Episode 19: "Love's Labours"
            Previously on "The Salingers":
                                KIRSTEN
                      I think we should see a marriage
                      counselor. 
                                CHARLIE  
                      I don't see how a complete stranger who
                      knows nothing about us is going to solve
                      our problems.  That's something we have
                      to figure out on our own.
                                KIRSTEN
                      Well, that's not working, is it?   
                      ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
                                JULIA 
                          (to Charlie)
                      Weird, huh?  How a person can try to make
                      things work out a certain way, and for
                      whatever reason they just don't.  Then
                      something you totally think won't work
                      just might.  
                          (Charlie glances back to the
                           picture of Kirsten.)
                      That probably sounds stupid, huh?
                                CHARLIE
                      No.  Actually, it doesn't. 
                      ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
                                WILL
                      I've been killing myself trying to find
                      the perfect Valentine's present for Jean,
                      right?  
                          (re: hotel)
                      Well, here it is.  So what do you think? 
                                BAILEY
                      It's... it's perfect, is what it is. 
                      You've gotta let me crib this idea.  
                      ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
                                BAILEY 
                          (to Maria)
                      So I'm thinking - Cole's gonna be out of
                      town, so maybe you should pack some stuff
                      so we can - you know - hang out. 
                                MARIA  
                      I kind of... have a date tonight.
                      ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
                        
                                HOTEL CLERK
                          (to Bailey)
                      I'm sorry, but we have a twenty-four hour
                      cancellation policy.  
                      ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
            BAILEY'S SUITE at the OMNI HOTEL.  BAILEY sits up in the bed,
            eating from a bag of potato chips.  Pissed about it.  Thirty
            candles burn without purpose around him. 
                      ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
                                JULIA
                          (to Griffin)
                      I don't want to be overly critical about
                      this story, but I'm just not impressed. 
                      Should I be completely honest, or do I
                      sugarcoat it?
                      ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
                                TANIA
                          (to Julia)
                      Julia, you get a paycheck every other
                      week because of your opinion.  Don't
                      second-guess it.  That's what I'm for. 
                      ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
                                CLAUDIA
                          (to Tess)
                      But... don't you ever wonder if it's
                      worth it?  I mean, we're at this school
                      where people do nothing but play music. 
                      Or act or dance. 
                      Sometimes I feel like I'm trapped.  Like
                      I should be doing something more
                      important.  Something that actually
                      matters in the real world. 
                                TESS
                      You know what?  Maybe you ought to figure
                      out if that's how you really feel. 
                      'Cause if it is, I'm not sure what you're
                      doing here.  
                      ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
            Claudia follows Heather out of the room and opens the front
            door, where she sees Todd standing with flowers and a heart
            shaped "Be Mine" balloon. 
                                CLAUDIA
                      Todd! 
                      ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
                                CLAUDIA
                      You know what I think about sometime?  I
                      think... if it weren't for the violin,
                      we'd be together every day.  Ironic,
                      isn't it?  The thing that brought us
                      together's keeping us apart now.  
                                TODD
                      Close your eyes. 
                                CLAUDIA
                      What? 
                                TODD
                      Come on.  Close 'em.  
            Claudia obliges, smiling.  
                                TODD (CONT'D)
                      I love you, Claudia, and I know this is
                      kind of out of the blue, but...  Will you
                      marry me?  
                      ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
                                                                FADE IN:
            INT.  UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - CORRIDOR - DAY
            BAILEY stands in the hall, waiting for someone.  He spots
            MARIA leaving her class and catches up to her.
                                BAILEY
                      Hey.
                                MARIA
                          (surprised)
                      Bailey.  Hey.
                                BAILEY
                      Did you get my messages?
                                MARIA
                      Your...?  Oh.  Yeah.
                          (smiling nervously)
                      Sorry.  I've spent like every waking
                      moment of the last week with George
                      Eliot.  
                                BAILEY
                      George...?  Who's he?
                                MARIA
                      She.  She wrote Middlemarch.  
                                BAILEY
                      Oh.
                                MARIA
                      Piece of advice - never procrastinate
                      reading a twelve-hundred page novel.
                                BAILEY
                      I'll, uh, remember that.
            They smile, walking on.  A awkward beat.  
                                BAILEY (CONT'D)
                      So... you never told me how it went.
                                MARIA
                      How what went?
                                BAILEY
                      Your date with what's-his-name.  Linus.
