POL #1

                      We're putting up Potowski next time.

                      Will you guys come out for him? 

 

                                KENNY

                      Who else you got?

 

                                POL #2

                      There's Richardson.  Good kid.

 

                                KENNY

                      Got the touch?

 

                                POL #2

                      Yeah.  Still moldable, too.

 

                                KENNY

                      Everyone likes a good kid...

 

            And like that, a congressional candidate is made...  Kenny

            accelerates, leaving the Pols behind.  Suddenly, outside the

            windows, the crowd swells² forward with a collective ROAR.

 

                                CROWD

                      MR. PRESIDENT!  PRESIDENT KENNEDY!

 

            EXT. HOTEL - DAY

 

            Kenny heads down the steps with New York Times Washington

            Bureau Chief, SCOTTY RESTON. Anonymous³, they weave their way

            through the crowd for a police car on a side street.

 

                                RESTON

                      How's my favorite President?

 

                                KENNY

                      Busy.  But you've got his heart.

 

                                RESTON

                      I want an hour with him.

 

                                KENNY

                      I said his heart, not his attention.

 

                                RESTON

                      Three weeks before midterm elections?

                      You need me.

 

                                KENNY

                      Well.  There is a new civil rights

                      initiative he wants to talk about.

 

                                RESTON

                      I'm doing a piece on Skybolt.  I hear

                      Macmillan's meeting with him in Nassau.

 

            Kenny just sighs as they make their way up to the police car.

            A Secret Service Agent opens the door for him, another is

            behind the wheel.

 

                                KENNY

                      We're giving the Brits Polaris instead.

                      But a story'll just aggravate⁶ things.

 

            Scotty stares at Kenny, determined⁷.  Kenny looks away.  And

            his eye catches a tall, willowy BEAUTIFUL WOMAN.  She is

            talking, excited, embarrassed, to two more SECRET SERVICE

            AGENTS.  What they're saying is lost in the noise.

 

            Scotty follows Kenny's gaze.  Then the two men share a look,

            a silent understanding.  Kenny glances at the Secret Service

            guy holding the car door, tilts¹⁰ his head at the woman.

 

                                KENNY (CONT'D)

                      Not today.  He's got tight schedule.

 

            The Agent nods, heads for the other Agents and the Beautiful

            Woman.  Scotty acts like nothing has happened.

 

                                RESTON

                      Pretending there isn't a problem won't

                      fix it.  He can clear the air on Anglo

                      American relations.

 

                                KENNY

                      Forget it, Scotty.

 

                                RESTON

                      Let him talk to me, he makes Macmillan

                      look good, I print it, the British

                      public likes it, Macmillan owes you.

 

            The formula's exactly what Kenny wants to hear.  He pretends

            to consider, pretends to cave as he gets in the car.

 

                                KENNY

                      All right, you're in.  Half hour.

 

            Reston's won.  But so has Kenny, and he's made Scotty feel

            tough in the bargain.  People like Kenny.

 

            INT. POLICE CAR - DAY

 

            In the back seat, Kenny stares out the window at the parade

            goers.  The Secret Service Agents leave the Woman.

            Disappointed, the Woman turns and vanishes into the crowd.

            It's an eerie¹¹ moment.  Something troubles Kenny, and he

            glances up at the sky.  A premonition.  But it's a clear,

            clear blue.  A day like this, all is right with the world...

 

                                                           SMASH CUT TO:

 

            INT. NPIC - NIGHT

 

            Six Interpreters huddle¹² around IMAGES on a light table.  One

            of them shoulders his way into the group and THUMPS¹³ a black

            BINDER¹⁴ on the table.  There are grim nods of agreement.

 

            The book is open to a PICTURE of an SS-4 BALLISTIC MISSILE.

            A photo from Moscow Mayday parade.  An icon¹⁵ of the nuclear

            age escorted like some devil-god to a holocaust¹⁶...

 

            END MAIN TITLE SEQUENCE

 

            EXT. THE WHITE HOUSE - DAY

 

            The White House casts long shadows this gorgeous October

            morning.  Blue sky; the first flash of color in the trees.

 

            SUPER: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16TH, 1962.  DAY 1.

 

            INT. KENNY'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

 

            Briefcase¹⁷ and coat in hand, Kenny enters his office - and

            finds THREE MEN.  Standing⁹ there.  Thin-haired, bespectacled,

            academic-looking MCGEORGE BUNDY, 43, the National Security

            Advisor¹⁸.  The two men in the background: PHOTO INTERPRETERS.

