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TRANSCRIPT:
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Scene: Jail, interview room
Brian: Listen, thanks, man. I've been sitting in here all night, and I don't know anybody else in the city other than Louisa, and you're a lawyer—
Nick: What happened?
Brian: (looks down, sighs, gets up) Well, alright, I was driving in from Columbus last night, right, for the engagement party. I was going to surprise Louisa a day early, and when I got in town and called her, she was out, so I went to grab a drink, and I had a few, and when I was sitting at the bar, I bumped in to this girl, and we started talking—
Nick: You didn't know she was a hooker? (Brian shrugs. Nick gets up to leave.) I'll find out when you're supposed to go in front of the judge and I'll see what I can do.
Scene: Judiciary Appointment Committee
Burton is being questioned.
Tom: We just have to ask a few preliminary questions regarding your application to the Federal Bench. Name and date of birth?
Burton: Burton Fallin; September the 13th, 1933.
Tom: Are you married?
Burton: I was, August 16th, 1965.
Tom: Have you been divorced?
Burton: I am divorced, in 1980.
Tom: Children?
Burton: I have one son, Nicholas, 32. He works as an associate in my law firm.
Scene: Fallin and Associates
Nick walks in to the reception area.
Nick: (cheerfully) Good morning, Gretchen.
He walks around the corner to find his parole officer, Dale, waiting for him.
Nick: Dale.
Dale: I talked to Alvin Masterson. (Waves urine sample cup.)
Nick: Yeah?
Dale: He says you missed two meetings last week.
Nick: Yeah, I had a very big case here, and a lot of work at the clinic.
Dale: Two meetings in one week?
Nick: It won't happen again.
Dale: New York City, March 22nd.
Nick: (looking at the floor) Yeah.
Dale: Nick! You left the state.
Nick: It was a business meeting. I flew in for two hours.
Dale: That's three technical violations, Nick. Three. (Hands him the cup.)
Washroom. Nick is giving his sample.
Dale: When you first came in to my office I thought you were the least of my problems. But I get these reports and I start to think there must be other violations. So I check around and you know what? I find a lot more. A fight at The Incline at two o'clock in the morning. The Incline, as I recall, is a drinking establishment. So it's my guess that you were drinking. (Picks up the now full cup, puts it in plastic bag while Nick washes his hands.) Dealings with several Legal Services clients who are known drug users and felons, and no reports to me about these relationships. Lets go to your office.
Nick's office
Dale: You know, you've got your periodic review coming up on Friday.
Nick: (sitting at his desk) Yes, I know.
Dale: My girlfriend. (Nick looks up inquiringly.) I was her probation officer, too. That's how we met. I helped her through a tough time in her life and… we kind of fell in love. (Nick looks baffled.) Anyway, she's in this line of business—she's works as an entertainer, and she and I were thinking about becoming proprietors.
Nick: Great.
Dale: Here's the thing. There's a liquor license involved here and Mandy's got a drug conviction. So I gotta buy the license, which is almost as expensive as the building, and we got a lot of forms and legal stuff we don't understand; a contract, a—
Nick: You need help?
Dale: (nods and shrugs) If you're offering, yeah.
Nick: Don't do that.
Dale: Excuse me?
Nick: If you have a problem with me, or the way I'm handling my probation, then tell the judge, and we'll sort it out in court. (Gets up to open the door.)
Dale: (shrugs and rises) If that's the way you want to play it. You may not like what I have to say to Judge Handley on Friday.
Dale leaves. Nick shuts the door and sighs.
Scene: Judiciary Appointment Committee
Tom: Is there any information that may reflect adversely on you in connection with your nomination for the Federal Judiciary?
Burton: Not that I know of.
Tom: Any business partner or family member who's had problems with the law?
Burton: If you're talking about my son—
Tom: He has a criminal record?
Burton: He was convicted of a misdemeanour drug possession charge and was sentenced to probation and community service, but, as I said, he's got that under control now.
Scene: Legal Services of Pittsburgh
Nick: Masterson. You spoke to my probation officer.
Alvin: Excuse me?
Nick: You told him about the meetings I missed.
Alvin: I've got to report them to the probation department. (Nick nods, looking at the floor.) Nick. It's part of the requirement.
Nick walks away.
Lulu: Hey Nick! Come here, you want to hear something funny?
Nick: (under his breath) Why not. (Walks into meeting room.)
Lulu: So, I was just sitting with this wedding planner and… Wedding planner! Um, she starts asking me whether or not I want swans to swim in the pool at Brian's country club…
Nick: (Nods with a frown) Swans.
