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TRANSCRIPT:
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Scene: Courtroom, Dr Reed's trial
Judge hands verdict to officer, who returns it to jury foreperson. Hunter is sitting with his grandfather, and Nick is sitting behind them.
Judge: Have you reached a verdict?
Foreperson: We have, your honour.
Judge: What say you?
Foreperson: In the case of the Commonwealth versus Dr Thomas Reed, on the count of murder in the first degree, we find the defendant not guilty by reason of insanity.
Hunter smiles. Nick pats his shoulder and leaves the room throwing a smirk at Meghan Barstow. Courtroom murmurs.
Judge: (gavels) Quiet. Dr Reed, you must prove to the court that you are not a risk to yourself or to others before you are allowed to go home. Until then, you will remain under the care of Southwestern Psychiatric Institute.
Dr Reed's lawyer: Congratulations.
Dr Reed hugs Hunter.
Scene: Courthouse hallway
Meghan: (following Nick out) Nick. Does this change anything?
Nick: It changes everything. I won't start at Kirk & McGee until this thing is settled.
Meghan: Why not?
Nick: Because I don't want to lose my piece of the Reed settlement after my father kicks your ass. (Catches up with Burton and Jake) Dad.
Burton: Yeah.
Nick: I just advised Sample to keep his civil suit with you. I won't start at Kirk & McGee until this thing settles. (walks off)
Scene: Legal Services of Pittsburgh, Alvin's office
Meryl enters.
Alvin: Meryl. What are you doing here?
Meryl: Well aren't you going to give me a hug?
She grabs his tie and pulls him forward for a kiss.
Meryl: May I sit?
Alvin: Sure. So. How are the folks?
Meryl: Oh, Dad's got diabetes. Mom is, you know, same old pain the ass. And Cindy's living in Florida with some guy who sells surfboards.
Alvin: What do you want, Meryl?
Meryl: I was fired from my job for reporting a design defect in the brakes we manufacture.
Alvin: What?
Meryl: (dropping photocopied documents on desk) This company makes brakes for cars. These brakes were defective. At least ten people have died so far.
Alvin: Hold on, Meryl. What…?
Meryl: They fired me for tipping the government and now I'm suing them for wrongful termination.
Alvin: And?
Meryl: I want you to represent me.
Alvin: No.
Meryl: (sighs) Look at this. (produces another document) This is an internal memo that shows that the company knew these brakes were defective all along.
Alvin: I can't. I have a clinic to run.
Meryl: All right, fine. You want to make me beg? (throws another document on the desk) It's my tax returns. I qualify for legal aid, okay? I can barely make my rent. I have nothing.
Nick knocks and enters.
Nick: Alvin. Sorry.
Alvin: No, Nick it's fine. Come on in. What is it?
Nick: My father's taking over Hunter Reed's civil suit.
Alvin: So?
Nick: So I want you to reinstate me as Hunter's legal guardian.
Alvin: I'm sorry, Nick Fallin, this is my ex-wife. Meryl Demetrio.
Nick: (confused) Hi.
Scene: Restaurant
Nick: I just spoke to your father's attorney. They're going to be releasing him from Southwestern in a couple of days.
Hunter: Well can I go home then?
Nick: Well, your father doesn't have custody of you, your grandparents do. There's going to be another hearing. This one will determine who is going to raise you. The other thing is, the jury said that it was the drugs that made your dad kill your mom. And the company that made those drugs is going to have to pay for that now.
Hunter: Are they going to jail?
Nick: No. They will have to pay you a lot of money.
Hunter: Is that good?
Nick: It's fair. But, uh, money can complicate things.
Hunter: Can it help me get back with my dad?
Nick: That's the thing. It could make it harder.
Scene: Fallin & Associates, foyer
Meryl and Alvin enter.
Alvin: Hi. Alvin Masterson and Meryl Demetrio to see Burton Fallin.
Receptionist: One moment, please.
Burton: (coming down stairs) Alvin?
Alvin: Burton.
Burton: What the hell are you doing up here? How are you?
Alvin: All right. (They shake hands.)
Meryl: Mr Masterson is my new attorney.
Burton: Oh. Well. Wait a minute, you used to practise labour law, right? But you represented management, over at, uh, Mandell and, uh…
Alvin: Moore.
Burton: Mandell & Moore, yeah. Well.
Meryl: We used to be married.
Burton: Oh. Uh, come on back. I'll get you a coffee or something.
