Jennifer Origen is watching as her staff starts loading the vans with bowls, utensils, and other party paraphernalia. Most of the guests have gone and the only people around are Jennifer's catering staff, and police officers going back and forth to the pond. Sumner DeLongpre's welcome home party, wasn't the event everyone had planned it to be, but, nevertheless, it was eventful.

When Jennifer was dating August, she always felt uncomfortable around Sumner. She always got the feeling that Sumner didn't like her or approved of August's relationship with her. August would always tell her that she was being paranoid, but she could never shake the feeling that she wasn't Sumner's first choice as a girlfriend for his number one son.

Jennifer looks around the great estate, remembering how close she was to becoming Mistress of the Manor. She spots August outside of the house, smoking a cigarette. She still finds him incredibly attractive. Before she talks herself out of it, she finds herself walking towards her ex-lover. August spots her, drops the cigarette to the ground and stamps it out.

"Please tell me that was one of those candy cigarettes we used to love as kids?" Jennifer Asks.

"I slipped. I'll say 50 Hail Marys and never put another one in my mouth," says August.

"Remember, how hard it was for us to quit?"

"Don't remind me," says August. The two were heavy smokers in college, then made a New Year's Eve Resolution to quit. Which they both did, after weeks of night sweats, chills, constant cravings, and knock out-drag down fights.

"You haven't taken it up again, have you?'

"No. I'll usually have one on days like today. With Daddy's homecoming, Katherine's accident, and now this mess at the pond, I needed this."

"How's Katie?" Asks Jennifer.

"She's just regained consciousness. I'm heading over there in a few minutes."

"Still the protective big brother," she says smiling.

"You know Jen -- it doesn't get easier as you get older, it just gets more complicated. Katie was so excited about Daddy's homecoming and she up ends being hit by a car. Pammy comes home and her daughter finds a dead body -- and lets not forget Daddy's news."

"The new wife?"

"The new wife. How old do you think she is?"

"Does it matter? He looks very happy."

"I'd look happy to, if I got to go to bed with a…a…a -- what? -- a twenty-five year old?"

"You're worried that she's a gold-digger and that she is trying to worm her way into the family fortune -- By the way, isn't that Pamela's job?"

"I don't want my Father taken advantage of," says August.

"Oh please August. You do know who you father is, don't you? Nobody takes advantage of Sumner DeLongpre."

"I don't know Jen, a pretty face and tight young body can be awfully persuasive."

"So are you saying that men are weak to the charms of the young and firm?"

"I'm saying that I'm worried about my Daddy and this new wife. I just want him to be happy and I'm not so sure that the new Mrs. DeLongpre can provide him that."

_______________________________________

Bain Roberts is thumbing through a magazine, as Porter Dandridge eats the smoked turkey sandwich Bain just brought him. Bain remembers the conversation he just had with Tallulah Jones, the hospital cook, about Katherine's beginnings. The conversation definitely intrigued him and has made him want to learn more about the woman. He's beginning to feel uncomfortable and out-of-place because Porter isn't really saying anything to him and Thad is talking to the blonde. He decides to leave the Medical Center and return in the morning, when he can talk to Katherine, alone, and apologize for the accident, even though it wasn't really his fault. He puts the magazine back on the table and gets up. Porter looks up at him to see what he's doing.

"You going somewhere?" Asks Porter.

"Um, yeah. I'll come back tomorrow and see Katherine," says Bain.

"Why is it so important for you to see my fiancée?"

"I want to apologize."

"The police have cleared you from any wrongdoing. Is there something you didn't tell us or them?"

"No, of course not. I feel bad about what happened and wanted to say I'm sorry."

"Well, now that she's awake, she can tell us what really happened," says Porter pointedly.

"What are you insinuating?"

"I didn't know that I was insinuating anything," says Porter.

"I don't believe that."

"Well what you believe or don't believe is neither here nor there."

"Did I do something to piss you off?"

"You mean other than almost killing my fiancée?"

"You don't think it was an accident, do you?'

"Listen, I don't know you from Adam. All I know is that the woman I love is in that room and her life was put in jeopardy. I'd like to hear her version of the events before I exonerate you of any wrongdoing."

"So a police investigation and my word aren't good enough?'

"I haven't known you long enough to know what your word means, but I do know that you were driving the car that put her in that room."

The two men are so engrossed in their discussion that they don't pay any attention to what's going on over by the door to Katherine's room. Thad DeLongpre is standing next to his father's new wife. Thad and Jory used to be involved and were talking about marriage. The woman was the love of Thad's life, until lies and miscommunication and bad judgement came between them.

The last time Thad saw Jory, she was walking out of his life. She wished him well, told him that she would always love him, and then walked away. He was floored when his father introduced Jory as his new wife. She still looked the same, except that her hair was shorter, but her eyes were still as expressive as ever and her smile, just as welcoming. It was obvious to Thad, that she hadn't told his father about her previous relationship with his son.

At this point, Thad and Jory are dancing around one another, not quite sure what to say or what to do and neither one of them is certain of what the other wants.

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

"This is neither the time or the place," says Jory.

"Then name the proper time and place," says Thad.

"I don't know," says Jory.

"Then we'll do it right now and right here."

___________________________________________

Quentin Origen is just stepping out of the shower when his cell phone rings. He runs across the room, still wet and naked to get the phone before the person on the other end hangs up.

"This is Origen."

"Is it," ask the woman's voice on the other end.

"Now, who might this be?" Asks Quentin.

"Either your best friend or your worst enemy. Take your pick," says the woman.

