Air Force One Page #6

Rose nods, smiling a half-smile. After a thoughtful beat,

Alice gets up and crosses to the Presidential suite. She

exchanges words with the Aide standing outside the door and

comes back, covering her disappointment.

ALICE:

He's in a meeting. He can't be

disturbed.

ROSE:

I'm sorry, honey.

ALICE:

No, it's okay. After all, he is the

President, right?

Joey the steward hands her her cocoa with a wink and a smile.

Her eyes light up at the mound of whip cream on top.

ALICE:

When I write my memoirs I think I'll

devote an entire chapter to the cocoa

aboard Air Force One.

ROSE:

Your father never means to be so...

ALICE:

I know...

(beat)

But lotsa times I feel like it's me

versus the world. Some kid at school

teases me and the same day a plague

breaks out in Bangladesh. I mean it

doesn't take a genius to figure which

is more important.

ROSE:

Some kids were teasing you?

ALICE:

That's not really the point.

A quiet pause, then...

ROSE:

You're right and I'll tell you a

secret. I know exactly how you feel.

ALICE:

Big secret. You said the same thing

to Newsweek.

The plane jolts forward as it begins to taxi.

ALICE:

We're taxiing. Ready. And... five...

four... three.. two... one... Cue

Daddy.

Alice points. And as if on cue, Marshall exits from his

office and checks his watch.

ALICE:

Oooooh, I'm good.

MARSHALL:

Hey, you guys back already?

Alice nods.

MARSHALL:

How was...

(thinks, then remembers)

...the ballet?

ALICE:

(theatrically)

It was the experience of a lifetime.

MARSHALL:

How `bout a hug for the old man.

Alice rises and hugs her father. A White House PHOTOGRAPHER

snaps off a few shots for the papers. Alice makes a face at

them. A second later, Shepherd comes up the corridor,

breaking up the pair.

SHEPHERD:

Mr. President... they're ready for

you in the conference room.

MARSHALL:

Okay. Hey, pumpkin, you'll tell me

all about it later, right?

ALICE:

Sure.

As Marshall moves toward the conference room, he bends and

gives Rose a quick peck on the cheek. It all reeks of

formality.

ROSE:

May I speak to you for a moment?

MARSHALL:

Can't it wait?

ROSE:

No, Mr. President. It can't.

INT. PRESIDENT'S OFFICE.

Rose shuts the door behind them. As she starts to speak,

Marshall pulls her into a long passionate kiss. Rose pulls

away.

ROSE:

Don't. I know spin control when I

feel it.

MARSHALL:

Rose, I don't have time for this.

I've gotta go stop a war.

ROSE:

For godsakes, Jim, slow down and

stop acting like the little dutch

boy. Not even you can plug all the

world's leaks. Don't you think it's

a sign you're pushing too hard when

your daughter sees more of you on

MTV news than in person.

MARSHALL:

She's a big girl. She understands.

ROSE:

How do you know she understands?

You haven't spent more than five

minutes with her, or me, in weeks.

MARSHALL:

And when have I had five minutes?

When I wake up in the morning and

I'm already three hours behind

Schedule. What do you want me to

do, Rose, tell the G7 to f*** off

because I'm a family man?

(BEAT)

I'm sorry. That wasn't fair.

ROSE:

No. It wasn't.

He takes her in his arms.

MARSHALL:

You know what?

ROSE:

What?

MARSHALL:

I miss you. And I miss her.

ROSE:

But that's the point, Jim. We're

right here.

MARSHALL:

I wish it were that easy...

Long beat. He smiles at her, it's the same sweet smile that

won her heart, the same smile that got him elected. She

softens.

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