Lulu: Yeah, swans. And then she goes on to say that they do, occasionally, make a little bit of poo-poo in the pool (laughs) and I started laughing and she gave me a look and made me laugh even harder and… she quit. And she's a friend of Brian's family and he's going to be kind of mad when he gets in to town tomorrow.
Nick: Well, I'm sure he'll forgive you. (Turns around to leave.)
Lulu: Yeah. Oh, anyway, my friend Kate is throwing us an engagement party this Friday night and I'd really like for you to come.
Nick raises an eyebrow, shrugs and walks off.
Scene: Legal Services of Pittsburgh, Nick's office
Nick: (unfolding a document) This is a termination of parental rights petition.
Hinkins: Yeah. (Cracks knuckles.)
Nick: When did you receive it?
Hinkins: Last week.
Nick: It says you've just been released from prison.
Hinkins: Four weeks ago. I was in for third degree murder.
Nick: Uh, Mr. Hinkins, did you continue to keep up contact with your daughter?
Hinkins: Yeah, I called twice a week, wrote four times a month, sent gifts.
Nick: And since you've been released from prison?
Hinkins: I got a job, an apartment in her school district, I've met all my parole requirements.
Nick: Okay.
Hinkins: My ex-wife and her new husband won't let me see Tess, my daughter. Last time I go over there my ex-wife comes out and tells me her new husband is adopting Tess, they're moving to Minnesota, and I should get the hell out of there or she's calling the cops. Then I get that form in the mail.
Nick: The hearing is tomorrow morning. I'll meet you outside the courtroom.
Hinkins nods and gets up.
In the reception area, Levi is being ushered in by a truant officer.
James: (to truant officer) Thanks for bringing him by, man.
Truant Officer: No problem.
James: (to Levi) Smoking pot in my house? With a 19-year-old girl? (Levi smirks.) Come into my office. (They walk into James' office.) You're under home detention. Do you know what that means? If that truant officer hadn't known me, he'd have called the police instead. You'd have ended up in Youth Detention instantly. I'm not messing around here, Levi. You've been living with me for less than a month and I've already let things slide.
Levi: You're not going to call the cops, are you?
James: I've got a full day ahead of me. You're going to sit here until I'm done.
Levi: What, in your office?
James: Until I'm done, you're not moving. I don't want you going to the bathroom without asking me.
Levi: Uncle James, man, you—
James: Don't you move.
James leaves and Levi drops sullenly into a chair.
Scene: Courtroom
Burton is addressing an audience. Nick arrives late.
Burton: Well, Richard Stanton was a fair, solid guy who could laugh at a joke and wasn't afraid to have a drink in the afternoon. He loved the Pirates, and he loved his family. (Plaque is unveiled.) So it's my honour to be the first person to call this space the Judge Richard Stanton Courtroom.
Audience claps.
Outside the courtroom, Nick and Burton are walking.
Burton: I appreciate your being here, Nicholas.
Nick: Well, you did a good job.
Burton: Yeah? A little nervous.
Nick: (shrugs) Didn't show.
Burton: Really?
Nick: Yeah—Dad, um…
Burton: Yeah?
Nick: My probation officer is probably going to write me up on a couple of technical violations. I have a hearing in front of Judge Handley this Friday.
Burton: (raises hand to forehead) Oh God.
Nick: Listen, this Federal Bench thing…
Burton: Yeah.
Nick: You still want to do it?
Burton: (emphatically) Yeah.
Ralph: Burton! Burton Fallin! Great job.
Burton: Hey, how are you, Ralph?
Ralph: Great, how are you?
Burton: Thanks for coming.
Nick walks off.
Scene: Fallin and Associates, conference room
Sound of female laughter in the background as Nick makes a hurried entrance.
Nick: Sorry I'm late.
Dale: Hey! Nick Fallin, Mandy Gressler. Nick's volunteered to help out with the deal.
Mandy: You're a lawyer?
Nick: Yes.
Mandy: I hope you know what you're doing.
Dale: We can buy the building for a hundred thousand dollars. The liquor license is going to be another seventy-five.
Nick: (taking notes) Who's financing this?
Dale: I got my loan through Bellfield Union.
Mandy: And I got the other half covered. This is a nice place, Mr.—
Dale: Fallin.
Mandy: Did Dale tell you who we're doing business with?
Nick: No.
Mandy: Lenny Getkin. (Nick shrugs.) He's not the type of guy who hires expensive lawyers to do his deals, if you know what I mean.
Nick: No, I don't.
