Chappaquiddick Page #21

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On the couch behind them, all the adults squeeze in,

including Ted’s mother ROSE KENNEDY, 78, Bobby’s widow ETHEL,

41, EUNICE, 48, and JEAN, 41.

Gargan stands up behind the couch holding a drink.

FRANK REYNOLDS (V.O.)

We are all about to witness the

fulfillment of that promise thatPresident Kennedy made...

Ted looks down at his son. Teddy Jr. absorbs this informationwith an eager smile. Ted turns back to the TV, glum.

JOHN F KENNEDY (V.O.)

We choose to go to the moon in thisdecade and do the other things, notbecause they are easy, but becausethey are hard.

Teddy Jr. turns to his father with eyes full of wonder.

104.

TEDDY JR.

Uncle Jack could do anything, huh,

Dad?

Ted can't breathe.

INT. KENNEDY COMPOUND - LIVING ROOM - LATER

The brain trust all lean in towards the TV, transfixed.

ABC NEWS ANNOUNCER (V.O.)

ABC News presents: "The Flight ofApollo 11". Beginning 30 hours ofcontinuous coverage of the lunarlanding.

The war room exchanges brazen looks of satisfaction.

INT. KENNEDY COMPOUND - JOSEPH KENNEDY'S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

Ann Gargan reaches over and grabs Joseph Kennedy’s hand. Shesqueezes it, knowing how proud her uncle is.

MCCANDLESS (V.O.)

Okay. Neil, we can see you comingdown the ladder now.

INT. KENNEDY COMPOUND - DEN - CONTINUOUS

Ted stares blankly at the TV screen while the rest of hisfamily watches with excitement.

NEIL ARMSTRONG (V.O.)

Okay. I just checked getting backup to that first step, Buzz...

INT. KOPECHNE HOME - CONTINUOUS

JOSEPH KOPECHNE, 56, and his wife GWEN KOPECHNE, 51, sit in

matching reclining chairs facing the TV. Mary Jo’s framedsenior portrait sits on top of a small table between them.

WALTER CRONKITE (V.O.)

Boy. Look at those pictures. Whoa.

Mr. and Mrs. Kopechne peer out. Unmoved.

David Burke strolls in from the kitchen holding a hot tea. Hehands it to Mrs. Kopechne who accepts it graciously, but witha vacant look.

On the TV screen, a chyron "ARMSTRONG ON MOON" is superimposedon top of the moon landing footage.

105.

The neighborhood erupts into loud, joyous CHEERS. Sounds ofelation from the world outside makes the Kopechne’s home feelthat much more dour.

NEIL ARMSTRONG (V.O.)

Okay. I'm going to step off the LM now.

KNOCKS at the door.

Mrs. Kopechne starts to stand, but David Burke puts acomforting hand on her shoulder.

DAVID BURKE:

Don't worry. I'll get it.

He treads over and answers the door. A NEIGHBOR stands

holding a casserole.

NEIGHBOR:

Oh. Hello? Are Gwen and Joe home? I

heard about their loss -

Burke grabs the casserole out of her hands.

DAVID BURKE:

The Kopechne's thank you for yourkindness.

NEIGHBOR:

If I could, I'd love to express mycondolences in person -

David Burke shuts the door.

INT. EDGARTOWN POLICE STATION - NIGHT

Chief Arena and James Steele watch a TV in the station's

breakroom. The Chief is particularly transfixed.

ARMSTRONG (V.O.)

That's one small step for man...onegiant leap for mankind.

CHIEF ARENA:

Well, I’ll be damned. I never

thought I’d see the day.

JAMES STEELE:

I’m going to grab another beer. Youwant one?

Arena doesn’t look up.

CHIEF ARENA:

Sure.

106.

Steele walks down the corridor, past a refrigerator and intoanother room. He picks up a phone.

