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TRANSCRIPT:
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Scene: Courtroom
Attorney Pollack: Your Honor, I am outraged at Mr. Fallin's insensitivity. Mr. DeBord suffers from A.B.I.—Acquired Brain Injury, a tearing of the brain's long connecting nerve fibers and, yes, an A.B.I. sufferer will occasionally experience temper flare-ups and frustration. But, using his injury against my client to take his children violates basic notions of fundamental fairness.
Nick: (Stands) We're not here to determine what's fair for Mr. DeBord. We're concerned about the welfare of his children.
Pollack: If his wife wants to leave him over an injury he suffered on a construction site to earn money for his family, then that's her choice. But, she doesn't have the right, Sir, to take his children.
Nick: We're asking that Mr. DeBord's supervised visits be discontinued until such time as he is no longer a physical threat to his children. On the last visit, Mr. DeBord threw a glass at his nine-year-old daughter. She required fifteen stitches in her face.
Gary Tuggle: (Stands in the gallery—interjects) Mr. DeBord threw that glass at the wall in frustration.
Judge: Mr. Pollack, is this gentleman with you?
Tuggle: Gary Tuggle, Director of the Acquired Brain Injury Institute.
Judge: yes, uh… Mr. Pollack attached some of your literature to his brief.
Tuggle: Then you understand the difficulties A.B.I. sufferers encounter when they enter the legal system.
Judge: I've had to modify Mr. DeBord's visitation rights on three prior occasions. Now, I'm afraid they'll have to be temporarily suspended.
Tuggle: But, Judge... I…
Judge: Your literature claims that… treatment, therapy and counseling can have wondrous effects on A.B.I. victims. I need to see that for myself. Come back in six months with a doctor's affidavit and I'll consider reinstating supervised visits.
Pollack: Sir, with all due respect, Mr. DeBord's daughter, Adrienne, turns ten tomorrow. He would like to see her, Sir.
Judge: One hour tomorrow at Legal Services with Social Services present. (Gavel down)
Scene: Judge Damsen's Courtroom
Judge Damsen: Mr. Fallin, your client wants to stay in the system until he's twenty-one?
Nick: That's correct. Jesse Caputo turns eighteen in three months and is hoping not to be removed from the Allegheny County Children's Shelter at that time.
Judge: For the last year and a half, I've seen Mr. Caputo four times for group home violations.
Nick: (Reluctantly) That's right.
Judge: He sold phone cards, illegal phone cards from his room. He was also caught with a quarter ounce of marijuana and he ran a craps game that involved several of the group home staff.
Nick: Right.
Judge: Jesse, I'm curious. Why should I allow you to stay in a system that you so obviously do not respect?
Jesse: Um… (Stands) Well, Judge… I'm doing good now. I'm gonna graduate high school this afternoon.
Judge: Barely graduate.
Jesse: Well, true, but my diploma's not gonna have my grades on it so it'll just look like everyone else's.
Judge: Mr. Caputo, do you believe you can keep yourself out of trouble?
Jesse: Yes, I do, 'cause I wanna go to college, Judge Damsen, but I can't see doing that if I don't have a place to live.
Judge Damsen: All right. Show me you're serious. Earn enough money, legally, to pay a quarter of their first year's tuition by your eighteenth birthday and I'll let you stay in the system 'til you're twenty-one. Otherwise… you will be placed out of the group home.
Nick and Jesse exit the courtroom
Jesse: Man, that was outstanding. Now, all I gotta do is go talk to my mom. She'll give me the money.
Nick: You think that's a good idea?
Jesse: Yeah. Well, she told me, when I was… you know, when I was a kid, that if I ever got into college she would pay for it.
DeBord: (Confronts Nick in the corridor—speaks haltingly due to his infirmity) See… uh… uh… kids…
Nick: Mr. DeBord, I-I…don't…
DeBord: …kids…
Jesse: Listen, man. Later, I have a graduation ceremony.
DeBord: I can… I can still… uh…
Jesse: There's gonna be a band and refreshments.
DeBord: …be…
Jesse: It's gonna be outstanding.
Nick: (Has been trying to listen to both of them) Excuse me, please!
DeBord: Listen… I… (Grabs Nick)
Nick: Hey! Hey!
DeBord: Listen! I… I…
Tuggle: Doug! Doug! (Pulls Mr. DeBord off Nick) Doug! (To Nick) He's just trying to communicate with you.
Nick: I don't care.
Jesse: Seriously, man, listen. My graduation ceremony—it's gonna be outstanding. (Hands him a flyer with the information)
Tuggle: (Hands Nick a pamphlet) Information on Acquired Brain Injury… and an invitation to come to a lecture by a leading neurologist next Saturday.
Nick: I have another hearing. (Turns and scurries away—casting one final glance over his shoulder)
Tuggle: (Raises his voice to make himself heard as Nick walks away) You should attend. So you can be better informed when responding to our appeal.
Scene: Fallin & Fallin—conference room
Conference table is piled high with boxes. Jake piles one more on top as Nick approaches.
Jake: Hey. So, Pinnacle Point sent us three dozen boxes of documents that are not organized in any useful way.
Nick: What happened to the office boy we just hired?
Jake: I fired him. Every time I turned around he was at the copy machine making flyers for his band.
Nick: Yeah, well, we need someone.
