Tough Love transcript

THE ROOKIE
Season 2, Episode 5
"Tough Love"

INT. NOLAN’S HOUSE, DAY

JOHN NOLAN is plastering the interior wall of his house. The doorbell rings as sparks fly from an electrical outlet.

JOHN NOLAN
Just a minute!

HENRY NOLAN
Dad!

NOLAN
Henry?

HENRY
Dad!

NOLAN
Hey, what are you doing here?

HENRY
Abigail had a buttload of flyer miles, so we, uh, flew out to surprise you.

NOLAN
Oh, my God. Abigail, it's so nice to finally meet you.

ABIGAIL
It's great to meet you, too.

HENRY
The videos didn't do it justice. This place is a wreck.

ABIGAIL
I think it's awesome. It's like a faded beauty queen that you're bringing back to life.

NOLAN
Oh, wow. You are quickly becoming my favorite.

HENRY
Mine, too. Uh, we have some good news.

NOLAN
Exciting. Lay it on me.

ABIGAIL
I'm pregnant. Kidding. I'm -- I'm kidding. We're engaged. Sorry about the pregnant thing. I-I thought it would soften the blow.

NOLAN
Abigail, uh, that is, um, is beautiful. That is a beautiful ri-- I hope you didn't, uh, spend your tuition money.

HENRY
I used the money that I was saving to go to Europe, because Abigail's the journey I want to spend the rest of my life on.

ABIGAIL
Aww.

HENRY
Aww.

ABIGAIL and HENRY kiss.

NOLAN
That's so-- That is-- That's so... Does your mom know?

HENRY
She thought it would be best if I told you in person.

ABIGAIL
Uh, yeah. She also recommended that we quickly follow the news with some electrolytes.

NOLAN
That is...hilarious and entirely unnecessary. Have you set a date?

HENRY
Not yet, but we're, uh, we're talking about June.

ABIGAIL
Isn't it exciting?

NOLAN
It's so exciting. Crap!

The previously mentioned electrical outlet begins sparking once again and NOLAN uses a fire extinguisher to put out the ensuing fire as HENRY and ABIGAIL look on, only for a new fire to start once NOLAN is done extinguishing the previous fire.

INT. CHEN'S APARTMENT, DAY

CHEN is standing in front of her mirror, getting ready for work.

LUCY CHEN
I feel like Goldilocks, except instead of "too hot" or "too cold", every guy I date is either, you know, too "frat-bro", or too "stick me with the check because you are never going to finish that screenplay working on your abs." Let's face it, I am never going to find someone.

JACKSON WEST
Yeah, not if you keep looking in hipster clubs and hot yoga studios.

CHEN
Ah.

WEST
What you need is a grown man.

CHEN
I would just settle for a decent pickup line. Oh, thank God. Okay, Wow. We gotta go. Thank you.

CHEN opens the door to leave, only to find her mother standing at the door.

CHEN
Mom. What are you doing here?

MRS. CHEN sighs.

MRS. CHEN
Your father and I are getting divorced.

CHEN looks shocked.

WEST
Hi, Mrs. Chen. I'm so sorry.

MRS. CHEN
Oh, Jackson, sweetheart, thank you.

CHEN
What happened?

MRS. CHEN
I don't want to talk about it.

CHEN
Okay, is this like the time that you didn't talk to Dad for a week because he forgot your birthday?

MRS. CHEN
I said I don't want to talk about it. Oh, I'm sure my back will be fine. I assume you have extra bedding.

CHEN
Oh. Mom, you're not sleeping on the couch. I'll get you a hotel.

WEST
Nonsense, No, I'll take the couch. Mrs. Chen, you can take my room.

CHEN rolls her eyes at WEST.

MRS. CHEN
Such a sweet boy. Would you mind putting this in my room? I have to get ready for work.

MRS. CHEN looks disapprovingly at what CHEN is wearing.

MRS. CHEN
Is that really what you're wearing?

INT. MID-WILSHIRE STATION, DAY - SHOOTING RANGE

NYLA HARPER is practicing shooting at a target as she fires off multiple rounds into the target.

SERGEANT WADE GREY
Nice groupings.

NYLA HARPER
Thanks.

GREY
So, I need yesterday's after-action reports.

HARPER
I will have them for you at the end of shift.

GREY
You mean when today's are due? I know you're used to being out on the edge, all alone, but paperwork's part of the gig here.

HARPER
Copy that. I will get caught up quick.

GREY
Officer Nolan's not the only one being evaluated, Detective. I know you got the golden ticket, but you got to do the work. Understand?

HARPER
Yes, sir.

HARPER then resumes firing into the target.

INT. MID-WILSHIRE STATION, DAY - BRIEFING ROOM

NOLAN
Henry got engaged.

WEST
Yeah, he just turned 20.

NOLAN
I know. It's too young.

WEST
Didn't you get married around then?

NOLAN
That's not the point.

CHEN
So, I just talked to my dad. Apparently, he only brought home a bagel for himself. He did not bring one for my mom.

WEST
That's why she left?

NOLAN
Bagel that broke the camel's back. Maybe it's for the best.

CHEN
Oh, God, no. Separately, they will make my life twice as miserable. I have to get them back together. Just...

CHEN is cut off by NOLAN who sees HARPER walk into the room.

NOLAN
Morning.

HARPER ignores him.

NOLAN
She is definitely warming up to me.

GREY
So, Officer West, can you tell us what a "friendly" is?

WEST
Yes, sir. A "friendly" is another term for a Confidential Informant.

GREY
Correct. And Confidential Informants can be an incredibly useful tool.

TIM BRADFORD
They're definitely tools.

The other officers laugh.

GREY
Are you saying you don't use them, Officer Bradford?

BRADFORD
No, sir. Just saying they're lying liars who lie and they need to be dominated, never allowed to think they're in control.

GREY
Officer Lopez, you agree?

ANGELA LOPEZ
No, sir. C.I.'s are most useful when they think they're part of the team.

HARPER
You're both wrong.

GREY
Please, school us, Detective.

HARPER
C.I.'s are just people trying to get by. Some are psychopaths who play ball because it's the best available option, some are people in over their heads who cling to you desperately as a way out of trouble. Treating them all the same is a mistake.

GREY
Well, it's time to put these theories to the test. Nolan, Chen, part of the second phase of your training is developing your first C.I. See, you've known this day was coming, so I'm confident that you have a plan of action in place. But be forewarned -- you will be evaluated on the arrests generated by your C.I., as well as their long-term viability. So, choose wisely. Alright, that's it. Be safe.

LOPEZ
Sir, you have to let West participate.

GREY
Do I?

LOPEZ
You've read my daily evals. His work is as strong as it's ever been, and this opportunity to prove that he's ready to move on.

GREY
It's a big swing, Officer West. Screw it up, it's likely to be the last nail. You sure you want to take that chance?

