EP 52 - Erica's Realization

All My Children - Episode 52

Written By: Casey Hutchison

Executive Producer: Dawn Hayes

Directed By: Cynthia J. Popp

Afternoon is still upon Pine Valley. At Pine Valley Memorial, Opal and Joe are walking down a stretch of hallway. They come to a stop.

JOE: So, you want to reveal that you have another child to your family?

OPAL: Yes.

JOE: Do you think that is a good idea?

OPAL: Yes, I do.

JOE: I will be there every step of the way.

OPAL: Thank you.

Joe and Opal embrace. Then, Ruth walks to them, but sees them hugging. Ruth holds back to watch. Joe and Opal come off the hug. Ruth walks up to them.

JOE: Ruth, hello darling.

RUTH: Hello.

JOE: Are you ready to go home?

RUTH: I am. But, first, tell me why you and Opal were embracing.

---

At the Slater Home, Kendall is playing a game on her IPAD, and sitting on the couch. She hears a knock at the door. She shuts off her IPAD and walks to the door.

KENDALL: Coming!

Upon opening the door, she is quite shocked.

KENDALL: What are you doing here?

JOSHUA: We need to talk. Right now.

---

At ConFusion, Nina is drinking a glass of white wine. Diane walks up to the bar, upon entering the busy restaurant. She takes a seat next to Diane.

DIANE: (nodding over at Nina) I’ll have what she’s having.

The bartender pours Diane a glass of white wine, and hands it to her.

DIANE: Thank you.

NINA: Good choice. Pine Valley has a good wine selection. This place carries some of its finest wines. I can tell you that much.

DIANE: Well, I am new to town. So, hopefully my first glass of wine here will be as good as you are claiming it to be.

NINA: Oh, you’re new in town. What’s your name?

DIANE: Diane O’Neil. What about you?

NINA: Nina Cortlandt.

---

---

At Katrina’s Penthouse, Laura comes down the stairs. Katrina is in the living room having a cup of tea. Laura walks up to her.

KATRINA: Well hi, sleepy head.

LAURA: Hey.

Laura puts on her blue blazer.

LAURA: Listen, I cannot thank you enough for letting me crash here. I just knew that I was in no condition to drive.

KATRINA: Of course. What are new friends for.

Laura has a seat next to Katrina on the couch, so she can put on her black and brown wedges. Katrina sits her teacup down.

KATRINA: So, I have a question for you. I really didn’t get it answered last night.

LAURA: What’s that?

KATRINA: I remembered you said that you were bi-sexual.

LAURA: And…

KATRINA: And, I there was a picture of a woman that fell out of your wallet, last night. I was hoping you could tell me a little bit about her.

---

At Krystal’s Diner, Kathy walks out with a cup of coffee to-go. As she opens the door, she bumps into Oliver.

KATHY: Oh my god. I’m so sorry that I almost spilled this on you.

OLIVER: Oh, no trouble at all.

KATHY: Sorry again. I’m Kathy, by the way.

OLIVER: Oliver.

KATHY: It would mean a lot if you would let me buy you a cup of coffee.

OLIVER: Sounds good to me.

KATHY: Great. Awesome!

---

At Erica’s Penthouse, Erica stands and goes to the window. She looks out upon the city of Pine Valley. Almost like she wants to hide her emotions from Jackson. Jackson stands up, but remains a couple steps behind Erica.

JACKSON: So, is this going to be the last time?

ERICA: Jack, I am not sure how you want me to answer that. (turning around) We have been down this long stretch of relationship road, before.

JACKSON: If you count the two marriages to one another, than yes, we have.

ERICA: I love you with every fiber of my being.

JACKSON: But…

ERICA: I’m just not sure if I could ever let you go, if things between us do not work themselves out all over again. We tried this six years ago.

JACKSON: And, you were shot.

ERICA: And, you went away to form your own practice. Meanwhile, I put everything on hold. My career was put on hold. Then, you come back, and we are going strong again. That is attributed to us both finding want we want.

JACKSON: Erica, what are you saying?

ERICA: I think you need to answer your own question, Jack.

---

Back at Katrina’s Penthouse, Laura pours herself a cup of tea.

LAURA: That picture you saw was of my wife, Gina.

KATRINA: Oh, so you’re married?

LAURA: Was.

KATRINA: I’m so sorry, Laura. I know divorce can be hard.

LAURA: It wasn’t divorce.

KATRINA: Excuse me?

