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TRANSCRIPT:
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Scene: Fallin & Fallin
Nick quickly bounds down the stairs and exits the front doors—into the hallway. He glances at his watch as he heads for the elevator.
Burton: (Steps off elevator) Hey. (Nick steps on the elevator) Hey, hey. You got a meeting. (Chuckles)
Nick: (Steps off the elevator) Yeah, I know. Lightstone's 11:00. I'll be back in time. (Steps back on the elevator)
Burton: Whoa. What about the closing documents?
Nick: (Steps off the elevator—doors close) They're done.
Burton: Yeah? You must've stayed late, huh?
Nick: Yeah. (Calls for the elevator)
Burton: Oh, I talked to Robert about your, uh, your running point when he steps down and Glen takes over the store.
Nick: And…?
Burton: (Smiling) He liked the idea. Both of 'em… liked the idea.
Elevator arrives.
Nick: Okay.
Burton: By the way, you were gonna come over to the house last weekend… pick up your stuff.
Nick: (Steps on the elevator and punches the button) Yeah, I was busy.
Burton: I need the space for Shannon.
Nick: I… (Doors close)
Scene: Courthouse
Alvin is trying to organize all his cases for the morning session. Several people stand around outside the courtroom while he goes through a number of files—calling out the names.
Alvin: Okay. The Riveras are at 9:00.
Ms. Rivera: Yes.
Alvin: Good. You all here?
Ms. Rivera: What happened to my other lawyer? The one handling my case?
Alvin: Oh, that was, uh, James Mooney. I'll be your attorney from now on. Okay, uh… so… 9:15 the Lonski family! Lonskis?! (Woman raises her hand) All right then… Oh, God! (Overwhelmed) Then… (Sees Nick approaching) Oh, good. You got the message.
Nick: What is it?
Alvin: Twelve cases before noon is what it is. Without James, we're up the proverbial creek.
Nick: We?
Alvin: Yes. You and me—Sisyphus, in shirts and ties. This came over the transom. (Hands him a piece of paper) Suzanne Pell's waitin' for you. (Nick takes the paper and walks away) You and me, Nick. Together we can save the world.
Scene: Legal Services of Pittsburgh—Lulu's office
Lulu is still packing her things.
Alvin: (Appears in her doorway) You know…
Lulu: Yeah?
Alvin: Be very helpful to me… to all of us if you would stay on for a few more weeks.
Lulu: Alvin...
Alvin: I know, you promised Judy that you would start in October.
Lulu: Fifteenth. That's next Wednesday. I mean… I've made my travel arrangements. I booked a mover. I put a deposit down on an apartment in Berkeley.
Alvin: So… you won't stay. No matter how badly we need you.
Lulu: Alvin, I'm sorry but, I just… I mean, I can't.
Walks out in disgust—closing the door. Retrieves a razor blade and angrily scrapes Lulu's name off her door. They glare at each other.
Scene: Courthouse—corridor
Suzanne Pell looks for Nick. She sees him and calls out.
Suzanne: Hey. I saw you last night leaving La Taverneta. You go there a lot?
Nick: (Scowls) What's the case?
Suzanne: Oh, um… girl's name is Sharon Diamond. (Hands him the file) She was picked up for solicitation near the bus terminal on the corner of, um… Liberty and Eleventh.
Nick: How old is she?
Suzanne: She says she's fifteen.
Nick: First offense?
Suzanne: Uhm, yeah… but, um… well… well, there is no file. She says she's from Easton, out near Philly.
Nick: Parents?
Suzanne: She says that they're dead. Um… I checked with Northampton County. There's no records of her there either.
Nick: And what was the problem at the bus terminal?
Suzanne: She claims that she was panhandling and that the guy misunderstood her request.
Nick: What's your recommendation, Miss Pell?
Suzanne: Oh… I wish I knew more about her.
Nick: Right. Fine. (Nods and turns to leave)
Sharon walks up.
Suzanne: Oh, uh… Nick. Sharon… this is Nick Fallin and he's gonna be working with you.
Sharon: (Smiles and extends her hand) Nice to meet you, Mr. Fallin.
Nick: You, too.
Scene: Courthouse—meeting room
Sharon: I don't even know why I'm in trouble. I mean, I was just asking the guy for a dollar.
Nick: (Looks through the file) You told Miss Pell that your parents are dead?
Sharon: My dad died when I was a baby. My mom just died, like, a year ago. She was a drug addict.
Nick: Did you go to a foster home?
Sharon: No.
Nick: Where'd you live?
Sharon: With my mom's boyfriend… this guy, Jonathan… after my mom overdosed. And then Jonathan looked after me for awhile.
Nick: Why'd you leave?
Sharon: He wasn't really just looking after me…
Nick: Huh.
Sharon: …you know?
Nick: Where have you, uh… where've you been living lately?
