INT. MANNING ENTERPRISES, PORT CHARLES, NEW YORK – NIGHT
TODD MANNING sits behind his desk, quietly working on some paperwork.
Todd's daughter, STARR, steps into the office.
STARR
(With a smile)
Merry Christmas, dad.
TODD
(Without looking up from his work)
Bah-Humbug
Starr walks over to her father's desk and sits a gift bag down.
STARR
Oh come on, dad. It's the night before Christmas Eve. Get a little Christmas spirit. I figured I'd drop off your gift before I leave for Llanview.
TODD
(Looking up at Starr)
Yeah, explain to me again why you're going to spend Christmas with those people…
STARR
Because they're my family and I love them! Besides, Aunt Dorian is coming in and all the Cramer women are going to be there.
TODD
(Sarcastically)
Oh, joy. Now I'm really glad I'm not going.
STARR
You know, I'm sure Aunt Viki would love to see you.
TODD
Your Aunt Viki hasn't spoken to me since I killed that despicable brother of mine.
STARR
She's forgiven you for worse. You know, I talked to her on the phone the other day and she asked how you were doing.
TODD
She did?
STARR
Yes, of course she did. It's Aunt Viki. She can't possibly hold a grudge; especially not against you. So come on, what do you say? Will you come with me? There's still time. I'm not leaving for another thirty minutes.
TODD
No, I think I'll pass. I couldn't stand to look at your mother and Tea … not … not after what I've done to both of them.
INT. DELGADO RESIDENCE, LLANVIEW, PENNSYLVANIA – CONTINUOUS
TEA stands, decorating the Christmas tree. Suddenly, the doorbell rings and she runs to answer it.
She opens the door and there stands BLAIR CRAMER, JACK MANNING, and SAM MANNING, all holding gifts.
SAM
Merry Christmas!
INT. OFFICE, UNDISCLOSED LOCATION – CONTINUOUS
AGENT BAKER sits behind a desk and looks at a file with a picture of Victor Lord, Jr. on it. He then pulls out files with pictures of Tomas Delgado and Lorenzo Alcazar.
BAKER
(Sighing)
Oh, what a mess you've gotten yourself into this time, Baker.
AGENT SMITH enters the office.
BAKER
Smith, what do you want?
SMITH
Sir, the woman you requested is here.
BAKER
Send her in.
SMITH
(Yelling)
Send her in, boys!
Two agents enter the room and with them is none other than Allison Perkins.
INT. BO BUCHANAN'S OFFICE, LPD, LLANVIEW, PENNSYLVANIA – CONTINUOUS
BO is on the phone with his wife, Nora.
BO
Yeah, I'll be home a little late. We might have a lead on this new case.
(pause)
Yeah, I love you too … Yeah, save me some of that eggnog.
Bo smiles and hangs up the phone just as Detective Price walks in.
BO
Price, my man … Bring me some good news. Tell me we've got something new.
PRICE
Oh, we've got something new alright. On several things.
INT. MANNING ENTERPRISES, PORT CHARLES, NEW YORK – CONTINUOUS
STARR
Oh come on, dad. You have to come back with me. It's just for a few days. You can see Aunt Viki, little Sam … I'm sure Sam would love to see you.
TODD
That kid's the only one in Llanview that doesn't hate my guts.
STARR
You know that's not true, dad. I already told you Aunt Viki is worried about you and you know mom still cares about you. You just have to give her time like always.
TODD
Yeah, I don't think she's going to come around so easily this time…
INT. DELGADO RESIDENCE – CONTNUOUS
TEA
Well Merry Christmas to you too, Sam!
Come on in, everyone.
Blair, Jack, and Sam all enter the house.
TEA
So what brings you all over here?
BLAIR
Well, we just wanted to drop these gifts by. And we were also hoping we could see Dani. Has she gotten home yet?
TEA
Well, thank you. And no … Danielle was supposed to be in earlier this afternoon but she was stuck in the airport because of snow. She should be here some time tomorrow. When's Starr coming in?
BLAIR
She's going to be here sometime tomorrow too. I'm sure those two girls will be anxious to see one another.
TEA
So, how's school been going, Jack?
JACK
Eh, okay I guess…
BLAIR
Aren't you going to tell Tea about what happened the other night?
JACK
What are you talking about?
BLAIR
(Looking at Tea)
Jack went out on a date last Friday night.
TEA
Ooh … Who's the lucky gal?
BLAIR
It's that Neela Patel girl. You know, Vimal's little sister? She's such a sweetheart. Jack took her to the big school dance they had.
TEA
Well, congratulations, Jack. You know, your Uncle Victor would be very proud of you. Gosh … I still can't believe this will be the second Christmas without him … It doesn't seem like it should be right …
BLAIR
(Brushing her son's hair with her hand)
Yes, we all miss Victor.
INT. OFFICE, UNDISCLOSED LOCATION – CONTINUOUS
Baker stands up and walks around to the front of his desk to face Allison.
BAKER
(To Smith and the other agents)
That'll be all boys. I'll take it from here.
Smith and the other agents exit, and the door closes behind them.
BAKER
Well, well … Mrs. Perkins … It appears as though we meet again.
ALLISON
Yes. It appears that way.
BAKER
So you do understand why you're here, right?
ALLISON
I'm not giving you what you want until you give me what I want. And I believe we're both clear and what we want.
BAKER
Oh, on the contrary, Mrs. Perkins. Now I know what I want and you know what you want; and the agency is fully willing to cooperate with your demands. We just have to see that you have our client and that he is … fully in tact …
ALLISON
I can assure you that the client is perfectly fine.
BAKER
I want you to take me to him.
INT. BO BUCHANAN'S OFFICE, LPD, LLANVIEW, PENNSYLVANIA – CONTINUOUS
PRICE
We've definitely got something new, Commissioner. We've got something new on several cases.
BO
What are you talking about, Price?
PRICE
Well sir, we've got something on the Delgado case. But we've also got something new on a case that's been closed for quite some time.
BO
And what case would that be?
PRICE
The Victor Lord, Jr. murder case, sir…