Cameron and Alexis are both having breakfast at Kelly's - he at the counter and she at a table. Penny brings a mug of tea to Alexis.

Penny: Here you are.

Alexis: Oh, thank you, Penny. I've been waiting for that all day. Thanks. I appreciate it.

She takes a sip of tea and grimaces.

Alexis: Oh, my God. What is that?

Penny: It's what you ordered -- Celtic goldenrod.

Alexis: I didn't order that. I've never even heard of it. And now I know why. It's ghastly.

Penny: Ok, you liked it before. Bobbie started stocking it because you specifically asked.

Alexis: I did? Oh. Could you do me a favor? Just bring me a nice cup of orange pekoe. (She laughs)

Penny: Ok.

A mug appears in front of Alexis' face.

Cameron: Here, take mine. (Cameron sets the mug down in front of her) No cooties. I haven't touched it.

He walks around to the chair across from Alexis.

Alexis: Thank you.

Penny: I guess you're all set.

She walks away with the first mug of tea .

Alexis: Thanks, Penny. I appreciate it. Could you take him with you, please? Just kidding. (Alexis turns and stairs at Cameron) What?

Cameron: Celtic goldenrod. That sounds almost as whimsical as the picture you paint of Kristina.

Alexis: Ah. See? I was probably thinking of Kristina when I ordered the tea. It makes perfect sense.

Cameron: Just kind of a reflex or an homage.

Alexis: Please don't start. I have gone my whole life without being analyzed. I'm certainly not going to let you browbeat me into it now.

Cameron: Maybe you should reconsider.

Alexis glares at him.

---

Cameron: Even people with an aversion to therapy are driven there by devastating losses. Nothing to be ashamed of. Why are you so resistant?

Alexis: I know how to cope. That's what I do. I cope. I manage. I micromanage.

Cameron: You think so?

Alexis: For your condescending information, this is not my first devastating loss. I've had plenty. And you know what I've learned? I've learned that the world doesn't just stop because you want to get off. It keeps turning and turning, and all you can do is just keep moving with it, no matter how much you hurt, no matter how much you want to curl up in a ball and die. That is my commonsense approach to life. And you know what? It works for me. Which is why I don't want you poking around in my head, inventing things to analyze to justify your own life.

We hear a gentle chiming sound as Ned and Faith walk in the door. Alexis stops speaking and looks over as they walk in.

Alexis: (Angrily) Where does he get the nerve?

She gets up and walks over to Ned.

Cameron: Alexis --

Alexis: Is this how you demonstrate how fit you are to be a father?

---

Alexis: First I'm treated to the spectacle of your public porn show on the dock, and then you bring your portable sex toy into a restaurant that you know that I frequent. Is this your declaration of independence? Ned, you don't have to do that. I get it loud and clear. You can be as independent as you want. You just stay away from me, and you stay away from Kristina.

Faith: For an uptight woman, you got a big mouth.

Alexis: I wasn't speaking to you.

Faith: If I were Ned, I would haul your little butt into court and go for full custody. Mother's unfit due to insanity. And I wouldn't knock the sex toy thing, honey. You could obviously use a few of your own.

Ned: All right, that's enough, both of you. Alexis, you are out of line, not to mention ridiculous.

Faith: And pathetic.

Ned: Quiet. If you have issues with my behavior, then I suggest you address me like a rational person, and then maybe we'll discuss it. Otherwise, you keep your distance. I mean it.

Faith and Ned leave. Alexis stands there a little confused.

Cameron: Was that an example of your well honed coping skills?

---

Alexis: (Sitting back down) There's no need to overreact. I was just being a little sarcastic.

Cameron: A little sarcastic? Alexis, you were a pit bull. You were completely over the top. You called Ned's date a portable sex toy.

Alexis: It was an apt description, don't you think, actually?

Cameron: You were totally out of line. You charged up to Ned, hurling insults, and from what I could see, all he did was walk through the door. What made you so angry?

Alexis: Ned is insisting that he's Kristina's father, and yet he's flaunting his relationship with a mob widow. I have a right to be angry.

Cameron: How about jealous? Could it be that after steadily pushing Ned away, you're finding you don't like seeing him with other people? Or were you acting on your sister's behalf?

Alexis: My sister's dead. Ned's social life no longer impacts her and it impacts me even less.

Cameron: You sure about that?

Alexis: Would you just leave me the hell alone?

---

Ned and Faith walk down by the docks.

Faith: Pardon me for pointing out the obvious, but that ex of yours ought to be sedated.

Ned: No argument here.

Faith: You know, I'm starting to worry she's going to jeopardize our plans for Sonny. How are we supposed to operate with any kind of stealth with that screaming harpy swooping down out of nowhere at any given moment? And if you ask me, Alexis is a problem that needs to be neutralized.

Ned: I swear, if Alexis gets so much as a hangnail, I'll make you pay. Don't even think about harming her.

Faith: Relax. I was just indulging in a little wishful thinking. I know she's the mother of your child. Although, whatever possessed you to get involved with her in the first place is beyond me.

Ned: That woman at Kelly's is not the Alexis I used to know. I don't know what's happening to her.

Faith: Well, it's not that tough to figure out. Alexis thinks she owns you and I'm moving in on her territory.

Alexis appears at the top of the docks steps.

Ned: No, no. No. Alexis has turned keeping me at arm's length into an art form. I don't know what's happening to her.

Faith: Well, then thank your Lucky stars and don't look a gift horse in the mouth. The woman is a loon.

Ned: You're not hearing me. Something is wrong with Alexis. She's not like this.

Alexis leans up against the wall and rests her head against it.

---

Faith: You're not going to figure out what's wrong with her tonight. And frankly, the subject is starting to bore me.

Ned: Can't have that, can we?

Ned and Faith walk down to the lower level of the docks and leave. At the stop of the steps Alexis puts on the red wig.

Just then Cameron appears at the other end of the dock

Alexis steps down the steps and hears Cameron speak.

Cameron: Hello, Kristina. I've been waiting to meet you.