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TRANSCRIPT:
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Scene: South Hills Cemetery
Alvin stands with a group of LSP clients and Mr.Lombardini at the site.
Lombardini: The County wants this space we've ribboned-off. They want to widen the access road for the Mossar Ranch Development—new shopping mall. That's what they want. But, I'm going to do all that I can to oppose it. I have filed preliminary objections to stop the exhumation and relocation of the deceased. Rest assured, we are not in the business of disturbing your loved ones. Rest assured.
Scene: Fallin & Straka
Nick is on the phone while Jake and James are playing a little pick-up basketball in the office.
Nick: (On the phone) May I speak to Denton Anderson, please? It's Nicholas Fallin calling. (Listens) No, no, that's fine. Thank you. Just tell him I called. Thank you.
Jake: Now that was a charge.
James: Man, if, uh… your feet were not set.
Jake: Let's see the replay. 'Cause, I mean… show me…
James: There is no replay.
Jake: Show me…
James: That's the whole point. This is not about instant replay, okay?
Jake: Well, why don't you do what I… show me what you did and I'll show you what I did and…
Nick: (Dials another number) Hey, could I speak to David Markowitz, please?
James: I'm not showing you anything. How 'bout this? Show me my twenty dollars.
Nick: It's Nicholas Fallin calling.
Jake: Well, I'll get to the twenty dollars.
James: I want my twenty dollars.
Nick: (Listens) Thanks. Just tell him I called.
Jake: I mean, twenty bucks. You gotta know…
Nick reads the headline in the newspaper—County and developer stopped by dead—folds the paper, and grabbing his briefcase, starts to leave.
James: You really don't wanna pay me my money, don't you?
Jake: No, but you… it was a charge!
James: You should be ashamed of yourself. I've never seen you like this.
Jake: Have you ever been charged before?
James: No. I've been charged.
Jake: You've never been charged?
James: How 'bout this? Charge my twenty bucks to your credit card and give me my money. (Jake laughs)
Nick: (Leaving) Maybe you guys can consider just trying to find some clients.
Receptionist: (Answers phone) Fallin & Straka.
Scene: Caldwell & Associates—Caldwell's office
Caldwell sits at his desk, straightening papers. Removes a box containing three pens from his desk drawer, wipes them clean of fingerprints and lines them up on his desk then returns the box to the drawer. Intercom buzzes.
Gretchen: (Over intercom) Mr. Caldwell. Your 9:30 appointment is here—a Ms. Calfas.
Caldwell: (Pause) Ask her to wait a moment, please.
Gretchen: Ms. Calfas. Mr. Caldwell will be right out.
Caldwell removes another box and carefully opens it. It contains a gun.
Agent Calfas: (To FBI Agent) So, how was your weekend, Larry?
Gunshot is heard from inside Caldwell's office. Agents all rush in.
Gretchen: What happened? What just happened?
Scene: Diner
Mary Gressler: (Taking a breakfast order) Three eggs, over easy? Four-egg omelet for you? All right. I'll be back with your coffee. (Sees Burton walking towards her) Don't tell me you eat here.
Burton: No. (Chuckles) Actually, I went by your place, but, well… I just wanted to give you this. (Removes an envelope from his coat pocket)
Mary: Oh. (Takes the envelope)
Burton: It's a college fund for Shannon. I took the liberty of opening an account and putting a little something in it.
Mary sighs—then hands him back the envelope and walks off.
Mary: (To the cook) Order up, Lou. Come on. They're waiting. (She returns carrying a coffee carafe)
Burton: Excuse me. Did I do something wrong?
Mary: I can pay for my own granddaughter.
Burton: I wasn't suggesting…
Mary: And, what I did in court… what I did, I didn't do for money.
Burton: I just wanted to thank you.
Mary: You did. After the hearing. You thanked me already.
Burton: This your station?
Mary: Yes.
Burton: (Sits) May I have a coffee, please?
Mary: Anything else?
Burton: Yeah. I wanted to say I was sorry I missed your daughter's funeral.
Mary: There hasn't been a funeral, not here.
Burton: No?
Mary: No. Mandy's husband, Howard, showed up. Wants to take her to Atlantic City, cremate her.
Burton: I'm sorry.
Mary: I thought I'd have my own memorial for her here. You know, in my church.
Burton: Is that what you want?
Mary: Well…
Burton: Shannon?
Mary: Ah, Shannon. She doesn't say anything. I mean, she doesn't say anything about anything. I want my daughter buried near her family. That seems right. (Turns to leave)
Burton: Mary. Do you remember the man we met at Legal Services—Alvin Masterson? I can have him call the Coroner and he can bring an action for you to get… for you to get what you want.
Mary: I'm done at 2:00.
Burton: Okay.
Scene: Judge Fallin's chambers
Carol: Your robing will take place in your courtroom at 3:30, Friday afternoon.
