Broadcast News

AARON
Then it went well.

JANE
Did it really go well?

AARON
Define your terms.

JANE
Do you feel good about it?

AARON
No.

JANE
Do others feel that you did well?

AARON
No.

JANE
Then what was good about it?

AARON
I lost six pounds...

JANE
Aaron, will you tell me?

AARON
It was great...writing my little
first rate copy, sitting on my
jacket, punching my one thought.
But I had this historic attack of
flop sweat so they'll never let
me another again.  Oh, I lost one
of your shoulder pads -- how was
your evening anyway?

JANE
What do you mean, flop sweat? --
you're making too much out of
it...I'll bet you were the only
one aware of it...

AARON
People phoned in.

JANE
Stop kidding.  I want to know
what happened.

AARON
I'm not kidding.

JANE
There were complaining phone calls
because you were sweating?

AARON
No, nice ones worried that I was
having a heart attack.

JANE
If all that happened, how come you're
so chipper?

AARON
I don't know.  At a certain point
it was so off the chart bad --
it got funny.  My central nervous
system was telling me something.
Jane -- sweat running down my face --
makeup falling into my eyes -- people
turning this fusillade of blow dryers
on me -- all so I could read
introductions to other people who
were covering stories which is
what I like to do anyway.  And I'm
chipper because you finally showed
up.  I thought I'd cook for us.
Tequila and eggs sound good?

JANE
I have to be somewhere.

He looks at a clock reading 1:15 in the morning.

JANE
I told what's his name -- Tom --
that I'd meet him.

AARON
Call him -- I mean it can wait,
right?

JANE
(now the plunge)
I don't know.  I may be in love
with him.

AARON
(as if he just burned
his hand)
No!!!!!

She starts for the door.

AARON
Don't go.

JANE
This is important to me.

AARON
Yeah.  Well...I think it is
important for you too.  Sit down.

She sits.  He walks to a desk and looks at her briefly... Silence.

JANE
What?

AARON
(looking at her)
Let me think a second.  It's
tough.

A remarkably long silence -- her mind wanders, she takes stock...
it is evident that he is straining to get it right, reaching
into himself.

AARON
Aaach...Jane...
(glancing at note)
Let's take the part that has
nothing to do with me.  Let's let
me be your most trusted friend,
the one that gets to say awful
things to you.  You know?

JANE
(testy and wary
but fair)
Yes, I guess.  Yes.

AARON
You can't end up with Tom because
it goes totally against everything
you're about.

JANE
Yeah -- being a basket case.

AARON
I know you care about him.  I've
never seen you like this about
anyone, so please don't take it
wrong when I tell you that I believe
that Tom, while a very nice guy, is
the Devil.

JANE
(quickly)
This isn't friendship.

AARON
What do you think the Devil is going
to look like if he's around?  Nobody
is going to be taken in if he has a
long, red, pointy tail.  No.  I'm
semi-serious here.  He will look
attractive and he will be nice and
helpful and he will get a job where
he influences a great God-fearing
nation and he will never do an evil
thing...he will just bit by little bit
lower standards where they are important.
Just coax along flash over substance...
Just a tiny bit.  And he will talk about
all of us really being salesmen.
(seeing he's not
reaching her)
And he'll get all the great women.

She is getting pissed.

JANE
I think you're the Devil.

AARON
No.  You know that I'm not.

JANE
How?

AARON
Because we have the kind of
relationship where if I were the
Devil, you'd be the only one I
told.

She's briefly impressed.  He has a point.

JANE
You were quick enough to get
Tom's help when...

AARON
Yes, yes.  I know.  Right.  And
if it had gone well for me tonight,
maybe I'd be keeping quiet about all
this...I grant you everything but
give me this...he does personify
everything you've been fighting
against...And I'm in love with you.
(realizing)
How do you like that? -- I buried
the lead.

He pauses to catch his breath -- breathing deeply through his
nose.

AARON
(an aside)
I've got to not say that aloud;
it takes too much out of me.

JANE
(thawing)
Sit down, stop.

Aaron slumps down -- it's been a long round.

AARON
I've never fought for anyone before.
Does anybody win one of these things?

INT. TOM'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

A CAR DOOR SLAMS in the street below -- he goes towards the
window which is blocked by his sofa -- puts his knees in and
looks out.

TOM'S P.O.V.

A woman walking from a car.

ON TOM

Momentarily thinking it's Jane.  Elated.

TOM'S P.O.V.

It is not Jane.  The PHONE RINGS.

INTERCUT:

BACK TO SCENE

As he answers and we have the following conversation between
Jane, who is using the phone, with Aaron seen just a few feet
away.  Tom in his apartment.

JANE
Hi.  It's me.

TOM
Where are you?

JANE
I can't get away just yet.  I'm
at Aaron's.

TOM
Well, when?

JANE
I'm not sure.  It seems like he
had sort of a mishap on the news.

TOM
I know.  I taped it.

JANE
It wasn't as bad as he think, was
it? -- it wasn't unprecedented or
anything?