INT. GRAY HOUSE/LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
PETER GRAY is standing with NED GRAY in his arms, and a
bottle, looking out the window.
Amy walks in from the other room. She is silent just watching
him and his baby. They are obviously having a father son
moment. Amy enjoys watching it.
AMY
Hey, big brother.
Peter turns around. Damn, he's been caught being a nice guy.
PETER
He was crying, I thought he might
be hungry.
AMY
(Sarcastic)
Whatever.
Peter goes back to the window and continues giving the baby
milk as Amy watches.
AMY (CONT'D)
He loves you.
PETER
What?
AMY
Ned loves you. I wondered if Lauren
did when she was younger.
PETER
How do you know.
AMY
He's too young to know any
different, too young to know if
you're punishing him, too young to
know you don't have a clue what
you're doing.. You think he loves
Gillian more?
PETER
No. I just want to spend time with
him.
AMY
Jack wanted to get a sitter for
Lauren... if he couldn't be around
enough for them to bond... He
didn't want me to be either.
PETER
I have to work, it's hard for me to
spend any time with Ned. I guess I
started to think that... You know
he might...
AMY
He loves you.
Peter looks back down at the baby, then out the window.
AMY (CONT'D)
Dinner's ready.
PETER
Okay... I'll be right there.
INT. GRAY HOUSE/DINNING ROOM - EVENING
The whole family is sitting around the table quietly eating.
Gillian is only pushing her food around on her plate. Maxine
and Peter "seem" more hungry. They know something's wrong but
don't broach the issue.
Lauren knows something is awry too, but she wants to know
what's happening. She looks up from her food and around the
table.
LAUREN
Are you fighting?
No one answers Lauren.
MAXINE
Go on... Answer the girl.
AMY
It's nothing Ma... Really.
The group goes back to eating. Lauren continues looking
around in a way that says she knows it's not nothing.
Amy puts down her fork and contemplates what to say for a few
beats then speaks.
AMY (CONT'D)
(to Gillian)
So what if Radkie is messing
around. So what if it's-
PETER
Wait. Radkie... Mark Radkie the
councilman?
AMY
Vincent's doing a story about him
keeping his secretary as a
mistress. Why, you know him?
PETER
No... I was just wondering.
Shrugging off Peter.
AMY
How much can one hotel room cost...
It can't put too big a dent in the
budget... And even if it does...
I'd rather just pay the taxes then
have to another person get drug
threw the mud.
GILLIAN
Well you'd better get out your
checkbook because once he starts
getting away with this he'll never
stop.
AMY
How do you know it's even true.
Vincent, do you have one shred of
evidence it's true?
VINCENT
Oh... I'm not getting in this one.
GILLIAN
Of course it's true. Name one time
it hasn't been true.
AMY
Me and Bruce.
GILLIAN
That's different... These
politicians can't live with one
girl, they're all the same. You
know a lot of people at city
hall... You know they're all the
same, don't you Peter.
PETER
I don't know. I kind of agree with
Amy.
AMY
You do?
GILLIAN
You do?
VINCENT
You do?
MAXINE
He does?
A long pause.
GILLIAN
But how does it look if he gets
caught on his first time compared
to his tenth. If you're so avid a
supporter, you can at least see the
logic in that.
AMY
Oh! So now you're thinking about
him. How can you think this would
ever help him. So they work
together... So they see each other
outside of work.
(Starting to rant)
Can't a man and a woman work
together, for late hours and not
sleep together? If some guy with a
grudge comes through, he can just
say the word and get all the mice
scurrying? And why the hell is it
that everyone is so damned eager to
believe it. Isn't it possible for a
man to work under a woman without
having to be under the woman.
Amy bolts out of her seat to stand over the table.
AMY (CONT'D)
I am a professional, Mr. Van Exel
is a professional, and our
relationship is professional!
Amy realizes that she is no longer talking about Radkie but
herself. She looks at everyone for a second in a state of
confusion, then leaves the room.