Conference room
Burton: So, is Nick working out okay over at the clinic?
Alvin: Yeah. He's coming around.
Burton: That's good, that's good to hear. He speaks, uh, very…
Alvin stands as Burton's clients enter.
Burton: (shaking hands) Oh, Sam. (to Alvin) This is Sam Wittenberg, CEO, American Friction Corporation. This is his chief engineer, Jeff Hornick. Alvin Masterson.
Alvin: Hello.
Burton: Ms Demetrio. So, Alvin, your ex-wife got fired because she wasn't competently performing her job.
Alvin: Or because she notified the highway transportation authority that there was a design defect.
Burton: Well, the truth is, Alvin, your ex-wife is a liar and a troublemaker.
Alvin: Well.
Burton: She had no business contacting anybody.
Alvin: I don't think a jury's going to see it that way, Burton. As you well know in cases like this, punitive damages can run into the millions.
Burton: Well, we're not prepared to make any kind of a settlement offer.
Alvin: Then I'll be moving for a new trial date.
Burton: Do what you have to do. (Alvin gets up to leave.) Okay, good to see you, Alvin. (They shake hands.)
Scene: Courthouse hallway
Nick: (catches up to Laurie) Laurie. I've been reinstated as Hunter's guardian.
Laurie: Okay.
Nick: You know he wants to go back home?
Laurie: I know.
Nick: So what's the recommendation?
Laurie: He's in a stable, supportive environment at his grandparents. He's doing well in school. We think he should stay where he is.
Nick: He wants to go back home to his father.
Laurie: Dr Reed has already proven that he lacks stability.
Nick: Stability? He was the victim of a misprescribed medication.
Laurie: And if it should happen again? If his paranoia comes back? If he attacks his own son? Nick, I know you mean well but please, use your head. He's already established that he can become violent. He stabbed his wife seven times in front of the boy. Social services is not going to recommend giving him custody.
Nick walks off.
Scene: Legal Services of Pittsburgh, Alvin's office
Alvin and Meryl are looking through paperwork.
Meryl: So what have you been up to?
Alvin: Work.
Meryl: I have this temp service that sends me out a couple of times a week. And I'm also taking these courses in homeopathy. And I got a cat. Are you happy?
Alvin: I don't know.
Meryl: When you left Mandell & Moore, you said that it would only be a couple of years before you went back into private practice.
Alvin: I know what I said, but I love this job.
Meryl: Are you seeing anyone?
Alvin: No. Are you?
Meryl: No. Not really. Since Eric and I got divorced, I've been kind of keeping to myself.
Alvin: Look, ah, we've got an awful lot to do before tomorrow. Can we just get back to work?
Meryl: Sure.
Scene: Southwestern Psychiatric Hospital
Nick: You're getting out of here.
Dr Reed: After five months.
Nick: That's good.
Dr Reed: My son's civil suit…
Nick: They're going to settle.
Dr Reed: It's going to be a problem, isn't it. They're going to say I'm profiting off my wife's death.
Nick: Your son is going to be worth millions of dollars, and if you gain custody then you'll most probably be appointed as trustee of his trust fund. The judge may have a problem with that.
Dr Reed: How much will you make from this?
Nick: Dr Reed, right now the only job I have is looking after your son's interests. He wants to be with you.
Dr Reed: Do you think I have a shot?
Nick: Are you ready to take him back?
Dr Reed: Yes.
Nick: Do you trust yourself with his life?
Dr Reed: Mr Fallin, I know how people see me. But I would never put Hunter at risk, never.
Nick: Did you think your wife was at risk?
Dr Reed: That wasn't my fault. I managed my disease without any problem for twenty years. I went through medical school, opened a successful practice, I coached Little League. Twenty years and then one day, I take a new drug. Everything goes to hell. I'm better now. I want Hunter back. I want my son back.
Nick: Okay.
Scene: Fallin & Associates, conference room
Burton and Jake enter. Mr Sample has been waiting.
Burton: Sorry, Mr Sample.
Jake: Mr Sample. The lawyers for Bendaprine Phamaceutical are here.
Mr Sample: How much are you going to ask for?
Burton: We'll let them make the first offer.
Mr Sample: But what are you asking?
Burton: We might give a size of five million, but you're going to let me fight for that.
Mr Sample: If we go to trial?
Jake: Well, we could get more, or we could get less. It just depends on the jury.
