The following is not a novelization or an actual script but a dry transcript of the aired episode that includes accurate word-to-word dialogues, settings descriptions, action scenes and/or camera movements where the transcriber felt they were necessary. This transcript is posted on "TWIZ TV.COM - FREE TV SCRIPTS DATABASE" courtesy of RAHUL KUDVA. "SHARK" and other related entities are owned, (TM) and © by CBS in association with FIVE UK and CANWEST GLOBAL TV NETWORK. This transcript is posted here without their permission, approval, authorization or endorsement. Any reproduction, duplication, distribution or display of this material in any form or by any means is expressly prohibited. It is absolutely forbidden to use it for commercial gain. For entertainment and educational purposes only. No infringement intended.
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TRANSCRIPT:
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FADE IN.

[Stock footage of LA. Night. Bird's-eye-view of the streets. Ominous music plays in the background.]

CUT TO:

[Apartment. Night. Victor Burke, 29, battered and bloody, is dragged across the floor, by someone (face unseen). He struggles and grunts. He's shoved hard into a chest of drawers.]

VICTOR BURKE: [begging] Please.

[The assailant punches him in the stomach. Victor doubles over in agony. The assailant hurls him onto a table, causing its legs to break. The attacker grabs Victor by his jacket and yanks him up.]

VICTOR BURKE: I'm sorry... I-I'm sorry.

[Holding him by his jacket, the attacker pushes Victor outside towards the balcony and leans him against the railing. He grabs Victor's throat and starts to lift him up. They are in a high-rise apartment building, on a high floor. Terrified and realizing where this is going, Victor begs for his life.]

VICTOR BURKE: No. Don't. Please! [yelling] Please! Help!

[He is lifted off the ground, the attacker's hands on his jacket lapels. He's now on the wrong side of the balcony railing. The assailant releases his hold. Victor plummets, screaming.]

VICTOR BURKE: No, no. [screams] Noooooo!

[He falls right on top of a parked car. The car's windows explode outward on the impact. The camera, focused down on his lifeless body, spirals downwards (in slow motion) towards his face.]

FLASH TO WHITE.

[Outside Stark Residence. Night.]

CUT TO:

[Stark Residence. Night. Sebastian Stark sits in the living room, going over some paperwork. Julie Stark enters.]

JULIE STARK: Sorry I'm late.

SEBASTIAN STARK: 9:30 is "Sorry I'm late". 10:30 is more like "I was abducted by aliens."

JULIE STARK: Megan and I were studying.

SEBASTIAN STARK: I don't care if you were curing cancer. Your curfew is nine o'clock on a school night. Period.

JULIE STARK: Fine, ground me for another month.

[She starts to walk away.]       

SEBASTIAN STARK: [sighs] Whatever happened to... earning my trust back?

JULIE STARK: [turns to him, annoyed] I'm trying.

SEBASTIAN STARK: It's an interesting strategy.

JULIE STARK: [sighs sharply] You're right. It was inconsiderate. I apologize.

[Stark looks at her. She seems sincere. She turns to go upstairs.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: I'm gonna pick you up after school tomorrow.

JULIE STARK: [turns] Why?

SEBASTIAN STARK: I have someone I want you to meet.

JULIE STARK: Dad, I'm busy tomorrow. I...

SEBASTIAN STARK: [cuts her off] I'll be there at 3:00. [smiles, signaling "end-of-discussion'.]

[Stark's cell phone rings. He answers it. Julie looks frustrated.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: [into phone] Battered Fathers Anonymous. [listens]

[She smirks humorlessly and starts ascending the stairs.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: [into phone, somber] Where?

CUT TO:

[Outside Apartment Building/Crime Scene. Night. Victor's body lies covered on the ground, near the wrecked car. The area has been taped off. Stark walks up to Madeleine Poe, in party-wear.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: Your evening clearly beat the hell out of mine.

MADELEINE POE: Dinner with friends.

SEBASTIAN STARK: In that dress? Friends with benefits is more like it. [looks at the body, "Mr. Sensitivity"] So, who couldn't wait for the elevator?

[A forensics tech moves back the bright-yellow plastic sheet off the body, showing Victor's broken, bloody corpse.]

MADELEINE POE: Victor Burke. He's not on the tenant list. ID says he's twenty-nine years old. He's a computer science professor at California University.

SEBASTIAN STARK: Anybody call his family?

MADELEINE POE: Wife's on her way. Force of impact plus the angle of the fall indicate he fell from somewhere between the tenth and fifteenth floors.

[They both look up towards the balconies.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: Hmm, it's not a good way to die, but I don't prosecute suicides, so...

MADELEINE POE: ME says some of the bruises and lacerations were inflicted prior to the fall.

SEBASTIAN STARK: Which means Victor probably had help learning how to fly. Witnesses?

MADELEINE POE: LAPD is knocking on doors, but there's a lot of celebrities in the building. No one wants to talk.

SEBASTIAN STARK: [pointing to the body] Uh, dead college professor trumps coke stash in the nightstands. Get warrants if you have to.

[A lady comes running up, looking agitated.]

NATALIE BURKE: [horrified] Victor!

[She reaches the tape. Stark moves to stop her.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: Whoops.

[He ducks under the tape and gently pulls her away.]

NATALIE BURKE: [breathless] Oh, God.

SEBASTIAN STARK: You don't wanna see him like this, okay?

NATALIE BURKE: Victor!

SEBASTIAN STARK: Let the ME take him in, okay?

NATALIE BURKE: [sobbing] What happened?

SEBASTIAN STARK: He fell from one of those balconies.

NATALIE BURKE: [crying] Are you telling me my husband killed himself?

SEBASTIAN STARK: We don't think so.

NATALIE BURKE: Then somebody did this? Victor never hurt anyone. [sobs] We have a little girl. How am I gonna tell her?

[Sobbing, she buries her head in Stark's shoulder. Stark tries to comfort her. The ME covers the body.]

CUT TO:

[Opening sequence.]

CUT TO:

[Stock footage of LA. Day.]

CUT TO:

[California University, Grounds. Day. A couple of pretty female students chat and walk by Stark's team. Casey Woodland removes his sunglasses to check them out. Stark walks up to him.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: Not here for the view, Romeo.

CASEY WOODLAND: Sorry, just reminiscing.

[They join Madeleine and Raina Troy nearby.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: Listen, based on my interviews with Burke's students, he was certainly popular.

[They start walking.]

MADELEINE POE: Yeah, the other teachers liked him, too.

RAINA TROY: Victor started teaching computer science here when he was twenty-six. A year later they offered him tenure.

MADELEINE POE: Serious overachiever.

SEBASTIAN STARK: So what was an academic whiz kid doing in the trendiest high-rise in LA?

RAINA TROY: Cops have gone in to half the units. Nothing yet.

CASEY WOODLAND: Forensics found black silk fibers under the victim's fingernails. Could be from the killer's clothing.

SEBASTIAN STARK: Raina, run a tenant list by the victim's wife. See if she recognizes any names.

RAINA TROY: Okay, let me guess. You also want me to snoop around the house, make sure this guy was on the up and up?

SEBASTIAN STARK: I love it when you read my mind. Madeleine, you and I will check out Burke's office. [to Casey] You find Isaac. Help the cops get into the rest of those condos. Even I can't prosecute a crime without a crime scene.

TIME LAPSE:

[California University, Grounds/Office. Day. Stark and Madeleine speak to Carla Jarrett, Victor's colleague. They walk towards the offices.]

CARLA JARRETT: [reminiscing with a smile] Victor wasn't just a gifted teacher. He was a good person. Loved his family. 

SEBASTIAN STARK: Did he have any personal problems that you're aware of?

CARLA JARRETT: He was brilliant, but he was really hard on himself, always worried about money.

MADELEINE POE: A tenured professor makes a decent living.

