PHILADELPHIA

                              SEIDMAN
                    ... But we shouldn't have fired
                    him...

                              WHEELER
                    ... It's time to get this society
                    back on track!

Andrew OPENS HIS EYES... WE SWITCH TO HIS POV:

The Judge, the Jury -- everyone silent, looking concerned.

ANDREW'S POV of the courtroom floor.

Andrew falls into his own POV SHOT. In slow motion.

He lies on the floor, looking up.

ANDREW'S POV -- Joe steps over him.

                              ANDREW
                    Could you call an ambulance,
                    please?

                                                  CUT TO:

A CRISIS IN A HOSPITAL ROOM (INT./DAY) ... MEDICAL STAFF
working frenetically, trying to intubate Andrew, who IS
HAVING SERIOUS TROUBLE BREATHING, his body HEAVING. The
tube they're trying to put in place seems to be making
matters worse.

Miguel stands to the side, furious:

                              MIGUEL
                    It's making it worse. Take it
                    out. Take it out!

Dr. Gillman RUSHES into the room, in street clothes,
obviously having answered an emergency call. She tries
assessing the situation, just as the tube is removed and
Andrew GASPS for breath. A NURSE places an oxygen mask over
Andrew's face and he drinks in the air. His eyes are wide
open with fear, sweat covering his face.

                                                  CUT TO:

PHILADELPHIA CITY HALL, A BUSINESS DAY (EXT./DAY).

TITLE: "Two weeks later."

                              LESBIAN JUROR (VO)
                    If he was "mediocre," why did
                    they gave him this major
                    assignment three weeks before
                    they fired him?

                              POSTAL WORKER JUROR (VO)
                    They were testing him.

                                                  CUT TO:

JURORS SITTING AROUND A LONG TABLE IN A ROOM WITH TALL,
grimy windows (INT./DAY) ...

TITLE: "Jury deliberations."

                              WAITRESS JUROR
                    They wanted to see if he'd rise
                    to the challenge.

An American flag hangs on the wall.

                              SCHOOLTEACHER JUROR
                    They wanted to give him a final
                    chance.

                              POSTAL WORKER JUROR
                    Makes sense.

                              BUSINESSMAN JUROR
                    I'd still love to know what
                    happened to that missing file.

                              HOMEMAKER JUROR
                    Wouldn't we all?

                              POSTAL WORKER JUROR
                    Ask the computer.

                              COLLEGE STUDENT JUROR
                    They say he wasn't competent. But,
                    you heard him on the stand.

                              ROCK MUSICIAN JUROR
                    He sounded pretty smart to me.

                              BUSINESSMAN JUROR
                    Why would they fire him? Why
                    not a medical leave, or...

                              COLLEGE STUDENT JUROR
                    They freaked out over the AIDS.

                              SCHOOLTEACHER JUROR
                    They hate homosexuals.

                              BUSINESSMAN JUROR
                    It's not against the law to
                    disapprove of homosexuals.

                              LESBIAN JUROR
                    It is against the law to fire someone
                    for having AIDS. That's why we're
                    here.

                              BUSINESSMAN JUROR
                    You're the foreman. You haven't said
                    anything. What do you think?

ANGLE ON -- THE MARINE, sitting at the head of the table.

CAMERA MOVES IN SLOWLY ON HIM:

                              MARINE JUROR
                    They're saying he wasn't a good
                    lawyer. He was mediocre. And the
                    fact that they gave him the most
                    important lawsuit they'd ever had,
                    for one of their most important
                    clients... they say that doesn't
                    prove anything, because that was
                    just a test. What did they call
                    it? A carrot. To see if he'd rise
                    to the occasion... Okay... Say
                    I've got to send a pilot into
                    enemy territory, and he's gonna
                    be flying a plane that cost 350
                    million dollars...
                    Who am I going to put into that
                    plane? A rookie who can't cut the
                    grade, because I want to see if
                    he'll rise to the challenge? Or am
                    I going to give that assignment to
                    my best pilot, my most experienced,
                    my sharpest, my top gun... The very
                    best I've got?

