The Verdict Page #6

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He checks his watch, continues changing into suede jacket,

checks next appointment on a leather appointment book, locks

the locker, pockets key.

GALVIN:

I appreciate -- a man as busy as --

GRUBER:

That's perfectly all right. I'm kind

of rushed. Do you mind if we walk

while we talk?

Gruber, Galvin following, talk while exiting locker room.

INT. GRUBER'S HOSPITAL CORRIDOR - NIGHT

GRUBER:

I read the hospital report on your

client.

GALVIN:

...Deborah Ann Kaye...

GRUBER:

...Deborah Ann Kaye...

They walk hurriedly through a hospital corridor, to an EXIT

door and down concrete stairs.

INT. GRUBER'S HOSPITAL STAIRS - NIGHT

GALVIN:

They called, they're going to settle,

what I want to do is build up as

much...

GRUBER:

Right. Who called?

GALVIN:

The Archdiocese called, they want to

settle... her estate...

GRUBER:

...and you're going to do that?

GALVIN:

(surprised, of course)

Yes.

GRUBER:

You're going to settle out of court?

Gruber stops at the bottom of the stairs, beside an exit to

the outside.

GALVIN:

Yes.

GRUBER:

Why?

A beat.

GALVIN:

(it's a meaningless

question to him, as

if to a child)

Uh... in the, well, in the interests

of her family... you, Dr. Gruber,

you know, you can never tell what a

jury is going to do. St. Catherine's

a very well thought of institution.

Her doctors...

GRUBER:

(glances at watch,

impatient)

Her doctors killed her.

GALVIN:

(a beat)

I'm sorry...?

GRUBER:

Her doctors murdered her. They gave

her the wrong anesthetic and they

put her in the hospital for life.

(a beat)

Her doctors murdered her.

GALVIN:

Do you know who her doctors were?

GRUBER:

I read the file. Yeah. Marx and

Towler. I know who they were.

GALVIN:

The most respected...

GRUBER:

(smiling)

Whose side are you arguing...? I

thought that you wanted to do

something. I don't have any interest

in the woman's 'estate' -- No offense,

but we all know where the money's

going to... I have an interest in

the Hospital; and I don't want those

bozos working in the same shop as

me. They gave her the wrong

anesthetic. They turned the girl

into a vegetable. They killed her

and they killed her kid. You caught

'em. Now:
how many others did they

kill?

A beat. Gruber discards end of a cigar. Takes a leather case

from his suede jacket, extracts a new cigar. Offers one to

Galvin.

GRUBER:

You want a cigar?

Galvin takes one absently.

GALVIN:

The hospital is owned by the

Archdioceses of...

GRUBER:

What are they going to do? Not invite

me to their Birthday party...?

(checks watch)

Look, I gotta go. I have to be in

Cambridge...

Galvin, excited, is trying to light the cigar. His hand shakes

badly. He has forgotten to bite off the end. He bites it,

lights the cigar.

GALVIN:

Well, well, when can we meet again.

I'd like to get a deposition..

GRUBER:

Okay. I'll meet you here. Tuesday

night... I gotta go. You going my

way?

Galvin shakes his head.

EXT. GRUBER'S HOSPITAL PARKING AREA - NIGHT

Gruber opens door and walks out into the cold, into the

parking lot, followed by Galvin, who is lighting his cigar.

GALVIN:

We have to... we... we have to keep

you under wraps. Please don't, don't

discuss...

GRUBER:

I understand.

GALVIN:

...the case with anyone. And I'll

meet you Tuesday, and we'll go over

your testimony...

They stop before a 1950s very beautiful small Mercedes Sedan.

Gruber opens the door, gets into the plush red leather

interior, starts car, leaves door open, still talking to

Galvin.

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