"Philadelphia", by Ron Nyswaner
PHILADELPHIA
by RON NYSWANER
September 21, 1992
FADE IN:
VARIOUS SHOTS OF PHILADELPHIA EXTERIORS (EXT./DAY) ...
which may include the Liberty Bell, the Italian Market,
scenes along the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers,
Independence Square, the Russian Orthodox neighborhood, the
ghettos of North Philly.
MAIN TITLES PLAY OVER THIS SEQUENCE which culminates in a
SHOT OF...
CUT TO:
PHILADELPHIA'S GLORIOUSLY ORNATE CITY HALL (EXT./DAY) ...
TITLE: "Philadelphia City Hall."
CITY EMPLOYEES, JUDGES, COPS, LAWYERS, CRIMINALS, TOURISTS
pour into City Hall, into...
TO:
TWO STORY HIGH CORRIDORS THAT REEK OF HISTORY (INT-DAY).
Young lawyer JAMEY COLLINS darts through the crowd, carrying
an accordion file under his arm like a football.
Jamey elbows his way through a JAPANESE TOUR GROUP.
Jamey trots up a marble staircase, two steps at a time
TO:
JAMEY RUNS LIKE HELL DOWN A THIRD FLOOR CORRIDOR, FOOTSTEPS
making a racket...
Jamey rushes toward a door marked "JUDGE TATE."
RAISED VOICES from inside Judge Tate's chambers:
JOSEPH MILLER (OS)
This construction site is
causing mortal and irreparable
harm to an unsuspecting public!
ANDREW BECKETT (OS)
My client has one of the finest
and most respected safety records
in the business, Your Honor!
Jamey shoves open the door, REVEALING TWO LAWYERS (BACKS TO
CAMERA) STANDING BEFORE JUDGE EUNICE TATE: ANDREW BECKETT
(in conservative gray) and JOSEPH MILLER (in pinstripes).
JUDGE TATE
One at a time. Mr. Miller?
JOE
Your Honor, since Rockwell Corp.
began construction, the
surrounding residential
neighborhood has been enshrouded
in a cloud of foul-smelling,
germ-carrying, pestilent dust.
My client is being forced to
breathe known carcinogens daily!
Other residents are coming forth
on a daily basis to add their
voices of outrage!
ANDREW
Your Honor, I submit there were
no complaints until Counselor
began knocking on doors,
drumming up business. And the
dust, which Counselor refers to,
has appeared on only three
occasions. Each time it has
been examined and the results...
Behind his back, Andrew wiggles his fingers. Jamey stuffs
a document into Andrew's hand.
ANDREW (CONT.)
Limestone. Messy, but innocuous.
Andrew submits the report to the Judge.
JOE
Innocuous?
ANDREW
Defined by Webster's as harmless.
JOE
I know what it means. Your
Honor, imagine how the children
in this neighborhood have been
made to feel. The pounding of
construction ringing in their
ears as this skyscraper, a
tribute to mankind's greed,
grows daily, casting an ominous
shadow over their lives, filling
them with dread even as they are
surrounded in a black, toxic
fog, blocking out the sun while
poisoning their lungs! And
Counselor calls it harmless?!
His back turned momentarily to the JUDGE, Andrew mouths to
Jamey: "Not bad." But he whips around, serious again:
ANDREW
Your Honor, Counselor is
attempting to portray my client
as a hideous manifestation of
evil and corruption. But
nothing could be further from
the truth. Rockwell has
generously contributed ten
thousand dollars to this
neighborhood's schools, clinics
and youth centers! Granting a
restraining order on the
construction site will throw
hundreds of Philadelphians out
of work, and will lend
validation to this contemptible
and groundless nuisance suit,
which speaks directly to the
kind of greed and treachery that
today is threatening the very
fabric of our society.
Judge Tate looks skeptically at both lawyers.
JUDGE TATE
Let's not go off the deep end,
gentlemen. I thought we were
talking about some dust.
CUT TO:
A MAN ON CRUTCHES HOBBLES INTO A COURTHOUSE ELEVATOR AND IS
joined by Andrew and Joe, crowding inside (INT./DAY) ...
As soon as the doors close, Andrew whips out a micro-
cassette recorder, making notes, and Joe, in the opposite
corner of the elevator, does exactly the same thing.
ANDREW JOE
... plaintiff seeks to re- ... whereas decedent had
strain defendants from con- pre-existing asthmatic
tinued improper use of trade condition and ride on
name without... Ultra Loop caused sub-
sequent death...
Andrew and Joe stop at the same time, look at each other...
And turn toward the corner, seeking privacy.
ANDREW (CONT.) JOE (CONT.)
... plaintiff's permission or ... complainant seeks
authorization... relief...
There's a PERSISTENT BEEPING, Andrew and Joe pull out their
portable telephones at the same time.
They look at each other: which phone is ringing?
ANDREW
You.
Andrew resumes his telephone conversation.
JOE
Right.
(into phone)
Miller.
The ELEVATOR OPENS: Andrew breezes past the MAN ON
CRUTCHES, saying to Joe:
ANDREW
Client of yours?
JOE
Funny.
Andrew hurries down the corridor. Joe waits a moment... then
pursues the MAN ON CRUTCHES.
JOE (CONT.)
Excuse me..? Sir? Yo!
CUT TO:
ANDREW EKERGES FROM CITY HALL, ONTO DILWORTH PLAZA BUSTLING with
PEDESTRIANS (EXT./DAY) ...
... DARTS into the street, hailing a cab.
CUT TO:
THE CAB PULLS UP TO A BROWNSTONE ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET,
Andrew hopping out, stuffing papers into his briefcase
(EXT./DAY) ...
RUSHING to the door marked "Dr. Roberta Gillman, Internal
Medicine."
Coming out is a YOUNG ASIAN MAN with a cotton ball taped to
the inside of his elbow.
CUT TO:
CLASSICAL MUSIC (INT./DAY) ... AS CAMERA PANS PATIENTS
(MOSTLY YOUNG MEN) in a cheerful room... some, like a UPS
DELIVERY MAN, are attached to IV's, some sit with arms
extended, waiting to be hooked to an IV by TYRONE, a BLACK
PHYSICIAN'S AID.
CAMERA FINDS ANDREW sitting quietly, with an IV drip running
into his arm. Andrew is wearing a Walkman, the source of
the CLASSICAL MUSIC, and he's reading a legal brief. Most
of the people in the room look SICKER than Andrew.
DIALOGUE CAN BE HEARD under the CLASSICAL MUSIC (although
MUSIC dominates the SOUNDTRACK).
TYRONE
(slapping a thin
PATIENT'S wrist)
Gonna have to start looking for
veins in your feet, sweetheart.
DR. ROBERTA GILLMAN, passes through, speaking to Andrew:
DR. GILLMAN
Andy. Can you stop at my office
on your way out?
ANDREW
Sure.
Andrew is distracted by A HISPANIC MAN across the room,
rolling up his sleeve for an IV -- his bare arms, hands,
face and neck are marked with PURPLE BLOTCHES.
Andrew closes his eyes, concentrating for a moment on the
CLASSICAL MUSIC... then goes back to work.
CUT TO:
ANDREW HURRIES OUT OF THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE, HAILING A CAB
(EXT./DAY) ...
CUT TO:
ANDREW HOPS OUT OF THE CAB, IN FRONT OF AN IMPRESSIVE
skyscraper in downtown Philly, at the end of the work day
(EXT./DAY) ...
Andrew pushes through glass doors into the plush "Wheeler
Building," pressing through the tide of WORKERS headed home.
CUT TO:
A BLACK PARALEGAL, ANTHEA BURTON, LEADS A YOUNG, BLACK LAW
CLERK (in suit and tie) to the elevators, at the sedate,
expensively appointed offices of Wyant Wheeler Hellerman
Tetlow and Brown (INT./DAY) ...
ANTHEA
... up to Tax, on fourteen, and
get right back, I need you.
Andrew BLASTS out of the elevator, flashing Anthea a four-
star smile. They stride down the corridor together.
ANDREW
Just the dazzling paralegal I
wanted to see.
ANTHEA
(friendly)
I know what that means, and the
answer is no. I have a class
tonight. Exploit someone else.
And since you've asked ...
They pass a silver-haired partner, KENNETH KILLCOYNE.
KILLCOYNE
Solid work on the Rockwell
situation, Andy. Top-notch.
ANDREW
Thanks, Kenneth.
(to Anthea)
Your exam!
ANTHEA
Thank you. 98. I gotta go...
ANDREW
Ninety-eight?! Ninety-eight!
Andrew reaches the secretaries' station. A cheerful
secretary, SHELBY, shoves documents at him.
SHELBY
Conference call's up. They just
started the roll call. Here's
the settlement agreement, the
red-lined copy's on your desk.
Need me in there?
ANDREW
No. Great. Thanks, Shelby.
(checking his watch)
It's 6:30, go home.
Andrew passes a colleague on her way out, RACHEL SMILOW:
ANDREW (CONT.)
Rach.
RACHEL
I'm late, I have to pick up Amy
from her afterschool but I want
to talk to you about that Hansen
thing.
ANDREW
Catch me later, I'll be here.
And tell Amy, I love her
painting, it's on my wall.
Andrew SAILS toward his office.
CONTINUOUS CUT TO:
ANDREW ENTERS HIS OFFICE, KICKING THE DOOR SHUT (INT./DAY).
... DROPPING the documents on his desk, SCANNING them.
... ADMIRING a child's painting taped to the wall.
... PUNCHING into the speaker phone on his desk.
The SCREEN SPLITS, REVEALING A TELECONFERENCE OPERATOR:
OPERATOR
... Karen Hargreave, representing
Lloyd Management Corporation?
The SCREEN SPLITS INTO THIRDS: Andrew, the OPERATOR, and
HARGREAVE (a sharp, California lawyer.)
HARGREAVE
Present.
As the OPERATOR continues the roll call, the SCREEN
CONTINUES TO SPLIT and HARGREAVE is replaced by a SERIES OF
LAWYERS in offices around the country, (MOSTLY WHITE MALES)
saying "Present" while in Andrew's section of the screen...
