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TRANSCRIPT:
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Scene: Courthouse
Nick comes around the corner of the corridor and encounters Vic Lafferty.
Vic Lafferty: You Nick Fallin?
Nick: Yeah.
Lafferty: You're late. (hands Nick a piece of paper) Vic Lafferty, Ronnie Wagner's public defender. Masterson fill you in on the case?
Nick: He told me it's a guardianship hearing.
Lafferty: Ronnie Wagner was picked up last week in Erie County, hitch-hiking at four in the morning with a loaded shotgun and five rolls of quarters wrapped in a shirt.
Nick: Okay.
Lafferty: The police questioned him why he had weapons; he blurted out that he shot his mother.
Nick: Accident?
Lafferty: Nope. Took her head clean off.
They enter Judge Damsen's courtroom.
Bailiff: Case E-14523.
Lafferty: Your Honor, as you're aware, Ronald Wagner is a 13-year-old who's been charged with first-degree murder.
Judge Damsen: Yes. Why are we here today?
Lafferty: Your Honor, I'm trying to move this to Juvenile Court. We have a transfer hearing scheduled for this Friday. However, the boy's adoptive father has recently stated that he will not represent the child's interest nor will he assist in his defense.
Judge Damsen: Mr. Fallin, I assume you wish to be declared guardian ad-litem for this child? (Nick nods)
Lafferty: He also requests financial power-of-attorney to approve expenditures for the boy's defense.
Judge Damsen: I hereby appoint Nicholas Fallin to be Ronald Wagner's guardian ad-litem.
Scene: Allegheny County Jail, prisoner holding cell
Nick: Ronald, my name is…
Ronnie: Ronnie.
Nick: Ronnie (with emphasis), my name is Nick Fallin. The court has just appointed me as your guardian.
Ronnie: My what?
Nick: Your father doesn't want to participate in your defense so someone has to take over his role and help you make decisions during this process.
Ronnie: My parents were killed; my real parents.
Nick: Okay.
Ronnie: So I have some money—almost 10,000 dollars.
Nick: Alright. Well we need to talk about the best way to use that money for your defense.
Ronnie: I don't want to pay for any lawyers or anything.
Nick: Your lawyer's paid for by the State.
Ronnie: I want to pay for my mother's funeral, 'cause I killed her.
Nick: (pause) I'll try to talk to your father about that. (glares at Ronnie)
Ronnie: Don't look at me like that. (Nick turns away) I don't want to talk to you any more.
Nick gathers his papers and walks out.
Scene: Social Services—Laurie's office
Nick knocks on the door.
Laurie: It's open.
Nick: (enters) Ronnie Wagner.
Laurie: Yeah. I'm just getting his files together.
Nick: Is there anything else you can tell me?
Laurie: He... his parents were killed when he was seven in a car accident. I placed him in a number of foster homes before he was finally adopted by the Wagners. (begins to cry) I knew Michelle Wagner. I got to know her through the adoption. (Laurie sobs—Nick is uncomfortable with her show of emotion) Oh God!
Nick: (motions to the box of files) Can I take these?
Laurie: Oh, sure. (Nick picks up the box of files) What's going to happen to Ronnie?
Nick: Well, his attorney's trying to transfer the hearing to the Juvenile Court. If that happens then he will be out by the time he's twenty-one.
Laurie: Mr. Wagner called. He's gotten all his things together. He wants him out of the house.
Nick: Okay.
Laurie: You can take that. I'll send the rest of these over when they're finished.
Nick: Great. Thanks, Laurie.
Scene: Legal Services of Pittsburgh
Kim: Lulu?
Lulu: Hey! Kim!
Kim: How's married life?
Lulu: Married life's great. Brian's great. How are you?
Kim: I know you're crazed. I…
Lulu: No. It's okay. Let's go into my office. (to co-worker) I'll pick this up later, okay?
Lulu's office
Lulu: What's going on?
Kim: Paul's trying to take Matty away from me. He wants full custody.
Lulu: What, because he got remarried?
Kim: Yeah, I'm sure that's the real reason but there's this…there's this incident that he's using against me.
Lulu: What is it?
Kim: You know I work graveyard shift and Matty's always slept at my grandmother's place while I work, right? Well, last month my grandmother fell and broke her hip. So my brother Charlie's been staying at my place since then to keep an eye on Matty. Well, two weeks ago, Charlie just gets some bright idea it'd be okay to go out for a pack of cigarettes at two in the morning. Matty has a bad dream, wakes up. Ten minutes later the police find him out wandering the streets. So now Paul's set a court date. The new wife's pushing this.
Lulu: Alright, when's the hearing?
