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VOTE FOR ME -- POLITICS
IN AMERICA
PART THREE: POLITICAL JUNKIES
Opens with John Mancini of Johnston RI, standing in front of a wall with a list of names on it.
JOHN MANCINI
I love politics! I surely do! I think it's an enjoyment. Everybody should participate
in it. Some might stay home and twiddle their thumbs and then they complain
the following day. That's too late after the election. You got to go out and
vote for the man that you want to get in there.
Percussion rises. Opening strains of “America the Beautiful.” The
song goes through the whole segment.
Cut to WS high school night football game at halftime.
Credits: “A film by Louis Alvarez, Andy Kolker, Paul Stekler”
Zoom in to bald man wearing bright yellow “Kucinich for State Senate”
t-shirt.
Cut to parade of people holding red white and blue “Dabbs Congress”
signs and t-shirts.
Cut to Chicago Mayoral candidate Joe Gardner and supporter raising up their
hands together at a podium while people applaud and shout.
CROWD
Let’s go Joe!
Cut to MS Karen Burstein and supporter raising her hand with his in a victory
shake at an outdoor rally.
Cut to another high handed victory gesture with Ann Richards and supporters
at a podium.
Cut to Kathleen Brown reaching over a man’s shoulder to shake hands with
supporters.
Cut to Milton Johnson Jr. testimonial in front of signage.
MILTON JOHNSON JR.
Hi, I’m Milton Johnson Jr. and I’m running for Alderman of the 24th
Ward of the city of Chicago.
Dave Rambo testimonial in front of signage.
DAVE RAMBO
Hi, I’m David Rambo. I’m running for District Attorney of District
21 in Oklahoma.
Donna Peterson testimonial at the Capitol.
DONNA PETERSON
Hi, I’m Donna Peterson. I’m running for Congress in the Eastern district
of Texas, Texas two.
Sheriff Larsen Medicine Horse testimonial.
LARSEN MEDICINE HORSE
I’m Larsen Medicine Horse and I’m running for sheriff of Big Horn
County here in Montana.
John David Franz testimonial in front of a large bug.
JOHN DAVID FRANZ
Hi, I’m John David Franz and I’m running for re-election as Mayor
of the killer bee capitol of the United States, Hidalgo, Texas.
Fade to black.
Quote: “Do not run a campaign that would embarrass your mother” --
Sen. Robert Byrd
Cuts to Mike Turpen in CU.
TURPEN
Now a lot of politicians, I think they're kind of quirky. They got a kind of
a defect, that's a defect that can only be satisfied by mass affirmation. See,
like Sally Fields, at the Academy Awards, “They like me, they really like
me.”
Fade to black.
Quote: “If you can’t convince them, confuse them.” -- Harry Truman
Cuts to a tourist couple
WOMAN
They have to be articulate
MAN
They have to be good at speaking and have a good personality, I think and--
WOMAN
Because of television. That’s what you’re gonna hear
MAN
That’s what you’re gonna hear. But they’ve got to be believable
too.
Fade to black.
Quote: “Be thankful only one of them can win.” -- 1960 bumper sticker
Fades up on interview with Willie Brown
WILLIE BROWN
If as a politician you have a need to be loved universally, I would guess that
you don’t have a sufficient amount of resources to afford the therapy that
it’s going to take to keep you sane. You better be prepared to know that
on any given day, it may very well be a majority of the people who think you
are really a dips--t.
Black and then moving color logo: “Vote for Me” over song finale.
Fades up on a wide shot of the Christian Coalition training in process.
Mark Campbell is at the microphone.
MARK CAMPBELL
I do not think anybody in this room is running for the School Board because
they don’t know what to do with the other 40 hours of their week.
Reaction shot of blond woman laughing.
Cuts to MS of Mark Campbell.
CAMPBELL
Or gee, I’ve always wanted to be abused in the press. Here’s a chance.
Audience laughs.
NARRATION
There are those among us who would actually like to be politicians.
Cuts to CU of Christian Coalition trainee.
