Project 16: Part Two
INT. MILBURN MANSION, SECURITY ROOM - DAY
Rogue Changeling Leader and two of his assistants trawl through CCTV footage. Jake Milburn enters the room.
JAKE MILBURN: Have you found anything yet?
Rogue changeling leader retrieves footage.
ROGUE CHANGELING LEADER: He was with someone.
The footage shows, in the corner of the screen, a woman in a hooded coat moving in the direction of Verdi’s apartment past the stables.
JAKE MILBURN: Verdi?
ROGUE CHANGELING LEADER: We have little to go on, but there is a good chance that this woman was visiting him at 10:30pm
JAKE MILBURN: This could be a serious problem.
ROGUE CHANGELING LEADER: We’re here to eradicate problems.
INT. SOUTH CITY, COURTROOM - DAY
The courtroom is emptying after the end of a trial.
Calvin offers his hand to Mr Seagraves. The acquited millionaire reluctantly shakes hands.
CALVIN ROBERTS: Mr Seagraves it was a pleasure doing business with you. Any time I can be of service, please let me know.
MR SEAGRAVES: As long as there are no tramps like her, we won’t be seeing each other.
CALVIN ROBERTS: You’re a good man Mr Seagraves.
MR SEAGRAVES: Do you say that to all your clients?
CALVIN ROBERTS: Only the good ones.
INT. SOUTH CITY, COURTS OF JUSTICE, ELEVATOR - DAY
CALVIN ROBERTS waits for the elevator doors to close when Miss Trembelay enters
MISS TREMBELAY: You disgust me Roberts. You’re a sell out. A kiss ass. You think you’re going to make partner. You’ll never make partner.
CALVIN ROBERTS: I’m sorry Miss Trembelay, I’m off the market. I have a hot date tonight and I won’t be able to fit you in.
MISS TREMBELAY: You snake. All the money in the world piled high couldn’t buy me out.
She pauses.
Romano’s? That sounds like a fast food chain.
INT. SOUTH CITY, CALVIN’S CAR (MOVING) - EVENING
Calvin drives his car in traffic when he receives a call
CHERISE JORDAN: Calvin, Its mum.
CALVIN ROBERTS: Is she ok?
CHERISE JORDAN: She had a fall. She’s in hospital. Can you come visit her? She’d like that.
CALVIN ROBERTS: I have something urgent I need to take care of. I’ll be there as soon as I can.
CHERISE JORDAN: Calvin, I’m worried.
CALVIN ROBERTS: I’m sure its fine. People get older. They fall. It happens.
CHERISE JORDAN: So detached.
CALVIN ROBERTS: Lets not get into this. I’ll be there as soon as I can.
INT. SOUTH CITY, ITALIAN RESTAURANT - EVENING
Calvin Roberts approaches a table where an attractive woman sits opposite him.
MARJORIE: 26, female, attractive, well dressed, shallow.
MARJORIE: So glad you turned up.
CALVIN ROBERTS: I wouldn’t miss it for the world.
MARJORIE: Congratulations on the win. You’re notching them up.
CALVIN ROBERTS: Its becoming a habit
MARJORIE: So, when do you think you’ll make partner?
INT. SOUTH CITY, HOSPITAL WARD - NIGHT
Calvin enters the hospital room. LISA MAE ROBERTS perches in bed. CHERISE JORDAN is standing over her.
LISA MAE: 60’s, female, African American, good natured
CHERISE JORDAN: 34, female, African American, not concerned with money, prides herself on being down to earth.
LISA MAE ROBERTS: There’s my boy
Calvin leans over and gives his mother a kiss
CHERISE JORDAN: Visiting hours are supposed to be over Calvin. What took you so long?
CALVIN ROBERTS: Something important came up.
CHERISE JORDAN: More important than your own mother?
LISA MAE ROBERTS: Will you two shush. I have my family back.
CHERISE JORDAN: They’re doing some tests. They don’t have the results yet.
CALVIN ROBERTS: I’m sure its nothing. You’re a fighter mum aren’t you? You’ll outlive us all.
NURSE STEADMAN: I’m afraid you’ll have to leave now.
LISA MAE ROBERTS: But my son only got here.
CALVIN ROBERTS: I’ll come visit you tomorrow Lisa Mae.