Kim: It's this Friday. Lulu, I've known you forever and I trust you. Who do I hire?
Lulu: Me! I do five custody hearings a month.
Kim: No way. No way. Look, I just came here looking for a referral.
Lulu: Okay, well, I'm referring me.
Kim: Look how busy you are.
Lulu: Kim, just shut up.
Kim: Thank you, Lulu.
Scene: Legal Services parking lot
Kim gets into her car, starts the engine, tunes the radio as she begins to back without looking—right into the left rear door of Nick's BMW. Nick bails out of the car and looks at the damage as Kim gets out of her car.
Nick: You idiot! I've been parked there for five minutes. What were you doing?
Kim: I'm fine thanks.
Nick: Did you look?
Kim: Are you alright?
Nick: Did you even look?
Kim: Did you get hurt or anything.
Nick: No, I am fine. I am fine.
Kim: Well, it's a dent. Come on.
Nick: I need your insurance information.
Kim: What… I was going maybe two miles an hour. There is no way, on a car like that, that the frame is bent.
Nick: Do you have insurance? I need your insurance information.
Kim: Well, look, my brother Charlie does auto-body. He can pull that dent in about 15 minutes.
Nick: I need your details.
Kim: You're going to go to the Beamer dealership in Sewickley. They're going to charge like 2300 bucks. And they're going to want to repaint the entire car. You know, my insurance is going to go through the roof.
Nick: (writing down information from driver's license) Well, you should've looked in the mirror.
Kim: Well, thanks for that information, you know.
Nick: Too late now though, isn't it?
Kim: My brother, Charlie, does a really good job.
Nick: Thank you, Ms. McPherson. (gets into his car and starts the engine)
Kim: Fine. Thanks. Sorry for hitting your car. (gets in her car—they both drive away)
Scene: Legal Services of Pittsburgh
Nick enters from elevator with box of files.
Lulu: Nick! (to clients) I'll be right there. (to Nick) Welcome back.
Nick: Thank you.
Lulu: How are you?
Nick: I'm good. I'm fine, fine.
Lulu: Good. Well, I'm glad you're back. I mean besides work, I'm just glad.
Nick: Thank you.
Lulu: Maybe we could get a cup of coffee later. I mean a welcome back cup of coffee.
Nick: I'd like that.
Co-worker: Ms. Archer. Call on three.
Lulu: (to co-worker) Yeah, one sec. (to Nick) Sorry. Must lawyer. Hey, by the way, I'm in here and you've got your broom closet back.
Broom closet
Nick: Mr. Wagner, hi, my name is Nick Fallin. I…
Mr. Wagner (on the phone): Yes?
Nick: I've been appointed as your son, Ronnie Wagner's, guardian ad-litem and…
Mr. Wagner: Uh-huh.
Nick: I'm sorry to bother you at this time but Ronnie wanted me to talk to you about your wife's funeral. He was interested in paying for the funeral… (Mr. Wagner hangs up)
Lafferty: (knocks on Nick's open door) He raped her.
Lafferty throws a report on Nick's desk. Nick looks at it.
Nick: What?
Lafferty: After he shot her, he raped her. The coroner's report just came in. If we don't get this kid into Juvie he could do life without parole. That's if he's lucky. (Nick is shocked and shakes his head) Alright. To get him tried in Juvenile Court we have to prove two things. One, that he has a clearly defined psychological problem.
Nick: Well, he's pretty much handled that for you.
Lafferty: Two, and most importantly, that he is amenable to treatment. That he can be rehabilitated by the time he's twenty-one.
Nick: How do you prove that?
Lafferty: You comb his files. You search for anything that can support this. Past relationships with therapists would be key.
Nick: Well, here's the files. Why don't you take them?
Lafferty: Take them? Nick. I don't have the time. I've got twenty-three other cases. You have to decide what to release in the kid's best interest.
Nick: Okay. I'll go over them.
Lafferty: He's already screwed up his state testing by refusing to cooperate. So, I need money to pay for private testing.
Nick: Fine. It's approved.
Lafferty: Good. Now convince him to be the best patient they have ever seen.
Scene: Fallin & Straka offices
Nick pulls up in front of the new office of Fallin & Straka.
Jake: (carrying a box of lamps and talking into phone earpiece) You definitely have a case. I mean, if you paid the guy to tattoo 'invincible' in Chinese on your back and he tattooed 'win some, lose some', you definitely have a case. I want to help you win some. (to Nick who just walked in) Partner.
James: Hey, man.
Nick: (shakes his hand) James, I'm so glad you're here.
James: No, I'm happy to be here. Jake has me to due diligence on a company called Evening Electric.
