ACT ONE
FADE IN:
INT. COURTHOUSE HALLWAY - LATER
Jones is walking down the hallway when Harrison, running,
comes up behind her.
HARRISON
Miss Jones!
She stops and waits for him to catch up.
JONES
Oh, good morning, Mr. John. I'm
glad to see you're a morning
person. Sometimes witnesses who
are night owls can leave a bad
impression on the jury.
HARRISON
Miss Jones, can we talk?
JONES
What is it?
HARRISON
I don't think this is a good idea.
She stops and stares at him.
JONES
(nonplussed)
What?
HARRISON
I just...don't think I should be
doing this.
JONES
Okay, let's talk.
She turns off and opens a side door.
JONES (CONT'D)
In here.
They disappear inside.
CUT TO:
INT. MCQUEEN KITCHEN
Sam is sitting at the table, lost in thought. Lily comes up
to the patio doors and knocks, but Sam doesn't appear to hear
her. Lily peers in, knocks again, and finally opens the door
herself.
LILY
Sam?
Sam looks up, startled.
SAM
Oh—hi, Lily.
LILY
You did remember that I was coming
over this morning to work on the
rally, right?
She dumps a laptop and an armload of papers on the table.
SAM
Yeah...no, I remembered.
LILY
(concerned)
Sam, what is it?
Sam lays her chin on her arms glumly.
SAM
Oh, nothing. I'm just a horrible
person, that's all.
Lily laughs in surprise.
LILY
Sam, what's got you in this mood?
SAM
I have a new mantra. Wanna hear
it? "I will not be jealous of
Brooke, I will not be jealous of
Brooke, I will not be jealous of
Brooke"...
LILY
You're jealous of Brooke?
SAM
(plaintively)
I know! She gets run down by
Nicole, she almost dies, it's
going to take weeks or months for
for her to recover, and Harrison
is being a really good friend and
spending every day with her—
LILY
Aha...
SAM
(burying her face)
And I am just the most horrible,
terrible person alive!
LILY
(grinning)
Sam! You are not!
SAM
(nodding emphatically)
Yes, I am. I imagine—all kinds
of things...
LILY
(peering at Sam)
You don't really think that
Harrison and Brooke...
SAM
No! I mean, of course not! It's
just...argh!
Sam puts her head down and covers it with her arms. Lily
reaches across the table and pats her comfortingly.
LILY
It's all right, Sam. It's natural
to be a LITTLE jealous. I mean,
you're only human, right?
SAM
(peeking out)
It is?
LILY
(encouragingly)
Sure! As long as you don't take
it to Nicole-ean heights.
Sam straightens up and scrunches her face at Lily.
SAM
Oh, thank you. I'm never taking
anything to Nicole-ean heights,
wherever they are.
LILY
Well, I didn't think you were.
The phone rings, and Sam gets up to answer it.
SAM
(into the phone)
Hello? Oh—hi. It's early, isn't
it?
She throws a glance at Lily.
SAM (CONT'D)
(into the phone)
Oh—he was?... Uh, no, sure, I'll
go down there and check on him...
Sure... What?
(makes a face)
Okay, hang on.
She puts the phone down and looks askance at Lily, who has the
laptop open in front of her.
SAM (CONT'D)
(to Lily)
Can you run a search on that and
find out who wrote "Prevalence of
Witches"?
LILY
(cautiously)
Ah...sure. Just a sec.
Lily taps a few keys and waits for the results.
LILY (CONT'D)
Okay...Aubrey Clarence Menen.
SAM
(into the phone)
Aubrey Clarence Menen...
(to Lily)
How do you spell "Menen"?
LILY
M-E-N-E-N.
SAM
M-E-N-E-N... Okay... Bye.
Sam hangs up the phone.
LILY
Should I ask what that was all
about?
Sam just makes a rude noise and rolls her eyes, as Jane comes
down the stairs.
JANE
Good morning, girls.
LILY
Good morning, Mrs. McPherson. I
hope you don't mind me taking over
your table.
JANE
Oh, anything for a good cause.
