The New Howell Theater presents
Copyright 1983, 1996, 2003 by Ronald L. Ecker
All Rights Reserved
THE TWENTY-ONE GUN SALUTE FADE IN: EXT. CAFÉ COLÓN - MEXICO CITY - ESTABLISHING - DAY Not a high-class joint. MARIACHI MUSIC from within. FEDERAL SOLDIER #1 leans idly against a military car parked in front. SUBTITLE fades in: MEXICO CITY FEBRUARY, 1913 INT. CAFÉ COLÓN - DAY Some working-class MEXICANS are eating and drinking, while a MARIACHI BAND sings and plays. INT. A PRIVATE ROOM - CAFÉ COLÓN - DAY Federal General VICTORIANO HUERTA, 59, of Huichol Indian blood, stands by a table as he's talking on the phone. The Mariachis (o.s.) can be heard through the open door, which is casually guarded by General RAFAEL IZQUIERDO, 50-ish. A WAITER has brought Huerta a bottle of cognac, and is pouring a glass on the table. HUERTA (into phone) I am at the Café Colón. You hear the mariachis? Huerta chuckles. As he glances at the Waiter leaving the room: HUERTA (into phone) You know, under Madero, there is one revolt after another. INTERCUT: INT. AMBASSADOR'S OFFICE - U.S. EMBASSY - DAY The 50-ish U.S. AMBASSADOR sits talking on the phone. He is calm, conspiratorial: AMBASSADOR I know. Mexico, General Huerta, needs a return to stability. HUERTA I would have to agree. As Huerta sits down, relaxed, his cognac beside him on the table: HUERTA I would like your reassurance, Mister Ambassador, that His Excellency Mister President Taft will not intervene, if Madero should be overthrown. AMBASSADOR No need to worry. President Taft depends largely on what I advise him regarding affairs here. Anyway, his term will be ending in March. HUERTA What about this Woodrow Wilson? AMBASSADOR Well, I'm sure he'll depend on me too. (beat) How soon do you think Madero might be overthrown? HUERTA Oh . . . Huerta looks at a pocket watch. (The time is five after two.) HUERTA Any time now. EXT. NATIONAL PALACE - MEXICO CITY - DAY A sprawling building on the Zócalo, the city's central plaza. INT. PRESIDENT'S OFFICE - THE PALACE - DAY President FRANCISCO MADERO, 40, a small, gentle-looking fellow, is listening with interest to AIDE #1. AIDES #2 and #3 also are present. AIDE #1 Villa escaped from the prison disguised as a visitor. They think he has headed for Texas. MADERO If he escaped, good for him. (with disgust) A hero of the Revolution, jailed as a horse thief by order of Huerta. The general was going to have him shot! I said, 'No, he will have a fair trial.' AIDE #2 Huerta is not to be trusted, Mister President. You know he was loyal to the old regime, and - MADERO (interrupting, resentfully) I have his loyalty now. (rhetorically) He is head of the new federal army. What more could Huerta want? AIDE #1 (beat) Beware of wolves who come in sheep's clothing. Aide #1 doesn't finish before they HEAR boots. The door has opened, and Federal General AURELIANO BLANQUET, 60, walks in, followed by TWO COLONELS. Their uniforms include holstered pistols. Armed FEDERAL SOLDIERS remain outside the doorway. MADERO (rising) Blanquet. What is this? BLANQUET Madero, you are under arrest. MADERO Who do you think you are? As Aide #1 slowly moves his hand, out of Blanquet's view, for something in his coat: BLANQUET Vice President Pino Suárez is already in custody. Madero looks defiantly at the taller Blanquet. MADERO Where is General Huerta? I want to see him now. Aide #1 has drawn a pistol. Colonel #1 SHOOTS him, just as Aide #2 draws a pistol and is SHOT by both Blanquet and Colonel #2. Soldiers have entered with guns at ready. The shaken Madero looks down at dead Aides #1 and #2. He looks again at the stone-faced Blanquet. EXT. CAFÉ COLÓN - DAY The military car is leaving, with Huerta and Izquierdo in back, Soldier #1 driving. INT. THE CAR - DAY Huerta calmly lights a black cigarette, Izquierdo set to take notes, as the Soldier drives. HUERTA Have this message sent to all embassies: 'I have the honor to inform you that I have overthrown the government.' (beat) 'From now on there will be peace and prosperity.' (beat, then) I will drop you off at the palace. IZQUIERDO