[scrippet]
INT. OVAL OFFICE - DAY
Hoover is at his desk, signing some final papers before leaving off when there is a knock at the door.
HOOVER
Come in.
MacArthur walks in and salutes before speaking.
MACARTHUR
General MacArthur, sir.
Hoover is a bit surprised at the formality but shrugs it off before gesturing MacArthur to the chair opposite his desk.
HOOVER
Have a seat, General. Now, what is it you wanted to discuss.
MacArthur walks over but does not take a seat.
MACARTHUR
Sir, as per we discussed on Election Night, I have a plan to stop the Socialists from taking power next week. We will get Hoover at the Bureau to arrest the leaders of the Socialist Party for attempted treason, try them and sentence them to be hung. You will take power ‘for the good of the nation’ and the country will be on the right track.
Throughout the little spiel Hoover’s face gets more and more disgusted as the implications of MacArthur’s plan fully sink in.
The man standing in front of him is not the man he met in Europe after the end of the last war. Something has changed him and he is scared of the passionate man in front of him.
PRESIDENT HOOVER (WHISPER)
The best lack all conviction, while the worst/Are full of passionate intensity. How very true that is, how very true indeed.
The reference to Yeats went over MacArthur’s head as well as the spirit in which it was intended.
MACARTHUR
Your answer, Mister President?
The President becomes angry, at himself for being duped for so long and at the man who duped him.
PRESIDENT HOOVER
Get out. I accept your resignation as Joint Chief of Staff and your commission in the United States Army. Take your plots of coups with you and go!
MacArthur is annoyed but this is of little importance. They had planned for this eventuality after all and, to be honest, this path was the one he enjoyed most.
MACARTHUR
I didn’t come in to seek permission. Nothing personal, sir. You were in the way, that’s all.
With that said, MacArthur grasps his pistol and raises it up to aim at Hoover. With only a moments hesitation to aim properly, he pulls the trigger.
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