Philadelphia Page #9

ANDREW:

Nine.

JOE:

Continue.

ANDREW:

I was diagnosed with AIDS eight

months ago. During a bout of

pneumonia. I recovered quickly

and was back at work in ten

days. Since I was doing so well

on the AZT, we decided against

telling anyone about it.

JOE:

We?

ANDREW:

My lover and I.

JOE:

Your... lover?

ANDREW:

Miguel Alvarez. We've lived

together for nine years.

JOE:

Continue.

ANDREW:

I dove back into work,

everything was fine. Until the

lesions started...

SUDDENLY PICTURE CUTS TO:

TIGHT ON ANDREW WAUKING THROUGH THE LOBBY OF THE WHEELER

Building (INT./DAY). He's wearing MAKEUP, which sort of

covers the blotches. (NOTE: PICTURE and ANDREW'S VOICE OVER

do NOT match up. This is no ordinary flashback) ...

ANDREW (VO) (CONT.)

First on my leg. Then my

forearm, my back. Then... my

face. For a short period, I

avoided the office during the

day, waiting for the chemo

therapy to clear up the

lesions...

IMAGE:
ANDREW RIDING THE CROWDED ELEVATOR ON A WORKDAY.

ANDREW (VO) (CONT.)

But I never let anything slide.

I made all my calls from home.

I worked sixteen hour days on a

complaint for a 350 million

dollar copyright infringement

suit.

IMAGE:
JOE IN HIS OFFICE, ABSORBED IN ANDREW'S STORY.

ANDREW (OS) (CONT.)

But the day the complaint was

due, it disappeared. Erased

from my computer. I thought I

was losing it, mentally...

IMAGE:
ELEVATOR DOORS OPENING, ANDREW STEPPING INTO WYANT

WHEELER OFFICES. NOW HE SPEAKS DIRECTLY TO CAMERA:

ANDREW (CONT.)

That can happen, it's called

AIDS dementia when it gets into

your brain. But miraculously, a

copy of the complaint was

located at the last minute, and

we got it to court on time...

IMAGE:
ANDREW'S POV OF COLLEAGUES, STAFF IN THE OFFICES,

GIVING HIM LOOKS, WHISPERING. ANTHEA BURTON NODS HELLO.

ANDREW (OS) (CONT.)

The next morning, I was called

to the office for a meeting with

the managing partners. Walking

down that corridor was strange.

Felt like everyone was staring.

REVERSE ANGLE ON ANDREW AND JOE WALKING AT ANDREW'S SIDE.

JOE:

Hell, they are staring. What's

that sh*t on your face?

ANDREW:

Makeup.

ANDREW'S POV:
RACHEL OUTSIDE HER OFFICE, SAYS "GOOD LUCK."

ANDREW (CONT.)

The partners were waiting for me

in the main conference room.

CONTINUOUS CUT TO:

CAMERA TRACKS INTO THE CONFERENCE ROOM, GIVING US ANDREW'S

POV as he enters the room where Wheeler, Kenton, Killcoyne,

Bob Seidman are waiting (INT./DAY) ...

WHEELER:

Sit down, Andy.

Wheeler's secretary, LYDIA, takes notes.

WHEELER (CONT.)

Thanks for coming in.

ANDREW:

Of course.

Bob Seidman CANNOT look directly at Andrew.

WHEELER:

Andy. Before we begin, I'd just

like to say:
everyone in this

room is your friend.

JOE:

You're in trouble.

(NOTE:
Joe IS SEEN IN HIS OFFICE, or LEANING AGAINST A

WINDOW IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM whenever he speaks.)

ANDREW:

I know that, Charles.

WHEELER:

More than your friend. Family.

JOE:

Big trouble.

ANDREW:

Charles, I must apologize again,

for the Kronos mishap.

(smiling)

It was a scary few minutes

around here. Wow. But thank

God, the complaint was found.

And no damage was done.

KENTON:

This time. What about next time?

ANDREW:

There won't be a next time, I

guarantee it.

WHEELER:

Andy. It seems that something

has come over you, lately: A

kind of... stupor, a fogginess,

a lack of focus... Earth to

Andy. Anybody home?

KENTON:

Helloooo...

KILLCOYNE:

That's right, Andy. The last

four, five months you've seemed

really out of it...

SEIDMAN:

At least... different, somehow.

ANDREW:

(keeping it positive)

Perhaps... you're right. I've

certainly been busy. With the

Kronos complaint, a preliminary

injunction hearing and the

Saunders trial all falling at the

same time...

KENTON:

Some people think you have an

attitude problem, Beckett.

ANDREW:

Really? Who thinks that, sir?

WHEELER:

I do.

Wheeler seems very grave.

ANDREW:

I had no idea there was a concern

in that area. Hey:

(a smile)

I'll get to work on it right away.

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