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TRANSCRIPT:
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Scene: Legal Services of Pittsburgh—Lulu's office
Nick knocks on Lulu's door.
Lulu: Yeah.
Nick: (opens door and leans in) D'ya have a second?
Lulu: Uh… it's not a good time, really. My grandmother fell and broke her leg in a nursing home and I have to go.
Nick: I'm sorry.
Lulu: Can we talk later?
Nick: Yeah, sure. (Turns to leave)
Lulu: Uh. Nick. (She approaches him) What happened yesterday… that was a mistake. I take full responsibility for what I did but I shouldn't've done it.
Nick: No. (Shakes his head)
Lulu: I was nervous about the house and about getting married, and I was, and I am, curious… about you. I've been curious. And, well, I guess you were kinda like my bachelorette party.
Nick: I was what?
Lulu: I mean, not like… I didn't mean it like that.
Nick: No, it's…
Lulu: God. That was cruel and stupid and I didn't mean to compare you to something like that. Something that's so… Just…
Nick: Meaningless.
Lulu: It wasn't. I'm going to marry Brian and live it that house with him. And that's what I want to do with my life. I guess, what I'm trying to say is that we shouldn't really see each other any more, you know, at all, if we can help it.
Nick: You guess.
Lulu: No. I know.
Nick: Okay.
Lulu: I'm sorry. I gotta go.
Nick: Okay. Sure. (Steps aside to allow her to pass)
Scene: Fallin & Associates—Nick's office
Van Gergen: Preliminary samples show traces of benzene, toluene and sulfuric acid in the soil.
Nick: Mr. Van Gergen. There are underground storage tanks that leaked gasoline and discarded coke from the coal mine.
Van Gergen: How much to clean it up?
Nick: The impact assessment report suggests 2 to 3 million.
Van Gergen: Uh-uh, too risky. Cut the offer to 12 million.
Nick: Eight months ago that property was appraised, in escrow, at 20 million dollars.
Van Gergen: Eight months ago, there weren't three separate citizen groups protesting a development. Eight months ago, they didn't know about the levels of toxic build-up there.
Nick: Twelve it is.
Scene: Fallin & Associates—Conference room
Jake is meeting with Wade Meyers.
Meyers: I want to buy Vextus Corporation.
Jake: Are they for sale?
Meyers: No.
Jake: So this is hostile?
Meyers: File the tender offer documents with the SEC and get this thing rollin'. (Jake hesitates) Is there a problem?
Jake: No problem.
Scene: Fallin & Associates—main lobby
Nick is escorting Mr. Van Gergen out.
Van Gergen: You know, I started with my last attorney when he was about your age.
Nick: Why'd ya leave?
Van Gergen: He did good deals—not great ones. He liked playing golf and sending presents. He thought being slick was a descent excuse for missing the small stuff.
Nick: I get it. (Shakes hands)
Van Gergen: I don't want to be friends, Nick.
Nick: I'll call the Railroad's attorney and set the meeting.
Van Gergen: Great. (He leaves.)
Jake bounds down the stairs and meets Nick at the door.
Jake: Hey. I just left a meeting with Meyers.
Nick: Okay.
Jake: He wants to orchestrate a hostile take-over of Vextus and he wants me to take the lead.
Nick: Well, did you tell him you can't do securities work?
Jake: Well, I was thinking, maybe we could, uh, work together on this.
Nick: (Smiles) Can't do anything until after four.
Jake: Okay. I'll clear it with Burton.
They walk together to a meeting outside Burton's office door.
Jake: Did your father get the appointment?
Nick: Don't know.
Lichtman: (Approaches Nick) Nick Fallin, right?
Nick: Yeah.
Lichtman: (Extends his hand) Mitchell Lichtman. We're going to be working together.
Nick: We are?
Lichtman: Yeah. My Boss and I've been looking forward to this day for a very long time.
Senator Caldwell and Burton exit his office.
Jake: What's Senator Caldwell doing here?
Nick: I don't know.
Burton: Morning, everybody. If I could have your attention for just a second, here. It gives me a great deal of pleasure to introduce our new Senior Partner, Senator Nathan Caldwell.
Caldwell: That's former Senator, Burton.
Burton: Well…
Caldwell: Got to remember that.
Applause.
Burton: And our new associate... He was the Chief of Staff for the Senator at the State Senate. Yale Law—Class of '93, if I'm not mistaken. Mitchell Lichtman. (More applause.) Mitchell?
