Rev. 08/31/18 (Green)
                                              Rev. 09/14/18 (Goldenrod)
                                              Rev. 10/08/18 (Buff)
                                              Rev. 10/17/18 (Salmon)
                                              Rev. 10/23/18 (Cherry)
                                              Rev. 04/25/19 (Tan Add'l Photog)
                                        JUST MERCY
                                        written by
                           Destin Daniel Cretton & Andrew Lanham
                           based on the book by Bryan Stevenson
                  This script is the confidential and proprietary 
                  property of Warner Bros. Pictures and no portion of 
                  it may be performed, distributed, reproduced, used, 
                  quoted or published without prior written permission.
                                                        FULL YELLOW
                                                        August 29, 2018
            Kiki Tree Pictures, Inc.                    © 2018
            4000 Warner Boulevard                       WARNER BROS. ENT.
            Burbank, California  91522                  All Rights Reserved
                   JUST MERCY - FULL YELLOW                               1.
                   FADE IN:
            1      EXT. ESTATE (ALABAMA) - DAY                                  1
                   SUPERIMPOSE:  JUNE 7, 1987
                   3 SHOTS -- LOOKING UP AT a grove of pine trees, leaves 
                   and limbs swaying in the breeze, backdropped by the 
                   Alabama sky.
                   A lead weight tied to the end of a cord FLOATS into the 
                   air, wraps around a high limb.
                   REVEAL:  WALTER “JOHNNY D” McMILLIAN (40s, black) as he 
                   PULLS on the cord to lift the rope up to the top of the 
                   tree.
                   CLOSEUP ON THE ROPE
                   as he expertly ties a bowline knot and PULLS it up to the 
                   treetop.
                   He hands the excess rope to his EMPLOYEE (30s, black).
                                            WALTER
                              Let’s lay it down right here.
                   He looks up at the tree once more, respectfully.  Then --
                   CLOSEUP - A CHAINSAW
                   cuts a notch into the side he wants the tree to fall.  
                   Then he SAWS through from the other side.
                   The tree falls, CRASHING to the ground.
                   Walter CLICKS off his saw and looks up, taking a moment 
                   to watch the trees dance in the wind.  He takes a DEEP 
                   BREATH -- at peace.  Then looks over to his employee --
                                            WALTER
                              Alright, let’s chop and load!
            2      EXT. ESTATE (ALABAMA)/WALTER’S TRUCK - LATER                 2
                   Walter chains down a load of logs in the back of his WORK  
                   TRUCK, parked beside his personal LOWRIDER TRUCK.  He 
                   hops off the back, looks at his employee.
                                            WALTER
                              Meet you at the yard.
                                                                  (CONTINUED)
                   JUST MERCY - FULL YELLOW                               2.
            2      CONTINUED:                                                  2
                   As his employee starts the truck, Walter looks at the 
                   house to see MR. ABNEY (50s, white) cooking something on 
                   a BBQ.     
                                            WALTER
                              Okay, Mr. Abney!  Gimme a call if 
                              you need anything else cleared 
                              out!
                   Mr. Abney gives him a nod, nothing more.  But Walter 
                   doesn’t let this damper his mood.
            3      EXT./INT. COUNTRY ROAD (ALABAMA)/WALTER’S TRUCK -            3
                   AFTERNOON
                   Alabama farmland.  TWO JOHN DEERE COTTON PICKERS move 
                   through a field as Walter’s truck and trailer drive down 
                   the road.
                   INSIDE THE TRUCK
                   Walter bobs his head to MUSIC, hand out the window, wind 
                   floating through fingers -- free as a bird.
            4      EXT. COUNTRY ROAD (ALABAMA)/ROADBLOCK - DAY                  4
                   He notices something up ahead, slows to a stop to see --
                   SEVEN POLICE CARS block the road with 14 OFFICERS, guns 
                   drawn and aimed at him.  He TURNS down the MUSIC.  Fear 
                   ripples through him as --
                   SHERIFF TATE (late 30s, white) approaches the truck, 
                   unsettling ease in his step.
                   Walter shows both hands as Tate reaches the window.
                                            WALTER
                              Afternoon, sir, need to see my 
                              license?
                                            SHERIFF TATE
                              Oh, no, that won’t be necessary.
                   Tate seems almost friendly as he looks at the trailer of 
                   logs, then over the truck, brand new rims on the wheels.
                                            SHERIFF TATE
                              Nice truck.  These rims look 
                              expensive.
                                                                  (CONTINUED)
                   JUST MERCY - Rev. 4/25/19 (Tan Add'l Photog)           3.
            4      CONTINUED:                                                  4
                                            WALTER
                              Oh, they ain’t much.  Got ‘em from 
                              a junkyard.
                                            SHERIFF TATE
                                   (nods; subtle beat)
                              Who you workin’ for?
                                            WALTER
                              Run my own pulpin’ business.  
                                   (tries to keep it 
                                    light)
                              If y’all need any trees cleared, 
                              happy to help you out.
                   Walter smiles, but it’s like Tate didn’t even hear him.
                                            SHERIFF TATE
                              No boss to check in with, huh?  
                              Must be real nice.  Free to roam 
                              wherever you want in your fancy 
                              truck.
                                            WALTER
                                   (beat; forces laugh)
                              Not if my wife got somethin’ to 
                              say ‘bout it.
                                            SHERIFF TATE
                              I heard that ain’t stopped you 
                              before.
                                   (off Walter’s stare)
                              Ain’t that right, Johnny D?
                   Walter locks eyes with him -- how does he know his name?  
                   He looks out the windshield to see 3 OFFICERS approaching 
                   with guns aimed at his head.  Tate leans in close.
                                            SHERIFF TATE
                              Wanna make a run for it?  ‘Cause 
                              after what you done, I’d welcome a 
                              reason to do this right now.
                                            WALTER
                              Sir, y’all must be confusin’ me 
                              with someone.  I don’t know what 
                              you think I done, but I was jus’ --
                   Tate abruptly throws open the door, grabs him by the 
                   neck, violently pulls him outside and SLAMS him on the 
                   hood.  CAMERA PIVOTS, PUSHING IN ON his confusion and 
                   pain, framed by metal and sky as we -- 
                                                                       CUT TO:     *