Skye is at a table at the Palace restaurant, looking at the menu. She does not see Todd peering in the doorway across the room. When Todd sees Skye is there, he motions for Blair to come join him in spying. She is elated.

Blair: Is this going to be great or what?? Oh, Skye hates Rae Cummings, and when she finds out that she's her mother...ooh!
Todd: Shh. One step at a time. First, we up the stakes.
Blair: (nods)
Todd: See, Skye and Johnny Law, they tried to turn us against each other. They shouldn't have -- they shouldn't have done that.

Blair takes a long look at Todd before turning back to Skye.

Blair: They couldn't have.
Todd: Yeah?
Blair: (nodding)
Todd: Nonetheless, you can't let an attack like that go unanswered.

Blair looks at Todd, and he smiles back at her slightly before she turns back to Skye.

Blair: (gleefully) It is time we turn the tables.

Blair heads into the room, and Todd watches her go.

Todd: Yeah.

--end scene--

Blair and Todd take seats at a table near Skye's.

Blair: I'm telling you, Todd, I just couldn't take it anymore!

Todd, watching Skye start to overhear them, gestures for Blair to keep going.

Blair: With John Sykes -- he was there in my room, staring at me, asking me all of these questions.

Todd smiles slightly as Blair keeps going and as Skye makes it more obvious that she's struck to hear what Blair is saying.

Blair: And I came this close to telling him everything!
Todd: (loudly) Well, it's a good thing you didn't. Everything's going perfectly. You wanted Skye to suffer -- well, she's suffering.
Blair: She deserves to suffer! She should suffer for everything that she's done to me. But...still --
Todd: "But still," nothing. You're holding all the cards -- why fold them now?
Blair: Because I can't take it anymore!
Todd: You can.
Blair: Living all of these lies -- I can't!
Todd: You can, Blair, and you will.
Blair: John Sykes is watching me -- he's gonna hound me. And any minute, I'm going to -- I'm going to break. I can't take anymore! No, I've gotta go to the police, Todd, and I've gotta tell them the truth.

Skye listens with growing realization.

Todd: What, and miss the chance to see Skye Chandler fry for this? Forget it.
Blair: I can't forget it.
Todd: Yes, you will, Blair.
Blair: No, Todd! I'm going to go to the police right now, and I'm going to tell them the truth --

Blair gets up out of her chair, as if to leave, and Todd jumps out of his to stop her.

Todd: No, Blair --
Blair: No, I'm going to, Todd!

Skye rushes over and grabs Blair's arm.

Skye: If you know something, Blair, you better tell me!
Blair: (with feigned shock) What are you doing here?
Skye: You tell me -- right here and right now!

--end scene--

Skye: I demand to know what you two are talking about!
Todd: (feigning innocence) I don't know what she's talking about. Do you, Blair?
Blair: No, I don't have a clue. No.
Todd: Me either.
Skye: I heard you! You know I didn't shoot Max. What kind of a sick monster to make me pay for something that I didn't do?

Blair pretends like she is considering something.

Blair: Todd, maybe we should tell her.
Todd: And spoil all the fun?
Skye: Oh, you sick, contemptable --!

Skye tries to attack Todd, who backs away as Blair intervenes to keep Skye away from him.

Blair: Skye, just stop! Wait! I -- I'll tell you.
Todd: Blair, come on --
Blair: No!
Todd: No, look you say another word --
Blair: Todd, I -- I don't care! I can't take it anymore. (to Skye) I'm going to tell you the truth.

--end scene--

Skye: Well, spit it out, Blair. What's the truth?

Blair looks at Todd.

Blair: The person --
Todd: Blair, don't.
Blair: -- who shot Max was --
Skye: Well, come on, Blair.

Todd shakes his head at Blair, but she ignores him.

Blair: It was the Cummings woman.

Todd reacts in exaggerated anger.

Skye: (in disbelief) Rae Cummings?
Todd: That's great! That's just perfect. You know, if I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times -- you hold on to a secret until you know it can do you the most good!
Blair: I don't care what you're telling me to do, Todd! What do I look like -- your puppet?
Todd: You do -- right now, you got a wooden head!
Blair: Hey, shut up!
Skye: No, wait, hold on!

