Good Will Hunting Page #9

The Judge interrupts to address the prosecutor.

JUDGE MALONE:

Mr. Simmons, Officer McNeely who

signed the complaint isn't in my

courtroom. Why is that?

PROSECUTOR:

He's in the hospital with a broken

knee, Your Honor. But I have

depositions from the other officers.

WILL:

Henry Ward Beecher proclaimed, in

his Proverbs From Plymouth Pulpit

back in 1887, that "Every American

citizen is by birth, a sworn officer

of the state. Every man is a

policeman." As for the other officers,

even William Congrave said; "he that

first cries out 'stop thief' is 'oft

he that has stolen the treasure."

PROSECUTOR:

Your Honor--

Will cranks it up.

WILL:

(to Prosecutor)

I am afforded the right to speak in

my own defense by our constitution,

Sir. The same document which

guarantees my right to liberty.

"Liberty," in case you've forgotten,

is "the soul's right to breathe, and

when it cannot take a long breath

laws are girded too tight. Without

liberty, man is a syncope."

(beat, to Judge)

Ibid. Your Honor.

PROSECUTOR:

Man is a what?

WILL:

Julius Caesar proclaimed -- Though

he be wounded-- "Magna..."

The Judge interrupts.

JUDGE MALONE:

Son,

(a beat)

My turn.

The Judge opens Will's CASE HISTORY.

JUDGE MALONE:

(reading)

June, '93, assault, Sept. '93

assault... Grand theft auto February

'94.

A beat, the Judge takes particular notice.

JUDGE MALONE:

Where, apparently, you defended

yourself and had the case thrown out

by citing "free property rights of

horse and carriage" from 1798...

Lambeau has to smile, impressed. The Judge shakes his head.

JUDGE MALONE:

March, '94 public drunkenness, public

nudity, assault. 10/94 mayhem.

November '94, assault. Jan. '95

impersonating a police officer,

mayhem, theft, resisting -- overturned--

The Judge takes a beat. Gives Will a look.

JUDGE MALONE:

You're in my courtroom, now and I am

aware of your priors.

(beat)

I'm also aware that you're an orphan.

You've been through several foster

homes. The state removed you from

three because of serious physical

abuse.

The Judge holds a look to Will, who looks down.

JUDGE MALONE:

Another Judge might care. You hit a

cop, you go in.

(beat)

Motion to dismiss denied.

The Bailiff goes to remove Will from the courtroom.

JUDGE MALONE:

Keep workin' on your arguments, son.

A word of advice for trial; speak

English.

As Will is removed from the courtroom, Lambeau approaches

Judge Malone who is stepping down from the bench.

LAMBEAU:

Excuse me, your Honor.

(offers hand)

Gerald Lambeau.

An awkward beat. Lambeau waits for some sign of recognition.

LAMBEAU:

I'm a professor at M.I.T.

(beat)

Combunatorial Mathematics.

The Judge offers only a blank look.

JUDGE MALONE:

Oh. Pleased to meet you.

LAMBEAU:

Do you have a minute?

CUT TO:

INT. MIDDLESEX COUNTY JAIL, HOLDING AREA -- SAME

A GUARD walks Will down a hallway toward a group of phones.

GUARD:

One call, to an attorney.

(beat)

One.

The Guard gives Will a hard look for a beat. Then leaves.

WILL:

How many?

Will picks up the phone, dials.

WILL:

Hey, Skylar?

INT. SKYLAR'S DORM -- DAY

SKYLAR:

Yeah?

WILL:

It's Will, the really funny good

looking guy you met at the bar?

SKYLAR:

I'm sorry, I don't recall meeting

anyone who fits that description.

WILL:

Okay, you got me. It's the ugly,

obnoxious, toothless loser who got

drunk and wouldn't leave you alone

all night.

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