 

            Kenny hangs up his coat, sees the Interpreters' large black

            display cases.  And suddenly the world is slightly off

            kilter.

 

                                KENNY

                      Hey, Mac.  You're up bright and early.

 

                                BUNDY

                      No, Ken¹.  I need to see him now...

 

            INT. WHITE HOUSE - RESIDENTIAL¹⁹ FLOOR - DAY

 

            Kenny emerges from the elevator with Bundy.  They head down

            the long, posh 3rd floor hall, the Presidential Detail

            guarding the doors at the end.  But the familiar route feels

            strange, and lasting²⁰ an eternity²¹.  Kenny eyes the package

            under Bundy's arm, its TOP SECRET stamp visible.

 

                                KENNY

                      Morning, Floyd.

 

                                SECRET SERVICE AGENT

                      Good morning, Mr. O'Donnell.  Mr. Bundy.

 

            The Agent opens the door.  Bundy pauses, Kenny with him.

 

                                KENNY

                      What's it about?

 

                                BUNDY

                      Cuba.

 

            Bundy is tense.  But Kenny relaxes.

 

                                KENNY

                      Just Cuba?  Okay, I got work to do, see

                      you guys downstairs.

 

            INT. KENNY'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

 

            Kenny's office is a raging beehive of activity.  Kenny works

            the phone as ASSISTANTS come and go with files.

 

                                KENNY

                          (to phone, scary calm)

                      Listen to me, you worthless piece of

                      disloyal shit.  You will pull Daly's man

                      on the circuit.  You owe your goddamn

                      job to this administration.

                          (beat, listening)

                      There is a word you need to learn.  It

                      is the only word in politics.  Loyalty²².

                      LOYALTY you motherfucking piece of shit!

 

            As Kenny THROWS the phone down at the receiver, and the

            PRIVATE DOOR to the Oval Office suddenly opens.  Kenny

            glances up.  President Kennedy stands there in the doorway²³.

            Kenny thinks he's reacting to the tirade²⁴.

 

                                KENNY (CONT'D)

                      What're you looking at?  This isn't the

                      blessed order of St. Mary the Meek²⁵.

 

            Kenny stops.

 

                                KENNY (CONT'D)

                      Excuse us.

 

            The Assistants leave, shutting the door after them.  Kenny

            rises.

 

                                THE PRESIDENT

                      I think you should come in here.

 

            Kenny starts for the door.

 

                                THE PRESIDENT (CONT'D)

                      Still think Cuba isn't important?

 

                                KENNY

                      Not as far as the election goes.

 

            The President lets Kenny by into...

 

            INT. OVAL OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

 

            WE ENTER from a different angle than we usually enter in

            movies: through the side door.  The President's ornate desk

            sits on the right, windows looking out on the Rose Garden

            behind it.  Kenny's gaze swivels to:

 

            THE OTHER END OF THE ROOM where the Interpreters, their

            crewcut chief, ARTHUR LUNDAHL, 50's, and Bundy stare at him.

            They're surrounded by PRESENTATION BOARDS propped²⁶ up around

            the fireplace.  The President's rocking chair and sofas.

 

                                THE PRESIDENT

                      You used to look down a bomb sight for a

                      living, Ken.  What do you see?

 

            In eerie silence, as all eyes follow him, Kenny makes his way

            among the presentation boards with the U-2 imagery, stops in

            front of the picture of the six canvas-covered objects.  It

            unleashes²⁷ a wave of memories.

 

                                KENNY

                      We hit a Nazi²⁹ buzz bomb field in '45.

                          (beat, incredulous)

                      It looks like a rocket base...

 

            He puts his hand out to touch the image, then turns and looks

            to the President, knowing what they must be.

 

                                BUNDY

                      On Sunday morning, one of our U-2s took

                      these pictures.  The Soviets³¹ are putting

                      medium range ballistic missiles into

                      Cuba.

 

            Shock.  Silence.  Kenny glances to the other men.

 

                                LUNDAHL

                      They appear to be the SS-4: range of a

                      thousand miles, three-megaton nuclear

                      warhead.

 

                                KENNY

                      Jesus Christ in Heaven...

