Chappaquiddick Page #2

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In the photo, Gargan lies on the ground and takes a punch inthe jaw from Bobby. All the Kennedy brothers appear to laughand smile. Ted especially.

TED (CONT’D)

Listen, Ole Joey’ll fix it, right?

GARGAN:

When your dad said that -

TED:

When my dad said that, he said thatI could always count on you. Now,

can I count on you?

Gargan grits his teeth.

GARGAN:

Yep. “Ole Joey’ll fix it.”

7.

EXT. MARTHA’S VINEYARD - EDGARTOWN - DAY

As seen from above, a raven BLACK ‘67 OLDSMOBILE sedan

pierces through winding roads leading to a picturesqueseaside vacation town filled with brightly colored houses.

Even more brightly colored sails fill the harbor as the carreaches the ferry landing.

INT. OLDSMOBILE - DAY

A shadow engulfs Ted, who sits in the backseat, wearingreading glasses, reviewing a piece of legislation.

A New York Times newspaper rests on the seat next to him.

The date reads:
"FRIDAY, JULY 18TH, 1969".

The headline reads:

-"APOLLO COASTS ON TOWARD MOON"

EXT. CHAPPAQUIDDICK ISLAND - DAY

Ted’s car rolls off the ferry with great caution. There islittle sign of civilization, except back across the bay.

Until -

EXT. LAWRENCE COTTAGE - DAY

TED’S DRIVER, 63, opens the rear passenger door. He unloads

the luggage and a case of beer. Ted, ever the man of thepeople, grabs his own box of assorted hard liquor.

INT. LAWRENCE COTTAGE - DAY

Hands place bottles (and more bottles) on an entryway table.

This must be a party for dozens of people, or at least onehell of a rager for any fewer.

INT. LAWRENCE COTTAGE - BEDROOM - DAY

Ted catches a glimpse of himself in the mirror as he changesinto a bathing suit. He turns around more fully revealing aBACK BRACE. A damaged man.

EXT. DIKE BRIDGE - DAY

The car bounces along an unpaved road, jostling the two meninside.

8.

It drives towards the beach across a rickety, single-lanebridge with no guardrail. DIKE BRIDGE.

Ted opens his door and takes his first step into the sand.

EXT. BEACH - DAY

Scattered tourists line the narrow beach.

ESTHER NEWBERG, 26, wears a fashionable bikini and rubstanning lotion on the back of her more modest, but more eye-

catching, blonde friend, MARY JO KOPECHNE, 28.

Mary Jo lays on her stomach looking over her shoulder atEsther. Behind her, Gargan and another man, RAY LAROSA, 41,

cavort with FOUR YOUNG WOMEN in the water. Wearing a diversmask and snorkel, the fit LaRosa dives back under the surface.

ESTHER:

I still can’t believe you stayed upall night by yourself working onBobby’s Vietnam speech.

MARY JO:

I had company.

Esther raises an eyebrow.

ESTHER:

I hadn’t heard this part.

MARY JO:

Not the whole night, of course.

Mary Jo turns back and looks out over the ocean.

MARY JO (CONT’D)

I was just trying to make sense ofall of Sorensen and Burke’s notes.

So finally, I just call Burke andsee if he can’t explain himself.

And that’s when he tells me, “All

that stuff comes straight from Ted.

Why don’t you go ask him yourself?”

Ted spots the girls from afar, starts to stroll up behind them.

MARY JO (CONT’D)

And would you believe it? It’s pasttwo in the morning, and there’sTeddy...in his office...answeringletters from mothers, wives, and

widows begging him to put an end tothe war.

9.

Ted steps lightly, trying not to intrude on the girls'conversation. He can't help but eavesdrop.

MARY JO (CONT’D)

So I ask him, “Senator. What did

you mean when you said this warmade you think, ‘What has happenedto America?’”

(beat)

And then he looks up at me...with a

lump in his throat...and he says -

TED:

Revealing state secrets is an actof treason, you know.

Mary Jo spins around. She’s caught off guard by Ted butquickly recovers.

MARY JO:

Well, if the state secret is that

Ted Kennedy has a heart, then I’mguilty as charged.

Ted CHUCKLES and offers a conciliatory shrug. Mary Jo gets up

and embraces him with a warm hug. A very warm hug.

ESTHER:

How’re the kids, Senator?

Ted clinches his jaw and speaks through gritted teeth.

TED:

Fine. Just fine. Thanks for asking,

Esta’.

ESTHER:

And your wife?

TED:

At home on bedrest, I’m afraid.

Doctor’s orders. Say, wouldn’t youlike to go for a swim with theother girls?

ESTHER:

Mary Jo, want to come along?

MARY JO:

I...

(glances at Ted)

I actually can’t swim.

ESTHER:

Suit yourself. Good luck in therace this afternoon, Senator.

10.

Esther shoots Ted a glib smile and heads for the water,

joining Gargan and her friends. Mary Jo snickers as Ted laysdown on his stomach next to her.

TED:

That was a hell of time working onBobby’s campaign together.

(beat)

So, why haven’t you found your nextrace yet?

Ted flashes her a signature Kennedy smile. Mary Jo looks awayand Ted's smile fades quickly.

MARY JO:

It’s never going to be the same.

TED:

I know.

(beat)

The offer I made still stands. Come

to Washington. Work on my staff.

MARY JO:

I’ve got too many memories there.

TED:

We can make new ones.

MARY JO:

I can’t work on another

presidential campaign.

TED:

I don’t know that you have to.

Mary Jo sets her head on Ted’s shoulder but continues tostare out into the distance.

TED (CONT’D)

The race this afternoon...

He puts his arm around her.

TED (CONT’D)

I want you to know...I’m racing forBobby.

Mary Jo looks up at him and smiles.

EXT. EDGARTOWN HARBOR - DAY

A dozen sailboats navigate the choppy waters, circling themarks in the Annual Edgartown Yacht Club Regatta. A row ofspectator boats filled with men in cotton suits and women infashionable dresses look on with great anticipation.

11.

A large swath of locals hold signs reading, “KENNEDY #1”,

“KENNEDY TO VICTORY”, and “AMERICA NEEDS TED”.

The bow of the Victura crashes through the waves. Tedskippers the 26-foot sloop, with Gargan and PAUL MARKHAM, 39,

and HOWIE HALL, 12, as his crew.

TED:

Ready to jibe!

GARGAN/MARKHAM

Ready!

They approach the reach mark with great speed.

TED:

Jibing!

Ted pulls the tiller towards him and quickly ducks as theboom swings over his head. Gargan and Markham pull ropes andtie knots in expert harmony, as the Victura makes a perfectlyexecuted turn.

Ted peers around the main sail -- No other boats in front ofhim, the leeward mark is in his sights. He looks behind him.

The Victura has a comfortable lead, but Ted remains uneasy.

Ted squeezes the tiller so tightly the blood rushes to hishands. He takes a swig from his beer and makes eye contactwith no one as he barks out more orders.

GARGAN:

Teddy, we should let down the

spinnaker.

Gargan and Markham untie a knot and begin to lower anauxiliary sail.

TED:

Stop right there. I don't wannarest on our laurels, goddammit. Iwant a clear win.

GARGAN:

It’s too big a risk. We’ll needsome drag if we’re going to turnthe mark clean as we go windward.

TED:

This boat’s been in my familylonger than I have. If anyone knowshow she turns, it’s me.

Ted glares at Gargan. His grip tightens on the tiller.

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