MISSING SCENE 2: Talking About Grandmother

Description: Once again, set in July 2004. Ned and Dillon talk about their grandmother, Lila, after her death.

After comforting his mother, Dillon exited her room. "That went well, right?" he asked himself. He secretly wished all of his conversations with his mother could go that well. It upset him that it took a death in the family to achieve such civility.

After walking back down the hall, and down the stairs, Dillon entered the den. Ned was on the sofa. He wasn't reading. He wasn't drinking anything. He was just there.

"Uh, Ned?" Dillon asked confused.

"Hey!" Ned exclaimed, trying to cover up his sadness. "You're still here. I'd figure you'd be back at the Haunted Star by now."

"I, um, thought it'd be best to spend the night with the family. I, um, just talked to Mom."

"How is she?" Ned wondered aloud.

"As well as expected, I guess. I've seen her cry before but never like this. Do you think she'll be all right?"

"Oh yeah," Ned agreed. "Our mother is Tracy Quartermaine. She can survive anything."

Dillon chuckled quietly.

Ned changed his tone of voice, "Do you remember Grandmother from when you were younger?"

Dillon responded, "Hardly. I wish I spent more time with her when I moved in."

"Don't take it out on yourself. No teenage boy wants to spend time with his grandmother."

"Yeah, I just don't know. She was like this amazing lady, and I never really got to know her."

"She was amazing," Ned agreed. "I loved her so much, and now…Now, she's gone," he became upset again.

"Ned, I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything," Ned told him.

Dillon was at a loss of words. Has he EVER seen his brother cry? With nothing else to do, Dillon put a hand on Ned's shoulder.

"I'm sorry," Dillon whispered. "I'm so sorry."