Jackie Page #11

She tapes the box closed -but the tape catches on her

wedding ring.

Angry, shaking, she struggles to take the ring off.

Jackie swallows a pill.

She catches a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Lingers...

INT. BOBBY’S OFFICE -WHITE HOUSE

Johnson's top aide, Jack Valenti unpacks his belongings intoBobby’s old office. He's interrupted by -

JACKIE:

How do you like your new office?

Jackie stands in his doorway.

VALENTI:

Mrs. Kennedy. Come in. Sorry I’mjust trying to do my job ma’am.

She knows the jab was unfair.

JACKIE:

(sincere)

Of course you are. I remember whenwe won the election, how

overwhelming it was.

VALENTI:

Everyone's thoughts are with youright now.

Jackie smiles graciously.

JACKIE:

That's very kind of you.

(beat)

I've come to discuss tomorrow.

67.

VALENTI:

The Attorney General relayed to meyour desire for a more modest

ceremony.

JACKIE:

I've changed my mind.

VALENTI:

I'm sorry?

JACKIE:

I said I've changed my mind. We

will have the procession. And Iwill walk to the Cathedral. With

the casket.

Valenti is stunned.

VALENTI:

Well even if we could resume the

arrangements, I'm sure you canunderstand... The Secret Service

still has their concerns.

JACKIE:

And President Johnson?

VALENTI:

President Johnson would like

nothing more than to fulfill yourwishes. But, I have to take into

account his safety. The countrycouldn't endure another blow should

anything-

He catches himself.

VALENTI (CONT'D)

I didn't mean...

If it were up to him, he'd doanything that might bring youcomfort.

JACKIE:

Then, who is it up to, Mr. Valenti?

VALENTI:

As I’m sure you know, we'reexpecting close to a hundred Headsof State.

JACKIE:

One hundred three.

68.

Surprised by her precision -

VALENTI:

Yes. I’m sure that’s right.

(beat)

And I suspect they'll all make

their own decisions.

JACKIE:

Based on what?

Trying to intimidate her -

VALENTI:

There’s a great deal of classifiedintelligence that I can’t get into.

Jackie stares at him, unimpressed, and he knows he’ll have togive her more than that.

VALENTI (CONT’D)

We've intercepted a threat againstGeneral De Gaulle. From our assets

in Geneva.

(beat)

I’m afraid if he refuses to march,

others may follow.

Jackie considers this. Seeming to waver -

JACKIE:

(sympathetic)

I understand.

Valenti thinks he’s won.

VALENTI:

As I said, Mrs. Kennedy I wish

there were more we could do to

accommodate your wishes.

(beat)

I’m terribly sorry.

Jackie seems to accept this.

JACKIE:

Don’t be. You and the Johnson’s

have already done so much.

VALENTI:

Good day, Mrs. Kennedy.

Jackie turns to go --then stops in the doorway.

69.

JACKIE:

Mr. Valenti. Would you mind gettinga message to all the funeral guestswhen they land?

Not sure where this is going -

VALENTI:

Of course.

JACKIE:

Inform them that I will walk with

Jack tomorrow.

(beat)

Alone

if necessary.

(beat)

And tell General De Gaulle --if he

wishes to ride in an armored car -or

in a tank for that matter --I

won’t blame him.

(beat)

And I’m sure the tens of millions

of people watching won’t either.

She turns to leave.

VALENTI:

Why are you doing this Mrs.

Kennedy?

JACKIE:

Oh, I’m just doing my job.

With that, Jackie exits.

CUT TO:

INT. KENNEDY COMPOUND -LIVING ROOM

Jackie and the Journalist sit across from each other.

JACKIE:

Would you like to write this down?

JOURNALIST:

Do you think I should?

JACKIE:

I... I do.

The Journalist opens his notebook to a blank page and beginsto take dictation.

70.

JACKIE (CONT’D)

We all live on far after our

deaths. Presidents will come and goand every one of them will look upto Jack for guidance, forinspiration.

He finishes writing the paragraph.

JOURNALIST:

What do you say to those who say hedidn’t deserve it? The scale of it?

(off her confusion)

He was a great President --but hedidn’t win the Civil War, for

instance.

JACKIE:

It was a funeral for the President

of the United States.

JOURNALIST:

Your husband drove cars, he didn’t

ride horses.

An outburst -

JACKIE:

Yes and there should have been more

of them. There should have been

more horses, more soldiers, more

crying, more cameras!

JOURNALIST:

I’m guessing you won’t allow me towrite any of that?

JACKIE:

No, because I never said that.

(beat)

Perhaps Jack didn’t have time todefeat Communism-

JOURNALIST:

--with all due respect, you were atthe center of it all Mrs. Kennedy.

(beat)

And I’d imagine, from that vantage,

it was impossible to have anyperspective.

(beat)

But I can assure you --it was aspectacle.

71.

And now INTERCUT --the FUNERAL PROCESSION, the Journalist,

and the Priest...

EXT. PORTICO -WHITE HOUSE -DAY

The caisson comes to a stop in front of the White House.

ANGLE UP to Jackie, peering out at the assembled crowd.

JACKIE'S POV --looking down on Bobby and Ethel. Ted andJoan. Janet and Hugh Auchincloss. Sargent and EuniceShriver. O’Brien, O’Donnell, and Powers.

President and Lady Bird Johnson.

Behind them is a pantheon of foreign leaders. De Gaulle,

EMPEROR HAILE SELASSIE of Ethiopia, PRINCE PHILLIP, DUKE OFEDINBURGH, SOVIET FOREIGN MINISTER ANASTAS MIKOYAN, JEAN

MONNET and others.

It is an extraordinary gathering --manifest only throughJackie’s force of will.

A long beat, as she takes it all in. In her eyes --thefaintest hint of pride behind the sadness.

Finally, Jackie steps forward and takes her place betweenBobby and Ted. She wears a veil over her face --and the

BLACK WATCH PIPERS begin their plaintive dirge...

The caisson lurches forward, pulled by a train of WHITESTALLIONS, and the grim parade begins...

As they exit the White House Gates, Jackie looks downPENNSYLVANIA and for the first time comes face-to-face with

the scope of the nation's sorrow.

All the way to the distant horizon, the sidewalks areoverflowing with MOURNERS.

JACKIE (O.S.)

Nancy said they wanted to share mygrief.

EXT. PARK -OUTSIDE, WASHINGTON DC

JACKIE:

So I let them.

She continues to speak with the Priest.

72.

JACKIE (CONT’D)

But after, I realized...all the

pageantry, all the demands I madeto honor him. It wasn't for Jack.

Or his legacy.

(beat)

It was for me.

EXT. PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE

Jackie pauses and we ANGLE ON... Hill, tensing up beside her.

He scans the crowd for threats as POLICE OFFICERS on the ropeline snap to attention.

ANGLE WIDE, REVEALING --the long, empty street ahead.

Quick CLOSE-UPS:
A MAN IN A FEDORA. A BLACK MAN. A WOMAN

and CHILD. Threats? Or grieving citizens?

In the back of a black car, John Jr and Caroline ride in the

procession, looking out at the crowd through the rear window.

Jackie takes a step and continues bravely marching forward.

JACKIE (O.S.)

I wrote him a letter. That night,

before we moved the casket to the

Capitol. Do you know what I wrote?

EXT. PARK -OUTSIDE, WASHINGTON DC

JACKIE:

That I wanted to die.

PRIEST:

(empathetic)

I understand.

JACKIE:

(skeptical)

Do you?

PRIEST:

I do. Unless you are asking my

permission.

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