Broadcast News

TOM
(into phone)
Hi, Dad...Did you see it?  Great --
I'll send you a tape...I'm sorry I
haven't called.  Things were a little
bumpy for a while.  It's not important...
I'm fine now.
(what he's been
wanting to say aloud)
Hey, Dad -- I just may be able to
do this job...Well, I'm glad you
were sure.

INT. ERNIE MARRIMAN'S VIRGINIA HOME - DAY

Ernie is hosting the news staff for Sunday brunch -- they stand
around drinking in small groups... Aaron is standing with Blair
and a MAN in his fifties we have not seen before.

BLAIR
I don't know why we have to feel
defensive about it.  Newspapers
are in business to make money --
why not us?

Aaron looks at her in amazement.

BLAIR
They criticize us for supposedly
pandering while they run WINGO
Games.

GREY HAIRED MAN
(amused)
Exactly right.  Excuse me.  I'm
paid to mix.

Blair and Aaron laugh appreciatively as he walks off to another
group.

BLAIR
Goodbye, Paul.

AARON
Take care, Paul.
(back to Blair)
It takes a certain kind of courage
for you to say that in front of
the President of the News Division.

BLAIR
You think anyone who's proud of
the work we do is an ass kisser.

AARON
No.  I think anyone who puckers their
lips and presses it against his boss'
buttocks and then smooches is an ass
kisser.

BLAIR
My gosh, and for a while there, I was
attracted to you.

She walks off.

AARON
Wait a minute -- that changes
everything.

ON JANE

At the bar getting a drink.

Jennifer ENTERS THE SCENE... and leads Jane down the hall until
they are standing alone.

JENNIFER
This is very awkward.

JANE
Go ahead -- what?

JENNIFER
Ummm -- it's dumb dorm stuff but
I see Tom around you a lot and this
is such a small office and I'd like
to see him outside of work, unless
there's some reason for you to mind...
in which case I just won't do anything.

JANE
God Almighty -- Whew.  Do I mind?
Why do I mind?  I do mind.  What
a shock -- I don't have a right to...
I don't think I like him.  I know
I don't respect him...So what am
I talking about -- what am I saying
to you?

JENNIFER
You're saying stay away from him.

JANE
(stupefied)
I can't be.

She blinks in wonder.

JENNIFER
We don't have to settle this
definitively right now.

Jennifer moves toward the drinking table -- Jane, unsteadied
by the dose of self-revelation, moves towards Aaron's circle
and scratches his back in friendship... Tom approaches an she
moves off -- not wanting to deal with him.  She takes a few
breaths as she keeps walking.  We HEAR snatches of PARTY
CONVERSATIONS, i.e:

GEORGE WELN
Tell me one person who ever left
television news to work on a
newspaper.

She moves on; Tom still following.

ERNIE'S WIFE
(holding Paul's arm)
I felt so proud when he turned
down News Vice President so we
could stay here.  Suddenly, after
all these years, we have a life.

Jane turns -- sees that Tom is still looking at her from a few
feet away.

JANE
(badly)
Hi, Tom.

She stands there, genuinely frightened.  She must deal with him
now.  He crosses to her.

TOM
It's the firs time I've seen
you dressed like this.  You look
so clean and pretty.

JANE
What do you mean clean?

TOM
At work there's always this
sort of film over you.

JANE
Well, thumps like me leave appearance
to guys like you.

TOM
You're great at taking the edge
off a good time.

Jane starts twitching.  She pauses -- holds a hand lightly on
his arm to steady herself.

TOM
You okay?

JANE
Yes.  Just don't say anything mean
for a while.  Thanks.

She meets his gaze for an instant -- and, in that instant, loses
control for the first time in her memory.  She looks strange as
she retreats from this glimpse of upheaval.

JANE
I've got to find someone.  It's
important.  Excuse me.

She walks away.

ON AARON AND ERNIE

ERNIE
I had the strangest thing happen
yesterday.  Anne and I have been
married what? -- Thirty-six years...
Everything fine -- two days after the
promotion came through, I was checking
myself in the mirror and she was
making a face at me behind my back.
So yesterday I looked in the mirror
and she was doing it again.

AARON
You didn't say anything to her?

He shakes his head.

ERNIE
My instincts tell me not to.

Annie comes up.

ANNE
The office is phoning, honey.

He EXITS SCENE as Anne watches him go.

ANNE
I hope he moves that fast when
it's me on the line.

ON JANE

As she passes a chair with an afghan shawl on the back -- she
picks it up and wraps it around herself, a bit chilled.  She
sees Jennifer on the stairs and moves toward her calling in a
too loud, anxiety-ridden voice as she goes.

JANE
Jennifer.  Hey, Jennifer.

ON STAIRCASE

Jennifer turning as Jane whips up the stairs.

JANE
Forget what I said -- you do
whatever you want to with him.

She pushes at Jennifer a little.

JENNIFER
Well, there's nothing I'm going
to do right this second.

Jane pushes her again.

JENNIFER
But it's a party, right?

Jane smiles back feigning female bonding -- Jennifer goes back
down the steps and crosses to Tom.

FULL SCENE

Aaron takes in Jane, who is taking in Jennifer and Tom -- then
Aaron begins to sense a new dynamic in the room as Ernie re-enters
and huddles briefly with Paul... The News President is intent...
The two of them walk over to Tom and Jennifer.  We PICK UP just
a few words:

ERNIE
This would be a good time to tap
that source of yours.  He could
have an angle or something.

AARON'S P.O.V.

Tom is startled but cool -- nods his head -- Jennifer is amazed
looking at Tom with new and even prettier eyes... Paul and Ernie
now move toward Jane, a whole flow of movement creating a new
energy in the area.  Jane sheds her Afghan as she rises to meet
them.

ERNIE
(to Jane)
We want you to exec produce a
Special Report...

JANE
What?

Aaron has come over to join them now in time to HEAR.

ERNIE
A Libyan plane shot up one of our
bases in Egypt.  It's all still
happening.

JANE
Let's figure out the field.

ERNIE
Unfortunately, since Paul's here,
he's made out the assignments...
Jennifer at the White House...
George at the Pentagon...Martin
at State...and we need an anchor
since Rorish is in his boat, so we're
gonna do the whole report this
afternoon from here...with Tom.

AARON
That's it.  I resign as of now.

ERNIE
(to Aaron)
Stop it.

AARON
I'll tell you what.  I'll stay if
Tom knows how to spell Gaddafi.

JANE
Ernie, as much as I like you, I
think I have to tell Paul what I
think, because this is really sort
of obscenely stupid.

ERNIE
Jane, if you want to, go ahead.  I
don't disagree with you.

Jane moves quickly off, awed at the prospect of taking on the
big boss.

ON JANE