WEST
Yes, sir.

GREY
Alright. You're in. Good?

WEST
Thank you, sir.

WEST looks at LOPEZ, who is grinning from ear to ear.

WEST
You are the greatest T.O. in the history of T.O.'s.

INT. MID-WILSHIRE STATION, DAY - KIT ROOM COUNTER/BULLPEN/SALLY PORT

WEST gets his and LOPEZ's gear from the KIT ROOM COUNTER, and they walk away.

KIT ROOM OFFICER

Here you go.

LOPEZ
You got a choice to make -- be conservative or be bold. Tim's gonna make sure Lucy bags a work horse for her first C.I. Nothing flashy.

WEST
And Harper?

LOPEZ
My guess is she'll let Nolan drive it -- sink or swim on his own.

LOPEZ and WEST enter through the sliding glass doors into the sally port.

WEST
You think we should go big.

LOPEZ
It's the riskiest move, but the one that will get you into short sleeves quicker. But a big fish takes time, and if you fail to recruit him, you run the real risk of hitting the week's end without someone.

WEST sighs and finishes loading their gear into their shop.

WEST
And Grey'll bounce me for sure. Screw it. Let's go for it.

LOPEZ
That's the spirit.

WEST
You got a candidate?

LOPEZ
Yeah. A guy the Feds use, but you should hit an ATM on the way over. This guy's not cheap.

We return to the KIT ROOM COUNTER, where Officer NOLAN is talking to Detective NICK ARMSTRONG.

NOLAN
Hey, Nick. Heading home?

NICK ARMSTRONG
My bed awaits. I just had an armed robbery suspect in the box all night. I'm fried. How're you?

NOLAN
I just found out my son got engaged.

ARMSTRONG
Whoa. I-Isn't he, like, 12?

NOLAN
20

ARMSTRONG
Right. You like the girl?

NOLAN
Abigail. She seems very sweet. Just met her for the first time this morning. Also 20.

ARMSTRONG
You run her through the system?

NOLAN
A background check? No, it's against the rules, and it's just...wrong.

ARMSTRONG
If it were me, I'd want to know. See you tomorrow. Well, technically tonight.

NOLAN
Right.

KIT ROOM OFFICER

Here you go.

NOLAN
Oh.

NOLAN ponders what ARMSTRONG has just told him.

EXT./INT. PAWN SHOP, DAY

BRADFORD
What are we doing here, Boot?

CHEN
As you're aware, pawn shops are required by law to notify law enforcement if they believe someone is trying to pawn off stolen property. I pulled city records. This shop has never called us. Either the owner is a saint, or --

BRADFORD
Or he's dealing with a lot of stolen goods.

CHEN
Exactly. Making them the perfect candidate for my first C.I.

BRADFORD
Don't get too cocky, Officer Chen. Recruiting a reliable C.I. is hard work.

CHEN's cellphone rings. It is her father calling.

CHEN
Yes, sir. Sorry, my parents are...

BRADFORD glares at CHEN.

CHEN
Uh, never mind.

CHEN declines the call and puts her cellphone away as they approach the entrance to the pawn shop.

CHEN
Morning.

OPAL
Good morning. What can I do for you?

CHEN
We're doing interviews for the detectives in Robbery-Homicide. Has anyone tried to pass off stolen items recently?

OPAL
No, absolutely not.

CHEN
How do you know they're not stolen before you buy them?

OPAL
'Cause I'm a very good judge of people.

CHEN
What's your impression of me?

OPAL
That you're a very distrustful woman.

CHEN dials a number on her phone.

CHEN
(on phone) Detective Harrison, it's Officer Chen. Yeah, we're gonna need you to send Code Enforcement down to High-Life --

A flustered OPAL cuts off CHEN mid-sentence.

OPAL
That's not necessary.

CHEN
(on phone) Hold on, Craig. (To OPAL) If you're above board, there shouldn't be a problem, right?

OPAL sighs

OPAL
Okay. There may be a few things that are from questionable sources.

CHEN
Nice job.

CHEN hangs up her phone.

CHEN

Great, let's see it, and don't give me any of that low-end misdemeanor crap.

OPAL retrieves a very expensive purse from the shelf and shows it to CHEN.

OPAL

Woman brought this in yesterday, and it's not the first designer bag she's brought me.

CHEN

Mm. Retails for what? Five grand?

OPAL

Six.

BRADFORD

What are you looking for?

CHEN
These high-end bags have serial numbers sewn in. They're registered to the original buyer.

CHEN finds the serial number after digging through the purse.

CHEN
Yeah. Bingo.

EXT. STREET, DAY

A young woman is searching through her backpack while standing next to a car. HARPER sounds the siren to let her know they are there.

NOLAN
Hey, there. Bianca, right?

BIANCA WINDLE

Do I know you?

NOLAN
No, I have this acquaintance in Narcotics. He, uh -- Well, actually, I installed a new kitchen island for him. Anyway, I was telling him I need a low-level drug mule that I can flip into a C.I., and he mentioned you.

BIANCA realizes she's been caught, and proceeds to run away on foot with NOLAN and HARPER in pursuit in the shop.

NOLAN
Bianca! Why are you running? We know where you live.

HARPER
She's got drugs in her bag.

NOLAN
Really?

HARPER
Uh-huh.

NOLAN
Bianca, is that right?

BIANCA runs into the back of an SUV and groans as she falls to ground. NOLAN and HARPER exit the patrol car to arrest her.

NOLAN
Easy. Okay. Easy. I got you. Come on. Come on. Come on. Relax, okay?

NOLAN opens up BIANCA's backpack, which is filled with heroin.

NOLAN
Heroin?

HARPER
Yep. Enough to put Bianca in prison for the rest of her child-bearing years. Do you want to go to prison, Bianca?

BIANCA
No.

NOLAN
Then you're going to have to flip on your boss, and depending on how that goes, you're gonna become an informant -- my informant -- pointing us to more drug dealers and suppliers.

BIANCA
I can't do that. They'll kill me.

NOLAN
And we'll protect you.

HARPER
He can't promise you that. You need to be clear with a C.I. You'll do your best to treat them right, look out for them, but you're not God, and you're not with them 24/7.

NOLAN
Understood. And thank you. So, those are your choices, Bianca. You can go to jail or you can help us. What's it gonna be.

INT./EXT. DOLLAR MOTEL, DAY - MOTEL ROOM/COURTYARD AREA

NOLAN, HARPER and BIANCA are now in a motel room, with detectives BOYD and HASTINGS hooking up BIANCA with a listening device.

BIANCA
You're gonna get me killed.

NOLAN
Hey, if anything happens, we'll be just across the courtyard.

HARPER
Your boss usually punctual?

BIANCA
For a drug dealer.

NOLAN
Look, don't be a hero. Just give him the bag, you take your fee, you walk away, just like you've done hundreds of times.