CARLA JARRETT: [smiles] LA's an expensive place. Most of us commute from the Valley, but Victor insisted on living in Westwood.

[They enter the office.]

CARLA JARRETT: We share this office.

[She looks towards Victor's desk, which is cluttered with books, papers and other paraphernalia, with hardly any space left.]

CARLA JARRETT: As you can see, organization wasn't his strong suit.

[Stark smirks.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: [quietly to Madeleine] Get permission from the dean to seize his computer.

[Madeleine makes a note.]

CARLA JARRETT: Good luck accessing Victor's files. He was a genius with security software.

MADELEINE POE: His teaching assistant said he seemed tired and stressed out.

CARLA JARRETT: Like I said, Victor was hard on himself. You know, if you'll excuse me, I have a class waiting.

SEBASTIAN STARK: Thank you.

[Carla leaves. Stark looks through Victor's desk.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: He was planning a trip to San Francisco.

MADELEINE POE: That's where his wife's from.

SEBASTIAN STARK: Tell Raina to ask her about it.

MADELEINE POE: Yeah.

[Stark finds a cigar box.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: Emerald Cuban cigars.

MADELEINE POE: That's kind of pricey for a struggling professor.

[Stark opens the box and finds it filled with cash.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: [holding up a wad] Looks like he can afford it.

CUT TO:

[Burke Residence. Day. Raina speaks to Natalie Burke, who sits with her daughter, Claudia. Natalie's mother stands nearby.]

RAINA TROY: Natalie? I'm sorry, um... I'm gong to have to ask you a few personal questions.

NATALIE BURKE: Oh, I understand. [to Claudia] Hey, sweetheart, go play with grandma, okay?

NATALIE'S MOTHER: C'mon, sweetheart.

[Natalie's mother takes Claudia outside. Raina and Natalie wait till they leave.]

RAINA TROY: She's beautiful.

NATALIE BURKE: [sighing sadly] It isn't fair. She'll barely remember him.

RAINA TROY: I don't wanna pry, but... were you and Victor having problems?

NATALIE BURKE: No. Victor and I were fine. There were [sniffles] some money problems. I quit work after Claudia was diagnosed. Claudia has a congenital heart defect.

RAINA TROY: [quietly] Oh, God. I'm sorry.

NATALIE BURKE: Eventually, she'll need a series of operations. Victor's insurance would only cover half. We didn't know where we would get the rest.

RAINA TROY: Here's a list of tenants at the LA Towers. Do you recognize anyone?

NATALIE BURKE: Victor and I didn't exactly hang around with the jet set.

[She looks at the list, sniffling a little. Her brow furrows.]

NATALIE BURKE: Wait, um, Brandon Cole.

RAINA TROY: How do you know him?

NATALIE BURKE: We dated at Stanford. Luckily, I came to my senses before it was too late.

RAINA TROY: What do you mean?

NATALIE BURKE: Brandon went out with my friend Emily after we broke up. One night he got drunk and he hit her. I tried to get her to press charges, but she wouldn't.

RAINA TROY: Did Victor ever meet Brandon?

NATALIE BURKE: We bumped into him a few times. Why would Victor go see Brandon?

CUT TO:

[Stock footage of LA. Day.]

CUT TO:

[Apartment. Day. Isaac Wright and Casey walk through the place, while forensics techs work on the place.]

ISAAC WRIGHT: So you know this guy, Brandon?

CASEY WOODLAND: We went to high school together, but we weren't really friends. We knew the same people, hit the same clubs.

[They look at the place. It's quite a nice place to live in. However, the place seems to have been trashed recently.]

CASEY WOODLAND: Wow.

ISAAC WRIGHT: Well, he's definitely living large.

CASEY WOODLAND: Helps when your last name's Cole.

[Isaac gives him a confused look.]

CASEY WOODLAND: As in Decker Cole Pharmaceuticals. Loaded.

[A forensics tech comes up and hands Isaac a clipboard.]

ISAAC WRIGHT: Oh, thank you.

CASEY WOODLAND: Something went down here.

ISAAC WRIGHT: [re: the clipboard] Have a look at this.

[He motions to the balcony. They walk onto the balcony.]

ISAAC WRIGHT: Scuff marks on the balcony floor and the railing match Victor's shoes. This is definitely the crime scene.

CASEY WOODLAND: Victor knew his wife and Brandon dated. D'you think something was going on between them?

ISAAC WRIGHT: Or maybe he came over to confront Brandon, uh, they get into it, and one thing leads to another.

CASEY WOODLAND: But why would Victor send his wife and kid out of town?

ISAAC WRIGHT: Well, if he knew Brandon had a temper, maybe he was protecting them.

CASEY WOODLAND: [looking down] You gotta have a hell of a temper to throw somebody over a balcony. Any security cameras?

[They re-enter the house.]

ISAAC WRIGHT: Uh, disconnected. Manager said celebs in the building are paranoid about pictures of their overnight guests ending up in a tabloid.

[An officer ushers Peter Cole into the apartment.]

OFFICER: This way, sir.

CASEY WOODLAND: Mr. Cole, my name is Casey Woodland; this is Isaac Wright. We're from the DA's Office. Thank you for coming down.

PETER COLE: Where the hell is my son?

ISAAC WRIGHT: Uh, we were hoping you could tell us.

PETER COLE: I haven't seen Brandon in weeks, since his last trip to Vegas. I can always count on a phone call when the markers come due.

CASEY WOODLAND: Does your son have a gambling problem?

PETER COLE: Ask my accountants. I understand the police are treating this as a homicide. Is Brandon a suspect?

ISAAC WRIGHT: We do need to talk to him.

PETER COLE: All he does is hang out in clubs and casinos with that girlfriend of his.

CASEY WOODLAND: Is this... [picking up a framed picture] her?

PETER COLE: Yeah. Nina something.

[Casey hands the picture to Isaac.]

PETER COLE: Look, my son's got problems. But he's no murderer.

[Isaac looks at the picture of Brandon and Nina together.]

CUT TO:

[County Prison, meeting area. Day. Stark and Julie sit at a table.]

JULIE STARK: [uneasy] Dad. This is a prison.

SEBASTIAN STARK: Somebody's ready for their SATs.

JULIE STARK: Don't I at least get a trial first?

SEBASTIAN STARK: Relax. There's somebody I want you to meet.

[The guard slides open the bars, allowing a young man to enter.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: [stands] Eric, thanks for taking the time.

ERIC BARROW: [wry smile] I'm made of time.

SEBASTIAN STARK: This is my daughter, Julie. Julie, this is Eric Barrow. Eric is serving three consecutive manslaughter sentences.

JULIE STARK: How old are you?

ERIC BARROW: Nineteen.

SEBASTIAN STARK: Tell her how you got here, Eric.

JULIE STARK: Dad, I-I've seen Scared Straight. I don't...

SEBASTIAN STARK: Just listen.

[Eric and Stark sit.]

ERIC BARROW: [dejected] It was a couple of weeks before graduation. I was partying with my friends. We borrowed my dad's car. We were just cruising around, smokin' a joint, drinkin' a few beers, no big deal. Next thing I know, I'm on the sidewalk. I killed two people. Another woman died two days later. Jail sucks. Do you know what the worst part is? [beat, trying not to cry] Remembering how their families looked at me in court. I'll get out someday, but I'll never get those people's faces out of my head.

[Julie looks at him, sympathetically. Stark looks at her, hoping the speech had the desired effect.]

CUT TO:

[DA's Office, Hallway. Day. Madeleine and Casey walk along the hallway.]

MADELEINE POE: We've got APBs out on Brandon Cole from San Francisco to San Diego.

CASEY WOODLAND: How about the girlfriend?

MADELEINE POE: Nina Lange? She's an actress-wannabe club girl.

