Chappaquiddick Page #15

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Ted snaps back to life. He warily hangs up the phone.

He slowly begins to circle the sailboat on his pad of paper.

Again and again. Finally, he puts the pencil down before hepicks up the receiver.

He dials the phone with no hesitation. His face exudes asomberness that seems to admit defeat.

RING. RING.

WOMAN (V.O.)

Hello. Kennedy Residence.

TED:

I need to talk to my father again.

WOMAN (V.O.)

You put him in an awful spell thelast time you spoke...he’sresting...I’m not sure -

TED:

(softly, resigned)

Now, Ann.

WOMAN (V.O.)

One moment.

Ted waits on the line. His pulse quickens as the anxiety ofthis moment weighs on him.

74.

Commotion can be heard faintly from the other line. Ted grabshis wrinkled collar and presses it into a fine crease. Hesits up straight at full attention, ignoring that his posturewill go unseen during the call.

WOMAN (V.O.)

Ted. You’re on with Joe.

TED:

Dad. I’m at the police station.

The other line is quiet except for the sound of JosephKennedy straining with each breath.

TED (CONT’D)

Dad. I’m telling you this...I’mtelling you this because I wantedto let you know...I’m going toexplain what happened. I’m going totell them I was driving.

JOSEPH KENNEDY:

...No...

TED:

I will protect myself. But I’m

going to do what’s right...and

that’s tell the truth.

JOSEPH KENNEDY:

...Alibi...

Ted winces. The vein in his neck throbs. This one word

increases the pressure on him insurmountably.

TED:

I’m not going to be the one definedby my flaws.

An unsettling silence exudes the other end of the line. Thesound of a low rustle moves slowly. Then faster, back andforth, as an eraser grazes against a chalkboard.

TED (CONT’D)

Growing up...you said...Jack’s the

charming one...Bobby’s the brilliant

one...and Joe Jr. was the favorite one.

(beat)

Well, what did that leave for me,

Dad? The dumb one? The fat one?

I’ll tell you...the one who got in

the most trouble.

(beat)

I’m charming. I’m brilliant. I’mthe only son you've got left.

Through the receiver, chalk scrapes across the chalkboard.

75.

TED (CONT’D)

I’m the one making this decision.

I’m the one.

The phone line clatters as the handset is passed off.

WOMAN (V.O.)

He’s writing something. He says.

(beat)

“You’re the head of the family now.”

Ted can’t process the enormity of this statement. The Kennedylegacy rests on his shoulders. He lets the phone move awayfrom his ear as he sinks to the desk.

TED:

Goodbye, Ann.

He gently places the receiver back into its cradle. Ted looksdeeply at the phone, hoping for answers.

He turns back to the drawing of the sailboat. He picks up thepencil and scratches it out, tearing a hole in the paper.

He picks up the phone as he stands. Ted dials with confidence.

RING.

GIFFORD (V.O.)

Senator Kennedy’s Office.

TED:

Dun, I need you on the next flightto Edgartown.

GIFFORD (V.O.)

I’ve been expecting your call.

David filled me in.

TED:

We’ve made mistakes here. I need youto understand that. I want to make

sure we handle everything goingforward with the utmost integrity.

Ted bites his lower lip in an empathetic manner.

GIFFORD (V.O.)

I understand.

Ted points as he speaks. He paces behind the desk withexcitement as he barks his orders.

TED:

We need to make sure this poorgirl’s body gets to her familyright away. Can you do that for me?

76.

GIFFORD (V.O.)

Sure. But there may be a delay ifthey want to perform an autopsy.

Ted slams his open palm down on the desk.

TED:

Why do you think I want it out ofhere?! Can you handle this or NOT?

GIFFORD (V.O.)

No. I mean...yes. I mean I think I -

Ted tosses the receiver into its cradle. CLICK. He saunters

around the desk and opens the door.

TED:

Paul. I need you.

Markham stands up and hurries into the chief’s office. Tedshuts the door behind him.

TED (CONT’D)

I need you to help me come up witha written statement. I’m going tosay I was driving. But I don’t wantto drag you and Joey into this anymore than I already have. So we’rejust going to leave that part out.

And any part that could hurt myposition with the police or thepublic. We're gonna leave that outtoo. Can you do that?

Markham looks at Ted with saucers for eyes. A nearlyimpossible task.

INT. EDGARTOWN POLICE STATION - DAY

A pair of rubber flip flops SLAP against cheap linoleum tile.

JUMP CUT TO:

Chief Arena pushes through the door with his name on it.

INT. CHIEF ARENA'S OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER

Chief Arena stands in the doorway wearing his bathing suit.

TED:

I have a statement I'd like to read

if that's, okay.

77.

INT. LAWRENCE COTTAGE - LIVING ROOM - DAY

The front door BURSTS open. Light floods into the livingroom. Esther and Nance Lyons squint their eyes, set downtheir coffee. Gargan barges past them CLAPPING his hands.

He moves to every closed door in the house and opens them.

CLAP. CLAP. CLAP.

From one of the bedrooms emerges Suzy Tannenbaum and CricketKeough, still in PJ’s. Gargan points at them.

Everyone stares at him completely baffled.

GARGAN:

You two. Get dressed. Get packed.

We’re leaving here as soon aspossible.

SUZY TANNENBAUM:

What’s this about, Joey?

He goes into the kitchen and pulls out two trash cans.

GARGAN:

This garbage can here is forresponsible, non-alcoholic, uprightcitizen’s trash ONLY.

CRICKET:

Has anyone seen Mary Jo?

GARGAN:

THIS one is for everything else.

Every bottle. Every can -

The Boiler Room Girls grab their bags. LaRosa and Ted’sdriver toss assorted items into their respective trash cans.

Only Esther defiantly stands her ground, refusing to help.

ESTHER:

Joey, will you just tell us what’sgoing on, already? No bullshit.

Nance Lyons stands at the entryway putting her handbag overher shoulder. She picks up Mary Jo’s purse.

NANCE:

And where’s Mary Jo? I haven’t seenher since last night.

Gargan lowers the two trash cans. He can’t keep up the facadeof control any longer.

78.

GARGAN:

There’s been an accident. Senator

Kennedy’s car went off the bridgeand into Poucha Pond last night...

Gargan hesitates. His head spins with emotion and lawyerplatitudes. He blurts out an answer to fill the silence.

GARGAN (CONT’D)

...and we can’t find Mary Jo.

The group murmurs with deep concern. They look at their feetunsure what to say next. Nance Lyons pipes up with helpfuloptimism.

NANCE:

Has anyone called the authorities?

INT. EDGARTOWN POLICE STATION - DAY

The door to the Chief’s office swings open. Out steps Arenaproudly holding up Ted’s handwritten statement. He hands itto his secretary.

CHIEF ARENA:

Have this typed up for me.

Behind him, Ted and Markham shuffle out the door. Ted putshis hand on Chief Arena’s shoulder.

TED:

Chief, you mind not letting anypress get a hold of that until Iget the all clear from my lawyer?

CHIEF ARENA:

No problem, Senator. I understand.

Kennedy puts his arm around Arena and ushers him away fromthe secretary for a more private conversation.

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