ACT THREE
FADE IN:
INT. JOSH AND LILY'S LIVING ROOM
There is a knock at the front door; after a few moments, it
opens, and Sam walks in.
SAM
Lily? I thought you were—
She stops dead in her tracks, staring open-mouthed at the
inside of the apartment—which now looks more like a resort.
Beach furniture, complete with umbrellas, lies around; a
tanning bed sits along one wall; and, in the middle of the
living room, Mary Cherry lies stretched out on a massage
table, getting rubbed down by a muscular masseuse.
MARY CHERRY
(looking up)
Well, hey, Sammy!
SAM
Mary Cherry? Wha—how—where's
Lily?
MARY CHERRY
(waving)
Oh, she's in the kitchen fixing
drinks. C'mon in and sit down—
you look tense. Sven can work out
your kinks for you.
SAM
(dumbly)
Sven?
MARY CHERRY
Why don'tcha put on a suit and
take a dip in the spa while you're
waiting?
SAM
SPA?
Lily emerges from the kitchen, wearing a sarong and carrying a
tray with two tall glasses.
LILY
Mary Cherry, I'm not sure these
pia coladas came out right—
She stops short when she sees Sam.
LILY (CONT'D)
(cheerily)
Oh, hey, Sam!
SAM
(thoroughly confused)
Uh...
Lily takes the tray over to Mary Cherry, who picks up one of
the glasses and takes a sip.
MARY CHERRY
(critically)
It's just a tad heavy.
LILY
(nodding)
That's what I thought.
MARY CHERRY
The pineapple? Needs a light
touch. You'll get it—all it
takes is practice. And just a
smidgen of cinnamon. That's the
Cherry secret.
LILY
Cinnamon?
Mary Cherry nods knowingly. Meanwhile, Sam, who has been
watching this exchange in utter disbelief, runs her hands
through her hair anxiously.
SAM
(aggrieved)
All right, Lily, enough with the
body snatchers, WHAT IS GOING ON
HERE?
LILY
I don't know what you're talking
about, Sam. All right, I admit, I
was a little overwhelmed at first.
But, this is kinda cool.
SAM
This...it's just...so...not you!
LILY
Sam, I'm a red-blooded teenage
American female. Just because I'm
a committed activist doesn't mean
I don't deserve to kick it once in
a while.
Mary Cherry, finished with her massage, sits up and hops off
the table.
MARY CHERRY
Well, I'm off to the spa.
(to Sam)
Are you sure you don't want a
massage?
SAM
(holding up her hands emphatically)
No! Thank you!
MARY CHERRY
(shrugs)
Suit yourself.
With that, Mary Cherry disappears through the kitchen. Sam
grabs Lily's arm.
SAM
Seriously, did she drug you?
LILY
(laughing)
Sam, I'm not "going Mary Cherry"
if that's what you're worried
about. I'm just...taking a break,
that's all.
SAM
(rubbing her eyes)
I'm sorry. I'm being judgmental.
It's just—I wasn't expecting it.
I'll deal, I promise.
LILY
Hey, it's just a little vacation.
(conspiratorially)
And, you know, it's actually fun
having a taste of Mary Cherry's
lifestyle—for a little while.
Sam smiles in spite of herself.
SAM
Well, just don't get hooked on it.
I have a feeling that once she and
her mother are patched up, she's
going to forget all about this
buddy-buddy thing.
LILY
Oh, I don't know. I kinda think
I'm starting to get through to
her.
SAM
Yeah, just as long as you get
through to her faster than SHE
gets through to YOU.
LILY
Sam...
SAM
Sorry, sorry.
(pause)
Hey, do you have the phone contact
list from today?
LILY
Ah...sure, I'll get it. See? I'm
not a bubble-headed blonde yet.
After Lily goes into the other room, Sam picks her way over to
a dresser sitting in the corner. Rummaging through the
drawers, she pulls out a small jewelry box, opens it, and
pockets a simple ring from it. Returning the box to the
dresser, she hurriedly makes her way back to her original spot
before Lily re-emerges. She hands Sam a bunch of papers.
LILY (CONT'D)
Anything I can do?
SAM
(shaking her head)
Just a couple of follow-ups.
Don't worry about it—you just
enjoy yourself. I guess...you
really do deserve it, after all
the work you've done lately.
LILY
Thanks. And thanks for, you know,
not totally freaking out.
SAM
I'm pretty sure that's what that
was.
LILY
Well, okay, for not staying
freaked out, then.
Sam takes another dubious look around the room.
SAM
Right. Okay, I'm outta here.
Lily walks Sam to the door.
SAM (CONT'D)
Look, just...be careful.
LILY
(laughing)
Sam!
SAM
(sighs)
Don't pay any attention to me.
This is just...a little weird.
LILY
(reassuringly)
I will be fine. I will have fun.
