POPULAR VOTES

Written by
Cody Hoyt

FADE IN:
EXT. TIMES SQUARE NEW YORK - DUSK
A rope lined crowd surrounds a Broadway theatre. SECRET
SERVICE AGENTS keep watch on the perimeter, while ANGRY
PROTESTORS wave political signs and yell inharmonious chants.
CUT TO:
INT. THEATRE
The CONDUCTOR receives APPLAUSE and immediately begins the
opening bars of Les Misrables. The music continues VOC as
several dignitaries take their seats.
Among the dignitaries:
FIONA INGRAM, 44, wearing a black pants suit with an
American flag pin. She watches with conspicuous awe, aware of
and playing to the publics gaze.
CHARLES KNIGHT, 65, with a thick head of gray hair and a
hardened, slim figure. Wearing a $20K suit he pretentiously
critiques the performance in his head.
The MUSIC continues into The Prologue VOC as weCUT TO:
EXT. AUTOMOTIVE FACTORY
FACTORY WORKERS file out the door of their afternoon shifts
as a SIGN indicates the workers have been laid off.
NEWS ANCHOR V.O.
The end of an era in Lexington,
Kentucky today as the final
automotive plant on American soil
closed its doors leaving some
15,000 workers out of work.
LES MIS COMPANY O.S.
(Signing)
Look down, Look down,
Dont look him in the eye.
Look down, look down,
Youre here until you die.
FADE TO:

2.
EXT. IOWA CORN FIELD
A FARMER steps out of his combine and examines bad ear of
corn. It turns out his entire field is shrivelled.
NEWS ANCHOR V.O.
Still no rain for the Midwest as
yet another summer of recordbreaking heat is threatening even
the most stable American farms.
FADE TO:
EXT. WASHINGTON D.C. CAPITAL BUILDING
NEWS ANCHOR V.O.
Speaker of the House Nicholas
Medford was arrested this morning
and charged with five counts of
embezzlement and improper use of a
government office. The FBI says
claims of child molestation against
Speaker Medford are still under
investigation.
FADE TO:
EXT. CALIFORNIA HIGH SCHOOL
NEWS ANCHOR V.O.
Wide-spread panic tonight as yet
another school shooting breaks out,
this time right here in San
Francisco.
EXT. TIMES SQUARE NEW YORK
A WEALTHY COUPLE walk the theaters red carpet. A PROTESTOR
hits the couple with a sign and yells obscenities. POLICE
OFFICERS tackle the protestor to the ground.
NEWS ANCHOR V.O.
Police brutality quickly becoming a
hot topic on the campaign trail.
(MORE)

3.
NEWS ANCHOR V.O. (CONT'D)
Colorado Senator and presumptive
Democratic nominee Fiona Ingram
told supporters in Baltimore
yesterday that she supports
crackdowns on police violence while
Republican front-runner Phillip
Schuyler told the Brooklyn Journal
he as Mayor of New York City he
wants police to do whatever they
need to stay safe.
FADE TO:
EXT. TIMES SQUARE NEW YORK
The PROTESTORS and POLICE OFFICERS have engaged in a fist
fight and TEAR GAS is being sprayed to disperse the crowd.
LES MIS COMPANY O.S.
Look down, look down
Youll always be a slave
Look down, look down
You're standing in your grave.
INT. THEATRE - LATER
INGRAM and her ENTOURAGE leave their seats at the shows
conclusion.
SUPERIMPOSE: April 16th: 203 Days to Election Day
JONATHAN YU, 33, Ingrams baby-faced chief of staff, opens
his mouth to speak. Hes ambitious and brilliant, but
sometimes his excitement turns him into a 6th grade know-itall.
INGRAM
(texting)
Wait.
(pause)
One second...
IJonathan.

JONATHAN
INGRAM

She finishes her text and begins walking out of the theatre.
Okay, go.

INGRAM (CONTD)

4.
JONATHAN
Hell do it!
INGRAM
Youre sure?
100%!

JONATHAN

INGRAM
Thats what you said about Stocks
when we ran in the 10th.
INT. THEATRE HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS
SOPHIE
Yeah, but this time its on
twitter.
SOPHIE MIRANDA, 55, the over-qualified, under-appreciated,
communications director. After 30 years in politics, little
surprises her. Even less impresses her.
JONATHAN
Who cares that its on twitter, his
CM fucking called me at
intermission.
SOPHIE
Whatever boyfriend, Im just sayin
from the public relations
perspectiveJONATHAN
Senator, Im telling you. Jerry
called me personally to agree to
it.
INGRAM
What did he say?
SOPHIE
(sarcastic)
Wanted a second date, probably.
JONATHAN
Sophie, Im not joking about. This
could be the final nail in theINGRAM
Someone get me an intern.
Katherine!

5.
INTERN
(clawing to the front of
the pack)
Maam, yes. I mean, Senator maam.
No, IINGRAM
How big was the pool in the lobby
when you last checked?
INTERN
Um, uh, about, like, 35-40 deep, I
think?
JONATHAN
Senator, youve gotta believe me:
earlier tonight, aboutINGRAM
All right, all right.
She stops ahead of everyone but her secret service detail and
turns around to face the entourage.
INGRAM (CONTD)
Sophie, Jonathan: I dont care why,
we can argue that later. Now, can I
tell the three dozen reporters
behind these doors that Governor
Greg Ryan will be the next Vice
President of the United States?
Hell no.

SOPHIE

JONATHAN
No! Not yet, no.
INGRAM
Then what are we talking about?
She turns around and opens the large double door to theINT. THEATRE FOYER
She is greeted by FLASH BULBS, microphones, and SHOUTING
REPORTERS everywhere.
REPORTER 1
(shouting)
Senator, has Governor Ryan agreed
to be your vice president?

6.
INGRAM
I have a great deal of respect for
Governor Ryan and weve had some
good battles in the primaries but
its time to put our differences
behind us and get behind one
candidate.
REPORTER 2
(shouting)
Has he called you to concede?
INGRAM
I have not spoken to Governor Ryan
since our debate in Miami last
month. Were both very busy.
(pause)
Yes, you.
REPORTER 3
Did you ever consider a more
extreme choice like Senator
Feldman?
INGRAM
Well I want to remind everyone that
the democratic party still has to
declare a nominee, but Senator
Feldman is a divisive figure in
this country and this campaign is
about bringing America back
together again.
(pause)
Yeah, go ahead
REPORTER 1
Did you enjoy the show, Senator?
INGRAM
Yes I did. Very much. Great story
and theyre supporting a great
cause with this production.
(pause)
In the back.
REPORTER 4
Senator, the EPA released a new
study today claiming that sea
levels will rise more than 10%
higher than previous estimates
indicated over the next 75 years.
Do you have any comment?

