"RECONCILABLE
DIFFERENCES"
by
Charles Deemer
3550 SW
Pomona St.
Portland, OR 97219-7518
(800)
294-7176
cdeemer@yahoo.com
FADE IN:
INT. OFFICE
BUILDING - HALLWAY - DAY
A plate
glass office door reads:
"Knox
and Atkinson Law Offices."
INT. LAW
OFFICE - DAY
An
arrangement of cubicles and offices in a busy law firm.
Moving
through the office with a cart is a MAIL CLERK, teens.
He drops off
mail to busy LAWYERS at their computers.
He comes to
a CONFERENCE ROOM. The closed door has a small
window.
Looking in, he sees a man and woman who are clearly
in an
argument.
They gesture
and wave their arms at one another, both
talking
(inaudibly) at once. They are QUINN and KATE FENDER,
late 20s.
At the table
between them sits their client (Cobb) with his
head in his
hands.
The clerk's
expression reads, "Here we go again." He pushes
the cart on.
A SECRETARY
(Nancy) approaches.
NANCY
Have you seen Quinn?
MAIL CLERK
In the conference room. The
Fenders are doing their thing.
NANCY
Oh, no.
MAIL CLERK
(an old joke)
"Fenders for the
defense."
Grinning,
the mail clerk moves on.
The
secretary goes to the conference room and looks in. The
Fenders are
still at it.
A LAWYER
joins her.
2.
NANCY
This can wait till later.
She moves
off. The lawyer, with a last look, shakes his head.
INT. LAW
OFFICE - CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY
Quinn and
Kate are finally silent. They glare at one another.
The client
is ANTHONY COBB, 50s, who reeks wealth.
COBB
How the hell do I know what to do
if my lawyers can't even agree?
KATE
We'll flip a coin.
QUINN
Which is a 50-50 recipe to disaster.
She already
has a coin out. She flips it, catches it, covers
it.
KATE
Your call.
QUINN
If we put him on, Jackson will
eat him alive in cross.
KATE
And we've already lost if we
don't. Heads or tails.
QUINN
There's always more than one way
to cook a goose.
KATE
Heads or tails.
Quinn looks
at Cobb.
COBB
Do it. I need closure here.
QUINN
Heads.
Kate reveals
the coin. Tails. She smiles.
3.
KATE
(to Cobb)
You testify.
INT. COURT
HOUSE - COURTROOM - DAY
Cobb on the
stand. Kate is questioning him.
A JUDGE
overlooks. A pretty court reporter, MICHELLE, 20s,
sits at a
stenotype machine.
At one
table, Quinn and Cobb. At the other, JACKSON, 40s,
looking
cocky, with an ASSISTANT.
KATE
Finally, Mr. Cobb, did you
embezzle three hundred thousand
dollars by transferring funds
from the corporate retirement
account to your own personal
account in the Bank of
Switzerland?
COBB
I absolutely did not.
KATE
Thank you.
JUDGE
Defense will cross-examine after
lunch.
He bangs his
gavel.
INT. COURT
HOUSE - HALLWAY - DAY
Quinn, Kate
and Cobb move down the hallway together.
KATE
I'll see you at one.
COBB
You're not eating?
KATE
I have an errand to run.
She moves
off.
COBB
How'd I do?
4.
QUINN
You were fine. The hard part will
be facing Jackson.
INT. COURT
HOUSE - CAFETERIA - DAY
Quinn and
Cobb at a table over lunch. Michelle comes by.
MICHELLE
Hi, Quinn.
QUINN
Michelle.
MICHELLE
Where's Kate?
Quinn
shrugs.
MICHELLE
Well, good luck this afternoon.
She smiles
flirtatiously at him before moving on.
INT. COURT
HOUSE - PHONE BOOTH - DAY
Kate on the
phone.
INT.
ARTIST'S STUDIO - DAY
On the other
phone is CINNAMON MCAFFERY, 40s, in paint-
splattered
work clothes. Nothing feminine about her.
Her painting
in progress is a bright and busy abstract.
INTERCUT
KATE
I need to find a new firm.
CINNAMON
Haven't I been telling you that?
KATE
Dad would kill me if I left. I
just don't know how to get Quinn
to leave.
CINNAMON
I don't know what to tell you,
Kate, that I haven't already
said.
5.
KATE
I know. I miss you.
CINNAMON
I miss you, too. When can you get
free?
KATE
Probably not till the verdict's
in.
