I Love You Phillip Morris Page #13

She smiles back.

HOUSEWIFE:

How nice...

STEVEN:

You want mayo with that?

82 INT. TEXAS STATE PEN, 1995 - PRISON RECEIVING AREA - DAY 82

Steven slides paperwork through a slot in plexiglass

window toward a RELEASE OFFICER.

STEVEN:

I have an early release order for Phillip

Morris.

The Officer glances at the paperwork.

RELEASE OFFICER:

Yep- Morris- we got him right here

waiting.

CLANK-CLANG. The door begins to open as the Officer

stamps some of the paperwork.

RELEASE OFFICER (CONT'D)

And you are--?

STEVEN:

I'm his lawyer.

Phillip runs into his arms. As they kiss, the officer

offers a surprised look.

"I Love You Phillip Morris" Green Pages 5-23-08 51.

PHILLIP:

You're incredible.

STEVEN:

I know.

83 INT. PASSABLE APARTMENT, 1995 - HOUSTON - NIGHT 83

A PARTY to celebrate Phillip's release. Steven and

Phillip stand at the door as FRIENDS file in and greet

him boisterously.

BAYLOR:

Phillllip! It's so good to see you...

Another friend enters.

BLAKE:

Oh my God! You look great. Prison agreed

with you. How do I get on that diet?

PHILLIP:

Oh you couldn't handle it- not unless we

smuggled an espresso machine in a cake.

BLAKE:

Throw in a Sicilian Barista and I'm

there!

PHILLIP:

This is Steven. Steven- Blake and Baylor.

BLAKE:

(Gasp) This is him?! This is your gay

lawyer prison boyfriend?! Pleased to

meet you.

BAYLOR:

Much better than the guy who had you

kidnapped. What was his name?

Steven looks to Phillip, perplexed.

PHILLIP:

Long story.

STEVEN:

(regroups, to others)

Can I get you all a drink?

"I Love You Phillip Morris" Green Pages 5-23-08 52.

84 INT. PASSABLE APARTMENT KITCHEN, 1995 - LATER THAT NIGHT 84

Steven works his way through the crowded apartment

struggling to hold a few cocktail glasses for guests.

He eventually arrives next to Phillip, who is having a

great time with another friend- and older woman named

EUDORA MIXON.

STEVEN:

We gotta get a bigger place.

PHILLIP:

Steven I want you to meet my old neighbor-

Eudora Mixon. She is just the sweetest.

EUDORA:

Pleasure Steven.

STEVEN:

Eudora...

PHILLIP:

Eudora owns a little building in Montrose

and she's having a hell of time with the

builder. He sounds like a real a**hole.

EUDORA:

His plans were useless and he's trying to

sue me to pay him! I need your expertise

Steven. Phillip says maybe you can help.

STEVEN:

I could certainly try.

EUDORA:

Can you still practice law, having been

to prison?

STEVEN:

Sure- why not?

EUDORA:

I just thought- Oh what do I know? I'd

just be glad to have someone I could

trust. I'll pay your normal fee.

Steven doesn't miss a beat. He smiles wide.

STEVEN:

It would be my pleasure. Litigation is my

speciality.

Phillip beams with pride over Steven's decision.

"I Love You Phillip Morris" Green Pages 5-23-08 53.

85 INT. HOUSTON COURTHOUSE CORRIDOR, 1995 - DAY 85

Eudora waits on a bench in the corridor, nervously

glancing at her watch. Steven stands behind a column

down the hall hiding and watching. He looks at his

watch, then approaches her.

STEVEN:

Sorry I'm late but I've been hung up in

court all day. Let's go in.

86 INT. HOUSTON COURTROOM, 1995 - DAY 86

STEVEN'S POV:
A beautifully ornate courthouse LIGHT

FIXTURE hangs from a courthouse ceiling.

ON STEVEN, staring up at it with admiration.

JUDGE (O.S.)

Mister Russell?

Steven snaps out of it and responds to a waiting JUDGE.

STEVEN:

It's a beautiful fixture.

JUDGE:

I know. It's your turn.

STEVEN:

Oh...

(then)

Your Honor, Ms. Mixon engaged Mr. Gage

service in good faith and was given an

inferior product. She is entitled to deem

that work to be unacceptable according to

the contract that Mr. Evans signed.

LAWYER:

The terms of that contract were ambiguous

at best. The truth is, defendant engaged

my client for three years without full

payment.

STEVEN:

Your honor I have, in my briefcase,

fourteen other contracts, all on public

record, in which Mr. Evans entered into

litigation with past clients of his!

Eudora glances into Steven's opened BRIEFCASE. It

contains only a SANDWICH and a PHOTO OF PHILLIP.

"I Love You Phillip Morris" Green Pages 5-23-08 54.

The shocked LAWYER turns to his client (EVANS).

LAWYER:

(whispers)

Is this true?

EVANS:

No.

LAWYER:

You're making me look like an idiot.

He regroups and addresses the judge.

LAWYER (CONT'D)

Your honor, I don't have to tell you that

none of this is admissable or applicable

to the case at hand. Mr. Russell's

histrionics do not erase the fact that

his client is in breech of contract.

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