... Andrew dials a number on another telephone line,
OPERATOR
Andrew Beckett, representing
Saunders International?
Andrew punches into the conference call
ANDREW
Present.
The MULTI-IMAGE SCREEN is now joined by SARAH BECKETT, a
suburban, 60ish American MOM, in her backyard garden,
answering a portable phone.
SARAH
Hello?
ANDREW
Hi, Mom. It's me.
The LAWYERS are into the conference, in their portions of
the screen, (their VOICES HEARD underneath Andrew's
conversation with his mother).
SARAH
Andy! This is a nice surprise.
How are you, hon?
ANDREW
I'm fine.
SARAH
What's Dr. Gillman say?
ANDREW
Hold on, Mom.
(punching into the
conference call)
There's no way my client will go
along with that.
HARGREAVE
Who's this?
ANDREW
Andrew Beckett. Hi, Karen. I'm
sorry I interrupted...
He punches out of the conference, back to his Mom (glancing
over his shoulder to make sure the door is shut).
ANDREW (CONT.)
Gillman says I'm fine. My blood
work is excellent. T-cells are up.
Just a sec ...
(conference call)
Yes, I think that would alleviate
most of our concerns.
(back to Mom)
My platelets look good too.
SARAH
Are you on one of those conference
calls? I hate when you put me on
hold.
CUT ON ANDREW'S LAUGHTER TO:
THE MOON ABOVE THE WHEELER BUILDING LATE AT NIGHT (EXT.)
TITLE: "One-thirty a.m."
CUT TO:
ANDREW AT WORK IN THE FIRM'S LIBRARY (INT./NIGHT) ...
Andrew's fingers FLY across the keys of a notebook computer.
Needing a reference, he shoves his rolling chair away from
the computer... opens a reference book... grabs a carton of
Chinese food... (NOTE: The library may be equipped with a
computer terminal which Andrew uses for reference, rather
than a book.)
Andrew eats sauteed string beans with chopsticks, finding a
relevant citation:
ANDREW
Ah hah! Yes!
(chewing a string bean)
Rentworth v. Pennsylvania...
court of appeals affirms jury
award of punitive damages for
wrongful interference with
prospective economic
relations...
A SHADOW falls across Andrew. He IGNORES IT.
ANGLE: TWO MEN IN SILHOUETTE. WALTER KENTON says:
KENTON
Look at this fucking guy. He's
an animal.
Andrew's hands DO NOT LEAVE the keyboard.
ANDREW
Walter.
The SECOND MAN steps forward, a silhouette becoming visible
This is BOB SEIDMAN. He and Kenton wear tuxedos.
SEIDMAN
Are we interrupting, Andy?
ANDREW
In a word, Bob...
SEIDMAN
Charles is right behind me.
ANOTHER SILHOUETTED FIGURE APPEARS. This image has a
horror-film feeling to it.
Andrew WHIPS AROUND to face them.
ANDREW
I was just about to take a
break. Good evening, Charles.
CHARLES WHEELER, also in tuxedo, remains in shadow.
WHEELER
Andy? Could you step into my
office for a sec?
(deadpan)
I feel like firing someone
tonight.
Andrew throws an arm over Seidman's shoulder.
ANDREW
We're gonna miss you around
here, Bob...
CUT ON LAUGHTER TO:
THE RECEPTION AREA (INT./NIGHT): A DOMINO'S PIZZA DELIVERY
MAN, waiting for clearance from a SECURITY GUARD, on
Andrew's dim and quiet floor, WATCHES AS...
Seidman, Kenton and Andrew follow Charles Wheeler up a wide,
carpeted staircase. Wheeler finishes a story and everyone
LAUGHS...
CUT TO:
A BOX OF CIGARS BEING HANDED AROUND (INT./NIGHT) ...
SEIDMAN
Andy's expressed a keen interest
in the Kronos Inc. situation,
Charles. Is that correct, Andy?
The lawyers have gathered in Wheeler's spacious office, with
its floor-to-ceiling view of the Philadelphia skyline.
ANDREW
The fate of the participants
interests me, yes sir.
Wheeler, Kenton and Seidman proceed with the male ritual of
preparing cigars to be smoked: snipping the ends with a brass
clip, rolling them over their tongues to wet them, sliding the
cigars in and out of their rounded mouths.
Andrew, holding a cigar but NOT preparing to light it, watches
with a not completely concealed twinkle in his eye.
Wheeler leans back in his chair, swirling a brandy snifter.
He exhales cigar smoke with a great deal of pleasure.
KENTON
It's good to be King, hey
Charles?
WHEELER
Kings are out of fashion. I'd
rather be thought of as a
benevolent tyrant.
(prompting Andrew)
It's an anti-trust action.
ANDREW
It is, and it isn't, Charles.
Macrosystem's new software
copies all the best-known
elements of Kronos' spreadsheet
program. If they're allowed to
sell it, Kronos will get undersold
right out of business. For me, the
legal principle, involved is
copyright infringement.
WHEELER
Bearing in mind that Bill
Wright, the chairman of
MacroSystems, is a close, personal
friend of mine... which side of
this mess would you desire to be
on, Andy? And don't allow my very
tight, personal relationship with
Bill to influence your answer in
any way.
Andrew knows this is a test. And he loves it.
ANDREW
Sorry, Charles, but...
Andrew is distracted -- BY A LIGHT FALLING ACROSS HIS FACE.
ANDREW (CONT.)
I'd like to see Kronos win.
Walter Kenton has shifted a lamp, so that its LIGHT FALLS
ACROSS ANDREW'S FACE, REVEALING: a faint purple blotch
about the size of a quarter, much like the blotches we saw
on the HISPANIC PATIENT in Andrew's doctor's office.
KENTON
Why, Beckett?
ANDREW
Because they deserve to, Walter.
Andrew lifts his hand, finding that his hair has been pushed
back, revealing the blotch.
He stands, nonchalantly running a hand through his hair to
cover the blotch.
ANDREW (CONT.)
If MacroSystems wins, an energetic,
young company will be destroyed,
five thousand Americans will be
out of work. Moreover, the laws of
copyright and anti-trust were
enacted to prevent exactly the
kind of bullshit Macrosystems is
trying to pull.
SEIDMAN
Andy, do you know who reps Kronos
Inc.?
ANDREW
Bailey, Brackman.
WHEELER
Get with the program, Andy. As
of this evening, about 8:05 this
evening, right after the soup
course... Kronos Incorporated is
represented by Wyant Wheeler
Hellerman Tetlow and Brown. Or,
more specifically, senior
associate Andrew Beckett.
A moment before it sinks in, then: Andrew clenches his fist
in a victory salute.
ANDREW
Yes!
SEIDMAN
You'll have to get right on it,
Andy, we're up against the
statute of limitations.
An ASSOCIATE LAWYER in shirtsleeves taps on the office door.
ASSOCIATE LAWYER
Tokyo on four, Bob.
SEIDMAN
Great. Excuse me, fellas.
(picking up a phone,
speaking Japanese)
Connichiwa. Itsumo osewa ni nari
mashita. Arigato gozaimasu.
Andrew offers his hand to Walter Kenton.
ANDREW
Thanks, Walter.
KENTON
What's that on your forehead,
pal?
ANDREW
Whacked with a racquetball.
(taking Wheeler's hand)
I appreciate your faith in my
abilities.
WHEELER
Faith, Andy, is the belief in
something for which we have no
evidence. It doesn't apply to
this situation.
(slapping his shoulder)
Go home. I mean, get back to
work.
Andrew and Wheeler are eye-to-eye, an intimate moment.
ANDREW
(warmly, softly)
Thanks, Charles.
WHEELER
(with a father's
affection)
No sweat, buddy.
Smiling, Andrew exits the office.
CLOSE ON WALTER KENTON, THINKING...
CONTINUOUS CUT TO:
ANDREW STEPPING INTO THE EMPTY CORRIDOR, TAKING A FEW STEPS
away from Wheeler's office (INT./NIGHT), then...
... DOING a JOYFUL END ZONE DANCE, running in place the way
football players do when then score a touch down, saying
"Yes! Yes! Yes!" to himself, soundlessly.
The SOUND OF CLANGING METAL interrupts Andrew: HELENA, a
maintenance worker is emptying a trash can. She's seen his
little dance and starts to laugh.
Smiling, Andrew puts the unlit cigar into his mouth, WINKS
at Helena and says:
ANDREW
(in a funny, kind of
medieval way)
It's good to be King.
CUT TO:
ESTABLISHING: ANDREW'S LOFT BUILDING (EXT. DAY)
TITLE: "Ten days later."
CUT TO:
CLOSE ON ANDREW'S FACE MARKED WITH FOUR BLOTCHES (WE'RE IN
Andrew's loft -- INT./DAY)
It's a mirror image. The BLOTCHES vary from the size of a
dime, to the size of a half-dollar. He looks awful.
A YOUNG, BLACK WOMAN'S FINGER applies makeup to Andrew's
face, trying to cover the blotches. This is his friend
CHANDRA.
CHANDRA (O.S.)
You want to apply the foundation
as evenly as you can, Andy. You
don't want to look like you've
thrown it on with a spoon.
ANDREW (O.S.)
Uh huh.
CAMERA PULLS BACK REVEALING Andrew sitting at a table in his
loft, a towel around his neck, protecting his shirt from makeup.
Chandra applies the makeup gently, supervised by another friend
named ALAN. (Andrew's loft has been turned into a lawyer's
command post: stacks of books, documents, etc.). A third friend,
BRUNO, sits in the corner, flipping through channels on the TV.
CHANDRA
Okay. You try.
Andrew tries applying makeup to his face.
ANDREW
Chandra? Don't you think this
color's a little... orange for me?
CHANDRA
Tahitian Bronze works best on
lesions.
ALAN
Think of it as the "I just back
from Aruba" look.
IN THE BACKGROUND: Andrew's fax machine receives a fax in
Andrew's "work area": desk, personal computer, etc.).
BRUNO
I got it.
Bruno removes the fax from the machine, walking it over to
Andrew, handing Andrew the fax, while munching an apple.
