ACT FOUR
FADE IN:
INT. THE LAB - LATER
The guard is still holding his gun on Josh, Jake and his
friends when Lt. Spivey comes in, followed in short order by
two uniformed policemen and Dr. Rutherford.
LT. SPIVEY
(to the guard)
What's going on here?
GUARD
I found these four here. That
one—
(points at Josh)
—had a bat. Said he took it away
from that one.
(points at Jake)
JAKE
(pointing at Josh)
Look, he's behind this whole
thing. He let us in both times.
JOSH
Oh, come on!
(to Lt. Spivey)
I was trying to stop them!
Dr. Bennett bursts into the room.
BENNETT
What's happening? Josh?
RUTHERFORD
It seems we have a little problem.
JOSH
Hey, you don't have to take my
word for it. Check the security
camera.
JAKE
(sneering)
The cameras are broken, doofus.
Josh matches Jake's sneer.
JOSH
Not anymore, doofus.
One of the policemen walks over to a console and punches a
couple of buttons.
POLICEMAN
Hey, Lieutenant, you oughta see
this.
Lt. Spivey and Dr. Rutherford both walk over to the console.
JOSH
(to Dr. Bennett)
I was stretching my legs, and I
saw Jake here pulling the fuses
out of the box again. So I
plugged in some spares and—good
as new.
Lt. Spivey looks up from the console and nods at Jake and his
friends. The two officers advance on them with handcuffs.
JAKE
(snarling)
This isn't over, prep!
RUTHERFORD
Oh, I think it's over, Mr. Carlin.
Now that you're under arrest, the
police will be able to see if your
fingerprints match those from the
vandalism last year. I would be
greatly surprised if they don't.
Jake growls in reply.
RUTHERFORD (CONT'D)
And I assure you, the Institute
will press full charges against
you and your companions.
One of the officers hands a card key to Lt. Spivey, who shows
it to Dr. Rutherford.
LT. SPIVEY
This look familiar?
RUTHERFORD
(appraisingly)
A blank card key... Mr. Carlin
must have stolen it while he was
working here, and had a duplicate
key made.
LT. SPIVEY
Well, that explains how he kept
getting in.
(to the policemen)
Let's get 'em in the cars.
Lt. Spivey and the two policemen haul Jake and his friends
away. The security guard holsters his gun.
GUARD
(pointing at Josh)
What about him?
RUTHERFORD
Mr. Ford is an employee. No need
to worry about him.
The guard nods and walks out. Dr. Rutherford approaches Josh.
RUTHERFORD (CONT'D)
Well, Mr. Ford, it appears that I
owe you a sizable apology. I
regret having pre-judged you in
the same mold as Mr. Carlin.
JOSH
Uh, no, it's okay...I mean, I
accept.
RUTHERFORD
Perhaps some way can be found to
make it up to you.
BENNETT
Josh was telling me that he and
his wife are registered to attend
Cure the Bay next month.
RUTHERFORD
Indeed? The Institute is rather
heavily involved in that effort.
I imagine you could be sent in an
official capacity—all expenses
paid, of course.
JOSH
Well, I...thank you, Dr.
Rutherford!
RUTHERFORD
Perhaps afterward the two of you
would join my wife and I for
dinner?
JOSH
I'm sure we'd love that, Sir.
RUTHERFORD
Well, it's settled, then. And
now, I think we all deserve some
rest.
BENNETT
I'm afraid I have to overrule you
there. I just got back from
checking Eight and Twelve.
She hands a bunch of printout to Rutherford, who goes through
it quickly.
RUTHERFORD
Yes...I see...
BENNETT
Sorry, Josh, it looks like another
long night of number-crunching.
JOSH
Oh, hey, it's okay... Anything I
can do to help.
RUTHERFORD
(looking up)
Well, I now see that your hands
are quite capable, Mr. Ford.
Carry on, then.
BENNETT
Good night, Dr. Rutherford.
After Rutherford leaves, Dr. Bennett runs over and hugs Josh.
BENNETT (CONT'D)
You did it!
JOSH
(a bit stunned)
Yeah...I did. I mean...it was all
just instinct.
BENNETT
You have good instincts, then.
JOSH
I guess... Wait 'til I tell
Lily.
Dr. Bennett disengages herself, a bit awkwardly.
BENNETT
When we have a spare moment, we'll
have to celebrate. But right
now—
She hands him the printouts.
JOSH
Right. Work.
FADE TO:
EST. L.A. SKYLINE - MORNING
CUT TO:
INT. JOSH AND LILY'S LIVING ROOM
Lily and Mary Cherry are in bikinis and sunglasses, stretched
out on deck chairs under bright tanning lamps, drinks in hand.
MARY CHERRY
My mama always said, nothin' beats
margaritas in the morning.
LILY
I have to hand it to you, Mary
Cherry—you do know how to relax.