Jake: Fine. I'm gonna bring in my cousin.
Nick: Uh… is that… that kid Rudy? Worked here last summer?
Jake: What's wrong with Rudy?
Nick: (Grimaces) ...hygiene.
Jake: Well… okay, we need somebody. I…
Nick: I'll find someone. Just give me twenty-four hours. (Jake sighs)
Burton's office—Burton welcomes a visit from Mary Gressler
Mary: Hi, Burton.
Burton: Good to see ya.
Mary: Nice to see you.
Burton: Yeah.
Mary: Ah… this is a beautiful office.
Burton: Oh, thank you, very much. Yeah, well, this is a nice surprise. Here, sit down.
Mary: Oh.
Burton: So, how have you been?
Mary: I'm happy to see you.
Burton: Same here. (Chuckles)
Mary: But, not so good.
Burton: Oh, really. What's going on?
Mary: Well, my house… there was a fire.
Burton: When was that?
Mary: Ten days ago. Shannon… (Nervous laugh) said she wasn't feeling well so… I left her on the couch and went to work and… she fell asleep smoking a cigarette.
Burton: Oh… my…
Mary: ...set the house on fire.
Burton: Oh, is she all right?
Mary: Yeah, she's fine. She's in trouble, but she's fine.
Burton: What about the house?
Mary: So much smoke damage, you know? There's a hole in the roof. And, damn! The guy came to give me an estimate and he said it would be about $60,000 to fix it.
Burton: 60? Wow. Were you insured?
Mary: Oh, yeah. That's…that's what I want to talk to you about. (Digs a piece of paper out of her pocket) You see they… well, they say I didn't pay my premium.
Burton: So, did they send you anything besides this?
Mary: You know, the letter they always send me telling me I'm past due.
Burton: Do you have a copy of that?
Mary: No, it's… it's in my motel room.
Scene: Mary Gressler's motel
Mary and Burton are talking as they enter her room.
Burton: …twelve years old, then he was…
Mary: (Inside the room) It's all we could afford.
Burton: Yeah. It's… I mean, well… it's… (Chuckles)
Mary: (Chuckles) Yeah, it's… (Shannon comes out of the bathroom) Why aren't you at school?
Shannon: I missed the bus. Hey, Burton.
Burton: Hi, Shannon. How ya doin'?
Shannon: Good.
Burton: So, I heard you started a little fire, huh?
Shannon: Yeah.
Burton: Well, you shouldn't smoke, you know.
Shannon: You smoke.
Burton: Not in bed. (Mary hands him the letter from the insurance company) Oh, yeah, thanks. So that must have been pretty scary, huh?
Shannon: Yeah.
Burton: I'll bet. Mary, listen, I got an idea. Why don't you guys just come stay at my house?
Mary: Um… no.
Burton: Shannon could stay in Nick's old room. You could take the guestroom. You could borrow my other car, if you wanted.
Mary: No. We couldn't.
Shannon: Mary, c'mon. This place sucks.
Burton: Yeah. Why not? I mean, you won't see me there… (Chuckles) I'm hardly ever there anyway. And, Shannon's right. This sucks.
Scene: Legal Services of Pittsburgh
Nick exits the elevator and nods to Alvin as he goes into his office.
Nick: (Picks up a small gift from his desk—wrapped in green paper with silver ribbon) Alvin… what's this?
Alvin: Jesse Caputo's graduation present from the clinic.
Nick: What's it doing on my desk?
Alvin: For you to give to him at the graduation.
Nick: I'm not going to the graduation.
Alvin: It's a tradition that an LSP lawyer attends…
Nick: I'm not an LSP lawyer, Alvin.
Alvin: You've been Jesse's lawyer for almost eighteen months, Nick. The kid looks up to ya. (Nick's expression does not change—just stares back at Alvin—Alvin sighs) I'll credit your hours. (Nick turns and heads back to the elevator with the gift—a sly grin on his face)
Scene: Jesse's Graduation—school corridor
Nick scans the crowd of students looking for Jesse.
Intercom: The graduate celebration will start at 7:00 PM in the gymnasium.
Jesse: Hey, man. You made it. All right. Outstanding. (They go through a ritual handshake) Cool ceremony, huh? I don't really know anybody but…
Nick: (Hands him the gift) This is… for you.
Jesse: Oh, what's this?
Nick: I don't know.
Jesse: Oh, a gift certificate for books. Outstanding. I wanna go see my mom now. I want her to see me in my cap and gown.
Nick: Well, you'll have to arrange that with Social Services.
Jesse: Oh… right. Hey… you could supervise me.
Nick: Uh, well… actually… no.
Jesse: Well, if you could represent me in court, why can't you take me to see my mom? (Nick is at a loss for a response)
Scene: Fallin & Fallin—Burton's office
Burton: Well, Alan, you have made a practice of accepting my client's late payments—up to two months late, if I'm not mistaken. She makes a claim, you're demanding prompt payment. I mean…
Alan: We extended Mrs. Gressler courtesies in the past.
Burton: You took her money, knowing that it's always sent in late. And you figured that if she ever files a claim prior to a late payment, you'll just deny the coverage.
Alan: You and I have done this before. You know I can only give you twenty percent of the claim value, just to put this behind us.
Burton: Alan… you pay the full claim or I'll file suit.
