The Verdict Page #2

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GALVIN:

(gestures to include

group)

...everybody. Mike says, 'Pat, you

mean to tell me for a buck you get a

free lunch and a beer, and then you

go in the back and get laid?' 'That's

correct.' Mike says, 'Pat. Have you

been in this bar ?' Pat says, 'No,

but my sister has...'

(gestures to Jimmy)

Everyone. Buy yourself one too.

INT. GALVIN'S OFFICE - NIGHT

The seedy, disorganized small office, Galvin in shirt-sleeves

opening a file cabinet. He takes out an armload of files,

carries them to a wastebasket and throws them in. He sits on

his desk, as if exhausted by his effort, pours from a whiskey

bottle into a large water glass, downs the glass.

He has been drinking for some time. He starts stumbling back

to the file cabinet. On the way his eye is caught by his

degrees hanging on the wall. He stumbles to them, picks them

up and walks over to the wastebasket and throws them in. He

goes back to the file cabinet, the phone starts ringing.

Galvin lets it ring, continues emptying the files into the

wastebasket, tearing some of them up as he does so.

He repeats softly to himself, as a litany, "It doesn't make

a bit of difference, it doesn't make a bit of difference..."

He starts back to the desk for the bottle, knocks the still-

ringing phone off the desk. He pours himself a drink.

As he downs it we hear -- softly -- from the phone on the

floor:
a MAN'S VOICE. "Frank. Frank. Frank. Goddamnit. Are

you there...? Frank..." Galvin pays no attention.

Drinks his drink and gazes at the wall -- now empty of

degrees.

ANGLE - P.O.V.

The empty wall. Galvin's P.O.V. The telephone heard Voice

Over insisting, "Frank..."

INT. GALVIN'S OFFICE ANTEROOM - NIGHT

MICKEY MORRISSEY, a man in his late sixties, dressed in suit

and overcoat, looking worried, unlocks the door to the dark

anteroom. Looks around. Sees something in the next room.

ANGLE - P.O.V.

Galvin asleep on his couch, clothed as before. Covered in

his overcoat, the bottle and glass next to the couch on the

floor, the sound of the phone off the hook.

ANGLE:

Mickey walks into the office. Stands

looking at Galvin.

MICKEY:

(harshly)

Get up.

(beat, more harshly)

Get up.

Galvin wakes up. Looks around. Swings his legs over the couch.

Drinks from the glass. Vacantly:

GALVIN:

Hi, Mickey...

MICKEY:

What the hell do you think you're

doing...?

(surveys the wrecked

office)

What's going on here...?

GALVIN:

Uh...

MICKEY:

F*** you. I got a call today from

Sally Doneghy...

GALVIN:

...now who is that...?

MICKEY:

...You're 'sposed to be in court in

ten days and she's telling me you

haven't even met with them...

GALVIN:

Sally Doneghy, now who is that?

MICKEY:

One lousy letter eighteen months

ago... I try to throw a f***in' case

your way...

GALVIN:

...hey, I don't need your charity...

MICKEY:

...I get these people to trust you --

they're coming here tomorrow by the

way -- I get this expert doctor to

talk to you. I'm doing all your

f***in' legwork -- and it's eighteen

months. You're 'sposed to be in court.

I bet you haven't even seen the file.

Galvin pours himself a drink.

GALVIN:

Hey, what are you, my nanny?

Mickey walks to him, knocks the drink out of his hand and

slaps him several times in the face.

MICKEY:

Listen to me. Listen to me... listen

to me, Frank, 'cause I'm done f***in'

with you. I can't do it any more.

Look around you:
You think that you're

going to change? What's going to

change it? You think it's going to

be different next month? It's going

to be the same. And I have to stop.

This is it. I got you a good case,

it's a moneymaker. You do it right

and it will take care of you. But

I'm through. I'm sorry, Frank, this

is the end.

(beat)

Life is too short, and I'm too old.

(beat)

Mickey walks out of the office. Slams

the door. Beat.

Galvin looks around the office. Goes to his sofa. Sits,

reaches to side table.

ANGLE - INSERT

The side table, a pack of Luckies. Galvin taking one, his

hand shaking a little. Also on side table a pile of change

containing a small rosary and a wedding ring.

INT. GALVIN'S OFFICE ANTEROOM - INSERT - DAY

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