OPENING CREDITS
Over
MONTAGE OF
Fighter planes taking off from aircraft carriers. Attack
helicopters over desert dunes. Tanks rushing across the
sand.
The Night the War Started
INT. COMNET - NIGHT
From the room adjacent, we hear the sound of music pumping.
In the room, we find SAM GREER, early-30s, casual clothing;
talking to WYE FIELDS, 60s and looking a bit haggard in a
clean suit, tie loosened.
SAM:
We could have other networks, print
media, digging through our garbage.
Every source being harassed by
snoops- sorry, DICKS.
WYE:
Dicks, Sam?
SAM:
Yes. Because a reporter is just a
dick at the end of the day.
WYE:
Yeah?
SAM:
(without hesitation)
I'm a major dick.
CUT TO:
INT. COMNET - SAME TIME
The party next door has pumping dance music with a drunken
man, BARRY EDMOND, the mid-30s anchorman, singing along to a
Christmas song while dancing on a table. The sense is that
the party is raging but as we pull back, we find people
awkwardly staring into their plastic cups. We continue to
pull back until we focus on JOANN SIMMONS, a late-20s blonde
beauty, and RICARDO ZAPPATA, the late-30s producer.
JOANN:
(looking at BARRY sadly)
I guess you were right. It is too
early.
RICARDO:
This is mostly the night crew.
They are barely awake yet.
JOANN:
What are our numbers?
RICARDO:
You'd have to ask Wye.
JOANN:
Because I want to know.
RICARDO:
No. Wye. Hello? Head of news?
JOANN:
(about BARRY)
Do you think he'll break his neck
up there?
RICARDO:
He'll probably break his neck
patting himself on the back.
CUT TO:
INT. COMNET - SAME TIME
Back to WYE and SAM.
WYE:
There's a party out there, Sam.
SAM:
I can feel the music.
WYE:
Yeah?
SAM:
Right here, in my nuts. Listen: If
I don't do this, then it's days
before someone else is sniffing
around.
You think Barry can keep his mouth
shut? It's open so wide he almost
swallows his hair-helmet.
CUT TO:
INT. COMNET - SAME TIME
BARRY is vomiting into a trash can and then, oddly, turns
around and tries to kiss a passing GIRL. She recoils.
BARRY:
I'm sorry. I'm on a lot of Prozac.
CUT TO:
INT. COMNET - SAME TIME
Back to WYE and SAM.
SAM:
If you say no, I'll do it anyway.
You know that. You didn't hire me
because I'm pretty. I'm not Joann.
WYE:
Joann is smart, Sam.
SAM:
Doubled her intelligence with those
implants. That's like, have you
seen those low budget softcore porn
movies where the girl is ugly but
smart and then she takes off her
glasses and is suddenly not ugly
anymore?
WYE:
What is wrong with you?
SAM:
I'm on a lot of Prozac.
WYE'S cell phone rings. He stares at SAM for a lingering
second, unsure what to say.
WYE:
I have to take this.
As WYE heads out the door, SAM calls after him.
SAM:
I'm going to need an answer
tonight.
WYE:
(to the phone)
Hold on.
(to SAM)
You want to investigate our own
investigation?
SAM:
I won't be the first. It's dust
busting. Getting our ducks in a
row when the others come calling.
WYE:
The answer is no, Sam. No.
SAM:
That just makes me want to do it
more.
CUT TO:
INT. COMNET - NIGHT
WYE is walking towards the elevator to head up to his office.
He is still on the phone.
WYE:
My news department answers to
corporate, Reese. Not you. Not
now, not ever.
(listens)
I don't care if there's been a
deficit for the year! I pulled our
ratings up tonight! They must be-
(listens)
Okay! Twenty-five percent! And
this was with the choice of every
damn network out there! Twenty
five percent more chose us!
CUT TO:
INT. COMNET - SAME TIME
Back to the party room. We find a drunken BARRY making some
kind of pass at JOANN.
BARRY:
I think the moon sometimes can be
a reflection of our heart. We see
the red in it when we want to.
JOANN:
(disinterested)
Is that so?
BARRY:
And I think people want to be on
that moon so that they can see just
how unimportant their life is from
so far away.
JOANN:
(still not interested)
Mmmmm.
BARRY:
And I think you've been into me
since you first saw me.
JOANN:
Do you ever think anything you
don't say?
BARRY:
Like a dog?
JOANN ignores him, watches RICARDO talking to SAM across the
room.
SAM:
You were line producer on the
story. Did someone contact you or
did you hunt the story down?
RICARDO:
I don't know.
SAM:
You don't know?
RICARDO:
Maybe. Maybe not. I don't think I
should talk about it.
SAM:
I'm not a prosecutor, Rickie. I
work for the network.
RICARDO:
You been here six months, I don't
see you. I don't know you, I don't
work with you, I don't like the
stories you do. People don't want
the hard news. They want human
interest.
SAM:
You don't think there's human
interest in following the path to
war?
RICARDO wiggles his eyebrows at JOANN, a pre-arranged signal.
JOANN:
Ricardo! I think Barry's fumes are
getting me light-headed.
RICARDO:
(to SAM)
I'm sorry, I've got to go save her.
SAM:
One question. One question before
you go. Come on, ease my
curiosity.
