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TRANSCRIPT:
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Scene: Legal Services of Pittsburgh—bullpen
Nick steps off the elevator, passing Tim and son, Oscar, who are playfully sparring with each other.
Tim: Give me the right. (Oscar punches at his upheld hand) Work the jab.
Nick: (Walks straight to a stack of files and takes the top one—sighs) Dohanic.
Tim: Uh, 'morning, Mr. Fallin. Uh, Mr. Masterson said it'd be cool to come by before school started.
Nick: Really. Okay, well, I have a breakfast meeting in 10 minutes so let's get through it.
Tim: Oh, um, okay… well, that's my son, Oscar. His mother just died last week—Lynn. Uhm… she had a drug problem—got aids. Uh, we never got married. So, me and her parents have been taking care of Oscar while she was sick… and now her parents, the Carpenters, they wanna keep him.
Nick: You've been in here before, right? (Seems to recognize him)
Tim: (Looks around—puzzled) Not that I recall. No, I don't think so.
Nick: (Signals him to follow and walks to his office) Come ,here.
Tim: (To Oscar) One sec, buddy. (Follows Nick to his office) Well, anyway, so they think they got a right on account of they mostly had him for when I was in prison for about 4 years.
Nick: (Suddenly recalling) You're Tim Dohanic, right? “The Mechanic”?
Tim: Yeah, that's right.
Nick: Right. Yeah, you know, my father and I saw you knock out this guy, Ernest, uh…
Tim: Hampton.
Nick: …like 4 years ago.
Tim: (Becomes animated) Yeah. That was in '97. Yeah. That was my last pro fight before I went to prison. Yeah. (Chuckles) Yeah, caught him with a 3-combination in the 5th. Yeah. That was a good show.
Nick: Yeah. Yeah. You fighting again?
Tim: Yeah, yeah. 5 for 5 in the year I've been out—4 by KO, so, just climbing back up to my rank and, you know, um… but I want my son with me.
Nick: Well, we'll get into it.
Tim: Okay.
Nick: All right. Yeah.
Tim: Um, you know, there's one other thing. (Removes folded papers from his pocket) Uh, my cousin Tino got this pizza place and he wants to sell me half. So, he kind of drew up a payment plan—sort of a contract kinda based on my purses.
Nick: Yeah, we don't do that kinda thing.
Tim: No?
Nick: No.
Tim: Okay, uh, Okay, well, thanks.
Scene: Lulu's residence
Caroline: I still say this is too early for you to go back.
Lulu: And I still disagree.
Caroline: And why don't you go for some color. You looked washed out.
Lulu: Mom, why do you wanna do this to me today of all days? (Busy packing her briefcase)
Caroline: Do what? I'm helping you get dressed.
Lulu: I am dressed. (Heads up the stairs)
Caroline: I've been very supportive of your new hair style. Doesn't that count for something? (Door bell rings) I'll get it. (Opens the door)
Process Server: The doorman at the Tremont Towers told me I could find Mrs. Caroline Novak at this address.
Caroline: That's me.
Process Server: Here you go. (Hands her an envelope) Grand Jury subpoena.
Caroline shuts the door.
Lulu: Who's that? (Coming down the stairs)
Caroline hurriedly secrets the envelope in a basket with other mail on the table in the foyer.
Caroline: The, uh… Jehovah's Witness.
Lulu: I can't find that prescription that you picked up for me last night.
Caroline: Ohh, gosh. I'm sorry. You know, it slipped my mind.
Lulu: Ohh, see, now, that's what I needed help with, Mom, but I guess you couldn't crush my self-esteem at the pharmacy so there's no fun in that.
Caroline: Hey, Louise. I'm only human. Give me a break. I'll tell you what, go to work tomorrow. And if you get stir-crazy, we'll, we'll go shopping today and we'll stop at the pharmacy on the way.
Lulu: I'm going to work today.
Caroline: All right. Let me get my purse and I'll drive you there.
Lulu: Oh, no-no. I'm gonna walk to the pharmacy and get a cab. Bye.
Caroline: (Opens the envelope)
Scene: Fallin & Fallin—conference room
Caroline: My former Vice President, Ben Kilgore, was arrested for bribing our biggest rival's mechanic to ground their planes.
Burton: (Looks at a document) Uh, he told the FAA you ordered him to do it.
Caroline: That's a lie.
Nick: Lawyers aren't allowed in the room with you in the Grand Jury so we're gonna have to prepare your testimony.
Caroline: Why? I have nothing to testify about. I didn't do anything.
Nick: The DA's gonna want to know why an employee of your Company would go to the trouble of committing sabotage on your behalf.
Caroline: Well, I can't answer for his motivations; however, he did have a contract with a very generous bonus structure based on profits.
Burton: Well, that's good. We'll submit that.
Nick: Ben Kilgore says that you gave him the money for the bribe.
Caroline: What?
Nick: $10,000. (Points this out in Kilgore's statement)
Caroline: (Looks at the statement) I gave him a loan—period.
Nick: For what?
Caroline: (Stammers) Uh, real estate, I think.
Burton: Could we see that loan agreement?
Caroline: Uh, there isn't one.
Burton: That might be a problem.
Nick: Have you granted employee loans before at Travel Master?
Caroline: Can't we just settle?
Nick: You don't settle a Federal investigation. You get indicted, or not. Then you go to jail, or not.
Caroline: Well, gentlemen, we're just going to have to do this later because my husband is coming to town tomorrow and I have lots of things to do.
Burton: Well, tell Jerry if he wants to play a little golf, to give me a call, will ya?
Caroline: I'll do that.
Burton: Good to see ya, Caroline.
