Alexandra: "You'll have to forgive me, gentlemen. I'm rather shaken by this announcement."

Jackson: "Well, Dimitri did like his surprises."

Alexandra (almost angrily): "This makes absolutely no sense." (Edmund looks smugly at Jackson, then back at Alex.)

(The Intercom on Clive's desk buzzes, and Alex turns her head at the sound. Clive answers it.)
Clive: "Yes, Biddy? I'm in the middle of something. Very well." (Then to Alex) "I apologize for the intrusion but I've been summoned to chambers."

Edmund: "Well, what about the codicil to my brother's will?"

Clive: "Oh, Mr. Montgomery can explain the particulars."

Jackson: "Thank you."

Clive (taking Alex's hands into his): "Alex, dear, forgive my running out. I hope that you'll appreciate Dimitri's gesture in the spirit in which it was intended."

Alexandra: "Thank you." (He kissed both her cheeks, then leaves the room.)

Jackson (apologetic): "Look, Alex, I know this comes as a great shock to you, but there's no way that I could say anything because Dimitri held me to client-lawyer confidentiality."

Alexandra: "But we didn't have any secrets from each other. I knew exactly what he was feeling those last few weeks. He must have been delirious to go behind my back like that."

Jackson: "No, no, his mind was clear and focused."

Alexandra: "I'm sorry, Jackson, but I don't believe you."

Jackson: "I'm sorry to hear that. Maybe you'll believe Dr. Silbert. He evaluated Dimitri, and he was there to witness his signature."

Alexandra: "Silbert was in on this?"

Edmund (gloating): "It's a little bit different when you're the one left guessing, isn't it?"

Alexandra (pauses, annoyed): "You're rather smug, aren't you?"

Edmund: "Well, I did know about the amending of the will. That's why I asked Jack to be here."

Alexandra: "Oh. This must have been very satisfying, setting me up for an ambush."

Edmund: "Well, if you're going to push me, I'm going to have to agree with you. But the truth is I don't know what's in that codicil."

Jackson: "No, he does not know because what's in there was very personal and very intense for Dimitri."

Alexandra (sharply): "And life-changing, apparently."

Jackson: "Inevitably."

Alexandra (takes a deep breath and sits down on the couch): "All right. Go ahead."

Jackson (opening the will): "During the duration of his illness, Dimitri sold off a great deal of Marick industries. He sold it to various corporations and consortiums. Now, these sales netted millions, which were placed in an interest-bearing trust. The disbursement of this fund is addressed in this codicil."

Edmund (trying to read the will over Jackson's shoulder): "Go on."

Jackson: "It was Dimitri's wish that a medical foundation be established. Its purpose, its mission statement, if you will, was to research causes and develop cures for rare diseases."

Edmund: "Rare diseases? Jack, that's a little vague. Is that what it says?"

Jackson: "Well, the actual language is a little more specific and encompasses a variety of illnesses, most of them terminal... ailments so rare that they're often passed over when it comes to funding for research."

Alexandra (placing her hand on her heart, smiles a bit, excited. She then gets up): "Dimitri's illness... that fell into that category."

Jackson: "That's right."

Alexandra: "This isn't what I expected at all. I mean, this is exciting news. A foundation like that could save so many lives. Why would he feel that he had to keep that from me?"

Jackson (taking off his glasses, which he puts in his coat pocket): "I believe he felt that you may oppose his choice to head up this foundation."

Alexandra: "Oh, Edmund."

Jackson: "No. You."

The scene fades out then returns later. Alex is stunned, and both Jackson and Edmund are watching her intently to see her reaction to the news.
Jackson: "Dimitri named you as foundation director. Edmund and I will serve as trustees on the board."

Alexandra: But I'm not an administrator. I hate paperwork!" (She walks over to the window, parts the curtains looking out, and a moment of silence envelops the room.) "I mean, this is an incredible bequest. It means that my husband may have given up on himself but he didn't give up on the future." (She turns back and walks over to them.) "Well, if this really was his last wish, can't really be a coward about it, can I? Not when he went through so much. Well, I suppose I can act as the figurehead. I can sign off on research grants or go to annual meetings. It's not too much to ask."

Jackson: "Well, I'm afraid you won't get off quite that easily. You see, as director, you'll be in charge of research... hands-on. Now, the foundation will be centered at Pine Valley hospital."

Alexandra (vehemently): "I'm never going back there."

