Project 16: Part Three

INT. SOUTH CITY, CALVIN'S HOME - NIGHT

Calvin tosses and turns in bed. He hears the voice of a six year old boy.

SIX YEAR OLD CALVIN (V.O.): I’m going to change the world Pa. Ludro... Ludro... Ludro... I’m going to change the world.

INT. SOUTH CITY, OFFICES OF LEOPOLD AND LEOPOLD, SIXTH FLOOR

Calvin sits at the far end of the long table. Mortimer and Morecambe Leopold sit opposite him.

MORTIMER LEOPOLD: Mr Roberts, I understand that you have something that you want to discuss with us.

CALVIN ROBERTS: I was asked to take the Changeling case

MORTIMER LEOPOLD: It is not a Leopold and Leopold case Mr Roberts

CALVIN ROBERTS: A Mr Duncan has offered to pay ten thousand dollars an hour.

MORECAMBE LEOPOLD: It may not compensate us for the loss of our reputation.

CALVIN ROBERTS: We could back out when the money runs out. We could cite irreconcilable differences. We could think of something.

MORTIMER LEOPOLD: Why do you want to take this case Mr Roberts?

CALVIN ROBERTS: The same way I assess every case Mr Leopold - because it will make me rich.

INT. SOUTH CITY, POLICE INTERROGATION ROOM - DAY

Calvin and Mr Duncan enter the police interrogation room where Verdi is seated.

Verdi stands up 

VERDI OCOCHA: Mr Duncan tells me that you want to defend me.

Verdi offers his hand in gratitude. Calvin refuses it. He puts his briefcase on the table

CALVIN ROBERTS: We are not friends Mr Ococha. This is a business transaction. I am representing you because I have been promised payment. I cannot make any promises that we will be successful. Do you understand?

VERDI OCOCHA: Yes Mr Roberts

CALVIN ROBERTS: You do not talk to anyone about this case other than me. You do exactly as I say, no matter what and then we have a chance.

Calvin opens the brief case. He removes a recording device from it.

CALVIN ROBERTS: We will be applying for bail. You have a clean record. The chances of that are good. 

Calvin presses a button on the recorder.

Now, let me hear about what happened from the night of the murder.

INT. DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE - DAY

Miss Trembelay enters the District Attorney’s office. 

DISTRICT ATTORNEY: 50’s, Male, caucasian, arrogant.

The District Attorney signs documents with his head downward

DISTRICT ATTORNEY: You wanted to see me?

MISS TREMBELAY: Yes sir. It’s the Ococha case.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY: The changeling?

MISS TREMBELAY: I’d rather not take it.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY: You’re the best man for the job.

MISS TREMBELAY: It’s not my type of case

The District Attorney looks up.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY: Every one in this office takes the cases they are assigned. Your job is to win cases. It’s a doozy.

MISS TREMBELAY: That’s what I’m afraid of.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY: You don’t want to win?

Miss Trembelay doesn’t respond.

You have no choice Trembelay. I want the changeling’s head on a platter. Are we clear?

MISS TREMBELAY: Yes sir.

EXT. SOUTH CITY, COURTS OF JUSTICE - DAY

Calvin Roberts descends the steps of the courthouse. A scrum of journalists greet him

JOURNALIST ONE: Mr Roberts why have you chosen to defend this creature?

CALVIN ROBERTS: His name is Verdi and I will continue to defend him for as long as I believe him to be innocent.

JOURNALIST ONE: Do you see him as human?

CALVIN ROBERTS: Whether you see him as a lion or a giraffe he is still a living breathing being who deserves to be treated with respect.

JOURNALIST TWO: Now that he is to be released on bail, do you think that the people of this city are safe?

CALVIN ROBERTS: Everyman deserves the presumption of innocence. When I look in his eyes, I see a calmness not a wild and angry being. The real killer is out there. He’s the one you should be worried about.

