Philadelphia Page #19

With a swift, direct glance at the Judge, Joe speaks with

considerable power and emotion:

JOE (CONT.)

And, when lawyers break the law,

when this society loses respect

for the law, when that day comes,

our cherished institutions will be

burned to the ground, and our

children and grandchildren will

live like savages.

CUT TO:

BELINDA CONINE ADDRESSING THE JURY (INT./DAY) ...

BELINDA:

Fact. Andrew Beckett performed

at a consistently mediocre

level. Fact. He made a grievous

error on a multi-million dollar

lawsuit... Fact. He claims he is

the victim of lies and deceit.

Fact. Andrew Beckett lied to his

employers, going to great efforts

to conceal his disease from them.

Fact. He was successful in his

duplicity. The partners at Wyant

Wheeler did not know Andrew

Beckett had AIDS when they fired

him...

Belinda pauses in front of the plaintiff's table

BELINDA (CONT.)

Fact. AIDS is a tragedy...

Andrew looks directly at Belinda.

BELINDA (CONT.)

Fact. Andrew Beckett is dying.

Joe watches Andrew for his reaction.

BELINDA (CONT.)

Fact. Andrew Beckett is angry.

Because his "lifestyle," his

reckless behavior, has cut short

his life... And in his anger, his

rage, he's lashing out. And he

wants someone to pay.

CUT TO:

ON THE WITNESS STAND: A SOLIDLY BUILT EXECUTIVE FROM A

large insurance company, MR. LAIRD (INT./DAY) ...

JOE:

Andrew Beckett represented your

company in a lawsuit in 1990, is

that correct?

LAIRD:

Wyant Wheeler represented us.

Andrew glances toward the jury box: the MARINE JUROR writes in a

tiny notebook.

JOE:

But, Andrew Beckett was in charge of

litigation for the suit.

LAIRD:

That's correct.

JOE:

Were you pleased with his work?

LAIRD:

We were satisfied.

Joe and Andrew exchange a LOOK -- Laird's response surprises and

disappoints them.

JOE:

Were you satisfied, or were you

pleased?

Laird glances toward Charles Wheeler before answering.

LAIRD:

We were satisfied.

Joe refers to legal documents.

JOE:

Mr. Laird, when I approached you

about being a witness at this

trial, and you agreed, you gave

sworn testimony in a deposition.

Is that correct?

LAIRD:

That's correct.

JOE:

According to the deposition, you

said you were "thrilled, impressed,

overwhelmed" by the quality of

Andrew Beckett's work. Do you

remember saying that?

LAIRD:

I may have said something like

that. But that's not how I feel at

this moment.

Joe takes on a street-tough tone:

JOE:

Okay, Mr. Laird. Explain this to

me like I'm a four year old: Did

Andrew Beckett win your lawsuit

for you or not?

LAIRD:

We won.

JOE:

Did that thrill, impress and

overwhelm you?

LAIRD:

It satisfied me.

Joe STARES at the guy.

JOE:

It's a long way between being

overwhelmed and being satisfied.

A cheeseburger may be satisfying

whereas caviar and champagne and

roast duck and baked Alaska for

dessert might be considered

overwhelming. Do you agree?

LAIRD:

I might.

JOE:

Five months ago you characterized

Andrew Beckett as caviar and now

you're calling him a cheeseburger.

Your standards have shifted a

great deal, and I'd like to know

why you've changed your mind.

LAIRD:

Since that time I've devoted more

thought to the subject, and that's

how I feel now.

QUICK CUT TO:

JEROME GREEN CROSS-EXAMINING LAIRD (INT./DAY).

JEROME GREEN:

Partner Robert Seidman was the

supervising attorney for your

lawsuit?

MR. LAIRD

That's right.

JEROME GREEN:

Does the supervising attorney guide

the litigating attorney during

the trial?

MR. LAIRD

Often, he does.

JEROME GREEN:

As far as you know, in the handling

of your lawsuit, Andrew Beckett was

simply following orders.

LAIRD:

That's a fair assessment of the

situation.

Andrew glances over his shoulder: at Robert Seidman, who

meets his gaze.

CUT TO:

SPECTATORS STREAM OUT OF CITY HALL INTO THE HUBBUB OF TWO

DISTINCT GROUPS SHOUTING AT EACH OTHER (EXT/DAY): GAY RIGHTS

ACTIVISTS in T-shirts with pink triangles, denouncing

discrimination; BORN AGAIN ACTIVISTS waving placards citing AIDS

as God's punishment for homosexuality; POLICEMEN keeping them

apart; A MEDIA CIRCUS getting it on videotape.

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