Dave

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FADE IN:

EXT. WASHINGTON D.C. - AERIAL SHOT - DAY

It sits like a jewel off in the distance -- all glittering

and white. The deep blue of the Potomac stands out against

the monuments as the sound of a HELICOPTER plays O.s..

SMASH CUT:

TO:

EXT. WHITE HOUSE GROUNDS - DAY

The most famous helicopter in the world lumbers toward the

most famous house. Scores of reporters are camped out on the

lawn while the huge machine descends like a hurricane...

CLOSER - HELICOPTER

It touches down as the Marine Corps color guard snaps to

attention. The hatch POPS open and a staircase emerges...

FULL SHOT - DOORWAY

After a moment, PRESIDENT WILLIAM HARRISON MITCHELL appears,

accompanied by his wife ELLEN and loyal dog Cupcakes. They

smile from the landing and wave to the world -- a postcard of

themselves.

TRACKING SHOT - FIRST FAMILY

"HAIL TO THE CHIEF" RINGS OUT across the grounds. For-

midably handsome Bill Mitchell is fit and in his early forties.

His wife Ellen, still in her early thirties, is considered a

classical beauty with a wide "friendly" smile that in certain

photographs seems just on the edge of wistful. The dog frolics

around them as they wave to the press and smile for the world.

Ozzie and Harriet for the Nineties with a bow to FDR and some

Camelot thrown in.

MOVING WITH them...

They stride arm in arm beneath the portico that leads to the

West Wing. The band is still playing as they head under the

archway, disappearing from public view. Then, instantly,

as a handler rushes up and grabs the dog, the smiles vanish.

Bill lets go of Ellen and Ellen lets go of Bill. He turns

to his right and she turns to her left. Off they go in their

separate directions.

CUT TO:

INT. WEST WING HALLWAY - DAY

The President strides down the long marble hallway flanked by

his two senior advisors, BOB ALEXANDER, the White House Chief

of Staff and ALAN REED, the White House Media Advisor.

MITCHELL:

Is everybody in there?

BOB:

They're waiting for you. And they're

very nervous.

CUT TO:

INT. WHITE HOUSE - ROOSEVELT ROOM - DAY

It is the seat of power. There is a dark oak conference table

with a crystal chandelier above it. Alan Reed is reading

from a notebook full of polling data while the President glares

at a group of congressional leaders. Bob glares at them,

too, while they cower behind their water glasses.

REED:

(reading from his

notebook)

I wish I had better news... Our

compassion index is off seven

points from the last sample and

that's down eighteen on the year. The

`Cares About People Like Me' numbers

are really in the toilet. We're off

twenty points from March and that was

right after we raised interest rates...

MITCHELL:

Dammit...

(beat)

I told them no mayo.

(looking up)

See - - I could veto this Simpson Garner

thing, but I really don't want to do

that...

A couple of the legislators flinch, still staring straight

ahead.

MITCHELL:

(circling)

Do you know why I don't want to do it?

DAVE - Rev. 8/7/92 3.

They all look over at him for a moment. Mitchell leans out

over the table like some great, predatory beast.

MITCHELL:

(strangled whisper)

... Because it's got homeless

shelters... and Head Start centers ...

and... and...

BOB:

(whispering)

Hot lunches.

The President looks back at him for an instant then turns

back toward the table.

MITCHELL:

(building)

... And hot lunches for little

(thundering suddenly)

And if I kill it... I'll look like a

prick.

They all flinch slightly.

MITCHELL:

And I don't want to look like a prick!

(beat)

I want YOU to look like pricks!!!

DIFFERENT ANGLE:

SPEAKER:

Sir, we tried to kill it twice...

MITCHELL:

(whisper again)

I don't think so, Howard. If you had

killed it -- it would be dead.

(looking him in the eye)

When I kill something - - it always

dies. Doesn't it, flob?

BOB:

(steely)

Always dead.

MAJ. LEADER

Mr. President, with all the work your

wife has done with the homeless...

The President turns and stares daggers at him. The man starts

to flumph as Mitchell cuts him off.

MITCHELL:

Norman, I don't want you to do this

cause you're forced to...

(beat)

I want you to do this because you want

to. I want you to do it because you

think it's the right thing to do. I

want you to do it because you're acting

in the best interests of our country...

They stare back at him stupefied.

BOB:

(upbeat)

Well -- I think that's it.

CUT TO:

INT. WEST WING HALLWAY - LATER

He moves down the corridor toward the Oval Office with Bob

and Reed at his side.

A long line of secretaries flanks the entrance.

BOB:

... You've got that radio address to

go over and the American Bar Association

at the Monroe tomorrow night...

The President pauses at one of the desks and fixes a stare.at

one of the secretaries, (RANDI). She looks up from behind a

pdir of clear-pane glasses, and blushes at him effectively.

MITCHELL:

(smiling at Randi)

The Monroe?

REED:

Uh, yes, sir. The Monroe Hotel...

Randi smiles back at him.

MITCHELL:

(whispering to Reed)

Did you get someone to double for me

there, out front?

REED:

We're working on it.

MITCHELL:

(still under his breath)

Try to find someone who looks like me

this time. That last guy was a joke.

REED:

We're doing our best, sir.

He nods and winks at Randi again before heading inside the

Oval Office. The President starts humming "Hail to the Chief"

quietly to himself...

CUT TO:

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