IMPORTANT NOTE: During this scene, Viki has been "replaced" by one of her alternate personalities, Jean Randolph. Only the audience is aware of this change -- the other people in this scene aren't aware that anything is wrong. For clarity's sake, all of Jean Randolph's lines and actions will be recorded in this transcript as Jean.

Todd and Jean are at the country club, sitting at a table, waiting to be joined by men from Victor Lord's estate -- the meeting is to determine whether or not Todd is the legitimate Lord heir. Todd and Jean have a brief conversation about Todd's parents. Then, Arthur Vandenburg and Barnaby Collins arrive.

Arthur: Oh, I beg your pardon, Viki. I think this is the young man we're looking for.
Jean: Arthur, yes, yes. Arthur Vandenburg, this is Todd Manning. Todd, this is Arthur.
Arthur: (shaking Todd's hand) I've heard a great deal about you.
Todd: Yeah, I bet you have.
Jean: (turning to Barnaby) And this very distinguished gentleman, whom I haven't seen in far too long, is Barnaby Collins. How are you, Barnaby?
Barnaby: (shaking Viki's hand) Fine, fine. And you, Victoria? You look lovely.
Jean: Oh, thank you, thank you.
Arthur: Mr. Collins is the chief trustee of Victor Lord's estate.
Barnaby: (shaking's Todd's hand) Hello, young man.
Arthur: Now, may we join you?
Jean: Oh, please, please do.
Arthur: Thank you.

Arthur and Barnaby take seats at the table.

Arthur: Uh, Barnaby has some questions for you, Todd.
Todd: That's funny -- I got some questions for you guys. When do I collect?
Arthur: (chuckles)
Barnaby: You have Victor's arrogance -- I'll give you that. But you still must satisfy the trust.
Todd: All right. I am blood type "O" negative. You got a whole needle-full from that nurse you sent over to test me.
Barnaby: But that was only one requirement.
Todd: Oh. You want the answers to the questions that David Vickers was trying so hard to find out. The ones he paid a P.I. to get out of me. No problem. I know them by heart. What was my so-called father's nickname? Buzz. What did I get for my fifth birthday? A puppy. Why did my adoptive mother, Barbara, have a scar? Tracheotomy. And last but not least, why was I hospitalized as a child. Rheumatic fever. There we go. So, we cool?
Barnaby: There's still the question of the key.
Todd: Oh, yeah, I was wondering when we were going to get to that. (taking a key out of his pocket and showing it to the men) Here it is. Good old Buzz gave it to me right before he dropped dead. So, is it to a safe?
Jean: I rather doubt that it opens anything, since it's a fake.
Todd: What?

Jean digs around in her purse and pulls out a small safety deposit box key -- which she gives to Todd.

Jean: This is the key that Peter Manning gave you on his deathbed. I found it with David Vickers' belongings after he left town.
Todd: (with just a touch of fury) David Vickers ripped me off?
Jean: Mm-hmm.

--end scene--

During all of this, Blair's been at Sam Vance's PI office, where she blackmailed Sam into voiding Todd's contract (the one that promised Sam 5% of his inheritance). Afterward, Blair shows up at the country club just in time to see Tina and Cord talking about their son CJ's upcoming field trip.

Tina: (to Cord) You're a good daddy. Does he know how lucky he is to have you?
Blair: CJ is doing great in the daddy department. It's the mommy who leaves a lot to be desired.
Tina: If you'll excuse us, Blair, we have a child waiting -- a real one, as opposed to an imaginary child.
Blair: There is nothing imaginary about my baby, even though you did try to convince my husband that I faked a pregnancy.
Cord: Tina, did you say something --
Blair: She did, Cord!
Tina: Todd is my brother whether I like it or not. I'm not going to just stand by and let him be taken in by this fraud.
Cord: Whatever, whatever. Look, Tina, we got to go, so why don't you go get your coat. I'm going to be waiting outside with CJ.
Tina: Okay.

Cord glances at Blair and then leaves the room for a moment, and Tina and Blair waste no time in continuing their argument.

Tina: Even if you are pregnant now, 28 million dollars say you weren't when you found out about Todd's inheritance. Which would have been mine had you not tricked Todd into taking it!
Blair: Oh, you mean before you had a chance to steal it! You and your imitation brother, David Vickers?
Tina: You're nothing but a cheap gold-digger, you know that?
Blair: I'm cheap -- hah! 28 million dollars makes you the cheap gold-digger! You lost!

--end scene--

Over at Todd's table, the Lord heir lunch continues even as Blair and Tina are yelling at each other on the other side of the room.

