Post by M.A.Y. on Aug 23, 2002 12:18:06 GMT -5
Wednesday, late morning at F&A, Burton has called an open meeting for all associates and partners. Nick is in the back of the lobby leaning against a wall. Burton enters smiling. Nick stiffens as his father begins to speak to the firm. Burton announces that he has accepted the appointment to the Federal bench. Nick has mixed emotions about his father's impending departure from the firm. There is applause and congratulations for Burton. The room continues to buzz with chatter and Burton motions for Nick to follow him into his office.
Nick congratulates his father, but notices his father's expression and mood have darkened. He asks Nick to sit, Nick remains standing.
"I've been floating the idea of you assuming control of the firm around."
"And--"
"There isn't the support that I was expecting--hoping for."
"Well, I just need the opportunity and the time to prove that I can handle this."
"Nicholas, it just isn't going to work, not yet. I'm sorry son."
"So that's it?! One day you promise me the firm and the next you snatch it all back. You--"
"Nicholas, my hands are tied on this one! I'm half-way out the door...it's not my call anymore. You've got to accept this as what's best for the firm!"
"Oh, best for the firm or best for you Dad! I saw you talking with Caldwell. What the hell is going on?! Is he the one your giving the firm to?!"
Burton is silent.
Nick, yelling now, "Is he taking over here?! Tell me you didn't hand my future over to Caldwell and his lackey Mitchell!"
"I'm sorry son."
Nick glares at his father and storms out of the office.
Nick, trying to clear his head, spends the rest of the day at Legal Services. But the entire office reminds him of Lulu. He hasn't seen her since the Sunday in the park, and since she was scheduled to be in court all day he resignes himself to another day without her. One minute he is angry with his father over the betrayal, the next he is daydreaming about Lulu. But his thoughts are interrupted by the ringing of his cell phone.
It is Mandy. She is rambling and anxious. Nick recognizes the manner in her speech as a person who is high on drugs. She is becoming hysterical and repeats her desperate demand for money. Nick refuses and she begins to curse him, telling him that he'll be sorry. Nick hangs up in the middle of her rambling threats. Again, he decides not to call the police.
A couple of hours later it is after 7:00 PM and Nick has gone home. As soon as he gets inside his home his cell rings again. It is Mandy. Nick angrily tells her to leave him alone. She interrupts him, telling him that she has someone he might like to talk to. The next voice he hears is Lulu's. Mandy's voice quickly comes back on the phone. She tells Nick where to meet them and to bring cash, he then hears yelling and screaming and what sounds like a struggle...the phone goes dead.
As he is about to rush out the door, he nearly runs over a police officer who was about to knock on the door.
"Are you Nicholas Fallin?"
"Yes."
"Son of Burton Fallin?"
"Yes."
"I'm afraid that your father has been in a car accident."
"Is he all right?!
"It's very serious. He's at Pittsburgh General."
Nick is sick to his stomach and it is all he can do to remain standing.
Nick congratulates his father, but notices his father's expression and mood have darkened. He asks Nick to sit, Nick remains standing.
"I've been floating the idea of you assuming control of the firm around."
"And--"
"There isn't the support that I was expecting--hoping for."
"Well, I just need the opportunity and the time to prove that I can handle this."
"Nicholas, it just isn't going to work, not yet. I'm sorry son."
"So that's it?! One day you promise me the firm and the next you snatch it all back. You--"
"Nicholas, my hands are tied on this one! I'm half-way out the door...it's not my call anymore. You've got to accept this as what's best for the firm!"
"Oh, best for the firm or best for you Dad! I saw you talking with Caldwell. What the hell is going on?! Is he the one your giving the firm to?!"
Burton is silent.
Nick, yelling now, "Is he taking over here?! Tell me you didn't hand my future over to Caldwell and his lackey Mitchell!"
"I'm sorry son."
Nick glares at his father and storms out of the office.
Nick, trying to clear his head, spends the rest of the day at Legal Services. But the entire office reminds him of Lulu. He hasn't seen her since the Sunday in the park, and since she was scheduled to be in court all day he resignes himself to another day without her. One minute he is angry with his father over the betrayal, the next he is daydreaming about Lulu. But his thoughts are interrupted by the ringing of his cell phone.
It is Mandy. She is rambling and anxious. Nick recognizes the manner in her speech as a person who is high on drugs. She is becoming hysterical and repeats her desperate demand for money. Nick refuses and she begins to curse him, telling him that he'll be sorry. Nick hangs up in the middle of her rambling threats. Again, he decides not to call the police.
A couple of hours later it is after 7:00 PM and Nick has gone home. As soon as he gets inside his home his cell rings again. It is Mandy. Nick angrily tells her to leave him alone. She interrupts him, telling him that she has someone he might like to talk to. The next voice he hears is Lulu's. Mandy's voice quickly comes back on the phone. She tells Nick where to meet them and to bring cash, he then hears yelling and screaming and what sounds like a struggle...the phone goes dead.
As he is about to rush out the door, he nearly runs over a police officer who was about to knock on the door.
"Are you Nicholas Fallin?"
"Yes."
"Son of Burton Fallin?"
"Yes."
"I'm afraid that your father has been in a car accident."
"Is he all right?!
"It's very serious. He's at Pittsburgh General."
Nick is sick to his stomach and it is all he can do to remain standing.