Owen Harper is standing in front of Victoria Emery. He is naked and is holding a photograph of Victoria and Thad DeLongpre, taken about three weeks ago. Owen is a professional volleyball player. He and Victoria met at a party about two years ago. Owen is a free spirit, who enjoys getting high and the company of beautiful women and likes Victoria, because unlike most other women, she never wanted him to be anything but who he wanted to be. She never tried to cage him or put demands on him, and that is probably one of the reasons why their "friendship" has lasted as long as it has, that and their sexual compatibility.

He found the photograph of Victoria and Thad on the refrigerator and is quite interested in what the nature of their relationship is. He isn’t jealous, just curious.

"So who is this?" Asks Owen. Victoria walks back to the bed and begins picking up clothes that landed on the floor in the rush to get naked and have sex.

"So do you still want to go sailing?’ Asks Victoria, trying to avoid the question.

"It’s too late now. Who is this?" He asks again.

"Thad," says Victoria.

"Thad. Thad? What kind of name is Thad?"

"The one his parents gave him."

"Wait a minute. Thad. Thad DeLongpre the soccer player?" Victoria folds the clothes and takes them to her chest of drawers. "You’re involved with Thad DeLongpre, aren’t you?"

"Thad and I are good friends. I also work for him."

"Are you sleeping with him?" She looks at him, hoping that he will notice her ‘you’re crossing the line’ look.

"Well are you? Are you sleeping with Thad DeLongpre?"

_______________________________________

Bain Roberts is in the hospital cafeteria with Tallulah Jones, the hospital cook. Bain has really taken to Tallulah, she makes him feel comfortable and welcomed and she has provided Bain with a few chuckles both intentional and unintentional. Tallulah is telling Bain about Katherine DeLongpre's beginnings.

"Well honey, shortly after Katherine was conceived her mother was diagnosed with cancer. The doctors all suggested that she terminate the pregnancy to undergo treatments that would save her life. She wouldn’t do it. She was determined to carry the child to term and she did. Katherine, her name was Katherine as well, by the eighth month was in terrible pain because the cancer had spread. The doctors convinced her to let them induce labor, so that they could begin treatments to save her life." Bain is listening to all of this and is amazed by the differences between Katherine’s mother and his birth mother, who couldn’t wait to get rid of him.

"So what happened?" Asks Bain.

"She gave birth to the child. Even though she was in severe pain and quite weak, the Doctors put the child in her arms and she wouldn’t let the little girl go. It was as if she was getting strength from the new baby. She asked for her husband, in those days, it was still rare for men to be in the birthing rooms. Sumner DeLongpre came in – he saw the pain that she was in – Katherine motioned for him, then told him to take care of the little girl, because she was special. That she would need him more than their other kids." Bain notices that Tallulah is crying. "Katherine handed the little baby girl over to her husband, whispered I love you, and then died."

"How sad," says Bain.

"It just rips your heart out, honey. It tears me up every time I hear it or tell it."

_________________________________________

Thad DeLongpre is stunned when he meets his Father’s new wife. He knows the woman. He was involved with the woman. He loved the woman.

"Hello Thad, it’s a pleasure to meet you," says Jory. Not really knowing how to respond correctly, Thad just stands in front of the woman tongue-tied.

"Cat got your tongue, son?" Asks Sumner. Thad looks up at his Dad then responds.

"It…it's…It is nice to meet you." Sumner walks over to his son.

"I know. I, also, was left speechless by her beauty when I first saw her," says Sumner.

"Sumner, stop it," says Jory.

"So when did you two tie the knot?" Asks Porter Dandridge.

"It seems like we've been together forever," says Sumner. He bends to kiss his new bride. Thad is taking the scene in, still reeling from the fact that his father is married to the woman he used to be in love with. The woman he never stopped loving.

______________________________________

Saga Eglasca sees Briggs Origen and Ian Montgomery standing in front of the DeLongpre Mansion. Saga didn't go down to the pond like everyone else and is unaware of what's going on. Saga saunters over to the two boys to make sure they will be at Ryan Blaisedelle's party later tonight.

