{Laura's in her kitchen cleaning her oven when there's a knock on the door}

Laura:  "It's open."

Katherine: {Opening the door} "Oh, did I come at a bad time?"

Laura: {Turning around, not looking too pleased} "Don't be silly. I love cleaning up a year of grease and grime from my oven. {Katherine comes to stand by her and Laura rises} So--what can I do for you?"

Katherine:  "Luke hasn't come back yet, huh?"

Laura:  "Why? You need to talk to him about something?"

Katherine:  "No. I was just curious. Actually, I was hoping to have a few words with you, you know, woman to woman, so to speak. Do you mind?" {Starting to pour herself some coffee}

Laura:  "Help yourself."

Katherine:  "Thank you. It is so wonderful being back in town instead of Spoon Island. And I had forgotten how conveniently located the Quartermaine mansion is."

Laura:  "You're living with the Quartermaines?"

Katherine:  "Oh, they were so kind. {She goes to the refrigerator and helps herself to some milk} When they found out that I was still alive, they insisted that I move in with them. You know, they really are the most warm and generous people. You know that they even threw a birthday party for me yesterday? Of course, the news of Brenda’s death did put a bit of a damper on things. It really was a tragedy."

Laura:  "Is there something I can do for you?"

Katherine:  "As a matter of fact, there is. I was hoping that maybe you could jog my memory about what happened that night that I fell from the parapet at Wyndemere."

Laura:  "I wouldn't think that that's an experience you'd want to relive." {She goes to put up the pitcher of milk}

Katherine:  "Well, I don't, but I just have this nagging feeling that something important happened right before I fell."

Laura:  "Such as?"

Katherine:  "Well, that's what I was hoping that you could tell me since you and Stefan were the last two people I saw before I--died." {Laura looks on the refrigerator door at Nikolas' picture}

Laura: {Walking back over to her} "I’m sorry to disappoint you, Katherine, but I can't remember anything else about that night other than what I testified to in court. So if there's something that you want to know, maybe you should read the transcript."

Katherine:  "I already have. I just wondered if maybe something came back to you since."

Laura:  "No. Uh-uh. I'm afraid not. Why don't you ask Stefan. Maybe he can help you."

Katherine:  "I don't put much faith in what Stefan has to say these days. Frankly, I think he's deliberately lying to me."

Laura:  "Why would he do that? The two of you were about to be married."

Katherine:  "Who could say? Stefan is a complicated man. He rarely says what he means. That's why I came to you. You have a reputation of being honest and forthright."

Laura:  "Well, I told everything I knew in court that day. So if I remember anything else, I’ll give you a call."

Katherine:  "Great. Well, it was worth a try. {She gets her purse and starts to leave, but turns back} Oh, oh, you know, there was just one more thing that I was curious about. Why did Luke leave town?"

Laura:  "You'd have to ask him."

Katherine:  "I mean, it wasn't because you testified on Stefan’s behalf, was it? I mean, I could see how having your wife testify on behalf of your mortal enemy could cause a little bit of a strain on a marriage."

Laura: {Almost sarcastically} "You know, it's been so nice seeing you again."

Katherine:  "There was just one more thing that I was wondering about. You know, I read the transcript of your testimony, and I noticed that you left out any reference to the fact that we had seen one another in my bedroom that night before we were up on the parapet. And I just thought that that was an important omission. Don't you think?"

Laura:  "No, I don't. First of all, nobody asked me about it. And second of all, it had nothing to do with what happened later."

Katherine:  "Well, I would have thought that would be for the Judge to decide. You see, that's exactly what's been nagging at me. What if it was something important that happened right before I fell? What if the Judge and Assistant District Attorney Dara Jensen knew about this? What do you suppose that they would have thought? {Laura just watches her} I mean, if you failed to mention something that important, who's to say what else you left out of your testimony because you didn't think it had any bearing on the case?"

Laura:  "Your imagination is working overtime. Of course I told the truth in court. I had nothing to lose one way or the other."

Katherine:  "We both know better than that, don't we?"

Laura:  "Meaning?"

Katherine:  "Meaning that you didn't have to testify at Stefan’s trial. Nobody even knew that you were there until you came forward. Why would you risk your marriage to help Stefan unless there was something else going on?"

Laura:  "Believe me, my marriage has been through a lot worse things than my testifying for Stefan."

Katherine:  "Well, Luke’s still not here, and you haven't answered my question."

Laura: {Loosing her temper} "Look, if there's something you want to accuse me of, why don't you just come right out and say it. If there isn't, then, as you can see, I’m busy."

Katherine:  "I think that you and Stefan are hiding something. That is the only explanation for why you came forward."

Laura:  "He was accused of a crime that I knew he didn't commit. What other reason do I need?"

Katherine:  "You know, Mac was really the one who tipped me off when he said that even if Stefan hadn't pushed me, that that railing had been loosened and somebody was supposed to die that night. What if it wasn't an accident that I found you in my bedroom the night of the ball? What if you came there to arouse my suspicion and goad me into going to the parapet to look in that trunk for some reason?"

Laura:  "And for what possible reason would that be?"

Katherine:  {Smugly} "It's easy--you wanted Stefan for yourself."

Laura:  {Laughing it off} "Stefan and me romantically involved? Well, you couldn't be more wrong. I mean, the only connection between the two of us is that he is the uncle of my son."

Katherine:  "You're hiding something, and I’m going to find out what it is."

Laura:  "Ok, you do that. Now, if you don't mind, I have an oven to clean." {Turning away, back to her oven}

Katherine: {Annoyed that she didn't get what she wanted, she starts to leave but turns back} "You can pretend all you like that there's nothing going on between you and Stefan. But I know a woman in love when I see one." {She turns and walks out the door}