The Verdict Page #8

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IRISH NURSE #2 (V.O.)

...and what did he say...?

IRISH NURSE #1 (V.O.)

(spies Galvin, her

tone changes)

...Sir, you aren't allowed to be in

here...

ANGLE:

Galvin sitting on the bed looking at

Deborah Ann. He looks up to the

speaker. A slovenly Irish Nurse, who

has come into the room and is standing

by him. The other Nurse is framed in

the doorway. Galvin is lost in

thought.

NURSE:

You can't be in here.

GALVIN:

(as if remembering

something, simply)

I'm her attorney.

INT. BISHOP BROPHY'S OFFICE - DAY

The Bishop from the waist up, sitting behind his beautiful

desk. Compassionately:

BISHOP:

It's a question of continuing values.

St. Catherine's -- to do the good

that she must do in the community

has to maintain the position that

she holds in the community. So we

have a question of balance. On the

one hand, the reputation, and, so,

the effectiveness of our hospital,

and two of her important doctors --

and, on the other hand, the rights

of your client.

ANGLE:

Galvin seated across from the Bishop. A YOUNG PRIEST seated,

discreetly, attentively, across the room. Sherry glasses in

front of Galvin and the Bishop. Galvin drinking from his.

BISHOP:

A young woman. In her prime...

deprived of...

(searches for a word)

...life... sight... her family...

It's tragic. It's a tragic accident.

Galvin has been dreaming.

BISHOP:

...nothing, of course, can begin to

make it right. But we must do what

we can. We must do all that we can.

He gestures to the Young Priest, who crosses the room,

extracts a sheet from a file folder, and places it before

Galvin, who is sitting as if in a dream. The Bishop waits a

beat, not wanting to interrupt Galvin's reverie, then catches

his eye and gestures down at the paper. Galvin glances down.

INSERT:

The sheet:
"I, Frank P. Galvin, duly appointed conservator

for Deborah Ann Kaye, in consideration of Two Hundred Ten

Thousand Dollars ($210,000.00) paid in hand to me this day

by St. Catherine Laboure Hospital do hereby release from any

and all claims..."

ANGLE:

Galvin and the Bishop as before. Galvin finishes reading,

looks up.

BISHOP:

Yes. We must try to make it right.

Beat. Galvin nods. Beat. Bishop nods discreetly to the Young

Priest who extracts Mount Blanc fountain pen from his pocket,

holds it out to Galvin.

BISHOP:

It's a generous offer, Mr. Galvin...

(beat)

...nothing can make the woman well...

but we try to compensate... to make

a gesture...

GALVIN:

How did you settle on the amount?

BISHOP:

We thought it was just.

GALVIN:

You thought it was just.

BISHOP:

Yes.

GALVIN:

Because it struck me how neatly

'three' went into the amount. Two

Hundred Ten Thousand. That would

mean I keep seventy.

BISHOP:

That was our insurance company's

recommendation.

GALVIN:

Yes. It would be.

A beat.

BISHOP:

Nothing that we can do can make that

woman well.

GALVIN:

And no one will know the truth.

BISHOP:

What is the truth?

GALVIN:

That that poor girl put her trust in

the hands of two men who took her

life, she's in a coma, her life is

gone. She has no family, she has no

home, she's tied to a machine, she

has no friends -- and the people who

should care for her: her Doctors,

and you, and me, have been bought

off to look the other way. We have

been paid to look the other way. I

came in here to take your money.

(beat)

I brought snapshots to show you. So

I could get your money.

(to Young Priest,

waving away document)

I can't take it. If I take it. If I

take that money I'm lost. I'm just

going to be a rich ambulance chaser.

(beat; pleading for

understanding)

I can't do it. I can't take it.

YOUNG PRIEST:

If we may discuss money, Mr. Galvin.

How is your law practice?

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