Nick: Right?
James: They make marital aids.
Nick: (chuckles) Okay. Okay.
James: So, I'm looking over their books and I notice they're owned by the Sergei family.
Nick: Uh-huh.
James: The mob.
Nick: Oh, okay.
James: Should I continue?
Nick: No. Send it back.
Jake: We're getting 75 dollars an hour for that.
James: And paying me 35.
Nick: Jake, send it all back.
Jake: Nick, look, you've got to understand, it isn't like… (Nick gestures towards a client who just walked up—Jake turns and nervously laughs) Hey, Wallace, good to see you. (shakes hands) Thanks for coming down. Let me introduce you to my partner. This is Nicholas Fallin. Nick this is Wallace.
Nick: (reluctantly shakes hands) Nice to meet you.
Jake: Wallace won the PA lottery about eight months ago—9 million.
Nick: Congratulations.
Jake: Wallace wants to buy Goods 'n Gas.
Wallace: My mom and brother work there. Want to make 'em managers.
Nick: That's nice. Can I have a moment with Jake, alone?
Wallace: Sure.
Jake: I'll be right back, Wallace.
Wallace: Alright.
Nick: Goods 'n Gas?
Jake: It's a quick fee.
Nick: Who is this guy?
Jake: He worked at the counter and bought a lottery ticket and now he's a millionaire.
Nick: You know Goods 'n Gas is going bankrupt?
Jake: So maybe he can turn it around.
Phone rings in the background.
Nick: Is someone going to answer that?
Jake: The secretaries don't start 'til Wednesday. (to Wallace) Wallace, you want some water or something?
Wallace: Yeah, yeah.
Nick: (answers the phone) Fallin & Straka. Yeah, this is Nick. Yeah, yeah. I'll be right there. (hangs up the phone and then to Jake) I've got to go. It's looking good. Looking good. (shakes hands with Wallace as he leaves)
Scene: Allegheny County Jail
Nick: We set up another test for you. This time you have to answer the doctor's questions.
Ronnie: I shot my mother.
Nick: The doctor's going to want to know why.
Ronnie: Does it matter?
Nick: Yes. It does matter.
Ronnie: I shot her 'cause I was mad at her.
Nick: You remember?
Ronnie: Yeah, I remember it. You ever been to Kennywood Park?
Nick: Sure.
Ronnie: My school did a trip out there this year. My mom was a chaperone on the trip. What's that rollercoaster?
Nick: The Thunderbolt.
Ronnie: Yeah, the Thunberbolt. We rode it together. She was screaming and laughing, right? She held onto my hand. She was scared but she rode it with me…because she said I made her feel safe. If I talk to this doctor, think he can tell me why this happened?
After a long pause, Nick shakes his head.
Ronnie: Then why do it?
Nick: Taking this test will help determine how much time you will spend in jail.
Ronnie: Do you get paid to do this?
Nick: No.
Ronnie: Do you tell people what we talk about?
Nick: No. Not unless you say you're going to hurt yourself or someone else.
Ronnie: So if I said I was going to kill myself? I'm NOT saying that. Just asking. 'Cause see I don't think there's many people I can hurt now, not sitting in here. 'Cept you. I'm just kidding. You know that, right?
Nick gathers up his papers to leave.
Ronnie: Hey, are you going to come back and see me? I'll take that test. Okay?
Nick: (at the door) Good.
Scene: Kim's apartment
Nick knocks on the door. Kim answers.
Nick: I forgot to give this back to you. (hands Kim her driver's license) Your number's not listed.
Kim: Hey, you could've mailed it.
Nick: It was on my way.
Kim: I thought you were a jerk. (Nick has no response.) Did you call the insurance company?
Nick: No.
Kim: Oh. Thanks. I'll call my brother.
Nick: (after a long pause) Fine. Fine. Okay.
Kim: Why don't you just come in for a second? I'll call him. He's really good. (Nick enters. Kim is on the phone.) Charlie. So, that guy with the Beamer? (listens) I don't know. He might not be one after all. (to Nick—pointing to the kitchen chair) Hey, sit down. (to phone) He's going to let you pull it. Uh-huh. (to Nick) Oh, Matty's five. He's at his dad's house.
Nick: I wasn't asking.
Kim: I'm sharing. When's a good time for you to bring your car in?
Nick: Tomorrow morning. (with a slight grin)
Kim: (to phone) Tomorrow morning. Hey, you owe me. Okay, thanks. Love you, too. Bye. (hangs up) (to Nick) He will not mess it up, I swear. If he does, I will buy you a new one. (They shake hands.)
Nick: Okay. Great.
