The Verdict Script - Screenplay
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THE VERDICT SCRIPT
by David Mamet
INT. FIRST FUNERAL PARLOR - DAY
A working-class funeral in progress. THIRTY PEOPLE and an
inexpensive bier SEEN from the back of the hall.
ANGLE
A MAN's back FILLS the SCREEN. He is dressed in a black suit;
his hands are clasped behind him. ANOTHER MAN stands next to
him. The Second Man reaches behind the First Man's back and
puts a discreetly folded ten-dollar bill into his hands.
ANGLE
These Two Men from the front. Both somber, in their early
fifties. They begin to walk down the aisle of the funeral
parlor.
ANGLE
The WIDOW. A woman in her late fifties sitting by the bier
receiving condolences. The Two Men approach her. The First
Man (the recipient of the money) speaks:
FUNERAL DIRECTOR
Mrs. Dee, this is Frank Galvin --a
very good friend of ours, and a
very fine attorney.
GALVIN
It's a shame about your husband,
Mrs. Dee.
The Widow nods.
GALVIN
I knew him vaguely through the
Lodge. He was a wonderful man.
(shakes head in sympathy) It was
a crime what happened to him. A
crime. If there's anything that I
could do to help ...
GALVIN removes a business card from his jacket pocket and hands
it to her as if he were giving her money. (i.e., "Take it.
Really. I want you to have it ..." She takes the card. Beat.
GALVIN
(thoughtfully
realizes he is
usurping her time)
Well ...
He shakes her hand and moves on.
INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY
Galvin sitting in the deserted coffee shop in his raincoat.
Reading a section of the paper. He picks up his teacup, drinks.
Lowers it to the table.
ANGLE - INSERT
Galvin twists tea bag around a spoon to extract last drops of
tea. His hand moves to his felt pen lying on the table. He
moves his hand to the paper, open at the obituary section. We
SEE several names crossed out. He circles one funeral listing.
ANGLE
Galvin sitting, raises cup of tea to his lips. Looks around
deserted coffee shop. Sighs.
INT. SECOND FUNERAL HOME AND STREET - AFTERNOON
Galvin outside a second funeral home. WORKING-CLASS PEOPLE
entering, Galvin enters the home.
ANGLE
Galvin, coming down the aisle toward the front, shrugging
himself out of his overcoat, he approaches the BEREAVED WIDOW
sitting by the front of the home, he extracts his card from
his pocket, starts to speak. He is stopped by the WIDOW'S
SON, a hefty man in his mid-forties, who interjects himself
between Galvin and the widow.
SON
(of the card)
What is that ...?
GALVIN
I ...
SON
What the hell is that ...
GALVIN
... I was a friend of your fa...
SON
You never knew my father.
(hits card out of
Galvin's hand)
You get out of here, who the hell
do you think you are ...
The FUNERAL MANAGER hurries down the aisle, and starts
extricating Galvin from the commotion.
GALVIN
(to Funeral Manager)
I'm talking to this man ...
FUNERAL MANAGER
Excuse me, Mrs. Cleary...
He is manhandling Galvin toward the back of the funeral parlor.
The Son calls after him:
SON
Who the hell do you think you are?
EXT. SECOND FUNERAL PARLOR - AFTERNOON
The Funeral Manager and Galvin standing in the cold.
FUNERAL MANAGER
I don't want you coming back here.
Ever. Do you understand?
GALVIN
I was just talking to...
FUNERAL MANAGER
Those are bereaved people in there.
The Funeral Manager gives Galvin a small shove, and goes back
to his post at the door, greeting the entering mourners. "Good
evening..."
ANGLE
Galvin, the ground cut out from under him. Standing watching
the mourners enter.
EXT. SECOND FUNERAL STREET - DUSK
Galvin walking down a residential street. He has been walking
a while in the cold, snowy night. He stops for a stoplight at
a corner, waits for the light although there is no traffic.
Lights a cigarette. The light changes. He looks both ways
and irresolutely starts across the street. He stops. He checks
his watch. He sighs, and starts back in the opposite direction.
INT. O'ROURKE'S BAR - NIGHT
Galvin holding forth at the bar of a seedy drinking-man's
establishment, THREE DRINKERS, acquaintances, standing around
him, appreciative.
GALVIN
Pat says, 'Mike ... there's a new
bar, you go in, for a half a buck
you get a beer, a free lunch, and
then take you in the back room and
they get you laid.'
The bartender, JIMMY, comes up to Galvin.
JIMMY
Another, Frank . . . ?
GALVIN
(gestures to include
group)
...everybody. Mike says, `Pat,
you mean to tell me for a buck you
get a free lunch and a beer, and
then you go in the back and get
laid?' `That's correct.' Mike
says, `Pat. Have you been in this
bar ?' Pat says, `No, but my sister
has ...' (gestures to Jimmy)
Everyone. Buy yourself one too.
INT. GALVIN'S OFFICE - NIGHT
The seedy, disorganized small office, Galvin in shirt-sleeves
opening a file cabinet. He takes out an armload of files,
carries them to a wastebasket and throws them in. He sits on
his desk, as if exhausted by his effort, pours from a whiskey
bottle into a large water glass, downs the glass. He has been
drinking for some time. He starts -- stumbling back to the
file cabinet. On the way his eye is caught by his degrees
hanging on the wall. He stumbles to them, picks them up and
walks over to the wastebasket and throws them in. He goes
back to the file cabinet, the phone starts ringing. Galvin
lets it ring, continues emptying the files into the wastebasket,
tearing some of them up as he does so. He repeats softly to
himself, as a litany, "It doesn't make a bit of difference, it
doesn't make a bit of difference ..." He starts back to the
desk for the bottle, knocks the still-ringing phone off the
desk. He pours himself a drink. As he downs it we hear --
softly -- from the phone on the floor: a MAN'S VOICE. "Frank.
Frank. Frank. Goddamnit. Are you there ...? Frank ..."
Galvin pays no attention. Drinks his drink and gazes at the
wall -- now empty of degrees.
ANGLE - P.O.V.
The empty wall. Galvin's P.O.V. The telephone heard Voice
Over insisting, "Frank ..."
INT. GALVIN'S OFFICE ANTEROOM - NIGHT
MICKEY MORRISSEY, a man in his late sixties, dressed in suit
and overcoat, looking worried, unlocks the door to the dark
anteroom. Looks around. Sees something in the next room.
ANGLE - P.O.V.
Galvin asleep on his couch, clothed as before. Covered in his
overcoat, the bottle and glass next to the couch on the floor,
the sound of the phone off the hook.
ANGLE
Mickey walks into the office. Stands looking at Galvin.
MICKEY
(harshly)
Get up.
(beat, more harshly)
Get up.
Galvin wakes up. Looks around. Swings his legs over the couch.
Drinks from the glass. Vacantly:
GALVIN
Hi, Mickey ...
MICKEY
What the hell do you think you're
doing ...? (surveys the wrecked
office) What's going on here ...?
GALVIN
Uh ...
MICKEY
Fuck you. I got a call today from
Sally Doneghy ...
GALVIN
... now who is that ...?
MICKEY
... You're 'sposed to be in court
in ten days and she's telling me
you haven't even met with them ...
GALVIN
Sally Doneghy, now who is that?
MICKEY
One lousy letter eighteen months
ago. . . .I try to throw a fuckin'
case your way ...
GALVIN
... hey, I don't need your charity
...
MICKEY
... I get these people to trust
you --they're coming here tomorrow
by the way --I get this expert
doctor to talk to you. I'm doing
all your fuckin' legwork -- and
it's eighteen months. You're
'sposed to be in court. I bet you
haven't even seen the file.
Galvin pours himself a drink.
GALVIN
Hey, what are you, my nanny?
Mickey walks to him, knocks the drink out of his hand and slaps
him several times in the face.
MICKEY
Listen to me. Listen to me
...listen to me, Frank, 'cause I'm
done fuckin' with you. I can't do
it any more. Look around you:
You think that you're going to
change? What's going to change
it? You think it's going to be
different next month? It's going
to be the same. And I have to
stop. This is it. I got you a
good case, it's a moneymaker. You
do it right and it will take care
of you. But I'm through. I'm
sorry, Frank, this is the end.
(beat) Life is too short, and I'm
too old. (Beat)
Mickey walks out of the office. Slams the door. Beat. Galvin
looks around the office. Goes to his sofa. Sits, reaches to
side table.
ANGLE - INSERT
The side table, a pack of Luckies. Galvin taking one, his
hand shaking a little. Also on side table a pile of change
containing a small rosary and a wedding ring.
INT. GALVIN'S OFFICE ANTEROOM - INSERT - DAY
The carriage of a typewriter. A sheet of paper. Its letterhead
reads "Frank P. Galvin. Attorney at Law, 124 State Street,
Boston, Mass. 02981. Cable FRAGAL." Someone is typing, "Sorry
I had to go out. Back at 10. Judge Geary called. Are you
available for lunch Wednesday University Club?" A hand takes
a paper from carriage and puts it on desk. Takes a pen and
signs, "Claire."
ANGLE
Galvin in the anteroom, dressed in his suit, unshaved, having
just signed the paper. He takes a piece of Scotch tape from
the dispenser on the desk, picks up a file folder from the
coffee table. It is torn in several places and rudely Scotch-
taped.