Mr Sample: Should we wait?
Burton: Well if your son-in-law regains custody of the boy the jury is apt to award less than if you maintain custody. But I think you're in a good position to split the difference and if they hit the five million mark, just take the money and don't look back.
Mr Sample: All right.
Burton: Okay? Good let's go.
Mr Sample and Burton exit. Jake opens sliding door.
Jake: Ms Barstow. Thank you for coming.
Meghan Barstow enters, followed by two other attorneys and Nick.
Meghan: Thank you. Nice to see you.
Jake: Hi. Welcome.
They sit. Burton enters.
Burton: So, Ms Barstow. I'm not going to start negotiations until my son leaves the room.
Nick: I'm here as Hunter Reed's guardian ad litum.
Burton: You have confidential and privileged information about my client and you're about to become adverse to us in this case.
Nick: I am not at conflict here. I've not yet started work at Kirk & McGee. I am here purely to represent the best interests of that child.
Burton: Well I'm not going to start negotiations until you leave the room.
Everyone waits. Nick stares at Burton, then leaves.
Burton: All right. What's the offer?
Meghan: Two million dollars, sealed. No press, no further discussion.
Burton: Now, if you're not prepared to talk seriously, you can leave the room too.
Meghan: They'll allow me to go to three.
Burton: Ten.
Meghan: Mr Fallin, what's the real number? Just give it to me, I can go to my clients, see if I can arrange something.
Burton: It's ten.
Meghan: Well I can promise you they're not going to go for that.
Burton: And I can promise you that I'm not going to sit here and negotiate against myself. Come back with a better offer, maybe we can work something out. Excuse me.
He leaves. The others get up to leave.
Scene: Courthouse hallway
Burton: (arriving) Hey, Sam. How you doing?
Sam: Good. Who's up first?
Burton: Your chief engineer. Hey, Christina. (kisses Sam's wife) A little moral support, huh?
Christina: Absolutely.
Burton: Good girl.
Sam: Don't you believe it. She came to see you in action.
Burton: (chuckling) All right. We'd better get in there.
Christina: How's that handsome son of yours?
Burton: Oh, he's good, thank you.
Scene: Courtroom, Demetrio vs American Friction Corporation
Chief engineer Jeff Hornick is on the witness stand.
Jeff: Meryl Demetrio was let go because she was not a good secretary, plain and simple.
Burton: Can you be a little bit more specific about that?
Jeff: She was consistently late, she spent too much time on personal calls. Worst of all, she lies.
Burton: She lie— you say she lied?
Jeff: Yes.
Burton: What did she lie about?
Jeff: Her work, her home life, her past. I've seen her lie about what she ate for lunch.
Burton: Did you ever have a conversation with Mr Samuel Wittenberg, the CEO of your company, where you told him there was a design defect in the brakes that you people make?
Jeff: Absolutely not.
Burton: Well, is there a defect in the design of the brakes?
Jeff: Absolutely not.
Burton: And one more time, why did you fire Ms Demetrio?
Jeff: Because she was a poor performer at work.
Burton: No more questions.
Alvin: If she was such a bad employee, why did you give her a satisfactory grade in her last seven performance reviews?
Jeff: Those were just satisfactory, not good, not excellent.
Alvin: Satisfactory.
Jeff: I was within my rights to terminate an at-will employee for being just satisfactory.
Alvin: You say you could fire her for reporting a public safety hazard to the government.
Jeff: There was no public safety hazard and her job description does not include making reports to anybody.
Alvin: That's your job.
Jeff: Yes.
Alvin: Last year you asked Ms Demetrio to compile data for the Austin Texas Automobile Extravaganza.
Jeff: You're talking about a car show.
Alvin: The year before that, you asked her to submit data to Road and Cars annual buyers' guide.
Jeff: That was a very basic—
Alvin: So in the past, you have delegated some of your reporting requirements to Ms Demetrio.
Jeff: I never had her report to the federal government.
Alvin: You have delegated some of your reporting requirements to Ms Demetrio, yes or no?
Jeff: Yes.
Alvin: Thank you.
Scene: The Incline
Nick is at the bar drinking water. Jake enters.
Jake: (surprised) Nick.
Nick: Hey, Jake.
Jake: Lunch?
Nick: Uh, no, I'm not hungry.
Jake: Someone sitting here?
Nick: No, seat's all yours.
Jake: So, how're you doing?
