All the King's Men Page #4

LUCY:

What happened, Tommy boy? What's the

matter?

TOM:

(head down, muttering)

I gave out the handbills, Pa.

WILLIE:

Speak up. Speak up.

LUCY:

Let him tell it his own way. Go on,

Tommy.

TOM:

This time they were waiting for me.

They took them away from me. Threw

them in the dirt and beat me up. I

brought some of them back.

WILLIE:

(pats him on the back)

Good boy. Have you eaten yet, Tom?

LUCY:

Let him wash up first.

As Tom and Pappy go into the other room, a rock comes crashing

through the front window, shattering the glass. Willie, his

face filled with anger, throws open the door and stalks out

onto the porch. Jack stands at the door, watching Willie

shout into the darkness around him.

WILLIE:

I'm going to run... and you're not

going to stop me. I'm gonna run even

if I don't get a single vote.

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

Interior:
Jack Burden's Desk, Day

Jack's fingers type out a story, the last line of which reads

"an honest man with courage." He pulls the sheet out and

hands it to Madison.

JACK:

Here you are... the last of the Willie

Stark articles. Now can I go?

MADISON:

Yes. You've earned your vacation.

You've been writing these like you

really mean them.

Jack rises and walks toward the door.

JACK:

I do.

DISSOLVE TO:

Exterior:
Ferry To Burden's Landing, Day

Jack's car is ferried across the bay to the slip of Burden's

Landing.

JACK:

(voice over)

I hadn't been home in a long time.

Only a hundred and thirty miles from

Kanoma City. It was separated from

the mainland by a body of water. For

the first time I wondered if it wasn't

separated by more than that.

DISSOLVE TO:

Exterior:
Mrs. Burden's Home, Day

As Jack arrives, Mrs. Burden and her husband, McEvoy, are

seated at a lawn table near the boat landing.

JACK:

Hello, Mother.

She runs forward to meet him.

MRS. BURDEN

Floyd, Jack's home. Oh, he looks

fine... doesn't he look fine?

(to Jack, coquettishly)

How do I look, Jackie boy?

JACK:

You look beautiful, Mother.

MRS. BURDEN

I've got so many things planned for

you... parties and... it'll be just

like old times. But first, let's

have a drink.

MCEVOY:

Can't that wait until this evening?

She goes ahead and pours the drinks.

MRS. BURDEN

Floyd... honey... my son's home.

MCEVOY:

How long do you plan on staying?

JACK:

(coldly)

Two or three weeks. If that's all

right with you.

MRS. BURDEN

I'm sure your father would be --

JACK:

Stepfather, Mother.

MRS. BURDEN

(reproachfully)

Now, Jackie... here we all are. Floyd,

Jackie, myself.

(raises her glass for

a toast)

To the best time we've ever had

together.

JACK:

Yes, Mother.

They drink. Mrs. Burden gulps hers down avidly. Jack looks

at her and then at McEvoy.

JACK:

Excuse me... I...

He turns and walks back toward the shore. He boards a small

motorboat and heads toward a house that can be seen across

the water.

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