document: Nick: Anyone here? Cassie? Cassie? Cassie! Let me look at you. You look so beautiful.
  Cassie: You sure don't.
  Nick: I'm kinda having a rough day.
  Cassie: Rough year is more like it.
  Nick: Not a day goes by that I don't miss you. Nothing feels the same.
  Cassie: It shouldn't be that way.
  Nick: It's true, Cassie. All , it was the worst mistake of my life letting you go out that night. Everything terrible that has happened... it goes back to that night.
  [Nick remembering]
  Nick: Lullaby and good night you're your mother's delight shining angels beside.
  Nick: What the hell?
  Sharon: You get out of here! Get out!
  Nick: Soft and warm is your bed.
  Cassie: Hey, Nikki.
  Nikki: Hi, Cupcake.
  Nick: Rest your head.
  Cassie: Is Victor here, too?
  Victor: Yes, my sweetheart, I'm right here. I'm right here.
  Nick: Close your eyes rest your head.
  Nick: Lullaby good night lullaby good night, Cassie.
  Nick: I gotta get out of here.
  Sharon: What?
  Nick: I gotta go.
  Sharon: Where?
  Nick: I don't know, but I can't stay here.
  Sharon: Wait, Nick...
  Nick: Be back later. Do you think Cassie's death was my fault?
  Sharon: No. I, uh...
  Nick: You what?
  Sharon: I just keep... thinking about that night that Cassie was at that party. She never should've been there.
  Nick: But she was there.
  Sharon: Well, we shouldn't have let her go.
  Nick: He thinks that Cassie was driving?
  Neil: I'm only telling you what Malcolm told me, man.
  Nick: He is lying! This little punk killed my little girl. And now he's trying to save his own hide. One way or the other, Daniel is going to pay for being an underage drunk and getting behind the wheel of a car. How that happens is entirely up to him.
  Phyllis: No! No! Get off of him! Get off of him!
  Sharon: We would help you if we could!
  Phyllis: Really? So why haven't you turned over Cassie's clothes to Christine?
  Sharon: You're keeping secrets from me and I need to know what's on your mind.
  Nick: Sometimes I think you still blame me for Cassie's death.
  Nick: It's not what you think.
  Sharon: Don't lie to me, Nick! I saw your face when I walked in this room! You thought you had a good thing going.
  Nick: I didn't mean for this to happen. I don't want this to destroy us.
  Sharon: Look me in the eye and tell me that you don't have any feelings for Phyllis. Well, the room's paid for. Why don't you use it?
  Victor: As of today, I am taking control of my company again. I am reinstating myself as C.E.O. of Newman Enterprises.
  Noah: We're never gonna be together again, are we? Not like a real family.
  Sharon: Noah...
  Nick: Noah, wait, buddy!
  [SCENE_BREAK]
  Cassie: I'm so sorry.
  Nick: If I could go back... I'd do things so differently.
  Cassie: Well... let's see what you'd do.
  Nick: That's me.
  Cassie: Mm-hmm.
  Nick: This is weird. You know, Babe, I think we should let Cassie go out with her friends tonight.
  Sharon: Grounded is grounded. I don't think that we should let her go just because she wants us to.
  Nick: This is it. The most important conversation of my life. Yeah, but she's been on her best behavior. She's doing betting in school. She's helping out around the house. She's been really cool to Noah. Her whole attitude's changed.
  Sharon: I know it has. But it could be because she's known all along about tonight and she wants to go. If we make this exception now, how are we gonna discipline her in the future? And what kind of punishment is it if you get to go out while you're grounded? I think she's gonna learn that our word doesn't mean anything. Giving in is a bad idea.
  Nick: Okay. She'll get over it, right? I mean, how long can a 14-year-old hold a grudge?
  Sharon: I guess we'll see.
  Nick: That's what I should've said! That's what should've happened.
  Cassie: You think... all that other stuff wouldn't have happened?
  Nick: If I had kept you home that night... it would've changed everything.
