The Manchurian Candidate
EXT. SOMEWHERE IN SOUTH KOREA - NIGHT
Darkness. A superimposed TITLE reads:
KOREA
1952
Headlights in the dark. A U.S. Army troop truck emerges from the woods
on a muddy dirt road and pulls up outside a decidedly non-Army,
nondescript wooden building.
At the wheel is stern, stolid, spoiled Staff Sergeant RAYMOND SHAW -- as
young and handsome as he is wooden and priggish. Beside him, reading a
book, is an older man, Captain BENNET MARCO, an easy-going but
intelligent officer. Career army man Marco and rich kid Raymond
aren't exactly friends -- for Raymond is constitutionally unable to
make friends with anyone -- but war, like politics, makes strange
bedfellows, and they have achieved an uneasy mutual respect.
After he watches Raymond anxiously jump out of the truck and hustle into
the building, Marco smokes his cigarette and shakes his head a little
sadly -- as if to say, "Poor Raymond" -- and resumes his reading.
CUT TO:
INT. BUILDING - NIGHT
Raymond makes his way unsteadily down a HALLWAY lit by a few bare light
bulbs in the ceiling. This is not a place he visits often and he rather
dislikes being here. Laughter and loud JAZZ music drift in from some
unseen source. A laughing soldier in an undershirt blunders out of a
curtained bedroom and into the hall with a half-dressed Korean
prostitute wrapped around him. He kisses her as Raymond sidles past
them with distaste.
Raymond crosses to some sliding doors and slides them open to reveal the
source of the laughter and music: a large, SMOKY ROOM full of American
GIs and Korean hookers. The GIs are the members of Raymond's patrol.
A few of them play poker. The rest sit/kiss/fondle/chat with their
hired women. Most everyone drinks beer and smokes cigarettes. A
portrait of General MacArthur (saluting, no less) hangs on the wall
behind Raymond as he looks the place over in disgust. In one corner of
the room, an ugly dragon wearing an army helmet is labeled "Sarge" in
honor of the much-despised Raymond. Phrases like "Home Sweet Home" and
"God Bless America" are written in chalk on the walls.
One of the girls approaches Raymond and takes his arm but he shrugs her
off while pulling a whistle from his pocket. Raymond BLOWS the whistle
and everyone looks up. One KOREAN GIRL panics and tries to jump out of
the lap of Corporal ALAN MELVIN, the patrol's only African-American.
KOREAN GIRL
Joint raided!?
MELVIN
No, no.
ED MAVOLE, standing at the bar between two ladies, twists his undershirt
in frustration.
ED MAVOLE
It's just our Raymond. Our
lovable Sergeant Shaw.
RAYMOND SHAW
All right, let's go, you men! Come
on!
Universal GROANS and GRUMBLES greet the bad news. The men reluctantly
make ready to leave.
RAYMOND SHAW
Let's go!
Madame GERTRUDE, sensing the imminent loss of clientele, approaches
Raymond.
GERTRUDE
Come on, Sarge. Gertrude buy you
beer.
Raymond brushes her off and exits.
HOOKER #2
What's a matter him?
ONE OF THE MEN
I'm afraid our Saint Raymond, he
don't approve.
BOBBY LEMBECK, the patrol's youngest member at age sixteen, just got
laid for the first time tonight and is in a sympathetic mood.
LEMBECK
Well, maybe he's got a girl back
home or somethin'.
Melvin puts on his boots. His woman moves at once to lace them.
MELVIN
Him? Our Raymond? Are you kidding?
One of the hookers reads an old issue of Movie Life magazine as SILVER,
in a bathrobe, starts to leave.
ONE OF THE MEN
Hey, Silver, how 'bout the robe?
SILVER
What do you mean my robe? Get out
of here.
The room slowly begins to empty out.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. NEAR ENEMY LINES - NIGHT
An almost moonless night. The patrol picks its way through the jungle.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. BY A SHALLOW STREAM - NIGHT
Later that night, CHUNJIN -- the tough-looking young Korean man who acts
as the patrol's guide and interpreter -- worriedly peers ahead into the
darkness. He hears the far-off sounds of machine gun FIRE. After a
moment, he motions to some person or persons unknown in the woods behind
him.
Three uniformed figures saunter from out of those woods and SPLASH
through the stream to join Chunjin: Captain Marco, Sergeant Shaw, and
Corporal Melvin. All four men huddle low to the ground and keep careful
watch for signs of the enemy while they quietly confer. Machine gun
FIRE and the ROAR of low-flying planes punctuate their conversation.
CHUNJIN
Bad here.
MARCO
How do you know?
CHUNJIN
Chunjin born two miles from here,
Captain.
MELVIN
So far, every place we've been in
Korea, this joker was born two miles
from it.
MARCO
(to Chunjin, off the terrain)
What's so bad about it?
CHUNJIN
Tricky. Swamp all around, thirty
yards up. May be quicksand.
MARCO
Nobody said anything about
quicksand.
RAYMOND SHAW
Can't we go 'round it?
CHUNJIN
(to Raymond)
No, Sergeant.
MARCO
(to Chunjin)
What's your personal advice?
CHUNJIN
All walk in single line next two
hundred yards.
MARCO
Rejected. Not tactical to travel
forward in a single line.
CHUNJIN
(protests)
Patrol sink.
RAYMOND SHAW
Can't we go 'round it?
CHUNJIN
No, Sergeant.
MARCO
(to Chunjin)
Never mind.
(to Raymond)
Okay. Pass the word.
Raymond rushes back to warn the others while Marco waves the patrol on.
CUT TO:
EXT. RIDGE - NIGHT
Moments later, the patrol travels forward in a single line, led by
Chunjin. As they cross a ridge -- silhouetted against the night sky --
two human forms rise up behind and in front of each man on the line.
The forward form hits its man in the pit of the stomach with a rifle
butt, while the rear man brings his down hard on the back of each man's
head when the bodies double forward. The entire line of men is knocked
unconscious in one swift, silent action -- a model of its kind. Without
pause, each two-man team of attackers builds a litter out of their two
rifles and carries the unconscious men away. The attackers talk amongst
themselves -- in Russian.
A Soviet Army officer greets Chunjin and shakes his hand. Chunjin clasps
the officer's shoulder warmly and, grimly satisfied, watches as the
Russians depart with the patrol.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. TEMPORARY AIRFIELD - NIGHT
Not far away, a crack Russian Airborne unit awaits. Marco, Raymond,
Melvin and the other men are strapped aboard Soviet helicopters. At the
signal of a Russian officer, the choppers lift off and fly north, their
thrashing blades a mere blur in the black night.
FADE OUT
A mournful THEME plays over MAIN TITLES dominated by an image from a
playing card: the Queen of Diamonds.
FADE OUT
EXT. AIRSTRIP - WASHINGTON, D.C. - DAY
FADE IN, to the majestic beat of military MARCH MUSIC, on the surface of
a big bass drum -- decorated by the Great Seal of the United States
of America: an eagle with an olive branch in one claw, arrows in the
other, etc.
We PULL BACK from this emblem -- which takes a pounding at the hands of
the drummer -- to reveal a military band greeting the arrival of a
United States Air Force plane as it taxis to a stop on a runway.
Military policemen hold back a throng of onlookers who cheer, wave the
American flag, and carry signs that read things like "WELCOME HOME,
HERO!" Newsreel cameras record it all. A deep-voiced, omniscient
NARRATOR sets the scene.
NARRATOR (v.o.)
This nation jealously guards its
highest award for valor, the
Congressional Medal of Honor. In
the Korean War, with five million,
seven hundred and twenty thousand
personnel engaged, only
seventy-seven men were so honored.
One of these seventy-seven men was
Staff Sergeant Raymond Shaw.
Raymond, in dress uniform, appears in the doorway of the plane and
surveys the mob that greets him. He doesn't like this any more than he
enjoys clearing out Korean brothels.
NARRATOR (v.o.)
Raymond Shaw was returned from
combat and flown directly to
Washington to be decorated
personally by the President of the
United States. This is why his
presence, or the presence of any
Medal of Honor winner, is
sufficient to bring generals to
their feet saluting.
Raymond watches with little enthusiasm as a handful of generals salute
him. He returns the salute, steps down to the runway, and is greeted by
the most decorated GENERAL.
GENERAL
Congratulations, son. How do you
feel?
RAYMOND SHAW
Like Captain Idiot in Astounding
Science comics.
The general laughs and shakes Raymond's hand. From behind a color guard
carrying a huge American flag comes Raymond's obnoxious, image-conscious,
power-hungry mother, MRS. ELEANOR ISELIN. She's in a fur coat with a
string of pearls and carrying an enormous purse but she might well be
wearing track shoes given the speed at which she rushes to her son.
MRS. ISELIN
Hold it, General! Hold it, General!
Please! [?]
Mrs. Iselin drags her husband along behind her -- United States Senator
JOHN YERKES ISELIN. He's a demagogic, McCarthy-like, windbag senator
from a state that shall remain nameless. Also in tow are two aides who
carry a large banner reading: JOHNNY ISELIN'S BOY! They all rush over
to Raymond and pose with him and the general for the benefit of the
photographers and newsreel cameramen. The aides hold the banner over
Raymond's head, much to his annoyance.
RAYMOND SHAW
Mother, what is this? What are you
doing here?
Mrs. Iselin pulls a particular photographer into place to make sure he
gets a good shot. The photographer takes his picture and the reporters
quickly move in to ask questions as the Senator and Mrs. Iselin lead
Raymond off the runway. Mrs. Iselin grins at the General as they leave
him in their dust.
MRS. ISELIN
Thank you, General!
REPORTER
Senator Iselin, how about a statement?
How does it feel to be the father of a
Medal of Honor winner?
RAYMOND SHAW
(indignant)
He's not my father!
MRS. ISELIN
(politely, to the reporters)
The senator's Raymond's stepfather.
However, Raymond has always...
Senator Iselin quickly goes into his hypnotic, overly pompous spiel.
SENATOR ISELIN
I can only say that as one who has
devoted his life to the service of
his country...
As he rambles on, skillfully hogging the spotlight with his overblown
oratory, Raymond and his mother quietly confer.
RAYMOND SHAW
You did this, Mother. You organized
this disgusting three ring circus.
MRS. ISELIN
Darling! You're a Medal of Honor
winner! Incidentally,
congratulations. I was going to
write you but we've been in the most
frightful mess the last few months.
I can't tell you.
SENATOR ISELIN
(to the reporters)
...this moment above all others will
stand out as the proudest and most
prideful moment...
MRS. ISELIN
(to the reporters)
Let him through! That's enough now!
That's enough, I said! Let him
through!
They've reached a limousine just off the runway. Senator Iselin puts
his arm around the ever-unsmiling Raymond to allow the photographers a
few parting shots.
SENATOR ISELIN
(pleads, to Raymond)
Say cheese.
The photographers CLICK away.
MRS. ISELIN
All right! That's enough now!
That's enough! Let the poor boy
through! Please, let him through!
Mrs. Iselin hustles Raymond and the senator into the limo.
CUT TO:
INT. LIMO - DAY
Raymond, Mrs. Iselin and Senator Iselin squeeze into the back seat of
the limo as the crowd mills around outside.
MRS. ISELIN
What is the matter with you, Raymond?
We've gone to a good deal of trouble
to...
SENATOR ISELIN
Arranged the parade for you and so
forth.
A reporter shoves a microphone through the limo's open window.
RAYMOND SHAW
A parade!
SENATOR ISELIN
(to the mike-wielding reporter)
Get that... get that out...
The mike is withdrawn.
RAYMOND SHAW
(to Senator Iselin)
Why, you publicity-seeking,
flag-simple boob.
MRS. ISELIN
Raymond, just because your parents,
and the entire country for that
matter, happens to be proud of
you...
The limo starts up and pulls away from the crowd.
RAYMOND SHAW
Who's kidding who, Mother? Johnny's
up for re-election in November.
You've got it all figured out,
haven't you? Johnny Iselin's boy,
Medal of Honor winner. That should
get you another fifty thousand votes.
MRS. ISELIN
Raymond, I'm your mother. How can
you talk to me this way? You know I
want nothing for myself, you know
that my entire life is devoted to
helping you...
RAYMOND SHAW
Mother.
MRS. ISELIN
...and to helping Johnny...
RAYMOND SHAW
Mother. Mother.
Raymond lowers his head and puts his hands over his ears.
MRS. ISELIN
... My boys. My two little boys...
RAYMOND SHAW
Stop it. Stop it.
MRS. ISELIN
... That is all I have...
Raymond seems to melt under his mother's barrage of bullshit.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. ISELIN'S AIRPLANE - DAY
Later that same day. A private plane owned by Senator Iselin sits on
an airfield. Raymond, Mrs. Iselin and the senator, having just come
from the White House, emerge from a nearby helicopter and slowly cross
to the plane. As they do, the deep-voiced narrator fills us in on some
details.
NARRATOR (v.o.)
On the afternoon of his arrival in
Washington, Raymond Shaw was
decorated at the White House by the
President of the United States. His
citation -- attested to by his
commanding officer, Captain Bennet
Marco and the nine surviving members
of his patrol -- read in part:
"Displaying valor above and beyond
the call of duty, did singlehandedly
save the lives of nine members of
his patrol, capturing an enemy
machine gun nest, and taking out in
the process, a full company of enemy
infantry. He then proceeded to lead
his patrol, which had been listed as
Missing in Action for three days,
back through the enemy lines to
safety."
The helicopter takes off as the trio reach the plane and walk inside.
CUT TO:
INT. ISELIN'S AIRPLANE - DAY
Senator Iselin, enters, drops his coat and hat, grabs a pilot's cap
from the wall and happily puts it on. Mrs. Iselin and Raymond follow him
aboard. Raymond looks confused.
MRS. ISELIN
(off the plane)
A gift. From the Citizens for
Iselin Committee for his last
birthday. It absolutely saved our
lives during the campaign. You see,
this opens up into a double bed...
In ANOTHER SECTION of the plane, the Iselins continue to give Raymond
the five cent tour.
MRS. ISELIN
This is the press room.
SENATOR ISELIN
And this...
(slaps the bar)
This is my private office.
(turns on some lights)
Anything to take the pain out of
campaigning. Ha ha ha! That's what
I always say.
Raymond wears his Medal of Honor around his neck.
RAYMOND SHAW
(off his medal)
May I take this thing off now,
Mother?
Raymond undoes the ribbon around his neck and pockets the medal.
MRS. ISELIN
Oh, Raymond. What is the matter
with you? You look as if your head
were going to come to a point in the
next thirteen seconds.
(to Iselin)
Johnny, fix him a drink or something.
Senator Iselin nods obediently and starts fixing a drink or something.
MRS. ISELIN
(to Raymond)
Will you sit down, Raymond? Relax.
We'll be home in less than two and a
half hours.
RAYMOND SHAW
I'm not going home with you, Mother.
I'm going to New York.
MRS. ISELIN
What?!
RAYMOND SHAW
I've got a job on a newspaper.
Research assistant to Mr. Holborn
Gaines.
MRS. ISELIN
Holborn Gaines. That Communist?!
RAYMOND SHAW
He's not a Communist, Mother. As a
matter of fact, he-he's a Republican.
MRS. ISELIN
But the terrible things he's written
about Johnny!
RAYMOND SHAW
He came to interview me at the White
House this morning. Afterwards, I
asked him for a job. He gave it to
me. We discovered that we had a
great deal in common.
MRS. ISELIN
What could you possibly have in
common with that dreadful old man?!
RAYMOND SHAW
Well, for one thing, we discovered
that we both loathe and despise you
and Johnny. And that's a beginning.
Raymond turns and stalks out of the plane. A surprised Senator Iselin
sets down the bottle in his hand. A pissed Mrs. Iselin puts a cigarette
in her mouth.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. MARCO'S APARTMENT - WASHINGTON, D.C. - NIGHT
A well-decorated Army Major's jacket is draped over a chair. Hardcover
books are strewn carelessly about: Diseases of Horses; Joyce's Ulysses;
Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls; Kafka's The Trial; Wall Street:
Men and Money; Enemies of the State, etc. On an end table, a clock
reads ten past three sits next to an ashtray full of cigarette butts.
NARRATOR (v.o)
The war in Korea was over. Captain,
now Major, Bennet Marco had been
reassigned to Army Intelligence in
Washington. It was, by and large, a
pleasant assignment, except for one
thing. Night after night, the major
was plagued by the same reoccurring
nightmare...
Marco lies asleep in bed, still in his day clothes. His eyes flicker.
His face glistens with sweat. He fidgets and talks in his sleep.
MARCO
Stop it... Stop it...
He dreams...
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. HOTEL LOBBY - SPRING LAKE, NEW JERSEY - DAY
Marco's dream begins with him yawning and putting a cigarette in his
mouth as the voice of an unseen woman speaks.
WOMAN'S VOICE
Another modern discovery which we
owe to the hydrangea concerns the
influence of air drainage upon
plant climate...
Marco wears army fatigues. We PAN RIGHT to reveal Raymond and young
Bobby Lembeck also sitting beside him. The PAN continues, revealing the
woman who speaks: a middle-aged lady in a flowered hat -- MRS. HENRY
WHITTAKER. Notes in hand, she delivers a deadly dull speech in a
deadly dull voice to a meeting of the Spring Lake garden club. The
entire patrol sits -- docile, serene, and more than a little bored -- in
a long line of chairs stretched across the hotel lobby, behind the
centered table at which Mrs. Whittaker stands and speaks. Marco sits on
the end of the line at stage right, in the Mr. Bones position (as in an
old time minstrel show). Corporal Melvin is at stage left. A lot of
flowers in a sort of greenhouse-like setting are visible behind them.
MRS. WHITTAKER
Many years ago, when I was traveling
about the country, I noticed
magnificent hydrangeas on the hills
where the air drainage was, er,
perfect. And very poor specimens, or
perhaps none at all, in the valleys.
Formerly, we used to consider
sheltered valleys more favorable to
plants than hilltops...
The PAN reveals that to Melvin's left is a sign noting that the Spring
Lake Hotel is hosting Mrs. Henry Whittaker's speech "Fun with
Hydrangeas".
MRS. WHITTAKER
... but the avoidance of late spring
and early autumn frost enjoyed by
sites with good air drainage where
the cold air can drain safely away
to lower levels gives the hills a
decided advantage.
