PHILADELPHIA

A MOMENT. Andrew stroking Miguel's hair, as he calms down.

                              ANDREW (CONT.)
                    You know, there's only one thing to
                    do.
                         (beat)
                    We have to have a party.

                                                  CUT TO:

JOE AND LISA STAND OUTSIDE ANDREW'S APARTMENT -- IN COSTUME.
DANCE MUSIC is playing inside (INT./NIGHT) ...

Lisa is dressed as a giant sandwich. Joe's costume looks quickly
thrown together: he's wearing a suit, but has pages from a legal
document stapled all over the suit.

                              JOE
                    Did I ever tell you, I hate
                    costume parties?

                              LISA
                    My lettuce is wilting.

The DOOR IS OPENED -- by the LEAD SINGER OF WHITE SNAKE: big
hair, leather, guitar.

                              ANDREW (AS ROCKER)
                    PARRTYY!

                              JOE
                    We're friends of Beckett's.

                              ANDREW
                    It's me, you dork.

                              LISA
                    I'm Lisa Miller.

                              ANDREW
                    Glad to finally meet you. Come on in.

                                        CONTINUOUS CUT TO:

JOE AND LISA FOLLOW ANDREW INTO THE APARTMENT (HE LIMPS, relying
on his cane, but he's got A LOT OF ENERGY). The room is filled
with two Madonnas, an M.C. Hammer, three nuns, a can of soup
(INT./NIGHT) ...

                              ANDREW
                         (to Lisa)
                    I have to introduce you to the
                    can of soup. You can enter the
                    costume contest together as a
                    lunch special.

Miguel approaches, dressed as a MEMBER OF MEGA-DEATH or ANTHRAX.
He strikes a pose, contorts his face and hits an air guitar riff.
Andrew crosses guitars with Miguel. Then:

                              ANDREW
                    This is Lisa Miller. Miguel Alvarez.

Miguel's sister MARIA is passing by with a GROUP OF FRIENDS.
Everyone ad libs greetings.

                              MIGUEL
                    My sister, Maria.
                         (to Lisa)
                    Pastrami on rye?

                              LISA
                    Corned beef.

                              MIGUEL
                    Want to dance?

                              LISA
                    Sure!

Miguel leads Lisa away. Joe is reluctant to give her up.

                              JOE
                    Beckett. You seem... better.
                    Energized, more alive...

                              ANDREW
                    I had a blood transfusion today.
                    I feel great.

Andrew studies Joe, trying to figure out the costume.

                              JOE
                    I'm a law suit.

                              ANDREW
                    Not bad.

                              JOE
                    Get it?

                              ANDREW
                    Let's find you a drink.

Andrew leads Joe through the crowd, greeting Rachel, skin
painted blue (SMURFETTE) her daughter AMY (BART SIMPSON),
Anthea, TYRONE from Dr. Gillman's office (A COWBOY), and
TYRONE'S LOVER (A HORSE) ... Some of Dr. Gillman's PATIENTS
are here too, including the YOUNG ASIAN MAN who is now in a
wheelchair. And, one or two of ANDREW'S SIBLINGS may be
present as well. And Alan, Bruno and Chandra, and some arty
friends and neighbors.

                              ANDREW (CONT.)
                    What do you want?

                              JOE
                    Beer.
                         (patting his briefcase)
                    We need to go over your Q and A.

                              ANDREW
                    Excuse me, I'm having a goddamn
                    party, is that allright with you?

                              JOE
                    Sure. It's fine.

                              ANDREW
                    No, we have to do it. But
                    later, allright?

                              JOE
                    Thank you.

A MAN dressed as LA TOYA JACKSON (with fake snake) squeezes
past Joe, reaching for a beer.

                              LA TOYA
                    'Scuse me, darling.

Andrew is SMILING at Joe.

                              JOE
                    You think I'm uncomfortable...

                              ANDREW
                    Correct.

                              JOE
                    You're right.

Joe spills beer down his shirt.

                              ANDREW
                    Thank you.

