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TRANSCRIPT:
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Scene: The Incline, Friday evening
Alvin and James are sitting at table covered in empty shot glasses and opened presents. Nick and Lulu are sitting next to each other in a booth across from them.
James: Well, ah, happy birthday, Alvin. (Places a floppy hat on Alvin's head.)
Alvin: Thank you, James.
James: (rising) All right…
Alvin: (grabbing James' arm) No, no, you can't leave yet. I gotta tell you something. I gotta tell you that I could not do the job I do without you.
James: Thanks, man.
Alvin: I mean it. You're the real deal man. You're beautiful. Ain't he beautiful?
Lulu: (smiling) He is absolutely beautiful.
Alvin: What a punim! I love ya, man. (ed note Punim= Yiddish for 'face', an affectionate term)
James: I'm not going to hug you, if that's what you're after. (they laugh)
Alvin: Good night, James.
Nick: Night, James.
James leaves.
Alvin: What a rock. It's funny, isn't it? Causality. How one thing can lead to another.
Lulu: Yeah, it's fate.
Alvin: No. I am not a religious man.
Lulu: All right, then, science.
Alvin: No.
Lulu: Logic?
Alvin: No, no, it's just chance. You know, you walk through one door instead of another, you meet once person instead of another. What's that? Free will? Ha-a. No.
Burton steps into the bar and watches Nick, Alvin and Lulu talking.
Alvin: Self-determination? (blows raspberries) No, life is chaotic when you're walking into it, and all order when you look back at it.
Burton continues to watch them for a moment and steps back outside.
Nick: (obviously drunk) No, no, you're blathering. It's not chaotic. You're, you're just talking about causality and fate and it's nonsense. It's just a moment. You're—you're in a moment now, you were in a moment then, you're in a moment before, you were there and now you're here. And it's just a moment, that's what it is. It's just a moment.
Lulu and Alvin trade amused glances and chuckle.
Alvin: Oh, man.
Nick: It's a moment.
Alvin: (glances at watch and rubs eyes) Oh, it's almost two o'clock. I gotta hearing in the morning, I gotta go.
Lulu: Oh, man.
Alvin: (to Lulu) How are you getting home?
Lulu: I'm going to take a cab. What about you?
Alvin: No, I'm going to walk, I gotta sober up.
Alvin collects his boxes and presents, including a large plush rabbit.
Alvin: Come on, Bunny Buddy.
Lulu: Happy Birthday, Alvin.
Alvin: Thank you very much. Thank you for coming. Goodnight. (He leaves.)
Nick takes another drink and Lulu slaps him lightly on the arm.
Lulu: You're drunk.
Nick: (smiling and nodding) Yeah.
Lulu: Yeah. I thought you weren't supposed to drink.
Nick: No, drugs. I'm not allowed to do the drugs.
Lulu: No one is allowed to use drugs.
Nick: That's right. (Turns to Lulu and rests his arm on the booth behind their heads but then pulls it back.) You know… most… most women—
Lulu: Oh, boy. Most women?
Nick: (laughing) Yeah, yeah, okay. Most women, uh…
Lulu: Most women what?
Nick: I… I don't know. Um, my, my mother. I was very close to my mother, she was a very special person. She was very pretty. She used to say nice things about me. She said that I was charming and handsome. (Lulu smiles at him, amused.) And, uh, she said this one thing that I always remember, so it's always sort of stuck in my head. Is that I—she thought I would grow up and that I would treat women better than my father did. She told me that and . .
Lulu: Well? So? Was she right?
Nick: I don't know. You want to find out?
Lulu: (smile fades, turns away) I gotta go.
Nick: You sure? Okay. Okay.
Lulu: You…
Nick: Don't—don't forget your jacket.
Lulu: I got everything. Yeah, so I will—I'll see you tomorrow.
Nick: Yeah, I'll see you. Okay. Good night. (Sits back down.)
Lulu walks through The Incline, past two men sitting at the bar.
Man #1: Hey, pretty lady, don't leave yet. Take a seat? (Pats lap.)
Nick glances over.
Lulu: Yeah, that makes me want you really bad. (She exits the bar)
Man #2: (laughing) Oooh.
Man #1: Bitch!
Man #2: Backfire!
Nick rises and walks toward the door, past the men.
Nick: Why don't you two ass-clowns go home together?
Man #1: Excuse me?
Nick: You heard me.
Man #1: (rises and gets in Nick's face) You got a problem?
Nick: Yeah, your breath.
Man #2 urges his companion to sit back down.
Man #1: I don't want to mess up your suit.
Nick: Suit? (Removes his jacket.) My suit? You think I care about my suit? I don't give a damn about that. (Drops the jacket to the ground and stomps on it before kicking it aside.)
Man #2: (talking over Nick) Calm down, man.
Man #1: (to Nick) Screw you.
Nick: Yeah, why don't you screw your buddy over there?
Man #1 punches Nick in the face. Nick turns to the side holding his face. Man #1 shakes his hand in pain.
Nick: (to Man #2) It's okay.
Man #2: Come on, man.
Nick shakes his head at Man #2, then jerks forward and head-butts Man #1, who falls down. Nick staggers back, clutching his head. While Nick is bent over, Man #2 punches him and he falls to the floor, curling up and covering his face.
Scene: A graveyard, five days earlier: Monday morning
Nick bends over his mother's grave—reading Anne Lynn Fallin 1940–1982—and rests a bouquet of flowers beside. Nick stands back and closes his eyes. A car pulls up and Burton steps out carrying his own bouquet of flowers. He walks toward Nick.
