{Stefan looks out the window at the thunderstorm}

Mrs. Lansbury:  {Entering} "Sir, the launch just pulled up at the dock." {She leaves the room}

Stefan:  "Thank you." {He walks over and picks up the phone, dialing a number}

Laura's Voice:  "You've reached the Spencers. We're sorry we missed you. Please leave us a message when you hear the tone." [answering machine beeps]

Stefan:  "Yes, Laura, I trust you're well. Nikolas phoned and asked me to relay to you with his regrets that he's unable to be here this afternoon for the luncheon he'd planned for you and his sister. At your convenience, please call and let him know what other day you might be free. Thank you."

Mrs. Lansbury:  {Entering with Laura} "Mrs. Spencer is here, sir."

Laura:  "Thank you. Is Nikolas upstairs?"

Stefan:  "Didn't you get my message?" {She looks at him questioningly}
 
 
 
 

Stefan:  {Moving to stand behind Laura who is in front of the fireplace} "You're shivering. I apologize. I should have passed along Nikolas' message sooner. I was hesitant to call too early in the morning."

Laura:  "That's all right. It's not your fault that I wasn't at home. I decided to take Lesley Lu over to her aunt ruby's because of the weather, and then I sort of ended up spending most of the morning there myself. Still, it's a little strange that what's his name, your launch pilot--"

Stefan:  "Wenders?"

Laura:  "Wenders--he was still there to meet me."

Stefan:  "Oh. My thoughtlessness again, I'm afraid. I forgot to tell him lunch was canceled. So, lunch you shall have. It's the least I can do." {He moves to pour them drinks}

Laura:  "Thank you, but--"

Stefan:  "No, no, it's really no trouble."

Laura:  "I think I should be getting home."

Stefan:  "Why? Your daughter is safe and sound where she is. Wouldn't you rather wait until the rain lets up, at least? A little sherry to drive away the damp. I'll just let Mrs. Lansbury know you'll be staying for lunch after all."

Stefan:  {Walking to the hallway and getting out his phone} "Wenders, I want you to call me back in 30 minutes. Yes."

{Laura sits down and starts remembering the past}
 

Laura:  {Walking into the wild garden, finding Stefan there} "Are you all right? Of course you're all right. My God, how do you stand them?"

Stefan:  "Next time I'll know to lock my desk."

Laura:  "If your father were still alive, I'm sure he wouldn't let them treat you this way."

Stefan:  "Of course he would. He taught them. Shouldn't you go up? Stavros may be knocking at your door." {He goes to sit on the bench}

Laura:  "Stavros will be passed out in his chair. Did your father teach him how to drink like that, too?"

Stefan:  "I couldn't tell you. They didn't confide in me."

Laura:  "He's jealous of you. You know that, don't you? He would never, ever admit it, but if he went into your desk, that's the reason why. {She sits down beside him} You have so much more self-control than he does. You have a better education. You don't let Helena run your life."

Stefan:  "Helena has no interest in my life, except as it provides her with amusement--like tonight."

Laura:  "Stefan--I thought they were beautiful. Never mind the way Stavros read them, but I've never heard anything like that in my life. 'The night your lips touched mine you feign not to recall though you forget, my love the gods remember all.' I was actually kind of glad that she made him read them."

Stefan:  "Did you hear them bray like donkeys, too?"

Laura:  "They only laugh because--"

Stefan:  "Because they think I'm a fool."

Laura:  "Well, why do you let them? Why don't you get even?"

Stefan:  "I shall some day. Believe it."

Laura:  "Well, why wait for some day? {Stefan looks at her questioningly and she smiles back, mischievously} Come with me. Come on. Come on." {She leads him away}

Laura:  {Getting up to look at the glasses} "Beautiful crystal. You have so many beautiful things."

Stefan:  "They're from my father's table. You recall them?"

Laura:  "I don't spend as much time in the past as you do."