ANGLE - P.O.V. - INSERT
The file headed Deborah Ann Kaye v. St. Catherine Laboure
Hospital et. al.
ANGLE
Galvin surveys the anteroom, opens door to corridor, Scotch
tapes the note he has just typewritten to the outside of the
door.
INT. O'ROURKE'S BAR - DAY
Dark paneling, clean, simple. A drinkers' bar. OLD BARTENDER
and THREE CUSTOMERS spaced widely, Galvin in his overcoat
downing a shot, the file open before him. He is reading. He
checks his watch, scoops the file together under his arm, throws
a dollar on the bar, and heads for the door.
INT. NORTHERN NURSING HOME CORRIDOR - DAY
Galvin walking tentatively down the corridor of a very run-
down nursing home. He receives suspicious looks from the
Attendants. He is checking numbers on the doors against a
notation in the file. He finds the correct door and enters.
INT. NURSING HOME WARD - DAY
The door to the ward from the inside. Galvin opening the door
to the dark ward, backlit, tentative, a little unsteadied from
his drinking. He puts his back against the door, puts down
file and briefcase, extracts a small cheap Polaroid camera
from the briefcase, readies it to shoot, picks up his
paraphernalia, and starts off down the ward. As he walks down
the ward he checks the file hung at the foot of each bed.
Galvin stops at the foot of one bed and reads the chart.
ANGLE - P.O.V.
The chart held by Galvin. DEBORAH ANN KAYE, various medical
notations. He lowers the chart and we SEE in the bed beyond
it a shrivelled, tiny form stuck with needles and tubes.
ANGLE
Galvin replaces the chart, puts his file, briefcase, etc. on
the foot of the bed, takes a flash photo of the figure in the
bed. Takes another one. Puts down camera, sits on the end of
the bed gazing at the unseen form. He lights a cigarette, and
sits looking at her.
INT. CORRIDOR - GALVIN'S OFFICE BUILDING - DAY
SALLY DONEGHY. A mousy woman in her forties is standing by a
door on which is written, "Frank P. Galvin. Attorney at Law."
GALVIN
I'm ... Mrs. Doneghy? I'm Frank
Galvin ... why didn't you go in?
SALLY
It's locked.
GALVIN (ASTONISHED)
It's locked?
Sally Doneghy points to the note on the door. Galvin takes it
from the door. Reads. "Back at 10, Judge Geary. Lunch ..."
GALVIN
I'm terribly sorry ... I hope we
didn't put you out. Won't you
come in ...? (motions Sally into
inner office, gestures with note)
I'd offer you some coffee, but it
looks like my girl just went out.
INT. OFFICE ANTEROOM - DAY
Galvin is perched at his secretary's desk. Sally Doneghy across
from him by the coffee table listening intently.
GALVIN
It's not a good case. It's a very
good case. A healthy young woman
goes into the hospital to deliver
her third child, she's given the
wrong anaesthetic ...
SALLY
... we, we love her, Dick and me
...
GALVIN
... I'm sure you do ...
SALLY
But what can we do? She don't
know who's visiting her ...
GALVIN
... I know. I went ...
SALLY
... You saw her?
GALVIN
Yes. Yes, I have.
SALLY
You know how beautiful she was?
(beat) Her husband left her, and
he took her kids .... They, they,
they'd let you die in there. They
don't care. Nobody cares. The
Patriot Home, the Chronic Care ...
in Arlington ...? They'd take her
in. Perpetual care. They'd take
her. Fifty thousand dollars they
want. An endowment.
GALVIN
... fifty thousand dollars?
SALLY
I don't want to leave her. Dick
...the, the ... and Father Laughlin,
he said that it was God's will ...
GALVIN
... I understand ...
SALLY
My doctor told me that I got to
move out West ... that's when we
filed in court. We didn't want to
sue ...
GALVIN
... I understand ...
SALLY
... But Dick, he's looking for two
years in Tucson ... and they called
him up and said to come out.
He's a good man. He's only trying
to do what's right.
The door to the corridor opens and DICK DONEGHY, a workingman
in his forties, comes into the room. Sally and Galvin stand.
SALLY
This is my husband.
Donegy and Galvin shake hands uncomfor-tably. He motions the
two to sit.
GALVIN
Please sit down. I told your wife.
I'm sorry that we have to meet out
here. I've got a case coming in
two days in the Superior Court
and my office is a mess of papers.
DONEGHY
... that's all right.
GALVIN
I was telling your wife, we have a
very good case here.
SALLY
He saw her at the Northern Care...
GALVIN
... and I have inquiries out to
doctors, experts in the field ...
there is, of course, a problem
getting a doctor to testify that
another doctor's negligent ...
DONEGHY
...the Archdiocese called up, they
said who was our attorney, 'cause
the case is coming to trial...
GALVIN
I doubt we'll have to go to trial
...
DONEGHY
... we told them we didn't want it
to come out this way.
GALVIN
I completely understand ...
DONEGHY
We just ...
SALLY
We just can't do it anymore. (beat)
This is our chance to get away.
GALVIN
I'm going to see you get that
chance.
DONEGHY
What is this going to cost?
GALVIN
It's completely done on a
contingency basis. That means
whatever the settlement is I retain
one-third ...that is, of course,
the usual arrangement ...
INT. BISHOP BROPHY'S SUITE--INSERT DAY 15
Yellowed newspaper clipping, a very lovely, patrician woman in
her twenties smiling at a well-turned-out Galvin around thirty.
Headline: "Patricia Harrington to Wed."
ALITO (VOICE OVER)
`His name is Frank Galvin. B.U.
Law, class of 'fifty-two. Second
in his class. Editor of the Law
Review. Worked with Mickey
Morrissey twelve years. Criminal
Law and Personal Injury ...'
A hand turns a page and reveals a second clipping: "Boston
Lawyer Held in Jury Tampering Case," with a picture of a very
confused Galvin at around forty-five being led to jail.
ALITO
'Married Patricia Harrington,
nineteen sixty ...'
ANGLE
The small, sumptuously appointed Italianate office. French
windows, a fire in the grate, a view of Boston Common, JOSEPH
ALITO, a slender, elegant man in his forties dressed in a very
expensive suit, reading from his notes, news clippings, etc.,
which are held in a leather folder.
ALITO
`Joined Stearns, Harrington, Pierce
nineteen sixty as a full partner.
Resigned the firm nineteen sixty-
nine over the Lillibridge case
...' Do you ...?
Alito, strolling as he reads, moves toward the windows with
his file TO REVEAL BISHOP BROPHY, a self-contained man in his
early sixties, sitting on a leather couch, listening.
BISHOP
He was accused of jury tampering.
ALITO
Accused. Not indicted. He resigned
the firm. Divorced nineteen
seventy. Galvin worked with Michael
Morrissey until Morrissey retired
in 'seventy-eight. Since then
he's been on his own. Four cases
before the Circuit Court. He lost
them all. He drinks.
BISHOP
Four cases in three years ...
ALITO
The man's an ambulance chaser ...
BISHOP
... tell me about this case.
ALITO
This is a nuisance suit. He's
looking for small change. He's
asking for six hundred thousand
and betting we don't want to go to
court.
BISHOP
No -- we don't want this case in
court.
ALITO
Neither does he. That's where he
loses. This man's scared to death
to go to court. We only have to
call his bluff.
BISHOP
I want to settle this thing and be
done with it. I don't want the
Archdiocese exposed.
ALITO
No. Absolutely, and we're going
to see that it is not.
BISHOP
So what I want to do is stop it
here. I'm going to make him an
offer. I want to do it myself. I
want it to come from me.
ALITO
All right. But let's keep the
price down. I've called Ed
Concannon. He recommends that we
continue to respond as if we're
going to trial.
The Bishop nods, meaning, "You are dismissed." As an
afterthought:
BISHOP
If we were to go to trial, would
we win the case?
ALITO
Well, of course, it's always
dangerous ...
BISHOP
I know that answer. If we went to
trial would we win?
ALITO
(in an "of course"
tone)
Yes.
Alito, preparing to leave, reaches to the Bishop's desk, where
he has laid his leather folder.
ANGLE
The clipping in the folder, confused Galvin being led into
jail, "Boston Lawyer Held in Jury Tampering Case." Alito's
hand snaps the folder shut.
INT. GALVIN'S OFFICE BUILDING CORRIDOR - DAY
A man's arms full of textbooks. Prominently displayed:
"Methodology and Practice in Anesthesiology." The man stops,
fumbles for a key in his pocket.
ANGLE
Galvin, in his overcoat, arms full of books, reading from a
textbook and trying to unlock his office door.
INT. OFFICE
Galvin entering. CLAIRE PAVONE, a woman in her fifties, at
the secretary's desk, hanging up the phone.
CLAIRE
(to phone)
Thank you very much.
Galvin looks up at her in surprise.
GALVIN
What are you doing here?
CLAIRE
Mickey told me to come back to
work.
Galvin nods, proceeds into his office, reading from the
textbook. Claire follows him into the office.
CLAIRE
... here's your mail, call Mrs.
Doneghy ...
GALVIN
... yes. Get her on the phone ...
