Broadcast News

INT./ENT. REGULAR BAR - NIGHT

Tom and Buddy on adjoining stools.  For Tom, the last weeks have
been humbling, antagonistic.  He's enjoying Buddy who listens
attentively and wholeheartedly endorses every word Tom speaks.

TOM
I've been doing some morning show
stuff, but mostly radio -- that doesn't
bother me.  I'm in no rush for
anything.  It's just the snotty
attitude, even if I have it coming,
it's still...

BUDDY
Bad manners.

TOM
Yes.  That's right.

BUDDY
I know...I mean you didn't do anything
special for me tonight.  You just had
what I think are good manners, decency.
And it really makes me want to be nice
back and it has nothing to do with any
homosexual thing.
(looks right at him)
Honestly.
(then away)
Because I don't know if you've
homosexual or not and -- you're not,
are you?

TOM
No...no.

BUDDY
One's enough.

Tom signals for the check.

BUDDY (cont'd)
I wasn't doing anything.

TOM
I really have to go.

BUDDY
Okay.  At least let me show my
appreciation.  The Secretary of Labor
is going to be indicted on Wednesday.
For the graft thing he supposedly did
before he was appointed.

TOM
What?

BUDDY
Yes, it's true.  They're going to
make it public Wednesday but isn't
it a big deal for you to have it a
day and a half early?

TOM
Yes.  How do you know?

BUDDY
(shrugs)
My roommate's very social -- somebody
from Justice was over and...I always
hear things before they happen.  Hey,
and from now on, so do you.

INT. ERNIE'S OFFICE - DAY

George Weln, the black correspondent and Tom are seated in the
office with Ernie -- they are in mid-meeting.

GEORGE
I'm virtually certain it's not true.
He may be indicted eventually, but I
don't think it will be this month.

ERNIE
(to Tom)
You want to be alone with me --
tell me your source?

TOM
If I told you I'm not sure it would
totally convince you, but I totally
believe the guy.

GEORGE
(insufferable)
Labor is my Department -- I can't
conform it and my contacts go very
deep.

TOM
So if it's true -- I'm terrific,
right?

ERNIE
It's not even a close call.  Of
course we can't go with it.

INT. EDITING ROOM - FOLLOWING DAY

Jane is working with Bobbie the editor... Snatches of the tape
make it obvious that the Labor Secretary has been indicted --
George Weln stands behind Jane, who is dialing a number.

BOBBIE
Do you want him all the way to the
car?

JANE
No stop where he's all besieged.

BOBBIE
Because...

JANE
(to Bobbie)
Right there, Bobbie.

Tom enters.

TOM
So he was indicted?

JANE
Yes.

GEORGE
We were right not to go with it.

TOM
But I was right -- just somebody give
it to me.  I had a good story.

JANE
(to George)
Give it to him -- so we can concentrate.

TOM
Ah, I don't want any credit.  Bobbie
and I serve anonymously.

He pats Bobbie on the back... and exits.

BOBBIE
(pausing in his work)
You know, I like Tom, because hi...

JANE
Bobbie, please.

INT. METRO BUS - DAY

Crowded rush hour... Buddy and Tom stand next to each other.

BUDDY
...and the White House is hoping to
keep a lid on it for a few days till
they figure out what to do.

TOM
Thanks a lot, Buddy.

BUDDY
(brushing it off)
Oh, please.  So they were really
impressed with you at work.

TOM
Not impressed exactly -- but a break
in the clouds.

BUDDY
I see the change in you -- I see it.

INT. WHITE HOUSE PRESS ROOM - DAY

The 10 A.M. briefing just breaking up -- Jennifer leaves her
network seat in the front row, only to be grabbed by Tom who
steers her outside.

EXT. WHITE HOUSE EAST WING - DAY

In the near distance a circular driveway and a silent armed
MARINE GUARD, standing at attention.

TOM
(to Jennifer)
So he bought this Peugeot sedan at
a greatly reduced price while he was
there in charge of the White House
Advance Team.

JENNIFER
How come you're not chasing it down
yourself?

TOM
Look, I'm junior man -- and it's
your beat.

JENNIFER
Boy, that's nice...I wish we could
all deal with each other like this.
I'll check it.  Anything I can do
for you?

TOM
This is my first time at the White House.
Is there any chance to look at where
he works and the rest of it?

JENNIFER
I didn't have the guts to ask when
I first came up.  I'll get you a
great tour.

INT. BAR - EARLY EVENING

Buddy and Tom watching the Evening News as Jennifer finishes
her story.