CINNAMON
And I thought I worked too hard.
KATE
You're an artist. You have a
calling. I'm here because daddy
didn't have a son and sent me to
law school instead.
CINNAMON
There should be a law against
working for your parent.
KATE
Tell me about it. I have to run.
I just wanted to hear your voice.
CINNAMON
I'm available whenever you are.
KATE
I know. You're my rock, Cin. I'll
call you tonight. I should know
more about my schedule.
INT. COURT
HOUSE - COURTROOM - DAY
Cobb back on
the stand. He's sweating.
Jackson
closing in for the kill, leering at him.
JACKSON
So the Swiss account with your
social security number and your
name was opened to hide your
gambling winnings, and yet all
this money from your place of
employment magically disappeared
on the very same day your
clandestine account just as
magically received--
Quinn to his
feet.
6.
QUINN
Objection! I--
JUDGE
Overruled.
Jackson
smiles at Quinn. Quinn glares back. Then he turns to
glare at
Kate, who looks away.
JACKSON
Mr. Cobb, enlighten us. Tell us
how you won almost a third of a
million dollars. Was it at Black
Jack? The slots in Reno? The
office Super Bowl pool?
Laughter
from the audience. The judge bangs his gavel.
LATER
Tense moment
as the jury files in.
Quinn looks
at Kate, who stares down at the table. Cobb
fidgets.
LATER
JUDGE
Please read the verdict.
JURY FOREMAN
We find the defendant guilty.
At the
defense table, Cobb swears under his breath. Kate
quickly
gathers her things and leaves.
Quinn turns
to Cobb, looking apologetic.
INT. COURT
HOUSE - PHONE BOOTH - DAY
Kate on the
phone.
KATE
I hope you get this message. I'm
on my way to get a room at the
Hilton. I need you tonight. I'll
wait till nine.
EXT.
RESTAURANT - NIGHT
Quinn enters
a restaurant.
7.
INT.
RESTAURANT - BAR - NIGHT
Quinn looks
around the bar, finds ADAM, 20s, and other
LAWYERS at a
table, including SALLY, 30s. He joins them.
ADAM
Here's a guy who really needs a
drink.
QUINN
Many, many drinks.
SALLY
Why on earth did you put him on
the stand?
Quinn's
expression says it all.
ADAM
You and Kate have to change this
dance you do.
QUINN
Have you seen Barry since the
verdict?
ADAM
Yes. Better me than you. I'd
prepare for the worst.
QUINN
It was her goddamn idea, not
mine.
SALLY
But you're not the apple of his
eye.
LATER
Quinn and
Adam have left the noisy table for privacy at the
bar. They're
both a little drunk.
ADAM
You trust me, right?
QUINN
Damn right. Do you have to ask?
ADAM
So if I say something personal
that you're not going to like,
you know I'm only saying it for
your own good. Right?
8.
QUINN
What? You going to tell me I have
bad breath?
ADAM
Worse.
QUINN
Fire away.
ADAM
It's about Kate.
This gets
Quinn's attention. He waits for more but it isn't
coming.
A light
bulb.
QUINN
No.
ADAM
Yes.
QUINN
Who is he?
ADAM
She's not a he.
QUINN
Who isn't a he?
ADAM
Kate's lover.
Quinn looks
like he's waiting for a punch line.
QUINN
You're telling me Kate is a
lesbian?
ADAM
Switch hitter, I guess is the
more accurate term.
Quinn
studies him. Then breaks into laughter.
ADAM
Well, I guess there are worst
ways to take it.
Quinn has
trouble speaking, he's laughing so hard.
9.
QUINN
You're telling me ... Kate ...
Homecoming Princess Kate ... Miss
Whatever Dairy It Was of 1995 ...
is butch?
And more
laughter.
INT. HILTON
HOTEL - ROOM - NIGHT
Kate in the
room. Waiting, nervous.
A knock on
the door. She rushes to it.
It's Cinnamon.
They fall into one another's arms.
EXT.
RESTAURANT - NIGHT
Adam with
Quinn, who is the drunker of the two.
QUINN
Where's the cab?
ADAM
Right here, buddy.
The cab
pulls up.
QUINN
What about my car?
ADAM
You can get it in the morning.
He opens the
door for Quinn.
QUINN
I want to go to a lesbian bar!
He stumbles
into the back seat.
EXT. HILTON
HOTEL - DAY
Early
morning.
