BETTE:  Seriously Syd, stop waiting for your life to re-start•it just did.

Syd leaves carrying dishes.

BETTE:  (smiling and whispering to herself)  Mistletoe my ass.

EXT.  SYD’S LAKE HOUSE – NEW YEAR’S EVE – SEVERAL MINUTES LATER

Shane and Tasha are gathering wood from the wood pile.  It is snowing.

SHANE:  Bette says you and Syd have started dating.

TASHA:  (smiling coyly) Damn news travels fast.

SHANE:  Look at you!  You can’t help smiling by just the mention of her name (Shane piles a couple pieces of wood in Tasha’s arms and continues to rummage in the wood pile).  Have you slept together yet?

TASHA: (uncomfortable) No, and we’re not going to until at least Valentine’s Day.

SHANE:  Valentine’s Day? That’s six weeks away?

TASHA:  We want to take it slow•make sure it’s right. 

SHANE: If we waited until we were sure everything was right we’d never do much of anything.

TASHA: Not everyone sleeps together by the third date.

SHANE: (smiling) I usually do it on the first.  (Shane piles a couple pieces of wood in Tasha’s arms•she looks at Tasha quizzically).  You’re scared, aren’t you?

TASHA:  (dismissively) What are you talking about, I’m not scared!

SHANE:  (intuitively) Sure you are.  I mean you’ve been fantasizing about Syd since you were in grade school.

TASHA: (interrupting) She was my family doctor…

SHANE:  And you’re scared to death that something will go wrong with the sex, ruin the friendship, and burst that little fantasy.  (Shane finishes loading Tasha’s arms with wood).  I can help, I’ve been with Syd•in the Biblical sense of the word.  (They laugh)

TASHA:  What•you’re going to coach me? (shaking her head in disbelief) I cannot believe we are having this conversation.

They turn to carry the wood back into the house.

SHANE (undeterred):  Syd’s a romantic•bubble baths, candles.  She doesn’t like to fuck, she makes love.  But she’s not a prude….  (Shane’s voice trails off as they return to the house.)

INT. SYD’S LAKE HOUSE LIVINGROOM – NEW YEAR’S EVE – SOMETIME LATER

Kit, Tina, Max, Shane, Carmen, Alice, Alice’s new girlfriend, and Syd are in the dining room, about to be seated for dinner.  Tasha enters the room.  She has changed into svelte black pants and a beautiful silk blouse.  Her hair is down and she looks stunning. 

TINA:  Wow, look at you!

Tasha is flattered by the group’s response but particularly pleased with the attentive look she receives from Syd.  Shane is about to sit in the chair next to Syd, but stops herself and motions for Tasha to take that seat.

SHANE:  Tash, sit here•sit here.

Tasha sits next to Syd.

TASHA (whispering to Syd):  Shane knows about the mistletoe.

SYDNEY: (smiling) I suspect they all do by now.

The clock it counting down to mid-night and each woman takes a glass and holds it in preparation for the anticipated toast.

MAX:  Two minutes!

ALICE:  I’d like to make a toast to friendship.  (Alice looks at Tasha pointedly).  To my true friends, the ones who know all about me and still like me.  The ones who walk in when the rest of the world wants to walk out.

ALL:  Here, here.

SYDNEY: A famous Indian philosopher once said that: "Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born."   Thank you my friends, for opening up my world.

The TV countdown is heard in the background.  The women all begin to count out load.

ALL: Three, two one…Happy New Year!  They clink their glasses. 

Shane and Syd make eye-contact and exchange warm smile.)

SHANE: To friendship.

FADE TO BLACK  –  THE END