Thirteen Days Page #3

POL #2

Yeah. Still moldable, too.

KENNY:

Everyone likes a good kid...

And like that, a congressional candidate is made... Kenny

accelerates, leaving the Pols behind. Suddenly, outside the

windows, the crowd swells forward with a collective ROAR.

CROWD:

MR. PRESIDENT! PRESIDENT KENNEDY!

EXT. HOTEL - DAY

Kenny heads down the steps with New York Times Washington

Bureau Chief, SCOTTY RESTON. Anonymous, they weave their way

through the crowd for a police car on a side street.

RESTON:

How's my favorite President?

KENNY:

Busy. But you've got his heart.

RESTON:

I want an hour with him.

KENNY:

I said his heart, not his attention.

RESTON:

Three weeks before midterm elections?

You need me.

KENNY:

Well. There is a new civil rights

initiative he wants to talk about.

RESTON:

I'm doing a piece on Skybolt. I hear

Macmillan's meeting with him in Nassau.

Kenny just sighs as they make their way up to the police car.

A Secret Service Agent opens the door for him, another is

behind the wheel.

KENNY:

We're giving the Brits Polaris instead.

But a story'll just aggravate things.

Scotty stares at Kenny, determined. Kenny looks away. And

his eye catches a tall, willowy BEAUTIFUL WOMAN. She is

talking, excited, embarrassed, to two more SECRET SERVICE

AGENTS. What they're saying is lost in the noise.

Scotty follows Kenny's gaze. Then the two men share a look,

a silent understanding. Kenny glances at the Secret Service

guy holding the car door, tilts his head at the woman.

KENNY (CONT'D)

Not today. He's got tight schedule.

The Agent nods, heads for the other Agents and the Beautiful

Woman. Scotty acts like nothing has happened.

RESTON:

Pretending there isn't a problem won't

fix it. He can clear the air on Anglo

American relations.

KENNY:

Forget it, Scotty.

RESTON:

Let him talk to me, he makes Macmillan

look good, I print it, the British

public likes it, Macmillan owes you.

The formula's exactly what Kenny wants to hear. He pretends

to consider, pretends to cave as he gets in the car.

KENNY:

All right, you're in. Half hour.

Reston's won. But so has Kenny, and he's made Scotty feel

tough in the bargain. People like Kenny.

INT. POLICE CAR - DAY

In the back seat, Kenny stares out the window at the parade

goers. The Secret Service Agents leave the Woman.

Disappointed, the Woman turns and vanishes into the crowd.

It's an eerie moment. Something troubles Kenny, and he

glances up at the sky. A premonition. But it's a clear,

clear blue. A day like this, all is right with the world...

SMASH CUT TO:

INT. NPIC - NIGHT

Six Interpreters huddle around IMAGES on a light table. One

of them shoulders his way into the group and THUMPS a black

BINDER on the table. There are grim nods of agreement.

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