Caroline: Bye-bye.
Burton: Take care. (She exits)
Nick: She isn't taking this seriously.
Burton: She'll come around. (They leave the conference room together)
Nick: You know, my latest client at LSP is Tim Dohanic.
Burton: Are you kiddin'?
Nick: No.
Burton: When'd he get outta jail?
Nick: About a year ago.
Burton: Oh, he was gonna be great. Good as Mancini. He always reminded me of Billy Conn.
Nick: Who?
Burton: Is he fightin' again?
Nick: 5 for 5.
Burton: Yeah. What's he seeing you about?
Nick: Oh, just a custody thing. But, he did mention some business contract. We don't do business contracts at LSP. (Chuckles)
Burton: Send him by. Maybe I can help him.
Nick: I'll bring him in.
Burton: Yeah. Great.
Scene: Legal Services of Pittsburgh—bullpen
James talks to a client (off camera) as Lulu steps off the elevator.
James: Just don't worry about it, okay? (To Lulu) Hey! (To client) It's all pretty standard. I'll make sure I call you.
Lulu: Hey. (Lulu walks over to him and they embrace)
James: Ah, here she is! You look great.
Lulu: Thanks. It's really nice to be back here.
James: Good.
Lulu: So what's going on? Anything new?
James: Uh, Barbara's out for the week—a bad back. All the calls are going to answering machine. And if you really need to get ahold of someone, leave your cell number.
Lulu: There's no temp?
James: Nope. And when we go to court, we have to park on the South Side. Alvin won't reimburse for the downtown lots anymore.
Lulu: That's a half mile away.
James: Tell me about it. (Walks off)
Lulu: (Sees Alvin in his office) Hi.
Alvin: Hey. How ya feelin'?
Lulu: Fine.
Alvin: Yeah?
Lulu: Uh-huh.
Alvin: Doctor said it was okay for you to be up and around?
Lulu: He did.
Alvin: Are you on any medications I should know about?
Lulu: Uh, are we having budget problems?
Alvin: Uh, we're about 4 grand shy of payroll.
Lulu: Oh, Alvin.
Alvin: Not only did our State funding get cut this year—it's gonna be 2 months late. You sure you're okay?
Lulu: Very.
Alvin: Good, 'cause we've been so jammed we had to continue all your cases while you were gone. And there are new clients in your office right now. (Hands her additional files) Good to have you back. (She chuckles and exits his office)
Outside Alvin's office she encounters Nick as he escorts Tim Dohanic out of his office.
Nick: Lulu.
Lulu: Hey. Thank you for that beautiful plant. I put it in my bedroom like you suggested in the note.
Nick: Great. Yeah, the florist said that the extra oxygen helps with recovery.
Lulu: Oh…
Nick: How're the headaches?
Lulu: Uh, good. I mean, I'm not really getting them anymore, so…
Nick: Great. Well, you know, there is something that we really should do if you're up for it.
Lulu: I'm up for anything.
Nick: Right. Uhm, we should get you a new car.
Lulu: Car shopping?
Co-worker: Hey, “Mechanic”, how are you?
James: (Recognizes him) Hey, “The Mechanic”?! It's a pleasure. It's a pleasure. (Shakes his hand)
Lulu: (Overhearing the greetings) Is it that hard to find a good mechanic?
Nick: He's a boxer.
Lulu: Oh, a boxer—someone who chooses to get hit in the head for a living.
Nick: Hmm. Yeah. Well, uh, we could go to the dealership after work.
Lulu: Oh. Oh, okay, sounds good.
Scene: Legal Services—Lulu's office
Mrs. Webber: The Madison High officials won't help me transfer Ashley to Preston.
Lulu: Preston's in another County. You have to live there to enroll.
Mrs. Webber: No kidding. I overpaid for an apartment just so Ashley could go to Madison. It was supposed to be a good school.
Lulu: Ashley, do you wanna transfer?
Ashley: If my mom won't let me cheerlead for Madison anymore, what's the point of staying?
Mrs. Webber: My daughter is putting on a brave front. I know her. But she's stigmatized in that town. So am I. Tell her about that disciplinary hearing.
Ashley: They had this humiliating hearing like I was Osama bin Laden. I got suspended over nothing.
Lulu: Orally copulating another student on the school bus?
Ashley: What's the big deal? It's not like we were having sex.
Mrs. Webber: See what she's learning.
Ashley: Whatever.
Lulu: The school bus was chartered for a basketball game?
Mrs. Webber: Yes.
Lulu: And there were no other adults on the bus other than the driver?
Mrs. Webber: Correct.
Later—a conversation in the bullpen.
Lulu: Alvin. Uh… the Webbers—if there's anything there, it's more of a Personal Injury claim.
Alvin: Well, forget it then. Just move on to the next case.
Lulu: Well, no. Why don't we pick this one up—a contingency—just to get over the hump?
Alvin: Ah, it won't look good to our donors if we start profiting from our clients.
Lulu: Yeah, but… how would they know if we just took one case?
Alvin: That's how it starts. We start depending on fees, all of a sudden homeless kids and battered wives are competing for our attention. What we're about is…
Lulu: (Touches her forehead near her right eye) Alvin, please. I know the mission statement by heart.
Alvin: Just move on then. You have plenty of worthy cases at your desk.
Scene: Fallin & Fallin—conference room
Nick and Tim shadowbox as Tim tells about one of his fights. Burton stands watching with a smile.
