HARRY'S LAW 7th 6 17 10

Executive Producer: David E. Kelley Executive Producer: Bill D’Elia Co-Executive Producer: Mike Listo Directed By: Bill D’Elia

“HARRY’S LAW”

‐Pilot‐

#2j5941

Written By

David E. Kelley

© 2009 WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC. This script is the property of Bonanza Productions Inc. No portion of this script may be performed, reproduced or used by any means, or disclosed to, quoted or published in any medium without the prior written consent of Bonanza Productions Inc.

SEVENTH DRAFT June 17, 2010

“HARRY’S LAW” #2j5941 – Pilot - SEVENTH DRAFT – 6/17/2010

“Harry’s Law”

CAST LIST

HARRIET (HARRY) KORN ADAM STORM JENNA BACKSTROM MALCOLM DAVIES TIFFANY QUINN Judge Ronald Winston D.A. Josh Peyton Officer Byron Tate Forewoman Judge Virginia Eden A.D.A. Dana Stevens Damien Winslow Officer Mitchell Officer Evans Cassie Davies Robert Fineman Dr. Max Richards Hyun Kim Della Man #1 SONG LIST: “THE HOME FIRE” (LOUIS ARMSTRONG) “HEY, BROTHER” (LOUIS ARMSTRONG) “HIGH HOPES” (JENNA)

“HARRY’S LAW” #2j5941 – Pilot - SEVENTH DRAFT – 6/17/2010 “HARRY’S LAW”

SET LIST

INTERIORS: SHOE STORE/LAW OFFICE – MORNING, DAY & NIGHT HARRY’S OFFICE – DAY ADAM’S OFFICE – EVENING JUDGE WINSTON’S COURTROOM – MORNING & DAY ARRAIGNMENT COURT – DAY COURT CORRIDOR - DAY PRISON – DAY SHOE STORE, CINCINNATI – DAY

LAUNDROMAT – DAY E.R. – DAY

HOSPITAL ROOM – DAY BAR - NIGHT EXTERIORS: CINCINNATI – DAY STREET – DAY

HARRY'S LAW 2j5941 - Pilot - SEVENTH DRAFT 6-17-10 1.

"HARRY'S LAW"

-Pilot-

ACT I

FADE IN:

1 INT. HARRIET'S OFFICE - DAY - NEW SCENE 1

HARRIET KORN, sixtyish, sits in her well-appointed office,riveted by the CARTOON SHE WATCHES ON TELEVISION. She'salso smoking a joint.

HARRY (V.O.)In theory, the moral of the storycomes at the end. But sometimes...it comes at the top, in the middle...and you just don't get it 'til theend.

As ROBERT FINEMAN, sixties, enters. JENNA BACKSTROM,thirties, stands at the doorway, we get the sense shetried to stop him from charging in. He walks to theTELEVISION, TURNS IT OFF.

HARRY (CONT'D)I was watching that, Robert.

FINEMANIn less than a month, you've gonefrom being one of the best patentlawyers in all of Cincinnati to apot-head who sits in her officewatching... What the hell has happened?

HARRYWell... what's happened is, afterthirty-two years of rather dedicatedpractice, I've come to theunfortunate if not altogether-surprising conclusion that patentlaw is as boring as a big bowl ofsteaming dog -- shut the door, Jenna.

JENNA does.

HARRY (CONT'D)It's dull, Robert.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)


1 CONTINUED: 1

HARRY (CONT'D)I lead a dull life with dullpartners, I consider you foremostamong them, I would sooner lookinto a mirror and watch my teethrot than do one more case involvingpatent law. As always, I valueyour feedback.

FINEMANI'm afraid this is the end, Harry.

HARRYThe end of what?

FINEMANThe end of your relationship withthis firm. You're fired.

UP MUSIC: LOUIS ARMSTRONG - "THE HOME FIRE."

OFF Harry, we:

CUT TO:

2 EXT. STREET - DAY (COMBO NEW AND FORMER SCENE 5) 2

THE MUSIC CONTINUES, As Harry walks, a look of stunneddisillusionment on her face.

LOUIS ARMSTRONG(singing)

Pardon the smile on my face, myfriend/ Dreamin' of reachin' myjourney's end/...

HARRY (O.S.)It's certainly been said that everyknock is a boost.

Suddenly-- WOMP. A BLACK MAN, age nineteen, lands ontop of Harry.

HARRY (O.S.) (CONT'D)Not sure who said it.

She's flat on her back, unconscious, as MALCOLM DAVIES,nineteen, the falling assailant, a little shockey, rises. There's SOME IMMEDIATE AND ESCALATING PANIC FROM BYSTANDERSduring--

(CONTINUED)


2 CONTINUED: 2

MALCOLMOh my God! Are you alright? Oh myGod.

But Harry doesn't move.

MALCOLM (CONT'D)(screaming)

Somebody call an ambulance! Help! Somebody call nine-one-one!

(then)Help! Please don't die. Pleasedon't die.

TIME CUT TO:

3 EXT. STREET - LATER (FORMERLY SCENE 6) 3

Harry, strapped onto a gurney, head immobilized, is beingloaded into an ambulance.

CUT TO:

4 INT. E.R. HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY (FORMERLY SCENE 6A) 4

Jenna is there as Harry gets dressed.

JENNAAre you sure you're really okay?

HARRYDoctor says I am. Nothing broken,no concussion,

(noticing)I'm missing a sock.

JENNAYou weren't wearing socks. Youdon't feel lightheaded even, ormaybe delusional?

HARRYI'm telling you, one second I'mwalking down the street, the next--

She stops upon seeing Malcolm at the door--

MALCOLMI'm so sorry.

(CONTINUED)


4 CONTINUED: 4

HARRYWhere exactly did you come from?

MALCOLMI'd jumped off the building. It's...you leap onto awnings and roll off...it's kind of an urban sport thing.

(then)I never saw you.

A beat.

HARRYWhat's your name, son?

MALCOLMMalcolm.

HARRYYou're not being truthful with me, Malcolm. Are you?

MALCOLMWhat do you mean?

HARRYThat building is six stories high. The sport you were playing is calledextreme suicide. You were tryingto kill yourself, weren't you,Malcolm?

Malcolm stares back, busted. Silence. Then--

HARRY (CONT'D)Why?

A beat. The boy looks visibly undone. As if about todissolve into tears. He flees. OFF Harry:

UP MUSIC: LOUIS ARMSTRONG - "HEY, BROTHER."

CUT TO:

5 EXT. CINCINNATI - DAY - NEW SCENE 5

Harry walks, somewhat purposelessly, THROUGH AN UNLOVEDNEIGHBORHOOD, AS WE HEAR THE MUSIC. A PEDESTRIAN BUMPSHER SLIGHTLY, innocently, it startles her perhaps morethan it should. She gives a quick glance to the sky,makes sure nobody's coming from that direction... then,as she continues on... she stops... SPIES A SHOE STORE.

(CONTINUED)


5 CONTINUED: 5

BIG SIGN "FOR RENT" IN THE WINDOW.

CLOSE ON HARRY. For whatever reason, she's utterlycaptivated by the place. A beat.

RESUME

HARRY steps off the curb to cross the street. WOMP. SHE'S SUDDENLY KNOCKED OUT OF FRAME BY A CAR; WE HEAR THESCREECH OF BRAKES AS WE:

ANGLE: A BMW SIX SERIES CAR

FISH-TAILING, SCREECHING TO A STOP. THE DRIVER, ADAMSTORM, late twenties, LEAPS OUT.

RESUME

ADAMOh my God. Oh my God.

