Being There Page #7

CHANCE:

It's fine today, Robert.

ALLENBY:

Shame on you, Chauncey - you

should let me be the judge of

that. Please, sit in the chair.

Wlison pushes a wheelchair to Chance, he sits.

ALLENBY:

(checks leg)

I swear, Chauncey, between you

and Benjamin, I've got my hands

full...

(examines Chance's

calf)

...Say, that is coming along, the

swelling has gone down considerably...

A limousine pulls up to the front of the mansion, waits

for Chance.

ALLENBY:

(continues examining)

...Benjamin has been hounding

me to allow him to address the

annual convention of his

Financial Institute today, but

obviously, the strain would be

impossible... How about here,

Chauncey, any soreness?

CHANCE:

Hardly any, Robert.

Lewis, the attendant, interrupts.

LEWIS:

Your limousine, sir.

CHANCE:

Oh, thank you.

ALLENBY:

...Are you going somewhere?

CHANCE:

No, Robert.

ALLENBY:

(a beat)

...Oh... Anyway, the President

offered to sit in for Ben at

the convention, quite a nice

gesture. He's due here soon,

I believe.

CHANCE:

Yes, Robert. I know about the

President.

ALLENBY:

(mildly surprised)

...Oh? You've heard?

CHANCE:

Yes. Ben called me. He wants

me to meet the President.

ALLENBY:

He does, does he?

CHANCE:

Yes, Ben asked me to be in his

room at ten o'clock.

ALLENBY:

Why, that's terrific, Chauncey.

CHANCE:

How do I know when it's ten

o'clock?

A long reaction from Allenby, then he looks at his watch.

ALLENBY:

...It's five of, you'd best

get on in there.

CHANCE:

Thank you, Robert.

Wilson begins to push Chance.

CHANCE:

I would like to walk today.

ALLENBY:

Hell yes - walk. You're meeting

the President, aren't you?

CHANCE:

(gets out of chair)

Yes. I like to watch him on

television.

Allenby, a bit puzzled, watches as Wilson opens the front

door for Chance.

50INT. RAND'S ROOM - MORNING

Rand is in an easy chair, dressed for his meeting with the

President. The two nurses are nearby. Rand smiles as

Chance is shown into the room by Wilson.

RAND:

Chauncey, up and around this

morning, are you?

CHANCE:

Yes, Ben. I like to walk.

RAND:

Well, that's good news, my boy.

CHANCE:

You're looking much better today,

Ben.

RAND:

Hah! It's all makeup, Chauncey...

I asked nurse Teresa to fix me up,

I didn't want the President to

think I was going to die during

our talk.

CHANCE:

I understand.

RAND:

No one likes a dying man, my boy -

because few know what death is.

All we know is the terror of it.

But you're am exception, Chauncey -

that's what I admire in you, your

marvelous balance. You don't

stagger back and forth between fear

and hope - you're a truly peaceful

man.

CHANCE:

Thank you, Ben.

(looks at Rand

closely)

...Nurse Teresa did a very good

job, Ben.

The nurses turn, look at Chance.

51INT. RAND MANSION - THIRD FLOOR HALLWAY - MORNING

Allenby gets off the elevator, stands and thinks for a

moment, then heads off down the hallway in the direction

of Chance's room.

52EXT. FRONT RAND MANSION - MORNING

Perkins is at the head of eight servants lined up on the

front steps. Two black PLYMOUTH SEDANS pull up and EIGHT

MEN in grey business suits get out. One of them, WOLTZ,

goes directly to Perkins.

WOLTZ:

Good morning, Perkins.

PERKINS:

Good morning, Mr. Woltz, nice

to see you again.

WOLTZ:

Thank you. How have you been?

PERKINS:

Fine, thank you.

(hands Woltz paper)

We have an additional guest with

us today, Mr. Chauncey Gardiner.

WOLTZ:

(reads list)

I see...

(turns to other men)

Okay, let's go to work.