Kate and
Cinnamon come out of the hotel. They embrace, kiss,
and move off
in opposite directions.
10.
EXT. FENDER
HOME - DAY
Early
morning.
The Fender
home is in an upper middle class neighborhood.
Doctors,
lawyers and fire chiefs.
A car
cruises by, a newspaper flying out and onto the Fender
driveway.
INT. FENDER
HOME - BEDROOM - DAY
Quinn
sprawled on the King-sized bed in his underwear.
The alarm
goes off.
Quinn slaps
it silent. He leans up and stares at Kate's
empty place
beside him.
INT. FENDER
HOME - BATHROOM - DAY
Quinn
scrubbing his tongue with a toothbrush.
INT. FENDER
HOME - KITCHEN - DAY
Quinn on the
phone.
QUINN
This is Quinn. Is Kate there?...I
thought she may have come in
early. Thanks.
INT. FENDER
HOME - HOME OFFICE - DAY
Quinn on the
computer. He's looking at their banking records.
EXT. FENDER
HOME - DRIVEWAY - DAY
A sports car
pulls into the driveway. Kate gets out.
INT. FENDER
HOME - FOYER - DAY
Kate enters.
She stops and takes a deep breath before moving
on.
11.
INT. FENDER
HOME - HOME OFFICE - DAY
Quinn still
at the computer.
Kate enters
the doorway.
KATE
What are you doing?
QUINN
I was about to ask you the same
thing.
KATE
Before you start, considering the
circumstances, I thought it best
to spend the night in a hotel.
QUINN
The Hilton, I assume. It seems to
be your favorite.
She quickly
comes forward.
KATE
Are you snooping in my account?
QUINN
Our account.
KATE
I don't have energy to do this
now. I need a shower, and I need
some sleep.
QUINN
Rough night?
Kate resists
an urge to reply and departs.
INT. LAW
OFFICE - QUINN'S OFFICE - DAY
Quinn enters
his office. His secretary, NANCY, is waiting
for him.
NANCY
Mr. Knox wants to see you.
QUINN
Tell him I--
NANCY
As soon as you get in.
12.
INT. LAW
OFFICE - KNOX'S OFFICE - DAY
Quinn knocks
on the door frame.
Behind a
huge desk sits KNOX, 50s, the image of power.
KNOX
Quinn, come in. Sit down.
QUINN
It wasn't my idea. We flipped a
coin, and I lost.
KNOX
You flipped a coin?
QUINN
We couldn't reach an agreement.
KNOX
You don't have to be in the top
ten percent of your law school
class to know it's disastrous to
put a crook like Cobb on the
stand.
QUINN
I tried to tell Kate that.
KNOX
It's because she's my daughter,
isn't it? You're afraid to take
charge.
QUINN
I don't think it's that. She can
be too stubborn for her own good.
KNOX
I don't have to tell you how much
I hate losing cases.
QUINN
I don't know what to tell you,
sir. I did my best.
KNOX
Which wasn't enough. I assume you
wear the pants at home. The
office is no different. Sometimes
Kate needs to be reminded who's
boss.
QUINN
Yes, sir.
13.
KNOX
I don't want this to happen again.
In fact, I don't think you two
should work together again.
QUINN
I think that's an excellent idea.
KNOX
Next time you want a female
second, consider Sally.
INT. LAW
OFFICE - QUINN'S OFFICE - DAY
Quinn at his
computer. Adam peeks in.
ADAM
Still got a job?
QUINN
Far as I know.
ADAM
Good.
He starts
away.
QUINN
Adam. Come in and close the door.
LATER
Quinn and
Adam sitting close, speaking quietly.
ADAM
Did you find out who it is?
QUINN
No. But I plan to.
ADAM
It must be worse than if it was a
man.
QUINN
I don't know. I can't compute it.
ADAM
You didn't get any idea by, you
know, when you're in bed ...?
QUINN
Not a clue. Not one.
14.
INT. LAW
OFFICE - CAFETERIA - DAY
Quinn takes
his tray to an empty table.
Nearby is
Michelle. She grabs her tray and comes to his table.
MICHELLE
May I?
QUINN
Please.
She sits
down.
MICHELLE
Sorry you lost. I was surprised
you put him on the stand,
frankly.
QUINN
So was I.
Michelle
looks puzzled.
QUINN
It was Kate's idea. We flipped a
coin.
Michelle
laughs.
MICHELLE
I'm sorry. It just sounds so ...
QUINN
It does, doesn't it?