INT. DINIS HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

A telephone on a living room side table rings loudly over thesounds of the moon landing. A pastel portrait of JFK hangs onthe wall, alongside pictures of FDR, and Churchill, all

inside old, ornate picture frames. The wrinkled hand of MRS.

DINIS, 80s, reaches over and picks it up.

MRS. DINIS

Hello?

JAMES STEELE (V.O.)

Hello. I'd like to speak to DistrictAttorney Edmund Dinis, please.

MRS. DINIS

My son can't come to the phone -

DISTRICT ATTORNEY EDMUND DINIS, 44, a handsome Latinofirebrand, yanks the phone away from his mother.

EDMUND DINIS:

This is Dinis. Who is this?

INTERCUT:

JAMES STEELE:

This is Steele. I'm down here in

Edgartown with Chief Arena. He'sbeen relying pretty heavily on myexpertise with how to proceed.

EDMUND DINIS:

That's good. He could use some

expertise.

JAMES STEELE:

I think the chief would feel more

comfortable if I was assigned tothe case as special prosecutor.

Says he'd prefer someone moreobjective to -

EDMUND DINIS:

Fine by me.

JAMES STEELE:

Oh? Great. I'm glad you agree -

EDMUND DINIS:

As far as I understand it...we

don’t really have the evidence tobuild a case.

(MORE)

107.

EDMUND DINIS (CONT'D)

We don’t have an autopsy report.

The girl's already been embalmed.

He's got an impeccable drivingrecord. And for God sakes the guyhad a concussion.

JAMES STEELE:

You're very wise, sir.

EDMUND DINIS:

Now, look. If you really are asfriendly with the Kennedys as yousay...pass along a message for me.

JAMES STEELE:

What's that?

EDMUND DINIS:

From me, through you, to Ted...andno one else...I won't touch this

case unless Ted wants me to.

INT. KENNEDY COMPOUND - DINING ROOM - DAY

Ted sets the newspaper on the table in front of him.

The date reads:
"MONDAY, JULY 21ST, 1969".

Ted leans back into his chair. He flaps the sides of his New

York Times and puts his feet up on the table.

Ted smiles broadly as he flips another page of his paper.

The front page headlines read:

-"MEN WALK ON MOON / ASTRONAUTS LAND ON PLAIN”

The entire cover is filled with moon landing stories.

INT. KENNEDY COMPOUND - GARGAN’S BEDROOM - DAY

Ted studies himself in front of a full length mirror. Hewears a black suit and makes one last adjustment to his necktie. He cinches it close to a large neck brace.

Ted pulls the brace above his collar to make it more prominent.

In the background, Gargan sits on the bed reading from The

Boston Globe (with headlines also completely dominated by themoon landing). He looks over his paper towards Ted.

GARGAN:

What're you doing over there?

108.

TED:

What does it look like I'm doing?

GARGAN:

Well whatever it is, it looks

ridiculous.

Ted offers a huge grin.

TED:

I'm winning back the sympathies ofmy constituents.

Gargan playfully grabs at the neck brace, but Ted equallyplayfully slaps his hand away.

GARGAN:

Take that thing off.

TED:

Why? I wanna show the boysdownstairs. I think it's going toreally play.

GARGAN:

(skeptical)

They're the brightest minds in

Washington --

Gargan snatches at the brace again, but Ted hops out of reach.

TED:

Not for them! It's just gotta playfor the a**holes shoving cameras inmy face.

GARGAN:

It looks fake.

TED:

It's as real as can be. It's a real

neck brace.

Gargan hooks onto the neck brace with one hand. Ted fightsback with an even tighter grip. The two men struggle in a tugof war that quickly escalates beyond the playful.

GARGAN:

Well, it looks fake on you!

TED:

That's just because you know me!

Gargan overpowers Ted, and they both drop to the ground. Nolonger playing, Gargan digs his fingers under the collar.

Tries to rip it off Ted's throat. Ted holds on for dear life.

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