OPA
After getting frustrated about learning that he was on the client list, as well as denying it, Keating, his wife, and Billy left. Now Abby, Liv, Harrison and Huck are standing in front of the board discussing the list.

Abby: "What do you think?"

Olivia: "That I'm not the one with a PhD in behavioral analysis."

Abby: "What does your gut say?" Liv pauses before giving Abby an answer.

Olivia: "That he's not a hooker guy or a liar. If he says he's never heard of Stacey, I believe him."

Harrison: "That calls the whole list into question."

Huck: "It makes sense. Sharon's a smart lady. She's been doing this a long time. At the end of the day, that list is all she's got."

Harrison: "You think she got a little creative with the data entry?"

Huck: "Would you blame her?"

Olivia: "I wouldn't, but I'm not willing to throw away a man's entire career over a little embellishment. Track down Stacey. Find out if Keating was really one of her Johns." she tells them before they go their separate ways. 

~~~~~

D.C. POLICE STATION
Stephen walks back over to Mia, who just got off the phone with Liv, to inform her that they will be bringing them back to see Sharon in a few minutes.

Mia: "That was Liv, Keating's saying he's never heard of Stacey, so Harrison and Abby are going to try and track her down. Sharon?"

Stephen: "They're gonna take us back in a couple of minutes." she nods in response. "Oh, I forgot to tell you, Georgia wanted me to ask you if you wouldn't mind her setting you up on a double date with us and her younger brother." she groans and goes to respond but he cuts her off. "And before you completely shut it down, let me tell you, that he's 25, he's handsome and wait for it, he's as big of a fan of the Harry Potter series as you are."

Mia: "Stephen," she groans again.

Stephen: "Come on, Mimi, I can't remember when you've ever dated. Or hung around someone your own age. What's the worst that can happen?"

Mia: "You do know, that I could list off every possible worst case scenario, right? And I don't do blind dates. Actually correction, I don't date. I don't date because one, I don't like to date and two, I don't want to. Oh and three, I don't have the time."

Stephen: "Mia, come on it's not like you would be alone, it'd be a double date. So me and Georgia would be there too."

Mia: "That makes me feel so much better." she says in a monotone voice.

Stephen: "Mia," he starts off before getting cut off by someone waiting to take them back.

Officer: "Mr. Finch, Dr. James for Sharon Marquette?"

Mia: "Oh look, we're needed for something much more important than this conversation." she says with relief in her voice while walking towards the officer as Stephen follows her with a sigh before they get taken back. 

~~~~~

Mia and Stephen are shown to the holding cell that Sharon is in. They sit on the other side of the table across from her. 

Sharon: "Well, it's not the nicest place I've ever spent the afternoon, but it's an occupational hazard, I guess."

Stephen: "Well, we can get you out of here, and we can make sure you never have to come back here again, but you need to let us give them your client list."

Sharon: "No."

Mia: "The U.S. attorney is gonna get his hands on it eventually, and it is the only leverage you have. If we go based off of statistics on what has happened in cases similar to your's, it won't fall in your favor, Sharon."

Sharon: "Well, maybe that will happen, but I didn't stay out of trouble for 30 years by kissing and telling. Stevie, nobody knows that better than you."

Stephen: "Your clients are all grown men. I'm a grown man. I made a choice to do something illegal, and sometimes we have to live with the choices we make."

Sharon: "I was the only single mother in my daughter's preschool class, and when she was 17 and found out what I did, what I really did for a living, she didn't talk to me for ten years. Six months ago, she calls me up and tells me I can finally meet my grandchildren, so I know a lot about living with my choices, Stevie. Believe me."

Mia: "Do you want your grandkids to meet you in jail?"