He runs to A GROUP OF MEN, movers from a moving company,CLUSTERED AROUND THE FALLEN HARRY.

ADAM (CONT'D)(to the Men)

Is she dead? Oh my God, is shedead?

TIME CUT TO:

6 EXT. STREET - MOMENTS LATER (NEW SCENE) 6

HARRY, on a stretcher, is being taken away again.

CUT TO:

7 INT. E.R. - LATER 7

Harry with DR. MAX RICHARDS, thirties. Jenna is presentagain.

DR. RICHARDS(to Harry)

I don't understand. How can younot be dead? Or at least have brokenbones.

HARRYI told you. I landed on a mattressthese movers were unloading...

(CONTINUED)


7 CONTINUED: 7

DR. RICHARDSBut the car struck you.

HARRYMostly soft tissue.

JENNA(to the Doctor)

She's like a big stuffy.

HARRYThere you go, a diagnosis: Bigstuffy, can I go now?

DR. RICHARDSLet me first check the X-rays onemore time.

As Dr. Richards exits, he crosses Adam, entering.

ADAM(to Harry)

Are you okay?

HARRYI'm fine.

(to Jenna)This is the man who hit me. Man-who-hit-me meet Jenna, where's myother shoe?

ADAM(to Harry)

Wait a second. I know you. You'reHarriet Korn. I did a big patentcase against you, I was one of theassociates on the Firestone case, Iargued the class consolidation,remember, you called me an--

HARRY--arrogant littlesnot.

ADAM (CONT'D)--arrogant littlesnot.

HARRY (CONT'D)I remember.

(then)Were you aiming for me with yourcar?

ADAMWhat? We ended up friendly, remember, you said I grew on you.

(CONTINUED)


7 CONTINUED: (2) 7

HARRYLike a wart, you hit me on purpose,didn't you?

ADAMOf course I didn't... you steppedoff the curb, and... what were youeven doing there?

HARRYI was going to work.

ADAMIn that neighborhood?

HARRYYes. I work in that neighborhood.

ADAMExcuse me?

JENNAExcuse me?

HARRYYou heard me. I work in thatneighborhood.

Adam looks to Jenna.

JENNAShe's not herself. Before you hither, a black man fell on her head.

Dr. Richards re-enters--

DR. RICHARDS(to Harry)

I doesn't make any medical sense tome. But there's nothing broken. You can go.

UP MUSIC: LOUIS ARMSTRONG, as we:

CUT TO:

8 EXT. STREET - DAY 8

Harry walks down the street. Headed for her new life.

CUT TO:


9 INT. SHOE STORE, CINCINNATI - DAY (FORMERLY SCENE 14) 9

As Harry unpacks her law books, Jenna enters, observes. The place is unloved, dingy, and there are shoes all over. It's a shoe store.

JENNAOkay. Okay. We can make it work. Needs a little love.

HARRYJenna, I can't afford to pay you--

JENNAWhat's with all the shoes, though?

HARRYPrevious tenant. Got evicted, leftall this stuff behind.

JENNA(checking out theshoes)

Prada. Jimmy Choo,--

Suddenly, the air nearly goes out of Jenna as she picksup a particular shoe.

HARRYWhat's wrong?

JENNA(like it's the holygrail)

A white satin stiletto sandal withhorsehair and crystal straps.

HARRYIs that good?

JENNAIs it good, it's--

She suddenly grabs a different shoe; she's gobsmacked.

JENNA (CONT'D)Gold leather, five-inch woven wicker-covered wedge heel.

MALCOLM (O.S.)Ms. Korn?

Harry looks up to see Malcolm.

(CONTINUED)


9 CONTINUED: 9

MALCOLM (CONT'D)(contrite)

I was trying to kill myself.

HARRYOkay. Why?

MALCOLMI'm facing prison. I got arrestedon a drug charge. Third offense. I uh... I got a cocaine problem. I'm working on it but...

(a beat)Anyway, I was thinking... everythinghappens for a reason. And I figureI landed splat on you 'cause I wasn'tmeant to die.

(then)Will you represent me? Please?

HARRYSon. I'm not a criminal lawyer.

MALCOLMI Googled you. You're s'posed tobe really good.

HARRYAt patent law.

JENNA(sotto)

Harry, you need clients, it's notas if you have any and this...

(she's suddenlyarrested by anothershoe)

this is a deep blue leather with apeep-toe.

MALCOLMMs. Korn. I know it sounds crazy. But I really do think I fell on youfor a reason. I mean... I suddenlydon't wanna die anymore.

HARRYBecause you gained perspective,near-death experiences can do that.

MALCOLMMaybe. Or maybe it's somethingabout you.

(CONTINUED)


9 CONTINUED: (2) 9

OFF Harry, we:

CUT TO:

10 INT. ADAM'S OFFICE - EVENING - NEW SCENE 10

Adam is in his high-end shiny office, with his assistant,TIFFANY QUINN, twenties, sweet.

TIFFANYEvidently she got fired for smokingmarijuana.

ADAMMarijuana? Medicinal?

TIFFANYI don't know. Then, evidently, asshe was walking down the street, ablack man did in fact fall on herhead. She was released from thehospital, that's when you hit her. What are the odds, being hit byboth a black man and a car?

ADAMYou know the irony? When I was onthat case against her... I lovedwatching her work, I remember sayingto myself, "please let me run intothis lady again." But not with acar. She's really working in thatneighborhood?

TIFFANYThat's the rumor.

(then)There's a lot of pot in thatneighborhood.

OFF Adam, we:

CUT TO:

11 INT. SHOE STORE/LAW OFFICE - DAY (COMB FORMER SC 20 & NEW) 11

The place is already notably neater. Jenna, in the b.g.,wears a little apron, like a French maid. Harry screws alight-bulb into her new lamp, as Malcolm implores her.

(CONTINUED)


11 CONTINUED: 11

HARRY(to Malcolm)

There's nothing I can do. I don'tknow how many times I have to sayit.

MALCOLMThere's always something a lawyercan do.

HARRYOh, those would be the lawyers onTV. There's always something theycan do. That's why they're on TV.

MALCOLMYou think this is funny?

HARRY(turning from thelamp to him)

Malcolm. You were caught buyingfrom an undercover agent. This isyour third offense. You're goingto have to do some time.

And Malcolm wells up.

HARRY (CONT'D)(re: the tears)

Oh. Here we go.

Jenna shoots a look at Harry: "You have to help him." Harry fires back a look: "What do you expect me to do?"

MALCOLMI'm a freshman in college. I'm thefirst one in my family who evermade it...

(struggling)You have no idea how many peopleI'm gonna be letting down.

HARRYLet me talk to the D.A., see ifhe's willing to consider a plea.

MALCOLMThank you.

Note: REMAINDER OF SCENE IS NEW MATERIAL

(CONTINUED)


11 CONTINUED: (2) 11

HARRYCheck in with me tomorrow, I'll letyou know what I find out.

MALCOLMThank you. Thank you.

As Adam enters, carrying a box, he's a whirlwind. Tiffanyis with him, she also carries a box.

ADAM(motor-mouth)

Okay, okay, okay, how we doin',I'll take that desk, Tiff, why don'tyou sit there.

(to Jenna)little coffee, Jen, no sugar please,

(to Malcolm)hey, don't tell me, falling blackman, how you doin', I hear you likedrugs, are we on them now, track myfinger, left, right, left, right,little tip for the future, you wantto jump, okay, but not on lawyers,

(to Jenna)coffee, coffee, coffee, coffee.

HARRYWhat are you doing?

ADAMWhat does it look like I'm doing,I'm unloading my stuff, surely you'veseen stuff before. My assistant,Tiffany, this is Harriet.

