[Tea glances down at several pieces of paper arranged on the table before her.]
Tea: Let's begin by going over the list of charges against you. Or, perhaps I should refer to it as your list of stupidity.
Todd: Do you insult all your clients, or am I just special?
Tea: You are very special.
[Todd grunts. Tea laughs at his response.]
Todd: At least you're having fun.
Tea: I am. It has been too long since I've had such a challenging case.
Todd: Are you disappointed this isn't a murder trial?
Tea: As much as I may enjoy winning an impossible fight, I'm glad this won't be that impossible.
Todd: I could have given this whole town the murder trial everyone has craved for a long time. I could have let my guard down and Blair would have taken me out.
Tea: I'm surprised that you didn't.
Todd: Don't you mean disappointed?
Tea: When I learned that Viki had called me, I thought perhaps Blair's aim had improved.
Todd: So, you were really upset when you found out it was only a flesh wound?
Tea: How bad is it?
Todd: I'll live...unfortunately.
Tea: So, you were trying to get yourself killed.
Todd: I meant, unfortunately for you. Now, you're stuck pretending like you give a damn about me again.
Tea: I care about you, Todd. I always will.
Todd: What about the guy who knocked you up? Did he split on you when he found out you cheated on him?
Tea: Were you concerned he would hurt me in a blinding rage?
Todd: He's not the type.
Tea: How do you know what type he is?
Todd: I just figured that, after splitting on me, you probably went for the opposite kind of guy.
Tea: I know you checked up on me. So does my...uh...
Todd: Your sperm donor?
Tea: We should get back to discussing your case.
Todd: This is part of my case. You're part of my case. Can you be my lawyer and testify at the same time?
Tea: Do you anticipate the prosecution calling me? No one knows what happened between us.
Todd: They will.
Tea: Blair knows?
Todd: Gannon might keep you out of this but you know Blair's shyster will use this to help Blair keep my kids from me.
Tea: Given her pattern of violent outbursts, I don't think we'll have to worry about any custody battle Blair may try to ignite.
Todd: I'm going to prison.
Tea: You are not. I'm your lawyer, remember?
Todd: You still think you're hot stuff, huh?
Tea: You used to think that, too.
Todd: You're knocked up. Everything is different now.
Tea: I was referring to my skills as a lawyer. You used to believe in me.
Todd: I haven't walked out the door, have I?
Tea: Only because it's locked.
Todd: It doesn't matter how good you are anyway. We both know the hypocrites that run things in this stupid town will never put Blair away for what she did. If she goes free, it doesn't matter if I do too because they'll pick her over me for custody.
Tea: Is that why you've given up on having a decent defense?
Todd: I was defending myself. I can't trust anyone else to come through for me.
Tea: I'm here.
Todd: What does your live-in sperm dispenser think about that?
Tea: You know we've been living together? You have been checking up on me.
Todd: I wasn't checking up on you.
Tea: You were checking out him, making certain that I was safe. That's very sweet.
Todd: If my knocked up chick split town on me and was lying to her ex-husband about how sweet he is, I'd be really ticked.
Tea: Do you really want to talk about this right now?
Todd: I don't want to talk about your seed planter at all.
Tea: Good. Let's discuss the details of your case.
Todd: He wasn't ticked?
Tea: I thought you didn't want to talk about him?
Todd: I don't. I'm just wondering what's wrong with the guy. You were knocked up with his kid and you left him to get naked with me. Now, you split on him again. Is he really stupid enough to trust you after what happened the last time? He does know, right?
Tea: I told him. We had a long, serious talk.
Todd: Did he call you a bunch of names?
Tea: Oddly, you've been the one insulting me, not him.
Todd: That is odd. What's wrong with the loser?
Tea: He loves me.
[Todd's silence surprises Tea.]
Tea: Where's the snide response?
Todd: I'm paying you big bucks. I'm not wasting time talking about some idiot I don't like.
Tea: I think you'd actually like him, if you got to know him.
Todd: I was forced to spend enough time around your other lovers while we were married.
Tea: Don't even start!
Todd: I was just stating a fact.
Tea: I should probably go right now and track down Hank before he leaves for the day. Now that I'm your lawyer, I can work on your release.
Todd: Are you excited about seeing your old lover again?
Tea: Hank and I were never involved.
