The Verdict Page #3

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The carriage of a typewriter. A sheet of paper. Its letterhead

reads "Frank P. Galvin. Attorney at Law, 124 State Street,

Boston, Mass. 02981. Cable FRAGAL." Someone is typing, "Sorry

I had to go out. Back at 10. Judge Geary called. Are you

available for lunch Wednesday University Club?" A hand takes

a paper from carriage and puts it on desk. Takes a pen and

signs, "Claire."

ANGLE:

Galvin in the anteroom, dressed in his suit, unshaved, having

just signed the paper. He takes a piece of Scotch tape from

the dispenser on the desk, picks up a file folder from the

coffee table. It is torn in several places and rudely Scotch-

taped.

ANGLE - P.O.V. - INSERT

The file headed Deborah Ann Kaye v. St. Catherine Laboure

Hospital et. al.

ANGLE:

Galvin surveys the anteroom, opens door to corridor, Scotch

tapes the note he has just typewritten to the outside of the

door.

INT. O'ROURKE'S BAR - DAY

Dark paneling, clean, simple. A drinkers' bar. OLD BARTENDER

and THREE CUSTOMERS spaced widely, Galvin in his overcoat

downing a shot, the file open before him. He is reading.

He checks his watch, scoops the file together under his arm,

throws a dollar on the bar, and heads for the door.

INT. NORTHERN NURSING HOME CORRIDOR - DAY

Galvin walking tentatively down the corridor of a very rundown

nursing home. He receives suspicious looks from the

Attendants. He is checking numbers on the doors against a

notation in the file. He finds the correct door and enters.

INT. NURSING HOME WARD - DAY

The door to the ward from the inside. Galvin opening the

door to the dark ward, backlit, tentative, a little unsteadied

from his drinking. He puts his back against the door, puts

down file and briefcase, extracts a small cheap Polaroid

camera from the briefcase, readies it to shoot, picks up his

paraphernalia, and starts off down the ward. As he walks

down the ward he checks the file hung at the foot of each

bed. Galvin stops at the foot of one bed and reads the chart.

ANGLE - P.O.V.

The chart held by Galvin. DEBORAH ANN KAYE, various medical

notations. He lowers the chart and we SEE in the bed beyond

it a shriveled, tiny form stuck with needles and tubes.

ANGLE:

Galvin replaces the chart, puts his file, briefcase, etc. on

the foot of the bed, takes a flash photo of the figure in

the bed. Takes another one. Puts down camera, sits on the

end of the bed gazing at the unseen form. He lights a

cigarette, and sits looking at her.

INT. CORRIDOR - GALVIN'S OFFICE BUILDING - DAY

SALLY DONEGHY. A mousy woman in her forties is standing by a

door on which is written, "Frank P. Galvin. Attorney at Law."

GALVIN:

I'm... Mrs. Doneghy? I'm Frank

Galvin... why didn't you go in?

SALLY:

It's locked.

GALVIN:

(astonished)

It's locked?

Sally Doneghy points to the note on the door. Galvin takes

it from the door. Reads. "Back at 10, Judge Geary. Lunch..."

GALVIN:

I'm terribly sorry... I hope we didn't

put you out. Won't you come in...?

(motions Sally into

inner office, gestures

with note)

I'd offer you some coffee, but it

looks like my girl just went out.

INT. OFFICE ANTEROOM - DAY

Galvin is perched at his secretary's desk. Sally Doneghy

across from him by the coffee table listening intently.

GALVIN:

It's not a good case. It's a very

good case. A healthy young woman

goes into the hospital to deliver

her third child, she's given the

wrong anesthetic...

SALLY:

...we, we love her, Dick and me...

GALVIN:

...I'm sure you do...

SALLY:

But what can we do? She don't know

who's visiting her...

GALVIN:

...I know. I went...

SALLY:

...You saw her?

GALVIN:

Yes. Yes, I have.

SALLY:

You know how beautiful she was?

(beat)

Her husband left her, and he took

her kids... They, they, they'd let

you die in there. They don't care.

Nobody cares. The Patriot Home, the

Chronic Care... in Arlington...?

They'd take her in. Perpetual care.

They'd take her. Fifty thousand

dollars they want. An endowment.

GALVIN:

...fifty thousand dollars?

SALLY:

I don't want to leave her. Dick...

the, the... and Father Laughlin, he

said that it was God's will...

GALVIN:

...I understand...

SALLY:

My doctor told me that I got to move

out West... that's when we filed in

court. We didn't want to sue...

GALVIN:

...I understand...

SALLY:

...But Dick, he's looking for two

years in Tucson... and they called

him up and said to come out. He's a

good man. He's only trying to do

what's right.

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