Dave Page #7

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Dave looks at him, puzzled. Bob glances back.

BOB:

(cluing him in)

They barely talk anymore.

DAVE:

You're kidding?

BOB:

It happens. This is where you'll be

sleeping.

Bob flings open the door. Dave enters the room and looks

around.

DAVE:

(gawking)

Holy cow.

BOB:

We'll be back for you first thing

tomorrow and if you need me for

anything, Duane will be right outside

the door.

DAVE:

(still stunned)

Oh... Okay.

CLOSEUP - DAVE

He breaks out into a "Presidential"

grin...

CUT TO:

INT. "THE CBS MORNING NEWS" STUDIO - FULL SHOT - KATHLEEN

SULLIVAN:

She stares straight INTO the CAMERA with "The Morning Show"

set behind her.

KATHLEEN SULLIVAN

... The White House now classifies the

President's condition as a `slight

circulatory problem of the head.'

CLOSEUP - TV SET

KATHLEEN SULLIVAN (V.0.)

Although technically a stroke, spokesmen

say the President's condition is far

from serious and he ought to be up and

around sometime soon.

The CAMERA WIDENS OUT to reveal that the TV is in:

INT. BOB'S OFFICE - DAWN

The first rays of sunrise are breaking through the window.

Reed Sits on the couch holding a large rubber ice bag while

Bob paces across the rug.

REED:

Do you know how many different kinds

of laws we've broken?

BOB:

(turning)

It's simple, Alan. We send the Vice-

President to Africa or something, dig

up some dirt on him, force him to resign

and get our `President' to nominate a

new one. The whole thing takes a few

weeks tops.

DAVE - Rev. 7/22/92 31.

REED:

(smiling)

You mean we get `Dave' to nominate you

as Vice President.

BOB:

I was a senator, you know.

REED:

(innocently)

Oh, I know. And then when our poor

President gets another stroke - - of

course much more serious this time - -

the newly appointed V.P. becomes the

Pres...

BOB:

(cutting him off)

What about containment, Alan?

Reed heaves a sigh and looks at his notes.

REED:

I got the nurses for fifty grand

a piece and the doctors for a hundred.

The older one wanted head of the CDC.

BOB:

(turning)

Is that everybody?

REED:

Duane's guys, but he's got them under

control.

BOB:

What about her.

REED:

Her?... Oh -- the First Lady...

(beat)

She was giving that commencement speech

up in Bryn Mawr. I managed to catch

her before she left the hotel.

BOB:

And...

REED:

(evenly)

I told her his blood pressure went up

after a little incident at `the hotel.'

She seems to hate him more than ever.

BOB:

Fine.

REED:

(tossing down his legal

pad)

Everybody else is buying the minor

stroke' story...

BOB:

(nodding)

I just hope this yutz can pull it off.

CUT TO:

INT. WHITE HOUSE INFIRMARY - DAY

Dave sits up on the examining table with his shirt off. Bob,

Reed and three other vascular specialists watch attentively

while the President's personal physician puts a stethoscope

to his chest.

DOCTOR:

(lowering it)

Well, I must say, Mr. President, even

for a man with a mild stroke you seem

to have made a remarkable recovery.

DAVE:

(happy as a clam)

Thanks. I'm feeling much better.

Reed smiles like a proud father.

DOCTOR:

(glancing at his chart)

No signs of paralysis, no circulatory

changes. Your E.M.G. is completely

normal and your blood pressure has

even gone down.

(beat)

Have you been exercising recently?

DAVE:

(shrugging)

Just the usual.. Watching the diet --

A little weight lifting...

Some power talking...

Bob shoots him a look.

DOCTOR:

(nodding with the other

physicians)

Well, judging from these tests, I

don't see any reason why you couldn't

start back to work within a couple of

days.

Dave looks at them and smiles.

CUT TO:

INT. PRESIDENT'S OUTER OFFICE - LITTLE LATER

Dave moves through the outer office flanked by Bob and Reed.

He wears a blue Presidential jogging suit with a little gold

seal embroidered on the chest. Dave approaches a line of

SECRETARIES standing behind their desks.

BOB:

(under his breath)

Now, remember -- keep it simple.

DAVE:

Don't worry.

He bangs into the side of a credenza. Bob and Reed freeze as

Dave gathers himself then keeps going.

DAVE:

(walking up to the first

one)

Good morning, Clara...

CLARA (SECRETARY)

Good morning, Mr. President.

DAVE:

(to second one...)

Good morning, Diane...

DIANE (SECRETARY)

Good morning, sir.

DAVE:

Good morning, Randi...

DIFFERENT ANGLE:

She leans forward, grasping his hand,

desperately.

RANDI:

(welling with tears)

Oh, good morning, Mr. President.

I'm so relieved that you're alright.

You really had me scared.

Dave smiles and nods as she continues to clutch onto his hand.

Bob and Reed take him by the shoulders and move him inside...

INT. OVAL OFFICE

He is still staring at the doorway as they close the door to

the office.

DAVE:

What's with her?

BOB:

(still pulling him)

Don't worry about it.

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