Chapter 65
Early morning at the Buchanan Mansion
Dorian and Nash are in the dining area.

Dorian: Have you eaten?
Nash: Yeah, well, I grabbed a bite, before--earlier.
Dorian (leans forward): You don’t know whether you’ve eaten or are you trying to find a way to humor me and be polite?
Nash (grins): You caught me in sort of a fib. I didn’t eat. I don’t like breakfast.
Dorian: Well, (Dorian begins to prepare him a plate of food.) if I had raised you (She pauses to look at him.) I would have made sure you had a healthy meal. (She continues preparing food.)
Nash: Your chef.
Dorian: What?
Nash: I just mean that you would have had your cook prepare something.
Dorian (smiles): Probably.
Nash: You’re gonna make me eat?
Dorian (presents food-loaded plate): I won’t force you to eat this of course. But may I entice you? (Dorian grins)
Nash (shrugs): All right. (He sits down. Dorian places the plate of food on the table in front of him. She looks pleased with herself and sighs.)
Dorian (sits in front of him.) Are you OK?
Nash(drinks orange juice): Yeah, well, maybe. (Coughs.) I mean, sorta. I mean yeah.
Dorian: You sound unsure? (Nash stares.) I am out of line. I’m sorry.
Nash: It's all right.
Dorian: I had no right to pry. There was just this look.
Nash: A look? What look?
Dorian: Nothing. I'm sorry.
Nash (eats and then pauses.): No. I'm sorry. You can ask me anything.
Dorian: Some... people accuse me of meddling.
Nash: I've heard that.
Dorian: And that would bother you.
Nash: Not really.
Dorian: Oh really? Maybe it's just my girls.
Nash: Or maybe it's just that I'm not related to you. (grins)
Dorian: That must be it. (She smiles back at him) All right then. Are you going to tell me what that look in your eyes is about or am I to assume that it has something to do with Jessica or perhaps your baby?
Nash: You got all that from a look? (Bites into toast. Looks curiously at Dorian.) Do you always read people so easily? You are very talented.
Dorian: Why thank you and some more than others. How’s the food?
Nash. Excellente!
Dorian: I'll inform cook. Good. So it's neither Jessica nor Clinton. Your mother, perhaps?
Nash (drinks orange juice. Looks more upset.): Maybe.
Dorian: Well she's not your mother, Nash!
Nash: Huh?
Dorian: I mean. I don't know what I mean.
Nash: You're right. She's not biologically, but she is the only mother I've ever known. Besides which, we don't get to choose our parents, do we?
Dorian: No. I am sure your mother loves you. You believe that don't you?
Nash: I am sure Echo loves me in her own way. It's just that she has left for parts unknown.
Dorian (mutters): I'm not surprised.
Nash: What?
Dorian: So was it a surprise or expected that she would leave?
Nash: Let's just call it a necessity.
Dorian: Or something that you're used to. You couldn't depend on your mother--Echo, when you needed her.
Nash: I didn't say that.
Dorian: Are you ever curious about your real mother?
Nash (drops fork, wipes mouth with cloth napkin): Wait how did we get on this subject?
Dorian: I asked.
Nash: Why should I care about her? She didn't care about me!
Dorian (looks upset and then catches herself): You feel rejection but, don't you think. There is no defense. I'm sorry.
Nash: Why should you be sorry anything? You know you apologized before when I was in the hospital and you came to visit me and we talked about my childhood. Why? Why would you keep apologizing to me because I had a biological mother who gave me away?
Dorian pauses.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Buchanan Enterprises

Duke pulls Mark into the copy room. Duke asks, "Why are you avoiding me?"
Mark: I'm not!
Duke: You're not? (He bangs his fist against the wall.)
Mark: The hell? Calm down!
Duke (turns with an angry look): I got you hired here and I can get you fired!
Mark (chuckles): Is that a threat?
Duke: A promise.
Mark: No it's sexual harassment!
Duke: What are you saying? (Looks hurt)
Mark: You're not as dumb as you look.
Duke (stunned expression): You used me!
Mark: We used each other. It felt good for both of us.
Duke: You're blackmailing me? What do you want?
Mark: Nothing--yet.
Duke (stares): I thought, well, I guess I was a fool to think about anything. I tried not to think. Was it all a lie?
Mark: I've gotta go. (turns to leave, walks away.)
Duke: I fell in love with you.
Mark stops and then walks out the door.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clint's Office.

Clint's back is turned to the visitor who enters. He has a file in his hand with Miles Laurence's picture. Clint is staring out of the window of his office, which is on the top floor of the skyrise that overlooks downtown Llanview.

