The Devil's Advocate Page #5

KEVIN:

So it's just two apartments per floor?

JACKIE:

(to her husband)

You didn't tell them about the

apartment?

(CONTINUED)

28.

31 CONTINUED:
31

HEATH:

I thought I'd let it speak for itself.

Opening the door, and we enter -32

INT. LOMAX APARTMENT - DAY 32

A dream. Twelve-foot ceilings. Huge, oversized rooms.

Crown moldings. A huge central hallway. And light.

Kevin and Mary Ann walking through. Blown away.

HEATH:

It's what they call a classic eight.

JACKIE:

We had them paint everything white. Let you see it naked before you pick your palette.

MARY ANN:

What am I picking?

JACKIE:

Palette.

Your colors.

HEATH:

I need to warn you about one thing.

(as they turn back)

There are going to be some very envious people at the firm. These

apartments, there aren't many of them, it's really a partner's perk. You must've made quite an impression.

JACKIE:

Took us six years to get in here.

CUT TO:

33 EXT. LOMAX APARTMENT BALCONY - DAY 33

French doors opening. Kevin walks out. Mary Ann just behind him. They stand there, staring at the park.

MARY ANN:

Are you really this good?

(CONTINUED)

DEVIL'S ADVOCATE - Rev. 11/2/96 29.

33 CONTINUED:
33

KEVIN:

I sure as hell hope so.

MARY ANN:

They must want you pretty bad.

KEVIN:

Look, Mare, I'm only getting behind this if you're on board.

You want to go home, I'm with you.

MARY ANN:

Sure. Let's go back to Gainesville.

You can keep scrounging for clients and pumping out the basement and I'll keep repossessing cars for Akamian. Maybe, if we kill ourselves, in about five

years we can afford a baby and a weekend shack at Gulf Shores.

(beat)

Are you shitting me?

She smiles first. Kevin pulling her toward him, as we -CUT

TO:

34 INT. FIRM CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY 34

Incredible and extreme. Forty people -- SENIOR PARTNERS and department heads -- seated at the table. They've been going around the table introducing themselves to Kevin. Nearing the end now --

Krasna.

LAWYER #1

Maritime Law.

LAWYER #2

Parvathi Resh. Energy law.

I run the Islamic sub-group.

LAWYER #3

Joyce Rensaleer. Mergers and acquisitions.

LAWYER #4

Chan Sanyou.

Intellectual property.

BARZOON:

Eddie Barzoon. Managing Director.

Christabella and another woman running in.

quickly. Christabella beside Kevin.

Taking seats

(CONTINUED)

DEVIL'S ADVOCATE - Rev. 11/2/96

CONTINUED:

CHRISTABELLA:

Christabella Adrioli. Economics.

Primarily G-7 and E.C.

MILTON:

There you go, Kevin. The whole

team. I'm trying to think how long it's been since we were all together. All of us. Too long.

I'm looking around, I know some of you came from very far away to be with us here today. It's

appreciated.

(pacing the window)

This room we're in was built -architecturally

designed -- to promote healthy group dynamics.

A psychic centrifuge. Makes you want to reach out, doesn't it?

Inclusion. Commonality. Synergy.

All that good sh*t. That's what

I'm looking for today. Because

when I hear stories -- the kind

of stories I've been hearing -about

backbiting, about partners not working together, departments cutting each other's throats over clients, or worse... I feel

drained. It drains me. I feel

empty. I feel as though I've let you all down.

(off dead silence)

We need something. A gesture.

(across the table)

What do I need, Eddie?

BARZOON:

How about a public flogging?

MILTON:

Wait a minute. I got it. It's

perfect. It's intimate. It's

quick. Doesn't cost a thing.

There's a power to it. What is

it?

(beat)

Let's hold hands. All of us.

Together.

Milton is first. Reluctance begins to fold.

30.