 

            INT. WHITE HOUSE OPERATOR'S CENTER - DAY

 

            A bank of WHITE HOUSE OPERATORS work the switchboard, fingers

            flying, voices overlapping³² in a babble³³ of:

 

                                VARIOUS OPERATORS

                      Please hold for the White House...Mr.

                      O'Donnell for Secretary McNamara...

                      White House Operator... please hold...

 

            INT. KENNY'S OFFICE - DAY

 

            Kenny carries the phone with him as he paces hard from his

            desk to his window.

 

                                KENNY

                      The principals are assembling in an

                      hour.  See you then.

 

            Kenny hangs up.  The President enters.  A beat.  And in that

            beat, there's a void.  The two men are off their emotional

            stride, trying to grope their way out of shock.

 

                                THE PRESIDENT

                      Where's Bobby?

 

            Kenny nods, acknowledging the feeling

 

                                KENNY

                      Should be here any minute.

 

                                THE PRESIDENT

                      Good.

 

            And we glimpse the chemistry of these guys by Bobby's

            absence.  It's like they're missing their third wheel.

 

                                THE PRESIDENT (CONT'D)

                      Good.

 

                                BOBBY (O.S.)

                      Where the hell are you?

 

            The President and Kenny hear him out in the hall.  And the

            tension goes out of them instantly.

 

                                THE PRESIDENT

                      In here!

 

            They turn to the door as BOBBY KENNEDY, 37, the President's

            younger brother/Attorney General, enters.  Bobby shuts the

            door behind him, falls into Kenny's chair, and clearly

            grappling with his own disbelief, is hushed.

 

                                BOBBY

                      Jesus Christ, guys.  What the hell's

                      Khruschev thinking?

 

                                THE PRESIDENT

                      Did you have any indication of this from

                      Georgi?  Any possible warning or sense

                      of motivation?

 

                                BOBBY

                          (shaking his head)

                      Complete snowjob.  And then we went out

                      and told the country they weren't

                      putting missiles into Cuba.

                          (beat)

                      By the way, you realize we just lost the

                      midterms.

 

                                KENNY

                      Who gives a shit about the midterms now?

                      The Soviets are putting nuclear weapons

                      ninety miles away from us.

 

                                BOBBY

                      You mean there's something more

                      important than votes?  Didn't think I'd

                      live to see the day, Ken.

 

            The President paces away, grim.

 

                                KENNY

                      Jesus.  I feel like we've caught the Jap

                      carriers steaming for Pearl Harbor.

 

            INT. WEST WING HALLWAY - DAY

 

            The President strides down the plush hallway, Bobby and Kenny

            flanking him.  Unconsciously, all three men assume the same

            gait: confident, powerful, no longer disoriented.

 

            And before our eyes, the three men's game faces appear, and

            they become the hard-ass⁴ leaders of the United States.

            Secret Service Agents throw open the massive double doors to

            the Cabinet Room.

 

            INT. CABINET ROOM - CONTINUOUS

 

            And they enter.  The group of men at the long, ornate

            Roosevelt-era table, rise as one.

 

                                GROUP

                      Good morning, Mr. President.

 

                                THE PRESIDENT

                      Good morning, gentlemen.

 

            And the doors close on the eighteen men of EXCOM: The

            Executive Committee of the National Security Council.  They

            are the legendary³⁴ "Best and Brightest."

 

            The President makes his way down the line: shakes hands with

            Secretary of State DEAN RUSK, 53, distinguished³⁵, with a soft,

            Georgian accent, a distant reserve.

 

                                THE PRESIDENT (CONT'D)

                      Dean, good morning.

 

                                RUSK

                      Mr. President.

 

            The President leans past him, grasps the hand of the

            Secretary of Defense³⁶ ROBERT MCNAMARA, 46, a gifted managerial

            genius... the price of which is a cold, hard personality.

 

                                THE PRESIDENT

                      Bob.  Bet you had a late night.

 

                                MCNAMARA

                      Sleep is for the weak, Mr. President.

 

            OFF TO THE SIDE, Kenny greets Vice⁵ President LYNDON JOHNSON,

            54, and ADLAI STEVENSON, 62, Representative to the U.N.,

            intellectual, well-spoken.

 

                                KENNY

                      Lyndon.  Adlai.

 

            The silver-haired war hero and politically savvy³⁷ Chairman of

            The Joint³⁸ Chiefs of Staff, GENERAL MAXWELL TAYLOR, 50s,

            shakes the President's hand.

