Episode 2 The Kennedys

'Previously on The Kennedys...'

That Jack is quite delightful. It's Joe who's going places.

I love you, son.

I need to get out there, and I need to do something that matters.

His PT boat was rammed by a Japanese destroyer,

'but your son and the rest of his crew are unaccounted for.'

His getting decorated only helps this family.

It doesn't help me!

(CRYING) Everything is part of God's plan.

Part of God's plan to let Joe die?!

It's up to you now, Jack.

To do what? Carry on for your brother.

Well, no. That's just it.

That's why I said I want precinct captains to call in

every half-hour.

Well, of course they can reverse the charges.

Yeah. All right. All right. All right. Bye.

The, uh, polls have been open in the west for an hour.

When we get back from voting,

I want to talk to you about some cabinet choices.

No, no. That's for your transition team.

After today, I'm retired.

I just want to know who's on your mind.

Fine. (SIGHS)

I'm ready.

See now, that - that's perfect for today.

Look, you look great in that colour.

Thank you.

Put yourself down for, uh, secretary of wardrobe.

Yeah?

Let's go vote for president.

(BOBBY CHUCKLES) Fine.

'Vice-President Nixon and his wife Pat voted

'in the playroom of a private home

'in Whittier, California,

'the Los Angeles suburb where Mr Nixon grew up.

'Mr Nixon's running mate on the GOP ticket,

'Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge,

'was almost totally overshadowed on election day

by the popular concentration on the principles.'

(JACK) Well, it's my back. (JACKIE) Do you want a pill?

No, no. I'm loaded up on this, uh, procaine.

(SIGHS) Oh, Jack.

Careful. The hair.

Life magazine says women like you unkempt.

(CHUCKLES) Is that true?

Well, we need men - older men -

and they prefer their presidents kempt.

What?

This... President.

Unbelievable.

(JACK) Why are we running in Charlestown?

I mean, I've never even been here.

We should be in Back Bay or Beacon Hill -

people I have something in common with.

They'd never elect a Catholic in Back Bay.

Charlestown's full of 'em -

second-generation Micks with calluses on their hands.

Suppose I should mention my calluses are

from trimming sails? (CHUCKLES)

(HONKS HORN)

Thanks, Pat. Spread it around.

(BABY CRIES)

Be right down!

This is where you grew up.

Yeah. Hellhole even then.

Believe me, the only good thing about starting at the bottom is,

you sure as hell know where you don't want to end up.

Here he is - Mr Charlestown.

(ENGINE STARTS)

Good to see you again, Mr Ambassador.

Hiya, Jimmy.

And this is the candidate. Hey.

I'm Jimmy Ryan, Jack. Jimmy knows Charlestown inside out.

You're a good-looking kid. Uh, we have a problem of perception.

As far as people are concerned, Jack's a rich man's son

who's out of touch with the people who live on these streets.

Of course, we do have some things going for us.

Jack's a war hero. It was accidental. They sank my boat.

A modest hero with a sense of humour. That's grand.

Saved his entire crew.

Swam 3 miles through shark-infested waters,

towing a fella by the string of his life jacket in his teeth. There were no sharks.

Well, there are now.

All right, Jimmy.

A warm stove in every apartment, a beer in every icebox.

If a bum needs a drink, if a stiff needs a wake...

and let me know when that's gone.

What?

Charlestown may be shanty, but, uh, it knows

when it's being sold a bill of goods.

We'll be running against fellas who were born and raised here,

and they live to campaign. It's in their blood.

Now I can show Jack the ropes - teach him how to drink whiskey,

slap backs, and kiss babies,

but if he doesn't really want to do this,

the campaign is doomed before it begins.

Show him the ropes.

No-one gets elected from Charlestown

unless the longshoremen give 'em their blessing.

Thought that's what priests were for. And do me a favour.

Don't mention that you never worked a day in your life.

Timmy Doolan, say hello to Jack Kennedy. How are ya, Timmy?

How are ya? Hi there. Thank you very much.

Hope you show me some consideration in the election.

Hi there. How are you? Jack. I'm Jack. I hope, uh,

you make it to the polls this year.

(INDISTINCT)

Hi. Jack Kennedy.

Ladies, you coming down here or what?