"What can I do for you?"

"We need to meet. What about Sadie's in an hour?"

"I've already made plans for the evening."

"Forget about your other plans."

"What we have to discuss can wait until morning. Besides don't you have enough stuff to deal with?"

"Listen, if you're jerking me around, you'll live to regret it," says the woman.

"Nobody's jerking anyone around. We'll talk manana."

"So what's the tramp's name?"

"Pardon me?"

"The tramp you're going to schtup tonight."

"How do you know what I'm doing? For you all I could be going to Bible study."

"Bible study? Will you be studying the chapter on Sodom and Gomorrah?"

"Call me in the morning and we'll set up a time," says Quentin.

"Just remember love, you screw me, I will screw you back."

"Sounds intriguing."

"I'll call you in the morning." The woman on the other end hangs up. Quentin walks back to bathroom. He finishes drying off, then gets some styling gel from the medicine chest and applies some to his wet hair. He whistles while he does this. After the hair, he moves to the cologne; a little on the neck, a little on the abs, and a spritz down below. Next is the deodorant, followed by moisturizer, tooth brushing, water picking, and mouthwash. After he's done, he stands back and looks at himself in the full- length mirror, still naked, admiring what he sees. He picks at his hair and rubs a hand over his chest and flat stomach. "You know what Origen," he says to himself. "Not only are you the best looking man in this town, but very soon, you'll also be the most powerful."

____________________________________________

Jennifer and August are still standing together talking about Sumner and Jory. Jennifer drifts away for a moment and wonders what it would have been like if they would have ended up together.

"I just hope he thought this through, before he married her," says August. Jennifer is brought back to their conversation with his last comment.

"How did you get so jaded? Why would you just assume that she doesn't love him? You just met the woman -- and that was briefly. August, you're better than this -- or at least, the August I used to know, was better than this." August looks at her, startled by the last comment and reminded of how they used to be when they were together.

"Do you have any idea how much I've missed your friendship," says August. He wanted to say something other than friendship, but couldn't.

"I've missed your friendship also," she says. August extends his arms and the two embrace and renew their friendship totally unaware that their reunion is being witnessed by August's wife, Meredith, who's standing in one of the upstairs windows watching the entire exchange..

____________________________________________

Katherine DeLongpre has regained consciousness, but is still quite groggy. Sumner hugs his daughter and gives her a kiss on the forehead. She smiles, but still is too weak to speak.

"I love you Sweet Potata," says Sumner, calling her by his pet name for her. She smiles again.

"When you come back in the morning, most of the drugs will have worn off and you can have a longer conversation with her," says Brian Montgomery.

"She is going to be okay, right?' Asks Sumner.

"We were quite concerned after surgery, but since she's regained consciousness so quickly and most of her numbers are looking quite good, I'm almost certain that she will be making a full recovery," says Brian.

"Thank you," says Sumner. He bends down to speak to his daughter again. "You get some rest honey, and I'll be back first thing in the morning." Sumner turns to leave.

"Da…dad….daddy -- Well…Come…..Home," says Katherine weakly. Sumner turns around to see his daughter looking at him. He is suddenly reminded of her mother. He walks back to the bed to hug his daughter again.

"It's good to be home Sweet Potata. It is so good to be home," he says.

_________________________________________

Jory looks at Thad then walks over to the seating area, picks up a magazine and sits by a large planter. Thad follows her and sits across from her.

"Does he know?" Asks Thad.

"Excuse me?"

"Stop this. Jory, does Daddy know about us?"

"Us, ended a long-long time ago. There was nothing to tell," says Jory.

"So your marriage is based on a lie?"

Bain is still surprised by Porter's reaction to him. "Fine. Believe what you want. Hopefully when Katherine is able, she will tell you a story that you will believe."

"Then I guess that's that," says Porter.

"I guess so," says Bain.

Jory looks at Thad, surprised by his last comment.

"My marriage is none of your business," she says.

"So are you going to tell him?"

"What I do and don't do in my marriage is, again, none of your business. Thad let's drop this. Your sister's condition is what's important now, not ancient history."

Bain gets ready to leave the waiting area, but before he leaves, he tells Porter one last thing. "You know, I'm assuming that if we would have met under different circumstances I might have thought that you were an all right guy. I sure hope that in the morning, we can start over and put all of what was said tonight, behind us." Porter says nothing and Bain walks away.

Jory gets up from her seat and walks over to the window looking into Katherine's room. Thad follows her.

"So what am I supposed to do? Pretend? " Asks Thad.

"Do whatever you have to," says Jory.

"You look good. You haven't changed."

"Neither have you."

"I can't believe you're married to my Father," says Thad.

"Well I am. I love him."

"The same way you loved me?" Jory looks at Thad and is about to answer him, when the door to Katherine's room opens and Sumner walks out.

"Mr. DeLongpre how is she?" Asks Porter, who has walked up to the door.

"She's hanging in there. Go on in and see her," says Sumner. Porter enters the room and shuts the door behind him. Sumner walks up to his wife and hugs her.

"She's going to be okay," says Sumner.

"That's wonderful darling, that's so wonderful," says Jory. Thad stands back and watches the exchange.

"So when I walked out, the two of you seemed deep in conversation," says Sumner to Jory and Thad. Jory and Thad exchange looks. "So what were you two talking about?" Jory looks at Sumner then at Thad. Thad looks at his Father and then at Jory. Jory then smiles at her husband.

"We were just getting acquainted, darling. Just getting acquainted," she says.

This Has Been Persephone Pointe