CSI:Miami Road Trip: Unlucky Number 13

Thanks for the reviews!

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Gables Estates, house, 11am

Lori: *closes fridge*

Steph: Momma look what I got from the dentist! *lifts toothbrush*

Lori: I saw, sweetie.

Tom: *walks in* Hey, you're home.

Lori: Hey.

Steph: TOMMY! LOOK WHAT I GOT FROM THE DENTIST!

Tom: *kneels* Wow, a toothbrush. And it's pink, too. Did you pick it out?

Steph: *smiles* Yup. And look! *points to teeth* No cavities!

Tom: Good job, kiddo. I guess you don't want the candy I brought you.

Steph: *wide-eyed*

Tom: *pulls bag from pocket*

Steph: CANDY! *grabs bag, hugs it*

Tom: *smiles, looks at Lori*

Lori: *frowns*

Tom: *smile fades, stands* What the hell happened to your face?

Lori: Steph, go upstairs.

Steph: Bye Tommy. *runs upstairs*

Lori: *crosses arms* Rod.

Tom: *frowns* That little prick hit you? I hope he looks worse.

Lori: He's gone.

Tom: *places thumb on Lori's cheek* He got you pretty good.

Lori: *turns head away* You'd think by now I'd realize who the jerks were.

Tom: There are some good guys left.

Lori: People keep telling me that. You're a jerk right? Why do you guys find it cool to beat and demean women?

Tom: Ouch. I didn't realize you thought I was one of them.

Lori: You know what I mean.

Tom: No. I don't. I've never laid a hand on my wife and I certainly don't demean her.

Lori: You were like that before.

Tom: Maybe but I've changed. That is, unless you don't think I have.

Lori: Well I wouldn't consider sleeping with me a very respectful gesture toward your wife.

Tom: *stares at Lori*

Lori: Forget it.

Tom: You're right.

Lori: *looks at Tom*

Tom: I'm not perfect.

Lori: *wraps arm around Tom*

Tom: Glad you're okay though. *kisses Lori's forehead*

Lori: ...I should just concentrate on my kids.

Tom: You deserve to be with someone.

Lori: *lowers eyes* I never figured Scott would be the kind of guy to take off on his family.

Tom: He needs to get better.

Lori: ...A phone call wouldn't hurt.

Tom: *sigh*

Lori: *lies head on Tom's chest*

Tom: *wraps arms around Lori*

New York, condo, 6pm

Anni: *straightens out Scott's tie* You excited for your date?

Scott: I can't believe you talked me into this.

Anni: It'll be fun. Her name's Patty, she's 32 and she works for Waste Management.

Scott: She works for the mob?

Anni: *smiles* Stop that.

Scott: *smirks*

Anni: Now you go out there and be charming.

Scott: Shouldn't I wait until I'm actually divorced?

Anni: Scott...

Scott: I'm going, I'm going.

Restaurant, 7pm

Patty: *extends hand, sniffs* Nice to meet ya.

Scott: *smiles, grabs Patty's hand*

Patty: *rips hand away* I got us a table near the front. I don't want any funny stuff. *walks away*

Scott: *smile fades*

Table

Scott: *pulls out chair*

Patty: *walks past*

Scott: *looks at Patty*

Patty: *sits in chair* Don't order any wine, I'm not paying 40 bucks a bottle.

Scott: *sits* Oh you don't have to worry about that. *smiles* I have it covered.

Patty: Please. Nobody springs for alcohol for me. *opens menu*

Scott: *blinks*

Patty: So what do you do?

Scott: For a living? I'm a data analyst.

Patty: So you're an accountant.

Scott: *smiles* I don't handle finance.

Patty: Isn't that what that is?

Scott: No. I consult.

Patty: Then you should have said 'consultant', bucko. *flips page* I don't read french. *turns menu around* What the hell does this say?

Scott: Escargot. It's snail.

Patty: You expect me to eat snot for dinner?

Scott: Um, *clears throat* there are other things on the menu to choose from.

Patty: *looks at menu* I think I'll have the 12 oz steak with a side of lobster.

