I dont even know what they mean beat them off with a stick. Well, if thats your only problem. Its not. I got my report card. Three cs, two ds and an incomplete. I see you studying so hard, tom. What do you think the problem is . I just have to try harder. And i will. I will. I will. I will. I will, i will i will i will. I will thanks, dad. This talk helped. Can you, um. Sign it, please . Do you think a tutor would help . Thatd be great. Itd better help. What can you do with yourself if all you can do is look good . Im frequently asked what special difficulties are involved in being graduated from high school two months shy of my 15th birthday. I sometimes think the difficulties themselves enabled me to do it. If id been appreciated, or even tolerated, i wouldnt have been in such a hurry to graduate. I hope the next student who excels isnt made to feel so much an outcast. But im looking forward to college and this is the happiest day ive had in a long, long time. So, i thank you, and i forgive you. Come on slug him yeah go ahead. This will heal what im going to say can never be erased itll scar you forever ready . Here it is. Youll never make more than 19,000 a year cream him take him. O. K. what about this . Youll never leave south boston. Ill see the whole damn world youll never know the pleasure of writing a graceful sentence or having an original thought think about it 19,000. Not bad [bell rings] dear felicio. Its truly amazing to me. That we live a world apart and yet have the same favorite music. I love the picture you sent me and have it up on. And have it. And have it up on my bulletin board. Honey. Aah good god, jane daddy dont ever do that to me its time for you to go to sleep. G i just have two more pen pals. Finish quickly. I dont want you getting obsessive about these things. Good night. All right. Obsessive. Obsessive. Dad, you want me to choose my words so carefully then you throw a word like obsessive at me. Now, unless im wrong obsession is practically a psychiatric term concerning people who dont have anything else but the object of their own obsession, who cant stop and do anything else. Well, im stopping to say this, so be more precise instead of calling a person Something Like obsessive good night. Hey, its me. You have to meet me in 30 minutes. Nudge your mate. I dont think theres time to eat, but theres probably a cafeteria at the bus depot. I love working with you two. It saves me a call. Yeah. [ringing tone] hey. Arnold schwarzenegger is on all three networks. I think hes live on two of them. The wakeup news used the wrong missile graphic. And they want us to take even cheaper rooms. [imitating schwarzenegger] arnold said hes making 3 million a movie but hes not ever gonna change. Hes still the same person when he was making 2 million a movie. He also bought a condo with maria theyre gonna furnish tastefully. Ha ha ha halfhour in the lobby. Ill see you in the lobbies. [sobbing] there he is. Hi. Id like to talk to you for a second. Just a few questions. No. I came from washington. Move away from me. There might be a band at the bus depot for j. D. Singers return from war. He was decorated for heroism watch this. How does it feel being home . Get the beep lost. Beep. Beep. Beeping beeping you want to use that . Depends on how big a news day it is. I cant believe you said that im very proud of that. He really opened up to you. If this were a war the United States sanctioned world war ii or vietnam. You really ought to work on your speech. It makes me nervous to think about it. Lets do this. Im not expecting any big homecoming. We are being increasingly influenced by the star system. The network anchormen are so powerful, they comprise our last best hope. Our profession is in danger. Ahem. [woman] so, where do you want to go eat . The Current Group is clearly qualified tied still to our best traditions but who follows these men . Excuse me. We are being pressured to take a loyalty oath. Wow. Ive known so many women like that. They dont like their looks so theyre angry. Excuse me. All of you know what im talking about. Were all trying to act tougher than we are, but we care, so. Were all secretly terrified by whats happening, arent we . Ahchoo catch you later. I was going to talk about other trends, but. Magazine shows news as profit the historic influence of entertainment tonight, the danger, the hope the dream, the question. Oh i was going to show you a tape, a story carried by all networks on the same night, the same night that not one network noted a major policy change in salt ii Nuclear Disarmament talks. Heres what they ran instead. [voice cracks] please show the tape. [speaking foreign language] i know its good film. I know its fun. I like fun. Its