Thirteen Days Page #4

The book is open to a PICTURE of an SS-4 BALLISTIC MISSILE.

A photo from Moscow Mayday parade. An icon of the nuclear

age escorted like some devil-god to a holocaust...

END MAIN TITLE SEQUENCE

EXT. THE WHITE HOUSE - DAY

The White House casts long shadows this gorgeous October

morning. Blue sky; the first flash of color in the trees.

SUPER:
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16TH, 1962. DAY 1.

INT. KENNY'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

Briefcase and coat in hand, Kenny enters his office - and

finds THREE MEN. Standing there. Thin-haired, bespectacled,

academic-looking MCGEORGE BUNDY, 43, the National Security

Advisor. The two men in the background: PHOTO INTERPRETERS.

Kenny hangs up his coat, sees the Interpreters' large black

display cases. And suddenly the world is slightly off

kilter.

KENNY:

Hey, Mac. You're up bright and early.

BUNDY:

No, Ken. I need to see him now...

INT. WHITE HOUSE - RESIDENTIAL FLOOR - DAY

Kenny emerges from the elevator with Bundy. They head down

the long, posh 3rd floor hall, the Presidential Detail

guarding the doors at the end. But the familiar route feels

strange, and lasting an eternity. Kenny eyes the package

under Bundy's arm, its TOP SECRET stamp visible.

KENNY:

Morning, Floyd.

SECRET SERVICE AGENT

Good morning, Mr. O'Donnell. Mr. Bundy.

The Agent opens the door. Bundy pauses, Kenny with him.

KENNY:

What's it about?

BUNDY:

Cuba.

Bundy is tense. But Kenny relaxes.

KENNY:

Just Cuba? Okay, I got work to do, see

you guys downstairs.

INT. KENNY'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

Kenny's office is a raging beehive of activity. Kenny works

the phone as ASSISTANTS come and go with files.

KENNY:

(to phone, scary calm)

Listen to me, you worthless piece of

disloyal sh*t. You will pull Daly's man

on the circuit. You owe your goddamn

job to this administration.

(beat, listening)

There is a word you need to learn. It

is the only word in politics. Loyalty.

LOYALTY you motherfucking piece of sh*t!

As Kenny THROWS the phone down at the receiver, and the

PRIVATE DOOR to the Oval Office suddenly opens. Kenny

glances up. President Kennedy stands there in the doorway.

Kenny thinks he's reacting to the tirade.

KENNY (CONT'D)

What're you looking at? This isn't the

blessed order of St. Mary the Meek.

Kenny stops.

KENNY (CONT'D)

Excuse us.

The Assistants leave, shutting the door after them. Kenny

rises.

THE PRESIDENT:

I think you should come in here.

Kenny starts for the door.

THE PRESIDENT (CONT'D)

Still think Cuba isn't important?

KENNY:

Not as far as the election goes.

The President lets Kenny by into...

INT. OVAL OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

WE ENTER from a different angle than we usually enter in

movies:
through the side door. The President's ornate desk

sits on the right, windows looking out on the Rose Garden

behind it. Kenny's gaze swivels to:

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