Scott: *lifts eyes*

Patty: Come to think of it, maybe a side of crab would do nicely. You're going to have the 3-cheese bread.

Scott: I am?

Patty: Yeah. I'm not spending more than 13 dollars on you. Got a budget.

Scott: ...Actually, I was hoping to-

Patty: *looks at Scott*

Scott: -Not pay, apparently.

Patty: *looks down at menu*

Waiter: *walks over* Can I start you off with some drinks?

Patty: He'll have water, I'll have a screwdriver.

Waiter: *writing* And to eat?

Patty: 12 oz steak with the crab for me and 3-cheese bread for him.

Waiter: *looks at Scott*

Scott: *shuts menu*

40 minutes later

Patty: *chewing* And then he had the BALLS to tell me to take a hike when the guy slapped MY ass.

Scott: *looks around*

Patty: *points knife at Scott* Never work in Waste Management.

Scott: I'll keep that in mind.

Patty: *downs alcohol*

Scott: *looks down at plate*

Patty: Why haven't you touched your cheese bread?

Scott: I must have lost my appetite.

Patty: So you're not gonna finish that. *grabs plate*

Scott: *looks at watch*

Patty: Went to the hospital last week to undergo some minor surgery and I had one of those Dr.Handsome doctors--you know, the ones without brains. Anyway, he called me tootes so I kicked him in the sherboinga. You ever call anyone 'tootes'?

Scott: Not that I can recall.

Patty: Men are such pigs. *munches bread* Always spittin' and belchin' and fartin', it's a wonder they don't explode from the inside out. *burps, drinks*

Scott: Would you like my napkin?

Patty: Why, you got a problem with the way I eat?

Scott: *blinks* No, I just-

Patty: You men are always trying to bring us women down. Take it from me: we don't need your help.

Scott: *stares blankly*

Patty: *slams glass onto table*

Scott: If I may ask...why did you sign up for a dating service if you hate men?

Patty: I'm exposing American society.

Scott: *nods* Of course.

1 hour later

Waiter: *walks over* Here's the bill. *places receipt onto table*

Patty: *grabs receipt*

Scott: Erm...it's usually customary for-

Patty: Don't.

Scott: *pulls hand back*

Patty: *stands, walks away*

Scott: *shakes head*

Outside restaurant

Patty: *waves arm*

Cab stops

Scott: I had a-

Patty: *gets into cab, shuts door*

Scott: -Really shitty evening.

TBC............................

 

Thanks so much for the reviews!

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New York, condo, 10pm

Anni: *opens door*

Scott: *stares at Anni*

Anni: ...Didn't have fun?

Scott: You did this. *steps in*

Anni: *shuts door, turns around* What happened?

Scott: The woman was a freaking psycho.

Anni: She seemed nice on paper.

Scott: *turns around* She belched a piece of steak at me.

Anni: *smirks, covers mouth*

Scott: It's not funny.

Anni: *smiles* It's a little funny.

Scott: I'm not dating anymore.

Anni: It's only your first crack at it, I'm sure there will be better ones.

Scott: How about this? I don't want to date.

Anni: Is that how you look at life? One bad experience and you run away forever?

Scott: *crosses arms* I don't understand why it's so important.

Anni: You told me you didn't want to die alone.

Scott: *sits on couch*

Anni: *walks over, sits* You haven't signed the divorce papers, have you.

Scott: *rubs eyes* No.

Anni: *places hand on Scott's arm*

Scott: I can't do it.

Anni: Maybe you should call Lori and talk to her.

Scott: The last time I saw her, I threatened to put her through a wall.

Anni: Lori doesn't go for that?

Scott: *looks at Anni*

Anni: Sorry.

Scott: I'm going to bed.

Anni: It's only 10.

Scott: *stands, walks away*

Bedroom

Scott: *unbuttons shirt*

Anni: *steps in, shuts door* You have work in the morning?

Scott: No.

Anni: *nods*

Scott: You're welcome to stay.

Anni: In here?

Scott: ...There are 2 bedrooms.