7.
INGRAM
Than you for bringing that up. Ive
pushed for stronger pollution
regulations since I was on the
Boulder city council.
A DOOR in the back of the lobby slams open and a few
reporters turn their heads.
INGRAM (CONTD)
Global climate change is not only
real, but its a serious issue we
need to address now and we need to
address it aggressively.
Bit by bit the press corps begin to run to the other side of
the lobby.
INGRAM (CONTD)
Its easy to talk about more
exciting issues like Immigration or
the economy, but climate change is
a realREPORTER 4
E-excuse me, Senator, just one
moment.
Knight, and a handful of suits has entered the lobby. The
press runs after him like dogs on a tennis ball.
REPORTER 1
Mr. Knight! Mr. Knight!
REPORTER 3
Mr. Knight!
REPORTER 2
Did you enjoy the show tonight,
sir?
KNIGHT
Oh, well let me tell you: we had a
great time this evening. Its a
wonderful show really, Les Mis. I
usually prefer the more classical
works like Othello or Ruddigore,
but I think the actors just did a
splendid job. Ive seen it dozens
of times and this is up there.
Thank you for asking.

8.
REPORTER 1
Mr. Knight, what do you think of
Marlene Schneider's new talk show.
KNIGHT
You know to be completely honest
with you, Herb, I havent seen it
yet. I dont like most of Marlenes
content, I think its pretty lowbrow. Dont get me wrong shes a
wonderful person. Ive met her,
weve had coffee together. But
shes not what I prefer.
REPORTER 3
Mr. Knight: will you be endorsing
anyone in the election this year?
KNIGHT
Nah, probably not. Politicians are
liars. I dont associate myself
with liars.
Ingram, ignoring to sole reporter left beside her, bites her
tongue.
KNIGHT (CONTD)
I like people who give me the
truth. I wont settle for less.
Knight begins to make his way towards the door as the press
continues to harass him. Above the noise we hear
REPORTER 4
Mr. Knight: Can you confirm a
report that K.I.G. is laying off
10% of its workforce next month?
The reporters quiet slightly as Knight turns around to answer
the question.
KNIGHT
You know, let me tell you
something. I started Knight
Investment Group 39 years ago. Last
month, we were the forth most
valuable investment company in the
world. Not just the U.S. The world and remember that includes China.
K.I.G.is doing great, our clients
are happy, our employees are happy,
Im happy and were making a lot of
money. Thank you.

9.

But, sir-

REPORTER 4

KNIGHT
(over the shouts for
follow-up questions)
Thats all for tonight, Ive got
places to be and things to do.
He slips away and opens the door.
KNIGHT (CONTD)
(turning to the crowd of
press)
Thank you so much. Buh bye.
Knight exits as the reporters clamber for a photo through the
window of the glass door. The Ingram campaign stands by
themselves in a corner waiting to leave.
JONATHAN
Whyd he get all the questions,
huh? Why are they asking him about
politics?
INGRAM
He a celebrity: thats what people
want to know about.
(pause)
Cmon lets go to the car.
CUT TO:
INT. LIMOUSINE - NIGHT
INGRAM and her staff enter a waiting motorcade outside of the
theatre. The door shuts loudly behind them.
Hi mom.

INDIA

INGRAM
Hi honey! How was soccer practice?
INDIA EMMELINE RIVERA-INGRAM, 14. She admires her mother, but
only through the teenage expression of texting her friends 247.
Good.

INDIA

10.
INGRAM
Great! Wonderful. You have a game
this Saturday, right?
INDIA
Noo, its Sunday, mom.
INGRAM
Sunday. Huh. Im sorry India, Your
dad told me he thought it was
Saturday for sure.
She turns to the other side of the limo to find her husband,
MATTHEW-MANUEL RIVERA, 41. Hes clean cut, but not exactly
eye-candy.
INGRAM (CONTD)
(a beat)
Hi Matt.
CUT TO:
INT. SCHUYLER CAMPAIGN HEADQUATERS - NIGHT
New York City Mayor PHILIP SCHUYLER, 57, stares at a painting
of the New York skyline. Hes a little overweight with a
heavy accent.
SCHUYLER
I love this city, you know.
(pause)
Its just so fresh and real.
Theres something new everyday.
Dont you agree Maxy?
We pull back to reveal that MAXY is Schuylers pet
labradoodle.
SCHUYLER (CONTD)
I mean really, theres people from
all over: Italy, Ireland, Jamaica,
Africa, Guam.
(pause)
Or Puerto Rico. I always get those
two confused, theyre right next to
each other.
Maxy has no response.
SCHUYLER (CONTD)
Anyone else here?
Beat.

11.
SCHUYLER (CONTD)
(shouting)
Hello?! Is anyone else here? This
is the mayor for cryin out loud!
A long silence.
Then Maxy barks. Schulyer walks over to the dog.
SCHUYLER (CONTD)
(sighs)
Guess its just you and me then
buddy isnt it?
Maxy barks.
SCHUYLER (CONTD)
You got it, Maxy. Well show em.
They snuggle.
CUT TO:
INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT
INGRAM and MATT lie in bed far apart from each other in bed.
Ingram is wide awake but motionless in bed.
They lie in quiet. Eventually:
MATT
How was the show?
No answer.
MATT (CONTD)
Fiona, how was the show?
INGRAM
(quickly)
Good.
(pause)
Yeah, good. How was the Knicks
game?
MATT
Good crowd. 21,000 maybe?
(pause)
We shook a lot of hands.
INGRAM
Great. Great.

12.
Beat
MATT
We met this one guy whoINGRAM
Thats all I asked, Matt.
(pause)
Thanks.
CUT TO:
INT. HOTEL ROOM - NEW YORK
INGRAM, SOPHIE and JONATHAN are sitting around a table
staring at INGRAMs phone. There is the SOUND of a PENCIL
TAPPING RAPIDLY.
SOPHIE
I will kill you.
The pencil tapping stops.
JONATHAN
(scared)
Sorry.
We wait another few moments. Its getting awkward.
INGRAM
So lets say he doesnt call.
JONATHAN
Im telling you any minute.
SOPHIE
You said that an hour ago ya littleINGRAM
Where do we stand back ups?
JONATHAN
Clarke, Jones, Kass all said no.
SOPHIE
They said no?
JONATHAN
There people said no.
SOPHIE
Which people?

13.
JONATHAN
PAC leaders.
SOPHIE
Damn fools.

Parks?

INGRAM

JONATHAN
His donors were noncommittal but I
think hed take it?
INGRAM
How about Grimmett?
What?

JONATHAN

INGRAM
I said what about Jane Grimmett?

No.

JONATHAN
(quickly, dismissive)

SOPHIE
Oh Lord, not this again.
JONATHAN
You cannot, you can not win the
presidency with an all female
ticket. Not in this decade, not in
any decade before it.
INGRAM
Im just sayingJONATHAN
Yeah am Im saying the same thing I
said three weeks ago, if you want
to become president of the United
States you can notThe phone rings.
INGRAM
(answering)
Hello this is Senator Ingram.
(beat)
Well Hello Governor, how are you?
(beat)
(laughing)
(MORE)

14.
INGRAM (CONT'D)
Yes, yes. Yes it was.
(beat)
Well thank you, sir. I wouldnt
want to(longer beat)
Oh well thank you very much sir.
Jonathan silently jumps up from the table and begins fist
pumping around the room. Sophie waits patiently with an
optimistic look.
INGRAM (CONTD)
(After a long beat)
Well youve got to understand
Governor that when I(beat)
Well yes I know thatAnother extended beat. Sophie begins to lose her smile.
INGRAM (CONTD)
No but sir they- my staff told me
thatJonathan realizes what is going on, stops punching the air.
INGRAM (CONTD)
Governor Im sure we could(beat)
Well I respect your decision, sir.
Thank you.
(beat)
You too.
She hangs up. The silence sits for bit.
INGRAM (CONTD)
Sophie call Jason Branchfield at
the Times, figure out what just
happened.
Yes maam.

SOPHIE
CUT TO:

INT. KNIGHT OFFICE

KNIGHT enters the front door of his executive suite. Its
lavish - fitting of a billionaire - with a clean, angular
look. His assistant GINGER, 39, hands him a stack of papers.

15.
KNIGHT
Thank you, Ginger.
(pause)
What are these?
GINGER
Last quarters reports.
KNIGHT
(Thumbing through the
pages)
Earnings reports?
GINGER
Not exactly sir.
CUT TO:
INT. GINGERS OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER
Ginger types away at her computer. A CHAIR flies through a
WINDOW connected to Knights office. Ginger takes a sip of
her coffee.
CUT TO:
EXT. NEW YORK CITY SIDEWALK
KNIGHT walks along a path to work followed by AVERY STAMOS,
53, and JOEY PARKER, 47. Averys calm and assertive as well
as Knights most trusted associate while Joey is more of the
wild cannon type.
AVERY
Sir, you have got to understand
what Im saying, this is notKNIGHT
I know what youre saying Avery, I
get it. Were screwed, I get it, I
get it.
AVERY
Mr. Knight, you cannot continue to
continue making these real estate
investments. The market is dried up
there is simply no more
KNIGHT
Ah give it a rest.

16.
JOEY
Sir, as your Chief financial
officer I can simply no longer
support you having a stake in thiKNIGHT
(turning around)
Excuse me a second, would you
please?
CUT TO:
EXT. NEW YORK CITY HOTDOG CART - SAME TIME
CART ATTENDANT
Thatll be $6.75 maam.
CUSTOMER
What?! The sign says $5.50.
CART ATTENDANT
The signs outdated maam, its
$6.75.
CUSTOMER
Well I aint paying that much money
when the sign says $5.50!
CART ATTENDANT
You want the hotdog or not?
After a brief completive pause, the customer hands over the
appropriate amount of cash and gets out of line to wait for
the order. KNIGHT approaches
KNIGHT
Good Morning Maam, how are you?
CUSTOMER
Im doing all right sir. And how
about yourself?
KNIGHT
Im doing great. Hey listen, Ive
got
CART ATTENDANT
(shouting)
Yo lady you want your change back
after all that fuss?

17.
CUSTOMER
(shouts back)
Oh keep it for Gods sake ya dingo!
(calmly)
Im sorry sir, what were you sayin?
KNIGHT
Ah well, ya see I run a series of
apartment complexes all over theCUSTOMER
Oh, no I know who you are. Youre
Charles Knight, C.E.O. of Knight
Enterprises. Whatchu want talking
to me?
KNIGHT
Maam when you think of my
buildings what do you think about?
CUSTOMER
Whacha mean?
KNIGHT
If you knew someone lived in a
Knight Apartment what would you
think about them?
CUSTOMER
Oh well ah... Id imagine theyd
have to be a pretty powerful
person. I mean, you dont get to
live in a Knight apartment if
youre down here workin eight
shifts a week. I mean maybe one
day, but right now...
KNIGHT
You know what maam I think youre
doin a fine job. Its tough to be
down here doin all this stuff. I
know. Ive been there. But you keep
workin hard and youll get there
some day, all right? I promise you.
CUSTOMER
Well thank you Mr. Knight. That
means the world toCART ATTENDANT
(Shouting at them)
Yo! Lady take your fuckin hot dog!

18.
CUSTOMER
(to Knight)
Well I should probably get goinKNIGHT
Here, take this with you.
He hands her a $50 bill.
KNIGHT (CONTD)
Thanks for talkin to me.
CUSTOMER
Youre a wonderful soul, Mr.
Knight. God bless you.
Knight, AVERY and JOEY turn around and walk in the opposite
direction. As they head out Knight turns to one advisor and
saysKNIGHT
Thats why were keeping the
apartments.
The assistants look at each other defeated before weCUT TO:
EXT. JFK AIRPORT TARMAC - MORNING
INGRAMs campaign jet is getting ready to board.
INGRAM
(yelling over airplane
engines)
I want a full rundown of what
happened when we take off. Got it?
JONATHAN
Sophies got it. Shes all ready
for you.
INGRAM
Good. Thanks.
Jonathan continues over to the plane while Ingram veers over
to INDIA and MATT.

19.
INGRAM (CONTD)
(Kneeling down to India)
I have a vote two weeks from now on
the same day as your Arlington
game, okay? Your dad and I have it
all figured out. All right?
Cool.

INDIA

INGRAM
(hopeful)
Im gonna miss you.
Okay.

INDIA

Ingram pulls India into a semi-forced hug. After they

embrace, she gives Matt a made-for-TV kiss goodbye. She turns
to leave.
INGRAM
(Waving back to the press)
Thank you New York!
She turns back to walk up the ladder up to the plane. We see
a slight tear in her left eye.
FADE TO:
EXT. SCHUYLER CAMPAIGN RALLY
A crowd of ELDERLY, MIDDLE CLASS VOTERS clap warmly as
SCHUYLER delivers his stump speech.
SCHUYLER
I entered this race because I
believe in the power of America. I
believe in the power of New York. I
believe in the power of the people!
The crowd cheers.
SCHUYLER (CONTD)
I mean really, we won the
Republican nomination because of
you and you know what, we are gonna
win the White House in November
because of you, and that is when
the people are going take back this
country, because, the people have
power and I believe in the power of
the people!

20.
INT. KNIGHT OFFICE
We hear CLASSICAL MUSIC playing as KNIGHT sits pensively at
his desk.
KNIGHT
(calling next door)
Ginger.
GINGER
Yes, Mr. Knight.
KNIGHT
Why do I have a 2:30 meeting today?
GINGER
Its with Avery Stamos. You asked
me to set it up about a month ago.
KNIGHT
Cancel it, would you?
Yes sir.

GINGER

KNIGHT
Oh, and call Peter Dixon of the
Brooklyn Journal and put him
through to me.
GINGER
Right away sir.
KNIGHT
Thank you Ginger.
She leaves. Knight pivots to the back wall and SWITCHES OFF
the RECORD PLAYER where the music was coming from. He returns
to his desk patiently.
GINGER
(After a moment)
Peter Dixon on one.
Got it.

KNIGHT

He picks up the phone.

KNIGHT (CONTD)
Petey, hows it going?
Beat.

21.
KNIGHT (CONTD)
Good. Good. Glad to hear it.
(pause)
Sure thing, hey: I got something to
tell you.
CUT TO:
INT. INGRAM CAMPAIGN PLANE EXECUTIVE CABIN
Jonathan and Sophie are sitting around Ingrams airborne desk
waiting for the Senator to arrive.
JONATHAN
I swear to God youre gonna bring
this whole thing crashing down.
SOPHIE
What this?
(pause)
You really think my Samsung is
gonna break a 737?
JONATHAN
Yes. Yes I do.
Good God.

