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EXT. UCLA FOOTBALL PRACTICE
FIELD, LOS ANGELES – DAY
Sprinklers spray as Bobby FIELD, late-30s, fit, and wearing a gray “UCLA FOOTBALL”
T-shirt, takes off at a one-time serious athlete’s stay-in-shape pace.
EXT. NORTH EDGE UCLA CAMPUS, LOS ANGELES – DAY
Field approaches the campus entrance and sprints across the street,
entering Stone Canyon Boulevard.
TITLE: LOS ANGELES MARCH 30, 1985
MALE RADIO NEWSCASTER (v.o.) Among
the stories we’re following on KNX 1070: Reclusive ex-President Richard Nixon is visiting his native Southern California,
and he was spotted having dinner at Chasen’s last night with Paul Keyes, the producer of the old “Laugh-In”
TV series. No word on whether President Nixon reprised his attempt at the show’s “Sock It To Me” catchphrase
on the show during the 1968 campaign.
FEMALE RADIO NEWSCASTER (v.o.) John,
you have to say that right. It was a question.
MALE RADIO NEWSCASTER (v.o.) (Bad
Nixon imitation) “Sock it to me?”
EXT. STONE CANYON BOULEVARD, BEL AIR – DAY
Field runs up the winding road. Hotel
Bel Air is ahead. Three Men in suits walk toward Field. AGENT 1 and AGENT 2 are big and fit. The man in the middle is Richard
NIXON at age 72, getting morning exercise. Ten feet short of Nixon, Field puffs out a greeting.
FIELD Good morning.
EXT. HOTEL BEL AIR
PARKING LOT, BEL AIR – DAY
Field has reversed his direction and is coming down the hill. He spots Nixon again, next to the
hotel’s canopied entrance. Field detours into the parking lot and slows to a walk. As the Agents step forward, he approaches
the former president and lifts his right hand in a self-conscious greeting.
FIELD Hello, Mr. Nixon … Mr. President. Sorry to bother you, sir, but I decided I should introduce myself. I’m
Bobby Field. I’m the football defensive coordinator on Terry Donahue’s staff at UCLA.
NIXON Sure. You had a fine season last year.
Nixon offers his hand. Field shakes it.
FIELD Thank you, sir. (beat) As a matter of fact, in 1969, I was a defensive back for the University of Arkansas
and you, sir, came to our game in Fayetteville against…
NIXON …Texas!
FIELD Yes, sir.
A limousine pulls
up. The DOORMAN opens the back door. Nixon doesn’t move.
NIXON Terrific
game! Numbers one and two in the nation. Texas with James Street running the wishbone offense and throwing that long pass
… Arkansas with Bill Montgomery firing away to Chuck Dicus … That fine Texas boy, Freddie Steinmark, visited
me later at the White House … I was in the stands, freezing, with Governor Rockefeller and George Bush and Senator
Fulbright … and it comes down to the final minutes and it’s anyone’s game … and …
AGENT 1 Sir, we should go.
NIXON What a thrilling finish!
And when it was over, I went to both dressing rooms.
FIELD Yes, sir, this is the
second time I’ve shook your hand.
Agents nudge Nixon into the car. Limousine pulls away. Field watches with the doorman.
DOORMAN That must have been some football game, him rattling all that off. He had a hard time
coming up with his wife’s name yesterday.
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