Burton: Nicholas. (Sets his bouquet down.) Nineteen years. It's hard to believe.
Nick: Yeah.
Burton: I still regret—
Nick: Oh, come on, Dad.
Burton: —not being with you. I should have been with you that morning she went, I…
Nick sniffs but says nothing.
Burton: Sometimes I think, if she had lived, we would have been… together.
Nick: You left her.
Burton: We loved each other, son.
Nick: You walked out on her.
Burton: (sighs) I'll see you later. (Starts back to the car, then stops.) Oh, um, Sheila wants you to call her this afternoon.
Nick: Shelia?
Burton: Yeah
Nick: (smiling sarcastically) Oh, Sheila. Is this about the cell phone and the car lease?
Burton: Look, we don't have to talk about this now, okay—
Nick: It is, isn't it? You brought it up.
Burton: Yeah—
Nick reaches into the pocket of his overcoat and pulls out his cell phone.
Nick: Here.
Burton: You don't have to give it to me now—
Nick: (angrily) No, no, just take it. I'll deal with the car lease in the next couple days. Just take it! (Storms off to his car.)
Scene: Kirk & McGee offices, reception area
A secretary is answering phones via a headset.
Secretary: (to phone) Kirk and McGee.
Lawyer: (walking past in background) I gave them all rope… I gave them all rope to hang themselves.
Secretary: (to phone) I'll transfer you. (Switches lines.) Kirk and McGee.
Nick steps out of an elevator, carrying a large box. He walks over to the secretary's desk.
Nick: Good morning, I'm Nicholas Fallin.
Secretary: (curtly) I know. Your files aren't here yet.
Nick: I'm supposed to meet with Bill McGee.
Secretary: He's not in.
Nick: Where's my office?
Secretary: (slightly annoyed) Down the hall, on the left. (To phone) Kirk and McGee.
Nick: Thank you.
Secretary: (to phone) Kirk and McGee.
Nick enters his new office and sets his box on a chair. He walks the perimeter and places a photograph of his mother on the desk.
Jumpcut: He picks up the phone.
Nick: Hello, Mr. Armitage. Nicholas Fallin. No, I'm regarding the debt offering you wanted to get… No… No, I wasn't aware of that decision… No, I completely understand. My father is a very good lawyer; he'll take good care of you… Okay… all right, bye. (Hangs up and makes another call.) Hank. Nicholas Fallin. You ready to get going on that leverage buy-out?… Oh, really?… No, I'm sorry to hear that… Yeah. Okay. Bye.
Nick hangs up, leans back in his chair, closes his eyes, then abruptly gets up and grabs his portfolio.
Scene: Legal Services Office
James is passing out fliers.
Nick: James.
James: (hands him a flier) Alvin's birthday. Friday night. The Incline.
Alvin: I don't want a party, James.
James: You don't want a party? Sure, you do.
Alvin: No, I don't. (To Nick) What are you doing here?
Nick: You got something for me?
Alvin: You told me you couldn't come back this week because of your new job.
Nick: Uh, well, you know, things are a little slow over there at the moment.
Alvin: (shrugging) I already assigned today's cases.
Nick nods. Alvin goes into his office. Nick hesitates and then follows Alvin, knocking on his open office door.
Alvin: Yeah?
Nick: So it's your birthday.
Alvin: Yeah.
Nick: How old are you turning?
Alvin: (trying to attend to some paperwork at his desk) Fifty-one.
Nick: Well, you look pretty good—for a guy who's fifty-one.
Alvin: I got work to do, Mr. Fallin.
Nick: Uh, yeah. Okay. (Nods apologetically and holds his hand up in good-bye. Leaves.)
James: (speaking to the entire office) We've organized a party at a restaurant called The Incline on Friday.
Alvin: I don't want a party!
The elevator door opens and Lulu steps out, holding an infant in her arms.
Lulu: I need help here. I need some help. I just found—I found this baby. I just found the baby outside. I was dropping off my recycling and I found her.
James: You shouldn't have brought her here. You have to take her to a hospital.
Lulu: Well, what was I supposed to do? I mean, who dump a baby in the garbage like this?
James: (grabbing his coat) Come on, I'll drive you. Now, where did you find her?
Lulu: The strip mall around the corner. I was dropping off my recycling and it was just laying outside…
They step into elevator.
Scene: Incline
Nick walks into the bar. Jake and two men are sitting at a booth in the middle of the room.
Jake: Nick! Hey, how's it going, man?
Nick walks over to him and they shake hands.
Nick: It's going great, good to see you.
Jake: Ah, you remember George and Elliot Levi from, from Renco Corp?
Nick: Ah, yeah, I sure do. (Shakes hands with the other two men.) Good to see you.
Arnold: How are you doing?
Nick: (to Jake) Well, I… congratulations on the…
Jake: Thanks. (To the Levis) Nick's at Kirk and McGee, now, so… um…
Nick: Yeah.
Jake: Listen, I'd—I'd have you join us, but we're just going over some stuff.
Nick: (glancing at his watch) No, I completely understand. I have to run off to a meeting myself.
Jake: (half-rising to shake hands) It was good to see you.
Nick: Yeah, you too. (To the Levis) Nice to see you again.
Nick walks toward the door just as Burton enters.
Burton: (pleasantly surprised) Hey, Nicholas.
Nick: I talked to the car dealership and they're transferring the lease out of the firm's name, so we were all square. (Turns and leaves.)
Scene: Legal Services of Pittsburgh
Alvin leads a young woman into the conference room.