Nick: Okay, now, take it easy. I'm a lawyer. All right? (Puts his fists up—boxer fashion)
Tim: I'll be gentle. Okay, so I'm gettin' in this rhythm, right? (Looks at Burton—making jabs in the air) Uuh… teh… teh… So he'd anticipate my combos, okay? (Throws several more jabs Nick's way without striking him—Nick dodging the air punches) And I can see in this guy's legs, he's ready to go down, okay? (Nick drops his hands momentarily and laughs then resumes the stance) Okay? So then I mixed it up like this. Get ready. Deh—deh—eh—uuh! All right? And then… extend the left. (Nick extends his left arm) Yeah? Yeah? And so I got him with a right cross, right? Bam! You know? (Mock right cross to Nick's chops) You know… lights out!
Burton: Okay, fine. (Laughs)
Nick: Okay, I'm gonna sit down. (Grinning)
Burton: (Laughing) Oh, that's great. I think that's the best fight I ever attended, that's for sure.
Tim: I got one tonight.
Burton: Really?
Tim: Yeah, at Three Rivers.
Burton: Oh, great. Great. Uh, let me ask you something, Tim. This Phil Waters… is he still your promoter?
Tim: Uh, no. Our contract ended when I… when I went to prison.
Burton: Oh.
Tim: I think I rack up enough wins, though… you know, I think he'll…
Burton: Yeah?
Tim: …I think he'll sign me again. Yeah.
Burton: No, he and I are members of the same club and we play golf a little bit now and then. I thought maybe I could be a little help and, you know… a little legal representation for ya.
Tim: Uh, yeah, I'm not making enough to be paying lawyers.
Burton: No, I was thinking maybe I could look over the fight contracts—find you a sponsor and such, you know… for free. Then when you get signed up… then I start charging you. Okay?
Tim: Okay. (Chuckles)
Burton: Yeah?
Tim: Yeah! (Delighted)
Burton: Okay. Great. Great. Let's do it. Yeah.
Tim: Okay.
Burton: So, now what about this pizza place you're talking…?
Tim: Oh, yeah. Yeah. (Removes the contract from his pocket) Uhm… yeah, this is my cousin Tino's place. Uh, this is…
Nick: (Stands to leave) I'm gonna leave you guys.
Burton: Yeah, okay. Thanks, slugger.
In the lobby—Nick encounters Lulu.
Nick: I was gonna pick you up.
Lulu: (Looks puzzled) Whadaya mean?
Nick: Well, I just need to return a couple phone calls and then we can go.
Lulu: Oh, right, the car thing. Uh, can we do that tomorrow or something?
Nick: Sure.
Lulu: Okay, thanks. Oh, I gotta go. (Notices Jake across the office and walks towards him) Hi, Jake. How ya doin'? (Nick watches her—confused)
Jake: (Looking at a file) Ah, I feel like crap. I think I'm coming down with something.
Lulu: Oh.
Jake: Oh, hey, how are you doing?
Lulu: Oh, fine.
Jake: Yeah?
Lulu: Yeah.
Jake: You look good.
Lulu: Thanks.
Jake: So, uh… what's up?
Lulu: Well, I'm referring a possible civil case to you. It's against a school district or, you know, maybe a bus company.
Jake: How much money are we talking about?
Lulu: You don't wanna know what it's about first?
Jake: No. How much money we talking about?
Lulu: (Scoffs) Oh, thirty thousand.
Jake: (Starts to walk away—she follows) Okay, that's my yearly expense fee, so—pass.
Lulu: Yeah, but I'd be doing the bulk of the work, you know, the pre-interviews and the complaint filing. You'd just have to speak to the plaintiff, once or twice, and then make the argument at the settlement hearing.
Jake: What if they don't settle?
Lulu: Well, then you make the call—if we go to court or discontinue.
Jake: Well, why would you be doing all the work?
Lulu: Because you would be generous enough to donate half of your fee to LSP.
Jake: (Grins—laughs) I see. So, actually I'm going to be getting 'half' of a nothing fee.
Lulu: Yeah, but, Jake, listen. I would say, of the dozens of cases that come my way at LSP, almost a third of 'em are litigation claims that we have to turn away. And some of 'em aren't so small. So, if this whole thing works out, I'd be happy to send 'em all your way with no strings attached.
Jake: And this obviously means a lot to you.
Lulu: Yeah, it does.
Jake: All right, talk me through it.
Scene: Boxing gym
Oscar watches as Tim works out with a punching bag—Burton enters.
Burton: Tim. Hey, champ! Tim!
Tim: Hey.
Burton: Hey.
Tim: How ya doing?
Burton: How are ya? Is this your boy?
Tim: Yeah.
Burton: Yeah?
Tim: Oscar, this is Mr. Fallin.
Oscar: Hi.
Burton: How ya doing?
Oscar: Good. (Reaches out his hand and shakes)
Burton: Good to see ya.
Tim: Did you get a chance to take a look at Tino's plans?
Burton: Yeah, I did. I don't think it looks profitable.
Tim: Well, he wouldn't lie to me.
Burton: Well, I'll tell you—well, let's put that on hold for the time being, all right? But I did talk to Phil Waters. He said he had no idea you were down here hidin' out.
Tim: Hey, you tell him I'm 5 for 5?
Burton: He's got a cancellation later in the week. He's got an undercard with a Horatio Sanchez. He's offering you the fight.
Tim: Sanchez?
Burton: Yeah.
Tim: That's a good fight.
Burton: Yeah. (Chuckles) Could be.
Tim: Hey, you hear that, kiddo? Daddy's gonna be on cable.
Burton: You gonna watch your dad on TV?
Oscar: He says I have to be older.
Tim: Ah… nah. He's seen enough already. His mother just died.
Burton: Oh. Well, I'm gonna go cancel tonight's fight, okay?