 

                                THE PRESIDENT

                      Max.

 

                                GENERAL TAYLOR

                      McCone's been notified and is coming

                      back from the West coast.  Carter's

                      here, though.

 

            He gestures to GENERAL MARSHALL CARTER, Deputy Chief of

            Operations for the CIA.  Carter nods to the President.

 

            THE CAMERA PANS OVER THE OTHERS.

 

            DOUGLAS DILLON, ex-banker, Secretary of the Treasury³⁹.

 

            ROSWELL GILPATRIC, studious Deputy Secretary of Defense.

 

            PAUL NITZE, 55, the detail-driven facts man, Assistant

            Secretary of Defense.

 

            GEORGE BALL, 50s, Undersecretary of State.  Eloquent⁴⁰, a man

            of conscience.

 

            U. ALEXIS JOHNSON, Deputy Under Secretary of State.

 

            EDWARD MARTIN, Assistant Secretary of State for Latin

            America.

 

            LLEWELLYN THOMPSON, laid back, rumpled⁴¹ Soviet³⁰ Affairs

            Advisor.

 

            DON WILSON, Deputy Director of the USIA.

 

            The President sits down at the center of the table, Rusk and

            McNamara to either side, and the others resume their seats.

            Bobby takes one of the over-stuffed chairs at the table.

 

            Kenny finds one along the wall behind the President, under

            the windows to the Rose Garden to TED⁸ SORENSEN, 30s, the

            President's legal counsel and speech writer.  They greet each

            other coolly.

 

                                KENNY

                      Ted.

 

                                SORENSEN

                      Kenny.

 

            The room falls silent.  The President looks across the table

            to GENERAL CARTER.

 

                                THE PRESIDENT

                      Okay.  Let's have it.

 

                                GENERAL CARTER

                      Arthur Lundahl heads our photographic

                      interpretation⁴² division at CIA.  I'll

                      let him and his boys take you through

                      what we've got.  Arthur?

 

            Lundahl, standing at the end of the room with briefing

            boards, steps forward with a pointer.

 

                                LUNDAHL

                      Gentlemen, as most of you now know a U-2

                      over Cuba on Sunday morning took a

                      series of disturbing photographs.

 

            SWINGING THE POINTER AT A BOARD SMASH CUTS US TO:

 

            EXT. MISSILE SITE - LOS PALACIOS, CUBA - DAY

 

            The sweltering Cuban countryside.  Shouting SOVIET ROCKET

            TROOPS, stripped to the waist, glistening⁴³ with sweat, machete

            a clearing under scattered⁴⁴, limp palm trees.

 

                                LUNDAHL (V.O.)

                      Our analysis at NPIC indicates the

                      Soviet Union has followed its

                      conventional weapons build-up in Cuba

                      with the introduction of surface-to

                      surface medium-range ballistic missiles,

                      or MRBMs.  Our official estimate at this

                      time is that this missile system is the

                      SS-4 Sandal.  We do not believe these

                      missiles are as yet operational.

 

            A bulldozer TEARS through the undergrowth.  FILLING THE

            SCREEN.  A 70-foot long MISSILE TRANSPORTER creeps along in

            the bulldozer's wake like a vast hearse with its shrouded⁴⁵

            cargo⁴⁶.

 

            INT. CABINET ROOM - DAY

 

            Lundahl raps his second board: a map of the United States,

            Cuba visible in the lower corner.  An ARC is drawn⁴⁷ clearly

            across the U.S., encompassing⁴⁸ the entire Southeast.

 

                                LUNDAHL

                      IRONBARK reports the SS-4 can deliver a

                      3-megaton nuclear weapon 1000 miles.  So

                      far we have identified 32 missiles

                      served by around 3400 men, undoubtedly⁴⁹

                      all Soviet personnel.  Our cities and

                      military installations in the Southeast,

                      as far north as Washington, are in range

                      of these weapons, and in the event of a

                      launch, would only have five minutes of

                      warning.

 

                                GENERAL CARTER

                      Five minutes, gentlemen.  Five minutes.

 

                                GENERAL TAYLOR

                      In those five minutes they could kill 80

                      million Americans and destroy a

                      significant number of our bomber⁵⁰ bases,

                      degrading our retaliatory⁵¹ options.  The

                      Joint Chiefs' consensus⁵² is that this is

                      a massively destabilizing move,

                      upsetting the nuclear balance.

