INT. JUDGE’S CHAMBERS – DAY

An African-American woman in judge’s robes sits behind a desk, carefully reading through various pleadings.  A white light on the phone in front of her begins flashing and a fraction of a second later a very timid knock is heard at the door.  She looks up as her law clerk, TIMOTHY enters.

JUDGE KETANJI BROWN JACKSON: My goodness, Timothy.  You look like a ghost’s walked over your grave.  Are you all right?

TIMOTHY: [white-faced and nervous] Yes, yes, I’m fine.  It’s just…there’s a man on the phone who’d like to speak to you.

JUDGE JACKSON: Oh, my.  This isn’t the call, is it?

TIMOTHY: Oh how I wish that were the case, ma’am.  But no, it’s…another man.  His name is Mark Davis.  He’s the owner of the Oakland…excuse me, the Las Vegas Raiders.

JUDGE JACKSON: I’m sorry, Timothy, I like football as much as the next gal, but I’ve got to issue my decision in the Allied Industries appeal. What’s this about?

TIMOTHY: I’m sure Mr. Davis can tell you, ma’am.  Please speak to him.

JUDGE JACKSON: I really don’t have time for a casual conversation with…

TIMOTHY: [plaintively] Please.

JUDGE JACKSON: [eyebrows narrow] It seems awfully important to you that I take this call, Timothy.  What’s going on?

TIMOTHY: [hastily] Nothing!  It’s just that…well, let’s just call it a personal favor.  Yeah.  You see, I’m a really big fan of the Raiders and…

JUDGE JACKSON: That’s interesting, Timothy.  I seem to remember that you grew up in Knoxville.  Not exactly Raiders territory.

TIMOTHY: Yes, but…

JUDGE JACKSON: And if memory serves me, you were wearing a football jersey at Angela’s cookout three weeks ago.  Don’t remember that jersey being silver and black.  Seem to remember it being blue.  And having the name “Henry” on the back.

TIMOTHY: Of course, of course, the Titans are my hometown team.  But, um, ever since Mariota signed with the Raiders I’ve had a soft spot for them.

JUDGE JACKSON: [raises eyebrows skeptically] Is that so?

TIMOTHY: Please, ma’am just take the call.  I promise you Mr. Davis will get right to the point, he won’t waste your time.

JUDGE JACKSON: [sighs] Fine. [she picks up the handset, waves TIMOTHY out of the room, and punches the button to connect to the call]

— [phone flies open] —

MARK DAVIS: HI I’M MARK DAVIS!

JUDGE JACKSON: Uh, hello Mr. Davis.

MARK DAVIS: IS THIS JUDGE SORRY MISS JACKSON?

JUDGE JACKSON: It’s Judge Kentanji Brown Jackson, actually.  Might I ask what this call is about?

MARK DAVIS: THIS IS NOT A ROONEY RULE!

JUDGE JACKSON: I beg your pardon?

MARK DAVIS: I SAID THIS IS NOT A ROONEY RULE! THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE SAID THAT WE HAVE TO DO TWO ROONEY RULES AND WE ALREADY DID THEM BOTH SO WE DON’T HAVE TO DO ANY MORE IF WE DON’T WANT TO.

JUDGE JACKSON: Um…okay.

MARK DAVIS: WE CAN DO AS MANY AS WE WANT, THOUGH, THAT’S OKAY TOO.

JUDGE JACKSON: I see.  So…this isn’t a Rooney Rule interview.  Perchance you could tell me what this is about?

MARK DAVIS: I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE PEE WEE HERMAN ANTICHRIST ACT.

JUDGE JACKSON: The Pee Wee Herman…oh!  You mean the Sherman Anti-Trust Act? Wait…is this related to that Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission v. National Football League suit that my clerk “accidentally” included with my research materials a couple of days ago?

MARK DAVIS: YES TIMOTHY IS A GOOD BALL PLAYER I’M GLAD HE FOLLOWED THE GAME PLAN AND I WON’T HAVE TO RESORT TO ONE OF THOSE NO-GOOD DIRTY TRICK PLAYS THAT WOULD BE VERY DAMAGING TO HIS FUTURE PROSPECTS IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION.

JUDGE JACKSON: Mr. Davis, I don’t mean to be rude, but Timothy assured me that you would get straight to the point.

MARK DAVIS: Of course, your honor.  I’ll put aside the preliminaries.  My existing concern as it relates to the original ruling is that…

— [A lengthy, complicated legal discussion flies open] —

JUDGE JACKSON: …and then of course we reach the question of whether the protections afforded to the collective entity known as “the League” qualify as…[she slows down and trails off]…wait.

JUDGE JACKSON glances up a clock on her desk and realizes that over twenty minutes has passed since she answered the phone.

JUDGE JACKSON: Mr. Davis this is an interesting discussion, but I shouldn’t let myself get so distracted.  I’ve got an appeal that I need to…

MARK DAVIS: THAT’S OKAY SORRY MISS JACKSON I THINK IT’S CLEAR WHERE YOUR OPINIONS STAND ON THE MATTER IT WAS GOOD TO TALK TO YOU BYE BYE.

There is a click as MARK DAVIS hangs up and JUDGE JACKSON shakes her head in confusion. 

JUDGE JACKSON: What an odd conversation.

JUDGE JACKSON resumes her reading.  After a few minutes the same timid knock is heard at the door, and the law clerk TIMOTHY reenters the room

TIMOTHY: Did you have a good conversation with Mr. Davis?

JUDGE JACKSON: I suppose so, yes. It was certainly interesting.

TIMOTHY: [greatly relieved] Oh good, good. Thanks for taking the time.

JUDGE JACKSON: He’s got a better grasp of the legal issues than you’d expect based on his, um…tone.

TIMOTHY: I’m really glad to hear that.  I have a little news.  Senator Doug Jones called.  He’d like to block out some time to talk as soon as possible.

JUDGE JACKSON: The Sherpa, huh? And you didn’t think it was worth interrupting my conversation with that…fellow…to let me know?

TIMOTHY: Senator Jones didn’t call until just now, ma’am.  After your conversation with Mr. Davis was finished.  He said he’s very eager to speak to you.  He says you come…very highly recommended.

— [FIN] —