In the audience sit a mass of white, middle-class, little old ladies in
paisley dresses and flowered hats. The PAN continues around the lobby
as the ladies listen intently, fuss over their flowers, sip tea, eat
cake, smoke cigarettes through fancy holders, adjust bra straps, take
notes, etc.
MRS. WHITTAKER
Thus it was the hydrangeas that gave
the first pointer in another modern
discovery of horticultural
importance. From this, it might
appear that the hydrangea is a
fairly simple plant but there are
more complications. The cultivation
of hydrangeas was evolved from a
number of varieties originally
found in Japan, not all of which,
of course, have the same
characteristics. Two of them do not
share the quality of producing blue
flowers in mineral rich soils.
The PAN returns to Marco. To his right sits, of all people, Chunjin,
dressed in a Chinese Army uniform, listening and taking notes. We begin
to get the idea that we are not really in New Jersey at a meeting of the
garden club. In fact, the entire scene is an illusion designed to
disguise the true location...
INT. RESEARCH PAVILION - TUNGHWA, MANCHURIA - DAY
At the centered table, the figure of Mrs. Henry Whittaker has been
replaced by a chunky, bald-headed, smartly-dressed Chinese scientist
named YEN LO who sips a glass of water. In place of the hotel lobby's
flowers are seven foot tall lithographs of Stalin, Mao, and other
Communist heroes. Yen Lo sets his water glass on the table and addresses
an unseen audience.
YEN LO
Allow me to introduce our American
visitors. I must ask you to forgive
their somewhat lackadaisical manners
but I have conditioned them -- or
'brainwashed' them, which I
understand is the new American
word...
A REVERSE ANGLE reveals that Yen Lo addresses not a garden club but a
tiered auditorium packed with Russian and Chinese officials.
YEN LO
-- to believe that they are waiting
out a storm in the lobby of a small
hotel in New Jersey where a meeting
of the ladies' garden club is in
progress.
From the patrol's POV, they do not see Yen Lo lecturing to the assembled
officials. They see Mrs. Whittaker lecturing to a lot of little old
ladies.
MRS. WHITTAKER
You will notice that I have told
them they may smoke.
(chuckles)
I've allowed my people to have a
little fun in the selection of
bizarre tobacco substitutes...
(to Mavole)
Are you enjoying your cigarette, Ed?
A bored Ed Mavole isn't paying attention so Corporal Melvin must elbow
him to get a response.
ED MAVOLE
(politely, to Mrs. Whittaker)
Yes, ma'am.
Yen Lo turns to his audience of Russian and Chinese.
YEN LO
(to all)
Yak dung! ...Oh, tastes good -- like
a cigarette should!
Lo and a few others laugh heartily. Throughout the rest of Marco's
dream, we CUT BACK AND FORTH between the reality of Yen Lo in Manchuria
and the illusion of Mrs. Whittaker in New Jersey. (And, occasionally,
the two overlap so that Yen Lo stands in the hotel lobby or Mrs.
Whittaker stands in the auditorium, etc.)
YEN LO
Now then, Comrades...
MRS. WHITTAKER
...may I present the famous Raymond
Shaw...
YEN LO
...the young man you've flown eight
thousand miles to this dreary spot
in Manchuria to see.
(to Raymond)
Raymond, pull your chair over here
by me, please.
Raymond pulls his chair next to the centered table and begins to deal an
imaginary hand of solitaire on the table top.
YEN LO
I am sure you've all heard the old
wives' tale that no hypnotized
subject may be forced to do that
which is repellent to his moral
nature. Whatever that may be.
Nonsense, of course. Oh, you
note-takers might set down a
reminder to consult Brenmen's
paper...
Marco watches Raymond's hands as they mime a solitaire game.
YEN LO
... "Experiments in the Hypnotic
Production of Anti-Social and
Self-Injurious Behavior" or Wells'
1941 paper, which was titled, I
believe, "Experiments in the
Hypnotic Production of Crime"...
MRS. WHITTAKER
...or, of course, Andrew Salter's
remarkable book "Conditioned Reflex
Therapy" to name only three.
Marco yawns, bored out of his mind.
MRS. WHITTAKER
Or if it offends you that only the
West is working to manufacture more
crime and better criminals...
YEN LO
...against the modern shortages, I
suggest Krasnogorski's "Primary
Violence Motivation" or Serov's
"The Unilateral Suggestion to
Self-Destruction"...
One of the Russian officials in the audience -- a skeletal man named
GOMEL who wears civilian clothes -- is as bored as Marco.
GOMEL
My dear, Yen. As you grow older,
you grow more long-winded. Can't we
get to the point? Has the man ever
killed anyone? Or has he not?
MRS. WHITTAKER
I apologize, my dear, Dimitri. I
keep forgetting that you're a young
country and your attention span is
limited.
(to Raymond)
Tell me, Raymond, have you ever
killed anyone?
RAYMOND SHAW
No, ma'am.
MRS. WHITTAKER
Not even in combat?
RAYMOND SHAW
In combat? Yes, ma'am. I think so.
YEN LO
Of course you have, Raymond.
(to all)
Raymond has been a crack shot since
childhood.
The little old ladies of the garden club smile at this.
MRS. WHITTAKER
Marvelous outlet for his aggressions.
(to an assistant)
May I have the bayonet, please?
Another Russian official -- this one a stocky man named BEREZOVO,
wearing sunglasses and with a moustache and shaved head -- interrupts.
BEREZOVO
Not with the knife. With the hands.
YEN LO
(with distaste)
With the hands?
BEREZOVO AS A LADY
Here. Have him use this.
Berezovo, as a lady, holds up a white silk scarf.
YEN LO
Ah! Da, da.
Berezovo rises, carries the scarf to Yen Lo, and returns to his seat.
Yen Lo knots the scarf as he talks to Raymond.
YEN LO
Raymond, whom do you dislike the
least in your group who are here
today?
RAYMOND SHAW
The least?
YEN LO
That's right.
RAYMOND SHAW
Well, I guess Captain Marco, ma'am.
Mrs. Whittaker, knotting the scarf, addresses the garden club ladies in
front of the portraits of Stalin and Mao.
MRS. WHITTAKER
(to all)
Notice how he is drawn always to
authority?
(to Raymond)
That won't do, Raymond. We need the
captain to get you your medal. Whom
else?
RAYMOND SHAW
Well, I guess Ed Mavole, ma'am.
YEN LO
Ah, that's better. Now, then,
Raymond. Take this scarf.
Yen Lo places the knotted scarf in Raymond's hands.
YEN LO
And strangle Ed Mavole.
(beat)
Er, to death.
RAYMOND SHAW
Yes, ma'am.
Raymond rises and casually walks past Marco.
RAYMOND SHAW
Excuse me, Ben.
MARCO
Mm hmm.
Marco politely shifts his chair to let Raymond pass. Raymond crosses
behind the long line of chairs, slowly heading for Ed Mavole. None of
the patrol make a move to stop him. Raymond pauses before one of the
other men whose chair blocks Raymond's progress.
RAYMOND SHAW
Pardon me.
The man politely rises and lets Raymond pass. Raymond crosses to Mavole
and drapes the scarf around his neck. Mavole starts to resist.
ED MAVOLE
Hey, Sarge. Cut it out.
YEN LO
(to Mavole)
Quiet, please, Ed. Now you just sit
there quietly and cooperate.
Mavole does as he's told.
ED MAVOLE
Yes, ma'am.
Raymond quickly strangles Mavole who offers no resistance even as his
eyes bulge out and he gasps for air. The other men do nothing. Marco
opens his mouth to yawn.
CUT TO:
INT. MARCO'S APARTMENT - WASHINGTON, D.C. - NIGHT
Marco awakens with his mouth open -- he's screaming -- and sits upright
in bed, shaking with terror. The nightmare is over.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. ARMY INTELLIGENCE - WASHINGTON, D.C. - DAY
Marco and his fellow intelligence officers (a COLONEL who is Marco's
immediate superior, a MEDICAL OFFICER, and a PSYCHIATRIST, among others)
sit around a table.
MEDICAL OFFICER
Major, to your knowledge, have any
other ex-members of your patrol had
similar dreams?
MARCO
No, sir. Not to my knowledge.
Doesn't it strike anyone as curious
that Mavole was one of the two men
lost in the action? Yet every night
in my dream he's ... he's the one
that Raymond...
(tries to get a grip)
I'm sorry, gentlemen.
COLONEL
Now, look, Major Marco, since you
first brought this recurring dream
of yours to our attention, Raymond
Shaw -- his life, his background,
his habits, his friends and
associates have been under
scrupulous examination. Now, the
facts speak for themselves. His
stepfather is a United States
senator. His mother is head of
fifteen different patriotic
organizations. Raymond Shaw
himself is employed as confidential
assistant to Holborn Gaines, the
most respected political journalist
in America. Now, it's
inconceivable, Major, that any--
PSYCHIATRIST
Major Marco. Major, as the
consulting psychiatrist present,
I'd be interested in hearing your
personal feelings about Shaw.
MARCO
Raymond Shaw is the kindest,
bravest, warmest, most wonderful
human being I've ever known in my
life.
PSYCHIATRIST
I see. And this opinion, Major, was
it generally held? His fellow
soldiers, did they feel the same way
toward him?
MARCO
The men loved him, sir. Why
shouldn't they? He saved their
lives.
MEDICAL OFFICER
Well, it would seem obvious to me
Major Marco is suffering a delayed
reaction to eighteen months of
continuous combat in Korea. I
would strongly recommend that the
matter of Raymond Shaw be dropped
here and now, that Major Marco be
temporarily reassigned to less
strenuous, and if I may say so,
less sensitive duties. I think a
few months detached service to, uh,
well, perhaps the public relations
corps should put the major right
back in the pink.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. PRESS ROOM - PENTAGON - DAY
A press conference is in progress. The packed room holds journalists
and other observers -- not to mention TV and newsreel cameras, monitors
and other equipment. Marco, now with public relations, sits at a table
with the SECRETARY OF DEFENSE who fields questions from reporters.
REPORTER
Mr. Secretary! Mr. Secretary! Can
you explain the proposed cuts in
budget?
DEFENSE SECRETARY
Since, sir, you have asked a
simple-minded question, I'll give
you an equally simple-minded answer.
Since no great naval power menaces
the free world today, the Navy's
overwhelming preponderance of
surface ships seems to be
superfluous, hence the cut in
budget.
(to Marco)
Major, my time is important. How
much longer are we supposed to go
on with this nonsense?
In the back of the room, sit Senator and Mrs. Iselin.
MARCO
(to the Defense Secretary)
Yes, sir.
(to all)
If there are no further questions
for the Secretary, I think that'll
about wrap things up.
Mrs. Iselin nods to Senator Iselin who quickly rises.
SENATOR ISELIN
Mr. Secretary! I have a question,
sir!
The cameras swing around to focus on the senator who gears up to launch
into some typically pompous rhetoric.
DEFENSE SECRETARY
Who are you, sir?
SENATOR ISELIN
I am United States Senator John
Yerkes Iselin and I have a question
so serious that the safety of our
nation may well depend on your
answer.
DEFENSE SECRETARY
Who?
SENATOR ISELIN
No evasions, Mr. Secretary! No
evasions, if you please, sir.
DEFENSE SECRETARY
Evasions? What the hell are you
talking about?
(to Marco)
What kind of foolishness is this?
Marco covers the microphones with his hands.
MARCO
(quietly)
Mr. Secretary, I'm kinda new at this
job but I don't think it's good
public relations to talk that way to
a United States Senator, even if he
is an idiot.
SENATOR ISELIN
(holds up some papers)
I am United States Senator John
Yerkes Iselin and I have here a list
of the names of two hundred and
seven persons who are known by the
Secretary of Defense as being
members of the Communist Party...!
DEFENSE SECRETARY
(rises angrily)
What?!
SENATOR ISELIN
....who are still nevertheless...
The entire room BUZZES as the senator and the Secretary of Defense shout
each other down. Photographers scurry to snap pictures, journalists
take notes, etc.
SENATOR ISELIN
...working in and shaping the policy
of the Defense Department!
DEFENSE SECRETARY
Senator who?
SENATOR ISELIN
I demand an answer, Mr. Secretary!
DEFENSE SECRETARY
What the hell did you say your name
was? Huh?
SENATOR ISELIN
There will be no covering up, sir!
DEFENSE SECRETARY
What?
SENATOR ISELIN
No covering up! You are not going to
get your hands on this list...
DEFENSE SECRETARY
How'd you get in here in the first
place?
(to Marco)
Major! Throw that lunatic out of
here!
Marco sits helplessly, unsure what to do.
SENATOR ISELIN
And I deeply regret having to say in
front of these ladies and gentlemen...
DEFENSE SECRETARY
You claim that you're a senator?
Senator of what? I want to know!
SENATOR ISELIN
... and the television and radio
audience of our great country that
you longer have my confidence, sir!
DEFENSE SECRETARY
Why, you're an idiot, if [?]...!
You're out of your mind [?] Senate
floor.
SENATOR ISELIN
No, sir! This is no longer a matter
for investigation by the Defense
Department...
DEFENSE SECRETARY
Get out of here!
SENATOR ISELIN
I'm afraid you have lost your chance,
sir...
DEFENSE SECRETARY
Where is the sergeant-at-arms? Get
that man out of this room!
SENATOR ISELIN
This matter is now the responsibility
of the United States Senate!
Iselin lingers a few moments to posture for the cameras and then exits.
Mrs. Iselin rises and follows him -- as does Marco, who sprints across
the room.
DEFENSE SECRETARY
Where is the sergeant-at-arms? Throw
that man out of this room! I will not
have him in here, do you hear me?
Not ever!
(to Iselin, who's already gone)
If I ever catch you in this room
again, I'll throw you out bodily!
(to the photographers)
What do you want? Get out of here!
Don't you take my picture anymore!
Clear this room! Go on, get out
of here!
CUT TO:
INT. COAT ROOM - DAY
A small room adjacent to the press room where the Iselins put on their
coats. Marco and a platoon of reporters confront them.
MARCO
Senator! Senator Iselin... I'd
like to verify that number, sir.
SENATOR ISELIN
Huh?
MARCO
How many Communists did you say?
SENATOR ISELIN
Oh, er... I said, there was, uh,
exactly, uh, I have absolutely proof
that there are ...
The senator looks over at Mrs. Iselin who mouths "one hundred and four."
SENATOR ISELIN
...a hundred and four card-carrying
Communists in the Defense Department
at this time.
MARCO
How many, sir?
Mrs. Iselin mouths "two hundred and seventy-five."
SENATOR ISELIN
Uh, ahem, two hundred and
seventy-five and that's absolutely
all I have to say on the subject at
this time.
(to Mrs. Iselin)
Come, babe.
REPORTER
(to Marco)
Major, how many did he say?
The senator starts to lead Mrs. Iselin away but lingers for one more
photo, pushing Marco out of the way.
SENATOR ISELIN
(to Marco)
Excuse me.
After this last photo, Iselin waves off the photographers.
SENATOR ISELIN
(to the photographers)
Boys, please...
Iselin departs.
REPORTER
(to Marco)
Major, how many did he say?
A frustrated Marco swats the notepad out of the reporter's hand and
shoots a dirty look in Iselin's direction.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. MELVIN'S BEDROOM - WAINWRIGHT, ALASKA - NIGHT
Two framed photographs of Corporal Melvin: one is with some of the other
members of the patrol in Korea; the other is a wedding photo of Melvin
and MELVIN'S WIFE. We PAN from these, past Melvin's wife who sleeps
soundly in bed, to Melvin who does not sleep so soundly. He tosses and
turns. And he dreams...
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. RESEARCH PAVILION - TUNGHWA, MANCHURIA - DAY
Melvin's dream picks up where Marco's left off. Melvin sits unconcerned
as Mavole is strangled right beside him. Raymond lets the white silk
scarf slip through his fingers as Mavole's lifeless body falls from his
chair and collapses to the floor. The audience APPLAUDS. From Mavole's
body we PAN UP to reveal Mrs. Whittaker -- still wearing the same dress
and hat but now -- since this is Melvin's dream -- Mrs. Whittaker is a
middle-aged African-American woman. Indeed, all of the ladies applauding
in the garden club are now black. The second Mrs. Whittaker holds up
her hands to quiet the audience and turns with pride to Raymond.
MRS. WHITTAKER #2
Very good, Raymond.
RAYMOND SHAW
Thank you, ma'am.
MRS. WHITTAKER #2
Captain Marco?
Marco still sits next to Chunjin -- who is now an attractive young black
woman.
MARCO
Yes, ma'am?
MRS. WHITTAKER #2
On your feet, Captain, please.
MARCO
(rises)
Sorry, ma'am.
MRS. WHITTAKER #2
Captain...
YEN LO
...when you are returned to your
patrol to Korea, and you make your
way to command headquarters, what
will be the first duty you will
undertake?
MARCO
I will make my report on the patrol,
ma'am.
YEN LO
What will you report?
MARCO
I will recommend urgently that
Raymond Shaw be posted for the Medal
of Honor. He saved our lives and
took out a complete company of
Chinese infantry.
One of the ladies in the audience rises indignantly.
BEREZOVO AS A LADY
A complete company?! What the hell
is this?!
GOMEL
We can spare an imaginary company of
infantry for this particular plan,
Mikhail [?].
BEREZOVO
All right. If we are out to
humiliate our brave Chinese ally in
the newspapers of the world, we
might as well make it a full
battalion.
Berezovo and others laugh at this.
CHINESE OFFICIAL AS A LADY
(smiles)
We don't object, Comrade. I assure
you of that...
CHINESE OFFICIAL AS A MAN
...however, Comrade, we thank you for
thinking of the matter in that light.
Berezovo sits, a little embarrassed at his outburst. Yen Lo impatiently
CLINKS his pen against his water glass.
YEN LO
If we may proceed with the
demonstration.
(To Raymond)
Raymond.
Yen Lo gestures for Raymond to join him at stage center (he's been
standing behind Mavole's chair all this time). Raymond carefully steps
over Mavole's body and joins Yen Lo. Using his pen, Yen Lo points out
Bobby Lembeck.
