The Insider Page #3

LIANE:

Uh, what are those boxes?

WIGAND:

I'm going to the store. You need

anything?

LIANE:

What do you need at the store?

WIGAND:

Soy sauce...

LIANE:

Right now?

WIGAND:

(meaning in the car)

That's my stuff from the office...

LIANE:

Why did you take your stuff from the

office?

WIGAND:

(simply)

I didn't want to leave it there...

LIANE:

(confused)

I don't understand.

WIGAND:

(matter of fact)

I got fired this morning... Where else

am I gonna take it?

LIANE:

Why? Who said?

WIGAND:

(specifically)

Thomas Sandefur...

LIANE:

(stunned, fearful)

What are we supposed to do...? What

about our medical coverage; what about

our health? What about our car payments?

The payments on this house?

He looks at her. There's an unspoken moment when it seems

he's desperate for her to ask how he's feeling... But she

doesn't and now there's a wall up and the moment passes...

WIGAND:

(a beat, specific)

There's a severance agreement... It

includes cash payouts over time and

continuing medical coverage...

(beat)

Sure you don't need anything?

LIANE:

No, thank you.

She's stunned. He leaves. And as Liane's completely still,

her accessories seeming literally to weigh her down, she

wants to ask how he is, how he must be feeling, and she turns

into CAMERA towards him to do that. But he's driven off down

the street.

LIANE (cont'd)

Jeffrey...!

INT. ANOTHER HOUSE IN BAALBEK - DAY

The Sheikh, wearing a fresh white robe and skull cap, comes

into the room...

THE SHEIKH:

I am very pleased to receive you as my

guest, Mr. Wallace.

MIKE WALLACE:

Thank you for having us...

REVERSE:
Norman's camera crew is setting up. MIKE WALLACE

is there. A dangerous combination of intelligence,

arrogance, and celebrity, there's a kinetic quality about

him.

Wallace sits across from the Sheikh on a dais of patterned

linoleum in incongruous armchairs against a wallpaper mural

of a French formal garden. A Sound Technician wires the

Sheikh and Mike with microphones. Norman says something to

Lowell and then goes out.

NORMAN:

I think I've got a problem with the

gennie. I have to go outside.

LOWELL:

(going outside)

Norman...?

Mike turns his chair to face and slides it closer to the

Sheikh's chair. The Head Bodyguard barks something in

Arabic. The Interpreter says something back in Arabic. The

Sheikh, absorbed in his notes for the upcoming interview,

ignores all of this.

INTERPRETER:

He says you must not sit so close.

MIKE WALLACE:

What?

(re:
Bodyguard)

I can't conduct an interview from back

there.

The Bodyguard, bristling at Wallace's tone, barks more

confrontational Arabic.

INTERPRETER:

You must move back your chair.

MIKE WALLACE:

Will you tell him that when I conduct an

interview, I sit anywhere I damn please!

INTERPRETER:

There is no interview.

As Mike leaps forward, moving inches from the Bodyguard's

face with such sudden ferocity, even the Bodyguard flinches.

MIKE WALLACE:

You! I'm talking to you!

More armed men start to enter.

MIKE WALLACE (cont'd)

What the hell do you think I am? A 78-

year-old assassin? You think I'm gonna

karate him to death with this notepad?

(to Interpreter)

Are you interpreting what I'm saying?

INTERPRETER:

Yes.

LOWELL:

We're there.

MIKE WALLACE:

Good, well ask him if Arabic is his

second language.

LOWELL:

(to Interpreter)

Don't interpret that!

(to both)

Hold it. Hold it. Hold it! Slow,

slow!!

(to the Sheikh)

Sheikh, do you mind...if you would just

turn your chair a little bit to face Mr.

Wallace?

The Sheikh looks up from his notes, nods, fixes his chair,

goes back to his notes...

LOWELL (cont'd)

Is that okay?

INTERPRETER:

Okay.

LOWELL:

(Bodyguard assents; to Mike)

Are you ready? Or you want to keep

f***ing around and warm up some more...?

MIKE WALLACE:

No.

(wry)

...that's got my heart started.

They know each other well. Lowell smiles. Wallace sits

down.

LOWELL:

Alright, Todd, give me the three-button

on Mike, please. Okay. We are rolling.

Okay, Mike.

They roll camera... "60 Minutes"... "Hezbollah"...

MIKE WALLACE:

(charming)

Sheikh Fadlallah, thank you so much for

seeing us.

(changes)

Are you a terrorist?

The Sheikh didn't expect the Mike Wallace opening shot

between the eyes. He recovers...

THE SHEIKH:

Mr. Wallace, I...am a servant of God.

That expression of incredulity...

MIKE WALLACE:

A servant of God? Really...

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