Chapter 1

(It's 11:00, the shift is finally over after a long, endless 8 hours. Kim and Doc have just pulled into the lot behind the firehouse. Doc gets out of the drivers side, while Kim gets out of the passengers side. They open the back doors of the bus and begin to do inventory.)

Doc: Long day huh?

Kim: (Dramatically.) I thought it would never end.

Doc: Hey, would you mind if I cut this a little short. I want to run over to the hospital to see the kid we brought in today before it is too late.

Kim: You mean the kid whose parents died in the accident they all were in?

Doc: Yeah, that kid. I just want to make sure he's doing okay and see if he wants to talk. I know he's sixteen, but sometime it helps to have some one to talk to.

Kim: That's a good idea. (Sarcastically) But, don't worry, I'll finish this up.

Doc: Thanks I owe you one.

Kim: Yeah you do. More than one.

Doc: (Sarcastically.) Ha. Ha. Funny.

(Doc leaves and goes inside the firehouse to get his stuff as Kim continues to inventory the bus. In the house Doc runs into Jimmy who is also getting ready to leave.)

Jimmy: Hey Doc. What's going on?

Doc: Nothing much. Just got to do something.

Jimmy: Where's Kim?

Doc: In the bus doing inventory.

Jimmy: Thanks. See you tomorrow.

Doc: See you.

(Doc leaves and Jimmy goes outside to talk to Kim)

Jimmy: Hey Kim.

(Kim has that look of annoyance. Jimmy only talks to her when he's going to tell her something she's going to hate him for. He never goes out of his way any more to talk to her about something good. She doesn't really want to deal with him right now.)

Kim: (Annoyed.) What do you want Jimmy?

Jimmy: (Keeping his cool.) I came out to talk to you. I also wanted to apologize.

Kim (almost screaming) : Apologize for what Jimmy? For screwing my sister? For ruining my life with your gambling? For almost having Joey killed by loan sharks? Or for trying to take my son away from me? How about him breaking his arm while you were flirting with some woman? What exactly are you apologizing for Jimmy?

Jimmy (very calmly): Why must you always bring up the past?

Kim: Oh, and you wouldn't if the roles were reversed?

Jimmy: Listen I just want to talk to you for a second.

Kim: Talk Jimmy? Okay let's talk. How about we talk about how you are planning on stealing my son away from me. Let's talk about how he broke his arm while you were not watching him. (She sees Jimmy getting annoyed.) Fine, you know what Jimmy? I give up. What do you want to talk about?

Jimmy: After I left your mom's house the other night, I checked my voice mail. My lawyer called and said that the judge would most likely be ruling in my honor. And I just wanted---

Kim: You just came to rub it in my face that the law thinks you are more of a fit parent than I am?

Jimmy: Let me finish please?

Kim: No! I'm not going to let you take him away from me. I will fight for my son!

Jimmy: (Yelling to her.) Our son, Kim. Our son.

(Kim gets out of the bus and starts to walk away, but Jimmy grabs her arm and pulls her back so he can talk to her.)

Jimmy: (Calmly.)  Kim, please listen. I just wanted to tell you that I'm going to drop the case. After watching you with Joey that night at your mom's house, and spending the day with you and our son at the zoo, I've realized that you are a great mother to Joey. I can live with joint custody as long as it's okay with you.

Kim (skeptical): Are you serious? You're not going to turn around and stab me in the back are you? (Starts to raise her voice.) Jimmy, I swear if you're messing with me--

Jimmy: No. I swear on Joey's life. I know we can get along if we try; look at Joey's birthday. We got along so well that day; people even thought we were married. (Chuckles.) I want to try and get along every day, not just Joey's birthday. I'll settle for joint custody, as long as you don't have a problem with that.

Kim: Did you tell your lawyer yet?

Jimmy: Yeah, I told him. He's upset because he knew he had a case he could win and since he's the type of lawyer who only gets paid when he wins your case, he got screwed; but I gave him some money for his services, because I felt bad.

Kim: (Whispering while wiping tears away.) Thank you so much Jimmy. This means a lot to me. (Moment of silence.) Why don't you be the one to tell Joey?

Jimmy: Why don't we do it together? Tomorrow night.  At your house. Okay?

Kim: (Smiling) Okay. Thanks again Jimmy.

Jimmy: See you then.

Kim: Bye

(Jimmy leaves as Kim goes back in the bus to do inventory, while wiping away tears of joy.)