INT. POLICE STATION BULL PEN - DAY

Nora is back in the office already one the phone.

NORA
Is Danny available please? Oh, I see.
Could you tell him that Nora Buchanan
from the - (she stops herself) Actually,
do you know when I might reach him?
Ok, I'll call back then.

On his way back to his office from lock up Bo spots Nora.

BO
Hey there.

NORA
(tired)
Hey.

BO
Long day?

NORA
You can say that again.

BO
Well hang in there Red, it's almost over.

NORA
(looking at her watch)
Gosh, is that the time?

BO
Flies by when you're having fun eh?

NORA
I've got to meet Mary Anne and Matthew.

BO
You know, I'm just about as done as I can be
for the night here so why don't you head over
and get Matthew and I'll meet you back at your
house, dinner in hand.

NORA
Bo, you don't have to feed us dinner, Matthew
and I can grab something on the way home.

BO
I know that I don't have to, I want to. I was
coming over to work on Matthew's day camp
project anyway. It would be fun to eat together.

NORA
Ok. Thanks.

BO
(walking back toward his office)
Anything special you want to eat?

NORA
You know the favorites. Surprise me.

Nora gathers her things while Bo just shakes his head and smiles as he enters his
office.

INT. NORA'S LIVING ROOM - EVENING

Nora and Matthew are just getting home. Matthew races inside, drops his bag on
the floor and runs for the kitchen as Nora maneuvers her way in the door.

NORA
Hey, hey, hey! Hold up there pal. Could you
do me a favor?

MATTHEW
Yeah?

NORA
Can you take your bag upstairs and put it away
and then we'll get the stuff for your project out.

Grabbing his bag Matthew runs for the stairs.

MATTHEW
Ok. After we finish my project could dad stay
for dinner too mom?

BO
(from behind the still partly open door)
Did somebody ask for dinner?

Pushing the door open Bo steps inside a giant pizza box in one hand, grocery bag
in the other. Dropping his bag to the floor again Matthew runs to Bo.

MATTHEW
Dad!

Throwing his arms around Bo in a hug Matthew nearly knocks the pizza from his
hands.

BO
Hey there sport.

NORA
Why don't I take that.

Smiling Nora takes the pizza and grocery sack from Bo who is now free to pick
Matthew up and toss him over the shoulder.

MATTHEW
(squealing with excitement)
Wait! Wait! I almost forgot!

BO
(setting him down)
Did you leave something at camp?

MATTHEW
No, I gotta put my bag upstairs like mom
said.

With that Matthew grabs his bag and races up the stairs.

BO
Would it be wrong of me to point out that
that kid is the most incredible little boy ever
put on the planet?

NORA
(smiling)
Well it's never wrong to tell the truth you
know.

Crossing to Nora Bo sits down on the sofa.

BO
I'm so proud of him Red.

NORA
(sitting next to him)
Yeah. I think we done good there Commish.

BO
Well, you've done good. He's
amazing Nora.

Sliding closer Nora puts her arm up over Bo's shoulders.

NORA
Aw I think you had a little something to do
with it too. He's got some pretty strong Bo
Buchanan genes coursing through those veins.
(pause) He's already so much like you Bo.

BO
You think so?

NORA
I know so. And the time you're spending
with him now, he's learning so many
things from you. Our little boy gets more
incredible every single day you spend with
him.

Suddenly the sound of Matthew's feet bounding down the stairs interrupts their
talk.

MATTHEW
All done. And I brought this to show you.

Matthew plops down on the couch between Bo and Nora.

NORA
Honey you have to get that project done and
we really should eat before the pizza gets cold.
(Matthew looks up at her with his big brown
eyes) But you can show your dad the comic
book just while I sort through the mail quick
and then -
(tickling Matthew's belly)
we'll eat!

Hopping up from the couch Nora goes over to the bureau where she flips through
and opens her mail.

MATTHEW
Do you know this comic dad?

BO
Nope. You know it pretty good though huh?

