Adlai lowers the phone to its cradle.  An ANXIOUS STAFFER

            sticks his head in the door, a concerned, questioning look on

            his face.

            Adlai adjusts his tie.  HIS HAND IS SHAKING.  He notices it,

            and manages a brave smile.

                                ADLAI (CONT'D)

                      I'm an old political cat, Jimmy.

                          (beat)

                      But I've got one life left.

            INT. HALL, U.N. - CONTINUOUS

            Adlai, briefcase in hand, marches down the hall at the hand

            of his team: Staffers and Photo Interpreters with large

            leather portfolio bags.  The big double doors to the council

            chamber loom, and he gestures to the Photo Interpreters.

                                ADLAI

                      Wait here.

            And then a DOORMAN throws open the door for him.

            INT. U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS - CONTINUOUS

            Adlai enters.  He is instantly dwarfed by the enormous room.

            Lights, T.V. cameras, the imposing circular arrangement of

            delegation tables.  And the entire world is watching.

            Adlai pauses.  Then as the first SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS

            begin to notice him, he heads for the vacant seats for the

            American delegation.  The ROMANIAN DELEGATE saws the air.

                                ROMANIAN DELEGATE

                          (through translator)

                      ...we call upon the world to condemn

                      this purely American provocation...

            But as the Romanian wheezes on, all eyes are on Adlai.  Adlai

            takes his seat, his Staffers behind him.  They pass him up

            papers, and he spreads them before him, taking no notice that

            the entire room is staring at him.

            Adlai finally glances up.  Across the circle sits Zorin, in

            the flesh, at the head of his own tough-looking DELEGATION.

            He acknowledges Adlai with a superior smile.

                                ROMANIAN DELEGATE (CONT'D)

                      We, the people of Romania, stand in

                      solidarity with the people of Cuba and

                      their revolution in the face of this

                      American threat to world peace.  Thank

                      you, Mr. Chairman.

            The Romanian Delegate leans back from his microphone.  Zorin

            leans forward, begins in Russian, and the Translator's voice

            catches up with him.  His tone, body language, composure are

            all that of complete confidence.

                                ZORIN

                          (through translator)

                      We are glad you could join us, Mr.

                      Stevenson.

            Adlai nods, returns to his notes, as Zorin continues.

                                ZORIN (CONT'D)

                      For the last couple of hours I have

                      heard nothing but questions from the

                      world here.  The United States has led

                      us to the brink of calamity.  The

                      peoples of the world want to know why.

                      We are told again and again of this so

                      called incontrovertible evidence of

                      offensive weapons in Cuba.  Yet we are

                      not allowed to see this evidence.  Are

                      your spy planes so secret you cannot

                      share this evidence with us?  Some

                      planes?!

            The audience laughs.  Zorin basks in it.  And then grows

            stern.

                                ZORIN (CONT'D)

                      Or perhaps there is no such evidence.

                      Perhaps the United States is mistaken.

            INT. SITUATION ROOM - WHITE HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

            EXCOM watches the coverage on the situation room's T.V.'s.

            The President and Bobby sit side by side, Kenny just behind

            them.  Bobby checks his watch, looks at the President.

                                BOBBY

                      I make the call, and Adlai is out.

                      McCloy goes in.

            Bobby looks back at Kenny.

                                THE PRESIDENT

                      Let's hope it doesn't come to that.

            INT. U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS - CONTINUOUS

            Zorin stares at Adlai.  Adlai studiously ignores him, works

            on his own papers.

                                ZORIN

                      The United States has no facts in hand.

                      Falsity is what America has in its hands

                      - false evidence.

            Zorin leans back in his chair.  Adlai finally looks up.  He

            meets Zorin's icy bravura.  He notes the cameras around the

            room.  This is the grandest stage of all.

                                ZORIN (CONT'D)

                      The chair recognizes the representative

                      from the United States.

            And in that moment, Adlai becomes the spokesman for America.

                                ADLAI

                      Well, let me say something to you, Mr.

                      Ambassador, we do have the evidence.  We

                      have it, and it is clear and

                      incontrovertible.

            Adlai's tone is definitive.  A tremor of interest passes

            through the various delegations.

                                ADLAI (CONT'D)

                      And let me say something else.  Those

                      weapons must be taken out of Cuba.  You,

                      the Soviet Union, have created this new

                      danger, not the United States.

            INT. SITUATION ROOM - CONTINUOUS

            EXCOM is transfixed by the continuing debate.

                                BUNDY

                      Come on, Adlai!

            They all crowd the T.V. as if it were a title fight.  Except

            for Bobby.  Kenny glances over at him.  He has the phone

            pinned between his ear and shoulder.  Kenny looks back to the

            T.V.

            INT. U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS - CONTINUOUS

            Adlai fixes Zorin in his seat, his voice rising.

                                ADLAI

                      Mr. Zorin, I remind you that the other

                      day you did not deny the existence of

                      these weapons.  But today, again, if I

                      heard you correctly, you now say they do

                      not exist.