AFFAIRS OF STATE

Written by

Pat Cunnane

Star Thrower Entertainment

(310) 855-9009
EXT. ESTABLISHING SHOTS OF WASHINGTON, DC - DAY

The rain-soaked city buzzes - bursting at the seams - as an

imposing motorcade barrels through the cordoned-off streets.
Sirens whirl and onlookers gawk as we’re sucked into...

INT. THE BEAST - CONTINUOUS

Silence.

The kind of quiet only eight inches of ballistic glass

affords. Where a man sits isolated - in the eye of the storm.

This is HARRY BAKER AXTON, President of the United States.

BEN (O.S.)
Are we going to talk about it?

AXTON
(without looking up)
The General Assembly?

BEN WOLCOTT (49), the Secretary of State, and a contemporary

of Axton, shifts uneasily in his seat across from POTUS.

BEN
No.

AXTON
The situation with the Houthi
rebels in Yemen?

BEN
No.

AXTON
Then no, we’re not going to talk
about it. What’s next?

Ben opens his briefing book, smiles.

BEN
I didn’t want to talk about it
anyway.

Axton looks up, a wry smile, before peering through the glass
at the crowds, the countless faces - men, women, and children
- he represents, but will never touch.

PRE-LAP the murmurs of a large crowd as we...

MATCH CUT TO:

 2.

EXT. LONDON STREET - NIGHT

Where dozens of bundled-up Londoners excitedly hold signs

that read “Change” and “Ella.” They erupt, barely held back
by a bike-rack, as ELLA WALKER approaches with purpose.

She’s mid-forties, energized by - and quietly terrified at -

the looming end to her campaign.

Ella melts into the crowd, embracing some, taking selfies

with others; she’s at home in the masses until SANDRA - mid-
thirties and not messing around - whisks her away.

SANDRA
Paxhouse is gonna go hard on Tom.

Ella gives a stern look. They walk briskly into...

INT. TV STUDIO - BACKSTAGE - CONTINUOUS

This interaction is quick, snappy:

ELLA
Will he also be announcing his
transition to Puritanism?

An AUDIO TECH scrambles to mic Ella who barely notices.

ELLA (CONT’D)
Pious, pompous ass.

SANDRA
Oh good, yep, right into the mic.

ELLA
Could be worse. He could ask me why
we’re seven points down.

SANDRA
Try not to highlight that.

ELLA
I put my life into this, and it
won’t even be close.

SANDRA
Chin up.

ELLA
Thanks.
 3.

SANDRA
No, I mean lift your chin up, so it
doesn’t look like you have three.

ELLA
Would you ever say that to a man?

SANDRA
No. But I work for a woman.

As applause erupts off screen.

ELLA
Damn right you do.

And Ella enters the white-hot studio, smiling and waving.

INT. TV STUDIO - ON SET - LATER

Ella sits at a preposterously large table, across from her

opponent, Prime Minister KEVIN PAXHOUSE (50s, smarmy). A
stodgy MODERATOR stationed between the two.

PAXHOUSE
The MP’s husband has off-shore bank
accounts that have evaded scrutiny
for years. Her husband is
bankrolling--

We focus on Ella as Paxhouse drones on. We can’t make out

what he’s saying, but for a few phrases.

PAXHOUSE (CONT’D)
...Ella’s husband...her husband.
The MP’s husband...

Jotting down notes, Ella allows herself a slight grin.

MODERATOR
I want to give the MP a chance to
respond before we wrap it up.

Ella holds up her pad of paper for the camera and audience.
We see nine tally marks.

ELLA
Nine. That’s how many times the
Prime Minister just mentioned my
husband. And I want to let you in
on a secret about why he did it.

The moderator perks up: The staid debate getting interesting.

 4.

ELLA (CONT’D)
A clever consultant told him that
saying so would force me to clarify
- not just the lies the Prime
Minister tells with frightening
ease - but what he really wants,
his winning strategy, is to force
me to remind the United Kingdom
that I don’t have a husband.
(Beat. Audience leans in.)
I have an ex-husband. He’s betting
that bothers you. But what bothers
me is that he didn’t spend his time
talking about nine ways he’s going
to stabilize the NHS, or nine ways
we can combat the crisis in Yemen,
or, hell, nine ways he’ll spruce up
“Number Ten.”

Laughter in the crowd as Paxhouse tries to jump back in, but

is cut off by a determined Ella.

ELLA (CONT’D)
Listen, if you’re better off today
than you were when the Prime
Minister took office, sure, dismiss
the divorcee. But if you aren’t, or
if people you care about aren’t,
then it’s time for somebody who
isn’t stuck in the past. Time for
somebody who knows that when
something isn’t working you make a
change. I am that person.

The crowd applauds.

ELLA (CONT’D)
If you don’t believe me, just ask
my ex-husband.

The crowd goes wild. We hold on Ella taking it all in as the

darkened, cheering crowd turns to...

EXT. ESTABLISHING SHOTS - LONDON - NIGHT

We wind our way through London’s greatest hits - from Big Ben
and Buckingham Palace to the famous ferris wheel and those
double-decker buses.

ANCHOR (V.O.)
A snap election seen largely as a
lock for the establishment is
thrown into turmoil.
 5.

ANCHOR 2 (V.O.)
MP Ella Walker stood up forcefully
to the PM. Is it too little too
late? Or will Kevin Paxhouse soon
be our ex-Prime Minister?

ANCHOR 3 (V.O.)
Does this showing put Walker’s
likability problem to rest?

INT. HOTEL SUITE - CONTINUOUS

Ella sits watching TV with Sandra and a contingent of

STAFFERS working in controlled chaos.

ANALYST (ON TV) ANALYST 2 (ON TV)

This was a real rallying cry Her ambition reminds me of
for women. We will not be Thatcher.
slut-shamed.

ELLA
Oh, Christ!

SANDRA
They love you.

ELLA
They love a plot twist. A tighter
race. This’ll help, but we’ll still
lose by five.

LINDSEY (20s) freezes, having clearly heard Ella’s pessimism.

ELLA (CONT’D)
Oh, sorry, no, no - keep milling
about busily.
(perfunctorily)
There’s purpose in what you’re
doing.

Lindsey, having picked up the tea set and papers, walks off.
Sandra looks to her boss.

ELLA (CONT’D)
What?

SANDRA
You should be chuffed right now.
Your plan is working. We’re
incredibly close.
(switching gears)
Do you want to talk about it?
 6.

ELLA
It?

SANDRA
Him.

EXT. WASHINGTON, D.C./VARIOUS SHOTS - EARLY MORNING

The OPENING TITLES ROLL against a series of moments -

Washington waking up:

A rowing team passes Jefferson on the Potomac; food trucks

unfurl their hoods by Washington; a cyclist pedals past the
steps to Lincoln.

Dawn breaks over D.C. And as the pounding of a ball becomes

more prevalent and the unmistakable language of basketball -
“Pick right! Shot. Watch left.” - takes hold:

MAIN TITLES END ON

President Harry Baker Axton

Dribbling the ball up court. His court.

EXT. WHITE HOUSE BASKETBALL COURT - MORNING

ND PLAYER
Take him, POTUS.

A nervous young aide, BILLY, gives the President a wide berth

as ANITA, a sharply-dressed woman in her fifties, calls out
from the sidelines:

ANITA
He’s got no left, kid!

With that, the President rockets by Billy with his right for
an easy lay-up. A little too easy.

AXTON
That’s game.

A few high-fives and “good games” end what we glean is an

early-morning routine in the Axton Administration. The
President approaches Anita who, as Chief of Staff, has earned
the right to trash her boss’ game:

ANITA
I told him you have no left.
 7.

Their bond is self-evident and their banter quick as they

trek up the South Lawn driveway and we PAN UP to REVEAL: THE
WHITE HOUSE, bathed in the glow of a late-November morning.

AXTON
I can go left or right.

Anita thinking a moment. Axton notices.

AXTON (CONT’D)
You’re trying to formulate a joke.

ANITA
No, I’m--

AXTON
Something to do with Compromiser-in-
Chief, maybe.

ANITA
It’s not fun when you help.

AXTON
The letter I read last night--

ANITA
Farmer in Minnesota.

AXTON
No, bike shop manager in Dubuque.
She made a compelling case about
the unintended consequences of the
CFPB’s sustainability rule--

ANITA
Which--

AXTON
The one we rolled out last year.
Let’s get a working group to dig in
this week. See if we should adjust.

Anita makes a note as they continue to walk.

AXTON (CONT’D)
And let’s push Approps on a clean
CR. I want to give the American
people some sense of confidence as
we enter the holidays.

ANITA
I’ll have OLA reach out.
 8.

AXTON
The twenty-three-year-old press
aide’s still afraid to guard me.

ANITA
He’s a twenty-three-year-old press
aide. If he wasn’t terrified every
time he walked through the
Northwest Gate, I’d fire him for
cause.

AXTON
What’s next?

ANITA
You have half hour before the PDB.
And Alexander needs ten minutes
prior to your “siv-itz” to discuss
G7 protocol.

Axton waves to a groundskeeper.

AXTON
Morning, PJ!
(back to Anita)
Alexander fills ten minutes. Give
him two. I’ll see you in the Oval.

ANITA
Mr. President, the snap election--

AXTON
--Yep.

Which shuts that down, Anita not sure why.

ANITA
Pardoning at six, sir.

AXTON
The indignities of this office
never cease to amaze me.

ANITA
I’m the one who calls you sir. Sir.

An AGENT opens the door as they reach the White House.

AXTON
(back turned; on the move)
Damn right you do.
 9.

INT. OVAL OFFICE - MORNING

Axton, now in a sharp suit, sits by the fireplace next to

Anita as GENERALS and intimidating men and women in power
suits, plus Ben, provide the Presidential Daily Briefing.

HARRY
What’s next?

GENERAL
Yemen.

AXTON
Deteriorating.

GENERAL
Quickly, sir. And Russia isn’t
stepping up to the plate. It’s
DNI’s assessment that President
Vitaly is playing both sides.

AXTON
And what does my Secretary of State
say?

BEN
The situation is untenable, sir.
Sooner rather than later, our hand
is going to be forced. Possibly
unilaterally. But provoking Russia--

AXTON
Only escalates the tensions.

BEN
And doing so would torpedo the Iran
deal. So, we play nice with Vitaly
for the time-being and end-run the
rebels separately.

AXTON
We’ll build a consensus at the G7-
plus-one.

GENERAL
The snap election could affect that-

AXTON
I know where Paxhouse stands.

ANITA
And Walker--
 10.

AXTON
Walker can only win if the affluent
suburbs come in plus eleven, the
urban areas hold steady, and the
rural west is depressed relative to
three years ago. Chances are
roughly seven percent.
(slowing down)
Her recent debate performance
notwithstanding.
(off their looks)
What? I do my reading assignments.

He closes his briefing book, signaling the end of the

meeting. The generals and suits are replaced by a more
political-looking crew, including BECCA, the early-thirties
press secretary, and an older political strategist, CONNOR.

Axton moves to the Resolute Desk, props himself up casually.

CONNOR
Your UNGA speech played well.

AXTON
It was platitudes without a plan.

ANITA
Someone’s in a good mood today.

AXTON
Don’t do the thing where you talk
about me like I’m not in the room.

ANITA
Mhmm.

AXTON
And don’t talk about my mood to
other staff when you walk out of
here, either. It’s unbecoming.

CONNOR
Unbecoming?

AXTON
It’s annoying. And I’m the
President and it annoys me.

ANITA
(joking)
You know his mood is bad when he
reminds you he’s the President.
 11.

AXTON
What’s next?

BECCA
I’m planning to confirm your France
travel at the top of tomorrow’s
briefing, sir. And we’re drafting
statements in advance of the
Paxhouse-Walker election.

On Axton - a beat too long, his attention elsewhere.

INT. OUTER OVAL OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

Connor and Becca close the door to the Oval behind them as
they encounter AIDES going about their business.

CONNOR
(to aide)
He’s in a bad mood.

BECCA
(to another aide)
Totally off today. Not himself.

INT. OVAL OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER

Axton takes a seat behind his desk. Something’s on his mind.

As we’re thrust back twenty-some years to BEGIN FLASHBACK:

EXT. OXFORD UNIVERSITY - EVENING

The sun sets over the Radcliffe Camera Library, its Palladian
dome striking against the orange-red of the advancing night.
This is Oxford University...

INT. OXFORD PUB - EVENING

Where President Axton is just Harry (27), a grad student and

TA at the turn of the Millennium, drinking with his best
friend Ben (27) who’s a long way off from Secretary of State.

STEPH (21), winds her way through the raucous bar to Axton
who’s chatting with Ben. She grabs Axton’s arm.

STEPH
I need a favor. My friend over
there, pretty girl in green, she
needs a bit of saving. Stuck with a
complete ass.
(MORE)
 12.

STEPH (CONT'D)
You seem moderately normal. Go
pretend to be her boyfriend, and
next round’s on me.

Ben gives Axton a nudge. He wants a free drink...

AXTON
(beginning to go)
Over there in green?

STEPH
Can’t miss her.

INT. OXFORD PUB - MOMENTS LATER

Axton approaches a woman in a greenish dress. We can’t yet

see her face, but she’s talking to PATRICK (25) who is
unusually handsome albeit somewhat boring. Axton eavesdrops.

PATRICK
The trauma will always be there. I
have a hard time talking about it.

Axton winces, readies himself, slides into the conversation.

AXTON
(handing her a drink)
Hey honey, here you go.

Axton puts his arm around her and we REVEAL: It’s Ella (22),
a driven undergrad decades from running for Prime Minister.

PATRICK ELLA
Honey? Honey?

ELLA (CONT’D)
And you are?

AXTON
Very funny, dear. I’m only the love
of your life.
(offering Patrick a shake)
Name’s Harry.
(now less confident)
I’m Harry...

PATRICK
Patrick. And you know her how?

AXTON
Longtime boyfriend.
 13.

ELLA
Longtime?

AXTON
Longtime.

PATRICK
Oh, I didn’t know--

AXTON
No, suppose you didn’t.

Ella, at first recoiling, recognizes a charm in Axton’s false

bravado and goes with it. She kisses him on the cheek.

ELLA
Patrick was just recounting his
trip to Rwanda rebuilding schools
and helping combat genocide.

Axton’s eyes bulge. He doesn’t know what to say for a beat...

AXTON
Thank you for your service.

PATRICK
I’m not in the military. I don’t
believe in violence.

AXTON
Fortunate for both of us. You’re a
very tall, classically handsome
man. Any girl would be lucky--

ELLA
Sweetie, should we go?

AXTON
Please God.

INT. OXFORD PUB - MOMENTS LATER

Ella and Axton make their way to the bar.

ELLA
Kind of a bold move.

AXTON
Slightly less so considering your
friend bribed me.

ELLA
What friend?
 14.

Steph approaches angrily. Ben’s in back at the bar.

STEPH
Who the hell’s this?

ELLA
I’m Ella.

AXTON
(to Ella)
Lovely to meet you.

STEPH
Wanker - you got the wrong girl!

AXTON
You said the green dress.

STEPH
(leaving)
It’s clearly turquoise!

Axton and Ella alone now. He eyes her. A chagrined smile.

ELLA
She’s wrong, you know.

AXTON
I didn’t get the wrong girl?

Their eyes meet, his false confidence turning real. Ella

thinks a beat. Smiles.

ELLA
This dress is more of a sea foam.

Off these two, a glimmer between them. And we END FLASHBACK:

INT. WHITE HOUSE - OVAL OFFICE - MORNING

Anita enters, finds Axton at his desk where we left him.

ANITA
I’ve been your chief of staff long
enough to know when something’s
bothering you.

