Ida Tarbell Page #2

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IDA:

You might want to check your spelling.

“Parallel” is two l’s, one r. Even a

secretary knows that.

She walks off. Lowry stares at his text, frowns. She’s right.

HALLWAY -- FOLLOWING

A stencilled sign on a glass door reads: S.S. McClure.

Publisher. Ida approaches, gives a timid knock.

SAM MCCLURE (O.S.)

Not now, Phillips!

Ida knocks again, a little louder this time. Finally, a head

pokes out.

SAM MCCLURE:

Oh, for Christ’s sake, what is it now?

SAM MCCLURE is a compact ball of energy in his early 40’s. Of

Scots-Irish descent, with the red hair and fiery temperament

to match. He is impeccably well-dressed for a publisher. He

looks like what he is: a cyclone in a frock coat.

IDA:

Mr. McClure? I’m Ida Tarbell. We had an

appointment?

SAM MCCLURE:

(totally forgot)

Ah, Miss Tarbell! Of course! Welcome.

Please, come in.

She enters McClure’s office.

6.

INT. MCCLURE’S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

The place is a chaos of books, magazines, unread manuscripts.

He deftly sweeps a bottle of Scotch under a coat.

SAM MCCLURE:

You must pardon our appearance, I’m afraid

we’re still moving in. Thank you for

coming, please have a seat. I trust you had

a pleasant journey from...

IDA:

Titusville. Pennsylvania.

SAM MCCLURE:

Pennsylvania? Good Baptist folk down there,

are they?

IDA:

Some of them. We’re Methodist.

(drily)

Less singing. More penance.

SAM MCCLURE:

(finding a file)

I read your CV, it’s very impressive. First

woman to graduate from Allegheny College.

Editor of the Chautauquan. Masters in

French literature from the Sorbonne.

IDA:

Pending...

SAM MCCLURE:

I see you’ve written well-reviewed bios on

Madame Roland, Napoleon and Abe Lincoln.

You’re quite ambitious, aren’t you?

IDA:

You mean “for a woman”?

SAM MCCLURE:

I meant...for a writer.

A beat. Ida takes the compliment as intended.

IDA:

Thank you.

SAM MCCLURE:

I read your piece in Scribner’s on Parisian

cobblestones, I thought it was brilliant.

Do you know why?

IDA:

(smiles)

You have a thing for French limestone?

7.

SAM MCCLURE:

I couldn’t care less about limestone. But

you made me care. And I’m still not sure

how you did it.

IDA:

Well, sometimes you just have to find the

right angle. The right way in.

SAM MCCLURE:

Exactly. But not everyone can do that.

Smoke?

IDA:

No, thank you.

McClure lights up a cheroot. Puffing furiously on it as he

paces around the room.

SAM MCCLURE:

We’re small, but we’re growing fast. Our

circulation right now is around 175,000. I

think we can get up to 250 by next year.

Have you read our magazine?

IDA:

Yes. I have.

SAM MCCLURE:

And..?

IDA:

You want my opinion of your magazine?

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