Confidence Page #13

JUDGE MILTON:

Why have you petitioned to leave

the institution?

JOHN:

I haven't had an episode in more

than a month, Sir.

JUDGE MILTON:

How do you plan to support

yourself?

JOHN:

My family's helping me out, Your

Honor.

JUDGE MILTON:

Where will you live upon release?

JOHN:

Live?

John's mother nods encouragingly at him.

JUDGE MILTON:

Where do you plan to reside, Mr.

Lockyer?

JOHN:

With my mother.

JUDGE MILTON:

Is your mother here today?

John points to her. John's mother waves at the judge.

JOHN:

That's the b*tch. That cock-

sucking b*tch. She put me here.

She did. She's the Satan that did

this all.

81.

As bailiffs remove John from the stand, Michael offers a wan

smile to his family.

INT. COMMITMENT COURT - LATER

Michael, outwardly poised and collected, sits on the stand.

His hands are clenched in tight fists.

JUDGE MILTON:

The records indicate no major

episodes in the past four months.

And it seems you have the support

of the staff.

MICHAEL:

Yes, Sir.

JUDGE MILTON:

But I see you've been in and out of

the hospital more than ten times.

MICHAEL:

Eleven, Your Honor. But I'm on a

new medication now.

JUDGE MILTON:

Do you feel ready to re-enter the

world?

MICHAEL:

Yes, Sir. My family is prepared to

support me until I find a job.

They've already located an

apartment for me that's very near

them.

JUDGE MILTON:

Very well, then. By order of the

court, you are released. I wish

you good luck.

Michael's shoulders relax. He opens his fist. Inside is the

Cracker Jack ring, and the magenta circle it has imprinted on

his palm.

EXT. COMMITMENT COURT - LATER

Michael walks to the car with his mother, father and

grandmother, who keeps tousling his hair with pride.

82.

INT. VISITING ROOM - HILLVIEW PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL - DAY

Letty stands awkwardly in front of Paul, who sits in a

wingback chair.

PAUL:

What's so urgent? You've got me

worried.

LETTY:

I need to tell you something, and

I'm not sure how.

Paul stands.

PAUL:

You can tell me anything.

(beat)

Do you want to postpone the

wedding? Is it too much pressure?

LETTY:

No...

PAUL:

That's a load off my mind.

LETTY:

Paul, I want to break off the

engagement.

.

PAUL:

You what?

LETTY:

I don't mean to hurt you. I know

this is a terrible thing. And I

have really loved you.

PAUL:

Whoa. Whoa. Have really loved me?

Letty, it's natural to be nervous.

But we're going to work through our

problems.

LETTY:

I've met someone else.

PAUL:

Who?

LETTY:

It doesn't matter who.

83.

PAUL:

Have you been seeing another

teacher?

LETTY:

No.

PAUL:

It's a doctor, isn't it? That's

unethical. I'll have him rung up

on malpractice charges so fast his

head will spin.

LETTY:

He's a patient here.

Paul considers this a moment.

PAUL:

Of all the crazy things. I

understood when you dropped out of

law school. And during this whole

mess, I've tried to be supportive.

But, really, Letty, what can you be

thinking?

LETTY:

I love him.

PAUL:

You're going to throw away our life

together for some shared experience

with a looney-tune that you

misguidedly think is love?

LETTY:

Here's the ring.

PAUL:

No way. You keep the ring. You'll

come to your senses.

LETTY:

I've made my decision, Paul.

PAUL:

You keep it, Letty. This is not

over. Our life is not over.

EXT. FRONT STEPS - SAME

Paul walks out the door and down the steps past Michael, who

runs up them two at a time.

84.

MICHAEL:

How's it hanging, Paul?

Paul turns to watch Michael as Michael swings open the door

and sails into the institute.

INT. VISITING ROOM - SAME

Letty waits as a NURSE opens the door to the ward. Letty is

about to step through, when Michael enters.

MICHAEL:

Visitor for Ms. Mayer.

Letty whirls around.

LETTY:

Well?

.

MICHAEL:

Home free.

Letty and Michael hug.

NURSE:

Letty, Michael, you have about five

minutes until visiting hours end.

The nurse retreats.

LETTY:

Tell me all.

MICHAEL:

I was brilliant, or at least

boringly sane.

LETTY:

So there were no problems?

MICHAEL:

Not a one.

LETTY:

And did you go to the mission?

MICHAEL:

No, you goof, I came to see you.

LETTY:

Just checking.

85.

MICHAEL:

I saw Paul leaving. Did you do the

dirty deed?

LETTY:

Yeah.

MICHAEL:

So, it's over?

LETTY:

All over.

(beat)

Did you see your new apartment?

MICHAEL:

One bedroom, second floor, no view.

LETTY:

Furnished?

MICHAEL:

No, I need some serious household

advice.

LETTY:

First off, you'll need to go to

Target. And, let's see, what

should you buy?

MICHAEL:

I better make a list.

LETTY:

List schmist. You'll remember.

INT. HALLWAY - HILLVIEW PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL - NIGHT

Letty sits in the corridor opposite Marie and Thomas. They

are playing BLACKJACK. Letty deals.

THOMAS:

Hit me.

Letty hands one over. Thomas flips over his cards.

THOMAS:

I’m over.

Letty looks to Marie, who waves her off. Marie is fine with

her cards. They look down the hall. Nurse Gates walks beside

JAMIE, a man in his late 20s, who wears the same dazed

expression Letty did the morning after she was admitted.

86.

NURSE GATES:

(to Jamie)

Dr. Stone will ask you some

questions, and then we'll get you

settled.

Nurse Gates and Jamie come upon the gang.

NURSE GATES:

(to Letty/Bill)

Lights out in 15, Guys.

Nurse Gates continues down the hall, hand firmly planted

under Jamie's elbow as he weaves unsteadily beside her.

.

MARIE:

Wow, that first night is hard.

LETTY:

It's going to be a difficult few

weeks for him.

THOMAS:

It really makes you think.

LETTY:

It really does.

They look down the hall at the retreating figures. They look

at each other.

MARIE:

I'll put in 5 that it's a straight

diagnosis of depressive

personality.

LETTY:

Are you kidding? With those glazed

eyes? I'm willing to bet 10 there

was some break with reality going

on there. Psychosis. Without a

doubt, psychosis.

INT. DR. EMLEE'S OFFICE - DAY

Letty is curled up in a chair opposite Dr. Emlee.

LETTY:

But what I really can't believe is

that I'm starting to actually miss

work.

87.

DR. EMLEE

Have you been in contact with the

principal about your job?

LETTY:

I thought about calling, but I want

to wait until I know when I'll be

out.

DR. EMLEE

Then, you should call.

LETTY:

What?

DR. EMLEE

I think it's about that time,

Letty. The charges against you

have been dropped, the drugs have

evened out and you seem to be

dealing with your life quite well.

LETTY:

Are you saying I'm through with

therapy?

DR. EMLEE

Let's not be hasty.

(beat)

I'm saying we should plan a release

date for early next week.

Off Letty's excited face, we

CUT TO:

EXT. TARGET - DAY

Crowds, crowds and more crowds. Michael pulls unsuccessfully

at a shopping cart that is stuck to another.

A MATRONLY WOMAN walks up, nudges Michael out of the way and

yanks the cart out of its row. She rolls it toward Michael,

grabs one for herself and is on her way into the store.

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