LAUREN
They're not fighting, right
Grandma?
MAXINE
(Smiling)
That's right dear... They're not
fighting.
INT. LAUREN'S BED ROOM - NIGHT
Amy carries Lauren into the room and puts her under the
sheets.
She then pulls the sheets up and tucks Lauren in.
AMY
(Whispering)
I love you.
Amy leans down and kisses her on the cheek.
Amy walks to the door, and turns out the light.
LAUREN
Mommy?
AMY
Yes, sweetie?
LAUREN
I love you.
Amy looks at Lauren and wonders how she means it. Amy
contemplates asking but decides not to.
FADE OUT.
END ACT I
ACT II
FADE IN:
INT. AMY'S COURTROOM - DAY
Amy reads from a file while she talks about the case.
AMY
Mr. Staten. You were late for a
class, you tried to run and get in
before the bell. But a teacher...
Ms. Carmikle saw you when a semi
automatic Glock nine millimeter
pistol fell from your jacket. Ms.
Carmikle got the gun before you
could and took you to the office.
And that's when the police were
brought in. You are now being
charged with gun possession on
school grounds... Ms. Hutchison, is
there anything you wish to add?
HUTCHISON
Your Honor was quite complete in
your description of the facts.
However, I would add that Mr.
Staten had declared a week prior
his intention to kill Ms. Hormel,
his World History teacher. We are
also charging Mr. Staten with both
possession of a fire arm on school
property and attempted first degree
murder.
Amy shuffles through her papers.
AMY
I don't have an attempted murder
charge here.
HUTCHISON
It's a last minute amendment, Your
Honor. A witness has just come
forward that makes the link.
AMY
I presume I will see this witness
at trial?
HUTCHISON
Yes, Your Honor, we have him on our
revised witness list.
AMY
Okay then. What about bail?
HUTCHISON
Because of the severity of the
charges and Mr. Staten's apparent
disregard for the safety of others
we do strongly oppose bail.
Ms. Hutchison sits down.
AMY
Mr. Babbit, I assume you have a
different opinion on bail.
Amy continues her paper work while the defence attorney
shuffles papers.
It then comes to Amy's attention that Mr. Babbit is not
planning on talking.
AMY (CONT'D)
Mr. Babbit do you have a response?
BABBIT
Yes, Your-
Mr. Babbit stands up.
BABBIT (CONT'D)
Yes, Your Honor, I'm sorry but I
have yet to have a chance to look
over this case fully. In fact, this
is the first time I've even spoken
to my client.
AMY
I'm in no way impressed by that,
yet you seem to be bragging Mr.
Babbit. Your client is charged with
bringing a concealed weapon to
school and trying to kill a
teacher. This isn't a speeding
ticket, so I'm not too happy to see
you come into my court so
unprepared that you can't even
enter a plea.
BABBIT
I'm sorry, Your Honor. We'll enter
an initial plea of not guilty and
oppose bail.
AMY
For some reason I feel like
trusting the states opinion a
little more right now. So I'm going
to hold Mr. Staten without bail.
But if you want to amend your plea
I can see you...
Looking over at Bruce.
AMY (CONT'D)
Later today?
BRUCE
Two.
AMY
At two, between now and then I hope
you can meet with your client, and
figure out your case... Till then
we'll recess.
Amy gets up and leaves courtroom.
INT. AMY'S CHAMBERS - DAY
Amy walks into her chambers followed by Bruce. Amy unzips her
robe and puts it in the closet.
BRUCE
The Almamatrys are asking for about
thirty minutes. I can fit it in
today.
AMY
No. Wait till tomorrow.
BRUCE
Why?
AMY
I want to see them squirm. Make it
late in the day too.
BRUCE
Four thirty.
AMY
And don't call them till almost
three. Just long enough so they
don't think I'll ever see them.
BRUCE
Why won't they just appeal.
AMY
It would take too long. This way,
it'll take just long enough for my
point to get across.