Ian is the first to see Saga walking towards them. Ian finds Saga quite intriguing, and has thought about asking her out, but always for one reason or another decides against it.

"Hey boys," says Saga.

"Hey," says Briggs.

"What's going on?" Ian asks.

"What was going on at the pond?" Saga asks.

"We found a dead body," says Briggs.

"C'mon, be serious. You are joking right?"

"We saw a dead body," says Ian.

"Oh gosh, a dead body?"

"Yeah. Did you see the blonde who came in on the helicopter?" Ian asks.

"I wasn't paying attention. Why?" says Saga.

"She was at the pond and it brushed against her feet. We heard her scream and we went to see what was going on," says Ian.

"An d you guys, saw it?" Saga asks.

"Yeah. It was messed up," says Briggs.

"So what are you two doing now?" Saga asks.

"We were hoping to see if the girl was okay," says Briggs.

"What girl?"

"The smokin' blonde," says Ian.

"Why do you guys care, if she's okay. Do you know her?" Saga asks.

"She was pretty freaked -- I'm worried about her," says Briggs

"Actually he wants to offer her his big strong shoulder to cry on," says Ian. Saga doesn't like that last comment.

"What does that mean?"

"She's pretty hot, and Brig was about to make his move, when all hell broke loose," says Ian.

"I see," says Saga simply.

___________________________________________________

Rachel DeLongpre Ontkeen sits in a large bathtub filled with bubbles. She's listening to Macy Gray and trying to forget what happened at the pond. She wishes that her Father was close by, she misses him and misses the way he would hug her when she was scared or upset. She thinks about calling him, hoping that hearing his voice will erase the memory of what she saw. She picks up the telephone resting beside the tub and dials his number. Pamela walks in and Rachel hangs up the phone.

"How are you feeling sweetie?" Pamela asks.

"A little bit better," Rachel responds.

"Just put it all out of your head. Let the bubbles work their magic."

"I don't know if I'm going to be able to sleep tonight."

"Well if you can't, just come and crawl into bed with me and Mama will make it all better."

"What a way to get welcomed to our new house, huh?"

"Just forget about all of that honey and remember what you just said," says Pamela.

"What I just said?"

"You said our new house. Don't ever forget that this is our house darling. That's why we're here, to claim what's ours and make certain that nobody--nobody, takes it from us."

____________________________________________________

"You're interested in this girl?" Asks Saga.

"I wanted to meet her," says Briggs.

"What's she like?"

"She is f-i-n-e, fine," says Ian.

"Really?"

"I just hope she's okay," says Briggs. Saga notices Briggs' concern for the girl and decides to change the subject.

"Are you guys still going to Ryan's?" Saga asks.

"Do you want to?" Briggs asks Ian.

"We can make an appearance and tell everybody about the dead dude," says Ian.

"I don't know," says Briggs.

"You've gotta come Briggs. It won't be a party without you," says Saga.

"Tell you what, we'll come back tomorrow and find out who that girl is -- I bet Saga's Mom knows," says Ian.

"That's right. Is she still here?"

"I don't think so," Lies Saga. "She's probably at home. I'll tell you what, I'll ask her when I go home to change and I'll tell you at Ryan's party," she says.

"Would you do that?" Asks Briggs.

"Sure," says Saga.

"I guess we'll see you at the par-tay," says Ian.

"Yeah," says Saga.

"Saga, thanks a lot for doing this. You don't know how much this means to me," says Briggs. Ian and Briggs walk off leaving Saga alone.

"So there's a new mystery girl in town. Well, it looks like I'm going to have to make sure she stays a mystery."

_______________________________________________

Rachel has gotten out of the bath and is toweling off. She stops thinking about the earlier events, when Briggs' face pops into her brain. She remembers the way he was holding her, when she was so upset. She felt safe with him, completely and totally safe. "I've gotta find him and thank him for being so nice."

______________________________________________

"Thank you for telling me that -- it's quite a story," says Bain.

"All true -- every word," says Tallulah. "Sumner named her Katherine, after her Mama. She looks just like her. In this picture, right here, the two of them could be identical twins. The resemblance is spooky." Bain checks the clock hanging over the door. "Porter's probably wondering where his turkey sandwich is."

