Dave Page #21

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DIFFERENT ANGLE:

DAVE:

Because things aren't fine. And you

know that and I know that. And we can

keep lying to ourselves, but it's a

little late for that.

(getting angry)

We've got water we can't drink and air

we can't breathe. We've got bars on.

our windows and graffiti on our doors.

If you get sick you can't afford to go

to the doctor and if you get laid off

you can't find a new job. We're

trillions of dollar in debt. Our roads

are cracking, our bridges are crumbling

and everything we used to build is

made in Japan. We've got people

sleeping in cardboard boxes, and ten-

year-old kids who are doing drugs.

We've been living together for four

hundred years, and we're still trying

to kill each other... But that isn't

even the worst part. The worst part

is we feel like we can't do anything

about it.

CLOSER:

He looks out over the room and pauses.

DAVE:

So I've decided that while I'm

President, I should actually try to

do things... even if they seem

impossible.

Dave glances toward the wings for a moment and turns back.

DAVE:

First off I'm initiating a program to

try to find a decent job for every

American who wants one.

A murmur moves through the press room.

DAVE:

(hearing them)

Why start here?

(pause)

Because if you've ever seen the look

on someone's face the day they get a

job -- I've had some personal experience

with this - - they look like they could

fly. And unless we start tapping into

that kind of spirit again, there's no

way we're gonna fix anything in this

country.

He looks out at them and pauses.

DAVE:

So... Let's get to work.

WIDE ANGLE - BRIEFING

The press corps just sits stunned for a moment as Dave strides

off the stage. As he leaves, the stunned reporters explode

to their feet.

REPORTERS:

(overlapping)

Mr. President... Mr. President...

INT. BRIEFING ROOM - CORRIDOR

Dave enters the corridor and sees Ellen, who is waiting for

him with a huge look of admiration on her face.

DAVE:

It was okay?

ELLEN:

(beaming)

It was inspirational.

CUT TO:

EXT. WHITE HOUSE LAWN - NINA TOTENBERG ("NBC NIGHTLY NEWS")

NINA TOTENBERG:

In the boldest initiative yet of the

`New Bill Mitchell' presidency, the

President has proposed a comprehensive

full employment program, unparalleled

since the days of F.D.R.

QUICK CUT:

TO:

ROBERT NOVACK (EVANS AND NOVACK)

NOVACK (V.0.)

... It's naive, it's dangerous, it's

irresponsible...

CHRIS MATHEWS ("GOOD MORNING AMERICA")

MATHEWS (V.0.)

... It's courageous, it's challenging,

it's visionary...

FRED BARNES (MacGLAUGHLIN GROUP)

BARNES (V.0.)

It's insane.

MARK SHIELDS (CNN)

MARK SHIELDS (V.0.)

It's brilliant.

JOHN McLAUGHLIN ("CROSSFIRE")

JOHN MCLAUGHLIN (V.0.)

If the President wants to run around

proposing lame-brained schemes like

this one...

MICHAEL KINSELY (ALSO "CROSSFIRE")

MICHAEL KINSELY (V.0.)

Well he's certainly got my vote.

The TELEVISION SUDDENLY SWITCHES OFF as the CAMERA WIDENS OUT

to reveal:

INT. OVAL OFFICE - NIGHT

Dave, slumping back from the TV into an armchair.

DAVE:

Thank God for that.

WIDER:

Dave, Ellen, Reed, Ellen's Aide, and two other advisors are

camped in front of the television set. There are documents

and newspapers scattered over the room. A take-out pizza

sits incongruously on the coffee table.

DAVE:

Let's call it a night. I can't take

any more.

REED:

Right. We can pick up on the rest

tomorrow.

Everyone starts to get up, gathering their papers.

ELLEN'S AIDE

(moving toward

the door)

I'll have those employment figures to

you by eight-thirty...

REED:

And we've got that labor briefing at

nine.

DAVE:

(bleary eyed)

Terrific.

Everyone starts to move through the door, leaving Dave and

Ellen suddenly alone. They are standing face to face.

DAVE:

Well I guess...

ELLEN:

Yeah... Bedtime.

Their faces are very close. Their eyes express great need.

He moves slowly toward her in a kiss. Their lips meet for an

instant.

DAVE:

(pulling back)

What?

ELLEN:

I can't.

DAVE:

(quickly)

I know. I'm sorry...

ELLEN:

I mean, I want to... I just, I feel

strange...

DAVE:

(even quicker)

That's okay.

They stand there facing one another like two kids on a front

porch.

INT. DAVE'S ROOM - NIGHT

He lies under the covers staring at the ceiling. Dave suddenly

turns and punches the pillow.

INT. ELLEN'S ROOM

She lies on her bed in exactly the same position. After a

moment, Ellen turns and buries her face in the pillow.

ELLEN:

(muffled)

This is crazy...

CUT TO:

INT. HALLWAY - WEST WING - DAY

Dave and Duane move down the corridor that leads to the Oval

Office. Duane is flipping through a handful of newspapers.

DUANE:

The U.S. News hammered us. But they're

always tough on that kind of thing.

Rosenthal loved us in the Times

RANDI:

Mr. President, Mr. Nance is waiting

inside for you.

DAVE:

Who?

DUANE:

(freezing)

The Vice-President...

DAVE:

Oh... right...

(to Randi, nervous

smile)

You know, ever since the stroke...

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