Jackson: "Well, of course I can't force you, but it was Dimitri's dying wish."

Alexandra (flabbergasted): "It can't be."

The scene fades out, then returns later.
Alexandra: "I can't take this position. It's a full-time job in a field that I've chosen to leave. I mean, Dimitri knew that. He knew my reasons. I wasn't even going to take his case."

Edmund: "That sounds like vintage Dimitri. You know, he's still calling the shots even from beyond the grave."

Alexandra: "He wasn't like that."

Edmund (laughs): "Oh, yes, he was. You may have loved him, but I knew my brother."

Alexandra: "He wouldn't wish something for me that I didn't want for myself."

Edmund: "He just did, Alex. Jack, this is pattern. Back me up here. He just strong-armed his way through life."

Jackson: "Dimitri liked to live by his own rules, and he also liked to make sure that everybody else lived by those rules if he could."

Alexandra: "That might have been your experience of him, but I watched a man struggle with a disease that gave no quarter. He fought, yes, but he also accepted. Ultimately, perhaps, on his own terms. But either way, he knew he'd lost."

Edmund (grinning): "Alex, open up your eyes. He always had a plan B. He always had... he had that codicil."

Jackson: "You know, it's my experience that bequests like this are an attempt by the dying to somehow stay connected to life."

Alexandra: "He will always be connected to me, with or without a codicil."

Edmund (wagging his finger at her): "You're fighting a losing battle, Alex. I know what you're feeling. You're feeling him pulling at your heartstrings, and it's maddening because if you defy his last wish, you're disrespecting his memory. You know, I don't think you knew what it was like to be me for the last few months, but I think now you have a clue."

Alexandra: "Hmm."

Edmund: "I think you do. Dimitri chose my role, and now he's chosen yours. Now, is it cruel, or is it kind? That's up for you to decide."

(Clive then enters, shutting the door behind him.) Clive: "I'm sorry for the interruption. Alex, has everything been explained to your satisfaction?"

Alexandra (smiling sarcastically): "You could say that."

Clive (going over to his desk, picks up a piece of paper): "Well, there's just one more detail before we adjourn. Dimitri was a member of the Squire's Club here in London. They need someone to go around to his rooms to collect his belongings."

Edmund and Alexandra: "I'll go." (Edmund's standing closer to Clive and gets the paper. Alex, standing behind him, lets out a loud sigh of frustration, and walks over to Jackson.)

Alexandra (to Jackson, pleading): "Do what you can to get me out of this."

Jackson: "I'll do whatever I can." (He puts a comforting hand on Alex's shoulder.)

Alexandra: "Thank you. I appreciate it." (She then walks over to the couch, grabs her purse, and leaves without a glance at Edmund. Edmund realizes she's left him behind, but he has the address since he's got the paper.)

The scene fades out, then returns later. Alex has arrived first at Dimitri's old room, where she and he had spent time together. Standing near the window, she looks out, then turns away, sighing. She pokes at the pillows on the bed, then sits down. Flashbacks of Dimitri and her making love on the bed fill her mind. Her back's to the door when Edmund and the hotel manager enter.
Mr. Harryhousen (his voice interrupting Alex's remembrance): "The membership of the Squire's Club regrets Mr. Marick's passing. He was a very fine gentleman."

Alexandra (smiles at him): "Thank you, Mr. Harryhousen. He was."

Mr. Harryhousen: "Take as long as you want packing up his things. I'll be happy to send them on to the States... postage paid, of course, out of respect."

Alexandra: "Thank you. You're very kind." (She stops smiling at seeing Edmund, who's been standing quietly behind Mr. Harryhousen. Mr. Harryhousen leaves the room, and Alex goes back to the window. She sighs, then talks to herself.) "Oh. Oh, that's still there. Hmmm."

Edmund: "What are you talking about."

Alexandra (finally acknowledging his presence, playing with the sheer curtains): "Oh, it's the wisteria. It's still there. This past spring, it had so many flowers. It was just beautiful. Dimitri liked to stand there and look at it. He said it was a pale imitation of the one that grows up the side of the hunting lodge, though. Apparently that one puts out so many blooms, it's like a wall of lavender."

Edmund (standing on the other side of the bed): "Well, he's right. You'll see for yourself next spring."

Alexandra (turns away from the window and solemnly walks toward him, standing on the other side of the bed): "I think he changed his will to keep me in Pine Valley so that you and I would keep our promise to look after each other."

