EDWARD BUNN This was a bad idea. I don’...

EDWARD BUNN This was a bad idea. I don’t know how I let you talk me into this.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON Don’t be so paranoid, Reverend. The people deserve this, and we are the propitiators. It’s not every day that you get to host an event like this.

EDWARD BUNN It’s dangerous. These are dangerous times, Washington. I hope you managed to keep this as discrete as possible.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON I tried.

EDWARD BUNN You tried? That wasn’t our arrangement.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON Word got out.

EDWARD BUNN I expect that from the students, nut what else?

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON What do you mean?

EDWARD BUNN You said word got out. Did the drama school get word of the event or are you keeping something form me., God is watching.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON For heaven’s sake, Reverend. It did.

EDWARD BUNN No.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON I’m afraid so.

EDWARD BUNN I told you that I didn't want this to be a media frenzy, Washington.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON Sir, I went by your office to tell you but --

EDWARD BUNN And somehow I’ hear about this now. How bad is it?

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON Some people from the post are coming. And... John Daly.

EDWARD BUNN John Daly! Are you insane? If this goes bad and gets national attention it could be the end of Georgetown.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON Sir, I told you before, this is what the people want to see. It is times like this transparency is a must.

EDWARD BUNN Not when you’re talking about a meeting of this magnitude, Washington. People don’t respond well to these types of things.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON Is talking about politics that bad, Sir? Because I see no shame.

EDWARD BUNN It isn’t a matter of shame. Eisenhower and Patton, forgive me father but, raised hell in the east. If people knew he was a soft spoken as a tulip they wouldn’t have voted for him.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON Maybe. But I don’t think that is necessarily a bad thing. It shows them who you really are.

EDWARD BUNN And what about Roosevelt?

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON What about him? He was a great leader.

EDWARD BUNN And if people would of saw him bellowing like a gimp in that wheelchair, they would lose all respect for him. He would have been seen as weak.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON You’re afraid that we may get a glimpse of that tonight? Weakness?

EDWARD BUNN This isn’t a presidential debate--

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON But it features a hopeful.

EDWARD BUNN I’m not sure of that.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON You’re not confident in young Kennedy? Of all people I thought you would be pushing his candidacy

EDWARD BUNN I am. He’s a brilliant man. He’s young but he has a head filled with bright visions of the future. However, I’m afraid that his intentions could be elsewhere.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON How so?

EDWARD BUNN I’ve seen men sway away from their moral to fuel their own self interests.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON He is a man of God, Reverend.

EDWARD BUNN He is but he also a man of riches as many others in Washington. The idea of a moral hinge that is held together by the people and on the other side by greed is frightening.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON An what could be any different for official here in Washington? Greed will always be on the shoulder of a person, any person. I would be surprised if it hadn’t stumbled upon yours, being the well achieved man as yourself, Reverend.

EDWARD BUNN But I had God on the other side, Doctor. I don’t make a move without the lord nor do I hold a thought without the stench of divinity. My faith really is all I have. I admire men who have taken a similar oath before God to pursue a path of righteousness and not live morally bankrupt existence. I have taken the creed and have held to be the highest standard of my life. However, I can only speak for myself. At the end of the day, young Kennedy is a man. Men are always in an illustrious struggle of morale and power, power to which can be granted through money and money that is chased for nothing more than greed. With that being said, I admire him by his strength and wisdom, but I see him nothing more than what the world sees him to be, a man.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON That’s an interesting thought, Reverend, but I am inclined to ask, how do you vote then since no matter what kind of smile a man wears on his face, by birth he is damned?

EDWARD BUNN That is a very insightful observation.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON You don’t vote.

EDWARD BUNN I do not vote. Not because I don't have a reason to but because I understand the power of it. And when that power is misplaced by the misguided than it is dangerous.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON But you relinquish that power to others when you don’t, sir. That can be an even greater sin to our society. Picking the lesser of two evils is better than not picking at all.

EDWARD BUNN That’s what our society has fallen to. It’s a shame, isn’t it? Deciding between two of the lesser evils? Just two? Our society, a society I might add that has been sculpted by millions of men over hundreds of years that has built by men with different interests, beliefs, morals, problems, achievements, deceptions, failures, graces, through success, through turmoil -- and the world believes all of that can be translated into the interests of two men. Are we really surprised why our society is turned upside down? In history, unlike any other than today times can get hard but even then, we need the lord more than ever now. Hopefully, the new year will give us better fortune.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON This is why this is so important. The world needs to see what runs through the political minds of leaders of the free world.

EDWARD BUNN Maybe but if this is your idea of it, I’m not so sure about that.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON It wasn’t. I wanted to write an editorial, maybe a book in this presidential election but my research led to elsewhere.

EDWARD BUNN What made you think of a debate?

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON A student of mine. One my brightest pupils suggested it to me. His brother is a student at the University of Maryland, and he propose it and has been spreading the word ever since.

EDWARD BUNN Debates between officials.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON No, a presidential debate.

EDWARD BUNN A presidential debate? Like between candidates running for president?

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON Not just that. He proposed that technology has furthered us to an even higher plain. You see today, today is only fit for a few people but in the future the whole country will see these debates.

EDWARD BUNN The country?

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON One day, maybe the entire world.

EDWARD BUNN This is what I was afraid of.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON Reverend --

EDWARD BUNN You told me only a couple of people would get word of this.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON It’s time like this, Reverend, where great things can’t just fall on the simple ears of the few. Maybe this was all meant to be. Maybe the power you invested in me was articulate his plan and give this gift to the people.

EDWARD BUNN I’m not falling for that, Washington. Just see this here, this is all you. Anything that goes wrong is all on you.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON Don’t worry, Reverend, you’ll see. I know right now things seem like a mess but what we are doing may open the door to amazing things. History will be made and after tonight we’ll all champion it, not just you and me but America will champion this night.