DETECTIVE BOYD
All done. Talk in a normal voice.

BIANCA
Tell the man at the funeral home that I want to be turned into a tree. Make sure they don't put me in a box. I get claustrophobic.

NOLAN
Bianca, I promise... if anything goes wrong, we will be there.

BIANCA
Can I go to the bathroom with this stuff?

BOYD
Sure.

BIANCA
And don't listen.

BIANCA enters the bathroom and closes the door and then attempts to make a run for it by escaping out the bathroom window. Once she makes it to ground after jumping out, she is almost immediately confronted by HARPER.

HARPER
Hey, girl.

HARPER reenters the room with BIANCA in tow.

NOLAN
I thought --

HARPER
Yeah, don't do that. He'll be here in a minute. Let's get set.

EXT. GOLF COURSE, DAY

WALTER HICKEY is playing golf, and he tees off his shot. LOPEZ and WEST are standing directly behind him.

WALTER HICKEY
Damn it!

WEST
So, I was thinking we could start small, see what type of intel you have.

HICKEY turns to face LOPEZ and WEST.

HICKEY
Hold your roll, Officer. The only reason I'm talking to you is because you paid my greens' fee. Truth is, I work exclusively with the Feds. They pay way better than the LAPD. 100 grand last year for intel on nine high-profile felonies. Now, you gonna match that?

WEST
While the LAPD can't beat that kind of number, your FBI handler isn't gonna give you the kind of personal attention that I will.

HICKEY
He offering massages?

LOPEZ
There's gotta to be something or someone that's bothering you.

HICKEY
My ex-wife is screwing this Pakistani guy. Owns a used car dealership on Van Nuys -- definitely moving stolen cars.

WEST
And why do you care?

HICKEY
My ex torched all my Armani suits on the way out. So, you take something she cares about away from her... I'll play ball.

LOPEZ nods to WEST and they walk away with HICKEY returning to his golf cart.

EXT./INT. DOLLAR MOTEL, DAY - MOTEL ROOM/DILLON'S HALLWAY/PARKING LOT

A blue car that DILLON is driving pulls into the motel parking lot. NOLAN, HARPER, DETECTIVE BOYD and DETECTIVE HASTINGS are still in the motel room. NOLAN and HASTINGS are watching the car through a window, with HASTINGS filming both the car and the ensuing exchange. BIANCA has left the room to confront DILLON.

NOLAN
He's here.

The car stops, and DILLON gets out of it. NOLAN and HASTINGS watch him exit his car and head towards a motel room which he enters.

NOLAN
He went into the room.

DETECTIVE BOYD turns up the volume on BIANCA's listening device so they can hear the conversation between her and DILLON.

HARPER
She's going in.

They watch as BIANCA comes down the stairs next to room DILLON is in and she knocks on the door. DILLON opens the door and begins talking to her. BIANCA tries to give the backpack filled with heroin to DILLON. He then tries to close the door on her and a scuffle begins.

NOLAN
What's going on?

HARPER senses that NOLAN is trying to leave the room, and she prevents him from leaving.

HARPER
It's fine. Let it play out.

NOLAN returns to the window to continue watching BIANCA. DILLON and BIANCA get into a shouting match, which ends with her giving him the heroin. DILLON then slams the door shut, leaving BIANCA alone outside the room. BIANCA then goes back up the stairs to return to the room NOLAN, HARPER, and the two detectives are in.

HARPER
See? All good.

NOLAN and HARPER then watch BIANCA run past the window NOLAN was looking out of and she knocks on the door. HARPER lets her back into the room.

BOYD
Arms up.

BIANCA
Hey, I don't get to keep that?

BOYD has removed BIANCA's listening device - and a roll of money she got from DILLON.

NOLAN
Sorry.

HARPER
Alright, well, let's go get this guy.

HARPER, BOYD, and HASTINGS leave the room, with NOLAN and BIANCA still left in the room.

NOLAN
Okay, just sit here, relax. The hard part's done. Great job.

NOLAN then leaves the room to join HARPER, BOYD, and HASTINGS, leaving BIANCA alone in the room. NOLAN, HARPER, BOYD, and HASTINGS follow DILLON to his car.

HARPER
Freeze. Police!

NOLAN
Hands up. Drop the bag. Interlace your fingers behind your head. Don't move.

BOYD searches through the trunk of DILLON's car, finding several backpacks filled with heroin.

BOYD
Decent bust, rookie.

NOLAN returns to the room to check on BIANCA.

NOLAN
Bianca?

NOLAN stops in his tracks as he sees BIANCA has hit her forehead on a wall and collapsed to the floor. NOLAN approaches her as she gasps for air.

NOLAN
Hey. Bianca?

NOLAN then finds a baggie of heroin on the floor and examines it, realizing that BIANCA has also overdosed on heroin.

NOLAN
(on radio) Harper, I need Narcan in the room right now.

NOLAN gets up and goes to get a hand towel from the bathroom to put pressure on BIANCA's head wound.

NOLAN
Bianca. Hey. Stay with me, all right?

NOLAN examines the baggie again and HARPER reenters the room.

HARPER
Where'd she get the drugs?

NOLAN
Must have had a leftover from the deal.

HARPER tosses the Narcan to NOLAN and he revives BIANCA.

NOLAN
Easy, easy, easy. I got you. I got you.

HARPER
(on radio) Control, 7-Adam-15 -- We need an ambulance at the Dollar Motel on Olympic. Female, 25, head injury and overdose.

EXT. DAISY'S HOUSE, DAY

DAISY is lounging by her pool in a chair reading a magazine. CHEN, BRADFORD, and HILDA approach her.

HILDA
Mrs?

DAISY turns to face CHEN, BRADFORD, and HILDA

HILDA
Uh, these officers want to speak with you.

DAISY
Cool.

DAISY puts her magazine down to talk with CHEN and BRADFORD.

DAISY
What's up?

CHEN
We're here about some stolen property. Do you recognize this bag?

DAISY stands up from her pool chair to get a better look at CHEN's phone.

DAISY
Yeah, I've got one just like it.

BRADFORD
We believe this one is yours. It was at a pawn shop.

CHEN
We matched the serial number to your credit card purchase.

DAISY leaves CHEN and BRADFORD and walks over to HILDA.

DAISY
Hilda!

HILDA
Yes, Mrs?

DAISY
You're fired.

HILDA
What?

DAISY
Please, don't make a scene. It'll just upset me.

OLIVIA walks over to HILDA and places her hand on HILDA's shoulder.

OLIVIA
Uh, whoa, whoa, whoa. Hey, hey. What's going on? What did you do?

DAISY
Hilda's been robbing us.

HILDA
I have not.

CHEN
(to OLIVIA) Who are you?

DAISY
This is my daughter, Olivia.