AXTON
Nothing’s bothering me.

ANITA
With respect, Mr. President--
 15.

AXTON
And if there was something
bothering me, doesn’t mean it needs
to be analyzed like a piece of
legislation or a matter of state.
I’m a person. People get bothered.

ANITA
You’re the President.

AXTON
And what does it say of your mood
when you’re reminding me that I’m
the President?

Whatever mild tension existed now breaking.

ANITA
Lassitude?

AXTON
Lassitude?

ANITA
I’ve been Googling synonyms for
exhaustion.

AXTON
(thinking a moment)
Torpor.

ANITA
Oh, good one.

AXTON
Speaking of exhaustion, how many
days until my meeting with Sam?

ANITA
410, sir.

They smile a moment. Axton takes a breath before digging in:

AXTON
Let’s stand up a meeting with the
Chiefs on Yemen and set a call with
the Kremlin to follow. And I have
notes on the OMB...

We pull out as Axton and Anita continue the diligent work of

the presidency even as their words trail off and we PRE-LAP:

NEWS ANCHOR (V.O.)

As we near 9PM...
 16.

EXT. LONDON SKYLINE - NIGHTFALL

The sun sets on London. We follow the night quickly -

stylistically - ever darker until:

NEWS ANCHOR (V.O.)

...a snap election ordered at the
request...

INT. PUB - NIGHT

Locals toss back beers, eyes on the small TV behind the bar:

NEWS ANCHOR (ON TV)

...of Prime Minister Paxhouse and
ratified by a two-thirds vote in
the House of Commons will conclude.

INT. 10 DOWNING STREET - OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

Where Paxhouse, surrounded by the trappings of the Prime-

Ministership, consults his victory speech.

NEWS ANCHOR (ON TV)

Paxhouse aims to strengthen his
hand as the world grapples with
several thorny international
issues, foremost among them: what
to do in Yemen where rebels,
thought to be backed by Russia,
have made a bad situation worse.

INT. HOTEL SUITE - CONTINUOUS

Sandra on the couch. Ella in the background with a document.

NEWS ANCHOR (ON TV)

And MP Ella Walker, recently
thought un-electable, surging here
at the end - looking to upend the
political system and send her own
global message.

We find Ella, focused, frustrated.

ELLA
This concession speech is shit.

SANDRA
Fortunately, you won’t need it.
 17.

ELLA
An optimist to the end.

An excited AIDE rushes in. This has to be good news.

AIDE
Exit polls.

SANDRA
Yeah, out with it!

AIDE
High-end suburbs are plus...
(fumbling with phone)
...plus eight!

Ella and Sandra deflate; the aide notices - just as Lindsey

walks by with more tea. She also notices.

SANDRA
Great, great - keep us posted.

ELLA
(once the room is clear)
Plus eight is not plus eleven.

SANDRA
It’s still early.

ELLA
Yeah.

SANDRA
You may be right to take a pass on
the speech though. Just to be
responsible.

INT. OVAL OFFICE - EARLY EVENING

CLOSE ON: An iPad, which Axton peruses, as we catch the

headline about the snap election:

“Early returns suggest Paxhouse to remain; too soon to say.”

Axton quickly covers the iPad as the door to the Oval opens
and an aide escorts BOB inside.

Bob’s the Chairman of the National Turkey Federation [nb:

this is a real thing] and he looks exactly like you’d expect
the Chairman of the National Turkey Federation to look.

AXTON
Mr. Chairman.
 18.

BOB
Mr. President, please call me Bob.

As an OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER snaps a picture.

AXTON
All right, should we pardon some
turkeys, Bob?

Axton ushers him to the door to the Rose Garden, ready to

exit when Bob gets uncomfortable...

BOB
I’m sorry, sir. This is the seventh
year we’ve done this--

AXTON
And my support for the National
Turkey Federation remains
steadfast.

BOB
I have to confess something.

Axton really doesn’t have time for this, but hides it well.

BOB (CONT’D)
We say the pardoned turkeys go off
to a farm in Pennsylvania to live
out their lives.

AXTON
Yes.

BOB
And they do.

AXTON
Good.

BOB
But the rest of their lives is only
about three weeks. You see, we
fatten them up so direly that they
succumb to obesity within days of
their supposed freedom.

AXTON
Well, all turkeys die.

BOB
They literally collapse under their
own weight.
(MORE)
 19.

BOB (CONT'D)
And since they’re technically
pardoned, we don’t allow them to be
eaten. Typically, we incinerate
them.

AXTON
OK, Bob, I’ll be sure not to
mention that to the children
waiting for us in the Rose Garden.

BOB
Their names this year are Candied
and Yams!

As they exit the Oval...

INT. HOTEL SUITE - NIGHT

Ella at work on her speech.

ELLA
First line: I want to congratulate
Prime Minister Paxhouse on the
impressive race he ran against my
ex-husband.

SANDRA
(laughing)
Okay, that’s pretty good.

The aide from before bursts back in with an iPhone.

AIDE
The rural west!

Sandra takes the phone. Ella stands.

SANDRA
(reading)
Down nine.

ELLA
West was supposed to be up.

SANDRA
Holy shit. Down nine.

ELLA
Down nine?

Another AIDE enters.

 20.

AIDE 2
Urban exits.

ELLA
Steady?

AIDE 2
Up from three years ago. Four
percent.

ELLA
Urban areas weren’t supposed to
move.

SANDRA
If these trends hold, you’re the
next Prime Minister of the United
Kingdom.

INT. OVAL OFFICE - EVENING

Axton enters from the Rose Garden to find Ben waiting.

Something very clearly on his mind. News.

BEN
This is going to be awkward.

BEGIN FLASHBACK:

INT. OXFORD DORMS - AXTON’S ROOM - MORNING

A sea foam dress rests on the floor. We find Axton and Ella -
together, asleep. Axton slowly stirs, rolls over. His hand
inadvertently touches Ella’s, waking them both.

AXTON
Hi.

ELLA
Hi.

A prolonged, uneasy beat before Ella spots the clock.

ELLA (CONT’D)
Shit. I have a class!

AXTON
Ah, me too.
(as she hurries from bed)
Whoa, Ella: that’s it? I don’t even
know your last name.
 21.

ELLA
I’m sure that’s not necessary.

Axton gets up. He’s shirtless and she notices. He approaches.

AXTON
Can I have your number?

ELLA
Not sure that’s necessary either.

AXTON
(wry)
Should we hug?

ELLA
Look, I don’t know what got into
me. This isn’t who I am.

AXTON
Who are you?

Ella puts her hand out for an extremely platonic shake.

ELLA
I’m Ella Walker, and I do not do
one-night stands.

AXTON
(smirking)
In that case, you really better
give me your number.

PRE-LAP the crackling of chalk against slate.

INT. OXFORD CLASSROOM - DAY

A PROFESSOR (70s) turns from the chalk board, pontificating.

PROFESSOR
Moral licensing is the idea wherein
one believes that the good they’ve
done entitles them to the wrong
they’re about to do. Take the
American President, for example.
(off students’ murmurs)
No, really. Clinton likely
rationalized his behavior with Ms.
Lewinski such that he had done so
much good for so many people that
he permitted himself the dalliance.
 22.

ATTENTIVE STUDENT
The good outweighed the bad.

PROFESSOR
Correct. Now, here’s where it gets
interesting. We usually look at
moral licensing on an individual,
self-centric level. But, where’s my
American TA. Harry...

Axton, with other TAs (it’s a big class), raises his hand.

PROFESSOR (CONT’D)
Yes, you...

AXTON
Harry Axton.

PROFESSOR
Right. American Harry Axton.

REVEAL: Ella, seated in the middle, recognizes him. Stunned.

PROFESSOR (CONT’D)
Last year, your President was mired
in scandal. Imagine it, a President
discussing his sex life! I don’t
think we’ll ever see a more
embarrassing moment at the White
House! And yet today...

AXTON
People love him.

PROFESSOR
Exactly! His approval ratings have
never been higher! Now, most
Americans would say cheating on
your wife with an intern is...

AXTON
Not ideal.

The large lecture hall rumbles with a bit of laughter.

PROFESSOR
And yet those same Americans are
willing to look past it. Why do you
think that is?

ELLA (O.S.)
Because Bill Clinton has a penis.
 23.

HARRY
Pretty sure that’s what got him
into trouble in the first place.

More laughter, except for from Ella who turns to Axton. He

realizes in this moment exactly who Ella is. He’s shocked.

ELLA
Pretty sure that’s also what
ensures he’ll never truly face the
consequences of his actions.

HARRY
What if he didn’t know?
(beat)
Suppose he was single and he didn’t
know she... worked there? What if
he just really liked her?

Ella takes a beat. They’re talking about something else now.

ELLA
How could he not know?

AXTON
There are lots of people at the
White House. He can’t be expected
to know all of them. What if--

ELLA
No “what if’s.” I’m talking about
the real world, where he won’t be
held accountable.

AXTON
He got impeached in the real world.

ELLA
And came out ahead. All because of
his cock.

The classroom goes wild. The professor works to quiet them.

AXTON
I get what you’re saying. This
Lewinski girl’s life is ruined.

ELLA
Don’t do that.

AXTON
Don’t do what?
 24.

ELLA
Her life doesn’t have to be defined
by a blowjob.

The professor, who seems to be enjoying the debate, grimaces.

AXTON
Maybe it doesn’t have to be, but 25
years from now, this is what she’ll
be known for.

ELLA
I refuse to believe that the world
will be so uninteresting in 25
years that we’ll still be talking
about this.

AXTON
As long as we’re still talking.

PROFESSOR
All right, all right. I think you
two are in violent agreement.

AXTON
It’s all Clinton’s fault.

ELLA
It’s not all Clinton’s fault. He
didn’t force himself on her.

AXTON
He didn’t have to. He’s the
President, and she’s an intern.

ELLA
Don’t do that either.

The Professor gives a “here-we-go” look.

AXTON
What?

ELLA
Discount her experience entirely.
They’re both people. By your
rationale, the President can’t have
a relationship with anybody because
he’s more powerful than everybody.

AXTON
Presidents have peers.
 25.

ELLA
Not in the States.

AXTON
OK, so back to my initial question:
what if somebody in a position of
power just happened to like
somebody who... wasn’t? Yet.

Off Ella, considering.

EXT. OXFORD CLASSROOM - LATER

Axton exits with a sea of students, looking for Ella on the

outdoor walkway. He spots her. Struggles to catch up.

AXTON
Ella!
(catching up)
Ella Walker! I knew I recognized
that name.

She keeps walking.

AXTON (CONT’D)
You reached out to the professor--

ELLA
The internship.

AXTON
Right! Right. You get it?

ELLA
Interview’s tomorrow.

AXTON
You’ll get it. You’re very
political.

ELLA
What’s that supposed to mean?

AXTON
Nothing, it’s just... all that talk
and I don’t actually know where you
stand on Bill Clinton.

ELLA
I find that cynicism and charm are
mutually exclusive.
 26.

AXTON
What if I’m genuinely charmed by
you and you’re too cynical to see
it?
(she’s ahead of him now)
How ‘bout a tour?
(she turns, confused)
Once you get the internship, can I
get a tour of 10 Downing Street?

ELLA
Number 10.

AXTON
Huh?

ELLA
We call it Number 10 here. Not Ten
Downing Street. Not Downing Street.
Just Number 10.

AXTON
That’s a fun British fact.
(off her eye roll)
You really don’t think we should
talk?

ELLA
There’s nothing to discuss. We
bonked. Turns out you’re my TA. It
was a mistake.

AXTON
Or fate.

ELLA
Fuck fate.

AXTON
How refreshingly unromantic.

ELLA
Are you suggesting there’s some
baseline of romance I’m expected to
live up to?

For the first time, Axton’s caught off guard. She notices.

ELLA (CONT’D)
Relax. I’m messing with you.

AXTON
Wait, bonk?
 27.

ELLA
Yeah, like fuck.

AXTON
As in fate?

ELLA
Fate removes choice, so yes, fuck
fate. Now, I’m choosing to leave.

INT. OXFORD DORM - AXTON’S COMMON AREA - NIGHT

Axton sits at his small dorm desk. Ben approaches.

BEN
Are we going to talk about it?

AXTON
What’s there to talk about?

BEN
She’s your student.

AXTON
She’s not. I’m an unpaid TA.

BEN
You grade her papers.

AXTON
She’s amazing.

Ben’s now behind the desk, too - they both eye the phone.

BEN
Are you gonna call her?

END FLASHBACK and...

MATCH CUT TO:

INT. OVAL OFFICE - EVENING

Where we find President Axton and Secretary Wolcott. They’re

in the same position, huddled together looking hesitantly at
a phone. Only this time, they’re at the RESOLUTE DESK.

Axton can’t wrap his head around this moment, he lingers...

 28.

BEN
Sir.
(still nothing)
Harry.

Which prods Axton to pick up the phone as we INTERCUT with:

INT. HOTEL SUITE - SIMULTANEOUS

Where Ella - seated with Sandra - takes a deep breath. She

looks at the phone. A beat. She picks up.

AXTON
Madam Prime Minister-elect.

ELLA
Mr. President.

AXTON
Congratulate.

Axton has a paper with “Talking Points” before him.

ELLA
(light-hearted)
Is that an order?

The first bulleted point reads: “Congratulate.” We hang on

this awkward beat for a moment before he recovers.

AXTON
Congratulations - excuse me - on
your momentous victory tonight.

ELLA
Thank you, sir. It’s been a surreal
evening, but I look forward to the
work ahead, and I particularly look
forward to the continued alliance
between our two nations.

A beat, clearly Axton’s turn to speak. We find the talking

points page again. He’s at the second bullet, which reads:
“Discuss Special Relationship.” He’s completely thrown.

ELLA (CONT’D)
Well, it’s been a long day. A
remarkable day.

AXTON
I pardoned a turkey today.
 29.

ELLA
Maybe not quite so much for you--

AXTON
Funny thing... the birds die just a
few weeks after the pardoning. They
literally collapse under their own
weight before being incinerated.

ELLA
Well. That is a funny thing if I’ve
ever heard one.

This is brutal.

AXTON
I look forward to meeting you at
the G7-plus-one in France.

ELLA
It will be good to see you, too -
and to work toward an international
consensus on Yemen.

She’s going there...

AXTON
Right. Well, Prime Minister
Paxhouse and I were largely on the
same page with respect to--

ELLA
(putting him in his place)
As you know, Mr. President, we’ve
begun a new chapter tonight.

AXTON
Right.

ELLA
Thank you for your call, Mr.
President.

INT. OVAL OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

AXTON
Madame Prime Minister.

Axton hangs up, head in his hands.

 30.

AXTON (CONT’D)
One day, a very, very long time
from now, we’ll laugh about what
just happened.

BEN
Sir, if it’s all the same to you,
I’m going to laugh about that the
moment I walk out of your office.

INT. HOTEL SUITE - CONTINUOUS

Sandra eagerly awaits what Ella has to say.

ELLA
All things considered, I’d say he’s
handling things... fine.

SANDRA
How’d he react about Yemen?

ELLA
He spoke primarily of obese birds.

An aide pops her head in.

AIDE
Ma’am. The President of Russia is
on the line.

SANDRA
This is going to get complicated.

Off Ella... complicated’s an understatement.

EXT. DC ESTABLISHING SHOTS - MORNING

Over...

NEWS REPORT (V.O.)

The world wakes up to a new
political order this morning...

NEWS REPORT 2
Upstart candidate Ella Walker has
pulled off the impossible...

NEWS REPORT 3
Though Paxhouse is threatening to
fight the results in court.
 31.

