| JOE AND LISA STAND OUTSIDE ANDREW'S APARTMENT -- IN COSTUME. DANCE
MUSIC is playing inside (INT./NIGHT) ...
Lisa is dressed as a giant sandwich. Joe's costume looks quickly
thrown together: he's wearing a suit, but has pages from a legal
document stapled all over the suit.
JOE
Did I ever tell you, I hate costume parties?
LISA
My lettuce is wilting.
The DOOR IS OPENED -- by the LEAD SINGER OF WHITE SNAKE: big hair,
leather, guitar.
ANDREW (AS ROCKER)
PARRTYY!
JOE
We're friends of Beckett's.
ANDREW
It's me, you dork.
LISA
I'm Lisa Miller.
ANDREW
Glad to finally meet you. Come on in.
CONTINUOUS CUT TO:
JOE AND LISA FOLLOW ANDREW INTO THE APARTMENT (HE LIMPS, relying
on his cane, but he's got A LOT OF ENERGY). The room is filled with
two Madonnas, an M.C. Hammer, three nuns, a can of soup
(INT./NIGHT) ...
ANDREW
(to Lisa)
I have to introduce you to the can of soup. You can enter the costume
contest together as a lunch special.
Miguel approaches, dressed as a MEMBER OF MEGA-DEATH or ANTHRAX.
He strikes a pose, contorts his face and hits an air guitar riff.
Andrew crosses guitars with Miguel. Then:
ANDREW
This is Lisa Miller. Miguel Alvarez.
Miguel's sister MARIA is passing by with a GROUP OF FRIENDS. Everyone
ad libs greetings.
MIGUEL
My sister, Maria.
(to Lisa)
Pastrami on rye?
LISA
Corned beef.
MIGUEL
Want to dance?
LISA
Sure!
Miguel leads Lisa away. Joe is reluctant to give her up.
JOE
Beckett. You seem... better. Energized, more alive...
ANDREW
I had a blood transfusion today. I feel great.
Andrew studies Joe, trying to figure out the costume.
JOE
I'm a law suit.
ANDREW
Not bad.
JOE
Get it?
ANDREW
Let's find you a drink.
Andrew leads Joe through the crowd, greeting Rachel, skin painted
blue (SMURFETTE) her daughter AMY (BART SIMPSON), Anthea, TYRONE
from Dr. Gillman's office (A COWBOY), and TYRONE'S LOVER (A HORSE)
... Some of Dr. Gillman's PATIENTS are here too, including the YOUNG
ASIAN MAN who is now in a wheelchair. And, one or two of ANDREW'S
SIBLINGS may be present as well. And Alan, Bruno and Chandra, and
some arty friends and neighbors.
ANDREW (CONT.)
What do you want?
JOE
Beer.
(patting his briefcase)
We need to go over your Q and A.
ANDREW
Excuse me, I'm having a goddamn party, is that allright with you?
JOE
Sure. It's fine.
ANDREW
No, we have to do it. But later, allright?
JOE
Thank you.
A MAN dressed as LA TOYA JACKSON (with fake snake) squeezes past
Joe, reaching for a beer.
LA TOYA
'Scuse me, darling.
Andrew is SMILING at Joe.
JOE
You think I'm uncomfortable...
ANDREW
Correct.
JOE
You're right.
Joe spills beer down his shirt.
ANDREW
Thank you.
CUT TO A SERIES OF PARTY MOMENTS OVER LOUD MUSIC:
--Andrew and Miguel ROCKING to HEAVY METAL MUSIC, playing a battle
of the guitars. At one point, Andrew has to sit down, but he doesn't
stop "playing," while Miguel jumps all around him.
--Joe talking to a MAN DRESSED AS MARIE ANTOINETTE:
MARIE ANTOINETTE
I'm an accountant. What do you do?
JOE
I'm a lawyer.
(points to Lisa)
That's my wife!
--Andrew's mother Sarah, as Marge Simpson, delivers a tray of hors
d'oeuvres to Joe (standing next to a POLICEMAN):
SARAH
Have a cocktail wienie.
JOE
Thanks, Sarah.
(to the POLICEMAN)
Nice costume.
POLICEMAN
It's not a costume, I just got off work. You're cute.
JOE
(pointing to Lisa)
That's my wife. Want to see a picture of my baby?
POLICEMAN
(reaching for his wallet)
Absolutely. Want to see a picture of my baby?
