The Internet Movie Script Database (IMSDb)


The web's largest
movie script resource!

Search IMSDb

Alphabetical
# A B C D E F G H
I J K L M N O P Q
R S T U V W X Y Z

Genre
Action Adventure Animation
Comedy Crime Drama
Family Fantasy Film-Noir
Horror Musical Mystery
Romance Sci-Fi Short
Thriller War Western

Sponsor

TV Transcripts
Futurama
Seinfeld
South Park
Stargate SG-1
Lost
The 4400

International
French scripts

Latest Comments



ALL SCRIPTS



                              THE IDES OF MARCH


                                  Written by

                George Clooney, Grant Heslov & Beau Willimon




          INT. MIAMI UNIVERSITY - OXFORD OHIO - AUDITORIUM - DAY
                         
          Stephen Meyers, Press Secretary to Governor Morris is
          standing at a podium on a stage...there is a single spotlight
          on him. The rest of the stage is dark.
          Stephen is talking into a mic with no emotion...just matter
          of factly.
                          STEPHEN
           I am neither Christian...nor
           atheist. I am not Jewish or
           Muslim. What I believe...my
           religion is called the
           constitution...
          A pause.
          Stephen snaps his fingers in the mic. We hear the distinct
          sound of feedback getting louder until it stops.
                         
          We hear the director speak over the loud speaker.
                         
                          DIRECTOR
           Hang on...let me open these up....
          We wait as Stephen looks around. He looks at stage hands who
          are busy working. No one pays any attention to him as he
          stands there. This isn't awkward for Stephen, THIS IS
          ROUTINE.
                          DIRECTOR (CONT'D)
           Okay...
                         
          Lights come up on another podium revealing a debate stage.
          Stephen continues.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           I will defend till my dying breath
           your right to worship whatever god
           you believe in...
                         
          The lights on Stephen's podium go out, he's in the dark. He
          keeps going.
                          STEPHEN (CONT'D)
           If I'm not religious enough for
           you, don't vote for me.
          To the Director.
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           2.
                         CONTINUED:
                         
                          STEPHEN (CONT'D)
           You got it?
                         
          His podium light comes back on.
          No answer from the Director, Stephen continues.
                         
                          STEPHEN (CONT'D)
           If I'm not experienced enough don't
           vote for me. If I'm not...
                         
                          DIRECTOR
           Okay got it, thanks.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Thanks. We'll need these monitors
           turned up a bit...it's a big space
           and he wants to be able to hear.
                          STAGE MANAGER
           You got it.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Also we'll need these podiums put
           on a riser as we agreed to in the
           pre-conditions. You're a few
           inches short and it makes it harder
           for the Governor to read his notes.
                         
                          STAGE MANAGER
           No I know, we just got those specs
           last night and they're building a
           piece to go under...
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Great, thanks. See you guys in a
           few hours.
                         
          We see we're in an auditorium of a college.
          Stephen meets up with BEN HARPEN his staffer.
                         
                          BEN
           I didn't know the Governor had
           trouble reading his notes. Why
           doesn't he wear...
                          STEPHEN
           He doesn't but Pullman is 5'8"
           he'll look like a hobbit behind
           that podium.
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           3.
                         CONTINUED: (2)
                         
          They walk off...
                         
                          CUT TO:
                         
          EXT. MIAMI UNIVERSITY - OXFORD OHIO - DAY
          ROB BRAUN, a local Cincinnati anchor, talks to camera as we
          see STEPHEN and BEN exit the building. Under this we hear
          Rachel Maddow reporting.
                         
           RACHEL MADDOW (O.C.)
           Well it all comes down to this...We
           are one week away from the Ohio
           primary...
          Camera now moves past ROB to another news truck where an
          MSNBC REPORTER stands in front of a camera waiting to go
          live. There is a monitor in front of him.
          The camera keeps moving into the monitor where RACHEL MADDOW
          does the lead in.
                         
          As RACHEL's audio continues we see the following images.
                         
                          CUT TO:
          EXT. MIDDLE AMERICA
                         
          We cruise along a snow-covered rural landscape - flat, gray,
          desolate. In the distance we see a barn with huge red-white-
          and-blue letters painted on the side. They read "OHIO FOR
          MORRIS".
                         
           RACHEL MADDOW (O.S.)
           Two democrats are left standing.
           Senator Pullman of Arkansas who is
           trailing Governor Morris from
           Pennsylvania.
                         
          Moments later we roll past another farm with a large
          billboard staked into the ground beside the road: "PULLMAN -
          AMERICA'S FUTURE BEGINS ON MARCH 15th".
                         
          EXT. SUBURBAN STREET
                         
          We cut to canvassers - bundled to the hilt against the cold -
          knocking on doors in a suburban neighborhood. Yard signs for
          both candidates line the street.
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           4.
                         CONTINUED:
                         
           RACHEL MADDOW (O.S.)
           Governor Morris has mounted a
           sizable lead with 2047 delegates,
           winning New Hampshire, California,
           New York and Michigan...But Senator
           Pullman with 1302 delegates is
           still in the hunt having won
           Florida, Tennessee, Virginia and
           Missouri...
                         
          EXT. CITY INTERSECTION
                         
          Supporters at an intersection waving hand-made signs to cars:
          "HONK FOR MORRIS". A passing car lays on the horn and the
          supporters cheer.
           RACHEL MADDOW (O.S.)
           A win in Ohio could turn it all
           around for the Arkansas Senator...
                         
          CLOSE UP of a Pullman bumper sticker on an SUV at a
          stoplight, right next to a "My Child is an Honor Student"
          decal.
                         
           RACHEL MADDOW (O.S.) (CONT'D)
           So one week from Tuesday the all
           important hundred and eighty one
           Ohio delegates could be the
           deciding factor..
          EXT. HARDWARE STORE
                         
          A clerk placing a Morris sign in the store window. In the
          shop next door various TV's are in a window display. We see
          RACHEL MADDOW'S report on them.
           RACHEL MADDOW (O.S.)
           And once again the old adage is
           true..."As goes Ohio, so goes the
           Nation."
                          CUT TO:
                         
          EXT. MIAMI UNIVERSITY - OXFORD OHIO - AFTERNOON
                         
          We see Satellite trucks, press vehicles, police cars, etc.
          At a catering truck, MOLLY STEARNS, a 19 year old intern
          grabs a tray of coffees and a box of doughnuts.
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           5.
                         CONTINUED:
                         
          We stay on her as she runs across the street and through a
          door...
                         
                          CUT TO:
          INT. MIAMI UNIVERSITY - RAPID RESPONSE ROOM - CONTINUOUS
                         
          MOLLY enters and we follow her through the campaign war room,
          it's the size of a coffin, jammed to the hilt with twenty-
          something staffers manning laptops.
                         
          We're in the hustle and bustle of a live telecast. We see
          multiple angles of the telecast...
                         
                          SENATOR PULLMAN
           Would you call yourself a
           Christian?
           GOV. MORRIS
           How would that matter?
                         
                          SENATOR PULLMAN
                          (READING)
           "I have no idea what happens when
           we die, maybe nothing...maybe it
           was like before we were born." You
           did write this Governor...
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           Then let me try and clarify...I was
           raised Catholic, I am not a
           practicing Catholic...I have no
           idea what happens when you die and
           if the Senator does, then perhaps
           he should be President. I'll even
           vote for him.
                         
          The audience laughs.
                         
                          SENATOR PULLMAN
           Is that your idea of being
           specific?
                         
          MOLLY passes out coffee.
                         
                          CUT TO:
          INT. MIAMI UNIVERSITY - AUDITORIUM - CONTINUOUS
          We're now live inside the debate.
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           6.
                         CONTINUED:
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           Let me be more specific. I am
           neither a Christian, nor an
           atheist, I'm not Jewish or
           Muslim...what I believe...my
           religion is written on a piece of
           parchment called the Constitution.
           Meaning I will defend, till my
           dying breath, your right to
           worship, in whatever God or lack
           thereof you believe in, as long as
           it doesn't hurt others. I believe
           we should be judged as a government
           by how we take care of those who
           can't take care of themselves.
           That's my religion. If you feel
           that I'm not religious enough, then
           don't vote for me. If you feel I'm
           not experienced enough or tall
           enough then don't vote for me.
           Because I'm not going to change
           those to get elected.
                         
                          SENATOR PULLMAN
           I just wanted you to say out loud
           if you believed in the teachings of
           the Bible.
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           Is this a Democratic primary or a
           general election?
                         
          People laugh.
                         
           SENATOR PULLMAN (ON MONITOR)
           Well Governor, whoever wins this
           contest will be running for
           President...and if you don't think
           that these questions won't be
           central in a general election then
           you are living in fantasy land. I
           applaud your honesty Governor, I
           do...I'm simply pointing to what is
           obvious...we are running for
           President of the United
           States...not for student council
           president.
                         
          INT. MIAMI UNIVERSITY - BACKSTAGE - CONTINUOUS
          PAUL ZARA - Morris's campaign manager - is waiting in the
          wings off stage. STEPHEN sidles up next to him.
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           7.
                         CONTINUED:
                         
          In the background we can see the candidates shaking hands.
          There is applause.
                         
          PAUL is pushing fifty with the grizzled look of a hardened
          campaign veteran. He's Stephen's boss, the only guy between
          him and Governor Morris.
                         
          Arms crossed, they watch their man on stage.
                          PAUL
           A double?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           A double.
                          PAUL
           Fucking national security.
          The GOVERNOR looks off stage to PAUL and STEPHEN for
          approval.
                         
                          PAUL (CONT'D)
           Outta the park.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Home run.
          We hear the announcer thanking everyone for attending the
          debate.
          TOM DUFFY - campaign manager of the rival Pullman Campaign -
          is also watching from the wings. Duffy's smooth, calculated
          and icy. He walks over to Stephen and Paul.
                         
                          DUFFY
           I'm trying to remember if the
           democrats ever nominated an atheist
           before...
                         
                          PAUL
           Well, we know they've nominated
           jackasses before.
                         
                          DUFFY
                          (TO STEPHEN)
           Must've been you that did the prep
           work. Paul's not that clever.
                         
                          PAUL
           You always had the brains Duffy,
           but me - I always had the balls.
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           8.
                         CONTINUED: (2)
                         
                          DUFFY
           (nodding to Stephen)
           Looks like you got some brains now
           too. Be careful. I just might
           have to steal him from you.
          Duffy walks off to greet Senator Pullman as he makes his way
          to the wings. Paul and Stephen eye him as he goes.
                          PAUL
           What a prick.
                         
                          CUT TO:
                         
          INT. CINCINNATI RAMADA INN - THE BAR - NIGHT
          Stephen, Paul, Ida, and Ben are having drinks around a table.
          The mood is festive. There is a piano player playing,
          singing.
                         
          PAUL has a roll-away suitcase beside him.
                         
                          IDA
           So Paul, tell me something I don't
           know...tell me what's gonna happen
           on the 15th.
                          PAUL
           Ha-ha.
                          IDA
           What?
                         
                          PAUL
           What do you think Stevie?
                          STEPHEN
           It's ours for the taking.
                         
                          PAUL
           Ben?
                         
                          BEN
           We'll win.
                         
                          PAUL
           What do you think Ida?
                         
                          IDA
           I'm asking you.
                         
                          PAUL
           You tell me and I'll tell you.
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           9.
                         CONTINUED:
                         
                          IDA
           If had to say, I'd say it'll be
           close, but you'll eke it out.
                         
                          PAUL
           Eke?
                         
          To STEPHEN.
                          PAUL (CONT'D)
           You see, she's trying to get under
           my skin.
                         
                          IDA
           So what's gonna happen?
                          PAUL
           Us by nine.
                          IDA
           Nine? There's no way you'll win by
           nine.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           At least. Maybe more.
                          IDA
           (To PAUL) So you're certain you're
           gonna win here?
                          PAUL
           Certain? No. Confident? Yes.
                         
                          IDA
           You just said you'll win by nine.
                          PAUL
           And I think we will, but I won't
           tell you it's a sure thing. Fucking
           Saint Gabriel can blow his horn on
           election day and get his four
           horseman to rig the ballot boxes
           for Pullman and it wouldn't
           surprise me. Don't get me wrong.
           Six presidentials I've done and
           I've never felt this good. But am I
           gonna sit here and say "Yes -we
           will definitely win Ohio"? Not a
           chance. In the last thirty years
           seventy-three Democrats have run
           for president. How many have won?
           Three.
                          (MORE)
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           10.
                         CONTINUED: (2)
                          PAUL (CONT'D)
           That means seventy guys ran who
           thought they had a chance, and they
           all lost.
                         
                          IDA
           So you're saying there's a good
           chance you won't win.
                         
                          PAUL
           Don't twist my words. What I'm
           saying is that I'm not going to
           promise we'll win. But he's
           decorated by Bush Senior from the
           first Gulf war and protested the
           second. He left his state with a
           balanced budget and the fourth
           highest education rate. The
           Republicans have nobody out there
           that can touch this guy...so for
           this moment, this election, this
           primary is the presidential. And
           that Ida, is the state of the
           union. And on that note, I'm gonna
           take a shit.
          PAUL swigs down the rest of his drink and exits.
                         
                          IDA
           So Stephen...
                          STEPHEN
           Yes Ida?
                         
                          IDA
           Stephen, Stephen, Stephen....
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Here it comes...hit me.
                         
                          IDA
           Paul's going to the airport?
                          STEPHEN
           Yes?
                          IDA
           Getting on a plane.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Mmhmm.
                          IDA
           Where is that plane going?
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           11.
                         CONTINUED: (3)
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Three guesses.
                         
                          IDA
           Not going back to headquarters.
                          STEPHEN
           Correct.
                          IDA
           He's not going to Texas?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           No need, we'll split Texas, it's a
           wash.
                          IDA
           What if I said North Carolina?
                          STEPHEN
           That's your guess?
                         
                          IDA
           He's going to North Carolina.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           I will neither confirm nor deny
           that statement.
                         
                          IDA
           I knew it. Now tell me why.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           That I cannot do.
                          IDA
           I hate you.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           You love me.
                          IDA
           I love Paul. You I hate.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           You only love him because he gives
           you all the scoops.
                         
                          IDA
           Sexual favors?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           You're engaged.
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           12.
                         CONTINUED: (4)
                         
                          IDA
           If it meant a good scoop my fiance
           would understand.
                         
