MELASWEN STUDIOS
MARQUETTE COVE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT

"Did you hear about the alignment of the sun?" Yolanda Holland says, reading from the thick script in front of her. "The last time there was an alignment like this, an asteroid hit the Earth and killed the dinosaurs...what the fuck is this?"

Yolanda stares up at Andy Eckles, the head writer for The Blackthornes with enough disdain to spare for everyone in Marquette Cove. Andy ignores the dirty look and rises to his feet, ready to address the entire cast at the table for the first episode of the new season. "I'm getting the feeling you're not on board, here."

"Of course I'm not!" Yolanda snaps. "First you have me running around town clutching my stomach every time I see the man you swear isn't my son, and now I'm talking about the alignment of the sun? How the hell does Renee find the time to bone up on astrology?"

"It's called foreshadowing," Andy insists.

"Let me guess, an asteroid is going to hit Los Angeles."

Andy sputters, attempting to come up with an answer. "Uh...no! Of course not. Don't be stupid."

"You're being stupid."

"I'm wondering why I'm not in this scene," Kelli Giddish says, speaking up from her spot around the large circle. "I was promised I was going to get an Emmy reel. And after that bullshit with dating my brother, you owe me."

"It was a good storyline!" Andy insists.

"I'm talking about Brooke dating Ethan," Kelli snaps. "My actual brother in real life."

"Yeah, that was gross," Chris Evans agrees. "But you know, not as gross as my own recently discovered half-sister trying to get me thrown off the show."

"You try making out with yourself and see if you don't want yourself fired!" Kelli shoots back.

"Guys, trust me, this asteroid will be good for ratings," Akilah Moore pipes up from her seat next to Yolanda. "Everybody will love it. It's just so crazy and ridiculous."

Yolanda rolls her eyes. "Well, if you insist."

"Way to go, Akilah," Blake Thomas whispers. "Keep all these crazy actors from fighting."

"Please refrain from talking to me, you role thief," Akilah says, scowling.

Blake hangs his head and turns back to his script, attempting to decipher his character. But exactly how one plays the role of a fitness guru who also installs treadmills, but then sleeps with famous actor Scott Kelly before turning crazy and attempting to marry Alex Reynolds in order to keep her away from Scott is beyond Blake.

Not to mention the fact that he can barely concentrate with what he knows. It seems only a few minutes ago that Blake witnessed Chris Server rising from his grave as some sort of...horrifying thing. He's checked the news constantly to see if anyone has spotted someone like Chris around town, but as of now, no such luck.

It's certainly not helping that two of the cast members of The Blackthornes have the names of his two dead friends either.

"I don't think we'll have a problem with that," Darin Brooks, the actor playing Benji Rydell, snickers.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Akilah demands.

"Dude, check Gawker."

"I'm already on Perez on my Blackberry, is it there?" Akilah says.

"Please. We don't get enough ratings for that," Darin says. "Not yet, anyway."

Akilah logs onto Gawker on her Blackberry, scanning the current stories for whatever it is Darin is talking about. Once she finds it, she drops her phone in shock and slides back from the table.

"What is it?" Blake asks.

"Oh God," Akilah says, turning to Blake with a now sympathetic expression. "Blake, I'm so sorry..."



HANLEY ENTEPRISES

Leslie Hanley barges into her son-in-law's office with the usual irritated look she reserves for him. Every time she thinks she can disappear in her work, forget about getting the cold shoulder from Michael for not telling him she was pregnant, or the fact that Sean's memories seem to be coming back to him, but he's shown no interest in caring about her.

No, Leslie wanted to come to work on Christmas Eve for the sole purpose of forgetting about the screwed up family she was going to be celebrating with tomorrow.

That is until she got a memo on her desk that morning.

"What the hell is this?"

"A memo?" Eric Hanley says, removing a set of reading eye glasses. "I thought you were qualified to work here?"

"Do not start with me, young man," Leslie says. "Why are we hosting an event for that crap ass television show The Blackthornes?"

"It's called business. I don't have time for your personal grudges."

Leslie folds her arms defiantly. "Hanley does not work with the likes of Yolanda Holland. Your father knows that. And that is final."

"My father isn't running things."

Leslie laughs. "Excuse me? Why don't we just call him and find out?"

Eric thrusts his thumb toward his chest, puffing it out with extra emphasis. "I own Hanley!"

"What in the —"

"I'm the young face of Hanley," Eric says. "My father is washed up. And soon enough, the business world will realize that he's been running it into the ground since my mother died."

"Look, I'm sorry," Leslie says, sighing. "I know you miss your..."

"Please don't patronize me," Eric snaps. "My mother has come back to...my mind. My mind. She is all that I am thinking about with current business decisions."

"Fine," Leslie says. "If Michael approves this, then as Marketing Director I suppose I will go to this party. I'll have to walk in looking fabulous of course. Fashionably late. Then bam, Yolanda won't see it coming."

"You'll hit her?"

