Post by M.A.Y. on Sept 13, 2002 11:42:48 GMT -5
Four weeks have passed since Nick rescued Lulu after she was abducted by Mandy. Nick's arm is recovering well from his gunshot wound. His father's surgery was successful, but Burton faces a long recovery and difficult rehabilitation. Nick, over the protests of his father, has moved into his father's house to help him. The police have been unable to locate Mandy.
Lulu has been on a leave of absence since the abduction and Nick has not seen her since that night in the hospital when he watched her sleeping, with the undeserving Brian at her side. Nick has tried to call Lulu several times, but Brian continually intercepts his calls and will not allow Nick to talk to Lulu.
Caldwell and Mitchell have taken over F&A and have renamed the firm as Caldwell & Associates. Nick and Jake have been working on trying to establish their own firm with several former associates of F&A; however, Nick is finding it difficult leading this group and things are not going well.
It is early on a Monday morning and Nick Fallin is about to leave to meet with Jake and his other lawyers. He passes by his father's bedroom and hears moaning and groaning. He peers in to find Burton lying on the floor, his legs being manipulated and stretched by the physical therapist. Burton spots Nick and tells him to come in and dismisses the therapist. Nick helps his father back on to the bed. Burton reaches for and lights a cigarette. Burton tells Nick that he appreciates having his son around. Telling him that it makes him wonder about all the time they missed together.
Nick is irritated by this talk of regrets, because he has always felt that it was what his father wanted--for them to have been apart when he was growing up. But at the same time some part of him wants to know that he is loved as a son.
Burton continues on talking about how their relationship has gone wrong and then he suddenly stops. He puts his cigarette out and looks Nick in the eyes.
"Nicholas...I've thought it over and I don't want to be a judge. I'm going to decline the appointment."
Nick is stunned. "But why....?"
"This accident....you getting shot...it's all made me think about why I want the things I think I do. I'm a damn good lawyer and that's what I want. And I know that I haven't been a good father but I want to try. I know an old guy like me can't have a second chance, but maybe a fresh start?"
Nick remains silent.
"Nicholas, I want you to help me get the firm back!"
As Nick drives on his way to meet with Jake he tries to contain his excitement. The thought of ousting Caldwell and his lackey and regaining control of F&A feels like the revenge that Nick dreamt of when he quit the firm.
The meeting with Jake and the group goes poorly. Everyone is looking towards Nick for leadership and Nick is unable to respond or inspire the way he knows that his father could. After the meeting ends, Jake takes Nick aside. He tells him the obvious, that this may fall apart before it even begins. Nick, frustrated by his own failure, even though it may all be irrelevant now, lashes out at Jake and leaves abruptly.
Nick is back in his car headed nowhere. He finds himself parked outside the house that Lulu and Brian bought. He gets out of his car and leans against it staring at the house. He sees some movement inside and walks up the front steps to the door. He knocks and waits--no answer. He tries the door and finds it unlocked and enters. They have not moved in yet and the house remains mostly empty. He walks around the house imagining himself there with Lulu. He hears foot steps in the rear of the house and walks toward the sound. He turns a corner and comes face to face with...Brian!
"What the hell are you doing here?!"
"Where's Lulu ?"
"I told you to stay away from her!"
"I need to talk to her--"
"So you can almost get her killed again!"
"At least I won't be bringing home any diseases to her."
Brian is outraged and takes a swing at Nick and misses. Nick grabs Brian's arm and twists it up behind his back and pushes the taller man up against a wall.
"You don't deserve her you prick! For all the years you've known her, you can't even begin to understand who she is!" Nick releases his grip and steps back, from the angry and humiliated Brian. Nick stares at Brian with disgust and leaves.
Nick thinks about dropping by Legal Services and then about going back to his father's, but he is far too angry to see anyone and decides to go back to his own home. He pulls into the drive and gets out of his car. He walks up to his front door eyes downcast. As he reaches the top step he stops and looks up.
"Hello Nick."
Lulu has been on a leave of absence since the abduction and Nick has not seen her since that night in the hospital when he watched her sleeping, with the undeserving Brian at her side. Nick has tried to call Lulu several times, but Brian continually intercepts his calls and will not allow Nick to talk to Lulu.
Caldwell and Mitchell have taken over F&A and have renamed the firm as Caldwell & Associates. Nick and Jake have been working on trying to establish their own firm with several former associates of F&A; however, Nick is finding it difficult leading this group and things are not going well.
It is early on a Monday morning and Nick Fallin is about to leave to meet with Jake and his other lawyers. He passes by his father's bedroom and hears moaning and groaning. He peers in to find Burton lying on the floor, his legs being manipulated and stretched by the physical therapist. Burton spots Nick and tells him to come in and dismisses the therapist. Nick helps his father back on to the bed. Burton reaches for and lights a cigarette. Burton tells Nick that he appreciates having his son around. Telling him that it makes him wonder about all the time they missed together.
Nick is irritated by this talk of regrets, because he has always felt that it was what his father wanted--for them to have been apart when he was growing up. But at the same time some part of him wants to know that he is loved as a son.
Burton continues on talking about how their relationship has gone wrong and then he suddenly stops. He puts his cigarette out and looks Nick in the eyes.
"Nicholas...I've thought it over and I don't want to be a judge. I'm going to decline the appointment."
Nick is stunned. "But why....?"
"This accident....you getting shot...it's all made me think about why I want the things I think I do. I'm a damn good lawyer and that's what I want. And I know that I haven't been a good father but I want to try. I know an old guy like me can't have a second chance, but maybe a fresh start?"
Nick remains silent.
"Nicholas, I want you to help me get the firm back!"
As Nick drives on his way to meet with Jake he tries to contain his excitement. The thought of ousting Caldwell and his lackey and regaining control of F&A feels like the revenge that Nick dreamt of when he quit the firm.
The meeting with Jake and the group goes poorly. Everyone is looking towards Nick for leadership and Nick is unable to respond or inspire the way he knows that his father could. After the meeting ends, Jake takes Nick aside. He tells him the obvious, that this may fall apart before it even begins. Nick, frustrated by his own failure, even though it may all be irrelevant now, lashes out at Jake and leaves abruptly.
Nick is back in his car headed nowhere. He finds himself parked outside the house that Lulu and Brian bought. He gets out of his car and leans against it staring at the house. He sees some movement inside and walks up the front steps to the door. He knocks and waits--no answer. He tries the door and finds it unlocked and enters. They have not moved in yet and the house remains mostly empty. He walks around the house imagining himself there with Lulu. He hears foot steps in the rear of the house and walks toward the sound. He turns a corner and comes face to face with...Brian!
"What the hell are you doing here?!"
"Where's Lulu ?"
"I told you to stay away from her!"
"I need to talk to her--"
"So you can almost get her killed again!"
"At least I won't be bringing home any diseases to her."
Brian is outraged and takes a swing at Nick and misses. Nick grabs Brian's arm and twists it up behind his back and pushes the taller man up against a wall.
"You don't deserve her you prick! For all the years you've known her, you can't even begin to understand who she is!" Nick releases his grip and steps back, from the angry and humiliated Brian. Nick stares at Brian with disgust and leaves.
Nick thinks about dropping by Legal Services and then about going back to his father's, but he is far too angry to see anyone and decides to go back to his own home. He pulls into the drive and gets out of his car. He walks up to his front door eyes downcast. As he reaches the top step he stops and looks up.
"Hello Nick."