HANLEY HOME

Akilah Moore continues changing the channels on Eric Hanley's television, stopping when she comes across a room she's never seen before. A bright, white room that looks almost like a laboratory.

"What in the hell?"

"Is that Sean?" Yolanda Holland wonders as two men step into the camera's view. "With Michael? Where the hell are they?"

"Is there volume on this?" Akilah asks.

Vince, Akilah's brother, rolls his eyes. "You're the one holding the remote, idiot."

"You're the one holding the remote, idiot," Akilah mocks, imitating Vince's voice.

She turns up the volume, allowing the four family members to hear everything Michael and Sean are discussing in this foreign room. Leslie Hanley stares closely at the screen showing both her current and former husband.

"But tell me, Michael," Sean says, unaware of the new audience watching him and Michael. "Knowing what you've done to me, and how many people you've lied to for the past few years...how can you even live with yourself?"



MICHAEL HANLEY'S BASEMENT LABORATORY

Michael remains silent, biting his lip.

"I'll tell you," Michael says, finally.

He reaches into his pocket and removes his gun, aiming it directly at Sean.

"I'll tell you...and then I'll kill you."

Startled by the appearance of the gun, Sean throws up his hands in self-defense. Michael advances on him, never taking his eyes off Sean.

"I can live with myself because for the first time in my life, I have everything I want," Michael says. "My father spent years running my life, controlling every single thing that I did. He kept secrets about Felicia from me, he meddled in my relationship with Elizabeth and tried to control my own children...and then on top of it all, he had the nerve to take everything that was rightfully mine and give it to you! My fortune! It's supposed to be mine, and he left it to a goddamn man he's not even related to by blood! And so it is with great pleasure that I took something from you. Your loving wife. Your children. They're mine now, and nothing is going to take that away from me."

Sean wants to laugh, but having a gun pointed at him keeps him from doing anything to upset Michael. "You know...I don't know how I never realized it, with the faking my death and everything, but...you're utterly insane, Michael. Do you know that?"

"I am not insane. Quite the contrary, dear brother. I'm finally playing this little cat and mouse game of ours to win. I was prepared to let you simply fall back in love with Denise and get the hell out of Marquette Cove, but you had to go and try to play me! How long have your memories been back? How long have you been sleeping with my goddamn wife, you son of a bitch?"

"I haven't —"

"Don't lie to me!" Michael screams, waving the gun wildly. "I know that Leslie's pregnant, and the reason she kept it from me for so long is because you're the father. And I will kill you before I let you raise that child."



THOMAS HOME

"Oh my God," Blake Thomas gasps, staring at the figure huddled in the darkness of his abandoned childhood home. "...Chris."

He slowly inches toward the young man he believes to be Chris, reaching out a hand. Chris opens his mouth, baring fangs. He bites at Blake with them, causing Blake to stumble back and fall onto the couch.

He screams as Chris pounces on him, sniffing at Blake and licking his neck.

"Chris! Stop it! It's me, Blake!"

"Blake," Chris says softly, finally ceasing his attack. "Blake."

Blake struggles to slip out of Chris' grasp. "Yes, it's me. Chris...what happened to you?"

"I'm...I'm a...thing."

"You're supposed to be dead," Blake says, pushing Chris away and climbing off the couch. "You're supposed to be dead, and yet...here you are. Just another in a parade of dead things that pop up in my house."

"I...I..."

"Don't say anything," Blake says. "Just...just stay here, okay? I'm going to try and get you some clothes that don't smell like they're rotting, okay?"

Chris nods, but Blake isn't quite sure if Chris even understands him. Blake himself doesn't understand what the hell is going on. Chris is dead. Blake was at his funeral, and yet...here he is alive.

"I'll be back," Blake says. "Just go downstairs. Into the basement, okay? I'll be back as soon as I can with some clothes."

Blake ushers Chris down the stairs, then closes the basement door and sighs heavily. He knows he is no stranger to people rising from the dead...Chris seems to be in the same mental state that Thomas was when he came back. Minus the fangs. Does that mean Chris is a...no, that's impossible. Is it?

"Then I'm gonna find everyone who was in South Africa this summer when Chris died and figure out what the fuck is going on," Blake mutters, heading toward the door.

As he creeps out of the house, he fails to notice another figure crouching just near the door, hidden by snowcapped shrubs. But he sees Blake, and he knows that he's going to have to keep a close eye on him if he wants answers.

"What are you hiding, Blake?" Ricard Branch whispers, staring intently at boarded up house.



