Kevin,+Junghyun

“If They Shook Hands.” A story of Fidel Castro & John F. Kennedy

Jung Hyun Kim & Kevin Kim March 12, 2012 BUS Character List Fidel Castro --- Kevin Kim

John F. Kennedy --- Jung Hyun Kim

Narrator/Cook --- Mr. Kevin Duncan

Setting

In the 1961, after the Bay of Pigs invasion, JFK feels remorseful of his actions towards trying to kill Fidel Castro. In order to say sorry, he arranged a dinner party at the White house for two.

Act One Scene One Narrator :(Prologue) A long time ago, in a galaxy not far away..... It is a period of the cold war. The U.S. versus the USSR. President JFK has been briefed and approved the Bay of Pigs invasion. Unfortunately, the Bay of Pigs has failed. However, John feels remorseful about his decision of the invasion. To show his gratitude for listening, John decides to throw a dinner party for Fidel Castro. Fidel on the other hand, is very suspicious of this invite and suspects something to happen....

(In bed looking at the ceiling while his wife is in the shower) (cue shower noise) JFK : Darling, I’ve been thinking. I actually feel horrible for approving the Bay of Pigs invasion. I should have thought about it more. (pause) I was thinking, maybe we could have a dinner party for Fidel. I mean I heard he used to be a great baseball player when he was younger, maybe he and I will become baseball buddies(smiles). Okay, lets do it. I’ll even personally write the letter and send it.

(Scene transitions to Fidel’s office) (While sorting through his mail, he looks at the invitation and reads) Castro : A dinner party eh? What is the meaning of this. IS THIS A TRAP? Why would they want to invite me for dinner after what I did and what they did to me! A//ídos Míos! (puts face in hands)//

*Mini Castro #1(angel) (recorded voice is played) : But what if this is a real friendship dinner?(castro says “who said that”) What if they actually want to be friends and be allies? (images all of these fantasizes of him and JFK running through fields picking flowers and playing catch. *Mini Castro #2 (devil) (recorded voice is played) : NONONO,why are you giving into the young little guy? Look at him, his hair, his face and his weirdly shaped butt chin... There is absolutely nothing pleasant or trustworthy about this American. You’re not supposed to trust him!  (While brushing his beard)  Castro :  Hmm. This is obviously a trap! The Americans think they’re so smart Hahaha Well, they thought wrong!

(Scene Transitions to the Oval office) (JFK receives the reply back. While jumping up and down. Telephones his wife) JFK: Darling! My buddy Fidel is coming to our dinner party! I am so happy This is going to be great. I better tell the cook to start on those churros. -Night of Dinner Party- (Castro arrives wearing a nice black suit looking bold, confident and Cuban. When he looks at John he gives a fake smile and gives a polite hand signal) (cue camera shots)(cue lights) Castro: Haha John! Hello how are you. I am very pleased to be in the US and in your home. Hahaha... (JFK comes running up to Castro and hugs him. He greets him in a very southern spanish accent.) JFK : JFK : QUE VOLA MI AMBIO! Did I say that correctly? (Awkwardly Castro responds with a nod. He clears his throat and speaks) Castro: Sí Señor Hehe.. Thank you for having me for dinner tonight, but I must ask, why did you invite me? (Happy JFK puts arms around Castro) JFK: Well, I feel like we are very similar people just believing in different ideas. You with Communism and I with democracy. But tonight I want to put aside those differences and enjoy the night. What do you say pal? (Castro awkwardly smiles.) Castro(Real Voice): Haha sure buddy.. (awkwardly) - At the dinner table - (JFK politely asks about Castro’s wife and kids). JFK: So, Fidel, hows the wife and kids? (With giant eyes and twitching lips and head. The projection screen shows the date when Castro and his wife divorced.) Castro : They’re are g...GREAT! Hows about yours? (JFK’s assistant whispers that his wife divorced him a long time ago. JFK clears his throat.) (JFK’s cook(duncan) offers Castro a cigar. Castro sniffs it and asks the cook to start it for him.) Castro: Could you start this cigar for me. I just don’t have the lung power right now.

JFK: AHEM. Um they are great too. Haha. I just want to say I respect you and what you actually do for your country. People misunderstand you a lot huh? (Castro makes a surprised look but responds) Castro: Yes, I am just doing what I think it is best for my country. People think because I organized rebel groups and radically change society all I want is control, but the truth is, I worry. It took me six years to get to power and in those short six years I’ve experienced hell. The government doesn’t really know anything about the society, but did.

(With soft understanding eyes JFK nods his heads) JFK: I totally understand and agree. I mean, I come from a long line political leaders and my family just expects a lot from me. Being the obedient son, I always did what I was told and became president. Citizen’s of the US think that just because I am young, I don’t know anything, but when you’ve been through war and close to death you quite know what the world is really like.. (A medium pause) (Both sigh, but a pleasant aura fills the room with a bonded connection? JFK starts conversation again trying to sound happy) JFK: Haha So tell me about your family. (Castro tries to look superior and pompous) Castro: Well my father was a famous sugarcane planter. I went to a private Roman Catholic school in Santiago de Cuba and the Catholic High school in Belén in Havana. But as you know because I was a Marxist and wanted to get rid of Batista I organized rebel groups. But one time I failed, I was supposed to go to jail for 15 years, but got out in two because of political amnesty. Then in 1955, I went to Mexico with my bro Raúl and organized rebels again to successfully overthrow Batista. We obviously succeeded because I am the president now Haha. How about you John

(Garlic Bread is offered to Castro. Castro again asks the cook to eat one for him) (John gives Castro “the look”, clears his throat and responds in a boastful way)

JFK: Well, My great grandfather emigrated from Ireland in 1849 and my grandfathers Patrick Kennedy and John Fitzgerald were both political leaders in Boston, my father became the ambassador to Great Britain. I graduated from Harvard with a science degree. I participated in the second world war. After the war I came back home joined the Democratic Party, ran for president and won. (Chuckle).

(Castro’s eyes slightly enlarges. clears his throat, John smiles like a mean child)

(Soup is brought in next, Castro asks cook to drink soup for him) (JFK changes the subject to the Bay of Pigs) JFK: So, the Bay of Pigs, strong army you got there. Haha I mean I was actually astonished by your army. Whew I was very impressed by your military tactics. (Castro is interested and accepts the compliment with a nod) Castro: Well thank you, You know my only wish is to fight as a solider with ideas. The reason why we won was because you invaded our peace when I was governing my country the way it should be governed. We had a feeling in our hearts that we need to protect our idea and our homeland. You were the bad man this time John.

(John pouts his face) JFK: Yes, that is why I arranged this little dinner party; to say sorry and make amends with you. Haha I cannot believe that I tried to trick you guys with painting our planes to look like your fighter planes. When it got known that we did that I was actually kind of embarrassed. Haha. (Period of silence. JFK and Castro act like they are talking. Music is playing) (John looks as if he needs to tell Castro something) (cue music) JFK: Hey buddy, you know the exile cubans that Eisenhower trained that you have as prisoners now. I was wondering if you could release them and send them home.. (Castro ponders into his thoughts for a long time) Castro: Hmm. No. I mean you guys invaded and it’s only fair we get the prisoners. JFK: BUT WHY... It’s embarrassing enough for me that I lost the invasion.. It would mean a lot if I succeeded in bringing our brave fighters home... Castro : Nope sorry I can’t help you. (enraged, John smacks the table, but John actually accidentally pressed a button that shows a video conference of US scientists confirming the monthly inspection on missiles in Turkey. Castro sees this eyes enlarge. Castro suddenly gets up from his seat) Castro: Well, Thank you for dinner John, I had a nice time. Good night.... (Castro awkwardly walks out of room and goes home.) (John did not notice he opened the video conference and gets unstable as Castro leaves without explanation) JFK: Uhhh but.. the coffee ......chocolate cake.. alright.. good night. HAVE A SAFE TRIP HOME! (Castro rushes home on his jet plane. As soon as he lands he runs to his office and calls Nikita) Castro: Get the Soviets on video call now I want to talk to Nikita! (Scene quickly changes back to JFK’s house. While taking off his tie.. his face is full of concern) (While wife is in the shower, John says) JFK: Darling, I feel like something went wrong... I’m worried about my “little” talk with Castro.. NO I’m sure he feels happy and better about our relationship like I do. He’s probably baking cookies to give to us to say thank you. (Castro, overly excited is talking with a Soviets about a missile plan. Castro shows a map of cuba to Nikita and roughly presents his plan) Castro: So, if you install your missiles in Cuba, you can easily attack the Americans. I was almost assassinated! I just need someone to protect me and it needs to be you Nikita.. Act 2 Narrator JFK eventually just moved on with his life unaware of Castro’s rage. For a year Castro and Nikita secretly places missiles in Cuba. Then on Oct 15, 1962 U.S. U2 plane discovered missiles located in cuba owned by the Soviets. On the morning of Oct 16, 1962, JFK spends 3 days bickering over this subject. (JFK is with his administration debating what to do with the missiles in Cuba) JFK: Hello fellow Americans we’re here today to discuss the matter of the missiles in Cuba. I believe we have three choices: announcing that we are aware of the missiles, unannouncing we are aware of them, or blockading the soviets ships into Cuba to prevent further development... (Silence again with his administrators. with dramatic music playing) JFK: I’VE GOT IT. BLOCKADE IS THE BEST. If we announce the discovery we might avoid war, but the Soviets still might strike us. If we don’t announce the discover we can secretly get rid of as many missiles as we can, but if we get caught we could be responsible for starting the nuclear war.. BUT if we blockade Cuba and prevent anyone from getting out or going in, it might take longer to get the missiles out of Cuba, but it will be at least safer for us.

(Mr. Duncan enters with his teacher chair, has arms folded gracefully to the side) Narrator: Thirteens days have passed, and the negotiation was successful. JFK let Castro know that he was safe and the U.S will never attack Cuba. Soviets and the U.S also had some negotiations going on. The U.S got rid of the missiles in Turkey and stepped back from the conflict with the Soviets. Therefore, the Soviets also got rid of the missiles in Cuba.

Works Cited 1 Wikipedia, " [] ." Last modified January 7, 2012. Accessed March 10, 2012. []. 2 Wikipedia, " [] ." Last modified March 7, 2012. Accessed March 10, 2012. [] 3 //Encyclopædia Britannica Online//, s. v. "Fidel Castro," accessed March 10, 2012, [|**http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/98822/Fidel-Castro**]. 4 Encyclopædia Britannica Online, s. v. "John F. Kennedy," accessed March 10, 2012, []. 5 [] /, "Fidel Castro ." Accessed March 10, 2012. []. 6 Wikipedia, "Cuban Missile Crisis ." Last modified March 10, 2012. Accessed March 10, 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_Missile_Crisis.