SOPHIE

INGRAM
(fed up)
Would someone tell me something?
Anything?
JONATHAN
What do you want to know?
INGRAM
What the fuck is happening,
Jonathan.
A hanging silence. Sophies PHONE VIBRATES.
INGRAM (CONTD)
Lets think this through. Why would
Ryan not take the offer?
JONATHAN
He wants the spring board for 8
years from now, so thats off.
Sophies PHONE VIBRATES again.

22.
INGRAM
He endorsed me a month ago so
thats not a problem.
JONATHAN
Hes up by 20 points in
Pennsylvania, so hes fine there.
Sophies PHONE VIBRATES again.
SOPHIE
Oh for Christs sake.
She picks up the phone.
INGRAM
Hes not running for president is
he?
JONATHAN
God no, youd have to be a
billionaire to enter the race this
late even as a third party. No, the
only reason he wouldnt want to job
is if he thought it was a lost
cause.
INGRAM
Were up by, what, fifteen
nationally over Schuyler?
Twelve.

JONATHAN

INGRAM
Fine, twelve. But were up by
twelve. Were the front runners-

Hey-

SOPHIE
(staring at her phone
screen)

INGRAM
Schuylers chasing us not the other
way around.
SOPHIE
Hey Senator you better come...
INGRAM
Why the hell would he possibly
think that we cant win?

23.
Beat.
INGRAM (CONTD)
Sorry, Sophie, whats up?
SOPHIE
Peter Dixon just messaged me.
Something tells me hes been
talking to the same dude Ryan was.
CUT TO:
INT. KNIGHT OFFICE
KNIGHT sits behind his desk as a CAMERA CREW finalizes its
set-up.
AV TECH #1
We good on 3 Chuck?
AV TECH #2
Yup, good on 3.
AV TECH #1
All right, are you ready sir?
KNIGHT
Yeah, lets go.
AV TECH #1
Okay. Rolling in 5, 4, 3, 2.
KNIGHT
(reading from a
Teleprompter)
Hello. My name is Charles Knight. I
am the founder and C.E.O. of Knight
Enterprises.
CUT TO:
INT. MIDWESTERN BAR
The FACTORY WORKERS from earlier watch the TV behind lots of
alcohol.
KNIGHT V.O.
Throughout the life of our company
Ive traveled around the country to
meet with clients of all sizes:
large, small, rich poor, male,
female, black and white.
(MORE)

24.
KNIGHT V.O. (CONT'D)
We talk about their portfolios, of
course, but we also talk about
their lives, their stories. When I
started out, these meetings were
hopeful: families in Brooklyn
moving into a new house, fathers in
California paying for their
daughters to go to college, and
Oklahoma ranchers waiting ready to
bring in healthy crops of corn and
cattle alike.
CUT TO:
INT. IOWA FARM HOUSE
The FARMER and his FAMILY watch as well
KNIGHT V.O.
I held onto this idea for decades,
even as the interviews became worse
and worse: An Elementary school
teacher in Ohio taking a second
mortgage for her son, a forth
generation pizza-shop owner in New
Jersey needing a loan to keep the
doors open another month. I held
onto this narrative until very
recently when I realized a very
horrible and disappointing truth:
America is broken.
INT. MISSISSIPPI CHURCH SERVICE
People gathered in the pews listen.
KNIGHT V.O.
People are out of work, our roads
are crumbling, our schools are as
good as prisons. Our enemies in the
Middle East are so successful that
we are beginning to wonder if they
are our enemies across the street.
Twisted political agendas built on
nothing but re-election campaigns
and war-chests have brought this
country seemingly to the brink of a
second civil war.
CUT TO:

25.
INT. SCHUYLER LIMO
SCHUYLER and MAXY listen to the speech on the radio.
KNIGHT V.O.
Now all these things you know. You
certainly live them day-to-day but
you no doubt also hear the same
things yelled from the mouths of
the hilariously inadequate crop of
politicians promising you the world
in exchange for you voting them
President of the United States. Not
only are these candidates not
equipped to fix this broken country
of ours, no, these candidates: they
are the reason the country was
broken in the first place. To elect
on of them to our highest office
would be by all contemporary
definitions insanity.
CUT TO:
INT. INGRAM CAMPAIGN PLANE
INGRAM, JONATHAN and SOPHIE watch a stream on sophies
smartphone.
KNIGHT V.O.
I have never settled for myself and
I have never settled for my
company. In this hour of crisis, in
this pivotal moment of United
States history, I will not settle
for my country. Therefore, I am
announcing my candidacy for
President of the United States this
November. I will run independent of
either filthy and corrupt parties
that have conducted their own hackjob nominations this spring. I will
not hold a party convention as the
American people simply no longer
have time to watch politicians
build monuments to themselves.
BACK TO:

26.
INT. KNIGHT OFFICE
KNIGHT
I will finance my own campaign with
my own money: free of outside
influence or bribery. Assistant
Chairman Vincent Alan will serve as
acting Chairman of Knight
Enterprises effective immediately.
I will begin my campaign at 8 am
tomorrow in Central Park. I invite
you all to join me there tomorrow
morning and to join me across the
nation in the coming weeks as we
begin the slow process of
rebuilding this once great country.
I believe with all my heart that
together America can be fixed.
Thank you.
The camera goes black as we go
BACK TO:
INT. INGRAM CAMPAIGN PLANE EXECUTIVE CABIN
Ingram, Jonathan and Sophie stare blankly at the television.
NEWS ANCHOR
(from television)
Once again breaking news here,
Charles Knight, C.E.O. of Knight
Enterprises has announced that he
will be running for President of
the United States. Thats not a
joke.
Sophie bursts out laughing.
What?

INGRAM

She keeps laughing. Jonathan joins in.

INGRAM (CONTD)
Seriously, what?
SOPHIE
Thats not a joke.
(laughs again)
Damn straight that aint a joke.

27.
JONATHAN
Lets hit him!
What?

INGRAM

JONATHAN
Right now! Lets go out and make
this idiot into a punch line right
off the bat.
Why?

INGRAM

JONATHAN
Knights got the news cycle all to
himself, its too great a story.
SOPHIE
Knights already a staple of
Kimmels monologue thisll only
make it worse.
JONATHAN
Hell be the butt of every joke
forever, or well about three to
four weeks whichll run right
through the Republican Convention
in L.A. next month. Schuyler wont
be able to build the pre-convention
hype you need to erase a postprimary gap like this one.
SOPHIE
Only three guys ever did it, and
they all had prep-time.
JONATHAN
By the time all the Knight-Hype
dies down youll be receiving the
nomination in Tampa and BOOM: postcovention five point bump and you
put Schuyler away for good.
Beat.
INGRAM
I say we ignore him.
No!

JONATHAN

SOPHIE
Not worth it.