Nick: I'm good, I'm good, I'm fine.
Jake: I really do wish you well, Nick, you know.
Nick: (laughing) You're glad I'm gone.
Jake: (chuckling) Well, I'm not going to lie to you, I've got a lot of responsibility at the firm now. I mean, that's just the way it goes.
Nick: That's good.
Meghan Barstow appears.
Meghan: Hey, guys. So, Fallin, what's it going to take?
Nick: I think you're going to have to ask Jake that.
Jake: (laughing nervously) I can't tell you anything, I mean…
Meghan: But, if you were going to speculate?
Jake: I would say, ten million dollars, if I were speculating. Do you care to join us?
Nick shakes his head 'no'.
Meghan: Yeah. (She sits.)
Jake: So, what's it like having Nick as your boss?
Meghan: Oh, well he hasn't started yet. It will be kind of interesting, though, you know, to see how Nick holds up. You know, now that he's skipped to the head of the line and all.
Nick: Skipped?
Meghan: Let's see, there are seventeen associates at Kirk who have been there for over six years.
Nick: Skipped.
Meghan: All of us have a bit more experience that Nick. None of us, however, have his father's last name.
Nick: You don't think I'm up to it, Ms Barstow?
Meghan: All I know is that I've got another week before I have to start pretending that I like you. So I thought I should make the most of it right now. (smiles at Jake) Bye.
Nick: Bye.
She leaves.
Jake: Sweet girl. Single?
Nick: No, she's married.
Jake: Mmm.
Scene: Hotel room
Nick enters hurriedly.
Nick: I have thirty minutes.
Meghan: We have to stop this.
Nick: (shedding his topcoat) Yeah, I know.
Meghan: No, I mean it, we have to stop doing this.
Nick: (shedding his jacket) Absolutely.
Meghan: (unbuttoning his shirt) I'm married. (He helps pull off her blouse, then falls back on the bed.) You're going to be a partner at my firm.
She climbs on top of him and they kiss.
Scene: Legal Services of Pittsburgh, Alvin's office
Alvin: You never found any studies or any other documentation that confirms what you heard?
Meryl: No, but I'm no engineer. I may have seen it and not known what it was.
Alvin: Listen to me. This will all come down to your credibility.
Meryl: Which you doubt.
Alvin: I have reason.
Meryl: You and I were both to blame, Alvin.
Alvin: I never lied to you, Meryl.
Meryl: When we moved from Lewisberg you promised we would live differently.
Alvin: And we did.
Meryl: Yeah, until you threw it all away for social work.
Alvin: I never said I was going to be rich.
Meryl: You never said we would be poor, either.
Alvin: It was always about money, wasn't it.
Meryl: Oh god, I hate it when you oversimplify things like that.
Alvin: No, Eric had money.
Meryl: Eric had time for me. Eric didn't spend eighty hours a week trying to save strangers. I fell in love with you. It had nothing to do with anything else. I just think, along the way, you fell in love with your work.
Scene: Fallin & Associates, conference room
Negotiations continue.
Meghan: Six million dollars.
Burton: Hunter's mom was in the prime of life. Healthy. President of the PTA. Eight.
Meghan: Seven. That's as far as we go.
Burton: I'll recommend it. (He leaves.)
Scene: Legal Services of Pittsburgh, meeting room
Mr Sample: Seven million dollars. Your father got us seven million dollars.
Nick: Toughest negotiator in the business. Did you accept?
Mr Sample: Of course.
Nick: Hunter's share is almost five. That money will be placed into a trust account for Hunter. Now, whoever has custody will most probably be appointed as—
Mr Sample: What do you mean, whoever has custody?
Nick: Well, there's a still a chance that Hunter's father—
Mr Sample: No, no.
Nick: Well, the court hearing will determine that.
Mr Sample: (looking at Hunter, waiting outside) My grandson will stay with me.
Nick: Well, I'm sure social services agrees with you, but Hunter wants to go with his father.
Mr Sample: Hunter is twelve years old, Mr Fallin. He doesn't know what he wants. He's a child who plays video game and collects baseball cards.
Nick: He has the right to have his wishes communicated to the court.
Mr Sample: And you're going to tell the court to place my grandson with the man who killed his own mother?
Nick opens the door and glares at Mr Sample until he leaves.
Scene: Legal Services of Pittsburgh, meeting room, next day
Hunter and Nick enter.