Anni: Right. *points finger* And you're going on your second date tomorrow. She seems really nice.

Scott: That's what you said about the last one.

Anni: She's a chemical engineer, her name's Lucinda. You wanted someone who was on your level, right?

Scott: *lifts brow* Chemical engineers are not on my level. I was hoping for maybe a business major or something.

Anni: *smiles* Ooh. Lori's going for her business major.

Scott: What?

Anni: Yeah, she's taking courses.

Scott: *stares blankly*

Anni: She could probably run Riley's company in the next 10 years.

Scott: ...Good to know.

Anni: *kisses Scott's cheek* Night. *walks away*

Restaurant, 6pm

Lucinda: *smiles* Nice to meet you, Scott.

Scott: Likewise.

Lucinda: I read your file, you're a data analyst downtown?

Scott: Yeah. *pulls out chair*

Lucinda: *sits* I almost went into the financial field myself.

Scott: Really? *sits* What stopped you?

Lucinda: There's so much corruption going around, I didn't want to be a part of that.

Scott: Understandable.

Lucinda: You've never worked for the government, right?

Scott: No.

Lucinda: Good. *opens menu* They aren't listening then.

Scott: *tilts head* Excuse me?

Lucinda: *lifts eyes* The government spies on its people, you didn't know that? Why do you think there are so many payphones out there? To record our conversations. In the era of cellphones, you don't think it's weird that payphones weren't taken out of service?

Scott: I don't use a cellphone very often. Besides, payphones are on a landline so when there's satellite disruption, we still have a means of contact.

Lucinda: That's what they want you to believe. And the satellites are another beacon of global control. You can't even watch whatever you want on television. The airwaves are controlled by the government.

Scott: ...To an extent, yes.

Lucinda: It's all about oppressing the people and gaining money and resources. Why do you think Lincoln burried gold at the White House? He knew the market would never last.

Scott: *stares at Lucinda*

Lucinda: And if you want oppression, you should see the midwifery career. Why don't they call it midmanery? I'll tell you why. It's so men can continue to oppress women.

Waiter: *walks over* Can I start you off with some drinks?

Scott: Whiskey.

Waiter: And for the lady?

Lucinda: I'll just have some lemon water.

Waiter: Sure. *walks away*

Lucinda: You never know what they put in the water nowadays. I happen to think the extraction of fluoride was a government conspiracy to diminish the health of the American public so we'd get sick and fork over more money to the healthcare sector.

Scott: *sigh* Okay.

Lucinda: Which, by the way is a clusterdoink in itself. *smiles* Pardon my french.

7:30pm

Lucinda: *cuts steak* You know, there are aliens living among us.

Scott: *blinks* Aliens.

Lucinda: Yep. The Royal family's all aliens, it's why Diana was murdered.

Scott: ...She died in a car accident.

Lucinda: *taps temple*

Scott: *rubs eyes*

Lucinda: I think Jesus was probably an alien. And HEY did you know he actually had a wife and children? The Vatican introduced that Shroud of Turin to suppress the fact that he had a bloodline of alien children.

Scott: *nods slowly*

Lucinda: It's why they faked the moonlanding. It's so the aliens on the moon wouldn't be discovered.

Scott: I don't think they faked the moonlanding. *sips drink*

Lucinda: They did and they did it in cahoots with the media. Oh boy now THAT'S a doozy. The media has been manipulating the public for years. Don't even get me started on their involvement with 9/11.

Scott: *lifts eyes*

Lucinda: It's amazing what you can do with photoshop and special effects. You know the planes? They weren't planes. What happened was the government actually shot two warheads and the media converted the images into planes so the public would be fooled into thinking a terrorist organization was responsible but in reality, it was really our own government. Can you believe that?

Scott: No. I really can't.

Lucinda: The real planes were diverted to secret air fields and the passengers were paid off and their identities were changed so the truth would never get out. You know what really brought down the buildings? Explosive charges. I heard some eyewitnesses say they saw bombs. Why would they lie about that? And you know the real reason it happened?

