The Verdict Page #5

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ALITO:

All right. But let's keep the price

down. I've called Ed Concannon. He

recommends that we continue to respond

as if we're going to trial.

The Bishop nods, meaning, "You are dismissed." As an

afterthought:

BISHOP:

If we were to go to trial, would we

win the case?

ALITO:

Well, of course, it's always

dangerous...

BISHOP:

I know that answer. If we went to

trial would we win?

ALITO:

(in an "of course"

tone)

Yes.

Alito, preparing to leave, reaches to the Bishop's desk,

where he has laid his leather folder.

ANGLE:

The clipping in the folder, confused Galvin being led into

jail, "Boston Lawyer Held in Jury Tampering Case." Alito's

hand snaps the folder shut.

INT. GALVIN'S OFFICE BUILDING CORRIDOR - DAY

A man's arms full of textbooks. Prominently displayed:

"Methodology and Practice in Anesthesiology." The man stops,

fumbles for a key in his pocket.

ANGLE:

Galvin, in his overcoat, arms full of books, reading from a

textbook and trying to unlock his office door.

INT. OFFICE

Galvin entering. CLAIRE PAVONE, a woman in her fifties, at

the secretary's desk, hanging up the phone.

CLAIRE:

(to phone)

Thank you very much.

Galvin looks up at her in surprise.

GALVIN:

What are you doing here?

CLAIRE:

Mickey told me to come back to work.

Galvin nods, proceeds into his office, reading from the

textbook. Claire follows him into the office.

CLAIRE:

...here's your mail, call Mrs.

Doneghy...

GALVIN:

...yes. Get her on the phone...

CLAIRE:

...that was a Dr. David Gruber's

office...

GALVIN:

(putting down books)

Gruber...

CLAIRE:

Mickey told him to call.

(reading from notes)

'He's some very hotshot surgeon at

Mass. Commonwealth. He wants to meet

with you at seven tonight re testimony

in the case of Deborah Ann Kaye. You

meet him at the hospital.'

She hands him typed memo slip.

GALVIN:

(surprised)

...he wants to testify...?

CLAIRE:

It looks that way.

GALVIN:

You know what that would mean? To

get somebody from a Boston hospital

to say he'll testify?

CLAIRE:

...a Mrs. Doneghy called... I told

you that.

Phone rings. Claire moves to it.

GALVIN:

(delighted)

This is going to drive the ante up.

CLAIRE:

(into phone)

Frank Galvin's... who's calling

please? Bishop Brophy's office...

She gestures to Galvin, "Do you want to talk to them?" Galvin

gestures back, "No. I'm not in..."

CLAIRE:

I'm sorry, he's not in... may I take

a mess... tomorrow when, two

o'clock... I'll check my book...

She looks to Galvin, who nods, "yes."

CLAIRE:

Yes. Mr. Galvin's clear at that

time... the Bishop's office, tomorrow,

the fifth at two p.m. Thank you...

She hangs up.

GALVIN:

That's the call that I'm waiting

for.

CLAIRE:

What does it mean?

GALVIN:

They want to settle.

(beat)

It means a lot of money.

CLAIRE:

Does that mean I'm back for awhile?

INT. GRUBER'S HOSPITAL CORRIDOR - INSERT - NIGHT

Man's wrist. WWII GI watch reads: 6:56.

ANGLE:

Galvin in overcoat standing outside door marked "Doctors

Only" in bustling hospital corridor. He glances at memo slip

in his hand. He opens door. CAMERA FOLLOWS him onto:

INT. GRUBER'S DOCTORS LOCKER ROOM - NIGHT

Carpeted, small, comfortable, lined in lockers. A DOCTOR, on

the phone in greens, smoking a cigarette, talking on the

phone softly, a couple of DOCTORS sitting, drinking coffee,

chatting. Galvin, a trifle nervous, to Doctor ON PHONE:

GALVIN:

Dr. Gruber...?

The Doctor on the phone gestures behind him to a thirty-ish

MAN in blue jeans smoking a cigar, changing at his locker.

Galvin walks over to him.

GALVIN:

Dr. Gruber...

GRUBER:

(turning)

Yes? Galvin, right?

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