SOMEONE LOST. SOMETHING FOUND.

Bo is at home asleep when the phone rings at 4 am.

BO: Renee? What's wrong? Calm down.
RENEE: It's Asa. He's gone.
BO: When did you last see him?
RENEE: When he left for the office. He didn't come home last night .
BO: I'll be right over.

Bo dresses hurriedly and rushes over to Asa and Renee's.

RENEE: Oh Bo, something awful has happened! Asa wouldn't just leave!

BO: You've checked the grounds? His office?

RENEE: Yes! I've looked everywhere. Nigel hasn't seen him since yesterday morning, and all the cars are here.

Bo calls the police station and has them check the reports. They find nothing.

BO: Renee, get someone to stay with you. I have a couple of places to check out.

RENEE: I called Nora. She's coming over.

BO: Good. Try to stay calm. I'll call you soon.

Bo drives to the lodge hoping to find Asa with a gigantic hangover. The whole situation with Max and being accused of Grace's death had affected Asa even though he tried not to show it. At the lodge, Bo found no sign of him. But there was one thing-- some fishing gear was gone. Bo hadn't touched it since the day before he and Drew were supposed to go fishing. He called Sykes and had some officers search the lake area. The Buchanan boat was docked and hadn't been moved in months.

As Bo drove to the station, he began to feel more and more uneasy. Could Asa have been kidnapped? Asa? When he got to the station he called Asa's bank. The news wasn't good. Asa had withdrawn more than 100-thousand dollars in cash. Sykes walked in just as Bo hung up the phone.

SYKES: Bo, Asa's plane took off for the Bahamas late yesterday.

BO: Find the pilot. I've got to go tell Renee.

At Renee's, Nora opened the door.

BO: I'm glad you're here. Renee's going to need you.
NORA: What is it?
BO: I'm not sure. But I don't like it.

Bo told Renee and Nora about the plane and the money .

RENEE: Why? Why? Someone made him do it. Asa wouldn't just leave me like this. It's not his style. He'd want to have the last word!!

Bo's cellphone rings. It's Sykes.

SYKES: We found the plane and the pilot.
BO: And?
SYKES: Asa isn't with him. He told the pilot to fly the plane to the Bahamas and store it in a hangar. He gave the pilot enough money to last several weeks and told him to keep quiet.

BO: Do you think he's on the level?

SYKES: When I told him what charges he could face.. he got on the level real fast. I think sending the plane to the Bahamas was a diversion.

BO: Sounds like it, but why?

SYKES: I'll let you know if I get anything else.

Renee is crying, but suddenly she looks up at Nora.

RENEE: Nora, you know I would never say anything to deliberately hurt you, but you know how Sam and Ben feel about Asa.
NORA: What?
RENEE: Could Sam and Ben have...
NORA: Of course not! No, Renee. NO!
Nora looked at Bo
NORA: No. You got that? No.

Bo nods his head.

BO: That's not really where I'm heading in my thinking. I'll be at the station.

Later that day, Nora walks into Bo's office.

BO: How's Renee?

NORA: Hanging in there. Jessica and Viki are with her. Bo, I talked to Sam and Ben.
BO: You did?
NORA: I knew you couldn't rest until you heard what they had to say. You can trust my instincts on this or not. It's up to you-- but I don't think either of them had anything to do with Asa's disappearance.
BO: I do trust your instincts. This is just crazy. It's crazy!
NORA: I know how much you love the old coot.

Lindsay walks up to the door just in time to see Bo hug Nora.

NORA: I'll do anything I can to help you.
BO : Thanks. It's a delicate balance. If Asa left on his own, I can't expend department time and money looking for him.

Lindsay walks away unnoticed. That night when Lindsay tries to comfort Bo, he pushes her away.
BO: Lindsay, try to understand. I just need time to think. I need to figure out where Asa would go if he left on his own.

Days go by and the police turn up nothing.

SYKES: Bo, I know I'm stating the obvious, but at some point we have to consider the possibility that Asa doesn't want to be found.
BO: To be honest, I've already been thinking that. No one would kidnap him for a measly $100,000 and we've had no contact from anyone about him.
SYKES: Let me know how you want to proceed.
Bo nods and puts his head in his hands as Nora walks in.