Lichtman: I'm just here to be a team player and I'm looking forward to working with every one of you.
Burton: Good enough. Yeah. Nathan? want to say a couple words?
Caldwell: Well, sure, thank you, Burton. I had the honor of being a public servant for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for almost 30 years. But, as rewarding and exciting as public service was, too often it was about watching your back instead of doing your job. (He and Burton chuckle. Nick watches warily.) So, I'm happy and proud to be joining this prestigious firm and getting the chance to practice in our noble profession once again where it's all about the work and not about the politics. So, I thank you.
Applause.
Scene: Hospital
Lulu: Excuse me.
Nurse 1: Yes, ma'am?
Lulu: I'm looking for Rose Valent's room.
Nurse 1: (points to a room) There.
Lulu: Thank you. (She enters room.)
Nurse 2: (To Rose) We'll be back to check on you.
Lulu: (To Rose) Hey, Nana. Nana. It's Lulu.
Rose: Are you going to wear that?
Lulu: What do you mean?
Rose: To school. That outfit?
Lulu: Well, what's wrong with what I'm wearing, huh?
Rose: Pants, Caroline? In school? Well, you can't wear pants.
Lulu: I'm Lulu… Nana.
Rose: And that shirt. I can almost see your breasts. I can see down your shirt.
Lulu: Okay. I'll change.
Rose: Principal Evans is going to just send you right back home. The minute you walk into the school, he'll just call me and make me come and get you.
Lulu: Okay. I'm going to change my clothes. Oh. What happened, Nana? Huh? Did you fall?
Rose: When?
Lulu: Yesterday. Did you fall?
Rose: I did no such thing!
Lulu: Well, what happened?
Rose: I locked up the shop at 5:30. I was home at 5:45 to make dinner for your father. I certainly did not stop at Maryann's house to play cards.
Lulu: Nana. Nana. Listen to me. You broke your leg.
Rose: I did?
Lulu: Yes. And the man at the nursing home said that you fell out of your bed.
Rose: I fought him. And I played dead like a 'possum. I played dead so he'd stop.
Lulu: What?
Rose: I soiled myself. I wanted new sheets. Oh, Caroline. Please, change your clothes before your father comes down. He'll be so upset with me for letting your dress that way.
Lulu notices bruises on her arm and then her neck.
Lulu: Oh, my God! Nana, was someone choking you?
Rose: Quick, like a bunny. Caroline. Quick.
Lulu: Nana! (Rose stares emptily into space) I love you.
Rose: I love you, too.
Scene: Fallin & Associates—Burton's office
Nick enters to find Caldwell and Lichtman.
Burton: Senator Caldwell asked Mitchell to go through our client list to look for some potential conflicts and evidently they found some problem.
Nick: Okay.
Lichtman: It's Van Gergen.
Nick: What about him?
Caldwell: I'm afraid we can't represent him, right now.
Nick: What?
Lichtman: You've got to drop him.
Nick: I've been trying to land him for two years. He's the biggest developer in the city. Well, I'm not just going to drop him.
Lichtman: This firm cannot be involved with the Angel's Landing deal.
Nick: It's the only deal I have with him.
Lichtman: If you go forward, you'll expose the Senator to potential criminal liability.
Nick: Build a Chinese wall around yourself.
Caldwell: I'm not comfortable with that.
Nick: (to Burton—under his breath) Why are you letting these guys just walk in here and call the shots?
Burton: Wait, wait, son…
Nick: If the Senator's dealings, as a legislator, presents a problem to his work in private practice, then the Senator shouldn't be here!
Burton: Wait… Nathan, Mitchell. Would you excuse us for just a second, please?
Caldwell: Sure. (Caldwell and Lichtman exit.)
Nick: What the hell was that?
Burton: I'm sorry about this, Nicholas.
Nick: You tell Caldwell to push back a few weeks.
Burton: Look, I know Van Gergen is a big client but Caldwell will bring in ten more just like him.
Nick: Yes, but they will be Caldwell's clients.
Burton: Nicholas, sometimes you've got to think about the firm.
Nick glares at his father and walks out. He heads back to his office, tagged by Lichtman.
Lichtman: I know you're upset. The Senator promises he will make it up to you. We want to set up a Government Relations Office here at Fallin. We think you'd be a great lobbyist.
Nick: I don't like politics.
Lichtman: Listen, Nick. I know you don't like me being here. Okay? Believe me, I'd much rather be back in Harrisburg. As far as this Angel's Landing deal goes, you've got to understand, the Senator and I were intimately involved with this. We're not nitpicking here; we're just doing what's right.
