Reagan Page #7

EXT. MAISON DE SAUSURRE - DAY

The cars pull to a stop in front of a palatial CHATEAU,

elegantly framed between two peaks of the SWISS ALPS.

INT. MAISON DE SAUSURRE - FOYER - MINUTES LATER

The foyer of the estate has been converted into a security

area. Americans and Russians are subject to screening.

Frank, wearing a PUFFY WINTER COAT instead of his suitjacket,

holds his arms out as a SWISS GUARD checks him for weapons.

He sees to his right an incredibly fierce KGB OPERATIVE

getting the same treatment.

INT. MAISON DE SAUSURRE - MEETING ROOM - MINUTES LATER

The SECRET SERVICE trade fearsome looks with the KGB detail.

Frank and Poindexter are right in between them.

FRANK:

(re:
the KGB)

Would it kill these guys to smile?

POINDEXTER:

It’s not in their blood. They’re

godless beasts. And one day we’re

gonna have to kill them all.

FRANK:

I certainly hope not.

POINDEXTER:

You’re not here to hope. You’re not

here to think. You’re here to translate

the message into a language the

President understands. Is that clear?

38.

FRANK:

Absolutely, Mr. Poindexter.

POINDEXTER:

And he better be ready. This isn’t a

speech. It’s a meeting with the other

most powerful man in the world.

FRANK:

I went over the talking points with

him, sir. Peggy even scripted his

first line.

POINDEXTER:

What about after the first line?

Frank is saved from coming up with an answer by Reagan.

REAGAN:

Love the opener, Frank. It’s one of

those goosebump moments.

(to Poindexter)

You know why they call it that?

POINDEXTER:

(no hint of a smile)

Because it gives you goosebumps.

REAGAN:

You got it, Charlie.

(to Frank)

Where are the cameras?

FRANK:

Ron, we’re doing this scene in...

(remembering the lingo)

Cinema Verite. Hidden cameras, like

we’re not even filming at all. Just

you and your scene partner.

REAGAN:

Great. Who’s my scene partner?

Frank sees MIKHAIL GORBACHEV (53, he’s Gorbachev), General

Secretary of the USSR. Frank pauses, then:

FRANK:

Its...Ernest Borginine.

Poindexter makes a ‘what the hell?’ face. Reagan beams.

REAGAN:

Ernest Borginine! McHale’s Navy!

Airwolf! Talented man.

39.

POINDEXTER:

(dumbfounded)

Extremely.

FRANK:

Once we’re rolling, just keep going

no matter what. Act like you’re

really the President and you’re

really trying to make a deal.

REAGAN:

I can do that.

FRANK:

I certainly hope so.

Frank silently apologizes to Poindexter for ‘hoping’ again.

Reagan strides into the room, meeting Gorbachev in the

middle. Gorbachev extends a hand.

GORBACHEV:

Mr. President...

REAGAN:

Ernie!

He gives him a way-too-friendly handshake and hug.

FRANK (O.S.)

We’re rolling!

REAGAN:

Oh right, um...

The Soviet detail looks incredibly confused. Reagan recovers.

REAGAN (CONT’D)

The United States and the Soviet

Union are the two greatest

countries on Earth. The

superpowers. They are the only ones

who can start World War Three, but

also the only two countries that

could bring peace to the world.

GORBACHEV:

And it is our solemn duty to

achieve that peace in our time.

They sit down on a couch. The summit is on.

40.

GORBACHEV (CONT’D)

Mr. President, the Soviet Union is

very concerned about the presence

of Pershing II missiles in Germany.

REAGAN:

We’re just protecting ourselves,

Mr. Gorbashiv.

(breaking character)

Ah, it’s GorbaCHEV. Let me take

that again.

He leaves the couch. Frank and Poindexter’s hearts stop.

POINDEXTER:

What’s he doing? What’s in god’s

name is he doing?

Reagan walks back into the scene.