Skye studies them both for a moment.

Skye: You're lying -- both of you. I don't believe you. One of you shot Max!
Blair: Well, you know what? I don't care whether you believe us or not. We're telling you the truth.
Skye: Well, how come you didn't say something before?

Todd and Blair answer at the same time.

Todd: Because she hates your guts.
Blair: Because I didn't know.
Skye: Well, how do you know now?

Blair looks over at Todd and then looks back at Skye.

Blair: I can't say.
Skye: You can't because it's another lie.
Blair: You know what? I can't believe that you don't believe it. You even thought Rae was a suspect yourself. Plus, she hates your guts.
Skye: Oh, why would she shoot Max? She doesn't have a motive, Blair -- you have the motive!
Blair: (smugly) Rae has a motive.
Todd: Okay, that's enough -- let her figure out the rest on her own. Let's go.

Todd turns to leave, and Skye calls after him.

Skye: No, no, I don't believe you. You're lying.

Todd turns back to face Skye.

Skye: You're just saying this to throw suspicion someplace else.
Todd: Is there one shred of evidence against us?
Skye: Is there one shred of evidence against Rae Cummings?
Blair: Yeah, actually -- there is.

--end scene--

Skye: What proof do you have that Rae shot Max?

Blair looks at Todd, and their hesitation makes her skeptical.

Skye: Just like I thought -- another lie.
Blair: Skye, come on -- use your head here. You saw Rae outside the Mansion yourself, right?

Blair looks back at Todd.

Blair: And do you know why she was there? She and Max had a fight -- a huge fight.
Skye: About what?
Blair: You're so dense! Come on -- don't you get it? Rae has been badgering Max about him being her son.
Skye: All the more reason not to believe that she'd shoot Max -- she'd be shooting the man she thought to be her own child.
Blair: Can you believe her?
Todd: No. Let's go.

Todd turns to go, but Blair stays.

Blair: No -- Rae found out that Max wasn't her child, but she also found out that Max knew who her child was.
Skye: Wait a minute -- I don't understand this.
Blair: Max knew the identity of her child, but he refused to tell her. He tortured her with that. He laughed at her until she cried. He finally threw her out, but she didn't leave. She took one of Asa's guns, and she shot Max in the back.
Skye: How do you know this? I mean, unless you saw it.

Todd acts like he is about to jump in here.

Todd: Okay --

Blair ignores Todd and continues to answer Skye.

Blair: I -- I didn't see it. Starr did.
Skye: (shocked and confused) Starr?

Blair looks back at Todd, who shrugs.

Blair: Yes, Starr saw it all. She was supposed to be at her girlfriend Susie's, but she came back to Asa's house to look for a stupid toy. My little girl has been having nightmares about this.
Todd: There -- are you happy now, huh? That's why we didn't say anything. We didn't want to drag Starr into any of this.
Skye: Well, it's too late. What did Starr say?
Blair: (as if struggling to speak) She said that she saw the spiky-haired lady and that Rae Cummings did it. She is the one that shot Max in the back, and she is the one that has let you rot in jail all this time, Skye.

Todd turns to the door, which John and Rae have just entered through.

Todd: Well, well, well...speak of the spiky-haired devil.

Rae looks expectantly at Skye, who stares at her in disbelief and seems to be trying to figure out how to react.

--end scene--

Unbeknownst to Todd, Blair, and Skye, Rae and John have just come from having a heart-to-heart about how she is hoping to repair things with Skye. Now, Rae clearly sees Skye's presence as an opportunity to do that.

Rae: John, do you think we could ask Skye to join us -- if you don't mind?
John: Not at all.
Rae: Thank you.

Skye approaches them.

John: Skye, Rae and I were wondering if you'd like to join --
Skye: It was you.
Rae: What?
Skye: You tried to have me put away from for life.

Todd and Blair mill around in the background, clearly enjoying the show.

Skye: You tried to make me pay for something that you did! But you're not going to get away with it, you hear me? I'm going to make you pay! I hate you! I despise you! It was her, John! She's the one who shot Max -- Rae Cummings!