CLAIRE
... that was a Dr. David Gruber's
office ...
GALVIN
(putting down books)
Gruber...
CLAIRE
Mickey told him to call. (reading
from notes) 'He's some very hotshot
surgeon at Mass. Commonwealth. He
wants to meet with you at seven
tonight re testimony in the case
of Deborah Ann Kaye. You meet him
at the hospital.'
She hands him typed memo slip.
GALVIN
(surprised)
... he wants to testify ...?
CLAIRE
It looks that way.
GALVIN
You know what that would mean? To
get somebody from a Boston hospital
to say he'll testify?
CLAIRE
... a Mrs. Doneghy called ... I
told you that.
Phone rings. Claire moves to it.
GALVIN (DELIGHTED)
This is going to drive the ante
up.
CLAIRE (INTO PHONE)
Frank Galvin's ... who's calling
please? Bishop Brophy's office
...
She gestures to Galvin, "Do you want to talk to them?" Galvin
gestures back, "No. I'm not in ..."
CLAIRE
I'm sorry, he's not in ... may I
take a mess ... tomorrow when, two
o'clock ...I'll check my book ...
She looks to Galvin, who nods, "yes."
CLAIRE
Yes. Mr. Galvin's clear at that
time ....the Bishop's office,
tomorrow, the fifth at two p.m.
Thank you ...
She hangs up.
GALVIN
That's the call that I'm waiting
for.
CLAIRE
What does it mean?
GALVIN
They want to settle. (beat) It
means a lot of money.
CLAIRE
Does that mean I'm back for awhile?
INT. GRUBER'S HOSPITAL CORRIDOR - INSERT - NIGHT
Man's wrist. WWII GI watch reads: 6:56.
ANGLE
Galvin in overcoat standing outside door marked "Doctors Only"
in bustling hospital corridor. He glances at memo slip in his
hand. He opens door. CAMERA FOLLOWS him onto:
INT. GRUBER'S DOCTORS LOCKER ROOM - NIGHT
Carpeted, small, comfortable, lined in lockers. A DOCTOR, on
the phone in greens, smoking a cigarette, talking on the phone
softly, a couple of DOCTORS sitting, drinking coffee, chatting.
Galvin, a trifle nervous, to Doctor ON PHONE:
GALVIN
Dr. Gruber ...?
The Doctor on the phone gestures behind him to a thirty-ish
MAN in blue jeans smoking a cigar, changing at his locker.
Galvin walks over to him.
GALVIN
Dr. Gruber ...
GRUBER (TURNING)
Yes? Galvin, right?
He checks his watch, continues changing into suede jacket,
checks next appointment on a leather appointment book, locks
the locker, pockets key.
GALVIN
I appreciate--a man as busy as--
GRUBER
That's perfectly all right. I'm
kind of rushed. Do you mind if we
walk while we talk?
Gruber, Galvin following, talk while exiting locker room.
INT. GRUBER'S HOSPITAL CORRIDOR - NIGHT
GRUBER
I read the hospital report on your
client.
GALVIN
... Deborah Ann Kaye ...
GRUBER
... Deborah Ann Kaye ...
They walk hurriedly through a hospital corridor, to an EXIT
door and down concrete stairs.
INT. GRUBER'S HOSPITAL STAIRS - NIGHT
GALVIN
They called, they're going to
settle, what I want to do is build
up as much ...
GRUBER
Right. Who called?
GALVIN
The Archdiocese called, they want
to settle ... her estate ...
GRUBER
... and you're going to do that?
GALVIN
(surprised, of course)
Yes.
GRUBER
You're going to settle out of court?
Gruber stops at the bottom of the stairs, beside an exit to
the outside.
GALVIN
Yes.
GRUBER
Why?
A beat.
GALVIN
(it's a meaningless
question to him,
as if to a child)
Uh ... in the, well, in the
interests of her family ... you,
Dr. Gruber, you know, you can never
tell what a jury is going to do.
St. Catherine's a very well thought
of institution. Her doctors ...
GRUBER
(glances at watch,
impatient)
Her doctors killed her.
GALVIN
(A BEAT))
I'm sorry ...?
GRUBER
Her doctors murdered her. They
gave her the wrong anaesthetic and
they put her in the hospital for
life. (a beat) Her doctors
murdered her.
GALVIN
Do you know who her doctors were?
GRUBER
I read the file. Yeah. Marx and
Towler. I know who they were.
GALVIN
The most respected ...
GRUBER (SMILING)
Whose side are you arguing ...? I
thought that you wanted to do
something. I don't have any
interest in the woman's 'estate' --
No offense, but we all know where
the money's going to ... I have
an interest in the Hospital; and
I don't want those bozos working
in the same shop as me. They gave
her the wrong anesthetic. They
turned the girl into a vegetable.
They killed her and they killed
her kid. You caught 'em. Now:
how many others did they kill?
A beat. Gruber discards end of a cigar. Takes a leather case
from his suede jacket, extracts a new cigar. Offers one to
Galvin.
GRUBER
You want a cigar?
Galvin takes one absently.
GALVIN
The hospital is owned by the
Archdioceses of ...
GRUBER
What are they going to do? Not
invite me to their Birthday party
...? (checks watch) Look, I gotta
go. I have to be in Cambridge ...
Galvin, excited, is trying to light the cigar. His hand shakes
badly. He has forgotten to bite off the end. He bites it,
lights the cigar.
GALVIN
Well, well, when can we meet again.
I'd like to get a deposition..
GRUBER
Okay. I'll meet you here. Tuesday
night ... I gotta go. You going
my way?
Galvin shakes his head.
EXT. GRUBER'S HOSPITAL PARKING AREA - NIGHT
Gruber opens door and walks out into the cold, into the parking
lot, followed by Galvin, who is lighting his cigar.
GALVIN
We have to ... we ... we have to
keep you under wraps. Please don't,
don't discuss ...
GRUBER
I understand.
GALVIN
... the case with anyone. And
I'll meet you Tuesday, and we'll
go over your testimony ...
They stop before a 1950s very beautiful small Mercedes Sedan.
Gruber opens the door, gets into the plush red leather interior,
starts car, leaves door open, still talking to Galvin.
GRUBER
Right. Seven o'clock. Here.
Galvin scribbles information in his appointment book.
GALVIN
Thank you ...
GRUBER
... that's perfectly all right.
GALVIN
(beat)
Uh, why, why are you doing this?
GRUBER
(thinks a second)
To do right. Isn't that why you're
doing it?
INT. O'ROURKE'S TAVERN - NIGHT
Galvin is at the bar, smiling to himself. His drink is being
refilled. To BARTENDER:
GALVIN
I want to buy you a drink.
JIMMY (THE BARTENDER)
Thanks, Franky.
Galvin looks around. A very attractive self-possessed YOUNG
WOMAN is sitting in the crook of the bar across from him; she
is intently perusing the newspaper and circling items with a
felt pen. Galvin speaks to her:
GALVIN
Would you like a drink?
She looks up. Smiles.
WOMAN
I'd like an apartment.
GALVIN
Settle for a drink?
She gestures at her own full glass in front of her.
WOMAN
No. Thank you.
Galvin shrugs.
GALVIN
I had a very good day today.
WOMAN
(beat, smiles, downs
drink, gets up off
the stool, sincerely)
I'm glad you did. Thank you.
Good night.
GALVIN
You're very welcome.
He watches her as she leaves the bar. He turns back to his
drink.
GALVIN
Well, well, well. Huh?
JIMMY
Yeah.
GALVIN
(sighs)
It's a long road that has no
turning.
JIMMY
That's for sure, Frank.
INT. GALVIN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
A shoddy one-and-a-half room bachelor apartment. Galvin, beer
and cigarettes on the table beside him. He is sitting on an
armchair in the bedroom. A yellow legal pad in his lap.
He is talking on the phone softly, soothingly.
GALVIN
I'm going to the Archdiocese
tomorrow at two. I know you don't.
I know you don't...no, you're just
following your life. You have a
life too...you have to move out
West. It doesn't help you to stay
here. Well...I'm sure she knows
you care for her.
His attention wanders to the legal pad in his lap.
ANGLE - P.O.V.
The legal pad. Spread on it a couple of Polaroids of Deborah
Ann in the nursing home. Below them, written on the pad, large,
"Dr. David Gruber. Ass't. Chief Anesthesiology, Mass.
Commonwealth. 'They killed her. And they killed her kid --
Her doctors murdered her.'"
The following figures are written on the pad: $150,000.00
written very large, circled, crossed out. $250,000.00 similarly
circled and crossed out. $225,000.00 circled many times.
GALVIN
(voice over; on
phone)
Well. Well. Well. Finally we're
none of us protected...we...we
just have to go on. To seek help
where we can...and go on...I know
that you love her...I know you're
acting out of love.
ANGLE - GALVIN ON THE PHONE
GALVIN
(into phone)
As soon as I know...you give him
my respects too. Not at all. Not
at all...Good night. (beat) Well,
bless you, too. Good night.
He hangs up phone, sighs. Lights a cigarette. Rotates his
neck to loosen it up. Reaches to the table next to his bed
for the bottle to pour a drink.
