Post by lambertoise on May 19, 2003 16:33:57 GMT -5
Title : CHAOS
Author : Lambertoise
Context : This is my answer to Fourbeccaone’s request. It is not exactly a prologue, but rather a prelude for next season. It starts right after All the Rage.
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It's not chaotic. You're, you're just talking about causality and fate and it's nonsense. It's just a moment. You're—you're in a moment now, you were in a moment then, you're in a moment before, you were there and now you're here. And it's just a moment, that's what it is. It's just a moment. (Causality)
*****************************************************************
Opening scene - Allegheny County Hospital – Sunday, 2 pm
Nick is lying in a hospital bed, unconscious, with monitors and needles. People around whisper.
Scene II- Allegheny County Hospital Sunday, 2 pm
Laurie, Burton, LuLu are sitting together in the hospital’s waiting room.
-"Now, what happens?" asks LuLu, who obviously has been crying. Neither Laurie or Burton answer.
Scene III - Sunday morning, 7 am –<br>
In Nick’s living room, the phone is ringing. No one answers. The caller speaks on the answering machine : "Nick, it’s LuLu. I want to say… Could you take the phone, please?... I want to tell you …. I want to talk to you. " No answer. LuLu hangs up.
Scene IV- Friday night
Nick is driving the car. He is almost trembling, ashamed of what he just did. Burton just sits there, smoking, his hands shaking too. Nick sees someone running in their direction. When he recognizes Taleek, he freezes. The guy looks at him, "as if he knew", thinks Nick. Taleek continues to run, while Nick watches him in his rear view mirror.
-" Dad … We should call 9-1-1", he says, a few minutes later, slowing down the car.
-"You know what it means", answers Burton, thinking about the probation, the criminal accusations, and the hell that would follow.
– "Yes, I know. "
Nick suddenly remembers he doesn’t have a cell phone and Burton has sworn he would never get one. –<br>
-"Let’s go to LSP," says Nick, "It’s just here, up the street. I’ll call from there. "
Scene V- Friday night - 30 minutes later
The paramedics put James on a stretcher. Nick holds his hand. James is still breathing, but the new lawyer, Nick has forgotten his name, is dead. The police want him to stay to give his statement. During this time, his father calls Clay.
Scene VI - Friday night - later
-"So, you’re telling us that you found them both lying on the floor", says a policeman, called on he premises.
-"Yes, "says Nick.
- "What were you doing here, at this hour, in your tuxedo? " asked the policeman, puzzled.
-" I needed to make a phone call and my cell is broken. We were in the neighbourhood, so I came here. "
- "You work here, Mr. …Fallin?", says the policeman checking the name on his note pad.
-" Part time. " Nick is embarrassed, his hand is hurting and he looks at it. The policeman sees the blood and asks:
- "How did you get hurt, Mr. Fallin? "
- "Oh, it’s nothing. Just a scratch, " answers Nick, not ready to explain that other thing…<br> - "You say that you saw a man running. Was he coming from here? "
- "I don’t know, but he is one of our client and he was angry with James… -"Why? "
-"Probably because we didn’t win the case," answers Nick, glancing at his father who is on the phone with Clay. He doesn’t want the policeman to hear his father’s conversation.
Scene VII -Saturday - 1 h am- Taleek’s house
" Taleek, Police! Open the door, please", says one of the two policemen sent to check on Taleek.
No answer. The two policemen smash in the door. Taleek is dead. Apparently, he shot himself in the head.
-"What a mess!" says one policeman.
-"Yeah, I heard that he lost his face a few months ago after a wild beating, then he lost his wife, his kid. Tonight, I guess he just lost is future, shooting these two lawyers", says the other one, calling in colleagues to take care of Taleek’s body.
Scene VIII - Friday 11 pm-Burton’s office
Nick and Burton are sitting in silence. Clay comes in :
-" Hey you guys, " he says a sarcastic smile on his face. " I didn’t know when I joined, that my partners would be my main clients! OK. Now. Who hit first? "
-"The guy", says Burton
-"Whom did he hit? "
- "Me, "says Burton.
-" Good. " "That means we could argue that it was to help his old man that Nick hit him back", he adds, seeing the blank stares Nick and Burton gave him. Now, let me check if there is any complaint filed yet and I’ll come back to you tomorrow morning. "
When Clay is gone, Burton asks Nick if he really wants to go forward.
-"Yes, "says Nick, looking at him, wondering why his father is asking again. "Why? You don’t want to? "
-"I’d rather say nothing, "answers Burton.
- "You … You could live with yourself with that… shame in your closet? " asked Nick, almost dumbstruck.
- "It could jeopardize my chance to get Shannon back", finally answers Burton, after a hesitation.
Nick looks at him. - "Ok then. You want Shannon, I’ll take the blame, if that’s what you want. "
-"Nick, come back, " calls Burton, while Nick walks out.