"Porter? Not -- not Porter Dandridge….Are you a friend of theirs?"

"I'm just doing a good deed and getting the guy a sandwich."

"If I would have known it was for Porter Dandridge I would have put more turkey on it," says Tallulah.

"So the rest of us, don't get an extra helping of turkey," says Porter laughing.

"It depends. I'll go make another one. Stay there, I'll be right back….I'll even throw in an extra bag of Fritos," she says walking into the kitchen.

Bain picks up the Town and Country, still opened to the photograph of Katherine and Porter. He can't take his eyes off the photograph and strokes her part of picture with his thumb.

"Here you are sugar. No charge," says Tallulah.

"Thank you Ms. Jones," says Bain.

"Honey, call me Tallulah -- everybody does."

"All right. Tallulah…and I'm Bain."

"Bain. You can take that magazine with you if you want. I saw how you were looking at the picture."

"That's okay. It was nice talking to you Tallulah. Hopefully we can do it again."

"Next time, I'll read your fortune."

"You're a fortune teller?" Asks Bain.

"Just part-time. I'm getting these vibes from you Bain and I'd like to find out why."

"Maybe my aura or something is out of wack," Bain says laughing. He leaves the cafeteria. Tallulah picks up her magazine. "He sure was taken by you," says Tallulah to the photograph of Katherine. "That can't be good. That can't be good at all."

___________________________________________________

Owen is still holding the picture of Thad and Victoria in front of Victoria's face. Asking her to explain her relationship with Thad.

"Does it matter?" Asks Victoria.

"I don't care who you sleep with, as long as you don't stop sleeping with me," says Owen.

"It's always about you, isn't it?"

"I never ask you who else you're co-habbing with, so why is my sex life up for discussion?"

"Cause if you're shagging Thad DeLongpre, that's big, that's really big -- not bigger than me, but still pretty big," he says with a sly smile.

"If you weren't so damned cute, I would tell you to get your funky gym bag and leave," says Victoria smiling back at him.

"But I am cute and you like it." He walks over to her and gives her a kiss. "So are you and DeLongpre serious or is it something else?"

"It's none of your business. I don't want to talk about Thad, with you," she says.

"You care about him, don't you?"

"So where are you taking me to dinner?"

"I was hoping that we could order pizza, and then just eat it off of each other's nakedness."

"You know, sometimes a girl likes to be wined and dined."

"Is that what DeLongpre's specialty is? Because I've got my own specialty," says Owen.

"And what would that be?" He gets closer to her, bends then picks her up. He takes her to her bed and gently lays her down, then begins kissing her forehead, her shoulders, and then her neck.

"You want a specialty? I'll give you a specialty," says Owen as he slowly begins kissing further and further down her body.

______________________________________________

A nurse comes out of Katherine's room and motions to Sumner.

"Mr. DeLongpre, Dr. Montgomery says that you may come in now," she says. Jory, Porter, and Thad follow, but the nurse stops them. "You can only go in, one at a time." Sumner goes into his daughter's room and the nurse closes the door behind him.

"She's my fiancée, shouldn't I have been the first one in?" Asks Porter. Jory looks around, then walks over to window so that she can see inside Katherine's room. "What's wrong with you?" Porter asks Thad. Thad doesn't hear him and walks over to the window where Jory is standing alone.

Bain walks back with a sandwich and Diet Coke for Porter. "Here you are. Sorry it took so long."

"Did you have to shoot the turkey yourself?" Asks Porter.

"Sorry, I got held up," says Bain. "Anything new to report?"

"She's regained consciousness," says Porter.

"That's great, when will you be able to see her?"

"When her Father is done," Porter says sarcastically.

"Her Dad's here?"

"Yeah."

"Who is that woman with Thad, Katherine's sister?"

"No, not quite," says Porter.

Thad is now standing beside Jory. Jory looks to her right and sees him there. She says nothing.

"We need to talk. We need to talk now," says Thad.

This Has Been Persephone Pointe