Mandy: Well, if I were you (opens up handbag, revealing a gun), I'd walk in with one of these instead of that pen. (She laughs.)
Dale: C'mon. She's kidding. Here's the contract.
Nick: (reading contract) Well, this requires you to put four thousand down in good faith and carries a ten day escrow.
Dale: Okay.
Nick: Not really. Ten days is not long enough to perform the due diligence. Particularly with the liquor license.
Dale: Mandy's already taken care of all that.
Nick: Really.
Mandy: I've arranged all the physical inspections, checked out the permits, the parking, and the kitchen. It's all set. All except the liquor license. I do more than just take off my clothes, Mr. Fallin.
Nick: You're buying a strip club.
Dale: A gentleman's club.
Nick: Oh. Sorry.
Dale and Mandy kiss. Nick looks away.
Scene: The Incline
Levi: So where's this babysitter?
James: Don't worry. He'll be here.
A tall man in a suit walks in. Levi looks impressed.
James: Not him. Him.
A second man enters, in a wheelchair. James gets up to greet him.
Toph: Ha ha! Jimmy! (They clap each other on the back.) My man, my man.
James: You lookin' good, man, real good.
Toph: I've been hitting the gym a little. I'm benching two-twenty-five. Hey, you look good too, Jimmy.
James: Thanks, man.
Toph: This the boy?
James: Yes. Toph, Levi, Levi, Toph.
Levi: What up, Toph? (Extends fist)
Toph: You'll call me Mr. Nance. Sorry I'm late, James. I stopped by his school.
Levi: What you was doing at my school for?
Toph: Was I speaking to you? No. And don't be jaw-boning. I got the assignments he missed today and they're going to send us both emails whenever he has homework.
James: Thanks, man.
Levi: This sucks. (Gets up to leave.)
Toph: (Blocks Levi.) Where you going, jawbone?
Levi: I'm about to go hang out with some friends.
Toph: Oh no no. The only friend you got to worry about is right here, Levi. You got that?
Levi: Yeah.
Toph: You got busted for pot. You run with drug people, it's only a matter of time before you're all in jail or dead.
Levi: So what you want me to do man? (Sarcastically) “Just say no”?
Toph: (to James) Funny boy. How old are you, jawbone?
Levi: Seventeen.
Toph: Hmm. The summer I was seventeen, I got pretty friendly with this white guy, Steve, who always had good drugs. Labour Day weekend he has a party that just won't quit. Girls coming and going, kegs, we were barbecuing, playing records. And at that party there's this other guy, Dan, who starts pushing Steve around, and I pull Dan off 'cause I think Steve is my friend. (Levi nods.) We get into it, and Dan reaches into his pocket and points a gun at me. I reach out to push it away. And it goes off. I look down, and Dan had driven a hole in me. Steve and all those guys I thought were down with me, they run. I'm dying, and they run, because they think the cops are coming.
Levi: So what happened?
Toph: Well, it went through my gut. Into my spine. I'm not going to walk again. I take a dump in a colostomy bag. I can't even feel my own johnson. 'Cause I was a bad ass. I wanted to stick up for my boys. Now you got assignments in American History and Algebra II, jawbone. After we eat, go back to my house, and you do them. You got a problem?
Levi: No. No, I don't got a problem, Mr. Nance.
Toph: Good.
James: Alright, Levi, what do you want to eat?
Levi: Nothing. I'm not hungry.
Toph: No, no, you gotta eat something so that you can concentrate on your homework. Get them chicken fingers. They got a lot of protein in them.
Levi nods, James smiles.
Scene: Courthouse corridor
Brian: Are they going to publish my name in the newspaper or put my picture on a website or something? I mean, what happens next?
Nick: Your trial is set for July 10th.
Brian: Oh, can't we get that resolved sooner?
Nick: You can try to plea down.
Brian: Well, can you help me with that?
Nick: (Stops walking and turns around) You're going to need to hire a criminal attorney.
Brian: I don't want to get anybody else involved in this. I mean, if Lulu finds out about this—Nick, it would kill her. Okay, come on. (Takes out wallet.) Let me pay you for doing this.
Nick looks at him disgustedly and walks away.
Scene: Fallin & Associates, Burton's office
Tom: You did well, Burton. The committee was impressed.
Burton: Oh, good, good. To tell you the truth, I was a little surprised they wanted to meet with me.
Tom: They were impressed.
Burton: Good. So what's next?
Tom: This is a political appointment, so you have to be ready to get political.
Burton: Yeah, I understand.
