Jackie Page #9

JACKIE:

Are you ready to go?

52.

JOHN JR.

Yes.

JACKIE:

Will you look at me?

JOHN JR.

Mommy, is it my birthday?

JACKIE:

Not yet, dear.

She kisses his forehead and holds his face.

From the doorway, announcing himself -

HILL:

Special Agent Hill. Whenever Mrs.

Kennedy is ready.

JACKIE:

Oh Clint... We're nearly done

here.

Jackie rises to greet him. But as she locks eyes with him -she

seems to falter on her feet.

She stares at him, trying to recapture some lost memory.

JACKIE (CONT’D)

It’s the strangest thing. I hardlyremember anything after.

(beat)

But I've read about what you did inthe papers. And I just wanted tothank you.

INT. WEST SITTING ROOM -WHITE HOUSE

CHAOS in the wake of Oswald’s assassination.

PRESIDENT JOHNSON

(increasingly enraged)

We need to get a handle on thisthing. We've got to get involved.

VALENTI:

Yes, sir.

PRESIDENT JOHNSON

This is making us look like a bunchof goddamn barbarians!

53.

Mary announces..

MARY:

(horrified)

Mrs. Kennedy is on her way down.

With the children.

BOBBY:

Turn the television off!

(he does)

You’re not to speak a word of this.

Understood? I'll tell Jackie when

the time is right.

The group remains frozen in horror.

BOBBY (CONT’D)

(to Johnson)

Sit down.

PRESIDENT JOHNSON

Excuse me?

BOBBY:

Sit down.

LADY BIRD:

Darling?

President Johnson sits.

INT. CAROLINE KENNEDY'S BEDROOM -WHITE HOUSE

Jackie continues speaking to Hill.

JACKIE:

What do you remember? Will you tellme everything. I need to hear.

He sees the desperation in her eyes. Has no choice...

HILL:

I was ten yards back when I heardthe first shot. As my eyes crossedthe President’s car...

He hesitates to continue.

HILL (CONT’D)

Mrs. Kennedy...

JACKIE:

Keep going.

54.

HILL:

I had to get to you to put myselfbetween you the President and theshooter.

JACKIE:

Who was it? Was it that Oswald?

HILL:

They think so.

JACKIE:

I need to talk to him.

(beat)

I need to talk to him.

HILL:

(nervous)

I don’t know about that, Mrs.

Kennedy.

For a moment, they just stand in silence. And then -

NANCY:

The children are ready. Shall I

take them downstairs to ride with

Maud?

JACKIE:

I'd like them to come with me.

NANCY:

The press is out front. I thought

you'd prefer -

JACKIE:

Their father is leaving this housefor the last time. They should bethere to say goodbye to him.

NANCY:

But the cameras? Those picturesare being broadcast to every cornerof the world.

Jackie has found some burst of strength in her encounter withHill.

JACKIE:

Those pictures should record thetruth. Two heartbroken, fatherless

children are a part of that.

(beat)

(MORE)

55.

JACKIE (CONT'D)

You can tell them I’m ready toleave --with Caroline and John.

Nancy is taken aback by her intensity.

NANCY:

Yes, Mrs. Kennedy.

As Nancy turns to leave -JACKIE

Nancy?

NANCY:

Yes?

JACKIE:

I’m not the First Lady anymore.

(beat)

You can call me Jackie.

NANCY:

I will.

Jackie turns back to the children.

JACKIE:

Caroline, are you ready sweetheart?

She goes to pick up her daughter.

JACKIE (CONT’D)

My brave girl.

And now John begins to sob. She reaches for her son.

JACKIE (CONT’D)

Oh, John, John, John -Off

his cries...

CUT TO:

INT. KENNEDY COMPOUND -LIVING ROOM

Jackie sits with the Journalist at the table.

JACKIE:

I value my privacy. I always have.

56.

JOURNALIST:

And yet in the days after -directly

after --something seemedto change.

