Scene Detail
"Ten years, even if they weren't everything you wanted, have to count for something. Another chance at least. I love you."
From: Ally McBeal - Common As The Rain | ||
4 Characters | ||
Gender | Age | Character Name |
Male | 50s | JUDGE SEYMORE WALSH |
Female | 20s | GEORGIA THOMAS |
Male | 20s | ROBERT LUNDY |
Male | 20s | RICHARD FISH |
Setup: Richard Fish's law firm is representing his friend Jeremy Draper and Jeremy's current boyfriend Alex Shaw in a lawsuit brought against them by Jeremy's ex-lover Robert Lundy. Alex was also Jeremy's first boyfriend. After Alex left Jeremy broken-hearted, Jeremy met Robert and they built a happy and successful life together. Then Alex reappeared and befriended the couple, eventually rekindling a romance with Jeremy. Alex's main advantage in driving a wedge between Jeremy and Robert was the fact that, even after many years in a relationship, Robert was still very closeted in public about his sexuality and his love for Jeremy. Robert is now using the buyout clause on his business with Jeremy to delay Jeremy and Alex's plans to leave town, still hoping to win Jeremy back. Fish is in charge of the case and Ally is second chair. Opposing counsel in the case is the firm headed by Ally's roommate Renee. The lawyers on the case are Whipper, Fish's ex-lover, and Georgia, Billy's soon-to-be ex-wife. Judge Walsh didn't dismiss Robert's case as Fish and Ally had hoped. An evidentiary hearing is underway, with Robert as the first witness. (The strategy session prior to this, on how to deal with Robert, is also available for viewing - the quote link is "You better hope this one gets settled before you take the stand because that wouldn't go so well.") (Jeremy, Alex, Whipper and Ally are present, but their minimal involvement - marked off by **** - can be deleted for use as an acting scene) |
Scene
copyright 2000 by Matthew A. Everett
INT. COURT - DAY
Robert on the stand, guided through his testimony by Georgia. Walsh, Ally, Fish, Alex, Jeremy, and Whipper look on.
ROBERT
It was our mutual love of computer technology and graphic design that brought us together as a couple. The company seemed a natural extension of our personal partnership.GEORGIA
And you can afford to buy Mr. Draper out?ROBERT
Money isn't the issue. Either of us could buy the other out about six times over.GEORGIA
What are you concerned about?ROBERT
I want the buyout settled before they leave.GEORGIA
So it's not your intention to drag out these proceedings?ROBERT
Just the opposite. They've been making plans to get on with their new life together. I just need this resolved so I can get on with mine.GEORGIA
But Mr. Lundy, there are telephones, fax machines, and e-mail, as you well know. Couldn't you just do this long distance?ROBERT
I could, but I have no guarantee they will. And our... my company is tied up until that's resolved.GEORGIA
And you're not inclined to trust Mr. Shaw?ROBERT
Mr. Shaw came into our... my home under false pretenses. He used every opportunity that I foolishly presented him with and it worked. I'll admit defeat. He wins. But you're asking me to trust his honesty as well?GEORGIA
After ten years together, don't you think you can trust Mr. Draper to come through for you in a timely manner, no matter where he is or who he's with?ROBERT
After ten years, it never occurred to me he'd fall in love with someone else, that he'd leave, that he'd stop loving me. I don't think it'd be smart to trust my feelings about Jeremy, do you?GEORGIA
Your witness.FISH
Mr. Lundy. Robert. May I call you Robert?ROBERT
I guess.FISH
Richard Fish. Nice to finally meet you. You know, I'm a friend of Jeremy's from college. Not a close friend, I'll grant you, but don't you think it's funny, living in the same town, that in the over ten years you two were together, I never met you once?GEORGIA
Your honor?WALSH
Move along, counsel.FISH
I'm sorry, did somebody just object? I didn't hear anything.GEORGIA
Relevance?WALSH
Sustained.FISH
Oh, relevance. OK. When you placed a personal ad in the mid-eighties looking for a lover...GEORGIA
Objection.FISH
I hadn't finished.WALSH
I'm not inclined to let you.FISH
Pattern, your honor. Goes to the nature of the relationship from which the company sprang and on which the contract was based. Also goes to the issue of honesty, which the prosecution keeps bandying about but nobody seems inclined to define and which quite frankly I'm a little fuzzy on as it relates to the plaintiff.WALSH
Much as I'd like to give you enough rope to hang yourself, I'm just doling out a little at this point. But get to it.GEORGIA
Your honor...WALSH
Overruled. You're on a short leash, Mr. Fish. Don't make me yank it.FISH
If I'm going to be yanked, your honor, let me just say...WALSH
Move it along, counsel.FISH
Thank you, you honor. Robert, you say it was your mutual love of computers that brought you and my client together, but it was actually a personal ad that brought you together, wasn't it?ROBERT
Yes.FISH
You recall what it said?ROBERT
That was over...FISH
Ten years ago, yes. Nice phrase. We'll get back to that. The ad?ROBERT
I don't recall.FISH
Height, weight, age, race, nine-inch...?WALSH
Counsel, I'll shut this down right now.FISH
Apologies, your honor. I actually have the ad right here.******************
Jeremy looks sharply over at Alex.