MICHELLE
It's not something you see on
Perry Mason.
LATER
Quinn and
Michelle bussing their trays together.
MICHELLE
I thought I'd step outside before
going back. Do you have time?
EXT. COURT
HOUSE - DAY
Quinn and
Michelle strolling outside the courthouse.
15.
MICHELLE
God, this is so hard. I have
something I want to say to you
but I don't know where to begin.
QUINN
Just say it.
A pause for
courage.
MICHELLE
I think Kate is involved with a
woman.
QUINN
I think so, too.
MICHELLE
You do?
QUINN
How long have you thought so?
MICHELLE
For several months.
QUINN
You're ahead of me there. I have
no idea who it is. Do you?
MICHELLE
Yes.
QUINN
Who?
MICHELLE
Let's meet after work and I'll
show you.
INT. LAW
OFFICE - ADAM'S OFFICE - DAY
Adam at his
computer. Quinn appears in the doorway.
QUINN
I know who it is.
ADAM
Who?
QUINN
I mean I find out after work.
Meet you around six-thirty?
16.
ADAM
You're on.
EXT. GALLERY
ROW - DAY
Quinn and
Michelle walking along an area filled with art
galleries.
MICHELLE
A girl friend and I were making
the galleries on First Thursday.
That's when I saw her. With an
artist, it turns out.
QUINN
Kate does the art thing a lot
more than I do. But that's no
reason to--
MICHELLE
They were in the corner in a lip
lock, Quinn. It wasn't a little
peck, congratulations on your
opening. It's this one here.
They step
into a gallery.
INT. ART
GALLERY - DAY
Only a few
patrons looking at the art on the wall.
Michelle
stops in front of a large, bright abstract.
MICHELLE
Here she is.
QUINN
The one who painted this?
Michelle
nods.
QUINN
Is she here?
MICHELLE
There's a bio and photo.
Michelle
leads the way several paintings down. On the wall,
a photo and
bio of Cinnamon McAffery.
Quinn stares
at THE PHOTO OF CINNAMON. Short hair, looking
more
feminine than before.
17.
QUINN
Nobody's named Cinnamon. Maybe
she's called sin for short. I
can't believe I said that.
EXT. GALLERY
ROW - DAY
Quinn and
Michelle back outside, strolling the scene.
MICHELLE
Are you getting hungry?
QUINN
Actually I'm supposed to be
somewhere. I really appreciate
this, Michelle. I guess I do.
MICHELLE
If you want to know more, my
brother might help. He's an
artist. He's also gay.
QUINN
Really?
MICHELLE
Don't let Kate turn you into a
homophobe.
QUINN
It's just so hard to compute. I
thought we were happy.
MICHELLE
Quinn, you go at it like cats and
dogs. You should hear the stories
they tell about you. Benedict and
Beatrice.
QUINN
Who?
MICHELLE
Shakespeare's "Much Ado
About
Nothing." A couple always
battling
wits. I guess that's part of the
attraction, isn't it?
QUINN
(ignoring this)
Maybe I'll get back to you about
your brother. I told Adam I'd
meet him.
18.
INT. BAR -
NIGHT
Quinn and
Adam in a noisy bar.
ADAM
You have two choices, buddy. Let
her go, or fight to get her back.
You sound like you want her back.
QUINN
I'm trying to understand her.
Maybe talking to a gay artist
will help. Hell, I don't know. I
feel like I'm in a nightmare.
ADAM
What does Kate want?
INT.
ARTIST'S STUDIO - NIGHT
Cinnamon in
work garb, on the phone.
CINNAMON
What do you want, Kate?
INT. FENDER
HOME - BEDROOM - NIGHT
Kate,
dressed, sprawled on the bed. On the phone.
INTERCUT
KATE
I don't want to be drilled.
CINNAMON
Pardon me, but I need information
before I can make choices in my
life.
KATE
What choices? What are you
talking about?
CINNAMON
You're the married woman, not I.
KATE
What is that supposed to mean?
19.
CINNAMON
I don't like talking about this
on the phone. I'm going back to
work.
KATE
Let's meet tonight.
CINNAMON
I said, I'm working.
KATE
Later tonight. Any time. Tell me
when.
INT. TAVERN
- NIGHT
Quinn and
Adam shooting pool
QUINN
Know what I think? It's a phase.
It's curiosity. She's dealing
with an early mid-life crisis.
ADAM
You don't have a mid-life crisis,
early or otherwise, at twenty
what? Seven?
