INT. ASA'S LIVING ROOM - DAY

Asa sits alone with the door closed talking on the telephone.

ASA
Now Governor you know there are an
awful lot of issues that I think you and
I may see eye to eye on.

BO (O.S.)
No that's ok Nigel, we'll show ourselves
in.

Coming through the double doors Bo and Nora enter the living room.

ASA
(noticing he has company)
That sounds just fine. I'll talk to you then
Governor.

Realizing who Asa is talking to Nora rolls her eyes.

ASA
(Hanging up his phone)
Well if it isn't my son, the police commissioner
and his former bride. To what do I owe the
pleasure?

NORA
Hello Asa.

BO
We need to talk to you Pa.

ASA
Official business? Because I already
told you Bo that I don't know a damn
thing about that shady little operation
down there by the Llantano river.

Nora looks at Bo. "What?" Bo shakes his head. "Nevermind."

BO
(closing the double doors)
We're not here on business Pa, this is a
family matter.

ASA
A family matter? Last time I checked
the two of you weren't married anymore.

BO
No Pa, we're not but that doesn't mean -

ASA
Why is that anyway?

BO
Why is what?

ASA
Why aren't the two of you married anymore?

NORA
Look Asa, we have something pretty
important to talk to you about here.

ASA
Ok honey, sit down, I was just playing
with you a little.

Sitting next to each other on the sofa across from Asa Bo and Nora take a deep
breath.

BO
Pa, I know that this is going to come as a
pretty big shock and, well, there really
isn't any way to tell you except to just
tell you so-

ASA
What is it boy? Spit it out.

BO
Pa-

ASA
(it dawns on him)
You and Nora are getting married again!
I knew this day would come you know.
I tell you boy, it's about time you came
to your senses and roped this fine filly -

BO
Pa!

ASA
I told Renee time and time again that the two
of you -

NORA
Asa!

Asa is quiet.

BO
Will you just listen to me. A few
months ago Nora and I -

ASA
Oh come on boy just spit it out!

NORA
Bo is Matthew's father Asa.

Silence. Not a sound. Asa turns to his son who can't help but have a proud smile
creeping across his face.

BO
It's true Pa. Matthew's my son.

The stunned stare on Asa's face makes way for the same proud smile to come
creeping over him.

ASA
A son? Bo, you have a son?

BO
Not just any son, Matthew. Matthew
is my son.

ASA
(almost in a daze)
Matthew Buchanan.

Oh no. Nora's seen that face before.

NORA
(warning)
Asa.

ASA
A grandson.

BO
Now look Pa-

ASA
(snaps out of it)
Just how in the sam hell did something
like this happen?

BO
A baby? (watching Nora from
the corner of his eye) Well Pa, if you're
curious about where babies come from
I know a lady who can tell you every-
thing you need to know.

Elbowing him in the ribs Nora is only slightly amused.

ASA
I think I know plenty about where
babies come from Bo. What I'd
like to know is how in the world
it took you so long to know that
this one came from the two of you.

NORA
It's kind of a long story Asa.

ASA
I've got time.

BO
It doesn't matter Pa. What matters
is that we do know now.

ASA
But what about all of those tests you
had run?

NORA
It turns out those tests were incorrect.
There was an error at the lab.

ASA
And you found out about this error how?

NORA
Sam -

ASA
Rappaport! That sleazy, no good -
I should've known he-

BO
He didn't tamper with the tests Pa.
It was an error in the lab.

ASA
That still doesn't answer my question
Bo. Just how did the two of you find
out about the error?

BO
After Sam died there were letters
delivered to Nora and I from his
estate.

ASA
So he knew about it? He knew
that boy was not his son and he-
Why that lousy-

BO
Pa! That's enough.

NORA
Look Asa, Sam did know about
the error and he did keep it from
everyone, including me, but we're
really doing our best not to blame
him here.

ASA
Not to blame him?! Hell woman,
the man kept Bo from his child!
He came into this town, broke up the
best marriage either one of you ever
had and you don't want to blame
him?

