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Empire State Building, 11pm
Scott: *throws jacket onto chair, sits at desk*
Amy: *walks down hallway, stops, looks over*
Scott: *places head into hands*
Amy: *lifts brows* ...Scott?
Scott *lifts head*
Amy: *steps into office* Are you okay?
Scott: ...No. *wipes eyes*
Amy: What happened? If you don't mind my asking.
Scott: *sniffs* I'm...I'm losing my family. And it seems like I'm powerless to do anything about it.
Amy: *walks over, sits beside Scott* I'm so sorry.
Scott: My wife...is staying with another man. *rubs eyes* And he's taking care of my daughter.
Amy: That stings.
Scott: She claims she wants to build a life with me and then she goes off and...galavants around Miami with
him. And she tells me it's essentially
my fault. Okay, maybe some of it was my fault. I wasn't there enough, apparently I intimidate her and I haven't exactly fought to keep her around but...I love her. I just want her to be happy.
Amy: What about your happiness?
Scott: *looks at Amy*
Amy: Is it really worth it to stay with someone who does nothing but hurt you?
Scott: Ah, no, you don't know Lori. She's not like that.
Amy: That's what it seems like to me.
Scott: She's been through a lot. She has issues.
Amy: It doesn't mean that whatever she's doing to you is right. And it doesn't mean you deserve it or should just sit back and take it.
Scott: *stares at Amy*
Amy: *stares at Scott*
Scott: *leans over, kisses Amy*
Amy: *closes eyes*
Scott: *grabs Amy's blouse*
Amy: *runs hands through Scott's hair*
Scott: *kisses Amy's neck*
Amy: *sighs, grips Scott's hair*
Scott: *blinks*...*lifts head*
Amy: *looks at Scott*
Scott: ...I can't do this. *sits back in chair, rubs eyes*
Amy: *buttons up shirt*
Scott: I'm so sorry. I'm sorry I did that. I've never done anything like that.
Amy: Don't apologize. *smirks* Neither have I.
Scott: *looks at Amy*
Amy: *licks lips*
Scott: What are you doing here anyway? Its almost midnight.
Amy: My kid's with my mother this week. I needed something to keep my mind off of her and paperwork usually lulls me to sleep.
Scott: *nods*
Amy: Did you drive here?
Scott: Took the subway.
Amy: *stands* Why don't I give you a ride home.
Scott: No, I couldn't ask you to do that.
Amy: C'mon, let's go. *walks away*
Scott: *sighs, grabs jacket*
Miami, Kendall, house, bedroom, 1am
Lori: *turns over, places arm on Tom's chest*
Tom: *opens eyes*
Lori: *sigh*
Door creaks open
Tom: *looks over at door*
Steph: *rubs eyes, drags teddy on floor* Momma?
Tom: *sits up, looks at Lori*
Lori: *sleeping*
Tom: *gets out of bed, walks over*
Steph: *lifts head*
Tom: *kneels* What's wrong?
Steph: I want Momma.
Tom: She's asleep.
Steph: *starts to cry*
Tom: Shh shhh. Let's get you back to your room. *grabs Steph's hand*
Bedroom
Tom: *walks in, looks at floor*
Steph: I threw up.
Tom: *sigh* Great. That was new carpet. You sick?
Steph: *nods, holds mouth*
Tom: You going to ralph again?
Steph: *pukes all over floor*
Tom: Ugh. Here, let's get you to the bathroom. *picks up Steph*
Bathroom
Tom: *plunks Steph into shower, turns it on*
Steph: *wipes face, coughs*
Tom: *opens cabinet, grabs bucket*
Steph: *shivering*
Tom: *looks over at Steph* Oh geez. *runs over to shower, turns on hot water*
Steph: *pukes*
Tom: Oh come on kid, enough already.
Steph: *starts to cry*
Tom: *pours cleaner into bucket*
Steph: *crying, reaches out* I WANT DADDY!
Tom: I hear ya. You know, when I was little and I got sick, my dad would tie me up out back like a dog and hose me down after a few hours.
Steph: *crying*
Tom: Wasn't all that fun in New Jersey winters.
5 minutes later
Tom: *wraps Steph in towel*
Steph: *lies head on Tom's chest*
Tom: Let's go sit you down in the living room.
Living room
Steph: *lies down on couch*
Tom: *covers Steph with blanket*
Steph: *pulls pillow over*
Tom: *slides garbage can to couch*
Steph: *hugs teddy*
Tom: If you need to hurl, use the can.