Amy is getting a bit of a "power high." But not too much,
Bruce gives her a look that makes her feel a little guilty.
INT. PETER'S OFFICE - DAY
Peter is working at his desk on paper work.
RECEPTIONIST (V.O.)
Councilman Radkie is here to see
you sir.
Peter presses on the intercom button
PETER
Please send him in.
Peter closes the file he is working on. Then stands to greet
Mark Radkie as he walks in the door.
PETER (CONT'D)
Mark!
RADKIE
(Shaking hands)
Mr. Gray.
Radkie sits down in a chair in front of Peter's desk. Peter
sits on the edge of his desk looking down on the good
councilman.
PETER
How's everything at cityhall?
RADKIE
(irritated)
Busy.
A long pause.
PETER
I don't know if it's true and I
don't even care, but I wanted to
tell you before it's in the papers
tomorrow... My brother is a
reporter for the Hartford Harold.
RADKIE
Yes... Vincent he's been a pain in
the past.
PETER
He got a tip that you're... You're
having an affair.
RADKIE
I should go.
This hits Radkie hard. It's obvious from his body language,
that this man is as guilty as can be.
The Councilman stands and shakes Peter's hand.
PETER
I don't want this to effect the
policy.
RADKIE
I wouldn't expect you to want
that... I should be going.
Peter holds the door open for Radkie.
RADKIE (CONT'D)
Good day.
INT. DCF/CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY
Maxine sits at the table talking to Jacklyn.
MAXINE
Do you like staying with your
mother?
JACKLYN
I love being at her house... It's a
lot of fun.
MAXINE
What do you do for fun when you're
at your mother's?
JACKLYN
I play with my friends.
MAXINE
What do you do with your friends?
JACKLYN
We play games.
MAXINE
Like Monopoly?
JACKLYN
(Little giggle)
Like Monopoly.
MAXINE
How about your mother? Do you know
what she does for fun?
JACKLYN
She plays with her friends too.
MAXINE
(Concerned)
Jacklyn, what does your mother do
with her friends?
JACKLYN
(Giggling)
They talk silly and stuff.
MAXINE
Do you ever talk silly with them?
JACKLYN
No... They smell funny too... I
just play in my room.
Maxine knows exactly what she's talking about, but Jacklyn
has no idea.
Maxine gets up.
MAXINE
I need to go out here and talk to
someone real fast. Jacklyn, you
just stay here. Okay?
Maxine leaves to:
INT. DCF - CONTINUOUS
Sean is walking past and Maxine catches him.
MAXINE
Sean!
SEAN
(Patronizing)
Maxine, how's the case coming?
MAXINE
If I didn't know better I'd say you
knew more then you told me.
SEAN
And why would you think that?
MAXINE
Because there's nothing in that
file that said to me it would be a
difficult case, but you still knew.
Sean is dealing with files on his desk not paying much
attention to Maxine.
SEAN
Call it intuition.
MAXINE
The girl might want to be with her
mother, but her mother sure doesn't
make it easy. If DCF had taken this
girl away we'd never let a parent
like that have her back. But what
would Jacklyn think of not living
with her mother. What should I do.
What... should I do?
Maxine looks back at the little girl in the conference room.
INT. ROCKWELL HOUSE/LIVING ROOM/B&W STILLS - DAY
Nicole and some friends are sitting in a circle, on the
floor.
One has a pipe in their hand and is lighting it.
The pipe is then passed.
Jacklyn peeks around the corner and sees what's happening.
Jacklyn then rests against the wall in the hallway with her
legs against her chest as she cries.
INT. CITY HALL - DAY
Vincent walks through the door into a small busy office. He
walks up to a CLERK at her desk. He pulls out his press
credentials.
VINCENT
Hello. My name's Vincent Gray from
The Examiner. I was-
CLERK
I'm sorry, Mr. Gray, I've been
instructed not to talk to you.
VINCENT
What?!?... Who told you that?
