1 00:00:03,199 --> 00:00:05,040 you wouldn't be Sydney El Wade by any 2 00:00:05,040 --> 00:00:06,839 chance would you well there's always 3 00:00:06,839 --> 00:00:09,599 been a concern about the two Bartlet you 4 00:00:09,599 --> 00:00:11,799 want answers I think I'm entitled you 5 00:00:11,799 --> 00:00:14,559 want answers I want the truth you can't 6 00:00:14,559 --> 00:00:17,080 handle the truth you buil The Voice demo 7 00:00:17,080 --> 00:00:18,560 The Voice demo is blaky I've been 8 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:20,680 telling you that for this thing is 9 00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:22,920 overbuilt it worked last night it worked 10 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:25,039 the night before that it worked 3 hours 11 00:00:25,039 --> 00:00:26,519 ago it's not working now so just skip 12 00:00:26,519 --> 00:00:28,519 over The Voice demo skip over everything 13 00:00:28,519 --> 00:00:31,400 else is working f if you're wondering 14 00:00:31,400 --> 00:00:34,879 crime boy I don't know is when I decided 15 00:00:34,879 --> 00:00:38,000 to kick your ass match.com for I Contin 16 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:39,280 with my deposition you know you really 17 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:40,960 don't need a forensic team to get to the 18 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:42,399 bottom of this if you guys were the 19 00:00:42,399 --> 00:00:43,960 inventors of Facebook you'd have 20 00:00:43,960 --> 00:00:46,399 invented 21 00:00:47,719 --> 00:00:51,840 Facebook writing like any other art form 22 00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:54,480 uh there are chunks of it that can be 23 00:00:54,480 --> 00:00:56,920 taught and there are chunks of it that 24 00:00:56,920 --> 00:00:59,320 can't be taught so we're here for the 25 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:03,120 parts that can be taught the way you're 26 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:06,880 going to be taught these things uh is 27 00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:09,840 there are teachers you you can be a a a 28 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:12,600 playwriting major a screenwriting major 29 00:01:12,600 --> 00:01:16,080 uh uh there are you know there are books 30 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:18,920 of of varying quality uh that you can 31 00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:22,040 read you can listen to Schmucks like me 32 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:25,159 uh uh talking every writer is different 33 00:01:25,159 --> 00:01:28,600 uh uh so it's entirely possible that the 34 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:31,759 way I work and the way I approach it 35 00:01:31,759 --> 00:01:33,280 another person would not be able to 36 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:35,439 relate to at all and and they're going 37 00:01:35,439 --> 00:01:39,399 to do their thing but my hope is that uh 38 00:01:39,399 --> 00:01:43,240 that I'm able to say something in here 39 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:46,880 uh that will be meaningful to some 40 00:01:46,880 --> 00:01:51,119 writer uh and uh uh and you know will 41 00:01:51,119 --> 00:01:53,479 allow them to do what they want to do 42 00:01:53,479 --> 00:01:55,240 and uh and get better here's what we're 43 00:01:55,240 --> 00:01:57,200 going to talk about you it I'm I'm 44 00:01:57,200 --> 00:01:59,320 unfortunately and I apologize for this 45 00:01:59,320 --> 00:02:01,240 in advance 46 00:02:01,240 --> 00:02:05,680 when I'm speaking out loud as opposed to 47 00:02:05,680 --> 00:02:10,319 writing I I swerve all over the road uh 48 00:02:10,319 --> 00:02:13,560 I I uh I can't go in a straight line 49 00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:15,000 from the beginning of the sentence to 50 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:18,040 the end of the sentence uh and I would 51 00:02:18,040 --> 00:02:20,040 much rather communicate with the world 52 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:23,120 on paper uh where I have an opportunity 53 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:26,280 just to be alone in uh in my room and 54 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:28,800 and get it right I'm I I I communicate 55 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:31,040 much better on paper than I do when I 56 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:34,280 open my mouth so I apologize in advance 57 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:37,280 but uh we're going to talk 58 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:40,440 about intention and obstacle which is 59 00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:44,680 the the most important thing in in drama 60 00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:49,080 without that you're screwed blue without 61 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:51,640 a strong clear intention and a 62 00:02:51,640 --> 00:02:55,519 formidable obstacle you don't have drama 63 00:02:55,519 --> 00:02:58,040 uh we're going to talk about success and 64 00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:01,840 failure and the importance of failure 65 00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:05,280 here uh I'm going to try to give some 66 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:07,400 examples from uh things that I've 67 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:10,280 written that you might be familiar with 68 00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:13,519 uh uh that there are there are mechanics 69 00:03:13,519 --> 00:03:15,840 uh and then there's as a golfer would 70 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:18,480 say there's the griet and ripet uh uh 71 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:22,000 part uh what golfers mean by that 72 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:26,319 is a a a golf swing has a zillion 73 00:03:26,319 --> 00:03:27,680 different components and if you're 74 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:29,760 learning how to play golf uh you know 75 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:31,000 you're going to be toble your hips have 76 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:32,840 to be here and your left arm has to turn 77 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:34,640 here but this has to swivel through 78 00:03:34,640 --> 00:03:37,000 first this has to go to it's a lot of 79 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:40,959 stuff to think about uh and it finally 80 00:03:40,959 --> 00:03:44,280 ends with pick up a club grip it and hit 81 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:46,319 the ball as hard as you can okay that's 82 00:03:46,319 --> 00:03:48,920 what uh you're supposed to do once 83 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:50,799 you've laid down the foundation here I 84 00:03:50,799 --> 00:03:52,560 am swerving all over the road but once 85 00:03:52,560 --> 00:03:55,040 you've you've got a solid foundation of 86 00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:58,280 intention and obstacle you now you get 87 00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:00,599 to grip it and rip it 88 00:04:00,599 --> 00:04:02,760 okay now you get to do what you love to 89 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:06,920 do now you get to be an individual okay 90 00:04:06,920 --> 00:04:10,959 it gets to be your voice uh and uh you 91 00:04:10,959 --> 00:04:14,519 you get to do the thing that probably 92 00:04:14,519 --> 00:04:16,199 got you interested in writing in the 93 00:04:16,199 --> 00:04:19,120 first place we'll be talking about those 94 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:22,199 things and anything else that comes up 95 00:04:22,199 --> 00:04:24,360 I'm Aaron sorin and this is my master 96 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:27,360 class 97 00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:31,789 [Music] 1 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:15,280 what I need before I can do anything uh 2 00:00:15,280 --> 00:00:18,039 is an intention and obstacle okay 3 00:00:18,039 --> 00:00:19,680 somebody wants something something's 4 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:21,359 standing in their way of getting it they 5 00:00:21,359 --> 00:00:23,199 want the money they want the girl they 6 00:00:23,199 --> 00:00:24,760 want to get to Philadelphia it it 7 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:26,880 doesn't matter um uh but they've they've 8 00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:28,880 got a really wanted bad and whatever is 9 00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:31,680 standing in their way has got to be 10 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:35,719 formidable uh I need those things uh uh 11 00:00:35,719 --> 00:00:38,640 and I need them to be really solid or 12 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:42,160 else I will slip into my old habit back 13 00:00:42,160 --> 00:00:44,440 when I was 21 uh with the electric 14 00:00:44,440 --> 00:00:46,680 typewriter of just writing Snappy 15 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:48,600 dialogue that doesn't add up to anything 16 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:51,840 we we won't be moving forward so let's 17 00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:55,199 say for instance uh 18 00:00:55,199 --> 00:00:58,039 that you and a friend you and a couple 19 00:00:58,039 --> 00:01:00,559 of friends uh 20 00:01:00,559 --> 00:01:02,600 one summer or after you graduated from 21 00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:05,799 college you drove cross country okay and 22 00:01:05,799 --> 00:01:09,680 on that trip uh some weird and cool 23 00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:11,439 stuff happened and you think this is 24 00:01:11,439 --> 00:01:13,280 going to be a good screenplay uh you 25 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:15,240 want to write a screenplay inspired by 26 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:17,320 this cross country trip that you took 27 00:01:17,320 --> 00:01:21,520 with your friends you're great um uh I I 28 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:23,040 want to hear your stories I'll bet 29 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:26,159 they're good uh but you can't start yet 30 00:01:26,159 --> 00:01:27,920 because you don't have an intention an 31 00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:31,400 obstacle so let me give you one that's B 32 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:33,040 we it's not like we haven't seen this 33 00:01:33,040 --> 00:01:35,680 before but just as an example it can't 34 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:37,799 just be a leisurely Drive uh across 35 00:01:37,799 --> 00:01:40,640 country somebody in that car has you're 36 00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:42,320 going from New York to Los Angeles 37 00:01:42,320 --> 00:01:44,520 somebody in that car has to be in Los 38 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:46,960 Angeles on a certain at a certain time 39 00:01:46,960 --> 00:01:49,040 on a certain day you know six days from 40 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:51,799 now um uh it's super important it's a 41 00:01:51,799 --> 00:01:54,799 job interview it's their friends wedding 42 00:01:54,799 --> 00:01:57,520 uh uh it's something they have to be uh 43 00:01:57,520 --> 00:02:00,280 in Los Angeles things are sto stopping 44 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:02,240 them from uh getting there they had a 45 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:03,520 whole plan we're going to take this 46 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:04,799 route and that route we're going to do 47 00:02:04,799 --> 00:02:06,240 this uh and we're going to get there 48 00:02:06,240 --> 00:02:09,759 with plenty of time but there are now 49 00:02:09,759 --> 00:02:13,200 going to have to be flat tires uh along 50 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:16,560 the way and weather and getting lost uh 51 00:02:16,560 --> 00:02:18,640 and anything else you can throw at it 52 00:02:18,640 --> 00:02:20,200 once you have that intention and 53 00:02:20,200 --> 00:02:23,200 obstacle now like a Clos line you can 54 00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:26,840 start hanging those cool stories from 55 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:29,239 the real trip across the country that 56 00:02:29,239 --> 00:02:30,800 was the reason you wanted to do this 57 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:32,400 whole thing in the first place you have 58 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:34,920 to build a drive shaft first and that 59 00:02:34,920 --> 00:02:38,920 drive shaft can only be intention and 60 00:02:38,920 --> 00:02:42,480 obstacle that's what creates friction 61 00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:45,879 and tension and that's what drama is if 62 00:02:45,879 --> 00:02:49,720 you don't have that then it's 63 00:02:54,159 --> 00:02:56,000 journalism how do you know if the 64 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:57,440 intention is strong enough how do you 65 00:02:57,440 --> 00:02:59,599 know if the obstacle is formidable 66 00:02:59,599 --> 00:03:02,239 enough you do what's called pressing on 67 00:03:02,239 --> 00:03:05,879 it uh uh you press on it the intention 68 00:03:05,879 --> 00:03:08,840 um uh if the intention is okay we're 69 00:03:08,840 --> 00:03:12,720 driving from New York uh to La uh 70 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:15,519 because we've got some friends in La uh 71 00:03:15,519 --> 00:03:17,440 that we want to see that doesn't seem 72 00:03:17,440 --> 00:03:19,400 very urgent it doesn't seem like you 73 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:21,319 have to be there on Tuesday you can see 74 00:03:21,319 --> 00:03:24,400 your friends on uh Wednesday uh you're 75 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:26,879 driving to LA because you've always 76 00:03:26,879 --> 00:03:29,080 wanted to see the Dodgers play in uh uh 77 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:33,200 in Dodger state ium again if I'm sitting 78 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:34,680 in the audience it's I'm not going to be 79 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:36,120 on the edge of my seat going come on 80 00:03:36,120 --> 00:03:37,920 come on uh you can make it to Dodger 81 00:03:37,920 --> 00:03:40,200 Stadium because I've been to DOD stadium 82 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:44,760 and it's no big deal um uh same thing uh 83 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:47,640 uh with the obstacle uh how many times 84 00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:52,079 have you gone to the movies uh and 85 00:03:52,079 --> 00:03:54,200 turned to your friend or you're walking 86 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:55,959 out of the theater and said why didn't 87 00:03:55,959 --> 00:03:58,239 you just pick up the phone and uh uh and 88 00:03:58,239 --> 00:03:59,439 call and do this why didn't they just 89 00:03:59,439 --> 00:04:02,959 walk out the back door um uh why didn't 90 00:04:02,959 --> 00:04:05,760 he just offer him $20 if if there are 91 00:04:05,760 --> 00:04:07,959 ways if that again if that obstacle is 92 00:04:07,959 --> 00:04:09,439 inform formidable if there are ways to 93 00:04:09,439 --> 00:04:12,319 get out of it easily you need to plug 94 00:04:12,319 --> 00:04:15,159 those uh uh things up uh if let me just 95 00:04:15,159 --> 00:04:18,120 take the last example if if $20 will do 96 00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:21,120 the trick then great I've got $20 uh 97 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:22,800 that I want to give you well there's no 98 00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:25,960 money uh uh in my wallet okay I promise 99 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:28,560 wait right here I'm going to go uh uh to 100 00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:31,080 the ATM I'll give give you my watches 101 00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:34,400 collateral now we've got a story going I 102 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:36,600 can't think of a situation where I'd say 103 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:38,400 God that intention is too strong and 104 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:41,400 that obstacle is too formidable that it 105 00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:42,759 seems to me like you're describing a 106 00:04:42,759 --> 00:04:43,800 great 107 00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:48,280 story it's not required that your 108 00:04:48,280 --> 00:04:50,919 protagonist that your hero overcome the 109 00:04:50,919 --> 00:04:53,280 obstacle they don't have to win they 110 00:04:53,280 --> 00:04:56,840 just have to try 111 00:05:00,479 --> 00:05:02,880 how do you show a a character's 112 00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:06,240 intention well the easiest way is uh to 113 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:10,639 have the character say I want or I need 114 00:05:10,639 --> 00:05:12,600 and then follow it with what the 115 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:16,880 intention is uh uh make it clear why 116 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:19,880 that's important um uh uh you know we 117 00:05:19,880 --> 00:05:21,720 were talking about you got to press on 118 00:05:21,720 --> 00:05:23,800 it uh and make sure your intention is 119 00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:25,960 strong press on the obstacle make sure 120 00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:29,000 that's uh uh formidable well have a 121 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:31,000 scene where you through uh all those 122 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:32,319 things why do you have to be there on 123 00:05:32,319 --> 00:05:34,759 Thursday can't you be there on Friday no 124 00:05:34,759 --> 00:05:39,080 because uh of this you you can uh uh 125 00:05:39,080 --> 00:05:42,319 listen you can start out by in scene one 126 00:05:42,319 --> 00:05:44,080 uh uh stating the intention and an 127 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:45,919 obstacle nothing wrong with that and 128 00:05:45,919 --> 00:05:47,720 it'll be very clear we've got to storm 129 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:50,479 the castle and rescue the princess but 130 00:05:50,479 --> 00:05:52,520 to do that we've got to get across the 131 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:54,960 moat that has crocodiles in it we've got 132 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:58,120 to get past 150 armed guards and then 133 00:05:58,120 --> 00:06:00,319 she's locked uh in the Tower and we've 134 00:06:00,319 --> 00:06:03,000 got to figure out how to undo that lock 135 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:05,360 uh and you can apply that to you know 136 00:06:05,360 --> 00:06:07,919 robbing a casino uh in Vegas they've got 137 00:06:07,919 --> 00:06:10,160 the greatest security system in the 138 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:12,440 world no one's ever been able to uh uh 139 00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:14,479 break into it there's your obstacle or 140 00:06:14,479 --> 00:06:16,199 you can start out and seing one simply 141 00:06:16,199 --> 00:06:18,840 stating the intention and have your 142 00:06:18,840 --> 00:06:20,800 protagonist and or there could be 143 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:24,000 several protagonists um uh think that 144 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:26,880 it's going to be smooth sailing until 145 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:29,360 they get to the moat uh and realize the 146 00:06:29,360 --> 00:06:31,599 whole plac is surrounded by a moat and 147 00:06:31,599 --> 00:06:34,800 there are alligators uh uh in there well 148 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:37,680 we didn't see that okay we got across 149 00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:39,199 the moat now it's going to be smooth 150 00:06:39,199 --> 00:06:42,560 sailing no because the 150 armed guards 151 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:44,599 uh uh you can have them continually 152 00:06:44,599 --> 00:06:47,080 confront 153 00:06:51,440 --> 00:06:54,360 obstacles it's not until you introduced 154 00:06:54,360 --> 00:06:55,240 the 155 00:06:55,240 --> 00:06:59,000 intention um that you've really begun 156 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:00,360 the story 157 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:02,319 um and it's not until you then introduce 158 00:07:02,319 --> 00:07:04,840 the obstacle that you've that that the 159 00:07:04,840 --> 00:07:07,080 conflict uh uh has begun that we're 160 00:07:07,080 --> 00:07:09,440 going from journalism to drama now uh 161 00:07:09,440 --> 00:07:11,120 that there's some kind of conflict in 162 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:15,039 terms of uh of how much time uh uh will 163 00:07:15,039 --> 00:07:17,520 the audience give you before you've got 164 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:20,639 to uh uh show what your cards are uh 165 00:07:20,639 --> 00:07:22,080 show what the intention is show what the 166 00:07:22,080 --> 00:07:24,879 obstacle is it really has to do with the 167 00:07:24,879 --> 00:07:29,639 audience's relationship with to uh what 168 00:07:29,639 --> 00:07:31,879 they're seeing 169 00:07:31,879 --> 00:07:34,520 um people have walked out of plays 170 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:36,520 before but it's a hard thing to do 171 00:07:36,520 --> 00:07:39,039 because uh you spent a lot of money you 172 00:07:39,039 --> 00:07:42,919 left your house um uh uh maybe you got a 173 00:07:42,919 --> 00:07:45,639 babysitter uh you went out to dinner 174 00:07:45,639 --> 00:07:47,919 you're on a date uh those tickets are 175 00:07:47,919 --> 00:07:50,840 expensive leaving a play is a a hard 176 00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:54,720 thing to do um uh so we know we've we've 177 00:07:54,720 --> 00:07:57,280 got you uh uh for a little bit and we 178 00:07:57,280 --> 00:08:00,319 can go at a slightly slower speed at the 179 00:08:00,319 --> 00:08:05,639 beginning um leaving a movie is easier 180 00:08:05,639 --> 00:08:08,960 yes you left your house uh yes it uh uh 181 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:10,919 cost you money um but it's a little bit 182 00:08:10,919 --> 00:08:13,039 easier to walk out of a movie the 183 00:08:13,039 --> 00:08:15,520 easiest thing that there is is to change 184 00:08:15,520 --> 00:08:21,080 the channel uh on a TV show um so uh a a 185 00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:24,440 a a network particularly would encourage 186 00:08:24,440 --> 00:08:26,960 you to whatever you're going to do 187 00:08:26,960 --> 00:08:28,879 please do it in the first uh uh two 188 00:08:28,879 --> 00:08:31,080 minutes can you make something blow up 189 00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:32,519 uh uh in the first two minutes can you 190 00:08:32,519 --> 00:08:34,000 put somebody in Jeopardy in the first 191 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:35,839 two minutes that kind of thing and with 192 00:08:35,839 --> 00:08:39,519 a movie it's somewhere in 193 00:08:43,240 --> 00:08:46,800 between the writer William Goldman uh uh 194 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:49,279 who wrote he won Oscars for Butch cidy 195 00:08:49,279 --> 00:08:50,920 the Sundance Kid and All the President's 196 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:53,080 Men and he wrote The Princess Bride and 197 00:08:53,080 --> 00:08:57,040 Marathon Man and uh a a ton of uh a ton 198 00:08:57,040 --> 00:08:59,560 of other uh great screenplays he taught 199 00:08:59,560 --> 00:09:01,680 me everything I know and about a tenth 200 00:09:01,680 --> 00:09:03,920 of what he knows so let's look at Butch 201 00:09:03,920 --> 00:09:06,120 Cassidy in the Sunan kid uh for a second 202 00:09:06,120 --> 00:09:10,600 his second movie and his uh first 203 00:09:10,600 --> 00:09:15,160 ostar uh what we get is about 15 20 204 00:09:15,160 --> 00:09:18,040 minutes of introduction to who Butch 205 00:09:18,040 --> 00:09:20,560 Cassidy and the Sundance Kid are uh 206 00:09:20,560 --> 00:09:21,839 they're the leaders of the hole in-the 207 00:09:21,839 --> 00:09:24,600 Wall Gang um and everything is great 208 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:27,240 they own the wild west uh uh basically 209 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:30,040 he's the best uh shot in the West Butch 210 00:09:30,040 --> 00:09:33,000 is the most Charming Outlaw uh that 211 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:35,880 there is and they like robbing trains uh 212 00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:38,279 and it always goes well uh uh every time 213 00:09:38,279 --> 00:09:39,800 they rob a train they get to make jokes 214 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:41,399 they make a lot of money uh and then 215 00:09:41,399 --> 00:09:44,959 they go back to their Hideway until this 216 00:09:44,959 --> 00:09:49,959 one time um uh and suddenly another 217 00:09:49,959 --> 00:09:52,480 train comes along with the posi the 218 00:09:52,480 --> 00:09:56,079 super posi uh that's out to get them uh 219 00:09:56,079 --> 00:09:57,720 and uh then the intention and the 220 00:09:57,720 --> 00:09:59,920 obstacle become very clear 221 00:09:59,920 --> 00:10:02,240 um uh we don't want to get caught and 222 00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:04,839 sent to jail for the rest of our lives 223 00:10:04,839 --> 00:10:07,200 that's the intention the obstacle is 224 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:09,720 these guys won't stop chasing us um 225 00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:10,839 they're going to chase us all the way to 226 00:10:10,839 --> 00:10:15,320 Bolivia this is really hard 1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,120 [Music] 2 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:09,160 there are two parts to having an idea 3 00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:13,120 you first have to know what an idea is a 4 00:00:13,120 --> 00:00:18,600 and then you have to have it um an idea 5 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:22,240 isn't I want to write about surfing uh 6 00:00:22,240 --> 00:00:25,160 okay um I I'm surfing I'm going to write 7 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:27,439 a movie about surfing you don't have an 8 00:00:27,439 --> 00:00:30,840 idea yet you have a 9 00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:33,360 um you know where to park the trucks uh 10 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:35,960 by the beach you can ride exterior Beach 11 00:00:35,960 --> 00:00:37,760 there's a lot of waves uh but you don't 12 00:00:37,760 --> 00:00:40,559 have an idea you don't have an idea 13 00:00:40,559 --> 00:00:45,399 until you can use the words but except 14 00:00:45,399 --> 00:00:49,440 and then uh uh things like that it was 15 00:00:49,440 --> 00:00:52,840 uh it was a normal day like any other 16 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:56,320 day when all of a sudden um uh I went to 17 00:00:56,320 --> 00:00:58,239 the beach to go surfing and the surfing 18 00:00:58,239 --> 00:01:00,440 was great but then 19 00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:05,269 um uh you don't have the idea until that 20 00:01:05,269 --> 00:01:08,848 [Music] 21 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:13,840 happens how do I know if an idea is uh 22 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:15,680 is good enough to turn into a screenplay 23 00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:17,439 it's for me it's not a matter of good 24 00:01:17,439 --> 00:01:20,280 enough it's 25 00:01:20,280 --> 00:01:23,720 uh it's sort of the same way a uh a 26 00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:26,200 batter decides what pitch he's going to 27 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:29,560 swing at right um I he the batter's 28 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:33,360 looking for his pitch his pitch is low 29 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:36,000 and outside high and inside it's a 30 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:38,079 hanging curveball he's he's looking for 31 00:01:38,079 --> 00:01:40,880 his pitch he has now the batter has 32 00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:44,200 about like 8/10 of a second to decide uh 33 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:45,479 if that's his pitch because the ball is 34 00:01:45,479 --> 00:01:47,840 coming at him pretty quickly I have 35 00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:51,479 longer than that um so what I want to 36 00:01:51,479 --> 00:01:54,439 know is first of all is there drama in 37 00:01:54,439 --> 00:01:57,640 there someplace is there conflict uh 38 00:01:57,640 --> 00:02:00,600 sometimes you'll see a shiny and you'll 39 00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:02,520 think this is boy I really want to write 40 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:04,000 about this and it will turn turn out 41 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:06,520 that there's no conflict for instance 42 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:08,200 Harry Houdini is a pretty interesting 43 00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:13,400 guy uh right um and uh a lot of people 44 00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:15,080 have tried to write about him but kind 45 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:17,560 of unsuccessfully because it turns out 46 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:20,040 that this very interesting guy really 47 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:22,760 didn't have much conflict in his life at 48 00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:24,879 all you would think that somebody who 49 00:02:24,879 --> 00:02:29,480 locks himself in a box and you goes 200 50 00:02:29,480 --> 00:02:31,200 ft on under water and that kind of thing 51 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:33,920 would have conflict but uh uh he didn't 52 00:02:33,920 --> 00:02:35,080 basically 53 00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:38,160 he did a trick and got out and then he 54 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:39,879 did the next trick and he got out and he 55 00:02:39,879 --> 00:02:42,560 was happily married uh he died under 56 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:45,239 strange circumstances when he was uh uh 57 00:02:45,239 --> 00:02:49,200 in his early 50s uh I think um but 58 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:52,360 that's not a great uh pitch to swing at 59 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:56,120 uh with the social network uh I I saw a 60 00:02:56,120 --> 00:03:01,120 a 10-page book proposal uh and and 61 00:03:01,120 --> 00:03:03,920 buried in that book proposal were these 62 00:03:03,920 --> 00:03:06,560 two lawsuits uh that was going on and 63 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:08,680 when I saw that I it's not like I could 64 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:10,200 picture the whole movie in front of me 65 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:13,400 or anything um but I just knew that that 66 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:16,760 was a pitch that uh I could swing at 67 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:20,239 I've never signed on to anything where I 68 00:03:20,239 --> 00:03:22,560 was able to see it and it was just going 69 00:03:22,560 --> 00:03:26,200 to kind of come out in the typing uh I 70 00:03:26,200 --> 00:03:28,519 it was everything has been a a long 71 00:03:28,519 --> 00:03:33,200 climb but what you're looking for is 72 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:34,840 intention and obstacle yeah you're 73 00:03:34,840 --> 00:03:39,920 looking for conflict uh and uh you're 74 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:44,000 hoping uh that and and and the the the 75 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:46,080 generally the conflicts that I write 76 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:51,519 about are ideas uh it's it's usually not 77 00:03:51,519 --> 00:03:54,640 uh robbing a casino that has the the 78 00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:57,920 greatest security system uh in the world 79 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:00,120 um it's usually a conflict of ideas and 80 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:02,720 what what you want is for the competing 81 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:06,159 ideas to be equally Strong by the way 82 00:04:06,159 --> 00:04:09,959 going with the basball batting metaphor 83 00:04:09,959 --> 00:04:14,040 if you know in baseball I if you get a 84 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:16,519 hit one out once out of every three 85 00:04:16,519 --> 00:04:18,919 times you go to the plate you're going 86 00:04:18,919 --> 00:04:22,520 to the Hall of Fame if you only fail two 87 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:24,759 out of every three times uh uh you step 88 00:04:24,759 --> 00:04:26,080 to the plate you're going to the Hall of 89 00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:29,240 Fame roughly the same uh in movies you 90 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:32,160 can see that really good pitch uh uh you 91 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:35,400 can swing hard at it and Miss there 92 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:37,400 there are plenty of times that I've that 93 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:40,440 I've seen a pitch and uh uh if I if if 94 00:04:40,440 --> 00:04:42,320 not totally missed then kind of fouled 95 00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:44,800 it uh uh back into the stance as a 96 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:47,680 matter of fact there I have never 97 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:51,320 written anything not a movie a play or a 98 00:04:51,320 --> 00:04:54,000 single episode of Television that I 99 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:56,600 don't badly wish that I could have back 100 00:04:56,600 --> 00:04:59,320 and and write again it's particularly 101 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:02,520 true with uh The Newsroom uh uh with 102 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:07,280 with the series on HBO it I I never felt 103 00:05:07,280 --> 00:05:09,759 comfortable uh writing that show I never 104 00:05:09,759 --> 00:05:11,960 felt comfortable in my chair I I felt 105 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:15,840 like I had a pebble in my shoe uh I I 106 00:05:15,840 --> 00:05:17,360 could write a good scene I could write a 107 00:05:17,360 --> 00:05:19,960 good couple of scenes I could uh I could 108 00:05:19,960 --> 00:05:23,960 write an almost good uh episode but um I 109 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:24,919 I 110 00:05:24,919 --> 00:05:28,319 just could not for some reason put it 111 00:05:28,319 --> 00:05:31,039 together uh to 112 00:05:31,039 --> 00:05:33,440 write the the kinds of episodes I 113 00:05:33,440 --> 00:05:34,840 thought that I was going to write when I 114 00:05:34,840 --> 00:05:37,370 first saw the pitch coming at 115 00:05:37,370 --> 00:05:42,440 [Music] 116 00:05:42,440 --> 00:05:45,600 me any idea that I'm considering what I 117 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:49,199 hope uh is first is that it would make a 118 00:05:49,199 --> 00:05:53,360 good play um uh because I I I've only 119 00:05:53,360 --> 00:05:55,120 written three of them and I wish I'd 120 00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:57,680 written more uh at this point but it's 121 00:05:57,680 --> 00:06:00,319 it's it's the thing that I'm most 122 00:06:00,319 --> 00:06:02,520 comfortable doing uh is writing plays I 123 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:05,160 I I still feel like an outsider in 124 00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:08,080 movies and and television uh so if 125 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:10,000 something can be a play then I'd like it 126 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:12,000 to be a play 127 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:14,199 I if 128 00:06:14,199 --> 00:06:17,319 not here's if for instance the my my 129 00:06:17,319 --> 00:06:21,080 first uh uh series was Sports night 130 00:06:21,080 --> 00:06:24,360 right um and that happened because I 131 00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:25,880 became addicted to watching sports 132 00:06:25,880 --> 00:06:28,759 center uh on ESPN I was watching it a 133 00:06:28,759 --> 00:06:30,280 lot while I was WR the movie the 134 00:06:30,280 --> 00:06:32,280 American president I would stay up late 135 00:06:32,280 --> 00:06:34,280 writing the American president and then 136 00:06:34,280 --> 00:06:35,800 to kind of keep me company while I was 137 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:39,080 falling asleep I'd turn on Sports Center 138 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:40,680 and I was watching it and I thought well 139 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:42,479 that you know that seems like a really 140 00:06:42,479 --> 00:06:45,319 fun place to work that you could like 141 00:06:45,319 --> 00:06:46,840 make friends there and you could meet 142 00:06:46,840 --> 00:06:49,199 your girlfriend there and uh I'll bet 143 00:06:49,199 --> 00:06:50,639 it's just a lot of fun and I'd like to 144 00:06:50,639 --> 00:06:53,560 write about that place but all of the 145 00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:55,000 stories that I was thinking of and I I 146 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:56,520 was I was thinking of that as a feature 147 00:06:56,520 --> 00:06:58,680 that it would be broadcast news but said 148 00:06:58,680 --> 00:07:01,360 it uh ES SPN but all the stories that I 149 00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:04,120 was thinking of were short stories uh uh 150 00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:06,560 they weren't long and I I said that to 151 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:08,360 my agent who said well it sounds like 152 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:11,120 you're describing a television series uh 153 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:14,599 so that's how that happened um and so 154 00:07:14,599 --> 00:07:18,360 generally if it's uh if it's the place 155 00:07:18,360 --> 00:07:21,360 that you're attracted to um uh whether 156 00:07:21,360 --> 00:07:24,919 it's the white house or a newsroom or uh 157 00:07:24,919 --> 00:07:28,080 uh a cable Sports show if it's the place 158 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:31,280 that you're attracted to uh that's a TV 159 00:07:31,280 --> 00:07:35,960 series uh if the 160 00:07:36,199 --> 00:07:39,199 characters metaphorically speaking die 161 00:07:39,199 --> 00:07:41,000 at the end of the story if there's no 162 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:44,960 more story after that then it's a 163 00:07:44,990 --> 00:07:49,680 [Music] 164 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:54,520 feature I wish I had more ideas um but 165 00:07:54,520 --> 00:07:57,199 uh because I don't I usually have to 166 00:07:57,199 --> 00:07:59,199 start something without having uh an 167 00:07:59,199 --> 00:08:01,560 idea I'll say yes to 168 00:08:01,560 --> 00:08:05,120 something uh a it'll be usually not 169 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:09,800 always uh a blind date uh where I'm you 170 00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:13,360 know there's enough there uh that I 171 00:08:13,360 --> 00:08:18,039 believe I can fall in love with it uh uh 172 00:08:18,039 --> 00:08:20,159 and uh I'll I'll find the conflict I'll 173 00:08:20,159 --> 00:08:23,039 find the tone uh that that kind of thing 174 00:08:23,039 --> 00:08:26,080 uh that was the case with Steve Jobs um 175 00:08:26,080 --> 00:08:29,080 the uh as opposed to The Social Network 176 00:08:29,080 --> 00:08:30,840 which even though I didn't know what it 177 00:08:30,840 --> 00:08:32,320 was going to be when I started writing 178 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:35,120 it I knew it was there uh and it was 179 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:37,599 just a matter of it's a good pitch don't 180 00:08:37,599 --> 00:08:39,440 miss it don't swing too early don't 181 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:41,320 swing too late don't swing too high or 182 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:45,040 low uh there are you know there are 183 00:08:45,040 --> 00:08:48,399 vague Notions uh uh that I want to write 184 00:08:48,399 --> 00:08:51,760 about uh there are genres uh uh that I 185 00:08:51,760 --> 00:08:53,839 like that I I don't write about enough I 186 00:08:53,839 --> 00:08:55,760 wrote I've written one romantic comedy 187 00:08:55,760 --> 00:08:57,519 the American president and I really like 188 00:08:57,519 --> 00:09:00,200 romantic comedies uh and and and uh I'd 189 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:03,720 like to write them I really like space 190 00:09:03,720 --> 00:09:07,880 travel um uh uh not 191 00:09:07,880 --> 00:09:11,160 uh science fiction space travel but 192 00:09:11,160 --> 00:09:13,000 honest to God you know the Apollo 193 00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:16,880 missions the space shuttle geminy uh uh 194 00:09:16,880 --> 00:09:23,079 Mercury um and Apollo 13 was was so good 195 00:09:23,079 --> 00:09:25,360 uh and the right stuff was so good I 196 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:27,240 keep hoping that there's a story in 197 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:28,920 there somewhere that hasn't been told 198 00:09:28,920 --> 00:09:31,560 yet uh that I can get a crack at I keep 199 00:09:31,560 --> 00:09:33,240 hoping I'll I'll wake up one morning 200 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:37,980 having dreamed of a great plot I'm still 201 00:09:37,980 --> 00:09:42,920 [Music] 202 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:46,920 waiting if you are a new 203 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:51,079 screenwriter uh you've already got a lot 204 00:09:51,079 --> 00:09:53,360 of heavy stuff in the backpack uh uh 205 00:09:53,360 --> 00:09:55,959 that you're carrying and this is all new 206 00:09:55,959 --> 00:09:58,800 to you and uh uh it would be great if 207 00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:00,440 