[Tea enters Todd's cell and slowly approaches him. Todd turns from her. Tea knows not to push Todd with others present. She instead turns toward Bo.]
Tea: He's calm now. He doesn't need the handcuffs.
Bo: How do I know that he won't attack my officers again?
Tea: Look at him. He's completely calm now.
Bo: You never know with Manning.
Tea: I can't take care of the damage your officers did to him with him attached to the bars like this.
Bo: My officers did nothing but defend themselves while this maniac was on a violent rampage.
Tea: Can you prove that?
Bo: Are you threatening my department?
Tea: I'm asking you to remove his handcuffs. Todd wants to be released on bail. He won't do anything more that would endanger that.
Bo: Hank would never allow this lunatic to get bail.
Tea: It won't be his decision. Come on, Bo. You and I both know that the more you try to restrain Todd the more he fights against those restraints. Allow him to at least be free to move around his cell.
Bo: I don't know.
Todd: I won't try anything. I give you my word.
Tea: There you go!
Bo: The word of Todd Manning is worthless.
Tea: If Todd says that he'll be a model prisoner if the handcuffs come off...
Todd: I never said that.
Bo: I'll give you one more chance, Manning. If you blow it again, I'll have you transferred out of here and into a facility that will make this place look like a hotel.
Todd (mockingly): I'm so scared!
[Bo releases Todd from the handcuffs. Tea is handed the first aid kit. The ex-spouses are left alone in the cell.
Todd approaches the small bunk beds and sits down on the lower bunk. Tea approaches him.]
Todd: Forget it, Tea. It's no big deal.
Tea: You're bleeding. Let me look at it.
Todd: I said it's nothing.
Tea: If it was nothing there wouldn't be blood.
[Tea sits next to him, placing the first aid kit on the cot between them. She reaches out for his hand. He allows her to take hold of it. She uses a light touch initially as she examines his hand to ensure he hasn't damaged it. She then pulls on his hand to bring his arm closer to her as her other hand raises the sleeve of his shirt.]
Tea: Why do you always do this to yourself?
Todd: Why do you always show up and insist on taking care of it? I guess it's not always anymore, is it?
Tea: It could be.
[There is silence as Tea administers to his wounds.]
Tea: It doesn't look too bad.
Todd: Is that your professional opinion?
Tea: My professional opinion is that you would be making my job a lot easier if you kept your temper under control.
Todd: That's what I did.
Tea: You didn't have to. You could have yelled and gotten it all out. You didn't have to do something stupid to make this all more difficult.
Todd: I never get it right.
Tea: If you held your anger in because you wanted to spare my feelings, that was very thoughtful.
Todd: Thoughtful? No way!
Tea: I forgot -- Todd Manning doesn't do thoughtful.
Todd: Never have. Never will.
Tea: I know you too well, my friend, to believe you're the monster you want everyone else to think you are. I understand why you lost your cool, but you need to find some way of dealing with your anger while you're in here.
Todd: I did. It worked really well.
Tea: It endangered your chances for bail.
Todd: I was never going to get bail. I know that. Everyone on the corrupt police force knows that. The D.A. knows that. The only one who seems clueless is you.
Tea: I'll make it happen.
Todd: What are you going to do? Convince them to let me out just so they don't have to deal with me anymore?
Tea: That might work.
Todd: You heard Buchanan. He can just ship me off to a place that sucks even worse than it does here. Why would he let me out?
Tea: Because...
Todd: You'll need a better argument than that, Delgado.
Tea: If they don't release you, I won't leave them alone for a second. I'll camp out in the sqad room, except for the times that I'll be in the D.A.'s office, or the time that I'll be spending in court using the judicial system to get what we want.
Todd: You should just give it up already, Delgado. I'm a lost cause.
[Tea looks up from his arm and makes eye contact with him.]
Tea: You're wrong.
Todd: That's what I've always been.
Tea: I didn't believe that before. I certainly don't believe that now. You're stuck with me, Manning. You'll just have to come to terms with that. I won't be going away until this case is settled.