          Beat.
                          IDA (CONT'D)
           You really buy into all this crap?
           All this take back the country
           nonsense?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Ida I'm not naive about this stuff.
           I've worked on more campaigns than
           most people do by the time they're
           forty...I'm telling you this is the
           one.
                          IDA
           You really have drunk the kool-aid.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           I have drunk it it's delicious.
           I don't care whether he leads in
           the polls...I don't care whether he
           has all the tools...Because the
           truth is, he's the only one that's
           going to make a difference in
           peoples lives...Even the people
           that hate him. If Mike Morris is
           President it says more about us
           than it does about him. I don't
           give a fuck if he can win. He has
           to win.
                         
                          IDA
           Or what? The world will fall
           apart? It won't matter...Not one
           bit to the everyday lives of
           everyday fuckers who work and eat
           and sleep and get up and go back to
           work again. If your boy wins...You
           get a job in the white house...If
           he loses you're back at a
           consulting firm on K
           Street...That's it. You used to
           know that before you got all
           goosebumpy about this guy. Morris
           is a politician...He's a nice
           guy...They're all nice guys.
                          (MORE)
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           13.
                         CONTINUED: (5)
                          IDA (CONT'D)
           He will let you down...sooner or
           later.
                         
                          CUT TO:
          EXT. RAMADA INN SIDEWALK - LATER
                         
          IDA and PAUL walk to Ida's car.
                          PAUL
           This is off off off the record.
                         
                          IDA
           What?
                          PAUL
           Franklin Thompson.
                          IDA
           Seriously?
                         
                          PAUL
           Off the record. The only people who
           know are the Governor, Stephen and
           me.
                          IDA
           My lips are sealed.
                         
                          PAUL
           I have a meeting tomorrow at
           Thompson's house.
                         
                          IDA
           He's gonna endorse?
                          PAUL
           After I'm done talking with him,
           what do you think?
                          IDA
           That's huge.
                         
                          PAUL
           It's more than huge. He has 356
           pledged delegates...they all travel
           with him. That puts us over the
           top.
                          IDA
           He's said publicly he's not gonna
           endorse anyone.
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           14.
                         CONTINUED:
                         
                          PAUL
           That's what they all say until we
           get them alone in a room.
                         
                          IDA
           So this is for real?
                         
                          PAUL
           Yup. It's just about in the bag.
                         
                          IDA
           When are you gonna announce?
                         
                          PAUL
           Nope. That's all you get for now.
                          CUT TO:
          EXT. MORRIS HEADQUARTERS - CINCINNATI - NEXT DAY
                         
          Establishing shot.
                         
          INT. MORRIS HEADQUARTERS - CINCINNATI - NEXT DAY
                         
          Ben walks around to all the staffers, he hands out new cell
          phones.
                          BEN
           Okay so listen up...these are your
           new cell phones...Shelly has pre-
           programmed everyone's numbers
           in...thank you Shelly...no personal
           calls...if you lose them, Paul has
           authorized me to kill you.
          Ben walks into Stephen's office and hands him his new phone.
                         
                          BEN (CONT'D)
           New phones...
                          STEPHEN
           I'll get it in a bit...
                         
          As Ben leaves, we see that Stephen is looking at early
          footage of Governor Morris. Another staffer and an editor
          are watching it with him. Outside the office we can see
          other staffers, through the glass partitions, running around
          in campaign mode.
          We see some of the footage.
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           15.
                         CONTINUED:
                         
           GOV MORRIS (ON MONITOR)
           The economy...health care...I've
           got to believe we can do it. We
           have enemies...we have to
           understand why our enemies are our
           enemies, and see if there is
           something we can do about that
           besides using force. What we know
           from history is the answer to
           extremism is not extremism.
           Whoever is the next president,
           whoever steps up, has got a lot of
           work to do, but you have a little
           work to do yourself.
          Stephen hits pause.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Fucking kill me...where did we get
           this?
                         
                          EDITOR
           Before he announced at a town hall
           meeting in Pennsylvania...
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Thank God it wasn't overseas. Just
           get rid of it -
                         
                          EDITOR
           It plays to his base, if-
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Are you fucking stoned...this is
           the same...the exact same piece the
           Republicans are gonna run against
           him in the general...we don't need
           to brag about it...Hi I'm Neville
           Chamberlain and I want to be your
           commander in chief.
                          EDITOR
           If it's gonna come out-
                         
                          STEPHEN
           It's gonna come out but not paid
           for by us pal. (To Staffer) Any
           truth on whether Pullman had
           investments in those diamond mines
           in Liberia?
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           16.
                         CONTINUED: (2)
                         
                          STAFFER 1
           We're still checking...it was a
           blog so who the fuck knows...
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Doesn't matter I want to hear him
           denying it. If it's true, find
           out, if it's not, let them spend
           the next day telling the post that
           he doesn't own a diamond mine in
           Liberia...win win.
                         
                          STAFFER 1
           Okay.
                          STEPHEN
           We need to counter this Christian
           shit we're taking from last
           night...so get going...Where's our
           cut on the new thirty and a sixty
           second spots? We'll show it to him
           this afternoon in the staff
           meeting.
                         
                          EDITOR
           Got it.
          The Editor and staffer exit.
                         
          Stephen turns to his computer and types as Molly walks in and
          hands him some papers.
                         
                          MOLLY
           Ben wanted me to get you to sign
           off on this before the staff
           meeting.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Oh, right. Thanks. I've been
           waiting for this.
                          MOLLY
           Anything interesting?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Just some white paper I gotta pass
           out tonight.
                         
                          MOLLY
           White paper?
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           17.
                         CONTINUED: (3)
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Negative shit. Our oppo guys do
           research - we feed it to the press,
           hope they bite.
                          MOLLY
           So like what sort of negative
           stuff?
                          STEPHEN
           Read tomorrow's paper and you'll
           see.
                         
                          MOLLY
           Which paper?
                          STEPHEN
           All of them.
                          MOLLY
           So it's something big?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           I wish it were something bigger
           actually. Just some transportation
           numbers. I'll have to spin this
           shit pretty heavy if we want it to
           stick.
                         
                          MOLLY
           Well that's what you're good at,
           right?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           I guess.
                          MOLLY
           (Holding up her phone)
           Did you get your phone?
                          STEPHEN
           (Holds his up)
           Just now.
                         
                          MOLLY
                          (MOCK SERIOUS)
           It's exciting isn't it?
                         
          He looks at her.
                          STEPHEN
           You a Bearcat...?
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           18.
                         CONTINUED: (4)
                         
                          MOLLY
           A what?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           A Cincinnati Bearcat?
                          MOLLY
           Oh no...I'm not from here...I
           worked with you in Iowa actually.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Oh that's right...but you changed
           something. (Searching for a way
           out.)
                          MOLLY
           My hair?
                          STEPHEN
           You changed your hair.
                         
                          MOLLY
                          (ENJOYING THIS)
           No..
                         
                          STEPHEN
           I must look like a total dumb ass
           right now.
                         
                          MOLLY
           Not at all...you're the big man on
           campus...I'm just a lowly intern.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Come on it's not like that.
                          MOLLY
           Sure it is...you get to stay at the
           Millennium, they put us into a
           motel on the other side of the
           river.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           You're right, I am big man on
           campus.
                          MOLLY
           Now you're starting to see.
          She starts to leave.
                         
                          MOLLY (CONT'D)
           We do have the better bar though.
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           19.
                         CONTINUED: (5)
                         
                          STEPHEN
           I heard that.
                         
                          MOLLY
           You ought to stop by one night and
           have a drink with the worker bees.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Maybe I will...when's a good night?
                         
                          MOLLY
           Tonight's good...
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Really? Tuesday?
                          MOLLY
           Yeah it's quiet.
                          STEPHEN
           Quiet's good.
                         
                          MOLLY
           Well you have my number.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           I do?
                         
                          MOLLY
           Programmed right there in your
           phone.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Oh...right...(He opens the phone)
                          MOLLY
           Under Mary.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           (Looking at the phone)
           Yup...Mary.
                         
          Molly laughs. Then, as she exits:
                         
                          MOLLY
           Molly...my name's Molly...
          Stephen smiles to himself.
                          CUT TO:
           20.
                         
                         
          INT. SENATOR THOMPSON'S HOUSE - CHARLOTTE N.C. - DAY
                         
          We follow a housekeeper down the hallway and into the living
          room where we see Paul sitting with, Senator Thompson.
                          SENATOR THOMPSON
           That's what I'm hearing...since
           Super Tuesday I'm a very popular
           guy. What are your polls telling
           you?
                         
                          PAUL
           That Pullman's negatives are
           high...mid forties. Senator we
           have an open seat in the White
           House and the Republicans don't
           have dick. They're disorganized
           and they can't find a nominee that
           isn't a world class fuck up. They
           look like Democrats. No Republican
           is gonna show up to vote for their
           guy. But if Pullman gets the
           Democratic nod they'll show up to
           vote against him.
                         
                          SENATOR THOMPSON
           And so you think they won't for
           your guy...you think Morris gets
           into the independents?
                          PAUL
           I sure do. Senator...I'm a bit
           confused...we need your
           delegates...we need you...your fund
           raising. It was my understanding
           that...your endorsement a week
           before Ohio...would win this for
           us...
                         
                          SENATOR THOMPSON
           (Looks to his aide)
           Estella...hand me that ice bucket.
                         
                          CUT TO:
                         
          INT. MORRIS HEADQUARTERS - CINCINNATI - SAME DAY
          We're in a staff meeting with the brain trust. Paul's gone
          but the rest are there...STEPHEN, BEN, GOVERNOR MORRIS.
          MOLLY is running in and out, she gets glances from all the
          guys.
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           21.
                         CONTINUED:
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Paul knows...Paul agrees...
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           Ben, where's my op ed on national
           service? It's better for me to
           work off of that.
                         
                          BEN
           Got it right here. (He opens his
           laptop.)
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           Get me a hard copy...I hate these
           fucking things...
                          STEPHEN
           Print it out.
                          BEN
           I'll get it printed.
           Molly, I'm printing out this op
           ed...can you grab it off the
           printer?
                         
                          MOLLY
           Be right back.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Governor...if you want to
           change...or lets call it refresh...
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           Just give me a second...
                          STEPHEN
           National service isn't polling like
           the rest of your domestic policy.
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           I don't give a shit about
           polling...I'm not going to play
           this game with you Stephen...and if
           this is your good cop bad cop act
           with Paul...
                          STEPHEN
           Good cop, good cop.
           GOV. MORRIS
           I'm not changing it.
                         
          MOLLY returns and hands the Governor a copy.
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           22.
                         CONTINUED: (2)
                         
           GOV. MORRIS (CONT'D)
           Hang on.
                         
          He reads down until he finds what he's looking for.
           GOV. MORRIS (CONT'D)
           Yeah I said it all here, "It's
           going to help people get an
           education...it's going to create
           national unity...it's going to
           teach young people a trade...and
           it's going to help get people out
           of debt from college loans. Tell
           me where that fails.
                          STEPHEN
           All of that is exactly
           right...Governor if you're going to
           do it...then do it. Don't make it
           voluntary...mandatory.
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           That'll poll well.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Mandatory!...everyone who graduates
           high school or turns eighteen,
           gives two years to his or her
           country. Military...peace
           corps...plant fucking trees, I
           don't care...and for that...their
           college education is paid
           for...period.
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           We do all of that now, with this...
                         
                          STEPHEN
           No sir you don't...do it all...all
           the way. Mandatory.
           GOV. MORRIS
           Paul likes this?...you guys are my
           brain trust.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           And here's the beauty of
           it...everyone who is older than
           eighteen and past the age of
           eligibility, would be for
           it...create national pride...give
           all the kids an education.
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           23.
                         CONTINUED: (3)
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           And all the others?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Can't vote. Too young.
          This sits with them. Some start to smile.
                         
                          STEPHEN (CONT'D)
           You can't lose.
                         
          MOLLY enters.
                         
                          MOLLY
           Stephen you have a call on three,
           your dad.
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           Okay, you and Ben work it into the
           stump speech - get me a hard copy
           and I'll write it in my own words.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Remember, Governor... you have a
           six o'clock with Charlie Rose...
           GOV. MORRIS
           Why am I doing him?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           It's long form... he's flying in...
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           Is Paul going?
                          STEPHEN
           No, he won't be back... Ben and I
           are taking you...
                         
          He exits.
                          CUT TO:
                         
          INT. STEPHEN'S OFFICE / INT. DUFFY'S OFFICE CONTINUOUS
                         
          STEPHEN picks up the receiver and pushes line three.
                          STEPHEN
           ...Don't tell me anyone's died...
                          DUFFY
           Hey Stephen...
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           24.
                         CONTINUED:
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Who is this?
                         
                          DUFFY
           Tom Duffy...sorry about the dad
           bit...but I didn't think you'd want
           my name yelled out at a Morris
           campaign office.
          STEPHEN gets up and closes the door.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           What do you want?
                         
                          DUFFY
           You got a couple of minutes...I'd
           like to sit down with you.
                          STEPHEN
           What for?
                         
                          DUFFY
           I think it's important.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           If it's important shouldn't you be
           calling Paul?
                         
                          DUFFY
           I'm calling you...This is all on
           the up and up...just give me five
           minutes.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           I can't be talking to you...
                          DUFFY
           I hear you...but if you get five
           minutes...I'll be at the Heads
           First Sports Bar for the next
           couple of hours.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           I can't Tom.
                         
                          DUFFY
           There won't be anybody there...if
           you get a chance there's something
           I want to show you.
          DUFFY hangs up. STEPHEN sits for a few beats. He picks up
          his cell phone and dials...it goes straight to voice mail.
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           25.
                         CONTINUED: (2)
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Paul, listen, call me as soon as
           you can...it's important.
                         
          STEPHEN hangs up the phone and we stay with him.
                          CUT TO:
                         
          INT. STEPHEN'S RENTAL CAR - OUTSIDE HEAD FIRST SPORTS
          BAR - LATER
                         
          STEPHEN sits in the car, he watches the door of the bar
          making sure no one is around.
                         
                          CUT TO:
          INT. HEAD FIRST SPORTS BAR - CINCINNATI - LATER
          We're in a run-down bar in Cincinnati. The furniture is
          shabby - Formica tables, cheap metal framed chairs. The place
          is desolate except for TOM and STEPHEN who sit at the bar.
                         