you could start 208 00:10:00,440 --> 00:10:03,160 off doing something where a number of 209 00:10:03,160 --> 00:10:07,000 the problems uh have been solved uh I I 210 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:10,399 I would recommend unless listen that I'm 211 00:10:10,399 --> 00:10:13,480 sure that there are screenwriters uh new 212 00:10:13,480 --> 00:10:16,480 screenwriters who are walking around 213 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:19,320 with great ideas I have a hunch I can't 214 00:10:19,320 --> 00:10:21,880 say this for sure I've never asked him 215 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:25,200 but I have a hunch Quenton Tarantino was 216 00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:29,480 born with great plot ideas uh uh in his 217 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:31,240 head it's just what his movies feel like 218 00:10:31,240 --> 00:10:34,320 to me um uh that he was able to see the 219 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:38,160 whole thing uh before he typed fade in 220 00:10:38,160 --> 00:10:42,600 if you are not a a you know a genius 221 00:10:42,600 --> 00:10:46,360 freak like uh uh Quenton Tarantino um 222 00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:48,480 and you're a new writer uh I would 223 00:10:48,480 --> 00:10:51,320 recommend if there's a a short story uh 224 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:54,399 that you love try dramatizing that uh uh 225 00:10:54,399 --> 00:10:56,839 something where the the the plot's been 226 00:10:56,839 --> 00:11:00,639 broken uh and you're 227 00:11:00,639 --> 00:11:02,440 you're now going to make it into a a 228 00:11:02,440 --> 00:11:03,570 performance 229 00:11:03,570 --> 00:11:08,560 [Music] 230 00:11:08,560 --> 00:11:12,040 piece well that was a uh uh that was 231 00:11:12,040 --> 00:11:14,920 quite a ride uh the American president 232 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:17,320 what happened was I had just done a Few 233 00:11:17,320 --> 00:11:20,079 Good Men with Rob Riner and we wanted to 234 00:11:20,079 --> 00:11:22,120 do another movie together and we wanted 235 00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:25,399 to do uh another washington-based movie 236 00:11:25,399 --> 00:11:28,519 together and Robert Redford heard that 237 00:11:28,519 --> 00:11:31,440 that's what we wanted to do and for 238 00:11:31,440 --> 00:11:34,160 about a decade maybe a little bit longer 239 00:11:34,160 --> 00:11:36,760 Robert Redford had been trying to 240 00:11:36,760 --> 00:11:39,880 develop a movie uh for himself where he 241 00:11:39,880 --> 00:11:42,320 got to play a widowed president of the 242 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:44,880 United States we all had a meeting Rob 243 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:48,320 ryer Robert Redford uh and myself and he 244 00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:51,600 pointed to a carton of scripts uh 245 00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:53,959 written by about a dozen different 246 00:11:53,959 --> 00:11:56,760 writers or writer directors uh uh 247 00:11:56,760 --> 00:11:59,920 scripts with titles like um 248 00:11:59,920 --> 00:12:03,120 the president steps out the the State of 249 00:12:03,120 --> 00:12:06,079 the Union the um uh the the president 250 00:12:06,079 --> 00:12:10,279 elopes things like that and uh I I I had 251 00:12:10,279 --> 00:12:11,680 never read any of these scripts so I 252 00:12:11,680 --> 00:12:13,639 have no idea whether they were good or 253 00:12:13,639 --> 00:12:15,399 bad but they had for whatever reason 254 00:12:15,399 --> 00:12:17,480 been rejected by Robert Redford anyway 255 00:12:17,480 --> 00:12:19,160 Redford pointed to the box of scripts 256 00:12:19,160 --> 00:12:22,279 and said do you just pick anyone out of 257 00:12:22,279 --> 00:12:25,399 there and rewrite it uh for me and I 258 00:12:25,399 --> 00:12:27,560 said I'd really rather not do a rewrite 259 00:12:27,560 --> 00:12:30,480 uh uh at uh at this point Point um but I 260 00:12:30,480 --> 00:12:33,360 have to tell you I love the casting idea 261 00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:35,600 of you as a widowed president uh of the 262 00:12:35,600 --> 00:12:37,279 United States how would you feel about 263 00:12:37,279 --> 00:12:39,600 my just going off and writing a script 264 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:41,079 where you play a widowed president of 265 00:12:41,079 --> 00:12:43,279 the United States and both Redford and 266 00:12:43,279 --> 00:12:46,279 Rob Riner uh agreed that that's what we 267 00:12:46,279 --> 00:12:48,480 would do I started writing this 268 00:12:48,480 --> 00:12:51,600 character Andrew Shepard um and uh and 269 00:12:51,600 --> 00:12:54,639 the people around him and 270 00:12:54,639 --> 00:12:57,519 listen most screenplays are about 120 271 00:12:57,519 --> 00:13:01,839 Pages minor long longer because uh it's 272 00:13:01,839 --> 00:13:05,160 might have more dialogue than action and 273 00:13:05,160 --> 00:13:07,839 dialogue takes up more room on the page 274 00:13:07,839 --> 00:13:09,680 and less time on the screen than action 275 00:13:09,680 --> 00:13:12,120 which takes up less time on less room on 276 00:13:12,120 --> 00:13:14,639 the page and more time uh on the screen 277 00:13:14,639 --> 00:13:17,720 uh so my scripts in those days were 278 00:13:17,720 --> 00:13:21,760 running 140 150 Pages now they're 180 279 00:13:21,760 --> 00:13:26,279 192 I just wrote a 201 onepage script uh 280 00:13:26,279 --> 00:13:29,639 um but this one uh the first draft of 281 00:13:29,639 --> 00:13:32,720 the American president was 385 pages 282 00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:35,000 long uh I I delivered it to the studio 283 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:38,360 on a shopping bag uh and the reason why 284 00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:41,079 it was uh that 285 00:13:41,079 --> 00:13:42,680 long 286 00:13:42,680 --> 00:13:45,639 uh was cuz I really felt in love with 287 00:13:45,639 --> 00:13:49,560 the sound of my own voice um uh I I 288 00:13:49,560 --> 00:13:52,519 really liked pretending to be the 289 00:13:52,519 --> 00:13:56,320 president we in this 385 page script we 290 00:13:56,320 --> 00:13:58,399 never even meet the Annette Benning 291 00:13:58,399 --> 00:14:01,880 character until like page 110 uh uh in 292 00:14:01,880 --> 00:14:04,160 this thing so uh uh I delivered that 293 00:14:04,160 --> 00:14:07,160 very long draft uh of the script and Rob 294 00:14:07,160 --> 00:14:09,440 Riner was incredibly patient and he said 295 00:14:09,440 --> 00:14:12,440 listen I I think what we should do is 296 00:14:12,440 --> 00:14:16,079 this story with the female lobbyist um 297 00:14:16,079 --> 00:14:19,560 uh I I like that and we can kind of cut 298 00:14:19,560 --> 00:14:23,240 away uh uh everything else uh those 299 00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:25,959 those things that got cut away became 300 00:14:25,959 --> 00:14:30,040 the first ideas for the westwing um 301 00:14:30,040 --> 00:14:34,279 uh anyway um uh just to finish the story 302 00:14:34,279 --> 00:14:38,079 uh at the 11th Hour uh uh Robert Redford 303 00:14:38,079 --> 00:14:39,360 dropped out for reasons that are 304 00:14:39,360 --> 00:14:40,639 unimportant we were very lucky that 305 00:14:40,639 --> 00:14:43,320 Michael Douglas uh wanted to step in and 306 00:14:43,320 --> 00:14:47,360 do it um so what happened was I I found 307 00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:49,959 a conflict uh uh 308 00:14:49,959 --> 00:14:52,959 between Andrew Shepard and Sydney Ellen 309 00:14:52,959 --> 00:14:56,440 Wade uh uh the lobbyist 310 00:14:56,440 --> 00:14:59,279 and once you've got that once you've got 311 00:14:59,279 --> 00:15:00,600 the conflict once you've got the 312 00:15:00,600 --> 00:15:02,399 intention and obstacle it's like a 313 00:15:02,399 --> 00:15:05,560 taught clothesline that you can hang 314 00:15:05,560 --> 00:15:09,360 everything else uh on um uh you can hang 315 00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:12,320 comedy uh on there you can hang you know 316 00:15:12,320 --> 00:15:13,240 if there 317 00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:15,720 are if there are points you're dying to 318 00:15:15,720 --> 00:15:18,759 make uh uh you can hang them on there 319 00:15:18,759 --> 00:15:21,160 but building that taught clothes line is 320 00:15:21,160 --> 00:15:23,120 the most important thing you're going to 321 00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:26,120 do 1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,920 [Music] 2 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:15,719 I I don't have characters uh uh in my 3 00:00:15,719 --> 00:00:18,279 head it's not like that the character is 4 00:00:18,279 --> 00:00:21,400 born from uh the intention and an 5 00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:23,880 obstacle they're born from the intention 6 00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:26,199 uh uh uh from intention and obstacle and 7 00:00:26,199 --> 00:00:28,400 then how the 8 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:31,360 character the tactic that the character 9 00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:35,480 uses uh to overcome that obstacle are 10 00:00:35,480 --> 00:00:38,200 what that's what the character is going 11 00:00:38,200 --> 00:00:39,150 to 12 00:00:39,150 --> 00:00:44,100 [Music] 13 00:00:44,120 --> 00:00:47,079 be with the social network uh uh what I 14 00:00:47,079 --> 00:00:51,160 had was Mark Zuckerberg's blog post from 15 00:00:51,160 --> 00:00:52,960 the Tuesday night when he was a 16 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:55,079 sophomore at Harford from the Tuesday 17 00:00:55,079 --> 00:00:57,039 night that he invented what they called 18 00:00:57,039 --> 00:01:00,559 face Mash uh okay uh and it's a very 19 00:01:00,559 --> 00:01:03,680 angry blog post he's very angry at a 20 00:01:03,680 --> 00:01:05,640 woman I changed her name uh in the movie 21 00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:08,439 I called her Erica so he's very angry at 22 00:01:08,439 --> 00:01:12,040 Erica because he's he's he's 23 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:15,159 just in his opinion been treated badly 24 00:01:15,159 --> 00:01:17,720 uh on a date he's kind of been broken up 25 00:01:17,720 --> 00:01:20,640 with or blown off or something like that 26 00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:24,520 um and he writes a blog post where he 27 00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:27,400 narrates the the rest of the night he he 28 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:28,880 narrates that he's drinking and that 29 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:31,040 he's drinking to get drunk drunk he 30 00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:35,799 narrates that he wants he needs some 31 00:01:35,799 --> 00:01:41,000 kind of uh Act of Revenge to to get to 32 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:43,240 rid himself of this anger that he feels 33 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:45,880 uh toward this girl uh so he's just had 34 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:47,719 a great idea I'm going to create a 35 00:01:47,719 --> 00:01:49,799 website that compares women to farm 36 00:01:49,799 --> 00:01:52,520 animals and you get to vote uh uh Who's 37 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:55,280 hotter uh this woman or this farm animal 38 00:01:55,280 --> 00:01:57,280 that morphed into wait a second we'll 39 00:01:57,280 --> 00:02:00,360 put actual two women uh uh up there two 40 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:02,200 Harvard undergrads uh and you get to 41 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:06,759 vote um uh Who's hotter one is only 42 00:02:06,759 --> 00:02:09,200 slightly less misogynist than the other 43 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:13,400 I'm not even sure which though um but uh 44 00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:17,280 so I I had that whole blog post I wanted 45 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:19,959 to start the movie by imagining the 46 00:02:19,959 --> 00:02:23,040 scene that came before that blog post 47 00:02:23,040 --> 00:02:28,400 and in that scene we see what Mark wants 48 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:31,840 okay uh he and it's something we can all 49 00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:34,480 identify with he wants to be one of the 50 00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:38,239 cool kids okay he wants to be 51 00:02:38,239 --> 00:02:42,280 socially uh uh accepted um uh he wants 52 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:45,519 to date girls uh uh uh and and he wants 53 00:02:45,519 --> 00:02:48,959 to get into the uh the exclusive clubs 54 00:02:48,959 --> 00:02:54,440 as a way of doing all that um so his 55 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:59,560 sort of macro uh uh intention his I want 56 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:01,760 uh uh 57 00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:04,400 is uh 58 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:07,280 uh I I want to be accepted uh I want a 59 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:11,400 social life what he ended up doing uh 60 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:15,519 was building a virtual one uh an 61 00:03:15,519 --> 00:03:18,239 artificial one um that he 62 00:03:18,239 --> 00:03:22,319 was sort of the mayor uh of this world 63 00:03:22,319 --> 00:03:25,040 uh the obstacles toward uh uh to doing 64 00:03:25,040 --> 00:03:28,519 that are there are a lot you know that 65 00:03:28,519 --> 00:03:30,120 what's the obstacle toward building the 66 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:31,920 most successful website in the 67 00:03:31,920 --> 00:03:34,570 world there are a ton of 68 00:03:34,570 --> 00:03:39,400 [Music] 69 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:42,920 them Toby gets around obstacles if the 70 00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:46,640 for Toby uh if the obstacle is the 71 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:50,319 president Toby is a lot more direct uh 72 00:03:50,319 --> 00:03:52,599 with the president than most of the 73 00:03:52,599 --> 00:03:55,159 other characters if not all the other 74 00:03:55,159 --> 00:03:58,439 characters save his wife stalker channy 75 00:03:58,439 --> 00:04:04,159 um uh uh Toby is the one uh very early 76 00:04:04,159 --> 00:04:05,920 on it's in the episodes the crackpots 77 00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:08,120 and these women uh which I think was 78 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:12,239 episode four or five uh of the series uh 79 00:04:12,239 --> 00:04:14,760 Toby was the one who basically 80 00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:16,720 said well actually now that I think 81 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:18,680 about it it's in a number of episodes 82 00:04:18,680 --> 00:04:22,919 where uh uh Toby says you are not 83 00:04:22,919 --> 00:04:26,680 fulfilling your potential um uh you 84 00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:31,120 don't pretend to be dumber than you are 85 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:34,759 to Pander to all of the dumb people uh 86 00:04:34,759 --> 00:04:37,479 uh in in America you are the smartest 87 00:04:37,479 --> 00:04:39,360 person in the room be the smartest 88 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:42,360 person in the room uh uh 89 00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:45,400 Toby dresses down the president while 90 00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:47,479 you know he's respectful of the office 91 00:04:47,479 --> 00:04:50,400 respectful of the man um uh respectful 92 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:51,960 of the room that he's in it's often the 93 00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:56,919 Oval Office uh but uh Toby's tactics are 94 00:04:56,919 --> 00:05:00,080 uh bluntness and honesty 95 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:01,880 Toby if you have something to say please 96 00:05:01,880 --> 00:05:02,840 say 97 00:05:02,840 --> 00:05:06,479 it Richie is good for all time 98 00:05:06,479 --> 00:05:09,199 zones my family signed the Declaration 99 00:05:09,199 --> 00:05:10,800 of Independence you think I've got an 100 00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:12,919 ethnicity problem well the line isn't 101 00:05:12,919 --> 00:05:16,680 between light skin and dark skin yeah 102 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:20,360 it's between educated and 103 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:24,479 masculine or Eastern academic Elite and 104 00:05:24,479 --> 00:05:26,560 plain spoken it's always been like that 105 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:28,039 yeah but a funny thing happened when the 106 00:05:28,039 --> 00:05:30,560 White House got demystified the 107 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:32,280 was left that anybody could do it you're 108 00:05:32,280 --> 00:05:33,840 not telling me anything I don't know 109 00:05:33,840 --> 00:05:35,400 it's one thing that Richie came out for 110 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:37,720 the Pennsylvania referendum today but 111 00:05:37,720 --> 00:05:40,400 the manner in which he articulated it 112 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:42,720 his presence the clear sign he wasn't 113 00:05:42,720 --> 00:05:44,840 personally engaged with the fact staff 114 00:05:44,840 --> 00:05:46,680 was cringing I promise you and we let it 115 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:50,639 go it wasn't the moment to go asked the 116 00:05:50,840 --> 00:05:54,600 question do you have anything 117 00:05:58,639 --> 00:06:02,000 else S I don't think I need to tell you 118 00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:04,440 that the level of respect with which the 119 00:06:04,440 --> 00:06:07,000 staff speaks of you doesn't change 120 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:08,280 depending on whether or not you're in 121 00:06:08,280 --> 00:06:11,840 the room but well there's always been a 122 00:06:11,840 --> 00:06:14,919 concern about the two 123 00:06:14,919 --> 00:06:17,319 bartletts the absent-minded Professor 124 00:06:17,319 --> 00:06:20,880 with the odad sense of humor disarming 125 00:06:20,880 --> 00:06:24,039 unthreatening good for all time 126 00:06:24,039 --> 00:06:26,840 zones and the Nobel 127 00:06:26,840 --> 00:06:29,599 laurate still searching for salvation 128 00:06:29,599 --> 00:06:32,199 lonely frustrated lethal you going to 129 00:06:32,199 --> 00:06:34,280 sing a country western song the one his 130 00:06:34,280 --> 00:06:35,680 father never liked him cuz he was too 131 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:37,400 smart this stopped being fun for me a 132 00:06:37,400 --> 00:06:39,800 little while ago sir it was actually 133 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:43,360 never fun for me I was just being 134 00:06:43,360 --> 00:06:45,360 polite your father used to hit you 135 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:47,240 didn't Mr 136 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:50,319 President excuse 137 00:06:50,319 --> 00:06:54,319 me your father used to hit you 138 00:06:57,560 --> 00:07:00,919 sir yeah not like a spanking he hit me 139 00:07:00,919 --> 00:07:03,240 why he punched you I'm done being polite 140 00:07:03,240 --> 00:07:04,759 now you did it because you made him mad 141 00:07:04,759 --> 00:07:07,440 but you didn't know why Toby it was a 142 00:07:07,440 --> 00:07:10,000 complicated relationship can I help you 143 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:11,400 it was because you were smarter than he 144 00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:13,360 was it was a complicated relationship 145 00:07:13,360 --> 00:07:14,840 didn't like you sir that's why he hit 146 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:16,360 you that's why people hit each other he 147 00:07:16,360 --> 00:07:18,479 didn't like you you were smarter than he 148 00:07:18,479 --> 00:07:20,440 was why are we talking about this so 149 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:22,759 maybe if you get enough 150 00:07:22,759 --> 00:07:26,520 votes win one more election you know 151 00:07:26,520 --> 00:07:28,879 maybe your father you have stepped way 152 00:07:28,879 --> 00:07:30,840 over the line and any other president 153 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:32,360 would have your ass on the sidewalk 154 00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:33,960 right now yes sir they'd have had you on 155 00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:36,560 the sidewalk a long time ago I don't 156 00:07:36,560 --> 00:07:38,280 know what the hell goes on in a Brooklyn 157 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:41,039 shrinks office but get it the hell out 158 00:07:41,039 --> 00:07:43,520 of my 159 00:07:49,800 --> 00:07:54,440 house thank you Mr President 160 00:07:56,510 --> 00:08:02,520 [Music] 161 00:08:02,520 --> 00:08:04,800 Leo who's also the president's best 162 00:08:04,800 --> 00:08:08,800 friend uh will be blunt when he needs to 163 00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:11,199 be but uh 164 00:08:11,199 --> 00:08:15,159 uh Leo's running the place and his his 165 00:08:15,159 --> 00:08:17,759 uh uh his character is probably more 166 00:08:17,759 --> 00:08:20,039 defined by his relationship to the 167 00:08:20,039 --> 00:08:23,280 staffers uh uh who 168 00:08:23,280 --> 00:08:25,919 he kind of manipulates with a sense of 169 00:08:25,919 --> 00:08:28,360 humor um the staffers are almost more 170 00:08:28,360 --> 00:08:30,800 frightened of Leo than they are uh of 171 00:08:30,800 --> 00:08:34,080 the president um 172 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:37,760 but again that that was informed by 173 00:08:37,760 --> 00:08:43,320 casting as well uh John Spencer ha had 174 00:08:43,320 --> 00:08:46,040 uh uh he sadly he passed away uh a 175 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:49,320 little while back uh had a real Hard 176 00:08:49,320 --> 00:08:52,200 Scrabble Street sense uh about him 177 00:08:52,200 --> 00:08:54,560 that's not usually something we see in a 178 00:08:54,560 --> 00:08:56,920 chief of staff so I didn't want to 179 00:08:56,920 --> 00:09:01,160 smooth that over um uh I wanted him to 180 00:09:01,160 --> 00:09:04,279 uh uh to have that uh uh gruffness I 181 00:09:04,279 --> 00:09:06,399 wanted to use that face that has the map 182 00:09:06,399 --> 00:09:09,880 of the world kind of uh drawn on it uh 183 00:09:09,880 --> 00:09:12,880 and and it's a real contrast with 184 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:16,440 Bartlett too who was to the manner born 185 00:09:16,440 --> 00:09:17,880 uh and that these two would be best 186 00:09:17,880 --> 00:09:22,000 friends was was really interesting to 187 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:27,880 me a Lee Mr McGary Leo's fine yes 188 00:09:27,880 --> 00:09:30,200 sir will you off offered coffee or 189 00:09:30,200 --> 00:09:32,440 something to drink yes the woman who 190 00:09:32,440 --> 00:09:34,079 works out there who I imagine is your 191 00:09:34,079 --> 00:09:35,640 secretary offered me coffee or soft 192 00:09:35,640 --> 00:09:37,680 drink okay so she was also kind enough 193 00:09:37,680 --> 00:09:39,399 to ask for my coach excellent she seems 194 00:09:39,399 --> 00:09:41,839 to be a very good secretary well she'll 195 00:09:41,839 --> 00:09:43,399 be happy to hear that she's standing 196 00:09:43,399 --> 00:09:45,959 right outside the door 197 00:09:45,959 --> 00:09:51,200 ow so I have to tell you I've never seen 198 00:09:51,200 --> 00:09:53,160 Sam Seaborn get beat the way you beat 199 00:09:53,160 --> 00:09:54,240 him on 200 00:09:54,240 --> 00:09:58,320 Monday yes well Mr McGary Leo yes sir 201 00:09:58,320 --> 00:09:59,680 I've been thinking about that ever since 202 00:09:59,680 --> 00:10:01,279 your office called me on Tuesday and I 203 00:10:01,279 --> 00:10:02,839 have something to say on my own behalf 204 00:10:02,839 --> 00:10:04,160 if you'll permit me a moment to say it 205 00:10:04,160 --> 00:10:05,480 and I understand if you won't but I 206 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:07,079 would really appreciate it if you did I 207 00:10:07,079 --> 00:10:09,120 didn't really follow that but whatever I 208 00:10:09,120 --> 00:10:11,120 think that it is wrong for a man in your 209 00:10:11,120 --> 00:10:12,760 position to summon someone to the White 210 00:10:12,760 --> 00:10:14,200 House to reprimand them for voicing 211 00:10:14,200 --> 00:10:16,279 opposition I think that that is wrong 212 00:10:16,279 --> 00:10:18,120 and it is inappropriate it's 213 00:10:18,120 --> 00:10:19,360 inappropriate and I'll tell you what 214 00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:21,560 else it's wrong yes that's fine except 215 00:10:21,560 --> 00:10:22,600 you weren't summoned here to be 216 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:23,720 reprimanded well then if you'll permit 217 00:10:23,720 --> 00:10:25,320 me while was I summoned you have an 218 00:10:25,320 --> 00:10:27,040 interesting conversational style you 219 00:10:27,040 --> 00:10:30,120 know that it's a nervous condition I 220 00:10:30,120 --> 00:10:31,880 used to have a nervous condition how did 221 00:10:31,880 --> 00:10:33,680 yours manifest itself I drank a lot of 222 00:10:33,680 --> 00:10:35,920 scotch I get sick when I drink too much 223 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:37,839 I get drunk when I drink too much well 224 00:10:37,839 --> 00:10:41,240 Mr McGary real yes sir I'll ask again 225 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:42,600 for what purpose was I brought here 226 00:10:42,600 --> 00:10:44,720 today so I could offer you a job I'm 227 00:10:44,720 --> 00:10:46,639 asking because I do not think that it is 228 00:10:46,639 --> 00:10:48,279 fair that I be expected to play the role 229 00:10:48,279 --> 00:10:49,880 of the mouse to the White House's cat in 230 00:10:49,880 --> 00:10:51,680 the game of you know the game cat and 231 00:10:51,680 --> 00:10:54,519 mouse yes and it's not like I'm not you 232 00:10:54,519 --> 00:10:57,040 know the fact that I may not look like 233 00:10:57,040 --> 00:10:58,399 some of the other Republicans who have 234 00:10:58,399 --> 00:11:00,000 crossed your path is not mean that I am 235 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:02,399 any less inclined 236 00:11:02,399 --> 00:11:04,480 toward here it 237 00:11:04,480 --> 00:11:08,160 comes did you say offer me a job yes 238 00:11:08,160 --> 00:11:10,240 associate White House counsel you'd 239 00:11:10,240 --> 00:11:12,040 report to the deputy White House counsel 240 00:11:12,040 --> 00:11:13,560 who reports to the White House counsel 241 00:11:13,560 --> 00:11:17,800 who reports to me I'm sorry a job in 242 00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:19,720 this White House you want a glass of 243 00:11:19,720 --> 00:11:22,839 scotch yes please I think that for 244 00:11:22,839 --> 00:11:24,800 everyone on the 245 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:27,880 westwing their true colors would always 246 00:11:27,880 --> 00:11:30,360 come out when this president was 247 00:11:30,360 --> 00:11:33,959 disappointing them uh somehow when their 248 00:11:33,959 --> 00:11:39,560 idealism met reality and reality was 249 00:11:39,560 --> 00:11:42,279 winning or won would always be when we 250 00:11:42,279 --> 00:11:45,000 would see who you know who who really 251 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:48,639 who these people were 1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,790 [Music] 2 00:00:12,679 --> 00:00:15,800 I think that uh if you 3 00:00:15,800 --> 00:00:20,039 are writing long biographies of uh of 4 00:00:20,039 --> 00:00:22,800 your characters of of fictional 5 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:27,480 characters um and this character uh when 6 00:00:27,480 --> 00:00:29,320 they were 5 years old they did this and 7 00:00:29,320 --> 00:00:30,800 when they were six years old they did 8 00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:32,759 that things that have nothing to do with 9 00:00:32,759 --> 00:00:35,520 the story you're telling um I I think 10 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:36,680 that you're getting involved with 11 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:39,000 magical thinking and uh and that it's 12 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:42,840 not going to work uh I I think that uh 13 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:44,440 especially when you're beginning the 14 00:00:44,440 --> 00:00:47,480 script anything that isn't intention and 15 00:00:47,480 --> 00:00:50,199 obstacle uh is going to mess you up I 16 00:00:50,199 --> 00:00:53,160 don't say uh uh here's what this 17 00:00:53,160 --> 00:00:54,600 character would have eaten for breakfast 18 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:56,960 when they were 5 years old uh okay 19 00:00:56,960 --> 00:00:58,440 because it's 20 00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:01,840 not the character was never 5 years old 21 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:03,519 uh the character was born at the age 22 00:01:03,519 --> 00:01:06,040 that they are when the lights come up 23 00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:09,119 the character was only only gets to be 5 24 00:01:09,119 --> 00:01:12,640 years old if the character 25 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:15,640 says when I was 5 years old I saw my 26 00:01:15,640 --> 00:01:19,080 father kill himself uh okay it's then 27 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:21,680 and only then that the character uh uh 28 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:24,360 was 5 years old I I wouldn't take out a 29 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:27,880 yellow legal pad uh and a pen and start 30 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:30,680 writing down character traits 31 00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:34,920 okay uh let's see uh he likes baseball 32 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:36,680 and he likes creamy peanut butter but 33 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:38,920 not chunky peanut butter and he likes 34 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:41,360 this and he doesn't like that um and he 35 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:44,079 Parts his hair on the left side uh and 36 00:01:44,079 --> 00:01:45,719 that kind of 37 00:01:45,719 --> 00:01:48,439 thing I I don't think that any of that 38 00:01:48,439 --> 00:01:50,240 is going to come in handy uh I don't 39 00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:52,119 think that there's a use for any of that 40 00:01:52,119 --> 00:01:53,640 I think that what it's doing I think 41 00:01:53,640 --> 00:01:55,119 that you're doing it because you feel 42 00:01:55,119 --> 00:01:56,880 like you're supposed to do it I think 43 00:01:56,880 --> 00:02:00,360 you're doing it because you feel like uh 44 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:03,680 the more human character traits you 45 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:06,759 write down on this legal pad the more 46 00:02:06,759 --> 00:02:10,160 human the character uh is going to be 47 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:11,720 what's going to happen is you're going 48 00:02:11,720 --> 00:02:16,680 to have a scene where uh a guy or a girl 49 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:20,280 needs to convince their parents to uh uh 50 00:02:20,280 --> 00:02:23,879 to loan them money uh uh for something 51 00:02:23,879 --> 00:02:25,280 and you've got this yellow legal pad 52 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:26,840 next to you and you're figuring out how 53 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:29,160 to work in creamy peanut butter uh uh 54 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:31,200 into the SE because these are the things 55 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:32,319 that are going to make your character 56 00:02:32,319 --> 00:02:36,200 more human forget that uh okay uh uh 57 00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:39,000 forget that stuff get this guy to get 58 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:42,200 money from his parents uh uh obviously 59 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:44,400 if the parents if if the first line of 60 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:46,720 the scene is Mom Dad I need money and 61 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:48,800 the second line of the scene is no 62 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:51,800 problem how much um uh you've kind of 63 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:54,640 overcome the obstacle uh a little 64 00:02:54,640 --> 00:02:57,560 quickly um 65 00:02:57,560 --> 00:03:02,000 but make him or her have to play their 66 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:02,799 uh 67 00:03:02,799 --> 00:03:05,599 intention and things are going to come 68 00:03:05,599 --> 00:03:07,680 up you you might stumble across a joke 69 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:10,840 about creamy peanut butter uh okay and 70 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:13,200 that's when your character likes uh uh 71 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:14,840 creamy peanut butter oh it was because 72 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:17,599 there was this joke about it uh okay put 73 00:03:17,599 --> 00:03:20,020 the yellow legal pad 74 00:03:20,020 --> 00:03:25,040 [Music] 75 00:03:25,040 --> 00:03:27,439 aside believe it or 76 00:03:27,439 --> 00:03:31,400 not the properties of of characters and 77 00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:33,760 the properties of people have very 78 00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:36,400 little to do with each other uh I I I 79 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:39,519 know it seems like the goal should be to 80 00:03:39,519 --> 00:03:44,239 have a character be as human as possible 81 00:03:44,239 --> 00:03:46,599 and that's not uh the goal or at least 82 00:03:46,599 --> 00:03:49,000 not my goal 83 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:51,360 that's something for critics to talk 84 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:52,680 about okay that's something for 85 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:55,000 audiences to talk about it was such a 86 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:57,920 human moment uh uh when they did this it 87 00:03:57,920 --> 00:03:59,799 was so human when they did that it 88 00:03:59,799 --> 00:04:02,200 revealed Humanity uh uh when they did 89 00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:05,519 this that's something that's inferred um 90 00:04:05,519 --> 00:04:09,519 uh that's not something that you do it's 91 00:04:09,519 --> 00:04:11,920 the equivalent H listen there's 92 00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:14,319 something cool in painting about photo 93 00:04:14,319 --> 00:04:16,959 realism um uh where you look at 94 00:04:16,959 --> 00:04:18,759 something and it looks like a photograph 95 00:04:18,759 --> 00:04:21,040 and then you see gee it actually 96 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:23,280 somebody painted it uh there's something 97 00:04:23,280 --> 00:04:26,080 cool about that and yes there is 98 00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:30,639 something cool about uh a writer who is 99 00:04:30,639 --> 00:04:32,600 trying to write the way people talk 100 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:35,759 who's trying to imitate uh uh 101 00:04:35,759 --> 00:04:39,199 that Cadence and uh uh and all of that 102 00:04:39,199 --> 00:04:41,880 and an actor who is trying to behave 103 00:04:41,880 --> 00:04:45,000 exactly the way people behave uh if you 104 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:46,840 can accomplish that you've done 105 00:04:46,840 --> 00:04:51,440 something but what you've done is 106 00:04:51,440 --> 00:04:54,840 pretend to make a documentary uh okay 107 00:04:54,840 --> 00:04:57,120 and there are cases where that has an 108 00:04:57,120 --> 00:05:00,440 awesome effect spinal tap okay okay any 109 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:04,039 Fox uh uh documentary 110 00:05:04,039 --> 00:05:05,720 but 111 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:09,680 uh being as much like a human as 112 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:12,520 possible isn't one of the parts of drama 113 00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:15,400 it would be the equivalent of a singer 114 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:17,360 trying their hardest to sound like a 115 00:05:17,360 --> 00:05:20,960 musical instrument okay it would be a 116 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:23,479 cool thing to do wow I my eyes were 117 00:05:23,479 --> 00:05:25,639 closed and she sounded exactly like a 118 00:05:25,639 --> 00:05:30,240 flute but other than than that like 119 00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:32,199 being impressed by the 120 00:05:32,199 --> 00:05:34,520 accomplishment um wouldn't you rather 121 00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:35,520 listen to a 122 00:05:35,520 --> 00:05:38,160 flute we've got one available and a 123 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:41,490 really good flst you know let's do 124 00:05:41,490 --> 00:05:46,400 [Music] 125 00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:48,880 that I'm not going to tell you how to 126 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:51,960 approach writing characters that are uh 127 00:05:51,960 --> 00:05:53,600 uh that are different from yourself that 128 00:05:53,600 --> 00:05:57,639 are uh uh if if you're a man writing a a 129 00:05:57,639 --> 00:05:59,400 woman if you're straight writing someone 130 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:01,000 who's gay if you're black writing 131 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:03,000 someone who's white uh I'm not going to 132 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:04,919 tell you how to do it I I'll tell you 133 00:06:04,919 --> 00:06:07,440 what I do generally 134 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:10,199 speaking uh because I do write you know 135 00:06:10,199 --> 00:06:11,840 from time to time I write about politics 136 00:06:11,840 --> 00:06:14,560 and that includes social issues 137 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:17,319 generally speaking if there is a 138 00:06:17,319 --> 00:06:22,560 character who uh I I I am a straight 139 00:06:22,560 --> 00:06:26,360 white Jewish male um and if there's car 140 00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:28,880 if there's a character who is something 141 00:06:28,880 --> 00:06:30,520 other than 142 00:06:30,520 --> 00:06:32,520 that 143 00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:36,160 uh this is a long way of trying to say 144 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:39,520 uh that I I'll steer clear of trying to 145 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:41,919 write about what it's like to be black 146 00:06:41,919 --> 00:06:44,560 in America in the 21st century what it's 147 00:06:44,560 --> 00:06:47,199 like to be gay in America in the 21st 148 00:06:47,199 --> 00:06:50,960 century and my contribution to equality 149 00:06:50,960 --> 00:06:55,599 will be uh having it be irrelevant to 150 00:06:55,599 --> 00:06:57,599 the story and that's why I try to fill 151 00:06:57,599 --> 00:07:00,199 the writer room with people who who are 152 00:07:00,199 --> 00:07:03,599 with smart people who aren't like me um 153 00:07:03,599 --> 00:07:05,919 uh who have different backgrounds uh 154 00:07:05,919 --> 00:07:11,360 different perspectives uh who um uh who 155 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:14,919 will disagree with me uh politically uh 156 00:07:14,919 --> 00:07:16,840 and who will even if they don't believe 157 00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:22,360 it themselves will be able to uh uh say 158 00:07:22,360 --> 00:07:25,400 you know listen Aaron what you don't 159 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:27,199 understand uh 160 00:07:27,199 --> 00:07:32,319 about the people I grew up with uh is is 161 00:07:32,319 --> 00:07:36,599 this um I said great now I've I I've got 162 00:07:36,599 --> 00:07:39,160 an argument going uh you know now I've 163 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:40,479 got two people in a room who can 164 00:07:40,479 --> 00:07:42,599 disagree about something and their 165 00:07:42,599 --> 00:07:45,199 arguments will have equal weight at 166 00:07:45,199 --> 00:07:47,380 least for a 167 00:07:47,380 --> 00:07:50,959 [Music] 168 00:07:52,319 --> 00:07:55,159 while every writer Works differently so 169 00:07:55,159 --> 00:07:57,440 what works and doesn't work for me 170 00:07:57,440 --> 00:07:58,720 doesn't necessarily mean it's going to 171 00:07:58,720 --> 00:08:02,159 work or not work uh a free you I have to 172 00:08:02,159 --> 00:08:04,240 have something in common uh with the 173 00:08:04,240 --> 00:08:07,720 characters that I'm writing I have to 174 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:11,879 not judge them uh at all uh I have to 175 00:08:11,879 --> 00:08:13,440 find something in common with them if 176 00:08:13,440 --> 00:08:18,039 I'm writing a character who maybe 177 00:08:18,039 --> 00:08:20,720 uh has the qualities of an anti-hero who 178 00:08:20,720 --> 00:08:24,319 isn't so easy to like uh I I I can't 179 00:08:24,319 --> 00:08:26,360 judge them I have to write them as if 180 00:08:26,360 --> 00:08:27,960 they're making their case to God why 181 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:30,319 they should be allowed into have 182 00:08:30,319 --> 00:08:32,440 uh whether it's Nicholson's character uh 183 00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:35,519 and A Few Good Men Steve Jobs and the 184 00:08:35,519 --> 00:08:36,919 way he treats his daughter Mark 185 00:08:36,919 --> 00:08:38,560 Zuckerberg and the way he treats 186 00:08:38,560 --> 00:08:42,839 everybody um uh I I can't judge them I 187 00:08:42,839 --> 00:08:45,040 have to find what it is about them 188 00:08:45,040 --> 00:08:48,080 that's like me uh and right from that 189 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:50,399 point of view in A Few Good Men uh 190 00:08:50,399 --> 00:08:53,240 Nicholson has a speech uh on the stand 191 00:08:53,240 --> 00:08:55,040 and the part that people remember is you 192 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:57,959 can't handle handle the truth 193 00:08:57,959 --> 00:09:03,000 um I the the speech that comes after 194 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:06,839 that is 195 00:09:06,839 --> 00:09:09,079 defending 196 00:09:09,079 --> 00:09:14,000 uh the idea that letting this one Marine 197 