just not news. Well, youre lucky you love it. Youll get a lot more just like it. Good. Thank you. I think its over. Im going to get a bite to eat. Hi. Hello. I just wanted to tell you how great you were. My names tom grunick. Thank you. Yeah. They hated me. I dont hate them. Well, they say if you can reach even one person, it means something. And you did that. Would you like to have dinner with me . Sure. Another thing i cant stand is this dull . No no, no. No. No. Another thing i cant stand is when white house reporters harbor with each other after a briefing and one of them has a theory and the other quotes it in his story as, white house sources say. That actually goes on . Yes i am not tired. You want to talk in my room . Sure. Aw, come on. Even im not that hard on myself. No, really. I got this job on a fluke and wait till you hear how it ends up. I was doing sports at this station. The newspaper ran this untrue story that i was leaving and they got these tons of protest mail. Ha ha ha so. So they made me anchor. So, great. Right . Except im no good at what im being a success at. How are you at back rubs . Its normal, the way you feel. In graduate School Everyone thought the Admissions Committee made a mistake in letting them in. You think i lack confidence. Thats not it. I know i can talk well enough and i can make contact with people, but i dont like the feeling that im pretending to be a reporter. And half the time, i dont get the news im talking about. Its not that im down on myself. Trust me. I stink i trust you. I didnt even have a chance to become really good at sports. I wasnt bad. What about the obvious remedy reversing things maybe working at a newspaper. I dont write. Ha ha but that didnt stop me from sending my audition tapes to the bigger stations and the networks. Well, come on. It is your life. Nobody is tying you to the fast track. Did you go to college . So youre not welleducated, you have almost no experience, and you cant write. Yeah, and im. And im making a fortune. Its hard for me to advise you, since you personify something that i truly think is dangerous. Uhhuh. I agree that youre not qualified, so get qualified. Insist on being better prepared. Dont just leave it with, uh. I dont write im not schooled i dont understand the news, but at least im upset about it. Whoa. What do you want from me permission to be a fake . Stop whining. Do something about it um. You dont have to start right now. I hated the way you talked to me just now, and it wasnt just because you were right. No, no, no. It wasnt just the speech. The same thing happened with this guy. I have passed some line someplace. I am beginning to repel people im trying to seduce. He mustve been greatlooking. Why . Nobody invites a badlooking idiot to their bedroom. O. K. , lets do me. I feel like im slipping but do people who are slipping feel that way, or do the good people who are moving up invariably think theyre slipping because their standards are so high . This conversation is not worthy of you. I wish that were true. Good night. Wouldnt it be great if insecurity and desperation made us more attractive . Call if you get weird. Hmm . Take care, doll. I will. [ring] i was just thinking it was our shortest phone conversation ever. [tom] i never told you the reason i was telling you everything. Those audition tapes i sent ive been hired by your network for the washington bureau, so ill probably see you at work. What . Sorry. Speak to you later. Bobby, go to 9 45 46 the soundbite that starts, why were you in angola . We could go all please, bobby were pushing. [tape rewinding] why were you in angola . Politics . Money . What brings you to these places . Thats where the jobs at. Thats what i get paid for. They said i should observe. Were working here you can stand play the last line. Thanks. Bobby, let me hear it. Jane we need it in 14 minutes. [telephone rings] just a second. Let me hear it. What did you expect when you came back . Its a long time since ive seen my folks but im not expecting any big homecoming. Stop there. I want to shoot the homecoming from a Norman Rockwell book i have in the office. You dont have time ill be right down. I have to tell ernie because there isnt enough time yes, there is i dont think shes going to make it. Ha ha ha [monitor] it was a surprise. You want copy . Yes, doll, 15 seconds. Just a 2second dissolve to the rockwell. Should i just a 2second dissolve we have three minutes why do you do this to me . Is it because i won an award . Homecoming Norman Rockwells enduring portrait. The return of a fighting man has always been a moving ceremony of war. We have 1 1 2 minutes. I have to tell new york were not ready. Well be ready. In 84 seconds . 