Tom: You should consider the members of your firm that might hurt your chances and look at any organizations you belong to or habits you have that may make you vulnerable to scrutiny.
Burton: You have something in mind, Tom?
Tom: Bob Dole quit smoking when he ran for president.
Burton: (Laughs) Well, I'm not running for president.
Tom: But you may run into tobacco issues.
Burton: Well, that's a lot of crap. What else?
Tom: Riverbrook Country Club.
Burton: Been a member there thirty years.
Tom: No Jews, no African Americans, and a gender bias against women.
Burton: Come on, Tom, you can't be serious.
Tom: One of your associates, Sylvia Doucette.
Burton: Yeah.
Tom: What do you think of her?
Burton: She's good. Real estate attorney. Does a good job for us.
Tom: Is she partner material?
Burton: Possible, but we're not planning to add any new partners until next year.
Tom: Sylvia Doucette is very active in the Allegheny County Bar Association. She has good contacts in the mayor's office…
Burton: No, no, I understand, Tom, but you're not pushing her on me because she's a black woman, are you?
Tom: She graduated third in her law class at Cornell. She's reputed to be a top drawer negotiator, and, as it happens, if she were a partner, the Judiciary Appointment Committee will never have to ask why all your partners are straight white men. Because they won't be.
Burton: Right, right.
Scene: Strip club
Mandy: I know what you're thinking, Mr. Fallin, but everything's going to change. Carpets, stage, sound system… We're going to buy a bunch of Nagel prints and hang them all over the club.
Dale: Isn't she something? The place is going to be great when she gets done with it.
Mandy: Lenny. This is our lawyer. Nick Fallin.
Lenny: Fancy outfit.
Nick: You too.
Lenny: So, where are we at?
Nick: My clients have agreed to the one-seventy-five.
Lenny: What? Sorry, couldn't hear you.
Nick: My clients have agreed to the one-seventy-five—
Lenny: Okay!
Nick: So before we make this official I need to see your books.
Lenny: I'm not going to do that.
Nick: Well, how do we know what your numbers are?
Lenny: You do the math.
Nick: Mr. Getkin—
Lenny: Lenny.
Nick: Lenny. You won't show us your books, and you can't prove to us what your revenue stream is, so we can't give you what you're asking for.
Lenny: Tell you what. I'll open my books if your clients sign the contract.
Nick: What?
Lenny: I'll open my books if your clients sign the contract.
Nick: No, no, can't do that. If they sign the contract, then you get the hand money.
Lenny: That's the way it works.
Nick: No. It's not. (Walks away, Dale and Mandy following.)
Mandy: Can't we work something out?
Nick: (to Dale) I wouldn't sign.
Dale: What am I on the hook for if I sign?
Nick: The complete deposit—four thousand dollars.
Mandy leans in to Dale and whispers something.
Dale: What the hell, huh? Let's do this thing.
Scene: Restaurant
Burton: It's called a culotte steak. The only place in town they serve this particular cut. What do you think?
Sylvia: It's fine. Mr. Fallin, what's up?
Burton: Well, I just wanted a chance to tell you how much I admire your professionalism, and tell you that your contribution to the firm is outstanding.
Sylvia: Thank you.
Burton: We're thinking about the next generation of management, so I was looking around and I thought, “Sylvia Doucette.”
Sylvia: What's on your mind, Burton?
Burton: We had a meeting of the partnership committee last night. We'd like to make you a non-equity partner.
Sylvia: Non-equity.
Burton: Yeah. It's the same as equity except you don't get to share in the profits of the firm and you don't get to vote on major decisions but, other than that…
Sylvia: Other than that…
Burton: No, it's a stepping stone. Gives us a chance to see how you perform on the next level. If everything goes well, you could be an equity partner next year. A lot of firms do this.
Sylvia: Your firm doesn't.
Burton: Sylvia, this is an excellent opportunity—
Sylvia: For you. I've heard about the Federal Bench, and I've looked around at a lot of the associates, and the only other woman quit, and you and I both know the only other person of colour, Pete Marston, is a goof. You wanna make me a partner, make me a partner. (Takes a bite of steak.) Yummy.
Burton chuckles.
Scene: Courtroom, Bobby Hinkins' case
Kate Shaw is opposing counsel. Tess's mom, Mrs. Stowe, is on the stand.
Kate: Mrs. Stowe, why do you want to terminate your ex-husband's parental rights?
Mrs. Stowe: Lawrence is Tess's dad now, not Bobby. Lawrence has been there for her, supported her financially, and been a great dad to her. And Tess loves Lawrence like a father.