Edmund (smiles): "Yeah. Well, I released you from your promise."

Alexandra: "Yes, I know. And likewise. We're free and clear. I'll go back to Pine Valley, but only for a short time, till Jackson can sort this whole thing out."

Edmund: "What about Dimitri's dying wish?"

Alexandra: "If he doesn't like it, he'll have to haunt me." (She walks back to the window.)

Edmund (picks up a book on the nightstand and sits down in the side chair, flipping the pages): "What's the last thing you think about when you turn out the light? When you've dog-eared a page and you've pulled up the covers and you realize, like Dimitri, you don't have all the time in the world... I mean, what do you.." (They stare at one another silently) "...what do you do? Do you turn the light back on? Do you sit up? You open the book and try to read, get to the last page of the last book that you'll ever read?"

Alexandra (trying not to cry, stares up at the ceiling, not looking at him): "When you get back there, will you tell Gillian and Eugenia that I'm staying at the Valley Inn?"

Edmund (firmly): "No. No, that's a mistake. I'm not going to let you do that." (She turns to him, stunned.)

The scene fades out, then returns later.
Alexandra (angry at his presumption, walks toward him): "I beg your pardon?"

Edmund: "I don't want you staying at the Valley Inn. You should stay at Wildwind or the hunting lodge."

Alexandra (flabbergasted, laughs): "Oh, you can't be serious."

Edmund: "No, I am serious. You're Dimitri's widow." (He stands up.) "And besides, Eugenia and Gillian... you'd hurt them if you distanced yourself."

Alexandra (bitterly, staring defiantly at Edmund): "I have no intention of distancing myself from them. Oh, it's just such an awkward situation." (She walks back to the window.)

Edmund: "Well, it's going to be more awkward if you stay at the Valley Inn. Look, just make the best of it. You're family, okay?"

Alexandra (bitterly): "Whether you like it or not."

Edmund: "Yeah, whether we like it or not."

Alexandra: "Well, that'll be a neat trick if we can pull it off."

Edmund: "Look, the point is Dimitri... Dimitri is going to be very missed by Eugenia and Gillian, and they need you, okay? They do. I don't know why, but they do." (Alex shakes her head at him, confused at his words.) "They lost a lot of money, and maybe the will's going to restore that, but nothing is going to make up for their loss. So... I will try to stay out of your way."

Alexandra (silent for a moment, then sighs in defeat): "I'll stay at the hunting lodge" (She pauses, then says determined.) "Let's do this." (She goes over and pulls out one of the drawer of chest, then stops, staring down at the contents. She pulls out a booklet and briefly looks at it, puts it aside, then slowly pulls out a chestnut colored scarf, which she pulls to her face, breathing in the scent.)

(Edmund, on the other side of the room, picks up a picture frame off the nightstand, and stares at the picture of himself with Dimitri. He puts it down and picks up a second framed image, one of Dimitri and Alex on the wedding day.) Edmund: "He was... he was as happy as I've seen him in this picture."

Alexandra (coming over to him): "Was a happy day. The minister must have thought we were both daft. Dimitri just kept babbling on and on like a lovesick idiot. And then when it came time for him to kiss me, he forgot all about it. (She smiles while recalling this, but then stops and turns her back to Edmund, trying not to cry. Edmund gingerly puts his hand on her shoulder.)

The scene fades out, then returns.
Alexandra: "Sorry." (She takes the wedding picture from Edmund and walks away, sitting down on the bed. She's wearing Dimitri's scarf around her neck.)

Edmund: "That's all we do is apologize to each other."

Alexandra: "Yeah. I'm going to take these things, if that's all right with you." (The things she's referring to are the picture and the scarf.)

Edmund: "Yeah." (He sits back down in the side chair.)

Alexandra: "You can do whatever you like with the rest of it. And about the hunting lodge... I am not going to be there very long. Just really until Jackson can work things out for me and get someone else to run the foundation."

Edmund: "It's your life."

Alexandra: "Yes, it is." (She closes her eyes and stretches her neck.) "Oh, I'm so jet-lagged. I'm going to go back to the hotel and rest." (She gets up, clutching the picture and scarf.)

Edmund: "Alex, wait a minute. You... ahem. You've had a long day, and so have I. We're both whipped. Why don't you just come back with me and Jack on Dimitri's jet."

Alexandra (softly, shaking her head): "No. I'll never set foot on that plane again." (She then leaves the room, Edmund staring thoughtfully after her.)