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Some more wine?
I'm afraid this meat is overdone.
I'm sorry about that, Mr. Stephens. Would you like to try the fish?
What is it?
Poached salmon.
We do.
Is there shrimp on it?
Yes.
If you could pick the shrimp off, as well as anything that touches the shrimp...
I'm not sure if that will leave much on the plate.
Well, let's see what we get.
I'm in a car wash.
A car wash! Wow, I've never talked to you when you've been in a car wash. Make sure you've got the windows closed.
Remember that time we were having the car washed and I started playing with the automatic window? How old was I, Daddy? Five or six? I got absolutely soaked, remember?
Why are you calling me, Zoe?
Why am I calling you? You're my father. I'm not supposed to call you? What's the matter with wanting to talk to you, Daddy?
Nothing's wrong with trying to talk to me, Zoe.
So what's the problem?
The problem is I have no idea who I'm talking to right now.
'Cause you think I'm stoned, Daddy? 'Cause you think I've got a needle stuck in my arm? Is that what you're thinking, Daddy?
DADDY!!!
Yes.
Why can't you talk to me?
I...I just need to know what state you're in so I know...how to talk to you...how to act...
Yes, I'll accept the charges.
Daddy?
Yes.
I'm calling because I've got some news for you, Daddy. Some big news.
News?
Don't you want to hear?
Yes. Give me your news, Zoe.
You always think you know what I'm going to say, don't you? You always think you're two steps ahead of me. The lawyer.
Tell me your news, Zoe.
Okay. I went to sell blood yesterday. That's how it is. I'm in this fucking city where my father is a hot shit lawyer, and I'm selling my blood.
That's not news, Zoe.
No. But this is. They wouldn't take my blood.
Do you know what that means, Daddy? Does it register?
Yes.
I tested positive.
Yes.
Welcome to hard times, Daddy.
What do you want me to do, Zoe? I'll do whatever you want.
I need money.
What for?
You can't ask me that! Not anymore! You asked me what I wanted. Not what I wanted it for. I want money.
Do you have the blood test?
You don't believe me? You don't fucking believe me?
Of...course I do. I just thought...I could get you another
I can hear you breathing, Daddy.
Yes. I can hear you breathing too.
Oh God, I'm scared.
I love you, Zoe. I'll be there soon, and I'll take care of you. No matter what happens. I'll take care of you.
Need a hand?
Sure, it you could find a towel in this bag. I know my wife packed one in there...
You always think you're prepared for these things.
Tell me about it.
How old is she?
Almost three.
Is this it?
Perfect.
Here we go.
Thanks.
Do you have a room?
Will you be spending more than a night?
Hard to say. I might have...some business here.
What about Doreen?
She...she was a friend of mine.
When?
At school. She fell for Kyle just before we graduated. Got pregnant, and...went to live in a trailer up on a woodlot Kyle's dad used to own. Kyle started spending more and more time at the Spread Eagle...
That's the local bar?
...coming home drunk and I guess feeling trapped by his life and blaming her for that...and...
What do you mean?
People who will help our cause.
That's great, Wendell. That's the sort of thing I need to know. So it doesn't come back to haunt our case later on.
There's the Prescots...
Tell me about the Ottos.
Wanda and Hartley. They lost Bear. He was their adopted son. A beautiful boy. Indian.
Indian?
Yes.
That's good. Judges like adopted Indian boys. Tell me more about the Ottos.
They're smart. Been to college. They moved here from the city about a dozen years ago.
What do they do?
Crafts.
Crafts?
Wanda does these photographic things. That's one of her pictures on the wall.
Have they ever been busted?
No.
I object to the form of that question. Note that.
Was the bus on time?
There was nothing reckless in Mrs. Driscoll's behavior?
I object to that form of question. Note that.
Note my objection. She said, 'As I'm talking.'
Did there come a time when the bus turned off Staples Mill Road onto
Note that she said 'pretty clearly'. Not 'clearly'.
And what was the weather like at this time?
I have no questions.
Thank you, Nicole.
I don't like thinking about the accident. I don't even remember it happening. Besides, it just makes people feel sorry for me, and...
You hate that.
You can only feel lucky that you didn't die for so long. Then you start to feel...unlucky.