| WIDE ANGLE ON COURTROOM: JAMEY COLLINS ON THE STAND (DAY).
JAMEY
Yes. We found a copy. It been incorrectly filed...
TITLE: "Plaintiff's case, day ten."
JAMEY (CONT.)
We got it to court on time.
ANGLE ON THE JURY: Several JURORS write in notebooks like the Marine's;
he's been handing them out...
Joe seems ill at ease today, a little off his game. When he glances
at Andrew, it's with irritation.
JOE
Has a file ever disappeared like that before? Vanished into thin
air, all of a sudden, only to
reappear in the nick of time?
Jamey answers nervously:
JAMEY
I've never known that to happen before. No.
JOE
(fires this question)
Did you have something to do with this file being lost accidentally-on-purpose?
BELINDA
Objection!
JOE
I'll rephrase.
(to Jamey)
Did you have anything to do with this file being... misplaced?
JAMEY
Absolutely not.
Joe stands, staring at Jamey. Too long. Jamey squirms.
JOE
Are you a homosexual?
JAMEY
What?!
Joe pressing forward, toward Jamey.
JOE
C'mon, Mr. Collins. Are you homosexual? You know, gay?
The COURTROOM ERUPTS: ACTIVISTS booing Joe, Wheeler's crowd expressing
OUTRAGE, JURORS looking confused.
Andrew takes in the commotion, as the JUDGE BANGS HIS GAVEL.
JUDGE GARNETT
Hold it, hold it!
Andrew trains his attention on Joe.
BELINDA
Objection! Where has this come from?! Suddenly Counsel is attacking
his own witness. Mr. Collins' sexual orientation has absolutely
no relevance to this case.
JUDGE GARNETT
I said, HOLD IT!
(the courtroom QUIETS)
Mr. Miller. Could you kindly share with me exactly what's going
on in your brain, because I don't
have a clue at the moment.
Joe faces Andrew, also curious to know what Joe's up to.
JOE
Your Honor, everyone in this courtroom is thinking about sexual
preference, sexual orientation,
whatever you want to call it. They're looking at me, and wondering
about it...
(looking at Andrew)
They're looking at Mr. Beckett, and wondering about it. They're
looking at Mr. Wheeler and wondering about it. They might even be
looking at you and wondering about it. So, let's get it out in the
open. Let's talk about what this case is really
about: the general public's hatred... our loathing, our fear of
homosexuals.
DEAD SILENCE while the Judge thinks it over.
CLOSE ON ANDREW.
ANDREW
(to himself)
Very good.
CLOSE ON BELINDA CONINE.
CLOSE ON CHARLES WHEELER.
CLOSE ON MIGUEL.
CLOSE ON WALTER KENTON.
CLOSE ON BOB SEIDMAN.
CLOSE ON THE MARINE JUROR.
CLOSE ON JAMEY COLLINS, sweating bullets on the stand.
JUDGE GARNETT
In this courtroom, Mr. Miller, justice is blind. To matters of race,
creed, color, religion.
And sexual orientation.
JOE
With all due respect, Your Honor... We don't live in this courtroom,
do we?
JUDGE GARNETT
No. We don't... However, as regards this witness, I'm going to sustain
the defense's objection.
CUT TO:
COURTHOUSE MEN'S ROOM, FIVE URINALS, THREE SINKS (INT./DAY).
The MARINE JUROR, the RETIRED POSTAL WORKER JUROR, and AN UPTIGHT
BUSINESSMAN JUROR stand at the urinals, with an empty urinal between
each of them. The MARINE JUROR whistles while he pees (a classic
rock tune, like "Radar Love.") The BUSINESSMAN sighs,
"Ahhhhhh."
The RETIRED POSTAL WORKER JUROR jingles change.
The ROCK MUSICIAN JUROR enters, stepping up to the urinal between
the BUSINESSMAN and the MARINE. He unzips, and it seems to take
him an incredibly long time to extricate his urinary organ. This
does not escape the MARINE'S notice.
ROCK MUSICIAN JUROR
(innocently, to Marine)
I have some gay friends. What's the biggie?
The MARINE says nothing.
ROCK MUSICIAN JUROR (CONT.)
Everybody has a couple of gay friends. Don't you?
MARINE
No, sir. I do not.
The MARINE moves closer to the urinal, so that no one can see his
private parts.
ROCK MUSICIAN JUROR
You might have them, and just not know they're gay.
The MARINE shakes, zips, flushes, turns away. He pauses to look
directly at the ROCK MUSICIAN JUROR.
MARINE
I know.
CUT TO:
WALTER KENTON ON THE WITNESS STAND (INT./DAY) ...
JOE
And how many weeks at a time would you be out to sea, without stopping
at port?
KENTON
Anywhere from two weeks, to several months.
JOE
Any women on board?
Kenton glances at the MARINE JUROR.
KENTON
Not when I was in the Navy.
JOE
So during those long voyages, months at a time, out to sea, no women
in sight, a hundred, hardworking, robust, young men, in the prime
of their life, at
the peak of their natural appetites, desires, their god- given,
hormonal instincts... Anything going on?
KENTON
Going on... like...?
JOE
Like... two sailors playing hide the salami.
Andrew covers his face with his hands.
