Esme was still in shock. A Trusted Member! She had spent the entire evening wondering what she was doing here, and why Nelle insisted she attend. Then again, Nelle did tell Esme to trust her on more than one occasion, yet somehow it slipped over Esme's head that Nelle was planning to sponsor her, and that had been her plan all along. She felt a great deal of relief, and freedom.
Nelle carried Ace over to the table and placed him back in his carrier, then walked back over to Esme and hugged her again.
Nelle: Thank you for trusting me, Esme!
Esme: And thank you for welcoming me and Ace as trusted members. I feel so much safer with him here than with the Cassadines.
Nelle: I'm so glad. We are Ace's family now. He is in good hands.
*A man walks over to them*
Man: I'm all set.
Nelle: Great. Esme, this is our DJ. Do you feel up for dancing.
*Esme thinks back to her memory*
Mr. Prince: Do you remember what our new rule is?
Young Esme: Yes.
Mr. Prince: Well, what is it then?
Young Esme: *she sighs and rolls her eyes* First we dance, then we eat.
Nelle: Esme?
*Esme did feel like dancing, but not to "Dance of the Sugar Plumb Fairy," as she doesn't think it will jog any new memories*
Esme: Yes, but I'd like to pick a different song, if that's okay.
DJ: If it's okay with Jan, then it's okay with me.
Nelle: Yes it's perfectly okay with me!
DJ: Here's the list of songs I have on the playlist.
*He hands Esme the list. She reads it through and sees a song which she had been listening a lot to during this whole ordeal, which she felt suited the mood.*
Esme: I see you have "I Like It" by Lacuna Coil. Would that one be okay?
DJ: Sure!
*He heads back to the booth*
Nelle: That's a great song!
*She speaks to the crowd*
Nelle: Well, what are we all waiting for? Let us eat, drink, and be merry, and give it up one more time for Esme Prince, who would like to lead us in a dance!
*The music begins. Esme at first tries to do all the ballet moves she remembers, and indeed she remembers quite a lot of them. But this wasn't a ballet song in the slightest, so at her favorite part in the song, she allows herself to let loose, taking her long, flowing hair out of its elegant bun, whipping it around, and moving freely along to the music.*
Lyrics:
I'm free to do what I like
I'm celebrating my life
I'm free to be what I like
I'm celebrating my life
I'm gonna get what I like
Gonna celebrate till I die
I'm celebrating my life...
*Esme notices other members joining in the dance, and when the song is finished, everyone applauds, including Kiki, who for once looks happy, albeit still a bit tense. Esme them makes her way over to the buffet table and fills a plate with food, including generous helpings of mashed potatoes. Then she makes her way back to the table, where both Nelle and Leora are eating, and Ace chewing on his teething ring.*
Nelle: That was amazing Esme! You really are a great dancer!
Esme: Thanks. I needed to dance to something that wouldn't kill the vibe. I don't think I would've been able to remember anything that I haven't already remembered by doing "Dance of the Sugar Plumb Fairy," and I wanted to celebrate!
Nelle: I certainly can understand that. In fact, while I was hoping you'd choose to dance, I was also hoping you'd choose a different song, and had a feeling you might choose that particular song.
Esme: Why was that?
Nelle: To give you the opportunity to say "no" despite me insisting that you do it, without having to worry about facing any sort of negative consequences. You chose to dance because you wanted to dance, not because you felt obligated, and you selected a song that fit your mood, not the song that I was insisting you dance to. And it proves that you remember how controlling your adoptive parents were, as otherwise you might have chosen to do "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" in order to unlock anything that you might not have remembered.
Esme: Well, it worked!
*Leora looks over at Esme's plate.*
Leora: WOW, that's a lot of potatoes!
Esme: *laughs* My adoptive parents hardly allowed me to eat any growing up, and if there's one thing I remember fondly about my childhood, is that I did enjoy the food they had, many of which were family recipes, including the potatoes. And now I remember that I had an uncle who started a catering service using said recipes, and that same service is the one Jan hired for tonight's feast. I'm assuming it's no coincidence that you hired them, right Jan?
Nelle: Maybe I did, or maybe I just looked at various reviews and Ashton's happened to have the best ones.
