Manhattan, New York City. 

Fred, a man of civil pulchritude and reason, follows

Bill, a fed up, irritable, angry, and at wit’s

end businessman, into his emptied apartment. 

Bill, in suite and tie, is carrying an overnight bag.  He looks the traveler. Fred, in suit and tie, legal briefcase in hand,

follows.

                FRED

It doesn’t make a difference - - you were supposed to appear in court this morning.  I was standing there looking like and idiot, a total idiot.

                                                        BILL

        (livid)

I was away.  I gotta make a living.  Is that alright with the court?

                                                        FRED

Actually…no.

                                                        BILL

No?…You think I didn’t want to show up?  Come on.  You think so?

                                                        FRED

        (Assuages.)

Look…Bill

                                                        BILL

        (Bill throws his stuff onto a

        couch that was supposed to be there.)

The hell’s this?

                                                        FRED

        (Confused?)

What?

                                                        BILL

The hell’s going on here!

                                                        FRED

Bill…..

                                                        BILL

I go three days -- she’s cleaned out my whole house!

                                                        FRED

Bill….

                                                        BILL

What the hell happened here!

                                                        FRED

You were away.

                                                        BILL

No shit!  Where the hell were you?

                                                        FRED

Now, Bill…As your lawyer --

                                                        BILL

        (pacing his once furniture filled room)

How the hell can you bill me five hundred dollars an hour then tell me I lost everything, and I should pay?!  Why should I pay for your mistakes?

                                                        FRED

Look, I’m not going into that again, about our wife, your wife she…

                                                        BILL

Where the hell’s my god damn furniture!

       

                                                        FRED

The court saw to that, too.

                                                        BILL

Fuck the court.

                                                        FRED

She has her rights, legally speaking that is…

                                                        BILL

Fuck her, too!

           

                                                        FRED

Now, Bill…

                                                        BILL

Get out of here.

                                                        FRED

Must I remind you that civility is a prerequisite?  We’re dealing with the law not emotions…Anyway, I’m not used to representing a dog.