Chappaquiddick Page #12

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Sheriff Look pulls his head out from the passenger window.

SHERIFF LOOK:

It's coming over the wire now.

(beat)

Chief, the car is registered toEdward M. Kennedy!

The chief nearly falls off his perch in shock.

CHIEF ARENA:

Kennedy. Dear God. Not anothertragedy.

EXT. SHIRETOWN INN - DAY

Ted glances up, paranoid at the increasing number of peoplepassing by the phone booth.

He speaks softly with great, nervous strain in his voice.

TED:

It was my car. It’s registered tome even though I never drive thedamn thing.

INTERCUT:

SORENSEN:

Well, who was driving?

Ted pauses as he thinks about how to respond to this.

58.

TED:

I'd say she was.

SORENSEN:

Then I don't think you have

anything to worry about.

TED:

Does that story play?

SORENSEN:

That's what happened, isn't it?

Ted prepares his answer in his head.

STAN MOORE (O.S.)

Heeey, Teddy boy!

There's a quick knock against the glass. Ted spins around.

Stan Moore stands waving with his friend Ross Richards. Thetwo men who beat Ted in the race yesterday dress in identicalpolo shirts and pants.

TED:

(into phone)

I gotta let you go.

Ted hangs up the phone and throws on a smile.

EXT. DIKE BRIDGE - DAY

Farrar resurfaces outside of the sunken Oldsmobile. He wades

over to Chief Arena and pulls off his mask.

FARRAR:

Chief...

Farrar leans in closer to speak in hushed tones. The crowdhas grown larger with several children at the front.

FARRAR (CONT’D)

We've got a body.

CHIEF ARENA:

A BODY?! It's not the Senator is it?

FARRAR:

No. It's a young woman.

Chief Arena recoils at the implications of this revelation.

CHIEF ARENA:

Somebody find the Senator! Get himdown here! We've got a situation.

59.

An officer in the front of the crowd steps away, revealingGargan and Markham. Gargan seethes.

GARGAN:

He didn’t report it, the son of abitch.

Gargan storms off towards the Valiant.

INT. SHIRETOWN INN - PATIO - DAY

The dining hall bustles with activity around Ted, who staresoff with a vacant, groused look.

Sitting across from him, Stan holds court at the table, whichalso includes Ross Richards and MARILYN RICHARDS, who feigns

interest beneath a luxurious hat.

STAN MOORE:

...so that's when I shove the guy.

From Ted's POV, Gargan and Markham walk past the entrance ofthe patio restaurant. They both appear to catch a glimpse ofTed as they pass out of view. Ted gives a deep look ofconcern, having been potentially spotted.

STAN MOORE (CONT’D)

And he's so drunk...he stumbles

eight feet back right through theterrace. POW!

Gargan and Markham return back to the entryway. Gargan lockseyes with Ted and stomps into the main dining area.

Ted slumps in his chair. They definitely spotted him.

Amongst the many finely-attired diners, Gargan and Markham’swrinkled clothes, sweaty hair, and bleary eyes make themstick out like unwelcome guests.

STAN MOORE (CONT’D)

And, would you believe it? This guyfalls ass backwards right in frontof a security guard!

Gargan's face boils bright red. His eyes remain locked on Tedas he approaches the table. Markham limps slowly behind. Hesquints and rubs his head, hungover.

Ted's eyes drift up to Gargan, who hovers over the table.

Stan only just takes notice.

STAN MOORE (CONT’D)

Oh, hey! Joey! You're going to wantto hear this!

60.

MARILYN RICHARDS

No. You really don't. This is mythird time not wanting to hear it.

Gargan doesn't acknowledge anyone else at the table. Hecontinues staring daggers into Ted.

GARGAN:

Ted. I need to speak with you inyour room. Right. Now.

Ted settles into his chair. Leans way back, relaxed.

TED:

C'mon, Joey. Don't be rude. TheRichards -

GARGAN:

TED. I need to speak with you. It'sa matter of some importance.

TED:

Okay, okay. Let me pay the...

GARGAN:

Now Ted. I'd like to see you.

Right. Now.

Gargan has attracted the attention of most of the diners now.

He huffs and puffs with a combination of rage and exhaustion.

INT. OLDSMOBILE - UNDERWATER - DAY

The hair floats above Mary Jo's dead body, bathed inchiaroscuro light, in the same contorted position.

From below, Farrar enters the crime scene. He grabs a hold ofMary Jo's waist to pull her out, but she doesn't budge. Hegoes to pry away her hands. They are both gripped deep intothe back passenger seat.

With some effort, he frees her corpse. It starts to float.

Farrar pulls her buoyant remains back down with him.

He exits the car and pulls her out the window with ease...atleast at first -

SNAG.

Mary Jo's body jerks to a full stop. Farrar looks back. Seesthe gold chain around her waist caught on the same long shardof glass.

He quickly floats back and releases the chain. Hand overhand, he swiftly extracts the rest of her body.

61.

EXT. DIKE BRIDGE - DAY

From the view of the bridge, the body surfaces out of thewater, face down. Farrar follows shortly thereafter. Thecrowd of onlookers at the bridge GASP, horrified at thesight. Parents cover their children's eyes.

Chief Arena looks on with a cold, dumbfounded intensity.

CHIEF ARENA:

Do you recognize her? Is it one ofthe Kennedy clan?

FARRAR:

I wouldn't know.

Off his annoyed look, Farrar flips the body over to have itID'd, revealing Mary Jo's face. Her bloodshot eyes and purpleextremities are the stuff of nightmares. From the shore,

Sheriff Look and a few bystanders turn away out of respect.

CHIEF ARENA:

I don't recognize her. It's not oneof the clan. Thank God.

SHERIFF LOOK:

What to now, Chief?

CHIEF ARENA:

We ought to handle this thing bythe book. Get me someone from the

D.M.V. Get me the coroner and the

medical examiner. And somebody,

please, get me Senator Ted Kennedy.

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

Markham slams the door behind him. He locks the dead bolt.

Gargan paces the room with pounding footsteps. He towersabove Ted, who sits on the end of his bed staring up at him.

GARGAN:

What the f*** is going on?!

TED:

Now, just wait a minute here, Joey.

GARGAN:

You were supposed to report thefucking accident!

Ted demurs with a petulant look.

MARKHAM:

Joey's right, Senator.

62.

GARGAN:

What happened last night?

Ted gives a childlike shrug of non-remorse, as he reclinesback on the bed.

TED:

I didn't report it.

Gargan explodes.

GARGAN:

What ON EARTH would make you thinkthat was a good idea?

Ted offers little more than a passive shrug.

GARGAN (CONT’D)

We're ALL in real trouble now. How

could you let this much time go bywithout saying a word?

TED:

Did the police arrive at thecottage last night?

GARGAN:

No.

TED:

Well, don't you think they'd havegotten there within the hour if Ihad reported it?

Gargan drops his guard, thrown off by this question.

GARGAN:

I guess. But -

Ted sits back up.

TED:

I thought this matter had beenhandled, Joey. I thought I couldcount on you.

Ted roars to his feet and wags a finger in Gargan's face.

TED (CONT’D)

The moment the police didn't arriveat the cottage you should’ve known.

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