Tim: I already signed the fight agreement, though.
Burton: I'll take care of it.
Tim: No-no, I got this fight, too.
Burton: That's a lot of fighting for one week, isn't it?
Tim: I'll do both.
Burton: Tim. What's your purse for tonight?
Tim: 800.
Burton: Well, you're gettin' 6,000 for Sanchez. Now you get a head butt tonight—a cut, you can't fight him.
Tim: This guy ain't even going 4 rounds, Mr. Fallin. You watch.
Scene: Three Rivers boxing arena
Burton is in the audience.
Burton: (Cheering) Come on, Timmy, come on. Jab. Jab. Jab. All right.
Tim takes a punch to the right rib cage and winces. He finally knocks the guy down with a powerful right hook.
Burton: (Yelling) Yeah, all right, Timmy.
The referee counts the opponent out.
Burton: Yeah! (To spectator seated on his right) Did you see that? (Cheering) Okay. Timmy.
The bell rings—cheering and yelling.
Scene: Fallin & Fallin—Nick's office—after hours
Nick is working diligently when Caroline knocks on the window to his office and then enters.
Caroline: Nick, hello.
Nick: You know, I think my father's gone for the evening.
Caroline: Yes, he has. But, uh… I want to work with you on this. (Places a file on his desk)
Nick: You know, my father's far more experienced with Federal law…
Caroline: Your father and, uh, my husband run around a lot in the same circles so, uh… (Pause) Anyway, Ben said that he needed the loan to, uh… buy a condo in the City. (Pause) What? (Nick shrugs) Well, is there something wrong with lending a friend money? Now, listen, I have not broken any Federal laws! (Nick sits maddeningly silent—while she paces) (Finally after a long pause, she blurts out) Ben and I were involved.
Nick: Do you have any receipts from restaurants—hotels?
Caroline: Yes. Yes.
Nick: This is good for your defense.
Caroline: (Snidely) Oh, good. (Nick gives her a look)
Scene: Allegheny County Courthouse—meeting room
Lulu: So, Ashley, was this type of activity normal on the school bus?
Ashley: What activity? That's what people do when they hook up. It's like kissing.
Lulu: Are you saying yes?
Ashley: (Doesn't respond)
Lulu: (Turns off the recorder and pushes her pad aside) Okay. Can we talk for a second without notes or anything?
Ashley: Okay.
Lulu: If you're not truthful with me then your mother's not gonna get the money that she needs and your pom-poms are probably gonna stay in storage. The bus driver told the school that kids were cheering. Now I don't know many women who would want an audience for that.
Ashley: It's a stupid tradition for cheerleaders.
Lulu: So it's a tradition for cheerleaders to engage in sexual acts with the basketball players?
Ashley: When we join.
Lulu: Oh. An initiation.
Ashley: Yeah.
Lulu: So, then, uhm… Tyler Griffin, he isn't your boyfriend.
Ashley: Please.
Lulu: Ashley, would you have preferred another way to be initiated.
Ashley: Kinda. (Pause) Yeah.
Allegheny County Courthouse corridor—where Nick waits for Tim and Oscar
Nick: (To Tim, as he approaches) I thought you weren't fighting. (Notices a bad bruise near his left eye)
Tim: TKO in the 3rd. I'm 6 for 6. (Bends over to tuck in Oscar's shirt and winces in pain)
Nick: What's wrong?
Tim: Nothing. It's a bruised rib. (To Oscar) Turn around. (Still tucking in his shirt)
Lulu walks up.
Lulu: Hi. You on your way up?
Nick: No.
Oscar: (To Lulu) Hi.
Lulu: Hi.
Nick: Oh, this is Oscar and my client, Tim. We're about to walk into a custody hearing. (He glances at Tim's bruised face—Lulu notices)
Lulu: Oh, yeah. The famous Mechanic. I can probably fix that up for you. Come with me.
Tim: Huh?
Nick: Where you going?
Lulu: Don't worry about it.
Tim: Okay, Oscar, stay with Nick. (He starts to follow) Stay with Nick!
In a nearby vacant courtroom.
Tim: Great, I'm gonna look like a wuss. (Lulu has her powder compact out and dabs over the bruised area)
Lulu: (Laughs) I doubt it. Hold still. You fight last night?
Tim: Yeah, I won.
Lulu: Congratulations. You like it?
Tim: Love it.
Lulu: I don't even know how you could show up when you know what could happen.
Tim: Well, I guess I just focus on what will happen if I don't, you know?
Lulu: Yeah, but don't you worry about getting hit so much?
Tim: Sometimes, yeah.
Lulu: Okay. I mean, it's not bad. You have to be really close to see it now.
Tim: Yeah? See? (Takes the compact) Yeah, it's pretty good.
Lulu: Yeah.
Tim: Hey, I'm close enough to see—looks like you've been through it, too, here. What happened?
Lulu: Oh, just a car accident.
Tim: Scars on women are sexy.
Lulu: Thanks. (Chuckles)
Tim: Hey, you ever been to a fight?
Lulu: Nope.
Tim: 'Cause I got another one tomorrow. (Pause—buttons his jacket) Okay, wish me luck.
Lulu: Good luck.
Scene: Courtroom—Tim's custody hearing
Mr. Carpenter's Attorney: Mr. Carpenter, why do you think you and your wife will be better guardians for Oscar?
Mr. Carpenter: (On the stand) Tim lacks common sense. He's like a child himself.
Tim: (Kicks the table where he sits with Oscar and Nick) (Under his breath) Bastard.
Attorney: For instance?