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:17,560 PFC William Santiago die actually saved 198 00:09:17,560 --> 00:09:21,120 uh a a ton of other lives you want 199 00:09:21,120 --> 00:09:23,560 answers I think I'm entitled you want 200 00:09:23,560 --> 00:09:25,839 answers I want the truth you can't 201 00:09:25,839 --> 00:09:27,560 handle the 202 00:09:27,560 --> 00:09:30,000 truth son we live in a world that has 203 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:31,839 walls and those walls have to be guarded 204 00:09:31,839 --> 00:09:34,240 by men with guns who's going to do it 205 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:36,839 you you lieutenant 206 00:09:36,839 --> 00:09:39,519 Weinberg I have a greater responsibility 207 00:09:39,519 --> 00:09:42,320 than you can possibly fathom You Weep 208 00:09:42,320 --> 00:09:45,120 for Santiago and you curse the Marines 209 00:09:45,120 --> 00:09:47,600 you have that luxury you have the luxury 210 00:09:47,600 --> 00:09:49,320 of not knowing what I know that 211 00:09:49,320 --> 00:09:52,079 Santiago's death while tragic probably 212 00:09:52,079 --> 00:09:54,440 saved lives and my existence while 213 00:09:54,440 --> 00:09:57,440 grotesque and incomprehensible to you 214 00:09:57,440 --> 00:10:00,160 saves lives you don't want the truth 215 00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:01,959 because deep down in places you don't 216 00:10:01,959 --> 00:10:04,680 talk about at parties you want me on 217 00:10:04,680 --> 00:10:07,680 that wall you need me on that 218 00:10:07,680 --> 00:10:12,200 wall we use words like Honor Code 219 00:10:12,200 --> 00:10:14,440 loyalty we use these words as the 220 00:10:14,440 --> 00:10:16,320 backbone of a life spent defending 221 00:10:16,320 --> 00:10:19,160 something you use them as a punchline I 222 00:10:19,160 --> 00:10:21,399 have neither the time or the inclination 223 00:10:21,399 --> 00:10:24,120 to explain myself to a man who Rises and 224 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:25,920 sleeps under the blanket of the very 225 00:10:25,920 --> 00:10:27,600 Freedom that I provide and then 226 00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:29,320 questions the manner in which I Prov 227 00:10:29,320 --> 00:10:31,360 provide it I would rather you just said 228 00:10:31,360 --> 00:10:33,880 Thank you and went on your way otherwise 229 00:10:33,880 --> 00:10:36,240 I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand 230 00:10:36,240 --> 00:10:39,880 a post either way I don't give a damn 231 00:10:39,880 --> 00:10:42,560 what you think you are entitled to did 232 00:10:42,560 --> 00:10:45,079 you order the code red I did the job did 233 00:10:45,079 --> 00:10:47,160 you order the code you're goddamn right 234 00:10:47,160 --> 00:10:48,560 I 235 00:10:48,560 --> 00:10:50,560 did the the 236 00:10:50,560 --> 00:10:53,480 Badness to use a very broad word with 237 00:10:53,480 --> 00:10:57,440 Nicholson's character is is self-evident 238 00:10:57,440 --> 00:11:01,240 I don't need to have him 239 00:11:01,839 --> 00:11:04,120 I'll give you an interesting example um 240 00:11:04,120 --> 00:11:06,720 uh this doesn't have anything to do with 241 00:11:06,720 --> 00:11:09,399 writing really it it has to do with 242 00:11:09,399 --> 00:11:13,760 acting I saw uh when A Few Good Men was 243 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:15,720 on stage when it was on Broadway uh in 244 00:11:15,720 --> 00:11:18,000 New York an underst study went on in one 245 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:19,120 of the parts I'm not going to tell you 246 00:11:19,120 --> 00:11:21,160 which one because I don't want this guy 247 00:11:21,160 --> 00:11:25,040 to accidentally see this somehow um uh 248 00:11:25,040 --> 00:11:26,959 an underst study went on uh in one of 249 00:11:26,959 --> 00:11:29,880 the parts he was playing a Marine 250 00:11:29,880 --> 00:11:33,000 uh okay uh and uh because I understood 251 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:35,000 was going on I went down to the theater 252 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:36,959 uh uh just to check them out these were 253 00:11:36,959 --> 00:11:39,480 all my friends uh to see how he was 254 00:11:39,480 --> 00:11:44,680 doing and he was awful uh okay he he 255 00:11:44,680 --> 00:11:47,079 changed his voice he changed his body he 256 00:11:47,079 --> 00:11:49,440 was playing Marine man um and I'm going 257 00:11:49,440 --> 00:11:51,639 to talk like this cuz I'm a marine and 258 00:11:51,639 --> 00:11:55,880 I'm tough and I'm crazy um and uh I was 259 00:11:55,880 --> 00:11:59,639 beside myself and uh after the play um I 260 00:11:59,639 --> 00:12:02,120 I went out for a couple of beers with uh 261 00:12:02,120 --> 00:12:05,480 a friend of mine in the cast and I said 262 00:12:05,480 --> 00:12:07,880 I don't understand he he he doesn't need 263 00:12:07,880 --> 00:12:09,880 to be a great actor but wh why can't he 264 00:12:09,880 --> 00:12:13,440 just say the words in in his own voice 265 00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:18,279 um uh and you know it'll all get done 266 00:12:18,279 --> 00:12:21,120 and my friend said it's because he 267 00:12:21,120 --> 00:12:24,880 doesn't believe that he is a as much of 268 00:12:24,880 --> 00:12:27,560 a man as this character is he doesn't 269 00:12:27,560 --> 00:12:30,120 believe he's as strong as this character 270 00:12:30,120 --> 00:12:31,839 is so he has to start putting on 271 00:12:31,839 --> 00:12:34,240 Christmas ornaments uh uh like changing 272 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:36,079 his voice and changing the way uh uh he 273 00:12:36,079 --> 00:12:39,920 stands and everything um 274 00:12:39,920 --> 00:12:43,120 and so what does that have to do with uh 275 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:45,040 uh what we're talking about I don't 276 00:12:45,040 --> 00:12:47,199 agree with what Nicholson was saying on 277 00:12:47,199 --> 00:12:50,519 the stand um uh in fact if you kind of 278 00:12:50,519 --> 00:12:54,560 sit and think about it he it he sounded 279 00:12:54,560 --> 00:12:57,160 like a sociopath uh on the stand and 280 00:12:57,160 --> 00:12:59,320 that in fact was treated as such 281 00:12:59,320 --> 00:13:02,000 horrified the court uh and then was 282 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:07,519 arrested um but I keep hearing about 283 00:13:07,519 --> 00:13:11,279 people like Bobby Knight the former head 284 00:13:11,279 --> 00:13:15,160 basketball coach at Indiana and then um 285 00:13:15,160 --> 00:13:19,800 Texas Tech uh using that speech to 286 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:23,519 inspire uh uh his his players uh there a 287 00:13:23,519 --> 00:13:25,279 lot of people get inspiration from it 288 00:13:25,279 --> 00:13:27,560 because when they hear that speech they 289 00:13:27,560 --> 00:13:30,240 think you know what he's absolutely 290 00:13:30,240 --> 00:13:32,800 right he has a point you want me on that 291 00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:34,800 wall you need me on that wall and you 292 00:13:34,800 --> 00:13:36,920 know you Elites don't like to talk about 293 00:13:36,920 --> 00:13:41,199 that uh uh at parties and so when I'm 294 00:13:41,199 --> 00:13:44,279 writing that speech I've got to be you 295 00:13:44,279 --> 00:13:47,720 know that I I have to come up with that 296 00:13:47,720 --> 00:13:50,279 argument and and I believe in that 297 00:13:50,279 --> 00:13:53,560 argument when I'm writing it if you 298 00:13:53,560 --> 00:13:57,759 don't uh you really run the risk of of 299 00:13:57,759 --> 00:14:00,700 having someone twirling their m 300 00:14:00,700 --> 00:14:05,759 [Music] 301 00:14:05,759 --> 00:14:08,360 mustach people like me don't write 302 00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:09,839 things that are meant to be read they 303 00:14:09,839 --> 00:14:11,000 write things that are meant to be 304 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:15,199 performed so the actor uh is also going 305 00:14:15,199 --> 00:14:17,240 to play a part and you 306 00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:21,160 know now you're seeing it walk and talk 307 00:14:21,160 --> 00:14:24,360 and uh uh and and breathe I can't think 308 00:14:24,360 --> 00:14:27,079 of a better example than Richard Schiff 309 00:14:27,079 --> 00:14:31,040 uh on the westwing uh 310 00:14:31,519 --> 00:14:34,920 Richard is a I mean he's a very special 311 00:14:34,920 --> 00:14:39,040 actor he had just a lot of inner life uh 312 00:14:39,040 --> 00:14:43,440 uh going on and uh I remember even three 313 00:14:43,440 --> 00:14:45,440 or four days into shooting the pilot uh 314 00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:48,639 of the westwing I didn't notice until 315 00:14:48,639 --> 00:14:50,279 the third or fourth day that he was 316 00:14:50,279 --> 00:14:52,759 wearing a wedding ring uh on his hand 317 00:14:52,759 --> 00:14:55,920 and I went up to him uh up between takes 318 00:14:55,920 --> 00:14:59,120 and I said got to tell you Richard I uh 319 00:14:59,120 --> 00:15:01,680 I never thought of Toby uh as being 320 00:15:01,680 --> 00:15:04,800 married uh and Richard said me neither 321 00:15:04,800 --> 00:15:07,000 um and I said uh well why are you 322 00:15:07,000 --> 00:15:09,720 wearing a wedding ring and he said so 323 00:15:09,720 --> 00:15:11,199 you can figure out why I'm wearing a 324 00:15:11,199 --> 00:15:15,360 wedding ring um and uh and it became uh 325 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:18,000 a thing he's divorced but still in love 326 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:19,399 uh with his ex-wife he doesn't want to 327 00:15:19,399 --> 00:15:23,440 take his wedding ring off yet 1 00:00:12,280 --> 00:00:14,639 there are two kinds of research that you 2 00:00:14,639 --> 00:00:17,600 do uh when you're writing the first is 3 00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:21,119 nuts and bolts research that's literally 4 00:00:21,119 --> 00:00:22,840 find out how many nuts and bolts were 5 00:00:22,840 --> 00:00:25,199 used to make the Golden Gate Bridge uh 6 00:00:25,199 --> 00:00:28,480 okay uh it's it's hard research specific 7 00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:30,119 research I don't mean hard difficult I 8 00:00:30,119 --> 00:00:34,160 mean uh uh that it's specific it's not 9 00:00:34,160 --> 00:00:37,879 uh uh subjective at all uh uh with a 10 00:00:37,879 --> 00:00:39,399 movie like Steve Jobs at The Social 11 00:00:39,399 --> 00:00:42,120 Network where uh I'm 12 00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:45,600 I'm technically illiterate uh I don't 13 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:48,160 know much about computers at all so uh 14 00:00:48,160 --> 00:00:51,280 uh there was going to be a lot of uh of 15 00:00:51,280 --> 00:00:53,079 the first kind of research uh of the 16 00:00:53,079 --> 00:00:55,359 hard kind how does a computer work uh uh 17 00:00:55,359 --> 00:00:58,120 kind of thing the other kind of research 18 00:00:58,120 --> 00:01:00,800 uh is when you don't know what you're 19 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:03,399 looking for yet and and it's it's 20 00:01:03,399 --> 00:01:05,119 research where you're trying to find the 21 00:01:05,119 --> 00:01:08,680 movie for instance uh with the movie 22 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:11,560 Steve Jobs I really didn't know what I 23 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:13,360 was going to write I I didn't know what 24 00:01:13,360 --> 00:01:14,600 it was going to be about of course I had 25 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:17,840 Walter isaacson's biography uh uh to 26 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:20,880 work off of but I I knew I wasn't going 27 00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:23,159 to be writing a a straight biopic so I 28 00:01:23,159 --> 00:01:25,880 wanted to be with and talk with as many 29 00:01:25,880 --> 00:01:28,880 people as I could uh uh who were close 30 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:34,000 to Steve and uh hope that some points of 31 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:37,799 friction uh made themselves known and 32 00:01:37,799 --> 00:01:39,720 that I could write about that with the 33 00:01:39,720 --> 00:01:42,079 second kind of research you absolutely 34 00:01:42,079 --> 00:01:43,920 you need to hear it yourself because 35 00:01:43,920 --> 00:01:45,840 again you don't know what you're looking 36 00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:49,320 for uh and uh you never 37 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:53,240 know what might pop up with the westwing 38 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:56,000 um uh someone will say in passing you 39 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:58,000 know G did you know that the president's 40 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:01,200 motorcade uh uh leaves as soon as the 41 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:03,399 president gets in the car and that 42 00:02:03,399 --> 00:02:05,320 sometimes a junior Aid will get left 43 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:06,600 behind when they're out in the middle of 44 00:02:06,600 --> 00:02:08,800 the country someplace uh and somebody 45 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:11,520 ran into a gas station to buy postcard 46 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:13,239 uh they came out and they found that the 47 00:02:13,239 --> 00:02:15,720 uh the motorcade was gone I think great 48 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:17,760 there's uh uh there's an episode that 49 00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:20,040 kind of 50 00:02:23,760 --> 00:02:26,200 thing you never know where a cool story 51 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:27,440 is going to come from so that's why you 52 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:29,519 want to talk to uh as many people as 53 00:02:29,519 --> 00:02:31,640 possible by the way the the people are 54 00:02:31,640 --> 00:02:34,040 very nice they will often times come to 55 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:35,920 you you know you'll uh get an email 56 00:02:35,920 --> 00:02:37,680 saying uh I heard you're doing a movie 57 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:41,440 about this let me tell you my story uh 58 00:02:41,440 --> 00:02:43,519 uh so but it it'll be dozens and dozens 59 00:02:43,519 --> 00:02:46,560 of people that you're talking to uh over 60 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:49,040 a stretch of months you have to start 61 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:51,599 somewhere it it's a it's a standing jump 62 00:02:51,599 --> 00:02:54,680 so uh again using Steve Jobs as an 63 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:57,159 example you know you you you knew you 64 00:02:57,159 --> 00:03:01,959 wanted to start with Steve Steve wnac uh 65 00:03:01,959 --> 00:03:03,519 uh with you know with with people in the 66 00:03:03,519 --> 00:03:07,440 book who who were close to him uh and 67 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:09,640 then in talking to them they'll say gee 68 00:03:09,640 --> 00:03:10,720 if you really want to know about that 69 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:12,599 you should talk about to this person and 70 00:03:12,599 --> 00:03:15,200 and that kind of thing uh you'll find at 71 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:17,799 the end of all of it that 90% of the 72 00:03:17,799 --> 00:03:20,360 research didn't make it into the movie 73 00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:23,519 but uh uh but you need to do it anyway 74 00:03:23,519 --> 00:03:26,680 in this case it was easy it it was a 75 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:28,599 high-profile project it was a 76 00:03:28,599 --> 00:03:30,640 high-profile book then it became a 77 00:03:30,640 --> 00:03:36,000 high-profile movie um uh I have a a 78 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:41,599 research assistant um and uh uh usually 79 00:03:41,599 --> 00:03:42,640 it's 80 00:03:42,640 --> 00:03:45,040 a that research assistant tracks down 81 00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:46,879 the email address I don't know how he 82 00:03:46,879 --> 00:03:50,280 does it um uh I'll I'll find out though 83 00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:53,040 um and I send an email introducing 84 00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:56,200 myself and uh here's what I'm doing and 85 00:03:56,200 --> 00:03:57,959 uh uh i' you know I'd love to meet with 86 00:03:57,959 --> 00:04:01,319 you at your convenience 87 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:07,120 I don't want to wear them out or take 88 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:08,879 too much of their time I want them to be 89 00:04:08,879 --> 00:04:11,360 happy uh uh to be doing 90 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:14,959 it an hour will usually do the trick I 91 00:04:14,959 --> 00:04:18,079 mean listen there are some cases where 92 00:04:18,079 --> 00:04:21,120 uh like Lisa jobs uh uh uh with with 93 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:23,680 Steve Jobs Lisa did not participate in 94 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:25,800 the book because her father was alive at 95 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:27,800 the time but she did participate uh in 96 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:30,479 the movie and that was 97 00:04:30,479 --> 00:04:35,160 was several meetings um uh because 98 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:37,560 again there's the easy research and the 99 00:04:37,560 --> 00:04:41,120 hard research the the easy research 100 00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:43,680 is what does the Secret Service do when 101 00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:46,960 they you know hear a bullet uh a a a gun 102 00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:48,400 go off tell me what happens what 103 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:51,960 everybody uh uh does the hard research 104 00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:56,360 is I don't know what I'm looking for yet 105 00:04:56,360 --> 00:04:59,360 I only know Lisa that your father denied 106 00:04:59,360 --> 00:05:00,840 p 107 00:05:00,840 --> 00:05:03,800 uh of you until uh this age so I'd like 108 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:05,840 to talk to you I I by the way I would 109 00:05:05,840 --> 00:05:08,880 not put it that harshly to uh uh to to 110 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:12,520 Lisa um uh so that something like Lisa 111 00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:16,000 that's a a process of just getting to 112 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:18,360 know each other uh uh getting to trust 113 00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:21,639 each other in that first meeting I I I 114 00:05:21,639 --> 00:05:24,039 wouldn't ask any tough questions at all 115 00:05:24,039 --> 00:05:27,120 I might not even ask any questions um uh 116 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:31,080 it it's just a cup of coffee um and you 117 00:05:31,080 --> 00:05:32,319 get a little closer in the second 118 00:05:32,319 --> 00:05:34,560 meeting and so on and so on but uh you 119 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:36,639 know sometimes you can just be direct 120 00:05:36,639 --> 00:05:39,840 about it uh tell me something I don't 121 00:05:39,840 --> 00:05:43,720 know uh about how uh the Nightly News is 122 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:46,039 done uh you know tell me something I 123 00:05:46,039 --> 00:05:49,479 don't know uh about uh you know what 124 00:05:49,479 --> 00:05:51,240 goes on in the locker room of the 125 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:53,680 Oakland days we did have a a secret 126 00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:55,919 service adviser uh on the westwing he 127 00:05:55,919 --> 00:05:57,880 was a former was a great guy a former 128 00:05:57,880 --> 00:06:00,360 secret service agent uh one of the 129 00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:04,919 people uh who was protecting Reagan uh 130 00:06:04,919 --> 00:06:07,479 on the day that uh that Reagan got shot 131 00:06:07,479 --> 00:06:12,599 and he now runs uh I'm gonna uh I'm 132 00:06:12,599 --> 00:06:15,120 going to do a little plug for him um uh 133 00:06:15,120 --> 00:06:17,039 he and several other retired Secret 134 00:06:17,039 --> 00:06:21,080 Service agents run a absolutely not 135 00:06:21,080 --> 00:06:23,680 for-profit uh organization that helps 136 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:26,800 find missing children um and these 137 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:29,759 people are good at it uh so uh I'm I'm 138 00:06:29,759 --> 00:06:33,199 really grateful to him but uh it's we'll 139 00:06:33,199 --> 00:06:36,120 usually meet once in person uh and then 140 00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:38,000 everything after that can be done by 141 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:40,840 email or over the 142 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:47,960 phone then there's the 143 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:51,440 research that I find meaningless that 144 00:06:51,440 --> 00:06:54,000 other people don't 145 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:56,560 um 146 00:06:56,560 --> 00:07:00,680 I when I was very little uh um through a 147 00:07:00,680 --> 00:07:03,759 friend I got taken onto the set of All 148 00:07:03,759 --> 00:07:05,960 the President's Men the The Washington 149 00:07:05,960 --> 00:07:09,039 Post Newsroom set and the person showing 150 00:07:09,039 --> 00:07:11,319 us the set I was little but I still 151 00:07:11,319 --> 00:07:13,680 remember it uh the person showing us the 152 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:15,960 set reached into one of the trash cans 153 00:07:15,960 --> 00:07:18,639 next to a desk on the set pulled out a 154 00:07:18,639 --> 00:07:21,240 crumpled piece of paper and uncrumpled 155 00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:23,400 it and showed us that on that piece of 156 00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:26,319 paper were 157 00:07:26,319 --> 00:07:30,319 yesterday's baseball scores yesterday 158 00:07:30,319 --> 00:07:32,039 being 159 00:07:32,039 --> 00:07:36,120 1973 uh uh yesterday um in other words 160 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:38,000 the garbage cans were filled with what 161 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:41,240 the garbage cans would be filled with 162 00:07:41,240 --> 00:07:45,120 and even at whatever age uh I was I 163 00:07:45,120 --> 00:07:47,560 thought myself the cameras are never 164 00:07:47,560 --> 00:07:50,720 going to see the garbage cans much less 165 00:07:50,720 --> 00:07:52,440 what's in the garbage cans much less 166 00:07:52,440 --> 00:07:54,680 what's printed on a crumpled up piece of 167 00:07:54,680 --> 00:08:00,319 paper um isn't this self-indulgence 168 00:08:00,319 --> 00:08:03,120 uh on the part of the director it seems 169 00:08:03,120 --> 00:08:05,560 to me the only good it does is showing a 170 00:08:05,560 --> 00:08:08,879 visitor to the Set uh uh that this is 171 00:08:08,879 --> 00:08:11,319 cool but there are some directors you 172 00:08:11,319 --> 00:08:15,400 know who who like to do that um uh 173 00:08:15,400 --> 00:08:18,759 I for me if it's not helping the actors 174 00:08:18,759 --> 00:08:21,080 and if the camera can't see it uh it 175 00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:24,560 doesn't matter often times actors will 176 00:08:24,560 --> 00:08:27,199 do uh uh research that's that's 177 00:08:27,199 --> 00:08:30,479 meaningless and they get to do whatever 178 00:08:30,479 --> 00:08:32,120 they want however they cross the finish 179 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:34,760 line however they give the the great 180 00:08:34,760 --> 00:08:37,120 performance that they give which was the 181 00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:41,159 reason you hired them uh is fine with me 182 00:08:41,159 --> 00:08:43,159 but 183 00:08:43,159 --> 00:08:47,160 um okay uh on the movie Malice uh Alec 184 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:49,959 Baldwin played a a a trauma 185 00:08:49,959 --> 00:08:53,560 surgeon Alec is a great actor is a truly 186 00:08:53,560 --> 00:08:56,600 great actor and I like him very 187 00:08:56,600 --> 00:09:01,600 much but uh he wanted to spend a lot of 188 00:09:01,600 --> 00:09:06,480 time uh in uh an operating room uh 189 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:08,839 watching surgeons 190 00:09:08,839 --> 00:09:10,920 operate until one day I just said you 191 00:09:10,920 --> 00:09:12,959 know Alec we're not going to ask you to 192 00:09:12,959 --> 00:09:14,880 actually operate on somebody there 193 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:16,600 there's going to be dialogue and your 194 00:09:16,600 --> 00:09:19,000 hands are going to be doing this uh you 195 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:21,600 know um 196 00:09:21,600 --> 00:09:25,680 uh so I I that that that kind of 197 00:09:25,680 --> 00:09:28,920 research always seems uh uh pointless to 198 00:09:28,920 --> 00:09:30,959 me but if makes the actors feel better 199 00:09:30,959 --> 00:09:34,680 that it's fine with me um as long as 200 00:09:34,680 --> 00:09:38,320 they don't come back 201 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:41,160 saying this one surgeon said this really 202 00:09:41,160 --> 00:09:44,240 cool thing and uh I I want to say it you 203 00:09:44,240 --> 00:09:47,240 know 1 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:07,720 how do you incorporate the research into 2 00:00:07,720 --> 00:00:10,679 the writing you know it depends on uh 3 00:00:10,679 --> 00:00:12,320 what you've discovered uh in the 4 00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:13,960 research like I I mentioned as an 5 00:00:13,960 --> 00:00:15,920 example the uh the president's motor 6 00:00:15,920 --> 00:00:19,320 Cade uh which became uh a westwing 7 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:22,600 episode uh uh you know that that was a 8 00:00:22,600 --> 00:00:24,320 gift from the gods that was too much 9 00:00:24,320 --> 00:00:27,560 that was too good to be true uh the the 10 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:29,679 one piece of research that really got me 11 00:00:29,679 --> 00:00:32,920 going uh with the American president was 12 00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:34,399 uh I I hired a researcher and the 13 00:00:34,399 --> 00:00:40,160 researcher got me um a whole bunch of uh 14 00:00:40,160 --> 00:00:41,480 what are called the president's daily 15 00:00:41,480 --> 00:00:44,239 diary the president's daily diary is not 16 00:00:44,239 --> 00:00:46,399 dear diary today she looked at me in 17 00:00:46,399 --> 00:00:49,640 Geometry uh uh it is a minute by minute 18 00:00:49,640 --> 00:00:52,039 accounting of what the president did 19 00:00:52,039 --> 00:00:56,280 that day from 7 a.m. to 7:03 he got his 20 00:00:56,280 --> 00:00:59,399 intelligence briefing from 7:03 to 7:06 21 00:00:59,399 --> 00:01:02,039 he took a picture with so and so 708 he 22 00:01:02,039 --> 00:01:03,600 went back to the residence he returned 23 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:05,960 to the West Wing it's that kind of thing 24 00:01:05,960 --> 00:01:08,040 and it was for presidents going all the 25 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:11,799 way back to uh Herbert Hoover and uh I 26 00:01:11,799 --> 00:01:15,439 was just suddenly struck 27 00:01:15,439 --> 00:01:18,759 by the fact that it was a human person 28 00:01:18,759 --> 00:01:21,040 uh uh in the white house because next to 29 00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:23,280 a meeting with a treasury secretary or 30 00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:28,079 with a king um he would uh you know go 31 00:01:28,079 --> 00:01:30,079 back to uh the East wing for or a 32 00:01:30,079 --> 00:01:32,560 20-minute nap um and then there would be 33 00:01:32,560 --> 00:01:36,680 something else and so uh I I I just got 34 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:38,000 really interested in the in the 35 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:40,880 president as a person like when he runs 36 00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:43,240 out of toothpaste uh what happens if 37 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:45,079 somebody tells you something where there 38 00:01:45,079 --> 00:01:48,640 is an inherent problem uh for instance 39 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:50,360 uh again with the West Wing we did an 40 00:01:50,360 --> 00:01:53,640 episode very early on about the census 41 00:01:53,640 --> 00:01:54,880 and you wouldn't think that there would 42 00:01:54,880 --> 00:01:56,880 be anything dramatic about the census 43 00:01:56,880 --> 00:01:59,000 it's somebody with a clipboard knocking 44 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:00,840 on your door and ask asking you 10 45 00:02:00,840 --> 00:02:03,880 questions uh but it turns out that uh 46 00:02:03,880 --> 00:02:06,479 that there is and uh so you know once 47 00:02:06,479 --> 00:02:08,840 you've located that problem then you 48 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:11,560 start writing about 49 00:02:17,200 --> 00:02:19,959 it screen says it's an unimplemented 50 00:02:19,959 --> 00:02:22,239 trap but the air code is wrong it's a 51 00:02:22,239 --> 00:02:23,920 system error so what's the upshot it's 52 00:02:23,920 --> 00:02:25,599 not going to say hello it absolutely is 53 00:02:25,599 --> 00:02:27,000 going to say hello it's nobody's fault 54 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:28,760 it's a syst Bu The Voice demo The Voice 55 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:31,720 demo is FL telling you that for this 56 00:02:31,720 --> 00:02:33,959 thing is overbuilt it worked last night 57 00:02:33,959 --> 00:02:35,480 it worked the night before that it 58 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:37,319 worked 3 hours ago it's not working now 59 00:02:37,319 --> 00:02:39,400 so just skip over The Voice demo skip 60 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:41,280 over everything else is working skip 61 00:02:41,280 --> 00:02:43,400 over The Voice demo we needed to say 62 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:45,280 hello the screen says it's an 63 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:47,400 unimplemented trap but the dialogue box 64 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:49,840 is wrong it's a system error uh I still 65 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:52,120 don't know what that means and I I wrote 66 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:55,480 the movie uh I we wrote many drafts of 67 00:02:55,480 --> 00:02:57,040 the movie so I wrote that line many 68 00:02:57,040 --> 00:02:59,360 times I've obviously seen the movie many 69 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:01,040 many times working on it in the editing 70 00:03:01,040 --> 00:03:02,920 room seeing it in theaters I still don't 71 00:03:02,920 --> 00:03:06,599 know what that line means um I what I 72 00:03:06,599 --> 00:03:10,640 know is is that it's correct it's it's 73 00:03:10,640 --> 00:03:13,560 what happened um uh that's what research 74 00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:16,760 gave me I'm there are a couple of things 75 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:17,879 I'm looking for depending on the 76 00:03:17,879 --> 00:03:20,480 situation but one of the things uh I'll 77 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:26,159 look for often is cool pwa um uh the 78 00:03:26,159 --> 00:03:27,400 language 79 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:31,760 specific uh uh to a vocation that will 80 00:03:31,760 --> 00:03:34,720 make us in the audience feel like those 81 00:03:34,720 --> 00:03:36,920 guys are really good at what they do 82 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:38,439 they uh they know what they're doing and 83 00:03:38,439 --> 00:03:41,040 there's a a whole vocabulary in there 84 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:43,280 that I get to figure out now there are 85 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:45,040 times when you don't want the audience 86 00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:47,360 to know what uh aign means either 87 00:03:47,360 --> 00:03:49,640 because what the moment is about is 88 00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:51,560 these guys know uh what they're talking 89 00:03:51,560 --> 00:03:53,640 about these guys know a lot more than I 90 00:03:53,640 --> 00:03:56,959 do this is what it sounds like when Andy 91 00:03:56,959 --> 00:03:59,959 herzfeld uh who's a world-class engineer 92 00:03:59,959 --> 00:04:01,840 and Steve Jobs and Joanna Hoffman are 93 00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:03,799 talking about a computer problem it 94 00:04:03,799 --> 00:04:05,760 doesn't sound the same way it does when 95 00:04:05,760 --> 00:04:07,519 I'm talking about a computer problem 96 00:04:07,519 --> 00:04:10,319 which is you know should I turn it off 97 00:04:10,319 --> 00:04:12,239 and then turn it on again I'm pretty 98 00:04:12,239 --> 00:04:14,120 sure that in that that in that case in 99 00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:15,959 the case of that 100 00:04:15,959 --> 00:04:19,400 line uh that it probably came in an 101 00:04:19,400 --> 00:04:22,040 email from Andy herzfeld Andy herzfeld 102 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:25,400 was uh the chief engineer for the 103 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:28,320 Macintosh he was very close to uh Steve 104 00:04:28,320 --> 00:04:30,440 Jobs he was played in the movie movie by 105 00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:34,720 Michael stalberg um and uh I had met 106 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:37,199 with him I had met with Andy once and 107 00:04:37,199 --> 00:04:39,280 then we began an email 108 00:04:39,280 --> 00:04:41,160 relationship uh 109 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:46,520 so uh I asked him uh about this it 110 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:49,800 really happened that uh uh the that the 111 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:52,280 Macintosh refused to introduce itself 112 00:04:52,280 --> 00:04:53,520 which it was supposed to do but it 113 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:54,840 actually happened I think a couple of 114 00:04:54,840 --> 00:04:57,199 weeks before the launch uh and not a 115 00:04:57,199 --> 00:04:59,039 couple of minutes before the launch so I 116 00:04:59,039 --> 00:05:02,840 started emailing with Andy um uh saying 117 00:05:02,840 --> 00:05:05,320 uh you know talk me 118 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:08,479 through what would happen uh in this 119 00:05:08,479 --> 00:05:11,720 instance um and then I get to use what I 120 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:15,840 want and not use what I don't 121 00:05:19,280 --> 00:05:22,479 want if you're a writer you have a a a 122 00:05:22,479 --> 00:05:25,479 an inner moral compass um uh if you're 123 00:05:25,479 --> 00:05:27,080 writing 124 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:30,080 non-fiction um uh and you have to judge 125 00:05:30,080 --> 00:05:31,160 for 126 00:05:31,160 --> 00:05:33,199 yourself what's what's the more 127 00:05:33,199 --> 00:05:35,120 important truth because you're going to 128 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:38,000 be lying almost constantly during this 129 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:39,600 you have to people don't speak in 130 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:41,800 dialogue people's don't people's lives 131 00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:44,000 don't play out in a series of scenes 132 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:49,120 that form a narrative uh uh you are 133 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:50,520 you're the one doing that it's the 134 00:05:50,520 --> 00:05:52,160 difference between a painting and a 135 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:54,600 photograph uh and and we're doing 136 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:57,000 paintings so if I'm telling a true story 137 00:05:57,000 --> 00:05:58,280 particularly if the people are still 138 00:05:58,280 --> 00:06:01,240 alive uh uh if I'm telling a true story 139 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:03,280 I'm not going 140 00:06:03,280 --> 00:06:05,199 to 141 00:06:05,199 --> 00:06:09,039 uh do something that would hurt someone 142 00:06:09,039 --> 00:06:11,160 uh uh it's you kind of take the the 143 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:13,639 hypocritic oath first to no harm uh I'm 144 00:06:13,639 --> 00:06:14,919 not going to do something that that 145 00:06:14,919 --> 00:06:17,960 hurts someone uh and I'm not going to do 146 00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:21,240 something that changes the 147 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:25,639 fundamental Truth uh of what's Happening 148 00:06:25,639 --> 00:06:28,280 uh I'll give you an example uh in The 149 00:06:28,280 --> 00:06:31,919 Social Network um that 150 00:06:31,919 --> 00:06:35,520 movie begins with uh Jesse Eisenberg and 151 00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:36,639 Rooney 152 00:06:36,639 --> 00:06:39,560 Mara having a bad date and breaking up 153 00:06:39,560 --> 00:06:42,000 uh in a bar and then Jesse as Mark 154 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:44,680 Zuckerberg goes back to his dorm room uh 155 00:06:44,680 --> 00:06:47,160 and he begins to 156 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:51,039 blog I have Mark Zuckerberg's blog post 157 00:06:51,039 --> 00:06:53,160 uh from that night it's not through any 158 00:06:53,160 --> 00:06:55,160 secret means anybody can get it he tells 159 00:06:55,160 --> 00:06:58,319 us that he's drunk and drinking in that 160 00:06:58,319 --> 00:07:01,759 so originally in the script what I wrote 161 00:07:01,759 --> 00:07:06,520 was Mark comes into uh his dorm room 162 00:07:06,520 --> 00:07:10,520 okay uh that were on his computer he 163 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:13,720 walks into the frame Powers up his 164 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:16,160 computer walks out of the frame we hear 165 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:19,360 some clinking and Ice goes into a glass 166 00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:21,479 vodka gets poured over the ice orange 167 00:07:21,479 --> 00:07:23,440 juice gets uh poured over that while 168 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:26,479 we're hearing uh uh this voice over well 169 00:07:26,479 --> 00:07:28,000 a couple of weeks before we started 170 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:30,599 shooting we found out out that Mark 171 00:07:30,599 --> 00:07:33,479 Zuckerberg was drinking beer um that 172 00:07:33,479 --> 00:07:37,400 night and in fact it was Becks so our uh 173 00:07:37,400 --> 00:07:39,400 uh director David Fincher who I love a 174 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:42,360 lot um uh said you know we got to change 175 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:46,039 it from uh a screwdriver to beer and 176 00:07:46,039 --> 00:07:48,280 it's going to be beex and I pleaded with 177 00:07:48,280 --> 00:07:51,400 him uh let's not do 178 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:54,199 that making a vodan orange juice is more 179 00:07:54,199 --> 00:07:57,000 visually interesting than opening uh a 180 00:07:57,000 --> 00:08:00,360 bottle of beer uh uh making a vodka on 181 00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:03,039 orange juice says I'm drinking to get 182 00:08:03,039 --> 00:08:05,479 drunk as opposed to drinking a beer a 183 00:08:05,479 --> 00:08:07,639 college student that's what they do uh 184 00:08:07,639 --> 00:08:10,199 when they're thirsty and 185 00:08:10,199 --> 00:08:13,840 mostly it did not for me change the 186 00:08:13,840 --> 00:08:16,599 fundamental truth Mark tells us that 187 00:08:16,599 --> 00:08:19,120 he's drunk and he's drinking I would 188 00:08:19,120 --> 00:08:22,960 never have him doing a line of cocaine 189 00:08:22,960 --> 00:08:25,199 uh uh in that situation that's different 190 00:08:25,199 --> 00:08:27,599 uh uh than drinking I'd never have him 191 00:08:27,599 --> 00:08:30,000 uh uh shooting up um 192 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:32,399 uh I probably wouldn't even have him 193 00:08:32,399 --> 00:08:35,159 doing a bunch of tequila shots uh in a 194 00:08:35,159 --> 00:08:37,599 row but having him drink a vakka and 195 00:08:37,599 --> 00:08:39,440 orange juice instead of a beer that was 196 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:42,519 perfectly fine uh uh Truth for me to 197 00:08:42,519 --> 00:08:44,720 change it didn't change the more 198 00:08:44,720 --> 00:08:47,959 important truth um uh 199 00:08:47,959 --> 00:08:50,519 so uh uh 200 00:08:50,519 --> 00:08:54,480 you you have to decide is this lie that 201 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:58,160 I'm telling unfair somehow to this 202 00:08:58,160 --> 00:09:00,399 person um 203 00:09:00,399 --> 00:09:02,440 am I doing damage to the just the 204 00:09:02,440 --> 00:09:07,160 concept of Truth uh uh in general um or 205 00:09:07,160 --> 00:09:10,880 uh is it again for me having him drink a 206 00:09:10,880 --> 00:09:15,040 screwdriver uh instead of a beer uh uh 207 00:09:15,040 --> 00:09:18,120 was was fine with me it was not fine 208 00:09:18,120 --> 00:09:20,040 with David Fincher and that's why in the 209 00:09:20,040 --> 00:09:23,880 movie he's drinking a beer 1 00:00:12,559 --> 00:00:14,400 here here's something important to 2 00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:18,039 remember and to uh uh you you kind of 3 00:00:18,039 --> 00:00:21,800 learn about it as you go the audience is 4 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:25,680 a component in the event and here's what 5 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:27,760 I mean by that and I'm I'm I'm going to 6 00:00:27,760 --> 00:00:30,000 use a famous painting uh as an example 7 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:32,920 example uh uh the George Sarat painting 8 00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:37,680 that hangs in the Chicago art museum uh 9 00:00:37,680 --> 00:00:38,879 I'm going to mess up the title I think 10 00:00:38,879 --> 00:00:40,760 it's a Sunday on the island Sunday on 11 00:00:40,760 --> 00:00:42,719 the aisle of lron shot but it's a it's a 12 00:00:42,719 --> 00:00:44,440 famous painting Steven sonheim wrote a 13 00:00:44,440 --> 00:00:46,120 musical about it Sunday in the park with 14 00:00:46,120 --> 00:00:51,760 George um George Sarat was a poist uh 15 00:00:51,760 --> 00:00:53,559 okay which 16 00:00:53,559 --> 00:00:56,039 meant he he didn't paint