ANDREW
(giving the fax
a quick scan)
Thanks, Bruno.
(to Alan and Chandra)
I've been out of the office four
days. I don't want them to
think I've been to the beach.
(searching for something)
Okay. Check this out.
Andrew puts on a pair of big glasses with tortoise shell
frames, meant to help conceal the blotches.
ANDREW (CONT.)
Hides everything, right? What
do you think?
CHANDRA
You know who you look like,
Andy? That actor, in that
movie. Not the one where he was
autistic, the one where he
dressed up like a lady on a soap
opera...
ALAN
Dustin Hoffman.
ANDREW
(horrified)
Tootsie!
BRUNO
Right.
CHANDRA
You want to try Light Egyptian?
Suddenly, Andrew winces, gripping his gut.
CHANDRA (CONT.)
What?
ANDREW
(clearly in pain)
Excuse me a sec...
Andrew starts out of the room -- suddenly HAVING TO RUN.
CHANDRA
Just like my cousin Fredo.
CAMERA HOLDS ON Chandra, Alan and Bruno. SOUND OF BATHROOM DOOR
slamming shut.
Bruno saunters across the room and knocks on the bathroom
door.
BRUNO
You okay, Andy?
CONTINUOUS CUT TO:
TIGHT SHOT ON ANDREW, FACE TWISTED IN PAIN (INT./DAY) ...
Andrew rests his head against the wall, sweat covering his
face. A storm of fire has passed through him, and he's hoping
it's over for now.
ANDREW
I think I need to go to the
hospital.
CUT TO:
MIGUEL ALVAREZ RUNS URGENTLY DOWN SPRUCE STREET, DODGING
traffic as he crosses Eleventh Street, toward Jefferson
Hospital (EXT./DAY). He hustles up the ramp toward the
Emergency Entrance...
CUT TO:
MIGUEL SHOVES THROUGH GLASS DOORS, INTO THE BUSTLING
Emergency Room (INT./DAY), FINDING
ANDREW sitting on a gurney, holding a cotton ball against
his arm, where blood has been drawn, wearing a blanket over
his shoulders, fighting chills.
Chandra and Bruno are waiting with Andrew. They exchange
quick hugs with Miguel and Andrew, ad libbing greetings and
goodbyes.
ANDREW
Thanks, you guys.
MIGUEL
Yeah. Thanks, guys.
Miguel puts his arms around Andrew.
ANDREW
Gillman's out of her office today.
I told her to take a day off, and
she did, can you believe it? Did
you get someone to cover your
class?
Miguel touches Andrew's face, checking for fever.
MIGUEL
Don't worry about it. They took
blood? A specimen?
Andrew holds an empty specimen cup.
ANDREW
Aren't you giving an exam?
MIGUEL
I said, don't worry about it.
Miguel places a gentle kiss on Andrew's sweaty forehead.
MIGUEL (CONT.)
You got a fever, baby.
Suddenly, the facade cracks and TEARS STING Andrew's eyes.
ANDREW
I almost didn't make it to
the bathroom, Miguel. I almost
lost control right in front
of everybody.
MIGUEL
(holding him)
So what? It's nothing to be
ashamed of. You have nothing to
be ashamed of, okay?
Andrew pulls himself together, brushing aside tears, in
control of his emotions once more.
ANDREW
Wait, here's my guy... Hey!
Andrew catches the attention of a harried INTERN, whose
surgeon's greens are covered with blood.
INTERN
Mr. Beckett, I'm sorry...
ANDREW
About my blood work?
INTERN
We're waiting...
Miguel opens a small notebook, making notes.
INTERN
... meanwhile, I'd like to
prepare you for a colonoscopy,
so we can take a look inside.
ANDREW
Sounds delightful.
MIGUEL
Why do you need to do this?
INTERN
Who are you?
MIGUEL
Who are you? Doctor... ?
ANDREW
This is my partner. We keep
records of hospital visits.
Nothing personal.
INTERN
Dr. Klenstein.
(to Andrew)
It's not a pleasant procedure,
but if the KS is causing the
diarrhea, we ought to know right
away.
MIGUEL
It could be parasites, an
infection...
ANDREW
A reaction to AZT...
KLENSTEIN
That's possible, but.
MIGUEL
He's not going through some
painful procedure until we've
cancelled out everything else.
INTERN
I'm trying to help your
"partner." You're not a member
of his immediate family, I could
have you removed from the ER.
ANDREW
(to the Intern)
He's upset, he's sorry.
MIGUEL
Don't apologize for me.
ANDREW
He's not sorry, okay, fine.
(the diplomat)
Why don't we see what we find
out from the blood work? I'll
work on getting a specimen, I'm
sure hospital food could help in
that direction. Maybe, by then,
we'll hear from my doctor, and
we'll go from there. Okay?
Everybody happy?
INTERN
Allright. I'll get on the lab
about the blood work.
MIGUEL
(to the Intern)
I'm sorry.
The INTERN walks away. Andrew's BEEPER BEEPS.
ANDREW
That's the third time. I better
call the office.
(smiling at Niguel)
Would you relax, please?
MIGUEL
I am relaxed.
Andrew HOBBLES toward a pay phone, outside a VISITOR LOUNGE,
where weary relatives are watching TV.
Andrew drops a quarter into the phone.
JOE MILLER'S VOICE
"If you or someone you know..."
ANDREW'S POV ON TELEVISION: Joe Miller on the screen, with the
words "Negligence... Malpractice... Auto accidents"... and in
the background, PHOTOS of MAIMED, BURNED, INJURED CLIENTS.
JOE (CONT.)
"... has been injured through
the fault of others, you may be
entitled to legal remedy...
Andrew LAUGHS. Then, his call is answered:
ANDREW
Shelby? It's me. Jamey's been
beeping me, I... Okay, okay,
calm down. Put Jamey on.
INTERCUT WITH:
FIRST YEAR ASSOCIATE JAMEY COLLINS, SITTING AT ANDREW'S DESK
(INT/DAY), GRABS THE PHONE when Andrew's intercom BUZZES...
JAMEY
(frantic)
Andy?! This is a disaster! We
can't find your revisions on
the Kronos complaint!
ANDREW
Slow down, Jamey, for Christ's
sake!
JAMEY
I went down to Word Processing
to pick up the corrected copy,
but they said you haven't
delivered the corrections.
I told them you've been working on
it at home, and...
Andrew forgets his physical pain, this is more important.
ANDREW
I brought it in last night, around
midnight. It's in my computer.
JAMEY
What did you file it under?
Jamey puts his hands on Andrew's computer keyboard.
ANDREW
K-R-O-one.
Jamey types the file name.
ANDREW (CONT.)
Jamey, I don't have to mention,
do I, that we're up against a
statute of limitations on this
complaint which runs out in...
(checks his watch)
Seventy-five minutes.
Jamey stares dumbfounded at the computer monitor.
JAMEY
It's not here, Andy.
Andrew closes his eyes. He can't believe this.
ANDREW
You go down to Word Processing
and tell those motherfuckers
they better come up with that
complaint, now! Or they are
fucking dead! You tell them that
comes from me!
Andrew SLAMS the phone into its cradle.
He pauses, takes a deep breath, and says to himself:
ANDREW (CONT.)
Every problem has a solution.
Every problem... has... a...
solution.
Calmer, Andrew returns to the gurney, putting on his shirt.
ANDREW (CONT.)
Every problem has a solution...
Miguel approaches with tea purchased at the canteen.
MIGUEL
Why are you getting dressed?
ANDREW
You're not going to like this.
Please try to smile...
Andrew puts his arms around Miguel.
ANDREW (CONT.)
Thanks for leaving school, and
coming here, and...
(pulling back, putting
on his jacket)
I will be back. An hour, tops.
MIGUEL
You're going to the office?!
ANDREW
You're not smiling.
Andrew rushes toward the exit doors.
MIGUEL
You're leaving the hospital?
You're going into the office
looking like that? Are you
insane?
ANDREW
One hour!
MIGUEL
Drew!
ANDREW
I promise!
CONTINUOUS CUT TO:
ANDREW RUSHES TO THE STREET, HAILING A CAB (EXT./DAY) ...
CUT TO:
ANDREW STEPS OUT OF THE TAXI IN FRONT OF THE WHEELER
Building, heading for the entrance (EXT./DAY) ...
But he changes his mind, darting to the corner of the block.
Andrew stops to buy a baseball cap from a VENDOR.
He trots down an alley, past bags of garbage, entering the
building through a garage door.
CUT TO:
FROM A HIGH FLOOR, ANDREW CAN BE SEEN CLIMBING THE STEPS OF
an emergency stairwell (INT./DAY) ...
Andrew passes CAMERA, out of breath. He's wearing the ball cap
PULLED TO HIS EYEBROWS to hide blotches on his forehead.
CUT TO:
ANDREW OPENS THE FIRE DOOR ON HIS FLOOR AT WYANT WHEELER, removing
the ball cap, baring the purple blotches. (INT./DAY)
He walks quickly down the hall. Passing a COLLEAGUE, Andrew
pretends to scratch his face, attempting to hide the blotches
as nonchalantly as possible.
He dashes past an office, ignoring Anthea.
ANTHEA
Didn't expect to see you... ?
He ducks into his office.
CONTINUOUS CUT TO:
SECRETARY SHELBY AT ANDREW'S DESK, FRANTICALLY SEARCHING
through papers (INT./DAY) ...
Startled when he sees Shelby, Andrew spins toward the wall.
SHELBY
I'm looking through the files but...
ANDREW
Call the messenger service, have
someone standing by...
(she reaches for the phone)
Your phone.
SHELBY
Sure.
Andrew keeps his face averted, until she's out of the room. He
goes to his computer, the monitor already glowing.
ANDREW
Think. You brought the discs in, you
transferred...
Rachel comes into his office.
RACHEL
I thought I was supposed to be
covering for you.
(blurts out)
God, Andy, you look awful.
ANDREW
Fucking Word Processing lost my
Kronos complaint. Which must be
filed by fucking five o'clock!
If it's late, there's no case...