Rae is in shock, while Blair plays with her necklace and exchanges a smug smile with Todd.

--end scene--

Todd and Blair watch Skye go after Rae, and they mirror each other by both crossing their arms.

Skye: (to Rae) You did it. You shot Max, and then you set me up!
John: What are you talking about? Rae didn't shoot Max, and you know it!
Skye: There's an eye-witness.
Rae: What? That's impossible!
Blair: It's true.
John: Did Todd and Blair tell you that?
Skye: What difference does it make who told me? She did it!
John: Don't you get it? They're messing with your head! (to Todd and Blair) So what game are the two of you playing now?

Blair feigns an outraged look.

--end scene--

John: So who's this new eye-witness?
Blair: My daughter, Starr.
Rae: Oh --
Blair: She saw the whole thing.
John: Wait a minute, wait a minute -- didn't you, uh, didn't you tell me your daughter Starr was at a sleepover that night?
Blair: Well, she was, John, but she came back to the Mansion at just the wrong time to get a toy. And I would have come to you earlier, but I just found out myself.
Todd: Starr's been totally freaked out -- she's been having all of these nightmares. At least now we know why.
Rae: Well, if she did say that, she's lying.
Blair: Wait a minute -- are you calling my daughter a liar??

Blair advances on Rae as if to beat her up, and John gets between them and gently pushes Blair back away from Rae.

John: Just a second -- it's okay. Listen, I would like to speak to, uh, Starr.
Todd: No way -- not now. She's been traumatized enough. There's no way I'm going to wake her up and have her look at your face.
John: All right, I'll speak to her in the morning then.
Todd: Let's go, Blair.

Todd and Blair start heading toward the door.

John: I'd also like to speak to the two of you tomorrow.
Todd: Great, great, I -- I'll make some coffee, and -- and I'll get some donuts for you.

Rae, John, and Skye stay in the dining room while Todd and Blair head out the door.

Todd: Oh, this is fun!
Blair: What about when John questions Starr tomorrow?
Todd: Oh, tomorrow's tomorrow -- enjoy tonight! Look at this -- three people that we hate are -- are fighting like Larry, Curley, and Mo. It -- it's a beautiful thing, Blair.

Todd looks at Blair meaningfully.

Todd: This is what your life could be -- you and I against the world.
Blair: I think it would be a perfect time to tell Skye that Rae is her mother.
Todd: No, slow down. Never give up today what you could use tomorrow.
Blair: (wryly) "The Book of Todd"?
Todd: No, it's just that -- you know, the night is young, and there's still so much to do before it's over.

Todd and Blair cast lingering looks back into the dining room before leaving.

--end scene--

Asa takes a drink while the phone rings.

Max: I'll get it.

Max answers the phone.

Max: Max Buchanan.

The person on the other end is Todd, who is on his cell phone in the Palace bar...as he talks, he walks over to stand next to Blair, who is gleefully listening to his end of the conversation.

Todd: Hello, this is Todd Manning, owner and publisher of The Sun. I'm calling from the Palace bar, where the police are questioning a new suspect in your shooting. Care to comment?
Max: New suspect? What? Who?
Todd: I'll take that to mean "no comment."

Todd hangs up the phone.

Todd: Max will be here shortly.

Blair laughs happily.

Todd: So who's next?

They look around the bar and see Renee nearby.

Todd: Oh, goody.

Todd gestures for Blair to go before him over to the bar for the next phase of their plan.

--end scene--

When the scene returns, Todd is sitting at a nearby table while Blair goes to see Renee as she is coming out from behind the bar.

Blair: Renee, hi. I -- I really want to talk to you.
Renee: About?
Blair: Well, I guess you know by now that my divorce with Max is going through.
Renee: Yes, I knew things were going in that direction.
Blair: Yeah, I -- I just want to thank you. I know that you never really liked me, but through it all, you were kind to me and, well, even supportive, and -- well, I appreciate that.
Renee: You're welcome.
Blair: And even when things were good with Max, you made me feel like I was really a part of the family.