Todd: After it is...after I'm shipped off to prison...you'll go back to your life and do that happy thing?
Tea: This isn't the time to discuss the future, beyond this case.
Todd: You're about to pop out a kid. The future will come screaming out of you.
Tea: I still have time before I'm due. I'll put as much time into your case as I can before then. If this hasn't been wrapped up by then, I'll ensure that you have a temporary lawyer to handle anything that comes up while I'm out of commission. As soon as I'm able, I'll be back as your lawyer again. I won't let you down.
Todd: You'd be the first person to ever accomplish that. I won't hold my breath.
Tea: I have always thrived on achieving what everyone else thought impossible.
Todd: That's the real reason you want to be my lawyer again?
Tea: I want you to have a fair chance. In this town that's almost impossible. You need the right lawyer.
Todd: And, you're it?
Tea: If you want someone else, I'll step aside.
Todd: I don't want anyone else, Tea.
[Tea isn't certain, but the tone of his voice makes her almost believe that he isn't referring to his legal representation. The look in his eyes add to her belief that he's speaking to her about his personal feelings for her. His face nearing hers causes even more certainty for her. Her eyes move from his eyes to his lips as they near hers.]
[Todd and Tea are completely engrossed in the emotions passing between them as they both slowly move physically closer in preparation for a kiss. Just as their lips are about to touch, they're both startled by a loud noise.
As they each quickly move away from the other and stand up, Viki enters the area outside Todd's cell.
As she approaches the cell, a smile appears on her face. She recognizes the look on each of the faces before her. They look like teenagers, caught just as they were about to share their first kiss.]
Viki: I could come back later.
Todd: Why?
Viki: Clearly, I interrupted something important.
Todd: I meant, why would I want you to come back?
Tea: I was just...uh...bandaging Todd's arm.
Viki: I see.
[Tea and Todd both recognize from the knowing smirk on Viki's face that she's aware of what they were about to do.
Todd looks toward Tea...toward her pregnantly protruding stomach. Anger quickly rises within him again.
Tea notices the look on his face. She's certain that he wanted to kiss her moments earlier, just as much as she wanted to kiss him. She knows that he's now trying to fill himself with anger in an attempt to push away whatever his feelings for her may be.
Tea turns from Todd and approaches the edge of the cell where Viki is standing on the other side of the bars.]
Tea: Do you think you could finish taking care of his injuries? I should really get back to working on his release.
Todd: Don't bother!
[Tea turns toward Todd, determination blazing in her eyes, ready to do battle with his anger, if necessary.]
Tea: I'm your lawyer. This is my job.
Todd: I fired you, remember?
Viki: Todd, you didn't!
Todd: Damn right, I did! I'm going solo again. You're both off the hook. You don't have to worry about explaining to your husbands anymore why you waste your time on me.
Tea: I'm not married.
Todd: You live with the creep who knocked you up...same thing.
Tea: That situation is complicated. We can talk about it, but not now. When you're released...
Todd: If I ever get out again it will be when I'm so damn old they'll think I couldn't possibly do anything to get revenge. They'll be wrong.
Tea: Don't do this.
Todd: I'm facing the truth. Isn't that what you've always wanted? Isn't that what you've both been telling me to do. The truth is, I'm going back to prison. The truth is, that's probably where I'll die.
Tea: I won't allow it.
[The emotion in Tea's voice touches Todd but he refuses to allow it to affect his latest plan.]
Todd: You're not my lawyer anymore. I don't want you anywhere near me. Guard!
[One of the guards appears behind Viki.]
Todd: Get this pregnant chick out of here. She's not my lawyer anymore.
[The guard unlocks the cell. Tea doesn't move.]
Todd: Go on. This is your chance. You're free. Get out!
Tea: No!
Todd: Stop being stubborn.
Tea: Stop being a selfish bastard.
Todd: That's the only thing I'm good at.
Viki: Todd...
Todd: Don't you start on me, either. You can get out, too.
Viki: Are you going to declare that I'm not your sister anymore?
Todd: Fine! You're not my sister!
Viki: It doesn't work that way.
