Jonathan Demme and the Making of 'The Manchurian Candidate' Page #9

Shoot me, then.

Help me or shoot me.

Make a decision.

Make a decision.

I made a decision

when I met you, Ben.

Now, why don't you show me

what you have in your file.

REPORTER 1:
Sir!

REPORTER 2:
Congressman!

[REPORTERS YELLING]

REPORTER 3:
Sir, do you have

a statement for us tonight?

DONOVAN:

- Was exceptionally clear and simple.

A stronger, safer,

more profitable world

through uncorruptible

top-level management.

We trust you with our technology

and suddenly you turn him

into a common hit man.

How f***ing dare you.

I trusted you with my son.

You didn't even ask us...

Don't lecture me! You swore to me

that this was fail-safe.

No leaks, no glitches, no...

No dreams.

Not even a shadow of what was done

to Raymond...

You needed to ask before you acted.

This is not a...

Tom Jordan was going to destroy

my son and everything I've worked for,

and every one of us along with it.

And you wanted me to what?

- Call a meeting?

- Now, look, look, look.

In the larger course of history...

...there are key players...

...and role players, senator.

Bullshit! This is about my son

and the future of this country.

I thought we understood each other.

I think we do. I think we really do.

- Your god is money.

- Oh, wait, wait, and yours is?

No, no. I'm a believer.

I am an optimist.

I believe in the future.

And people who do,

the ones who make history

instead of just sitting around

watching it,

no, they're willing to take

the big risks.

Yes, I made a decision.

Oh, God! Where are

all the men anymore?

My father, Tyler Prentiss,

never asked,

"Is this okay? Is this okay?"

You know what I'm saying, Mark?

He just did what needed to be done.

RADIO NEWSCASTER:

Come on, rise and shine, New York.

It's a big day in the Big Apple.

That's right. All polls indicate

that New Yorkers will be turning out

in record numbers today

across the five boroughs

to select a new president.

At least, that's how the billboard

says it's supposed to happen.

The polls open at 6 a.m.

And bars and taverns in Manhattan,

Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx,

and Staten Island will be

opening shortly thereafter.

That's right, New Yorkers. We are

free to drink and vote all day today.

[CROWD CHEERING]

[SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY]

RAYMOND:

Thank you. Thank you.

Thanks for coming out.

[SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]

Congressman, good luck.

- Hello.

- Hi.

- Hey. Thank you very much.

WOMAN 1:
The next vice president, sir.

I hope so.

MAN:

Let's have a win.

WOMAN 2:

We're with you. We're with you.

Thank you, Tony, take care.

[ANDERSON WHISPERING

INDISTINCTLY]

Thank you.

[CROWD APPLAUDING

AND CHEERING]

Take care. Goodbye.

Thanks very much.

ROSIE:

It's clean.

It's clean.

It's all right, Evan.

How's your back?

I've been having the dreams, Ben.

Oh, that's good.

- They're inside my head.

- We'll get them out. I got the proof.

I know what they did to us.

I just don't know why.

I dream things, Ben.

Terrible things that can't

possibly have happened.

- I'm gone, Ben...

- No, you're not, you're right here.

Ben...

...there's something I want

you to have.

I don't deserve this.

Jocelyn's dead.

I know.

And the senator.

Yeah.

Did I?

I think so, Raymond, yes.

I don't remember, Ben.

I don't remember.

Raymond...

...did they tell you what it is

they want you to do?

That's what I gotta find out.

We gotta find out what's gonna

happen, where it's gonna happen...

Are we friends, Ben?

I wanna believe we were friends.

We are connected and that's

something nobody can take from us.

You could've had me locked up,

but you didn't.

That's proof that there's something

deep inside.

There's a part that they can't get to.

And it's deep inside of us.

And that's where the truth is.

That's our only hope. That's what

you and me need to tap into,

and that's what you and I are gonna

use to take them out, Raymond.

We don't have much time. Please.

- I thought you were smarter than that.

- Raymond, please.

You don't think they saw this

coming, Ben?

You don't think they factored you in?

[PHONE RINGING]

I am the enemy, Major Marco.

What are you talking about?

Yes, Mother.

Yes, he's right here.

- She wants you.

- Me?

Yes, senator.

ELLIE:
Is this Captain Marco?

- Yeah.

Captain Bennett Marco?

Yes.

Bennett Ezekiel Marco.

Yes.

Listen.

[SCHOOL BELL RINGING]

[CHILDREN CHATTERING]

Hurry up!

ROSIE:

Major Marco?

Ben?

GIRL:
People can get together

whenever they want

and not get in trouble.

People should be allowed to say

what is on their mind...

The Bill of Rights gives people...

[CROWD CHEERING]

Thank you.

The candidates made ritual trips

to the voting booths today.

Governor Arthur,

casting his ballot in North Platte,

will spend election night

in the Big Apple

with running mate Raymond Shaw

for their anticipated victory party.

The presidential rival,

incumbent Vice President Nelson

returned to his home

in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

He attended special church services

this morning...

- All clear.

ELLIE:
Raymond...

- Clear.

- ... listen.

The bullet will strike Bob Arthur

the moment you step forward

and arrive on your star beside him.

Because the assassin...

...the deranged, obsessed...

...tragically paranoid lone gunman...

...is trying to kill you.

Major Marco's

an excellent marksman.

Mmm.

But you must stay very, very still

and stand right where you're

supposed to stand.

What happens to Ben?

The assassin always dies, baby.

It's necessary for

the national healing.

I'm sure you will never entirely

comprehend this, darling.

But I want you to know, Raymond...

...I did this for you.

So that you could have

what I couldn't.

What your father threw away.

The opportunity to lead this nation.

- I know, Mother.

- And so I let them take you

and change you a little bit.

Not so much that you would notice,

but just enough to bring you back

to who you really are.

And to what you will become.

Oh, and look at you.

Look at you.

Look what you've achieved,

look how far we've come.

It's working, Raymond.

And you're going to save

our country now.

In the hour of her greatest need.

Yes, Mother.

But...

But when you smile...

...oh, darling, when you smile,

that's what I live for.

When you smile.

Well, it's official.

CBS News now projects

Robert Arthur and Raymond Shaw

to be the next president

and vice president

of the United States.

With at least 270 electoral votes

and support of almost 70 percent

of votes tallied tonight.

Arthur and running mate

Raymond Shaw are leading

in all but one remaining race,

in the sitting vice president's

home state of Louisiana.

Wait, Jimmy. Jimmy, wait.

Wait. Go back.

Can you go back?

Yeah.

ROSIE:
Stop.

JIMMY:
Sure.

Now, can you zoom in on that guy?

Yep.

No, no, Jimmy, the other one. The one

in the back. The one in the shades.

- This one?

- Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Hm.

Never mind. Thanks, Jimmy.

[CROWD CHEERING NEARBY]

Arthur! That's right!

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes