BARRETT
What are the formal charges?
AARON
I’m waiting for Yoakum to call me back to find out. Something to do with a stolen credit card her girlfriend gave her.
Barrett nods. Then he makes a decision.
BARRETT
Come on, let’s eat. We can talk over food.
They rise and start into the other room as we
DISSOLVE TO:
19 MEMORY SHOT – SOLARIZED – AARON’S VOICE OVER THROUGHOUT
Character studies of Hallie and Aaron, in soft focus with Hallie looking young and vibrant, a flower just opening. Aaron deeply in love with her. And there can be intimations that it is sexual as well as esthetic, if we are to retain a semblance of reality.
AARON
Her mother is dead, her sister’s some kind of a prostitute, I guess: Hallie didn’t like to talk about it too much, but that’s the feeling I got. There wasn’t anybody else. She wanted better things for herself. Music, books, we learned a lot from each other.
(beat)
Then I didn’t see her any more.
(beat)
That was all. It just stopped. Till tonight.
DISSOLVE BACK TO
20 THE LIVING ROOM – LATER
Everyone sipping coffee, to indicate the dinner has been eaten and it is later. The PHONE RINGS. Aaron gets up.
AARON
(to Barrett)
Maybe it’s Yoakum.
Barrett indicates it’s all right for Aaron to answer his phone. Aaron goes. Barrett and Kate exchange glances.
21 CLOSE ON AARON AT PHONE – INTERCUT WITH CLOSE ON YOAKUM ON PHONE
(Alternate filter where necessary.)
YOAKUM is a character. Bernie Yoakum is about forty, balding, wearing jeans and a T-shirt that bulges over his belt. But he is canny, compassionate, efficient and very very upfront with information.
AARON
Barrett residence.
YOAKUM
Aaron Silverman, please.
AARON
It’s me, Bernie. What’ve you got?
YOAKUM
You sure you want to do this, babe?
AARON
Come on, Bernie – what is it?
YOAKUM
They caught her trying to use a stolen credit card to rent a car. They’ve got her and a girlfriend in the lockup.
AARON
Will they release her?
YOAKUM
They don’t want to.
AARON
Why? That isn’t that heavy a charge.
YOAKUM
There’s more. She’s got a record, Aaron. A nasty one.
AARON
Hallie?
YOAKUM
About three weeks ago she was pulled in. Neighbors heard her baby crying like she was beating it. Cops got there and she was gone. Baby deserted. They took it to the County Home, and a couple of days later she came home, neighbors called the cops again and they pulled her in.
AARON
(stunned)
I don’t believe it.
YOAKUM
It’s on paper, Aaron.
AARON
But she isn’t even married!
YOAKUM
When was the last time you saw her?
Yoakum’s remark stops Aaron. He tangles with it for a moment.
AARON
(finally)
Okay, I want her out of there. Won’t they fix bail?
YOAKUM
You haven’t heard it all.
(beat)
She’s got a hundred and thirty dollars in outstanding traffic tickets.
Aaron lowers the phone. He can’t cope with all of this. Barrett suddenly comes INTO THE FRAME. He reaches for the phone.
BARRETT
(gently)
May I?
(Aaron gives him the phone)
Bernie? David Barrett. What have we got down there?
22 FULL SHOT – FAVORING AARON
as he walks away from the phone. Barrett is talking in the b.g. Aaron walks back to Claire and Kate.
KATE
Is there anything I can do, Aaron?
He doesn’t seem to hear. Then he lets it penetrate.
AARON
Huh? Oh, thank you, Judge. No, I don’t think –
He stops.
AARON
The police won’t fix bail on Hallie. It’s Friday night…I can’t let her sit in there till Monday morning. She was crying when she talked to me.
(beat)
I know her, I know this is all wrong. Judge, would you sign an order setting bail for release?
23 REVERSE ANGLE – FAVORING JUDGE KATE KNIGHT
She looks uncertain. She’s watching Barrett talking.
KATE
Are you sure that’s what you want, Aaron? There seems to be some trouble if the Desk Sergeant won’t fix bail.
AARON
Judge, I know this girl. She can’t be mixed up in all this. It’s a mistake…she’s a fine person; I can’t let her stay in a cell all weekend…
KATE
All right, Aaron.
Aaron smiles with deep gratitude.
AARON
I’ll have Bernie Yoakum bring the papers.
KATE
I’ll set a high bail, Aaron.
AARON
(pauses, then gratefully)
I understand. Thank you.
He goes to the phone as Barrett finishes, and takes the receiver. Barrett stays and listens.