                          DUFFY
           You're working for the wrong man.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           You're working for the wrong man.
                         
                          DUFFY
           Oh on the contrary you are working
           for the wrong man. You've got
           something the other guys don't
           have.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Yeah?
                         
                          DUFFY
           Yeah, what is it exactly? Charm
           isn't the right word. It's more
           than that. You exude something. You
           draw people in. All the reporters
           love you. Even the ones that hate
           you love you. You play them all
           like they're pieces on a chess
           board. And you make it look
           effortless. We both know how much
           work it takes, constantly being on
           guard, weighing every word so
           carefully, every move. But from the
           outside, you make it look easy.
                          (MORE)
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           26.
                         CONTINUED:
                          DUFFY (CONT'D)
           People are scared of you because
           they don't understand how you do
           it, and they love you for it.
           There's nothing more valuable in
           this business - the ability to win
           people's respect by making them
           mistake their fear for love. You
           can guess what I'm gonna say next.
                          STEPHEN
           No...I don't think I can.
                         
                          DUFFY
           I want you to work for us.
                          STEPHEN
           You gotta be kidding me.
                          DUFFY
           Not in the least.
                         
          Beat.
           You are going to lose Ohio.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           I am not.
                          DUFFY
           You're sitting on about a six
           percent lead in both polls...six
           percent of the Democrats polled.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Eight.
                          DUFFY
           Six...but that doesn't
           matter...Independents and
           Republicans can vote for the
           Democratic candidate.
                          STEPHEN
           You think they like your guy?...pro
           choice...tax and spend liberal?
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           27.
                         CONTINUED: (2)
                         
                          DUFFY
           Fuck no they hate him...they
           think they can beat my guy...but
           they're worried about yours...so
           starting tomorrow morning you're
           gonna see a fucking blitz...Rush
           Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, all the
           right wing blogs are gonna start a
           "Get out the vote campaign"...it's
           already started...every fucking
           conservative in Ohio is gonna stand
           in line and punch my guys
           ticket...that's just one of the
           steps...Ohio is gone...the polls
           don't mean shit...tomorrow morning
           everyone will know...that's why I
           want you to handle the fallout
           we'll take in the press...
          They look at each other.
                         
                          DUFFY (CONT'D)
           And by the way...we've got Thompson
           in the bag.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           I know for a fact that Thompson is
           going with us.
                         
                          DUFFY
           We promised him Secretary of State,
           Ohio is over...it's been over for
           weeks...and with Thompson's
           delegates...I'm thinking down the
           road now...that's why I want
           you...I'll bring you in straight at
           the top.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           I can't do it.
                          DUFFY
           I'm not asking for an answer right
           this moment.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           I've played dirty but I don't have
           to play dirty anymore...you know
           why? Cause I got Morris!
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           28.
                         CONTINUED: (3)
                         
                          DUFFY
           None of this is about the
           democratic process Steve, It's
           about getting your guy into office.
           Simple as that.
                          STEPHEN
           This is the sort of shit the
           Republicans pull.
                         
                          DUFFY
           You're right, this is exactly what
           the Republicans do, and it's about
           time we learned from them. They're
           meaner, tougher and more
           disciplined than we are. I've been
           in this business for twenty five
           years and I've seen way too many
           Democrats bite the dust because
           they wouldn't get down in the mud
           with the fucking elephants.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Paul's a friend.
                         
                          DUFFY
           Do you want to work for a friend or
           do you want to work for the
           President? Think about it...you
           have my number.
          Duffy gets up and leaves.
                         
                          CUT TO:
          EXT HEAD FIRST SPORTS BAR / PAUL'S RENTAL CAR /
                         RESIDENTIAL STREET
                         
          STEPHEN walks to his car. He dials PAUL on his phone. Paul
          is in North Carolina driving.
          We intercut.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Paul.
           PAUL (O.S.)
           They don't make quaaludes any more
           do they?
                          STEPHEN
           Not that I know of. What's going
           on with Thompson?
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           29.
                         CONTINUED:
                         
           PAUL (O.S.)
           He wants something but we'll be
           fine... So what's so important?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           It's nothing...never mind.
                         
           PAUL (O.S.)
           Allright...I'm on the cell if you
           need me. I fly to DC tomorrow and
           back tomorrow night.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Yeah okay...I'll look for
           quaaludes.
           PAUL (O.S.)
           Good man.
          STEPHEN ends the call. He stands in silence.
                         
                          CUT TO:
                         
          INT. HOTEL ROOM - CINCINNATI - NIGHT
                         
          We're in the bathroom of a hotel room. GOVERNOR MORRIS is
          being made up for the Charlie Rose Show. A SECRET SERVICE
          AGENT stands in the adjoining room. The GOVERNOR talks to
          the MAKE-UP LADY while STEPHEN and BEN stand in the adjoining
          room as well.
                          STEPHEN
                          (TO BEN)
           Just get online and see if there's
           any chatter on the blogs...
                          BEN
           What kind of chatter? There's
           always chatter.
                          STEPHEN
           I don't know... just see what
           they're talking about.
                         
                          BEN
           Give me a second...
          He sets his laptop down and starts typing.
          The Governor, who's been talking the whole time, yells out
          through the door.
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           30.
                         CONTINUED:
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           Stephen... you're still single,
           right?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           I'm married to the campaign,
           Governor.
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           Good answer.
           (to the make-up girl)
           He's married to the campaign...
                         
                          BEN
           (looking at his computer)
           Wall Street Journal poll has our
           numbers holding steady and Pullman
           dropped a point.
                          STEPHEN
           Really? When did they do that?
           Governor... Wall Street Journal
           numbers are in... and Pullman's
           down a point.
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           Now we're moving in the right
           direction. Ben, are you still
           single?
                          BEN
           I'm married to the campaign,
           Governor.
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           (to the make-up girl)
           Crack team.
                         
          The GOVERNOR starts to sing "The Best Is Yet To Come".
                          STEPHEN
                          (TO BEN)
           Make sure Charlie Rose has these
           latest numbers before he goes on...
                         
                          BEN
                          (JUMPS UP)
           I'm on it.
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           31.
                         CONTINUED: (2)
                         
                          STEPHEN
           And get a copy of the show before
           we leave...
                         
           HARD CUT TO:
          INT. HOTEL CONFERENCE ROOM - MINUTES LATER
                         
          The room has been transformed into an interview space.
                         
                         ON AIR-
                         
          CHARLIE ROSE and GOV. MORRIS mid-interview...
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           Is it a difficult decision? I
           would have to believe that it is...
           would I do it? No... but I can't
           see myself... or anyone...
           certainly not a government, telling
           a woman what she can do with her
           body.
                         
                          CHARLIE ROSE
           So you would appoint a judge to...
           GOV. MORRIS
           ... I would consider it arrogant to
           judge someone until I've walked in
           their shoes.
                          CHARLIE ROSE
           But you're against the death
           penalty?
           GOV. MORRIS
           Yes. Because of what it says about
           us as a society.
                         
                          CHARLIE ROSE
           Suppose Governor it was your
           wife...
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           And she was murdered, what would I
           do.
                          CHARLIE ROSE
           It gets more complicated when it's
           personal.
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           32.
                          CONTINUED:
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           Sure...well if I could get to him
           I'd find a way to kill him.
                         
                          CHARLIE ROSE
           So you, you Governor would impose
           the death penalty.
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           No, I would commit a crime for
           which I would happily go to jail.
                         
                          CHARLIE ROSE
           Then why not let society do that?
           GOV. MORRIS
           Because society has to be better
           than the individual. If I were to
           do that I would be wrong.
                         
                          CHARLIE ROSE
           And what about guns?
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           Isn't it time for a commercial.
           They laugh.
                         
                          CHARLIE ROSE
           This is public TV, we don't have
           commercials...
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           That's unfortunate.
                         
                         25 CUT TO: 25
           INT. MOTEL - KENTUCKY - NIGHT
                         
           We're in Kentucky, just over the Ohio River from Cincinnati.
           This is where all the interns stay.
                         
           In the hotel bar, Stephen and Molly are sitting at a back
           table, they've both been drinking hard.
                          STEPHEN
           Where'd you go after Iowa?
                          MOLLY
           California for Super Tuesday.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           I had to go to New York.
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           33.
                         CONTINUED:
                         
                          MOLLY
           I know...you guys needed a lot more
           help over there.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Yeah. So why politics?
                         
                          MOLLY
           Because the pay is so good.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           It just seems like an odd fit.
                         
                          MOLLY
           My dad is Jack Stearns.
          Beat.
                          STEPHEN
           He's a good guy.
                         
                          MOLLY
           He's an asshole but he's your boss.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           He's not my boss. He's the head of
           the DNC.
                         
                          MOLLY
           You don't work for the Democratic
           National Committee?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           I work for Paul, Paul works for
           Morris and if Morris wins, he's
           going to be your dad's boss.
                         
                          MOLLY
           Don't tell my dad that.
                          STEPHEN
           Don't tell your dad a lot of
           things.
                         
                          MOLLY
           Never.
                          STEPHEN
           What time do you start tomorrow?
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           34.
                         CONTINUED: (2)
                         
                          MOLLY
           Nine AM...I'm showing the new
           interns how to robo call...you
           see...I'm the experienced intern.
                          STEPHEN
           I do see...
                         
                          MOLLY
           How old are you?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           How old do you think I am?
                         
                          MOLLY
           Thirty?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           You think I'm thirty?
                         
                          MOLLY
           I'm sorry, how old are you?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Thirty...how old are you?
                          MOLLY
           How old do you think I am?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Twenty one?
                         
                          MOLLY
           Twenty.
                          STEPHEN
           That's young.
                         
                          MOLLY
           Too young to fuck a thirty year
           old?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           See laws are different in different
           states. Here in your hotel, in
           Kentucky...it's frowned upon...but
           we'll go across the bridge into
           Ohio...
                          MOLLY
           Where your hotel is?
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           35.
                         CONTINUED: (3)
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Yeah surprisingly they're very lax
           about their child endangerment
           laws...
                          MOLLY
           You have a car? I don't drive.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           I took a cab.
                         
                          MOLLY
           I have the keys to the campaign
           bus...
          On their smiles
                         
                          CUT TO:
          EXT. MILLENNIUM HOTEL - CINCINNATI - MINUTES LATER
                         
          The Morris campaign bus is parked badly, a tire up on the
          curb in front of the hotel.
                         
          INT. MILLENNIUM HOTEL - STEPHENS'S ROOM - EARLY MORNING
          STEPHEN is on his cell phone, he paces back and forth in
          front of the TV - A news show in on.
                         
          MOLLY is in bed - sheets pulled up around her, she's just
          waking up.
                         
           CHRIS MATTHEWS (ON TV)
           In fairness, this has been tried
           before...Operation Chaos, as Rush
           Limbaugh called it, where
           Republicans voted for a Democrat
           they thought they could beat in the
           general election. We asked Senator
           Pullman's campaign manager if this
           sudden right wing support is
           welcome...
                         
          Cut to a pre-tape with DUFFY.
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           36.
                         CONTINUED:
                         
           DUFFY (O.S.)
           Is it decisive?...Of Course
           not...look, we believe that the
           polls are within the margin of
           error and that the Senator will win
           Ohio...with Ohio Democrats...I
           can't really see Republicans
           showing up to vote for our
           candidate...having said that, we'll
           take all the support we can get.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           (On the phone)
           What time does Paul land?...
           Christ...who do we talk to about
           polling?...no...I just...I just
           need to get some internal polling
           on the fucking Independents and the
           right-wing nuts.
                         
                          MOLLY
           Do you want me to go?
                         
          He gestures for her to wait.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Listen, put me on the line
           with...what's the guy's name at the
           Wall Street Journal?... yeah...
                          MOLLY
           You seem busy...I should go.
                         
          He whispers to her.
                          STEPHEN
           Wait.
                         
          Back to phone.
                          STEPHEN (CONT'D)
           Right...Adler...get me on the line
           with him.
                         
                          MOLLY
           Steve?
          She starts to get dressed.
                          STEPHEN
           Molly listen, just give me a
           second...I want to talk to you
           about something.
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           37.
                         CONTINUED: (2)
                         
                          MOLLY
           We can talk about it later if...
                         
          Stephen holds his finger up.
                          STEPHEN
                          (INTO PHONE)
           What? No nobody...just the cleaning
           lady...listen Ben...keep trying
           till you get him. We're gonna go
           with the position that we've always
           said, the race is closer than the
           polling...right...no don't...don't
           say that...just get him on the line
           and call me...I'll handle it...yup.
          He hangs up.
                          STEPHEN (CONT'D)
           Sorry about that.
                         
                          MOLLY
           The cleaning lady.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           What?
                          MOLLY
           You called me the cleaning lady.
                          STEPHEN
           You're not mad about that are you?
                         
                          MOLLY
           No why would I be mad?
          Beat.
                         
          MOLLY looks at the TV.
                          MOLLY (CONT'D)
           Look.
                         
          STEPHEN'S eyes go to the TV where CHRIS is still talking.
                         
                          CHRIS MATHEWS
           Earlier I spoke with Jack Stearns,
           head of the DNC, and he had this to
           say...
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           38.
                         CONTINUED: (3)
                         
                          JACK STEARNS
           I know you're looking for a
           reaction, but listen we have two
           great candidates in a very tight
           race...and at the end of the day
           the voters will decide who best can
           represent this party in the fall.
                         
                          CHRIS MATHEWS
           I understand Jack - but doesn't
           this kind of disruption take away
           from what you want to be pushing
           this year?
                         
          Back to STEPHEN
                          STEPHEN
           Your dad is an asshole.
                         
                          MOLLY
           I'll tell him you said that.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Do that.
                          MOLLY
           You said you wanted to talk to me
           about something?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Yeah, I just wanted...I just wanted
           to be clear about everything...so
           there's no confusion...
                         
                          MOLLY
           I won't tell anyone about last
           night.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Well yeah, I'd appreciate it if we
           kept this...I mean, you know how
           people are.
                          MOLLY
           Really wouldn't look good if you
           screwed an intern.
                          STEPHEN
           It's not like I got drunk and this
           happened...I mean...I wanted to...I
           really like you...you're
           smart...but I just...I don't want
           there to be any expectations...
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           39.
                         CONTINUED: (4)
                         
                          MOLLY
           Steven, you don't have to say
           anything.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           I just don't want you to think I'm
           some kind of player.
                         