(sees that he hesitates)
Did Comnet fly you in to Barziz on
a private jet or did you go
commercial?
RICARDO:
(walking away)
Commercial, man.
CUT TO:
INT. COMNET - NIGHT
SAM sits at his desk, a window looking out on the empty
studio, television screens showing images of the bombing. He
is on the phone. He is doodling on a note pad while waiting
for someone to take his call.
SAM:
Hello, this is Sam Greer from
Comnet. I was wondering if your
airline has a route to Barziz.
(small pause)
Barziz? In Fah-r-whatever? The
place we're at war with?
(listens)
No, I don't want to go there now.
I'm doing research to check a lead
and I just need to know if your
airline had a terminal there within
the last six weeks.
(pause)
There's no airport in Barziz?
Isn't that the capitol?
(pause)
Okay, then anywhere in the country?
(reacts, starts scribbling
notes on the pad)
And I would talk to the State
Department to confirm that? No,
no, I'm sure you're not lying, I
just need to verify the source.
We move in on the pad. He has written in bold letters:
TRAVEL RESTRICTED FOR LAST FIVE MONTHS
There is a knock at the door. SAM turns to find JOANN
standing there.
SAM:
(into the phone and
quickly covering the pad)
Yeah, no. Thank you, Mr.
Kissinger.
(He hangs up and turns to
JOANN again)
Joann. How is reading the
teleprompter?
JOANN:
I understand you're digging around
for a story.
SAM:
That's what they hired me for.
You, uh, know anything about it?
JOANN:
Did you ask Gary?
SAM:
Yeah. But he was talking in
Chinese.
JOANN:
Can I tell you something and you
promise to not let it shade your
perception?
SAM:
Is this on the record?
JOANN:
Gary is bi polar.
SAM:
Uh...huh.
(beat)
Are you lying to me?
JOANN:
Why would I-
SAM:
You did that thing with your face.
JOANN:
What thing?
SAM:
Whenever you lie, you make a face.
JOANN:
I do not.
SAM:
You're doing it now.
JOANN:
I'm not.
SAM:
It's getting worse.
JOANN:
Do you know why nobody here likes
you?
SAM:
Yeah.
JOANN:
Good.
SAM:
Your face. The thing.
She throws up her hands and leaves.
SAM:
She's cracking.
CUT TO:
INT. COMNET - NIGHT
SAM knocks on GARY VERLAINE'S door. GARY is 50s, balding,
with a beard; busy writing notes on some prepared copy.
SAM:
Hey, Gary.
GARY:
Sam.
SAM:
How's the, uh...anything?
GARY:
You want to know more about the
story.
SAM:
I've got Rickie on the record. He
says that he flew commercial to
Barziz as line producer for the
interview.
GARY:
We're not hiding anything.
SAM:
No, of course not. And I'd like
you to answer on the record: Why
did he lie to me?
GARY:
What makes you think he lied?
SAM:
I've got him cold, Gary. He lied.
He did it on the record and he did
it to me.
GARY:
I've got a lot of work to do, Sam.
SAM:
Okay, I can respect that. Would
you be willing to go on the record?
GARY:
To deny his denial?
SAM:
Who said he denied anything?
GARY:
Because I know him.
SAM:
You're head of the investigative
division.
GARY:
Yes.
SAM:
And you don't mind me
investigating?
GARY:
Would a reprimand stop you?
SAM:
No.
GARY:
Then why bother?
SAM:
I don't want other networks to-
GARY:
Other networks are a bit busy.
There's a war on, remember?
SAM:
How high up does this go?
GARY:
Have you asked Wye?
SAM:
To go on the record?
GARY:
What did he say?
SAM:
He basically told me to go fuck
myself.
GARY:
And what about Barry?
SAM:
He's, uh, well. He's not quite
himself today.
GARY:
He's a member of our family.
SAM:
Not really. And since he's
divorced, he's not really a member
of his family either.
(beat)
How about just the background? Can
you give me that?
GARY:
On the record?
SAM:
Yes.
CUT TO:
INT. COMNET - DAY
Two months earlier.
GARY is arguing with SKIP, late 20s, casually dressed; the
copywriter.
SKIP:
And then we remove the second
sentence and add the additional
fact to the tail of the third.
GARY:
No.
SKIP:
No?
GARY:
No.
SKIP:
Okay then. We keep the second
sentence and-
GARY:
No. Rewrite it.
SKIP:
Gary, it's a slow news day. If I
can shave thirty seconds off the
copy, we can sell an extra ad. And
I was hoping to leave early.
GARY:
It's not me. It's Wye.
SKIP:
Wye is unhappy? More than usual?
GARY:
Rewrite.
SKIP:
Sure. You want me to add any
stories? Why don't we announce the
price of oil? I'll give you one
hundred words.
GARY:
You think this is personal?
SKIP:
Yes.
GARY:
Because Wye is unhappy?
SKIP:
Because you're unhappy.
GARY:
Yeah?
SKIP:
Because I'm taking out Kristen
tonight.
GARY:
(walking away)
Rewrite it. And give me five
hundred words on the price of oil
in thirty minutes.
SKIP:
How many ways are there to say gas
is six dollars a gallon?
CUT TO:
INT. COMNET - MINUTES LATER
GARY strolls into his office to find WYE waiting for him.