INT. WHITE HOUSE - BASEMENT CROSS HALL - MORNING

We track along the famous red carpeting and arched, marble

ceiling of the Basement Cross Hall where Presidents make the
trek from their elevator toward the West Wing.

TV PUNDIT (V.O.)
The UK has a new leader, and
President Axton has a new player to
contend with.

We find a television and zero-in on a pundit roundtable.

TV PUNDIT 2 (ON TV)

All while he struggles to develop a
plan to deal with the crisis in
Yemen and unpack Russia’s role in
the devastation.

TV PUNDIT 3 (ON TV)

The Iran Deal he’s hyped for months
may hang in the balance.

TV PUNDIT 4 (ON TV)

It has nothing to do with hype. The
Iran Deal represents the most
sweeping, systematic reforms that
country’s seen in generations.

TV PUNDIT 2 (ON TV)

Hype or not, the President’s tied
his legacy to the deal.

TV PUNDIT 3 (ON TV)

And if he doesn’t play the next few
months very carefully, he can kiss
both goodbye.

INT. PALM ROOM/EXT. COLONNADE - CONTINUOUS

Where a door swings open, Axton bursts through, and Anita

falls into step.

AXTON
Hello.

ANITA
Morning, sir.

They walk briskly through the bright and airy Palm Room, then
down the Colonnade famous for countless presidential strolls.
 32.

ANITA (CONT’D)
PDB at nine; senior advisors is
nine-thirty; and your sit-room
briefing’s at ten. Then, depending
on what we learn, speech prep--

AXTON
I’d like a look at the readout of
my call last night before it goes
to press.

ANITA
The Walker congratulations? It’ll
be pro-forma.

AXTON
All the same. I’d like to see it.

ANITA
Okay.

AXTON
Matter of fact, just send whomever
wrote it to the Oval.

INT. OVAL OFFICE - MORNING

The door to the Oval creaks open. Anita peeks her head in.

ANITA
I have Billy for you.

AXTON
The basketball kid?

ANITA
Turns out, he also writes pro-forma
press releases.

She opens the door farther - revealing a wide-eyed Billy

who’s clearly never been in the Oval Office before.

EXT. OUTER OVAL OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER

Anita closes the door to the Oval behind her and looks to the
President’s secretary, TORI, seated just outside the door.

ANITA
Tori, do you have a copy of
yesterday’s PDB?

Tori nods, reaches into her desk. Off Anita, considering...

 33.

INT. OVAL OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER

Billy stands in front of the Resolute Desk as Axton looks

over a paper.

AXTON
It’s nice work. Just a few nits.

Billy can barely speak. Beads of sweat dot his forehead.

AXTON (CONT’D)
For instance, here you’ve written
“deepening our special
relationship.” That’s hitting my
ear wrong.

BILLY
Oh, I’m so sorry, sir. I was told
it’s the diplomatic term of art...

AXTON
This comma. Do we think it’s
necessary?

BILLY
Well, I just thought it was a nice
pause within the sentence, but--

Axton scribbles on the page. Crossing out entire sentences.

AXTON
(handing over the paper)
I think we can be a little more
concise. Brevity is important.
(as Billy heads out)
And Billy.

He turns, nervous as hell.

AXTON (CONT’D)
How many people were listening in
on the call last night?

Billy squints, thinking, as we...

MATCH CUT TO:

INT. WHITE HOUSE PRESS BRIEFING ROOM - LATER

CLOSE ON: Anita watching intently from the back of the room
where Becca stands at the podium before dozens of reporters.
 34.

BECCA
Before I take your questions, I
have a readout of the President’s
congratulatory call to Prime
Minister-Elect Ella Walker of the
United Kingdom.

She shuffles papers, looks down, begins reading.

BECCA (CONT’D)
“President Axton last night called
Prime Minister-Elect Ella Walker to
offer his congratulations following
the outcome of the general election
in the United Kingdom.”

An awkward beat. Becca turns the paper over. Nope, that’s it.
Anita exits out the back.

BECCA (CONT’D)
AP, kick us off.

AP REPORTER
Thanks, Becca. Did the President
and Prime Minister-elect discuss
Russia’s role in the war in Yemen?

INT. PRIVATE STUDY OFF THE OVAL - CONTINUOUS

REVEAL: Axton and Ben having lunch, watching the briefing.

BECCA (ON TV)

You know, I’ll have to let the
readout speak for itself.

The door to the study swings open and Anita enters, our
attention drawn away from the television.

ANITA
With all due respect, what the hell
is going on?

AXTON
In which hemisphere?

ANITA
This one. I read your PDB from
yesterday.

Axton knows what’s coming. Ben doesn’t.

 35.

ANITA (CONT’D)
Those numbers you cited about Ella
Walker’s election weren’t in there.
That coupled with your edited
readout and botched congratulations
call lead me to ask again--

AXTON ANITA (CONT'D)

“Botched” is a strong-- What the hell is going on?

They look at each other. Ben nods to Axton, then:

AXTON BEN
Shut the door. Close the door.

INT. WHITE HOUSE PRESS BRIEFING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Where Becca continues sparring with the press corps.

REPORTER 2
Becca, Prime Minister Paxhouse is
disputing the results of the
election. Does that put the
President in a difficult position?

PULL OUT to REVEAL:

INT. BRITISH OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

Ella marks up a draft speech as Sandra assiduously checks her

phone. The American press briefing plays in the background.
Ella reacts to the reporter’s question.

ELLA
(eyes remain on paper)
No, it puts me in a difficult
situation.

SANDRA
Paxhouse is all bluster. It’s hard
for a man like that to admit he
lost to you. Besides, he’s getting
exactly no traction. The U.K. is
swept up in Ella-fever.

ELLA
Thank you.

Sandra gives a quizzical “what for?” look.

 36.

ELLA (CONT’D)
For being my cheerleader when I
needed one. For believing that this
was possible when I didn’t.
(off Sandra’s grin)
You didn’t believe it either!

SANDRA
Of course I didn’t. May not have
gone to Oxford, but I’m not dead
from the neck up.

ELLA
(smiling)
Sod off!

SANDRA
I’m not lying about the Ella-fever.
That’s real. More people learn
about you, more they love you.
(concerned)
But it’s like you said. The press
will look for a plot twist.

ELLA
There’s nothing to find.

SANDRA
So your college sweetheart becomes
the American President... and you
keep it a secret for seven years?

ELLA
Essentially.

SANDRA
But you told me.

ELLA
As my campaign manager, telling you
was the responsible decision.
Telling anyone else would have been
the irresponsible decision. You’re
the only one who knows.

SANDRA
What about at Oxford?

ELLA
He was my TA. Not something I
wanted to advertise.

SANDRA
So nobody?
 37.

ELLA
Well, Ben, of course.

SANDRA
Ben?

ELLA
The Secretary of State.

SANDRA
Naturally.

INT. WHITE HOUSE PRESS BRIEFING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Back with Becca adeptly handling the press.

BECCA
Again, I won’t speculate on the
internal politics of an ally,
except to say the next Prime
Minister will continue to enjoy a
Special Relationship with the
United States.

REPORTER 2
A follow up?
(off Becca’s nod)
Ms. Walker seems less than
comfortable with the options
floated by this White House and
outgoing Prime Minister Paxhouse
with respect to Russia vis-a-vis
Yemen. How do you move past that?

BECCA
The Brits once literally set the
White House on fire. If we got past
that, I think we’ll be fine.

ANITA (PRE-LAP)
We’re screwed!

INT. PRIVATE STUDY OFF THE OVAL - MOMENTS LATER

Where we find Axton, Ben, and a now in-the-loop Anita.

AXTON
It’s not ideal.

ANITA
(to Axton)
How could you not flag this for me?
 38.

BEN
She only had a seven--

ANITA
Percent chance. So POTUS mentioned.
Do I need to mention probability
forecasting is nonsense?

BEN
We can contain this.

ANITA
Who else knows?

AXTON
No one outside of this room.

ANITA
Except, of course, for the woman
preparing to move into Ten Downing
Street.

AXTON
Number Ten.

ANITA
What?

AXTON
They call it Number Ten. The Brits,
I mean.

ANITA
Who knows on her end?

AXTON
Unclear. We haven’t been in touch
in twenty-some years.

BEN
Except for last night’s call.

ANITA
(sarcastic)
Which went great.

AXTON
I know you’re frustrated.

ANITA
Mr. President, were you in love?

AXTON
Excuse me?
 39.

ANITA
The situation is dire enough as it
is, but I need to know how--

AXTON
We weren’t.

ANITA
Sir, if this got out--

AXTON
I know.

ANITA
It would entirely derail the legacy
plan we’ve put into place. Her
election would be re-litigated. And
it would overwhelm the Vice
President’s campaign.

BEN
We’ve kept the Vice President
isolated. She has total cover.

ANITA
Every foreign policy decision you
make would be tainted by the
appearance of impropriety. The
global credibility you’ve built
drop by drop over the last seven
years would be poured away in
buckets.

AXTON
I agree with everything you just
said. But I think Ben’s right. We
can contain this.

ANITA
On our side. Maybe. But not her’s.
She wasn’t even an MP when you won.

AXTON
So?

ANITA
So your ex-boyfriend becomes
President of the United States, you
mention it to some people.

AXTON
Not Ella.
 40.

ANITA
How do you know?

AXTON
I know.

ANITA
You’re willing to bet your
presidency on that?

A beat. Axton exhales.

AXTON
We’ve got some time to get our
heads around this.

As attention turns back to the TV playing the press briefing,

which is wrapping up. Connor hands her a piece of paper.

BECCA (ON TV)

Right, meant to mention this at the
top. I can confirm the President’s
travel next month to Paris, France
for the G7-plus-one where he will
meet with world leaders, including
his first face-to-face with Prime
Minister-Elect Walker.

Back on Axton, Ben, and Anita - watching.

BEN
Time flies.

BEGIN FLASHBACK on the...

I/E. OXFORD UNIVERSITY BOOKSTORE - DAY

JINGLING of Christmas bells, which ring as Ella enters the

bookstore. She notices Axton at the counter, purchasing
something. Scrambling to look busy, she finds a book as...

AXTON
Ella, hey.

ELLA
Hi.
(an awkward beat)
Listen, I got your message. It’s
been--I’m not trying to avoid you.

AXTON
It’s okay if you are.
 41.

He smirks. She allows a slight smile.

ELLA
Just a crazy week.

AXTON
Oh. Right. The interview. How’d--

ELLA
I made it to the next round.

AXTON
That’s great. Congratulations.

ELLA
It’s not a done deal. Final
interview’s in six weeks.

AXTON
I’m sure they’ll find you equally
prompt and productive then.
(a beat; Axton redirects)
OK, I’ll let you get back to
your... light porn.

REVEAL: Ella’s accidentally grabbed an erotic romance novel.

He begins to go. We’re on her a beat before...

EXT. OXFORD UNIVERSITY - MOMENTS LATER

Axton striding through campus. This time Ella follows.

ELLA
Why’d you say that?

AXTON
No judgment here. Erotica is a
foundation of literature--

ELLA
“Prompt and productive.” Why’d you
use those words?

AXTON
(lighting a cigarette)
Oh.

ELLA
You smoke?

AXTON
You care that I smoke?
 42.

ELLA
No.
(frustration building)
I care that you went through my
files. I care that you read the
professor’s recommendation letter.
That’s completely over the line!

AXTON
I didn’t read it.

He gives a look. His eyes a bit bulgy. Ella goes ashen.

ELLA
Bloody hell!

AXTON
It was before I knew who you were.

ELLA
So I’m the girl who slept with the
guy who wrote her a letter of
recommendation?

AXTON
No, you’re the girl who does not do
one-night stands.

ELLA
You don’t know anything about me.

AXTON
I’d like to.

ELLA
You’re my teacher.

AXTON
I’m an unpaid TA.

ELLA
Do you grade papers?

Axton hesitates. Ella’s got him.

AXTON
Because the professor’s like a
hundred years old!

ELLA
(re: a book he’s holding)
What’s that?
 43.

AXTON
Less titillating than what you’re
used to...

ELLA
“The History of Number 10”?

AXTON
Talking to someone you like is hard
enough. I wanted to have something
to talk about.

ELLA
Harry, this isn’t happening.

AXTON
Why?

ELLA
Don’t you remember? I have a
longtime boyfriend.

AXTON
The colorblind guy? Word is he
can’t even get a call back.

ELLA
He said it’s okay if I’m avoiding
him.

Their eyes meet.

AXTON
Okay, now I’m actually confused
because I just said that to you.

ELLA
Sorry, yeah, I could see how that
could confuse my sentiment.

AXTON
Which is... that we’re...

ELLA
Not happening.

She begins to go. He calls after her:

AXTON
Fine. We’ll just be friends.

Off Ella, not convinced.

 44.

END FLASHBACK and PRE-LAP the rumble of...

EXT. SOMEWHERE OVER THE ATLANTIC OCEAN - DAY

Air Force One streaks through the sky.

INT. AIR FORCE ONE - SERIES OF SHOTS - MOMENTS LATER

We track through the famous interior of Air Force One, now

adorned with Christmas decorations. Garland sweeps along the
side hallway of the plane, passing the Secret Service cabin,
computer area, and staff quarters until we reach the
conference room - door closed - protected by a USSS Agent.

INT. AIR FORCE ONE CONFERENCE ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Ben and Anita sit at a large table. Two holiday wreaths flank
the flat screen TV behind them, which displays a map of the
plane’s progress across the Atlantic. They hold phones,
connected by wires to the table. They’re speaking with:

INT. ROYAL AIR FORCE AIRBUS VOYAGER - CONTINUOUS

Sandra, also in private quarters on a flight. Begin INTERCUT:

BEN
The President simply wanted to
ensure that we are on the same page
with our most important ally.

SANDRA
I come bearing the same message
from the Prime Minister.

ANITA
Being on the same page is
important...

A taut beat before Ben jumps in.

BEN
To do that, President Axton asked
us to build relationships with our
counterparts based in mutual
respect, trust... and transparency.

SANDRA
Personal relationships are key.
 45.

ANITA
For better or worse.

Another beat. Sandra’s still not biting.

BEN
The Special Relationship is based
on our shared history.

SANDRA
Shared histories can be
complicated.

WIDEN to REVEAL Axton seated at the other end of the table,

listening on his own phone. He mouths “she knows” to Ben and
Anita, who heed his advice.

ANITA
We know.

SANDRA
So do I.

Anita and Ben nod back to Axton. It’s clear which special
relationship they’re discussing.

ANITA
How many other people know-- I mean
really understand the nature of the
shared history, of the special
relationship?

This is the key question. A long beat ensues.

SANDRA
Just the Prime Minister.

Anita rolls her eyes “no way,” Ben exhales, and Axton nods -
knows it’s true. Ella didn’t tell anyone.

SANDRA (CONT’D)
And on your side?

BEN
The special relationship is
understood by the President, his
Chief of Staff, and myself.

ANITA
No wider understanding exists.
 46.

SANDRA
Well, then I think we understand
that the right people understand
the importance of limiting
understanding of the special
relationship.

BEN
Our understanding--

AXTON
(un-muting/hanging up)
I can’t bear this any longer. We’ll
see you in Paris, Ms. Whetstone.

INT. ROYAL AIR FORCE AIRBUS VOYAGER - CONTINUOUS

Sandra’s momentarily taken aback to have heard from the

President of the United States. Then, she looks to the corner
of the room where Ella’s been listening in, more composed.

ELLA
He was listening in.

Sandra looks to the phone Ella is still holding.

ELLA (CONT’D)
Right.

EXT. ESTABLISHING SHOTS OF PARIS - NIGHT

A little kid struggles to skate on the temporary ice rink set

before the glittering Eiffel Tower. The Champs-Elysees glows
warm with the Christmas spirit.