HARRYWhat the hell are you doing?

As Malcolm exits--

ADAMI'm temping. I took a little leaveuntil you land on your feet, leastI could do after knocking you offthem, I figure two weeks--

HARRYYou're not working here.

(CONTINUED)



ADAMWhy not, we can be a team, me andyou, you and me, happy together, orhowever that stupid song went,

(to Jenna)I'm not getting coffee, am I?

HARRYGet out.

ADAMHarriet, come on. We did clickbefore.

HARRYWe did not click. I didn't likeyou then, I'm liking you less now.

ADAMYou think you can do this alone,maybe you can, but I'd like to helpyou just the same, the chance--

(to Tiffany)maybe you can get Jenna to tell youwhere the coffee is,

(back to Harry)I won't lie, I look at this as anopportunity, the chance to pickyour nose for two weeks -- meant tosay 'brain' there -- it would be adream. I mean, of all the people Icould've mowed down with my performance vehicle,... it was you.

A beat, as DAMIEN WINSLOW, African-American, twenties,enters. A little dangerous, but something delicious abouthim, a contagious charmer of sorts.

DAMIEN(oozing charm)

Hey, ladies, how we doin',(to Adam)

how ya doin', Slick,(to Harry)

may I speak to the manager?

HARRYWho are you?

(CONTINUED)



DAMIENMy name is Damien Winslow, I'm CEOof Winslow Security, Inc., we provideprivatized security to the localmerchants in the neighborhood, whichis necessary 'cos Cincinnati's Finestaren't too quick to respondsometimes, know what I'm sayin',

(to Jenna)'Sup, Sweet,

(to Adam)'Sup, Slick,

(to Harry)I think you'll find two hundreddollars a month to be veryreasonable, are you the manager?

HARRYI am. And I pass.

DAMIENWell, I don't think you mean to dothat.

ADAMLook, Bub, can I call you Bub, 'cosI sense a connection. She passed.

Damien glares at Adam. Then--

DAMIEN(to Harry)

It's just the merchants who do notengage the services of WinslowSecurity, Inc., tend to beburglarized, vandalized, plagiarized,etc. etc., know what I'm sayin'?

HARRYYes, thank you again, but I'vealready got protection, so I won'tbe needing Winslow Security, Inc.

DAMIENOh, you got protection, do you, andwho that be?

She opens a drawer, pulls out a Magnum, puts it on the desk.

HARRYIt be this.

A beat. Adam's eyes bulge a bit.

(CONTINUED)



DAMIENLady. I can tell I'm gonna likeyou.

HARRYIsn't that funny, 'cos I don't muchlike you at all.

Damien's face goes slightly colder.

HARRY (CONT'D)Tell you what, Damien. You cansmash my windows, beat me up and,God forbid, plagiarize my lovedones, but I'm a lawyer who's usedto working with P.I.s, D.A.s, andpolice, some of 'em honest, othersnot so much. I have the means tofind out all about you, your mother,your sister, and your wife, shouldyou have them, say hello to myiphone, by the way, it just tookyour picture, you got a family, Mr.Winslow? 'Cos if anything shouldhappen to me, my people will seekout and destroy yours.

(a beat)So... Damien. How should we play this?

Damien stares back. Then starts to head off, until--

HARRY (CONT'D)Now here's a deal I will make. Youprotect me and my place. And aslong as I stay safe, if and whenyou get arrested -- I'm figuringwhen -- my law firm will defend youfor free. Isn't that funny? Youwalked in here offering to save me. Turns out, I could be saving you. Don't you just love how life cantake unexpected turns?

OFF Damien, then Adam, then Harry, we:

SMASH CUT TO BLACK.

END OF ACT I


ACT II

FADE IN:

12 INT. JUDGE WINSTON'S COURTROOM - MORNING (FORMERLY SC. 23) 12

Not yet in session; LOTS OF LAWYERS, CLIENTS, PEOPLEMILLING ABOUT. WE FIND HARRY, with D.A. JOSH PEYTON,forties, leaning over the prosecutor's table, rushingthrough some last-second paperwork. He speaks quickly.

PEYTON(not looking at her)

What do you mean, let him go, youkidding me, you kidding me?

HARRYI'm not saying let him go withoutconsequences--

PEYTONYeah, just without jail, lemme tellyou, counsel, jail is the onlyconsequence these people understand.

HARRYThese people?

PEYTONOh, please, gonna make it a blackthing now, gonna make it a blackthing, gimme a break, gimme a break,third offense, I'll give you a year,best I can do, best I can do.

HARRYYeah, the thing is if he gets anytime he'll get expelled fromcollege...

PEYTONWish I could help you.

HARRYIt doesn't really sound like youwish you could help me, Mr. Peyton. In fact, it sounds more like youwish I'd bugger off. Is that whatyou really wish?

(CONTINUED)


12 CONTINUED: 12

PEYTONWhat, you wanna make sport of menow, that it? That it? 'Cause Igotta tell you, you're a slightlybigger target at the moment, youthink I don't know the book on you? Hot-shot corporate lawyer suddenlygoes cartoon-happy, now you're inhere defending drug addicts? What'sthat? What's that,

(to a PASSING COLLEAGUE)how you doin', Sal,

(back to Harry)what's that?

HARRYMr. Peyton. This boy needs a break.

PEYTONYeah, well, don't we all, lemmetell you, if you think you're gonnaget no time for a three-time loser --not gonna happen, not gonna happen.

HARRY(almost avuncular)

Look. I'm no expert on criminallaw. But more times than not, trialscome down to which lawyer a jurylikes more and my feeling is they'lllook at me and they'll look at you. And they'll tumble to something youknow all too well and which I'mbeginning to suspect.

PEYTONWhich is?

HARRYYou're an asshole.

A beat, as he stares. And breaks into a thin, sicklysmile. Like a cat who's about to swallow a canary.

CUT TO:

13 INT. SHOE STORE/LAW OFFICE - MORNING - (COMBO NEW & SC 28) 13

Jenna deals with DELLA; Adam is half-under his desk,plugging in lamps, computers, etc. Tiffany works at herdesk.

(CONTINUED)


13 CONTINUED: 13

DELLA(to Jenna; re: a shoe)

I love it, I do. But... it's a bitpricey. And this one I also like. And it's half the cost.

JENNAMay I be honest?

DELLAOf course.

As Harry enters, freezes, observes the following.

JENNA(to Della)

You say you're in sales. You wanta shoe that projects success.

(then)Prada. Not Prada. Prada. NotPrada. There's no real choice here.

TIFFANY(re: phone; callingto Harry)

Harry, it's that Damien person, hesaid something about a shooting, hesounds a little hysterical, he needsyou right away.

HARRYThat didn't take long.

TIFFANYHe's at the Korean Laundromat justtwo blocks over, the corner of Beaconand Middlesex.

As Malcolm enters--

HARRYOkay, Adam, Damien's all yours.

ADAMWhat?

HARRYYou want to work here, you need acase. Go. Malcolm, sit.

JENNA (O.S.)(to Della)

I can ring you up.

(CONTINUED)



And Malcolm sits, as Adam heads out.

REMAINDER ALREADY SHOT AS PART OF FORMER SCENE 28

HARRYI got nowhere with the D.A. Whichmeans you got two choices: Takethe deal for one year, or go forjury nullification, which basicallyis we know he did it, but "wink,wink," we let him go anyway."

MALCOLMDoes that work?

HARRYAlmost never. Take the deal.

MALCOLMNo. I want to go for it.

HARRYIn which case you could get threeyears.