                                MARIA
                      It's Lucas.
                                BAILEY
                      Whatever.  So... how was it?
                                MARIA
                      It was okay, I guess.  
                                BAILEY
                      Just okay?
                                MARIA
                      You said "just."  I didn't.  Anyway, it
                      was a date.  
                                BAILEY
                      But... you don't sound all that hyped
                      about it.
                          (Maria shrugs)
                      So, you, um... you think you're gonna see
                      him again?
                                MARIA
                      I don't know.  I mean, he's nice, but...
                          (shakes her head)
                      ...not my type, I guess.
                                BAILEY
                      Cool.  
                          (off her look)
                      I mean... it's cool that you know what
                      you want.  
                                MARIA
                          (not buying it)
                      Uh-huh.
                                                                 CUT TO:
         PO5 Credits
	 INT. CHARLIE'S HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY
            CHARLIE and KIRSTEN are sitting at the kitchen table,
            drinking coffee.  
                                CHARLIE
                      How about his eating habits?  Have they
                      changed?
                                KIRSTEN
                          (sighing)
                      He's as picky as ever.
                                CHARLIE
                      That's not what I meant.  Owen used to
                      eat only certain colored foods when
                      something changed.  Like when Bay went to
                      college.  
                                KIRSTEN
                      Huh.  I think I remember that.  
                                CHARLIE
                      Or when Jul moved out after she got
                      married, he only ate white food. 
                          (thinks for a moment)
                      What did he eat for breakfast?
                                KIRSTEN
                      Eggs.
                                CHARLIE
                      Well, there goes that theory.  
            Charlie is about to take a sip of his coffee, but stops.
                                CHARLIE (CONT'D)
                      Wait... were they scrambled, or fried?
                                                                 CUT TO:
            EXT. NEW YORK STREET - NEWSPAPER STAND - DAY
            SARAH thumbs through a YM magazine as CLAUDIA walks up.
                                CLAUDIA
                      Let me guess... 100 ways to turn on a boy
                      band member?
                                SARAH
                      Not quite.  Albert said I'm supposed to
                      be in here... 
                          (flips page)
                      ...somewhere.
                                CLAUDIA
                      Wow, really?
            She looks over Sarah's shoulder.  
                                SARAH
                      Yeah, it was kind of a last minute thing. 
                      He said the client was in a bind --
                      needed a girl with an "everyday" look
                      for...
            She turns the page, and the expressions on their faces turn
            to horror.
                                SARAH (CONT'D)
                          (quietly)
                      Oh my God.
                          (almost screaming)
                      Oh my God!
                                CLAUDIA
                          (reading)
                      "You don't have to suffer from..."
                                SARAH
                      "...yeast infection"?!
            The humiliation is too much.  Claudia tries to think of
            something comforting.  All she manages is...
                                CLAUDIA
                      Oh my God.
                                                                 CUT TO:
            INT. JULIA'S APARTMENT - KITCHEN - DAY
            GRIFFIN is sitting at the dining room table, reading
            Parenting magazine while JULIA puts a tray of cookie dough in
            the oven.  Griffin swipes a finger into the bowl of dough and
            takes a taste.  Julia misses the whole thing.
                                JULIA
                          (turning)
                      Oh, hey.  Sarah sent me an email - she's
                      going to be able to make our 5-year
                      reunion next week.  Okay if she rides
                      with us? 
                          (she scoops out more cookie
                           dough onto a new tray)
                                GRIFFIN
                          (chewing, still reading)
                      You mean ride with you.
                                JULIA
                      Huh?
                                GRIFFIN
                          (looks up)
                      She'll have to ride with you.  I'm not
                      going.
            Surprise!  This is news to Julia.
                                GRIFFIN (CONT'D)
                          (looking at the magazine)
                      Huh.  Did you know they're making diapers
                      with Velcro now?
                                                                 CUT TO:
            INT. NEW WORLD COFFEE SHOP - NEW YORK - DAY
            CLAUDIA and SARAH sit at a table near the window.  Sarah
            leans forward, her face buried in her hands.  
                                SARAH
                      God, I can't get it out of my head.  
                                CLAUDIA
                      Sarah, come on.  How many people do you
                      know that actually read YM?