The eight servants pair up with the eight men in suits

and go into the house.

53INT. RAND'S ROOM - MORNING

Chance watches television as Rand speaks.

RAND:

Yes, when I was younger I had

thoughts about public office...

But I found, Chauncey -- that I

was able to contribute more as

a private citizen... Of course,

my wealth provided me with con-

siderable influence, but I've

tried, believe me, not to mis-

use that power... It's extremely

important, Chauncey, that you

don't allow yourself to become

blinded to the needs of the

country even when the tempations

are strong. I've been labeled a

'kingmaker' by many, but I have

tried to stay open to the voices

of the people... I have tried to

remain honest to myself...

CHANCE:

(changing channels)

...I see, Ben.

54INT. RAND MANSION - A HALLWAY - MORNING

One of the servants accompanies Secret Service Agent RIFF

as he knocks on each door, checks inside, then moves on.

55EXT. FRONT RAND MANSION - MORNING

Lewis picks up his phone and dials as he sees the President's

motorcade come through the far gate.

LEWIS:

(into phone)

The President is arriving now,

Mrs. Aubrey.

56INT. RAND MANSION - MRS. AUBREY'S OFFICE - MORNING

MRS. AUBREY is Rand's executive secretary, but her office

is the Nerve Center of Rand Enterprises.

MRS. AUBREY

(on phone)

Very good, Lewis, thank you.

Mrs. Aubrey clicks off, pushes another button.

57INT. RAND'S ROOM - MORNING

Rand smiles at Chance as the phone buzzes.

RAND:

He's here.

(into phone)

Yes, Mrs. Aubrey?

(listens)

Fine. Show the President to the

library, we'll be along in a few

minutes.

Rand hangs up the phone, turns to Chance with a twinkle

in his eyes.

RAND:

It's an old habit that goes

along with power -- keep them

waiting...

Teresa brings Rand's wheelchair to him.

RAND:

(stands, very week)

Not now, Teresa. I'm seeing the

President on my own two feet.

TERESA:

But, Mr. Rand...

RAND:

(puts an arm around

Chance for support)

Shall we go, Chauncey?

CHANCE:

Yes, Ben. That's a good idea.

Rand walks slowly, clings to the limping Chance tightly

as they leave the room.

58EXT. HALLWAY - MORNING

The President and his entourage are seen on their way to

the library as Rand and Chance enter and stop in front

of Mrs. Aubrey's office.

RAND:

Mrs. Aubrey, have you received

the papers on the Caracas

agreement?

MRS. AUBREY

Yes, sir. They're ready for

you to sign.

RAND:

Excellent.

(as they move away)

A good woman, Mrs. Aubrey.

CHANCE:

I agree, Ben.

They shuffle off down the hallway and are met immediately

by Woltz and and another agent, Barker. Both carry small metal

detectors.

WOLTZ:

Good morning, Mr. Rand.

RAND:

Woltz...

(nods toward Chance)

This is Mr. Gardiner.

WOLTZ:

(indicates detector)

Just a formality, Mr. Gardiner.

Barker passes the detector over Rand as Woltz checks Chance.

RAND:

Good thing we're not in our

wheelchairs, you boys would have

a devil of a time.

CHANCE:

(as Woltz finishes)

Thank you very much.

59INT. RAND LIBRARY - MORNING

A somewhat nervous PRESIDENT waits for Rand and Chance.

When they enter, he goes to Rand with both hands out-

stretched.

PRESIDENT:

Ben!

RAND:

...Mr. President, how good to

see you.

PRESIDENT:

It's so good to see you too,

Ben, you look terrific!

RAND:

(with a look

to Chance)

Thank you, Mr. President. Let me

tell you, your visit has raised

my spirits...

PRESIDENT:

Well, I've missed you, my friend.

(guides Rand to

chair)

Here, sit down, get off your

feet.

As Rand sinks into the chair, Chance approaches the President

with both hands outstretched.

CHANCE:

Good morning, Mr. President.

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