Gabriel Over the White House Page #3

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The bell in the study's...

I rang, Eastman.

Mr President!

I heard what you said,

but the doctors are wrong.

Judd Hammond isn't going to die.

What is the lowdown, Dr Eastman?

We're all going crazy.

You'll be accused of assassination,

first thing you know.

The president is still unconscious.

We've printed that one line for weeks...

No one believes it.

I was here when Wilson was sick,

and Harding, too...

and no one ever dared

hide the news from us.

The president is still in a coma.

That's all I can tell you.

Beekman, you have to tell us something new,

even if you have to lie about it...

Has he talked? What does he look like/

what does he eat?

Tell us something! Where is he?

We're all going to be fired.

We have to write something.

Until we get the truth, the stories

are going to get wilder and wilder.

A Japanese duck could run this country,

or we'll have anarchy!

I know as little as you do.

Dr Eastman and the valet are the only two people

to have seen the president since the accident.

Now that's all!

There's something going on here

that doesn't quite gel.

I'm sorry...

I've told you all I know.

I think the whole thing

is preposterous.

Doctor, I can't stand it any longer.

You've got to let me see him.

Miss Malloy...

Mr Beekman...

This situation is getting

too much for me.

If I'm going on with this,

I've got to have help.

I've got to have somebody

to share the burden.

Burden?

President Hammond has been

perfectly well for 2 weeks.

What?!

Do you know what you're saying, Doctor?

That is... he SEEMS physically fit.

Sometimes concussion

can produce results that...

transcend all the laws of medicine.

You must prepare yourselves

for a shock.

The president is not the Judd Hammond

that I have treated for 15 years.

But your bulletin!

The presidents orders.

Why?!

Two weeks ago, I advised him to get up...

and reminded him that he had

been conscious for 24 hours.

He told me that he had been

entirely conscious for a week.

But that he wanted time to think.

What did he say?

What did he talk to you about?

He says nothing.

He sits there, silently,

reading, or thinking.

A gaunt grey ghost,

with burning eyes...

that seem to see

right down into you.

I can't stand it.

- I'm going to see him.

- Miss Malloy! Please!

Please be reasonable.

If you insist on seeing the president,

it must be on your own responsibility.

Alright.

Doctor, I will assume responsibility

for Miss Malloy's action.

Very well.

Judd...

Judd!

Why have you shut us out?

What's the trouble, Miss Malloy?

You seem upset about something.

But, dear...

Don't you know how worried we've been?

Miss Malloy, I want all available information

on John Bronson and the army of the unemployed.

Facts, unprejudiced reports,

the truth, you understand?

Yes.

That is all, Miss Malloy.

Tell Mr Beekman I would like

to see him at once.

That is all, Miss Malloy!

Yessir.

What is it, Pendy?

Something happened.

Something I can't understand.

His eyes were so strange.

His voice is different.

And, oh, Beek...

He called me "Miss Malloy".

You poor kid.

Mr Beekman... instruct the members

of my cabinet to meet me in 1 hour.

Mr President, an hour is hardly time...

I expect every member

to be present in one hour.

Yessir.

Am I late?

- What's all the rush about?

- I don't know myself.

Why didn't he see us before?

We've been waiting for him

for 2 weeks.

Don't forget, Judd's been a sick man.

Now, boys... let ME handle

this situation.

I've known Judd

longer than any of you.

He's been a very sick man

and we've got to humour him.

Yes, but we've got to think

of the Party.

No matter what happens,

the Party comes first.

The president.

Please omit all condolences.

Save your sympathy for the

people of the United States...

who are in dire need of it.

Sit down, gentlemen.

We're confronted with

an ugly situation, Judd.

A lot of things have come up

since your accident.

Yes, I know.

I mean the army of the unemployed.

Bronson and his gang.

I know... they're getting ready to march

on Washington... a million-strong.

We didn't think you knew.

I call on you, as commander-in-chief

of the army and navy...

Give me the authority to mobilise

and keep these ruffians in their camps.

- Do you want to declare war?

- We've got to uphold the law.

What law?

Something must be done at once...

or this armed mob will descend on us.

Run riot all over Washington.

Every citizen of the USA should be assured the

elementary necessity for keeping life within his body.

This cabinet, every member of Congress,

each office-holder...

is answerable directly

to the public conscience.

Gentlemen, I refuse to call out the army

against the people of the United states.

And I refuse to accept that.

Discussion on this subject is closed.

Be careful...

I might resign on you.

Your resignation is accepted.

Judd, I was only suggesting...

Your resignation is accepted!

You have my permission

to withdraw.

Gentlemen, I suggest you read

the Constitution of the United States.

You'll find the president

has some power.

Well, I'll be...

May I ask why Secretary of State

Brookes resigned?

He didn't resign... I fired him.

Exactly, Mr President,

why did you fire Secretary Brookes?

I fired him because he's

an old-fashioned politician...

incapable of being

Secretary of State.

Furthermore he insisted

upon calling up the army...

to keep the unemployed

from marching on Washington.

A fine straight-talk, Mr President.

Too bad the president

cannot be quoted.

This president can be quoted...

This president wants to be quoted.

The president's here, Alice.

He's hoping we'll stay away.

Well... we start tomorrow.

- Are you John Bronson?

- Yeah.

Can I see you alone for a minute?

Certainly.

I'll be right back, honey.

It's an interesting commentary

on our social system, Inspector...

that the errors of youth should

prove so embarrassing at maturity.

Sure.

I'm much better-looking now

than I was then.

Especially the profile.

Don't you think?

You've filled out a bit.

Cigarette, Inspector?

Thanks.

I'll smoke it after dinner,

if you don't mind.

Not at all.

Inspector...

Haven't you forgotten something?

Oh, yes, the negative.

You may want some prints

made up for Christmas cards.

Hello, Bronson.

Nice of you to have dropped in on me.

- Thanks for the escort.

- Oh, that's alright.

Would you sit down.

No thank you.

The unemployment situation

doesn't seem to have affected you any.

Life has been very good to me.

That's a terrible thing...

these men of your.

Millions of American citizens

starving and homeless.

Yes, it is.

I'd like to do something

for those not so fortunate.

Keep your men in their camps,

and I'll see they're taken care of.

I'll have them fed clothed and housed.

Lots easier for you

if they stay in the camps, isn't it?

You're not only a patriot, Bronson...

You're a very astute man.

Your profits are much bigger...

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