Nick: They're going to ask you a lot of questions about your father. What he's like to live with. Whether he has a hard time controlling his temper. If he's around enough.
Hunter: What was your dad like?
Nick: Um... I… you know, I didn't really live with my father after my mom died.
Hunter: Where did you live?
Nick: Boarding schools, mostly. Boarding schools.
Hunter: Oh. (sighs)
Nick: What is it?
Hunter: I know what people think about what happened. But my dad, every day, when I came home from school, he'd always be there. And he always used to walk me to school every day, until I told him to stop when I was in the fourth grade. And then he'd just walk behind me and pretend he was going somewhere else. He laughed all the time, told really bad jokes. And some nights when I couldn't get to sleep, or we just felt like it, we'd go driving and get an ice cream, or just sit there and listen to the radio and sing. I don't do any of that with my grandparents.
Nick: Right.
Hunter: If you had a dad like my dad, you would get it. You really would.
Nick nods.
Scene: Courtroom, Demetrio vs American Friction Corporation
Meryl: About three weeks before I was fired, I overheard Mr Harnick tell our CEO, Mr Wittenberg, that he thought our brakes were responsible for ten fatalities. He said that there was some kind of design defect in the brakes and he wanted them to be recalled immediately.
Alvin: And how did Mr Wittenberg respond?
Burton: Objection, your honour, that's hearsay.
Alvin: Goes to state of mind, your honour.
Burton: Fabrications of an indignant former employee.
Alvin: Objection.
Judge: Sit down, Mr Fallin. You'll have your turn. (to Meryl) Answer the question.
Meryl: Mr Wittenberg said that in this economy, that the company couldn't afford to recall the brakes and he said he would look into it personally and decide what to do.
Alvin: And what did you do after that?
Meryl: I went into Mr Harnick's office and asked him what was going on, and he told me to mind my own business. I kept wanting to think that it was a mistake, that I'd heard wrong, and then I saw the memo.
Alvin: Are you referring to plaintiff's exhibit number one?
Meryl: Yes.
Alvin: May I approach, your honour? (Hands document to Meryl.) Would you please read this for the court.
Meryl: Um, yes, this is a memo from my boss, Mr Harnick, to the CEO, Mr Wittenberg: 'Sam. See attached. This is what I was talking about. It's a real problem.'
Alvin: And what's attached?
Meryl: Two articles about fatal car accidents.
Alvin: What did you do with this information?
Meryl: I notified the highway transportation authority.
Alvin: What did they do?
Meryl: Tuesday morning they called the company, and by Tuesday afternoon I was fired.
Alvin: And what became of this conversation between Mr Harnick and the highway transportation authority?
Meryl: Nothing came of it.
Alvin: Nothing came of it. Thank you very much. Nothing further.
Burton: Mrs Demetrio, specifically, what was that design defect you say you heard?
Meryl: I didn't catch that part.
Burton: You didn't catch that part? Hmm. Well, this is defendant's – defendant's exhibit one. (Hands Meryl document.) Would you read that to the court?
Meryl: It's the same memo. From Mr Harnick to Mr Wittenberg. It says, 'Sam. See attached. This is what I was talking about. It's a real problem.'
Burton: What's attached?
Meryl: (flips page) Well, this wasn't the attachment.
Burton: What's attached, Ms Demetrio?
Meryl: This is… it is a new pricing sheet for carbon black, but it wasn't the attachment.
Burton: (to jury) This is a raw material that they use to produce brakes.
Meryl: Yes, but it wasn't the attachment.
Burton: No, it wasn't. Because you changed the attachment.
Meryl: No, I did not.
Burton: You know why? Because you were looking for a windfall.
Meryl: No.
Burton: Let me ask you this. Before you called the government, didn't you have a conversation with a co-worker named Helen Asavis, and you told her you were going to get a lot of money for this?
Meryl: I didn't say that. I said that they couldn't fire me over this. I didn't say anything about getting a lot of money.
Burton: Matter of fact, wasn't there a time when you under oath admitted that you were a liar?
Meryl: I don't know what you're talking about.
Burton: Let's see if this refreshes your memory. (Hands her a document.)
Alvin: Your honour?
Judge holds up his finger for silence.
Burton: Would you read that to the court – just the highlighted portion.
Meryl: No.
Judge: (warning) Ms Demetrio.
Burton: Oh, that's all right, your honour, I'll read it. May I? (takes document) 'I told Alvin that—' Oh, by the way, this Alvin you refer to here, he was your husband at the time, was he not?