QUINN
If she's really a dyke, I would
know. How could I not know?
ADAM
Good question, buddy. Can I be
ruthlessly personal?
QUINN
Fire away.
ADAM
Does she like you to go down on
her?
QUINN
Totally. Any time, anywhere.
Practically an addict.
ADAM
There you have it. Think about it.
You're not giving her something a
woman can't give her just as
well.
Right? How do you know she isn't
fantasizing that you're Spice
Cake or whoever the hell it is.
20.
QUINN
Cinnamon.
ADAM
Cinnamon. Think about it. All
dicks are different, right? But
all tongues are more or less the
same. You could be anyone
slurping
around down there.
QUINN
You really know how to depress a
guy.
ADAM
Once the scientists figure out
how to get the tongue to secrete
sperm, the male gender is dead in
the water.
QUINN
I never thought of that. We'd
become extinct.
ADAM
Not that far. They still need
someone to take out the garbage.
INT. GAY BAR
- NIGHT
Kate and
Cinnamon at a table.
KATE
I made a decision. I'm giving
notice at the firm.
Cinnamon
nods.
KATE
I expected a hint of celebration.
CINNAMON
I made a decision, too. I can't
do this anymore.
KATE
What are you saying?
CINNAMON
I need a sense of the future. I'm
not getting any younger. I don't
get that with you.
21.
KATE
Are you breaking up with me?
CINNAMON
I can't live in the closet. Not
even a little.
KATE
That sounds like an ultimatum.
CINNAMON
I suppose it is. I do love you,
Kate, and of course I believe you
should leave your father's firm.
But I believe even more strongly
that you need to leave your
marriage. You have to stop living
a lie.
A silence.
Cinnamon
stands. Kate grabs her arm.
KATE
Please don't go.
CINNAMON
Quick is painless. I speak from
experience.
KATE
What if I get a divorce?
CINNAMON
Call me when you do.
She leaves.
Kate looks stricken.
EXT. GAY BAR
- NIGHT
A cab pulls
up.
INT. CAB -
NIGHT
Quinn and
Adam in the back seat.
ADAM
Maybe this isn't such a good
idea.
QUINN
I need to do this.
22.
INT. GAY BAR
- NIGHT
Not visibly
different from any other bar -- except that same
sex couples
outnumber mixed couples. And here, women
outnumber
men.
Quinn and
Adam enter.
A jukebox is
playing. Several FEMALE COUPLES dance on a
small dance
floor.
ADAM
(under his breath)
Oh, boy.
QUINN
Relax. Pretend I'm your date.
ADAM
Your--
But Quinn is
already heading toward the bar.
They slip
onto two stools.
The
BARTENDER comes over. The way he looks them over, he
probably
knows they're straight.
BARTENDER
What would you like, gentlemen?
LATER
Quinn and
Adam huddled at the bar. Nursing their first drink.
ADAM
Actually it's sort of erotic in
here, isn't it?
QUINN
You're kidding me.
ADAM
I mean, some of them are
so...feminine.
QUINN
Oh, boy...
Quinn sees
WALTER, 30s, approaching. Lots of jewelry. A beret.
He smiles at
Quinn.
23.
WALTER
Are you a lawyer?
QUINN
Me?
WALTER
You work at Knox and Atkinson. I
think I've seen you in the
cafeteria.
QUINN
I think you have me mixed up with
someone else.
WALTER
You don't know Michelle Weaver?
ADAM
You know Michelle?
A dirty look
from Quinn.
WALTER
She's my sister.
LATER -- AT
A TABLE
The three
sit at a table over drinks.
WALTER
I know it's hard for you right
now, man, but in time you've got
to realize how incredibly life-
affirming this is for her. What's
more important in this world than
being who you are? It shouldn't
be any different for you than if
she ran off with a guy. If it is,
then you're buying into all the
homophobic bullshit. She's
spreading her wings. Feel the
pain of being left but applaud
her as well. Better now than
later, right? What if she did
this five, ten, years from now?
Wouldn't it be worse?
QUINN
I thought of that.
WALTER
Good, good.
24.
Walter
stares at Adam and smiles.
ADAM
What?
WALTER
You're kinda cute.
EXT. GAY BAR
- NIGHT
Adam rushes
out with Quinn behind him. Adam's cell phone is
out.
ADAM
I need a cab at--...where are we?
