Denial Page #11

IRVING (TV)

Naturally, I’m delighted this case

is finally coming to court.

INTERVIEWER (TV)

You’re representing yourself?

IRVING (TV)

I have the advantage that although

I don’t know the law, I do know the

topic. It would cost me half a

million pounds to hire professional

representation. And unlike Miss

Lipstadt, I don’t have access to a

network with that kind of money.

DEBORAH:

Oh this is about money, is it?

DEBORAH is shaking her head. A knock at the door.

DEBORAH (CONT’D)

Come in.

A BELL-BOY appears with a huge bunch of white lilies.

BELLBOY:

The manager wants you to have

these. He’s wishing you luck.

DEBORAH:

Thank you. Thank you very much. I’m

just asking, but in your country

are white lilies lucky?

BELLBOY:

I think so, yes.

Full Blue Script // December 4th 2015 5454.

DEBORAH:

Just how in the States you usually

see them on a grave.

75 INT. DEBORAH’S ROOM. NIGHT 75

DEBORAH is turning her room into an operations centre:

unpacking books, videotapes, files onto the desk. From the

Sunday Times, she cuts out a photo of IRVING: “Irving

Predicts Complete Victory”. She tapes it to the side of her

computer screen. On the TV, Victoria Wood in Dinner Ladies:

DEBORAH looks bewildered at this most English of comedies.

76 INT. IRVING’S APARTMENT. MOUNT STREET. NIGHT 76

The television in IRVING’S room is also playing Dinner

Ladies. IRVING looks at it a moment, enjoying the humour.

Then turns back to his desk to carry on his preparation. On

his computer a screen-grab of DEBORAH being humiliated at

DeKalb. He works on.

77 EXT. HIGH COURT. FLEET STREET. DAY 77

NETWORK REPORTERS are speaking straight to camera, from the

middle of a pavement scrum - photographers, reporters.

NETWORK REPORTER

This morning will see the beginning

of an extraordinary case in which a

well-known historian and an obscure

American academic will do battle to

decide whether the Holocaust took

place...

NETWORK REPORTER 2

Sources are saying that a whole

network of supporters in the United

States, including the film director

Stephen Spielberg, are paying for

Miss Lipstadt’s defence...

NETWORK REPORTER 3

... Mr Irving is rumoured to have a

list of over 4,000 contributors.

They include a former U-boat

captain who lives in Hawaii...

NETWORK REPORTER 4

It’s expected that this trial will

be a long one, both sides digging

in for a protracted fight...

CAPTION:
JANUARY 11th, 2000

Full Blue Script // December 4th 2015 5555.

On the opposite pavement, DEBORAH, dressed in coat and scarf,

is amazed to see the scrum. Resolutely she starts crossing

the road. The press has recognized her and is calling out

‘Deborah, Deborah’ and ‘Miss Lipstadt.’ She takes out a piece

of paper and turns to read from it. As she does, JULIUS and

LAURA appear from nowhere like policemen.

JULIUS:

Good morning, Deborah.

DEBORAH turns in surprise. JULIUS is wearing a black robe.

JULIUS (CONT’D)

We wanted to make sure you didn’t

go in alone.

DEBORAH:

That’s sweet of you.

JULIUS:

It’s not sweet at all. We wanted to

make sure you didn’t speak.

DEBORAH:

It’s just a short statement. Look,

there’s Julie McCarthy, NPR...

But he has already put his arm round her and LAURA has taken

the other, manoeuvring her into the building. A man appears

in front of DEBORAH’s face.

MAN:

Lying Jewish b*tch!

But JULIUS has her quickly out of the way. As the MAN is

hustled away by POLICE, he is heard shouting “Don’t think

there’s anywhere to hide. We’re going to finish what Hitler

started.”

78 INT. CLOISTERS AND INTERIOR. LAW COURTS. DAY 78

Inside they let go, and suddenly DEBORAH is all alone,

looking at the amazing Gothic scale and splendour of the

building. She’s awed, but her contemplation of it is

disturbed by the arrival at the entrance of IRVING outside,

lit by camera lights, the press surrounding him.

IRVING:

Good morning, everyone. I’m looking

forward to this, if I may say a few

words...

She watches furious as the press write down everything he

says. She catches up with JULIUS, with NIK and THOMAS

carrying boxes of documents towards the court.

Pink Revisions // 3rd January 2016 56.

DEBORAH:

Did you see him? He’ll be all over

the front pages...

JULIUS:

Deborah, there’s only one person

who matters and that’s the judge.

If you don’t speak in court and youdo speak in the press, the judge isgoing to be furious. And rightly.

DEBORAH:

Yeah, well, we both know the answer

to that.

DEBORAH looks at JULIUS bitterly.

JULIUS:

And another thing. You jog the sameway every day. Don’t.

DEBORAH:

What are you saying?

JULIUS:

I’m not saying anything. I’m just

saying, vary your route.

DEBORAH looks back outside. The angry MAN is still there.

79 INT. COURTROOM. DAY 79

There is a crush of people at the courtroom door as DEBORAHapproaches. The COURT USHER (JANET PURDUE) expertly corralsthem.

*

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COURT USHER:

Lets have some order please. Pressin the public gallery, front tworows - second door on yourleft...general public upstairs.

*

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She recognises DEBORAH and signals her through. *

COURT USHER (CONT’D)

Let the Defendant through please.

This way, Ms. Lipstadt.

*

*

*

DEBORAH is led into the wall of the court, to a table where a

paper sign on a chair indicates that it’s reserved for

“Defendant Deborah Lipstadt”. LIBSON sits at the next seat

beside her. The COURT USHER moves on to straighten a similarsign at an empty place reserved for “Plaintiff David Irving”.

There is no sign of him.

*

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*

DEBORAH looks around. Everything is ornate dark carved andpanelled wood.

*

*

Pink Revisions // 3rd January 2016 56A.

The left-hand side of the court-room is full - DEBORAH smiles

at FORBES-WATSON who is standing talking to HELENA PEACOCK afew rows back. He smiles in return. RAMPTON is in wig andsilk robe, as is HEATHER, both in the row behind her. JULIUS

is beside them. At the side of the courtroom, NIK and THOMAS

plus LAURA and her team of researchers unload and sort stackupon stack of boxes and bundles of files onto shelves. Moreparalegals scurry around them.

*

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As the USHER sets out water carafes for those who will be

speaking, at RAMPTON's seat and at IRVING and the JUDGE'sempty places, DEBORAH turns and looks up to the gallery. Someobvious Irving supporters - skinheads in T-shirts and tattoosand some less obvious - Aryan women and middle-aged men.

*

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*

Unseen by her, IRVING stands at another entrance waiting toenter the courtroom. As a few reporters pass him he smilesconfidently and makes his entrance, nodding to some familiarreporters who are settling into the side gallery. Across thecourt, DEBORAH watches him walk in, papers under his arm.

Apart from IRVING himself, his side of the courtroom isdeserted. An obvious contrast: DEBORAH's side of the court is

a mass of people. JULIUS smiles.

*

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JULIUS:

David and Goliath. As advertised.

IRVING suddenly turns and looks straight at DEBORAH. OKCorral - their look held.

80 INT. JUDGE’S CHAMBERS. DAY 80

CHARLES GRAY, a suave, upper-class Englishman, 50s, in wigand gown is reading alone. The CLERK knocks on the door.

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