Todd: But, you did his brother. What if you run into R.J. in Hank's office?
Tea: I'll apologize for hurting him by running out on him to leave town with you.
Todd: You'll tell him how much you regret that decision?
Tea: I'll tell him that I'm sorry I didn't treat him with more respect but that I needed to follow my heart. Now, unless you have more insults for me...
Todd: I have tons. But, I guess they can wait until you get back. You won't be able to get me out so maybe later you can drop by my cell and we can re-live the old days when you were always getting me locked up for stuff I didn't do.
Tea: I never did any such thing. I worked overtime trying to bail you out every other week when you would do something asinine and get yourself arrested.
Todd: I never did anything asinine in my life.
Tea: Would you like me to make you a list?
Todd: Go ahead. It'll give me something to read in prison, because there's no way you'll be able to get me off this time.
Tea: You know how difficult it is for me to walk away from a challenge.
Todd: You walked away from me easily enough.
Tea: That wasn't easy at all. We'll have plenty of time to talk about our past later. Right now, my priority is getting you out of here.
[As Tea stands up, she closely watches Todd's facial expression as he stares at her expanded stomach.]
[The silence in the room quickly becomes unbearable for Tea as she awaits Todd's response to seeing her visibly pregnant.
As Todd continues to stare silently at her, Tea finally speaks again, needing to end the painful silence.]
Tea: Go ahead. Get it out of your system. Call me names. Yell at me. Pound your fists against the walls. Just do whatever you need to do so we can move on and return our focus to your case.
Todd: Why are you making a big deal about it? I already knew you were knocked up. So you're fat? So what!
Tea: So what? Do you recall your response when you learned I was pregnant?
Todd: What's going on here, Tea? Do you want me to be upset, or something?
Tea: You are upset.
Todd: I'm sure you wanted me to be upset, but I'm not. A pregnant lawyer is a good thing, right? That could help my case. After all, what kind of pregnant chick would defend a guilty guy for swiping another chick's kid as soon as it was born and then telling her it was dead? I'll plead innocent and everyone will believe it because they know there's no way you would defend me for doing something like that when you're about to pop a kid out yourself.
Tea: We should discuss the possible pleas, but...
Todd: But what? I don't care, Tea.
Tea: You did a few minutes ago.
Todd: I was ticked that Viki called in a lawyer for me. You were right. I was planning on letting myself go down for this. Now, with a pregnant chick as my lawyer, I have a shot at winning. I'm not ticked anymore.
Tea: Are you also trying to claim that you're not upset with me for being pregnant by another man anymore?
Todd: Why would I be upset about that? You're all happy and gushy about having this kid, right?
Tea: I'm very happy about the baby. I thought you...
Todd: You thought I'd be all angry and insulting?
Tea: You were when you first saw that I was here.
Todd: Like I said, I was ticked off at Viki.
Tea: Did they give you a tranquilizer before they brought you from your cell and it's just now taking effect?
Todd: Isn't this the response you wanted?
Tea: It's certainly not the response I expected.
Todd: I thought you were leaving to work on my release? You don't want to miss your chance to talk to the D.A.
Tea: Right.
[Tea continues to stand before Todd for several more seconds, completely baffled, and more than a little disappointed, at his sudden disinterest in her personal life.
Tea gathers her briefcase and approaches the door. She turns back toward Todd for a moment, wanting to find out why he suddenly mellowed about her pregnancy, but instead chooses to take care of business first.
Several minutes later...
Todd is in the process of trashing the interrogation room when several officers rush into the room and subdue the violently angry man. He is handcuffed and returned to his cell.
Meanwhile...
Tea nervously pauses outside the office of her former employer. After several seconds, she puts on her best confident facade and marches toward his door. She knocks.]
Hank: Come in.
[Tea takes a deep breath and prepares herself for one of the most important fights of her life...the fight for Todd's freedom.]
[Tea confidently marches into Hank Gannon's office. He smiles as he stands up. As she approaches his desk, he notices that she's pregnant.]
Hank: Tea! I guess I don't have to ask what you've been up to during your time away.
Tea: Let's cut the chit-chat, Hank. I want my client released immediately.
[Hank's smile disappears.]
Hank: Todd Manning again?
Tea: Why has he been refused bail?
Hank (gesturing to the chair she's standing next to): Have a seat.
Tea: I'd rather stand.