INT. CAB -
NIGHT
Quinn and
Adam in the back seat. Adam staring out the window,
lost in his
thoughts.
QUINN
Just because the mind understands
something doesn't mean that the
heart feels any better.
ADAM
What?
QUINN
Nothing.
A silence.
ADAM
What do you think he sees in me?
EXT. LAW
OFFICE - DAY
Quinn enters
the building.
INT. LAW
OFFICE - KNOX'S OFFICE - DAY
Kate sitting
across the desk. Knox reads a letter.
25.
KNOX
Katey, I'd give you an
extraordinary letter of
recommendation but I fear it
would be dismissed as the ranting
of a proud father.
KATE
I'm going to do fine.
KNOX
I know you are. Your mother would
be so proud. Have you told Quinn?
KATE
I'm getting a divorce, daddy.
KNOX
What?
She gets up
to leave.
KNOX
You sit back down and explain
yourself, young lady.
KATE
I don't have to write you a
letter for this one, daddy.
And she's
gone.
INT. LAW
OFFICE - HALLWAY - DAY
Quinn meets
Kate in the hallway. She passes without a word.
QUINN
Good morning to you, too.
KATE
I want a divorce. My lawyer will
be in touch.
INT. LAW
OFFICE - KNOX'S OFFICE - DAY
Quinn
sitting across the desk.
KNOX
I don't understand lesbians. I
think it's some sort of mental
illness.
26.
QUINN
If it's who she really is ...
KNOX
Nobody is "really" a
fag. It's
against human nature. Thank God
her mother isn't alive to see
this.
Quinn looks
sad.
EXT. FENDER
HOME - DAY
A rental
truck in the driveway. WORKERS moving Kate's
possessions
out of the house.
INT. FENDER
HOME - LIVING ROOM - DAY
Kate
supervising the workers. Quinn sits, observing.
QUINN
You picked out the furniture.
Don't you want to take it?
KATE
Please don't turn this into an
issue. I'm taking only what I
absolutely need.
QUINN
I'd just sell it at a garage
sale.
I never really liked it.
KATE
You never liked it?
QUINN
Not that I disliked it. Furniture
is furniture. Decorating was your
thing, not mine.
KATE
Fine. Sell it at a garage sale.
She leaves
the room.
WORKER
What else in this room goes?
QUINN
Ask the boss.
27.
INT. FENDER
HOME - KITCHEN - DAY
Quinn
pouring coffee.
Out the
window he sees Kate talking with Cinnamon, her car
at the curb.
EXT. FINDER
HOME - DAY
At
Cinnamon's car.
KATE
I'm doing fine. I'm sure it could
be worse.
Quinn comes
out of the house.
CINNAMON
Looks like we're getting company.
KATE
Terrific.
She heads
out to intercept him. They meet on the lawn.
KATE
What are you doing?
QUINN
I want to meet Spice Cake.
KATE
Who?
Quinn
continues on, a flustered Kate behind him.
QUINN
You must be the lucky lady. I'm
the unlucky husband.
His hand is
outstretched. Cinnamon takes it.
CINNAMON
Cinnamon.
QUINN
No thank you. Never touch the
stuff.
KATE
Cin, you'd better get home to
meet the truck.
28.
CINNAMON
(to Quinn)
Nice meeting you.
She climbs
into the car.
QUINN
Home? You two already have a home?
KATE
We rented a house.
QUINN
And don't need furniture?
KATE
Why do you insist on making this
more difficult?
QUINN
I didn't know this was difficult
for you.
KATE
Of course it's difficult for me.
And I realize it's even more
difficult for you. Just don't
take it as an insult to your
manhood or something. Here are my
keys. I took five thousand
dollars out of the joint account,
which is what I put into it when
we were married.
QUINN
I'm sure you have more than--
KATE
I don't want more. So. Maybe one
day we can talk more sanely about
this.
QUINN
Just one question.
(moving close,
whispering)
When I went down on you, were you
fantasizing I was a woman?
KATE
I refuse to do this.
She storms
back to the house. Two workers are carrying out a
couch.
29.
KATE
No, that stays!
EXT. FENDER
HOME - NIGHT
A dark house.
A car pulls
into the driveway. Adam gets out.
He goes to
the porch. He hears music inside -- the blues.
Deep
down-home my-baby-left-me blues. A moaning harmonica.
Someone like
Little Walter, "This is a mean old world, try
living by
yourself."
Adam rings
the doorbell. Knocks.
Tries the
door. It opens.