BELINDA
Objection!
JUDGE GARNETT
Mr. Miller!
KENTON
(can't resist)
We had one guy like that.
BELINDA
You haven't ruled on my objection, Your Honor.
Kenton seems eager to tell his story. Joe stands with crossed arms,
waiting.
JUDGE GARNETT
Let's continue.
JOE
(to Kenton)
You had one guy "like that?"
KENTON
Yeah. But we took care of him.
JOE
How did you do that?
KENTON
We stuck his head in the latrine, after ten of us had used it.
LAUGHTER and SOME APPLAUSE from some SPECTATORS, and some JURORS.
ACTIVISTS BOO and HISS.
The JUDGE POUNDS HIS GAVEL.
JOE
You taught him a lesson.
KENTON
Yes, we did.
JOE
Like firing Andrew Beckett taught him a lesson?
BELINDA
Objection!
JOE
I'll withdraw.
(moving on quickly)
You were aware, when you worked with Maria Torres, that she had
AIDS, correct?
KENTON
She didn't try to conceal it.
JOE
So you are aware of the difference between a lesion and a bruise,
is that correct?
KENTON
I know the difference. That doesn't mean I'm always able to recognize
the difference.
JOE
But didn't you avoid contact with Ms. Torres, after you found out
she had AIDS? She says you acted repulsed by her and you avoided
her, is that correct?
KENTON
I felt, and still feel, nothing but the deepest sympathy and compassion
for people like Maria, who have contracted this terrible disease
through no
fault of their own.
CUT TO LOUD CLASSICAL MUSIC:
IN THE KITCHEN OF THEIR APARTMENT, MIGUEL POURS MEDICINE into an
IV drip unit (INT./NIGHT) ...
LOUD CLASSICAL MUSIC IN THE BACKGROUND.
Miguel glances at a chart on the wall, in which a day is broken
into hours, with medical instructions for each hour
MIGUEL
(shouting over MUSIC)
Drew! Are you ready? If we start at eight, we'll be done by twelve.
Miguel taps the IV bag, getting the drip started.
A cat jumps onto the counter. Miguel holds it.
CUT TO:
ANDREW SITS AT THE DININGROOM TABLE, MAKING NOTES ON A LEGAL pad,
holding out his left arm (INT./NIGHT). A catheter is imbedded into
Andrew's arm, and Miguel is trying to get the IV drip started through
the catheter. The MUSIC is lower...
MIGUEL
It's not going through.
ANDREW
(focused on his work)
We'll have to flush it again.
Andrew reaches for a law book.
MIGUEL
Hold still. Shit.
(trying again)
The goddamn vein's clotted. We have to go the goddamn hospital,
so they can change the goddamn
catheter.
ANDREW
I have too much work to do. Skip the treatment.
MIGUEL
We're not skipping this treatment.
ANDREW
I said, skip it, Michael. It's my treatment.
MIGUEL
Fuck you.
ANDREW
Fuck you. This shit's probably not doing me any good anyway.
MIGUEL
That shit's saving your life, you asshole!
Miguel shoves away from the table.
ANDREW
What's wrong with you?
MIGUEL
Close the law book.
ANDREW
I'm not going to close the--
MIGUEL
CLOSE THE FUCKING LAW BOOK!
Andrew slams it SHUT.
ANDREW
ALLRIGHT IT'S CLOSED!
(beat)
Jesus!
MIGUEL
The least you can do is look at me, while I'm sticking this shit
into your arm. Forget the
fucking case, one hour a day, and give me a little of your time.
ANDREW
(very quiet)
You don't think there's much time left, do you?
MIGUEL
That's not what I said.
ANDREW
You're scared. You think we're near the end.
MIGUEL
No.
ANDREW
Maybe I should start making plans, is that what you think? Start
planning my memorial service?
"Begin to prepare for the inevitable."
MIGUEL
(low)
Maybe you should think about it.
ANDREW
What's that mean?!
MIGUEL
(very difficult)
Maybe you should think about it.
A MOMENT.
ANDREW
I'm not going to die.
MIGUEL
That's right. We're on the Positive Plan. You
don't have a Fatal Disease, you have Manageable Illness.
ANDREW
You want me to give up? Let this thing turn us into victims?
MIGUEL
Then, what are we, Drew?! The winners? "Ladies and gentlemen,
the first prize of AIDS goes to
Andrew Beckett and his lover Miguel..." Excuse me, I'm not
your lover. I'm your Care Partner. FUCK!
ANDREW
I'm not ready to die.
MIGUEL
Do you think I'm ready for it?! I hate this shit. I'm not a fucking
martyr! I hate every goddamn part of it!
Miguel slides down the wall, sitting in a heap.
Andrew goes to him. They hug. Miguel holds him tight.
MIGUEL (CONT.)
Please don't leave me. I love you so much. Don't die, don't leave
me, please...
Miguel rocks in Andrew's arms. Andrew kisses the top of his head,
holding tight.
ANDREW
I am so scared. I am so fucking,
incredibly, fucking scared...
A MOMENT. Andrew stroking Miguel's hair, as he calms down.
ANDREW (CONT.)
You know, there's only one thing to do.
(beat)
We have to have a party.
CUT TO:
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