Reagan Page #5

JACK:

Only because your Mom wouldn’t let

me name you Brooks.

12.

GLADYS:

(laughing)

That’s not a man’s name! It’s not!

The mood lightens. Frank has saved another family dinner.

INT. NBC NEWS BROADCAST - JANUARY 20, 1985

Tom Brokaw announces the top story of the day.

TOM BROKAW:

Due to the frigid conditions in the

Northeast, President Reagan was

sworn in today to a second term in

a private ceremony at the White

House. There will be a public

administration of the Oath of

Office tomorrow in the Rotunda of

the U.S. Capitol, at which point

the President will deliver his

second inaugural address.

EXT. US CAPITOL - JANUARY 21, 1985

The MALL is packed with press and hopeful audience members.

INT. US CAPITOL - SECURITY AREA

Frank hands his ID to a cheery VOLUNTEER, who writes a

nametag for him:
‘FRANK C.”.

VOLUNTEER:

‘Frank Corden.’ There we go. Now

everyone will know who you are!

FRANK:

You don’t spell out the last name?

VOLUNTEER:

Honey, I doubt anybody’s gonna call

you ‘Mister.’

Frank knows she has a point.

INT. US CAPITOL - ROTUNDA

Bruce Springsteen’s ‘BORN IN THE USA’ blasts over the P.A.

system. The CROWD and PRESS are set. CONGRESSMEN are in

bleachers behind a PODIUM bearing the seal of the President.

CHIEF JUSTICE WARREN BURGER waits onstage. Checks his watch.

13.

In the wings, Frank stands next to MATT G (so says his

nametag), who rocks out to the song.

MATT G:

Oh yeah! It’s great rock stars are

writing love songs to America.

That’s Reagan, man. Doesn’t happen

without Ronald Reagan.

FRANK:

This song’s about Vietnam.

MATT G:

No it’s not. It’s about being an

American, man.

FRANK:

Listen to the lyrics. Not just the

chorus.

MATT G:

The chorus is all I need.

Burger walks up to them.

BURGER:

Are we gonna swear somebody in here

or what?

FRANK:

The President must still be getting

ready, sir.

BURGER:

Can you find out what the hold up

is? Otherwise, I’m making my balls

president. Which is something I

really could do.

Frank looks at Matt, who’s stuck in a sing-a-long.

FRANK:

Sure, I’ll check.

He leaves. Matt keeps singing.

MATT G:

‘Sent me off to a foreign land / To

go and kill...the...yellow...’

(realizing)

Huh.

(snapping back to rockin’)

‘Bornnnnn in the U.S.A! / I was...’

14.

INT. US CAPITOL - HALLWAY

Frank weaves through the marble halls. He turns a corner and

spots Karl waiting outside a door.

FRANK:

Sh*t...

KARL:

Hey, Frankie! Still gophing, I see.

FRANK:

I don’t have time for this, Karl.

Any idea where the President is?

KARL:

Right behind this door.

FRANK:

...What? Really?

KARL:

Yep. I’m on James Baker’s team;

White House Chief of Staff. Top of

the heap. The view from up here,

Frankie, I can see your Mom’s house.

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