Todd and Blair are out eating at the country club. Todd is looking over the day's Banner as he tells Blair all about how he managed to hire Charlie Briggs.

Todd: Clint's gonna have to get Charles Briggs's name off of here. As of tomorrow, Briggs works for The Sun.
Blair: (laughs happily)
Todd: You know, that's going to throw off the whole balance of the masthead. I mean, they're gonna have to re-design the whole thing. Yeah, it's too bad it's not the old days, like when Victor Lord was here, 'cause they'd have to change the type and everything.
Blair: Well, that's a pretty big coup, stealing the managing editor from The Banner, Todd!
Todd: (smiling proudly) You're impressed, huh?
Blair: Oh, yeah! You bet!
Todd: Well, I have to admit I got a little bit of help.
Blair: Who?
Todd: My big sister.
Blair: (surprised) Tina?
Todd: No, Viki.
Blair: You gotta be kidding.
Todd: Yeah, well, she didn't mean to. It just kinda slipped out that Briggs had three girls in college and that he needed the bucks. I mean, she may as well have drawn a circle on his back -- a target.
Blair: Wow. That doesn't sound like Viki at all. I would consider it, actually, an early Christmas gift, because I doubt that will ever happen again.
Todd: If I could just get Quincy Johnson to jump ship, I'd be on a roll.
Blair: Hm. Well, give him some time to think it over. It may still happen.
Todd: No, you know what, that's the last thing I'm going to do.

Todd gets up from his seat.

Blair: Todd, where ya' going?
Todd: I -- you know, the, um, the movers have probably finished unpacking. Why don't you go -- why don't you go settle in?
Blair: Yeah.
Todd: Oh, and don't lift anything heavy. I don't want that baby born with a hernia.
Blair: (playfully swatting him with the paper) You still haven't told me where you're going.
Todd: I just got an idea. I gotta go do something. I'll see you at home later.

Todd leaves.

--end scene--

Blair is just finishing up her meal at the country club when she spots Renee nearby. Blair knows that Renee is helping to set up for the Gold Star Gala taking place there later that evening, and Blair is keen to attend. She runs over to Renee.

Blair: Renee, hello! You know, everything is just gonna be so beautiful here! You know, I just found out about the charity ball tonight, and I wish I had known about it since Todd and I are setting our businesses up. We would love to be here -- you know, to be in touch with the community and all, you know.
Renee: Yes, yes, indeed. Llanview's finest will be here this evening.
Blair: Uh, how can we get a ticket?
Renee: I'm sorry. The ball is by invitation only.
Blair: Well, Renee, I'm sure something can be arranged...
Renee: Are you suggesting that you'll pay more than the price of the tickets?
Blair: (smiles and shrugs)
Renee: Blair, there are some things that Manning money can't buy. You and Todd aren't invited. And you won't be.

Renee turns and walks off, leaving Blair looking let down.

--end transcript--