The Devil's Advocate

FADE IN:

1 INT. FLORIDA COURTROOM - DAY 1

Northern Florida in the midst of a heatwave. Air conditioners fighting a losing battle. The gallery is full. The JUDGE a stern, old hand. The PROSECUTOR, an

efficient man with a good case.

The witness is BARBARA. She is maybe 13. She is a

witness in a criminal trial. Her testimony has been carefully rehearsed.

BARBARA:

... we go back to our homeroom for

dismissal, unless you have a pass

for sports or something.

PROSECUTOR (O.S.)

And is that what you did on the

day in question?

BARBARA:

No. Mr. Gettys asked me to stay

after class.

PROSECUTOR:

What happened next, Barbara?

BARBARA:

Mr. Gettys closed the door.

PROSECUTOR:

Everyone else had gone?

BARBARA:

Yes. He told me to sit in the

chair beside his desk.

MR. GETTYS, the defendant, is 50. The very picture of respectability. His perfect wife and son staunchlyenduring this testimony.

(CONTINUED)

2.

1 CONTINUED:
1

PROSECUTOR:

In your own words, Barbara, can you tell us exactly what happened during the next few minutes?

KEVIN LOMAX. Defense counsel. Taking it all in.

BARBARA (O.S.)

I told him I was afraid I would

miss my bus. He promised I wouldget to the bus on time if I wouldhelp him to do something...

Kevin -- his eyes -- drifting around the courtroom -taking

inventory -- assessing damage -

BARBARA (O.S.)

... Then he put -- before I could say anything -- he placed his hand inside my blouse...

Kevin -- checking the jury and -

BARBARA (O.S.)

... I was so frightened I didn't move. I thought if I was just quiet it would be okay...

Kevin -- checking Gettys -- seeing something that stops him cold -

BARBARA (O.S.)

... Then his other hand went upunder -- inside my skirt...

Gettys' hand -- down below the table -- down where no one but Kevin could possibly see it -- Getty's fingers subtly feeling their way along the leg of his chair -

BARBARA (O.S.)

... his hand then, it started, he

started, moving back and forth -farther

and farther inside myskirt...

Kevin -- glancing around -- nobody else can see it -

BARBARA (O.S.)

... he said he was testing to see if I had any special feelings,

that he wanted to find out what

kind of feelings I had...

(CONTINUED)

3.

1 CONTINUED:
(2) 1

Gettys' hand -- excited now -- stroking the chair leg -absently

-- involuntarily -- unmistakably sexual -

BARBARA (O.S.)

... I didn't know what to say, I

was trying to think of something

to say but I was confused and he

just kept on -- with his hand -

moving it -- under my dress -

higher and higher...

Kevin is rocked. Trying not to show it.

BARBARA (O.S.)

... then I, I was asking him to

stop but it was like he couldn't

hear me -- he just kept on -

Suddenly, Gettys' hand stops moving -

BARBARA (O.S.)

-- and then I screamed...

Kevin looks up to find Gettys' eyes waiting for him.

Gettys quickly returns his hand into his lap. He's been

caught -- watching, as Kevin turns away and -

BARBARA:

... then he, he got mad and said

we would have to try again

sometime.

PROSECUTOR:

And did he try again?

BARBARA:

Not with me.

PROSECUTOR:

With friends of yours?

BARBARA:

Yes.

PROSECUTOR:

And when you told them what he had

done to you, they told you what he

had done to them, isn't that true?

BARBARA:

Yes.

PROSECUTOR:

I have nothing further.

(CONTINUED)

4.

1 CONTINUED:
(3) 1

JUDGE:

(finding Kevin)

Your witness, Mr. Lomax.

KEVIN:

Any chance, Your Honor, for a short recess?

CUT TO:

2 INT. FLORIDA COURTHOUSE HALL - DAY 2

Kevin heading quickly away from the courtroom.

right on his heels.

Gettys

KEVIN:

Lloyd, as your attorney, I'm advising you to get the f*** away from me.

Why?

GETTYS:

What are you talking about?

KEVIN:

The wife. The kid. The outrage.

You definitely had me fooled.

GETTYS:

You're my lawyer! You're here to

defend me!

KEVIN:

You know what I'm thinking? Why don't we put you on the stand and you can jerk off for the judge.

GETTYS:

You know she's lying.

KEVIN:

Get the hell out of my way.

Gettys standing aside, as we -CUT

TO:

3 INT. FLORIDA COURTHOUSE MEN'S ROOM - DAY 3

An ancient upstairs facility. Kevin standing in the mirror. Frozen there. Identity crisis. Morality crisis. He takes off his wedding ring. Letting cold water run in the sink. His eyes never leaving the mirror.

(CONTINUED)

Rate this script:5.0 / 2 votes