Spotlight Page #10

A COURT CLERK (MARK) walks over.

COURT CLERK (MARK)

There’s nothing on Shanley either,

Sacha.

SACHA:

Okay, thanks.

(into phone)

We need to talk to MacLeish again.

ROBBY (OVER THE PHONE)

Really. Why?

SACHA (INTO PHONE)

There’s nothing here. There aren’t

any records...

72 INT. GREENBERG TRAURIG, CONFERENCE ROOM - MORNING 72

Robby and Sacha have been waiting. Macleish enters.

ERIC MACLEISH:

Thanks for waiting, so sorry guys, I

got stuck on a call. What’s up?

SACHA:

Mr. MacLeish, are you familiar with

a priest named Paul Shanley?

MacLeish looks at her. Surprised. He sits back.

ERIC MACLEISH:

Yes, I’m familiar with him.

SACHA:

Have you settled cases against

Father Shanley?

ERIC MACLEISH:

As I’m sure you can understand, I

can’t discuss that.

11/26/14 61.

ROBBY:

What about Father Ronald Paquin?

ERIC MACLEISH:

I can’t discuss that either. Come

on, guys.

SACHA:

We understand you’ve settled several

cases against each of them.

ERIC MACLEISH:

Even if I’d been involved in those

cases, the settlements would be

confidential. I could be disbarred

for acknowledging their existence.

Robby’s not backing down. MacLeish shakes his head.

ERIC MACLEISH (CONT’D)

Look, I told you, these are tough

cases. Most of these folks just

want some acknowledgement of what

happened. We got them a sit-down

with the bishop and a little dough.

It was the best they could hope for.

ROBBY:

It was certainly the best the priest

could hope for.

ERIC MACLEISH:

No, the Church promised to take the

priests out of circulation.

ROBBY:

And did you follow up on that?

ERIC MACLEISH:

(done with this)

You guys need anything else?

SACHA:

Yes. Why aren’t there any records?

I was just down at the courthouse,

why aren’t there any records of

these settlements?

MacLeish pauses. Hesitant, now not so sure of himself.

ERIC MACLEISH:

We dealt directly with the Church.

We’d draw up a demand letter and

we’d send it to the chancery.

11/26/14 62.

SACHA:

You never filed anything in court?

ERIC MACLEISH:

It was a private mediation.

So that’s a no. Jesus. Sacha and Robby react.

ROBBY:

So this is just you and the

archdiocese’s lawyers in a room?

ERIC MACLEISH:

Correct.

SACHA:

Anyone else?

ERIC MACLEISH:

Occasionally, the Church would bring

in another defense attorney to help

out.

ROBBY:

You have any names?

ERIC MACLEISH:

(stonewalling him)

No. No I don’t.

73 INT. GLOBE, SPOTLIGHT - LATE AFTERNOON 73

Ben sits with the gang.

BEN:

So this was all under the table?

SACHA:

There’s no paper trail at all. The

victim has to sign a confidentiality

agreement to get the settlement.

The lawyer takes his third and the

Church sweeps it under the rug.

MIKE:

Jeez. It’s a freakin’ racket.

BEN:

It’s more complicated than that.

MacLeish has got a duty to his

clients to get the best deal he can.

11/26/14 63.

SACHA:

Sure, but how many victims do you

represent and profit from before you

say something?

MIKE:

Garabedian would say none. That’s

why he’s taking these cases to

court. Because he wants people to

know about this.

SACHA:

I agree. And, legal ethics aside,

Ben, operating the way MacLeish has

all but guarantees the abuse stays

under wraps.

BEN:

Yeah.

(then)

Did MacLeish confirm all of

Saviano’s priests?

ROBBY:

No. He’s limited by the

confidentiality agreement.

SACHA:

But he’s clearly settled cases

against a number of them. Phil’s

put me in touch with some of the

other victims, I’m pretty confident

all of his priests are going to

check out.

BEN:

So it’s thirteen priests?

