The Verdict Page #11

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MICKEY:

(checking list)

No.

GALVIN:

(reading from pad)

'Mary Rooney, forty-nine. Lives in

Arlington, still working at the

hospital.' Can you get out tomorrow?

How come she isn't speaking up.

MICKEY:

Right.

GALVIN:

Okay now. Cases:
Smith versus State

of Michigan.

MICKEY:

Right.

GALVIN:

Brindisi versus Electric Boat.

MICKEY:

You got a good memory, Franky.

GALVIN:

I had a good teacher. McLean versus

Urban Transport...

INT. O'ROURKE'S PUB - NIGHT

Galvin and Mickey entering the bar, walk over to the bar.

Galvin sees something O.S. Call to the bartender.

GALVIN:

Jimmy? Bushmills.

(turns to Mickey,

whispers)

Lookit, do me a favor. I'll buy you

a drink tomorrow.

MICKEY:

Yeah? And what are you going to do

tonight?

GALVIN:

I'm going to get laid.

Galvin motions with his head down at the end of the bar.

ANGLE - P.O.V.

The Woman from last night, sitting in her same place at the

end of the bar. Mickey looks at her. Shrugs. Gets up off

stool.

MICKEY:

Don't leave your best work in the

sheets.

He salutes, walks off.

Galvin takes his drink and moves down to her.

GALVIN:

D'you find an apartment?

LAURA:

Still looking.

GALVIN:

I changed my life today. What did

you do?

LAURA:

I changed my room at the Hotel.

GALVIN:

Why?

LAURA:

The TV didn't work.

GALVIN:

What Hotel are you staying at?

LAURA:

And what are you? A cop?

GALVIN:

I'm a lawyer.

LAURA:

My ex-husband was a lawyer.

GALVIN:

Really. How wonderful for you.

LAURA:

Yes. It was, actually.

GALVIN:

Oh, actually it was. Then why'd you

call it off?

LAURA:

Who says I'm the one that called it

off?

GALVIN:

A brick house says you divorced him.

I'll put you on your honor. Bet you

a hundred dollars against you join

me for dinner. And I'll take your

word for it. Now you tell me the

truth. Because you cannot lie to me.

What's your name?

LAURA:

Laura.

GALVIN:

My name's Frank. And furthermore,

you came back to see me tonight.

LAURA:

What if it wasn't you that I came

back to see?

GALVIN:

You just got lucky.

(gets up off stool)

D'you eat yet? Come on.

She gets up from the stool and starts following him in spite

of herself.

GALVIN:

Jesus, you are one beautiful woman.

INT. O'ROURKE'S - NIGHT (LATER)

Galvin and Laura are in a booth. The remains of a dinner and

drinks around them. They are both smoking cigarettes, intent

on each other. Both a little drunk.

GALVIN:

The weak, the weak have got to have

somebody to fight for them. Isn't

that the truth? You want another

drink?

LAURA:

I think I will.

Galvin motions "another round" to the bartender.

GALVIN:

Jimmy!

(beat)

That's why the court exists. The

court doesn't exist to give them

justice, eh? But to give them a chance

at justice.

LAURA:

And are they going to get it?

GALVIN:

They might. Yes. That's the point...

is that they might... you see, the

jury wants to believe. They're all

cynics, sure, because they want to

believe. I have to go in there

tomorrow to find twelve people to

hear this case. I'm going to see a

hundred people and pick twelve. And

every one of them it's written on

their face, 'This is a sham. There

is no justice...' but in their heart

they're saying, 'Maybe... maybe...'

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