CUT OFF FROM THE TOP

DOUGLAS: Why did you come to me?

EMILY: I know that you are the king of all parties.

DOUGLAS: Thanks for the compliment. And, I would be honored to help.

---

Afternoon has fallen upon Seaview Circle. At the Cunningham Home, Abby answers the door, when she hears a knock.

ABBY: If you’re looking for your wife, she just left like an hour ago.

MACK: Actually, I wanted to come and visit you. Can I come in?

ABBY: Why not? Come on in.

Mack enters, and Abby shuts the door.

ABBY: So, why are you here?

MACK: I wanted to talk to you.

ABBY: About…?

MACK: I know that you are unemployed, and I know what you have been going through. Abby, a job has opened up at my law firm. I want you to come, and work for me.

ABBY: (sighs) Did Karen put you up to this?

MACK: It was her idea, but I essentially made the choice to bring you on.

ABBY: Listen, yes, I am going through a lot right now in the emotions department. But, that doesn’t mean that I need Karen and you to take care of me. I know that as soon as I take this job, that Karen will want full reports.

MACK: Karen will not full reports. We are not trying to take care of you. This is all your decision. I promise you that.

ABBY: What’s the job?

MACK: I need an assistant.

ABBY: I thought you had that one lady…

MACK: I had to fire Marisol.

ABBY: (sighs) What is the starting salary?

MACK: Thirty dollars an hour.

ABBY: Wow, you plan to impress me. Fine. I’ll take the job. On one condition.

MACK: What’s that?

ABBY: I get a raise every two months.

MACK: Deal. Welcome aboard.

ABBY: When do I start?

MACK: Tomorrow.

Abby and Mack shake hands.

---

Back at the Sumner Home, Meg has just finished the dishes. She goes back over to Kate, who is sitting at the table, on her IPAD.

MEG: Thank you for helping me do some chores.

Kate shuts off her IPAD.

KATE: Not a problem.

MEG: Listen, you made the right choice. You did what was right for you.

KATE: I just hated leaving Sasha in the position I did. That girl has just started a whole new chapter in her life, and I have to begin that for her with a divorce from her father.

MEG: She’ll get over it. Has Abby said anything? I’m sure she’ll go all protect Brian on you. That should be interesting.

KATE: Brian said that he wanted to hold off on that.

MEG: That will give us time to find a community bomb shelter.

KATE: (laughs) We’ll need more than a bomb shelter when it comes to Abby finding out that Brian and I are no longer going to be together.

MEG: I think you’ll be fine.

KATE: You are awfully confident.

MEG: I have to be. For you.

KATE: Thank you, Meg. For everything. Thank you very much.

MEG: Anytime. Anytime. Hey, Eli is staying with Karen tonight. Why don’t we have a girls night. Just the two of us. Bad rom-coms, fatty snacks, and even red wine.

KATE: (laughs) I would like that very much.

MEG: (laughs) Then, it’s settled. I’ll break out Bridget Jones, and Sex and the City.

The two women laugh.

---

Back at Michael’s Home, Michael and Eric come down the stairs.

ERIC: Something is strange to me.

MICHAEL: What’s that?

ERIC: We are all grown up. I remember when we were little kids in the kitchen. Do you remember that one girl that I told you to go for?

MICHAEL: I do, but I can’t remember her name.

ERIC: I think Alison. Anyways, it is sometimes strange to me that we are adults. I say that, because time has went by so fast.

MICHAEL: It really has. I wouldn’t change anything. I have a beautiful daughter.

ERIC: Yes, you do. Speaking of Emily. Is her mother still in the mental institution?

MICHAEL: Yes. That is the one part I regret. I married a beautiful woman, named Marty. She went off the deep end. It happens.

ERIC: She’s been out of Emily’s life for twelve years, now.

MICHAEL: Yeah.

ERIC: Has Emily forgiven her?

MICHAEL: Marty left her to drown. We don’t really speak of it.

ERIC: She walked off from Em at the pool, in your backyard. You were at work. Em hit her head, and fell in.

MICHAEL: Eric, I know the backstory. Where are you going with this?

ERIC: I guess I’m saying this. Have you forgiven Marty?

---

Back at the Ewing Home, Val, Gary, and Lucy are having cheesecake and coffee in the living room. Gary is sitting next to Val, while Lucy sits across on the couch.

LUCY: Thank you for the cheesecake and coffee, mama. It was delicious.

VAL: Of course baby. In fact, that is one of Miss Ellie’s recipes.

LUCY: I knew I recognized the cinnamon crust from somewhere.

GARY: Ma, always did have a way of doing things in the kitchen.

LUCY: Gosh, I miss her so darn much.

VAL: I know you do, Lucy.

LUCY: (sighs) Anyways, on the way inside, you said you wanted to tell me something? What’s up? What do you need to tell me, mama.

VAL: I have to tell you something about my health.

LUCY: Your health?

GARY: Val, you don’t have to do this so quickly.

VAL: Like I said, Gary. It would be dangerous to keep this a secret.

LUCY: You two are scaring me. What’s going on?

VAL: (sighs) I don’t know how to put this into words.

LUCY: Maybe daddy can try.

GARY: Lucy, this is all on your mother. Val, you can wait.

VAL: You know what? I’m just going to pull the bandage off.

GARY: Okay.

Val goes over to Lucy on the couch. She goes close to her, and hugs her, and kisses her on the cheek. The hold each other’s hands.

VAL: (sighs) Honey, a couple days ago, I went to the doctors. It was just a routine check up, they wanted to take some blood. They called me in to get my blood results. They were good. The doctor diagnosed me with stage four Primary Peritoneal Cancer.

LUCY: (voice breaking) W-w-wh-what is that?

VAL: The doctor told me that it is a rare cancer that attacks the thin line of tissue that surrounds the abdomen, uterus, bladder, and rectum. Once damaged, the thin line let’s in fluids that are not safe for the body. Without proper care and surgeries, the fluid can kill you.

LUCY: (cries) Kill! Are you dying?

VAL: I promise you. I am not letting go without a fight. This cancer will not get me down. It will not kill me. I promise you that.

Lucy and Val hug.

LUCY: I love you, mommy.

VAL: I love you too, Lucy. I love you too.

---

At Sid’s gravesite, Karen and Diana sit flowers down.

DIANA: Daddy, was a good man.

Karen puts her arm around Diana.

KAREN: Yes, he was.

DIANA: That car accident wasn’t fair.

KAREN: No it wasn’t. And, he should have lived longer. But, I reflect on the years we did have with him. The wonderful years.

DIANA: We did have a lot of good years. I still lay awake at night. Missing him. Wishing that he was still here to guide me.

KAREN: I do too, Diana. I do too.

DIANA: If he was still alive, would you still be married to him?

KAREN: I like to think I would be.

DIANA: Thank you for letting me come along, mom.

KAREN: Of course. How about we go get some lunch? My treat.

DIANA: Sounds good.

KAREN: (laughs) Okay.

Karen and Diana walk off. The camera zooms out on Sid’s gravesite.

---FREEZE FRAME---

---CLOSING CREDITS---