Stefan:  "We were in the wild garden. The storm was approaching. 'Though you forget, my love, the gods remember all.' " {Laura leaves the room as Stefan remembers}
 

Stefan:  "Come on. Oh." {They come laughing back into the wild garden}

Laura:  "Shh, shh, shh."

Stefan:  "What now?"

Laura:  "Now we wait to hear her scream."

Stefan:  "Scream?"

Laura:  "Yeah."

Stefan:  "Mother will never scream. She won't scream."

Laura:  {Laughing} "Well, what will she do?"

Stefan:  "She'll probably fly into a rage, wake all the maids, insist that they wash all the sheets now."

Laura:  "She won't come looking for you, will she?"

Stefan:  "Me? She would never imagine I would do anything like this. {Laura laughs} Before tonight, neither would I. {They look into a pail and Laura reaches in} Oh, look, you've lost--look at--"

Laura:  "He's so cute."

Stefan:  "Why didn't he get in there?"

Laura:  "Little baby. Oh, look at him. {She pulls out a little frog} Well, he wouldn't dream of letting Helena get into bed with him, would he? Ooh. You think he's an enchanted frog? {She starts laughing} You think if I kissed him he'd turn into a prince? All right. Bye-bye."

Stefan:  "Lasha, my mother will know it was you."

Laura:  {Letting the frog loose and then turning back to Stefan} "Well, I'll just tell her I was asleep. Stavros won't let her punish me. Next time, I'll show you how to short-sheet her bed. {Stefan gets a confused look on his face and Laura laughs again} Do you even know what that is?"

Stefan:  "No. You are completely reckless."

Laura:  "What have I got to lose?" {They kiss and Laura pulls him to the ground}

Stefan:  "Whatever you think is best. {The telephone rings} Excuse me. {He answers the phone} Stefan Cassadine. Yes, Wenders. When? For how long? I see. Thank you. {Turning to Laura} I'm afraid Wenders won't be able to take you back just yet. It seems there's a small craft warning in effect until tonight."
 
 
 
 

Laura:  "I can take the launch myself."

Stefan:  "Oh, I can't allow you to do that."

Laura:  {Laughing} "Ok, then I'll swim."

Stefan:  "You know, you said that before, long ago on the other island."

Laura:  "Stop it. Why do you insist on doing this?"

Stefan:  "I didn't know if thinking of our time together was such a torture to you."

Laura:  "I think of the past sometimes, too. What do you think I am, made of stone?"

Stefan:  "It's not for me to say."

Laura:  "You won't let me be a fond memory. You won't let the past be the past. You keep dredging it up like an old bill that's overdue that you want me to pay. And I can't. I can't return your feelings now. You know that, don't you? Do you want me to hurt you?"

Stefan:  "I wasn't aware I'd asked you for anything."

Laura:  "Ah--why do you make me treat you this way?"

Stefan:  {Getting angry} "Oh, yes, yes, it must be terrible for you. It must be terrible for you always knowing there's one man somewhere in the world who is living his life for you, calling your face to mind as his eyes close for sleep, reaching for you in the morning across an empty bed. How excruciating it must be for you to think of that empty bed, to know that he can never be happy with any other woman, can't imagine any family but the one that never was, to know that his present will forever be a pale shadow of his past.  {Laura looks at him with tears in her eyes} Why does he insist on sacrificing himself at the altar of Laura Spencer? Doesn't he know how terribly upsetting it is for you? {She looks at him and then runs out the door. Stefan comes to the door} Wait."

Stefan:  {Running out into the rain} "Lasha. Come back inside."

Laura:  "No! No."

Stefan:  "I'm sorry--"

Laura:  "I can't do this anymore. It's--it's too hard for me. I'm too lonely."

Stefan:  {He takes her coat and puts it around her} "I'm sorry." {He takes her in his arms and she lays her head on his shoulder. He brushes a strand of hair from her face and then they kiss}