ANGLE - INSERT
His hand reaching for the bottle. On the table the photo of a
very beautiful blonde woman in a silver frame. She is the
same woman we saw earlier in the news clip. She is on the
deck of a sailboat, laughing. A pile of change on the table,
a money clip, a rosary, and the wedding ring in the pile of
change.
ANGLE
Galvin looking at the photo in the silver frame next to his
bed. He sighs deeply. Beat. Reaches up to the lamp above
his head and turns it off. He sits stiffly in the dark a
moment, then lets his head fall back to the chair.
INT. NORTHERN NURSING HOME WARD - DAY
Galvin, spruced up a bit, sitting on a bed, his briefcase on
his lap. Gazing at the unseen Deborah Ann Kaye in the dark
ward. Silent. Beat. He looks in his briefcase, takes out a
file.
ANGLE - P.O.V. - INSERT
The file, labeled Deborah Ann Kaye. Galvin extracting the
photo of the young mother romping with her two children; he
takes the yellow legal pad from his briefcase and puts it on
top of the picture (the figures crossed out; "Her doctors
murdered her," etc.).
We hear the door to the ward open and TWO IRISH WOMEN gossiping.
IRISH NURSE #1
(voice over)
Jimmy, I said, don't you go in
your pocket if there's nothing
there...
IRISH NURSE #2
(voice over)
...and what did he say...?
IRISH NURSE #1
(voice over; spies
Galvin, her tone
changes)
...Sir, you aren't allowed to be
in here...
ANGLE
Galvin sitting on the bed looking at Deborah Ann. He looks up
to the speaker. A slovenly Irish Nurse, who has come into the
room and is standing by him. The other Nurse is framed in the
doorway. Galvin is lost in thought.
NURSE
You can't be in here.
GALVIN
(as if remembering
something, simply)
I'm her attorney.
INT. BISHOP BROPHY'S OFFICE - DAY
The Bishop from the waist up, sitting behind his beautiful
desk. Compassionately:
BISHOP
It's a question of continuing
values. St. Catherine's -- to do
the good that she must do in the
community has to maintain the
position that she holds in the
community. So we have a question
of balance. On the one hand, the
reputation, and, so, the
effectiveness of our hospital, and
two of her important doctors --
and, on the other hand, the rights
of your client.
ANGLE
Galvin seated across from the Bishop. A YOUNG PRIEST seated,
discreetly, attentively, across the room. Sherry glasses in
front of Galvin and the Bishop. Galvin drinking from his.
BISHOP
A young woman. In her
prime...deprived of...(searches
for a word) ...life...sight...her
family...It's tragic. It's a tragic
accident.
Galvin has been dreaming.
BISHOP
...nothing, of course, can begin
to make it right. But we must do
what we can. We must do all that
we can.
He gestures to the Young Priest, who crosses the room, extracts
a sheet from a file folder, and places it before Galvin, who
is sitting as if in a dream. The Bishop waits a beat, not
wanting to interrupt Galvin's reverie, then catches his eye
and gestures down at the paper. Galvin glances down.
INSERT
The sheet: "I, Frank P. Galvin, duly appointed conservator
for Deborah Ann Kaye, in consideration of Two Hundred Ten
Thousand Dollars ($210,000.00) paid in hand to me this day by
St. Catherine Laboure Hospital do hereby release from any and
all claims..."
ANGLE
Galvin and the Bishop as before. Galvin finishes reading,
looks up.
BISHOP
Yes. We must try to make it right.
Beat. Galvin nods. Beat. Bishop nods discreetly to the Young
Priest who extracts Mount Blanc fountain pen from his pocket,
holds it out to Galvin.
BISHOP
It's a generous offer, Mr.
Galvin...(beat) ...nothing can
make the woman well...but we try
to compensate...to make a gesture...
GALVIN
How did you settle on the amount?
BISHOP
We thought it was just.
GALVIN
You thought it was just.
BISHOP
Yes.
GALVIN
Because it struck me how neatly
'three' went into the amount. Two
Hundred Ten Thousand. That would
mean I keep seventy.
BISHOP
That was our insurance company's
recommendation.
GALVIN
Yes. It would be.
A beat.
BISHOP
Nothing that we can do can make
that woman well.
GALVIN
And no one will know the truth.
BISHOP
What is the truth?
GALVIN
That that poor girl put her trust
in the hands of two men who took
her life, she's in a coma, her
life is gone. She has no family,
she has no home, she's tied to a
machine, she has no friends --and
the people who should care for
her: her Doctors, and you, and
me, have been bought off to look
the other way. We have been paid
to look the other way. I came in
here to take your money. (beat)
I brought snapshots to show you.
So I could get your money. (to
Young Priest, waving away document)
I can't take it. If I take it.
If I take that money I'm lost.
I'm just going to be a rich
ambulance chaser. (beat; pleading
for understanding) I can't do it.
I can't take it.
YOUNG PRIEST
If we may discuss money, Mr. Galvin.
How is your law practice?
GALVIN
It's not too good. I've only got
one client.
HOLD.
INT. LAWYERS ROOM AND CORRIDOR - DAY
Galvin, determined, coming down a corridor in the Courthouse,
opens a door. CAMERA FOLLOWS him IN. The Lawyers Room. Then
or twelve AMBULANCE CHASERS waiting for clients. They all
look up as he enters, then return to their reading, phones,
card games. CAMERA FOLLOWS him TO the corner of the room where
MICKEY MORRISSEY is playing Gin with a CRONY.
GALVIN
I have to talk to you.
MICKEY
What do you want?
GALVIN
(dragging him up)
Come on. Let's get a drink.
MICKEY
(sighs, to partner)
Don't touch anything.
Galvin leads Mickey out of the room.
INT. FIRST CORRIDOR COURTHOUSE - DAY
Mickey and Galvin silhouetted against a window at the end of
the dark corridor, arguing.
MICKEY (ENRAGED)
Are you out of your mind...?
GALVIN
...I'm going to need your help...
MICKEY
You need my help...? You need a
goddamn keeper...are you telling
me that you turned down two-hundred-
ten grand? (beat) Huh...? Are
you nuts? Eh? Are you nuts.
What are you going to do, bring
her back to life?
GALVIN
I'm going to help her.
MICKEY
To do what...? To do what, for
chrissake...? To help her to do
what? She's dead...
GALVIN
They killed her. And they're trying
to buy it...
MICKEY
That's the point, you stupid fuck.
Let them buy it. We let them buy
the case. That's what I took it
for. You let this drop -- we'll
go up to New Hampshire, kill some
fuckin' deer...
He turns away.
GALVIN
Mick. Mick. Mick...
MICKEY
What?
GALVIN
You -- Listen: you said to me,
`if not now, when...'
MICKEY
I know what I said but not now.
You won it. Franky. You won it.
When they give you the money, that
means that you won. We don't want
to go to court -- is this getting
to you...? You know who the
attorney is for the Archdiocese,
Eddie Concannon.
GALVIN
...he's a good man...
MICKEY
...he's a good man...? He's the
Prince of Fuckin' Darkness...he'll
have people in there testifying
that the broad is well -- they saw
her Tuesday on a surfboard at
Hyannis...don't fuck with this
case.
GALVIN
...I have to stand up for her...
MICKEY
Frank, but not now. Frank. You're
trying to wipe out some old
business. But not now. I
understand. But you go call 'em
back. You call the Bishop back.
GALVIN
I have to try this case. I have
to do it, Mick. I've got to stand
up for that girl. I need your
help. (beat) Mick, will you help
me...? (beat) Will you help me...?
INT. CONCANNON OFFICES CORRIDOR --DAY
A young ATTORNEY in shirt-sleeves and vest racing through a
huge, ultra-modern, ultra-successful legal office. The office
is near empty. A couple of secretaries are at their desks, a
couple of lawyers in their cubicles. The CAMERA FOLLOWS the
Attorney tearing through the corridors of the office, up a
spiral staircase, through yet more office space, into:
INT. CONCANNON CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY
...a conference room. Mahogany, tinted glass, a panoramic
view of Boston. Twenty-five attorneys, male and female, mostly
young, gaze at the young Attorney as he enters the room. He
stops running. He approaches the front of the room tentatively.
Standing at the blackboard in front of the conference room is
EDWARD CONCANNON. Senior partner of the firm, late fifties,
imposing, he radiates success. As the young Attorney approaches
Concannon he is stopped with a gesture. Concannon addresses
the room.
CONCANNON(SMILING)
Anybody ever hear, 'For want of a
shoe a horse was lost?' Who's
going on vacation tomorrow?
A young MAN raises his hand.
CONCANNON
Friedman. St. Barts. is that
right?
FRIEDMAN
Yessir.
CONCANNON
(to secretary taking
notes at the side
of the room)
Send Mrs. Friedman a dozen roses
tomorrow morning please, Sal. I
tell you what, send her a sunlamp.
(smiles, there is laughter from
the room; to Friedman, sympathetic)
I'm sorry, but you'll have to stay.
No vacations till this thing is
cleared.
Concannon motions to the young Attorney who has run in. The
young Attorney goes to Concannon and hands him a box of chalk.
Concannon takes a piece and writes on the blackboard "Jan.
12th." He underlines it heavily.
CONCANNON
Our court date is January twelfth.
