Monday, November 10, 1997
Drawing the Lines
Chapter 1
Ally: What do you mean, it's broken?
Georgia: ???. Out of drip. Billy went downstairs to Starbucks.
Ally: When did he go? I mean, did he just go? Is he gonna be back soon?
Georgia: He should be back in any second. Are you...?
Ally: After my fourth cup, I'm fine.
Georgia: Me too. I haven't any today.
Richard: Ladies, whatever you've got for schedule this morning, I need you to reschedule. Marci Hatfield, soon to be Jason Hatfield's ex, is due in a while. You two there as all I could do is to get the meeting. She's averse to confrontation.That's why it's essential...
Georgia: Billy!
Richard: Bo, both...
Georgia: Thank God.
Ally: Thank you. I'll owe you for the rest of my life.
Richard: Billy, I want you to this meeting, too. It's essential to...
Ally: No!
Georgia: No?
Ally: Don't just drink it.
Georgia: Sorry?
Ally: This is your first cup of the day.
Georgia: Yes.
Ally: And you were just going right to your mouth with it?
Georgia: That's how I drink, Ally. With my mouth.
Richard: Excuse me.
Ally: Put it back on the tray.
Georgia: What?
Ally: Do as I say. Put it back on the tray. I wanna show you something. Will you excuse us?
Richard: I hadn't quite finished...
Georgia: Ally, what are you doing? If I don't drink that in the next 10 seconds...
Ally: Do you know how most men actually make love is opposed to how you would like them to?
Georgia: I'm married. I wouldn't.
Ally: Think back.
Georgia: I remember.
Ally: You were about to drink this cappuccino like most men make love: skipping over all the foreplay. Now just, just hold it in your hands. Just knowing that it's close.
Georgia: Yeah, I see what you mean.
Ally: Now, close your eyes. And just think about tasting it. Now, smell it. Just a little.
ALLY AND GEORGIA: Mmm.
Ally: Now, pull it away. Just tease yourself a little. Up, and down. And up. Longer sniffs.
Now, you see that foam on the plastic? Lick it off.
Georgia: I have to drink it.
Ally: Now, bring it up slow. Don't rush it. It only happens with the first cup. Slow. Slow. Slow. And drink.
Georgia: Mmm.
Ally: Mmm.
Chapter 2
Ally: What's so important about this case?
Richard: First off, money. Secondly, money.
Ally: It must be a lot.
Richard: The prenup limits her to 600,000. Hatfield's worth over 18 million. We will take up to one-third of everything over the contract. That potentially makes it the biggest case we've got to handle. Have you located the Biscuit?
Billy: He's on his way in. He'll be here by 10.
Richard: Here's the thing. It was a painful breakup for her. She really doesn't wanna relive it. By that I mean she has little interest in a trial. We have to convince her how we can deal with this quickly with minimal hardship for her. Where's Georgia?
Billy: She went for another cappuccino.
Richard: I want her there, too. This woman has to know she's got an army. Let's do some fast research on prenups. See if...
Ally: What if you stare like that when Mrs. Hatfield's here. That'll get her business.
Elaine: I'm sorry I'm late. Have you missed me?
Richard: We've missed you every opportunity, Elaine. Kidding. Bygones. Go away.
Ally: He's on edge.
Elaine: Oh. Well, while I have you, Richard, this is a law complaint. It hasn't been filed yet, but it will if our demands aren't met.
Richard: Demands? What demands? What is something here about demands?
Elaine: That girl. The staring.
Richard: Elaine!
Elaine: I warned you. This office is sexually charged. It amounts to a hostile working environment. Almost every woman here has signed the complaint.
Billy: You got to be kidding.
Elaine: I don't kid about serious issues. I'm sure Ally will back me up on this.
Ally: Then why didn't you tell me about it?
Richard: Elaine, you're a fathead.
Billy: Richard!
Elaine: This doesn't have to turn personal.
Richard:Why did it turn stupid? Fathead!
Billy: Let's just look over this complaint, and we'll try to reach an accord.
Elaine: That's all I'm after. Accord.
Richard: Fine.
Ally: What are you doing?
Elaine: I'm asserting the rights of the women in the workplace.
Ally: Yeah, yeah. What are you doing?
Elaine: You think it's right the way they gawk at her?
Ally: Of course, not. I just think that this is a little extreme.
Elaine: And it shouldn't have to be. If they address our concern, this will go away.
Ally: If they fire the girl, she can sue.
Elaine: They can legislate how she dresses.
Ally: Elaine, where do you draw that line? I mean, with all due respect, you sort of walk around with uppity breasts. And the hair flips aren't the most subtle. And your perfume. You could be flammable. Now, what if somebody shuts you down as a safety hazard? How would you feel then?