Sharon: Different places.
Nick: Like?
Sharon: I don't know.
Nick: If the Judge thinks you're lying, they're gonna treat you as a delinquent.
Sharon: And I'm gonna get sent to Juvie?
Nick: That's right.
Sharon: I've been working as a dishwasher. Does that help?
Nick: Where?
Sharon: Mason's Restaurant in Garfield. I have been getting paid under the table and living in a room upstairs.
Nick: Why didn't you just tell me that in the first place?
Sharon: Because Mason's been nice to me. He knows he… he tells me that he should just… call the cops… on account of my age but… but he's been nice.
Nick: Mason's at Garfield. (Writes in the file)
Sharon: You're not gonna bother him. He didn't do anything wrong.
Nick: If you're a dishwasher… you're a dishwasher. Thank you. (Exits)
Scene: Frick Building—Grant Street entrance
Glen Lightstone waits—smoking a cigarette. Nick rushes up.
Nick: Hey, Glen.
Glen: Hey, Nick.
Nick: Hey, how are ya? (They shake)
Glen: I'm very glad to see you.
Nick: You going up?
Glen: Yeah, I'm going up but I wanna talk… before the meeting.
Nick: All right. Let's talk upstairs. (They enter the building)
Glen: All right. [Inaudible]
Scene: Nick's office
Glen: This deal… I mean, it could be worth almost two million dollars to me.
Nick: I know that.
Glen: I mean, Lightstone's—that's who I am. I mean, I've been working for my dad there since I was sixteen. I was the only one who did that. My sister—she shops there. My brother—he's a ski instructor somewhere.
Nick: Can this wait?
Glen: No, because all my life I've been waiting for this, you know? My chance to run his company.
Nick: (Points to the door) Uh… the meeting is starting… right now.
Glen: I know, but I got this letter… (Pulls it from his jacket pocket and hands it to Nick) …from the lawyer for this African-American woman. Uh… it alleges racial profiling.
Nick: (Glances over the letter) When did you get this?
Glen: Like, three days ago. There was… there was a shoplifting situation.
Nick: They're asking for millions of dollars. Has your father seen this?
Glen: No. You don't understand. I mean… I mean, I spoke to this lawyer and when we go back and forth a little bit and this guy threatens to go to the press. This kind of publicity—not good.
Nick: What happened?
Glen: We were having, you know, shoplifting problems so I hired a former detective to run security—put some new procedures in place.
Nick: Okay.
Glen: Then, uh… the other day this black woman comes in and they say they see her rip a tag off of a blouse and try and walk out with it.
Nick: And?
Glen: They take her into this room that they now set up for this kind of situation and… I don't know… maybe they went a little too far.
Scene: Burton's office
Robert Lightstone signs some papers.
Burton: Yeah, just sign here, Robert.
Robert: Ah…
Burton: And… right there.
Robert: Um…
Nick knocks and he and Glen enter the room.
Burton: Nicholas. (To Robert) And that's for the, uh… the transfer of assets just to make the lender happy. Hi, Glen.
Glen: Mr. Fallin.
Nick: Mr. Lightstone.
Robert: Nick. (They shake)
Nick: Good to see you.
Robert: Hi, Glen.
Nick: Glen and I were just catching up.
Burton: So, did you bring that opinion letter?
Nick: Yes. (Hands him the letter) Uh, there is something that, uh… we should discuss.
Burton: What's that?
Nick: (Looks to Glen) Glen? (Glen shakes his head) This letter was received three days ago. (Hands to Burton)
Burton: (Reads it) Well… (Passes it to Robert)
Robert: (Reads it) Three days ago? Glen? (Looks at Glen)
Glen: It's no big deal. I was gonna tell you but I didn't wanna bother you. I figured I'd…
Robert: Okay, son. Don't worry about it. We'll handle it. So, Burton… what does this mean to the deal?
Burton: Oh… have to notify Consolidated.
Robert: You don't think they'll back out?
Burton: I'd be surprised. Lightstone's been a big part of the City for a long time. Established a lot of good will.
Glen: Yeah, it's a nuisance. That's all this is. Nick said he'd take care of it.
Nick: Yeah. (Takes the letter) It –it seems like a simple mistake.
Burton: You can handle this?
Nick: I think we can put this thing to bed before tomorrow evening.
Burton: Okay.
Scene: Mason's Restaurant—Garfield
Nick drives up and parks at the curb, sets his alarm and enters the restaurant.
Nick: (To waiter) Is, uh, Mason in?
Waiter: Uh-huh. (Goes to find him)
Mason: I'm Mason Kosinski.
Nick: Nick Fallin.
Mason: So?
Nick: I'm a lawyer at Legal Services of Pittsburgh.
Mason: Never heard of 'em.
Nick: I'm representing a girl named Sharon Diamond.