Arthur: Barnaby, if you have any more questions --
Blair's Voice: (yelling) It was Todd's money, Tina, from the day that he was born!
Tina's Voice: (loudly) What a good wife, and I bet you can't wait to share it, can you?
Todd: (to Arthur, Barnaby, and Viki) Excuse me.

Todd stands up and goes across the room to stand at Blair's side as the two women continue to fight.

Tina: (to Blair) For richer and richer, right?
Blair: I'm warning you, Tina, you stay out of my life, and you stay out of Todd's!
Tina: Uh, is this a threat?
Blair: Yes, it's a threat!
Tina: Now that you've come into money, you can threaten people, huh?
Todd: Hey, what's the problem here?

Cord quickly rushes back over to the group.

Cord: Uh, there is no problem here, Todd, although I suggest that you put a muzzle on your wife.
Tina: Yeah!
Cord: Tina, go get your coat please so we can go.

Blair looks stung by Cord's cold attitude toward her. He gives her a passing glance and then leaves the club with Tina. Todd turns to Blair in concern.

Todd: You okay?
Blair: Yeah, fine.

Back at the table, Jean is talking to Arthur and Barnaby...

Arthur: Viki, I'm sure this news about Todd Manning has come as quite a shock.
Jean: Well, I just keep wondering (chuckles) how many other sons Victor Lord has -- when the next one is going to show up.

Arthur and Barnaby seem taken aback by the very un-Viki-like edge in Jean's voice. She quickly realizes she's broken character and tries to cover by chuckling a bit.

Jean: Sad but true, isn't it?

Kevin, Joey and Jessica, who have been dining nearby waiting for "Viki"/Jean to finish her meeting, head over to the table.

Kevin: Mom, if you need us to stay --
Jean: No, no, no, no, that's all right. I'm sorry, this is going to take a little bit longer. I'm sorry our lunch was interrupted.

Todd and Blair also arrive at the table. Todd is none too pleased to see Kevin and Joey.

Todd: Let me guess. Now I get questions from the kiddies?
Joey: Get lost, Todd.
Kevin: Uh, we're gonna head out. (to Joey and Jessica) Come on.
Todd: Fine by me. Got business to take care of.

Kevin, Joey, and Jessica leave the country club.

Todd: Mr. Vandenburg, Mr. Collins, this is my wife, Blair. Viki, I trust that you two know each other.
Blair: (shaking hands with Arthur) Hello, Mr. Vandenburg.
Arthur: How do you do?
Barnaby: (shaking hands with Blair) Nice to meet you.
Blair: Mr. Collins.
Jean: Hello, Blair.
Blair: Viki! Well, it looks like Todd and I will be a part of your family now!
Jean: (smiling) It's not official, dear.
Blair: Oh! Well, I thought -- well, I assumed --
Todd: I still have to get by the trustees. They get to decide whether I meet the requirements of the high and mighty Lords. (to Barnaby) So which is it? Do I pass, or do I fail?
Barnaby: Mrs. Manning, I don't envy you having to polish this rather rough gem. At the same time, I do envy your bank account. You and Todd will never have to worry about money again.
Blair: Oh, Mr. Collins -- are you saying that --
Barnaby: Well, unless Arthur knows of some reason to contradict me?
Arthur: (shaking his head) Mm-mm.
Barnaby: Well, in that case, pending approval by the rest of the trustees, I'm satisfied your husband is who he claims to be -- the rightful son and heir to Victor Lord's trust fund.

--end scene--

Blair: Aren't you happy, Todd? You heard Mr. Collins -- it's all ours!
Jean: Well, you hit the jackpot, didn't you?
Blair: You know, Viki, I don't see it that way. I see it that my husband has -- has been recognized for who he is -- Victor Lord's son, your brother. And he is entitled to everything that comes his way. Isn't that right, sweetheart?
Todd: There's only one thing that I want.
Arthur: Uh, Mr. Collins told you, the rest of the trustees have to confirm --
Todd: Look, I'm not talking about the money. Now, you knew my mother and father...both of you, didn't you?
Barnaby: I considered Victor my friend.

Jean sees where this is going, and she's clearly not happy.

Todd: But you knew my mother also. I want you to tell me about them -- fill in the blanks.

Arthur and Barnaby are clearly taken aback that Todd isn't just taking the money and running with it -- that he actually wants to know as much as he can about his biological parents.

Arthur: Todd, what -- what is the point --
Todd: Look, I answered all of your questions, I played pincushion for your stupid little blood test. And it's like Blair says -- I'm Victor Lord's son.

Jean shifts uncomfortably in her seat, but no one notices.