Nick: You're costing me a million dollar a year client.
Nick enters his office, pushing the door closed. Lichtman catches the door and enters—Nick turns and glares at him.
Lichtman: This Chinese wall. How do you propose doing that?
Nick: You and the Senator will be kept out of all dealings in regards to this property. No correspondence. I would distribute a memo, firm-wide, stating that no information—no information in regards to this deal, will pass by your eyes.
Lichtman: This would leave the Senator at risk. If we disclose a legislative secret and get caught, it's a felony.
Nick: The only way he would be in trouble, is if he opened his mouth. Or you. You two are in complete control as to whether you reveal any legislative secret.
Lichtman: If I can get the Senator to agree to this… ?
Nick: Yes?
Lichtman: You share Van Gergen with me, from now on.
Nick: I thought you couldn't have any involvement.
Lichtman: Not with this deal. But, with every deal that follows.
Nick: (angrily) This is very convenient for you. You create a conflict, you compromise my client and you profit from fixing it.
Lichtman: Do we have a deal or not?
Nick nods.
Scene: Beech Hills Nursing Home
Lulu enters. There is no one at the reception desk. She sees the Director, Mr. Patten, in his office, and knocks on his open door.
Mr. Patten: Have we met?
Lulu: I'm Louisa Archer. My grandmother, Rose, is a resident here.
Mr. Patten: (To salesman) Could you come back in, say, about half an hour? I'm leaning toward the manual cranks, though. Electrical units always break. (Salesman leaves. To Lulu:) So, of course. We spoke earlier today.
Lulu: That's right and you told me that she fell out of bed.
Mr. Patten: That's what my staffed reported.
Lulu: She has bruises all over her neck and all over her arms like she was pinned down, or something. And she told me that she was attacked because she wet her bed.
Mr. Patten: Ms. Archer, if I thought that any of my employees was capable of such a thing, I would immediately suspend them and report the matter to the authorities. You should maybe come with me. (They walk down hallway into a room.) We keep the stroke victims and the Alzheimer's patients down in this ward. Now most of the time, they don't know what time it is or where they are. (To patients) Excuse me, Martha. How are ya doin', sweetheart. Hey, Ruthie. (To Lulu) Unfortunately, there's a high incidence of accidents, especially among the Alzheimer's patients. The disease affects brain function so it's not uncommon for one of our residents to fall. No one on our staff would intentionally harm a patient, Ms. Archer. I assure you.
Lulu: Well, I appreciate that. I feel much better. Thank you. (They walk back down hallway.)
Mr. Patten: When a loved one is in this position, we often feel guilty about it. Sometimes we want to blame other people for what is really just happening naturally.
Intercom: Mr. Patten, please pick up line one. Mr. Patten, please pick up line one.
Mr. Patten: Excuse me.
Mr. Patten leaves to answer phone. Lulu waits until he's out of sight then returns to the room.
Lulu: Alice?
Alice: Oh, are you here to play the piano?
Lulu: Alice. I'm Rose's granddaughter—Lulu.
Alice: Oh, how is she?
Lulu: Well, she broke her leg but they're going to bring her back here this afternoon.
Alice: Oh.
Lulu: Alice, I was wondering if I could talk to you about her?
Alice: She told me she was going to slit my throat.
Lulu: Rose said that?
Alice: She told me she's going to do it in the middle of the night when I was sleep.
Lulu: Oh, no-no-no.
Alice: Oh, she can be nice but some days she can be very abusive.
Lulu: She has Alzheimer's, you know.
Alice: So does everybody else around here.
Lulu: Alice, she said something to me about one of the orderlies attacking her last night. Did you see anything?
Alice: The man that does nights, he just started here and he doesn't want to put her diaper on. Rose peed the bed... started to call out. No one came. So he got louder and louder. And, finally the man come in the room and told her to shut up and Rose yelled back at him. And, he grabbed her 'round the neck and picked her up and dropped her on the floor.
Lulu: (incredulous) And you saw all of this? Alice. (Alice gazes emptily into space) Alice. Did you know that man's name? Did you say that he works here at night?
Scene: Fallin & Associates—Burton's office
Jake knocks—then enters.
Burton: Yeah? (Looks up)
Jake: Burton. Uh, thanks again for giving me the Wade Meyers account.
Burton: Oh, you deserve it, Jake. He would've walked if you hadn't pulled off that deal.