Alvin: Ah, Ms. Kurtz, come on in. Your mother called Social Services for an emergency removal of your son Gregory because of neglect and abuse.
Hilary Kurtz: What?
Alvin: She says you hit your son—
Hilary Kurtz: Look, my mama doesn't know what she's talking about.
Alvin: It says your son—who's how old?
Hilary Kurtz: Four.
Alvin: Four. Had bruises on his face and arms.
Hilary Kurtz: He falls sometimes.
Alvin: The report says he was malnourished and wearing soiled clothing.
Hilary Kurtz: I try to feed him sometimes and sometimes he ain't hungry.
Alvin: (concerned) Have you seen a doctor about this?
Hilary Kurtz: (angry) There is nothing wrong with Gregory.
Alvin: No, I know that. It's you the court will be concerned about.
Scene: Bill McGee's office
Bill McGee is standing in the middle of his office, putting golf balls into a glass as Nick enters.
McGee: Oh, Nick! Welcome, welcome.
Nick: So, uh, we had a meeting, Bill.
McGee: I was in Florida, golfing. A friend of mine has a jet. I didn't plan on staying over but we had this crazy idea we'd get up at four o'clock in the morning and play nine before we traveled back.
They shake hands.
Nick: So. The meeting?
McGee: Uh… do you like your office?
Nick: Yeah.
McGee: We have a terrific group of young attorneys and they're going to love working with you.
Nick: Great, great.
McGee: (sitting on the edge of his desk) Uh, ah, I did want to say, on the record, that it's important that you keep your past in your past.
Nick: Of course, of course. I understand that. Is that—is that what you wanted to talk to me about?
McGee: Well, we've been thinking a lot and we've decided you should stick exclusively with mergers and acquisitions.
Nick: Bill, I—I've been doing mostly corporate finance.
McGee: Oh, I know, I know. But we would like you to reassign your finance clients to Randall Kirk.
Nick: I don't think they'll like that.
McGee: Well, you came in under me and I do mergers and acquisitions. Let's not step on Randall's toes.
Nick: I didn't come here to do M and A exclusively.
McGee: Be a team player for a few months, Nick. Let Randall Kirk get comfortable with you.
Nick: I'm not just going to hand over my clients to him.
McGee: Our clients, Nick. Now, I don't know how it works over at your Dad's firm but here we share and share alike. Be a team player for a few months, Nick.
Nick: Anything else?
Scene: Kirk and McGee hallway
Nick passes Colin in the hallway.
Colin: Nick? You're working here now? (Nick backs away.) Seems like a fun place to work. (Nick continues to back away and Colin turns the corner, talking to himself.) Lot of good people here.
Nick stops and peers after Colin, who knocks on a near by door and is let in by a Kirk and McGee associate.
Scene: Legal Services of Pittsburgh
Lulu and James exit an elevator, mid-conversation and walk toward Alvin.
Lulu: It doesn't matter. I don't get it.
James: Just let it go.
Alvin: How's the baby?
Lulu: She's fine, she just had her check-up.
Alvin: Where'd they send her?
James: Jesus Rock Hospital.
Alvin: Okay.
Lulu: How long until a petition hearing?
Alvin: It's scheduled for Friday morning.
All three start walking through across the main lobby of Legal Services. Alvin stops to rip one of James' birthday-party flier's from a pole.
Lulu: Let me take the case.
Alvin: You found her, Lulu.
Lulu: That's why I want to take the case.
James: (replacing the flier on the pole) This is a real simple case. Social Services will look after her until she's adopted. Won't take but a week.
Lulu: How can you be sure?
James: (walking away) She's white.
Lulu: Alvin. Let me take the case.
Alvin: Are you sure you can be neutral about it?
Lulu: I can do it.
Alvin: Okay, it's yours.
Scene: Bill McGee's office
Nick walks into McGee's office where Bill and Henry Sloan are waiting.
Nick: You wanted to see me?
McGee: Ah, Nick. You know Henry Sloan.
Nick: Henry, good to see you.
Henry: Nicholas. (They shake hands.)
Nick: Good to see you. I didn't realize you'd come over.
Henry: I was glad to know you were here.
Nick: It will be great to keep working with you.
Henry: How's your dad doing with all of this?
Nick: My dad, uh, he's, uh, well, you know my father. He's a tough one to figure out. He's fine, I think he's fine with it. How's your son?
Henry: Carter—Carter's just great. Carter is what brings me here today.
Nick: Really? Why?
McGee: Henry is selling his auto-parts company to Carter.
Nick: Oh, well. How can I help you?
McGee: I've already drafted the purchase agreement. Maybe you can take it over, Nick.
Nick: It would be my pleasure. Give me the particulars.
McGee: The purchase price is thirty million. Fair market value is closer to forty million. Penn Savings and Loan is loaning Carter ten million and Henry, here is taking back the note for the other twenty.
Nick: Okay, so basically, you're giving him the company.
Henry: He's my son.
McGee: There's not much to do here, Nick. Just see that it's fine.
Nick: (shaking hands with Henry) Great. It'll be a pleasure.
Henry: It was good to see you again, Nick.
Nick: (leaving) You, too.
McGee: Thanks.
Scene: Fallin & Associates, conference room
Burton enters with Carter.
Burton: Here you go.
Carter: Thanks.
Burton: Uh-huh.
Carter: Simple transaction, my dad's gonna loan me nearly 70% of the purchase price, PS&L are picking up the rest. What do you think?
Burton: I think your father is a very generous man.
Carter: You think I should sign?
