Chappaquiddick Page #24

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Ted throws the door open behind him as he re-enters the warroom. He SLAMS it shut.

EXT. EDGARTOWN WOODS - NIGHT

The bright lights of Edgartown shimmer behind the thick trees.

A silhouette leans against a lone stump as two men approach.

They step into the moonlight revealing James Steele and ChiefArena.

STEELE:

It’s done. The hearing’s been movedto Friday morning.

The man leaning against the stump stands upright into thelight -- Paul Markham.

MARKHAM:

Good. The Senator will be there. He

is prepared to plead guilty toleaving the scene.

120.

STEELE:

I’ll then recommend he get the

minimum sentence.

CHIEF ARENA:

And then that sentence will be

immediately suspended.

MARKHAM:

Thank you, Chief. The Kennedyfamily greatly appreciates yourassistance.

INT. KENNEDY COMPOUND - TED’S BEDROOM - DAY

Ted stares out the window holding a glass with ice cubes. Hegrinds a cube between his teeth.

OUTSIDE:

A large picket sign reads: “CAN YOU BUY JUSTICE?”

At the gates of the Kennedy compound, reporters have been

joined by a group PROTESTERS. They each wave handmade signs:

-“SWIM! DON’T RUN! ‘72”

- “TALK TO THE PRESS TED”

-“WHAT REALLY HAPPENED ON THE ISLAND?”

AT THE WINDOW:

Ted chomps through a final piece of ice. He storms out of the

room and sets the empty glass on top of a newspaper.

The date reads:
"THURSDAY, JULY 24TH, 1969".

The front page headlines read:

-“APOLLO 11 TO SPLASH DOWN TODAY”

-“PRESIDENT IS OFF TO WELCOME CREW”

IN THE HALLWAY:

Ted marches past his father’s bedroom. He peers inside

through the open doorway as he passes.

The entire brain trust stands in a semicircle around Joseph

Kennedy again. Their eyes track Ted as he exits view.

Ted hustles down the stairs now with a big kid grin.

INT. KENNEDY COMPOUND - KITCHEN - DAY

The Kennedy children sit at the table with their breakfast.

121.

Ted saunters into the kitchen and peeks inside the fridge. Helifts his head up from behind the door and looks back at thechildren with an even bigger smile.

TED:

How’d you kids like to help outyour Uncle Ted here with a bigproblem I’m having?

KIDS:

Yeah! / Sure, Uncle Teddy!

TED:

Great!

He shuts the door revealing he’s holding a carton of eggs.

TED (CONT’D)

There’s some folks outside with

signs saying some not so nicethings about me.

The kids nod with understanding.

TED (CONT’D)

Would you kids mind letting ‘emknow how us Kennedys feel aboutthat?!

KIDS:

YEAH!

TED:

Well okay, then!

Ted hands an egg to each of the many children. He beams withparticular pride when he hands Teddy Jr. his egg. He tousleshis son’s hair as he sends him on his way.

He hands the last egg to a spry, precocious girl, KERRYKENNEDY, 9. She curtsies as she exits, revealing the cutestand smallest of all the children yet.

CHRISTOPHER KENNEDY, 6, stands in overalls with rosy cheeksand big saucer eyes looking up at Ted.

CHRISTOPHER:

Can I have an egg, Uncle Ted?

TED:

Oh...I’m all out, son.

Christopher’s face droops. He knows how to lay it on thick.

TED (CONT’D)

Let me see what else we can find.

122.

Ted opens the fridge back up and rummages around a bit.

TED (O.S.) (CONT’D)

Here we go!

Ted comes back out from behind the fridge door holding awatermelon. Christopher holds both hands out. Ted gives it toChristopher, and the boy nearly topples over.

CHRISTOPHER:

Thanks, Uncle Teddy!

SMASH CUT TO:

EXT. HYANNIS PORT - KENNEDY COMPOUND GATE - DAY

An egg SMASHES against one of the protester’s face. The scenequickly becomes chaotic; eggs seem to come from alldirections. Yolk splatters across their clothes and faces, asthe protesters try to use their signs for cover.

The assault seems to subside for a moment and one of the

protesters holds down his sign to survey the damage -

SPLAT.

A watermelon explodes on top of the protester’s head.

Christopher smiles as broadly as his rosy cheeks allow.

INT. KENNEDY COMPOUND - TED’S BEDROOM - DAY

Ted slaps his knee, leaning against the window. He laughshysterically at the mess he’s made. Ted holds a football withhis one hand and wipes away tears with the other.

SQUEAK. SQUEAK.

He turns around to see Joseph Kennedy being pushed inside thebedroom by Ann Gargan. The father looks up at his son with afurious intensity. Ted’s smile disappears instantly. Hestands at attention.

TED:

Dad.

ANN:

Your father wanted to speak with you.

Ted looks at his dad, waiting for him to speak. Joe remainssilent. The two men stare at each other so long it's almostunbearable.

TED:

Dad. I was just trying to blow offa little steam -

123.

Joseph Kennedy GRUNTS. It sounds like he's attempting to saya word, but it's difficult to decipher.

TED (CONT’D)

What is it dad?

Joseph Kennedy HUFFS. Ted walks towards him, leans forward.

SLAP.

With all the force in his body, Joseph Kennedy slaps his son.

Ted looks at him stunned and ashamed. A handprint stillstings across his face.

Ted looks back at Ann. With as much dignity as he can muster -

TED (CONT’D)

Ann, I need you to leave us. It isvery rare these days that I'm alonewith my father, and the things I needto say to him I need to say alone.

Ann leaves, gently closing the door behind her.

Silence.

Ted and his dad stare at each other for a long beat. Anuncomfortably long beat.

TED (CONT’D)

Dad, did you know that I never

wanted to be President?

(beat)

Does that even matter to you?

Ted sets the football down. Joseph Kennedy doesn’t react.

TED (CONT’D)

I want to make you proud. It’s allI’ve ever wanted. But you’ve neverbeen interested in me. Not until now.

(beat)

And this. This is the moment you

finally show you care?

Ted gestures towards the window. Joseph Kennedy doesn’t react.

TED (CONT’D)

I’ve spent my whole life chasingyour dreams for you. Just like JoeJr. Just like Jack. Just like Bobby.

And look what happened to them.

With each name Ted steps closer and closer to his father.

He stands over him. Joseph Kennedy looks up at his son. Hisfrail blue eyes draw Ted in closer. Ted kneels to eye level.

124.

TED (CONT’D)

They were great men. But they

weren’t great because of who you

were. They were great because of

who they were.

(beat)

I want to be a great man. I just

don’t know who I am.

A tear rolls down Ted’s face. His father puts a hand on hisson’s shoulders. He leans towards him.

JOSEPH KENNEDY:

...You’ll...

Ted leans closer. His head resting against his father’s,

completely vulnerable.

JOSEPH KENNEDY (CONT’D)

...You’ll never...be...great...

Ted pulls his father into a full embrace. He weeps into hisshoulder. Joseph Kennedy stares ahead not betraying any emotion.

Ted holds his father tighter.

He stands up. He exhales all the air from his lungs. Tedwipes his eyes and adjusts his shirt. Without looking back athis father, he walks out the door. Joseph Kennedy sits alone.

INT. KENNEDY COMPOUND - GARGAN’S BEDROOM - DAY

Gargan yanks clothes out of a drawer and stuffs them into oneof his open suitcases. Ted bursts into the room.

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