What about you? HUERTA I am going to the house. It is one of my grandsons' birthday. EXT. PATIO - HUERTA'S HOME - DAY Huerta's blindfolded GRANDSON, about 7, succeeds in busting a goodies-filled piñata with a stick. Cheering him on, then applauding, are Huerta's wife EMILIA, 52, four or five Huerta DAUGHTERS, a couple of SONS-IN-LAW, and several CHILDREN. EXT. HUERTA'S HOME - DAY The car bringing Huerta arrives at the nice but not regal home. EXT. PATIO - FIVE MINUTES LATER Huerta and the birthday-partying FAMILY feast at a table, MAID #1 attending. EMILIA How has your day been, dear? HUERTA I am the new head of Mexico. EMILIA You are? DAUGHTER #1 (thrilled) Father! SON-IN-LAW #1 What about Madero? HUERTA He was no good for the country, he and his so-called Revolution. I had generals revolting every day. I got tired of defending him. SON-IN-LAW #1 Has he been shot? HUERTA No, he has not been shot. EMILIA What will the Congress say about you taking over? Huerta laughs. As he reaches over and gives Emilia a fond squeeze on the arm: HUERTA Would you like to go live in Chapultepec Castle? EMILIA I don't know, I haven't thought about it. DAUGHTER #1 Mama! EMILIA Well I don't want to move. HUERTA I don't want to move either. So we won't. DAUGHTER #2 (sarcastically) Who wants to live in a castle? GRANDSON I do. As Huerta gestures to the Maid for more wine: SON-IN-LAW #2 What about Washington? Are you concerned about what the gringos will say? HUERTA No, I am not. The ambassador understands. He will see that my government gets full recognition. EXT. A NICE TWO-STORY HOME - NEW JERSEY - DAY As a car (CHAUFFEUR-driven, bringing WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN) arrives in front, where TWO SECRET SERVICE MEN wait in the cold, SUBTITLE fades in: PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY OVERLAP SOUND of convivial LAUGHTER. INT. AN UPSTAIRS SITTING ROOM - DAY WOODROW WILSON, 56, his Georgian wife ELLEN, 55, and Wilson's diminutive advisor, Texan "Colonel" EDWARD HOUSE, 53, sit laughing about something. Pretty NELLIE WILSON, 26, has appeared at the door. NELLIE Mister Bryan is here, Dad. WILSON Thank you, Nell. As Wilson is about to get up, House rising instead, Nellie leaving: HOUSE Finish your coffee, Woodrow. I'll greet him. As House heads for the door: ELLEN Thank you, Colonel. Wilson and Ellen look fondly at each other for a moment. Ellen rises, picks up House's cup, and takes it, Wilson watching her, to the table where the coffee pot sits. Wilson, finishing his cup, rises and follows her. WILSON Ellen . . . As she turns, takes Wilson's cup: WILSON Don't call Ed 'Colonel.' He hates it. As Ellen sets down the cup, turns again to Wilson: ELLEN I'm sorry. I thought he was a colonel. WILSON It's honorary. One of the things they do out in Texas. As Wilson takes Ellen in his arms: ELLEN What's his title going to be? WILSON Advisor to the President. As Wilson starts giving her pecks and nibbles: WILSON Do you know what else they do out in Texas? ELLEN What? WILSON They do it in Virginia too. My old neck of the woods. ELLEN Now I'm catching on. WILSON They do it here in New Jersey. As Ellen gently breaks his hold: ELLEN They do it in Rome, Georgia too. But not while William Jennings Bryan is waiting outside. INT. THE UPSTAIRS SITTING ROOM - TEN MINUTES LATER Wilson is pacing while WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN, 52, sits having coffee, House smoking a cigar. BRYAN Well I might as well say it, Woodrow. Colonel. HOUSE (with a smile) Call me Ed. BRYAN I'm a teetotaler, Ed. I come from a long, dry line of teetotalers. (to Wilson) If I run the State Department, I'd like to prohibit the serving of liquor at all state dinners. Wilson and House glance at each other. BRYAN Wine too. WILSON Well, I guess I'd leave that to your judgment. As Bryan rises to offer his hand: BRYAN Then I accept. As Wilson and Bryan shake hands: HOUSE Wine too, eh? BRYAN Why compromise on one's principles? WILSON (to House) Can't argue with that. As Bryan sits down again, Wilson