AMERICAN NEWS REPORT (V.O.)

Sparks are expected to fly in the
City of Lights this week as eight
of the most important global
leaders meet at the G7-plus-one.

EXT. CHARLES DE GAULLE AIRPORT - NIGHT

Air Force One touches down, the heat of the rubber generating
smoke on the tarmac.

BRITISH NEWS REPORT (V.O.)

The plus-one refers to Russia who
was officially kicked out of the
group a decade ago.
 47.

QUICK SHOTS of official planes touching down in rapid

succession: Canada, Germany, Japan, Italy, ending on the
Russian President’s wide-body, white plane with its red
Cyrillic lettering, infamous and imposing to the West.

BRITISH NEWS REPORT (ON TV)

But President Anatoly Vitaly was
invited to discuss Yemen, the
international community hoping to
find a way forward.

A grey plane barrels down the runway, slowing gradually.

“ROYAL AIR FORCE” is printed along the plane’s body.

AMERICAN NEWS REPORT (V.O.)

Any successful resolution hinges on
President Axton and Prime Minister
Walker. They’ve not spoken since
election night.

INT. ROYAL AIR FORCE AIRBUS VOYAGER - MOMENTS LATER

BRITISH NEWS REPORT (V.O.)

All eyes on our new PM as she faces
the first test of her premiership.

An ATTENDANT uses both hands to rotate the plane’s door lever

toward OPEN. And as we hear the unlocking, we...

MATCH CUT TO:

INT. G7 CONVENTION HALL - HALLWAY - MORNING

A freight elevator opens. USSS Agents spill out before we

find Axton, flanked by Ben and Anita, on the move.

BRITISH NEWS REPORT (V.O.)

A slew of diplomatic issues and
international pitfalls, beginning
with...

Axton has disappeared again, swallowed by a phalanx of aides

and Secret Service agents as we PRE-LAP:

AXTON (O.S.)
Is it one kiss or two?

INT. G7 CONVENTION HALL - BACKSTAGE - MORNING

Axton standing with Ben, Anita, and ALEXANDER (40), the

persnickety, perfectly-dressed Chief of Protocol.
 48.

ALEXANDER
There are basically two schools of
thought: firm handshake, double
kiss on the cheek. Or firm
handshake, no kiss. Never one kiss.

AXTON
And in this instance?

ALEXANDER
To foster an environment suitable
for successful diplomacy, I’m of
the mind that an embrace always
bests a handshake. But it is your
first time meeting Prime Minister
Walker, so I could go either way.

AXTON
(to Ben and Anita)
This wasn’t worked out on a staff
level?

ANITA
It was the next item on our call
before...

Fair point. Axton heads to the stage door. Alexander follows.

AXTON
I’ll wing it.

ALEXANDER
(worry building)
Those are my least favorite words!
Sir, Mr. President, sir: There are
too many variables. Building
bridges between leaders is the
first step to building bridges
between governments! And if you
know anything about structural
engineering, building bridges takes
planning, foresight--

AXTON
Alexander. I’ve got this.

INT. G7 CONVENTION HALL - FAMILY PHOTO STAGE - MOMENTS LATER

Axton enters from off-stage. The pack of reporters perk up.

Camera shutters flutter. A commotion befitting the American
President rumbles through the room as he meets...
 49.

AXTON
Remy.

REMY THOMAS, the very tactile French President (think Gad

Elmaleh). They shake hands. Remy kisses Axton on the cheek.

REMY
Bienvenue.

AXTON
Merci.

Axton makes his way down the line of six other leaders, but
we don’t see those greetings. We’re focused on Ella at the
end, standing poised. Axton comes to her.

They’re face to face. First time in 22 years. They share a

look for a split second, and Axton’s about to lean in when
Ella holds her right hand out firmly.

ELLA
Mr. President.

Axton smiles, takes her hand. They shake.

AXTON
Madam Prime Minister. It’s a
pleasure to mee--

ELLA
The pleasure’s mine. Lovely to see
you again.

That throws Axton a bit, but he recovers quickly. Smiles.

INT. G7 CONVENTION HALL - FAMILY PHOTO STAGE - MOMENTS LATER

The leaders, each in front of their flags, pose together for

a family photo. The French President, playing host, is in the
middle next to Axton. Ella is on one far end and PRESIDENT
VITALY (formidable, clever, 68) on the opposite far end. As
the photos wrap, leaders disperse. Axton approaches Ella [nb:
“pull-aside” is a diplomatic term for an impromptu meeting].

AXTON
Madam Prime Minister--

ELLA
Ella.

AXTON
Ella. I’d love a brief pull-aside
with you if--
 50.

Remy butts in. Puts his arm around Axton.

REMY
Harry, we have to discuss the new
Ambassador; he’s a disaster--

As multiple leaders approach Ella, congratulating her.

REMY (CONT’D)
You’d do well to recall him. Tres
vite! And don’t get me started on--

Axton turns towards Ella, who’s been enveloped by the

leaders. We pull away as Ella and Axton are tugged in
opposite directions.

INT. G7 CONVENTION HALL - MEETING ROOM - LATER

A presentation wrapped. Axton, Ella, and the other leaders

close their briefing books, remove their translation devices.

AXTON
Ella, would now work?

EDITH WEBER (50s), the German Chancellor, approaches Axton.

Edith’s bubbly, but dead serious when it comes to her work.

EDITH
(smiling throughout)
Harry, my friend, climate-based
migration is becoming a thing, and
your UNGA speech left me a little,
how should I say... pissed-the-hell-
off.

Harry looks briefly to Ella - and we’re with her now -

cornered by the Japanese Prime Minister, TARO ISHIBA, who
speaks through a TRANSLATOR.

TRANSLATOR
Former Prime Minister Paxhouse’s
posturing on automobiles hurt both
our countries, and it is my hope--

We pull away. Ella and Axton mired in the affairs of state.

INT. G7 CONVENTION HALL - MEETING ROOM - LATER

Leaders and their aides continue to shuffle to and fro.

Axton’s with Ben, handing him a document.
 51.

AXTON
Taro’s proposal. Proximate targets,
nothing remotely forward-looking--

He notices Ben’s attention drawn to something behind him.

Axton turns to find:

ELLA
Mr. President, you wanted a pull-
aside?

AXTON
I did.

They head off together. Ella nods to Ben.

ELLA
Lovely to see you again, Ben.

Ben looks around, puzzled, worried someone could have heard -

but no one’s around... save for Sandra.

SANDRA
Here we go.

As we PRE-LAP a swift ZIPPERING.

INT. TENT - MOMENTS LATER

Axton finishes zipping a large white tent door from the

inside. Ella sits across from him.

WE PULL OUT TO:

INT. U.S. CONTROLLED PREP ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Where the tent sits awkwardly in the middle of the room. An

AGENT clicks on a stereo that plays POP MUSIC [nb: this is
really how the United States Government helps combat spying].

INT. TENT - CONTINUOUS

The music can be heard, but less clearly.

AXTON
(re: music)
It muffles any listening devices.
And the tent ensures no cameras...
 52.

ELLA
Thank you for the basic training in
op-sec, but I have bilat prep I
could be tending to so why don’t we-

AXTON
Yes, no, of course. I just think we
need to talk...
(Ella’s not budging)
About us. Our past.

ELLA
Mr. President, I was just elected
Prime Minister, not prom queen.

AXTON
Which is exactly why we need to get
a handle on a few things,
especially our history.

ELLA
Mr. President--

AXTON
Ella, first of all, call me Harry.
Second, this is no longer just a
personal matter.

ELLA
Harry. You want to talk? Let’s talk
about tomorrow’s principal’s
meeting.

AXTON
Ella, seriously, we--

ELLA
I don’t think I’ve ever been more
serious in my life.

AXTON
Fine. Let’s talk about tomorrow.
I’m going to need you to leave some
space for Vitaly to--

ELLA
Continue flouting basic
international norms of behavior?

AXTON
No. Space to preserve flexibility.
 53.

ELLA
There’s an inspired foreign policy
doctrine if I’ve ever heard one.

AXTON
We need to maintain a range of
ideas that includes Vitaly, so he
can find his way to a position we
can work with.

ELLA
(unzipping the tent)
I’d like a little space myself.

INT. U.S. CONTROLLED PREP ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Ella steps out of the tent. The music’s louder now. Axton
follows her, notices the agent (MARK).

AXTON
Mark.
(as Mark begins to go)
And Mark...

Mark clicks the stereo OFF. Ella and Axton alone again, this
time in silence.

ELLA
If there’s nothing more to discuss,
my team’s waiting.

AXTON
It’s a mistake not to talk about
it.
(that hangs a moment)
Always is.

Ella considers, notices another corner of the prep room.

ELLA
The other leaders know about this?

And we REVEAL: Life-size cardboard cutouts of all the Prime

Ministers and Presidents we’ve seen at the G7.

AXTON
No, and I’d like to keep it that
way - though I imagine they have
equally bizarre prep strategies.
 54.

ELLA
Your secret’s safe with me.
(then)
Tell me about them.

Axton approaches the cutout of the German Chancellor.

AXTON
Edith’s laser-focused on migration
right now. She’s been good on the
issue, but Germany’s on the front
lines of a crisis that could spill--

ELLA
No, tell me about them. I know
their positions. I’ve studied their
backgrounds. Tell me about what
makes them tick.

Axton isn’t quite sure where to begin.

ELLA (CONT’D)
What they’re afraid of. What they
think is funny. Politics is
personal.

AXTON
Okay. You know how everybody calls
her “Steady Eddie”?

ELLA
For her longevity on the world’s
stage and dedication to democracy.

AXTON
Sure, sure - all of that. But she
can drink like a fish without the
slightest wobble.

ELLA
Really?

AXTON
Once saw her put back five pints of
Guinness and then convince
President O’Malley to agree to
increased tariffs on Irish pharma
products flowing into Germany. It
was masterful.

ELLA
And our host for the weekend?

We focus on a photo of Remy Thomas.

 55.

AXTON
Hands-on in diplomacy and
interpersonal interactions.

ELLA
I noticed that.

AXTON
It’s almost cliche.

ELLA
Your neighbor to the North?

We note the CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER’S cardboard cutout.

AXTON
How such a polite citizenry elected
such an immense prick, I will never
understand.

ELLA
Not cliche though.

AXTON
No, and he’s a reliable partner.
Just a miserable person.

Moving to the ITALIAN PRESIDENT’S cutout.

AXTON (CONT’D)
Oh, and Lorenzo, my God, great guy -
but, by all means, avoid him at the
dinner tomorrow night. His stories
are endless.

ELLA
And with the translation...

AXTON
Doubly-so!

They smile - for the first time in a while - together. Until

they reach the next cutout: Prime Minister Ella Walker.

AXTON (CONT’D)
Ella Walker.

She rolls her eyes.

AXTON (CONT’D)
Afraid of spiders. A planner.
Accomplice to boat theft.
(she allows a smirk)
(MORE)
 56.

AXTON (CONT’D)
Never really understood what makes
her tick.

ELLA
That’s quite enough, Harry.

AXTON
She’s--

ELLA
Ready to move on to Anatoly.

Axton takes a breath, his momentum cut short, as they move to

Vitaly’s cutout. Ella’s not ready to re-live their past.

AXTON
Certainly as deluded as you’d
expect from a strongman who’s been
in power twenty-some years--

ELLA
Twenty-two.

AXTON
Right... 22. Tends to respond to
carrots.

ELLA
When was the last time you tried a
stick?

INT. G7 CONVENTION HALL - TRANSLATION ROOM - DAY

A group of TRANSLATORS sit in a darkened room, watching

something we do not see. They speak simultaneously. Different
languages. We don’t have any idea what they’re saying, but we
hear FRENCH, ENGLISH, ITALIAN, JAPANESE, and RUSSIAN.

INT. CONVENTION HALL - MEETING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

The eight leaders sit around a circular conference table, the

G7 logo emblazoned in the center. Each has an earpiece that
they hold to their ears when necessary. Aides, including Ben
and Sandra, sit back-bench at attention along the walls.

AXTON
We all come to this table with
different perspectives--

VITALY
(in Russian)
And varying levels of experience.
 57.

A shot at Ella. She lets it go.

VITALY (CONT’D)
(in broken English)
Welcome, Ms. Walker. It’s important
you are here, despite controversy
over your election in your home
country.

ELLA
Thank you, Mr. President. I suppose
we can’t all win with 97.5 percent
of the vote.

The room is taken aback - the implication clear.

AXTON
But I think we can agree that
Yemen’s civil war has to end.

ELLA
Of course. But we need to be
intellectually honest as we frame
the conversation. Yemen isn’t
fighting a civil war so much as a
dozen foreign countries are
fighting proxy wars on Yemeni soil.

WEBER
(in German)
Russia is at the top of that list,
Anatoly. Your security forces’
arming of the insurgency is--

VITALY
(in Russian)
Edith, I don’t understand. I’ve
seen no evidence of that. Merely
rumors.

ELLA
There’s a saying: It’s difficult to
get a man to understand something
when his salary depends on his not
understanding it.

VITALY
(in broken English)
Truth is, I’ve been so tied up
helping the Americans with Iran...
maybe Russia pulls back on this
front and focus on finding what you
say is illegal action in Yemen?
 58.

AXTON
Anatoly, I appreciate the
insinuation, and it should be noted
that your cooperation has been
crucial in our continued progress
with respect to Iran.

ELLA
It should also be noted that doing
the right thing in one part of the
world does not give you license to
do the wrong thing in another.

Remy puts his hand on Ella’s arm.

REMY
(in English)
Ella, I fear you’re demanding
purity at the expense of progress.

VITALY
(in Russian)
And I fear you’re a little
confused, Ms. Walker.

ELLA
You men, so fearful.

Edith smirks.

VITALY
(in Russian)
I know a saying, too: Intelligence
is the ability to hold conflicting
thoughts and still function.

AXTON
Okay, let’s focus on--

ELLA
Does it ever occur to you all that
there is no other room?
(a beat)
Maybe it’s the clarity that comes
with being new, maybe cynicism
hasn’t yet set in -- but it strikes
me there is no other room. No one
else to make these decisions. We’re
it. Think about that. I mean,
Jesus, we’re the ones who are
supposed to know better. And, right
now, we’re failing the people of
Yemen.
(she eyes each leader)
(MORE)
 59.

ELLA (CONT'D)
History is staring us in the face,
and I won’t blink.

We land on Vitaly as Ella removes her ear piece, covers the

small mic in front of her, and says something in Russian.

ELLA (CONT’D)
(in Russian)
And, Anatoly: I don’t get confused.

Vitaly stares back, blinks, then offers an inscrutable smile.

EXT. FRENCH MANOR - NIGHT

MOTORCADES pull down the driveway. Heavily armed MEN and

WOMEN scope the surroundings and talk into radios.

INT. FRENCH MANOR - NIGHT

A sophisticated party where world leaders and French high

society meet and mingle. Ella and Sandra enter together.

SANDRA
Russia’s Foreign Minister already
reached out at the staff level.
That’s a good sign, ma’am.

ELLA
Time will tell.

SANDRA
I know I should play it cool, but
you bent the world’s leaders to
your will today. And I’m bursting.

Sandra grabs two glasses of champagne. Hands one to Ella,

swigs the other. Axton approaches. Sandra peels off. He’s
clearly frustrated. He looks at Ella’s glass.

ELLA
I told you I was going to try the
stick approach.

AXTON
That was a sledgehammer in there!

ELLA
You really want to do this here?

AXTON
Do you honestly feel good about
this afternoon?
 60.

ELLA
You mean when I stood up to a
foreign foe or when the leader of
the free world sat back and played
middleman instead of statesman?

