Dave Page #3

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DAVE:

It's airight. We'll find you something

else.

ANGLE - OUTER OFFICE

He darts back out.

DAVE:

I'll get her something right now.

(beat)

Alice... Have you seen my checkbook?

ALICE:

Dave, I'm your ex-wife. As in Ex

E -- X...

He nods earnestly accepting it for what must be the hundredth

time. Alice sighs and motions toward his desk.

ALICE:

Bottom drawer next to your baseball

glove.

DAVE:

(flashing a smile)

Thanks. You're the best.

CUT TO:

INT. ACCOUNTANCY OFFICE OF "MURRAY BLUM, CPA" - DAY

Dave's best friend MURRAY stands in front of Dave and Lola.

In the b.g. sit four or five women without much to do in

particular.

MURRAY:

Dave, I can't hire anybody else.

He turns toward his desk. Dave follows him down the aisle.

DAVE:

("CONFIDENTIALLY")

This woman's amazing, Murray. She

flies on an I.B.M...

MURRAY:

I don't have enough work for the people

you gave me already.

DAVE:

(lowering his voice)

She's got three kids and the husband's

a diabetic...

(turning to her)

Diabetic?

LOLA:

Si. Diabetico.

She starts to whimper all over again while Dave looks

plaintively at Murray.

DAVE:

Short-term thing. Straight temp job.

Murray looks at him and sighs.

MURRAY:

(beat)

I'll see what I can do.

Dave flashes him a big smile and breathes a sigh of relief.

DAVE:

So you want to go swimming?

MURRAY:

(incredulous)

Dave -- I'm working.

DAVE:

(nodding quickly)

Oh yeah... Me, too.

(beat)

You want to get dinner later?

MURRAY:

I was gonna do something with Joan.

DAVE:

Oh. Okay. I'll catch ya tomorrow then.

Murray nods as Dave turns humming into the hallway.

EXT. DAVE'S HOUSE - DAY

All It is dark and a little clutt.ered. A low GUTTURAL NOTE

starts to build as it ECHOES up the stairwell.

DAVE (0.5.)

(singing)

'Oooooooooooooooooo...'

DIFFERENT ANGLE - LANDING

DAVE:

'... klahoma, where the wind comes

sweeping down the plain...'

Dave bounds onto the landing and fishes around for his keys...

CUT TO:

INT. DAVE'S APARTMENT - DAY

The door swings open as Dave enters the room, still singing.

DAVE:

`Where the wavin' wheat, can sure smell

sweet...'

He sets down his keys, crosses to the kitchen. Dave yanks

open the fridge, pulls out a beer, pops open the top, hits a

twenty foot hook shot with the bottle cap, then crosses to

the living room...

DAVE:

'and the wind comes right behind the -

...'

He looks across the room and suddenly freezes.

DAVE'S POV

Three large men are seated on his living room couch.

The black one in the middle (DUANE STEVENSEN) speaks first.

DUANE:

Mr. Kovic?

BACK TO SCENE:

Dave freezes and shakes his head.

DUANE:

I'm Duane Stavensen with the United

States Secret Service.

Dave's eyes go a little wider.

DUANE:

We're with the federal government.

He reaches into his coat pocket and pulls out a gleaming silver

badge. Dave looks at it. Terrified.

DAVE:

Oh my God... I thought it was a

legitimate deduction, I swear to God.

See... I need a piano for my work

sometimes...

DUANE:

Mr. Kovic. We're not here about your

taxes.

DAVE:

You're not?

DUANE:

No.

Dave's stopped and just stares at him. Duane leans forward

on the couch.

DUANE:

Your government needs your help.

DAVE:

(beat)

What?

DUANE:

On occasion for security purposes, to

double for the President at the Secret

Service hires someone public functions

and exposed situations.

CLOSEUP-DAVE

He looks at Duane for a moment when his eyes light up...

DAVE:

Really?

DUANE:

We'd like to hire you.

DAVE:

Really?

CUT TO:

EXT. BALTIMORE HILTON - NIGHT

Police barricades ring the outside of the hotel. There are

the standard number of flashing red lights and sharp shooters

stationed on all the balconies. An assortment of various

demonstrators press up against the police line and a literal

army of press are staked out by the entrance. It is the modern

equivalent of Napoleon's camp.

INT. HOTEL ROOM

Dave is sitting on the edge of the bed, getting his hair

trimmed by JOHNNY, the Presidential makeup man and traveling

barber. He removes the apron and stands back to admire his

handiwork.

JOHNNY:

(proudly; to himself)

Johnny, you did it again!

DAVE:

You really cut his this short?

JOHNNY:

It's a perfect match.

DAVE:

Hunh. 'Cause I always thought it

came over the ears a little...

At that moment the door swings open and Bob Alexander. the

Chief of Staff powers into the room. He crosses over toward

the bed where Dave is sitting.

BOB:

You understand what you'll be doing?

DAVE:

(beat; intimidated)

Yeah... You just want me to wave, right?

BOB:

(gruffly)

Wave from the door... go down the

stairs... get into the limo...

DAVE:

(pause)

`Cause you know I can do other stuff.

I mean, if you wanted me to talk or...

BOB:

(curtly)

Don't say a .

DAVE:

(nodding)

Right.

Dave flashes him a smile to lighten the moment when Bob turns

and starts for the door...

DAVE:

(calling after him)

Uh --Mr. Alexander?

BOB:

(turning)

What?

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