MARY CHERRY
Well, it takes years and years of
practice to learn how to properly
do nothin'. But you have lots of
potential, Lil Lily.
LILY
Hey, where'd all this stuff come
from, anyway?
MARY CHERRY
Home.
LILY
(looking over)
Won't your mother be upset that
you took it?
MARY CHERRY
(scoffing)
Oh, all this junk is out of the
East Wing. The only people who
ever step foot in there are the
servants, and I—
(rubs her fingers together)
—have an arrangement with them.
LILY
Wait a minute... I thought you
didn't have any money.
MARY CHERRY
Well, I don't.
LILY
But, if you don't have any more
money to bribe the servants with,
then...
The front door bursts open and an ear-piercing whine fills the
room. The girls look up to see Cherry Cherry standing in the
doorway, whistle in her mouth.
CHERRY CHERRY
THIEF!
EFFECT CUT TO:
INT. JOSH AND LILY'S LIVING ROOM - LATER
Workers carting out the last of Cherry Cherry's purloined
things.
MARY CHERRY
But, Mama! What am I to do?
Cherry Cherry eyes her as if she were a bug.
CHERRY CHERRY
Frankly, my dear—
LILY
(breaking in)
Oh, please—don't say it.
CHERRY CHERRY
Well, I don't!
(to Mary Cherry)
As long as you don't do it with my
money, or any of my things!
With that, she reaches out, rips Mary Cherry's necklace off,
and storms out. Lily and Mary Cherry wind up sitting side by
side on the floor, chins in hand.
LILY
Well, it was fun while it lasted.
MARY CHERRY
(panicked)
You don't understand, Lily! I
can't live like this! I tried
bein' poor—I was no good at it!
LILY
Yeah, I remember.
MARY CHERRY
And, this isn't just for a couple
of days! What—what if I'm doomed
to grow up poor?
(gasps)
Or worse—MIDDLE CLASS?
LILY
I think you're gonna have to work
your way up to middle class, Mary
Cherry.
Mary Cherry starts bawling loudly. Lily awkwardly tries to
pat her shoulder reassuringly.
LILY (CONT'D)
We'll figure something out.
(long pause)
Look, I'm going to call Josh. Are
you okay?
Mary Cherry nods, sniffling. Lily gets up off of the floor
and walks across the empty room to the phone. She picks it up
and dials.
INTERCUT WITH:
INT. THE LAB
After a couple of rings, Rodriguez picks up the phone.
RODRIGUEZ
'Lo?
LILY
(surprised)
Oh, uh, is Josh there, please?
RODRIGUEZ
(looking around)
Sorry, they aren't in yet. I hear
they had a late night last night.
LILY
Uh—
RODRIGUEZ
Oh, hey, are you from the jewelry
place? I got a message: Just
have the ring delivered to Josh
Ford, or Tina Bennett. It's the
same address.
LILY
(confused)
Um...no...I'm not from the jewelry
place.
RODRIGUEZ
(embarrassed)
Oh! Sorry. Do YOU want to leave
a message, then.
LILY
Uh, no. No message.
She hangs up the phone, and stares numbly at it.
CUT TO:
EST. THE COURTHOUSE
CUT TO:
INT. CONFERENCE ROOM
Jones is sitting across from Devenport and Nicole.
DEVENPORT
All right—do you mind telling us
why we're here?
JONES
I'm going to get the tape in. I
know it, and you know it.
DEVENPORT
Look, even if you do get the tape
in—what does it prove? We've
stipulated that the event
happened. Your tape isn't going
to show intent any more than any
of your witnesses have.
JONES
Oh, I could have experts testify
that your client's car accelerated
AFTER it turned the corner. I
could do that—but I really don't
have to.
She flicks on the television and starts the tape. As Nicole's
car roars down the street, she puts the VCR into slow-motion,
and finally freezes on a single frame.
JONES (CONT'D)
All I really have to do is show
them THAT.
Devenport peers at the screen. The shot is almost a perfect
profile of Nicole, hunched over the wheel, a Cheshire cat grin
lighting her face. Nicole cocks her head as she looks at the
picture.
NICOLE
(curiously)
Is that me?
JONES
I'm thinking intent isn't really
an issue at this point.
Devenport leans back and thinks for a few moments.
DEVENPORT
What are you offering?
JONES
Felonious vehicular assault, plus
intent, plus felony DUI. And she
does the max—eighteen to twenty
five.
DEVENPORT
Oh, I don't think so.
She picks up a paper in front of her.
JONES
No? You get your mistrial, I re-
file as attempted murder one, with
the one-strike option. Twenty
five to life. What—
(nods to the screen)
—you think I can't sell that to a
jury?
DEVENPORT
Drop the intent to cause great
bodily harm.
JONES
(considering)
I'll drop the DUI, and recommend
no position on parole. Fourteen
to twenty. She plays her cards
right, she could be out in seven
and a half years.
