All eyes are on Admiral Anderson's overhead projections.
Bobby, restless, gets up, begins pacing.
BOBBY
What happens if the ship doesn't stop
for inspection or want to be towed?
ADMIRAL ANDERSON
A warning shot will be fired across its
bow.
Bobby stops, stares directly at the Admiral.
BOBBY
And what happens if the ship ignores the
warning shot?
ADMIRAL ANDERSON
Then we fire at its rudder, disable it,
and carry out the inspection.
Kenny looks at the President who remains unmoved, unreadable.
THE PRESIDENT
There will be no shooting without my
explicit orders. Is that understood?
ADMIRAL ANDERSON
Yes, sir.
The President glances at McNamara.
THE PRESIDENT
Well, Admiral, it looks like it's up to
the Navy.
ADMIRAL ANDERSON
The Navy won't let you down, sir.
THE PRESIDENT
General, have we developed any more
information on the missiles?
GENERAL TAYLOR
They are continuing to proceed with the
development. We're commencing low-level
photography runs this morning.
MCCONE
The pictures will be used to firm up our
estimates of the missiles' readiness and
develop target packages for strikes
should you order them.
GENERAL TAYLOR
Our guy running this show is the best.
Commander Bill Ecker of the Navy's VFP
62, the Fightin' Photo. Something of a
character, but the highest efficiency
ratings we've ever had.
He pushes Ecker's personnel file across the table, and as the
President opens it, on ECKER'S PHOTO, we SMASH CUT TO:
INT. READY ROOM - KEY WEST NAVAL AIR STATION - DAY
The man himself, COMMANDER BILL ECKER, 30s, playing cards,
smoking cigars with his wingman, LIEUTENANT BRUCE WILHEMY and
the PILOTS of VFP-62, the 'Fightin' Photo.' They lounge,
tinker with equipment. Their ready room is filled with pin
ups, movie posters, and all things photographic.
ECKER
75 millimeter, I'm listening. On the
big screen there's nothing like it.
The other pilots heckle him, but are muted by Taylor.
GENERAL TAYLOR (V.O.)
To protect our pilots, we're prepared to
retaliate against any SAM site or anti
aircraft battery that opens fire.
WILHEMY
Watch out, Hollywood. There's a new
epic director in town!
INT. CABINET ROOM - DAY
EXCOM listens in sober silence.
GENERAL TAYLOR
We have a flight of Thunderchiefs able
to respond within minutes of an attack
on our planes.
Kenny catches the President's eye. Kenny glances at the
door. Step outside, I need to talk to you.
INT. OVAL OFFICE - CONTINUOUS
The President and Kenny stand in front of the President's
desk. All the doors are shut. Weak sunlight filters into
the hushed room as if to a confessional.
KENNY
I don't like what's happening.
THE PRESIDENT
In the morning I'm taking charge of the
blockade from the situation room.
McNamara'll set up shop in the flag plot
at the Pentagon, keep an eye on things
there.
KENNY
All right. 'Cause you get armed
boarders climbing into Soviet ships,
shots being fired across bows...
THE PRESIDENT
I know, I know...
KENNY
What about these low-level flights?
They're starting in what? An hour? Do
you realize what you're letting yourself
in for?
THE PRESIDENT
We need those flights. We have to know
when those missiles become operational,
because when they do, we need to destroy
them.
KENNY
Fair enough. But Castro's on alert and
we're flying attack planes over their
sites, on the deck. There's no way for
them to know they're carrying cameras,
not bombs. They're going to be shot at,
plain and simple.