WYE:
Did you do it?
GARY:
Yeah.
WYE:
And you don't feel guilty?
GARY:
I'm a member of the liberal media.
I always feel guilty.
WYE:
What's Sam doing?
GARY:
I've got him investigating the
Saudis.
WYE:
Investigating what?
GARY:
Riviera casinos and prostitutes.
WYE:
Why would anyone be interested in
that?
GARY:
Because I am.
WYE:
Get him back here.
GARY:
Okay.
WYE:
Do it now.
GARY:
(sqeezing a stress-relief
ball)
I don't think he'll want to come
back now.
WYE:
Too much fun in the Riviera?
GARY:
He's not there anymore.
WYE:
Where is he?
GARY:
In Riyadh.
WYE:
Well that's pretty far from the
story.
GARY:
He's done with that part of the
story.
WYE:
Then what is he doing?
GARY:
Investigating the Saudis.
WYE:
(realizing)
Defense spending?
GARY:
Yeah.
WYE:
American protectionism?
GARY:
Yeah.
WYE:
Corruption?
GARY:
Yeah.
WYE:
God damn it.
GARY:
So you can see that he thinks that
would be a better story.
WYE:
You know, everyone thinks the
Saudis are mad with oil but it's
really women.
GARY:
They spend 16% of their GDP on
defense. And that's not including
the external defense they get from
American carriers in the Gulf.
They don't have soldiers, they have
royal bodyguards.
WYE:
Why does Sam get to-
GARY:
We're bribing them, Wye. They
don't have to worry about any other
country attacking them because we
protect them. Those billions of
dollars are spent to protect them
from their own people.
WYE:
I know that. Every American with a
brain knows that.
GARY:
Well, since less than 1% of
Americans know who runs the show in
Saudi Arabia-
WYE:
That one percent is in the Beltway.
GARY:
Couldn't hurt to have more than one
percent.
WYE:
Pull him off it.
GARY:
He may not come back.
WYE:
If we run that story-
GARY:
It's not a story.
WYE:
What is it?
GARY:
A history lesson.
CUT TO:
INT. COMNET - AN HOUR LATER
BARRY knocks on GARY'S door. His hair helmet is lighter than
before. He storms in immediately and sprawls himself in a
chair.
BARRY:
Why is there no copy ready yet?
GARY:
Come on in. Pull up a chair.
BARRY:
Why is there no copy?
GARY:
We have three hours.
BARRY:
But I still have to practice.
GARY:
Skip is rewriting right now.
BARRY:
I talked to Skip.
GARY:
Yeah?
BARRY:
He said he had a date with Kristen
tonight.
GARY:
So I hear.
BARRY:
But he couldn't make it because you
overloaded him with work.
GARY:
Imagine that.
BARRY:
So he asked me to take her to the
opera in his place.
CUT TO:
INT. COMNET - MOMENTS LATER
GARY rushes into SKIP'S office.
GARY:
You set her up with Barry?!
SKIP:
I didn't want her to miss the show.
GARY:
You set her up with BARRY?!
SKIP:
She really wants to see it.
GARY:
Imagine my patience is a little
animal that you have in your hands.
Imagine it's cute and fluffy and
adorable. Now picture the way you
are so overpowered by how small it
is that you want to hold it and
keep it warm and safe so you can
bask in its love.
SKIP:
Okay.
GARY:
Wrong, Lenny, you just killed it!
SKIP:
I didn't do anything.
GARY:
You think this is a joke to me?
SKIP:
Well-
GARY:
This is my only daughter, Skip.
This is my pride and joy, the only
girl that has ever loved me as much
as I love her, and you SET HER UP
WITH BARRY?!
SKIP:
Okay, looking back, that may have
been a mistake.
GARY:
There's a right way and a wrong way
to do everything. And then there's
your way.
SKIP:
Is that the wrong way?
GARY:
Yes, but much faster. Here's what
I want. I want you to insert the
full names of every European in the
telecast. I want you to give the
full name, birthplace, tribal
region, and tribal name for every
African mentioned.
SKIP:
I'll have to cut-
GARY:
Cut all of Joann's lines if you
have to.
SKIP:
Oh, I get it. You want to trip
Barry up so the broadcast goes a
lot longer than normal and he makes
a fool of himself. Do you think
Wye will let this happen?
GARY:
Wye is Kristen's godfather.
SKIP:
Point taken. Should I do the
Asians too?
GARY:
Barry always gets Asian names right
for some reason.
CUT TO:
INT. COMNET - AFTERNOON
BARRY is talking to JOANN in the make up room.
BARRY:
I'd love to take you to Pathum
Thani in Thailand. With a short
stop in Hong Kong. The
availability of pirated movies and
music, that inescapable charm of
rickshaws and-
JOANN:
Barry, if we go on a trip together,
who the hell would do the news?
BARRY:
We'll make our own news. We'll be
the biggest thing since Brad and
Angelina.
GARY sticks his head in.
GARY:
Joann, you can go home.
JOANN:
Why?
GARY:
Because you're on vacation.
JOANN:
No I'm not.
GARY gives her a demanding stare.
JOANN:
Where am I going to on vacation?
GARY:
I don't know. Someplace warm,
preferably with a beach.
She stands and begins to leave, but pauses as she's about to
pass him.
