SALINGER

                      Damn it, Kenny.  Goddamn it!

            INT. RECEPTION HALL - SHERATON-BLACKSTONE - NIGHT

            A big 100-dollar-a-plate dinner is in full swing to a dinner

            band's tunes.  The President and Chicago MAYOR RICHARD DALY

            make the rounds among the fund raising CROWD.  Kenny follows

            them at a respectful distance, greeting old cronies.

            Suddenly a MESSENGER hustles over to Kenny, hands him a note.

            Kenny makes eye contact with the President, nods and leaves.

            INT. HOTEL ELEVATORS - NIGHT

            Kenny waits at the elevator.  Scotty saunters up behind him.

            He sizes Kenny up, clears his throat.  Kenny turns around.

                                RESTON

                      There are major rail disruptions in the

                      South, two airborne divisions are on

                      alert.  That exercise is an invasion.

                                KENNY

                      Well, you know how Bobby has it in for

                      the State of Mississippi.

                                RESTON

                      This is about Cuba.

            Kenny freezes, then explodes.

                                KENNY

                      Cuba?  You're fucking crazy.  We are not

                      invading Cuba.  Nobody gives a rat's ass

                      about Cuba.  Not now, not ever.

                      If you print something like that, all

                      you're going to do is inflame the

                      situation.  Nobody talks to assholes who

                      inflame situations.  Assholes like that

                      can find themselves cut out of the loop.

            Reston is taken aback.  Stung silence for a beat.  Kenny's

            response is far louder than any "yes."  Now Kenny realizes

            it.

                                RESTON

                      You've never threatened me before.

            And Kenny looks away, upset, but when he turns back to

            Reston, all that's there is his poker face.  The elevator

            arrives.

                                RESTON (CONT'D)

                      All right.  I'm not going to print

                      anything until I have another source.

                      But I promise you, I'll get one.

            Kenny boards the elevator.  The doors shut on Scotty.

            INT. ELEVATOR - CONTINUOUS

            Kenny closes his eyes, sags against the wall, hating himself.

            INT. KENNY'S ROOM - CONTINUOUS

            Kenny enters his hotel room.  An Assistant waits with the

            phone, hands it straight to Kenny.

                                KENNY

                          (to Assistant)

                      Tell Pierre I need to talk to him.

                          (to phone)

                      Bobby?