15 seconds. Lay it in, bobby. The screen will be black because were not there what about careers, huh . We wont make it whoops. Whoops . Bobby, bobby bobby, bobby, bobby. Oh, god bobby, bobby bobby, bobby. Well make it, blair oh oh go uh uh hey, watch it, there whoa open the damn door thank you hey . Fighting inside the perimeter. Tell new york we wont be ready. There she is. O. K. Stand by. Here 3, 2, 1. Take it . Was there. In other times there might be a band at the bus depot. Guys. Homecoming Norman Rockwells enduring portrait. The return of a fighting man has always been a moving ceremony of war. Tearful women, proud men, excited children. But j. D. Singer was right. His homecoming was no big deal. Aaron altman lincoln, nebraska. An american comes home. Thats your news. Im bill rorish. Good evening. Look at that smile. That was good work. His, uh. Bill smiled. He liked it. Bill loved it. Thats a big smile. Bill hasnt smiled like that in weeks good piece. Thanks, ernie. I got to see it again. He did smile. Ha ha ha dont tell anyone i did this. Im sorry if i got in the way. It was totally impressive it was just a great piece you werent. Thanks. How does it feel . I cant believe im here. Where did martin go . Downstairs. I cant believe im here. No, im wrong. He went to research. I cant believe im here if youre through work now no. Aaron and i go to Central America on wednesday so i am cramming. I thought you were incredible in there. Everybody was. I have a lot to learn. I would really a lot appreciate it really a lot appreciate it . You make me nervous. If i can pick your brain, if. I cant help you. Sorry. Im not here to teach remedial reporting. It has nothing to do with the fact that i left your room instead of staying . Ha please youre going to have to understand something. This isnt personal. O. K. Good night. Good night. [whispering in spanish] [whispering] he just said hes scared. [gunfire] o. K. , lets get this. Its too dark. No, its not. Just go aaron, go. [gunfire] the first shots were fired not 10 seconds ago from over there, towards the east. The contras feel they must be outnumbered. Thats a given. Theyve managed to hold their ground despite the fact that their weapons have been acting up. No new shipment of arms is expected until tomorrow. All they got today were shoes. Great line at the end. Did you get a shot of the boots . Of course. I cant believe i just risked my life for a network that tests my face with focus groups i dont feel good. Ha ha ha [sobbing] the proposal stipulates electing a president from among several candidates. Graphic on in two seconds. Hi. Hows it going . C. C. , we need control of 5. Chosen by the military command. A fire fight along the nicaraguan border when we return. Audio is up full. The first shots were fired not 10 seconds ago from over there, towards the east. Freeze. Freeze it back over. Congratulations, you two. Finally got a piece in early, huh . Bill saw it earlier. He loved it. No kidding . No ones checked the spelling on these chyrons. Theres a guy downstairs. Clerk vouched for him. He has something to say about gays getting promotions at state. Could i buy you dinner sometime . I just got back. I dont know which end is up. O. K. Jane bill rorish is asking for you. Ive never heard of him handing out compliments during a show. Jane, if it gets any better than that ill have to bring you up here to new york. Thanks. I wish youd kept the first 20 seconds. But thank you. Well, the visual with the shoes at the end was just perfect. He loved the boots aaron should hear this so i have another witness. You always want to give the credit away, dont you . No. He happens to deserve the credit. Hes right here. Ill speak to you soon. He had to read over some new copy. What . Can i watch you tape that interview downstairs . Yes. Thanks. The contras have only a few months. [whispering] laugh so they dont think im dying inside but have so much style that i just said something funny. Ha ha ha what did he say . Ha ha ha oh, ill never tell. The contras, who are creeping back into action. I once made some stupid remark about his hairline. Hell never forget it o. K. Ill meet the crew there. Could you give me that address one more time . Right. Yeah, its good to finally be getting to work. 17204 colorado. Right. Like the state. Yeah. 17204. Got it. 17204 . Yeah. Bye. 172. 