(the mantra)
Every problem has a solution.
RACHEL
What can I do?
ANDREW
Get down to Word Processing.
Help Jamey look.
She rushes out.
Andrew begins shoving floppy discs into the slots on his
computer, bringing up each disc's directory.
ANDREW (CONT.)
No.
He throws the disc to the floor. Shoves in another.
Shoves in another, bending it in half.
ANDREW (CONT.)
No, goddammit!
He pulls open a file drawer, dumping legal briefs onto the
floor, frantically spreading them around with his foot.
Andrew THROWS a document across the room, takes a breath.
He picks up the telephone.
ANDREW (CONT.)
Bob? Something's come up. With
Kronos. I don't want to
upset Charles, but...
(letting down his guard)
Oh, shit, Bob, the complaint's
due in forty minutes and I can't
find it.
(suddenly)
No, you don't have to come...
(hanging up the phone)
Great. Fucking great.
Andrew rubs his eyes, this is a nightmare.
He switches off the overhead light. He slants the window
blinds, filling the room with shadow
Bob Seidman comes into the office, typically cheerful.
SEIDMAN
C'mon, Andy, you didn't lose
anything...
Seidman is struck by the mess in the office, and Andrew's
disheveled appearance.
SEIDMAN (CONT.)
Jesus.
ANDREW
I don't know what to do, Bob.
SEIDMAN
You'll never find it in the dark.
Seidman FLIPS ON the overhead light. Andrew flinches.
Seidman approaches. Andrew gives up trying to hide the
purple blotches, facing his mentor straight on.
SEIDMAN (CONT.)
What in God's name... ?
ANDREW
Bob...
SEIDMAN
What's wrong with your face?
ANDREW
What's wrong with my face? You
want to know what's wrong with
my face? I've got a skin
condition. Next question, Bob?
No more questions? Fine. Now
can you help me find the complaint?
SEIDMAN
Allright. Calm down.
ANDREW
Sorry...
Seidman sits in front of Andy's computer.
SEIDMAN
What was the file name?
ANDREW
K-R-O-one.
SEIDMAN
Maybe you mistyped the name when
you were saving it. We'll try
combinations of those letters...
Seidman goes to work. Andrew leans over his shoulder.
ANDREW
You're right, I probably just
misfiled...
KENTON (O.S.)
Andy?
Walter Kenton is standing at Andrew's door. His demeanor is
casual. So casual it seems a little forced.
KENTON (CONT.)
Some sort of problem?
Andrew has kept his face averted. But now he TURNS DIRECTLY
TOWARD CAMERA, showing his face to Kenton.
ANDREW
Yeah, Walter. Yeah. Some sort of
major problem.
HOLD ON THIS CLOSE UP OF ANDREW...
SOUND OF A BABY CRYING CROSSES THE CUT TO:
A NEWBORN BEING LIFTED INTO A DOCTOR'S HANDS (INT./DAY) ...
DOCTOR
There she is, okay. You can relax
now, Lisa.
LISA MILLER has just given birth to a baby girl. She
collapses on her pillow, gasping for breath, moaning in
pain, quietly crying a little.
TITLE: "One month later."
The NURSES and the (FEMALE) DOCTOR move professionally
around the bed, doing their jobs.
At Lisa's side, Joe fumbles with a camera while darting
amazed looks back and forth between Lisa and the baby.
JOE
Oh my god... a girl... oh my
god... Lisa... oh my god...
He's frantic.
JOE (CONT.)
You load the film... ? No, on
this side... or this side?
Don't move the baby!
LISA
Give me the camera, Joe.
Lisa pops the film into the camera, hands it back.
JOE
Thanks, hon. Oh my god...
With wildly trembling hands, Joe begins SNAPPING PHOTOS.
JOE (CONT.)
Oh my god... oh my god, look at
her... oh my god...
CUT TO:
JOE, WALKING THE HOSPITAL CORRIDOR, STILL WEARING SURGEON'S
greens, SPEAKING INTO HIS PORTABLE PHONE (INT./DAY) ...
JOE
Go to Famous Fourth Street and
buy a pound of Nova. No! She
likes Scotch salmon better. Ah
heck, get a pound of both! Get
a dozen onion rolls. Get some
bagels. Get a dozen. Get a
bottle of champagne. Dom
Peringon... A hundred bucks a
bottle?! Better get a good
California...
Passing a PATIENT IN TRACTION, ROLLING BY ON A GURNEY, Joe
drops a business card into the PATIENT'S broken hand.
JOE (CONT.)
(to the PATIENT)
Give me a call.
(into the phone)
Get everything over here as soon
as you can, she's starved. No,
not the baby! Lisa! ... Iris,
listen: any calls I should know
about? ... Uh huh... Uh huh...
Beckett? Who's Andrew Beckett?
Turning a corner, Joe comes face to face with HIS RELATIVES,
who charge at him joyfully:
JOE'S MOTHER/AUNTS/UNCLES, ETC.
Congratulations! How is Lisa?!
When can we see the baby?!
CUT TO:
QUIET... JOE, LISA AND THEIR BABY CUDDLED TOGETHER IN
Lisa's hospital bed, surrounded by debris from a party,
paper plates, empty champagne bottle (INT./NIGHT) ...
The relatives have gone. It's late at night.
Lisa holds the baby. Joe holds them both.
CUT TO:
AN INTERSECTION IN THE HEART OF OLD, DOWNTOWN PHILLY: A
movie palace (now a six-plex) across the street from the
Peter Pan Coffee Shop, PHILADELPHIA WORKERS going about the
business of the day (EXT./DAY) ...
TITLE: "One week later."
Above the Peter Pan Coffee Shop is a string of large
windows, each of which is painted with a question:
HEART ATTACK? ACCIDENT? MEDICAL MALPRACTICE? DOG BITE?
In bigger letters, across several windows:
D I A L 1 8 0 0 A - L A W Y E R
We hear JOE MILLER'S VOICE-OVER:
JOE (OS)
How big was this hole you fell
into?
CONTINUOUS CUT TO:
A HALLWAY BULLETIN BOARD ANNOUNCING THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS of
"Macready and Shilts Legal Services" (INT./DAY), including
"Auto/DUI/Collisions with Deer... Product liability... Medical
malpractice... Pet bites..."
The bulletin board stands at the entrance to a warehouse of
lawyers' cubicles formed by office dividers and plastic ferns...
PHONES JANGLING... INJURED CLIENTS LIMPING ABOUT...
JOE (OS) (CONT.)
And this hole was right in the
middle of the street?
CONTINUOUS CUT TO:
JOE IS IN HIS OFFICE, A BOX OF CIGARS ON THE DESK WITH PINK
bands announcing "It's a girl!" (INT./DAY). On the walls are
photos of INJURED CLIENTS (the same photos we saw in the
background of Joe's TV commercial)...
A FEMALE CLIENT (MRS. FINLEY) faces Joe, her arm in a sling.
MRS. FINLEY
Right.
JOE
Why didn't you cross at the
crosswalk?
MRS. FINLEY
Why should I?
CONTINUOUS CUT TO:
ANDREW IS SEEN FROM BEHIND, SITTING ON A SOFA IN THE WAITING
area. Very little hair shows beneath a Phillies ballcap...
A MAN WEARING A NECKBRACE, sitting next to Andrew, RISES,
MOVING to a seat opposite Andrew. From this new position the
MAN WITH THE NECKBRACE STARES at Andrew.
MAN WITH NECKBRACE'S POV:
The PURPLE BLOTCHES on Andrew's face are beginning,to recede,
not as angry looking as before, thanks to chemo therapy.
Andrew is dressed casually, in jeans and a softball jacket
(from the Wyant Wheeler team) with "Andy" embroidered over the
heart.
Joe's assistant, IRIS, approaches.
IRIS
Mr. Beckett?
Andrew rises, following Iris past office dividers, HARRIED
SECRETARIES and overflowing file cabinets.
Iris cannot look at Andrew as she walks beside him.
(Outside Joe's door is a sign: "Beware Mad Dog" with "Mad"
written by hand.)
IRIS (CONT.)
In here.
ANDREW
Thank you.
CONTINUOUS CUT TO:
ANDREW STEPS INTO JOE'S OFFICE (INT./DAY). ANDREW GLANCES
at the photos while Joe wraps up...
JOE
(to the FEMALE CLIENT)
Explain this to me like I'm a
six year old, okay? The entire
street is clear except for one
small area under construction,
with a huge hole that is clearly
marked and blocked off, and you
decide you must cross the street
at this spot. You fall into the
hole and you want to sue the
city for negligence? ...
MRS. FINLEY
Yeah. Do I have a case?
JOE
Of course you have a case! Now,
I want you to go with my
assistant, Iris, and fill out
some forms. She'll tell you
about our fee arrangement.
(as they're leaving)
Mrs. Finley? Any back pain
since the accident? Dizziness?
Nightmares?
MRS. FINLEY
Now that you mention it...
JOE
Tell Iris all about it.
(leading her out)
Take good care of Mrs. Finley,
Iris.
(to Andrew)
Beckett, come in.
Joe offers his hand, getting a look at Andrew's face.
JOE (CONT.)
Jesus Christ, what happened to you?
ANDREW
I have AIDS.
Joe WITHDRAWS his hand, before it touches Andrew's.
JOE
Whoa-oh!
(beat)
Sorry, I...
ANDREW
It's okay. Can I sit down?
JOE
Uh, yeah.
Andrew hesitates. Joe doesn't sound sure.
JOE (CONT.)
Go ahead.
Andrew sits, Joe returns to his desk. (Joe finds himself
acutely aware of where Andrew places his hands.)
ANDREW
(the cigars)
New baby?
JOE
One week old.
ANDREW
Congratulations.
JOE
Little baby girl.
ANDREW
Kids are great.
JOE
Thanks, Beckett. I'm real
excited about it.
(glances at his watch)
What can I do for you?
ANDREW
I was fired by Wyant Wheeler. I
plan to bring a wrongful
termination suit against Charles
Wheeler and his partners.
JOE
You want to sue Wyant Wheeler
Hellerman Tetlow and Brown?