INT. FENDER
HOME - NIGHT
Adam enters.
ADAM
Quinn?
The
cry-in-your-whiskey blues comes from the living room.
INT. FENDER
HOME - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Quinn sits
on the carpet in the middle of the dark room. A
whiskey
bottle his only company. A swig from the bottle.
The blues,
the blues.
Adam
approaches, kneels down.
ADAM
You okay, buddy?
QUINN
Never been better.
ADAM
Was the bottle full when you
started?
QUINN
Which bottle?
ADAM
You actually sound pretty sober.
30.
QUINN
It's all attitude.
ADAM
You didn't answer your phone. I
was worried about you.
No reply.
Quinn
grimaces to a line in the blues, as if some lyric had
stabbed his
soul.
INT. LAW
OFFICE - CAFETERIA - DAY
Michelle
looking for a table. She sees Adam.
MICHELLE
Hi. May I?
ADAM
Please do.
She sits.
MICHELLE
I haven't seen Quinn this week.
ADAM
He's taking some time off.
MICHELLE
Sick?
ADAM
At heart. He's charging vacation
time.
A SERIES OF
SHOTS
Quinn in
mourning.
--working
out in a gym.
--feeding
pigeons in a park.
--eating at
home alone, a solitary figure at a large table.
--in bed
alone, reading.
31.
EXT. FENDER
HOME - NIGHT
Early
evening. Still light outside.
Quinn mowing
the back yard with a push reel mower.
Michelle
comes around the corner of the house. She's carrying
a paper
sack.
Quinn
notices her and stops.
MICHELLE
I can't remember the last time I
saw someone use a push mower.
QUINN
I have a monster but couldn't get
it started.
MICHELLE
Adam told me you were taking the
week off.
(indicating the bag)
I thought maybe you were up to
Chinese take-out.
INT. FENDER
HOME - DINING ROOM - NIGHT
Quinn and
Michelle at the table. Cartons of food spread around.
MICHELLE
You hear anything from Kate?
QUINN
I heard from her lawyer.
MICHELLE
Wow.
QUINN
That was my reaction. I kept
thinking she'd get over it.
MICHELLE
It's not something you get over.
It's something you own up to.
QUINN
That's what they tell me. I can't
figure out why I was the last to
know.
32.
EXT. FENDER
HOME - NIGHT
Quinn walks
Michelle to her car at the curb.
QUINN
I appreciate the dinner. And
especially the company.
MICHELLE
My pleasure. Do you dance?
QUINN
Pardon me?
MICHELLE
Move in time to music in a public
place. It's a very old tradition.
QUINN
I haven't lately. Are you asking
me out to dance?
MICHELLE
I suppose I am.
QUINN
Yes, we could do that.
INT.
BALLROOM - DAY
On stage, a
band playing a dance number.
SUPER:
"Three years later."
On the dance
floor, couples dancing at a wedding reception.
And the
bride and groom are dancing: Michelle and Quinn.
INT. LAW OFFICE
- HALLWAY - DAY
The office
window now reads "Knox, Atkinson and Fender Law
Office."
INT. LAW
OFFICE - QUINN'S OFFICE - DAY
Quinn's
secretary dropping mail into a small box. Quite a
bit has
accumulated.
Into the
office walks Quinn himself.
33.
NANCY
There he is! Don't you look
happy -- and tan.
QUINN
Hawaii does that. How bad is the
damage?
NANCY
(gesturing to the box)
See for yourself.
LATER
Quinn going
through his mail. Adam appears in the doorway.
ADAM
You came back to the rat race. I
half-expected to hear you'd
become a professional surfer.
QUINN
I have an expensive honeymoon to
pay for.
ADAM
You look great, buddy. Time for a
drink after work?
QUINN
I'm meeting Michelle. Please join
us.
LATER
Quinn at the
computer. The intercom buzzes.
QUINN
Yes?...Put her on.
He picks up
the phone.
QUINN
This is Fender....Of course I
remember you....Run that by me
again....I'll be there.
EXT. GALLERY
ROW - DAY
A coffee
shop in gallery row. Quinn enters.
34.
INT. COFFEE
SHOP - DAY
He sits down
at a table across from Cinnamon.
QUINN
Except for Jesus Christ himself,
you're the last person in the
world I expected to hear on the
other end of a phone line. I
suppose my first question is, Why
me?
CINNAMON
Two reasons. First, when I
checked around, your firm has the
best reputation in town for this
sort of case. Two, I thought you
might provide personal insight
that would be helpful to me.