Burton: What about the reception?
Carol: Down the hall—room 47.
Burton: 47.
Carol: I made arrangements with Nathan Caldwell for your old firm to pay for it.
Burton: Okay. Excellent.
Agent Calfas: (Steps into the room) Judge Fallin?
Burton: Yeah.
Agent Calfas: Agent Helen Calfas—FBI. (Shows her I.D.) May I have a word?
Burton: Yeah, sure. Thanks, Carol. Have a seat.
Agent Calfas: Congratulations on your appointment to the bench.
Burton: Well, thank you very much. So, what can I do for you?
Agent Calfas: Sir, I understand the former State Senator, Nathan Caldwell, was the managing partner in your old law firm.
Burton: Was?
Agent Calfas: Was he a personal friend?
Burton: What's this all about?
Agent Calfas: This morning Nathan Caldwell committed suicide in his office—your former office.
Burton: Oh, God.
Agent Calfas: Judge Fallin, when Mr. Caldwell was a State Senator he accepted money in return for his help in obtaining State contracts. His indictment was going to be handed down this morning. He knew it was coming.
Burton: Oh, my God.
Agent Calfas: Sir, we believe that his Chief of Staff, Mitchell Lichtman, may have been involved in the illegal payoffs as well. When he was in the Statehouse, did Mr. Lichtman ever say or do anything that led you to believe that he or Mr. Caldwell were willing to sell their influence?
Burton: No, 'course not. My association with Nate was professional and above-board.
Agent Calfas: And Mr. Lichtman?
Burton: I don't know him. He was Nate's right-hand man. I don't know him other than that.
Agent Calfas: Okay. Thank you for your time.
Burton: Yeah, okay.
Agent Calfas: My condolences.
Burton: Thank you.
Scene: The Incline—at the bar
Commissioner Willging: It's terrible news. Just terrible. We'd been in the middle of a deal. Just spoke with him yesterday.
Nick: I'm sorry.
Willging: How have you been? (Nick shrugs) I was kinda surprised to hear you left the firm.
Nick: Well, I started my own.
Willging: Really?
Nick: Yeah.
Willging: Oh, I should be going back to the off… (Starts to leave)
Nick: The Mossar Ranch Development—South Hills Cemetery?
Willging: Nick. You did a terrific job for us when you were working with your dad, but, you know, given your recent… you know… I think it would be a political problem to hire you right now.
Nick: Commissioner Willging, this project involves putting a road through a cemetery. I think that's your political problem.
Willging: Maybe now's not the time to go through…
Nick: Yeah, you're going to pay the guys at my dad's old firm to review a box full of files that I have committed to memory. See, I know Lombardini's situation. I know he wants to sell but he doesn't want to look like he wants to sell. I know how to structure a deal that Lombardini will take.
Scene: Legal Services of Pittsburgh
Burton and Mary get off the elevator.
Alvin: (To co-worker) …addresses and phones numbers for all these people…
Burton: Alvin?
Alvin: (To co-worker) Yeah, get to work. (To Burton) Burton. Sorry to hear about Nathan Caldwell.
Burton: Yeah. Thank you. You remember Mary Gressler, right?
Alvin: Of course, Mrs. Gressler. (Shakes her hand)
Mary: Hello.
Burton: Mary needs a little help. Her daughter's being kept over at the morgue. Can't bury her because her husband is crawling out of the woodwork and trying to get her body back to New Jersey. I suggest you file a special petition over at the Orphans' Court and argue that Mary deserves the right to bury her own daughter wherever she damn well pleases.
Alvin: Okay.
Burton: Great. Great. (To Mary) Good luck to you.
Mary: Thank you.
Burton: Thanks, Alvin.
Alvin: Yeah.
Burton: Appreciate it. Okay. (Shakes Alvin's hand) (To Mary) Bye-bye. (Exits)
Mary: Bye.
Alvin: (To co-worker as he is handed a file) Ah, thanks. (Looks around and sees Lulu sitting at a desk) Ah, Lulu. You remember Mary Gressler?
Scene: Caldwell & Associates
Burton enters. People are milling about. Gretchen is just inside the conference room—being consoled—as she sobs.
Burton: Hey, Rhonda.
Rhonda: Quite a carnival. When the lawyers aren't busy with the grief counselors and the police they're hiding in their offices, touching up their resumes.
Burton: Hmmm. What are you going to do now?
Rhonda: It's bad enough he killed himself here, but we all know he did it for a reason that doesn't reflect well on this firm. (Walks away)
Lichtman: Judge Fallin?
Burton: Oh, hey, Mitchell. So sorry about Nathan.
Lichtman: Have you got a free minute?
Burton: Sure. (Follows Lichtman)
Jake enters the lobby.
Jake: Rhonda! Rhonda!