Kate: How does Tess feel about Mr. Hinkins?
Mrs. Stowe: She's afraid of him. She knows what he did, and how he was before he went to prison. She's afraid to be around him.
Kate: Are there any other reasons for doing this?
Mrs. Stowe: Lawrence got a job at 3M in Minnesota. We want to move there as a family. Unless Bobby's rights are legally terminated, of course, Lawrence can't adopt her.
Kate: And how will terminating Bobby's rights affect Tess's life?
Mrs. Stowe: It won't. He's never had a hand in raising her. He never sees her, she never speaks to him.
Kate: No further questions.
Nick: Mrs. Stowe, you said Bobby plays no role in Tess's life.
Mrs. Stowe: Yes.
Nick: Isn't that because you won't let him?
Mrs. Stowe: He's not a good influence.
Nick: Last week, he called to talk to Tess eleven times. Did you let him?
Mrs. Stowe: No.
Nick: He stopped by in person four times in the last month, twice with gifts, right?
Mrs. Stowe: Yes.
Nick: Did you let him see her?
Mrs. Stowe: No.
Nick: Did you let her know that he stopped by to see her?
Mrs. Stowe: No.
Nick: Did you at least give her the gifts that he left for her?
Mrs. Stowe: He killed two men in a bar. He's a violent man who should not around—
Nick: (raising his voice) Did you give Tess the gifts that he left for her?
Mrs. Stowe: (defiantly) No.
Later, Bobby Hinkins is on the stand
Nick: Mr. Hinkins, since you were released, what have you done to be able to support Tess and spend time with her?
Hinkins: I got a job which, after 90 days, has a health insurance plan that kicks in, and I got an apartment, two bedroom, one bath. It's in the same school district she'd go to if she was in public school.
Nick: Were you close to your daughter before you went to prison?
Hinkins: I'm not going to lie. I was a drunk and I had some problems. But when I was with her I did hold her, and I made money to take care of her. And I made sure she was safe.
Nick: No further questions.
Kate: Mr. Hinkins, from June fourth, 1994 until March eleventh of this year you were unable to see Tess, is that correct?
Hinkins: That's correct.
Kate: Is it true that Philip Nessbor, age 21, and Hank Fumin, age 30, were killed by you in a bar fight?
Nick: Objection! Relevance?
Kate: It goes to parenting ability.
Judge: Overruled. You may answer.
Hinkins: It's true.
Kate: Is this a photograph of the crime scene?
Nick: Objection. More prejudicial than probative.
Kate: We're establishing grounds to terminate his parental rights.
Judge: Overruled.
Kate shows the photograph to Bobby Hinkins.
Hinkins: (flinches) That's it. That's it.
Kate hands the picture to the Judge.
Scene: Legal Services of Pittsburgh
James: This is the file. I'll take a look at it, okay. (Toph enters. James gives file to man.) Give me a second.
Man: Yeah, sure, no problem.
James: What happened?
Toph: Yesterday he comes over, does the assignment, no problem. Today he had this story to read for English, okay. So he says he read it, he splits, no problem. I got chronic pain from the bullet that I treat with pain killers, okay. A half hour after he leaves, I get a flare. I go to my bathroom and he's cleaned me out.
James: He stole your prescription drugs?
Toph: Sure did. And he can get about five hundred bucks for them on the street.
Scene: Courtroom, Bobby Hinkins' case
Tess is on the stand.
Kate: Hi, Tess.
Tess: Hi.
Kate: That's a nice purse.
Tess: Thank you.
Kate: Where did you get it?
Tess: My mom's husband, Lawrence.
Kate: Tess, how often does your father call you?
Tess: He doesn't call.
Kate: Does he write you letters?
Tess: He used to, but not anymore.
Hinkins: (standing up) No, that's not true. I write you every week, Tess.
Judge: Mr. Hinkins, please sit down.
Hinkins: But it's not true.
Judge: Sit.
Kate: What do you think of your father?
Tess: I'm afraid of him. Because of his temper, and because of what he did.
Kate: No further questions.
Nick: Tess, have you ever spent any time with your father?
Tess: Not really.
Nick: Then how do you know to be afraid of him?
Tess: My mom.
Nick: I have no more questions.
Scene: An alley
Levi is with his friends. James pulls up in a car and gets out.
James: Levi. So, what, you a thief now, stealing pills from Toph?
Levi: Who told you that, man?
James: Who do you think told me?
Levi: I didn't steal anything, okay?
James: What, do you think I'm stupid? The man has two bottles of prescription pain killers when you show up and none when you left.