Mason: Who?
Nick: Sharon Diamond—fifteen-year-old girl who was arrested last night for prostitution.
Mason: I don't follow you.
Nick: Well, she said she worked here as a dishwasher. Lived upstairs.
Mason: Ugh… no good deed… you know, man? No good deed.
Nick: So she was living here?
Mason: All right. I had this 'Help Wanted' sign in the window and she came in hungry. I felt real bad for her. She was always on time, did her work. Besides I can't stand the idea of her… sleeping on the streets.
Nick: You could have contacted the appropriate agency.
Mason: And what? They would've dumped her in some crappy group home. Treat her like dirt. Probably ruin the rest of her life. Look, I've been in and out of those appropriate agencies my whole life. So I… I know what I'm talking about.
Nick: So you don't have a problem coming down to the courthouse to confirm Sharon's situation.
Mason: No. Not at all.
Nick: Thanks. (Exits)
Scene: Legal Services of Pittsburgh—Bullpen
Manuela Franco: (To receptionist) Hello. My name is Manuela Franco and my husband and I are here to see Louisa Archer.
Alvin: (Walks up behind her) She doesn't work here anymore.
Lulu overhears the conversation.
Manuela: What? But, we have to be in court next week for a hearing. We've been evicted and Mrs. Archer spoke to us on the phone and she…
Alvin: Mrs. Franco, your lawyer, Ms. Archer, does not work here anymore. So… here's a card for Legal Aid of Allegheny County.
Manuela: Oh… (Takes the card)
Alvin: They might be able to help.
Manuela: (Speaks Spanish to her husband and they leave)
Scene: LSP Meeting Room
Lulu: You said you'd help me with my cases.
Alvin: We're drowning here, Lulu.
Lulu: You can't just send clients away, Alvin.
Alvin: You haven't given me any choice.
Lulu: Why are you making this about me?
Alvin: (Chuffs)
Lulu: (Angry and loud) You know, you are the one that wanted me to leave in the first place. And you know what, I gave you plenty of notice. You wished me 'good luck' and then I went out and I made my arrangements like any normal person moving across the country.
Alvin: (Angrily) Our situation here has changed, Lulu! You know, as lawyers we have an ethical obligation to our clients. You're just walking away from them.
Lulu: What are you talking about?! I'm not walking away!
Nick walks up behind Lulu—she looks around at him.
Lulu: (She and Alvin glare at each other) Excuse me. (Exits)
Alvin: What?! (To Nick)
Nick: Case you gave me… (They sit down at the table) …runaway at the bus station.
Alvin: I don't know. (Shakes head)
Nick: Solicitation charge—I'm not sure what to recommend.
Alvin: Yeah?
Nick: The girl's been living over this restaurant in Garfield. I went out and talked to the owner. Guy named Mason.
Alvin: Mason?
Nick: Kosinski.
Alvin: (Chuffs)
Nick: You know him?
Alvin: Yeah. There aren't too many people named Mason Kosinski? I placed him with a few foster families. Even went to his high school graduation. Couple years ago his name comes up. The son-of-a-bitch is pimping a twelve-year-old girl.
Nick: Oh. Looks like he's back at it… with another girl. (Slides the file over to Alvin)
Alvin: He likes the young ones. Mason. (Opens the file—looks closely at the photo)
Nick: What is it?
Alvin: That's not Sharon Diamond.
Nick: Who is it?
Alvin: Tiffany Skovich.
Nick: Who?
Alvin: The girl I was talking about. The twelve-year-old. That's the girl he was pimping three years ago.
Nick: Changed her name.
Alvin: Yeah, well, look at her choices. She gets busted as Tiffany Skovich the path leads right to Mason. He's back in trouble, she's back in detention. She gets busted as, what… Sharon Diamond, she's just another runaway who needs help. (Sighs—stands and paces—exasperated)
Nick takes the file and leaves.
Scene: Shelter—meeting room
Nick sits at the table. Tiffany is ushered in, smiling. She sits across from him.
Nick: How are you Tiffany?
Tiffany: (Surprised) So… I guess that's it for me. I'm going to lock-up, right?
Nick: There's another option. There's a shelter called Jane's Place.
Tiffany: Fine. Whatever.
Nick: Jane's Place is a shelter for young girls… like you.
Tiffany: Like me?
Nick: They have a school. They have counselors.
Tiffany: So I can go there and not to Juvie?
Nick: Well… they're willing to drop the prostitution charge if you tell the police about Mason Kosinski.
Tiffany: I can't do that to him. (Nick shakes his head) You don't understand. Mason cares about me.
Nick: He sells you on the street.
Tiffany: My whole life, no one's treated me like Mason does. He buys me nice things. He makes me feel good about myself.