  Cassie: She's so unhappy.
  Nick: Yeah.
  Cassie: Because of you?
  Nick: Maybe. But that never would've happened.
  Cassie: Seriously, it's okay. I understand. No need to explain.
  Nick: I bet you're ashamed of me. You should be.
  Cassie: Well, I'm not, okay? And before you yell guess what? It's just the way she is.
  Nick: You know, when you died and your mother and I couldn't relate anymore... we couldn't deal with what happened. I never would've thought that...
  Nick: Oh, you can't handle all this! You can't dodge all my attacks!
  Phyllis: I can. God, you took half my life!
  Nick: Oh, yeah! You can't dodge everything!
  Phyllis: Wait a second. I'll show you how I dodge!
  Nick: Oh, I bet I'm beating you with my eyes closed!
  Phyllis: Oh! We did this again.
  Nick: Uh-huh.
  Phyllis: I've been really trying. I've been trying to hold myself back.
  Nick: We both have.
  Phyllis: I have no willpower.
  Nick: Yeah, but in a good way.
  Phyllis: I just... when I look at you...
  Nick: What?
  Phyllis: Nothing. I'm not gonna say it.
  Nick: If I'd only stayed away... your life would be so different now. I'm sure of it.
  Phyllis:  Giggles  stop it! You're gonna mess up my hair.
  Jack: And that's a bad thing because...
  Phyllis: Because you made reservations at the private dining room.
  Jack: Oh, damn! I should've gotten takeout.
  Phyllis: No! Not in this dress. You didn't tell me what we were celebrating.
  Jack: That's right. I haven't told you yet, have I?
  Phyllis: Mnh-mnh. So start talking.
  Jack: Mind if I get comfortable first?
  Phyllis: What are you doing?
  Jack: What does it look like I'm doing?
  Cassie: Oh, my gosh, Dad! Dad, he's gonna propose!
  Nick: Yeah.
  Cassie: This is amazing!
  Phyllis: I guess tying your shoelace wouldn't be the right answer, would it?
  Jack: I better get this done before my knee gives out.
  Phyllis: Do you want a pillow? So, you know, you could take your time?
  Jack: I do, Red. I wanna take an entire lifetime to show you how much you mean to me.
  Cassie: Wow.
  Nick: Yeah, but it didn't happen. Look at her.
  Cassie: And this is all your fault, huh? Dad, you don't know for sure whether they would've gotten back together or not.
  Nick: Maybe. But she's here all alone. And you can't tell me that her son would've abandoned her if it weren't for me.
  Cassie: Daniel deserved better... from both of you.
  Nick: You're right. Daniel deserved better.
  Cassie: You know, I tried telling you and Mom that.
  Nick: What do you mean?
  Cassie: In the hospital after the accident. I wanted so badly for you guys to see that Daniel wasn't stupid. And wouldn't go and do something that would get us both killed. But... you guys wouldn't listen. You kept trying to punish him for something that wasn't even his fault.
  Sharon: Do you think Daniel's trial will be over quickly?
  Nick: I don't see any reason why it should drag out.
  Sharon: Well, Christine obviously feels she has some viable defense.
  Nick: Look, if you're talking about this ridiculous theory that Cassie was driving that night, she can forget it. Because it's not gonna hold up in court.
  Sharon: Well, why were Paul and Christine so anxious to get their hands on Cassie's clothes? What could be in her things that would be of any use to them?
  [SCENE_BREAK]
  Nick: Nothing. Sharon, they're just grasping at straws. All they have is the convenient selective memory of some drunk kid who knows he's going to jail for a very long time.
  Cassie: Because you wanted to put him there.
  Nick: Cassie...
  Cassie: Dad, you hid my clothes. You buried them. You knew Daniel was telling the truth, and you still wouldn't help him.
  Nick: I was wrong. That's why I came forward.
  Cassie: Yeah... finally.