Nicole eyes her warily.
JOSH
That's as low as I'm going, Ms.
Julian. Do we have a deal—or do
I go swinging for the fences?
Devenport leans over and whispers in Nicole's ear; she makes a
face at him, and nods once.
DEVENPORT
Deal.
FLIP CUT TO:
INT. COURTROOM - LATER
JUDGE HOLMES
...having entered a plea of guilty
to the charge of felonious
vehicular assault with intent to
cause great bodily harm, and in
accordance with the agreement
reached with the People, I hereby
sentence you to the custody of the
California Department of
Corrections, for a period of time
of not less than fourteen, nor
more than twenty years.
(bangs his gavel)
This court stands adjourned.
Before the bailiff can approach, Nicole takes Devenport's
legal pad, scribbles on it, tears off the top sheet and hands
it to him. As the bailiff puts handcuffs on her, Nicole
smirks at Sam, who, along with Mike, have been watching from
directly behind her.
NICOLE
Well, it looks like you won after
all, Spam. Congratulations.
Sam just glares at her back as the bailiff leads her away.
CUT TO:
INT. COURTHOUSE HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER
The doors open, and people begin to stream out, Sam and Mike
first among them. They walk down the hallway together; not
jubilant, but subdued.
SAM
Somehow...I thought this would
feel better.
MIKE
Yeah. Me too.
There is a long, awkward silence as they continue down the
hallway.
MIKE (CONT'D)
I'm heading over to see Brooke.
Coming?
SAM
Of course.
MIKE
At least this is all over. Now we
can concentrate on helping Brooke
recover.
SAM
And breaking her of that awful
habit.
MIKE
Habit?
SAM
Crossword puzzles.
MIKE
(chuckles)
Sam...it can't be that bad.
SAM
You have no idea. I swear to God,
if she's still spouting clues when
she comes home, I'm gonna want my
own place.
Mike laughs as they step into the elevator.
SAM (CONT'D)
I'm serious! Wait til she asks
YOU what the longest river in
Ecuador is—you'll see...
The elevator doors close.
CUT TO:
INT. BROOKE'S HOSPITAL ROOM - LATER
Brooke is alone when Devenport walks in.
DEVENPORT
Miss McQueen?
BROOKE
(looking up)
Yes?
He advances to the side of the bed and holds out his hand;
which Brooke shakes.
DEVENPORT
I'm sorry, we've never actually
met. I'm Michael Devenport.
I'm—I was Nicole Julian's
attorney.
BROOKE
Oh.
DEVENPORT
I'm sorry for disturbing you,
but—
He reaches into his suit and pulls out a folded piece of
paper.
DEVENPORT (CONT'D)
She wanted me to give this to you.
Brooke takes the paper shakily.
DEVENPORT (CONT'D)
I...hope you get well soon, Miss
McQueen.
With that, Devenport turns and hurries away, while Brooke
unfolds the paper.
INSERT: THE PAPER
Scrawled on the yellow page is:
B.
I'm sorry.
Nicole
Shaking her head, Brooke wads up the paper and tosses it
across the room, where it ricochets neatly into the
wastebasket. Then, sniffing, she curls up and pulls the
covers up to her chin.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. BROOKE'S HOSPITAL ROOM - EVENING
Mike, Sam and Harrison are all sitting around the bed, talking
and laughing.
HARRISON
...no, I swear, not only am I not
going to tell you, but I am going
to spend the rest of my life
trying to forget what I saw on
that tape!
SAM
(nudging him)
Aw, it couldn't be THAT bad!
HARRISON
Believe me, I think I'm
permanently traumatized. I will
definitely never look at a rubber
chicken the same way again!
Amid another uproar of laughter, a nurse walks in.
SAM
(guiltily)
Uh-oh.
NURSE
All right, I think the patient
needs a little break.
BROOKE
(laughing)
The patient definitely needs a
little break.
(to Mike)
Dad, take these two out for pizza
or something.
MIKE
(salutes)
Yes, Ma'am.
Mike gets up and kisses Brooke on her forehead.
MIKE (CONT'D)
I'll see you later, honey.
Mike, Sam and Harrison file out of the room, leaving the nurse
to tidy up around the bed. After sweeping up, she picks up
the wastebasket and starts to leave.
BROOKE
(holding out her hand)
Excuse me? Can I see that for a
second?
The nurse brings the wastebasket over to Brooke's side; she
reaches in and fishes out the crumpled note from Nicole.
BROOKE (CONT'D)
Thanks.
As the nurse leaves, Brooke smooths the note out on her tray
table. After a few moments, she folds it neatly into quarters
again, and tucks it away into a nearby book before leaning
back in bed and staring at the ceiling in quiet contemplation.
FADE TO BLACK.
END OF ACT FOUR
THE END