(This scene picks up where the previous left off)

Stefan:  "You ask things of me you never asked before."

Laura:  "Honesty?"

Stefan:   "You got that from the father of your other son?"

Laura:  "There's no point in this, is there?  {To a passing employee} Excuse me. Can you get my coat, please?" {She hands her a ticket}

Stefan:  "You trusted me then. You didn't ask if I was trustworthy. You didn't test me or suspect me or anticipate betrayal. You looked at me and told me everything and I never gave you reason to regret it."

Laura:  "I may have told you everything, but you never did the same. Look, I went to Spoon Island in the middle of a thunderstorm to see my son. And who was there? Only you, until he and my other son, Lucky, walked in. I'm not going to agree to a birthday celebration and be ambushed again."

Stefan:  "What is it you want me to tell you, Lasha? Ask me anything. I will lay myself bare to you. {She just looks at him} You see? The secrets I keep are the ones you would prefer not to hear. Now, as for Nikolas' birthday celebration, would you like a crowd? He has quite an assortment of friends from, most improbably, Lucky, to millionaires and models. If you like, you need hardly speak a word to me."

Laura:  "So, where were you when Nikolas turned 4?"

Stefan:  "Normandy."

Laura:  {Smiling} "Oh."

Stefan:  "Our son loves apples. There are no apples like Norman apples at harvest time."

Laura:  {Laughing} "Really?"

Stefan:  "He had apple candies, applesauces, apple butters, apple custards, apple creams, {He makes a sound which has Laura laughing} apple confections of every sort."

Laura:  "So what did he wish for when he blew out the candles on top of his apple cake?"

Stefan:  {Getting serious} "He was only 4 years old. I wasn't ready to have him learn there are things he could wish for and never have. Let life teach him that later, as it does us all. You'd been gone for so long, I--I’d had no word. When we went home, I had my brother's rooms unsealed--the study, the wine cellar, all of it. Helena had closed them off after he died as if to enshrine the very litter he left behind. Finally, I found it--the portrait of you that Stavros had commissioned. The one we brought with us and hung over the fireplace at Wyndemere. Nikolas couldn't take his eyes off of it. It was not his mother. {Laura listens with tears in her eyes} It's not his wish come true. But it was what I could do. And the wish I made for him then--that time would do the rest--that has come true."

Laura:  {Fighting her tears as she rises} "Excuse me." {She leaves the room and Stefan is visibly upset}
 
 
 

Stefan:  {Walking out to find Laura sitting at a table, silently crying} "I would not have you think our son's childhood was unhappy. It was his nature--it may be mine, too--that marked him and set him apart a little, not your absence."

Laura:  "How can you say that? He was abandoned by his mother. I promised to return, and I never did. I mean, there were reasons--it just doesn't seem to absolve me of my guilt. Oh, my God, if there was another way--I just never found it."

Stefan:  "Lasha--who blames you now? Not Nikolas. Not I. Wasn't it you who said, 'revenge never clears the slate, love does'? And you love him, our Nikolas. {She begins crying again, and takes his hand} And we are free to be together again. You can name the terms. All you have to do is say what you want."

Laura:  "Is that all?"
 
 
 

Laura:  "You don't make this easy for me, you know. I'm not made of stone. And I was in love with you once. I'm not going to deny that. And nothing was over between us--nothing. And then all these years later, suddenly you appear--stronger, more confident. And you take up residence in my life. You bring me my son, who is a magnificent young man now. And you tell me that you've always loved me. I don't take it lightly. I mean, do you think it's easy for me to turn down your invitations? Especially when you make your home feel like a home to me and my home is empty."

Stefan:  {Upset} "I have no wish to cause you pain. I only mean to offer you an end to pain, to confusion, betrayal. Now, I believe that we could be happy--you and I and Nikolas. Have you forgotten happiness, Lasha? Have you disallowed it from your plans? It could be so simple. Isn't it time?" {Stefan looks at her for a moment and then gets to his feet, hesitating for a moment and then continuing out. Laura watches him go}

(Music plays)

{Laura turns to find Stefan holding her coat. He walks over to her, putting her coat around her and then laying his hands on her shoulders. She looks up a him. He looks at her for a moment and then slowly walks away, stopping at the doorway to look back at her. She smiles at him and he nods and then continues out. Laura remains, lost in thought}