Dave Page #17

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REED:

Don't do this.

BOB:

I'll lock him away for good.

REED:

Then we'll all go to jail together.

Bob stops struggling suddenly and backs up a step. His eyes

narrow to tiny slits.

BOB:

What do you mean by that?

REED:

(smoothing out his suit)

Just what you think I mean.

BOB:

(stunned)

Are you threatening me?

REED:

(thinking about it)

Sort of... Yeah.

Bob looks at him for a moment.

CUT TO:

INT. FIRST LADY'S OFFICE - DAY

Ellen is in a meeting with a few people when a MALE AIDE flies

through the door handing her the afternoon paper.

AIDE:

You won't believe this.

CLOSEUP - USA TODAY

The large banner headline stretches across the top of the

page, which reads: "PRESIDENT SAVES HOMELESS PLAN. MITCHELL

WORKS BUDGET MIRACLE."

ELLEN:

(realizing)

`Saves homeless plan'?

SHOT - ELLEN

She stares at it stunned for a moment, then lowers the paper

and looks off into space...

CUT TO:

EXT. WHITE HOUSE DRIVEWAY - NIGHT

Murray and Dave stand beside the Thrifty rent-a-car as the

sun begins to dip behind the trees.

DAVE:

Thanks. You did great. Maybe later

you could come back and we could go to

Camp David or something.

MURRAY:

(climbing in)

That'd be great.

DAVE:

(looking at his friend)

Well -- take care.

Murray FIRES UP the ENGINE as Dave steps back from the car.

MURRAY:

(looking back)

Yeah. Don't get into trouble.

WIDER ANGLE:

He throws the car into gear and starts

down the long, bending driveway toward

the gate. Dave watches from the edge

of the lawn with a fond look on his

face...

CUT TO:

INT. RED ROOM - NIGHT

Duane and Dave are seated across the card table from one

another. Duane's shoulder holster is slung over the back of

the chair. They are drinking beers.

DUANE:

Gin.

He lays down his cards, fanning them out in front of Dave.

DAVE:

(grimacing)

I was waiting for that jack.

DUANE:

I had a feeling.

Duane Scoops UP the cards and begins to Shuffle.

DAVE:

Duane?

DUANE:

Yeah?

(BEAT) DAVE

How come you went along with all of

this?

Duane Stops Shuffling and Stares at him for a moment.

DUANE:

You mean with you and everything?

DAVE:

Yeah.

DUANE:

(shrugs)

`Bleed for your king.'

DAVE:

What's that?

DUANE:

First thing they teach you at the

academy.

(remembering their motto)

`Don't give me gold and silver, or

other worldly things, just the pride

and glory of bleeding for my King.'

DAVE:

You're kidding.

DUANE:

No... They don't kid.

Dave nods solemnly as Duane stares straight ahead.

DAVE:

But Bill was your king, not Bob.

DUANE:

Yeah, but Bob found me when I was stuck

in Firearms and Tobacco...

DUANE:

(thinks)

We're trained to be loyal. You gotta

be loyal to someone.

They sit for a moment in silence. Duane checks his watch.

DAVE:

Didn't mean to bum you out.

DUANE:

That's okay. You alright down here by

yourself?

DAVE:

Oh, sure. Don't worry about it.

He nods and heads for the door as Dave picks up the cards.

He begins to deal out some solitaire, then senses something

and looks toward the door.

DAVE'S POV

Ellen stands silhouetted in the doorway wearing a floor- length

dressing gown.

ELLEN:

(quietly)

Hello.

ANGLE - DAVE

Ellen walks forward into the light, tightening the belt at

her waist.

DAVE:

Ellen?

ELLEN:

I saw the light. I thought maybe you

were up.

DAVE:

(startled)

Oh... Yeah.

ELLEN:

Mind if I sit down?

DAVE:

(beat)

No.

He scoops up the cards trying to tidy some of the bottles.

She studies his face for a couple of seconds then sits down

at the table.

ELLEN:

That was quite a thing you did today.

DAVE:

Anybody would have done it.

ELLEN:

Oh, I don't think so.

(staring at him)

Still, you helped a lot of people.

She continues to stare as Dave looks away.

ELLEN:

Kind of reminds me of that thing you

did back in the state legislature.

DAVE:

Oh yeah?

(nervous)

Me, too.

ELLEN:

You weren't in the state legislature.

Dave freezes with the deck in his hand. All at once, Ellen

smiles and extends her arm over the table.

ELLEN:

I'm Ellen Mitchell.

His eyes go wide. Dave sits stunned trying his best to

swallow.

ELLEN:

(softly)

What's your name?

Dave stares at her, but no words come out. She leans forward

looking right at him.

ELLEN:

(evenly)

Look, I'll make this easy on you. I

never see him anymore. I barely know

him anymore. I'd just kinda like to

know where he is.

Dave looks at her, nervously.

ELLEN:

I mean, what is it? Another Secretary?

A jaunt to the Bahamas with Some

'campaign worker.' Where is he?

DAVE:

(pause)

I don't know.

She looks at him, waiting for a moment.

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