JOANN:
If you're excluding me because of
my tits-
GARY:
Which are great by the way.
JOANN:
I'm taking this to Rickie. I won't
be a pawn in your game.
GARY:
Take it up with Rickie. Then have
him take it up with Wye.
JOANN:
(looking back at BARRY)
Is this about Kristen?
GARY:
Take your vacation.
JOANN:
Because if you're moving me out of
the picture so-
GARY:
Go somewhere, I don't care where,
just GET OUT OF HERE.
BARRY:
(to the make up lady)
A little more blush. I look like
Nixon out there.
GARY holds up a small stack of papers.
BARRY:
Is that for me?
GARY:
Tonight's copy.
BARRY:
That's like two weeks' copy.
GARY:
Not tonight.
CUT TO:
INT. COMNET BROADCAST STUDIO - NIGHT
BARRY is reading the teleprompter rather poorly.
BARRY:
Bringing the Ubuntu tribe of former
Tanzania one step closer through
the personage of Mb...Embel...Mbeli-
CUT TO:
INT. COMNET CONTROL BOOTH - SAME TIME
GARY watches the performance and keeps stealing glances at
the clock above the windows facing the studio. The white
phone rings.
GARY:
Yeah?
WYE: (O.S.)
Gary, what the hell is going on
down there?
GARY:
You said I could take care of
Barry.
WYE: (O.S.)
I meant break his legs or trade him
to an affiliate. He's getting
facefucked on national tv right
now. Come up to my office.
GARY:
I may be a little late.
WYE:
Promos after the broadcast?
GARY:
Twenty-one of them.
WYE:
Every affiliate in the midwest?
GARY:
That's right. And I'm getting
wardrobe to put together some
regional costumes for Gary to wear.
WYE:
What time is the opera?
GARY:
One hour.
WYE:
Promos only buy you forty-five
minutes.
GARY:
Not if we forget to record the
first dozen.
WYE:
You really don't want her seeing
that opera.
GARY:
I wouldn't want her to see a puppet
show at the library with Barry.
WYE:
Who gave her the tickets?
GARY:
I did.
WYE:
Why did you give her two?
GARY:
I thought she could take her
mother.
WYE:
Boys never entered the picture?
GARY:
What are the odds that a boy her
age will want to go to the opera?
WYE:
Come up soon. Lance has a source
close to Prince Banharaf.
CUT TO:
INT. COMNET BROADCAST STUDIO - SAME TIME
BARRY:
-offering Prince Ah'am An Azz-Ban
Dit a unique view of Parliamentary
procedure...
The crew in the studio LAUGHS. BARRY has no idea why.
CUT TO:
INT. COMNET WYE'S OFFICE - NIGHT
WYE, LANCE, and GARY are in the scene.
GARY:
Why is anyone going to care what
the crown prince of some Gulf state
nobody's heard of-
WYE:
Because we make it their job to
care. Isn't that what news is for?
GARY:
You tell me.
WYE:
I'm telling you.
GARY:
I don't even know what we're doing
anymore.
WYE:
Sure you do.
GARY:
I just humiliated a man tonight in
front of the nation because he's
too stupid to know that a joke's
being played on him.
WYE:
It wasn't a joke. You were
protecting Kristen. Give him the
lowdown, Lance.
LANCE:
Banharaf is inches away from
gaining the kingdom.
He's a radical fundamentalist and
his family has been outfitting the
country for war.
GARY:
Don't they all do that?
WYE:
Do you want another terrorist
haven? This time with WMDs?
GARY:
That's speculation.
LANCE:
It's not. I've seen some of the
stockpiles.
GARY:
Nuclear?
LANCE:
No.
GARY:
Chemical?
WYE:
Gary. We're all friends here.
LANCE:
He's very open about his
intentions. He's practically
declared war on us already. And if
he were to admit any level of
involvement in Az-Haifa...
GARY:
(to WYE)
Walk away.
WYE:
Gary...
GARY:
No, walk away. This is a smear
piece, at best.
WYE:
This is news, we'll run it.
GARY:
I'm sick of being the culture that
applauds pain and suffering.
We can't hate the rich and envy
them at the same time.
WYE:
If you won't take it, I'll put
Rickie on it.
CUT TO:
INT. COMNET - NIGHT
We are back to GARY and SAM in GARY'S office, present.
SAM:
And that's all you'll tell me?
GARY:
That was everything I know about
it.
SAM:
So, on the record, you didn't have
a hand in the story?
GARY:
No.
SAM:
Jesus Christ! What's with all the
mystery? Deception and denial and
diversion-
GARY:
Because nobody wants to get their
fingerprints on a story that ends
with American flags draped over
caskets, Sam. There's no such
thing as a good war anymore.
SAM:
What about the explosion at Az
Haifa?
GARY:
Call the Pentagon and ask them.
SAM:
It was an inside job?
GARY:
I'm not saying that.
SAM:
What are you saying?
GARY:
That I'm a dead end.
CUT TO:
INT. COMNET - NIGHT
The board is having a meeting. WYE quietly enters the back.
JERGENS, a sharply dressed man in his 30s is giving the
presentation.
JERGENS:
Leading to the deficit in our
nightly news division. We don't
want investigative journalism, we
want trainwreck coverage. That's
what the people want and we're not
giving it to them. Our highest
ratings ever have been, anyone?