Renee takes a breath as if she wants to say something here, but Blair hurries on.

Blair: And, um, I'll never forget that.
Renee: Blair, I hope things work out for you.
Blair: Well, you, too. You're a -- you're a very kind person.
Renee: I try.
Blair: And you didn't deserve what Max did to you -- pretending to be your son, breaking your heart like that.
Renee: No, you're right -- I didn't.
Blair: And then keeping you from knowing who your real son is.

Renee looks at Blair in surprise.

Renee: Max doesn't -- does he?
Blair: (looking coy) What if he does?

Over at the table, Todd watches Blair's game with interest.

Renee: Blair, what are you getting at?
Blair: I think maybe Max knows.
Renee: (taking a breath) Knows what?
Blair: Who your real son is.

Todd watches.

--end scene--

Renee: So, Blair, you're telling me that you and Max both know?
Blair: No, no, no, not me -- just Max. He had all those private meetings with that Esther Hoffman woman before she died, and then there's that DNA test --
Renee: The one that you both tampered with.
Blair: No, I -- I never touched the test. And as far as I know, I don't remember Max ever going near it either.
Renee: Ah, well, then how...?
Blair: Well, I don't know. See, Renee, I keep wondering that -- well, maybe Max -- well, he must have had some kind of contact with your real son, and I don't know, gotten some kind of blood sample or something -- something to do the DNA test on. Maybe -- maybe fingernail clippings or something, you know?
Renee: Blair, I have asked Max several times -- he swore he doesn't know.
Blair: Yeah. It was hard for me to believe all the lies that Max told me, too.
Renee: He wouldn't do this to me.
Blair: Well, maybe not. I never thought that he would do the things that he did to me either -- fake brain damage, have an affair, then move Skye into our home.
Renee: I kept his secret for him.
Blair: I know, but you wouldn't have if you had known that he knew who your real son was. Renee, come on -- we both know that Max would do anything to remain Asa's son -- to remain heir to the Buchanan fortune.
Renee: (with realization) Even keeping my real son from me.
Blair: I don't have any hard evidence -- any proof. You know, maybe I shouldn't even have told you.

Todd is watching back at the table as Renee takes all this in.

Renee: No, I'm glad you did, Blair. I needed to know.
Blair: I'm sorry.

Blair makes a big show of hugging a stunned Renee and smiling at her sympathetically. Then, the damage now done, Blair heads back over to Todd's table.

Blair: Well, Todd, I don't think I need that drink after all.
Todd: Whatever you say.

He gestures over to the table where Roseanne and Colin are flirting.

Todd: Did you see? There's Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Psycho.

Todd gives them both a little wave and then leads Blair away from the bar.

Todd: Let's go.

Once they are out of earshot of everyone at the bar, Blair celebrates.

Blair: Ooh! This is so fun!

Todd breaks out into a huge grin seeing how happy she is.

Todd: I'm glad you like it.
Blair: Okay, we've got Max and Skye and everybody else who's hurt me. What about your list?
Todd: Oh, don't worry. Believe me, by the time the evening's through, we'll both get everything we want.

Todd gestures with his arm for Blair to go out ahead of him.

Todd: After you.

Blair walks out of the bar, while Todd has a strange look on his face -- like he's worried he may not be able to get the thing he is hoping to have by the end of the evening, but he's surely going to try.

--end scene--

When the scene returns, T&B are sneaking into Asa's office at the Buchanan Mansion. The room is dark as Todd goes through the door first and motions for Blair to follow him.

Todd: Psst! Come on!

Blair follows into the room, but he stops her.

Todd: Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait -- no. Watch the hall.

Blair looks out in the hallway while Todd goes to Asa's desk and messes with the computer. Blair suddenly rushes into the room, closing the door a bit behind her.

Blair: He's coming!
Todd: He's coming?
Blair: Yeah.

Todd makes a big show of slamming his hands on the keyboard as Blair talks loudly.

Blair: All right, hurry up, Todd! We don't want Asa -- we don't want Asa to walk in on us! Come on! Hurry up!

Asa comes through the door and turns on the light. He is furious to see T&B at his computer. T&B act shocked.