INT. MILBURN ESTATE, VERDI OCOCHA’S RESIDENCE - DAY

Verdi enters his one room apartment and sits down on the bed. There is a knock on the door. Harold Milburn enters without waiting for a response. MITCH and WHEATUS stand behind him.

MITCH: 30’s, male, tall, strong 

WHEATUS: late 20’s, male, average height but musclebound.

HAROLD MILBURN: Verdi

VERDI OCOCHA: Mr Milburn

HAROLD MILBURN: Unfortunately, you leave me with no choice. Rapists and murderers have no place here.

VERDI OCOCHA: I didn’t do it Mr Milburn

HAROLD MILBURN: Its not just the question of whether you did or didn’t do it. This is a stain on the Milburn family name. 

VERDI OCOCHA: I’m grateful for what you did for me Mr Milburn but--

HAROLD MILBURN: If you go now without a fuss, I will give you an extra hundred bucks and pay you up to last Saturday.

VERDI OCOCHA: I swear I didn’t do it Mr--

HAROLD MILBURN: Otherwise Verdi, Mitch and Wheatus here are going to have to kick you out. You have three minutes.

Harold Milburn turns and leaves. Mitch and Wheatus stand over Verdi

EXT. SOUTH CITY,, SUBURBAN STREET - NIGHT

RONALD CORBIN, is walking down a quiet street. A vehicle behind him drives slowly. He is too nervous to turn his head.

The vehicle reaches him. The window rolls down.

RONALD CORBIN: male, 30’s, average height, slim.

ROGUE CHANGELING LEADER: Ronald Corbin?

Ronald doesn’t answer. He continues walking.

ROGUE CHANGELING LEADER: We’d like to talk to you.

Ronald still doesn’t answer

The car comes to a stop and the man in the passenger street climbs out. Ronald starts jogging. The man runs after him and grabs a hold of Ronald in a rough manner.

RONALD CORBIN: What is this about?

ROGUE CHANGELING LEADER: Taxes. Now, you’re coming with us.

INT. SOUTH CITY, BASEMENT OF UNIDENTIFIED HOUSE - NIGHT

Ronald struggles against the chains that restrain him to the wall. The Rogue Changeling leader stands over him. Behind the leader are two masked men.

RONALD CORBIN: What do you want from me?

ROGUE CHANGELING LEADER: You know Verdi Ococha

RONALD CORBIN: Not very well

ROGUE CHANGELING LEADER: No lying. We have a punishment for that.

RONALD CORBIN: I really only know him to see. Any conversation I’ve had couldn’t have lasted more than a minute.

ROGUE CHANGELING LEADER: Did he have a friend?

RONALD CORBIN: What does that mean?

ROGUE CHANGELING LEADER: We’ve been told, he had a lady friend.

Ronald doesn’t respond.

ROGUE CHANGELING LEADER: I’ll take that as a yes.

RONALD CORBIN: No. I don’t know.

ROGUE CHANGELING LEADER: Who is she? You can make this very hard on yourself. We know how to make it very, very painful.

Ronald struggles with the chains in fear.

RONALD CORBIN: I don’t...

Ronald is punched in the face.

EXT. SOUTH CITY, STREET ON THE OUTSKIRTS - DAY

Verdi walks down the street, past several teenagers. 

TEENAGER ON STREET: Hey it’s him

The teenager throws a stone at Verdi and follows Verdi. Four of his teenage friends follow the ringleader

TEENAGER ON STREET: You scum. I hope you die for what you did.

Verdi hangs his head. He continues walking

TEENAGER ON STREET 2: Hey, are you crying?

He pauses

TEENAGER ON STREET 2: Hey, he’s crying

TEENAGER ON STREET: Run home to mammy

He throws another stone.

I/E. SOUTH CITY, MR DUNCAN’S RESIDENCE - NIGHT

Mr Duncan answers his door. Verdi is standing there.

VERDI OCOCHA: Mr Duncan, I have nowhere else to go.

A mob observe Verdi and throw projectiles.

