The Verdict Page #22

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The door opens, Galvin is still trying to catch his breath.

Laura enters.

LAURA:

You're pressuring yourself...

GALVIN:

(shaking head, utterly

denying her)

No... no...

LAURA:

Yes.

(beat)

We've all got to let go.

INT. "D. KAYE" SIGN - COURTROOM CORRIDOR - DAY

Galvin coming down the corridor with Sally Doneghy. They

stop by a door on which the card reads: "PART III. DEBORAH

ANN KAYE V. ST. CATHERINE LABOURE HOSPITAL ET AL."

INT. COURTROOM - DAY

They enter the courtroom. CAMERA FOLLOWS them in. The room

one-quarter filled. Concannon at the defense table with the

Defendants, a Black Lawyer, entourage. Galvin stops.

GALVIN:

(to Sally)

I'm going to do the best I can for

you and your sister. I know what it

means to you. Believe me...

(beat)

It means that much to me.

He turns away, walks toward the front of the courtroom,

glances toward the jury box.

ANGLE - P.O.V.

The Jury, somber, controlled, dignified.

ANGLE:

Galvin continuing to the defense table, Mickey Morrissey

already seated, studying notes on a yellow legal pad. Galvin

sits. Mickey looks up.

MICKEY:

How are you holding up?

GALVIN:

I'm swell.

MICKEY:

And all we've got is a witch doctor!

GALVIN:

Yeah.

The BAILIFF enters, some SPECTATORS, knowing the routine,

start getting to their feet.

MICKEY:

Look at it this way: it's refreshing

every time a Doctor takes the stand

he's not a Jew.

We hear the Bailiff's "All rise."

ANGLE:

The COURTROOM getting to its feet as JUDGE WILLIAM B. HOYLE

enters.

The Bailiff, as the Judge sits:

BAILIFF:

Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye, all persons

having anything to do before the

Honorable, the Justices of the

Superior Court now sitting at Boston

within and for the County of Suffolk,

draw near, give your attendance and

you shall be heard. God save the

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The Courtroom is seated. JUDGE motions to the CLERK, who

stands and reads:

CLERK:

Deborah Ann Kaye versus St. Catherine

Laboure, Robert S. Towler, M.D. and

Sheldon F. Marx, M.D.

ANGLE - CLOSEUP

GALVIN at Plaintiff's table, looking down at notes.

JUDGE:

Is the Plaintiff ready?

GALVIN:

(looking up)

Ready, your Honor.

JUDGE:

Defense...?

CONCANNON:

Ready for the Defense, your Honor.

ANGLE:

The Courtroom. P.O.V. JUDGE.

JUDGE:

Let's begin.

Galvin gets to his feet. Walks over to the JURY. Looks at

them, appraising. He pauses as before a great effort. Takes

a breath. Exhales.

GALVIN:

It's a terrible thing to sit in

judgment. So much rides on it. I

know that you've thought, 'How can I

be pure. How can I be impartial

without being cold. How can I be

merciful and still be just?' And I

know that most of you have said some

sort of prayer this morning to be

helped. To judge correctly. We have

the reputation of two men. Two well

respected doctors and a renowned

hospital before us. And with those

two respected men we have my client,

Deborah Ann Kaye...

(beat)

...who was deprived of sight, of

locomotion, hearing, speech, of

everything, in short, which

constitutes her life.

(beat)

We are going to prove she was deprived

through negligence.

(beat)

Through the negligence of those

respected men. We will show: One...

INT. ARCHBISHOP'S HOUSE - CORRIDOR-DAY

A lavishly appointed corridor. Alito and BILLY, the YOUNG

LAWYER from Concannon's office, walking slowly down the

corridor.

ALITO:

Why did he go to see Mary Rooney?

YOUNG LAWYER:

She's the only nurse who isn't

testifying for the Doctors.

ALITO:

What did he find?

YOUNG LAWYER:

Nothing.

ALITO:

How good's your intelligence?

YOUNG LAWYER:

Very good.

ALITO:

And so what is the rest of his case

aside from Dr. Thompson?

YOUNG LAWYER:

As far as we know, nothing.

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