Scott: *places glass on table*

Lucinda: America's gonna run out of oil. Iraq happens to have some of the biggest deposits on Earth and the only way we can secure our own survival is to take them over and that means we would have needed an important enough reason to go over there. It was a brilliant plot. You remember the aliens I was talking about earlier? The Bush family are aliens.

Scott: Right.

Lucinda: And the survivors were paid off so they wouldn't tell anyone what they really saw. I wonder how they sleep at night.

Scott: *looks at watch* You know what, I actually have somewhere to be right now. *lifts head* I apologize, I should have said something earlier. *stands*

Lucinda: B-

Scott: It's been lovely and strange and we should never do this again. *places money on table* Have a wonderful evening and don't worry, my money's completely clean. There are no listening devices in Grant's eyes. *walks away*

Lucinda: *looks down at money*

Condo, 8:50pm

Scott: *walks in, shuts door*

Anni: Well? How'd it go?

Scott: She made Katie look sane.

Anni: But her file, I-

Scott: Obviously she's been sitting near way too many chemicals.

Anni: *sigh* I'm sorry, I thought this one would be better than the last one.

Scott: Alright, hit me with it. Who's the next one you have in mind?

Anni: ...Pablo Perez.

Scott: That sounds like a man's name.

Anni: He's compatible with you.

Scott: *stares at Anni*

Anni: *stares at Scott*

Scott: *smirks*

Anni: *smiles*

Scott: *laughs, wraps arms around Anni*

Anni: *smiling* See? You're having fun.

Scott: Maybe a little.

Anni: HA.

Scott: *smiling*

TBC........................................

 

Thanks for the reviews!

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Gables Estates, house, 10pm

Lori: *points down hallway* Go to bed. I'm tired of this.

Steph: But Momma, I-

Lori: Don't get me started, Steph. I'm pissed off as it is. *adjusts Dominick* Go to bed.

Steph: How come Dommy doesn't have to go?

Tom: *walks upstairs*

Lori: You let me worry about Dom.

Tom: *looks at Lori*

Lori: Take her.

Tom: Home?

Lori: To her room.

Tom: Right. *grabs Steph's hand* Let's go.

Tom/Steph walk away

Dominick: *wraps arms around Lori's neck*

Lori: Ugh.

Bedroom

Steph: I'm not going to bed, Tommy.

Tom: I disagree.

Steph: *places hands on hips* If I go, Momma's gonna die.

Tom: *lifts brow* What do you mean?

Steph: I went to sleep and Daddy got messed up. And now he's gone. If I go to sleep, Momma's gonna leave forever.

Tom: *stares at Steph*

Steph: *sits on bed, swings legs* I don't want Momma to leave.

Tom: *sits on bed* She's not going anywhere.

Steph: How do you know?

Tom: *wraps arm around Steph* She loves you very much and she doesn't want to leave you.

Steph: How come Daddy wanted to leave me?

Tom: He needs to get his life back in order and then he'll be back.

Steph: What if he doesn't come back?

Tom: He will. I promise you that.

Steph: *wraps arm across Tom* You won't leave me, right?

Tom: Never.

Steph: Good.

Tom: Bed.

Steph: Do I have to?

Tom: Yes.

Steph: *sigh* Okay. *climbs into bed*

Tom: *stands*

Steph: *pulls blanket up*

Tom: Now don't you get out of bed as soon as I leave.

Steph: I won't.

Tom: Promise.

Steph: I promise.

Tom: Okay because if you break that promise, I'm going to find out and I won't be happy.

Steph: *nods*

Tom: *leans over, kisses Steph's forehead*

Steph: *wraps arms around Tom*

Tom: Night.

Steph: Nighty night, Tommy.

Tom: *smiles*

Hallway

Tom: *shuts door*

Lori: *walks over* Is she in bed?

Tom: For now.

Lori: *sigh* Thank you.

Tom: What can I say, I'm awesome.

Lori: I tried calling Scott. Anni answered.

Tom: Yeah, she's staying at his place.

Lori: She answered his cellphone.

Tom: So?