Nick: (Opens the thick file) The County Hospital records—fractured eye socket, broken arm, facial contusions. Tiffany… (Laughs) …you have to start telling the truth.
Tiffany: What about my mother? I could go back there.
Scene: Mason's Restaurant
Alvin: Uh… Mason Kosinski?
Man behind counter: (Off camera) In the back.
Alvin: Thanks. (Walks to the back) Hello, Mason.
Mason: Alvin. Gosh, it's been, like, forever. What's the occasion?
Alvin: Nice place you got here.
Mason: Well, you hungry? Food's not bad.
Alvin: Maybe another time. Three years ago, when you asked me to speak at your sentencing hearing, we made a deal.
Mason: I meant what I said.
Alvin: You promised you'd stay away from Tiffany.
Mason: I'm not pimping her, man. I'm taking care of her, get it?
Alvin: You went to her house. Turned her against her mother.
Mason: Her mother's boyfriend is sleeping with her. At least I care about her.
Alvin: She's a child.
Mason: Well, I'm not pimping her. She keeps coming back to me. She's happy here.
Alvin: Happy?
Mason: Well, you tell me, with your vast experience, Alvin, what's gonna be better for her? Some group home or me?
Alvin: Group homes do not pimp out kids! Mason, you are too smart to be doing this again. For God's sakes, you got a good business going here.
Mason: That's what I've been trying to tell you. That's all I got going here.
Alvin glares at him then walks out.
Mason: (Under his breath) Man… (Shakes his head)
Scene: Tiffany's mother's house
Nick sits in a chair in the living room, waiting. Mother walks in, unsteadily, disheveled and obviously high.
Mother: You shouldn't blame Tiffany. Her father died when she was a baby. I took good care of her. But the government kept coming around.
Nick: Why did Social Services take Tiffany in the first place?
Mother: They said it was on account of my drinking. And… my old boyfriend, Al… touched her, I guess. That's what they said. (Puts on a sweater)
Nick: How are you now?
Mother: Doing a lot better.
Nick: You have a new boyfriend?
Mother: Yeah. Yeah. Joey.
Nick: Does he live here?
Mother: Most of the time.
Nick: How does he get along with Tiffany?
Mother: He loves my daughter. He takes good care of her when I'm not around. (Shakily lights a cigarette)
Nick: Why do you think she ran away?
Mother: I don't know.
Nick: I mean, if everything was good… Or was there something happening?
Mother: I don't know. Probably Mason did it.
Nick: You know Mason Kosinski?
Mother: Oh… uh… all of a sudden she's missing school, staying out late and showing up with new clothes. Don't really take a lot to figure out what's going on.
Nick: That's when she left?
Mother: My new boyfriend, Joey… started to get real strict with Tiffany. I… I just stayed out of it, but… Tiffany started to get… afraid of Joey.
Nick: Why?
Mother: Like I said, I stayed out of it.
Nick: Why did you stay out of it?
Mother: It's between my daughter and Joey.
Scene: Fallin & Fallin—conference room
Attorney Melvin Johnson: The way I see it, your client's in a world of trouble… shackling an innocent woman who was only in your store to return a birthday gift from her aunt.
Nick: The security person saw her remove the tag.
Johnson: The man scared this poor woman half to death with threats.
Nick: The blouse was in her knapsack.
Johnson: These were Gestapo tactics used against a black woman, in a store kept alive by black customers.
Nick: (To claimant) For what it's worth, ma'am, the management at Lightstone would like to apologize for what happened.
Johnson: We're not interested in an apology today, Mr. Fallin.
Nick: How does five thousand sound?
Johnson: I read the business pages… and that merger they got going… I'm guessing it ain't closing with this situation outstanding.
Nick: One has nothing to do with the other.
Johnson: Then I'm wrong. It won't be the first time.
Nick: Well, I can talk to my client and see if he's willing to go to seventy-five hundred.
Johnson: How many millions do those Lightstone folks stand to make on this deal?
Nick: All right. You tell me. What is this gonna take?
Johnson: How about nine.
Nick: Now, if I can get that, are we done here?
Johnson: (Looks to client) Nine thousand dollars, Mrs. Walker? (She nods)
Nick: All right. Settlement agreement will be in your office by the end of business. Check will follow. (They shake)
Johnson: Very good.
Scene: Later — Nick's office
Burton: Nick. D'you hear back from that other lawyer?
Nick: He just got the papers.
Burton: He didn't call you back yet?
Nick: Dad, he just got 'em.
Burton: I'll call him.
Nick: It's a simple settlement. I can have it closed by tomorrow morning.
Burton: I'd feel a lot better knowing tonight.
Nick: Fine. I'll call him.
Burton: Oh, don't forget, this weekend, pick up your stuff at the house, okay?
Nick: Look, you wanna tell me exactly what it is I gotta pick up?
