Skye and "Dobson" are in the Quartermaine living room. Skye is fussing with the dinner table as Alexis stands there looking disgusted.

Skye: Precisely 23 minutes after the meal is finished -- not served, finished -- I want the strawberries to be brought out. And make sure cook uses that white chocolate from Belgium, ok?

Alexis doesn't respond and doesn't look at Skye.

Skye: Dobson? Hello? Are you getting this?

Alexis: (As Dobson) Yes, ma'am. I'm very familiar with the dinner plans. We've been over them several times.

Skye: Well, good, then. I'll expect the evening to be perfect. (Skye goes to the bar and pours a glass of bottled water)

Alexis: Very good.

Ned walks in.

Ned: Wow. Everything looks great. Including you.

Skye: Thank you.

Alexis stands by rolling her eyes.

Ned: So, I can't help but wonder what I did to deserve all this.

Skye: Well, you're a nice person. You deserve the occasional special treatment. Dobson, I'm sure Ned would like a glass of champagne.

Alexis: Right away, ma'am.

Alexis grabs the champagne bottle and turns with her back facing Ned and Skye. As they speak she shakes the bottle.

Skye: (Quietly) I have serious doubts about that man.

Ned: Dobson is a strange one, all right.

Skye: And incompetent. Have you seen him try to do anything? (Skye turns and watches Dobson impatiently) Oh. Dobson, will we be getting that champagne sometime this evening?

Alexis: I'm having a bit of a -

The cork flies from the bottle just as Alexis turns to face Skye. Champagne erupts all over Skye's jacket. Skye scream.

Alexis: So sorry, ma'am.

Skye sighs in frustration as Alexis turns away and laughs to herself.

Alexis wipes champagne off of Skye's coat.

Skye: Oh, talk about incompetent. Can't even open a bottle of champagne.

Alexis: I'm so terribly sorry, ma'am. You need to go upstairs immediately before a stain sets in. I will be happy to serve Mr. Ashton his dinner and to keep yours warm.

Ned: No, hold on. Only your jacket got wet, right?

Skye: Oh. (She unbuttons her jacket)

Ned: Allow me. Unless, of course, you'll be too cold. (He takes her coat)

Skye: Oh, no. Thank you. (She takes the coat from Ned and pushes it at Alexis) Can you take care of this? Can you manage that, Dobson?

Alexis: Certainly, ma'am.

Alexis leaves.

Skye: This certainly isn't turning out to be the evening that I planned.

Ned: We never did quite get to the explanation as to why you arranged all this.

Skye: Um -- I wanted to thank you.

Ned: What did I do?

Skye: Well, this hasn't been exactly my most stellar year, to put it mildly. Starting with my unforgettable wedding night when my husband did leave me for his dead wife, which I probably used as an excuse to go crashing off the wagon. And then I was accused of killing Alcazar. And then, of course, the worst blow of all. It turns out I'm not really a Quartermaine. Which brings me to you, Ned. If it hadn't been for your initial support, I might have been kicked out on my rear. (Dobson returns with a basket of bread) You have given me the benefit of the doubt, and the best part of all, you have given me free access to that amazing little girl of yours. (Alexis stops in her tracks) I -- I guess I just want to show you my way of saying thank you.

Ned: I have to confess -- up until recently, your charm was lost on me. But after seeing you with Kristina, I realized there's another side to you.

Skye: Well, I'm glad you noticed.

Ned: You're not easy to ignore.

Alexis: Salads are ready.

Ned: Thank you, Dobson. Shall we?

Skye: Yes. Of course.

They walks to the table. Ned seats Skye.

Ned: Allow me.

Skye: Thank you.

Ned walks to his chair.

Ned: Gorgonzola, pear, and (Alexis pushes the chair under Ned) walnuts. My favorite.

Skye: How did I know that?

Ned: It looks delicious.

Alexis stands by the bar waiting for her plan to take effect.

Skye: Dig in.

Ned and Skye begin to eat their salads. Skye puts the first forkful in her mouth and grimaces. She starts coughing. Alexis smiles with satisfaction.

Ned: Are you all right?

Skye: (Wheezing) Pepper --

Ned: Have some water. Drink slowly.

Skye starts drinking and Alexis steps over to her.

Alexis: Allow me, ma'am.

Alexis smacks Skye on the back. She just about spills all her water.

Skye: Get your hands off me, you idiot!

Alexis: Just trying to help, sir.

Skye continues to cough.

Ned: Dobson, just back off.

Alexis: Sorry, sir.

Ned: I suppose the top just flew off the pepper mill?

Alexis: I have no idea what happened, sir, but I will inquire with cook in the kitchen immediately.

Ned: Dobson, if I didn't know better, I would think that you're deliberately trying to sabotage this meal.