YEN LO
Who's that little fellow sitting
next to the captain?
RAYMOND SHAW
That's Bobby Lembeck. Our mascot,
I guess you'd call him.
Lembeck smiles a wholesome, toothy smile.
YEN LO
Doesn't look old enough to be in your
army.
RAYMOND SHAW
I guess he isn't, but there he is,
ma'am.
YEN LO
Captain Marco. Would you be good
enough to lend Raymond your pistol,
please?
MARCO
Yes, ma'am.
Raymond crosses to Marco. Marco takes his gun out of his holster and
hands it to Raymond.
RAYMOND SHAW
Thanks, Ben.
MARCO
Sure, kid.
Raymond, pistol in hand, turns back to Yen Lo.
YEN LO
Shoot Bobby, Raymond. Through the
forehead.
RAYMOND SHAW
Yes, ma'am.
Raymond aims the pistol. Lembeck smiles. Raymond FIRES. The bullet
hits Lembeck's head so hard it knocks him and his chair backward.
Lembeck's blood spatters across the lithograph of Stalin.
CUT TO:
INT. MELVIN'S BEDROOM - WAINWRIGHT, ALASKA - NIGHT
Melvin SCREAMS. His wife awakens with a start and tries to comfort him.
MELVIN'S WIFE
Wake up, wake up, wake up. It's all
right. It's all right.
He awakens and embraces her.
MELVIN'S WIFE
It's all right. It's all right. It's
all right. Is it the same dream
again?
Melvin nods.
MELVIN
Oh. What makes it so awful is to
keep dreaming a thing like that about
Sergeant Shaw. Oh, it's been going
on for weeks now. I must be going
crazy.
MELVIN'S WIFE
What you ought to do is to write to
Sergeant Shaw...
MELVIN
[?] what's wrong with me?
MELVIN'S WIFE
...write to him and see if anyone
else is having dreams like yours.
MELVIN
Yeah?
MELVIN'S WIFE
Yes.
MELVIN
Maybe I will. Maybe I'll do that.
If anybody can help me, he can.
MELVIN'S WIFE
You like him a lot, don't you?
An odd look crosses Melvin's face.
MELVIN
(mechanically)
Raymond Shaw is the bravest, kindest,
warmest, most wonderful human being
I've ever known in my life.
CUT TO:
INT. TAXI CAB - NEW YORK CITY - DAY
Raymond, nattily dressed in civilian clothes, rides in the back seat of
a cab through New York City streets.
CUT TO:
EXT. RAYMOND'S APARTMENT HOUSE - DAY
The cab pulls up to Raymond's apartment house. He gets out, carrying a
briefcase, and enters the building. It's an ancient, old-fashioned,
multi-storied structure on Riverside Drive.
WIPE TO:
INT. RAYMOND'S APARTMENT HOUSE - DAY
Raymond gets off the elevator on one of the upper floors and crosses to
the door of his apartment. He unlocks it and opens it -- and then
notices that his mail has been left for him. He scoops it up, is
puzzled to see a personal letter amid the bills and junk mail, and
enters his apartment.
CUT TO:
INT. RAYMOND'S APARTMENT - DAY
Raymond turns on a light, puts down his mail and briefcase, removes his
coat and hat, and checks the mail. He opens an envelope, turns on a lamp,
and begins to read the enclosed letter. It's from Melvin. As Raymond
walks around the room turning on lamps and reading, we HEAR Melvin's
voice.
MELVIN'S VOICE (v.o.)
Dear Sarge, I had to say this or
write this to someone because I
think I'm going nuts. And since
you were my best friend in the army,
here goes. Sarge, I'm in trouble.
I'm afraid to go to sleep because I
have terrible dreams. I dream about
all the guys on the patrol where you
won the medal. And the dream has a
lot of Chinese people in it and a
lot of big brass from the Russian
Army.
Raymond, still reading, sits at a desk.
MELVIN'S VOICE (v.o.)
Well, it's pretty rough. You have
to take my word for that.
The phone on Raymond's desk RINGS. He sets down the letter and picks up
the receiver. A pleasant male voice with an indefinite accent speaks to
him.
VOICE ON THE PHONE
Raymond Shaw, please.
RAYMOND SHAW
This is he.
VOICE ON THE PHONE
Raymond. Why don't you pass the time by
playing a little solitaire?
Whoever it is hangs up with a loud CLICK. An odd look passes over
Raymond's face. He hangs up the phone and reaches for a deck of playing
cards on the desk. Raymond lays out the seven card spread known
variously as solitaire, Klondike, or patience. He plays solitaire until
the queen of diamonds turns up. Then he stops. And stares at the card.
And waits. Eventually, the phone RINGS again. Raymond picks up.
VOICE ON THE PHONE
Raymond?
RAYMOND SHAW
Yes, sir?
VOICE ON THE PHONE
Can you see the red queen?
RAYMOND SHAW
Yes, sir.
VOICE ON THE PHONE
Good. One week from next Saturday,
you will be called for at 11:10 a.m.
and be taken to the Timothy Swardon
sanitarium 84 East 61st Street. We
want you there for a check-up. Is
that clear?
RAYMOND SHAW
Yes, sir.
VOICE ON THE PHONE
You may put the cards away now.
Goodbye, Raymond.
Raymond hangs up and begins to put the cards away.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. HOLBORN GAINES' OFFICE - DAY
An Associated Press teletype begins to print out a story:
WAR HERO HIT AND RUN VICTIM
RAYMOND SHAW MEDAL OF HONOR WINNER
WAS TODAY
Gaines' secretary pulls the story from the machine and hands it to
Gaines who drinks a beer at his desk.
GAINES' SECRETARY
Mr. Gaines. It's Mr. Shaw. He was
run down in the street by a
hit-and-run driver. It just came
over the AP.
HOLBORN GAINES
Good heavens. Find out what hospital
he's in and call them. See if there's
anything we can do to help.
The secretary leaves to make the call while Gaines studies the story.
CUT TO:
INT. SANITARIUM - DAY
At the Timothy Swardon Sanitarium on 61st Street, Raymond lies in a
hospital bed. ZILKOV, head of Russian security and two aides fuss over
the fake cast on Raymond's tractioned leg. A NURSE is just finishing a
telephone call.
NURSE
You're welcome. Good-bye.
(to Zilkov)
That was Mr. Gaines, from his
newspaper. He said to tell him to
take it easy and not to worry about
a thing.
The nurse places a fake head bandage on Raymond's head.
ZILKOV
Which, of course, you will not tell
him, on the chance there is some
sort of prearranged code.
There is a KNOCK at the door. The aides and the nurse make last minute
adjustments to Raymond. Zilkov crosses to the door and opens it,
revealing Yen Lo with a cane in hand and a coat draped stylishly over
his shoulders.
YEN LO
Comrade Zilkov?
ZILKOV
Yes?
YEN LO
Yen Lo, Pavlov Institute.
Zilkov lets Yen Lo enter.
ZILKOV
Doctor. An honor and a pleasure.
They shake hands.
ZILKOV
(to the others)
You may go.
The nurse and the aides exit, leaving the two men alone with Raymond.
ZILKOV
(to Yen Lo)
When did you arrive?
YEN LO
I was flown in last night under
embassy quota. Revolting journey.
(to Raymond)
Ah, Raymond. It's nice to see you
again.
RAYMOND SHAW
It's nice to see you again, sir.
A puzzled Yen Lo gestures quizzically at Raymond's medical equipment.
ZILKOV
We're going through this elaborate
procedure simply out of precaution.
In case there are any visitors.
Although, I cannot imagine who will
visit Raymond.
Zilkov takes Yen Lo's coat.
YEN LO
Attractive plant you have here.
ZILKOV
Thank you, doctor. It's actually a
rest home for wealthy alcoholics.
We were able to purchase it three
years ago. Except for this floor
and the floor above it -- which we
have sealed off for security
purposes -- the rest functions quite
normally. In fact, it's one of the
few Soviet operations in America
that actually showed a profit at the
end of the last fiscal year.
YEN LO
Profit? Fiscal year? Beware, my
dear Zilkov. Virus of capitalism's
highly infectious. Soon, you'll be
lending money out at interest.
Yen Lo laughs heartily at his joke. Zilkov doesn't get it.
YEN LO
You must try, Comrade Zilkov, to
cultivate a sense of humor. There's
nothing like a good laugh now and
then to lighten the burdens of the
day.
(to Raymond)
Tell me, Raymond. Do you remember
murdering Mavole and Lembeck?
A playing card, the queen of diamonds, lies nearby.
RAYMOND SHAW
I beg your pardon, sir?
YEN LO
Mavole and Lembeck. The men who
were lost on the patrol. Can you
recall what happened to them?
Yen Lo's cane folds out into a small chair. He sits at Raymond's
bedside.
RAYMOND SHAW
Yes, sir. It was a very clear
action for a night action. Captain
Marco sent up some low flares so it
was easy to see what was happening.
Bobby Lembeck got separated to the
left. Mavole went after him.
Yen Lo smiles.
RAYMOND SHAW
By the time he reached him, the
enemy had a fix on the position.
They were killed instantly by a high
mortar shell. I don't think they
ever knew what hit 'em.
Yen Lo takes a pen flashlight from his jacket pocket.
YEN LO
(to Zilkov)
Do you realize, comrade, the
implications of the weapon that has
been placed at your disposal?
(to Raymond)
You may remove your head bandage,
Raymond.
Raymond removes his head bandage.
YEN LO
(to Zilkov)
Normally conditioned American who's
been trained to kill. Then, to have
no memory of having killed.
Yen Lo checks Raymond's eyes with the flashlight.
YEN LO
Without memory of his deed, he
cannot possibly feel guilt. Nor, of
course, will he have any reason to
fear being caught. And having been
relieved of those uniquely American
symptoms, guilt and fear, he cannot
possibly give himself away.
(rises)
Ah, Raymond will remain an outwardly
normal, productive, sober, and
respected member of the community
and, I should say, if properly used,
entirely police-proof. His brain
has not only been washed, as they
say... It has been dry cleaned.
Lo laughs. Zilkov manages a smile.
YEN LO
(to Raymond)
Thank you, Raymond. You may replace
your head bandage.
Raymond replaces his head bandage.
YEN LO
(to Zilkov)
Sealed floors or no, you will of
course permit him to have visitors
to avoid suspicion.
ZILKOV
Of course.
YEN LO
A team of my specialists is being
flown in tonight. It will take
about a week, working between
visiting hours, to check the
mechanism out completely. Been,
after all, two years since the
conditioning took place. And you
want to be sure the linkages are
still functioning correctly before
he's turned over to his American
operator.
Yen Lo checks his watch and doesn't like what he sees.
YEN LO
Eee yuck! And now, Comrade, if you
will excuse me.
ZILKOV
Where are you going?
Zilkov drapes Yen Lo's coat over the Chinese man's
shoulders.
YEN LO
Since there's nothing more I can do
until my specialists arrive, I
thought to spend the afternoon at
Macy's.
Zilkov is shocked.
YEN LO
Madame Yen has given me the
most appalling list.
Yen Lo laughs.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. SANITARIUM - NIGHT
About a week later. Yen Lo, a master of origami (the ancient Japanese
art of paperfolding), places a sample of his work atop the queen of
diamonds. Raymond sits up in his hospital bed, still in bedclothes but
no longer wearing his fake bandages, etc. Zilkov nervously paces the
room.
YEN LO
No, no. I personally guarantee it.
He's ready to be turned over to his
American operator.
Yen Lo sips a drink and starts folding another piece of paper.
ZILKOV
And I, being personally responsible
for Soviet security in the entire
eastern seaboard of the United
States, refuse to turn him over to
his operator until at least one
practical test has been run. You
say the man has been built as an
assassin. Very well then. Let him
assassinate someone.
YEN LO
(scoffs)
I'm shocked. That a security
officer with the responsibility you
hold would risk a mechanism as
valuable as Raymond out of sheer...
nervousness.
ZILKOV
You yourself admit the man has not
killed for over two years. I assure
you, doctor, conditions offering
minimum risk can be arranged.
YEN LO
All right. If you insist on this
foolishness, have him kill one of
your own people here on a sealed
floor.
ZILKOV
I would, I would, gladly! But our
table of organization happens to
be under acceptable strength as it
is. Why can't we be reasonable
about this? Why can't he kill some
non-productive person on the
outside?
YEN LO
Very well, then. But for his own
protection, he must be instructed
that if he is ever, at any time,
discovered at the scene of an
assignment, this other person -- or
persons -- must also be killed.
ZILKOV
All right, all right, doctor! Whom
do you think he should kill?
A long pause. Finally, Yen Lo laughs.
YEN LO
With humor, my dear Zilkov. Always
with a little humor. If kill we
must for a better New York, why
should it not be his superior at
the newspaper, Mr. Holborn Gaines.
With Mr. Gaines out of the way,
might he not then be given that
very influential job himself?
Yen Lo smiles. Raymond looks at Zilkov dispassionately.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. GAINES' APARTMENT - NIGHT
The door to Gaines' bedroom.
HOLBORN GAINES (o.s.)
Who's there?
RAYMOND SHAW
It's me, Mr. Gaines...
Raymond opens the door to reveal Gaines sitting up in bed reading.
Raymond pauses, surprised to find Gaines wearing a shocking pink
maribou bed jacket.
RAYMOND SHAW
... Raymond. I'm sorry to disturb
you, sir.
HOLBORN GAINES
Don't get any silly ideas about this
ridiculous looking bed jacket. It
was my wife's. It's the warmest
thing I have. Perfect for reading
in bed at night.
RAYMOND SHAW
I didn't know you were married, sir.
HOLBORN GAINES
Oh, she died nearly six years ago.
Well, what the devil are you doing
here at four o'clock in the morning?
Anyway, I thought you were in the
hospital.
Raymond slowly moves toward Gaines.
HOLBORN GAINES
Oh, now don't tell me that you've
come here at this ridiculous hour to
talk something over. You're not
going to pour out your heart with
the details of some sordid love
affair or anything like that, are
you?
Raymond stands over Gaines at his bedside.
RAYMOND SHAW
No, sir. As a matter of fact, they
told me you'd be asleep.
HOLBORN GAINES
Who told you I'd be asleep?
RAYMOND SHAW
They did.
HOLBORN GAINES
They? They? Who's this mysterious
'they'?
Raymond moves in for the kill.
HOLBORN GAINES
Raymond? Answer me, my boy.
The screen goes BLACK.
CUT TO:
INT. MARCO'S APARTMENT - WASHINGTON, D.C. - DAY
Marco slumps in a chair, drink in hand, surrounded by piles of books.
He stares off into space. A light KNOCK at the door stirs him. He
crosses to the door and opens it. It's Marco's immediate superior, the
Colonel.
MARCO
Colonel!
COLONEL
Ben. Can I come in for a minute?
MARCO
Oh, please do. Of course. Come on
in.
The Colonel enters and Marco shuts the door.
MARCO
Uh, may I ask the colonel (A) Is
this an official visit? and (B) May
I, uh, mix you a drink?
COLONEL
(A) Yes it is and (B) You certainly
may.
MARCO
Scotch all right?
COLONEL
Fine.
While a nervous Marco checks to make sure his shirt's tucked in before
fixing the drink, the Colonel looks over the apartment.
COLONEL
My God, where do you get all the
books?
MARCO
(fixes the drink)
Oh, I, uh... I got a guy picks 'em
out for me. At random.
(off the drink)
Water all right?
COLONEL
Fine.
Marco retreats to the bathroom sink and adds water.
MARCO
He's in, uh, San Francisco. A
little bookstore out there and, uh,
he ships 'em to me wherever I happen
to be stationed.
COLONEL
You've read them all?
Marco brings the Colonel his drink.
MARCO
Yeah. They also make great
insulation against an enemy attack.
But the truth of the matter is that
I'm just interested, you know, in,
uh, principles of modern banking and
history of piracy, paintings of
Orozco, modern French theatre, the
jurisprudential factors of Mafia
administration, diseases of horses
and novels of Joyce Cary and ethnic
choices of the Arabs -- things like
that.
Marco realizes he's rambling. The Colonel looks at him, concerned. A
long pause.
COLONEL
Ben?
MARCO
Sir?
COLONEL
The Army's got a lot of things wrong
with it but it does take care of its
own people which is why I'm here.
As a public relations officer, you're
a disaster.
MARCO
I never wanted to be--
COLONEL
Apparently, among other things, you
permitted the Secretary to make a
number of unfortunate remarks to
that idiot Iselin which started him
off on a rampage.
MARCO
Mickey, listen to me, please. For
the last six months I've been driven
nearly out of my mind by the same
recurring dream--
COLONEL
The medical officer in charge--
MARCO
What the hell does a medical corps
know about intelligence work? I
tell you, there something phony
going on. There's something phony
about me, about Raymond Shaw, about
the whole Medal of Honor business.
For instance. When the psychiatrist
asked me how I felt about Raymond
Shaw, how I personally felt about
him and how the whole patrol felt
about him, did you hear what I said?
Did you really hear what I said? I
said, Raymond Shaw is the kindest,
warmest, bravest, most wonderful
human being I've ever known in my
life. And even now I feel that way,
this minute. And yet, somewhere in
the back of my mind, something tells
me it's not true. It's just not
true. It isn't as if Raymond's hard
to like. He's impossible to like!
In fact, he's probably one of the
most repulsive human beings I've
ever known in my whole-- all of my
life.
COLONEL
Ben, what I came to tell you is
Public Relations has bounced you
back to me. And in your present
state, there's no possible way I
can use you. As of this moment,
I'm placing you on indefinite sick
leave. Go away, Ben. Find yourself
a girl. Lie in the sun.
MARCO
I absolutely refuse.
COLONEL
You don't seem to understand. What
I've just told you is not a
suggestion, Major. It is an order.
MARCO
(whispers)
Yes, sir.
COLONEL
Good night, Ben.
The Colonel heads for the door. Marco salutes him, a little defiantly.
The Colonel reluctantly returns the salute and exits. Alone in the room,
Marco hangs his head.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. TRAIN - DELAWARE, EN ROUTE TO NEW YORK - DAY
A passenger train barrels down a track.
CUT TO:
INT. TRAIN - DAY
Marco, in civilian clothes, short of sleep, sits with a drink in his
hand in a passenger car of the train. He blinks and unsteadily reaches
for a cigarette from a nearby table. He manages to get it in his mouth
but while searching for a match, the cigarette falls from his lips and
into his drink. He tries to fish it out but gives up and sets his
glass on the table. One of his fellow passengers, an attractive,
well-dressed, blonde woman named ROSIE, watches him with concern as he
tries to light a second smoke. Marco's hand shakes so badly that the
match goes out before he can light the cigarette. He notices Rosie
staring at him.
MARCO
Do you mind if I smoke?
ROSIE
Not at all. Please do.
Marco strikes another match and it too goes out. Embarrassed and
frustrated, he rises and bolts from his chair, knocking over the table
as he goes. Rosie watches him sympathetically. Marco stumbles through
the car, using the walls for support. He stops by a door -- the
landscape can be seen rushing by through its window -- and leans against
a wall, perspiring badly. He shuts his eyes. Rosie catches up with
him. She lights a cigarette and taps Marco on the shoulder. He opens
his eyes and she offers him the cigarette. He accepts reluctantly.
ROSIE
Maryland's a beautiful state.
MARCO
This is Delaware.
ROSIE
I know. I was one of the original
Chinese workmen who laid the track
on this stretch. But, um,
nonetheless, Maryland is a beautiful
state. So is Ohio, for that matter.
Rosie lights a cigarette for herself.
MARCO
I guess so. Columbus is a
tremendous football town. You in
the railroad business?
ROSIE
Not anymore. However, if you'll
permit me to point out, when you ask
that question, you really should say,
"Are you in the railroad line?"
(beat)
Where's your home?
MARCO
I'm in the army. I'm a major. I've
been in the army most of my life.
We move a good deal. I was born in
New Hampshire.
ROSIE
I went to a girls' camp once in Lake
Francis.
MARCO
That's pretty far north. What's your
name?
ROSIE
Eugenie.
MARCO
Pardon?
ROSIE
No kidding, I really mean it. Crazy
French pronunciation and all.
MARCO
It's pretty.
ROSIE
Thank you.
MARCO
I guess your friends call you Jenny.
ROSIE
Not yet they haven't, for which I'm
deeply grateful. But you may call
me Jenny.
MARCO
What do your friends call you?
ROSIE
Rosie.
MARCO
Why?
ROSIE
My full name is Eugenie Rose. Of
the two names, I've always favored
Rosie 'cause it smells of brown soap
and beer. Eugenie is somehow more
fragile.
MARCO
Still, when I asked you what your
name was, you said it was Eugenie.
ROSIE
Quite possible I was feeling more or
less fragile at that instant.
MARCO
I could never figure out what that
phrase meant. "More or less..."
You Arabic?
ROSIE
No.
MARCO
(shakes her hand)
My name is Ben. It's really Bennet.
Named after Arnold Bennet.
ROSIE
The writer?
MARCO
No, a lieutenant colonel. He was
my father's commanding officer at
the time.
ROSIE
What's your last name?
MARCO
Marco.
ROSIE
Major Marco. Are you Arabic?
MARCO
No.
ROSIE
Let me put it another way. Are you
married?
MARCO
No. You?
ROSIE
No.
MARCO
What's your last name?
ROSIE
Cheyney. I'm production assistant
for a man named Justin who had two
hits last season. I live on 54th
Street. Few doors from the Modern
Museum of Art of which I'm a 'tea
privileges' member. No cream. I
live at 53 West 54th Street,
apartment 3-B. Can you remember
that?
MARCO
Yes.
ROSIE
El Dorado-59970. Can you remember
that?
MARCO
Yes.
ROSIE
Are you stationed in New York? Or
is stationed the right word?
MARCO
I'm not exactly stationed in New
York. I was stationed in Washington
but I got sick and now I'm on leave
and I'm gonna spend it in New York.
ROSIE
El Dorado-59970.
MARCO
I'm gonna look up an old friend of
mine who's a newspaperman. We were
in Korea together.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. RAYMOND'S OFFICE - NEW YORK CITY - DAY
This used to be Holborn Gaines' office but when the old man was murdered
under mysterious circumstances, Raymond took it over. Raymond rounds up
some papers to pack in his briefcase for a business trip while his
secretary alerts him to a visitor.
SECRETARY
Mr. Shaw, there's a gentleman outside
to see you.
RAYMOND SHAW
A gentleman?
SECRETARY
An Oriental gentleman, sir. He said
he was in the army with you.
RAYMOND SHAW
There were no Oriental gentlemen in
the army with me.
SECRETARY
He's very insistent, sir.
RAYMOND SHAW
All right, all right. Show him in.
The secretary leaves. Moments later, Chunjin enters. He stares
apprehensively at Raymond who doesn't recognize him at first.
CHUNJIN
I am Chunjin, Mr. Shaw, sir. I was
interpreter attached to Charlie
company. 52nd regiment.
RAYMOND SHAW
Yes, I remember you. You were the
guide and interpreter to the patrol.
CHUNJIN
(smiles)
Yes, sir, Mr. Shaw.
RAYMOND SHAW
What can I do for you? I mean to
say, what are you doing here?
CHUNJIN
Your father did not say to you?
RAYMOND SHAW
My father?
CHUNJIN
Yes, Senator Iselin.
RAYMOND SHAW
(darkly)
Senator Iselin... is not my father.
Repeat, he is not my father. If you
learn nothing else on your visit to
this country, memorize that fact.
CHUNJIN
I write to Senator Iselin. I tell
him how I interpret your outfit. I
tell him I want to come to America.
He get me visa. Now, I need job.
RAYMOND SHAW
Job?
CHUNJIN
Yes, sir, Mr. Shaw.
RAYMOND SHAW
But, my dear fellow, we don't need
interpreters here. We all speak the
same language.
CHUNJIN
(pleads)
I am tailor and mender. I am cook.
I drive car. I'm cleaner and
scrubber. I fix anything. I take
message. I sleep at house of my
cousin. I ask for job with you
because you're a great man who saved
my life.
RAYMOND SHAW
I could use a valet, I think. And I
would like having a cook. A good
cook, I mean. Very well. You can
live at your cousin's. I will pay
you sixty dollars a week. You will
have every Thursday and every other
Sunday off.
CHUNJIN
(smiles)
Thank you, Mr. Shaw.
RAYMOND SHAW
I'm leaving for Washington in a few
minutes. I'll be back here this
evening by eight-thirty. I would
like to have dinner waiting.
CHUNJIN
(salutes Raymond)
Yes, sir! Yes, sir, Mr. Shaw! Just
like United States Army!
RAYMOND SHAW
Oh, God, I hope not.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. ISELIN'S SENATE OFFICE - WASHINGTON, D.C. - DAY
Senator Iselin's reflection is visible in the glass of a framed portrait
of his favorite president, Abraham Lincoln. The senator, wearing a
bathrobe, pours himself a drink. He seems uneasy about something.
MRS. ISELIN (o.s.)
You're gonna be perfectly marvelous
in there this afternoon, hon, I just
know you are.
SENATOR ISELIN
Yeah...
The senator turns to Mrs. Iselin who sits at a table smoking a cigarette
and reading the newspapers. The senator's lunch is on the table.
SENATOR ISELIN
There's just one thing, babe. I'd
be a lot happier if we could just
settle on the number of Communists I
know there are in the Defense
Department.
Mrs. Iselin gives him a withering look as he sits down to his lunch of
steak and baked potato.
SENATOR ISELIN
I-I mean, the way you keep changing
the figures on me all the time,
it-it makes look like-like some kind
of a nut, like-like-like an idiot.
The boys are even startin' to kid me
about it. Why, just yesterday in
the cloak room, they said: "Hey,
Johnny!"--
MRS. ISELIN
Well, you're going to look like an
even bigger idiot if you don't get
in there and do exactly what you're
told.
SENATOR ISELIN
Babe...
MRS. ISELIN
(off the newspapers)
Who are they writing about all over
this country and what are they
saying? Are they saying: "Are there
any Communists in the Defense
Department?" Of course not.
They're saying: "How many Communists
are there in the Defense Department?"
SENATOR ISELIN
Yeah...
MRS. ISELIN
(vicious)
So just stop talking like an expert
all of a sudden and get out there
and say what you're supposed to say!
SENATOR ISELIN
C'mon, babe, I....
MRS. ISELIN
(suddenly sweet as sugar)
I'm sorry, hon. Would it really
make it easier for you if we settled
on just one number?
SENATOR ISELIN
Yeah. Just one real simple number
that'd be easy for me to remember.
The senator unscrews a bottle of ketchup and starts glopping it on his
steak. Mrs. Iselin looks at the bottle. It's Heinz Tomato Ketchup --
you know, the brand with fifty-seven varieties.
CUT TO:
INT. THE UNITED STATES SENATE - DAY
On the Senate floor, Senator Iselin makes a speech.
SENATOR ISELIN
There are exactly... fifty-seven
card-carrying members of the
Communist party in the Department
of Defense at this time!
The Senate BUZZES at this. People are yelling, running around, etc.
Raymond sits quietly with the other members of the press taking notes.
SENATOR ISELIN
Point of order, Mr. Speaker! Point
of order...
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. RAYMOND'S APARTMENT HOUSE - NEW YORK CITY - DAY
A tired-looking Marco emerges from the elevator on Raymond's floor. The
elevator operator points out Raymond's door for him. Marco crosses to
the door and presses the BUZZER. After a moment, the door is opened by
Chunjin. Marco glares at him for a split second -- recognizes him --
and promptly punches him in the jaw. Chunjin sprawls backwards into
Raymond's apartment, CRASHING through a glass door. Marco tries to hit
him again but Chunjin gives him a wicked judo chop, then puts him in a
hold. They spin wildly around the room before Chunjin flips Marco to
the floor. Marco claws at Chunjin's face.
MARCO
What was Raymond doing with his
hands?!
Marco kicks Chunjin off of him. They both scramble to their feet.
MARCO
How did the old ladies turn into
Russians?!
Marco socks Chunjin in the side. Chunjin blocks another punch and
knocks Marco backward into a chair. They face off in classic judo
poses. Marco kicks Chunjin against a wooden dining room table, then
tries to karate chop him. Chunjin dodges and Marco chops out a
section of the table. Chunjin hits Marco, knocking him to the floor,
and then kicks him while he's down. Marco manages to get to one knee
before Chunjin can move in for the kill. Marco slowly rises and then
attacks. But Chunjin throws him across the room into a small table.
Chunjin puts Marco in a head lock and pounds his face. Marco flips
Chunjin over.
MARCO
What was Raymond doing with his
hands?!
Marco hits Chunjin with a flurry of chops sending him to the floor.
Marco twists Chunjin's arm while repeatedly kicking him in the gut and
screaming questions at him.
MARCO
How did the old ladies turn into
Russians?! What was Raymond doing
with his hands?! What were you
doing there?! What was Raymond
doing with his hands?! What were
you doing there?!
Two uniformed police officers burst into the wrecked apartment and try
to pull Marco off of Chunjin. Marco elbows one of the officers in the
stomach. The elevator operator, who called the cops, watches fearfully
from the door.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. POLICE STATION - NIGHT
Marco sits quietly, his hand to his bruised and cut face, staring
blankly into space. A plainclothes police officer points him out to
Rosie who pauses nervously before crossing to him. She sits beside him
and he looks up at her. She smiles. The plainclothes officer brings
Marco's coat and suitcase and then goes to make a phone call.
ROSIE
(to Marco)
I must say, it was original of you
to have the police department call
so shyly and ask for our first date.
MARCO
Well, they asked me who would... who
would I be willing to --
ROSIE
I know. And thank you. Thank you
very much.
Marco rises wearily and grabs his coat. Rosie takes his suitcase and
they walk out of the station, past the officer who is talking on the
phone in Spanish -- contrary to Raymond, we don't ALL speak the same
language here.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. TAXICAB - NIGHT
It rains heavily as a cab speeds through the New York City streets.
CUT TO:
INT. TAXICAB - NIGHT
Marco and Rosie sit in the back seat.
MARCO
I've got to find Raymond. Maybe
he's home by now.
Rosie lights a cigarette for Marco and puts it in his mouth.
ROSIE
All right, darling. Whatever you
want. But, first, I have something
to tell you. You know what I was
doing when you so cleverly had the
police call me? Don't bother trying
to guess, you're too tired.
Rosie starts wiping some of the dried blood off of Marco's face.
ROSIE
I'll tell you what I was doing.
After I dropped you off, I went
straight home and when I got
upstairs--
MARCO
Apartment 3-B.
Rosie is surprised at his memory.
ROSIE
That's right. Very good. Before I
even took my coat off, I telephoned
my fiance...
Now, it's Marco's turn to look surprised.
ROSIE
Well, I told you I wasn't married.
I never said I wasn't engaged. Well,
I called up my fiance -- and he came
over as soon as he could, which was
instantly -- and I told him I had
just met you and I gave him his
ring back. I tried to convey my
regrets for whatever pain I might
be causing him. And then -- just
then -- you had the police call to
invite me to meet you at the 24th
Precinct. So I grabbed my coat,
kissed my fiance on the cheek -- for
the last time in our lives we would
ever kiss -- and I ran. At the
police station, they told me you
had just beaten up a very large
Chinese gentleman.
MARCO
Not Chinese, dear. Korean. At
least, I think he was Korean.
ROSIE
A very large Korean gentleman. But
that you were a pretty solid type
yourself, according to Washington
with whom they had apparently
checked. So I figured if they were
willing to go to all the trouble to
get a comment on you out of George
Washington, why, you must be
somebody very important indeed. And
I must say, it was rather sweet of
the general with you only a major.
I didn't even know you knew him.
She almost gets a smile out of Marco. But then she turns serious.
ROSIE
If they were the tiniest bit puzzled
about you, they could've asked me.
Oh, yes, indeed, my darling, Ben.
They could've asked me. And I
would've told them.
Rosie kisses Marco.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. RAYMOND'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Later that evening, Raymond opens the door to his apartment to reveal an
apologetic Marco standing in the hallway. Marco wears a clean uniform
and has a bandage over one eye but his face is still a mess.
MARCO
Hi, kid.
RAYMOND SHAW
What in the hell's going on? They
called me in Washington to tell me
that you'd broken into my apartment
and beaten up my houseboy.
Raymond walks away from the door and lets Marco follow him into the
wrecked apartment.
MARCO
Yeah, well, see... Chunjin... When
I--
RAYMOND SHAW
(off Marco's face)
My God, you look terrible. I mean,
I've never seen you look so awful.
MARCO
Yeah.
Marco starts trying to tidy up the mess he made earlier. He picks up
some papers from a table and crouches down to a pile of things on the
floor beside it.
MARCO
Raymond, uh, I want to tell you,
I've been having this terrible
nightmare...
Marco stops. He sees Raymond's Congressional Medal of Honor lying amid
the things on the floor. Marco picks it up and takes a long look at it.
MARCO
I've been in the army nineteen years.
First time I've ever seen one of
these.
(rises)
I've been havin' this nightmare. A
real swinger of a nightmare, too.
Has to do with, uh, all kinds of
strange people--
RAYMOND SHAW
(straightening a lamp)
Is it about a Russian general and
some Chinese and me and the men who
were on the patrol?
Stunned, Marco crosses to Raymond and grabs hold of him by the lapels.
MARCO
How did you know that? How do you
know?
RAYMOND SHAW
Take your hands off me.
Marco lets go of him and tries to calm down.
MARCO
Please, Raymond. Tell me. How did
you know?
RAYMOND SHAW
Well, I don't really know anything
about it at all.
Raymond walks away from Marco.
MARCO
But you just started to tell--
RAYMOND SHAW
It's just that-- You remember Al
Melvin, the corporal in the patrol?
MARCO
Yes, of course.
RAYMOND SHAW
Well, I had a letter from him a
couple of weeks ago. Needless to
say, I was very surprised to hear
from him.
Raymond rights a fallen statue.
RAYMOND SHAW
You know how much the guys in the
outfit hated me. Well, not as much
as I hated them, of course. Well,
anyway, the funny thing was, he said
in his letter that I was the best
friend he had in the army. I was
the best friend he had in the army.
Why, the poor simple boob. Well,
anyway, that's what he wanted to
tell me about: his nightmare. He
said he was going out of his mind.
Raymond crouches down to pick some things off the floor. Marco crosses
to him.
MARCO
Raymond. Tell me what he said about
the nightmare.
RAYMOND SHAW
Well, he keeps dreaming that the
patrol is all sitting together in
this hotel lobby and there are a lot
of Chinese brass and Russian
generals and I don't know. Anyway,
what's so much of a nightmare about
that?
MARCO
The letter. Have you got the
letter?
RAYMOND SHAW
No, I don't. I never keep letters.
MARCO
You mean, that's all he wrote? That
was the end of it?
RAYMOND SHAW
Why? Is it the same thing that
you've been dreaming?
MARCO
Raymond, do something for me, will
you? Call El Dorado-59970. If a
young lady answers, and she will,
tell her I've gone to Washington --
the town, not the general. Tell her
I'll be in touch with her as quickly
as I can. You'll do that won't you?
El Dorado-59970.
Marco puts the Medal of Honor in Raymond's hand and rushes out. Raymond
watches him go and returns to his cleaning.
CUT TO:
INT. ARMY INTELLIGENCE - WASHINGTON, D.C. - DAY
Various photographs -- some sharp, some murky -- of various men are
projected on a screen, two at a time. In the darkened intelligence
room, a tight-lipped Marco, wearing eyeglasses, sits and stares intently
at the pictures. His fellow intelligence officers sit with him: the
Colonel, the medical officer, the psychiatrist, etc.
COLONEL
To take some of the mystery out of
it, Major, the photographs you're
looking at are shots of male models,
Mexican circus performers, Czech
research chemists, Japanese
criminals, French headwaiters,
Turkish wrestlers, pastoral
psychiatrists, and, of course,
various officials of the U.S.S.R.,
the People's Republic of China, and
the Soviet Army.
A picture of Berezovo appears. Marco rises and crosses to the screen.
MARCO
Hold the one on the right, please!
The picture of Berezovo is held and Marco inspects it closely. A
picture of Gomel appears on the left.
MARCO
Hold this one, too, please.