Alvin: Where are we going with this, your honour?
Burton: Weren't you married to him at this time?
Meryl: Yes.
Alvin: Objection.
Judge: Mr Fallin.
Burton: 'I told Alvin I was taking classes two nights a week, but the truth is I was meeting Eric—'
Alvin: (speaking over) Objection, your honour.
Judge: (speaking over) Mr Fallin.
Burton: '—at the Craft and Ingram Motor Court.'
Judge: Mr Fallin.
Alvin: Side bar, your honour.
Alvin and Burton approach the bench.
Burton: Admission under oath, your honour.
Alvin: Whether she was unfaithful has nothing to do with her credibility.
Burton: She lies whenever it suit her needs.
Alvin: It's more prejudicial than probative.
Burton: I agree.
Alvin: And I move for a mistrial.
Judge: Denied. Step back.
Alvin: (to Burton) That was way out of line.
Judge: (to jury) You are to disregard that last statement.
Scene: Courtroom, Hunter's custody hearing
Laurie: Dr Reed killed his wife in front of his son. Nothing we've heard can guarantee that he won't kill again. We all feel sorry for this family. But we're not hear to offer them our sympathy. We're here to decide which home is best for Hunter. I believe his grandparents offer the superior choice. How can we place this child in the custody of a man with a serious, chronic mental illness when such a good alternative exists?
Later
Dr Reed: (on witness stand) I'm a schizophrenic. I killed my wife as a result of taking an experimental anti-psychotic drug. My wife was the only woman I ever loved. We were married for sixteen years. We had a very happy life together As amazed as I was by my capacity for loving her, when Hunter was born… I found that I was opened up to the world in an entirely different way. From the first moment I held him, I had a profound sense of purpose in my life. When I learned… what I had done to my wife, I didn't care what happened to me. I wanted to be punished, to be hurt. I had taken the person in the world I loved more than myself, the mother of my son. I hoped I would be locked away forever. But my son needs me. I need him. We both have to live with what happened, but my son and I should be able to live with it together.
Judge: We'll recess and resume tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock.
Scene: The Incline, night
Burton, Sam and Caroline are waiting to be seated.
Sam: You know what I told Larry Heinz when he told me to take my business over to Kirk & McGee?
Burton: (laughing) No.
Sam: I told him to take a flying leap. I know where the juice is.
Burton: I appreciate it, Sam.
Caroline: That was a great job you did on Meryl Demetrio.
Burton: It all comes down to that memo, who they believe.
Sam: She was a mediocre employee who knew she was on the way out.
Caroline: (to Sam) You remember when she first got fired? She called the house over and over again.
Burton: Is that right?
Caroline: She even parked her car outside one night and just sat there.
Burton: You call the police?
Caroline: No. Sam told me about her history with psychiatric problems.
Burton: Oh.
Caroline: It's ready.
Burton: Oh, honey, would you take the table? We'll be right over, I want to talk to Sam a second.
Caroline: Okay. (walks off)
Burton: Sam, Ms Demetrio has no history of psychiatric problems.
Sam: (shrugs) I had to tell her something.
Burton: (sighs) How many times d'you have sex with her?
Sam: I don't know, over a couple of months.
Burton: D'you realise this gives her motivation to lie?
Sam: But you're going to win without bringing it up.
Burton: Sam. A big corporation fires a woman for exposing a safety hazard. Juries eat that up. The sky's the limit for punitives.
Sam: I'm telling you not to bring this up. Understood? Now let's have a nice dinner, huh?
Burton: Right.
Scene: Hotel room
Nick is getting dressed. Meghan is on bed.
Meghan: You know, that guy in the lobby, he was looking at us.
Nick: No, he wasn't.
Meghan: I think I know him. I think that we should change hotels. Next week, let's go somewhere else.
Nick: There's no next week. In five days I'm going to be your boss.
Meghan: (laughing) Yeah.
Nick: I'm serious. There's firm policy, you could bring a sexual harassment suit.
Meghan: Oh I cannot believe that you actually think I would do that. (Nick shrugs.) You know, you could date anyone. So why'd you pick me?
Nick: Come on, Meghan.
Meghan: You like the fact that I'm married. You like the fact that there's no way we can be together. No emotional involvement. Sex whenever you want it, and a built-in exit strategy.