Mr. Carpenter: Tim doesn't have health insurance. What if Oscar breaks a leg? Do they go to one of those awful free clinics? Also, Oscar's a smart boy. We have him in a very good private school with an $8,000 tuition. I don't think Tim's given a thought to how he's going to pay for that.
Attorney: Could all your concerns about Mr. Dohanic's parenting be remedied by money?
Mr. Carpenter: Certainly not. We're most concerned about his temper, which we've just had an example of. We're afraid that it will land him back in prison.
Attorney: Thank you.
Nick: Mr. Carpenter, uh… Oscar's mother, your late daughter, Lynn, was arrested at 13 for driving your car through the front door of a fast-food restaurant.
Mr. Carpenter: Yes.
Nick: She had 5 other arrests on record for drug possession. In fact, she spent half her life as a drug-addict. Mr. Carpenter, you're worried about how Oscar will turn out under Mr. Dohanic's care.
Mr. Carpenter: Yes.
Nick: Right. Well, what makes you so sure you're gonna do any better this time around?
Attorney: Objection!
Scene: The Incline
Jerry, Caroline's husband, waits for Lulu at the bar.
Jerry: Oh, hi.
Lulu: Hey.
Jerry: Thanks for meeting me. (Kisses her on the cheek)
Lulu: Sure.
Jerry: You look so much better.
Lulu: Oh, thanks.
Jerry: (Pays his bar tab and indicates a table) Here?
Lulu: By the way, thanks for letting my mom stay with me.
Jerry: Oh, no problem at all. Did you get a new car yet?
Lulu: I'm actually gonna look this afternoon, yeah.
Jerry: Look, why don't you let me help out a little by making a down payment?
Lulu: Oh, no, my insurance is covering everything. Thanks anyway. So, how long you in town for?
Jerry: Oh, a week or so. I'm looking at some Pittsburgh investments so I can be closer to your mother. Wish she'd never left Philly.
Lulu: Well, it's only a few hours away.
Jerry: I'm worried about her, Lu.
Lulu: Why?
Jerry: Well, this Federal investigation. I think she's taking it too lightly.
Lulu: She's under investigation?
Jerry: Lu, she's in trouble. And I don't think she's got the right lawyers. Burton's great for Corporate but I want her to talk to my firm out of New York but she won't listen.
Lulu: I was a clerk for the Federal Court. I mean, she should be consulting me.
Jerry: I know she didn't do anything wrong and I don't want my wife getting hurt.
Scene: Allegheny County Courthouse—outside courtroom following Tim's custody hearing
Nick exits first, followed by Tim and Oscar, then the grandparents.
Tim: (To Oscar) That was nice moves in there, kiddo. You did a good job. Okay, little dude, go hug your grandparents.
Mrs. Carpenter: Oscar, you be good now.
Oscar: Don't worry Grandma. We're coming over. Right, Dad?
Tim: 'Course you are. Come on.
Oscar: Bye, Grandma. Bye, Grandpa. Can we go to the gym?
Tim: (Laughs) Right now, you gotta go to school. You know, put your heart in your work. You know, the trainers always say, “Heart's the biggest muscle.”
Oscar: I thought the heart was an organ.
Tim: (Laughs) No, it's not. It's a muscle. (To Nick) Isn't that right?
Nick: I'll see ya later. Congratulations. (Shakes hands)
Tim: Thank you. Come on. Let's go.
Scene: Car dealership
Lulu: This is nice.
Salesman: It's a customer favorite.
Nick: It's a convertible.
Lulu: I always wanted a convertible.
Nick: Well, it's not really you.
Lulu: If I buy it, it will be.
Nick: Does this have the side air bags?
Salesman: The SUV has that feature…
Nick: See.
Salesman: …as well as a better stereo system.
Lulu: Uh, I don't like tanks.
Nick: Well, they're a lot safer.
Lulu: Not for the environment.
Salesman: Your husband has a point about the safety.
Lulu: And they're way too expensive.
Nick: (Leans close and whispers) Well, I can help you out with a down payment.
Lulu: Absolutely not.
Nick: Why not?
Lulu: Ted, could you just get me some brochures, please?
Salesman: You know, if we do something right now—today…
Lulu: Ted… can it. Okay?
Nick takes a deep breath and exhales.
Scene: Fallin & Fallin—Jake's office
Jake: (Into the phone) Double or nothing, my ass! I want 3 C-notes in my hand by Friday! (Coughs)
Lulu knocks on the open door and Jake waves her in.
Jake: (Coughs) Let me catch up with you later, okay? Yeah. (Hangs up)
Lulu: I transcribed the interviews and drafted the complaint, so… all you have to do is file it and send it to the process server. The envelope's stamped.
Jake: Uh, we do have a postage machine, you know?
Lulu: Yeah. Do you have any water? (Touches her head above her right eye)
Jake: Yeah. So, look, I spoke to Mrs. Webber.
Lulu: Oh, good.
Jake: I may need some help with her. (Coughs—opens a small refrigerator and removes a bottled water)
Lulu: What's wrong?
Jake: This cough is killing me. (Takes a drink)
Lulu: Uh, no, with Mrs. Webber.
Jake: (Hands her a bottled water) Oh. Here's your water.
Lulu: Thanks.
Jake: I got this friend at the Post-Gazette. I want the Webbers to do an exclusive with him. I mean, the Press loves this teen sex stuff but she's balking.
Lulu: Well, yeah, of course she is. The only reason why she wants the money is so she can move to a place where she can hold her head up again.
Jake: (Laughs) Lulu… HELLO! Litigation 101—Public attention brings big, fast settlements.
Lulu: I'm not gonna pressure her, Jake.