CLERK
I'm sorry, Mr. Gray, I'm going to
have to ask you to leave.
Two uniformed police officers enter the room behind Vincent.
VINCENT
Why can't you talk to me?
CLERK
(To the officers)
Officers, could you please escort
Mr. Gray from the building.
The officers grab Vincent and start to pull him out of the
room.
VINCENT
Who talked to you?
CLERK
I'm sorry, Mr. Gray.
The clerk goes back to work.
INT. AMY'S COURTROOM - DAY
Babbit is standing, talking to the court.
BABBIT
Your Honor, I'd like to ask for a
continuation in order to fully
prepare the case. And I would also
ask that my client be released on
his own recognizance. He's not a
great student, but has no previous
record, and is not a flight risk.
HUTCHISON
Your Honor, I would protest Mr.
Staten being released.
AMY
Mr. Babbit I'm going to grant you
your continuation, but only till
tomorrow morning.
But you should know that you're
going into trial with a judge who
does not respect you. I'm also
going to grant bail for two
thousand dollars. He's fifteen Ms.
Hutchinson. He's not a flight
risk... The trial will be scheduled
for tomorrow at ten am, I won't
grant a continuation again so I
hope you'll be ready Mr. Babbit.
BABBIT
I will, Your Honor.
AMY
Then we'll adjourn till tomorrow at
ten.
INT. PETER'S OFFICE - DAY
Peter is working at his desk.
Vincent storms into the office...
RECEPTIONIST
I tried to stop Mr. Gray.
...and slams the door.
VINCENT
What do you think you're doing
Peter!
PETER
Calm down Vincent.
VINCENT
I can understand if you don't think
I should do a story, that's one
thing. But telling Radkie that I
am...
PETER
What are you talking about?
Vincent slams a paper on Peter's desk.
VINCENT
Your trying to get some big
insurance contract with the city
and Radkie's your swing vote.
Peter doesn't look at the paper, but he doesn't say anything
either.
VINCENT (CONT'D)
Read it... It's in black and white.
PETER
I know what it says, Vincent.
VINCENT
You did tell him, didn't you?
PETER
If Radkie signs, it means a lot
more business.
VINCENT
Money, that's what it means, your
business, and your money.
PETER
My business. It's our father's
business. I'm just the only one
left who cares about it.
VINCENT
There isn't a source left in town
who'll talk to me. How can I do a
story with out sources?
PETER
So you're not doing the story?
VINCENT
I'm doing it. I might not have any
sources anymore, but I'll still do
it.
PETER
Well, if you're doing the story, it
sounds as if I won't be getting the
policy. So I should get back to
work and try to make up for it.
Vincent turns to leave and Peter sits back down at his desk.
INT. AMY'S COURTROOM - DAY
MR. DAVIES is on the stand. He is a man in his mid-forties
dressed in Sunday's best.
DAVIES
I like to have lunch in the
cafeteria with the students in
order not to appear so above them
as some teachers do.
Last Monday I sat at a table just
behind Josh Staten and his friends
while I ate and talked with some of
my students.
HUTCHISON
Mr. Davies, could you hear Mr.
Staten's conversation?
DAVIES
Yeah. I wasn't more than five feet
away.
HUTCHISON
What were Mr. Staten and his
friends talking about?
DAVIES
From what I could understand, they
were talking about a test in Josh's
World History course.
HUTCHISON
Which was taught by Ms. Hormel.
DAVIES
Yes. Josh apparently had just
gotten back a chapter test that he
failed.
HUTCHISON
How did he feel about that.
BABBIT
Objection. Mr. Davies can't know
what my client was feeling.
AMY
Sustained.
(To Mr. Davies)
Mr. Davies, did Mr. Staten say if
he was going to do anything because
he failed the test?
DAVIES
Yes, Judge Gray, his friend asked
him what he was going to do. Josh
came back and said "I think I'm
going to have to kill her."
FADE OUT.
END ACT II
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