Jake: Well, thanks. He just, he came in and...
Burton: What?
Jake: Wade Meyers. He wants me to take the lead in a hostile take-over with Vextus.
Burton: Did you tell him about your situation?
Jake: No, uh… No.
Burton: I'll call him right now.
Jake: Well, I was hoping, maybe, well, I was hoping, maybe you'd let me choose someone to cover the deal for me and let me work behind the scene.
Burton: Jake, we agreed with the SEC that you won't do any public securities work.
Jake: Well, at least would you let me hand it off to someone? I mean, I did hold to him. I mean, I did keep him here.
Door opens—Caldwell, Lichtman and Nick enter.
Burton: Ah, Nathan, this is Jake Straka.
Caldwell: Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Straka.
Jake: Yes. I think the work you did in the State Senate was terrific, really terrific, and I'm just really excited to be working with you.
Caldwell: Appreciate it. (Shakes hands with Jake)
Jake: Well, okay. Thanks. (Finally makes his exit)
Burton: So, Nathan, have you considered Nick's proposition?
Caldwell: I have.
Burton: And?
Caldwell: Well, I'm the only person at risk here, Nicholas. Myself and Mitchell.
Nick: I understand that.
Caldwell: (To Burton) So, a few ground-rules?
Burton shrugs agreement.
Caldwell: (To Nick) If I see anything, anything at all, or if I even suspect that there's been some sort of slip or misunderstanding, you terminate your representation immediately. Meanwhile, I'll also be seeking a confidential advisory opinion from the State Ethics Commission.
Burton: 'Course.
Caldwell: Okay?
Burton: Yeah. Great.
Caldwell pats Nick's shoulder as he and Lichtman leave the office.
Nick: What do you think?
Burton: Well, it depends on what the State's planning to do. That property could be virtually worthless or…
Nick: … or it could be worth a whole lot more than the railroad is asking.
Burton: Well, but I suggest you find a way to protect your client under either scenario. (Nick turns to leave) By the way, what did you trade him?
Nick: Excuse me?
Burton: The kid, Mitchell. What kinda deal did you make him?
Nick: Cut him in on Van Gergen.
Burton: How much?
Nick: Half the source credit of all future work. (He leaves.)
Hallway
Jake: Mitchell. Jake Straka.
Lichtman: Yeah, we met. (Continues to walk)
Jake: Yeah. Do you have a second? Thanks. (They enter the conference room and close the door.) I have a proposal.
Lichtman: Okay.
Jake: You ever do any securities work?
Lichtman: A bit, when I was with Sager and Tremaine.
Jake: I have a client—Wade Meyers. And he's planning a take-over and wants me to oversee the deal.
Lichtman: What's your proposal?
Jake: I want to share the deal with you and the Senator.
Lichtman: The deal or the client?
Jake: The deal.
Lichtman: And what do we do for you?
Jake: Well, I happen to know that State law prohibits you and Senator Caldwell from practicing any lobbying work for one year and I'd be stupid if I didn't assume the two of you going back into private practice didn't mean that you wanted to set up a Government Relations Department.
Lichtman: Okay?
Jake: So, make me the point man on this. Register me as a lobbyist and cut me in for a third of the business.
Lichtman: For one deal?
Jake: For Wade Meyers.
Lichtman: You'll give him to us.
Jake: If the Senator goes for my proposal.
Lichtman: Okay, Jake, one question. Is he yours to give?
Jake: Yes, I believe he is.
Scene: Legal Services of Pittsburgh—Alvin's office
Lulu knocks on the door and enters.
Lulu: I think my grandmother was attacked in a nursing home.
Alvin: You think?
Lulu: My grandmother told me and her roommate confirmed it.
Alvin: Have you filed a complaint?
Lulu: I called the police and they referred me to the Department of Aging.
Alvin: What'd they do?
Lulu: Absolutely nothing. They said there was insufficient evidence to file a report.
Alvin: Where is your grandma now?
Lulu: They're going to send her back there this afternoon.
Alvin: You gotta get her outta there.
Lulu: I can't. I'm not her guardian. My mother… my mother moved up to Vermont with some guy named Glen and she basically blew my grandmother off. She left her in the Home and she turned her care over to some corporation in Harrisburg, who won't move her.
Alvin: Well… I can help you file a petition to appoint you the new guardian.
Lulu: Yeah.
Alvin: What is it?
Lulu: Even if I get her out of there, I can't afford to put her in a better home.