CHERISE JORDAN: He might even break his two minute record next time.
CALVIN ROBERTS: Do you want to grab a coffee?
INT. SOUTH CITY, CAFE OF HOSPITAL - DAY
Calvin and Cherise sit opposite each other at a table. Half empty cups of coffee.
CALVIN ROBERTS: What do they think is the problem?
CHERISE JORDAN: It’s a guessing game Calvin.
CALVIN ROBERTS: Well, if we have to put her in a nursing home, I’m good for my half.
CHERISE JORDAN: I’d rather take care of her at home.
CALVIN ROBERTS: Cherise, you work in a library. God knows what they pay you.
CHERISE JORDAN: Please don’t make judgements about my life.
CALVIN ROBERTS: You’re as smart as I am. You could have had a career. Now you’re...
CHERISE JORDAN: I raised two fine children and I’m happy with that.
CALVIN ROBERTS: Shame about their old man
CHERISE JORDAN: Not every relationship has a Hollywood ending Calvin.
CALVIN ROBERTS: It could have done, if you made the right choices.
CHERISE JORDAN: And you? How’s your career going? Still raking in the money?
CALVIN ROBERTS: I might even make partner some day.
CHERISE JORDAN: Are you happy Calvin? Has money made you happy?
CALVIN ROBERTS: That depends on how you define happiness.
INT. SOUTH CITY, OFFICES OF LEOPOLD AND LEOPOLD, FOURTH FLOOR - MORNING
Calvin approaches his secretary ROWENA. Rowena sits behind a desk - typing.
ROWENA: 40’s female, attractive, genuine
CALVIN ROBERTS: Any calls?
She lifts her head.
ROWENA: There was a Mr Duncan. He’s a friend of that guy who is in the news.
CALVIN ROBERTS: What guy?
ROWENA: The changeling
CALVIN ROBERTS: Not interested
ROWENA: He called twice already. He’ll probably call again.
CALVIN ROBERTS: If he does - hang up.
ROWENA: He seems like a nice guy, in need of help...
CALVIN ROBERTS: Its not a Leopold and Leopold case
ROWENA: But is it a Calvin Roberts case?
INT. SOUTH CITY, OFFICES OF LEOPOLD AND LEOPOLD, CANTEEN - DAY
Calvin sits down with his tray of food and drink at a table of four other co-workers.
HEFFLER: 30’s, male, white, average lawyer
STEVENS: early 40’s, male, white, successful, arrogant.
LENER: 30’s, male, white, would rather do anything than be a lawyer.
HEFFLER: Great catch the other day. You’re on course for Stevens record.
CALVIN ROBERTS: Well, I try.
STEVENS: Yeah, its a real shame you don’t have a perfect record.
HEFFLER: Well, its the wins that count, not the losses. Its all about the winning.
CALVIN ROBERTS: Sure got that right. I’d hate to be a loser like Trembelay. She must hate to see me coming.
LENER: Hey, any of you guys catch the Lakers last night?
INT. SOUTH CITY, HOSPITAL WARD - EVENING
Calvin and Lisa Mae are alone in the hospital room. Calvin sits in a chair at a slight angle with his hands in his lap.
LISA MAE ROBERTS: Calvin, I had the strangest dream last night. I don’t know whether it was real or imagined but your Father was there.
CALVIN ROBERTS: Well then, it was your imagination Lisa Mae.
LISA MAE ROBERTS: You must have only been about six and you were talking to him. I remember he said that you would become President one day but then you said you wanted to be a Lawyer and fight for the justice of people like you.
CALVIN ROBERTS: It must have been imagined Lisa Mae because I can’t remember it.
LISA MAE ROBERTS: But you became that lawyer and fought for justice just like you told your daddy all those years ago.
She pauses
LISA MAE ROBERTS: I’m so proud of you
CALVIN ROBERTS: I know. I know.
Cherise enters
CHERISE JORDAN: This is almost like old times. What were you two talking about?
LISA MAE ROBERTS: This and that mostly. I’m proud of both of you - the way you turned out.
INT. SOUTH CITY, TRAVIS ROBERTS HOME - DAY
TRAVIS ROBERTS sits in a rocking chair in the living room, half asleep. His home is small and neglected. He is surrounded by beer cans and rubbish.