17204. Jane, ive got a story. Jane . [honk] hi. How are you . Wait. I need you. I got a story. Some public official skipped a week on his Christmas Club . The House Armed Services committee has a secret report which says that the allen fighting vehicle the army poured a fortune into plain wont work. They have 5 million in this thing already. Billion. Right, billion. O. K. Of course. They said i could have any producer i want, and i want you. [tom] one Committee Source called it a 5 billion metal sculpture, too ugly to look at and too big to bury. Over time, however costs have doubled. Did you write this . I write for you sometimes. Not because you have to. Firepower to defend itself against enemy tanks. The Suspension System had to be redesigned because of the vehicles extra weight. The allen can carry only six infantrymen. Oh, come on. The vehicle to sink in shallow water. General, i dont want to bother you anymore. Tom rates two cameras, huh . Tomorrow youll see a mob of me here. If you have anything to say, sir say it now the way you want. Its great you left in what you said. Yes, please, lets never forget were the real story not them. Yeah, i know. I couldnt decide about it. Hes not afraid of being human. Shh . Before the House Armed Services committee. Tom grunick, the pentagon. As if the pentagon didnt have enough problems. Thanks, jane. Sure. Tom . My youngest wanted to meet you. This is elli. Hi, elli. You should be honored. She never wanted to meet anyone here before. Dad. But she said she loved you on Television Just now. Hi, elli. Remember me . Iim not sure. Im sorry. Ive been to your house. Aaron was on that 14day raft trip with us last year. Oh, yeah. I wore a big yellow raincoat. Oh, yeah. It had a hood. Yeah hi your hairs different. Yeah. Hi hi, elli. She knows me. Ah. Our host come on in. Sorry were late. Its janes fault. Smells good. It is good. Anne worked all weekend. Why should we feel defensive about it . Newspapers are in business to make money. Why not us . They criticize us for pandering while they run wingo games. Exactly right. Excuse me. Im paid to mix. Ha ha goodbye, paul. Take care, paul. Because of money. I cant believe it. Ha ha ha martin, would you excuse us for a minute . No. Go away. Well, you know ive been meaning to ask you. Ah, forget it. This is very awkward. I see tom around you a lot. Id like to see him outside of work, unless theres some reason for you to mind. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Do i mind . Why would i mind . No. Wait. I do mind. I think about him outside of work sometimes, but i know i dont respect him. What am i talking about . What am i saying . Youre saying, stay away from him. I cant be. We dont have to settle this right now. Wait a minute. Ive studied these things. Tell me one person who ever left Television News to work on a newspaper. Right. It sure looks good. After all these years, we have a life. See you. See you. Hey. Hi, tom. Hi. Its the first time ive seen you dressed like this. You look so clean and pretty. What do you mean . Clean . At the office, you have this film over you. Ive got to find someone. Its important. Excuse me. Jennifer. Hey jennifer forget what i said. Do whatever you want to with tom. Theres nothing im going to do right this second. Its your day off. Youre entitled. A plane shot up an air base in sicily. This could be very, very thats it o. K. , right away. Ernie . Tom . Tom. Yeah. What is it . A libyan plane just shot up one of our bases in sicily. We should tap our source. Jennifer, we need you. Jane, we want you to exec produce a special report. A libyan plane shot up an american base in sicily. Since paul is here hes made the assignments jennifer at the white house, george at the pentagon martin at state. We need an anchor, since rorish is on his boat. Were doing the report from here with tom. What . Youre not going to use him at all . Its not my choice. Its 1 35, and its tom. You can reach me at the office. Paul, forgive me. Im really sorry. Pardon me for interrupting, but. Paul, i need to talk to you outside. Great. Toms not near ready for this job not by the longest shot. Aaron spent six weeks in tripoli. Hes interviewed qaddafi. He reported on the 81 story. Hes essential to do our best job. Its my responsibility to say so. Thats your opinion. I dont agree. Its not opinion. Youre just absolutely right and im absolutely wrong. It must be nice to always believe youre right to always think youre the smartest person in the room. No, its awful. Youd better get going. Hey would you come on . Nervous . Excited. Tell george and jennifer to try and cover everything without tom having to ask. O. K. Bobby says did you hear what i said . Take a breath. And most important make sure his earpiece works. Have backups ready. Thats never been more vital. He must be able to hear me. [telephone rings] get a picture of e2 hawkeyes i can put on the feed prompt. [telephone rings] [gargling] stand by animation. Ready vtr 1 and 2. Ready to announce. Ready on camera 1 with cue. Stand by. Good luck, kid. Ready. I need five. Six. 30 seconds to air time. Everyone here is p