Rhonda: Hey, Jake.
Jake: Hey. Terrible news. Gosh. Terrible.
Rhonda: You knew him well?
Jake: No. No, not really. But, I mean, to die… for anyone, and not like that.
Rhonda: It's nice of you to come.
Jake: I was concerned about you guys.
Rhonda: Nice.
Jake: How's the food?
Rhonda: It's fine.
Jake: Is there anything you need?
Rhonda: No.
Jake: Oh. Good. Oh, we're working with the County on that cemetery taking.
Rhonda: You poached that already?
Jake: You know, poached is such a…
Rhonda: You want the files.
Jake: If you wouldn't mind. (She gives him a sly smile and walks away.) Thanks, Rhonda.
Scene: Caldwell & Associates, Nick's old office (now Lichtman's)
Lichtman: He was a great man.
Burton: Yes, he was.
Lichtman: And no one will know that, now.
Burton: I don't think that's true.
Lichtman: That's the thing with suicides. People only remember 'that'. How the life ended. They won't say he built a great freeway, now. That he started an amazing public schools magnet program.
Burton: Oh, I think he'll be well remembered, in time.
Lichtman: (Clears throat) Did the FBI talk to you?
Burton: What?
Lichtman: I have to meet with that lady with the huge ankles, in the morning. I'm thinking they're a little disappointed by all this. That's what I'm thinking. (Burton gets up to leave) I'm thinking they're going to want some sorta consolation prize.
Burton: I don't know anything about that.
Lichtman: Well, then, I'll just have to let you know how it goes with that woman from the FBI.
Burton: (Mumbles as he exits) Right.
Scene: Fallin & Straka
Nick: Mr. Lombardini. If we play this process out, the property'll be ours in a year and, in the end, you'll have to move the graves.
Lombardini: It's truly bad press.
Nick: Once this goes before the Board of Viewers, they'll give you fair market value for the plots which is roughly $20,000. We are prepared to offer you $45,000, right now.
Lombardini: I have a sensitive business. People want to know that when they lay a loved one to rest in one of my cemeteries, they'll remain at peace forever.
Nick: 60. (Pause) And, we'll pay all exhumation costs. (Pause) And, we will take the hit in the Press.
Lombardini: How?
Nick: Well, we'll just deflect it. Make it look like you didn't have any other choice.
Scene: Mary Gressler's residence—after dark
Burton knocks.
Mary: Burton?
Burton: Hey, Mary. How are you?
Mary: Oh, yeah. I wasn't expecting anyone. I look a mess.
Burton: No, you don't.
Mary: You okay?
Burton: Yeah, yeah. I had kind of a strange day. Friend of mine… Well…
Mary: Shannon's asleep. You wanna sit down? (Indicates the porch)
Burton: Oh, yeah. Sure. Sure.
Mary: So, a friend of yours what?
Burton: Oh, I don't want to bother you with my problems. How'd it go with Alvin?
Mary: Oh, good. I like the lawyer he gave me. She's nice. She set something up for tomorrow.
Burton: Great. Great. Good.
Mary: Yeah. How's your son?
Burton: Oh, he's fine.
Mary: God! Drugs! I wish I'd set a better example. I was... most of my life, pretty screwed up in front of Mandy. She was a stripper, did you know that?
Burton: I heard that, yeah.
Mary: My daughter, a stripper. Well, I can't say I was much better than that when I was her age.
Burton: I don't think it matters what you did. I mean, that doesn't change who she was.
Inside the house, Shannon comes down the stairs and sits on the staircase.
Mary: You don't think?
Burton: I don't think so.
Mary: She turned out just like me.
Burton: Is that so bad?
Mary: Well, look at me. I mean, I wait tables. I been married twice before. What I've done with my life, I…
Burton: Well, you've got a beautiful granddaughter. You take good care of her. Got that.
Mary: Yes.
Burton: You're a fair person. What you did for my son—telling the truth. Most people wouldn't do that.
Shannon comes out on the porch.
Mary: Oh, Shannon. I thought you were asleep.
Burton: Hey.
Shannon: What's Burton doing over here?
Mary: He came to talk.
Shannon: Really? You came to talk, Burton?
Burton: Yeah.
Shannon: Right. 'kay then, talk. (Goes back inside)
Scene: Judge Fallin's chambers
Burton: 'Morning, Carol.
Carol: G'morning, Judge Fallin. Here are your messages.
Burton: Okay.
Carol: Can I get you some coffee?
Burton: No, I don't think so. Thank you.
Mitchell Lichtman knocks on his open door.
Lichtman: Judge?
Burton: Hey, Mitchell.
Lichtman: Got a minute? (Carol leaves—closing the door)
Burton: Yeah.
Lichtman: (Clears throat) I met with Agent Calfas this morning.
Burton: Mitchell, I'm the last person in the world you should be talking to about this.