CASEY WOODLAND: Let's pass her picture around a few of Brandon's hot spots - the Standard, the Viceroy.

MADELEINE POE: You're on your own. I do not do the tragically hip scene.

[They stop at the elevator. Casey hits the button.]

CASEY WOODLAND: Suit yourself, but since it's business, I will be expensing all the booze and food, and [temptingly] I know how you love your Cristal.

[Madeleine smiles, intrigued.]

CUT TO:

[Stock footage of LA. Night. Upbeat club music plays in the background. Shots of neon-lit club exteriors.]

CUT TO:

[Night-Club. Night. The patrons do their thing - drinking, dancing, mingling, you-name-it. Casey and Madeleine (her hair let down) enter.]

MADELEINE POE: How many clubs have we been to tonight?

CASEY WOODLAND: I stopped counting.

MADELEINE POE: I, uh, seem to remember something about expensive champagne.

CASEY WOODLAND: Business before pleasure.

[Madeleine gives him a disappointed pout. They walk through the dancing patrons and find a waitress, holding a drinks tray.]

CASEY WOODLAND: Excuse me, hi. [holding the picture of Brandon and Nina] Have you ever seen these two?

WAITRESS: My bosses don't want us talking to cops.

CASEY WOODLAND: [charmingly] Do I look like a cop?

WAITRESS: They were here a few days ago. I don't know her name, but everybody knows Brandon.

MADELEINE POE: Did they hang out with regulars when they came in?

WAITRESS: Actually, they spent most the time over there with the brothers.

[She points to a private table in a corner, where two men entertain their guests.]

CASEY WOODLAND: I forgot the Lundys own this place.

MADELEINE POE: Our office has investigated those guys for loan-sharking, illegal gambling, racketeering...

CASEY WOODLAND: They're not very popular in Vegas either, but their clubs are hot with the Hollywood crowd.

[They go over towards the table. A couple of bodyguards try to stop them. Madeleine flashes her DA's badge at them and they back down.]

MADELEINE POE: Gentlemen, we're from the District Attorney's Office. Mind if we ask you a few questions?

GAVIN LUNDY: Our liquor license is up-to-date and we're carding at the door.

CASEY WOODLAND: We understand you know Brandon Cole and Nina Lange. Have you seen either of them in the last two days?

MAX LUNDY: No.

GAVIN LUNDY: Why don't you two just get the hell out of here right now?

MADELEINE POE: We're investigating a homicide, so you can talk to us here or downtown. It's your call.

MAX LUNDY: [laughs] I've got a better idea. Why don't you talk to our attorney?

[Their attorney, Nicolette "Nicki" Ross, is standing right behind them. She's one sexy-looking lawyer. Hell, it's Natasha Henstridge - need I say more?]

NICKI ROSS: Nicki Ross. Is there a problem?

[Madeleine and Casey turn to face her.]

CASEY WOODLAND: We're with the High-Profile Crime Unit.

NICKI ROSS: You work for Sebastian. My condolences. Unless you intend to charge my clients with something, they've got nothing to say.

[Madeleine's phone rings. She walks past a smug-looking Nicki, Casey behind her. She answers her phone.]

MADELEINE POE: [into phone] Hello. [listens] Right. Uh-huh. [listens] Yeah, got it.

[She hangs up.]

MADELEINE POE: [to Casey] Isaac just got a heads-up on Brandon's credit card. He just booked a private plane at the Van Nuys Airport.

CASEY WOODLAND: Something tells me that flight is about to be canceled.

[They walk off.]

CUT TO

[LA skyline. Night. A helicopter hovers above, shining a beam of light below.]

HELO PILOT: [over radio] Copy, three-nine-five, that you got the suspect in custody. We're heading back to base.

CUT TO:

[LA road. Night. A bunch of police squad-cars have parked around Brandon Cole's car. An officer pats down Brandon, who's handcuffed and leaning over the hood of his car. Stark and Isaac walk up.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: Another five minutes and Brandon would've been chomping peanuts at twenty-thousand feet. Brandon Cole, I'm Sebastian Stark with the DA's Office. You're under arrest for the murder of Victor Burke.

BRANDON COLE: I didn't kill anybody.

[Isaac pulls out a bag from the car. He opens it.]

ISAAC WRIGHT: Got a gun, cash, some phony ID's.

SEBASTIAN STARK: The whole O.J. Simpson travel kit. You're going down, Brandon, and I'm gonna make sure you land just as hard as Victor Burke.

FLASH TO:

[Flashback. Victor falls towards the camera.]

HARD CUT TO:

[Interrogation Room. Night. Brandon sits handcuffed at the table, while Stark paces about him.]

BRANDON COLE: I didn't do anything wrong.

SEBASTIAN STARK: Right, the husband of your college sweetheart takes a swan dive off your balcony, your girlfriend's missing, and you make a mad dash for the friendly skies. [chuckling] You're like a poster boy for a guilty conscience.

ISAAC WRIGHT: Either you killed Victor or you know who did.

BRANDON COLE: Look, I got a problem. Cards, horses, sports book.

ISAAC WRIGHT: It's not like you need the cash.

BRANDON COLE: It's not about the money.

SEBASTIAN STARK: It's not about the money; it's about the juice, right? [sits] Who do you owe?

BRANDON COLE: Max and Gavin Lundy.

[Isaac and Stark look at each other.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: You travel in dangerous circles. How did Victor Burke get involved?

BRANDON COLE: I was in deep with the Lundys. 250 large. I knew that Natalie's husband was some kind of computer genius. The state hired him to hack into voting machines, see if they could be rigged.

SEBASTIAN STARK: Oh, you figured if he could rig a voting machine, he could do the same with a slot machine? What, say, video poker?

BRANDON COLE: Yeah.

SEBASTIAN STARK: [chuckling] And being a genius yourself, you decided to target the Lundys?

BRANDON COLE: It worked great at first. I was almost even, Victor was up serious cash. Then the brothers caught on.

ISAAC WRIGHT: I'm surprised you're still breathing.

BRANDON COLE: I borrowed 100K from my dad, started paying them back. These guys, they were still pissed. They wanted to send a message.

[Stark and Isaac seems surprised.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: Are you saying the Lundys killed Victor Burke?

BRANDON COLE: It had to be them.

ISAAC WRIGHT: W-Where were you that night?

BRANDON COLE: I was meeting with some investors about opening a club.

SEBASTIAN STARK: What happened to your girlfriend?

BRANDON COLE: As far as I know, Nina was at the condo that night. She must have let Victor in. I guess the Lundys got there first.

ISAAC WRIGHT: Where's Nina now?

BRANDON COLE: I don't know. I can't get in touch with her. But if she saw what happened that night, those guys aren't big on witnesses.

[Stark looks at him, grimly.]

CUT TO:

[DA Jessica Devlin's Office. Day. Nicki speaks to Jessica.]

NICKI ROSS: Your office is engaged in a systematic pattern of harassment against Max and Gavin Lundy.

JESSICA DEVLIN: We're conducting an ongoing investigation, Ms. Ross, but we've gone out of our way to protect their rights.

NICKI ROSS: Well, two members of your High-Profile Crime Unit rousted my clients last night at their place of business.

[Behind Nicki, Stark enters.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: Well, Nicki Ross. How's tricks?

[Nicki turns.]

JESSICA DEVLIN: I take it you two know each other.

NICKI ROSS: [smiling] We're... old friends.

SEBASTIAN STARK: Ms. Ross was one of my associates at Stark-Bell.

NICKI ROSS: Well, I'm a partner now. Fox-Bender-Dirkin.

SEBASTIAN STARK: [sounding impressed, hardly so] Ah! Yeah, I loved stealing clients from those guys. So the Lundys, huh? Business been slow since they hung Saddam?

NICKI ROSS: [laughs] This coming from a man who made murder a relative term.

