Approval(scrap scene)
Date: Wednesday, October 25, 2000

sue hantak <hantaks@mtco.com>

Steele of Approval(unedited)

by Suejue

(As suspected a scene in the beginning does shed some light on the underlying unpleasantness between R and L in this episode.)

Laura ran through the numbers several times, both by hand and with the aid of a calculator. No matter the method, the outcome was the same. She shuffled through the bills another time then threw them down distressed by the mounting expenses. Too much globe trotting, too many dinners and personal side trips , too many considerate pro bono cases over the last year all added up to too many entries on the debit side of the ledger. She then turned her attention to the office lease renewal for next year. Looking up at his closed door, she wondered if he realized the financial commitment she was making as she signed her name to the contract. Needing his signature too, she entered his office.

"I need you to sign this," Laura held out the lease.

"Certainly," he obliged, signing without even looking at what he was putting his name on.

"Do you know what you just signed?" Laura asked, knowing damn well he didn't.

"My name, no doubt," he cheerfully replied.

"It's our office lease for next year." Laura looked at him, dying to tell him that she needed him around to help bring in clients, dying to ask him if he planned on staying.

He could sense some anxiety, "And?"

"We never really talk about this, but this agency is a business.... a business with operating costs, bills, overhead....."

Remington interrupted her, "Laura, what are you getting at?"

"I think we need to concentrate on doing more business, Mr. Steele."

Oh....Oh I see, this is about San Francisco isn't it?" Remington accused, fed up with her running from their personal relationship.

"What about San Francisco?" Laura honestly replied. She didn't know what he was reading into her statement.

"We spend a few moments getting closer, you get scared and go back to hiding behind your desk, claiming we need to keep things more businesslike."

"I didn't say that." Laura defended.

"You didn't have to."

"This isn't about us. This is about that mountain of debt on my desk," she pointed in the direction of her office.

"Uh huh," he shook his head agreeing, yet disbelieving every word.

Laura snatched the lease from the top of his desk, "I'm going to instruct Mildred to load my calendar.

I hope you can appreciate the need for one of us to actually do some work to keep this agency afloat." She stormed out of his office and stopped at Mildred's desk, "Please send this to the management company. Who's our next appointment?"
Miss Krebbs turned the page and stated, "Horton Earhart,, 2:30."

"When he gets here, send him into MY office, I don't think Mr. Steele is available for the initial interview."

(Next Scene: Steele's apartment that evening)

Remington answered the door with his hand on his hip still harboring some animosity, "Ah Laura, it's only 8:30, I thought you'd still be working, you know, keeping us from going bankrupt. "

"I never said we were going bankrupt," she started ,but realized she didn't want to get sucked into another argument. "May I come in?"

He stepped aside and motioned for her to enter.

"You want to watch a movie or something?" Laura asked, hoping to disprove his theory that she was throwing herself into work to avoid their relationship.

 

The movie was on, but neither were really watching it. Remington wondered if he jumped to conclusions about their talk this afternoon, but even with Laura in his arms, lying against his chest, she was droning on about some new case involving a politician. He closed his eyes weary by the thought that work will probably always come first with her. When Laura posed an unanswered question she craned her neck to see a sleeping Steele. "I guess I'm not very good company," she said to herself. Laura carefully extracted herself from his embrace, lightly kissed him goodnight and left.

FADE TO BLACK

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