THE FIRST LADY

0107

nadir

4000 W Alameda Ave AIRDATE: TBD

Burbank, CA 91505 AS-BROADCAST SCRIPT CREATION: May 06, 2022
818-861-2001
 Page 1

01:00:11:00 EXT. WHITE HOUSE - DAY

01:00:11:01 NARRATIVE 1975

TITLE

01:00:11:21 NARRATIVE Washington, D. C.

TITLE

01:00:13:22 DONALD She's opened her mouth even wider. She shouted it
(OS/ON) right from the mountaintops, so that every
conservative in America flocks to the Reagan camp.
(sighs) She starts up again about abortion... we're
dead in the water.

01:00:15:19 INT. WHITE HOUSE - OFFICE - DAY

01:00:34:06 DICK But... her poll numbers are still very high. Higher
than the President's.

01:00:37:14 DONALD (overlaps) (sighs)

01:00:39:13 DONALD (overlaps) (sips) (swallows) I fuckin' miss Pat

Nixon.

01:00:44:00 DICK (sighing) Hmm.

01:00:45:07 DONALD (exhales heavily)

01:00:49:16 INT. WHITE HOUSE - WEST WING - OVAL

OFFICE - DAY

01:00:52:20 GERALD (into phone) Don.

01:00:53:13 INT. WHITE HOUSE - OFFICE/OVAL OFFICE -

DAY - INTERCUT

01:00:53:15 DONALD (into phone) Mr. President, uh, we were wondering

(ON/OS) if we could, uh, come by this evening and go over
some campaign matters with you (through phone)
and, uh, the First Lady?

01:01:01:09 GERALD (into phone) What, on Christmas Eve?

01:01:03:05 DONALD (into phone) Right. Uh, we promise not to stay too
(ON/OS) long, sir. I just think that-- (sighs) We need to go over
how important the First Lady's role is in this upcoming
campaign. Maybe fine-tune her
 Page 2

message a little bit.

01:01:13:20 GERALD (into phone) Uh, I don't know if she'll appreciate

that, Don.

01:01:16:02 DONALD (through phone) Well, (into phone) you know, Dick
(OS/ON) was suggesting that, uh, maybe we surprise her.

01:01:21:02 DICK (scoffs)

01:01:21:13 DONALD (OS) (overlaps) (into phone) How 'bout we see you at
8:00?

01:01:24:14 GERALD (into phone) All right.

01:01:28:17 DONALD (sighs)

01:01:34:06 EXT. WHITE HOUSE - NIGHT

01:01:36:20 WALLA (Ford family) (laughter and chatter) (continues

through dialogue)

01:01:37:15 INT. WHITE HOUSE - DINING ROOM - NIGHT

01:01:37:17 BETTY Have I told you about the time I sat next to Tony
Orlando?

01:01:41:12 SUSAN (OS) Oh, God. Yes, Mom. Yeah. (speaks indistinctly)

01:01:41:13 STEVEN / JOHN / (overlapping chatter) (continues under following

JACK dialogues)

01:01:45:08 GERALD Jack.

01:01:45:09 BETTY (OS/ON) (overlaps) He smelled divine. Must have been

whatever he uses in that gorgeous hair.

01:01:51:02 STEVEN Well, good luck competing with that, Dad.

01:01:52:14 GERALD Hey, I am not worried. Have you seen this hair?

01:01:55:19 BETTY (OS/ON) No one competes with your father.

01:01:59:12 WILSON (OS/ON) I'm so sorry to disturb. Uh, Mr. President, Mr.
Rumsfeld and Mr. Cheney are here to see you.
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01:02:05:12 GERALD Thank you.

01:02:08:13 GERALD (OS/ON) Rummy, Dick... Merry Christmas.

01:02:11:21 DONALD Merry Christmas, Mr. President, Madam First

(ON/OS) Lady, everyone. My apologies for interrupting.
Could we speak privately? Briefly.

01:02:22:03 GERALD (OS) Kids, give us the room, please.

01:02:23:20 DONALD (clears throat)

01:02:25:05 SUSAN (OS) Merry Christmas.

01:02:26:16 DONALD Thank you.

01:02:28:19 GERALD (whispering) Two minutes.

01:02:32:01 DONALD Ma'am, if you wouldn't mind joining us, this

(ON/OS) concerns you too.

01:02:35:19 BETTY Oh, boy. Can't wait.

01:02:41:01 DONALD And there's something that, uh, we wanted you to see.
(OS/ON)

01:02:48:11 ARCHIVAL CHRISTMAS EVE

FOOTAGE ON- AT THE
SCREEN TEXT WHITE HOUSE

01:02:49:19 JOE DICSO (OS) (as on-set director) (through television) Ten
seconds, Mr. President.

01:02:52:12 WALLA (audience on television) (laughs) (continues

intermittently through scene)

01:02:55:08 JOE DICSO (as on-set director) (through television) Five, four,
(OS/ON) three, two...

01:02:56:11 CHEVY CHASE (as Gerald Ford) (overlaps) (through television) My

(OS/ON) fellow Americans. Merry Christmas to all of you,
and good evening.

01:03:01:00 NARRATOR (VO) (through television) Ladies and gentlemen, the

President of the United States.

01:03:02:16 CHEVY CHASE (as Gerald Ford) (overlaps) (through television) I

 Page 4

(ON/OS) invited you here tonight, to join me for this Christmas

Eve, around the White House. This will indeed be a
wonderful Christmas for the entire nation, I hope.

01:03:04:01 GERALD (ON/OS) (overlaps) (chuckles) Hey, Chevy Chase is

playing me. I'll take it.

01:03:04:15 BETTY (OS/ON) (overlaps) (laughs)

01:03:19:01 GERALD / BETTY (laughs)

01:03:21:00 BETTY (chuckles) Oh, come on. You have to have to

(chuckling) admit it's pretty funny.

01:03:25:08 DICK We disagree, Mr. President.

01:03:26:23 GERALD Oh, come on, Dick. It's a comedy show. What's the
harm?

01:03:29:15 DONALD Well, thanks to that buffoon, sir, America now sees
(OS/ON) you as a joke.

01:03:34:05 GERALD (ON/OS) Geez, Rummy, you should stop by more often
with your good cheer.

01:03:37:01 DONALD (OS) As bad as this is, it is the least of your problems
going into next year's election.

01:03:41:14 DICK (ON/OS) Reagan will formally make his announcement in the
new year.

01:03:45:02 BETTY Jerry's an incumbent. He's a leader of the party.

01:03:47:21 DONALD Unelected leader. And Reagan has been courting the
(OS/ON) more conservative evangelical members of the party,
and, uh, they have signed up.

01:03:55:05 GERALD Since when have the church folk been a big
threat?

01:03:57:12 DONALD Well, ever since the very things that they believed in
(OS/ON) were threatened by the... less traditional members of
the party.

01:04:04:06 BETTY Oh.

 Page 5

01:04:07:01 BETTY So this is why you wanted me here... to place

blame.

01:04:11:00 GERALD Don't use Betty and her activism as a political

scapegoat.

01:04:14:05 DONALD Not at all, sir. Uh, I'm just trying to see the
(OS/ON) situation as it is. Uh, to properly strategize.

01:04:19:03 BETTY (overlaps) Hmm.

01:04:20:09 DICK (OS/ON) Bottom line... we need you, Mrs. Ford.

01:04:26:06 BETTY (ON/OS) (chuckling) What? (normal) I'm sorry?

01:04:30:10 DONALD You're still very popular with the pro-choice, pro-
(ON/OS) ERA Republicans. And Moderate women.

01:04:36:09 DONALD We're trying to shore up the middle. And then,

(OS/ON) hopefully, gain some Democrats, and maybe even
some Independents.

01:04:40:12 GERALD I mean, heck, Betty, your poll numbers are almost
double mine.

