ACT I

FADE IN:

EXT: AN OFF-CAMPUS EATERY—DAY

There’s a bike rack outside and some college types lounging at the bus stop. A cute co-ed breezes by, heading for the door. She’s ANDREA PORTMAN, early twenties, blond, above-standard looks, even for southern Califoria, but it’s all understated: not much make-up and her hair cut to a sensible shoulder length. She’s got a BINDER tucked under one arm and a shoulder bag on the opposite side. She hits the door looking like she’s in a hurry.

INT: THE EATERY—DAY

Mid-morning, the coffee crowd. PORTMAN wends her way between tables like she knows her way around. She’s making for the counter, where a middle-aged guy, NATE, is toting figures on a pad.

PORTMAN

(to Nate, friendly)

Got my check?

NATE

(looks up, smiles)

Hey, kid –

(turns and rings a “no sale” on the register)

Sure, right here.

(pulls out an envelope and hands it to her)

PORTMAN

Thanks. Rent’s due.

She stuffs the pay envelope into her binder and starts to turn.

NATE

(suddenly remembers something)

Oh, wait a sec. Somebody left something for you.

He’s bends to get something from under the counter, then back upright a moment later and hands her another envelope. This one’s business-sized and just a little thicker. It’s addressed “Andrea” in neat block print. Portman takes it hastily.

PORTMAN

Who—?

NATE

(shrugs)

Some guy. ‘Bout your age. Said to give it to you.

PORTMAN

(glances up at wall clock and twitches)

Damn. I’m late.

(stuffs this envelope into binder also—turns and hustles for the door—over shoulder)

Thanks.

NATE

Friday? P.M. shift.

She nods without pausing, hits the door and is through.

CUT TO:

EXT. THE LAW BUILDING—DAY

It looks like an ivy-covered and traditional bastion of graduate education. There’s a steady stream of students heading up the steps. PORTMAN is coming from behind, but taking the steps double-time where she can.

INT. LECTURE HALL—DAY

It’s an old-fashioned auditorium, with the rear entry a full story above the front of the room. It seats about 150 and is three-quarters full with students shuffling papers and getting settled. PORTMAN enters the back, looking relieved to have made it on time. She chooses a seat on the aisle one or two rows down from where she came in, and sits, her binder in her lap.

ANGLE—AT PORTMAN, FROM A SHORT WAY FURTHER DOWN THE AISLE IN FRONT OF HER

She opens her binder, takes out the thinner envelope, opens it, studies her check briefly with a jaundiced expression, then stuffs it in her pocket. The other, thicker envelope is sticking out of the binder pocket. She frowns at it, then pulls it out, laying it down and running her finger under the flap. She looks puzzled as she takes out a piece of glossy paper folded widthwise several times. From the camera’s position we see some ad copy—a bottle of booze perhaps. After the page is unfolded once, Portman’s frown deepens. She cocks her head a little sideways and finishes the unfolding. The piece is longer than a single magazine page. Portman’s face goes white. She drops her hand, still clutching the page, down onto her lap, hastily looking around as if to see if anyone saw what she saw. She shoves it back into the binder hastily, envelope and all, gathers her things clumsily, gets to her feet, and exits via the rear door.

EXT. LAW SCHOOL—DAY

PORTMAN barrels through the door, descending the steps with her eyes down as if she doesn’t want to be recognized, and collides with McCORMICK, who was hustling up the steps, equally preoccupied with not being late. Portman’s BINDER goes flying, its contents spilled across the steps.

McCORMICK

Damn—I mean, ah, sorry.

(stoops, starts to gather things up)

I shoulda been looking. My fault.

PORTMAN

(protests)

It’s okay—no—really—I’ll get that.

It’s no use. McCormick already has his hands on the glossy page.

ANGLE—McCORMICK

As he picks it up it starts to unfold. We see the same ad as before. He glances at his side of the paper and then is riveted—except for maybe a quick check between what’s on the sheet and the girl in front of him. He remembers his manners and folds it hastily, handing it over with the rest of her stuff. She’s mortified. Undone. She silently accepts what he’s giving her.