Sam steps up to her, smiling sweetly.
SAM
Mom...I don't know when, I don't
know how—but someday, I WILL get
you back for starting Brooke on
those crossword puzzles.
JANE
Sam! Crossword puzzles are
healthy mental stimulation. I
remember your father and I doing
them every day.
SAM
Uh huh, and do you remember me
hiding in my room so I wouldn't
get dragged into them?
JANE
It wasn't that bad...
(pause)
Was it?
Sam just shakes her head in frustration, while Jane pours
herself a cup of coffee.
JANE (CONT'D)
Well, I am taking Mackenzie in for
a check-up today, so I will see
you girls later. Lily, feel free
to take over whatever furniture
you want.
LILY
Thanks, Mrs. McPherson.
Sam sits back down, and as Jane heads back upstairs with her
coffee, she wags a finger in her direction.
SAM
Revenge is coming, Mom!
Jane waves absently before disappearing.
LILY
Crossword puzzles?
SAM
(throws up her hands)
It's an obsession, I swear.
LILY
Oh!
Lily has a sudden thought and digs through her bag, pulling
out a card.
LILY (CONT'D)
Postcard from Carmen. She's
having a blast in Cancun. I'm
glad she decided to go—at least
someone's having a good summer.
SAM
(groans)
Yeah, me too—but do me a favor,
will ya? Don't mention Cancun.
It reminds me of spring break.
LILY
(deflating)
Oh. Right. So, how ARE you and
Harrison doing?
SAM
(sighing)
I don't know... We're in this,
this kind of holding pattern.
We've talked a couple times about
doing something romantic, but
right now, we don't even get a lot
of time to talk at all—
LILY
Because he's at the hospital all
the time?
Sam squeezes her eyes shut.
SAM
I will not be jealous of Brooke, I
will not be jealous of Brooke, I
will NOT be jealous of Brooke...
LILY
(laughing)
Sam, you and Harrison are going to
have plenty of time together.
SAM
That's what Harrison says.
LILY
Well, listen to him.
SAM
I know, I know...
LILY
(shuffling papers)
Come on—there's still a ton of
work to do on this thing.
CUT TO:
INT. COURTROOM - LATER
Everyone is standing as the judge climbs up behind the bench
and takes his seat.
BAILIFF
Be seated.
As everyone sits, the judge picks up his gavel and raps it.
JUDGE HOLMES
Court is back in session. Ms.
Jones, are you ready to call your
next witness?
JONES
(standing)
Your Honor, the People have
reconsidered calling Harrison
John.
JUDGE HOLMES
Very well.
As the judge jots down a note, Devenport stands.
DEVENPORT
In that case, Your Honor, the
Defense would like to add Harrison
John to its witness list.
The judge looks up sharply.
JUDGE HOLMES
(beckoning)
Counsel, approach.
Jones and Devenport step up to the bench.
JUDGE HOLMES (CONT'D)
All right, if you two think this
is funny...
JONES
I have no idea what Defense is
doing.
DEVENPORT
Your Honor, the People have
obviously concluded that Mr.
John's testimony would be more
beneficial to our case than
theirs—and, frankly, after
talking to my client, I agree.
JUDGE HOLMES
(nodding)
So ordered. Step back.
The two attorneys walk back to their tables.
JUDGE HOLMES (CONT'D)
Ms. Jones, do the People have any
more witnesses?
JONES
No, Your Honor. The People rest.
JUDGE HOLMES
(checking his notes)
All right... Well, since it's
Friday afternoon, we'll take our
weekend break here. Mr.
Devenport, will you be ready to
present your case on Monday?
DEVENPORT
Yes, Your Honor.
JUDGE HOLMES
Very well.
(bangs his gavel)
Court is in recess until Monday at
nine a.m.
As the judge stands and walks back to his chambers, everyone
else gets up and files out of the courtroom. Eventually the
last person left in the gallery is a mysterious individual who
is sitting in the back corner, wearing a large, floppy hat and
oversized sunglasses, and furiously scribbling notes.
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT ONE