律政俏佳人 Legally Blonde



LEGALLY BLONDE







Karen McCullah Lutz & Kirsten Smith









Shooting Draft

July 31, 2000











INT. DELTA GAMMA HOUSE - DAY 1



"HEAD OVER HEELS" by the Go-Go's plays as we wind through a

flock of abstract, silky, golden strands -- PULLING BACK, to

discover that the strands are hair on a BLONDE GIRL's head.

But not just any blonde girl, a girl in Delta Gamma, the

blondest, most beautiful sorority at USC.



We PULL BACK further to see that she's signing a handmade

card. She holds it up ~ OVER HER SHOULDER, we see hearts

and glitter surrounding and "Good Luck Tonight!" and "Elle

and Warner forever!."



She carries the card out of her room and we FOLLOW HER across

the hall, into the room of --



THREE BLONDE CHEERLEADERS, who stop practicing their pom-pom

routine to sign the card. As they finish, we follow the Card

Girl out and into the room of --



A BLONDE GIRL IN A TANK TOP and shorts, working out on a

Stairmaster as "General Hospital" plays on a tiny TV. She

signs the card while continuing to exercise. We move on, to

the room of--



A BLONDE GIRL MAKING OUT WITH HER BOYFRIEND who stops long

enough to sign the card, as her boyfriend nibbles on her

neck. She hands the card back and we head into the room of --



A BLONDE PARTY GIRL who pours a pink frozen margarita into a

glass from the blender, then passes it down to ANOTHER BLONDE

GIRL, assembly-line style. The card goes one way, being

signed, as the drinks go the other.



Once the card arrives back in the Card Girl's hands, we

follow her out of the room and down the hall until she

reaches the very last and biggest door --

She puts a kiss mark on the card, then kneels down and slides

the card under the door.



INT. ELLE'S DELTA GAMMA ROOM - DAY - CONTINUOUS 2





The CARD slides into the pink room, hitting the feet of

UNDERDOG, a tiny chihuahua ~ who picks it up in his mouth

and trots it over to a pair of perfectly pedicured feet in

strappy sandals.



An equally perfectly manicured hand with a "Sisters Forever"

charm bracelet dangling from the wrist, scoops up Underdog.











(CONTINUED)











2.





2 2





As he rises, we RISE WITH HIM, passing toned, waxed, tanned

legs in pink Prada pedal pushers and a pair of perky boobs

encased in a spaghetti-strap top -- until we finally reveal a

magnificent head of long blonde hair and a sweet, beautiful

face. This is ELLE WOODS, 21, the Goddess Queen of Delta

Gamma. She talks on a pink, fuzzy phone.



ELLE



(into the phone)

I love you, too!

Behind her, a "Go USC" banner is pinned to the pink wall. A

stack of "Cosmopolitan"s and "Glamour"s teeters on the

dresser. The closet overflows with trendy, designer clothes

in a predominance of pink.



ELLE (CONT'D)



(continuing; into phone)

I'll see you tonight.

She hangs up and lets out a squeal of joy, kissing Underdog's

head and taking the card out of his mouth. She reads it,

touched.



ELLE (CONT'D)



(continuing)

"Elle and Warner forever". Aww...

Underdog yips.



2





3 INT. DELTA GAMMA HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY - SAME TIME





A Delta Gamma/Sigma Chi barbecue in full swing. Beautiful

college students drink beer and mingle, trying to figure out

who they're going to sleep with next.

The main wall of the living room has been designated as a

"Model Wall" of Delta Gamma girls -- ELLE smiles at us from a

Hawaiian Tropic ad and a Miss June USC calendar photo. A

cover of an Italian Vogue shows a blonde sexpot MARGOT; a USC

cheerleader poster displays a hard-bodied non-blonde SERENA

in a pom-pom pose.

Serena walks up, fending off an admirer.



SERENA



Jeremy, enough! I am not going to formal

with you.

Jeremy slinks off as Margot arrives, agitated.



MARGOT



Can someone please tell Rick that he is

not the only Sigma Chi with a big penis?





(CONTINUED)











3.





3









ELLE (O.S.)



You guys are so sweet!



ELLE, a vision of fluffy blondeness, runs down the stairs

toward Serena and Margot, holding the card.



ELLE (CONT'D)



But I ' m not positive it's gonna happen

to n i g h t --



. SERENA



Helloo...he just had lunch with his

grandmother. You know he got "The Rock".



MARGOT



Why else would she have flown in from

Newport? It's not like she'd Fed Ex a

six carat diamond.



ELLE



(excited)

You think?



SERENA



I can't believe you're getting engaged!



· . .



The three girls jump up and down, squealing and hugging.



ELLE



C'mon ·-- you have to help me pick out the

perfect outfit.



As they head toward the door, Elle spots AMY, a shy girl in a

Delta Gamma Pledge sweatshirt, standing alone.





ELLE (CONT'D)



(continuing)

Amy, what's wrong?





AMY



I don't really -- know anyone.





ELLE



(teasing)

That's because you spend too much time in

the library. Come with me.

(to Serena and Margot)

I'll meet you outside.

As they go, Elle leads Amy over to a group of jovial Sigma

Chi brothers.









(CONTINUED)











4.





( 2 ) 3









ELLE (CONT'D)



(continuing)

Bra ndon , Jason, Grant --this is Amy.

Why don't you tell her about the time you

guys went golfing naked?



Elle winks at Amy and.heads off as the guys launch into their

story.



BRANDON



It was classic. Jason hit with wood all

day.



GRANT



And we never ran out of balls --

Amy laughs.



INT. SUNSET PLAZA BOUTIQUE - DAY





Serena and Margot watch as Elle stands in front of a mirror,

trying on a Herve Leger white mini-dress. Sexy and ultra-

tight. ;





ELLE



Too demure?





MARGOT



I think you should go with red. It's the

color of confidence.



ELLE



Well, I don't want to look like I know

what's coming. . .



SERENA



I don't understand why you're completely

disregarding your signature color.

She holds up a tiny pink slipdress.



ELLE



He's proposing! I can't look like I

would on any date. This is the date. The

night I'll always remember. I want to

look special. Bridal . . . but not like I

suspect anything.



ACROSS THE STORE





A SALESWOMAN looks at her cohort.









(CONTINUED)











5.





4









SALESWOMAN



(sot.to)

There ' s nothing I love more than a dumb

blonde with daddy's plastic.

She grabs a dress off the Clearance Sale rack, ripping off

the "HALF PRICE" TAG.





ON ELLE AND THE GIRLS





. SERENA



I can't wait to see you wearing The Rock!



Elle looks at them, suddenly concerned.