Scene: Jesse's mother's apartment
Jesse, in his cap and gown, waits with Nick for Mrs. Caputo to answer the door.
Mrs. Caputo: (Opens the door, slightly, and peeks out) Jesse. What are you doing here?
Jesse: I just came by to say, hey, and let you know that… I graduated from high school today.
Mrs. Caputo: I can see that. Who's your friend?
Jesse: Oh… Mr. Fallin, my mom.
Nick: Hi.
Jesse: Mr. Fallin's my lawyer. He's top-notch. Been helping me out with my legal stuff. (Nick looks embarrassed) Anyway, today the court said that I can't stay in a group home after my eighteenth birthday unless I'm enrolled in college, so…
Mrs. Caputo: So…?
Jesse: So, you said if I ever got into college, you'd pay for it.
Mrs. Caputo: That don't sound like something I'd say.
Jesse: Yeah, you know, when I was thirteen, I asked if I could go to college. You know, even though, even if I wasn't any good at football. Don't you remember?
Mrs. Caputo: No.
Jesse: Well… can we come in for a bit?
Mrs. Caputo: I don't have any money.
Jesse: Mom. Forget about the money. I just wanted to come by in my cap and gown and show you that, you know, no matter how bad things were, I still made it… so you don't have to feel so bad. (A baby fusses inside the apartment) Whose baby is that?
Mrs. Caputo: That's my baby.
Jesse: I have a brother?
Mrs. Caputo: A sister. A half-sister.
Jesse: Can I see her?
Mrs. Caputo: I'm real glad you done okay for yourself but you can't come around here anymore. I have a husband and he don't know about you. And I don't have any money. (She closes and latches the door)
Jesse: (To Nick as they walk away) That was outstanding.
Nick: Yeah.
Jesse: Seeing my mom, dressed like this, I bet she was kinda proud, you know?
Nick: Oh, I'm sure she was.
Jesse: You know my name, Caputo?
Nick: Uh-huh.
Jesse: That's not it. Really. It's Simpkins. That's my dad's name.
Nick: Yeah, you've told me this.
Jesse: Played quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks, Number 19, just like Johnny Unitas.
Nick: Right.
Jesse: Then he was the third leading passer in the league in 1985. And, then he got killed in some accident on Interstate 5 after my mom had me.
Nick: You've mentioned that.
Jesse: But, the cool thing is that, like, my dad was pretty famous and he was good at something, you know? So there you go… runs in the family
Nick: Yeah, may be.
Jesse: Hey, listen, man. Can you… can you drive me around for a couple hours so I can run into a few places and get a job? I mean, like the Gas 'n' Goods.
Nick: You know, Jesse, I'm kinda busy right now. (Consults his watch)
Jesse: Come on, Mr. Fallin. You heard what the Judge said. If I don't raise enough money in three months, I'm gonna be on the streets. Maybe you could convince her to give me some more time.
Nick: Yeah, why don't you come by the office tomorrow morning and… you know, we're looking for some temp help.
Jesse: What's temp help?
Nick: Well, you run some errands and be the office boy, just for the holidays, okay?
Jesse: Outstanding! Mr. Fallin, this is the best decision you ever made. You'll see, I'm gonna be the best guy that works at your firm.
Scene: Burton Fallin's residence
Mary: So sorry about this, Burton. I have to pull a double tonight.
Burton: Oh… hey, don't worry about it. We'll be fine.
Mary: I don't get off 'til 4:00 AM. I'll be real quiet coming in.
Burton: You have a key to the house to get back in?
Mary: Yeah. Are you sure this is all right?
Burton: I love the company. I can't… can't remember the last time I had a kid in the house but… (Laughs) I love it.
Mary: She likes you.
Burton: Well, I like her. Who doesn't?
Mary: She thinks you're a… well, what's the word?
Burton: Old.
Mary: No.
Burton: No? Yeah.
Mary: A gentleman.
Burton: Yeah?
Mary: She thinks you're a gentleman.
Burton: Well, buy that.
Mary: Yeah. Shannon?
Shannon: (Walks into the room) What?
Mary: I want you to turn the TV off and go to bed.
Shannon: I'm in the middle of my show.
Mary: Oh… come here. I want you to turn the TV off and go to bed. (Kisses her on the forehead) Okay, honey?
Shannon: Yeah.
Mary: Bye-bye. Bye, Burton.
Burton: Okay. See ya later.
Shannon: See ya.
Burton: So…
Shannon: So, what do you wanna do?
Burton: Well, I think your grandmother just told you you have to go to bed, right?
Shannon: Can I have a coke?
Burton: Ah… all I have is tonic water and seltzer, so…
Shannon: Seltzer's gross.
Burton: Well, you ever had it with chocolate syrup and with milk?
Shannon: Uh-uh.
Burton: Huh? Called an egg-cream? You ever have one of those?
Shannon: No.
Burton: Wanna try one?
Shannon: Yeah, sure.
Burton: Right. See… see how gross it is. One egg-cream coming up then you gotta go to bed.
Scene: Fallin & Fallin
Jake: (To Nick) Hey, so I got here at 6:00 AM to work on the Pinnacle Point case, right? Your trainee was already here waiting outside the office.
Jesse: Hey. Morning, Mr. Fallin.
Nick: Morning, Jesse.
