October 1, 1999
Scene 1: Casa Santos
(Danny's and Michelle are in the multi-purpose room at Casa Santos. Danny telling Michelle that he's out of the business. Replay of yesterday.)
Danny: I'm out of the family business. I told my mother, so that's it. We, uh...it's just you and me. We have the rest of our lives together.
Michelle: I can't believe this.
Danny: Well, believe it. It happened. And, uhmm, it's just you and me, kid.
Michelle: I am so proud of you.
Danny: Mm-hmm. Yeah, nothing can touch us now, babe. (You're kidding me, right? This is a soap. One of you probably has some evil twin who's going to come back from the dead and kidnap one of you. You think I'm kidding, don't you? I'm not. Anywho, we see Carmen in the background and she walks into the room.)
Carmen: Congratulations, Michelle. You've managed to take yet my other son away from me.
Danny: Cut it out.
Danny: At least Mick was a loyal son. He would never turn on the family. This one will probably change his name to Bauer just to please you. (Danny Bauer. Hmm...nah, it just doesn't sound right.)
Danny: Mother. (Ben walks in.) Ben, well, you're just in time. I've got some good news for you.
Ben: What good is going on?
Danny: It's the changing of the guard. I'm leaving the family business forever. You've just been promoted. Congratulations.
Ben: Are you serious?
Danny: Oh, yeah. I'm serious. More serious than I've ever been in my life.
Ben: Is this some kind of a...?
Danny: Joke? Trick? No. I've given up my place at the head of the table, and you are more than welcome to it. (That's funny. I always figured that Carmen sat at the head of the table.)
Scene 2: Casa Santos
Ben: So you're giving it up for the girl? Leaving for love?
Danny: Ben, it was your idea in the first place, remember?
Ben: Yeah, that's correct. But as I recall you were a little...unsure.
Danny: Well, I've changed my mind. I've got more important things in my life than worrying about you.
Ben: What a difference a day weeks. (I could've sworn it was a whole lot more than a day...)
Danny: Be, you offered to take over my responsibilities. I'm giving you your shot. I don't know why you find that so surprising. You know what? You guys do whatever you the hell you want. We're going. We're out of here. Come on. (Danny and Michelle start to leave.)
Carmen: It's true. He's deserting the family, the business, all for her.
Danny: Her name is Michelle, for the last time.
Michelle: Danny, let's go.
Ben: Just a minute. I'd like to have few words with Danny in private. We have unfinished business.
Danny: You think so?
Ben: Yes.
Danny: Okay. I'll be...I'll just be a minute. (Oh, that's good. Just feed her to the wolves. Ben and Danny walk out into the hallway.)
Michelle: Okay.
Carmen: (With just a hint of sarcasm. Okay, well, more than just a hint.) Are you happy now?
Michelle: Yes, I am.
Carmen: This is all your fault. All of it.
Michelle: Okay, this time it is my fault. Carmen, it is.
Scene 3: Casa Santos
Ben: Yeah, I've got to hire someone to replace Bill Lewis. The poor boy might be indisposed for awhile. Shocking how he was caught trying to dip into the Spaulding well, huh?
Danny: Surprising. Mm-hmm.
Ben: Yes, and how the police happened to show up at the Sancorp offices as it was--as it was going down. That was amazing.
Danny: That's why they're the police, Ben. (True, true. But you're forgetting one tiny detail. This is the Springfield Police Department. They're basically a big joke. Duh.) Look, there's nothing really left for us to discuss. I'm sure you're very familiar with the family's books. (Getting up in his face.) I don't care about you. I just care about my family. So don't screw things up for them in your usual manner, alright? (How about if he screws things up in an unusual manner? Is that alright?) Michelle? (Tries to walk past Ben, but Ben stops him.)
Ben: I know what you tried to do.
Danny: Hey.
Ben: How you tried to set me up.