SUZANNE CALLAHAN
My name is Suzanne Callahan, I'm from Jacksonville, FL.
Cut to CU of Victory Fund trainee.
KELLY CASSIDY
My name is Kelly Cassidy, I'm from Chicago, IL.
Cut to man in t-shirt, also in his 30's
TIM CAIN
My name is Tim Cain, I'm from Little Rock, AR.
Cut to MS two women seated at a table,
WOMAN ON THE LEFT
We're from Michigan. And we're down here to learn the tricks of the trade to
run a good campaign on a limited amount of money.
Cuts to CU of Dave Fleischer writing on board and people taking notes and watching.
NARRATION
It used to be that politics was solely a learn by doing experience. Nowadays,
you can take a seminar.
Cut to MS Dave Fleisher standing in front of a small group leading the workshop.
DAVE FLEISCHER
Well good morning. My name is Dave Fleischer. And on behalf of the Gay and Lesbian
Victory Fund I'm really glad to welcome you to this training institute.
Cut to Chuck Cunningham, Director of Voter Education for the Christian Coalition
at the microphone addressing the auditorium
CHUCK CUNNINGHAM
Welcome to Atlanta for the first Christian Coalition's School Board Training
seminar.
Cuts to trainees listening.
NARRATION
There are a lot of basics to learn, no matter what side of the fence you’re
on.
Cut back to GLVF
FLEISCHER
There are really three essential components for your campaign message. Uh, it
has to be short and sweet is the first one.
Swipe back to CC, Mark Campbell is addressing the crowd
CAMPBELL
The KISS method. Keep it simple stupid? This is about communicating ideas in
a clear, concise, and user-friendly manner.
Swipe back to Fleischer addressing group at GLVF
FLEISCHER
Second, you've got to have stark or at least sharp contrast with your opponent.
Swipe back to CC, Campbell is still leading the group
CAMPBELL
Remember, campaigns are about contrast. They're about choices. Those choices
need to be clear and identifiable.
Swipe back to GLVF
FLEISCHER
Often, the most remarkable thing about media coverage for an openly gay or lesbian
candidate it that it always begins saying, “Pat Garland, comma, openly
lesbian candidate for judge, comma, today talked about” something that
just gets buried.
Swipe back to CC
CAMPBELL
See, if you don't label yourself, the press will do it for you. Well, why? (VO
reaction shots) Because remember people have to call you something. And if you
don't label yourself, it's gonna be “right wing Republican wacko today
announced for school board.”
Cuts to laughing Christian Coalitioners
NARRATION
While you can learn the ABCs of campaign strategy in a classroom, outside the
pros are doing the real heavy lifting.
Cuts to politicians with shovels christening a construction site.
COUNTDOWN
5,4,3,2,1. There we go.
NARRATION
Like sitcom actors trapped in an endless rerun, politicians live in a world
where no opportunity to perform is possible to pass up.
CU politicians with shovels.
COUNTDOWN
3,2,1.
Fade up on Hawaiian music and a guy taking a picture.
Cuts to Tom Foley posing for a series of photographs in lei. Cut to girls dancing
in Hawaiian costumes.
Cut to interview with Michael Barone.
MICHAEL BARONE
We get the politics we get because there is a demand in the political marketplace
from the votes. If they want certain things, the politicians will seek to give
it to them. If they want candidates who can turn somersaults and stand on their
heads, they will get candidates who turn somersaults and stand on their heads
and there are those who would say metaphorically, “that’s exactly
what they’ve gotten.”
Cuts to Steve Gunderson trying to throw a bale of hay with live marching band
music in the background.
GUNDERSON OC
I’ll do anything for a vote.
Cuts to football wielding Dennis Kucinich attempting to throw the football through
a tire and failing. Three quick cuts of football missing its target. People
off camera shout encouragement.
Cuts to a little kid effortlessly throwing the same football through the tire.
Cuts to woman at microphone speaking fractured Spanish
WOMAN POL.
