Chappaquiddick Page #14

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The SOUND NEARLY DROPS OUT. Ted’s fixation on the hearse

intensifies as David Burke’s voice becomes muffled -

DAVID BURKE (V.O.)

(muffled)

Well...were you driving, Ted?

(beat)

Ted?

Ted gives a long hard look into the hearse. The sight of ithas nearly turned him to stone.

DAVID BURKE (V.O.)

(nearly inaudible)

Ted? Ted? Ted, can you hear me?

The hearse drives out of Ted’s field of view and the SOUND

COMES BACK INTO FOCUS -

Ted looks back at the phone, still shaken.

TED:

That's all you need to know for now.

Ted hangs up the receiver.

EXT. CHAPPAQUIDDICK ISLAND - FERRY LANDING - DAY

Ted staggers over to Markham and Gargan, in as much of a dazeas moments after the accident. He tries to compose himselfand speak with the authority of a leader but struggles.

TED:

Alright, I’m headed back to town.

Gargan, don’t upset the girls.

Don’t let them get involved.

GARGAN:

Of course.

TED:

Okay. Good. Paul, why don't you -

GARGAN:

Paul. Go with Ted. Run interference.

Make sure he doesn't talk to anyoneelse.

Behind them a new, empty ferry arrives.

69.

EXT. FERRY - DAY

The ferry drifts across the water toward Edgartown. Ted andMarkham stand at the ferry's edge, wind blowing through theirhair. A few other ferry patrons mill about behind them. Acouple of men whisper and point at Ted.

MAN:

He doesn’t look like he was in an

accident...

EXT. EDGARTOWN FERRY LANDING - CONTINUOUS

The ferry approaches the dock. Suddenly, Ted pushes throughthe crowd of people and leaps over the rail onto the landing.

Everyone looks on, shocked and dumbfounded.

He books it up the street towards town.

The gate slowly starts to open. Markham tries to speed walkthrough the pain in order to catch up.

Ted turns the heads of every pedestrian he passes as he jogsup the street. Markham falls further behind.

MARKHAM:

Ted! Wait up!

A local newspaper PHOTOGRAPHER approaches Ted. The senatoravoids eye contact as they cross paths.

PHOTOGRAPHER:

Senator!

Ted doesn't look back. A flashbulb goes off. A camera shuttersnaps. Ted continues racing forward.

EXT. EDGARTOWN POLICE STATION - DAY

Ted hustles up the steps headed for the front door. Hereaches for the handle just as -

The front door swings open. JAMES RESTON, 59, a grizzled New

York Times reporter, exits and spots Ted immediately.

RESTON:

Senator. I heard you were in anaccident this morning.

TED:

James. You’re a long ways from NewYork, aren’t you?

RESTON:

On vacation. Thanks.

70.

TED:

Well, I’ll let you get back to it.

RESTON:

So, any truth to that story?

TED:

Automobile accidents? Is the Times

putting all their Pulitzer winnerson the local traffic reports beat?

Markham hobbles up the steps. He pushes Ted inside.

RESTON:

Just me I hope.

Markham slams the door. Reston flips his notebook closed.

INT. EDGARTOWN POLICE STATION - DAY

Ted’s canvas boat shoes glide along the cheap linoleum tile.

EXT. DIKE BRIDGE - DAY

A tow truck pulls a chain attached to the submerged Oldsmobile.

The side door reads in hand-painted letters: “You Wreck ‘Em -

We Fetch ‘Em”. The wheels spin as the tow truck drags the carout of the water, releasing a large air bubble.

Chief Arena looks around with confused frustration. He dashes

over to his squad car and yanks the radio receiver towards him.

CHIEF ARENA:

Can somebody tell me why we haven’tfound Senator Kennedy yet!?

SECRETARY (V.O.)

He’s right here at the station,

Chief.

Chief Arena shoots the radio an incredulous look.

CHIEF ARENA:

Well, tell him to get his ass down here!

The radio crackles before the other end of the line goessilent for a moment.

SECRETARY (V.O.)

Uh...the Senator would prefer that

you come to him.

Chief Arena stares, caught off guard by the gall of thisrequest. Water still drips from his bathing suit.

71.

INT. CHIEF ARENA’S OFFICE - DAY

Markham shuts the door. He turns to Ted, who rests his feeton the desk.

MARKHAM:

The Chief is on his way.

TED:

Good. Thanks Paul. That’ll be fine.

Ted takes his feet off the desk and leans in towards Markham.

Out of his peripheral, the chief’s phone glares back at Ted.

He lifts the entire phone and pulls it directly in front ofhim before picking up the receiver.

TED (CONT’D)

If you could just give me a

moment...

MARKHAM:

Sure thing, Ted.

Markham steps out, leaving Ted completely alone.

Ted stares back at the phone, hovering his unsteady fingerover the “0” key. The dial tone rings out until -

A loud, pulsing OFF-HOOK TONE screeches from the handset.

Ted startles at the sudden sound. He hangs up the receiver.

He takes a deep breath and tries again.

His trembling finger moves swiftly to hit the “0”.

OPERATOR (V.O.)

Directory Assistance. How may Idirect your call?

Ted picks up a nearby pencil and starts doodling on a pad of

paper.

TED:

Uh...um...Kopechne...listing in New

Jersey, please.

(beat)

I'm unsure of the spelling.

Ted draws wavy lines and shades them. It's a doodle of asailboat in choppy waters.

OPERATOR (V.O.)

I’ll connect you.

Ted puts his head in his free hand and closes his eyes.

RING. RING.

72.

The line picks up. Ted squeezes his eyes shut tighter. Heshakes with tension.

MRS. KOPECHNE (V.O.)

(cheery)

Hello.

Ted exhales and slowly opens his eyes. He hesitates.

TED:

Hello. Is this Mrs. Kopechne?

MRS. KOPECHNE (V.O.)

Yes, it is.

TED:

Mrs. Kopechne. This is Senator TedKennedy. I’d like to speak to yourhusband.

MRS. KOPECHNE (V.O.)

Oh. Uh. Senator. Joseph's gone tothe store at the moment.

Mrs. Kopechne’s voice cracks with prescient concern.

MRS. KOPECHNE (V.O.)

Can I take a message for him?

The swell in her voice pierces through Ted. He swivels hischair around to face the wall, away from the door.

TED:

Mrs. Kopechne. Mary Jo...was in an

accident.

MRS. KOPECHNE (V.O.)

Was it in a car?

Ted hangs his head in shame. He can barely get out the nextwords.

TED:

It was an automobile accident.

Gwen, afraid what this could mean, audibly clutches thehandset tighter. Ted’s voice remains steady. Ted’s voiceremains calm. Tears slowly start to roll down his face.

TED (CONT’D)

Mary Jo was returning to take aferry back to the mainland...whenthe accident occurred.

MRS. KOPECHNE (V.O.)

Was my daughter killed, Senator?

73.

Ted keeps his eyes open and his trembling chin up. He won’tallow himself to hide from this.

TED:

Yes.

Silence. Not a sound comes from the other end of the call.

Ted closes his eyes once more.

TED (CONT’D)

Mary Jo was an exceptional humanbeing. She served my brother and myfamily with dignity...grace -

A loud CRASH from the other end of the line. Loud,

uncontrollable SOBS from Mrs. Kopechne. Each one drillsdeeper and deeper into Ted. He shudders as -

CLICK.

The line goes dead. Ted stares holding the phone to his earin complete stunned shock. He’s barely present. A beat. Along, uncomfortable beat.

A loud, pulsing OFF-HOOK TONE screeches from the handset.

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