I will NOT turn into Mary Cherry.
Sam walks out, and Lily closes the door behind her. She looks
around, makes a satisfied sound, and bounces off towards the
kitchen.
CUT TO:
INT. COURTHOUSE HALLWAY
Harrison is walking briskly away when Emory comes running up
behind him.
EMORY
Captain! Captain, a moment, if
you would!
HARRISON
(turning)
Emory? What are you doing here?
EMORY
I have been following the
proceedings with great interest,
hoping to joyously celebrate that
glorious day when the hellspawn
Julian is forever cast in the pit
of fire and brimstone.
HARRISON
(sourly)
Well, that's starting to look like
it might not happen.
EMORY
Which is precisely why I must
speak with you.
HARRISON
Emory, I'm really not in the
mood...
EMORY
Please, I require your advice on a
matter of the greatest urgency.
HARRISON
(sighs)
All right, what is it?
EMORY
Hypothetically speaking... If a
certain person had...certain
information...about a certain
matter...
HARRISON
You've totally lost me.
EMORY
I mean...if a person had
certain...evidence...pertaining to
a certain legal situation...
Harrison studies Emory with a dawning suspicion.
HARRISON
Emory...do you know something
about this?
EMORY
Hypothetically...if, say, a
certain someone were out, for a
romantic evening with his
paramour, and he were, say, to be
carrying a camcorder, to record
certain activities...and this
person happened to be present at a
certain place...
Harrison grabs Emory by the shoulders, wide-eyed.
HARRISON
Emory—are you trying to tell me
that you have Nicole hitting
Brooke ON TAPE?
EMORY
Er...well, that is...the gist of
it, yes.
Harrison releases Emory and begins pacing aimlessly, holding
his head in anguish.
HARRISON
Why didn't you say anything before
now?
EMORY
(defensively)
The case seemed open and shut.
The demon would be vanquished, and
my involvement would be totally
unnecessary.
Harrison suddenly stops and turns to face Emory.
HARRISON
Do you have the tape?
EMORY
Ah...yes, it's right here...
Emory reaches into a fanny pack and pulls out a small
cartridge; Harrison snatches it away and grabs him by the
elbow.
HARRISON
Come on, we have to find Miss
Jones.
Harrison drags Emory back down the hallway.
FLIP CUT TO:
INT. A CONFERENCE ROOM
inside the courthouse, where Harrison, Emory and Alicia Jones
are sitting around a table. In one corner of the room is a TV
cart with a television and VCR.
JONES
Mr. Dick, I can't begin to tell
you how much easier this would
have been if you had only come
forward before.
She fits the camcorder cartridge into a VHS adapter, slides it
into the machine, and turns the television on. From the TV
comes the muted sounds of Emory and April.
EMORY
You have my most humble and
sincere apologies, Madam. The
truth is, there are certain...
activities...on there that might
prove of embarrassment to the
lovely Miss Tuna. And, possibly
others as well.
JONES
I assure you, Mr. Dick, I have
been in this business for a long
time, and I've seen enough human
behavior that I'm not going to be
shocked by anything—
She does a double-take at the screen.
JONES (CONT'D)
—is that a rubber chicken?
EMORY
(gesturing urgently)
No, no—past that, past that!
HARRISON
(hurriedly)
Uh, maybe we should fast forward?
Jones nods and hits the fast-forward button on the remote in
her hand. As the fast-motion images go by, Harrison winces a
couple of times, and even Jones raises an eyebrow. After a
few moments, though, Emory shouts.
EMORY
(pointing)
There!
Jones stops the tape and backs it up a bit, and they all lean
in to watch.
INSERT: THE TELEVISION SCREEN
The picture is shaky, more or less centered on April and
apparently shot by Emory as they were walking side-by-side.
APRIL
—hope I look presentable. My
previous record with these social
encounters is...well, it's been a
disaster!
EMORY (O.S.)
My dear, you outshine the
constellations in the sky.
APRIL
Oh, stop...
(pointing)
Look!
The scene swings around to show a view of the Moonlight Cafe,
from across the street. The camera steadies and zooms in on
Brooke storming out towards the street, with Sam a few steps
behind. At the screeching of tires, the scene swings again,
picking up Nicole's car as it finishes its turn. The camera
follows the car until it hits Brooke, sending her flying into
the air and onto the street. For a few moments the picture
stays mostly steady, showing Sam running over to Brooke's body
and screaming for help; then it breaks up into an
undecipherable display, apparently as Emory lets it go and it
swings from a strap.
By the time Harrison and Emory recover from watching the
gruesome scene, Jones has her cell phone out.
JONES
(into the phone)
It's me. Get hold of Judge
Holmes' clerk. I need to see him
and defense counsel in his
chambers—now.
CUT TO:
INT. JUDGE HOLMES' CHAMBERS - LATER
Devenport and Jones are sitting before the judge's desk.
DEVENPORT
You Honor, this is ludicrous! The
People have rested their case!
JONES
Exception clearly exists for newly
discovered evidence.
JUDGE HOLMES
She has a point, Mr. Devenport.
DEVENPORT
Oh, please! A new witness
conveniently steps forward NOW?
(to Jones)
I think his credibility is just a
tad impeachable, don't you?
JONES
I admit, the delay may have eroded
the boy's credibility—but it
doesn't affect the videotape.
JUDGE HOLMES
(rifling through a legal volume)
I believe the tape is pertinent
enough to be allowed. I'll give
the jury special instructions in
the morning.
DEVENPORT
I'll need time to prepare a cross
for this witness.
JONES
Don't bother—there won't be a
witness to cross.
JUDGE HOLMES
Excuse me?
JONES
I'm not putting Emory Dick on the
stand. I intend to introduce the
tape res ipsa loquitur.
DEVENPORT
Now, hold on just a second! Your
Honor, if she's allowed to do
that—I move for a mistrial.
JUDGE HOLMES
(severely)
Both of you, be quiet. I'll take
both motions under advisement, and
issue my rulings in the morning.
(to Devenport)
I warn you, Mr. Devenport, that if
I grant your motion it will be
without prejudice—in three months
we'll do this all again, and in
that case the tape WILL be in.
DEVENPORT
(standing)
Understood, Your Honor.
Jones gets up and the two lawyers walk to the door.
JUDGE HOLMES
A moment, Ms. Jones.
Devenport walks out. Jones turns back to face the judge, who
leans back and looks at her speculatively.
JUDGE HOLMES (CONT'D)
You aren't pulling a fast one on
me, are you, Alicia?
JONES
(snorting)
You really think if I'd had any
idea this was out there, I
would've held onto it this long?
JUDGE HOLMES
(considering)
Okay.
Jones nods and walks out.
CUT TO:
EST. THE INSTITUTE - NIGHT
CUT TO:
INT. THE LAB
Josh is hunched over a terminal, while Dr. Bennett is deeply
involved with one of the new pieces of equipment.
BENNETT
Hey, did you ever find out your
wife's ring size?
JOSH
Oh, yeah, I called one of our
friends, and she found out for me.
I already let Guido know.
BENNETT
That's good. I hope she likes it.
Suddenly the machine clanks.
BENNETT (CONT'D)
Dammit!
JOSH
(looking up)
What? Did I do something wrong?
BENNETT
Oh—no, it's not you. It's not
even this damn analyzer.
(holding up a sheaf of papers)
It's THIS. I've never seen runs
like this before.
JOSH
Is it bad?
BENNETT
Could be.
(pause)
Sorry about the hours. I just
don't think this can wait.
JOSH
Hey, it's okay. It's not like my
calendar is full.
BENNETT
I need to check a couple of the
remote monitoring stations. Hold
down the fort for...twenty minutes
or so?
JOSH
Sure, no prob.
BENNETT
I'll swing by Taco Bell on my way
back and bring dinner.
JOSH
Okay, great.
After Dr. Bennett leaves, Josh gets up, stretches, and
saunters out.
CUT TO:
INT. THE INSTITUTE GARAGE - MOMENTS LATER
The garage is in semi-darkness, but a junction box on the wall
is brightly illuminated by a flashlight. Jake Carlin and his
two friends are gathered around the box; Jake is pulling fuses
out and stomping on them. When the last one is out, he motion
to the others.
JAKE
Come on.
A few moments after they walk out, Josh pokes his head around
the corner of some shelving. He comes out, steps over to the
junction box, and picks up one of the smashed fuses, scowling.
CUT TO:
INT. THE LAB
Jake and his friends come through the doors; Jake struts
around the lab, smirking.
JAKE
Look at all the pretty new toys.
JAKE'S FRIEND
I don't like this, man. We
should've waited longer.
JAKE
(threatening)
Hey—this is MY show!
The doors fly open behind them, and Josh steps through.
JAKE (CONT'D)
Well, look who decided to invite
himself—
Without waiting for Jake to finish, Josh charges him. They
both hit the floor, and Josh wrestles the bat away from Jake
and comes up with it.
GUARD (O.S.)
Freeze!
Everyone stops and turns to see one of the security guards
standing in the doorway, gun drawn.
GUARD (CONT'D)
(to Josh)
Drop the bat!
Josh tosses the bat aside and spreads his hands.
JOSH
Hey, it's me—Josh. I work here?
They were gonna trash the place
again.
JAKE
Ha! Sure.
(thumbing at Josh)
HE let us in!
JOSH
That's a lie!
GUARD
All of you, stay put!
Without taking his eyes off of them, the guard reaches for and
pulls up his radio.
GUARD (CONT'D)
(into the radio)
I got intruders. I need backup.
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT THREE