QUINN
You want to compare dirty notes
about Kate? Sorry to disappoint
you but I've always thought the
world of her. Well, once her
transition made sense to me.
CINNAMON
We live in a common law state.
Under the law, we were legally
married. Therefore, I'm entitled
to a settlement. I did not
terminate the marriage. She did.
[Note:
common law states are Alabama, Colorado, Washington
D.C.,
Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode
Island,
South Carolina, Texas and Utah.
A quasi-common law
status
has been upheld in Washington state.]
QUINN
It gets more complicated than that.
CINNAMON
I gave up my studio so I could
spend more time at home, which
helped her career considerably. I
did the cooking. I hired and
scheduled the house cleaners. I
sacrificed my own career goals
and income in the interests of
our life together as a couple.
When she left, she took everything.
(MORE)
35.
CINNAMON (CONT'D)
If she were a man, and I a
housewife, there would be no
doubt about justice here.
QUINN
There's still a problem. You're
both the same sex.
CINNAMON
I've done my homework. Some
courts have accepted a
"quasi-
common law" status for same-sex
couples. My case could further
expand this precedent. It's the
kind of case that makes careers.
QUINN
I'm not worried about my career.
CINNAMON
I have more: we had a ceremony.
There were several dozen
witnesses.
We filed our last tax return
jointly. In every way, we acted
as man and wife. The bitch can't
just walk out and leave me high
and dry. Will you represent me?
INT. BAR -
PAY PHONE - NIGHT
Quinn on a
pay phone near the men's room.
QUINN
Honey, would you pick up?...I'm
running a little late. I left a
message at the restaurant. I hope
you get it. I won't be long,
promise. Wait for me! I love you.
INT. BAR -
TABLE - NIGHT
He joins
Adam.
QUINN
I think Michelle's on her way to
the restaurant. I've got to
boogie.
36.
ADAM
The case is a hornet's nest.
That's all I can tell you. And
Barry would have a fit. The firm
suing his own daughter?
QUINN
They had a falling out after she
went public.
ADAM
Can you picture yourself
questioning Kate on the stand?
QUINN
Actually I can.
INT.
RESTAURANT - NIGHT
Quinn and
Michelle at dinner. Quinn looks tense.
MICHELLE
Something happen at work? You
look upset about something.
QUINN
(ignoring this,
drinking wine)
Umm...remind me to get a bottle
of this.
Michelle
stares at him.
QUINN
Work is good.
INT. LAW
OFFICE - QUINN'S OFFICE - DAY
Quinn at the
computer.
The intercom
buzzes.
QUINN
Fire away.
NANCY
(on intercom)
Mr. Knox will see you now.
37.
INT. LAW
OFFICE - KNOX'S OFFICE - DAY
Knox stares
out the window, his back to Quinn, who sits
across the
desk.
KNOX
Have you heard from her?
QUINN
No.
KNOX
I heard through the grapevine she
accepted a position in
Washington.
QUINN
With the Department of Labor.
Knox turns
back to Quinn.
QUINN
Same grapevine.
KNOX
I made you a senior partner,
Quinn, so I wouldn't have to
babysit you. I trust you to know
what cases are good for the firm.
QUINN
Given the circumstances, I still
didn't want to take this on
without your approval.
KNOX
I appreciate that. What are the
chances of settling out of court?
QUINN
I'll know when I talk to her, I
expect.
KNOX
Kate had everything going for
her.
QUINN
The Labor Department ain't bad.
It's also one point for our side.
She had a significant support
system that got her there.
38.
KNOX
Do it. Be sure to put Sally on
the team. A real woman will look
good to the jury.
QUINN
Thanks, Barry.
INT. GYM -
HANDBALL COURT - DAY
Quinn and
Adam in a hot game.
INT. GYM -
LOCKER ROOM - DAY
Getting
dressed after the game.
QUINN
I'm taking the case.
ADAM
You told Barry?
QUINN
I have his blessing.
Adam looks
surprised.
INT. FENDER
HOME - DINING ROOM - NIGHT
Quinn and
Michelle at dinner. A formal setting, candlelight,
wine.
MICHELLE
Did Kate get a hold of you?
Quinn looks
surprised.
MICHELLE
She called here this afternoon.
QUINN
Why didn't you tell me?
MICHELLE
I'm telling you now. I told her
to try you at the office. What's
the matter?