Llanview's wealthiest citizens are all mingling at the country club for the town's Gold Star Gala. The Buchanans are in the thick of it, of course -- shortly after Kevin and Andy arrive, they are joined by Clint and what seems to be "Viki" but is actually her alternate personality, Tori. Tori, as "Viki," plans to try to distract Clint from meeting one of The Banner's sources later that evening for an important story. As Clint fills Kevin in on the potential for a big scoop, Kevin can't resist complaining about Todd.

Kevin: Well, you go for it, Dad, 'cause I am still ticked off about Todd Manning waltzing into our offices and trying to steal our best staff right out from under us.
Clint: How about forgetting about Todd Manning for night? This is one place he can't just walk into. It's invitation-only.
Andy: (looking over Clint's shoulder) Uh, I wouldn't count on that.

Everyone in the room turns and looks at the dining room entrance, where Todd and Blair have just arrived, dressed to the nines -- Todd in a sleek, black tuxedo and Blair in a stunning red dress.

--end scene--

Kevin starts toward Todd, but Andy stops him.

Andy: Kevin, don't go over there. Don't. Don't.
"Viki"/Tori: I think Andy's right, you know. Todd's going to expect you to make a scene, so don't give him the satisfaction.
Clint: (to Kevin) Your mother knows how to handle these things. Todd and Blair don't have an invitation -- they'll never get past the door.

Meanwhile, Todd and Blair have approached the doorman in anticipation of entering.

Todd: (to the doorman) Manning. Or Lord -- I go either way.
Blair: (giggles)
Doorman: Yeah, I'm sorry, sir, I just can't seem to find your name on the list.
Todd: Well, maybe you're looking on the wrong list. (whipping out a check and placing it on the doorman's clipboard) Why don't you try that?
Doorman: (reading the check) $2,000? But the tickets are only --
Todd: $500, I know. Generosity runs in my family.

Blair steps toward Todd and puts her arm on his shoulder as she addresses the doorman herself.

Blair: Among other things.
Doorman: Still, if your names are not on the list, I don't think I can let you in.
Todd: You know, why don't you try another name? (he takes out a $50 dollar bill) Why don't you try Ulysses S. Grant? (he slips it in the doorman's shirt) That oughta buy you some more hairspray, huh?

Todd playfully pats the doorman's cheek, and then he and Blair sweep past him into the dining room, arm in arm.

Blair: (laughing) Todd, that's great!
Todd: (spotting a waiter) Here ya' go... (taking a glass of champagne from the waiter) Can you get me a glass of fizzy water for the lady? She's expecting.

The waiter leaves, and Todd seems quite pleased with himself.

Todd: I don't work here anymore, do I?
Blair: (laughs, then spots someone coming through the door) Oh, now that gets my vote for Couple of the Year. Check it out, Todd!

Todd turns and sees that Andrew Carpenter has just arrived with Blair's teenage cousin, Kelly, who is dressed in a little black dress, purple tights, and a pink-and-black feather boa. She's topped it off with some costume jewelry and some glittery makeup smeared around her eyes.

Andrew: (to the doorman) Reverend Andrew Carpenter and Miss Kelly Cramer.

As Andrew gets checked in, Kelly walks over to Blair. Of course, she's awed by Blair's dress.

Kelly: Wow! Uh, Blair, gosh! Flammable!
Blair: Well, you look pretty hot there yourself, too, Kelly!
Kelly: Well, I am glad somebody thinks so. Cassie had a cow.

At this point, Andrew has also joined them.

Andrew: Well, that's not true, actually. She loves everything you're wearing. It just never occurred to her to put it all together.
Kelly: But that is the secret to fashion. Take what's expected, and turn it on its head.
Todd: It's always been my philosophy.

Kelly looks over at Todd and addresses him excitedly, as if he's a celebrity she's been dying to meet.

Kelly: Don't tell me -- you've gotta be Todd! Hi, I'm Kelly! Your wife's cousin! Which makes us cousins, too! Isn't that cool?? (giggling)
Todd: (imitating Kelly's voice) So cool!
Blair: (stifling laughter) Andrew, where's Cassie?
Andrew: She's home with River. He has an ear infection. I promised Kelly I'd escort her in, but I really can't stay long.
Blair: Well, it's nothing serious with River, is it?
Andrew: No, he'll be just fine.
Blair: Oh, good.
Andrew: As a matter of fact, I'm heading over to the East Llanview Community Center. They're having a big clean-up party -- I promised I'd pitch in. So, um, I'm gonna go shake a few hands before I leave.
Blair: Okay.

Andrew walks away, and Blair calls after him.

Blair: Have a good time at the party, because this is the party that I want to be at!

--end scene--

When the scene returns, Kelly has gone off to try to flirt with David, and Todd and Blair are hanging out by the hors d'oeuvres table and talking about the big scoop that Todd got earlier from a mysterious source (really Tori with her voice disguised) who told him to send his best reporter to the pier at 10:00 that night. Blair hands Todd a tray of hors d'oeuvres, and he helps himself from it.

Todd: Well, it could be a scoop or it could be a big bust. All I know is that some lady called me at The Banner of all places and said there was a story. (he pops the hors d'oeuvre in his mouth)
Blair: Great! I love it. I would go with you if, uh --

As she's talking, Todd, evidently disliking the hors d'oeuvre, spits it back out into his napkin. Blair makes a face.

Blair: -- yuck! -- if I wasn't pregnant.
Todd: What, me go? You kidding me? That's why I got people working for me. Oh, that reminds me -- I should call Briggs.
Blair: (shuffling her feet anxiously) Well, I tell you what -- while you do that, I am, um -- I gotta go powder my nose.
Todd: (dialing Briggs' number) How many times has that been in there?
Blair: Ugh, I haven't counted. I guess it's the curse of being pregnant.

