The President gazes from one expectant face to another. But
he himself remains unreadable.
THE PRESIDENT
Quarantine or air strike.
Adlai clears his throat. Everyone looks over at him. He
stares down at his clasped hands for a beat. He's anguished
about what he's going to say.
ADLAI
There is a third option. With either
course we undertake the risk of nuclear
war. It seems to me maybe one of us in
here should be a coward.
He smiles weakly, but gets no response from anyone.
ADLAI (CONT'D)
So I guess I'll be. Our third choice is
to cut a deal. We trade Guantanamo and
our missiles in Turkey, get them to pull
their missiles out. We employ a back
channel, attribute the idea to U Thant.
U Thant then raises it at the U.N.
Adlai looks for support around the room, but meets only stony
gazes. From McCone and General Taylor, contempt. Dead
silence for a long, long beat.
Kenny's heart goes out to Stevenson as he watches the man
commit political suicide. Even Sorensen, standing behind
him, unconsciously moves away. At last the President speaks.
THE PRESIDENT
I don't think that's possible, Adlai.
(beat, to the room)
I will be asking the networks for air
time Monday night. I have not yet made
my final decision. We will announce our
course of action then. I want to thank
you all for your advice, gentlemen.
EXT. TRUMAN BALCONY - DAY
Kenny, Bobby, and the President lean on the railing of the
Truman Balcony, stare out at the city.
BOBBY
Goddman Stevenson. Jesus. Peace at any
price. You'd think nobody learned
anything from World War Two.
THE PRESIDENT
Somebody had to say it. I respect Adlai
for having the guts to risk looking like
an appeaser.
BOBBY
We have to pull him. He's not going to
be able to handle the Soviets in front
of the U.N. Zorin will eat him alive.
THE PRESIDENT
We've got bigger problems right now.
KENNY
We have to try the blockades. It
probably won't work. It may just be
delaying the inevitable. But we can't
just go to war without trying not to.
THE PRESIDENT
I don't know. I don't know.
He stares out at the Ellipse where a little-league football
game sweeps across the grass, the shouts and screams of the
CHILDREN, so alive, floating to them on the wind.
EXT. PATIO - JIM ROWE'S HOUSE - NIGHT
A crowded D.C. party spills out of Jim Rowe's house onto his
patio. Kenny steps INTO FRAME. He looks at the PARTYGOERS,
the Washington social set. He stands out, oppressed by the
knowledge he's unable to share. He takes a stiff drink.
Suddenly out of the house totters Adlai, highball in hand.
Glassy-eyed, he grins at Kenny and joins him.
ADLAI
Just can't get away from you guys.
Escaping for a night on the town, eh?
KENNY
As the town's most popular playboy, the
President felt my presence would be
sorely missed. So in the interests of
National Security...