Sharon: "No, but the thing is, most of the men on that list, they have grandchildren too."

~~~~~

WHITE HOUSE
Fitz: "You blocked Liv and Mia from the White House." he says, while sitting at his desk as Cyrus walks into the Oval Office.

Cyrus: "I did, for your own protection."

Fitz: "I have the secret service, the national guard, and some very scary marine sentries to protect me. I think Liv can walk through the White House without posing a danger. And honestly what danger does Mia pose? What's the worst thing that can happen there? She throws a book at me? So what?"

Cyrus: "You act like it's nothing, a man had to have 10 stitches because of one of the books she threw. I love her, but the girl's got some anger issues." he mumbles under his breath but Fitz still hears him.

Fitz: "So they'll make me look cool, give me an edge for the younger demographic." he says with a chuckle.

Cyrus: "No it wouldn't, and I don't think Olivia or Mia is the true danger here. I think the person you need protection from is you. This went up on the 'D.C. Sun's' blog today." he says when he hands him a paper that shows a story about Amanda's suicide attempt. "I need to know what's going on here, the details, all the details. We're not going down because you failed to keep your fly zipped."

Fitz: "You work for me, not the other way around."

Cyrus: "You work for the people, Mr. President. I am the people. You work for me."

Fitz: "It's two sentences about a disturbed girl."

Cyrus: "Watergate was two sentences about a burglary." he tells him before Mellie walks into the room.

Mellie: "Hi, Cy."

Cyrus: "Mellie."

Mellie: "Honey, are you ready for the chancellor and his wife? Because I think they are ready for us."

Fitz: "Can't keep the chancellor waiting."

Cyrus: "You can't."

Fitz: "You look fantastic."

Mellie: "Oh, well, thank you, kind sir."

Fitz: "Mrs. Hanley, where are my remarks? I'm supposed to say something in German." he asks as he goes to walk out and find the papers.

Mellie: "Billy Chambers told me we've hit a snag in the Keating nomination. Is it serious?"

Cyrus: "We don't know yet. Could be."

Mellie: "Well, you know what I always say if it's serious, get Olivia and Mia on it."

~~~~~

OPA
Quinn is standing in the doorway of Huck's office.

Huck: "You look like you're gonna throw up. Don't throw up in my office."

Quinn: "I was doing a thing for Olivia and Mia, and I screwed it up."

Huck: "You screw up, you fix it. You're a fixer. That's the job."

Quinn: "I lost a person. I need you to help me track them or hunt them or whatever it is you do to find out where someone is, like, right now at this instant."

Huck: "You try their house?" he asks as she goes silent, "Try their house." he tells Quinn, causing her to walk out of his office and into the hallway as Liv spots her.

Olivia: "What are you doing here? Didn't Mia tell you to stay with Amanda."

Quinn: "She did, but it wasn't my fault. I went out to call you or Mia, and when I came back, she disappeared, but it's okay, because I'm going to her house right now, and I'm not letting her out of my sight once I get there."

Olivia: "Once we get there, so I can fix this." she tells her as she grabs her bag and goes to head out when Stephen and Mia walk out of the elevator.

Stephen: "Uh, Sharon won't give up the list."

Olivia: "Good."

Mia: "How is that goo—" she starts but then spots Quinn, "What are you doing here? Didn't I tell you to stay with Amanda Tanner? Because I have this great feeling that she's not in the office right now."

Quinn: "Uhh..." leaving Quinn dumbstruck before Mia groans and turns to Liv and Stephen.

Mia: "Why is it good?"

Stephen: "We have a client in jail. She won't do the one thing that can get her out of jail. How is that possibly good?" he reiterates Mia's question.

Olivia: "If that list gets out, Keating's ruined."

Stephen: "Keating's not our client."

Mia: "Neither is the White House, by the way. We don't work there anymore, Olivia."

Stephen: "She's right. It's not your responsibility if they look bad anymore."

Olivia: "I don't want to see a man's reputation destroyed over something that is not true. And Mia you loved Keating, you believed that he would be a great justice, why the change of heart."

Mia: "No change of heart, my opinion remains the same, but he's not our client, Sharon is."

Stephen: "And I really don't want to see a man's reputation ruined over something he may or may not have done, but we've picked a side and our side is sitting in a D.C. jail." he counters Liv's remark before the elevator doors open and David steps out right in front of the group.

