Bridge of Spies Page #4

DONOVAN:

And I will be too.

GOODNOUGH:

Yes, in more ignorant quarters. But

that’s exactly why this has to be

done -- and capably done. It can’t

look like our justice system tosses

people on the ash heap.

Thinking beat.

DONOVAN:

Suppose I did...what’s the evidence

look like?

GOODNOUGH:

Pretty overwhelming.

DONOVAN:

Great. Great. Everyone will hate me,

but at least I’ll lose. (to

Watters) What do you think, Tom?

The firm’ll suffer, I have work

here.

WATTERS:

I think it’s a patriotic duty, this

is an important mission. I told

Lynn the firm can’t say no, and

you’d have a tough time saying no

too. I think you have to defend the

sonofabitch.

DONOVAN’S OFFICE

On young attorney Doug Forrester.

DOUG:

So you’re doing it?

DONOVAN (O.C.)

Doing what?

(CONTINUED)

12.17.14 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 11.

CONTINUED:

DOUG:

Defending Abel, the Soviet spy.

Widen to include Donovan, seated at his desk, Forrester

standing in front of him.

DONOVAN:

I may be. Hey how do you know? Did

they post it on the bulletin board?

DOUG:

I was just talking to Richard -

DONOVAN:

If I do this? I’m going to need

your help.

Doug sits, beams, until

DONOVAN (CONT’D)

Can you work tonight?

DOUG:

Well, I have a dinner date, sir...

Donovan gives him a hard look.

DOUG (CONT’D)

(back-peddling)

It’s Tuesday, right? No I can

cancel. No problem.

As Doug stands and exits, Donovan chuckles to himself.

DONOVAN HOME -- DINING ROOM

The family is at the dinner table. Mary exits from the

kitchen with plates of food.

DONOVAN:

...But it’s also an honor. And the

bar association asked me because

they want to demonstrate that even

this spy gets a capable advocate.

We hear the door opening, off.

MARY:

Well maybe it’s the kind of honor we

can do without. People are scared,

they’re -

Carol walks in.

(CONTINUED)

12.17.14 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 12.

CONTINUED:

DONOVAN:

Hi honey, what are you doing home?

CAROL:

I got stood up.

DONOVAN:

What? That’s despicable. Who’s this

knot head?

CAROL:

I’d rather not say.

MARY:

Well sit down, we just started.

(to Donovan)

...People are scared, they’re

building bomb shelters to protect

themselves from people like this

man.

DONOVAN:

Roger. Make another place setting

for your sister.

Roger does as instructed.

MARY:

(to Donovan)

I go to the store, people are buying

canned foods and potassium tablets.

It’s all about this man and what he

represents, he’s a threat to all of

us, a traitor -

ROGER:

Who’s a traitor?

DONOVAN:

The Rosenbergs were traitors -

ROGER:

Who are they?

DONOVAN:

They gave atomic secrets to the

Russians. They were Americans, they

betrayed their country. But you

can’t accuse Abel of being a

traitor, he’s not an American.

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