Kim: Hey, you're a lawyer, right? I've seen you around the courthouse.
Nick: Yeah, that's right.
Kim: I'm going to be a lawyer. Prosecutor.
Nick: You'll make a very good one.
Kim: Yeah. I'm going to apply to law school in 2006, I'm going to pass the bar on my first try in 2009 and be an A.D.A. by 2011.
Nick: (grinning) I'm sorry.
Kim: What?
Nick: You know that exactly?
Kim: Yeah, well I have a very specific career trajectory.
Nick: Yeah.
Kim: I don't know, I just… I always wanted to be a lawyer. You?
Nick: My dad's a lawyer.
Kim: You must love it.
Nick: (pause) I do.
Kim: Do you want a beer?
Nick: No, I don't drink.
Kim: What are you? A drunk?
Nick: Something like that.
Kim: (smiling sweetly) Well, would you like an iced tea or something?
Nick smiles.
Scene: Kim's bedroom
Nick and Kim are kissing.
Kim: When I first met you I didn't think you liked girls.
Nick: I thought you did. (removes his tie and begins to unbutton his shirt)
Kim: I'm leaving my socks on. (removes her pants)
Nick: Why, you got ugly feet? (removes his shirt)
Kim: Screw you. (removes her shirt) You can only fantasize about feet like these. (gets into bed)
Nick: Let me see 'em. Show me your feet. (removes his pants)
Kim: No.
Nick: You don't want to show me your feet? (climbs into bed)
Kim: No. I hardly know you.
Later
Kim: Okay. (flips on light beside the bed) You've got to go. No offense, but I've got to get to work and I'm never late.
Nick: Oh, that career trajectory.
Kim: Uh-huh.
Nick: Well, I'll call you.
Kim: That's not necessary. (gets up to go to the bathroom)
Nick: It is if I want my car fixed.
Kim: (from the bathroom) Oh, right, that's Pete's Auto Body, right across from the mall, Route 51. Be there by 8:00.
Nick sighs.
Scene: Legal Services of Pittsburgh—later that night
Laurie: Nick, here are his things.
Nick: What am I supposed to do with them?
Laurie: Could you find some room for them here? Just for now?
Nick: Okay. Laurie you have a sec?
Laurie: Sure.
Nick: Verify some facts? Ronnie had two psych evaluations before he was adopted.
Laurie: Right.
Nick: The first one was when he was entering the system.
Laurie: He was seven.
Nick: Right. Described as a normal kid, deep in the grieving process. The second profile was before the Wagners adopted him.
Laurie: Standard procedure.
Nick: Doctor said positive things about Ronnie and his placement with the Wagners. But, she was concerned about some anger issues he had towards his previous foster mother, Elaine Harbert.
Laurie: That's right. She sent him back. She wanted a younger child; a girl.
Nick: Right. The doctor requested follow-up treatment. There's no reports. At least, they should be in the files, but they're not. Lafferty's arguing that Ronnie will respond to treatment. I need to see those file to show if he responded last time.
Laurie: I'll check our records. See what comes up.
Nick: Thank you.
Laurie: Night.
Scene: Fallin & Straka offices—next morning
Burton: Hey.
Nick: Dad.
Burton: How are you, son?
Nick: Good.
Burton: I was just in the neighborhood so I got you one of these four-dollar steamed milk drinks you like so much.
Nick: Thank you. Thank you.
Burton: Yeah.
Nick: Well, here we are. We're not really on our feet yet.
Burton: No, it looks good.
Jake: Hey, Burton.
Burton: Hey, Jake. How are you?
Jake: Good to see you. (they shake hands)
Burton: Good to see you.
Jake: Yeah, this is Wallace Novicki, a client. This is Judge Burton Fallin.
Burton: Well, not yet. Haven't been sworn in yet.
Jake: (to Wallace) Well listen, Wallace, why don't you just give me a call later?
Wallace: Okay. See you.
Burton: Good to see you. Take care.
Nick: Jake, can we have a talk? Dad, do you mind just taking a seat. I'll be right back.
Burton: Yeah. Sure. Good to see you, Jake.
Nick: Jake, I thought we talked about this.
Jake: Oh, don't worry. I got him off the Goods 'n Gas deal. He's actually thinking about buying a chain of donut shops now.
Nick: That is exactly the type of client that is going to keep us from becoming a real firm. We are trying to land Stevens Sophets. It's a 50 million dollar company. Now how is that going to look Thursday morning when Jerry Stevens walks through that door and James is rifling through a box of dildoes and you're milking a simple-minded lottery winner. How is that going to look?
Jake: I thought you wanted me to bring in business.
Nick: Do not dilute our name, Jake. That's all we have.
