The Verdict Page #12

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LAURA:

Maybe what?

GALVIN:

(beat)

Maybe I can do something right.

LAURA:

And is that what you're going to do?

(a beat)

Is that what you're going to do...?

GALVIN:

That's what I'm going to try to do.

INT. GALVIN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

The bedroom, dark, sound of people moving, the bedside light

is flicked on. We SEE Galvin in shirt-sleeves, holding a

whiskey glass a little unsettled, turning on the light, Laura,

with a glass, also a bit unsteady, standing beside him.

Both awkward. He looks at her, turns back to the bed, turns

down the bed, sees the silver-framed picture of his wife, he

looks back at Laura, starts to take the picture to turn it

down.

LAURA:

That's all right.

She starts taking off her blouse.

INT. COURTHOUSE BAR-INSERT - DAY

A half-full old-fashioned glass.

ANGLE:

Galvin sitting at the fairly well-equipped bar, still. He

looks out of the window at a building across the street.

EXT. COURTHOUSE - P.O.V. SHOT - DAY

The courthouse across the street.

INT. COURTHOUSE BAR - DAY

Galvin glances at bar clock.

ANGLE - P.O.V.

The clock reads 10:12.

ANGLE:

Galvin downs his drink, picks his briefcase off of the bar

and starts for the door.

INT. JUDGE SWEENEY'S CHAMBERS-DAY

JUDGE SWEENEY, a florid man in his sixties, sitting in

shirtsleeves eating bacon and eggs off of a hotel service on

a tray, talking conspiratorially with Ed Concannon, who is

drinking coffee, seated across the desk. They are obviously

old friends. The sound of a door opening. They turn their

heads to the door.

ANGLE - P.O.V.

Galvin standing in the door.

JUDGE (V.O.)

You're late, Mr. Galvin.

He enters the room. CAMERA FOLLOWS him as he sits next to

Concannon.

GALVIN:

Yessir. I'm sorry.

JUDGE:

Why is that?

GALVIN:

I was held up.

Concannon smiles and extends his hand.

CONCANNON:

Ed Concannon.

GALVIN:

(shaking his head)

Frank Galvin. We've met before.

As the Judge starts to speak Galvin cannot help looking at

Concannon out of the corner of his eye.

JUDGE:

Let's do some business.

ANGLE - P.O.V. GALVIN

Concannon, brisk, expensive-looking, tanned, huge gold watch,

custom-made suit.

JUDGE (V.O.)

They tell me that no bargain ever

was completed other than quickly

when both parties really cared to

make a deal.

Concannon feels Galvin's eye on him, half-turns, smiles.

ANGLE - THE JUDGE, CONCANNON, GALVIN

JUDGE:

Now, have you boys tried to resolve

your little difficulty because that

certainly would save the Commonwealth

a lot of time and bother.

GALVIN:

This is a complicated case, your

Honor...

JUDGE:

I'm sure it is, Frank: and let me

tell you something. If we find it so

complex, how in the hell you think

you're going to make a jury understand

it?

(smiles at Galvin)

See my point? Let's talk a minute.

Frank:
what will you and your client

take right now this very minute to

walk out of here and let this damn

thing drop?

GALVIN:

My client can't walk, your Honor.

JUDGE:

I know full well she can't, Frank.

You see the Padre on your way out

and he'll punch your ticket. You

follow me? I'm trying to help you.

CONCANNON:

Your Honor, Bishop Brophy and the

Archdiocese have offered plaintiff

two hundred and ten thousand dollars.

JUDGE:

Huh!

CONCANNON:

My doctors didn't want a settlement

at any price. They wanted this cleared

up in court. They want their

vindication. I agree with them. But

for today the offer stands. Before

we begin the publicity of a trial.

For today only.

(beat)

When I walk out that door the offer

is withdrawn.

(turns to Galvin)

As long as you understand that.

(beat)

It's got to be that way.

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