Todd: Now, I get what I'm entitled to. And that means answers.
Barnaby: What is it you wish to know?
Todd: Everything! Why did Irene give me to the Mannings? Why didn't she fight for me? And how come 25 years later all of a sudden I'm worth 30 million bucks??
Arthur: It's a dark story, young man.
Todd: Try me.

Now, Jean's hit her limit, and she starts gathering her purse and preparing to get out of her chair.

Jean: Gentlemen, um, I think perhaps Todd has heard enough for one day --
Todd: Come on -- I want answers, the whole story, right now!
Arthur: Are you feeling all right, Viki?
Jean: Yes, yes, I'm fine, but I think that, um, perhaps this is something he should hear alone.
Todd: Sit down, Viki! Listen, you said you wanted to be here for this.
Jean: (awkwardly) Yes, but I don't --
Todd: Come on -- it's not like any of this is going to be a surprise. We're just talking about your father. What's the big deal?

But judging from the look on Jean's face -- it's a very big deal.

--end scene--

Arthur: (to Jean) Perhaps I can get you something --
Jean: No, thank you, no --
Arthur: Maybe just a sparkling water -- with a dash of wine?
Jean: Thank you, no.

Realizing now that she's not going to be able to get out of this, Jean puts her purse back in its place on her chair. Todd, meanwhile, has grown more angry.

Todd: Look, enough about the wine spritzers, okay? She doesn't want anything.
Blair: Todd!
Todd: What I want to know is what went on with Victor Lord? And where do I fit in? That's what we're going to talk about, okay? Everybody cool with that?
Arthur: Now that you've proven yourself to be the legitimate heir, that is why we're here.
Todd: Good. Mr. Collins?
Barnaby: Barnaby, please, I always prefer that young people feel free to --
Todd: Fine. Barney. Let's just do it, okay, the whole story. Now you were Victor Lord's lawyer --
Barnaby: (with surprising emphasis) And friend. That's rather important. I was his friend.

At this, Jean levels a look at Barnaby but says nothing.

Barnaby: As for how you came to be born, well, as Viki here knows, Victor Lord had a relationship with her college roommate --
Todd: Irene Manning, Viki told me. Now there's one thing that I don't understand, all right? Now, Tina is older than I am. So this relationship must have gone on quite some time, right?
Barnaby: Yes, but Victor insisted on keeping it secret, for years and years. Even from you, Viki, isn't that right?
Jean: My father loved secrets. More than anything, he loved secrets.

Todd looks at Jean, who smiles back at him, but it's a smile that she seems to be straining to hold on to.

--end scene--

Arthur: Todd, if you're going to understand Victor Lord at all, you must understand that secrecy was an obsession. Wouldn't you agree, Viki? I mean, he was a very private man.
Jean: Oh, yes, extremely private. Yes, he was always very careful to guard his privacy. Secret meetings, secret contracts.
Blair: (smiling at Todd) Secret trust funds.
Todd: That's right. And he was with my mom this whole time. That was a big secret.
Barnaby: Yes, in fact, I got out some of Victor's old files for this meeting. I agreed to continue as a trustee for the fund even after I retired as an attorney. Victor was a client, of course...and, as I said, a dear old friend.
Todd: Let's just cut to the chase, all right? Victor had this thing going on with Irene, Viki's roommate. He was doing it with someone his daughter's age, for God sakes.

Again, Jean shifts uncomfortably, but, also once again, no one seems to notice.

Todd: And then Tina is born, and then I'm born. And that whole thing was kept a secret.
Barnaby: Very secret. In fact, here's a letter which he sent to me, which I trust, Viki, won't at this late date cause you pain. (reading) "Dear Barnaby, it is absolutely imperative that my daughter not know of my relationship with Irene. Victoria's own life is in turmoil now, and I'm afraid this would distress her tremendously."
Todd: Turmoil, huh? Guess dear old dad thought you were a little wacko.

As if not trusting herself to dignify that with a response, Jean stays silent, keeps a tight smile on her face, and only nods very, very slightly at Todd.

Todd: Of course, it could have been worse. Peter Manning could have raised you.
Arthur: Todd, please. The point here is that secrecy wasn't just Victor Lord's wish. It was his direct order to anyone who worked for him.
Todd: All right. Here's another question for you. My mom, Irene Manning, she didn't give Tina up -- she raised her. How come she gave me up?
Barnaby: She felt she wasn't strong enough to handle two children on her own. She forced Victor to set up a trust fund for you. But then when an old college friend, Barbara Jones, was so eager to adopt just at that time, they made the arrangement. Barbara happened to be married to Irene's cousin, Peter Manning.
Todd: (looking to "Viki"/Jean for acknowledgement) But they both had to keep it a secret.
Jean: Yes. Secrets always...always secrets.
Todd: Well, I'll tell you this much...if there hadn't been a trust fund -- even though it was small back then -- Peter Manning would never have gone for it. Then I never would have had to be raised by that scum. See, it's all about money. Money's everything. This is just another reason why we should hate Victor Lord. God, Viki, I don't know how you stood the guy.