Burton: Immediately, before he has second thoughts. Whose handling this for your dad—Bill McGee?
Carter: Didn't Bill McGee call you about this? Nick's representing my dad.
Burton: Oh. Not a problem.
Burton who had been looking directly at Carter keeps his head down, pretending to look at the documents on his desk.
Scene: Kirk & McGee, Nick's office. Monday afternoon
Nick is sitting behind his desk. Someone knocks on the door and Colin walks in. Nick turns in his chair and balls his fists, but says nothing.
Colin: Hey. Cunningham, the guy down the hall, tells me you split your old man's firm. That you're a partner now. Well, good for you, man. (Sits down and dumps a vial of cocaine on the credenza.) Big firm like this, high-profile clientele. Impressive. (Snorts the cocaine.) Congratulations. Who would have thought, a couple years ago… ? Anyway… (Leaves.)
Nick gets up and walks to the credenza, runs his index finger through the leftover cocaine and stares at his finger.
Scene: Legal Services of Pittsburgh, meeting room
Lulu enters with a large box and flips on the light. She turns, sees Nick sitting alone at the table and gasps in surprise.
Lulu: Oh, my God! You scared me.
Nick: I'm sorry.
Lulu: What are you doing? Do you always work in the dark?
Nick: It's just—I—the sun went down.
Lulu sets the box of files on the window sill and sighs.
Nick: What's wrong?
Lulu: You know the most unbelievable thing? I found a baby. Someone actually left a baby in a dumpster.
Nick: When?
Lulu: This morning. It was freezing cold and I was too lazy to get out of bed to bring my recycling to the curb, so I just dropped it off in the bin behind the strip mall and she was just there. Someone just left her there. (Shakes her head and sighs.) People. And I don't get it because she's perfect. She this… perfect little thing.
Nick: Well, she'll be fine now.
Lulu: Oh, come on. She's got nothing. Her whole life ahead of her and this is how it begins? That's great. (Walks to the door and opens it.) Hey. How's that new job working out for you?
Nick: Oh, uh… I hate it.
Lulu: You know, Randall Kirk offered me a job.
Nick: Why'd you turn it down?
Lulu: Because he has no soul.
Nick half smiles and Lulu leaves.
Scene: Courtroom, Tuesday
Alvin and Hilary Kurtz are sitting at one table, Laurie Solt at the other.
Judge: Okay, let's see what we got here. Mr. Masterson?
Alvin: Your honor, my client wants her child back.
Judge: Is that it, Mr. Masterson?
Alvin: Well, the only reason we're here is because my client's mother called in Social Services to settle a family problem.
Laurie: Your honor, Ms. Kurtz has been extremely negligent in the care of her son. We found an unclean house, little food and insufficient clothing for the winter months. The child was found with bruises to his head and arms.
Judge: Well, what do you suggest, Ms. Solt?
Laurie: We consider Ms. Kurtz unfit to care for her son. We ask that the child be temporarily placed in the care of his grandmother.
Hilary Kurtz: (grabbing Alvin's arm) No. Not her.
Judge: Is the boy's grandmother here?
Hilary Kurtz: (to the Judge) No! I would never do anything to harm my son. Never!
Judge: Quiet, please. Is the boy's grandmother in the courtroom?
Ella Kurtz: (from the galley of the courtroom) Yes. Yes, I am, your honor.
Alvin turns toward the woman and freezes. He clearly recognizes her.
Judge: Would you please state your name for the court?
Ella Kurtz: Ella Kurtz.
Alvin: Your honor, ah, I move for a continuance.
Judge: On what grounds, Mr. Masterson?
Alvin: This is new information. I—ah, need to confer with my client.
Judge: How much time?
Alvin: Seventy-two hours.
Judge: Granted. (Pounds gavel.)
Scene: Courthouse hallway
Laurie catches up with Alvin.
Laurie: What was that all about?
Alvin: Didn't you check Ella Kurtz out?
Laurie: Of course we did. She had a petition to terminate her parental rights in March of 1982. The petition was denied.
Alvin: Four weeks after that petition Ella Kurtz had to go to the liquor store. She left her four-year-old daughter Ilana home alone in their fifth-floor apartment. The window was open. Little girl crawled out and fell to her death.
Laurie: How old was Hilary?
Alvin: At the time, three.
Laurie: How do you know all this?
Alvin: Because I represented Ella Kurtz. I helped her get custody of those kids less than a month before the accident.
Alvin walks away and Laurie watches him leave.
Scene: Bill McGee's office
Bill McGee is at his desk, Henry Sloan and Nick are across from him looking over the contract to sell his business.
Nick: If you're going to risk twenty million dollars of your own money, you, you should retain some controls over the company until the money is paid back.
Henry: He's a good kid.
Nick: Well, you're giving him twenty million dollars, Mr. Sloan. Nobody is that good.
Nick and Bill smile; Mr. Sloan does not.
Henry: What are you saying?
Nick: Well I would include some negative convenants on the purchase agreement. That way you have a leash on Carter until he's paid back every penny.
Henry: He's my son.
Nick: It's business, Mr. Sloan. You can't give away a twenty million dollar company—or market-value forty million dollar company and not retain some of the controls. You—you can. But, ah, it would be foolish.
Scene: Legal Services of Pittsburgh
Lulu is walking through the main lobby. She's approached by Susan.
Susan: Um, um, excuse me? Miss?
Lulu: Can I help you?
Susan: I'm Susan Meuter. I think someone here found my baby.
Lulu: That'd be me.