Jake: D'you understand the concept of leverage?
Lulu: I'm building a case here.
Jake: (Agitated) What case?! The one where we argue that teenagers should be compensated for having sex?
Lulu: I am getting there. Just don't worry about it.
Jake: Lulu, if you came into this thinking that P.I. was a breeze you're wrong. (Coughs and exits)
Lulu pops a pill in her mouth.
Scene: Lulu's residence
Caroline: I was seeing Ben for awhile… 'til he got arrested. So you can understand why I wouldn't want to involve Jerry in all this.
Lulu: Yeah, but why wouldn't you tell me about it?
Caroline: Because of what you were going through.
Lulu: No. Don't use the accident as an excuse.
Caroline: I was referring to your divorce, and Brian cheating… and your judging me.
Lulu: What you tell the prosecutor tomorrow is private.
Caroline: It damn well better be. This would kill Jerry.
Lulu: So, you're not gonna tell him.
Caroline: I certainly don't want a third divorce.
Scene: The Incline
Lulu: You know, I spoke to the cheerleading captain, Chelsea Royce.
Ashley: We call it head cheerleader.
Lulu: 'Course you do. (To waitress who sets a glass of water on the table) Thanks. (To Ashley) She said there's no initiation, and so does Shelly Donovan and so did Liz McCormick.
Ashley: They're not stupid. The school would freak. Probably disband the squad.
Lulu: Well, without their testimony we're gonna need some other kinda proof that this behavior was going on.
Ashley: Bummer.
Lulu: Did you write to anybody about the initiation… you know, like passing notes in class?
Ashley: We'd page each other and sometimes send emails on our two-ways. I don't save stuff.
Lulu: Hmm… well, maybe ex-cheerleaders won't be so protective. Do you know any of 'em?
Ashley: No, I'm a freshman.
Lulu: (Sighs) There's gotta be old rosters or something.
Ashley: Yearbooks… in the school library.
Lulu: Good.
Scene: Federal Courthouse—a bench in the corridor outside the Grand Jury room
Lulu: Poor Mom.
Nick: We did a lot of prep on her testimony. I'm sure she's fine.
Lulu: Yeah, but still she's in there telling 20 strangers that she had an affair with this guy and he's lying about it to save his own skin.
Nick: You know, I was thinking, we could get you started on the SUV… just on a short-term lease—try it out.
Lulu: D'you like my hair short like this?
Nick: (Stammers) Uh… ye… it's cute. (Smiles)
Lulu: Are you going to that boxing match tonight?
Nick: Yes.
Lulu: Could I come with you?
Nick: Uh, if it won't upset you.
Lulu: Now come on, you know what upsets me.
Nick: I'll give you Jake's ticket.
Lulu: Uh huh. Great.
Caroline breezes out of the courtroom—pulling on her gloves.
Lulu: How'd it go?
Caroline: Smooth sailing.
Nick: Good. Uh, we should talk about what they asked you while it's still fresh in your mind.
Caroline: Uh, no. I need to talk to Jerry. (Punches the elevator button)
Lulu: Mom…
Caroline: Not now, Louisa! (Steps into the elevator—followed by Lulu and Nick)
Scene: Fallin & Fallin—conference room—Webber settlement meeting
Jake: This child suffered psychological damage on Johannsen Bus Line's watch.
Attorney: This is bogus and you know it.
Jake: (Slides document across the table) County guidelines for school trips and off-campus events require 1 adult chaperone for every 20 students. Now, on the evening of the event in question, the only adult on the bus was one very preoccupied driver and 22 students.
Bus Representative: Blame the school. The coaches shouldn't take their own cars—they should ride with the kids.
Jake: No. No. The blame lies with your Company because you contracted to follow County guidelines on all of your own buses. (Lulu slides a document to Jake who slides it across the table) I would like to note, this behavior on your bus line is common place. (Lulu slides the yearbook in front of Jake) This is the 2002 Madison Yearbook. Uh… (Reading) “The sweetest thing about Madison Hoops is the service on the bus.” Now do you really think this horny 15-year-old's talking about the smooth ride? And in case you're not sure, I've got 3 other references marked including one that creates a new verb—Johannsening. (Points to this passage in the yearbook)
Attorney: (The two men look at each other) We still think this is crap, but we'll give you 30,000 to make this Webber girl go away.
Jake: 50.
Attorney: 40.
Jake: Agreed. (They start to leave—Jake tosses a new complaint on the table) So this is a complaint for Tyler Griffin.
Lulu: What?
Bus Representative: The kid who got the hummer? (To Lulu) Excuse me.
Attorney: Straka, you can't be serious?
Jake: Sexual trauma's very real to both genders.
Attorney: And this boy was traumatized by what I could only dream of until college?
Jake: Mr. Griffin is a closet homosexual. (They sit back down) This incident was… it was a nightmare for him. He's taken a leave of absence from school. He's seeing a psychiatrist 3 times a week. His mother fears suicide. That bus was a virtual peer-pressure cooker.
Attorney: We'll match the Webber deal.
Jake: See, I'm looking at hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Attorney: We can't discuss anything close to that without informing our insurance carrier.
Jake: I understand. Well, gentlemen, you have my number. I'm late for my doctor's appointment. Ms. Archer will show you out. (As he leaves—to Lulu) Nice work.
Scene: Pittsburgh Auditorium—fight night
Announcer: Ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the Pittsburgh Auditorium and our first match of the evening. In the blue corner, weighing 145 pounds, from San Diego—Horatio Sanchez. In the red corner, weighing 146—Pittsburgh's comeback kid, Tim “The Mechanic” Do…hanic. (Cheers)
Lulu: Travel Master. (Referring to the name on the back of Tim's robe) I can't escape my mom. She's everywhere.