[Stark smirks, looking at Jessica, who gives him a "she's-got-you-there" look.]

NICKI ROSS: You look good, Sebastian. Slave wages are treating you well.

SEBASTIAN STARK: Yeah, I recently changed my diet. I stopped swallowing my principles. [smiles broadly]

[Nicki looks at him.]

NICKI ROSS: Madam District Attorney... [pleasantly] Sebastian, always a pleasure.

[She stands. Jessica and Stark follow suit.]

NICKI ROSS: Harass my clients again, our next meeting will be in court.

SEBASTIAN STARK: I'll bring the hors d'oeuvres.

[Nicki leaves. Stark turns to Jessica.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: Best associate I ever had. Totally ruthless. I was so proud.

JESSICA DEVLIN: I've been investigating the Lundys for two years. Search warrants, wiretaps, surveillance...

SEBASTIAN STARK: Yeah, that was for illegal gambling and racketeering. I'm investigating a murder.

JESSICA DEVLIN: I'm just saying you could've, maybe, given me a heads-up.

SEBASTIAN STARK: [rolling his eyes] Fine.

[Jessica looks at the TV, which is on mute, where a reporter is speaking at the camera. She goes towards it.]

JESSICA DEVLIN: All right, so can Brandon Cole put the brothers at the scene?

SEBASTIAN STARK: No, but we're going after the satellite company that runs the Lundys' GPS, see if we can track their movements that night.

[Jessica unmutes the TV and sits on the couch.]

REPORTER: [on TV] In the citywide elections, the latest poll has District Attorney Jessica Devlin holding a narrow two percentage point lead over challenger Brian Cutler.

[Stark claps.]

REPORTER: [on TV] Cutler's numbers have surged in recent weeks, despite Devlin's record-high conviction rate.

[Jessica mutes it again, looking flustered.]

JESSICA DEVLIN: He's hammering me on the Callison case.

SEBASTIAN STARK: Oh, please, Cutler's the worst trial attorney I've ever seen in my life. Nobody's gonna vote for that hack.

JESSICA DEVLIN: You just heard it. According to the polls, he's closing in fast.

SEBASTIAN STARK: Not after we nail the Lundys.

JESSICA DEVLIN: Believe me, it's not gonna be that easy. I mean, every time I get these guys in a corner, it's like they know what's coming.

SEBASTIAN STARK: The difference is: this time, [seriously] I'm what's coming.

[He walks off.]

CUT TO:

[HPCU Office. Day. The Lundys pictures are stuck on the crimeboard, in addition to other pictures and papers. Stark speaks with his team.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: In order to make a case against the Lundys, we need to put them at Brandon's condo the night of the murder.

RAINA TROY: I'll see how long it's gonna take Lewis to examine Victor's computer.

SEBASTIAN STARK: Good. Madeleine, pull every file we have in this office on the Lundys.

[Madeleine goes to her desk.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: Casey, where are we with Nina Lange?

CASEY WOODLAND: None of her friends have seen her since the night of the murder.

SEBASTIAN STARK: You guess what I'm thinking?

CASEY WOODLAND: Loud and clear. If she's alive, I'll find her.

SEBASTIAN STARK: Good. [looking at Isaac] Uh...

[Stark notices Raina, watching them. He dismisses her with a look.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: [quietly to Isaac] Didn't you tell me when you were a kid, you used to break into cars?

ISAAC WRIGHT: Uh, yeah, yeah, so?

SEBASTIAN STARK: So let's see if you haven't lost your touch. [smiles]

[Isaac smiles and gets up.].

CUT TO:

[Stock footage of LA. Night.]

CUT TO:

[Outside Night-Club, Parking Lot. Night. Isaac surreptitiously makes his way to a Hummer, with license plates "G Lundy". He jimmies open the driver-side window and opens the door. He climbs into the vehicle, staying low,  and pulls out his PDA. Connecting the PDA to the Hummer's GPS system, he starts to download the data to his PDA. His cell phone rings. Irritably, he answers it.]

ISAAC WRIGHT: [into phone] What?

RAINA TROY: [from phone] Hey. The thing that I wanted to tell you.

INTERCUT WITH:

[HPCU Office. Night. Raina sits alone in the office, speaking to Isaac on the phone.]

RAINA TROY: [into phone] The other night really meant a lot to me.

ISAAC WRIGHT: [into phone, quickly] Uh... Yeah, yeah, me, too.

RAINA TROY: [into phone] Now that you opened up to me like that, I...

ISAAC WRIGHT: [into phone, sharply] Can we, can we talk about this some other time?

RAINA TROY: [into phone] Why? Are you sorry it happened?

ISAAC WRIGHT: [into phone] No, I'm-I'm kind of in the middle of something right now.

RAINA TROY: [into phone] Okay. Are we, um, are we still on for dinner?

ISAAC WRIGHT: [into phone] Yeah, but I might be a few minutes late.

[He checks his PDA. Download's almost done.]

RAINA TROY: [from phone] No problem. It, um, it just really makes me happy that I feel like I can finally trust you.

ISAAC WRIGHT: [into phone, distracted] Good, good.

[His PDA beeps. The download's finished.]

RAINA TROY: [into phone] Bye.

ISAAC WRIGHT: [from phone] Bye.

[She hangs up, smiling.]

CUT TO:

[Stark Residence, exterior. Night.]

CUT TO:

[Stark Residence. Night. Julie is laying dinner on the table. Stark enters.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: You cook for me? Spinach lasagna, nice.

JULIE STARK: Think of it as the last supper.

[Stark smirks.]

JULIE STARK: Dad, did you really think I needed to have a heart-to-heart talk with a prisoner?

SEBASTIAN STARK: I got a news flash for you. If you weren't lucky enough to be pulled over that night, you could be that prisoner.

JULIE STARK: Don't you think I know that? Don't you think I feel bad about that?

SEBASTIAN STARK: Honestly, I don't know. It's not like we ever talk anymore.

JULIE STARK: We do talk, Dad.

SEBASTIAN STARK: [shrugs] Hmm.

JULIE STARK: [stutters, sits] The problem is, you want me to be the perfect daughter that you hung out with on weekends. Well, I-I can't be that, okay?

SEBASTIAN STARK: [sits, gently] I never asked you to be perfect, Julie, just honest.

JULIE STARK: I know. I should've called you when I got arrested, but... I didn't want to let you down.

SEBASTIAN STARK: You didn't. You just scared the hell out of me, that's all.

[He stands and leans on the backrest of her chair, his hands on her shoulders.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: You're all I've got in the world, kiddo.

JULIE STARK: I want to get past this.

SEBASTIAN STARK: So the lasagna was a peace offering?

JULIE STARK: I'm really sorry about everything.

SEBASTIAN STARK: Mm.

JULIE STARK: Can we start over?

SEBASTIAN STARK: [kisses her on the temple] I think we already have.

[He pats her shoulder. She smiles. He sits down to dinner, smiling.]

CUT TO:

[Tech Lab. Night. Lewis Slocombe works at the computer, Madeleine hovering over him. Isaac enters.]

ISAAC WRIGHT: Sorry I'm late. What about the GPS download? Is it done?

[Lewis brings it up on the large monitor. A map is displayed, a dot showing the Lundys position.]

LEWIS SLOCOMBE: It's time coded. So you can see the Lundys' car leaving their club... [tracking the moving dot] and moving...

[The dot stops.]

ISAAC WRIGHT: ... to the Tower.

MADELEINE POE: In time for Victor Burke's murder. We got 'em.

CUT TO:

[Judge's Quarters. Day. Judge Thomas Watkins enters, followed by Stark and Nicki.]

NICKI ROSS: In its vendetta against my clients, the DA's Office has finally crossed the line between obsession and criminality.

SEBASTIAN STARK: [sniggers] Is that an argument or a movie trailer?