pacing: WILSON Anyway, Will, the first thing on your plate is going to be Mexico. There'll be no recognition of Huerta. One of the first things we'll do is recall the ambassador. BRYAN Break off relations? WILSON No, we're going to put pressure on Huerta to restore Madero or hold new elections, return to constitutional government. It's a matter of principle. HOUSE The Revolution may not be over. (beat) This Huerta, you know, was one of the old dictator's men. WILSON Well, one thing I intend to do, as I said in my campaign, is to help foster democracy in Latin America. And no traitor of a general like Huerta is going to stop me. BRYAN Does that mean military intervention, sir? WILSON No. The United States is through being the bully on the block. We are not going to war against Mexico. There are more civilized means to help them undo what's been done. We are going to handle this diplomatically. EXT. NATIONAL PALACE - MEXICO CITY - NIGHT In the darkness a group of RURALES (federal policemen) hustle Madero and Vice President JOSÉ MARÍA PINO SUÁREZ, 50, out of a rear entrance of the palace into two waiting cars. INT. FIRST CAR - NIGHT A Federal police MAJOR gets into the back next to the nervous Madero. On Madero's other side sits FEDERAL POLICEMAN #1. TWO RURALES are in front, one getting ready to drive. MADERO Where are you taking us? MAJOR To Lecumberri. We can no longer keep you here in the palace. MADERO (incredulously) Lecumberri? The prison? MAJOR Temporarily. For your safety. EXT. THE PALACE - NIGHT The first car pulls away, then the second car follows. INT. SECOND CAR - NIGHT Pino Suárez sits between FEDERAL POLICEMEN #2 and #3, TWO RURALES in front. EXT. THE PRISON - NIGHT The two cars move along a road by the prison wall toward the front entrance. INT. FIRST CAR - NIGHT The Major, Madero, and Policeman as before. As Madero glances back: MADERO We just passed the entrance. MAJOR We are going to use the one at the rear. EXT. THE PRISON - NIGHT The two cars come to a halt by a rear door. INT./EXT. FIRST CAR - NIGHT As Policeman #1 gets out, to stand by the car, the Major looks at Madero. MAJOR Get out. Madero hesitates. Major speaks more firmly: MAJOR Get out. Madero starts getting out. Drawing his pistol, the Major aims it at the back of Madero's head, and FIRES. EXT. BY FIRST CAR - NIGHT Madero falls to the ground, where he is SHOT again by Policeman #1. EXT. BY SECOND CAR - NIGHT Pino Suárez is out of the second car. He has watched the killing in horror. Standing behind Pino Suárez, Policeman #3 aims his pistol at the back of Pino Suárez's head. The Major gets out of the first car, as a SHOT is heard, followed momentarily by ANOTHER, by the second car. The Major steps over to Madero's body, looks down at it, then looks over at Pino Suárez's. He glances around at the Rurales. MAJOR That's what they get, eh? For trying to escape. The fools. They deserved to be shot. (gesturing toward second car) Load them in the car. INT. SITTING ROOM - WILSON HOME - PRINCETON - DAY Ellen is signing inaugural ball invitations, while Wilson sits with a newspaper in an armchair. Wilson is grim. The story he is reading is headlined DEPOSED PRESIDENT SHOT IN MEXICO. ELLEN Jessie and Frank want to get married in the White House. Ellen looks over at Wilson reading, not listening. ELLEN Woodrow . . . As Wilson looks over at her: WILSON Sorry, dear. ELLEN Jessie and Frank want a White House wedding. Wilson scans the last few lines of the story. As he grimly sets the paper aside: WILSON Well, an appropriate place, I suppose, to start losing our daughters. Ellen looks at him quizzically. He's pensive, clearly troubled by what he has read. WILSON President Taft says the White House is the loneliest place in the world. After a moment, as Ellen writes: ELLEN I'll try not to let you get too lonely. Wilson looks at her fondly. WILSON Is that a promise? ELLEN I cross my heart. EXT. VIENNA, AUSTRIA - NIGHT ESTABLISHING, as SUBTITLE fades in: VIENNA, AUSTRIA During this, OVERLAP SOUND: NELSON (V.O.) Well, things are happening now that