MONDO EXTRAS

Somewhat hilariously, lugubrious piano music plays as Tripp tells "Nicky" that he needs his help. He says that he considered some hotshots, including Johnnie Cochran, prompting Nick to tell Tripp that Cochran's dead. Tripp: "Yeah, I know. I found out." It sure was nice of O.J. Simpson to shake the cobwebs off that joke. Tripp goes on that he asked Bill Clinton to represent the family as well, and I'm all for over the top, but between the media frenzy they caused by showing up at a funeral of a non-family member and the upcoming Dan Rather appearance, I think it's safe to say that WE GET IT. However, Donald Sutherland sells it anyway. God, that man is an amazing actor. To sum up: Tripp: You're the guy. Nick: I didn't like when my dad was the guy, and I won't do that to my wife and daughter. Tripp: You're better than all my kids put together, and yes you will. Nick: No. Tripp: Take five million a year to give to your pinko, tree-hugging, people-are-people-too causes. Nick: Buh? Tripp: I miss your dad. Nick: Ten million, and I do things my way. Tripp: Ten million is agreed, and I see they took the word "gullible" out of your legal dictionary. Scene!

We return with an overhead shot of the waiter bringing the entrees for Naomi and Nick. Naomi tells Nick that it sounds like he's living a dream; he's providing services to "these wonderful people" with whom he's always been really close, "and in exchange for that, you get to be Robin Hood." Well, the difference is that he's not actually robbing the rich, although I'll contribute to the health of large vases everywhere by noting that we know even at this early stage that Brian would disagree. Naomi keeps up the legendary references by asking if Nick hasn't entered into a Faustian bargain, going on to say that Tripp has been implicated in eleven felony cases over the last twenty years, on charges ranging from insider trading to vehicular manslaughter. "Some people would call that murder." Oh, come on, just because some people got fleeced out of their 401Ks...oh, she probably means the other thing. Naomi smugly intertwines her fingers, allowing Nick to focus on her ring, which looks an awful lot like the one in the picture in his briefcase. He somewhat pointedly asks where she got it, and she seems a bit thrown before turning off the tape recorder and saying it was from an antiques dealer in Union Square. Nick subtly fishes by saying his wife would love something like it, but Naomi warns him that it's one of a kind. Nick drops the jewelry issue and suggests he tell Naomi about his first day working for the Darlings, which he thinks will give an accurate picture of what his job is like. Naomi agrees...