ELLE



Wh at if -- you know -- it's not the

night?





MARGOT



Why else would he be taking you to The

Ivy? You've been dating for a year --

it's not like he's trying to impress you.





SERENA



Elle, you've heard the man pass gas in

his sleep. That practically means you're

pre-engaged. '"

The Saleswoman approaches with the dress, kiss-assy smile on

her face.



SALESWOMAN



Did you see this one? We just got it in

yesterday.

Elle fingers the dress, then the new price tag, looking back

at the saleswoman, excited.



ELLE



Is this a low-viscosity rayon?



SALESWOMAN



Uh, yes -- of course.



ELLE



With half-loop top-stitching on the hem?



SALESWOMAN



(smiling a lie)

Absolutely. It's one of a kind.









(CONTINUED)











6.





CO NT I NU E D: ( 2 ) . · 4







^ Elle hands the dress back to her, no longer pretending to be

excited.





ELLE



It's impossible to use a half-loop

topstitch on low-viscosity rayon. It

would snag the fabric. And you didn't

just get this in, because I remember it

from the June Vogue a year ago, so if

you're trying to sell it to me at full

price, you picked the wrong girl.



The saleswoman slinks off, embarrassed.





MARGOT



(to the saleswoman)

Nice try...



Elle shakes her head and turns back to the girls as she slips

on her Manolo Blahnik sandals, doing one last mirror check,

smoothing down her golden mane.





ELLE



(dramatically)

Girls, this is it. In a few hours, I'll

be the future Mrs. Warner Huntington III.





5 EXT, DELTA GAMMA HOUSE - NIGHT





An attractive male finger presses the doorbell.





6 INT. DELTA GAMMA HOUSE - FOYER - NIGHT - SAME TIME





Amy peeks through the peephole and turns.





AMY



(whispering)

He's here!



Elle, standing nearby with Margot and Serena and several

other DG's, smooths down her dress and takes a deep breath,

o pening the door to find --



WARNER HUNTINGTON, III, 21, tall, chiseled and outrageously

handsome. He takes her in, a smile spreading across his

face.





WARNER



You're beautiful.





ELLE



So are you!







(CONTINUED)











.7.





6







She looks up at him, blushing and completely smitten. They

kiss. After a moment,-Warner extracts himself.





WARNER



(nervous)

You ready?



Her face is awash with devotion.





ELLE



I am so ready.





7 EXT. THE IVY - NIGHT





Warner and Elle are seated at a cozy table on the patio.

Elle takes a sip from her freshly poured champagne flute.

Nervous and excited.



ELLE



Here' s to ~ us.

Warner is slower to sip his.



WARNER



The reason I wanted to come here tonight

was to discuss our future.

Elle is on the edge of her seat.



ELLE



I ' m fully amenable to that discussion.



WARNER



I mean, we're having a lot of fun now --

but things are gonna be different when

I ' m at Harvard Law school is a completely

different world. I need to be serious.



ELLE



Of course.



WARNER



My family expects a lot from me. And I

expect a lot from me. I .plan on running

for office some day.



ELLE



And I fully support that.











(CONTINUED)











8.





7 7









WA R N ER



But the thing is, if I ' m gonna be a

senator by the time I ' m thirty -- I can't

keep dicking around.



ELLE



I completely agree.



WARNER



T hat 's why I think it's time for us to--

Elle takes a deep breath, filled with anticipation.



WARNER (CONT'D)



( ot n ig . . · > . ' .

c n iu n )

I think we should break up.

Elle's champagne glass drops from her hand and CRASHES onto

the patio.



ELLE



What?

Elle starts to flush, completely caught off guard.



WARNER



I ' m sorry, Elle, I just --



ELLE



You're breaking up with me?!

(tearing up)

I thought you were proposing.



WARNER



Proposing?! Elle, If I ' m going to be a

politician, I need to marry a Jackie, not

a -- Marilyn.



ELLE



(stunned)

You're breaking up with me because I ' m

too -- blonde?



WARNER



T hat' s not entirely --



ELLE



Then what? My boobs are too big?



WARNER.



Elle -- no --· your boobs are fine --

Her tears start.





(CON TINUED )











.9.



i



(2)





CONTINU ED:







ELLE



So when you said you'd always love me,

you were just "dicking around"?

Warner looks around the restaurant nervously.



WARNER



I do love you, Elle. I just can't marry you.

You have no idea the pressure I ' m under. My

family has five generations of senators. My

brother is in the top three at Yale Law. He ·

just got engaged to a Vanderbilt, for crissakes.

Elle stares at him aghast, tears streaming down her face,

then pushes her chair away from the table and walks out.



WARNER (CONT'D)



(continuing)

It's not like I have a choice, sweetheart



He follows her out.



8 EXT.' STREET - NIGHT 8



Elle teeters down the sidewalk as best she can in her three

inch heels, sobbing. Warner pulls up alongside her in his

convertible Saab.



WARNER



C'mon. Let me take you home.



ELLE



No.



WARNER



Elle -- it's twenty miles back to campus.

Elle stops, thinks a minute, then gets in, still crying.

Catching her poofy little purse in the door. She re-opens

i t, yanking the purse back in. Warner pulls out.



9 EXT. DELTA GAMMA HOUSE - USC - NIGHT 9



Warner pulls up in front. It's a starry, romantic night.

Everything should be perfect. It's not.

Elle sits, still in shock, as tears continue to eke out.



WARNER



Elle, believe me, I never expected to be

doing this, but I think it's the right

thing to do.





(CONTINUED)











10.





9









ELLE



How can it be the right thing if we're

not together?



WARNER .



I have to think about my future. And what

people expect from me.



ELLE



So you're breaking up with me because

you're afraid your family won't like me?

(through her tears)

Everybody likes me!



WARNER



East coast people are different.



ELLE



Just because I ' m not a Vanderbilt, all of

a sudden I ' m white trash? I grew up in

Bel Air, Warner! Across the street from

Aaron Spelling! I think most people

would agree that's way better than a

Vanderb ilt --



WARNER



I told you, Elle. I need someone --

serious.



ELLE



I ' m seriously in love with you -- Isn't

that enough? He looks away.



WARNER



I ' m sorry.

She gets out of the car and drags herself up the stairs to

her sorority house. When she's at the top, she turns back to

look at him. His perfect cheekbones highlighted by the

streetlamp.

He meets her eyes, pained, but determined. Then pulls away,

leaving her there.



10 INT. DELTA GAMMA HOUSE - USC - NIGHT 10





Elle walks down the pink and green carpeted hall, dazed and

tear-stained.

Margot and Serena emerge from the bathroom, post-shower.