like that in 17 00:00:56,039 --> 00:00:58,719 Brush Strokes he painted like that uh uh 18 00:00:58,719 --> 00:01:00,879 with the tip of the brush uh uh with 19 00:01:00,879 --> 00:01:03,359 dots but most often he painted with two 20 00:01:03,359 --> 00:01:06,280 brushes in his hand going red blue red 21 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:08,159 blue red blue red blue red blue red blue 22 00:01:08,159 --> 00:01:09,720 red blue very very close together 23 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:13,240 because he felt that if the viewer stood 24 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:14,960 back from the painting which is how you 25 00:01:14,960 --> 00:01:17,600 have to uh uh see the painting there's a 26 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:19,280 you know it's a Velvet Rope uh in the 27 00:01:19,280 --> 00:01:21,680 museum and you're standing about 10 feet 28 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:25,240 back from it he felt that the viewer in 29 00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:27,799 their that their mind will mix that red 30 00:01:27,799 --> 00:01:31,680 and blue into a violet much more vibrant 31 00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:34,119 than he can mix on his palette by mixing 32 00:01:34,119 --> 00:01:37,159 red and blue there so that the 33 00:01:37,159 --> 00:01:41,000 viewer becomes a a very important part 34 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:42,479 uh of this painting the painting is 35 00:01:42,479 --> 00:01:44,079 actually different when no one is 36 00:01:44,079 --> 00:01:46,640 looking at it uh uh than it is when 37 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:50,560 someone uh is looking at it you want as 38 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:54,240 much as you can for the audience to be 39 00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:57,119 uh a a a part of what's going on the 40 00:01:57,119 --> 00:01:59,159 more the audience can be putting things 41 00:01:59,159 --> 00:02:00,439 together in their head the 42 00:02:00,439 --> 00:02:04,680 they that's something they like um uh uh 43 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:08,720 they you you want to treat them like 44 00:02:08,720 --> 00:02:13,080 they're smart uh and and they are uh uh 45 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:17,120 and uh they they don't want to just sit 46 00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:20,760 back and kind of observe uh uh uh they 47 00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:23,040 they want to put things together uh 48 00:02:23,040 --> 00:02:26,599 themselves and by the way if you can get 49 00:02:26,599 --> 00:02:30,080 them doing that and they don't see 50 00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:33,319 reversal coming um 51 00:02:33,319 --> 00:02:35,800 it's if you're in the audience it's a 52 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:38,720 it's a very satisfying feeling that oh 53 00:02:38,720 --> 00:02:40,599 God I didn't I didn't see that and I'm 54 00:02:40,599 --> 00:02:42,200 smart and I've been paying attention and 55 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:47,080 I didn't see that um uh if if you're 56 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:49,599 able to you know say you're writing a 57 00:02:49,599 --> 00:02:52,159 Sherlock Holmes uh story and you're able 58 00:02:52,159 --> 00:02:54,519 to give the audience all of the clues 59 00:02:54,519 --> 00:02:57,800 that Sherlock Holmes uh has uh the exact 60 00:02:57,800 --> 00:02:59,480 same information that Sherlock Holmes 61 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:01,400 has but he figured this thing out and 62 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:03,959 you weren't able to uh that's a very 63 00:03:03,959 --> 00:03:06,599 satisfying 64 00:03:10,640 --> 00:03:13,879 experience I saw a made for TV movie uh 65 00:03:13,879 --> 00:03:16,519 recently uh which was it was very good 66 00:03:16,519 --> 00:03:19,400 but there was a scene uh a character has 67 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:23,319 to testify in front of Congress uh so 68 00:03:23,319 --> 00:03:28,120 there's the uh you know walking up the 69 00:03:28,120 --> 00:03:31,680 steps uh of the Capital uh moment you 70 00:03:31,680 --> 00:03:32,959 know getting out of the car walking up 71 00:03:32,959 --> 00:03:35,319 the steps of the capital 72 00:03:35,319 --> 00:03:37,560 uh uh with his 73 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:41,080 lawyer uh and there's press everywhere 74 00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:42,879 uh uh shouting 75 00:03:42,879 --> 00:03:45,519 questions and as they're walking up the 76 00:03:45,519 --> 00:03:50,000 steps the lawyer is quickly filling the 77 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:52,079 client in okay so they're going to ask 78 00:03:52,079 --> 00:03:53,480 you this they're going to do that and 79 00:03:53,480 --> 00:03:54,480 then you're going to get to do this and 80 00:03:54,480 --> 00:03:55,239 do 81 00:03:55,239 --> 00:04:00,360 that and that scene I Promise You Rang 82 00:04:00,360 --> 00:04:03,760 a little bit false to anyone who was 83 00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:06,239 watching the show and you wouldn't even 84 00:04:06,239 --> 00:04:07,959 know why but it's just going to it's 85 00:04:07,959 --> 00:04:09,439 going to be like a little Pebble in your 86 00:04:09,439 --> 00:04:13,519 shoe it's going to ring false the reason 87 00:04:13,519 --> 00:04:17,600 is we know in our bones that that scene 88 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:19,519 would have happened already before they 89 00:04:19,519 --> 00:04:21,799 showed up to the steps of the thing the 90 00:04:21,799 --> 00:04:24,240 lawyer didn't wait until that moment 91 00:04:24,240 --> 00:04:26,320 getting out of the car to tell the 92 00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:28,440 client what was going to happen uh in 93 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:31,280 the room that happened back at the 94 00:04:31,280 --> 00:04:34,120 lawyer's office over a period of days if 95 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:38,240 not weeks hours of prepping uh for this 96 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:39,479 the only thing that's going to happen on 97 00:04:39,479 --> 00:04:42,160 those steps is just be cool um uh 98 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:44,600 pretend the Press isn't there uh uh just 99 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:47,160 be cool you're going to be fine okay it 100 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:49,400 it's okay to do something that would 101 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:51,720 never happen as long as the audience 102 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:54,440 doesn't know that it would never happen 103 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:56,639 um and but the 104 00:04:56,639 --> 00:04:58,800 audience without having a rule book on 105 00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:00,520 their lap the audience is a pretty good 106 00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:04,680 judge of uh of what would and and 107 00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:08,560 wouldn't happen and say uh uh the Oval 108 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:11,560 Office 109 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:14,919 um you you know no no nobody could take 110 00:05:14,919 --> 00:05:17,520 out a gun uh uh in the Oval Office the 111 00:05:17,520 --> 00:05:21,400 audience would uh uh go like that um uh 112 00:05:21,400 --> 00:05:24,080 so I'm trying to think of of something 113 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:26,800 I've done that you know wouldn't or 114 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:30,360 couldn't happen uh well let's stick with 115 00:05:30,360 --> 00:05:35,039 the westwing uh uh for a second um uh I 116 00:05:35,039 --> 00:05:37,120 got it was really fun especially in the 117 00:05:37,120 --> 00:05:38,759 early days of The West Wing I would get 118 00:05:38,759 --> 00:05:42,000 chewed out by meline Albright uh by 119 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:45,720 Sandy berer the uh the uh uh president's 120 00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:49,080 National Security uh uh adviser um 121 00:05:49,080 --> 00:05:53,360 because they felt that really important 122 00:05:53,360 --> 00:05:56,120 foreign policy and Military decisions 123 00:05:56,120 --> 00:05:58,120 were being made only by the president 124 00:05:58,120 --> 00:05:59,440 the chief of staff the chairman of the 125 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:02,479 joint Jo Chiefs um uh you know it was 126 00:06:02,479 --> 00:06:05,280 just John Amos Martin Sheen and um uh 127 00:06:05,280 --> 00:06:06,919 and John Spencer that was doing it 128 00:06:06,919 --> 00:06:09,599 where's the Secretary State uh uh you 129 00:06:09,599 --> 00:06:10,800 know where's the National Security 130 00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:12,199 adviser it was because of getting chewed 131 00:06:12,199 --> 00:06:15,599 out by Sandy Berger that uh Ana deir 132 00:06:15,599 --> 00:06:18,400 Smith came on the show uh in the second 133 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:21,120 season that's stuff that you don't 134 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:25,160 really notice uh couldn't happen uh the 135 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:27,840 stuff that you know if you make the 136 00:06:27,840 --> 00:06:30,960 audience groan 137 00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:33,479 if you do a reel that couldn't happen or 138 00:06:33,479 --> 00:06:35,240 that wouldn't happen I can tell you it's 139 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:38,240 hard to get the audience 140 00:06:42,840 --> 00:06:47,199 back the first thing I I want to 141 00:06:47,199 --> 00:06:49,880 know fact the only thing that I want to 142 00:06:49,880 --> 00:06:53,039 know uh uh when when we do a test 143 00:06:53,039 --> 00:06:55,759 screening or when a play is in 144 00:06:55,759 --> 00:06:59,680 previews uh uh the the what I want to 145 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:03,039 know is was it comprehensible uh uh did 146 00:07:03,039 --> 00:07:05,680 you follow the story did uh uh were you 147 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:07,199 able 148 00:07:07,199 --> 00:07:09,400 to I mean the question I'll ask is did 149 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:11,680 you understand it uh uh basically 150 00:07:11,680 --> 00:07:13,319 there's a joke in A Few Good Men that 151 00:07:13,319 --> 00:07:16,120 worked on stage and didn't work in the 152 00:07:16,120 --> 00:07:17,520 movie even though it worked during 153 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:20,080 rehearsals uh of the movie and the joke 154 00:07:20,080 --> 00:07:21,560 it's not the greatest joke in the world 155 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:25,840 but uh uh it Tom Cruz Kevin Pollock and 156 00:07:25,840 --> 00:07:29,879 Dei Moore uh are in Cuba uh they're 157 00:07:29,879 --> 00:07:31,199 investigating this thing they're talking 158 00:07:31,199 --> 00:07:32,400 to various people and they're talking to 159 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:35,080 kefir southerland's character Lieutenant 160 00:07:35,080 --> 00:07:39,759 Kendrick um uh who is uh uh he's a bible 161 00:07:39,759 --> 00:07:45,000 thumper um uh and he kind of explodes uh 162 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:47,280 at one point uh saying listen I believe 163 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:49,000 in God and in his son Jesus Christ and 164 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:51,720 because I do I can say this Santiago did 165 00:07:51,720 --> 00:07:54,319 not die because he was sick Santiago did 166 00:07:54,319 --> 00:07:56,879 not die because he was tired Santiago 167 00:07:56,879 --> 00:07:59,120 died because he had no code he had no 168 00:07:59,120 --> 00:08:02,280 honor and God was watching and there's a 169 00:08:02,280 --> 00:08:04,840 pause and Kevin Pollock's character 170 00:08:04,840 --> 00:08:06,639 turns to Tom Cruz's character and says 171 00:08:06,639 --> 00:08:09,599 how do you feel about that theory um uh 172 00:08:09,599 --> 00:08:12,280 and it always got a big laugh on stage 173 00:08:12,280 --> 00:08:14,319 and in fact when we were rehearsing the 174 00:08:14,319 --> 00:08:16,720 scene uh on the set I I'll never forget 175 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:19,759 this it was my first movie I walked onto 176 00:08:19,759 --> 00:08:25,159 the Sound Stage and I saw that uh you 177 00:08:25,159 --> 00:08:27,199 know Rob Riner the director was standing 178 00:08:27,199 --> 00:08:28,960 at the monitors and his father Carl 179 00:08:28,960 --> 00:08:31,479 Riner uh had come to visit the set that 180 00:08:31,479 --> 00:08:34,599 day and was right next to him they uh uh 181 00:08:34,599 --> 00:08:36,519 so I just gave them some space I stood 182 00:08:36,519 --> 00:08:38,880 like 10t behind them so I didn't get in 183 00:08:38,880 --> 00:08:42,279 the middle of a fatherson uh moment uh 184 00:08:42,279 --> 00:08:43,719 and they didn't know that I was standing 185 00:08:43,719 --> 00:08:47,160 back there and the guys did the scene um 186 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:51,399 and Carl uh turned to Rob and said how 187 00:08:51,399 --> 00:08:52,800 do you feel about that theory that's a 188 00:08:52,800 --> 00:08:55,480 funny line um uh and I'll never forget 189 00:08:55,480 --> 00:08:57,720 that like sort of getting validation 190 00:08:57,720 --> 00:08:59,440 from Carl Riner really one of the 191 00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:03,519 funniest people ever anyway in the movie 192 00:09:03,519 --> 00:09:05,279 there's no laugh and the reason there's 193 00:09:05,279 --> 00:09:09,240 no laugh is because it's a single of uh 194 00:09:09,240 --> 00:09:11,200 Kevin poock turning and saying how do 195 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:13,680 you feel about that theory as opposed to 196 00:09:13,680 --> 00:09:16,760 a two shot or a wider shot and because 197 00:09:16,760 --> 00:09:20,279 it's a single we're not 100% sure who 198 00:09:20,279 --> 00:09:23,200 Kevin Pollock is talking to uh uh when 199 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:25,760 he says that do you think Santiago was 200 00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:27,880 murdered Commander I believe in God and 201 00:09:27,880 --> 00:09:30,440 his son Jesus Christ because I do I can 202 00:09:30,440 --> 00:09:33,519 say this private Santiago is dead and 203 00:09:33,519 --> 00:09:36,079 that is a tragedy but he is dead because 204 00:09:36,079 --> 00:09:38,560 he had no code he is dead because he had 205 00:09:38,560 --> 00:09:39,560 no 206 00:09:39,560 --> 00:09:43,160 honor and God was 207 00:09:43,519 --> 00:09:45,440 watching how do you feel about that 208 00:09:45,440 --> 00:09:49,160 theory sounds good let's move on if you 209 00:09:49,160 --> 00:09:52,519 put confusion uh into the mix even the 210 00:09:52,519 --> 00:09:56,040 tiniest bit of confusion an audience is 211 00:09:56,040 --> 00:09:59,440 going to be apprehensive okay an 212 00:09:59,440 --> 00:10:01,079 audience needs to feel when they sit 213 00:10:01,079 --> 00:10:03,040 down in that chair that the 214 00:10:03,040 --> 00:10:06,959 Storyteller uh has them by the hand and 215 00:10:06,959 --> 00:10:09,399 uh uh and is leading them through this 216 00:10:09,399 --> 00:10:14,200 story um uh but unfortunately the 217 00:10:14,200 --> 00:10:16,800 antidote uh of for confusion can be 218 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:19,480 dangerous too uh 219 00:10:19,480 --> 00:10:22,279 because the worst crime you can commit 220 00:10:22,279 --> 00:10:23,880 is telling the audience something they 221 00:10:23,880 --> 00:10:28,600 already know uh okay um uh it's it's 222 00:10:28,600 --> 00:10:30,440 like dropping a ball on a playground and 223 00:10:30,440 --> 00:10:32,079 suddenly that ball turn that basketball 224 00:10:32,079 --> 00:10:34,760 turns into lead it's very hard to uh 225 00:10:34,760 --> 00:10:36,959 pick up again it it'll take a while for 226 00:10:36,959 --> 00:10:39,000 the audience to forgive you uh for 227 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:43,320 having done that um uh so you've got to 228 00:10:43,320 --> 00:10:45,760 sort of balance right on the edge of 229 00:10:45,760 --> 00:10:50,120 that razor uh of them not being confused 230 00:10:50,120 --> 00:10:52,320 and you're not telling them something 231 00:10:52,320 --> 00:10:55,560 they already know 1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,880 [Music] 2 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:14,120 the best way you're going to 3 00:00:14,120 --> 00:00:17,160 learn about screenwriting about writing 4 00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:20,600 for television about writing plays is by 5 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:22,920 watching movies watching television 6 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:26,160 watching plays and mostly reading 7 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:29,679 screenplays reading tele plays reading 8 00:00:29,679 --> 00:00:30,800 play 9 00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:33,079 if you have pick your favorite movies 10 00:00:33,079 --> 00:00:35,920 pick your favorite five movies find the 11 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:38,520 screenplays for those movies sit and 12 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:40,760 watch the movie with the screenplay on 13 00:00:40,760 --> 00:00:45,079 your lap see exactly how 14 00:00:45,079 --> 00:00:48,320 the what's there on the screen what it 15 00:00:48,320 --> 00:00:51,000 looked like when it was on the page uh 16 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:53,399 uh see how that really you know people 17 00:00:53,399 --> 00:00:57,719 who uh uh who love cars uh 18 00:00:57,719 --> 00:01:00,440 they they take apart cars 19 00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:02,600 um uh they started by opening the hood 20 00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:04,680 of a car getting underneath a car and 21 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:07,280 just taking everything apart and uh and 22 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:10,119 laying it on the floor do that people 23 00:01:10,119 --> 00:01:13,840 who are super into computers um uh they 24 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:16,000 all have one thing in common when they 25 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:18,439 were 9 years old they built a computer 26 00:01:18,439 --> 00:01:21,400 uh uh they or took one apart uh they 27 00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:23,240 they took their parents' computer apart 28 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:25,640 and laid it on the floor um you know 29 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:29,280 there are some people who uh have never 30 00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:31,040 taken a music lesson can't read music 31 00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:32,479 and they sit down in front of a piano 32 00:01:32,479 --> 00:01:35,200 and they just get it uh and they can 33 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:37,640 play uh I'm sure that there are people 34 00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:40,680 who can sit down and understand what a 35 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:43,360 story is without ever having been told 36 00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:48,119 uh what a story is I I I wasn't um uh 37 00:01:48,119 --> 00:01:50,920 but I learned this rules of story uh 38 00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:53,719 first by uh I I went to college and got 39 00:01:53,719 --> 00:01:56,719 a BFA in uh in theater you know it was 40 00:01:56,719 --> 00:02:00,399 an academic uh uh approach to uh drama 41 00:02:00,399 --> 00:02:01,360 which 42 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:04,159 is learning Aristotle learning the parts 43 00:02:04,159 --> 00:02:07,560 of drama uh Theater history reading a 44 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:11,280 lot of plays and talking about uh okay 45 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:12,800 there was the exposition here's the 46 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:16,160 inciting action uh here's the action 47 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:20,130 reversal uh um uh Climax and 48 00:02:20,130 --> 00:02:25,200 [Music] 49 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:29,239 Dan there's a tendency to think that 50 00:02:29,239 --> 00:02:30,840 with 51 00:02:30,840 --> 00:02:33,800 uh that that art is finally the place 52 00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:36,319 where there are no rules where you have 53 00:02:36,319 --> 00:02:39,000 uh a complete freedom and I'm I'm going 54 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:40,480 to with write I'm going to sit down at 55 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:42,640 the keyboard and it's just going to flow 56 00:02:42,640 --> 00:02:44,519 out of me onto the paper and it's going 57 00:02:44,519 --> 00:02:47,200 to be pure art no what you are 58 00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:50,879 describing is finger painting there 59 00:02:50,879 --> 00:02:55,280 rules are what makes art beautiful rules 60 00:02:55,280 --> 00:03:01,840 are what makes Sports beautiful if uh uh 61 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:04,360 most popular sport in the world soccer 62 00:03:04,360 --> 00:03:06,040 uh uh if you were allowed to pick up the 63 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:09,000 ball run into the stance run down to the 64 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:11,680 other end uh of the field shoot the 65 00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:14,720 goalkeeper in the head and toss the ball 66 00:03:14,720 --> 00:03:16,480 uh in the net it wouldn't be a very 67 00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:19,319 interesting game uh it's the it's the 68 00:03:19,319 --> 00:03:21,599 rules that make it beautiful think about 69 00:03:21,599 --> 00:03:24,120 the rules to baseball did having her 70 00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:26,799 double day was a freaking genius um uh 71 00:03:26,799 --> 00:03:28,040 uh that you know that's a great game 72 00:03:28,040 --> 00:03:29,959 football is a great game it's the rules 73 00:03:29,959 --> 00:03:31,879 that make Sports beautiful and it's the 74 00:03:31,879 --> 00:03:36,840 rules that make art not finger painting 75 00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:39,200 uh uh think about music and all the 76 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:41,879 roles that music 77 00:03:41,879 --> 00:03:44,959 has anyone who you know studied music 78 00:03:44,959 --> 00:03:46,239 for a year or two when they were in 79 00:03:46,239 --> 00:03:48,200 elementary school anyone who picked up a 80 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:51,120 flute or a trumpet uh knows that at the 81 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:52,879 beginning of every piece of music 82 00:03:52,879 --> 00:03:54,439 there's a time signature and a key 83 00:03:54,439 --> 00:03:56,480 signature if you're in four4 time it 84 00:03:56,480 --> 00:03:57,840 means there are four beats in a measure 85 00:03:57,840 --> 00:03:59,920 and a quarter note gets one beat there 86 00:03:59,920 --> 00:04:01,760 can't be five beats in a measure there 87 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:04,400 can't be three beats in a measure if uh 88 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:07,439 you're in the key of C uh it means that 89 00:04:07,439 --> 00:04:09,239 there are no Sharps and no Flats there 90 00:04:09,239 --> 00:04:11,640 can't be a sharp there can't be a flat 91 00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:15,239 these rules also apply to writing the 92 00:04:15,239 --> 00:04:19,639 rulebook is the Poetics uh uh by 93 00:04:19,639 --> 00:04:22,240 Aristotle all the rules are 94 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:26,160 there or you can if you don't want to 95 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:28,240 read even though I really recommend that 96 00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:29,840 you do if you don't want to read a 25 97 00:04:29,840 --> 00:04:33,479 100y old 64 page 98 00:04:33,479 --> 00:04:36,120 pamphlet you can absorb these rules by 99 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:37,890 being a 100 00:04:37,890 --> 00:04:42,839 [Music] 101 00:04:42,840 --> 00:04:46,120 diagnostician I'm constantly reading 102 00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:49,479 plays uh and seeing plays reading screen 103 00:04:49,479 --> 00:04:52,639 plays and uh and uh uh and seeing movies 104 00:04:52,639 --> 00:04:55,320 same with television uh you know I learn 105 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:59,800 a lot from what other people do and you 106 00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:00,880 know when you're a writer especially 107 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:02,880 when you're starting out but I think 108 00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:05,360 it's a good rule for uh for the life of 109 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:07,520 your career you need to be a 110 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:11,080 diagnostician uh uh when you see 111 00:05:11,080 --> 00:05:14,400 something and it doesn't work uh instead 112 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:16,840 of just being snarky about it uh instead 113 00:05:16,840 --> 00:05:18,759 of just joking with your friends about 114 00:05:18,759 --> 00:05:20,600 uh you know how bad this thing was that 115 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:25,240 you just saw figure out why it's bad um 116 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:30,639 and don't use any snark terms all uh 117 00:05:30,639 --> 00:05:32,919 your goal shouldn't be to make fun of it 118 00:05:32,919 --> 00:05:35,360 your goal should be to diagnose it uh 119 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:38,160 Why didn't it work looking it's 120 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:41,759 something that appears to break one or 121 00:05:41,759 --> 00:05:45,160 maybe all of Aristotle's rules of drama 122 00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:48,479 appears to but works anyway and figuring 123 00:05:48,479 --> 00:05:51,720 out why it worked and the answer is 124 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:54,080 going to be because they didn't break 125 00:05:54,080 --> 00:05:58,160 Aristotle's rules and here's how um uh 126 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:01,310 is very helpful be a 127 00:06:01,310 --> 00:06:04,889 [Music] 128 00:06:06,039 --> 00:06:08,039 diagnostician you're going to hear a lot 129 00:06:08,039 --> 00:06:10,039 of rules and a lot of them are going to 130 00:06:10,039 --> 00:06:12,240 be wrong uh they're going to be dumb 131 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:16,120 rules invented by people who don't know 132 00:06:16,120 --> 00:06:21,840 the real rules for example in 1970 a CBS 133 00:06:21,840 --> 00:06:25,160 executive announced to Jim Brooks James 134 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:28,520 L Brooks uh uh writer of The Mary Tyler 135 00:06:28,520 --> 00:06:30,560 Moore Show writer of taxi writer and 136 00:06:30,560 --> 00:06:33,520 director of Terms of Endearment and 137 00:06:33,520 --> 00:06:37,199 Broadcast News CBS executive told Jim 138 00:06:37,199 --> 00:06:39,160 Brooks that there are four things you'll 139 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:40,720 never see on 140 00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:43,360 television a divorced person a Jewish 141 00:06:43,360 --> 00:06:45,280 person a person from New York City and a 142 00:06:45,280 --> 00:06:47,000 person with a 143 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:49,599 mustache four more ridiculous things 144 00:06:49,599 --> 00:06:51,960 have never been said about television 145 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:55,120 and obviously you none of it uh uh came 146 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:57,680 true you're going to hear rules like 147 00:06:57,680 --> 00:07:00,160 that um uh you're going to hear rules 148 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:03,479 like well you uh listen uh uh there was 149 00:07:03,479 --> 00:07:06,160 a hard and fast rule in television which 150 00:07:06,160 --> 00:07:07,759 is that you can't write about politics 151 00:07:07,759 --> 00:07:09,639 you can't write a show that takes place 152 00:07:09,639 --> 00:07:13,560 uh in DC there had been a rule in movies 153 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:15,960 for a really long time that baseball 154 00:07:15,960 --> 00:07:20,319 movies don't work and then in one year 155 00:07:20,319 --> 00:07:22,520 Field of Dreams bulld Durham and Major 156 00:07:22,520 --> 00:07:25,440 League uh were released all of them 157 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:28,680 massive hits those rules are all 158 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:31,360 nonsense the only rules there are are 159 00:07:31,360 --> 00:07:34,400 the rules of drama um and I I I I keep 160 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:36,440 going back to my God Aristotle but it 161 00:07:36,440 --> 00:07:40,680 it's just because he wrote them down uh 162 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:43,440 in you know he he he organized them in a 163 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:45,039 way 164 00:07:45,039 --> 00:07:48,039 that's fairly easy I say that fairly 165 00:07:48,039 --> 00:07:49,720 easy to understand I say that because 166 00:07:49,720 --> 00:07:51,520 I'm able to understand it so it must be 167 00:07:51,520 --> 00:07:55,680 fairly easy to understand uh and I 168 00:07:55,680 --> 00:07:58,280 if if there's something wrong with your 169 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:01,000 script if it's not working there's a 170 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:03,000 good chance that it's because you broke 171 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:05,240 one of those rules and so understanding 172 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:09,520 those rules are super important 1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,880 [Music] 2 00:00:12,120 --> 00:00:15,519 we've been using the word story uh a lot 3 00:00:15,519 --> 00:00:18,480 um story and drama are two slightly 4 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:21,760 different things start with what a fact 5 00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:26,880 is uh okay um the queen died that's a 6 00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:30,439 fact a story is the queen Di died and 7 00:00:30,439 --> 00:00:33,160 then the king died of a broken heart uh 8 00:00:33,160 --> 00:00:35,719 okay but it's still not drama uh there 9 00:00:35,719 --> 00:00:38,000 there hasn't been conflict yet what 10 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:39,840 would make a drama our queen and king 11 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:43,399 story uh probably a million things off 12 00:00:43,399 --> 00:00:46,480 the top of my head okay the queen dies 13 00:00:46,480 --> 00:00:49,600 um uh and now the king is alone and it 14 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:52,160 turns out the queen was the brilliant 15 00:00:52,160 --> 00:00:55,120 one uh uh she was the brains uh behind 16 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:57,079 the outfit uh in the outfit she's the 17 00:00:57,079 --> 00:00:59,120 brains behind the king uh and now the 18 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:02,239 King has to to uh uh go It Alone in the 19 00:01:02,239 --> 00:01:04,600 face of people who are trying to get him 20 00:01:04,600 --> 00:01:06,400 off the throne because everyone knows 21 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:08,600 he's dumb and the queen was smart uh 22 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:11,040 that kind of 23 00:01:15,040 --> 00:01:18,560 thing generally we think in three acts a 24 00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:25,240 play is two usually um uh and uh an 25 00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:29,439 episode of Television there like six um 26 00:01:29,439 --> 00:01:31,479 uh but thinking in the threea structure 27 00:01:31,479 --> 00:01:36,000 uh for a movie uh act one you chase your 28 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:38,520 hero up a tree act two you throw rocks 29 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:42,200 at them act three you get them down um 30 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:44,600 uh or not it's okay if they die in the 31 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:47,399 tree um as long as they die trying if 32 00:01:47,399 --> 00:01:48,680 they're going to get down from the tree 33 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:50,479 in the third act you have to have 34 00:01:50,479 --> 00:01:52,920 introduced the way down in the First Act 35 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:57,479 uh okay uh uh there's an old saw that uh 36 00:01:57,479 --> 00:01:59,320 you can't use a gun in the third act 37 00:01:59,320 --> 00:02:01,680 unless you've introduced it in the first 38 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:04,079 um a gun can't appear from nowhere you 39 00:02:04,079 --> 00:02:05,680 have to open a drawer and see that a gun 40 00:02:05,680 --> 00:02:07,159 is there as somebody's got a mention I'm 41 00:02:07,159 --> 00:02:10,640 packing or something like that 42 00:02:10,640 --> 00:02:12,959 conversely you don't introduce a gun in 43 00:02:12,959 --> 00:02:14,480 the First Act unless you use it in the 44 00:02:14,480 --> 00:02:16,160 third in other words if we open a drawer 45 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:17,519 and see a gun there and then nothing 46 00:02:17,519 --> 00:02:21,959 ever comes of it uh that was bad writing 47 00:02:21,959 --> 00:02:26,519 um so whatever that uh uh Escape out of 48 00:02:26,519 --> 00:02:29,160 the tree is going to be has to have been 49 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:30,360 introduced to us 50 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:32,160 uh uh in the First Act you can't all of 51 00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:35,640 a sudden in the third say we forgot 52 00:02:35,640 --> 00:02:38,840 about our magic rope um uh that gets us 53 00:02:38,840 --> 00:02:41,120 out of the tree that magic rope needs to 54 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:43,280 be introduced in the First 55 00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:46,860 [Music] 56 00:02:48,159 --> 00:02:52,920 Act you want Stakes to be High um I I I 57 00:02:52,920 --> 00:02:57,599 I do think in those terms uh uh you you 58 00:02:57,599 --> 00:03:00,879 want uh 59 00:03:00,879 --> 00:03:03,400 whether somebody wants the girl or the 60 00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:05,519 money uh or 61 00:03:05,519 --> 00:03:10,360 to build a a computer that is better 62 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:13,720 than they are uh uh you you you want the 63 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:16,920 stakes to be as uh as high as possible 64 00:03:16,920 --> 00:03:19,000 um uh so that we're sitting forward in 65 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:21,200 our seats sometimes the stakes are 66 00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:23,480 automatically as high as they can be Few 67 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:25,120 Good Men you guys are on trial for 68 00:03:25,120 --> 00:03:27,239 murder okay 69 00:03:27,239 --> 00:03:30,120 do you don't really need to Hype up the 70 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:32,640 uh the stakes there for for everybody 71 00:03:32,640 --> 00:03:34,599 involved Steve 72 00:03:34,599 --> 00:03:36,360 Jobs 73 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:39,840 uh you need to understand why it's so 74 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:43,760 important to Steve that uh that a 75 00:03:43,760 --> 00:03:47,720 product be perfect uh that it that the 76 00:03:47,720 --> 00:03:50,519 the rectangle have rounded edges that 77 00:03:50,519 --> 00:03:52,319 the the thing that everybody else is 78 00:03:52,319 --> 00:03:54,239 making fun of in terms of his 79 00:03:54,239 --> 00:03:56,640 perfectionism you need to understand why 80 00:03:56,640 --> 00:04:00,239 that's so important to him um uh so that 81 00:04:00,239 --> 00:04:04,100 we care if he fails or 82 00:04:04,100 --> 00:04:08,920 [Music] 83 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:11,519 succeeds Exposition is the first part of 84 00:04:11,519 --> 00:04:14,760 drama uh and before you can do anything 85 00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:16,680 else you have to tell the audience what 86 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:20,600 they need to know in order to understand 87 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:22,280 the second thing that's going to happen 88 00:04:22,280 --> 00:04:25,160 which is the inciting action uh and 89 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:28,759 Exposition is tricky uh because what you 90 00:04:28,759 --> 00:04:32,680 need is is at least one character who 91 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:35,600 knows as little as the audience does uh 92 00:04:35,600 --> 00:04:37,680 otherwise you're going to find yourself 93 00:04:37,680 --> 00:04:42,320 starting lines with as you know um and 94 00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:44,120 if if you ever start a line with as you 95 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:46,320 know you're probably doing something 96 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:52,320 wrong um uh so you need to uh it 97 00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:54,800 it and it's a constant problem for me 98 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:57,720 because I'm ordinarily I'm writing uh 99 00:04:57,720 --> 00:05:00,840 about not ordinarily all always I'm 100 00:05:00,840 --> 00:05:02,880 writing about people who are smarter uh 101 00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:06,360 than I am so who are you going to find 102 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:09,479 uh at Apple who doesn't know how the 103 00:05:09,479 --> 00:05:13,880 Macintosh works right um when Steve is 104 00:05:13,880 --> 00:05:17,319 uh uh telling chrissanne about the Mac 105 00:05:17,319 --> 00:05:20,280 uh she becomes a stand in for the 106 00:05:20,280 --> 00:05:22,680 audience uh he's he's he's really 107 00:05:22,680 --> 00:05:28,000 telling us you you uh the way you sell 108 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:30,120 it uh the way you get the audience to 109 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:34,160 buy it is she doesn't get what is such a 110 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:37,680 big deal about uh uh the Mac um uh so it 111 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:40,240 doesn't seem quite a you don't want the 112 00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:42,600 exposition to be bald you don't want it 113 00:05:42,600 --> 00:05:46,000 to present itself as uh as Exposition uh 114 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:47,440 you don't want a Steve that begins with 115 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:49,800 a scene that begins with Steve what's 116 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:52,199 this thing um of course she's going to 117 00:05:52,199 --> 00:05:55,759 know that uh uh so in her case it was I 118 00:05:55,759 --> 00:05:57,759 don't see what the big deal is uh and 119 00:05:57,759 --> 00:06:00,000 Steve tells her what the big deal is uh 120 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:03,479 so you have to find uh a a character uh 121 00:06:03,479 --> 00:06:05,479 or more than one character who knows as 122 00:06:05,479 --> 00:06:07,440 little as the audience does and you know 123 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:09,080 I was talking about courtroom dramas 124 00:06:09,080 --> 00:06:11,560 before it's another really good thing 125 00:06:11,560 --> 00:06:14,240 about courtroom dramas because the jury 126 00:06:14,240 --> 00:06:16,360 is the stand in for the audience and the 127 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:18,910 jury knows as little as the audience 128 00:06:18,910 --> 00:06:24,039 [Music] 129 00:06:24,039 --> 00:06:28,560 does the inciting action is what makes 130 00:06:28,560 --> 00:06:30,080 the drama happen 131 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:34,000 um Hamlet doesn't really begin until the 132 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:37,400 ghost of Hamlet's father uh tells Hamlet 133 00:06:37,400 --> 00:06:39,960 you know that here's what happened 134 00:06:39,960 --> 00:06:42,560 here's who killed who uh and what are 135 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:45,080 you going to do about it Hamlet uh 136 00:06:45,080 --> 00:06:47,720 that's when uh uh that's that's when The 137 00:06:47,720 --> 00:06:50,280 Story begins but before we can see that 138 00:06:50,280 --> 00:06:54,319 scene we have to know that Hamlet is the 139 00:06:54,319 --> 00:06:57,400 prince of Denmark that his mother uh is 140 00:06:57,400 --> 00:06:59,680 the queen and that his uncle is the king 141 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:01,820 and that his father recently 142 00:07:01,820 --> 00:07:06,769 [Music] 143 00:07:06,840 --> 00:07:10,319 died page numbers let's talk about page 144 00:07:10,319 --> 00:07:13,680 numbers for a second 145 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:17,360 uh a screenplay most screen plays are 146 00:07:17,360 --> 00:07:20,199 around 125 Pages some of them are 147 00:07:20,199 --> 00:07:22,479 shorter there's some that are 105 some 148 00:07:22,479 --> 00:07:24,120 of them are a little longer mine are a 149 00:07:24,120 --> 00:07:26,400 lot longer I I write a lot lot of 150 00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:28,599 dialogue not that much action dialogue 151 00:07:28,599 --> 00:07:30,680 just simply because of screenplay format 152 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:34,280 takes up more room uh on the page so for 153 00:07:34,280 --> 00:07:37,280 instance uh the social 154 00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:42,680 network was about 185 pages long uh uh 155 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:45,479 50 or 60 Pages longer than your average 156 00:07:45,479 --> 00:07:47,199 screenplay but it was