The Verdict

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FADE IN:

INT. FIRST FUNERAL PARLOR - DAY

A working-class funeral in progress. THIRTY PEOPLE and an

inexpensive bier SEEN from the back of the hall.

ANGLE:

A MAN's back FILLS the SCREEN. He is dressed in a black suit;

his hands are clasped behind him. ANOTHER MAN stands next to

him. The Second Man reaches behind the First Man's back and

puts a discreetly folded ten-dollar bill into his hands.

ANGLE:

These Two Men from the front. Both somber, in their early

fifties. They begin to walk down the aisle of the funeral

parlor.

ANGLE:

The WIDOW. A woman in her late fifties sitting by the bier

receiving condolences. The Two Men approach her. The First

Man (the recipient of the money) speaks:

FUNERAL DIRECTOR

Mrs. Dee, this is Frank Galvin -- a

very good friend of ours, and a very

fine attorney.

GALVIN:

It's a shame about your husband,

Mrs. Dee.

The Widow nods.

GALVIN:

I knew him vaguely through the Lodge.

He was a wonderful man.

(shakes head in

sympathy)

It was a crime what happened to him.

A crime. If there's anything that I

could do to help...

GALVIN removes a business card from his jacket pocket and

hands it to her as if he were giving her money. (i.e., "Take

it. Really. I want you to have it..." She takes the card.

Beat.

GALVIN:

(thoughtfully realizes

he is usurping her

time)

Well...

He shakes her hand and moves on.

INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY

Galvin sitting in the deserted coffee shop in his raincoat.

Reading a section of the paper. He picks up his teacup,

drinks. Lowers it to the table.

ANGLE - INSERT

Galvin twists tea bag around a spoon to extract last drops

of tea. His hand moves to his felt pen lying on the table.

He moves his hand to the paper, open at the obituary section.

We SEE several names crossed out. He circles one funeral

listing.

ANGLE:

Galvin sitting, raises cup of tea to his lips. Looks around

deserted coffee shop. Sighs.

INT. SECOND FUNERAL HOME AND STREET - AFTERNOON

Galvin outside a second funeral home. WORKING-CLASS PEOPLE

entering, Galvin enters the home.

ANGLE:

Galvin, coming down the aisle toward the front, shrugging

himself out of his overcoat, he approaches the BEREAVED WIDOW

sitting by the front of the home, he extracts his card from

his pocket, starts to speak. He is stopped by the WIDOW'S

SON, a hefty man in his mid-forties, who interjects himself

between Galvin and the widow.

SON:

(of the card)

What is that...?

GALVIN:

I...

SON:

What the hell is that...

GALVIN:

...I was a friend of your fa...

SON:

You never knew my father.

(hits card out of

Galvin's hand)

You get out of here, who the hell do

you think you are...

The FUNERAL MANAGER hurries down the aisle, and starts

extricating Galvin from the commotion.

GALVIN:

(to Funeral Manager)

I'm talking to this man...

FUNERAL MANAGER:

Excuse me, Mrs. Cleary...

He is manhandling Galvin toward the back of the funeral

parlor. The Son calls after him:

SON:

Who the hell do you think you are?

EXT. SECOND FUNERAL PARLOR - AFTERNOON

The Funeral Manager and Galvin standing in the cold.

FUNERAL MANAGER:

I don't want you coming back here.

Ever. Do you understand?

GALVIN:

I was just talking to...

FUNERAL MANAGER:

Those are bereaved people in there.

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