Esme: Well anyways, it actually wasn't until they got here and began setting up, and I smelled all the delicious food they were bringing out that I remembered the final piece. After the incident where I broke the plate, my adoptive parents would only let me eat if I practiced my dance steps first. "First we dance, then we eat" is what they would say. So, I've danced, now I'm eating!
Nelle: Would you like some white zinfandel?
*She indicates a wine bottle in a bucket of ice on the table*
Esme: Yes please!
*She pours herself a glass.*
Leora: Easy there Esme.
*Esme notices Leann pouring herself what looks like grape juice into her own glass.*
Esme: I know, I know. I just feel happier than I have in a very long time. This occasion marks the beginning of a new era of my life, which will hopefully be much happier than the last. It's a cause for celebration!
Leora: Just don't celebrate too hard. You've got a baby to care for.
Esme: Relax, I'm only having this one glass, and I'll drink it slowly.
Leora: Well, okay. I trust you.
Esme: Speaking of trust, what happens now that I'm a Trusted Member, and I have you as a sponsor?
Nelle: Well, pretty much everything we said in our Pledge. I will be your guide on your journey, and this journey won't always be easy, which is why I will look after Ace for you as you make your way through these obstacles.
Esme: What kind of obstacles are these?
Nelle: That I cannot answer, as there's no way of knowing. Everybody's journey is unique, and like I said, your paths might cross at times, but your journeys will lead each of you to different places.
Esme: When you say 'places' are you referring to actual locations, or states of mind?
Nelle: Both. Look at where you are right now. A beautiful place where, for once, you can enjoy the festivities as much as you want to, while celebrating the beginning of a new chapter in your life, which I'm sure brings you great joy!
Esme: It sure does!
Nelle: Let's have a toast!
*She raises her glass*
Nelle: To our journey!
Everyone: To our journey!
*They clink their glasses.*
Leora: So Esme, are you sure you don't want any potatoes?
*Esme smiles and laughs as she takes a sip of her wine, then digs in.*
Willow was embarking on a journey of her own. The first stop was Nina's place. She brought Amelia and a very reluctant Wiley with her.
Wiley: But I don't wanna see Grandma Nina! She looks like Mommy Nelle!
Willow: Wiley, will you please stop calling her Mommy Nelle? She's not your mommy; I am!
Wiley: Sorry. But what you and Daddy told me about her really scared me!
Willow: We told you about it because at the time we thought it was a good idea. But Daddy was the one who insisted on it. I wanted to wait until you were a little older, as I knew it would be upsetting for you.
Wiley: I'm glad you told me. That way I can be ready for when Mo…Nelle tries to take me again!
Willow: She's not going to take you! I'm going to make sure of it!
Wiley: Okay. But why are we going to Grandma Nina's?
Willow: Because I have something very important that I need to tell her.
Wiley: Can I wait in the car?
Willow: No you can't.
Wiley: Why?
Willow: You already know why; it's not safe. And we're only going to be here for a few minutes.
*They reach Nina's place and Willow knocks at the door. Nina answers. They stare at each other awkwardly for several seconds*
Willow: Hi Mom.
Nina: Hi Willow. What brings you by? I thought you wanted nothing more to do with me and were planning on getting a restraining order against me!
Willow: Yes, I know that's what I said, but I didn't mean it. Can I come in?
*Nina reluctantly lets them come in, with Wiley hiding behind Willow's leg.*
Nina: Hi Wiley!
Wiley: M-Mommy!
Nina: Oh, I'm sorry. Did I say something wrong?
Willow: No, you didn't. Wiley hasn't been the same since we told him about Nelle. He asked to see a picture of her, so we showed it to him. I wish we hadn't. I will admit that you and her look a LOT alike.
Nina: I know, and I wish I had noticed it sooner. If I had, this whole thing probably wouldn't be happening.
Willow: Well, there's no way of really knowing.
Nina: So, why did you say that you were going to get a restraining order against me?
Willow: Because I thought that's what Michael and Carly wanted to hear, after you said that you were going to try to find Nelle.
Nina: Are you sure?
