Freeheld Page #6

Synopsis: New Jersey police lieutenant, Laurel Hester, and her registered domestic partner, Stacie Andree, both battle to secure Hester's pension benefits when she is diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Director(s): Peter Sollett
Production: Summit Entertainment
  1 win & 10 nominations.
 
IMDB:
6.5
Metacritic:
50
Rotten Tomatoes:
48%
PG-13
Year:
2015
103 min
Website
357 Views


Then when she dies I'd get her pension.

No questions asked.

I could pass it along

to Stacie. No problem.

But we're not gonna do that

because Laurel would never agree to it.

I used to tease Laurel about

her integrity, her ideals,

because I'm one of those

cynical, hard-ass cops who likes to say

he doesn't believe in

the system or justice.

But Laurel does.

She believes in it. The whole deal.

So what's it gonna be?

Can I go to Laurel right now

and tell her she can die in peace,

with dignity,

because she was right?

Because in this one instance

justice has prevailed.

- Come on.

- Yeah.

Thank you, Detective Wells.

We anguish over this situation.

And Detective Hester is in our prayers.

But our decision is gonna have to stand.

The state made a bad law.

The state made a bad law and

it's up to them to fix it.

Not up to us.

So Detective Hester's request is denied.

This meeting is adjourned.

We tried the carrot. Now

we're gonna try the stick.

The number one source of income

in this county is what?

Tourism!

And what are we gonna do?

Boycott Ocean County!

Boycott Ocean County!

What the hell were you

doing in there, Bryan? Huh?

I'm in agony over this, okay?

My wife and daughter look at

me like I'm a serial killer.

I was watching you. You're on our side.

I'm one vote out of five.

Convince the others!

That's easy for you to say.

Where are your fellow cops?

You can't even get them

to come to a meeting.

Some people get a

pension, some people don't.

Some people get two or

three. Life isn't fair.

Does that help you sleep at night?

Kiss my ass.

Water?

Drink.

Thank you.

You look so tired.

Why don't you go home and get some rest?

No.

- Come on.

- No, I can't leave her.

She needs me here.

Thanks, Mom.

Hey.

They turned her down again.

I don't even know if I can tell her.

Tell him about the insurance.

- No.

- Tell him.

Come on. Tell me about the insurance.

I got this letter from

the insurance company

saying that she has,

like, three sick days left

and then she loses her medical benefits

and life insurance and everything.

She's been fighting the

insurance companies, the doctors.

I can handle it.

I'll do something.

No, no.

Come on. Let me take care of it.

I need to do something. Please?

Okay.

Okay.

Thanks.

What's this?

Any officer can assign

his or her sick days to another officer.

Yeah, but what if you get sick?

You're not gonna get those days back.

Am I right, Chief?

You don't get them back.

So you're screwed.

You bleeding hearts.

That dyke wouldn't do it for me.

Yes, she would.

Fine.

I'll give her one day.

One day.

How about three?

Don't push it.

Make it five, Toohey.

Fellows, fellows. Don't pressure him.

You never know.

He might get the sniffles.

All right. Five.

Happy?

We're standing by our decision.

Just keep your men in line.

So now the police department is against us?

They're donating sick days.

It doesn't mean anyone is against us.

Have you read the papers?

We're being ridiculed!

Yeah, by who? The New

York Times? Who cares?

The local papers are supporting Hester,

and I'm getting a lot of calls.

Yeah, from outsiders.

And from the locals, Bill!

It seems like

we are sticking to a losing position

because of some personal beliefs.

Why shouldn't I vote according

to my personal beliefs?

I'm not ashamed of them.

We give in on this,

we are putting the state one

step closer to gay marriage,

and if I do that, how can I face my family?

Huh? My friends.

What?

Their Christmas is gonna suck.

Who?

Those women. The ones you're screwing over.

Maya?

This is politics.

I'm running for re-election next year.

I can do a lot of good for our town.

But not if I lose my

job over this one thing.

You understand?

If you die does Mom get your pension?

What do you want, Dane?

What do you mean some people

get more than one pension?

I never said that.

Yeah, you did.

Something about life isn't fair.

Some people have a pension, some don't.

Some have more than one.

Do the Freeholders get multiple pensions?

I'm not gonna answer

that question directly.

It's in the public

record. Payroll department.

If you say I told you this, I'll deny it.

Of course you will.

It's okay.

I don't know who that is.

Hello?

Hey, I need to talk to Laurel.

- It's important.

- Okay.

Laurel, it's Dane.

- Hey, partner.

- Hey.

Remember the Selco case? It

was, like, five years ago?

Yeah, sure.

They hid their names

in the records somehow but you

managed to find them anyway.

How'd you do that?

They used versions of their full names.

An initial and a middle

name. Or two initials.

So a regular computer

search couldn't find them.

Right. Thanks.

Good night.

Yeah.

Get some rest.

First, I think we're

gonna start with a wide.

Then we're gonna move to a medium.

All that matters is the close-up, right?

We wanna see what's

going on behind her eyes.

- Hi, Stacie.

- Hi, Stacie.

It is a 30-second spot,

supporting gay marriage.

I'm fighting for equality.

Laurel? Come on.

Like it or not, you're an activist.

You're a gay marriage activist now.

Just say it. Just say

the "M" word just once.

Equality.

Can I have a minute? Just a minute?

Sure, yes. We'll be back.

Step out. Step out.

What's the problem?

Do you want some applesauce?

No.

What's wrong? What's wrong?

I hate how he pushes this stuff on you.

It's okay. No.

It takes your energy and

then you don't wanna eat.

No, I have to do it.

I have to do it while there's time.

There is.

- No.

- Yeah.

- We don't know that.

- Yeah.

We don't know that, babe.

You know, with the time I

have left, my priority is you.

I'm still a police officer.

We're taught to do the right thing.

I'm gonna do the right thing for you.

The only thing I care about

is justice for the woman that I love.

And that's you.

Is that okay?

Yeah.

When you see this.

I will have passed away

from cancer.

The county refused to give

death benefits to my partner.

Gay couples are fighting for equality.

Please support them.

What makes you think

they'll change their minds?

Instinct.

And something I found

out about their pensions.

You need cover.

How about this?

How about the governor says

that thanks to the Freeholders he realizes

that the domestic partnership law is flawed

and he is willing to

support changing the law?

That way they go from villains to heroes.

You have access to the governor?

Oh, honey, are you kidding me?

That man is number three on my speed dial.

Okay. That'll work.

And Steven?

Yes?

Don't call me honey.

I love you, too.

Let's set up right here.

Okay. Are you ready?

All right?

Where's Bill?

He had to make a sudden

trip to Pennsylvania.

A family emergency.

Bullshit.

He thinks if he stays away we won't vote

because we have to vote

in a unanimous block.

That's the tradition.

Dane Wells is prepared to tell the press

that some of us are

getting multiple pensions.

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Ron Nyswaner

Ron Nyswaner was born on October 5, 1956 in Clarksville, Pennsylvania, USA. He is a producer and writer, known for Philadelphia (1993), The Painted Veil (2006) and Why Stop Now? (2012). more…

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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