Esta es un dia muy importante para la comunidad espana de Miami Beach y tambien
es un dia muy importante para mi.
Cuts to people in a crowd holding up a flag.
NARRATION
Most of us are not very good at doing what you have to do to succeed at politics.
Back to woman at microphone being applauded.
WOMAN POL.
Good, they understand me. Good.
Fade up on “God Bless America”
Cut to CU of man with mustache.
VOX POP
Politicians. I don’t like politicians whether they be a Democrat or Republican,
you know, it doesn’t matter to me.
Cut to man in dark glasses.
VOX POP
Politicians are liars as a general rule.
Cuts to man with sheep
VOX POP
Exactly what they do. They start out in one direction and wherever the people
or the sheep want to follow, they all follow together, to keep everybody happy.
Cuts to Contract for America politicians walking up the steps to the U.S. Capitol.
Cut to group of flagwavers and continuation of “God Bless America”.
NARRATION
Even though they seem so roundly disliked, there are those few who are willing
to bargain their personal lives and sometimes their dignity to ascend to the
heights of power. Who are they and what drives them?
Cut to interview with Mario Cuomo
CUOMO
Well, I don’t know about motivation. Some, probably we’d call them
high minded, who are doing it for good purposes. Some are strictly vain, some
are egotistical, some are basically insecure and they’re constantly trying
to prove their efficacy and their power. Some do it by sex, some do it by beating
up kids, some do it by getting to be very, very rich and then abusing everybody.
And some do it by going into politics.
Fade to black.
PART THREE: POLITICAL JUNKIES
Fade up on title card for Part Three
as music climaxes: "Part Three, Political Junkies."
Cross fade with second card: "Where do politicians come from?"
Opens with MS pan of cheering, clapping, gesticulating Girls Staters.
Cuts to a conversation between three girls staters, one is off camera.
DANIELLE WEST
Will y’all vote for Ross?
JAMIE REVIS
OK, we’re gonna need your support.
DANIELLE
OK, I’m trying to think because like Tensas, we’re like supporting
them on Secretary of State, Sabine is Attorney General, maybe...
NARRATION
Here in Louisiana, the land where politics is the state sport...
Cuts to Dave Marye coaching his men
DAVE
I’m not going to sell him out for thirty votes.
NARRATION
...the first awakenings of the political personality are in the air.
Cuts to Danielle rallying the girls from the stage, pans over girls.
CHANT
Amite in the front and Terrabone in the back, if you think you’re party
is better you must be smoking crack.
Cuts to boys clapping their hands over their heads and chanting.
NARRATION
1500 high school seniors, perhaps the Bayou state’s future political elite,
have convened to elect leaders in the student government exercise known as Boys
and Girls State.
Cuts to girls chanting and grinding hips.
Lower third title: “Baby Pols, Baton Rouge, LA”
CHANT
Ooh Ahh. Ooh Ahh.
Cuts to a series of speeches.
SAMANTHA SPANGLER
Good Afternoon, my fellow feds. My name is Samantha Spangler, better known as
Spa-am. And I want to represent you as governor.
TREASURY NOMINEE (Boys State)
Let us not let this pressing problem slip through our numb fingers of complacency.
LAURA WEST
We’re gonna rock this election, right?
GIRLS
Right!
LAURA WEST
We’re gonna blow away the competition. Am I right?
GIRLS
Yes!
LAURA WEST
I want to be your leader.
COMM. OF INSURANCE CANDIDATE (Boys)
And, another thing that I’d like to say is do y’all think it’s
fair that girls get a reduction on their insurance just because they’re
females?
Cuts to clapping boys, one with ivy on his face.
BOYS
No!
Cuts to MCU interview with Joseph Henry
JOSEPH
I’ve seen all the speeches out there and this might sound a little conceited
but I think I can beat all those guys who have spoken so far.
A few boys confer with Marye who stands to cast votes.
MARYE
Mr. Chairman. Kane Parish casts a total of 33 votes and zero abstentions.
