Reagan Page #18

The Skybox is full of people who have little interest in the

game. Washington schmoozers, including Payne and Karl.

PAYNE:

You’re looking for advancement?

KARL:

We all are, aren’t we?

Dick watches the game through the window. Next to him, a

familiar face scans the field with binoculars. We’ll call him

‘W’ (42, Texan, like you don’t know).

W:

I love baseball, man. I should buy

a team or some sh*t.

DICK:

It’s a wonderful idea.

Frank’s entrance is greeted by a smile from Dick.

FRANK:

Down in the cheap seats you just

raise your hand for a hotdog.

DICK:

Tray’s over there.

FRANK:

Great. Thank you.

109.

As he collects food, Frank spots Karl talking to someone

familiar...It’s SALLY CAHILL! She drags her hand on his arm.

FRANK (CONT’D)

That’s Sally Cahill. Dick, that’s

Sally Cahill. From the Dover Post.

DICK:

She’s actually moved over to Time

magazine.

He sees the wheels turning in Frank’s head. Calls to W:

DICK (CONT’D)

Hey Junior, you can get a way

better look from outside.

W:

Cool, I’ll try to spot some boobies!

He romps out. Dick and Frank are alone in the crowded box.

FRANK:

Why is Sally Cahill in this suite?

DICK:

She’s a great writer. Did a little

piece for us a couple years back.

FRANK:

(beat, then)

You leaked the dementia story.

DICK:

Karl leaked the dementia story. I

leaked it to Karl. Sort of like a

Russian Nesting Doll situation.

Across the room, Karl feverishly shakes PAYNE’S hand. Sally

kisses him on the cheek.

DICK (CONT’D)

He’s a natural. A real talent.

FRANK:

Why did you do that?

DICK:

Stack the deck. You can’t have two

Chiefs of Staff, two Defense

Secretaries. Someone needs a job,

someone already has that job,

someone doesn’t have that job

anymore. Simple thermodynamics.

(MORE)

110.

DICK (CONT'D)

Don’t worry about the indictments.

They’re correctable.

FRANK:

You knew I’d leak the Enterprise.

DICK:

I knew you’d do what was necessary

for your career.

FRANK:

You used me. You used the

President.

DICK:

Oh Jesus, kid, you can’t even see the

house that you built. Presidents have

term limits, they lose elections. But

the people behind the scenes do not.

I worked for Nixon; that guy invented

politics. Do you think a goddamn

thing changed when he was gone? Then

we were stuck with Ford; he memorized

speeches to the tune of the Michigan

Fight Song. We needed a face, we

needed a voice. We elected an actor

and didn’t even think about it. You

showed us that it’s all we ever

needed. It’s the 21st century: we

don’t really need a president.

FRANK:

We need a leader.

DICK:

That’s not the president’s job. Their

job is to kiss babies, shake hands

and ask ever so humbly for your vote.

Make people feel involved. An

election is a beauty pageant; who

looks the part. A friend once said

that democracy is too important to be

left in the hands of the public.

A CHEER resonates from the field, intoxicating Dick.

DICK (CONT’D)

Listen to them, Frank. These are

voters. They’ve all cast their

ballot. They wear the jersey, they

wear the hat, and they root root root

for the home team.

(MORE)

111.

DICK (CONT’D)

Anyone can be on the field and

they’ll cheer all the same because

it’s their side and they’re a part of

something. Imagine that world: no

candidates, just teams. That’s the

dream right there. And you made me

believe in it again.

(beat)

I’ll be forever grateful to you.

Frank is speechless. W reenters the suite.

W:

Hey, Dick. If my Daddy’s the

President, does that make me the

First Son?

DICK:

We can aim our sights a little

higher than that, Junior. There’s

someone I’d like you to meet.

He squeezes Frank on the shoulder.

DICK (CONT’D)

Enjoy the game.

Frank watches as he parades W to the crowd like his entry in

the state fair. Karl is quick to shake his hand.

W:

George Bush.

KARL:

Karl Rove, a pleasure.

W:

And what do you, Mr. Rove?

KARL:

I get things done.

Frank floats out, just as the crowd explodes in celebration.

W:

Quite a barnburner out there! Who

are we rootin’ for?

Dick cracks his crooked grin again.

DICK:

Whoever wins.

We fade to black.

112.

INT. NEWS BROADCAST - NOVEMBER 11, 1989

Without a voiceover, we see images of the FALL OF THE BERLIN

WALL:
STUDENTS celebrating atop the barrier, SLEDGEHAMMERS

wrecking concrete, long lost LOVED ONES embracing.

INT. REAGAN RESIDENCE, BEL AIR, LOS ANGELES - CONTINUOUS

Reagan sits in jeans and a t-shirt, watching history unfold

on television when a SECRET SERVICE AGENT (JEFFERSON) enters.

JEFFERSON:

You have a visitor, sir. Mr. Capra.

REAGAN:

Thanks, Jefferson.

Frank walks in, reunited for the first time since the Gate.

FRANK:

Hello again, sir.

REAGAN:

Frank! You just missed Nancy. She’s

off buying ceramics at the Farmer’s

Market. Grab a seat.

FRANK:

I can’t stay long.

REAGAN:

You know, our picture? Best work I

ever did.

FRANK:

Yeah, me too.

REAGAN:

What are you working on these days?

Something new in the pipeline?

FRANK:

I’m directing commercials. My

brother and I, we’re doing one for

Chevy. Cowboys, American flags.

REAGAN:

Commercials? That’s kind of a step

down, isn’t it?

FRANK:

It’s honest work. Everyone knows

we’re selling something.

113.

REAGAN:

Like I can talk. I hosted three

seasons of General Electric Theater.

Frank takes a breath for the purpose of his visit.

FRANK:

Sir, I want to say I’m sorry.

REAGAN:

Sorry? For that little spat we had

on set? That’s show business. I

once called Gale Page an ‘evil

whore’ and we had coffee the very

next week.

FRANK:

I don’t think you’re ever going to

understand exactly what I mean. I

projected something on you.

Something that I wanted to be. When

someone’s...playing a president,

you put all your hopes and dreams

on them. You see them as a more

perfect version of you. Politics

trick us into believing that’s out

there and it’s what we want. And

it’s not fair. To anybody.

For a moment, it almost looks like Reagan understands.

REAGAN:

You know, my wife has some pretty

strong opinions about politics.

FRANK:

I bet she does.

(beat)

Anyway, with the news of the day, I

don’t know if I would have been

able to live the rest of my life

without telling you that.

(beat)

It was an honor, sir.

He turns to leave. But...

REAGAN:

Hey Frank. Get a beer. Stay awhile.

After a pause, Frank sits down next to Reagan, mirroring

their Christmas Card. They watch the coverage of The Fall.

114.

REAGAN (CONT’D)

You see this? Berlin Wall came down

today. This is history right here.

I’ve always said: it’s not

politicians or armies that change

things. It’s ordinary people.

(beat)

Can you believe it?

Frank watches the televised events. Does he believe it?

REAGAN (CONT’D)

Maybe this is going too far - the

self-importance of the actor - but

I can’t help but think our picture

had something to do with this.

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