The Devil's Advocate

FADE IN:

1 INT. FLORIDA COURTROOM - DAY 1

Northern Florida in the midst of a heat wave. Air

conditioners fighting a losing battle. The gallery isfull. 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 beencarefully 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 ofrespectability. His perfect wife and son staunchlyenduring this testimony.

(CONTINUED)

2.

1 CONTINUED:
1

PROSECUTOR:

In your own words, Barbara, canyou tell us exactly what happenedduring 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 couldsay anything -- he placed his handinside my blouse...

Kevin -- checking the jury and -

BARBARA (O.S.)

... I was so frightened I didn't

move. I thought if I was justquiet it would be okay...

Kevin -- checking Gettys -- seeing something that stopshim cold -

BARBARA (O.S.)

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

Gettys' hand -- down below the table -- down where no onebut Kevin could possibly see it -- Getty's fingers subtlyfeeling 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 seeif 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 ashort 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'madvising you to get the f*ck awayfrom 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? Whydon't we put you on the stand andyou 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 at themirror. Frozen there. Identity crisis. Moralitycrisis. He takes off his wedding ring. Letting coldwater run in the sink. His eyes never leaving themirror.

(CONTINUED)

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