The Insider Page #10

It's quiet. After some moments...

WIGAND:

I've always thought of myself...as a man

of science. That's what's wrong with it.

LOWELL:

Then...you're in a state of conflict,

Jeff.

Jeffrey doesn't say anything.

LOWELL (CONT'D)

Because, look, here's how it lays out: if

you got vital, insider stuff the American

people for their welfare really do need

to know...and you feel impelled to

disclose it and violate your agreement in

doing so, that's one thing. On the other

hand, if you want to honor this

agreement, then that's simple. You do

so. You say nothing. You do nothing.

There's only one guy who can figure that

out for you. And that's you. All by

yourself.

Lowell's evenhanded...is it too evenhanded? As Wigand

contemplates the edge he's standing on, they're quiet. Then

Wigand sees the time...

WIGAND:

I've got to go pick up the girls. They

only had half a day...

Lowell nods. Jeffrey starts the car. The windshield wipers

screech on a dry window. Their eyes meet. As they drive

off...we HOLD on the Colgate-Palmolive Clock.

INT. A KITCHEN AREA, CBS OFFICES, NEW YORK - DAY

We've entered mid-scene... A monitor on a cart plays a 1/2-

inch VCR of a C-SPAN broadcast. Seven CEOs of Big Tobacco...

in front of a bas relief of the American eagle. Each in turn

swears nicotine is not addictive or he doesn't know anything

about health risks, they're not sure, maybe, maybe not,

etc....

LOWELL (OVER)

He referred to this...the Seven Dwarfs...

MIKE WALLACE (OVER)

What "Seven Dwarfs?"

LOWELL (OVER)

The seven CEOs of Big Tobacco... Referred

to this... Said they should be afraid of

him... I assume, afraid of what he could

reveal.

(to Staff Lawyers)

Now, you tell me. What does this guy

have to say that threatens these people?

And, now, we see Lowell, Mike Wallace and Debbie DeLuca with

two staff Lawyers, MARK STERN and JOHN HARRIS, sitting around

a workstation used as an improvised eating area.

Beyond them are the "60 MINUTES" offices, workstations, piles

of material, television monitors hanging from the ceiling,

all tuned to CBS programming...

MIKE WALLACE:

Well, it isn't "cigarettes are bad for

you"...

LOWELL:

Hardly new news.

MIKE WALLACE:

No sh*t.

LOWELL:

What's this?

MARK STERN:

(re:
video)

What that is is tobacco's standard

defense. It's the "we don't know"

litany:
"Addiction? We believe not.

Disease? We don't know. We take a bunch

of leaves, roll 'em together. You smoke

'em. After that? You're on your own.

We don't know."

(beat)

So...tells me nothing.

(beat)

Besides, you'll never get what he's got.

LOWELL:

Why not?

JOHN HARRIS:

Because of this guy's confidentiality

agreement, he is never gonna be able to

talk to you.

LOWELL:

That's not good enough. This guy is the

top scientist in the number three tobacco

company in America. He's a corporate

officer. You never get whistle-blowers

from Fortune 500 companies. This guy is

the ultimate insider. He's got something

to say; he wants to say it; I want it on

"60 Minutes."

JOHN HARRIS:

Doesn't matter what he wants.

MIKE WALLACE:

Am I missing something here?

JOHN HARRIS:

What do you mean, Mike?

MIKE WALLACE:

He's got a corporate secrecy agreement?

Give me a break. This is a public-health

issue, like an unsafe airframe on a

passenger jet or...some company dumping

cyanide into the East River. Issues like

that? He can talk, we can air it.

They've got no right to hide behind a

corporate agreement.

(re:
his coffee)

Pass the milk...

JOHN HARRIS:

(does)

They don't need the right. They've got

the money.

MARK STERN:

The unlimited checkbook. That's how Big

Tobacco wins every time. On everything.

They spend you to death. $600 million a

year in outside legal. Chadbourne-Parke.

Ken Starr's firm, Kirkland and Ellis.

Listen. GM and Ford, they get nailed

after 11 or 12 pick-ups blow up. Right?

These clowns have never...I mean ever...

JOHN HARRIS:

Not even once...

MARK STERN:

...not even with hundreds of thousands

dying each year from an illness related

to their product...have ever lost a

personal-injury lawsuit. On this case,

they'll issue gag orders, sue for breach,

anticipatory breach, enjoin him, you, us,

his pet dog, the dog's veterinarian...

Tie him up in litigation for ten of

fifteen years. I'm telling you, they bat

a thousand. Every time. He knows that.

That's why he's not gonna talk to you...

Lowell's been quiet, thinking about something else... Now...

LOWELL:

Okay, let's look through the looking

glass the other way...

MIKE WALLACE:

What do you mean?

LOWELL:

We got a guy...who wants to talk but he's

constrained.

(beat)

What if he were "compelled"?

MIKE WALLACE:

(eating)

Oh, torture? Great ratings.

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