--Everyone SLOW DANCES to the Talking Heads tune "Heaven"
(Simply Red cover version): Joe and Lisa, Andrew and
Miguel, Rachel with a sleepy Amy in her arms, the POLICEMAN and
TYRONE, Sarah Beckett and MARIE ANTOINETTE, LA TOYA and her snake.
"HEAVEN" CONTINUES OVER:
A CAB IDLING IN THE STREET, LISA KISSING JOE (NIGHT).
JOE
I'll see you in an hour, max.
LISA
Night, honey.
Lisa climbs into the cab which she is sharing with the NUN and
MARIE ANTOINETTE and LA TOYA.
NUN/MARIE ANTOINETTE/LA TOYA
Night, Joe!
"HEAVEN" CONTINUES OVER:
QUIET IN ANDREW'S CONDO, THE PARTY LONG OVER (INT/NIGHT).
Joe opens his briefcase, removing a legal pad with notes.
ANDREW
Congratulations, Miller.
Andrew clears away party debris from the table, making space for
his legal work. He is attached to an IV line, which is connected
to a drip bag on a rolling stand, that can move with him. He is
no longer in costume.
ANDREW (CONT.)
You survived your first gay party intact.
JOE
Let me tell you something, okay? When you're brought up, like the
rest of us, in a place like where
I was brought up, there's not a whole lot of discussion about...
homosexuals. As a kid, you're taught right away that queers are
weird, queers are
funny, they're a danger to kids, they're afraid to fight, and they
all want to cop your joint. And
that pretty much sums up the general thinking out there, if you
want to know the truth.
ANDREW
Thank you for sharing that with me, Joe.
JOE
Let's review these notes for your testimony. We have a big day on
Monday.
Joe begins ticking off a list of courtroom reminders:
JOE (CONT.)
When you refer to Wheeler, call him Charles, to show how you'd been
admitted to the inner circle, you
were considered one of them.
ANDREW
(distracted)
Uh huh...
JOE (CONT.)
Beckett?
ANDREW
Charles. Okay. Miller?
JOE
What?
ANDREW
Do you... pray?
Joe hesitates. They're having a personal conversation?
JOE
Yeah. Sure.
Joe goes back to the notes:
JOE (CONT.)
Then we establish how Wheeler's boys recruited you after law school...
ANDREW
What have you prayed for?
JOE
For a healthy baby. For Lisa to make it through the delivery. For
the Phillies to get into the playoffs.
ANDREW
(no self-pity)
There's a possibility I won't be around for the end of this trial.
JOE
I've considered that.
ANDREW
What happens?
JOE
We proceed, representing your estate.
ANDREW
I've made provisions in my will for some charities. Miguel will
need a lawyer. I know it's not
your area...
JOE
I know a good probate lawyer.
ANDREW
Thanks.
(a beat)
Do you like opera?
Andrew moves to the stereo, pulling the IV line with him.
JOE
Opera?
ANDREW
Want to hear my favorite aria?
JOE
Opera?
SUDDENLY, AN ARIA BY MARIA CALLAS FILLS THE ROOM --
startling Joe with its VOLUME.
ANDREW
(over the MUSIC)
Andrea Chenier, by Giordano. This is Madeleine. She's telling how,
during the French revolution, a mob set fire to her house. Her mother
died, saving her.
"I look...
The place that cradled me was burning!"
Do you hear the heartache in her voice? Then, here come the strings.
Everything changes. The music fills with hope. Madeleine says...
Andrew sways through the room to the music, pulling the IV at his
side. He seems truly free and relaxed.
ANDREW (CONT.)
"It was during that sorrow that love came to me!
A voice filled with harmony That said... Live still, I am Life!"
"I am the god that descends From the heavens to the earth
To make of the earth A heaven!"
ANGLE ON JOE: Shifting, uncomfortable.
ANDREW (CONT.)
"I am Oblivion!
I am Glory!
I am Love, Love, Love!"
The MUSIC ENDS.
Joe sits there, fidgeting. He reaches for his briefcase organizing
his notes.
JOE
I think I'll... I told Lisa.
Andrew collects himself, as Joe rises from his chair.
ANDREW
Right.
Andrew follows Joe to the door.
ANDREW (CONT.)
(businesslike)
I'll look over the Q and A.
JOE
You're ready, don't worry.
An awkward moment, both men standing with their hands at their
sides -- will one of them initiate a handshake?
Joe gives a little "salute," then leaves.
CONTINUOUS CUT TO:
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