You're all acquainted with this
case. It's been scheduled for
eighteen months. We have the
attorney for the Plaintiff, Frank
Galvin -- and I trust you are all
familiar with his record -- and we
have been expecting him to call us
to negotiate. As he did not, and
five days before we're supposed to
go to court we made him a rather
generous offer, which he refused.
Five days before the trial. What
does this mean? I want to find
out. (writes on the blackboard,
"1) Research") (writes "2)
Homework") Acquaint yourselves
again with the depositions. Don't
rely on the fact that we did it
last year. Do it again. We're
going to review them here, and you
do it at home. You each have a
full file. Know the deps, and I
want you all to be here when we
work with the defendants... when
is that, Billy...?
The young Attorney responds.
YOUNG LAWYER (BILLY)
Tuesday evening, Sir.
Concannon writes on blackboard "3) Public Awareness."
CONCANNON
I want an article in the Globe As
Soon As Possible, 'St.
Cat's...Neighborhood Giant serving
the community' etc. We've got it
in the files. I want something in
Monday's Herald: 'Our Gallant
Doctors,' something...Be inventive,
I want television...(nods toward
one of the young lawyers) ...talk
to our man at GBH. And to belabor
the obvious for a moment...(beat)
Our clients are: the Archdiocese
of Boston; St. Catherine Laboure
Hospital, and Drs. Marx and Towler,
two of the most respected men in
their profession. The thrust of
this defense will be to answer in
court, in the press and in the
public mind -- to answer the
accusation of negligence this
completely: not only that we win
the case, but that we win the case
so that it's seen that the attack
on these men and this institution
was a rank obscenity. (beat) All
right. Let's get the cobwebs off.
Billy...?
The young Lawyer stands as Concannon sits, listening.
YOUNG LAWYER
Please turn to your Page Four.
All the lawyers in the office turn in their files to that page.
YOUNG LAWYER
We're going to start with a review
of the depositions of the Operating
Room Team: the nurse-anesthetist,
the scrub-nurse, the...
INT. LAW LIBRARY - NIGHT
Galvin and Mickey at a library table piled with books. A dingy,
dusty law library. They are smoking, speak in undertones,
referring to the yellow legal pads in front of them. Rehashing
material. MICKEY Who have we got?
GALVIN
We've got her sister. Testifies
she had a meal one hour before she
was admitted to the hospital.
This is the point.
MICKEY
You got the admittance form says
patient ate nine hours prior to
admittance.
GALVIN
Admittance form is wrong.
MICKEY
Forget it. You can't prove it.
Sister's testimony is no good.
Jury knows we win she gets the
cash.
GALVIN
I've got my Dr. Gruber, says her
heart condition means they gave
her the wrong anaesthetic anyway,
plus she came in complaining of
stomach pains...
MICKEY
(conceding)
...Gruber's not bad.GALVIN Not
bad...? This guy's Dr. Kildare,
the jury's going to love him,
Mick... And you calm down, all
right? Their guy, Towler's, the
author of the book, (hunts for
book on desk, holds it up; reads)
'Methodology and Practice,
Anesthesiology.' (rummages through
a pile of papers on the desk) ...and
they got depositions from the
nurses, everybody in the operating
room, the scrub-nurse...'All these
guys are God. I saw them walk on
water...'
GALVIN
(checking a list)
They had an obstetrical nurse in
there. We got a deposition from
the obstetrical nurse?
MICKEY
(checking list)
No.
GALVIN
(reading from pad)
'Mary Rooney, forty-nine. Lives
in Arlington, still working at the
hospital.' Can you get out
tomorrow? How come she isn't
speaking up.
MICKEY
Right.
GALVIN
Okay now. Cases: Smith versus
State of Michigan.
MICKEY
Right.
GALVIN
Brindisi versus Electric Boat.
MICKEY
You got a good memory, Franky.
GALVIN
I had a good teacher. McLean versus
Urban Transport...
INT. O'ROURKE'S PUB - NIGHT
Galvin and Mickey entering the bar, walk over to the bar.
Galvin sees something O.S.. Call to the bartender.
GALVIN
Jimmy? Bushmills. (turns to
Mickey, whispers) Lookit, do me a
favor. I'll buy you a drink
tomorrow.
MICKEY
Yeah? And what are you going to
do tonight?
GALVIN
I'm going to get laid.
Galvin motions with his head down at the end of the bar.
ANGLE - P.O.V.
The Woman from last night, sitting in her same place at the
end of the bar. Mickey looks at her. Shrugs. Gets up off
stool.
MICKEY
Don't leave your best work in the
sheets.
He salutes, walks off.
Galvin takes his drink and moves down to her.
GALVIN
D'you find an apartment?
LAURA
Still looking.
GALVIN
I changed my life today. What did
you do?
LAURA
I changed my room at the Hotel.
GALVIN
Why?
LAURA
The TV didn't work.
GALVIN
What Hotel are you staying at?
LAURA
And what are you? A cop?
GALVIN
I'm a lawyer.
LAURA
My ex-husband was a lawyer.
GALVIN
Really. How wonderful for you.
LAURA
Yes. It was, actually.
GALVIN
Oh, actually it was. Then why'd
you call it off?
LAURA
Who says I'm the one that called
it off?
GALVIN
A brick house says you divorced
him. I'll put you on your honor.
Bet you a hundred dollars against
you join me for dinner. And I'll
take your word for it. Now you
tell me the truth. Because you
cannot lie to me. What's your
name?
LAURA
Laura.
GALVIN
My name's Frank. And furthermore,
you came back to see me tonight.
LAURA
What if it wasn't you that I came
back to see?
GALVIN
You just got lucky. (gets up off
stool) D'you eat yet? Come on.
She gets up from the stool and starts following him in spite
of herself.
GALVIN
Jesus, you are one beautiful woman.
INT. O'ROURKE'S - NIGHT (LATER)
Galvin and Laura are in a booth. The remains of a dinner and
drinks around them. They are both smoking cigarettes, intent
on each other. Both a little drunk.
GALVIN
The weak, the weak have got to
have somebody to fight for them.
Isn't that the truth? You want
another drink?
LAURA
I think I will.
Galvin motions "another round" to the bartender.
GALVIN
Jimmy!
(beat)
That's why the court exists. The
court doesn't exist to give them
justice, eh? But to give them a
chance at justice.
LAURA
And are they going to get it?
GALVIN
They might. Yes. That's the point
...is that they might...you see,
the jury wants to believe. They're
all cynics, sure, because they
want to believe. I have to go in
there tomorrow to find twelve people
to hear this case. I'm going to
see a hundred people and pick
twelve. And every one of them
it's written on their face, `This
is a sham. There is no justice...'
but in their heart they're saying,
'Maybe...maybe...'
LAURA
Maybe what?
GALVIN
(beat)
Maybe I can do something right.
LAURA
And is that what you're going to
do? (a beat) Is that what you're
going to do...?
GALVIN
That's what I'm going to try to
do.
INT. GALVIN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
The bedroom, dark, sound of people moving, the bedside light
is flicked on. We SEE Galvin in shirt-sleeves, holding a
whiskey glass a little unsettled, turning on the light, Laura,
with a glass, also a bit unsteady, standing beside him. Both
awkward. He looks at her, turns back to the bed, turns down
the bed, sees the silver-framed picture of his wife, he looks
back at Laura, starts to take the picture to turn it down.
LAURA
That's all right.
She starts taking off her blouse.
INT. COURTHOUSE BAR-INSERT - DAY
A half-full old-fashioned glass.
ANGLE
Galvin sitting at the fairly well-equipped bar, still. He
looks out of the window at a building across the street.
EXT. COURTHOUSE - P.O.V. SHOT - DAY
The courthouse across the street.
INT. COURTHOUSE BAR - DAY
Galvin glances at bar clock.
ANGLE - P.O.V.
The clock reads 10:12.
ANGLE
Galvin downs his drink, picks his briefcase off of the bar and
starts for the door.
INT. JUDGE SWEENEY'S CHAMBERS-DAY
JUDGE SWEENEY, a florid man in his sixties, sitting in shirt-
sleeves eating bacon and eggs off of a hotel service on a tray,
talking conspiratorially with Ed Concannon, who is drinking
coffee, seated across the desk. They are obviously old friends.
The sound of a door opening. They turn their heads to the
door.
ANGLE - P.O.V.
Galvin standing in the door.
JUDGE (VOICE OVER)
You're late, Mr. Galvin.
He enters the room. CAMERA FOLLOWS him as he sits next to
Concannon.
GALVIN
Yessir. I'm sorry.
JUDGE
Why is that?
GALVIN
I was held up.
Concannon smiles and extends his hand.
CONCANNON
Ed Concannon.
GALVIN
(shaking his head)
Frank Galvin. We've met before.
As the Judge starts to speak Galvin cannot help looking at
Concannon out of the corner of his eye.
JUDGE
Let's do some business.
ANGLE - P.O.V. GALVIN
Concannon, brisk, expensive-looking, tanned, huge gold watch,
custom-made suit.
JUDGE (VOICE OVER)
They tell me that no bargain ever
was completed other than quickly
when both parties really cared to
make a deal.
Concannon feels Galvin's eye on him, half-turns, smiles.