(JACK) This is where all the action is.

Tomorrow's Feast of the Assumption.

Jack should go to mass at St Bernardine's

and glad-hand the wives and mothers.

Tomorrow night there's a wake for Dan Murphy's Uncle Pat.

Jack needs to pay his respects. I don't even know the guy.

Doesn't matter. Pat was beloved.

I actually have a date tomorrow night.

Send her over to me. You're going to the wake.

(ORCHESTRA MUSIC PLAYS)

What the hell is that?

Joseph Russo.

I never heard of him.

Doesn't matter. Every Italian in this district has,

and that's a substantial amount of votes.

Enough to win?

Enough to hurt us.

(VOICE AMPLIFIED) And that is, uh, one of the reasons why I,

uh, chose to run in this campaign, uh, to begin with.

Having won the, uh, war,

we must now win the peace.

Um... You know,

I don't believe that opportunity is a, uh, privilege.

I believe that it's a...a right,

and the people of Charlestown here, uh, they'll tell you,

uh, they want less jobs.

Um... they want -

more jobs is what they want,

and, uh, the fact of the matter is that opportunity is, um,

is what people in this area, uh, are striving for right now...

(LOWERED VOICE) We need new speech writers.

(JACK) I believe, uh, uh, not bureaucratic red tape...

(LOWERED VOICE) It's not what he's sayin'.

It's how he's sayin' it -

like English wasn't his mother tongue.

We, uh, we've got to, uh, find opportunities,

and, uh, uh, try to, uh...

uh, work on that,

rather than, uh, you know, missing, uh,

the, um, areas that we are missing in.

I can't do this!

You want me to be Joe, and I'm not!

Well, that's obvious.

Well, then save your money, for chrissake!

End it right now! I can't win.

Yes, you can. Your name is Kennedy,

and Kennedys never come second, ever.

I've been listening to this since I was 4.

Well, you can listen to it some more,

till it sinks in.

(PHONE RINGS)

(TYPEWRITER KEYS CLICK)

Well...

there's no ambiguity in him.

It's exhausting.

What do you want to do? What do I want to do?

I want to go to Harvard and teach history, chase girls.

(SIGHS)

I'm not running against Russo and the others.

I'm running against a ghost.

I don't envy you, lad.

(JIMMY) Gentlemen.

Sorry I'm late. Use these.

What? What for? You're a war hero. Look like one.

No.

(WOMAN) And now it's my great pleasure

to introduce to you a young man...

Gold Star Mothers, Jack.

Every one of 'em lost a son in the war.

They'll be lookin' at you, but they'll be seein' them.

...Mr Jack Kennedy.

(APPLAUSE)

(VOICE AMPLIFIED) Um, having won the war,

we must now win the peace.

Uh, prosperity is a, uh, privilege.

Um, not only a privilege, but also a right,

and I believe, as a Congressman,

uh, these are the sorts of organizations

I would, uh, very much like to help,

and if I have the honour of representing you in Congress,

I can tell you right now that that'll be, uh, uh, something

that we will, um, work to, uh, to further,

and we can help organizations like this,

and I can do that for all of you.

I can do that, uh,

uh, by, uh, various tax incentives.

Um, we can...

(SOBS)

I, uh...

I think I know how, uh, many of you feel.

My, uh...

my mother is a part of this organization.

She's a Gold Star Mother as well.

Our house is filled with many memories,

just like yours.

We, uh... we see my brother...

We see his smile everywhere,

and my mother cries for him,

and there isn't a day that goes by

that we don't think of Joe.

He'll always be with us,

the same way that your sons will always be with you.

And I would say that this is exactly the sort of organization

that we are gonna support.

This is the sort of organization that needs our help,

and we're gonna give it to 'em!

This is the sort of organization that I believe in.

Let me represent this district in Congress,

and I will serve your interests!

Ma'am, I appreciate that. Thank you so much. Thank you.

This is my son. He was lost at sea. Oh, I'm...

They liked him.

That's cos he spoke from the heart.

That's what it's all about.

So what do you think, Jimmy?

I think we turned a corner tonight.

I think we're gonna make it. We're gonna try.

What do you mean "try"? I'm still worried about Russo. We're behind in his district.

Well, what are we doing about it?