Todd: What do I have to do to get rid of you? Why don't you go and have Bo read you a list of all my latest crimes.
Tea: Alleged crimes.
[Todd shoots Tea a frustrated glance.]
Todd: Why are you still here?
Tea: Because you still need me.
Todd: I don't need you. I never did. Things were going great there for a while. Then, you ruined it all by coming back.
Tea: You were miserable.
Todd: I was happy. Tell her, Viki. Tell her how happy you were always saying I was.
Viki: I thought... I hoped... I don't know what to believe anymore.
Todd: I don't care. Just go be confused somewhere else. You won't be getting any scoop from me to print in that rag of yours.
Viki: I didn't come here to write an article about your arrest. I came to offer my support.
Todd: Support...if they toss me back in prison. That's the only thing about me that you'll support.
Viki: I tried to support you. I thought you wanted a family. I supported that.
Todd: You were just hoping Blair would try to kill me, like she does all her husbands. I bet you're real ticked that she's so lousy at it. You should give her some lessons. You, or one of those people you have running around in your head, probably offed at least one of your many husbands.
Viki: You need to calm down.
Todd: Shut the fuck up!
[Tea can't stop herself from being slightly amused, despite the circumstances, as she watches the shocked look on Viki's face at being spoken to in such a manner.]
Todd: I'm so sick of everyone telling me to calm down. What is there to be calm about? I'm in a cage. (gesturing to the guard that is standing in the doorway of the cell) I'm surrounded by ugly people who have no idea how to dress. My ex-wife tried to off me and, instead of tossing her in prison, I bet this town will throw her a damn parade. My wife is busy trying to ship me off to prison but thinks I'm stupid enough to believe that she's trying to get me out. I'll never see my kids again. The only good thing about all this is that I'll never have to go to another one of those boring, stupid dinner party torture tests at your house.
[Everyone is quiet for several seconds. When Todd finally looks at Tea, she has an unmistakable smile on her face.]
Todd: What the hell are you smiling about?
Tea: Nothing.
[Tea walks toward the door of the cell. The guard moves out of her way and allows her exit from the cell. As the guard is closing the cell door, Viki steps forward. She converses with the guard while Todd is oblivious to anyone's presence but Tea's.]
Todd: You're finally admitting you're happy about me being caged like the animal I am?
Tea: I am happy, but not because you're locked up.
Todd: Well, then, what the hell is wrong with you? It creeps me out when people smile like that.
Tea: We'll talk about this later, after you've been released. I suddenly have renewed energy.
[Todd notices that Viki and the guard have stepped away and Viki is using a nearby telephone. He still lowers his voice as he speaks to Tea, not wanting his comments to be heard.]
Todd: This turns you on?
Tea: Do I look turned on?
Todd: Yeah.
Tea: Does that turn you on?
Todd: Does being knocked up screw up your brain, or something?
Tea: You really don't realize what you said, do you?
Todd: I told you and my sister to get lost. Neither of you listened to me. Nothing has changed.
Tea: I did listen to you, Todd, more carefully than you were listening to yourself, apparently.
Todd: What did I say?
Tea: You referred to Blair as your ex-wife.
Todd: That gets you going? I'll be sure we're not in a public place if I ever show you the divorce papers, whenever they happen. If this gets you hot, that would totally get you off.
Tea: There's more.
Todd: I don't know if I can take more. I don't want to get too over-excited here.
Tea: Never mind. Just know that my determination to win this case for you is stronger than ever.
[Tea turns, planning to leave. Todd reaches through the bars and grabs her arm. Tea turns back toward him. Their eyes meet. After several seconds, Todd's hand lets go of her arm and he looks away. Tea moves closer to the bars. She places her hands lightly over his where they're holding tightly to the bars.]
Tea: You referred to me as your wife.
Todd: You should get your hearing checked.
Tea: It's okay. Sometimes I still think of you as my husband.
Todd: You better not say that to your whatever.
Tea: He already knows.
Todd: Let me guess... He's totally understanding about it.