ANDREW
Correct. I'm seeking
representation.
JOE
Continue.
ANDREW
I misplaced an important
complaint. That's their story.
Want to hear mine?
JOE
How many lawyers did you go to,
before you called me?
ANDREW
Nine.
JOE
Continue.
ANDREW
I was diagnosed with AIDS eight
months ago. During a bout of
pneumonia. I recovered quickly
and was back at work in ten
days. Since I was doing so well
on the AZT, we decided against
telling anyone about it.
JOE
We?
ANDREW
My lover and I.
JOE
Your... lover?
ANDREW
Miguel Alvarez. We've lived
together for nine years.
JOE
Continue.
ANDREW
I dove back into work,
everything was fine. Until the
lesions started...
SUDDENLY PICTURE CUTS TO:
TIGHT ON ANDREW WAUKING THROUGH THE LOBBY OF THE WHEELER
Building (INT./DAY). He's wearing MAKEUP, which sort of
covers the blotches. (NOTE: PICTURE and ANDREW'S VOICE OVER
do NOT match up. This is no ordinary flashback) ...
ANDREW (VO) (CONT.)
First on my leg. Then my
forearm, my back. Then... my
face. For a short period, I
avoided the office during the
day, waiting for the chemo
therapy to clear up the
lesions...
IMAGE: ANDREW RIDING THE CROWDED ELEVATOR ON A WORKDAY.
ANDREW (VO) (CONT.)
But I never let anything slide.
I made all my calls from home.
I worked sixteen hour days on a
complaint for a 350 million
dollar copyright infringement
suit.
IMAGE: JOE IN HIS OFFICE, ABSORBED IN ANDREW'S STORY.
ANDREW (OS) (CONT.)
But the day the complaint was
due, it disappeared. Erased
from my computer. I thought I
was losing it, mentally...
IMAGE: ELEVATOR DOORS OPENING, ANDREW STEPPING INTO WYANT
WHEELER OFFICES. NOW HE SPEAKS DIRECTLY TO CAMERA:
ANDREW (CONT.)
That can happen, it's called
AIDS dementia when it gets into
your brain. But miraculously, a
copy of the complaint was
located at the last minute, and
we got it to court on time...
IMAGE: ANDREW'S POV OF COLLEAGUES, STAFF IN THE OFFICES,
GIVING HIM LOOKS, WHISPERING. ANTHEA BURTON NODS HELLO.
ANDREW (OS) (CONT.)
The next morning, I was called
to the office for a meeting with
the managing partners. Walking
down that corridor was strange.
Felt like everyone was staring.
REVERSE ANGLE ON ANDREW AND JOE WALKING AT ANDREW'S SIDE.
JOE
Hell, they are staring. What's
that shit on your face?
ANDREW
Makeup.
ANDREW'S POV: RACHEL OUTSIDE HER OFFICE, SAYS "GOOD LUCK."
ANDREW (CONT.)
The partners were waiting for me
in the main conference room.
CONTINUOUS CUT TO:
CAMERA TRACKS INTO THE CONFERENCE ROOM, GIVING US ANDREW'S
POV as he enters the room where Wheeler, Kenton, Killcoyne,
Bob Seidman are waiting (INT./DAY) ...
WHEELER
Sit down, Andy.
Wheeler's secretary, LYDIA, takes notes.
WHEELER (CONT.)
Thanks for coming in.
ANDREW
Of course.
Bob Seidman CANNOT look directly at Andrew.
WHEELER
Andy. Before we begin, I'd just
like to say: everyone in this
room is your friend.
JOE
You're in trouble.
(NOTE: Joe IS SEEN IN HIS OFFICE, or LEANING AGAINST A
WINDOW IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM whenever he speaks.)
ANDREW
I know that, Charles.
WHEELER
More than your friend. Family.
JOE
Big trouble.
ANDREW
Charles, I must apologize again,
for the Kronos mishap.
(smiling)
It was a scary few minutes
around here. Wow. But thank
God, the complaint was found.
And no damage was done.
KENTON
This time. What about next time?
ANDREW
There won't be a next time, I
guarantee it.
WHEELER
Andy. It seems that something
has come over you, lately: A
kind of... stupor, a fogginess,
a lack of focus... Earth to
Andy. Anybody home?
KENTON
Helloooo...
KILLCOYNE
That's right, Andy. The last
four, five months you've seemed
really out of it...
SEIDMAN
At least... different, somehow.
ANDREW
(keeping it positive)
Perhaps... you're right. I've
certainly been busy. With the
Kronos complaint, a preliminary
injunction hearing and the
Saunders trial all falling at the
same time...
KENTON
Some people think you have an
attitude problem, Beckett.
ANDREW
Really? Who thinks that, sir?
WHEELER
I do.
Wheeler seems very grave.
ANDREW
I had no idea there was a concern
in that area. Hey:
(a smile)
I'll get to work on it right away.
NO ONE else smiles.
WHEELER
We've been talking it over, Andy.
Your future that is... We feel that,
because we respect you so much, we
have to be honest with you.
ANDREW
Honesty is always best.
SEIDMAN
Do you really think so, Andy?
ANDREW
Yes, Bob, I do.
(to the group)
Excuse me? Am I being fired?
WHEELER
Let's put it this way, Andy:
your place in the future of this
firm is no longer secure.
JOE
In a word, yes.
WHEELER
We don't think it's fair to keep
you here, where your future is
limited. But we wish you luck,
Andy, all the luck in the world.
Wheeler rises, wearing a friendly smile.
WHEELER (CONT.)
And I hate to rush you out of
here, but...
JOE
But he's got lots of other
people's lives to ruin...
WHEELER
... we've got a committee meeting.
ANDREW
Excuse me, Charles. With all
due respect... this is...
preposterous! It doesn't make
any sense, it sounds as if we're
talking about someone else.
Pardon the lack of humility, but
I've had the distinct impression
I was kind of... one of the
rising stars around here. And I
feel that wasn't just my
imagination. And I also think I
deserve to know what's really
going on here, Charles.
KENTON
Oh, you're right, Beckett, you
don't have an attitude problem.
WHEELER
Take it easy, Walter.
ANDREW
If you'd lost confidence in me,
why did you give me the Kronos suit?
WHEELER
I hoped the challenge would
improve your performance. You
could say it was a carrot.
ANDREW
A carrot?!
JOE
I buy that.
ANDREW
As in, the vegetable?
SEIDMAN
(suddenly emotional)
Andy, you nearly blew the case,
for God's sake! That alone is
inexcusable. It would have been
catastrophic for us. Put
yourself in our shoes, Andy.
There's no coming back from an
error like that, regardless of
who you are!
(softer)
I'm sorry, Andy.
Andrew FREEZES -- the full nature of this situation hitting
home. He looks each of the PARTNERS in the eye...
ANDREW
Uh huh... Okay... I see...
... at last LOOKING DIRECTLY AT Wheeler's secretary Lydia,
whose pen is poised above her notebook, waiting for someone
to say something.
Wheeler breaks the silence.
WHEELER
Good luck, Andy.
Wheeler, Kenton, Killcoyne, Seidman and Lydia file out.
Andrew doesn't move.
A SECURITY GUARD enters the room.
ANDREW
Who are you?
SECURITY GUARD
I'm here to escort you to your
office so you can organize your
belongings.
CUT TO:
CAMERA PULLS BACK FROM ANDREW, WE'RE IN JOE'S OFFICE (DAY) ...
JOE
Okay. Explain to me like I'm a
two year old, because there's an
element to this I can't get
through my thick head: Didn't
you have an obligation to inform
your employer you had this
dreaded, deadly, infectious
disease?
Andrew removes his ballcap -- his hair is cut short, to
disguise the effects of chemo.
ANDREW
The law says people with
disabilities cannot be
terminated, so long as they can
perform the duties required by
their position...
JOE
Okay, okay... They discover you
have this horrible, disgusting,
terminal illness, and they
panic, for any number of
perfectly valid reasons.
They're frightened for
themselves, their families...
Maybe it's the homo angle.
Maybe they don't want to rub
elbows with someone who's just
popped out of the closet with a
terminal case of acne. And how
do they explain your status to
the client for Chrissake?
ANDREW
Joe, from the day I arrived to
the day they fired me, I
performed consistently,
thoroughly and with absolute
excellence. And if they hadn't
fired me, that's what I'd be
doing today.
JOE
Okay... They want you out. It's
against the law to fire you for
having AIDS, so they make you
look like a fuck up. Which
leads us to the mysterious, lost
file.
ANDREW
They sabotaged me.
JOE
I knew you were going to say
that. I don't buy it, and I
don't see a case.
ANDREW
Look. I know I have a case. If
you don't want to take it for
personal reasons...
JOE
Correct. I don't.
Andrew rises, thoroughly business-like.
ANDREW
Thanks for your time.
JOE
Beckett? I'm sorry about...
what's happened to you. It's a
fucking kick in the head.
ANDREW
(a smile)
Don't send flowers, Joe. I'm
not dead yet.
Andrew exits.
CONTINUOUS CUT TO:
ANDREW LEAVES JOE'S OFFICE, MOVING DOWN THE CORRIDOR
(DAY) ...
IRIS
(still uncomfortable,
as Andrew's leaving)
Have a nice day.
Andrew nods, passing one of Joe's colleagues, a hustler
named FILKO, who STARES SHAMELESSLY.
Joe approaches Iris's desk.
JOE
Find out if Armbruster can see
me this afternoon.
FILKO
(still staring)
What the hell's wrong with him?
CUT TO:
THE STREET: ANDREW EMERGES FROM THE LAWYER'S BUILDING
(EXT./DAY). CLOSE ON ANDREW, standing there as an endless flow of
people passes by. He watches them go, thinking...
CUT TO:
A SUBURBAN DOCTOR'S OFFICE IN A MIDDLE-CLASS NEIGHBORHOOD
(EXT./DAY) ...
DR. ARMBRUSTER (OS)
You had contact with someone who
has AIDS, and you're worried.
CONTINUOUS CUT TO:
A DOCTOR UNRAVELLING A BLOOD PRESSURE GAUGE (INT./DAY)
JOE
I'm not worried. What are you doing?