Getting ready for a night out.









(CONTINUED)











. :-





1L







10 10









MARGOT



Why are you back so soon?



Serena sees Elle's bare hand.



SERENA .



Did he forget the ring?

Elle silently walks into her room. Serena and Margot follow,

worried.



11 INT. ELLE'S DELTA GAMMA ROOM - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS 11





Elle slumps down in an inflatable chair, hugging her knees

and cowering in a wretched little ball. Underdog stares at

her, concerned.

Serena and Margot stand in the door.



MARGOT



Elle?



SERENA



Where's the Rock?



ELLE ·.





.·.



We're not engaged. It's over!



SERENA AND MARGOT



What?!



ELLE





.



He broke up with me!

Serena and Margot gasp in horror, rushing to her side.



SERENA



Is it a Kappa?



MARGOT



It's not a Theta --



ELLE



No -- it's just -- not me.



I ' m canceling the mixer. We'll blacklist

Sigma Chi.



ELLE



Thank you, Serena, but I don't think

it'll do any good.







(CONTINUED)











12.





11 11









SERENA



What happened?



Elle starts to lose it again.



; ELLE



I don't know! Everything was normal at

first and then he said he needed someone

mo r e --

(sob-choked)

Serious! .





MARGOT



S e r i o u s ? ! Who the hell does he think he

i s ? Y o u ' r e the most popu l a r month on the

U S C calendar!

S h e points to Elle's "Miss June" page, hanging on the wall.



SER EN A



O h , he is so over on this campus.



ELLE



I just don ' t underst a n d what went wrong --



MA RG OT



Maybe it's the grandmother. Have you

e v e r me t he r ?

E l l e wipes her face.



ELLE



Last month on his birthday. And she

liked me! She said I looked like Britney

Spears. Why would you say that to

someone you didn't like?



They shrug, mystified.





SERENA



How could this happen?





ELLE



I don't know! I don't know anything any

more!

(wiping a tear)

I just need to be by myself.





SERENA



Are you sure?



Elle nods. The girls rise, hugging her.







(CONTINUED)











13.





11 (2) 11









MARGOT



We still love you. Sisters forever!



ELLE



(sniffling)

Thank you. I love you, too.

As they go, Margot looks at Serena.



MARGOT



Oh, God. What if Josh doesn't think I ' m

serious enough? .



SERENA



Helloo... you let him have anal sex with

you.



(TV VERSION)



Helloo... you let him videotape you

diddling yourself. ·



MARGOT



You're right. Phew!

As the girls go, they shut the door behind them.

Elle gets up and grabs a FRAMED PHOTO of Warner, then lies

down on her bed, clutching it to her heart. Underdog leaps

up and gives her little doggy kisses.



12 EXT. DELTA GAMMA HOUSE - DAY 12





The sun rises on a sad day. "HOPELESSLY DEVOTED" by Olivia ·

Newton-John plays. .



13 INT. DELTA GAMMA HOUSE - HALLWAY - DAY 13





Amy knocks on Elle's door.





AMY



Elle?

ANOTHER SISTER passes.





ANOTHER SISTER ·



(whispering)

Didn't you hear?

She leads a reluctant Amy down the hall.



14 INT. ELLE'S DELTA GAMMA ROOM - DAY 14





Spread out on the bed are PICTURES of Elle and Warner: The

Sigma Chi formal; their Homecoming Queen and King "wave";



(CONTINUED)











14.





14 14





a 60's party; Mardi Gras night; beach weekend at Coronado.

Next to the pictures are thirty dried Ecuardorian long-

stemmed pink roses, remnants of their one year anniversary.

In the center sits Elle, wearing Warner's old oversized Sigma

Chi t-shirt, clutching a Gund teddybear. Depressed and

looking like hell, she speaks to an unseen confidante.



ELLE



I just love him so much! I loved him the

first moment I saw him. He's beautiful

and smart and someone I totally respect.

And I did everything I could to make him

love me, but it wasn't enough. Now what

am I supposed to do? I planned my whole

future around him. My life was going to

be all about Warner. Now what's it going

to be about?

She looks up -- waiting. Staring back at her is Underdog --

who sadly has no answers for her.



15 INT. ELLE'S DELTA GAMMA ROOM - DAY 15





Elle remains in bed, Underdog now clutched to her chest,

soaps on the TV.



TV SOAP STUD



(on TV)

"Oh, darling. I'll love you forever."



ELLE



(teary)

Bullshit!

Serena and Margot enter, bearing Jamba Juice.



MARGOT



Honey, stop! You have to leave this room

-- it's been a week.



ELLE



So?



+





S erena sits down on the edge of the bed, trying to psyche

Elle up.



SERENA



What's the thing that always makes us

feel better, no matter what? .



MARGOT



Cunnilingus?



(CONTINUED)











15.





15 15







Elle lets out a wail, realizing what she'll be missing.

Serena shoots Margot a stern look.



SERENA



No -- the thing after that,





16 INT. UPSCALE MANICURE SHOP - DAY 16





A row of uniformed manicurists and their classy clients.

Chattering away. Therapy in full session. Serena sits in

front of her regular nail technician.





SERENA



It was awful. We all thought she'd be

the first to walk down the aisle and now

she's totally adrift.



The nail technician shakes her head in shared girl-power-

angst -- looking over at Elle, who sits in the waiting area,

shell-shocked, but showered.



Elle picks up the only magazine left on the table -- "Town &

Country". She wrinkles her nose. An OLD LADY next to her

reads "Seventeen". Elle looks at her, begrudging the access

to teen beauty tips, and flips through "Town & Country"

n oisily until she freezes on-- the Engagement Section. She

gasps.



ELLE



Oh, my God! .

She looks at a PHOTO of a horse-faced YOUNG WOMAN standing

next to a THREE-YEARS-OLDER VERSION OF WARNER. She turns to

the old lady next to her.





ELLE (CONT'D)



(continuing)

Do you know who this is?



The old lady looks.





OLD LADY



No.





ELLE



It's Warner's older brother!





OLD LADY



Who?



Elle continues, undaunted.









(CONTINUED)











16.





16 16









EL LE



He just got engaged to this -- this very

unfortunate-looking girl.

(reading)

"Third year Yale Law student Putnam Bowes

Huntington III and his fiance Layne

Walker Vanderbilt, first year Yale Law."

She turns to the old lady.



ELLE (CONT'D)



(continuing)

This is the type-of girl Warner wants to

marry. This is what I need to become to

be serious.

The old lady looks at the picture.



OLD LADY



Butt ugly?



ELLE



No -- a law student.

Elle rushes out. Serena looks after her.