David: "Good. I won't have to walk far. Olivia Pope, Mia James, you've both been served. That's a subpoena for Sharon Marquette's client list. You two have two hours to produce it, so I'll see you in court. Going down?" he states with a smirk while handing the two the papers. 

~~~~~

AMANDA'S APARTMENT
Mia and Olivia are walking up the stairs to Amanda's apartment with Quinn following after them.

Olivia: "We'll do the talking."

Mia: "You just stand there. Don't do or say anything." she says with an eye roll.

Quinn: "I could do my job really well if someone would just tell me what's going on."

Mia: "You know what you need to know. When you need to know more you'll learn it." she tells Quinn as her and Liv approach Amanda's door then Olivia knocks on it. Amanda then opens it and looks at the two of them before speaking. 

Amanda: "Do you know what you two did to me the other day? Do you? You made me want to die. Literally, actually die. I sliced myself open, and now you're both standing here on my doorstep, which I can only assume is because you both know I was telling the truth about the President. That's why you're here. It's the only reason why you could be." she tells them leaving Quinn stunned.

Mia/Olivia: "Amanda—" they begin with a look of remorse.

Amanda: "Say it."

Olivia: "You don't—"

Amanda: "Say it."

Mia/Olivia: "You were telling the truth about the President." they say as Quinn becomes even more shocked.

Amanda: "Thank you. Now get the hell away from me and leave me alone." she goes to close the door but they stop her. 

Mia: "You want to be left alone? A blogger posted a story about you today," she starts off.

Olivia: "Just a couple sentences, nothing major, but someone out there is going to follow up and want you to answer some questions. Do you know what you're going to say, exactly what you're going to say, to every question, every time someone calls?"

Mia: "Because if you don't, there's gonna be more questions from more reporters. You're going to say or do the wrong thing,"

Olivia: "You'll get flustered. You'll get upset, and you'll say something that will bring out the dogs, and what started out as two sentences on a blog nobody reads is going to turn into a full-blown tabloid scandal, and the tabloids are gonna feel like a walk in the park once the networks pick up the story, and they will, because this story has a scent."

Mia: "And you know what it smells like, it smells like papers sold. It smells like ratings. Your face is going to be on the front page of every newspaper in the entire world, and there will be no leaving you alone then. You will never, ever be alone again."

Olivia: "We made you want to die, and we're sorry about that," she starts to say with an apologetic look.

Mia: "We are not proud of what we did. We're not, but now we would like to help you," she adds on with a look that matches Liv's.

Olivia: "We can help you, if you let us."

Amanda: "Just leave me alone." she tells them as she shuts the door in their face.

Olivia: "It's Abby. I have to take this." she says as her phone begins to ring and she goes to walk out. Mia then turns to Quinn while grabbing a card from her bag.

Mia: "Write your cell phone number on here, and slide it under her door. In a few hours, she's going to call you, and you're gonna have to convince her to let us represent her." she informs her and then begins to walk away, but Quinn stops her.

Quinn: "Wait. How do you know she's gonna call?" she asks.

Mia: "Because I happen to be very good at my job." she responds back with a sigh before exiting the building as Quinn does what Mia told her.

~~~~~

OPA
Mia and Liv walk into the conference room where Harrison and Abby are looking at the board.

Mia/Olivia: "You find our Stacey?"

Harrison: "Nope, but we found somebody that knew her. Said back in '91, she planned on moving out west with her boyfriend. Montana, Wyoming, one of the flyovers." he says as Stephen walks into the room. 

Stephen: "I'm off to court. Um, you think that Zuckerman will buy this is a fishing expedition?" he questions.

Abby: "As a basis for quashing the subpoena?" she asks back.

Mia: "She might, Zuckerman's old-school." she responds.

Olivia: "It's the best we've got. We need to keep that list from going public. Take Mia, Zuckerman loves Mia." she states as Mia goes to follow Stephen out and Harrison heads to the kitchen leaving Abby and Liv staring at the board as Abby looks at the picture of Stephen on the wall.

Abby: "Ohh. I know I shouldn't care."

Olivia: "You should not care."

Abby: "You're fine with the fact that he sleeps with prostitutes?"

Olivia: "Everybody has secrets, Abby. Most of them aren't pretty. In our line of work, I don't judge. Neither should you."

Abby: "But why does a man like that, an attractive man, a man with nice clothes and a good job and wavy hair and a fiancee who loves him, why does a man like that..."

Olivia: "His name is Stephen."

Abby: "Why does Stephen buy sex from whores? I know. I shouldn't care. Why do I care? I'm not his wife."

Olivia: "No, you're no—" she starts off before realizing something.

