Imraan *Squints his eyes.* What did you say?
John: It’s true, he’s a Muslim. I’m not trying to offend your race. But we really don’t need any more criminals in the world.
Imraan: You make me sick. *Imraan gets up to go*
John: Think about all the money you’re going to make, sir. You know there’s no way I’ll go to jail with such little evidence.
*Imraan turns around*
Imraan: You know, I hope you do go to jail.
*Dramatic music playing*
Scene 13
*Imraan is sitting on his sofa in his hotel room looking at websites on his laptop when all of a sudden, he gets a call from the Los Angeles Bank*
Imraan *speaking on the telephone* Hello?
Person on the phone: Hi, is this Imraan Abdul?
Imraan: Yes, it is.
Person on the phone: We wanted to inform you that the loans that you borrowed from your account a few years ago still have not been paid. We are going to have to place you in some serious debt.
Imraan: *Hand on his forehead* Wait, please. I just need a little bit more of time.
Person on the phone: We can’t give you more time, Mr.Abdul. It’s been two years and you are over over 700,000 dollars in debt. You need to pay soon.
Imraan: Please, wait- *Imraan gets cut off*
*Imraan puts his hand on his forehead as more dramatic music plays*
Scene 14:
*Luke and Imraan decide to meet again to follow up on the case. They are having coffee in their office.*
Luke: Imraan, my brother. You’ve decided to not take this case? How come?
Imraan: You know, I haven’t made the final decision yet. But, it’s somewhat of a difficult decision for me.
Luke: I really think it’s a great case for you to get sunk into, there’s barely any evidence against John and with your skills and expertise, it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll win.
Imraan: Yeah, I know. It’s just that there’s so much more that you don’t know.
Luke: Well, you gotta tell me now.
Imraan: It’s just that when I make a decision. I want to make sure it’s because I’m helping the world become a better place. I can’t take on cases knowing that it wouldn’t be the worst thing for this guy to go to jail.
Luke: I see, well what was so bad about him?
Imraan: It’s just the way he was acting. He was saying that the man’s murder didn’t matter because he was Muslim. I mean, can you believe that? I thought America was progressing, but clearly not.
Luke: I promise you man, America is progressing. Not everybody in America views Muslims as terrorists, remember that.
Imraan: I thought they were, but seems as if nothing has changed since I was a kid.
*Awkward silence*
Luke: What do you mean?
Imraan: *Takes a deep breath* When I was just six years old, my parents, my brother, and I were having dinner at our favorite restaurant. I went up to go to the bathroom and while I was in there, a gunman came in and shot my entire family.
*silence*
Luke: Wow, I’m so sorry.
*silence*
Luke: I can’t even imagine how difficult it must’ve been for you. I mean, you never think something like that happens to someone you know.
Imraan: Yeah, well it does. I grew up with my aunt in Saudi Arabia before I moved here to New Jersey.
Luke: I’m sorry. I understand how hard the case must be for you.
*silence*
Luke: You have to understand though, how much do you want your feelings to get involved in this case. I feel like this could be your big break.
Imraan: I know, I know. But this guy, he’s just such an asshole.
Luke: Alright, do you want me to talk to him?
Imraan: No no, I’ll handle it. I’m meeting with him tomorrow.
Luke: Okay well, let me know how it goes.
Scene 15
*Imraan is at a small convenience store in line to pay for a bottle of water. He is approaching the cashier.*
*Cashier scans the bottle of water*
Cashier: That’ll be 1.99$ sir.
*Imraan gets his credit card out and tries to pay with it. However, it doesn’t work. Imraan tries again*
Cashier: Sir, your card isn’t working.
Imraan: Please just let me try again.
*Audience sees people in the lime behind Imraan are becoming frustrated with him and rolling their eyes. Imraan’s card still isn’t working.*
Imraan: I don’t know why it isn’t working, it should be. I’ve got money on here I swear.
Cashier: Sir please, I’ve got a long line ahead of me and I want to go home.
*Imraan puts his hand on his forehead*
Imraan: Okay
*Imraan leaves the water bottle and storms out of the convenience store*
Scene 16:
*John is waiting in the interrogation room. Imraan comes inside*
John: And we meet again.
*Imraan sits down*
John: So, you’ve decided to take the case haven’t you?
*Imraan doesn’t say anything*
Imraan: Yeah, I have.