Burton: Everything. That junk in the attic and those boxes in the basement. Everything. (Exits)
Scene: Mason's Restaurant
Alvin takes photos of several young girls with older men around the exterior of the building. Recognizes Roger Green (LSP contributor) with a young girl.
Alvin: Roger! Roger! Roger Green! (The girl slips inside the building) What the hell are you doing?
Roger: Alvin.
Alvin: How old is that girl?
Roger: What?
Alvin: That girl. How old is she? Fourteen?
Roger: Ah… the one asking directions?
Alvin: Oh, come on, Roger!
Roger: I was giving her directions.
Alvin: Uh-huh.
Roger: What?
Alvin: She was lost?
Roger: I come here for take-out.
Alvin: You come to Mason's for take-out?
Roger: (Laughs) See you later, Alvin. (Walks away)
Alvin: Give your wife my regards. (Roger laughs again)
Scene: The Incline—Evening
Lulu walks in. Nick is waiting.
Lulu: Hey.
Nick: Hey. Thanks. Thanks for coming by.
Lulu: Sure.
Nick: So, this is it.
Lulu: Yeah. Saturday morning I'm on that plane.
Nick: Well, you know, uhm… for what it's worth, I understand why… why you're taking the job. I mean, if it were me, I'd probably do the same thing.
Lulu: Thank you.
Nick: Yeah. Running your own clinic, living in Berkeley. It's supposed to be beautiful.
Lulu: Yeah. (Big smile) No more Pittsburgh winters, right?
Nick: (Smiles) Something I could do without.
Waiter comes to the table.
Nick: Do you… d'you want something to drink?
Lulu: Yeah, I'll have a red wine.
Waiter: Red wine. (He leaves)
Lulu: I didn't expect you to be so nice. I'm really gonna miss you, you know?
Nick: (Nods) I'm gonna miss you, too.
Scene: Fallin & Fallin—Burton's office
Nick enters without knocking.
Burton: Yeah. Well, Lightstone got another letter. Evidently this lawyer has thirty plaintiffs lined up alleging similar treatment.
Nick: Well, how much does he want?
Burton: Three million dollars… including punitive damages.
Nick: He's just trying to hold us up.
Burton: Well, maybe. But this buyer's getting a little nervous over taking over a company with all this bad publicity.
Nick: Glen Lightstone…
Burton: You shouldn't have taken his word for it, Nicholas.
Nick: He's the Chief Operating Officer of that Company.
Burton: Son, he's a lightweight, okay? His father's always talking him up like he's some kind of retailing genius. You ask me, he doesn't have a clue. Tell you the luckiest thing that happened to him was to have a dad like Robert. Well, anyway… talk to him again. Get all the facts this time, okay? And let's put a lid on this mess.
Scene: PPG Plaza
Nick: We have a bigger problem now.
Glen: These new claims are frivolous.
Nick: No, it doesn't matter. They've opened the door. I would like to have known about the other complaints.
Glen: I just didn't think they were serious.
Nick: You knew about them?
Glen: Some of them. Look, Nick, I'm sorry, you know? I… you gotta understand that these shoplifters are killing me so I had to get it under control. So we run some numbers and most of the people accused which… were minorities.
Nick: So, you unleashed this new cop you hire on your black customers?
Glen: Look… since my dad decides to merge, everything's been about money. I was only doing what I thought he wanted.
Nick: Did you think to tell your father about what was going on?
Glen: No.
Nick: No? Glen, you run the store. It's your responsibility.
Glen: Nick, you're lucky because your father is not like mine. I cannot bear to see the look on his face—all right, the disappointment. It would just simply kill him, okay? You've no idea. (Nick turns away)
Scene: Legal Services of Pittsburgh—bullpen
Alvin: The Francos. They're in the meeting room.
Lulu: What?
Alvin: I thought about what you said. You're right. We can't just drop them.
Lulu: Oh… well, thank you, Alvin. It's the right thing to do.
Alvin: They're waiting to speak with you.
Lulu: Wait, Alvin…
Alvin: No. It's all worked out. I spoke with Judy. She can spare you until November considering the circumstances. So… problem solved.
Alvin walks away. Lulu starts to follow. Roger Green walks up.
Roger: Hello, Alvin.
Alvin: Roger.
Roger: I was hoping we could talk. I'm worried about you.
Alvin: Worried about me?
Roger: Well, actually, I'm not the only one. I ran into, uh… some of the other members of the Board and frankly… there's concern. (They walk towards Alvin's office)
Alvin: Concern?
Roger: Yeah… 'bout how you're holding up.
Alvin: (Chuffs)
Roger: I mean, the two murders here, personnel issues, budgetary pressures you're under…
Alvin: You know, it's never easy here… but I'm handling it.
Roger: Really?
Alvin: Yeah.
