A Job Offer
February 12, 2003
[Music plays]
Gabrielle: A busy day?
Bo: Yeah, I've been working and waiting. Waiting. I'm waiting for -- to hear from a cop that I sent up to check on Cristian and Natalie, waiting for Jen Rappaport to come around.
Gabrielle: She still hasn't woken up yet?
Bo: Well, she's in and out. Mostly out, but from what she's told us so far, it looks like she may be the key to locking up Mitch Laurence, you know, at least temporarily.
Gabrielle: Oh, she's finally doing something right, is she?
Bo: Uh --
Gabrielle: I'm sorry. Mother's intuition.
[Phone rings]
Gabrielle: Oh! It's all right. It's all right.
Bo: Buchanan. All right. No, give me a minute, and then send him on in.
Gabrielle: We only have one minute?
Bo: Yeah, but I'm sorry.
Gabrielle: Well, let's make it a minute to remember.
[Gabrielle chuckles]
---
Hank: Judge Fitzwater is signing off on the warrant as we speak, so you go pick it up.
Officer: Yes, sir.
Hank: Ok? Great. [sees Nora hitting the water cooler] Hey, hey, hey! Do that again, I'm going to charge you with assault.
Nora: It provoked me.
Hank: Ah. Spoken like a true defense attorney. How are you doing?
Nora: What? Me? Fine, great, good. Great, actually.
Hank: Ah.
Nora: Really good.
Hank: You just caught your fiancé cheating on you with your worst enemy, and you're doing good, fine, and great?
Nora: Ok, I'm not going to sit around and feel sorry for myself, all right? I'm moving on -- as soon as I can figure out how.
Hank: Maybe I can help you with that -- if you're interested.
*~*
Nora: Thank you. My client wants a deal, Hank. Oh, come on, it's a win-win situation. A chain of custody was broken, and you know it.
Hank: You really like being a defense attorney?
Nora: This isn't personal, Hank. The evidence was left unattended.
Hank: You haven't answered me yet.
Nora: Off the record?
Hank: Yeah.
Nora: It's not the same anymore, not since I've had Matthew. And now I win a case and watch the guy walk out of the courtroom and I can't help thinking that maybe one day he might end up hurting my boy, you know?
Hank: Sounds like you can use a change.
Nora: Change? How about a head-to-toe life makeover?
Hank: Remember back in Chicago?
Nora: Oh, yeah.
Hank: When Rachel was little and we worked in the D.A.'S office?
Nora: Yeah, and we spent our off time arguing over strategy?
Hank: Mm-hmm.
Nora: Yeah.
Hank: We were one hell of a team.
Nora: Ok, why the walk down memory lane?
Hank: One of my A.D.A.'S has resigned. You want the job?
*~*
Mitch: Where is my wife?
Bo: Who said you could barge into my office?
Mitch: You called me down here. I assume you have news about Natalie.
Bo: Well, you assumed wrong. Why don't you grab a chair, because I've got some questions for you.
Gabrielle: I'll be on my way.
Bo: Yeah. Lunch.
Gabrielle: I'll be back. Mr. Laurence.
---
Mitch: I'm sorry. Am I intruding on your personal time?
Bo: Sit down.
Mitch: What did you call me down here for? My wife has been abducted. I've told you who's responsible. As if you didn't already know. And yet, instead of protecting my rights, you send people over to my home and ransack the place.
Bo: Let's get something straight. Your wife left you voluntarily. We have witnesses to that fact, including me. So drop the word "abducted." Is that clear?
Mitch: Well, what about your illegal search?
Bo: That search was by the book, and I've got a search warrant, if you would like to see it.
Mitch: There's nothing illegal in my house.
Bo: Hmm?
Bo: What are you doing with Natalie and Jessica's medical records? I asked you a question, Laurence.
Mitch: Jessica's my daughter. Natalie is my wife. I'm responsible for their well-being, medical and otherwise.
Bo: What about this?
Mitch: We are friends, aren't we?
*~*
Bo: That's your scarf, right?
Mitch: You took it from my house.
Bo: No, we didn't. It was found around Jen Rappaport's neck when someone brought her into the emergency room.
Mitch: Jennifer is in the hospital? What happened?