Willow: Okay, in the beginning, when you said there were all these strange things that were happening, and you thought it was a sign that Nelle could still be alive, I refused to believe it. But, then we got actual proof that Nelle wasn't the body that was buried in that grave, and that's when I began to think that there could be a possibility that she's still out there. And I can't fault you for wanting to find her. You feel like you owe it to her to try to be the mother she never had.
Nina: Yes, I do.
Willow: And meanwhile, I feel really bad because even after I found out that Harmony wasn't my biological mother, I still considered her to be my mother. I allowed myself to grieve for her when she died, and, despite her pimping me out to Shiloh, killing Dr. Byrne and his brother in order to prevent anyone from finding out that I wasn't her daughter, and later kidnapping Carly and Alexis intending on killing them as well, I chose her over you. Just to be clear, I'm not forgetting about everything you've done, but you're a better person than Harmony was, and I'm sorry I've been in denial about it.
Nina: You don't have to be sorry. I understand. You were lied to. We all were.
Willow: *sighs* I'm not sure if we will ever get to the point where we have the type of bond that a parent and child should have, if you weren't the one to raise me, but this is a step in the right direction.
Nina: Thank you.
Willow: Now that being said, I can't help but feel like this whole thing with Nelle possibly being alive might still be someone's idea of a joke. It started around Halloween, which is a day notorious for people playing sick pranks. It's true that it got us to exhume the grave and do a DNA test, and we now have proof that Nelle was indeed your daughter and my sister. But that doesn't mean that she's still alive.
Nina: I'm not giving up hope.
Willow: And I'm not trying to force you to do so. But I am worried. I know you wish that Nelle was alive so you could apologize to her for not recognizing that she was her daughter, but honestly, even if she were alive, do you even think she'd be receptive to an apology?
Nina: I certainly hope so. That night, when I went to visit her grave, and I had that vision of her, it seemed like she really had forgiven me for me not recognizing that she was my daughter, but she also seemed like she was hoping I'd be her partner in crime. I keep having to remind myself that it was a hallucination, as when I looked up, you were standing right where she was.
Willow: I know. We've talked about this before. I had a nightmare about her that same evening. It was the second anniversary of her death, so it's understandable that she'd be on our minds. At the same time, it was Nelle as we were imagining her.
Nina: Exactly. For all I know, if Nelle is alive, and I were to apologize to her for not recognizing that she was my daughter, she would be much more receptive to letting me help her, rather than try to make me part of some scheme she's concocting.
Willow: Maybe, but the Nelle I knew wasn't receptive to any of that. She certainly didn't recognize that I was her sister. Her TWIN. I know we're not identical, but even so, twins are supposed to share a special bond that most siblings don't have. Yet Nelle only saw me as the woman who was trying to take her son away from her.
I remember the first time I encountered her was at the hospital. This was back when I still believed that Wiley was my biological son. Nelle was recovering after being stabbed, and she was in a wheelchair. She approached me, gave me this sob story about how she lost her baby, and tried to get me to allow her to hold Wiley. I was already getting bad vibes from her, and luckily Michael intervened because otherwise I would've handed Wiley to Nelle. Now I had known about Nelle from what Michael had told me when we were in that grief support group, but that was the first time I actually saw her. Needless to say, once her cover was blown, Nelle stopped pretending to try and act civil towards me. I knew that she was far from the grieving mother she appeared to be. And I kind of got that impression about Nelle even before I learned that the baby whom I was caring for was her son, and not…
Nina: You don't have to say anything more. I understand how you feel. I know you love Wiley very much and you're the only mother he has known, but I also know how it feels to be robbed of the opportunity to raise a child, and hope they're having a good life, only to later learn they had died.
Willow: At least with Jonah, he died of natural causes. His biological father was a horrible person whom I'm glad is dead, and had I known the type of person who Brad Cooper is, I would've looked for someone else to adopt him. I'm not super religious, but I'd like to think that God called him home, as his life wouldn't have been good. And while I'm currently furious with Michael and am debating whether or not I want to still be with him, he is a good father to his kids. I just wish Carly wasn't in the picture.
Nina: I'm with you on that.
Willow: *Checks her watch* Anyways, I should get going.