Lichtman: (Nervously) I need a lawyer. I need you to find me someone.
Burton: Not my problem.
Lichtman: I need help!
Burton: Well, I'm not going to taint myself with your affairs.
Lichtman: You certainly weren't afraid to taint yourself with the Senator's. (Burton just looks at him) Agent Calfas is willing to deal. She wants names.
Burton: Okay.
Lichtman: I have those tapes of you and the Senator talking about Nick. I'll give 'em to her.
Burton: (Angrily) You know what I think? I think we ought to call her right now. Have her come over here. If you got something to say to her, if you've got something to show her, I want to be in the room when it happens. (Punches the intercom) Carol.
Carol: Sir?
Burton: Contact Ms. Calfas at the FBI. Okay?
Lichtman: I can contact her myself. (Exits)
Scene: Legal Services of Pittsburgh—meeting room
Alvin is addressing a group of clients in the cemetery matter.
Alvin: Lombardini and the County have agreed on a price.
Judith: How can they sell our plots? They belong to us, right?
Alvin: It's not clear. It's not clear whether he sold you a specific plot, or just the right to be buried in one of his cemeteries.
Judith: They're going to take them out of the ground?
Alvin: I obtained a preliminary injunction. It'll help me stall the exhumations. Here. Would you pass that on, please? (Passes around copies) Now. What you all need to do is take your stories to the Press. Let them know about your loved ones. Let them know just how outraged you are.
Scene: Kim's apartment--daylight
Kim and Nick are in bed, embracing and kissing.
Kim: Oh, it's late. (Raises up to look at the clock) Oh, god! You've got to go. Matty's going to be here in, like, ten minutes.
Nick: (Holds her) That's plenty of time.
Kim: No. No. Get up.
Nick: No, c'mon. (Grabs her and won't let her up)
Kim: No. Get out. Get out. (She struggles free—they laugh—she walks into the bathroom)
Nick: Aah. You think you're ever going to want to have dinner with me? (He sits up on the side of the bed and reaches for a glass of water)
Kim: (Standing in the bathroom door, now in her robe) What does that mean?
Nick: Nothing. Just, you know, I thought… you know.
Kim: What? Do you have a problem with what we're doing?
Nick: No. I'm fine. I just thought, maybe, sometime you'd want to go out.
Kim: Yeah. Of course I do.
Nick: Okay. When?
Kim: Whenever.
Nick: 'Cause you can't just treat me like a sexual object. You know, I'm beginning…
Kim: (Laughs) Shut up.
Nick: ...to wonder about your intentions.
Kim: All right. How 'bout tonight?
Nick: Tonight?
Kim: Yeah.
Nick: Fine.
Scene: Fallin & Straka
Alvin enters lobby—James leaves his office to confront him.
Alvin: James.
James: (Tersely) Alvin.
Alvin: Look, you can't move those bodies.
James: We have the right.
Alvin: No. I have a preliminary injunction.
James: Well, we didn't know that.
Alvin: Now you do.
James: I'm just telling you, this is news to us. And, at this moment… what time is it?
Alvin: (Consults his watch) 11:30.
James: Okay. So, you're on notice. I'm not the primary person and you're not officially serving me with those papers.
Alvin: What are you talking about?
James: Are you serving me with those papers or you just telling me that you have them?
Alvin: Look, James, I know you're still angry about Levi.
James: This is not about my anger.
Alvin: But you are.
James: Angry is not the word I'd use.
Alvin: All right. Upset.
James: No. More than upset. The preliminary injunction. Are you officially serving me with it?
Alvin: (Long pause) Damn! They're goin' at it right now, aren't they?
Noncommittal glare from James—Alvin runs out of the office.
Scene: Legal Services of Pittsburgh—meeting room
Lulu: Can you tell me why you want your mother buried in Pittsburgh?
Shannon: 'Cause.
Burton: (Entering the room) Hi. Sorry I'm late.
Lulu: Okay. Can you tell me anything about her relationship with her?
Mary: Is this necessary?
Lulu: I'm sorry but, yes, it is.
Mary: I mean, for an eleven-year-old, these questions?
Lulu: Well, I only have a few more left.
Burton: Do you really need Shannon?
Lulu: Amanda Gressler's husband, Howard Glover, he's got priority rights. You know, by law, he can determine where she's buried.
Burton: I understand, but…
Lulu: Burton, I… Sorry. Judge Fallin. I've got to go in there this afternoon and make an equitable argument, not a legal one. So... I've got to appeal to the Judge on an emotional level and Shannon is the best thing we've got.
Burton: Uh-huh. Yeah.
Lulu: Can you tell me how long Howard was with your mom?
Shannon: We lived in his house for, like, four months or something... until Mandy got tired of him and we left. He was just one of those guys.
