I Love You Phillip Morris

I LOVE YOU PHILLIP MORRIS

A true story of life,

love and prison breaks

Written by

Glenn Ficarra & John Requa

Based on the book by Steve McVicker

4.27.2008

1 EXT. SKY - DAY 1

Fluffy white CLOUDS drift across a clear blue sky.

TITLE CARD-

"This really happened"

FADE TO WHITE:

TITLE CARD-

"It really did"

A dull WHINE is heard building in volume until finally-

SMASH CUT TO:

2 INT. TEXAS STATE PENITENTIARY HOSPITAL WARD - 1998 - DAY 2

Startled, STEVEN RUSSELL (40) opens his eyes. Gaunt and

pale, he seems to be on death's door. The whine we once

heard is now the high-pitched ALARM of medical equipment.

The door BURSTS open. NURSES enter, rushing toward him.

The nurses pass him and attend to the PATIENT in the next

bed over, frantically administering CPR.

SUPER:
"TEXAS STATE PENITENTIARY INFIRMARY - 1998"

A DOCTOR appears and pushes the nurses aside.

DOCTOR:

Where's the crash cart!?

He straddles the patient's chest and pushes down hard-

the sound of a sternum CRACKING can be heard.

Steven returns his gaze to the ceiling. A CHEERY VOICE

counterpoints the bleakness of this scene.

STEVEN (V.O.)

(upbeat and happy)

Love sure is a funny thing...

It makes you happy. Makes you sad. Makes

you do all sorts of things you never

thought you'd do before. Love's the

reason I'm here actually.

SMASH CUT TO:

"I Love You Phillip Morris" Green Pages 5-23-08 2.

3 EXT. MARSHLAND - CHESAPEAKE BAY, VA - 1966 - DAY 3

A group of FOUR NINE YEAR OLDS lie in the grass atop a

hill. They stare up at the clouds, playfully arguing.

RED HAIRED BOY:

I still don't see it.

LITTLE GIRL:

It's right there.

A young STEVEN RUSSELL (9) is among them.

YOUNG STEVEN:

It's really big.

STEVEN'S MOM (O.S.)

Steeeeeeeeeven...

Steven looks down the hill to see his mother calling.

STEVEN'S MOM (CONT'D)

Steeeeeeeeeven...

4 INT. LIVING ROOM CHESAPEAKE BAY, VA - 1966 - DAY 4

Young Steven sits in the middle of the couch. His PARENTS

and 11 year old BROTHER stand before him. He stares at

them- innocent and doe-eyed with a big smile on his face.

STEVEN'S MOM

Are you a happy little boy Steven?

Steven smiles and nods.

STEVEN'S MOM (CONT'D)

You've always been such a happy little

boy.

(then)

Now Steven, we want to tell you something

very important, but I want you to

understand that it doesn't change a

thing.

Steven awaits, smiling.

STEVEN'S MOM (CONT'D)

We're still gonna love you, you're still

gonna be our happy little boy and you're

still gonna--

STEVEN'S BROTHER

You're adopted.

"I Love You Phillip Morris" Green Pages 5-23-08 3.

YOUNG STEVEN:

Shut up!

He glares at his brother, then turns back to his mother.

Her face says it all.

STEVEN'S MOM

It's true.

WHACK! She SWATS his brother in the head. Steven starts

putting things together.

STEVEN'S MOM (CONT'D)

Your brother overheard your Dad and I

talking and well, we didn't want you to

hear it from anybody but us.

(then)

It's true. You're a special little boy.

You know why? Because we chose you. Not

like your brother here who's natural.

STEVEN'S DAD

Your Mother's right. It's cause we love

you. So we put some money in a brown

paper bag and gave it to your real mom in

the hospital parking lot so you could

come home with us. Okay?

STEVEN'S MOM

It doesn't change a thing honey. We love

you just as much as we love your brother

here...

(best of intentions)

...and he's natural.

STEVEN'S DAD

So son, are you okay?

Steven smiles wide.

YOUNG STEVEN:

Yes Daddy.

As his parents prattle on, Steven's VO comes full.

STEVEN (V.O.)

It hurt a bit, but I decided I wasn't

gonna let it get me down. No way. I was

gonna be the best son- No, the best

person I could be.

"I Love You Phillip Morris" Green Pages 5-23-08 4.

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