Abby: "Liv?" she asks before Olivia walks out of the room. 

~~~~~

COURTHOUSE
Mia and Stephen are waiting outside of the courtroom so they can try and challenge the subpoena.

Stephen: "So, I'm going to try this again." Mia looks at him skeptically, "A double date with Georgia's brother wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, Mimi." he says as she groans in annoyance that this topic is coming up once again.

Mia: "No, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. But I don't want to date. I don't trust people easily and you know that. And I know that not ever putting myself out there isn't helping with that, but I have no need or interest in dating right now. I'm only twenty-two, and I'm perfectly content with where I am in my life. I've had an incredible education, a great job with amazing experiences. I mean how many twenty-two year olds can say that they have worked side by side with the current President and his chief of staff and not just as some aide, but as the White House press secretary. And now I help run one of the top crisis management firms in the D.C. area. I have a great and fulfilling life right now, one that has brought me some of the people that I am the closest to," she says as she playfully nudges Stephen arm, "so I don't need a guy to try and add on to everything else right now because it's not what I want." she says as he nods at her.

Stephen: "Okay, I understand and I'm sorry I pushed. It's just that with this being engaged thing I feel this need to give Georgia what she wants at every minute, so I can keep her happy and she really wanted this so I just kept pushing and I'm sorry Mimi. I'm sorry that I couldn't see that this wasn't what you wanted and kept pushing." he says with an apologetic look.

Mia: "It's okay." she says with a smile. "Georgia is really good for you, you know. I really like that about her, she brings out the best in you. You picked good."

Stephen: "I'm glad you like her, that mean's a lot." he tells her with a matching smile as he pauses before continuing on. "Also because now that you said no to the double date, she'll eventually want me to ask you to come join the two of us for dinner, so she can get to know the girl that I see as my little sister."

Mia: "That I'll say yes too." she responds back with a smile as someone calls them into the courtroom. "And I see you as my older brother, too."

~~~~~

Stephen and Mia are sitting on one side of the courtroom with David on the prosecution side.

Stephen: "This subpoena is a fishing expedition, your honor, plain and simple. It's an attempt to drag the hundreds of legal escort clients Sharon Marquette has serviced into the mud."

David: "Name one single prostitution case where claiming 'fishing expedition' has actually worked. Just one. I'll wait."

Mia: "Um, let me think, Williams vs. Pennsylvania, 2007, or maybe Davis vs. Florida is more your style. That was back in 1998." she says to David and then turns to Zuckerman with a smile, "I can keep going if you would like, your honor."

Zuckerman: "Counsel, approach the bench, please." she instructs them as the three then walk over to the bench in front of her. "Are you aware, you are all grown adults, and that as such, it should be at least somewhat beneath you to waste my time on what seems to be no more than a pissing match?"

Mia/Stephen/David: "We are, your honor."

Zuckerman: "Well, thank God for the little things. Mr. Finch and Dr. James, hand over that client list by noon tomorrow, and, Mr. Rosen, that woman's bail is coming down to something that wouldn't make Donald Trump feel extravagant, and let's all get back to making the world a better place. Thank you." she bangs the gravel.

Mia: "That could have gone a lot worse, but that now means—"

Stephen: "We have to get Sharon the best defense attorney we can find." he says as they finish packing their things to leave.

~~~~~

OPA
After Olivia told Mia about Keating's wife being Stacey and that was the reason he was on Sharon's list, the following day had Mia sitting on the conference table, with a fresh cup of coffee in her hands. She's besides Liv, who is leaning against the table, as Stephen comes into the room.

Stephen: "I'm gonna head down to the U.S. attorney's office with the list. Hey, sometimes one gets away from us. Think of it this way the list gets out, potential clients, every one of these guys."

Mia/Olivia: "Yeah. There's a lot of power up on this wall." they say before turning to one another and sharing a look. "Harrison!" they shout causing him to walk into the room.

~~~~~

Later that day, the conference table is surrounded by some of the men that are on the list as Mia and Liv are standing at the front of the room ready to talk to them with Sharon on the other side.

Olivia: "Gentlemen, thank you for coming. We realize you may not be united ideologically, but thankfully screwing around seems to be a bipartisan effort, and you all have one thing in common, the services of our client, Sharon Marquette."

Mia: "And while the three of us don't care how you spend your free time, your constituents might."

Olivia: "We think we can all be in agreement that this small business owner should not be unduly harassed by the law. Are we right?"

Charlie: "Ladies, I have no idea what you think you're talking about, but I have a dinner to get to, so if you'll excuse me." he states while getting up.

Sharon: "Oh, Charlie. They're talking about how you like to go around the world, dear twice in one night, if you take your pills." she quips, causing the man to sit back down.

Olivia: "Glad to see we're all in agreement."

