I Love You Phillip Morris Page #8

Steven turns to Arnie.

STEVEN:

Your choice.

46 INT. TX STATE PENITENTIARY CELL BLOCK - 1995 - DAY 46

Steven and Arnie arrive at the doorway of their cell.

STEVEN:

Well that's about it. You're gonna be

fine. Don't worry. And if you need

anything you just let me know. Alright?

Arnie thinks a moment.

ARNIE:

So, uh, do I need to suck your dick?

"I Love You Phillip Morris" Green Pages 5-23-08 30.

STEVEN:

That'd be great.

Steven gently shoves his new cellmate into the cell.

47 INT. TX STATE PEN - PHONE BANK/COMMON AREA - 1995 - DAY 47

Steven is on one of the many pay phones.

DEBBIE (O.S.)

Hi this is Debbie and Steffie. Sorry we

missed you. Leave a message. God Bless!

BEEP.

STEVEN:

Hey Debbie. Hi Sweetheart. Sorry I missed

you. I thought one o'clock was our time

but maybe not. I sure miss you guys.

Thanks for the picture and the article.

Sometimes it's just nice to know there's

someone out there who still cares about

me since Jimmy left and all. So... uh...

Steven is holding the stainless steel ROLEX he gave

Kemple as a gift. He regards it wistfully.

STEVEN (CONT'D)

(thinking, drifting)

Do you think I broke his heart?

(snapping out of it)

Sorry. Sometimes I forget it's just the

machine... I'll try you again next time.

One O'clock. Don't forget.

He hangs up. Bored and lonely, he has a moment of repose.

Just then, a loud RUCKUS across the COMMON AREA gets his

attention.

Steven watches as a group of ROWDY PRISONERS throw

whatever they can find at a small BIRD as it flies

around, trapped in the cavernous hall.

The men LAUGH and HOOT as the bird is struck down and

lies motionless on the ground.

As the prisoners resume their activities, Steven notices

a GENTLE LOOKING INMATE approaching the bird.

Rapt, Steven watches as the inmate sympathetically scoops

up the bird and walks off. Steven is quite taken.

CUT TO:

"I Love You Phillip Morris" Green Pages 5-23-08 31.

48 INT. TX STATE PENITENTIARY - LAW LIBRARY - 1995 - DAY 48

The gentle inmate, PHILLIP MORRIS, is a slightly built,

handsome blonde boy-man. He struggles to reach a book on

a high shelf. Helpless and irresistible, he is surprised

when Steven reaches in to help retrieve the book.

Their eyes lock and they stare in a short silence, until-

PHILLIP:

(slightly Blanche DuBois)

Thanks. Guess I need a few extra inches.

STEVEN:

Glad to help. How's the bird?

PHILLIP:

Huh?

(realizing)

Oh. Him, yeah... he's at peace.

STEVEN:

Oh, I'm sorry.

PHILLIP:

It was for the best. He was suffering.

Steven acknowledges his kindness with a smile.

STEVEN:

(referring to law book)

Civil law? You know, I'm an attorney.

PHILLIP:

Really?

STEVEN:

You suing someone?

PHILLIP:

I don't know what I'm doing. There's a

guy I know- he's in the infirmary now.

He's sick- he's real sick... AIDS. I

thought maybe I could find a way to get

him some help- I mean real help. Not

here. I don't know- maybe I could-- I

don't even know what I'm looking for...

Steven is intrigued.

STEVEN:

Does he have a lawyer?

"I Love You Phillip Morris" Green Pages 5-23-08 32.

PHILLIP:

Yeah.

STEVEN:

Have him get in touch with the Prisoner

Rights Committee. They deal with this all

the time- pro bono. I've got the number.

PHILLIP:

Well thank you, I--

STEVEN:

My name's Steven Russell.

PHILLIP:

Pleased to meet you Steven Russell, my

name's Phillip Morris.

STEVEN:

I haven't seen you around Phillip. I'm

always in the yard...

PHILLIP:

I don't go to the yard. You know what

happens to blonde haired, blue eyed

queers in the yard...

STEVEN:

It is kind of rough out there.

(then)

You don't look like you belong here

Phillip.

PHILLIP:

I don't.

STEVEN:

Why are you here?

PHILLIP:

I rented a car... and kept it too long.

STEVEN:

Grand theft?

PHILLIP:

Theft of service.

STEVEN:

Insurance fraud.

PHILLIP:

No. Just theft of service.

"I Love You Phillip Morris" Green Pages 5-23-08 33.

STEVEN:

No. Me. Insurance fraud.

PHILLIP:

Damn, we're both in a mess aren't we?

STEVEN:

Don't seem fair, does it?

PHILLIP:

No, it don't.

STEVEN:

You know, I keep finding that life's a

little shittier than I thought it was

gonna be.

PHILLIP:

Oh, listen to you, Gloomy Gus. I think

you're gonna be just fine, Steven

Russell.

Steven takes this to heart.

STEVEN:

(playful)

I guess I'm inclined to believe you.

PHILLIP:

Why's that?

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