SERENA



Elle?

(turning back to her nail

technician)

She'll never get him back with those

cuticles.



17 INT. COUNSELOR'S OFFICE - DAY 17





Elle sits in front of her ADVISOR.



ADVISOR



(flummoxed)

Harvard Law School?



ELLE



That's right.



ADVISOR



But it's a top three school --



ELLE



(offended)

I have a 4.0.









(CONTINUED)











17.





17 17









ADVISOR



Yes, but your major is Fashion

Merchandising. Harvard won't be

impressed that you aced "History of

Lycra". What are your backups?



ELLE



I don't need backups. Harvard is the

school I' m going to.

He decides to humor her.



ADVISOR



Well, then. You'll need excellent

recommendations from your professors, a

heck of an admissions essay and at least

a one-seventy-five on your LSATs.



ELLE



(confident)

I once had to judge a Theta Chi Tighty-

Whitey contest. Trust me-- I can handle

anything.



18 INT. ELLE'S DELTA GAMMA ROOM - DAY 18





Elle sits on the floor surrounded by piles of LSAT prep

books, the framed photo of Warner, and Underdog.

There's a KNOCK at the door as Serena and Margot peek inside,

gasping in horror at the sight of books.



MARGOT



What are you doing?!

Elle smiles brightly at them.



ELLE



Reading about the LSATs.

Margot looks at Serena, confused.



SERENA



(in a horrified whisper)

My cousin had them. Apparently you get a

really bad rash on your --

Elle interrupts her.



ELLE



The LSATs are an exam.

She takes a deep breath.



(CONTINUED)











18.





18 18









ELLE (CONT'D)



(continuing)

Girls-- I ' m going to Harvard!





· SERENA



What, like on va-kay?





MARGOT



Let's all go! Road trip!





. SERENA



Wait -- Cecil has a condo in Tahoe.

Let's go there!



ELLE



No -- I ' m going to law school at Harvard.



They look at her, confused.





MARGOT



Why?!





SERENA



I mean, I know you're upset and all, but

can't you just take a sedative?

Elle rolls her eyes at their naivete.



ELLE



Once Warner sees me as a serious law

student, he'll want me back. It's a

completely brilliant plan!



MARGOT



But isn't it kind of hard to get into law

school?



ELLE



I have the highest GPA in Delta Gamma!

Margot pulls something off her wrist and hands it to Elle.



MARGOT



Here. You're gonna need this.



ELLE



Your scrunchie?



MARGOT



My lucky scrunchie. It helped me pass

Spanish.

Serena rolls her eyes and looks at Margot disapprovingly.





(CONTINUED)











19.





18 (2) 18









S ER EN A



You passed Spanish because you gave

Professor Montoya a hand-job after the

final.





MARGOT



(duh)

Yeah, luckily.



A MONTAGE OF THE NEXT 3 MONTHS BEGINS WITH...







19 EXT. WOODS' BEL AIR BACKYARD - DAY 19



ON VIDEO, Elle sits in a Jacuzzi in her bikini.





ELLE



(to the camera)

My name is Elle Woods and for my

admissions essay, I ' d like to tell all of

you at Harvard why I ' m going to make an

amazing lawyer.





20 INT. KAPPA SIG LIVING ROOM - NIGHT 20





The girls watch a horror movie with Kappa Sigs. Eating

popcorn and drinking red wine.



Off to the side, Elle reads an LSAT Study Guide.





21 INT. DELTA GAMMA HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY 21





ON VIDEO, a Delta Gamma chapter meeting takes place.





ELLE (V.O.)



As president of my sorority, I ' m skilled

at commanding the attention of a room and

discussing important issues.

Elle bangs a gavel, as she sits in front of her sisters.



ELLE (CONT'D)



~ It has come to my attention that the

maintenance staff is switching our toilet

paper from Charmin to generic. All those

opposed to chafing, pleas.e say "aye".

The sisters "AYE" in unison. Underdog barks his approval.



22 INT. CLASSROOM - NIGHT 22





"LSAT Prep Course" is written on the board. Elle and forty

other law school hopefuls take notes furiously as practice

questions are reviewed.









20.











23 EXT. WOODS BACKYARD POOL - DAY 23





ON VIDEO, FROM ABOVE, we see Elle as she floats on a raft in

her pool, in a pink Versace bikini. She addresses the

camera.



ELLE



(to the camera)

I ' m able to recall hundreds of important

details at the drop of a hat.

We reveal Margot on a raft beside her.



MARGOT



(badly acting)

Elle, do you know what happened on "Days

of Our Lives" yesterday?



ELLE



Why, yes, Margot, I do. Once again, we

joined Hope in the search for her

identity. As you know, she's been .

brainwashed by the evil Stefano --



24 INT. DELTA GAMMA HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY 24





Elle takes a practice LSAT exam as Serena, Margot and a few

other Delta Gammas do their butt-crunches in the Delta Gamma

living room.

Serena, while clenching her tush, hits a stop watch and Elle

starts writing furiously.



DISSOLVE TO:



Margot is now on all-fours, doing donkey kicks as she grades

Elle's practice exam. She writes "143" on top and holds it

up to Elle.

Elle slumps with frustration.



25 EXT. BEACH - DAY · 25



ON VIDEO, Elle is rollerblading in shorts and a tank top.





ELLE



(to the camera)

And the laws and bi-laws of civil

obedience are crucial to my life --

Serena skates by and fake-elbows Elle.









(CONTINUED)











21.





25 25









ELLE (CONT'D)



(continuing; calling after her)

No shoving on the skate path! City

ordinance 22G!



26 INT. LIBRARY STUDY ROOM - NIGHT 26



Elle sits in front of Amy, as Amy quizzes her with practice

LSAT questions. Books are piled high around them.

Elle gazes out the.window to see ---Warner and some BARE-

CHESTED FRATERNITY BOYS carrying a keg across the quad. Her

eyes light up and she looks at Amy pleadingly. Amy shakes her

head no. Elle slumps, then rises and goes to the window,

closing the shades and getting back to work.



·27 EXT. USC CAMPUS - DAY 27





ON VIDEO, Elle addresses the camera.



ELLE



I feel confident using legal jargon in

daily life.



CUT TO:



ON VIDEO, Elle walks across campus with Underdog in her

purse, feigning staged innocence. A RANDOM FRAT BOY pinches

her butt. She slaps his hand, dramatically.



ELLE (CONT'D)



I object!



28 INT. AUDITORIUM - DAY 28





"LSAT EXAM -- Sections 1-6" is scrawled on the chalk board.