Bo: Big brother.
Cilnt: BO. Whaddya doin' here this early in the morning? (Walks over to him and gives him a hug.) Glad to see ya! (Pats his back. Pours coffee and gives his brother a cup before returning to his seat behind his desk.)
Bo (as he sits across from Clint): So you don't mind me stopping by here unannounced? (Drinks his coffee.)
Clint: It's not that. It's more I don't know how much time I can give you. I have an important meeting.
Bo: Miles Laurence. (Places coffee cup on the desk and sits back in his chair with a pensive look.)
Clint (sighs): Was it Kevin or Cord who called ya?
Bo: Doesn't matter.
Clint: That's right, my EX was at the Palace. Lindsay told ya. She should mind her own damn business. Then again we're talking about Lindsay!
Bo: There were a lot of people at the Palace last night, including Echo DiSavoy.
Clint: Are you trying to ruin my morning all together here Bo?
Bo: No, no, no big brother. (pauses) Let's just say that Miss DiSavoy high tailed it outta town earlier this morning.
Clint: Piece of work!
Bo: Is that all ya got to say about it?
Clint: You're fishing for more?
Bo: I'm trying to help if you'll let me.
Clint: I know. I'm not ready to talk about it just yet Bo. But I will when the time is right.
Bo: That's fair. I guess my immediate concern is Laurence. Is this guy going to make it outta this business meeting alive?
Clint: What the hell do you think, Bo?
Bo: Calm down, Clint!
Clint: Well, I'm not going to kill him if that's what you think!
Bo: Don't get pissed at me for looking out for ya.
Clint: I'm not angry with you Bo. I am angry at that bastard thinking he can come to this town and hurt my family and Dorian. He stood up Cord for a scheduled business meeting in London and then the next thing I know he's on a plane to Llanview and not more than a few feet away from where I planned to dine with Dorian!
Bo: OK, I'm going to state the obvious.
Clint: Here we go.
Bo: Clint you don't know what he's after now do you?
Clint: He's a Laurence. That's all I need to know and it's plain enough English for me.
Bo: Maybe not so plain.
Clint: Bo this is more complicated than you think. Mitch did some things that I am just now trying to get a hold of and straighten out.
Bo: Is this about Jessica?
Clint: More than that. He played God with my life!
Bo: Mitch, this guy's brother did that.
Clint: I know who I'm dealing with.
Bo: Look, I'm not arguing that Mitch was a sick, sorry sonabitch. What I'm saying to you is that you are not playing it smart with his brother. You're show'n your hand.
Clint: So ya calling me an idiot?
Bo: No, just a hot head like the ol' man when he'd get fired up!
Clint: Oh shit it's too late to play it any other way.
Bo: Maybe not. All he knows is that you hate his guts. That's no surprise. Yet he still had the balls to think that you'd be willing to do business with him.
Clint: Right. Why is that?
Bo: Exactly. Just hear him out. Study what he's after before threatening him and kicking him outta your office without knowledge of his intentions.
Clint: Bo he's not going to reveal that to me! And I don't know that I want that rat bastard staying in Llanview around my kids and Dorian.
Bo: Look. Have you considered that he's not working alone?
Clint: No.
Bo: All I'm saying is let's be smart about this. Sooner or later he's going to slip up and we'll catch him.
Clint: Fair enough. But, I'm not making any promises.
Bo (stands): Fair enough. I just wanted to tell ya that I've got your back.
Clint chuckles. "You can't lick anybody's ass without a pistol in your hand." He walks his brother out the door. As Bo walks by the secretary's desk, Clint stares in the doorway at the sight of Miles Laurence speaking with his administrative assistant.
--------------------------------------
Bakersfield, California

Todd gets off the elevator and hears a door close. He runs down the hallway and stops at the door where he saw the woman enter with her baby. "Margaret! I know that you are in there!" He bangs on the door. "Open the damn door before I break it down! You sick bitch! Open the door!" Soon a neighbor enters the hall. The man is a Rastafarian and has dreads. He curses at Todd and threatens to call the cops. Todd sneers and throws money at him. He says, "Don't you think you better get rid of the weed I smell from your apartment before you call the cops?" The man takes the money, smiles and then goes back into his apartment. Todd leans against the door and pulls out a credit card that he uses in the crack of the door for entry. The door is dead-bolted. He curses. Then, he moves away from the door. He walks in circles before he turns and he sees a man with a gun pointed at him.
--------------------------------------------
Buchanan Mansion

Nigel has entered the dining area and begins clearing the food from the buffet table. Nigel looks out of the window and he sees Dorian and Nash walking the grounds of the estate. Nigel mutters, "I guess she assumes she is mistress of the household now."

Out near the stables, Dorian pauses and points to one of the horses being taken for a ride by one of the stablehands. "That one there, reminds me of my horse when I was a young girl."

Nash: You said you grew up on a farm in Ohio.
Dorian: That's right. My father was a doctor and my mother an accomplished musician. C'mon, we should head back to the house. I'm sure you've got better things to do than to spend time with me.
Nash: I've enjoyed my morning and getting to know you better.
Dorian (embraces him at the elbow): Me too.
Nash: You didn't answer my question earlier, back at the house.
Dorian: I know. It wasn't intentional. Well isn't it natural that I should care about you. Clint loves you as if you were his son.

Nash nods his head without verbal reply but more a look of acceptance that it did make sense. Soon they make there way to the mansion. Nash opens the door to a back entrance that leads into the kitchen. As they enter, Nigel greets them. Dorian's cell phone rings. She looks panic stricken, which causes a look of concern from Nash. Dorian answers, listens to the caller. Soon she hangs up. Nash asks, "Everything OK?" Dorian stares. Nash asks, "Dorian?" She finally responses, "I don't know yet." She excuses herself and then pauses at the kitchen entry. "Nash, I appreciated the time that we have spent together this morning. I would like for us to get to know each other better." Nash replies, "Yeah, I'd like that, too. I hope everything is OK with that phone call. Whatever that is about." Dorian smiles slightly and then leaves. Nigel stares at Nash. He comments, "There is an idiom that Mr. Asa Buchanan used quite often. It was about chickens that have come home to roost." He walks away, leaving Nash with a frown.