"With how hot I'm looking, yes," Leslie says, forcing a smile.

"Actually, I don't think that'll be a problem..." Eric says, scanning the list. "You're not on the party guest list."

Leslie's eyes widen. "Excuse me?!"

Eric shrugs nonchalantly. "Take it up with Michael. He's the one who gave me the list."



HANLEY HOME

Denise Price feels uneasy as she enters Sean Moore's bedroom, where he lies unconscious, breathing slowly. He has been in this state since Thanksgiving, and the sight of seeing him like this is firghtening given everything she knows about how Michael manipulated him into thinking he was a man by the name of Simon Price. Denise doesn't even know if hat makes her marriage to Sean legal. It can't be. Not if he never died. Not if he was still legally married to Leslie at the time.

"I feel sick," Denise mutters, almost reaching out to touch Sean but recoiling in fear of causing some sort of harm to him.

Who knows what sort of state he's really in. What Michael and Riley have done to him.

She reaches into her pocket and removes her cell phone. She's been checking all day for missed calls from her son Nate. She hasn't spoken to him since she left, partly her own fault, and partly because he hasn't truly liked Sean since they began dating. He came around for their engagement, but once Sean took off, he wanted nothing to do with him anymore. Let alone his own mother who wanted to traipse halfway across the United States to track him down. She is horrified of having to explain all of this to Nate eventually. But keeping him in the dark while he's at boarding school will have to suffice.

It's Christmas Eve, however, so she was expecting some sort of call from him. But nothing so far. No even a call from her Pappa letting her know if Nate was planning on spending Christmas down in New Orleans with him, just as he had for Thanksgiving.

"Pappa," Denise says, speaking into her phone on her father's voicemail. "Call me back when you get this. I really need to —"

As she speaks, Denise feels a hand shoot out and grab her arm. Horrified, she screams and drops the phone, the voicemail inbox beeping as Denise's screams echo throughout the room.

HOLDEN HOME

Felicia Bale brushes the stray strands of hair from her face before smiling at the hallway mirror and heading toward the front door. No sooner than she's able to open it, however, does her ex-husband Robert Bale rush inside and slam it shut.

"Robert, what the hell are you doing?" Felicia demands.

"We need to talk," Robert says. "It's about..." He sizes up Felicia's extravagant dress and the amount of jewelry hanging from her. "...why are you dressed like a prostitute?"

Felicia glares at him. "I am not dressed like a prostitute. I'm wearing Dolce & Gabbana and a million and a half dollars worth of jewelry."

"Yeah, what for, Miss Fleiss?"

"I'm having a meeting with Dolce & Gabbana today is why," Felicia snaps. "They're launching a new campaign for Chicago's fashion week, and Hanley Enterprises is running it."

"How glamorous."

"What is it you want?"

"I was in New Jersey," Robert says.

"Visiting your cousin?"

"Please, like I'm visiting the Kreizmans in fucking Peapack," Robert says, laughing. "I was visiting Hugh Rogers. Did you know that he was blackmailing Aaron?"

"No, and I don't care," Felicia snaps. "I don't get involved in your family dramas."

"Well, maybe you should," Robert insists. "He was blackmailing him over something serious, Felicia! Apparently, Aaron was molesting Kyle when he was —"

Felicia hauls off and slaps Robert across the face. "You are such an asshole, Robert! First you ruin our son's life and now you want to ruin Aaron's reputation too? Why don't you just own up to what you did?"

"If you really thought I was guilty Felicia, would you have hesitated to call the police?" Robert demands. "And don't say it's because some part of you is still in love with me. Because I know you're all about hooking up with your new Big Pappa, Simon."

"Go to hell, Robert!" Felicia screams. "And get the hell out of here! I never want to see your lying ass again! Our son is going through hell and it all your fault."



MARQUETTE COVE COUNTY PRISON

Valerie Holden adjusts her hair as Kyle Maddock stares disapprovingly at her. She rolls her eyes at him then glances toward the entrance to see if her husband, Simon, has entered yet. "Stop giving me that look."

"Valley Girl, that hair of yours is ridiculous."

"And how would you know?" Valerie demands. "What, are you gay now or something? Are you a fashionista? I have designs to get this family of mine back on track, and if this accomplishes that, then so be it."

"Solving problems with lies never help anyone," Kyle insists.

"Whatever. Now shut up, he's coming."

Kyle turns to the entrance as well, seeing Simon as he hurries into the visitation room and sits down next to him. A confused look washes over his face at the sight of Kyle.

"What's going on? Why is Kyle here?" Simon says.

"He's here for moral support," Valerie says.

"Also, I'm Matt's father," Kyle says, careful to keep the intensity out of his voice.

"Biologically speaking," Valerie says. "But for all intents and purposes, you're Matt's father, Simon."

Simon rolls his eyes. "Is that what this meeting is about? Figuring out a parenting schedule?"

"No," Valerie says. "It's about rebuilding this family. I want you to kick Felicia out. I think you've been getting too close to her."

