Loving Page #10

and tool bag down. He’s beat.

50.

Mildred enters. Without a word, she goes to the sink to get

him a glass of water.

RICHARD:

They in bed?

MILDRED:

Yes.

She places the glass in front of him and moves behind him.

She rubs at his shoulders. He relaxes at this.

RICHARD:

Sorry I missed ‘em. They ask for

me?

MILDRED:

Peggy did, but she went down fine.

Will you get Saturday off?

RICHARD:

I hope.

He takes her wrist and guides her around the chair. She sits

in his lap. He lays his head on her shoulder, closing his

eyes. She kisses his forehead.

They sit quietly together in the dark house.

100

INT. COUSIN’S ROW HOUSE IN D.C. - DAY 100

IN THE CHILDREN’S ROOM,

Peggy has grown. She’s nearly three. The boys have too.

Peggy watches Donald play a game trying to get a ball on a

string into a cup. Sidney reads a book on the bed.

PEGGY:

My turn. My turn. My turn.

Donald doesn’t agree. He continues.

Mildred enters with a basket of laundry.

MILDRED:

Sidney, get up and strip those

sheets for me?

Sidney does.

The phone begins to RING downstairs. On her way out,

51.

MILDRED (CONT’D)

Don, give Peggy a turn.

101 INT. COUSIN'S ROW HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY 101

Mildred rushes to catch the phone, balancing the laundry

basket on her hip.

MILDRED:

Byrd residence.

BERNIE COHEN (O.S.)

(through the phone)

Hello, I’m calling to speak to a

Mildred Loving.

MILDRED:

This is she.

BERNIE COHEN (O.S.)

Hello Mrs. Loving, my name is

Bernard Cohen, I’m a lawyer that

was referred to you by the ACLU.

Are you familiar?

MILDRED:

I’m sorry. No.

BERNIE COHEN (O.S.)

You wrote a letter to Attorney

General Kennedy, is that right?

Mildred hesitates.

MILDRED:

Yes.

BERNIE COHEN (O.S.)

He was not able to help with your

particular case and sent your

letter on to the American Civil

Liberties Union. The ACLU

contacted me, I’m a lawyer in

Virginia, and we would like to help

you with your case.

MILDRED:

I see.

Donald runs into the room with the toy. Peggy is in hot

pursuit.

52.

PEGGY:

Momma! Momma!

Mildred covers the phone.

MILDRED:

Baby hush. Don.

The children are out the back door.

BERNIE COHEN (O.S.)

Would it be possible for you and

your husband to meet with me?

MILDRED:

I would have to check with my

husband.

BERNIE COHEN (O.S.)

Okay. I’m based in Alexandria, but

I have an office in D.C. if that is

a concern.

MILDRED:

Well, as I said in my letter, we

really can’t afford a lawyer.

BERNIE COHEN (O.S.)

No ma’am. The ACLU would take care

of any fees.

Mildred nearly drops the phone.

BERNIE COHEN (CONT’D)

Mrs. Loving? Are you there?

MILDRED:

Yes, we’ll see you.

BERNIE COHEN:

Wonderful. I’ll have my secretary

call you back to set up a time.

Nice speaking to you Mrs. Loving.

The line is disconnected but Mildred keeps the phone in her

hand until it beeps.

102 INT. COUSIN’S ROW HOUSE IN D.C./BEDROOM - NIGHT 102

Richard stands at the dresser prepping for a shower. He

removes his watch and takes out his wallet.

53.

Donald stands with his shirt off watching Mildred as she

darns it with a needle and thread.

MILDRED:

I got a call from a lawyer today.

RICHARD:

Lawyer?

MILDRED:

Yes, from the American Civil

Liberties Union. Robert Kennedy

told him to call us.

Richard continues undressing, not taking it in. Mildred

finishes the shirt and hands it to Donald.

MILDRED (CONT’D)

Go help your sister brush her

teeth.

Donald exits as he pulls the mended shirt over his head.

MILDRED (CONT’D)

They’d like to help with our case.

RICHARD:

We can’t afford a lawyer.

MILDRED:

They said they wouldn’t charge us.

This stops Richard. He’s paying attention now, but looking

skeptical.

MILDRED (CONT’D)

We’re going to see him on Thursday.

His name is Cohen.

Richard gives a faint nod. Mildred smiles and exits to the

children’s room.

Richard processes what may have been an ambush.

103 INT. OFFICE BUILDING HALLWAY - DAY 103

Polished shoes tap along a linoleum hallway.

BERNIE COHEN(29) is a dapper man in a suit and hat. He

carries a briefcase and walks with a confident stride.

He enters a glass door.

54.

104 INT. LAW OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

104

A SECRETARY sits at a desk just inside the law office.

BERNIE COHEN:

Hi, I’m Bernard Cohen. I’m in from

Richmond. I talked to Jack about

using his office for a few hours.

SECRETARY:

Yes Mr. Cohen, do you know it?

BERNIE COHEN:

Third door?

SECRETARY:

Yes.

Bernie walks to a connecting hall but turns back on his way.

BERNIE COHEN:

My clients are Mr. and Mrs. Loving.

Could you send them down when they

arrive?

SECRETARY:

Certainly.

Bernie finds the third door. There is a name plate there

reading “JACK GREEN.”

Cohen slips the plate out of its holder and places it in his

jacket pocket. From the same pocket, he produces a plate of

his own and slides it into the slot on the door.

It now reads “BERNARD COHEN.” He enters.

105

INT. D.C. LAW OFFICE - CONTINUOUS 105

The office is tidy and nicely furnished.

Bernie immediately goes to the desk and begins gathering up a

collection of frames containing pictures of the other

lawyer’s family.

He goes behind the desk and places the frames in the top

drawer. He lays out a pad and pen from his briefcase.

There is a KNOCK at the door.

Cohen takes a seat in the desk chair and readies himself.

55.

BERNIE COHEN:

Come in.

The door opens and Mildred enters, followed by Richard.

Bernie immediately stands and comes around to offer his hand.

BERNIE COHEN (CONT’D)

Mrs. Loving?

MILDRED:

Yes.

BERNIE COHEN:

So nice to meet you. Please, have

a seat.

He turns to Richard and they shake hands.

BERNIE COHEN (CONT’D)

Bernard Cohen. It’s a pleasure.

Richard sits, staying quiet. Bernie takes note of his

demeanor as he goes back behind the desk.

BERNIE COHEN (CONT’D)

Thank you for coming in today. So

as we discussed on the phone, the

ACLU would like to take on your

case. I was actually a charter

member of the ACLU here in Virginia

which is why they assigned me to

you. The bottom line is, we want

to get you all some relief.

MILDRED:

That’s very generous. Thank you.

BERNIE COHEN:

I took the liberty of contacting

the courthouse in Bowling Green and

have started a file for you. Now

the first step is to appeal the

sentence in Caroline County. That

will be our fastest route into

Federal Court. The problem is...

RICHARD:

Federal court?

BERNIE COHEN:

Yes, the goal is to try and get the

Federal Court to hear this case so

we can get...

56.

RICHARD:

‘Scuse me, but I don’t understand

Federal Court.

BERNIE COHEN:

Well I see it as the best route...

RICHARD:

Can’t you just go talk to Judge

Bazile? I mean we aren’t hurtin’

anybody. Can’t you just go tell

him that?

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes