INT. BED & BREAKFAST - DAY

SYDNEY sits on the floor of the family room playing trucks with NICHOLAS, as PETE sits on the couch working on homework.

After a moment, Nicholas stops playing and looks around the room. Looking at Syd he asks...

NICHOLAS
Mama?

On the couch, Pete chuckles.

PETE
Wow, it took him a whole twenty minutes this time to realize she was gone. That's a record.

SYDNEY
(to Nicholas)
Oh sweety, Mommy went to work...

NICHOLAS starts crying.

NICHOLAS
Mama?

Sydney looks frazzled - unsure of what to do now but Pete remains calm. Without looking up from his home work he informs his brother...

PETE
Nicky, daddy will be home in a few minutes. You're fine!

Nicholas starts crying harder.

SYDNEY
Oh, that helped.

Pete sighs and throws his book down on the couch beside him. Picking up a nearby remote, he clicks on the TV and starts surfing the channels.

PETE
OK, let's see what we got here.

He flips to a channel that has "Sponge Bob Square Pants" on and stops.

PETE
Oh Nicky! Nicky! Look! Sponge Bob!

Nicholas magically stops fussing and turns his attention to the TV.

Pete gets up off the couch and starts playfully dancing around singing...

PETE
"Who live in a pineapple under the sea? SPONGE BOB SQUARE PANTS! Absorbent, and yellow, and pores is he! SPONGE BOB SQUARE PANTS!

Nicholas giggles as Pete dances around, then turns his attention to the TV.

SYDNEY
(to Pete)
He actually likes this?

PETE
(settling back down on the couch)
Oh yeah! He loves it.
(looking at his watch)
And we're in luck. It looks like it just started so Robbie and Owen have 30 minutes to get back here.

SYDNEY
And if they don't?

PETE
Then we revert to plan B.

SYDNEY
What's plan B?

PETE
I don't know. Ask me in 30 minutes.

No sooner does he say that, does ROBBIE storms through the front door. He looks furious and swings and the door wildly behind him. It nearly slams right into OWEN who puts his hands up just in time to stop it from hitting him.

Robbie doesn't even acknowledge Sydney or his children in the living room but instead heads toward the kitchen.

Owen follows closely behind yelling...

OWEN
Robbie! Hold up a sec!

Sydney turns and looks at Pete who shares her look of concern.

PETE
I guess things didn't go so great at the police station.

SYDNEY
Yeah. Listen, keep and eye on your brother OK?

Sydney hurries out of the room toward the kitchen where Robbie and Owen can be heard yelling at each other.

INT KITCHEN

Owen is standing in the middle of the kitchen as Robbie paces furiously around the kitchen table.

Sydney enters.

OWEN
Robbie! Just calm down for a minute!

ROBBIE
(still pacing)
Calm down! Why should I calm down? You are supposed to be my lawyer!

SYDNEY
Guys? What's going on?

Ignoring Syd, Robbie continues...

ROBBIE
No! You know what? Screw that! You are suppose to be my brother!

OWEN
(trying to remain calm)
I am. Which is why I am trying to help you here!

ROBBIE
Help me! Help me! Is that what you call what you are doing? Helping me?
You don't even believe me!

SYDNEY
(sternly)
Robbie, lower your voice. You're going to scare the kids!
(to Owen)
Will you please tell me what's going on here?

Owen opens his mouth to respond but is cut off by Robbie.

ROBBIE
Go ahead Owen - TELL HER! Tell your wife how you chose to believe the Providence PD over your own brother-in-law!

SYDNEY
What's he talking about?

ROBBIE
You see, the police have this crazy idea that I was SO desperate for money that I staged that hole robbery at O'Neill's for a cut of money. And you husband here seems to agree with them!

OWEN
(defensively)
Robbie, I NEVER said that!

ROBBIE
Oh, you didn't have to! I got the message loud and clear from your little lecture on the car ride home!

Sydney turns and steps in front of Owen. Angrily, she asks...

SYDNEY
Lecture? What are you lecturing him for?

Frustrated, and not in the mood to deal with his wife at the moment, Owen brushes by her and approaches Robbie.

OWEN
I am just trying to help you! But I can't do that if you aren't being straight with me!

ROBBIE
I don't want your help! In fact, maybe I should find a lawyer who actually listens to me and believes me!

Robbie storms out of the room, leaving Syd and Owen standing there in silence.

After taking a moment to calm himself down, Owen turns to Syd and jokingly adds...

OWEN
And to think there was a time when I actually thought having a younger brother would be fun!

Syd is clearly un-amused.

SYDNEY
Is that supposed to be funny?

OWEN
Oh Syd, don't worry about it. He's just pissed right now. He'll calm down and then I'll talk to him again.

SYDNEY
(angry)
Of course he's pissed! You accuse him of being a liar! How could you do that? WHY would you do that?

OWEN
Because he's not being straight with me Syd! He's hiding something and I can't help him until I know what it is.

SYDNEY
Don't be ridiculous! He's not hiding anything from you! Why would he do that?

OWEN
(yelling)
If I knew that then we wouldn't be having this conversation right now! Would we?

Taking a breath, Owen add...

OWEN
Look, I am tired of fighting. OK. I'm gonna...I'm gonna go lay down.

SYDNEY
Fine! You do that! I'm going to St. Claires!

She starts to head for the door.

OWEN
(sarcastic)
Oh great! That means you'll be in and even better mood when you get back!

Syd turns back!

SYDNEY
What's that suppose to mean! I'm going to visit Izzy and Patrice. Do you have a problem with that?

OWEN
No. Not at all. I just don't see why you have to see them at St. Claire's. You know how homesick you've been for that place. It's just going to make you more miserable. So why don't you meet them at a restaurant or something.

SYDNEY
Because I want to meet them at St. Claires.
(shaking her head)
I'm not going to have this conversation with you right now. I'm leaving!

She head out of the kitchen toward the front hall. Without looking back she adds...

SYDNEY
We're meeting Joanie and Leo for Dinner at Mario's at 5:00. I'll meet you there!