Elle sits in an auditorium with about 90 other students, LSAT

booklet open, filling in answers. Concentrating so hard

she's practically getting a forehead wrinkle.



29 INT. ELLE'S DELTA GAMMA ROOM - DAY 29



ON VIDEO, Elle speaks to the camera.



ELLE



(to the camera)

I've seen every episode of "The Practice"

and I ' m even on speaking terms with Dylan

McDermott.



CUT TO:











22.











30 EXT. DYLAN MCDERMOTT'S HOUSE - DAY 30





Dylan McDermott gets into his car and pulls out of his

driveway.

VIDEOTAPING MADLY, the girls follow in Elle's Boxster.



SERENA



There he is!



. MARGOT



Pull up next to him!

Elle swerves around to pull up next to Dylan McDermott. They

scream at him as Serena videotapes.



ELLE



Dylan! We love you!

Dylan McDermott burns rubber as he flees.



EXT. USC CAMPUS - DAY 31 "





31



ON.VIDEO, Elle jogs while she addresses the camera.



ELLE :



(to camera) . .

I'm totally focused and goal-oriented.

Plus I ' m able to sway people with my very

convincing arguments. .

She turns to Serena, jogging next to her.



ELL E (CONT'D)



(continuing)

Calvin Klein's spring line is atrocious.

Don't you agree?



SERENA



(convinced)

Absolutely!



32 INT. DELTA GAMMA HOUSE - FOYER - DAY 32





Amy rushes in with a stack of mail, waving an LSAT envelope

as she calls out.



AMY



It's here!

Elle rushes down the stairs as the other Delta Gammas gather

around. Elle takes the envelope and says a quick prayer.





(CONTINUED)











23.





32 32









ELLE



One seventy-five...one seventy- five...



She opens it and stares at it for a long moment. Then turns

it to the crowd and raises it above her head in triumph. The

girls immediately begin jumping up and down as group joy

ensues. Underdog yips with pride. The MONTAGE ENDS.



33 INT. HARVARD LAW ADMISSIONS OFFICE - DAY 33





ON THE TV, Elle stands up in the Jacuzzi.



ELLE



(on TV)

And that's why you should vote for me.

Elle Woods. Future lawyer. For the Class

of 2003.

The video is PAUSED, as three ADMISSIONS GUYS in their 4.0's

sit at a table piled high with applications, the DEAN OF

ADMISSIONS at the head of it. STUNNED SILENCE fills the room.

Finally one of them speaks.



ADMISSIONS GUY #1



That was certainly a very --

(adjusting himself)

Imaginative essay.



ADMISSIONS GUY #2



(to the Dean)

She does have a 4.0 from USC and she got

a one-seventy-nine on her LSATs.



DEAN OF ADMISSIONS



A fashion major?



ADMISSIONS GUY #3



Well, we've never had one before...

aren't we always looking for diversity?



AMISSIONS GUY #1



Her list of extracurriculars is

impressive.

The Dean looks at her application.



DEAN OF ADMISSIONS



(unimpressed)

She was in a Ricky Martin video --



ADMISSIONS GUY #2



Clearly, she's interested in music...







(CONTINUED)











24.





33 33









DEAN OF ADMISSIONS



(reading on; skeptical)

She also designed a line of faux fur

panties for her sorority's charity

project --





ADMISSIONS GUY #3



Then she's a friend to animals as well as

a philanthropist.





. AMISSIONS GUY #1



I think it's obvious that she's a very

well-rounded individual.

He points to Elle -- freeze-framed in her bikini-top on

video, on the TV. The admissions guys look to the Dean. He

folds.





DEAN OF ADMISSIONS



Elle Woods -- Welcome to Harvard.





34 EXT. WOODS' BACKYARD - DAY . 34





Elle's parents -- DANIEL, in tennis clothes, and the face-

lifted SAPPHIRE -- stare at Elle over juice by the pool.





DANIEL



(frowning)

Law school?



Sapphire puts a hand to her throat in distress. Elle is

confused.





ELLE



It's a perfectly respectable place...





DANIEL



Sweetheart, you don't need law school.

Law school is for people who are boring

and ugly and Serious. And you, button/

are none of those things.



Sapphire is in agreement.





SAPPHIRE



You were first runner-up in the Miss

Hawaiian Tropic contest. Why throw all

that away?





ELLE



Because this is what I want. I've worked

hard for it. Don't you understand that

this is important to me?





(CONTINUED)











25.





34 34







She looks at her uncomprehending parents.





ELLE (CONT'D)



(continuing)

Going to Harvard is the only way I can

get the love of my life back!



Sapphire looks at her, still not getting it. ·





SAPPHIRE



Can't you just suck his wiener?





(TV VERSION)



Can't you just get your nose done?



Elle reacts to her mother's skewed logic.



·









35 EXT. HARVARD DORM - DAY 35





Pale, studious LAW STUDENTS clad in earth tones, move into

their dorm, carrying in their spartan belongings (coffee

makers, books, computers).

In the distance, a HAPPY POP SONG (perhaps "Heaven Tonight by

Hole) is heard. As it gets louder, heads turn to see --

A silver, convertible Boxster driving up, Elle at the wheel,/

MUSIC BLASTING. A large MOVING VAN follows the Boxster.

Peop le lean out of their windows, buzzing with interest as--

Elle's car stops in front of the dorm. She hops out,

scooping up Underdog and looking every inch the LA-Fred-Segal-

glamour-queen, as she looks around with a smile.

Elle looks at Underdog.



ELLE



We're here!

She bends down to pour some Evian into his inflatable doggy

dish, inadvertently revealing cleavage to a passing

BESPECTACLED BOY (several yards away).

He trips, dropping his I-MAC. It shatters into a million

pieces.

Not noticing/ Elle stands and turns to two MOVING GUYS/ who

are hauling a pink, faux-fur love seat and a potted palm tree

out of the truck.







(CONTINUED)











26.





35 35









ELLE (CONT'D)



(continuing)

This way, guys!



With a beauty queen smile in place, she strides into the dorm

as the other students watch in amazement.





HANGING OUT OF THE WINDOW





ARROGANT AARON, a Mensa geek with attitude, turns to his

roommate.





ARROGANT AARON



Whose knob did she honk to get in here?





36 EXT. LAW SCHOOL QUAD - DAY 36





" W e l c o m e Law Students Class of 2003" banners hang over

o r i e n t a t i o n tables manned by second year law students (2L's)

w e a r i n g red t-shirts. Club tables with banners that read

" H a r v a r d Law Journal" and "Environmental Law Association" are

s e t up nearby.

E l l e takes a packet from a fuzzy MALE 2L.



F U Z Z Y 2L



Class schedule, map, book list.