McCORMICK

You okay?

Obviously not. There’s a half-beat and her shoulders slump. She’s crying. McCormick glances past her to the doors of the building. Everyone else has entered. They’re alone on the steps. Portman is still crying.

McCORMICK

(sighs)

Come on. You look like you could use a drink.

She lets him shepherd her down the steps and away from the building.

FADE OUT

FADE IN:

EXT. A COFFEE SHOP—DAY

Not the one Portman works in.

INT. THE COFFEE SHOP - DAY

This one has an older crowd—regular Joes drinking regular joe. McCORMICK AND PORTMAN occupy a booth. The waitress brings cups and departs. McCormick has apparently been waiting for that before opening the conversation. Portman beats him to it.

PORTMAN

You’re that guy?

McCORMICK

(startled)

Ah—?

PORTMAN

The guy with the flashy car who did some time in prison.

ANGLE—McCORMICK

For a moment his face is unreadable, then he manages to produce a smile. It seems as though he’s had practice fielding this question.

McCORMICK

Word gets around.

(beat—still smiling, but it’s tight)

Guilty as charged.

ANGLE—THE BOOTH

Portman leaning forward slightly.

PORTMAN

Then it’s true what they say?

McCORMICK

(warily)

That depends. What do they say?

PORTMAN

(without thinking)

That some crazy retired judge bet his buddies he could take an ex-con and turn him into a lawyer.

McCORMICK

(winces slightly then sighs)

There’s a judge, and there’s an ex-con and there’s a bet…but otherwise—entirely wrong.

(beat)

What about you? Putting yourself through school with a little modeling?

There’s a moment of silence, the kind that comes right before the storm, and then:

ANGLE—ON PORTMAN

She’s seething.

PORTMAN

No. Never.

(beat)

I’ve earned every penny of my tuition. Books and rent, too.

ANGLE—THE BOOTH

McCORMICK

(both hands up)

Sorry.

(beat)

Striking resemblance, though. And, well, you seemed kinda upset.

PORTMAN

(quiet, unhappy, reluctant)

I’ve never seen it before.

(beat, then she speeds up a little, needing

to vent)

I don’t even know where it came from. Somebody left it for me at work.

McCORMICK

Who? And why?

PORTMAN

I don’t know.

Portman digs in the binder and pulls out just the envelope—not the page—glances at it, opens it, and looks inside. She pulls out a small sheet of paper that she must have overlooked earlier. She stares at it, then passes it over to McCormick.

INSERT—PLAIN WHITE PAPER

In block printing it reads: “I know all about you.” There is no signature.

ANGLE—McCORMICK

McCORMICK

Blackmail?

ANGLE—PORTMAN

Looks baffled, shrugs.

PORTMAN

If it is, they’ve sent it to the wrong girl. That is not me.

(beat)

Thank God. I mean, if it was…

ANGLE—BOOTH

McCORMICK

(musing)

It’s a career-breaker.

PORTMAN

Yeah, and I don’t even have a career yet.

There’s a shared moment of awkward silence and then:

PORTMAN

(making a show of glancing at the wall clock)

Look at the time—I’ve got to run.

McCORMICK

Me, too.

(beat)

Need a lift? I’ve got this flashy car…

PORTMAN

(nervous laugh)

No, I’m okay.

(beat)

Really. Thanks.

They rise. McCormick digs in his pocket and puts money on the table. They head for the door.

EXT—THE COFFEE SHOP—DAY

McCormick and Portman part outside the door. Camera on Portman as she heads down the sidewalk. Ten steps down she pauses, reaches into her binder again, and pulls out the glossy page. She looks both ways quickly and steps back against the walk before she half opens the fold and takes a peek. She stares hard for a moment then looks up suddenly.

ANGLE—PULL BACK

McCormick is down the street, near the corner, waiting to cross.

PORTMAN

(shouts)

Wait!

He looks up as she runs toward him.