Bo: Well, I was hoping that maybe you could tell me something about that. You see, the poor girl was found out in the snow wearing nothing but a bathrobe and your scarf. Now, how do you think that happened?
Mitch: How should I know? That girl is capable of anything.
Bo: I thought you two were friends.
Mitch: I would like my belongings back now.
Bo: No. They're evidence.
Mitch: Of what? What exactly has Jennifer told you?
Bo: Oh, I think you already know.
*~*
Hank: So, should I get an office ready for you? Wow. You still got it, counselor.
Nora: Give me some time to think about it?
Mitch: I found Jennifer in my house. I offered her shelter from the storm. It was rather cold that night, as you may recall.
Bo: Forget the weather report.
Mitch: She was shivering. I loaned her my scarf. I expected it to be returned.
Bo: That's interesting, because Jen tells a completely different story about what went down at your place. Seems that she had a quite a look around while she was there.
Mitch: Hmm. Jennifer didn't tell you anything. If she had, you'd be doing more with me right now than just fishing. You'll be hearing from my attorney about your illegal search and seizure. In the meantime, I would like my files back.
Bo: Forget it.
Mitch: You have no case, no probable cause.
Bo: These files are personal property. They belong to Jessica and Natalie. And I have a gut feeling that they don't want you to have them.
Mitch: As next of kin, I have every right to have them.
Bo: Look, you get all the attorneys you want and bring them on in. And I'll be waiting, right here, figuring out why you're so interested in both my nieces' medical histories.
*~*
[Knock on door]
Bo: Yeah?
Officer: Lindsay Rappaport called before. She said call her.
Bo: Thank you.
[Phone rings]
Hank: Well, you know where I stand. I want you onboard. But I kind of have to fill this position immediately.
Nora: Can you give me to the end of the day?
Hank: Yeah, yeah. But for whatever it's worth, I think you ought to -- I think you ought to take it. It's exactly what you need to take your mind off things.
Nora: Ok, I'll call you.
Hank: All right. See you later.
Nora: Bye.
Bo: What's going on?
Nora: Huh? Oh, your water cooler's run dry. Oh, and Hank just offered me a job in the D.A.'S office. I mean, it's a pretty tempting idea, too, I must say. I mean, it's the reason why I went to law school, to be perfectly honest, you know? That's the kind of work that you do, but the courts, the defense system wouldn't work unless you have good defense attorneys, and that's important --
Bo: Nora, Nora.
Nora: Important to have.
Bo: When did you start liking to clean?
Nora: What do you think?
Bo: Well, I'd -- I'd be happy if we're on the same side.
Nora: Selfish.
Bo: No, I think it's great. But what Hank just said about getting your mind off things --
Nora: Oh, yeah. Well, that's easier said than done, you know?
Bo: Well, I heard about what happened with you and Troy. I'm sorry. How are you holding up?
Nora: You know what? He wasn't the right guy, that's all. You know, I'll be fine. And, you know, I'll -- I'll move right along with it, you know? Gosh, I'm -- I'll get over it. I'm halfway there.
Bo: No, you're not. Isn't it nice how we all bring
Nora: For months now, I refused to see who he really is, like I had to walk in on him and Lindsay, of all people!
Bo: I'm surprised you didn't kill her.
Nora: Oh, and you know what the funny part it? This is great. Lindsay was trying to tell me, actually. So, Lindsay, Troy, Emily -- everybody knew but me!
Bo: Well, you loved him.
Nora: I was stupid!
God, how could I have bee so far out of touch, you know? I'm a smart woman, right? Don't answer that. I've been married, I've had children, I have a life. I mean, how could I just -- how could I -- I got so completely sucked in! I --
Bo: Well, I almost married Lindsay. You remember?
Nora: Yeah. Right.
Bo: See, you saw the good in Troy. Everybody did.
Nora: Well, that was wrong.
Bo: Well, you had to find that out yourself. But, you know, if he's -- if he's an S.O.B., You're lucky you didn't marry him.
Nora: Oh, right. Yeah. Yeah, you're right. Good thing, huh, you know? And, heck, I've been through worse. And I'll be fine. I -- yeah. I'll be fine.
Bo: Ah.