[Hank sits down in his chair and pulls Todd's file from among numerous other files on his desk.]
Hank: Things haven't changed, have they? You're still defending that low-life.
Tea: He has rights, just like everyone else.
Hank: He has fled custody in the past...more than once. Why should he be allowed bail, given his track record?
Tea: He won't run.
Hank: You and I both know that if he thinks he'll have to do some prison time, he will run, just like he has in the past whenever things didn't look good for him.
Tea: The case against him is flimsy, at best.
Hank: The case against him is airtight.
Tea: Hardly! You have one witness who can barely speak English. She can't convincingly testify to what she heard, or what Todd truly meant by anything he allegedly said to her.
Hank: Even without the testimony of the mid-wife from Mexico, we have more witnesses who are willing to testify to what they know.
Tea: Who do you have? Blackmailers? Scammers? Criminals?
Hank: You do realize you just described your client, don't you?
Tea: My client's past is irrelevant. The current case against him will never hold up. You should just save the time, money and embarrassment and release him now.
Hank: No go, Tea. Manning will stand trial and he will go to prison. I guarantee it!
Tea: It's my job to ensure that he doesn't. I intend to pull out all the stops to win this case for my client.
Hank: You'll have to pull off a miracle if you want to win this case.
Tea: Then, that's exactly what I'll do. Now, about bail...
Hank: Manning stays in jail until the trial.
Tea: That's unacceptable.
Hank: You won't find one judge in this county who will allow Manning bail.
Tea: We'll see about that.
[Tea turns and begins to leave his office.]
Hank: Tea?
[Tea stops and turns back toward him.]
Tea: Yes?
Hank: Congratulations!
[Tea's facial features and body language soften as she momentarily sets aside her determined business stance.]
Tea: Thank you.
Hank: Should I assume from your current clientele that Todd...
Tea: He's not the father.
Hank: I'm surprised.
Tea: Could you do me a favor, Hank?
Hank: If this is about Manning's bail...
Tea: It isn't. Could you tell R.J. about the baby? I'll be in Llanview as long as it takes to conclude this case. I don't want this to surprise him if we run into each other.
Hank: I'll tell him. You know, the way you ended things with him...
Tea: I know it was horrible...I was horrible. I was following my heart. I wasn't trying to hurt him.
Hank: My brother doesn't open his heart easily but when he does he goes all out.
Tea: I really am sorry that I hurt him. That was never my intention.
Hank: If things didn't work out with Manning, why are you back defending him?
Tea: He needs a lawyer.
Hank: There are other lawyers.
Tea: Not many that Todd can trust, that he can get along with, that will fight for him the way that I will.
Hank: Nothing has changed. You still see something in that man that isn't there.
Tea: There are good parts to Todd, just as there are good parts to R.J. You may not always agree with your brother's choices but I know that you see the good man behind the bravado, no matter what he does, no matter what mistakes he makes. Todd is the same way.
Hank: Despite our differences, even I wouldn't insult my brother by putting him on the same level as Todd Manning. At least my brother has a conscience...even if he does choose to ignore it most of the time.
Tea: It doesn't matter if you like Todd, or not.
Hank: All that matters is that he's guilty. I'll prove that in court.
Tea: I'll have to prove you wrong.
[Hank's phone rings. He answers it. Tea waits until his brief conversation ends and he hangs up the phone.]
Tea: I'm sorry I was so brisk earlier. When I'm focused on my client's rights I can lose sight of my manners. It is good to see you again, Hank. I look forward to going toe-to-toe with you again in the courtroom...if this case goes that far.
Hank: Not only will this case make it to court but now there will be extra charges against Manning. He just destroyed one of the interrogation rooms at the police station.
Tea: I knew it! I knew he wasn't as calm as he was pretending to be.
Hank: You seem almost happy that your client is digging his hole even deeper.
Tea: I have to go and ensure my client's needs are being met.
Hank: He needs to go to prison. I'll make sure that happens.
Tea: That won't happen on my watch.
[Tea turns and quickly exits Hank's office.
Minutes later...
Tea arrives outside Todd's cell. For several seconds, as he remains unaware of her presence, she watches her ex-husband with sadness.]
Tea: Todd?
[Todd's face quickly snaps up in the direction of her soothing voice.]
Todd: Go away!
Tea: I'm your lawyer.
