Dave Page #18

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CUT TO:

INT. ELEVATOR - NIGHT

Dave, Ellen and Duane stare straight ahead as they descend

into the sub-basement.

DUANE:

(beat)

I really shouldn't be doing this.

No one replies as the elevator doors slide open.

INT. SUB-BASEMENT - CORRIDOR

A lone Secret Service man is stationed outside a solid metal

door as the three of them approach - - Duane hesitates and

looks at Dave.

DAVE:

(calmly)

Open it.

Duane looks back at the two of them.

ELLEN:

Just open it, please.

DIFFERENT ANGLE:

The door swings open as a middle-aged woman in a white uniform

appears. Even in the dim light of the hallway it's clear she

is a NURSE.

NURSE:

I'm sorry, you're not allowed...

DUANE:

(flashing an I.D.)

It's alright.

NURSE:

Mr. Alexander left strict...

Before she can even finish Ellen steps quickly by her into

the room. The Nurse recognizes her and just gapes as Duane

and Dave enter as well.

INT. BASEMENT ROOM

It is dimly lit like the hallway, except for a group of

machines in the corner. Next to them, a state-of-the-art

hospital bed holds the President's lifeless body. Ellen moves

up to the side of the bed.

ELLEN:

What happened?

DUANE:

It's the stroke. It's pretty bad.

ELLEN:

I don't understand. Is he, I mean...

There's a pause. The Nurse looks down. Ellen clutches the

railings of the bed.

DUANE:

I'm sorry.

All at once she starts to cry. Dave moves over to try to

comfort her when she shakes him off violently.

ELLEN:

Don't touch me, please.

Dave recoils. She turns to him with an enraged look in her

eye. He moves back a step.

ELLEN:

(furious)

When were you all planning to

tell me? A year from now? After the

election...

(whirling on him)

What's going on here?

Dave hesitates.

DAVE:

They asked me to help.

ELLEN:

I'm sure they did. 'State of

Emergency.' 'National Security.' You

ever hear of the Constitution?

He doesn't respond. Ellen glares at him for a moment, then

glances around the room...

ELLEN:

Could all of you just leave me alone

for a minute.

NURSE:

I'm really not supposed to...

ELLEN:

Get out!

Dave motions toward Duane as the two of them guide the nurse

into the hallway. They shut the door behind them.

CLOSEUP - ELLEN

She stares down at the lifeless body while the sound of the

RESPIRATOR fills the room.

CUT TO:

INT. ELLEN'S ROOM - LATER

Suitcases are flung open and she kneels on the floor. Ellen

throws piles of clothing into the large open valise when she

senses something and glances up..

DIFFERENT ANGLE:

Dave is standing in the doorway. She looks at him for a

moment, but goes right back to packing. He stands in the

doorway, staring while she crams some shoes in the bag.

DAVE:

You're leaving?

ELLEN:

(clipped)

I'm not the First Lady, anymore. I

shouldn't be here.

DAVE:

Where are you going?

ELLEN:

Home.

She grabs a blouse from the bed and flings t into the suitcase.

DAVE:

Where's home?

ELLEN:

(looking up)

Oh, they didn't brief you on that?

How sloppy of them.

She looks at Dave and stops. All at once Ellen stops packing

and lowers a shoe to her side.

HER POV - REVERSE ANGLE

Dave stands in the doorway with a small valise in his hand.

He looks like he did a month ago, with the tortoise shell

glasses and his old blue windbreaker. The valise is a tiny

overnight bag with small black handles. A seal of the

President embossed into the leather.

DAVE:

(shrugging)

Just souvenirs. Towels and stuff.

ELLEN:

(beat)

You1re leaving, too?

DAVE:

(nodding)

I never wanted to hurt anybody.

(beat)

In fact... I even thought I was helping.

Ellen just looks at him for a moment. Her mouth opens slightly

but no words come out.

DAVE:

Hey... It's...

DIFFERENT ANGLE:

Ellen is crying. She shakes her head

and turns away from him.

DAVE:

Here.

Dave unzips the valise and fishes out a hanky. The

Presidential Seal is nicely embroidered in one corner. Ellen

looks down at it and smiles slightly.

ELLEN:

You know you make this little deal

with yourself.

ELLEN:

You can put up with the other women

and you can do without a life because

you believe in what you're doing - -

and if you can just keep your mouth

shut...

She can't finish.

DAVE:

You thought you had a chance to help

people...

Their eyes lock for an instant when she turns and goes back

to packing.

DAVE:

(softly)

How were you gonna get home?

ELLEN:

I don't know. I hadn't thought it out

that far.

CLOSEUP - DAVE

He looks at her for a moment...

CUT TO:

INT. SUBTERRANEAN PASSAGEWAY - NIGHT

Dave carries Ellen's suitcase in one hand and his own valise

in the other. They step over the puddles and leaky water

pipes as they duck below the six-foot ceiling. Dave carries

a flashlight.

ELLEN:

You sure this goes somewhere?

DAVE:

Truman used it all the time.

Dave pauses and shines the light up a leaky old set of stairs

that head off to their right. Ellen hesitates for a moment,

looking up the staircase.

ELLEN:

You don't have to keep walking with

me. I'm okay from here.

DAVE:

I don't mind.

ELLEN:

(looking at him)

Thanks.

Ellen hesitates for a second, then hikes up her skirt and

moves through the portal.

EXT. OLD EXECUTIVE OFFICE BUILDING - NIGHT

It is directly across the street from the White House. A

lone street lamp illuminates the corner including a small,

recessed alcove where a staircase leads up from below.

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