The Insider Page #22

DON HEWITT:

Interfering? That's what we do.

LOWELL:

I think what we're trying to tell you is

that it happens all the time. This is a

news organization. People are always

telling us things they shouldn't. We

have to verify if it's true and in the

public interest... And if it is, we air

it.

MIKE WALLACE:

After we corroborate it. That's why

we've never lost a lawsuit and run a

classy show.

(impatient, now)

Anything else?

HELEN CAPERELLI:

And "60 Minutes'" verification is exact.

And precise. And I don't think it would

hurt to make sure you're right...on this

one.

DON HEWITT:

Why? You think we have liability?

What's the CBS News' position, Eric?

ERIC KLUSTER:

There's a possibility, it's rather

remote...

HELEN CAPERELLI:

But one we have to check on, Mike. I've

retained outside counsel to do exactly

that. On a segment, I might add, that's

already rife with problems...

LOWELL:

What does that mean? "Rife with -- ?"

HELEN CAPERELLI:

I'm told unusual promises were made to

Wigand.

LOWELL:

No, only that we would hold the story

until it was safe for him...

HELEN CAPERELLI:

(cuts in)

And, I'm told there are questions as to

our "star witness'" veracity.

LOWELL:

(trying to control his anger)

His "veracity" was good enough for the

State of Mississippi.

HELEN CAPERELLI:

(historic)

Our standards have to be higher than

anyone else's, because we are the

standard...for everyone else...

Whatever that means...

LOWELL:

(wry)

Well, as a "standard"...I'll hang with

"is the guy telling the truth?"

HELEN CAPERELLI:

Well, with tortious interference, I'm

afraid...the greater the truth, the

greater the damage.

LOWELL:

Come again?

HELEN CAPERELLI:

They own the information he's disclosing.

The truer it is, the greater the damage

to them. If he lied, he didn't disclose

their information. And the damages are

smaller.

LOWELL:

Is this "Alice in Wonderland"?

MIKE WALLACE:

You said "on this one." What about "this

one"?

And Lowell hears a changed note in Wallace's voice. After a

beat.

HELEN CAPERELLI:

(familiar, seductive)

If this holds up, and it very well may

not, Mike...but, if it did. And we aired

this segment? And CBS was sued by Brown

& Williamson? I think we could be at

grave risk.

MIKE WALLACE:

(a beat)

How grace?

HELEN CAPERELLI:

(and she's been waiting for

this)

Well, at the end of the day...because of

your segment...the Brown & Williamson

Tobacco Company...could own CBS.

As if on cue, the alarm on Helen Caperelli's watch beeps.

She glances at it.

HELEN CAPERELLI (CONT'D)

You know, I am sorry. But I'm due

upstairs.

She gets up, gathering her things.

LOWELL:

Is CBS corporate telling CBS News do not

go to air with this story?

HELEN CAPERELLI:

You're getting ahead of yourself. We're

all in this together. We're all CBS.

We'll find out soon. Thank you,

gentlemen.

And taking up her briefcase, she leaves. Don and Mike rise.

LOWELL:

"Tortious interference"? Sounds like a

disease caught by a radio.

DON HEWITT:

(to Mike)

Lunch?

MIKE WALLACE:

Sure.

(to Lowell)

Don't worry, we call the shots around

here.

Lowell finds himself angry and alone. He crosses to the

window and pulls out his cell phone and goes to work.

DEBBIE DELUCA'S VOICE (OVER)

Hello?

LOWELL:

(into phone)

Debbie, it's me. I want you to check

some filings and give me John Wilson's

number at Bear-Stern.

INT. CBS, HEWITT'S OFFICE - DAY

LOWELL:

What now?

DON HEWITT:

Kluster's coming over.

Hewitt's on an unrelated call. Lowell crosses to look out

the window, a manila folder (the filing) under his arm with

whatever he found out, like a bomb, feels distant from these

people. The door opens, and Eric Kluster, the President of

CBS News enters...

ERIC KLUSTER:

Hello, Lowell, Mike, Don.

Hewitt hangs up the phone.

ERIC KLUSTER (CONT'D)

There has been so much soul searching

about this Wigand, I've decided we should

cut an alternate version of the show

without his interview.

LOWELL:

So, what happened to Ms. Caperelli's

checking with outside counsel first, all

that crap?

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