Truth Page #2

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He covered the Russians in Afghanistan

and the hostages in Iran. And in

1981 he became anchor of the CBS

Evening News. He has now anchored a

nightly newscast for longer than

anyone else in U.S. history. He has

dined with kings, angered Presidents,

questioned dictators. Not bad for

the son of a ditch-digger from

Wharton, Texas.

In the wings, the Man flips his notepad shut and gets ready...

ANDREW HEYWARD (CONT'D)

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you my

friend, and the reason I have this

job, Dan Rather.

The Crowd rises in applause as DAN RATHER steps from the

wings. Mary smiles. Dan takes the lectern and pulls a pre-

written speech from his jacket. What was the notepad?

DAN:

Thank you, Andrew, for that wonderful

introduction. And yes, I will honor

your speaking fee.

Off the crowd's laugh we CUT TO -

INT. LINCOLN CENTER LOBBY -- NIGHT

After the ceremony. Dan and Andrew stand with a DRUNK RICH

COUPLE during cocktail hour. Dan is in hell. Mary

approaches, looking completely out of place in street clothes.

MARY:

Hey, Andrew. I need him.

7.

ANDREW HEYWARD:

You're not taking him-

MARY:

You say that, and yet here I am.

DAN:

(to Mary)

You've got him?

MARY:

Stashed in a hotel two blocks up.

They move for the door. Heyward panics, following them:

ANDREW HEYWARD:

Dan, you're not leaving your own

party! I got fifty affiliates and

their wives waiting to meet you--

Goddammit, Mary!

EXT. LINCOLN CENTER -- NIGHT

Mary and Dan exit the gala. Among the fountains, Dan pulls

off his bow-tie like a kid after Sunday School, barely

containing his glee. Pretending to be upset.

DAN:

I was receiving an award, you know.

MARY:

You don't say.

DAN:

For a "Lifetime of Achievement".

MARY:

So it's pretty much all downhill

from here, then?

DAN:

Brother, you ain't kidding.

(pause; then)

We are going to run it, right?

MARY:

I'm going to start hurting you people

soon, I swear to God

8.

DAN:

I'm just saying, I've already done

cut-ins for it. We kill it now, we

look like fools.

MARY:

Not that that's stopped us before.

(crossing the street)

They're worried about the Superbowl-Andrew

thinks the FCC may fine Viacom

per station.

DAN:

So the CBS News division has to tread

softly because of Janet Jackson's

left breast?

MARY:

We're about to go on national

television and accuse the U.S.

Military of committing atrocities

while hip deep in two wars during an

election year.

(pause)

But yes, mostly I think they're

worried about the boob thing.

INT. HOTEL ROOM -- NIGHT

Set up for an INTERVIEW. A TV CREW waits with a GENERAL

seated in a chair. Mary and Dan enter.

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