JACKIE:

In what way?

JOURNALIST:

Before the funeral. The day youmoved the casket to the Capitol.

Your children were on full displayfor the whole world to see.

JACKIE:

What are you insinuating? That Iexploited them?

JOURNALIST:

No, of course not...

EXT. PORTICO -WHITE HOUSE -DAY

Jackie leads Caroline and John Jr out onto the PORTICO,

squinting in the mid-day sun.

She takes in the extraordinary scene.

The horse-drawn CAISSON carrying the President's flag-drapedCASKET is parked just before them, followed by a RIDERLESSHORSE, and then a train of LIMOUSINES to carry the mourners.

In the lead is a DRUM CORPS.

The WHITE HOUSE DRIVE is lined by parallel rows of SOLDIERScarrying the flags of the 50 states.

The WHITE HOUSE LAWN is crowded with CAMERA CREWS, REPORTERS,

and STAFF. All are reverent, silent.

FLASHBULBS erupt, capturing the indelible image... The widow

in black. The two innocent children in powder blue. They

are still, and now frozen in time.

INT. LIMOUSINE -DAY

Jackie looks out at the crowd of mourners lining the street.

Their reflection scrolls by her face in the window.

CUT TO:

57.

INT. KENNEDY COMPOUND -LIVING ROOM

The Journalist is now on the offensive.

JOURNALIST:

I’m only wondering if youconsidered doing more to shieldthem. I think most people wouldhave-

JACKIE:

We aren’t ‘most people’.

(beat)

Most people don’t have to makethose kinds of decisions, hours

after watching their husband getmurdered next to them.

CUT TO:

EXT. EAST STEPS -UNITED STATES CAPITOL

The caisson comes to a stop at the base of the SENATE STEPS,

the trail of LIMOUSINES just behind. An HONOR GUARD and a

NAVY BAND wait to receive them.

The doors of the limousines open, and Jackie steps out, alongwith Caroline, John Jr and Bobby.

President Johnson and Lady Bird emerge from the next car, andtake up position beside them.

Jackie turns to the new PRESIDENT...

JACKIE:

Oh, Lyndon. What an awful way tobegin your presidency.

Before he can reply, she walks ahead.

INT. KENNEDY COMPOUND

A long beat, and then -

JOURNALIST:

Are you saying it was a mistake?

JACKIE:

No, of course not.

CUT TO:

58.

INT. CAPITOL ROTUNDA

Jackie and Caroline follow the casket to the catafalque.

Bobby helps John Jr to a seat in the first row.

The HONOR GUARD steps aside and the room silently watches.

Jackie kneels, and Caroline kneels beside her.

Jackie presses her lips gently against the flag. Caroline

follows.

CUT TO:

INT. BOBBY’S OFFICE -WHITE HOUSE

Bobby is back at his desk on the phone. Jackie storms into

his office. Her eyes are wild --brimming with a rage we've

never seen.

JACKIE:

How dare you?!

BOBBY:

Jackie-

She charges toward him. He hangs up the phone -

JACKIE:

They murdered him!! Inside thejail! These people can get toanyone!

BOBBY:

We don't know-

JACKIE:

--How dare you keep that from me?!

BOBBY:

We didn't know any of the details.

And the ceremony at the Capitol...

We had to keep moving-

JACKIE:

You had no right! The children!

I took them out the front door!

She physically shudders at the thought of it...

BOBBY:

Are you-

59.

JACKIE:

--This is all insanity!!!

He tries to reach for her, but she backs away-

JACKIE (CONT'D)

You and your brother. All these

years, all your goddamn secrets!

BOBBY:

That's not fair...

JACKIE:

Caroline and John are all I have

left. And I put them in dangerbecause of you-

BOBBY:

I would never put you at risk-

JACKIE:

--You can't know that! You think

you all control everything. Thatyou have the world on puppetstrings. You’re ridiculous! And Ilet myself believe it.

Rate this script:3.3 / 3 votes