Marco, standing in front of the two photos, turns to the Colonel.
COLONEL
Exactly one hour ago, your friend,
Mr. Alan Melvin in Wainwright,
Alaska made the same two
photographs.
MARCO
(off Berezovo's photo)
This one here wore sunglasses,
smelled like a goat. His moustache
was a little thinner then. He had a
loud voice and it grated. 'S'bout
five eleven, on the heavy side,
uniformed as a lieutenant general.
His staff was dressed in civilian
clothes, looked a little like FBI
men.
ONE OF THE OFFICERS
His name, incidentally, is Berezovo.
He's a member of the Central
Committee.
MARCO
(off Gomel's photo)
This one was dressed in civilian
clothes but his staff was uniformed
-- varying from a full colonel to a
first lieutenant. They wore
political markings.
OFFICER
Lights.
The lights come on. The medical officer exchanges glances with the
psychiatrist. The Colonel addresses Marco.
COLONEL
All right, Ben. I'm going to
recommend setting up a joint
intelligence CIA-FBI unit based out
of New York. You'll work with them
representing the Army. Your
assignment's Raymond Shaw.
MARCO
Very good, Colonel.
PSYCHIATRIST
Should be a very pleasant assignment,
Major, considering that Raymond Shaw
is the kindest, bravest, warmest,
most wonderful human being you've
ever met in your life.
For the first time in a long time, Marco grins, a broad happy smile of
relief.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. RAYMOND'S APARTMENT - NEW YORK CITY - NIGHT
Some weeks later, Christmas Eve. Raymond sits at a table downing a drink
while Marco puts a record on the phonograph. They both appear to be
inebriated, Raymond particularly so.
RAYMOND SHAW
My mother, Ben, is a terrible woman.
A terrible, terrible woman.
Raymond tries to pour himself another but the bottle's nearly empty.
RAYMOND SHAW
(yells)
Chunjin! Chunjin! We would like
some more wine!
As a lame version of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" emerges from the
phonograph (What? No Sinatra?), Marco pulls a fresh bottle of wine
from a paper bag and joins Raymond at the table.
RAYMOND SHAW
Chunjin! Oh, I forgot. [?] I gave
Chunjin the night off. Because it
was Christmas Eve, I told him. He
was very reluctant to go.
MARCO
That's probably because he's a
Buddhist and he doesn't celebrate
Christmas.
RAYMOND SHAW
Ah... I don't think that Chunjin is
a Buddhist. He smiles all the time.
MARCO
Oh. What a shame. I thought he was
a Buddhist or I would've sent him a
Christmas card. But I figured that
if I sent him a card...
Marco POPS the cork on the wine bottle.
MARCO
...at this time of the year...
Marco pours.
MARCO
...then he would have to send me a
card on the Buddha's birthday. To
save face, right?
RAYMOND SHAW
Oh, right.
MARCO
And that would've started a whole
big magilla.
RAYMOND SHAW
Exactly.
MARCO
Right.
RAYMOND SHAW
That's-- You did exactly the right
thing.
Marco watches Raymond stare at the phonograph.
RAYMOND SHAW
(rises)
Twelve days of Christmas.
Raymond crosses to the phonograph.
RAYMOND SHAW
One day of Christmas is loathsome
enough.
Raymond switches off the phonograph and makes his way back to the table.
RAYMOND SHAW
What were we saying? Oh, yes. My
mother. Oh, but you don't want to
sit there listening to me talking
about--
Raymond sits.
MARCO
Of course, I do. I'm interested.
It's rather like listening to
Orestes gripe about Clytemnestra.
RAYMOND SHAW
Who?
MARCO
Greeks. Couple o' Greeks in a play.
RAYMOND SHAW
Oh. Well, you know, Ben, it's a
terrible thing to hate your mother.
But I didn't always hate her. When I
was a child, I only kind of disliked
her. But after what she did to
Jocie and me... That's when I began
to hate her.
MARCO
Jocie?
RAYMOND SHAW
Jocie Jordan. Senator Jordan's
daughter. That's pretty funny,
isn't it?
Raymond rises and crosses to a bookcase where he digs out an old photo.
RAYMOND SHAW
Thomas Jordan's daughter and Johnny
Iselin's stepson.
Raymond returns to the table, sits, and shows the photo to Marco.
RAYMOND SHAW
That's her. Jocie.
MARCO
She's lovely.
RAYMOND SHAW
I always keep her picture. Years
later, I realized, Ben, that I'm not
very lovable-- No, no, don't
contradict me. I'm not lovable.
Some people are lovable and other
people are not lovable. I am not
lovable. Oh, but I was very lovable
with Jocie. Ben, you cannot believe
how lovable I was. In a way. And,
of course, my mother fixed all that.
Raymond polishes off his drink.
RAYMOND SHAW
Ben, you don't blame me, for hating
my mother, do you? I'm not making
excuses. 'Cause I have been even
less lovable then I was since... It
was the summer just before I went
into the army. And I was bitten
by this snake. Are you following me?
MARCO
I am.
RAYMOND SHAW
Well, while I was lying there,
absolutely helpless, afraid to move
-- because you're not supposed to
move, uh, it-it makes the poison
circulate --
We begin a SLOW DISSOLVE to a FLASHBACK.
RAYMOND SHAW
... when, unexpectedly, there she was
with a razor blade in her hand...
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. LAKESHORE ROAD - LONG ISLAND, N.Y. - DAY
We PAN ACROSS a lake to find Raymond wearing nothing but swim trunks,
lying in the grass. A stunningly attractive blonde woman, about
Raymond's age, kneels beside him, tending to his snakebitten ankle.
This is JOCIE JORDAN. She talks breathlessly, pleased and excited by
the situation.
JOCIE
My daddy's gonna be so pleased about
this. I mean, he's just absolutely
scared tiddly about snakes in this
part of the country. I know that
sounds terribly Freudian and
everything but, in this case, I
don't think it is. I mean, I think
he's just simply uncomplicatedly
afraid of snakes, period...
Jocie rises and rushes over to her nearby bicycle to fetch a bottle.
JOCIE
...which is why I happen to be
riding around with a razor blade and
a bottle of potassium permanganate
solution.
Jocie rushes back to Raymond.
JOCIE
You don't happen to have a
handkerchief, do you?
(laughs breathlessly)
No, of course, you don't. Well, I
don't either. I-I do have a Kleenex
but... Oh, well.
Jocie unbuttons and removes her blouse, revealing her nicely-filled
strapless bra. Raymond tries not to show his pleasure at this.
JOCIE
Seriously, Daddy is going to be just
thrilled about this.
Jocie uses the blouse as a tourniquet on Raymond's leg.
JOCIE
All summer long he's been raving
about snakes and nobody's ever seen
one and now this. I promise you one
thing, it may be a little
uncomfortable for you but it's
going to absolutely make his summer.
Now, you just lie very still. Don't
move. That's very important.
Jocie rises, crosses to her bike, and pedals away.
JOCIE
I'll be right back with the car in a
minute.
Raymond, thoroughly entranced, watches her go.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. JORDAN'S SUMMER HOME - DAY
Raymond -- now wearing a borrowed jacket and with a thermometer in his
mouth -- lies on his back on a table in the living room of SENATOR
THOMAS JORDAN, a short, round, balding man who is everything Senator
Iselin is not: classy, thoughtful, intelligent. Senator Jordan checks
Raymond's eyes and seems satisfied.
SENATOR JORDAN
You're lucky, young man, very lucky.
If I were to tell you the statistics
on death by snakebite every year...
Jocie, standing over Raymond like a mother hen, smiles at her father's
snake mania.
SENATOR JORDAN
But in this case, I think...
(inspecting the ankle)
Hmm, there's no swelling above or
below.
(checks the thermometer)
Hmm... Normal. Well, I must say,
there's a good chance you're going
to live.
Raymond continues to stare at Jocie.
SENATOR JORDAN
You're not by any chance a mute,
are you?
Jocie laughs at her father.
RAYMOND SHAW
No, sir.
They help Raymond to sit up on the table.
RAYMOND SHAW
(to Jocie)
I want to thank you very much,
Miss...? Miss...?
JOCIE
Jordan.
SENATOR JORDAN
Miss Jocelyn Jordan.
RAYMOND SHAW
How do you do?
JOCIE
Fine.
They help Raymond off the table to a chair.
SENATOR JORDAN
And now, according to the quaint
local custom, it's your turn to tell
us what your name is.
RAYMOND SHAW
My name is Raymond Shaw, sir.
SENATOR JORDAN
How do you do, Raymond? Is your
place near here, Raymond?
RAYMOND SHAW
Yes. It's that red house just across
the lake.
JOCIE
The Iselin house?
RAYMOND SHAW
(through clenched teeth)
My house. It was my father's. My
father's dead. He left it to me.
A giant artwork of an eagle with outstretched wings hangs over Jordan's
fireplace. Senator Jordan stands in front of it in such a way that the
wings appear to be coming out of his back as if he were an angel.
SENATOR JORDAN
We were told that that was the summer
camp of Senator Iselin.
RAYMOND SHAW
Johnny stays there sometimes, sir,
when he gets too drunk for my mother
to allow him to be seen in
Washington.
SENATOR JORDAN
(to Jocie)
My dear, although we've done
everything that modern science
recommends, there is still the
traditional folk remedy against
snakebite which we haven't applied.
So, to be on the safe side...
Jocie grins and goes to fetch some drinks.
SENATOR JORDAN
(to Raymond)
Mrs. Iselin is your mother?
RAYMOND SHAW
Yes, sir.
SENATOR JORDAN
(sits)
I once found it necessary to sue
your mother for defamation of
character and slander. My name is
Thomas Jordan. Senator Thomas
Jordan.
RAYMOND SHAW
(incredulous)
The Communist?
Jocie returns with the drinks and sits with her father.
SENATOR JORDAN
Well... One of your mother's more
endearing traits is a tendency to
refer to anyone who disagrees with
her about anything as a Communist.
Last time she so referred to me on a
network radio program, it cost her
sixty-five thousand dollars in court
costs. What hurt her more than the
money, I think, was the fact that I
donated all of it to an organization
called the American Civil Liberties
Union.
RAYMOND SHAW
Senator Jordan.
SENATOR JORDAN
Yes, Raymond?
RAYMOND SHAW
I would very much like to ask your
permission, sir, to marry Jocelyn.
Jocie and the senator stare at Raymond. Then at each other. Then they
explode with laughter. After a long moment, Raymond joins them. It is
the first time we see him smile, let alone laugh. Over this happy
scene appears a SUPERIMPOSED IMAGE of a drunken Raymond as he continues
to tell his story to Marco.
RAYMOND SHAW
(to Marco)
We were together every minute after
that.
Still laughing, Raymond, Jocie and the senator toast one another and
drink their drinks.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. / EXT. SUMMERTIME MONTAGE
The superimposed image of Raymond continues over a MONTAGE of the events
of that summer: Raymond and Jocie walking hand in hand through the
countryside; running by the lakeshore in swimsuits and collapsing to the
grass in an embrace; Raymond, Jocie and the senator enjoying a hearty
laugh at the Jordans' dinner table.
RAYMOND SHAW
(to Marco)
You just cannot believe, Ben,
how... lovable the whole damn thing
was. All summer long, we were
together. I was lovable. Jocie was
lovable. The senator was lovable.
The days were lovable. The nights
were lovable. And everybody was
lovable. Except, of course, my
mother.
Raymond takes a drink. The montage ends on a DISSOLVE TO the final
scene of the FLASHBACK:
INT. RAYMOND'S SUMMER HOUSE - NIGHT
A door SLAMS and Raymond enters. Mrs. Iselin sits and smokes a
cigarette. A painting of Abraham Lincoln hangs on the wall over the
fireplace. A lampshade shaped like a stovepipe hat is mounted over a
lamp base shaped like a bust of Lincoln.
MRS. ISELIN
Raymond.
RAYMOND SHAW
(sharply)
What is it, mother?
MRS. ISELIN
What sort of a greeting is that at
three-thirty in the morning?
RAYMOND SHAW
It's a quarter to three and what do
you want?
MRS. ISELIN
I want to talk to you, Raymond.
RAYMOND SHAW
About what?
MRS. ISELIN
I want to talk to you about that
Communist tart.
RAYMOND SHAW
Shut up with that, mother! Shut up!
MRS. ISELIN
You know what Jordan is? Are you
out to crucify me? Are you [?]
RAYMOND SHAW
I don't know what you're talking
about and I don't want to know. I'm
going to bed.
MRS. ISELIN
Raymond. Sit down.
Raymond sits reluctantly and his mother rises and crosses to him.
MRS. ISELIN
How would you see her? They live in
New York.
RAYMOND SHAW
I'm getting a job in New York.
MRS. ISELIN
You have your army service.
RAYMOND SHAW
Next spring. I might be dead by
next spring.
MRS. ISELIN
Raymond, if we were at war, and you
were suddenly to become infatuated
with the daughter of a Russian
agent, wouldn't you expect me to
come to you and object? And beg
you to stop the entire thing before
it was too late? Well, we are at
war. It's a cold war. But it will
get worse and worse until every man,
woman and child in this country
will have to stand up and be counted
to say whether they are on the side
of right and freedom or on the side
of the Thomas Jordan's of this
country.
Raymond claps his hands to ears and grimaces -- just as we saw him do
earlier in the limousine. Mrs. Iselin begins to work her will on him,
wearing him down. We begin another SLOW DISSOLVE out of the FLASHBACK.
MRS. ISELIN
I will go to you to Washington,
tomorrow if you like, and I will
show you documented proof that this
man stands for evil, that he is
evil, and that his whole life is
devoted to undermining everything
that you and I and Johnny and every
freedom-minded American...
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. RAYMOND'S APARTMENT - NEW YORK CITY - NIGHT
Dawn is breaking on Christmas morning as Raymond finishes telling Marco
his story.
RAYMOND SHAW
She won, of course. She always
does. I could never beat her. I
still can't. I wrote a letter. Or
she wrote it and I signed it, I-I
can't even remember which. It was
a terrible, vile, disgusting letter.
The next day, I enlisted in the Army.
I never saw her again.
(begins to cry)
God knows, Ben, I'm not lovable.
But I loved her. I did love her.
I do love her.
Raymond puts his head down on the table. Marco rises.
MARCO
Come on, kid. Time for you to call
it a night. Come on.
Marco helps Raymond to his feet.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. JILLY'S BAR - DAY
A few days later. Raymond enters a popular New York City watering hole,
Jilly's. Throughout the scene, the BARTENDER -- Jilly himself? -- keeps
up a running conversation with two patrons at the bar.
BARTENDER
So, this lousy brother-in-law of
mine, I say to him, you think you're
a poker player? Well, I've got a
flash for you...
RAYMOND SHAW
(to the bartender)
Beer, please.
BARTENDER
... you ain't no poker player.
(gets the beer)
So I says to him, my advice to you
from the bottom of the heart: don't
play poker.
(gives beer to Raymond)
If I was you, I'd get myself another
line of action. Why don't you pass
the time by playing a little
solitaire? So, he says to me--
RAYMOND SHAW
(to the bartender)
Give me a deck of cards, please.
The bartender slides a deck of cards down the bar to Raymond who
immediately starts passing the time by playing a little solitaire.
BARTENDER
When I get married to my old lady, I
got no idea that this guy comes in
the same package. That it's a
package deal and for eleven long
years, I got this grump tied around
my neck. And believe me it's no
bargain. You've got no idea what
kind of a problem I got with this
guy...
Marco enters and joins Raymond at the bar.
MARCO
(to the bartender)
Beer, please.
(to Raymond)
Sorry, I'm late, kid. Got held up
in traffic.
The bartender, still talking to the two patrons, gives Marco a beer.
Raymond ignores Marco and keeps playing. Marco watches as the queen of
diamonds turns up. Raymond stops.
BARTENDER
...so I says to him, please do me a
favor, will you? Why don't you go
take yourself a cab and go up to
Central Park and go jump in the
lake?
The bartender and the two patrons laugh. Raymond immediately leaves the
bar and walks out into the street, much to Marco's surprise.
MARCO
Hey! Raymond! Hey!
Marco throws some bills on the bar and rushes out after him.
CUT TO:
EXT. JILLY'S - DAY
Marco emerges from Jilly's just as a cab pulls away from the curb with
Raymond in it.
MARCO
Raymond!
Marco watches the cab take off, then hails a cab of his own.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. CENTRAL PARK - DAY
Minutes later, Raymond gets out of his cab at Central Park and starts
walking briskly down a long flight of steps to the lake. After a few
moments, Marco's cab arrives. He jumps out and follows Raymond.
Raymond threads his way through dozens of rowboats that have been
stacked up for the winter. Marco follows.
Raymond strides across the wooden boardwalk that runs along the side of
the lake. Marco follows.
Raymond walks the entire length of a pier that juts out into the lake
and, without stopping, jumps into the icy water. Marco can't believe
what he's seeing. Raymond treads water, looking puzzled as to where he
is. Marco runs down the pier and helps Raymond out of the water.
MARCO
Get out of there! What are ya
doin'?
Raymond, shivering from the cold, stands on the pier with Marco.
RAYMOND SHAW
Hi, Ben.
MARCO
What the hell are you doing? What's
the matter with you?
RAYMOND SHAW
I don't know.
MARCO
I was standing next to you at the
bar and you were playing a game of
solitaire. Do you remember that?
Raymond shakes his head.
MARCO
Then you bolted out of the bar,
jumped in a cab, drove up here to
the park and jumped into the water.
RAYMOND SHAW
I don't remember, Ben. I just don't
remember.
MARCO
Wait a minute. I do. I remember.
In the dream. I remember what you
were doing with your hands...
Marco deals an imaginary hand of solitaire to a puzzled Raymond.
MARCO
You were-- Of course!
CUT TO:
INT. INTELLIGENCE OFFICE - NEW YORK CITY - DAY
Days later. Marco is in the midst of a real game of solitaire while the
army psychiatrist looks on and kibitzes, much to Marco's annoyance.
PSYCHIATRIST
Obviously, the solitaire game acts
as some sort of a trigger mechanism.
(off the game)
Black seven on the red eight.
(matter-of-fact)
I suggest we discard the various
number systems and concentrate on
the face cards.
(off the game)
Red six on the black seven.