Princess Diana, Tom and Kate's
baby, and-
WYE:
What the hell is going on here?
JERGENS:
I'm just presenting the agenda,
Wye.
WYE:
You're talking about dismantling
any semblance of integrity from the
network!
JERGENS:
Integrity doesn't give back the ten
million a month we're losing in
your division.
WYE:
I thought it was Reese being the
corporate stooge, I didn't realize
it went all the way up the ladder.
JERGENS:
Oh, please, save the poor-me
rhetoric. If you didn't want to
give people news they care about-
WYE:
I want to give people the news that
I care about! What did I tell you?
The Banharaf interview-
JERGENS:
Was repackaged to every other
network and was the only time you
came close to profitability this
year.
WYE:
I wanted an exclusive.
JERGENS:
We got our logo on every network
and in every by-line. We didn't
report a story, we owned the story.
WYE:
And then you sold it to any taker.
JERGENS:
That's right. And that's why it
was profitable. This is a
shareholder meeting, Wye.
WYE:
And I guess my invitation got lost
in the mail?
JERGENS:
Corporate presents to shareholders,
not-
WYE:
Bullshit!
JERGENS:
Watch your language.
WYE:
How about my tone? You're a
hatchet man. You were hired to
rape and pillage and you're ready
to burn down a perfectly
respectable-
JERGENS:
Your division isn't respectable!
It never has been! You're a
whorehouse newsman, you'll give the
public what they want.
And if that sticks going down,
there are plenty of people that
wouldn't mind being in your spot.
WYE:
You'll have a mutiny on your hands.
JERGENS:
Then we'll replace them too.
WYE stares at him for a second, almost as though he is ready
to attack. Finally, he leaves the room. As soon as the door
is shut, he begins to cough heavily, gasping for air in
between. He sinks down to his knees, coughing all the way.
When he opens his eyes, he finds sneakers in front of him.
He looks up to find SAM.
SAM:
You okay, Wye?
WYE:
I didn't get any on you, did I?
CUT TO:
INT. COMNET WYE'S OFFICE - LATER
WYE is breathing from an oxygen tank hidden behind his desk.
SAM has a notepad on the arm of his chair.
WYE:
I won't say anything on the record.
SAM:
How long?
WYE:
Oh, this? I was diagnosed three
months ago.
SAM:
Has it metastasized?
WYE:
I'm foregoing chemo and radiation
treatment.
SAM:
Do you want to die?
WYE:
I mostly want to smoke. Christ,
can you remember when we used to
smoke in our offices?
SAM:
I was 15 in 1990, Wye.
WYE:
Of course. I take it you talked to
Gary.
SAM:
Yes.
WYE:
And Rickie?
SAM:
He was evasive. But he lied.
WYE:
He's always been ready to take one
for the team. What about Lance?
SAM:
That's actually why I'm here.
WYE:
You're looking for him.
SAM:
Yes. But I'd also like you to go
on the record.
WYE:
No one wants to bust dust more than
I do, Sam. Hell, it's my news
division until they pry it from my
cold, dead hands. But if you knew
everything, none of it would
matter.
SAM:
Is that on the record?
WYE:
Off, off, Christ, off the record.
Lance is in Kuwait.
SAM:
Staging area?
WYE:
He's embedded.
SAM:
What's his briefing schedule?
Twice a day?
WYE:
You can't have him.
SAM:
Five minutes.
WYE:
No.
SAM:
No?
WYE:
Did I stutter? You CAN'T have him.
SAM:
Then I think you know what my next
move will be.
WYE:
Rickie will close ranks. The story
ends here, Sam. Christ, look at
the broadcasts. We're two months
passed that stupid interview, we're
at war now. There are bigger
things to talk about. Go have a
drink, Sam.
CUT TO:
INT. A BAR - NIGHT
SAM sits at the bar, staring at a glass of whiskey and soda.
An empty glass sits beside it. The BARTENDER stands on the
other side of the bar, casually wiping an ashtray with a rag.
BARTENDER:
Something's eating you.
SAM:
How would you get in touch with a
journalist embedded with forces in
the Gulf?
BARTENDER:
I, uh, don't...
SAM:
No, of course not.
(looking up to the
television)
Can you turn it to Comnet?
BARTENDER:
Comnet? They suck.
SAM stares at a ten dollar bill in his hand. The mouth of
Hamilton has been drawn over to appear stitched shut. He
lays the bill down on the top of his untouched drink and
begins to leave.
BARTENDER:
He got a girlfriend?
SAM:
Huh?
BARTENDER:
Your friend. Does he have a
girlfriend?
SAM:
Yes. Our boss' daughter, actually.
Why?
BARTENDER:
I could be rafting in Alaska and my
girlfriend would know how to reach
me.
SAM:
Good one. Thanks.
CUT TO:
INT. KRISTEN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
KRISTEN is busy rearranging furniture and touching up with
dusting.
SAM:
Come on, Kristen. I know you know
how to reach him.
KRISTEN:
I'm sorry, Sam. I really am. I
like you. You could have spilled
the beans to my dad so many times
but you haven't.
SAM:
So do me this favor.
KRISTEN:
It's not something I can do. Will
you help me move this couch?
SAM:
How did you even get that in here?
