The Candidate Page #5

The statement is, it's not true.

We'll give them more tomorrow.

The candidate is not going to

comment until tomorrow. That's it.

- It's not good enough.

- Can I pull the old man from my pocket?

Now get out there and tell them

what you can. And don't come back.

Those giants of journalism,

Evans and Novak...

...have issued a column...

...saying that your dad

is really for Jarmon.

- You're kidding!

- No, it's coming out tomorrow morning.

I'll get more in a minute.

Tom Brokaw and his crew...

...have gone up to

John J's cabin this afternoon.

- They went to his house?

- Operator....

I can just see it!

I can just see him loving it.

"Hello, boys.

Good to see you."

We got to Brokaw and he confirmed it.

We got through to Brokaw and he

confirmed it.

I'm a half hour ahead of you.

Will you get out of here, Wally?

Put somebody on the door. Put on

one of your brilliant advance men.

- All the reporters are on the bus.

- Start the bus then.

And drive them over a cliff.

Honey, where the hell did you go?

I'm sorry.

No, I wasn't cursing you.

I'll wait, operator.

John J. refuses to say

one thing or another.

That makes it look true. We'll have to

look at that on the 6 o'clock news.

- Will you go out and watch the door?

- Talk to me straight.

Okay, honey.

Are you ready?

You'll just have to go talk to him.

It's the only way.

I told you, we don't use him.

Okay, we'll just announce

you're quitting.

Announce whatever you like.

Operator, is the trunk busy

or is her line busy?

Operator?!

- We just need a simple statement.

- Will you get off my back?

- I won't do it. I can't think.

- A denial will keep us for a week.

Anyone want a Coke?

He's in the library.

Hello, Bud.

What the hell!

You know Miss Ford, Bud.

Hello, Mable.

You want a beer?

Johnnie, get this man a beer.

How are you, Bud?

How are you doing?

The old knee kicks up

once in a while.

- When it rains, I guess.

- How's that?

I said, your knee hurts when it rains?

You think that's it?

You see your mother?

I saw her about a month ago.

- She started playing golf.

- She has?

How is she?

She's fine.

That woman will bury me yet!

I wouldn't be surprised.

Oh, you wouldn't?

Did you know that old Bud here

is running for the United States Senate?

That's very good, Bud.

Get him a real drink.

He'll need one.

No thanks.

Get him something.

Have Johnnie fix him a sandwich.

Any man running for the Senate

has to want something.

Right, Bud?

- It's a matter of a statement.

- You want the other gun?

- You don't have to do anything.

- Watch that branch!

- In fact, I really wish you wouldn't.

- Wouldn't what?

Do anything.

Slow down now.

Can you feel it?

Feel what?

Tell me, what does it feel like to run

a campaign in this state these days?

I wouldn't know.

- Did you really run your own campaign?

- Yeah! What do you take me for?

I hear your advance work

is unbelievable.

Hold it!

Will you do it?

I don't know what you said to your dad,

but it sure was a snappy denial.

Bill McKay. I'm running for the U.S.

Senate. It's a cute kid.

Bill McKay. I'm running for the U.S.

Senate. Is this your table?

Hi, girls.

You want to shake hands?

Where's the men's room?

This way.

Excuse me. We got a sneak on the field

poll. We're only eight points behind.

Hell, if we can just

pick up one point a week!

You know, this is

a heaven-sent opportunity.

There's something I've been

meaning to tell you, McKay.

You are sh*t! And what's more,

you know you're sh*t!

- And your father was sh*t before you!

- What's going on?

- You come from a long line of shits!

- Now, hold on.

Just between the two of us.

Am I right or am I right?

Over by the red sailboat,

we have free McKay T-shirts...

...and bumper stickers, buttons,

and also Bill McKay.

Come on.

Let's get through!

Okay, don't crowd.

Everyone's got a chance.

- Sign me. Please sign me!

- That's very nice.

- Please, for a souvenir!

- I don't think I can do that.

- Have a drink. Have a hot dog.

- Thank you.

Grab him!

- What the hell was that?

- You all right?

Now let us through here.

Over to the left.

That's really good.

Those books on the mantel are going

to be a problem. Move them over a bit.

No, all the way off.

That's fine.

What are you doing in my house?

I'm having an affair with your wife.

She said if you came in,

I was to say...

...I was a writer from "Parade,"

but you don't believe that.

This is Mr. Shearer

and this is Mr. Scott.

From "Parade."

I trust this is the beginning

of a lifelong affinity.

The beginning of something, anyhow.

Excuse me a minute?

- What's going on?

- They want a photo in my riding outfit.

I said, would you excuse us a minute,

please, gentlemen?

Thanks.

What is this?

You haven't worn that stuff in years.

Just not in the house!

Get these guys out of here!

I was just trying to do this for you!

For me?

I'm sorry.

For instance, he hasn't come out

with a welfare program.

- If he did, it'd change everything.

- You're so dense!

Don't you see he can't think

what he doesn't feel?

I am talking about

the purely political problem...

...of reassuring the suburban mentality.

When his instinct tells him

to reveal his feelings....

Make sure the men are there

and have equipment.

Quiet!

It's coming on now.

A television commercial

is a way of selling a product.

A candidate's bid for votes should be

a higher order of expression...

...with moral implications

for the kind of people we are...

...and the kind we want to become.

But increasingly,

candidates are merging the two...

...selling themselves

like an underarm deodorant...

...in commercials just long enough

to pound in some mindless slogan...

...that cheapens candidate...

...and voter alike.

But in the California Senate race,

young Bill McKay was different.

He rejected the machine-type politics

by which his father won office...

...and ran a campaign refreshing

in frankness and directness.

But now, with only a month to go,

McKay's ways have visibly changed.

Those early hard statements of his

are turning into mush.

Specific policies dissolve

into old generalities.

The Madison Avenue commercial has

become his means of persuasion.

The voters are being asked

to choose McKay...

...like they choose detergents.

Socko salesmanship...

...no moral considerations involved.

Again, virtue seems too great a strain

for the long haul of the campaign.

- I want to talk.

- Don't take it seriously.

- I do take it seriously.

- It won't hurt us.

This gives us a boost when

he says we're pulling even.

That's the only thing

the average voter's going to get.

- Lynn, you don't understand.

- I do understand.

That's just ducky!

I agree. Right!

Let's hope we don't get killed.

Right. Back to you in the morning.

Jarmon's agreed to a debate.

He thinks he's going to

wipe the floor with you.

On that TV commentary, I didn't go

behind your back, it was your decision.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes