The Verdict Page #15

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ANGLE - P.O.V.

The book, written very large: "Dr. Gruber. 7:00 P.M.

Hospital."

ANGLE:

Galvin standing, he waits a beat. Starts out of locker room.

INT. GRUBER'S HOSPITAL CORRIDOR - NURSES' STATION - NIGHT

CAMERA FOLLOWS him TO Nurses' Station. He speaks to the NURSE

behind the desk.

GALVIN:

Dr. Gruber.

NURSE:

Dr. Gruber's not here today, Sir.

GALVIN:

No... No...

She glances down, checks a sheet.

NURSE:

Yes, Sir. He hasn't been in all day...

He's not on the chart...

EXT. GRUBER'S OFFICE BUILDING AND STREET - NIGHT

Galvin walking in the snow. Stops outside of a very lovely

brownstone with a small brass plaque. The plaque: Dr. David

C. Gruber. M.D. P.C.

ANGLE:

Galvin looking in through the window of the dark, deserted

ground-floor office. He knocks on the door. Nothing. He knocks

again. Nothing. He stands unbelieving.

EXT. GRUBER'S HOUSE & STREET - NIGHT

Galvin getting out of a taxi, rushing up the steps of a

brownstone. Peeps through the window on the side of the house.

Dark. He grabs the brass knocker. Pounds. Nothing, he pounds

again. Nothing. He is beaten. He is without resource. He

starts vacantly down the stairs. The door behind him is

opened. He turns.

ANGLE - P.O.V.

A middle-aged black WOMAN in livery.

MAID:

What is it?

Galvin in the steps speaking with her.

GALVIN:

Dr. Gruber.

MAID:

Dr. Gruber's not in.

GALVIN:

I had an appointment at his office,

I think I must have got it wrong. We

had a meeting...

MAID:

He's not in, Sir.

GALVIN:

Where is he?

She hesitates. She has been instructed not to say. Galvin

starts up the steps.

GALVIN:

I... please. My wife... my wife's

prescription has run out. If I can

call him...

MAID:

Dr. Halpern's taking all his...

GALVIN:

No, no, no. I have to talk to him.

If I can only call him...

MAID:

(beat)

He's... you can't reach him, Sir.

He's in the, on some island in the

Caribbean, they don't have a phone.

(beat)

He'll be back in a week...

(beat)

If you'd like Dr. Halpern's number...

Galvin turns away from the door. He is still clutching the

box of cigars unconsciously.

INT. O'ROURKE'S - NIGHT

Mickey and Laura. Positions unchanged, at the bar. Somewhat

progressed toward a convivial drunkenness

MICKEY:

Stearns, Harrington, you know who

that is?

LAURA:

Should I?

MICKEY:

A huge law firm. Okay? They put him

in the firm, he's married,

everything's superb. Franky, he's

starting to talk like he comes from

Dorsetshire, some f***in' place,

'You must drop by with Pat and me...'

Okay...?

LAURA:

Yes.

MICKEY:

...and he's making a billion dollars

every minute working for Stearns,

Harrington, and he bought a dog, and

everything is rosy.

(beat)

Then Mr. Stearns, he tried to fix a

case.

LAURA:

The Big Boy did...?

MICKEY:

That Frank was working on. Yeah. He

thought Franky needed some help, so

they bribed a juror. So Franky finds

out. He comes to me in tears. He

thinks that anybody who knows what a

'spinnaker' is got to be a saint. I

told him 'Franky, wake up. These

people are sharks. What do you think

they got so rich from? Doing good?'

He can't be comforted. He tells the

boys at Stearns and Harrington they've

disappointed him, he's going to the

Judge to rat them out.

LAURA:

Huh.

MICKEY:

Before he can get there here comes

this Federal Marshal, and Franky's

indicted for Jury tampering, they

throw him in jail, he's gonna be

disbarred, his life is over.

(beat)

Jimmy, gimme another drink.

(to Laura)

How are you?

LAURA:

(to Jimmy)

Me, too.

MICKEY:

Okay. Now, so he's in jail. He,

finally, he gets to see the light,

he calls up Harrington, he says he

thinks he made a mistake. As if by

magic, charges against him are

dropped, he's released from jail.

(beat)

P.S. He's fired from the firm, his

wife divorces him, he turns to drink

and mopes around three and a half

years.

(beat)

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