Blair rushes off to the bathroom as Todd places the call to Briggs.

Todd: Briggs, that you?
Briggs: Yeah.
Todd: What's the story?
Briggs: Well, there's no story yet, Todd. I mean, you said 10:00, remember?
Todd: Yeah, 10:00. Don't be late.
Briggs: (laughing) I won't be. Is there anything else?
Todd: Yeah. If the story's half as big as they say it is, you call me.
Briggs: You're the boss.
Todd: I'm glad you noticed.

Todd hangs up the phone and doesn't notice that "Viki"/Tori is behind him and evidentally was eavesdropping. She looks at her own watch to see what time is it currently.

A few yards away, Blair is on her way to the bathroom when Cord suddenly walks into the dining room. Cord and Blair lock eyes.

--end scene--

Cord has a split-second to decide how he's going to handle this awkward situation, and he chooses to smile and walk toward Blair to greet her.

Cord: Hi, Blair.
Blair: Hi.
Cord: You look, uh -- you look great.
Blair: Thank you. You look, um, pretty okay yourself.
Cord: Well, I tell you, if I didn't know better, uh -- well, what I mean is -- you're not anybody's idea of what a pregnant lady should look like -- that's all.

Cord obviously meant it as a compliment, but Blair's usual paranoia on this topic immediately kicks in.

Blair: Well, I am pregnant! I've got the blood test and the morning sickness to prove it. You know, if you don't believe me, Cord, I --
Cord: Blair, come on! I wasn't trying to imply anything. I was just saying that you're lookin' -- you're lookin' real good.
Blair: (nodding)
Cord: So how far -- how long are you now? What, about four, five months?
Blair: Four and a half. You know, some women don't show until their six month, but look -- I'm showing.

Blair turns so he can see her from the side. But Cord's eyes seem stuck on her face.

Cord: Hey, I bet your mom is, uh -- well, excited about the baby.
Blair: (laughing) Oh! Cord, she's overjoyed! Did you know tomorrow's her birthday?
Cord: No, no, I didn't.
Blair: Yeah.
Cord: Please, you, um -- you give her my best.
Blair: I will.
Cord: So, how's Addie get along with, uh -- your husband?
Blair: Oh. Well, actually, they haven't met yet. Tomorrow will be their first time to meet.

Suddenly, Todd comes walking over to them.

Todd: First time for what?
Blair: Uh, nothing. Look, gentlemen, excuse me -- I'm gonna go powder my nose.
Todd: (pointedly) Thought that's where you were?
Blair: (teasingly) How fast do you think that I am?

Blair rushes off to the bathroom, and Todd and Cord both stare after her.

Todd: She looks great, doesn't she?
Cord: Never better.

Todd starts walking away, but Cord calls after him.

Cord: You know, I don't remember your name being on the invitation list.
Todd: Yeah, well, somebody screwed up. Won't be long, though.
Cord: For what?
Todd: Well, 'till "Manning"'s on the top of every list.
Cord: (laughing) Don't count on it.
Todd: (with faux cheerfulness) Ha-ha! (grimly) Yeah, well, at least I can count.

--end scene--

When the scene returns, Blair's back from the bathroom and talking with Todd when Asa comes thundering over to them.

Asa: What the hell are you doing here?
Blair: (laughing derisively) Well, Asa! It's always a pleasure to see you, too!
Asa: I'm talking to your husband. (to Todd) I checked that invitation list. You were not on it.
Todd: Yeah, well, what are you going to do, pops? Throw us out?
Blair: You tell him, Todd!
Asa: You took the words right outta my mouth.

--end scene--

Todd: Don't strain your pacemaker, Asa. We're outta here.

Blair is amused at Todd's insult to Asa until she sees Todd start moving toward the exit.

Blair: Wait -- wait a minute, Todd! We're gonna go just because he says so?
Todd: (turning to address her) No, we're going because I say so. You've got a business to worry about, and I'm expecting a phone call from Briggs. As soon as I get it, I got the first edition of The Sun coming out tomorrow. All right?
Blair: All right.
Todd: Good. This party's a snore anyway.

Blair giggles as she follows Todd out of the ballroom.

--end scene--

As they prepare to leave the club, Todd watches as Blair slips her thin red wrap around her shoulders.

Todd: So this is all you're wearing?
Blair: Uh-huh.
Todd: You're gonna catch a cold.
Blair: No, I won't.

Todd's phone rings.

Todd: It's gotta be Briggs. Hope he found what he was looking for. (answering it) This is Manning. Yeah? All right. Looks like you're gonna be worth every penny that I'm paying you, Briggs. So I'll meet you, uh, you know where. Say about ten minutes? All right.

Todd hangs up the phone and stares at it for a moment.

Todd: Well, okay.
Blair: Good news?
Todd: Yeah. Looks like The Sun is gonna have one heck of a headline. Not only that, but we scooped The Banner. They're not gonna know what hit 'em. Not bad for my first time out.
Blair: (laughing)

--end scene--

When the scene returns, Asa has returned to antagonize T&B.

Asa: You hanging around, boy? See, I thought I made myself very, very clear.
Todd: Don't bust your cummerbund, Asa. We're on our way out.
Blair: Where we goin'?
Asa: You had better be.

As soon as Asa has left, Todd addresses Blair's question.

Todd: We're goin to Rodi's. Briggs is gonna meet us there. I can't wait to hear what he got from that secret source.

Blair gleefully rubs her hands together as she follows Todd out the door.

--end transcript--