MALCOLM(to Harry; weakly)

Please. Look, I know it's a long-shot but... One year is as bad asthree years as far as college... Ifell on you for a reason.

HARRYYou want some advice? I'm not sureit's technically legal, but... thingsrarely happen for a reason. Mostthings in life make absolutely nosense.

(then)And what makes the least sense ofall is for you to roll the dicewith some slam-dunk loser--

MALCOLMI'm trying this case. You bailin,'or you still with me?

She death-glares him for a beat.

MALCOLM (CONT'D)Thank you.

CUT TO:


14 EXT. STREET - DAY - NEW SCENE 14

Adam walks briskly toward the Laundromat, realizes there'sTOTAL CHAOS GOING ON INSIDE; HE CAN EVEN HEAR WAILING.

15 INT. LAUNDROMAT - CONTINUOUS - NEW SCENE 15

HYUN KIM, a smallish Korean man, is on the phone, SPEAKINGhysterical KOREAN AS PANIC ENSUES EVERYWHERE; Damien ison his knees, tending to the leg of A WOUNDED MAN, white,thirties - BLOOD IS SPURTING EVERYWHERE. IN THE CORNER,A MOTHER SITS HOLDING A TERRIFIED CHILD. A FEW HYSTERICALWITNESSES ARE SCREAMING WITH PANIC, blood is everywhere.

ADAM(to Damien)

What the...

DAMIENI musta hit a vein or something!

ADAMGet a tourniquet on!

(to Hyun)Call 911!!

(to Damien)He needs a tourniquet!!

DAMIEN(to Adam)

Give me your tie!!

The Wounded Man wails as Adam rips off his tie.

DAMIEN (CONT'D)Hurry up, man,give it to me!

ADAM(to Hyun)

Are you calling...?

As Adam hands Damien his tie--

DAMIEN(re: the wound)

Okay, stick your finger in here!!

ADAMWhat?!

DAMIENDo it, man!!

As Damien takes his finger out to get hold of the tie,BLOOD SPURTS LIKE A GEYSER.

(CONTINUED)


15 CONTINUED: 15

ADAMJesus Christ!!

DAMIENStick it in there!!

Adam gets his finger in the wound as Damien fastens thetie, using it as a tourniquet. BLOOD SHOOTS UP, SPURTSADAM IN THE FACE.

ADAMJesus!!

DAMIENJust push down, hard as you can!

ADAMI am!!

DAMIENI think I got it! I think I got it.

ADAM(screaming at Hyun)

Did you call 911?!

And HYUN SCREAMS BACK AT ADAM IN KOREAN.

DAMIEN(re: the wound)

Okay, it's stopped.(to the Wounded Man)

Hang on, bro. We cool. We cool.

ADAM(to Damien)

You shot this man?

DAMIENAllegedly, okay? Allegedly.

SMASH CUT TO BLACK.

END OF ACT II


ACT III

FADE IN:

16 INT. LAUNDROMAT - TWENTY MINUTES LATER - NEW SCENE 16

PARAMEDICS are carrying the Wounded Man out on a stretcher;Damien is handcuffed. WE FIND A COUPLE OF OFFICERS withAdam, who's still soaked with blood.

ADAMI'm telling you, I was not a witness,I got here after the fact, the onlything I saw was the one in handcuffssaving the life of the wounded guy.

OFFICER MITCHELLAnd what's your relationship to Mr.Winslow?

ADAMI'm his lawyer, which means I needto be talking to him, not you, excuseme.

And Adam moves to Damien.

DAMIEN(not pleased)

I asked for the old lady.

ADAMWell, you didn't get her.

(to the Officer)Excuse me, I'm his attorney, gimmea second.

OFFICER EVANSForget it.

DAMIEN(to the Officer)

Self-defense, Columbo.

ADAMDamien.

DAMIEN(adding)

Allegedly.

(CONTINUED)


16 CONTINUED: 16

ADAM(to Damien)

Don't be saying a word to them, youhear me, Damien, not a word. Iwill see you at the police station,in the meantime, shut up. You hearme? Shut. Up.

CUT TO:

17 INT. SHOE STORE/LAW OFFICE - DAY - NEW SCENE 17

Jenna, Tiffany, and Harry.

JENNA(re: the place)

Isn't it looking great?

HARRYFor a shoe store, maybe. But thisis a law firm.

JENNAThere's no reason it can't be both. Harry's Law and Fine Shoes, it'llbe a gold mine, I can feel it. Areyou all set for court?

HARRYAm I all set? I'm about to try acase with no defense, does thatsound all set to you?

JENNAHarriet. Listen. Whenever I facedfailure as a kid, either in school,or gymnastics, or whatever, my momhad a saying, I'll never forget it. She'd say to me: "Jenna. Whenthere's a will, there's a way."

Harry just holds a look.

HARRYMom just came up with that, huh?

And then Adam enters, still a bit blood-soaked. Tiffanythrows her hands over her mouth and freezes in horror.

HARRY (CONT'D)Adam!! What the...

(CONTINUED)


17 CONTINUED: 17

ADAMI'm okay, this is somebody else'sblood, do we have running water?

HARRYMy God. What happened?

ADAMI just had a meeting with the newclient.

Jenna bends over to retch. Harry simply looks down ather left foot.

ADAM (CONT'D)Okay.

JENNA(mortified)

I am so sorry. Harriet, I'm sorry.

HARRYI'll be needing something in a sixif you've got it, Jenna.

JENNARight.

Jenna goes to look for shoes, Harry looks back at Adam.

ADAMDamien shot a guy. He evidentlycame to the aid of a laundromat-owner he "protects."

HARRYWas anybody killed?

ADAMNo.

Adam then sees Tiffany is still frozen in horror.

ADAM (CONT'D)Tiff, I'm fine.

HARRYYou better make sure that the victimis tested, you've got blood allover you.

ADAMRight.

(CONTINUED)



HARRYYou okay?

ADAMI'm a little shaky, but...

HARRYAnd where's Damien?

ADAMPolice took him. Once I get cleanedup, I'll go down there.

Adam sees Tiffany still frozen in horror.

ADAM (CONT'D)Tiff, I'm fine.

HARRYOkay, guys. Obviously, thisneighborhood isn't entirely safe. We all have to take a few extrasecurity precautions.

(to Adam)Are you sure you're not hurt?

ADAMI'm sure.

He looks to see Tiffany is facing the wall, hands coveringher face, cowering. He goes to her.

ADAM (CONT'D)Look at me.

TIFFANYI can't.

ADAMTiffany. Turn around.

She does; she's trembling with horror.

ADAM (CONT'D)I don't have a scratch on me.

TIFFANYDo you promise?

ADAMI'm just a mess with somebody's...I am not hurt.

(CONTINUED)



OFF Tiffany, we:

CUT TO:

18 INT. JUDGE WINSTON'S COURTROOM - DAY - NEW SCENE 18

JUDGE RONALD WINSTON, sixties, presides as Peyton questionsOFFICER BYRON TATE. CASSIE DAVIES, forties, sits withJenna.

OFFICER TATEI was working undercover, presentingmyself as a drug dealer, I wasapproached by the defendant, heexpressed his interest in purchasingcocaine, a transaction ensued, wethen placed the suspect under arrest.

PEYTONHe gave you money?

OFFICER TATEHe did?

PEYTONAnd, Officer, you're certain thatthe man who purchased the cocaine,the man who gave you money for thecocaine, is the man seated rightthere, that man, this man, thatman.

OFFICER TATEPositive.

PEYTONThank you. I have nothing further,nothing further.

He sits. A beat. Harry rises.

