Bad guys 1 Good guys 0

Nora: You sure you want a rookie to handle this arraignment?

Hank: First-time jitters, huh? I like that.

Nora: Oh, I believe that Mitch Laurence should be chained to a wall for the rest of his life, but, still, I thought maybe you'd want to handle him. You sure?

Hank: No, no, no, I think it's time for you to get your feet wet again, counselor.

Nora: Ha, ha.

Bo: Hey, honey.

Jessica: Hi.

Bo: You think your mom's ok?

Jessica: Well, it's not easy, but she had to see him again. She had to face her father again.

Bo: Yeah. You know what -- I might just go over and check on her.

Jessica: No, no, no. She wanted to do it herself.

Bo: As long as she can.

Jessica: Well, she's scared, but I know she's strong enough to do it.

Bo: Mm-hmm. How about you, Jess? Are you strong enough to face your father today?

Jessica: Oh, there's mom.

Viki: Hi, babe.

Jessica: Hi. Did you talk to him?

Viki: Yeah.

Jessica: Are you ok?

Viki: Yeah.

Bo: You sure?

Viki: Yeah. We are here now to deal with Mitch.

Bo: Did Victor say anything about Laurence?

Viki: Not to me he didn't. Maybe to Todd, but Todd didn't say anything.

Bo: Todd saw him?

Viki: Oh, yes. Met his father for the first time.

Bo: Ooh. How'd that go?

Viki: One can only imagine. Where is he? Todd was supposed to be here.

~*~

Cristian: Ready to go in?

Viki: Natalie. Baby, are you ok?

Natalie: Fine. You?

Viki: I'm fine. You don't need to worry about me. I know that this is going to be incredibly hard for you.

Natalie: Well, you must be very concerned about Jessica, too, even more.

Viki: No. I'm equally concerned out both of you, and I want you both to know that I'm there for you.

Bo: Viki, could I talk to you for a second?

Viki: Yes. Sure. Excuse me.

*~*

Nora: It's the last chance for your client to cop a plea.

Hank: I suggest you take it, considering the charges against him.

Ms. Williamson: My client isn't interested in a plea bargain, now or ever.

Bailiff: All rise. Superior court of Lantano county is now in session, the honorable judge Howard lee presiding.

Judge: Be seated.

Bailiff: Case number 35278, the commonwealth vs. Mitchell Laurence.

Judge: Quite a laundry list here. Two counts of kidnapping, conspiracy to commit attempted murder, conspir-- ok. How do you plead?

Mitch: Not guilty, your honor, to all charges.

Judge: Bail?

Nora: Your honor, the defendant, Mitch Laurence, claims to be a man of god. He kidnapped two women -- one in exchange for the life of her very young daughter, the other woman was his own wife, whom he drugged, took to a makeshift operating room, where a surgeon was preparing to cut out her heart to extend the life of a rich and powerful old man. This is not the first time that the defendant has committed such heinous acts. He has eluded police in the past, staged his own death, only to reappear after the statute of limitations was up.

Ms. Williamson: Objection. This has no bearing on the current case.

Judge: This isn't a trial. We're doing bail here.

Nora: Thank you, your honor. I only bring up the prior bad acts to show that Mitch Laurence is most definitely a flight risk. Given that and the severity of his numerous acts, the commonwealth recommends no bail be set.

Ms. Williamson: Your honor, my client has ties to the community, he has a daughter here, and he is determined to see his name cleared of these false accusations.

Judge: All right. The counts stand. The defendant is bound over for trial.

Nora: Thank you.

Judge: Mr. Laurence, when you surrender your passport, bail is set at $500,000.

[Gallery murmurs]

Ms. Williamson: Your honor, the passport is here, and bail is being posted as we speak.

Judge: Very well, your client is free to go. All rise.

[Gallery murmurs]

Natalie: He got out? He's going to be free now?

Cristian: Come on, let's get out of here.

[Loud talking]

Nora: What hell just happened here?

Hank: I would like to know that myself.

Bo: Something just happened. I'm going to find out what.

Viki: He cannot be allowed to go free. Doesn't the judge realize that he's simply going to go on doing what he's been doing -- victimizing people? I can't believe this!

Nora: I'd like to know where he got the money for bail.

Bo: I'll find that out, too. There's got to be some kind of catch.

Hank: Yeah, we can only hope, Bo. Evangeline Williamson -- she covers all her bases. Did you see how fast she pulled out that passport?

Viki: I don't understand this. Now, how in god's name could something like this happen?

Mitch: Well, the Lord works in mysterious ways, Victoria.

*~*

Bo: The judge made sure you can't leave the country. Now, I'm telling you, don't leave town. Are we clear?

Evangeline: I'm afraid you're going to need a court order to enforce that, commissioner.

Mitch: No, it's quite all right. I have no intention of going anywhere. I'm no more worried about my trial than I was about this bail hearing. And besides, who would want to leave? My daughter is here.

Viki: You leave her alone.

Mitch: I'm still hoping we can get to know each other, sweetheart.

Viki: I am not going to let you anywhere near Jessica, or Natalie, either.

Mitch

Mitch: Viki, have we learned nothing from today? You and your minions cannot give nothing from today? I am free to go anywhere and do as I please.

*~*

Todd: Where is everybody?

Bo: You missed it.

Todd: Well, at least the guy's in jail. That gives us some time, right?

Hank: Guess again, Manning.

Todd: What is that supposed to mean?

Nora: The judge granted bail and he made it.

Todd: You got to be kidding me! How the hell did that happen?

Nora: My sentiments exactly.

Todd: Well, we got to go now. We don't have a whole lot of time.

Bo: What's going on, Manning?

Todd: Mitch Laurence is going to off the old man.

Bo: Victor?

Todd: Yeah, Victor. Who else?

Bo: Why?

Todd: Well, I -- I took a -- a peak at pop's new will, and Mitch Laurence gets everything.

Hank: All right, how did you get your hands on that?

Todd: You don't need to know, but I did, and -- well, we got to go. We got to stop him, because if Victor Lord dies right now, Laurence gets everything -- all our money, all l our kids' money, "the banner," "the sun," even Llanfair. Laurence is going to take it all away from us!