The Distinguished Gentleman Page #6

TOMMY:

Wilson-Pickett State Teachers College.

But I didn't just come to payrespects, ma'am. I came because

your husband deserves an archive.

A place where scholars can studyhis legacy. A storehouse for the

record of his remarkable career.

VERA JOHNSON:

I see. So you want... his papers?

TOMMY:

Oh, not just his papers, Mrs.

Johnson. Everything. Buttons,

posters, bumper stickers. All the

paraphernalia of his campaigns -proof

of his political genius. Now

I realize that you may have asentimental attachment to a few

items...

VERA JOHNSON:

Take 'em.

TOMMY:

I beg your pardon.

VERA JOHNSON:

Take 'em all. Would you like thewedding photos, too?

TOMMY:

Well, I don't think that's necess...

VERA JOHNSON:

Good -- that way you won't have togo rooting around in the garbage.

Is there anything else?

TOMMY:

Well, um... no.

VERA JOHNSON:

More tea? Or something stronger?

I know it's only ten-thirty, but,

hell, sun's over the yardarmsomewhere, right?

TOMMY:

Actually, ma'am, I should be gettingback.

(CONTINUED)

THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN - Rev. 4/3/92 28.

31 CONTINUED:
(2) 31

VERA JOHNSON:

You're in pretty good shape for aprofessor. D'you work out?

Tommy rises and packs his briefcase hastily.

TOMMY:

Look, I, um, have a class to

teach. You know how blind

students are... they're sodependent.

(edges toward door)

Don't worry ma'am... yourmaterials will be in good hands.

32 EXT. WHARF - DAY - CLOSE ANGLE - A SCISSORS 32

cuts the RE- off a RE-ELECT JEFF JOHNSON bumper stickerin familiar blue and gold.

Van Dyke, Armando, and Homer have a production line going,

doctoring the old Johnson campaign materials, slicing offand painting out the RE-'s and the years.

VAN DYKE:

Are you sure you don't want to cometo Washington with us, Homer?

HOMER:

You bums got time on your hands.

(indicating bait shack)

I got a business to run.

ON LORETTA working the RINGING pay phone.

LORETTA:

Hello? Who? The League of WomenVoters? Sorry, Mr. Johnson won't beattending the debate. No -- no,

Betty, I'm sorry, I can't tie upthis line.

(hangs up; it RINGS)

Hello? The Sarasota Star-Ledger?

I'm sorry, we're out of photographs.

No, you can't, Mr. Johnson has justhad surgery for a deviated septum.

(hangs up; it RINGS)

Hello?

(brightening)

Ya, this is Inga.

PAN TO TOMMY training a home video camera on a poster thatreads JEFF JOHNSON FOR CONGRESS.

(CONTINUED)

THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN - Rev. 4/3/92 29.

32 CONTINUED:
32

TOMMY:

(very white)

We're not going to show you Jeff

Johnson waving a flag. We're not

going to show you Jeff Johnson

kissing babies. We're not going

to show you Jeff Johnson doing

anything, because you already

know what Jeff Johnson can do.

33 INT. JOHNSON HOME - NIGHT - ON TV SCREEN 33

The poster fills the screen.

TOMMY (V.O.)

Tomorrow, vote for Jeff Johnson.

The name you know.

A very puzzled Vera Johnson watches the ad on tv.

34 SERIES OF SHOTS - NIGHT (MOS) 34

The congressional district sleeps. But in the darkness,

a kind of D-Day onslaught is under way. QUICK SUPERIMPOSED

CUTS of Tommy's secret army of Silver Foxes,

opening crates, fanning through parking lots, swarmingover lawns, driving in stakes, tacking up posterseverywhere.

INCLUDE Tommy climbing a telephone pole... Armando shinnyingup a light pole across the street... Loretta and Van Dykepulling on a rope... which hoists a huge bundle to Tommy...

who opens and unfolds it... and gets an end through theair to Armando. They unfurl the biggest banner imaginable.

JEFF JOHNSON:
THE NAME YOU KNOW

35 EXT. COMMERCIAL STREET - DAWN 35

CAMERA TILTS DOWN. Every square inch of town seems tohave been plastered with JOHNSON FOR CONGRESS material.

It's on billboards, bumpers, bus shelters, balloons,

banners, utility poles... all in the late congressman'ssignature design.