HARRYOkay. I guess we're all clear thenthat this is the man who purchasedthe cocaine, the man seated rightthere, that man, this man, thatman.

PEYTONObjection, mocking, no call forthat, no call.

(CONTINUED)


18 CONTINUED: 18

JUDGE WINSTONI'll sustain it.

HARRYSorry. This is my very firstcriminal trial, so I'm bound to geta few things wrong.

(then)Officer, speaking as a citizen, Ishould start by saying thank youfor all the good work you do. Iremember once I got a flat tire ina very bad neighborhood and I thoughtI might even get killed. A policemancame along, changed my tire, and Iremain convinced he could've possiblysaved my life.

Peyton knows what she's doing, and he won't have it.

PEYTON(rising)

I'd like to echo defense counsel'sgratitude and point out that policeofficers in this city and nationwidesave thousands of innocent lives,you all face an endless tide,especially when it comes to theevil toll drugs take on this country,thank you, Officer, I too saluteyour efforts in fighting thatscourge, well done, well done, bravo.

And he sits. The Judge smiles, rolls his eyes. Harrietjust deadpans at Peyton. Then--

HARRYTell me, Officer, I read a lot inthe papers these days -- how thepolice budgets have been cut andthere have been layoffs and how thedepartment is undermanned. Is thattrue?

OFFICER TATEIt is.

HARRYWell, I'm a little curious... witheverything on your plate, are youreally targeting non-violent drugusers? I can understand dealersmaybe, but...

(CONTINUED)



OFFICER TATEWe actually are targeting thedealers, I was doing so that night,we arrest users in the hope they'llflip their suppliers.

HARRYAah. So Malcolm... he's not reallythe guy you're after then?

PEYTONObjection. The only question beforethe court is, did the defendantcommit the crime with which he ischarged, this is not aboutdepartmental policy. Not aboutthat, not about that.

JUDGE WINSTONI'll sustain it.

HARRYWell, I'm just saying... isn't ita little silly... these jurors allhave to be here, away from theirjobs, their families, you're hereat the taxpayer's expense, as isthe judge, all for a trial, wherethis isn't even the guy you all arereally after.

PEYTONMove to strike, move to strike.

HARRYYou're not at all troubled -- thiskid is being used like a pawn toget somebody else?

HARRY (CONT'D)He's not the oneyou're reallyafter, he waseven told he'd belet go if he'dfork over somebodyelse, this is anineteen-year-oldkid--

PEYTONHe's on trial becausehe broke a law, he'son trial because hebought drugs, he's ontrial because hecommitted a crime, objection, objection,objection, ob--

(CONTINUED)



HARRY (CONT'D)And please stop with all theobjections, I'm finding you to be avery rude man.

The judge chokes back another smile, as we:

CUT TO:


Jenna, Tiffany, and Harry, at her desk.

HARRYI've got no real choice but to putthe boy on the stand. And pray thejury...

A beat.

TIFFANYIsn't that risky to let the defendanttestify? They never do that on'Law and Order.'

Harry stares at Tiffany.

JENNAHarry, you've taken impossible casesbefore. And you usually win them.

HARRYWell, there's no way of winning thisone, trust me. And by having himtestify, his priors will come in,which...

JENNA(singing softly)

Just what makes that silly ol' ant/Think he can move that rubber-treeplant/ Everyone knows an antcan't/...

HARRY(almost sweetly)

Jenna. Singing makes me psychotic. You put yourself in physical danger.

As Jenna looks back, cowed, Cassie Davies enters.

(CONTINUED)


19 CONTINUED: 19

CASSIE(to Harry)

So it's true. You're a shoe-storelawyer.

JENNA(to Harry; whispering)

Malcolm's mother.

CASSIEDid it go well today?

HARRYWell... it went as well as wecould... expect. But the reality...

JENNA(singing softly)

High hopes/...

Harry shoots a psychotic glare at Jenna. Jenna stops.

CASSIE(to Harry)

Do you think maybe I should testify?

HARRYWell, you could, but the testimonyof a loving mother rarely...

A long beat.

CASSIEIs he going to prison, Ms. Korn?

HARRYI don't know. I'm going to try mybest to prevent that. But thelikelihood...

CASSIEThis is a good boy. His failingsare more my... this uh... you needto win this.

OFF Harriet, we:

CUT TO:

20 INT. PRISON - DAY - NEW SCENE 20

Adam, now cleaned up, sits with Damien, in prison orange.

(CONTINUED)


20 CONTINUED: 20

DAMIENNo, man. If I plead, I go to jail.

ADAMWhy are all you criminals so jail-averse, isn't that like a cost ofdoing business, you pick a career,it's jail-here-I-come, isn't thathow--

DAMIENHey!

ADAMYou shot a guy.

DAMIENIn self-defense! In defense of aclient,--

ADAMEven if I could sell that, your gunwasn't registered, you didn't havea carry permit, not to mention yourenterprise itself is--

DAMIENWhat kind of lawyer are you, man?

ADAMA pragmatic one.

(signing sign-language)You. Shot. A. Guy.

DAMIEN(impassioned)

And if I hadn't, that guy wouldarobbed that store, he mighta killedinnocent people, are you telling methat don't count for something?

ADAMLook--

DAMIEN(impassioned)

No, you look. Your problem is yousee me as a criminal and only acriminal. You see my business aslike some terrible extortion thing,can't you make room for thepossibility I do good?

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)



DAMIEN (CONT'D)I help people, dammit! I got inthis to protect, not to steal, thepeople I serve are grateful, askthem! I help all of them. Andright now... I need you to help me.

Adam stares back, startled by Damien's emotion. Touchedby his passion, even persuaded by it. A long beat. Finally...

ADAM(quietly)

Okay, Damien. I hear you. And Iget it. I'll fight the fight.

DAMIENYou will?

ADAMI will.

DAMIENThank you. Thank you.

(then; fishing)No chance the old lady can...?

ADAMNo, she's in trial.

SMASH CUT TO BLACK.

END OF ACT III


ACT IV

FADE IN:

21 INT. SHOE STORE/LAW OFFICE - NIGHT - NEW SCENE 21

Harry is with Malcolm; Adam is hovered over a computer.

HARRY(to Malcolm; one lasttime)

So I'll walk you through yourlife,... talk about how your brotherswere into drugs, your father,... We'll talk about how you were inthe drug clinic. Anything andeverything I can do to get the juryto feel for you, sympathize withyou.

MALCOLMOkay.

HARRYAnd then, brace yourself for thecross. As I said, I'll protect youas best I can. But... you've seenthis D.A., you can count on him tobe aggressive. Just keep your poise. Stay humble, respectful... well,we've been over it, you know thedrill. Go home, get a good night'srest... jacket and tie, eleveno'clock, don't be late.

MALCOLMOkay.

As Malcolm exits--

ADAM(excitedly)

"Necessity," there it is -- "may beraised when the defendant iscompelled to commit a criminal act" --like when somebody breaks the speedlimit to get a person to a hospital,the question is, did the defendantchoose the lesser of two evils --which here, Damien did, right, right?

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)


21 CONTINUED: 21

ADAM (CONT'D)(then)

But how do I explain him having thegun?

HARRY(to Adam)

You could argue "necessity" forthat, too.

(off Adam's look)Your client was providing a servicein a bad neighborhood where thepolice either wouldn't or couldn't.

ADAMYou think that could actually fly?

HARRYNo. But look. I've met quite afew D.A.s over the years and theyall seem to have one thing in common. Unmanageable caseloads. My earlyimpression of you is that you're atremendous pain in the ass. Letthe D.A. see right off at arraignmentthat this is going to be a knock-down drag-out fight.