NICKI ROSS: My client's car was broken into, Your Honor. An illegal search was undertaken by Mr. Stark's team, and my client's private GPS system was hacked into.

JUDGE THOMAS WATKINS: That's a very serious charge.

SEBASTIAN STARK: I'll say; especially since The People have a valid search warrant for the Lundys' vehicle.

[He looks smugly at Nicki, who doesn't look so sure of her herself right now.]

NICKI ROSS: Can prosecution produce that document?

SEBASTIAN STARK: I thought you'd never ask. The warrant was requested during an ongoing racketeering investigation against the Lundys. It's still in full force.

[He hands both of them copies of the warrant.]

NICKI ROSS: This was obtained over a month ago.

SEBASTIAN STARK: And yet, oddly minty fresh. There is no time limit on the warrant, Your Honor. Our search was completely valid.

JUDGE THOMAS WATKINS: I have to agree.

NICKI ROSS: Then why break into the car? Why not just ask?

JUDGE THOMAS WATKINS: Mr. Stark?

SEBASTIAN STARK: We knocked, Judge, nobody was home. It was a time-sensitive matter; we executed the search.

NICKI ROSS: I respectfully request that Mr. Stark's petition for an arrest warrant for my clients be denied.

JUDGE THOMAS WATKINS: Sorry, Ms. Ross. In light of the prosecution's legally-obtained evidence, an arrest warrant for Maxwell and Gavin Lundy is hereby granted.

[Stark beams, while Nicki sulks.]

CUT TO:

[Nightclub. Day. While patrons look on and murmur amongst themselves, officers handcuff the Lundy brothers.]

HARD CUT TO:

[HPCU Office, Conference Room. Day. The Lundys sit in the conference room with separate counselors - Max with Nicki and Gavin with his lawyer, Hoffman. Stark and Jessica march inside.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: Separate counsel, huh? So much for brotherly love.

NICKI ROSS: Let's cut to the chase. Your case is built on stolen evidence. You have no witnesses. Drop the murder charges. We may not sue for wrongful arrest or malicious prosecution.

JESSICA DEVLIN: Your clients have one chance to tell us what happened to Victor Burke.

[Gavin leans back in his chair, looking at her contemptuously.]

NICKI ROSS: Oh, we have no intention of discussing a plea.

[Stark looks at Hoffman.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: [to Nicki] Does he talk? Or does he have to sit on your knee with your hand up his ass? You guys may be tough on the strip, but you get up to Tehachapi, the boys are gonna pass you around like a box of Girl Scout cookies.

NICKI ROSS: [packing up] We're done here.

[She, the Lundys and Hoffman rise.]

JESSICA DEVLIN: Just remember, gentlemen, whoever knocks on my door first gets the deal. Second place is a jail cell for the rest of your life.

[The Lundys smile insolently and leave, with their counselors. Jessica and Stark stay back in the room.]

JESSICA DEVLIN: One of those guys better roll over.

SEBASTIAN STARK: Well, separate counsel works for us. Divide and conquer.

JESSICA DEVLIN: [worried] We go after these guys and lose, Cutler is gonna crucify me.

SEBASTIAN STARK: I'm not gonna let that happen, Jess. Anybody's gonna crucify you, it's gonna be me.

[Jessica seems touched... almost.]

CUT TO:

[Courtroom. Day. The trial/preliminary is underway. The Honorable Thomas Watkins sits at the bench. Stark examines Brandon Cole  (in the dock). The Lundys sit at the Defense table with their lawyers.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: You met Natalie Burke at Stanford.

BRANDON COLE: We dated for a year.

[Natalie Burke watches from the galley.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: So, you're a bright guy, Brandon, but you were no wunderkind like Natalie's husband, Victor.

[Brandon looks at Natalie, who glares back at him.]

BRANDON COLE: No, Victor was the smartest guy I knew.

SEBASTIAN STARK: How'd you meet?

BRANDON COLE: Uh, Natalie introduced us.

SEBASTIAN STARK: But at that point, you owed the defendants somewhere in the neighborhood of a quarter of a million dollars in gambling debts, correct?

BRANDON COLE: Yes.

SEBASTIAN STARK: And you enlisted Victor Burke's help in a scheme to eliminate that debt?

BRANDON COLE: I knew that Victor needed money for his daughter, so I convinced him to hack into video poker machines to determine when certain card combinations would hit.

SEBASTIAN STARK: And to whom did those poker machines belong?

BRANDON COLE: Max and Gavin Lundy.

SEBASTIAN STARK: Did your plan succeed?

BRANDON COLE: At first. Victor and I kept winning big. Then I got greedy. I pushed it too far.

SEBASTIAN STARK: The defendants figured out that you were cheating them.

BRANDON COLE: Yes. They threatened to kill me. I borrowed some money and paid back part of what I owed.

SEBASTIAN STARK: How 'bout Victor?

[Brandon looks ruefully at Natalie.]

BRANDON COLE: Victor, uh, he wasn't as lucky. When he couldn't afford to pay the Lundys back, they killed him.

NICKI ROSS: Objection. Speculation.

JUDGE THOMAS WATKINS: Sustained.

SEBASTIAN STARK: No further questions.

[He moves to his seat at the Prosecution Table. Nicki stands.]

NICKI ROSS: Mr. Cole, you conned Victor into working with you.

SEBASTIAN STARK: No, no, he knew what he was doing.

NICKI ROSS: Well, you knew he had a sick child, and you played on that, correct?

BRANDON COLE: [uneasy] I guess.

NICKI ROSS: Your girlfriend Nina Lange was at your condominium the night Victor Burke died. Do you know where she is now?

BRANDON COLE: No.

NICKI ROSS: Did you two break up?

BRANDON COLE: No, she... she just disappeared. I've been... I've been worried sick about her.

NICKI ROSS: I see.

[Stark realizes Nicki's got something up her sleeve.]

NICKI ROSS: Do you have a history of violence towards women, Mr. Cole?

SEBASTIAN STARK: [stands] Objection. Relevance?

JUDGE THOMAS WATKINS: Overruled.

[Stark sits.]

NICKI ROSS: Did you not strike Emily Chapin at Stanford University in 1997?

[Stark jerks his head towards her. Natalie looks at Raina, who seems just as bewildered about how Nicki found out.]

BRANDON COLE: [forces out a sigh] Yes. That was just one time. Things got out of hand.

NICKI ROSS: Did things get out of hand with Victor Burke? Did you two argue over money? One thing led to another, and you pushed him off the balcony?

BRANDON COLE: [defensively] No. I wasn't there that night. I was at a meeting. And after that, I was going back to the condo...

NICKI ROSS: [interrupts] ...to pick up your girlfriend, Nina. Only she's missing. [beat] Sure hope she's okay.

[She returns to her seat. Stark looks bemused.]

CUT TO:

[DA's Office, Hallway/HPCU Office. Day. Stark, Raina, Madeleine and Jessica walk towards the office.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: How the hell did Ross know about Brandon's history of abuse?

RAINA TROY: She couldn't. Emily Chapin was the only incident, and she never filed a complaint. Victor's wife told me about it. I checked Emily out. She lives in Berlin now.

[They enter the HPCU office, where Casey speaks on the phone.]

MADELEINE POE: Well, there's no way Natalie Burke is feeding information to the guys who killed her husband.

JESSICA DEVLIN: Well, somebody sure as hell is. I should have seen this a mile away.

SEBASTIAN STARK: You think we've got a leak?

JESSICA DEVLIN: I don't know, but every time we get close to these two, they're a step ahead.

MADELEINE POE: Well, if there's a leak in this office, the Lundys are the least of our problems.

SEBASTIAN STARK: They could threaten every case in this building. Thousands of prosecutions.

[Casey hangs up.]