You think I should throw more money at it?

Money's not the problem. Neither's organization.

We've got more volunteers than anyone.

We got the Kennedy razzle-dazzle.

But we're Irish, and Russo's Italian,

and there's nothing you can do about that.

Hey, Jimmy. How are ya?

(MAN) Over here, Mr Kennedy.

(MAN) Mr Russo!

Let's get a shot of the new candidates!

Come on, Mr Kennedy. Shake hands and smile.

(REPORTERS SHOUT INDISTINCTLY)

There we go.

(LOWERED VOICE) That was a lousy trick, Jack.

What are you talking about?

Like you don't know.

(CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICK)

I, uh, would like to know why there's

a, uh, second Joseph Russo on the ballot. I put him there.

Well, who the hell is he?

He's a plumber. He works up the street.

He doesn't speak any English, does he, Jimmy?

Uh, no, sir. He doesn't.

You put him there to confuse people?

I put him on the ballot to split the Italian vote.

There's nothing illegal about it, Jack.

It's the way the game's played around here.

(MAN) Congratulations!

(CHEERING)

(INDISTINCT)

Hey, quiet, quiet, quiet! Quiet, everybody! Quiet down!

To the next Congressman from Charlestown -

Jack Kennedy!

(CHEERING)

(CROWD CHANTS) Kennedy! Kennedy!

Kennedy!

Kennedy! Kennedy! Kennedy!

Kennedy!

Kennedy! Kennedy!

So the, uh, projections are looking good in North Carolina.

Just not so hot in West Virginia. Oh, I knew that'd be tough.

Too many Baptists.

I think we're gonna win this thing, Dad,

but, uh, when we do, Jack's gonna need some serious guys

to help him run this country,

and all he knows is politicians up to the present time.

I have a list of names.

Mr Ambassador, Sinatra called again. It's the third time.

He's upset because I pulled Sammy Davis from his TV show.

Why would you do that?

He helps us with the Negro vote as well as the Jewish vote.

He's black, and his wife is white.

Every time the two show their faces,

we lose a precinct in Alabama.

Am I the only one who understands politics around here?

Yeah, you're the only one, Dad. The only one.

(CHUCKLES)

I don't particularly care what happens really.

I mean, after today, I'm done. Don't let him get to you.

Yeah, I know. I'm just tired of it.

Seems like, uh, everything I do is wrong.

Look, he's just on edge.

He's been waiting 50 years for this day.

By tomorrow he'll be telling the world what a genius you are.

No, no. No, it's quite clear in his mind, I'm an idiot,

and he, uh, did it all himself.

Come on.

Oh, well. Just one more day.

Yeah, and then what?

Then it's just Bobby and Ethel -

two ordinary people living ordinary lives.

That's what you wanted, isn't it?

I want whatever makes YOU happy.

Go long.

Ohh! Come on, Kennedy!

You got hands like bricks!

Henry Cabot Lodge and I have had the opportunity of serving

with President Eisenhower...

Hell, I don't think I'd buy a used car from that man.

Would you, Mike?

Who'd you vote for, Senator?

Me? Well, I'm a, uh, I'm a strict party guy, so...

Senator.

I've, uh, been putting together some clippings,

in case your wife might want them.

Uh-huh.

You know, mementos from the election.

They're from all over the country.

Well, that's very nice of you. Thank you.

If, um...

there's anything else you need,

I'm happy to do anything.

Thank you.

Cynthia.

Cynthia.

(PHONE RINGS)

(LOWERED VOICE) Are you OK?

I mean, what are you doing, uh, with her?

We were having conversation. Just talking. It was...

Well, I think it would be much safer

if you just talk to me.

I'm right here. Just talk to me.

(TV)'..seem to be costing Mr Kennedy votes,

'particularly in the rural areas

'of Mississippi, Georgia, and Alabama.'

(PHONE RINGS)

Mike, have you seen my husband?

Yes, he's in the war room. Looks like he's going to win New York.

(PHONES RING)

(CYNTHIA CHUCKLES)

Am I supposed to check here or...

(TV) 'With the state of New York

'now securely in Senator Kennedy's column...'

How's it going? Thank you. Well, I think it's going really well.

(TV) 'The focus of interest is now turning

'to the industrial states of the Midwest...'