Wilson has taken the oath. EXT. BALCONY - A VIENNA APARTMENT - NIGHT Pretty EDITH O'SHAUGHNESSY, 35, sits staring off at the city on a mild evening. She looks sullen about something. NELSON We're being transferred to Mexico. Now Edith rolls her eyes incredulously. Handsome NELSON O'SHAUGHNESSY, 35, sits down a few feet from Edith, who looks like she's trying to ignore him. NELSON Embassy first secretary. This could be a big break. There's been a coup, the Revolution has re-ignited. Rumor has it Wilson's going to recall the ambassador. (beat) That'll leave me in charge there. I could be the next ambassador. EDITH You could also get lynched by a mob. NELSON (beat) Is that wishful thinking? (after a moment) You don't have to go, Edith. You could go home to Philadelphia. A beat, Edith clearly in a quandary. EDITH Couldn't that ruin your chance of being ambassador? NELSON (beat) I can't just think of myself. Edith cuts a hard eye at him, as if Nelson hasn't always been so unselfish. Nelson looks away. After a moment, Edith sighs, looking off at the city. EDITH Book your passage to Mexico, Nelson. I'll stay here to settle our . . . (hesitates to use the word) . . . affairs . . . It'll give me some time to think. (beat) Mexico City - or Philadelphia. EXT. TOWN OF SAN ANDRÉS - CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO - DAY Stocky, mustachioed PANCHO VILLA, 35, and some 50 well-armed VILLISTAS come riding into town on HORSES. Humble TOWNSPEOPLE, including idle TEENAGERS, see Villa coming. The Teenagers become excited: TEENAGER #1 It's Pancho Villa! As Villa and his Men ride past, some Townspeople shouting salutations: VILLISTA #1 Viva Pancho Villa! TEENAGER # Que viva! VILLISTA #2 reins in his Horse, to shout: VILLISTA #2 Come join us, to help save the Revolution! Two or three of the Teenagers go running off, as if to fetch some belongings. TEENAGER #2 Viva la Revolución! INT./EXT. A SECOND-FLOOR WINDOW - OTILIA'S HOME - DAY Pretty OTILIA, 35, looks out the window, sees Villa and some of the Villistas arrive on their Horses below. INT. OTILIA'S SECOND-FLOOR BEDROOM - DAY Surprised Otilia, straightening her clothes, turns anxiously from the window: OTILIA It's Pancho! Her terrified LOVER jumps off of the bed and runs out of the room, grabbing his sombrero and fastening his pants as he goes. INT. THE SECOND FLOOR - DAY Exiting Otilia's room, the Lover runs to the first window he sees. EXT. BACK OF HOUSE - DAY Scrambling out the second-floor window, the Lover doesn't think twice before jumping. He falls straight through the thatched roof of a chicken coop by the side of the house. Cackling CHICKENS come flying out. EXT. FRONT OF HOUSE - DAY Villa heads for the entrance, Two Villistas staying in front as guards, the Others riding off. VILLA Otilia, I am home! INT. THE HOUSE - DAY As Villa enters, Otilia runs to greet him with open arms: OTILIA Pancho! VILLA Otilia, my love! As he hungrily embraces her: OTILIA Have you come home to stay? VILLA Not yet, my precious. I am raising an army. We are taking the Revolution back from Huerta. As he leads her by the hand toward the stairs: VILLA Let's go, I don't have much time. EXT. REAR OF HOUSE - DAY The Lover, covered with crap, is hurriedly limping off on a broken leg. INT. THE HOUSE - DAY As Villa and Otilia are walking up the stairs: OTILIA How many men do you have now, Pancho? VILLA I left El Paso with six. I pick up more at every village. EXT. A VILLAGE - CHIHUAHUA - DAY PEASANTS stand gathered, listening intently to Villa, trying fierily to recruit them, a few already armed, while mounted Villistas wait. VILLA Mexico, hombres, is in the bloody hands of assassins. They shot down Madero like a dog in the street. They have snatched away all that we fought for. There will be no land, no better life for your families, unless we stand up to these traitors. PEASANT Mueran los traidores! VILLA Those who fought for the Revolution must now fight again, and all good Mexicans must now join the cause. (pointing north) We are going to retake Ciudad Juárez. Then we