Todd: You're fired!
Tea: Calm down.
[As Todd angrily grabs onto the bars of the cell, Tea notices that he's handcuffed to them. She turns to the guard who accompanied her and speaks.]
Tea: Why is he handcuffed?
Guard: He was out of control.
Tea: He's fine now. Release those handcuffs.
Guard: I have my orders.
Tea: Well, I'm his lawyer. I'm ordering you to release those handcuffs or I'll see to it that he's released from custody immediately for this inappropriate restraint.
Guard: The commissioner will have to okay it.
Tea: Fine! Get the commissioner down here. Right now!
[The guard leaves Tea standing outside Todd's cell as he steps away to use a nearby telephone.
Tea immediately steps closer to the cell.]
Todd: Stay away from me.
Tea: I heard what you did. Are you hurt?
[Todd doesn't respond. He moves as far away from Tea as he can. Tea moves close to the bars of the cell and rests her head against them.]
Tea: Let me help you.
Todd: You've done enough already.
Tea: I'm sorry, Todd. I really am. You won't get out of here if you keep doing things like this.
Todd: It didn't have anything to do with you.
Tea: You busted up that room for the hell of it?
Todd: I'm locked up in a cage. That's good enough reason.
Tea: I know you hate being locked up but you need to stay calm. I'll get you out. I promise.
Todd: Do you have a plan for busting me out? Because, that's the only way I'm ever getting out again.
Tea: I'm on the case. I won't let you down.
Todd: Since when?
Tea: I know that I hurt you. Please, don't hurt yourself anymore. I couldn't bare that.
Todd: You don't give a damn about me. You're probably in this with Blair. You only want to be my lawyer so you can make sure I go down for this and that I never get to see my kids again.
Tea: You will see your children again. You will be with them very soon. I'm working on getting you bail, but you're making my job much harder by pulling stunts like this.
[Police commissioner Bo Buchanan arrives.]
Bo: You're out of luck, Tea, if you expect me to allow this animal the opportunity to hurt any more people.
Tea: I expect you to remove those handcuffs.
Bo: The safety of my staff is the most important thing.
Tea: I would think justice would be the most important thing.
Bo: I'd say Manning is getting exactly the justice he deserves.
Tea: You either remove those handcuffs or I take this to a judge who will throw this whole case out because of the blatant disregard for my client's rights.
Bo: We've gone by the book every step of the way on this one. I didn't want there to be any chance for this creep to slide through the cracks again. He's going back to his prison buddies. I'm sorry, Tea, you've run out of favors. Manning stays in his cell from now on, and the handcuffs stay until he's shown that he can treat my officers with the respect they deserve.
Todd: That'll never happen.
Bo: That's fine by me. I hope you can sleep standing up.
[Bo turns to leave. Todd notices the pained expression on Tea's face as her lawyer facade quickly fades, replaced by something else...genuine concern?]
Todd: Tea?
[Todd shows one of his arms to Tea. She looks at the blood soaking through the sleeve of his shirt and then back into Todd's eyes.]
Tea: Can you stay calm?
Todd: Can you get me out of here?
Tea: I'll try.
[Tea turns toward the area where Bo is quietly speaking to one of the guards.]
Tea: Open this cell right now!
Bo: Tea, why don't you go get some rest. You must be very tired.
Tea: Don't you dare patronize me. I am this man's attorney. He is bleeding. Either you ensure that he receives prompt medical treatment or I'll go to a judge and make it happen myself.
Bo: I will not risk the security of anyone over some minor scratch.
Tea: How do you know it's a minor scratch? It could be a serious wound.
Bo: If you're angling for me to send him to the hospital, you can forget it. Your client has a history of fleeing custody while at the hospital for medical evaluation.
Tea: If you don't do something, I will personally escort a judge down here to see the inhumane conditions you're keeping him under.
Bo: Inhumane conditions would be perfect for him. He's not human.
[Bo realizes that Tea won't give up until he gives her something.]
Bo: Are you afraid to be in that cell with your client?
Tea: Of course not.
[Tea's quick response makes Todd feel better than he has in a long time.]
Bo: His handcuffs stay but you can take care of his little boo-boo if it's so important to you.
Tea: Fine! Bring me a first aid kit.
[Bo sends one of the guards to gather the supplies Tea will need as another guard unlocks the cell door.]