Jesse: Mr. Straka told me what the case was about and what the other side wanted from you guys. So, I just categorized everything by year and then I broke it down into press releases, promotional materials, internal memos, emails and… whatever these things are.
Nick: Government filings.
Jesse: Well, whatever they are, they're all in date order from oldest to most recent.
Jake: Good work, Jesse. When you're done sorting the other documents, I'll show you how to Bates stamp them.
Nick: Actually, I think I might need Jesse for a while.
Jake: No, but this document…
Nick: Find someone else.
Jake: Who?
Nick: Cousin Rudy.
Over the loudspeaker: Mr. Straka, Mr. Merrick is here to see you.
Jake: We're gonna talk about this later, okay?
Jesse: Listen. You know, I wanna learn everything about the firm I can now. Because… you know, after college I wanna go to law school and then after that… I can come and work here with you.
Nick: Outstanding.
Jesse: Yeah. So, what should I do now? You want me to clean your office?
Nick: Well, if you want to know how things work, follow me around for the day, take some notes and just keep quiet. Okay?
Jesse: Okay.
Nick: I have a deposition on the North Side then I have a meeting at Legal Services. Let's go.
Jesse: Mr. Fallin…
Nick: Yeah?
Jesse: Thanks, man. (Opens his arms as if to hug him)
Nick: Hey, hey, hey. No hugs.
Jesse: All right.
Nick: Let's go.
Burton's office
Burton: Alan, here's a copy of every cancelled check for the last five years. There's twenty late payments in there… all accepted by Keystone Mutual, which to me is proof of an established course of conduct making your refusal to pay unlawful.
Alan: But, still, Burton…
Burton: Alan, what do you think a jury's gonna do when I tell them that you put a woman and her granddaughter out on the street? Especially when I bring up the subject of punitive damages?
Alan: You're going to litigate a $60,000 claim?
Burton: Only if you make me.
Alan: Burton. I'm just trying to shave a few bucks off the full value. Makes me look good back at the Home Office. I'm sure we can work something out.
Burton: I understand that position, usually, but not… not in this case. We need full payment or we're gonna litigate.
Alan: Okay. Don't do anything yet. Let me talk to my supervisor. I'm sure we can resolve this first thing tomorrow.
Burton: Good. Well, wait a minute, wait a minute. Tomorrow isn't… well, tomorrow is no good for me. Day after tomorrow. All right?
Alan: Okay. (They shake hands)
Scene: Burton's residence
Mary is cleaning the kitchen.
Burton: Hey.
Mary: Hey.
Shannon: Burton bought me a new DVD.
Mary: Yeah?
Shannon: And, he helped me get ready for my test on the Great Depression. You know, Burton was alive during that. Did you know that?
Mary: I didn't.
Burton: Well, I was very young.
Shannon: I'm gonna watch my movie.
Mary: Well, you two had fun.
Burton: Yeah, we did. Hey, what are you doing? You don't have to do that.
Mary: It makes me feel better if I can help out.
Burton: I've got a girl that does that.
Mary: Let me lend a hand, okay?
Burton: All right. Oh, listen… I talked to that insurance guy and things are gettin' a little complicated and he won't budge an inch so I threatened to sue him.
Mary: Thank you.
Burton: I'm sorry it's taking so long, it's just a lot of bureaucratic nonsense that… Oh, by the way, you're not working tonight, right?
Mary: No.
Burton: I thought it'd be fun if we all had dinner together.
Mary: Oh.
Burton: Some place nice like Giselle's, so I… I made a reservation.
Mary: Burton, you don't have to do that.
Burton: I know you lost most of your clothes so I had Gretchen go over to Kaufmann's and pick out a couple of things for you guys to wear.
Mary: Burton. Uh…
Burton: Look, it's just… it's just dinner, okay?
Mary: Burton. Men don't always understand me. Because, well… I've been in experiences where I'm saying one thing and the men want to believe I'm saying something else.
Burton: Yeah.
Mary: So I just want to make sure that you understand… we're friends.
Burton: I did.
Mary: Okay. Because… I really do admire you and respect you and...
Burton: (Tongue in cheek) Mary… you know, I have the same problem, I…
Mary: You do?
Burton: Yeah… women, I don't know, for some reason they always… they always wanna sleep with me. You know, I don't like to lead 'em on but, you know, first thing I know… I've broken their hearts. And, I… I don't wanna do that with you. (Mary starts to giggle) What is the matter with you? It's a couple damn dresses and dinner. Let's go… let's have dinner, okay? (They chuckle)
Mary: Okay.
Scene: Legal Services of Pittsburgh
Nick, Jesse and the DeBord family exit the elevator. Nick shows them to the meeting room.
Jesse: (Jesse is just rambling as he gets off the elevator) This is so cool. I've only been here… Hey, maybe I'll work here, too. Hey, Mr. Fallin, how did you get…?
Nick: (To the DeBord family) Just have a seat.
Jesse: This is outstanding.
Nick: (To Alvin) We'll be in the meeting room. (In the meeting room) It's a supervised meeting, so it shouldn't take too long.
Alvin: (To Mr. DeBord, who has just stepped off the elevator) Hi, you must be Mr. DeBord. The woman from Social Services is running a little late so just have a seat. Be right with you. (Mr. DeBord pulls a pistol from his coat pocket) Mr. DeBord! (He fires the gun into the wall) Down! (Alvin takes cover)
Nick: Under the table.