Joe sits in his shirtsleeves on the examining table.
DR. ARMBRUSTER
Checking your blood pressure,
relax.
The DOCTOR wraps the blood pressure unit around Joe's arm.
JOE
I didn't have contact. What do you
consider "contact?" We were sitting
in the same room, three, four
feet... What if you shake hands?
Wait. I know the answer. Only sex,
or sharing needles. I know that.
We didn't shake hands, anyway.
Dr. Armbruster squeezes the blood pressure pump,
DR. ARMBRUSTER
The HIV virus can only be transmitted
through the exchange of bodily
fluids, namely blood and semen.
JOE
Right.
Joe begins rolling down his sleeve.
DR. ARMBRUSTER
Leave that.
JOE
Yeah, but Doc, isn't it true they
keep finding out new things about
this disease? So you tell me, today,
there's no danger, and I go home,
and I hold my baby, and six months
from now I hear on the news: "whoops!
We were wrong.' You can carry it on
your clothes, your skin, and now I've
got to worry about my kid. What
are you doing?
Dr. Armbruster has been preparing a syringe.
DR. ARMBRUSTER
We're going to draw blood.
JOE
Why are we going to do that?
DR. ARMBRUSTER
Joe. I don't care a whit about your
private life.
JOE
You want to give me an AIDS test?!
Joe HOPS off the table.
JOE (CONT.)
The guy sat in my office! You can't
get AIDS that way, right?
DR. ARMBRUSTER
Right.
JOE
It doesn't travel through the
air, by breathing, or touching,
right?
DR. ARMBRUSTER
Not by touching, or shaking hands,
or hugging, using the same toilet...
Even kissing someone with AIDS is
safe. But it there's something in
your past you're worried about...
JOE
Thanks, Doc, but I don't need an
AIDS test. Are you crazy? But
thanks for the information. Really.
Joe throws on his jacket, opens the door... then TURNS BACK:
JOE (CONT.)
In my past?
ARMBRUSTER
IV drug use.
Joe shakes his head.
DR. ARMBRUSTER (CONT.)
A homosexual encounter.
JOE
Get real.
DR. ARMBRUSTER
Unprotected sex with a prostitute.
JOE
(thinking it over)
Uh.... No. Not really.
DR. ARMBRUSTER
Or unprotected sex with someone you
didn't know very well, any time
during the last twelve years.
A MOMENT.
Joe returns to the examining table, and rolls up his sleeve.
CUT TO:
ESTABLISHING: JOE'S HOUSE IN THE SUBURBS (EXT./NIGHT) ...
LISA (VOICE OVER)
You have a problem with gays,
Joe.
CONTINUOUS CUT TO:
JOB CRADLES HIS BABY AGAINST HIS CHEST (INT./NIGHT) ...
JOE
Not especially.
Lisa eats standing up, at the stove, while Joe walks the
BABY in their modern kitchen.
LISA
How many gays do you know?
JOE
How many do you know?
LISA
Lots.
JOE
Who?
LISA
Karen Berman. Aunt Teresa. My
cousin Tommy who lives in
Rochester. Eddie Meyers from the
office. Joe Cantwell, he's one of
the partners. His lover, Greg.
Stanley, the guy who's putting in
our kitchen cabinets.
For a moment, Joe is struck dumb. Then he says:
JOE
Your Aunt Teresa is gay? That
beautiful, sensuous woman is a...
lesbian?
LISA
Duh...
JOE
Since when?
LISA
Probably since she was born.
JOE
Allright. I admit it: I'm
prejudiced. I don't want to work
with a homosexual. You got me.
LISA
Okay, Joe...
JOE
I mean, two guys, doing the
horizontal thing? I don't get
it. Don't they get confused?
"Is that mine? I thought it was
yours." Hey, call me old
fashioned, call me
conservative... I think maybe
you have to be a man to get just
how nauseating the whole basic
idea really is.
LISA
Fine, Joe.
JOE
And the way they work out,
pumping up, so they can be macho
and faggot at the same time... I
can't stand that shit. Now I'm
being totally honest with you.
LISA
That's perfectly clear.
CLOSE ON JOE, LOOKING DIRECTLY INTO CAMERA:
JOE
Would you take a client if you
were constantly thinking: "I
hope this guy doesn't touch me.
I don't even want him to breathe
on me?"
CUT TO:
THE STREETS OF PHILLY ARE DUSTED WITH SNOW, STORE WINDOWS
decorated for Christmas. Joe steps out of the Famous 4th
St. Deli, with a package (EXT./DAY) ...
TITLE: "Two weeks later."
CUT TO:
JOE SITS AT A TABLE IN THE PUBLIC LAW LIBRARY, SURROUNDED BY
books and legal pads, hard at work. He's eating a pastrami
sandwich which he hides behind a reference book when a LIBRARIAN
saunters by (INT./DAY) ...
A CHAIR SQUEAKS and Joe LOOKS UP TO SEE:
Andrew taking a seat across the room (the blotches have been
reduced by chemo, but he's struggling with a cold). Andrew
removes notepads and pens from his briefcase. He takes out a
package of tissues, blowing his nose.
JOE
(under his breath)
Shit...
Joe slides to the far end of his table, stacking seven or
eight HUGE REFERENCE BOOKS in front of him.
JOE'S POV, PEERING THROUGH THE REFERENCE BOOKS:
Andrew opens a book, taking notes. Rubs his eyes. Writes
something. Sneezes.
A LIBRARIAN delivers a book to Andrew.
LIBRARIAN
This is the supplement. You're
right, there is a section on...
(lowers her voice)
... HIV related discrimination.
ANDREW
Thank you.
Andrew takes the book from her -- but she remains.
LIBRARIAN
We have a private research room
available.
ANDREW
I'm fine, thanks.
Andrew BLOWS HIS NOSE. Now other PATRONS are watching.
LIBRARIAN
Wouldn't you be more comfortable in
a research room?
ANDREW
(pleasantly)
No. But would it make you more
comfortable?
LIBRARIAN
Whatever, sir.
The LIBRARIAN turns away, shrugging to a PATRON, indicating
she's done all she can do.
As Joe continues to watch: one of Andrew's NEIGHBORS picks
up his books and moves away.
Joe rises, gliding down an aisle of books, keeping one eye
on Andrew, who concentrates on his work.
Joe approaches, nonchalantly, as if he just happens to be
sauntering by. Suddenly he "notices" Andrew.
JOE
Oh, Beckett. How's it goin'?
ANDREW
Fine.
Andrew goes back to his work.
JOE
Who'd you get?
ANDREW
What?
JOE
Find a lawyer?
ANDREW
I'm a lawyer. How's your baby?
JOE
Huh? Oh. Great. She's great.
ANDREW
What's her name?
JOE
Rayisha.
ANDREW
Rayisha. Very nice.
Andrew focuses on his work. Joe steps away.
Joe comes back.
JOE
How did they find out?
ANDREW
(a second, then:)
One of the partners spotted a
lesion on my forehead.
Nearby, a CHINESE PROFESSOR looks up, startled, when she
hears the word "lesion."
JOE
Uh huh...
Andrew concentrates on his work once more.
JOE (CONT.)
How do you get from one lawyer
spotting a lesion, which could
have been a bruise, to the
partners deducing you had AIDS
and basing a decision to
terminate you on that
conclusion?
The CHINESE PROFESSOR moves away.
ANDREW
Good point.
Andrew removes a legal pad with "KENTON" written in big
letters across the top, and lots of notes underneath.
ANDREW (CONT.)
The partner who spotted the
lesion, Walter Kenton, used to
work for Benton, Myers, in D.C.
There's a paralegal there, Maria
Torres. She's had lesions on
and off for three years. She
says it was common knowledge
around the office that her
lesions were caused by AIDS.
JOE
They didn't fire her?
ANDREW
No. They didn't fire her.
Andrew goes back to his work. Joe stands there.
JOE
So Kenton connected the... lesion,
and whatever suspicions he had about
your personal life... to this
woman, Maria... and blew the
whistle on you. Suddenly you're
losing files, and it's time to
let you go. But, up to this
point, you've been their Golden
Boy, their rising star... Their
behavior is... inconsistent.
ANDREW
Thank you.
Andrew goes back to work.
JOE
There is no relevant precedent.
ANDREW
(not looking up)
Arline decision. Supreme Court.
JOE
Arline?
Andrew SHOVES the legal book toward Joe.
CLOSE ON ANDREW'S HANDS (with one blotch) on the book's white
pages.
The book is still facing Andrew. If Joe wants to read it,
he'll have to turn it around.
Joe looks at Andrew's hands. A MOMENT.
Joe turns the book around, begins to read:
JOE
"The Federal Vocational
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits
discrimination..."
CAMERA CRANES UP, TOWARD THE CEILING... JOE CONTINUES
READING IN VOICE-OVER:
JOE (VO) (CONT.)
"... against otherwise qualified
handicapped persons who are able
to perform the duties required by
their employment..."
CAMERA GOES HIGHER, LOOKING DOWN ON THE ROWS OF BOOKS AND THE
LONG TABLES DOTTED WITH PEOPLE...
JOE (VO) (CONT.)
"Although the ruling did not
address the specific issue of
HIV and AIDS discrimination..."
DISSOLVE TO SAME ANGLE AN HOUR LATER: Andrew and Joe face each
other at their table, but NO ONE ELSE remains at that table,
or at the table next to it...
ANDREW (VO)
"Subsequent decisions have held
that AIDS is protected as a
handicap under law, not only
because of the physical
limitations it imposes..."
DISSOLVE TO A SAME ANGLE AN HOUR LATER (DAY IS TURNING INTO
NIGHT): Joe pacing, Andrew reading. Their section of the
library is COMPLETELY EMPTY but for Andrew and Joe.
ANDREW (VO) (CONT.)
"But because the prejudice
surrounding AIDS exacts a social
death which precedes the actual,
physical one..."
DISSOLVE TO SAME ANGLE, LATER: Andrew and Joe sit on the
same side of the table, reading the same book.
