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Sept. 12, 2003 Head Shot: An Original Screenplay [All scenes marked "Stock Shots" are in fact actual footage that does exist, and all lines of dialog within the stock shots are verbatim quotes]. EXT. THE WHITE HOUSE -- NIGHT We see the White House in Washington, D.C. illuminated and standing out brightly against the black sky. A NARRATOR's voice speaks in a serious tone. NARRATOR FADE IN:
Chicago is a hustling, bustling, very large American
city on the go. Elevated train tracks EXT. THE AMBASSADOR EAST HOTEL - DAY The Ambassador East Hotel is one of, if not the very best hotel in Chicago. A 1959 Cadillac limousine pulls up in front of the hotel. A doorman quickly rushes up and opens the limo's back door. Stepping out of the limo is a 71-year-old man with an erect bearing, a bald head, round horn-rimmed glasses, and air of supreme arrogance. He is wearing a long dark coat and holding a cane with a large silver knob on the end. He puts a bowler hat on his large head and secures it down tightly. A subtitle reads: "JOSEPH P. KENNEDY, former Ambassador to the Court of St. James, father of John Kennedy and Robert Kennedy." He struts through the front door of the hotel and two of his men also in bowler hats accompany him. INT. THE PRESIDENTIAL SUITE - DAY Joe Kennedy and his two men step up to the double-doors marked "Presidential Suite" and one of the men knocks. A tough-looking mobster opens the door and lets them in. Sitting on the couch is a round-faced man with a slightly large nose, he's fifty-one years old, bald on top with dark hair around the sides and back, and wears thick black-rimmed glasses. A subtitle reads: "SAM "MOONEY" GIANCANA, head of the Chicago mob and one of the most powerful underworld leaders in the world." Sam wears a perpetual scowl, which is why he's known as "the sour-faced Don." Sam stands up, removes his glasses and shakes Joe's hand. SAM JOE SAM JOE SAM JOE Sam and Joe sit down on over-stuffed easy chairs. One of Sam's men serves them iced tea. Sam pulls out a cigar case and offers one to Joe, who declines. Sam lights a cigar. They both sip their iced tea waiting for the right moment to continue. Finally, Joe speaks . . . JOE Sam puffs his cigar. SAM JOE SAM JOE SAM
SAM JOE SAM JOE SAM JOE Sam gives Joe a long hard look. SAM JOE JOE SAM JOE SAM JOE SAM Joe smiles happily and shakes Sam's hand. JOE SAM
Joe stands to leave and Sam stands with him, as do all of their men. SAM Joe leaves. Sam watches him go and puffs on his cigar. JOHN F. KENNEDY MONTAGE - STOCK FOOTAGE Frank Sinatra sings "High Hopes" with lyrics written specifically for John Kennedy's campaign. SINATRA 'Cause
he's got high hopes Oops
there goes the opposition, ker- We see Kennedy campaigning, shaking hands, kissing babies. John and Jackie have terrific smiles and flash them often. John speaks at a campaign rally . . . JFK NIXON We seeing Kennedy just sitting there, grinning broadly. Nixon goes on to say . . . NIXON KENNEDY The audience loves it. On November 8, the final election returns for the 1960 election come in: Kennedy wins by the slightest margin ever in American history -- one-tenth of one-percent. One of the swing states, we are told, is Illinois. EXT. SAM GIANCANA'S HOUSE/CHICAGO SUBURBS - NIGHT Sam Giancana has a moderately large house in the Chicago suburb of Oak Park. About ten cars are parked in front, and four men stroll the grounds. A title reads, "Sam Giancana's house, Oak Park, Illinios." INT. SAM GIANCANA'S HOUSE - NIGHT Sam, a bunch of his men, and some good-looking gals are all dressed up and watching the election returns on a black and white TV. They drink martinis and smoke cigarettes. Kennedy wins. Sam says to the pretty dark-haired girl beside him, JUDY CAMPBELL . . . This gets a big laugh from the crowd. They all toast their glasses. EVERYONE SAM EVERYONE They toast again. Sam turns and kisses Judy. JUDY SAM JUDY SAM Judy snuggles up against him. JUDY SAM John F. Kennedy is sworn in as President of the
United States. In his inaugural speech he KENNEDY DISSOLVE: INT. SAM GIANCANA'S HOUSE/ BASEMENT OFFICE - DAY Sam Giancana has a paneled office in his basement and is smoking a cigar and watching TV. TV NEWS: John Chancellor announces . . . JOHN
CHANCELLOR Sam's eyes go wide and he rears back, choking on his cigar and nearly falling off his chair. SAM He picks up the receiver and dials the rotary telephone. EXT. SHO-BAR CLUB - DAY The Sho-Bar Club in New Orleans is a swinging nightclub. We hear the phone ringing. INT. SHO-BAR PRIVATE DINING ROOM - DAY SAL SAM Sal Marcello is horrified. SAL SAM SAL SAM SAL ROBERT F. KENNEDY SENATE HEARINGS - STOCK FOOTAGE Robert Kennedy begins his senate hearings into organized crime and labor. He calls before the committee: JAMES HOFFA, head of the Teamster's union, as well as Carlos Marcello, head of the New Orleans and Texas mob. BAY OF PIGS - STOCK FOOTAGE We see black and white footage of Cuban rebels invading Cuba, American planes flying overhead, and American warships in Cuban waters.
INT. SAM GIANCANA'S HOUSE - DAY Sam sits in the living room with JIMMY HOFFA, a square-faced, serious man with a crew cut, and Sal Marcello. They all smoke cigars and have drinks before them. Sal asks . . . SAL SAM HOFFA SAM SAL Sam nods, he knows.
SAL SAM EXT. THE PLAZA HOTEL, NYC - DAY A Cadillac limo pulls up in front of the Plaza Hotel in New York City. Sam Giancana and two of his men get out and enter the hotel. INT. PRESIDENTIAL SUITE - DAY There is a knock at the door of the vast presidential suite which is answered by a liveried butler. Sam and his men are shown inside and the butler takes their hats and coats. The butler then shows Sam into the master bedroom. Joe Kennedy is sitting in an easy chair surrounded by newspapers. He stands up and shakes Joe's hand. JOE SAM JOE SAM JOE |