Nina: Okay. Where are you going, if you don't mind me asking?
Willow: I'm not sure. I just want to stay somewhere away from Michael and Carly. I've turned my phone off so they can't call me, but I got a prepaid phone. If I give you the number, can I trust you to not give it to anyone, especially Michael?
Nina: Yes, of course.
*Willow writes down the number and gives it to Nina.*
Nina: Thank you.
Willow: Sure. Come on Wiley, let's go.
*Wiley hesitates, then runs to Nina and gives her a hug*
Wiley: I'm sorry I got scared, Grandma Nina.
Nina: You have nothing to be sorry for.
*Wiley runs to Willow and they turn to the door*
Nina: Willow?
*Willow turns around*
Nina: I love you.
*Willow gives her a small smile but doesn't say anything, then walks out with Wiley and Amelia. Once they're gone, Nina sighs, relieved that Willow has decided not to get the restraining order and has given her the phone number, but overwhelmed that she still has a lot of work to do to get Willow to trust her completely.*
After a long, stressful day, Michael decided it was time to confront his mother. He knew she meant well, but he nonetheless felt like her concerns about "Leann" were unwarranted. Even though he had never met Leann, the fact that Willow trusted her made him feel that she was harmless. As for Esme, as long as she stayed far away from Joss and her friends, she wasn't his problem, and was glad that she seemingly was getting help from whatever issues she had, and was glad Leann was with her.
*Michael enters the Greystone Manor through the kitchen door, and sees Carly sitting at the breakfast table*
Carly: Michael! Hi!
Michael: Hi Mom.
*He walks over to the kitchen island and leans against it, staring at the large bowl of moss*
Carly: Everything okay?
Michael: *Sighs* I can't help but feel like we were a little too quick to judge Leann. I mean, I've never even met her! I based everything I knew about her on what Willow told me and, while I would've liked to have met Leann before we agreed to hire her, I can't fault Willow for calling her when she needed someone to look after Wiley while she took Amelia to the hospital.
Carly: Yes, but I've met her. Twice.
Michael: And you said you didn't think anything was amiss with her until you found out that she and Esme Prince knew each other.
Carly: Yes. I assumed she was just a young woman looking to earn a few extra bucks. But seeing this otherwise trustworthy young woman with Esme Prince made me rethink this. Especially since I saw how bad Esme looked. It looked like she was addicted to drugs, and I felt like Leann must've known about it but wasn't trying to get her help for it.
Michael: Okay, well, that doesn't make any sense, because you said that Leann was volunteering with an organization that helps parents from troubled backgrounds. And I asked Willow about it but she couldn't remember the name. It doesn't matter anyway as Leann was just a volunteer.
Carly: Exactly! She could be doing volunteer work and babysitting in order to make herself look good in the eyes of society, but then going out and partying with Esme!
Michael: Okay, well did Leann look like she was on drugs?
Carly: *Sigh* No, she didn't.
Michael: Do you think maybe Esme is seeking out the services of that support group?
Carly: I suppose so.
*She heaves a heavy sigh.*
Carly: I'm so sorry Michael. There are so many things about Esme that remind me of Nelle, especially now that she has a son who's dependent on her, and since she's living in the apartment above my restaurant, I feel a sense of responsibility to protect him. Every time I feel like I'm finally starting to move past everything Nelle did to our entire family, the wounds are ripped open again. And on top of that, I'm grieving for my mom.
*She gives a dry sob*
Carly: My mom was one of the first people who noticed that something was up with Nelle, before the rest of us did. I can only imagine what she'd say about Esme.
Michael: Look, whatever problems Esme might be having are her problems. I feel very confident that Leann is harmless and is actually trying to help Esme.
Carly: You're probably right. But it's too late!
Michael: What? Why?
Carly: Willow's gone.
Michael: WHAT?!
Carly: She said she was taking the kids on a weekend getaway!
Michael: She told me she was just taking them out for a few hours! Did she say where she was going?
Carly: No. In fact, she said she was turning her phone off and that we were not to contact her!
Michael: Oh my god Mom, why didn't you tell me any of this?!