OLIVIA
Step-daughter. You were 9 when I was born.

CHEN
Olivia, do you know anything about a stolen handbag?

BRADFORD
The description the pawn shop owner gave us fits you more than your housekeeper.

DAISY turns towards BRADFORD and CHEN, shocked.

OLIVIA
Yeah. Yeah, I took it. But she has so many, she didn't even notice.

DAISY
You are such a brat.

OLIVIA
You're such a parasite.

DAISY
Don't talk to your mother that way.

OLIVIA
You are not my mother!

DAISY looks shocked once again, as BRADFORD tries to defuse the situation.

BRADFORD
Okay, calm down. Calm down. Both of you, okay?

DAISY
I want her arrested. It's the only way she'll learn.

BRADFORD goes to arrest OLIVIA.

CHEN
Are you sure that's what her father would want?

DAISY
Her father wants whatever I tell him.

BRADFORD leads OLIVIA away, followed by CHEN and HILDA. DAISY returns to her pool chair, sits down, and resumes reading her magazine.

INT. MID-WILSHIRE STATION, DAY - HOLDING AREA

WEST finishes locking up a prisoner in holding as LOPEZ joins him.

LOPEZ
Six stolen cars. Grey's gonna be impressed, but we still need to get Hickey officially signed up.

WEST
On it.

WEST gets out his phone to call HICKEY

HICKEY
(on phone) Yo.

WEST
(on phone) Mr. Hickey, it's Officer West. Your intel was spot-on. We've impounded six stolen vehicles and arrested Mr. Fawad Chandio.

HICKEY
(on phone) That's awesome. Nicky's gonna cry for a week.

WEST
(on phone) So, it means you're on board?

HICKEY
(on phone) I'm a man of my word.

WEST
(on phone) Great. We'll just need you to come into the station and fill out some paperwork.

HICKEY
(on phone) Yeah, you got it.

INT. SHAW MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, DAY - BIANCA'S HOSPITAL ROOM/LOBBY

DR. GRACE SAWYER has just finished running tests on BIANCA. She then walks in NOLAN and HARPER's direction.

DR. GRACE SAWYER
She'll be okay. We're gonna keep her overnight and monitor her for a concussion.

NOLAN
Thanks.

GRACE
You know, I still don't understand how she overdosed while in custody.

NOLAN
I left her alone while we made the bust. I just -- I feel terrible.

HARPER
You two used to date.

GRACE
What?

NOLAN
No -- What? No. Ye -- Well, yes, but --

HARPER
I'm not judging. You're very pretty.

GRACE
Thank you.

NOLAN
Well, I'm not uncomfortable at all, and I think we should probably go, right?

GRACE
(to HARPER) Nice meeting you.

HARPER
You, too.

SAWYER walks away.

HARPER
So, are you counting Bianca as your first C.I.?

NOLAN
Shouldn't I? Got a solid arrest off her intel.

HARPER
Yeah, but Grey's also evaluating long-term prospects and she doesn't have any.

NOLAN
Right. Ever bother you using people like that?

HARPER
Nope. The drugs she's moving kill people every day. She's not a saint. She's a criminal.

NOLAN
Right.

NOLAN and HARPER board the elevator to leave the hospital.

HARPER
You didn't answer my question. You checking that box and moving on?

NOLAN
No. I need to find a real C.I.

HARPER
Good answer.

The elevator doors close.

INT. MID-WILSHIRE STATION, DAY - PROCESSING AREA

CHEN is processing OLIVIA. She hands OLIVIA's boots to another officer as she takes OLIVIA's fingerprints.

CHEN
So, where's your mom?

OLIVIA
Uh... She died last year. Cervical cancer.

CHEN
Oh. I'm sorry.

OLIVIA
Thanks. So, I left school to be with my dad, only to find out that he'd been hooking up with that trophy skank while my mom was in hospice.

CHEN
Yeah, well, you shouldn't go home tonight, once you process out.

OLIVIA
I don't have a choice. Daisy convinced my dad to hold on to the money my mom left me until after I graduate from college.

CHEN
Can he do that?

OLIVIA
I don't know. I can't really afford a lawyer to find out.

CHEN
Look, you are in a bad situation, but stealing, it's... it's not gonna make it better.

OLIVIA
What will?

CHEN looks at OLIVIA, unsure of the right thing to say.

INT. MID-WILSHIRE STATION, DAY - BULLPEN/GREY'S OFFICE

LOPEZ and WEST are walking down the stairs to the bullpen area.

WEST
Am I crazy, or was that way too easy?

LOPEZ
It was a little easy. On the other hand, you showed Hickey that you can get things done.

LOPEZ and WEST have reached the bottom of the stairs. As they turn into the bullpen area, they can see GREY standing outside of his office. He does not look happy.

GREY
Lopez, West, my office.

As they enter the office, SPECIAL AGENT WYCK BIRD is sitting on GREY's desk, concluding a phone call.

SPECIAL AGENT WYCK BIRD
(on phone) I'm gonna call you back.

GREY
So, this is Special Agent Wyck Bird from the FBI. He says you're trying to poach his informant.

BIRD is facing LOPEZ and WEST. He does not look happy either.

WEST
Wait, sir, I-I can explain.

BIRD
Save your breath. Hickey's mine. Guy's a clearing house of high-value intel. Bureau doesn't need the LAPD messing with our meal ticket.

LOPEZ
I didn't know informants came with exclusive rights.

BIRD
Now you do.

LOPEZ
He called you to get us to back off.

WEST
And he used us to do him a solid. Now he's kicking us to the curb.

BIRD
He said you were hassling him. Stop hassling him. Or else. (to GREY) Sergeant.

GREY
(to BIRD) Special Agent.

BIRD leaves the office and walks away.

WEST
(to GREY) Sir --

GREY
Save it. I told you what would happen if you swung and missed. You're dismissed.

INT. MID-WILSHIRE STATION, DAY - BULLPEN/INTERROGATION ROOM

NOLAN and HARPER have returned from the hospital and enter through the sliding glass doors into the bullpen area.

HARPER
So, you got a game plan for running down a new C.I.?

NOLAN
Not yet. Any suggestions? Oh, that's right. You're not here to teach me.

A lawyer who has been sitting at a table nearby stands up to talk to HARPER.

TRENT SILVER
Ms. Harper?

HARPER
Hi. Uh...um, what are you doing here?

SILVER
You didn't sign your petition.

HARPER
Right. I'm sorry. I, um...

HARPER is cut off by NOLAN, who extends his hand to shake SILVER's hand.

NOLAN
Excuse me. Hi. John Nolan.

NOLAN and SILVER shake hands.

SILVER
Hi. Good to meet you. My name's --

SILVER is cut off by HARPER.

HARPER
None of his business. (to NOLAN) Um...I'm gonna take 10, you figure out a next step. (to SILVER) Come on.

