State Of Play Page #2

does something

that actually might

sell some newspapers,

you're rendered mute.

It's incongruous.

No, it is not.

It's inconsistent.

Don't be an ass.

What do you think?

Those are the ideas

for our facelift.

I know. I know.

It's crap.

Our new owners

have this odd idea

that we ought to

be turning a profit.

Yeah, well, I hear our

online side is doing great.

I mean,

not like I'm the kind of guy

who would notice

that sort of thing,

but I've been here,

what, 15 years?

I use a 16-year-old computer.

She's been here 15 minutes,

and she could launch a Russian

satellite with the gear she's got.

Yeah, she told me

you behaved like a pig.

That's too strong.

Well, piggish.

I showed her

a little snout.

Well, I happen to like

Ms. Della Frye.

And, yes,

I did send her down there

to winkle

something out of you.

She's hungry, she's cheap, and

she churns out copy every hour.

Yeah, I know. I'm overfed, I'm too

expensive, and I take way too long.

Yes, you do.

I was Stephen Collins'

roommate in college.

I don't live with him now.

Well, that's a shame,

isn't it?

Yeah, 'cause that could sell

some newspapers.

Miss Baker died this morning

in an apparent accident

on the D.C. Metro.

Suicide has not

been ruled out.

It appears to be a suicide.

People close to the case say

that Congressman Collins,

quote, "took advantage" of this young

girl, resulting in today's suicide.

- Suicide.

- Suicide.

So, I know you're thinking,

"This guy's gotta be pretty

desperate to show up here."

No, I was thinking I can

finally give you back

that Roxy Music CD

you left in my car.

Is that where that one went?

I was looking for that.

I got three dozen reporters

camped in front of my place.

I'd go somewhere else,

but I don't have

anywhere else to go.

Come in.

Thanks.

I see you redecorated.

Yeah. I moved that

couch a couple of feet.

Looks good.

Aren't you gonna ask me

how I could be so stupid?

In a minute.

Okay.

You know, I co-sponsored two

bills in the last three years.

I'm in the middle of

co-authoring another one,

and this is what I'm gonna be remembered for.

I'm gonna get

more coverage on this

than anything else I do

for the rest of my life.

The nature of the beast,

public office.

Okay.

Look, Cal,

I know the last time I saw

you, I said a few things.

Hey.

I deserved it, all of it.

Annie and I were having problems

in the marriage, obviously.

You're the only

real friend I got.

I'm in trouble, man.

You know?

This whole thing with Sonia, what

happened, it just snuck up on me.

She was an amazing woman,

beautiful and

really funny, smart,

and she, you know,

she adored me.

That was nice,

you know, for a change.

Have you called the parents?

No, I haven't

called the parents.

You should.

Tomorrow, you're gonna make a condolence call.

The first thing the attack

dogs will pick up on, you know,

"He never so much as called

after our daughter's suicide."

She didn't kill herself.

How do you know that?

Hey, baby, I just want to wish you

good luck. I want you to give them hell,

and I can't wait

for this weekend.

I love you. Bye.

That's this morning.

Look like someone who's about

to go out and commit suicide?

No.

You show this to anybody?

Well, I thought about firing it up on YouTube.

Hey, you know what?

This is the moment where I ask

you how stupid could you be.

This changes everything.

It'll bring it

all back your way.

How are you gonna do that?

Because we're gonna fight

back with our own facts.

All we have to do is,

we have to build

a plausible alternative story, all right?

Now, look.

"Unfortunately,

it appears that Sonia Baker

"has met with a tragic

accident on a subway platform.

"So questions have to be

asked about transit safety."

Okay?

Cal.

Now, Stephen,

you gotta be

proactive, okay?

If you're not, then you're

just letting the bloodsuckers

and the bloggers have

another free shot at you.

The bloodsuckers

and the bloggers.

Have you seen the Globe's website tonight?

No.

Hello?

Miss Capitol Hill Blog?

It's Cal McAffrey.

Do you have a pen?

What?

Sonia Baker, right?

I have a source,

and you need to talk to him.

Well, why?

Do you have a pen?

Yeah.

Lieutenant Leon Comey.

Pen, pen, pen.

Write that down. C-O-M-E-Y.

C-O-M-E-Y.

He's gonna show you

an off-the-record preview

of the security camera tapes

from the Metro station.

What, you mean...

Do you mean, like, now?

Yeah, like now.

Sorry. Who am I calling?

I was trying to get

Della Frye the reporter.

Gee, I'm sorry. I thought

that I was talking to the guy

who wouldn't give me

the time of day this morning.

Look, I am just trying to help

you get a few facts in the mix

next time you decide

to upchuck online.

What?

I'm not doing it. I'm not.

Wake up.

Does anybody know

where Room 514 is?

It doesn't say. Is there a big difference?

Big enough. You looking for

Uniform Squad or Investigation?

I don't know.

Cal McAffrey sent me.

Why didn't you say so?

You Cal's new assistant?

No, I'm not.

Hey, can I see that?

Yeah, it's right

down the hallway here.

Thank you.

Like a police escort?

No, I'm okay.

Thank you.

Hey, no trouble. I'm just grabbing

some dinner here real quick.

So, how long have

you known Cal?

Too long.

What's your title?

Okay, Sergeant,

I can file

a public records request

and get

the information anyway.

You got nothing?

No.

They've got 56 cameras

covering the track platforms.

There are three blind spots

in the entire system,

and Sonia Baker went

down in one of them.

You got copy for me, Cal?

The shooting delivery guy,

what are we doing?

I'm on it.

Well, I got Marty lined up to

take some pictures of the family.

If you'd like, I can send

somebody out there with him.

He can do the crying, you

can do the nuts and bolts.

No. No need. I'm on it.

You'll have it tonight.

You're on it.

Okay.

You know what you gotta do?

Call Leon, all right?

Just sort of push

him for the details.

Ask him a few more questions.

You know...

Nine suicides in 20 years. There

were five accidental deaths,

three from people

trying to get their stuff

off the tracks

before the train came

and two of the psycho-on-stranger

pushing attacks.

Did Collins sleep at

your place last night?

What?

Hmm?

I was just trying to

get my facts straight.

Excuse me. Della here.

Yeah, just a sec.

He's right here.

Hang on, hang on, hang on.

It's Anne Collins.

Hey, I'm not at my desk at the

moment. Can I call you back?

Yeah.

You know, look into the two

psycho-on-stranger cases,

see if anything correlates

or anything connects.

- Hello?

- Hey.

You okay?

No.

There are

paparazzi on my lawn,

so I guess that entitles me

to half off on Us Weekly.

I've been trying

to call you.

I had my phone off.

You talk to Stephen yet?

No.

They want me to come down

for a press conference.

Well, you know if you don't, they're

gonna toss him on the bonfire.

You know,

I'm not that hurt.

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