The Front Page #2

for the FBI?

Where does he come off

clearing anyone?

Where does anyone come off?

It's for Hecky's own good.

What's good about it?

I'm against the whole rotten-

I'm against it too.

Then do something.

I don't run the network.

Can I help you?

I'm Howard Prince.

Who'?

You're Howard Prince?

Hello.

I'm Florence Barrett.

I'm so glad you could come.

Phil, this is Howard Prince,

the writer.

Phil Sussman, our producer.

How do you do?

Sorry, I didn't connect

the name. Howard Prince.

That's a hell

of a script you wrote.

Where've you been hiding?

We looked you up:

no credits, no nothing,

out of the blue, just like that.

Well, I just took up writing

a short while ago.

Well, that's one hell

of a script.

You got more?

Are you kidding?

Howard Prince, I'd like you

to meet Steve Parks,

who plays the lead in the show.

It's a marvelous script.

Thank you very much.

And Hecky Brown-Who

plays with himself.

...who plays the narrator.

Howie!

Howie Prince!

They let you out, finally.

Darling, darling...

Darling, I've waited for you.

I was faithful to you.

It's been so long.

You know each other?

Never saw this man before

in my life.

Seriously, Mr. Prince,

a first-class script.

Oh, thank you.

Thank you very much.

We don't have too

much time, Mr. Prince.

That's why I asked you

to come right away.

We wanted

to meet you-

Your script's

a little long, Howard.

Four-and-a-half

minutes.

I'd like to suggest

cutting the kitchen scene.

I don't know how

you feel about that-

I think it's a mistake.

To me, the awkward scene

is the one

in the police station.

Don't you think?

Yeah, maybe.

Maybe not.

You know, it depends

on your definition of awkward.

Well, the police station

at least has some violence.

I'm not saying eliminate it.

I just think it can be trimmed.

What do you think,

Mr. Prince?

What?

Yeah.

"Yeah," what?

You know, I think that, um...

I think that what-

There's a lot of facets here,

you know,

and it's...

I don't want to just answer

right off the top of my head,

you know,

because I don't think

that would be fair to you

or fair to the show.

Howard, I know it's not fun

to cut your script,

but television is television.

You decide and you cut.

I'm not the kind of producer

who disembowels

a writer's script.

I believe in the written word.

Absolutely.

I need it tomorrow morning.

But you be happy with it.

I really liked

your script a lot.

Oh, yeah?

Thank you very much.

Most of the stuff I read...

I mean, yours had substance.

It was about people.

Well, I feel if you're going

to write about human beings,

that, uh, you may as well

make them people.

Freedom Information Service.

Who's calling?

One moment, please.

Mr. Hampton

from the network.

Hennessy.

Yes, Tom.

Yes, of course.

Uh, first name:
Howard.

You got an address on him?

Social Security number?

I'll check him right out.

No, it's no trouble at all, Tom.

That's what

you're paying me for.

Yes, as a matter of fact,

he's right here right now.

I'm sure we'll work

something out.

I'll get back to you as soon

as I know anything about Prince.

You too, Tom.

Carry on.

Sorry, Mr. Brown.

Hecky.

Everybody calls me Hecky.

I'm a household name.

I can't guarantee

you anything, you understand,

but if you tell me the truth,

I might be able to help.

I'll tell you the truth.

I'll do anything.

The question is, Mr. Brown,

what have you done?

Nothing. I'm an actor.

Nothing?

Six years ago, I marched

in the May Day parade.

I bought a subscription

for the Daily Worker,

but I never read it,

not one word.

Right from the mailbox

to the garbage can.

I was only trying to get laid.

This girl, this communist girl,

she had a big ass-

I am not interested

in your sex life,

Mr. Brown.

Hecky.

I was just telling you

that girl was the reason.

Was she also the reason

you signed a petition

for Loyalist Spain?

Did I do that?

And Russian war relief?

We were on the same side,

weren't we?

That girl with the big ass,

she was the reason.

Honestly.

Would you say, then,

that you were duped?

Tell me what it means

and I'll say it.

You want it in writing?

Tell me what to write.

It has to come

from you, Mr. Brown.

Hecky.

From your heart.

It has no value otherwise.

It'll come. Don't worry.

I'm an actor.

What do I know about politics?

My whole life has been acting.

People from all over the country

write me letters.

Write me a letter, Mr. Brown,

in your own words.

How you were duped,

how you feel about it now.

I'm against it 100%.

Whoever else you remember

was in that parade.

Who asked you to sign

those petitions.

It was such a long time ago.

Try to remember.

Sincerity is the key,

Mr. Brown.

Anyone can make a mistake.

The man who repents

sincerely-

I repent sincerely.

Write me the letter, Mr. Brown.

I'll see what I can do.

And I didn't even get laid.

Now, stand by, everybody.

We have 30 seconds to air.

Can I see opening shots, please?

Camera one.

Fine. Two's good.

Three, frame up, please.

Tilt up.

That's it.

It looks good.

Watch your boom.

All right, stand by

to dim the lights...

And, uh, okay...

Dim them down.

Looks nice.

Ten...

nine...

eight... seven...

six...

five... four...

three... two... one.

And fade up on three.

This is my station,

Grand Central,

where a million stories

start and finish.

And Hecky the Hackie

knows them all.

Tonight, have I got

a story for you.

Remember last week

you laughed a lot?

Well, tonight,

you may cry a little.

See for yourself

on Grand Central.

Me?

I'll go make up with my cab.

See you later.

A-doo doo, dee dee dee...

Joey.

Joey?

Pop...

Pa, it's only $4000.

Why, it's almost nothing.

I can pay you back

in a couple of years.

Looks nice.

And ready to go in.

Right in... Tight close-up.

Stand by to go to black.

30 seconds to credit.

Studio 12.

Yes.

Thank you.

I thought so too.

It was terrific.

Thank you.

Who was it?

Studio 12.

God.

Hello.

Well, thank you.

Yes, thank you very much.

Um, yes, I'll tell everybody.

Well, I think we got a winner.

Studio 12.

Hey, Howard Prince!

Bravo! Bravo!

Bravo!

I usually don't

drink wine at lunch.

It makes me sleepy.

Yeah? So why don't you

just take a nap after?

I have to work.

Well, then,

you know, I think-

I think we should go out

on a Sunday night.

I think it'd be better.

But you don't like Sunday,

so what about Saturday?

What about Friday?

Regular night?

Howard, I really

ought to tell you.

I'm involved.

I don't understand.

What is that, are you married?

No, but involved.

So what?

I mean, you telling me

that you're one of those

"one guy at a time" people?

Yeah? Okay.

Here's what I say

to you-

we go out,

don't bring him along.

Right?

Okay, so what does he do?

What, is he a writer?

What, a musician?

What?

Stockbroker.

A stockbroker?

Well, that's interesting.

You know...

He's very nice.

Yeah, I was not

knocking it, you know,

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