28.
JONATHAN
Cant do that at all.
Why not?

INGRAM

SOPHIE
Hes the story. We aint gonna be
able to counter program him! Hell
Im not sure ESPN will be able to
counter program against him for the
next couple weeks.
Ingram sits pensively before turning to look back at the
television. Eventually...
INGRAM
I dont want to play this guys
game. If he wants to turn this
department into a circus just so he
can get sell more apartments than I
dont want to be a part of it.
PILOT O.S.
Attention passengers please return
to your seats, we will be landing
at Reagan National Airport in 10
minutes.
INGRAM
Okay. Anyway, thanks a lot you two.
She looks down to out some paper away but when she looks back
up Jonathan and Sophie are conspicuously still not in their
seats.
INGRAM (CONTD)
Do I need to read you the seat-back
pocket safety instructions?
No maam.

SOPHIE

The two stand up and head towards the door. Sophie opens the
door and heads into the cabin but Jonathan cant help
himself.
JONATHAN
Senator I really think itsOut!

INGRAM

29.
JONATHAN
Yes, maam.
He scurries out of the suite.
INGRAM
(yelling after them)
And I still need a Vice-President!
The OFFICE DOOR SLAMS behind Jonathan as we
CUT TO:
INT. KNIGHT OFFICE CONFERENCE ROOM
KNIGHT, AVERY and JOEY sit around a conference room table
with coffee and several papers. Theyre at the tail end of a
meeting.
KNIGHT
Okay so give me the best case
scenario.
AVERY
We stay in race till November, win
about 15 percent of the vote and we
finish out the quarter in the
black.
KNIGHT
Okay and whats the worst case.
AVERY
We stay in the race till November
but only with 2 percent of the
vote. Your name becomes a national
joke and you end up losing even
more tenants than you already have.
KNIGHT
Okay then.
(pause)
So I guess that means were going
to have to make a call on this
eventually. When is that?
JOEY
Late July, right around the
democratic convention. If the race
has tightened up by then its not
worth it.

30.
KNIGHT
Late July sounds good.
Knight takes a sip of his coffee.
KNIGHT (CONTD)
So now we just gotta get people to
like me.
CUT TO:
EXT. YOUTH SOCCER FIELD
INGRAM and MATT are watching INDIA on the soccer field
surrounded by a SECRET SERVICE ENTOURAGE. Ingram is dressed
down, though still ready to address the nation is required.
INGRAM
(cheering)
Yeah India! Thats my girl you got
this!
India makes an impressive steal from another girl.
WHOOO!

INGRAM (CONTD)

MATT
Yeah Indy, way to go girl!
INGRAM
(to Matt)
Whatd you just call her?
MATT
Indy. Ya know cuz shes fast like
an Indy car?
INGRAM
Yeah- I get it.
(pause)
Have you always called her that?
MATT
Only the last two years.
Hm.
Beat.

INGRAM

31.
INGRAM (CONTD)
Hey do you think you could come to
an event in San Antonio on
Thursday? Id just be that one
night.
Matt is looking back at the field and missed what was Ingram
said.
Matt!

INGRAM (CONTD)

MATT
Yeah. Sorry. San Antonio?
INGRAM
Next Thursday, yeah.
MATT
Next Thursday, huh?
(pause)
Actually no I think Ive got plans.
INGRAM
Whatre you doing?
MATT
Im getting dinner with a friend.
With whom?

INGRAM

MATT
Just a friend.
Ingram gives little visible reaction. The tension is broken
when India jukes a defender and scores a goal. Both parents
cheer loudly.
CUT TO:
EXT. CABBOTS ICE CREAM
SCHUYLER O.S.
Now I may be a New Yorker at heart,
but Ive been to Boston many times
in my life.
CUT TO:

32.
INT. CABOTS ICE CREAM
Schuyler is talking to a pool of reporters as he holds a bowl
of ice cream.
SCHUYLER
And dont get me wrong New York has
some great Ice Cream shops but let
me tell ya Cabots Ice Cream in
Newton, Massachusetts theres
nothing like it in the whole
country.
REPORTER
Have you been here before sir?
SCHUYLER
Oh yes, of course. Many times, many
times. When ever Id go to a
Yankees game at Fennway or some
meeting with the Mayor of Boston
Id always make sure me and Maxy
would make a stop at Cabots. Once
I even arranged a meeting at the
Downtown Hilton just so I could go
to Cabots.
MAXY is at Schuylers feet licking a melted chocolate sundae
out of a dog bowl labeled Maximus
REPORTER
What makes you keep coming back?
SCHUYLER
Look around, theyve got over 70
different types of flavors here. I
mean really, ya got Grapenut
Custard, Cinnamon Apple Crisp, Mint
Oreo Fudge, Orange Pineapple, they
got everything here.
REPORTER
And which flavor did you pick
today?
Vanilla.

SCHUYLER

Beat.
Vanilla?

REPORTER

33.
SCHUYLER
Oh I always get Vanilla.
REPORTER
(clarifying)
Of the 70 or so possible flavors
you get vanilla?
SCHUYLER
Im telling ya, its really worth
the trip.
CUT TO:
INT. KNIGHT CAMPAIGN RALLY - DAY
KNIGHT stands at a PODIUM in a gymnasium full of a surprising
number of supporters. The SIGN on the podium reads Take Back
America
KNIGHT
America is the greatest country in
the world, am I right?
Wild cheering.
KNIGHT (CONTD)
Its just amazing. I mean really,
how could you not love America?
Two random Whoops from the crowd.
KNIGHT (CONTD)
But lately it feels like Americas
kind of lost its way a little
doesnt it?
(pause)
Just look at us: Were tired, were
angry. Chinas ahead of us in
everything we do. Were losing jobs
to China and Mexico: thats all
thats happening to us. It makes me
sad: really it does. I promise.
(pause)
But heres the thing: our
government has taken away our
freedoms. They have. They just
have, its that simple.
(pause)
Its the simple. The pressll ask
me all the time when Im out to
lunch Mr.
(MORE)

34.
KNIGHT (CONTD)
Knight what do you think of this
guy? Or What do you think of this
politician? You know what my
answer is: I dont care.
Scattered clapping.
KNIGHT (CONTD)
(incredulously)
I dont care. Theyre all corrupt,
all of them. Trust me I know: Ive
given money to them. The House
of...
(pause)
The House of Representatives is
paid for by about 10 people. See
look, you can count em on both
hands.
Knight holds up his hands and begins to count. After he gets
to about six he goes back to talking.
KNIGHT (CONTD)
And see, heres the thing: I think
weve had enough, havent we?
Havent you had enough by now?
The crowd once again begins to cheer.
KNIGHT (CONTD)
And Ill tell you what...
(pause)
Ill tell you what, these, these
news people who think this campaign
is a joke: let me tell you, come
November youre gonna start to look
like a joke. And the other
candidates that are pretending we
dont exist, youre gonna know.
Believe me: youre gonna know.
The crowd cheers even louder than before.
KNIGHT (CONTD)
All right well Im gonna go get on
a plane to Ohio and together were
going to start taking America back.
Whos with me?
A massive roar. Knight basks in the noise.
SMASH CUT TO:

35.
INT. KNIGHT RALLY BACKSTAGE
Knight hurries down the stairs behind a curtain and is met by
a small entourage including Avery.
KNIGHT
Howd it go?
AVERY
Great, fantastic sir.
KNIGHT
What did you think of the D
section?
What?