still just two 157 00:07:47,199 --> 00:07:51,360 hours uh uh it had a normal running time 158 00:07:51,360 --> 00:07:53,680 same thing with Steve Jobs same thing 159 00:07:53,680 --> 00:07:55,840 with the movie I just wrote uh Molly's 160 00:07:55,840 --> 00:07:59,520 game so my my my in this discussion my 161 00:07:59,520 --> 00:08:01,440 numbers are going to be more inflated 162 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:03,280 than the average number let's let's 163 00:08:03,280 --> 00:08:07,639 let's let's pretend a screenplay is 125 164 00:08:07,639 --> 00:08:10,199 Pages if you're on if you look down and 165 00:08:10,199 --> 00:08:13,639 you see you're on page 20 uh page 20 166 00:08:13,639 --> 00:08:16,080 page 25 and you haven't introduced the 167 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:19,120 protagonist yet or you haven't 168 00:08:19,120 --> 00:08:23,680 introduced the inciting action yet uh 169 00:08:23,680 --> 00:08:27,080 look at the uh you might be in in 170 00:08:27,080 --> 00:08:30,840 trouble but those page numb can serve as 171 00:08:30,840 --> 00:08:34,320 you know as road signs along the way 172 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:36,839 uh I 173 00:08:36,839 --> 00:08:39,200 uh I I just finished writing a 174 00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:41,919 screenplay uh the screenplay is 2011 175 00:08:41,919 --> 00:08:44,800 Pages uh I I don't recommend that but 176 00:08:44,800 --> 00:08:46,640 this movie also has a lot of VoiceOver 177 00:08:46,640 --> 00:08:48,399 in it so anytime there's voiceover 178 00:08:48,399 --> 00:08:51,080 you're doubling the amount of pages 179 00:08:51,080 --> 00:08:52,480 right because you need 180 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:54,680 the the language and then you need the 181 00:08:54,680 --> 00:08:55,760 description of what's going on 182 00:08:55,760 --> 00:08:56,760 underneath the 183 00:08:56,760 --> 00:09:00,399 voiceover uh uh and 184 00:09:00,399 --> 00:09:04,160 I I I kept seeing that uh and and the 185 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:06,519 real thing of the movie happened the 186 00:09:06,519 --> 00:09:08,200 movie takes place in Los Angeles and 187 00:09:08,200 --> 00:09:10,200 then New York and the real thing of the 188 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:13,720 movie happens in New York um uh uh it 189 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:16,680 happens when three this is a true story 190 00:09:16,680 --> 00:09:18,360 and three Russian Mobsters get involved 191 00:09:18,360 --> 00:09:21,440 in a poker game and I I kept finding 192 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:24,120 that I was on page 101 102 we haven't 193 00:09:24,120 --> 00:09:27,760 gotten to New York yet um I when I 194 00:09:27,760 --> 00:09:30,720 always thought in my head act one is Los 195 00:09:30,720 --> 00:09:33,120 Angeles and then acts two and three uh 196 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:35,240 are New York that just didn't happen 197 00:09:35,240 --> 00:09:37,920 that way um uh the first half is in Los 198 00:09:37,920 --> 00:09:40,000 Angeles the second half uh is in New 199 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:43,360 York you're hardly ever going to end up 200 00:09:43,360 --> 00:09:45,640 with the thing you thought you were 201 00:09:45,640 --> 00:09:48,079 going to write at the beginning it it's 202 00:09:48,079 --> 00:09:50,240 always going to be a little bit or maybe 203 00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:52,490 a lot 204 00:09:52,490 --> 00:09:57,240 [Music] 205 00:09:57,240 --> 00:10:00,079 different I'll tell you this purely from 206 00:10:00,079 --> 00:10:03,399 a uh business 207 00:10:03,399 --> 00:10:06,160 standpoint uh uh this is going to sound 208 00:10:06,160 --> 00:10:09,399 like one of those silly CBS rules uh and 209 00:10:09,399 --> 00:10:12,720 maybe it is it's it's just also 210 00:10:12,720 --> 00:10:16,040 true the last 15 minutes of any movie 211 00:10:16,040 --> 00:10:19,000 are the most important but the first 15 212 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:21,880 pages the first 15 pages of any 213 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:24,720 screenplay uh are the most important 214 00:10:24,720 --> 00:10:26,440 just from the standpoint of getting the 215 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:28,600 movie made I'm talking to Young Writers 216 00:10:28,600 --> 00:10:30,519 now who want to get their foot in the 217 00:10:30,519 --> 00:10:33,560 door they want their scripts 218 00:10:33,560 --> 00:10:38,040 made if you have a kickass first 15 219 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:42,399 pages a studio executive will 220 00:10:42,399 --> 00:10:47,920 forgive the crummy 110 pages that follow 221 00:10:47,920 --> 00:10:50,720 it'll need to be Rewritten um but uh 222 00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:53,680 those first 15 pages if they really hook 223 00:10:53,680 --> 00:10:55,600 you uh uh someone's goingon to be 224 00:10:55,600 --> 00:11:01,240 interested last 15 minutes of a movie uh 225 00:11:01,360 --> 00:11:02,800 I 226 00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:07,399 if if you've given them a fantastic two 227 00:11:07,399 --> 00:11:11,240 hours and you blow the last 15 minutes 228 00:11:11,240 --> 00:11:13,519 you are going to get zero credit for the 229 00:11:13,519 --> 00:11:16,360 Fantastic two hours okay it I wish it 230 00:11:16,360 --> 00:11:19,519 worked differently but it doesn't um I 231 00:11:19,519 --> 00:11:22,240 it even when you hit a home run you are 232 00:11:22,240 --> 00:11:24,839 obligated to round the basis uh and 233 00:11:24,839 --> 00:11:27,680 touch home plate so uh like I said you 234 00:11:27,680 --> 00:11:30,399 can have a killer uh of first two hours 235 00:11:30,399 --> 00:11:34,800 you are obligated to finish 1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,880 [Music] 2 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:16,000 from the moment I uh uh I say I'm 3 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:18,160 starting until the moment I deliver it 4 00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:21,240 is usually about 18 to 24 months uh on a 5 00:00:21,240 --> 00:00:24,240 screenplay but most of that time uh most 6 00:00:24,240 --> 00:00:25,840 of that time is 7 00:00:25,840 --> 00:00:30,080 spent trying to think of it uh and being 8 00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:33,800 rest there are people for whom it is 10 9 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:36,840 weeks uh 12 weeks uh in fact I'm pretty 10 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:39,160 sure my the contracts that I signed say 11 00:00:39,160 --> 00:00:40,800 that I'm going to deliver it in 12 weeks 12 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:44,480 and just nobody ever believes that 13 00:00:44,480 --> 00:00:48,600 uh most of that 18 to 24 months is spent 14 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:51,079 not writing uh most of that 18 to 24 15 00:00:51,079 --> 00:00:55,960 months is spent uh bulking up preparing 16 00:00:55,960 --> 00:00:59,160 uh uh to write once I start typing the 17 00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:02,280 screenplay if everything's going great 18 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:04,920 uh I I can usually do it in two or three 19 00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:07,000 months what came before that was months 20 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:10,520 and months and months probably a year of 21 00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:12,920 not writing of banging your head against 22 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:15,000 the wall uh 23 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:18,520 of doing a lot of research whether it's 24 00:01:18,520 --> 00:01:21,520 reading or meeting with uh people uh 25 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:23,079 banging your head against the wall it's 26 00:01:23,079 --> 00:01:27,000 a one of the um mentally challenging 27 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:30,000 parts of being a writer uh is that there 28 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:33,040 most days you don't write uh most days 29 00:01:33,040 --> 00:01:34,880 you wake up in the morning and you go to 30 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:36,360 sleep at the end of the day and you 31 00:01:36,360 --> 00:01:39,200 haven't written anything and uh it's 32 00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:41,720 it's a demoralizing feeling on the other 33 00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:43,759 hand uh 34 00:01:43,759 --> 00:01:47,159 those much less common days uh where you 35 00:01:47,159 --> 00:01:49,560 did write and you wrote something good 36 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:51,100 you feel like you can 37 00:01:51,100 --> 00:01:56,159 [Music] 38 00:01:56,159 --> 00:01:58,399 fly when I start writing the script and 39 00:01:58,399 --> 00:02:01,039 I mean by write now I mean literally 40 00:02:01,039 --> 00:02:04,719 typing uh uh the script uh I have to 41 00:02:04,719 --> 00:02:08,319 have the intention and the obstacle uh I 42 00:02:08,319 --> 00:02:10,720 have to have it already uh in my head or 43 00:02:10,720 --> 00:02:12,440 at least have the inten and Obstacle of 44 00:02:12,440 --> 00:02:14,360 the first scene of uh of the thing that 45 00:02:14,360 --> 00:02:15,920 I'm writing it's okay if you don't know 46 00:02:15,920 --> 00:02:19,120 what the second scene is uh uh with the 47 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:21,400 American president it's not like I had a 48 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:23,959 genius idea or anything it it felt like 49 00:02:23,959 --> 00:02:26,959 a genius idea at the time uh when I said 50 00:02:26,959 --> 00:02:30,440 you know what I'm just gonna start by 51 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:32,599 beginning the President's Day uh I'm 52 00:02:32,599 --> 00:02:35,280 just going to have him walk from the 53 00:02:35,280 --> 00:02:38,920 residence uh from the East wi to the 54 00:02:38,920 --> 00:02:42,760 westwing um and along the way he'll run 55 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:46,360 into various staffers and uh uh will 56 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:51,000 introduce various problems and we'll be 57 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:53,760 Charmed by this guy 58 00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:58,120 who uh ordinarily in uh uh in popular 59 00:02:58,120 --> 00:03:01,800 culture uh our here elected leaders are 60 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:04,480 uh are portrayed either as Machiavellian 61 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:07,840 or adults um uh and in this case he was 62 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:09,840 going to be a very bright very uh uh 63 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:11,959 Charming guy so I was going to introduce 64 00:03:11,959 --> 00:03:15,040 us uh uh to that for some reason that 65 00:03:15,040 --> 00:03:17,840 felt like it felt like the greatest idea 66 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:21,799 in the world uh and whatever it was it 67 00:03:21,799 --> 00:03:23,959 got me writing it uh uh it got me 68 00:03:23,959 --> 00:03:26,360 actually typing and then once I started 69 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:30,480 I couldn't stop and then you you 70 00:03:30,480 --> 00:03:33,519 know just talking about the first 71 00:03:33,519 --> 00:03:36,000 scene once I know what the first scene 72 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:37,400 is once I'm ready to write the first 73 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:39,360 scene I write the first scene in roughly 74 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:40,720 the amount of time it takes to type the 75 00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:43,720 first scene uh and uh and if you're 76 00:03:43,720 --> 00:03:48,040 doing that uh you're you're doing well 77 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:51,239 uh if it's coming out like ketchup out 78 00:03:51,239 --> 00:03:54,000 of a bottle uh then you don't have it 79 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:56,590 yet you haven't pinpointed the conflict 80 00:03:56,590 --> 00:04:01,550 [Music] 81 00:04:02,319 --> 00:04:04,400 the software I use is final draft it it 82 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:07,400 took me a long time uh uh to get to 83 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:10,720 final draft because uh when I first 84 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:12,760 started writing I final draft didn't 85 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:16,919 exist uh I was writing on uh a piece of 86 00:04:16,919 --> 00:04:18,600 software that doesn't exist anymore 87 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:22,360 called uh Mac right uh 88 00:04:22,360 --> 00:04:26,160 and you you said screenwriting you know 89 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:29,199 is very format intensive they're they're 90 00:04:29,199 --> 00:04:31,840 margin tabs everywhere uh and you set 91 00:04:31,840 --> 00:04:34,360 all those yourself and it wasn't until I 92 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:37,039 was doing I I think the I think the 93 00:04:37,039 --> 00:04:41,160 westwing um that the writer assistants 94 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:44,000 uh on the show begged me to switch to 95 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:45,800 final draft they' been begging me for a 96 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:47,440 long time to switch to final draft and I 97 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:50,320 didn't want to because I just 98 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:53,000 didn't I I was so used to it I didn't 99 00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:54,960 want to be writing and think what I it's 100 00:04:54,960 --> 00:04:59,080 command what for uh uh for character um 101 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:00,280 uh I didn't want to have to learn 102 00:05:00,280 --> 00:05:02,400 something new until finally they just 103 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:05,280 lied to me uh and said uh that new 104 00:05:05,280 --> 00:05:07,160 computer that you just bought uh it's 105 00:05:07,160 --> 00:05:08,919 not compatible with the software that 106 00:05:08,919 --> 00:05:11,320 you're using you have to use final draft 107 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:13,960 uh uh so I got final draft thank God 108 00:05:13,960 --> 00:05:17,600 it's a it's incredibly helpful for such 109 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:19,960 a format intensive thing I use final 110 00:05:19,960 --> 00:05:23,800 draft I use index cards uh once I know 111 00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:26,479 what the first few scenes are I'll put 112 00:05:26,479 --> 00:05:28,000 it on index cards I'll put it on a 113 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:30,440 corkboard I like seeing it in front of 114 00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:32,520 me I like that it's starting to get 115 00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:34,759 organized that it's not all not just 116 00:05:34,759 --> 00:05:37,440 floating around like some weather system 117 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:41,240 uh in my head uh uh so I like organizing 118 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:43,520 uh my thoughts that way and it's a 119 00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:45,759 little bit like walking in the dark with 120 00:05:45,759 --> 00:05:47,600 a flashlight you can only see as far 121 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:50,600 ahead uh as that beam will go so if I 122 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:53,759 can only see five scenes uh uh ahead 123 00:05:53,759 --> 00:05:56,600 that's what goes up and then uh I take 124 00:05:56,600 --> 00:05:58,550 it from there 125 00:05:58,550 --> 00:06:04,240 [Music] 126 00:06:04,240 --> 00:06:07,120 writing like playing the violin uh you 127 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:09,240 get better with practice uh the more you 128 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:11,680 do it the better you're going to get and 129 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:14,639 the more you do it the more comfortable 130 00:06:14,639 --> 00:06:16,960 you're going to become with your own 131 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:21,479 voice and your own style and those are 132 00:06:21,479 --> 00:06:24,520 the things that you can only learn uh on 133 00:06:24,520 --> 00:06:27,360 your own uh and I'll tell you you know 134 00:06:27,360 --> 00:06:29,080 I've been doing this for a little while 135 00:06:29,080 --> 00:06:33,840 and I still will from time to time sit 136 00:06:33,840 --> 00:06:36,520 down and try to write like someone else 137 00:06:36,520 --> 00:06:38,400 because I I feel like that's what's 138 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:42,400 required of me um and uh you have to 139 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:44,000 remember that you can only write like 140 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:46,680 yourself back to that American president 141 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:49,520 uh uh story before I started writing the 142 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:52,240 385 Pages there were months and months 143 00:06:52,240 --> 00:06:55,039 and months and months of just banging my 144 00:06:55,039 --> 00:06:56,440 head against the wall just walking 145 00:06:56,440 --> 00:06:59,879 around my uh apartment trying to think 146 00:06:59,879 --> 00:07:01,720 of an idea just trying to think of an 147 00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:05,680 idea for a a a first scene um and what 148 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:08,080 was going through my head and this this 149 00:07:08,080 --> 00:07:09,960 this was fairly early in my career so 150 00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:12,360 this is this is something that's going 151 00:07:12,360 --> 00:07:14,639 to happen when you're not as sure as 152 00:07:14,639 --> 00:07:17,120 your of yourself as you'd like to be uh 153 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:19,800 but what was going through my head was 154 00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:22,479 what does Rob Riner want to see um uh 155 00:07:22,479 --> 00:07:25,160 what can I write and when I turn it in 156 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:28,680 uh uh Rob won't think I'm a phony writer 157 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:31,360 he won't say you know he's guy's an 158 00:07:31,360 --> 00:07:34,039 amateur we got fooled the first time uh 159 00:07:34,039 --> 00:07:36,199 around because that is what every writer 160 00:07:36,199 --> 00:07:38,240 is thinking that they're fooling 161 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:41,879 everybody uh and after a while so much 162 00:07:41,879 --> 00:07:45,000 time had gone by that I had no choice 163 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:47,680 but to say screw it I I I I have to 164 00:07:47,680 --> 00:07:50,440 forget about Rob and just write the way 165 00:07:50,440 --> 00:07:52,720 I write write something that I think is 166 00:07:52,720 --> 00:07:54,680 good and keep my fingers crossed that he 167 00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:56,960 thinks it's good too and then that 168 00:07:56,960 --> 00:08:00,840 people who buy tickets to movies uh like 169 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:03,280 and that's something that that every 170 00:08:03,280 --> 00:08:07,960 writer has to do I I think that trying 171 00:08:07,960 --> 00:08:11,319 to figure out what it is everybody wants 172 00:08:11,319 --> 00:08:14,039 and then trying to give it to them is a 173 00:08:14,039 --> 00:08:16,960 bad recipe for uh for good storytelling 174 00:08:16,960 --> 00:08:19,520 I think you have to write what you like 175 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:20,800 maybe what you think your friends would 176 00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:22,479 like maybe what you think your mother or 177 00:08:22,479 --> 00:08:24,879 father uh uh would like and then keep 178 00:08:24,879 --> 00:08:26,280 your fingers crossed that enough other 179 00:08:26,280 --> 00:08:27,879 people like it that you can keep doing 180 00:08:27,879 --> 00:08:28,960 it 181 00:08:28,960 --> 00:08:32,540 [Music] 182 00:08:34,760 --> 00:08:36,440 when people ask me if I if I ever 183 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:38,560 experienced writer's BL I I just have to 184 00:08:38,560 --> 00:08:41,000 laugh because that is my default 185 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:43,360 position I'm in a constant state of 186 00:08:43,360 --> 00:08:47,839 writers block it one I I what I run into 187 00:08:47,839 --> 00:08:49,800 from time to time 188 00:08:49,800 --> 00:08:53,720 is is not having writer block uh and 189 00:08:53,720 --> 00:08:55,680 those are those are great days if you 190 00:08:55,680 --> 00:08:59,079 can put together uh a few of those days 191 00:08:59,079 --> 00:09:02,040 uh then then you can do this there are 192 00:09:02,040 --> 00:09:04,560 plenty of times when uh you start 193 00:09:04,560 --> 00:09:07,000 writing the screenplay and somewhere in 194 00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:10,399 the middle you run into a a 195 00:09:10,399 --> 00:09:12,000 snowbank 196 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:14,839 uh there's something I'm writing right 197 00:09:14,839 --> 00:09:16,360 now 198 00:09:16,360 --> 00:09:20,839 uh I've been on page 15 for about five 199 00:09:20,839 --> 00:09:23,680 weeks uh and I'm going to lose my mind 200 00:09:23,680 --> 00:09:27,160 if if I stay on page 15 much longer uh 201 00:09:27,160 --> 00:09:28,959 but whether it's it's a movie an episode 202 00:09:28,959 --> 00:09:30,839 of tele Vision the play that I'm writing 203 00:09:30,839 --> 00:09:35,320 right now that I'm on page 15 uh with uh 204 00:09:35,320 --> 00:09:38,959 you are going to go through this period 205 00:09:38,959 --> 00:09:41,399 of thinking it's never going to happen 206 00:09:41,399 --> 00:09:43,839 uh that you've already written the last 207 00:09:43,839 --> 00:09:45,600 thing that you're going to write that 208 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:47,839 you've used every word that you know and 209 00:09:47,839 --> 00:09:50,160 every order that it can go in uh and 210 00:09:50,160 --> 00:09:51,760 that you're not going to be able to do 211 00:09:51,760 --> 00:09:54,920 this and really tomorrow morning I 212 00:09:54,920 --> 00:09:56,440 should pick up the phone and tell the 213 00:09:56,440 --> 00:09:58,360 people who are waiting for it that uh 214 00:09:58,360 --> 00:10:00,040 that it's not going to happen 215 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:03,399 and uh somehow or other you spring 216 00:10:03,399 --> 00:10:05,460 yourself from 217 00:10:05,460 --> 00:10:10,320 [Music] 218 00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:13,680 jail uh for me driving around in my car 219 00:10:13,680 --> 00:10:15,440 uh and listening to music is a way to 220 00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:18,160 get unstuck uh or 221 00:10:18,160 --> 00:10:21,480 inspired um uh 222 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:25,279 I by and large my taste in music stopped 223 00:10:25,279 --> 00:10:27,600 maturing uh after I graduated from high 224 00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:29,360 school like my taste and everything else 225 00:10:29,360 --> 00:10:32,800 else food um I still eat the same food 226 00:10:32,800 --> 00:10:35,760 uh uh that I ate in uh in college but I 227 00:10:35,760 --> 00:10:37,360 still listen to the music I listen to in 228 00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:40,079 high school so I'll drive around and uh 229 00:10:40,079 --> 00:10:43,600 I'll listen to this music and 230 00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:47,760 uh sometimes it it'll just inspire me in 231 00:10:47,760 --> 00:10:49,519 some way that's that's intangible that 232 00:10:49,519 --> 00:10:51,240 you can't really put your finger on one 233 00:10:51,240 --> 00:10:53,360 way or another driving and I'll I'll 234 00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:55,839 pick a long straight stretch of road to 235 00:10:55,839 --> 00:10:57,320 drive on so I don't have to think about 236 00:10:57,320 --> 00:10:59,760 turning like I'll get on the 405 237 00:10:59,760 --> 00:11:03,079 um uh and that's a a a freeway here in 238 00:11:03,079 --> 00:11:06,360 Southern California just drive straight 239 00:11:06,360 --> 00:11:10,240 um but sometimes uh I'll hear a song on 240 00:11:10,240 --> 00:11:15,000 the radio I'll hear a song on a CD uh uh 241 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:18,880 you know of loggin and MSA or Cat 242 00:11:18,880 --> 00:11:20,959 Stevens or early spring steam whatever 243 00:11:20,959 --> 00:11:23,600 was I was listening to in high school um 244 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:26,560 uh and I'll think you know I want this 245 00:11:26,560 --> 00:11:29,320 song this song would be work great as 246 00:11:29,320 --> 00:11:32,800 the score uh uh to a scene I want to 247 00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:34,920 write a scene that can be I'll I'll be 248 00:11:34,920 --> 00:11:36,680 doing it in reverse order I want to 249 00:11:36,680 --> 00:11:39,279 write a scene that could be scored uh by 250 00:11:39,279 --> 00:11:42,079 this song and to do that I'm going to 251 00:11:42,079 --> 00:11:44,600 need to write uh you know the scene 252 00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:46,240 leading up to that and then the scene 253 00:11:46,240 --> 00:11:50,200 before that and suddenly everything will 254 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:53,839 uh H have gotten started by the song 255 00:11:53,839 --> 00:11:57,760 There's a um uh for anybody watching who 256 00:11:57,760 --> 00:11:59,959 might be a westwing fan there's an 257 00:11:59,959 --> 00:12:01,320 episode of the Westman called two 258 00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:04,240 Cathedrals um uh which got some 259 00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:09,440 attention and uh it ends with 260 00:12:09,440 --> 00:12:14,079 uh dyus Strait's uh uh Brothers in Arms 261 00:12:14,079 --> 00:12:16,720 um and kind of the whole team coming 262 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:19,480 together to uh uh to stand behind their 263 00:12:19,480 --> 00:12:23,560 guy uh Martin Sheen and that all started 264 00:12:23,560 --> 00:12:25,399 backwards it wasn't like I wrote that 265 00:12:25,399 --> 00:12:26,680 thing and thought you know it' be 266 00:12:26,680 --> 00:12:29,399 perfect here uh Brothers in Arms it was 267 00:12:29,399 --> 00:12:31,160 I'd heard Brothers in Arms it's song I 268 00:12:31,160 --> 00:12:34,079 know i' heard 10,000 times uh I heard 269 00:12:34,079 --> 00:12:36,120 brothers in arms and just thought this 270 00:12:36,120 --> 00:12:39,120 is uh a really good score for something 271 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:40,950 and and I went backwards from 272 00:12:40,950 --> 00:12:45,839 [Music] 273 00:12:45,839 --> 00:12:48,160 there anything that can give you the 274 00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:50,839 feeling that you're making progress is 275 00:12:50,839 --> 00:12:55,079 going to help you emotionally and I 276 00:12:55,079 --> 00:12:57,199 don't mean to to sound like a delicate 277 00:12:57,199 --> 00:13:01,120 flower but uh 278 00:13:02,399 --> 00:13:06,880 remember writing and and and painting a 279 00:13:06,880 --> 00:13:09,040 fence uh are two different things 280 00:13:09,040 --> 00:13:11,800 painting a fence may be backbreaking 281 00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:13,959 work uh but first of all you know what 282 00:13:13,959 --> 00:13:16,760 you're supposed to do you dip the brush 283 00:13:16,760 --> 00:13:20,600 in the paint and uh uh and you paint uh 284 00:13:20,600 --> 00:13:22,560 but mostly you can see the light at the 285 00:13:22,560 --> 00:13:24,399 end of the tunnel that light may be a 286 00:13:24,399 --> 00:13:27,240 long way away it may be a really long 287 00:13:27,240 --> 00:13:30,600 fence uh but you can see see where it 288 00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:34,040 ends uh 289 00:13:35,120 --> 00:13:37,680 and what you don't need when you're 290 00:13:37,680 --> 00:13:38,720 here's where really what I meant to say 291 00:13:38,720 --> 00:13:40,079 about the fence what you don't need when 292 00:13:40,079 --> 00:13:42,199 you're painting a fence is to be in a 293 00:13:42,199 --> 00:13:44,800 good mood uh okay you can be in any mood 294 00:13:44,800 --> 00:13:46,199 you want and the fence is going to turn 295 00:13:46,199 --> 00:13:48,920 out roughly the same when you're writing 296 00:13:48,920 --> 00:13:51,079 you need to be in a good mood you need 297 00:13:51,079 --> 00:13:53,680 to have energy you need to 298 00:13:53,680 --> 00:13:56,560 feel entertaining you you you need to 299 00:13:56,560 --> 00:13:59,240 feel good uh and and that's when you're 300 00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:03,560 going to do uh the best writing so 301 00:14:03,560 --> 00:14:08,120 any any little uh emotional helpers like 302 00:14:08,120 --> 00:14:09,680 Crossing things off and seeing that 303 00:14:09,680 --> 00:14:11,600 you're making progress anything that's 304 00:14:11,600 --> 00:14:14,680 going to make you feel good is good when 305 00:14:14,680 --> 00:14:17,079 I started I was working as a bartender 306 00:14:17,079 --> 00:14:19,480 to pay the bills uh and I was working as 307 00:14:19,480 --> 00:14:22,720 a bartender at at Broadway theaters um 308 00:14:22,720 --> 00:14:26,399 uh so I had the whole First Act off I I 309 00:14:26,399 --> 00:14:28,399 tended bar during What's called the 310 00:14:28,399 --> 00:14:30,600 walk-in half hour before curtain to 311 00:14:30,600 --> 00:14:32,560 curtain and then an intermission and I 312 00:14:32,560 --> 00:14:35,600 had this hour hour and 10 minutes uh uh 313 00:14:35,600 --> 00:14:37,560 of doing nothing and so I wrote A Few 314 00:14:37,560 --> 00:14:40,639 Good Men on cocktail napkins uh and I I 315 00:14:40,639 --> 00:14:42,600 would come home to the apartment I was 316 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:45,160 sharing with 19 people and throw the 317 00:14:45,160 --> 00:14:47,360 cocktail napkins on the desk and start 318 00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:50,680 typing it on the very first Mac um but 319 00:14:50,680 --> 00:14:52,160 what I loved about those cocktail 320 00:14:52,160 --> 00:14:54,519 napkins is that you get to cross things 321 00:14:54,519 --> 00:14:56,800 out and write things in the margin and 322 00:14:56,800 --> 00:14:58,759 use arrows and things like this and it 323 00:14:58,759 --> 00:15:01,680 just it it makes you feel like like 324 00:15:01,680 --> 00:15:03,399 you're writing it makes you feel good 325 00:15:03,399 --> 00:15:04,560 you really need to feel good when you're 326 00:15:04,560 --> 00:15:07,639 writing uh so I mentioned before that 327 00:15:07,639 --> 00:15:10,199 I've been stuck on page 15 of the thing 328 00:15:10,199 --> 00:15:11,920 uh that I'm writing right now for a 329 00:15:11,920 --> 00:15:15,000 really long time each day that I'm stuck 330 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:19,839 on page 15 I feel worse uh uh but I know 331 00:15:19,839 --> 00:15:23,800 that um if I can figure this problem out 332 00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:26,519 and shoot from page 15 to page 333 00:15:26,519 --> 00:15:29,959 22 uh I'm that's the when you want to 334 00:15:29,959 --> 00:15:34,120 ask me if you can borrow money 1 00:00:12,599 --> 00:00:14,759 uh you have each come in with a scene 2 00:00:14,759 --> 00:00:16,840 from a screenplay uh that you're working 3 00:00:16,840 --> 00:00:19,279 on so we're going to read through uh uh 4 00:00:19,279 --> 00:00:21,519 the scene the author is going to cast it 5 00:00:21,519 --> 00:00:23,240 for us it's going to be the wrong cast 6 00:00:23,240 --> 00:00:24,640 We're Not actors here this going to be 7 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:25,920 like me playing the lead and pretty 8 00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:28,240 woman okay uh but we'll just read it 9 00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:30,000 through uh out loud so we can get a 10 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:32,120 sense of it and then we'll talk about it 11 00:00:32,120 --> 00:00:34,640 and JJ braer we're going to start with 12 00:00:34,640 --> 00:00:37,399 you great 13 00:00:37,399 --> 00:00:39,440 um uh you know what I'm just going to 14 00:00:39,440 --> 00:00:42,559 read out loud the full script uh a log 15 00:00:42,559 --> 00:00:45,640 line okay do you mind no please um uh 16 00:00:45,640 --> 00:00:48,960 this is Untitled uh by JJ braer the full 17 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:51,360 script log line is upon hearing I'm 18 00:00:51,360 --> 00:00:53,120 sorry upon learning that his absence 19 00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:54,680 from the battlefield has cost his 20 00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:58,800 beloved sister her life allejo y aljo 21 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:00,680 the most lethal Soldier in a Mexican 22 00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:03,440 cartel is assumed with a rage is 23 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:06,040 consumed with a rage for vengeance that 24 00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:08,680 knows no bounds and this is adapted from 25 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:12,280 Homer The Iliad exterior Farmhouse High 26 00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:14,920 Desert Dawn first light picks out the 27 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:17,360 edges of a ram shackle Farmstead 28 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:20,360 satellite dish cracked Adobe and ATVs in 29 00:01:20,360 --> 00:01:23,000 the yard we're in 30 00:01:23,000 --> 00:01:25,159 uhis halisco 31 00:01:25,159 --> 00:01:28,079 Mexico uh in an age t-shirt and carrying 32 00:01:28,079 --> 00:01:30,720 a steaming travel mug of coffee a stout 33 00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:33,280 middle-aged farmer emerges slips on 34 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:35,640 boots that he'd left outside the door 35 00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:38,240 the previous night his son and daughter 36 00:01:38,240 --> 00:01:40,280 both in their 20s follow him out of the 37 00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:42,640 house the farmer CL climbs into one of 38 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:45,680 the ATVs its engines Roar rips the 39 00:01:45,680 --> 00:01:47,840 silence he leaves his children to start 40 00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:50,840 their days go to exterior Fields we're 41 00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:52,960 moving moments later the ATV's 42 00:01:52,960 --> 00:01:54,560 headlights cut through the receding 43 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:57,600 Darkness we hear a Coro playing in the 44 00:01:57,600 --> 00:02:00,159 farmer's headphones as he drives uh uh 45 00:02:00,159 --> 00:02:01,640 out into his land am I pronouncing that 46 00:02:01,640 --> 00:02:04,680 right Cito yeah Cito what is a Cito uh 47 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:07,759 it's a uh uh Mexican folk ballad okay 48 00:02:07,759 --> 00:02:09,959 there still contemporary songs we hear a 49 00:02:09,959 --> 00:02:12,040 Cito playing on on on the farmer's 50 00:02:12,040 --> 00:02:13,599 headphones as he drives out into his 51 00:02:13,599 --> 00:02:15,760 land he stops here and there to check a 52 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:18,680 sprinkler head or readout on his laptop 53 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:21,519 modern farming at another point he rips 54 00:02:21,519 --> 00:02:23,440 a rifle from its housing on the back of 55 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:25,120 the fourwheeler to try to pick off a 56 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:27,400 jack rabbit it vanishes before he can 57 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:30,440 align his shot continuing his headlights 58 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:32,120 pick out a muddy puddle blocking the 59 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:34,440 dirt path among the roads of agavi 60 00:02:34,440 --> 00:02:36,720 plants he stops and Dismounts to 61 00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:38,800 investigate the flooding he looks 62 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:41,040 perplexed he pulls a two-way radio from 63 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:42,879 his belt and removes the headphones 64 00:02:42,879 --> 00:02:45,360 still playing we got flooding out on the 65 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:47,720 North End East Agave Fields you seen any 66 00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:49,840 irrigation issues on your end he wads 67 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:51,599 out into the water no readings and 68 00:02:51,599 --> 00:02:52,720 problems in the remotes how much 69 00:02:52,720 --> 00:02:54,680 flooding are we talking he wads F 70 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:56,840 farther the growing light of day reveals 71 00:02:56,840 --> 00:03:00,680 a vast overflow into his Fields [ __ ] 72 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:02,920 it's a vast muddy swath of his farm 73 00:03:02,920 --> 00:03:05,040 soing up the cacti we'll come and check 74 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:07,519 you out the farmer takes in the terrible 75 00:03:07,519 --> 00:03:10,599 destruction exterior flooded area day 76 00:03:10,599 --> 00:03:12,200 the farmer's boots slog through the 77 00:03:12,200 --> 00:03:14,400 ankle deep water looks to be coming from 78 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:17,080 the creek he stops something catches his 79 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:19,120 eye he Stoops and comes up with a shell 80 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:20,879 casing now he sees they litter the 81 00:03:20,879 --> 00:03:22,840 ground he moves on but he shrugs the 82 00:03:22,840 --> 00:03:25,080 rifle off his shoulder he wads on 83 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:27,000 ribbons of blood coil through the water 84 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:30,439 ahead farther on he a stand 85 00:03:30,439 --> 00:03:32,840 of fur trees marks the path of the creek 86 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:35,120 the flooding is heaviest here he comes 87 00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:37,159 through the trees and stops dead the 88 00:03:37,159 --> 00:03:40,239 creek is indeed damned up by a pile of 89 00:03:40,239 --> 00:03:43,319 bloodied bodies they fell so thick 90 00:03:43,319 --> 00:03:45,040 they've completely closed off the Stream 91 00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:47,760 flow and Beyond them standing in the now 92 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:49,920 Dry Creek bed before the pile of human 93 00:03:49,920 --> 00:03:52,239 wreckage he created smeared in Blood and 94 00:03:52,239 --> 00:03:56,680 seething is a single man he is a Leo ton 95 00:03:56,680 --> 00:04:00,959 taen Twi he is a Leo taeen he's 32 his 96 00:04:00,959 --> 00:04:03,680 rigid posture conveys power a terrible 97 00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:06,319 mad grief Rens his dark eyes he still 98 00:04:06,319 --> 00:04:08,400 holds the automatic weapons he turned on 99 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:10,439 the two dozen men who lie dead before 100 00:04:10,439 --> 00:04:13,640 him the farmer gapes at the scene in the 101 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:16,079 tense silence a new song starts from his 102 00:04:16,079 --> 00:04:18,799 headphones lejo turns his eyes to the 103 00:04:18,799 --> 00:04:21,000 farmer and we cut to 104 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:23,800 Black the song continues over 105 00:04:23,800 --> 00:04:27,280 black it's uh Nar you want to pronounce 106 00:04:27,280 --> 00:04:30,800 that for Naro it's a Naro a modern crime 107 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:34,400 ballad it tells a tale of rage and 108 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:37,520 bloodshed interior sub uh Subterranean 109 00:04:37,520 --> 00:04:40,039 stash pot night a half dozen people 110 00:04:40,039 --> 00:04:42,440 three children there's six eight and 10 111 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:44,600 three women in their 30s cling to each 112 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:48,000 other in Terror uh super tile 10 days 113 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:50,479 earlier they're in a grimy little recess 114 00:04:50,479 --> 00:04:52,800 beneath an iron grate the Amber glow of 115 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:55,199 a street light just finds uh them from 116 00:04:55,199 --> 00:04:57,919 above Chris one of the women sings 117 00:04:57,919 --> 00:05:00,120 softly to the children she's wearing a 118 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:02,360 little necklace with a virgin of uh 119 00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:05,720 suyapa mhm all right finally with a 120 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:08,000 virgin of suyapa on it frequent 121 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:10,120 eruptions of Screams and gunfire make 122 00:05:10,120 --> 00:05:12,280 the kids Flinch and whimper the women 123 00:05:12,280 --> 00:05:14,680 are desperate to quiet them exterior 124 00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:17,800 above the great warhouse uh above ground 125 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:20,400 it's War the great is a fake storm drain 126 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:22,680 in the lot outside a Dusty Warehouse 127 00:05:22,680 --> 00:05:24,960 several SUVs are AR raid around it 128 00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:27,240 engines running doors open headlights on 129 00:05:27,240 --> 00:05:29,199 the warehouse two groups of armed 130 00:05:29,199 --> 00:05:31,759 attackers sweep from the SUVs toward the 131 00:05:31,759 --> 00:05:34,280 warehouse they trade gunfire with unseen 132 00:05:34,280 --> 00:05:37,319 men inside on the left 10 Marauders they 133 00:05:37,319 --> 00:05:39,280 run headlong at the warehouse on the 134 00:05:39,280 --> 00:05:41,880 right six masked Fighters not formal 135 00:05:41,880 --> 00:05:43,759 soldiers but trained so well they could 136 00:05:43,759 --> 00:05:45,960 be move as a unit to secure the 137 00:05:45,960 --> 00:05:48,520 perimeter interior forklift dock 138 00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:51,639 Warehouse Knight crash a garage door 139 00:05:51,639 --> 00:05:53,680 crumples and folds in the Marauders 140 00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:55,720 burst through the breach screaming guns 141 00:05:55,720 --> 00:05:58,160 blazing a handful of Defenders hiding 142 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:00,560 behind Park forklifts return turn fire 143 00:06:00,560 --> 00:06:03,120 Flats of cash stand behind them one of 144 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:04,919 the Marauders throws a grenade the 145 00:06:04,919 --> 00:06:07,240 explosions rip uh the explosion rips men 146 00:06:07,240 --> 00:06:09,759 and money in a flash of shrapnel and 147 00:06:09,759 --> 00:06:12,479 fire the cash starts to burn the 148 00:06:12,479 --> 00:06:14,680 Marauders make no effort to douse it as 149 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:17,000 they overwhelm their foes they crack 150 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:19,639 skulls and deliver execution shots as 151 00:06:19,639 --> 00:06:22,199 the loot Burns interior hallway 152 00:06:22,199 --> 00:06:25,280 Warehouse night from behind uh pallet 153 00:06:25,280 --> 00:06:28,160 barricades eight hardened men trained 154 00:06:28,160 --> 00:06:30,400 their guns at the door at the far end of 155 00:06:30,400 --> 00:06:32,560 the hall the sounds of fighting draw 156 00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:34,840 draw near two other men at the back of 157 00:06:34,840 --> 00:06:37,039 the Carter hoist shrink wrapped bundles 158 00:06:37,039 --> 00:06:40,560 of heroin up a ladder out of nowhere six 159 00:06:40,560 --> 00:06:42,080 precise shots ripped through the 160 00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:44,319 sidewall of the hallway right through 161 00:06:44,319 --> 00:06:48,199 the concrete six shots six men drop only 162 00:06:48,199 --> 00:06:50,560 then does the door burst open a single 163 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:53,160 masked figure steps through he fires 164 00:06:53,160 --> 00:06:56,160 four shots the last four men fall he 165 00:06:56,160 --> 00:06:58,639 walks up the hall unhurried no wasted 166 00:06:58,639 --> 00:07:01,639 movement his Fighters allow him inside 167 00:07:01,639 --> 00:07:03,879 one Wheels a hand truck the lead fighter 168 00:07:03,879 --> 00:07:06,879 removes his mask it's Ajo he hands the 169 00:07:06,879 --> 00:07:08,879 first bundle to one of the fighters they 170 00:07:08,879 --> 00:07:11,560 start loading the hand truck exterior 171 00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:13,479 Warehouse moments later Two fighters 172 00:07:13,479 --> 00:07:15,960 direct the 173 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:22,479 hand what I want to do first because 174 00:07:22,479 --> 00:07:24,520 this is the most important thing uh uh 175 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:26,080 when you're starting guys for I'm going 176 00:07:26,080 --> 00:07:27,759 to be switching glasses back and forth I 177 00:07:27,759 --> 00:07:29,039 have two different prescriptions one for 178 00:07:29,039 --> 00:07:30,919 reading and one for uh being able to see 179 00:07:30,919 --> 00:07:33,080 you so I'm going to be doing this a lot 180 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:35,639 um uh so I just want to hear from people 181 00:07:35,639 --> 00:07:40,039 who aren't you uh did you understand uh 182 00:07:40,039 --> 00:07:41,639 the first scene just simply we're not 183 00:07:41,639 --> 00:07:43,479 dealing with good or bad what works what 184 00:07:43,479 --> 00:07:46,240 doesn't just did you understand it yeah 185 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:47,879 yes follow the action most part yes you 186 00:07:47,879 --> 00:07:52,680 follow the action okay um uh good uh I 187 00:07:52,680 --> 00:07:56,000 did too and it was pretty cool I'm this 188 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:57,879 is going to be interesting because I'm 189 00:07:57,879 --> 00:08:02,159 uh my we spot by far is action uh which 190 00:08:02,159 --> 00:08:04,400 is what like if I had written this scene 191 00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:05,639 it would have been a conversation 192 00:08:05,639 --> 00:08:08,280 between two guys with guns uh uh with 193 00:08:08,280 --> 00:08:11,720 Heroin sitting over there um uh but you 194 00:08:11,720 --> 00:08:14,360 are are very good with action why is 195 00:08:14,360 --> 00:08:16,560 that uh I'm not sure I sort of stumbled 196 00:08:16,560 --> 00:08:20,080 on it uh um I I started really as a as a 197 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:22,039 dialogue guy and then found that that 198 00:08:22,039 --> 00:08:24,360 the action seemed to come out all right 199 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:26,479 as you watch a lot of action movies uh I 200 00:08:26,479 --> 00:08:28,560 did Growing Up but not not not an 201 00:08:28,560 --> 00:08:31,919 inordinate amount uh um so uh it's just 202 00:08:31,919 --> 00:08:33,279 something I found a kinship with as a 203 00:08:33,279 --> 00:08:35,240 writer Strangely I got a real feel for 204 00:08:35,240 --> 00:08:38,320 it where where's this going uh well I'm 205 00:08:38,320 --> 00:08:39,479 I'm not really sure I wrote it this 206 00:08:39,479 --> 00:08:42,080 weekend uh it was uh off the the 207 00:08:42,080 --> 00:08:43,839 assignment that we were given an option 208 00:08:43,839 --> 00:08:46,560 to do of taking a classic work and and 209 00:08:46,560 --> 00:08:49,680 trying something um so I mean I I I 210 00:08:49,680 --> 00:08:51,640 imagine it following the course of the 211 00:08:51,640 --> 00:08:54,320 of the Iliad fairly closely um you know 212 00:08:54,320 --> 00:08:57,080 by the end of the the First Act um peely 213 00:08:57,080 --> 00:09:00,200 will die uh in the mirrored SUV 214 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:03,399 which when she's mistaken for aljo um he 215 00:09:03,399 --> 00:09:05,360 will have withdrawn from from the 216 00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:07,200 fighting and this war going on between 217 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:09,519 cartels um the tide will have turned and 218 00:09:09,519 --> 00:09:11,120 so she will have gone out to pretend to 219 00:09:11,120 --> 00:09:14,480 be him in this mired SUV be be killed 220 00:09:14,480 --> 00:09:17,160 and then that will set off his his rage 221 00:09:17,160 --> 00:09:21,279 against um Hector and and the the the 222 00:09:21,279 --> 00:09:24,279 Rival cartel very cool uh I think he did 223 00:09:24,279 --> 00:09:27,000 a great job I'm I'm only going to give 224 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:29,720 one note and it's a general note yeah uh 225 00:09:29,720 --> 00:09:32,000 that may not even apply uh uh to what 226 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:34,600 you've done um but because there's a lot 227 00:09:34,600 --> 00:09:36,519 of action here I'll use this moment to 228 00:09:36,519 --> 00:09:39,240 give this note you want to try as much 229 00:09:39,240 --> 00:09:43,320 as you can to have any description of 230 00:09:43,320 --> 00:09:47,920 action take roughly as much time as it's 231 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:50,240 going to take for it to actually happen 232 00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:53,560 on screen why um uh I don't think this 233 00:09:53,560 --> 00:09:56,680 is important enough to write down uh I'm 234 00:09:56,680 --> 00:09:58,200 I'd be surprised if anything I say is 235 00:09:58,200 --> 00:09:59,600 going to be important enough to write 236 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:01,360 down if if that happens it'll be an 237 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:05,240 accident but uh here's what I'm talking 238 00:10:05,240 --> 00:10:06,760 about 239 00:10:06,760 --> 00:10:10,160 we uh uh do a peculiar kind of writing 240 00:10:10,160 --> 00:10:11,880 uh uh the writing we do is not meant to 241 00:10:11,880 --> 00:10:14,279 be read it's meant to be performed right 242 00:10:14,279 --> 00:10:17,839 except once except for one time uh and 243 00:10:17,839 --> 00:10:21,000 that is trying to get the movie made um 244 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:22,720 there's going to be one round of people 245 00:10:22,720 --> 00:10:26,040 reading it whether it's uh an agent or a 246 00:10:26,040 --> 00:10:29,480 studio executive or a director uh or an 247 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:31,839 actor uh uh uh that you're trying to get 248 00:10:31,839 --> 00:10:33,839 that's going to be the one time that 249 00:10:33,839 --> 00:10:36,519 reading the script uh uh is important 250 00:10:36,519 --> 00:10:38,000 after that it's just performing The 251 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:40,600 Script but you do want that reading 252 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:44,639 draft to be good and readable um uh and 253 00:10:44,639 --> 00:10:46,639 again I'm not uh I'm just using this 254 00:10:46,639 --> 00:10:48,240 opportunity to give this note this was a 255 00:10:48,240 --> 00:10:50,200 very readable uh 256 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:53,519 scene very often times a 257 00:10:53,519 --> 00:10:59,639 screenplay will be to a movie what uh um 258 00:10:59,639 --> 00:11:01,720 oh hell hell what what's it called what 259 00:11:01,720 --> 00:11:06,279 a blueprint um uh is to a house uh which 260 00:11:06,279 --> 00:11:08,200 is to say a blueprint isn't going to 261 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:11,639 give you a very good idea of uh your 262 00:11:11,639 --> 00:11:13,560 emotional reaction to this house you 263 00:11:13,560 --> 00:11:16,839 know is it is it a a pretty house is it 264 00:11:16,839 --> 00:11:19,360 is it nice a blueprint is there to tell 265 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:22,360 the uh people who are building it where 266 00:11:22,360 --> 00:11:25,160 to use the 2x4 and and uh and where to 267 00:11:25,160 --> 00:11:28,279 bang a nail too often a screenplay is a 268 00:11:28,279 --> 00:11:30,440 blueprint uh of a movie too often it 269 00:11:30,440 --> 00:11:33,000 doesn't read very well it's there as uh 270 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:35,720 an instruction manual for the director 271 00:11:35,720 --> 00:11:37,880 uh that this is what I want you to do so 272 00:11:37,880 --> 00:11:41,480 here's what I mean by um uh by having 273 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:43,760 the description of the action take 274 00:11:43,760 --> 00:11:46,680 roughly as long uh uh as the action if 275 00:11:46,680 --> 00:11:48,760 you have a character walking down the 276 00:11:48,760 --> 00:11:53,680 sidewalk um and they turn the corner and 277 00:11:53,680 --> 00:11:56,639 there's a a a monster there uh some kind 278 00:11:56,639 --> 00:11:58,160 of monster whether it's a person with a 279 00:11:58,160 --> 00:12:01,320 gun or King Kong uh some kind of monster 280 00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:04,480 there who who scares them and you 281 00:12:04,480 --> 00:12:09,279 describe that moment of fright in in a 282 00:12:09,279 --> 00:12:14,399 half a page uh that um uh his eyes pop 283 00:12:14,399 --> 00:12:16,920 out of his head he jumps back exactly 18 284 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:20,639 Ines he is feeling the same fear he felt 285 00:12:20,639 --> 00:12:23,079 when he was 12 years old and all of this 286 00:12:23,079 --> 00:12:24,240 happen when the moment that you're 287 00:12:24,240 --> 00:12:27,560 looking for is ah uh okay um uh when 288 00:12:27,560 --> 00:12:29,519 that's all that happens the the 289 00:12:29,519 --> 00:12:32,440 description has to take that long in 290 00:12:32,440 --> 00:12:35,120 fact you did it um somewhere in here I 291 00:12:35,120 --> 00:12:37,040 won't find the page where you just wrote 292 00:12:37,040 --> 00:12:38,920 the word crash 293 00:12:38,920 --> 00:12:43,639 right or bang uh or something uh bottom 294 00:12:43,639 --> 00:12:48,519 of three you say crash yes 295 00:12:48,519 --> 00:12:52,199 um good you did two things right here 296 00:12:52,199 --> 00:12:55,199 you kept it roughly uh uh um the the the 297 00:12:55,199 --> 00:12:57,639 same length as it's going to take on 298 00:12:57,639 --> 00:13:01,279 screen and you just I'm assuming 299 00:13:01,279 --> 00:13:04,320 instinctively if it has to take longer 300 00:13:04,320 --> 00:13:05,880 than the time it's going to take on 301 00:13:05,880 --> 00:13:09,800 screen give it a headline uh okay make 302 00:13:09,800 --> 00:13:14,920 it crash bang um then this uh uh happens 303 00:13:14,920 --> 00:13:20,399 pow this is what's uh uh just happened 304 00:13:20,399 --> 00:13:23,800 um often some from time to time you 305 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:25,120 actually have to I'm trying to think of 306 00:13:25,120 --> 00:13:29,120 an example of this um uh here's what 307 00:13:29,120 --> 00:13:30,639 I'll do from time to 308 00:13:30,639 --> 00:13:34,160 time if I if I can't make it happen that 309 00:13:34,160 --> 00:13:37,760 fast um uh I'll I'll roll back the clock 310 00:13:37,760 --> 00:13:41,360 a little bit on the script um uh I'll 311 00:13:41,360 --> 00:13:42,920 say 312 00:13:42,920 --> 00:13:45,040 um 313 00:13:45,040 --> 00:13:48,680 uh jeie falls down because here's what 314 00:13:48,680 --> 00:13:51,240 just happened um uh she walked into the 315 00:13:51,240 --> 00:13:52,839 room and this happened and this happened 316 00:13:52,839 --> 00:13:54,399 and this happened and this happened and 317 00:13:54,399 --> 00:13:56,079 then I'll take you back uh uh to the 318 00:13:56,079 --> 00:13:57,800 script I'll actually write in the past 319 00:13:57,800 --> 00:14:00,759 tense uh uh for a second letting them 320 00:14:00,759 --> 00:14:02,839 know that the effect is just bam Genie 321 00:14:02,839 --> 00:14:05,600 falls down but here's why it's going to 322 00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:07,560 take me three sentences to tell you um 323 00:14:07,560 --> 00:14:09,360 but it's only going to take that bam 324 00:14:09,360 --> 00:14:11,959 amount of time uh on the screen you did 325 00:14:11,959 --> 00:14:13,720 a really really good job I'd love to see 326 00:14:13,720 --> 00:14:16,920 the rest of this uh script um let's move 327 00:14:16,920 --> 00:14:19,440 on to uh uh the next one and see if any 328 00:14:19,440 --> 00:14:20,639 we can find somebody doing something 329 00:14:20,639 --> 00:14:23,600 wrong 1 00:00:13,599 --> 00:00:15,160 e is for 2 00:00:15,160 --> 00:00:18,880 Ed written by our own jeie 3 00:00:18,880 --> 00:00:21,680 Bergen this is a half hour 4 00:00:21,680 --> 00:00:23,519 pilot all 5 00:00:23,519 --> 00:00:27,880 right out of curiosity 6 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:30,039 um because I don't know what what you 7 00:00:30,039 --> 00:00:31,800 kids are doing these days okay and I 8 00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:33,000 don't know what's what's down with the 9 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:35,600 kids uh uh these days I try to keep my 10 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:38,960 finger on the pulse of the kids okay but 11 00:00:38,960 --> 00:00:40,920 with what would the 12 00:00:40,920 --> 00:00:44,039 um what's this internet thing you guys 13 00:00:44,039 --> 00:00:46,320 internet is that what it's called uh 14 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:49,680 okay uh your 60 Minute pilot is it 60 15 00:00:49,680 --> 00:00:51,280 Minutes or 42 minutes do you know what 16 00:00:51,280 --> 00:00:53,600 I'm asking yeah it's 60 okay you're 30 17 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:55,440 minute pilot is it 30 minutes or 22 18 00:00:55,440 --> 00:00:57,640 minutes 30 streaming our cable network 19 00:00:57,640 --> 00:01:00,640 okay 20 00:01:02,680 --> 00:01:05,840 sorry your show again go 21 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:09,400 ahead all right exterior Wisconsin Back 22 00:01:09,400 --> 00:01:12,400 Road day uh wood panel station wagon 23 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:14,159 swerves wildly down the road blasting 24 00:01:14,159 --> 00:01:16,119 Whitney Houston's I will always love you 25 00:01:16,119 --> 00:01:20,000 super 1994 Riley Barnes 9 drives not 26 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:21,600 well considering she can barely see over 27 00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:24,040 the steering wheel she's Plucky selfish 28 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:26,079 determined blonde with a chipped front 29 00:01:26,079 --> 00:01:28,720 tooth Edie Barnes 10 intellectually 30 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:30,920 disabled stubborn sits in the passenger 31 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:32,920 seat smiling she Taps her foot to the 32 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:35,159 music her shoes are velcro the easiest 33 00:01:35,159 --> 00:01:37,680 kind Barney a small stuffed purple 34 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:40,240 dinosaur sits in the back Riley veers 35 00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:42,119 off the road screeching to a halt she 36 00:01:42,119 --> 00:01:44,520 gets out unbuckles Ed's seat belt 37 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:46,240 tightens the velcro on her shoe and 38 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:48,600 leads her into the corn interior station 39 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:51,560 wagon later Riley peels away happy 40 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:55,240 interior corn field day uh Edie stands 41 00:01:55,240 --> 00:01:56,799 in the middle of the cornfield alone 42 00:01:56,799 --> 00:01:58,960 into your station wagon day Riley looks 43 00:01:58,960 --> 00:02:01,200 at in the rear mirror Barney is still in 44 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:03,159 the back seat a smile plastered on his 45 00:02:03,159 --> 00:02:06,680 dumb little face Riley size guilty 46 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:09,440 interior cornfield day Edie sits in the 47 00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:12,680 corn scared a rustling Riley stands 48 00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:16,239 above her blocking the sun here Riley 49 00:02:16,239 --> 00:02:19,200 hands Barney to Edie Edy Smiles then 50 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:22,480 Riley runs over the cornfield uh with 51 00:02:22,480 --> 00:02:25,200 the uh station wagon speeding away and 52 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:28,879 Ed alone helpless uh the title card e is 53 00:02:28,879 --> 00:02:31,360 for Ed okay and let's hang on there for 54 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:34,160 just one second um uh I just want to 55 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:36,360 make sure that I'm I'm right in this 56 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:41,200 cold open um that when you 57 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:44,440 say and leads her into the corn okay 58 00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:46,080 Riley veers off the road screeching to a 59 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:48,519 halt she gets out unbuckles Ed seat belt 60 00:02:48,519 --> 00:02:50,200 tightens the velcro on her shoe and 61 00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:53,159 leads her into the corn it that's the 62 00:02:53,159 --> 00:02:55,480 very first mention of corn right okay 63 00:02:55,480 --> 00:02:58,640 okay um that's kind of a got it a 64 00:02:58,640 --> 00:03:01,360 surprise I would just uh in the 65 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:03,680 description a wood panel station wagon 66 00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:06,799 uh SES wildly down the road with 67 00:03:06,799 --> 00:03:10,760 cornfields on other side yeah um on each 68 00:03:10,760 --> 00:03:11,840 side the corn is as high as an 69 00:03:11,840 --> 00:03:12,799 elephant's 70 00:03:12,799 --> 00:03:15,519 eye reference the musical Oklahoma by 71 00:03:15,519 --> 00:03:17,760 Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein 72 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:21,760 II 1944 73 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:24,480 boom okay it's very good that was the 74 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:27,879 only note on the cold open go ahead ex 75 00:03:27,879 --> 00:03:30,599 The Grove Los Angeles night uh Barber 76 00:03:30,599 --> 00:03:32,879 Shop cortet sings Santa Claus is coming 77 00:03:32,879 --> 00:03:35,720 to town uh to a crowd of mostly Jewish 78 00:03:35,720 --> 00:03:38,519 people okay here's where um uh a 79 00:03:38,519 --> 00:03:40,080 director is just going to pick up the 80 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:41,560 closest object hit you in the head with 81 00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:44,879 it okay um uh uh they they'll feel bad 82 00:03:44,879 --> 00:03:47,000 after they hit you but not before they 83 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:49,400 hit you they'll be happy to do it a 84 00:03:49,400 --> 00:03:51,360 crowd of mostly Jewish people what does 85 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:55,319 that look like I I guess it 86 00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:57,480 doesn't yeah 87 00:03:57,480 --> 00:04:00,239 okay yeah shalom 88 00:04:00,239 --> 00:04:02,200 uh uh now listen yeah if it's important 89 00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:04,599 to you that they be mostly Jewish 90 00:04:04,599 --> 00:04:08,599 people uh I'm a mostly Jewish person um 91 00:04:08,599 --> 00:04:12,000 and I'm trying to think uh I I I you 92 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:14,319 don't mean them to be hidic Jews right 93 00:04:14,319 --> 00:04:18,440 uh uh yeah 94 00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:23,360 um listen you can it's the Grove it's La 95 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:25,759 you can have a yamika in there but I 96 00:04:25,759 --> 00:04:27,639 don't know about a crowd of people with 97 00:04:27,639 --> 00:04:29,160 let's find out how important it is that 98 00:04:29,160 --> 00:04:30,960 this crowd is Jewish okay okay keep 99 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:36,160 going super present day uh also mhm um I 100 00:04:36,160 --> 00:04:38,720 should have let off by saying that you 101 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:41,639 are a fantastic writer okay I I forgot 102 00:04:41,639 --> 00:04:44,400 to do that you 103 00:04:44,400 --> 00:04:46,199 anti-semitic 104 00:04:46,199 --> 00:04:50,360 horn person that drives into the corn 105 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:53,080 like wait a second the hell did the corn 106 00:04:53,080 --> 00:04:54,520 come 107 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:57,600 from okay so uh a barber shop quartet is 108 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:01,600 singing to a crowd of mostly Jewish 109 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:04,800 people there's a joke in there 110 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:08,240 so go we're now in the present day uh 111 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:10,759 restaurant patio Riley now 29 picks at a 112 00:05:10,759 --> 00:05:13,120 salad nervous she's still Plucky and 113 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:15,000 determined but deeply insecure in this 114 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:18,880 gluten-free Town cold 22 naive kind 115 00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:21,280 scarfs a slice of pizza confident how's 116 00:05:21,280 --> 00:05:24,360 the salad riveting want the pizza no 117 00:05:24,360 --> 00:05:27,120 thanks your boobs look good Riley laughs 118 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:29,840 embarrassed what they do thanks a thin 119 00:05:29,840 --> 00:05:32,319 waitress 21 Smiles at Cole flirty Riley 120 00:05:32,319 --> 00:05:34,080 pretends not to notice so are you going 121 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:35,600 to go home for the holidays Riley shakes 122 00:05:35,600 --> 00:05:38,080 her head no what about you yeah my 123 00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:39,199 parents would kill me if I didn't go 124 00:05:39,199 --> 00:05:41,600 home for the holidays yours are cool 125 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:44,400 they're dead [ __ ] I'm sorry it's okay 126 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:48,080 your parents will die one day too thanks 127 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:50,280 um so do you have any siblings Riley 128 00:05:50,280 --> 00:05:52,280 considers telling the truth then nope 129 00:05:52,280 --> 00:05:54,680 just me she smiles into your Cole's 130 00:05:54,680 --> 00:05:56,960 studio apartment night Cole and Riley 131 00:05:56,960 --> 00:05:59,039 make out Riley pulls away do you have a 132 00:05:59,039 --> 00:06:02,000 condom slow down I like kissing you he 133 00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:04,000 moves in she pulls away rejected can I 134 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:06,560 use your bathroom now no in 10 minutes 135 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:08,120 she heads toward the nearest door that's 136 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:11,319 the closet Captain Riley 137 00:06:11,319 --> 00:06:14,240 salutes interor bathroom night Riley 138 00:06:14,240 --> 00:06:16,120 rolls her eyes could she be any more 139 00:06:16,120 --> 00:06:18,840 embarrassing I I captain she wiggles out 140 00:06:18,840 --> 00:06:21,520 of her Spanx and sits on the toilet she 141 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:24,440 checks her phone missed call Gabby Riley 142 00:06:24,440 --> 00:06:27,080 looks concerned a gentle knock Riley 143 00:06:27,080 --> 00:06:29,120 sets down her phone distracted are you 144 00:06:29,120 --> 00:06:31,240 okay doing good thanks Riley hides her 145 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:33,319 Spanx under the sink inter your living 146 00:06:33,319 --> 00:06:35,840 room night Cole is naked on his futon 147 00:06:35,840 --> 00:06:37,800 his pants and shirt are folded did you 148 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:39,639 fold your pants don't worry about it 149 00:06:39,639 --> 00:06:41,800 Riley Smiles he's kind of sweet into 150 00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:44,599 your living room later Cole and Riley 151 00:06:44,599 --> 00:06:47,960 lie naked under a blanket uh he tries to 152 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:50,120 wrap his arm around her waist she scoots 153 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:52,560 away don't be so self-conscious I like 154 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:54,360 women with meat on their bones I do not 155 00:06:54,360 --> 00:06:56,360 have meat on my bones coal I have hips 156 00:06:56,360 --> 00:06:59,240 and boobs and an ass I know Riley stands 157 00:06:59,240 --> 00:07:00,080 a 158 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:02,599 and where you going Riley imagin saying 159 00:07:02,599 --> 00:07:04,319 what she really wants to begin fantasy 160 00:07:04,319 --> 00:07:05,840 sequence you should just go [ __ ] that 161 00:07:05,840 --> 00:07:07,400 skinny waitress and stop pretending like 162 00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:09,280 I'm someone you can actually be with the 163 00:07:09,280 --> 00:07:10,800 thin waitress enters in a Victoria 164 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:12,879 Secret Angel get up wings and all she 165 00:07:12,879 --> 00:07:15,120 hands Riley a box of pizza uh then 166 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:17,360 mounts Cole Riley eats the pizza 167 00:07:17,360 --> 00:07:19,919 defeated and fantasy sequence in reality 168 00:07:19,919 --> 00:07:22,039 Riley goes with home I have class at 10 169 00:07:22,039 --> 00:07:23,840 tomorrow just stay why so you can 170 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:25,599 barbecue me in the middle of the night 171 00:07:25,599 --> 00:07:26,879 no so I can [ __ ] you again in the 172 00:07:26,879 --> 00:07:29,759 morning Riley lays back down blocks cold 173 00:07:29,759 --> 00:07:33,560 arm again Riley what just let me like 174 00:07:33,560 --> 00:07:36,319 you okay he slides his arm around her 175 00:07:36,319 --> 00:07:38,639 Riley stiffens uncomfortable exterior 176 00:07:38,639 --> 00:07:40,680 Southern California University day a 177 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:42,199 beautiful sprawling campus lined with 178 00:07:42,199 --> 00:07:44,400 palm trees college kids Mill about 179 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:47,280 Carefree Riley exits the city bus 180 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:50,159 hurried interior classroom day Professor 181 00:07:50,159 --> 00:07:53,639 Bronson 50s uh masculine Stern addresses 182 00:07:53,639 --> 00:07:57,120 a class of grad students uh early 20s 183 00:07:57,120 --> 00:08:00,000 hopeful uh and mid-40s cynical a 184 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:01,639 reminder that your applications for the 185 00:08:01,639 --> 00:08:03,680 New York Times summer internship or due 186 00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:06,479 next week need I remind you that this is 187 00:08:06,479 --> 00:08:08,919 a highly coveted paid position that will 188 00:08:08,919 --> 00:08:11,720 go to only one of you he looks at Riley 189 00:08:11,720 --> 00:08:14,599 she smiles I encourage you all to apply 190 00:08:14,599 --> 00:08:16,360 as I'm sure you know having a master's 191 00:08:16,360 --> 00:08:19,520 degree no longer guarantees you a job or 192 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:22,120 hope of any kind great why don't we just 193 00:08:22,120 --> 00:08:24,400 all kill ourselves now Lauren 30 194 00:08:24,400 --> 00:08:27,479 confident uh neurotic Whispers to Riley 195 00:08:27,479 --> 00:08:29,199 God he makes me so wet don't you just 196 00:08:29,199 --> 00:08:31,640 want to [ __ ] him Riley eyes Professor 197 00:08:31,640 --> 00:08:34,479 Bronson thinning hair soft belly wedding 198 00:08:34,479 --> 00:08:37,479 ring he's married that's his problem 199 00:08:37,479 --> 00:08:40,440 Lauren Smiles mischievous exterior Camp 200 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:42,919 day Riley and Lauren walk together after 201 00:08:42,919 --> 00:08:44,440 class arm in- arm do you want to get 202 00:08:44,440 --> 00:08:46,120 lunch I can't I have to go work on my 203 00:08:46,120 --> 00:08:47,600 application you've been working on that 204 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:49,720 thing for like a month just send it oh 205 00:08:49,720 --> 00:08:51,560 sure no big deal just a job at the best 206 00:08:51,560 --> 00:08:53,160 newspaper in the world in like my dream 207 00:08:53,160 --> 00:08:55,080 City you're one of the smartest people I 208 00:08:55,080 --> 00:08:57,200 know you'll be fine or homeless could go 209 00:08:57,200 --> 00:08:59,440 either way Lauren s's annoyed if you 210 00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:00,519 decided if you're coming to my parents 211 00:09:00,519 --> 00:09:02,800 for Hanukkah yet I don't know no one is 212 00:09:02,800 --> 00:09:04,560 feeling sorry for you I promise we're 213 00:09:04,560 --> 00:09:06,240 Jews we'll be too busy feeling sorry for 214 00:09:06,240 --> 00:09:08,240 ourselves I might go see my sister if I 215 00:09:08,240 --> 00:09:11,120 can sure yeah no prush I slept with that 216 00:09:11,120 --> 00:09:13,440 undergrad guy how was it he slapped me 217 00:09:13,440 --> 00:09:15,160 in the face with his dick wait like 218 00:09:15,160 --> 00:09:17,680 violently no more like a gentle tap it 219 00:09:17,680 --> 00:09:20,440 was kind of hot get it girl Riley's 220 00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:23,399 phone rings uh Gabby I got to go it's my 221 00:09:23,399 --> 00:09:25,440 sister's caregiver everything okay I'm 222 00:09:25,440 --> 00:09:26,959 sure last time she called it was to tell 223 00:09:26,959 --> 00:09:28,680 me she couldn't get Ed's poop to flush 224 00:09:28,680 --> 00:09:30,040 she had to use a stick to poke it down 225 00:09:30,040 --> 00:09:32,880 the toilet TMI see you at home Lauren 226 00:09:32,880 --> 00:09:35,079 kisses Riley on the cheek Riley answers 227 00:09:35,079 --> 00:09:37,480 hello there's a breathing uh on the 228 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:39,800 other end then click Riley dials Gabby 229 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:41,680 straight to voicemail mailbox is full 230 00:09:41,680 --> 00:09:43,440 and count on accept any messages at this 231 00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:45,560 time goodbye Riley dials again straight 232 00:09:45,560 --> 00:09:47,600 to voicemail weird interior Library 233 00:09:47,600 --> 00:09:50,279 later Riley reviews her New York Times 234 00:09:50,279 --> 00:09:52,399 internship application for the millionth 235 00:09:52,399 --> 00:09:54,880 time she hesitates then clicks send her 236 00:09:54,880 --> 00:09:57,120 phone rings Gabby she answers it hushed 237 00:09:57,120 --> 00:09:59,440 hey can I call you right back a man 40 238 00:09:59,440 --> 00:10:01,160 with a thick Spanish accent replies 239 00:10:01,160 --> 00:10:03,240 nervous Roland can you read that is this 240 00:10:03,240 --> 00:10:06,920 Riley yes who is this Ed sister yes is 241 00:10:06,920 --> 00:10:09,839 something wrong is Edie okay Ed's fine 242 00:10:09,839 --> 00:10:11,920 where's Gabby she doesn't know we are 243 00:10:11,920 --> 00:10:13,800 calling you but there's something you 244 00:10:13,800 --> 00:10:15,480 need to know what are you talking about 245 00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:17,480 you're scaring me I'm sorry to be the 246 00:10:17,480 --> 00:10:20,760 one to tell you this but Gabby is dying 247 00:10:20,760 --> 00:10:23,800 what the [ __ ] ENT Riley's bedroom later 248 00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:25,600 Riley pulls a suitcase out of her closet 249 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:27,720 frantic as she does she shoves aside a 250 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:29,760 wedding dress Lauren watches he was just 251 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:32,920 like Gabby is dying by pretty much so 252 00:10:32,920 --> 00:10:34,720 who's watching your sister her niece I 253 00:10:34,720 --> 00:10:36,240 guess he said her family is there they 254 00:10:36,240 --> 00:10:38,000 came up from Mexico so she call it her 255 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:40,079 family but not you does a state know 256 00:10:40,079 --> 00:10:40,959 they don't even know I live in 257 00:10:40,959 --> 00:10:43,760 California 258 00:10:47,959 --> 00:10:52,079 [ __ ] my favorite kind of writing is when 259 00:10:52,079 --> 00:10:55,240 I uh want to meet the person who wrote 260 00:10:55,240 --> 00:10:58,920 it um uh and uh and that happened here 261 00:10:58,920 --> 00:11:00,120 so 262 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:02,959 how lucky am I you're right here uh can 263 00:11:02,959 --> 00:11:06,040 you uh do you mind just talking a little 264 00:11:06,040 --> 00:11:07,880 bit about yourself your background sure 265 00:11:07,880 --> 00:11:09,680 um so I originally started in theater 266 00:11:09,680 --> 00:11:11,399 too I studied acting at the University 267 00:11:11,399 --> 00:11:13,200 of Arizona are you from Arizona um no 268 00:11:13,200 --> 00:11:14,680 I'm originally from Wisconsin in the 269 00:11:14,680 --> 00:11:17,279 cornfields um I grew up in Wisconsin was 270 00:11:17,279 --> 00:11:19,519 raised by my grandparents or my grandma 271 00:11:19,519 --> 00:11:21,480 um with my sister and we moved to 272 00:11:21,480 --> 00:11:22,880 Arizona in high school stayed High 273 00:11:22,880 --> 00:11:24,959 School undergrad I was a reporter for a 274 00:11:24,959 --> 00:11:28,160 few years in Tucson and then I um had 275 00:11:28,160 --> 00:11:29,519 success doing that I knew I wanted to 276 00:11:29,519 --> 00:11:31,839 come out to LA a print reporter or um TV 277 00:11:31,839 --> 00:11:35,680 TV yep um and then I came out here got a 278 00:11:35,680 --> 00:11:38,079 job at a marketing company got into USC 279 00:11:38,079 --> 00:11:40,399 did the USC MFA screenwriting program 280 00:11:40,399 --> 00:11:42,079 graduated about a year and a half ago 281 00:11:42,079 --> 00:11:43,160 and since then I've been working in 282 00:11:43,160 --> 00:11:45,720 development at a studio okay comedy 283 00:11:45,720 --> 00:11:49,399 development and um 284 00:11:49,399 --> 00:11:52,120 uh how many how much have you written 285 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:55,200 before this where are we in your um I've 286 00:11:55,200 --> 00:11:58,720 written an hourong drama pilot um and my 287 00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:01,480 my thesis pilot which a 30 minute um as 288 00:12:01,480 --> 00:12:05,360 well from USC and then a feature um in 289 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:08,040 rough shape okay when did you write this 290 00:12:08,040 --> 00:12:11,079 I wrote this over the past year and uh 291 00:12:11,079 --> 00:12:13,360 where are you with it who's read it who 292 00:12:13,360 --> 00:12:15,279 who who are you out to um people are 293 00:12:15,279 --> 00:12:17,360 starting to I'm starting to send it out 294 00:12:17,360 --> 00:12:19,639 um I where I want to be with it is I I 295 00:12:19,639 --> 00:12:21,560 want a producer to help guide me through 296 00:12:21,560 --> 00:12:23,920 this um it's my personal story and I 297 00:12:23,920 --> 00:12:26,760 feel like I need I need um I need a 298 00:12:26,760 --> 00:12:29,440 producer like because it's this is my 299 00:12:29,440 --> 00:12:31,000 story and it's really my heart and my 300 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:33,560 whole life um I need people around it 301 00:12:33,560 --> 00:12:35,480 who are going to care for it I it's I 302 00:12:35,480 --> 00:12:37,240 don't look at it necessarily as a piece 303 00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:39,800 of business even though I know it's just 304 00:12:39,800 --> 00:12:42,199 this is the most important thing to me 305 00:12:42,199 --> 00:12:44,600 um so yeah so I need a good producer who 306 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:47,360 gets that yeah as someone like Jill 307 00:12:47,360 --> 00:12:49,320 solay you can help Shepherd the process 308 00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:52,600 and really will protect it yeah yeah 309 00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:56,279 those people are are out there um they 310 00:12:56,279 --> 00:12:58,880 are Unfortunately they look exactly like 311 00:12:58,880 --> 00:13:03,079 the people who aren't good uh uh at this 312 00:13:03,079 --> 00:13:07,519 there's there's no way to um until you 313 00:13:07,519 --> 00:13:11,680 have swim in the water um uh but uh but 314 00:13:11,680 --> 00:13:14,160 you're right uh uh that's what you want 315 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:16,160 uh uh this is very good let's talk about 316 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:19,360 it um uh first of all let's let's hear 317 00:13:19,360 --> 00:13:21,519 from uh uh you guys what are your 318 00:13:21,519 --> 00:13:23,920 thoughts I thought the opening um 319 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:28,600 cornfields aside um was was um kind of 320 00:13:28,600 --> 00:13:31,600 riveting I mean I I loved the the image 321 00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:33,800 the cornfield ruined it for me oh wow 322 00:13:33,800 --> 00:13:36,279 absolutely ruined it for me wasn't able 323 00:13:36,279 --> 00:13:38,519 to pay attention to anything else after 324 00:13:38,519 --> 00:13:40,399 the cornfield mistake 325 00:13:40,399 --> 00:13:42,760 MH I'm kidding 326 00:13:42,760 --> 00:13:46,040 Genie are you kid all you did was leave 327 00:13:46,040 --> 00:13:48,199 out of stage Direction it's 328 00:13:48,199 --> 00:13:49,920 okay 329 00:13:49,920 --> 00:13:53,040 fine oh my God I'm sorry I I really am I 330 00:13:53,040 --> 00:13:57,320 was just joking uh literally like three 331 00:13:57,320 --> 00:14:00,040 words it it is all no but it's so funny 332 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:01,240 I don't know how many times I've read 333 00:14:01,240 --> 00:14:03,399 this and I've never noticed that mistake 334 00:14:03,399 --> 00:14:04,880 I can't tell you how many times I've 335 00:14:04,880 --> 00:14:08,639 done that um uh that uh uh and here's 336 00:14:08,639 --> 00:14:11,880 why it it happens um and you can apply 337 00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:13,120 this to 338 00:14:13,120 --> 00:14:15,279 everything you know 339 00:14:15,279 --> 00:14:18,440 more in in your head than you're able to 340 00:14:18,440 --> 00:14:21,040 put on on the piece of paper and so the 341 00:14:21,040 --> 00:14:22,800 first thing that's why I'm the the first 342 00:14:22,800 --> 00:14:24,560 question I'm I'm asking you after we 343 00:14:24,560 --> 00:14:26,759 read these things is did you understand 344 00:14:26,759 --> 00:14:29,160 what uh uh what you just read That's 345 00:14:29,160 --> 00:14:30,800 always what I want to know uh when I'm 346 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:33,440 done before we get to is it good or bad 347 00:14:33,440 --> 00:14:35,560 um did enough of what was cuz what was 348 00:14:35,560 --> 00:14:38,360 in my head was brilliant um what was in 349 00:14:38,360 --> 00:14:40,079 my head was the best episode of 350 00:14:40,079 --> 00:14:41,600 Television you've ever seen the best 351 00:14:41,600 --> 00:14:44,399 movie you've ever seen the best play 352 00:14:44,399 --> 00:14:45,880 you've ever seen makes Hamilton look 353 00:14:45,880 --> 00:14:49,199 like garbage uh okay did it get from my 354 00:14:49,199 --> 00:14:52,639 head through my arm into my fingers and 355 00:14:52,639 --> 00:14:55,240 and and down on on a piece of paper uh 356 00:14:55,240 --> 00:14:56,959 uh that's what I want to know so that's 357 00:14:56,959 --> 00:14:59,240 why you leave accidentally leave things 358 00:14:59,240 --> 00:15:00,720 like corfield out it was you're 359 00:15:00,720 --> 00:15:01,920 picturing it in your head they're 360 00:15:01,920 --> 00:15:04,399 driving by cornfields and it's natural 361 00:15:04,399 --> 00:15:06,160 to assume that everyone else is 362 00:15:06,160 --> 00:15:07,880 picturing the exact same thing that 363 00:15:07,880 --> 00:15:12,320 you're picturing okay uh I like Riley uh 364 00:15:12,320 --> 00:15:14,759 a lot uh I like this character first I 365 00:15:14,759 --> 00:15:15,880 want to talk to you about the 366 00:15:15,880 --> 00:15:18,000 autobiographical uh element and then I 367 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:20,199 want to talk about 368 00:15:20,199 --> 00:15:24,120 the phone call about uh Edy okay I've 369 00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:24,920 never 370 00:15:24,920 --> 00:15:28,000 written straight up autobiographically 371 