Susan: Can—can I, um—
Lulu: (to Meuter) Come—come with me. (Walks toward her office. To James) You wanta come?
Scene: Nick's office
Nick is sitting at his desk, talking on the phone.
Nick: (to phone) Jake? It's Nick. Um… yeah… are you busy? Well, I uh, have tickets for the Penguins game, this evening, and uh, I was just, uh, wondering if you wanted—if you wanted to join me… this evening… No, no, that… I understand. Yeah, okay. Another time. (Hangs up the phone and folds his hands, sighing.)
Scene: Lulu's office
Lulu: Can you prove that you're her mother?
Susan: I had her at County Hospital. Maybe they got records or something.
James: Can you explain what happened to her?
Susan: (nodding) I had to go to the store and no one was there to watch her, so I left her in the apartment. When I got back, she was gone.
Lulu: Someone stole her?
Susan: Her father. He didn't want to pay support.
James: It is our obligation to notify you that your daughter's shelter hearing will take place Friday morning at ten o'clock in the juvenile court section of the Allegheny County Courthouse. You should be there to tell your side of the story.
Susan: Thanks for… for helping my baby. (Lulu nods.)
Scene: Colin's apartment, outside, night
Nick's car pulls up. Colin bounds down the stairs as Nick steps out.
Colin: Hey, Nick. What do you want, man?
Nick: I want you to stop coming by the office.
Colin: Come on, Nick.
Nick: Do you ever think about what you're doing to that guy?
Colin: Tell me something. Do you blame me for your problems?
Nick: No.
Colin: You take responsibility for yourself?
Nick: Yes.
Colin: Yeah. So, Cunningham can take care of himself.
Nick: (quietly) Don't come by the office.
Colin: You didn't come here to threaten me, did you?
He steps up to Nick and slips something into Nick's hand. Nick accepts it and drives off.
Scene: Legal Services of Pittsburgh, meeting room, Wednesday
Hilary Kurtz is sitting at the table. Alvin walks in and slams the door behind him.
Alvin: There's something you should know about me.
Hilary Kurtz: What?
Alvin: Twenty years ago, I represented your mother.
Hilary Kurtz: So?
Alvin: The court wanted to take you and your sister away from her. I fought for her and won.
Hilary Kurtz: So?
Alvin: (sits down) The courts wanted to place you and your sister in a shelter because of your mother's drinking. I stopped them from doing that. Then your sister Ilana—you do remember her, don't you?
Hilary Kurtz: A little.
Alvin: Do you remember how she died?
Hilary Kurtz: I remember a window, a policeman and my mom going away.
Alvin: And you went into foster care, right?
Hilary Kurtz: And I lived a lot of places and none of them were any different. People got angry and took it out on me.
Alvin: Took it out on you how?
Hilary Kurtz: I don't know! What you do to bad kids.
Alvin: Hit you?
Hilary Kurtz: That's what you do.
Alvin: Is that what you do to your son? (She shrugs.) Hilary, I can't represent you properly. Truth be told, I don't think you or your mother should be given custody of your son. Tell the court to find you a different attorney. I won't do you much good. (Gets up to leave.)
Hilary: Hey! You helped my mom to keep me when I was a baby, right?
Alvin: Right.
Hilary: Then I need you to help me get my baby back, too.
Alvin leaves.
Scene: Fallin & Associates, conference room
Nick, Burton, Henry and Carter Sloan and Bill McGee are at the table.
Nick: We have some amendments.
Burton: We had an offer.
Nick: You didn't accept the offer. We could amend. (Slides the amended contract across the table to Burton.)
Burton: (scoffing) It's just a lot of negative covenants.
Nick: Until you payback the entirety of the $20 million loan, you can't sell the company, change or alter the nature of the business, enter into new businesses, incur debt or make investments over a million dollars, or increase salaries more than 10 percent.
Carter: So my hands are completely tied?
Nick: (smirks) Well, that's the price of a sweetheart deal.
Burton: This impedes my client's ability to run his company effectively.
Nick: These controls only exist until the loan is fully repaid. After that, Carter can do whatever he likes with the company.
Burton: No. The time period is indefinite.
Nick: No. It isn't indefinite. It is only until the loan is fully repaid.
Carter: Dad. Do you think I should sign this deal?
Henry: Nick feels it's the prudent thing to do.
Carter: Yeah. But, is it the way you want things?
Henry pauses then barely nods his head. Carter begins to sign the document, but Burton interrupts him. Nick shows his disgust and squirms in his chair.
Burton: Wait, wait, wait. Carter, don't do that. Look. If this thing falls apart, you're the one that's on the hook.
Carter: It… it… it's okay.
Burton: Now, son. This is going to be your company. You're running all the risk, regardless of where the money comes from. Now, I would not accept those terms.
Nick: You don't want the covenants; you can always pay us cash.
Burton: Oh, Judas Priest, Nicholas. (Grabs head with both hands.)
Nick: I think that's it, folks. (Gets up and puts his legal pad in his briefcase.)
Carter starts to rise but Burton stops him. Henry looks concerned.
Scene: Fallin & Associates, hallway
Nick and McGee leave the conference room together and walk towards the elevator.
McGee: What the hell was that all about?
Nick: It was a bad deal.
McGee: A bad deal that our client wants to give to his son? What right do you have to interfere with that?
Nick: It is my job to make sure our clients don't have any regrets down the road. A bad deal that falls apart isn't good for our reputation.
McGee: Nick. Your job is to service the client, not yourself.