  Nick: It's like I was living in this dream-- this horrible dream that I couldn't wake up from. I knew what I was doing was wrong-- that it wouldn't bring you back. I was so angry. I couldn't let go. He manipulated Cassie. He knew that she had a crush on him, so he led her on.
  Sharon: Nick, we don't know that.
  Nick: I know! Sharon, I know it. Daniel says that he didn't know Cassie that well. Because Cassie never would've been at that party. And then she never would've gotten in the car with him. And she certainly wouldn't have left the hospital to try and find him. If you wanna blame someone for Cassie's death, you blame Daniel. I hate him. What he has taken from us. And I am not gonna be satisfied until he looks me in the eyes.
  Cassie: You hated the fact that I was dead, but you shouldn't have hated Daniel.
  Nick: I know. I made so many mistakes.
  Cassie: But you forgave him.
  Nick: I actually think Daniel's a really good kid. We got pretty close for awhile.
  Cassie: You were almost like a dad to him.
  Nick: Yeah. I screwed that up, too.
  Cassie: When he found out about you and his mom. He went and left altogether and got married way too young.
  Cassie: Daniel and Lily are happy, though. Aren't they?
  Nick: Yeah, Cassie, but it's not what a kid his age should be experiencing. It's his senior year of high school. Things should be so different.
  Phyllis: Jack, help me!
  Jack: You're doing fine.
  Daniel: Yeah, Mom, it's gonna be dark in there. No one's gonna see it anyway.
  Phyllis: Oh, gosh! But I wanna get it right. You're so handsome. I want everyone to see you when you're standing up there.
  Daniel: Standing up where?
  Phyllis: On that-- on that platform thing. When they announce you prom king.
  Daniel: Hey why not supreme galactic emperor of the universe?
  Jack: Kid's got a point.
  Phyllis: Come on!
  Daniel: If you're gonna go for something and do something, you might as well do it right, right?
  Phyllis: Don't make fun of me! Look at you! You're my little boy. You're all grown up.
  Daniel: Mom...
  Phyllis: Soon you're going to be going off to college.
  Daniel: Right now, I just wanna go off to the prom out that door.
  Jack: I'll distract her. You run.
  Daniel: Okay. Whatever you do, don't let her pull out the baby pictures, or she's gonna fall apart.
  Phyllis: Stop it!
  Jack: I'll take good care of your mom.
  Daniel: I know you will, Jack. Take care, thank you!
  Phyllis: Have fun, Sweetheart!
  Nick: That's how his life would've been-- simple... uncomplicated.
  Cassie: Dad, is anyone's life? I mean, I know it may seem that way but...
  Nick: I have spent the past year of my life just existing. Day in and day out because I couldn't imagine a life without you in it. When I think about all the damage I've done to everyone-- the lashing out, the selfish mistakes... and I can't imagine how anyone... could ever forgive me.
  Cassie: We don't have to do this.
  Nick: No, I need to face it. All of it. This used to be such a close family... like us. And not anymore.
  Cassie: And I suppose you caused all these problems?
  Nick: They all started last summer when Lily took off with Daniel.
  Cassie: Dad, like you forced her to do that? Come on.
  Nick: I am the one who set it in motion, Cassie. Lily should've never had to choose between her family and Daniel. That wasn't right.
  Cassie: So because you let me out when I was grounded, Lily's life was ruined.
  Nick: You don't believe me? Take a look.
  Dru: Neil, please look at me. Man, you are driving me crazy! Are you gonna freeze me out all night?
  Devon: So what's the plan, guys?
  Dru: If it's about dinner, its gonna be a minute, okay?
  Devon: All right, well, am I gonna have to watch you two fight through it-- like last night? You know what? Tell me, is it gonna be like this around here from now on? Can you not figure out a way to deal with each other? You know what? Forget it.
  Nick: You see what I'm talking about? It shouldn't be like this.
  Cassie: What should it be like?
  Nick: Like this...
  Dru: Nice! Nice, beautiful! Man, you look great!
  Devon: Thank you.
  Dru: Let's put on your boutonnière.
  Cassie: Devon looks incredible!