 

            The President stares at Lundahl, and beating out each word.

 

                                THE PRESIDENT

                      Arthur.  Are. You. Sure?

 

            Lundahl looks around the room.  Everyone is hanging.

 

                                LUNDAHL

                      Yes, Mr. President.  These are nuclear

                      missiles.

 

            The men come to grips with their own fears, own anger.

 

                                BOBBY

                      How long until they're operational?

 

                                LUNDAHL

                      General Taylor can answer that question

                      better than I can.

 

            General Taylor drops a memo²⁸ on the table WHICH BECOMES:

 

            EXT. FIELD TABLE - MISSILE SITE, CUBA - DAY

 

            SCHEMATICS slapped down on a camp table.  A group of Soviet

            site ENGINEERS point and gesture as they study their ground

            from a shaded hillock.  CLEARING CREWS and SURVEYORS work and

            sweat in the distance.

 

                                GENERAL TAYLOR (V.O.)

                      GMAIC estimates ten to fourteen days.

                      However, a crash program to ready the

                      missiles could cut that time.

 

 

 

            INT. CABINET ROOM - DAY

 

            Taylor sees the grim looks all around.

 

                                GENERAL TAYLOR

                      I have to stress that there may be more

                      missiles that we don't know about.  We

                      need more U-2 coverage⁵⁴.

 

            Kenny lets out his breath.  He catches Bobby's eye.  This is

            unbelievable.

 

                                THE PRESIDENT

                      Is there any indication - anything at

                      all - that suggests they intend to use

                      these missiles in some sort of first

                      strike?

 

                                GENERAL CARTER

                      Not at present, sir.  But I think the

                      prudent⁵⁵ answer is we don't know.

 

                                THE PRESIDENT

                      Do we have any sort of intelligence from

                      CIA on what Khruschev is thinking?

 

                                GENERAL CARTER

                      No, Mr. President.  We don't.  We just

                      don't know what's happening inside the

                      Kremlin at that level.

 

                                BOBBY

                      They lied to us.  Two weeks ago Dobrynin

                      told me to my face Khurschev had no

                      intention of putting missiles into Cuba.

                      They said themselves, this is our

                      backyard.

 

            There's angry agreement.  The President cuts it off.

 

                                THE PRESIDENT

                      Gentlemen, I want first reactions.

                      Assuming for a moment Khruschev has not

                      gone off the deep end and intends to

                      start World War Three, what are we

                      looking at?

 

            Rusk glances to his team at the end of the table.  Ball,

            Johnson, Martin, Thompson and Stevenson.

 

                                RUSK

                      Mr. President, I believe my team is in

                      agreement.  If we permit the

                      introduction of nuclear missiles to a

                      Soviet satellite nation in our

                      hemisphere, the diplomatic consequences

                      will be too terrible to contemplate⁵⁶.

                      The Russians are trying to show the

                      world they can do whatever they want,

                      wherever they want, and we're powerless

                      to stop them.  If they succeed...

 

                                BOBBY

                      It will be Munich all over again.

 

                                RUSK

                      Appeasement⁵⁷ only makes the aggressor

                      more aggressive.  Confidence in our

                      security commitments around the world

                      will falter⁵⁸, allies will become unsure

                      in the face of Soviet pressure, and the

                      Soviets will be emboldened⁵⁹ to push us

                      even harder.  We must remove the

                      missiles one way or another.  It seems

                      to me the options are either to build up

                      the crisis 'til they give in, or we hit

                      them.  An air strike.

 

            There's silence at the table.  Some nods.  Understanding.

 

                                THE PRESIDENT

                      Bob?

 

                                MCNAMARA

                      We've worked up several military

                      scenarios⁶⁰.  Before I ask General Taylor

                      to lead us through the various options,

                      I'd like for us to adopt a rule.

                      If we are going to strike, we must agree

                      now that we will do it before the

                      missiles become operational.  Because

                      once they are, I don't think we can

                      guarantee getting them all before at

                      least some are launched.

 

            And there it is.  The clock is running.

 

                                BUNDY

                      Sir.  We need to consider... if we

                      decide to act, there's a good chance

                      we'll end up in a general war.

 

            The room falls silent.  The President leans back in his

            chair, studying the circle of men around the table, weighing

            them.