JOE (VO)
"This is the essence of
discrimination: formulating
opinions about others not based
on their individual merits but,
rather, on their membership in a
group with assumed characteristics...
The library is QUIET. Andrew SNEEZES.
Joe scoots his chair away from Andrew by eight inches.
DISCO MUSIC RISES ACCOMPANIED BY THE SOUNDS OF GRUNTING,
HEAVY BREATHING AND SLAPPING FLESH AS WE...
CUT TO:
MUSCULAR, SWEATY MALE BODIES SLAMMING INTO EACH OTHER, sounds of
GRUNTS, skin SLAPPING against skin (INT./NIGHT) ...
... Hand SLAPPING a butt under satin shorts
... Sweaty armpits... the ROAR OF A CROWD...
... BASKETBALL PLAYERS embracing, twirling each other around, high
fiving...
WIDE ANGLE REVEALS: A basketball game in progress, Sixers
versus the Celtics in Philly's Spectrum Arena.
ON CLOSED CIRCUIT TV: ROBERT PARISH going for a lay-up...
WHEELER/KENTON/OTHERS
Watch this guy! Nail him! Ouch!
Charles Wheeler, Walter Kenton, Kenneth Killcoyne, Bob Seidman
and SEVERAL LAWYERS and SPOUSES watch the game from a plush,
private box, complete with TV, bar, snack table. The lawyers wear
Ralph Lauren polos, chinos and ball caps. The place reeks of
cigar smoke. Walter Kenton has a twentyfive year old WIFE.
Charles Wheeler's nine year old GRANDSON sits nearby.
Wheeler turns the GRANDSON'S ballcap around, smiling
lovingly at the boy.
JUST BEYOND WHEELER: The door to the box is opened by a SECURITY
GUARD and a well-dressed, charismatic MAN looks in.
WHEELER
(spotting him)
Julius!
KENTON
Dr. J.!
DR. J.
Gentlemen... Ladies...
JULIUS ERVING enters, greeted by the LAWYERS.
LAWYERS
How's it goin', Doctor?/This is
an honor!/etc ...
The door is opened again, by the SECURITY GUARD, REVEALING
Joe Miller (in jeans and basketball jacket) and a MARSHALL.
JOE
Excuse me. Charles Wheeler?
Wheeler turns. Joe SLAPS a document into Wheeler's hand.
JOE (CONT.)
Summons. For you.
NOW the box is QUIET.
DR. J.
Say. What's up, Chuck?
CUT TO:
THE BRIGHTLY LIT, RESTRICTED, INNER CORRIDOR OF SPECTRUM
Stadium (INT./NIGHT) where Wheeler walks beside Bob Seidman,
with Walter Kenton and Kenneth Killcoyne just behind. SOUNDS
OF THE GAME STILL IN PROGRESS can be heard, but FAR AWAY.
Occasionally the lawyers are passed by FOOD SERVICE or LAUNDRY
SERVICE EMPLOYEES...
WHEELER
... interview every employee,
support staff, associates, partners.
Did any of them know Andy was sick?
How did they know? Did he tell them?
Did they notice something was wrong
with his appearance? None of this
information got to the managing
partners. We know that. Make sure
everyone else does too... And
Beckett: I want to know everything
about his personal life. Did he
frequent those pathetic bars on
Camac Street?
SEIDMAN
Jesus.
WHEELER
(ignoring Seidman)
What about other homosexual
facilities, whatever they are?
SEIDMAN
Charles...
WHEELER
What deviant groups or
organizations did he secretly
belong to?
(with irritation)
What is it, Bob?!
SEIDMAN
Let's settle with Andy and put
this whole tragic mess behind
us.
They arrive at a quiet, semi-private cul de sac.
WHEELER
Andrew brought AIDS into our
offices, into our men's room.
He brought AIDS to our annual
goddamn family picnic.
KENTON
We ought to be suing him.
SEIDMAN
For Christ's sake, where's your
compassion?
KENTON
Compassion? Andy sucks cocks,
Bob. He takes it up the ass.
He's a pervert.
Only Seidman shows any kind of REACTION.
SEIDMAN
That's kind of... extreme, Walt.
Andy's private life is none of
our business.
WHEELER
Bob. You're trying my patience.
Andrew Beckett is making his
private life our business. We
gave him Kronos. Did he say,
"I'm sick. I might not be able
to see this through?"
SEIDMAN
He was doing a great job.
WHEELER
Bob. I must ask you to shut the
fuck up. Did Andrew Beckett say
"I might not be able to serve our
clients to the best of my ability?"
He said nothing. And now, Andrew
Beckett proposes to haul me into a
court of law, to sling accusations
at me, in full view of the entire,
Philadelphia, judicial
establishment. My God.
KILLCOYNE
Beckett doesn't want to go to court,
he's hoping for a quick tasty
settlement.
SEIDMAN
A jury might decide that Andy has a
case.
WHEELER
Wait a minute. The man was fired for
incompetence, not because he has
AIDS. You didn't know he was sick,
did you, Bob?
KENTON
Holy Shit. Did you, Bob?
SEIDMAN
(after a moment)
No. Not really.
Wheeler walks away, followed by Kenton and Killcoyne.
Bob Seidman stands alone in this dark place.
CITY SOUNDS ON A WORK DAY AS WE CUT TO:
EXTERIOR, JOE'S OFFICE BUILDING, ON A THURSDAY MORNING.
CONTINUOUS CUT TO:
JOB'S COLLEAGUE, FILKO, LOOKING DIRECTLY INTO CAMERA (in
Joe's offices, INT./DAY):
FILKO
Charles Fucking Wyant Wheeler?!
Joe sweeps by, just arriving for work.
JOE
Morning, Filko.
Filko keeps pace with Joe down the corridor. ANOTHER
COLLEAGUE calls out from an office as Joe passes:
COLLEAGUE
Hey, it's the local chapter of
the ACLU!
FILKO
You're a Republican, Joe! You
belong to the NRA!
JOE
How many toilet stalls are there
in the women's restroom on this
floor, Filko?
FILKO
How many... what?!
Filko follows Joe into Joe's office.
JOE
Two. How many toilet stalls are
there in the men's room? Two,
plus four urinals. How many
wheelchair accessible toilets in
either of those restrooms?
Zero. In this entire building?
Zero. Get the picture, Filko?
Discrimination! You find
yourself a female, paraplegic,
legal assistant who is qualified
to work here, except she can't
take a leak... and you've got
yourself a sex discrimination
suit and a handicapped
discrimination suit. Not
handicapped. What do you call
someone who can't use a normal
restroom? "Gastro-intestinally
challenged!"
Behind Joe, out a large window: PAINTERS on a scaffold.
Iris comes into the office and says:
IRIS
Wyant Wheeler's asking for a
postponement on the prelim, Joe.
Joe is dialing the phone.
JOE
Low-life, sleazy scumbags. Of
course they want a postponement,
I've got a client with a terminal
disease. They're going to drag
their heels every step of the way,
the rotten bastards.
(tapping on the window, to the
PAINTERS)
Is that spelled right?
CONTINUOUS CUT TO:
EXTERIOR, JOE'S OFFICE BUILDING, WHERE PAINTERS ARE ADDING A new
question to the line of windows (DAY):
D I S C R I M I N A T E D A G A I N S T ?
JOE (VO)
Hey, Beckett. This is Miller.
CONTINUOUS CUT TO:
JOE'S VOICE COMES THROUGH, ON THE ANSWERING MACHINE IN
Andrew and Miguel's loft (INT./DAY)
JOE (VO) (CONT.)
I just wanted to tell you...
CAMERA DRIFTS THROUGH the loft, finding Andrew in the rooftop
solarium, sitting crosslegged in front of a candle.
JOE (VO) (CONT.)
... we're trying to set a date for
the prelim. Hang in there.
Andrew's eyes are closed. Next to him rests a tape player. A
WOMAN'S VOICE IS HEARD, accompanied by NEW AGE MUSIC:
WOMAN'S VOICE
I can heal myself.
ANDREW
I can heal myself.
WOMAN'S VOICE
I can heal myself.
ANDREW
I can heal myself.
CUT TO:
ANDREW AND MIGUEL IN THEIR BEDROOM AT NIGHT, LYING CLOSE TO
each other in bed (INT./NIGHT) ...
MIGUEL
I was coming out of the gym
today, and I ran into Jimmy. Do
you know what he asked me?
"What's it like knowing your
boyfriend's going to die?"
ANDREW
Jerk... What did you say?
MIGUEL
I said, "Everyone's going to
die, Jimmy. But Drew's not
going to die of AIDS. There's a
cure around the corner, and he
plans to be around to take
advantage of it."
Miguel strokes Andrew's hair.
ANDREW
You got that right, Mikey...
(beat)
You still believe that, don't
you?
MIGUEL
Yes. I think it will be a
simple solution. They'll put it
in a syringe, inject it into
your bloodstream. It'll
neutralize the virus. It'll
revitalize the immune system,
and people with AIDS will become
healthy again.
HOLD ON MIGUEL AND ANDREW, ON THIS QUIET MOMENT.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN: ESTABLISHING, EXT. PHILADELPHIA COURT HOUSE
(DAY) ...
TITLE: "Three months later."
CUT TO:
A LONG CORRIDOR IN A CITY COURT BUILDING -- FAR DOWN THE
corridor TWO FIGURES WALK TOWARD CAMERA (INT./DAY) ...
The figures APPROACHING CAMERA are Andrew and Joe, stepping
into and out of sunlight falling through tall windows.
TITLE: "Pre-trial settlement conference."
REVERSE ANGLE -- DOWN AN OPPOSITE CORRIDOR:
A PHALANX OF LAWYERS -- at least ten -- APPROACHING CAMERA, a
bulwark of white shirts and dark ties.
ON ANDREW AND JOE:
Andrew's hair is short, but growing back, the blotches have
receded,his weight is up. He's in a stage of recovery.
ON THE OTHER LAWYERS:
Charles Wheeler (seeming ironic) and Walter Kenton (he's
pissed) lead the battalion.