Scene IX Saturday morning –Nick’s house
-"Yes", answers Nick.
-"It’s Clay. Bad news. The guy, Rupert Emery, filed a complaint. He wasn’t hurt very much but was found unconscious by a couple who was going to that concert. "
-"Should I go to the police? "
-"No, not yet. Let me see if there is something on that guy. That could help. Call you later".
Scene X- Saturday night
Nick is at the hospital, asking about James. His condition is very critical and the staff won’t let Nick see him. Nick sits down, near the room, head down, rubbing his hair, overwhelmed by the events of these last two days. He has nobody to talk to, no one he can trust. Nothing. He leaves.
Scene XI- Nick’s house - Saturday night
Back home, Nick hears the telephone ringing. He doesn’t answer but listens to the voice. "Nick! Pick up the phone. Aren’t you there? Nick, I’m sorry, I heard what you said…yesterday and… I know I won’t ever be up to your expectations. You’ll be better without me. I’m sorry. I told Berkeley that I would take the job. "
Hearing that, Nick takes his keys and leaves his house, almost running.
Scene XII- A few minutes later
The phone rings: "Hey, Partner. Good news. The guy, Rupert Emery, he has a habit of shoving his wife. There have been a few complaints about his violence in a recent past. If there’s a trial, emphasis on the IF, no way the jury will believe this guy. You could even come out the hero! The good son. Isn’t that funny? Give me a call tomorrow. "
Scene XIII – Nick’s house – Sunday 1 am
Back home, Nick gets the bags from his pocket and put them on the coffee table. He didn’t have any trouble to find his ex-pushers. They were still busy in the same places. He sits down, opens a bag and after a second, snorts his first line.
Scene XIV- Nick’s house, Sunday – 8 am
LuLu is knocking at his door. She hasn’t sleep. She knew the decision she has made is the wrong one. And she must tell Nick that she’s changed her mind. There is no answer and LuLu is worried. The car is there, the lights are on. She tries to call him on her cell, but still no answer.
Scene XV -Sunday – 8:15 am
The ambulance leaves Nick’s house, LuLu in trail.
Scene XVI- Allegheny County Hospital Sunday, 2 pm
Laurie, Burton, LuLu are in the hospital’s waiting room . "Now, what happens?" repeats LuLu.
In 1999, there were 29, 199 suicides and 730,000 attempts in the USA. Suicide ranks 3rd as a cause of death for young. More Americans kill themselves than are killed by others. Source : American Association of Suicidology.
Author : Lambertoise
Context : This is my answer to Fourbeccaone’s request. It is not exactly a prologue, but rather a prelude for next season. It starts right after All the Rage.
*********************************************************************
It's not chaotic. You're, you're just talking about causality and fate and it's nonsense. It's just a moment. You're—you're in a moment now, you were in a moment then, you're in a moment before, you were there and now you're here. And it's just a moment, that's what it is. It's just a moment. (Causality)
*****************************************************************
Opening scene - Allegheny County Hospital – Sunday, 2 pm
Nick is lying in a hospital bed, unconscious, with monitors and needles. People around whisper.
Scene II- Allegheny County Hospital Sunday, 2 pm
Laurie, Burton, LuLu are sitting together in the hospital’s waiting room.
-"Now, what happens?" asks LuLu, who obviously has been crying. Neither Laurie or Burton answer.
Scene III - Sunday morning, 7 am –<br>
In Nick’s living room, the phone is ringing. No one answers. The caller speaks on the answering machine : "Nick, it’s LuLu. I want to say… Could you take the phone, please?... I want to tell you …. I want to talk to you. " No answer. LuLu hangs up.
Scene IV- Friday night
Nick is driving the car. He is almost trembling, ashamed of what he just did. Burton just sits there, smoking, his hands shaking too. Nick sees someone running in their direction. When he recognizes Taleek, he freezes. The guy looks at him, "as if he knew", thinks Nick. Taleek continues to run, while Nick watches him in his rear view mirror.
-" Dad … We should call 9-1-1", he says, a few minutes later, slowing down the car.
-"You know what it means", answers Burton, thinking about the probation, the criminal accusations, and the hell that would follow.
– "Yes, I know. "
Nick suddenly remembers he doesn’t have a cell phone and Burton has sworn he would never get one. –<br>
-"Let’s go to LSP," says Nick, "It’s just here, up the street. I’ll call from there. "
Scene V- Friday night - 30 minutes later
The paramedics put James on a stretcher. Nick holds his hand. James is still breathing, but the new lawyer, Nick has forgotten his name, is dead. The police want him to stay to give his statement. During this time, his father calls Clay.
Scene VI - Friday night - later
-"So, you’re telling us that you found them both lying on the floor", says a policeman, called on he premises.
-"Yes, "says Nick.
- "What were you doing here, at this hour, in your tuxedo? " asked the policeman, puzzled.