  Nick: They all do.
  Cassie: Dad, he's the only one dressed for prom.
  Nick: I'm talking about how they are with each other.
  Cassie: I see what you mean.
  Nick: There's no fighting. There's no tension. They're just happy to be together.
  Daniel: Hey!
  Dru: Hey!
  Cassie: Oh, Daniel must be here to pick up Lily.
  Nick: That's what I'm talking about. Look how natural it is. Dru and Neil can't stand the sight of that kid. But if it had been like this-- the way it would've been...
  Cassie: So this is what you think would've happened if you hadn't messed up?
  Nick: Don't you?
  Cassie: Oh, look at Lily's dress!
  [SCENE_BREAK]
  Daniel: Wow! You look...
  Lily: Good, I hope.
  Daniel: That dress looks amazing on you.
  Lily: Thank you. You don't look so bad yourself.
  Daniel: Yeah, well, you know, I wanted to wear a tie-dyed tux, but my mom-- she wasn't really having any of that.
  Neil: I think I'm gonna have to go along with Phyllis on that on, brother.
  Dru: Let me take a picture of you two.
  Daniel: Okay, let me just give Lily her flowers.
  Dru: Okay.
  Lily: Those are pretty.
  Cassie: Aren't they cute together? What?
  Nick: If you had felt that way a year ago, maybe you wouldn't have risked your life for him.
  Cassie: I had a crush on him.
  Nick: You were obsessed.
  Cassie: Whatever. I get it now. Daniel and Lily are really meant to be together.
  Neil: It's gorgeous.
  Dru: Perfect! Gotta go, though.
  Daniel: Okay, let's do it.
  Neil: All right, now be careful. Remember, no drinking.
  Daniel: No.
  Neil: All right.
  Daniel: Absolutely not.
  Lily: Okay, guys, don't worry.
  Neil: Hey, son, have a good time.
  Lily: I love you.
  Daniel: Have a good time while we're gone. Bye, guys.
  Neil: We will. I love you, too, sweetheart.
  Dru: Bye.
  Neil: Wow!
  Dru: Oh, honey!
  Neil: Those kids... they sure were happy.
  Dru: Yeah, I never thought I'd see the day where I'd let Phyllis' son sweet- talk me.
  Neil: I'm so glad you gave the kid another chance-- that we both did.
  Dru: Well, you know...
  Neil: Hey...
  Dru: Hmm?
  Neil: You know what this means, don't you?
  Dru: What?
  Neil: Well, Devon and Sierra are at the prom. Lily and Daniel are at the prom.
  Dru: Ooh, that only means one thing, huh?
  [SCENE_BREAK]
  Cassie: Once they get used to Daniel and Lily being married... they'll be okay again.
  Nick: What makes you so sure?
  Cassie: Because they love each other... a lot. They may be fighting now.
  Nick: You're right. It's a start. You can't shut each other out if you wanna save your marriage. That's what I did to your mother. You knew. Both grieving, both lost. And instead of helping Sharon through it, I left her to deal with it on her own.
  Cassie: Come on.
  Nick: What do you mean?
  Cassie: Never mind.
  Nick: No, Cassie, I wanna hear it.
  Cassie: Well, she needed somebody to help through. She wasn't completely alone. You understand what I'm trying to say.
  Nick: I think you better show me.
  Cassie:  Sighs 
  Nick: Why are we here?
  Cassie: We can leave.
  Nick: No. No.
  Nick: Open the door. I need to see what happened here.
  Sharon: I'm so sorry, Brad.
  Brad: Sharon... its okay. Don't worry about it.
  Sharon: I can't believe I froze up in the middle of the web cast.
  Brad: It's not your fault. Those calls about Cassie should never have gotten through.
  Sharon: Well, that's very sweet of you to say, but, you know, more and more I just feel like I'm a fake. And it's only a matter of time before people realize that I don't know what I'm doing.
  Brad: You are not a fake. You're the real thing. The real thing.