HARPER and SILVER leave NOLAN and go into an interrogation room.

SILVER
This is bleak. There's nowhere else we can meet?

HARPER
It's private. I don't want anyone here knowing my business.

HARPER closes the door to the interrogation room.

SILVER
Okay.

SILVER opens the briefcase he has been carrying.

SILVER
We got lucky with the judge. He believes whenever possible, it's important for the mother to be part of the child's life.

HARPER
(relieved) Okay. That's -- That's great.

SILVER puts a document down on the table, which HARPER quickly signs.

SILVER
How's it going here?

HARPER
Uh, it's fine. It's a lot harder than I thought it would be.

SILVER
What is?

HARPER
Being normal.

SILVER
You're doing great. The better hours, the new apartment -- the judge will be impressed.

HARPER
I hope so. 'Cause if I don't see my daughter soon, I am gonna lose my mind.

INT. MID-WILSHIRE STATION, DAY - BULLPEN AREA

NOLAN is sitting at a desk in the bullpen area, looking up something on a computer, when DETECTIVE NICK ARMSTRONG approaches him.

ARMSTRONG
Hey.

NOLAN
Hey, back at it already?

ARMSTRONG
Yeah, couldn't sleep. Just laid there staring at the ceiling. Figured screw it -- I'll clock in early.

ARMSTRONG has pulled an envelope out of his suit to give to NOLAN, but is cut off before he can say anything else.

NOLAN
Can I ask you something?

ARMSTRONG
(hesitating) Yeah, sure.

NOLAN
I need to recruit a C.I. My first one -- she O.D.'d on me.

ARMSTRONG
Oh. You know what? You need a forger. They're at the hub of all criminal activity. Tell Logan in Commercial Crimes I asked him to throw some names your way.

NOLAN
You are a live-saver. Thank you.

ARMSTRONG
Hey, John?

NOLAN
Yeah?

ARMSTRONG
I ran a background check on Henry's girlfriend. Don't worry, I tied it to an open investigation. No one will ever know.

NOLAN
I-I didn't ask --

ARMSTRONG
I know. I know. But if I were you, I'd want to take a look at what's inside.

ARMSTRONG gives NOLAN the envelope and walks away. HARPER approaches NOLAN after returning from the interrogation room.

HARPER
What's that?

NOLAN
Nothing. What was your thing about?

HARPER
Nothing.

NOLAN
Great. Lunch?

HARPER
Great.

NOLAN stands up from the desk and he and HARPER leave the station.

EXT. FOOD TRUCK AREA, DAY

NOLAN is sitting a table, eating lunch with CHEN and WEST. CHEN is holding the envelope that NOLAN has just received.

NOLAN
So, what do I do?

WEST
Open it.

CHEN
It's about Henry's safety. You should see what it says.

CHEN hands the envelope back to NOLAN.

HENRY
Dad.

NOLAN
Hey!

NOLAN is surprised to see that HENRY and ABIGAIL have arrived at the table that the three rookie officers are sitting at.

NOLAN
Oh, my God. You guys are all about the surprises this week.

CHEN and WEST stand up from the table to greet HENRY and ABIGAIL.

ABIGAIL
(to CHEN) Hi, I'm Abigail -- Henry's fiancée.

CHEN
Yeah, I know.

CHEN and ABIGAIL hug each other.

ABIGAIL
I just really love saying that, so...

CHEN
Congratulations.

WEST
Yeah, that's awesome.

CHEN and WEST sit down.

HENRY
(to ABIGAIL) What do you want to eat?

ABIGAIL
I'll come with you.

HENRY
Okay. Good. We'll be back.

NOLAN
Right.

HENRY and ABIGAIL go over to a food truck, with their arms wrapped around each other, as CHEN, WEST, and NOLAN watch.

FOOD TRUCK VENDOR

(to HENRY and ABIGAIL) May I take your order?

CHEN
They look so happy. I want that.

WEST
Baby steps.

CHEN
(rolling her eyes) Right. Well, first, I have to get my mother out of our apartment.

WEST
Yes.

NOLAN
They really do seem happy.

HENRY and ABIGAIL kiss.

NOLAN
Would I be sabotaging that by reading what's in this envelope, or is that the illusion and Abigail's just a time bomb waiting to go off?

NOLAN, CHEN, and WEST look up to see that HARPER is at their table.

HARPER
(to NOLAN) So, what's the next step on the C.I. front?

NOLAN
Forger.

HARPER
(taken aback) Who'd you get that from?

NOLAN
No one. (a beat) Detective Armstrong.

HARPER
Cheating on me with another detective?

NOLAN
I had no idea we were exclusive.

ABIGAIL and HENRY return to the table, carrying a lot of food.

ABIGAIL
Okay, we got too much, but everything looked so good.

NOLAN
Perfect timing. Uh, uh, Henry, Abigail, this is Nyla Harper, my training officer. Nyla Harper, Henry is my son.

HENRY waves at HARPER.

NOLAN
(to HARPER) And I know what you're thinking -- far too young to have a 20-year-old.

HARPER
Nope. (to HENRY and ABIGAIL) Nice to meet you both. (to NOLAN) Let's get to work.

NOLAN
Right. (to HENRY and ABIGAIL) Um, that's all you. See you guys at home.

NOLAN leaves the table, and joins HARPER as they both leave.

HARPER
So, you got a place to start, or are we Googling "forger"?

NOLAN
Ooh, I got a list.

HARPER
Mm.

INT. PHOTO ZONE, DAY

NOLAN and HARPER drive to a warehouse, where they climb up a set of stairs to get to the photography studio.

NOLAN
What did you think of Abigail?

HARPER
She seemed nice. Why?

NOLAN
No reason. (a beat) They just got engaged.

HARPER
Oh, good for them.

NOLAN
Yeah.

HARPER
No?

NOLAN
Yeah. No I'm... Yeah.

HARPER
Oh.

NOLAN
It's great.

They have reached the studio, and NOLAN prepares to knock on the door before HARPER stops him.

HARPER
No, eh, eh...

NOLAN opens the door instead of knocking on it. A young man is talking to FALLOW in the studio.

FALLOW
Drunk driving --

NOLAN
Knock, knock.

FALLOW
Officers. Can I help you?

The young man reaches inside his pocket for something.

HARPER
(to the young man) Beat it.

The young man walks past NOLAN and HARPER and closes the door behind them.

NOLAN
(to FALLOW) This is your place?

FALLOW
Yes, sir.

NOLAN
You do head shots?

FALLOW
We sure do.

NOLAN
What about fake IDs?

FALLOW
No, sir.

NOLAN can tell that FALLOW is lying, and reaches into a drawer, where he finds several fake IDs hidden in a box. FALLOW grimaces as he reaches for them.

NOLAN
Lying to a police officer -- that's a crime, isn't it?