Behind them, walk young lawyers BELINDA CONINE and JEROME
GREEN. Belinda is white, Jerome is black.
CUT TO:
HUSHED VOICES (INT./DAY) ...
A JUDGE'S CHAMBERS, with couches, soft chairs scattered in a
loose circle, like a casual living room.
Joe and Andrew whisper to each other. The Wyant Wheeler team
takes up several chairs. Belinda Conine and Jerome Green sit
next to Wheeler and Kenton. Some of their ASSISTANTS stand.
Wheeler is looking across the room at...
Andrew, who catches Wheeler's stare.
WHEELER
You're looking better, Andy.
How do you feel?
SILENCE. Everyone watches Andrew for his reaction.
ANDREW
Fine, thanks, Charles.
JUDGE LUCAS GARNETT enters his chambers (not wearing a
Judge's robe). He shakes hands with Wheeler and Kenton.
JUDGE GARNETT
Charles, Walter...
WHEELER
Congratulations on the new
grandson.
JUDGE GARNETT
Thank you. We're very happy.
The Judge brushes by Joe and Andrew without a word. The room
becomes SILENT as the Judge takes a seat.
JUDGE GARNETT
Attorney for the plaintiff?
JOE
Joseph Miller, Your Honor.
Macready and Shilts Legal Services.
JUDGE GARNETT
I've seen your television commercials.
"If you or anyone you know has
been injured through the fault of
others... It should say, "through
the negligence of others."
JOE
I'll take that under consideration,
Your Honor.
JUDGE GARNETT
On behalf of the defendants?
BELINDA CONINE
Belinda Conine. Of Petersen,
Lehigh, Monroe and Smith.
JEROME GREEN
And Jerome Green.
And a WASPISH lawyer wearing round glasses:
DEXTER SMITH
Dexter Smith.
A white-haired lawyer next to Belinda:
RALPH PETERSEN
Ralph Petersen.
JUDGE GARNETT
(to Joe)
You're outnumbered four to one.
(to the others)
Whom do I address?
I can't talk to four lawyers at
once.
BELINDA
I'm chief litigator, Your Honor.
JUDGE GARNETT
Fine. I've asked the litigants to be
present for this conference, in the
hope we can settle this matter
today, among ourselves... There is
nothing I hate more, than to see
lawyers suing each other. If you
look at the opinion polls, when Mr.
John Q. Citizen is asked to rank
professions according to the
respect he holds for them... Where
are the lawyers? Somewhere below
personal fitness trainers and only
slightly above child pornographers.
If we keep suing each other, if we
fail to settle the smallest
difference among ourselves with
mutual respect, if we continue to
scrap like bucks in heat, we'll
fall lower on that list. And when
people lose respect for lawyers,
they lose respect for the law. And
when this society loses all respect
for the law, we'll be murdered in
our beds, my friends, our cherished
institutions will be burned to the
ground and our children and our
grandchildren will live like
savages.
JOE
If it please Your Honor, we hope to
settle this matter.
JUDGE GARNETT
By God you will settle it! If you
force this case to trial, young man,
you'll regret it for the rest of
your natural-born days...
Now, Joseph. What would you
require to settle this matter
today?
JOE
Reinstatement at full salary.
Back pay covering the period of
unemployment and...
JUDGE GARNETT
Hold it, Joe.
(to Wheeler)
He wants to come back to work,
Chuck.
WHEELER
That's impossible, Your Honor.
JUDGE GARNETT
That's impossible, Joe.
BELINDA CONINE
If it please Your Honor, we're
prepared to offer a cash
settlement of twenty-five
thousand dollars.
JOE
Your generosity overwhelms me,
Belinda, considering my client
was earning over a hundred thou
when he was terminated almost six
months ago.
JUDGE GARNETT
Give me a break, Joe. Let's cut
through these false attitudes.
Give them a figure. How much do
you want?
ANDREW
I want to go back to work, Your
Honor.
JUDGE GARNETT
You're here at my indulgence,
young man. I'm waiting for a
figure, Joe.
Andrew and Joe confer with each other.
JOE
Based on what my client would
have earned over the next three
years, including benefits and
projected raises, and the
extraordinary cost of medical
care for someone with Acquired
Immune Deficiency Syndrome...
We would settle today for the
very fair amount of one million
five hundred thousand dollars.
JUDGE GARNETT
Very good, Joe. Now, Belinda,
I've got a figure over here, of
one million, five. I...
Andrew WHISPERS to Joe, who interrupts the Judge:
JOE
One more thing, Your Honor...
ANDREW
(jumping in)
Any settlement agreement must
include, and this is critical,
a letter of exoneration, making
clear my termination had nothing
to do with the quality of my work.
Charles Wheeler WHISPERS to Belinda Conine.
BELINDA CONINE
Your Honor, Mr. Beckett's
incompetence nearly sabotaged a
350 million dollar suit.
ANDREW
I was the one who was sabotaged.
BELINDA CONINE
We have complaints about Mr.
Beckett's lack of preparation,
his disorganization, his
arrogant, defensive attitude...
The list goes on.
JEROME GREEN
We have letters.
JOE
Why haven't you produced these
letters?
JUDGE GARNETT
Take it easy.
(to Wheeler)
What's the big deal, Chuck? The
boy wants a letter, to show to
his mother, for her to keep after
he's gone. Why are you being hard-
assed about this?
WHEELER
I wish I could exonerate you, Andy.
But I'd have to lie to do it.
ANDREW
(very calm)
You can save it for the jury,
Charles. I want to hear you say,
under oath, in front of a judge and
a jury, I'm a bad lawyer.
(rises)
Gentlemen.
(to Belinda)
Counselor.
WHEELER
Don't do this, Andy.
JOE
Whoa, whoa...
(to Andrew)
What do you expect them to say,
you're Alan Dershowitz?
KENTON
A trial takes time, Beckett. Do
you know what I'm saying?
ANDREW
I think I catch your subtle drift,
Walter.
Andrew saunters out.
KENTON
You'll be sorry, Beckett.
WHEELER
Andy, you don't want this.
Joe scans the room, all eyes are on him. His frown turns into
a grin. He faces the Judge.
JOE
With all due respect, Your Honor,
my client chooses to pursue his
constitutionally guaranteed
right to a trial.
Joe exits.
CUT TO:
HAND HELD CAMERA SHOT OF: THE FRONT YARD OF A TWO-STORY
Colonial house in Downington, Pennsylvania (EXT./DAY) ...
Andrew walks toward the house, TALKING DIRECTLY TO CAMERA.
ANDREW
This is the house where I grew up.
In Downington, Pennsylvania.
(pointing to the ground)
See this... ?
The CAMERA POINTS to SEVERAL PAIRS OF CHILD'S HAND PRINTS in the
sidewalk, then, BACK TO ANDREW IN CLOSE UP, SMILING.
ANDREW (CONT.)
Those are my cute little hand
prints. And my brother's and my
sister's.
MIGUEL'S VOICE
(BEHIND CAMERA)
And today is... ?
ANDREW
Today is my parents' fortieth
wedding anniversary.
Andrew goes inside, speaking to the CAMERA:
ANDREW (CONT.)
This is the front door. I caught a
finger in this door, once...
(holds it up)
This one. Broke it.
(stepping inside)
This is the hallway, my mother
calls it a foyer...
INSIDE THE HOUSE (INT./DAY):
CHILDREN are running through the house, while WOMEN sporting
corsages confer in the kitchen. A SIX YEAR OLD GIRL jumps into
Andrew's arms.
ALEXIS
Uncle Andrew!
ANDREW
(to CAMERA)
This is my niece, Alexis. Say
hello, Alexis.
ALEXIS
Mommy's pregnant again.
ANDREW
(doing Walter Cronkite)
You heard it here first, folks.
News as it happens.
Andrew's older and very down to earth sister JILL, puts her
arms around Andrew, squeezing tight.
JILL
Hello, darlin'.
ANDREW
This is my sister, Jill, the most
fertile woman on the planet. She's
married to Reverend Jim.
JILL
You feel thin.
(over Andrew's shoulder)
Hello, Miguel.
As Jill leaves Andrew's arms, the CAMERA IS TRADED OFF TO
ANDREW, who SHOOTS JILL GIVING MIGUEL A HUG.
MIGUEL
Hey, Jill. Nice to see you,
sweetheart.
JILL
(hugging Miguel)
Handsome devil.
(referring to Andrew)
Is he eating?
MIGUEL
We don't discuss his weight.
(to Andrew, behind CAMERA)
Do we?
CAMERA MOVES DOWN THE CORRIDOR...
ANDREW (OS)
And what will we find in... da duh
da duh da duh... the KITCHEN!
A GROUP OF LADIES SCREAM when CAMERA ENTERS KITCHEN.
LADIES
There he is! Hi, Andrew! Don't
point that thing at me! etc...
Andrew's mother Sarah wears an unpretentious flowery dress.
ANDREW
Hi, Mom. How do you feel on your
fortieth anniversary?
SARAH
Ancient. How do you think I feel?
Put that thing down and give me a
hug.
(he keeps it pointed at her)
Andrew, stop! ... He still
doesn't listen.
ANDREW
Where's Dad?
SARAH
He's out in his shed showing your
uncle his new riding mower.
One of Andrew's YOUNG NEPHEWS SHOVES HIS FACE into the
CAMERA, UNTIL SCREEN GOES BLACK.
CUT TO:
QUIET (INT./DAY) ...
Andrew and his immediate family are gathered in the den, sitting
quietly, facing each other. Andrew's father, BUD, with an
American flag pin in his lapel, sits next to Sarah. Jill holds
the hand of her husband, REVEREND JIM. Two of Andrew's brothers,
MATT and RANDY, (big, athletic guys with mustaches) are there.
Andrew sits next to Miguel.
ANDREW
Things might be said, at the
trial, that... are not going to
be easy for you to hear. Things
about me, about my private life.
And I want to make sure it's
okay with everybody.
MATT
I appreciate you asking, Andy,
but really, it's your call.
ANDREW
What do you think, Jill?
JILL
To be honest, I'm worried about
Mommy and Daddy. They've had to
go through so much already...
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