JENNIFER
(voice over; on TV set)
The President says it's not a violation
but nonetheless White House sources
say the full price will be paid for the
Peugeot and new rules will put future
bargain hunting off limits for
Presidential Aides.  This is Jennifer Mack
at the White House.

Tom and Buddy smile at each other... energized -- up.

BUDDY
Forgive me, but it really is intoxicating
being a news source.

TOM
Nobody else had it.

BUDDY
I wish it were you giving the story.

TOM
That's okay.

BUDDY
What if we just don't tell them
anything anymore unless they let
you do the story?

TOM
No.  Really...don't worry about it.

BUDDY
Okay.  And look, in the future I can
call you when I have news for you.
Don't feel you have to spend time
with me just to get the information.
(a breath; then
to himself)
Well, that wasn't as hard to say as
you thought, was it, Buddy?

TOM
What do you mean?  You're one of the
few people in this town I can talk
to.

Buddy puts his hand to his heart and makes a LOUD SOUND OF
RAPTURE.

BUDDY
Hoooo.

The BARTENDER and some nearby patrons turn and look.  Tom shifts
with discomfort.

TOM
Hey, Buddy, don't do that anymore.

BUDDY
(simply)
Okay.

INT. WASHINGTON BUREAU - NIGHT

Jane waiting for an elevator... It comes and she steps on just
as Tom clearly excited comes around the bend from Ernie's office
calling for her.  He goes to the stairs.

INT. WALKWAY - NIGHT

He runs out and sees Jane in the lobby below, then takes off
after her.

INT. LOBBY - NIGHT

As he enters and runs outside, looking in both directions then
running off to the right.  A BEAT -- REVEALING Jane has stopped
to talk with Blair -- now she exits.

EXT. WASHINGTON STREET - NIGHT

Tom on the street, ahead of her, thinking he's behind her...
He runs another half a block and stops dejected... Turns to walk
back to the office.  He keeps looking back to see if he missed
her, so that his head is turned as Jane reaches him, says a
fairly social:

JANE
Hi, how are you?

She keeps moving -- Tom spinning after her.

TOM
Wait -- I need you.

She stops.

TOM
I've got another story.

JANE
Some public official skipped a week
on his Christmas Club?

TOM
The House Armed Service Committee
has a secret report which says that
the General Stillwell tank the Army
has dumped a fortune into plain
won't work.  I have it cold,
confirmed.  They have five million
dollars in this thing already.

JANE
Billion.

TOM
Okay, billion...right, of course.
They told me I could have any producer
I wanted -- and I want you.

As Tom savors the moment.

INT. TELEVISION STUDIO - EVENING

Various bureau personnel standing at their desks watching Tom's
piece being broadcast.  We SEE a TANK MISFIRING.

TOM
(voice over)
One source referred to it as a
five billion dollar metal sculpture
to ugly to look at and too big to bury.

AARON
(to Jane)
You write this?

JANE
I write for you sometimes.

AARON
Not because you have to.

ON MONITOR

We SEE a General walking away from Tom.

TOM
(voice over)
General Elton McGuire is in charge of
the weapon system.

ON MONITOR - TWO SHOT

GENERAL
I've been in the Army twenty-seven
years -- so I'll let the Army ask
the questions, not you.

TOM
General, I don't want to bother you
anymore or your family.  But tomorrow
there will be a mob of me back here --
so, if you have anything to say, why
not say it now, sir, the way you want?

ON TOM

He is a study.

Looking at himself -- and though it's far from his first time on
television -- it's the first time he's seen himself doing serious
work and, by all appearances, doing it well.  As the General
answers in the b.g. --

BLAIR
I think it's great of us to have left
in what you said -- just great of us.

Tom smiles modestly.

AARON
Yeah, let's never forget.  We're
the real story.  Not them.

Tom and Jane look over -- then Tom looks to Jane for a verdict.
In the b.g., the news goes to a commercial.

JANE
Yeah, I know, I went back and forth
on it.

BLAIR
I liked it.  He's not afraid to be
human.

Ernie ENTERS THE SCENE with his fourteen-year-old DAUGHTER
in tow... He approaches Tom.

ERNIE
My youngest wanted to meet you.
This is Ellie.

TOM
Hi, Ellie.

ERNIE
You should be honored -- she
never cares about meeting
anyone here.  But she liked you
on television just now.

AARON
(entering scene)
Hi, Ellie -- remember me?

ELLIE
I'm sorry -- from where?

AARON
I've been to your house a lot...

ERNIE
(helping)
And Aaron went on that fourteen
day raft trip with us last year.

ELLIE
(vaguely)
Oh yes -- hi.

INT. NEWSROOM - NIGHT (LATE)

Tom is on the phone.