ANGLE - THE JUDGE, CONCANNON, GALVIN
JUDGE
Now, have you boys tried to resolve
your little difficulty because
that certainly would save the
Commonwealth a lot of time and
bother.
GALVIN
This is a complicated case, your
Honor...
JUDGE
I'm sure it is, Frank: and let me
tell you something. If we find it
so complex, how in the hell you
think you're going to make a jury
understand it? (smiles at Galvin)
See my point? Let's talk a minute.
Frank: what will you and your client
take right now this very minute to
walk out of here and let this damn
thing drop?
GALVIN
My client can't walk, your Honor.
JUDGE
I know full well she can't, Frank.
You see the Padre on your way out
and he'll punch your ticket. You
follow me? I'm trying to help
you.
CONCANNON
Your Honor, Bishop Brophy and the
Archdiocese have offered plaintiff
two hundred and ten thousand
dollars.
JUDGE
Huh!
CONCANNON
My doctors didn't want a settlement
at any price. They wanted this
cleared up in court. They want
their vindication. I agree with
them. But for today the offer
stands. Before we begin the
publicity of a trial. For today
only. (beat) When I walk out
that door the offer is withdrawn.
(turns to Galvin)
As long as you understand that.
(beat)
It's got to be that way.
GALVIN
We are going to try the case.
A beat. Galvin fumbles for a cigarette. The three sit in
silence.
JUDGE (INCREDULOUS)
That's it...? (beat) Come on,
guys...life is too short... (beat)
You tell me if you're playing
'chicken,' or you mean it. (beat;
turns to Galvin) Frank: I don't
think I'm talking out of school,
but I just heard someone offer you
two hundred grand...and that's a
lot of money...and if I may say,
you haven't got the best of records.
GALVIN
...things change.
JUDGE
...that's true. Sometimes they
change, sometimes they don't.
Now, I remember back to when you
were disbarred...
GALVIN
I wasn't disbarred, they dropped
the pro...
JUDGE
And it seems to me, a fella's trying
to come back, he'd take this
settlement, and get a record for
himself. (beat) I myself would
take it and run like a thief.
GALVIN
I'm sure you would.
The Judge turns, unbelieving that Galvin has patronized and
insulted him. He controls himself.
JUDGE
Hm. (beat; checking book) We
have the date set? Next Thursday.
Good. (smiles) See you boys in
court.
INT. COURTROOM - INSERT - DAY
A legal document. LIST OF PROSPECTIVE JURORS. DEBORAH ANN
KAYE versus ST. CATHERINE LABOURE HOSPITAL, Et. Al.: Mr. Arthur
Abrams, Machinist, 58; Mrs. Joann Chepek, Housewife, 42; Mr.
Roger Crawford, Chemist, 59, etc.
ANGLE
Galvin, seated at the conference table intent on the form in
front of him. He crosses out something with a pen. Galvin
takes the form, rises, walks across the room, walks by the
defense table with Concannon and an Aide at it. Approaches
the Jury Box, which has several prospective JURORS in it. He
is very nervous. He addresses a man.
GALVIN
Mr. Abraham...
ABRAMS
Abrams...
GALVIN
Abrams. Yes. How are you today?
ABRAMS
I'm fine.
GALVIN
Good. (beat) You ever been inside
a hospital?
ABRAMS
Yes.
GALVIN
Ah. How did they treat you?
Galvin has flop sweat, Abrams is becoming intractable.
ABRAMS
I don't know what you mean.
INT. CIGAR - COURTHOUSE CORRIDOR - DAY
Mickey standing by the door to the courtroom, looking through
the glass panel, a newspaper under his arm, smoking. Galvin
comes out.
MICKEY
Been a long time, huh...?
GALVIN
I'm getting it back. Don't worry
about me, Mick. I'm fine. D'you
find the obstetric nurse?
MICKEY
Mary Rooney. She won't talk to
me. I tried her at the hospital.
I'm going to try her back at home.
Read this.
He hands Galvin the newspaper. Galvin takes it, reads.
ANGLE - P.O.V.
The newspaper, folded to Page Two. A full-page photo of smiling
doctors clustered around an operating table. Huge caption:
"International Honors to St. Catherine Laboure Hospital. The
faculte Internationale de la Chirurgerie today announced St.
Catherine's as this year's recipient of the coveted Medaillon
de la Sante..." etc.
ANGLE
Galvin reading. Looks up.
GALVIN
So what?
MICKEY
So what...? The best is yet to
come. Check the TV Guide. They
got our Dr. Towler on a panel on
GBH on Friday: 'The Healing Hand.
The Experts Speak.'
GALVIN
They still have to take it to a
jury.
Looks back at his form.
MICKEY
What I'm saying, they're getting
some help.
GALVIN (LOOKS ANNOYED)
So what do you want me to do?
Concannon's going to try the case
his way, I'm going to try it mine.
You want me to go wee wee wee all
the time because he's got some
flack, got stories in the newspaper.
I'm going to win this case.
They start walking across the Courthouse corridor. Mickey
veers off and stops at a Cigar Stand. To the STAND OPERATOR:
MICKEY
John: gimme a cuesta-ray.
GALVIN
Oh shit, what's today?
MICKEY
Today is Tuesday. What?
GALVIN
I've got to go see Gruber. (to
Cigar Stand Operator) What's the
best cigars you have?
MICKEY
Give 'em a box of Macanudos.
GALVIN
Mickey: I'm supposed to meet
somebody at O'Rourke's, I can't
make it.
JOHN
Here you are, Franky.
GALVIN (TAKES BOX)
Thanks. Can you go over and meet
her...? Tell her I'll stop by
when I'm through...Laura Fischer...
MICKEY
Sure. Who is she?
JOHN
That's thirty-three bucks. Can
you believe that...?
MICKEY
Oh, yeah. Your broad from last
night.
Galvin pays the Cigar Stand Operator.
JOHN
Thanks, Franky.
GALVIN
Tell her that I'll meet her there,
okay? See you tomorrow in the
office.
Mickey shrugs.
GALVIN
We're doing fine.
ANGLE
The two of them crossing the lobby.
Dick Doneghy, looking around the lobby, spies them, starts
across, and accosts Galvin.
DONEGHY
You said you're gonna call me up.
You didn't call me up. Who do you
think you are? (pushes Galvin
into a wall; advances; pushes him
again) Who do you think you are...?
GALVIN
Hold on a second.
DONEGHY
I'm going to have you disbarred.
I'm going to have your ticket.
You know what you did? Do you
know what you did?
He pushes Galvin again. Galvin waves Mickey off.
GALVIN
It's all right, Mickey.
DONEGHY
You ruined my life, Mister...Me
and my wife...and I am going to
ruin yours... (pushes Galvin again)
You don't have to go out there to
see that girl. We been going four
years. (beat) Four years...my
wife's been crying herself to sleep
what they, what, what they did to
her sister.
GALVIN
I swear to you I wouldn't have
turned the offer down unless I
thought that I could win the case...
DONEGHY
What you thought!? What you
thought...I'm a workingman, I'm
trying to get my wife out of town,
we hired you, we're paying you, I
got to find out from the other
side they offered two hundred...
GALVIN
I'm going to win this
case...Mist...Mr. Doneghy...I'm
going to the Jury with a solid
case, a famous doctor as an expert
witness, and I'm going to win eight
hundred thousand dollars.
DONEGHY
You guys, you guys, you're all the
same. The Doctors at the hospital,
you...it's 'What I'm going to do
for you'; but you screw up it's
`We did the best that we could.
I'm dreadfully sorry...' And people
like me live with your mistakes
the rest of our lives.
He nods sadly to himself. Beat.
GALVIN
If I could accept the offer right
now, I would. (beat) They took it
back.
DONEGHY
I understand. (starts to walk
away from Galvin; stops) I went
to the Bar Association. They tell
me you're going to be disbarred.
INT. O'ROURKE'S PUB - NIGHT
Laura is sitting in the same place at the bar. Mickey comes
up to her.
MICKEY
Franky can't make it. He had an
appointment he forgot, he's going
to see you later. I'm Mickey
Morrissey, we're supposed to get
to know each other.
LAURA
How'm I doing so far?
MICKEY
So far you're great. You got a
cigarette?
Laura opens her purse, starts hunting for a cigarette.
LAURA
What are you drinking?
(hands him
cigarettes, smiles,
calls the Bartender)
Jimmy...?
INT. GRUBER'S HOSPITAL CORRIDOR - NIGHT
Galvin walks up to a door marked Doctors Only. He opens his
briefcase, takes out the box of Macanudo Cigars, smiles to
himself, walks inside.
INT. DOCTORS' LOCKER ROOM - GRUBER'S LOCKER
Galvin enters, looks around, it is empty. He looks at the
clock, takes out his appointment book, turns to appropriate
page.
ANGLE - P.O.V.
The book, written very large: "Dr. Gruber. 7:00 P.M.
Hospital."
ANGLE
Galvin standing, he waits a beat. Starts out of locker room.
INT. GRUBER'S HOSPITAL CORRIDOR - NURSES' STATION - NIGHT
CAMERA FOLLOWS him TO Nurses' Station. He speaks to the NURSE
behind the desk.
GALVIN
Dr. Gruber.
NURSE
Dr. Gruber's not here today, Sir.