                                SARAH
                          (frantic, looking up)
                      It doesn't matter.  I'm gonna be like...
                      like that girl in the Doritos
                      commercials.  No one knows her name -
                      she's just the "Doritos girl."  Only
                      I'm going to be the "Yeast-Be-Gone girl"!
            Her head sinks again.  It's too humiliating.  Claudia stirs
            her coffee.
                                CLAUDIA
                      I'll bet I can tell you something that
                      will make you smile. 
                                SARAH
                          (head still in hands)
                      Thanks for trying, Claud.
                          (looks up)
                      But the only thing you can say that will
                      make me feel better is that you're gonna
                      buy every copy of YM, build a bonfire,
                      and torch 'em.  So if that's not what
                      you're gonna say, you might as well--
                                CLAUDIA
                      I'm getting married.
            Claudia smiles as Sarah takes a moment to process this.
                                SARAH
                      You're...?  D-did you say...?
                                CLAUDIA
                      Uh-huh.
            Claudia holds up her hand, displaying her ring.  Sarah's
            floored.
                                SARAH
                      You, um... wow.
                                CLAUDIA
                      We haven't decided if we're going to wait
                      'till we're done with school or do it
                      over the summer, but... wild, huh?
                                SARAH
                      You, um... wow.  
                                CLAUDIA
                      You said that already.
                                SARAH
                      I'm sorry.  I mean, it's great, Claud. 
                      It really is.  It's just...  
                          (cautiously)
                      How does your family feel about this?
                                CLAUDIA
                      Sarah, why would you...?  
                          (adamant)
                      It doesn't matter how they feel.  It's
                      not their decision to make.  So if they
                      don't like the idea, well, they can just-- 
                                SARAH
                      You haven't told them, have you?
                                CLAUDIA
                          (slumping)
                      No.
                                                                 CUT TO:
            EXT. CHARLIE'S HOUSE - BACKYARD - DAY
            CHARLIE watches OWEN from a distance.  Owen is sitting on the
            swing, a collection of rocks next to him and a colored marker
            in his hand.  
            As Charlie approaches, he notices the rocks have been colored
            to look like insects.
                                CHARLIE
                      Hey.  Whatcha doin' there?
                                OWEN
                      Nothin'.
            Charlie sits next to Owen.  He picks up a rock colored like a
            bumblebee.
                                CHARLIE
                      Pretty cool.
            Owen continues drawing on another rock.
                                CHARLIE (CONT'D)
                      Kirsten said you got an B plus on your
                      spelling test.  
                          (smiling)
                      Congratulations, buddy.  Good job.
                                OWEN
                      Yeah.
                                CHARLIE
                      So I was thinking... maybe we ought to
                      pick up that new game you wanted.  The
                      dinosaurs-in-outer-space one.  Kind of a
                      reward.
                                OWEN
                          (shrugs)
                      Okay.
            Charlie sighs, looks down.  He's gonna have to work for this
            one. 
                                CHARLIE
                      Owen, I, um... well, I know I haven't
                      been around much lately, but even I
                      noticed you've been... well, distracted. 
                      And I know you don't want to talk about
                      it, but... I think maybe we should. 
            Owen looks down, wanting no part of this.  
                                CHARLIE (CONT'D)
                      I know there's a lot of stuff going on
                      right now that's making you have these...
                      feelings.  And I haven't exactly been
                      here all the time to help you sort them
                      out.  But you know what?  I think I kind
                      of get it.  Because I might be feeling a
                      little bit of those same things too. 
                      See, when me and Kirsten--
                                OWEN
                      You don't know how it feels.
            Owen turns his back to Charlie, crossing his arms.
                                CHARLIE
                          (slowly)
                      Okay...well, maybe you can talk to me
                      about it.
                                OWEN
                          (after a pause)
                      Nobody ever wants me.  Because I'm not
                      really anybody's.  And I'll never be
                      anybody's.
                                CHARLIE
                      Owen, why...?  Of course we want you.   
                      Why would you say that?
                                OWEN
                      Because I'm not your son.  I'm not
                      anybody's son.  That's why it's so easy
                      for people to leave me.  'Cause I'm just
                      this stupid kid everyone always has to
                      figure out what to do with. 
            Whoa.  Owen kind of has a point, doesn't he?  Charlie's
            stunned.  Has no idea what to say next.  This is one for the
            experts.
                                                                 CUT TO:
            INT. JULIA'S APARTMENT - DINING ROOM - DAY
            The newspaper's open in front of GRIFFIN.  JULIA sits next to
            him, a blank look on her face.  