TRAVIS ROBERTS: 70’s, male, white, alcoholic, former police officer, unreliable.
Cherise enters.
CHERISE JORDAN: Pa? The door was half open.
Travis doesn’t respond.
CHERISE JORDAN: I tried calling... about mum.
She creeps closer.
TRAVIS ROBERTS: Yeah?
CHERISE JORDAN: She’s undergoing tests. She had a fall.
TRAVIS ROBERTS: And I always thought I’d go before her.
CHERISE JORDAN: Don’t think like that.
TRAVIS ROBERTS: What else is there to do?
He reaches for a beer can.
She restrains his arm.
CHERISE JORDAN: You have a family. Isn’t that enough?
He lets go of the beer. He leans back.
TRAVIS ROBERTS: My son doesn’t want to know me. My wife...
CHERISE JORDAN: All it takes is a little effort. Did you not think that he’d like to know you if you gave up the booze.
TRAVIS ROBERTS: He’s a jerk in a suit.
CHERISE JORDAN: That’s the drink talking. You were always so proud of him.
TRAVIS ROBERTS: Anyway, I can’t give up the drink. Its all I’ve got.
CHERISE JORDAN: It’s tearing your life apart. I’ve a brother who thinks his own Mother is not high priority. And I’ve a Father who’d rather drink than find the time to visit his wife.
TRAVIS ROBERTS: You sound like a shrink.
CHERISE JORDAN: I’m going to tidy this place up and you are going to make an effort to get cleaned up.
EXT. SOUTH CITY, CAR PARK - MORNING
Calvin leaves his car and strides in the direction of his office. ROD DUNCAN approaches him.
ROD DUNCAN: Late 50’s, male, African American, wealthy, well dressed, ethical.
ROD DUNCAN: Mr Roberts.
CALVIN ROBERTS: I know who you are.
ROD DUNCAN: Verdi is an innocent man
CALVIN ROBERTS: And so are my clients.
ROD DUNCAN: I am not a poor man Mr Roberts. I can pay you for your services.
CALVIN ROBERTS: Money is not the issue.
ROD DUNCAN: Where is your sense of justice? All I ask is that you talk to him. For that I will give you ten thousand dollars. A simple conversation Mr Roberts. That’s all I ask?
CALVIN ROBERTS: I’ll think about it.
Mr Roberts continues walking away
ROD DUNCAN: It’s not the popular thing to do Mr Roberts but it is the right thing to do.
CALVIN ROBERTS: Good day Mr Duncan.
INT. SOUTH CITY, SQUASH CLUB, CAFE - DAY
Calvin and Devon Sommerset drink tea and relax after a game of squash
DEVON SOMMERSET: 30’s, male, well groomed, confident
DEVON SOMMERSET: One day I hope to be president of this club.
CALVIN ROBERTS: One day I hope to own this club.
DEVON SOMMERSET: You always were ambitious.
CALVIN ROBERTS: Nah. I’m just a realist.
DEVON SOMMERSET: I see there’s a guy going around town, looking for someone to defend the changeling case.
CALVIN ROBERTS: He’s offering good money.
DEVON SOMMERSET: Whatever it is, it’s not enough. You take a case like that and you’ll have more bleeding heart cases that don’t pay and don’t win. Don’t tell me you considered it?
CALVIN ROBERTS: Nah. I’m a realist.
INT. SOUTH CITY, HOSPITAL WARD - EVENING
Lisa Mae sits up in bed. Calvin sits close by.
LISA MAE ROBERTS : I had another dream. It was more of a nightmare really.
CALVIN ROBERTS: Oh really?
LISA MAE ROBERTS: An innocent man - god knows how I knew he was innocent, but he was being burnt and spat at and other terrible things. Those that didn’t do terrible things just stood there. Some watched and others looked away, but they did nothing.
CALVIN ROBERTS: Don’t worry mama it was just a dream.
LISA MAE ROBERTS: I know son. You wouldn’t have looked away. You would have quenched the fire and fought off the rabble until you could fight no more.
CALVIN ROBERTS: I’m no hero Lisa Mae. A hero is someone in the right place at the right time with bad judgment.
LISA MAE ROBERTS: You fought off Billy Baxter and Rowan Bogarde when you were a kid. You’re a hero to me.