 

            Kenny and the others watch him in silence.  A long, dramatic

            pause.  A course that will change history is about to be

            chosen.  The President leans forward, folds his hands on the

            table.  Fated.  Grave.

 

                                THE PRESIDENT

                      It's clear we cannot permit Soviet

                      nuclear missiles in Cuba.  We must get

                      those missiles out.

 

            EXT. THE ROSE GARDEN - DAY

 

            Kenny and Bobby follow the President down a path through the

            Rose Garden.  The shock of the morning has worn off.  The

            President stops, looks at them.

 

                                THE PRESIDENT

                      I don't think it's going to matter what

                      Khruschev's intentions are.  I tell you,

                      right now... I don't see any way around

                      hitting them.

 

            A long moment of silence as they move along again.

 

                                KENNY

                      If we hit 'em, kill a lot of Russians,

                      they'll move against Berlin.  They

                      attack Berlin, that's NATO... and we're

                      at war.

 

            The guys stop again.  The autumn day is bright, warm, alive.

            The air, the distant city sounds derail the relentless⁶¹ train

            of logic⁶² for a beat.  And in their faces we see that all

            three men, for the first time, feel the enormity of war, its

            shadow over everything.  It's only a couple of steps away.

            Steps that they're seriously contemplating⁶³.

 

                                BOBBY

                      Damned if we do, but if we don't, we're

                      in a war for sure somewhere else in six

                      months.

 

            Pained, the President turns away.

 

                                THE PRESIDENT

                      No choice.  This is going to cost lives

                      any way we go.  Do nothing, and it could

                      be 80 million  of ours.  We have to get

                      rid of those missiles.

 

                                KENNY

                      There've got to be alternatives to just

                      going out and bombing them.

 

                                BOBBY

                      He's right, Jack⁶⁴.  Taylor is saying we

                      may have some time.  We've got to use

                      it.

 

                                THE PRESIDENT

                      So if there are alternatives that make

                      sense - and I'm not saying there are -

                      we need 'em.  Need 'em fast.

 

                                BOBBY

                      What about the allies?  Congress?  I

                      think we may need to start letting key

                      people know.  And they're all scattered

                      across the country for the campaign.

                      We're going to need to get the U.N.

                      staff in and warmed up.  Jesus... I

                      don't even know if we've got secure

                      communications with half our embassies

                      since that the Soviets got that

                      cryptographer of ours.

 

                                THE PRESIDENT

                      We can't worry about everything right

                      now.  We've got to figure out what we're

                      going to do before we worry about how we

                      do it.

 

                                KENNY

                      The other thing is...

 

                                BOBBY

                      ... I know.  CIA and the military fucked

                      us on the Bay of Pigs.

 

                                KENNY

                      They're going to be pressing for a

                      military solution soon.  We can't afford

                      to let them ram⁵³ their agenda down our

                      throats.  We need to come with options

                      other than air strikes so we have some

                      sort of choice here.

 

                                BOBBY

                      We got a bunch of smart guys.  We lock

                      'em up together in there, kick 'em in

                      the ass til they come up with options.

 

            Kenny and the President look at him.  Bobby nods.

 

                                BOBBY (CONT'D)

                      I'll do it.

 

                                KENNY

                          (to the President)

                      It's too politicized with you in there,

                      anyway.  They need to be able to stick

                      their necks out.

 

                                BOBBY

                      It'll be the principals, a couple of the

                      key guys from each department: the

                      Executive Committee of the National

                      Security Council.  We'll call it EXCOM.

 

            Kenny snorts a laugh.  Bobby shoots him a cross look.

 

                                KENNY

                      EXCOM.  Has a ring to it.  Like F-Troop.

 

            The President stops.  Bobby and Kenny stop, too.

 

                                THE PRESIDENT

                      Okay.  Kenny and I only show for the

                      meetings you call us into.  Impress us.

                      And do it fast.

                          (to Kenny)

                      You're in charge of keeping this quiet.

                      If word gets out before we know what

                      we're going to do, there'll be panic.

                      And it'll ruin any chance of surprise if

                      we decide to hit them.

 

                                KENNY

                      Then we need to do a few things right

                      away.  No Pierre.  He knows, the press

                      knows.

                      You're going to have to keep up your

                      schedule - your movements are followed

                      too closely.  And we need to get these

                      guys out of the White House.  George

                      Ball's got a conference room at State.