It's larger than the door.
KRISTEN:
People wouldn't like to sit on my
front door, I got a couch instead.
Will you help me?
SAM reluctantly begins to push his end of the couch.
KRISTEN:
Look, Lance and I aren't such an
item anymore.
SAM:
Are you going back to Skip?
KRISTEN:
Skip the copywriter? Who the hell
told you that?
SAM:
Your dad.
KRISTEN:
Well, he's good to take one for the
team, but it's not true. I was
with Lance all along.
SAM:
Then there was never any danger of
you going on a date with Barry?
KRISTEN:
Eww, Sam. Eww.
SAM:
Riveting. But seriously, how do I
talk to Lance?
KRISTEN:
Get on a C-140 and fly to Azallra.
Only thing is, he was there a week
ago. That's the last time I talked
to him.
SAM:
And now he's not there?
KRISTEN:
He's halfway around the world and
that's good enough for me. Like I
said, we're not a couple.
SAM:
I'm sensing more subterfuge.
KRISTEN:
Why would you think that? A girl
can't break up with a guy?
SAM:
For going to a war zone?
KRISTEN:
For leaving a twelve pack of
condoms in her bedroom.
SAM:
I don't follow.
KRISTEN:
There were three condoms missing.
SAM:
Yeah?
KRISTEN:
And we only had sex twice.
SAM:
So he cheated on you?
KRISTEN:
Or has a weird way of relieving
himself. Either way, I'm better
off without.
SAM:
What are we tidying up for?
KRISTEN:
My dad's coming over.
SAM:
I should leave then.
KRISTEN:
No, he won't mind.
SAM:
Do you know what he did to Barry to
protect your honor?
KRISTEN:
Do you know that Barry deserves
whatever he gets?
SAM:
There's no way for you to get in
touch with Lance?
KRISTEN:
Jesus, Sam, ask my dad. Ask Wye.
You guys work at the same network,
you figure it out.
(beat)
You don't have permission, do you?
SAM:
Well, not as such, no.
KRISTEN:
Not as such? It's a yes or no-
Forget it. He's out of my life and
I can't help you.
SAM:
Then I'll just slip out before-
There is a KNOCK at the door.
SAM:
Oh boy.
CUT TO:
INT. COMNET - NIGHT
SAM enters the building and heads for BARRY'S dressing room.
BARRY is in the midst of beauty treatment, complete with a
facial mask. His assistant, ELSA, a mousy woman behind thick
glasses, is opening his mail.
BARRY:
Sam! How are you?
SAM:
I had a few questions I wanted to
ask you.
BARRY:
Aloe mask. Good for the pores.
SAM:
Fascinating. When you interviewed
Prince Banharaf-
BARRY:
Hell of a guy. Bought us all a
bottle of champagne.
SAM:
Isn't alcohol banned in-
BARRY:
No, no, we met him in the French
Riviera.
SAM:
The broadcast said live in Barziz.
BARRY:
Oh. Maybe it was.
SAM:
I'm sure you can tell the
difference between the Middle East
and the French Riviera, Barry.
BARRY:
I'd like to think I can.
SAM:
Do I need to hold up a sign when
I'm sarcastic?
BARRY:
You've got a sign?
SAM:
Let's start at the beginning. When
did you first get handed the story?
BARRY:
Well, let me think.
CUT TO:
INT. COMNET - DAY
As all of this is told from BARRY'S point of view, special
modifications must be made to the reality. The visual
consequence is that all women dress more revealingly and all
the mens' flaws are greatly accentuated.
BARRY walks the hallway, a casual swagger to his step. He is
noticeably more suave and collected than he is in reality.
As he passes a leggy blonde
BARRY:
Hey, Gwen, thanks for breakfast.
GWEN:
Thank you for dinner.
BARRY:
And you're welcome for in between.
SKIP the copywriter, a bit hunchbacked and with grotesque
dental make up, falls in stride with BARRY. They talk as
they pass cast and extras costumed in the altered BARRY
reality.
SKIP:
I edited those remarks how you
wanted, sir.
BARRY:
Do I come off as Murrow or Rather?
SKIP:
I don't know. My formal training
is in theatre.
BARRY:
I'll have Elsa come down with my
notes on your copy.
SKIP:
Thank you, sir. I wouldn't have a
job without you.
BARRY:
I have wide shoulders, I can carry
most of the staff. Gary, good to
see you. I was just thinking that
you need to practice your short
game.
GARY:
I've got a two handicap because of
your coaching. Should I ask Wye to
give you another pay increase?
BARRY:
Keep it down, we can't have the
whole building talking about my
earnings.
GARY:
Listen, I have a real problem.
Kristen is locked into a date with
Skip, of all people, but I know
she'd much rather spend an evening
with you. Can you take her out
tonight?
BARRY:
I'd like to help you but my
schedule is so full. Don't we have
those regional promos to shoot
tonight?
GARY:
I'll try to move things around. I
don't want my daughter going out
with anyone but you.
JOANN appears at the end of the hallway, her clothes in
disarray and hair barely held in a small bun on the back of
her head.
JOANN:
Barry, will begging you to take me
to a movie tonight work?
BARRY:
I'm not sure we should, dear. It's
a dangerous thing to mix romance
and work.
JOANN:
Your romance is the only kind that
works for me.