Roger: Because yesterday… well, you were acting kind of strange and I'm just hoping the pressure isn't starting to get to you.
Alvin: You know, I can understand where you're coming from, given your position here. You're one of our important contributors.
Roger: Okay.
Alvin: So… (Turns to walk into his office)
Roger: You know…
Alvin: What? (Turns to face him)
Roger: (Chuckles) I might be mistaken about this. I mean, you sort of startled me out there.
Alvin: Are we back to yesterday?
Roger: I was wondering… did you have a camera?
Alvin: I did.
Roger: I see.
Alvin: Why?
Roger: No reason. Just asking.
Alvin walks into his office, Lulu follows. Roger leaves.
Lulu: You can't dictate where I work, Alvin.
Alvin: I'm not dictating. I simply asked how firm your start date was. Judy said she could wait until January 1st, if need be.
Lulu: January 1st?
Alvin: Lulu, I need help here! I can't understand why you won't stay.
Lulu: Because I don't want to, Alvin. Because you have turned this place into a mess. You know, when I think about how great LSP could be and I think about all the great things we could accomplish, I get sick. Your fund-raisers always fall short. The clients come second to your needs. I mean, my God, you have had weeks to fill these open positions… so don't blame me for your problems.
Alvin: You know, you're a good lawyer, Lulu. You have a sharp, analytical mind. If I were in trouble, I'd want you on my team.
Lulu: Yeah?
Alvin: In the background… researching the law. (Nick walks up and stands in the open doorway) Out front, I'd want somebody who'd rather die than lose a case.
Lulu: What are you talking about? I hate to lose.
Alvin: But you tolerate it! (Glares at Alvin and exits—walking pasts Nick without a word)
Nick walks up to Alvin.
Nick: Tiffany Skovich.
Alvin: What?
Nick: Well, I'm trying to get her into Jane's Place and she ran away from her shelter. Police are looking for her. They're gonna call here when they get her.
Alvin: Right! (Slams file cabinet drawer)
Nick: What?
Alvin: I was over at Mason's Restaurant yesterday afternoon. There are at least six girls working the streets around there.
Nick: What were you doing there?
Alvin: Taking pictures.
Nick: (Chuckles) You have time to do that?
Alvin: The cops just aren't interested. I thought… I thought if I brought them evidence… (Chuffs) These girls… nobody cares. All they've ever gotten is a raw deal. (Chuffs) Unless Mason's off the street…
Nick: Hey-hey-hey. I just wanted to tell you Tiffany ran away, okay? (Exits)
Alvin slumps down in his chair—dejected.
Scene: Fallin & Fallin—Burton's office—after hours
Burton: So, I talked to Robert and Consolidated. They think they've come up with a solution.
Nick: What?
Burton: They'll take over the Company with the, uh… litigation liability. In return, they want Robert to fire Glen.
Nick: And his dad agreed with that?
Burton: No. Not–not at first. But I had to kind of lay it out for him. You know, Glen's not his only child. He has a whole family to consider. And this deal, you know… he's been working all his life, building this store.
Nick: You know, Glen was supposed to, uh… run the new company after the sale.
Burton: Well, I'm aware of that.
Nick: Glen's our client, Dad. If he goes, we stand to lose a lot of business here.
Burton: I know that and I'm… I'm sorry about that, Nicholas. But, uh… he's been a client of mine for thirty years and that's, uh… that's the way he wants it.
Nick: Well, uh… can you just give me… give me another shot with this lawyer before you finalize this?
Burton: Deal's almost made.
Nick: No, just give me another chance with the guy. I'd like to try and make this work.
Burton: Like… whadaya need?
Nick: I need two hundred thousand to play with.
Burton: (Sighs) Ah… let me talk to Robert.
Nick: Thanks. (Exits)
Burton: Yeah.
Scene: Mason's apartment (above the restaurant)—after dark
Alvin pounds on the door. Rings the buzzer. Mason comes to the door.
Mason: Alvin, what're you doing?
Alvin: The girl, Mason. I want the girl.
Mason: What girl?
Alvin: Tiffany. I know she's in there.
Mason: She's not in here.
Alvin: Let me in. (Tries to push past him—Mason knocks him back)
Mason: What are you doing? You're crazy!
Police car hits its siren and pulls up along with a car from Social Services. Police run inside chasing after Mason while Nick gets out of the Social Services' car and walks over to Alvin.
Nick: Alvin, what are you doing here?
Alvin: I'm looking for Tiffany.
Nick: They have an attachment order. They're picking her up.
Moments later, Tiffany exits the building along with the social worker and Nick. He signs a paper and hands it to the driver. They drive off with Tiffany in the back. The police put Mason, handcuffed, in the back of the squad car. Nick walks over and stands with Alvin.
Scene: Fallin & Fallin—lobby
Nick bounds down the stairs, headed for the door, when Burton stops him.