EXT. SOUTH CITY, COURTS OF JUSTICE - MORNING
Calvin approaches the Courts of Justice. In front of him is a large crowd. The changeling is escorted from a police car up the steps of the Courts of Justice. Surrounded by more than a dozen photographers and hateful onlookers.
The audience chant in unison: “hang him, hang him, hang him.”
Two lawyers in conversation pass by Calvin.
LAWYER ONE: Scumbag doesn’t stand a chance. No lawyer will represent him.
INT. SOUTH CITY JAIL, MEETING ROOM - DAY
Calvin enters a small room - carries a briefcase. Verdi sits at a table - handcuffed. Mr Duncan sits in a chair opposite Verdi.
VERDI OCOCHA: Mr Roberts, I’m glad you came.
Calvin places his briefcase on the table
CALVIN ROBERTS: Lets not get ahead of ourselves Mr Ococha. You are the last person I would represent. I’m only here because, Mr Duncan asked me to meet with you
.
Calvin removes a recorder from the briefcase but doesn’t turn it on.
VERDI OCOCHA: You’re the only lawyer to meet with me. Nobody will touch me.
ROD DUNCAN: Don’t say that Verdi.
CALVIN ROBERTS: He’s not lying Mr Duncan. This case could end my career. It could end anyone’s career.
VERDI OCOCHA: Perhaps I deserve to die, for all my faults.
ROD DUNCAN: You’re a good man Verdi.
CALVIN ROBERTS: Is he? He killed a defenceless woman.
VERDI OCOCHA: I didn’t kill her.
ROD DUNCAN: Is this the way you treat all your clients. Is this the way you treat those with money and reputations?
CALVIN ROBERTS: The difference is, that Mr Ococha is a changeling. He’s not one of us.
ROD DUNCAN: What if this was your life? You do your job. Never interfere with anyone and then you are called out as a monster and despised by everyone.
CALVIN ROBERTS: I am not the monster.
ROD DUNCAN: Neither is he. Ask questions Mr Roberts. Ask him. Do your job as if he was one of your rich human clients.
CALVIN ROBERTS: Don’t tell me what to do.
INT. SOUTH CITY, TRAVIS ROBERTS HOME - DAY
Calvin enters the kitchen, where Travis is placing a precooked meal in the microwave.
CALVIN ROBERTS: Cherise suggested I drop by. She said you were making progress.
TRAVIS ROBERTS: That’s debatable.
CALVIN ROBERTS: So you’re not clean?
TRAVIS ROBERTS: What’s it to you? Clean or not. You never cared about me. This is the first time I’ve seen you...
CALVIN ROBERTS: I should have known. Cherise the do-gooder. Always wanting to play happy families.
TRAVIS ROBERTS: You always were a miserable son of a...
CALVIN ROBERTS: Go on. I’m sure mom would like to hear it.
TRAVIS ROBERTS: You never understood me. You never respected me. You always took the easy cases that paid money. Not the ones where clients were the real victims.
CALVIN ROBERTS: I took plenty of cases and won plenty.
TRAVIS ROBERTS: Not ones that really mattered. Did any of your clients take you out for a meal to thank you? Did they offer to shake your hand first.
CALVIN ROBERTS: You should be proud of me and the cases I won.
TRAVIS ROBERTS: They were all entitled. You never took a proper case in your life. You’re not a lawyer.
CALVIN ROBERTS: Take a look in the mirror. You’re an alcoholic who never had time for his own son. You walked out on us.
TRAVIS ROBERTS: I walked out because I could see what I was doing to you. I did it for you. I’ve seen things that nobody should ever see.
CALVIN ROBERTS: You always were good at excuses.
Calvin kicks a cabinet. A wine bottle comes out a chute and falls to the ground.
I should have known.
TRAVIS ROBERTS: Nineteen-Eighty-Four. A good year.
CALVIN ROBERTS: I feel sorry for Cherise. She’s the one that never gives up hope for you.
TRAVIS ROBERTS: You should hear what she thinks of you.
CALVIN ROBERTS: I’m walking out the door and I’m never coming back.
Calvin strides towards the door
TRAVIS ROBERTS: Do you remember what you told me when you were six years old?
Calvin walks out, slamming the door behind him.