The Bigger the Lie

When LBJ and his team realize that Coke Stevenson has just won the Texas Senate democratic primary and will therefore be the overwhelmingly Democratic state's next Senator, Lyndon is desperate to reverse the outcome of the election.  A scheme is hatched by which a "lost box" of votes will be found in Duval County, where the County Clerks are on the Johnson payroll.  With a tiny spread of 199 votes between Johnson and his nemesis, he declares that they simply need to "find" him 200 votes.  The box shortly materializes in Goerge Parr's Precinct 13, but before the election can be overturned, Coke travels to the Duval County office, accompanied by Texas Ranger George Hamer, to take the box and inspect its dubious contents.  After a struggle, Coke ends up with the box and finds the vote tally has been tampered with in an obvious fashion, with the last 400 names (all of whom voted for LBJ) all written in one color and in alphabetical order.  A trial begins to determine to determine the outcome.  Johnson is certain his scheme will be reversed as soon as the judge opens the box and sees the voter tally, but Alvin Wirtz is quick with a plan to appeal to a Supreme Court judge he knows will be on their side - Justice Hugo Black.  Just as the judge is about to order the opening of the box which will seal Johsnon's fate and cost him his entire political career, Justice Black appears to declare that the trial is over.  Johnson emerges victorious, to win the state by a handful of votes, earning him a seat in the United States Senate and the ironic moniker, "Landslide Lyndon."

INT. CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS. 1948. DAY.

Coke Stevenson’s Team is on one side of the stage around a table, while LBJ’s Team is on the other side. RFK is center stage, front.

RFK

So, even though Lyndon had been paying off all

Of the men who run elections, and they all played ball,

CONNOLLY

It wasn’t enough, Boss - the votes came in

And it looks like it’s gonna be Stevenson!

RFK

199 votes was the spread

LBJ

To think that I’m done, having lost by a thread

RFK

(as if he were voicing Lyndon’s interior thoughts)

A man of honor might live to fight another day

​

LBJ

Fuck that! There’s gotta be another way!

​

ZEPHYR (Walks in, joins RFK)

Lyndon the election is done.

CONNALLY

(holding up the newspaper)

It’s already on the cover of the Dallas Sun!

LBJ

Boys! Find me 200 votes - which is one

More than they have - and then we’ve won!

(a beat, as he thinks)

​

Alright, now what if some worker were somehow to “find”(uses air quotes)

A box of ballots that were left behind?

​

CONNALLY

...of 1000 votes that were left uncounted

RFK

They’ll have to change the tally when they’ve found that

​

LBJ and Connally make a faux shocked looks

​

LBJ

953 of the votes in the box were all for me!

CONNALLY

Good idea boss!

​

RFK (shaking his head)

The bigger the lie...

LBJ

...The more they wanna believe in it

CONNALLY

So why not just keep on repeating it?

LBJ

The votes locked in that box for me

CONNOLLY

Halt the heist

ALL

And set them free.

Lights off on LBJ’s side and lights up on Coke and his crew

COKE’S AIDE

Coke, they’re calling it Box 13!

RFK

It’s the shadiest thing I’ve ever seen.

COKE’S AIDE

The votes inside will make them change the call!

COKE STEVENSON

Something’s not right - we’re going down to Duval

(walks across the stage)

We’ll open that box and we’ll see who’s won

COKE’S AIDE

Bring an order from the courts

ZEPHYR WRIGHT

Bring a lawyer!

COKE’S AIDE

(seeing the aide cock a rifle)

Bring a gun!

Aide appears with a rifle

COKE STEVENSON

Show me the tally on the voter’s list!

CONNALLY

I misplaced the tally, but I’ll show you my fist.

COKE STEVENSON

Under law, I’ve a right to see

The list and the ballots in the box, so give ‘em to me!

Coke reaches for the drawer. Connolly gets up and pulls a rifle up but Coke Aide is faster and overwhelms him, then holds him in a lock and pulls out his own gun

CONNALLY

(sill in head lock, gun facing him)

Under... the... desk...

RFK

(examining the list)

Look at the last batch of names on the list

COKE

I bet these people -

RFK

- don’t even exist?

COKE AIDE

It’s all the same handwriting

And color, too

RFK

And it’s written alphabetically!

CONNALLY

(trying to look innocent)

Strange, but true...

COKE’S AIDE

I’m sure that if we counted all the ballots inside

COKE
You’d find that half the names on the list have died

RFK

As soon as Johnson and his crew knew they couldn’t rally

They came here to Duvall to tamper with the tally

ZEPHYR WRIGHT

(looking appalled)

Oh Mr. Lyndon! You stole the 200 votes that you needed...

RFK

That's right. Take those votes away, and Johnson is defeated!

Stage fills with supporters from both sides. A scuffle ensues to take the box.

CONNALLY

Hey! Give me that back!

Coke and his guys run across the stage with the box, right into LBJ. As they’re running back and forth between LBJ and Connally, they sing

COKE STEVENSON

The bigger the lie

COKE’S AIDE

The more they wanna believe in it.

RFK

That’s why those guys keep repeating it.

LBJ

The votes in that box call for me!

LBJ & CONNALLY

Halt the heist!

All suddenly hold up “Halt the Heist” signs.

​

LBJ & COKE STEVENSON

And set them free.

Coke runs away with the box and puts it on a desk in front of a judge. The judge pounds his gavel.

​​

COKE STEVENSON

The federal judge ruled to open up Box Thirteen!

Supreme Court Justice HUGO BLACK appears.

​​

JUSTICE BLACK

Not so fast!

ALL

Supreme Court Justice Black!

JUSTICE BLACK

In the flesh

LBJ

(aside to Justice Black)

You sure took your sweet time...

JUSTICE BLACK

Nice to see you Lyndon. I really enjoyed that free fishing trip.

Justice Black walks up to the box and calmly closes the box again.

JUSTICE BLACK

I just decided -

Whether or not Lyndon Johnson lied,

It’s up to the State, all its matters to run

This federal trial is done!

COKE STEVENSON

(standing)

It’s not fair!

LBJ (strolls by Coke with a big smile. To the audience)

Do I look like I care?

ALL

The bigger the lie, the more they wanna believe in it

Until all words just lose their meaning

RFK

Don’t believe what your eyes can see

LBJ

The truth is dry.

The lie will set me free.