CLOSE ON THE MARINE:

                              MARINE JUROR (CONT.)
                    Could somebody please explain that
                    to me... like I'm a six year old?

HOLD ON THE MARINE, AS THE JUDGE'S VOICE FADES IN:

                              JUDGE GARNETT (VO)
                    Members of the jury, have you
                    reached a verdict?

                                                  AND CUT TO:

THE COURTROOM -- NO ONE STIRRING (INT./DAY).

Joe is utterly cool. Sitting beside Andrew's empty chair.

Among the spectators, Andrew's siblings, Jill, Matt, Randy, and
his parents, Bud and Sarah... Rachel, Anthea and Miguel's
sister Maria.

The Marine rises to his feet.

                              MARINE
                    We have, Your Honor...

Charles Wheeler looks the Marine in the eye.

                              MARINE (CONT.)
                    We find for the plaintiff,
                    Andrew Beckett.

Joe smiles, just barely, remaining calm.

Charles Wheeler whispers to Belinda Conine.

                              JUDGE GARNETT
                    Have you awarded any damages?

                              MARINE
                    Yes, we have, Your Honor.
                         (referring to a list)
                    For back pay and loss of benefits
                    ... one hundred fortythree
                    thousand dollars.

Joe shakes his head, disappointed, writing down the amount.

Wheeler and his crew SMILE -- THIS IS THEIR VICTORY.

                              MARINE JUROR (CONT.)
                    For damages related to mental
                    anguish and humiliation... we give
                    no award.

Joe is extremely disappointed.

                              MARINE JUROR (CONT.)
                    And punitive damages we award...
                    Four million, eight hundred and
                    eighty two thousand dollars.

Joe throws his pen over his shoulder.

COURTROOM BURSTS INTO AN UPROAR.

Andrew's supporters, Joe's colleagues from his office rush
forward, pounding him on the back. Andrew's family members
hug each other...

CAMERA CRANES AWAY FROM THIS GROUP, RISING TOWARD THE
CEILING AS THE SOUNDS OF THE CROWD FADE...

OPERA MUSIC FADES IN, TAKING US TO...

ELEVATOR DOORS OPENING... JOE STEPPING INTO THE CORRIDOR OF
a hospital (INT./NIGHT), carrying two shopping bags from the
Famous 4th Street deli...

Joe moves down the corridor, looking for a particular room.

Dr. Gillman stands outside a hospital room, talking in a low
voice to Bud and Sarah Beckett. As Joe passes them,
entering Andrew's room, he hears:

                              DR. GILLMAN
                    ... if he comes out of the
                    hospital this time, you mustn't
                    expect him to be like he was
                    before...

Joe steps into...

ANDREW'S HOSPITAL ROOM (INT./NIGHT) ...

A hand-painted banner is strung over Andrew's bed:
"Victory."

OPERA MUSIC plays on a portable CD player. ANDREW lies in a
hospital bed, with a pressurized oxygen mask on his face.

JILL sits on the edge of Andrew's bed, holding his hand,
smiling, speaking to Andrew in low tones. With his free
hand, Andrew gently strokes Jill's forearm. (Andrew has an
amazing assortment of tubes and IVs running into various
parts of his body.)

Andrew's brothers MATT and RANDY are sipping beers with REV.
JIM, MIGUEL, Miguel's sister MARIA, Bruno and Chandra, while
Matt does a dramatic re-creation of the Marine Juror rendering
the judgment. Matt's audience is loving it.

As Joe comes into the room, Jill rises to take the shopping bags
from him. Joe exchanges nods and greetings with the others.

People KEEP THEIR VOICES LOW, but there's a certain energy, and
happiness evident in the room.

ON ANDREW: Watching his friends and relatives with sparkling
eyes and a weak, but grateful and peaceful smile.

ON JOE: Glancing across the room, catching Andrew's look.

Andrew smiles at Joe and pats his hospital bed, indicating he
wants Joe to sit there.