NORA: How long since you've slept?
BO: I don't know.
NORA: I've been thinking about something.. Asa's family is the most important thing in the world to him, right?
BO: So I once thought.
NORA: So it's hard to understand how he'd leave all of you. But this family has been a keg of dynamite ever since Grace's death. Kevin told Asa he never wanted to see him again. You were put in the middle of Sam, Ben and Asa.. There has been Asa versus Sam over Will. There's Max's illness, plus he hasn't seen Clint in months. How do you think he feels right now? His family, his legacy, his dynasty is falling apart.
BO: You think Asa left on his own don't you?
NORA: Asa is not as tough as he once was. The one thing he couldn't stand would be to lose all of you or to lose your respect.
BO: The whole last year it's like we've just disintegrated-- beginning with you and me-- Matthew not being his
grandson. I think you're right. And you know something else? When I checked the lodge, the fishing gear was gone-- nothing else-- just that. I didn't think much about it at the time.
NORA: So where would you go if you were a very well known man and wanted to slip out of sight for a while?
BO: You're going to help me find him?
NORA: Of course. We made a pretty good detective team once.
Bo smiled for the first time in days.
BO: Yeah, we did. Thanks, Red. I could use the support.
NORA: Well, you got it. So. Where would he go?
BO: Somewhere woodsy, with a lake.
NORA: Isolated, away from everything. But how did he get there? None of the cars is missing.
BO: I'll check the bus station-- although I can't imagine Asa traveling with the masses!
They both start laughing at the thought of Asa on a bus.
NORA: He'd have on his safari jacket!
Bo is doubled over with laughter.
BO: And his handmade ostrich boots.
NORA: I have an idea. See ya later.
BO: Nora--
NORA: It's a hunch. I'll call you.

Nora slid into the chair at the counter of the truck stop and ordered a cup of coffee.
She showed the waitress a picture of Asa.
NORA: Have you seen this man in here a week or so ago by chance? He wouldn't be dressed like a trucker. In fact he'd look out of place here.
WAITRESS: Can't say I have, but you know, we have so many faces comin and goin around here. If a guy's not a regular, I probably wouldn't remember him. What did he do?
NORA: Nothing. He's just missing and his family is worried about him.
WAITRESS: That's terrible. I'll keep the picture if you want and show it around.
NORA: That would be great. I'll put my number on the back.

Nora left and drove to another truck stop on the other side of town and passed Asa's picture around there too, but with no luck. She was afraid it had been too long for anyone to remember.

She went home and found Sam waiting.

SAM: Where have you been?
NORA: Looking for Asa.
SAM: What? Asa? Why?
NORA: Well, because.. Renee's my friend and uh, Bo's my friend, too.
SAM: But finding Asa is not your responsibility.
NORA: I know that. I just made a few stops.
SAM: I called your office all afternoon.
NORA: I had my cellphone.
SAM: No you didn't because it was right here.
NORA: Oh. Well, sorry. Can you give me a break here, Sam?
SAM: Fine. I just don't know what you can do that Bo can't hire a private detective to do.
NORA: (sarcastically) You're right. You're absolutely right. I'm going to play with Matthew and then I'm going to bed.

She had no intention of giving up-- or allowing Sam to dictate what she could and could not do.

The next morning Nora was in her office when the phone rang.

WAITRESS: Hi, uh Ms Buchanan, this is Gwen out at The Big O's Truck Stop. I showed that picture you gave me to a guy who drives a regular route between here and Ohio and he thinks he seen the man in the picture.
NORA: You're kidding! Is he still there?
WAITRESS: Yeah, he's having breakfast.
NORA: I'll be right there. Don't let him leave.

Nora drove to the truck stop as fast as she could. The waitress waved her over to a booth where a man had Asa's picture.
NORA: Hi. Nora Buchanan.
TRUCKER: Bill Snodgrass.
NORA: You think you've seen this man?
BILL: Seen him? I gave him a ride.
NORA: Are you sure?
BILL: Oh, yeah. He stuck out here like a sore thumb. Asked which direction I was headin and offered me 500 dollars to take him to Watsonville.
NORA: Where's that?
BILL: A little hole in the highway 'bout a hunerd miles west of here. I dropped him off at a used car lot just outside of town. Said he was going to buy an old pickup or something to get by with.
NORA: Did he say where he was going?
BILL: Nope. He didn't talk much, and that was fine with me.
NORA: You've been a great help, Mr Snodgrass. Now, how do I get to Watsonville?

It was early in the day. Nora called Mary Ann to check on Matthew and then headed out. It was an easy drive. The used car lot was right where the trucker said it was. The salesman there had no problem remembering Asa either. It seems he really did wear his safari jacket and ostrich boots. The salesman said Asa bought an old beat up red pickup and seemed real pleased with it. Said it had character.

Nora pressed him on where Asa might have been going.
NORA: Is there a lake near here with cabins?
SALESMAN: Yeah, Lake Watson. They're pretty primitive cabins though. It's no resort.

Nora got directions and followed a winding road through a beautiful wooded area. At every cabin, she stopped and looked for an old red pickup. She was about to give up when she saw a cabin, but no truck. She stopped the car at the edge of the road and walked up through the trees. There it was-- the pickup parked behind the house. A man was chopping wood. It was Asa. What now? Should she call Bo? Well, she didn't drive all this way for nothing. She walked up the pathway and got right up behind Asa without him even noticing her.

