The Insider Page #21

MOTLEY:

Thank you, Doctor. Thank you.

EXT. THE SCRUGGS' HOUSE, PASCAGOULA, MISSISSIPPI - NIGHT

Lowell stands on the porch looking out at the rain. There's

a slight sound. He turns. And Jeffrey's come outside. He

stands leaning on the porch railing, looking out at the rain

and windswept trees. They're quiet. They share a look.

They nod to each other. The smallest nod of accomplishment.

And they're there on the porch, alone, outside the house in

Pascagoula, Mississippi.

INT. CBS EDITING ROOM, NEW YORK - AFTERNOON

We see Lowell, unusually buoyant in the same clothes as

yesterday. He's working with Tony Baldo on a cut of the

show, the net result of his architecture of events, his

combination of persuasion and integrity...

We see on the Avid monitor a single of Jeffrey...

WIGAND:

(on monitor)

"Part of the reason I'm here is I felt

that their representation clearly, at

least within..."

LOWELL:

Run that Sandefur piece on "nicotine's

not addictive." Run that on-camera.

Then cut right to Wigand with "I believe

they perjured..." Then go wide to the

CEOs all taking the oath. Back on Jeff

and play the pause after the word "felt"

on the B-side...

Widen to include Debbie DeLuca, the Intern, two other

Editors, Felling. They have gathered behind Lowell in the

doorway. This is a hot show and it's generated excitement

among Lowell's co-workers. And while Baldo cuts, we see...

INT. CBS, CORRIDOR OUTSIDE EDITING ROOM - DAY

...the group has spilled out the doorway, watching Lowell's

story come together. Beyond them, approaching, is Mike

Wallace, coming to work...

BILL FELLING:

(leaving)

...helluva show, Mike. Explosive

material.

People separate as Mike pushes in. Lowell sees Mike. While

Tony Baldo is making the edits on the Avid...

LOWELL:

(to Mike)

It went great in Mississippi, Mike.

MIKE WALLACE:

Good.

Don Hewitt enters from the corridor without jacket.

DON HEWITT:

I heard Wigand's deposition got sealed.

LOWELL:

Yeah, they argued he was going to reveal

the secret formula of "Kools" to the

world.

(seriously)

"Sealed" doesn't hurt Scruggs'

litigation, and since we're the only ones

with the story, I believe we're sitting

on an exclusive.

MIKE WALLACE:

I like that...

DON HEWITT:

Corporate has some questions. We've got

a meeting at Black Rock first thing in

the morning.

LOWELL:

When's the air date?

DEBBIE DELUCA:

(to Lowell)

Excuse me, Lowell. Sharon's on line 3.

LOWELL:

Tell her I'll call her back in ten.

BALDO:

Here we go.

Baldo now runs Lowell's edit of the above sequence. And we

SEE THE IMMEDIATE IMPACT.

Sandefur in CLOSE-UP states "I believe that nicotine is not

addictive." Wigand in matching CLOSE-UP states "I believe he

perjured himself." Then all seven CEOs of Big Tobacco stand

up and raise their hands and take an oath in front of

Congress to tell the truth while Wallace says "...the whole

line of people, the whole line of CEO's up there, all

swearing that." And Wigand says off-screen with great

emphasis "Part of the reason I'm here is I FELT"...and it

cuts to Wigand for a pause that makes the word "FELT" resound

and, then, he goes on to say on-camera "that their

representation clearly misstated what they commonly knew.

We're a nicotine delivery business." We see the combination

of art and truth woven into impact that has an audacity

that's stirring and beautiful...

EXT. LOUISVILLE - DUSK

We see an anonymous rental car moving through downtown

Louisville.

INT. THE RENTAL CAR - NIGHT

It's Jeffrey in the front seat, driven by one of his security

men. He's coming home under the cover of darkness. They

pass a FLAMING CAR on the freeway shoulder. Jeffrey turns to

stare at it. They turn off onto city streets and stop at a

light. Jeffrey's nervous. Jeffrey instinctively turns. A

Police Car stops alongside. The Policeman looks at him.

Eyes meet. Jeffrey looks away. The signal takes forever.

It changes. And as the Police Car moves off...

EXT. WIGANDS' HOUSE - NIGHT

The car's stopped at the curb. Jeffrey gets out. He starts

up the walk, and the Second Security Guard quickly crosses

the lawn to intercept him...

And Jeff opens the door going inside, anxious to be home...

INT. WIGANDS' HOUSE - NIGHT

The house is quiet, dark. Too quiet. Too dark. Something

isn't right. He crosses to one of the children's rooms...the

master bedroom. The lights are on. Both rooms are empty.

He goes into the kitchen and sees a note that's been left for

him... He opens it. He sits heavily in a chair, reading the

note. The Security Guard peers... And as Jeffrey sits in

the silent house, the hero come home...

INT. THE CONFERENCE ROOM, CBS - DAY

We're at a table. Mike and Lowell laugh at some joke while

HELEN CAPERELLI, CBS GENERAL COUNSEL, enters with the

President of CBS News, ERIC KLUSTER.

HELEN CAPERELLI:

Shall I send for coffee? Sorry I'm late.

MIKE WALLACE:

No, no, we're fine...

HELEN CAPERELLI:

Are you sure?

Also there is Don Hewitt. Caperelli is too well put

together, too practiced, too polished.

They nod. They don't need coffee.

HELEN CAPERELLI (CONT'D)

Alright, I thought we'd get together

because there's a legal concept that has

been getting some new attention recently,

"tortious interference."

(beat)

If two people have an agreement, like a

confidentiality agreement, and one of

them breaks it because they are induced

to do so by a 3rd party, the 3rd party

can be sued for damages for

interfering...hence, "tortious

interference."

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