                          MOLLY
           Well you are kind of a player, but
           that's okay.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           No I'm not. I was being polite.
          MOLLY starts to tie STEPHENS tie.
                         
                          MOLLY
           Bullshit...you were trying to pick
           me up.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           No I wasn't.
                         
                          MOLLY
           You were pretty obvious about it.
                          STEPHEN
           I was?
                          MOLLY
           Totally.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           I thought I was being all smooth
           and subtle.
                         
                          MOLLY
           You were pretty forward.
                          STEPHEN
           You were pretty forward ...inviting
           me to the bar.
                         
                          MOLLY
           Well...I've been trying to fuck you
           for a while.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Wow.
                         
                          MOLLY
           Pretty slutty of me, huh?
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           40.
                         CONTINUED: (5)
                         
                          STEPHEN
           No, not at all...I mean I kind of
           respect it in a weird sort of way.
                         
                          MOLLY
           Good.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           You have absolutely no idea how to
           tie a tie do you...
                         
                          MOLLY
           No no not a clue.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           You're very mature.
                         
                          MOLLY
           For a teenager.
                         
          Molly kisses him and exits.
                         
                          CUT TO:
                         
          EXT. TARMAC - LUNKEN AIRFIELD - CINCINNATI - LATER
          We Intercut with PAUL driving.
                         
          STEPHEN walks towards a private jet, the GOVERNOR is at the
          plane talking to some aides.
                          STEPHEN
           When are you coming back?
                         
                          PAUL
           I'll be at the event...a little
           late...these cock suckers...fucking
           dirty shit.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           What happened with Thompson?
                         
                          PAUL
           Nothing, the prick...we had him all
           sewed up...MOTHER FUCKER...how bad
           is it?
                          STEPHEN
           I'm running some numbers now...I
           don't know...
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           41.
                         CONTINUED:
                         
                          PAUL
           Alright, I'll be there in three
           hours...I want hard numbers...and a
           strategy.
                          STEPHEN
           Yeah I'm on it...I gotta go.
                         
          He hangs up.
                         
          INT. PRIVATE JET
                         
          The GOVERNOR and STEPHEN are flying through a bad storm, the
          plane is getting knocked all around. Also on Board are BEN
          and a SECRET SERVICE AGENT. Stephen is holding onto the
          armrests, white knuckling it, the Governor watches him.
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           You okay?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Yup...(Nope) Just trying to figure
           out our stops on the ground.
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           I think the weather might determine
           that. If we get there.
                         
          Both men sit with their heads back on the headrests.
                          STEPHEN
           We'll be fine...we have to do
           it...and it's the right thing.
           Nothing bad happens when it's the
           right thing.
           GOV. MORRIS
           Is this your personal
           theory...cause I can shoot holes in
           it...Roberto Clemente...on a
           humanitarian flight.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Well there are exceptions to every
           rule...
          They smile. The Governor looks at Stephen.
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           So how we doin?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Fine now.
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           42.
                         CONTINUED:
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           No I mean...the campaign how we
           doin?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Great...
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           Listen Stephen...you're not Paul.
           I pay him to use the word "great".
           I pay you to tell me the truth.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           I think we're solid.
           GOV. MORRIS
           Okay Paul.
                          STEPHEN
           Governor there's a big difference
           between Paul and me. Paul only
           believes in winning so he'll do or
           say anything to win.
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           But you wouldn't.
                          STEPHEN
           I'll do or say anything if I
           believe in it...but I have to
           believe in the cause.
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           You'll make a lousy consultant when
           you're out of this line of work.
                          STEPHEN
           Well I won't be out of this line of
           work as long as you're in it.
           GOV. MORRIS
           So at best you've got eight
           years...then you'll end up with a
           nice little consultant firm on
           Farragut North...eating at the
           Palm...pulling in seven hundred and
           fifty grand a year...pimping out
           Senators to Saudi Princes.
          They both smile.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Pimping out ex presidents...
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           43.
                         CONTINUED: (2)
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           Then I better win...
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Yeah.
                          CUT TO:
                         
          INT. KENT STATE UNIVERSITY - OHIO - LATER
                         
          We're in a large hall. GOVERNOR MORRIS is on stage, he stands
          in front of a huge American flag. Morris's wife CINDY is
          standing in the wings along with their seven year old
          daughter BETH.
          GOVERNOR MORRIS addresses the crowd.
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           Now, I've been married for eleven
           years, to the smartest person I
           know...and we have a normal
           marriage...which means when we
           disagree...she wins. What we don't
           ever disagree on is how we're going
           to leave this planet for our
           daughter. Are we gonna leave it
           better off, or worse? The richest
           people in this country don't pay
           their fare share. And when they're
           asked to, they cry socialism, they
           use phrases like redistribution of
           wealth. That scares everybody and
           they all run and they hide. For
           the record, my campaign is
           vehemently against the distribution
           of wealth to the richest Americans,
           by our government! And I will run
           on that!
                         
          INT. KENT STATE UNIVERSITY - BACK STAGE - CONTINUOUS
                         
          PAUL and STEPHEN are back stage behind the huge American
          flag. We can hear the Governor's speech in the B.G.
                          STEPHEN
           I didn't think it was true.
                          PAUL
           Whoa...
                         
                          STEPHEN
           But I should have told you this
           yesterday...sorry...
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           44.
                         CONTINUED:
                         
                          PAUL
           -Slow down.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           I met with Tom Duffy yesterday.
                          PAUL
           What?
                          STEPHEN
           You were on a plane and he called
           me and he asked if we could
           meet...And I said why...he said it
           was very important so I did...but I
           should've fucking told you...
                          PAUL
           Stop Stop let me get this straight.
           You met with Tom Duffy?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Yes.
                         
                          PAUL
           What'd he want Stephen?
                          STEPHEN
           -the gist of it is he wants to hire
           me. He wants me to jump ship and
           come work for him...this is bad
           Paul. He showed me poll numbers
           with Pullman ahead by four. We're
           in really deep fucking trouble he
           laid out their whole plan. Robo-
           calls, traffic jams, fake lit, and
           fucking Thompson. They promised him
           Secretary of State.
                         
                          CUT TO:
          INT. KENT STATE UNIVERSITY - STAGE - CONTINUOUS
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           You know how you fight the war on
           terror?...Don't need their product
           anymore. Their product is oil,
           just don't need it and they go
           away. We don't have to bomb anyone
           we don't have to invade anyone!
                          CUT TO:
           45.
                         
                         
          INT. KENT STATE UNIVERSITY - BACK STAGE - CONTINUOUS
                         
                          PAUL
           If this is some sort of practical-I
           mean -my fucking blood pressure is
           going through the roof right now.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Paul I'm sorry. Believe me...I
           just didn't think it was true.
                         
                          PAUL
           It doesn't fucking matter what you
           thought. It matters what you did.
           It matters what you didn't do. If
           all this shit is true I made a
           fucking ass of myself at Thompson's
           place. And I gave away our game
           plan.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Please believe me that I honestly
           believed you were gonna come back
           and you were gonna tell me that we
           have Thompson in the bag and I
           didn't see the point. But it
           doesn't make it right and I'm
           sorry.
                         
                          PAUL
           Let me think...let me think...
                         
                          CUT TO:
                         
          INT. KENT STATE UNIVERSITY - STAGE - CONTINUOUS
           GOV. MORRIS
           If I'm your president, the first
           thing I put in motion, ten years
           from the day I'm in office...no new
           car in America runs on an internal
           combustion engine. It'll create
           hundreds of thousands of new
           jobs...we will start the next
           technological revolution and we
           will lead the world again...like we
           used to...
                         
                          CUT TO:
           46.
                         
                         
          INT. KENT STATE UNIVERSITY - BACK STAGE - CONTINUOUS
                         
                          PAUL
           We get the Governor right after he
           finishes singing Kum Bay Ya and
           give him everything we know.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Who do you want...
                         
                          PAUL
           You, me and the Governor, that's
           it! What's he got after?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           A fund-raiser in Cleveland tonight.
                         
                          PAUL
           He'll be late...we're gonna tell
           him that if he doesn't offer
           Thompson a cabinet position...he's
           not gonna get the nomination.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Will he go for it?
                          PAUL
           I don't fucking know Stephen.
                         
          As Paul exits he shoots back.
                          PAUL (CONT'D)
           Find us a room...
                         
                          CUT TO:
          INT. KENT STATE UNIVERSITY LOBBY
                         
          MOLLY walks up the steps of the auditorium into the lobby, a
          staffer hands her some papers and she continues. We pull her
          down a corridor and land at a rehearsal room door. She hands
          the papers to BEN.
                         
          The Governor's wife CINDY, daughter BETH and a security man
          are waiting outside the door.
          INT. KENT STATE UNIVERSITY - REHEARSAL ROOM
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           How real are the numbers?
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           47.
                         CONTINUED:
                         
                          STEPHEN
           We might pick up a couple of
           points...but we're...I don't know,
           we lose by three or four percent.
                          PAUL
           Who the fuck knows Governor...but
           we can't take the chance...
           GOV. MORRIS
           What do you think?
                         
                          PAUL
           I think we fold up the campaign in
           Ohio...take a loss and blame it on
           the Republican's playing
           games...head to North Carolina.
           GOV. MORRIS
           I can't run from Ohio...they'll
           kill us.
                         
                          PAUL
           Not if you get Thompson's
           endorsement.
           GOV. MORRIS
           I'm not gonna do it. What's he
           want head of the FDA or something
           ridiculous?
                          STEPHEN
           Cabinet post.
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           Labor?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           State...
          This sits with them.
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           Are you fucking kidding me...I'm
           gonna give Secretary of State to a
           guy who wants to cut the top ten
           floors off the UN? Paul when we
           started this campaign I said I
           wasn't gonna make those kind of
           deals.
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           48.
                         CONTINUED: (2)
                         
                          PAUL
           Governor, if you lose Ohio, and
           they get Thompson's
           delegates...Then they get North
           Carolina...then they get the lead.
           A lead you can't beat. But if we
           walk from Ohio, take Thompson, give
           him a cabinet post, then we take
           North Carolina. His state. Then
           Pennsylvania. Your state. And
           then it's simple math Mike. Take
           his endorsement and the race is
           over.
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           Paul, I respect you...respect your
           opinion...but I'm never gonna do
           it...so I suggest we find a way for
           me to win Ohio.
                         
          They sit there looking at their shoes.
           GOV. MORRIS (CONT'D)
           Anything else?
                         
          Off their looks we-
                         
                          CUT TO:
          INT. MORRIS HEADQUARTERS - CINCINNATI - LATE AFTERNOON
                         
          We're mid action. Everyone is there.
          Phones...emails...people running in and out. STEPHEN, BEN,
          MOLLY...sleeves rolled up. PAUL is in a closed room but we
          can see him on the phone.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           (On the phone)
           Do we have any other senators that
           can go to bat for us? House
           members won't do.
                         
                          BEN
           (Whispering to him)
           Or a Congressman from Ohio maybe.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Right...but we need a Senator...one
           from Ohio would be nice.
          We push the camera through the room, edging closer to PAUL.
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           49.
                         CONTINUED:
                         
                          MOLLY
                          (TO STEPHEN)
           This is all the car rental
           companies in Northern
           Ohio...they've booked every single
           van for Tuesday...
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Fuck...Jess, I'll call you back...
           (To Molly) All of them? Goddamit!
                         
                          BEN
           (On the computer)
           Here's what I have so
           far...Independents don't seem to be
           biting, but Republicans are...or
           say they are.
                          STEPHEN
           They're not gonna tell a pollster
           that they're gonna vote
           Democratic...I don't even know how
           to read these polls.
                         
                          MOLLY
           I called and we can get a hundred
           vans out of Covington and Newport
           Kentucky.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           We don't need the fucking vans...we
           just don't want Pullman to have
           them...
                         
          We keep pushing in on PAUL until we can hear him talking to a
          reporter on the phone. - During this conversation he types on
          his laptop.
                         
                          PAUL
           No, No that's not what I'm
           saying...we were the underdog
           before we got into this and we
           continue to be the underdog...well
           the numbers...we knew the numbers
           would get closer the closer we got
           to Tuesday...I'm not lowering
           expectations...have you ever heard
           me say that we had Ohio locked?...
           Then at least give me the courtesy
           of printing that in your column.
                         
                          CUT TO:
           50.
                         
                         
          EXT. GOVERNORS SUV - NIGHT
                         
          We see The SUV drive down the highway.
                         
          INT. GOVERNORS SUV - NIGHT
          We're in the second row of seats of the Governor's SUV.
          CINDY'S head on his shoulder. They are very comfortable and
          easy with each other. The Governor is writing a speech on a
          legal pad.
                         
                          CINDY
           What're you writing?
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           The greatest speech ever given on
           hydrogen power.
                          CINDY
           The bar is awfully high on that
           one.
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           Don't I know it.
                         
                          CINDY
           I got hit up by Mitchell's wife for
           you to show up at her "Daughters of
           the American Revolution" luncheon.
           GOV. MORRIS
           Who's Mitchell?
                         
                          CINDY
           Congressman from the first
           district. You might want to
           remember that.
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           Fucking Congressmen. Could you
           imagine doing this every two years?
                         
                          CINDY
           No I can't. Lets just do this one
           more time.
           GOV. MORRIS
           In four more years.
                          CINDY
           That's it.
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           51.
                         CONTINUED:
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           Deal.
                         
                         BEAT
                          CINDY
           You think we'll lose Ohio?
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           I don't know.
                         
                          CINDY
           If you took Thompson's delegates
           the race is over. Ohio wouldn't
           matter.
           GOV. MORRIS
           Is Paul working on you?
                          CINDY
           (Shaking her head)
           Stephen.
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
                          (SMILING)
           They are good.
                          CINDY
           Is Thompson so bad?
           GOV. MORRIS
           He's a shit.
                         
                          CINDY
           Worse than Pullman?
           GOV. MORRIS
           Yes Stephen.
                         
          Beat.
           GOV. MORRIS (CONT'D)
           Every time I draw a line in the
           sand...and I keep moving it. Fund
           raising, union deals...I wasn't
           going to do any of it...negative
           ads...I can't on this one. Not
           Thompson.
          Beat.
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           52.
                         CONTINUED: (2)
                         
           GOV. MORRIS (CONT'D)
           Tell Mrs. Mitchell I'll make her
           goddamn luncheon.
                         