Jake: The name. You mean the Fallin name. Look, I'm just trying to get a little cash flow going here…
Nick: I understand.
Jake: …because I mean I did not bring in the seed money and so…
Nick: Jake, it's okay. Okay? Just fire the clients.
Scene: Legal Services of Pittsburgh
Kim: Hey.
From the broom closet, Nick observes Lulu greeting Kim, in uniform, in the main part of the office through his open office door—he squirms.
Lulu: Hey. You look good. You're right on time. You ready?
Kim: Yeah.
Lafferty: (knocks on Nick's open door) Nick.
Nick: How's it going?
Lafferty: For the kid? Awful.
Nick: Bad test?
Lafferty: He's still not cooperating. Even this expert, who believe me will say anything for money, can't help him.
Nick: Well, find another doctor. I'll release the money.
Lafferty: I want to postpone the transfer hearing. May give me something to trade with the DA for better terms.
Nick: You want to plea out?
Lafferty: I'll need the kid's consent.
Nick: Well, tell me what is the best the kid can hope for?
Lafferty: Well, they won't budge on life but he could get a chance at parole. If they try him as an adult he can get the death penalty.
Nick: Fine. I'll talk to the kid again.
Lafferty: Good. (he leaves)
Kim: (standing in doorway) Nick.
Nick: Hi.
Kim: Small world.
Nick: Yeah. You're a cop.
Kim: And you're a probationer.
Nick: Lulu told you?
Kim: Lulu? I ran your plates.
Nick: You ran my plates?
Kim: Look, my ex-husband's also a cop and he's trying to take my kid away from me. And you may be a nice guy, but I just can't be associating with someone like you right now. (turns to leave then turns back) Oh, Charlie says your car'll be ready at six.
Nick: Great.
Scene: Allegheny County Jail
Nick: You should consider a plea bargain. You know what that means?
Ronnie: No.
Nick: Mr. Lafferty thinks that this may stay in the Court of Common Pleas. That means you would be tried as an adult. You could get the death sentence.
Ronnie: How long would I have to stay in here?
Nick: I don't know. Maybe thirty to forty years.
Ronnie: There's nothing else you can do?
Nick: No. You need to let me know what you want me to do.
Ronnie: You hate me.
Nick: I don't hate you.
Ronnie: No, I can tell. The way you look at me, I mean…
Nick: I'm just doing my job.
Ronnie: You're supposed to be taking care of me. And…why don't take care of me? Why? You don't even know me. What did I ever do to you?
Nick: That's right. I don't know you. But, if you do not take this plea then you will just be hurting yourself. (pause) I need your consent, Ronnie.
Ronnie: I don't care. Go ahead. I don't care. (sobs)
Scene: Pete's Auto Body
Nick examines his car carefully.
Charlie: So, does it look alright?
Nick: It's good.
Charlie: Alright. I got a date.
Kim: Thanks, Charlie.
Charlie: Hey, Kim. Tell Matty he owes me 50 cents when the Pirates lose tonight. (He leaves.)
Kim: He's at his dad's house and stop teaching my son how to gamble. (to Nick) What's the matter? It's not alright?
Nick: No. It's fine.
Kim: I'm sorry if I was abrupt earlier.
Nick: You want to have dinner?
Kim: No, I can't. We talked about this, Nick. I can't.
Scene: Kim's bedroom
Nick and Kim are in bed.
Kim: Do you remember Chilly Billy's Horror Theatre Saturday, one in the morning?
Nick: My mom didn't let me watch television.
Kim: Get outta here.
Nick: She didn't.
Kim: So you don't know who Chilly Billy was?
Nick: Everyone knows Chilly Billy. I used to watch sometimes at my dad's house.
Kim: The hand, do you remember that one? Crawling all over the place. And then there was that one with just the head. Those would always get me, those dismembered body parts.
Nick: Clowns and dolls that come to life.
Kim: Yeah, the worst were those puppets. Remember those? Like Howdy Doody, but mean.
Nick: Ventriloquist dolls?
Kim: Uh-huh.
Nick: Yeah. They're terrible. (laughs)
Kim: My brother used to torment me after we'd watch one of those. He would get under my bed and wait, some nights for hours, and then he'd just start shaking it.
Nick: Shaking it? (smiles)
Kim: Uh-huh. I bet you did stuff like that to your sister.
Nick: I don't have a sister.
Kim: Brothers?
Nick: No.
Matty: (yells from the living room) Mom!
Kim: Oh, God! Oh, God! Oh, God! Get ready to meet my kid and my ex.
Living room: Matty and Kim's ex, Paul, are waiting.