ELLE



H a s Warner Huntington checked in yet?



F U Z Z Y 2L



( ch ec ki ng)

U h , no. Maybe you should try the Lido

dec k.

S h e frowns and starts to move on, but then looks through the

p a c k e t with a frown and turns back.



ELLE



W a i t -- my social events schedule is .

mis sin g.



F U Z Z Y 2L



Y o u r what?



ELLE



You know -- mixers, formals, beach

· trips.











(CONTINUED)











27.





36 . 36









FUZZY 2L



(deadpan)

There's a pizza welcome lunch in twenty

minutes. Does that count?





ELLE



(wrinkling her nose)

I guess it'll have t o . . .

The Fuzzy Guy looks at the red-shirted BALD 2L next to him,

as Elle walks off. ,





FUZZY 2L



What the hell.was that?





BALD 2L



(watching her go)

Malibu Barbie lives.





37 EXT. HARVARD LAW SCHOOL - OUTDOOR GARDEN - DAY 37





Elle sits at the outdoor table, ignoring her slice of pizza,

as she looks around for Warner. Not finding him, she turns

her attention to the Group Leader, a BURNED OUT 2L in a red t-

shirt.





BURNED OUT 2L



Okay. Welcome to law school. This is the

part where we go around in a circle and

everyone says a little bit about

themselves. Let's start with you.

He gestures at a guy with glasses, DORKY DAVID.





DORKY DAVID



I have a Masters in Russian Literature, a

Ph.D in Biochemistry, and for the last

eighteen months, I've been de- worming

orphans in Somalia.





BURNED OUT 2L



Awesome. How about you, Enid?



ENID, a militant feminista, looks up.





ENID



P h.D from Berkeley in Women's Studies--

emphasis in the History of Combat. And

last year, I led the march for Lesbians

Against Drunk Driving.





BURNED OUT 2L



Killer.





(CONTINUED)











28.





37 37







He looks at an intense guy in his late twenties, IVAN.





INTENSE IVAN



I've got an MBA from Wharton, worked on

Wall Street for four years, mushed in

three ididarods and I ' ve figured out how

to crash the stock market in Sri Lanka if

any of you want to get together later.





BURNED OUT 2L



Sweet. What about you?

He looks at Elle. She sits up straight.





ELLE



I ' m a Gemini. I have a Bachelors degree

from USC, where I was Sigma Chi

Sweetheart and president of Delta Gamma,

and last year '· -- I was Homecoming Queen .



She smiles, as the group leader nods, waiting.





ELL E (CONT'D)



(continuing)

Oh!

(dramatically)

Two weeks ago, I saw Cameron Diaz at Fred

Segal -- and talked her out of buying a

truly heinous angora sweater! Whoever

said that orange is the new pink is

seriously disturbed.



She looks around, pleased. Enid' snickers as the rest of the

group stares at Elle, dumbfounded.





38 INT. ELLE'S DORM ROOM - DAY 38



A grey, dingy, cell-block style room -- now crammed with

Elle's clothes, the pink fluffy love seat and potted palm,

along with an Elliptical Cross-Trainer, pink flamingo party

lights and a neon pink margarita glass sculpture.



Elle tries to shove a large law textbook into her tiny Prada

backpack to no avail. She gives up and tosses the book onto

the bed where Underdog leaps away to miss being squished.





ELLE



Wish me luck, Underdog. It's my first

class as a serious law student.



She kisses him and looks down at her completely inappropriate

skimpy Gucci outfit, which she accents by putting on trendy,

wire-rimmed glasses.





(CONTINUED)











29.





38 38









ELLE (CONT'D)



(continuing; to herself)

I totally look the part!





39 INT. LAW SCHOOL HALLWAY - DAY 39



Elle heads for a classroom, amidst a crowd of students who

eye her like she's an alien. She rounds a corner, seeing --



WARNER, in all his handsome glory, looking over his schedule.

She starts toward him, as if pulled by a magnetic force.

Arrogant Aaron sees her passing by.





ARROGANT AARON



(seductively)

H l o t e e. . . . . . .

el hr.



Elle keeps going, not even noticing him. Eyes only for

Warner. Arrogant Aaron stomps away, pissed at the perceived

blow-off.



As Elle gets closer to Warner, she opts for wandering past

him, seemingly oblivious to his presence.





WARNER



(stunned)

Elle?!



Elle turns, ultra-nonchalant.





ELLE



Warner?! Oh my God, I completely forgot

you were going here!



He looks at her, confused. People walk by, staring.





WARNER



What're you talking about? You're not

here to see me?





ELLE



No, silly. I go here.





WARNER



(still confused)

You go where?





ELLE



Harvard. Law school.









(CONTINUED)











30.





39 39









WARNER



v- y

-- Y ou g o t in to Ha rv a rd L aw ?



E LL E.



(con fuse d at his confusion)

W h at , like it's that.hard?

W a rn e r stares at her :-- completely discombobulated. She

s m i l es sweetly and makes a show of checking her watch.



. ELLE (CONT'D)



(continuing)

Oops! Time for class. Meet me after?

On the benches?



WARNER



Uh -- sure.

She sashays off with a confident smile.



40 INT. CIVIL PROCEDURES CLASS - DAY 4.0.



Students file in and take their seats. Elle enters, looking

around nervously at the imposing auditorium. Arrogant Aaron,

next to her, leans over.



ARROGANT AARON



If you're looking for the best seat, I

hear the front row is the place to be.



Elle smiles at him.





ELLE ·



Thanks.



41 INT. CIVIL PROCEDURES CLASS - DAY - LATER 41



PROFESSOR ELSPETH STROMWELL, a tough-as-nails Grande Dame in

her 50' s , addresses the class. Laptops abound -- except for

Elle, who has a fuzzy pink notebook and a pen with a pink

plastic heart on the end.



PROFESSOR STROMWELL



A legal education means you will learn to

speak in a new language. You will be

taught to achieve insight into the world

around you, and to sharply question what

you know.

Everyone soaks this up. Including Elle.









(C ONT IN UED )











31.





41 41









PROFESSOR STROMWELL (CONT'D)



(continuing)

The seat you've picked is yours for the

next nine months of your life. Enjoy it.

And those of you in the front row,

beware. . ..

El le , in the front row, between two UNSHOWERED BRANIACS, ·

looks around, panicked. One of the braniacs passes her the

seating chart and she has no choice but to sign her name.

In the back, Arrogant Aaron nudges his friend and smiles.



PROFESSOR STROMWELL (CONT'D)



(continuing)

"The law is reason free from passion."

Does anyone know who spoke those immortal

words?