Carly: I know, I should have, it's just with everything going on-
Michael: You know what, I don't even want to hear it!
Carly: Michael, please, listen!
Michael: NO! I'm going to find my wife and kids!
*Before Carly can say anything, Michael has rushed out the door and slammed it. Carly looks over at the moss bowl on the counter, and recalls purposely throwing and breaking her favorite coffee mug, and being upset with Jason for remaining so calm during her meltdown.*
Carly: Oh Jason, I would give anything to have you back! WHY DID YOU HAVE TO DIE?!
Back in Pine Valley, Esme had finished her food and wine, and was feeling happier than she had in a very long time. But she also felt a need to get a break from the festivities for a bit, and have some time to process everything. Just a couple of hours earlier, she had been wondering why she was there, but the fact that Nelle had intended to make her a Trusted Member all along made her feel very glad she chose to trust her.
Esme: I'm going for a little walk.
Leora: In this weather?
Esme: Yeah!
Leora: Okay, do you want me to go with you?
Esme: No thanks, I'll be fine.
Leora: You sure?
Esme: I'm sure. I just need a few minutes by myself, to process everything!
Leora: Well, okay.
*Esme gives both her and Nelle a hug, then walks out through one of the side doors. Leora realizes she forgot her coat, which was hanging on the back of the chair she had been sitting in.
Leora: Wait, you forgot your-
Nelle: Don't worry about it. She's given us her trust, so now its our turn to trust her. If she feels okay with not taking her coat, then we shall leave it here for her to collect once she returns from this first stop on her journey,
*She noticed the worried expression on Leora's face*
Nelle: You okay, Leann?
Leora: I'm fine. Just worried about Esme.
Nelle: Esme will be fine. Trust me.
*Kiki marches over to Nelle*
Kiki: I'd like to talk to you. Away from all the noise.
Nelle: Um, okay. Leann, could you please keep an eye on Ace? I'll be back in a few minutes.
Leora: Sure.
Nelle: Okay.
*Nelle leaves with Kiki, while Leora picks Ace up and holds him on her lap.*
Leora: Please be okay Esme!
*Kiki leads Nelle into a small side chamber.*
Kiki (through gritted teeth): What the HELL?!
The rain was still coming down quite hard, but Esme didn't care. She felt extremely light and free. The rain felt pleasantly cool on her skin. The song she danced to was still playing in her head…
Music: I'm free to do what I like…
*Esme remembers staring at the graves of her adoptive parents, glad that they were finally out of her life. She spits on both their graves.*
Music: I'm celebrating my life…
*She remembers moving in with Maggie, the only person who, at the time she felt genuinely cared about her*
Music: I'm gonna get what I like…
*She remembers meeting Ryan in person for the first time, hearing him tell her she can call him "Daddy" which meant a lot to her, and him promising her a better life despite the obstacle of him being in prison*
Music: Gonna celebrate till I die…
*She remembers arriving at Ecole Internationale De Chatel in France, and meeting Spence for the first time, and even though she had ulterior motives for getting to know him, she thought he was cute, and therefore it would make everything she had set out to do easier. Many more memories keep flowing back to Esme as the rain came down hard on her; some are good, others are bad, and a lot of them are so mundane that she was surprised that she even remembered them*
And then it happened…
Her head suddenly gave an intense throb, and she snapped back to the present. She felt the cold rain on her skin, and knew she had to get somewhere dry. She saw a building in the distance, and felt that she would be safe there, so she walked towards it. More memories began playing in her head, and she felt increasingly intense throbs. Her vision was clouded as she made her way to the building, and was no longer sure what was real and wasn't. Finally, she reached the building and entered, and felt the welcome relief from the cold rain. Her vision cleared, and she realized where she was; the Wildwind Mausoleum.
The place gave her the creeps, but it was at least out of the rain. There was a large stone vault in the center of the room, and plaques on the far wall, no doubt concealing crypts. She looked at them and recognized some of the names:
· Dimitri Yakov Marick (February 18, 1954 – August 23, 2021)
· Edmund Grey (October 23, 1957– March 1, 2005),
· Gillian Maria Eugenia Andrassy (April 3, 1974 – June 25, 2001)
She noticed a hole in the wall where one of the plaques should have been, then saw a plaque on the floor, leaning against the wall. She looked at the name; Maria Santos-Grey (November 27, 1967 - August 12, 1997). She noticed a crowbar in a corner of the room, and concluded that the plaque must have been ripped from the wall. The hole in the wall appeared to be empty. Did somebody steal the body?