Mr. DeBord waves the gun around the office.
Nick: (Now talking on his cell phone) …there's someone with a gun at Legal Services. (To the DeBord kids) Now you stay here. Don't make a sound. (To Jesse) You stay with them. (Nick slips out of the meeting room, pulling the door closed)
DeBord: Where… are… kids?
Nick: (Half hiding behind a brick column—is spotted by Mr. DeBord—holds up his hand)
DeBord: Talk…?!
Nick: No, I didn't. (Places his open cell phone on a file cabinet)
DeBord: I…
Nick: No… I was trying to help you… to get the help that you need. Sir, if you could just calm down.
DeBord: Where are they?!
Nick: They're not here, Mr. DeBord. Just… calm down.
DeBord: I… need…!
Nick: Mr. DeBord, put the gun down and we… we can go and we can talk about this in my office. (Inches his way out from behind the column)
DeBord: I…
Nick: We'll go in my office. We'll just talk about this. We can work it out. Okay? (Mr. DeBord hits his head with his gun hand in frustration) Mr. DeBord… (Nick glimpses Jesse out of the corner of his eye)
DeBord: (Sees Jesse charging at him) Don't!
Nick: Jesse, no! (DeBord fires the gun at Jesse)
DeBord: I didn't… I didn't… sorry, I didn't mean…
Nick: (Nick rushes to Jesse) Jesse? Jesse?
DeBord: I didn't mean to do that.
Jesse: Did I get shot? My shirt, I just bought it.
Nick: (To Lulu who steps off the elevator—oblivious) Get back! Get back!
Lulu: (Suddenly sees what's happening and sees the gun) Oh, my God!
DeBord: Who are you?
Lulu: I'm… Oh, my God!
DeBord: Who are you?
Lulu: I'm… I'm a public defender… with the Early Intervention Unit. I was sent here to represent you.
DeBord: I have lawyer.
Lulu: Is your lawyer here?
DeBord: No.
Lulu: That's why they sent me. To help you… help you get out of this mess.
DeBord: I want my daughters!
Lulu: Okay. Good. Good. I can arrange that for you.
DeBord: No you can't. I'm… in trouble.
Lulu: The prosecutor has offered me a deal for you. Okay? No jail. You can see your daughters everyday but… you have to put the gun down.
DeBord: No jail?
Lulu: No jail. Just help, that's all. Just help. I'm your lawyer. I am your lawyer. You have to trust me. But this deal is not good if you don't put the gun down, okay? C'mon, please. You have to put the gun down.
DeBord: You're my lawyer.
Lulu: Yes I am. I'm just here to help you.
DeBord: Okay. (Puts the gun down—James immediately wrestles him to the floor) I'm… sorry. I'm sorry.
Legal Services—later—Jesse has been taken to the hospital.
Officer: (To Alvin) Do you have any information on the victim?
Alvin: Yeah… his file's, uh… (Looks around in a daze) He was living in the Allegheny County Children's Shelter.
Officer: Orphan?
Alvin: No, his mother, Cynthia Caputo… she lives in McKees Rocks. (Officer leaves)
Lulu: Hey. Where's Nick?
Alvin: He went with the boy to the hospital.
Lulu: I was supposed to go to the symphony tonight. I left my tickets in my desk. That's the only reason why I came back up.
Alvin: Well… go home. Get some rest. (She starts to leave)
Pollack: Ms. Olsen?
Lulu: Yes?
Pollack: Joshua Pollack. Doug DeBord's lawyer.
Lulu: Okay.
Pollack: I need to know what you said to him… exactly.
Lulu: I don't know. I mean, just… what I had to, I guess.
Pollack: He's claiming he was promised a deal that's totally unrealistic.
Lulu: Right. Well… you know, I…
Tuggle: You lied to Mr. DeBord.
Lulu: Yeah, of course, I did.
Tuggle: You lied to him. (Turns and walks off)
Scene: Nick's residence
Nick sits staring into space, blood all over the front of his white shirt.
Burton: (Let's himself in) Nicholas?!
Nick: (Is startled) Yeah.
Burton: Yeah, Alvin called. Are you all right?
Nick: Yeah. I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm fine. I just… yeah… the kid.
Burton: Yeah… well… can I… can I get you something? You hungry?
Nick: No thanks. Thanks, Dad.
Burton: No? God, it must be terrible. Listen, maybe I should spend the night over here. Whadaya think?
Nick: No, Dad. You don't have to do that.
Burton: Well, you look a little shaken, son.
Nick: Dad, I'm fine, really!
Burton: You sure?
Nick: Yes.
Burton: All right. (Still obviously worried for Nick)
Nick: I need to change. (Gets up and leaves the room—Burton sighs)
Scene: Burton's residence
TV Announcer: This is KDKA-TV News at 11:00 with Patrice King Brown, Ken Rice…
Shannon: Burton! Burton!
TV Announcer: Earlier tonight, police arrested a man they say…
Burton: (Rushes to see about Shannon) Hey, hey, hey, hey. What's a matter? What's wrong, honey?
Shannon: Bad dream.
Burton: A bad dream?
Shannon: I was all alone in my old house. It was burning.