          Beat.
           GOV. MORRIS (CONT'D)
           Let the old ladies pat me on the
           head.
                         
          They smile.
                         
                          CINDY
           You've got great hair.
           GOV. MORRIS
           You too baby.
          They lay their heads back onto the headrests.
                         
                          CUT TO:
                         
          INT. PERFORMING ARTS BUILDING - DAYTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE -
          A BIT LATER
                         
          A few hundred students sit around The GOVERNOR in a theater
          as he fields questions.
                         
          MORRIS is cornered by a conservative student.
                          STUDENT 1
           Gay marriage?
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           It's a silly argument.
                          STUDENT 1
           Not to fifty percent of Americans.
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           Over the age of fifty.
                         
                          STUDENT 1
           That's who votes...that's who shows
           up at the polls.
           GOV. MORRIS
           Well that's changing...and
           hopefully the way we frame the
           argument is...
                         
          At this point the camera travels backstage to find STEPHEN,
          BEN, PAUL and MOLLY working the phones and laptops.
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           53.
                         CONTINUED:
                         
                          PAUL
                          (TO STEPHEN)
           Keep an eye on the Governor.
                         
                          STEPHEN
                          (TO BEN)
           Let me know how it's going out
           there.
                          STEPHEN (CONT'D)
           I'm on it.
                         
          BEN takes us back out, and under this we hear the GOVERNOR
          continue debating..
                          STUDENT 1
           From...a religious...a
           GOV. MORRIS
           From a religious to a civil rights
           issue.
                         
                          STUDENT 1
           But one could argue a great
           difference between gender and race.
           GOV. MORRIS
           Not really. They used to ban
           interracial marriage...women
           couldn't vote...the list goes on...
                          STUDENT 1
           The argument of course-
                         
          We hear boos from students in the audience.
          At this point the camera finds MORRIS.
                         
          Morris quiets the students.
           GOV. MORRIS
           Now wait she has a point to
           make....
                         
                          STUDENT 1
           The argument is that men and women,
           can in fact be separate but equal,
           races cannot.
           GOV. MORRIS
           How so?
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           54.
                         CONTINUED: (2)
                         
                          STUDENT 1
           You have separate public bathrooms
           for men and women but it would be
           illegal to have separate bathrooms
           for two races.
           GOV. MORRIS
           Now.
                          STUDENT 1
                          (LAUGHING)
           Yes now.
                         
          Audience laughs.
           GOV. MORRIS
           So that's what I'm saying.
                          CUT TO:
                         
          INT. PERFORMING ARTS BUILDING LOBBY - AFTER
                         
          STEPHEN, BEN and the rest, head out of the town hall to get
          on the bus.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           What time is this on tonight?
                         
                          BEN
           Nine o'clock.
                          STEPHEN
           How'd he do?
                         
                          BEN
           He did good.
                         
                          CUT TO:
                         
          EXT. CAMPAIGN BUS - NIGHT
          The bus rolls down the highway
                         
          INT. CAMPAIGN BUS - NIGHT
                         
          It's a flurry of activity. STEPHEN, BEN, MOLLY and our
          REGULAR STAFFERS...are all on phones, Blackberry's and
          laptop's. MOLLY looks back over her shoulder to STEPHEN,
          who's face is lit by his laptop. He looks up...they lock
          eyes.
           55.
                         
                         
          INT. MILLENNIUM HOTEL - STEVEN'S ROOM - NIGHT
                         
          We're tight on a TV. It's the taped broadcast of the previous
          town hall meeting. As the scene plays we pull back to see
          STEPHEN and MOLLY making love. We see pieces of body parts.
          Hands...a leg...hair being pulled...it's what we've grown
          used to seeing in a seventies love scene, all lit by the
          flickering of a television. The only score we hear is the
          sound of the TV.
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           See we're framing the argument
           based on the idea that
           homosexuality is a choice, you
           choose to be gay, not that you were
           born that way like being born
           black. Because if you start the
           discussion with the idea that gay
           is not a life choice but part of
           your DNA, then gay marriage is and
           can only be a civil rights issue.
                         
          ANOTHER STUDENT steps up to the microphone.
                         
                          STUDENT 2
           Do you think candor is your appeal?
           Is that what you're running on as
           much as your platform...?
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           We'll see. It'll drive them to the
           polls one way or the other.
                         
                          STUDENT 2
           I just heard a lot of Christian
           Coalition cars start up.
                         
          We pull focus now onto STEPHEN and MOLLY.
                         
          STEPHEN on top not moving.
          He looks down to the area where an erection would normally be
          at this time...then he looks back to Molly.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           It's not you.
          They laugh.
                          CUT TO:
           56.
                         
                         
          INT. MILLENNIUM HOTEL - STEVEN'S ROOM - NIGHT - LATER
                         
          Stephen is lying in bed working on some papers. Molly is
          asleep next to him. Stephen's cell phone rings.
                          STEPHEN
           Hello...
                         
          Almost at the same time we hear another man's voice on the
          phone.
                         
                          VOICE
           Molly?
                         
          They both stop. No one speaks. Stephen is about to speak
          again when the caller hangs up. Stephen looks at the
          phone...he then looks to the bedside table where he sees an
          identical phone. His phone. He's picked up Molly's phone by
          mistake. He looks at the name of the incoming call...there
          is none...he looks at the caller ID number...he looks at the
          clock...2:30 AM.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Your phone rang.
                          MOLLY
           Really?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Who's calling at 2:30 in the
           morning?
                          MOLLY
           I don't know?
                          STEPHEN
           He asked for you by name.
                         
                          MOLLY
           You answered it?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           I thought it was mine. Who was it?
                          MOLLY
           I don't know...
                          STEPHEN
           One of the other interns drunk
           dialing you?
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           57.
                         CONTINUED:
                         
                          MOLLY
                          (KIDDING)
           Oh that never happens...let me see
           the number...
          She reaches for the phone, but Steven keeps it away from her.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Hold on...
                         
                          MOLLY
           (Still waiting for it)
           Stephen...
                         
                          STEPHEN
           I'm gonna call him back.
                         
          He pushes the redial button.
                          MOLLY
           No!
                         
                          STEPHEN
           ...And I'm gonna tell him that I'm
           your dad...
                          MOLLY
           Gimme my phone Stephen!
                         
                          STEPHEN
           And I'm gonna tell him I'm coming
           over there with a shotgun...
                         
                          MOLLY
           (Getting more urgent)
           Don't do that Stephen...
           Hang up!
                         
          Stephen, listens to the outgoing message, while he looks at
          Molly...her eyes starting to well up.
          We hear the buzzing of the message through the phone. Then
          we see Stephens reaction as it begins to dawn on him who he's
          listening to.
                         
          He closes the phone without leaving a message.
          Beat.
                          STEPHEN
           Why is the Governor calling you at
           2:30 in the morning?
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           58.
                         CONTINUED: (2)
                         
          She says nothing.
                         
                          STEPHEN (CONT'D)
           Why is the Governor calling you at
           all?
                          MOLLY
           I'm in trouble...
                          STEPHEN
           With the Governor? What's going
           on?
                         
                          MOLLY
           I was working on the campaign in
           Iowa...we had a party in Ben's room
           after the rally in Des Moines...
                          STEPHEN
           There was a party with you...and
           Ben...and the Governor.
                         
                          MOLLY
           No he wasn't there.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Where was he?
                         
                          MOLLY
           I took him up a hard copy of the
           polling numbers...
                         
                          STEPHEN
           After the party?
                          MOLLY
           (Shaking her head yes)
           About midnight I guess...I stood in
           the doorway with him...we were
           talking...a long time...then he
           just reached behind me and closed
           the door.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Jesus fucking Christ...Were you
           drunk?
                          MOLLY
           Not that drunk...
                          STEPHEN
           How many times?
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           59.
                         CONTINUED: (3)
                         
                          MOLLY
           Just that once.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Does anybody know? Did anyone see
           you?
                         
                          MOLLY
           No.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           How could you know?
                         
                          MOLLY
           I know!
                          STEPHEN
           Then why is he calling you now?
                          MOLLY
           I called him first.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Why?
                         
                          MOLLY
           Because I didn't know who to go
           to...and I needed nine hundred
           bucks...
                          STEPHEN
           For what?
                         
                          MOLLY
           I can't go to my dad...We're
           catholic.
                         
          Beat.
                         
                          MOLLY (CONT'D)
           So what should I do?
                         
          A long beat.
                         
                          CUT TO:
          EXT. STREET - CINCINNATI - NEXT DAY - MORNING
                         
          We're close on STEPHEN as he walks down the sidewalk and
          into...
           60.
                         
                         
          INT. MORRIS HEADQUARTERS - MORNING - CONTINUOUS
                         
          STEPHEN walks into the campaign office. He looks at all the
          posters with pictures of Morris. People greet him as he
          walks past.
          The signs all look wrong now. The smile on Morris's face
          looks fake. He sees MOLLY as he passes and heads into the
          war room.
                         
                          CUT TO:
                         
          INT. MORRIS HEADQUARTERS - LATER
                         
          STEPHEN is going through the drawers in his desk... he goes
          to the office door, opens it and yells to Ben in the bullpen.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Ben... come here a minute
                         
          BEN stops what he's doing and heads into Stephen's office.
                         
                          BEN
           What's up?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           What's our limit on petty cash?
                         
                          BEN
           It's probably five hundred. Why?
                          STEPHEN
           I need as much as we have.
                         
                          BEN
           Everything okay?... anything I can
           help with?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Yeah...don't put it on the books.
           That's all.
                         
                          BEN
           What should I put it down as?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Don't put it down as anything...
                         
                          BEN
           Anything over a hundred I got to
           put it down as something...
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           61.
                         CONTINUED:
                         
                          STEPHEN
           (raising his voice)
           Just do it!
                         
          BEN exits.
          We follow BEN into the bullpen, past the STAFFERS who look up
          at the outburst... MOLLY watches BEN and then looks to
          STEPHEN who closes his door. We stay on MOLLY.
                         
          We see MOLLY watching through the door... as STEPHEN
          finishes, he opens the door.
                         
                          STEPHEN (CONT'D)
           Molly...
          She gets up and comes into his office. Stephen hands Molly a
          folder that he writes on the inside of
                          STEPHEN (CONT'D)
           Here...
                         
          Molly opens the folder and reads "Meet me in the stairwell at
          noon". She closes the folder.
                         
                          MOLLY
           Okay.
                         
          Stephen holds out his hand.
                          STEPHEN
           I'll take that. That's all.
                         
          He takes the folder and tears it into several pieces as Molly
          leaves... he throws the pieces into the trash can.
                          CUT TO:
                         
          INT. STOCK YARDS BANK - CINCINNATI- LATER
          STEPHEN stands at a tellers counter, he writes out a check
          for eight hundred dollars to cash. The teller hands him the
          money.
                         
          Stephen exits.
                          CUT TO:
                         
          EXT. STOCK YARDS BANK STEPS - CONTINUOUS
          STEPHEN walks down to the sidewalk. He's on the phone with
          Ida.
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           62.
                         CONTINUED:
                         
                          IDA
           Stevie ... off the record ...
                         
                          STEPHEN
           No I can't tell you what
           happened in North Carolina.
                         
                          IDA
           That's not what I wanted to ask you
           about.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Okay what?
                         
                          IDA
           You met with Duffy.
                         
          A pause.
                          STEPHEN
           Who told you that?
                         
                          IDA
           A little bird.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Who?
                         
                          IDA
           Did you meet with him?
                          STEPHEN
           Where are you?
                         
                          CUT TO:
          INT. SKY WALK - CINCINATTI - MINUTES LATER
                         
                          IDA
           I know you met with him at a
           little bar in Cincy, two
           nights ago, just before the press
           conference. Duffy ordered buffalo
           wings.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Did Duffy tell you this?
                         
                          IDA
           Anonymous. What happened with
           Duffy?
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           63.
                         CONTINUED:
                         
                          STEPHEN
           You're supposed to be my friend
           Ida. You'd stab me in the back
           like this? You'd ruin my
           reputation just so you-
                          IDA
           Wait wait wait -is that what you
           thought? That we were friends?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           I've given you everything -every
           fucking scoop, your profile with
           Pau1....
                          IDA
           You're right -you've given me a
           lot. But let's get real here
           Steve. The only reason you ever
           treated me well was that I work
           for the Times. Not because I was
           your friend. You give me what I
           want, I write you better stories.
           Don't pretend it's any more than
           that. Why'd you meet with Duffy?
                          STEPHEN
           Go fuck yourself.
                         
          STEPHEN starts walking away.
                          IDA
           Okay, I'll make it easier on you.
           Forget Duffy. What happened at
           Paul and Thompson's meeting?
                          STEPHEN
                          (STOPPING)
           Will you keep your voice down. Do
           you have any idea what a story like
           this could do to me?
                         
                          IDA
           Of course I do. That's why I'm
           giving you a choice here.
                          STEPHEN
           I could get fired.
                          IDA
           So it's not a difficult choice, is
           it? I've got to file by three p.m.
                          (MORE)
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           64.
                         CONTINUED: (2)
                          IDA (CONT'D)
           tomorrow. You've got till then to
           make up your mind.
                         
          Stephen is left standing there.
                          CUT TO:
                         
          EXT. FOUNTAIN SQUARE - CINCI / INT. MEMORIAL HALL -
          A FEW MINUTES LATER
                         
          Stephen is on a pay phone in front of the fountain. DUFFY is
          at a campaign event, he also talks on his cell.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           You mother fucker.
                          DUFFY
           Excuse me?
                          STEPHEN
           You leaked it.
                         
                          DUFFY
           Leaked what?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Don't bullshit me Tom.
                         
                          DUFFY
           Bullshit you...I have no idea what
           you're talking about.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           I just spoke with Ida Horowicz.
                          DUFFY
           Yeah?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           She's threatening to release the
           story.
                         
                          DUFFY
           What fucking story?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           That we met! That I fuckin met
           with you!
                          DUFFY
           How did she find out?
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           65.
                         CONTINUED:
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Don't play dumb here Tom.
                         
                          DUFFY
           You think I leaked it to her?
                          STEPHEN
           Who else?
                          DUFFY
           I didn't leak it to her.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Well I know I didn't, so that
           leaves you.
                          DUFFY
           What's she know?
                          STEPHEN
           She knows whatever you told her.
                         