head south, to retake Torreón, to retake Zacatecas, to throw Huerta out of Mexico! PEASANTS Viva la patria! Viva Villa! VILLA Those who are with me, go to your homes, get your guns. They will pay with their blood, we will take back what belongs to us all: our beloved Mexico! As Villa heads for his horse, Peasants running for home or waving their weapons: PEASANTS Vámanos! Viva Villa! Viva la Revolución! EXT. THE WHITE HOUSE - WASHINGTON, D.C. - DAY It's spring. Some SHEEP are grazing on the White House lawn. OVERLAP SOUND: A LADY (V.O.) It's such a disgrace, Mrs. Wilson . . . INT. ELLEN'S OFFICE - THE WHITE HOUSE - DAY Ellen sits at her desk, listening to social activist CHARLOTTE HOPKINS, while looking at a drawing of a simple, protoype two-family house. (The drawing is labeled SANITARY HOUSING COMPANY.) With Hopkins are two other LADIES. Ellen's small, 50-ish secretary HELEN BONES is also present. HOPKINS . . . a disgrace that, with this type of low-cost, sanitary housing available, folks live, right here in the nation's capital, in alleys like Goat and Willow Tree. ELLEN (beat) Alleys like -? HOPKINS One of the slums I referred to. Goat and Willow Tree, Logan's Court - LADY #1 They're alleys, Mrs. Wilson, of dilapidated shacks, where most of the black people live. Right in sight of Capitol Hill. This is clearly news to Ellen: ELLEN I haven't been around much to notice. HOPKINS Oh, no one 'notices,' Mrs. Wilson. But the conditions are awful. LADY #3 The slumlords - that's what they are - could put in this type of housing, if Congress would just make them do it. ELLEN (after a moment) Well I'd like to see these alleys you're talking about. Can we check my calendar, Helen? Hopkins and the Ladies look thrilled as Helen shows a calendar to Ellen. ELLEN How about Monday afternoon? HOPKINS Oh, that would be great, Mrs. Wilson. INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - WHITE HOUSE - DAY Wilson is meeting with his CABINET, including BRYAN, Treasury's handsome Georgian WILLIAM McADOO, 50, Navy Secretary JOSEPHUS DANIELS, 52, and Secretary of War LINDLEY GARRISON, 60. WILSON Let's move on to Mexico. Mister Bryan . . . BRYAN It's civil war, Mister President. Huerta seems to be holding his own, but the rebels are picking up steam. McADOO Who's leading those rebels down there? Is it Villa? BRYAN (glancing at notes) The nominal leader is Carranza, the governor of Coahuila in the north. He calls himself First Chief of the Constitutionalist forces. GARRISON (derisively) 'Constitutionalists.' That's a bunch of hooey, Mister President. BRYAN Obregón is Carranza's top general. Villa is supposedly a Carranza man too, but Zapata's on his own. DANIELS I think what you've got down there, with Carranza, Villa, and Zapata, is a free-for-all. GARRISON You're exactly right, Mister Daniels. The day's coming, if it's not already here, Mister President, when we'll need to march into Mexico. To save American lives and property from total depredation. WILSON We're neutral on the war, Mister Garrison, for now anyway. Our policy is watchful waiting. Huerta claims he's going to hold an election. GARRISON It'll be a sham, Mister President. He'll have himself, or some crony, elected. WILSON No, he will not. (to Bryan) I want to send a special envoy, from me to Huerta - is our new chargé down there yet? BRYAN Yes, Mister President. WILSON Our envoy will tell Huerta face-to- face: a free election, soon, and he's not a candidate. DANIELS Perhaps an interim government first, Mister President. For electoral order. WILSON Fine, as long as Huerta resigns. (beat) At the same time, let's send a confidential agent to Carranza, to talk things over with him. Both sides might agree to elections, an interim government, an end to hostilities. (beat) Let's find out how constitutionalist the rebels really are. EXT. NATIONAL PALACE - MEXICO CITY - DAY REESTABLISHING. OVERLAP SOUND: RÁBAGO (V.O.) Mister O'Shaughnessy, the President will see you now. INT. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE - DAY Nelson is escorted to the ornate double doors of the presidential office by CHUCHO RÁBAGO, Huerta's male secretary. A FEDERAL SOLDIER stands guard. INT. PRESIDENT'S OFFICE - DAY As Rábago shows Nelson in, the uniformed Huerta turns from the window overlooking the plaza or Zócalo. RÁBAGO Mister President, the United States chargé d'affaires - As Huerta strides over to Nelson, Rábago leaving: HUERTA Ah! Mister O'Shaughnessy. As they shake hands: NELSON It is a pleasure to meet you, General Huerta. HUERTA I may call you Nelson? NELSON Please do. HUERTA How soon, Nelson, might they name you the new ambassador? NELSON Oh, I have no idea, sir. I'd have to be confirmed. We have to see how things go. HUERTA Patience is a virtue, eh? How is my English? NELSON Excellent - Your Excellency. Huerta laughs. As he takes Nelson by the arm: HUERTA Come, let us go for a ride. EXT. HUERTA'S CAR - DAY Huerta's new personal car is moving along a suburban road, with a car of BODYGUARDS following. INT. HUERTA'S CAR - DAY Huerta is in good spirits, as he and Nelson sit in back, HUERTA'S CHAUFFEUR driving. HUERTA A Mexican and a Frenchman are standing on the corner. A brazen woman comes by, in a light dress that opens in front. Underneath she wears nothing. A strong wind lifts open her skirt. She pulls it down and keeps going. The Frenchman says, 'C'est la vie.' The Mexican thinks he was speaking Spanish: 'Sé la ví.' NELSON 'I know I saw it.' HUERTA Yes. And the Mexican says, 'I saw it too.' Huerta laughs heartily, Nelson smiling. INT. EL GLOBO SALOON - NIGHT Huerta and Nelson have been drinking at a table, Huerta with his back to the wall, BODYGUARDS sitting nearby, working-class PATRONS watching them, MARIACHIS SINGING. A WAITER sits down a fresh bottle. Nelson is already drunk, Huerta just hitting his stride. HUERTA Your wife, mi hijo. Is she with you? NELSON Not yet. She'sh on her way from Vienna. Huerta leans close, points out a couple of smiling SEÑORITAS, clearly available, watching them. HUERTA You would like some companionship, eh? Nelson looks, smiles, then: NELSON Oh, no. No, General. I'm in enough trouble already. HUERTA You are? Huerta laughs, shakes Nelson chummily by the shoulder: HUERTA Que macho! EXT. THE U.S. EMBASSY - NIGHT Huerta's car pulls up at the gate, where TWO MEXICAN GENDARMES stand guard. As Nelson gets unsteadily out of the car, waves back at Huerta: HUERTA Good night, mi hijo. INT. FOYER - THE EMBASSY - NIGHT Embassy butler HECTOR, a middleaged, stoical Indian, opens the door for Nelson, who walks drunkenly in. HECTOR Are you okay, sir? As Nelson puts an arm around Hector's shoulders: NELSON Yes, yes - What was your name again? HECTOR Hector, sir. NELSON Hector, I feel great. We had a wunnerful time. HECTOR Very good, sir. NELSON I just had a little much too to drink. HECTOR Very bad, sir. NELSON But the gen'ral an' I get along fine. HECTOR Very good. As Nelson starts moving away, half-turns, walking sideways: NELSON Yep. Things are going to be straightened out around here - Nelson stumbles against some furniture by the wall, starts losing his balance. NELSON - in no time at all. Nelson falls flat on the floor. Hector steps over as if to help him up, but drunken Nelson, as if ready to sleep it off, lays his head on an arm, trying to make himself comfortable. NELSON It's all right. Just leave me here. HECTOR Very good, sir. Hector leaves him lying on the floor. EXT. AN ALLEY OF SHACKS - WASHINGTON - DAY PATRICE, a humbly clothed, 30-ish black woman, stands holding a small CHILD in her arms. She's calmly watching Ellen and Ms. Hopkins come walking along the alley, with SECRET SERVICE AGENTS #1 and #2 a a few steps behind them. It's a mild day. Ragged black CHILDREN play in the narrow, shack-lined dirt street, in which sewage runs. A few black ADULTS move about. As Ellen and Hopkins stop in front of Patrice's shack: HOPKINS Hello, Patrice. PATRICE Ms. Hopkins, how are you? HOPKINS Fine. I want you to meet Mrs. Wilson. She's - ELLEN (interrupting; to Patrice) You can call me Ellen. As Patrice, glancing curiously at the Secret