Splendor Among The Ruins

MADAM WATSON

It's just lovely.  (turning toward Matty)  Hi Matty, how are you, dear? 

 

MATTY MILLER

I feel fine, Theresa.  How are you?

 

MADAM WATSON

I missed you all.

 

MATTY MILLER

We have some news for you Madam Watson.  (pause)  I introduced Mr. Bartlett to Miss Stella and ...... maybe I should let Mr. Bartlett tell you.

 

BARTLETT

Well, I won't just tell you about it, I will SHOW you.  (he drives off)

 

BACK AT THE OFFICE, B.J. AND HIS SECRETARY LEAD MADAM WATSON TO A DARK ROOM AND TOGETHER, THEY VIEW THE FIRST COLOR SLIDE PRESENTATION OF THE WATSON COMPANY OPERATIONS

 

BARTLETT

I remembered everything you told me and I've got the whole story right here.  This will make your presentations so much easier. (Madam is clearly pleased)  We'll soon be making five thousand dollars a day and with this, we could be up to ten thousand in no time.  (the phone rings)

 

SECRETARY

For you, Mr. Bartlett.  

 

BARTLETT

Hello?  (pause)  Who is this?  (pause)  If you don't stop this at once, you will have the police after your tail.  (hangs up)

 

MADAM WATSON

(concerned)  What was that all about, B.J.?

 

BARTLETT

Just a bunch of fools.  They're jealous of your success and want to extort money from you.

 

MADAM WATSON

Extort?

 

BARTLETT

That's when someone tries to obtain money from another person by means of intimidation.  I wont stand for it.  I am going to the police.

 

SCENE OPENS AT THE POLICE STATION

 

B.J. BARTLETT WAITS TO SEE SOMEONE ABOUT HIS COMPLAINT BUT HE IS IGNORED BY ALL THE POLICE OFFICERS.  HE WATCHES AS OTHERS COME IN AFTER HIM AND ARE DEALT WITH.  FINALLY, HE GETS UP AND WALKS UP TO THE CHIEF'S OFFICE WHEN SEVERAL POLICE RUSH TOWARDS HIM.

 

BARTLETT

Let me go!  Let me go!  I am an attorney and I've come to register a complaint.  You ignored me.  I want to see the Chief of Police, if you won't deal with me.  (in another corner of the room, two officers are beating a black man that they just brought in)  You over there!  Stop it at once.  This is brutality!  That man is offering no resistance.  

(B.J. tries to break up the beating but the officers turn their attack on him instead.  In the commotion, the Chief comes out of his office to witness the brutal beatings the officers had put on both Bartlett and the other black man) 

 

CHIEF

(worried and upset)  Sands!  Murphy!  Stop that at once!  Both of you get into my office! NOW!  (he looks at the other officers) Will one of you egg heads help him out.  Jesus Christ!  (makes his way back into his office and slams the door behind Officers Sands and Murphy)  What the hell was all that head banging - out in the open like that and right in front of a god-dam lawyer?

 

SANDS

We picked up "midnight" out there looking into store windows.  We figured he was about to pull a little break and enter.

 

CHIEF

A B&E.  If you're going to be an officer, you have to learn our talk.

 

MURPHY

Lingo.  They say lingo Sir.

 

CHIEF

Listen you two.  You know who that guy is out there?  He is B.J. Bartlett, attorney at law!  And he is one of those stubborn midnight blues.  He's going to make you have the blues for a long, long time.  Them people are getting some power now, so you're going to have to watch who you push around.  You hear me? Now go out there and say your sorries.  And make it convincing or YOU'LL be sorry.  You know how bad things are now you won't be able to find work in the mines - you remember that.   

 

SANDS

Chief!  You got to be joking, we're white men.  We don't have to say sorry to no tar boys!

 

CHIEF

Then you better turn in your badge right now because I don't want this department caught up in no legal battle just cause I got some white man who's too proud to say sorry when he's wrong.  So what is it going to be?

 

(Outside the Chief's office)

 

CHIEF

Mr. Bartlett, I believe my men made a mistake.  They thought you were going to attack them, tell him men.

 

MURPHY

I am sorry, Mr. Bartlett.

 

CHIEF

(looking at Sands)  Well?

 

SANDS

(Under his breath) ... Sorry.  (he leaves)

 

CHIEF

Is everything in order now, Mr. Bartlett?

 

BARTLETT

No, it is not, Sir.  You will be hearing from my lawyer.  I would like to know what this man has done.  (he points to the bloody faced black man that officers Sands and Murphy had roughed up) On what charge are you holding this man? 

 

MURPHY

He was loitering.

 

BARTLETT

This man says he was just looking in the window when these officers told him that they were "mind readers" and they knew he was planning to rob the store!  This man has done nothing illegal.  I say you charge him if you have something on him, or let him go.

 

CHIEF

What's your name, boy?

 

PRISONER

My name is Louis Green.

 

CHIEF

You can go Louis, but you mind the law now, hear?

 

BARTLETT

(sternly)  You have not heard the last of this.

 

(Outside, Bartlett and Louis get into his car)

 

BARTLETT

Would you like to see a doctor or go to the hospital?

 

LOUIS

They won't take me.  But I am feeling alright.  (pause)  Do you think they'll ever stop beating us for no reason?  We didn't ask to come here and now that we have our freedom, they're all upset at us and say we're taking their jobs.

 

BARTLETT 

Well they aren't going to get away with it, I will see to that.

 

LOUIS

They got away with hanging my cousin.  Every day they are getting away with lynchings for no reason.  I don't expect much to come of what happened today.

 

BARTLETT

We will see about that.  Do you have a job, Louis?

 

LOUIS

(he laughs)  That's what I was doing when the police beat me up. I was trying to work up enough nerve to go and ask for a job.  

 

BARTLETT

(passes one of his business cards)  Come and see me tomorrow and let me see what I can do to fix that.

 

THE FOLLOWING DAY BARTLETT IS ON THE PHONE WITH HIS FORMER LAW PROFESSOR

 

BARTLETT

Good morning, Professor Morgan.  This is Benjamin Bartlett.  I would like to see you about a legal matter.  Can we meet for lunch this week?

 

SCENE CHANGES TO LOUIS GREEN ENTERING THE WATSON FACTORY.

 

LOUIS

(walks up to a woman who is packing products into boxes)  I am here to see Mr. Bartlett.  (she points towards the office)  Thank you ma'am.  (enters the office and addressed the secretary) Excuse me ma'am.  (he hands her B.J.'s card)  He told me to come and see him about a job.

 

(She knocks on the door, B.J. Bartlett comes out)

 

BARTLETT

(smiles warmly)  Louis, how are you this morning?  Come into my office tell me about some of your skills.

 

LOUIS

You mean my family?

 

BARTLETT

No, I mean what are you good at doing?  Is there any particular thing you would want to work at?

 

LOUIS

(shrugs)  I ain't too fussy, I just want to work.  I'm a "dis' and dat'"  man.   I do a little of everything.