01:04:43:20 GERALD Isn't that right?

01:04:45:04 DICK We need you to campaign hard, ma'am.

01:04:48:16 DONALD I know that you can do this without alienating the
(OS/ON) Right, without mentioning pre-marital sex, or
marijuana, or--

01:04:55:23 BETTY So what you're saying is, don't talk about the very things
that make me so popular.

01:05:04:02 DICK You can't do much for women if you're no longer in

the White House.

01:05:12:05 SUSAN (ON/OS) Excuse me. Sorry for interrupting.

01:05:14:20 SUSAN Mom, Nancy's on the phone. She sounds very

upset. Something about her husband.

01:05:19:00 BETTY Excuse me, gentlemen.

01:05:21:00 DONALD (clears throat)

 Page 6

01:05:26:00 MAIN TITLE THE FIRST LADY

01:06:41:00 INT. MALIA'S SCHOOL - SCIENCE LAB - DAY

01:06:41:04 SCIENCE For your homework assignment, I would like for you
TEACHER all to write about a federal law that affects the natural
(ON/OS) world, that you believe isn't working.
Integrating what you've learned in civics, and here in
science. You can present your argument any way
you want, written, orally, (chuckling) theatrically,
(normal) visually--

01:06:43:15 NARRATIVE 2012

TITLE

01:06:59:09 SCIENCE What's going on?

TEACHER (OS)

01:06:59:10 SSA RONNIE (overlaps) We apologize for the interruption.

01:07:01:23 MALIA (OS) What happened?

01:07:03:08 SSA RONNIE We need to get you back to the White House.

01:07:04:12 MALIA Is my dad okay?

01:07:05:07 SSA RONNIE Your dad is fine. We're just picking up you and
your sister.

01:07:06:22 MALIA (overlaps) What about my mom?

01:07:07:15 SSA RONNIE She's fine as well.

01:07:08:08 MALIA Okay, where's Sasha?

01:07:08:21 SSA RONNIE (overlaps) (into comms) Radiance traveling.

We're moving.

01:07:09:14 SCIENCE Malia, go ahead.

TEACHER (OS)

01:07:10:03 MALIA All right. Thank you.

01:07:10:21 SSA RONNIE We apologize.

01:07:13:00 EXT. STREET - DAY

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01:07:16:00 INT. SUV - DAY

01:07:17:19 SASHA Are my parents okay?

01:07:19:14 SSA RONNIE Yes, they're fine.

01:07:28:18 NEWSCASTER Police say Adam Lanza killed 26 people at Sandy Hook
(VO) Elementary School, 20 of them children as young as
five. It is the second deadliest school shooting in
American history after Virginia Tech, and by far, the
worst at an elementary school.

01:07:30:01 ARCHIVAL SANDY HOOK

FOOTAGE ON- SCHOOL
SCREEN TEXT 1956
VISITORS WELCOME

01:07:32:13 ARCHIVAL STOP NEWTOWN ALL-STAR

FOOTAGE ON- TRANSPORTATION
SCREEN TEXT

01:07:35:02 ARCHIVAL SANDY HOOK ELEMENTARY

FOOTAGE ON-
SCREEN TEXT

01:07:38:08 ARCHIVAL SANDY HOOK

FOOTAGE ON- FIRE
SCREEN TEXT &
RESCUE

01:07:42:09 ARCHIVAL GOD BLESS

FOOTAGE ON- SANDY HOOK
SCREEN TEXT

01:07:47:06 ARCHIVAL CBS NEWS SPECIAL REPORT

FOOTAGE ON- At Least 18 Children at Sandy Hook
SCREEN TEXT Elementary School

01:07:47:13 NORAH We are awaiting a statement on the shooting from

O'DONNELL President Obama at the White House.
(ON/OS)

01:07:55:15 INT. WHITE HOUSE - WEST WING - OVAL

OFFICE - DAY

01:07:57:21 BARACK (sighs)

 Page 8

01:08:07:08 ON-SCREEN SCENE DO NOT CROSS

TEXT (ON
PHOTOGRAPH)

01:08:38:04 BARACK (smacks lips) They were babies, Mich.

01:08:44:03 BARACK Younger than Sasha.

01:08:53:11 BARACK There are no words of consolation for this.

01:08:58:04 MICHELLE (mouthing) I know.

01:09:02:22 INT. WHITE HOUSE - HALLWAY - DAY

01:09:07:09 SASHA (OS/ON) (breathes shakily)

01:09:11:22 EXT. WHITE HOUSE - DAY

01:09:17:06 INT. WHITE HOUSE - PRESS BRIEFING ROOM

- DAY

01:09:17:07 ON-SCREEN THE WHITE HOUSE

TEXT (ON WASHINGTON
BACKDROP)

01:09:17:07 ON-SCREEN SEAL OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED

TEXT (ON STATES
PODIUM)

01:09:18:10 BARACK (clears throat)

01:09:21:02 BARACK We've endured too many of these tragedies in the past
few years. And each time I learn the news, I react not as
the president, (through television) but as anybody else
would. As a parent. (normal) And that was especially
true today.

01:09:30:16 INT. BARBER SHOP - DAY

01:09:35:13 INT. WHITE HOUSE - PRESS BRIEFING ROOM

- DAY

01:09:39:11 INT. WHITE HOUSE - DAY

01:09:40:03 BARACK (ON/OS) (through tablet) I know there's not a parent in America
who doesn't feel the same overwhelming
 Page 9

grief that I do.

01:09:50:07 BARACK (OS/ON) (through tablet) (smacks lips) The majority of those
who died today (normal) were children. Uh, beautiful
little kids between the ages of five and ten years old.

01:09:54:06 INT. WHITE HOUSE - PRESS BRIEFING ROOM

- DAY

01:10:11:20 BARACK (inhales deeply) (smacks lips) They had their

entire lives ahead of them. Birthdays,
graduations, weddings... kids of their own.

01:10:32:18 INT. WHITE HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY

01:10:57:13 SASHA (ON/OS) (sniffles)

01:11:11:01 WALLA (people at funeral) (continues intermittently

through scene)

01:11:11:01 EXT. ARLINGTON CEMETERY, VA - DAY

01:11:12:13 NARRATIVE 1975

TITLE

01:11:14:12 NARRATIVE Arlington National Cemetery, VA

TITLE

01:11:28:08 SUSAN I'm so sorry.

01:11:35:21 DICK How is she holding up?

01:11:38:01 BETTY Well, her husband just killed himself. She's

devastated. Thank you for asking.

01:11:44:18 DICK He, uh, leave a note or anything?

01:11:48:14 BETTY Really, Dick?

01:11:50:13 DICK You must have heard the rumors about his
corrupt business dealings.

01:11:54:14 BETTY Yes. The rumors. Unless you, perhaps, know

more about this?

01:12:01:13 DICK Innocent men don't often commit suicide.

 Page 10

01:12:05:02 BETTY Right. And innocent men can sometimes be

inconvenient when their wives know me. Right?

01:12:15:16 DICK I left a few résumés on your desk.

01:12:17:08 BETTY You want me to replace her.

01:12:19:04 DICK (ON/OS) Do you honestly think that grieving woman over
there can stay on top of your life while she's picking
up the pieces of her own?

01:12:30:14 INT. WHITE HOUSE - EAST WING - BETTY'S

OFFICE - DAY

01:12:30:15 BETTY (OS/ON) (through door) (speaks indistinctly) (normal)

Yeah.

01:12:36:00 SHIRLEY (OS) (overlaps) Understood.

01:12:38:10 BETTY Oh.

01:12:39:16 NANCY (sighs)

01:12:45:14 BETTY What's this? Nancy--

01:12:48:20 NANCY I'm sorry. I don't have a choice.

01:12:51:17 BETTY Yes, you do. Just... take some time off. You don't
have to quit.

01:12:58:18 NANCY I'm tired.

