I Love You Phillip Morris

I LOVE YOU PHILLIP MORRIS

A true story of life,

love and prison breaks

Written by

Glenn Ficarra & John Requa

Based on the book by Steve McVicker

4.27.2008

1 EXT. SKY - DAY 1

Fluffy white CLOUDS drift across a clear blue sky.

TITLE CARD-

"This really happened"

FADE TO WHITE:

TITLE CARD-

"It really did"

A dull WHINE is heard building in volume until finally-

SMASH CUT TO:

2 INT. TEXAS STATE PENITENTIARY HOSPITAL WARD - 1998 - DAY 2

Startled, STEVEN RUSSELL (40) opens his eyes. Gaunt and

pale, he seems to be on death's door. The whine we once

heard is now the high-pitched ALARM of medical equipment.

The door BURSTS open. NURSES enter, rushing toward him.

The nurses pass him and attend to the PATIENT in the next

bed over, frantically administering CPR.

SUPER:
"TEXAS STATE PENITENTIARY INFIRMARY - 1998"

A DOCTOR appears and pushes the nurses aside.

DOCTOR:

Where's the crash cart!?

He straddles the patient's chest and pushes down hard-

the sound of a sternum CRACKING can be heard.

Steven returns his gaze to the ceiling. A CHEERY VOICE

counterpoints the bleakness of this scene.

STEVEN (V.O.)

(upbeat and happy)

Love sure is a funny thing...

It makes you happy. Makes you sad. Makes

you do all sorts of things you never

thought you'd do before. Love's the

reason I'm here actually.

SMASH CUT TO:

"I Love You Phillip Morris" Green Pages 5-23-08 2.

3 EXT. MARSHLAND - CHESAPEAKE BAY, VA - 1966 - DAY 3

A group of FOUR NINE YEAR OLDS lie in the grass atop a

hill. They stare up at the clouds, playfully arguing.

RED HAIRED BOY:

I still don't see it.

LITTLE GIRL:

It's right there.

A young STEVEN RUSSELL (9) is among them.

YOUNG STEVEN:

It's really big.

STEVEN'S MOM (O.S.)

Steeeeeeeeeven...

Steven looks down the hill to see his mother calling.

STEVEN'S MOM (CONT'D)

Steeeeeeeeeven...

4 INT. LIVING ROOM CHESAPEAKE BAY, VA - 1966 - DAY 4

Young Steven sits in the middle of the couch. His PARENTS

and 11 year old BROTHER stand before him. He stares at

them- innocent and doe-eyed with a big smile on his face.

STEVEN'S MOM

Are you a happy little boy Steven?

Steven smiles and nods.

STEVEN'S MOM (CONT'D)

You've always been such a happy little

boy.

(then)

Now Steven, we want to tell you something

very important, but I want you to

understand that it doesn't change a

thing.

Steven awaits, smiling.

STEVEN'S MOM (CONT'D)

We're still gonna love you, you're still

gonna be our happy little boy and you're

still gonna--

STEVEN'S BROTHER

You're adopted.

"I Love You Phillip Morris" Green Pages 5-23-08 3.

YOUNG STEVEN:

Shut up!

He glares at his brother, then turns back to his mother.

Her face says it all.

STEVEN'S MOM

It's true.

WHACK! She SWATS his brother in the head. Steven starts

putting things together.

STEVEN'S MOM (CONT'D)

Your brother overheard your Dad and I

talking and well, we didn't want you to

hear it from anybody but us.

(then)

It's true. You're a special little boy.

You know why? Because we chose you. Not

like your brother here who's natural.

STEVEN'S DAD

Your Mother's right. It's cause we love

you. So we put some money in a brown

paper bag and gave it to your real mom in

the hospital parking lot so you could

come home with us. Okay?

STEVEN'S MOM

It doesn't change a thing honey. We love

you just as much as we love your brother

here...

(best of intentions)

...and he's natural.

STEVEN'S DAD

So son, are you okay?

Steven smiles wide.

YOUNG STEVEN:

Yes Daddy.

As his parents prattle on, Steven's VO comes full.

STEVEN (V.O.)

It hurt a bit, but I decided I wasn't

gonna let it get me down. No way. I was

gonna be the best son- No, the best

person I could be.

"I Love You Phillip Morris" Green Pages 5-23-08 4.

5 I/E. VIRGINIA BEACH CHURCH OF GOD - 1984 - DAY 5

A joyous Sunday. OPEN ON the LETTER BOARD of THE VIRGINIA

BEACH CHURCH OF GOD. The date reads, MARCH 1984.

A congregation packs the church to the rafters as a

Lawrence Welk-ish CHOIR praises Jesus to the tune of

Hallelujah! We Shall Rise.

Amidst this white-man's paradise sits a smiling and

healthy STEVEN- playing the organ with a happy-stick

planted firmly up his ass.

As the joyous flock whoops it up, Steven winks to his

wife (DEBBIE) and their 4 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER (STEPHANIE)

who sit in the first row.

Steven, oblivious, hits a sour note or two-- but keeps on

playing with happy abandon. The crowd continues to enjoy

the inspiring hymn.

6 I/E. VIRGINIA BEACH POLICE STATION FRONT DESK, 1984 - DAY 6

A police receptionist (MANDI) at a switchboard in a small-

town police station answers the phone.

MANDI:

Virginia Beach Police Department, how may

I direct your call?

Steven enters in UNIFORM, smiling wide. Mandi waves

happily. She covers the receiver and whispers.

MANDI (CONT'D)

Something came for you.

As he nods and moves on he's greeted by a VARIOUS

POLICEMEN. We can tell he's well liked.

STEVEN:

Hey fellas.

VARIOUS POLICEMAN

Hey Steve, Steve, mornin', etc...

Steven arrives at his desk to find a large FILE BOX. He

turns it around to reveal writing on the side. It reads,

"BASHAM, BRENDA"

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