Broadcast News Page #4

Synopsis: Intelligent satire of American television news. A highly strung news producer finds herself strangely attracted to a vapid anchorman even through she loathes everything he personifies. To make matters worse, her best friend, a talented but not particularly telegenic news reporter, is secretly in love with her.
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Production: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
  Nominated for 7 Oscars. Another 13 wins & 16 nominations.
 
IMDB:
7.2
Metacritic:
84
Rotten Tomatoes:
98%
R
Year:
1987
133 min
539 Views


JANE:

(interrupting)

I'm sorry. But look at how

wonderful his face is.

She points to the derelict.

AARON:

Oh, you mean use him...That's

nice. Okay.

CAMERAMAN:

I'll put him in the low corner of

the frame -- good.

AARON:

In other times, with other purposes,

there might be a band and bunting

here at the bus depot for J.D. Singer's

return from war. Last week he was

decorated by a president for heroism

in a war. But it was the civil war --

in Angola -- and he was in it for the

money.

He puts the microphone down.

AARON:

Thanks.

He passes a vending machine and checks the stray hair.

INT. GATE AREA - DAY

Jane in the distant b.g. on the phone. Aaron and crew shooting

as the bus pulls up, hisses to a stop and tired, rumpled

passengers exit the bus. J.D. SINGER, strong, 9'6" figure

emerges and is displeased to find a camera trained on him.

He reacts with all the grace of a short mercenary.

J.D.

Go 'way.

J.D. gets his luggage from the compartment under the bus. The

crew shooting.

AARON:

Just a few questions?

J.D.

No.

He starts walking -- the four person newsteam staying with him.

AARON:

We came from Washington.

J.D.

Move away from me.

AARON:

(holding out

microphone)

How long has it been since you've

been home.

J.D.

(moving)

F***. F***. F***. Fuckes. Snot...

Fuckee. You want to use that?

AARON:

It depends on how big a news day it

is.

They reach Jane. She calls to him.

JANE:

J.D. I'm Jane Craig. I spoke to

you in Angola. I gave you some

sugarless gum and Handi-Wipes.

As he reacts to her:

INT. JANE'S ROOM - NIGHT

Jane sitting next to Aaron making detailed timing notes as she

screens the material shot that day on a portable monitor unit.

AARON:

Where's where I asked him about

being scared?

(then)

You should work on your speech.

JANE:

No. It makes me nervous to think

about it. Let's do this.

She consults her notes and goes back to the exact spot.

AARON:

(on tape)

All this business of war -- do you

get scared?

J.D.

(on tape; he smiles)

Uh-uh.

(then)

I'm a little freaked right now about

seeing my father though.

He laughs self-consciously and turns briefly away.

JANE:

I love that turn away.

INT. AUDITORIUM - DAY

Jane is at the lectern in the darkened auditorium as two large

monitors display some taped news pieces she has assembled. On

the lectern is a sign telling us we are at the Conference of

Local Television News Broadcasters.

JANE:

(in darkness)

There's a point I'm trying to make

about these pieces coming up.

A WOMAN'S OUTLINE blacked out from behind -- her VOICE

ELECTRICALLY DISGUISED.

WOMAN:

(o.s.; angrily)

I don't think any client of mine

makes less than fifty thousand dollars

a year which means they can afford the

best and you're damn right I feel good

that that includes me.

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James L. Brooks

James Lawrence "Jim" Brooks is an American director, producer and screenwriter. Growing up in North Bergen, New Jersey, Brooks endured a fractured family life and passed the time by reading and writing. more…

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    "Broadcast News" Scripts.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.scripts.com/script/broadcast_news_334>.

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