JFK Page #18

We see FBI agents loading dynamite, bomb casings, arms 155mm

artillery shells, etc.

Back at the racetrack in 1966, Jim listens.

MARTIN:

Like I said, a f***in' nuthouse.

JIM:

And Oswald?

Martin hesitates. We hear the rhythmic beating of the horse

hooves and Martin sucking on the steaming cup of coffee.

MARTIN:

(finally)

Yeah, he was there, too... sometimes

he'd be meeting with Banister with

the door shut. Other times he'd be

shooting the bull with Ferrie. But

he was there all right.

JIM:

Anything more specific, Jack? It's

important.

FLASHBACK TO Banister's office in 1963. Banister and Martin

shooting the breeze as the straight-laced middle-aged

secretary, Delphine Roberts, hurries in.

MARTIN (V.O.)

Yeah, one time the secretary got

upset, I remember...

SECRETARY:

I can't believe it, Mr. Banister.

Lee Oswald is down on Canal Street

giving out Communist leaflets

supporting Castro!

Banister just looks at her and laughs.

BANISTER:

It's okay, Delphine, he's with us.

Back at the racetrack...

JIM:

Anyone else involved at Banister's

level?

MARTIN:

(shrugs)

There was one guy, I don't know, big

guy, business guy, white hair - I

saw him come into the office once.

He looked out of place, y'know -

like a society guy. Can't remember

his name.

(thinking)

Oswald was with him.

FLASHBACK to Banisters office on a day in 1963. Martin is

snooping in Banister's files. Cut to Martin leaving the

office as a big businessman with white hair briefly talks to

Oswald and then goes into Banister's private office.

MARTIN:

He had something to do with money.

I remember him cause Guy, who didn't

kiss anybody's ass, sure kissed his.

Banister lets the man into his private office.

MARTIN:

Clay something, that was his name -

Clay.

JIM:

Bertrand. Clay Bertrand?

MARTIN:

Yeah! That's it.

(pause, paranoid)

I don't know. Maybe it wasn't. I

gotta go.

JIM:

(to Bill)

Clay Bertrand. He's in the Warren

Report. He tried to get Oswald a

lawyer.

(to Martin)

Was Kennedy ever discussed, Jack?

MARTIN:

Sure. 'Course they hated the

sonofabitch, but...

JIM:

The assassination, Jack?

MARTIN:

(tightens)

Never. Not with me sir, never...

Listen, I think I'd better go. I

said enough. I said all I'm going

to say.

(rises suddenly)

JIM:

Hold on, Jack. What's the problem?

MARTIN:

What's the problem? What's the

problem? Do I need to spell it out

for you, Mr. Garrison? I better go.

JIM:

Nobody knows what we're talking about,

Jack.

MARTIN:

You're so naive, mister.

Martin picks his way nervously down the bleacher benches.

CAR - FRENCH QUARTER - DAY(1966)

Jim drives, with Numa in the front and Bill in the back.

BILL:

Well, it's a terrific yard, Chief,

but the man's an obvious alcoholic

with a reputation lower than crocodile

piss.

JIM:

Does that bother you, Bill? I always

wondered in court why it is because

a woman is a prostitute, she has to

have bad eyesight.

BILL:

He'll never sign a statement, boss,

let alone get on a witness stand.

JIM:

When something's rotten in the land,

Bill, it generally isn't just one

fish, we'll get corroboration...

find this Clay Bertrand. If I were

a betting man, I'd give you 10 to 1

it's an alias. Start checking around

the Quarter.

BILL:

And the six of us, with almost no

budget and in secret, are going to

solve the case that the Warren

Commission with dozens of support

staff and millions of dollars couldn't

solve. We can't keep up with the

crimes in the Parish as it is, Chief.

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