Alexis smirks to herself.

Ned: Dobson, what do you have to say for yourself?

Alexis: I have no idea what happened, sir.

Ned: (Stands up) First you shower her with champagne, then you practically poison her with pepper.

Alexis: I would never do anything to harm your (faces Ned) cousin, sir.

Ned: She's not my cousin.

Alexis: I mean no disrespect.

Ned: Don't tell me, tell Skye.

Alexis: I beg your pardon?

Ned: I want you to apologize to her.

Alexis: But, sir --

Ned: I want you to apologize to her, and then you may leave.

Skye: That really isn't necessary.

Ned: Like hell it isn't. Dobson?

Alexis: Very good, sir.

She turns to face Skye.

Alexis: (Facetiously) I'm terribly sorry, ma'am.

Skye: Apology accepted.

Alexis takes Skye's salad dish out of the room.

Ned: I don't know what's going on with that man, but I'm really starting to lose my patience. (He sits back down)

Skye: You know, before that man comes back into this room and does something else stupid, I -- I really want to say something else to you, Ned. I -- I do hope that you will continue to see me with an open mind instead of just seeing the rather twisted pieces I'm so fond of displaying.

Ned: Don't worry. Twisted women have never scared me off. But you also don't look that twisted from over here.

Skye: Ned, I'm serious. For some ungodly reason, I love it here. These people, this house. I can't believe that when I look around the table now, that they aren't mine anymore.

Ned: You really like this family, don't you?

Skye: Yeah, but don't spread it around too much. It might ruin my image.

Ned: Your secret's safe. So, here we are.

Skye: Here we are.

Ned: Not cousins.

Skye: Not remotely.

Ned: You know, I -- I think you are an intriguing woman, Skye. You're bright, resilient, polished --

Skye: You make me sound like car wax.

Ned: Clever, unpredictable, gorgeous red hair.

Skye: Is that good?

Ned: I like it. I like the whole package. But I guess you make most men feel threatened.

Skye tip-toes her fingers over to Ned's hand and takes hold of it.

Skye: Do you feel like that?

Ned: Am I threatened by you? No. If anything, I'm intrigued, curious.

Skye: Well, jump in. The water's fine.

They lean in toward each other. Their lips are just about to touch when Alexis runs in.

Alexis: (As herself) Oh. Sorry to interrupt. Dobson told me that I should come right into the living room.

Skye: Hmm. Why doesn't that surprise me?

Ned: Alexis, what are you doing here? (Ned gets up)

Alexis: I thought maybe I could sneak a visit with my daughter.

Ned: But this isn't a scheduled visitation.

Alexis: Yes, I know that. It's very hard for me to schedule my instincts and calculate my feelings. And I was driving by, and I thought -- well, actually, I had this feeling that Kristina might want to see her mother.

Ned: I'm sorry, she's already asleep.

Alexis: That's it? Not even a pause to reflect?

Ned: Alexis, why would you want to risk a violation of the court order when you know that Kristina is
already asleep? She's not even awake for a visit.

Alexis: You know what I've noticed? I've noticed that every time you and I have any conversation at all, you always bring up the court order. Is it that you don't want me to see my daughter?

Skye: You know, I hate to interrupt with the actual facts, but Kristina is Ned's daughter, too.

Alexis: Oh, I'm well aware of that because I was there when she was conceived. In fact, I was there for hours, days, nights, weeks, while she was fighting for her life. I don't expect Skye to understand that kind of attachment because she's not a mother. You, however, are a father, and I thought you might be a little more sympathetic. Can I just see her for a minute?

Ned: Alexis, you keep violating this court order, keep risking your future with your own child, and I'm really starting to worry about you.

Alexis: I see your point. I'll have Dobson escort me out in a straitjacket.

She turns to leave but Ned stops her.

Ned: No, just wait. Just know that Kristina is being well cared for, ok? Just trust that. And just focus, if you can, on just trying to get yourself healthy. Please.

Alexis grins and peaks over at Skye. She turns around and leaves.

Skye: Really, that woman has the worst timing. You think maybe we could salvage some part of dinner?

Ned: You know, I -- I've lost my appetite.

They hear Kristina cry over the baby monitor.

Ned: I'm going to go check on the baby.

Skye walks into the living room holding the baby.

Skye: Thank you, by the way, the way you stopped crying the minute you got put into my arms. (She sits down) Ooh, that was a good move. Thank you, princess brat. Hey, who knows, huh? We play our cards right, maybe I'll get really lucky and you'll start calling me mommy.

Skye holds the baby close to her and coos. The camera moves toward the door where "Dobson" is watching.

Alexis covers her mouth to stifle her crying. She leans back against the door and sighs.