Lori: There are only two places Scott keeps his cellphone. In his pants or on his nightstand.

Tom: Maybe his hands were busy.

Lori: *stares at Tom*

Tom: I really should be picking this up faster.

Lori: They're cheating on us!

Tom: You and Scott aren't even together.

Lori: This doesn't make you mad?

Tom: The only evidence you have is a phone call.

Lori: Okay, you call. *hands over phone*

Tom: *rolls eyes, dials*

New York, condo

Cellphone rings

Scott: *opens phone* What.

Tom: You're not Anni.

Scott: No, I'm not.

Tom: Where is she?

Scott: Her bedroom.

Tom: Then why did she answer the phone?

Scott: I left my phone in the kitchen. What the hell are you doing calling me this late?

Tom: I thought you only keep your phone in your pants or on your nightstand.

Scott: Tell Lori to to stop it. *snaps phone shut*

Miami, house

Tom: *looks down at phone*

Lori: And?

Tom: Scott says stop it.

Lori: *crosses arms*

Tom: But hey, at least he's communicating with you.

TBC...........................

 

Thanks for the reviews.

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Gables Estates, house, den, 2 months later

Dominick: *staring at television*

Tayla: *runs over, jumps onto couch*

Dominick: *frowns*

Lori: Play nice, you two. *walks away*

Tayla: *hugs Dominick*

Dominick: *shoves Tayla*

Tayla: *lifts brow*

Dominick: *staring at television*

Tayla: *hugs Dominick*

Dominic: *shoves Tayla*

Tayla: *pinches Dominick*

Dominick: OW! *pushes Tayla*

Tayla: *falls off couch, starts to cry*

Tom: *walks over* What the hell is the matter with you? *picks up Tayla*

Tayla: *hugs Tom*

Dominick: She's stupid.

Tom: You want a kick in the ass?

Dominick: *sticks out tongue*

Kitchen

Lori: *opens photo album*

Tom: *walks over, sits* Your child is a demon spawn.

Lori: What'd he do?

Tom: He pushed Tayla onto the floor.

Lori: That wasn't very nice.

Tayla: *takes photo, chews on it*

Lori: *smiles* She's getting so big and pretty.

Tayla: *smiles*

Lori: Yep. She has your eyes.

Tom: How was your fashion thing in LA?

Lori: It was productive.

Tom: So no more boyfriends.

Lori: *shrugs, places photos in photo album* There just isn't anyone out there for me. It's fine.

Tom: I'm going to Jersey this weekend. Want to come?

Lori: *lifts eyes* Why?

Tom: I'm taking Tayla to see my brother.

Lori: Anni isn't going?

Tom: She's stuck working a double.

Lori: *nods slowly* I happen to have the weekend off. Maybe I will. I don't think I've ever met your brother--at least not for very long.

Tom: Great, I've already got your ticket.

Lori: Of course you do.

Tom: *looks at Tayla* Are you excited for Jersey?

Tayla: *smiles*

Tom: You're such a smiley baby. You don't get that from me.

Lori: *smirks*

Condo, Friday, 5pm

Speed: *places bag on table*

Lori: And don't forget that Dom can't have any sugar past 5 or he won't sleep for days. Steph has gymnastics tomorrow at 9.

Speed: I got it, Lori.

Lori: *looks around* You already have children here. There are toys everywhere.

Speed: Brook's here.

Lori: Oh. Where'd you stash her?

Speed: Katie's giving her a bath.

Lori: *looks at Speed* And you're sure you can handle all of this.

Speed: Go have fun.

Lori: *wraps arms around Speed* Bye. *walks away*

Katie: *runs downstairs* ...I leave for 10 minutes and the children have multiplied.

Steph: *lifts bag* I brought cheerios.

Katie: That's wonderful.

Dominick: *kicks chair, crosses arms*

Speed: What, you don't want to be here?

Dominick: Nope.

Speed: You can sleep on the front lawn then.

Katie: Stop that, Tim.

Speed: He doesn't want to stay here.

