Philadelphia

FADE IN:

VARIOUS SHOTS OF PHILADELPHIA EXTERIORS (EXT./DAY) ...

which may include the Liberty Bell, the Italian Market,

scenes along the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers,

Independence Square, the Russian Orthodox neighborhood, the

ghettos of North Philly.

MAIN TITLES PLAY OVER THIS SEQUENCE which culminates in a

SHOT OF...

CUT TO:

PHILADELPHIA'S GLORIOUSLY ORNATE CITY HALL (EXT./DAY) ...

TITLE:
"Philadelphia City Hall."

CITY EMPLOYEES, JUDGES, COPS, LAWYERS, CRIMINALS, TOURISTS

pour into City Hall, into...

TO:

TWO STORY HIGH CORRIDORS THAT REEK OF HISTORY (INT-DAY).

Young lawyer JAMEY COLLINS darts through the crowd, carrying

an accordion file under his arm like a football.

Jamey elbows his way through a JAPANESE TOUR GROUP.

Jamey trots up a marble staircase, two steps at a time

TO:

JAMEY RUNS LIKE HELL DOWN A THIRD FLOOR CORRIDOR, FOOTSTEPS

making a racket...

Jamey rushes toward a door marked "JUDGE TATE."

RAISED VOICES from inside Judge Tate's chambers:

JOSEPH MILLER (OS)

This construction site is

causing mortal and irreparable

harm to an unsuspecting public!

ANDREW BECKETT (OS)

My client has one of the finest

and most respected safety records

in the business, Your Honor!

Jamey shoves open the door, REVEALING TWO LAWYERS (BACKS TO

CAMERA) STANDING BEFORE JUDGE EUNICE TATE: ANDREW BECKETT

(in conservative gray) and JOSEPH MILLER (in pinstripes).

JUDGE TATE:

One at a time. Mr. Miller?

JOE:

Your Honor, since Rockwell Corp.

began construction, the

surrounding residential

neighborhood has been enshrouded

in a cloud of foul-smelling,

germ-carrying, pestilent dust.

My client is being forced to

breathe known carcinogens daily!

Other residents are coming forth

on a daily basis to add their

voices of outrage!

ANDREW:

Your Honor, I submit there were

no complaints until Counselor

began knocking on doors,

drumming up business. And the

dust, which Counselor refers to,

has appeared on only three

occasions. Each time it has

been examined and the results...

Behind his back, Andrew wiggles his fingers. Jamey stuffs

a document into Andrew's hand.

ANDREW (CONT.)

Limestone. Messy, but innocuous.

Andrew submits the report to the Judge.

JOE:

Innocuous?

ANDREW:

Defined by Webster's as harmless.

JOE:

I know what it means. Your

Honor, imagine how the children

in this neighborhood have been

made to feel. The pounding of

construction ringing in their

ears as this skyscraper, a

tribute to mankind's greed,

grows daily, casting an ominous

shadow over their lives, filling

them with dread even as they are

surrounded in a black, toxic

fog, blocking out the sun while

poisoning their lungs! And

Counselor calls it harmless?!

His back turned momentarily to the JUDGE, Andrew mouths to

Jamey:
"Not bad." But he whips around, serious again:

ANDREW:

Your Honor, Counselor is

attempting to portray my client

as a hideous manifestation of

evil and corruption. But

nothing could be further from

the truth. Rockwell has

generously contributed ten

thousand dollars to this

neighborhood's schools, clinics

and youth centers! Granting a

restraining order on the

construction site will throw

hundreds of Philadelphians out

of work, and will lend

validation to this contemptible

and groundless nuisance suit,

which speaks directly to the

kind of greed and treachery that

today is threatening the very

fabric of our society.

Judge Tate looks skeptically at both lawyers.

JUDGE TATE:

Let's not go off the deep end,

gentlemen. I thought we were

talking about some dust.

CUT TO:

A MAN ON CRUTCHES HOBBLES INTO A COURTHOUSE ELEVATOR AND IS

joined by Andrew and Joe, crowding inside (INT./DAY) ...

As soon as the doors close, Andrew whips out a micro-

cassette recorder, making notes, and Joe, in the opposite

corner of the elevator, does exactly the same thing.

ANDREW JOE

... plaintiff seeks to re- ... whereas decedent had

strain defendants from con- pre-existing asthmatic

tinued improper use of trade condition and ride on

name without... Ultra Loop caused sub-

sequent death...

Andrew and Joe stop at the same time, look at each other...

And turn toward the corner, seeking privacy.

ANDREW (CONT.) JOE (CONT.)

... plaintiff's permission or ... complainant seeks

authorization... relief...

There's a PERSISTENT BEEPING, Andrew and Joe pull out their

portable telephones at the same time.

They look at each other: which phone is ringing?

ANDREW:

You.

Andrew resumes his telephone conversation.

JOE:

Right.

(into phone)

Miller.

The ELEVATOR OPENS: Andrew breezes past the MAN ON

CRUTCHES, saying to Joe:

ANDREW:

Client of yours?

JOE:

Funny.

Andrew hurries down the corridor. Joe waits a moment... then

pursues the MAN ON CRUTCHES.

JOE (CONT.)

Excuse me..? Sir? Yo!

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