Burton: Nick.
Nick: Dad, I don't have time to talk.
Burton: Whoa-whoa-whoa. Wait. I was going through your stuff and I, uh… came across your letter jacket, a picture of you and your buddies, that fishing rod I got you up at Lake Arthur…
Nick: No. I don't remember. (Clueless)
Burton: Remember you caught us a bunch of trout. Made us a great dinner.
Nick: You know, my stuff, just… get rid of it. Give it away.
Burton: Get rid of it?
Nick: Yeah. Give it to, uh… Goodwill, Salvation Army…
Burton: Get rid of it?
Nick: …whoever wants it. Yeah. Get rid of it.
Burton: All of it?
Nick: All of it. (Exits)
Scene: Detention Center
Guard lets Nick into a room where Tiffany waits.
Tiffany: Nick? Am I in a lot of trouble?
Nick: (Sighs—bobs his head)
Tiffany: I don't know… I just got so freaked… you saying I had to rat out Mason or get sent to Juvie. That place… the way it smells… made me sick to my stomach. I had to get some fresh air. Mason… he was nice to me. Cooked me dinner. Played some music. I always feel safe with him.
Nick: (Sits down) You're not safe there. Girls that do what you do… most of them either get very, very sick or die.
Tiffany: So what now?
Nick: Well… I… (Shakes his head) Tiffany… I don't know what to say to you.
Tiffany: What about that shelter you talked about? Think they'll take me?
Nick: You're gonna have to tell the police about Mason.
Tiffany: Still?
Nick: That's the deal.
Scene: Police station
Alvin: (Using the phone) Yeah. (Listens) Yeah. Yeah, all night. (Listens) No-no-no, I'm fine. I, uh… I told 'em everything I know. What I saw outside his restaurant. Tiffany's arrest. Everything. (Listens) Well your statement would help but I'm pretty sure the cops don't need it to make the…
Alvin takes phone away from his ear as Mason walks by and speaks—having just been released.
Mason: My lawyer… called it heresy—everything you said—having not been supported by collaboration of independent nature.
Alvin: (Sighs then back to the phone) I'll see you back at the office.
Scene: Legal Services of Pittsburgh
Nick steps off the elevator. Lulu is still packing.
Nick: Need a hand?
Lulu: Uh, no… I'm almost done.
Nick: If you need anything, tell me.
Lulu: Thanks.
Alvin: Nick. You're not gonna believe what this bastard said to me.
Nick: Who?
Alvin: The detective in charge. I handed this thing to him—a slam dunk. All he could say was misdemeanor.
Nick: Tiffany's not gonna help.
Alvin: Oh… she's throwing her life away… for Mason Kosinski.
Nick ducks into his office. Alvin walks away and notices Roger Green near his office.
Alvin: Roger?
Roger: (Agitated) We have to talk.
Alvin: Not now. It's a very bad day.
Roger: I'm sorry to hear that but…
Alvin: No! (Turns to go in his office)
Roger: Alvin!
Alvin: What?!
Roger: The pictures you took the other day. I need them.
Alvin: You must be kidding!
Roger: I have a family, a business, important…
Alvin: Get out, Roger! Get out of my clinic now!
Roger: You need to calm down.
Alvin: No!
Roger: Alvin…
Alvin: What?!
Roger: Let's take this in your office.
Alvin: No! Get your hands off me! (Alvin hits Roger and they struggle)
Nick, Lulu and others witness this brawl. Finally Nick runs over and separates them.
Nick: Hey. Alvin. Alvin. Alvin. Take it easy, man. Come on.
Roger leaves. Alvin goes into his office, shutting the door. Nick stares at him through the blinds. Alvin snaps them closed.
Scene: The Incline
Nick enters. Attorney Melvin Johnson is waiting at the bar.
Nick: Hey, Melvin.
Johnson: So, Nick, got a number for me?
Nick: Two thousand per claim. It's generous… considering.
Johnson: Nick, we've already set a floor—nine thousand per claim.
Nick: The suit we settled at least had a factual basis. These new claims, you're just pulling them out of the air.
Johnson: Lightstone Department Store's been targeting minorities for years. If we let this situation slide…
Nick: If you're trying to make a statement, you've done it.
Johnson: Have I?
Nick: I can go to five per claim—a hundred a fifty thousand total.
Johnson: Well, you're moving in the right direction but your total's off.
Nick: Why?
Johnson: I found twenty-three more people already. And that was just yesterday.
Nick gives him a look and exits the bar.
Scene: Frick Building—Fifth Avenue entrance
Nick enters as Burton exits. They stop to talk.
Burton: Hey. I heard fifty-three claims. I heard.
Nick: Right.
Burton: So, we, uh… we made the deal.
Nick: You fired Glen?
Burton: Lightstone merger's going through as scheduled.