ADAMReally?

HARRYJust go off like a cannon.

ADAMAt arraignment?

HARRYWhy not? You can't really win thiscase. Your best strategy would beto make the D.A. want to get rid ofyou as much as I do. Maybe you'llsnag a plea bargain.

ADAMBut won't I be tipping my hand if Ilaunch into a defense at arraignment?

HARRYWhat hand? You haven't got a hand.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)



HARRY (CONT'D)You want to show the D.A. and thejudge that you'll be a livingnightmare. Can you do that? Ithink you can.

Off Adam:

CUT TO:

22 INT. BAR - NIGHT - NEW SCENE 22

Jenna and Tiffany sit at the bar, getting a drink.

JENNAI have a friend in real estate andhe says the neighborhood is gettingmuch better. Some nice shops arebeginning to make it, it's not alllaundromats and take-out.

A beat. Then--

TIFFANYI'm in love with Adam.

JENNAOh. Okay.

TIFFANYDon't tell.

JENNAYou don't think he knows?

TIFFANYI don't think so.

JENNADoesn't he have like a lot ofgirlfriends?

TIFFANYWell, yes, but nothing serious. They're all wrong for him. I'mright.

JENNAOkay.

A beat.

(CONTINUED)


22 CONTINUED: 22

JENNA (CONT'D)Do you have a plan?

TIFFANYA plan?

JENNAYes. Girls make plans for thesesorts of things. How do you planto eventually get together?

TIFFANYWell. Mainly by working with him,being side-by-side day-by-day 'tilhe finally realizes I'm the one.

A beat.

JENNAThat's a horrible plan.

CUT TO:

23 INT. JUDGE WINSTON'S COURTROOM - A NEW DAY (FORMERLY SC 34) 23

Judge Winston presides.

PEYTONI gotta say, Malcolm, as drug addictsgo, you seem like such a swell kid,swell kid, and you're the victim,you had no choice but to buy thecocaine, am I right, am I right?

MALCOLMI'm not the victim. I know that,sir.

PEYTON(speaking quickly)

But there are victims here, aren'tthere, Malcolm? See, here's thething about being a junkie, it'sexpensive, it costs thousands ofdollars a week to get the fix, andthe only way most addicts can swingthat is by stealing, and whose housesdo you think they break into, whosecars get hijacked, whose innocentchildren get killed in the cross-fire of their turf wars?

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)


23 CONTINUED: 23

PEYTON (CONT'D)Did it ever occur to you, Malcolm,that every time you buy cocaine youhelp fund a billion-dollar illegaldrug trade that is bringing thiscountry to its knees, a drug tradethat is killing innocent people?

HARRY(still seated)

It's a billion-dollar trade becauseit's illegal.

PEYTONObjection.

HARRYMaybe we should decriminalize ifyour goal--

PEYTONWait, did you actually just saythat, did you actually just saythat?

HARRYI believe I did, I believe I did.

PEYTON(with a chortle)

You want to just pass the drugs out on the street, is that--

HARRY(rising)

That's where they're passed out now, at a thousand times thepharmaceutical cost.

PEYTON(under)

Move to strike.

HARRY (CONT'D)(over)

Now if we legalizeddrugs, addicts wouldneed less than twocents on the dollarto support theirhabits, they'd hardlyneed to break intohomes or cars, or...

PEYTON (CONT'D)We have something called "values"in this country--

(CONTINUED)



HARRYAnd I should think they wouldcoincide with saving the innocentlives you were carrying on about.

PEYTON(with a half-laugh)

You're seriously saying we shouldlegalize drugs--

HARRYEverybody commissioned to study theproblem has said it,--

HARRY (CONT'D)(escalating)

--if we legalizethem, we can treatthe disease insteadof punishing itaway.

PEYTONWho, everybody who?

PEYTON (CONT'D)Great, then, you want to pass outneedles, too?

HARRYPerhaps, if you're against the spreadof AIDS, are you?

PEYTONIf we were to legalize drugs--

HARRYWe could neutralize the gangs, takethe drug business out of the shadows.

PEYTONAnd do what, celebrate it?

HARRYHow 'bout regulate it, tax it--

By now, they're face-to-face and the judge lets it go,perhaps privately enjoying it.

PEYTONYes, and then every Liberal inAmerica could then light up and say"Hallelujah," -- legalize drugs--

(CONTINUED)



HARRYThe idea was first raised byConservative Republicans.

PEYTONOh, please, when?

HARRYWhen the Party had thinkers,--

PEYTONHere we go, ancienthistory.

HARRY (CONT'D)--before it washijacked by the likesof Rush Limbaugh, adrug addict himselfwho somehow faredmuch better in ourjustice system, Iwonder why.

PEYTON (CONT'D)The race card, there it is,--

HARRYIf I wanted to play the race card,I'd talk about the disparity insentencing,--

PEYTONObjection, moveto strike that,Your Honor, comeon.

HARRY (CONT'D)--I'd quote StevenDuke, anotherConservative, whosaid the war againstdrugs has failed unlessits purpose was tojail one out of everythree black men,--

PEYTON (CONT'D)Objection.

HARRY--but I'm not doing that, I'm keepingit about one kid only, he's sittingright there, and he's gettingscrewed!!

PEYTONObjection!!

JUDGE WINSTONAlright, that's enough.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)



JUDGE WINSTON (CONT'D)(then)

Are we done with this witness? 'Cause if so, we can proceed toclosing arguments, which it seemswe've begun anyway.

Peyton knows he can't just walk back to his table withhis head in his hands. A beat.

JUDGE WINSTON (CONT'D)(to Malcolm)

You can step down, son.

As Malcolm does so--

JUDGE WINSTON (CONT'D)Mr. Peyton. You're up.

Peyton takes a breath, gathers himself.

PEYTON(to the jury)

I can make this quick. This isn'tabout the color of the defendant'sskin. And it isn't about whetherdrugs should be decriminalized,what laws we should or should nothave. We have to deal with thelaws that are on the books today. It is illegal to buy and use cocaine. That's the law, the defendant brokeit. He's admitted doing so. He'soffered no defense. He did it. Nodispute. Did it. The only questionis, do you abide by your oath touphold the law, or not? It's thatsimple. It really is.

And he returns and sits. Harriet waits... finally rises.

HARRY(quietly)

To be honest, I'm not sure aboutdecriminalizing drugs, it soundskind of radical.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)



HARRY (CONT'D)But I do know that study after studyafter study shows that when youtake kids like Malcolm and you stickthem in jail, you increase thelikelihood that they'll remainaddicts, wind up homeless or, worstof all, become more-hardened andcareer criminals. When it comes todrug abuse, treatment is seven timesmore cost-effective thanincarceration. Seven times. That'san indisputable fact.

A beat.

HARRY (CONT'D)Malcolm broke a law, yes. He shouldbe held accountable. But this youngman never harmed anybody.

(softly imploring)He's in college, he was in a clinic,it closed.

(a beat)Somebody said to me the other day...there's no justice in the law. Well... the dirty little secret iswe're not in the justice business,not really. Judges and politiciansare mainly in the re-electionbusiness. Lawyers, like Mr. Peytonand myself... we're in the "win"business. If there's anyone, Isuppose, truly and purely in it forthe justice... it would be the jury. You. I've always felt that intrinsicto justice... is humanity.

(a beat)Humanity couldn't call for thisyoung man to be locked up.

(a beat)I've sat with this kid. He's a goodkid. He's...

She's suddenly, surprisingly, choked slightly with someemotion. A beat. She gathers herself.