  Nick: I bet that's exactly how it happened.
  Cassie: Please don't be mad at her.
  Nick: I'm not mad at her. How can I be? After what I did to her? I pushed her away for months.
  Sharon: I need to feel close to Cassie. I need to feel close to that part of my life. Don't take that away from me.
  Nick: You mean, like I took away our daughter?
  Sharon: What did you say?
  Nick: Nothing, forget it.
  Sharon: We need to talk about this.
  Nick: No, we don't need to talk about it.
  Sharon: Yeah, we do. Because you're keeping secrets from me.
  Nick: Sometimes, I think you still blame me for Cassie's death.
  Sharon: What? No! No, I don't.
  Nick: Are you sure? Because I'm not.
  Sharon: You mean, you haven't seen any of the warning signs? No red flags where our marriage is concerned? Nothing? You know, I can count on one hand the number of times that we have made love since Cassie died. And that doesn't strike you as cause for concern?
  Nick: No.
  Sharon: No, Nick, it hasn't ..But, you're aware of .. the distance between us.
  Nick: Cassie?
  Cassie: You know, I never thought anything like this would happen to my parents.
  Nick: Neither did I. After all these years together. When you died, Cassie, everything changed.
  Cassie: Don't forget, things weren't exactly easy a year ago, either. Aunt Vicki wanted a job in the company. You said no. It made a lot of people mad.
  Nick: You're right, it did.
  Nick: The night of your accident, Victoria was all set to go back to Italy.
  Cassie: Would you like to go back and change that, too?
  Nick: Not really. Well, I don't know. Maybe, uh... if Vicki had gotten on that plane, then things would be better for everyone. So, Babe, I forgot to ask you. Did you see the postings on the web site about your last appearance?
  Sharon: Um, yeah, I think everyone was pleased.
  Nick: Pleased? The store was mobbed! You are a rock star.
  Sharon: A rock star, huh?
  Nick: A big rock star.
  Sharon: Well, then, you know what? I want pink jelly beans and I mean, only pink jelly beans in my hotel room from now on. Is that clear?
  Nick: Whatever. Are you taking diva lessons?
  Sharon: Yeah, from, uh, Drucilla Winters.
  Nick: I'm gonna tell her you said that.
  Victoria: Hello! I heard a wild rumor that this is where the CEO hangs out.
  Sharon: Oh, my gosh! Hey!
  Nick: Oh, it is so good to see you.
  Victoria: Good to see you.
  Nick: Wow! So? How was the honeymoon?
  Sharon: Yeah! Gosh, you even have to ask? I mean, look at them!
  Man:  Italian accent  well, it was marvelous. Thanks to my lovely bride.
  Victoria: Oh! Well, listen, I'm sure that you're busy. So we'll let you get back to work.
  Nick: Well, family dinner at the house tonight.
  Victoria: Oh, we'll be there! Yes!
  Sharon: Cassie and Noah can't wait to see you two.
  Man: Well, we picked up a few surprises for them on our trip.
  Sharon: Oh, well, they'll be even more delighted!
  Victoria: Good seeing you.
  Nick: You, too, sis. You, too.
  Victoria: Even if it's only for a little while.
  Nick: I have never seen you look happier. Come on, we'll walk you out.
  Victoria: All right. Thank you.
  Cassie: Ah. Come on, it's time.
  Nick: Where are we going?
  Cassie: Home.
  Cassie: Noah has gotten so big. You know, soon he'll be wanting my old room to spread out his baseball cards.
  Nick: He likes to play in your room. It's just the way you left it. It makes him feel like you're still with us.
  Cassie: I am. I always will be.
  Nick: We had everything. I didn't realize it until you were gone.
  Cassie: Daddy...
  Nick: I should be here tonight... with my family. Instead, I'm alone, wondering how I'm gonna live without them.
  Nikki: Oh, it is so wonderful to have you both here.
  Victoria: Well, where else would we be? We had to spend some time with our new niece.
  Sharon: We got the gift that you sent for Faith. I've been meaning to thank you.