Burton: Oh…
Shannon: And then there was a knock at the door. It was my mom. And I couldn't move, I was just stuck there.
Burton: Oh, yeah.
Shannon: The fire with my mom.
Burton: Yeah, I know. That's terrible. That's what dreams are, you can't move, I know… You want some water or something? Are you hungry?
Shannon: No.
Burton: Well, Mary… Mary ought to been home pretty soon now, okay?
Shannon: Burton?
Burton: Yeah?
Shannon: Can… you stay here?
Burton: You want me to stay here with you?
Shannon: Yeah.
Burton: Sure. Sure. Lie down. Let me turn this light off. Lie down here. Close you eyes and try not to think about it, okay? Bad dreams suck, right?
Shannon: Yeah.
Scene: Fallin & Fallin—Nick's office
Lulu: (Knocks on the open door and enters, handing a piece of paper to Nick) That guy, Tuggle, and his Brain Injury Institute filed a petition against me with the disciplinary committee. They're actually saying that I made him believe he was getting legitimate legal counsel when he wasn't. I… I mean, I did lie to him, but…
Nick: (Reviews document) No-no-no. Don't take it seriously.
Lulu: Nick, you've been in front of the committee.
Nick: You got a lunatic to put his gun down. You deserve a key to the city.
Lulu: Well… I could still be disciplined.
Nick: Oh…
Lulu: I told the man I was there to represent him. You know, I did, I lied.
Nick: Yeah, well, I'll represent you, okay?
Lulu: Uh… you know what? No, Nick, I don't think it's a good idea.
Nick: Why not?
Lulu: Because you've been in front of the board yourself.
Nick: Exactly.
Lulu: I came here to ask you about the guy that represented you.
Nick: Michael Stone.
Lulu: Okay. Is he good?
Nick: Yeah.
Lulu: Well, would you contact him for me?
Nick: Sure.
Lulu: Thank you. (Gets up to leave) The boy, Jesse. How's he doing?
Nick: He's going to be out of surgery. I have to get over to the hospital to speak to his doctor. (Hurriedly stuffs his briefcase)
Lulu: Really? Do you want me to go with you?
Nick: No, thanks. (Over his shoulder as he's leaving his office) I'll contact Stone.
Scene: Pittsburgh County Hospital
Dr. Wasserman: The bullet entered his cheek, shattered his sinus cavity and caused a contusion in the front of his brain. He's going to need several more surgeries.
Nick: He's going to survive though?
Dr. Wasserman: He's a strong kid. His vitals are great. He made it through this surgery with no problem.
Nick: Will he fully recover?
Dr. Wasserman: No. With the areas of the brain that have been damaged, he'll… he'll have language difficulty. Lose the ability for cognitive reasoning. Memory loss.
Nick: What can I do?
Dr. Wasserman: Just what you're doing. He needs friends, family. People to help him through this time. You want to see him?
Nick: Ah… no, I…
Dr. Wasserman: (Receives a page on his beeper) It's no problem. He's right in there. He could use a familiar face. (Walks off to answer his page)
Nick: (Slowly walks into Jesse's room and closes the door—sighs) Hey, Jesse. (Jesse is asleep) I just spoke to the doctor. I wanted to thank you for what you did. You shouldn't've done it.
Scene: Legal Services of Pittsburgh—Lulu's office, after hours
Nick: (Knocks on door frame and enters) I called Michael Stone's office. He's not available for the next month.
Lulu: Great. You know, I've been doing research and… it's not good. There's precedent. In Colorado, a few years ago, a prosecutor posed as a defense attorney to help capture a rapist. And his license was suspended.
Nick: So?
Lulu: So… exigent circumstances are not an excuse for deception by an officer of the court.
Nick: (Thinks for a minute) You argue that the intent of the disciplinary rule is to prevent lawyers from lying for their own personal gain. You didn't do that. You lied to help other people.
Lulu: Yeah, but in the Colorado case…
Nick: The prosecutor in Colorado captured a felon. He got a conviction. He gained from it professionally. You didn't. Let me represent you.
Scene: Burton's residence—den
Mary: Hey. (Comes in from work)
Burton: Hey. How ya doing? C'mon in. How are ya?
Mary: Okay.
Burton: Yeah? Hey, just sit down for a minute.
Mary: How's your son?
Burton: Oh, he's fine. He's fine. I went over there and he's doing fine. You know, he's a big boy. Didn't seem to… need me much.
Mary: I don't believe that.
Burton: No. It's true. When he was a little boy, he was like that. He was a tough little kid. He'd have a problem with something, I'd try to give him money or help him with things and he always seemed to find a way to say, “No, thanks.”
Mary: Really?
Burton: Yeah. You know what I think?
Mary: What?
Burton: I think you work too hard.
Mary: I know. I know. Twelve hours on my feet today.
Burton: Yeah. Do me a favor, will ya?
Mary: Sure.
Burton: Come over here a minute… and sit right back here. (Repositions a cushion on the sofa) Right here.
Mary: Why?
Burton: Okay… just sit down there—face that way. Lean back and relax. Okay? (Begins to massage her shoulders) I used to be… pretty good at this.
Mary: You are good. Heh.
Burton: Yeah? How's that?
Mary: I think my daughter's kinda like your son.
Burton: Yeah?