CASEY WOODLAND: [excitedly] You ready for some good news?

SEBASTIAN STARK: I'm not sure I'd recognize it.

CASEY WOODLAND: I've got Lewis monitoring the Lundys' computer accounts. Gavin Lundy just got an e-mail from Naughty Nina.

JESSICA DEVLIN: As in Nina Lange.

CASEY WOODLAND: Ran through a server in 29 Palms, which is right next to Joshua Tree, where this photo was taken. [points to the photo of Brandon and Nina, stuck to the crimeboard.]

JESSICA DEVLIN: All right, so, if Nina Lange is alive, and she saw what happened...

SEBASTIAN STARK: [to Casey] Break out the sunscreen, you're heading for the desert.

CUT TO:

[Joshua Tree. Shots of the highway and wind turbines turning.]

CUT TO:

[Hotel, Poolside. People hang around the pool in their swimwear. Casey and Isaac enter, with no one to chastise Casey about enjoying the view, this time. Nina Lange, in a green bikini, suns herself on a pool chair. Casey and Isaac see her and recognize her from the photo.]

ISAAC WRIGHT: Nina Lange?

NINA LANGE: [turning up her sunglasses] Who's asking?

CASEY WOODLAND: [flashes his DA's badge] We're from the LA District Attorney's Office. We've been looking everywhere for you.

NINA LANGE: [smiles] Why?

CASEY WOODLAND: We're concerned with your well-being. I know Brandon Cole will be relieved to know you're okay.

NINA LANGE: Oh, yeah? How is he?

ISAAC WRIGHT: Well, he's a suspect in a murder investigation, so he's been better.

NINA LANGE: [sighs, sits up] Look, Brandon didn't kill anybody.

CASEY WOODLAND: How do you know?

NINA LANGE: Because... I know Brandon, okay?

ISAAC WRIGHT: What's your relationship to Gavin Lundy?

NINA LANGE: [uncomfortably] We just, you know, hang out sometimes.

CASEY WOODLAND: According to your e-mails, you do a lot more than that.

[Nina stands irritably .]

NINA LANGE: You know, I don't really feel like talking anymore, so I'm going to go.

[Isaac blocks her way.]

ISAAC WRIGHT: Uh, you don't have a choice.

CASEY WOODLAND: Victor Burke is dead, and you're the only one who knows how he got that way.

NINA LANGE: [pleading] Please, I really... I don't want to get in the middle of this.

ISAAC WRIGHT: Sorry. You're already there.

CUT TO:

[Stock footage of LA. Day.]

CUT TO:

[Sidewalk café. Day. A skateboarder cruises by Julie and her friend, Danielle, eating at a table.]

DANIELLE: I heard Jimmy Radcliffe really likes you.

JULIE STARK: Ugh! Total Lacrosse dork. Pass.

DANIELLE: He's really cute. And his parents have a house in Kauai.

JULIE STARK: This is what I love about you, Danielle. You are not shallow.

[Danielle laughs. Another friend, Annie, walks up.]

ANNIE: Sorry I'm late.

DANIELLE: Hey.

ANNIE: I just heard the Thermals are at the Kappa house at SC tonight.

DANIELLE: [excited] Cute guys, beer. We are so there.

[Julie squirms in her seat.]

ANNIE: Julie?

JULIE STARK: I can't. My dad would have an aneurysm.

DANIELLE: C'mon! You're allowed to go to parties, right?

JULIE STARK: Yeah.

DANIELLE: Did your dad ever specifically say no frat parties?

JULIE STARK: No.

ANNIE: [slyly] Loophole.

[Julie looks at her, a half-smile on her face.]

CUT TO:

[Stark Residence, Indoor Courtroom. Night. Nina Lange's image is displayed on one of the big-screen TVs, while she sits nervously in the witness box and Stark preps her. The team watches.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: Where did you meet Brandon Cole?

NINA LANGE: In LA. And... Brandon's a good guy. Y'know, when he's winning.

SEBASTIAN STARK: [chuckles] Let's drop the "when he's winning" part, okay?

[She nods.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: How long have you and Brandon been together?

NINA LANGE: Uh, about fourteen months. Living together for, like, the last six.

RAINA TROY: What about Gavin Lundy?

NINA LANGE: [beat] Look, I want to be an actress, okay? And Brandon said he knew a lot of producers, but he never actually came through. Well, Gavin did.

SEBASTIAN STARK: [laughing] Mercenary but honest.

MADELEINE POE: What happened the night Victor Burke was killed?

[She hesitates. Stark looks at her encouragingly.]

NINA LANGE: I was, um... I was at the condo, and Brandon was out in a meeting. And then Victor came by...

 [FLASHBACK: At Brandon's apartment, Victor turns around, looking panicky.]

NINA LANGE: [vo] ...just freaking out, so I let him in...

 [BACK TO PRESENT.]

NINA LANGE: ...and I-I just told him to wait.

SEBASTIAN STARK: And what did you do then?

NINA LANGE: [sighs regretfully] I called Gavin. I knew that... I knew that he and Max were looking for Victor, but I never thought that they were going to kill him.

SEBASTIAN STARK: Tell me exactly what you saw.

NINA LANGE: Um... they started arguing.

 [FLASHBACK: Gavin grabs Victor by his lapels, while Max watches.]

 [BACK TO PRESENT.]

NINA LANGE: And I heard Victor say something about going to the police.

 [FLASHBACK: Gavin punches Victor hard in the stomach.]

 [BACK TO PRESENT.]

NINA LANGE: [choking up] And that's when... they dragged Victor out onto the balcony.

 [FLASHBACK: Nina watches fearfully as the Lundys drag him to the balcony.]

 NINA LANGE: What're you doing?

 [BACK TO PRESENT.]

[In the witness box, Nina cries quietly.]

RAINA TROY: [gently] What happened, Nina?

NINA LANGE: [sobbing] Gavin was holding Victor by the throat...

 [FLASHBACK: Gavin, holding Victor's throat, starts to push him over the railing.]

 NINA LANGE: Stop, please!

 [BACK TO PRESENT.]

NINA LANGE: ...pushing him over the rail. [sighs heavily]

 [FLASHBACK: Gavin, an evil look on his face, holds Victor over the railing, while Max stands by, watching.]

 VICTOR BURKE: [terrified] No! No!

 [BACK TO PRESENT.]

NINA LANGE: Victor was just begging Gavin to pull him back in.

SEBASTIAN STARK: But he didn't.

NINA LANGE: Victor was trying to hang on... and then...

 [FLASHBACK: Gavin pushes Victor, who falls to his death.]

NINA LANGE: [vo] Gavin just let him go.

 [Watching in horror, Nina covers her mouth, to avoid screaming.]

 [BACK TO PRESENT.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: Gavin was wearing a black sweater that night?

NINA LANGE: [nods] Yeah. And then he gave me some money, and... he told me to get out of town. [gulps] But... [choked voice] I mean, I swear to God... I swear to God, nobody was supposed to die.

[Stark looks at her.]

CUT TO:

[Courtroom. Day. The trial continues. Stark stands.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: Uh, Your Honor, we have just located a witness who was not previously available to us. We call Nina Lange to the stand.

[Nicki turns around as Nina enters the room, walking guardedly.]

NICKI ROSS: [stands] Your Honor, the defense is concerned that Ms. Lange's testimony could expose her to criminal liability.

SEBASTIAN STARK: Well, that's touching, but counsel isn't Ms. Lange's attorney. The witness has been given immunity.

NICKI ROSS: Yeah, but immunity for federal charges? My clients are under investigation by the US Attorney's Office for loan-sharking and bookmaking.

JUDGE THOMAS WATKINS: Mr. Stark, have you secured federal immunity for your witness?

SEBASTIAN STARK: I would remind the court that this is not a federal prosecution.