Kim: Hey, Matty. (hugs him)
Matty: Hi.
Kim: Hi.
Matty: Hi.
Nick enters, straightening his tie.
Kim: How are you?
Matty: Good.
Kim: Yeah? Hey, Matty, this is Nick. He's a lawyer. He works with Lulu. You remember Lulu, right?
Matty: Yeah.
Kim: Yeah.
Nick: Hi.
Matty: Hi.
Paul: You forgot his spelling book.
Kim: No, you forgot his spelling book.
Paul: You talking to me about being responsible?
Kim: (whispers to Matty) It's on your desk, honey. (Matty leaves.)
Paul: That your car out front, the Beamer?
Nick: Yeah.
Paul: You're a lawyer, right?
Nick: That's right.
Paul: I'm a police officer.
Nick: I heard.
Paul: (to Kim) This doesn't look good, you know, to Matty.
Kim: I know, Paul. He's going to start realizing that you don't care about his grades.
Paul: That's funny, Kim. But you know what I mean.
Kim: Yeah, and I don't want to hear it.
Paul: Walking the streets at two in the morning?
Kim: Alright, that's enough. Okay?
Nick takes his jacket and folds it across his arm. Matty enters.
Paul: Hey, Come on big man. Let's go.
Matty: (to Kim) Love you.
Kim: I love you. Bye, honey.
Matty: I love you.
Kim: I love you, too. So much, sweetheart. Hey. (hands him his toy)
Matty: Bye.
Kim: Bye.
Paul and Matty leave.
Kim: I should…
Nick: I have to get going.
Kim: Yeah, okay.
Nick: Okay.
Kim: Yeah.
Nick leaves.
Scene: Social Services, Laurie's office
Nick enters and sits down.
Laurie: (on the phone) I understand. No, I get it. I hope they reconsider but under the circumstances, don't pressure them. Yeah. Yeah, okay, thanks. (hangs up the phone) Adoption's been set back about a decade by this.
Nick: Ronnie's attorney is planning to take a plea bargain.
Laurie: Oh!
Nick: Did you find the psych reports?
Laurie: No.
Nick: Well, it doesn't matter now, if there was nothing there. (Starts to leave.) Was there? Anything?
Laurie: No.
Nick: I guess you'd remember.
Laurie: I didn't follow up on the doctor's recommendation, Nick. There were no further tests performed. I was afraid it would hold up the adoption. And there's something else.
Nick: What?
Laurie: Ronnie's previous foster mother…I didn't lie to you, she did decide she wanted a girl but she had some issues with Ronnie's behavior.
Nick: What kind of issues?
Laurie: He was always by her side. Extremely affectionate. Mrs. Harbert felt that he grew overly so. She told me that when she couldn't give him the attention he wanted, he'd get angry. That sometimes he scared her.
Nick: He scared her?
Laurie: That's what she said. I thought it was incredible. Ronnie was such a little kid. But, Mrs. Harbert is one of our regular foster parents.
Nick: This could help Ronnie at the transfer hearing.
Laurie: Yeah, I know.
Nick: It'll be damaging to you.
Laurie: I'm not your responsibility, Nick. Ronnie is.
Scene: Legal Services of Pittsburgh, Alvin's office
Alvin: Here's what we do. First of all, I know you didn't make that decision yourself. So we get statements from everybody; the adoption agency caseworker, your supervisor, even Mr. Wagner.
Laurie: Alvin.
Alvin: And I can find at least a dozen state psych evaluations this year alone which are practically word for word identical in a diagnosis of anger issues.
Laurie: Alvin!
Alvin: What?
Laurie: Don't build me a defense.
Alvin: Laurie, you need one. You want to help Ronnie Wagner get transferred to the juvenile system, I get it. But, you're really vulnerable here.
Laurie: I know what I am, Alvin. I understand the situation.
Alvin: Well, good. Then you should realize that…
Laurie: Stop! I don't want your help.
Alvin: You don't want my help?
Laurie: No.
Alvin: Then why did you come over here?
Laurie: I don't know. I just…because I just wanted to come over here.
Scene: Legal Services of Pittsburgh, Lulu's office
Kim: You now how stressed out I've been this week, right?
Lulu: Well, I can imagine.
Kim: Yeah, well, I had, like, a two-night stand.
Lulu: (smiles) Congratulations.
Kim: No. Paul found out. The guy was at my place and Paul barged in unannounced, with Matty. He was supposed to be sleeping at his place.
Lulu: Well, I mean he could make an issue out of it, but if he does I would be happy to point out that once Paul committed adultery and divorced you, you're free to date whoever you want.
