JFK Page #36

JIM:

I don't know what to tell them. How

'bout the truth - I'm doing my job

to make sure they can grow up in a

country where justice won't be an

arcane, vanished idea they read about

in history books, like the dinosaurs

or the lost continent of Atlantis.

LIZ:

That sounds dandy, but it doesn't

replace a father and a husband on

Easter Day.

JIM:

(angry, turns away)

It's going to get worse, honey.

GARRISON'S OFFICE HALLWAY - MORNING(1967)

Jim, is coming down the corridor with Broussard, is confronted

by some 20 local journalists and TV crew members. We hear a

hubbub of fierce questioning - ad libs but Jim, puzzled,

brushes by, seeking refuge in his office. Lou, Al, Numa and

Susie are all waiting for him. The regular staff - some 30

people - are looking, wondering. Lou presents him with the

front page of the New Orleans States-Item.

LOU:

Congratulations, Boss - you're page

one!

We see a close-up of the headline: "D.A. LAUNCHES FULL J.F.K.

DEATH PLOT PROBE - Mysterious Trips Cost Large Sums."

INSIDE GARRISON'S OFFICE

JIM:

(striding into his

office reading the

paper)

Goddamn Sam!

LOU:

And it ain't pretty

(reading the copy)

..."the AD has spent more than $8,000

on unexplained travel and

investigative expenses since November,

1966.

NUMA:

They went to the public records and

got the vouchers we requested for

withdrawals.

SUSIE:

Shaw must've gotten them on our tail.

AL:

Could be Ferrie, Martin, Andrews,

any of 'em.

BILL:

We didn't talk to Ruby 'cause of

them and they're on our asses for a

measly $8,000!

Jim, at his desk, finishes reading the article. A huge

picture of him is on the front page. He puts down the paper,

reaching for a long, gold pen that is part of the desk set.

JIM:

They hunted down the news, it's their

business. Getting angry doesn't

accomplish a damned thing, but this

changes everything. We either pull

out now or we go through some heavy

flack together.

They look at each other.

JIM:

Bear in mind, each of you, this may

affect the rest of your careers,

your lives...

(pause)

...if any of you pull out, I assure

you I will bear no ill feelings

towards that person and will reassign

you to regular duties.

No takers.

JIM:

There it is then. Thank you. It

means very much to me. I'm giving

this office $6,000 from my National

Guard savings so we can continue. I

will make speeches where I can to

pick up additional money. Some local

businessmen are putting together a

fund for us and...

SHARON:

(coming in)

Mr. Garrison, what shall I tell them?

They're piling up outside the door.

They want a statement, the phones

are going crazier than bugs on a

cake.

Everyone waits. Jim stands, repacks his briefcase with papers

and reference books and heads for the back door elevator.

JIM:

Neither confirm, deny, nor discuss,

Sharon. Goodbye, ladies, gentlemen,

I'm going home where I can get a

decent day's work done.

LOU IVON'S APARMTENT - NEW ORLEANS -(1967)

Lou drinks a beer in front of the TV news in his small

bachelor apartment. A fan is blowing.

NEWSMAN 11

(editorial)

Mr. Garrison's own silence on the

subject has raised some interesting

questions. With taxpayer money has

he uncovered some valuable new

evidence or is he merely saving the

information which will gain for him

exposure on a national level? Mr.

Garrison it seems, should have some

explanation.

The phone rings and Ivon picks it up.

LOU:

Yeah?

DAVE FERRIE (V.O.)

(very agitated)

Did your office plant that garbage

in the f***ing paper?

LOU:

Who is this?

FERRIE (V.O.)

You know damn well who it is.

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