Nick: I don't think our client's upset with us, Bill. I think he's probably please that someone's actually being straight with him instead of taking the path of least resistance. (Pushes the elevator button.)
McGee: What are you implying?
Nick: (sees Henry approaching) Nothing, Bill. Not a thing.
McGee: Henry. Back to work. (Pats Henry on the arm as the elevator arrives.)
Scene: Legal Services of Pittsburgh, Alvin's office
Laurie enters with Gregory Kurtz.
Laurie: Alvin. This is Gregory Kurtz, Hilary's son. I'm taking him to the doctor for a check-up.
Alvin: Hello, Gregory.
Laurie: Go ahead, sweetie. (Ushers him out the door.) Go play with the other kids over there. Okay? (To Alvin) I've talked to Ella Kurtz. She's turned her life around. She's become devoutly religious. We think she's the better alternative. If you could convince your client to agree to her mother having even temporary custody…
Alvin: No, I won't.
Laurie: Because you won't give the grandmother a chance.
Alvin: Haven't given her a chance? I've given her plenty chances.
Laurie: What happened twenty years ago…
Alvin: … is enough.
Laurie: Enough to condemn that woman for the rest of her life.
Alvin: Yes!
Laurie: Oh, this is the case.
Alvin: What?
Laurie: This was the case that started you representing children.
Alvin: Yes.
Laurie: Alvin. We've been in this business for a long time. We've learned that things aren't always… (Leaves.)
Scene: Legal Services of Pittsburgh, Lulu's office
Lulu: You can't have a petition hearing for your baby until we find the baby's father.
Susan: The baby's dad won't never be there.
Lulu: Why's that?
Susan: Because he's dead, alright. You happy? Because he's dead. How am… how am I supposed to raise it on my own?
Lulu: We can help you.
Susan: Yeah. Yeah. I know what you can do. I grew up in and outta here. You people. You… you put me into group homes for three years. You have no idea what that's like. Three years. Three years away from home
Scene: Fallin & Associates, conference room, Thursday
Burton: I think we have a compromise.
Nick: Let's hear it.
Burton: We will include the negative covenants, but they won't kick in unless Carter defaults on the loan. In other words, if he makes his payments on time, then Henry has no say in the company.
Nick: No. If and when Carter defaults, it's too late to fix things.
Burton: But my client has his name on this deal. Now, if it craps out, believe me, it'll be much more devastating to him than it will be to his father.
Nick: His father created this business. His father wants to give this business to his son. Don't you think if there's a demise, he would be more devastated?
Burton: (sighs) Nicholas, you're screwing up this entire deal. And for the wrong reasons.
Nick: You know, this has nothing to do with you and me. It's just a contract, so don't take it personally.
Burton: (angrily) I'm not.
Nick: Oh, come on. If you were in my position, you would do exactly the same thing.
Burton: I would do what my client wanted me to do.
Nick: No. You told me… You told me that our clients hire us to inform them, to tell them the truth. You told me that. So I told Mr. Sloan here… here, that the deal that he thought he wanted to make was a b-a-a-a-d deal. So he listened to me. Now here we are. We're negotiating the best possible solution. Now, if you can't get your mind around that? If you can't get your… if you can't get your mind on this deal… Then fine… fine. We will let this deal die.
Bill McGee scowls. Burton checks his watch.
Henry: I think Carter and I need to talk. Privately.
Everyone exits the conference room except Henry and Carter Sloan.
Scene: Allegheny Children's Shelter
Lulu holds the abandoned baby girl.
Lulu: (sings) 'O mother dear, we're not the fortunate ones, and girls just want to have fun.'
Girl enters the room carrying a baby boy.
Girl: Cute baby.
Lulu: Thanks.
Girl: (to her son) Hey, Tony. Here we go. Is mommy's little boy hungry? Alrighty, Tony. Here we go. Who's hungry? Hey, my baby.
Scene: Fallin & Associates, conference room
Henry opens door to admit Burton, Nick and Bill McGee.
Henry: Come in, gentlemen. Carter and I have been discussing this.
McGee: Great. Have you reached a conclusion?
Henry Yes. You're all fired. Let's go, son.
Henry and Carter exit.
Burton: Nicholas. My office!
Nick: No. I… I don't work for you any more.
Burton: I'm not asking you as a boss. I'm asking you as a father.
Nick glances at McGee, then leaves.
Scene: Fallin & Associates, Burton's office
Nick enters and slamms the door.
Burton: What the hell is wrong with you?
Nick: Nothing.
Burton: You're not yourself.
Nick: What are you talking about?
Burton: I know you're angry at me for some reason!
Nick: I was trying to do a deal in there. That's all.
Burton: Oh, a little deal.
Nick: Yeah.
Burton: That's all.
Nick: A little business.
Burton: Uh-huh. Business. Okay.
Nick: Okay. We done?
Burton: Sure.
Nick starts to leave.
Burton: Nicholas. (Nick stops at the door and shakes his head.) Are you… ?
Nick: (turns back) What?
Burton: Are you using that… that… ?
Nick: What? You think… you think because I leave the firm, I'm using? Because I have a legal disagreement with you, you think I'm using?
Burton: Do you understand, I might be a little concerned when I see you this way?
Nick: Which way?
Burton: Oh, that look in your eyes. The way you speak.
Nick: (derisively) Yeah, you have no idea what you're talking about.
Burton: Okay. You know what… ? Never mind.
Nick: (determined to keep arguing) You know…
Burton: Never mind!
Nick glares at Burton and leaves.
Scene: Courtroom, Friday
Judge Damzen: All right, Miss Meuter. Now explain to me how this happened.
