Broadcast News Page #12

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INT. STUDIO - EIGHT MINUTES LATER

MOVING CAMERA FROM Tom's left profile TOWARDS HIS RIGHT PROFILE,

TAKING IN THE Production Assistant who madly shuffles pages,

even as Tom talks on camera, the monitor through which he sees

the subject of his interview at the Pentagon, the clusters of a

assistants on the floor and now WE CONTINUE TO CIRCLE BEHIND him,

beginning to SEE the Control Room in the b.g. and as we MOVE IN

TOWARDS HIS EAR, the white ear piece firmly in place, we BEGIN

TO HEAR, the barely audible crackle of Jane's VOICE as she tells

him roughly what to say and how long he has to say it.

TOM:

...So, Commander, it must have been

a bit tougher today -- shooting down

the French-made Mirage Jet. The one

you got was a SU-22...etc...

And NOW ALL IS OBSCURED EXCEPT THE ANCHOR'S EARS, the ear piece

and the RED LIGHT on the CAMERA and beyond... almost an abstract

vision.

INT. CONTROL ROOM - DAY

TOM'S VOICE

...Once again:
The Libyan Government

has disavowed any prior knowledge of

the flight. This has been Tom Grunick

reporting from Washington.

The special report ended, Jane breathes a breath -- she and

Blair momentarily grasp hands. The first talk concerns Tom.

PAUL:

He was brilliant. I've never been

as proud of one of my decisions.

ERNIE:

(calls back to Jane)

Great work, Jane, really -- You know?

Really.

She nods... totally depleted.

JANE:

Well, there were no major gaffs anyway.

Ernie scoffs in her direction.

JANE:

Thanks, everybody.

She exits the scene.

PAUL:

(to the Usher brothers)

This was important for Tom -- there's

that bonding thing that happens with

the public and an anchorman during a

crisis. It's not the conventions

anymore; it's this kind of moment.

Tom enters. He is exuberant.

PAUL:

(to Tom)

What a baptismal. Congratulations.

TOM:

Thanks. With all the help you get,

it's sure easier than local.

Paul and Ernie exchange a glance.

TOM (cont'd)

Where's Jane? I'm still juiced.

Ernie points off... as Tom exits. The Usher brothers hover.

ERNIE:

(to the Usher brothers)

Can I help you?

MARVIN:

We're here to play the new news theme.

ERNIE:

New theme? You don't need me for this.

PAUL:

Stay. Why should I be the only one

to feel silly?

MAN ONE:

We need a synthesizer -- but this

will give you an idea.

PAUL:

Go ahead.

(to Ernie)

Wasn't he great?

ERNIE:

It worked.

Man Two has the keyboard out and begins playing the prospective

news theme:
a suite meant to have majesty and drive, a towering

composition -- the effect of it somewhat lessened by the fact

that the two men VOCALIZE OTHER INSTRUMENTS over the keyboard.

INT. NEWSROOM - DAY

As Tom makes his way across it -- crews are drifting in... He

enters Jane's cubby, flushed with the electricity of the "win"

the most noteworthy moment of his working life.

INT. JANE'S CUBBY - DAY

TOM:

You're an amazing woman. What a feeling

having you inside my head.

JANE:

(a bit thrown)

Yeah. It was an unusual place to be.

TOM:

Indescribable -- you knew just when to

feed me the next thing, just a split

second before I needed it. There was a

rhythm we got into, like great sex.

Jane looks at him and nods slightly -- an unconscious spasm of

truthfulness.

TOM:

You have to celebrate with me, don't

you? Everybody's going to that bar

on the corner, 'Caps.'

JANE:

I'm going over to Aaron's. Maybe I'll

hoop up with all of you later. How

long do you think you'll be there?

Tom indicates that it's an impossible question to answer. They

enters the elevator.

EXT. NEWS BUILDING - NIGHT

As several people cross the street towards the bar. Tom has

been holding back on one question.

TOM:

It's tempting to ask you how you think

I did.

(she starts to reply)

No. I'm enjoying myself. Take it easy.

He starts across the street.

JANE:

(trying to be casual)

Maybe I'll see you over there.

Indicates Bar.

TOM:

You'll never show up.

He starts across the street -- then turns and calls to her.

TOM:

Jane?

JANE:

Yeah?

TOM:

I'll wait for you till seven.

JANE:

(shouting back)

Okay.

Tom races to catch up with the others -- Jane in the distant b.g.

pauses a beat before walking off in the opposite direction. Jane

moving quickly along.

SOUND OF MEN VOCALIZING NEWS THEME comes UP AND continues

through:

EXT. AARON'S APARTMENT - EARLY EVENING

As Jane approaches and is surprised to find him sitting on the

stoop outside.

ON AARON:

Happy to see her, rising fairly soberly to his feet. He APPLAUDS

as she comes toward him.

JANE:

Really? It was good.

He nods and APPLAUDS some more.

JANE:

Your calling in that information --

you're the classiest guy I know.

He waves her off... And sits down on the stoop.

AARON:

It was strange to watch him. What's

the next step? Lip synching?

She sits a step or two above him, waiting to gauge his mood.

AARON:

I've been doing some of the most

important thinking of my life. I

wonder if this is the right time to

tell you about it.

She steals a glance at her watch.

JANE:

Well, whatever you think.

AARON:

I figured out exactly why it is I'm so

hung up on getting a chance at weekend

anchor...It's because if I do that well,

they'll pay me more, treat me great and

my life will be better. That's why.

JANE:

Sounds like you may be on to something.

AARON:

Which means I'm at their mercy and who

wants that?...I'm not going to tell

you where this thought led me...

Anyway, well, why not tell you? --

it's a happy thing. In the middle of

all this I start to think about something

that does nothing but make me feel good

and makes immediate sense and that's you

...And I'll stop here but, Jane, I'd give

anything if you were two people so I could

call up the one who's my friend and tell

her about the one I'm in I...I don't think

I should go any further. Come on --

I'll walk you to the corner.

He tales her by the arm and leads her to the corner.

JANE:

You know you've had a strange day...

I'd sleep on all these things you've

been thinking.

AARON:

Absolutely...You go have a good time...

You have some place to go?

JANE:

Yes.

AARON:

Good.

He grabs her and hugs her exuberantly -- takes her face in his

hands and kisses her full on the lips.

AARON:

Well, I felt something.

He leaves her on the corner and walks back.

ON JANE:

As the SOUND OF NEWS THEME VOCALIZING PICKS UP ONE MORE...

Jane moving quickly, hailing a cab.

INT. CAB - EVENING

JANE:

We're going to Caps Bar at

Seventeenth and Vermont;

Connecticut is clear on Sunday...

take that over to Fifteenth, then

around Vermont and we'll bypass

the circle that way...if you don't

go over forty we should catch mostly

green lights.

ON the DRIVER'S annoyed look.

JANE:

Come on -- don't take it the

wrong way. I just know about

things.

He hits the meter.

EXT. CAPS BAR - EVENING

As the cab pulls up, Jane gets out and pays him.

DRIVER:

Great route. I never made

anywhere near that fast before.

JANE:

Thanks -- good driving --

DRIVER:

Thanks. Coming from you I

appreciate it.

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