Michael is with Donna at the Love Mansion in their bedroom. Michael puts on his gray hooded sweatshirt and Donna lies in bed. Donna gets up, walks over to Michael, and places her arms on his shoulders.

Donna: Where are you headed? You just got back. We have sooo much catching up to do.

Donna starts kissing Michael on his neck.

Michael: There’ll be plenty of time for us to do that dear.

Donna: It’s killing me not to be able to tell the girls that you’ve returned. They still think you’re dead. And you haven’t met Bridget yet. She reminds of me somewhat of you, and Marley’s having a baby.

Michael: Honey don’t worry. We will all be together okay. There’s just one more thing I have to do.

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At the hospital…

Felicia: Are you kidding? He proposed to her? I guess that’s why he asked if I could let Charlie off early.

Cass: Wait a minute. You knew about this?

Felicia: Kirkland asked if he could have the terrace to himself, and if that Charlie could get off early. I thought he wanted to just have a nice dinner with her. It never occurred to me that he was gonna give her an engagement ring.

Cass: Well he did, and I can’t get on board with it.

Felicia: Oh Cass honey I knew this day would come.

Cass: I’m not naive. I knew Charlie would one day want to get married and have a family of her own, but she’s just too young right now. Why is Kirkland rushing her into this?

Felicia: I don’t think you know everything about it.

Cass: And you do?

Felicia: You act as though Charlie didn’t have a say in this. Kirkland asked her to marry him, and she said yes.

Cass: She doesn’t know what she’s doing.

Felicia (sighing): When Lorna was having an affair with Grant, I was certainly opposed to it, but I had to let her make her own mistakes. That is what you are going to have to do with Charlie.

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Frankie: Come here honey.

Charlie sits next to Frankie on the bed and lays her head on Frankie’s shoulder.

Charlie: Dad is gonna have to realize that I’m a grown woman. I want to marry Kirkland and the sooner he accepts it, the better.

Frankie: Your father loves you. He just wants what’s best for you, as I do.

Charlie: I understand that but dad has to realize that Kirkland is nothing like his father.

Frankie: Look I’ll talk to your dad, but you gotta realize that your dad only is looking out for your best interests. He loves you, and no matter how old you get, you’re always gonna be our little girl. You’ll understand that once you have children.

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Michael is at a door when Matt joins him holding an envelope full of documents.

Matt: Are you ready?

Michael: As ready as I’ll ever be.

Matt: You’re only doing what dad would want.

Iris opens the door.

Iris: Come in. I’ve been expecting you.

CAMERA PAN ON IRIS….SLOW FADE TO THEME SONG.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KQ9WWkvoe0

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PART 2

Cass: Wouldn’t you want to do something if you thought Lorna or Jenna was making a bad decision?

Felicia: Of course. Protecting our children is a parental instinct, even when they become adults.

Cass: I have to convince her that this is not a good choice.

Felicia: I know you don’t want to hear this but there’s nothing you can do about it. All you can do is be there for her when she needs you. You’re going to have to let go.

Charlie walks up to within earshot of Cass and Felicia around the corner.

Cass: It seems like yesterday when Frankie and I were holding this beautiful little baby. Since then, all I wanted to do as her father was to protect her, and never let anything or anyone hurt her.

Felicia: But we can’t shield our children forever honey. IF marrying Kirkland is a mistake, it’s Charlie’s to make.

Cass: I love her so much. I just don’t want anything to happen to her.

Charlie emerges as her eyes well up with tears...

Charlie: I love you, too dad.

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Someone rings the doorbell at the Love Mansion and Donna opens it.

Donna: Marley. Come on in. How are you?

Marley: I just came to visit. Haven’t heard from you.

Donna: I’ve just been a little...preoccupied.

Marley: Oh come on Donna, you’re never too busy for me or Vicky. That’s my next stop.

Donna: You should be getting as much rest as possible instead of being out. I’m surprised Tyrone hasn’t locked you in the house.

Marley: Are you suggesting I should be imprisoned? We’ve had enough of that in our family haven’t we?

Donna: You must be talking about daddy. Keeping Nicole locked up at Pinehaven; trying to kidnap Bridget. Yes I’d say this family is tired of imprisonments.

Someone rings the doorbell and Marley opens the door, looks down, sees an envelope, and picks it up.

Donna: What’s that?

Marley (looking over the envelope): I dunno, someone left this at the door. Doesn’t even say who it’s from.

Donna opens the envelope and drops its contents in horror. Marley is equally as shocked as she and Donna stare at a gun.

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Michael: You have?

Iris: Not much gets by me Mike.

Matt: So then you know why we came.

Michael: We’re giving you a chance to do it here.

Matt (taking out a paper): All you have to do is sign this.

Iris (reading the paper): My resignation? You want me to leave my post as CEO of Cory Productions.

Michael: Better to do it now.

Iris: What’s in the envelope?

Matt: It’s dad’s will. You and Tucker McCall thought it was fake, but it’s every bit as real as you and I. Look at this.

Iris (looking over the papers and laughing): THIS is what you came to tell me?

Matt: You knew?

Iris: Everything. Daddy told me a long time ago that I was adopted. That doesn’t change ANYTHING! I am entitled to Cory Productions just as much as you, Paulina, Amanda, and Sandy are. You think you and Michael are just gonna come over to my suite and kick me out of the company because I’m not related to Mac by blood?

Iris turns to Michael.

Iris: And that YOU are now the sole owner of Cory because you are daddy’s firstborn son.

Michael: You can make this easier on everyone by resigning.

Iris: I will NEVER quit!

Michael: I only want to do what our father wanted.

Iris: And what is it that you think daddy desired for all of his children? For everyone to have equal ownership?

Matt: YOU want to keep the company for yourself and we’re not gonna let that happen.

Michael: You’re gonna have to give up your stake.

Iris: I don’t have to do a damned thing. How dare you come here trying to force me to resign! I will have this tied up in court for years. When I’m through, there will be no Cory Productions for any of us.

FREEZE FRAME ON IRIS….SLOW FADE OUT...END OF EPISODE 142