BO
Regardless of how we feel the fact of
the matter is that Sam is the only father
Matthew has known up to now. He
just lost him and the last thing we
want to do is tell him the man that he
called daddy was a liar.

Asa doesn't speak.

NORA
Sam is dead and the best thing for
us to do is just move forward,
without placing any blame.

ASA
Does the boy know who is father
is now?

NORA
What?

ASA
Does my grandson know that Bo
is his daddy?

BO
He knows.

ASA
And?

NORA
He's on cloud nine.

BO
Little guy even made me a picture at
camp today Pa.

Asa leans back in the sofa, the smile on his face is almost as big as the one that
is smeared across Bo's.

ASA
So when are you bringing him here?

BO
Here?

ASA
Yeah, when do I get to spend some
quality time with my grandson?

Bo's and Nora's eyes dart from each other to Asa and back again as they scramble
for an answer.

NORA
I. well, umm-

BO
He just barely found out that I'm
his dad, Pa.

ASA
Now wait just a minute. You're not
going to go and tell me that I'm not
going to get a chance to know and
love my grandson. I-

NORA
No. Asa of course not. Matthew's a
Buchanan and we want him to know
he has a great big, wonderful family
who loves him.

ASA
That's good because I'm telling the
two of you right now that it is my
God given right as that boy's grandfather
to know him and to spoil him rotten
every chance I get.

NORA
You'll have plenty of time to get to
know him Asa and to spoil him.

BO
Within reason!

NORA
Right. Within reason Asa. Asa?
You've got that right? Within
reason.

ASA
Of course honey, I wouldn't dream
of going over board.

BO
We're serious Pa. Matthew is a great
kid with a great set of values-

ASA
Of course he is. He's a Buchanan.

BO
(ignoring Asa)
And Nora and I plan on keeping it that
way. Got it?

Asa doesn't look at Bo so his son maneuvers himself until he can see straight into
Asa's eyes.

BO
Got it?

ASA
I've got it boy! Now, you two get
out of here and don't come back
until you're ready for me to meet
my grandson.

Nora smiles. Asa's a brute and she sure hates some of the things he does
sometimes but underneath it all he's a big softie. It's clear how much he already
loves Matthew. Standing up to go Nora just can't help herself and steps over to
where Asa sits, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek.

NORA
Thanks Asa. We'll bring him by soon.

BO
I'll see you later Pa.

Walking toward the door Bo and Nora exit leaving a smiling Asa alone.

ASA
Nigel! Nigel!

Hurrying into the living room Nigel is ready to serve.

NIGEL
Yes sir?

ASA
Have a seat Nigel.

NIGEL
(confused)
Sir?

ASA
I said sit down next to me old boy.

Nigel is cautious but does what he is told. Reaching into his jack Asa produces
to fat, expensive cigars. Clipping the tip of each into the ash tray on the table he
sticks one into his butler's unsuspecting mouth and lights it.

NIGEL
(coughing)
Forgive me sir but what's the occasion?

ASA
Congratulate me Nigel, I'm a grandpa!

Still confused Nigel does his best to enjoy his smoking cigar as Asa leans back
enjoying the private celebration.

INT. BO'S OFFICE - LATER

Standing alone behind Bo's desk Gabrielle stares at the picture Matthew made his
dad. This shouldn't bother her like it does. How is it that something so
wonderful for Bo can be making her so unhappy? She can't help it. It does
bother her. It bothers her so much sometimes that she finds herself wishing she
had kept the secret all along. The silence in the office is shattered by voices
outside growing louder as Bo and Nora laugh their way inside.

BO
But you saw his face right?

NORA
I know, I know. He looked like he was
about to fall out of his chair!

BO
Yeah, well, it's hard to surprise the old
coot sometimes but we sure managed
to today.

NORA
We did didn't we.

Nora notices Gabrielle before Bo does.

NORA
Gabrielle! Hi. How are you?

GABRIELLE
Fine thank you. And you?

NORA
I'm fine.

BO
This is a nice surprise. Hi honey.

Stepping to where she stands Bo gives Gabrielle a kiss.