MOB MEMBER 1: You belong in jail

One of the stones goes through Mr Duncan’s window

ROD DUNCAN: Come inside Verdi

INT. SOUTH CITY, MR DUNCAN'S RESIDENCE - DAY

Rod Duncan and Verdi sit around a kitchen table. Calvin strides into the room and places his briefcase on the table.

CALVIN ROBERTS: Mr Ococha, the thought ocurred to me - what happened with your parents?

VERDI OCOCHA: What do you mean?

CALVIN ROBERTS: The jury may want to know your backstory. I want to be prepared. What happened? Where are they?

VERDI OCOCHA: I’d rather not say.

CALVIN ROBERTS: You are on trial Mr Ococha. You have to answer questions you don’t want to answer.

Verdi becomes emotional and tries to leave the room. Calvin puts out his arm to stop him.

CALVIN ROBERTS: Tell me.

Verdi walks away.

ROD DUNCAN: He had differences with his parents when he realised he was a changeling. They were humiliated when he said he wanted to appear on the outside as he was on the inside.

CALVIN ROBERTS: So, he was born in human form?

ROD DUNCAN: His parents abandonned him because of his principles. He could have remained in human form but chose not to. 

CALVIN ROBERTS: Principle. Maybe we can use that. 

ROD DUNCAN: He had nowhere to go. He wandered the streets for years until Mr Milburn took him in and gave him a place to stay.

CALVIN ROBERTS: So that’s the reason why he thinks Mr Milburn could walk on water.

ROD DUNCAN: Mr Milburn paid Verdi less than minimum wage and Verdi repaid him in spades. Changelings are honest workers.

INT. SOUTH CITY, LOCAL SUPERMARKET - DAY

Rod Duncan presents some items at the local store. The CASHIER puts them through the till.

CASHIER: 20’s, male, bigotted.

CASHIER: Aren’t you the Greevus lover?

ROD DUNCAN: I don’t even know what a Greevus is

CASHIER: A shapeshifter. A changeling. I always knew they were scum.

ROD DUNCAN: He’s an innocent man

CASHIER: Man? He’s not a man. He’s a thing? He’s scum and he’s guilty. Guilty as hell.

The queue behind Mr Duncan whisper about him.

CASHIER: Sorry about your squashed tomatoes

The cashier proceeds to squash Mr Duncan’s tomatoes before handing him the bag of groceries.

Mr Duncan accepts the groceries. He approaches the manager.

STORE MANAGER: 30, male, average build, dishonest.

ROD DUNCAN: I’d like to make a complaint

STORE MANAGER: About what?

ROD DUNCAN: About your cashier. He--

STORE MANAGER: He’s a good guy. And you. You’re a Greevus lover.

ROD DUNCAN: Don’t you have forms that I can fill out?

STORE MANAGER: We’re all out of forms. 

ROD DUNCAN: I’ll be making a complaint to your superiors

STORE MANAGER: Good luck with that.

INT. SOUTH CITY, OFFICES OF LEOPOLD AND LEOPOLD, CANTEEN - DAY

Calvin strides over to a table of three men, including Hefler and Stevens -tray of food in his hands. He puts the tray on the table.

CALVIN ROBERTS: Any of you catch the basketball game last night?

The three men say nothing but stand up and leave.

Calvin is insulted but sits down and starts eating. The other customers look upon him with disdain

INT. SOUTH CITY, OFFICES OF LEOPOLD AND LEOPOLD, FOURTH FLOOR - DAY

Calvin approaches Rowena - seated behind her reception desk.

CALVIN ROBERTS: Rowena, did you catch the basketball match last night?

ROWENA: Mr Roberts, you may as well ask me existential questions about the universe. Reality TV is my area of expertise? CALVIN ROBERTS

Do you think I’m doing the right thing?

ROWENA: Taking Mr Duncan’s money?

CALVIN ROBERTS: Yeah

ROWENA: If it wasn’t for people like you Mr Roberts, I’d be out of a job.

CALVIN ROBERTS: Huh

Calvin enters his office.