October 4, 1999
Scene 1: Casa Santos
(Michelle and Carmen are kind-of-sorta hugging, Carmen's crying, and Michelle's attempting to comfort her. In walks Danny with a "What the hell is going on here?" look on his face. Can't say I blame him though. My jaw dropped open when I saw this scene...)
Michelle: I was just--I was telling your mother that, uhmm...even though our decision is final, she's always welcome in our lives.
Danny: Yeah. That's true, Mama. Just because I'm leaving the business, it doesn't mean I'm leaving the family. Michelle and I just need to have a life of our own.
Carmen: Fine. I'd rather accept everything than lose you completely, Danny.
Danny: Thank you. That means the world to me.
Carmen: So, uhmm...what will you do now? I mean, for a living?
Danny: I don't know. Uh, I haven't really thought about that yet. We can live off my savings until I figure that out.
Carmen: Danny, I want you to have that trust fund your father left you.
Danny: No, I told you, I signed that over to you to pay back for the bonds that I destroyed. (Oh...I was wondering where in the world you were going to get the money to pay that $2 million back.) I do not want to be a part of the business in any way.
Carmen: Well...if you will excuse me. (She leaves. There's kind of an awkward silence.)
Michelle: So what are you thinking?
Danny: Hmm? Uh, I don't know. She'll be alright. I mean, I really think this will be good for her, actually. (Uh, I don't think so. It'll just give her a little more motivation to team up with T----a, and that's really kinda bad...)
Michelle: Yeah?
Danny: Yeah, she's been so focused on us all this time, and on me, and my place in the family, and in the business. I mean, I think it'll be really good for her to focus on herself for awhile.
Michelle: Yeah, I think you're right.
Danny: Yeah. What, uh, what was going on between the two of you? (I was wondering the exact same thing! That whole little scene with the hugging and Carmen having a nervous breakdown kinda scared me.) I mean, how could you put aside everything that she's done to you? (Oh, now, come on...Trying to kill her and having her locked up in a foreign prison for the rest of her life isn't too bad. Those are such petty things. Now if only I believed that! :) )
Michelle: I...I don't know. That was really kind of a strange moment. (Well, that's the understatement of the century!) I think I just reminded her how much she loves you.
Danny: Yeah, but you could've...could've kissed her off forever. Instead, you--you welcomed her into our life. Why did you--you didn't do that for me, did you? (No, she did it because she loves Carmen so much! *Snicker, snicker*)
Michelle: Danny, she's your mother. I know you love her. I would do anything for you. Besides, now we do have everything, you know? We can--we can start our new life. It's going to be wonderful.
Danny: Yeah. Well, we're going to be a little short on funds for awhile. (Well, that's not necessarily true. I mean, the Bauers aren't exactly strapped for cash.) We're going to have to hold off on the dream house.
Michelle: It doesn't matter. I'm sure we'll manage. And we've got that fund that my father set up for me.
Danny: No, that's for your education. You've got to finish college, and you've got to go to medical school, and your residency. We're not going to touch that money, no.
Michelle: Okay. Okay. I just really don't want you to worry. We're starting fresh, okay? This is all that matters to me.
Scene 2: Bauer Kitchen
(Rick and Abby are about to go upstairs to...well, you know...and guess who walks in! Our beloved couple carrying boxes!)
Michelle: Hello? Sorry, hi. Uhmm...
Rick: What...what?
Michelle: Oh, hi.
Rick: What's...what are you doing here? (Well, that's a nice greeting for your little sister!)
Michelle: We're kind of making some changes. We were hoping you'd let us move in for just a little while. (Oh, that should be fun. I can see it now: Danny and Rick are sitting at the table eating breakfast. Danny asks him to pass the Cheerios. Rick glares at him--then throws the box of Cheerios at his head. Ah...you gotta love those family meals!)
Danny: Yeah, uh...it turns out I've left my family's business for good.
Scene 3: Bauer Kitchen
Michelle: And that's basically the whole story. He just walked away.
Danny: So you don't have to worry about Michelle anymore. I've cut all ties to the business.
Michelle: It's just me and him. (Okay, English isn't my best subject...oh, wait--yes, it is my best subject...hmm...anyways, but that just doesn't sound right to me. Anyone else? Or is it just me? Okay, moving on, moving on...) We're going to start our own life.