REAGAN:

(to himself)

Two, three, and...

(then)

Mr. Gorbachev. The missiles are

there merely for defense.

GORBACHEV:

The same was true of our arsenal in

Cuba and yet you refer to that time

as a ‘Crisis.’

REAGAN:

Well, Cuba’s a lot closer to Miami

than Berlin is to your doorstep.

It’s dimple sistance.

(breaking character)

Dimple sistance! You listen to me?

I’m a mess today.

(quickly, to Gorbachev)

Marty was brilliant, by the way.

He gets up again. Gorbachev is baffled.

GORBACHEV:

Marty?

Behind him, one KGB Operative leans to another.

KGB OPERATIVE:

Find this Marty.

Poindexter is in full blown panic mode.

41.

POINDEXTER:

I’m pulling him out.

FRANK:

Wait, sir, I have an idea...

POINDEXTER:

I don’t give a damn. We’re done.

Reagan approaches them. Cheerily.

REAGAN:

Sorry, I hope we’re good on time.

POINDEXTER:

Mr. President, I’m afraid we’re-

FRANK:

(to Reagan)

Look, don’t worry if you stutter or

flub something. Just improvise.

Talk to him like he’s just a guy,

not like...the actual leader of

Soviet Russia. Okay? Just another

guy from a small town.

REAGAN:

Ah. Verite.

FRANK:

Very verite. Extremely verite.

He heads back into the room. Poindexter fumes.

POINDEXTER:

You little sh*t! We should never

have brought you into this.

FRANK:

Come on, Ronnie. Verite.

Reagan returns to an equally steamed Gorbachev.

GORBACHEV:

Mr. President, your cheap

negotiation ploys are wearing thin.

REAGAN:

I don’t mean any offense. Where are

you from in Russia?

GORBACHEV:

You’ve never heard of it.

42.

REAGAN:

I was born in Tampico, Illinois.

Grew up in plenty of little hamlets

that no one’s ever heard of either.

And now here we are; a couple of

guys from Nowhere talking about the

fate of the world.

Poindexter and Frank both exhale. That was great.

GORBACHEV:

Privolnoye. 3,350 people.

(with a smile)

Roads aren’t even paved.

(then)

The Soviet Union does not want war.

REAGAN:

Well then, Mr. Gorbachev; that’s a

good place to start.

LATER. Reagan and Gorbachev discuss in the background. Frank

is on the sideline next to one of the KGB OPERATIVES.

FRANK:

I mean, I know my parents are proud

of me. But I want to impress them.

That’s different. You know?

KGB OPERATIVE:

(expressionless)

My parents were sent to Gulag for

cutting in a breadline.

FRANK:

(beat)

That’s different, too.

LATER. The summit is coming to a close. Reagan and Gorbachev

are on their feet.

GORBACHEV:

I didn’t expect we would agree on

everything. But I do believe we

have made progress.

REAGAN:

You should come to the United

States for the next one. Consider

it an official company invite.

43.

GORBACHEV:

Accepted. A few more of these, Mr.

President, and perhaps we won’t

have a Cold War any longer.

REAGAN:

But you’ll still be cold.

For a split second, no one knows how to react to that. Until

Gorbachev starts to laugh.

GORBACHEV:

Nine degrees in Moscow today. Brutal.

(then)

Pleasure to meet you.

They shake hands. Reagan immediately breaks character.

REAGAN:

Great to work with you. Let’s do

lunch.

He walks off. Gorbachev, thinking it’s slang, says:

GORBACHEV:

Let’s do lunch, Mr. President.

Reagan walks over to Frank. Once they’re out of earshot:

REAGAN:

How was that?

FRANK:

Brilliant. Fantastic.

(beat)

Didn’t love the very end, but I can

live with it.

Reagan continues to his quarters. Poindexter stops Frank, who

awaits a dressing down. Instead, Poindexter smiles, possibly

for the first time ever. It’s actually a little disturbing.

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