Jackie Page #2

or throw it out.

CUT TO:

EXT. KENNEDY COMPOUND -DECK-DAY

Jackie continues the interview with the Journalist.

JOURNALIST:

And the talk of the tax payer money

being wasted?

JACKIE:

I raised every dime privately that

we spent on that restoration. I

loved that house and wanted to

share it with the American people.

To impart a sense of America’s

greatness.

(beat)

(MORE)

8.

JACKIE (CONT'D)

Objects and artifacts last far

longer than people and they

represent important ideas in

history, identity...beauty.

He scribbles down her remarks --all cold, abstract ideas.

And then, probing, trying to find the emotion...

JOURNALIST:

I’m sure the readers would like to

know... What it’s like to be a

member of your family?

Jackie thinks --and then...

JACKIE:

Imagine a little boy surrounded byall this. Having his older brotherdie in battle and then going off tothat same war and coming home ahero. People see that little boy,

born to wealth, privilege, willingto sacrifice everything for hisideals and service to his nation.

JOURNALIST:

Royalty. You make it sound likeroyalty.

JACKIE:

Well for royalty you needtradition. And for tradition youneed time.

JOURNALIST:

Well I guess it has to startsomewhere, right? There has to be aday one?

CUT TO:

INT. EAST ROOM -WHITE HOUSE (1962)

Jackie and Collingswood now stand in the sprawling East Room.

COLLINGSWOOD:

This is the East Room, pretty muchas Americans have known it now for

sixty years. Obviously you haven’tfelt like you had to make any greatchanges in it.

9.

JACKIE:

No, I think it's lovely. I hate to

make changes really, so when youfind a room like this, it's

wonderful.

COLLINGSWOOD:

This piano brings to mind that thisis the part of the White Housewhere you have the musical affairs?

JACKIE:

That’s right this piano wasdesigned by Franklin Roosevelt withthe Eagle’s Support.

(beat)

And this is the end of the room

where Pablo Casals played for us,

where we had a portable stage builtfor us, when we had the ShakespearePlayers.

COLLINGSWOOD:

Mrs. Kennedy, this administrationhas shown a particular affinity forartists, musicians, writers, and

poets.

Behind the camera, Nancy tracks Jackie’s every move.

COLLINGSWOOD (CONT’D)

Is this because you and yourhusband just feel that way. Or do

you think there's a relationshipbetween the government and thearts?

Jackie pauses --clearly hesitant to tread on any groundresembling public policy.

JACKIE:

That's so complicated. I—I don't

know.

(beat)

I just think that everything in theWhite House should be the best.

INTERCUT -

INT. EAST ROOM -WHITE HOUSE (1961)

The East Room at its most glamorous.

10.

Jackie is seated in the first row of an audience listening toPablo Casals play Felix Mendelssohn's Piano Trio No. 1 in Dminor, Op. 49.

Jackie is transfixed. Happy.

INT. EAST ROOM -WHITE HOUSE (1962)

Nancy watches Jackie speak to Collingswood.

JACKIE:

And if it's an American companythat you can help, I like to dothat. If it’s not...Just as longas it's the best.

INT. EAST ROOM -WHITE HOUSE (1961)

PUSH IN on Jackie, basking in Casal’s performance.

Captivated.

The final note. The music ends.

CUT TO:

INT. KENNEDY COMPOUND -LIVING ROOM

The interview continues inside. She sits on the couch now,

across from the Journalist.

JOURNALIST:

Is your faith helping you?

JACKIE:

I’d prefer to discuss my faith witha priest. You’re not a man of the

cloth, are you?

JOURNALIST:

No, I’m not. I’m just trying to getto the truth. That’s what

reporters do.

JACKIE:

The truth? Well I’ve grownaccustomed to a great dividebetween what people believe andwhat I know to be real.

11.

JOURNALIST:

Fine, I will settle for a storythat’s believable.

JACKIE:

That’s more like it. You know I

used to be a reporter myself once.

I know what you’re looking for.

JOURNALIST:

(confused)

I’m sorry?

JACKIE:

A moment-by-moment account. That’swhat you came her for, isn’t it?

(beat)

You want me to describe the sound

the bullet made when it collided

with my husband’s skull.

CUT TO:

INT. AIR FORCE ONE -PRESIDENTIAL QUARTERS -DALLAS, 1963

Jackie applies makeup in the mirror while practicing a speechin Spanish. Her delivery is practiced, careful.

JACKIE:

I’m very happy to be in the greatstate of Texas, to be with you andexperience the noble Spanishtradition that has achieved so much

in Dallas. This tradition started

100 years ago before thecolonization of Massachusetts, myhusband’s State. It is a tradition

that remains alive and strong.

She puts on her famous pink, pillbox hat and closes themirror.

INT./EXT. DALLAS -LOVE FIELD -DAY

Jackie walks through the plane. She can hear the loud crowdoutside.

JACKIE:

(hopeful)

Is that the sound of birds?

Playing along with his wife -

12.

PRESIDENT KENNEDY (O.S.)

Not exactly birds. Must be the

ocean...

(beat)

Are you ready?

JACKIE:

(ironic)

Of course. I love crowds.

The door opens. Jackie walks off AIR FORCE ONE onto thetarmac at LOVE FIELD.

It is NOVEMBER 22, 1963.

She is wearing that pink wool Chanel suit with navy lapels,

an outfit that will soon be notorious but right now, in themorning light, is cheery and elegant, another fashionpronouncement by the most stylish woman in America.

Beside her is her husband, PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY.

Jackie absorbs the roar of the crowd like a physical assault.

Then sees GOVERNOR JOHN CONNALLY and his wife NELLIE waitingat the bottom of the short staircase, flanked by a salutinghonor guard.

The crowds are chanting "JACK-EE! JACK-EE!"

LYNDON JOHNSON:

You remember the Governor and Mrs.

Connally?

LADYBIRD:

Welcome to Dallas, Darling.

She carefully descends to the bottom of the stairs, wheresuddenly --Nellie thrusts a bouquet of RED ROSES into herhands.

A beat, as she eyes the crimson blossoms.

And then --shouting over the screaming crowd...

JACKIE:

My! What a welcome!

The Governor places a conspiratorial arm around the Presidentand holds him for a whispered conference.

Amidst the chaos, Jackie turns around to face the CROWD,

which erupts in even louder cheers. She blushes, almost

embarrassed, and responds with a demure smile.

13.

Then she notices --the President is on the move again. She

hurries to catch up as he marches toward the waiting limo.

Jackie holds a grin in place and methodically makes eyecontact with every voter on the rope line -

JACKIE (CONT’D)

Thank you. Thank you so much for

coming...

CUT TO:

INT. KENNEDY COMPOUND -LIVING ROOM

The interview with Journalist continues. Her voice quivering,

a stream of consciousness...

JACKIE:

There’d been the biggest motorcadefrom the airport. Hot, wild like

in Mexico or Vienna. The sun was

strong in our faces but I couldn’twear my sunglasses. Jack has hishand out and I see a piece of hisskull come off. It wasn’t flesh

colored, it wasn’t white. He slumpsin my lap. His blood, his brains inmy lap. And I’m saying Jack, Jackcan you hear me, Jack, I love youJack!

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