MARCO
(annoyed)
Thanks a lot.
PSYCHIATRIST
Because of their symbolic
identification with human beings.
Based on Raymond's psychiatric
pattern, I think we can safely
eliminate the jacks and kings.
(off the game)
Black six on the red seven.
MARCO
(fed up)
Why don't you try it for a while?
Marco throws down the deck. The psychiatrist eagerly takes over the
game.
PSYCHIATRIST
Human fish swimming at the bottom of
the great ocean of atmosphere develop
psychic injuries as they collide with
one another. Most mortal of all are
those gotten from the parent fish.
MARCO
Queen of diamonds on the black king.
The psychiatrist lays down the queen of diamonds but Marco instantly
picks it up.
PSYCHIATRIST
Hey, what are you doing? To cheat
at solitaire is a form of regression
that--
MARCO
I remember. I remember. I can see
that Chinese cat standin' there
smilin' like Fu Manchu and saying:
"The queen of diamonds is reminiscent
in many ways of Raymond's dearly
loved and hated mother and is the
second key to clear the mechanism
for any other assignment." Yeah.
Marco and the psychiatrist exchange happy grins.
CUT TO:
INT. ISELIN'S SENATE OFFICE - WASHINGTON, D.C. - DAY
Senator Iselin sits in a chair practicing a speech -- he reads from
handwritten cue cards labeled "Iselin Speech #14." A bib in his collar
protects his shirt from the cosmetics that a professional make-up artist
judiciously applies to his face. Mrs. Iselin sits with the cue card
writer supervising his work.
SENATOR ISELIN
...republic, repeat, republic, until
the peril of international Communism
is driven from every dark corner of
this great nation.
(to make-up artist)
Give me a little chuckie on the chin,
you doing it right?
MRS. ISELIN
(to Senator Iselin)
You know, hon, I can't tell you how
worried I am about Raymond.
SENATOR ISELIN
Raymond? What Raymond?
MRS. ISELIN
Raymond Shaw. My son. Your stepson.
I've been thinking about him a great
deal lately and you know what I've
decided?
SENATOR ISELIN
What?
MRS. ISELIN
I've decided it's time he got
married.
The senator chuckles at this.
MRS. ISELIN
(rises)
May I ask what you find so amusing?
SENATOR ISELIN
Who could you possibly find who
would marry Raymond? Ha, ha, ha!
MRS. ISELIN
I have devoted considerable thought
to the problem. And it has occurred
to me that Tom Jordan's daughter,
Jocelyn -- you remember her, hon?
That mousy little girl Raymond was
so attracted to that summer at the
lake?
SENATOR ISELIN
Oh, yeah. That little, uh,
Communist tart?
MRS. ISELIN
All right. So I might have been a
little bit hasty. Anyway, time's
change. I now think she would now
make Raymond an excellent wife.
She's been living in Paris for the
past two years. I have word she'll
be coming home soon. And when she
does, I think we should give a
little party.
SENATOR ISELIN
But, babe, I thought that you and
Senator Jordan--
MRS. ISELIN
I keep telling you not to think.
You're very, very good at a great
many things but thinking, hon', just
simply isn't one of them. You just
keep shouting "Point of order!
Point of order!" into the television
cameras and I will handle the rest.
I think a June wedding would be
nice. Right before the convention.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. RAYMOND'S APARTMENT - NEW YORK CITY - DAY
Mrs. Iselin stands by a whirring electric fan. Raymond sits at a
typewriter, working. Chunjin sets up a table for lunch.
MRS. ISELIN
(to Raymond)
Raymond, I don't know why yours is
the only apartment in New York City
without an air conditioner. You
know, sometimes I think you came to
us from another century.
(to Chunjin)
Choo Chin Chow, or whatever your
name is, the steaks are to be
broiled for exactly eleven minutes,
no more, no less, from each side,
in a pre-heated grill, at four
hundred degrees.
CHUNJIN
Yes, ma'am.
Chunjin exits.
MRS. ISELIN
(sits at the table)
Raymond.
RAYMOND SHAW
Mother. May I ask a question?
MRS. ISELIN
Of course.
RAYMOND SHAW
What are you doing here? I mean,
why are we having our annual
meeting?
MRS. ISELIN
I don't know what you're talking about.
RAYMOND SHAW
When I got your message announcing
that you were coming to lunch, I
naturally assumed it was because you
wanted something.
MRS. ISELIN
Not at all. This is a purely social
event. However--
Raymond finishes typing, pulls the paper out of the machine with a
flourish, rises and joins Mrs. Iselin at the table.
RAYMOND SHAW
Ah! The "however."
MRS. ISELIN
As you may or may not have heard,
Johnny and I are giving an enormous
party, a costume ball actually, at
the summer house on Long Island. I
wondered if you'd like to attend.
RAYMOND SHAW
(sits)
Have you gone out of your mind?
MRS. ISELIN
The reason I ask is because we're
giving it in honor of an old friend
of yours and her father.
RAYMOND SHAW
What old friend?
MRS. ISELIN
Do you remember a darling girl you
met the summer before you went into
the army, Jocelyn Jordan, Senator
Jordan's daughter? Well, she's been
living abroad for the last several
years. She arrived back in New York
a week or so ago. And I thought,
considering the rather shabby way
you treated her...
Raymond glares at his mother.
MRS. ISELIN
... it might be a rather gracious
gesture if I gave her a coming home
party.
RAYMOND SHAW
Jocie and her father? Coming to a
party of yours?
MRS. ISELIN
Of course. Once I explain to her
you will be there.
CUT TO:
INT. SUMMER HOUSE TENT - LONG ISLAND, N.Y. - NIGHT
Inside a big tent on the grounds near the summer house. To the SOUND of
a Dixieland jazz band, someone sticks a knife into some red-, white- and
blue-colored caviar shaped like an American flag and spreads the caviar
on a cracker, leaving an ugly hole in the flag. The man who does this
is Senator Iselin. He's dressed as Abraham Lincoln -- fake beard,
stovepipe hat, etc. He turns to some of the other party guests, all in
gaudy costumes.
SENATOR ISELIN
It's all right. It's Polish caviar.
Everyone laughs. Mrs. Iselin, dressed as Little Bo Peep, grabs the
senator's arm with her shepherd's hook and drags him across the room to
get his picture taken with some V.I.P.
MRS. ISELIN
Johnny! Come over here, hon'!
The Iselins pose with the V.I.P.
MRS. ISELIN
(to the V.I.P.)
Stand in the middle.
Raymond arrives dressed rather stylishly as a gaucho. The photographer
snaps a picture of the Iselins and the V.I.P.
MRS. ISELIN
Great!
THE V.I.P.
Thank you.
MRS. ISELIN
(to the V.I.P.)
You look marvelous.
THE V.I.P.
(to the Iselins)
I'll see you later.
The V.I.P. walks off. A visibly tense Raymond confronts the Iselins.
RAYMOND SHAW
Where is she? Have they come?
MRS. ISELIN
They'll be here any minute.
RAYMOND SHAW
Are you sure they're coming, mother?
Are you absolutely sure?
MRS. ISELIN
Oh, Raymond. Don't be such a jerk.
Go and get yourself a drink or a
tranquilizer or something.
(to Iselin)
Raymond can certainly be a royal pain.
SENATOR ISELIN
(to Raymond)
Ah, she's just kiddin'. Ray, you
look great! You look... just great!
What, uh, what are you supposed to
be? One of those Dutch skaters?
Iselin and some of the guests laugh at this. Raymond stalks away
moodily. Mrs. Iselin pokes Iselin with her hook and chases after
Raymond.
MRS. ISELIN
Raymond, darling!
Mrs. Iselin catches up to Raymond and takes him by the arm.
MRS. ISELIN
Raymond, dear, why do you always
have to look as if your head's just
about to come to a point? Now,
just be patient. She'll be here.
I guarantee it. Raymond, why don't
we just sneak away for a few minutes
and sit down somewhere quietly and
have a drink?
CUT TO:
INT. SUMMER HOUSE LIBRARY - NIGHT
A quiet, pleasant room where the books are real, the bust of Lincoln is
imposing, and the wall facing the yard is mostly glass. The voices of
Raymond and Mrs. Iselin drift in from the hallway through a closed door.
RAYMOND SHAW (o.s.)
Are you absolutely sure she's coming,
Mother?
MRS. ISELIN (o.s.)
I told you she telephoned me twenty
minutes ago from the hotel.
The door opens. Raymond enters, followed by Mrs. Iselin, who closes
and locks the door behind them.
RAYMOND SHAW
Mother... Mother, how did she sound?
MRS. ISELIN
Like a girl. Raymond. Why don't you
pass the time by playing a little
solitaire?
Uh oh.
CUT TO:
INT. SUMMER HOUSE TENT - NIGHT
Senator Iselin spots Senator Jordan who has just arrived. Jordan wears
an ordinary suit instead of a costume. Iselin greets him.
SENATOR ISELIN
Tom! Tom boy! Tom boy, so great
you could come!
Jordan reluctantly shakes Iselin's hand.
SENATOR JORDAN
(stiffly)
I am here at this fascist rally
because my daughter has assured me
that it was important to her
happiness that I come. There is no
other reason.
SENATOR ISELIN
(pats him on the back)
Good old Tom!
CUT TO:
INT. SUMMER HOUSE LIBRARY - NIGHT
Raymond, sitting at a table, turns up the queen of diamonds and stops
playing solitaire. Mrs. Iselin sits across the room, watching him.
MRS. ISELIN
Raymond. The time has come for us
to have a serious discussion. We
feel--
There's a KNOCK at the door.
MRS. ISELIN
(sharply)
What is it?
SENATOR ISELIN (o.s.)
It's me, babe, Johnny. Tom Jordan's
here, I need you.
MRS. ISELIN
I'll be right out.
SENATOR ISELIN (o.s.)
Who's in there with you, anyway?
MRS. ISELIN
Raymond.
SENATOR ISELIN (o.s.)
Well, hurry up, will you? We've got
work to do out here.
Mrs. Iselin rises, approaches Raymond, and takes the queen of diamonds.
MRS. ISELIN
I'll take this one with me, dear. It
might bring mischief if I leave it.
RAYMOND SHAW
Yes, Mother.
Mrs. Iselin crosses to the door, unlocks and opens it, and turns to
Raymond.
MRS. ISELIN
I'll be back as soon as I can.
Mrs. Iselin exits, leaving Raymond alone. Well, not entirely alone: a
woman stands in the yard, outside a nearby door, peering in through the
glass at Raymond. We see only her face. It's Jocie, as beautiful as
ever. She opens the door. Raymond turns and sees her.
JOCIE
I've been watching you through the
window. When I saw you, my heart
almost shot out of my body. I sent
Daddy around the front way. I had
to see you alone.
Raymond twitches badly as he stares at her. We PAN DOWN from her face
to see what Raymond sees: a gigantic queen of diamonds. By some cosmic
coincidence, Jocie has chosen to attend this particular costume party as
the Queen of Diamonds: she wears a cape, leotards, and a large
papier-mache mock-up of a playing card depicting the queen strapped to
her torso. Raymond rises and crosses to her.
RAYMOND SHAW
Jocie. Oh, Jocie.
They embrace and kiss deeply.
CUT TO:
INT. SUMMER HOUSE TENT - NIGHT
The party's in full swing. Senator Iselin, a drink in his hand, plays
limbo. Mrs. Iselin's hook is the limbo stick, held by a couple of good
looking women in belly dancer outfits. Though drunk, Iselin manages to
dance under the stick, tipping his stovepipe hat as he does. The
guests APPLAUD. Senator Jordan grimaces in disgust at all this and
looks very uncomfortable. The women lower the stick and Senator
Iselin tries again but this time, he staggers to his knees. Mrs.
Iselin decides he's had enough and takes the hook away from the women.
Senator Jordan walks off.
MRS. ISELIN
(to the women)
Thank you.
Mrs. Iselin pulls Senator Iselin aside.
MRS. ISELIN
Come on, lover.
(off his cocktail)
Now, why don't you just take that
somewhere very quietly and drink
it?
SENATOR ISELIN
But, babe, I...
MRS. ISELIN
All right, dear. Run along. The
grown-ups have to talk.
The senator watches as Mrs. Iselin takes off after Jordan.
CUT TO:
EXT. SUMMER HOUSE LAWN - NIGHT
Mrs. Iselin joins Senator Jordan outside the tent.
MRS. ISELIN
How good of you to come, Tom.
SENATOR JORDAN
I have explained to your husband why
I am here.
MRS. ISELIN
Tom, I know you have very strong
personal feelings about Johnny. And
about me. What I would like to find
out is how strong they really are.
To put it as simply as possible, if
Johnny's name were put forward at the
convention next week, would you
attempt to block him?
SENATOR JORDAN
You're joking, of course?
MRS. ISELIN
Mr. Stevenson makes jokes. I do not.
SENATOR JORDAN
You're seriously trying for the
nomination for Johnny?
MRS. ISELIN
No. We couldn't make it. But I
think he has a good chance for the
second spot. I've answered your
question but you haven't answered
mine.
SENATOR JORDAN
What question?
MRS. ISELIN
Will you block us?
SENATOR JORDAN
Will I block you? I would spend
every cent I own and all I could
borrow to block you. There are
people who think of Johnny as a
clown and a buffoon. But I do not.
I despise John Iselin and everything
that Iselinism has come to stand for.
I think if John Iselin were a paid
Soviet agent he could not do more to
harm this country than he's doing
now. You asked me a question. Very
well. I'll answer you. If you
attempt to deal with the delegates
or cause Johnny's name to be brought
forward on the ticket or if in my
canvass of the delegates tomorrow
morning by telephone I find that
you're so acting, I will bring
impeachment proceedings against your
husband on the floor of the United
States Senate. And I will hit him,
I promise you, with everything in my
well-documented book.
Mrs. Iselin throws her shepherd's hook to the ground and stalks away
angrily. Senator Jordan watches her go.
CUT TO:
INT. SUMMER HOUSE LIBRARY - NIGHT
Mrs. Iselin enters the library carrying the queen of diamonds. She's
shocked to find that Raymond is gone. And even more shocked to find
Jocie's giant papier-mache playing card of the queen of diamonds lying
nearby.
CUT TO:
INT. ROSIE'S APARTMENT - NEW YORK CITY - DAY
That same night, Marco sits at a dining room table, handling a deck of
cards. Rosie enters from the kitchen with two glasses and a bottle of
wine. Marco fans the deck and holds it out to Rosie.
MARCO
For one million bucks, pick a card.
ROSIE
Oh, Benny. Card tricks? If I'd've
known that--
MARCO
(insistent)
Pick a card.
Rosie picks a card and holds it to her body without looking at it.
MARCO
Queen of diamonds.
Rosie looks at the card. It's the queen of diamonds.
ROSIE
That's pretty good. How did you do
that?
Marco winks, fans the deck, and holds up the cards to her: every card in
the deck is the queen of diamonds.
MARCO
This is what is known, my dear girl,
as a force deck. This deck of
cards is often employed by a
professional magician to simplify
his problem of guessing the card
picked by the little old lady in the
third row. Also employed by Army
Intelligence officers who-- Rosie.
ROSIE
Hm?
MARCO
Let's get married.
ROSIE
We certainly are in good spirits
tonight, aren't we?
Rosie retreats to the kitchen. Marco grabs the wine bottle and a glass
and follows her.
MARCO
Yes, we are. Tomorrow's the big day.
Lunch with Raymond. Have a nice
little game of solitaire and a nice
long chat about the good old days in
Korea.
Marco pours himself a glass of wine while Rosie fixes two plates of
pasta.
MARCO
And some old Chinese and Russian
friends of ours. Then a suggestion
or two that'll rip out all of the
wiring.
(drinks some wine)
And then, dear girl, it's over. All
over. What's the matter? Don't you
want to?
ROSIE
Want to what?
MARCO
Get married. Why don't you pay
attention to me when I speak to you?
ROSIE
Oh, Benny, I want to marry you more
than I want to go on eating Italian
food. Which'll give you some idea.
Rosie kisses Marco, then heads for the dining room with the plates.
Marco follows.
MARCO
Well, then why don't we get with it,
kiddo? You know, arranging for the
papers, the blood test, posting the
banns, figure out what we're gonna
name the kids, renting the rice, buy
the ring, call the folks.
ROSIE
Folks?
MARCO
You neither?
ROSIE
Mm mm.
MARCO
Orphan?
ROSIE
Uh huh. I used to be convinced that
as a baby I was the sole survivor of
a spaceship that overshot Mars.
MARCO
Very sexy stuff. Very, very sexy.
Marco kisses Rosie.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. RAYMOND'S APARTMENT - DAY
The next day. Marco, in uniform, stands and waits for Raymond. He's
surprised to see Raymond enter with his arm around Jocie -- both still
wear their costumes from the previous night and Raymond is a changed
man -- uncharacteristically happy. Raymond and Jocie, in turn, are
surprised to see Marco.
RAYMOND SHAW
Ben?
MARCO
Hello, Raymond.
RAYMOND SHAW
Ben, I want-- I want you to meet
Jocie. Remember I told you about
her?
(to Jocie)
Uh, this is my friend Major Ben Marco.
MARCO
Miss Jordan.
JOCIE
How do you do, Major? Only it's not
Miss Jordan anymore, it's Mrs. Shaw.
Mrs. Raymond Shaw.
RAYMOND SHAW
We flew to Maryland last night. We
got married. We just got back.
Well...? Aren't you going to pop
champagne or dance in the streets
or, well, at least kiss the bride.
MARCO
Congratulations, Mrs. Shaw.
JOCIE
Thank you, Major.
RAYMOND SHAW
My God, Ben, isn't she beautiful
though? Isn't she? And am I not
the luckiest guy in the world? I
mean, the whole world?
JOCIE
You don't have to answer that, Major.
Anyway, I'm the one who's lucky.
MARCO
Raymond...
Raymond puts an arm around Jocie and escorts her in the direction of
the kitchen.
RAYMOND SHAW
(to Jocie)
Listen, darling, there must be some,
uh, beer or champagne or penicillin
eye drops, or some anchovies in the
icebox. Crack open whatever it is.
The three of us absolutely got to
have a drink. Come on, bustle.
Make like a housewife.