Alvin: You can always file a lawsuit against the nursing home to pay down her new accommodations.
Scene: Fallin & Associates—main lobby
Lulu is at reception.
Gretchen: (on headset) Mr. Fallin, I'm very sorry to disturb you, but a woman named Louisa Archer is here to see you. (pause) Okay. (To Lulu) Miss Archer, he'll be a minute. May I get you an espresso or bottled water?
Lulu: No, thank you. I'll just wait.
Nick: (comes bounding down the stairs) What are you doing here?
Lulu: I need help with my grandmother. I want to sue a nursing home.
Nick: Come here. (Takes her around the corner)
Lulu: They're definitely guilty of neglect, if not outright abuse. They claim that she fell out of bed but I have very strong suspicions that she was attacked.
Nick: Can your grandmother corroborate this?
Lulu: She has Alzheimer's. But, her roommate saw the whole thing.
Nick: She willing to testify?
Lulu: I don't know. Maybe. She might.
Nick: Okay. Take me out there. I'll talk to her.
Lulu: Thanks.
Jake: (in passing) Hey, Lulu. What're you doing here?
Lulu: I just stopped by to see Nick.
Jake: Oh, great, great.
Nick: Jake, could you do some research for me? Could you check to see if there's any legislative history or appropriation bills on Angel's Landing?
Jake: What? You haven't done that yet?
Nick: Well, I haven't had a reason to until now...
Nick stops when he sees Lichtman and Caldwell entering. They approach Jake.
Jake: Well, Nick, I can't.
Caldwell: You ready, Mr. Straka?
Jake: Let's do it.
Jake walks off with them. Nick beckons to Lulu and they leave the office.
Scene: Beech Hills Nursing Home
Mr. Patten: Ah… your grandmother just got back an hour ago. She's resting comfortably.
Nick: We'd like to see a list of all the people that were working the night that Rose Valent had her fall.
Mr. Patten: I'm sorry, Mr… ?
Nick: (hands him a business card) Fallin.
Mr. Patten: Mr. Fallin, I'm afraid the information you're asking for is confidential. If you'd like to schedule another time, I'd be glad to have my lawyer present. (To Lulu) Where are you going?
Lulu: To see my grandmother. I don't think you need your lawyer here for me to do that. (She walks off.)
Nick: Just like to talk to the people that were here that night to put her mind at ease.
Mr. Patten: I'm not comfortable doing that.
Nick: Oh. We will pursue legal action.
Rose's room. Nick knocks and enters, and hands Lulu a document.
Lulu: Thank you. Alice isn't here. The nurse on-call said that she went out with her daughter.
Nick: Well, I can come back.
Lulu: Nana Rose, this is my friend, Nick.
Nick: Hi.
Rose: My love.
Lulu: Uh, no, Nana. This is my friend, Nick.
Rose: My love.
Lulu: Nana...
Rose: Come here. (Grabs Nick's arm) I know. You have to go soon. I know. Oh, you smell so good. I miss that. When you were away, I used to lie up at night and miss that.
Lulu: Nana.
Rose: Can we go soon? I want to drive away. We could just go and find a place where it's quiet and stay there as long as we can before anybody notices we've left. My love. Can we do that now? Can we?
Nick: 'Course. Of course, we can.
Rose: I've missed you so much. I thought you were dead.
Lulu: She thinks that you're my grandfather. He died 20 years ago. You know. And she just really loved him at lot. I'm just… I'm sorry. This is probably the last thing you want to be doing right now.
Nick: It's okay. Okay. Nice to meet you, Rose.
Scene: Fallin & Associates—conference room
Nick and Van Gergen sit opposite Mr. Barnes, the Railroad's lawyer.
Nick: Mr. Barnes. We appreciate you coming in.
Mr. Barnes: No problem.
Nick: We've been dealing with Mr. Henninger.
Mr. Barnes: He's left the firm. I'm handling all of Midland Atlantic Railroad's business now.
Nick: Okay. We want to by a six-month option on the property.
Mr. Barnes: An option?
Nick: Six months at 800,000 dollars with a purchase price of 16 million.
Mr. Barnes: We want to sell this property, not option it.
Nick: Well, there's way too many variables on the property.
Mr. Barnes: The Railroad wants this property off its books by the end of the quarter. An option doesn't do it.
Nick glances at Van Gergen for direction—he shakes his head.
Nick: Sorry. We can't make that deal.
Mr. Barnes: Okay. (Rises to leave. Nick opens the door for him) Gentlemen. (He leaves.)