Danny: Look, I'm really sorry that we're just showing up on your front doorstep (I thought it was the back doorstep...) life this. This whole thing happened really fast.
Michelle: Yeah, are we interrupting anything...at all? (Yeah, kinda.)
Abby: (Quick to jump in before Rick can say anything.) No. No, you haven't. You're always welcome here.
Rick: Wait a minute, wait a minute. You--you're telling me you just walked away? Is that what you're telling me?
Danny: Yeah.
Rick: I find that hard to believe that it was that easy.
Danny: Well, it wasn't easy. But things weren't changing. Not fast enough. So I had to make a decision, and that's what I did.
Rick: So you're telling me that your mother just opened the door and wished you guys well?
Michelle: She wasn't happy, of course, but she...I think she realised that she had to let go, and that our decision was final. I think she has let go.
Danny: And, look, even if she hasn't, it doesn't matter. It's our decision and that's what we're doing. We're adults, and she can't stop us.
Rick: Well, Michelle, this is--see, I'm just confused. (It's really not all that confuzzing. Danny left the business. See? That simple.) Because we had this very long conversation on the phone, just last night, and you told me that it'd be very hard for Danny to break ties with his family. You told me that. (My God, Rick! Are you just trying to cause problems??)
Michelle: Right. Well, that's where the change is, Rick. He's turning around. He's not looking back at all.
Danny: Look, I can't take care of my entire family. I know that. I can just take care of myself and my marriage. Michelle is my wife. (Anyone else think he said that just to piss Rick off? I'm betting he did. Just throw it right in his face...) I love her, and we can do this.
Rick: Well, you married my little sister, Danny, so you'll always be family. (Oh, you know he hated saying that!)
Abby: Our home is your home. (Rick holds a hand up to Abby and looks at her like she's crazy. So does Michelle. Well, she doesn't hold up her hand, but she does have a "Are you crazy?" look on her face.)
Danny: Thank you. Thank you. And this is just temporary. I feel really bad that we're imposing on you, but we just need to find some time until we can find a place that we can rent and save up some money. Then we're going to build our own house on a piece of property that I just recently bought.
Michelle: (Perking up.) Laurel Falls.
Abby: Oh, that'll be beautiful!
Rick: (With absolutely no hint of enthusiasm in his voice.) Oh, that's great. That's great.
Michelle: I know.
Danny: Yeah, I just got to find myself a job first.
Rick: There you go, there you go.
Danny: Yeah...
Rick: Well, let me help you with your bags, neighbor.
Michelle: Thanks.
Abby: Right.
Danny: Thank you. (Rick and Abby go outside to get their bags. Michelle picks the box up off the table, Danny tries to take it from her and it falls. And wouldn't you know it that a picture of T----a falls onto the floor.)
Michelle: Well, she's pretty. Who is this?
Danny: Oh, that's just...it's Teresa. She's just an old friend.
Michelle: A friend?
Danny: Yeah.
Michelle: (Jokingly.) This face, I would place my bets on an old girlfriend.
Danny (Admitting defeat.) Okay.
Michelle: (Mocking him.) Okay. Should I be jealous, you keeping a picture of her all these years?
Danny: No.
Michelle: (Mocking him again.) No.
Danny: No, that's my past. My life began the day I met you. (Oh, now, why can't a guy say that to me?)
Scene 4: Michelle's Bedroom
(Danny and Michelle are lying...laying...on her little twin size bed. I bet if one of them moves an inch, they'll fall off!)
Michelle: I can't imagine being told your whole life who you're going to be and what you're going to be.
Danny: Yeah. For as long as I can remember.
Michelle: You never really had any time to just dream about what you wanted for yourself?
Danny: Mm-mmm. No, I was expected to carry the family torch. No one ever asked me what I wanted. (I can just imagine how horrified his kindergarten teacher had to be when they had to say what they wanted to be when they're older. "I want to be a doctor." "I want to be a teacher." "I want to be President." "I want to be a mafia boss." That had to be a bit awkward, don't ya think?)
Michelle: Well, I'm asking you now. You can do anything. You can be anything. What do you want?
Danny: You. I want you. (How did I know he was going to say that?)
Michelle: Well, you've got me, babe. You've always got me.
Danny: I'll love you forever. (They snuggle and the camera focuses on the picture of T----a, which was left lying out. The focus goes back to Danny and Michelle and Danny's kissing her neck.)
main images transcripts bios news speeches links miscellaneous