Steph: *nods*
Tom: You going to be okay?
Steph: Uh huh.
Tom: Good.
Steph: Sorry for pukin' on yer floor.
Tom: It's okay, sweetie. It's not your fault. I'll clean everything up, you just rest.
Steph: Kay.
Tom: *stands*
Steph: TOMMY!
Tom: *looks back* Yeah?
Steph: Can you turn on the TV?
Tom: *smirks* Sure. *grabs remote, turns on television* Keep it low, okay?
Steph: Yup.
Tom: *places remote on table, walks away*
Steph: *stares at television*
Bedroom
Tom: *climbs into bed*
Lori: Mm, what was that about...
Tom: Stephanie's ill.
Lori: *opens eyes* What? *sits up* Where is she? Is she okay? *throws sheets off*
Tom: Whoa, whoa. *grabs Lori's arm*
Lori: *looks at Tom*
Tom: She's okay. I cleaned her up and I sat her down in front of the TV. She's resting.
Lori: You put her in front of the TV?
Tom: There's puke on her floor. I'll get to it at a reasonable hour.
Lori: You didn't have to do that.
Tom: I put the food in her stomach, it seems only fair that I clean it up once it shows back up in reverse.
Lori: You shouldn't have to do that just to compete.
Tom: *looks at Lori* I didn't do it for you. I did it for her.
Lori: *stares at Tom*
Tom: Everything I've done since you got here was for her.
Lori: You're not her father.
Tom: No. But you haven't seemed very interested in being her mother.
Lori: *frowns, sits up* Excuse me?
Tom: You haven't been looking for a job. You lied to your husband about having one.
Lori: I had an interview, I'm sure I'll get that job.
Tom: *sits up* Where do you go during the day?
Lori: Job hunting.
Tom: You're talking to an addict so don't think for a second I believe you.
Lori: *lowers head*
Tom: Where are you going every day.
Lori: Hialeah.
Tom: Why?
Lori: *sigh* I spend every day at a crack house there. With men.
Tom: *stares at Lori*
Lori: Sometimes I get paid, sometimes I don't.
Tom: *nods*
Lori: It's not a big deal.
Tom: Right. So tell Stephanie.
Lori: What? No.
Tom: Well it's not a big deal so I'm sure she'll be cool with it.
Lori: Ugh. *gets out of bed, grabs jeans* You're an ass.
Tom: Lori, you're not going back there.
Lori: Who the hell are you to tell me that?
Tom: *stands* A cop. And I'm the one who will have that house in Hialeah cleaned out so fast-
Lori: STAY OUT OF IT!
Tom: No. I lost my child because of the mistakes I made, I'm not going to let you do the same.
Lori: *rolls eyes, zips up jeans* It's not going to happen. I'm not hurting anyone.
Tom: *shakes head* I will drive that little girl back up to her father myself if I have to.
Lori: You're not going to take her anywhere.
Tom: Watch me.
Lori: *stares at Tom*
Tom: *crosses arms*
Lori: *looks down at floor*
Tom: Honey you need help.
Lori: What I need is for everyone to mind their own business.
Tom: You have 7 days to get a job or I'll be notifying the PD of your actions and I'll be shipping Stephanie off to New York.
Lori: Screw you. *walks over to door*
Tom: Or.
Lori: *looks back*
Tom: You can get some help. At a facility.
Lori: I'm not on drugs!
Tom: You are.
Lori: No I'm NOT.
Tom: Men. That's your drug of choice right now.
Lori: That's ridiculous.
Tom: Then prove me wrong. Go there, waste a few weeks and sleep soundly at night knowing Stephanie is safe while you're doing that.
Lori: You're not taking care of her.
Tom: I never said I was.
Lori: I'm not doing
treatment again, especially not for this.
Tom: Those are your choices.
Lori: *angry sigh* ...You're a royal pain in my ass. *walks over to closet, grabs suitcase*
Tom: *nods*
Lori: So when do we set this appointment or whatever it is you people do to get me from point A to B?
Tom: I already called. You're going tomorrow.
Lori: *blinks* You already called a place.
Tom: Yeah.
Lori: Who the hell's paying for this?
Tom: That's not important.
Lori: Yes it is, I don't want to have to owe you for anything.
Tom: Stop making excuses. I'll help you pack.
Lori: *grumbles*
TBC............................
