Chappaquiddick Page #10

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MARKHAM:

Joey’s right, Senator.

GARGAN:

See! And now you’ve got the U.S.

Attorney of Massachusetts sayingthe same thing.

Ted pushes Gargan to the side and climbs over the metal gate.

TED:

Alright, alright. I’ll report it.

Jeeze.

Ted staggers towards a cheap fifteen foot boat with a motorattached. He attempts to untie it from a tangled rope.

GARGAN:

Whose boat is that, Ted?

TED:

What the hell does it matter? I

need you guys to take me back toEdgartown if I’m gonna call thepolice, don’t I?

Ted struggles with the knots, not making much progress.

GARGAN:

Here, let me help.

TED:

Thanks, Joey.

Ted pats Gargan on the back. Markham hurries over and takescautious steps into the boat. He gives the motor a couple ofquick tugs as Ted and Gargan untie the last knot and hop in.

The boat motors away from the island. As it recedes into thedistance, a nearby pay phone is revealed in the foregroundright next to the Valiant.

48.

INT. OLDSMOBILE - UNDERWATER - NIGHT

Mary Jo presses against the sides of the backseat; the waterlevel has now risen up to her neck. She stretches her bodyjust to keep her head above water.

MARY JO:

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lordis with thee. Blessed art thou

amongst women, and blessed is thefruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Mary Jo pauses, unable to continue for a moment. Her eyeswell up, but she forces her emotions back down to finish.

MARY JO (CONT’D)

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray forus sinners, now and at the hour ofour death. Amen.

Mary Jo gives a deep breath and does the sign of the cross.

She stands strong.

MARY JO (CONT’D)

Hail Mary, full of grace...

EXT. EDGARTOWN HARBOR CHANNEL - NIGHT

From overhead, the light at the front of the boat entersframe. The three men sit in silence as the boat quietlymotors through the harbor.

Ted whimpers in self pity, holding back a torrent of emotion.

Gargan keeps his focus on navigating, while Markham avoidseye contact with the Senator.

Ted bursts into undignified tears. His sobs break the silence.

INT. OLDSMOBILE - UNDERWATER - NIGHT

Mary Jo’s heart races. Her breathing steadies and her resolvestrengthens with each word of her prayer.

MARY JO:

Our Father, Who art in heaven,

Hallowed be Thy Name; Thy kingdomcome, Thy will be done...

EXT. EDGARTOWN FERRY LANDING - NIGHT

Ted wipes the last tear away from his eye. The boat nears thesleepy harbor. A large yacht can be seen in the distance.

49.

TED:

Do you think my dad can fix this?

The yacht's cabin light turns on, illuminating the nearbywater. Gargan kills the motor, and the boat drifts slowlytowards the shore. He signals to Markham to kill the light.

TED (CONT’D)

Well, do you?

GARGAN:

I don't know, Ted.

The boat floats up to the shoreline. Ted stands up, unsteady.

TED:

I just don't know, Joey. I don'tknow how this happens. I don't knowhow this happens to me. Maybe therereally is a curse hanging over thisfamily.

GARGAN:

You're going to survive.

Ted gets out of the boat.

TED:

But does it have to be like this?

GARGAN:

This is the only way it can be.

(beat)

Just give your mother a call first.

Don’t make her learn about another

Kennedy tragedy on the news.

Ted closes his eyes and nods. He knows Gargan's right. Tedslowly starts to turn and walk away.

GARGAN (CONT’D)

So you'll report it?

TED:

I'll take care of it.

Ted shoves the front end of the boat back into the water. The

boat starts to turn, but Gargan keeps his eyes locked on theSenator. Ted turns and walks away, disappearing into the fog.

INT. SHIRETOWN INN - TED'S HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT

The keys jangle as the door opens and Ted stumbles in. Hestaggers towards the closet, shedding his clothes.

50.

He grabs a fresh pair of pants and shirt, then heads to thebathroom. He looks into the mirror and combs his hair. Not

satisfied till every hair is in place.

EXT. SHIRETOWN INN - NIGHT

Ted, wearing a fresh sport coat and tie, enters the phonebooth outside the hotel. He shuts the door, attempting tomake as little noise as possible.

He takes a deep breath before picking up the receiver. Hedrops in a dime and dials.

The phone rings. Rings.

A woman's voice answers, half asleep.

WOMAN (V.O.)

Hello?

TED:

I need to speak with my father.

WOMAN (V.O.)

Ted?

TED:

Now, Ann.

Ted taps his foot impatiently. He looks down and sees acockroach scurrying about underneath him. He stops tappinghis foot. The cockroach crawls underneath the door jam andescapes into the night.

WOMAN (V.O)

Okay, Ted, I have Joe for you.

The line goes quiet. Strained breathing can be heard comingfrom the other end.

TED:

Dad...

Ted stops himself. He presses his head against the pay phonewith nervous tension as he searches for the right words.

TED (CONT’D)

Sorry to be calling so late. I'vegotten myself into the deepest kindof trouble. There's been an

accident. And...well...one of

Bobby's secretaries is dead. I wasdriving. I'm okay. No one else wasinvolved.

(beat)

(MORE)

51.

TED (CONT’D)

I may have had too much to drink

this time.

(beat)

I need your help.

With a great deal of ache in his voice, JOSEPH KENNEDY, 80,

struggles to get even one word out.

JOSEPH KENNEDY (V.O.)

...Alibi...

Ted shuts his eyes and nods. He knows he's right. He looks up.

INT. SHIRETOWN INN - COURTYARD - LATER

Ted leans against the wall, waiting at the bottom of thesteps leading to his room. It appears he’s been standingthere for some time when a HOTEL CLERK passes through.

TED:

Excuse me. There's a loud partygoing on upstairs. Do you have thetime?

HOTEL CLERK:

Oh. Sure. It’s...uh...2:25.

Ted buttons his sport coat and tucks in his tie. The hotel

clerk stares at him confused.

TED:

I'm having trouble sleeping.

HOTEL CLERK:

Oh. Sorry. I didn't realize you

were trying to sleep. I'll look

into that right away, Senator.

INT. OLDSMOBILE - UNDERWATER - NIGHT

Mary Jo shivers, submerged up to her chin. She breathes withquick, short bursts. Not due to panic, the oxygen runs low.

She looks around, sure she needs to make a move. Mary Jotakes the deepest breath she can.

She dives below.

BELOW THE WATER:

Mary Jo heads straight for the rear passenger window. Shepaddles forward through the opening.

Her slim upper torso slides through the window with ease.

52.

SNAG.

She jerks backwards and stalls. She’s caught on something.

The gold chain around her waist is snagged on to a long,

sharp piece of glass. She can't see this.

SHE THRASHES.

Her limbs convulse as she attempts to free herself. Her eyesburst open as she feels her lungs collapsing.

Mary Jo reverses course.

The chain loosens, freeing her as she reenters the car.

ABOVE THE WATER:

Mary Jo explodes back above the surface. She GASPS a piercingwail of a lifesaving breath.

Her face contorts in terror, sure she can't do that again.

INT. SHIRETOWN INN - TED’S HOTEL BATHROOM - NIGHT

Ted stands in the shower. He leans back with his eyes closedletting the warm water roll over him.

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