AVERY

KNIGHT
The D section of the speech, what
did you think of it?
AVERY
I thought you improvised well.
Knights entourage walks out the back door as we
CUT TO:
EXT. HELICOPTER PAD - CONTINUOUS
A helicopter ready to take off, awaiting Knights boarding.
KNIGHT
We goin to Ohio next?
AVERY
Illinois actually sir.
KNIGHT
I think I said Ohio.
AVERY
I think you did too, sir.
KNIGHT
Ahh what the hell, they wont
notice.

Who?

AVERY
(shouting over the rotor
blades)

36.
KNIGHT
Beg your pardon?
AVERY
I asked who you were saying
wouldnt notice that you said we
were going to the wrong state?
KNIGHT
Oh, I meant those crazy people in
there.
Yes sir.

AVERY

Avery, Knight and two other advisors board the helicopter and
dawn their headsets.
KNIGHT
(via headset)
You ready to go Sam?
PILOT SAM
(via headset)
Yes sir Mr. Knight.
The helicopter begins to take off.
KNIGHT
(via headset)
Hey Sam, you got any Copland up
there?
PILOT SAM
(via headset)
Yes we do sir, just like always.
The hoedown section from Coplands Rodeo begins to play
through the choppers headsets. It brings a smile to Knights
face.
KNIGHT
(via headset)
Theres nothing in the world like
classical music now is there Avery?
AVERY
(via headset)
No sir.
The music slowly switches to V.O.C. as we watch the
helicopter fly off to the horizon as we
CUT TO:

37.
EXT. INGRAM CAMPAIGN RALLY
The music continues as we begin a montage spanning roughly
one month. Ingram is walking a ROPE-LINE OF SUPPORTERS while
reporters surround her.
NEWS ANCHOR V.O.
In the first presidential poll
released since Charles Knights
bombshell announcement has the
billionaire mogul polling at nearly
10% nation-wide just one week into
his impromptu campaign.
CUT TO:
EXT. INGRAM PRESS CONFERENCE
A group of supporters are surrounding Ingram, microphones
encroaching on her space.
REPORTER 1
Senator do you have any comment on
Charles Knights performance so far
in his campaign?
INGRAM
Well Jake as Ive said before Im
only focusing on candidates who
appear to be taking this race
seriously.
CUT TO:
EXT. KNIGHT RALLY
The crowds are just as big as before and Knight continues to
work them like magic.
KNIGHT
Im very, very experienced. Trust
me, no ones got more experience
than I do. I mean, I mean you cant
get to be this successful unless
you have experience. Dont you all
want to be as experienced as me?
CUT TO:

38.
EXT. KNIGHT ROPE LINE
Knight shakes hands, signs photos, kisses babies and all the
other good politician stuff while supporters fawn.

NEWS ANCHOR 2 V.O.

If wed said this a month ago you
would have laughed us out of the
room, but according to new polling
information 21% of likely voters
say theyre casting their ballots
for billionaire Charles Knight this
November.
CUT TO:
INT. INGRAM PRESS CONFERENCE
REPORTER 1
Senator isnt it finally time to
publicly acknowledge Mr. Knights
campaign?
INGRAM
Rita, I want to reiterate that
were only focused on serious
competitors.
REPORTER 2
Senator hes polling close to 20%
for a third party candidate thats
about as serious as weve seen.
INGRAM
I am here today to talk about the
American affordable housing crisisREPORTER 1
(interrupting)
Sorry Senator, just to clarify are
you saying youre comfortable
ignoring 20 percent of American
voters?
Ingram stutters silently at the podium. Jonathan and Sophie
exchange told ya so looks with each other before we
CUT TO:

39.
INT. KNIGHT RALLY
The music continues to swell adventurously as Knight delivers
yet another speech.
KNIGHT
You know people have always loved
me, they really have. Dont you all
love me? Cmon dont you?
The crowd cheers and the music crescendoes before both FADE
OUT as we
FADE TO:
INT. INGRAM CAMPAIGN BUS
Ingram sits alone by herself at the front of the bus looking
out the window defeated. Her strategys failed, at least
initially.
We watch for a while.
INGRAM O.S.
What are the numbers
CUT TO:
INT. INGRAM SENATE OFFICE
SUPERIMPOSE: July 19th: 203 Days to Election Day
Ingram, Jonathan, and Sophie are sitting around a table
drinking coffee per usual.
JONATHAN
Well I dont want to...
INGRAM
Jonathan just give me the numbers,
okay? Where are we at?
Jonathan looks to Sophie for confirmation.
INGRAM (CONTD)
(snapping)
Jonathan!
JONATHAN
Knight: 18, Schuyler: 32, Ingram:
39.

40.

Thats it!
Thats it.

INGRAM
SOPHIE

INGRAM
(sighs)
Okay... forget the popular, whats
the map look like?
SOPHIE
We got problems there too.
INGRAM
What do you mean?
SOPHIE
Look at California and New York.
INGRAM
California and New York? Sophie
those states havent gone
Republican since the Reagan
Administration.
JONATHAN
Yeah, but that could change.
INGRAM
(rolling her eyes)
What youre gonna tell me that
Knights involved in this
JONATHAN
If Knight gains just a little bit
more ground, just a little bit, in
each of those states, they go from
solid blue and the cornerstone of
the democratic electoral map to
toss-up states that lead to
contested recounts, Supreme Court
decisions and a Republican
Presidency, which would lead toINGRAM
Hes not even in the fucking race,
God dammit!
An awkward silence hangs in the room. The kids dont mess
with mamma when shes mad.

41.
INGRAM (CONTD)
(exhaling)
All right, well figure this out
after Schuylers convention, see
what his poll bounce is.
Yes Maam.

SOPHIE

JONATHAN
(quieter)
Yes Maam.
INGRAM
In the mean time do we have someone
we can nominate for Vice President
yet?
Again there is no answer. Guilt begins to wash over Sophie
and Jonathans faces.
INGRAM (CONTD)
Oh my God you people never do your
homework!
CUT TO:
EXT. STAPLES CENTER - NIGHT
The Republican National Convention has arrived.
SCHUYLER O.S.
And so it is with great pride, and
great humilityCUT TO:
INT. REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION
SCHUYLER stands at the podium atop a stage decorating like
Uncle Sam vomited all over it.
SCHUYLER
-indeed a little of both at the
same time, that I accept the
Republican nomination for President
of the United States.
Thunderous applause, although it feels strangely hollow and
comedic.

42.
SCHUYLER (CONTD)
Most of you know Im a real New
York man. I was born and raised
there I really was. But Man oh Man
do I love the West Coast. I mean
isnt this city wonderful?
More cheering as we
MATCH CUT TO:
INT. HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT
The convention is streaming on the in-room plasma screen
while INGRAM, JONATHAN, and SOPHIE are back at work figuring
out their strategy.
Lowey?
Um-hum.

