Wag the Dog Page #4

INT AIRLINE WAITING AREA. DAY.

EARLY MORNING BUSINESSMEN AND WOMEN, HOLDING COFFEE CUPS.

ONE WEARS A CAMPAIGN BUTTON SHOWING THE PHOTO OF THE PRESIDENT AND THE GIRL

SCOUT. HE BRUSHES PAST BREAN WHO IS SITTING BY A MINDLESS TELEVISION WEATHER

PRESENTATION ON A HUGE TV. HE LOOKS DOWN AT HIS WATCH.

ANNOUNCER:

(VO)

American Airlines Announces the departure of flight

_____ for Los Angeles, will all Passengers holding...

THE BUSINESS TYPES BEGIN TO QUEUE UP IN A SLEEPY LINE. BREAN LEANS CLOSER TO

THE TELEVISION, AS IT CHANGES TO A NEWS LOGO, AND A TALKING HEAD APPEARS.

TALKING HEAD:

Good morning:
With the election eleven days away the

world slept, expecting news from the President on Trade

and his visit to China, another sort of news, however,

has emerged from the Presidential Quarter. Chris

Andrews, station KCRT, Santa Fe Reports:

BREAN LEANS BACK FROM THE TELEVISION, AND PUTS HIS ATTENTION ON THE BUSINESS

PEOPLE ABOUT TO FILE ONTO THE PLANE. AS HE WATCHES THEY MOVE FIRST ONE AT A

TIME, AND THEN, IN A GROUP, DRAWN TO THE TELEVISIONS.

ANGLE:

BREAN, LOOKING AT THE BUSINESS PEOPLE, CLUSTERING UP. BEYOND HIM, WE SEE THE

TALKING HEAD FROM SANTA FE, THE SHOT OF THE PRESIDENT WITH THE GIRLSCOUTS,

WHICH WE SAW PREVIOUSLY ON THE WHITE HOUSE WALL, AND ON THE CAMPAIGN BUTTONS.

BREAN TAKES OUT A NOTEPAD AND STARTS MAKING NOTES. AMES WANDERS INTO THE

SHOT, WITH A CUP OF DUNKIN' DONUTS COFFEE, AND THE CELLPHONE INTO WHICH HE IS

TALKING.

AMES:

Top people. Albanian Desk. Well, I don't know either,

but we probably have one. Albanian Dusk, C.I.A.,

N.S.A. roust'em outta bed, sirens blaring....

BREAN NODS, MEANING, "GOOD STUDENT."

AMES:

(CONT.)

I know they'll be in in an hour, get'em now...C.I.A.,

N.S.A., wake'em up.

BREAN GESTURES, TELL THEM THE OTHER THING.

AMES:

(CONT.)

And you tell the staff, anyone leaks anything on this

situation, his or her job is going to be...

THE TWO ARE IN THE QUEUE THROUGH THE JETWAY. THEY COME TO THE DOOR OF THE

AIRLINER.

AMES:

(CONT.)

...General Scott in Seattle...? No, I don't think his

trip has got anything to do with the B-2 Bomber.

Now...

THE STEWARDESS INTERVENES, AS THEY COME UP TO THE DOOR OF THE AIRLINER

STEWARDESS:

I'm sorry, Sir, I'll have to ask you to...

SHE GESTURES AT THE CELLPHONE.

AMES LAGS BEHIND IN THE JETWAY, AS BREAN WALKS INTO THE PLANE, CAMERA TRACKS

WITH HIM.

BREAN AND THE CAMERA NOTICE A SMALL MINI TV IN THE GALLEY AREA, WHERE THE

STEWARDESS IS SNEAKING A PEEK AT THE SCREEN, SHOWING THE PRESIDENT, GREETING

THE GIRLSCOUT.

STEWARDESS:

(CONT.)

(TO BREAN)

Did you hear?

BREAN:

Well, I don't know, a lot of these early reports are

inflated.

STEWARDESS:

... could, could, could he have done it?

BREAN:

...who understands Human Nature?

ANGLE:

BACK AT HIS SEAT, THE WOMAN IN THE SEAT ACROSS THE AISLE TO HIM IS TALKING IN

AN AIRFONE.

WOMAN:

(INTO PHONE)

What did she say that the President Actually did....

Well, who said it. Her mother, or Her?

(PAUSE)

He did...?

(PAUSE)

...and they said that on TV...?

(PAUSE)

They used that word...?

BREAN EASES INTO HIS SEAT, AND TAKES OUT HIS NOTEBOOK.

WOMAN:

(INTO PHONE)

...what time? Two Eastern? Alright, I'll.... Alright.

(SHE HANGS UP THE AIRFONE.)

BEAT. SHE TURNS TO BREAN. WE SEE SHE IS WEARING THE BUTTON WHICH SHOWS THE

PRESIDENT AND THE GIRLSCOUTS. SHE LOOKS DOWN AND FINGERS THE BUTTON.

WOMAN:

(OF THE BUTTON)

...what do you think...?

BREAN:

...how can any of us know?

WOMAN:

(OF THE BUTTON)

Makes you feel kind of foolish, doesn't it...?

BREAN:

I'm sure that's the worst of it.

(BEAT)

WOMAN:

(MEDITATIVELY, SHAKING HER HEAD, AS

SHE LOOKS AT THE BUTTON)

...a twelve year-old girl.

(PAUSE)

...and I was going to vote, for him.

BREAN:

Well, it ain't over til it's over...

AMES SITS IN THE SEAT NEXT TO BREAN.

BREAN:

How's he doing?

AMES SHUSHES BREAN, TAKES OUT THE AIRPHONE, AND STARTS DIALING.

EXT POOLHOUSE BEVERLY HILLS HOTEL DAY.

TWO WHITE-TOGGED POOL ATTENDANTS, WATCHING A SMALL TELEVISION AT THE CHECK-IN

AREA.

ON TELEVISION, SENATOR FREDERICK NOLE, A MIDWESTERNER, HOLDING FORTH.

NOLE:

...if it is true, he should, he must step down. And if

it is not true, then he must ... we are informed he has

extended his visit to China, I say, on behalf of the

American...

ANNOUNCER:

(VO)

Senator...Senator... we have to...

NOLE:

I say, on behalf of the American People, Come home,

face the music, whatever that may be. Th'election's

in ten days, let the American...

ANNOUNCER:

(VO)

Let the American People decide...

SCREEN GOES TO THE TALKING HEAD OF THE ANNOUNCER.

ANNOUNCER:

Senator Frederick Nole. With, excuse me, Senator,

that's eleven days, til the election, And the president

ahead in the polls by, Bob...?

SECOND TALKING HEAD

Seventeen percent.

ANNOUNCER:

Accusations have surfaced, which...

BOB:

Bill, the White House has announced, that, in response

to media pressure there will be a press conference

in...

THE TWO POOL ATTENDANTS STRAIGHTEN, AND PUT ON THEIR BEST SMILES, AND LOOK AT AN

ARRIVING MAN.

POOL ATTENDANT:

Morning, Mr. Moss.

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