Broadcast News Page #6

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JANE:

We are being increasingly influenced

by the star system. The network

anchormen are so powerful they

compromise our last best hope. The

current group is clearly qualified,

tied still to our best traditions, but

who follows these men?

TRACKING SHOT MOVES TO TOM GRUNICK

Seated with other members of his news team, a young blonde

woman whose hand is resting on his inner leg, a good looking

Hispanic. Tom feels a growing excitement -- Jane is not just

a speaker, she seems a savior.

TOM:

Wow.

His female colleague looks at him.

FEMALE COLLEAGUE

Oh, I've known so many women like

that. They don't like their looks

so they're angry.

BACK TO JANE:

Fumbling with her cards, sunk but game -- gamer than she would

wish.

JANE:

I was going to talk about other

trends but...

(mumbling)

...the magazine shows, news at

profit, influence of

Entertainment Tonight, the danger, the

hope, the dream, the question...Oh, I

was going to show you a tape -- a story

that was carried by all networks on the

same night -- the same night -- not one

network noted a major policy change in

Salt Two nuclear disarmament talks...

Here's what they ran instead...Go ahead.

Show the tape.

ON MONITORS:

Showing the Japanese Domino Championships as broadcast by all

networks in the Spring of 1985. It is quite spectacular -- the

dominoes falling into one another provoking waves, crossing tiny

bridges, setting off little fireworks. JANE'S AUDIENCE applauds

loudly and squeals with delight.

ON SCENE:

Jane between the two monitors. She begins to speak loudly OVER

the AUDIENCE NOISES of approval.

JANE:

(loudly)

I know it's good film. I know it's

fun. I like fun. It's just not news.

(as they continue

to applaud)

Well, you're lucky you love it --

you're going to get a lot more just

like it.

STRAY VOICE - SHOUT "GOOD"

OTHER ANGLE:

Jane sitting rocked into momentary catatonia, by the event.

Dazed as an animal stung by a tranquilizer dart. She takes

some irregular breaths waiting for normal life to return.

WIDER:

Tom the last person remaining in the room. He approaches her --

she is totally unaware of his presence, even when he casually

mounts the stage with an athletic leap. It takes courage for

Tom to fully intrude himself, which he now does:

TOM:

Hello.

She looks up at him.

ANGLE ON TOM:

Earnest, nervous -- handsome...Just when she needed a mirage

there it is.

JANE:

Hi.

TOM:

I just wanted to tell you how great

you were. My name's Tom Grunick.

JANE:

(dumbly)

Thank you.

(then)

They hated me. I don't hate them.

TOM:

Well, they say if you can reach

even one person, it means something...

And you did that.

Jane looks up at his smile -- a beat then:

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