Mindy's Number
Mindy Smith goes to the scandalous trial of a major celebrity as a transcriptionist, perhaps the least noticed person in the whole court room. Mindy gets listless during the first day of the trial. While she fills her water bottle she sees George Clayton, a reporter, hanging back at the edge of the room. She wonders why he is so much less pushy than the other reporters. In fact, George is getting over a bad breakup, but he hides it behind a carefully laid back work demeanor.
When Mindy leaves the building for lunch she goes to a nearby sandwich restaurant, she runs into George there and it comes out during their conversation that he usually works outside of DC. They each get their food, and Mindy is ready to be more standoffish toward him, when he sits down to continue their conversation. As the conversation goes on she decides she likes him, but George has his reservations. His past breakup was rough, and though Mindy is nice, he thinks she might be hiding a dark side behind her quiet exterior. He also knows he will likely have to leave town after the trial to keep working on other big stories so he shouldn't try to get involved with her.
They go back to the courthouse and Mindy notices the other newsmen are very deferential to George. He admits he has covered a lot of big trials in the past but tries to be humble about them. One of the newsmen, Turner, tells Mindy that George's modesty is his greatest act. She reacts by saying he seems alright, but then goes off to continue transcribing. Secretly she wonders if George's vulnerable appearance is really just a facade.
Mindy goes home that night and thinks about how she needs to be careful around George. He seems shy, but he is obviously a power player in the newsroom. When George runs into Turner he asks Turner why he said what he did to Mindy earlier. Turner tells him women want a more confident man, and he should know that since he considers himself a player. George mulls this over for a while before bed.
Mindy and George have lunch a few more times in the following week of the trial. They both enjoy themselves, but neither speaks to their reservations seriously. George's reports on the trial are making headlines, while Mindy's work goes unnoticed by the general public. The week closes out, and the trial is still in its middle stages. George asks Mindy to go eat dinner with him that night, somewhere fancier than the sandwich joints they've been eating all week. She accepts, but still wonders about the source of his journalistic fame.
At dinner, Mindy sees George cleans up really well. He compliments her on her appearance as well as pulling out the chair for her. They enjoy the meal a great deal, and each other's company more. George is fascinated by the perspective Mindy brings to things as an observer who doesn't ask questions, but simply records them as they happened. She never says a word in court, but can really talk if she is given the right opportunity. George wants to give her more opportunities of just that sort. Mindy, for her part, enjoys George's dry sense of humor and his good taste both in food and clothing.
George decides he really wants to be with Mindy more, but forgets to ask her for her number. No big deal, he thinks, I'll ask her at the courthouse tomorrow. But even then he forgets again, instead asking her to go to the most romantic place he can think of in DC, a rose garden restaurant near the Potomac River. Mindy is thrilled he is making this move and accepts.
They have another great meal with fascinating conversation. George is smitten. After dinner, they go for a walk nearer the river. Mindy glows as she tells him how special this evening seems. They go back to his hotel room and share champagne and end up making love.
Mindy and George go back to work at the courthouse throughout the next week, but the jury has been sequestered to deliberate on the verdict so there isn't much to do and they miss seeing each other for most of the week. Mindy is hurt because she thinks George is avoiding her.
When she sees George again he is leaving the courthouse with a female reporter and Mindy doesn't even dare approach the two of them, she is so shocked. George doesn't see her at that time. He is sad he hasn't had a chance to spend more time with Mindy. Mindy reasons George is trying to move on, and their night together was just a fling for him. Maybe he does this in every town, she thinks, deciding not to say goodbye to him even as the jury's deliberation draws toward a verdict.
The jury reaches a verdict the next day. Both Mindy and George are there for it, but they don't have a chance to speak to each other, as Turner hustles George to the front to ask questions during the wrap-up. They both have plans to leave that evening. Mindy leaves the courthouse before George can get away to talk to her.
That evening, the trial is over and Mindy doesn't know if George has left town yet or not. She can't fool herself into saying she doesn't care though and she sits in her apartment, her heart full and sad. George looks for Mindy at each of the places where they met before, from sandwich places to fancy restaurants and finally to the rose garden restaurant. He finally decides to go to her directly, because he still doesn't have her phone number.
He knocks on her door and Mindy talks to him there, telling him how she feels and how there's no way he should expect her to forgive him for using her and then running off to his fancy life. George confesses that he's missing his flight, but he doesn't care if he does or not. They kiss in a passionate embrace. Mindy tells George she cares that he's missing his flight, but she thinks it is for the best.
Later that night and after making love once again, Mindy lies in bed with him and he finally asks her for her number. She laughs and gives it to him.
CHAPTERS
Chapter One
Mindy goes to the courthouse for work. The trial is a big celebrity scandal, which has brought out the paparazzi in droves. George is there, but he hangs back during the trial itself and tries to show his professional side as he is still new at this. Mindy notices him hanging back, and thinks it is odd for a reporter not to be so in your face.
Chapter Two
Mindy leaves the courthouse for lunch and runs into George at the restaurant. She realizes he is from out of town, and is about to pass him over when he waves her down. They chat and she likes him immediately. George has reservations, though. He is only in town for the trial.
Chapter Three
At the trial goes on over the course of a week. George reports on it, while Mindy transcribes. They eat out a few times, but never anywhere fancy until George suggests they try dinner some night. Mindy doesn't want to put him off so she agrees despite thinking this can't go anywhere.
Chapter Four
George picks Mindy up for dinner. At the fancy restaurant Mindy sees just how well George cleans up as well as how good his manners are. George is fascinated with Mindy, but she can be quite a talker because she never gets to say a word in court. He knows he wants to be with her more and they're getting along well. She still hasn't given him her number, though.
Chapter Five
George decides he wants to speed things up with Mindy because he knows the trial won't last forever. He takes Mindy out to the most romantic place he can think of in DC, and they make love in his hotel room later than night.
Chapter Six
As the next week of the trial moves toward a verdict, Mindy and George don't see much of each other because of the hectic schedules. But then Mindy sees George leaving the courthouse with a female reporter although ti is strictly business-related. Still, Mindy gets upset. She realizes she cares for George while the jury is out to deliberate on the verdict. Then she remembers he'll be leaving when they do. She decides it is better not to say goodbye.
Chapter Seven
The evening after the trial is over and Mindy doesn't know if George has left town yet or not. She sits in her apartment, her heart full and sad. George looks for Mindy at each of the places she they met before. He finally decides to go to her directly, though he still doesn't have her phone number. He knocks on her door and Mindy talks to him there. George confesses that he's missing his flight, but he doesn't care. They kiss, and Mindy tells him she's glad.
CHARACTERS
Mindy Smith
Age: 27 Height: 5, 4 Hair: Blonde Eyes: Brown
Family: Parents Occupation: Court Transcriber
George Clayton
Age: 29 Height: 6, 4 Hair: Brown Eyes: Blue
Family: Parents: Turner- friend in the newsroom Occupation: Court Reporter
SETTING
Washington DC