Kim: Yeah, yeah. You know the thing is though, this particular guy is a probationer.
Lulu: (pause) Nick Fallin?
Kim: I know, I know, I've got to work on my choices. I met him outside in the parking lot.
Lulu: Hum. Is being with him a work violation for you?
Kim: What, because of… No, no. 'Course not.
Lulu: Good, then, yeah, oh, you know, it's a non-issue. Alright. So tomorrow at ten o'clock. And I have everything I need.
Kim: Okay. Thank you.
Scene: Allegheny County Jail
Nick: Nicholas Fallin. I'm here to see Ronnie Wagner.
Guard: Nah. He's not clear for visitors.
Nick: Well, I called this afternoon. I'm his guardian.
Guard: Well, rules are different in the infirmary. It's up to the doctor.
Nick: What happened?
Guard: He tried to hang himself a couple hours ago.
Nick: Can I talk to him?
Guard: (shakes head) I'm sorry.
Nick turns to leave and encounters Lafferty.
Lafferty: It's like clockwork.
Nick: What?
Lafferty: Soon as it sinks in that they're getting hard time.
Nick: Did you postpone the transfer hearing?
Lafferty: No, not yet.
Nick: You shouldn't.
Lafferty: Why?
Nick: I have something that may help get him back to Juvenile Court. (hands him a document)
Lafferty: This just says further treatment.
Nick: He didn't get it.
Scene: Fallin & Straka offices
Nick is talking to Jake and James.
Nick: Okay, guys. Today we have Jerry Stevens coming over at noon. We're selling him on the idea of buying Pabco as a first piece of business. Now, if he bites this could be worth a hundred thousand dollars to us in fees, minimum. Minimum. So we don't have anyone else scheduled today, right?
Jake: Well, we can cancel the meeting for the dwarf-tossing class-action suit.
Nick: (grins) Good.
Scene: Allegheny County Courthouse, transfer hearing
Laurie is on the stand.
Lafferty: This is a state psychological evaluation for Ronnie Wagner that was prepared three weeks before his adoption by the Wagners was finalized. Ms. Solt, do you recognize your signature on this evaluation?
Laurie: Yes.
Lafferty: Does the evaluation instruct you to seek further psychological testing for Ronnie?
Laurie: Yes.
Lafferty: But you didn't make arrangements for Ronnie to have these further evaluations, did you?
Laurie: No.
Lafferty: Why not?
Laurie: Ronnie needed a stable home and I thought the Wagners were a great match. I was afraid that any further testing would just hold up his placement.
Lafferty: Ms. Solt, just so we're perfectly clear on this. Under what circumstances does the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania recommend a child receive psychological therapy?
Laurie: When the State determines that the child will benefit from such treatment.
Lafferty: Thank you. No further questions.
State's lawyer: Ms. Solt. How long have you worked for Social Services?
Laurie: Twenty-eight years.
State: You work with children, primarily?
Laurie: Exclusively.
State: Your job is to serve the best interest of the children in your charge?
Laurie: Yes.
State: You've an excellent reputation.
Laurie: Thank you.
State: You told this court you didn't follow the recommendations for Ronald Wagner to get further treatment.
Laurie: That's right.
State: Because you felt he was ready to be adopted without further treatment.
Laurie: Yes.
State: Did you do that because it was in the best interest of Ronald Wagner?
Laurie: I thought so at the time but I was mistaken.
State: Ms. Solt. Would you personally like to see Ronald Wagner be transferred to the Juvenile system?
Laurie: Yes.
State: Are you hoping your testimony today will help prevent Ronald Wagner from being tried as an adult?
Laurie: Yes.
Lafferty: The question here is whether Ronnie Wagner's psychological problems are amenable to treatment. The Commonwealth has already provided the answer to that question, because that was their recommendation five years ago. Treatment. Instead of heeding that recommendation they chose to sweep it under the carpet in an attempt to push Ronnie Wagner out of the foster care system. Now the Commonwealth wants to penalize Ronnie for their own gross negligence. They want to try this troubled 13-year-old boy as an adult where he could face the death penalty. The Commonwealth owes Ronnie Wagner a chance at rehabilitation.
State: Ronald Wagner took a shotgun and at close range blew his mother's head off then he raped her. Five years ago someone suggested he get evaluated. It doesn't mean he was amenable to treatment then. It certainly doesn't mean he's amenable to treatment now.
Judge: (after a moment of deliberation) While Ms. Solt committed a serious breach of professional conduct, I cannot say the defense met its burden to transfer this case to Juvenile Court. The case will remain in the Court of Common Pleas scheduled for six weeks from today.
Nick leaves the courtroom.
Ronnie: What does this mean?