Dorky David raises his hand.



PROFESSOR STROMWELL (CONT'D)



(continuing)

Yes?





DORKY DAVID



(confidently)

Aristotle.



Professor Stromwell approaches him the way Cruella de Ville

approaches a puppy.





PROFESSOR STROMWELL



Are you sure?



Now he's not.



DORKY DAVID



Yes?





PROFESSOR STROMWELL



~ Would you be willing to stake your life

on it?



DORKY DAVID



I think so...



PROFESSOR STROMWELL



H o w about --



She spins around, roughly POKING another student in the head.









(CONTINUED)











32.





41 (2) 41









PROFESSOR STROMWELL (CONT'D)



(continuing)

-- his life?





DORKY DAVID



(scared)

I don't know.





PROFESSOR STROMWELL



Well, I recommend knowing before

speaking.. The law leaves much room for

interpretation -- but very little for

self-doubt.



As she turns away --





PROFESSOR STROMWELL (CONT'D)



(continuing)

And you were right. It was Aristotle.



The class half-laughs in relief.





PROFESSOR STROMWELL (CONT'D)



(continuing)

I assume you've all read pages 1- 48 and

are now well-versed in subject matter

jurisdiction.

Elle looks around, surprised, as students open their books.



PROFESSOR STROMWELL (CONT'D)



(continuing)

Who can tell us about Gordon v. Steele?



Silence. Stromwell looks down at the seating chart.



PROFESSOR STROMWELL (CONT'D)



(continuing)

Ivan Greenstein?



Intense Ivan straightens in his' seat.



IVAN



Gordon sued her doctors for malpractice.



PROFESSOR STROMWELL



And what did the dispute entail?

(looking at her chart)

Let's call on someone in the hot zone.

Elle Woods? Elle looks up, distressed.









(CONTINUED)











33.





41 (3) 41









ELLE



Uh... I wasn't aware that we had an

assignment.



PROFESSOR STROMWELL



(looking at her chart)

Sarah Knottingham?



SARAH KNOTTINGHAM -- a prim and preppy blue-blood brunette,

dressed in pearls and a sweater set -- looks up.





PROFESSOR STROMWELL (CONT'D)



(continuing)

Do you think it's acceptable that Ms.

Woods is unprepared?

Sarah looks over at Elle. Elle gives her a mortified smile.

Sarah turns back to Professor Stromwell.



SARAH



No, I don't.





PROFESSOR STROMWELL



Would you support my decision to ask her

to leave and return to class only when

she is prepared?



SARAH



Absolutely.

Elle can't believe that this girl would betray her. Having

no choice,, she gathers her purse and goes, completely

humiliated. Professor Stromwell returns to the matter at

hand.



PROFESSOR STROMWELL



Now, Ms. Knottingham, did diversity

jurisdiction'exist in this case?



42 EXT. LAW SCHOOL QUAD - BENCHES - DAY - LATER 42





EMMETT -- a shy and quirkily handsome 28-year-old who could

pass for younger -- sits on a bench, going over some papers.

He looks up and spots Elle -- sitting across from him --

looking traumatized.



EMMETT



Are you okay?

Elle looks up, snapping out of her stupor.









(CONTINUED)











34.





42 . 42









ELLE



Do they just -- put you on the spot like

that? Like, all the time?



EMMETT



The professors? Yeah, they tend- to do

that. Socratic method.



ELLE



And if you don't know the answer, they

just kick you out?

He smiles.



EMMETT



You have Stromwell.



ELLE



(hopeful)

Did she do that to you, too?



EMMETT



No, but she made me cry once. Not in

class -- I waited until I got to my room,

but yeah, she can pretty much shrivel

your balls -- or you know, your

whatevers .



ELLE



(stricken)

Neat . · ' , '



EMMETT



Don't worry. It gets better. Who else

do you have?

Elle looks at her schedule.



ELLE



Donovan, Royalton and Levinson.



EMMETT



Speak up in Donovan's class. He likes

people with an opinion. Sit in the back

for Royalton. He tends to spit when he

talks about products liability.

Elle makes a face. He smiles. Liking her.











(CONTINUED)











35.





42 ( 2 ) 42









EMMETT (CONT'D)



(continuing)

And make sure you read the footnotes in

Levinson's class. That's where all her

exam questions come from.





ELLE



Wow. I ' m glad I met you.



She smiles at him, grateful.



EMMETT



Oh, and getting one of Stromwell's daily

quotes right is almost as important as

acing the mid-term. But you didn't hear

it from me.



Students trickle out of the building.





ELLE " .:.



Are you a third-year?

Warner walks up, behind Emmett, interrupting.





WARNER



Hey.



Elle looks up, pure adoration on her face.



ELLE



Hi!



Emmett rises and walks off.





EMMETT



Good luck.





ELLE



(calling after him)

Thanks again for your help!



Warner remains standing, still somewhat uncomfortable with

her presence here.





WARNER



S o -- uh -- how was your first class?





ELLE



Fine. Except for this horrible girl who

made me look bad in front of my Civ Pro

professor. But no biggie. You're here

now.



(MORE)







(CONTINUED)











36.





42 (3) 42





ELLE (CONT'D)



(perky)

How was your summer?



She pats the bench beside her. He doesn't move.





· WARNER



(distracted)

Good. Good.





ELLE



Do anything exciting?

A female hand snakes around Warner's chest from behind.

Warner turns and brings the owner of the hand around to his

side, presenting her.





WARNER



(nervous)

Urn, hey, have you met Sarah?



Sarah, the horrible girl herself, holds out her hand to Elle,

full of contempt.





SARAH



Hi. Sarah Knottingham.





ELLE



(to Warner; horrified)

· You know her?





WARNER



She 's --



Sarah jumps in. ·





SARAH .



-- I ' m his fiancee.



Elle stares at her. Sarah tucks a piece of her mousy brown

hair behind her ear and there it is -- The Rock.





ELLE



(in disbelief)

I'm sorry, I just hallucinated.





WARNER



Sarah was my girlfriend at prep school.

We got back together over the summer at

my grandmother's birthday party.



Elle looks stricken. Sarah gives her a smug smile.











(CONTINUED)









37.



42 (.4) 42









SARAH



Warner told me all about you. You're

famous at our Club.

She says it in a way that is anything but flattering. In

fact, it's completely condescending.



SARAH (CONT'D)



(continuing; pointedly)

But he didn't tell me you'd be here.





WARNER



I didn't know --



Elle looks from Warner to Sarah.





ELLE



Excuse me.



She rushes off. Sarah watches her go, a smug grin on her



' · · ··



face, ·



SARAH



(to Warner)

I thought you said she was pretty.