GALVIN
No...No...
She glances down, checks a sheet.
NURSE
Yes, Sir. He hasn't been in all
day...He's not on the chart...
EXT. GRUBER'S OFFICE BUILDING AND STREET - NIGHT
Galvin walking in the snow. Stops outside of a very lovely
brownstone with a small brass plaque. The plaque: Dr. David
C. Gruber. M.D. P.C.
ANGLE
Galvin looking in through the window of the dark, deserted
ground-floor office. He knocks on the door. Nothing. He
knocks again. Nothing. He stands unbelieving.
EXT. GRUBER'S HOUSE & STREET - NIGHT
Galvin getting out of a taxi, rushing up the steps of a
brownstone. Peeps through the window on the side of the house.
Dark. He grabs the brass knocker. Pounds. Nothing, he pounds
again. Nothing. He is beaten. He is without resource. He
starts vacantly down the stairs. The door behind him is opened.
He turns.
ANGLE - P.O.V.
A middle-aged black WOMAN in livery.
MAID
What is it?
Galvin in the steps speaking with her.
GALVIN
Dr. Gruber.
MAID
Dr. Gruber's not in.
GALVIN
I had an appointment at his office,
I think I must have got it wrong.
We had a meeting...
MAID
He's not in, Sir.
GALVIN
Where is he?
She hesitates. She has been instructed not to say. Galvin
starts up the steps.
GALVIN
I...please. My wife...my wife's
prescription has run out. If I
can call him...
MAID
Dr. Halpern's taking all his...
GALVIN
No, no, no. I have to talk to
him. If I can only call him..
MAID (BEAT)
He's...you can't reach him, Sir.
He's in the, on some island in the
Caribbean, they don't have a phone.
(beat) He'll be back in a
week...(beat) If you'd like Dr.
Halpern's number...
Galvin turns away from the door. He is still clutching the
box of cigars unconsciously.
INT. O'ROURKE'S - NIGHT
Mickey and Laura. Positions unchanged, at the bar. Somewhat
progressed toward a convivial drunkenness
MICKEY
Stearns, Harrington, you know who
that is?
LAURA
Should I?
MICKEY
A huge law firm. Okay? They put
him in the firm, he's married,
everything's superb. Franky, he's
starting to talk like he comes
from Dorsetshire, some fuckin'
place, 'You must drop by with Pat
and me...' Okay...?
LAURA
Yes.
MICKEY
...and he's making a billion dollars
every minute working for Stearns,
Harrington, and he bought a dog,
and everything is rosy. (beat)
Then Mr. Stearns, he tried to fix
a case.
LAURA
The Big Boy did...?
MICKEY
That Frank was working on. Yeah.
He thought Franky needed some help,
so they bribed a juror. So Franky
finds out. He comes to me in tears.
He thinks that anybody who knows
what a 'spinnaker' is got to be a
saint. I told him ' Franky, wake
up. These people are sharks.
What do you think they got so rich
from? Doing good?' He can't be
comforted. He tells the boys at
Stearns and Harrington they've
disappointed him, he's going to
the Judge to rat them out.
LAURA
Huh.
MICKEY
Before he can get there here comes
this Federal Marshal, and Franky's
indicted for Jury tampering, they
throw him in jail, he's gonna be
disbarred, his life is over. (beat)
Jimmy, gimme another drink. (to
Laura) How are you?
LAURA
(to Jimmy)
Me, too.
MICKEY
Okay. Now, so he's in jail. He,
finally, he gets to see the light,
he calls up Harrington, he says he
thinks he made a mistake. As if
by magic, charges against him are
dropped, he's released from jail.
(beat) P.S. He's fired from the
firm, his wife divorces him, he
turns to drink and mopes around
three and a half years. (beat)
You like that story?
She looks at him. HOLD.
EXT. JUDGE SWEENEY'S HOUSE-NIGHT
Snow falling. Galvin standing outside, having just rung the
bell. The door is opened by a gangly teen-age boy. CAMERA
FOLLOWS Galvin into...
INT. JUDGE SWEENEY'S HOUSE - NIGHT
...the hall of the house. The boy motions toward a closed
sliding door and then goes into the living room opposite.
Galvin hangs up his coat on the hall coat rack, we hear the
boy resume the practice of a passage of Chopin on the piano.
Galvin knocks on the sliding door.
JUDGE (O.S..)
Yes?
Galvin opens the door and goes into the Judge's darkened study.
The Judge is watching a basketball game on TV, drinking a beer.
CAMERA FOLLOWS Galvin into the room.
JUDGE
What is it?
GALVIN
Thank you for seeing me.
JUDGE
That's perfectly all right.
Judge turns down the volume of the game, but keeps watching
it.
GALVIN
I need an extension for my case.
JUDGE
You should have taken their offer.
Especially if you were unprepared.
GALVIN
I had a witness disappear on me.
JUDGE
That happens.
GALVIN
I could subpoena him if I had a
week.
JUDGE
I don't have a week. This case
never should have come to trial.
You know better. You're Mr.
Independent. You want to be
independent? Be independent now.
I've got no sympathy for you.
Judge leans forward, turns up the volume on the game.
EXT. STREET - GALVIN - PHONE - NIGHT
LONG SHOT of cars whooshing in the snow past a lonely street
corner. A MAN at an open telephone stand. The sound of the
telephone on the far end ringing.
ANGLE
Galvin at the stand, shivering in the cold, talking on the
phone. An open note pad in his bare hand.
VOICE (VOICE OVER)
Continental Casualty...
GALVIN
Mr. Alito, please.
VOICE
Business hours are over, Sir.
This is the switch...
GALVIN
I have to reach him. This is an
emergency. Could you give me his
home number?
VOICE
I'm sorry, Sir, we're not allowed...
GALVIN
...Would you, would you call him
up. I'll give you my number, and
ask him...
VOICE
I can't guarantee that...
GALVIN
I understand. Thank you, my name
is Galvin. I'll be at the following
number in a half an hour. It's
urgent.
INT. GALVIN'S OFFICE - NIGHT
Galvin is sitting at his desk, a stack of files piled on his
desk, he is sorting through them looking for something. The
phone rings, he snatches it up.
GALVIN (INTO PHONE)
Hello. Yes. Thank you for calling.
Frank Galvin...I'm representing
Deborah Ann Kaye...? I'd like to
discuss your firm's offer of the
two hundred th... In the sense
that I feel that we'd like to
accept it. (beat) Well, it's
rather a shock to me, too; but
it's my client's wishes...She's
changed her mind as of this
evening... I must say that I tried
to dissuade her...
He wipes his sweating forehead, he hears the sound of his office
door opening, he looks up.
ANGLE - P.O.V.
Mickey opening the front door to the office, carrying an armful
of lawbooks, and a couple of files, he turns on the lights in
the anteroom, and we SEE that he is surprised to see Galvin in
the office.
ANGLE - GALVIN
On the phone.
GALVIN
...Well, she, on the eve of the
case...You understand...I think
quite frankly she's come down with
nerves and she'd like...
A beat. Mickey comes tentatively into the room and sits at
the desk across from Galvin.
GALVIN
When was that arrived at...? (beat)
I, I know what Mr. Concannon said,
but...I. Well, I think you're
making a mistake...I think that
you should reconsider; why don't
you check with your principals,
and I'll call you in the...(beat)
No?...you...uh. All right. No.
That's fine. I under-stand. Sorry
to bother you at home.
He hangs up the phone. Sits rock still. Beat.
MICKEY
What happened...?
Galvin starts searching through his files again.
MICKEY
What happened, Joey...?
GALVIN
I can't talk now.
MICKEY
D'you meet with Dr. Gruber...?
Galvin has found the sheet he is looking for, he extracts it
from the file.
ANGLE - P.O.V.
The sheet of yellowing paper. Headed "DEBORAH ANN KAYE Poss.
Drs. to testify: Contact: Dr. Lucien Thompson, Mineola Long
Island; Dr. Duane Litchey..." He turns to second sheet. It
is a letter-headed sheet, "Lucien Thompson, M.D." "Dear Dr.
Galvin, after studying the case material on Deborah Ann Kaye,
I would be glad..." Galvin turns back to first sheet,
underlines THOMPSON in red.
ANGLE
Galvin dialing phone.
GALVIN
Concannon got to my witness. (beat;
to himself)I can't breathe in
here...(into phone) Hello Doctor...?
(checks sheet) Dr. Thompson.
This is Joseph Galvin, attorney
for a Deborah Ann Kaye, we had
some correspondence some time
ago...? That's right. I'm sorry
that we never got back, the case
was postponed, and I've had a
changeover in staff...I'm sorry to
call you so late...
ANGLE
Mickey, looking pityingly at Galvin. Mickey sees the box of
Macanudo Cigars on the desk, picks them up, starts to open
them -- throws them across the room in disgust.
GALVIN (VOICE OVER)
...but we have had a change of
strategy, and we were wondering, I
know this is short notice, but...
INT. GALVIN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Galvin in pants and shirt carrying a drink, distraught,
frightened. Standing in the doorway of his sitting room.
ANGLE
Laura in slacks and sweater coming out of the kitchen with her
drink. She sits at worktable on which are Galvin's briefcase,
files, etc. Galvin and Laura. He is biting his nails.