LAURA: Gina and I are no longer married, because she was killed in a hit and run five years ago, on New Year's Eve. It was a drunk driver. We were headed to our neighbour’s home to watch the ball drop. As we were crossing the street, a driver must have been doing 50 through our residential neighbourhood. I...uh...I jumped out of the way in fear. When I looked up to surveillance what had happened, I saw blood all over the street. I looked over to the other side of the road, and there was Gina. She was covered in red. I called an ambulance, but by the time they got there, it was too late. Gina had passed away, just as everyone rang in the New Year.

KATRINA: (sighs) Laura we have not known one another for very long, but already I can see that you are a strong woman. To suffer a lost such as that, and the way it happened; is unimaginable. I admire your courage.

LAURA: Thanks.

KATRINA: I’m sure you will find someone who is upheld the way Gina was. She seemed like a very, very special lady.

LAURA: She was. (sniffles) And, I will forever miss her.

Laura wipes tears from her eyes.

LAURA: Sorry, I don’t usually break down in front of people like this.

KATRINA: With what you just told me, I understand.

LAURA: I appreciate that, Katrina.

KATRINA: I want you to know, that I am always here for you.

LAURA: That means a lot. You have no idea.

KATRINA: (calming smile) What are friends for?

---

Back at Krystal’s Diner, Kathy and Oliver grab a table outside.

OLIVER: Thanks for the coffee.

KATHY: My pleasure. It is the least I could do for bumping into to you.

OLIVER: So, you are Kathy Martin, correct? As in, Tad and Dixie’s child?

KATHY: You know your history, well. And, you are David and Cara’s child?

OLIVER: Right back at you with the history.

KATHY: My dad and your mom got married, one time.

OLIVER & KATHY: Green card.

The two laugh.

KATHY: Crazy how much times change.

OLIVER: No kidding.

KATHY: (looking at phone) Listen, I have a job interview. However, I would like to see you again, if that is okay with you.

OLIVER: Yeah, sure.

Kathy gets out a piece of paper and pen, from her purse. She writes her name and number, and hands it Oliver, upon standing.

KATHY: Call me, anytime.

OLIVER: You got it.

Kathy smiles, and walks off.

---

Back at the Slater Home, Kendall shuts the door, as Joshua enters.

KENDALL: If you planned on seeing your nephews, they are down at the beach for their Senior Skip Day. They are supposed to be there, all day.

JOSHUA: Actually, I just came to see you.

KENDALL: Why is that?

JOSHUA: I wanted to talk to you.

KENDALL: About what? I have to get to the market, before tonight. So, if you could just spit it on out, that would be doing me a lot of favors.

JOSHUA: Fine.

KENDALL: Fine.

JOSHUA: This is about our mother.

KENDALL: For the love of God, give me a break.

JOSHUA: Kendall, this is serious.

KENDALL: (sighs) If you say so.

JOSHUA: I do.

KENDALL: Okay. What about our mother?

JOSHUA: I think she is having nightmares.

Kendall looks at Joshua confused.

---

Back at Pine Valley Memorial, Joe and Opal are taken aback.

OPAL: Ruth, I promise you that Joe was just comforting me.

RUTH: I see that. I just want to know about what.

OPAL: Ruth, I do not want to be rude, but I truly do not want to disclose that to you, at this moment. I hope you don’t mind.

RUTH: Opal, obviously you are upset about something.

JOE: Ruth, it truly is nothing. Let’s go.

OPAL: Wait. You know what? I will tell her.

JOE: Opal, you do not have to; if you don’t want to.

OPAL: Of course I do not want to. But, I should.

RUTH: (sighs) What is it?

OPAL: When I was sixteen, I got pregnant. I had the child, and gave it up for adoption.

Ruth is in complete shock over the news.

---

Back at Erica’s Penthouse, Erica looks back at Jackson.

JACKSON: Erica, I love you with all my heart. And, if something goes wrong, then I am prepared to try and work things out with you.

ERICA: We have been down this road so many times. I slept with your brother, we broke things off. I wanted to go make a life out in LA, you abandoned me. I think there is an obvious pattern here, that we should look at.

JACKSON: What are you saying?

ERICA: I think that it was wrong for you to step back into my life.

---

Back at ConFusion, Nina and Diane come off a handshake.

NINA: So, you were telling me that you have some family here.

DIANE: I do.

NINA: Can I ask you something? I’m truly curious.

DIANE: About what? Ask away.

NINA: This family you have. Would it happen to be that of Opal Cortlandt?

DIANE: It is. How did you know?

NINA: Because, I’m NIna Cortlandt. Your mother was married to my father, Palmer. I decided to come back to Pine Valley, so I can tell Opal that my father knew all along that Opal had given birth to you, and give you up.

Diane is in complete shock.

***FADE OUT***

***END OF EP. 52***