BARRY:
Well...
BACK TO:
INT. BARRY'S DRESSING ROOM - SAME TIME
SAM:
Is it hard to have everyone be so
in love with you?
BARRY:
It can be but- What's that sign
say, Elsa?
SAM turns to find ELSA holding a handwritten "SARCASM" sign.
BARRY is squinting at it.
SAM:
I really just need to know about
the interview itself. Where did it
take place and when-
BARRY:
I would love to stay and talk, Sam,
but I've got a date. As usual.
SAM:
Wait wait wait. I'm not finished
with-
BARRY:
Come on, Sam. Nobody cares about
that story anymore. Elsa was
there. She can tell you anything I
could. Maybe more.
SAM:
Wow. That almost sounded like a
genuine compliment.
BARRY straightens his tie in the mirror and then recoils when
he sees the facial mask.
BARRY:
I forgot I was wearing this. Good
thing I saw it, huh?
BARRY exits.
SAM:
What did he really do that night,
Elsa?
ELSA:
He went out with Joann.
SAM:
He's not here. You can be honest.
ELSA:
(shrugging)
He went out with her. I think she
asked him out.
SAM:
(a bit stunned)
So...he did the newscast, he did
the promos...he went out with
Joann?
ELSA:
No, no. First he had a top secret
meeting with Wye while Joann had a
meeting with Rickie.
SAM:
How do you know that she-
ELSA:
Because Barry made me wait outside
her door while he was with Wye.
SAM:
To protect the animal he had
cornered?
ELSA:
She asked him.
CUT TO:
INT. COMNET JOANN'S OFFICE - NIGHT
JOANN sits at her computer. BARRY knocks on the door, ELSA
following him.
JOANN:
No, Barry, you can not see my
underwear. Not even for two
hundred dollars.
BARRY:
Can you believe all the promos I
had to do?
JOANN:
This is how I spend my vacation?
BARRY:
Consider yourself lucky. I had my
hands full. Did you see the copy?
JOANN:
Would you like to go to a movie
tonight?
BARRY:
Would I-?
JOANN:
Yes. Would you?
BACK TO:
INT. BARRY'S DRESSING ROOM - SAME TIME
SAM:
You would swear to this?
ELSA:
I don't need to swear. Ask her
yourself.
CUT TO:
INT. COMNET JOANN'S OFFICE - NIGHT
JOANN is staring into her mirror and wiping off her make up.
SAM is seated in a chair.
SAM:
There are a lot of rumors flying
around about that night. So you
can see why I'm concerned.
JOANN:
It's my good name that will be
dragged through Barry's mud.
SAM:
Did it happen?
JOANN:
I'm more embarrassed about it than
anyone.
CUT TO:
INT. COMNET JOANN'S OFFICE
JOANN is again seated at the computer, wardrobe clues to
pinpoint the night in question. RICARDO knocks on the door.
RICARDO:
I guess you're checking your fan
mail, huh?
JOANN:
Fan mail?
(reading off the screen)
"Nice tits." "Wear less clothes."
"Here's my number."
RICARDO:
Those are your fans.
JOANN:
Is that really all I am? Some
bimbo? Look at this one: "I will
give you two hundred dollars for a
pair of your underwear."
RICARDO:
You should be glad for the
attention.
JOANN:
(sarcastic)
Oh yeah, very glad. Really, really
appreciate it.
(changing the subject)
What was Barry's deal tonight?
RICARDO:
Oh, that. Gary was having some fun
with him. You know he doesn't read
the prompt?
JOANN:
Why not?
RICARDO:
Well, I heard, and this is just
what I heard, but, he can't see for
shit. But he won't wear glasses.
JOANN:
I don't see how that's possible.
RICARDO:
He has the copy brought to him and
then he memorizes it. He's no
dummy. He's got stuff cooking
upstairs. And he's in for a big
story.
JOANN:
What are you doing tonight?
RICARDO:
Why?
JOANN:
I thought we could have drinks at
our place.
RICARDO:
It's not our place.
JOANN:
It's a place we frequent.
RICARDO:
We used to. I'm happy with Jalito.
JOANN:
I'm not saying I want to start up
again, but-
RICARDO:
There is nothing to- It's not so
simple. And you know that. You
more than anyone.
JOANN:
This is my vacation, you know.
RICARDO:
Yeah, I heard.
JOANN:
From Gary?
RICARDO:
From Wye.
JOANN:
Why did you see Wye?
RICARDO:
He put me on a story. Prince
Banharaf.
JOANN:
Who gets to interview him?
RICARDO:
Well-
JOANN:
Who gets the interview?
RICARDO:
It's out of my hands.
JOANN:
What is this? Wag the carrot while
hitting with the stick?
RICARDO:
No. I shouldn't have said
anything. I know the reporter
instinct kicks in when-
JOANN:
I am sitting here contemplating
selling my panties because the MEN
in charge think I'm some dumb
bimbo! And now you think it too?
RICARDO:
It's not personal, it's business.
JOANN:
Barry won't ask the hard questions.
RICARDO:
And I won't answer them. Good
night, Joann.
JOANN:
Can't you just- Wait a second,
Rickie!
RICARDO:
I'm finished. We had our time, but-
JOANN:
I thought we were a team. You know
I still have feelings for you.