HANLEY HOME

Sean rolls his eyes, completely at his wit's end dealing with Michael's continued ranting. "I haven't slept with Leslie. She's not pregnant with my child."

"You're lying," Michael insists.

"What reason would I have to lie to the man holding the gun?"

"Because you want to stay alive."

"We can play this circular logic game all you want, Michael. But I'm telling you the truth."

Michael lowers the gun. "So...I'm going to be a father? With Leslie?"

"Looks like."

"Then you stay the hell away from her as planned," Michael says. "Just like you wanted when you came back here, wanting all your memories erased so you could be with Denise. You're going to do that?"

Sean remains silent. He wants to take Robert's words to heart and voice everything to Leslie. Finally clear the air after so many years, so much lost time...but going toe-to-toe with Michael is not something he wants.

He's not sure it's even something he would survive.

"Yes," Sean says finally. "Everything will remain the same."

"Good," Michael says, placing the gun back in his jacket. "Then we should get upstairs. And trust me, if you try anything, Riley will kill you."

Sean forces a smile. "Oh, I have no doubt."

Michael opens the door, leading the way upstairs. They climb the dark staircase and end up back in Michael's study before emerging in the living room. Robert Bale is still sitting uncomfortably on the couch, with Riley Schaefer pacing behind him.

"Is this over?" Robert asks, looking at Michael first, then to Sean.

"It's over," Sean says. "We're going to —"

"Michael!"

The four men turn their heads to the doorway, watching as Leslie hurries into the living room. She has a calm, relaxed look on her face that has taken all of the strength she has to muster.

"Leslie," Michael says. "What's wrong, dear?"

"I just saw that Sean wasn't in his room and now he's...here," Leslie says. "What's going on, Michael? Is everything okay?"

Michael smiles, crossing the room to Leslie. He embraces her in a long hug, saying a silent prayer that the child she's carrying is his. That his long nightmare seems, at last, to be over. "Everything is great, honey. Everything is perfect."

MARQUETTE COVE POLICE DEPARTMENT

Felica Bale carries a large box with her as she approaches her son, Alec's, jail cell. Alec stands up at the sight of his mother and rushes to the cell bars.

"Mom! What are you doing here?"

"It's Christmas Eve," Felicia says. "Where else would I be but with my son?"

"I tried calling you at home, but Simon said you were gone to a meeting," Alec says.

"It was canceled. I absolutely hate doing business with those damn Europeans anyway."

Felicia steps back as a guard unlocks the cell, allowing her to step inside and give her son a proper hug. She sets the box down on Alec's cot, running her fingers through his messy hair.

"You need a haircut."

"I'll get right on that," Alec says.

"I'm sorry about all of this, honey. I tried talking that Jessica, but she's...difficult, to say the least."

"Don't worry about it. I deserve it," Alec says. "I was a very, very bad boy."

Felicia frowns. "Well, be that as it may. Darren is doing his best to get you out of here. That trial of yours isn't even starting until the new year, I don't see why you have to stay in here."

"Mom, I'll be fine."

"You know, this is all of your damn father's fault. He gets me so upset, I just..."

"Mom —"

"I'm sorry, honey. But he had the nerve to come to the house today and try to lay blame on Aaron, and it was pathetic to say the least. He still won't admit to the damaged he's caused."

"So he knows," Alec says softly.

"Excuse me?"

"Nothing, mom," Alec says. "What's in the box?"

"Oh, it's a Christmas present," Felicia says. "I had Joel pull some strings with his old buddies to let me give it to you. You can wear it."

"It's a sweater, isn't it?"

"I made it myself."

Alec opens the box, biting his tongue to keep from saying anything rude about the sweater. He looks up to his mother, plastering a look of gratitude across his face. "It's very...festive."



DARREN REYNOLDS' APARTMENT

Using the spare key he's had in his possession since he first lived in the apartment, Aaron Maddock slips into Darren Reynolds' apartment and closes the door behind himself.

Clutching a rose close to his chest, he makes his way into the room where Blake is temporarily staying. Just as he's done for the past month, Aaron will deliver a single red rose to Blake as a sign of his love for him.

Before he can have a moment to himself, however, he hears the apartment door unlocking. Aaron slips into the closet in Blake's room as someone enters the apartment, tossing their keys onto the kitchen counter.

Aaron slows his breathing, hoping he won't alert whomever it is to his presence. Unfortunately, that person turns out to be Blake, which Aaron notices immediately when the lights in the room are flipped on.

He leans against the back of the closet, praying that Blake won't open the door.