                          (to Bobby)

                      Reconvene over there this afternoon,

                      come back here tonight.

 

            Bobby nods.

 

                                BOBBY

                      I think we should bring in Dean Acheson.

                      He was fighting Soviets while we were

                      still working the wards⁶⁵ in Boston.

 

            The President nods his approval.  Looks at Kenny.

 

                                THE PRESIDENT

                      Find him, Kenny.  We're going to need

                      all the help we can get.

 

            INT. WEST WING - HALL OUTSIDE PRESS OFFICE - DAY

 

            Kenny moves hard and fast through the twisting warren of

            hallways and tiny offices which is the West Wing.  Suddenly,

            Scotty Reston pops out of a doorway behind Kenny.

 

                                RESTON

                      Hey, Kenny!  Who died?

 

            Kenny glances over his shoulder at Scotty who points to a

            window.  A beat, then Kenny returns to look out the window.

            Outside, the West Wing Drive is FILLED WITH LIMOUSINES⁶⁶.

 

            A flash of dismay, but Kenny covers fast.

 

                                KENNY

                      Way it's going, the Democratic Party.

                      DNC strategy session.  If you can call

                      it that.

 

            Scotty chuckles⁶⁷.  Kenny moves off, leading him away.  Kenny's

            assistant runs up behind him, holding out a slip of paper.

 

                                ASSISTANT

                      Sir?

 

            Kenny tries to look him away.

 

                                RESTON

                      It's Tuesday.  You said to call.  When

                      do I get my 45 minutes?

 

                                KENNY

                      Tell you what.  We're in Connecticut

                      tomorrow for Ribicoff.  I'll get you up

                      front with him during the flight.

 

                                RESTON

                      Deal.

 

                                ASSISTANT

                      Sir.

 

            Kenny turns, harsh

 

                                KENNY

                      What is it?

 

            The Assistant eyes Scotty, holds his tongue.  Kenny takes the

            slips.

 

                                ASSISTANT

                      The number you asked for.

 

                                KENNY

                      I ask for a lot of 'em.  Whose is it?

 

                                ASSISTANT

                      Dean Acheson's, sir.

 

            That shuts Kenny up.  Reston eyes the slip, then looks to

            Kenny's face.  And he knows something isn't right here.

 

                                KENNY

                      Gotta go, Scotty.  See you tomorrow.

 

            INT. TREASURY BUILDING GARAGE - NIGHT

 

            A car jolts⁶⁸ to a stop.  The CAMERA PANS up over the sagging⁶⁹

            suspension, the government plates, the hood⁷⁰ ornament⁷¹

            revealing half of EXCOM inside.  Kenny stands nearby waiting

            for them.

 

            The doors open, and out they pile like a bunch of clowns:

            Bobby, McNamara, Rusk, Ball, Martin, Dioptric, Sorensen,

            Stevenson, and Nitze.  They're sitting in each others' laps,

            banging their heads on the roof, joking, but tense.

 

                                BOBBY

                      Screw secrecy⁷².  You try having that fat

                      ass sit on your lap all the way from

                      Foggy Bottom.

 

                                MCNAMARA

                      You were excited.  I say no more.

 

            The gang falls in behind Kenny, trails him out of the garage.

 

            INT. TUNNEL TO WHITE HOUSE - NIGHT

 

            A steel door unlocks, swings open, and Kenny marches at the

            head of the wedge of men into a long tunnel.  It's the

            infamous⁷³ old passage from the Treasury to the White House.

            Kenny and Bobby get a little ahead of the others.

 

                                BOBBY

                      Everybody agrees the diplomatic route is

                      out.  It's too slow, and they'll have

                      the missiles finished.

 

            Kenny looks at him.  Then there's only one alternative.  The

            CAMERA wipes through the ceiling to:

 

            EXT. WHITE HOUSE - NIGHT

 

            GROUND LEVEL.  Where the brilliantly-lit flag flutters over

            the spotlit White House: their destination.

 

            INT. CABINET ROOM - NIGHT

 

            GENERAL WALTER 'CAM' SWEENEY, head of Tactical Air Command,

            stands at the head of the table with a presentation board.

            The men of EXCOM gather around Sweeney in their rumpled

            shirts, nursing coffee and cigarettes.