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:31,160 uh I never have that's not to say that 372 00:15:31,160 --> 00:15:34,319 experiences that I have or feelings that 373 00:15:34,319 --> 00:15:35,959 I have 374 00:15:35,959 --> 00:15:39,680 haven't seeped uh uh into the work that 375 00:15:39,680 --> 00:15:42,480 I'm doing um but I've I've I've never 376 00:15:42,480 --> 00:15:44,680 written autobiographically so uh I don't 377 00:15:44,680 --> 00:15:47,639 know exactly what it's like when I have 378 00:15:47,639 --> 00:15:50,440 written non-fiction when I've written 379 00:15:50,440 --> 00:15:52,880 real people 380 00:15:52,880 --> 00:15:57,800 um I can tell you that I I take the 381 00:15:57,800 --> 00:16:00,279 facts uh the person's life I don't 382 00:16:00,279 --> 00:16:02,160 distort the facts of the person's life 383 00:16:02,160 --> 00:16:05,959 but by page two of what I'm writing it 384 00:16:05,959 --> 00:16:08,560 becomes a that real person becomes a 385 00:16:08,560 --> 00:16:14,240 character that uh that I've invented uh 386 00:16:14,240 --> 00:16:17,480 in Steve Jobs that was my Steve Jobs uh 387 00:16:17,480 --> 00:16:19,920 up there it was my Mark Zuckerberg uh uh 388 00:16:19,920 --> 00:16:21,800 in The Social Network it was my version 389 00:16:21,800 --> 00:16:25,560 of Billy Bean in uh Moneyball um or 390 00:16:25,560 --> 00:16:27,160 Charlie Wilson I got to stop writing 391 00:16:27,160 --> 00:16:29,839 nonfiction this is uh uh seriously I 392 00:16:29,839 --> 00:16:31,920 started out as a fiction writer I got to 393 00:16:31,920 --> 00:16:35,319 get out of the non-fiction business um I 394 00:16:35,319 --> 00:16:40,279 and I'm saying this to you uh 395 00:16:40,279 --> 00:16:46,040 because you have to um do the same thing 396 00:16:46,040 --> 00:16:49,160 for two reasons uh for the sake of the 397 00:16:49,160 --> 00:16:51,959 writing which is very very uh uh good 398 00:16:51,959 --> 00:16:53,399 right now but we're talking about a 399 00:16:53,399 --> 00:16:55,399 series so you're going to hopefully do 400 00:16:55,399 --> 00:16:59,360 this 100 times all right um and I think 401 00:16:59,360 --> 00:17:04,199 for your own sanity um uh uh you Riley 402 00:17:04,199 --> 00:17:08,160 needs to become your imaginary friend um 403 00:17:08,160 --> 00:17:11,120 and uh and not you uh it might be 404 00:17:11,120 --> 00:17:14,520 helpful for you or maybe not okay I I 405 00:17:14,520 --> 00:17:17,240 don't really every writer is different 406 00:17:17,240 --> 00:17:20,760 um uh and maybe the way you write Riley 407 00:17:20,760 --> 00:17:22,480 is like you were writing in a journal or 408 00:17:22,480 --> 00:17:25,360 a diary uh and uh and it comes out that 409 00:17:25,360 --> 00:17:27,600 way my I'm the reason why I'm concerned 410 00:17:27,600 --> 00:17:30,000 and bringing this up m is because 411 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:32,000 writing in a journal or a 412 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:34,240 diary you don't have to obey any of the 413 00:17:34,240 --> 00:17:37,919 laws of uh of drama and storytelling 414 00:17:37,919 --> 00:17:41,440 right and you do here um so I don't want 415 00:17:41,440 --> 00:17:45,320 one to be in conflict with the other now 416 00:17:45,320 --> 00:17:47,039 this phone 417 00:17:47,039 --> 00:17:50,200 call that Edie is 418 00:17:50,200 --> 00:17:53,160 dying who is this guy I'm sorry that 419 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:56,000 that uh um uh uh uh that Gabby is dying 420 00:17:56,000 --> 00:17:58,640 uh who is this guy he is a f her family 421 00:17:58,640 --> 00:18:01,679 m member who's anonymously calling her 422 00:18:01,679 --> 00:18:05,600 uh do we know that no because I want it 423 00:18:05,600 --> 00:18:08,400 to be an an it's an anonymous man do you 424 00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:10,000 think that we need we need to know who 425 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:12,280 it is who's making the phone call I 426 00:18:12,280 --> 00:18:14,960 don't but I 427 00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:18,080 think let's just watch something let's 428 00:18:18,080 --> 00:18:20,000 read the phone call again okay and I 429 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:21,320 just want to show you something let's 430 00:18:21,320 --> 00:18:23,240 just read the phone call it starts on 431 00:18:23,240 --> 00:18:24,679 page 432 00:18:24,679 --> 00:18:27,520 eight into your main library later Riley 433 00:18:27,520 --> 00:18:28,960 reviews her New York Times internship 434 00:18:28,960 --> 00:18:30,919 application for the millionth time she 435 00:18:30,919 --> 00:18:32,799 hesitates then clicks send her phone 436 00:18:32,799 --> 00:18:34,840 rings Gabby she answers it okay here's 437 00:18:34,840 --> 00:18:36,400 where the beat starts her phone rings 438 00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:37,960 it's Gabby right we're going to see that 439 00:18:37,960 --> 00:18:40,159 on the phone she answers it hush go 440 00:18:40,159 --> 00:18:42,200 ahead hey can I call you right back a 441 00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:44,320 man 40s with a thick Spanish accents 442 00:18:44,320 --> 00:18:47,840 replies nervous is this Riley yes who is 443 00:18:47,840 --> 00:18:50,600 this Ed's sister Riley stands worried 444 00:18:50,600 --> 00:18:52,960 yes is something wrong is Edie okay Ed's 445 00:18:52,960 --> 00:18:55,000 fine where's Gabby she doesn't know 446 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:57,080 we're calling you but there's something 447 00:18:57,080 --> 00:18:58,520 you need to know what are you talking 448 00:18:58,520 --> 00:19:01,159 about you're scaring me I'm sorry to be 449 00:19:01,159 --> 00:19:03,200 the one to have to tell you this but 450 00:19:03,200 --> 00:19:04,320 Gabby is 451 00:19:04,320 --> 00:19:06,840 dying what the 452 00:19:06,840 --> 00:19:12,480 [ __ ] okay uh cool but I I I feel like 453 00:19:12,480 --> 00:19:15,760 the next line has has got to be we we've 454 00:19:15,760 --> 00:19:18,600 got to cut to actually it's just you 455 00:19:18,600 --> 00:19:21,559 need to expand on what the [ __ ] um I 456 00:19:21,559 --> 00:19:23,360 just got the weirdest [ __ ] phone call 457 00:19:23,360 --> 00:19:27,400 of my life a complete stranger with a 458 00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:29,520 thick Spanish accent called and said 459 00:19:29,520 --> 00:19:30,720 Gabby is 460 00:19:30,720 --> 00:19:34,320 dying okay doesn't that deserve that 461 00:19:34,320 --> 00:19:38,640 level of uh shock and surprise and 462 00:19:38,640 --> 00:19:40,600 puzzlement because the audience is going 463 00:19:40,600 --> 00:19:43,159 to be that puzzled right um and you need 464 00:19:43,159 --> 00:19:45,440 to tell the audience it you're supposed 465 00:19:45,440 --> 00:19:47,559 to be that puzzled don't worry our 466 00:19:47,559 --> 00:19:51,240 heroin is uh uh that puzzled um so here 467 00:19:51,240 --> 00:19:53,840 we've arrived at a moment 468 00:19:53,840 --> 00:19:56,240 where uh uh there's a character and 469 00:19:56,240 --> 00:19:58,240 happens to be the lead character knows 470 00:19:58,240 --> 00:20:02,320 as little as the audience does okay 471 00:20:02,320 --> 00:20:07,600 um okay now uh what I want to do is uh 472 00:20:07,600 --> 00:20:09,320 we only have 10 pages here so tell us 473 00:20:09,320 --> 00:20:10,440 about this 474 00:20:10,440 --> 00:20:13,520 show um okay so the show is about a 475 00:20:13,520 --> 00:20:15,480 young woman who suddenly becomes the 476 00:20:15,480 --> 00:20:17,480 caregiver to her intellectually disabled 477 00:20:17,480 --> 00:20:19,159 sister she brings her to California 478 00:20:19,159 --> 00:20:20,440 she's in the middle of pursuing her 479 00:20:20,440 --> 00:20:22,080 dreams she's in grad school I'm assuming 480 00:20:22,080 --> 00:20:23,640 she suddenly becomes the caregiver 481 00:20:23,640 --> 00:20:25,360 because Gabby is dying gab is dying 482 00:20:25,360 --> 00:20:26,760 she's been the guardian 483 00:20:26,760 --> 00:20:28,120 autobiographically been the guardian 484 00:20:28,120 --> 00:20:30,400 since I was had a caregiver she stayed 485 00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:32,679 with my sister stayed with the caregiver 486 00:20:32,679 --> 00:20:34,559 came out here for grad school to work 487 00:20:34,559 --> 00:20:36,159 the caregiver died so I brought her to 488 00:20:36,159 --> 00:20:37,760 live with me your sister is mentally 489 00:20:37,760 --> 00:20:40,400 disabled she's mentally disabled um so 490 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:41,760 I've been her guardian but she had a 491 00:20:41,760 --> 00:20:44,039 caregiver and the careg passed away um 492 00:20:44,039 --> 00:20:46,480 so I brought her out here so essentially 493 00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:50,120 it's Riley's journey of you know can she 494 00:20:50,120 --> 00:20:52,039 take care of herself can she pursue her 495 00:20:52,039 --> 00:20:53,960 dreams her passions while also taking 496 00:20:53,960 --> 00:20:56,520 care of Edie Ed is the biggest obstacle 497 00:20:56,520 --> 00:20:59,280 to what she wants she wants normaly she 498 00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:01,360 wants to live the life that everyone 499 00:21:01,360 --> 00:21:03,320 else seems to have and she has this 500 00:21:03,320 --> 00:21:05,720 person who's completely dependent on her 501 00:21:05,720 --> 00:21:08,039 and she has to fight for her and make 502 00:21:08,039 --> 00:21:10,480 choices on her behalf so it's really 503 00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:12,240 this emotional journey of Two Sisters 504 00:21:12,240 --> 00:21:14,200 where in the beginning Ed's been on the 505 00:21:14,200 --> 00:21:16,520 back burner for a long time and this 506 00:21:16,520 --> 00:21:19,000 situation forces Edie to be take you 507 00:21:19,000 --> 00:21:20,840 know she's on the front burner I guess 508 00:21:20,840 --> 00:21:24,360 um and so it's really a story of them 509 00:21:24,360 --> 00:21:26,159 coming together as a family but also 510 00:21:26,159 --> 00:21:28,200 Riley's balance of her own life and what 511 00:21:28,200 --> 00:21:31,039 she want aunts and her sister so by the 512 00:21:31,039 --> 00:21:33,440 end of season 1 Riley has to fight the 513 00:21:33,440 --> 00:21:35,520 state of California for uh Disability 514 00:21:35,520 --> 00:21:38,480 Services she needs to find Ed a home 515 00:21:38,480 --> 00:21:39,840 while also finishing her last year of 516 00:21:39,840 --> 00:21:42,600 grad school end of season one I see 517 00:21:42,600 --> 00:21:45,279 Riley she finds a home for Ed and it's 518 00:21:45,279 --> 00:21:47,480 her dropping her off and just being 519 00:21:47,480 --> 00:21:50,360 absolutely devastated that so it's she's 520 00:21:50,360 --> 00:21:52,320 grown so close with her sister now it's 521 00:21:52,320 --> 00:21:54,080 she's fearful of giving up that 522 00:21:54,080 --> 00:21:55,720 responsibility to someone else of of 523 00:21:55,720 --> 00:21:58,000 trusting yet again another caregiver 524 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:00,039 other people to come in when it's really 525 00:22:00,039 --> 00:22:03,440 just been the two of them and you were 526 00:22:03,440 --> 00:22:04,760 talking about how you see the end of 527 00:22:04,760 --> 00:22:09,000 season one um are you leaving it there 528 00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:10,799 that simply that Riley is devastated at 529 00:22:10,799 --> 00:22:13,120 having to do it or is Riley going to say 530 00:22:13,120 --> 00:22:15,679 I changed my mind sis come back and live 531 00:22:15,679 --> 00:22:17,279 with no she's doing it and that's season 532 00:22:17,279 --> 00:22:19,320 two is opening it up into the group home 533 00:22:19,320 --> 00:22:21,000 and how does she balance you know when 534 00:22:21,000 --> 00:22:24,159 she's had to take on this responsibility 535 00:22:24,159 --> 00:22:25,600 and she said to fight so hard how does 536 00:22:25,600 --> 00:22:27,840 she let new caregivers come in how does 537 00:22:27,840 --> 00:22:29,440 she trust that and then there's going to 538 00:22:29,440 --> 00:22:31,240 be incidents where she realizes she 539 00:22:31,240 --> 00:22:33,559 can't necessarily trust them um but she 540 00:22:33,559 --> 00:22:35,640 also knows she cannot bring her back to 541 00:22:35,640 --> 00:22:38,159 live alone with her because that means 542 00:22:38,159 --> 00:22:39,520 it's just not a good situation for 543 00:22:39,520 --> 00:22:43,000 either of them and it's not what's best 544 00:22:43,000 --> 00:22:45,919 for both so does that make sense it does 545 00:22:45,919 --> 00:22:48,679 make sense um can you talk about Edie a 546 00:22:48,679 --> 00:22:52,159 little bit yes so Edie is um by looking 547 00:22:52,159 --> 00:22:53,960 at her you can't tell that she's 548 00:22:53,960 --> 00:22:56,320 disabled um is it's an intellectual 549 00:22:56,320 --> 00:22:58,159 disability she's a younger sister uh 550 00:22:58,159 --> 00:23:00,600 older a year older so she's a year older 551 00:23:00,600 --> 00:23:03,320 um same size as Riley strong stubborn 552 00:23:03,320 --> 00:23:05,559 manipulative doesn't have a lot of words 553 00:23:05,559 --> 00:23:08,640 10 to 15 words um she likes to watch wey 554 00:23:08,640 --> 00:23:10,400 the Pooh Barney she carries a Barney 555 00:23:10,400 --> 00:23:13,360 doll um she is very stubborn if she 556 00:23:13,360 --> 00:23:14,760 doesn't want to do something she'll sit 557 00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:16,400 on the ground Riley lives in a second 558 00:23:16,400 --> 00:23:18,200 story apartment so she frequently have 559 00:23:18,200 --> 00:23:22,480 has to carry her up the stairs um so 560 00:23:22,480 --> 00:23:24,000 she's but she's also very sweet and 561 00:23:24,000 --> 00:23:25,200 loving and they have these tender 562 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:26,720 moments together where I'm sorry she has 563 00:23:26,720 --> 00:23:29,720 to carry her up the stairs because is 564 00:23:29,720 --> 00:23:31,919 unwilling to go up the stairs 565 00:23:31,919 --> 00:23:35,080 or is unwilling to go up yeah so part of 566 00:23:35,080 --> 00:23:36,799 her she's stubborn she's like a a 567 00:23:36,799 --> 00:23:38,120 three-year-old child if she doesn't want 568 00:23:38,120 --> 00:23:39,880 to do something she's not going to do it 569 00:23:39,880 --> 00:23:42,799 um and she's you know but she's 32 years 570 00:23:42,799 --> 00:23:44,960 old so she has the body of a 32-year-old 571 00:23:44,960 --> 00:23:46,360 woman so it's these two women who are 572 00:23:46,360 --> 00:23:48,919 the same size but one is significantly 573 00:23:48,919 --> 00:23:51,440 intellectually delayed well this is some 574 00:23:51,440 --> 00:23:53,000 pretty challenging stuff for series 575 00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:55,080 television don't you think I do think it 576 00:23:55,080 --> 00:23:57,200 is but I think it's incredibly important 577 00:23:57,200 --> 00:23:58,840 and I think especially with humor you 578 00:23:58,840 --> 00:24:00,400 can approach difficult subjects like 579 00:24:00,400 --> 00:24:02,360 disability and really talk about it 580 00:24:02,360 --> 00:24:04,120 because this is an experience one in 581 00:24:04,120 --> 00:24:06,400 five Americans are disabled and we don't 582 00:24:06,400 --> 00:24:08,159 see them on TV they're prop characters 583 00:24:08,159 --> 00:24:11,159 they're in the background um this is an 584 00:24:11,159 --> 00:24:12,840 experience people are out there people 585 00:24:12,840 --> 00:24:14,679 are fighting the government for services 586 00:24:14,679 --> 00:24:17,799 there I really want to see you win this 587 00:24:17,799 --> 00:24:23,000 one um I I think first of all that uh 588 00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:26,000 you had a good Instinct giving it a a 589 00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:32,320 comic tone okay in 1970 a uh CBS 590 00:24:32,320 --> 00:24:35,840 executive famously said to Jim Brooks 591 00:24:35,840 --> 00:24:39,559 James El Brooks um who talking about the 592 00:24:39,559 --> 00:24:43,440 Mary Tyler Mor show taxi um uh when he 593 00:24:43,440 --> 00:24:45,480 went into features Broadcast News Terms 594 00:24:45,480 --> 00:24:48,320 of Endearment uh right this is a very 595 00:24:48,320 --> 00:24:51,880 serious writer uh here CBS executive 596 00:24:51,880 --> 00:24:53,880 told Jim Brooks that there are four 597 00:24:53,880 --> 00:24:55,960 things you will never see on 598 00:24:55,960 --> 00:24:58,760 television a divorced person a Jewish 599 00:24:58,760 --> 00:25:00,960 person person from New York City or 600 00:25:00,960 --> 00:25:05,240 person with a mustache okay that guy was 601 00:25:05,240 --> 00:25:06,200 super 602 00:25:06,200 --> 00:25:09,799 stupid okay those are four rules that 603 00:25:09,799 --> 00:25:11,640 have nothing to do with the rules of 604 00:25:11,640 --> 00:25:15,720 drama um and the point that I'm making 605 00:25:15,720 --> 00:25:20,960 um is a I like to uh seize any 606 00:25:20,960 --> 00:25:23,559 opportunity to embarrass that person uh 607 00:25:23,559 --> 00:25:26,279 uh who said that um to 608 00:25:26,279 --> 00:25:29,320 discourage contemporary people from uh 609 00:25:29,320 --> 00:25:32,320 uh making the same mistake uh but also 610 00:25:32,320 --> 00:25:35,919 to tell you that when you go out there 611 00:25:35,919 --> 00:25:40,720 whether it's with uh a a a pitch for TV 612 00:25:40,720 --> 00:25:44,279 series or for a movie or a spec script 613 00:25:44,279 --> 00:25:46,640 you're going to have a lot of dumb 614 00:25:46,640 --> 00:25:49,159 obstacles uh in front of you um you're 615 00:25:49,159 --> 00:25:52,000 going to hear a lot of rules that are 616 00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:55,200 not the real rules uh of writing uh 617 00:25:55,200 --> 00:25:57,919 they're fake rules made up like you you 618 00:25:57,919 --> 00:25:59,840 can't have a divorced Jewish person with 619 00:25:59,840 --> 00:26:02,880 a mustache uh living in New York City by 620 00:26:02,880 --> 00:26:04,520 the way I'm pretty sure every half hour 621 00:26:04,520 --> 00:26:06,520 now is about a divorced Jewish person 622 00:26:06,520 --> 00:26:11,240 the mustache living in unity um uh 623 00:26:11,240 --> 00:26:15,679 and Genie you're gonna hear the same 624 00:26:15,679 --> 00:26:18,840 thing um uh I think that you're smart 625 00:26:18,840 --> 00:26:23,640 enough to know um that uh uh you've got 626 00:26:23,640 --> 00:26:26,919 something very very good here which is 627 00:26:26,919 --> 00:26:29,679 uh a a but a but a tough needle to 628 00:26:29,679 --> 00:26:32,559 thread and I'm saying this believe it or 629 00:26:32,559 --> 00:26:34,200 not not to discourage you but to 630 00:26:34,200 --> 00:26:37,919 encourage you um uh I I want you to 631 00:26:37,919 --> 00:26:42,600 thread that needle um and I I don't want 632 00:26:42,600 --> 00:26:47,720 you to have to compromise the truth of 633 00:26:47,720 --> 00:26:52,480 who Edy is what do I mean by that um if 634 00:26:52,480 --> 00:26:55,559 you can and if you can't find me and 635 00:26:55,559 --> 00:26:57,919 I'll help you do it if you can read the 636 00:26:57,919 --> 00:27:01,679 first first draft of Rainman okay in 637 00:27:01,679 --> 00:27:04,799 which uh 638 00:27:04,799 --> 00:27:06,440 Rainman 639 00:27:06,440 --> 00:27:09,840 uh was 640 00:27:09,840 --> 00:27:14,919 um we were told he was autistic um but 641 00:27:14,919 --> 00:27:17,640 uh for instance um uh the end of the 642 00:27:17,640 --> 00:27:22,320 movie uh had um the Dustin had the 643 00:27:22,320 --> 00:27:25,600 Dustin Hoffman character Raymond um uh 644 00:27:25,600 --> 00:27:27,799 and his brother I can't remember Ry I 645 00:27:27,799 --> 00:27:29,440 don't know wasn't Ray of course uh 646 00:27:29,440 --> 00:27:31,200 whatever Tom Cruz played uh in that 647 00:27:31,200 --> 00:27:34,080 movie hugging each other and saying uh I 648 00:27:34,080 --> 00:27:35,679 love you when the reality is that an 649 00:27:35,679 --> 00:27:38,520 autistic person is not capable of that 650 00:27:38,520 --> 00:27:40,399 they are not capable of doing what we 651 00:27:40,399 --> 00:27:42,240 want a character to do by the end of the 652 00:27:42,240 --> 00:27:47,399 movie which is to have changed um uh and 653 00:27:47,399 --> 00:27:51,120 uh uh so it it it was a satisfying movie 654 00:27:51,120 --> 00:27:55,120 moment but it was just a big fat lie uh 655 00:27:55,120 --> 00:27:57,960 and uh that script got Rewritten when 656 00:27:57,960 --> 00:28:00,039 the Academy Award uh uh for best 657 00:28:00,039 --> 00:28:02,399 screenplay and with a very honest 658 00:28:02,399 --> 00:28:05,679 performance uh uh from Dustin Hoffman 659 00:28:05,679 --> 00:28:08,960 there wasn't any hugging uh or I love 660 00:28:08,960 --> 00:28:12,120 you they you remember they touched 661 00:28:12,120 --> 00:28:16,000 foreheads um uh which was as far as uh a 662 00:28:16,000 --> 00:28:18,440 Raymond can go but then Raymond gets 663 00:28:18,440 --> 00:28:21,039 back on the train and he he's the same 664 00:28:21,039 --> 00:28:23,519 person uh uh he was the beginning of the 665 00:28:23,519 --> 00:28:24,880 movie was 666 00:28:24,880 --> 00:28:29,320 pretty bold thing to do but boy did it 667 00:28:29,320 --> 00:28:31,399 pay off uh in a big one it's a great 668 00:28:31,399 --> 00:28:34,000 movie uh right 669 00:28:34,000 --> 00:28:35,960 um 670 00:28:35,960 --> 00:28:38,720 so I guess what I'm saying is I'm dying 671 00:28:38,720 --> 00:28:40,760 to see the second 10 pages and the third 672 00:28:40,760 --> 00:28:42,720 10 pages and the fourth 10 pages of this 673 00:28:42,720 --> 00:28:47,760 because I want to meet Edie um and uh uh 674 00:28:47,760 --> 00:28:49,399 you are going to run 675 00:28:49,399 --> 00:28:52,080 into uh a lot of people who are going to 676 00:28:52,080 --> 00:28:58,200 tell you that uh sorry but uh a 677 00:28:58,200 --> 00:29:00,320 um an intellectually challenged person 678 00:29:00,320 --> 00:29:02,279 on television it's just not going to 679 00:29:02,279 --> 00:29:05,519 work um don't believe them okay they're 680 00:29:05,519 --> 00:29:08,440 wrong uhh they're wrong and you're right 681 00:29:08,440 --> 00:29:11,960 okay I promise you say in s told me 682 00:29:11,960 --> 00:29:15,720 so do it 1 00:00:13,719 --> 00:00:16,600 uh the next one is chronic chronic 2 00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:19,119 Roland zeleski you're up me it's a 3 00:00:19,119 --> 00:00:21,160 feature script the full script log line 4 00:00:21,160 --> 00:00:23,480 is a former explosives expert is 5 00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:25,560 kidnapped and wakes up to learn that 6 00:00:25,560 --> 00:00:28,599 every time his heart beats 1,000 times a 7 00:00:28,599 --> 00:00:30,560 bomb will detonate somewhere the city of 8 00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:33,680 Los Angeles um that's pretty cool uh 9 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:35,879 sample scene description um flight 10 00:00:35,879 --> 00:00:39,040 attendant attempts to disarm a smuggled 11 00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:40,920 explosive on a passenger flight with the 12 00:00:40,920 --> 00:00:43,879 instructions uh of Alex Quinn former 13 00:00:43,879 --> 00:00:45,399 bomb expert who's in the middle of his 14 00:00:45,399 --> 00:00:48,879 own mission to track an arms dealer uh 15 00:00:48,879 --> 00:00:50,520 okay 16 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:54,719 okay uh interior airplane day uh 747 17 00:00:54,719 --> 00:00:56,520 passenger aircraft 20 minutes into the 18 00:00:56,520 --> 00:00:59,039 air Sunshine pouring Through the Windows 19 00:00:59,039 --> 00:01:02,280 insert Friday 10:35 a.m. down the aisle 20 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:04,400 muddlers fathers businessmen tourists 21 00:01:04,400 --> 00:01:06,920 children brooding teenagers uh the end 22 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:08,640 of the plane storage area's attendant 23 00:01:08,640 --> 00:01:10,640 seating in bathrooms Lily Thompson late 24 00:01:10,640 --> 00:01:12,640 20s a flight attendant knocking on one 25 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:14,040 of the bathroom doors her patients 26 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:16,280 quickly wearing down sir the pilot has 27 00:01:16,280 --> 00:01:17,720 turned on the seat belt sign I need you 28 00:01:17,720 --> 00:01:20,079 to return to your seat sir a male 29 00:01:20,079 --> 00:01:21,680 attendant breezes past Lily holding a 30 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:23,720 bag of trash he stops recognizing her 31 00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:25,640 frustration half the time it's a medical 32 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:27,799 issue and the other half masturbation oh 33 00:01:27,799 --> 00:01:30,000 sorry I don't know what I'm masturbation 34 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:32,840 he's been in there 35 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:36,840 got please be medical come on man wrap 36 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:39,799 it up hello no response the attendant Mo 37 00:01:39,799 --> 00:01:41,720 removes a keychain from his pocket 38 00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:43,799 singling out a plastic hook device he 39 00:01:43,799 --> 00:01:45,479 wiggles it inside the handle unlocking 40 00:01:45,479 --> 00:01:48,560 the door James Bond in occupied bathroom 41 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:50,360 a smirk from the attendant as the door 42 00:01:50,360 --> 00:01:53,000 clicks unlocked Lily pushes it open sir 43 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:54,880 reveal inside the bathroom a middle-aged 44 00:01:54,880 --> 00:01:56,320 man crumbled on the floor his wrists 45 00:01:56,320 --> 00:01:59,520 bleeding pool of blood all around uh 46 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:02,039 pale skin dead Lily 47 00:02:02,039 --> 00:02:04,920 screams holy [ __ ] the attendant rushes 48 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:06,920 in checking the man for signs of life 49 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:08,840 nothing he rushes back out panicked 50 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:10,440 close the door I'll see if I can find a 51 00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:13,319 doctor Lily stunned nods she enters the 52 00:02:13,319 --> 00:02:15,440 bathroom Doors door closed the hum of 53 00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:17,519 the turbines in the b and a beeping 54 00:02:17,519 --> 00:02:19,879 faint Lily looks around confused Lily 55 00:02:19,879 --> 00:02:21,280 kneels removing the small trash 56 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:22,760 container from under the sink the 57 00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:24,440 beeping is louder now coming from inside 58 00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:26,360 the trash Lily Roots through the garbage 59 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:28,760 finding an electronic box wired plastic 60 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:30,560 molding attached to the back a countdown 61 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:33,680 on a tiny view screen in the corner 402 62 00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:37,480 4014 359 Lise face turns white as the 63 00:02:37,480 --> 00:02:39,360 Turbin's noise intensifies merging with 64 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:41,640 the mechanic uh mechanized screeching of 65 00:02:41,640 --> 00:02:43,959 interior Los Angeles Subway day a Subway 66 00:02:43,959 --> 00:02:45,720 charging down a passenger platform focus 67 00:02:45,720 --> 00:02:47,440 on the back of a man waiting for the 68 00:02:47,440 --> 00:02:49,959 train he's off to the next station 69 00:02:49,959 --> 00:02:52,560 insert 10:37 a.m. the man's right arm 70 00:02:52,560 --> 00:02:54,159 moves covertly for his ear listening to 71 00:02:54,159 --> 00:02:56,000 the instructions through an earpiece the 72 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:58,040 man moves inside the subway fourth 73 00:02:58,040 --> 00:02:59,519 compartment for the first time we see 74 00:02:59,519 --> 00:03:02,080 his face Alex Quinn 30s a warrior build 75 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:04,480 with a l lover smile he scans the seats 76 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:06,920 finding an Asian businessman the seller 77 00:03:06,920 --> 00:03:08,920 holding a metal suitcase Alex floats 78 00:03:08,920 --> 00:03:11,040 along the aisle nonchalant watching him 79 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:13,560 eyes on the target don't intercept until 80 00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:15,879 we identify the buyer Alex Alex takes a 81 00:03:15,879 --> 00:03:18,280 seat hell of a way to start my vacation 82 00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:19,360 you missing a volleyball game or 83 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:21,239 something you're funnier than I remember 84 00:03:21,239 --> 00:03:23,360 only because all those DC Pricks are 85 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:25,560 making you corporate Alex watches as the 86 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:27,040 seller stands and moves for the sliding 87 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:29,120 doors waiting as Alex Rises up we're 88 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:31,560 suddenly in interor Los Angeles FBI 89 00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:33,480 offices hallway same double doors 90 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:36,040 bursting oops double doors bursting open 91 00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:37,439 out walks Lieutenant division Chief 92 00:03:37,439 --> 00:03:39,760 Frank Falco 50s thin age Beyond his ears 93 00:03:39,760 --> 00:03:41,280 with a bullish face of a man confronted 94 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:43,439 with Perpetual life or death situations 95 00:03:43,439 --> 00:03:46,120 insert 10:38 a.m. an associate 30s 96 00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:50,120 walking beside him as get LAX TSA to 97 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:52,239 mobilize a response unit on the ground 98 00:03:52,239 --> 00:03:53,840 is the plane turning pilot just 99 00:03:53,840 --> 00:03:55,799 confirmed we have the girl the associate 100 00:03:55,799 --> 00:03:57,400 hands Lieutenant Falco with cell phone 101 00:03:57,400 --> 00:03:59,519 Miss Thompson this is Lieutenant Falco 102 00:03:59,519 --> 00:04:01,239 with uh 103 00:04:01,239 --> 00:04:04,640 fbic how much time interior a airplane 104 00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:07,439 restroom same The View SC screen 2 105 00:04:07,439 --> 00:04:10,200 minute 30 seconds 2 minutes 29 106 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:12,760 seconds Lily on the phone with Falco her 107 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:14,360 forc composure descending into pure 108 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:16,720 panic you have to do something intercut 109 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:18,840 Lily and Lieutenant Falco how much time 110 00:04:18,840 --> 00:04:20,880 a little over 2 minutes Lieutenant Falco 111 00:04:20,880 --> 00:04:23,080 stops turning to the associate who do we 112 00:04:23,080 --> 00:04:25,960 have on the uh the field that can talk 113 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:27,880 her through this uh Ramirez and jacobo 114 00:04:27,880 --> 00:04:30,840 can be patched in what about Quinn he's 115 00:04:30,840 --> 00:04:32,919 in town this week right he's on an OP 116 00:04:32,919 --> 00:04:35,000 now sir I checked and he doesn't work 117 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:36,960 for you he's not working for me he's 118 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:38,759 working for them and he's the best we've 119 00:04:38,759 --> 00:04:42,160 got get him on the line now interior 120 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:44,199 subway station same the subway coming to 121 00:04:44,199 --> 00:04:46,080 a stop at the next station Alex's eyes 122 00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:47,240 still fixed on the cellar with the 123 00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:48,680 suitcase now standing by the sliding 124 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:50,479 doors we're getting an emergency 125 00:04:50,479 --> 00:04:52,280 transfer I'm punching you in transfer to 126 00:04:52,280 --> 00:04:54,680 who Falco FBI counterterrorism I can't 127 00:04:54,680 --> 00:04:58,120 it can wait no it can't Alex's eyes rise 128 00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:00,240 surprised by the new voice interior 129 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:02,320 airplane restroom same Lily still in the 130 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:04,080 bathroom phone glued to her ear the 131 00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:07,479 countdown 149 148 147 in audible click 132 00:05:07,479 --> 00:05:09,520 on her phone Lily perks up Alex's voice 133 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:11,320 is now on the line you're breathing too 134 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:13,759 fast intercut Alex and Lily ding the 135 00:05:13,759 --> 00:05:15,800 dway the subway doors open people on the 136 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:17,320 move a rapid flow of commuter spilling 137 00:05:17,320 --> 00:05:18,680 out into the platform there's only a 138 00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:19,919 minute and a half left I don't know what 139 00:05:19,919 --> 00:05:21,600 to do Alex gets up from his seat 140 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:22,919 blending him with the herd following the 141 00:05:22,919 --> 00:05:24,880 seller out to the platform the seller 142 00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:26,759 walking briskly up the nearby escalator 143 00:05:26,759 --> 00:05:28,840 Alex following how big is the device 144 00:05:28,840 --> 00:05:30,520 about the size of a brick Alex heading 145 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:32,400 upstairs keeping a distance covert 146 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:34,360 focused it's a concentrated explosive 147 00:05:34,360 --> 00:05:36,120 with an electrical trigger there should 148 00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:37,360 be three copper wires attached to the 149 00:05:37,360 --> 00:05:39,280 molding do you see it Lily turns the 150 00:05:39,280 --> 00:05:41,120 device around in inserted into the 151 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:42,960 plastic explosive three copper wires I 152 00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:45,240 see it Alex reaching the upper platform 153 00:05:45,240 --> 00:05:46,840 the seller heading towards a dense crowd 154 00:05:46,840 --> 00:05:48,720 Alex Shadows him trying to keep up if 155 00:05:48,720 --> 00:05:50,240 you try to remove the wires it'll set 156 00:05:50,240 --> 00:05:52,400 off a default activator and detonate the 157 00:05:52,400 --> 00:05:54,400 wires are connected to small chip inside 158 00:05:54,400 --> 00:05:55,919 the casing the chip controls the 159 00:05:55,919 --> 00:05:58,319 countdown I see a chip inside the casing 160 00:05:58,319 --> 00:06:00,440 a small silver micr chip wires running 161 00:06:00,440 --> 00:06:02,000 through three larger holes inside of it 162 00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:04,400 the countdown 1 minute 18 1 minute 17 1 163 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:06,759 minute 16 Alex reaching the ground level 164 00:06:06,759 --> 00:06:08,639 platform heading outside the station 165 00:06:08,639 --> 00:06:10,440 bustling with activity you need to reach 166 00:06:10,440 --> 00:06:11,919 in and remove the chip without it 167 00:06:11,919 --> 00:06:14,000 touching the wires Alex's eyes following 168 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:15,680 the Celler as he stops by the curb 169 00:06:15,680 --> 00:06:17,319 remember don't let it touch the wires if 170 00:06:17,319 --> 00:06:19,120 there's any change in conductivity the 171 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:22,120 Detonator will activate I can't I don't 172 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:24,199 think I can do this at Le trembling hand 173 00:06:24,199 --> 00:06:25,919 reaches inside the casing she retracts 174 00:06:25,919 --> 00:06:29,000 terrified the countdown 102 101 1 175 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:31,720 someone else can find it's you I know 176 00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:33,240 this is happening fast I know you're 177 00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:35,639 scared Alex's POV the seller looking 178 00:06:35,639 --> 00:06:37,280 down the street a white sedan turning a 179 00:06:37,280 --> 00:06:40,240 corner heading towards the 180 00:06:43,919 --> 00:06:47,319 St okay uh can you just tell us a little 181 00:06:47,319 --> 00:06:50,039 about this uh yeah it's the feature 182 00:06:50,039 --> 00:06:53,080 itself uh yeah um uh have have you 183 00:06:53,080 --> 00:06:55,960 finished it yeah it's in first draft 184 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:58,759 form uhhuh yeah so it's it's it's 185 00:06:58,759 --> 00:07:00,440 intended to be sort of a it's kind of 186 00:07:00,440 --> 00:07:02,800 crank meets phone booth where an old 187 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:04,199 rival of this guy mysterious we don't 188 00:07:04,199 --> 00:07:06,879 know who it is sets up this kidnaps him 189 00:07:06,879 --> 00:07:09,240 basically for a weekend puts him under 190 00:07:09,240 --> 00:07:11,080 sedation does surgery on him with a team 191 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:13,120 of Specialists connect a pacemaker to 192 00:07:13,120 --> 00:07:14,479 his heart which he needs surgery for 193 00:07:14,479 --> 00:07:16,160 anyway because he has a heart condition 194 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:18,680 and actually connects the pacemaker to a 195 00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:21,280 series of bombs in Los Angeles but each 196 00:07:21,280 --> 00:07:22,919 bomb correlates with certain pivotal 197 00:07:22,919 --> 00:07:25,039 moments in this guy's life this guy's a 198 00:07:25,039 --> 00:07:27,400 degenerate father he's ignored his young 199 00:07:27,400 --> 00:07:30,000 daughter his wife's great basically a 200 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:32,599 single mother um and it's sort of him 201 00:07:32,599 --> 00:07:35,199 having to retrace the steps in his life 202 00:07:35,199 --> 00:07:37,800 trying to find these bombs um which 203 00:07:37,800 --> 00:07:41,160 ultimately kind of like allows him to 204 00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:42,840 realize why he was put into this like 205 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:44,039 game to begin with because there's a 206 00:07:44,039 --> 00:07:47,919 larger plot behind this all um and it 207 00:07:47,919 --> 00:07:49,440 sort of is like a play on time too cuz 208 00:07:49,440 --> 00:07:50,680 like if you think about the faster he 209 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:52,879 tries to get to these explosives the 210 00:07:52,879 --> 00:07:54,280 less time he actually has because the 211 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:55,800 more he's actually exerting himself and 212 00:07:55,800 --> 00:07:57,639 using his heart pumping more so if he 213 00:07:57,639 --> 00:07:59,159 actually movees slower he has more time 214 00:07:59,159 --> 00:08:00,720 but he's going to not get to the 215 00:08:00,720 --> 00:08:03,440 locations as fast as he would so it's 216 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:04,680 going to have all these well has all 217 00:08:04,680 --> 00:08:06,720 these elements of like sometimes he has 218 00:08:06,720 --> 00:08:08,159 to speed his heart right up by taking 219 00:08:08,159 --> 00:08:09,960 like Red Bull and pills and sometimes he 220 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:11,560 has to slow it down or sometimes he has 221 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:14,000 to like electrocute himself just to make 222 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:15,840 his heart stop and have someone else you 223 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:18,280 know well that's a pretty cool idea it 224 00:08:18,280 --> 00:08:20,400 it really is and this was a good scene I 225 00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:21,759 just want to talk about a couple of 226 00:08:21,759 --> 00:08:24,000 things uh 227 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:28,840 uh is this is a minor thing uh uh is 228 00:08:28,840 --> 00:08:31,360 this going to take place you start off 229 00:08:31,360 --> 00:08:35,479 with um uh with a title Friday 10:35 mhm 230 00:08:35,479 --> 00:08:37,519 the fact that it's Friday significant is 231 00:08:37,519 --> 00:08:39,159 this going to take place over a week he 232 00:08:39,159 --> 00:08:40,560 gets kidnapped the following this 233 00:08:40,560 --> 00:08:44,279 weekend coming up on Saturday okay uh I 234 00:08:44,279 --> 00:08:45,560 just want to make sure that you're not 235 00:08:45,560 --> 00:08:47,839 giving us more information that we need 236 00:08:47,839 --> 00:08:49,920 than than we need I want to make sure 237 00:08:49,920 --> 00:08:51,120 that we're not thinking something is 238 00:08:51,120 --> 00:08:53,880 important that isn't gotcha um uh but 239 00:08:53,880 --> 00:08:57,560 let me get to uh the the real thing um 240 00:08:57,560 --> 00:08:59,440 because then you're your next titled by 241 00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:02,320 by the way is 10:37 which we are to 242 00:09:02,320 --> 00:09:05,079 presume is the same day uh uh uh but 2 243 00:09:05,079 --> 00:09:08,560 minutes later um 10:37 is opposed to 244 00:09:08,560 --> 00:09:09,440 Friday 245 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:12,959 10:37 it's not a big deal uh let me tell 246 00:09:12,959 --> 00:09:14,839 you something 247 00:09:14,839 --> 00:09:16,760 I 248 00:09:16,760 --> 00:09:21,160 don't care at all about reality uh what 249 00:09:21,160 --> 00:09:22,920 I care about is the appearance of 250 00:09:22,920 --> 00:09:25,440 reality you shouldn't care about uh uh 251 00:09:25,440 --> 00:09:26,800 reality either you should care about the 252 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:28,560 appearance of reality what do I mean by 253 00:09:28,560 --> 00:09:31,160 that mash the TV series Mash you've all 254 00:09:31,160 --> 00:09:35,839 seen it right um I I I don't know what 255 00:09:35,839 --> 00:09:38,519 an army surgical hospital in Korea uh uh 256 00:09:38,519 --> 00:09:42,000 really looks like but I believe that I I 257 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:44,000 I buy that one it had the appearance of 258 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:46,200 reality um and because it had the 259 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:48,360 appearance of Reality by appearance of 260 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:50,200 reality uh 261 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:54,839 I I mean that they used Jaron uh uh that 262 00:09:54,839 --> 00:09:57,360 I didn't understand just all as