It's brunch time at the country club, and Todd (dressed in one of his new, expensive suits) is sitting at a table by himself, next to a seemingly untouched glass of orange juice and a sampling of copies of The Intruder. Though he is flipping through one of the papers, he takes a moment to eye his watch impatiently.

Just then, a man in a suit strolls toward him. This is Zenger, the editor-in-chief of The Intruder. He takes a seat at Todd's table.

Zenger: You wanted to see me, kid?
Todd: Yeah, I did, about 15 minutes ago.
Zenger: Oh, I was working on an important story for tomorrow's edition.
Todd: Oh really? What, more Elvis sightings? Or more people eaten by aliens?
Zenger: Look, Mr. Manning, just because you inherited The Intruder doesn't mean you have any idea what sells in a newspaper like that.
Todd: Oh. And you do?
Zenger: Yeah, I know what makes a good story.
Todd: (indicating one of the papers) Then why do you keep printing this garbage?

--end scene--

Todd throws one of the copies of The Intruder down in front of Zenger.

Todd: All right, you say you know what makes a good story? Explain this to me... (he reads one of the headlines on that copy of the paper) "Psychic Predicts Loch Ness Monster Will Terrorize New Jersey Shore This Summer"?
Zenger: It's a perfectly legitimate story. We have a signed affidavit from the psychic.
Todd: It's a crock, and you know it. (putting another paper in front of Zenger) Look at this -- "Love Potions From Common Household Cleaners"!
Zenger: You know nothing about how a newspaper works! Those are the kind of stories people like to read.
Todd: What kind of people are you talking about, Zenger? According to The Intruder's own research, the average reader is over 40, can barely afford to buy the paper, and once they have it, and once they've finished with their six-pack, they can't read it either!
Zenger: That over-40 demographic happens to be the fastest-growing segment of the population.
Todd: Don't you quote statistics to me, Zenger. The Banner's kicking our butt in absolutely every age group except maybe people who are already dead.
Zenger: I don't have to listen to this!

Zenger gets up from his chair as if to leave, but Todd's next words keep him at the table.

Todd: No, you do, actually, because I sign the checks now. And I say that The Intruder's going after a younger crowd now, not a bunch of shut-ins who get their jollies from reading the obituaries.
Zenger: The Intruder has a solid following.
Todd: The Intruder is barely breaking even. Which is why there are gonna be some changes, starting with ths joke of a name. (he picks up a copy of the paper and glares at it)
Zenger: Look, Mr. Manning, I've edited this paper for over fifteen years. I am one of the most respected editors in this state. Now, the last time I checked, you were a college dropout with a -- with a rap sheet a mile long! So don't tell me how to run my newspaper, huh? You leave journalism to the professionals, and you take your inheritance and your attitude, and you go play some place else! You got that?
Todd: Yeah, I got that. Now you get this.

--end scene--

Now, Todd stands up from his chair.

Todd: There's a big difference between you and me. I own The Intruder, and you don't.
Zenger: Yeah, right. You got lucky -- you were born into the right family. That makes you rich, not smart. So go chase girls in Fort Lauderdale like a nice little rich kid, and stop telling me how to do my job, because I have forgotten more about the newspaper business than you will ever know!
Todd: You might be right, Mr. Zenger, but there's one thing that I know about this business that you don't.
Zenger: And what might that be, Mr. Manning?
Todd: That the editor-in-chief of The Intruder just got fired.
Zenger: (laughing in amused disbelief) You're firing me?
Todd: And people say you're stupid.
Zenger: This is crazy! Without me, you won't have a paper!
Todd: I'll take my chances. You take a hike.

Todd sits back down as Zenger processes what's just happened.

--end scene--

When the scene returns, Zenger has departed, and Tina has now arrived at the club. She zeroes in on Todd sitting alone at his table and stalks over to him.

Tina: What are you doing here?
Todd: Well, I was enjoying a meal. Care to join me?
Tina: Oh, you've got some nerve, you know? Coming in here, dressed like that! Just flaunting it, aren't you?
Todd: You havin' a bad day, sis? (gesturing to a chair) Here, why don't you take a load off. Whatever it is that's eatin' you, I'm sure we can work it out. That's what families are for, right?

Tina glares at him.

--end scene--

Tina: Oh, just stop it. You don't want to be part of my family any more than we want you in it. I don't even know why you and Blair are hanging around Llanview at all.
Todd: Well, why leave Llanview? It's such a warm, friendly town.
Tina: Why should anybody be friendly to you? After all the things you've done to hurt people around here.
Todd: You're right. I'm not nearly as saintly as you are. You who tried to cheat me out of 28 million dollars.
Tina: What??

Now, Tina takes the seat across from Todd.

Tina: You should be thanking me! I'm the one who told you about being the real heir in the first place!
Todd: You're right. That was so thoughtful of you, sis. Come on -- if David hadn't dumped you for Dorian, you'd be in Spain right now spending my inheritance.
Tina: Your inheritance? Oh please, what a joke! You know I should have gotten at least half of that inheritance. I'm just as much Victor and Irene's child as you are!
Todd: You're right. And you got royally screwed over by dear old dad. But, hey, them's the breaks.
Tina: Look, you don't want to be here, and nobody wants you here, so why don't you just make everybody happy and go away?
Todd: You want to know why I'm still hanging around this town, sis? I mean, you really wanna know?

--end scene--

Todd: There's only one reason why I'm sticking around this miserable town. It's because I have some scores to settle with the pathetic jerks that have been looking down their nose at me since the day I got here.
Tina: So, what? A sick sort of revenge or something?
Todd: Hey, I just want what's coming to me. And I'm gonna get it, now that I've got The Intruder and Blair has Melador.
Tina: Oh, that's great -- a tabloid rag and a nonexistant cosmetic company. We'll see how far that gets you.
Todd: That's right -- we'll see. Before too long, people are going to be looking up to me around here.

Tina gets up to leave.

Tina: Yeah, and what makes you think you'll be able to live up to this fantasy?
Todd: Because I'm Victor Lord's son. The Lord of The Banner. I've got his genes. And just like him, I'm gonna own this town and everybody in it.

--end transcript--