JFK Page #35

SHAW:

You really have me consorting with a

cast of sordid characters, don't

you, Mr. Garrison.

JIM:

Please answer the question.

SHAW:

Of course not! Such a pity, that

assassination. In fact, I admired

President Kennedy. A man with true

panache, and a wife with impeccable

taste.

Jim shows Shaw a newspaper clipping.

JIM:

Mr. Shaw, this is an Italian newspaper

article saying you were a member of

the Board of Centro Mondo Commerciale

in Italy, that this company was a

creature of the CIA for the transfer

of funds in Italy for illegal

political-espionage activities. It

says that this company was expelled

from Italy for those activities.

SHAW:

I'm well aware of this asinine

article. And I am thinking very

seriously of suing this rag of a

newspaper.

JIM:

It says that this company has heavily

Fascist ties to the French secret

army organization that tried to

assassinate de Gaulle in 1960.

SHAW:

Nonsense. What next?

JIM:

...and that this company is linked

to the Schlumber tool company here

in Houma, Louisiana - which is where

their arms may have come from to

David Ferrie and his Cubans...

SHAW:

Mr. Garrison, you're reaching. I am

an international businessman. The

Trade Mart which I founded is

America's commercial pipeline to

Latin America. I trade everywhere.

I am accused, as are all businessmen,

of all things. I somehow go about

my business, make money, help society

the best I can and try to promote

free trade in this world.

JIM:

Mr. Shaw, have you ever been a

contract agent with the Central

Intelligence Agency?

Shaw glares at him. Silence.

SHAW:

(with powerful contempt)

And if I was, Mr. Garrison... do you

think I would be here today... talking

to somebody like you?

JIM:

No, people like you don't have to, I

guess - people like you walk between

the raindrops.

SHAW:

(rising)

May I go? Regardless of what you

may think of me, Mr. Garrison, I am

a patriot first and foremost.

JIM:

I've spent half my life in the United

States military serving and defending

this great country, Mr. Shaw, and

you're the first person I ever met

who considered it an act of patriotism

to kill his own president.

SHAW:

Now just a minute, sir! You're way

out of line!

Susie and Bill quiet Jim down.

BILL:

Come on, chief.

(as he shows Shaw to

the door)

I'm sorry, Mr. Shaw, it's getting

late. That's all the questions we

have. Thank you for your honesty

and for coming in today.

SHAW:

I enjoyed meeting with you gentlemen,

and you, Miss Cox. It was most

pleasant. I wish to extend to each

of you - and to each of your families -

my best wishes for a happy Easter.

(he exits.)

JIM:

(beat, excited)

"One may smile and smile and be a

villain." Goddammit! We got one of

'em!

GARRISON'S HOME THAT NIGHT (1967)

Jim walks in, contrite. Liz is shutting down the house.

Some of the kids are still up.

JASPER:

Daddy! Where have you been?

JIM:

(kisses Liz)

Hi, Freckle Face.

LIZ:

(seething)

Hi.

JIM:

Tough day.

LIZ:

My sympathies.

JIM:

Liz, I'm really sorry. The meeting

went much longer than expected.

LIZ:

We waited for you... hours, Jim.

You could have telephoned, for God's

sake. It's Easter! You promised,

Jim.

JIM:

I don't know what to say except I'm

sorry. I just don't have rabbits on

my mind.

LIZ:

I think you care more about John

Kennedy than your family! All day

long the kids are asking, "Where's

Daddy?" What am I supposed to tell

your kids, Jim!

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