ACT 2

EXT. PALM-SHADED FRONT YARD - DAY

Michelle approaches the front door of a large multi-family house and rings the bell.  JOSEPHUS, tall and burly, thick dirty-blond hair and yellow Beavis and Butt-head T-shirt opens the door.

JOSEPHUS

Are you Michelle...?

MICHELLE

Yes ... Mr. Fabian?

JOSEPHUS

No, he's around back.  I'm Josephus ... Joe, or Joseph, for short.  Barb's boyfriend.

MICHELLE

Oh, well, then, happy to meet You, Joseph ... Joe.  I guess, I'll just go around back.

FABIAN the short pudgy babyfaced landlord appears, carrying a heavy wood door which he leans on a wall.

FABIAN

(heavy Italian accent)

Are you to see me, Michelle is your name?

MICHELLE

Yes, Hello, Mr. Fabian?

FABIAN

Hello, hello, come, let me show To you the apartment.

INT. MAIN ROOM OF APARTMENT - DAY

The door opens inward, and Fabian leads Michelle into the cathedral-ceilinged Great Room, skylight, wood beams, tiled galley kitchen and bath.  Michelle looks around, breathes a deep breath out and puts on a pleased expression.

MICHELLE

I think it's perfect for me.

INT. MAIN ROOM OF FABIAN'S APARTMENT - DAY

Fabian saunters into his apartment's messy living room.

FABIAN

(calling to another room)

Honey, I think I rent the cottage, To Barb's person.  I think she move in today.

HONEY

(slightly raspy)

Are you going to pay Barb a fee?

FABIAN

Not if I get away with it.  I Guess I pay her something ... Little something.  Did the Comp check come?

HONEY

Nothing. 

FABIAN

Agh, damn.  The city.  Cannot even send check on time. 

HONEY

You think there's a problem? 

FABIAN

Oh, there is a problem -- with them.  I will call.  And I will give them the hell again. 

Fabian punches one key on the cordless phone and it dials. 

YOUNG FEMALE(OVER PHONE)

Worker's Compensation -- can you hold, plea--- 

FABIAN

Hello, it is Mr. Fabian, I call about my check for this month.

YOUNG FEMALE (OVER PHONE)

Something wrong with the check? 

FABIAN

Ah, yes, there is no check.  I do not receive it yet. 

YOUNG FEMALE (VOICE OVER)

Hold on ... 

She puts him on hold.  He fidgets nervously. 

YOUNG FEMALE'S (VOICE OVER cont.)

Okay, yes, Mr. Fabian, check for $2,500, it isn't issued yet.  It's only a couple days late, though.I'll find out why and call you back. 

Fabian makes an annoyed face. 

INT. MAYOR'S OFFICE - DAY 

Leo and Adam are seated at either end of an oval coffee table.  The Commissioner and Louise are directly across from each other. 

COMMISSIONER HALSEY

(to Adam and Louise)

You were only voted in because of me.  You're answerable to me, and the Commission -- in the end. 

ADAM

We're answerable to the people. 

HALSEY

(calmly)

The 'people' are the Commission.(looking at Leo) More than you.  So you won an election ... so we give your people a shot ... 

LOUISE

We're in here on our merits.  You couldn't keep us out. 

HALSEY

(to Adam and Louise)

I had plenty to nix both of you. 

LEO

We have an impasse.  We agree on killing the referendum, but not on how ... or what happens after. 

HALSEY

After is after.

(getting up)

I'll see you at the press conference. 

Confidently the Commissioner whirls around toward the door. 

HALSEY

See you this afternoon.  And have that Press Secretary -- what's her name -- whatever it is -- tell her to call me, about the conference. 

He nods once with a grin while he closes the door behind him. 

INT. OUTSIDE THE MAYOR'S OFFICE DOOR 

Commissioner Halsey dials his portable phone. 

HALSEY

Bring the limo to the first bank of elevators, I'll be late for lunch. 

INT. A PUB - DAY 

On the Pub's large TV sets is the Noon news.  A replay of Debbie Wills answering questions from the media people at the earlier morning press conference, comes on. 

DEBBIE (VOICE OVER TV)

The Mayor, and Commissioner Halsey will be making a joint statement this afternoon ... 

INT. A PRIVATE PUB BOOTH - DAY 

Louise, Adam, Debbie and Leo are finishing their lunches.  There is a hint intimacy in one glance between the Leo and Debbie. 

LOUISE

Look, Debbie, you're getting to be a regular on the TV news now. 

They all look up at the TV and listen.  Adam clears some space in front of him to peruse some reports. 

HISPANIC FEMALE (V.O. TV)

                        In this referendum special        election do you expect both side to spend a lot of money?

DEBBIE (V.O. TV)

Well, I can't commit any of the City's finances or resources. 

BLACK FEMALE (V.O. TV)

                       Do you concede the abolitionist side will out-organize and outspend you? 

DEBBIE V.O. TV

Possibly.  The Mayor, staff, city Employees may have to volunteer To make up for the lack of money. 

A SERVER comes by with the bill and Adam just signs it, handing it right back. 

Louise has special feelings of her own for Leo as evidenced by the way she looks at him watching Debbie on TV. 

LOUISE(cont)

I can tell we're going to have Some bloody battles with Halsey. 

ADAM

Better give him a call him, Deb.  He's expecting it. 

LOUISE

Halsey represents all that's Wrong with this place. 

LEO

(facetiously)

Well, that's pretty righteous Talking. 

LOUISE

I can't help it.  The guy gets me, especially when he threatens to get into our personal stuff. 

LEO

So ... well, we have dirty Tricks guys ready. 

DEBBIE

W-We won't have to resort to anything like that, will we?  We can win on the merits ... Can't we? 

LEO

(sardonically)

I'm capable of anything ... but I never have to resort to it. 

LOUISE

(cynically)

You know us, Debbie, only sleaze and lies to defeat the bad guys.

ADAM

Like I said, just go by the book. 

On the TV Debbie is still fending off a barage of questions. 

ASIAN MALE (V.O. TV)

         Why all the uproar over this?

                          This is like a turf War over       

                           who controls City blocks. 

DEBBIE (V.O. TV)

This is very misunderstood.  The other side claims everything will Be different if the referendum is Passed, but the opposite is true. 

Now finished with lunch, they are getting up from the table. 

LEO

Nice work this morning, Debbie. 

ADAM

Definitely.  Debbie's a star. 

DEBBIE

(modestly)

Thanks.  I begged for God's help. 

LOUISE

(mundanely)

Not lying and not saying anything When you talk -- it's a snap. 

EXT. PALM-SHADED FRONT YARD OF HOUSE - DAY 

Michelle is taking things out of her car, it is bright sun and hot, she is sweating.  Fabian comes out. 

FABIAN

Michelle!  Michelle!  No, please Enjoy, go to the beach!  Go!  I Take care of this, putting your Things inside.  I it do for you. 

He starts taking things from her hands, and taking more from the car.  She allows him to do it. 

FABIAN

Go ahead, Michelle, enjoy the beautiful day! 

MICHELLE

Well ... I was thinking of taking a walk by the shore. 

FABIAN

Yes, yes, please, it is okay, I will do this for you. 

MICHELLE

Well, then, thank you so much, Mr. Fabian.  And for letting me move In today, too.  Otherwise, I would have had to take an expensive room. 

FABIAN

Good, yes, I am so glad you like it.