SACHA:

Yeah.

ROBBY:

Looks that way.

BEN (CONT’D)

Holy Sh*t. Okay. Keep going.

Off Ben --

75 INT. COPLEY SQUARE BALLROOM, ATRIUM - NIGHT 75

CLOSE ON a woman scanning a list of names on clipboard.

WOMAN:

I’m sorry, what was it again?

11/26/14 64.

REVEAL Marty standing next to her at the base of wide

staircase. Several such women are checking off attendees.

MARTY:

Uh, Baron? B-A-R-O-N.

WOMAN:

I’m sorry, I don’t see you here.

PETE CONLEY (O.C.)

It’s okay, Kim, I can vouch for him.

Marty turns, finds PETE CONLEY, 60s, Irish wealth and power.

He extends a hand.

PETE CONLEY (CONT’D)

Pete Conley, I’m on the board of

Catholic Charities. Welcome to

Boston, Mr. Baron.

MARTY:

Uh, thank you.

PETE CONLEY:

I appreciate you joining us. We’re

very proud of the work we do here in

Boston.

(then)

The Cardinal said you had a nice

visit.

MARTY:

Uh, yes. We did.

PETER CONLEY:

He’s an extraordinary man. I’m glad

you had a chance to chat.

75A INT. COPLEY SQUARE BALLROOM - MOMENTS LATER 75A

Marty walks into the party, not knowing a soul. He stands

alone, taking it in.

ROBBY:

Enjoying yourself?

Marty turns. Robby’s there. Slacks and a blazer.

MARTY:

Uh, to be honest, these events

aren’t really my strong suit.

(then)

Are you involved with the charity?

11/26/14 65.

ROBBY:

Not directly. Several of my friends

are. We all went to BC High

together. That’s the school across

the street from the Globe.

MARTY:

It’s hard to miss.

ROBBY:

Yeah. Hard to get away from too,

apparently.

Marty smiles.

ROBBY (CONT’D)

The Cardinal’s in the corner if

you’re so inclined.

Robby nods. Indeed, there’s the Cardinal and he’s talking to

Pete Conley and few others.

MARTY:

We’ve met.

ROBBY:

Did he mention the suit?

MARTY:

No, but he did give me a copy of the

Catechism.

ROBBY:

(laughs)

Yeah, the Cardinal’s not known for

his subtlety. During the Porter

investigation, he literally called

down the power of God on the Globe.

MARTY:

How did that play out?

ROBBY:

A week later our editor broke his

leg skiing.

Marty reacts to Robby’s line.

WAITER:

Shrimp toast, gentlemen?

Robby takes a shrimp.

11/26/14 66.

76 INT. ARMENIAN DINER, DOWNTOWN BOSTON - NIGHT 76

CLOSE ON a bowl of soup. HANDS reach for it... REVEAL

Garabedian and Mike having dinner. Mike’s going over notes.

MIKE:

You said there was a victim who

filed a criminal complaint?

GARABEDIAN:

There were a few, but the judge

sealed the case records after

friends of the Church stepped in.

The Church has a lot of friends.

MIKE:

Like Eric MacLeish?

Garabedian sees he understands. Garabedian’s impressed.

GARABEDIAN:

Let’s just say, he’s not part of the

solution. You follow what I’m

saying?

MIKE:

Sure.

Mike jots down some notes. Garabedian watches him.

GARABEDIAN:

You work hard, Mr. Rezendes. Are

you married?

MIKE:

Yeah.

GARABEDIAN:

And your wife doesn’t mind you

working all the time?

MIKE:

Yeah, she does.

GARABEDIAN:

See. That’s why I never got

married. I’m too busy, what I do is

too important.

Garabedian salts his soup.

GARABEDIAN (CONT’D)

Your new editor, he’s a Jew right?

11/26/14 67.

MIKE:

Uh, that’s right.

GARABEDIAN:

He comes in, suddenly everybody is

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