Jocie watches as a happy Raymond crosses to his bedroom, talking to
Marco as he removes his coat.
RAYMOND SHAW
(to Marco)
I'll get out of this idiot suit.
Ben! Ben, you should have seen the
judge's face. There we were, the
Queen of Diamonds and me looking like
-- oh, I don't know -- like Gaucho
Marx.
(pauses)
Gaucho Marx? Ben. Ben, I
just made a joke. Not a very good
joke, I admit, but a joke. Ben,
in all the years that you've known
me, have you ever heard me make a
joke? Well, I just made one.
Gaucho Marx. Me! Ha! Big day.
Mark that down in your book.
Raymond crosses back to Jocie.
RAYMOND SHAW
Raymond Shaw got married and he made
a joke.
Raymond kisses an amused Jocie on the forehead, pats her butt, and
happily crosses back into his bedroom.
RAYMOND SHAW
Gaucho Marx.
Raymond closes the bedroom door behind him, leaving a sober Marco to
confront Jocie.
MARCO
Queen of diamonds? What did he mean
the queen of diamonds?
JOCIE
My costume. I came to this costume
party as the queen of diamonds. I
couldn't think what to wear and then
I saw this big playing card in a
shop window on--
MARCO
Mrs. Shaw.
JOCIE
Oh, please, Major. Jocie. You call
me Jocie, I'll call you Ben.
MARCO
Mrs. Shaw. Jocie. The reason I
came here this morning is to ask
Raymond to voluntarily put himself
under arrest.
JOCIE
What?
MARCO
Well, maybe not under arrest. That's
pretty strong but... To surrender
himself for some questioning.
JOCIE
Questioning? What kind of
questioning?
MARCO
Raymond is sick, Mrs. Shaw. In a
kind of a special way. He doesn't
even realize it himself.
JOCIE
Sick? He's not sick. He's the
healthiest man I've ever seen in my
whole life. You can-you can tell
that by just looking at him.
MARCO
That's not the kind of sick I mean.
JOCIE
Well, you're wrong, Ben. You're
wrong. He's tied up inside in a
thousand knots, I know that, but--
You can see for yourself how he is
with me.
MARCO
Oh, God.
JOCIE
Ben. We were married just six hours
ago. We've been in cars and offices
and airplanes ever since.
MARCO
What were your-- What are your
plans?
JOCIE
Well, there's an inn. Bedford
House, near Bedford Village. It's
about an hour from here. There's
hardly anyone there this early in
the season and we've already wired
for a room. Ben, you've got to
believe me and trust me. I can make
him well.
MARCO
I'll give you forty-eight hours.
You have him back here day after
tomorrow. I'll talk to him then.
After that, we'll see.
JOCIE
Oh, thank you, Ben.
(kisses Marco)
Thank you and God bless you.
Marco watches Jocie walk off.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. HOTEL ROOM - BEDFORD VILLAGE, CONNECTICUT - DAY
Jocie, lying in bed, gazes lovingly over at Raymond who lies beside her
with his eyes shut.
JOCIE
Darling.
After a moment, Raymond opens his eyes and likes what he
sees.
RAYMOND SHAW
What?
JOCIE
Nothing. Just 'darling.'
They hold hands, clearly very much in love.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. HOTEL ROOM - BEDFORD VILLAGE, CONNECTICUT - DAY
Later that morning, Raymond drinks orange juice at the breakfast table.
Jocie sneaks up from behind, puts her arms around him, and kisses him on
the cheek. She reaches over and turns on a small TV set, then nuzzles
his neck.
RAYMOND SHAW
My dear girl, have you noticed that
the human race is divided into two
distinct and irreconcilable groups?
Those who walk into rooms and
automatically turn television sets
on, and those who walk into rooms
and automatically turn them off.
Jocie laughs.
RAYMOND SHAW
You know, the problem is they
usually marry each other, which
naturally causes a great deal--
As Jocie sits at the table, the image on TV screen comes into focus:
it's a news program. The couple turn their attention to it at once.
TV NEWSMAN
...daughter of Senator Thomas Jordan
and Korean War hero Raymond Shaw,
stepson of Senator John Iselin.
Jocie and Raymond smile, first at the TV and then at each other. Jocie
sits in Raymond's lap and kisses him.
TV NEWSMAN
It appears however that this
Montague-Capulet [?] will have
little effect on the feud now raging
between the two party leaders. From
his campaign headquarters this
morning, Senator Iselin stepped up
his charges against the leader of
the group attempting to block his
nomination.
Raymond watches the TV with increasing disgust as Senator Iselin's face
appears.
SENATOR ISELIN
I now charge this man, Thomas
Jordan... with high treason! And I
assure you the moment the Senate
reconvenes, I shall move for this
man Jordan's impeachment! And after
that, a civil trial!
Iselin continues to ramble on ("The verdict of which can only be a
resounding... guilty!", etc.) but Raymond has clearly heard enough. He
and Jocie rise.
RAYMOND SHAW
(his old intense self)
Come on, get dressed. We're driving
down to New York. Go straight to your
father's house. Please convey my
personal apologies to him. I'll join
you there later.
Raymond begins to leave.
JOCIE
What are you going to do?
RAYMOND SHAW
(vicious)
Something I should have done a long
time ago. I'm going to beat that
vile, slandering, son of a numbskull
to a bloody pulp.
Raymond gives the TV set a dirty look.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. SUMMER HOUSE LIBRARY - LONG ISLAND, N.Y. - DAY
Mrs. Iselin is on the telephone when Raymond angrily bursts in.
RAYMOND SHAW
Mother!
Mrs. Iselin hangs up and quickly crosses to the desk upon which sits
the bust of Lincoln.
RAYMOND SHAW
That vile, slandering husband of
yours! Where is he?
Mrs. Iselin opens a drawer in the desk revealing a deck of cards.
MRS. ISELIN
Darling, something very important
has come up. There's something you
have to do.
Mrs. Iselin removes the cards.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. JORDAN'S CITY HOUSE - NEW YORK CITY - NIGHT
In the middle of the night, Raymond, dressed in dark clothes, climbs up
the steps to Senator Jordan's front door.
CUT TO:
INT. JORDAN'S CITY HOUSE - NIGHT
In the kitchen, Senator Jordan, in robe and slippers, fixes himself a
late night snack. He hears Raymond enter the building.
SENATOR JORDAN
Who is it?
Raymond is visible from the kitchen, standing inside the front door with
a hand in his inside jacket pocket.
RAYMOND SHAW
It's me, sir.
Raymond and Jordan meet each other halfway. They stand together in
the hallway.
SENATOR JORDAN
(glad to see him)
Raymond, my boy! Jocie waited up as
long as she could. She turned in
about a quarter to two. She told me
the good news. Raymond.
RAYMOND SHAW
Yes, sir?
SENATOR JORDAN
I want to offer you my
congratulations and welcome you to
the family. I've been watching my
daughter's face all evening. She's
a very happy girl.
RAYMOND SHAW
Thank you, sir.
Jordan heads back to the kitchen. Raymond follows and stands in the
kitchen doorway as Jordan raids the icebox for some butter.
SENATOR JORDAN
Come with me. I'll pour some good
whiskey on you to celebrate your
wedding. Soothe you after a trying
day. Any number of good reasons.
Some whiskey in that cabinet beside
you. Help yourself. I only hope
you haven't been too upset by these
idiotic attacks of Iselin.
Jordan fails to see Raymond pull a gun -- equipped with a silencer --
from his inside jacket pocket.
SENATOR JORDAN
Actually, I take the position that
any attack by Iselin is a great
honor. Actually, I haven't had so
much supporting mail in the Senate
in the last twenty-two years.
Jordan, taking a carton of milk from the icebox, suddenly sees the gun.
RAYMOND SHAW
I'm very glad to hear that, sir.
SENATOR JORDAN
What the hell is that in your hand?
RAYMOND SHAW
It's a pistol, sir.
SENATOR JORDAN
That a silencer?
RAYMOND SHAW
Yes, sir.
SENATOR JORDAN
Why are you carrying a pistol?
Some artwork of an American eagle hangs on the kitchen wall above
Raymond as he points the gun at Senator Jordan.
SENATOR JORDAN
Raymond! What are you--?
The senator raises his hand as Raymond SHOOTS him. The bullet passes
through the milk carton and into the senator's heart. Milk pours out of
the bullet hole as the senator slowly collapses to the floor. Raymond
approaches the body and points the gun at the senator's head. Just then,
Jocie comes running down the stairs.
JOCIE
Daddy! What is it?
Jocie reaches the bottom of the stairs just in time to see Raymond FIRE a
bullet through her father's head, finishing him off.
JOCIE
Raymond! No! Raymond, don't!
Raymond turns and sees Jocie standing in the hallway. Without
hesitation, he FIRES, dropping her with one shot. Raymond walks
zombie-like toward the front door, stepping over Jocie's lifeless body,
and exits. We hold on the two dead bodies as we hear the front door
SLAM.
CUT TO:
EXT. JORDAN'S CITY HOUSE - NIGHT
Raymond walks stiffly down the front steps, putting his gun back in his
jacket pocket. He continues down the sidewalk. Tears stream down his
face.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. ROSIE'S APARTMENT - NEW YORK CITY - DAY
The next day, Marco enters Rosie's apartment carrying a copy of that
morning's New York Post. Rosie, lying in bed, hears him.
ROSIE
Ben?
Rosie sees that Marco, dressed in uniform, has an odd look on his face.
ROSIE
Ben. What is it?
MARCO
(matter-of-fact)
Raymond Shaw shot and killed his
wife early this morning.
Rosie takes the newspaper from him and looks at a headline reading:
SENATOR JORDAN
AND DAUGHTER
FOUND DEAD
ROSIE
I-i-it doesn't say--
MARCO
I know. It wasn't Raymond that
really did it. In a way, it was me.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. PRESS CONFERENCE - DAY
Note-taking reporters quietly crowd around an uncharacteristically
reserved Senator Iselin.
SENATOR ISELIN
As you can well understand,
gentlemen, my wife is prostrate over
the loss of this dear and wonderful
girl whom she loved as a daughter.
REPORTER
And your stepson, Senator. Where is
he?
SENATOR ISELIN
My... my son Raymond's in retreat.
Praying for strength, understanding,
to try and carry on somehow.
CUT TO:
INT. INTELLIGENCE OFFICE / HOTEL ROOM - NEW YORK CITY - DAY
In the intelligence office, the image of a massive crowd outside the
national party convention at Madison Square Garden fills a TV screen. A
telephone RINGS. Intelligence operatives chat with one another while one
takes the call.
INTELLIGENCE MAN
(calls to Marco)
Ben! It's for you.
Marco leaves the deck of cards he's playing with and grabs the phone.
MARCO
(into the phone)
Major Marco speaking.
Throughout the phone call, we CUT BACK AND FORTH between Marco at the
intelligence office and a distraught Raymond who sits in a hotel room
overlooking the crowded Eighth Avenue entrance to Madison Square Garden.
The sign on the Garden marquee reads: CONVENTION. Raymond has a
newspaper in his lap with a story about the killing.
RAYMOND SHAW
Ben?
MARCO
Hi, kid.
RAYMOND SHAW
How could anyone--? Jocie. How
could it happen?
MARCO
Where are you, Raymond?
RAYMOND SHAW
I-I-I think maybe I'm going crazy.
I-I'm having terrible dreams like
you used to have--
MARCO
Where are you, Raymond? We can't
talk on the telephone. Just tell me
where you are.
RAYMOND SHAW
Uh, I-I'm in a hotel room. Across
from the Garden. Eighth Avenue side.
Room four.
MARCO
All right. Now, listen to me. Just
wait right there. I'll be there in
ten minutes. Don't move. Just wait
right there.
Marco hangs up and grabs his jacket. The intelligence men wait for
orders.
MARCO
Okay, I'll take him now.
Everything's got to move quite
normally.
As Marco puts on his jacket, one of the men offers him a gun.
MARCO
No. I want him to feel like he's
safe. Just give me the pack of
cards.
Someone tosses the cards to Marco who starts out the door but pauses
when he hears one of the men monitoring the TV coverage of the
convention say to another:
MAN WITH A PIPE
What do you know? They just handed
the vice-presidential nomination to
that idiot Iselin.
Iselin appears on the TV screen. Marco half sighs, half groans at this
and exits.
CUT TO:
INT. HOTEL ROOM - DAY
Marco KNOCKS and then opens the hotel room door to find Raymond slumped
in a chair, asleep. Marco closes and locks the door.
MARCO
Hi, kid.
Raymond awakens with a start and sees Marco.
RAYMOND SHAW
Who killed... Jocie, Ben? Tell me.
I-I've got to know.
Marco finds himself a chair, sets a small table in front of Raymond, and
fishes the deck of cards out of his pocket. He takes them out of their
box, throws the box on the nearby bed, and offers the deck to Raymond.
MARCO
How 'bout passing the time by
playing a little solitaire?
Raymond, his hands shaking, takes the cards and starts to deal. The
first card he turns face up is, of course, the queen of diamonds. He
stops.
MARCO
All right. Now, let's start
unlocking a few doors. Let's begin
with the patrol. You didn't save
our lives and take out an enemy
company or anything like that, did
you, Raymond? Did you?
RAYMOND SHAW
No.
MARCO
What happened?
RAYMOND SHAW
The patrol was taken by a Russian
airborne unit and flown by
helicopter across the Manchurian
border to a place called Tunghwa.
We were worked on for three days by
a team of specialists from the
Pavlov Institute in Moscow.
Raymond's face drips with sweat.
RAYMOND SHAW
They developed a technique for
descent into the unconscious mind,
part light-induced, part drug--
MARCO
Never mind all that. Not now. Tell
me what else happened at Tunghwa.
RAYMOND SHAW
We were drilled for three days. We
were made to memorize the details of
the imaginary action.
MARCO
What else?
RAYMOND SHAW
And I strangled Ed Mavole and shot
Bobby Lembeck.
Raymond's face twitches.
MARCO
One red queen works pretty good.
Let's see what we get with two of
'em. Keep playing.
Raymond deals. Another queen of diamonds.
RAYMOND SHAW
Then I killed Mr. Gaines. It was
just a test. It didn't matter who I
killed. They picked him to see if
all the linkages still worked before
they turned me over to my American
operator. And that business about
jumping in the lake, it really did
happen. It was an accident.
Something somebody said in the bar
accidentally triggered it.
MARCO
Keep playing.
Another queen of diamonds.
RAYMOND SHAW
Then I killed Senator Jordan. And
after that--
Raymond grimaces as he realizes what he's done.
MARCO
You are to forget everything that
happened at the senator's house.
Do you understand, Raymond? You'll
only remember it when I tell you so.
You are to forget about it. You
understand?
RAYMOND SHAW
Yes, sir.
MARCO
Now, Raymond. Now the big one: why?
Why is all of this being done? What
have they built you to do?
RAYMOND SHAW
I don't know.
Marco shuts his eyes in frustration.
RAYMOND SHAW
I don't think anybody really knows
except... Berezovo in Moscow. And
my American operator here. But
whatever it is, it's supposed to
happen soon. Right at the
convention. Maybe... I don't know.
They can make me do anything, Ben.
Can't they? Anything.
MARCO
We'll see, kid. We'll see what they
can do and we'll see what we can do.
So the red queen is our baby. Well,
take a look at this, kid...
Marco grabs the cards, fans the entire deck, and holds it up to Raymond.
MARCO
Fifty-two of them! Take a good look
at 'em, Raymond. Look at 'em. And
while you're looking, listen. This
is me, Marco, talking. Fifty-two red
queens and me are telling you-- you
know what we're telling you? It's
over! The links, their beautifully
conditioned links are smashed.
They're smashed as of now because we
say so. Because we say they are to
be smashed. We're bustin' up the
joint, we're tearing out all the
wires. We're busting it up so good
all the queen's horses and all the
queen's men will never put old
Raymond back together again. You
don't work any more. That's an
order. Anybody invites you to a game
of solitaire, you tell 'em: Sorry,
buster, the ball game is over.
The telephone RINGS. Raymond, apparently free of the brainwashing,
glances in the direction of the phone. Marco nods for him to pick it
up. Raymond rises, crosses to the phone, and answers. He listens for a
moment, then covers the receiver with his hand.
RAYMOND SHAW
(to Marco)
It's time for my American operator to
give me the plan.
(into the phone)
Yes. Yes, I understand, Mother.
Marco, stunned, stares at Raymond as he hangs up.
RAYMOND SHAW
She wants me to go. There's a car
waiting for me downstairs. The
convention's adjourned. It
reconvenes at nine for the
acceptance speeches. I don't think
anything will happen until then.
I'd better go now.
Raymond starts to leave. Marco reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls
out a pen and notepad.
MARCO
Here's a number.
Marco writes a phone number on the pad, tears out the page, and gives it
to Raymond.
MARCO
I've got five hundred people at my
disposal, a thousand if I need them.
You call me at that number. Try to
call me by eight-thirty. Or as soon
as you find out whatever it is they
want you to do. I'll be waiting.
RAYMOND SHAW
(whispers)
Yes, sir.
Raymond heads for the door.
MARCO
Raymond.
Raymond pauses and turns back to Marco.
MARCO
Remember, Raymond, the wires have
been pulled. They can't touch you
anymore. You're free.
Raymond doesn't look convinced. He turns and exits. Marco watches him
leave, wondering if he's done the right thing.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. SUMMER HOUSE LIBRARY - LONG ISLAND, N.Y. - NIGHT
The giant queen of diamonds from Jocie's costume still lies in the
library. Mrs. Iselin sits, smoking a cigarette, and outlines the plan
to Raymond who sits silently across from her.
MRS. ISELIN
It has been decided that you will
be dressed as a priest... to help
you get away in the pandemonium
afterwards. Chunjin will give you
a two-piece Soviet Army sniper's
rifle that fits nicely into a
special bag. There's a spotlight
booth that won't be in use. It's
up under the roof on the Eighth
Avenue side of the Garden. You
will have absolutely clear,
protected shooting.
(rises)
You are to shoot the presidential
nominee through the head. And
Johnny will rise gallantly to his
feet and lift Ben Arthur's body in
his arms, stand in front of the
microphones and begin to speak.
The speech is short. But it's the
most rousing speech I've ever read.
