I Love You Phillip Morris Page #14

JUDGE:

He is right Mr. Russell- what do you have

to say?

Steven is stonewalled. He looks to Eudora as if to say,

"What do I do now?" and it terrifies her.

Desperate, Steven bangs his fist on the table and looks

resolutely to the judge.

STEVEN:

I demand to be seen in chambers!!

The judge and lawyer seem mystified by this response.

JUDGE:

Okaaaaaaaay...

87 INT. HOUSTON JUDGE'S CHAMBERS, 1995 - DAY 87

The Lawyer sits impatiently while Steven peruses a wall

of plaques, photos and diplomas. He focuses on a law

school DEGREE from INDIANA COLLEGE OF LAW. Next to it, a

PHOTO of the judge as a YOUNG MAN on a farm. He's from

humble roots.

A moment later, the Judge enters.

JUDGE:

Okay gentlemen, let's get this over with,

the two for one at the Crab Boiler ends

at five o'clock.

"I Love You Phillip Morris" Green Pages 5-23-08 55.

LAWYER:

This seems to be cut and dried here, sir.

I don't even know why we're back here.

Mister Russell is treating this like an

episode of Matlock.

STEVEN:

I'll admit your honor- I'm a plain spoken

man. I didn't go to Princeton. I didn't

go to Yale. My education was modest. I

went to a small school. I grew up on a

small farm. But I passed the same bar

exam as my colleague here and I am not

going to let him push around this humble

woman.

This scores with the judge.

JUDGE:

Point taken Mister Russell...

He glares at the other lawyer with scorn.

JUDGE (CONT'D)

...but where are you going with this?

STEVEN:

I think it's obvious where I'm going with

this sir.

A long SILENCE. The Judge waits and waits until something

occurs to him.

JUDGE:

Are you talking about Marshall vs. Chao?

Steven doesn't know what this means... But the other

lawyer does. And he's not happy.

LAWYER:

(sotto)

Sh*t...

Seeing this, Steven puffs with confidence.

STEVEN:

Your honor, that's exactly what I'm

talking about.

The Judge slowly nods to himself as he considers this.

SMASH CUT TO:

"I Love You Phillip Morris" Green Pages 5-23-08 56.

88 INT. HOUSTON COURTHOUSE CORRIDOR, 1995 - DAY 88

Outside the courtroom with Eudora, Steven is ecstatic.

STEVEN:

YES! I did great! Can you believe how

great I did!?

EUDORA:

(wary)

Yes. You did very well, Steven. Thank

you.

STEVEN:

I mean, I did great! Really great! I'm so

proud of myself! You want half my

sandwich?!

EUDORA:

Um...

STEVEN:

No! We're going out! I'm paying!!

89 INT. NEW HOUSTON APARTMENT, 1996 - DAY 89

Phillip stands flabbergasted next to Steven in the middle

of a large modern apartment.

PHILLIP:

Oh my God, it's amazing.

STEVEN:

I thought you'd like it honey.

PHILLIP:

Can we afford this?

STEVEN:

You let me worry about the money

sweetheart.

PHILLIP:

Okay, well I guess I better start packing

boxes.

STEVEN:

Not this weekend.

PHILLIP:

Why not?

"I Love You Phillip Morris" Green Pages 5-23-08 57.

STEVEN:

I think we both need a vacation. Key

West?

Phillip smiles.

90 OMITTED 90

91 I/E. KEY WEST COVE - 1996 - VARIOUS 91

PALM TREES undulate on the constant breeze, inviting us

to a beautifully solitary cove. Eventually Steven and

Phillip's voices are heard.

PHILLIP (O.S.)

I've been meaning to ask you something.

STEVEN (O.S.)

Yeah?

DIALOGUE CONTINUES OVER VARIOUS SHOTS of their romantic

getaway to the Keys. In a SERIES of SHOTS we see where

they've been and what they've been doing in the moments

AFTER they've been there.

- A Hammock blowing in the breeze.

- A quaint COTTAGE nestled in the vegetation.

- Half empty glasses of beer on the porch.

- Dirty dishes in the cottage sink. The remains of a

romantic meal on a table. The swaying palms are visible

through the windows.

- Footsteps in the sand.

- Two beach chairs facing the surf.

- Etc... etc...

PHILLIP (O.S.)

That birthday cake you got me in the pen?

Where'd you get those candles?

STEVEN (O.S.)

Oh you know... just... people I knew.

PHILLIP (O.S.)

Yeah, I know. But how?

"I Love You Phillip Morris" Green Pages 5-23-08 58.

STEVEN (O.S.)

Remember that guard? Skinny guy? Smoked a

lot?

PHILLIP (O.S.)

Lance? He couldn't been more than 98

pounds.

STEVEN (O.S.)

Yeah, that's him.

PHILLIP (O.S.)

Oh he was such an a**hole.

STEVEN (O.S.)

Actually- I was in the yard once. Another

guard asked him to pay him back five. He

opened his wallet and I saw this picture

of a little girl about Steffie's age. So

I brought it up to him once, just to get

him talking. That's the thing about

having kids, you know? Gets people

talking. Shared experience. Builds

bridges. Something I learned. Anyway he

tells me he's worried about her- mamma

was gone. We talked awhile. You know, I

just listened. That's all. I brought up

the candles just one time but mostly just

listened... And the next day, bedtime,

there they were.

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