HARRY (CONT'D)(a beat, then, quietly,even a hint of emotion)

Malcolm Davies is a bright youngman with a future.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)



HARRY (CONT'D)He also has a drug problem. Heneeds help. He can get it... andgo on to do wonderful things. Thatwon't happen if you find him guilty. 'Cause he'll go to a place thatneither treats nor trains norrehabilitates. By the time he getsout...

(a beat)These are the kids we're losing. We throw them away.

(a beat)One not-guilty vote buys me a hungjury. Which in turn might net aplea of a suspended sentence. AndMalcolm gets to stay in college. All I need is one vote to save hislife. One.

(a beat)They say it takes a village, we'realways hearing that. Time for thevillage to step up.

A beat. Harry returns and sits. OFF this, we:

SMASH CUT TO BLACK.

END OF ACT IV


ACT V

FADE IN:

24 INT. ARRAIGNMENT COURT - DAY - NEW SCENE 24

The room is packed; arraignment session in progress. FIND TIFFANY in the gallery WITH ADAM, who looks a littleashen.

TIFFANYAre you okay?

ADAMFine.

TIFFANYYou don't look okay.

ADAM(anxious)

Tiff, it doesn't help when you saythat, it's like when somebody saysyou look tired, it makes you wannalie down and take a nap, you tellme I don't look okay and I won'tfeel okay, and I need to feel goodabout whatever it is that's goingto come out of my mouth, alright,which I don't even know what thatwill be.

TIFFANYI'm sorry.

(then)You look fabulous.

As the CLERK CALLS THE CASE, Damien is led in from custody. JUDGE VIRGINIA EDEN presides, A.D.A. DANA STEVENS is therefor the prosecution. As Adam pops up, charges--

ADAM(rapid-fire)

Morning, Your Honor, defense waivesreading, asks that all charges bedismissed in that my client wasacting out of necessity, he wascoming to the aid of Mr. Hyun Kim,whose laundromat was in the processof being robbed at gunpoint--

(CONTINUED)


24 CONTINUED: 24

JUDGE EDENWhoa, whoa, whoa. Guilty or notguilty, those are your two choices.

ADAMNot guilty, Judge.

JUDGE EDENOkay. Question of--

ADAMAnd I'd ask that all charges bedismissed in that my client wasacting as a Good Samaritan, in fact,attempting to rescue--

JUDGE EDENWhoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. First case,counsel?

ADAMNo, Your Honor.

JUDGE EDENWell, the way this works is we gothrough a little fact-findingprocess, the police investigate,you investigate, we do discovery,and then if you want to bring amotion to dismiss--

ADAMI understand that, Your Honor, Ido, but the facts aren't in dispute,my client walked in on an attemptedarmed robbery, subdued the assailant,the legal defense of "necessity"--

JUDGE EDENWhoa, whoa, whoa.

ADAM(to himself)

What is this, a dude ranch?

JUDGE EDENExcuse me?

ADAMYour Honor, sometimes in the interestof judicial economy and convenienceto the witnesses, cases anddispositions thereof can be expedited--

(CONTINUED)



JUDGE EDENCounsel.

ADAM(rapid-fire)

Trials are expensive, they canbankrupt rich people, as for thepoor, forget it, this could costDamien Winslow his house, if onlyhe had a house, which of course henever will, why, 'cos he's poor andthe poor don't get houses, maybethey did briefly when the bankswere into mortgage fraud, but--

JUDGE EDENCounsel.

ADAM(pointing to the packedgallery)

--as for the witnesses, they'rehere today, we can get this thingover with, why put them through theinconvenience,

(to the gallery)how many here for this case?

The entire room weakly raises their hands.

ADAM (CONT'D)What's that, you're not sure, ifyou're here for Damien, stick 'emup high.

They all shoot their hands up high.

ADAM (CONT'D)You see?

A beat.

JUDGE EDENAm I to understand... all thesepeople...

ADAMEvery last one of them, all clientsof Damien Winslow, people he protectsdaily with--

(CONTINUED)



STEVENSThey're not witnesses to the crime,they have no--

ADAMThey certainly bear witness to theneed for the services being renderedby my client, without him theirplaces of business get robbed--

STEVENSAre you kiddingme?

JUDGE EDENMr. Storm. This isnot the forum to bemaking this argument.

ADAMNot the forum, isn't this wherejustice gets meted out?

JUDGE EDENThis is anarraignmenthearing.

STEVENS(to herself)

Oh, for God's sake.

ADAMUnderstood, but trials take time,they're protracted, often riddledwith continuances, delays, they goon and on, like the song, "On andon," you know, the song

(re: the Steno)I can see she does, hey, hi,

(back to the judge)these people are here now, judge--

JUDGE EDENCounsel--

STEVENSThey're not relevant to--

ADAMThey're not relevant, is that whatyou said?

STEVENSOh, come on--

ADAM'Cos that's the real issue, judge,poor people are not relevant--

(CONTINUED)



STEVENSGive me a--

ADAMBreak? How 'bout we give thedisenfranchised a break, privatesecurity is a billion-dollar businessin this country, in the suburbs, inthe upscale urban neighborhoods,certainly every apartment buildinghas a guard, well, guess what, theresidents of this neighborhood can'tafford that, and the poor, all theyget is the police which they don'tget quickly, maybe 'cos they don'tseem to be relevant, well, they areto Damien Winslow, you want to lockhim up, then what, who's going toprotect

(pointing to thegallery)

Hyun Kim and Melissa Gove, MartinaSanchez, Willie Abrams, look atthem all, Judge, they've come crawling out like ants at a picnic,who knew these people even existed,Damien did, add to that, he cared,we should lock him up for that,come on--

JUDGE EDENCounsel--

STEVENSJesus...

ADAM--my God, we're talking about basichuman services, they don't get healthcare, they don't get education,they can't even get adequate policeprotection, and when someone triesto help them, watch out--

JUDGE EDENCounsel--

ADAMYou can take a gun to Starbucks butGod forbid into a low-rent laundromat, what's going on here,

(to the D.A.)don't roll your eyes, there's plentymore from wherever this is comingfrom,

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)



ADAM (CONT'D)(back to the judge)

what happened to equal protectionunder the law, will somebody pleasetell me what the hell is going on,these people are Americans, theywere born in the United States ofAmerica, and in the United Statesof America--

JUDGE EDENCounsel!!

And the motor-mouth finally stops. A beat.

JUDGE EDEN (CONT'D)(quietly exasperated)

This is an arraignment.

CUT TO:

25 INT. COURT CORRIDOR - MOMENTS LATER - NEW SCENE 25

Adam and Tiffany emerge, walk in silence, until she stopshim.

TIFFANYAdam. I thought you were brilliant.

(admitting)I didn't understand much of whatyou were saying, but...

ADAMThe judge hated me. Did you seethe look on her face?

TIFFANYYou got bail. That's good, right?

ADAMTiffany. You don't always have tocheer me up when I suck.

TIFFANYBut you didn't suck. You were reallyreally good.

STEVENS(approaching)

Adam?(then)

Got a second?

(CONTINUED)


25 CONTINUED: 25

OFF Adam, we:

CUT TO:

26 INT. JUDGE WINSTON'S COURTROOM - DAY (FORMERLY SCENE 46) 26

All parties present as the FOREWOMAN reads the verdict.

FOREWOMANIn the matter of the State of Ohiovs. Malcolm Davies, on the chargeof possession of an illegalcontrolled substance... we the juryfind the defendant Malcolm Davies...

MALCOLM(softly)

Please, please, please...

FOREWOMANGuilty.

Malcolm looks numb... almost wobbly. Cassie drops herhead.