You know, I just realized that in a couple of hours,

the polls are gonna close on the West Coast,

and I'll have nothing left to do but watch TV.

(CHUCKLES) There's nothing good on tonight anyway.

So what happens tomorrow?

I don't know.

Haven't you heard? I'm officially out of politics.

Have you told your father yet?

No, I think you should do it.

(LAUGHS) Oh. I don't think so.

What if he doesn't approve?

Well...

I do have seven children of my own.

Think I'm allowed to make my own decisions now.

Hmm. yes. Yes, you are.

Hey, kid.

I've been lookin' for ya.

Bobby says everything's going real well.

Great.

What's all this?

Thank-you cards for the campaign workers.

(CHUCKLES) Boy, this has been

the most exciting day of my life.

I don't know how you're not bursting!

I rarely burst, Ethel.

Jackie,

you are gonna be the First Lady of the United States.

(SIGHS) It's, uh...

I can hardly think about it.

It's all so unreal.

Oh, come on.

Tell me you didn't know this was gonna happen

the first time you met Jack.

(PHONE RINGS)

It only occurred to me the first time I met Joe.

(MAN) The East Coast results are coming in.

(CHUCKLES) I'm gonna go watch the returns. Are you coming?

I'll be there in a minute.

Jack, can I pull you away for a moment?

There's someone I'd like you to meet right over there.

..start to turn...

Jackie.

Excuse me. Charlie. How are you?

Good to see you.

Jacqueline Bouvier, Congressman Jack Kennedy.

Hi.

Jackie's the roving photographer for the Times-Herald.

Before that, she worked in the Paris office of Vogue.

And Jack... Needs no introduction.

Mm. well, I've, uh, I've read your column.

I've read your speeches.

Oh, you've read the, uh, Congressional Record?

Chrissake, it's the, uh, dullest thing on paper.

Well, that's the challenge -

trying to find signs of intelligent life.

(MAN) Jackie!

(MOUTHS)

So, uh, what do you do when you're not, uh, photographing?

I ride horses.

Oh.

And what do you do when you're not congressing...

or cutting a swath through Washington's women?

You have quite a reputation.

It's not true. If half of it were, I'd be dead by now.

Or cast in bronze.

I, uh, I sail. I go up to the Cape.

My stepfather has a summer home in Newport.

Yeah, I like the winters up there.

For sailing or...swathing?

No, really. You get those, uh, 10-foot swells

and that, uh, spray against your face.

It's like, uh, needles of ice.

You should've been a writer.

Well, that was the plan at one time.

Very nice meeting you.

You, too.

Congratulations. You hooked him.

Trust me. I could see it from the bar.

He's not interested.

Did he proposition you?

Then he's interested.

How was your ride?

Wonderful.

You should've come along, Mother.

I have to go. Jack's taking me to dinner.

Join me for one drink.

You're kidding yourself if you think this is going somewhere.

Jack Kennedy can have any woman he wants.

Well, he wants me.

Then he must not mind big shoulders, tiny breasts,

feet the size of... Just stop it.

I'm just trying to protect you.

Well, don't.

He's asked me to marry him.

(LAUGHS)

I hope you haven't said yes.

Joe Kennedy raised his sons to take what they want

and discard what they want,

with not a flicker of concern for anyone else.

Well, that's not Jack.

Don't delude yourself, darling.

He'll never be faithful,

not for a single day.

He's just like his father.

Just like YOUR father.

Why can't you just be happy for me?

Because you're a silly little girl,

and you're infatuated with a public man

who will hurt you every chance he gets.

He loves me, and I love him,

and it's an emotion you can't understand.

Well, then marry him, and good luck to both of you.

(JACK) Well, I don't know why you let her get to you like this.

She's, uh, never approved of anything you've done.

This is your decision. Right?

Jackie?

Are you having second thoughts?

Are you sure marriage is what you really want?

I am.

And are you sure I'm who you want?

Yes.

I love you.

I'll take care of you the rest of my life.

Will you let me do that?

(LAUGHS) Yes.

(MAN) I've got him on the line right now.

(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)

Great job.

Mother? I just heard, we're gonna take Virginia.

That's wonderful, Bobby. Congratulations.

Michelle's made tea. Would you like some?

