Thirteen Days Page #18

THE PRESIDENT:

It's a goddman trial balloon. Trial is

the operative word, here.

KENNY:

Then somebody'd better deny it publicly.

The President turns around, heads over to the T.V. Kenny

folds his arms, disgusted.

THE PRESIDENT:

Jesus Christ, O'Donnell, you're the one

saying we need to move forward on a

political solution.

KENNY:

Yeah, a good political solution.

ON THE T.V.

Live coverage of the United Nations Security Council

meetings. Holding forth in Russian is VALERIAN ZORIN, 50s,

tough, likeable, the Soviet Ambassador to the U.N. and

chairman of the Security Council. A translator relays the

meaning.

TRANSLATOR FOR ZORIN (O.S.)

We call on the world to condemn the

piratical actions of America...

RESUME:

The President's jaw tightens. He turns to Kenny.

THE PRESIDENT:

You want to turn up the heat? You call

Adlai. Tell him to stick it to Zorin.

INT. KENNY'S OFFICE - DAY

Kenny, phone to his ear, suffers as Bobby harangues him.

BOBBY:

Adlai's too weak! We have to convince

Jack to pull him, get McCloy in there.

KENNY:

You can't take him out this late in the

game.

BOBBY:

Zorin will eat him alive!

KENNY:

Then talk to your brother, goddamn it.

The two of you don't need any advice to

get into trouble.

BOBBY:

What's gotten into you?

Kenny throws the Lippman article at him.

BOBBY (CONT'D)

Oh, still sore about this.

KENNY:

Something your father would've come up

with.

Silence. Terrible silence. That paralyzes Bobby. Kenny

stares at him. He means it, but regrets it, too.

BOBBY:

My father --

KENNY:

-- I'm just trying to make a point.

This idea is that f***ing bad.

But Bobby gets it. Kenny shifts gears, lets it go.

KENNY (CONT'D)

Adlai can handle Zorin. He knows the

inning and the score.

BOBBY:

He better. Because nobody thinks he's

up to this. Nobody.

INT. U.S. OFFICES - U.N. - DAY

The U.S. suite is in frantic preparation, STAFFERS coming and

going. Stevenson takes his phone from a SECRETARY.

ADLAI:

Yes?

INT. KENNY'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

Kenny turns to gaze at his little T.V. in the credenza, U.N.

coverage continuing, as if he could see Adlai there.

KENNY:

Adlai, it's Kenny. How're you doing?

INT. U.S. OFFICES - U.N. - CONTINUOUS

Adlai is packing up his briefcase.

ADLAI:

Busy, Ken. What do you need?

INT. KENNY'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

Kenny rises from his chair, paces toward the T.V. He pauses.

KENNY:

The President told me to pass the word

to you:
stick it to them.

INT. U.S. OFFICES - U.N. - CONTINUOUS

Adlai looks around to his own T.V., showing the session going

on downstairs. Zorin, ON CAMERA, dominates the council:

alternately bold, aggressive, and then reasonable. Even in

Russian, with the lagging translation, he's formidable.

INT. KENNY'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

Kenny is watching exactly the same performance. Zorin is

masterful. Kenny knows it. And when he talks to Adlai, it's

with the fatalism of a coach knowing he's putting his third

string quarterback in against the all-Pro linebacker.

KENNY:

Adlai. The world has to know we're

right. If we're going to have a chance

at a political solution, we need

international pressure. You got to be

tough, Adlai. You need to find it, old

friend.

INT. U.S. OFFICES - U.N. - CONTINUOUS

Adlai watches his Staffers leave his inner office. He hears

Kenny, and everything Kenny is saying.

ADLAI:

I hear you. I'm glad it's you calling.

I thought it would be Bobby. If they're

still sticking to their stonewall

strategy, I'll get 'em.

(beat)

Thanks, Ken.

Adlai lowers the phone to its cradle. An ANXIOUS STAFFER

sticks his head in the door, a concerned, questioning look on

his face.

Adlai adjusts his tie. HIS HAND IS SHAKING. He notices it,

and manages a brave smile.

ADLAI (CONT'D)

I'm an old political cat, Jimmy.

(beat)

But I've got one life left.

INT. HALL, U.N. - CONTINUOUS

Adlai, briefcase in hand, marches down the hall at the hand

of his team:
Staffers and Photo Interpreters with large

leather portfolio bags. The big double doors to the council

chamber loom, and he gestures to the Photo Interpreters.

ADLAI:

Wait here.

And then a DOORMAN throws open the door for him.

INT. U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS - CONTINUOUS

Adlai enters. He is instantly dwarfed by the enormous room.

Lights, T.V. cameras, the imposing circular arrangement of

delegation tables. And the entire world is watching.

Adlai pauses. Then as the first SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS

begin to notice him, he heads for the vacant seats for the

American delegation. The ROMANIAN DELEGATE saws the air.

ROMANIAN DELEGATE

(through translator)

...we call upon the world to condemn

this purely American provocation...

But as the Romanian wheezes on, all eyes are on Adlai. Adlai

takes his seat, his Staffers behind him. They pass him up

papers, and he spreads them before him, taking no notice that

the entire room is staring at him.

Adlai finally glances up. Across the circle sits Zorin, in

the flesh, at the head of his own tough-looking DELEGATION.

He acknowledges Adlai with a superior smile.

ROMANIAN DELEGATE (CONT'D)

We, the people of Romania, stand in

solidarity with the people of Cuba and

their revolution in the face of this

American threat to world peace. Thank

you, Mr. Chairman.

The Romanian Delegate leans back from his microphone. Zorin

leans forward, begins in Russian, and the Translator's voice

catches up with him. His tone, body language, composure are

all that of complete confidence.

ZORIN:

(through translator)

We are glad you could join us, Mr.

Stevenson.

Adlai nods, returns to his notes, as Zorin continues.

ZORIN (CONT'D)

For the last couple of hours I have

heard nothing but questions from the

world here. The United States has led

us to the brink of calamity. The

peoples of the world want to know why.

We are told again and again of this so

called incontrovertible evidence of

offensive weapons in Cuba. Yet we are

not allowed to see this evidence. Are

your spy planes so secret you cannot

share this evidence with us? Some

planes?!

The audience laughs. Zorin basks in it. And then grows

stern.

ZORIN (CONT'D)

Or perhaps there is no such evidence.

Perhaps the United States is mistaken.

INT. SITUATION ROOM - WHITE HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

EXCOM watches the coverage on the situation room's T.V.'s.

The President and Bobby sit side by side, Kenny just behind

them. Bobby checks his watch, looks at the President.

BOBBY:

I make the call, and Adlai is out.

McCloy goes in.

Bobby looks back at Kenny.

THE PRESIDENT:

Let's hope it doesn't come to that.

INT. U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS - CONTINUOUS

Zorin stares at Adlai. Adlai studiously ignores him, works

on his own papers.

ZORIN:

The United States has no facts in hand.

Falsity is what America has in its hands

- false evidence.

Zorin leans back in his chair. Adlai finally looks up. He

meets Zorin's icy bravura. He notes the cameras around the

room. This is the grandest stage of all.

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