CUT TO:

EXT. GULL’S WAY—DAY

The Coyote is parked in the drive near the fountain.

INT. THE MAIN HOUSE FOYER

The front door opens inward. McCormick steps through.

McCORMICK

Judge?

HARDCASTLE (v.o.)

(from the den)

In here.

The front door opens further and we see McCormick is leading PORTMAN in. She looks as if she might have been crying again. They head for the steps to the den, McCormick in front.

ANGLE—THE DEN

Hardcastle is at his desk, doing something that involves papers. He’s looking down.

McCORMICK

(clears throat)

Judge? I’d like you to meet somebody.

Hardcastle looks up.

McCORMICK

This is Andrea Portman. She’s in my class. Andrea,

(beat)

this is the crazy judge.

Hardcastle scowls at McCormick but changes that to a welcoming smile and a nod for Portman.

HARDCASTLE

Milt Hardcastle. Pleased to meet ya.

(he’s on his feet halfway through that, but lets Portman lead on the handshake, a perfect gentleman)

McCORMICK

She has a problem.

Hardcastle raises an eyebrow at McCormick, and waves Portman to a seat, before sitting down again. He’s all ears.

McCORMICK

Somebody might be blackmailing her.

HARDCASTLE

“Might”?

McCORMICK

No demands so far, just this.

(hands over the piece of paper with the printing on it)

Hardcastle scans it and then looks up.

HARDCASTLE

(to Portman)

So what is there to know?

PORTMAN

Nothing.

(beat)

I’m a law student, like Mark said. I’ve always worked side jobs—I’m putting myself through school—but nothing like…

HARDCASTLE

Like what?

McCORMICK

There’s a photo.

HARDCASTLE

Of what?

PORTMAN

Of me—or anyway, it looks like me.

She pulls the glossy page out of her shoulder bag, now folded just so. Head and shoulders are visible. She gets up from her chair and passes it to Hardcastle, staying close enough to point. He looks at it, then her. He seems to have gotten the drift.

PORTMAN

But it’s not me. I’ve never done anything like that.

HARDCASTLE

Close resemblance. Your hair’s shorter. Okay, so it’s not you.

(looks doubtful)

PORTMAN

That’s what I said.

(beat)

Except for one thing.

(she’s fiddling with her neckline)

Hardcastle looks mildly concerned, but after a moment of fishing just inside her collar, she pulls out part of a fine silver necklace chain. Dangling from the end of it is a piece of jewelry, something with an unusual outline, perhaps a Lorraine cross or a Celtic knot.

PORTMAN

See?

(holds the chain with its dangling medallion in one hand and points to the folded photo with the other)

Hardcastle peers closely, then opens his desk drawer, pulls out a magnifying glass and studies it again, before returning his gaze to Portman.

PORTMAN

The same. What are the odds? I’ve had it for…a long time. I’ve been wearing it for years.

HARDCASTLE

Looks like a dead ringer to me—the necklace and the girl.

Portman nods and returns to her seat.

HARDCASTLE

You ever go out on a date and thought maybe you had one too many to drink?

PORTMAN

No, I don’t drink—not like that, anyway.

HARDCASTLE

It wouldn’t have to be booze. Someone mighta slipped you a Mickey.

PORTMAN

No blackouts, not that I can remember.

McCORMICK

I think the whole point is that you aren’t supposed to remember.

HARDCASTLE

(heaves a sigh and hands the picture back, still carefully folded)

It’d be a lot easier to figure out what happened if we knew when and where that photo was taken.

(frowns suddenly)

How old are you?

PORTMAN

Twenty-two.

HARDCASTLE

How long has your hair been short?

PORTMAN

Since I started college. I was eighteen.

HARDCASTLE

So, on top of everything else, the girl in that photo may be underage.

PORTMAN

(tense)

As much as I can’t believe it, “the girl” in that photo must be me. I need to know how this happened.

HARDCASTLE

Okay, then, we’re gonna have to do a little research.

Hold on this, and,

CUT TO BLACK.

NEXT ACT