Lulu: What do you mean—one of those guys?
Shannon: You know—ATM machines.
Lulu: Oh.
Shannon: That's what Mandy called them.
Scene: South Hills Cemetery
Exhumations are in progress. Alvin quickly drives up and jumps out of his car, runs to Nick who is observing the work.
Alvin: Stop the digging! Stop it!
Nick: Alvin. Alvin. What've you got? What is it?
Alvin: (Hands Nick a paper) I've got a court order.
Nick: (Reading the Order) Well, you know I'll just file a motion to vacate.
Alvin: You know, trying to exhume these bodies before my clients have a chance to be heard is unprofessional, Nick. Stop it, now!
Nick gives a sign—a slash across his throat—to the workers,
Nick: (To Alvin) Don't take it personally. (To worker on bulldozer) Shut it off! He's got a court order. (To diggers) Hey guys, take a break.
Scene: Courtroom
Lulu: Your Honor, Amanda Gressler had not even seen Mr. Glover for three years. That constitutes abandonment. That invalidates his priority rights.
Glover's Attorney: There was no abandonment because they had an understanding.
Lulu: An understanding in which she was allowed to work three hundred miles away in a strip club and have relationships with many men?
Glover's Attorney: Oh, Your Honor…
Lulu: Mary and Shannon Gressler want to bury Mandy in a family plot near Mandy's father. Now, while her life was far from exemplary, she deserves respect. What do you think that she would want? To have her ashes scattered over some stage in a casino by a man that she left three years ago or to be buried next to her family?
Scene: Immediately outside the courtroom
Mary: Thank you, Ms. Archer. Thank you.
Lulu: We actually need to go and get a copy of the Judge's order for the Coroner.
Mary: Okay. Burton, could you stay with Shannon for just a moment?
Burton: Oh, yeah, sure. Sure.
Lulu and Mary walk away.
Shannon: Don't.
Burton: What? (Puzzled)
Shannon: Mary hasn't dated a guy in, like, a hundred years.
Burton: What are you talking about?
Shannon: You should leave her alone.
Burton: Oh. Oh… (Chuckles) Shannon, oh, you got the wrong idea.
Shannon: How old are you anyway?
Burton: None of your business.
Shannon: You're too old for sex.
Burton: What kinda talk is that, huh? C'mere. (They sit.)
Shannon: Mary's real fragile. She cries a lot.
Burton: Yeah?
Shannon: She likes to talk about weird stuff like angels and how animals have souls, you know?
Burton: Oh.
Shannon: She's not your type.
Burton: Well, now. How do you know what my type is?
Shannon: I know men.
Burton: Oh.
Shannon: I've seen them enough.
Burton: Hmmm.
Shannon: I know men.
Burton softly chuckles.
Scene: Kim's apartment
Nick and Kim are naked on the couch—Kim on top. They kiss—then laugh.
Kim: I know, I know, I know, I know.
Nick: I didn't say anything. I didn't say anything.
Kim: I know. But you made a reservation and everything.
Nick: No, that's cool. That's cool. (They kiss)
Kim: Oh…
Nick: What?
Kim: I'm afraid if we go out some place nice and we have to actually sit and talk that we're not going to have anything to talk about, you know? And, that'll be that.
Nick: I think we'll have a good time together. I mean, if we go out.
Kim: Really?
Nick: I'm happy just coming over here and having sex. (Nuzzles her neck)
Kim: No, no, no, no. No, we'll go out. We'll do it. We'll go out.
Nick: It doesn't matter.
Kim: Shut up. We'll go out.
Scene: Judge Fallin's chambers
Burton and Agent Calfas are listening to a tape.
Burton: My son, Nicholas. He's been arrested.
Caldwell: What happened?
Burton: Drugs. He's got a problem. If convicted of Felony Possession, I don't know what'll happen to him.
Caldwell: Well, the D.A.'s a friend. You know that.
Burton: I do.
Caldwell: You've supported me in my campaigns. And… I know you'll support me when I leave office as well, won't you?
Burton: Of course.
Agent Calfas stops the tape.
Agent Calfas: It's perfectly understandable.
Burton: What?
Agent Calfas: Asking Senator Caldwell for help.
Burton: Well, there's nothing improper there. That's a personal conversation with a friend.
Agent Calfas: It sounded like the Senator extorted the deal out of you.
Burton: What deal?
Agent Calfas: The deal to make him managing partner in your firm in exchange for his influence in helping your son.
Burton: There's no deal.
Agent Calfas: My experience, Your Honor, is that this stuff always comes out in the end and it's best if it comes directly from you.
Burton: Do you really think you can trick me into implicating myself in a Federal crime? I mean…
Agent Calfas: Sorry, if I gave you that impression. I have the tape. I have Mr. Lichtman telling me you made a deal. I don't think you're telling me the whole truth and I want to give you one more opportunity to do so. (Burton just sighs) Okay. (She leaves)
Scene: Courthouse corridor
Nick and James are walking down the corridor when Alvin calls to Nick.