Curiosity got the better of her. Slowly, she made her way over to the hole in the wall and was about to look through it to see if there was anything on the other side, when suddenly she heard a faint voice mumbling, but the sound of the storm outside made it impossible to hear what the person was saying. She then heard a much louder voice yell "QUIET!" Who were these voices? Were they real, or was she hearing things?
Her head suddenly gave another throb, and she felt weak and dizzy. The room dissolved as she fell backwards; the last thing she felt was her head smacking against the side of the vault.
FLASHBACK (January 14, 2021):
*Esme, disguised as an orderly, quietly makes her way through the halls of Spring Ridge Prison, a stolen key card in hand. Checking to make sure the coast is clear, she walks up to the door of Ryan's cell, holds the card up to the sensor, and enters.*
Ryan: Esme! What a lovely surprise!
Esme: What do you mean, Daddy? I heard you had been attacked, and I've been worried sick. When I heard that they had you sent here, I had to see for myself that you were okay!
Ryan: Well I'm doing even better now that I'm laying eyes on my beautiful daughter!
Esme: Oh, Daddy!
Ryan: *grabs her arm* Normally I would scold you for not visiting me more often!
Esme: Ow, Daddy, you're hurting me!
Ryan: *lets go of her arm* However, due to both of our situations, I'll let it slide.
Esme: *rubbing her arm* I'm sorry Daddy. I'll try and visit you more often. It's just school is so demanding, now that I'm a senior.
Ryan: It's fine. In fact, unfortunately I can't have you sneaking in here to visit me too often. You see, they moved me here from Pentonville because, due me literally being stabbed in the back by a fellow inmate, I developed locked-in syndrome.
Esme: What's that?
Ryan: It's a condition where a person is almost completely paralyzed aside from their eyes, which they must rely on in order to communicate.
Esme: Oh my god! That sounds awful! Did you actually have locked-in syndrome?
Ryan: Initially, yes, I did. But I recovered fairly quickly. However, I realized that if I were to continue acting as if I still had it, they no doubt would move me to a less restrictive facility. And, well, that's exactly what happened! The difference between here and Pentonville is like night and day. The cells are cleaner, the food is better, and the activities are a lot more fun. I do get a bit jealous because even though they do take me into the Day Room, I can't do anything other than sit and watch. But still, it's a big improvement. Of course, knowing that I'll soon be getting out of here is what keeps me going.
Esme: I'm doing my best to make that happen, Daddy. Once Spence and I graduate, we'll be relocating back to Port Charles.
Ryan: Where is Spence anyway?
Esme: Still in France, at school. We literally just returned from winter break. He doesn't know I'm here. I told him and the school staff that Maggie was sick and I needed to go see her, which of course isn't true, seeing as how she's now working at a pub in Devon.
Ryan: Shame. I was looking forward to finally meeting my potential future son-in-law.
Esme: *laughs* Well, as much as I'd love to one day marry Spence, I don't think we should plan too far ahead.
Ryan: No we shouldn't. We need to proceed carefully. Which is why, as much as I'd love to continue our little visit, I think we should probably say goodbye for now. It's only a matter of time before they start doing their rounds, and if they look through the window and see me talking to you, they're immediately going to see that I don't actually have locked-in syndrome.
Esme: There must be some way I can still see you, even if I can't actually talk to you.
Ryan: As a matter of fact, there are ways in which one can communicate with a person with locked-in syndrome. The one I use involves blinking ones eyes in various sequences, as well as using a communication chart. They're quite time-consuming and take a LOT of getting used to, and in fact there have been a few near-misses, but I'm slowly getting the hang of it.
Esme: I'll try and see if I can learn how to do it.
Ryan: That's my girl. You're very resourceful, so even if you aren't able to communicate with me in the ways I mentioned, I'm sure you'll think of something.
