GROMYKO

                      Mr. President, this will never be done.

                      You need not be concerned.

 

            The President hides his fury masterfully, and gazing over his

            glasses, asks:

 

                                THE PRESIDENT

                      So I do not misunderstand you: there are

                      no offensive weapons in Cuba.

 

            A beat.  And Gromyko´s response is flat, sure, steady:

 

                                GROMYKO

                      No, Mr. President.  We have sent

                      defensive weapons only to Cuba.

 

            Kenny´s blazing eyes could drill holes in the back of

            Gromyko´s head.  His gaze swings to the PRESIDENT´S DESK.

 

            BENEATH THE DESK sit the BRIEFING BOARDS with the evidence.

 

            INT. WEST WING HALLWAY - NIGHT

 

            Kenny emerges from his office.  The Soviet delegation

            disappears down the hallway with Rusk.  Kenny turns as Bobby,

            haggard, comes up from the other direction.

 

            Bobby gestures to the vanishing delegation, now being

            HARANGUED OC by the press.

 

                                BOBBY

                      What happened?

 

            The President comes out of the next door down the hall, the

            Oval Office.  He turns and sees Kenny and Bobby.  He´s livid.

 

                                THE PRESIDENT

                      Lying bastard.  Lied to my face.

 

                                BOBBY

                      We´re split down the middle.  If I held

                      a vote I think airstrike would beat

                      blockade by a vote or two.

 

                                THE PRESIDENT

                      I want a consensus, Bobby.  Consensus.

                      Either air strike or blockade.

                      Something everyone´ll stand by even if

                      they don´t like it.  I need it by

                      Saturday.  Make it happen.

 

                                BOBBY

                      What if I can´t?

 

                                KENNY

                      We go into this split, the Russians will

                      know it.  And they´ll use it against us.

 

            The prospect disturbs the three men.

 

                                THE PRESIDENT

                      Have you cancelled Chicago and the rest

                      of the weekend yet?

 

                                KENNY

                      You don´t show for Chicago, everyone´ll

                      know there´s something going on.

 

                                THE PRESIDENT

                      I don´t care.  Cancel it.