Scott sighs.
Scott: You're up awfully early. What's the matter, couldn't you sleep?
Nikolas: I don't want to put my family through one more day of this hearing.
Scott: Well, you know, if you want this done, sign over guardianship of Laura.
Nikolas: Mr. Baldwin, you and I both know that this doesn't have anything to do with what's best for my mother. You just want revenge against luke. Well, guess what -- you certainly got it the moment Lulu walked in here and heard that Luke raped our mother. Congratulations -- that relationship may never recover. So why don't you just drop this petition for guardianship and walk away?
Scott: I'm not going anywhere until Luke is out of Laura's life for good.
Nikolas: Okay, listen, I'm willing to do whatever it takes to end this, so name your price.
Scott: You keep your money. We both know I've already won.
Tracy: Uh-uh-uh. You might want to skip the caffeine today.
Luke: Oh, good point. Where's the scotch? I need something to get me through this fiasco.
Tracy: You know what? Alexis mounted a really good defense, and I'm sure it's more than enough to reinstate Nikolas as Laura's guardian. Drink that.
Luke: Baldwin's argument is that Nikolas contributed to her condition -- by allowing me unlimited access.
Tracy: Scott baldwin is a vindictive snake who set out to hurt you in the worst possible way by telling Lulu about the rape. But Lulu --
Luke: Oh -- is it free?
Tracy: No, it's fine, it's fine. Lulu is a very smart cookie, and she knows exactly who Scott is and she's not about to give him the satisfaction of turning on you.
Lulu: What time is the hearing supposed to start?
Tracy: Well, I didn't know you were planning on going.
Lulu: I want to be there -- for my mom.
Nikolas: I have every reason to believe the Judge will rule in my favor today.
Scott: Then why are you trying to bribe me to disappear?
Nikolas: Because unlike you, I happen to care about the people my mother loves, and they've been hurt enough.
Scott: Yeah, well, so has Laura, and I'm surprised that you want Luke anywhere near her after everything he's done.
Nikolas: Laura forgave Luke a long time ago.
Scott: Yeah, well, have you? Luke treated you like dirt when he found out that you were her son. He tried to cut you out of her life, and then when you were appointed guardian, he did a 180 -- you know why? I'll tell you -- because he wanted access to Laura.
Nikolas: I can assure you that's not why Luke wants me to remain Laura's guardian.
Scott: He's using you. He's using you just like he used your mother.
Nikolas: Laura loves Luke.
Scott: Yeah, but she didn't trust him -- that's why she appointed you guardian. She didn't want some drunk making decisions for her --
Alexis: Scott, Scott, Scott, enough, all right? Just pipe down and wait for the Judge's rulings. With any luck, you won't have any further input in Laura's affairs.
Scott: Look, I'm not trying to take Laura away from Nikolas or her family. I'm just trying to protect her from Luke.
Lucky: Hey. Look at you. Hey, how's Cam?
Elizabeth: Asleep. The medication really knocked him out.
Lucky: Well, maybe we should keep him away from Jake for a few days, you know, just in case.
Elizabeth: Will you tell your Daddy to stop worrying, that it's just a cold?
Lucky: I can't help it.
Elizabeth sighs.
Elizabeth: Try not to be nervous, okay? Your mother made her wishes clear when she committed herself to Shadybrook. And I know the Judge will uphold Nikolas' position as her guardian.
Lucky: I hope so, but after what happened in court, I'm not so sure.
Emily: Hey, you guys.
Lucky: Hey.
Emily: The only thing that Scott proved is that he's a selfish person incapable of putting anybody above himself. There is no doubt in my mind that Nikolas is going to be reinstated.
Elizabeth: Where is Nikolas?
Emily: He's at the courthouse. Alexis wanted to go over a few papers with him before the hearing started. I can take Jake if you want to go upstairs and get changed.
Elizabeth: You know, I can't go. Cam has come down with a fever, Gram got called into work, there's nobody to baby-sit. I'm really sorry, I wish I could be there for you.
Lucky: No, no, no, Cam needs you more. Besides, if everything goes the way it should, we'll be home soon to celebrate.
Elizabeth: Okay.
Lucky: Right?
Lucky imitates explosion and chuckles.
Lucky: How you holding up?
Lulu: Huh -- sometimes I can't even look Dad in the eye, and -- and then there are moments like these when I just want to give him a hug and tell him that everything's going to be okay, but I don't know if it is -- or if it ever will be. I mean, I know that Mom loved him -- you could see it every time that she looked at him -- but I don't think I'll ever understand how she got past what he did to her -- or how I will.
Lucky: It took me some time before I came to terms with it.
Lulu: How did you?
Lucky: I got angry. I lashed out, and when I finally calmed down, I asked myself if Mom -- if she could forgive Dad for what he did, why shouldn't I?
Nikolas: I don't think I'll ever be able to forgive myself for upsetting Lulu like I did.
Emily: Hey, maybe it's all going to be for the best. Nikolas, I have to believe that the Judge is going to throw out Scott's petition and just leave everything the way it is.
Nikolas: I don't know. I don't know. Excuse me. Hey?
Luke: Hmm?
Nikolas: You okay?
Luke: Oh, we'll see. Listen, I -- uh -- I want to tell you how much I appreciate everything that you've done to protect your mother. No, no, Nikolas, she -- she made a good choice making you guardian.
Nikolas: Thank you.
Bailiff: All rise. The court is now in session, the honorable Judge Rogers presiding.
Judge pounds gavel.
Judge: We're here today to discuss the guardianship of Laura Spencer. After weighing the evidence, and the assertions that further contact with luke Spencer would be detrimental to the patient's welfare, and taking into consideration Ms. Spencer's clear desire to have her son Nikolas act as her sole guardian, I have come to a decision, one that I believe will be in Laura's best interest. With that said, I'm appointing Scott Baldwin as Laura spencer's legal guardian.
Judge pounds gavel.