(CONTINUED)

DEVIL'S ADVOCATE - Rev. 11/2/96 31.

34 CONTINUED:
(2) 34

MILTON:

Right now. Every person at this table -- take the hand of the

person on either side...

Kevin finds Christabella's hand at his side.

MILTON:

You want out of this, Eddie?

BARZOON:

You've made your point, John.

MILTON:

You won't hold hands?

(stare-down)

It's important to me, Eddie.

Kevin watching Barzoon fold. Watching the circle form.

See.

MILTON:

See, I feel better already.

CUT TO:

35 INT. KEVIN'S OFFICE HALL - DAY 35

Very nice. Major windows. Stripped down at the moment,

but there's a desk and phone.

HEATH:

What do you think?

KEVIN:

(kidding)

I guess it'll do.

PAM (O.S.)

Until something better comes along...

In the doorway, PAM GARRETY.

day habit. Tough as dirt.

Never married. Two-pack-a-

Kevin Lomax.

HEATH:

Pam Garrety.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

32.

35 CONTINUED:
35

HEATH (CONT'D)

(as they shake)

Pam was with the Brooklyn D.A.'s office for fourteen years, so she knows her way around the local

scene. She'll be your guide.

(to Pam)

You're gonna be expediting his New York Bar application, right?

PAM:

In the pipeline. For now, we'll

just have you work pro hac vice.

We've petitioned Florida for a letter of good conduct. And...

(a folder)

... I prepared, at Mr. Milton's request, an overview of the Moyez

case.

KEVIN:

The Moyez case?

CUT TO:

36 EXT. EAST HARLEM STREET - DAY 36

Deep ghetto side street. One of those blocks that have

been completely lost. One whole side of the street has

nothing but boarded-up row houses.

A black Town Car pulling through. Slowing now -

36A INT. CAR (EAST HARLEM) - DAY 36A

Kevin and his DRIVER peering across the street.

DRIVER:

I gotta stick with the vehicle.

CUT TO:

37 EXT. DAHOUMEY BAKA - DAY 37

A storefront botanica. Insane colors. Rusted iron

grates covering two tiny cataract windows. A steel door

is open. There's a sick-looking DOG tied to the doorknob;

he begins BARKING wildly, as he sees -

Kevin walking from the car. Suit and tie. Briefcase.

Turning, as he hears -

(CONTINUED)

37

DEVIL'S ADVOCATE - Rev. 11/2/96

CONTINUED:

33.

37

JUNKIE (O.S.)

You get 'em! Go get 'em, man!

Three JUNKIES camped on the stoop of a burned-out brownstone across the street. Dull, wasted faces aroused

by the DOG'S BARKING -JUNKIE

Tell her turn that sh*t down! I

know what she's doin'! That's

right! Tell 'em take that noise

back t' Africa 'fore I -Stopping

instantly because -- a WOMAN is standing in the botanica doorway. Her skin is jet black. Her eyes are pale blue. Her hair is white. She holds a live chicken

by its feet. The DOG is still BARKING so she slaps it.

Hard. Now there is silence.

KEVIN:

I'm looking for Phillipe Moyez.

She moves aside. Kevin enters -38

INT. DAHOUMEY BAKA - DAY 38

It's dark. Oil lamps and candles for light. The air

thick with incense. Jars and bags and boxes are stacked on shelves everywhere. Powders. Oils. Bones. Skins.

Potions. Dried herbs.

KEVIN:

I called this morning, I'm not sure who I spoke with.

(awkward silence)

I'm his lawyer. I have a card...

(finding it)

They said he would meet me here.

Phillipe Moyez.

WOMAN:

(into the back)

Bhalla! Bhalla!

Kevin taking a very deep breath, as we -CUT

TO:

39 INT. DAHOUMEY BAKA - STAIRS - DAY 39

Darkness. A door opening above us. A BOY -- maybe ten-- standing there. Kevin behind him.

(CONTINUED)

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