Van Gergen: What now?
Nick: We move on.
Scene: Fallin & Associates—hallway, later
Nick: (to Lichtman, in passing) The Angel's Landing deal fell through.
Lichtman: Why?
Nick: I wasn't comfortable advising my client to purchase the property outright.
Lichtman: Environmental issues have him worried?
Nick: Yeah.
Lichtman: Concerned about the public outcry?
Nick: Well, to a degree.
Lichtman: Well, he's not the first to walk away.
Nick: Our deal's off, so don't expect a piece of the Van Gergen business. (Turns and walks off—Lichtman follows)
Lichtman: Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on. You made that deal with the Senator and me. I paved the way.
Nick: (Turns and points finger in Lichtman's face) No, you manipulated the deal. Now, had we made the Angel's Landing purchase, I would've honored it. But, there is not a chance in hell I'm handing my client over to you now. (Walks off. Lichtman follows)
Lichtman: Are you saying you told your client to walk away because I made you nervous about the deal?
Nick encounters Wade Meyers coming in the front door.
Nick: Wade. Good to see you. I'm glad to be working with you again.
Jake comes down stairs and meets Meyers at the front door.
Jake: Wade. Thanks for coming by. We're getting started in a moment. We're going to be right in the conference room. We'll be right in.
Meyers: Alright. (Walks off.)
Jake: Mitchell, could you excuse us just a second?
Lichtman: Yeah.
Nick: Thank you.
Jake: Nick, I handed the Meyers deal off to Mitchell. I mean, you said you were busy, and, well, I handed…
Nick: (walking out) Fine, fine, fine, fine.
Jake: No hard feelings.
Scene: Beech Hills Nursing Home—after dark
Nick walks down hallway and encounters Alice in a wheelchair.
Alice: Hello there.
Nick: Hi.
Alice: Are you lost?
Nick: No. I'm looking for Rose Valent and her roommate, Alice.
Alice: I'm Alice. Who are you?
Nick: Nicholas Fallin. (Squats in front of her) I'm -- I work with Rose's granddaughter, Lulu.
Alice: Yes.
Nick: I wanted to speak with you about what happened to Rose.
Alice: Yes.
Nick: Did you see something?
Alice: Yes. (See looks away)
Nick: What is it? (He follows her gaze -- an orderly has approached.)
Orderly: Who are you?
Nick: I'm just here visiting Rose and Alice.
Orderly: Visiting hours are over.
Nick: I understand that.
Orderly: Come back tomorrow.
Nick: Do you have a minute?
Orderly: What?
Nick: Just a minute?
Nick follows the orderly into an empty room.
Nick: My friend's worried about her grandmother's injuries.
Orderly: She fell, Mister. One minute she was in bed, the next she'd hit the floor.
Nick: Oh. Granddaughter's a little concerned. Rose had mentioned a few things about being attacked.
Orderly: Yeah, these ladies all tell stories. I mean, I don't want to sound cruel but they all complain and they all accuse. It's just the way it is around here.
Nick: Can you explain why she has bruises on her neck?
Orderly: You ever tried to give an Alzheimer's patient a bath? Or get them to eat or stay in a bed?
Nick: No.
Orderly: You should try. They kick and scream and bite. They pull off their clothes. It's crazy in here, especially at night when we're understaffed. Now, I'm not talking about Rose. But sometimes you give these ladies a bath and they go under and you've got to pull them out any way you can. Or take them to the bathroom and they start hitting.
Nick: You don't like working here, do ya?
Orderly: I make minimum wage, man. And clean up puke and wipe old peoples' asses. What do you think?
Nick: Yeah.
Orderly walks away. Alice indicates for Nick to go into Rose's room. Nick enters.
Nick: Rose? (Quietly closes the door) It's Nick—Lulu's friend.
Rose: Lulu?
Nick: (Finger to his lips) Ssh. Your granddaughter.
Rose: I know who Lulu is. You're her friend?
Nick: Yeah, yeah. We met.
Rose: Why are you here?
Nick: I just came to check on you. See how you were.
Rose: How's Caroline?
Nick: Eh…
Rose: Is she still in Vermont?
Nick: Don't know.
Rose: She never had any luck with men. She was a lazy girl and she slept around.
Nick: Ah… okay.
Rose: I wanted to work downtown for a man who published books and magazines but, William said he was a pornographer. He hated for me to be out of his sight but he, he traveled all the time. He was away always, all the time, away.
Nick: William?