01:12:59:18 BETTY I'll get Cheney to back off.

01:13:03:12 NANCY Please don't. Maybe if I would've left sooner, Jim

would still be alive. (cries) (sniffling)

01:13:09:09 BETTY (overlaps) (whispering) Oh, Nancy.

01:13:16:23 NANCY (cries) Hmm. (breathes shakily) (sniffles)

01:13:34:14 INT. WHITE HOUSE - HALLWAY - DAY

01:13:38:13 INT. WHITE HOUSE - EAST WING - BETTY'S

OFFICE - DAY
 Page 11

01:13:48:10 EXT. THE BLOOMERS' HOUSE - PORCH - DAY

- FLASHBACK

01:13:51:09 HORTENSE (sniffles) (crying) Betty. Oh, God.

01:13:57:05 YOUNG BETTY (overlaps) Mom, what's wrong? (breathes shakily)

01:14:01:09 HORTENSE (crying) It's your father.

01:14:04:16 INT. GARAGE - DAY - FLASHBACK

01:14:07:10 YOUNG BETTY (distorted) (gasps) (breathes shakily)

(OS)

01:14:14:04 INT. FUNERAL RECEPTION - DAY -

FLASHBACK

01:14:14:05 WALLA (people at funeral) (continues intermittently

through scene)

01:14:18:09 FUNERAL Another toast to our dear departed Billy Bloomer.

GUEST (OS/ON) Hear! Hear!

01:14:25:06 WALLA (funeral attendees) Hear! Hear!

01:14:35:19 EXT. STREET - DAY - FLASHBACK

01:14:35:20 WALLA (people on street) (continues intermittently

through scene)

01:14:40:17 INT. HORTENSE'S CAR - DAY - FLASHBACK

01:14:42:07 YOUNG BETTY At the funeral, is it true what they said about
Daddy? They said he killed himself. (sniffling)

01:14:51:09 HORTENSE (breathes deeply) Yes.

01:15:02:00 HORTENSE He had his demons, and, uh, I didn't know how bad it
was until--

01:15:10:07 HORTENSE But he did the best he could. And I loved him,
and-- and that's what's true.

01:15:19:00 HORTENSE (inhales deeply) But I promise you, there's no

burden we can't shoulder. We're Bloomers and we
go on.
 Page 12

01:15:27:23 YOUNG BETTY Yes, Mother.

01:15:29:08 HORTENSE (sniffling)

01:15:34:21 INT. WHITE HOUSE - SITTING ROOM - DAY

01:15:35:01 INTERVIEWER 1 (through television) The governor has come out as

(VO) against the, uh, equal rights amendment. And I
understand one of the daughters in your family is for
the equal rights amendment. Can you break the
stalemate?

01:15:45:00 NANCY REAGAN (through television) Well, I'd like to correct that a
(OS/ON) little bit if I could. Um, my husband is for equal
rights, as am I. Um, he believes that the better way to
go about it is through (speaks indistinctly) and not by
the amendment route. (continues indistinctly under
following dialogue)

01:15:49:18 SUSAN Mom, I'm heading out.

01:15:51:04 BETTY Oh, please. What a load of crap.

01:15:55:15 SUSAN Are you talking to the television?

01:15:56:23 BETTY That hypocrite Nancy Reagan. She wants to send

women back to the Middle Ages.

01:16:04:15 SUSAN It's the middle of the afternoon. Don't you want to get
dressed?

01:16:06:12 BETTY (OS/ON) I mean, what the hell happened to her? She was an
actress.

01:16:10:04 SUSAN (OS/ON) Yeah. So was he.

01:16:11:22 BETTY (softly) Oh, my God. (normal) If they win, women

will be barefoot and pregnant with no rights at all.

01:16:18:10 SUSAN Well, you need to get up. Get dressed. Get out there.
Help Daddy's campaign. He needs you.

01:16:19:17 INTERVIEWER 1 (overlaps) When you say what happened

immediately, you're referring to?

01:16:21:22 NANCY REAGAN (overlaps) (speaks indistinctly)

 Page 13

01:16:23:08 INTERVIEWER 1 (through television) How does you feel about

(VO) (continues indistinctly under following dialogue)

01:16:23:16 BETTY (OS/ON) R-Rummy and Cheney already gave me a list of

everything I can and cannot say or talk about. It's
just-- It's... pointless.

01:16:30:20 NANCY REAGAN (through television) (chuckling) No. No. (normal)

(OS) My husband hasn't changed since he was a sports
announcer at WHO.

01:16:33:19 SUSAN (OS) Mom, you're way smarter than them. You'll think of
something.

01:16:36:16 INTERVIEWER 1 (through television) I think he's improved

(VO) considerably.

01:16:36:23 BETTY (overlaps) Go have fun.

01:16:38:22 NANCY REAGAN (through television) Oh, good. (chuckles) I'm

(OS) talking about basically though. Fundamentally.

01:16:39:22 SUSAN (overlaps) Okay.

01:16:42:15 BETTY (overlaps) Love you.

01:16:43:08 SUSAN (OS) (overlaps) Bye.

01:16:43:17 INTERVIEWER 1 (through television) (speaks indistinctly)

(VO)

01:16:44:02 BETTY (overlaps) Take your coat. It might rain.

01:16:46:00 SUSAN (overlaps) Okay.

01:16:48:13 NANCY REAGAN (through television) No, um-- Uh, schedule-wise,

(OS) how can you get to, uh, to all the places? You know.
Texas is a big place.

01:16:55:06 INTERVIEWER 2 (through television) To get back to a question that

(OS) (speaks indistinctly), uh, was talking about. Uh.
President Ford was in the Nixon administration--

01:17:00:21 WALLA (crowd at political rally) (cheers) (continues

through scene)

01:17:00:21 ARCHIVAL REAGAN

 Page 14

FOOTAGE ON-
SCREEN TEXT

01:17:00:21 ARCHIVAL Ford

FOOTAGE ON-
SCREEN TEXT

01:17:01:19 POLITICAL (through television) One gets the definite

COMMENTATOR impression here that the-- the wives of the
(VO) candidates for the presidential nomination are
being moved like pawns.

01:17:08:04 ON-SCREEN 1976 Republican National Convention

TEXT (ON Kansas City Missouri
TELEVISION Kemper Arena
SCREEN)

01:17:08:04 INT. KEMPER ARENA - ARENA FLOOR - DAY

01:17:19:19 ON-SCREEN TONY ORLANDO

TEXT (ON makes a surprise visit
TELEVISION
SCREEN)

01:17:28:17 ORLANDO (speaks indistinctly) You ready? (chuckles) Yep.

(chuckles) Hey!

01:17:28:17 INT. KEMPER ARENA - DAY

01:17:28:18 ON-SCREEN KEEP BETTY

TEXT (ON IN THE
POSTER) WHITE HOUSE

01:17:28:18 ON-SCREEN WYOMING

TEXT (ON
POSTER)

01:17:28:18 ON-SCREEN OKLAHOMA

TEXT (ON
POSTER)

01:17:28:18 ON-SCREEN President Ford '76

TEXT (ON
BANNER)

01:17:28:18 ON-SCREEN PENNSYLVANIA

TEXT (ON
 Page 15

POSTER)

01:17:28:18 ON-SCREEN SOUTH CAROLINA

TEXT (ON
POSTER)

01:17:30:03 BETTY (overlaps) (chuckles)

01:17:37:18 INT. KEMPER ARENA - ARENA FLOOR - DAY /

INT. KEMPER ARENA - DAY - INTERCUT

01:17:43:22 BETTY Are you ready?

01:17:44:12 ORLANDO Oh, yeah.

01:17:45:03 BETTY (chuckling)

01:17:55:14 DICK (puffs) (sighs)

01:18:11:07 BETTY (laughing)

01:18:19:06 DONALD Never underestimate Betty.