                          DUFFY
           I swear to Jesus I didn't leak it
           to her Steve. I don't want this
           story out any more than you do.
                          STEPHEN
           Well too late.
                          DUFFY
           What did she tell you?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           She knows where we met, she knows
           when we met... she knows you had
           buffalo fucking wings.
                         
                          DUFFY
           She has a source?
                          STEPHEN
           Yes she has a source.
                         
                          DUFFY
           And you have no idea who it could
           be?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Yeah, you.
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           66.
                         CONTINUED: (2)
                         
                          DUFFY
           Well it wasn't me, and for the
           record I didn't have fucking
           buffalo wings. It's gotta
           be some one else.
                          STEPHEN
           Did you tell anyone?
                          DUFFY
           No. Did you?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           No.
                          DUFFY
           Did you admit to meeting with me?
                          STEPHEN
           No.
                         
                          DUFFY
           Then we stonewall her and she's
           got nothing.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           She's gonna take the story to
           Drudge, or Roll Call...shit like
           that.
                          DUFFY
           You can't stop her?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           She's trying to blackmail me -
           wants info about Thompson.
                         
                          DUFFY
           Then tell her what she wants to
           know.
                          STEPHEN
           I can't do that.
                         
                          DUFFY
           You can't let this story get out.
                          STEPHEN
           I'm not gonna be blackmailed Tom.
                          DUFFY
           You don't have much of a choice
           here.
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           67.
                         CONTINUED: (3)
                         
                          STEPHEN
           If I tell her about Thompson I
           gotta tell her he's gonna endorse
           you guys.
                          DUFFY
           Then tell her. I can handle it
           from my side if I start getting
           calls.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           No fucking way. Paul told her we
           had Thompson in the bag. It'll make
           us look like fools.
                          DUFFY
           You're gonna look like fools
           anyway when he endorses us.
                          STEPHEN
           I can't do it.
                         
                          DUFFY
           You're on a sinking ship Steve.
           Tell her what she wants to know
           and jump. Come over to our side.
           We can control this thing.
                         
          Pause.
          No answer from STEPHEN.
                         
                          DUFFY (CONT'D)
           Steve?
                          STEPHEN
           I Gotta go.
                         
          Stephen hangs up.
                          CUT TO:
                         
          INT. MORRIS HEADQUARTERS - STAIRWELL - AFTERNOON
                         
          MOLLY walks in... it's dark in some places... she doesn't see
          anyone at first. She stands there... then from the shadows
          we hear STEPHEN.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           I'm up here.
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           68.
                         CONTINUED:
                         
                          MOLLY
                          (STARTLED)
           Shit, you scared me.
                         
          She goes up the next flight of stairs and stands next to him
          on the landing.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Take this.
                         
          He hands her an envelope.
                         
                          STEPHEN (CONT'D)
           It's almost 1800 bucks... you make
           the appointment now... today...
           from a pay phone... I'll take you
           to the clinic and pick you up... no
           one else... you understand?
                          MOLLY
           Yes.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           You take the rest of the money and
           you buy a ticket home... you can't
           be here anymore... we can't afford
           it... not with everything that's
           gonna happen in the next week. This
           situation just can't be here.
                          MOLLY
           You mean I can't be here.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Right.
                          MOLLY
           But I would never tell anyone...
                         
                          STEPHEN
           I would hope not.
                         
                          MOLLY
           Then why?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           You fucked up, Molly...
                         
                          MOLLY
           He and I both fucked up.
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           69.
                         CONTINUED: (2)
                         
                          STEPHEN
           But I have a responsibility to
           him... and more importantly I have
           a responsibility to this campaign.
                          MOLLY
           I could go to North Carolina and
           work on the campaign...
                          STEPHEN
           Molly you've go to wake the fuck
           up... this is the big leagues...
           it's mean...and when you make
           mistakes you lose your right to
           play. Make the appointment and
           tell me when and where we have to
           go.
          He exits.
                         
                          CUT TO:
                         
          INT. STEPHEN'S HOTEL ROOM - LATER THAT NIGHT
                         
          STEPHEN sits at the desk in front of his laptop. BEN sits on
          the floor surrounded by papers and a laptop. As BEN is
          talking Stephen is staring blankly at the screen.
                         
                          BEN
           Listen to this. I got the
           placement in the Times...this is a
           match up of hope versus fear. Nine
           times out of ten the fear candidate
           tends to be the most
           experienced...but in our
           presidential races the least
           experienced candidate almost always
           wins. JFK versus Nixon...Carter
           versus Ford...Bush versus Gore...I
           like our chances with the new kid
           on the block, end quote. Thomas
           Fucking Duffy...he's gotta be
           having a stroke right now.
                         
          STEPHEN'S phone buzzes, he picks it up and reads the text.
          It reads: NOON TOMORROW, MOLLY.
                         
          He sets the phone down...BEN continues talking.
                          CUT TO:
           70.
                         
                         
          EXT. MOLLY'S MOTEL - A BIT LATER
                         
          STEPHEN sits in his car in the back of the parking lot,
          waiting... his phone rings. He looks at the caller ID...
          it's Ida... he sets the phone back down, waits, and sees
          MOLLY come out of the hotel. She looks around and heads
          toward Stephen. She gets into the car and they drive off in
          silence.
                          CUT TO:
                         
          INT./EXT. STEPHENS CAR - ROEBLING SUSPENSION BRIDGE -
          A BIT LATER
                         
          STEPHEN AND MOLLY drive in silence.
          INT. STEPHEN'S CAR - DAY - A FEW MINUTES LATER
          STEPHEN and MOLLY driving down the street. Stephen drives
          until he sees the clinic. He stops.
                         
          INT. CLINIC - WAITING ROOM - DAY
                         
          STEPHEN stands at the receptionists window and hands the
          NURSE a clipboard with the forms Molly has filled out. She
          hands him back the yellow copies and he sits down next to
          MOLLY.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           So just call me when you can leave
           okay.
                         
                          MOLLY
           (Looking at the clinic)
           I hate this shit...
                          STEPHEN
           I'll be back, this'll all be
           over...
                          MOLLY
           Yeah...
                         
          STEPHEN leaves.
                         
                          CUT TO:
          INT. MILLENNIUM HOTEL - PAUL'S ROOM - DAY
          We're in PAUL'S room. He's lying on the bed, talking on his
          cell phone.
                         
          BEN sits at the desk working on a laptop.
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           71.
                         CONTINUED:
                         
                          PAUL
           Absolutely -there's no question
           about it ....
                         
          A knock. PAUL goes to the door, opens it and waves STEPHEN
          in, shutting the door behind him as he enters.
                         
                          PAUL (CONT'D)
           But we've got to think broader
           strokes here, rethink
           everything....uh-huh....Yeah, I
           know how to handle
           it....Look,Stevie just got here.
           Can I call you back in a few
           minutes? ..Okay, bye. (He hangs up)
           The Governor. We had a good long
           talk on the way back. He's up to
           speed with everything.
                          STEPHEN
           How'd he take it?
                         
                          PAUL
           Better than I thought he would.
           Still won't take Thompson's
           endorsement.
                          STEPHEN
           Paul-I gotta tell you something.
                          PAUL
           What's up?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Ida knows I met with Duffy.
          PAUL stares at him blankly.
                         
                          STEPHEN (CONT'D)
           I don't know how she found out.
           Tried to blackmail me. Said she was
           gonna let the story out if I didn't
           tell her what happened at your
           meeting with Thompson.
                         
                          PAUL
           So it's gonna hit the papers.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Probably. Yeah. Whoever she takes
           it to, they're gonna call me for a
           statement.
                          (MORE)
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           72.
                         CONTINUED: (2)
                          STEPHEN (CONT'D)
           I could just deny the whole thing,
           but if they call Duffy and he
           admits to it, that could look
           worse. If I say no comment they
           won't let up.
                          PAUL
           I leaked it to Ida.
          Pause.
                         
          BEN looks up from his laptop.
                         
                          PAUL (CONT'D)
           At the event.
                          STEPHEN
           I don't understand.
                          PAUL
           We made a deal.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Paul...they're gonna print that
           story in the paper tomorrow
           morning.
                          PAUL
           I know.
                          STEPHEN
           But why? Why would you do that to
           me? Why would you do that to the
           campaign.
                          PAUL
           The campaign will survive.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Then why would you do that to me?
                          PAUL
           Makes it easier to let you go.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           What?
                          PAUL
           Why'd you meet with Duffy?
                          STEPHEN
           I made a mistake - a stupid
           mistake.
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           73.
                         CONTINUED: (3)
                         
                          PAUL
           No Stephen. You didn't make a
           mistake. You made a choice. You
           called me and left a message to
           call back...that it was important.
           But when I did...you said to forget
           about it. You chose not to tell
           me. Why did you make that choice?
                          STEPHEN
           I didn't think it was important.
                         
                          PAUL
           Sure you did. But you went because
           you were curious, because you were
           flattered. Because it made you feel
           special to think Duffy wanted to
           speak to you instead of me. Because
           you thought to yourself: maybe I
           can get something out of this.
           Because it made you feel big.
           First campaign I ran tiny little
           race in Kentucky -state senate
           seat. Workin for redneck nobody
           named McGuthrie. Had no money, no
           staff, no fuckin office. Everyone
           thought we didn't stand a chance.
           There's no way we can compete. And
           about this time, a guy running a
           congressional campaign a few
           districts over gives me a call.
           Says, "I really like what you were
           able to do for poor ole' Sam. But
           let's face it, he's a goner, so why
           don't you come work for me?" What
           do I do? Well Stephen -this is
           where you and I are different. I
           told Sam about the call. And Sam
           says to me, "Paul, you think this
           other's guy's got a shot at
           winning, and he can pay you more
           than anything I can afford, so if
           it's what you feel you need to do,
           then I won't get in your way." So I
           say, "Sam -you took a chance and
           hired me when I was even more of
           nobody than you are, and I'd be
           damned if I'm gonna jump ship just
           because the shit hit the fan."
           We lost the race, but three years
           later, when Sam decided to run for
           Governor -who do you think he
           called? We won that race.
                          (MORE)
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           74.
                         CONTINUED: (4)
                          PAUL (CONT'D)
           And twenty years later I'm where I
           am now. (Beat) There's only one
           thing I value in this world Steve,
           and that's loyalty. Without it
           you're nothing and you have no one.
           And in politics it's the only
           currency that you can count on.
           That's why I'm letting you go. Not
           because you're not good enough. But
           I value trust over skill. And I
           don't trust you anymore.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Well it really isn't whether you
           trust me, it's whether the Governor
           does.
                         
                          PAUL
           The Governor knows, he thinks it's
           the right thing to do.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           He does.
                         
                          PAUL
           If I were you? I'd get a good night
           sleep because you're gonna get
           fucking pounded by calls from the
           press in the morning...
          Off of Stephen we:
                         
                          CUT TO:
                         
          INT. CLINIC - DAY - LATER
          MOLLY is sitting in the clinic waiting room, Post-Op.
                         
          The NURSE comes out with a bag of prescription drugs and some
          instructions.
                          NURSE
           These are Vicodin...they're for the
           pain. You have Ambien...that'll
           help you sleep...and I threw in a
           couple of Xanax for the next couple
           of days. Did the doctor explain
           there would be some bleeding?
          Molly nods.
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           75.
                         CONTINUED:
                         
                          NURSE (CONT'D)
           Not much...and it shouldn't last
           very long. If it does you'll need
           to call us.
          Molly just sits there staring.
                         
                          NURSE (CONT'D)
           Do you have a ride?
                         
          Molly shakes her head yes.
                         
                          NURSE (CONT'D)
           Okay...if you need anything you
           just call the clinic...okay.
                          MOLLY
                          (NODS)
           Okay.
                         
          The NURSE walks back into the office. MOLLY just sits
          there...by herself.
                         
          We stay with her for a while.
                         
                          CUT TO:
          EXT. STEPHEN'S RENTAL CAR - AFTERNOON
                         
          STEPHEN is driving.
                          CUT TO:
                         
          EXT. CLINIC - AFTERNOON
          MOLLY walks outside the clinic and down the street.
                         
                          CUT TO:
                         
          EXT. CAFE NEAR CLINIC - LATER
          Through the front window we see Molly sitting in a booth
          making a phone call. There is a TV on the wall, the news
          plays.
                         
                          DEBBIE DIXON
           Yes Mike, Senator Franklin Thompson
           of North Carolina arrived at the
           Lunken airfield today igniting
           rumors of a deal in the works.
                          (MORE)
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           76.
                         CONTINUED:
           DEBBIE DIXON (CONT'D)
           The NY times is reporting that
           Senator Thompson will pledge his
           three hundred and fifty-six
           delegates to Senator Pullman.
                          CUT TO:
                         
          EXT. CLINIC STREET - NIGHT
          STEPHEN drives by the clinic, he slows to see if Molly is
          still there. The clinic is closed.
                         
                          CUT TO:
                         
          EXT. MOLLY'S MOTEL - KENTUCKY - NIGHT
          MOLLY gets out of a cab and walks into the hotel.
          Under this we hear:
                         
                          BEN
           Hey, where were you today?
                         
                          MOLLY
           I'm not feeling great Ben...
          INT. MOLLY'S MOTEL - KENTUCKY - NIGHT
                         
          We're in front of MOLLY'S door as the scene continues.
                          BEN
           You picked a hell of day to call in
           sick...Jesus...fucking wild day...
                         
                          MOLLY
           Why?
                         
                          BEN
           Stephen's off the campaign. Paul
           fired him. Some fucking set up
           about loyalty and it looks like
           Stephen was doubling down with
           Duffy on the Pullman campaign. I
           was sitting in the room when Paul
           told Stephen that he was fired.
           Stephen said who's gonna take over
           and Paul said me...and I'm
           like...easy there soldier...but
           Stephen goes ape shit then Paul
           gives the speech about loyalty and
           then shits on Stephen like I've
                          NEVER SEEN
           before...christ...humiliating shit.
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           77.
                         CONTINUED:
                         
                          MOLLY
           When was this?
                         
                          BEN
           Molly listen to me...I'm gonna run
           the campaign under Paul...Stephen
           is going to Duffy. I just jumped
           three years ahead...so starting
           tomorrow morning we go into full
           damage control and I'm telling you
           Stephen's going ape shit...he said
           he's taking everyone down on his
           way out...Morris, everybody!
                         
          Phone rings.
                          BEN (CONT'D)
           Shit I gotta take this. Do you
           need anything?
                         
                          MOLLY
           No.
                         
                          CUT TO:
                         
          INT. PULLMAN HEADQUARTERS - CINCINNATI - NIGHT
          STEPHEN enters the offices, staffers look up and recognize
          him.
                          STEPHEN
           Where's Duffy...
                         
                          STAFFER 1
           You got an appointment?
          Stephen keeps walking.
                         
          Stephen arrives at a medium sized, glass partitioned office.
          As he looks in, we see Duffy and five or six staffers around
          a table. Duffy is holding court, the mood is light.
                         
          Duffy notices Stephen standing there.
                         
          Duffy walks Stephen a few doors down to a conference room. A
          single staffer is working on a laptop.
                          DUFFY
           Joe can you excuse us for a minute.
          The staffer leaves and Duffy closes the door.
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           78.
                         CONTINUED:
                         
                          DUFFY (CONT'D)
           Not very bright, walking in here...
                         
                          STEPHEN
           I'm in. I'm coming to work for
           you.
                         
                          DUFFY
           A reporter at Roll Call phoned me
           this afternoon.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           I know who leaked it.
                         
                          DUFFY
           Who?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Paul.
                         
                          DUFFY
           You told Paul?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Yeah. I told him we met. He leaked
           it.
                          DUFFY
           You shouldn't have told him that.
                          STEPHEN
           I felt like I should.
                         
                          DUFFY
           I've worked with Paul. He gets
           paranoid.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Obviously.
                          DUFFY
           So he fired you.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           I quit.
                          DUFFY
           You're lying to me...come on...
                          STEPHEN
           I quit! And I can give you
           everything on Morris. Everything.
                          (MORE)
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           79.
                         CONTINUED: (2)
                          STEPHEN (CONT'D)
           I can lay out his whole strategy
           for you.
                         
                          DUFFY
           I already know his strategy. Paul
           gave it all to Thompson.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           What if I had something else?
                         
                          DUFFY
           You'd do that to Morris? To Paul?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Yeah.
                          DUFFY
           Revenge makes people unpredictable
           Steve. I can't have someone who's
           unpredictable. Who's unstable.
                         
                          STEPHEN
                          (CALMLY)
           I'm not unstable.
                         
                          DUFFY
           If it had been a clean break -if
           you'd left Morris before this story
           broke, that'd be one thing. That we
           could control. But the way it'd
           look now -Paul fires you and then
           you come work for us. Looks like
           we're picking up the scraps. Puts
           Morris in the drivers seat. I can't
           have that.
          We see a shot close on STEPHEN'S clinched fist holding the
          yellow copies from Molly's clinic visit down by his side. We
          pan up to his face.
                          STEPHEN
           What if I had something big?
                         
                          DUFFY
           Like what?
                          STEPHEN
           Something big. Something that'll
           bring Morris down.
                          DUFFY
           What is it?
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           80.
                         CONTINUED: (3)
                         
                          STEPHEN
           (Shaking his head)
           Give me the job.
                         
                          DUFFY
           It's not gonna happen. I'm sorry.
           Go take a nice long vacation.
                         
          Beat.
                         
                          DUFFY (CONT'D)
           You're a smart guy Steve.
           Everything I said yesterday is
           true. But maybe politics isn't for
           you.
                          STEPHEN
           Politics is my life.
                          DUFFY
           Do yourself a favor. Get out now
           while you still can. Go into
           entertainment, or business, or open
           a fucking restaurant in Costa Rica -
           anything. Do what will make you
           happy. You stay in this business
           long enough it makes you jaded and
           cynical.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Like you?
                         
                          DUFFY
           Yeah. Just like me.
                          STEPHEN
           You knew I was gonna tell Paul.
                         
                          DUFFY
           I didn't know. I thought you might,
           but I didn't know.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           You knew if I told him he'd fire
           me.
                          DUFFY
           Thing you gotta know about Paul-
           he's big on loyalty.
                          STEPHEN
           Yeah I got a nice speech on that.
           You were never gonna hire me.
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           81.
                         CONTINUED: (4)
                         
                          DUFFY
           Put yourself in my shoes Steve.
           Your opponent has the best media
           mind in the country working on his
           team. What do you try to do? You
           either try to hire him yourself, or
           work it so if you can't have him,
           the other team can't either. This
           was a win-win situation for me. You
           work for us -great. Paul doesn't
           have you. Then again, if Paul fires
           you and I don't take you -fine -
           Paul still doesn't have you. Either
           way I win. The moment I got you to
           sit down in that chair, I knew I'd
           won.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           This is my life you're talking
           about.
                         
                          DUFFY
           It's not easy for me to do this
           sort of thing Steve. Don't think I
           take any pleasure in it. I'm sorry
           for you. I really am. Take care of
           yourself.
                         
                          CUT TO: 64
                         
          STEPHEN pulls into the parking lot.
                         
          INT. MOLLY'S MOTEL - KENTUCKY - NIGHT
          STEPHEN climbs the back stairwell to avoid seeing any of his
          former co-workers. He gets to the fifth floor and walks down
          the hall towards Molly's room. As he turns the corner he
          sees a maid's cart in front of her room. The door is halfway
          open.
                         
          As he starts walking towards her door, we see the HOTEL
          MANAGER come running out of Molly's room, he heads the
          opposite way towards the elevators...he's fumbling with his
          walkie-talkie.
          STEPHEN gets to her room and we see a JANITOR kneeling over
          Molly's lifeless body.
          Stephen steps into the room. He can barely move. He just
          stands there looking at the situation.
                         
          The JANITOR is on the phone.
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           82.
                         CONTINUED:
                         
                          JANITOR
           No ma'am she's not breathing...No
           nothing...
                         
          Stephen is looking at Molly...he looks around the room...he
          sees her prescription bottle empty on the bed next to
          her...he sees her clothes all around the room.
                         
                          JANITOR (CONT'D)
           ...I don't know, fifteen
           minutes...how far away are they?
                         
          The JANITOR now turns and looks at STEPHEN
                         
                          JANITOR (CONT'D)
           Do you know her?
                         
          STEPHEN nods his head yes.
                          JANITOR (CONT'D)
           She's gone.
                         
          We hear the sound of a distant ambulance.
                         
          JANITOR goes back to the phone.
                          JANITOR (CONT'D)
           Hello...I'm sorry what? Yes I can
           hear them now...
          STEPHEN looks down on the bed and sees Molly's phone. He
          reaches down takes it and slides it in his pocket.
                         
          Close on STEPHENS face as he stares down at Molly.
          We hear the ambulance approaching the building
                         
                          CUT TO:
                         
          EXT. MOLLY'S MOTEL - NIGHT - SECONDS LATER
          Stephen comes running out the door. An ambulance has pulled
          up and EMT's are on their way in. Police are also pulling
          up. Stephen keeps walking - he gets in his car and sits
          there.
          Nothing. No emotion.
                         
          Stephen pulls out his phone and listens to his messages.
                          PHONE
           You have four new messages and four
           saved messages. First new message.
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           83.
                         CONTINUED:
                         
          Beep.
                         
           MOLLY (O.S.)
           Uhm...where are you?...it's
           Uhh...(Crying) it's four
           something...they're gonna close in
           a few minutes...
                         
          Beep.
                         
           BEN (O.S.)
           Stephen, it's Ben...listen ...what
           the fuck...did Paul lose his
           mind?...Jesus...what're you gonna
           do? Call me.
          Beep.
           MOLLY (O.S.)
           Stephen I just heard from
           Ben...please don't do anything
           fucked up...(She's losing it.)
           Godamnit you motherfucker pick up
           the phone! Don't do it you fuck!
                         
          Beep.
          We now hear Molly in a very different tone, calmer, maybe
          even drunk.
           MOLLY (O.S.) (CONT'D)
           I'm not going away...
                         
          Beep.
          Stephen hangs up.
                         
          We stay on him for a while.
                         
                          CUT TO:
          INT. MORRIS HEADQUARTERS - NEXT MORNING
                         
          The GOVERNOR, PAUL, BEN and the other staffers, sit in front
          of a monitor watching a news piece.
          We now cut to CNN footage in front of a hospital as we hear
          the report continue.
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           84.
                         CONTINUED:
                         
           JOHN KING (V.O.)
           The coroner has stated, that based
           on the evidence found by the police
           in the hotel room, that this was an
           accidental overdose, a lethal
           cocktail of alcohol and
           prescription drugs. The Cincinnati
           police chief, Darryl Mathews, has
           called for a full investigation
           pending a toxicology report which
           could take up to two weeks. Just a
           terrible terrible situation for the
           former Senator, now DNC Chairman,
           Jack Stearns and his family.
          Off the Governor's face we:
                         
                          CUT TO:
          EXT. RIVERSIDE PARK - KENTUCKY - DAY
                         
          STEPHEN and SENATOR THOMPSON are seated on a bench.
                         
                          SENATOR THOMPSON
           I want on the ticket...you need me
           on the ticket...and you need my
           delegates...you could use em before
           Tuesday. Make a fine story on the
           Sunday morning news cycle...so I
           expect to hear from you by noon
           tomorrow...or I endorse Pullman and
           take my cabinet seat.
                         
          They look at each other.
           SENATOR THOMPSON (CONT'D)
           Anything else you want to talk
           about?
                         
                          CUT TO:
          INT. PRESS ROOM - CINCINNATI - NEXT MORNING
                         
          We're at a press conference - The GOVERNOR, PAUL, BEN, and
          the rest of the staff, are standing behind the microphone.
          The Governor is making a statement
           GOV. MORRIS
           The entire staff is in a state of
           shock. We have sent our
           condolences to Jack and JoAnna
           Stearns and their whole family...
                          (MORE)
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           85.
                         CONTINUED:
           GOV. MORRIS (CONT'D)
           and of course our hearts go out to
           them... it's hard to imagine what
           they're going through...
           All we know at this point is it
           appears to be a drug...an
           accidental prescription overdose.
           Ida?
                         
                          IDA
           Is suicide ruled out?
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           We have no reason to believe...
                         
          He looks to Paul.
           GOV. MORRIS (CONT'D)
           I don't think we have any of that
           information yet. Obviously there
           will be a full investigation. Just
           wanted to say that our hearts go
           out...our prayers go out to the
           entire family...and she was part of
           our family.
                         
                          REPORTER 5
           Did you know her well Governor?
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           Not well. But I did know her, and
           what I saw was a hard working,
           young woman, with a great and
           positive spirit. It's a very sad
           day in our campaign and a very sad
           day for the people close to Jack.
                          REPORTER 6
           How long has she interned with you
           Governor?
          The Governor looks back at Paul. Paul steps up to the mic.
                         
                          PAUL
           She'd only been on the road with us
           for a few weeks...maybe four I
           think, I can check.
                          IDA
           Will you continue with your
           schedule today? You're set to tour
           Proctor & Gamble this afternoon.
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           86.
                         CONTINUED: (2)
                         
                          PAUL
           We will most certainly stay on
           schedule. This accident, and we
           have to assume for now it's an
           accident, is just simply a tragedy.
           The work, the schedule won't be
           altered. It just means that those
           of us that knew Molly will go about
           our jobs with a heavy heart.
                         
          As these questions continue, the Governor's cell phone
          vibrates. He pulls it from his pocket and reads the name of
          the caller. It reads "Molly." He looks up. Panic starts to
          set in - the only sounds we hear are his heart beating and
          the phone vibrating.
          The Governor looks at each of his staff members. Then he
          scans around the room looking through the press corps up to
          the back doorway where he locks eyes with Stephen.
                         
          STEPHEN holds a cell phone to his ear. They stare at each
          other. Then Stephen hangs up, and the Governor's phone stops
          vibrating.
                         
          Stephen turns and leaves.
                          CUT TO:
                         
          EXT. RESTAURANT - CINCINNATI - THAT NIGHT
          STEPHEN approaches the restaurant - the lights are off. He
          peers through a window - we hear the door unlock. One of the
          Governor's SECRET SERVICE MEN opens the door. He motions
          Stephen in.
          INT. RESTAURANT - CINCINNATI - CONTINUOUS
                         
          Stephen follows the secret service guy through the dark
          restaurant - they pass several other secret service guys
          sitting in booths. They cross towards the back to the
          kitchen door - STEPHEN enters.
                         
          INT. RESTAURANT KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS
                         
          The kitchen is small and dimly lit. The Governor is standing
          behind the center island - hanging pans hide his face.
           GOV. MORRIS
           It seems you have something you
           want to talk about.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Does it seem that way?
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           87.
                         CONTINUED:
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           If you have something...or think
           you have something you want to get
           off your chest...
                          STEPHEN
           What's say I do the talking and you
           do the listening.
           GOV. MORRIS
           Okay.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           As of tomorrow morning there's
           going to be some changes in your
           campaign. Paul is out. I will be
           your senior campaign manager. I'll
           draft a statement, "we're at a
           point in the campaign where some
           changes have to be made etc." You
           can put your own words in there,
           you do it better than most.
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           And why would I do that?
          Beat.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Because you want to win. Because
           you broke the only rule in
           politics. You want to be
           President, you can start a war, you
           can lie, you can cheat, you can
           bankrupt the country, but you can't
           fuck the interns...they'll get you
           for that.
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           What do you think you have Stephen?
           A troubled young girl tells you a
           story.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           A troubled young pregnant girl...
           GOV. MORRIS
           Is that what she told you?
                          STEPHEN
           ...Who needed cash for an abortion.
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           88.
                         CONTINUED: (2)
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           What did you do, give her money?
           Maybe she just wanted cash and you
           were the perfect guy to hit up.
                          STEPHEN
           Is that your best play?
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           You need a job that bad Stephen?
           You walk in here with your dick in
           your hand...you've got nothing.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           So how did I get here? You're
           right Mike, there's nothing. No
           phone messages, no text, no e-
           mails, no photos or tapes, and yet
           I'm standing right here.
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           Well go home.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           She left a note.
          The Governor stands in silence.
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           How would you know that?
                          STEPHEN
           I cleaned up your mess. I took her
           phone and I found her note.
          They stare at each other in silence.
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           I thought it was an accident.
                         THEN:
                         
                          STEPHEN
           You tell me, you were the last one
           she called. Note says she was
           pregnant, said you were going to
           pay for her abortion...it also said
           she didn't want to hurt you.
           GOV. MORRIS
           Then why would she leave a note
           that could only do that?
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           89.
                         CONTINUED: (3)
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Because she's twenty.
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           What do you want?
                          STEPHEN
           Paul's gone today. I set a meeting
           with you and Thompson where you
           promise him the ticket. You get
           three hundred and fifty-six pledged
           delegates, you get North Carolina,
           and then you take office and make
           right what so many have made wrong.
           All the things we both believe in.
           GOV. MORRIS
           Well I don't believe in
           extortion...I don't believe in
           tying myself to you for the next
           eight years.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Four years, let's not get ahead of
           ourselves.
          A long beat.
                         