Nick: Does Glen know?
Burton: We just made the deal, Son.
Nick: His father's gonna tell him?
Burton: I would, uh… imagine so, yeah. I'll see ya later.
Scene: Nick's office
Glen is waiting.
Glen: Hey, buddy.
Nick: Hey.
Glen: So… (Rubs his hands together) …I hear the deal's closing.
Nick: Yeah. Yeah.
Glen: So the claims… You settled out?
Nick: Uh… no. (Rubs the back of his head)
Glen: My father's not talking to me.
Nick: Right.
Glen: He, uh… I mean, I called him, like, seven times today. He does that sometimes, you know? When he's mad or embarrassed, he just… he just stops… just stops talking. I mean, I know I screwed up. But, uh… I mean, it's… we did it, right? The deal's done. We can move on now. Yeah?
Nick: Your, uh… your father… The new company wanted you out and your father agreed.
Glen: What?
Nick: You won't be running the company. You've been terminated.
Glen: No. (Disbelief)
Nick: And, uh… I shouldn't be telling you this. (Rubs his forehead)
Glen: Right.
Nick: I'm sorry. (Glen nods—stunned) I shouldn't be the one to tell you this. (Exits his office)
Scene: Legal Services of Pittsburgh—Alvin's office
Alvin: Roger Green's a member of the Board, so… I've been asked to resign my position here, effective immediately.
Nick: Did you tell them what he was doing the other night?
Alvin: (Chuffs) Conversation didn't go in that direction.
Nick: Alvin, you should've told 'em.
Alvin: Well, the Board feels… several key members feel that I've outlived my usefulness to this institution… as Director. It's okay though. This place just… it's not the same now with everything—James, Lulu. Anyway…
Lulu: (Walks in the door) Uh… Alvin, I just got a phone call.
Alvin: Yeah?
Lulu: I've been offered your job—Director… for now.
Alvin: Oh…
Lulu: I took it. (Exits)
Alvin nods, hangs his head, looks at Nick and sighs.
Scene: Moments later—Bullpen
Nick calls for the elevator.
Lulu: So… you know that, uh… this means I'll be your…
Nick: Right. Right. You're in charge here, now.
Lulu: And you can handle that?
Nick: I can.
Lulu: So, uh… I'll see you first thing tomorrow morning, right?
Nick: If that's what you want.
Lulu: (Nods—smiles) I'll see you first thing in the morning.
Nick steps on the elevator—unsmiling. Lulu turns and walks off with a smug smile.
Scene: Detention Center
Nick is shown into a room where Tiffany waits.
Nick: Hey. Wanted to see me?
Tiffany: I told the police the truth… about Mason.
Nick: Okay.
Tiffany: About what really happened. (No response from Nick) I thought that'd make you happy.
Nick: (Quick forced smile) You didn't do it for me.
Tiffany: Right. Uh… I guess I just got tired of the things I had to do to get by.
Nick: Yeah.
Tiffany: So… now I go to that shelter where they can help me?
Nick: Is that what you want?
Tiffany: Yeah, I… I think so.
Nick: Well, I'll see what I can do.
Tiffany: So, they'll take me?
Nick: I'll see what I can do. (Knocks for the guard—exits) (To guard) Thank you.
Scene: Fallin & Fallin—after hours
Burton walks down hallway to Nick's office.
Burton: (To co-worker) Night.
Knocks on Nick's open door, enters and sits down. Nick is leaned back in his chair, feet propped up, reading a document.
Burton: Hey.
Nick: Hey.
Burton: (Sighs) So, I, uh… heard you broke the news to Glen Lightstone.
Nick: Yeah.
Burton: Yeah, that's a shame. Had to do that to his own son.
Nick: Yeah, well, it's done now.
Burton: Oh, by the way, Saturday morning I'm having a couple messengers come over to the house and pick up your things and deliver 'em to your place.
Nick: Dad, I told you, I don't need that stuff.
Burton: I know what you…
Nick: (Agitated) No, I don't need that stuff.
Burton: Listen to me a minute. I tested out your rod and reel. It works fine, still. (Chuckles) And that… that other stuff… you know, that's your childhood.
Nick: All right. Fine. (Gives him a look of indifference)
Burton: (Pause—big sigh) Well, I'll see you tomorrow. (Exits)
Nick: Yeah.
Nick picks up the document and begins to read. Takes a deep breath.
Scene: Legal Services of Pittsburgh—Alvin's office—after hours
Alvin looks at his memorabilia (framed photos or plaques)—sighs. Lulu comes to his door.
Lulu: Alvin?
Alvin: (Turns to face her)
Lulu: Do you wanna stay?
Alvin: On your staff?
Lulu: Well, the place needs you. (After a moment, she exits)
Alvin leans back in his chair, foot on the desk.
END OF EPISODE
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