NICKI ROSS: I'd just like to be sure that Mr. Stark has been completely forthright with his witness.

SEBASTIAN STARK: And I assure the court the witness has been advised of her status.

JUDGE THOMAS WATKINS: Better safe than sorry, Mr. Stark. Ms. Lange, knowing that the immunity agreement could leave you open to criminal liability in a federal court case, do you still wish to testify?

[Nina looks tense. Stark and Nicki look at her.]

NINA LANGE: Uh... Does-Does that mean that I could actually go to jail?

JUDGE THOMAS WATKINS: That's exactly what it means.

NINA LANGE: [quietly] Oh.

[Natalie Burke closes her eyes in frustration. Nicki, on the other hand, smiles broadly. Stark turns away, sighing.]

CUT TO:

[Courthouse, Hallway. Day. Stark and Madeleine stride outside the courtroom.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: [pissed] Don't tell me there's not a leak in our office. We just lost our star witness. How the hell did Ross get the details of our immunity agreement?

MADELEINE POE: She didn't even know Nina was alive.

SEBASTIAN STARK: Nobody's that good except me and God. You know what? I want you to call Musso & Frank's, make a 9:30 reservation, then call Ross's office, tell her to be there, my treat.

[Stark lets out a frustrated snarl and walks off, while Madeleine looks baffled.]

CUT TO:

[Hollywood Boulevard. Night. Camera pans upwards to the neon "Musso and Frank Grill" ("Oldest in Hollywood") sign.]

CUT TO:

[Musso and Frank Grill. Night. Stark and Nicki sit at the bar, in the darkened restaurant.]

NICKI ROSS: You always like the old joints.

SEBASTIAN STARK: Yeah, I only go to the trendy spots to arrest people.

NICKI ROSS: I've got you cold on this one. Why not dismiss? Save yourself further humiliation.

SEBASTIAN STARK: Sounds like a pretty good idea. You've become a hell of a lawyer, Nicki.

NICKI ROSS: I had a good teacher.

SEBASTIAN STARK: [motioning to the bartender for a refill] Manny.

NICKI ROSS: I haven't been here since we celebrated burying those bank documents in the Saltzman case.

SEBASTIAN STARK: Yeah, you left early that night.

NICKI ROSS: I asked you to come with me.

SEBASTIAN STARK: [sucks in air through his teeth] Yeah, I had a wife at home.

NICKI ROSS: Right.

SEBASTIAN STARK: I've remedied that situation.

[Nicki chuckles.]

NICKI ROSS: Didn't you also have a rule against sleeping with your associates?

SEBASTIAN STARK: I did, I did. But not on moral grounds. Clouds your judgment, I think. Gets in the way of winning.

[She raises her glass.]

NICKI ROSS: To no longer working together.

SEBASTIAN STARK: [snorts] Yeah.

[The clink glasses and drink.]

CUT TO:

[Stock footage of LA. Night.]

CUT TO:

[Nicki Ross' Apartment. Night. Stark walks in front of the mirror.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: [with a flourish] Prosecution rests.

[Nicki comes up wearing some pretty sexy nightwear.]

NICKI ROSS: Round three in the shower?

SEBASTIAN STARK: You got a defibrillator and some nitroglycerin in there?

[She rests her chin on his shoulder playfully.]

NICKI ROSS: Mm-hmm.

[They chuckles. She moves away towards the bathroom. Stark watches the door close and then goes to work. He picks up his cell phone and enters the next room. The shower starts in the bathroom. Stark speed-dials a number.]

INTERCUT WITH:

[Tech Lab. Night. Lewis sits in front of his computer, while Raina and Madeleine hang around. The phone rings. Lewis answers it and keeps it on speaker-phone.]

LEWIS SLOCOMBE: Tech lab.

[Stark is sitting in front of Nicki's laptop.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: [from phone] Yeah, I'm here. What the hell am I looking for?

LEWIS SLOCOMBE: [from phone] A Documents folder. Files pertaining to your case against the Lundys.

[Stark double-clicks Nicki's mail client. When it opens, he clicks the Documents folder, brining it up. He sees emails regarding Nina Lange. He looks surprised.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: [quietly, into phone] I'll be damned. She's got my emails. They hacked into our system. They've been spying on us all along. Meet at my place in twenty minutes.

[Raina is about to hang up, when they hear Nicki's voice.]

NICKI ROSS: [playfully, from phone] Sebastian!

[Stark winces.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: [from phone] Better make it an hour.

[Madeleine and Raina exchange scandalous looks and chuckle.]

CUT TO:

[Stark Residence, exterior. Night.

SEBASTIAN STARK: [vo] How the hell did Nicki Ross access...

CUT TO:

[Stark Residence, Indoor Courtroom. Night. Stark rants and raves to his team.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: ...the district attorney's database?

RAINA TROY: According to Lewis, it wasn't Ross.

MADELEINE POE: It was Victor Burke.

CASEY WOODLAND: So we're saying the victim helped Ross hack into our files.

SEBASTIAN STARK: [thinks] No. No, well, in a way, it wasn't Ross. He was helping the Lundys.

RAINA TROY: Wait, come again?

SEBASTIAN STARK: Think. How does a computer whiz pay back two thugs under investigation by the DA's Office?

MADELEINE POE: [understanding] He hacks into the DA database so the brothers know exactly what we have on them.

CASEY WOODLAND: Why didn't Victor just give them the cash we found in his office?

SEBASTIAN STARK: Because... [morose] because he had a sick kid.

[Casey understands.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: [exhales heavily] Man.

RAINA TROY: All right, so what are we supposed to do?

SEBASTIAN STARK: [slyly] If opposing counsel wants to hack our files, let's give her something really juicy to steal.

FLASH TO:

[Flashback. Victor lies dead on the wrecked car, as the camera swirls upwards.]

HARD CUT TO:

[Stark Residence. Day. A harried-looking Stark strides towards the door to work. Julie comes downstairs.]

JULIE STARK: You had a late night. Hope you had fun.

[Stark stops, looking awkward.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: [shrugging] Just work.

JULIE STARK: I have to tell you something.

SEBASTIAN STARK: Shoot.

JULIE STARK: I went to a frat party at SC. Nothing happened. I didn't even drink. I just... I just wanted you to know. Full disclosure, right? [chuckles nervously]

[Stark advances up to her. She looks apprehensive.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: Okay. [starts to walk away]

JULIE STARK: [relieved] That's it?

[Stark walks up to her, smiling lovingly.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: I just appreciate your being honest.

[He kisses her on the cheek and leaves. She lets out a "phew!".]

CUT TO:

[HPCU Office. Day. Stark walks inside, followed by Casey and Isaac.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: Hey. Victor Burke may have hacked into the DA's system for the Lundys, but that doesn't make him an arch criminal. He was just a desperate father trying to save his child. I'm guessing, at some point, he realized he was committing a major felony.

[He enters his office.]

CASEY WOODLAND: Nina said Victor threatened to go to the cops.

ISAAC WRIGHT: Well, maybe that's why he sent his wife and daughter up north, to protect them from Max and Gavin.

CASEY WOODLAND: The question is, how do we prove it?

[Stark sits at his desk.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: We don't. The Lundys do. Hey, our defendants like to eavesdrop, so...

[He starts typing an email.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: [reciting as he types] "Jessica, heard from Hoffman. His client, Gavin Lundy, is prepared to testify against his brother."

[Casey and Isaac exchange smiles.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: "Meeting is at four o'clock to seal the deal."

[With a flourish, he hits a key and the email is sent. He smiles victoriously at his associates.]

ISAAC WRIGHT: You think that's enough to convince Max his brother's rolling on him?

SEBASTIAN STARK: There's no honor among thieves. I give Ross till... mm... lunch.

[There's a knock on the door. It's Natalie.]

NATALIE BURKE: Mr. Stark.

