Setting: The Penthouse
Time of Day:  Late afternoon

Marlena is walking from the kitchen into the living room when she hears the doorknob turn and John enters.

Marlena:  Hey, handsome.

John: (startled)  Doc!  What are you doing here?

Marlena: Well, hello to you, too.

John: Sorry, I didn't mean to make it sound like that.  (He sets his keys and briefcase down on the lamp table.)  Is everything okay?

  Marlena: We need to talk.

John: Not to jump to conclusions here, but I can only assume that your being here means it isn't good.  When did you get here, anyway?

Marlena: I arrived a few hours ago.  Belle called me last night saying she needed to see me right away, and I of course, took the next flight out.  I hope you don't mind my being here.  It's just that I need to inform you of what's going on.

John: Of course I don't mind you being here.  This is your home.  So what's going on?

Marlena: (Obviously ignoring his comment.)  It's Belle.  (Marlena pauses to take a deep breath.)  John, she's pregnant.

John: What?

Marlena: (She grabs his arm in pleading to calm him down.)  Now before you go to yelling, and say something you don't mean, I must tell you... she's upstairs. (John tries to turn and take off upstairs, but she pulls him back.)  No, you're not going up there like this.  Anger is not what she needs right now.

John: Well, you sure are taking this calmly.

Marlena: Because I've had a few hours to let it soak in.  Look, she trusts us.  She wanted us to know.  That's why she called me.

John: She obviously doesn't want me to know.  She hasn't told me yet.

Marlena: John, she's a girl.  I'm sure it was easier for her to tell me something like this than her father.  (She notices John glaring at her.)  Oh, don't give me that look.  I know what you're thinking.  How can she feel close to a mother who's never around?

John: (He doesn't deny that is what he is thinking.)

Marlena: I talk to my daughter all the time.  The same goes for all of my children.  I know as much about her as you do.  Speaking of which, do you have any idea who the father is?  And if you're thinking it's Shawn Brady, you couldn't be more wrong.

John: What?  Of course it's Shawn Brady.  He's her boyfriend.

Marlena: John, you don't have to be dating to have sex and create a child.  You and I proved that.

John: Then who is it?

Marlena: You really have no clue, do you?  I take it back.  I know more than you do and I don't even live here.

John: Is this going to turn into a competition?  Because you really have no right to come in here talking like this.

Marlena: Well, now I thought you just said this is my home, too.  Or at least that is until I decide to stake my parenting position.

John: That's not fair.  You know I trust your judgment.  (He then realizes that their arguing is silly.)  So, who is the father?

Marlena: The one and only... Philip Kiriakas.

John: (Confused.)  Philip?  When did that happen?  (He walks over to the couch and sits down.  John is confused and feels a little left out since he did not know anything about Belle seeing Philip.)
 
 
 

Marlena: (Marlena feels sorry for him, and realizes that this is no time for I told you so's.  She goes over to him and sits down next to him.)  Hey.  Don't feel bad.  She and Philip got together right after she and Shawn had a fight.  The only reason I knew is because she told me.  I would have never guessed that she and Philip were even remotely interested in each other.  But apparently, they were only interested enough for one night.

John: He doesn't know, does he?

Marlena: No.

John: She's going to tell him, though, right?  He's got a right to know.  He's got responsibilities.

Marlena: Yes, she's going to tell him.  In fact, I suggested she have him come here tonight.  (She glances at her watch.)  He should be here about seven.  Look, she's not jumping for joy about this.  She knows that this will change her life forever, but John... having a baby is not the worst thing that could happen.  No, I would not have chosen it to happen to my nineteen year old daughter, but there's nothing we can do about that.  We have no right to be angry.  Besides, that's not what she needs from us right now.

John: (nods.)  I know, you're right.  You usually always are.

Marlena: I think you should go talk to her.

John: I'm sure she doesn't want to see me.

Marlena: I think you're wrong.  She may be pregnant, but she still needs her daddy.  She's about to become a mother, a woman overnight, but she is still very much a child.  Try to keep that in mind and you'll do fine.
 
 

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