Levi: What you talking about, two bottles of pills, I took, like, three pills—
James: Alright, Levi, stop lying.
Levi: You can't tell me what to do, man. (Walks away from James.)
James: The hell I can't. (Advances on Levi. Levi's friends crowd around.) Sit your asses down.
Levi: Look. I'm not scared of you, man.
James: What, you callin' me out?
His friends make comments.
Levi: No, I got this. You couldn't take me, old-timer.
James: You wanna find out?
Levi: You better shut your face or somethin's going to happen to you.
Friends laugh.
James: Get in the car.
Levi: You crazy?
James: Get in the car.
Levi: I'm not gettin' in no car.
James: Get in the car! (Grabs Levi, shoves him toward the car.)
Levi: Don't touch me like that! (Shoves James.)
James: Get in the car. Get in the car!
Levi gets in the car.
Scene: Courtroom
Clerk: All rise. (Judge sits down.) Be seated.
Judge: Mr. Hinkins, given your criminal background, your long incarceration, and the close-knit family that your daughter accepts as her own, I find that the grounds of abandonment and parental incapacity are established, and that Tess's needs and welfare are served by terminating your parental rights.
Mrs. Stowe and Lawrence embrace Tess.
Scene: Courthouse hallway
Hinkins: I served my time. Nine years. I did it for her. Worked in the metal shop. Got my high school diploma. I knew what would be waiting for me when I got out. I knew the whole world would be against me. But I had my daugher, Mr. Fallin. (Nick nods.) You don't understand a thing I'm saying. You don't get it.
Nick: I'm sorry.
Hinkins: Are you? (Nick looks away. Mr. Hinkins gets up and starts walking out, Nick follows.) Scary thing is, Mr. Fallin, you're the only person who's given me the time of day since I've gotten out. The only person. Ah, what's the point, really? Huh? What's the point of any of this?
Nick stops and watches Mr. Hinkins walk away.
Scene: Gym
James: Came to this place every day after school. (Greets the attendant.)
Levi: What the hell, man?
James: Take your shoes off.
Levi: Why?
James: (starting to undress) Your jewelry. Off. (To attendant.) Put some headgear on him.
Levi: Matter of fact, I don't even need head gear.
James: (Hands boxing gloves to Levi) Put these on. Lace 'em up.
Scene: The Incline
Nick: I spoke to the prosecutor. He's agreed to a six hundred dollar fine and three weeks of john school.
Brian: That's it?
Nick: Yes.
Brian: (laughs) I owe you one, man, I really do. Slap on the wrist, huh? You know what's ridiculous about this whole thing?—and I'm sure that everyone says this, but it truly was my first time to do something like that. (Nick is looking impatient.) I mean, I have no idea what got into my head, I mean, I think it was probably just the pressure of, you know, being in med school, and being engaged, and, you know, I just kinda… snapped.
Nick: Don't try to be my friend. I did this for Lulu.
Brian: Okay. (Shrugs.) Get something to eat?
Nick: No, I'm going to go.
Lulu enters with Kate Shaw and another girlfriend.
Lulu: Brian!
Brian: Sweetheart!
Lulu: When did you get into town?
Brian: Just this morning. (They hug.)
Lulu: Really? Well what's going on? What are you two doing?
Brian: Well, I was going to surprise you. (Kisses her friends.) Hello, hello, Mary, but, anyway, here you are! Nick and I were just talking about the party, and he was giving me recommendations for hotels for out of town guests. Why don't you guys join us, come on.
Kate: (to Nick) You did a good job for Bobby Hinkins today.
Dale enters.
Dale: Fallin. Nick, look, we got to talk.
Nick: Excuse me.
Dale: Mandy got—
Nick: No, look, just—(to Lulu et al) Would you excuse us, please? Please excuse us. (They go aside.) What is it?
Dale: What is it? Mandy didn't get the loan. She said the guy at the bank found some old debt, a credit card, or something. They won't give her the money!
Nick: Well, she can go to another bank.
Dale: She—you know, she did all that. They're not giving her a cent, nobody! Am I going to lose my money?
Nick: (shrugs) You signed the contract.
Dale: Yeah, yeah, look. You have to talk to Lenny again, you get me an extension.
Alvin enters.
Nick: No, you—I did what you asked me.
Dale: Well, I'm asking you again.
Alvin: Nick—
Nick: Alvin! You've met my probation officer. Dale Petrocki, Alvin Masterson.
Alvin: The police came by the office to see you. Bobby Hinkins kidnapped his daughter this afternoon. They want you to carry this pager number in case he tries to contact you.