MATTHEW
Yeah. I know it really good. I think I might
have just about everything they make of
this.

NORA
(still going through her mail)
Just about? Oh honey, I think you have
more Secret Space Slimers than the toy
sto-

Suddenly the letter in her hand catches Nora's eye. Digging back through the
pile meant for trash Nora finds the envelope and turns it over looking for a return
address. Nothing. Looking back at the letter Nora turns it over in her hand.

BO
Is everything ok?

Nothing.

BO
Red?

NORA
(startled)
What?

BO
What is it? Is everything ok?

NORA
Yeah. No, of course. Everything's fine.

BO
Is it bad news?

NORA
No. No, just a bill I remembered I have to
pay. It's nothing.
(Sets the letter back in the
pile under some other mail)
Now, whose hungry?

MATTHEW/BO
Me!

NORA
Well, come on slow pokes, grab the pizza
and let's go!

Taking the pizza off of the table Bo hands Matthew the grocery sack and follows
the two of them into the kitchen.

INT. NORA'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Pizza gone, project finished, the house is quiet as Bo and Nora make their way
down the stairs.

BO
I can't believe he fell asleep so fast.

NORA
Yeah, he was pretty warn out. He sure does
love that bedtime story you tell him though.

BO
It's funny, hundreds of great books and stories,
all over the shelves in that room up there and
he wants to hear Wiley Cowboy and his crazy
horse Paint again.

NORA
Can ya blame him? I know I can't wait to hear
it again, especially you doing to voice of that
badger, what's his name?

BO
Theodore?

NORA
Theodore! That's right!
(doing her best "stuffy Badger")
"I'm sorry Wiley, I'd let you stay with me but
I don't think you and Mr. Paint would even fit
through my front door."

BO
Wait a minute, are you making fun of my voices?

NORA
(laughing)
No, no, I wouldn't dream of making fun of little
Theodore and his funny little nasal drawl.

BO
He has a cold.

NORA
(still laughing)
Where did you hear that story anyway?

BO
My Grandpa used to tell it to me when I was a
kid. He made it up I think. I just kind of take
what I remember and throw in a thing or two of
my own.

NORA
Matthew really loves it. Not quite as much as
he loves you but- Thanks for coming over
tonight Bo.

BO
Are you kidding? Thank you for inviting me.

NORA
You know you're welcome anytime.

BO
Thanks. (a beat) I'll give Pa a call and let
him know we'll bring Matthew by this
weekend?

NORA
Sounds good. Gosh, this is going to put you
and I on Asa's good list for years to come I
think.

BO
Scary thought isn't it?

NORA
(laughing)
Absolutely terrifying.

Bo looks up into Nora's laughing eyes. Gosh she is so beautiful. Noticing a stray
hair has fallen down into her face he instinctively reaches up to brush it away.
Somehow even the most simple touch of his hand to her face generates an energy
that is so foreign yet so familiar. Neither of them has felt it for such a long time,
it's a little surprising. The laughing stops and it is quiet, only the sounds of their
breathing can be heard. For a moment, a very short one, they are lost in this
feeling and then -

BO
(Looks at his watch)
I guess I should get going.

NORA
Yeah, of course.

BO
I'll see you at work tomorrow?

NORA
(walking Bo to the door)
Bright and early.

BO
Goodnight Nora.

NORA
Goodnight.

Closing the door behind Bo Nora puts the porch light out and makes her way over
to the living room. She straightens the sofa pillows and the coffee table but it
isn't long before her attention is drawn back to the pile of mail she left on the
bureau. She's hesitant but can't help but stop what she's doing to go to the mail
again. Digging through the pile she finds the letter that held her attention earlier.

NORA
Ok, so somebody's scared. Who would
be so worried about this thing at Llanview
U that they'd threaten me?

Trying to shake any fear from her mind Nora stashes the letter in the
drawer of the bureau, tosses rest of the mail in the garbage can and
heads for bed.