01:18:20:15 DICK (sighs) As long as she doesn't talk.

01:18:24:06 DONALD (chuckles)

01:18:26:05 POLITICAL I don't think, uh, in, uh, the last quarter of a century
COMMENTATOR have we seen a-a-a Republican convention quite as
2 (OS/ON) spirited as, uh, the one here. Uh-- (stammers) Good
spirits for the most part but, uh, underlying an awful
lot of tension between, uh, these Reagan and Ford
supporters. It's, uh, almost bound to be that way with
a race as close as this race has come to be.

01:18:48:06 INT. KEMPER ARENA - GREEN ROOM - DAY

01:18:48:07 ANNOUNCER (through television) The state of New York, the

(OS) great empire state, cast 20 votes for an outstanding
American, Ronald Reagan.

01:18:57:15 WALLA (through television) (people in crowd) (cheers)

01:19:00:06 ANNOUNCER (through television) And 133 votes.

(ON)
 Page 16

01:19:02:01 WALLA (people in green room) (cheers) (chatters)

(continues through scene)

01:19:02:02 GERALD (OS/ON) Yeah! (laughing) Yes, we did it!

01:19:02:02 BETTY (OS/ON) (overlaps) Yeah!

01:19:10:14 GERALD / BETTY Mmm. (kisses)

01:19:12:20 GERALD I couldn't have done this without you. I mean it. I am
so lucky to have you.

01:19:16:21 BETTY Yes, you are.

01:19:18:09 GERALD / BETTY Mmm. (kisses)

01:19:22:11 BETTY (screams)

01:19:35:12 ARCHIVAL FOR

FOOTAGE ON- COLORED ONLY
SCREEN TEXT

01:19:59:05 NARRATIVE 1939

TITLE

01:19:59:08 EXT. LINCOLN MEMORIAL - DAY

01:20:08:01 INT. WHITE HOUSE - PRESS ROOM - DAY

01:20:09:02 ELEANOR As many of you know, I recently attended a

(ON/OS) conference on human welfare in Birmingham,
Alabama. On the first day, I took a seat next to civil
rights activist, Mary McLeod Bethune. And before I
was able to say one word to her, I was told that I
must sit elsewhere. That due to the Alabama
segregation laws, whites were not permitted to sit
next to Blacks. I moved my chair to the aisle.
Neither white nor Black.

01:20:11:08 WALLA (people at press conference) (continues

intermittently through scene)

01:20:47:08 ELEANOR Now, this problem of segregation and discrimination

(OS/ON) goes far beyond who may sit next to whom. It is
present in our nation's military, in our schools, and in
our factories. And it must not be tolerated. All of us,
no matter what race, color,
 Page 17

or creed must wipe out any feelings of superiority. Of

belief that any one person must or should go ahead of
another. As Abraham Lincoln once said, "A house
divided against itself cannot stand."

01:21:36:02 MALVINA Who would like to start today? Uh. Sarah.

01:21:40:09 SARAH Madam First Lady, you are a member of the

Daughters of the American Revolution, are you
not?

01:21:45:00 ELEANOR Yes. Yes, I am. I, somehow, managed to sneak in even

(OS/ON) though I'm not a descendant of the Mayflower.

01:21:52:22 SARAH Are you aware that, this morning, the DAR denied
lauded Negro performer, Marian Anderson from
singing at constitution hall?

01:22:01:19 ELEANOR No. No, I was not.

01:22:05:12 SARAH (OS/ON) Can you explain to us how their action is any different
from the example in Birmingham you just gave?

01:22:13:08 ELEANOR Well, it really is no different, is it? It's no different at

all.

01:22:25:00 INT. LORENA'S APARTMENT / INT. FRANKLIN

AND ELEANOR'S HOUSE - DAY - INTERCUT

01:22:30:21 LORENA (puffs)

01:22:40:07 LORENA (into phone) (sniffles) (sighs) Eleanor.

01:22:44:07 ELEANOR (into phone) (chuckles) How did you know it was
me?

01:22:49:17 LORENA (into phone) Who else calls me at (sighs) 6 a.m.?

01:22:55:22 LORENA (OS/ON) (through phone) So, (into phone) what's doing in the
nation's capital?

01:22:59:08 ELEANOR (through phone) Oh, you know. Discrimination,

(OS/ON) (into phone) bigotry, and a general disregard for
humanity.
 Page 18

01:23:07:03 LORENA (OS/ON) (through phone) (scoffs) Geez Louise. (into phone)
Pittsburgh's looking better by the second.

01:23:13:03 ELEANOR (through phone) Yeah, I spent an hour (into phone)

(OS/ON) yesterday trying to convince the DAR board that
Marian Anderson should be allowed to play at
Constitution Hall.

01:23:21:14 LORENA (into phone) What do they have against opera?

01:23:24:03 ELEANOR Mmm. (swallows) It's not the opera. It's the color of
her skin.

01:23:30:15 LORENA (OS/ON) (through phone) Oh. (into phone) (blows

raspberry) What a bunch of dusty old farts.

01:23:33:22 ELEANOR (through phone) Yes, and... (into phone) (sighs) I am

(OS/ON) a member.

01:23:39:19 LORENA (into phone) (with mouth full) Mm-hmm. (in

snobby voice) The Daughters of the American
Revolution. (normal) (scoffs) Honestly?

01:23:47:20 ELEANOR (through phone) They even have it written into their
(OS/ON) bylaws. (into phone) "White artists only." And
Franklin (through phone) refuses to get involved.

01:23:58:19 LORENA (into phone) Yeah. Well, maybe he's right. I think
this one can wait. (sips)

01:24:05:18 ELEANOR (into phone) Hick, have you been drinking?

01:24:07:04 LORENA (ON/OS) (into phone) Oh. Do you know you always ask me that
when I have a different opinion (through phone) than
you?

01:24:12:14 ELEANOR (into phone) (sighs) (through phone) That's not--

(OS/ON) (into phone) Anyway, I-I should really (through
phone) get back to my article.

01:24:16:16 LORENA (OS) (through phone) (sips)

01:24:25:04 LORENA (ON/OS) (into phone) (clicking tongue) Oh, (normal) yes.
The busy First Lady, no time for the (sighs)
mistress who could bring her (through phone)
political ascent to a grinding halt.
 Page 19

01:24:33:20 ELEANOR (into phone) Oh, that's not fair. And you are
(ON/OS) (through phone) not my mistress.

01:24:40:07 LORENA (into phone) (with mouth full) What am I then?

01:24:41:18 ELEANOR (through phone) My favorite person. My confidant.

(into phone) My best friend.

01:24:59:11 LORENA (ON/OS) (into phone) (sniffles) All right. So, uh-- (exhales
deeply) What do you think (through phone) about
Greece?

01:25:13:11 ELEANOR (into phone) What about Greece?

01:25:14:14 LORENA (into phone) Okay, fine. Italy? (sniffles)

01:25:17:01 ELEANOR (into phone) Ah. North or south?

01:25:22:08 LORENA (into phone) (inhales deeply) Uh... Venice. (sighs) Just
you and me in one of those boats.

01:25:30:09 ELEANOR (into phone) (chuckles) You mean a gondola?

01:25:32:04 LORENA (OS) (through phone) Yes. Gondola. The sun is going
down.

01:25:38:21 ELEANOR (into phone) And there are hundreds of birds in the
sky. A pink sky.

01:25:44:22 LORENA (ON/OS) (into phone) Well, you've just had a very beautiful
dinner. And, uh, (through phone) we have a lovely little
apartment with (into phone) big windows that fling open
out (through phone) onto a... piazza.

01:26:04:23 LORENA (into phone) Eleanor?

01:26:08:05 ELEANOR (into phone) How's the motel?

01:26:10:01 LORENA (into phone) W-- Wanna be in Pittsburgh or

Puglia?