Cuts to black board, then to CU of Marye.
NARRATION
It takes more than rousing oratory to win an election. And these novices soon
learn something seasoned pros take for granted: the art of the deal.
WHEELER
If ya’ll give us a couple right now, we’ll go all the way with ya’ll
and if I got to _____ ya’ll guys still in there?
JOSEPH
How many we have to give you?
CHAD LUDWIG VO
We don’t encourage them to trade votes...
WHEELER
No more than 5.
CHAD VO
...or to manipulate their votes...
JOSEPH
If we give you five and ya’ll drop out, will ya’ll vote for us?
Cut to interview with Boys’ State Counselor Chad Ludwig sitting in front
of a hand-painted Federalist Party banner.
CHAD
But they pick it up, and say I've got a strong candidate for this race, will
you give me 30 of your votes or will you help me out with 30 of your votes,
and we'll take care of you later.
Cuts to interview with Boga PPC standing in front of chanting girls
BOGA PPC
It’s like if you vote for this person then in three hours after we’re
starving and hot we’ll vote for your person.
Cuts to Joseph and guy in baseball cap
BASEBALL CAP
If y’all can give me some Governor votes, I’ll give y’all my
whole crew, thirty votes.
JOSEPH
Man, I’m running for Governor man.
BASEBALL CAP
I’m sorry I need Governor votes. I can’t do nothin’ about it,
I need Governor votes.
Cuts to interview with Joseph
JOSEPH
It’s politics, it’s about going in there and saying I’ll give
you five votes man, you give me ten next time then you know when they drop the
second ballot, they drop some people off so you want em on the second ballot.
If you can get it’s just, it’s just awesome. (Very excited and gesticulating
a lot)
Cuts to blond woman calling for order.
LA shot of Parish signs, pans over and down to girl in baseball cap.
CHAIRWOMAN VO
Tchefunta Parish, how do you vote?
BASEBALL HAT GIRL
Madame Chairman, Tchefunta Parish passes.
The girl whispers with her parishioners.
Cuts to three girls whispering
GIRL #1
‘Cause they’re gonna know we voted for them for Lt. Governor and they’re
going to vote for us for Governor.
GIRL #2
That’s right.
Cuts to Marye wheeling and dealing with his compadres.
MARYE
I’ve got two great deals on this one. I’ve got 30 votes on Secretary
of State in the second, plus a five on the first, plus 15 votes on Attorney
General on the second.
Cut to group of boys conferring. Cut to interview with Marye in empty classroom.
MARYE
Back in 4th grade I was like the little dork. All the kids thought I was a dork
‘cause I got in on this Bob Dole kick that I wanted Bob Dole to be President
of the United States when I was in 4th grade. And everybody thought I was a
big loser. I’d bring the paper to school everyday and read it and try to
get everybody to get involved and that type of thing and then I decided that
it might be a good idea, maybe I could be President of the United States.
Cuts to conversation between pigtail girl and Boga PPC
PIGTAILS
What do y’all have up for tonight? What are y’all of for tonight?
Commissioner anything what? Do you have anything on the Board for tonight?
BOGA PPC
Tonight we have...
PIGTAILS
Governor--we’ve already promised it to Kane. If they’re not--
Cuts to interview with boy with glasses. There are a group of loud boys behind
him.
BOY WITH GLASSES
The people that were supposed to help us out, they didn’t help us out so
we just not going to help them out, unless they can come up with a better deal
for us. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. That’s just the way it works.
Cuts to back of guy at chalkboard.
CHALK
Scott, 14. Garner, 17.
Cuts to a series of people reading off vote counts for their Parishes.
BOY WITH GLASSES
Tensal Parish casting a total of 33 votes and 7 abstentions.
DANIELLE
Casper Ross, 33.
GUY
Morris, 31
GIRL
Green, 33.
Boga PPC and girl strategizing in whispers.
Jeremy and guy strategizing in whispers.
NARRATION
For some, the weeks spent at Boys and Girls State will be just a fond memory
of youth. But for others, it’s only the beginning.
