Barrio Barrister (F-11)
For Barrio Barrister (F-1) click here. For BB (F-10 click here).
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. COURTROOM — DAY
Miguel and JUDGE MCGINLEY are engaged in heated conversation.
JUDGE MCGINLEY
I don’t know how your kind got this far. I don’t know why you people are even allowed in this city.
MIGUEL
(with strong Spanish accent)
You mean Los Ángeles?
JUDGE MCGINLEY
Los Angeles. We speak English here.
MIGUEL
You mean Nuestra Señora de la Reina de los Ángeles de Porciúncula? Where Spanish was spoken decades before English?
JUDGE MCGINLEY
I mean where brown and black people have swarmed in to take what we whites worked so hard to build.
MIGUEL
You know that more than two thirds the original Spanish speaking pobladores who founded LA were Spanish speaking free blacks? And Indians were here before all of them… so who swarmed whom?
JUDGE MCGINLEY
I’ve had enough of this.
(louder)
This trial is a waste of tax payer money. The defendant is guilty as hell and you, Pedro, you don’t even belong here.
MIGUEL
(intense)
Don’t belong here? You think about that judge.
(walks away, then returns)
You think about that real good.
JUDGE MCGINLEY
I will hold you in contempt of court, Counsel.
MIGUEL
Your word against mine, and I sure wouldn’t want to call attention to your last idiotic ruling if I were you. But you’re right about one thing-I do have a contempt for this court!
Miguel grabs the gavel and slams it down as hard as he can.
INT. ELDER MIGUEL’S HOME OFFICE — DAY
MASON
Holy shit!
ELDER MIGUEL
(laughs)
Yeah. Of course, it never happened. I would have been disbarred. It was just a nightmare I had. Probably brought on by all the rejection and stress. I had gone before that judge, knew what he was like, and knew I was just about to go before him yet again. Only this time it was for real.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. NORWALK SUPERIOR COURT — DAY
JUDGE MCGINLEY
(barely tolerating Miguel)
Let’s not belabor this point, Counselor. Yes, you filed a motion for discovery and yes, I denied it!
MIGUEL
Correct, your honor. I also filed a writ asking the Supreme Court to rule on my petition for discovery that you denied. All I want from you is an extension until we hear back from them.
JUDGE MCGINLEY
Counselor, I’m tired of your shenanigans, your manner, your…attire, I’m getting tired of you…and we haven’t even begun yet. I’ve had enough of this.
(louder)
This trial is a waste of tax payer money.
Miguel stares at the judge, remembering his dream.
MIGUEL
All right then, tomorrow.
JUDGE MCGINLEY
(leveling his gaze)
This trial will begin today! Be here at one thirty sharp!
Miguel, tries to control himself, defeated, walks away.
INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE OF COURTROOM — SAME DAY
As Miguel is leaving, a door opens. The BAILIFF calls to him.
BAILIFF
Mr. Garcia! Hold up! Your office needs you to call them.
INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE OF COURTROOM — SAME DAY
Miguel is in a phone booth.
MIGUEL
Hello, Magda? Yes? You sure? I, well, of course — what’s the number?
(jots it down on his hand)
Thanks.
DISSOLVES TO:
INT. PHONE BOOTH — MINUTES LATER
Miguel is on phone.
MIGUEL
Yes, hello, Mr. Bishel?
INT. CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT OFFICE — DAY
MR. BISHEL, secretary for Supreme Court, is on the phone.
MR. BISHEL
Yes, it has been granted, Mr. Garcia.
INT. PHONE BOOTH — DAY
Miguel has a broad smile.
MIGUEL
Oh, that’s wonderful, wonderful. But Mr. Bishel — there is one minor pro-blem. Judge McGinley has ordered the case will- go for-ward to-day at one thirty…-oh? You would do that? Norwalk, Superior Court, District 44.Thank you so much, thank you, thank you.
Miguel re-enters the courtroom and takes a seat. Judge McGinley, notices him and glares. A phone rings and the bailiff answers. From a distance he appears to say “Superior Court?” Then his eyes widen, and he appears to say, “Supreme Court?”He turns the phone over to MS. JENSEN, who speaks matter of factly into the phone. Then her eyes widen. She signals feverishly to the judge who agrees to take the call. She brings the phone to him. Judge McGinley’s face reddens.
JUDGE MCGINLEY
It seems there will be a continuance in California versus Duenas. Counsel… have you a date in mind?
MIGUEL
(barely controlling himself)
No, perhaps the 24th or… 27th?
JUDGE MCGINLEY
Miss Jensen? What’s available?
MS. JENSEN
(referring to calendar)
Either one, your honor.
JUDGE MCGINLEY
California versus Duenas is continued until the 24th.
Ms. Jensen and the bailiff give looks of surprise and new found respect to Miguel. Smiling, Miguel walks to the door. CAM follows him from behind. As he exits he can’t resist a fist pump (ala Ben Bradlee in “ALL THE PRESIDENTS MEN”).
INT. ELDER MIGUEL’S HOME OFFICE — PRESENT — DAY
MASON
How can you drink all that and not have to pee like I do?
ELDER MIGUEL
When I water…
(smiles)
… I water…Bathroom’s up at the house towards the back. I’ll change the sprinkler while you’re gone.
EXT. AREA BETWEEN HOME OFFICE AND HOUSE — PRESENT — DAY
Mason takes path up to house, opens kitchen door.
INT. ELDER MIGUEL’S HOUSE — PRESENT — SAME DAY
Mason enters through kitchen door. The decor shows no feminine influences. He marvels at all the photographs. lining the walls of the dining room, study and elsewhere. There is a copy of a Diego Rivera, a poster of Emiliano Zapata, and a photo of Miguel holding his son Michael on his shoulders.
There are photos of his father, mother, sisters and children. There are photos from the Chicano Moratorium, from when his son’s wife and one of Miguel’s wives gave birth on the same day in the same hospital. There is an article on Miguel’s having the “largest avocado orchard in Whittier’, and several from cases he worked on as a lawyer, pointing out the trajectory of bullets in wrongful death suits or protesting at city hall. A rifle is propped against a wall. He looks across sitting area outside a window to a pool.
EXT. ELDER MIGUEL’S ORCHARD — PRESENT — DAY
Elder Miguel is changing the water in his orchard.
INT. ELDER MIGUEL’S LAW STUDY — PRESENT — DAY
Mason has just returned from using the bathroom and walks about looking at pictures and awards on walls. There are skeletons hanging from stands as well. Elder Miguel comes in.
ELDER MIGUEL
Can we continue tomorrow? I have a sexy neighbor coming over for a swim pretty soon.
MASON
What time is good for you?
ELDER MIGUEL
Maybe 10:00? Bring Tecate.
MASON
This won’t be a “Drunk History” episode, will it?
Elder Miguel laughs.
Note: The first scene is a dream sequence — it DID NOT HAPPEN. Also, much of the dialogue of events that did happen has been made up (but may have happened in a similar way).
For Barrio Barrister (F-12) click here.