Dominick: NO. I'll stay. *hugs Steph*

Speed: Better.

Plane, air, 7pm

Tom: *opens magazine*

Lori: Where are we landing?

Tom: LaGuardia.

Lori: *frowns* That's not Jersey.

Tom: I have a stop to make first.

Lori: Where?

Tom: West Village.

Lori: Of...

Tom: Manhattan.

Lori: *slaps Tom* You're a big fat liar.

Tom: Relax, I just have to stop at a friend's house.

Lori: Would that friend be Scott Finch?

Tom: Oh so you remember him.

Lori: If airport security hadn't gotten to me, I'd shoot you right now.

Tom: You two need to talk.

Lori: I need him to sign the damn divorce papers.

Tayla: COTTY!

Tom: That's right. Scotty.

Lori: I hate you.

Tom: I love you too.

West Village, condo, 10pm

Lori: He's probably not even awake.

Tom: Nah he gets home late sometimes, he's awake. *knocks on door*

Lori: *steps behind Tom*

Tom: What are you doing?

Lori: Did you tell him I was coming?

Tom: No.

Lori: Ugh. *slams head against wall*

Scott: *opens door* Hey! And look who you brought. *grabs Tayla*

Tayla: *waves*

Scott: *smiles* Did you have fun on the plane?

Tayla: *smiles, nods*

Scott: Come on in. *walks away*

Tom: *grabs Lori*

Inside condo

Tom: If you don't mind, I brought another baby.

Lori: *elbows Tom in the gut*

Tom: Oof.

Scott: *turns around*

Lori: *stares at Scott*

Scott: *stares at Lori*

Tom: Well then, I'll change Tayla and I'll be right back. *takes Tayla, walks away*

Scott: Would you like a drink?

Lori: I want a divorce, Scott.

Scott: I seem to have misplaced the paperwork.

Lori: I've sent it 5 times.

Scott: What can I say? I'm a busy man.

Lori: Yes so busy that you can't visit your own children.

Scott: I'm working out my schedule so I can do that.

Lori: JUST SIGN THE DAMN PAPERS!

Scott: Don't scream at me.

Lori: Or what? You'll put me through a wall?

Tom: *walks over*

Scott: *walks away, shuts door*

Tom: What the hell was that?

Lori: *sits on couch* Frustrating.

TBC........................

 

Thanks for the reviews!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

One World Financial Center, 11am next day

Tom: *opens door* So you and Scott haven't spoken a word to each other since that big blowup.

Lori: I have nothing to say to him.

Tom: Come on, he's your husband.

Lori: *looks at Tom*

Tom: The love of your life.

Lori: *lifts hand, walks away*

Tom: Fine.

30th floor, office

Scott: Just have to stop up here for a second.

Lori: *leans against wall, crosses arms*

Scott: *opens drawer*

Lori: *looks around*

Scott: *walks around desk* Okay, let's go.

Lori: *walks away*

Inside elevator

Scott: *stares at doors*

Lori: *taps foot*

Scott: How are the kids?

Lori: *crosses arms*

Scott: Lori, I really do care about them. I would love nothing more than to come home and see them.

Lori: *rolls eyes*

Elevator shakes

Lori: *lifts head*

Elevator stops

Lori: *looks at Scott*

Scott: *presses emergency button*

Lori: Perfect.

Scott: *grabs phone*

Lori: *leans against wall*

Scott: *hangs up phone* Nothing.

Lori: Do you have your cell?

Scott: I left it in the car.

Lori: So we have no way to tell the outside world that we're stuck in an elevator together.

Scott: Maybe it's for the best.

Lori: Please. Get us out of here.

Scott: It's the most you've spoken to me since you got here.

Lori: We're stuck in an upright coffin, Scott.

Scott: That's...making the situation more comfortable.

30 minutes later

Lori: *throws jacket onto floor* That's it, I'm getting out of here. Give me a boost.

Scott: A boost?

Lori: Yeah. I'm gonna pop the top and climb out.

Scott: ...You do realize we're not in an action movie, right?

Lori: Boost.