RICARDO:
(long beat)
I think you'd fuck me to get this
interview. We are over. Totally
over.
He exits but she calls after him.
JOANN:
Maybe I'll go out with the next man
I see! How about that?
BARRY knocks on the door.
CUT TO:
INT. COMNET - NIGHT
SAM is watching the interview BARRY conducted with PRINCE
BANHARAF. BANHARAF is a slim, bearded man in traditional
tunic. He seems to be much smarter than BARRY.
BARRY:
And you think this is a good thing?
BANHARAF:
Good, bad, the Quran spells all
things.
BARRY:
Are you preparing for a holy war
against the West?
BANHARAF:
Ah, to plan is to make a joke in
the mind of Allah.
BARRY:
And Al-Haifa was the opening move
in a chess game that encompasses
the world?
BANHARAF:
The introduction of Americans to
the holy land was the beginning,
not any action that I took.
BARRY:
Are you admitting to the world that
you were behind the destruction of
the oil fields at Az-Haifa?
SAM pauses the tape. He rewinds and listens to the last few
lines again.
SAM:
(sotto voce)
Son of a bitch.
He gets very animated, jumping around the room and swearing
in excitement. His cell phone RINGS.
SAM:
Gary?
GARY:
Sam. I need to tell you some
things.
SAM:
Don't bother. I've pieced it
together.
GARY:
No, you don't understand.
SAM:
The story is bullshit. Barry
memorized the questions to ask
because he can't read. This wasn't
spontaneous, it was scripted. His
follow up questions were scripted.
And that proves-
GARY:
Sam, I need you to really listen to
me now.
SAM:
I'm listening.
GARY:
Tonight I walked in to an empty
apartment and realized that I was
standing on a portal.
SAM:
A portal?
GARY:
Forget the portal, it's not
important. It is the portal of
explanation. A moment of clarity.
SAM:
Like an alcoholic?
GARY:
No, god damn it, no. Just listen.
Even now, I am coming to you, see?
Do you think that is some kind of
coincidence?
No, this is the rebirth of man; the
exultation of a victory already won
in the hearts and minds of-
SAM:
Gary, you're not making much sense.
GARY:
I'll start at the beginning again.
But keep up. Because my mind is
going so much faster than I can
talk and even now I know that there
is a step missing from this
conversation but I can't stop, I
can't retract or backpedal, I can't
even slow down enough to explain
what it is I have to tell you.
SAM:
I'm listening.
GARY:
As I recognized the portal, there
was an intense wave of panic, and
then the understanding set in. And
I became calm. Because I knew that
renewal was now possible. And it
is. There is the ability to
change, to come clean, to make
right all the mistakes that have
eaten at me for decades. And the
weight of this understanding struck
me blind. Swear to god, blind
right there! But in that darkness
I saw the code.
SAM:
The code of law?
GARY:
No. My code. The code imprinted
within my soul that is the secret
protector of all things innocent in
this world. I know, even now, that
this may be surprising to you. But
I have never been calmer, more
lucid, more aware-
SAM:
You already said aware.
GARY:
This is important, Sam. There are
great malignant forces at work in
the universe and the world itself
is in extreme danger from these
manipulators. They think if they
can make us charge more money than
we can earn, if they can bleed us
dry, if they keep sending the
defenseless into the line of fire
until we run out of ammo-
SAM:
Where are you, Gary?
GARY:
Doesn't matter, doesn't matter.
The important thing is that the
code is in me. I am the chosen
one. And I have to keep living. I
have to go on and protect the
innocent. It has fallen on me.
And now that I realize this, I also
understand how much danger I am in.
SAM:
Can you come in?
GARY:
NO! No, I can't ever come back
there!
SAM:
Gary, you should really come in.
This sounds like a face to face
conversation.
GARY:
Sounds like, looks like, whatever.
I am reaching out to you because we
are bonded. We are the only pure-
You are the only pure one at that
whole damn network. Wye is
compromised, Joann is scheming,
Barry is the devourer, and Rickie-
Rickie is the worst of all. He is
the human form of the arm of the
manipulators. He will do all in
his power to unseat me.
SAM:
Unseat you? Are you governor of
the station now?
GARY:
You joke, but I know you
understand. Who else would? Who
else has any idea of- Look, the
Saudi story. It goes deeper.
SAM:
(picking up a pen and
scribbling on a tablet)
The Az-Haifa story?
GARY:
Yes, damn it, yes! I can't tell
you the particulars. That's for
the DoD to do.
SAM:
Department of Defense? How do they-
GARY:
Doesn't matter. The only way that
matters is because that's the
thread between here and there.
SAM:
What thread?
GARY:
If anyone knew the truth-
SAM:
Which is?
GARY:
You're missing the big picture.
Children on a playground. A boy
throwing a baseball in the
wheatfields. The birthing process.
That's your story. That's your
story right there.
SAM:
Have you stopped taking your
medication?
GARY:
The pills are an inhibitor. They
are designed to keep me from
reaching the higher consciousness.
So many years I've-
SAM:
You have to stay on the medication,
Gary.
(beat)
Where are you?
GARY:
(sound of cars honking in
the background)
I'm at ground zero of the rebirth.
You can read about it in the paper
tomorrow.
SAM:
Where are you? Gary! Where-?
The line is dead.