INGRAM
JONATHAN

INGRAM
Tony Lowey? Was anyone else on your
short-list?
SOPHIE
Dick Cheney and Aaron Burr.
INGRAM
(under her breath)
Oh my God...
(pause)
What do I need to know?
JONATHAN
Five-term Congressman from New York
considered a shew-in his sixth term
this fall.
SOPHIE
Fair-minded moderate, pro-life
after the first trimester, prodefense spending.
JONATHAN
Purple Heart in Desert Storm,
Received endorsements from the
NAACP and the League of Women
Voters.
Ingram takes a moment to think it over.

43.
INGRAM
His names Tony Lowey? Really?
Before either of them can answer the television pops back in.
SCHUYLER
(via television)
And you know really, really. Its
been too long since the great state
of California went for the
Republicans in a general election
but let me tell you something: Ive
got a gooood feeling about this
November.
The television crowd cheers and we look back to Ingram.
INGRAM
(fixed to the screen)
Yeah I guess his names okay.
CUT TO:
INT. KNIGHT CAMPAIGN RALLY
KNIGHTs performances are getting better and better by the
day. Hes far more natural with his delivery now, feeding off
of the crowd for energy.
KNIGHT
Let me tell you something: When Im
President... When Im President I
will be the most aggressive
president you have ever met, I
guarantee it. Those terrorists...
(applause break)
Those terrorists blow up a building
or a plane or kill innocent
Americans and we dont care
anymore. We dont. We dont care
anymore. We say Oh, sorry Muslims,
I didnt mean to offend you please
dont blow us up again. What does
that look like to you?
CUT TO:
INT. KNIGHT RALLY BACKSTAGE - CONTINUOUS
AVERY is standing behind the rally listening to KNIGHTS
VOICE reverberate through the auditorium. Hes like a
director watching his play unfold on stage during previews.

44.
After a moment JOEY joins him.
JOEY
Hows he doing?
AVERY
Hes got em all fired up.
JOEY
Sure sounds like it.
BACK TO:
INT. KNIGHT CAMPAIGN RALLY
KNIGHT
Its weak. So weak. All the
politicians, theyre all just weak.
And let me tell you something: When
Im President were gonna bomb em.
Scattered Cheering.
KNIGHT (CONTD)
No more playin around. No more
apologies. You mess with America on
my watch youre dead.
BACK TO:
INT. KNIGHT RALLY BACKSTAGE
JOEY
I was looking at the books last
night.
AVERY
Whatd they say?
Beat.
JOEY
We gotta talk to him.
AVERY
(delayed)
Okay.
BACK TO:

45.
INT. KNIGHT CAMPAIGN RALLY
KNIGHT
And God said I will enter into
judgment with him; and I will rain
on him and on his troops a
torrential rain, with hailstones,
fire and brimstone. Well I think
weve waited long enough!
The cheering is the loudest weve heard it yet. Knight stands
on stage basking in the glow of his supporters. We hold there
for a bit until we finally go
BACK TO:
INT. KNIGHT RALLY BACKSTAGE
JOEY
Man he really killed it tonight.
Sure did.

AVERY

JOEY
You gonna go get him.
AVERY
(after a short pause)
Nah. Let him stay up there a little
longer. He likes the applause.
INT. INGRAM CAMPAIGN PLANE EXECUTIVE CABIN
Ingram is pacing around the cabin while Sophie and Jonathan
are seated at a table doing paper work.
INGRAM
We wont lose California.
SOPHIE
(maintaining eye contact
with her paperwork)
We might.
INGRAM
No we cant. There is no way, wed
lose California.
SOPHIE
Senator Im just tellin ya what the
numbers say.

46.
INGRAM
Well how old are those numbers?
What, two weeks maybe?
Yeah, so?

SOPHIE

INGRAM
So Knights gone on the crazy
conservative bend now. People
arent gonna stop voting for us for
that nut show.
SOPHIE
Clearly Senator youve never been
to Orange County.
INGRAM
(under her breath)
I used to live in Orange Count...
(snapping)
Do you really think Hispanics are
gonna vote for a guy who wants to
deport everyone to Mexico?
SOPHIE
I dont know.
INGRAM
You think Matt would vote for that
guy?
SOPHIE
(making eye contact)
Im not sure bringing up Matt right
now is the best idea, Senator.
She almost crossed the line, but not quite. Ingram recognizes
the tension and collects herself.
INGRAM
(to Jonathan)
Youre surprisingly quiet right
now.
Yes.

JONATHAN

INGRAM
Whatre you even doing right now?
JONATHAN
(head-down working)
Finalizing our ballot filings.
(MORE)

47.
JONATHAN (CONT'D)
The last round of deadlines is next
week so Im making sure everything
is notarized before we send it off.
Sophie goes back to pacing.
SOPHIE
You coulda just had some intern do
that, ya know thats what theyre
for.
Nope.
Why not?

JONATHAN
SOPHIE

JONATHAN
Dont trust em.
SOPHIE
You dont trust anybody.
JONATHAN
No Sophie really. Last week we
almost missed the California
deadline because some intern from
Clemson thought that the mailing
address for the California state
capital was In San Francisco and
not Sacramento.
SOPHIE
You said Clemson? How the hell did
you find an intern for the
Democratic Party at Clemson?
Wait!
What?

INGRAM
SOPHIE

Ingram struggles to keep a proud chuckle to herself.

SOPHIE (CONTD)
Seriously Senator whats goin on?
INGRAM
Oh were not gonna lose California
to Knight.

48.
JONATHAN
Senator, weve been over this.
Knights not gonna win California
but he might get enoughINGRAM
Oh my God Jonathan.
(pause)
You just said we almost missed last
weeks filing deadline for
California right?
JONATHAN
Yeeeah, but we didnt. Were on the
ballot.
INGRAM
Yeah. Were on the ballot. We
didnt miss the deadlineSOPHIE
Ill be damned.
INGRAM
(so excited its painful)
Knight missed the deadline! Hes
done: hes off the ballot.
Its a moment schadenfreude powered joy as we
SMASH CUT TO:
INT. KNIGHT OFFICE
Knight sits silently at his desk looking at a series of
reports and ledgers. He thumbs through the pages while Avery
and Joey sit silently like two children in the principal's
office.
Eventually:
KNIGHT
How bad is it?
Joey?

AVERY

JOEY
Our second quarter losses will
increase nearly 25 percent from
last quarter.

49.
KNIGHT
What happened?
They dont answer.
KNIGHT (CONTD)
(aggressive)
What happened?
AVERY
We dont know, sir.
KNIGHT
You dont know.
(pause)
You dont know. Avery youre the
vice-president of the fucking
operation, what do you mean you
dont know?!
Sir-

AVERY

JOEY
(interrupting)
Its the campaign.
What?

KNIGHT

JOEY
Call off the campaign, sir. We got
cheap press out of it at the
beginning but we took it too far.
KNIGHT
What do you mean?
JOEY
Of for Gods sake sir. Youve spent
the past month telling America that
Muslims blowing people up and that
global warming is caused by
Mexicans. Now you and me and Avery
and every fuckin news reporter in
the world is smart enough to know
that you dont possibly think those
things but you say em anyway.
(pause)
And it works on voters.
(MORE)

50.
JOEY (CONT'D)
There are apparently enough
deranged, lunatic, unemployed and
closeted white supremacists left in
this country for you to look
electable but you know what sir?
How many of those people actually
help you with the bottom line, sir?
Well I-

KNIGHT

JOEY
How many of those cooks have a
college degree or even went to
anything other than community
college, sir? How many of them have
ever gone to movie that wasnt
animated or part of a comic book
ploy? How many of those loud,
cheering, racist bigots makes more
than $50,000 a year and more to the
point how many of them can afford
in your apartment buildings?!
(pause)
Youve pissed off your tenants,
youve tarnished your image, youve
emboldened the nut jobs without an
endgame and you still missed the
goddamn filing deadline in
California!
He has to stop for breath.
JOEY (CONTD)
(an ultimatum)
End the campaign now, sir.