HARPER
Not as big a one as forgery and counterfeiting government documents.

FALLOW
Just trying to make a living. These cellphone cameras have killed my business. Am I going to jail?

NOLAN
Well, that depends. Maybe I can help you if you help me.

FALLOW
(confused) I don't know what that means. (a beat) Do you want me to bribe you? How much --

NOLAN cuts him off

NOLAN
No. No. No. That's not -- Okay. How do I... I need someone with their ear to the street --

HARPER cuts off NOLAN.

HARPER
You're gonna be his snitch.

NOLAN
My snitch.

HARPER
We're gonna take all this stolen property as evidence. We're gonna book it and tie it to an unknown suspect. If you screw us, we will suddenly know who the suspect is, get a warrant, and come arrest you.

NOLAN
We are looking for leads on serious felons here, okay? Not teenagers trying to buy alcohol. You making papers for anyone like that right now?

FALLOW
(a beat) I did get a head's up about a big job that might come my way. Fake identities, driver's licenses, passports, the works.

NOLAN
As soon as you get details, you call me. Do you understand?

FALLOW
Yeah.

HARPER
(to NOLAN) Congrats. You have a real C.I.

INT. MID-WILSHIRE STATION, NIGHT - BULLPEN AREA

CHEN is walking down the hallway, on the phone with her mother.

CHEN
(on phone) I'm on my way home now, Mom. Yes, I got the shopping list you texted. There's no milk because I'm lactose intolerant, remember? Mom, I gotta go.

CHEN switches the call over to OPAL, who has unexpectedly called her.

CHEN
(on phone) Opal, what's up?

CHEN has a concerned look on her face.

CHEN
(on phone) Thank you.

CHEN hangs up the call and looks for BRADFORD, finding him walking down the stairs.

CHEN
Tim.

BRADFORD
Yo?

CHEN
Olivia showed up at Opal's pawn shop with more of her step-mom's stuff, but she didn't want money this time. She wanted a gun.

INT. DAISY'S HOUSE, NIGHT

CHEN and BRADFORD have returned to DAISY's house; faint screaming can be heard upstairs.

BRADFORD
Police!

Suddenly, gunshots are clearly audible coming from the upstairs bedroom.

CHEN
(on radio) 7-Adam-19 -- shots fired at our location. Send back-up.

CHEN and BRADFORD head up the stairs to the bedroom. More gunshots are heard.

OLIVIA
(to DAISY) I hate you!

BRADFORD
Drop the gun!

OLIVIA
(to DAISY) You turned my dad against me!

CHEN
Olivia, drop the gun!

OLIVIA
(to CHEN and BRADFORD) She ruined everything!

BRADFORD
Now!

OLIVIA has been shooting up one of DAISY's purses, with DAISY ducking for cover on the other side of the bed. OLIVIA finally stops shooting and puts the gun down.

CHEN
Stand up. Keep your hands up. Do not move.

CHEN handcuffs OLIVIA while BRADFORD retrieves the gun.

CHEN
You've made this so much worse. Come on.

DAISY stands up to confront OLIVIA as CHEN leads her out of the room.

DAISY
You are gonna pay for those bags.

CHEN
Ma'am, stay right there.

HILDA enters the bedroom.

HILDA
What's going on?

DAISY
What the hell are you doing here?

HILDA
I came to get the rest of my things. Wh -- Are you okay?

OLIVIA sobs and shakes her head no. HILDA sighs.

HILDA
Officers, would you like to see where Mrs. hides all her drugs?

CHEN
Yes. Yes, we would.

DAISY looks at CHEN, and then at HILDA, shocked.

INT. NOLAN'S HOUSE, NIGHT

NOLAN has arrived at his home for the evening, to find HENRY and ABIGAIL sitting together in a downstairs bedroom. They get up and join NOLAN in the living room.

NOLAN
I'm home!

HENRY
About time. It's way past your curfew.

NOLAN
Oh, very funny. (to ABIGAIL) You have a lot of tattoos.

ABIGAIL
Oh, yeah. You like 'em? Each one signifies a meaningful moment of my life. I'm trying to talk Henry into getting one.

NOLAN looks shocked.

HENRY
I have no idea what I would get.

NOLAN
Yeah, well, that's a decision that will last you a lifetime.

HENRY
Yeah.

ABIGAIL
Oh, I see what you did there, Is anyone hungry?

ABIGAIL leaves to go to the kitchen and HENRY walks over to NOLAN.

HENRY
I can tell you're freaked out. Don't be, okay?

NOLAN
Okay.

HENRY
Okay.

HENRY pats NOLAN on the chest, and leaves to go join ABIGAIL in the kitchen. NOLAN pulls out his cell phone, steps into the next room, and calls DR. GRACE SAWYER, who is finishing checking a patient. She answers the call.

GRACE
(on phone) Hello?

She steps out into the hallway to continue the call.

NOLAN
(on phone) Hey, it's John. I really hope I'm not, um... stepping over the line here, but I really have no one to talk to about... anything parenting oriented. Never mind. You know what? I'll take care of this. Just forget I called.

GRACE
(on phone) John, how can I help?

NOLAN
(whispering on phone) I'm having a parenting emergency.

GRACE
(on phone) Good thing I specialize in emergency medicine.

NOLAN
(on phone) Are you still at the hospital?

GRACE
(on phone) Yeah, for a couple more hours.

NOLAN
(on phone) Could I come buy you a cup of coffee, ask you some questions?

GRACE
(on phone) Of course.

NOLAN
(on phone) Thank you.

NOLAN hangs up the call and returns to living room.

NOLAN
(to HENRY and ABIGAIL) I'm just gonna head right back out for a little while.

HENRY
Okay.

ABIGAIL
Oh, could you pick up some pie?

HENRY
Yeah, she loves pie.

ABIGAIL
I love pie.

NOLAN
Sure.

INT. SHAW MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, NIGHT - LOBBY

NOLAN and DR. GRACE SAWYER are sitting on a bench looking at the envelope ARMSTRONG gave NOLAN.

NOLAN
I feel like a monster.

GRACE
You're not a monster. I mean, you're a father.

NOLAN
So, I should just open this up right now and read it?

GRACE
Absolutely not.

NOLAN
But it's my job to protect him.

GRACE
It is your job to respect him, and running a secret background check on the girl he's in love with is not doing that.

NOLAN
Okay, but I didn't run this.

GRACE
Doesn't matter.

NOLAN
No, no. Of course not.

NOLAN
And yet, I still can't bring myself to throw it away. (a beat) What if you read it? And then that way, you could just tell me if she's a serial killer or a mime.

GRACE
No, but I will throw it out for you.

NOLAN
But --

SAWYER throws the envelope into the garbage can.

GRACE
It's the right thing. (a beat) Hey, if you want to know something about Abigail, you should just ask her.

NOLAN
(sighing) You're right. Thank you.