GABRIELLE
Yes, I'm sorry I didn't call Bo I
was just in the neighborhood and
thought I would drop by.

NORA
I have some more digging to do on
that case we talked about earlier so
I'm going to excuse myself. (To
Gabrielle) It was nice to see you
again.

GABRIELLE
Yes, you too.

NORA
(To Bo) Let me know what time you
want to help Matthew with that day
camp project and I'll make sure we're
home.

BO
Ok.

Nora closes the door behind her leaving Bo and Gabrielle alone. Kissing her
again Bo motions for Gabrielle to sit down.

GABRIELLE
So, you and Nora were off on official
business huh?

BO
What?

GABRIELLE
You and Nora, off chasing bad guys again?

BO
What? Oh, that? No, no. We went over
to talk to Asa today.

GABRIELLE
Talk to Asa?

BO
About Matthew. We decided we better get
over there and tell him he has another
grandson, before he heard from someone
else.

GABRIELLE
Oh, so you and Nora decided to make it
public then?

BO
Well it's not like we could keep it a secret
much longer honey, little Matthew's running
around practically screaming it from the
rooftops.

GABRIELLE
Yes, I saw your picture.

BO
(smiles)
He made that for me at camp today.

GABRIELLE
It must feel pretty good to have your son
calling you Dad.

Bo comes alive.

BO
Oh it does! I'll tell you honey, when
Matthew came running in here today
calling me dad, my heart just stopped.

Gabrielle forces a smile and tries to be happy for him.

BO
I can't imagine anything better.

(the phone rings)

BO
Excuse me. Buchanan. Ok, I'll be
right there. (Hangs up the phone) I'm
sorry, I've got to check on this.

GABRIELLE
No, of course.

Both Bo and Gabrielle stand to leave. Bo leans in to give her a kiss on the cheek.

BO
I'll try and get away as early as I can
tonight.

GABRIELLE
Oh, that reminds me.

BO
What is it honey?

GABRIELLE
I was thinking. We never did get to
take that little get away we've been
talking about.

BO
Yeah, about that.

GABRIELLE
And I was thinking how lovely some
of those places we were talking about
would be right about now.

Reaching into her bag Gabrielle begins to pull out travel brochures for she and
Bo to go over.

BO
Look honey, you know how much I
would love to get away with you but
right now, I don't know, Matthew's on
summer vacation and -

GABRIELLE
I thought you just said that things were
going so well with Matthew.

BO
They are. Things are going great with
Matthew. That's just it honey, I need
to be with him. I've missed out on so
much already and I just, I want to be
there, you know? I want to be there with
him when he makes a great catch at his
baseball game and learns to ride his bike.
I want to teach him to ride his bike.

Gabrielle can't look at him. She feels so guilty for not understanding but for
some reason it kills her to hear him talking this way. Stepping toward her Bo
softly pulls her face toward his.

BO
Honey, I want to teach him how to bait
a hook and how to wheel and deal his
mom into going for anchovies on the
pizza and - I want to be his dad Gabrielle,
all the time. You can understand that,
can't you?

GABRIELLE
Yes, I understand.

BO
We'll plan something as soon as things
settle down, ok? Maybe the three of us
could get away somewhere or something.

GABRIELLE
(forcing a smile)
Sure.

BO
I'm sorry honey, I've gotta go.

A quick kiss goodbye and Bo's out the door. Trying not to look hurt Gabrielle
watches him go then grabs her purse and leaves herself.

INT. POLICE STATION BULL PEN - MOMENTS LATER

Nora is on the phone as Gabrielle makes her way past the desks in the bull pen.

NORA
(in the phone)
Yes thank you, tell him I'll wait for his
call.

Seeing Gabrielle Nora tries to make eye contact and smiles. Forcing a smile
Gabrielle quickly averts her eyes and continues on her way.

NORA
Gabrielle? Is everything ok?

GABRIELLE
Yes, fine.

Hurrying past and without another word, Gabrielle leaves Nora standing there
bewildered.

NORA
(calling after her)
Goodbye! Nice to see you again.