                                GRIFFIN
                      Says we're gonna get some nice weather
                      this weekend.
                          (no response)
                      Daphne's got Matthew so maybe we can take
                      my bike up to Napa, huh?  Check out some
                      of the--
                                JULIA
                      Yeah, yeah, that sounds... whatever,
                      um... I can't believe you're not gonna
                      go.
                                GRIFFIN
                      Huh? What do you mean? 
                                JULIA
                      The reunion.
                                GRIFFIN
                          (shrugging)
                      Oh, that.  Simple.  I'm not.
                                JULIA
                      But... c'mon.  Don't you wanna see
                      everyone?  Find out what they've been
                      doing all these years?  It'll be fun.
                                GRIFFIN
                      Yeah, maybe for you.  But think about it,
                      Jul - I'll have to explain to everyone
                      why I dropped out, and what's going on
                      now and blah blah blah.  Uh-uh.  No way.
                                JULIA
                      Griffin--
                                GRIFFIN
                      Besides, I didn't like all those people
                      then, so why would I wanna see them now? 
                      If I wanted to keep in touch, I would
                      have, right? 
                                JULIA
                          (sighing)
                      If you say so.  But I wish you would
                      come.  You are my other half, you know.
            Griffin looks at her.  A light bulb goes off.
                                GRIFFIN
                      Is, uh... is Justin gonna be there?
                                                                 CUT TO:
            EXT. UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - COFFEE STAND - DAY
            BAILEY waits in line, getting pissed as he listens to the GUY
            in front of him mulling over his order.  The GIRL working the
            stand chews her gum like a cow with a cud.
                                GUY
                          (to worker)
                      What's the difference between French
                      Roast and French Vanilla?
                                GIRL
                      Taste.  So what'll it be?
                                GUY
                      Is that an attitude I'm sensing?  
                          (girl rolls her eyes)
                      Because you're not the only coffee stand
                      on campus, you know.  I could very easily
                      bring my business elsewhere...
            Like she cares.  The ranting continues as Bailey looks away,
            shaking his head.  He spots something: Maria through a cafe
            window.
            And a guy.  
            They're sitting at a booth... next to each other.  Sipping
            coffee.  Laughing.  Smiling.  Bailey can only imagine what
            about.  He says something to her and her look softens.  They
            kiss, Bailey's gaze locked on them.
                                GUY (CONT'D)
                      ... I'll let it go this time.  But if it
                      happens again...
                          (walks away)
            Bailey's stare is still fixed on the window.
                                GIRL 
                      Next.  
                          (a beat)
                      Next!
            Bailey snaps out of it.
                                GIRL (CONT'D)
                          (impatiently)
                      What'll it be?
                                                                 CUT TO:
            INT. CLAUDIA'S DORM ROOM - NIGHT
            CLAUDIA sits on her bed, the phone to her ear.
                                CLAUDIA
                          (on phone)
                      Look, the age argument sounds pretty
                      hypocritical coming from you, so--
                                JULIA
                          (on phone)
                      Claudia, listen.  Please.  Do you know
                      how many problems me and Griffin would
                      have avoided if we just waited?  
                                CLAUDIA
                      Waited for what?
                                JULIA
                      The right time.  'Till we were a little
                      older... and we knew what we really
                      wanted out of life... from each other
                      even.
                                CLAUDIA
                      Maybe that was just you, Jul.  Did you
                      ever think maybe we figured that out
                      already?
                                JULIA
                      All I'm saying is, I don't want you to
                      make the same mistake I did.
                                CLAUDIA
                      You know what?  People told you it was a
                      mistake, too.  But you didn't listen to
                      them. 
                                JULIA
                      Claud--
                                CLAUDIA
                      No!  Nothing anyone said made you change
                      your mind.  So what makes you think
                      anything you say will change mine?
                                                            DISSOLVE TO:
            Claudia sits on her floor, her head in her hands, still
            talking on the phone.
                                BAILEY
                          (on phone)
                      For God's sake, Claud - you guys are
                      still in school!
                                CLAUDIA
                      Give it a rest, Bay.  I've already heard
                      it from Julia.
                                BAILEY
                      So she...?  Okay, that's two of us. 
                      C'mon, Claud, doesn't that tell you
                      something?