Elaine: That was all due respect?
Ally: How did you organize all this, anyway? Secret little meetings at night or something?
Richard: Ally, Marci Hatfield. Ready?
Ally: Ready. We'll talk later.
Elaine: I'm not flammable.
Chapter 3
Mrs Hatfield: I signed the prenuptial. There's no argument here. But he did revoke it.
Billy: In writing?
Mrs Hatfield: No. That's the problem.
Ally: Did he ever say this to anyone in front of anybody about revoking the prenup?
Mrs Hatfield: Well, not in front of me, but... Look. As I told Mr. ... Fish, I don't really want to go to court. But I didn't work. I stayed home and raised our children while he advanced up the corporate ladder. And, uh, since he knew I was giving up my career, he, he told me... He said, he said he knew he couldn't hold me to a prenup if ever... Um... And then, when our, our marriage started to get bumpy, I asked him specifically about the prenuptial and he told me directly...
John: I apologize.
Mrs Hatfield: Anyway, he said he'd already done it. He said he'd instructed his lawyer to revoke the prenup and it was done.
Ally: (Oh, God, no. He's gonna pick it.)
Mrs Hatfield: I know I should have insisted. I guess that's why I'm here.
Richard: Well, we're here to see if you're protected.
Georgia: The first thing we need to do is research the statute of frauds with regards to prenups. How long have you been divorced?
Mrs Hatfield: The divorce isn't final. Uh, this battle of prenups is what's holding things up. My former lawyer said there's nothing I can do. And truth is, I'm inclined to just...
Richard: Nothing is certain, Mrs. Hatfield. That prenup can be pierced, I assure you.
Mrs Hatfield: You know, I'm sorry. I don't mean to be rude. I don't find you terribly trustful.
Richard: They're trustful. Trust is covered. I assure you.
Chapter 4
Billy: Hey.
Ally: What are you doing?
Billy: Looking in the mirror. Men do, too, you know.
Ally: But you were... Well, it seemed like you were staring in the mirror. Are you okay?
Billy: Fine.
Ally: It's just that whenever you're really bothered or upset usually about something personal, that's what you do. You go find the mirror and stare at yourself, and... That's why I'm concerned.
Billy: Well, I'm fine.
Ally: Okay. Would you mind turning on the faucet? I have a bashful bladder.
Ally: You know, usually when you look into the mirror like that, it was something about me. So I figure it must be a problem with Georgia. And I can understand why you wouldn't wanna share that, but I am totally here for you.
Ally: I'm here for you too, for both of you. I am here for everybody.
Chapter 5
Richard: John, just how big was this client we just tried to impress?
John: Big.
Richard: Big?
John: Big, big.
Richard: Fine. And how impressed do you think the big, big client was to see you repeatedly reach for your left nose hole doing an impromptu excavation project?
John: I had to address my nose, Richard. The client could hear the whistling. When I couldn't rectify the problem with a quick sniff, I had to make a judgment call.
Richard: And it was your considered judgment to take your index finger and corkscrew it?
John: I nudged it. There was never a corkscrew motion. And I will not stand to be disparaged.
Billy: If you, me and Elaine sit down together, I think we can make this harassment thing go away.
Richard: I'm not even going to dignify that lawsuit.
Billy: Richard, if we don't come to the table, we'll be faced with a walkout.
Richard: What?
Billy: That's what she said. At noon tomorrow, let's just sit, talk and buy some time.
Georgia: Marci Hatfield is here.
Richard: Where?
Georgia: Here, I had her wait in the conference room.
Richard: That's great! She wouldn't come back to not hire us. This has to be good!
Georgia: Hey. Are you okay?
Billy: Me? Yeah. Why?
Georgia: When I went into the bathroom, Ally was talking in her stall about you looking in the mirror, and that maybe means a problem with me.
Billy: What? You know Ally. She can't even sit on the toilet without drumming up a little drama.
Georgia: Yeah. And I know you. When you stare at yourself in the mirror, it usually does mean something bugging you.
Billy: Well, this stupid claim with Elaine and all the women. Probably that.
Georgia: Yeah. Probably.
Billy: The quick research says an oral revocation won't supersede a prenup. But every contract can be attacked for bad faith. And we think we can at least make a claim that will get us in a court.
Mrs Hatfield: I don't want to go to court. It's just too painful for me to...
Ally: Since your husband has a pretty high corporate profile, we, we think the threat of court itself will be enough to make him negotiate. And that would be the plan.
Georgia: Your husband does have a record of being a womanizer. That kind of stuff, that, that's laundry he probably doesn't wanna air out.
Mrs Hatfield: Well, that's not something I particularly wanna air out either. He is the father of my children.
