Reagan Page #5

The room awaits Frank’s answer. He has one choice: everything

he’s ever wanted.

FRANK:

I don’t know much about movies.

WYOMING:

Well, Mr. Capra:
you’d better learn.

INT. FILM SET - FEBRUARY 3, 1985 - DAY

A soundstage in Silver Spring. Henry and Frank walk through

the giant doors toward where a CREW prepares the set.

HENRY:

So glad you could come down to

visit the set, Frank. It’s always

fun to bring family to work.

FRANK:

Well, I’ve been interested in

commercials. I just saw this one the

other day for detergent and thought,

‘Man, how did they do that?’

HENRY:

‘Calgon, take me away?’ Yeah, it’s

a masterpiece.

(then)

You’ll learn today, boy-o! By the

way, I owe you a thanks as well.

They reach the heavily-lit set, where ACTORS practice their

lines next to gigantic CANS with the label: SCHWEINSTEIGER’S

ALL-AMERICAN DOG FOOD. A few DOGS wander around.

HENRY (CONT’D)

If it wasn’t for your gig in

government, I never would have

gotten this idea. We’re rebranding

the product. Schweinsteiger’s All-

American Dog Food: for people who

love dogs and their country.

FRANK:

...Wow.

HENRY:

You’re tellin’ me.

26.

They study the giant cans of dog food.

FRANK:

What kind of a name is

Schweinsteiger?

HENRY:

Believe it or not: Argentinian.

WE JUMP BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THIS DAY ON SET AND THE

FOLLOWING SPEECHES:

INT. OVAL OFFICE - APRIL 24, 1985

MAKE-UP ARTISTS primp the President to make him TV-ready.

They nod to Don. Don nods to Frank, who nervously checks a

notepad.

FRANK:

Okay um, camera’s good and...Action!

A few people look at Frank like he’s crazy. But not Reagan.

REAGAN:

(into camera)

My fellow Americans. I speak to you

tonight about a problem that

demands your immediate attention.

INT. FILM SET - FEBRUARY 3, 1985

Frank watches the SCRIPT SUPERVISOR of the dog food

commercial flip through her pages.

INT. BITBURG AIR FORCE BASE, HQ - MAY 5, 1985

Frank scans a book: PERFORMANCE NOTES FOR ACTORS. He holds a

pen idly over a copy of Reagan’s speech. What does he write?

EXT. BITBURG AIR FORCE BASE - LATER

Centered in a huge American flag, Reagan is now onstage in

front of an audience of German and American SOLDIERS.

REAGAN:

With the lessons of the past firmly

in our minds, we’ve turned to a

new, brighter page in history.

27.

The crowd goes wild. Reagan eyes his pages, his ‘lines’

marked in hi-lighter with Frank’s performance notes in the

margins:
‘LOUDER, CLEAR THROAT, REALLY QUIET.’

REAGAN (CONT’D)

(barely audible)

One of the many who wrote me about

this visit was a young woman who

had recently been Bat Mitzvahed.

The audience exchanges looks, wondering if anyone heard him.

In the back, Poindexter and McFarlane glare at Frank, who

tries to hide his dread. He starts cheering. The crowd,

afraid of missing a moment, goes wild again.

INT. FILM SET - FEBRUARY 3, 1985

Henry coaches the actors. Frank looks up from his FILMMAKING

BOOK to spot an ACTRESS practicing her one line off-stage.

ACTRESS:

‘My dog is Bred Right and Blue!’

‘My dog is Bred Right...and BLUE!’

INT. EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, FRANCE - OFFICE - MAY 8, 1985

A small office with the chief members of the cabinet. Bud

trembles as he gestures for Frank to talk to the President.

Frank leans over to Reagan, who is studying his script.

FRANK:

We think...I mean, I think you

should stay in character, even when

we’re not rolling.

REAGAN:

I like it. Makes me more believable

as the President.

FRANK:

That’s the idea.

REAGAN:

(laughing)

I’m the President.