No, no, I'm fine. Thank you. Uh, where's Dad? In his office.

You must be very proud of Bobby.

I'm proud of all my children, dear,

but he is a little special to me.

And why is that?

The older boys were Joe's.

Bobby's mine.

No, no, no. Just listen to me.

Tell him the situation we discussed.

He'll be extremely happy with the outcome.

Yeah.

All right. Gotta run.

Dad, my, uh, source at NBC

said, uh, they're gonna report we took Virginia.

Ha-ha-ha! That's great, Bobby.

That means the whole damn eastern seaboard's

coming in exactly the way we wanted.

Yeah, I don't know, Dad. I'm a little worried.

Uh, I think we're gonna have a difficult time in the Midwest.

The Midwest'll be fine. Well, we have no choice but to take Illinois.

We could lose, uh, Michigan and Wisconsin,

which I suspect we will.

And, uh, you know, we just can't afford to lose Illinois.

Oh, we'll take it. Chicago'll come through.

How do you know?

Well, there are more Catholics there than there are in Rome.

I threw enough money at 'em to keep 'em in wafers till 1980. So don't worry.

So, uh, what's on your mind?

Uh, well, you know, I, uh,

I know it's gonna be...

hectic here for the next few weeks, so, uh...

I just wanted to, um...

uh, well, I want to discuss with you...

what, uh, I want to do after tonight.

What are you going to do?

Well, uh,

I want to... I want to get out of politics.

I want to, uh,

move the family to Boston

and, uh, open my own practice,

spend more time with Ethel and the children.

That's about it, really.

Good idea.

You really feel that way?

Absolutely.

You made a big sacrifice for Jack,

and I love you for it.

So whatever you decide to do,

I'll be in your corner, just as I was for Jack.

And I know

I rode you pretty hard at times,

but if Jack makes it to the White House,

we both know it was you that put him there.

I...

I really appreciate that, Dad.

Bobby.

Yeah?

Bobby...

Thank you, Bobby, for making my dream come true.

Thank you, Dad.

He said he was going out for some air.

(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)

(WOMAN GIGGLES)

(BOTH SPEAK INDISTINCTLY)

I said, uh, I said...

How we doing in the Midwest?

Midwest is fine.

Bobby, she, uh, she works here.

So let her work.

I would appreciate it if you would just

have a little more sensitivity and not do that here.

I mean, Jackie's upstairs.

I know where she is.

You're unbelievable, you know.

Hey. Always the altar boy,

aren't ya?

Huh?

I talked to, uh, Henry Luce today.

Yeah? What did he say? Well, I gave it to him for about 45 minutes.

He helped me take a look at the article.

(DOOR CREAKS)

(BOBBY) Well, I think I'm, uh, more nervous than you are.

How are you feeling?

Well, my knee's still killing me

from that blind-side hit you put on me yesterday.

No, no, I mean, uh, about getting married.

All right. All right.

We'll get this show on the road just as soon

as I've had a man-to-man talk with the bridegroom.

Newsreels are turning like it's a coronation.

They're calling it the wedding of the decade. I will see you at the altar.

No, no. No, you can stay. I'll be quick.

I'm renting the cardinal by the hour.

You got yourself a good girl.

Jackie's smart, uh, well-bred, damn attractive.

That's all to our advantage.

Is that our man-to-man talk?

No, no. Not exactly. Uh...

just...

just stay discreet.

Wives don't expect fidelity,

but they don't want infidelity thrown in their faces.

What? No, no. Dad, why would you even say that?

That's not true.

Jack, remember, you take that vow before God.

Sometimes you make me think I've failed as a father.

Thanks, Dad.

Above all, make sure the girls are discreet.

(WATER RUNS)

I knew...

what I was getting myself into.

I... All the women throwing themselves at him...

I just thought he'd...

throw some of them back.

I'll talk to him.

And tell him what?

"Just don't get caught"?

That's not a solution.

Well, what do you want me to do?

Nothing.

I just wanted you to know that I'm...

going to file for divorce.

Well, you're upset.

I understand that, but, um...

He'll grow up.

He'll change.

He can't change.

This is what he is. This is...

how he's been raised.

Don't talk to me about how he's been raised.