Jean looks at Todd but says nothing.

--end scene--

Arthur: As Viki knows, her father had, uh, a great number of mistresses during his long life.
Barnaby: (chuckling) Oh, good God, yes. When he took up with that young Dr. Cramer, that's what I thought was happening.
Arthur: Ah, yes -- Dorian.
Barnaby: And then he married the woman. (chuckling again) Guess he met his match there, eh?

Blair shifts uncomfortably in her chair.

Todd: All right, that's enough about Dorian Lord. (back to Arthur) You were talking about my mother?
Arthur: Yes, well, the point is, you see, that -- that Irene wasn't Victor's first mistress, nor was she the only one who bore him children.
Todd: So there are other kids besides me and Tina?
Arthur: Well, I -- I do know of one male -- um, I've forgotten his name. Um, Sloan mentioned him in Lord of the Banner. Viki?
Jean: Tony. Tony Lord. He was my older half-brother, but he's dead now. His mother was a -- a woman that my father met before he shipped out to the Pacific in World War II in San Francisco. But this was before he married my mother.
Todd: Great. How many more are there?
Jean: (rising from her chair) None that we know of, but of course, we only just found out about you. Excuse me -- I think I am going to go and have a drink.

With that, Jean leaves the table and heads to the bar.

Barnaby: Poor woman. All this negative talk about her father must be very trying.
Blair: Yes -- yeah, you could see that.
Todd: The thing that I don't understand is this. After everything that Victor Lord did -- and he's been dead so many years -- why does she say that she loves him so much? Trying to protect his memory and all that?

Jean heads to the bar and gives her order to the waiter.

Jean: Scotch, neat. (thinking to herself) Come on, come on. The others can't come out now because they can't handle this. I can. Be strong. Just be very strong. Sit through this until the end. I have to know everything that Todd knows about Victor Lord and then make sure that he doesn't get more curious. And I cannot let him find out the one secret that no one can ever know.

Jean raises the glass of scotch to her lips with a trembling hand and swallows a sip.

--end scene--

Jean returns to the table and takes her seat.

Arthur: Ah, welcome back, Viki! Barnaby and I were just explaining how your father set up the trust fund for Todd.
Todd: I don't care how he set it up. I don't care if he was trying to ease his conscience for giving me up...if he was just trying to get Irene off his back. The thing I want to know now is how much was Peter Manning was getting? What was his cut?
Barnaby: Peter and Barbara Manning were to manage --
Todd: My mother, Barbara -- Bitsy -- she died when I was 14. So all by his lonesome, what was Peter Manning getting?
Barnaby: Well, since you turned 18 seven years ago, Peter Manning has always cashed the trust's check for about $50,000 every quarter. It was deposited in the safety deposit box. Over seven years -- 28 quarters -- that would be, what, 1.4 million dollars?
Blair: (gasps)
Todd: Man.
Arthur: Yeah, well, that, of course, was on the assumption that he would be sharing it with you, assisting in your upbringing.
Todd: (sarcastically) Oh, yeah, right.
Arthur: Then he was to get 10% percent of your estate when you turned 25. That's another two or three million.
Barnaby: But everything was to be kept secret. Typical Victor, eh, Viki?
Jean: Yes, yes.
Arthur: And, of course, if you died before you reached the age of 25, then all the money would go to Tina, and Peter Manning would have gotten nothing.
Todd: Oh, yeah. Well, that all makes sense now.
Blair: What?
Todd: When I was pardoned, and all those rapes started at the hospital, and I was the prime suspect. He flew in all the way from Chicago just to tell me that he thought I should go back to prison. That I'd be safer there.
Arthur: (chuckling) Just protecting his investment.
Barnaby: Well, I think that wraps everything up. (handing Todd some papers) Here is a list of your assets. They will remain in the trust awaiting your decisions. If you have any questions of the trustees, you can call us at the number on the letterhead.
Todd: (rifling through the papers) I don't have a clue what any of this is.
Arthur: I would suggest a good, sound business manager, young man. (rising from his chair) Now, Barnaby, can I drop you anywhere? I'm heading to the airport.
Barnaby: Oh, that would be lovely, Arthur. Thank you. (rising from his chair) Viki, always a pleasure.
Jean: (shaking his hand) Nice to see you again, Barnaby.
Barnaby: Mrs. Manning, Mr. Manning, I hope I've been of some help.
Blair: Oh, yes, you have, Mr. Collins. (shaking his hand) And thank you.
Todd: Yeah, thanks a lot, guys. Party on. (going back to the paperwork) I have no idea what to do about all this.
Arthur: Yes, well, who could have known that a small publishing conglomerate could have had the good luck to back a magazine like Independent Woman? You know, that one asset could be worth 20 million dollars world-wide. Well, good bye.
Jean: Goodbye, Arthur.