 

                                GENERAL SWEENEY

                      We have 850 planes assembling at

                      Homestead, Eglin, Opa Locka, MacDill,

                      Patrick, Pensacola and Key West.

 

                                                           SMASH CUT TO:

 

            EXT. HOMESTEAD AFB - FLORIDA - NIGHT

 

            An F-100 Super Sabre stands under lights on a taxiway.  The

            CAMERA DESCENDS⁷⁴ FROM ITS OVERHEAD SHOT, discovering the

            aircraft's sleek⁷⁵ cockpit, menacing tiger-jaw paint job, the

            four 20mm cannons⁷⁶ on its nose.

 

                                GENERAL SWEENEY (V.O.)

                      Due to the tropical foliage⁷⁷, the OPLAN

                      calls for high-explosive and napalm

                      loadouts for our ground attack sorties.

 

            PULL BACK TO REVEAL:

 

            The FLIGHT LINE where a full strike wing stands beyond this

            plane, pylons⁷⁸ laden⁷⁹ with weapons, GROUND CREW servicing them.

 

            INT. CABINET ROOM - CONTINUOUS

 

            Other EXCOM members draw near the board, its order of battle,

            strike maps.  They're grim, but fascinated.  Empowering.

            Intoxicating⁸⁰.  Sexy.  Kenny sees it in the faces, even the

            President's.  Adlai does too, is upset.

 

                                ADLAI

                      I still think there are diplomatic

                      approaches we haven't considered yet.

 

            Kenny looks at Adlai.  The others around the room,

            embarrassed, don't respond.  The group has moved on and

            Stevenson hasn't.

 

                                GENERAL TAYLOR

                      We have high confidence in the expanded

                      air strike option.

                          (beat)

                      The problem, Mr. President, is that it's

                      a short-term solution.  Khruschev can

                      send more missiles next month.  The

                      Chiefs and I believe we should follow up

                      the air strikes with the full version of

                      OPLAN 316.

 

                                THE PRESIDENT

                      An invasion...

 

                                GENERAL TAYLOR

                      Yes, sir.  We can be sure we get all the

                      missiles, and we remove Castro so this

                      can never happen again.

 

            Kenny looks around the room at the men, the murmurs⁸¹ of

            general agreement, senses the consensus building and is

            agitated⁸².

 

                                THE PRESIDENT

                      Is this the Chiefs' recommendation?

 

                                GENERAL TAYLOR

                      Yes, sir.  Our best option is to

                      commence the strikes before the missiles

                      are operational.  The invasion happens

                      eight days later.

 

            The President leans back in his chair, turns to the man at

            the far end of the table: DEAN ACHESON, 60s, former Secretary

            of State.  He sits silent, like some revered⁸³ oracle⁸⁴, the

            architect of the American Cold War strategy of containment⁸⁵.

 

                                THE PRESIDENT

                      Dean.  What do you think?

 

            Acheson arches an eyebrow⁸⁶, and when he speaks, his voice

            resonates throughout the room, powerful, smooth, hypnotic.

 

                                ACHESON

                      Mr. President, you have rightly

                      dismissed the diplomatic option.  The

                      Soviet will only tie you down in

                      negotiation⁸⁷, and leave us short of our

                      goal, the removal of the missiles.

                      Negotiating will do nothing more than

                      give them time to make the missiles

                      operational, complicating⁸⁸ the necessary

                      military task we have at hand.

 

            Everyone in the room listens to him with rapt attention, his

            presence overshadowing the room, oracular:

 

                                ACHESON (CONT'D)

                      For the last fifteen years, I have

                      fought here at this table along side

                      your predecessors⁸⁹ in the struggle

                      against the Soviet.  Gentlemen, I do not

                      wish to seem melodramatic, but I do wish

                      to impress upon you one observation with

                      all conceivable sincerity⁹⁰.  A lesson I

                      have learned with bitter tears and great

                      sacrifice.

                          (beat)

                      The Soviet understands only one

                      language: action.  It respects only one

                      word: force.

 

            Kenny stares at the old man.  Acheson's gaze finds his

            through the cigarette smoke.  Acheson's eyes travel to the

            President.

 

                                ACHESON (CONT'D)

                      I concur⁹¹ with General Taylor.  I

                      recommend, sir, air strikes followed by

                      invasion, perhaps preceded by an

                      ultimatum⁹² to dismantle⁹³ the missiles if

                      military necessity permits.

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