01:26:14:15 ELEANOR (into phone) (inhales sharply) I should really get

back. I-- This article won't write itself.

01:26:23:08 LORENA (into phone) (sniffles) My advice, you quit the

DAR. Write your column about that.
 Page 20

01:26:33:16 ELEANOR (into phone) Yes. I'll-- I'll think about that.

01:26:38:18 ELEANOR (into phone) (sighs) Italy was nice.

01:26:43:21 LORENA (into phone) Have a good day.

01:27:06:17 EXT. WHITE HOUSE - DAY

01:27:11:06 MALVIN (reading) "A group of tottering old ladies who don't
A know the difference between patriotism and
(OS/ON) putridism, compelled the gracious First Lady to
apologize for their national rudeness and resign from
the DAR". (normal) This is from the "Philadelphia
Tribune", and there are more like it in every other
paper in the country.

01:27:11:22 INT. WHITE HOUSE - ELEANOR'S OFFICE -

DAY

01:27:30:23 ELEANOR Hmm.

01:27:34:21 SARA Well, now that you're a national hero, (chuckles)

where is Ms. Anderson going to perform?

01:27:41:09 ELEANOR (inhales deeply) Well, I'm afraid that's not up to me,
(ON/OS) Sara. I have arranged a meeting with her manager and
with Mr. White of the NAACP to see if we can find a
venue.

01:27:53:12 SARA Good. It's important that she sing. There has
been no better contralto on Earth.

01:28:02:09 ELEANOR I agree.

01:28:03:13 SARA And, um, you did the right thing resigning from the
DAR.

01:28:14:12 ELEANOR Did she just approve of something I did?

01:28:17:15 MALVINA Maybe she's unwell?

01:28:19:04 ELEANOR (scoffs) Well, there's a first time for everything.

(ON/OS)

01:28:29:02 MALVINA (chuckles)

01:28:32:12 INT. WHITE HOUSE - HALLWAY/ WEST

 Page 21

SITTING ROOM - DAY

01:28:32:20 CHARLES (OS) Sir, here she comes. (speaks indistinctly)

01:28:36:00 ELEANOR I am so sorry. Mr. White.

01:28:40:06 WALTER Madam First Lady.

01:28:42:16 ELEANOR Mr. Hurok.

01:28:43:07 SOL Uh, good morning.

01:28:44:14 ELEANOR And...

01:28:45:11 WALTER This is A. Philip Randolph, head of the

"Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters".

01:28:48:02 ELEANOR (overlaps) Oh, yes.

01:28:49:15 PHILIP Madam First Lady, it's an honor. I hope you don't
mind me joining.

01:28:52:14 ELEANOR No, of course not. And the honor is all mine. I am so
impressed with your union work, Mr.
Randolph. (chuckles)

01:29:00:00 PHILIP (overlaps) Well, thank you. Thank you, ma'am.

01:29:00:22 ELEANOR Hmm.

01:29:01:08 ELEANOR And this is Tommy, my secretary who will be

joining us for this meeting.

01:29:03:16 MALVINA (overlaps) Hello.

01:29:05:14 SOL (overlaps) Morning.

01:29:06:11 ELEANOR Charles, if you don't mind.

01:29:07:22 ELEANOR Please sit.

01:29:08:17 ELEANOR Would you bring another chair? Thank you. And
maybe another cup.

01:29:09:05 CHARLES (OS) (overlaps) This way please.

01:29:16:10 WALTER (sighs) We were all encouraged by your "My Day"

 Page 22

column. Your resignation sent a clear and urgent

message to the public. Segregation must end.

01:29:17:05 SOL (overlaps) (clears throat)

01:29:30:05 ELEANOR Yes, I'm afraid I was unaware of how entrenched the
DAR were in their--

01:29:37:02 PHILIP Bigotry?

01:29:40:20 ELEANOR Yes. Bigotry. It's disappointing.

(ON/OS)

01:29:46:22 PHILIP (ON/OS) (scoffs) Mrs. Roosevelt. Opinions in the capital

disappoint on a daily basis. Your husband's
administration-- (sighs) The new deal itself has
done very little for the Negroes.

01:29:59:13 ELEANOR Yes. That's true.

01:30:03:20 MALVIN U-Um, Mr. White. The First Lady is anxious to

A know if you found an alternate venue for Ms.
(ON/OS) Anderson.

01:30:10:09 SOL (stammers) We did have one idea. Uh-- We were

thinking of the National Mall. She could sing in front
of Mr. Lincoln. (exhales sharply)

01:30:17:17 ELEANOR Oh, what a splendid idea. Well, yes, that is

(ON/OS) something we can do.

01:30:26:01 WALTER We think a public event like this w-would bring

attention to the excellence of Black Americans.

01:30:31:11 ELEANOR I couldn't agree with you more, Mr. White.

(OS/ON)

01:30:34:06 PHILIP (OS/ON) If the president wants to have a memorial like Mr.
Lincoln's one day, he's uh, he's going to have to ban
segregation entirely.

01:30:42:11 ELEANOR Mr. Randolph, I can assure you that the president will
(ON/OS) eventually come to see that racial justice and unity is
the only way forward for America.

01:30:55:12 PHILIP We certainly hope so.

 Page 23

01:30:59:22 ELEANOR Thank you, Charles.

01:31:03:06 ELEANOR Thank you. (speaks indistinctly)

(ON/OS)

01:31:10:00 EXT. LINCOLN MEMORIAL - DAY

01:31:26:01 WALLA (people at Lincoln Memorial) (continues

intermittently through scene)

01:31:26:01 ELEANOR Ooh, I have goose bumps. Do you have goose

bumps? (chuckles)

01:31:28:09 MALVINA (overlaps) I think I stopped breathing.

01:31:30:18 ELEANOR I cannot believe that that was just a rehearsal!

01:31:33:20 MS. ANDERSON (overlaps) (chuckles) Oh, Mrs. Roosevelt, I should

applaud you as well. What a stage. Thank you for
making this happen.

01:31:41:14 ELEANOR It was a group effort. I just used my influence where

I could. I really want to introduce you to Malvina
Thompson, my secretary or, Tommy as we call her.
She is a very big admirer of yours.

01:31:51:22 MALVIN (overlaps) Hello.

A
(ON/OS)
01:31:54:06 MS. ANDERSON It's a pleasure to meet you, Tommy.

01:31:55:22 MALVIN And it is an honor to meet you, Ms. Anderson. I

A have every one of your recordings.
(OS/ON)
01:32:01:07 SOL Uh, Madam First Lady. Uh, did Ms. Anderson tell
you we are expecting 70,000 people tomorrow?

01:32:07:04 MALVINA (chuckling) 70,000?

01:32:07:13 ELEANOR (overlaps) Oh, my!

01:32:09:09 SOL (OS/ON) And we have you sitting right up front.

01:32:12:06 ELEANOR Oh, well, that is very kind. But I'm going to be
listening in from the White House on the radio, but
I will be with you in spirit.
 Page 24

01:32:12:14 MALVINA (overlaps) (sighs)

01:32:21:03 MS. ANDERSON You aren't coming?

01:32:22:23 ELEANOR Tomorrow is your day, Ms. Anderson. My

presence would only be a distraction.

01:32:29:13 HAROLD ICKES (through speaker) Distinguished guests, ladies, and

(OS/ON) gentlemen. In this great auditorium under the sky, all
of us are free.

01:32:29:15 WALLA (crowd) (continues through scene)

01:33:04:11 EXT. WHITE HOUSE - DAY

01:33:07:04 NARRATIVE 2013

TITLE

01:33:08:19 INT. WHITE HOUSE - SASHA'S BEDROOM -

DAY

01:33:13:03 MARIAN (breathes deeply)

01:33:14:23 SASHA That is beautiful.

01:33:17:05 MARIAN (ON/OS) One of the greatest. She was barred from singing in
DC venues because the city was segregated, but First
Lady Eleanor Roosevelt lobbied for her to sing at the
Lincoln Memorial.

