G.I. Jane

FADE IN:

INT. SENATE HEARING ROOM - CAPITOL BLDG. - DAY

Blinding in their white uniforms, naval flag officers sit

in the audience, showing their support for THEODORE HAYES,

a 50-year-old civilian. This is his confirmation hearing.

Reading from prepared material:

HAYES:

... last few years have brought many

advances in the interests of women

in naval service, particularly in

the land-based maritime specialties.

What's more, the Navy has instituted

special sensitivity courses with an

eye on --

DEHAVEN:

Whoa, whoa, whoa. "Land-based

maritime specialties." Gimme a

second here to de-euphemize that...

At the center of a dais, LILLIAN DEHAVEN leans back to

ponder the ceiling of the hearing room. Her plaque card

reads "CHAIRPERSON -- SENATE ARMS COMMITTEE." DeHaven is a

tough-hided old Southern belle, Scarlett O'Hara at 60.

In her arsenal she carries conversational hand-grenades --

and she's apt to pull a pin at the slightest whim.

DEHAVEN:

Would that be anything like

"typing"? "Restocking the

cupboards"? That sort of thing, Mr.

Hayes?

CHUCKLES from the packed gallery. The flag officers go

stone-faced. Hayes forces a smile.

HAYES:

Hardly the case, Senator.

DEHAVEN:

Well, I'm just an old dame without

much time left, so you'll pardon me

if I jump right in here before they

discontinue my blood-type. I am

deeply concerned over the Navy's

seemingly incontrovertible attitude

toward women in the military. Case

in point...

On cue, aides begin distributing reports to other members

of the dais. Hayes gets a copy, too. And it jars him.

DEHAVEN:

"The Lark Report."

HAYES:

Madam Senator... this is an internal

document of the U.S. Navy. I must

seriously question whether --

DEHAVEN:

(to others on panel)

The Navy's conclusion regarding the

crash of an F-14 aboard an aircraft

carrier. Female aviator, it just so

happens.

(to Hayes)

You're familiar with this report and

its conclusion, am I right?

HAYES:

I was one member of the investigating

commission.

DEHAVEN:

Yes, I see your signature right here

-- twice the size of everyone

else's. And your conclusion was

"pilot error," hmm?

HAYES:

I'm really not prepared for any kind

of in-depth review of --

DEHAVEN:

I'd like to think our next Secretary

of the Navy would be prepared for

anything, Mr. Hayes.

A humorless smile. She's roasting his nuts over an open

fire, and everyone knows it.

HAYES:

The commission concluded that the

aviator in question failed to

execute a proper approach to the

carrier.

DEHAVEN:

That aside for the moment, I'm

struck by the tenor, the ill-spirit

of your report... the degrading

remarks by other aviators...

innuendo about her performance in

unrelated situations... even a

reference to her sexual activity the

weekend prior.

(closing report)

In my seven years on this committee,

I've never seen a downed aviator

treated like this. Never. I'm

deeply disturbed by this report, Mr.

Hayes. Not just what it bodes for

women in the military -- but for

your own confirmation as well.

INT. CORRIDOR - CAPITOL BLDG. - DAY

Heading for her office, DeHaven is escorted by a small

PRESS RETINUE.

DEHAVEN:

... a full 35 percent of all jobs in

the U.S. military are still, to this

day, off-limits to women. And

that's simply gotta change.

PRESS #1

What about those who say women

aren't suited for all jobs? That

they're physically weaker... they

have less stamina...

DEHAVEN:

Sure. And we're gonna hog the

bathroom, too.

DEHAVEN'S AIDE catches up, pulls her aside.

DEHAVEN'S AIDE

White House boys want a private

meeting.

DEHAVEN:

I'll act surprised.

INT. DEHAVEN'S OFFICE - CAPITOL BLDG. - DAY

Shoes dumped on her desk, DeHaven changes out knee-high

stockings while devoting one ear to...

WHITE HOUSE #1

... to reassure you that he has

every faith in the ability of Mr.

Hayes to guide the Navy into the

next century. The task, as the

Administration sees it, is to

acknowledge changing realities

without losing traditional values.

A beat. DeHaven looks between the two WHITE HOUSE boys --

#1 young and eager, #2 older and cagier.

DEHAVEN:

'Zat it? Ten minutes, nothin' on

the table? Sweetcakes, you best go

back to the President and tell him

to open up the phone book and start

lookin' for his next nominee.

White House #1 looks spanked. Taking over, #2 pops a

briefcase. An inch-think report appears before DeHaven.

WHITE HOUSE #2

Administration's plan for 100

percent integration. If female

candidates measure up in a series of

test cases, the President will

support full integration within

three years' time.

Surprised -- maybe even startled -- DeHaven flips through

the report, absorbing by osmosis.

WHITE HOUSE #2

It's your gender-blind Navy,

Senator. Surely you're not going to

balk now.

DEHAVEN:

Well, it's just that askin' you all

to integrate the Navy is like

sending a man to do a woman's job.

(a beat)

How do you propose to handle the

Combat Exclusion Laws?

WHITE HOUSE #2

Keep narrowing the definitions.

Keep redefining.

WHITE HOUSE #1

We got around it in Saudi Arabia.

DEHAVEN:

By calling women "Honorary Men."

Ingenious.

WHITE HOUSE #2

C'mon, Senator, President's pitchin'

right down the center of your plate.

If women measure up to men, they've

got the job. You going to take a

swing? Or step out of the box?

DeHaven riffles the edges of the report, thinking it over.

Thinking light years ahead.

EXT. CAPITOL BLDG. - DAY

Buttoning up topcoats, the White House boys move down

marble steps to reach a pair of limousines. Hayes and two

FLAG OFFICERS wait.

HAYES:

Well?

WHITE HOUSE #2

(shaking hand)

Congratulations, Mr. Secretary.

INT. HAYES' LIMOUSINE - DAY

Inside the moving car:

HAYES:

So she picks the women, we pick the

programs. Seals?

FLAG OFFICER #1

I'd go Special Reconnaissance.

Every bit as tough -- and we have a

60 percent drop-out rate among the

men.

HAYES:

Then I suggest we start there.

FLAG OFFICER #1

Doesn't matter who she picks. No

woman is going to last one week in a

commando training course. And I

don't care who it is.

EXT. POTOMAC RIVER - WASHINGTON D.C. - DAY

Winterscape:
Dotted with ice floes, the Potomac wends

through the capitol city, banks iridescent with snow,

morning water calm. There's an almost hallowed beauty to

it all. Soon we pick out...

A spot of day-glo. Coming out of the mouth of morning.

Overtaking the floes.

CLOSER on JORDAN O'NEIL. She pushes her flat-water kayak

downriver, paddling hard and clean, making good time.

Gliding through the graceful arches of the Arlington

bridge, she passes...

Cars overhead. Grid-locked by snow conditions.

In seconds Jordan paddles clear, leaving the traffic

behind as she heads toward the Washington Monument.

Something BURRS from a life-vest pocket. She rips through

velcro to free a cell phone.

JORDAN:

Lieutenant O'Neil.

ROYCE (V.O.)

Gotta situation here. Where are

you? Stuck in traffic?

JORDAN:

(checking dive watch)

Not due in for 22 minutes, sir.

Watcha got?

INT. SITUATION ROOM - N.I.C. - DAY

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes