That may be why Khruschev's introducing
this guy. We've been burned by his
usual players in the formal channels, so
he brings in an honest broker.
MCCONE
That may be what they want us to think.
RUSK
The truth is, Mr. President, we don't
even really know whom Fomin speaks for.
It could be Khruschev. It could be some
faction in the Politburo or the KGB
itself. We just don't know.
BOBBY
By the way, Scali, your activities now
fall under the secrecy codicils of the
National Security Act. Sorry, no
Pulitzer.
The gathered men chuckle, only Scali a bit dour but being a
good sport about it. Scali checks his watch.
SCALI
Mr. President, we don't have much time.
I'm supposed to meet with him again in
three and a half hours.
THE PRESIDENT
Well, it seems the question of the day
is -- is the offer legitimate?
He moves away from his desk. The men watch him.
THE PRESIDENT (CONT'D)
If it is... if it is, then we can't
afford to ignore it.
(beat, to Scali)
John, we'll have instructions for you in
a couple of hours.
Scali nods. Rusk escorts him out. They wait until the door
closes. Taylor looks over at McCone who nods.
GENERAL TAYLOR
Mr. President, I'm afraid we have some
bad news. We're getting GMAIC estimates
from our latest low-level overflights.
It appears the missiles are two to three
days away from operational status.
MCCONE
So we don't have much time to play out
back-channel communiques.
Kenny gives Bobby a hard look. The President appears
unfazed.
GENERAL TAYLOR
The quarantine, sir, is not producing
results. The Chiefs feel it's time you
take another look at our options.
The President considers Taylor, then looks over to Kenny.
THE PRESIDENT
Kenny, get over to your old stomping
grounds. Go through everything the FBI
has on Fomin. I need your best call: is
this guy legit and is he speaking for
Khruschev? And I need you to tell me by
the time I call you, because right after
I call you, I'm calling Scali with his
instructions.
INT. FBI, COUNTER-INTELLIGENCE DEPARTMENT FILES - NIGHT
BANG! A STACK OF FILES slams down beside Kenny on a large
paper-covered conference table. WALTER SHERIDAN, Kenny's
investigator-buddy, wears a visitor's pass just like Kenny.
Kenny and Walter RIFLE through the folders, super fast, super
proficient. A half-dozen FBI AGENTS work around the table.
SHERIDAN
Okay. So, what we've got is this guy
Alexander Feklisov, aka Alexander Fomin,
declared Consul to the Soviet Embassy,
but in reality the KGB Papa Spy. An
illustrious tour of duty during the
Great Patriotic War gets him on the
Party fast track, various tours of duty
in KGB, American postings. He's an
expert on us, and... that's all we've
got on Papa Spy.
KENNY
Who's he talking for? Is it Khruschev,
or is this more bullshit?
Kenny stands, runs his hands through his hair, aggravated.
KENNY (CONT'D)
How do you become the KGB top spy in the
United States?
SHERIDAN
Gotta know someone.
Kenny whirls on Sheridan. A frozen beat.
KENNY
Politics is politics. Walter.
(whirling on Agents)
Khruschev is the Moscow Party Boss under
Stalin. Give me their career
chronologies!
Walter pushes a typed dateline of Khruschev's major career
moves, and one of the Agents hands Kenny a list of Fomin's
postings. He lays them side by side. And for every step of
Khruschev's, there's a step for Fomin. Not only that, but
the DATES ARE IDENTICAL or nearly so.
KENNY (CONT'D)
Every time Khruschev moves up, Fomin
does within a year...
(tracing up the list)
Khruschev was the administrator in
charge of preparing Moscow's defenses
during the war. And Fomin... was here
in the U.S.
Kenny's face falls. But a YOUNG FBI AGENT cuts in.
YOUNG FBI AGENT
Not at first.
The Young FBI Agent proffers him a file. Kenny snatches it.
YOUNG FBI AGENT (CONT'D)
He was an engineer stationed outside
Moscow in '42. Specialized in tank
traps.
Kenny looks up at Walter. Walter nods sagely, lights a pipe.
KENNY
They know each other. They're war
buddies.
SHERIDAN
It's thin. But real life usually is.
A PHONE on the table SHRILLS, shattering the silent triumph.
KENNY
Hello?
THE PRESIDENT (O.S.)
I've got to move. What do you have,
Kenny?
KENNY
They know each other! Khruschev and
Feklisov aka Fomin were war buddies!
THE PRESIDENT (O.S.)
You're sure...
KENNY
Don't take it to court, but we've got
good circumstantial evidence...
(off Walter's nod)
Walter agrees. My gut's telling me
Khruschev's turning to a trusted old
friend to carry his message.
THE PRESIDENT (O.S.)
Okay, Ken. We're going.
INT. STATLER HOTEL COFFEE SHOP - NIGHT
A few lonely BUSINESS TRAVELERS hang out in the dim coffee
shop. Faint music plays. Scali and ALEXANDER FOMIN sit with
steaming cups of coffee. Scali, nervous, unfolds a note.
Fomin, an expressionless gray spectre of a man, eyes him. He
is, in his boredom, a spy's spy.
SCALI
I am instructed to tell you that the
American Government would respond
favorably to an offer along the lines
you have discussed. If this solution
were raised at the U.N. by Ambassador
Zorin, he would find a favorable reply
from Ambassador Stevenson.
FOMIN
So I understand you correctly. If the
missiles in Cuba were dismantled,
returned to the Soviet Union, and a
guarantee was made not to reintroduce
them, the United States would be
prepared to guarantee that it would
never invade Cuba?
SCALI
That is correct.
FOMIN
This is from the Highest Authority?
SCALI
Yes. From the Highest Authority. There
are two conditions. The U.N.
must be allowed to inspect the removal
of the missiles.
FOMIN
And, of course, the U.N. must be allowed
to observe the redeployment of forces
from the American Southeast.
Scali demurs. He has no instructions on this count.
FOMIN (CONT'D)
And the second condition?
SCALI
Time is of the essence.
Scali takes a sip of coffee. Fomin stares at him, intense.
FOMIN
John. How much time?
SCALI
48 hours. In 48 hours there can be no
deals.
INT. OVAL OFFICE - NIGHT
Scali finishes debriefing the President, Bobby, Kenny,
McCone, Taylor and Bundy.
SCALI
He left right away. Got the feeling he
meant business.
Kenny and Bobby share a hopeful glance. Rusk enters from
Kenny's office. And he's unable to contain his excitement.
RUSK
Mr. President, we're receiving a letter
from Khruschev over at State.