                                CLAUDIA
                      God, is it so hard for you guys just to
                      be happy for me?  I thought I'd at least
                      get a "congratulations."
                                BAILEY
                      It's not the first thing that springs to
                      mind when...
                          (sighs)
                      I mean, you guys have only seen each
                      other - what? - a month out of the whole
                      year?
                                CLAUDIA
                      That is so not--  We spent the whole
                      summer together.
                                BAILEY
                      Fine.  Three months.  Whatever.  But you
                      jump from the casual-dating-long-distance
                      friends thing to this?
                                                            DISSOLVE TO:
            Claudia's now pacing, holding the phone.
                                CLAUDIA
                      I don't care what you're saying!  It
                      isn't your choice.
                                CHARLIE
                          (on phone)
                      God, listen to you!  There's no way you
                      can actually think this is the right
                      thing to do.
                                CLAUDIA
                      And you're an expert in relationships,
                      right, Charlie?
                                CHARLIE
                      I know enough to see you're making a huge
                      mistake here.  I mean, God - you're
                      eighteen years old, Claud.  You're barely
                      old enough to vote!
                                CLAUDIA
                          (voice trembling)
                      Yeah, well... some thing aren't up for a
                      vote anyway.   
            Claudia hangs up, tosses the receiver on the bed.  She covers
            her mouth, fighting to hold back her tears.
                                                            DISSOLVE TO:
            INT. FELICIA LOMBARD'S OFFICE - DAY
            CHARLIE and KIRSTEN are seated next to each other on a large
            plush couch, across from FELICIA LOMBARD, the marriage
            counselor.
                                KIRSTEN
                      ...We struggled so much to even be able
                      to have a family of our own, and for a
                      long time I was really caught up in all
                      that -- having a baby, being a mom.  And
                      then Stewie was sick and that took a lot
                      of our energy.  
            Charlie shifts a bit, trying to relax.
                                KIRSTEN (CONT'D)
                      But after he got better, I thought things
                      would be different.   That we'd spend
                      time together... as a family.  But when
                      it didn't happen... 
                          (looking at Charlie)
                      ...when night after night something would
                      come up and you couldn't come home...  
                                FELICIA
                      Go on, Kirsten.
                                KIRSTEN
                      It happened before.  We were both working
                      a lot, and we promised we wouldn't let it
                      happen again.  But somehow... it did.
                                CHARLIE
                          (to Kirsten)
                      But we talked about it.  You knew it was
                      only temporary, until I could get someone
                      to manage the restaurant.  It was just
                      taking some time.
                                FELICIA
                      So you did talk about this? 
                                KIRSTEN
                      Yes.  But it seemed like all we did was
                      talk.  Because... nothing changed. 
                      Time just kept passing and I kept waiting
                      for us to be able to start acting like a
                      real family, but...
            Kirsten looks down as Felicia scribbles in her notebook.
            Charlie leans back and takes a deep breath.
                                                                 CUT TO:
            INT. BAILEY'S DORM ROOM - NIGHT
            BAILEY sits up in his bed, reading a textbook.  Trying to
            read, actually.  His gaze wanders from the book.  He
            straightens up, tries to refocus.  But it's no use.  
            He gets up, grabs a jacket.  Heads out the door...
                                                                 CUT TO:
            EXT. MARIA'S DORM - NIGHT
            ...and walks up to Maria's doorstep, now holding two cups of
            coffee.  He manages to knock without spilling.  MARIA
            answers.
                                MARIA
                      Bailey.  Hey--
            He pushes past her, heading toward the living room.  Sets
            down the cups.
                                MARIA
                          (confused)
                      Uh... come on in.
                          (a beat)
                      What's this?
                                BAILEY 
                      Coffee.  
                          (sarcastically)
                      Or... I'm sorry.  Maybe coffee "isn't
                      your type"? 
                                MARIA
                      My... what?  Bailey, what are you--?
                                BAILEY
                      So you're saying you do like coffee?
                                MARIA
                      It's okay.
                                BAILEY
                      Okay?  Okay?!  
            Maria stands frozen, a pillar of confusion.
                                BAILEY (CONT'D)
                      Didn't look like you thought it was
                      "okay" today.  Looked more like you
                      freakin' loved it today!
                                MARIA
                      This isn't about coffee, is it?
                                BAILEY
                      I saw you guys - at the student union.
                                MARIA
                      Oh.