EXT. INGRAM FAMILY RESIDENCE - NIGHT

The SOUND of a TELEVISION from inside the house can be heard
lightly in the background.
MATT O.S.
India.
(pause)
India!
CUT TO:

51.
INT. INGRAM FAMILY RESIDENCE
Matt is sprawled out on the couch watching something on
television that is not political
Yeah?

INDIA O.S.

MATT
Come here a sec.
India enters the room wearing a facial mask texting looking
at her phone.
Whats up?

INDIA

MATT
Come here. Sit down I want to talk
to you.
Why?

INDIA

MATT
Because Im your dad and I want to
talk to you.
India halfheartedly sits next to her dad on the couch.
MATT (CONTD)
Are you ready to go to Tampa
tomorrow?
(Duh)
Yes, Dad.

INDIA

MATT
Got everything packed? Toothbrush,
toothpaste?
INDIA
Dad Im not five years old.
MATT
I know honey Im sorry.
He gives her a soft kiss on her forehead.
MATT (CONTD)
Whore you texting?

52.

Julia.

INDIA

MATT
Whats Julia up to?
Not much.

INDIA

MATT
Whatre you talking about?
INDIA
Her parents are fighting again and
she wants someone to talk to.
MATT
Got it. Okay.
A quick pause as India sends a text and Matt looks back at
the television.
MATT (CONTD)
Whatd you think of Moms campaign?
Huh?

INDIA

MATT
What do you think about your mom
running for president?
INDIA
I dont know. Its cool I guess.
You guess?

MATT

INDIA
Yeah, I mean I never see her anyway
but now its like I actually never
see her.
(pause)
But I mean being Presidents cool
and everything. Like Id be cool to
live in the White House and stuff.
MATT
Yeah. Yeah it sure would be.
CUT TO:

53.
EXT. RAYMOND JAMES STADIUM, TAMPA - EVENING
SUPERIMPOSE: August 1st, 96 Days to Election
The place is alive! Reporters, delegates, and convention
goers mill around about the stadium as final preparations are
underway. The stage technicians adjust microphones and
seating while we listen to
NEWS ANCHOR V.O.
Welcome back to Tampa here in the
final day of the Democratic
National Convention. Last night
Congressman Tony Lowey accepted the
partys nomination to be Senator
Ingrams Vice Presidential
candidate, but tonight is the main
event as Senator Fiona Ingram will
give her acceptance speech for the
main title.
CUT TO:
INT. AUDITORIUM - SAME TIME
A crowd of Knight supporters gather in their usual cult-like
ways.
NEWS ANCHOR V.O.
Before the speeches get going
though were going to take you live
now to downtown Manhattan where
third party candidate Billionaire
mogul Charles Knight is set to go
on stage any second now. Early
reports out today indicate that
Knight will be announcing a
suspension of his campaign.
CUT TO:
INT. BACKSTAGE
Avery and Joey and prepping Knight before he walks out for
the press conference.
JOEY
All right, so theyre gonna ask
questions when youre done. Just
stay calm, stick to the script and
pivot back to defending the company
all right?

54.
KNIGHT
(annoyed)
Yeah I know. I got it.
All right.

JOEY

AVERY
Theyre ready for you live, sir.
KNIGHT
All right lets get this over with.
JOEY
Im proud of you sir.
Yeah.

KNIGHT

Knight walks up the stair case to the stage before he gets to

the top step he stops and looks back behind him.
KNIGHT (CONTD)
Hey real quick, Avery: are you
behind me?
AVERY
Evry step sir.
KNIGHT
Good.
(pause)
JoeyYes sir.

JOEY

KNIGHT
Go fuck yourself.
Knight turns around swiftly and walks onto the stage to begin
the press conference as the flash bulbs glow.
CUT TO:
EXT. RAYMOND JAMES STADIUM, TAMPA - NIGHT
...

55.

EXT. YOUTH SOCCER FIELD

MATT is watching INDIA at her soccer game. Hes looking very

Dad-ish, at least as much as you can with secrets service
agents surrounding you.
MATT
(cheering)
Go get her India, you got it.
India runs towards an opposing player with the ball as Matts
PHONE RINGS.

Hey.

MATT (CONTD)
(answering)
INGRAM O.S.
(through phone)

Whats the score?

What?

MATT
CUT TO:

INT. INGRAM CAMPAIGN BUS

Ingrams seated by herself with a laptop and legal pad on her
lap while holding the phone to her ear. Somehow shes also
trying to peal a banana at the same time.
INGRAM
Shes playing right now, isnt she?
Whats the score?
INTERCUT BETWEEN MATT AND INGRAM
MATT
Its uh... Its 3 goals to 1.
INGRAM
Whos winning?

56.

They are.

MATT

INGRAM
Okay,
(pause)
Well tell her to play more defense
or something.
MATT
Its youth soccer Fiona, defense is
punishable with by a red card.
INGRAM
What?! That was never aMATT
Im kidding, honey, Im kidding.
Shes doing fine, how are you?
INGRAM
Im good. Listen youre all set for
Tampa on Wednesday right?
MATT
Yeah, yeah. Of course honey we got
it all...
INGRAM
(Chewing banana)
Dwontcwallmehhwunnie!
MATT
(ignoring her)
...figured out. Planes set, speech
is written, whole nine yards.
INGRAM
(done chewing)
Okay. Good. Thanks.
MATT
Yeah, no problem.
BACK TO:

57.
EXT. YOUTH SOCCER FIELD
INGRAM O.S.
Oh, one more thing. I wanted to
know if you were willing to attend
a fund-raiser at the Stephen and
Eleanore Lezaks home in Seattle
next week? Jonathan was saying he
wanted to send you to the Northwest
after the convention anyway just to
sure up Oregon and Washington so
Id make sense to...
As Ingram rambles on, Matt has long since tuned her out and
is instead entranced by the soccer game.
India has stolen the ball and has a break away. As she slows
down to line up her shot she is suddenly caught from behind
by an opposing player who steals the ball out from under her
causing her to fall to the ground ala Charlie Brown and Lucy.
Matt?

INGRAM O.S. (CONTD)

MATT
(startled)
Yeah.
(pause)
Sorry, I got distracted by India
there for a while.
INGRAM O.S.
What happened?
MATT
Well she had a break-away lead on
the goal all by herself but this
other girl came up at the last
minute and stole it away.
Ingram makes a motherly pouting sound.
INGRAM O.S.
All right, well are you good for
the fund-raiser?
MATT
Yeah, all good.
INGRAM O.S.
Okay see you next week.
B-bye.

MATT