Loving Page #11

BERNIE COHEN:

I don’t think...

RICHARD:

Just talk to him. Tell him if he

lets us back in the state we won’t

bother anybody.

Bernie takes a moment, recalculating his approach.

BERNIE COHEN:

Look, I do not think this is going

to be resolved in Judge Bazile’s

court, or probably any other court

in the state of Virginia for that

matter. I believe this is a court

battle that could possibly go all

the way to the highest court in the

land.

Richard looks at him blankly. Bernie gets specific.

BERNIE COHEN (CONT’D)

It is very likely that this case

could go all the way to the Supreme

Court.

Richard’s eyebrows raise, incredulous. He slumps back in his

chair. It’s a dismissive posture.

Bernie looks puzzled by this, unsure of his next move.

MILDRED:

We’re listening.

Seeing an ally in Mildred, he starts back in with his focus

toward her.

57.

BERNIE COHEN:

Our problem is that in order to

appeal the judgment of conviction,

we would’ve needed to do so within

60 days. Now given that it’s been

five years since that conviction,

we have to find a way to get this

case back into the courts. Are you

following?

Mildred nods with a pleasant smile. Richard gives a nod.

BERNIE COHEN (CONT’D)

I’ve given this some thought and I

have a somewhat unorthodox idea on

how to do this, but in order to get

this back into the stream of the

courts, given that you are

currently on probation, my

suggestion would be for the two of

you to return to Caroline County,

get re-arrested, and then we will

have an avenue for our appeal.

Richard looks at him as if his face is on upside down.

RICHARD:

You want us to get arrested again?

BERNIE COHEN:

Yes. It’s an idea. I of course

would be there to bail you out.

Richard looks to Mildred. She catches his eyes, but then

looks down. She tries to keep her smile.

RICHARD:

We aren’t gonna do that.

Bernie chews on this, realizing his misstep.

BERNIE COHEN:

Right. That’s not...I can see how

that was a bad idea. I understand.

Look, I need to do some more

thinking on this first issue, but

again, bottom line, we’re gonna get

you all some help.

Mildred smiles at him and stands. She reaches her hand out

across the desk.

MILDRED:

We appreciate you. We really do.

58.

Richard stands and shakes Bernie’s hand but is quickly out

the door. Mildred follows.

The door shuts and Bernie is left alone.

He leans back in the chair and let’s out a breath. He tosses

his pen down, displeased with his performance.

106

EXT. DOWNTOWN PARKING LOT - DAY 106

Richard walks to their car five paces ahead of Mildred.

Without waiting, he climbs behind the wheel and cranks the

engine. He sits there in idle.

Mildred, not hurrying her walk, eventually makes her way to

the passenger side and climbs in.

The car pulls out of the parking lot.

107 I/E. RICHARD’S CAR/D.C. NEIGHBORHOOD - MOVING - DAY 107

The two ride in silence. Mildred stares out at the city.

MILDRED:

If it gets us home, we’ll take

their help.

RICHARD:

Well. You get what you pay for.

Mildred keeps her eyes out the window.

108

EXT. DOWNTOWN JOB SITE - DAY 108

Richard stands at the base of tall scaffolding. He stares up

the side of a growing building under construction.

A pallet of bricks hangs overhead being slowly lifted up on a

rig of pulleys.

Richard, his tools strapped around his waist, begins to climb

the scaffolding.

109

EXT. COUSIN’S ROW HOUSE IN D.C. - DAY 109

Sidney, now six-years-old, rushes down the stoop of their row

house. He carries a baseball bat and flies into the street.

Donald, now five, manages to stay on his heels.

59.

A car honks as the kids dart across its path untouched.

Sidney scrapes his baseball bat over trash cans as they

disappear around the corner.

110

EXT. DOWNTOWN JOB SITE - DAY 110

Richard is four stories up and still climbing. Feet

following hands.

Above him, the rope holding the pallet of bricks creaks as it

runs through the pulleys.

111

EXT. D.C. NEIGHBORHOOD STREET - DAY 111

Sidney plays baseball in the street with a GROUP OF KIDS.

Donald watches from the curb.

Cars line the sidewalk.

A pitch is thrown and ANOTHER BOY tattoos the baseball

sending it bouncing across the sidewalk toward an

intersecting street.

Donald hops up to chase it.

DONALD:

I got it!

112

EXT. DOWNTOWN JOB SITE - DAY 112

Richard halts his ascent. Giving his hands a rest, he wraps

his arm over the scaffolding and rolls his wrist.

The rope holding the pallet of bricks SLIPS in the pulley.

The pallet falls several feet before catching with a snap.

The bricks BANG against the plywood.

Richard flinches at the sound. He looks up to see the pallet

slowly getting pulled up again.

Richard continues his climb.

113

EXT. D.C. NEIGHBORHOOD STREET - DAY 113

Sidney watches as Donald disappears between parked cars.

A PICKUP-TRUCK turns onto the street Donald is headed for.

60.

The baseball rolls across the street as the Truck rumbles

toward it.

Donald POPS OUT from behind a parked car. He flinches as the

truck barrels toward him.

TIRES SQUEAL!

Sidney’s eyes go wide.

SIDNEY:

Don!

114

EXT. D.C. NEIGHBORHOOD STREET - DAY 114

Sidney’s feet sprinting through the neighborhood.

115

INT. COUSIN’S ROW HOUSE IN D.C./KITCHEN - DAY 115

Mildred stands at the ironing board as Peggy, now three, sits

at the kitchen table coloring a paper doll.

From outside,

SIDNEY (O.S.)

MOMMA! MOMMA!

Sidney’s voice is shrill.

Mildred immediately scoops Peggy up and rushes outside.

116

EXT. COUSIN’S ROW HOUSE IN D.C. - EVENING 116

The sun has just set.

Richard drives down the street and parks near the front of

their house.

He climbs out, collecting his things from the back seat.

Richard enters the house.

117

INT. COUSIN’S ROW HOUSE/ENTRYWAY - CONTINUOUS 117

The house is unexpectedly dark and quiet.

Richard walks over and clicks on a lamp in the front room.

He notices FOUR PACKED SUITCASES lined up by the stairs.

SEVERAL BOXES are stacked next to them.

61.

Richard begins to look worried.

RICHARD:

Mildred!

MILDRED (O.S.)

Up here!

Richard bounds up the stairs.

He sees a light on in the children’s room and heads for it.

A117 INT. COUSIN’S ROW HOUSE/CHILDREN’S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS A117

Richard rushes in to find Mildred sitting next to Donald, who

lies in bed with a wet towel pressed against his head.

Sidney holds Peggy on an opposite bed.

RICHARD:

What’s goin’ on?

MILDRED:

Donald got hit by a car today.

Richard goes to him.

MILDRED (CONT’D)

He’s fine. Just scraped and

bruised is all.

Richard is immediately relieved but stays perched on the bed

next to him. He runs his hand gently over the boy’s chest.

Mildred stands and exits the room.

Richard watches her go, trying to put things together. He

turns back to Donald.

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