AXTON
Ella, I’m trying to give you the
benefit of the doubt, but you seem
more intent on making a point than
making a deal.

ELLA
I’ve found that the latter flows
from the former.

AXTON
All your experience on the world’s
stage teach you that?

ELLA
Right out of Vitaly’s playbook.
Nice, Harry. What else has the
dictator taught you?

AXTON
My point is I’ve been in this fight
longer than you, and you have to
learn to pick your battles.

ELLA
Good advice.

She leaves - this battle’s not worth it - but turns back.

ELLA (CONT’D)
You’re right by the way. It is a
stage, and sometimes you have to
put on a show.

We’re on Ella, determined but shaken. The Italian President

approaches with a translator.

ELLA (CONT’D)
(sotto)
Oh, Christ.
(smiling, louder)
Lorenzo!

INT. FRENCH MANOR - NIGHT

Axton standing with the Canadian Prime Minister, JOSHUA.

 61.

AXTON
Remy’s team did a nice job.

JOSHUA
Of all the G7’s I’ve been to, this
is certainly one of them.

AXTON
Right... Well, I trust the United
States can continue to count on
Canada’s support as we develop--

JOSHUA
(walking away)
Always, always.

Axton rolls his eyes, spots Ella cornered in conversation

with Lorenzo. He takes a drink, eyes her, thinking about the
way they left it. He’s about to approach when:

REMY
Beautiful woman.

Remy sidles up next to Axton, touches the back of his neck.

REMY (CONT’D)
I don’t mean that in a French way.
I just can’t help noticing her.
(uncomfortably close)
And you are a handsome man.

AXTON
Thank you, Remy.

REMY
It could be... a match made in G7!
(beat)
Could you imagine?!

Remy is amused with himself. Axton tries to move away, can’t.

REMY (CONT’D)
Poor woman. Stuck in a conversation
she clearly wants no part of.

AXTON
(sarcastic)
I can’t imagine.

REMY
Why doesn’t she just make up an
excuse to leave?
 62.

AXTON
You know, I should go intervene.

REMY
(as Axton leaves)
Smart.

INT. FRENCH MANOR - MOMENTS LATER

Axton reaches Ella, Lorenzo, and the translator. He

eavesdrops a second and then slides in, handing her a drink.

AXTON
Here’s your drink... Madam Prime
Minister.

She looks him up and down. Takes the drink.

ELLA
Thank you. Should we continue our
conversation?

AXTON
(having fun with her)
Which conversation was that?

ELLA
...Rwanda.

INT. FRENCH MANOR - MOMENTS LATER

Ella and Axton walking away from Lorenzo and the translator.

ELLA
I feel really bad.

AXTON
For comparing me to a brutal
dictator?

ELLA
For invoking a genocide to get out
of a conversation.

AXTON
You’re right. That’s worse.

ELLA
Why’d you come over?

He looks back at Remy.

 63.

AXTON
Sometimes our interests align.

Axton’s hand rests on the small of her back, a momentary

reminder of their past. Holds a beat. Then he takes it away
deliberately. Too easy to fall back into whatever that was.

ELLA
Didn’t feel like it 10 minutes ago.

AXTON
I’m sorry about what I said.

ELLA
Saving me from Lorenzo fully makes
up for it.

AXTON
I warned you about him yesterday.
Not that I expected you to listen.

ELLA
I listened... How do you think I
got Edith to accuse Vitaly first?

They spot Edith Weber in the corner. Ella raises her whiskey
glass to Edith who returns the gesture.

AXTON
All very clever. Unfortunately, the
Foreign Minister is already making
noise. And not in a good way.

ELLA
I learned to block out the noise a
long time ago.

They find a table, sit.

AXTON
Time will tell.

On Ella, suddenly doubtful of her strategy, when: A MIME

makes his way past them “pulling” himself along a “rope.”

ELLA
Thank God this is closed press.

AXTON
Remy hosted the G20 three years
ago. Opted for a cabaret show on
the final night. Turkish President
stormed out.
(MORE)
 64.

AXTON (CONT'D)
(noticing)
Anita!

Anita turns, approaches.

AXTON (CONT’D)
Ella, this is my chief of staff--

ELLA
Anita Jacobs, of course. I’m very
impressed by your work. Especially
given who you have to deal with
every day.

ANITA
We all have our burdens to bear.

ELLA
I could never stand the smoking.

Anita’s taken aback by the forthrightness.

AXTON
I quit.

ANITA
His worst habit now is asking
“what’s next?” every ten minutes.

ELLA
That is a bad habit.

ANITA
Pleasure to meet you, Madam Prime
Minister.

Anita goes. Axton ensures no one is listening, then:

AXTON
Why’d you assume she knew?

ELLA
The look you gave her as she
approached. Your lips tensed and
your eyes bulged a bit.
(he does the look)
Like that!

They both laugh, Axton momentarily moved by the specificity.

Ella touches his knee. Didn’t mean anything by it.

AXTON
No way.
 65.

ELLA
What?

AXTON
I call bullshit. You would never
take a risk like that on such a
flimsy premise. You listened in on
the call.

ELLA
So did you.

Axton sits back, smiles. Ella, realizes her mistake.

ELLA (CONT’D)
Sandra briefed me--

AXTON
Too late.

INT. FRENCH MANOR - LATER

Axton and Ella still sitting together as Remy, standing in

the front of the room, wraps up a toast.

REMY
(in English)
So, let’s raise our glasses. To our
community of nations, to forging
new partnerships, and learning from
the past as we look to the future.

Axton and Ella, glasses raised, cheers.

AXTON
Speaking of the future, my team
wanted me to ask you--

ELLA
Oh, Harry. Please start over.

AXTON
Excuse me?

ELLA
“My team wanted me to ask you.”
You’re the President of the United
States--

AXTON
People keep reminding me of that.
 66.

ELLA
So, if you have something to ask
me, ask me.

AXTON
Now you’ve made it awkward.

ELLA
I’ve made it awkward?

AXTON
The more we talk about it, the more
awkward it becomes.

ELLA
If our countries heard this
conversation, they’d impeach you
and dismiss me.

AXTON
Who could blame them?

ELLA
Are you trying to invite me to a
State Dinner?

AXTON
Yes. No.
(off Ella’s confusion)
I mean yes, but not a State Dinner,
which is reserved for Heads of
State, which in your country’s case
would be...

ELLA
The Queen.

AXTON
Yes. Lovely woman. But I mean an
Official Dinner. They’re just as
good, but different in... Why is
this so hard? I’m diplomatically
obligated to ask.

ELLA
And I’m diplomatically obligated to
say yes.

EXT. ESTABLISHING SHOTS OF WASHINGTON, DC - MORNING

Washington, DC in winter. A light snow blankets the National

Mall. Over:
 67.

NEWS REPORT (V.O.)

Two weeks after the 46th annual
summit concluded, new trade
partnerships have been set...

EXT. ESTABLISHING SHOTS LONDON - AFTERNOON

Bundled-up Londoners brace against a stiff wind as:

BRITISH NEWS REPORT (V.O.)

The question of Yemen looms. And
Russian President Vitaly’s next
move is anybody’s guess.

INT. WHITE HOUSE - SITUATION ROOM - LATE MORNING

Axton enters quickly. Everyone around the formidable wooden

table rises. He motions for them to sit, just as he does,
quickly. The NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR pipes up:

NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR

Russia’s reversing course.
Squeezing the insurgents.

AXTON
How so?

NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR

They’ve cut off the flow of arms
and, it appears, funds.

AXTON
According to whom?

NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR

Assets on the ground alerted us,
and our partners in Oman and Saudi
Arabia are reporting the same.

BEN
I’ll be damned.

AXTON
Vitaly’s reaction in Paris would
not have portended this. Keep
tracking it. Could be a head fake.
Either way, gives us a moment to
exhale for the holiday.
(rising)
Enjoy New Year’s.
 68.

INT. WHITE HOUSE - TREATY ROOM - EARLY EVENING

Axton seated behind a desk - larger than the Resolute - in

the Treaty Room. This office, a bit more functional than the
Oval, serves as the President’s after-dark workspace. Clocks
with times from notable cities around the world - Beijing,
Sydney, Tehran, Cairo, London - line one wall.

Axton looks up from his briefing book as Ben enters.

AXTON
Word from the Foreign Minister?

BEN
Not much to report. They’re playing
it close to the vest.

AXTON
We lose leverage if Iran sees that
Russia is shaky.

BEN
This is looser than I’d like.

AXTON
Foreign policy’s messy. Let’s pick
it up tomorrow.

BEN
Need anything else?

AXTON
No, please, go enjoy the night with
your family.
(as Ben heads out)
Give Victoria and the boys my best.

BEN
Mr. President, I know what you’re
thinking about doing... and I think
it’d be best if you didn’t.

AXTON
Are you speaking as my oldest
friend or as my Secretary of State?

BEN
Have a good evening, Harry.

Which answers that. As he closes the door, Axton consults the

series of clocks - notices it’s nearing midnight in...
 69.

INT. 10 DOWNING STREET - PRIVATE OFFICE - LATE NIGHT

Where we find Ella, ensconced - reading documents in a

darkened, wood-paneled private room. Probably the first
moment of quiet she’s had in a year. She’s wearing an old,
faded “Oxford” sweatshirt.

She comes across press clippings in her bulky nightly memo,

including the “family photo” with Axton. Ella crosses to a
window through which we can make out crowds gathering below,
ready to celebrate. An ASSISTANT enters.

ASSISTANT
Ma’am, the American President--

INT. WHITE HOUSE - TREATY ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Axton on the phone at his desk. INTERCUT with Ella:

AXTON
I had an interesting briefing
today.

ELLA
As did I. Though I imagine I was
less surprised by it than you.

AXTON
What you did was risky.

ELLA
Why are you calling me...
(consulting a clock)
Half hour before New Year’s?

BEGIN FLASHBACK

EXT. OXFORD UNIVERSITY - NIGHT

Axton, in a tuxedo, walks past kids running with sparkler

fireworks. He crosses under a “Happy New Year” sign into...

INT. OXFORD DORMS - LOBBY - CONTINUOUS

Where Axton stops in front of a mirror. He undoes his bow tie

and considers his reflection before:

AXTON
Stupid.
 70.

PRE-LAP a knock.

INT. OXFORD DORMS - ELLA’S DORM DOOR - NIGHT

Ella skeptically eyes Axton who stands at her door. His bow
tie is re-tied. She notices he’s holding roses

ELLA
I’m allergic.

She shuts the door in his face. A beat. He knocks. She opens.
Axton flings the roses down the hall without missing a beat
or breaking eye contact. Problem solved.

ELLA (CONT’D)
What are you doing here?

AXTON
Had a hunch you might be alone.

ELLA
Rather rude hunch, isn’t it?

AXTON
No, not because I think you are a
loser or in any way unpopular, I
just thought I’d... check. I worked
on that “hunch” line on the way--

ELLA
What’s with the dinner jacket?

AXTON
(smiles, regaining poise)
We call them tuxedos. I was at a
gala. Left early. Kind of romantic
when you think about--

ELLA
Thought you wanted to be friends.

AXTON
That’s right.

ELLA
Do you usually bring your friends
roses?

EXT. OXFORD WALKWAY - NIGHT

We find Axton and Ella walking together. No one’s around.

 71.

ELLA
Is this really necessary?

AXTON
Friends don’t let friends stay in
on New Year’s Eve. Plus if what
they say about Y2K is legitimate...

ELLA
Could be our last night.

Axton gives her a look, veers off the path.

EXT. OXFORD - MOMENTS LATER

They come upon a small riverbank. A little boat is tied up on

shore. Axton eyes it, smiles at Ella.

ELLA
No way. Harry, no.

EXT. SMALL RIVER - MOMENTS LATER

Ella and Axton cruising a darkened River Cherwell.

ELLA
It was Clinton’s fault, by the way.

AXTON
Then why’d you jump down my throat--

ELLA
Didn’t like the way you framed it,
removing all agency from the woman.

AXTON
I wonder if maybe we should talk
about something other than
infidelity and power dynamics in
the workplace.

ELLA
I think it’s best to immediately
discuss the most uncomfortable
things imaginable. That way, you
know right away if you can stand a
person or not. Anybody can chat
about the weather or sports or
university. But why waste weeks on
that stuff only to learn you don’t
actually respect a person when you
get to the things that matter?
(MORE)
 72.

ELLA (CONT'D)
(off Axton pondering)
What?

AXTON
Just trying to figure out which
fraught topic we can cover next.

ELLA
Teachers fraternizing with
undergrads?

AXTON
You know I’m a TA. And that’s not
what this is. I like you, Ella.

ELLA
Tell me about your family.

AXTON
Can we start with something
simpler? Systemic racism, maybe?

ELLA
I bet it’s actually pretty simple
if you say it out loud and limit
yourself to 20 words.

Axton’s perplexed.

ELLA (CONT’D)
Try it. I swear.

AXTON
My dad left. But he waited just
long enough to be sure I knew
exactly what was going on.

ELLA
19 words, nice. How old were you?

AXTON
Eleven. Spent the next 11 years
trying to cheer up my mom.

Ella puts her hand on his knee.

ELLA
And now you’re on your third fancy
post-graduate degree in hopes of
what? Delaying re-entry into the
real world?

AXTON
I don’t know.
 73.

ELLA
I can’t imagine not knowing. I
could never not know what’s next.

AXTON
I have plans. Big plans... I just
don’t know what they are yet.

ELLA
I know my plan.

AXTON
The internship.

ELLA
That’s phase one.

AXTON
You have phases?

ELLA
Internship upon graduation. Engaged
by 27. Kids at 30. MP by 40. And,
hopefully a cabinet position in my
fifties.

AXTON
That’s 21 words.

ELLA
Nix the “hopefully.”

Ella turns toward the evening night. Axton looks to see if

anyone is nearby. Then: he begins to put his arm around her.

AXTON
You must be cold.

ELLA
Oh, Harry. Please start over.

AXTON
What?

ELLA
(mocking)
“You must be cold.”
(she moves her hand from
his knee to his thigh)
If you want to put your arm around
me, put your arm around me.

AXTON
Well, now you’ve made it awkward.
 74.

As we pull away into the darkness, they bicker lightly. It’s

familiar to us. But their voices fade as we fall into...

ELLA
I’ve made it awkward?

AXTON
The more we talk about it...

...BLACK and END FLASHBACK.

INT. WHITE HOUSE - OVAL OFFICE - DAY

Axton’s staring out the window. Ben - standing with Anita,

Becca, and Connor - snaps him from his trance.

BEN
She’s going to want to reset the
relationship on her terms.

CONNOR
Which plays into our hands. Give
her assurances on intel-sharing and-

AXTON
(moving from window)
Won’t be that easy. Prime Ministers
have a long history of debasing
themselves for American Presidents:
from Eden, Eisenhower and the Suez
Crisis to Blair, Bush, and Iraq.
Ella won’t make the same mistakes.

BECCA
But Yemen isn’t Iraq and the Iran
deal is an obvious good--

BEN
She’s under enormous pressure.
Paxhouse won’t go away.

AXTON
No roses, right?

ANITA
Sir?

AXTON
The flowers for the Official
Dinner? What are they?

Folks tilt their heads. Did he really just ask that?

 75.

INT. OUTER OVAL OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER

Becca and Connor exit the Oval.

CONNOR
He’s off again.

BECCA
I guess priorities change in the
last year of a presidency.

CONNOR
(mocking, miffed)
“Flowers?”

BEGIN MONTAGE - VARIOUS

NEWS REPORT (O.S.)

Preparations are underway for the
Official Visit of Prime Minister
Ella Walker to the White House.