Service Men, clearly doesn't recognize Ellen: PATRICE Pleased to meet you, Miss Ellen. ELLEN Is this your only child? PATRICE No, ma'am, we have four. This is the youngest. ELLEN You could use a better place for them, couldn't you. PATRICE We sure could. Everyone could. Everyone here works hard, those with jobs. But this is what we come home to. You know we can't get a place nowhere else. ELLEN Well, maybe we can get something done here. PATRICE (chuckles) Excuse me for laughin', Miss Ellen. I sure hope you know the right folks. It would take the President himself to get something done about this place. EXT. TRAIN STATION - MEXICO CITY - NIGHT Nelson stands waiting as Edith steps from the train, followed by the embassy's Mexican chauffeur JESÚS with luggage. Edith doesn't smile. As Nelson kisses her, she turns her head slightly, so that the kiss is a peck on the cheek. NELSON Welcome to Mexico City. INT. DINING ROOM - U.S. EMBASSY - LATER THAT NIGHT Nelson and Edith have been having a light meal, Mexican MAID #2 attending. Nelson tries to make small talk: NELSON You'll meet Louis D'Antin tomorrow. He's the embassy first clerk and legal advisor. Through eating, Edith says nothing. She declines more coffee from the Maid. NELSON Would you like a grand tour of the embassy? EDITH (beat; matter-of-factly) I'm kind of tired after riding that train all day. Think I'd like to turn in. INT. UPSTAIRS HALLWAY - NIGHT Nelson and Edith stop at the door of a room. A trunk and two suitcases sit in the hallway. NELSON I wasn't sure about your clothes, so I told 'em to leave it out here - till I knew where you want to sleep. A pause. As Nelson nods toward it: NELSON This is the master bedroom. No reaction. He gestures further down the hall: NELSON There's two other bedrooms, across from each other. A beat. As Edith starts toward one of them: EDITH I'd like my own room for now, if that's all right. As Nelson picks up one of the suitcases and follows her: NELSON Suit yourself, Edith. (beat) How long do you think you might want it? As they stop at the open bedroom door: EDITH I don't know, Nelson. NELSON Let me know when you do. EDITH I will. As she starts in the door: NELSON Edith, wait . . . (she stops) You take the master bedroom, and I'll take this one. EDITH No, I'd rather you keep it. NELSON No, then you take this room, and I'll take the one over (there) EDITH (interrupting) (What)ever you want to do, Nelson. I'm tired. Nelson follows her into: INT. EDITH'S BEDROOM - NIGHT Edith looks the nice room over as Nelson puts the suitcase on the bed. NELSON I'll have 'em bring in the rest. Edith moves to a dresser. NELSON Tomorrow's Chinese Independence Day. Edith gives him a look. EDITH Thanks for reminding me. Edith sits down at the dresser, looks tiredly at her reflection. As Nelson walks over, to stand behind her: NELSON There'll be a big reception at the Chinese legation. You'll get to meet a lot of people. Edith gives him an unthrilled look in the mirror. NELSON You might even meet Huerta. After a moment, Nelson puts a hand on her shoulder and lightly kisses the top of her head: NELSON Good night, dear. She looks at him, rather blankly, in the mirror. EDITH Good night. Nelson leaves. Edith thinks for a moment, and sighs. INT. WILSON BEDROOM - WHITE HOUSE - NIGHT Ellen is already in bed as Wilson, in pajamas, sits down on the edge of the bed to tiredly take off his slippers. ELLEN I've got two good senators in mind, to talk to about the alleys. WILSON That's who to talk to, lady. Congress has all the money. As Wilson lies down: ELLEN Okay, I will. I'll take a couple of senators down there to Goat and Willow Tree. I'll take a whole committee. A pause. Wilson looks pensive, staring up at the ceiling, as Edith regards him. ELLEN You ought to see those places, Woodrow. WILSON Ellen, I've got enough on my mind. ELLEN Pardon me? WILSON Ellen, for Pete's sake, I talk about democracy in Latin America, and we've got a butcher next door running Mexico. What should I do? ELLEN You're asking me? Honey, 'I've got enough on my