36 QUICK SERIES OF SHOTS - DAY 36

The Econoline, now a JOHNSON ad on wheels, ghetto-blastersmounted front and back on the roof, rolls by a Jewish deli...a soul food joint... a whitebread country club... aChinese restaurant... At each, Tommy's amplified VOICE says:

(CONTINUED)

THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN - Rev. 4/3/92 30.

36 CONTINUED:
36

TOMMY:

Jeff Johnson. The name you know.

In a different appropriate accent.

37 EXT. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - DAY 37

In front of a polling place, Van Dyke pulls up in a hearsewith an ELECT JOHNSON banner. So, driving muscle cars, doArmando, Homer, and Loretta -- Tommy's get-out-the-vote fleet.

Exhilarated senior citizens pile out, led by Hattie.

38 INT. POLLING PLACE - DAY 38

An ordinary Couple, 40s, sign the registration book, thenenter adjacent voting carrels. After a moment, the

HUSBAND leans out.

HUSBAND:

Who are we voting for Congress?

WIFE:

Don't we always vote for Johnson?

HUSBAND:

That's it -- Johnson.

HIS HAND punches the hole in the ballot next to Johnson.

39 VIDEO 39

A NETWORK ANCHOR at an election-night news set.

NETWORK ANCHOR:

If you're just joining us, ourexit polls project that in Florida,

an unknown, independent candidatewhose sole asset appears to be hisname may just possibly win a slimvictory.

40 OMITTED 40

thru thru

42 42

43 EXT. BAIT SHACK - NIGHT 43

Blinding lights. Media circus. TV power cords, a hugetangle snaking back toward mobile generators. Cameramen

narrowly miss knocking each other into the water. A

STEEL DRUM BAND plays "Happy Days Are Here Again."

(CONTINUED)

THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN - Rev. 4/3/92 31.

43 CONTINUED:
43

The small crowd -- Tommy's cronies, their pals, and ajubilant contingent of Panthers led by Hattie -- letsout a great WHOOP.

FLORIDA REPORTER #1

Is that him? Tricia, I believe

Congressman-elect Johnson iscoming this way.

For the first time, we see Tommy wearing a beautifully-cutsuit. He's instantly engulfed by lights, cameras, andSupporters.

An amazed CAMERAMAN, watching Tommy, whispers to a Producer.

CAMERAMAN:

Jesus -- he's not... white. I

actually voted for the guy. I

thought he was Jeff Johnson.

Tommy jumps onto a bench. APPLAUSE from his Supporters.

TOMMY:

Thank you, thank you, all of you,

for your help. Give yourself around of applause.

They do. As APPLAUSE continues (O.S.), CAMERA PANS fromReporter to Reporter to Reporter, their mikes bearing thecall-letters of different channels.

ON GRANDMA being interviewed. She wears a JOHNSON FOR

CONGRESS button and speaks with manifest pride.

GRANDMA:

I've never been so proud in allmy life. He was always such agood boy...well, I think he meantwell. Sometimes -- well he was a

clean child. That's important, Ithink...

PAN TO FLORIDA REPORTER #2 doing a stand-up.

FLORIDA REPORTER #2

Then in Massachusetts, there was

a guy named Kennedy who gotelected, but he wasn't really aKennedy.

PAN TO -

(CONTINUED)

THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN - Rev. 4/3/92 32.

43 CONTINUED:
(2) 43

FLORIDA REPORTER #3

A lot of dead incumbents getre-elected, actually. It's an

American tradition.

ON Tommy. Speaking meaningfully, with great sincerity,

he shows a gift for political discourse.

TOMMY:

We ran a positive campaign. We

campaigned on the issues. The

issue is leadership. Leadershipfor the future. Ask not what youcan do for your country. The

people have spoken. The onlything we have to fear is fearitself. If you can't stand theheat stay out of the kitchen.

Live Free or Die. And in

conclusion...read my lips!

(APPLAUSE and CHEERS)

44 INT. AIRPLANE - DAY 44

Tommy looking out the window at the city below.

45 EXT. WASHINGTON, D.C. - AERIAL VIEW - DAY - (STOCK) 45

The approach to National Airport gives a good view ofWashington and its landmarks.

TOMMY:

The promised land.

46 EXT. AIRPORT RUNWAY - DAY 46

The plane touches down.

47 INT. NATIONAL AIRPORT - DAY 47

Through the airport move our Floridians. They look likethey're going to opening day at the track.

VOICE (O.S.)

Congressman Johnson! CongressmanJohnson!

Tommy looks. It's REINHHARDT, a young straight-arrowbearing two huge document briefcases, which he puts downto shake hands.

(CONTINUED)

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