Tea: He tries to be. We can talk about everything after you're back home. Okay?
Todd: None of this ever happened. I never said what you think I said.
Tea: Denial won't work. Right now I'm going to go and do everything I can to get you released. If I can't make it happen tonight, I'll come back and spend as much time as I can before they kick me out for the night.
Todd: What's wrong with you, Delgado?
Tea: I fell in love with you and that feeling never went away.
[Tea rests her head against the bars so that her cheek is touching one of his hands.]
Tea: Everything will be okay. You'll see.
Todd: You're knocked up.
[Tea lifts her head and removes her hands from his.]
Tea: We'll face the future when there is a future to face. Right now, we'll focus on getting you out.
[They share a silent glance before Tea turns and leaves. Todd watches her exit until she disappears from his sight. He turns and leans his back against the bars of the cell as he immediately feels himself panic. He closes his eyes and pictures her face in his mind, as he uses the knowledge that she'll come back as the only way he feels he'll be able to calm himself in this moment.]
Viki is in the cell with Todd. He's begrudgingly allowing her to complete the job of tending to his injuries.
As he ignores Viki's chatter, he sits on a bench with his back against the wall, his eyes staring straight at the area where Tea will arrive...if she really returns.
As he hears footsteps nearing, he quickly stands up, pulling his half-bandaged hand from his sister's grasp. The moment he sees Tea, he's relieved. The moment after that his angry facade is safely back in place.]
Tea: There's good news...possibly.
Todd: Buchanan dropped dead?
Tea: Which one?
Todd: Any...all...except Jessica...but she's not really one of them anymore, right? Okay...all of them.
Viki: Jessica is most certainly a Buchanan in the most important way that matters...in her heart.
Todd: She should be glad she's not one of them and run like hell. I know I would.
Viki: At least you were thoughtful enough to make it clear that you excluded my daughter from your list of people you want dead. You do realize that I have two sons who are also Buchanans, not to mention my husband is one, by blood?
Todd: What's your point?
Viki: My point is that it is difficult enough for me to even attempt to forgive you for what you did. It would help if you didn't make it worse by stating that you want people who are dear to me dead.
Todd: What do you need to forgive me for? I didn't do anything to you.
Viki: Your actions have hurt many people, including me.
Todd: I don't know how.
Viki: That's always been part of your problem -- you don't consider the consequences that others will face as a result of your actions.
Todd: Whatever! I don't give a damn what happens to anyone on your freaky family tree, okay...expect the ones who are on my little crooked, rotting branch. I'm still glad I'm not a Buchanan. The only thing worse than being a Manning is being a Buchanan.
Tea: Do either of you want to hear my good news?
Todd: Is this the kind of good news that's really lousy news?
Tea: That depends...
Todd: I knew it.
Tea: Just listen. There is a possibility that Hank will agree to your release.
Todd: Do I have to give him a kidney first, or something?
Tea: After learning that you were treated inhumanely...
Todd: He laughed his ass off?
Tea: He wouldn't dare in front of your attorney.
Todd: So, you threatened to sue and he's backing off?
Tea: Not exactly. The charges against you remain...for now. There is a distinct possibility that no new charges will be brought for the misunderstanding in the interrogation room.
Todd: That place was ugly. It needed some redecorating.
Tea: Let's just hope that Hank chooses to see it that way after the stunt Bo pulled.
Todd: So, nothing has really changed? I'm still going to prison.
Tea: You are not. I didn't feel that this was the time to work on convincing Hank to withdraw the charges against you.
Viki: Could that realistically happen?
Tea: If I can convince Hank that his case will blow up in his face...yes.
Viki: Bo seems certain about the evidence against Todd.
Tea: The evidence consists of testimony from numerous people who are of considerably questionable character. I know you fell for Blair's act, but I will tear it apart piece by piece, if there is a trial and if she gets on that witness stand.
Viki: Her grief over what Todd did was no act. Your client should be able to confirm that for you.
Tea: I understand why your sympathies lie with Blair, but as I said before, she's not innocent in all this.
Viki: She didn't deserve what was done to her.