Esme: You know I will.
*Ryan slowly stands up from his wheelchair and strokes his daughter's hair with his one hand*
Ryan: There was actually a young woman in Pentonville who reminded me so much of you.
Esme: Really now?
Ryan: Yes. She's a bit older than you, but she had the same resourcefulness that you have, and she never let anything or anyone stand in her way. Unfortunately, people eventually began to see through her façade, hence why she ultimately was sent to Pentonville. The two of us bonded over us both having our kidneys stolen against our will, and we discovered that we had a lot more in common.
Esme: She sounds interesting! Maybe I could meet her sometime?
Ryan: Well, that will be difficult to do, seeing as how most of Port Charles thinks she's dead, after she fell off of a cliff. I, in fact, am the only person who knows that she's still alive, and I only found that out fairly recently.
Esme: What's her name?
Ryan: Her name is Janelle Benson. But she goes by Nelle.
*Ryan reaches into his pocket and pulls out a crinkled, wallet-sized photo and hands it to Esme. The woman in the photo appears to be a bit older than she is but still quite young, with long, strawberry-blonde hair.*
Esme: Oh my god, she even looks sort of like me!
Ryan: Indeed! I think the two of you really seem like you could be sisters.
Kiki (to Nelle): I wanted to throw up when I saw all those sponsors singing your praises. I'm one of the only ones who knows the real you!
Nelle: And how well exactly do you know me, Kiki?
Kiki: I know you well enough to know that you're the exact opposite of the woman you clam to be. You're an-
Nelle: An evil, murderous psychopath. You've told me that countless times, and so has nearly everyone else who has crossed my path, You know, part of me believes that you're just going along with what everybody else says, because you're too scared to go against the mainstream and open your mind, and actually get to know your sister. If you had, you would've gotten to see that there is so much more to me. You would've gotten a better understanding regarding the reasons for what I did. You would've realized that "good" and "bad" are matters of opinion, not facts. But you refused to do that, and hence, I've moved on. I found another, better sister; Esme Prince!
Kiki: And exactly where is Esme? Because she certainly isn't here.
Nelle: She'll be back. She just went for a little walk.
Kiki: A walk? In this weather?
Nelle: Believe it or not, a walk in the rain can be very therapeutic, especially as she begins the next chapter of her life. The last of any negativity in her life, any lingering doubts, or fears, are being washed away. I can only imagine how blissful she must be feeling right now.
Kiki: As if you'd know anything about that.
*The man with the tattoos on his arm runs up to them*
Nelle: Why hello, Dr. Jason Quartermaine! How nice of you to join us! There's still plenty of food, wine, and-
Jason: Esme's in trouble!
Nelle: What kind of trouble? *Her expression immediately changes from smug to worried*
Jason: Just follow me!
*Nelle, now looking frantic, follows Jason to the mausoleum, and sees Esme lying unconscious on the floor*
Nelle: Oh my god, what happened?!
Jason: I don't know. I heard somebody coming in, so I went to see who it was, and found her lying here.
*Nelle notices a dark liquid slowly oozing from underneath Esme's hair*
Nelle: Is that…?
*She touches the back of Esme's head, then looks at her fingers. They are covered in blood!*
Jason: She must've hit her head when she fell.
Nelle: Why did she fall?!
Jason: I don't know!
Nelle: Well do something!
Jason: I can't.
Nelle: What do you mean you can't?! You're a doctor, right?! DO SOMETHING!
Jason: She needs to go to the hospital!
Nelle: Alright, well then get her to the clinic!
Jason: No! She needs to go to the hospital, in an ambulance! Call 911!
Nelle: We can't do that!
Jason: Jan, if you don't call 911 and get Esme to the hospital, she's going to die!
*Kiki walks into the room*
Kiki: You should listen to him! If you don't want your newfound "sister" to die, then CALL 911!
Nelle: NO!
Kiki: NELLE, either YOU call 911 and get an ambulance out here, or I'll call 911 and get an ambulance AND the police, and have you finally locked up like you should've been ages ago!