          CUT TO A SERIES OF PARTY MOMENTS OVER LOUD MUSIC:

--Andrew and Miguel ROCKING to HEAVY METAL MUSIC, playing a
battle of the guitars. At one point, Andrew has to sit
down, but he doesn't stop "playing," while Miguel jumps all
around him.

--Joe talking to a MAN DRESSED AS MARIE ANTOINETTE:

                              MARIE ANTOINETTE
                    I'm an accountant. What do you do?

                              JOE
                    I'm a lawyer.
                         (points to Lisa)
                    That's my wife!

--Andrew's mother Sarah, as Marge Simpson, delivers a tray
of hors d'oeuvres to Joe (standing next to a POLICEMAN):

                              SARAH
                    Have a cocktail wienie.

                              JOE
                    Thanks, Sarah.
                         (to the POLICEMAN)
                    Nice costume.

                              POLICEMAN
                    It's not a costume, I just got
                    off work. You're cute.

                              JOE
                         (pointing to Lisa)
                    That's my wife. Want to see a
                    picture of my baby?

                              POLICEMAN
                         (reaching for his wallet)
                    Absolutely. Want to see a
                    picture of my baby?

--Everyone SLOW DANCES to the Talking Heads tune "Heaven"
(Simply Red cover version): Joe and Lisa, Andrew and
Miguel, Rachel with a sleepy Amy in her arms, the POLICEMAN
and TYRONE, Sarah Beckett and MARIE ANTOINETTE, LA TOYA and
her snake.

                              "HEAVEN" CONTINUES OVER:

A CAB IDLING IN THE STREET, LISA KISSING JOE (NIGHT).

                              JOE
                    I'll see you in an hour, max.

                              LISA
                    Night, honey.

Lisa climbs into the cab which she is sharing with the NUN
and MARIE ANTOINETTE and LA TOYA.

                              NUN/MARIE ANTOINETTE/LA TOYA
                    Night, Joe!

                              "HEAVEN" CONTINUES OVER:

QUIET IN ANDREW'S CONDO, THE PARTY LONG OVER (INT/NIGHT).

Joe opens his briefcase, removing a legal pad with notes.

                              ANDREW
                    Congratulations, Miller.

Andrew clears away party debris from the table, making space
for his legal work. He is attached to an IV line, which is
connected to a drip bag on a rolling stand, that can move
with him. He is no longer in costume.

                              ANDREW (CONT.)
                    You survived your first gay
                    party intact.

                              JOE
                    Let me tell you something, okay?
                    When you're brought up, like the
                    rest of us, in a place like where
                    I was brought up, there's not a
                    whole lot of discussion about...
                    homosexuals.
                    As a kid, you're taught right away
                    that queers are weird, queers are
                    funny, they're a danger to kids,
                    they're afraid to fight, and they
                    all want to cop your joint. And
                    that pretty much sums up the
                    general thinking out there, if you
                    want to know the truth.

                              ANDREW
                    Thank you for sharing that with me,
                    Joe.

                              JOE
                    Let's review these notes for your
                    testimony. We have a big day on
                    Monday.

Joe begins ticking off a list of courtroom reminders:

                              JOE (CONT.)
                    When you refer to Wheeler, call him
                    Charles, to show how you'd been
                    admitted to the inner circle, you
                    were considered one of them.

                              ANDREW
                         (distracted)
                    Uh huh...

                              JOE (CONT.)
                    Beckett?

                              ANDREW
                    Charles. Okay. Miller?

                              JOE
                    What?

                              ANDREW
                    Do you... pray?

Joe hesitates. They're having a personal conversation?

                              JOE
                    Yeah. Sure.

Joe goes back to the notes:

                              JOE (CONT.)
                    Then we establish how Wheeler's
                    boys recruited you after law
                    school...

                              ANDREW
                    What have you prayed for?

                              JOE
                    For a healthy baby. For Lisa to
                    make it through the delivery.
                    For the Phillies to get into the
                    playoffs.