Rose: Bastard. Come closer. Let me see your hands.
Nick: Um…
Nick shows his hands. Rose takes one and places it over her heart.
Rose: I have a heart in here, you know.
Nick: Okay.
Rose: Can you feel? Can you feel, Darren? I'll never leave. I can't. I can't. And you can't leave either. Think of the children. And where would we go. I didn't know. I was so young when I met him. I didn't know you existed.
Nick: Okay. (Gently retrieves his hand)
Rose: Stay awhile. What's the hurry? Stay.
Nick: Okay. I'll be right here. (Folds his arms, leans against the wall and smiles)
Scene: Fallin & Associates—Burton's office
Nick knocks and enters.
Burton: Yeah?
Nick: You wanted to see me?
Burton: Yeah. You want to close that door? So, Mitchell Lichtman says, uh, he has some problems with you.
Nick: I have a problem with him.
Burton: He told me that you promised him to share Van Gergen with him.
Nick: He basically extorted that deal.
Burton: You have a deal with him?
Nick: Yeah.
Burton: Honor it.
Nick exits.
Scene: Courtroom—guardianship hearing for Rose Valent
Judge: Ms. Archer, are you willing to take full responsibility for your grandmother?
Lulu: Yes, Your Honor.
Judge: The court grants guardianship of Miss Rose Valent to her granddaughter, Louisa Archer.
Following hearing—in the corridor
Laurie: Lulu. Got a minute?
Lulu: Sure.
Laurie: I know you're looking for other places for your grandmother. My mother's in a State-run facility. It's not as nice as private but it's clean and well-managed and they have a wonderful staff.
Lulu: Really. Well, is there a wait-list?
Laurie: A long one. But, the director's a friend of mine. Be happy to make a phone call. See what I can do.
Lulu: Oh, Laurie. That would be terrific. Thank you.
Laurie: Okay. (Lulu glances at Nick before walking away. Laurie and Nick walk.) Nice what you're doing for Lulu.
Nick: What?
Laurie: Helping her.
Nick: Well, she came to me.
Laurie: 'Course she did. Nick. I can see what's going on. It's not Lulu I'm worried about, it's you.
Nick: I'll be fine.
Laurie: She's under a lot of stress, too. She's making a big leap. She's making a big commitment to her fiancé.
Nick: He doesn't deserve her.
Laurie: Who doesn't deserve her, but she's just trying to hold things together until the choice she's made has been made.
Nick: Laurie, she's making a mistake.
Laurie: Nick, you're the last person on earth she's going to listen to about that.
Scene: Fallin & Associates
Nick: (to Lichtman) I need to talk to you. (Lichtman follows Nick to his office) Close the door. I made a deal with you. I'll honor it.
Lichtman: Nick, we got off on the wrong foot. See, I came here looking forward to working with you. You've just got to understand. Private practice is not exactly where I was hoping to land. If we'd won this last election the Senator could have set his sight on the Governor's office and, well, I was hoping that I might take over his job.
Nick: Why are you here?
Lichtman: I've been working in State politics since '96. I need to make some money. And I need to make connections. Now, Caldwell is great at a lot of things but being a lawyer is not one of 'em. When your father leaves, 'if' he leaves, the Senator will be looking at two or three people to take full responsibility for this place. He's used to leaning on me. I'd like to know I can lean on you.
Nick: What do you want?
Lichtman: I want to keep Van Gergen happy. He's too valuable to lose.
Nick: Okay. How do you suggest doing that?
Lichtman: Angel's Landing isn't all that toxic, plus it's perfectly located.
Nick: I know that.
Lichtman: For a governmental annex. The State can't approve funds to purchase the land until the vote goes down next month.
Nick: And, you know how that vote's going to turn out?
Scene: Fallin & Associates, Burton's office
Nick: You need to have someone else take over the Van Gergen deal.
Burton: Why?
Nick: Mitchell told me the State plans on building a governmental annex on Angel's Landing.
Burton: They broke the wall.
Nick: Now if the State wants the property, they will pay the appraised value, 20 million dollars.
Burton: Hmm.
Nick: So just cut me out of the deal and let someone else run with it.
Burton: No. We're done with this for now. (Picks up phone) Sheila. Yeah, let me have Nathan Caldwell, please. Thank you.
Burton's office—later. Lichtman enters the office to find Caldwell, Nick and Burton waiting.
Lichtman: You wanted to see me?
Caldwell: You told Nick to take the Railroad's offer.
Lichtman: That's not true.