HARRYI'm sorry, Malcolm. We knew thiswas a long-shot.

JUDGE WINSTONMalcolm Davies, you have been foundguilty by a jury of your peers of aClass Two felony. It is the orderof this court--

HARRYWait, wait, wait. Judge, if you'reabout to sentence my client, Icertainly wish to be heard.

JUDGE WINSTONThe defendant is sentenced to twoyears in State prison,--

HARRYYour Honor--

JUDGE WINSTON--said sentence to be suspended inits entirety, pending Mr. Davies'ssuccessful completion of a drugrehabilitation program.

(CONTINUED)


26 CONTINUED: 26

As Harry stares back, stunned.

PEYTONYour Honor, this is his thirdoffense. You kidding me? Youkidding me?

The judge shoots a glare at Peyton. Then--

JUDGE WINSTON(continuing)

Ms. Korn, check with probation,then your client is free to go.

(to Malcolm)Son. Do not let me down. We'readjourned.

MALCOLM(to Harry)

What... what does it mean?

HARRY(fighting some emotion)

No jail. It means no jail.

MALCOLM(weakly)

Really?

HARRYYou can't mess up, Malcolm. He'sgiving you another chance. Youneed to make this work.

MALCOLM(emotional)

I will. I will.

And Malcolm embraces Harry.

HARRYAlright. I'm not a hugger.

And no sooner does Harry break free of Malcolm than Cassieengulfs her.

HARRY (CONT'D)Okay. Okay.

CUT TO:



Harry sits at her desk, pouring herself a jigger of scotch. Adam, Malcolm, Jenna, and Tiffany are present.

ADAM(to Harry)

Explain to me how that could happen,no jail at all.

HARRYWell... as I said to the jury, allI needed was one. The one I gotwas the judge.

MALCOLM(to Harry)

I still don't know how to thankyou.

HARRYI told you how. You can work yourass off in this office, doingwhatever I tell you to do.

(to Adam)How'd you do, by the way?

ADAMWell... we entered a plea of notguilty, judge released him O.R.,D.A. wants to at least talk about aplea, so... who knows.

HARRYWere you any good?

WE HEAR THE DOOR CLOSE. There stands Damien.

DAMIENHe was unbelievable.

(to Adam; from hisdepths)

Thank you, man.

ADAMNot out of the woods, Damien. Notby a long shot.

DAMIENI know.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)


27 CONTINUED: 27

DAMIEN (CONT'D)But I just wanted... look, I'vebeen arrested before, had my shareof lawyers who... how was it youput it... "fight the fight." But Iain't never had nobody who everfought for me like that. Ever. Ihad to come look you in the eye andsay that.

(then)Thank you.

And Damien exits. A long, silent beat. Adam is againtouched by Damien, but he stays stoic.

HARRY(to Adam)

Sounds like you did okay. (then)

I think I can take it from here.

ADAMWhat do you mean?

HARRYI mean I've officially landed on myfeet, you can go back to your cushyshiny firm and--

ADAMAre you kidding me? This is themost fun I've ever had. Yesterday,I stuck my finger in a guy's leg,how great is that?

(off her look)I want to stay. Permanently.

HARRYAdam. Don't be an idiot. You havea brilliant future at any firm youwant, don't squander it in a shoestore.

ADAMI want to be here.

HARRYThe answer is no.

ADAMLook.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)



ADAM (CONT'D)(humbly)

I'm gonna just say this. I neverhad a mother. She died duringchildbirth when she had my olderbrother, I never... I... I supposeI look at you as my dead mother.

HARRYShe died during childbirth when shehad your older brother.

ADAM(realizing the mistake)

Let's go with younger brother onthat. Yeah, better.

A beat.

HARRYYour mother's still alive, isn'tshe?

ADAMBut she doesn't love life.

(a beat)Okay, I'm going to take this honestything for a test-drive and see howit goes. Every day, I go to workin that big firm. I sit at my deskand I say to myself, "This ain'tit." "It can't be it." From themoment I walked into this stupid,run-down... I just knew: This isit. I really want to stay.

HARRY(tenderly)

The thing is, Adam... you reallybug me.

JENNAHarry.

HARRY(a death-threat)

Sing one note.

JENNAYou said things don't happen for areason. But they do.

FLASHBACK WE SEE MALCOLM JUMP IN SLO-MO.

(CONTINUED)



JENNA (V.O.) (CONT'D)When Malcolm jumped off thatbuilding... bounced off that awning,and landed on you... when Adam hityou with his BMW...

RESUME

JENNA (CONT'D)It was to bring the five of ustogether. Like you said, life,it...

(a beat)When I was sixteen, I had the most-important date of my life, and thenight before, I got a huge pimple. I thought I would die, I mean... itwas so big. And later that night,as I slept... a mosquito somehowgot into my room, and it bit meright on my pimple... and sucked itdry. When I woke up, the pimplewas gone. It was like... a mosquitofrom God.

They look at her with disbelief, until--

TIFFANYThat was really beautiful.

Upon which, THREE GUYS, twenties, enter; we can see they'reup to no good.

HARRYHelp you gentlemen?

MAN #1Yeah we looking for some shoes. That okay with you?

It looks more like they're casing the joint. Upon which,Harry pulls out her Magnum, plops it on her desk. Adamthen pulls out his Glock, does the same. Tiffany pullsout her small sub-compact Glock. Jenna pulls out hermini-revolver. A beat.

MAN #1 (CONT'D)(humbly)

Actually... we're looking for alawyer. Damien Winslow told us'bout you. We invented... I dunno,kind of a do-hickey.

(CONTINUED)



HARRYA do-hickey?

MAN #1Yeah, it can open like any car. Originally for criminal purposes,but Damien said if we got a patentwe wouldn't need to be robbin' cars. It's a door-opener do-hickey.

A beat.

HARRYTiffany will take down yourinformation.

TIFFANYCan I get anybody coffee, or tea?

As Tiffany deals with the men, we CLOSE ON HARRY AND ADAM.

ADAM(big smile)

Look at that, three more clients. You'll have a full caseload by theend of the week. This is home,Harry. We're home.

As LOUIS ARMSTRONG'S "THE HOME FIRE" BEGINS TO DROWN OUTTHE BANTER, and as the CAMERA PULLS BACK.

TIFFANY(to the Men)

One Social Security number per willdo. Actually, you should each onlyhave one.

HARRY(to Adam)

You'll need to fill out your time-sheets every day. And--

ADAMTime-sheets, what, whoa, I never saidI'd be working for you. With you, we'llbe partners.

HARRYLike hell we will. You'll be ajunior associate.

ADAMNo, no, no, no,--

(CONTINUED)



HARRYYeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,--

ADAMHarriet, life isricher with apartner who cantruly share yoursuccesses andtribulations--

HARRY (CONT'D)--or there's the door.

HARRY (CONT'D)I don't want a rich life, and Idon't want a partner.

As they bicker, THE CAMERA PULLS BACK.

HARRY (V.O.) (CONT'D)I guess the moral of this story didcome in the middle, as Jenna andMalcolm said, sometimes things dohappen for a reason. You could saythat I didn't just get it 'til theend... except this really wasn'tthe end at all. For the five ofus, this new and ridiculous firm,perhaps even my life... I have afeeling we're only at the beginning.

As they bicker away, we are OUTSIDE, LOOKING IN THROUGHTHE GLASS WINDOW. STENCILED ON IT IS "HARRIET'S LAW ANDFINE SHOES." OFF the banter, the MUSIC, THE WINDOW, wefinally:

FADE OUT.

The End

HARRY'S LAW 7th 6 17 10

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