43 EXT. STREET/INT. ELLE'S CONVERTIBLE BOXSTER- DAY 43





Elle drives, wiping the tears from her face. She spots

something off to the side and SWERVES her car toward it, a

gasp of hope escaping her lips.



Her car stops in front of a strip mall salon called "Beauty

Oasis".





44 INT. BEAUTY OASIS - DAY 44



A downscale, blue-collar salon, with five hair chairs and two

manicure stations. Old ladies and young waitresses get perms.

PAULETTE --early 40s, lower-middle class, hard-edged, plus-

sirzed -- looks up as a defeated Elle sinks into the manicure

chair.(The manicure station is plastered with pictures of

RUFUS, a big, slobbering pit-bull). ·





PAULETTE



Bad day?



Elle holds out her hands. Paulette dips them into a dish of

soapy water.





ELLE



You can't even imagine.





(CONTINUED)











38.





44 44









PAULETTE



.Spill.,



Elle lets it all out in a rush.





ELLE



I worked really hard to get into law

school -- I blew off Spring Break and

Greek Week to study for the LSATs, I

completely neglected my Homecoming Queen

duties, I hired a Coppola to direct my

admissions video -- all so I could get my

boyfriend Warner back and now he's

engaged to this awful girl Sarah so it

was all for nothing! I wish I ' d never

even come to Harvard.



Paulette dries Elle's hands and begins filing.





PAULETTE



After you went to all that trouble?





ELLE :



Well, what am I supposed to do? He's

engaged! She's got the family six-carat

on her bony, unpolished finger.





PAULETTE



You're asking the wrong girl. I ' m with

my guy eight years and then one day it's

"I met someone else. Move out."





ELLE



(horrified)

What'd you do?





PAULETTE



Cried a lot and gained twenty pounds.

Dewey kept the trailer and my precious

baby Rufus. I got jackcrap.

She looks at a picture of the pit-bull.





PAULETTE (CONT'D)



(continuing; re the dog)

I didn't even get to go to his birthday

party.





ELLE



No!











(CONTINUED)











39.





44 ( 2 ) 44









PAUL ETTE



What could I do?

(shrugging)

He's a man who followed his pecker to

greener pastures. I ' m a middle-aged high-

school dropout with stretch marks and a

fat ass. Happens every day. At least to

women like me.



ELLE . ·



That's terrible!









PAULETTE



So, what's this Sarah got that you don't?

Three tits? -



ELLE



She's from Connecticut. She belongs to

his stupid country club.



PAULETTE



Is she as pretty as you?

Elle looks down.



ELLE



(embarrassed)

I ' m not pretty -- I ' m genetically

blessed.

Paulette rolls her eyes, shaking her bottle of polish and

starting on Elle's right hand.



PA UL ETT E



Is sJie.? "





ELL E



She could use some mascara and some

serious highlights, but she's not

completely unfortunate- looking.



UPS GUY (O.S.)



Hello, ladies.

Paulette looks up to see the UPS GUY, a strapping hunk of a

man in his late 30' s . She blushes and smooths down her hair,

knocking over a bottle of nail polish in the process. Trying

to play it off as she signs for the package.











(CONTINUED)











40.





44 ( 3 ) 44









UPS GUY (CONT'D) .



See ya later.

He goes. Paulette watches him. Elle notices.





PAULETTE



(hating herself) .

Could I be anymore goddamn spastic?

(beat)

So you're sure, this Warner guy is "the

one"?



ELLE



Definitely! I love him!

Paulette looks at her.



PAULETTE



If a girl like you can't hold on to her

man -- then there sure as hell isn't any

hope for the rest of us. What're you

waiting for? Steal the bastard back.



45 INT. DORMITORY - WARNER'S ROOM - DAY 45



Elle knocks on Warner's door, bottle of wine and two glasses

in hand.



ELLE



Warner?

When she gets no answer, she write a message on his memo

board -- CLOSE ON-- "Call me! Love, You Know Who".

She leaves the wine bottle and two glasses and goes.



46 EXT. HARVARD LAW CAMPUS - DAY 46



Elle is in her push-up bikini, reclining in her beach chair,

pink frozen margarita in one hand, Underdog in the other, law

book in her lap, pretending to study.

We PULL BACK to reveal that she's sitting on the sidelines of

a touch-football game that Warner is playing with a group of

other 1-L's.

Warner scores easily because the other male eyes are all on

Elle. He shakes his head and smiles.









41.











47 INT. CRIMINAL LAW CLASS - DAY 47





Elle sits, glaring at Sarah, who keeps waving her "The Rock"

in Elle's direction, as she plays footsie with Warner.



PROFESSOR DONOVAN -- 40s, a big fan of himself, salt and

pepper hair, no time for bullshit -- stands before the class.



PROFESSOR DONOVAN



I should warn you that in addition to

competing against each other for the top

grade in this class, you'll also be

competing for one of my firm's highly

coveted four internship spots next year

where you will get to assist on actual

cases. Let the bloodbath begin. Now,

let's commence with our usual torture --

He looks around.





PROFESSOR DONOVAN (CONT'D)



(continuing)

Ms . Woods --



Sarah and her bitchy, clone-like friend CLAIRE exchange

knowing glances.





SARAH



This should be amusing.



· PROFESSOR DONOVAN



Would you rather have a client who

committed a crime malum in se or malum

prohibitum?





ELLE



Neither.





PROFESSOR DONOVAN



Why not?





ELLE



I'd rather have a client who's innocent.



Elle smiles, proud of her answer. The class snickers. Warner

frowns.





PROFESSOR DONOVAN



. Dare to dream, Ms. Woods. Ms.

Knottingham? Which would you prefer?











(CONTINUED)











42.





47 47









SARAH



Malum prohibitum. Because the client

would've committed a regulatory

infraction as opposed to a dangerous

crime.

Elle raises her hand.



PROFESSOR DONOVAN



Yes? Ms. Woods?



' ELLE ' ..



I changed my mind. I ' d pick the

dangerous one.

She looks pointedly at Sarah.



ELLE (CONT''D)



(continuing)

I ' m not afraid of a challenge.

Sarah glares back at her. Warner looks between the two of



·



them, worried.



48 INT. STUDY LOUNGE - DAY 48



The Harvard Public Interest Law Association meeting is

O underway. Warner .listens intently, A few seats away, Elle

appears to be taking notes.

C L O SE ON--her "notes" -- "I'm free for dinner tonight. Meet

me at The Cask & Flagon at 8."

She folds the note and sticks it in Underdog's mouth, then points

him toward Warner. Humiliated but duti

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