Cuts to guy in Nicholls baseball cap reading results.
VOTE READER
Young, 1.
Cuts to interview with Jeremy
JEREMY
I will go into politics and I will run for governor one day, yes sir. Why? Well,
basically like I said, I was a Louisiana boy raised on politics but it’s
just something I love. And, I love Louisiana and I want to take care of my state.
Cut to Lyons interview.
LYONS
I’ve run in a lot of elections. I’ve done a lot... I’ve spoken
a lot on the nations level and I’ve enjoyed it. I love doin’ this
type of thing, gettin’ worked-up, leading people, and I’ve been doin’
it for almost I guess ten years now. Nothing would change my feelings.
Cut back to Jeremy interview
JEREMY
I want to run for Representative when I’m 18. And then I’ll run for
Senate, then I’ll run for Governor. Then, when I feel happy with what I’ve
done in Louisiana, I’ll run for the U.S. Senate.
Cuts to chanting double line of marching girls from front and then behind as
they walk away down a path.
NARRATION
Most grownups in America may not feel this enthusiastic about politics. But
some of us do.
Fade to black.
I LOVE POLITICS / INTRO TO JOHNSTON
Opens to conversation with Blondell
Williams, one of Chaka Fattah’s organizers
BLONDELL WILLIAMS
I get excited about it. I have family members who say, "why are you all
spending so much time in the office? Why are you raising so much money?"
Well you gotta be up here to understand why we do what we do. Cause me telling
you, you'll never ever be able to convey why we do what we do here. Yes, I really
do get excited by this. (Laughs)
Cuts to Lit Dropper Keith Harris walking and talking in Philadelphia.
KEITH HARRIS
You have to love this game, yes. You have to love politics because who would
walk up and down the street putting literature in a mailbox for nothing?
Cuts to Patsy Brumfield at Neshoba County Fair.
PATSY BRUMFIELD
You don’t just sit at home and stew about the lack of social and political
change. You have to become involved. And once you become involved, it’s
a very personal thing.
Rumba-like music begins.
PATSY BRUMFIELD
Anybody who says that they’ve been involved with politics and doesn’t
get excited about it is not involved in politics.
Cut to black man with microphone in front of a McDonald’s, singing in Spanish,
the only understandable words being “Mario Cuomo.”
Cuts to large woman in black skirt dancing with a skinny man next to a car with
a Mario Cuomo sign on the door.
Cuts to man with beard waving a campaign sign that reads “Mario Cuomo,
because truth matters.”
NARRATION
There are those for whom nothing in life is as exciting as politics.
Cuts to old guy in huge wrap-around sunglasses at Cuomo rally shouting “yes”
repeatedly.
Cuts to older “blond” Hispanic woman at a mic. shouting “Mario
Cuomo” as part of the Spanish rumba number.
NARRATION
It’s almost a sacred calling.
Cuts to Ray Jones interview at Fattah headquarters.
RAY JONES
Yeah, it's like a mission in a sense, and I keep using that word because that's
what it is, because there's no way you can get folks to work every day, work
holidays, leave their loved ones, work summer hours, I mean things that most
human beings don't do. I mean, most people go and have a life of some sort.
Cuts to Cianfrani interview.
CIANFRANI
I’m addicted to politics. And I think everyone that gets involved, or nine
out of ten, once they get a taste of it they get the fever impact.
Music becomes prominent again.
Cuts to car with Cuomo signs and balloons passing by.
NARRATION
And in some places, when political fever hits, everyone’s temperature rises.
Opens with Mary Ann Sorrentino from behind at the controls of her radio show.
“Respect” instrumental plays behind.
ANNOUNCER
WPRO-AM 630.
SORRENTINO
This is all the voters of Rhode Island want. Whether they’re ever going
to get it is what we’re talking about this morning on the Mary Ann Sorrentino
show.
Cuts to sound modulation indicator.
SONG
All I’m asking is for a little respect, just a little bit...