SEBASTIAN STARK: [stands] Is everything okay, Natalie?

[Isaac and Casey depart as Natalie enters.]

NATALIE BURKE: I keep hearing awful things about Victor - people he was involved with. Is that true?

SEBASTIAN STARK: [sighs] Victor made some mistakes. He got in over his head, yes.

NATALIE BURKE: He was a good man and a great father.

SEBASTIAN STARK: I'm sure he was.

NATALIE BURKE: If he was doing anything wrong, it was because he felt he had to.

[The phone rings. Stark excuses himself and goes eagerly to answer the phone.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: I'm sorry. [answers phone] Yeah. [listens] Got it.

[He hangs up.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: [to Natalie] As a matter of fact, your husband may have just helped me put away two really bad guys.

[Natalie seems mollified.]

CUT TO:

[Jessica's Office. Day. Nicki and Max Lundy walk inside. Jessica and Stark are already inside.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: So what's the rush, Nick? I was scheduled for eighteen at Riviera.

[Nicki, obviously disapproving of Max's decision, sounds defeated.]

NICKI ROSS: My client has decided to discuss a plea.

JESSICA DEVLIN: Anything in particular change your mind?

NICKI ROSS: We want full immunity. Max walks. We serve Gavin up on a silver platter.

SEBASTIAN STARK: How about this? First degree murder, twenty to life.

JESSICA DEVLIN: And he testifies against his brother.

NICKI ROSS: You've got nothing.

SEBASTIAN STARK: I think we both know that's not true.

[Jessica and Stark look at Max, who looks anxious.]

NICKI ROSS: Well, I guess we'll take our chances in court.

[They prepare to get up.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: ["Shark Mode"] Fine. Hey, you're a gambler, right, Max? How about this? How about I bet you your life I can convince twelve people you are a scum-sucking dirtbag?

[Stark smiles broadly at him. Max, knowing his predicament, whispers to Nicki. She nods.]

NICKI ROSS: Manslaughter. He does seven to twelve.

JESSICA DEVLIN: But only if we put Gavin away for life.

MAX LUNDY: [rueful] He's my brother.

SEBASTIAN STARK: I'm not asking. You roll on him or I roll on you. Take your pick.

MAX LUNDY: [under his breath] All right.

NICKI ROSS: You've got a deal.

SEBASTIAN STARK: Talk.

CUT TO:

[Courtroom. Day. The trial continues. A dejected Max Lundy sits in the witness box, giving his testimony. Stark paces about in front of him.]

MAX LUNDY: I wish I'd never met Victor Burke. I was willing to forget about the whole video poker scam, but Gavin just... wouldn't let it go.

[Gavin looks at his brother, completely nonplussed.]

MAX LUNDY: When Victor couldn't pay us back, Gavin came up with a different form of repayment.

SEBASTIAN STARK: What did you ask Victor to do?

MAX LUNDY: Hack into the DA's computer. We wanted to know what they had on us.

[Nicki watches, stone-faced.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: And Victor agreed to do this?

MAX LUNDY: Trust me, Gavin didn't him much choice.

GAVIN LUNDY: [clenched teeth, incensed] Cut the crap, Max.

JUDGE THOMAS WATKINS: One more outburst and I'll have you removed, Mr. Lundy.

MAX LUNDY: Victor was awesome. Tipped us on a warrant to search the club, the racketeering investigation, everything.

SEBASTIAN STARK: And this settled his debt?

MAX LUNDY: And then some. We started paying him. Victor needed the money. We needed him. Everything was cool.

SEBASTIAN STARK: So what went wrong?

MAX LUNDY: Victor got scared. He knew he'd go away for a long time for what he was doing. He wanted to be there for his daughter. He wanted out.

[Natalie watches from the galley.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: But you wouldn't let him.

MAX LUNDY: He threatened to close the hole in the firewall, go to the cops. We couldn't let that happen.

SEBASTIAN STARK: Now at this point, Victor went to Brandon Cole for help, is that correct?

MAX LUNDY: Yeah. We got a call from, uh, Brandon's girlfriend, Nina, and we headed over there.

SEBASTIAN STARK: So what happened when you got there?

MAX LUNDY: Gavin said we were just going to smack him around a little, straighten him out.

[Gavin stares daggers at his brother.]

MAX LUNDY: Next thing I know, Gavin's got him hanging over the balcony.

 [FLASHBACK: Gavin holds Victor over the balcony.]

MAX LUNDY: [vo] I tried pulling him back up, but Gavin was pissed.

 [Max tries to pull Victor up.]

MAX LUNDY: Victor was hanging off the side, begging for his life. And then Gavin just let go.

 [FLASHBACK: Gavin lets go of Victor's lapels, while Max watches in horror.]

 VICTOR: [screaming] No!

 [Victor falls to his death below. Max looks at Gavin in shock. Gavin just turns away and walks back inside. Max looks below at the body.]

 [BACK TO PRESENT.]

[Max finishes his testimony. Natalie starts to cry.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: No more questions.

[Nicki has a deflated look on her face. Gavin leans back in his seat in defeat.]

CUT TO:

[Courthouse, Hallway. Day. Stark walks outside the courtroom. Jessica walks up to him.]

JESSICA DEVLIN: So should I congratulate you or... rather handle that yourself?

SEBASTIAN STARK: Admit it, you were worried there for ju-ust a second.

JESSICA DEVLIN: Let's just say I wasn't exactly anxious to toss my opponent another big loss to throw in my face. Oh, our data system has been secured.

SEBASTIAN STARK: Yeah, breaking into the DA's computer. What will they think of next?

JESSICA DEVLIN: [walking away] Jealous you never thought of it when you were on the other side?

SEBASTIAN STARK: [calling after her] Who says I didn't?

[He sees Nicki waiting for an elevator and walks up to her.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: Ah! Bugging the opposition. You're playing with fire, Nicki.

NICKI ROSS: I don't know what you're talking about.

SEBASTIAN STARK: I should be prosecuting you for spying on the DA's Office.

NICKI ROSS: You slept with opposing counsel and violated my private files. If I go down, you go down.

SEBASTIAN STARK: I like the sound of that. No... hard feelings?

NICKI ROSS: I'll let that one go.

[They chuckle. The elevator dings and the doors open. She gets inside.]

NICKI ROSS: Way too easy. See you around.

[He smiles at her. The elevator doors close.]

CUT TO:

[Outside Burke Residence. Natalie wheels Claudia on her pram, when Stark pulls up in his car.]

NATALIE BURKE: [pleasantly] Mr. Stark.

[Stark gets out of his car, carrying something, and walks towards her.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: You ever been to Stan's Donuts? They've got a chocolate-cheese Danish that [chuckles] ought to be outlawed.

NATALIE BURKE: I looked for you after the trial. I wanted to thank you.

SEBASTIAN STARK: I know it won't bring Victor back.

NATALIE BURKE: No, but at least those animals are paying for what they did.

SEBASTIAN STARK: [hands her something] You might want to take a look at this.

[It's the cigar box. She opens it and finds the money inside it.]

NATALIE BURKE: [breathes heavily in surprise] I don't understand.

SEBASTIAN STARK: They found it in Victor's desk. There's no specific link to the Lundys or any illegal activity. [quietly] You might want to shut that. So as far as the DA's Office is concerned, its discovery was circumstantial.

NATALIE BURKE: Mr. Stark, if this money had anything to do with...

SEBASTIAN STARK: Natalie... this is your money. Victor wanted you to have this.

[Natalie smiles at him.]

SEBASTIAN STARK: Take care of that little girl, huh?

[Smiling, he walks back to his car. Natalie attends to her daughter.]

CUT TO:

[END CREDITS.]
 

END OF EPISODE

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TRANSCRIBED BY RAHUL KUDVA - WWW.TWIZTV.COM
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