It's been worked on, here and in
Russia, on and off, for over eight
years. I shall force someone to
take the body away from him and
Johnny will really hit those
microphones and those cameras with
blood all over him, fighting off
anyone who tries to help him,
defending America even if it means
his own death, rallying a nation of
television viewers to hysteria, to
sweep us up into the White House
with powers that will make martial
law seem like anarchy. Now, this
is very important. I want the
nominee to be dead two minutes
after he begins his acceptance
speech -- depending on his reading
time under pressure. You are to
hit him right at the point that he
finishes the phrase, "Nor would I
ask of any fellow American in
defense of his freedom that which I
would not gladly give myself -- my
life before my liberty." Is that
absolutely clear?
Raymond nods his head. Mrs. Iselin crosses slowly to him.
MRS. ISELIN
Would you repeat it for me, Raymond?
RAYMOND SHAW
Nor would I ask of any fellow
American...
MRS. ISELIN
...in defense of his freedom...
RAYMOND SHAW
...in defense of his freedom...
MRS. ISELIN
...that which I would not gladly
give...
RAYMOND SHAW
...that which I would not gladly
give...
MRS. ISELIN
...myself...
RAYMOND SHAW
...myself...
MRS. ISELIN
...my life...
RAYMOND SHAW
...my life...
MRS. ISELIN
...before my liberty.
RAYMOND SHAW
...before my liberty.
Mrs. Iselin touches her son's head, then sits down before him and takes
his hands in hers. The giant queen of diamonds is visible in the
background between them.
MRS. ISELIN
I know you will never entirely
comprehend this, Raymond. But you
must believe I did not know it
would be you. I served them. I
fought for them. I'm on the point
of winning for them the greatest
foothold they will ever have in
this country. And they paid me
back by taking your soul away from
you. I told them to build me an
assassin. I wanted a killer from a
world filled with killers and they
chose you. Because they thought it
would bind me closer to them.
Mrs. Iselin pulls Raymond closer to her. She takes his face in her
hands.
MRS. ISELIN
But now we have come almost to the
end. One last step. And then,
when I take power, they will be
pulled down and ground into dirt
for what they did to you. And what
they did in so contemptuously
underestimating me.
Mrs. Iselin kisses her son: on the forehead, the cheek, and -- most
intensely -- on the lips.
CUT TO:
INT. MADISON SQUARE GARDEN - NEW YORK CITY - NIGHT
A huge banner bearing the faces of Vice Presidential nominee John Yerkes
Iselin and Presidential nominee Benjamin K. Arthur is hoisted into the
air, above a mostly empty Madison Square Garden. Workmen ready last
minute details in preparation for that evening's live telecast. They
make a lot of NOISE. Raymond, wearing a black hat, dressed as a priest,
and carrying a special briefcase, walks past the MAIN STAGE where
workers position chairs and technicians check microphones.
TECHNICIAN
One, two, three, four, five, six...
The mikes deliver some wicked FEEDBACK.
WIPE TO Raymond strolling among the EMPTY SEATS. He walks by a woman
wiping down the seats with a towel and heads up the many steps to the
nosebleed section. He walks past the Garden's gigantic public address
SPEAKERS as the technicians test them.
TECHNICIAN (o.s.)
Testing. One, two, three, four, five,
six.
Raymond walks past cases of soda pop bottles stacked up in the VENDORS'
AREA and continues up a last flight of stairs.
WIPE TO a BIRD'S-EYE VIEW of the Garden as Raymond makes his way up into
the nosebleed section.
WIPE TO Raymond opening a door marked "NO". He crosses a metal CATWALK
high up in the rafters.
TECHNICIAN (o.s.)
Hit the lights!
ANOTHER TECHNICIAN (o.s.)
Lights!
Lights positioned on the ceiling come on as Raymond crosses the catwalk
above them. Finally, he enters an empty SPOTLIGHT BOOTH, looks it over,
and closes the door behind him. He peers out the booth's window at the
stage far below.
TECHNICIAN (o.s.)
Lights out!
ANOTHER TECHNICIAN (o.s.)
Lights!
Raymond retreats from the window and sits on a step. The briefcase is
in his lap. He checks his watch.
CUT TO:
INT. INTELLIGENCE OFFICE - NEW YORK CITY - NIGHT
The clock on the wall reads 8:44. Marco glares at it and starts pacing
the nearly empty intelligence room. All the agents are at the
convention. Only Marco and the Colonel remain. The Colonel sits,
watching TV.
MARCO
Why hasn't he called?
COLONEL
It was a calculated risk, Ben. You
were right to take it.
MARCO
Even if it's not true, it's nice of
you to say it.
Marco looks at the TV: conventioneers carry signs reading BIG JOHN, etc.
MARCO
Garden's filling up.
COLONEL
Take it easy.
MARCO
Eight forty-four.
COLONEL
I know.
Marco frowns at the screen where one of the army intelligence men,
wearing a stovepipe hat and a fake Lincoln beard (like many of the
Iselin supporters), dances with some women on the crowded convention
floor.
MARCO
If Steinkamp doesn't take off that
stupid hat and stop messin' around
with those broads, I'm gonna bust him
into a PFC.
COLONEL
Easy, Ben.
MARCO
Okay, Milt. I blew it.
Marco POUNDS on a table and starts to chew himself out.
MARCO
I blew it. My magic is better than
your magic! I should've known
better. Intelligence officer!
Stupidity officer is better.
Pentagon ever wants to open up a
stupidity division, they know who
they can get to lead it. Milt,
Raymond was theirs, he is theirs,
and he'll always be theirs.
COLONEL
There's time. He may still call.
MARCO
(stops pacing)
For money?
COLONEL
No.
MARCO
That's what I figured.
Marco and the Colonel stare at each other from across the room.
MARCO
Let's get the hell out of here.
COLONEL
Right, Ben. Let's go.
Marco grabs his jacket. The Colonel jumps up.
CUT TO:
EXT. MADISON SQUARE GARDEN - NIGHT
Marco and the Colonel pull up in car with a WAILING SIREN. They jump
out and run into the Garden.
CUT TO:
INT. MADISON SQUARE GARDEN - CLIMACTIC MONTAGE - NIGHT
The place is a madhouse. People in straw hats carry signs, posters,
umbrellas, you-name-it, with the names or images of Iselin and/or
Benjamin K. Arthur. They dance in a conga line. Marco and the Colonel
thread their way through this massive crowd. The NOISE is incredible.
In the far quieter SPOTLIGHT BOOTH, Raymond sits silently, a blank
expression on his face.
On the MAIN STAGE, the newsreel and television cameras record the
arrival of Mr. and Mrs. BENJAMIN K. ARTHUR. Gray haired, middle-aged,
Arthur looks rather presidential. Right behind them: Senator and Mrs.
Iselin. Both couples do a lot of handshaking, smiling, waving to the
crowd, etc.
On the CONVENTION FLOOR, people wave signs with the names of their home
states: WASHINGTON, OREGON, CALIFORNIA, etc.
Marco and the Colonel rush up some STEPS to survey the crowd.
In the SPOTLIGHT BOOTH, Raymond hasn't moved a muscle.
On the MAIN STAGE, policemen hold back the crowd to keep them from
crushing the Iselins. Senator Iselin looks uncomfortable.
Marco and the Colonel push their way through the thick crowd.
Mrs. Iselin leads her visibly nervous husband across the MAIN STAGE.
Marco and the Colonel press through the confetti-covered crowd.
Photographers line up to take pictures of the Iselins and the Arthurs.
Raymond rises and crosses to the window of the SPOTLIGHT BOOTH.
Marco and the Colonel pause to survey the scene.
An increasingly rapid series of FLASH CUTS:
Signs reading MISSISSIPPI, ILLINOIS, TEXAS, PENNSYLVANIA, etc., intercut
with various VIEWS of the teeming crowds. Uniformed police officers
stand around a plainclothes intelligence man who wears a straw hat and
fake Lincoln beard while holding a large walkie-talkie to his ear.
Vermont cheerleaders dancing with their pompons. Marco and the Colonel
scanning the crowd nervously. Arthur and Iselin shaking hands for the
benefit of the cameras. A sign that reads:
AMERICA FIRST
SECOND & THIRD
ACROSS THE BOARD
WITH JOHNNY ISELIN!
A man with both arms in the air standing by a sign that sports a photo
of Arthur above the words BENJAMIN K. ARTHUR. A straw-hatted woman
waving. People smiling and cheering. Confetti falling on a smiling man
wearing eyeglasses. The FLASH CUTS end with Marco and the Colonel in
the CROWD standing by helplessly.
MARCO
Milt, I tell you, you gotta stop
this thing!
COLONEL
Stop it? How can I stop it? On
what--
A young woman who's having too much fun playfully pulls the Colonel's
cap off and puts it on her head. He snatches it back and she
disappears.
MARCO
If there was a bomb planted here,
'n' you got a tip that there was,
you'd stop it fast enough. You'd
empty the White House if you had to.
I tell you, there's a bomb here, a
time bomb that's just waiting to go
off.
As Raymond opens the window in the SPOTLIGHT BOOTH, a nicely-timed DRUM
ROLL begins.
ANNOUNCER
Ladies and gentlemen, our national
anthem.
A SOPRANO begins SINGING "The Star-Spangled Banner" and the entire
Garden grinds to a halt. As required by custom, Marco and the Colonel
stand stock still and stiffly salute but awkwardly continue to scan the
crowd as best they can with their eyes.
Raymond switches on a small hanging light bulb in the dark SPOTLIGHT
BOOTH.
The Iselins stand stiffly on the STAGE as the anthem continues. Senator
Iselin fidgets nervously.
Raymond positions his briefcase by the SPOTLIGHT BOOTH window.
On the STAGE, Senator Iselin continues to fidget.
MRS. ISELIN
(whispers to Iselin)
Stop twitching. Raymond never
missed with a rifle in his life.
Marco stiffly salutes while his eyes roll left and right, scanning the
CROWD.
Senator Iselin is developing a nervous tic.
Raymond opens the briefcase revealing the rifle within.
Senator Iselin now perspires profusely.
Marco and the Colonel don't look so good either.
Raymond takes the rifle's parts out of the briefcase.
Marco glances up in the direction of the spotlight booth but sees
nothing unusual.
Raymond puts the rifle together.
Mrs. Iselin is as cool as her husband is not.
Raymond affixes a telescopic site to the rifle.
Mrs. Iselin sees her husband's still fidgeting.
MRS. ISELIN
(whispers to Iselin)
We're in like Flynn, lover.
Marco continues to peer around as the anthem nears its end.
Raymond, having assembled the rifle, peers out the window.
Mercifully, the soprano finishes the song to a round of APPLAUSE.
Immediately, Marco and the Colonel stop saluting and twist around to
scan the crowd behind them.
Raymond stands stock still, the gun in his hands.
Everyone on the main stage sits down except for the CONVENTION CHAIRMAN
who approaches the microphones.
Raymond works the bolt on the rifle.
The Convention Chairman stands at the podium.
CONVENTION CHAIRMAN
Ladies and gentlemen...
The Iselins sit to the right of the podium.
MRS. ISELIN
(whispers to Iselin)
Just take it easy.
CONVENTION CHAIRMAN
... I give you the next president of
the United States! Benjamin K.
Arthur!
As the Convention Chairman speaks the nominee's name, nearly all of the
lights in Madison Square Garden dim. The small light bulb in Raymond's
booth shines visibly from the window in the darkness.
SPOTLIGHTS, MUSIC, and CHEERS greet Benjamin K. Arthur as he rises,
waves a flag, shakes the chairman's hand, and advances to the podium to
begin his acceptance speech. Security guards, police officers,
intelligence operatives, Marco, the Colonel, etc., all keep their eyes
peeled.
Raymond prepares to load the rifle.
Marco again glances in the direction of the spotlight booth. With all
the darkness, he can now see the light shining from the window.
From MARCO'S POV, we ZOOM toward the light coming from the window of
the little booth.
Marco, playing a hunch, rushes off to investigate, leaving the Colonel
behind.
Arthur stands before the mikes.
BENJAMIN K. ARTHUR
Ladies and gentlemen. Delegates...
Raymond loads a wicked looking bullet into the rifle.
BENJAMIN K. ARTHUR
My fellow Americans...
Marco races alongside the enraptured crowd.
BENJAMIN K. ARTHUR
It is with great humility...
Senator Iselin shifts uncomfortably in his chair.
BENJAMIN K. ARTHUR
... albeit with enormous pride ...
Raymond loads another bullet.
BENJAMIN K. ARTHUR
... and with a sense of the job to
be done...
Marco runs up a flight of stairs.
BENJAMIN K. ARTHUR
... that I most humbly and most
gratefully...
Raymond loads a third bullet. Arthur addresses a forest of ARTHUR FOR
PRESIDENT signs.
BENJAMIN K. ARTHUR
... accept this nomination...
Marco rockets past the Garden's gigantic public address SPEAKERS as they
amplify the speech.
BENJAMIN K. ARTHUR
... for the highest office in our
land.
The crowd CHEERS. Raymond has finished loading the rifle and now removes
his hat. The Iselins sit to the right of the podium, awaiting the big
moment.
BENJAMIN K. ARTHUR
It is with the full awareness that...
Raymond raises and aims the rifle.
BENJAMIN K. ARTHUR
... the four years that lie ahead
for this country...
We see Arthur from RAYMOND'S POV -- through the cross-hairs of the
gun's site.
BENJAMIN K. ARTHUR
... are, in a sense, the crucial
years, the years -- if I may borrow
Mr. Churchill's phrase -- the years
of decision.
Marco is a tiny moving figure against a huge, motionless crowd as he
races through the Garden.
BENJAMIN K. ARTHUR
And, if I may be permitted a phrase
of my own...
Senator Iselin licks his lips.
BENJAMIN K. ARTHUR
... the years of striving ...
Arthur gestures emphatically on the word "striving." Marco huffs and
puffs up another flight of stairs. Raymond adjusts the site.
BENJAMIN K. ARTHUR
... for it is not what hasn't been
done in the past or what may be
done against the far horizons of
some distant future but what will
be done now!
The Iselins and everyone else APPLAUD. Marco barrels down an empty
hallway, rounds a corner, and CRASHES into one of Madison Square
Garden's crack team of refreshment vendors who crowd around the VENDORS'
AREA. Marco knocks the poor man over -- along with a case or two of
soda pop bottles -- then runs up the last flight of stairs.
BENJAMIN K. ARTHUR
... [?] My fellow Americans... [?]
The Iselins look expectant. Raymond looks expectant. Marco reaches the
door marked "NO," yanks it open and begins to cross the metal CATWALK.
Arthur has reached the fateful line:
BENJAMIN K. ARTHUR
Nor would I ask of any fellow
American ...
Raymond aims the rifle. Senator Iselin tugs at his jacket. Mrs. Iselin
reaches out and puts her hand on his arm to steady him.
BENJAMIN K. ARTHUR
... in defense of his freedom--
Arthur pauses and COUGHS for several seconds. Senator Iselin makes a
face at this. Mrs. Iselin gives her husband a steely look. Marco runs
along the metal catwalk. Arthur slowly recovers from his coughing spell
and picks up where he left off.
BENJAMIN K. ARTHUR
...that which I would not gladly give
myself --
FLASH CUTS of Arthur speaking, Raymond aiming, Marco running.
BENJAMIN K. ARTHUR
....my life before my liberty!
Arthur raises both arms in the air as he hollers this. We see him from
RAYMOND'S POV through the gun's site, lined up in the cross-hairs.
Suddenly, as the crowd CHEERS, the view shifts -- fast and to the right.
The cross-hairs center on Senator Iselin's head. Raymond FIRES. The
bullet hits Iselin right between the eyes. Raymond rapidly works the
rifle's bolt and lines up another shot. A horrified Mrs. Iselin stares up
into the darkness. She knows what's coming. Raymond FIRES again. Mrs.
Iselin slumps out of her chair, her hands to her face.
Marco, on the catwalk, looks down to see pandemonium breaking out.
People SCREAM. The Iselins lie on the stage. The crowd panics. Marco
presses on toward the spotlight booth. Raymond works the bolt and gets
ready to take another shot, if necessary. But he sees that the Iselins
are clearly dead.
Raymond has put the gun down and, standing by the window under the
single light bulb, ties something around his neck. As he does, Marco
yanks open the door to the spotlight booth.
Startled, Raymond whirls around and points the rifle at a stunned Marco.
Around his neck, Raymond wears his Congressional Medal of Honor. Marco,
thoroughly confused, stares at Raymond.
RAYMOND SHAW
You couldn't've stopped them. The
Army couldn't've stopped them. So I
had to. That's why I didn't call.
(beat)
Oh, God, Ben.
Raymond instantly turns the rifle on himself. Marco's eyes go wide.
The loud rifle SHOT echoes and resolves into a lingering clap of
THUNDER.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. ROSIE'S APARTMENT - NEW YORK CITY - NIGHT
The noisy THUNDER fades to the gentle SPLASH of rain on a windowpane.
It is early the next morning. Marco, still in uniform, stands staring
out the window as a seated Rosie watches him sympathetically.
MARCO
Poor Raymond. Poor friendless,
friendless Raymond. He was wearing
his medal when he died.
Rosie watches Marco turn away from the window.
MARCO
You should read some of the
citations sometime. Just read them.
Marco picks up a book on Medal of Honor winners and opens it at random.
MARCO
(reads)
Taken, eight prisoners, killing four
enemy in the process while one leg
and one arm was shattered and he
could only crawl because the other
leg had been blown off. Edwards.
(reads another)
Wounded five times, dragged himself
across the direct fire of three enemy
machine guns to pull two of his
wounded men to safety amid
sixty-nine dead and two hundred and
three casualties. Holderman.
Marco closes the book. After a pause, he decides to create a citation
of his own.
MARCO
Made to commit acts too unspeakable
to be cited here... by an enemy who
had captured his mind and his soul...
he freed himself at last... and, in
the end, heroically and
unhesitatingly gave his life to save
his country. Raymond Shaw.
(beat)
Hell.
Marco SLAMS the book down helplessly.
MARCO
Hell.
Marco turns back to the rain-streaked window. The storm continues.
One last, lingering clap of THUNDER.
FADE OUT