-" I needed to make a phone call and my cell is broken. We were in the neighbourhood, so I came here. "
- "You work here, Mr. …Fallin?", says the policeman checking the name on his note pad.
-" Part time. " Nick is embarrassed, his hand is hurting and he looks at it. The policeman sees the blood and asks:
- "How did you get hurt, Mr. Fallin? "
- "Oh, it’s nothing. Just a scratch, " answers Nick, not ready to explain that other thing…<br> - "You say that you saw a man running. Was he coming from here? "
- "I don’t know, but he is one of our client and he was angry with James… -"Why? "
-"Probably because we didn’t win the case," answers Nick, glancing at his father who is on the phone with Clay. He doesn’t want the policeman to hear his father’s conversation.
Scene VII -Saturday - 1 h am- Taleek’s house
" Taleek, Police! Open the door, please", says one of the two policemen sent to check on Taleek.
No answer. The two policemen smash in the door. Taleek is dead. Apparently, he shot himself in the head.
-"What a mess!" says one policeman.
-"Yeah, I heard that he lost his face a few months ago after a wild beating, then he lost his wife, his kid. Tonight, I guess he just lost is future, shooting these two lawyers", says the other one, calling in colleagues to take care of Taleek’s body.
Scene VIII - Friday 11 pm-Burton’s office
Nick and Burton are sitting in silence. Clay comes in :
-" Hey you guys, " he says a sarcastic smile on his face. " I didn’t know when I joined, that my partners would be my main clients! OK. Now. Who hit first? "
-"The guy", says Burton
-"Whom did he hit? "
- "Me, "says Burton.
-" Good. " "That means we could argue that it was to help his old man that Nick hit him back", he adds, seeing the blank stares Nick and Burton gave him. Now, let me check if there is any complaint filed yet and I’ll come back to you tomorrow morning. "
When Clay is gone, Burton asks Nick if he really wants to go forward.
-"Yes, "says Nick, looking at him, wondering why his father is asking again. "Why? You don’t want to? "
-"I’d rather say nothing, "answers Burton.
- "You … You could live with yourself with that… shame in your closet? " asked Nick, almost dumbstruck.
- "It could jeopardize my chance to get Shannon back", finally answers Burton, after a hesitation.
Nick looks at him. - "Ok then. You want Shannon, I’ll take the blame, if that’s what you want. "
-"Nick, come back, " calls Burton, while Nick walks out.
Scene IX Saturday morning –Nick’s house
-"Yes", answers Nick.
-"It’s Clay. Bad news. The guy, Rupert Emery, filed a complaint. He wasn’t hurt very much but was found unconscious by a couple who was going to that concert. "
-"Should I go to the police? "
-"No, not yet. Let me see if there is something on that guy. That could help. Call you later".
Scene X- Saturday night
Nick is at the hospital, asking about James. His condition is very critical and the staff won’t let Nick see him. Nick sits down, near the room, head down, rubbing his hair, overwhelmed by the events of these last two days. He has nobody to talk to, no one he can trust. Nothing. He leaves.
Scene XI- Nick’s house - Saturday night
Back home, Nick hears the telephone ringing. He doesn’t answer but listens to the voice. "Nick! Pick up the phone. Aren’t you there? Nick, I’m sorry, I heard what you said…yesterday and… I know I won’t ever be up to your expectations. You’ll be better without me. I’m sorry. I told Berkeley that I would take the job. "
Hearing that, Nick takes his keys and leaves his house, almost running.
Scene XII- A few minutes later
The phone rings: "Hey, Partner. Good news. The guy, Rupert Emery, he has a habit of shoving his wife. There have been a few complaints about his violence in a recent past. If there’s a trial, emphasis on the IF, no way the jury will believe this guy. You could even come out the hero! The good son. Isn’t that funny? Give me a call tomorrow. "
Scene XIII – Nick’s house – Sunday 1 am
Back home, Nick gets the bags from his pocket and put them on the coffee table. He didn’t have any trouble to find his ex-pushers. They were still busy in the same places. He sits down, opens a bag and after a second, snorts his first line.
Scene XIV- Nick’s house, Sunday – 8 am
LuLu is knocking at his door. She hasn’t sleep. She knew the decision she has made is the wrong one. And she must tell Nick that she’s changed her mind. There is no answer and LuLu is worried. The car is there, the lights are on. She tries to call him on her cell, but still no answer.
Scene XV -Sunday – 8:15 am
The ambulance leaves Nick’s house, LuLu in trail.
Scene XVI- Allegheny County Hospital Sunday, 2 pm
Laurie, Burton, LuLu are in the hospital’s waiting room . "Now, what happens?" repeats LuLu.
In 1999, there were 29, 199 suicides and 730,000 attempts in the USA. Suicide ranks 3rd as a cause of death for young. More Americans kill themselves than are killed by others. Source : American Association of Suicidology.
(probably the first time since I started to talk!..... ;D)....but this is amazingly good!...