NORA: Well, hi ya Asa! Forget to tell everyone about your vacation?
Asa looked like he was going to keel right over.
ASA: What the HELL are you doing here?
NORA: Great to see you too, Asa.
ASA: Well what do you expect when you sneak up on a man like that?
NORA: Well, you know, I didn't want to give you time to run, outlaw.
ASA: How did you find me? Does Bo know you're here? Does Renee?
NORA: Nevermind. No and no. But they're going to know if you don't start talking. How could you do this to them? They're worried sick! They love you! Only God knows why.
ASA: It's kind of hard to explain.
NORA: Well start talking because I'm not leaving.

Turns out the depression theory Bo and Nora had about Asa was pretty much on target. He knew his relationship with Kevin would never be the same. He finally realized he couldn't replace Clint with Max. It seemed like he and Bo couldn't have a conversation without it ending in an argument.

ASA: I know what I've done to Renee is cruel. But I can't face my own family right now. Give me some time.
NORA: You can't expect me to let Renee and Bo continue to suffer.
ASA: Okay, woman! Okay!
Asa sat down and wrote letters to Bo and Renee and gave them to Nora. She turned to leave and then walked back and hugged Asa.
NORA: I won't tell them where you are as long as you stay in touch. I'm begging you, Asa. I'll keep my end of the bargain if you'll keep yours.

Nora broke the speed limit all the way to Llanview. She was breathless when she ran into Bo's office.
NORA: I found him. I found him!
And then she saw Lindsay.
BO: Asa? You found Asa? Where?
NORA: He made me promise not to tell, but I have a letter for you.
LINDSAY: Oh come ON NORA. Tell Bo where his father is!
BO: Lindsay, please.
He sat down to read the letter. Tears came to his eyes.
LINDSAY: What does it say?
BO: It's private, Lindsay, I'm sorry.
LINDSAY: Oh, so you're sharing with Nora, but not me.
NORA: I don't know what's in the letter, Lindsay. I didn't read it. Now I have to go give one to Renee. I'll talk to you later Bo.

Later that night, Bo called Nora.
BO: I don't know how you found him, but thank you. At least I know he's okay.
NORA: You don't have to thank me. I'll keep at him. I'm sure he'll let me tell you where he is eventually.
BO: I understand. Tell him I love him.
NORA: I will if he calls me. There's no phone where he is.

A couple of days go by and Nora hears nothing from Asa. Renee is calling her several times a day.. still worried sick. Finally Nora decides to go back to Watsonville. What if Asa skipped out? She had to check. The next day she headed out early. Sure enough, the old red pickup was at the cabin. She knocked on the door and Asa answered.

ASA: Didn't trust me, huh?
NORA: Would you trust you?
ASA: Touche'. You always were my favorite daughter-in-law.
NORA: Bo and Renee were very glad to know you're okay, but you can't keep this up, Asa. Renee calls me crying every day. It's not fair.

BO: No it's not, Pa.
NORA: Bo!
ASA: I shoulda known I couldn't trust you, Nora. You women are all alike.
NORA: Asa I didn't--
BO: Pa, she didn't tell me where you were. I followed her.
NORA: BO! How could you? You were spying on me?
BO: Well, I know him and how stubborn he is. Pa, please, can we talk?
ASA: Talk.

Asa starts fidgeting, walking around the room, throwing more wood on the fire as Bo tries to reason with him.

ASA: Why should I listen to you? You didn't listen to me about HER (pointing at Nora).
BO: What?
NORA: What?
ASA: You know you love her, but here you are carrying on with that Rappaport witch.
BO: Pa--
ASA: I'm talking now. Just tell me what the difference is here? You can be stubborn but I can't?
BO: Pa, Nora's in love with Sam.
NORA: No I'm not.
ASA: SEE?
BO: You're not?
NORA: You're in love with Lindsay.
BO: No I'm not.
ASA: I rest my case. I'm going home.
BO: Great, let's go.
ASA: YOU two aren't going anywhere.
Asa deftly picked up Nora's purse and Bo's keys from the table.
BO: What do you think you're doing?

ASA: There's enough wood to get you through the night.
NORA: Asa! Come back here!
ASA: Oh and there's a couple of steaks in the refrigerator and a couple of beers. Enjoy. And, Nora, I'll call that
"boyfriend" of yours and tell him you're okay. I'll be back for you tomorrow. Make good use of the time, you two. I suggest you share that big wool blanket on the bed if you don't want to freeze to death.

And with that he walked out the door.