Nick: (To Burton) That's a good idea.
Tim gets in several good licks.
Lulu: Oh… (Nick looks at her and smiles) Sorry.
Nick: (Yells out) Go Mechanic!
Burton: (Yells through a rolled up program) Got get 'im, Timmy.
Lulu: Hit him. (Nick smiles at her—she smiles back) Hit him!
Burton: (Yells) Jab, Timmy.
Sanchez hits Tim on side of injured rib—he staggers and goes down on one knee.
Lulu: Oh. Oh, no.
Nick: (Concerned) It's his rib.
Referee: 1… 2…
Lulu: Get up!
Referee: 3… 4…
Nick: Go, Tim.
Lulu: Get up!
Referee: 5… 6… (Tim gets up) You okay? (He nods) Fight!
Tim takes several more punches.
Burton: Jab him, Tim!
Tim falters and goes down again. The bell rings. He goes to his corner.
Nick: He's hurt.
Lulu: What are they saying?
Nick: They don't want him to answer the bell.
Burton: He shouldn't come out.
Referee: (To Tim) You okay? (Tim nods) Can you go on?
Tim: (To Ref) I'm okay. I'm okay. (To trainers) I'm good. I'm good.
Round 2
Lulu: Go!
Burton: Jab, Timmy.
Tim takes another hit to his ribs.
Lulu: Oh, no!
Tim grabs Sanchez and hangs on.
Angry Crowd: Boo. Boo.
Referee: Break. Break up. (Separates the fighters)
Sanchez lands several more punches as Tim flails then goes down.
Referee: 1… 2… 3… 4… (To Sanchez) Back to your corner.
Lulu: They're gonna stop this now, right?
Referee: 7… 8…
Nick: Fight's over if he doesn't get up.
Burton: He's not gonna make it.
Referee: 10… That's it.
Lulu: Is he gonna be all right?
Scene: Hospital—Tim's room
Tim and Oscar are tossing a softball-size wad of paper back and forth.
Burton: (Knocks and enters) Hey, Tim. How ya doing?
Tim: Hey.
Burton: Oscar, how are ya?
Oscar: Hey.
Burton: Good to see ya.
Oscar: Yep.
Tim: Yeah, I wait another hour doctors say on account of the concussions.
Burton: Yeah, I heard. (Reaches in his pocket for some change) Hey, Oscar, you wanna get yourself a can of fruit juice from that machine out there?
Oscar: No, thank you.
Burton: No? Will you get me one?
Tim: Go ahead.
Oscar: Sure.
Burton: Thank you. Thanks. (Oscar takes the money and leaves) So you went in the ring with a broken rib, huh? Well, we should've postponed.
Tim: Look, I know it. I know I can't count on any more Waters' fights for awhile but I'll pick up some others after this heals.
Burton: The doctor says you have ocular damage. I happen to know a little bit about that. When it involves the nerves, like, uh… your case… then… doesn't heal.
Tim: If I listened to everything that doctors ever told me…
Burton: You might be better off. When that Boxing Commission gets this report, they're not gonna let you fight.
Tim: I have to fight.
Burton: No, you don't. There are other things, Tim. A man with your guts and heart and…
Tim: (Shakes his head) There's nothing else. Not for me.
Oscar returns with the juice and hands it to Burton.
Burton: Thanks, Oscar. Well, I just hope you'll think about what I'm saying. (Tim nods) I better get goin'. I'll check with you later, okay?
Tim: Yeah.
Burton: Yeah. (To Oscar—hands him the juice) Oh, why don't you save that for later, okay?
Oscar: Okay.
Burton: (Tousles his hair) Okay. (Exits)
Tim: Okay, kiddo.
Scene: Fallin & Fallin—reception
Jake stands talking with the receptionist—Lulu walks in.
Lulu: Jake.
Jake: Hey.
Lulu: We need to talk about what you pulled yesterday.
Jake: Well, I got waivers from both clients. And I got Mrs. Webber 10,000 more than she approved. We just, uh, cut your check for 6 and a ½ grand. (They start down the hall)
Lulu: Considering what you've got with Griffin I think LSP should get the entire fee.
Jake: Well, the oral agreement was that you'd split the Webber fee.
Lulu: Yeah, but that kid could get half a million. Where's your good faith?
Jake: Good faith?
Lulu: Uh, you know I have a strong sense of justice.
Jake: Oh, just take the damn check!
Lulu: I think I get it from my mother and I think she'd feel the same way about this whole situation.
Jake: Wait, wait. Are you gonna tell your mommy on me? (Nick observes this confrontation—unseen)
Lulu: Considering she's one of your biggest clients, yes. And that's exactly why I didn't take this to any other ambulance chaser in town. I really do understand the concept of leverage.
Jake: (To cashier) All right. Make out a check for 13,000. (Hands her the other check)
Lulu: Nice doing business with you.
Jake: Hey, uh, listen, why don't we both celebrate our wins and grab a hot dog or something.
Lulu: Okay. Only if you're buying. You know, just for the record, I don't feel great about this whole thing.
Jake: What?
Lulu: Profiting because teenagers think that oral sex is a game.
Jake: Well, the whole thing gets to me, too.
Lulu: It does?
Jake: Yeah, why the hell wasn't I born later?
Scene: Legal Services of Pittsburgh—bullpen
Tim and Oscar wait for Nick.
Lulu: Hi. How you feeling?
Tim: Like I got dropped off a building.
Lulu: I'm sorry about the fight. You were doing really well. I thought you were gonna win.