                                BAILEY
                      Oh is right.  Why did you lie to me?
                                MARIA
                      I didn't lie to you.
                                BAILEY
                      Oh, I get it.  You just make a habit of
                      kissing guys who aren't your type, right?
                                MARIA
                          (pointedly)
                      Apparently so.
            Point taken.  A beat.  Then Bailey's tone softens.
                                BAILEY
                      Look, I... I just don't get why you
                      didn't tell me.  
                                MARIA
                      Tell you what, Bailey?  That I've seen
                      the guy a couple times?  So what.  It's
                      not like we're going to pick out china or
                      anything.
                                BAILEY
                      But... you kissed him. 
                                MARIA
                      Yeah.  I did.  
                                BAILEY
                      So why would you do that if--?
                                MARIA
                      You know what?  I don't need to explain
                      myself.  You of all people should know a
                      kiss isn't binding.
            Bailey stands speechless.  Another point taken.  Maria opens
            the door.  A hint.
                                MARIA (CONT'D)
                      Now if you don't mind...
            A beat.  Bailey heads for the door.
                                BAILEY
                          (walking out)
                      I'll, uh... leave the coffee.  In case
                      you decide you want it.
            On that, he's gone.  Maria closes the door behind him, trying
            to figure out what just happened.
                                                                 CUT TO:
            INT. SALINGERS' - NIGHT
            CHARLIE walks behind the bar, looking for something.  The
            restaurant is empty, save for a couple of booths by the
            window.  JOE joins Charlie behind the bar.
                                JOE
                      Well, if it's not the prodigal owner.
                                CHARLIE
                          (smiling)
                      Hey, Joe.
                                JOE
                      Haven't seen you around here much lately.  
                                CHARLIE
                          (looking over the restaurant)
                      Looks like I'm not the only one who's
                      been staying away.  Has it been this bad
                      all week?
                                JOE
                      Pretty much.  Don't know why.  People
                      seem to like the new menu.  But it's been
                      mostly our regulars lately.
                                CHARLIE
                      Hmmm... guess we'll have to find a way to
                      bring in new customers, huh?
                                JOE
                      'Fraid so.  They can't like a new menu
                      until they come in to try it.  
                                CHARLIE
                      Well, I guess you and Kendall will have
                      to think of something.  
                          (smiles, pats Joe on the back)
                      I have faith.
            Charlie walks to the back of the restaurant, leaving Joe
            alone at the bar.  He looks over the empty tables.
                                                                 CUT TO:
            INT. JULIA'S APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
            JULIA is sitting cross-legged on the couch.  She is on the
            phone.
                                JULIA
                      So, are you gonna be able to make it?
                                JUSTIN
                      Naw, can't.  I've got finals that week.
                      Besides, I'm not exactly dying to tell
                      everyone I've on the five-year degree
                      plan, you know?
                                JULIA
                      Great.  That's all my fault.  If I hadn't
                      -
                                JUSTIN
                          (smiling)
                      Hey, no sweat.  I never liked Yale
                      anyway.  Besides, Georgetown's got a
                      better basketball team, right?
                                JULIA
                          (smiling)
                      You're great, Justin.  Did you know that?
                                JUSTIN
                      Yeah.  You remind me every few years or
                      so.
            Julia laughs, twirling the phone cord.
                                JULIA
                      So, any plans for after graduation?
                                JUSTIN
                      I don't know yet.  I figure I'll just
                      come home for a while and weigh out my
                      options.  I've got some ideas, but... I
                      don't know.  Definitely don't want to
                      stay here.
                                JULIA
                      Yeah, I know what you mean.  I really got
                      homesick.
                          (a beat)
                      You won't believe this, but I, um... I
                      applied to Stanford again.
            Justin laughs.  Not the reaction Julia was looking for.
                                JULIA (CONT'D)
                      Justin, that's...  What's so funny?
                                JUSTIN
                      You won't believe this, but so did I. 
                                JULIA
                      What?
                                JUSTIN
                      If I don't find the right job, I'm
                      thinking of falling back on graduate
                      studies.
                                JULIA
                      Oh.
            A beat as Julia ponders this.  
                                JUSTIN
                      Hello?
                                                                 CUT TO:
            INT. CLAUDIA'S DORM - NIGHT
            CLAUDIA enters the dorm, where a party is in full rage. 