Nick looks around at Alvin, Dale and Lulu, who are all watching him.
Scene: Gym
Levi and James are in the boxing ring.
Levi: Come on, come on, old-timer.
James: Is that right?
Levi: What you got with that footwork right there, huh?
James: Come on, tough guy. Show me what you got, hardass.
Levi: Old-timer, old man. I'm the one with the fast hands, do you want the fast feet?
James: Alright, all that cute stuff, all that cute stuff. All right, tough guy.
Levi lunges at James, James hits him.
Levi: That's all you got? Go home, back. (James hits him a few times. Levi bends over.) Whew!
James: Oh, come on. I didn't even hit you that hard. (Levi punches him in the groin. James delivers a few punches, and Levi is on the ground.) I didn't mean to hit you that hard, man.
Levi: Go ahead and turn me in, man. I don't need to live with you.
James: Yeah. Yeah, you do.
Levi gets up and walks away.
Scene: Strip club
Lenny is at the cash register, Mandy is dancing and waves to Nick and Dale as they enter.
Lenny: Yeah, what is it?
Nick: The contract my client signed.
Lenny: Yeah.
Nick: Well, if I wanted to challenge that in court, there's no legal consideration there.
Lenny: What are you saying?
Nick: What I'm saying is, my client wants his money back.
Lenny: You made the deal. You knew the terms.
Dale: I still have a few days left. You have to fix this thing.
Nick: Which bank was Mandy dealing with?
Dale: PA Savings and Loan. Can you go down there, smooth things out?
Nick: I can't make them give her a loan.
Dale: No, but you can try, Nick, can't you? You can try.
Scene: Legal Services of Pittsburgh, dusk
Nick enters and nearly bumps into Lulu.
Lulu: Hey!
Nick: Sorry, sorry.
Lulu: What are you doing here so late?
Nick: I have some paperwork to finish up.
Lulu: Uh, Brian's been telling me how you've been going out of your way to help out with the party.
Nick: Oh.
Lulu: Yeah. You know, I thought you'd change your mind about him.
Nick: Lulu, I—
Lulu: What?
Elevator opens, Bobby Hinkins and Tess walk in. Nick takes Bobby into the meeting room.
Hinkins: I waited outside her school. And when she came out, I told her to get in my car, that her mom had asked me to give her a ride home. She was scared at first, but she calmed down. I'm in trouble, right?
Nick: Given the circumstances, you'll probably serve out the rest of your sentence.
Hinkins: (sighs) Ten more years. Yeah, I figured. Boy, kids change fast. A lot of things that we couldn't talk about on a monitored phone call, we got to talk about.
Nick: You need to call your parole officer.
Hinkins: No, I already did. I told him to come down here. We had a good time. (Nick smiles.) We went to Waffle-teria. It's all-you-can-eat Thursday. Then we drove around…I wanted to show her where I grew up. It's now an apartment building, but it used to be my home. (Sirens heard in the background.) Maybe that lady can give Tess a ride back home, huh?
Nick: Yeah.
Hinkins: So she doesn't have to see this.
Nick: Sure.
They go out to the lobby. Tess is sitting with Lulu.
Hinkins: Tess, this lady's going to give you a ride home now.
Tess: Okay. (Tess and Lulu get up.)
Hinkins: Tess? It was…I hope I didn't scare you.
Tess: You didn't.
Hinkins: Good. That's really good.
Tess: Bye.
Hinkins: Bye, Tess.
Tess: Bye.
Lulu and Tess enter elevator. Hinkins is crying as the elevator door shuts.
Scene: Fallin and Associates
Dale is waiting for Nick outside his office.
Nick: I was just over at PA Savings and Loan, I talked to the guy. (Unlocks office door and they enter.)
Dale: Are they going to help?
Nick: Mandy never applied for a loan.
Dale: What are you talking about?
Nick: Dale…she ripped you off. With Lenny.
Dale: What?
Nick: She never tried to get a loan. (Sits down at his desk and opens a notebook.)
Dale: I want you to come with me and get my money back.
Nick: Lenny is not the kind of guy who's going to give it to you if you ask him.
Dale: You come with me, and I'll give you a totally clean slate at the review, and I'll never mention another infraction.
Scene: Legal Services of Pittsburgh
Alvin enters meeting room, where James and Levi are sitting.
Alvin: James, do you have the Stone file—(Cuts off when he sees Levi's bruises.) What happened?
Levi: We was just working some stuff out.
James: We took it into the ring.
