Philadelphia Page #8

The relatives have gone. It's late at night.

Lisa holds the baby. Joe holds them both.

CUT TO:

AN INTERSECTION IN THE HEART OF OLD, DOWNTOWN PHILLY: A

movie palace (now a six-plex) across the street from the

Peter Pan Coffee Shop, PHILADELPHIA WORKERS going about the

business of the day (EXT./DAY) ...

TITLE:
"One week later."

Above the Peter Pan Coffee Shop is a string of large

windows, each of which is painted with a question:

HEART ATTACK? ACCIDENT? MEDICAL MALPRACTICE? DOG BITE?

In bigger letters, across several windows:

D I A L18 0 0A - L A W Y E R

We hear JOE MILLER'S VOICE-OVER:

JOE (OS)

How big was this hole you fell

into?

CONTINUOUS CUT TO:

A HALLWAY BULLETIN BOARD ANNOUNCING THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS of

"Macready and Shilts Legal Services" (INT./DAY), including

"Auto/DUI/Collisions with Deer... Product liability... Medical

malpractice... Pet bites..."

The bulletin board stands at the entrance to a warehouse of

lawyers' cubicles formed by office dividers and plastic ferns...

PHONES JANGLING... INJURED CLIENTS LIMPING ABOUT...

JOE (OS) (CONT.)

And this hole was right in the

middle of the street?

CONTINUOUS CUT TO:

JOE IS IN HIS OFFICE, A BOX OF CIGARS ON THE DESK WITH PINK

bands announcing "It's a girl!" (INT./DAY). On the walls are

photos of INJURED CLIENTS (the same photos we saw in the

background of Joe's TV commercial)...

A FEMALE CLIENT (MRS. FINLEY) faces Joe, her arm in a sling.

MRS. FINLEY

Right.

JOE:

Why didn't you cross at the

crosswalk?

MRS. FINLEY

Why should I?

CONTINUOUS CUT TO:

ANDREW IS SEEN FROM BEHIND, SITTING ON A SOFA IN THE WAITING

area. Very little hair shows beneath a Phillies ballcap...

A MAN WEARING A NECKBRACE, sitting next to Andrew, RISES,

MOVING to a seat opposite Andrew. From this new position the

MAN WITH THE NECKBRACE STARES at Andrew.

MAN WITH NECKBRACE'S POV:

The PURPLE BLOTCHES on Andrew's face are beginning,to recede,

not as angry looking as before, thanks to chemo therapy.

Andrew is dressed casually, in jeans and a softball jacket

(from the Wyant Wheeler team) with "Andy" embroidered over the

heart.

Joe's assistant, IRIS, approaches.

IRIS:

Mr. Beckett?

Andrew rises, following Iris past office dividers, HARRIED

SECRETARIES and overflowing file cabinets.

Iris cannot look at Andrew as she walks beside him.

(Outside Joe's door is a sign: "Beware Mad Dog" with "Mad"

written by hand.)

IRIS (CONT.)

In here.

ANDREW:

Thank you.

CONTINUOUS CUT TO:

ANDREW STEPS INTO JOE'S OFFICE (INT./DAY). ANDREW GLANCES

at the photos while Joe wraps up...

JOE:

(to the FEMALE CLIENT)

Explain this to me like I'm a

six year old, okay? The entire

street is clear except for one

small area under construction,

with a huge hole that is clearly

marked and blocked off, and you

decide you must cross the street

at this spot. You fall into the

hole and you want to sue the

city for negligence? ...

MRS. FINLEY

Yeah. Do I have a case?

JOE:

Of course you have a case! Now,

I want you to go with my

assistant, Iris, and fill out

some forms. She'll tell you

about our fee arrangement.

(as they're leaving)

Mrs. Finley? Any back pain

since the accident? Dizziness?

Nightmares?

MRS. FINLEY

Now that you mention it...

JOE:

Tell Iris all about it.

(leading her out)

Take good care of Mrs. Finley,

Iris.

(to Andrew)

Beckett, come in.

Joe offers his hand, getting a look at Andrew's face.

JOE (CONT.)

Jesus Christ, what happened to you?

ANDREW:

I have AIDS.

Joe WITHDRAWS his hand, before it touches Andrew's.

JOE:

Whoa-oh!

(beat)

Sorry, I...

ANDREW:

It's okay. Can I sit down?

JOE:

Uh, yeah.

Andrew hesitates. Joe doesn't sound sure.

JOE (CONT.)

Go ahead.

Andrew sits, Joe returns to his desk. (Joe finds himself

acutely aware of where Andrew places his hands.)

ANDREW:

(the cigars)

New baby?

JOE:

One week old.

ANDREW:

Congratulations.

JOE:

Little baby girl.

ANDREW:

Kids are great.

JOE:

Thanks, Beckett. I'm real

excited about it.

(glances at his watch)

What can I do for you?

ANDREW:

I was fired by Wyant Wheeler. I

plan to bring a wrongful

termination suit against Charles

Wheeler and his partners.

JOE:

You want to sue Wyant Wheeler

Hellerman Tetlow and Brown?

ANDREW:

Correct. I'm seeking

representation.

JOE:

Continue.

ANDREW:

I misplaced an important

complaint. That's their story.

Want to hear mine?

JOE:

How many lawyers did you go to,

before you called me?

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