward guests watching on.

CUT TO

INT. FAIRWINDS (FOYER)

Meg eases open the door and peers in. No one is there.

Meg: Let's get this show on the road.

The kicks open the door and drags in a drunken Ryder.

Meg: My God you weren't joking when you said that you were a lightweight.

On Meg dragging Ryder up the stairs,

CUT TO

INT. LAKEVIEW HOTEL (MONA LISA)

Adrienne sits alone eating her dinner. In the B.G., Holden enters. Adrienne looks up from her plate from a second and gives a quick glance behind. Her and Holden eyes connect. A slight smile from both parties then Adrienne turns back around.

On Adrienne intrigued,

CUT TO

INT. WALSH ESTATE (GUEST HOUSE)

We hear the lock unlocking and in walks Luke.

Luke: Noah! Noah, you here?

Luke closes the door behind him.

Luke: Guess he started at WOAK today.

Luke sighs and places the grocery bag in armchair. On the coffee table lies a stack of mail, which Luke eyes. Exhausted, Luke drags himself over and plops down on the sofa before grabbing the mail.

Luke: (going through mail) Bill . . . bill . . . Another bill . . . (sarcastically) Oh! A student loan for Noah! . . . bill . . . (stops on the last letter) Can't be?

A closeup shot of a letter addressed to Luke from his old friend, Kevin Davis . . .

FADE OUT

FADE IN:

INT. FAIRWINDS (PAUL & EMILY ROOM)

We pan across the floor that is covered in clothes, the same clothes that Ryder was dressing until we come up to see Meg tucking him into the bed.

Meg: (giddy) Paul is going to flip out when he sees you two in bed together!

Meg digs into her purse and pulls out a small vial filled with something white.

Meg: Now let's get this started.

On Meg grinning,

CUT TO

EXT. FAIRWINDS (BACKYARD)

Emily and Paul walk around the pool, arm in arm, while the party is back on. Seems as if the two are in their own world -- away from everyone else.

Emily: Sorry about the party.

Paul: It's fine.

Emily: No! It wasn't.

Paul: It was.

Paul stops and pulls Emily close, staring into her eyes lovingly.

Paul: It was. The awkward silence was a bit weird but it was fine. More than fine. It was perfect.

Emily and Paul lean in for a kiss when,

Henry (OC): Meg! You made it!

Paul and Emily look over towards the door to see Meg standing in doorway. The sight of her makes Emily sick.

CUT TO

INT. MONA LISA

Holden has now joined Adrienne. The two are enjoying themselves, laughing.

Adrienne: . . .And my father caught Bradley hiding in my closet naked!

Holden: (laughing) Gosh. . . that Brad was a mess.

Adrienne: Yeah. He was. (hitting her) I still miss him. No other man has meant so much to me like Bradley. Don't think another will. . .

Holden: I understand. Young love. We think that it'll stand the test of time but it doesn't. Reality sets in--

Adrienne: And people change. Just hate how things ended between us. . . how we never stayed in touch.

Holden: Well I'm sure that Brad is looking down from Heaven and wishing the same.

Adrienne: Yeah. . .

Holden: (getting up) Well thanks for having dinner with me.

Adrienne: (grabbing him by the hand) Wait! (pulling away) I mean, what about a night cap? A drink? How about it?

Holden is a bit conflicted -- struggling between yes or no. Then,

Holden: You know what . . . sure. Let's have that drink.

CUT TO

EXT. FAIRWINDS (BACKYARD)

We come in on Lisa and John slow dancing together to Midnight Star’s Slow Jam.

Lisa: Who would’ve thought that the two of us are having a good time at this party?

John: I know right.

John spins Lisa out and then back in towards him.

Lisa: Just look at them.

A shot of Meg and Emily exchanging words with Paul standing between the two, over it.

Lisa: Young. . . miserable . . .

John: That was us about 40 years ago.

Lisa: Speak for yourself. That was 40 years ago for you. Ten years ago for me.

Lisa and John share a laugh.

John: Still the same Lisa.

Lisa: Always.

They continue dancing. Unbeknownst to the two, Lucinda watches on fuming from a far.

Nearby, Mo and Casey are slow dancing too; however, Casey is distracted by something.

Mo: Casey?

Casey: Huh? Oh. Sorry.

Mo: Are you still upset about Allison? I mean if you wanna go make up with her—

Casey: I don’t. Trust me. That door is closed forever. . . (holding up Mo’s chin) . . .and a new one is open.

Casey leans in and kisses Mo passionately.

We move onto Jami and MJ dancing. Suddenly, Allison taps MJ on the shoulder.

Allison: Can I cut in?

MJ: Well—

Before MJ can answer, Allison finds a way to edge Jami out the way and dance with MJ. Allison rests her head on MJ’s chest, closes her eyes, and smile.

MJ glances over at Jami, who is in total disbelief,

On a shot of Jami rolling her eyes,

PAN TO

Meg and Emily are still exchanging words. Paul still looks on.