Lafferty: It means you're going to be tried as an adult.
Outside the courtroom: Laurie stands, dejected.
Nick: Laurie?
Laurie walks away, downcast. Lulu approaches Nick.
Lulu: Nick! Hey, Kim's in a very precarious place right now. And God knows, we're all adults and what we do should be our business, but Paul seeing you with her -- it's not good. It could hurt her.
Nick: Why?
Lulu: Because you don't reflect well.
Nick: We had a car accident. On the two occasions I've been to her house, it was related to that incident.
Lulu: Yeah. Well, that's not the entire truth.
Nick: That's all the court needs to know. (He walks off)
Scene: Fallin & Straka Offices
Mr. Stevens: The Company's financial records only tells half the story.
Jake: I think you're absolutely right, Mr. Stevens. And, thank you for coming by.
Mr. Stevens: My pleasure.
Nick: (just arriving) Mr. Stevens. I'm sorry. I thought we were on for noon.
Mr. Stevens: I came early.
James: We told him the idea about Pabco.
Mr. Stevens: It's not a great time to be paying top dollar for a new company.
Nick: So it's a pass?
Mr. Stevens: Yes. But, I am interested in Goods 'n Gas. Jake tells me that they're going under.
Nick: That's right.
Mr. Stevens: Your father and I always went after distressed assets. That's how I built my company.
Nick: Good.
Mr. Stevens: I'm assuming you guys can handle this kinda deal.
Nick: Of course. We can speak to their creditors.
Mr. Stevens: Good. Get into it.
Nick: Nice to see you.
Jake: I'll see you out.
Jake leads Mr. Stevens out.
James: This is good, right?
Nick: This is very good. (shakes hands with James) Nice work. (Jake returns.) Very clever, Jake.
Jake: Thanks. So, listen, this Legal Services work is not going to get in the way of our work here, is it? (Nick is not amused—walks off) Touchy.
Scene: Social Services, Laurie's office
Nick: I tried to call.
Laurie: I turned it off. Reporters.
Nick: Where do you want these? (holding box of files)
Laurie: Just put them over there, thanks.
Nick: There's more coming. Did you get fired?
Laurie: Just got a suspension—two weeks. I was lucky.
Nick: Yeah. You know, what you did, it'll go on your record and you could be vulnerable to a civil suit from Seth Wagner.
Laurie: None of that's as important as someone's life. What Ronnie did was terrible, incomprehensible. But he's all alone in the world now and I don't care what the court says, he's still a kid.
Nick: You know, Laurie, I don't know but, maybe…maybe this kid deserves what he gets.
Laurie: Why do you say that?
Nick: What he did… what he did to someone who showed him love, only a monster would do that.
Scene: Kim's apartment
Nick: (knocks on door) Hey, I just came by to see how your hearing went?
Matty: (calls from another room) It's your turn, Mom.
Kim: I'll be there in a second. (To Nick) You could have called.
Nick: Don't have your phone number.
Kim: I won.
Nick: That's very good.
Kim: Yeah.
Nick: Good. Good.
Kim: The thing is though now I've got to switch to the day-shift which means I'm an official dead-end desk-jockey. So I guess I'm going to have to revamp my whole career trajectory.
Nick: Well, maybe we can have some dinner sometime.
Kim: I know what your dinner invitations mean.
Nick: Just talking about dinner.
Kim: Yeah, well the last time we were just talking about dinner…
Nick: I'd like to know if you'll have dinner with me sometime, that's all.
Kim: Are you still doing drugs?
Nick: What?
Kim: I have to know. Okay? I'm a cop and I have a kid. And I'm taking a ridiculous risk having you in my life. You know that, probationer that you are. Are you going to make me look stupid?
Nick: No. No.
Kim: Okay.
Nick: Okay.
Kim: Okay.
Matty: Mom!
Kim: That's me.
Scene: Allegheny County Jail
Ronnie: So Mr. Lafferty came over. He said something about me being 47 when I get out. You know, sometimes I wonder what the kids at school are saying about me. Do you like science?
Nick: Yeah.
Ronnie: Me, too. We were reading about the South Pole. The book said something like the earth spins more slowly at the edges. Did you ever read that?
Nick: I may have.
Ronnie: My teacher said that if it spins that slow, maybe time moves slower. Did you ever think about stuff like that? (Nick shakes his head.) If it's true, maybe there's a place where the earth spins a little faster. Where time moves faster. (pause) You can tell Mr. Lafferty that it's okay – to do that plea. I'd rather just skip the trial.
Nick: Okay. I'll do that.
Ronnie: Think that makes sense. Don't you?
END OF EPISODE
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