AARON
(to Yoakum)
Bernie, Aaron. Judge Knight of the Circuit Court is here. She’s prepared to sign an order setting bail and permitting release. Can you bring the papers here for her signature?
He listens. Barrett has heard all this, and is terribly upset. He turns and stares across the room at Kate.
AARON
(to Kate)
Judge, Bernie’d like to speak to you for a moment.
Kate rises and comes to the phone. Aaron hands it to her.
KATE
Mr. Yoakum, Judge Knight. Can you tell me the charges, please?
She listens for a while, hmmms and nods.
KATE
Fine. If you’ll bring the papers here, Mr. Barrett will give you the address.
She hands the phone to Barrett, who looks at her for a long moment, then turns away and speaks to Yoakum as Kate and Aaron return to the sofa and Claire.
KATE
Aaron, I’m setting bail at fifteen hundred dollars. Mr. Yoakum will probably ask two hundred dollars for the bond; and you’ll need one hundred and thirty dollars in cash for the traffic fines, otherwise they won’t release her.
AARON
Three hundred and thirty dollars.
Barrett hangs up and comes to them. He is quite angry.
AARON
Sir, can I get three hundred and thirty dollars from the N.L.O.? From the bail fund.
BARRETT
(hard)
No.
AARON
It’s to get this girl out of –
BARRETT
I know what it’s for, Aaron. I’m afraid not.
(to Kate)
And I think you’re making a serious mistake, Kate.
AARON
(bewildered)
Why are you doing this?
BARRETT
Because you’re making a fool of yourself.
By Aaron’s reaction, and Kate’s stiffened spine, and by the sound of his own words, Barrett instantly recognizes his error. He’s used the wrong tone, the wrong words, the wrong approach entirely. He’s angry, and it’s made him miscalculate.
BARRETT
(continuing)
I’m sorry, Aaron. I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.
(beat)
This girl is in deep trouble, and you’re going out on a limb without considering carefully.
AARON
I’ve considered. I want her out.
BARRETT
That’s fine, but perhaps she should be in.
AARON
I thought there was only one judge in the room.
CLAIRE
Aaron!
BARRETT
That’s all right, I deserved it. But it doesn’t negate my opinion. Abandonment, possible child cruelty, grand larceny and possible fraud. Not to mention traffic citations worthy of a renegade motorcycle pack.
AARON
She didn’t know the card was stolen…there must be an explanation for the child – I don’t even think it’s her – Hallie isn’t married!
BARRETT
Aaron! You’re an attorney, not a social worker.
AARON
I know her!
BARRETT
You haven’t seen her in three years. You don’t know her! You only have feelings, Aaron – feelings and memories. An attorney can’t work that way.
(beat)
It’s as reliable as getting spirit messages!
AARON
(to Kate)
Judge, I don’t want to cause any trouble. If you want to reconsider…
KATE
David may be right, Aaron…but I said I’d do it.
BARRETT
You’re making a mistake, Kate.
KATE
(slight chill)
I’ve made others, David. I can understand Aaron’s concern. If she is innocent, a weekend in jail can be an unpleasant experience.
Barrett turns away. He’s furious. Aaron looks at Claire, who bites her lip.
AARON
I’d better get a move on if I’m going to raise the bond money.
Claire rises. Barrett goes for their coats.
CLAIRE
It was very nice meeting you, Judge Knight.
KATE
Next time we’ll let the food settle.
AARON
I’m sorry, Judge. Thanks.
KATE
That’s all right, Aaron. When Mr. Yoakum gets here
I’ll take care of the order.
(beat)
And, Aaron…
(beat)
David worries about you.
Aaron smiles wanly. They go to Barrett, standing by the door, holding their coats. He gives Aaron his, and helps Claire into hers.
BARRETT
Please come again, Miss Zalazny.
(to Aaron)
And next time, leave your weird friend at home.
AARON
(rigid)
Good night, sir. Thank you for dinner. Barrett doesn’t answer. They go.
24 LONG SHOT – ACROSS LIVING ROOM
as Barrett comes to Kate in f.g.
KATE
Sometimes, David, there is no softness in you.
BARRETT
Would you like some cognac?
KATE
If I didn’t have to wait, I’d be on my way out.
BARRETT
Kate, we’re in the same business. You of all people should know my job isn’t to be soft, or mellow, or charming, or muddle-headed!
(beat)
He boils, that boy. He boils and he fumes and he has great integrity and all of those qualities are good…for a certain kind of lawyer. But that fire can burn and he has to know it. If he wants to take chances, that’s his business, but what do we do when he takes chances with other people’s lives?