01:33:31:07 SASHA (chuckles) Wow.

01:33:33:13 MARIAN Hmm.

01:33:43:12 NEWS ANCHOR Just before noon at the Capitol, Barack Obama will
(OS/ON) take the oath for his second term as president.

01:33:46:02 WALLA (crowd) (continues intermittently through scene)

01:33:49:04 REPORTER 1 That's right, Scott. He really has a very ambitious

(VO) agenda for his second term. We've heard him talk
about it. Immigration reform, and gun safety.

01:33:54:14 WALLA (drum majors) (continues intermittently through

scene)
 Page 25

01:34:07:20 INT. WHITE HOUSE - CROSS HALL - DAY

01:34:08:05 WHITE HOUSE We are now entering the cross hall.

GUIDE

01:34:08:06 WALLA (drum majorettes) (giggling) (squealing)

(continues intermittently through scene)

01:34:10:08 MR. FERRAR Ladies, as you know, it's a huge, huge opportunity.
(OS/ON) I need you on your best behavior, right?

01:34:14:17 HADIYA All righty. (chuckles)

01:34:15:09 MAJORETTE 2 (overlaps) Yes, Mr. Ferrar.

01:34:15:09 MAJORETTE 1 (overlaps)Yes, sir.

01:34:16:02 MAJORETTE 3 (overlaps) Yes, sir.

01:34:17:01 MR. FERRAR Look, we worked really hard for this.

(OS)

01:34:18:08 HADIYA This is great. (chuckles)

01:34:26:04 HADIYA Oh, my God!

01:34:29:09 HADIYA (giggles) (singsongy) South Side!

01:34:32:18 SASHA / (singsongy) South Side!

MICHELLE /
MALIA (ON/OS)

01:34:34:15 WALLA (drum majorettes) South Side!

01:34:34:15 MR. FERRAR (overlaps) (singsongy) South Side!

01:34:37:17 HADIYA (ON/OS) (giggling) Hi, y'all. Oh, my God. We love you. We
love you. I love you.

01:34:43:13 MICHELLE (overlaps) Love you too!

01:34:45:20 MAJORETTE 4 She looked me in my face!

01:34:49:07 MAJORETTE 2 She waved at me!

01:34:49:22 HADIYA No, she was waving at me! No, I'm sorry--
 Page 26

(speaks indistinctly) (giggles)

01:34:50:15 MAJORETTE 2 She waved at me!

01:34:53:08 HADIYA Bye-- Bye, Sasha! Bye, Malia! (giggles)

01:34:55:19 EXT. WHITE HOUSE - NIGHT

01:34:59:03 EXT. WHITE HOUSE - DAY

01:35:02:17 MICHELLE (OS) Our lunch program in the profile, you know I'm
down.

01:35:05:21 MEL (OS/ON) Copy that. I will loop in Melanie about your outfit.
Any requests?

01:35:07:10 INT. WHITE HOUSE - MEETING ROOM - DAY

01:35:11:04 MICHELLE Outdoorsy but still fly!

01:35:14:09 MEL Still fly!

01:35:17:02 MICHELLE (chuckles) For real? That's my girl! (chuckles)

01:35:18:04 MEL (overlaps) (giggles) That's all in caps. (chuckles)

01:35:23:05 MEL Come in!

01:35:26:01 MEL (OS) Oh. Hi, Tina.

01:35:27:08 MICHELLE What's wrong, Tina? Please don't tell me we ran out
of the hazelnut creamer again.

01:35:31:10 MEL / MICHELLE (overlapping chuckles)

(OS)

01:35:33:13 TINA Could you give us a few minutes? I just-- Thanks.

01:35:36:00 AIDE (OS) (overlaps) Sure.

01:35:39:17 TINA Thanks.

01:35:45:21 TINA (ON/OS) One of the Chicago high schoolers who performed at
the inauguration was killed today.

01:35:50:19 MICHELLE Jesus, Lord.

 Page 27

01:35:51:10 MEL (ON/OS) (overlaps) No.

01:35:52:14 TINA A stray bullet.

01:35:54:07 MICHELLE Please don't tell me it was one of those kids from the
(OS/ON) South Side?

01:36:01:06 MICHELLE What was her name?

01:36:02:11 TINA (ON/OS) Hadiya Pendleton. She was 15, um, a drum
majorette.

01:36:09:12 MICHELLE They were just here. Right out there. We saw
them.

01:36:15:18 TINA (ON/OS) Yeah. So, we can reach out to the family, uh, say a
few words publicly, we can tie it into the assault
weapons ban that Senator Feinstein just sponsored,
um...

01:36:30:12 MICHELLE I'd like to reach out to Hadiya's family personally, but
I don't want it to come off as political, you know?

01:36:39:06 TINA (OS) I get it. Okay.

01:36:41:08 MEL Um, yeah-- The--

01:36:42:08 TINA (OS/ON) (overlaps) I'll get you the contact info.

01:36:44:09 MEL (OS) Um, I'll set something up.

01:36:46:00 TINA (ON/OS) Okay. Thanks.

01:36:53:00 INT. WHITE HOUSE - FAMILY DINING ROOM -

DAY

01:36:55:07 MARIAN (OS) (sighs)

01:37:06:02 ROSEMARIE Mrs. Robinson, you don't have to do that.

(OS/ON)

01:37:07:14 MARIAN Uh-- N-No. I-- Let me do it, please. I was cleaning since
before you were a twinkle in your daddy's eye.

01:37:17:16 ROSEMARIE I'm sorry, madam. She just--

 Page 28

01:37:19:04 MICHELLE Rosemarie, just-- just let her do it. Go-- go take a
break.

01:37:21:10 ROSEMARIE (overlaps) Okay. Yes, ma'am.

01:37:25:04 MICHELLE Mom? Mom. Mom. Mom, what's wrong?

01:37:30:00 MARIAN I'm fine.

01:37:30:18 MICHELLE No, you're not. Mama?

01:37:37:11 MICHELLE Mama?

01:37:39:12 MARIAN I heard about that girl getting shot back home.

01:37:44:18 MICHELLE Hadiya.

01:37:46:08 MARIAN (cries) It was just around the corner from Euclid.
That could have been one of your nephews.
Parents burying their kids, that's what used to
keep me up at night the most.

01:37:52:05 MICHELLE (overlaps) Yeah.

01:37:57:01 MICHELLE You're right.

01:37:57:22 MARIAN Something like that happened to one of you!

01:38:01:16 MICHELLE Yeah. It-- it wasn't this bad back then, Mama.

01:38:05:20 MARIAN It could've been!

01:38:06:17 MICHELLE (sighs) Okay. Okay.

01:38:11:13 REPORTER 2 In Chicago, today First Lady Michelle Obama joined

(OS/ON) hundreds of mourners at the funeral for a teenage
victim of gun violence. The death of 15- year-old
Hadiya Pendleton has shaken a city where gang
shootings are all too common.

01:38:12:04 EXT. CHICAGO - DAY

01:38:15:06 ARCHIVAL GUN VIOLENCE

FOOTAGE ON-
SCREEN TEXT
 Page 29

01:38:23:17 EXT. CHICAGO - STREET - DAY

01:38:23:18 NARRATIVE COMMUNITY LEADERS AND

TITLE MOURNERS GATHER IN CHICAGO

01:38:24:03 REPORTER 3 Hadiya was killed last month a mile from the
(OS/VO) Obama's Chicago home. Eight days after
performing at inaugural events in Washington.