Richard: We don't need to air laundry out.
John: Mrs. Hatfield. There's a reason you came back in here. Maybe his upcoming marriage has triggered the nerve. I don't know. I sense, however, despite your desire to avoid confrontation, you don't wanna let your husband get away with what he's done. Put yourself in our hands. We're in the business of getting even. Mrs. Hatfield, let us pull you even.
Mrs Hatfield: I'll put myself in their hands.
John: Just don't judge me by the nose whistle.
Mrs Hatfield: I just feel more comfortable with them.
Chapter 6
Richard: Anything you need.
Ally: Thanks.
Ally: Can we meet, end of the day?
Mrs Hatfield: Sure.
Elaine: There's Caroline Poop to see you.
Richard: Who's Caroline Poop?
Elaine: My attorney.
Caroline: This is camera one. Camera two.
Richard: Okay, what... How'd you get these tapes?
Caroline: Security. Subpoena. Simple. Basically your nut's between me and a hard place here.
Billy: But it does not make a case for sexual harassment.
Caroline: You say doesn't? The law says possible. But does that really matter? Our lawsuit with almost every female employee signing on?
Richard: That's blackmail, not to mention abuse of process.
Caroline: I'm real concerned. And don't try to take a moment as I'm because I'm already clued in as to how you work. By the way, the little arrest for solicitation need not be a huge issue.
Richard: Look, look, look, look. What's the bottom line?
Caroline: Eight thousand compensatory for every named plaintiff, three extra vacation days, and the delivery girl gets discharged for prejudice.
Billy: That's not fair to her!
Caroline: I'm here asking you to be fair to yourselves. Collect your thoughts. We'll talk.
Richard: Speak to me, John.
John: She wouldn't let me take my moment. I'm troubled.
Richard: Is it so wrong to stare? I mean, if Whipper hadn't asked me to stop gaping at her, we wouldn't even have met. Sometimes a stare can be a good thing. A slight indication that you're listening would be nice.
John: She wants something. Elaine. She wouldn't be out to improve the workplace. She wants something. I'll have at her.
Richard: No, she's represented by counsel. We really shouldn't talk to her.
John: I'll happen upon her and we'll converse when she goes to the unisex. I apologize for the meeting. I embarrassed the firm.
Richard: That's no harm. We got the client.
John: It's not like my nose to whistle.
Richard: The thing I don't understand... It's always been our goal for the place to be happy. We pay them more than the secretaries of other places get. They get more vacation time already. I would think they'd be happy. This lawsuit, what does it say?
John: They're not happy.
Chapter 7
Ally: Are you getting a frown line?
Billy: Why can't I just look into a mirror? Why is everything about you?
Ally: What?
Billy: Or Georgia? Why is everything about you and Georgia? Why can't I just look into a damn mirror?
Ally: You can.
Billy: Thank you!
Ally: (That reminded me of me.)
Billy: I miss you.
Ally: Oh. Um... Oh. Uh... That's sweet. Well... Just making sure I didn't do what I came in here to do. I'm gonna be going now.
Billy: Ally!
Ally: Please, don't.
Billy: It's the dumbest thing in the world. And you wouldn't even believe if I told you.
Ally: Um... What?
Billy: You'll laugh.
Ally: You were right.
Billy: When I saw you holding that coffee cup this morning, like you're making love to it, it made me remember when you and I...
Ally: Oh.
Billy: When Georgia and I make love, don't get me wrong, it's fantastic.
Ally: Great. I would have hated to have gotten that wrong.
Billy: But we don't really look at each other in the eyes. I mean, when you and I had... Remember how we used to lock on to each other's eyes during... Do you remember that?
Ally: Um... Vaguely.
Billy: As stupid as this sounds, but when I saw you with the coffee cup, it just sort of hit me again what it was like to make love to you. And I think I'm a little blind-sided by how it hurts to miss it.
Ally: I think that's probably a normal thing.
Billy: Maybe. But it doesn't... It's not a good feeling to be married to someone I am in love with and still not be over another.
Ally: Yeah, I hate when that happens.
Billy: That's why I keep staring at the mirror all day. I uh... Whatever I tell myself, I just can't escape that hit I felt when I saw you this morning. Coffee cups. I told you it was the dumbest thing ever.
Ally: Billy, I'm sure there's a right response for this, but it escapes me at the moment.
Billy: I'm not looking for a response. I was just telling you what was going on.
Ally: Okay.
Billy: Well, see you.
Ally: See you.
Once upon a time
A long time ago
I thought that I should leave you
I thought that you should go
I never really said goodbye
I never even heard you cry
And after all this time it's hard to say
The only love I had I sent away 22