"Clothes, clothes..." Blake mutters under his breath as he pulls open a dresser drawer and looks for clothes he has stashed away. "Where's that shirt that he gave me?"

Blake stands next to the dresser, tapping his fingers along the wood. After a few seconds, he turns toward the closet with a smile on his face. Whatever he's looking for is in the closet. With Aaron.

He's about to get caught.



HANLEY HOME

"What's Sean doing out of bed?" Leslie asks, breaking away from Michael. "I didn't even know he was strong enough to walk around."

"It's a Christmas miracle," Michael says, forcing a laugh. "But he...um, Elizabeth, I mean, was just heading back upstairs. Right, Elizabeth?"

Sean frowns. "Right."

"Huh?" Robert says, rising to his feet. "What's going on? I thought —"

"That's enough," Riley says, glaring at Robert. "Don't you have a family to get to? It's Christmas Eve."

Robert shrugs. "My family hates me. I'm fine here."

"Well, we're not particularly fond of you either," Michael says, turning to face Robert. "And besides, my wife and I would like to celebrate Christmas Eve with our family. Get ready for midnight mass."

"No, it's okay," Leslie says. "Robert can stay here. In fact, maybe he can help...Elizabeth...back to her room."

"Yes," Michael says.

Leslie raises her hand to Michael's face, caressing it gently. "I can't believe that you want to go to midnight mass, though."

"You can't?"

"I can't imagine a liar like you being able to walk through the doors without bursting into flames."

"What...what did you say?"

Leslie doesn't speak. Instead, she uses her hand to claw at Michael's face, drawing blood. He screams in pain, stumbling back, but barely having time to react before Leslie slaps him hard.

"You fucking bastard!"

"Leslie!" Michael cries. "What's gotten into you?"

"What's gotten into me?" Leslie demands. "I just discovered that the man I've been married to for the past two years is nothing more than a monster."



FORDHAM BAY AIRPORT

Denise Price impatiently taps her foot as she waits at the Air Train ticket counter. Once the irritating woman she's been dealing with returns, Denise awaits a response that doesn't seem to be forthcoming.

"Are you mute?" Denise demands.

"I'm sorry, I was just...processing," the woman says. "I'm sorry ma'am, but that doesn't constitute a carry-on."

"Did you ask your supervisor? Because I checked online."

"Yes, I did. And I'm afraid —"

"No, you ain't afraid yet," Denise says, leaning forward. "But we can certainly get to that point."

"Are you threatening me, ma'am?"

"Of course she is!"

Recognizing the voice, Denise spins around and finds a burly man approaching her. Her irritation quickly fades away and turns into surprise and joy. "Pappa! Pappa what are you doing here?"

"I came to spend Christmas with my little girl is what," Herald Robertson says. "Now what is it you think you're doing?"

"Getting out of this forsaken town," Denise says.

"No you ain't," Herald says, taking Denise's suitcase. "Let's go on back to that big mansion you're living it up in, and introduce me to this man who's gonna be the father to my grandson."

"No," Denise says, shaking her head. "I'm not going back there."

Herald smiles. "Well I'm not taking no for an answer. So how about we compromise?"

Denise defiantly folds her arms. "I'm listening."



DARREN REYNOLDS' APARTMENT

Before Blake can open the closet door, he's startled by the sound of someone calling out his name. He turns around to find Darren standing in the bedroom doorway.

"Blake! There you are," Darren says, hurrying to hug him. "Where have you been?"

"I had a table read," Blake says. "What's up?"

"I saw the...wow, I don't even know how to say this, but —"

"Then don't. We both know what you mean."

"Right," Darren says. "Are you okay?"

Blake nods, knowing he's lying but hoping Darren doesn't realize it. "I'm fine. Eric's an asshole, but that's nothing new."

"I'm sorry he went and did that to you."

"It's no big," Blake says, returning to his dresser and grabbing a pair of jeans. "But listen, I've got to get going."

"Don't you want to talk about it?"

"Talk about what?" Blake laughs. "There's nothing to talk about."

"Blake, you're being awfully flip," Darren snaps.

Blake stops moving and finally stares directly at Darren. "I'm sorry. Is there something bothering you? Besides this?"

"Huh? No. Just...just something Felicia was telling me about Robert investigating Aaron Maddock."

"Oh?"

"Robert's convinced that Aaron is the one who molested Alec. At least, that's the story he's spinning. But Aaron is like, a pillar of the community. Robert's grasping at straws."

"I wouldn't say that," Blake says. "Aaron's a prick."

"What?"