GRACE
You're welcome.

INT. CHEN'S APARTMENT, THE NEXT DAY

WEST is lying on the couch talking to MRS. CHEN, who is sitting in a chair.

WEST
I messed up. I tried to regain all the ground I lost, but it might have just cost me my job.

MRS. CHEN
You know, Lucy would tell me about you at the academy, how far ahead you were from all your classmates.

WEST
Seems so long ago.

MRS. CHEN
What happened to that Jackson? What happened to that young man I met at graduation? So full of confidence.

WEST
A lifetime of expectations crashed headlong into reality.

MRS. CHEN
Well, "Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn."

WEST
Freud?

MRS. CHEN
Cat poster Lucy used to have in her room. You need to get back to the time when you knew who you were, not who you were trying to be.

WEST
(sits up) Oh, my gosh. You're absolutely right. I can't start counting up wins and losses when the season's just begun.

CHEN enters the kitchen from her bedroom.

CHEN
Morning. Where did the coffee cups go?

MRS. CHEN
Oh, I moved them next to the coffee maker.

CHEN
I liked them by the dishwasher.

MRS. CHEN
That's ridiculous.

WEST
It is more convenient.

CHEN
(confused) Did -- Did... Did you rearrange the furniture?

MRS. CHEN
Yes. There's a better flow in the room this way.

CHEN
That's... That's great.

INT. MID-WILSHIRE STATION, DAY - BULLPEN AREA

LOPEZ is sitting at a desk in the bullpen area as WEST approaches her from behind.

WEST
You know what? Screw the FBI. I'm gonna flip Hickey, take him away from the Feds, and show Grey that he's wrong about me.

LOPEZ
That's a really bad idea... but I love it.

WEST
(whispering) Yes.

LOPEZ
How you gonna pull it off?

WEST
Okay, I-I stopped by the men's detention center on the way in, spoke to Chandio, and it turns out he's not sleeping with Hickey's ex-wife. He's never even met her.

LOPEZ
So, Hickey had another reason to torpedo the stolen car ring.

WEST
Exactly. So, we find out what that is, and we can use to leverage Hickey.

INT. MID-WILSHIRE STATION, DAY - INTERROGATION ROOM

FALLOW is sitting in interrogation, talking to NOLAN and HARPER.

FALLOW
They made contact last night. Ordered, um, five full sets of fake documents.

HARPER
All young women?

FALLOW
Yeah.

NOLAN
Human trafficking?

HARPER
Yeah. Who's the buyer?

FALLOW
Cartel. Not sure which one. But they'll kill me if they find out I'm talking to you.

NOLAN
Where's the exchange taking place?

FALLOW
Uh, Whiteman Airfield. In two hours.

INT./EXT. WHITEMAN AIRFIELD, DAY - AIRPLANE HANGAR

NOLAN and HARPER are hiding with FALLOW in an airplane hangar, waiting for the cartel to arrive. NOLAN checks his watch as they wait.

NOLAN
You sure he said noon?

FALLOW
Yeah, I wrote it down.

NOLAN
(on radio) 7-Adam-15 -- all units stand by off-site. Target is running late. Hold position until further notice. (to HARPER) You think he's gonna show?

HARPER
If there's one thing you can count on, it's that criminals are always late. (a beat) (annoyed) What?

NOLAN
Nothing.

HARPER
(annoyed) What?

NOLAN
Trent Silver. Name of the lawyer you were talking to at the precinct yesterday. I checked the sign-in sheet at the front desk.

HARPER
(annoyed) Why would you do that?

NOLAN
I'm a cop. Curiosity's part of the job description. So, he does family law?

HARPER
(even more annoyed) He's none of your business. My personal life is none of your business.

NOLAN
Why you're back in uniform?

HARPER
(still annoyed) None of your business. Are we clear?

NOLAN
For now.

EXT. GOLF COURSE, DAY

LOPEZ and WEST have returned to the golf course, where they quickly find HICKEY again. WEST coughs to alert HICKEY to their presence, messing up HICKEY's shot.

HICKEY
Son of a... Didn't someone from the FBI call and talk to you guys? I'm already taken.

LOPEZ
Yeah, about that.

WEST
After we swept up those stolen cars and shut down that dealership...

LOPEZ
And learned that you were lying about the owner sleeping with your ex...

WEST
It got us thinking. So we did some digging, and it seems you paid a visit to a few businesses in that neighborhood yesterday evening.

LOPEZ
Tried to use our show of force as means to extort some hardworking men and women.

HICKEY has been walking to his golf cart, and he sits down in it and sighs.

WEST
We've got you on extortion. We own you. So, call the FBI and let them know that you are booked for the foreseeable future.

HICKEY
Okay. Alright, sure. But I need to know how much you're gonna pay for tips.

WEST
That's a fair question.

LOPEZ
Totally. The answer is...

WEST AND LOPEZ
Zero.

INT/EXT. WHITEMAN AIRFIELD, DAY - AIRPLANE HANGAR/RUNWAY AREA

NOLAN, HARPER, and FALLOW are still waiting for the cartel to arrive. NOLAN's phone rings and he answers it; it is GRACE calling him.

NOLAN
(on phone) Hello?

GRACE
(on phone) I read it.

NOLAN
(on phone) Read what? Wait... the background check? No. You threw that away. I saw you.

GRACE
(on phone) I couldn't help myself. I mean, I dug it out of the trash after you left.

NOLAN
(on phone) No. Why? You're supposed to be the angel on my shoulder.

GRACE
(on phone) But I started thinking. I mean, if this was my son, what I would I do? And then the next thing I knew, I was tearing it open and reading what was inside.

NOLAN
(on phone) I-Is it bad? What does it say?

GRACE
(on phone) Two years ago, Abigail was charged with arson and use of a caustic substance against a former boyfriend. I'm sorry.

A black SUV approaches the airplane hangar.

HARPER
Nolan. Heads up.

NOLAN
(on phone) I have to go.

NOLAN hangs up his phone.

NOLAN
(on radio) 7-Adam-15 -- target has arrived. Single black SUV. Wait for our signal.

HARPER
(to FALLOW) Nice and easy. Just go give them the documents.

FALLOW leaves the hangar and approaches the SUV. A man gets out of it and FALLOW begins giving him the forged documents. NOLAN and HARPER then leave the hangar as well, with guns drawn.

NOLAN
Police! Hands where I can see them!

HARPER
Get out of the car! Do it now!

Five women, including ELENA, get out of the SUV as instructed.

ELENA
No, please. You're making a mistake.

HARPER
Are you being held against your will?

ELENA
Not by him. He's helping us escape.

NOLAN
Wait. Escape from who?

ELENA
El Leon.

HARPER
Head of the Aquino Cartel?

ELENA
He's my husband, and these women "belong" to his men, but we're finished putting up with the abuse. You have to let us go.