Jackie, if you, uh,

if you divorce him, his career would be over.

Everything he's worked for...

it would destroy him.

And what about me?

Don't I deserve a life?

Yes, you do, and you'll have one.

(SIGHS)

Do you think Jack's gonna be in the Senate

for the rest of his life?

He's gonna run for President in 1960 and he's gonna win.

Have you told him?

That makes you the First Lady at the age of 31.

What difference does that make if...

he doesn't respect me?

He respects you.

(SCOFFS)

And he loves you.

He keeps telling me all the time,

you're the best thing that ever happened.

To his career.

To him.

(BIRDS CALL)

You're going through a rough patch.

Rough patch?

That's all I've ever known.

I want a husband.

I want a family.

And you'll have them both. I guarantee it.

But you have to stay.

I'll put a million dollars into a trust.

If Jack doesn't make it to the White House,

you can have your divorce and keep the million dollars.

You really think everyone can be bought?

I haven't met the exception.

Well, you have now.

Jackie?

Do you love him?

That's not the point.

That's exactly the point.

Look, I know he's not perfect. No man is.

But I do know, you can be happy with him.

And I'll see to it that you are.

(WOMAN) Yeah!

You sure you don't need me for anything else, Mr Kennedy?

No, no, no. Thanks. You should get some sleep.

You, too.

I know that Jack will win.

No, we've come too far to lose.

Now I need to make an early start.

There's gonna be a mountain of calls tomorrow.

I'll be here.

I miss being with you, Joe.

It's chilly out there.

Would you like a sweater?

Thank you, Mrs Kennedy. I'll be fine.

Good night.

Good night, dear.

Good night.

Shall we go to bed, Rosie girl?

(TV) 'The Vice President expressed his appreciation

'to his staff and to the volunteers in the ballroom,

'but he stopped short of a concession.'

(BOBBY) Bastard just won't concede.

(TV) '...electoral politics is well known,

'and according to sources,

'being urged by several members of his inner circle,

'to make his concession speech now.'

Thanks for everything.

Sure.

(TV) 'Even if he does concede, there is always the possibility

'that he might ask for a recount...'

(SIGHS)

OK.

I'm tired. I'm gonna go to bed.

What do you mean? You're not gonna watch this?

I'm tired.

(BIRDSONG)

Mr President! Mr President! Mr President!

Wake up. Mr President, wake up.

Mrs Shaw? Wake up, Mr President.

Are we in?

Congratulations, sir.

Jack.

I couldn't have done it without you. Or you. Come here.

Oh!

What's this? What's this?

What--oh! Oh! Oh!

My head!

(TV) 'The unexpectedly delayed climax

'saw Senator Kennedy the victor

'with a clear margin of electoral votes.

'At 43 years of age, he is the youngest man ever voted...'

Well, we're just gonna have to, uh, stay after him, Lyndon.

Well, thank you for everything.

Well, I will.

Mm-hmm. (RECEIVER CLATTERS)

(TV) '..of a long-standing political...'

He, uh, says congratulations from, uh, him and Ladybird.

That's nice.

(OBJECT RATTLES)

Come on. Uh, let's get downstairs

and, uh, bask in our glory.

You OK?

Jack, you're going to be President,

and things are going to be different...

Well, honey, I think that's probably true. Between us.

Our marriage works

because I decided several years ago

to accept certain things about you,

and I've dealt with it.

I've had my private humiliations,

but I won't have them in front of the American people.

(CHUCKLES) the Times wrote the same damn thing. I know. It was perfect.

Did you sleep at all? Are you kidding? I can't believe you did.

We did it. We did it.

Closest margin in history, Dad. You think I was gonna pay for a landslide?

I love you, boys.

Now wait. Wait. Wait.

I have some, uh, ideas for your cabinet. Mm. Oh, here we go.

Can't we just enjoy this, just for the afternoon?

I think his memory's, uh, failing him.

Dad, you got me as, uh, attorney general.

Yeah, because that's where you're gonna be.

We talked about this. You said you were fine.

I'm going to Boston tomorrow to look for office space.

No, you're not. Jack needs somebody he can trust,

and I need you to keep an eye on jack.

I'm picking my own cabinet, Dad.

I believe they elected me President, not you.

That's very true, son.

They did.