01:38:26:00 ON-SCREEN M.B. CHURCH

TEXT (ON
WALL)
01:38:26:01 ON-SCREEN Jesus Is My Rock
TEXT (ON
AWNING)

01:38:28:20 WALLA (crowd) (continues through scene)

01:38:28:21 EXT. WHITE HOUSE - DAY

01:38:32:16 EXT. CHURCH - DAY

01:38:35:16 INT. CHURCH - DAY

01:38:35:17 WALLA (mourners) (yelling) (crying) (continues through

scene)

01:39:32:06 INT. CHURCH - LOBBY - DAY

01:39:32:07 WALLA (mourners) (continues through scene)

01:39:39:21 MICHELLE Thank you so much for what you do.

01:39:40:18 NATHANIEL It was a pleasure to meet you, Madam First Lady.

01:39:43:05 MICHELLE Mr. Mayor.

01:39:44:12 RAHM Madam First Lady.

01:39:48:01 MICHELLE Well, that was devastating.

01:39:51:22 RAHM It's, uh, good to have you back in Chicago. I'm
sorry it's under these circumstances.

01:39:56:05 MICHELLE Yeah. Not how I wanted to come back here.

01:40:00:01 RAHM (stammers) Fifteen years old. My kids are her

 Page 30

age.

01:40:04:15 MICHELLE Yeah.

01:40:06:22 RAHM Look, clearly, we didn't always see eye to eye in the
White House. It happens. But I want you to know that I
support you 100%, and your fight for gun control. As
of today, every single gun shop in Chicago has been
shut down.

01:40:19:22 RAHM Tragedies like these are brutal and fucking

ridiculous. And, um, I'm gonna do everything in
my power to put an end to it.

01:40:29:23 MICHELLE (softly) Okay. (normal) Thank you, Rahm.

01:40:34:00 RAHM Yeah.

01:40:40:23 CLEOPATRA Thank you for coming, Mrs. Obama.

01:40:42:21 MICHELLE Yeah, of course.

01:40:46:17 CLEOPATRA Oh. How can we thank you?

01:40:49:06 CLEOPATRA (inhales sharply)

01:40:49:12 MICHELLE Your daughter will not be forgotten. I'll make sure of
that. I promise (softly) you.

01:40:54:06 CLEOPATRA (overlaps) (sniffles)

01:40:57:17 CLEOPATRA Thank you. Thank you so much.

01:41:03:06 MICHELLE I love you, okay? (shakily) Love you.

01:41:03:22 CLEOPATRA (overlaps) (crying) (sniffles)

01:41:07:22 MICHELLE Okay.

01:41:08:21 CLEOPATRA (softly) Okay.

01:41:28:08 DICK DURBIN (through television) We have guns everywhere.

(OS/ON) And some believe the solution to this is more guns.
I disagree.

01:41:30:11 ARCHIVAL MR. DURBIN

FOOTAGE ON-
 Page 31

SCREEN TEXT

01:41:35:18 INT. WHITE HOUSE - EAST WING -

MICHELLE'S OFFICE - NIGHT

01:41:52:01 BARACK (sighs)

01:41:55:20 BARACK How was the service?

01:41:59:15 MICHELLE It was a lot.

01:42:02:06 BARACK Oof. That poor family.

01:42:06:17 BARACK I'm-- I'm really glad that you went, though.

01:42:10:18 MICHELLE Yeah. I just felt like sitting in the back and bawling
(ON/OS) my eyes out.

01:42:15:22 BARACK (ON/OS) Shit. I bawled my eyes out on national TV. Now I
got one of my Secret Service guys looking at me
sideways, you know? (chuckles)

01:42:27:17 MICHELLE (sighs)

01:42:29:03 BARACK (OS) Come on.

01:42:30:03 MICHELLE (sighing)

01:42:34:10 MICHELLE Is it ever gonna change?

01:42:37:12 BARACK (sighs) I don't know, babe. We're trying with this
new bill, but... I don't know.

01:42:50:21 MICHELLE (sighs)

01:42:52:17 BARACK (chuckles) Come on.

01:42:55:09 MICHELLE Mmm.

01:42:55:14 BARACK (chuckles)

01:42:59:06 BARACK (kisses)

01:43:00:18 INT. WHITE HOUSE - EAST WING -

ELEANOR'S OFFICE - DAY

01:43:00:19 ON-SCREEN HIGH FREQUENCY CUT

 Page 32

TEXT (ON LOWER LOWS

LABEL)

01:43:06:01 NARRATIVE 1939

TITLE

01:43:06:08 ELEANOR (into microphone) (reading) "I like to remind women

that one gains strength, courage, and confidence by
every experience in which you really stop to look fear
in the face. You are able to say to yourself, "I lived
through this horror. I can take the next thing that
comes along.""

01:43:10:21 ON-SCREEN NBC

TEXT (ON
MICROPHONE)

01:43:31:11 ELEANOR (into microphone) (reading) "You must do the

thing you think you cannot do."

01:43:37:13 NEWSCASTER (through television) Five young Negroes made

(VO) aviation history at Tuskegee, Alabama. These five men
were the first of their race to graduate under the Army
Air Force's newly organized plan for training Negro
pilots. They flew hard, studied hard, and they made the
grade.

01:43:37:23 ARCHIVAL Tuskegee, Ala.

FOOTAGE Paramount News
NARRATIVE
TITLE

01:43:55:06 EXT. TUSKEGEE INSTITUTE - DAY

01:43:55:07 WALLA (Tuskegee reporters) (clamor) (continues

intermittently through scene)

01:43:55:08 WALLA (people outside Tuskegee Institute) (continues

intermittently through scene)

01:43:55:09 ELEANOR (chuckles) Ooh. Thank you. Thank you so much.

(OS/ON)

01:43:57:05 NARRATIVE Tuskegee Institute, AL

TITLE

01:43:58:22 ALFRED (overlaps) You're welcome. Yes.

 Page 33

01:44:00:23 TUSKEGEE Over here, ma'am! Ma'am!

REPORTER 1
(OS)

01:44:01:13 ELEANOR Thank you, sir.

(ON/OS)

01:44:03:12 ELEANOR Ooh. (chuckles) Ooh.

01:44:06:19 TUSKEGEE Madam First Lady, how was your flight?

REPORTER 3

01:44:06:22 ELEANOR (chuckles) Ooh, invigorating! And my hat stayed on.

(chuckles)

01:44:09:18 WALLA (reporters) (chuckles) (continues under following

dialogue)

01:44:13:00 TUSKEGEE (overlaps) Were you frightened, ma'am?

REPORTER 3

01:44:14:04 ELEANOR Ooh! I have never felt safer.

01:44:17:10 TUSKEGEE Ha!

REPORTER 1
(OS)

01:44:17:15 ELEANOR Mr. Anderson, you fly all right.

01:44:20:20 ALFRED (chuckles) Thank you, ma'am.

01:44:24:17 ELEANOR Black pilots in the American military are just as

excellent as any other. And these patriotic men
should serve in active combat alongside our sailors,
soldiers, and marines.

01:44:39:18 TUSKEGEE Will the president mandate the end of segregation for
REPORTER 3 the military?

01:44:42:08 ELEANOR Ooh, well, I think that's my cue. Thank you so

much. I appreciate it.

01:44:45:03 WALLA (reporters) (clamors) (continues under following

dialogue)

01:44:48:01 ELEANOR I do appreciate it. You know, I have to say, young

 Page 34

man, there were a few moments when I--

01:44:53:15 INT. WHITE HOUSE - WEST WING - OVAL

OFFICE - DAY

01:44:53:16 ON-SCREEN The Washington Post

TEXT (ON First Lady Flies With Tuskegee Airman
NEWSPAPER) Eleanor Takes
Historic Flight

01:44:54:05 FRANKLIN (OS) (inhales sharply) (sighs) Come in.

01:44:59:06 WALLA (people outside office) (continues under following

dialogue)

01:45:00:04 ANNA (singsongy) Good morning.

01:45:01:15 FRANKLI That is yet to be determined. Your mother, however

N (ON/OS) well-intended, can't seem to stop herself from shining
a light on every ugly little nook and cranny of
segregation in the country.