Scene 4: Casa Santos
Carmen: Who are you anyway? (Michelle. You know, the girl you've tried to kill on numerous occasions. Ah, yes, now you remember.) To walk in here and hate my so much that you take away my only son? (Well, uh, Carmen--I'd say she has a pretty good reason to hate you...)
Michelle: I am not using Danny to hurt you! I don't know why you don't understand that. (Pounding her chest to stress her point--as per usual.) I love him. We love each other. And we're just trying to have a normal life like every other couple. It's the same thing that you and Ben want!
Carmen: I want my son back!
Michelle: Well, so do I, and it's my turn! And I'm sorry, but that's the way it is. (You tell her! And, hey, while we're at it, can I have my turn with him? Please? :) ) Carmen, I know what it's like to live without Danny, okay? I would never do that to you. You don't have to lose him.
Carmen: Then you tell me what I have to do to get my son back, dammit. And I'll do it. (How about you stop trying to kill his wife? I don't know, just a thought.)
Scene 5: Casa Santos
Danny: You didn't think that I would just sit back and let you destory my family, did you?
Ben: Hmm.
Danny: Come on, Ben. Haven't you done things like that during your illustrious career?
Ben: Well, I would never work with amateurs. I always like to do my own work.
Danny: So...now you know. What are you gonna do?
Ben: So, we're talking--
Danny: Mm-hmm.
Ben: For now. But what do you think Carmen would think of your attempt to undermine her relationship with me?
Danny: I think she'd be very impressed. (Probably...) She taught me well.
Ben: I think you underestimate her affections for me. She would be very upset if I went to jail because of you.
Danny: I don't think so. I think she'd just hire a better lawyer, and it'd be a win-win situation for her. Go ahead, man. Tell her...if you want.
Ben: I don't need your mother to take care of you.
Danny: Uh-huh. Ben, you could make this a problem and I'll never go away, and I will fight you until the end. Or I can walk out that door and leave you a very, very powerful man.
Ben: Run away, run away. You took you shot, you lost.
Danny: (Getting up in his face and whispering.) No. I won. I have my wife. I'm happy.
Scene 6: Casa Santos
Michelle: I lost my mother, and I know what that's like, so I would never wish that on anyone. And I love Danny and because I love him, I want him to have everything that he loves. But I also want him alive. (Yeah, I think I speak for everyone when I say "So do I!") I don't want him cut down like the husband that you loved was. Carmen, I know that part of you knows what I'm asking you here, okay? That part of you knows what I'm...what I'm trying to do because you sent Pilar away. You had the same instincts that I did.
Carmen: Don't you dare compare me to you. We are nothing alike. (Well, I don't know about that. Now that Michelle has been wielding knives in every which direction and making all these threats, she's alot more like you than you'd think.)
Michelle: We are. (See? Told ya.) We both love out families. We both love Danny. (So do I.) I'm going to have your grandchildren someday. (Oh, you know that got to Carmen.) Don't you think that we should put all this anger aside? For them? For their sake, can you please just forget about yourself and do this for them? I... (Carmen's crying and Michelle's trying to comfort her. She tries to put her arms around her, but Carmen resists--of course.)
Carmen: No.
Michelle: I...please. Please. (Michelle succeeds in putting her arms around her. Carmen chills out a little. Anyone else think she was going to have a nervous breakdown?)
Scene 7: Casa Santos
Ben: Well, I hope you have a real long honeymoon. I'd hate to see your happy haves again too soon.
Danny: Ben, I'm leaving the business, not the family. And I swear on my life, if you hurt my sister or my mother, I won't hesitate-- (Ooh, I love it when Danny's in full-protection mode. He's so sexy then.)
Ben: Have a nice life, somewhere else.
Danny: Good. (Walks into the multi-purpose room thingy and Michelle and Carmen are hugging. I'm surprised Danny's jaw didn't drop to the floor, because mine sure did!)
Michelle: You don't have to lose him.
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