ELENA's cellphone rings.

ELENA
Ugh.

HARPER
Who is that?

ELENA
It's my husband. He keeps calling, telling me to go back.

NOLAN
(alarmed) You brought your phone? Guaranteed he's tracking that.

HARPER
We gotta get out of here.

HARPER holsters her gun, but it's too late as two black town cars have converged on them. HARPER pulls her gun back out as FALLOW, the driver, and the five women run behind NOLAN and HARPER to seek cover.

HARPER
Get behind us.

NOLAN
(quickly on radio) 7-Adam-15, converge on me. Code 3.

Both cars screech to a stop and eight men, four in each car, get out of them, with their guns drawn.

HARPER
Anybody raises the gun above their waist gets a hollow point in the eye.

One of the men, MATIAS, approaches HARPER and NOLAN.

MATIAS
There's no need for that. We're simply here to give the ladies a ride home.

NOLAN
You the husband?

MATIAS
Nah. I'm his attack dog. (to ELENA) Elena, why do you do this? You know there's no place to go. Get in the car. All of you.

ELENA and the other women shake their heads no.

ELENA
We won't.

MATIAS
Oh, yes, you will.

NOLAN
No, they won't.

MATIAS
Huh. There's eight of us... and two of you.

NOLAN
Actually, there's a whole lot more than two. So, here's the new plan -- You, your boys are gonna get back in your cars and you're gonna drive away, empty-handed. I'd say you got about 20 seconds before the cavalry arrives.

MATIAS
This isn't over, Elena. We'll get to you soon enough.

MATIAS signals his men to retreat, and they get into their cars and drive off, with two police cars in hot pursuit of them. The women and their driver realize that they are now free, and begin hugging each other.

NOLAN
Well, that was exciting. (to HARPER) I guess not for you. That's probably a regular Tuesday for you.

HARPER
Oh, no. The pucker factor was definitely at 11.

INT. MID-WILSHIRE STATION, NIGHT - BULLPEN AREA

LOPEZ and WEST have returned to the precinct and they are joined by NOLAN and CHEN as GREY comes out of his office to talk to WEST.

GREY
West. (to NOLAN and CHEN) Nolan, Chen, don't wander off. Special Agent Bird just called me --

WEST cuts off GREY.

WEST
Look, Sergeant, it was my decision to pursue Hickey and try and steal him away from the Feds.

GREY
Seems like you succeeded from the way Bird was yelling.

WEST
Yes, sir.

GREY
Officer Lopez, is this how you train your rookies? To ignore the orders of federal agents?

LOPEZ
Pretty much, sir.

GREY
Any day we can remind our federal brethren that we are their equals... is a day worth living. It appears you three successfully recruited your first C.I. s, and I'm impressed. See you tomorrow.

GREY begins to walk away, but pauses.

GREY
Oh, Officer West? Short sleeves, please.

WEST
Yes, sir.

LOPEZ displays a wide grin on her face, and NOLAN and CHEN come over to congratulate WEST.

INT. CHEN'S APARTMENT, NIGHT

CHEN and WEST have returned home from the precinct, and CHEN is surprised to see MRS. CHEN'S suitcase next to the door.

CHEN
Hey, why's your bag by the door?

MRS. CHEN
Your father is on his way to pick me up. He apologized. He just needed to miss me.

MRS. CHEN's phone chimes.

MRS. CHEN
Oh. He's downstairs. Alright, sweetheart, it's been a lovely visit.

CHEN and MRS. CHEN hug one another.

MRS. CHEN
Come by the office. We can talk about why you're not dating anyone.

CHEN rolls her eyes as WEST and MRS. CHEN hug.

MRS. CHEN
Thank you, Jackson.

WEST
Bye, Mrs. Chen.

WEST closes the door as MRS. CHEN leaves.

CHEN
No wonder I can't find a healthy relationship. My dysfunctional parents are why I am 28 and still single.

WEST
Are you sure that's why?

CHEN
What's that supposed to mean?

WEST
Look, I'm just saying that your only real relationship was with Nolan.

CHEN looks surprised.

WEST
Yep.

CHEN
Wait --

WEST
I've known the whole time.

CHEN
Wait, wait, wait, wait.

WEST
What? You think I'm stupid?

CHEN
(very embarrassed) No.

WEST
Listen -- You fell for a divorced guy coming out of a 20-year marriage, okay? I-It was safe. Never meant to last. Come on. Let's go celebrate. Tomorrow, my forearms will be liberated.

CHEN
It is pretty glorious.

WEST
Yeah, actually, how did you get your parents to make up?

CHEN
Oh. I got Wesley to call each of them pretending to be a divorce lawyer, telling them the costs of a divorce, and that snapped them out of it pretty quick.

WEST
Well played

CHEN
Thank you.

WEST
Let's go.

CHEN
Wait. Will you please, please help me get the furniture back to where it was?

WEST
But it's better this way.

CHEN
I know. But will you help me get it back to the way it was?

WEST
Yes.

CHEN
(chuckling) Oh.

CHEN and WEST stand up to rearrange the furniture.

INT. NOLAN'S HOUSE, NIGHT

NOLAN, HENRY, and ABIGAIL have finished eating dinner and ABIGAIL cleans up the plastic plates they were using.

NOLAN
Thank you.

ABIGAIL
Yeah.

HENRY
Thanks.

NOLAN
Guys, there's something I need to say. I know about the arson.

HENRY
(angry) You ran a background check?

NOLAN
You knew she had a record?

HENRY
(getting angrier) Yeah, she told me on our third date. I... can't believe you did that.

ABIGAIL
It's okay. He -- He did it to protect you.

HENRY
No, I don't need protecting, especially from you.

ABIGAIL
(to NOLAN) Do you want to know what happened?

NOLAN
If you want to tell me.

ABIGAIL
An ex-boyfriend posted some videos on the Internet... after we broke up. Personal videos of us... together. He did it to get revenge, and it worked. He took something from me I'll never get back.

NOLAN
I'm so sorry.

ABIGAIL
So, I went to his house... and I torched his car. And I got arrested and he didn't.

HENRY
(to NOLAN) Happy now?

NOLAN
Not in the least. (to ABIGAIL) Abigail... I'm sorry my fear overcame my judgement. I, uh... I can't take that back, but I can promise you it won't happen again.

ABIGAIL
That's good enough for me.

HENRY
(whispering) Yeah.

ABIGAIL
Okay. It's great that that's behind us now, because I really am pregnant.

NOLAN looks alarmed again.

ABIGAIL
I'm kidding. Again.

NOLAN
Oh, my --

ABIGAIL
Joke.

NOLAN
Geez. Okay, we're gonna have to work on the jokes, though. 'Cause I already have a high-stress job, and, uh..I think you're gonna give me heart attack.

ABIGAIL
Understood.