A Summary of "The Reagans" Script

Int. Reagan Bedroom — White House

Reagan is still staring into the tv. It’s a cowboy movie.

Deaver turns to Nancy, lowers his voice

She begins to tremble.

To spare you the trouble, I’ll summarize the rest of the scene:

Deaver tells Reagan he needs an attorney. (The White House counsel apparantly had the term off).

Reagan calls Ollie North a bastard and a “lying son of a gun.” The President has some mouth on him.

Nancy says Ronnie will only talk to the people, not the press. The people love him. The press, not so much.

Reagan says they got Nixon but they won’t get him. He’s not Nixon, he’s not.

In what is soon to become an annoying habit, Ronnie refers to his wife as “Nancy-pants”. He tells her not to worry. She worries anyway.

Nancy talks to Deaver in private. She says she needs to consult her psychic because they are “surrounded by traitors.”

She catches a security guard watching a TV program about Oliver North. She immediately fires this traitor. (No explanation for why the White House is being protected by security guards.)

Close up on Reagan's eyes. He looks confused.

So are we. Confused about why we are watching this mess.

Pages 6-26

Year: 1949. Reagan walks into the MGM studios passing two actors in black-face working on a tap dance routine. He meets a producer, Leroy, who points out Nancy Davis. She’s “extremely conservative. Extremely Republican.” She’s also been mentioned in the Hollywood Reporter as a communist sympathizer. Leroy asks if Ronnie, since he’s the president of SAG can help. (SAG, by the way, is the Screen Actor’s Guild, a front for the CIA). Leroy suggests Ronnie take Nancy out to dinner. Nothing expensive but she needs to get out, she’s a wreck. Reagan groans but agrees since “she doesn’t look like a wreck.” Rowrr.

Nancy goes on a date with Big R. Like all Hollywood actresses, she’s insecure about her looks. Ronnie takes Nancy out to an expensive restaurant anyway. That’s just the kind of guy he is. He had made a few phone calls ("J.Edgar? Hey, this is Ronnie over at SAG. I got a hottie here who may be a pinko, could you check her out?") and found she’s no commie. She had been confused with a commie who was also named Nancy Davis (there are 3 in L.A.). He suggests she change her name. She refuses. He admires her spunk.

Article Author: J.P. Carter

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