          Finally the Governor says:
           GOV. MORRIS
           What were you doing in her room?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Housekeeping, before you ended up
           on page one.
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           No. You were already fired, you
           were out. What were you doing in
           her room?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           I was fixing a situation...I got a
           call, someone from the hotel
           thought I could help and called me.
           GOV. MORRIS
           You were off the campaign, but you
           thought it was important to come
           back and fix things? It was your
           voice on the phone the other night.
                          (MORE)
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           90.
                         CONTINUED: (4)
           GOV. MORRIS (CONT'D)
           You were fucking her. What did you
           do Stephen?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           I loaned her some money and gave
           her a ride.
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           I bet you did.
                         
          Pause.
                         
                         AND THEN:
                         
           GOV. MORRIS (CONT'D)
           There's no note.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Okay, there's no note.
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           Show it to me.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           You think I brought it here?
           That's how people get hurt.
           GOV. MORRIS
           Okay let's play this out. You're
           not wearing a wire because
           everything you've suggested is
           illegal...and you wouldn't fare
           well in federal prison. You were
           fucking her and she told you about
           her situation. There are no
           records or conversations between
           us. And since she's had an
           abortion, no DNA evidence. So if
           there's no note, then it's your
           word against mine. Your word. A
           fired, disgruntled, employee, or a
           sitting governor...There's no note.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           It's your call Governor.
          As the Governor weighs his options we-
                         
                          CUT TO:
           91.
                         
                         
          INT. BARBER SHOP - EARLY MORNING
                         
          PAUL is sitting in a barber shop getting his hair cut... the
          BARBER cuts... Paul sits there. The TV is on... a sports
          show... no one talks. We watch Paul's face as the barber
          clips the back of his head.
                         
                          CUT TO:
          EXT. STREET OUTSIDE BARBER SHOP
                         
          PAUL walks out, starts down the street. As he passes the
          first corner, he sees the Governor's SUV and the Secret
          Service SUV both parked on the side of the road. Paul looks
          at the SUV... then walks up to the window. The window rolls
          down and the GOVERNOR leans his head out.
                         
           GOV. MORRIS
           Paul you got a minute?
                         
          We stay outside the car for along time. We hear CHRIS
          MATHEWS under this shot. We see Paul get out of the SUV and
          the two SUVs drive off, leaving him standing there.
                         
          EXT. NICER HOTEL - CINCINNATI - NEXT DAY - ESTABLISHING
          INT. NICER HOTEL ROOM- CINCINNATI - NEXT DAY
                         
          STEPHEN'S in a different hotel now.
          The TV is on.
                         
                          CHRIS MATHEWS
           How much could a big shake up days
           before the Ohio primary hurt a
           campaign. I asked Paul Zara how
           his firing could actually help the
           candidate.
                         
          We See STEPHEN, shaving in the bathroom mirror, as he listens
          to the TV.
                         
                          PAUL
           The Governor and I both felt, that
           in light of some of these changing
           numbers, it was best to put a new
           face on the campaign...Stephen is
           very talented...very smart...
                          CUT TO:
           92.
                         
                         
          EXT. WHEELING WEST VIRGINIA - SAME DAY
                         
          We see a shot of an old church. People are walking up the
          steps and through the big open doors.
          INT. CHURCH - WHEELING WEST VIRGINIA
                         
          We're at a memorial service for Molly. We see a lot of young
          people. PAUL is sitting in the back row. As Molly's father
          JACK STEARNS speaks STEPHEN walks in. He sits in the
          adjacent row - he and Paul look at each other.
                         
                          JACK STEARNS
           You always hear people talking
           about events out of sequence...the
           order of things. There is no
           greater grief than a parent laying
           their child to rest...She was a
           little girl trying to make it in a
           very grown up world...a world were
           every mistake is magnified and she
           was smart and pretty and so so
           young.
                         
          He looks to the PRIEST next to him.
           JACK STEARNS (CONT'D)
           Father, you ask us to accept God's
           plan, to not question his judgment,
           with all due respect, I don't
           accept this judgment. She made the
           world better, not just for me, but
           for everyone she touched.
                         
                          FADE TO:
          EXT. CHURCH - WHEELING WEST VIRGINIA - LATER
                         
          We're on the street in front of the church. People are
          filing out. PAUL is waiting next to STEPHEN'S car as Steven
          walks up.
                         
                          PAUL
           You should hire Jack for a speech
           writer.
                          STEPHEN
           I'll keep that in mind. Are you
           here to talk to me?
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           93.
                         CONTINUED:
                         
                          PAUL
           No. I'm friends with the family.
           I got her the internship...known
           her since she was born.
                          STEPHEN
           I'm sorry.
                         
                          PAUL
           The Governor couldn't make the
           flight?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           He's meeting with Thompson.
                          PAUL
           Look at you, all grown up with tits
           and all.
                          STEPHEN
           I learned from the best.
                         
                          PAUL
           One day we'll grab a beer and
           you'll tell me what you had on the
           Governor that put me out.
                          STEPHEN
           How do you know I didn't have
           something on you?
          They both smile.
                         
                          PAUL
           You better get going, you've got a
           campaign to run and I've got
           offices to go look at.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Farragut North?
          Paul nods his head.
                         
                          PAUL
           Nice consultant firm right off of K
           Street.
          Paul turns to leave.
                          PAUL (CONT'D)
           A million a year and nobody to fuck
           you over.
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           94.
                         CONTINUED: (2)
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Sounds relaxing.
                         
          Paul, without looking back.
                          PAUL
           Doesn't it.
                         
                          CUT TO:
                         
          INT. XAVIER UNIVERSITY - CINCINNATI- DAY
                         
          GOVERNOR MORRIS with his WIFE and DAUGHTER, stand at the
          podium just behind Senator Thompson. There are a few hundred
          people in attendance, campaign workers, supporters and press.
                          SENATOR THOMPSON
           And the right man to lead this
           great nation of ours in these
           challenging times and the next
           President of the United States of
           America, Governor Mike
           Morris!...And I ask only one thing,
           that all of us stand shoulder to
           shoulder and arm in arm in a united
           Democratic party.
          Huge cheers.
                         
           SENATOR THOMPSON (CONT'D)
           And I strongly urge that the three
           hundred and fifty-six loyal
           delegates that I have carried as a
           badge of honor, throw their support
           to the Governor. Let's end this
           primary and get on to the business
           of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave!
                         
          More big cheers.
           SENATOR THOMPSON (CONT'D)
           Thank you. And God bless the
           United States of America.
                         
          Thompson turns and shakes the hand of Governor Morris.
          Morris steps up to the microphone.
                          CUT TO:
          EXT. XAVIER UNIVERSITY - CINCINNATI
                         
          Under the following we hear the Governor's speech.
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           95.
                         CONTINUED:
                         
          We see Satellite trucks, press vehicles, police cars, etc.
                         
          At a catering truck we see a pair of hands grab some coffee
          and cookies. This is another young intern, JILL.
          We follow her across the street and into a door.
                         
          INT. XAVIER HALLWAYS & RECEPTION ROOM - CONTINUOUS
          JILL comes through the door.
                         
          We follow her through the hallways crowded with television
          cables and technicians. She makes her way in to a large
          reception room, where Stephen is watching Governor Morris
          give his speech. She hands him a coffee.
          We cut between The Governor and Stephen watching from the
          back.
           GOV. MORRIS
           Thank you Senator Thompson! Well
           the polls aren't quite closed, but
           I want to congratulate Senator
           Pullman...And his Republican
           constituents on their win here in
           Ohio.
          The room explodes in laughter and applause.
                         
           GOV. MORRIS (CONT'D)
           Senator Thompson I am honored to
           stand here today with you. I am
           humbled by your kind words, thank
           you. Ladies and gentlemen, today
           marks the beginning of a fight
           between two sets of ideals. Either
           we're going to move forward or were
           going to live in the past...
           Either we're going to lead the
           world in technology, or we are
           going to bury our heads in the
           sand... the sands of Saudi
           Arabia...the sands of Iraq! Either
           we're going to let greed and
           corruption ruin our industries and
           our shorelines or we are going to
           take back our country! We are not a
           nation used to coming in second or
           third...
                         
          Cheers.
                         
                          CUT TO:
           96.
                         
                         
          INT. XAVIER UNIVERSITY - HALLWAY & STAGING ROOM
                         
          While the Governor's speech continues we stay close on
          Stephen as he walks through the crowd. We follow him into
          Governor Morris's staging area.
          Four monitors on a table show different network feeds. We
          watch Stephen roll down his sleeves and button his shirt. He
          ties his tie and puts his jacket on. From the monitors we
          hear reporters etc.
                         
          We push in on one of the monitors where DUFFY is being
          interviewed. As we push in we see STEPHEN cross out of the
          room. BEN is watching, he looks back and smiles at STEPHEN.
                          DUFFY
           No it's not decisive, we still have
           several contests and those states
           are going to want to have their
           say. It does look like we'll win
           Ohio...
                         
                          RACHEL MADDOW
           But you must concede that these
           three hundred and fifty-six
           delegates put the pledged delegates
           out of reach. And with word today
           that the super delegates are
           breaking three to one for Morris.
                          DUFFY
           We still have a lot of contests
           Rachel, Ohio is-
                         
                          RACHEL MADDOW
           Well then do you have the funds?
           As we read it-
                         
                          DUFFY
                          (SMILING)
           Of course we have the funds. We're
           getting new donations daily...
                         
          Our new intern, JILL crosses into frame looking down at BEN.
                         
                          JILL
           Hey...Ben...I was told to talk to
           you. I'm supposed to get a
           phone...
                          BEN
           Right...you're....
                         
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           97.
                         CONTINUED:
                         
                          JILL
           Jill Morris...no relation.
                         
                          BEN
           Are you a Bearcat?
                          JILL
           No...I'm from Columbus I'm a
           Buckeye.
                         
                          CUT TO:
                         
          EXT. XAVIER UNIVERSITY - QUAD - CONTINUOUS
                         
          A shot of STEPHEN walking across the quad towards the gym.
          INT. XAVIER UNIVERSITY GYM CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS
          We pick up Stephen walking with Ida.
                         
                          IDA
           You're making me look bad.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           How so?
                          IDA
           I just filed a story that said you
           were off the campaign and Thompson
           was going to Pullman.
                          STEPHEN
           You can't believe everything you
           read.
                          IDA
           I want to give you an opportunity
           to comment on my next story. It
           says that you delivered
           Thompson...You got the three
           hundred and fifty-six delegates,
           you delivered the nomination. And
           all you asked in return was Paul's
           job. Any chance of you confirming
           that?
          They approach a security guard standing by a set of double
          doors.
                          STEPHEN
           No press beyond this point...she's
           press. I'll read about it in the
           funny papers.
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           98.
                         CONTINUED:
                         
                          IDA
           Come on Stephen...aren't we friends
           anymore?
                         
                          STEPHEN
           You're my best friend Ida.
                         
          And Stephen walks through the doors.
          INT. XAVIER UNIVERSITY - GYMNASIUM - A FEW MINUTES LATER
                         
          A wide shot of the darkened gymnasium. Stephen sits on a
          stool in front of a camera lit by a single television light.
                         
          We're now in tight - One PERSON is putting a mic on Stephen
          while the OTHER is applying make-up.
                         
          No one speaks.
          The sound man then puts and earwig into Stephens ear.
                         
                          SOUND MAN
           You should be able to hear
           them...do you hear them?
                         
          We hear the buzzing in his ear of the broadcast from New
          York.
                         
                          STEPHEN
           Yeah I can hear them.
                          SOUND MAN
           Good, quick mic check can you count
           to ten for me?
          Stephen counts to ten. Everyone stands behind the camera.
          The sound man with his headset on whispers..
                         
           SOUND MAN (CONT'D)
           They're coming to you in about
           forty five seconds.
                         
          We sit in silence staring at Stephens face.
                         
          Ten seconds - nothing.
          Twenty seconds - nothing
                         
          This scene starts to resemble our opening - A dark auditorium
          - only a few people doing their individual jobs.
                         
          Stephen looks at two interns holding clipboards and cell
          phones.
                         
                         
                          (CONTINUED)
           99.
                         CONTINUED:
                         
          The FIRST AD is sitting on the floor talking on his headset.
                         
          The CAMERAMAN makes adjustments.
                         
          A MAN sweeping the gym floor in the distance.
          They all seem to be staring at him. They probably aren't -
          but he feels it. The enthusiasm and excitement of Stephen
          has given over to emptiness. The price of winning at all
          cost.
                         
          We stay on Stephen's face.
                         
          We now hear the Governor's speech through Stephen's earwig.
           GOV. MORRIS
           Senator Thompson I am proud that
           you have brought integrity back to
           this election. Because that's what
           this comes down to, integrity. Who
           we are. Because how we project
           ourselves to the rest of the world
           matters!...Dignity
           matters!...Integrity matters!...Our
           future depends on it!
          Forty seconds - the silence is broken by the SOUND MAN.
                         
                          SOUND MAN
           Coming to you in
           five...four...three...two...
                         
          Through the earwig we hear an JOHN KING.
                         
                          JOHN KING
           We now have Governor Morris's new
           senior campaign advisor, Stephen
           Myers, coming to us from Xavier
           University where Senator Thompson
           has just endorsed Governor Morris,
           essentially ending this primary
           race. (To Stephen) Stephen, can
           you give us some insight into how
           this whole thing unfolded?
                         
          And before he can answer we:
           CUT TO BLACK:
                          


Ides of March, The



Writers :   George Clooney  Grant Heslov  Beau Willimon
Genres :   Drama


User Comments







Index    |    Submit    |    Link to IMSDb    |    Disclaimer    |    Privacy policy    |    Contact