- Axton with Alexander trying on a tux and reviewing menus,

fabrics, and flowers. Axton’s not sure about the tux.

- Ella working with Sandra on a speech.

- Axton in the Treaty Room at night, eyes the “London” clock.

- Ella in her private office opening a large package. A note

reads: “In case you want to talk” before we REVEAL: The
cutout of the chatty Italian President.

- Axton getting more opinions on the tux from staffers. Billy

gives a thumbs up.

- Ella trying on a dress. We don’t see it. She’s not paying a

moment’s attention to the outfit or her stylists. Instead,
she’s focused on the briefing book she brought along.

END MONTAGE

EXT. SOUTHEAST WASHINGTON, D.C. - MORNING

We track along with an Amtrak train hurtling to Union

Station, the rails seemingly headed into the Washington
Monument in the distance - which pierces the morning sky.

NEWS REPORT (O.S.)

Walker’s set to meet with President
Axton. We expect a pool spray at
the top of their bilateral meeting.
 76.

INT. WHITE HOUSE - OVAL OFFICE - MORNING

Where Axton and Ella sit in front of the fireplace. The

British and American press fan out: boom mics loom; cameras
click; and reporters rest recorders on the empty couches.

AXTON
So if I could conclude by again
welcoming the Prime Minister. I
look forward to leveraging our
relationship to have a positive
impact around the world. Thank you.

BECCA
(ushering press out)
Thank you, pool. Thank you!

The journalists are slow to move, yelling questions.

REPORTER
Could you have imagined this moment
when you were both back at Oxford?

AXTON
Thank you, pool. We’ll have more--

REPORTER
Did you know each other?

The room quiets.

AXTON
(lighthearted)
I can assure you Ella would have
been far too busy and popular to
hang around with the likes of me.

ELLA
Actually, that’s not quite right. I
knew you from a lecture hall class.
You were one of the TAs.

Axton is stunned, but hides it well. The press are intrigued.

REPORTER
Which class?

HARRY
(joking)
Politics 101.
 77.

ELLA
But to your question, no, I
couldn’t have imagined this moment
back then.

INT. WHITE HOUSE - OVAL OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER

The press are gone. Axton and Ella are alone.

AXTON
How many reporters do you think are
descending on Oxford as we speak,
searching for anybody who claims to
have known both of us?

ELLA
Harry--

AXTON
Hundred? Two hundred?

ELLA
The real risk is saying anything
that’s easily disproved. I’m sure
you’ve been doing this long enough
to know that’s politics 101.
(a beat)
Look, Iran is important to me, too,
Harry.

AXTON
You have a funny way of showing it.

ELLA
Working toward a better deal and
standing up to Vitaly aren’t
mutually exclusive.

AXTON
I need you to support reinstating
practical cooperation between NATO
and Russia.

ELLA
I won’t do that.

AXTON
Ella--

ELLA
Not until they cease all
intervention in Yemen.
 78.

AXTON
You saw the same intel I did.
They’ve scaled back. I just need--

ELLA
Space. You’ve mentioned.

AXTON
We have a real opportunity in Iran.
I’m talking about immense good--

ELLA
You’re talking about kicking the
can down the road.

AXTON
How can you say that?

ELLA
Inspection notice requirements.
Delayed funds. Reactor sunset
clauses.

AXTON
Compromises.

ELLA
Designed to put off the most
difficult decisions.

AXTON
If I wanted to put off the most
difficult decisions, I wouldn’t
have tackled immigration in my
first four months in office!

ELLA
Tackle is a strong word. Two-hand-
touch maybe.

Axton, frustrated, takes a beat.

AXTON
Is that what you think of me? Of my
Presidency?

ELLA
I think... you’ve been a very
effective President.

Axton knows exactly what that means.

 79.

AXTON
(sharp)
Thirty million newly insured
Americans might agree with you.

ELLA
Eighteen million under-insured
Americans might not.

She may have just overstepped. Axton exhales. Sits back.

AXTON
You’re playing with fire.

BEGIN FLASHBACK

EXT. SMALL RIVER - LATER

Their boat rounds a bend, emerging from the darkness, nearer

campus now. Ella grabs something under her seat.

ELLA
Give me your lighter.
(off his hesitation)
Come on, I’m already an accomplice
to theft. Don’t hold me back now.

AXTON
(sees what she’s holding)
That’s a flare. Not a firework.

ELLA
Same difference.

AXTON
You want people to notice to us?

ELLA
It’s New Year’s and a firework--

ELLA (CONT’D) AXTON

--won’t draw attention. Flare.

AXTON (CONT’D)
I legitimately think you shouldn’t.

Ella moves in much closer, touching his chest, whispers.

ELLA
And I legitimately think you should
quit smoking.
 80.

As her lips linger near his ear, she pulls back, having
swiped the lighter from his jacket pocket. She smiles,
prepares to ignite the flare. Does so.

Sending it... sideways into a telephone poll by the

riverbank. They both laugh forehead to forehead.

ELLA (CONT’D)
Should we go somewhere?

AXTON
Here’s fine.

ELLA
Harry, if this is going to
happen... Nobody can see us. Ever.

Harry looks around. Nobody’s remotely in sight.

AXTON
Like I said, here’s fine--

She kisses him. Then again, more passionately. Their hands

gliding up and down each other’s bodies. Axton removes her
jacket. Kisses her neck. Ella runs her hands through his
hair, loving it until...

ELLA
Oh my god!

She pulls him back by the hair to see what she sees. A
transformer on the telephone poll is smoking. Intensely.

EXT. RIVERBANK - MOMENTS LATER

Having ditched the boat, Axton and Ella dash into a field.
Ella stops to remove her heels. It begins to rain. Axton
grabs her hand, they run. Fast. Laughing.

INT. OXFORD DORM - ELLA’S ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Axton and Ella reach her door. They kiss immediately. Just as
a flurry of students barrel down the hall.

DRUNK STUDENT
The power’s out at Magdalen!

ANOTHER DRUNK STUDENT

Y2K is real!

The students continue on. One particularly drunk student dry

heaves in the corner as his friends laugh and snap pictures.
 81.

INT. OXFORD DORM - ELLA’S ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Axton and Ella tumble into his room to get out of the chaos.
They continue kissing before backing away from each other as
if to come up for air. Ella grabs Axton’s undone bow tie.

ELLA
The undone bow tie is my favorite
look in the world.

He pulls her in. They kiss. She pulls off his bow tie. He
begins to undress her. Ella starts to undo his belt buckle.

Ella pulls him towards her. He removes her bra as they fall
into bed together where they begin to make love.

INT. OXFORD DORM - ELLA’S ROOM - THE NEXT MORNING

Ella rolls over, wakes to find... an empty bed. Axton’s gone.

She’s hurt, but she’ll choose to be furious instead.

EXT. OXFORD UNIVERSITY WALKWAY - LATER

Ella walks toward a bridge. She’s cold, shivering. She’s

pissed, and so are we. But just as she crests the Magdalen
Bridge over the River Cherwell and we hate Axton for leaving
her, we spot him - running to catch up.

AXTON
I went to look for your coat...

As he begins to explain, she softens - but hides that she was

saddened in the first place.

AXTON (CONT’D)
But that boat is long gone, so I
grabbed this.

She smiles, her momentary disappointment in him now

evaporated as she accepts his gift. It’s the “Oxford”
sweatshirt we saw before - only brand-new.

We PAN down to the river below to find a BRITISH ROWER

braving the cold, who crosses out of sight below the bridge
as we END FLASHBACK and...

MATCH CUT TO:

 82.

EXT. POTOMAC RIVER - DAY

An AMERICAN ROWER exits from below the THEODORE ROOSEVELT

BRIDGE along the Potomac River as the sun sets over DC.

INT. WHITE HOUSE - TREATY ROOM - NIGHT

From behind, we find Axton at his desk - on the phone.

AXTON
How’s the Blair House?

And begin INTERCUT:

INT. BLAIR HOUSE - ELLA’S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

ELLA
Surprisingly cozy.

AXTON
I slept there my first week.

ELLA
Residence wasn’t ready?

AXTON
No, the President wasn’t ready.

ELLA
That’s either very endearing or
very embarrassing.

AXTON
Lemme know if you decide before I
start my memoir. I just wasn’t
comfortable sleeping where Lincoln
did. You know what I mean at all?

Ella turns. REVEAL: A bust of Churchill staring at her.

ELLA
I do.

AXTON
Do you want to come over?

ELLA
You know I can’t.
 83.

INT. WHITE HOUSE - OVAL OFFICE - NIGHT

CLOSE ON: Axton pours drinks. He approaches Ella seated on

the couch, taking in the quiet of the Oval Office at night.

AXTON
How’d it feel?

A beat.

AXTON (CONT’D)
Lying to that reporter?
(off Ella’s look)
Come on, you always saw yourself
here. Visiting the White House as
Prime Minister.

ELLA
I didn’t.

AXTON
Sure, you did.

ELLA
I mean I didn’t lie. The reporter
asked if I could have imagined the
moment. The moment included the
person who was on the other side of
that fireplace.

She nods to the two chairs they were seated in during the
pool spray, flanking the fireplace.

ELLA (CONT’D)
And that, Mr. President, is
something I never imagined.

AXTON
Parsed like a true politician.

ELLA
Cynic.

AXTON
People find me charming.

They both smile a beat. But Axton seems off, taken by a

memory he’s not ready to re-live. Ella notices, redirects.

ELLA
(re: Oval Office)
Takes on a different dynamic at
night.
 84.

AXTON
Like all the history is still here,
sitting with us. Ghosts of
Presidents past.

ELLA
Skeletons, too.
(then)
You know how much worse it would be
for me, right?

AXTON
Because I have a penis?

ELLA
I still can’t believe I said that.

AXTON
I still can’t believe nobody from
that class remembers you said it.
(then)
The thing you’re kindly not saying
is that you’re at the dawn of your
career. I’m at the end of mine.

ELLA
There’s life after the White House,
Harry.

HARRY
You know outgoing Presidents get
one final flight on Air Force One?
It’s called a “Special Airlift
Mission.” SAM for short. Been
looking forward to landing on a
private island and getting away
from all of this. Greatest honor of
my life, don’t get me wrong, but--

ELLA
You want to be even more secluded?

AXTON
I want some clarity. Seven years
behind ballistic glass can distort
your perspective. I can see people
out on Pennsylvania Avenue, peering
through the wrought-iron gates or
on the sidewalks as I drive by.
Struggling to see me. And I wonder
if they realize, I’m trying to see
them, too.

This strikes a chord with Ella.

 85.

EXT. WHITE HOUSE - ROSE GARDEN - NIGHT

Ella and Axton, a few drinks later, stroll through the Rose
Garden, the illuminated Oval Office behind them.

ELLA
Why didn’t you find someone?

AXTON
My best guess is nobody compared. I
threw myself into work. Made plans.
What about you? Why the divorce?
Why no kids at 30?

ELLA
It just never felt right.

AXTON
That simple?

ELLA
(moving closer)
Whether something feels right or
not is the least simple thing in
the world.

BEGIN FLASHBACK

EXT. OXFORD DORMS - ESTABLISHING SHOTS - NIGHT

ELLA (O.S.)
This feels wrong.

INT. OXFORD DORMS - ELLA’S ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Axton sits across from Ella who reluctantly indulges his mock
interview. He slips into a British accent for a moment.

AXTON
Pretend it’s not me.

ELLA
Harry, that’s hard to do
considering we’ve had sex...

AXTON
Ms. Walker, my name is Montgomery,
Richard Montgomery, and I’m
wondering why we should hire you
for this internship--
 86.

ELLA
Are you doing a British accent?

AXTON ELLA (CONT'D)

I’m asking the questions. Because it was quite bad.

AXTON
Why should we choose you over the
other candidates?

ELLA
That’s a preposterous question. I
don’t know the other candidates--

Axton scribbles on a piece of paper.

AXTON
Critiquing the questioner. Smart.

ELLA
Some men can handle that sort of
thing.

A flirtatious look between them. Axton jots something down.

ELLA (CONT’D)
What are you doing?

AXTON
Marking the time when the
interviewee came on to the
interviewer.

She kisses him. He kisses her back sweetly, the way you kiss
someone you’ve spent every day of the last six weeks with.

AXTON (CONT’D)
Okay, lightning round!
(Ella rolls her eyes)
Biggest fear.

ELLA
Spiders.

AXTON
Favorite food.

ELLA
Indian?

AXTON
Is that a question, Ms. Walker?
 87.

ELLA
Indian!

AXTON
How honest are you?

ELLA
I am brutally, harshly honest.

AXTON
First quote that comes to mind: go!

ELLA
“It’s rare for a man and woman to
fall equally in love.” Eleanor
Roosevelt.

That stymies the moment for a beat, but Axton moves past it.

AXTON
If you were a superhero--

ELLA
Harry, my interview is tomorrow!

AXTON
You don’t think superpowers will
come up?

ELLA
Ask me something real.

AXTON
Where do you see yourself in 20
years?

Off Ella, considering, as we END FLASHBACK and...

EXT. WHITE HOUSE - MORNING

A regal shot of the White House as we PAN from the front

gates across Pennsylvania Avenue to the Blair House.

INT. BLAIR HOUSE - BEDROOM - MORNING

Ella with breakfast and a briefing book, sits across from her
bed, which is unmade only on one side. Sandra enters.

SANDRA
Morning, ma’am. How was last night?
 88.

ELLA
He showed me the Oval Office at
night. It was... affecting.

SANDRA
Question: Have you turned on the TV
or otherwise come across news yet?
(off Ella’s concern)
I truly hate this part of the job.
I should warn you it’s not great,
but it’s not...

Ella reacts to a news report on her laptop.

ELLA SANDRA (CONT'D)

Shit. Shit! ...that bad.

Grainy footage of Ella’s late night crossing to the Oval.

BRITISH NEWS REPORT (ON SCREEN)

Walker made a late night jaunt to
the West Wing last night,
presumably to discuss Yemen.

PAXHOUSE (ON SCREEN)

Walk of shame if you ask me.

ELLA
Oh my God, he knows.

SANDRA
He doesn’t. He just sounds that way
because he speaks fluent misogyny.
He’s making it about caving on your
campaign promise. We need to get to
the tent though. Bit more... news.

INT. BLAIR HOUSE - TENT - MOMENTS LATER

Where Ella and Sandra receive a closed-circuit briefing.

ELLA
The insurgents re-entered Yemen?

BRIEFER
They’re circling Sana’a. Operating
theory is Russia provided cover.

We focus on a map of Yemen and...

MATCH CUT TO:

 89.

INT. WHITE HOUSE - SITUATION ROOM - SIMULTANEOUS

Axton reviewing the same map, looking at the same intel.

BEN
Vitaly’s testing Paxhouse’s theory
of last night’s... visit.

AXTON
Doesn’t track. If Vitaly thought
the Prime Minister was coming to
our side, he wouldn’t test her now.

BEN
Maybe it’s not her he’s testing.

PRE-LAP: a violinist playing classical music.

BEGIN MONTAGE - VARIOUS

- White House florists inspect bouquets. No roses.

- Chefs prepare dishes in the industrial basement kitchen.

- Men in tuxedos and women in formal gowns make their way

through metal detectors.

- A violinist plays in the East Room as tables are set.

INT. WHITE HOUSE RESIDENCE - PRIVATE QUARTERS - EVENING

Axton, in a perfectly-tailored tux, talks with Ben.

BEN
Harry.
(Axton groans)
I haven’t said anything yet!

AXTON
But you called me Harry, so I know
whatever you’re about to say is
friend advice, and I much prefer
your Secretary of State advice.