Scott: *sigh*

Lori: C'mon. We're bonding or...some bullshit. Let's go.

Scott: *cups hands*

Lori: *climbs onto Scott's hand*

Scott: *lifts Lori*

Lori: *grabs onto grill* Jesus, what do you bench press?

Scott: Can you get it open or not?

Lori: *pushes grill* I can't, ergh, it won't budge. I think it's screwed down. *lowers head* Do you have a screwdriver?

Scott: ...Do I look like Bruce Willis?

Lori: Bruce Willis uses his gun. MacGyver has crazy nick nacks. Hey, have you ever crawled through an air vent?

Scott: I haven't had the pleasure.

Lori: It's not fun, believe you me. Okay, let me down.

Scott: *lowers Lori*

Lori: *grabs Scott's hair*

Scott: *winces*

Lori: Huh.

Scott: What?

Lori: What shampoo do you use?

Scott: The stuff from the pharmacy.

Lori: It's really nice. *sniffs Scott's head* Pears.

Scott: *places Lori onto floor*

Lori: The top of the elevator's a bust. Try the doors, maybe we're stuck between floors.

Scott: *walks over to door, pulls it open*

Brick is seen

Scott: *steps back, runs hand through hair* Nope.

Lori: *looks at Scott* Are you okay?

Scott: I'm fine.

Lori: *stares at Scott*

Scott: I am. I'm just...not used to confined spaces.

Lori: *nods*

Scott: So uh...how are the kids?

Lori: Dom broke his arm and Steph's in gymnastics.

Scott: How did Dom break his arm?

Lori: ...He um...jumped off the roof.

Scott: My son jumped off the second floor of our house?

Lori: He landed in some bushes.

Scott: Where the hell were you?

Lori: I should ask you the same thing.

Scott: *stares at Lori*

Lori: I work, I take care of both kids and I only have so many eyes, Scott.

Scott: *nods*

Lori: It hasn't been easy for us both. *scratches head* I'm sorry about yesterday, I shouldn't have screamed at you.

Scott: You were right to be angry. I've been avoiding the papers.

Lori: Why?

Scott: I don't want to lose you and the kids.

Lori: A divorce doesn't mean I'll never speak to you again, Scott. It means I want to move on with my life. Do you think we'll ever get back together?

Scott: I don't know.

Lori: Well I'm not going to wait 20 years to find out.

Scott: So let me get this straight. Because we aren't sipping tea behind our white picket fence and playing cricket, you want a divorce. Guess what, Lori - marriage is hard.

Lori: Yes and it's even more difficult when my husband is a drug addict.

Scott: Are you really comparing problems? It's a two-way street, honey. I don't expect you to afford me the same forgivness that I showed but don't make it seem like it's all my fault.

Lori: Right, it's not your fault you left us, it's not your fault you endangered our children, it's not your fault you wanted to kill yourself and oh, it's not your fault you barricaded yourself into someone else's home and wasted millions of tax-payers' money because you wanted to get high one last time.

Scott: That's not going to happen again.

Lori: Scott, our entire relationship was based on lies. Sometimes I wonder what else you're lying about.

Scott: Alright. I'd been sleeping with Anni.

Lori: *blinks*

Scott: We had a brief relationship after you and I split. It was completely selfish and stupid but I grew to appreciate her more than I ever thought possible. I don't have to walk around egg shells with her and I never need to worry about being perfect and fulfilling these grandiose expectations.

Lori: *stares at Scott*

Scott: She likes who I am. Nobody's ever really.... Well, I shouldn't have lied to you. I do apologize for that.

Lori: *wraps arms around Scott*

Scott: *hugs Lori*

First floor, security

Tom: *staring at screen*

Guard: There's no audio but it looks like they made up. Should I start the elevator?

Tom: Yeah. Thanks for the favor.

Guard: Hey, are you still with NYPD?

Tom: Nah, I'm in Miami now.

Guard: Nice. Wish I could work in Miami.

Tom: *smirks, slaps Guard on the back* Thanks again. *picks up Tayla, walks away*

TBC...................................