Caldwell: How else would he know about the governmental annex and the upcoming vote?
Lichtman: He is leaving you vulnerable, Senator. We gave him a heads-up and he started to look in places he shouldn't.
Caldwell: Why would he lie?
Lichtman: Well, for one thing he's angry that you and I are here. Secondly, we both know why we're here, and, I'm sure, Nick, if he put his mind to it…
Burton: Mr. Lichtman. You're addressing the wrong person. I'm the one who's letting you go.
Lichtman: (to Caldwell) You're allowing this?
Caldwell: You committed a felony, Mitchell. I can't let that slide.
Lichtman: I didn't.
Caldwell: You know, we're not going to report this.
Lichtman: There is nothing to report.
Caldwell: I'm sorry, Mitchell.
Lichtman exits. Nick leaves Burton's office and finds Jake.
Nick: Jake.
Jake: Hey, Nick.
Nick: Mitchell's off the Meyers deal.
Jake: He is?
Nick: Yeah, so, I'll be stepping back in.
Jake: Oh. Okay. Great.
Nick: Yeah. I'm not going to need your back-up.
Jake: Oh.
Nick: No hard feelings.
Scene: Beech Hills Nursing Home—sworn statement of Alice
Nick: Alice, can you tell me what you saw the night Rose Valent was injured?
Alice nods.
Nick: You have to answer with a yes or a no.
Alice: No.
Nick: Are you answering my question?
Alice: No.
Nick: Alice, can you tell me what you saw the night Rose Valent was injured?
Alice: My daughter owns a large parcel of land on the coast of British Columbia—a very large parcel.
Nick: Can you answer my original questions, Alice?
Alice: She and her friends thought that they would be able to sell it off to make money so I gave her my money. This was long time ago.
Nick: Alice. About the other night, when you saw…
Alice: I hear the woods are beautiful. You can see the whales. We should go there sometime, together.
Nick: (to the court-reporter) We're done here. (To Alice) I'm going to have to leave. I'm sorry…
Alice: Are you leavin' so soon?
Nick: I'm sorry, I'm going to have to leave, yeah.
Alice: Well, have a nice boat ride.
Nick: I will.
Alice: Thank you. Thank you.
Scene: Woodbridge Nursing Home
Lulu: Nana. Hi.
Nick: Hi, Rose.
Rose: (to Nick) I told him. I told him and you know what he said?
Nick: No.
Rose: He said he knew. He'd known for the longest time. He wasn't angry. He just said he didn't care any more and he didn't want to be made a fool of.
Nick: Well, I'm glad you told him.
Rose: You'll never tell your wife, will you Darren? You'll never tell. You love her still. Not like me and William. You still love her.
Lulu: Nana...
Rose: (to Lulu) I left it in the upstairs' closet with the toilet paper and the toothpaste. Just look in there. Just look. (To Nick) You're the love of my life.
Nick: You happy you're here?
Rose looks emptily into space.
Outside room—Nick observes as Lulu kisses Rose goodbye, then comes out to join him.
Lulu: My grandmother was in love with another man.
Nick: So it seems.
Lulu: I just always thought that she was in love with my grandfather. It's so funny.
Nick: Is it?
Lulu: Yeah. It's funny. You know you were really kind to me this whole week even after what I said to you and... you were just really kind.
Scene: Fallin & Associates—Burton's office
Nick knocks and enters.
Nick: I referred Van Gergen to Tom Stevens at Stevens and Slade.
Burton: Okay.
Nick: So I lost him as a client. What the hell are you doing to me?
Burton: Excuse me?
Nick: Caldwell. He's a fool. He's never even practiced. Is that what you want to leave me with?
Burton: It's for the best for now.
Nick: Oh, 'cause I screwed up one deal.
Burton: It's not about that. It's not about punishment.
Nick: Okay. Then what is it about?
Burton: It's about timing. The Senator was not ready to go to work. He'd lost the election. He got bored. Now he's ready.
Nick: You know, I don't believe you.
Burton: Well, then, it's good for the short-term. Ease our clients through the transition.
Nick: And in a few months he'll be a liability and I'll have to cover his ass. Why is he here? (Angrily pounds the desk) Why is he here?
Burton: I had to make a deal with him.
Nick: You made a deal with him?
Burton: Uh-huh. Sorry.
Nick: Just last week you told me you wanted me to take over this firm.
Burton sighs heavily. Nick turns and leaves, with a backward glance at his father and a shake of his head.
END OF EPISODE
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