KATE
You can be wrong, David.
BARRETT
I’m not.
She looks at him as he hands her the cognac. He is dead certain. He’s lost the argument with Aaron, looked bad to everyone in the room, but he’s right…he knows it, and Kate is suddenly afraid he may be right.
DISSOLVE TO:
25 AARON’S APARTMENT – NIGHT
FULL SHOT on Aaron as he gathers up his stereo, his cassette recorder, his camera and his skis.
CLAIRE
I can loan you about twenty-five dollars.
AARON
Thanks. I think I can make it with what I’ve set aside for books, my savings account and these.
CLAIRE
Oh, Aaron, your skis, for god’s sake!
AARON
Doesn’t matter. The powder’s been lousy the last two years.
He urges her toward the door, both of them laden down with negotiable merchandise.
CLAIRE
Where are we going to get rid of all this?
AARON
I’m a man with underworld connections.
(beat)
Besides, don’t worry about my poverty. I’ll become a gigolo and let your wealthy family support me.
CLAIRE
Dynamite. Then see if you can get them to support me.
They exit, laden.
CUT TO:
26 SERIES OF LAP DISSOLVES
as Aaron and Claire hustle his goods.
(We should make use of available standing sets for this sequence. The situations indicated here are merely to convey content.)
Aaron in a pool room, selling his cassette recorder to a guy lounging over the soft drink counter.
Aaron in what could be a dorm room, or a rooming house. Hustling the Head skis to a pair of dudes who are quite obviously trying to stiff him.
Aaron on a street corner with the stereo, selling it to a dude in an Australian bush hat and cutoffs. As a cop comes up to them and starts questioning Aaron.
Aaron with Claire, selling books in a late-night textbook shop.
Aaron showing his watch to a friend.
DISSOLVE THRU TO:
27 AARON’S APARTMENT – EARLY MORNING
Claire is asleep on the sofa, her coat covering her legs. Aaron, looking wasted, is asleep in a deep study armchair beside the telephone.
CAMERA COMES IN on him. NO SOUND THROUGHOUT THIS SCENE.
LAP DISSOLVE TO:
28 MEMORY SHOT – SOLARIZED AND SILENT
Aaron and Hallie touching. They are learning each other’s faces with their fingers. Then they slowly come together and kiss, as the PHONE RINGS.
The memory dream begins to dissolve, like water colors washing down a herringbone surface as we
SHARP CUT TO:
29 SAME AS 27
ON AARON as he jumps. It takes him a moment to come to his senses and realize where he is. He gropes for the phone. He picks it up and mumbles unintelligibly.
YOAKUM
(filter)
Good morning.
AARON
Mornin’…Bernie?
YOAKUM
(filter)
Yeah. Order’s signed. I’m ready to go down to Charles Street Station. I thought you might like to meet me and lay some cash on me.
AARON
Sure. Yeah. Okay. Meet you there in half an hour.
YOAKUM
(filter)
Okay. But hey, listen, Aaron…
AARON
Yeah?
YOAKUM
(filter)
I’m not so sure this is a good idea. This chick is –
AARON
(cuts him off)
Half an hour.
He hangs up rudely. Then he rises as CAMERA PULLS BACK. He gets his coat and starts for the door, quietly.
CLAIRE
I want to go, Aaron.
He turns as CAMERA MOVES ANGLE and we see that Claire has been awake since the phone rang. She is sitting up, looking very rumpled and sleepy, but the expression on her face tells us her attachment to Aaron is more than just casual. He comes to her and sits on the sofa.
AARON
Maybe not, you think? Maybe I should go down alone.
CLAIRE
I want to go with you.
She takes his face in her hands and kisses him very tenderly.
CLAIRE
I want to go with you.
He helps her to her feet and steadies her as she gets into her shoes. As they start for the door, together, we
DISSOLVE TO:
30 CHARLES STREET STATION – MORNING
There is an entranceway that can be seen without having it connected to the check-in desk area. There is a counter and a divider wall up to waist level. Cell doors and a corridor run off to one side. A corridor down which Aaron can look, and presumably down that way are the lockups. An older man, perhaps fiftyish, a DESK SERGEANT, is behind the counter, talking over the divider to Bernie Yoakum as Aaron and Claire come in through the front door. Bernie excuses himself, and carrying a black attaché case that is cuffed to his wrist, he comes to Aaron and leads him to a corner out of earshot.
AARON