Taylor nods, vindicated. The others murmur their approval.
Bobby, at the table in front of Kenny and to his left, trades
a dire look with Kenny. This is happening too fast. Bobby
holds his head, looks about at the others, deeply distressed.
The President sinks back in his chair, staring at Acheson.
THE PRESIDENT
Then it appears we have three options.
Number one. A surgical air strike
against the missiles themselves. Two, a
larger air strike against their air
defenses along with the missiles.
Kenny eyes Bobby. Bobby is writing something.
THE PRESIDENT (CONT'D)
And three, invasion.
Bobby looks over his shoulder at Kenny, and REACHES BACK to
him with a folded NOTE. Kenny takes it, opens it.
It reads NOW I KNOW WHO TOJO FELT PLANNING PEARL HARBOR.
THE PRESIDENT (CONT'D)
We're certainly going to do number one;
we're going to take out these missiles,
so it seems to me we don't have to wait
very long. We ought to at least be
making those preparations.
Kenny gives Bobby a curt nod. Bobby tilts his head at the
President: pass the note on to him. Kenny rises, slips the
note in front of the President.
The President unfolds the note, and we HOLD ON IT and his
reaction as in the b.g., out of focus, Taylor speaks:
GENERAL TAYLOR
Yes, sir, we're preparing to implement
all three options, though I must stress
again, sir, there are risks to the
strikes without the follow-on invasion.
Bundy clears his throat. Speaks from somewhere down the
table.
BUNDY
You want to be clear, Mr. President,
that we have definitely decided against
a political track.
The President folds the note away, glances at Bobby. A beat,
the President looks from Bobby to Acheson.
THE PRESIDENT
Dean, how does this play out?
ACHESON
Your first step, sir, will be to demand
that the Soviet withdraw the missiles
within 12 to 24 hours. They will
refuse. When they do, you will order
the strikes, followed by the invasion.
They will resist, but will be overrun.
They will retaliate against a target
somewhere else in the world, most likely
Berlin. We will honor our treaty
commitments and resist them there,
defeating them per our plans.
THE PRESIDENT
Those plans call for the use of nuclear
weapons.
(beat)
And what is the next step?
Acheson sits back in his chair, smooths his moustache. A
dramatic beat, and then his ominous pronouncement rings out:
ACHESON
Hopefully cooler heads will prevail
before we reach the next step.
A chill runs down Kenny's spine. He looks in shock to the
President. The President remains calm. But in place of the
fated look the President has had, there's a hesitation.
INT. WEST WING HALLS - NIGHT
Acheson strides down the hall, Taylor, Sweeney, Carter and
Bundy swept along behind him. Bundy is on the defensive, the
others grim.
GENERAL TAYLOR
If McNamara'd get off the fence...
BUNDY
We have time.
GENERAL CARTER
Goddamn it, it's obvious. It's the only
option. That asshole, Stevenson. We
can't let this drag out or we lose our
shot.
BUNDY
Bombing them...
ACHESON
Remember that the Kennedys' father was
one of the architects of Munich. The
General is right. There is only one
responsible choice here.
Bundy just nods. Taylor grabs a door ahead for Acheson.
ACHESON (CONT'D)
Let's pray appeasement doesn't run in
families. I fear weakness does.
And the men head into a stairwell going down.
INT. OVAL OFFICE - NIGHT
Grimacing in pain. He opens a pill bottle, takes two pills
out. He takes a whiskey in a shot glass from Kenny.
RESUME
Kenny finishes pouring him and Bobby a couple of more shots,
discreetly turning a blind eye to the President's pain.
The President returns from his desk, shirt untucked,
disheveled, back stiff. He eases into his rocking chair.
Bobby lies sprawled on the couch. Kenny sits down. They all
look at each other. A beat, something like shock.
KENNY
Jesus Christ Almighty...
They burst out laughing. An absurd, tension draining moment.
They shoot their drinks, Kenny refills.
KENNY (CONT'D)
Call me Irish, but I don't believe in
cooler heads prevailing.
THE PRESIDENT
Acheson's scenario is unacceptable. And
he has more experience than anyone.
KENNY
There is no expert on this subject, no
wise old man.
The President stares Kenny in the face, understanding.