The Judge

Synopsis: Hank Palmer is a successful defense attorney in Chicago, who is getting a divorce. When His brother calls with the news that their mother has died, Hank returns to his childhood home to attend the funeral. Despite the brittle bond between Hank and the Judge, Hank must come to his father's aid and defend him in court. Here, Hank discovers the truth behind the case, which binds together the dysfunctional family and reveals the struggles and secrecy of the family.
Genre: Crime, Drama
Director(s): David Dobkin
Production: Warner Bros. Pictures
  Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 3 wins & 8 nominations.
 
IMDB:
7.4
Metacritic:
48
Rotten Tomatoes:
48%
R
Year:
2014
141 min
$35,631,470
Website
7,082 Views


You're not getting away with this!

Palmer! / what?

You're an a**hole!

- Hey! Stop!

- Did that Just happen?

- You meant to do that!

- Well, you startled me.

I don't think I did.

Listen, this wasn't some

West Anglewood Drug sweep.

The search was good, there's

no chance Carter tosses it.

Would you Just calm down, that's why

it's called an evidential hearing.

What? So you can smear me

and imply that I invented

a phantom witness?

Did you?

The jaded lawyer, with no

uh, no respect for the law.

- That's original.

- That's me?

I respect the law Just fine, I'm Just not

in awe... I'm not even encumbered by it.

If the great state of Illinois

can't meet its burden of proof.

If I walked with a guilty

client, it's on you!

So I suggest you do

your job, Kattan.

now if you'd like to finish that clich.

You followed me

to piss or unload...

Better not involve my reflection. I'm

sleeping at night? How do I do it?

I do it on a tempur-pedic bed,

in a highland park home,

with a Ferrari in the driveway.

Next to a loving wife, with the ass

of a high school volleyballie.

And, and, and how

does that feel, Hank?

Knowing every person you

represent is guilty?

It's fine.

Innocent people can't afford me.

Burden of proof...Kattan.

Wait, wait, wait... you said

this won't go to trial.

- I'm sorry, did I say that?

- I hired you to make this go away.

Wrong! You hired me

because we both know you

won't last two days in a

federal penitentiary.

don't tell me how to do my job.

Do I tell you how

to commit fraud?

Deny coverage to terminally ill

policy holder, embezzled $140

million while you're at it?

I won't do that because

that's your gig.

That's your forte.

- I'm hearing you.

- I'm glad.

New voicemail

all rise.

The court is in session. The honorable

judge Stanley Carter presiding.

Be seated.

Before I ruled on the

pit's motion, is there

anything either

counsels care to add?

Yes, your honor. We'd like to

remove any doubt as to the validity

of our search.

Your...Your honor, could I...Approach?

Your honor?

Yeah, I need a continuance

Absolutely not.

My mom passed away this morning.

My ass.

Let me replay it.

Is this the first time your mom

passed away or is this something...

You do on all your cases

you're about to lose?

I'm sorry for your loss.

Thank you, first time.

What a schmuck you are.

You know? He...He peed on me,

Just now, in the restroom down the hall.

I don't...

Kattan, step away!

Daddy, are you sad

about your mom?

Yeah, baby, I wish

you'd met her.

Why can't I go with you?

'Cause it's depressing.

You don't want to go.

So, grandpa Palmer's

is dead too?

No, grandpa is dead to me,

it's like a figure of speech.

You might have mis-heard

something that I've said.

Sounds complicated, I

should go with you.

Trust me, nobody wants to

go to Carlinville, Indiana.

Everybody wants to leave.

You looking for something?

You got my beetle

honey, old man?

Check it out.

I love you, baby. don't

eat it before breakfast!

- Got you.

- Um...Hmm.

Is there something I can do?

They are my in-laws, I

feel like we should...

Bob Schacner...

Is that your divorce attorney?

He's good.

Should be living

with me, by the way.

Hank!

Hank!

What time the school starts in the

morning, Hank? What's her teacher's name?