Alvin: Nick. You got a second?
Nick stops and goes back to face Alvin—James keeps walking.
Alvin: Listen, Nick, I'm sorry to do this but, Nick, this is Judith Davis. Her sister's buried at South Hills Cemetery.
Nick: Uh… (Shakes his head)
Alvin: Judith knows your father.
Judith: I'm from Mt. Aire.
Nick: My father's not involved in this case. (Starts walking)
Judith: Your father got my sister pregnant. Fifty years ago. She died after the abortion. She bled to death.
Nick turns and walks back to face Alvin—pointing his finger at him.
Nick: Are you blackmailing my father?
Alvin: No. Nick, no. Please understand…
Nick: Then you're blackmailing me. (Turns and walks off with a derisive glance at Judith Davis)
Scene: Judge Fallin's chambers
Tom Paul: Mitchell Lichtman taped every conversation Nathan Caldwell had over a course of a few years. Yours was the least damaging. A lot of other people are going to suffer more than you.
Burton: Hmm. What about Lichtman?
Tom: He made his deal. Lost his law license. Got a year in a Federal pen.
Burton: So, you asking for my resignation?
Tom: Senator Hendricks is behind you.
Burton: That's good to know I have his support.
Tom: In a few weeks, this'll be forgotten history as far as you're concerned.
Burton chuckles. Nick knocks on the door and enters.
Burton: Nicholas.
Nick: Oh, sorry. Am I interrupting something?
Burton: No, no, no. Come on in. You remember Mr. Paul.
Nick: Mr. Paul. (They shake hands) Can I have a moment with my father, please?
Burton: (To Mr. Paul) Okay?
Tom: Sure.
Burton: Yeah. Thanks. I'll talk to you. (Mr. Paul leaves) So, what's up?
Nick: You remember the Mossar Ranch Development?
Burton: Shopping mall?
Nick: Exactly. County needs to move fifteen plots in a cemetery to widen the access road.
Burton: Right.
Nick: I just met a woman from Mt. Aire. Says her sister's buried in one of those plots. She claims she knows you.
Scene: Courthouse corridor
Burton approaches Alvin and Judith Davis.
Alvin: Burton.
Burton: Hello, Alvin.
Alvin: (They shake hands) Hi.
Burton: How are ya?
Alvin: Please understand, I was in no way threatening.
Burton: No. There's nothing to this. (Alvin walks away) Hello, Judith. (Extends his hands—she refuses)
Judith: Burton. Well, they say Evelyn's body is in the way of progress.
Burton: Judith, believe me, I had no idea this was going on.
Judith: Do something about it.
Burton: I can't. I can't get involved.
Judith: Why not?
Burton: I'm a judge now.
Judith: Then you should be able to tell them to stop.
Burton: No. That's exactly why I can't. I can't abuse my power.
Judith: You owe her that much.
Burton: (Sighs) Judith, you don't know the whole story.
Judith: I know that you left. I know you knew she was pregnant.
Burton: Yes I did.
Judith: And you left.
Burton: I went to college.
Judith: And you gave her the money. I know you gave her the money.
Burton: Yeah.
Judith: Please, stop your son from doing this.
Burton: Wait a minute! Look, this may be hard for you to understand but my son is not responsible for this. All right? This could be any lawyer. Anybody.
Judith: How many times does Evie have to be buried? (Walks off)
Scene: Courthouse corridor
In a quiet alcove, Nick and Burton sit side by side.
Nick: There's going to be a hearing tomorrow. If I go in there and win this thing, and that body comes out of the ground…
Burton: Yeah. What are you trying to say?
Nick: I could try to make a different deal.
Burton: Nicholas. Don't ever compromise your work. (Long pause) Ever!
Nick: This compromises you.
Burton: Well, it's gonna happen anyway.
Nick: What I'm trying to say is, I don't want to do it.
Burton: Son, it's gonna happen anyway. If you don't want to do it then get one of your boys to do it. (Walks off)
Scene: The Incline--evening
Waitress: (Takes the menus) Thank you.
Kim: So, you having a good time?
Nick: Yeah.
Kim: So…
Nick: Yeah. (Weak laugh)
Uncomfortable lapse in conversation.
Kim: Do you like baseball?
Nick: Yeah, sure.
Kim: Do you ever go to the games?
Nick: No. Not really.
Kim: I like baseball.
Nick nods then looks up to see Lulu and Brian, waiting for a table. Lulu sees them.
Lulu: Hey.
Kim: Hey.
Lulu: What are you two doing here?
Kim: We just ordered. Do you guys want to sit with us?
Lulu: (Looks at Brian) Sure.
Brian: Sure.