BEN
Then consider it both. The
consensus we built in the Middle
East hinges on Iran, which hinges
on Vitaly, which hinges on your ex-
girlfriend not screwing it up!
 90.

AXTON
Don’t talk about the Prime Minister
like that.

BEN
(humbled)
All I’m trying to say is, for a guy
who’s going to be an airport one
day and a hundred high schools, and
a battleship... that guy shouldn’t
be intimidated.

AXTON
I’ve never thought about it like
that. I’m a battleship. I’m. A.
Battleship! Doesn’t change the fact
that I don’t want to get into a
disagreement with our foremost ally
in front of 300 strangers.

Ella enters forcefully, trailed by Sandra and Anita.

ELLA
You don’t need to worry about that.
There’s nothing to discuss. My
position hasn’t, and won’t, change.
I will not ease up on Russia and
neither should the most powerful
country on Earth.

It’s a big moment - and the whole room stops dead in their
tracks as we PAN down and notice right along with them - the
dress we didn’t see in the montage. Ella looks unbelievable.

AXTON
You--

ELLA
Don’t you dare undermine the geo-
political stand I just took by
commenting on my dress. I know how
good I look.

AXTON
I’m--

ELLA
A battleship. Let’s go.

Sandra can barely contain her pride as they walk past.

 91.

INT. WHITE HOUSE - EAST ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

A FORMAL MAN enters from the Cross Hall, announces:

FORMAL MAN
The President of the United States
accompanied by the Prime Minister
of the United Kingdom.

Axton and Ella enter as the room erupts.

INT. WHITE HOUSE - EAST ROOM - LATER

We follow them. Ella watching Axton. Axton watching Ella.

INT. WHITE HOUSE - EAST ROOM - LATER

Axton rises to deliver a toast. Ella is seated at his side.

AXTON
As America entered its gravest test
since the Civil War, and the
globe’s future was more uncertain
than ever, Winston Churchill came
to visit the White House. A few
days turned into nearly a month.
And with the help of a not-
insignificant amount of scotch,
right upstairs, a President and a
Prime Minister forged a bond that
broke the back of the Nazi’s and
won the war. After Churchill
departed, FDR took to his suddenly
too-quiet office and penned his new
friend a letter. “It’s fun to be in
the same decade as you,” he wrote.
Eight decades later, I raise my
glass to the new Prime Minister.

He looks to her like there’s no one else in the room.

AXTON (CONT’D)
Though our paths may cross only for
one year, I can already tell: It’s
fun to be in the same decade as
you.

As the guests CLINK champagne, we find Ella, quietly moved.

 92.

INT. WHITE HOUSE - FOYER - LATER

Two glasses are set down. Ella and Axton sit on the red-
carpeted marble steps. They both sip their drinks.

ELLA
Do most of your State Dinners end
like this, drinking on the steps?

AXTON
No, this has a very Official Dinner
vibe. But we could drink upstairs.

ELLA
I’m not sure that’s a good idea.

She kisses him on the cheek. They hold a beat. Maybe. Nope.

AXTON
Do you want me to walk you across
the street?

ELLA
Why don’t we FaceTime Kevin
Paxhouse while we’re at it?

Axton smiles. So does she. She gets up to go.

AXTON
Is that really it? The optics?

She thinks a beat. Doesn’t answer.

INT. WHITE HOUSE - RESIDENCE - MOMENTS LATER

Axton paces impatiently. Enters his bedroom. We hold at the

door as he disappears. He returns - passing us with purpose.

INT. BLAIR HOUSE - DOOR TO BEDROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Axton knocks. He catches his reflection in an ornate mirror.

He quickly undoes his bow tie. Ella opens the door. He’s
debonair in this moment.

AXTON
Did you know the White House has
tunnels?

From the side, she pulls him in.

 93.

INT. BLAIR HOUSE - ELLA’S BEDROOM - MOMENTS LATER

They’re close.

ELLA
If you think this will have any
effect on my decision with respect--

AXTON
I don’t.

ELLA
Because I signed off on new
sanctions against Russia no less
than ten minutes ago.

AXTON
I understand.

Chemistry says they have to kiss this instant.

ELLA
Does the Secret Service know you’re
here?

AXTON
Of course. Six of them trailed me
through the tunnel, and we crossed
two underground checkpoints to get
here. Kind of romantic if you think
about it.

ELLA
And they know why you’re here?

AXTON
I mentioned a tariff emergency.

ELLA
A tariff emergency?

AXTON
It wasn’t my finest work. But they
don’t know.

ELLA
You’re not giving appropriate
credit to the men and women you
entrust with your life. And if you
are, you should rethink who you let
carry a gun around you.
 94.

AXTON
We’re going to talk ourselves out
of another moment, aren’t we?

EXT. ROOF OF THE BLAIR HOUSE - LATER

Ella and Axton sit atop the roof of the Blair House,
overlooking the White House gleaming against the backdrop of
Washington after midnight.

ELLA
It’s endearing.
(beat)
I decided it’s endearing that you
slept here your first week in
office.

AXTON
My team didn’t believe me.

ELLA
That you slept--

AXTON
That your ex-boyfriend became
President of the United States, and
you really didn’t tell anybody.

ELLA
It’s not what I wanted for my claim
to fame. That wasn’t my plan.

AXTON
I know.

A beat. Axton takes a sip of his drink. Ella breaks in:

ELLA
It was odd watching you get
inaugurated, but also not as weird
as you’d think. There was this
duality. The idea of you - this
global figure - and then there was
the 27-year-old guy I knew who was
just trying to figure out his life.

AXTON
We’re different things to different
people.

ELLA
That’s right.
 95.

AXTON
Question I’ve always had is what
are we to each other?

Ella breaks the simmering tension.

ELLA
A secret.

AXTON
Sometimes I wonder if running for
office was my way of sending out a
flare. Hoping it’d bring you back
to me, that we’d cross paths in
public life.

ELLA
(after a long beat)
Maybe it’s enough, you know, same
decade and all. Maybe merely
existing at the same time as
someone you love can be enough.

AXTON
No. It’s not enough.

They’re close again. Eyes locked.

ELLA
I wasn’t honest with you at Oxford.

Ella looks toward the Washington Monument. She’s on the verge

of saying something important, then - disappointed - exhales:

ELLA (CONT’D)
I’m not actually allergic to roses.

AXTON
Please, for the love of God,
pretend you are for the rest of
your life. I drove my staff crazy
about that.

Ella looks ready to cry. Or laugh. She laughs. Then:

ELLA
I think about the way it ended
every day. But if we stayed
together, we wouldn’t have this.
(re: the White House)
We wouldn’t be here.
 96.

AXTON
Maybe we’d be someplace else. Maybe
we’d have two kids. A normal life
with normal people who aren’t
around to take a bullet for you,
but just to be there.

ELLA
On the other hand, you wouldn’t be
a future battleship.

AXTON
Legacy’s a strange thing to think
about without a family.

A quiet beat. Ella starts to laugh to herself a bit.

ELLA
It’s funny. We got the two jobs on
Earth that make it impossible for
us to be together.

AXTON
I guess you were right all along.

ELLA
About what?

AXTON
Fate.

As we PRE-LAP the thunder of...

EXT. JOINT BASE ANDREWS - DAY

The Prime Minister’s Royal Air Force plane barrels by us. A

series of shots track the plane that takes Ella from Axton.
Soaring through the air. Touching down in London at SUNSET.

EXT. WASHINGTON MONUMENT - SUNRISE

The sun crests the tip of the Washington Monument as frenzied

news reports - as if from the heavens - bleed together.

AMERICAN NEWS REPORT (V.O.) BRITISH NEWS REPORT (V.O.)

Shocking allegations out of The affair of the millennium!
London this morning.

AMERICAN NEWS REPORT (V.O.)

Details are sparse, but here’s what
we know...
 97.

BRITISH NEWS REPORT (V.O.) AMERICAN NEWS REPORT (V.O.)

A cover up at the highest To hide their sexual
levels of government. relationship at Oxford.

AMERICAN NEWS REPORT (ON TV) (CONT’D)

The bombshell report, which is
reportedly backed up by scandalous
pictures, comes on the heels of the
Prime Minister’s first official
visit. Neither the White House nor
Downing Street has commented.

INT. 10 DOWNING STREET - OFFICE - DAY

Sandra and Ella, shell-shocked, watch in disbelief.

BRITISH NEWS REPORT (ON TV)

Kevin Paxhouse has already called
for Ms. Walker’s resignation, her
duty to country clearly conflicted.

PAXHOUSE (ON TV)

She’s proven she’ll bend over
backwards for the American
President.

SANDRA
If we’re going to survive this, I
need to know everything.

ELLA
You do know everything.

SANDRA
I didn’t know there were pictures.

ELLA
Neither did I!

SANDRA
And I don’t know what happened that
night after the President--

ELLA
Nothing happened. You don’t think I
know that would create an actual
conflict of interest?

SANDRA
I do. And we didn’t spend months,
alone, working our asses off to get
elected for this to take us down.
 98.

INT. PRIVATE STUDY OFF THE OVAL - MORNING

AMERICAN PUNDIT (ON TV)

You have to ask: Did President
Axton get Ella elected?

Axton mutes the television. Picks up the phone. INTERCUT:

INT. 10 DOWNING STREET - OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

ELLA
The whole trip was a risk that
wasn’t worth it.

AXTON
The moment we let our past effect
state decisions, like a routine
official visit, then everything
they’re saying about us is true.

ELLA
They’re not saying the same things
about us, Harry.

AXTON
Come on, Ella. You don’t think this
is destabilizing for me, too?

ELLA
Destabilizing, yes; defining, no!
Jesus, Harry, you’ve always been so
careless about this. I cannot
believe two meaningless months
decades ago are going to cost me
everything.

AXTON
If it makes you feel better to
revise history, that’s fine, but--

ELLA
Must be easy to talk about history
when you’ll be remembered as the
47th President of the United
States, and I’ll go down as the
Prime Minister who fucked him!
This. Wasn’t. Worth. It.

They hang up. Each suspended momentarily in their own quiet

isolation - even as the world around them swirls with...
 99.

INT. 10 DOWNING STREET - SANDRA’S OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER

YELLING. Sandra on the phone, grapples with Ben and Anita who
are on a speakerphone as we intercut with...

INT. WHITE HOUSE - CHIEF OF STAFF’S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

BEN
We deny. Now! Every second we sit
on our hands--

ANITA
We can’t say a thing before we know
exactly what the pictures are.

BEN
There’s no way they have anything.

SANDRA
Sounds like they do. London Live’s
holding the photos for prime time.

BEN
Shiny press scandal to distract
from the policy failings of Ella’s
G7 stunt, maybe?

SANDRA
Excuse me?! If anybody leaked it,
it was your side--

An infuriated Ben responds, goes back and forth with Sandra,

but we’re focused on Anita. After a beat, she breaks in.

ANITA
They would never have done it, Ben.

BEN
How do you know?

ANITA
I know.

BEN
Then, who did?

BEGIN FLASHBACK

INT. OXFORD DORMS - ELLA’S ROOM - AFTERNOON

Axton’s watching TV on the couch. Ella’s leaning on him.

We’re on her a beat. She mutes the TV, sits up.
 100.

ELLA
You know how I like to talk about
the uncomfortable thing right away?

AXTON
I am aware of that quirk of yours.

ELLA
Sometimes it’s harder than others.

AXTON
I bet it’s pretty simple if you say
it out loud and limit yourself...

AXTON (CONT’D) ELLA

To twenty words. I got the internship.

AXTON
What? That’s incredible!

He kisses her, then clocks that something is really wrong.

AXTON (CONT’D)
OK, you’ve succeeded in making me
uncomfortable, but I have no idea
why.

ELLA
I’m sorry.

AXTON
For what?

ELLA
For making you uncomfortable.
For... I don’t know.

AXTON
Ella, what’s going on? Talk to me.

ELLA
The whole thing just reminds me...
this is about to be over.

AXTON
What’s over?

ELLA
Us.

AXTON
That’s not true.
 101.

ELLA
Your program ends in a month. I
start the month after that.

AXTON
I’ll move to London.

ELLA
And do what?

AXTON
I don’t know.

ELLA
That’s the wrong answer.

AXTON
I want to be with you. How is that
the wrong answer?

ELLA
It just is. I’m the easy way out
for you, Harry. The path of least
resistance.

AXTON
Ella, you are a lot of things. Easy
isn’t one of them.

ELLA
You’re jumping from degree to
degree... to me.

AXTON
Only you could think I’m an idiot
for seeking more education.

ELLA
I don’t think you’re an idiot. I
think you’re... very good at
getting an education.

AXTON
I know you’re what’s next for me.

ELLA
Maybe that’s true, but it doesn’t
mean the reverse is also true. I’m
22 years old and I need to figure
some things out on my own.
 102.

AXTON
Bullshit, Ella. You’re the most
frustratingly figured-out person on
earth. You have your entire life--

ELLA
And it’s your job to what? Disrupt
my plan? Sweep me off my feet?

AXTON
That’s your problem. You look at
everything as “either or,” like
being happy inherently comes at a
cost. Like my wanting to be with
you is a threat to your plan. If
you’d get out of your head for one
second, you’d see that’s not the
case. You can do both.
(calming down)
I just want to be a part of what
you want.

ELLA
I want some space.

Axton, reaching a breaking point, collects himself a beat.

AXTON
Do you love me?

ELLA
I don’t know.

AXTON
That’s not how love works. You
know.

ELLA
I don’t.

AXTON
How can you not know?

ELLA
Because...

AXTON
Because what?!

ELLA
(yelling)
Because I didn’t see you!
 103.

AXTON
What?

ELLA
When you asked me a couple of weeks
ago where I saw myself in 20 years -
I didn’t see you. I don’t see you.

If a person could break into pieces, Axton would in this

moment. He stares, crushed, struggling to say anything.

AXTON
I’ll make sure no one sees me
leave.

He goes, closing the door softly behind him - leaving Ella,

broken just the same. We stay with her a beat.

NEWS HOST (PRE-LAP)

This is devastating.

END FLASHBACK

As we cut quickly through a series of news CLIPS:

CLIP 1: A serious NEWS HOST addresses the camera.

NEWS HOST (CONT’D)

If you’re just joining us, the
world sits stunned tonight as
shocking 22-year-old photos
threaten the globe’s most important
geo-political alliance.

CLIP 2: A PANEL debates the repercussions.

PANELIST 1
No doubt damning for both leaders.

PANELIST 2
But Ella Walker has the most
explaining to do.

PANELIST 3
I don’t see her surviving this.

CLIP 3: A PARTISAN HOST whips up his TV audience.

 104.

PARTISAN HOST
To think this lie - this
international conspiracy - would
have continued if not for some
random Oxford student who happened
to come across the incriminating
evidence. Kevin Paxhouse tried to
warn us. Tells you everything you
need to know about President Axton
and Ella Walker!

CLIP 4: A former Oxford STUDENT’s interviewed on LONDON LIVE.

RANDOM FORMER OXFORD STUDENT

I was cleaning out my flat when I
saw them.

The production cues up a series of PHOTOS. They show the

Oxford student huddled in a corner, dry heaving. It’s
familiar to us.

RANDOM FORMER OXFORD STUDENT (CONT’D)

It was the Millennium. I was kind
of out of my head when my mates
took these. Not the most flattering
photos of me.

In the background, the pictures show Axton and Ella at her

dorm door. Three quick shots reveal the damning progression:
Ella and Axton getting close, kissing, and entering her dorm.

LONDON LIVE HOST

Considerably less flattering for
the Prime Minister and American
President, I’d say.

INT. WHITE HOUSE - PRIVATE DINNING ROOM

Axton rises - as pissed as the London Live Host is smug.

AXTON
Is Becca briefing?