Susan: My baby needed formula and my friend, who was gonna baby-sit, never showed up. The store is down the hill in the Crafton Mall and when I go down there, I forget my food stamps. When I get back, my baby's gone.
Judge Damzen: And you didn't contact the police?
Susan: No, 'cause my boyfriend told me that the baby was fine, over at his aunt's house, that she had some formula, so we go out. The next morning, I find out that he's lying to me. I hear that he gave the baby to some guy to sell for money. That's when I see the article in the newspaper and that's when I go over and tell that girl over there (points to Lulu) that I want my baby back.
Lulu: (stands) Oh, your honor, she's lying. Susan Meuter initially claimed that the father stole the baby. So I confronted her with that and she made up yet another story and now she's saying something completely different.
Susan: I ain't. That's what I found out. I thought that's what happened, then I found out that something else did. You can't blame me for that.
Lulu: She left her baby in a dumpster to die!
Susan: I didn't.
Lulu: Regardless, she let it happen!
Judge Damzen: I'm going to place the baby with Social Services for the next 30 days. Miss Meuter, you will be required to visit your child 20 hours a week, get a part-time job and take parenting classes.
Lulu: Your honor, 30 days?
Judge Damzen: Miss Archer.
Lulu: I mean this is a woman who left her baby in a garbage can.
Judge Damzen: Miss Archer.
Lulu: If I had gone to another dumpster, that baby would be dead.
Judge Damzen: Miss Archer, you made your case; I've made my decision. (Pounds gavel.)
Lulu grabs her file and briefcase andstorms out of the courtroom as James, Alvin and Laurie look on.
Alvin: Lulu—
Scene: Courthouse hallway
Alvin sits on a bench and Laurie approaches him.
Laurie: I know what you're thinking.
Alvin: No, you don't.
Laurie: You're thinking that child should never be returned to that girl.
Alvin: I don't disagree with the Judge's ruling.
Alvin and Laurie start walking down the corridor.
Laurie: So you don't always disagree with second chances; even when the baby was clearly abandoned and left to die.
Alvin: You couldn't disprove that woman's story.
Laurie: And, you couldn't have disproved what Elle Kurtz said all those years ago either. It was your job to make sure she was treated fairly by the courts.
Alvin: I didn't have a good feeling about her, Laurie.
Laurie: You're just part of the system, Alvin. You're not the judge. You don't make the rules. Hell, you could've stayed in private practice; you'd've been a millionaire by now. You think that would've made your happy?
Alvin: Probably. (Walks away. Laurie smiles)
Scene: Kirk & McGee, Bill McGee's office
McGee enters angrily, followed by Nick.
McGee: That was a disaster. Henry Sloan is a very big client. The partners are all upset. We hired you because you're a helluva lawyer; because we thought you could keep clients for us.
Nick: I am a helluva lawyer.
McGee: Well, you gotta work on your personality.
Nick: (starts to leave, then turns back) Mr. McGee. Ah, Bill. This is my personality.
McGee: Well then, you've got to change it.
Nick sneers, shakes his head and leaves.
Scene: Legal Services of Pittsburgh
James: (knocks on Lulu's open door) You okay?
Lulu: No. She lied. (Walks out into main office.)
James: You challenged her every step of the way. If she wants to take advantage of that, that's her problem.
Lulu: I didn't do it right. I could've won.
James: Won? There is no winning. You did your job, believe me. Just move on to the next case. Move on and don't look back.
Lulu: But what's gonna happen to the little girl, James? What the hell's gonna happen to her?
Lulu leaves as Alvin looks on in the background. Hilary Kurtz gets off the elevator.
Alvin: Miss Kurtz. Why don't we go in my office? (They enter his office.) Hilary, as your lawyer, I should tell you… I… ah… I don't think the court's gonna grant you custody.
Hilary: My mama is gonna get my baby?
Alvin: Or, he could go into foster care.
Hilary: I lived in foster care and I lived with my mama. Both were bad. I don't want my baby in either. I want my baby with me.
Scene: Kirk & McGee, Nick's office
Nick enters and locks the door behind him. He takes a packet of cocaine from his pocket and tosses it on his desk, picks up the phone and dials.
Nick: Sheila, hey, it's Nick. Is… is my dad there? (Raising his voice.) No, you tell him it's urgent. It's urgent. I know that client that he's with. It's not that important… Okay. Okay. Forget it. Forget it.
Nick hangs up, sits down at his desk and slides out the writing tray. He turns his mother's picture face-down on the desk. Looking unsure of what to do, he turns the packet over and over in his hand, opening then resealing the bag—to dope or not to dope, that is the question.
Scene: Courthouse
Judge: Ms. Solt, has Social Services changed their previous recommendation?
Laurie: No, your honor. We still feel Gregory Kurtz should be placed with his grandmother, Ella Kurtz.
Judge: Mr. Masterson?
Alvin: (stands) My client wants to retain custody of her son.
Judge: But nothing's changed?
Alvin: No, your honor.
Judge: Then why did you ask for the continuance, Mr. Masterson?
Alvin: I wanted to make Ella Kurtz's history known to the court and to Social Services.
Laurie: Your honor, Ms. Kurtz has no criminal record.
Ella Kurtz: (from the witness stand) What Mr. Masterson wants you to know, your honor, is that Hilary's sister, my first born; she died under my care. He's had this on his conscience for 20 years and so have I. He wants you to know that he thinks I'm an unfit mother because I was an alcoholic who put her drinking ahead of her own daughter's safety.