Barnaby and Arthur depart, and Jean gets up from her chair.

Jean: I'll be on my way as well. So, Todd, what are you going to do with all that money?
Todd: (looking up from the paperwork) Beats me. Maybe Blair can figure out some way to spend it.

--end scene--

Jean: Well, whatever you eventually decide to do with your inheritance money, I hope that you now have all the answers about the family that you will need.
Todd: Yeah, I guess so. Why, you worried I'm gonna bug you more?
Jean: No. I just thought it might be simpler to settle all the questions you have now while I'm here, and then put it to rest.
Todd: No, look, you're cool, I'm cool -- why screw things up with questions?
Jean: I'll be leaving, then.
Blair: Goodbye, Viki.

Jean starts to walk away until Todd suddenly turns back around in his chair to call to her.

Todd: Oh, hey -- see ya' later, sis.

Jean stares at Todd for a second and then turns and exits the country club.

Blair: That was a lot easier than I thought it was gonna be! I thought that the Lord family would try to stop you from getting your inheritance.
Todd: They couldn't. How could they? It's mine -- they'd lose. (going back to the paperwork) See, I don't understand this. Look at this.
Blair: What?
Todd: Stocks, stocks, bonds, stocks, certificate of ownership...I mean, where's the money?
Blair: Well --
Todd: What if I want to buy some gum or go to a movie or something?
Blair: (looking at the paper) Todd, it says right here that you have a money market account of -- $500,000? $500,000 -- that's not very much.
Todd: What? You hoping to get more before we go to dinner tonight?
Blair: (laughing nervously) Well, no, I just -- I mean that that's not much liquidity in an account of that size -- that's all.
Todd: I'll tell you something, okay? This itty-bitty little money market account --
Blair: Yeah?
Todd: -- is about 500 times more than I ever thought I'd get my hands on. (he makes a noise of disbelief) Wow.

--end scene--

Todd: See, the weird thing is that Peter Manning had a lot of money. I mean, he sold stocks, he did deals -- we're talking about major bucks here.
Blair: Plus, he was draining your account of $50,000 every three months.
Todd: Not bad. But he was such a control freak. He gave me, like, ten dollars of allowance, and I had to account for every single penny. I mean, we may as well have been poor.
Blair: Todd, you have no idea what being poor is like. Trust me, I have been there.
Todd: Hey, who's been living below the poverty line this last year?
Blair: Well, okay... (laughing happily) But not anymore!
Todd: No, I got half a million dollars in a money market account, and nobody's gonna tell me what I can and cannot spend it on. Wow...
Blair: What?
Todd: I just realized something. I'm free. For the first time in my life, I'm honest-to-God free.
Blair: Todd...if you could have anything -- anything that you want right now, in the whole world, what would you want? Maybe something that you've dreamed about all of your life?

Todd thinks about this for a second, and a smile begins to form on his face.

--end scene--

Todd: You know what I want? What I've always wanted...a 1956 Thunderbird.
Blair: Oh, cool! Those look so cool!
Todd: Turquoise trim. I think I saw one when I was, like, 15 years old. I fell in love with it.
Blair: Oh, great, well, you can get one now, Todd! So come on, let's go see if we can find one! Let's get it!
Todd: Wait, hold on. There's something else that I've been thinking about now. Both of my moms -- they were looking out for me. I mean, Irene dumped me, but at least she made sure that Victor set up this trust before that happened. And Bitsy...the woman who I thought was my mom, she was always trying to protect me, look out for me. She wrote me all those letters --
Blair: Yeah, the ones that Peter never let you see, huh?
Todd: Yeah, right. What I'm saying is that it's always the moms who look after their kids. And you're gonna be a great mother, Blair. But our kid...he's gonna have both of us looking out for him.
Blair: You bet.
Todd: And another thing -- and this is the last time that you're gonna hear me say this, but -- I'm sorry that I let other people talk me into not trusting you.

Blair looks a bit guilty here, but she rallies to reassure Todd.

Blair: Look, Todd, we got through that.
Todd: Yeah, we did. We're together, and that's all that counts. And everything is gonna be all right. Everything.

--end transcript--