ANITA
Yes.

He’s on the move quickly into...

ANITA (CONT’D)
Sir, where are you going?
 105.

INT. WHITE HOUSE - OUTER OVAL OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

Axton barges through. Anita and Ben behind him.

AXTON
To rip the press to shreds.

BEN
Mr. President--

AXTON
To tell the world the truth. That
none of this is Ella’s fault.

ANITA
Slow down. That’s literally the
worst thing you could do right now.

As they step down into...

INT. WHITE HOUSE - LOWER PRESS OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

Where Billy sits, stunned, next to the sliding door to the

briefing room, which we see via a TV hanging above Billy.
Becca is fending off an unruly press corps.

REPORTER (ON TV)

Becca, did the President have
anything to do with Ms. Walker’s
divorce?

Axton moves toward the door, ready to slide it open.

ANITA
What? You’re going to give a big
speech? Be Ella’s knight in shining
armor?

AXTON
I’m going to do what’s right.

ANITA
And what’s that? There’s no one to
attack. This wasn’t Vitaly or
Paxhouse or anybody. It was...
random.

AXTON
All the same, I’m--

ANITA
As your Chief of Staff, I order you
not to go out there.
 106.

AXTON
That’s not how this works.

ANITA
As a woman then!

She didn’t want to say it. Last resort. But it was the truth,
and it resonates with Axton who stops dead in his tracks.

REPORTER 2 (ON TV)

Did the Prime Minister use her
romantic relationship to...

Axton retreats. Doesn’t say a word. Realizes he’s helpless to

fix this: because of who he is and because of who Ella is.

INT. 10 DOWNING STREET - OFFICE - DAY

Ella - shattered all over again - watches a TV, which shows:

NEWS REPORT (CONT’D)

Paxhouse continues to build a
coalition as Walker’s polls
plummet.

A slimy LATE NIGHT HOST has a laugh at her expense:

LATE NIGHT HOST

I guess the British really are
coming!

As the laughter on screen fades, Sandra enters to find Ella.

SANDRA
Do I need to read you the quote
about “the man in the arena”?

ELLA
There’s a reason it’s called the
man in the arena. A face “marred by
dust and sweat and blood” is indeed
worthy of credit, but add a little
make-up...

SANDRA
Ella--

ELLA
I spent my whole life trying not to
be defined by men and now it’s all
I’ll ever be.
(then, realizing)
(MORE)
 107.

ELLA (CONT'D)
It’s 25 years later and the world
found something else to talk about.

SANDRA
What?

ELLA
Nothing.

Lindsey enters in the background, sorting papers.

SANDRA
Permission to speak freely?

ELLA
Oh, Jesus.

SANDRA
You need to fight this. So what if
the world’s talking--

ELLA
Sandra, I’m exhausted. I’m not sure
I even want the job anymore.

SANDRA
Would a man ever say that?

ELLA
You work for a woman.

Sandra leaves. Lindsey, in the background, mumbles something

that goes unheard as she leaves, too.

INT. 10 DOWNING STREET - OFFICE - LATER

A BLURRED PERSPECTIVE. Ella looking through the bulletproof

glass of her office, down to the street. She turns back to
the TV, which shows a WOMAN on the street being interviewed.

REPORTER (ON TV)

What do you think about the scandal
enveloping the Prime Minister?

WOMAN ON STREET (ON TV)

I always had a bad feeling about
her. Now I know what it was!

Ella’s struck by this. We hold on her - something inside her

growing - as Lindsey enters the background with tea and an
ANALYST bloviates on TV.
 108.

ANALYST (ON TV)

She speaks for so many. A nation
shocked, but maybe not surprised.

As the analyst continues on, Ella’s attention turns to:

ELLA
Lindsey. What did you say earlier?

LINDSEY
Ma’am?

ELLA
When I was talking to Sandra, you
mumbled something. What was it you
said?

LINDSEY
I’m sorry, I-- After you said she
works for a woman. She being Ms.
Whetstone, Sandra, I mean... I just-

ELLA
Go on then.

Lindsey musters confidence, looks her boss square in the eye.

LINDSEY
She works for the Prime Minister.
We all do.

Lindsey, pleased to have gotten it out, exits. Ella thinks a

beat before - like lighting - calling to:

ELLA
Sandra!

SANDRA
(entering)
Parliament?
(Ella nods)
When?

ELLA
Now’s good.

INT. OVAL OFFICE - DAY

Anita enters to find Axton behind his desk.

 109.

ANITA
Statement’s out to press making
clear this was a six week
relationship 22 years ago. That it
is not and never was ongoing. Now
we work to weather the storm.

AXTON
I want to thank you. For earlier.
For keeping me from making a fool
out of myself. And Ella.

ANITA
Part of the job description.

Axton smiles. Then:

AXTON
I lied to you. When I said we
didn’t love each other. That was a
lie. I loved her.

ANITA
I know.

AXTON
I looked into her a few years after
Oxford. Saw she was engaged. Her
plan was right on track. So I spent
years trying to forget her.

ANITA
That’s a long time to try and
forget someone.
(then)
I know this is normally the kind of
conversation you’d have with Ben,
but I appreciate--

AXTON
I’m glad to be having it with you.
When this is all over, I want you
and Ben to come down to the island
with me. Bring your families. We
can celebrate eight great years.
Complicated, but great.

Anita nods. Starts to head out.

AXTON (CONT’D)
It’s going to be significantly
harder this time.
(off Anita’s confusion)
To forget her. Now that she’s...
 110.

NEWS REPORT (PRE-LAP)

The most famous woman on Earth.

EXT. ESTABLISHING SHOTS - LONDON - DAY

A typically drizzly London day set against the backdrop of:

NEWS REPORT (V.O.)

For all the wrong reasons.

EXT. PALACE OF WESTMINSTER - CONTINUOUS

Ella exits the back of her Jaguar. We barely see her through
the hordes of press and umbrellas.

NEWS REPORT (ON RADIO)

Prime Minister Walker will address
Parliament today as the legislature
considers a vote of no confidence.

INT. BRITISH PARLIAMENT - MOMENTS LATER

Parliament. Boisterous. Ella enters. All eyes on her. MPs

tiered behind her and in front. Paxhouse smirks as Ella
reaches the rostrum. She steps up. Holds a beat before:

ELLA
(counting each word on her
fingers)
There’s. Just. Something. About.
Her. I. Don’t. Like. Sound
familiar?
(off the room’s unease)
I’ve heard those eight words a lot.
During my career. My campaign. My
premiership. Some of you are
probably thinking it right now!

MPs hoot and holler. Ella gamely smiles along with them.

ELLA (CONT’D)
But what does it mean? What don’t
we like? Surely, some of you were
miffed that I used my maiden name
when I first ran for office, even
though I was married. There was
something about it you just didn’t
like.
(MORE)
 111.

ELLA (CONT’D)
When Madeleine Eaton came back to
Parliament just a month after she
and her husband had a baby, surely
some of you snickered over drinks
at the Westminster Arms. There was
just something about it you didn’t
like. And when I ran for PM, a
single divorcee, there was just
something about it Kevin Paxhouse
didn’t like.

Paxhouse is less comfortable than before.

ELLA (CONT’D)
It’s why he ran against my ex-
husband more than me. It’s why the
basis for the vote he’s asking you
to take is the identity of my ex-
boyfriend. For those of you who’ve
asked whether I might be unduly
influenced by the American
President: Have you also wondered
whether he might be unduly
influenced by me? If not, why not?

The room is beginning, slowly, to turn.

ELLA (CONT’D)
Our biases run deep. They’re vexing
things. No single speech or person
is going to wipe away what
generations of Kevin Paxhouses have
wrought. Instead, I’m simply asking
you to recognize them. So the next
time you say, “There’s just
something about her I don’t like,”
you know what you’re really saying
is: “There’s just something about
women in politics I don’t like.”

Grumbling in the crowd.

ELLA (CONT’D)
Which is true. It’s upsetting. It’s
a little threatening. Even though
we know everything’s not perfect,
when somebody different steps up to
try and help, we become unnerved.
It disrupts the natural order of
things. The natural order that
instantly compares me to Thatcher,
but gives Kevin Paxhouse space to
get his bearings.
(MORE)
 112.

ELLA (CONT’D)
The natural order that’s quick to
point to women as “bloody
difficult” and men as “mavericks.”
Women as “nasty” and men as
“tough.” Here’s the thing about
this job though. There’s just
something about it I like. There’s
just something about it that suits
me. It’s why employment is up, and
the debt is down. It’s why we’re
tackling some of the challenges
we’ve too long ignored. And today,
right now, right here, we’re
tackling one more.

A beat.

ELLA (CONT’D)
I am not a newer Margaret Thatcher.
I am not Hillary Clinton with an
accent. I am Ella Walker. And I am
not going anywhere.

INT. WHITE HOUSE - RESIDENCE OFFICE - DAY

We pull out from a TV playing Ella’s speech to find Axton

transfixed. A door opens. We’re on Axton.

AIDE (O.S.)
Sir, motorcade’s on the South Lawn.

INT. THE BEAST - DAY

Axton staring, still transfixed, peering out the window of

the Beast - where this all began. The rain pelting quietly
against impenetrable steel and ballistic glass. Ben’s there.

BEN
Do you want to talk about it?

Axton doesn’t answer. He peers out the window - speeding

through the rain - to a group of onlookers braving the
weather for a glimpse. Axton looks beyond Ben to the driver.

AXTON
Stop. Stop!

EXT. SIDEWALK - DAY

We’re with the crowd. In the rain. The Beast slowly reverses
into frame. Axton gets out, greets the ecstatic crowd.
 113.

Axton sees them, and they see him.

AMERICAN NEWS REPORT (V.O.)

News from across the pond. In a
rebuke to Kevin Paxhouse, there
will be no vote. Ella Walker has
the full confidence of the British
Parliament and, it seems, the
British people.

EXT. LONDON STREET - DAY

Another woman on the street is interviewed for local news.

ANOTHER WOMAN ON STREET

I don’t give a damn who she bonked
20 years ago. Ella Walker is in
charge, and I am here for it!

BEGIN MONTAGE - VARIOUS

- Ella, having seen the report on TV, smiles wryly, then gets
back to work, signing legislation.

- Axton campaigning passionately. Soaking it up.

- Ella shaking hands with a world leader.

- Axton playing basketball. Billy fouls him. Axton hits the

ground. Billy’s afraid.

Just as the momentum peaks, we slow down to find...

- Ella, in her faded Oxford sweatshirt, looks to the tattered

book Axton bought 22 years ago: “The History of Number 10.”

- Axton, alone in the Treaty Room. He eyes the “London”

clock. Thinks better of calling and then goes back to work.

END MONTAGE

INT. WHITE HOUSE - LOWER PRESS - DAY

Axton steps down into Lower Press, more composed than his
last visit. He approaches the sliding door. Billy’s there,
very nervous. Anita and Ben stand behind Axton. He looks to
them. They nod. Axton’s about to open the door. But first he
turns and FIST BUMPS Billy.

We’re on Billy. That meant the world to him. We find the TV

above Billy and see Axton at the podium.
 114.

AXTON (ON TV)

Good afternoon. For 11 months, my
Administration has negotiated with
Iran through Russia. A path of
least resistance. That ends today.
Crippling sanctions are going into
effect against Anatoly Vitaly and
his closest advisors.
(a beat)
I’ve got eight months left, and I’m
going to do this the right way.
Here’s my plan.

CUT TO BLACK:

TEXT ON SCREEN: “EIGHT MONTHS LATER”

INT. WHITE HOUSE - BASEMENT CROSS HALL - MORNING

The elevator dings.

NEWS REPORT (V.O.)

After eight years as President of
the United States, Harry Baker
Axton was asked this week if he had
any last words for the American
People. He said simply: Thank you.

The elevator door opens. Axton exits, turns a corner to find:

The entire hallway is lined with STAFFERS. It’s impossible

not to be overwhelmed by the sheer number of them. Axton
begins to make his way down the line. Shaking hands. Hugging.

NEWS REPORT (V.O.)

Today marks his final full day in
the White House. His last year saw
its share of turbulence, but these
final few months have been
historically productive for a lame-
duck Administration. The
President’s aides cite progress in
Yemen and unprecedented relief to
the 18 million under-insured
Americans.

His eyes well. He looks like he needs to take a deep breath,

but can’t. We close in on him, taking it all in, until we
find him finally in the...
 115.

INT. OVAL OFFICE - NIGHT

His last night. Anita enters quietly.

ANITA
Messages are pouring in from around
the world. There’ll be plenty of
time to look at them, but I thought
you might want to see this one.
Secret Service almost didn’t let it
through.

She hands him a small box. We pull away as she departs. Axton
begins to open it. We don’t see what’s inside, instead
pulling back - appreciating the full scope of the darkened
Oval Office.

... As one President transitions to the past.

EXT. BLUE SKY - DAY

Air Force One, now the Special Airlift Mission, soars.

EXT. ISLAND AIRPORT - DAY

A gorgeous tropical island. The dull roar of jet engines on

the tarmac drowns out most other noise. AIRPORT WORKERS make
preparations. A SUPERVISOR rolls up in a cart, gives a
signal. The workers begin to disperse.

INT. SPECIAL AIRLIFT MISSION - DAY

Axton sits contentedly in the conference room. The small

package by his side. The onboard map behind him lets us know:
He’s crossing the Atlantic...

INT. 10 DOWNING STREET - CABINET ROOM - AFTERNOON

Ella leads a meeting of the cabinet. Sandra, back-benching,

reacts to something on her phone. She approaches Ella.

SANDRA
(whispering)
A large plane that looks
suspiciously like Air Force One
just touched down at Heathrow.
 116.

EXT. LONDON STREETS - AFTERNOON

News helicopters track a small caravan of black SUVs snaking

their way through the streets of London toward...

INT. 10 DOWNING STREET - CABINET ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

A television now tuned to the news. Ella watches. So does the

rest of the Cabinet.

NEWS ANCHOR (ON TV)

An unexpected first visit by the
now-former President of the United
States.

NEWS ANCHOR 2 (ON TV)

Hundred pounds says I know where
he’s headed.

ELLA
Excuse me.

As Ella exits and closes the door, the Cabinet members jump
to their feet, huddling by a window - looking down.

EXT. 10 DOWNING STREET - MOMENTS LATER

Ella exits the famous black door just as the SUVs stop short.
The press - a lot of them - are assembled in their usual spot
across the street, having heard the news...

Axton exits his car. Approaches Ella in full view of the

press who snap away.

AXTON
I got your package. I think we
should talk.

ELLA
I lied to you.

AXTON
(lighthearted)
I’m very confused. You are or are
not allergic to roses--

ELLA
I saw you. I saw you, and it scared
me.

This means everything to Axton.

 117.

AXTON
Can we go somewhere?

Ella looks to the hordes of reporters, cameras. Turns back...

ELLA
Here’s fine.

She pulls him in... And for the first time in 23 years, they
kiss. The press go wild. They keep kissing. Ella wants the
world to see.

INT. 10 DOWNING STREET - MOMENTS LATER

Ella and Harry enter the foyer of Number 10.

ELLA
I’ll see if I can get someone to
give you a tour.

Harry smiles, sits down. We hold on him as he places the

package by his side. He eyes it. For the first time, we see
what’s inside.

It’s a flare.

Axton smirks. And, with the weight of the world literally

lifted, he exhales as we...

SLAM CUT TO:

INT. 10 DOWNING STREET - CABINET ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Ella swings the door open assuredly. No sense of

dishevelment. Just polish and poise. She sits before the
cabinet. Her cabinet.

ELLA
Let’s get back to work.

And they do.

CUT TO BLACK.
118.