mind.' Wilson gives her a look. He sighs. WILSON (half-seriously) President Taft was right. This is the loneliest place in the world. ELLEN (smiles) You've got your little project, and I've got mine. EXT. THE CHINESE LEGATION - MEXICO CITY - DAY ESTABLISHING. Diplomatic GUESTS are arriving. INT. SALON - LEGATION - DAY At the reception, Chinese legate CH'AN and MRS. CH'AN greet Nelson and Edith, among arriving GUESTS: CH'AN Mister O'Shaughnessy. NELSON May I present my wife Edith. (to Edith) Mister and Mrs. Ch'an. CH'AN So pleased to meet you. MRS. CH'AN Welcome to Mexico. EDITH Happy Independence Day. EXT. CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES - MEXICO CITY - DAY Congressional Deputy JORGE VERA ESTAÑOL is railing to his COLLEAGUES in session (about 200 in all): VERA ESTAÑOL And what has General Huerta had to say of the mysterious disappearance, two nights ago, of our esteemed colleague, the Honorable Belisario Domínquez? Not a word! And who among us will be next? The chamber doors suddenly open, and General Blanquet comes in with armed SOLDIERS. With Blanquet is the Mexico City POLICE CHIEF. There is stunned silence as Blanquet strides down the aisle toward the podium, the Chief close behind him. Blanquet stops, looking at Vera Estañol with a seeming mixture of amusement and contempt. BLANQUET What is your name? Vera Etañol hesitates, as if surprised by the question, then: VERA ESTAÑOL (proudly) Jorge Vera Estañol. BLANQUET (to Police Chief) Is he on the list? The Chief checks a long list of names in his hand. CHIEF Yes, General. BLANQUET (to Vera Estañol) You are under arrest. As Deputies begin angrily protesting: BLANQUET (to all) This Congress is dissolved, by order of the provisional president of Mexico! (then, to Chief) Read off the names. INT. THE SALON - CHINESE LEGATION - DAY Nelson is chatting with British LORD CARDEN and Frenchman PIERRE MORNET. LORD CARDEN (to Nelson) You really believe Huerta can survive this renewed civil war without your government's recognition? NELSON President Wilson is not going to recognize Huerta. MORNET But governments are recognized as existing or not existing - A GERMAN DIPLOMAT has hurried in. GERMAN (O.S.) (anxiously) Where is the American chargé? NELSON Over here. Edith, listening with other LADIES to LADY CARDEN, notices Nelson and Others listening with concern to the German, out of the Ladies' earshot. LADY CARDEN Personally I think Mexico needs a strong hand like Huerta's, till some kind of order is restored. As Edith sees Nelson heading toward her: LADY CARDEN The general may have his faults - EDITH (to Lady beside her) Excuse me. As Edith moves toward Nelson, Lady Carden continues to the Ladies: LADY CARDEN - but can you imagine life under Pancho Villa? As Nelson and Edith meet, Edith still cold toward him: NELSON I've got to get back to the embassy. EDITH What's wrong? NELSON Huerta just dissolved the Congress. Not only that, he arrested some of the deputies. (pointedly) One hundred and ten of them. A pause, Edith stunned. EDITH I'll go back with you. NELSON No, you stay here. I want everyone to meet you. As Nelson starts to go: EDITH Nelson, what's going to happen to the deputies? NELSON Nothing if I can help it. (beat; with dread) Wait till Washington hears about this. Nelson turns to leave. EXT. WHITE HOUSE - SAME DAY Wilson daughter JESSIE, 25, and 30-ish FRANCIS SAYRE have just married, and head happily for a waiting car and their honeymoon. Wilson, Ellen, oldest daughter MARGARET, and the rest of the WEDDING GUESTS have come out to see them off. McAdoo happens to be standing by pretty Nell, and they share a smile. As the car is driving off, Wilson's secretary JOE TUMULTY, a short man about 40, appears at Wilson's side with some news: TUMULTY (whispering) Huerta just dissolved the Congress in Mexico. Over one hundred deputies arrested. Ellen notes Wilson's grim change of expression as Tumulty moves away. ELLEN What is it, dear? WILSON (after a moment) Victoriano Huerta.Go to Part Two
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