"Maybe you ought to ask Alec what really happened," Blake suggests. "Anyway, I've got to run. We'll talk later."

"Are you sure you're okay?" Darren asks.

"I'm fine," Blake calls back, already out the door.



MARQUETTE COVE POLICE DEPARTMENT

Alone with his sweater, Billy tosses it onto his cot and glares at it with disgust. Putting on a fake smile for Alec's mother was one thing, but having to pretend he liked that thing she knit for him was truly an exercise in modern torture.

"How the hell did that idiot Robert figure out what Aaron did?" Billy wonders aloud, pacing back and forth. "If he confronts Aaron, God knows what he'll do. Skip town? Kill himself?"

Not a chance.

There's no way in hell Billy is letting anyone else bring justice to Aaron. Aaron will suffer, yes, but at his own hands.

Eyeing Felicia's sweater, Billy realizes that he may have been given the best Christmas present ever. It's long enough to get the job done...to get him noticed by the guard and taken to the hospital.

He checks to make sure the coast is clear, then he grabs the sweater and climbs onto his cot. He ties one end of the sweater to the bars on the cell window, then wraps the other end around his neck.

And then, hoping a guard shows up in time to save himself from actually dying, Billy kicks his cot away from the wall, letting his body drop.



HANLEY HOME

Horrified, Michael raises his hand to his face to wipe away the blood. He backs away from Leslie, then turns in surprise as Vince, Akilah, and Yolanda emerge from the foyer.

"What in the hell is going on?" Michael demands.

"You know, when you go ahead and set up surveillance cameras in the mansion, make sure no one else has access to them," Vince says, moving toward his mother.

"Surveillance..."

"The jig is up, Michael," Robert says, laughing. "Guess you're not the only one who can get caught on candid camera."

"Look, Leslie..." Michael says, frantically grabbing at his wife's arm. "I can explain! Whatever it is you heard, I can explain it."

"Explain how you've been lying to me for years? How you faked the death of my husband? The father of my children? And you kept it from me for years?" Leslie demands. "I had no idea I was living with Satan...but now I know."

"Michael...how could you?" Akilah says, unable to look directly at him, hugging her aunt. "How could you do this to us?"

"Akilah, I love you all very much," Michael insists. "Anything that you do is I did, it was for all of you. To give you a better life!"

"So you admit it?" Leslie says.

"Let's talk about this in private."

"Do you admit it?"

"Yes!" Michael cries. "Leslie, I admit it, but you don't know the entire story!"

Vince steps forward, arms folded, with a cold, hardened look on his face. "I think we know enough. Kidnapping? Fraud? Probably some kind of attempted murder charges to throw in too."

Bewildered, Michael spins to face Vince. "Charges? What are you..."

"Oh, did we not tell you about our secret?" Vince says. "We made a call to some friends who heard everything you said."

Michael looks up at the doorway in time to see two police officers enter the living room. One of them lowers a tape recorder.

"This, along with a copy of that surveillance tape should be everything we need," the older officer says.

"The police!" Michael cries. "What is the meaning of this?"

The young officer moves toward Michael, handcuffs out. "Michael Hanley, you're under arrest."

"Make sure you get this one too," Robert says, nudging Riley with his elbow. "I think he's got a gun on him."

Riley opens his mouth to yell at Robert, but is immediately shut up by the older officer aiming his firearm at Riley.

Michael reaches out to touch his wife, but she swats his hand away. "Leslie! Why are you doing this?"

"Leave her alone you bastard," Sean says, attempting to console Leslie himself. "You're done playing games with us."

Leslie waits silently as Michael and Riley are dragged out the house, screaming the entire time. When Vince goes to close the door, Leslie calls out to stop him.

"What's wrong?" Vince says.

"It's Christmas," Leslie says. "And I'll be damned if I'm spending it with a man who knew exactly what Michael had done to us, but chose to say nothing because he was a coward. And I certainly won't spend it with a sister who's been in bed with Michael's schemes for over six years."

"Leslie, I wasn't —" Yolanda tries speaking, but is quickly cut off by Leslie's shouting.

"Get out!" Leslie cries. "Both of you get out! I never want to see either of you again."

Sean nods, knowing full well he has partially brought this on himself. Yolanda joins him as he walks to the front door, then they both exit the mansion. Vince slams the door shut and locks it, fighting back the tears forming in his eyes.

Robert moves toward Leslie, taking her in his arms.

"Robert...what's happened to me?" Leslie cries. "What am I supposed to do now?"

"Don't think about it," Robert says, motioning for Vince and Akilah to join them. "You're with family."