Emily: Who invited you?

Meg: Barbara and Henry did. Is it a problem, Emily?

Emily: Clearly it is.

Meg: Why?!

Emily: The way you’re dressed for starters. . .

Meg: It’s a dress!

Emily: Honey, you can’t kid a kidder. This stunt you’re pulling, I’ve done it a million times.

Meg: Oh. . . we know.

Paul: Ladies, c’mon. It’s my birthday. Can’t we put our differences aside for once? Plus, Eliza is here, Emily. She’d want both of her moms here.

Emily nods in agreement while this statement sends a chill down Meg’s spine—not a good one, yet Meg feigns a smile.

Meg: How about a drink then?

Emily: Most definitely.

Meg: Then I’ll go get them. Merlot?

Emily: Ooo, yes.

Meg: Be right back.

Meg walks off for the refreshment table.

Emily: At least little Miss. Cornfield knows her wines.

Paul: Emily. . .

Emily: Just saying.

CLOSE UP

Meg unscrews her vial and drops with white substance into Emily’s glass.

Meg: Bi*ch. . . You can kiss Paul and my daughter goodbye.

Meg grabs the glasses and heads back towards Paul and Emily. She hands Emily her glass first. Then Paul.

Meg: To new beginnings?

Emily: I don’t know about—

Paul: (elbowing his wife) Yes, new beginnings. For Eliza.

Emily: (sighs) Fine. Only for Eliza.

The three clink their glasses together before Emily quickly downs her wine.

Meg: (taking a sip) Jesus. You were thirsty, Emily. You didn’t leave a drop in the glass.

Emily: It was much needed.

Meg: (thought) Oh bi*ch whatever. What I need right now is for a bus to run you over; however, I’ll settle for something less. . . the demise of your marriage. . .

Meg smiles at Emily. Emily is taken back by this and hesitant at first before smiling back.

CUT TO

INT. WALSH ESTATE (GUEST HOUSE)

Luke sits on the couch reading the letter when Noah barges in with a grin on his face. Luke jumps up, hiding the letter in his back pocket.

Noah: Baby, guess what?

Luke: (walking over to him) What?

Noah: Kim is thinking about giving me a show on WOAK—a show to air short films for local movie makers. How about that?

Luke: Sounds wonderful.

Noah hugs Luke tightly.

On Luke feeling guilty as he holds a secret from Noah,

CUT TO

INT. LAKEVIEW (ADRIENNE’S ROOM)

Holden and Adrienne are in the throes of passion—making love like never before. The two look like two animals in the wild attacking one another, feeding off one another’s energy.

Adrienne: Oh Holden!

Holden: Shh!

KNOCK! KNOCK!

Adrienne: (breathing heavily) Should we answer?

Holden: Shh!

The sweaty Holden nibbles on her lip before kissing her. Adrienne lets out a moan as the door, canceling out the sound of the door unlocking. . .

Lily (OC): Excuse me! The guests have been complaining about the noise level. . .

It’s Lily!

Lily: . . .In here. . .

Holden looks up to see Lily standing in the door way. Both he and Adrienne cover up.

On a astounded and heartbroken Lily,

CUT TO

EXT. FAIRWINDS (BACKYARD)

Paul and Meg stand off to the side in silence. Then,

Meg: (looking around) Where did Emily go?

Paul shrugs.

Paul: Said she was going inside to take an Advil. She was developing a headache.

Meg: Should you go and check on her?

Paul glances at his watch.

Paul: Maybe I should?

Meg nods. Paul takes her advice and heads in.

Meg: Ta-ta, Mrs. Ryan—or should I say Ms. Stewart now.

Meg maniacally grins as we

PAN OVER

to Lucinda charging toward John and Lisa, who are still dancing.

Lucinda: (clears throat) John!

John and Lisa stop dancing.

John: Lucinda, I didn’t know you were here.

Lucinda: Of course you didn’t.

John leans in to kiss Lucinda. She puts a hand up, blocking him.

John: What?

Lucinda storms off.

John goes to go after her when Lisa grabs him by the arm, preventing him from going.

Lisa: Let her go.

John: I can’t. (kisses Lisa on the cheek) Thanks for the dance.

Lisa: (smiles) Anytime.

John rushes off to catch up to Lucinda.

A shot of Lisa shaking her head in disbelief,

CUT TO

INT. EMILY & PAUL’S BEDROOM

Paul bursts into the room to find Emily’s head in between Ryder’s legs—in his crotch region. To us, it is clear she is passed out but not to Paul.

Paul: God d*mmit! Emily!

Emily sits up, dazed and confused

CUT TO

INT. CARTER’S PENTHOUSE

Carter opens the door and flicks on the light. What he sees brings a smile upon his face.

Carter: Why hey there, Mr. Future Assistant District Attorney!

We pan over to reveal. . .