影视剧本:13 DAYS-27
INT. COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE - STATE DEPARTMENT - NIGHT From a cluster of folding metal chairs, Kenny, Bobby, Rusk and Sorensen watch a TELETYPE hammer out the message as it comes off the wire. It's painfully slow, like watching a bad typist type a manuscript. Ten pages of this is an eternity. To top it off, it's in Russian. A TRANSLATOR reads it off, word by word to a TRANSCRIBER. TRANSLATOR ...two...of...us...pull...on...the... knot...of...war... INT. CABINET ROOM - NIGHT Kenny slams a page of Khruschev's letter on the table. He jabs his finger at it. EXCOM listens, intent. KENNY It's ten pages of sentimental fluff, but he's saying right here. He'll remove the missiles in return for a no-invasion pledge. It looks like Fomin's overture was genuine. The President turns to McCone. MCCONE Our early analysis says this was probably written by Khruschev himself. It's a first draft, and shows no signs of being polished by the foreign ministry. In fact, it probably hasn't been approved by the Politburo. They wouldn't have let the emotionalism go by. The analysts say it was written by someone under considerable stress. EXCOM chuckles. THE PRESIDENT Glad to hear we're not alone. The President eyes the EXCOM members one by one, an incipient smile on his face. THE PRESIDENT (CONT'D) Well, gentlemen, I wasn't planning on invading Cuba anyway. I think we can live with the terms of this deal. There are mostly nods of assent, big smiles around the table. Except from McCone and Taylor. The President takes his copy of the letter, flips through it. He shakes his head, almost unable to believe that Khruschev has given in. A long beat. THE PRESIDENT (CONT'D) Ted, I want you to draft our acceptance. EXT. O'DONNELL DRIVEWAY - NIGHT A long, black car stops at the end of Kenny's driveway. The door opens, and Kenny steps out. He says an inaudible goodnight to the driver, and the car pulls off. He turns, facing the white two-story house with the neat front yard, the lights out. And he smiles. Home at last. EXT. O'DONNELL PATIO - NIGHT A screen door squeaks open. Kenny steps out into the darkness of the back yard. And there, in her robe, sitting startled on a lawn chair, lit only by the dim glow of the kitchen window, is Helen. Kenny stands there tired, his coat slung over his shoulder. KENNY Hi. Helen rises, her own care-worn face turned to his. For a silent moment they gaze at each other, searching in the lines of each others' face for the changes of a long separation. They see them. But they've been married a long time, and the awkwardness passes. HELEN Hi, O'Donnell. You look old. Kenny drops his coat on a table as Helen comes up and folds herself into his arms. HELEN (CONT'D) This job's going to kill you. If I don't first. They kiss, comfortable. But not too long, and he lets her go. She looks at him again, sees he's suppressing a smile. HELEN (CONT'D) If you're home it means either Jack and Bobby have finally figured out what a con man you are and fired you, or -- KENNY -- we got a back channel communication from Khruschev this evening feeling us out about a deal. He confirmed it just a little while ago in a letter to the President. I think we've won. HELEN A thing like this... who could even think of winning? INT. HALL OUTSIDE KENNY'S OFFICE - DAY SUPER: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27TH. DAY 12. Kenny, in his overcoat, steps aside as a pair of Duty Officers race past him, almost bowling him over. He slows as he nears the doors to his office and the Oval Office, DISCOVERING: TOTAL CHAOS. EXCOM guys, Assistants, dart to and from the offices and halls. On all their faces grim expressions. Kenny stands there a beat in confusion. And then Bobby swings out of Kenny's office. There's a desperate edge to Bobby's voice. BOBBY Where've you been? We've been trying to find you all morning. KENNY Helen and I went out for breakfast. EXCOM's not supposed to convene til eight. BOBBY We just got a second letter from Khruschev. The deal's off. INT. HALL OUTSIDE CABINET ROOM - CONTINUOUS Kenny and Bobby walk fast for the cabinet room, Kenny still in his coat. BOBBY We're getting everyone together as fast as we can. KENNY What does the letter say? BOBBY They want us to take our missiles out of Turkey along with the no invasion pledge. It looks like Fomin was a ploy after all, and they were just stalling for time. Kenny is stunned. BOBBY (CONT'D) It gets worse. Kenny gives Bobby a sharp look as they enter -- INT. CABINET ROOM - CONTINUOUS The President, in shirtsleeves, no tie, glances up at Kenny as he and Bobby enter. Kenny can only bear his look for a second: he blew the call on Fomin. But the President is clearly relieved to see him, gives him a faint smile. Half of EXCOM, including McNamara, McCone, Rusk, and Taylor barely notice them as they're already there arguing. Kenny sits down hurriedly, shucks off his coat as he joins the conversation in mid-stream. MCCONE My specialists are in agreement: this morning's letter is not Khruschev. Last night's letter was. (beat) The evidence supports only one conclusion: there has been a coup, and Khruschev was replaced overnight. |