The Laboratorium

I’m working on a real piece. This didn’t fit:

The legal system is a bewildering and ponderous machine. It emits terrifying noises, burns money, and crushes good men in its gears. Its flywheels take forever to spin up; once set in motion, they have an inevitable, inexorable momentum. Judgment is slow in coming, but when it comes, it comes hard.

November 18, 2012 at 6:14 AM

john e miller

From the screenplay for Philadelphia — JOE - Denzel Washington; ANDREW - Tom Hanks (Oscar for best Actor):

JOE Are you a good lawyer?

        ANDREW
I'm an excellent lawyer.

        JOE
What makes you an excellent
lawyer?

        ANDREW
I love the law. I know the law.
I excel at practicing it. It's
the only thing I've ever wanted to do.

        JOE
What do you love about it?

        ANDREW
Well... many things. But I
think the thing I love the most,
is that every once in a while,
not that often, but
occasionally... you get to be
part of justice being done.
It's really quite a thrill when
that happens.

November 20, 2012 at 8:35 PM

Benjamin Mako Hill

Too bad. Really.

November 20, 2012 at 10:14 PM

Frances Grimble

James, have you thought about writing noir detective novels? This paragraph would fit nicely into one.

November 21, 2012 at 4:17 AM

john e miller

From the 1944 screenplay adaption of Raymond Chandler’s Farewell, My Lovely (Murder, My Sweet):

A black pool opened up at my feet. I dived in. It had no bottom.