Nick: This wasn't supposed to be difficult.
Meghan: Yeah, well it is for me.
Nick: Well, you told me you could handle this.
Meghan: I can.
Nick: Then why are we fighting?
Meghan: Because you don't have to pay the price of these hours we spend. You don't have to go home and lie.
Nick: Then don't lie.
Meghan: (grabs clothes and walks out) This is over.
Nick: That's what I was saying.
Scene: Fallin & Associates, Burton's office
Secretary shows in Arthur Connor.
Arthur: Burton.
Burton: Hey, Arthur how are you?
Arthur: Good. How are you? (They shake hands.)
Burton: Good to see you. Sit down. Thanks for coming by. I really appreciate that.
Arthur: My pleasure.
Burton: So, how are things going?
Arthur: I'm setting up the Arthur B Connor endowment at Carnegie Mellon.
Burton: Great, great. If you need any help—
Arthur: No, no. So what's this urgent matter you wanted to talk about?
Burton: Well, it's about the Wittenberg case. You know, if we lose this case the consequences would be devastating.
Arthur: That's why we wanted you to handle it personally.
Burton: Well, here's the thing, Arthur. I just found out that Sam was having an affair with that Demetrio woman.
Arthur: That's what you think this is all about?
Burton: I think it changes the picture, don't you? I mean, if he broke it off with her, she goes to the government with these newspaper clippings. I may have to bring that up.
Arthur: It'll destroy Christina.
Burton: Yeah. We'd win the case.
Arthur: You'll get fired.
Burton: You're still chairman of the board, aren't you?
Arthur: Mmm.
Burton: Make sure I don't get fired.
Foyer
Burton: Thanks for coming by, Art. Good to see you.
Arthur: I'll let you know.
Burton: Thank you. Okay.
Arthur leaves. Nick walks through with box of belongings.
Burton: Nicholas.
Nick: Dad.
Burton starts to walk off, then comes back.
Burton: Son. You know, maybe it's better this way, you working across the street. Maybe give us a chance to get to know each other away from the office.
Nick: Right, yeah.
Burton: Or… maybe it was a bad idea, maybe that's what I'm saying. I just thought, um… it might be easier if we worked together, did something together. Otherwise it's just, um… so much silence.
Nick: Yeah, maybe it's better this way. Will you get the door for me?
Burton: Yeah.
Burton opens the door and pats Nick on the back as he leaves, then watches him go.
Scene: Courtroom, Demetrio vs American Friction Corporation
Sam: (on witness stand) Last year we supplied over six million brakes to seven different automobile manufacturers, everything from mini-vans to high performance vehicles.
Burton: Are there any design defects in the brakes that you manufacture?
Sam: Absolutely not. Our brakes are the best quality in the industry.
Burton: Can you think of any reason why Ms Demetrio would want to hurt your company?
Sam: She's looking for a windfall.
Burton: Can you think of another reason?
Sam: She wants some notoriety.
Burton: Doesn't she want to hurt you personally?
Alvin: Objection. Question is leading.
Burton: Permission to treat this witness as hostile, your honour.
Judge: You want to treat your own client as hostile?
Burton: American Friction Corporation is my client.
Judge: Permission granted.
Burton: Did you and Ms Demetrio have an affair, Mr Wittenberg? (long pause) Do I need to ask the question again?
Sam: (long pause) Yes, I had an affair with Ms Demetrio.
Burton: Did you break off that relationship?
Sam: Yes.
Burton: And what was Ms Demetrio's reaction to that?
Sam: She was angry. She wanted me to leave my wife for her.
Burton: Leave your wife. So when she made up all these lies about the brakes, she was doing that to get back at you, is that correct?
Sam: Yes.
Caroline walks out.
Scene: Courtroom, Hunter's custody hearing
Hunter: (on witness stand) My grandparents are really, really nice to me, but they're not my dad.
Nick: Do you want to stay with them?
Hunter: No.
Nick: Why not?
Hunter: My grandma cries all the time. She wants me to sit there and cry with her. She's so mad at my dad. She wants me to be mad at him, too.
Nick: Are you?
Hunter: Sometimes. But most of the time I just miss him.
Nick: What is it like to live with your grandparents?
Hunter: All that my grandma talks about is my mom, what she was like when she was my age, what she would be doing today if she was still here. I miss her too, but… I guess I don't want to be living in a house where all they talk about is what happened. I want to be at home, be in my own room, be at my old school, doing the things I used to do.