Tim: Yeah, me, too.
Nick gets off the elevator and walks right past Tim.
Tim: Hey, Nick. Can I talk to you?
Nick: Sure. Let's go in here. (Indicates the meeting room)
Oscar: We still going to the park?
Tim: I gotta talk to Nick for one minute, okay?
Oscar: A minute's a long time.
Tim: Not between rounds. Play your game, okay? (Refers to the electronic game Oscar has)
Nick closes the door.
Tim: I appreciate everything you did but I gotta send him back. Can't fight… and can't work at the moving company with my injuries.
Nick: Well, what about the pizza place?
Tim: Uh, Tino said he needs another investor, not another worker. (Emotionally—as he peers through the glass door at his son) It's not that I don't love my son. You know, he's real good for me. Um, I just ain't no good for him.
Nick: Have you told him yet?
Tim: No… you're the first one I told. I have to call the grandparents now.
Nick: Well, just let me call their attorney first. I can get you favorable terms.
Tim: Just let me… let me just get this over with.
Nick: Tim, just for once. Take some advice.
Tim: (Through stifled sobs) Yeah. Yeah.
Scene: Lulu's residence
Lulu enters—Caroline is mixing a martini.
Lulu: Hi.
Caroline: Hi.
Lulu: How'd it go?
Caroline: Nick hasn't heard from the prosecutor yet.
Lulu: No, I meant with Jerry.
Caroline: Oh… uh… he wants to work it through.
Lulu: That's great.
Caroline: He actually blames himself for working so much.
Lulu: He must really love you.
Caroline: (Pause) Yes, he does. So, how was your first week back?
Lulu: It was fine.
Caroline: You know, I'd feel a whole lot better if I stayed with you a little while longer.
Lulu: Don't you think you should go back to Philly and spend some time with Jerry?
Caroline: Please.
Lulu: Okay.
Caroline: All I can think of right now is my dry martini and a nice hot bath. Let's plan that shopping day, huh? (Starts up the stairs)
Scene: Legal Services of Pittsburgh—bullpen
Mrs. Webber: Ms. Archer.
Lulu: Hi, Mrs. Webber.
Mrs. Webber: I just wanted to come by and thank you for referring us to Mr. Straka. What a Godsend.
Lulu: You're welcome.
Mrs. Webber: He fought for us like you wouldn't believe. Ashley and I are moving across the State. I even have enough for a house down payment.
Lulu: Well, I'm glad it all worked out.
Mrs. Webber: I wanted to get Mr. Straka a little something. Is there anything in particular that you think he'd like?
Lulu: (Thinks a moment) Snakes.
Mrs. Webber: Snakes.
Lulu: Snakes. Yeah, he collects them. Anything with a snake on it.
Mrs. Webber: That's unusual but… to each his own. Thanks for the tip.
Lulu: No problem.
Mrs. Webber leaves.
Alvin: Lulu?
Lulu: Yeah? (Walks to his office)
Alvin: Listen, I wanted to tell you because I know you were worried. Budget crises averted.
Lulu: Really?
Alvin: Yeah. Fallin & Fallin sent over a check.
Lulu: How much?
Alvin: $13,000. Odd amount, isn't it?
Lulu: Well, you know what they say about gift horses.
Alvin: Yeah. Think Nick had anything to do with it?
Lulu: Probably, but you know him. He'd never admit it.
Alvin: Yeah. Right.
Lulu turns and walks away with a knowing smile on her face.
Scene: Car dealership
Nick: It's a nice car.
Lulu: Thank you.
Nick: So, Jake told me about your civil suit.
Lulu: Oh, yeah? You know why I didn't come to you on that, right?
Nick: No, I don't.
Lulu: I didn't want you to get involved if I got caught.
Nick: Right. Well, you know, it doesn't matter.
Lulu: Don't lie to me.
Salesman: (Pulls up in her new black Chrysler Sebring Limited convertible) Here ya go, Ms. Archer.
Lulu: Eee…
Salesman: Congratulations.
Lulu: Thank you. Thank you. (To Nick) So, where to, sailor?
Nick: Are you sure you feel fine to drive?
Lulu: Are you kidding?
Nick: Well, I just get a little scared that you're gonna hurt yourself.
Lulu: Is that what you're afraid of?
Nick: You really should take it easy.
Lulu: I'm ready to drive.
Nick: All right, great. Let's go.
Lulu: No, you know what? I can do it on my own. No training wheels.
Nick: You sure?
Lulu: Yeah.
Nick: Okay.
She starts the car and guns the motor a few times—then drives away.
Scene: Boxing gym
Tim: Hey, grab that door for me, buddy. (Puts a duffle bag in the back seat of Carpenters' car.) Okay, little dude. Now give your ole man a kiss.
Oscar: No.
Tim: Well, you got hugs for Manny… all those gym rats in there, you ain't got nothing for me? Come on, buddy. We gonna see each other real soon.
Oscar: (Sullenly) I don't wanna see you. (Gets in his grandfather's car and closes the door)
Tim: (To Mr. Carpenter) You know how to get to the highway from here?
Mr. Carpenter: I can manage.
Tim: Okay.
Mr. Carpenter: We'll take good care of him.
Tim: Yeah, I know.
Nick: If you run into any resistance with the terms of the custody, give me a call.
Car drives away.
Nick: You know, the kid didn't mean it. He's just upset.
Tim: Oh, I know.
Nick: Need a ride home?
Tim: Nah. I'm just gonna walk.
Nick: You live across town.
Tim: What do I gotta rush home to, huh? (Starts to walk away—turns back) Hey, Nick… thanks for fightin' for me.
END OF EPISODE
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