Mary: Yeah. She didn't want anything until she wanted everything. You know, the stuff that parents do… the little stuff that you do to keep things from falling apart, she just rejected that. And then, out, you know, out of nowhere, there's this major problem and…one that I can't really fix, that's when she comes to me for help.
Burton: I know how that goes.
Mary: The trick is… you never let them know you're helping them.
Burton: You're lucky you have another shot at it though.
Mary: Yes. Thank you. (Starts to get up)
Burton: No. Hey, hey, what are you doing? C'mere. Come back here.
Mary: No, that's okay. It's good.
Burton: Just got started. Just relax, okay?
Mary: I'm not used to people taking care of me.
Burton: Well… you should be. (Continues to massage her neck)
Mary: Why?
Burton: You deserve it.
Scene: Legal Services of Pittsburgh—after hours
Nick: The affidavit from the Dean of your law school is solid. What is the name of the Judge that you clerked for?
Lulu: Judge McHenry.
Nick: Well, we're still waiting on an affidavit from him.
Lulu: Okay.
Nick: Now the Committee… (Leans back in the chair, thinking)
Lulu: Nick…
Nick: The Committee... Now, they're going to say that by condoning your actions it might open the door for other lawyers to deceive and then claim their intentions were honorable.
Lulu: Nick.
Nick: (Gets louder and more forceful with his argument) They're going to say that the law is the law and that you agreed to abide by the rules of our profession when you were sworn in.
Lulu: Nick.
Nick: (Is carried away by his argument) Here's the first thing we do. We completely humiliate Tuggle. We make him seem like a zealot who is using the situation for his own political purposes.
Lulu: Nick! Will you look at me for a second?
Nick: What is it?
Lulu: You think this is a good idea?
Nick: Yes.
Lulu: You're acting like you hate the Committee and Tuggle and you should remember that this is just a legal issue. It's not personal.
Nick: No, you're wrong. It is personal. It's personal. There's not a strong legal argument to be made here. I am going to argue this on a very emotional level, Lulu.
Lulu: Well, what if they feel like they have to follow precedent?
Nick: You saved DeBord from doing more harm. You didn't gain a thing by doing it. You did what every other human being wishes they were able to do in that situation. Lulu, there were half a dozen lawyers in the room. We all wish we could have lied as well as you did then.
Scene: Fallin & Fallin—reception area
Burton enters through the main door.
Receptionist: (Answers the phone) Fallin and Fallin.
Alan: (Waiting in reception) Burton. We drafted a release stating she'll make no other claim and that she accepts this amount. She signs it—we'll cut the check tomorrow.
Burton: Great. Great, Alan.
Alan: Any other lawyer, we would have dragged this out for months.
Burton: Okay.
Alan: So next time we butt heads I want you to remember this and thank me.
Burton: I will. I will. Thanks, Alan. Take care.
Scene: Mrs. Caputo's residence
Nick: His injuries are very severe.
Mrs. Caputo: The cops gave me the details.
Nick: He's going to need a lot of care.
Mrs. Caputo: I don't have any money.
Nick: I'm not here for your money.
Mrs. Caputo: What do you want?
Nick: Jesse's going to need someone to make medical decisions for him.
Mrs. Caputo: I wouldn't know how to do that.
Nick: I wasn't expecting you to. I was planning on doing it myself. I just… Mrs. Caputo, I need your permission.
Mrs. Caputo: Okay.
Nick: Now, the doctor said that things from his childhood may help stimulate brain function and I was wondering if you had any of his old things.
Mrs. Caputo: Not really.
Nick: Any photographs?
Mrs. Caputo: I don't think so. I have some of his dad's clippings… you know, football cards.
Nick: Football cards.
Mrs. Caputo: Yeah. Jesse's real into that… on account of his dad being a pro-quarterback.
Nick: Yeah. Uh, Mrs. Caputo. I've seen Jesse's file. I know who his father is.
Mrs. Caputo: You do?
Nick: Yeah, I do. He lives four blocks from here. He's a 67-year-old alcoholic, used to beat you. And he's never shown any interest in Jesse, at all.
Mrs. Caputo: Don't tell him that. (Pleads) He loved the football player story so much. Don't tell him the truth. (Pause) Wait here. I'll get you the football cards.
Scene: Burton's residence—kitchen
Burton is reviewing the insurance release.
Shannon: Hey, Burton.
Burton: Hey.
Shannon: Why the long face?
Burton: I don't have a long face.
Shannon: You were scowling.
Burton: Well, never mind that. How'd you do on that test?
Shannon: B minus.
Burton: B minus. Ah… maybe a little celebration is in order, here. Huh?
Shannon: Okay.
Burton: Pizza? Go to a movie after?
Shannon: Really?
Burton: Yeah.
Shannon: Cool.
Burton: Oh… if it's okay with your grandmother.
Mary: (Enters the room) Well… it's fine with me.
Shannon: Great, thanks. I'll get my coat.
Burton: Okay.
Mary: She was supposed to be grounded.
Burton: Oh, my God! Oh… I'm sorry. (Chuckles)
Mary: No, watching you with her makes me realize maybe I'm too hard on her.
Burton: No you're not.
Mary: Yeah. You're so good with kids. You know how to talk to 'em as equals and… not talk down to them. You are.
Burton: I wasn't always… Well, with Shannon, I guess it's just easy. She's…
Mary: Not with me.