Judge: Mr. Masterson? This is the reason for the continuance?
Alvin: Twenty years ago she sat on the witness stand and lied about how she could take care of her children.
Ella Kurtz: I was in an abusive relationship and I was trying desperately to make things better.
Alvin: She hid her drinking problem.
Ella Kurtz: Am I the first person ever to have done that?
Alvin: She failed the very children she vowed to protect, your honor.
Ella Kurtz: I failed everyone, Mr. Masterson. I wanted to die for so long. You think there isn't one day that I don't relive and regret what happened. But, God kept me. God found me and God saw me through. I managed to stop drinking. I started working for the church and eventually, over time, things got a lot better. I know… I know I did a terrible thing. And if it's too late for my daughter, maybe it isn't for my grandson.
Judge: I'll grant temporary custody to Ella Kurtz. Now, if Hilary takes parenting classes and consistently makes her supervised visits with the child, then I'll reconsider her status in 3 months' time. (Pounds gavel.)
Alvin: (to sobbing Hilary) I'm sorry.
Scene: Courthouse hallway
Ella Kurtz: Mr. Masterson. I know you don't want to talk to me. I know you think I'm a horrible person, but you have to trust me. I'll take good care of him.
Alvin: You said that before.
Ella Kurtz: We don't get too many chances in this life. I know that. You'll see though. I won't let you down.
Alvin: You put your faith in God. I guess I'm gonna have to put my faith in you. (Walks away.)
Scene: The Incline, Friday evening
Nick: (walks briskly to the bar) Can I get a tequila? (Downs it in one gulp.) Can I have another?
Alvin, Lulu, James and others enter.
Alvin: Nick, thanks for coming.
Nick: (unsure) Yeah.
Lulu: Oh, yeah. Nick wouldn't miss your birthday party, Alvin.
Nick: Oh, yeah. Ha… Happy birthday.
James: Well, let's grab some tables over here.
Alvin: All right.
James: Let's put these tables together. (Calls out.) Nick. Chair over here.
Nick: (removes his overcoat) Yeah. (Downs his second shot of tequila.)
Scene: The Incline, later
Nick is coming out of the bathroom, Lulu, James and Alvin sitting together in a booth.
James: (puts a floppy hat on Alvin's head) Happy birthday, Alvin.
Alvin: Thank you, James. Thank you for the party, my friend. Thank you.
James: Goodnight. (Leaves.)
Lulu: Goodnight
Nick: Goodnight, James.
Alvin: What a rock. It's funny, isn't it? Causality? How one thing can lead to another?
Lulu: Yeah. It's fate.
Alvin: No. I am not a religious man.
Lulu: All right then; science.
Alvin: No.
Lulu: Logic.
Alvin: No, no. Just chance. You know. You walk down one road instead of another. You meet one person instead of another. Free-will. Self-determination. (Burton enters and sees Nick.) When you walk in a life it's all chaotic but it's all ordered when you look back at it.
Nick: No, no. It's… ah… it's ah… you're blathering. It's not chaotic. (Burton exits.) It's a moment. You're in a moment before, then that moment's gone…
Burton stands outside The Incline and lights a cigarette.
Nick: … so whatever.
Alvin exits, loaded down with his birthday gifts, including a Bunny Buddy doll.
Burton: Hey, Alvin.
Alvin: Hello. Burton.
Burton: How are ya? Oh, Happy birthday?
Alvin: Thank you very much. Late night?
Burton: No, I had a dinner date and went home and I couldn't sleep.
Alvin: Ah, I didn't see you inside.
Burton: Well, I was in there for a second and I… ah… I just didn't want to intrude so…
Lulu exits, putting on her coat.
Burton: Hi.
Lulu: Hi.
Alvin: Louisa Archer. Burton Fallin.
Burton: (shakes Lulu's hand) How are ya?
Lulu: Yeah. We have met.
Burton: Matter of fact, I offered this young lady a job last month.
Lulu: He did. (laughs) Ah, so you sure neither of you need a ride?
Alvin: No, I'll just stagger home.
Burton: I'll just stick around and make sure Nick's okay and…
Inside The Incline
Man #1: Excuse me?
Nick: You heard me.
Man #1: You got a problem?
Man #2: Whoa. Whoa. Come on.
Nick: Yeah, your breath.
Man #2: Come on.
Outside The Incline
Burton: Goodnight. (Helps Lulu into cab.)
Lulu: Goodnight. Thanks
Burton: Goodnight. Good to see ya.
Lulu: You, too.
Inside The Incline, Man #2 decks Nick and starts kicking him in the stomach.
Outside The Incline, Burton turns to see that Nick is being beaten up inside. He runs into the bar.
Inside The Incline
Burton: What the hell's goin' on here? Get away from him. (Charges at the two men.)
Man #1: You want some of this, old man?
Nick is on the floor moaning and writhing in pain. Burton grabs a beer bottle and breaks it against the bar, then brandishes the broken bottle.
Burton: You want some of this? Get outta here, both of you. Get out, get out.
The two men scurry out. Burton drops the bottle and tends to Nick.
Burton: Nicholas. You okay?
Nick: What, Dad? Dad, I just screwed up.
Burton: (kneels beside him and lifts his head) I know, I know.
Nick: I'm a screw-up.
Burton: I can help you. Come on.
Nick: I'm a screw-up.
Burton: Let me help you. Get up. Let's get outta here before the police come. Come on. Come on. That's it. (Helps Nick to his feet.) Let's go. Let's go, son.
They leave.
END OF EPISODE
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