Dave Page #22

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Dave points to his temple and gives the "wobbly" sign with

his hand. He glances at Duane for a second, then turns and

heads inside...

INT. OVAL OFFICE

Seated, with his back to the door, is the silhouette of a

man holding an eight-foot spear. Beside him on the floor is

a large ceremonial headdress. Dave moves forward cautiously.

DIFFERENT ANGLE:

The Vice President turns and slowly rises to face him. He's

a strong-looking man in a plain gray suit with an honest

looking face.

NANCE:

Mr. President.

The two men shake hands. Nance continues to stare at him

while Dave moves toward his chair. After a moment, Nance

extends the headdress.

NANCE:

(curtly)

This is from the people of Burundi...

DAVE:

(taking it)

Oh... Thanks.

NANCE:

And these are a gift from the King

of To go.

Nance hands him what appears to be a group of large necklaces.

DAVE:

(beat)

What are they?

NANCE:

(deadpan)

Fertility beads.

DAVE:

Ah.

He sets them quickly on the desk while Nance just stares at

him.

NANCE:

Mr. President, may I speak frankly

with you?

DAVE:

Certainly.

CLOSEUP - NANCE

He hesitates for a moment. Nance

gathers his thoughts,then proceeds.

NANCE:

(with dignity)

I know we haven't always gotten along.

I know we've disagreed politically

and I suppose I know what you think

of me personally...

WIDER:

Nance takes a deep breath.

NANCE:

... But I've always tried to respect

the role you wanted me to play.

When I've disagreed with this

administration I've kept it to myself.

When you wanted my support you always

had it.

Dave nods, frozen in his chair. Nance looks at him a moment

then suddenly lets it out.

NANCE:

Dammit, Bill -- how could you do

something like this to me?

Dave just looks at him speechless. Neither man moves.

DAVE:

(beat)

Something like what...

NANCE:

Oh, come on, we're not children. I

didn't have anything to do with this

Fidelity nonsense and you know it.

DAVE:

(nodding)

The Fidelity nonsense...

NANCE:

(showing him a newspaper)

All I've got is my integrity. That's

all I have. Now I don't know why you

turned your attack dogs on me.

DAVE:

(interrupting)

They re not my attack dogs.

NANCE:

(taken aback)

What do you mean?

DAVE:

I just fired Bob Alexander.

Nance looks at him, stunned.

DAVE:

Don't worry. I'll take care of it.

CUT TO:

INT. REED'S OFFICE - DAY

He sits behind his sleek Italian desk with a slightly sheepish

look on his face. Dave stands across from him, leaning on his

feet.

DAVE:

What do you mean you made it all up?

REED:

We had to, Dave. The guy's a choir

boy.

DAVE:

This is wrong, Alan!

REED:

(like a novel, new

concept)

Wrong...

DAVE:

Alan...

REED:

Oh, I know, I know... It looks

awfully bad. It's really embarrassing.

(beat)

But it was Bob's idea.

Dave looks at him horrified.

DAVE:

We've got to fix this.

REED:

Absolutely. Well, that might be kind

of tough. Once the press starts smelling

blood...

The door blows open behind them.

ELLEN (O.S.)

Dave...

WIDER:

She flies into the room with a worried

look on her face. Dave and Reed watch

while she heads toward the "media

center" in the corner.

REED:

(shocked)

`Dave'?

DAVE:

She knows.

ELLEN:

Look at this.

Ellen flicks ON the SET to catch a NEWS REPORT in mid-segment.

TV SCREEN:

NINA TOTENBERG (V.0.)

(over TV)

... The hastily called news conference

at the National Press Club was Bob

Alexander's first public comment

since resigning as White House Chief

of Staff. It turned out to be nothing

short of a full-fledged salvo fired

directly at Pennsylvania Avenue.

Bob appears in a film clip, speaking before the National

Press Club. Even beneath the professional cool, he seems

to relish the lethal sound bite.

BOB (V.0.)

(over TV)

When I first began to look into the

allegations concerning Fidelity

Savings and Loan, I thought the

wrongdoing was restricted to the

Vice President's office...

INT. REED'S OFFICE - DAY

They glance at each other then back at the set...

REED:

Uh-oh...

BOB:

(over TV)

... But as I began to investigate, I

realized that this pattern of

corruption extended much higher...

REED:

Jesus...

TV SCREEN:

Bob pauses for an effect, then looks

straight into the camera:

BOB:

(over TV; dramatic)

... I was saddened to discover at

least fifteen separate acts of

intervention by this administration,

most with the full knowledge of the

President and all of them illegal.

Federal regulators were influenced,

records were destroyed, and pressure

was brought to bear, in same cases

by President Mitchell himself.

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