"What? That doesn't even make any sense. And at any rate, we're getting a divorce, Valerie."

"You've been taking your sweet time with that because you still want to be married to me," Valerie insists, smiling widely as if she has just back Simon into a corner.

"No, because our son is busy doing things like drugging me to keep me from meeting my lawyer."

"I didn't want to have to say this, but...I have cancer."

Simon stares at Valerie with horror. "Are you kidding me?"

"No," Valerie says, forcing tears in her eyes. "It's...it's why I'm wearing this hairpiece."

Kyle snickers softly, causing Valerie to kick his leg underneath the table.

"Valerie, I'm so sorry," Simon says. "I thought you were wearing that hairpiece for style, not because you have cancer. When did you...when did you find out?"

"I found out a few..."

"Wait a second. Why are you wearing that hairpiece?"

"Because of the chemo!"

"You had chemo in prison?"

"We have doctors here, Simon," Valerie snaps.

"You are such a...Valerie! I can not believe you just tried to fake having cancer!"

"But I do!"

"Screw you, you don't have cancer!"

"Fine! My hair got ripped out in a fight with a group of lesbians in the workout room," Valerie says, now fully crying. "But it hurts just like cancer!"

"You are so ridiculous," Kyle says, shaking his head.

"Shut up, Kyle!"

"You know what? I can't wait to go home and have a good laugh with Felicia about this. Maybe I'll take her out to dinner, if you're so fucking concerned that I'm interested in my sister-in-law," Simon says, rising to his feet.

"Yeah, well Robert and I have been getting close too! Very close, I might add. Because both of the people who are supposed to care about us are busy being whores!"

Simon leans forward, touching Valerie's arm. This prompts the guard in the room to yell a stern warning at them, "No touching!" Simon laughs, zipping up his jacket and backing away from the table.

"Somehow, I don't think you and Robert are getting that close," Simon says, winking.

"You tell Felicia to close her legs to married men!" Valerie cries.

As Simon goes out the door, Kyle finally bursts into laughter. Valerie raises a hand to hit him, but stops when the guard glares at her again.

"You know," Kyle says, attempting to control his laughter. "I think that went really well."



HANLEY HOME

Sean Moore holds a finger to his lips to silence Denise, pulling her closer to him and ready to cover her mouth if necessary. She finally stops screaming and swats him on the side of his head. "What is wrong with you!?"

"It's me," Sean says.

"Oh, not this Elizabeth crap again," Denise says, moving away from the bed. "I do not have the energy to —"

"No, it's me. Sean."

Denise face falls. "You...you're back?"

"Yes, it's me, Denise."

Overjoyed, Denise leaps onto the bed and showers Sean in kisses, But feeling how uncomfortable he is, and in turn feeling awkward herself, Denise pulls back from him. "Wait...how long has this?"

"Only a while," Sean whispers. "But I need to tell you something. About Michael."

"Oh, I know," Denise says. "He told me everything."

"He did?"

"Yes, which is why as excited as I am to have you back, I understand that you need to be with Leslie," Denise says. "Now, I'll admit I want you stay with me for some selfish reasons, but..."

"I made the decision to be with you, Denise," Sean says. "Leslie doesn't want to be with me. She married Michael. She's happy."

"No, she still...you should talk to her," Denise says. "And I should spend Christmas with my own family. I'm happy that you can do the same with yours."

"I don't have a family," Sean says. "Things have been coming back to me slowly, but I remember that much. I know they've all moved on. I don't want to upset them."

"Coming back from the dead? You've already done that."

"This is true."

"You need to follow your heart," Denise says, turning away from Sean and clutching at her stomach. Seeing if she can feel any movement from their unborn child. "And be with your family. And the new one you're creating with Leslie."

"New...what? What are you talking about?"

Denise goes to the door. "I should get going if I'm going to see about booking a flight."

"Wait, Denise! I need your help to figure all of this out," Sean insists. "I can't let Michael know that my memories are back until I figure out what I'm going to do."

"That seems like something you need to do on your own," Denise says. "Merry Christmas, Sean."

As Denise goes out, Sean contemplates following after her. But he knows that's something he can't do. Not until he figures out what to do about all of this. He knows now that he himself returned to Marquette Cove to ask Michael to wipe out his memories, because despite what had been done to him, Leslie seemed happy.

Happier than they'd been before he "died." Back then, their life was full of anger and lies and secrets...and...

Oh God," Michael gasps. "What in the — what in the hell are you doing here?"

Sean Price stands outside the front door, a restless look on his face. He steps into the doorway and stares at Michael intently. "I need your help."

Michael has no words.

"I need your help, Michael. I need you to make all these memories in my head go away. Leslie, my kids, everything about my old life...I need you to make them all go away. And this time, I need it to be permanent."

The memory flashes continue to hit him like a ton of bricks. As he keels over in pain, clutching his forehead, Simon notices Denise's fallen cell phone. And getting an idea, he grabs the phone and quickly begins to dial a number.