Blair has arrived at the Buchanan Mansion and storms into Asa's study, where Max is waiting for her at the desk.

Blair: All right, I'm here.
Max: Blair! Delighted you could come by. I've come up with a, uh, settlement that I think I can --
Blair: You know, just give it to me, let me read it, let me sign it, and let's get this over with.

Max is surprised.

Max: What's your hurry?
Blair: I'm going to marry Todd.

Max smiles tightly.

--end scene--

Blair is headed back out the door when Max runs after her.

Max: You can't marry Todd!
Blair: (looking triumphant though her back is turned to him) Why not?
Max: Because -- because he's a vampire. He'll never pass the blood test.

Max heads back into the study, and Blair follows him.

Blair: Gee, Max, I, uh, didn't know you cared.
Max: I don't. Just surprised, that's all. You know, you may be crazy, but I never said you were stupid. I can see why Todd would want this to happen, but I just can't see what you get out of it.
Blair: A man who accepts me for who I am -- who doesn't turn on me at the first sight of trouble.
Max: Oh, don't kid yourself. Todd won't wait for the first sign of trouble to turn on you -- he'll do it for pure entertainment value. Count on it.
Blair: It's more than I ever got from you. You know, Max, it was supposed to be you and me against the world. Now, somehow, it's you and me against each other.
Max: Yeah. Whose fault is that?
Blair: Mine. And yours. For months, you publicly humiliated me. You betrayed me behind closed doors, and then when I lashed out in anger, you wouldn't even forgive me!
Max: Yeah, well, maybe I would have, if only --
Blair: What? What, Max? Tell me.
Max: Nothing.
Blair: No, please, tell me. I -- I really want to know.

--end scene--

Max: Forget it, Blair. There's no way to get back to what we were.
Blair: Gee, Max, I thought for a minute there you were going to invite me back into your heart -- since we know that there's a vacancy now that we know that Skye is the one that shot you.
Max: Well, if there were, I would know better than to invite you in.
Blair: I don't want to be there. I found more permanent lodgings.
Max: If you're trying to make me pay for Skye, marrying Todd is one hell of a way to do it.
Blair: It's my life.
Max: It's Starr's, too.
Blair: I think Starr is gonna be very happy living with Todd. He is her father, in case you've forgotten.
Max: And will you be happy raising your child under the same roof as a sociopath?
Blair: Well, I was living here in the mansion -- I was raising Starr under the same roof as a con artist. At least Todd loves her, and he loves me.
Max: Todd doesn't love anyone! He doesn't even love himself. The man is a rapist, a murderer, a psycho! But then, you know that, don't you? You did marry him -- twice! Am I not remembering this? He did hurt you.
Blair: I'm used to that in a marriage.
Max: You think about it. That man, day after day, across the table from you -- next to you on the bed. Is that really the kind of life you want?
Blair: It'll be better than the life I had with you.
Max: Will it? You know what we had. You know how you felt about me. And you truly think your life will be better with Todd?

Blair glares at Max hatefully but doesn't immediately respond.

--end scene--

Blair: Yes, my life will be better with Todd. Anything would be better than you.
Max: You go ahead with this marriage, and you tell yourself that every night and twice on Sundays. And maybe someday you'll actually believe it.
Blair: Come on, Max. You've already made a believer out of me. You know what? I think I'll keep the picture that I have of you in my wallet -- you know, just in case I hit a bad strech of the road with Todd, I'll just take it out and look at it and think about our marriage. Then, suddenly, my life with Todd will seem like the second-best deal I ever made in my life.
Max: And what's the first?
Blair: The divorce settlement I'm about to make with you right now. Half of what you're worth, Buchanan heir, and don't you forget that you wouldn't have any of this if it weren't for me.
Max: I'll tell you what -- how about a little compromise? The clothes on your back and bus fare out of my life.
Blair: You give me what I'm worth, Max, or I will drag you through every court in this country! You hear me?

Neither of them are aware that Todd is lurking outside the study and listening to their conversation.

Max: Are you sure you want to do this? You can still change your mind.
Blair: About the settlement?
Max: About everything.
Blair: You give me a reason why I should. You can't, can you? No one can. Hey, if anybody here can give good reason why this man and this woman should not be ex-wife and ex-husband, please now speak now or forever hold your peace!

Outside the door, Todd smirks.

--end scene--

Blair: Come on, Big Time. I'm waiting. I don't hear anything from the man who has all the answers.
Max: What do you want to hear? That I didn't mean all the things I said? It's all a big mistake?

As Todd listens to this, he looks increasingly nervous, and now, he's ready to interrupt. He barrels into the room.

Todd: Hey, Holden! How's it -- wait a minute, oh, it's Buchanan! That's right. You know, I will never be able to keep all of this straight.

Todd quickly takes his place by Blair's side and they turn to face Max as a team.

Todd: (to Max) Uh, did you pick out a wedding present yet?
Blair: I was just telling Max what I wanted -- a big, fat settlement.
Todd: She registered for it and everything.
Max: I told her I'd fight it. Blair and I will be making each other miserable for years to come.
Todd: Sounds just like being married. (to Blair) Come on, Blair. (to Max) You can keep your money, you can keep your settlement -- Blair doesn't need it.
Blair: Wait, Todd!

But Todd is turning to go and, confused, she goes with him.

Todd: Come on -- let's go. Let's get out of this velvet mausoleum now. I'm gonna show you something that's gonna make you forget this chump -- and his change.

Todd and Blair leave the room, while an angry looking Max goes back to sit at Asa's desk.

--end transcript--