(to the room)

Hey fellas, let’s bomb Russia!

The room is shocked. Frank goes into a silent panic. A very

serious GENERAL’s eyes get wide.

28.

GENERAL:

Is that an order, sir?

FRANK:

No! He’s just kidding! He’s just

kidding! It’s a joke! Ha!

Reagan starts laughing. The room exhales. Frank steadies

himself against a table. And that could have been war.

INT. EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT - ASSEMBLY FLOOR - LATER

Reagan addresses the delegates of Europe.

REAGAN:

We see similar Soviet efforts to

profit from and stimulate regional

conflicts in Central America.

INT. FILM SET - FEBRUARY 3, 1985

An ACTOR shakes Frank’s hand, thinking he’s a big-wig

producer. Frank realizes the handshake contains a TINY BAG OF

COCAINE! He anxiously tries to reject the peace offering, but

the actor is insistent. He quickly pursues him to give it

back...and runs right into Henry. Frank impulsively stuffs

the bag into his jacket pocket. Henry eyes Frank

suspiciously... because Frank is acting suspiciously.

INT. OUTSIDE THE OVAL OFFICE - JUNE 30, 1985

Frank hectically goes over his notes from the film set.

Caspar approaches him.

CASPAR:

I know you’re nervous. I just

wanted to tell you: if you f***

this up, I’m gonna squeeze your

head as hard as I can until your

eyeballs pop out of your a**hole.

He gives Frank an ironically friendly pat on the back.

FRANK:

Thank...thank you.

INT. OVAL OFFICE - LATER

Another speech, already in progress.

29.

REAGAN:

The United States gives terrorists no

rewards and no guarantees.

Don leans to Frank and drops his infamous line:

DON:

Speed him up.

FRANK:

How do I do that?

DON:

You’re the director. Figure it out.

Taking a stab, Frank does ‘spinning wheel fingers.’

REAGAN:

(spinning his fingers)

We make no concessions; we make no

deals.

Don looks at Frank, who intentionally doesn’t look back.

INT. FILM SET - FEBRUARY 3, 1985

Henry turns to his cameraman.

HENRY:

You happy?

(off his nod, to everyone)

Alright people, we’re wrapped!

Everyone applauds. Including Frank.

INT. DAR CONSTITUTION HALL - JULY 8, 1985

Reagan walks off the stage to thunderous applause. He winks

at Frank, who turns to a nearby CAMERAMAN.

FRANK:

You happy?

CAMERAMAN:

...What?

FRANK:

Are you, you know...happy?

CAMERAMAN:

In general? I guess.

30.

FRANK:

Great. We’re wrapped everyone!

Reagan smiles at his director. Don and Poindexter seem

cautiously relieved. Bud nervously wipes his mouth with a

handkerchief. Caspar mimes the head-squeeze/ass-eyes threat.

Frank half-grins. Welcome to the White House.

INT. WHITE HOUSE - OUTSIDE DON’S OFFICE - SEPTEMBER 3, 1985

Poindexter meets Frank in the doorway with a stack of papers.

POINDEXTER:

Here are the talking points we need

covered in the speech. Go over it

with Peggy. Any questions...don’t

have questions.

FRANK:

Yes, Mr. Poindexter.

Poindexter turns to leave, but Frank stops him.

FRANK (CONT’D)

Sir, you know, I was thinking:

maybe I should, like, sit in on a

meeting with you guys.

Poindexter answers his request with a stone-cold frown.

FRANK (CONT’D)

That’s...that’s a ‘no’, right?

POINDEXTER:

Son, we don’t say ‘no’ in the Navy.

FRANK:

...But you mean ‘no.’

POINDEXTER:

Yes.

FRANK:

Okay then.

Frank skitters away.

INT. PEGGY’S OFFICE - SEPTEMBER 3, 1985

The office is carefully decorated with framed first-pages of

speeches. PEGGY NOONAN (34, academic, oozing confidence) sits

across from Frank, who holds the list from Poindexter.

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