{The scene picks up where the previous left off with them kissing outside in the rain}

Stefan:  "Lasha."

Laura:  {She draws away from him and moves away} "No. No, I can't do this. I--"

Stefan:  {Approaching her} "Lasha."

Laura:   "I’m married."

Stefan:  "To whom? If your husband loves you so much, why isn't he here fighting for you?"

Laura:   "Because I hurt him."

Stefan:  "So this is what he does? He runs? Did you marry a coward?"

Laura:   "No. Luke isn't a coward."

Stefan:  "Then why isn't he here? Why? Because he can fight outside opponents, but when there's trouble within his marriage, his reaction is to flee. And you deserve better. You deserve a husband who stays and fights."

Laura:   "No. No, stop it. This isn't about some kind of macho thing. I mean, this is about my marriage, and you just don't know anything about that."

Stefan:  "I know you kept us a secret. You kept our child a secret."

Laura:   "That's because you're a Cassadine."

Stefan:  "No. Because you knew in your heart of hearts that this is exactly what Luke would do. His despotic pride would be bruised. He would twist it around to make it look as if it was your fault when the truth is if he were the man you deserve, you could have come to him in the beginning or at any time."

Laura:  "I love Luke."

Stefan:  "You love who he was when you were a girl and he was an adventure. {She starts to turn away and he grabs her arms} Answer a question!"

Laura:  {Fighting him} "Stop it."

Stefan:  "Answer this question, please. Why didn't he put you before himself? I would have."

Laura:  "I’m going home."

Stefan:  "No, no. There's a small craft warning out. You cannot go home until the storm abates.

Laura:  "I don't care! Look, if you're not going to let me take the launch, I’ll swim!" {She continues to fight his hold on her}

Stefan:  "You are not going on the lake in this storm! {They both look up as thunder sounds} Please."

Laura:  "Just let go of me. Please. {She starts to cry and he raises his hand to comfort her but settles for reaching for her shoulders} Please." {He jerks his hands away}

Stefan:  "If anything were to happen to you, I would have to answer to Nikolas. This is not a good time to prove how stubborn you can be. You have my word I won't touch you again. Please."

Laura:  "Like you gave me your word that you wouldn't speak of love?" {He nods slowly and backs away, reaching down to pick up her purse and umbrella. She watches him for a moment and then starts towards the door. He looks after her and then follows}

Stefan:  {Laura is standing in front of the fireplace as he approaches with a towel} "Mrs. Lansbury is making some hot tea. You should get out of those wet clothes."

Laura:  "Well, I’m not going to wear anything of yours--or Katherine’s."

Stefan:  "I would never suggest such a thing. In any event, all of Katherine’s belongings have been returned. However, your trunk from the island is in one of the upstairs bedrooms. I'm sure you'll find something suitable there. Come, I’ll show you."

Laura:  "No. I'll find it. Just tell me where it is."

Stefan:  "It's at the top of the stairs, turn right. When you come to the hallway of doors, it's the second door on the right, facing the water. Here's the key." {She takes the key and goes upstairs. Stefan watches her leave}
 
 
 
 

Mrs. Lansbury:  {Finishing setting the table} "Does the table meet with your approval, sir?"

Stefan:  "Yes, thank you."

Mrs. Lansbury:  "Will there be anything else?"

Stefan:  "No. Thank you." {Laura joins them}

Mrs. Lansbury:  "Did you find everything all right, Mrs. Spencer?"

Laura:  "Yes, thank you."

Mrs. Lansbury:  "Your clothes are drying. And in the meantime, I set out a small tea for sustenance. And the marmalade you always enjoyed is in the crystal jar."

Laura:  "Thank you, Mrs. Lansbury." {Mrs. Lansbury turns to face Stefan}

Stefan:  "Nothing else for now." {She leaves}

Laura:  "I’d forgotten what it was like to have unflappable servants. {Stefan continues to look at her} Has the storm let up at all?"

Stefan:  "No."

Laura:  "I--I tried to call Aunt Ruby to check on Lesley Lu, but I guess the phone lines are down or something. I couldn't get through. I don't want them to worry about me, so--"

Stefan:  "You're even more beautiful in that dress than before."

Laura:  "Stefan--" {Shaking her head}

Stefan:  "I didn't think that was possible."

Stefan:  "What if he doesn't come back? Have you considered the possibility?"

Laura:  "Of course not. He's going to come back--when he's ready. He's hurt right now. He's angry. But our family is his whole world. He's not going to abandon us."

Stefan:  "Are you so blinded by your devotion to him that you can't see he already has?"

Laura:  "No. I love my husband, and he loves me. We're going to survive this. Luke and I will never be over."
 
 
 
 

Stefan:  "Something in a man dies when he knows the woman he loves has made love to another man, willingly, with a loving heart. It's much easier if he can tell himself that his rival is a brutalizer, a rapist, a kidnapper, that she lies beneath him, gritting her teeth, hating his touch, rather than rising to meet it. Mental images like that can burn a hole in a man. And in one with Luke’s particular brand of pride, those images become all he sees."

Laura:  "Stefan--"

Stefan:  "That is the difference between him and me. Luke will allow his pride to be more important than love. I'm also proud, but I never take love for granted. I haven't experienced enough of it to dare. Lasha, you don't have to have loved only me. When you placed Nikolas in my arms and left the island, you said that you would be back. I believed you. I still do." {Laura looks at him with tears in her eyes}

Laura:  "Why do you want me to hurt you? I'm not denying what happened between us. But it's in the past."

Stefan:  "You can't tell me you don't have feelings for me. Your words can lie, but not your eyes. {She looks away and then back at him} See."

Laura:  "Um--not every feeling should be acted upon. Luke is my husband."

Stefan:  "He doesn't deserve your loyalty."

Laura:  "Yes, he does."

Stefan:  "No. He walked out without a backward glance because his precious ego was bruised. He couldn't deal with the knowledge that you'd loved another man years ago. I would have stayed."

Laura:  "Luke will come back."

Stefan:  "If I had felt you slipping away, I would have moved heaven and earth to keep you."

Laura:  "Stefan, you said that you weren't going to do this. Please. I love Luke."

Stefan:  "You love Luke, but what is this that I see in your eyes? What is it?"

Laura:  {Trying to rise but Stefan stops her again} "Stop."

Stefan:  "No. I don't want it to be so easy for you to turn me away. Maybe the time for me to fight is now." {They move closer slowly, almost into a kiss}