01:45:03:08 ANNA (overlaps) (chuckles)

01:45:12:20 FRANKLIN Thank you.

01:45:13:13 ANNA Well, there's no looking forward if we don't try and

change what's wrong now.

01:45:18:01 FRANKLIN Anna, you cannot force people to change. You need
to make them think it's their idea, and that takes
time.

01:45:23:20 ANNA But you do agree that segregation needs to end?

01:45:25:23 FRANKLIN Of course I do, but it's not as simple as that. I can't
just sign an executive order and bypass the individual
states. I will lose the support of the Southern
Democrats and never be elected again. And
everything that we've done so far will be for naught.

01:45:38:17 ANNA So?

01:45:40:08 FRANKLIN "So?" What do you mean "so"? I am not prepared to

throw the baby out with the bathwater. It is done.
Your mother must be taken out at dawn
 Page 35

and shot.

01:45:51:12 ANNA (chuckling) Oh, God.

01:45:53:01 FRANKLIN Mmm.

01:45:53:17 ANNA (OS/ON) I think if you accomplish nothing else in your time in
office than ending segregation, you'll be remembered
as one of the greatest presidents of all time.

01:46:03:09 FRANKLIN Well, now you sound exactly like your mother.

01:46:07:07 ANNA Thank you.

01:46:08:04 FRANKLIN Mmm. Get out of my office.

01:46:11:18 FRANKLIN Go, now.

01:46:13:18 ANNA (OS) (chuckles)

01:46:15:05 FRANKLIN (OS) Anna.

01:46:16:04 ANNA Mmm?

01:46:17:07 FRANKLIN Thank you for my tea.

01:46:20:06 ANNA Yes.

01:46:20:23 FRANKLIN (OS) (chuckles)

01:46:29:19 EXT. WASHINGTON - DAY

01:46:32:12 WALLA (people on street) (continues through scene)

01:46:33:23 NARRATIVE 1976

TITLE

01:46:35:16 ON-SCREEN The Washington Post

TEXT (ON Betty Back Out On The Campaign
NEWSPAPER) First Lady Makes Tour
of Southern States

01:46:38:23 EXT. WASHINGTON - PARK - DAY

01:46:39:00 WALLA (people at park) (continues through scene)

 Page 36

01:46:42:00 EXT. WASHINGTON - RESIDENCE - DAY

01:46:45:17 WALLA (people on street) (continues through scene)

01:46:45:17 EXT. WASHINGTON - NEIGHBORHOOD - DAY

01:46:49:15 SHIRLEY (OS) You can cut it down.

01:46:50:00 BETTY (OS/ON) Is this an initial or...

01:46:50:06 INT. WHITE HOUSE - EAST WING - BETTY'S

OFFICE - DAY

01:46:50:07 WALLA (people outside office) (continues through scene

intermittently)

01:46:51:12 SHIRLEY Just initial everything.

01:46:52:02 BETTY (overlaps) Oh, great. (softly) Okay.

01:46:54:06 DONALD Madam First Lady, (stammers) do you have a

(ON/OS) moment? We've been reviewing some presidential
campaign data.

01:47:00:16 BETTY Do I have a choice?

01:47:02:01 DONALD (chuckles)

01:47:02:13 DICK (chuckles)

01:47:06:10 DONALD (smacks lips) Great job, so far, on the campaign trail.

01:47:07:17 DICK (OS) (overlaps) (sighs)

01:47:09:23 BETTY Mm-hmm.

01:47:10:06 SHIRLEY Yes, I'd say you're a natural.

01:47:11:22 DICK A long list of positives. Cleveland, Nashville, and

Council Bluffs, all extremely well-received.

01:47:16:10 DONALD Unfortunately, there is a longer list of, uh, not

positives.

01:47:18:22 DICK (overlaps) (sighs)

 Page 37

01:47:26:08 DONALD Also, we understand you recently applied for a-- a CB

radio license.

01:47:31:15 BETTY Applied and received. Though, I still haven't

gotten my-- That (stammers)-- the...

01:47:36:18 SHIRLEY (OS) Oh, it's called a handle.

01:47:37:11 BETTY (overlaps) Handle-- My handle yet.

01:47:39:02 SHIRLEY (OS) But we're down to "Steady Betty"--

01:47:40:20 BETTY "D.C. Dancer." (chuckles)

01:47:41:22 SHIRLEY (overlaps) Um, "Betty the Bump." (chuckles) Um,

I'm partial to "First Mama."

01:47:46:08 BETTY I know you are, but I like "D.C. Dancer."

(chuckles)

01:47:47:10 SHIRLEY (OS) (overlaps) (chuckles)

01:47:47:23 DONALD (overlaps) (chuckles) W-What is the plan? Are you

(OS/ON) g-gonna communicate with truckers?

01:47:49:16 DICK (overlaps) (chuckles)

01:47:51:20 BETTY (overlaps) Mm-hmm. (inhales sharply)

01:47:55:02 BETTY Truckers vote too, Don.

01:47:57:19 DONALD Ah.

01:47:58:08 DICK (OS/ON) And these are some updated general dos and don'ts for
the road.

01:48:02:14 BETTY Anything else?

01:48:05:08 DONALD Thank you, ma'am.

01:48:06:10 DICK (OS) Thank you, ma'am.

01:48:10:21 BETTY Would you like a drink, Shirley?

01:48:13:03 SHIRLEY Oh, maybe just a tipple.

(ON/OS)
 Page 38

01:48:14:10 BETTY (OS/ON) Are-- Okay. Pick your poison.

01:48:17:14 SHIRLEY Whatever you're having. (chuckles)

(ON/OS)

01:48:18:12 BETTY (overlaps) (chuckles)

01:48:20:06 EXT. NEW YORK - DAY

01:48:23:11 EXT. CITY OF BUFFALO - NEW YORK - DAY

01:48:25:01 STUMP It is my pleasure to host all of you at the Buffalo

SPEAKER City Hall, where we have a long history of
(OS/ON) welcoming Republican leaders on the campaign
trail. Tonight, it is my great honor to introduce to
you the First Lady of the United States.

01:48:26:01 INT. BUFFALO CITY HALL - DAY

01:48:32:03 BETTY (overlaps) (swallows) (sips)

01:48:40:19 STUMP Please join me in welcoming Betty Ford.

SPEAKER
(ON/OS)

01:48:41:20 BETTY (overlaps) (sips)

01:48:45:00 WALLA (people at conference) (continues intermittently

through scene)

01:48:55:08 INT. WHITE HOUSE - RESIDENCE - FAMILY

LIVING ROOM - DAY

01:48:55:09 WALLA (people on television) (continues intermittently

through scene)

01:49:01:22 ON-SCREEN President

TEXT (ON Ford
PODIUM) '76

01:49:04:07 BETTY (through television) I do not believe that being

(normal) First Lady should prevent me from
expressing my ideal-- (breathes shakily) ideas.

01:49:07:20 INT. BUFFALO CITY HALL / INT. WHITE

HOUSE - RESIDENCE - FAMILY LIVING ROOM
- DAY - INTERCUT
 Page 39

01:49:20:13 SUSAN (breathes deeply)

01:49:24:22 BETTY (through television) Being un-- being (normal)

ladylike does not require silence.

01:49:39:11 MICHAEL She's not feeling well.

01:49:45:10 BETTY (OS/ON) (through television) Ever since I became

president-- I-- (chuckles) I mean--

01:49:49:07 WALLA (people on television) (chuckles) (continues under

following dialogue)

01:49:51:09 BETTY (OS/ON) (through television) Uh, pardon me. Um, ever since
my husband became president, he really has done a
great deal in the last two years.

01:49:52:02 GERALD (overlaps) (sips)

01:51:15:11 END OF
EPISODE

1st QC: Danielle D.

2nd QC: Archana K.