Alex won't look at him, staying focused on Robert and Fish.
******************
Fish picks up a sheet of paper with the text of the ad.
FISH (CONT'D)
This term "straight-acting, straight-appearing," why's that in there?GEORGIA
Objection. Relevance.FISH
Getting there.WALSH
Get there quicker.ROBERT
It means I didn't want someone flamboyantly gay.FISH
Flamboyant. You're talking about what? High heels and a feather boa?ROBERT
I wanted someone who wouldn't embarrass me.FISH
So "openly gay" would be OK?ROBERT
No.FISH
It's not flamboyant.GEORGIA
Objection. Argumentative.WALSH
Sustained. Mr. Fish...FISH
So you didn't want someone who was gay at all?ROBERT
Of course I wanted someone gay.FISH
But not obvious. Not in public.ROBERT
No.FISH
In private?ROBERT
Yes.FISH
And you doubt my clients' honesty? Well, that's the pot calling the kettle fuschia, isn't it?GEORGIA
Objection. Badgering.FISH
Withdrawn.*****************
Jeremy leans in to Ally.
JEREMY
Make him stop this.ALLY
That's what she's for.ALEX
Leave it alone.JEREMY
How dare you.WALSH
Ms. McBeal, please instruct your clients...******************
FISH
So let me get this straight - pardon the pun - you meet this man, you fall in love, you start a company, but you don't want him to display any signs of affection for you in public.ROBERT
(with difficulty)
No.FISH
And naturally, if you don't want him to display any feelings, you certainly wouldn't be putting your feelings for him out in the open either.GEORGIA
Do I need to pick an objection at this point?FISH
In your business together, you're in public all the time - yes or no?ROBERT
Yes.FISH
But he can't show his feelings in public.ROBERT
No.FISH
And neither can you.ROBERT
No.FISH
Over ten years of this.ROBERT
Yes.FISH
And as the company got more successful, it was just more public time, less private time.ROBERT
Yes.FISH
And you wonder why he left?GEORGIA
Objection.FISH
Withdrawn. No further questions.Fish heads back to the defense table but Robert speaks out.
ROBERT
Is that what you want, Jeremy?FISH
Your honor, I'm finished. If you could instruct the witness not to...ROBERT
Why do you think I'm here?GEORGIA
You honor...WALSH
Mr. Lundy, you may step down.ROBERT
Why do you think I did all this?********************
WHIPPER
Your honor...********************
WALSH
Mr. Lundy, please do not address the defendant.ROBERT
He's not just a defendant, he's my lover.FISH
I've changed my mind. Let him talk.ROBERT
I love you. You want me to say it for the record? I will. I love you.GEORGIA
I want all these last remarks stricken from the record.ROBERT
Don't you dare.WALSH
Mr. Lundy, I'll hold you in contempt if you continue to...ROBERT
Like a jail cell could stop me at this point. It can't be too late, Jeremy.You're still here.
Jeremy torn.
Alex trying not to look at Robert.
ROBERT (CONT'D)
OK, so I was stupid. I was a coward. I admit it. I didn't know better.Back to Robert.
ROBERT (CONT'D)
You need to tell me. Give me a real chance to make it right. What'll it take? A full-page ad in the paper?Georgia and Whipper watching the case circle the drain.
ROBERT (CONT'D)
Post it on the web site? A billboard? A skywriter?Ally wants to do something, anything, if only she knew what.
Fish is loving it.
ROBERT (CONT'D)
You want to walk down the street holding hands?Back to Robert.
ROBERT (CONT'D)
You want me to introduce you to people as the most important person in my life? Ten years, even if they weren't everything you wanted, have to count for something. Another chance at least. I love you.Walsh taking it all in.
Then full on the courtroom, everyone silent, unmoving, unsure what to do next.
And finally, Robert.
copyright 2000 by Matthew A. Everett