Mia: "Oh, and I'm gonna need just one more thing." she says with a smirk. 

~~~~~

D.C. BAR
Liv and David are sitting at a bar watching the bar's tv while having a drink.

Charlie(on tv): "My reversal on Judge Keating is a simple matter of reviewing the facts and my personal feeling that he's the best man for the job."

David: "Just tell me who was on the list."

Olivia: "You know I can't do that."

David: "I mean, I can guess who was on it, given the long list of calls my boss got right before he ordered me to drop the case."

Olivia: "David, you got what you wanted. Everybody wins. She's out of the business, liquidating her assets, buying a place in Florida with extra bedrooms for the grandkids. The stain on the district's moral landscape is gone."

David: "Right."

Olivia: "Unless you're not actually a white hat and what you were after was the high-profile fame-and-fortune thing all along."

David: "You realize, don't you, that this is why I can't be friends with you and Mia, right?" he goes and takes a sip from his drink. "Where is your partner in crime anyways?"

Olivia: "Oh, just asserting her dominance." she says with a smile before she takes a sip from her drink leaving David confused.

~~~~~

OPA
Mia is sitting at her desk, writing somethings down, when she looks up and sees that Quinn is about to leave.

Mia: "Hey Quinn, can you come here for a second?" she asks her as Quinn sets her stuff down and heads into Mia's office.

Quinn: "What's up?"

Mia: "I've never had to do this before. Talk to somebody new that didn't know me prior to working here. Not knowing that I have just as much power as Olivia. That I'm just as much in charge as she is. Everyone else that works here, they all knew me prior and they all knew that Liv and I started this firm together and that I'm just as much a boss here as her. And that I have just as much say as Liv does, if someone stays or gets fired," she pauses and Quinn has a slightly scared look on her face. "I'm not going to fire you, Quinn. That's not why I asked you here. I only said that because I saw that there were some moments that you didn't listen to me like you would Olivia. And I just wanted you to know that I may be young, but I do know what I'm doing, okay."

Quinn: "Okay, and I didn't mean to disrespect you in anyway just so you know I just..."

Mia: "Quinn, you're fine. I just wanted you to know that even though my name isn't on the door, doesn't mean that this isn't my practice, okay?" Quinn goes to respond but her phone begins to ring, and Mia nods at her to answer it.

Quinn: "Hello?" she says as she picks up the call and then looks toward Mia, "Yeah okay, I'll meet you there." she pauses and looks towards Mia. "That was Amanda. She wants me to go meet her. You knew she was going to call."

Mia: "I happen to be really good at my job." she tells her, before stating, "Well go, I gave you a task to do, so do it." she says as Quinn rushes out with a smile.

~~~~~

LINCOLN MEMORIAL
Amanda is sitting on the steps, as Quinn walks over and sits down next to her.

Amanda: "I'm sorry I called you so late. I don't know. I just got scared, like maybe somebody was watching my place. I know that sounds crazy."

Quinn: "No, that's okay."

Amanda: "A reporter called my parents, asked them why I wanted to kill myself. They were having dinner. It's already happening, isn't it?"

Quinn: "I was in trouble once. A lot of people wanted to... I was in trouble. I was alone, and it was awful, but if I had had someone, someone who knew what I should say and what I should do, I would have given anything to have that person by my side, and Olivia Pope and Mia James they wear the white hat."

~~~~~

OPA
Amanda: "I'm here, okay, but we do this on my terms." she tells Liv and Mia, after Quinn brought her back to the office.

Mia/Olivia: "You'll be glad you came. We promise."

Gideon: "Hello?" he asks as he walks through the door. "Hello." he says again once he sees Quinn.

Quinn: "What are you doing here?"

Mia: "Quinn, who's this?"

Quinn: "The reporter from the hospital. Gideon." she answers Mia's question before turning to Gideon, "What are you doing here?

Gideon: "I need a quote for my story."

Olivia: "Your story. You don't have a story."

Mia: "You don't have anything, so go home." she says as her and Liv go to escort him out.

Gideon: "No."

Mia/Olivia: "Excuse me?"

Gideon: "No, she tried to kill herself the day after she quit working for the President, and she lied about who she works for, and now they're both here in this office with you two, and I might just be a Metro reporter for a dying newspaper, but you're Olivia Pope and you're Mia James, so, no. No, I didn't have a story, but now, now I do." he responds with a smile. 

~~~~~

posted — November 19th, 2020
reposted — September 29th, 2022

~~~~~