Kim: Hey, Brian.
Brian: Hey, Kim.
Kim: How's it going?
Brian: It's good.
Scene: Diner
Mary: I went into Shannon's room last night…
Burton: Yeah?
Mary: …and she was fast asleep with Mandy's old baby blanket. Now, this is a blanket I haven't seen in twenty-five years. Then she came out this morning and gave it to me and said she wanted me to put it in the casket with Mandy.
Burton: Oh. She's a sweetheart.
Mary: Yeah. It's the first time I've seen her start to… (Sighs) She started to cry and she stopped. I mean, what kind of a life could she have led, you know, that made her have to hold things in like that?
Burton: Yeah.
Mary: Your kid. Did he have a... his favorite baby blanket when he was little?
Burton: Nicholas? (Chuckles) I don't know.
Mary: You don't remember?
Burton: No. I don't know.
Mary: How long have you been a judge?
Burton: Well, my investiture is in a couple days.
Mary: Vestiture?
Burton: Oh, the ceremony. You know, the swearing-in.
Mary: Hmm.
Burton: But, it may not happen.
Mary: Why not?
Burton: Oh, because a judge, or anyone in that position, is held to a higher standard.
Mary: No one is of a higher standard.
Burton: You don't think?
Mary: No. (Nervous chuckles)
Burton: Oh, Shannon. Well, the other day, she says to me…
Mary: No, I know what she said. She thinks that every rich guy in a suit is out to get something.
Burton: (Laughs) That's right. Right.
Mary: But, you're not. I can tell. Are you?
Burton: No!
Mary: (Laughs) No!
Burton: No. I mean, not that I don't like you, but…
Mary: You do?
Burton: I do. Yeah. But, it's, I mean… not in, uh…
Mary: In that way?
Burton: Well, I don't know. (Laughs) I don't know, it's just we have…
Mary: Lot in common?
Burton: Yeah.
Mary: Yeah. Sad things in common.
Burton: Sad things?
Mary: Yeah. I think you're comfortable with me because… the way my daughter was and what your son is.
Burton: Maybe.
Mary: Well, why else would a judge be sitting here with a woman like me in a crappy diner, huh? I mean, surely you have better things you could be doing.
Burton: Well, I can't think of anything better to do than sit with you. (They both laugh)
Mary: Well, Burton, will, uh…
Burton: What?
Mary: Tomorrow. Will you come with us?
Burton: Yeah. Sure.
Scene: The Incline
Brian: My lab partner, Rajid, he adds rose oil to the cadaver because…
Lulu: Brian. Brian.
Brian: …because the body smells, I mean, amazingly bad…
Lulu: Brian, please don't tell this story.
Brian: Why not?
Lulu: Because, it's about a guy that pukes into the chest cavity of a corpse. Disgusting.
Nick: Precisely. (Reaches for the check)
Brian: Okay. Well, now you know.
Kim: Oh, the other day I arrest this homeless guy and he craps his pants in the back of my squad car and then pukes.
They all laugh. Kim rests her chin on Nick's shoulder and her hand on his arm as he picks up the tab.
Nick: When I lived in New York, my next door neighbor—he was eighty. He got home from work one day and decided to watch television. He has a stroke. I found him three days later—still breathing. I gave him mouth-to-mouth.
Kim: Did he die? (Nick nods)
Brian: (Big laugh) Okay. No, no, no. I got one that's worse than that. A buddy of mine, he's a gynecologist, gets this lady that, you know… all of a sudden…
Lulu watches as Kim puts her hand on Nick's leg, under the table.
Lulu: Can we just stop telling stories? I mean, I'm getting sick. I just ate.
Brian: So, when'd you two meet?
Kim: Last week. Fender-bender. My fault.
Nick: (Smiles) It was.
Brian: Sounds kinda like a porn movie. You know, have a car accident with a hot girl…
Lulu: (Slaps him on the arm) Brian!
Brian: What?
Lulu: A porno movie?
Kim: It's okay. Actually, it was a lot like that I'm ashamed to say. (Nick & Kim share a knowing look)
Brian: Hey, Nick. Is it legal for you to date a cop?
Nick: Brian, you asking me about legal dating?
Brian's expression sobers—Lulu notices the change and watches as Nick places his hand over Kim's, on his leg, and they smile at each other.
Nick: We've got to get going.
Kim: Yeah.
Lulu: Well, have a nightcap.
Kim: No, really, I've got to be at work early.
Lulu: Oh, Kim, one drink. Come on.
Kim: No, no.
Nick: We've got to go. It's been good.
Lulu: See you tomorrow.
Kim: Okay.
Brian: Goodnight.
Nick: (As they walk out of The Incline) I think our relationship's much more than sex.
Kim: You're not sleeping at my place tonight.
Nick: Fair enough.