EDWARD BUNN I hope you’re right. If you’re wrong, it will be a disaster.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON It won’t be.

EDWARD BUNN The idea of seeing two men standing on a stage and attacking each other like children, arguing like simpletons is not what the world wants to see. But I’ll bite.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON Arguing? If these people are running for president, they have to be far more professional than that. I doubt that will ever happen.

EDWARD BUNN Take head in my dissenting view in this. Politics can get really ugly, I’ve seen it my fair share.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON Good thing there is only one politician.

EDWARD BUNN I would say all that. Anyone with a strong enough voice for people to hear has a place in politics. How did you get Dellamore to agree to this?

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON He volunteered believe it or not.

EDWARD BUNN You think he might run?

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON For the democratic ticket? I don’t think so. He’s a marked man, Reverend.

EDWARD BUNN His viewpoints are on the extreme. Professor Campbell invites him for lectures every semester. Last spring, I was able to sit during one.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON What did you think?

EDWARD BUNN If Kennedy is a dangerous man, Dellamore might just be even worse. Why do you think he agreed to this, or volunteered? I think he’s trying to convert impressionable minds.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON I don’t think it will be that bad.

EDWARD BUNN Dellamore is a strong man. I would not put it pass him if this was one of his ploys to spread his ideology. I’m not surprised that he hasn’t been appointed to work in government again.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON What do you mean?

EDWARD BUNN What do you mean? You even said it yourself, he is a marked man.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON Yeah but those are just rumors. He knows his fair share about policy and how the economy works and that scares people. He knows the machine from the inside and out and I think that scares people. There’s no way he could actually be a commie... right?

EDWARD BUNN If that’s what you believe.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON What do you believe?

EDWARD BUNN Maybe so or maybe not.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON It can’t be true. I think that was just spread around the Eisenhower administration to divide us. As you said, Reverend, these are different times. I don't think Washington has ever been so divided as it is now.

EDWARD BUNN It will get even more divided. There are only two sides that play ball in Washington; Democrats and Republicans. If you divide those even more it can be hectic.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON Or beneficial.

EDWARD BUNN Doctor?

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON Like you said, you can’t equate the needs of every American by the interests of two candidates. I’m not saying Dellamore or a socialist ideology is suitable enough to subscribe to but maybe there are others. I mean, there are other, just not enough to challenge the status quo.

EDWARD BUNN Dellamore is a democrat.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON So, he says. If what people are saying is true, he is a hard lined communist.

EDWARD BUNN And what are the democrats of now?

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON You think the democrats are socialist?

EDWARD BUNN Maybe not but their apologetic to the politics of socialism. Even Roosevelt was.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON But Roosevelt is not Stalin.

EDWARD BUNN Maybe not. But Stalin wasn’t Hitler. Hitler wasn’t Mussolini and Mussolini wasn’t Batista, but they all subscribe to the same ideology just a tad different from each other. You look worried.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON Maybe having Secretary Dellamore wasn't such a good idea after all.

EDWARD BUNN Well, we have to deal with it now. I would call it off but since John Daly is on his way, I can’t afford the bad press. If John Daly comes to Georgetown for an impromptu assembly than there must something truly inspiring about tonight. You’re the moderator, you control every second that they stand on that stage. If things get out of hand, you must pull the plug. I believe I can trust your judgement on this.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON Of course, sir. I won’t let you down nor Georgetown.

EDWARD BUNN Very well then, Doctor. I’ll see you to it. Oh, one other thing, if young Kennedy is to run for the Democratic ticket, what chances do you believe that he will be elected as president?

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON No chance.

EDWARD BUNN Nine whatsoever?

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON Are you surprised?

EDWARD BUNN A bit. The world is so very intrigued by him.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON He would need some years underneath his belt. Eisenhower was at least a respected leader before he decided to lead the free world. We don’t know much of John Kennedy.

EDWARD BUNN Then why invite him? I understand that this has no regarding to the future -- at least not in the foreseeable future.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON I think it will be a wonderful exercise. An exhibition, not just for the papers but my students.

EDWARD BUNN John F Kennedy? Of all people for the purpose of a measly exhibition?

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON Well... he was the only one that accepted. I wrote to over a hundred congressman and he was the only one to reply actually. Dellamore volunteered once I brought him up.

EDWARD BUNN There must of be a reason for his interest and yours alike.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON Sir?

EDWARD BUNN Something about Kennedy you admire. He's a busy like all the rest of them but for some reason he is able to come to our university on a Wednesday night for a meaningless debate.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON Hopefully tonight your questions, and concerns will be answered.

EDWARD BUNN Maybe there is something to earn about young Jack Kennedy that we’ll see tonight. Maybe it will give people some confidence in who he is instead of what we perceive him to be.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON Maybe even a vote from Reverend Bunn?

EDWARD BUNN You would want that, huh?

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON You really haven’t ever voted before?

EDWARD BUNN I’ve voted. Just not for any presidential election.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON I just don’t understand why. If you’re unsure you can always educate yourself.

EDWARD BUNN I have my duties. My responsibilities. I’ll leave that to who wants to take part.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON Tonight, will change your mind.

EDWARD BUNN You’re so sure. I’m really questioning whether Kenny or even Dellamore’s appearance tonight is really as random as you say, Doctor.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON You’ll have to see. Maybe you’ll be a fan of one of the two tonight.

EDWARD BUNN Don’t hold your breath but then again, a great man can change many not only to follow him but to stand up so others can lead.

CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON Tonight, will be a good night. You’ll see

EDWARD BUNN Hopefully.

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