Burton: (Laughs) Well, anyway. Good news, Mary. Insurance company came through with the settlement.
Mary: They have?
Burton: Yeah. $60,000 worth.
Mary: (Laughs and hugs him) Oh… thank you. Oh!
Burton: So… I was thinking about this some when I was coming home… and I think it would be a good idea to put it in the bank… some of it in a Roth IRA, some of it in a CD, and just use it to pay for Shannon's college.
Mary: That's a good idea, Burton, but… we've gotta have a place to live.
Burton: Well, I was thinking you could stay on here a while longer. Save the money.
Mary: What do you mean?
Burton: Mary, it's a great big house and the school district, by the way, is terrific.
Mary: Burton, thank you. You know? Thank you. I'm going to raise Shannon. It's my second chance. You know? My second chance.
Burton: Yeah.
Mary: I have to do it, you know, for her. My way, you know?
Burton: No, I understand.
Mary: But, thank you.
Burton: Well, anyway, this is… this is the release form. You have to sign this before they'll give you the money, so… when you get a chance…
Mary: Okay.
Shannon: (Reappears) Ready?
Burton: Yeah. So… why don't we see one of those Adam Sampson movies you like so much?
Shannon: Sandler.
Burton: I knew that.
Shannon: You coming, Mary?
Mary: No. I'm going to stay here and pack our things.
Shannon: Pack? Where are we going?
Mary: We got our money. So… we can rent a place and fix up our house.
Shannon: Oh, cool. Thanks, Burton.
Burton: Yeah. Okay.
Mary: You two have fun.
Burton: All right. Ready?
Shannon: Yeah.
Burton: See ya later.
Shannon: Bye.
Scene: Courtroom—Disciplinary Committee hearing
Nick: Louisa Olsen lied. She misrepresented herself to Doug DeBord. And this Committee, unless they want to create precedent for ethics committees across the country, has no choice but to sanction her. Louisa Olsen knows she broke the rules of professional conduct. Knowing that, Mrs. Olsen only wishes she'd just lied a few moments earlier. If she had, she may have prevented a shooting in which a seventeen-year-old kid was shot in the head at close range. But, what happened to that kid, what Doug DeBord did that afternoon, isn't why we're here today. The only thing that seems to matter, in this room, is that Louise Olsen lied to a man, brandishing a gun and shooting innocent people. She lied. And fifteen adults and seven children… children, hiding under tables and behind chairs can attest to that fact. And so can I. I watched her, as she stood out in the open with a gun pointed at her head, and I can tell you firsthand, she lied. Before you make your decision, given the exigent circumstances that legally have no bearing here, given the lives saved, given the life basically lost, let me tell you something. The lawyer you're about to sanction is one of the finest, kindest, most honest, one of the best people you'll ever meet, best I know. So, punish her… because she lied for no other reason than to help other people. Sanction her… she must deserve it.
Immediately outside the courtroom—Alvin walks up as Nick and Lulu exit.
Alvin: How'd it go?
Lulu: Three months suspension, stayed, pending a six month probation.
Alvin: That's great. You won't have to miss a day of work. (Walks away)
Lulu: Right. Nick… you did a great job in there.
Nick: Thank you. (Walks away to speak with Judge Damsen) Judge Damsen. I spoke with Jesse Caputo's mother. She's agreed to allow me to be his medical guardian, if you'll approve me.
Judge Damsen: It's a major responsibility, Mr. Fallin.
Nick: I understand that.
Judge Damsen: Instead of being a dependent 'til he's twenty-one he'll be one the rest of his life.
Nick: I can do this.
Judge Damsen: Fine.
Scene: Fallin & Fallin—conference room
Employees of the firm have gathered for a meeting.
Burton: This won't take long. I just went over the annual report and quite frankly, this year's the low point in the history of this firm. Billing was down, revenue was down. I… I can't even remember the last time we landed a big client. So, I'm challenging each and every one of you to recommit to the firm. It's a commitment that I need. So, anybody in here that's not willing to give 110% from this point on, let me remind you that Kirk & McGee is right across the street. (Makes his exit)
Scene: Pittsburgh County Hospital—Jesse's room
Nick: Jesse. Look, I spoke to your mom and I spoke to Judge Damsen and they have both agreed to let me be your medical guardian, so… (Touches Jesse's hand but he doesn't respond) …that's good. And, I brought some stuff for you to look at. It's your dad's stuff. His football cards. (Removes things from a shoebox) You can just look at 'em.
Tuggle: (Appears at the door) Mr. Fallin. Got your call. I'll do everything I can.
Nick: Thank you. (Tuggle turns and leaves) (To Jesse) So, I'll just put 'em here for you. Okay?
Scene: Legal Services of Pittsburgh—Nick's office, after hours
Lulu: (Appears in the doorway) How's Jesse doing?
Nick: Not good. (Continues to work)
Lulu: Sorry. Uh… Nick, you know those things you said in court today about me…?
Nick: Yeah?
Lulu: Did you mean them?
Nick: I was just representing my client.
Lulu: I know.
Nick: You know, me, Lulu. I just like to win.
Lulu: Right. (Turns to leave)
Nick: Lulu.
Lulu: Yeah?
Nick: I meant most of them. (Gives her a sly grin—she closes the door)
END OF EPISODE
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