The Trial of the Chicago 7 Page #22

BAILIFF:

All rise.

JUDGE HOFFMAN enters and takes his seat without fanfare.

BAILIFF (CONT'D)

69 CR 180, United States of America

versus David Dellinger et al.

157.

JUDGE HOFFMAN:

The law requires that before

sentencing I allow the defendant or

defendants to make a statement to

the Court. I’ve advised defense

counsel that the Court will allow

one defendant to speak for the

group and I’ve been advised that

the group has chosen Mr. Hayden. Is

that right?

TOM:

(standing)

Yes sir.

JUDGE HOFFMAN:

In spite of your actions during the

convention, you are the one

defendant who has shown during this

trial, respect for this court and

for this country and remorse for

your actions. I truly believe--I

mean this--I truly believe that one

day you could be a very productive

part of our system. I’d like you to

make your statement brief and

without any political content of

any kind. If you make your

statement brief, if you make it

respectful, remorseful and to the

point, I will look favorably upon

that when administering my

sentence. Do you understand what I

just said?

TOM sees a thick sheaf of papers that sits in front of Rennie

at the table.

JUDGE HOFFMAN (CONT'D)

Mr. Hayden?

TOM:

Yes.

(pause)

You’ll look favorably in

sentencing.

JUDGE HOFFMAN:

Yes.

TOM:

(pause)

If I make my statement respectful

and remorseful.

158.

JUDGE HOFFMAN:

Yes.

TOM:

And I’m sorry, Your Honor, what was

the third one?

JUDGE HOFFMAN:

Brief.

TOM:

Brief. If I do those things...then

my government will look favorably

on me.

JUDGE HOFFMAN:

You understand?

TOM looks back at the packed GALLERY--Dave’s wife and son,

Fred’s girlfriend, CLAIRE...

TOM:

Yes sir.

JUDGE HOFFMAN:

Please begin.

TOM:

Okay.

TOM takes the thick sheaf of papers from in front of Rennie-

TOM (CONT'D)

Your Honor, since the day this

trial began, four-thousand seven

hundred and fifty-two U.S. troops

have been killed in Vietnam.

(pause)

And the following are their names.

ABBIE leads the other DEFENDANTS in CHEERING as the GALLERY

ERUPTS and stands for this final moment of defiance. RENNIE

makes a small fist-pump to himself before standing and

CHEERING.

TOM (CONT'D)

Corporal Kenneth Joe Auston, 19

years old. Specialist Billy Francis

Dodd, 21 years old.

JUDGE HOFFMAN is banging his gavel, trying to restore order

as the NAMES and the CHEERING continue.

159.

JUDGE HOFFMAN:

There will be--Mr. Kunstler, he

will not read four-thousand five-

hundred names into the record.

There will be quiet in the gallery!

Mr. Hayden!

TOM:

Staff Sergeant David Cruz Chavez,

31 years old. Corporal Philip

Lawrence Jewell, 21 years old.

Amidst the CHEERING and CLAPPING and GAVEL BANGING, SCHULTZ

rises to his feet.

FORAN:

What are you doing?

SCHULTZ:

Respect for the fallen.

(beat)

Show ‘em some respect, sir.

JUDGE HOFFMAN is banging his gavel in vain.

And while the NAMES and the CHEERING continue, the picture

starts to slowly freeze into a tableau...

209 Over the frozen picture we see the following TITLES--209

Abbie Hoffman, Tom Hayden, David Dellinger, Jerry Rubin and

Rennie Davis were found Guilty of Incitement to Riot and

sentenced to 5 years each in federal prison.

DISSOLVE TO:

The verdict was reversed by the Seventh Circuit Court of

Appeals and a new trial was ordered.

DISSOLVE TO:

The U.S. Attorney declined to re-try the case.

DISSOLVE TO:

In 1974, in a bi-annual survey, 78% of Chicago trial lawyers

gave Judge Julius Hoffman a rating of “Unqualified”.

DISSOLVE TO:

William Kunstler served 10 days in prison for Contempt of

Court.

DISSOLVE TO:

160.

Attorney General John Mitchell served 18 months in Federal

prison for his role in the Watergate break-in.

DISSOLVE TO:

Bobby Seale was found Not Guilty of murder by a Connecticut

jury. He lives in Northern California and has published

several books on barbecuing.

DISSOLVE TO:

Jerry Rubin became a stockbroker. In 1994 he was struck and

killed by a car while jaywalking near the campus of UCLA.

DISSOLVE TO:

Tom Hayden was elected to the California State Assembly in

1989. He lost his bid for the U.S. Senate by 2 percentage

points.

DISSOLVE TO:

Abbie Hoffman wrote a best-selling book, though the number of

copies in circulation is unknown as the title was Steal This

Book.

DISSOLVE TO:

He killed himself in 1989.

The CHEERING and the NAMES continue for just another moment

before we immediately

SNAP TO BLACK:

From the BLACK, we HEAR a huge crowd shout, one last time-CROWD

(V.O.)

THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING!

ROLL CREDITS:

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote