Dave Page #9

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REED:

Thanks, I wrote it.

DAVE:

(drippingly dramatic)

... Somewhere there is a distant light,

guiding us through this rocky shoal...'

REED:

Dave...

DAVE:

(clutching his "breast")

'America isn't in what we say here

tonight -- it's in the faces and the

smiles of a Sunday afternoon...'

(aside)

Hand on the heart...

BOB:

Dave...

DAVE:

(swept up in it)

It's in the little leaguer who may

strike out but knows in his heart that

at least swung...

(aside)

Hands to the side...

REED:

(louder)

Dave!

DAVE:

(not hearing them)

'... It's in the gentle kindness of

the family kitchen as we gather together

when the sun goes down...'

He exhales deeply and lowers his head almost tearfully. Bob

and Reed look at him stunned as he comes out of the reverie

and turns to face them.

DAVE:

(upbeat)

So when do we start?

CUT TO:

EXT. WHITE HOUSE - CLOSEUP - ANDREA MITCHELL -

She continues with her report speaking directly INTO the

CAMERA:

ANDREA MITCHELL:

Tom, virtually every reporter in

Washington is camped out here awaiting

the President's first appearance since

his Stroke...

WIDENING OUT:

Andrea Mitchell stands camped on the White House lawn amidst

a small army of minicams, trucks and reporters.

They all seemed focused on the Truman Balcony.

ANDREA MITCHELL:

Even though some may find his recovery

amazing, White House officials claim

they never expected less from a man

who always expects so much from himself.

INT. YELLOW OVAL ROOM - DAY

Dave stands, in his new blue suit, peeking out the window at

the circus below.

DAVE:

(turning back)

I thought you said I wasn't going to

see her.

REED:

It's just five minutes. She comes in.

You wave to the press.

She leaves.

DAVE:

Yeah, but the First Lady...

Couldn't we start with a cousin or

something?

REED:

She hardly ever sees him and it'll be

so fast, she won't have a chance to

tell.

BOB:

Be a professional. If you can

convince her - - you can convince

anybody.

DAVE:

(reluctantly)

... Alright.

BOB:

Now when she comes in, we'll move you

right out to the balcony. All you

have to say is `thanks for doing this,

Ellen.'

DAVE:

`Thanks for doing this, Ellen.'

REED:

Exactly.

(lowering his voice)

She doesn't always like this stuff and

it might soften her up.

Dave continues practicing "Thanks..."

BOB:

(hitting the intercom)

We're ready.

Bob rises from the couch and crosses to the doorway at the

far corner of the room. Reed leads Dave to the large double

doors that open onto the balcony itself.

CLOSEUP - DAVE

He jiggles nervously for a moment. Dave takes a large wad

of gum from his mouth and sticks it quickly under the mantel

piece...

WOMAN (O.S.)

Why can't you die from a stroke like

everybody else?

DAVE'S POV - DOOR

He turns to see Ellen Mitchell, glaring at him from the

doorway. Everyone in the room freezes.

ANGLE - DAVE

He is stunned by her beauty. Dave just stares at her as she

crosses the room.

ELLEN:

(to Dave)

What are you staring at?

DAVE:

(too stunned to talk)

Uh...

REED:

(jumping in)

We're Gonna do it right out here.

She Stops just before the window, then turns back to look

Dave in the eye.

ELLEN:

Who was it, Bill? A Secretary?

He has nothing to say and just stares at her. Reed nudges

him a little.

DAVE:

Thanks for doing this, Ellen.

ELLEN:

Go tuck yourself, Bill.

BOB:

Well, perhaps we can get started now.

She moves directly onto the balcony, leaving Dave behind. He

stands there dumbfounded, as Reed takes him by the arm, and

gently pushes him out after her.

EXT. WHITE HOUSE - TRUMAN BALCONY - DAY

Dave stumbles out and finds Ellen, already poised at the rail

waving to the crowd.

CLOSER.

ELLEN:

(in a whisper)

And you can tell those two pit vipers

this is the last one of these I'll be

doing for a while.

She takes his hand, displaying it publicly. Dave looks down

at his hand in hers. The heat of her skin goes right to his

brain.

REED (O.S.)

(loud whisper)

Smile!

Dave smiles.

REED (O.S.)

(louder whisper)

Wave!

Dave waves.

WIDER. INCLUDING reporters.

REPORTER #1

How do you feel, Mr. President?

YELLOW ROOM:

Bob and Reed are huddled beside the

window.

REED:

(stage whisper)

Fine.

BALCONY:

DAVE:

Fine.

REPORTER #2

Ready to go back to work?

YELLOW ROOM:

REED:

(louder whisper)

You bet.

BALCONY:

DAVE:

You bet.

ELLEN:

I'm outta here.

She drops his hand, turns and goes back through the door

leaving Dave alone on the balcony. He stands there for a

moment, then turns and follows her inside.

INT. YELLOW OVAL ROOM - DAY

She is halfway across the room when Ellen suddenly stops and

does a one-eighty in the middle of the carpet.

ELLEN:

Don't you have anything to say to me?

DAVE:

(thinks)

Thanks for doing this, Ellen?

ELLEN:

You don't change, do you, Bill?

She turns and moves through the door, slamming it behind her.

DAVE:

(stunned)

She hates me.

BOB & REED

(throwing their arms

around each other)

Yes!!!

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