Alvin: You did this? (Levi shrugs.) You got a minute, James? (They step out.) You've taken custody of an at-risk child with a bad background and you're encouraging him to resolve his problems with violence?
James: It's not violence. It's boxing.
Alvin: James. I think you need to check into a parenting class.
James: I do things the way I do things. Levi is not a client, and we weren't in the office. (Goes back into meeting room.)
Levi: What's his problem?
James: Nothing.
Levi shuts the door on Alvin, then picks up a pencil to resume his homework.
Scene: Strip club
Mandy and Lenny are necking. Nick and Dale enter. Dale grabs Mandy and shoves her into the corner.
Dale: Why did you lie to me? Why did you lie to me?
Mandy: I didn't!
Dale: You're still on the drugs, aren't you?
Mandy: No, baby—
Dale: You sleeping with him, too? Did you sleep with that guy?
Mandy: What are you talking about?
Dale: Mandy. Tell me you're not still with this guy. Please.
Mandy: Dale, I'm sorry, I just—I owe him money and I didn't want to tell you, I love you—
Dale: Come on! (To Lenny) Give me my money back!
Lenny: Get it from the girl.
Dale: Give me that money!
Lenny: She put it up her nose.
Mandy: (Slaps Lenny) Shut up!
Dale: You know what? I'll fix you good.
Lenny: (to Mandy) Sit down.
Dale: I'm going to bring this whole place down, and you with it. (Goes to the cash register.)
Nick: Dale…
Lenny: You couldn't even make it as a cop.
Lenny starts beating Dale with fire extinguisher. Nick lurches forward to separate them. Mandy shoots Lenny. Nick gets up slowly, breathing hard. Mandy still has the gun pointed at him.
Mandy: What are you going to do?
Nick: Put the gun down.
Mandy shakes her head. Nick starts backing away. There is blood on the collar of his shirt.
Mandy: What are you going to do?
Nick: I'm going to pull the fire alarm and then I'm going to walk straight out of here.
He picks up a cloth from the counter and pulls the fire alarm with it. He then drops the cloth and walks out. Mandy lowers the gun.
Scene: Fallin & Associates, Burton's office
Burton: (lighting up) I'm not quitting, Tom.
Tom: Fair enough.
Burton: And I'm not going to resign my membership to the club, and I'm not going to treat my son any differently or run my firm any differently, so, if that costs me the opportunity, so be it.
Tom: You've made the short list.
Burton: I did?
Tom: You, John Goldfarb, and Linda Solganikov.
Burton: The DA's going for this?
Tom: Goldfarb has been angling for this position for a while. Congratulations, Burton.
Burton: So, where do we go from here?
Tom: Another round of interviews, a little more scrutiny, and then, with luck, a nomination.
Burton: (chuckles) A little more scrutiny…
Tom: If you're going to sit on the bench, you'll need to be vetted.
Burton: Yeah.
Tom: Are you ready for this?
Burton: I guess so.
Tom: You're ready. (They shake hands.)
Burton: Well, thanks, Tom. Thanks for everything, I appreciate it. See you soon.
Tom leaves. There's a knock on the door.
Burton: Yeah. (Nick enters.) Hey. Well, I was just…you'd better close that door, son. (Nick closes it.) Well, I've just been informed that I made the short list for the Federal Bench. I'll announce it to the firm later today. Now, Nicholas, it might get a little bit ugly around here. If I leave, there's going to be quite a battle over who's running this place. So I might need your help for damage control, okay?
Nick: (in shock from earlier events) Yeah.
Burton: Now the other thing is that if I'm going to get this appointment, I've got to distance myself from your legal problems. I won't be able to be here for you like I have been.
Nick: That's not going to be a problem.
Burton: You off the hook?
Nick: It's not going to be a problem.
Burton: Good.
Scene: Lulu's engagement party
Lulu is blindfolded, being tickled with feathers. Nick watches in the background.
Friend: Okay, now, every time you laugh, it means another year of a long, happy marriage.
Lulu: (laughing) I can't believe I'm letting you do this to me.
Brian: I'd like to make a toast. To Louisa. You've made me the proudest man in this room. In the city. And speaking of the city, all of you know that Lulu's been lobbying pretty hard for us to stay here in Pittsburgh, so we've been looking around town and we've found a house we liked, and our offer was accepted.
Everyone applauds except Nick, who stares ahead numbly.
Kate: (to Nick) You've got something on your collar. It looks like blood. Ah, it's already set. There's nothing you can do about it now. There's nothing you can do.
END OF EPISODE
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