Brownie's night is which night?

Soccer?

What's her favorite color?

Who's her best friend?

What does she have

for breakfast?

Do you know her pediatrician's name?

Do you've her phone number?

What does she wear?

don't let this bother her.

She knows her daddy never

come home before bedtime...

Because he is always on

his phone on weekends.

She knows it's not right her

mom to be...Sad all the time.

- Sad? you're sad?

- Yes!

I'm sorry you felt so sad. You got on

Facebook, befriended your old college buddy

George and f***ed him!

He is so rugged.

He is so wise.

I don't know why you haven't already hang

off in the mountain with that redneck.

You want to do something for me?

Water the f***ing

hydrangea or something!

oh god...Here we go.

Nothing changes.

Mary Palmer - beloved wife, mother

and grandmother. 3- 6 pm rose room

hey Hank...

Hey Derrick.

I missed you.

Her heart Just kind

of turned off.

I found her by the hydrangeas.

Good job.

oh, this is Saint Francis. I picked it.

It used to be her favorite.

Friend of the birds like mom.

oh, gotta remember put

food out for Them,

especially in the winter.

He, he's gentle,

like mom used to be.

Ran all the snakes

out of Indiana

and don't ask me how.

Ireland...Out of Ireland?

Snakes here are constant but it's in St.

Patrick, not San Francisco.

And in Ireland, not Indiana.

Trust me, nobody is dispersing

reptiles in Indiana.

- Were you there?

- I was not there.

- Maybe you're right.

- Hank Palmer in carlinville.

- Here he is.

- That's Carlinville's state bird and...

- Hey Glen.

- I Just saw you a few minutes ago.

Where did you park?

- On the street.

- I parked at...

Tried to get a...Space

in the big lot...

I'd to go around...

But eventually I found one.

Here you go.

- Where's the family?

- Couldn't make it, school.

oh, I didn't know that kids in Chicago

go to school in the summer...

No, it isn't. They Just think that...

They...Can't come along.

- What's the story?

- There is no story.

Do you have anything else

to say for yourself?

Anything that would enlighten

us concerning this?

What do you want to hear?

Nobody's hiring.

You can't get spinach

out of a Petunia.

I can't afford to

pay child support.

You can't, huh? But your

new truck, out front...

Which one?

Yeah...

'Yeah', is not an affirmation

a man uses in court.

'Yeah', is not an affirmation

a man uses in court.

- Yes sir, judge...Sorry.

- Keys...Go on...

And uh...

- Augustus...Sir...

- Of course...Gus...

Would you give those to Mr.

William's ex-wife, please.

Then escort Mr. William

to his ex-truck.

you're Gonna sign that

vehicle over to her.

And you ma'am, are going down to

Devany Motors, ask for Mike devany

the father of 'not

that nitwit son'

and sell your new

truck back to him

for whatever that 'turnip'

there put down on it.

- This ain't fair, how I...

- Hey! One more word, go on!

Look around you, you're standing on one of

the last great cathedrals in this country,

built on the premise that you and

you alone are responsible for

the consequences

of your actions.

now you still want fair?

Alright, head north!

Stop when you get to Indianapolis,

tractor pulls, cotton candy, cattle corn

and the world's largest deer...

First week in August.

You'll love it. Hey wait, I

forgot, wait, wait, wait...

You don't have a truck!

Thank you very much, judge.

Want me to tell you what the...

causes that, ma'am?

Thank you fellows, I

appreciate you all being here.

Who is out there

guarding the donut shop?

- She was a good woman, Joseph.

- Grace and I are here...

- ...if you need anything.

- Thank you.

Thank you. It means a lot to me.

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote

Nick Schenk

Nick Schenk (born November 12, 1965) is an American screenwriter. His script for the 2008 film Gran Torino was named "Best Screenplay" by the National Board of Review in late 2008. more…

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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    "The Judge" Scripts.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 21 Nov. 2024. <https://www.scripts.com/script/the_judge_20559>.

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