Broadcast News Page #6

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JENNIFER:

Look at that smile. Oh, that was

good and oh my, Bill smiled -- he

liked it.

AARON:

He loved it. Big smile.

He gives Jane a congratulatory sock in the shoulder which she

returns -- Tom in the b.g. of the SHOT.

BLAIR:

I haven't seen Bill smile like that

in weeks.

Ernie has walked a few steps to the office.

BLAIR:

Ernie, you missed his close... He smiled.

(mimicking)

Thank you...Good night.

She smiles.

ERNIE:

I saw the smile -- good piece.

AARON:

I'm gonna go look at it again.

They leave -- Aaron waving to Tom who stands in the b.g. The

others leave. Tom approaches Jane.

TOM:

I'm sorry if I was in the way. It

was totally impressive. Great piece.

JANE:

(somewhat formal)

You weren't. Thanks. How does it

feel being here?

TOM:

I can't believe I'm really here. No

kidding. If you're through work now --

JANE:

No. Aaron and I go to Central America

on Wednesday -- so I'm cramming.

TOM:

I thought you were incredible in there.

I know how much I have to learn. I'd

really -- a lot -- appreciate it...if...

JANE:

'Really a lot appreciate it...'

TOM:

You make me nervous. Anyway if I

can pick your brain --

Jane grimaces at "pick your brain."

JANE:

I can't help you, sorry. I'm not

here to teach remedial reporting.

TOM:

And it has nothing to do with the fact

I left your room instead of staying

there?

Jane looks at him.

JANE:

Oh, please.

(then, almost gently)

You're gonna have to understand

something. This isn't personal.

She exits.

EXT. CENTRAL AMERICAN JUNGLE - MORNING

As Aaron, Jane and their CREW march along with a CONTRA SQUAD deep

in their own conversation. Except for the DIN of TROPICAL BIRDS

they seem almost like a cranky married couple on their way to work.

AARON:

I didn't sleep. They're giving me less

and less air time. They don't think

I'm at all anchor material.

JANE:

If we don't get to their camp soon,

we won't be able to tape the supplies

coming in.

AARON:

Last time Paul was sick they gave

Connie the weekend news instead of me.

JANE:

You spend too much time -- much too

much worrying about that crap...

(suddenly reacting)

Oh good.

They have entered a clearing where supplies have been dropped,

the Guerrillas already tearing apart boxes with army boots

inside.

ANGLE ON:

A guerrilla soldier rubbing his shoeless foot. A pair of new boots

sit alongside him. Jane's Cameraman prepares to shoot, saying in

Spanish, then English:

CAMERAMAN:

Put on the boot.

Jane rushes into the scene incensed.

JANE:

Stop! We are not here to stage the news.

Wait and see what he does.

Then to the totally confused soldier.

JANE (cont'd)

Sir, you do whatever you want. It's

your choice.

By now there is a fair-sized cluster of armed men as well as

the news team staring at the guerrilla, who is at loss as to

what is expected. He looks to Jane, who can offer no help

save her own determination not to interfere. Finally he puts

on the boot.

JANE:

(to Cameraman)

Okay.

He shoots the scene.

INT. HAY ADAMS HOTEL

Tom, in shirt and tie, is on the phone. This is a big day.

TOM:

Okay, I'll meet the crew there then.

Could you give me that address again?

Great. Yes, it's good to finally be

getting to work. Okay that's

17204? 1-7-2-0-4. Thanks.

INT. HOTEL LOBBY - DAY

As Tom gets directions from the CONCIERGE.

CONCIERGE:

It's only ten minutes if you prefer

to walk...

(as he walks away)

I'll look for you on the news tonight.

EXT. HOTEL - DAY

Tom has a real sense of the moment -- of having arrived. The

strange bubble of pleasure rises to the surface as he walks off

to cover his first story. He laughs out loud, loving his lot.

EXT. CENTRAL AMERICAN JUNGLE - LATER AFTERNOON

Jane in the f.g. with her crew while Aaron talks in rapid Spanish

to the GUERRILLA LEADERS.

AARON (in Spanish)

Are you guys kidding or do you really

think you'll run into something...?

I mean, do you feel that every time

and it never happens? Or is it the

first time it felt that way and it's

going to happen?... I mean, how bad

can it be?... Are you nervous...?

What's the chances on a scale of one

to ten -- that we're going to be in

a war within the next few hours?...

Really?

He starts to walk towards Jane -- one of the men he was

talking with calling after him with an added thought.

AARON:

Thanks, you speak English very well

too.

(to Jane)

Great news. He says they've been

engaging the Sandinistas pretty

regularly and that he'd be really

surprised if we didn't take fire

tonight.

Jane reacts -- a flash of exhilaration. Aaron is amazed at her

attitude.

AARON:

Look at her.

(to Jane)

If anything happens to me tell every

woman I've ever dated I was talking

about them at the end. That way they'll

have to reevaluate me.

Jane laughs out loud, attracting the Guerrillas' attention.

Aaron repeats his speech in Spanish. The Guerrillas laugh.

EXT. JUNGLE - NIGHT

Aaron and Jane in line behind the Guerrillas. They HEAR A SHOT.

The head of the patrol gestures -- deploying his men. Aaron

grabs Jane and heads for some cover to the left. As they run --

more SHOTS. Jane in work mode. As soon as they settle.

JANE:

Let's tape.

CAMERAMAN:

(Spanish accent)

Much too dark. Black.

JANE:

That's okay.

ON AARON BARELY DISCERNIBLE

As they start taping he is breathless with the nervousness of

the nearly gunfire.

AARON:

The first shots were fired not thirty

seconds ago. The Contras feel they

must be outnumbered this is so small

a unit:
that's a given. Still they

hold their ground despite the fact

that their weapons have been acting

up -- misfiring or jamming. A new

shipment of rifles is expected tomorrow --

all they got today were the shoes.

There is the SOUND OF GUNFIRE.

JANE:

(to Cameraman)

Okay.

(to Aaron)

Great line at the end.

AARON:

Did you shoot their boots?

JANE:

Of course.

AARON:

We can cut back at the end.

JANE:

To the pan of the supplies boxes --

AARON:

Can you believe it? I just risked my

life for a network that tests my face

with focus groups.

EXT. GOVERNMENT BLDG - AFTERNOON

Tom, squashed in amidst a small mob of reporters... behind a

police line. He HEARS a reporter next to him say:

REPORTER:

I think he's coming out now.

TOM:

(to his crew)

They say he's coming out now.

A surge.

TOM:

(to Reporter)

Is that him?

TOM'S CAMERAMAN

Yes.

Tom checks his notes.

INSERT - TOM'S BLACK BOOK

The same model we've seen Jane use. A list of questions

written in big color highlighted letters. As he looks down

to study them, everyone else moves suddenly off.

TOM'S P.O.V.

The mass of journalists and technicians shouting questions.

"Will you dispatch troops?" after the Ambassador they've been

awaiting -- clumping on his limo and then being shaken by the

movement of the vehicle.

ON TOM:

Standing alone and forlorn as his crew trots back.

CAMERAMAN:

(observing Tom)

What's wrong?

TOM:

I had a lot of questions here. I

missed the story.

CAMERAMAN:

Don't worry, it's okay. I got

a piece of his face.

EXT. GUERRILLAS CAMP - MORNING

Jane is standing -- talking to her crew. Others asleep

in b.g. -- a drowsy, morning-after feeling.

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