*Nelle looks at Esme lying motionless on the ground, then takes out her phone and makes the call*
Nelle: Yes, I-I need an ambulance over at 3900 Glenview Road! A woman has fainted! I-No, I didn't see her faint! She's b-bleeding! It looks like she hit her head!
*She looks at Jason*
Nelle: Is she breathing?! Does she have a pulse?!
*Jason checks her pulse and nods.*
Nelle: Yes.
*The operator tells Nelle that the ambulance will take a while to get there, since Wildwind is located on the outskirts. While they're waiting, Leora enters the mausoleum.*
Leora: OH MY GOD! ESME?! What happened?
Nelle: I-I d-d-don't know! W-we found her like this!
Leora: OH NO! THIS IS ALL MY FAULT!
Nelle: W-why?
Leora: I had a feeling that Esme might have been getting addicted to that medication Dr. Kinder prescribed for her headaches!
Nelle: WHAT?!
Leora: And I was in denial about it because it looked like the drugs were helping her get her memory back! I didn't realize how bad it was until after that valet guy told us his concerns!
Jason: Wait, did you say Dr. Kinder?
Leora: Yes.
Jason: JONATHAN Kinder?
Nelle: Why?
Jason: That man had his medical license revoked decades ago! And he was also arrested!
Nelle: Oh my god, I had no idea!
Leora: I'm sorry, what did you say this guy's name was? Jonathan Kinder? Was he the director of the-
Kiki: Look, we can worry about all of this LATER, okay?! What's important is that Esme gets to the hospital!
*They hear the sirens of the ambulance growing louder as it approaches. Soon, the paramedics arrive, load Esme onto a gurney, and take her away.*
Nelle: I'll ride along with her!
*She tries to follow the paramedics to the ambulance, but Kiki stops her.*
Kiki: No, I will ride along with her, because I'm a nurse. You're going to stay here and clean up this mess…
*She looks at the floor, stained red with Esme's blood from where she hit her head*
Kiki: Literally and figuratively.
*Kiki walks out, with Jason following behind her*
Leora: Jan?
Nelle: *sobbing* What?
Leora: Did you know, about the drugs Esme was taking? Or about Dr. Kinder's license being revoked?
Nelle: Not in d-detail. I have known Dr. K-Kinder for a f-few years now. I had been seeing him for treatment for my b-back pain. I r-recommended him to Esme because she s-said she was having headaches, and I k-knew some stuff about the d-drug, including that it could help with m-memory loss, but…
Leora: Yes?
Nelle: I h-had no idea that's what he was g-giving Esme for her headaches! Or that she was taking so m-much! Do you know how m-much she was taking?
Leora: For the last couple of days, two milligrams per day!
Nelle: ARE YOU SERIOUS!
Leora: I didn't know how bad it was until earlier today, when I looked it up!
*Nelle sits silently with her head in her hands*
Leora: Please don't be mad at me!
Nelle: No, I'm not mad at you! I'm mad at Kinder, because I TRUSTED HIM! And I'm mad at myself for doing so. No, Leann, I'm very grateful that you've been such a good friend to Esme.
Leora: *sigh* Thank you.
Nelle: Could you please do me a favor though and go to the hospital, and let me know?
Leora: Of course. I was going to go anyway. I'm just as worried about Esme as you are. And I'm mad at myself for not doing more to stop her from taking so much! She kept saying that she was worried about vomiting, and I should've stopped her right there.
Nelle: You didn't know.
Leora: I should have though. I'm seriously thinking about becoming a nurse, and I should've recognized the signs.
Nelle: Look, please don't beat yourself up, and make sure Esme's okay!
Leora: Aren't you going too?
Nelle: Yes, but first I need to tell everyone that the party is over.
Leora: Okay.
*The two of them share an emotional hug, then Leora walks to her car.*
Leora: *crying* I'm so sorry Esme! I should've known!
*Nelle steps out of the mausoleum into the pouring rain, and stamps her foot in anger, feeling her high heel sink into the muddy ground*
Nelle: Damn you Kinder! You killed my sister! I TRUSTED you, and you KILLED MY SISTER!*
*She looks up at the sky.*
Nelle: I KILLED MY SISTER!
She knelt down and sobbed as the rain poured down onto her, soaking her to the bone.