Camera pans to CU Mary Ann at mic. in profile.
SORRENTINO
We’re having a contest this morning. The lines are loaded. There’s
one open one actually. So if you run to the phone without breaking your legs,
you can get on it now.
Cuts to CU of blinking phone lines.
Cuts to a MS of Mary Ann reading from a sheet of paper.
SORRENTINO
The word or phrase which best describes politics in Rhode Island is?
Quick cuts of Sorrentino as callers give their descriptions.
CALLER 1
Pathetic.
CALLER 2
Discouraging.
CALLER 3
Numb.
CALLER 4
Sheep being led to the slaughter.
CALLER 5
Nothing changes.
Sorrentino responds.
SORRENTINO
I predict that if Mother Theresa ran for the State Legislature in Rhode Island
and won, that within six months the woman wouldn’t have a principle left
and she’s a saint.
Cuts to Sorrentino interview.
SORRENTINO
People in other states, I don’t know, for example but in the Heartland
probably of this country if you’re out there cutting wheat down or whatever
it is they do in the middle of the country ‘cause they don’t have
an ocean to entertain them the way we do, they take things very seriously. Politics
is elevated to some art form or whatever they think it is. In Rhode Island and
places out East, the original 13, gang of 13, we know that this is entertainment.
Cut to aRusso rally. MS John Mancini (“enjoyment” man) rubbing his
eyes
aRUSSO
You know my opponent. He’s a milquetoast! Believe me, if ever he’s
elected, by some quirk of faith, as a Mayor of this town, there’ll be two
women sitting one on each side, telling him what to do and you know who they
are! (Laughter and clapping)
Cut to MCU woman in crowd with red white and blue aRusso hat standing, clapping.
Cut to the crowd chanting “Go, go, go”
NARRATION
Welcome to Johnston, RI, where politics is an all-consuming passion. An addiction,
for which there is no known cure.
Cut back to aRusso addressing the crowd.
MAN IN CROWD
We love you Mayor!
aRUSSO
Who you gonna vote for on the 13th? (They yell “aRusso!”) Say it again!
(“Frank aRusso!”) How many times are you gonna vote? (“four!”)
Cut to interview with Arnold Vecchione, an independent candidate for town council
ARNOLD VECCHIONE
That’s Johnston, Rhode Island politics. Voting is a civic duty. But it’s
also a sport. Your cat can vote, your dog can vote. Vacant lots can vote. Dead
people can vote
Rousing parade music rises up. Title: “Political Fever, Johnston, RI”.
Cut to marching band in a parade. Various shots of the parade and onlookers.
One shot is of a bunch of campaign signs underneath a pharmacy sign.
NARRATION
Sometimes, American politics is in its most natural state in towns like Johnston.
Here, politics is direct, freewheeling, and often takes on the character of
a family feud.
ELLEN LIEBERMAN
When I first moved here, I’d read the paper--
Cut to interview with Ellen Lieberman a political journalist for the Providence
Journal
ELLEN LIEBERMAN
-- And I would just throw the paper up in the air and say what is wrong with
these people? Why do they keep voting these people back in? I mean, they steal,
you know they beat up their ex-wives’ boyfriends and try to put a cigar
out on their hand and yet that doesn’t disqualify you from coming back
and being the Mayor of the biggest city or running a town the size of Johnston.
It just-- it doesn’t matter. If you’re lovable.
Cut to vox pop interview with man in his 40's talking through his car window
MAN
We have a councilman that’s being indicted, the Mayor’s being investigated
the whole town’s being investigated by the FBI. I guess there’s something
wrong with this town.
Cut to MS Independent Mayoral Candidate Bobby LaFazia in front of his car festooned
with LaFazia slogans.
BOBBY LaFAZIA
Well, it’s so tight, because everybody knows somebody. It’s pretty
much family-related somewhere along the line because of the situation of the
town being so small--
Cut back to parade scene.
BOBBY LaFAZIA VO
And just about everybody has been brought up, went to school with each other,
and now they’re competing against each other.