            Music blaring, couples making out, spilled bottles of
            everything imaginable.  
            None of this is lost on Claudia, who walks over to the couch. 
            TINA is making out with some GUY in a way that would make the
            French proud.
                                CLAUDIA
                          (yelling over the music)
                      Tina!
                          (no response)
                      Tina!!!
            Tina comes up for air.  Irritated doesn't even come close.
                                TINA
                      I'm a little busy here, Claudia.
                                CLAUDIA
                      Who do you think you are, inviting these
                      people over here?  Other people live
                      here, too!
                                TINA
                      Yeah, and most of 'em are enjoying
                      themselves.  
            Tina nods toward HEATHER, who's passed out on the kitchen
            counter.  And VALERIE, who's dancing up a storm with a couple
            of GUYS.
                                TINA (CONT'D)
                      So either loosen up... or shut up.  
            Tina re-engages in her French lessons as Claudia stomps off
            toward her bedroom, avoiding food and bottles and people on
            floor along the way.  She opens her door to darkness and is
            shocked to hear...
                                GUY (O.S.)
                      Oh.  Oh, yeah.  That's it!
                                GIRL (O.S.)
                      Mmmm...
                          (sensing Claudia)
                      Hey, is someone here?
                                GUY
                          (to Claudia)
                      Hey, how about a little privacy?!
            Claudia shuts her door quickly.  The shocked look on her face
            holds for a moment, but quickly gives way to one of anger as
            she opens her door and enters the room, her hand covering her
            eyes.
                                GUY (O.S.)
                      Hey!
                                CLAUDIA
                          (still covering her eyes)
                      Oh, shut up.  This is my room!
            Claudia blindly feels her way to her dresser, grabs an armful
            of clothes, and gets the hell out.  
                                GIRL (O.S.)
                          (to guy)
                      I thought you said this was your room?
                                                                 CUT TO:
            INT. FELICIA LOMBARD'S OFFICE - DAY
            CHARLIE and KIRSTEN are back in FELICIA's office, sitting on
            the couch again.  Kirsten is sitting upright, looking stiff
            and uncomfortable.
                                FELICIA
                      I'd like to talk a little more about the
                      concerns Kirsten brought up last time. 
                      Charlie, you've agreed that you were
                      working round the clock... that you
                      weren't able to spend much time with
                      Kirsten and Stewie, correct?
                                CHARLIE
                      Right.  But like I said, that was only
                      temporary while I was trying to find
                      someone to run the restaurant for me.
                                FELICIA
                      Okay.  But, do you think there was
                      anything else you could have done to
                      spend more time with your family? 
                      Anything at all?
                                CHARLIE
                      No, I don't.
                                FELICIA
                      So, no one else could have possibly
                      helped you at either the factory, or the
                      restaurant to free up some of your time?
                                CHARLIE
                          (irritated)
                      No.  There was no one else.  If there
                      was, don't you think I would have jumped
                      on that?
                                FELICIA
                          (softly)
                      Is it hard for you to let people help
                      you, Charlie?
                                CHARLIE
                      What?  No, it's not.  Look, I don't know
                      where you're going with this, but--
                                FELICIA
                      I know how hard it is sometimes to let
                      people help you when you're used to a lot
                      of responsibility.  That's all.
            Charlie smiles in disbelief.  A beat, as he gathers his
            thoughts.
                                CHARLIE
                      It's not hard for me to let people help. 
                      It's hard for me to find people who can
                      help.
            Felicia jots some notes as Charlie steams.  Kirsten looks at
            the rug... probably wanting to crawl under it.
                                                                 CUT TO:
            INT. SARAH'S APARTMENT - ENTRY WAY - NIGHT
            SARAH puts on a robe as she approaches her door.
                                SARAH
                      Just a minute...
            She looks through the peephole, then opens the door,
            surprised to see...
                                SARAH (CONT'D)
                      Claudia.  Hey.  Come in.
            She does... carrying an armful of clothes.  Sarah notices
            this.
                                CLAUDIA
                      If you don't want to... or if it's an
                      inconvenience, please, just say so, okay? 
                      Because the last thing I want to do is--
                                SARAH
                      Claud, slow down.  What are you talking
                      about?
                          (concern growing)
                      Is everything okay?  Are you--?
                                CLAUDIA
                      I'm fine.  It's just... I kind of...
                      moved out.
                                                          FADE TO BLACK.

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