Asa: What in the hell's going on here??
Blair: Asa! Uh, we -- we were --
Asa: You were just breaking and entering! I'm calling security!

Asa goes to grab the phone at his desk while Blair makes a big show of pleading with him.

Blair: Oh, no, no, Asa, please, please, please don't! Maybe we could work something out here.

Asa looks at them both and then puts down the phone.

Asa: Maybe we can.

He sits at his desk and shows her the papers that Max had drawn up earlier for the divorce settlement.

Asa: If you agree not to take anything from Max in this divorce settlement, I will not press charges.
Blair: (reluctantly) It's a deal.
Todd: Blair!

Blair starts to say something to Todd, but Asa interrupts her.

Asa: Now, tell me one thing, both of you -- what the hell are you doing in here?
Todd: Blair, don't!
Blair: No, you -- I'm not going to take any time for this. I'm not doing any time for this. (to Asa) Todd was looking up information on Max to use against him.
Asa: (confused) What information?
Todd: Well, go ahead and tell him now! You opened up your big mouth -- you may as well tell him all of it.
Blair: Oh, it doesn't matter! Max did it to Asa, not you!

Now Asa is really concerned.

Asa: Hold it. What did Max do?
Todd: Nothing.
Blair: Well --
Todd: Never mind. (to Blair) Come on -- let's go. You know, technically you're still married to Max, so he can't press charges --

Todd and Blair head out the door until Asa yells after them.

Asa: Hey, hold it! Hold it right there! What did Max do??
Todd: You know, you haven't even offered me a drink! There is no way I'm telling you how Max scammed you!

Todd and Blair once again head toward the door.

Asa: Get back in here, you two!

Todd and Blair stop and turn back to Asa.

Todd: (to Blair) Okay, you heard that? You heard that! Yeah, that sounds like an invitation to me! You -- you remember that if he tries to press charges for us breaking and entering.

Blair nods at Todd's words as they head out the door, Todd slamming it behind them.

Asa: What the hell did Manning mean...Max is scamming me?

--end scene--

When the scene returns, T&B have returned to Blair's room at the Palace. Blair is giddy, throwing herself on the bed and laughing happily. Todd looks over into the other room in concern.

Todd: Hey, hey, hey, keep it down -- you'll wake up Starr.
Blair: I would give anything to be a fly on the wall right now downstairs. I can only imagine what's going on.

As Blair speaks, viewers see the scene downstairs -- Max is trying to talk to a cold Skye.

Blair's Voice: Max has definitely arrived by now, and he's heard the evidence against Rae. He's not sure whether he believes it. He's trying to speak to Skye, to work the old Max Holden charm.
Todd's Voice: Yeah, and she's not going to buy that, though. No way. She's gonna tell Max Holden to go to hell.
Skye: Go to hell!

Skye turns on her heel and walks out the door, as Max stares after her sadly. The scene then turns toward the Palace restaurant, where a despondent Rae is resting her head on John's shoulder.

Todd's Voice: Then there's Miss Shrink -- probably crying her eyes out on Detective Dodo's shoulders right about now. Boy, a -- a real poster child for the mental-health industry, that one.

John leads Rae away from the restaurant, past Max, who stares after them.

Blair's Voice: But the one I would sign over that divorce settlement to see -- huh! -- is Renee.

Renee approaches Max and begins berating him.

Todd's Voice: (in a high-pitched imitation of Renee) "You lied to me! Tell me the truth! Who's my son??"

As Renee talks to Max, Max looks up and sees Asa enter the room, glaring at him.

Blair's Voice: And then there's Asa.

Back in the room, Blair is laying on the bed, laughing, as Todd is sitting next to her.

Blair: I can't remember the last time that I had a better time. (laughing) It was great!
Todd: No.

Todd gets off the bed and walks around it so that he is on Blair's side of the bed.

Todd: No, we were great.

Todd moves her purse so he can sit down next to her.

Todd: Because we were made for each other.

Blair watches Todd, as he moves closer to her to stare into her eyes.

Todd: You can see that now, can't you?

Blair stares at Todd and says nothing.

--end transcript--