Tea: Neither did Todd. He's my priority here. Blair may have suffered but she didn't learn from it. Look at how she responded when she learned what Todd had done. She reacted with violence, like she always does. We all know that Blair won't have to face any charges in this, because Todd was her victim. That's wrong. That's unjust.
Viki: Clearly, she needs some counseling. I'm certain she'll seek help.
Todd: Only if there's another court order involved. And, even then, she'll only fake it like she did before. I knew the second I heard that shrink and the D.A. declare her sane and off the hook for shooting Max that I'd be ducking bullets soon.
Tea: Blair isn't important right now. Todd's release is.
Todd: You won't be able to pull this off, Delgado. Hank has it in for me, just like everyone else.
Tea: But, greater than his hatred for you, is his respect for the law. Bo crossed the line. Hank knows it. He also knows that I could use the bias against you from this town's police department, that I can trace back for years. I could put doubts into the jurors' minds as to whether anything they hear from all involved is accurate.
Todd: Do I really have a shot at getting out?
Tea: I reminded Hank how law-abiding you were the last time you were on house arrest...how you didn't flee the country.
[Todd smiles at her.]
Tea: Well, you didn't. That's what counts.
Viki: What am I missing?
Todd: I almost split the country. Delgado guilted me into staying.
Tea: I merely suggested. You made the decision all on your own. I was very proud of you.
Todd: You were just glad that I did what you told me to do.
Tea: For once. I was right, wasn't I? You didn't have to go to prison that time. You won't this time, either.
Todd: It was worse than prison. I had to live with Viki.
Viki: Is that one of Hank's conditions this time, as well?
Tea: It doesn't have to be you exactly. It has to be someone that Hank trusts to keep Todd in town. He'll have to wear an ankle monitor again and all the same rules and restriction I assume will apply this time, too. There's the possibility that Hank may throw in a few new things, but at least Todd will be free.
Todd: Free to go from the kitchen to the john but I have to get permission to go to work and I can't even go for a drive when I want to. This sucks!
Tea: It's your only chance to get out of here right now. I'll work on getting the charges dropped after your release, but if this goes through, you can be out of here tonight. Do you agree?
Todd: Do I have a choice?
Tea: Viki, are you up for this again?
Viki: Of course.
Tea: Good. I'll let Hank know. I'm sure having you on board will help him make up his mind to go along with this.
Todd: Forget it!
Tea: What?
Todd: I don't want it.
Tea: You don't want to be released?
Todd: I don't want to be living in someone else's place. I don't want to have to deal with all those rules again.
Viki: What rules?
Todd: You were always expecting me to do stuff. Rise your dishes, Todd. Don't leave your underwear on the floor, Todd. Don't put your feet on the table while we're eating, Todd.
Viki: I'm certain we can work something out.
Todd: Besides, like you said, you've got way too many Buchanans running around that place. I'll stay at the penthouse.
Viki: I won't leave my family to move in with you.
Todd: You don't have to.
Tea: This is a deal breaker. You have to live with someone that Hank trusts.
Todd: Does he trust you?
Tea: Huh?
Todd: Was that a complicated question?
Tea: You want me to move into the penthouse...with you?
Todd: What I want is a six pack and a pizza. If I have to give you a place to live while your here so I can get out and get what I want, I'll do it.
Tea: You want to live with me?
Todd (to Viki): Seriously, do pregnant chicks lose their brain cells, or is it just their hearing?
Tea: I'm stunned. You really want to live with me?
Todd: You're my lawyer. You need a place to stay. I'd rather ride a porcupine naked than have to put up with boring breakfast conversation from Len.
Tea: Who's Len?
Viki: I assume he's referring to my husband...Ben, who happens to be a fascinating conversationalist.
Todd: He doesn't even know your name. He calls you Blondie.
Viki: That happens to be an affectionate nickname. It's similar to the way you refer to Tea as Delgado.
Todd: That's totally different. That's her actual name.
Tea: I hate to break this up. It is wonderful to see you sparring together again. But, I need to know what to tell Hank.