Nick: Yeah.
Scene: Courthouse room
Meryl: We never had an affair.
Alvin: I remember that day when I came home and told you about the clinic. And you said, what did you say? You said, I married a lawyer, not a social worker.
Meryl: Because it was true. Because you said that you would stay in private practice.
Alvin: I was miserable, Meryl, you knew that.
Meryl: Well you know what? I wasn't so happy going back to waitressing. Ever think of that? I wasn't so happy clipping coupons. I'd spent a lifetime doing that before I met you. I've spent a lifetime doing it ever since.
Alvin: You're telling the truth about you and Wittenberg?
Meryl: Yes.
Alvin: Like you're telling the truth about the defective lawyer?
Meryl: Alvin—
Alvin: You've always been such a pathological liar. Anything to suit your needs. Eric's your best friend, I'm the love of your life, people are dying because of defective brakes. You have a sickness, Meryl.
Scene: Courtroom, Hunter's custody hearing
Judge: Mr Fallin, you will be speaking as Hunter's guardian?
Nick: Yes. The jury has already found Dr Reed not guilty for the murder of his wife. A team of doctors and psychiatrists have determined that Dr Reed is fit to live among us. The only question left is whether he gets his son back. Now, there's no one here that can blame Mr and Mrs Sample for being angry at Dr Reed. They have suffered a terrible loss. And everyone here can understand social services making the conservative recommendation. That is what they do. But I respectfully submit that the opinion here that matters the most is Hunter Reed's. And Hunter wants to go back home with his father. You've seen father and son. There's a rapport, there's a bond, there's a connection, they're father and son. If you keep these two apart… If there is anything worse than growing up without a mother, it's growing up without a mother and without a father. Now, Hunter Reed wants to go back home with his father. Just let him.
Scene: Courtroom, Demetrio vs American Friction Corporation
Judge: Have you reached a verdict?
Foreperson: We have, your honour.
Judge: What say you?
Foreperson: In the matter of Demetrio versus the American Friction Corporation, we find in favour of the defendant, the American Friction Corporation.
The courtroom starts to clear. Meryl runs after Alvin in the hallway.
Meryl: Alvin, wait.
Alvin: It's over, Meryl.
Meryl: Just wait. Look, I slept with that jerk, okay. He said that he would leave his wife for me, he said that he loved me.
Alvin: You lied to me.
Meryl: I lied to you because I love being with you again, and I didn't want to screw it up. And I didn't lie about the brakes. (Alvin walks off.) You'll see, Alvin. I didn't lie about the brakes.
Scene: Courtroom, Hunter's custody hearing
Judge: I've carefully considered the reports of the psychologist, the psychiatrist, the court transcripts of the criminal case. I've weighed the testimony. It is a difficult decision. By law I am required to preserve the unity of the family unless I believe the welfare of the child is in danger. I'm going to turn Hunter Reed over to the custody of his father. (Courtroom murmurs, Nick smiles.) Social services will supervise and monitor the case, but I believe the boy should be back at home.
Dr Reed: (to judge) Thank you, thank you.
Hunter hugs his father. Nick shakes Dr Reed's hand and hugs Hunter.
Scene: Fallin & Associates, night
Burton's office
Sam: You never were my friend, were you. Just a lawyer servicing Connor's account.
Burton: I still consider you my friend, Sam.
Sam: Did you ever think what this would do to Christina?
Burton: My job is not to protect your infidelity, Sam. You could've cost your corporation millions of dollars. (Sam starts to leave.) Sam. If Ms Demetrio were telling the truth, what would it cost to do the recall?
Sam: It would be prohibitively expensive. But she's—
Burton: I said if. You should do it.
Sam: There are a lot of things we should do, Burton. A lot of things. (exits)
Burton leaves his office and meets Nick in the foyer, looking through filing cabinet.
Burton: Nicholas. What are you doing here?
Nick: I'm just, uh, I'm just looking for a file. (Pulls out a file and looks through it.)
Burton: Oh, you're going to get your percentage of that Bendaprine settlement when the cheque comes in.
Nick: Good.
Burton: Well. Good night. (Starts to leave and turns back.) You know, uh, you were a huge asset to this firm. You know that, don't you? Could've had the whole thing.
Nick: Is that because you wanted to give it to me, or because I earned it?
Burton: Both, son.
Nick watches him go.
END OF EPISODE
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