NORA: I'm not believing this! Bo, DO something.
BO: Like what? Jump him? Like I could. I think we're stuck here for the night.
NORA: So this is the thanks I get for helping you find your father?
Bo looked sort of sad.
NORA: Not that you're bad company or anything. But really...
BO: Yeah really. Why would you want to spend the night all alone with ME in a deserted cabin in the woods with nothing but candlelight, a fire in the fireplace, no phones, no TV. No SAM.
NORA: I don't care about Sam. You're the one who can't stand to be without LINDSAY for one night.
BO: That's what you THINK?
NORA: Well, yeah.
BO: Well think again. In fact, I'm happy about what Pa just did. I get to spend the evening with the most intelligent, most beautiful, most exciting woman I've ever known. Even if SHE doesn't want to be with me.
NORA: I didn't say I didn't want to be with you.
BO: I think that was implied.
NORA: Oh really? Well, throw another log on that fire, cowboy, and hand me a beer.

Bo smiled the "Mr Wonderful" smile and went to get the beer.

After they cooked the steaks, Bo and Nora sat out on the porch watching the sunset.

NORA: Funny how it looks even more special in the country than in the city.
BO: Maybe it's the quiet that goes along with it.
NORA: Yeah, that too. I'm sorry I got so upset earlier.
BO: That's okay.
NORA: I'd like to see Renee's face when Asa walks in the door.
BO: And she has you to thank for it.
NORA: Oh well, you know, I love a good mystery.
BO: No, it's more than that. You're an extraordinary woman, Red.
NORA: That means everything coming from you.
BO: Getting cold?
NORA: Yeah.
BO: Let's go inside and get the fire going good.

Bo put more logs on the fire and Nora pulled some cushions off the couch. They lay on the floor watching the fire dance on the rustic walls of the cabin.

BO: Did you mean what you said earlier about Sam?
NORA: Did you mean what you said about Lindsay?
BO: I asked you first.
NORA: My feelings about Sam are.. ambivalent.
BO: Then why are you marrying him?
NORA: I don't know. He's Matthew's father. That's not a good enough reason, I know. I guess I'm marrying him because I'll never love anyone like I loved you. I just feel there's no point in looking for what we had with anyone else.
BO: So, what if you could have the real thing?
NORA: What?
BO: Do you have to make this SO HARD? Me. ME! I'm the real thing. I LOVE you!
NORA: You do? Bo, really? Really and truly?
BO: God, yes.

Bo took her in his arms and kissed her and kissed her.

NORA: I love you too. It's you I want to be with.
BO: We'll never be apart again.

They kiss passionately until Nora reluctantly pulls away.

NORA: (breathless) Bo. Bo.
BO: What? (kissing her)
NORA: Bo, there's something we have to think about.
BO: What could be more important than this? (kissing her)
NORA: Well, we both, you know, have other people that we need to inform (kisses him) that there's been a change in plans, so to speak.
BO: (kisses her) Yeah, I know and it won't be pretty.
NORA: Well, uh, I think maybe we should stop this (kisses him) before it goes any further, you know, until we end it with Sam and Lindsay.
BO: I know you're right, but I don't want to stop. I've waited so long for this.
NORA: Me too.
BO: I thought this moment would never come. I thought you were gone from my life forever. And now here you are-- in front of me by firelight looking so incredibly beautiful.
(He stands up)
BO: But okay. Look at me. The model of self-control. Heading for the couch. I can wait one more night.
NORA: I'm not sure I can, but I know it's the right thing to do. I love you.
BO: I love you.. so much.

Bo is on the couch and Nora lays down on the bed. They both lie there for about ten minutes alternately tossing and turning and staring at the ceiling. Bo gets up and puts another log on the fire. He stands there looking into it with a soft smile on his face. From the bed, Nora watches him. Wanting him. She goes to him and puts her arms around him from behind and lays her head on his back.

NORA: Here I am. The model of no self-control. You're freezing. Come let me warm you up.

Bo turns around and looks at her with love in his eyes. He lets her take his hand and lead him to the bed.

[insert steam scene of your choice here].

Fifteen minutes of passion go by.

NORA: (breathless) THANK YOU, ASA!
BO: (laughing) Asa? ASA? What about me?
NORA: Oh, absolutely you. (kissing him) Positively you. (kissing him) Definitely you (kisses him).

EPILOGUE: Bo and Nora get married right away. They wanted no doubts from anyone regarding their intentions. But as you can imagine, the next couple of weeks are not all wine and roses. Lindsay stalks both of them. Bo is actually afraid for Nora's safety. Sam threatens to sue for full custody of Matthew. It was hard having their joy diluted by these worries, but this time as they faced a crisis, they grew closer together instead of apart. Their love went to depths they never knew possible. Out of the darkest year of their lives had come the greatest light. Someone lost. Something found.