Cut to shots of the parade. ARusso walks in the parade and waves to supporters.
Various short shots of campaign signs.
NARRATION
There are lots of small communities where political intrigue keeps the local
tongues wagging. But how many towns have nearly 200 candidates running in every
election?
More shots of campaign signs. Cut back to interview with Arnold Vecchione
ARNOLD VECCHIONE
I went to a festival that we have every year at Our Lady of Grace Church. I
couldn’t walk fifty feet without someone stopping me. “Who you gonna
vote for? Who you think’s in the lead?” And you know, you’re
trying to get a sausage sandwich down and the sausage is getting cold.
Cut to rum-pa-pum music and cuts to the beat of more signs.
NARRATION
The town’s obsession with politics is personified by the man who runs it:
six-term mayor Ralph aRusso.
Cut to MS aRusso in opening a refrigerator door. He stands with a small boy.
aRUSSO
Why don’t you tie your shoes? (Looks into the camera shaking his head)
Kids don’t tie their shoes today. We have to tie ours
MARYANN SORRENTINO VO
Ralph aRusso’s name tells you everything. He put a little small “a”
in front of his name--
Cut to interview with MaryAnn Sorrentino
SORRENTINO
-- So he could have first place placement on the ballot in the days when people
used to be listed in alphabetical order. That’s how he got the attention
of voters. That tells us everything about that desire to win at any cost.
Cut to CU aRusso addressing supporters
aRUSSO
See I’m not defending myself because I don’t have to. Innocent people
don’t defend themselves. They take the offensive. And you go right after
the jugular. And that’s what I’m doing. I’m going after the jugular.
(Clapping)
Zoom out to MS aRusso still speaking
NARRATION
This year, in fine Rhode Island political tradition, the Mayor’s campaign
coincides with rumors of his imminent indictment.
Cut to WS cheering and clapping audience. Cut back to interview with Vecchione
ARNOLD VECCHIONE
He said in some interviews, “I would do anything to win, even lie”.
At one time he took a poor picture of his opponent and painted underneath it
“Is this man in the mafia?”
Cut to CU aRusso addressing the group.
aRUSSO
That is a chairman of a town council? Do you know that as of this day he still
hasn’t paid last year’s taxes? He hasn’t paid them, ladies and
gentlemen.
Cut to CU interview with shady looking guy with gold stud earring
GUY WITH EARRING
There’s one thing the opposition don’t realize. They’re taking
on a big fish in a small pond. This man is the man to be beaten as he said earlier
this evening and he won’t be beaten. You can mark my words and you can
take that to the bank. Trust me with this one.
Cut to aRusso posing for a photo with supporters.
MARYANN SORRENTINO VO
I think people accept what works. If they have a job, and they have their little
dream house, and their mother-in-law gets to have the Mayor send her a birthday
card every year and the garbage is collected--
Cut to interview with Sorrentino
SORRENTINO
--And the school works and the cops are there when they need them. And life
is wonderful. And now they find out that the person who made all of that possible
-- the Governor, the Mayor, their State Senator, whoever, has got his hand in
the cookie jar, they say well you know what? Sshhh. Don’t say anything.
Because if we maybe turn over this applecart, out situation will change. So
let’s leave it alone. If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.
Cut back to parade. aRusso is in front waving to supporters.
Cut to interview with aaRussillo.
aaRUSSILLO
For some reason or another, there is a flame that burns in Johnston that draws
people to politics. It’s just everywhere, everywhere you go. There are
signs everywhere, people are involved everywhere. There’s almost total
participation.
Cut to bare-chested “tattoo” man being interviewed under yellow and
white tent.
TATTOO MAN
Well I think politics are going good. All these people in Johnston are honest.
They do the right thing. And may the best man win. Or the best lady win.
Cut to men carrying flags in parade. The parade music comes to a natural end.
Fade to black.
Epilogue: “Ralph aRusso was not re-elected. But he wasn’t indicted
either.”
*** END OF PART THREE ***