  Victoria: Oh, may I see it? Agostino and I ordered it online when we were on our honeymoon.
  Sharon: Okay, here. Take her?
  Nick: All right. Hey, little one.
  Victoria: She's so pretty.
  Nick: Hello. Aw, yeah, I've got you, don't I? Hi. Wanna hold hands?
  Victor: Where's Cassie?
  Nick: Where have you been?
  Cassie: Looking for this. It's a present for Faith. It was mine when I was little. And now I want my baby sister to have it.
  Nick: It's beautiful.
  Cassie: It's okay. You're gonna be fine. You're gonna be okay. Don't worry.
  Cassie: I'm so sorry the journey made you sad.
  Nick: We would've had a daughter. You said that your mom and I would have another little girl.
  Cassie: You still can.
  Nick: Even after everything I've done?
  Cassie: If it's what you really want.
  Nick: Cassie, I don't know what that is anymore. I swear to you, there are times that I... I don't even know who I am.
  Cassie: You will. You'll be all right again. But you have to stop saying, "what if."
  Nick: It's not that easy. You showed me tonight what life would be like, if I had just...
  Cassie: No, no... no. You didn't see what would've happened. Tonight you saw what you imagined would've happened. You keep blaming yourself because you think you're responsible for every terrible thing that's happened. If I'd stayed grounded that night, that everything would've been different. Everybody's lives would be... perfect. News flash, Dad, you don't have that much power. Figure out what you want and go for it. But you have to promise me that you will try really hard, that you won't give up.
  Nick: I promise you. I swear.
  Cassie: I have to go now.
  Nick: No. I can't say good-bye to you again.
  Cassie: It's not good-bye. I'll always be with you. Right here. But you know that, don't you?
  Nick: Yeah, I do.
  Cassie: I love you, Daddy.
  Nick: I love you, too.
  [SCENE_BREAK]
   Knock on door 
  Sharon: Coming. What are you doing here?
  Nick: I need to be with you. I need to be with my son. I'm moving back home.
summary: Jack comes to see Nick to find out why he slept with Phyllis. "Why her? Were you trying to hurt me? Was it just for sex?" Nick says nothing. "WAS IT THE SEX?" Nick sarcastically answers. "Yeah Jack I slept with Phyllis to hurt the man that helped to raise me, and I did it to also hurt my son in the process. It was just for the sex!" Jack's faces changes. "Oh my god! You are in love with her!" Nikki loves the help that she is getting from Phyllis but worries about having her in the building with Nick there too. "I have a solution for that," Victor reveals. "I have offered Jack a job. That way he can take some of the load off you, you won't need Phyllis in the office and we can spend more quality time together." Nikki looks into his eyes. She is surprised that he has offered a job to Jack and she really truly believes that he is being sincere. Brad tells Phyllis that she shouldn't be in the building. "I can remember when no one wanted you around," Victoria snaps. "Now you have married the boss's daughter and you are here swinging a big stick. If you don't want me around, go talk to Nikki about it." Brad finds Sharon alone working on Cassie's celebration. She tries to hold it together but ends up spilling her guts and starting to cry. He hugs her and soon they are rubbing each other's backs. They kiss lightly at first, and then passionately. Victoria enters the office soon after and sees the strange looks on Brad and Sharon's faces. Both are far from each other now. "What is the matter? What is going on?" No one answers her. "Oh I get it," Victoria says. "You have been working on Cassie's celebration and it has been making you sad. Is that it?" Victoria offers to take half the work from Sharon and help her with it. Sharon leaves, and Victoria goes to her husband. "I would like to thank you for being so supportive to Sharon, Brad. You know Brad, you really are something," she says to him smiling. Nick returns to work. No one is there. He hears children's music and follows the sound to an office. "Anyone here?" No one answers. He is about to leave when a bright light goes on behind him. He turns back into the office and stares into the bright light. "Cassie?" It is her. She smiles happily at her father as he stares back at her dumbfounded.