that was many years ago

News / Laquan McDonald

reprinted from the Chicago Tribune

Live updates:  Chicago police use-of-force expert takes stand for prosecution in Laquan cover-up trial

NOVEMBER 28, 2018, 1:30 PM

A key witness could take the stand as soon as Wednesday as the historic trial of three former and current Chicago police officers accused of a cover-up in Laquan McDonald's shooting enters its second day of testimony.

Chicago police Officer Dora Fontaine is expected to testify that then-Detective David March attributed statements to her in his reports that she never actually made.

March, ex-Officer Joseph Walsh and Officer Thomas Gaffney are believed to be the first Chicago cops ever to face criminal "code of silence" charges stemming from an on-duty shooting.  They are charged with official misconduct, obstructing justice and conspiracy.

Fontaine has been on paid desk duty since telling investigators that she did not make statements attributed to her in March's police reports.  Prosecutors said her fellow officers consider her "a rat" and have told her that she would not be safe on street duty.

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INT.  The apartment of Paul and Lillian House - Night

Lillian and Carol by the treadmill.

LILLIAN
Have a look at the instructions.  They drive me crazy.  You know?  I don't know what I'm doing at all.  Let's look...

CAROL
No -- please -- it's easy.

                     Lillian picks up a book from a table near the bed.

LILLIAN
Wonderful book they've given me.  Now I'm at Level Five.

CAROL
What?  You're that advanced?

LILLIAN
Well, yes.

CAROL
God, I only got to Level Two.

LILLIAN (looking in the book)
Look at these diagrams.  Do you believe this?

CAROL
That's amazing.

LILLIAN (with the book)
I can't understand this, even.

CAROL
Let me see.

LILLIAN
Yes, well.  See this?

CAROL
Okay.


INT.  Mr. House's study - Night

The room is decorated in traditional fashion, with antique furnishings, lots of pictures on the walls; cozy lighting.

Mr. House is bringing a stamp book over.

PAUL
Now, let me show you a mint 1933 airmail.  Very rare... and very beautiful.

                          They sit.

LARRY
Yeah.

                    Paul picks up a special philatelist magnifying glass and holds it in front of the stamp, for Larry to view.

PAUL
Look at that.  And this plate block is quite unique because it has a flaw in the engraving.  See if you can see it.

                              Larry, a bit lost, scratches his head.

LARRY
Uh, it's hard for me.

PAUL
Actually I'll give you a little hint.  Right down here in the corner.

LARRY
That tiny thing there?

PAUL
Interesting, yeah.

LARRY
Ah, you have a really...

PAUL
That makes it quite valuable, you see.  And I just got a commemorative set of issues that are going to be quite valuable, too.

                             He picks up a transparent envelope containing several stamps.

LARRY
Yes.

PAUL
Look at the color, right there.  All these are gonna become a real...

LARRY 
(standing up)
Well, listen -- we're probably keeping you up, right?

PAUL
Oh, no-no-no.  This is wonderful.

LARRY
I should be going.

PAUL
What do you do, if I may ask?

LARRY
Me?  I'm in book publishing.  I work up at Harper's.

PAUL
Are you really?

LARRY
Yeah.

PAUL
I own an old -- cinema.  Having it re-done.

LARRY
Oh.

PAUL
Used to have a string of three, but, you know -- business is not what it used to be.

                            He picks up some more stamps from the table.

PAUL
Now, look at these presidentials.  Look at the color work.  Even the perforations are still intact.

LARRY
Where's Carol?

PAUL
All the...

LARRY
Because I should really be going, actually.

PAUL
Oh, really?

LARRY
Yeah.  I mean so, we...

                  In the background we see Carol and Lillian entering the room.

LILLIAN
Coffee's ready!

LARRY
Oh, coffee.  I forgot coffee.

PAUL
Good.  We can get back to this later.
(putting his hand on Larry's shoulder)
Come on in.

CUT TO:
INT.  Living room

Paul and Lillian sitting in chairs;  Larry and Carol are on the sofa.

LILLIAN
Well, we've never had any children, but it's easy to empathize.  Umh -- what college does your son attend?

CAROL
Brown.

LILLIAN
Oh.

PAUL
Nice color.

                          They all laugh.

LILLIAN
Paul never attended college.  He'd self-made.

PAUL
Always regretted it.  I think knowledge is the second most important thing.  First is health, then knowledge.  Then money.

LARRY
(putting his cup down on a low table)
You know, it's amazing how time, we -- we'll just...

LILLIAN
And, do you work?

                     Larry stands up.

CAROL
Huh?  do I?

LILLIAN
Yes.

                      Larry looks at Carol and sits back on the sofa.

CAROL
Oh, well, I actually, uhm -- I used to work at an ad agency, but that was many years ago.

                      CAMERA moves closer to Carol and Larry.

CAROL
But... You know, I've been seriously thinking of starting a little restaurant.  But -- well, Larry -- he's trying to talk me out of it.

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{Manhattan Murder Mystery.  Directed by Woody Allen.  Screenplay by Woody Allen and Marshall Brickman.  1993}

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