INT. OUTER ROOM - GEORGE BALL'S OFFICE - NIGHT

            EXCOM files past Bobby out of George Ball's conference room.

                                BOBBY

                      Bring him back.

            EXT. STREET OUTSIDE SHERATON-BLACKSTONE HOTEL - DAY

            SUPER: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20TH.  DAY 5

            The President emerges from the hotel, a HAT on his head.  The

            Press and a CROWD surge forward, crying out for the

            President's attention.  Kenny slides into the limo first as

            the President waves to the crowd.

            Salinger waits on the sidewalk, and after the limo pulls

            away, the Press pushes in on him.  Pierre's face is pale -

            he's just been told everything.

                                SALINGER

                      The President has a cold.  He is

                      cancelling the remainder of this trip

                      and is returning to Washington on the

                      advice of his doctor.

            INT. WHITE HOUSE MANSION - OVAL ROOM - DAY

            The White House Oval ROOM: opulent, filled with priceless art

            and furniture, but cramped.  EXCOM members crowd around the

            center coffee table and the President.  Kenny stands behind

            him with Bobby.  Rusk rises from his seat, formal.

                                RUSK

                      Mr. President, our deliberations have

                      led us to the conclusion that, for the

                      moment, a blockade of offensive weapons

                      to Cuba is our best option.  But we'll

                      still need a strong showing of support

                      from the Organization of American States

                      to give us an umbrella of legitimacy.

            At long last... Kenny looks at Bobby, relieved.  They've

            bought time to find a settlement.  Bobby smiles a small

            smile: what were you so worried about?

                                MCNAMARA

                      A blockade is technically an act of war,

                      therefore we recommend calling the

                      action a quarantine.

            McNamara folder in hand, opens it, SMASH CUTTING US TO:

            EXT. ATLANTIC OCEAN - DAY

            A SOVIET FREIGHTER churning its way south.

                                MCNAMARA (V.O.)

                      There are between 20 and 30 Soviet ships

                      underway to Cuba at this time.

            The CAMERA races along its side, discovering TARPULINED

            OBJECTS on deck, and on its stack, the RED HAMMER AND SICKLE.

                                MCNAMARA (V.O.) (CONT'D)

                      800 miles out, the navy will stop them,

                      board, and any vessels containing

                      weapons will be turned back.

                                                                 CUT TO:

            The Destroyer U.S.S. JOHN R. PIERCE putting out to sea,

            SAILORS racing over its deck, through hatches to its 5-inch

            gun turrets.  The ship races by, AMERICAN FLAG streaming from

            its stern distaff, FILLING THE SCREEN, WIPING TO:

            INT. WHITE HOUSE MANSION - OVAL ROOM - CONTINUOUS

            The President.  He listens, looks over the briefing papers as

            McNamara continues.  Everyone watches the President.

                                MCNAMARA

                      A quarantine prevents more missiles from

                      reaching Cuba, but it doesn't remove the

                      ones already there.  It gives the

                      Soviets a chance to pull back without

                      war.  If they refuse to remove the

                      missiles before they're operational, we

                      retain the option to strike or invade.

                                BOBBY

                      We believe that a surprise attack would

                      be counter to what the United States

                      stands for.  We believe that an attack

                      leaves us no room for maneuver, and the

                      inevitable Soviet response will force us

                      into a war we do not want.  A war that,

                      this time, will really end all war.

                                MCCONE

                      Mr. President, there are still those of

                      us who believe we should proceed with

                      the strikes.  With the blockade, we lose

                      strategic surprise and we run the risk

                      of a first strike if the Soviets decide

                      they have to use the missiles or lose

                      them.