Carmen ”Why?”

Mark ”You keep me in check.  I don’t really talk with my sisters…or anybody else in my family for that matter.  So you and Shane pretty much filled that void and…I don’t know if I filled any void in yours or her lives, but…I’d like to think maybe there was something there.  Something meaningful.  Something you just don’t easily throw away in a huff, because things went to shit.”

Carmen ”Mark…I would have eventually called you back.  You gotta understand…what happened to me was humiliating.  Being stood up…in front of my whole family.  And Shane’s friends.”

Mark ”Hey.  Knock that shit off.  Those are your friends, too.  To tell you the truth and maybe you don’t wanna hear this right now, but everybody got fed a shit sandwich on this one.”

Carmen ”What?”

Mark ”Not only is Shane missing, but Bette and Tina are still separated.  Helena’s been cut off from the Peabody bank…meaning she doesn’t quite have the money she used to, because of that shit going down like it did…and Shane’s fucking excuse for a father running off with Ten-K of Helena’s money.  Which I guess was also her mother’s money, which is why she no longer has access to that money.”

Carmen ”Shit.”

Mark ”Shit indeed.  And then there’s Alice.  You remember Al, right?  She’s been through a rough time and I don’t think a recap is necessary.  Her main concern is Lara.”

A silence takes over the ride as Carmen looks out the window.

Carmen ”…How is Lara?”

Mark ”Remember how she was when Dana died?”

Carmen looks back at Mark.

Mark ”It’s worse now.  According to Al…Lara was supposed to take this big  job opportunity in San Francisco.  She didn’t take it.  Lara came back here.  She’s not talking to anybody.”

Carmen ”I’ve wanted to call her, but…I don’t know what to say.”

They pull into a parking lot and Carmen suddenly realizes where she is.

Carmen ”Why are we pulling into The Planet?”

Mark ”It’s not for Shane.”

Carmen ”…Is Lara here?”

Mark ”I hope so.”

Carmen ”Mark!  …I don’t know what to say to her!”

Mark ”Good.  What you say’ll be more honest.  And I’m hungry.”

Carmen rolls her eyes as they exit the vehicle and walk toward The Planet.  As they enter, Alice and Marina see them.  Alice gives Carmen a hug with Marina following with her own.  Alice looks over to Mark.