LAURA
Would you like me to leave...?
(beat) Is this a bad time --?
GALVIN
(distracted)
What...?
LAURA
Is this a bad time.
GALVIN
We, we...No...we just had a small
reversal in the case...(beat) I
have some, uh...I have some work
to do...
LAURA
What happened...?
GALVIN
They, uh, they got to my witness.
LAURA
...and is that serious?
Galvin, suddenly focuses, starts for worktable.
GALVIN
I've got to work...
LAURA
Do you want me to go...?
GALVIN
No, no, I'm just...
He stops, rubs his face...
LAURA
Why don't you get some rest?
GALVIN
I've got to work.
LAURA
You can't work if you can't think.
You get in bed. It's all right.
I'll stay here with you. It's all
right. Come on...
GALVIN
You're going to stay here...?
LAURA
Yes.
A beat.
GALVIN
I'm only going to rest a little
while.
She leads him into the bedroom.
ANGLE - LATER
Same room, Laura, dressed in Galvin's bathrobe, sitting in the
easy chair next to his worktable, smoking a cigarette, reading
an old hard-cover novel. She looks up across the room.
ANGLE - P.O.V.
The door to the bedroom, closed.
ANGLE
Laura sighs, takes a drag. Puts the book down on her lap.
Sits, thinking.
INT. CONCANNON'S CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY
Witness stand. DR. TOWLER, a distinguished man in his fifties,
sitting on the stand. Concannon o.s. The doctor is ill-at-
ease; smiles nervously.
CONCANNON (VOICE OVER)
What is your name, please?
TOWLER
Dr. Robert Towler.
CONCANNON (VOICE OVER)
You were Deborah Ann Kaye's
doctor...?
DR. TOWLER
No, actually, she was referred to
me. She was Dr. Hagman's patient...
CONCANNON
Don't equivocate. Be positive.
Just tell the truth.
ANGLE
The conference room. WIDE. Concannon's young lawyers taking
notes as Concannon rehearses Dr. Towler, a Sony VTR being
operated by one of them.
CONCANNON
Whatever the `truth' is, let's
hear that. You were her doctor.
DR. TOWLER
Yes.
CONCANNON
Say it.
DR. TOWLER
I was her doctor.
CONCANNON
You were the anesthesiologist at
her delivery May twelfth, nineteen
seventy...
DR. TOWLER
...I was one of a group of...
CONCANNON
Answer affirmatively. Simply.
Keep those answers to three words.
You weren't `part of a group,' you
were her anesthesiologist. Isn't
that right?
DR. TOWLER
Yes.
CONCANNON
You were there to help Dr. Marx
deliver her baby. Were you not?
DR. TOWLER
Yes.
ANGLE
Concannon starts to stroll a bit around the conference room,
in back of the assembled assistants, by the large windows,
which offer a panoramic view of Boston.
CONCANNON
Anything special about the case?
DR. TOWLER
When she...
The young lawyer (BILLY), Concannon's right-hand assistant,
raises his hand to get Concannon's attention.
CONCANNON
(to Dr. Towler,
correcting him)
When `Debby'...
(to Young Lawyer)
Thank you.
Young Lawyer nods, makes a notation in his pad.
DR. TOWLER
Thank you. When Debby...
CONCANNON
(switching his tack)
Dr. Towler, who was in the operating
room with you?
DR. TOWLER
Ms. Nevins, nurse-anesthetist;
Dr.Marx, of course...
He nods toward Dr. Marx who is in the audience, who nods back.
DR. TOWLER
Mary Rooney, the obstetrical
nurse...
CONCANNON
What did these people do when her
heart stopped?
DR. TOWLER
We went to Code Blue...
CONCANNON
`Code Blue,' what does that mean...?
DR. TOWLER
It's a common medical expression,
it's a crash program to restore
the heartbeat. Dr. Marx cut an
airway in her trachea, to get her
oxygen, her and the
baby...Ms.Nevins...
CONCANNON
Why wasn't she getting oxygen...?
DR. TOWLER
Well, many reasons, actually...
CONCANNON
Tell me one?
DR. TOWLER
She'd aspirated vomitus into her
mask...
CONCANNON
She THREW UP IN HER MASK. Let's
cut the bullshit. Say it: She
THREW UP IN HER MASK.
A beat.
DR. TOWLER
She threw up in her mask.
Concannon nods to the Young Lawyer, who is conscientiously
taking notes.
CONCANNON
...and her heart stopped and she
wasn't getting oxygen.
DR. TOWLER
That's right.
CONCANNON
And what did your team do...
DR. TOWLER
Well, we...
CONCANNON
...You brought thirty years of
medical experience to bear. Isn't
that what you did?
DR. TOWLER
Yes.
CONCANNON
...A patient riddled with
complications, questionable
information on her, on her admitting
form...
DR. TOWLER
...We did everything we could...
CONCANNON
...to save her and to save the
baby. Is that...
DR. TOWLER
Yes!
CONCANNON
You reached down into death. Now,
isn't that right?
DR. TOWLER
(getting overcome)
My God, we tried to save her...You
can't know...You can't know...
CONCANNON
(changing tactics;
soothing)
Tell us.
Beat. Dr. Towler sighs. He begins to speak.
EXT. SOUTH STREET STATION - BOSTON - DAY
People coming out of a just-arrived train.
ANGLE
Galvin watching them, he has a large boutonniere on his lapel.
The departing PASSENGERS stream past him. An elderly BLACK
MAN passes him by, turns and comes back to him.
ANGLE - THE BLACK MAN AND GALVIN
DR. THOMPSON
Mr. Galvin?
Galvin turns. He is taken aback. He registers who it must
be.
GALVIN
Dr. Thompson...?
DR. THOMPSON
It was good of you to meet...
Galvin cuts him off, takes his bag.
GALVIN
Thank you for coming.
They shake hands. They start...
INT. SOUTH STREET STATION - DAY
into the station. The CAMERA TRACKING BEFORE them. As Galvin
passes a wastebasket, he deposits his boutonniere.
GALVIN
I have some errands to run, and
then I thought we'd spend the
evening...
DR. THOMPSON (NODDING)
That's what I'd planned to...
GALVIN
I'm going to take you to the home
to see the girl...
DR. THOMPSON
(tapping his
briefcase, referring
to his files)
From what I've seen, Mr. Galvin,
you have a very good case...
GALVIN
(distracted; thinking
ahead)
Yes. Yes. I think so. I hope
you'll be comfortable. I'm putting
you up at my...
DR. THOMPSON
...I made a reservation at...
GALVIN
...apartment. (stops) No, no.
Please. You don't know who we're
dealing with, I, please believe
me, they...
DR. THOMPSON
...What difference would...
GALVIN
These people play very rough.
They don't want to lose this case.
There's a lot of pressure they can
bring to bear, I...
DR. THOMPSON
(smiles)
There's nothing they can do to me.
EXT. SOUTH STREET STATION AND STREET - DAY
Galvin starts them walking again.
GALVIN
Please, Sir. Please. Humor me.
They have arrived outside at a bank of cabs.
GALVIN
We'll spend the evening together,
I'll put you up, you'll be very
comfortable. Please. (hands Dr.
Thompson an envelope) That's my
address. The key is in it. (leans
forward to cabbie ) 1225
Commonwealth. (to Dr. Thompson)
Treat the place as your own. Please
don't tell anyone you're here,
I'll see you this evening. Thank
you,and thank you for coming.
He puts Dr. Thompson's bag into the cab. Dr. Thompson
hesitates, gets into the cab.
As the cab pulls out, CAMERA FOLLOWS Galvin TO a bank of phones
outside the station.
ANGLE
Galvin at the phone.
VOICE
(Claire, on phone)
Mr. Galvin's...
GALVIN
Let me talk to Mickey.
MICKEY
(on phone)
Yeah? How's our new witness?
GALVIN
D'you find the obstetric nurse?
MICKEY
She's workin' the late shift at
the Hospital. She's at home now,
I'm going over there to talk to...
GALVIN
Gimme the address. I'm gonna go.
We're going to need her.
EXT. MARY ROONEY'S HOUSE - DAY
Names on bells. One of them is ROONEY, M. 2D.
ANGLE
Galvin standing by the bell. Rings it. Beat. The door is
buzzed, he walks into the vestibule, past mailboxes, up the
stairs.
INT. MARY ROONEY'S HOUSE - DAY
Door opens, MARY ROONEY, a tough-looking woman in nurse whites
opens the door.
ANGLE
Galvin in hall, CAMERA FOLLOWS him TO the door.
GALVIN
I'm Joe Galvin, I'm representing
Deborah Ann Kaye, case against St.
Catherine Laboure.
MARY ROONEY
I told the guy I didn't want to
talk to...
GALVIN
I'll just take a minute. Deborah
Ann Kaye. You know what I'm talking
about. The case is going to trial.
Our chief witness is a Dr. David
Gruber, you know who he is?
MARY ROONEY
No.
GALVIN
He's the Assistant Chief of
Anesthesiology, Massachusetts
Commonwealth. He says your doctors,
Towler and Marx, put my girl in
the hospital for life. And we can
prove that. What we don't know is
why. What went on in there? In