*John and Imraan look at each other*
Imraan: But, I want you to tell me something. Did you kill the man in the club?
John: *scoffs* I thought I already told you I didn’t.
Imraan: I’m going to ask you one more time, were you the one who shot the man at the club?
John: No.
*John and Imraan look at each other*
John: Alright fine, it was me.
Imraan: I knew it.
John: I planned the entire thing a while back. Green’s club used to be my home. It was where my boys and I would go every night to chill out and escape our reality. All of a sudden, all these international people are coming in and taking up the entire club. Muslims don’t belong in this country. They’re all terrorists.
Imraan: Wow, you’re making this difficult.
John: I know you need the money, Imraan.
Imraan: I don’t need it so bad.
John: You can’t even afford a bottle of water.
Imraan: *turns around* How did you know about that?
John: I’m everywhere.
Imraan: You know what, you’re seriously an asshole.
John: I’m admitting to the crime. You wanted to build trust in our relationship and you’ve got it. I don’t care if you don’t like me. You’re a lawyer, you know how to go on with the case now.
Imraan: Why do you hate Muslims?
John: *gets closer to Imraan* think about all the money, Imraan. You need it. You’ll die if you don’t.
*Imraan gets up*
John: And to answer your question
*Imraan stops*
John: Muslims are all terrorists. They don’t belong here.
Imraan: And you white people aren’t? My family was shot by an American while they were just dining at a restaurant.
John: My family was killed in 9/11.
*silence*
Imraan: So because of that, you think all Muslims are terrorists?
John: They are. You don’t know what Americans suffered through on September 11th 2001.
Imraan: I’m sorry for what happened to you, but that doesn’t give you the right to shoot an innocent man who had nothing to do with your family’s death.
John: What if he did?
Imraan: What if he didn’t?
John: *sighs dramatically* are you taking the case or not?
Imraan: I am taking the case.
John: Well then fine.
Imraan: I hate you, but I need the money *grabs briefcase and turns around*
John: One more thing, Imraan.
*Imraan stops*
John: I’m not going to stop shooting random Muslims. I’ll be on the metro, I’ll be at work, I’ll be at a club, and I may even be at a restaurant. I’ll continue to kill. Until all of those mosquitoes are gone.
/> Imraan: Go to hell.
*Imraan leaves with dramatic music playing*
Scene 17
*Imraan is taking a shower and we see his flashbacks as a child. Not with his family this time, but instead how he was bullied in school when he was living in New Jersey for being brown.*
Scene 18
*The trial has begun*
Judge: Mr.Abdul, you have the floor.
Imraan: Thank you, your honor. I am here to defend John Parker. A man in his late twenties who was accused of shooting an innocent man in a nightclub. I want to start off by saying that there is insufficient evidence to charge John with the crimes he is accused of committing. John was at Green’s club for the same reason as everybody else, he wanted to enjoy his time with his friends after a long day of work. He may appear to be sketchy, because of the way he looks or the tattoos on his arms. In reality, he’s an inn-innocent man.
*Judge looks up when she witnesses Imraan stutter*
Judge: Continue
Imraan: The unusual object that everybody saw under his shirt was simply a misunderstanding. He was carrying a bottle of water under his shirt because it was extremely warm and he thought having it under his shirt would cool him down. Once John heard the firing shots, he panicked and ran like everybody else. John should not be prosecuted of killing... the victim.
Judge: *Judge rolls her eyes” The Victim’s name is Rahul.
Imraan: John should not be prosecuted of killing Rahul.
*All of a sudden, all the flashbacks that John had with his father (also called Rahul) come rushing through his mind. It is clear that he has dozed off.
Judge: Mr Abdul?
*John sees the victim’s family in the audience. There are three daughters and one mother. They are all crying.*
Judge: Mr.Abdul? Would you like to say anything else?
*silence*
Imraan: Yes, I would like to say...that John is guilty.
*audience freaks out and John frowns*
Imraan: John admitted to me himself that he was the gunman, he shot Rahul on purpose. He is a criminal! A CRIMINAL!
*audience begins talking*
*All of a sudden, Imraan attacks John and begins beating him up. The result is a large fight between John and Imraan and police trying to break it apart.
Scene 19:
*Film ends with a camera close up of John in jail. The camera then shifts to a camera close up of Imraan, also in jail.*
The Lawyer's Case- Would You Defend Someone You Know Is Guilty? Page 2