Scene: Olsen residence—master bedroom—that evening
Lulu and Brian in bed with their backs to each other. Lulu is wide awake.
Scene: Courtroom
Burton enters the courtroom after proceedings have begun and sits in the gallery. Nick sits at the table with James.
Alvin: Your Honor, three days ago you granted a preliminary injunction to prevent the disinterment of the remains of fifteen individuals at the South Hills Cemetery which would have caused irreparable injury to those burial sites. Nothing's changed since that time.
James: What's changed, is that South Hills Cemetery owner, Mr. Lombardini, has withdrawn his preliminary objections to the taking.
Alvin: But, the families of the deceased have not.
James: Families have no rights in that regard.
Alvin: Questions of ownership interests and whether this taking is for a proper public purpose are matters to be determined at a subsequent hearing—not today.
James: If the families do not have a reasonable likelihood of prevailing on the merits, this Court is obligated to vacate the preliminary injunction.
Scene: Immediately outside the courtroom
Judith: I don't understand. What happened?
Alvin: The Judge vacated the restraining order.
Judith: What now?
Alvin: Mrs. Davis, it's over. (Turns and walks away)
Burton: (Has been standing nearby) Judith. I'm so sorry. I'd like to pay for you to have Evelyn placed wherever you like. Just tell me what to do.
Judith: Burton. I told some people. Last night some of the families got together with a reporter. A lawyer told us to tell our stories, and we did. (She walks away)
Scene: Judge Fallin's chambers
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette lies on the desk with the headline: Cemetery digging up problem for new judge.
Burton: Tom, I know how the President and the Senator feel about abortion.
Tom Paul: I've already called a different reporter. He wants to talk to you about it. He's in your corner. It's a human interest story. In it, you'll deny your relationship to that woman, distance yourself a little bit from your son's problems, and let the people know that the things that Nathan Caldwell did had nothing to do with you.
Burton: So you want me lie, right?
Tom: You just explain it all away. It'll be gone in one news cycle.
Burton: Believe that?
Tom: Look, worse case scenario you'll have to answer to the Lichtman tapes, but they're inconclusive. Just deny everything.
Burton: (Tosses an envelope on the desk in front of Tom) I've drafted a letter there to the President and the Senator. I appreciate it if you deliver it to 'em.
Tom: We're not asking for a resignation.
Burton: This is not who I am. Nate was my friend. He helped me out. Nicholas had problems. I made a mistake—long time ago, but I made a mistake.
Tom: Do you understand what you're doing. The Senator pushed your appointment through. The President supported it.
Burton: Do you understand that what you're asking me to do—I can't do! And if I tell the truth, it'll be worse for everyone! Do you understand that?! Deliver the letter.
Scene: South Hills Cemetery
Nick and James observe the exhumations at the site of the Mossar Ranch Development while Mandy's burial is taking place in another part of the cemetery, with Burton, Mary & Shannon Gressler, and Howard Glover at the graveside.
Preacher: …thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me…
Nick and James observe Alvin—across the cemetery. Alvin shakes his head.
James: We should get back to work.
Nick nods and they turn to leave.
Burton starts to his car and the Gresslers catch up with him.
Burton: Hi.
Mary: Go ahead, honey. Get in the car.
Burton: Bye, Shannon.
Shannon: Bye, Burton. (Places her hand on his arm then goes to the car)
Mary: I just wanted to thank you for helping us.
Burton: I didn't do much.
Mary: Bye, Burton.
Burton: (Extends his hand) Bye. Take care of yourself, okay?
Mary: Yeah. (Mary takes his hand, kisses, and then hugs him) Bye.
Burton: Bye-bye. (She walks to the car)
Nick arrives at his car.
Nick: (To James) I'll see you back at the office.
Nick notices Burton standing across the road and walks over to him.
Burton: Hey. Well, I resigned.
Nick: It's not… because of me?
Burton: No, no. It has nothing to do with you.
Nick: What are you going to do?
Burton: Well, I'd like to go back to my practice. What's left of it anyway. My career's going to be a little bit different now, with everything that's happened. There's a lot of people that won't want to work with me.
Nick: Well, listen, you… (Long pause) you want to work with me?
Burton: Hmmm. Well, nothing, nothing big. And not in that building of yours. I'd like to get back to my old office. You know. Six or seven clients. Keep it real simple. And…
Nick: Good. Sounds good to me.
Burton watches a truck drive away with three caskets.
Burton: Evelyn was a little gangly, freckles-on-her-nose, great swimmer. I was, well, I was just young. I wanted to get out of Mt. Aire; not end up like my father working the mill all my life.
They walk to Burton's car—hands in their pockets.
Nick: Do you regret it?
Burton: Regret it?
Nick: Yeah.
Burton: I don't know. I don't think like that. This is the life I have. This is my life.
END OF EPISODE
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