opposed 263 00:09:57,360 --> 00:09:59,800 to let's take another great half hour TV 264 00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:02,560 show The Mary Tyler Moore Show okay this 265 00:10:02,560 --> 00:10:04,519 is a great half hour I'm not putting it 266 00:10:04,519 --> 00:10:07,399 down but nobody your enjoyment of the 267 00:10:07,399 --> 00:10:09,720 show doesn't depend on believing that 268 00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:12,600 that's really how local news is done 269 00:10:12,600 --> 00:10:14,200 with one guy sitting at a desk and a 270 00:10:14,200 --> 00:10:16,279 typewriter and an idiot in front of the 271 00:10:16,279 --> 00:10:19,519 camera um and the like there three 272 00:10:19,519 --> 00:10:22,360 people who work there um if you look at 273 00:10:22,360 --> 00:10:25,200 Murphy Brown uh your enjoy another great 274 00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:27,160 half hour your enjoyment of Murphy Brown 275 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:29,160 doesn't depend on your really thinking 276 00:10:29,160 --> 00:10:31,480 that that that's how 60 Minutes is done 277 00:10:31,480 --> 00:10:33,640 by five people around a lolium table 278 00:10:33,640 --> 00:10:36,240 near the elevators uh okay one of whom 279 00:10:36,240 --> 00:10:39,440 is the receptionist you know um uh those 280 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:41,680 two sets those are comedy sets there are 281 00:10:41,680 --> 00:10:44,279 lots of doors in them uh uh that's 282 00:10:44,279 --> 00:10:47,880 that's what a comedy set is with mash 283 00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:50,959 what Larry gilbart wanted to do was make 284 00:10:50,959 --> 00:10:54,360 it seem real and by having it seem real 285 00:10:54,360 --> 00:10:58,040 he could have a show that was funny and 286 00:10:58,040 --> 00:10:59,880 emotional and 287 00:10:59,880 --> 00:11:03,240 uh uh you know deadly serious um and 288 00:11:03,240 --> 00:11:05,760 political not just in the same series 289 00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:07,120 not even just in the same episode but 290 00:11:07,120 --> 00:11:08,920 off times in the same scene there was 291 00:11:08,920 --> 00:11:11,480 blood in that operating room um we 292 00:11:11,480 --> 00:11:14,240 really believed that you know people 293 00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:16,800 were going to live or die uh on on that 294 00:11:16,800 --> 00:11:20,120 table you you bought it all so what does 295 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:23,000 this have to do with what you 296 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:26,519 wrote the real thing can sometimes go a 297 00:11:26,519 --> 00:11:28,720 long way in terms of establishing 298 00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:30,000 credibility 299 00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:31,880 have did you for instance in writing 300 00:11:31,880 --> 00:11:34,639 this did you find 301 00:11:34,639 --> 00:11:38,639 out what would really happen if a flight 302 00:11:38,639 --> 00:11:41,880 attendant you know busted open uh uh the 303 00:11:41,880 --> 00:11:45,040 door of a restroom found a dead guy in 304 00:11:45,040 --> 00:11:47,320 there with certainly what looked like a 305 00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:48,480 ticking 306 00:11:48,480 --> 00:11:52,000 bomb um a little bit it's they turned 307 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:53,839 the plane around but if there's nothing 308 00:11:53,839 --> 00:11:55,079 they can how does the flight attendant 309 00:11:55,079 --> 00:11:56,880 communicate that to the 310 00:11:56,880 --> 00:11:58,959 pilot isn't that the first thing that he 311 00:11:58,959 --> 00:12:01,160 or she has to do yeah communicate to the 312 00:12:01,160 --> 00:12:02,760 pilot there's a bomb on the plane right 313 00:12:02,760 --> 00:12:04,160 are there special words that they have 314 00:12:04,160 --> 00:12:07,399 for that pilot we have a code blue here 315 00:12:07,399 --> 00:12:10,120 uh uh is there something that's what we 316 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:12,000 want to see right then we want to go 317 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:13,920 behind the scenes on a plane where 318 00:12:13,920 --> 00:12:18,120 there's a bomb because I am sure um that 319 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:20,199 they that flight attendants are trained 320 00:12:20,199 --> 00:12:22,839 uh in this and if I see a flight 321 00:12:22,839 --> 00:12:24,760 attendant go in there because it's a 322 00:12:24,760 --> 00:12:28,079 fantastic setup um a guy who just killed 323 00:12:28,079 --> 00:12:30,199 himself uh there's a ticking bomb we're 324 00:12:30,199 --> 00:12:31,560 going to get to how that bomb could have 325 00:12:31,560 --> 00:12:34,079 gotten on the plane in uh in a second um 326 00:12:34,079 --> 00:12:36,160 but at that moment what I want to see is 327 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:38,920 what really happens uh uh when uh when 328 00:12:38,920 --> 00:12:42,519 when that goes on um and is it really 329 00:12:42,519 --> 00:12:45,639 the flight attendant who's tasked with 330 00:12:45,639 --> 00:12:50,040 uh disarming the bomb um as opposed to 331 00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:52,320 say the uh the co-pilot and what do they 332 00:12:52,320 --> 00:12:56,360 say to the passengers um and as so for 333 00:12:56,360 --> 00:12:59,760 instance instead of uh um I'll see if 334 00:12:59,760 --> 00:13:02,680 there's a a doctor on 335 00:13:02,680 --> 00:13:06,000 board he he doesn't have to that's a 336 00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:07,720 male flight attendant doing that right 337 00:13:07,720 --> 00:13:09,320 uh he doesn't have to say that to the 338 00:13:09,320 --> 00:13:10,720 other flight attendant there's a 339 00:13:10,720 --> 00:13:12,839 procedure uh uh if someone's down you 340 00:13:12,839 --> 00:13:14,800 just wanted to pick up the thing uh and 341 00:13:14,800 --> 00:13:16,240 say ladies and gentlemen we have a 342 00:13:16,240 --> 00:13:18,959 whatever uh uh the thing is how how it 343 00:13:18,959 --> 00:13:20,639 is that they don't alarm the other 344 00:13:20,639 --> 00:13:22,920 passengers but but do a thing I want 345 00:13:22,920 --> 00:13:25,000 right then to see the real thing uh I 346 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:26,639 know we're at the movies I know that 347 00:13:26,639 --> 00:13:28,639 there's a bucket of popcorn in my lap 348 00:13:28,639 --> 00:13:30,040 but the thing that's going to entertain 349 00:13:30,040 --> 00:13:32,480 me the most is finding out what would 350 00:13:32,480 --> 00:13:35,160 really happen uh in that situation and 351 00:13:35,160 --> 00:13:36,519 you're going to be surprised it's going 352 00:13:36,519 --> 00:13:38,959 to be cool okay whatever the thing is 353 00:13:38,959 --> 00:13:41,399 you're G to say oh man that's great uh 354 00:13:41,399 --> 00:13:44,920 that's a really cool thing um uh and 355 00:13:44,920 --> 00:13:47,040 suddenly it it only took a matter of 356 00:13:47,040 --> 00:13:49,240 seconds for me to believe this whole 357 00:13:49,240 --> 00:13:56,920 thing um uh now on the ground uh uh with 358 00:13:56,920 --> 00:13:59,560 Alex um 359 00:13:59,560 --> 00:14:03,839 Alex is both giving instructions on how 360 00:14:03,839 --> 00:14:06,320 to disarm this 361 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:11,920 bomb and trying to bust a uh an arms 362 00:14:11,920 --> 00:14:15,399 dealer uh at the same time right there's 363 00:14:15,399 --> 00:14:18,680 a trick for when you have to try to pull 364 00:14:18,680 --> 00:14:22,360 off something slightly implausible uh 365 00:14:22,360 --> 00:14:26,079 okay let me back up for a second um uh 366 00:14:26,079 --> 00:14:31,040 and talk about implausible things 367 00:14:31,240 --> 00:14:32,959 I think that you're all reading uh 368 00:14:32,959 --> 00:14:34,040 Aristotle's 369 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:37,920 Poetics right maybe not um uh maybe that 370 00:14:37,920 --> 00:14:39,040 that's an assignment that'll be given to 371 00:14:39,040 --> 00:14:41,000 you if you haven't read it it's it's not 372 00:14:41,000 --> 00:14:42,920 even a book it's like 64 Pages it's a 373 00:14:42,920 --> 00:14:45,680 pamphlet and uh uh it's a it's a thing 374 00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:48,720 that Aristotle wrote and it it's it 375 00:14:48,720 --> 00:14:50,920 gives it defines what drama is it gives 376 00:14:50,920 --> 00:14:55,519 all the rules of drama and you should be 377 00:14:55,519 --> 00:14:58,399 Evangelical about Aristotle's Poetics 378 00:14:58,399 --> 00:14:59,920 the way some people take the Bible 379 00:14:59,920 --> 00:15:02,160 literally you should take Aristotle's 380 00:15:02,160 --> 00:15:03,120 Poetics 381 00:15:03,120 --> 00:15:06,920 literally because it is the law uh okay 382 00:15:06,920 --> 00:15:11,079 uh and one of his laws is this follow me 383 00:15:11,079 --> 00:15:16,560 now that a probable impossibility is 384 00:15:16,560 --> 00:15:19,839 preferable to a possible improbability 385 00:15:19,839 --> 00:15:23,040 what does that mean uh a a probable 386 00:15:23,040 --> 00:15:25,360 impossibility a probable 387 00:15:25,360 --> 00:15:29,800 impossibility is ET following a trail of 388 00:15:29,800 --> 00:15:33,720 um Reese's uh pieces uh uh to a guy's 389 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:37,880 house because at least as far as we know 390 00:15:37,880 --> 00:15:40,240 ET there aren't these guys really cute 391 00:15:40,240 --> 00:15:42,279 guys flying around and and landing on 392 00:15:42,279 --> 00:15:44,560 Earth that's an impossibility but once 393 00:15:44,560 --> 00:15:46,639 we've bought that we are now in a world 394 00:15:46,639 --> 00:15:49,800 where there's ET it's perfectly logical 395 00:15:49,800 --> 00:15:52,560 that he would follow uh a a trail of uh 396 00:15:52,560 --> 00:15:54,639 Reese's Pieces to somebody's house I 397 00:15:54,639 --> 00:15:57,399 don't have a problem buying that um uh 398 00:15:57,399 --> 00:16:01,240 what is a possible improbability 399 00:16:01,240 --> 00:16:03,319 possible improbability is that you turn 400 00:16:03,319 --> 00:16:05,120 on the radio or the television set at 401 00:16:05,120 --> 00:16:07,120 the exact moment that the news that you 402 00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:10,680 need uh uh is coming on um uh you turn 403 00:16:10,680 --> 00:16:13,800 on the radio the killer was spotted on 404 00:16:13,800 --> 00:16:16,759 Smith Street coming okay um uh at that 405 00:16:16,759 --> 00:16:19,319 exact moment it's possible it's more 406 00:16:19,319 --> 00:16:22,040 possible than ET um uh and the thing but 407 00:16:22,040 --> 00:16:25,399 it's not probable so in 408 00:16:25,399 --> 00:16:27,240 drama 409 00:16:27,240 --> 00:16:31,000 a probable possibility is preferable to 410 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:34,480 a possible improbability what we have 411 00:16:34,480 --> 00:16:38,519 here is a possible improbability okay 412 00:16:38,519 --> 00:16:41,720 that one guy would have to be dealing 413 00:16:41,720 --> 00:16:43,720 with both of these very serious things 414 00:16:43,720 --> 00:16:46,839 at the same time there is a get out of 415 00:16:46,839 --> 00:16:50,160 jail free card on the possible and 416 00:16:50,160 --> 00:16:52,160 probability do you want to avoid it if 417 00:16:52,160 --> 00:16:54,880 you can but sometimes you can't and when 418 00:16:54,880 --> 00:16:57,240 you can't don't pretend that you can't 419 00:16:57,240 --> 00:17:00,199 use it to your advantage and the way to 420 00:17:00,199 --> 00:17:02,199 get out of jail free card for the 421 00:17:02,199 --> 00:17:04,880 possible and probability is simply to 422 00:17:04,880 --> 00:17:08,199 admit it uh okay to fly in the face of 423 00:17:08,199 --> 00:17:13,760 it to have Alex say some form of I'm I 424 00:17:13,760 --> 00:17:15,640 the only law enforcement officer in the 425 00:17:15,640 --> 00:17:17,520 world are you telling me that I have got 426 00:17:17,520 --> 00:17:19,720 to do this while I'm doing that yes 427 00:17:19,720 --> 00:17:21,199 that's exactly what we're telling you 428 00:17:21,199 --> 00:17:23,839 for the following reasons because Joe is 429 00:17:23,839 --> 00:17:25,319 out sick and this guy doesn't know how 430 00:17:25,319 --> 00:17:27,199 to do this yes you've got to do both 431 00:17:27,199 --> 00:17:29,600 these things at the same time the teeth 432 00:17:29,600 --> 00:17:33,480 of it admit what you're doing and you 433 00:17:33,480 --> 00:17:35,640 can get away with it in any situation 434 00:17:35,640 --> 00:17:38,320 like disarming the bomb anytime you can 435 00:17:38,320 --> 00:17:42,120 get the real thing uh okay look at the 436 00:17:42,120 --> 00:17:43,320 real thing because there's probably 437 00:17:43,320 --> 00:17:45,919 going to be cool stuff in there uh you 438 00:17:45,919 --> 00:17:48,720 don't necessarily have to use it uh uh 439 00:17:48,720 --> 00:17:50,640 if you don't want to I remember I was 440 00:17:50,640 --> 00:17:54,600 writing something um I needed medical 441 00:17:54,600 --> 00:17:56,280 jargon for something I honestly can't 442 00:17:56,280 --> 00:17:59,760 remember what it was now um uh but I I 443 00:17:59,760 --> 00:18:02,760 needed medical jargon I needed 444 00:18:02,760 --> 00:18:07,280 for uh you know was one I do remember 445 00:18:07,280 --> 00:18:09,880 what it was now but um it it's one of 446 00:18:09,880 --> 00:18:11,799 those stretcher crashing through the ER 447 00:18:11,799 --> 00:18:14,400 door things um and you need somebody to 448 00:18:14,400 --> 00:18:17,039 shout out he's got this this this this 449 00:18:17,039 --> 00:18:19,320 this and this so I found out what the 450 00:18:19,320 --> 00:18:21,960 real thing was but there was a word I 451 00:18:21,960 --> 00:18:24,120 just didn't like the sound of uh uh in 452 00:18:24,120 --> 00:18:25,559 there it was a word I was tripping on 453 00:18:25,559 --> 00:18:27,840 every time um and you know I decided I'm 454 00:18:27,840 --> 00:18:33,159 not doing this for a an audience of 455 00:18:33,159 --> 00:18:37,360 um of doctors um uh uh I'm I'm just 456 00:18:37,360 --> 00:18:41,880 going to I I made up a word I did I just 457 00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:46,840 made up a word um uh and um uh and use 458 00:18:46,840 --> 00:18:50,200 that instead I never heard and nobody we 459 00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:53,840 got no letters we nothing uh I made up a 460 00:18:53,840 --> 00:18:56,640 word 461 00:18:56,640 --> 00:18:58,919 um I want to hear how the bomb got on 462 00:18:58,919 --> 00:18:59,559 the 463 00:18:59,559 --> 00:19:04,360 plane uh okay um uh uh because we're 464 00:19:04,360 --> 00:19:06,880 again we're going to kind of Be 465 00:19:06,880 --> 00:19:13,080 Wondering that and we're going to sense 466 00:19:13,159 --> 00:19:15,760 listen audiences 467 00:19:15,760 --> 00:19:20,559 are are are cool things um they they 468 00:19:20,559 --> 00:19:22,600 know the rules without knowing that they 469 00:19:22,600 --> 00:19:29,360 know the rules okay um uh it's 470 00:19:29,360 --> 00:19:31,559 I I'm I'm not a chef I don't know 471 00:19:31,559 --> 00:19:33,559 anything about food I'm not really 472 00:19:33,559 --> 00:19:36,919 interested uh in food I know what tastes 473 00:19:36,919 --> 00:19:39,400 good to me and and what doesn't and a 474 00:19:39,400 --> 00:19:41,799 chef a food expert would be able to say 475 00:19:41,799 --> 00:19:44,080 ah well you're tasting the cumin mixed 476 00:19:44,080 --> 00:19:46,880 with the this and that and a light uh a 477 00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:50,240 coding of this audiences don't know 478 00:19:50,240 --> 00:19:52,000 about the cumin being mixed with this 479 00:19:52,000 --> 00:19:53,440 and that they just know if it tastes 480 00:19:53,440 --> 00:19:57,240 good uh or not um uh so if you're saying 481 00:19:57,240 --> 00:19:58,880 to the audience that you don't need to 482 00:19:58,880 --> 00:20:01,720 explain how the bomb got on there in a 483 00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:03,440 day and age when we're taking off our 484 00:20:03,440 --> 00:20:07,159 shoes and can't carry shampoo um uh then 485 00:20:07,159 --> 00:20:09,559 you're saying to the audience none of 486 00:20:09,559 --> 00:20:12,559 this is really rooted in reality and you 487 00:20:12,559 --> 00:20:14,280 can pay more attention to your raisinets 488 00:20:14,280 --> 00:20:15,360 than you thought you're going to be able 489 00:20:15,360 --> 00:20:20,159 to uh uh so I would again I would go to 490 00:20:20,159 --> 00:20:25,240 somebody who knows uh and say how does a 491 00:20:25,240 --> 00:20:27,679 I need I need the following to happen 492 00:20:27,679 --> 00:20:29,520 how can it happen I'll bet you somewhere 493 00:20:29,520 --> 00:20:30,840 in there there's going to be cool 494 00:20:30,840 --> 00:20:33,919 information uh uh that you can use and 495 00:20:33,919 --> 00:20:36,039 Alex and Lieutenant Falco can sound like 496 00:20:36,039 --> 00:20:38,440 uh they know what they're doing uh okay 497 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:39,600 why is this guy the only one who can 498 00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:41,880 solve crimes how did the uh bomb get on 499 00:20:41,880 --> 00:20:42,559 the 500 00:20:42,559 --> 00:20:46,720 plane um I think that's that's enough uh 501 00:20:46,720 --> 00:20:50,080 for this it's but let me emphasize again 502 00:20:50,080 --> 00:20:52,120 really good job uh uh you know really 503 00:20:52,120 --> 00:20:53,559 good job really nice writing you caught 504 00:20:53,559 --> 00:20:56,679 my attention uh you too can uh write 505 00:20:56,679 --> 00:20:58,600 action uh which is something that I can 506 00:20:58,600 --> 00:21:00,840 now 1 00:00:12,960 --> 00:00:14,920 good afternoon guys it's good to see you 2 00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:18,160 again um uh we're going to start off 3 00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:22,039 with the Merc which is a 1hour pilot 4 00:00:22,039 --> 00:00:25,760 from Evelyn EES over black say you buy a 5 00:00:25,760 --> 00:00:27,359 th000 shares of Coca-Cola from your 6 00:00:27,359 --> 00:00:30,160 client each valued at $42 so that's $4 2 7 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:33,559 Grand stock goes up to 43 44 45 hell 8 00:00:33,559 --> 00:00:35,160 let's say it goes all the way up to 47 9 00:00:35,160 --> 00:00:37,640 like it did last June fade in on flashes 10 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:40,520 of skin sex top shelf bottles lotes 11 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:42,760 nudes and Coke cut into neat white lines 12 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:44,399 in the bare stomach of a blue chip 13 00:00:44,399 --> 00:00:46,800 hooker an almost super model your 14 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:50,320 commission off that $5,000 profit is 1% 15 00:00:50,320 --> 00:00:51,800 you just spent 6 months trying to make 16 00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:53,520 50 bucks and you have 100 other stocks 17 00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:55,760 and 100 other clients to worry about but 18 00:00:55,760 --> 00:00:58,399 hey that's Wall Street right a line Zips 19 00:00:58,399 --> 00:01:00,480 through the coils of a $100 bill of the 20 00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:02,199 nostril and grinning face of a Wall 21 00:01:02,199 --> 00:01:04,360 Street stock broker who's pushed out of 22 00:01:04,360 --> 00:01:06,280 the way by more Brokers just dying to 23 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:08,680 get a hit we pull back to see the full 24 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:11,040 extent of this debauchery exterior 25 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:14,040 Battery Park Marina yacht night three 26 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:16,240 blue chips to every horny broker on 100 27 00:01:16,240 --> 00:01:18,159 foot yacht cruising along the marina 28 00:01:18,159 --> 00:01:19,840 against the backdrop of the financial 29 00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:22,040 district and the World Trade Center 30 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:24,240 title Battery Park New York 31 00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:26,720 1978 the only man lucid and taking 32 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:29,320 advantage of their high is Andy marks 30 33 00:01:29,320 --> 00:01:31,520 boyish Brook charm and a sweet face that 34 00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:34,079 belies any trace of Darkness or genius 35 00:01:34,079 --> 00:01:35,759 in this Crow of Suits he's the only 36 00:01:35,759 --> 00:01:37,520 leather jacket out of place but 37 00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:39,920 completely at ease so let's say you 38 00:01:39,920 --> 00:01:42,520 convince your clients to bet on oil at 39 00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:44,040 the Merc where you don't even have to 40 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:45,719 worry about stockholders or a board of 41 00:01:45,719 --> 00:01:48,000 directors or the SEC you get to drive 42 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:49,920 the price up and down a million times 43 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:51,640 over and the only constant is that 44 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:54,479 everybody everybody needs 45 00:01:54,479 --> 00:01:57,680 oil now you're making 20% off 200,000 46 00:01:57,680 --> 00:02:00,960 you made 200,000 in one morning yes 47 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:03,479 [ __ ] that's not what you said this 48 00:02:03,479 --> 00:02:05,840 killjoy is David Mercer 34 Leman 49 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:08,679 Brothers broker unbelievable good looks 50 00:02:08,679 --> 00:02:10,840 money a perfect storm of cocaine and 51 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:14,080 self-loathing what I said was flashback 52 00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:16,840 to Wall Street 2 months ago a series of 53 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:18,800 shots the street sign the bull the New 54 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:21,080 York Stock Exchange in cheer Leman 55 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:24,120 Brothers Bullpen day box sized computers 56 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:27,000 index cards telephone cords 10 ft long 57 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:29,160 all top-of-the-line technology in the 58 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:31,280 midst of this chaos David unsettled 59 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:34,200 fixated on I made more money trading oil 60 00:02:34,200 --> 00:02:36,080 Futures than I did my first 3 years 61 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:38,840 combined nobody's trading oil I am and 62 00:02:38,840 --> 00:02:41,840 so can you cut to maril Lynch day Andy 63 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:43,560 is now facing an uptight maril Lynch 64 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:46,000 broker with a serious combover all right 65 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:48,040 who else forget who else you want the 66 00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:49,640 entire city to get on on this before you 67 00:02:49,640 --> 00:02:52,000 do insure JP Morgan different firm 68 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:54,040 different broker this one has three 69 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:56,080 chins and no neck we have to see the 70 00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:58,319 contracts I'll show you the contracts 71 00:02:58,319 --> 00:03:00,120 but let me ask you this what is is your 72 00:03:00,120 --> 00:03:02,480 top priority as a broker interor Goldman 73 00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:05,200 Sachs day same deal same conversation 74 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:07,319 this broker is all mustache and from 75 00:03:07,319 --> 00:03:08,920 here on out we cut back and forth 76 00:03:08,920 --> 00:03:10,879 between firms to make money the [ __ ] 77 00:03:10,879 --> 00:03:13,280 kind of question is that and where does 78 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:15,000 it say in your bylaws that you have to 79 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:16,760 make money betting on Blue Chip stocks 80 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:19,200 in your entire career it doesn't so 81 00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:21,200 what's the problem back to David who 82 00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:23,080 can't believe what he's hearing what 83 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:25,480 you're trading this oil thing it's not 84 00:03:25,480 --> 00:03:27,560 on Wall Street that's right it's at the 85 00:03:27,560 --> 00:03:30,680 MC the MC my don't even know what that 86 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:32,400 is they've never even heard of it so 87 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:34,799 explain it to them David let s laugh 88 00:03:34,799 --> 00:03:37,640 it's a [ __ ] animal form you got your 89 00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:40,040 butchers cabbies bunch of uneducated low 90 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:41,560 lives you've been trading potatoes and 91 00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:43,879 eggs for 100 years and now I'm supposed 92 00:03:43,879 --> 00:03:46,159 to explain to my clients how you want to 93 00:03:46,159 --> 00:03:48,599 start trading oil Andy is unfazed by 94 00:03:48,599 --> 00:03:50,239 their attacks you want to sell your 95 00:03:50,239 --> 00:03:52,159 clients why don't you start by those 96 00:03:52,159 --> 00:03:54,439 blue chip stocks they love so much 97 00:03:54,439 --> 00:03:56,840 coover opens his mouth to interrupt Andy 98 00:03:56,840 --> 00:03:59,920 Cuts him off IBM Ford GM they're flat 99 00:03:59,920 --> 00:04:02,400 Landing because the economy's down 7.2% 100 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:05,599 inflation's up 9% the Dow has lost 45% 101 00:04:05,599 --> 00:04:07,439 of its value and you're in the seventh 102 00:04:07,439 --> 00:04:09,040 worst bare Market in the history of the 103 00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:11,280 index necklace' three chins threatened 104 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:13,879 to swallow his dumbfounded face who is 105 00:04:13,879 --> 00:04:15,760 this guy and it's not your fault but 106 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:17,280 none of it matters and they don't give a 107 00:04:17,280 --> 00:04:19,120 damn because the bottom line is everyone 108 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:21,600 is losing money mustache stares at him 109 00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:24,120 not blinking and he pushes on but you 110 00:04:24,120 --> 00:04:26,479 their brilliant [ __ ] stock broker who 111 00:04:26,479 --> 00:04:28,960 they've entrusted with their lives you 112 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:31,080 have an answer silence uneasy 113 00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:34,880 Expressions then oil Futures yes at the 114 00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:37,840 Merc that's right they're almost sold 115 00:04:37,840 --> 00:04:40,759 then is every anyone even going to 116 00:04:40,759 --> 00:04:44,199 mention the obvious and 117 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:52,880 flashback Ellen you are a 118 00:04:52,880 --> 00:04:55,840 badass uh there's no doubt about it you 119 00:04:55,840 --> 00:04:58,360 uh you write great I'd like to know a 120 00:04:58,360 --> 00:05:00,320 little bit about you okay uh can you 121 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:02,680 just give me some background sure um I 122 00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:04,639 grew up in Jakarta Indonesia lived there 123 00:05:04,639 --> 00:05:06,520 for about 17 years till the end of high 124 00:05:06,520 --> 00:05:10,240 school I grew up watching your shows um 125 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:12,880 and I worshiped The West Wing and the 126 00:05:12,880 --> 00:05:15,960 moment that I heard about CJ Craig's 127 00:05:15,960 --> 00:05:17,840 epic walk and talks I knew I wanted to 128 00:05:17,840 --> 00:05:19,759 be a writer well that's really nice to 129 00:05:19,759 --> 00:05:22,120 hear uh and 130 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:25,840 uh post Jakarta post Jakarta I moved to 131 00:05:25,840 --> 00:05:29,680 LA about 8 years ago M um I went to the 132 00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:32,000 New York Film Academy in Los Angeles in 133 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:35,120 Burbank actually um and I studied acting 134 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:37,400 first and then screenwriting and then 135 00:05:37,400 --> 00:05:39,639 yeah that's basically 136 00:05:39,639 --> 00:05:41,840 it okay what have you written before 137 00:05:41,840 --> 00:05:45,280 this uh I wrote a couple of features and 138 00:05:45,280 --> 00:05:47,919 then one aborted pilot this is like my 139 00:05:47,919 --> 00:05:50,600 second is pilot you can call it that 140 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:53,199 okay uh well I'll tell you something um 141 00:05:53,199 --> 00:05:54,960 I have no idea what kind of actress uh 142 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:59,000 you are but you should be doing this uh 143 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:01,400 professionally you know uh you are not 144 00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:03,319 kidding yourself uh you can absolutely 145 00:06:03,319 --> 00:06:06,000 do this um uh 146 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:08,680 this just as a writing sample I mean I 147 00:06:08,680 --> 00:06:10,520 know what you want is is to get the Merc 148 00:06:10,520 --> 00:06:13,560 produced but as a writing sample sent to 149 00:06:13,560 --> 00:06:15,720 agents sent to showrunners you could get 150 00:06:15,720 --> 00:06:18,039 staffed up thank you on a TV show so 151 00:06:18,039 --> 00:06:21,919 let's talk about the Merc um which you 152 00:06:21,919 --> 00:06:24,800 all right about it's first of all you 153 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:28,360 know I was talking uh uh before about uh 154 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:31,720 how I love the use of pis to you know 155 00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:33,440 make it sound like to give the 156 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:35,919 appearance of reality yes um you have 157 00:06:35,919 --> 00:06:39,080 done that beautifully so how do you know 158 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:41,400 so much about the Mercantile Exchange I 159 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:43,560 have done exhaustive research on it this 160 00:06:43,560 --> 00:06:45,080 is all from researchers this none of 161 00:06:45,080 --> 00:06:47,720 this is firstand experience no my father 162 00:06:47,720 --> 00:06:49,199 um sort of dabbled in derivatives 163 00:06:49,199 --> 00:06:50,639 trading but in Asia which is like 164 00:06:50,639 --> 00:06:52,960 totally different from this so um 165 00:06:52,960 --> 00:06:55,240 growing up I basically try to figure out 166 00:06:55,240 --> 00:06:58,520 what he does for a living um and 167 00:06:58,520 --> 00:06:59,960 anything he explained to me like went 168 00:06:59,960 --> 00:07:01,280 straight over my head so I just started 169 00:07:01,280 --> 00:07:02,960 reading up as much as I could about it 170 00:07:02,960 --> 00:07:04,720 but he was still talking the 171 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:08,199 talk not I mean not really he it's it's 172 00:07:08,199 --> 00:07:10,800 definitely not this so it he wasn't very 173 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:13,160 helpful in that respect um everything I 174 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:15,319 got I got from you know things I read 175 00:07:15,319 --> 00:07:17,240 documentaries that I watched um I've 176 00:07:17,240 --> 00:07:19,479 been to New York maybe once in my life 177 00:07:19,479 --> 00:07:22,440 for about a week so everything is 178 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:24,280 basically from shows that I watched 179 00:07:24,280 --> 00:07:27,400 uhhuh um research that I've done and 180 00:07:27,400 --> 00:07:30,919 just sheer imagin 181 00:07:30,919 --> 00:07:32,680 uh let's then talk about your 182 00:07:32,680 --> 00:07:35,319 protagonist Andy yes 183 00:07:35,319 --> 00:07:38,479 um now we only have the first 10 pages 184 00:07:38,479 --> 00:07:39,720 of the script that's that's all we've 185 00:07:39,720 --> 00:07:41,360 read can you talk about where he goes 186 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:45,080 from here yeah um so basically uh he is 187 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:46,639 trying to resurrect oil trading which we 188 00:07:46,639 --> 00:07:48,639 can kind of see here and he's sort of 189 00:07:48,639 --> 00:07:50,919 like one of he's one of the last men 190 00:07:50,919 --> 00:07:52,720 standing at the merant exchange which 191 00:07:52,720 --> 00:07:55,360 has basically gone bust after um the 192 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:58,479 aftermath of the potato market crash so 193 00:07:58,479 --> 00:08:00,199 um and he's trying to do this for the 194 00:08:00,199 --> 00:08:01,599 old guys who basically showed him the 195 00:08:01,599 --> 00:08:03,680 ropes like his mentor Vinnie futari who 196 00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:06,080 we kind of see in the latter uh five 197 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:08,280 pages is The Merk and you are talking to 198 00:08:08,280 --> 00:08:11,599 somebody who I I'm I'm illiterate when 199 00:08:11,599 --> 00:08:14,919 it comes to uh the 200 00:08:14,919 --> 00:08:19,240 business uh we the money business uh um 201 00:08:19,240 --> 00:08:22,960 uh uh The merkal Exchange is uh uh sort 202 00:08:22,960 --> 00:08:24,199 of 203 00:08:24,199 --> 00:08:27,440 the ugly little cousin of the New York 204 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:30,080 Stock Exchange right exactly basally do 205 00:08:30,080 --> 00:08:32,839 Commodities and um the original mertile 206 00:08:32,839 --> 00:08:34,719 exchange is found it was founded in 207 00:08:34,719 --> 00:08:36,560 Chicago and they do like pork belly or 208 00:08:36,560 --> 00:08:39,599 orange juice all of the not very sexy 209 00:08:39,599 --> 00:08:42,360 Commodities okay yeah everybody stick a 210 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:44,159 pin in what she just said and continue 211 00:08:44,159 --> 00:08:45,680 because we're going to return to that 212 00:08:45,680 --> 00:08:48,040 okay um uh you were talking about Andy 213 00:08:48,040 --> 00:08:50,920 and where he's going um so basically 214 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:53,920 he's tasked with this uh job of having 215 00:08:53,920 --> 00:08:56,040 to bring back this old commodity which 216 00:08:56,040 --> 00:08:57,760 is oil which was not being traded at the 217 00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:00,800 time um and he's dealing with the SEC 218 00:09:00,800 --> 00:09:03,079 and the bureaucratic red tape and most 219 00:09:03,079 --> 00:09:05,640 of all um their reputation the mertile 220 00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:07,240 exchange's reputation is basically this 221 00:09:07,240 --> 00:09:09,399 defunct institution and he has to go 222 00:09:09,399 --> 00:09:11,920 gravel to Wall Street and his old rivals 223 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:14,160 basically to infuse cash and to bring 224 00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:16,880 investors into this place um so that's 225 00:09:16,880 --> 00:09:18,240 basically where the pilot takes us is 226 00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:21,360 his attempt to uh bring in this Texas 227 00:09:21,360 --> 00:09:24,760 oil Baron to uh to get this oil company 228 00:09:24,760 --> 00:09:27,160 sort of in the fold and to kind of bring 229 00:09:27,160 --> 00:09:30,480 some life into onto the floor basically 230 00:09:30,480 --> 00:09:31,760 are we going to be involved in Andy's 231 00:09:31,760 --> 00:09:34,560 personal life at all in this series uh 232 00:09:34,560 --> 00:09:36,360 not necessarily a pilot yeah very I mean 233 00:09:36,360 --> 00:09:38,240 it is a workplace drama but we do see 234 00:09:38,240 --> 00:09:42,320 his personal life and um mostly his um 235 00:09:42,320 --> 00:09:44,000 the fatherson relationship that exists 236 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:46,760 between him and his mentor which sort of 237 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:48,880 uh is a serves as a contrast between him 238 00:09:48,880 --> 00:09:50,399 and his own father who's actually the 239 00:09:50,399 --> 00:09:52,360 boss of the of the Mercantile Exchange 240 00:09:52,360 --> 00:09:54,360 and who has a very hostile relationship 241 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:58,000 with um and at the same time uh he's in 242 00:09:58,000 --> 00:10:00,160 love with his mentors daughter Karina 243 00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:02,200 who wants nothing to do with the Merc 244 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:04,640 and he's also uh he's also just hired 245 00:10:04,640 --> 00:10:07,800 this new clerk who used to be uh David's 246 00:10:07,800 --> 00:10:09,640 ex-girlfriend and ex- clerk in Wall 247 00:10:09,640 --> 00:10:13,959 Street so it's sort of yeah okay um uh 248 00:10:13,959 --> 00:10:17,440 that all sounds great to me now 249 00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:20,360 returning to uh uh what you said before 250 00:10:20,360 --> 00:10:21,800 uh that what the difference is between 251 00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:24,560 the Merk andile exchange the Merc and uh 252 00:10:24,560 --> 00:10:27,079 the New York Stock Exchange NASDAQ uh 253 00:10:27,079 --> 00:10:31,880 that kind of thing uh I am not smart but 254 00:10:31,880 --> 00:10:35,519 I don't think that I'm uh considerably 255 00:10:35,519 --> 00:10:37,959 dumber than the average viewer that 256 00:10:37,959 --> 00:10:40,440 you're looking for uh uh with this show 257 00:10:40,440 --> 00:10:42,680 I don't think I'm considerably Dumber uh 258 00:10:42,680 --> 00:10:45,160 uh than that person smar and what I 259 00:10:45,160 --> 00:10:49,040 don't think so um and I'm mentioning 260 00:10:49,040 --> 00:10:53,360 this because as as as as great as this 261 00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:57,120 opening is um uh you know and it it 262 00:10:57,120 --> 00:11:01,480 grabs us it's sexy it 263 00:11:01,480 --> 00:11:04,519 um the flashback in the middle of it uh 264 00:11:04,519 --> 00:11:06,440 uh 265 00:11:06,440 --> 00:11:10,160 works I would think about resisting the 266 00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:13,079 temptation to start with the Wolf of 267 00:11:13,079 --> 00:11:16,639 Wall Street opening okay to not to start 268 00:11:16,639 --> 00:11:18,600 you that can be your second scene it can 269 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:21,200 be your third scene not to start with uh 270 00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:23,279 the scene about the excesses of Wall 271 00:11:23,279 --> 00:11:26,800 Street Hookers drugs Yachts uh uh that 272 00:11:26,800 --> 00:11:29,680 kind of thing and start by with 273 00:11:29,680 --> 00:11:32,920 something that shows us what the Merc is 274 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:36,839 uh uh relative to what we're used to 275 00:11:36,839 --> 00:11:38,639 because we haven't seen that uh before 276 00:11:38,639 --> 00:11:42,000 we've only ever seen Wall Street Wolf of 277 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:45,639 Wall Street yeah every movie about drugs 278 00:11:45,639 --> 00:11:50,160 and uh uh and loss of Soul uh on on Wall 279 00:11:50,160 --> 00:11:53,880 Street is always um you know the the the 280 00:11:53,880 --> 00:11:58,320 panthous of uh of this business um and 281 00:11:58,320 --> 00:12:01,440 my instinct would be uh uh to to make it 282 00:12:01,440 --> 00:12:05,440 clear why this is special okay uh is to 283 00:12:05,440 --> 00:12:07,639 demonstrate some of the things that you 284 00:12:07,639 --> 00:12:09,959 say uh in this opening here that it's an 285 00:12:09,959 --> 00:12:12,240 exchange run by janitors um that you've 286 00:12:12,240 --> 00:12:14,760 been selling eggs and potatoes uh uh for 287 00:12:14,760 --> 00:12:16,639 a 100 years that kind of thing I would 288 00:12:16,639 --> 00:12:20,079 show us uh how this is different I think 289 00:12:20,079 --> 00:12:21,399 by doing that you're going to do two 290 00:12:21,399 --> 00:12:24,360 things at once um uh you're going to 291 00:12:24,360 --> 00:12:26,480 show us how this is different from uh 292 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:29,240 other things that are in the same area I 293 00:12:29,240 --> 00:12:31,440 think we're going to love Andy more okay 294 00:12:31,440 --> 00:12:35,880 um uh if we see that he is struggling in 295 00:12:35,880 --> 00:12:38,600 triaa ball and not uh uh the major 296 00:12:38,600 --> 00:12:41,680 leagues okay now it's a workplace drama 297 00:12:41,680 --> 00:12:42,959 so there are going to be other people in 298 00:12:42,959 --> 00:12:44,120 this workplace there's going to be 299 00:12:44,120 --> 00:12:51,079 Vinnie yeah or right um and is there 300 00:12:51,079 --> 00:12:53,880 uh do you feel like and it's okay if we 301 00:12:53,880 --> 00:12:55,279 don't know the answer to all these 302 00:12:55,279 --> 00:12:57,639 questions yet um I'll ever to answer 303 00:12:57,639 --> 00:12:59,480 them 304 00:12:59,480 --> 00:13:02,639 uh is there going to be if you look at 305 00:13:02,639 --> 00:13:05,519 you guys watch Silicon Valley yes on HBO 306 00:13:05,519 --> 00:13:08,639 I love Silicon Valley uh uh I think it's 307 00:13:08,639 --> 00:13:11,320 fantastic um and one of the truly 308 00:13:11,320 --> 00:13:14,440 impressive things about this show is 309 00:13:14,440 --> 00:13:17,480 we're now two episodes into season 3 and 310 00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:19,279 they have still they've 311 00:13:19,279 --> 00:13:22,600 sustained the the whole show is about 312 00:13:22,600 --> 00:13:24,560 building one company yeah and it's been 313 00:13:24,560 --> 00:13:28,399 about that since the first episode um uh 314 00:13:28,399 --> 00:13:33,800 and it's it's not like we started with 315 00:13:33,800 --> 00:13:35,959 pi Piper a very successful company and 316 00:13:35,959 --> 00:13:37,959 each episode we'll see what kind of hij 317 00:13:37,959 --> 00:13:41,320 Jinks the P Piper guys uh uh get every 318 00:13:41,320 --> 00:13:43,160 episode there you are building toward uh 319 00:13:43,160 --> 00:13:44,160 the same goal and I think it's 320 00:13:44,160 --> 00:13:45,920 remarkable that they've been able to do 321 00:13:45,920 --> 00:13:50,160 that for what's now I guess 22 Episodes 322 00:13:50,160 --> 00:13:53,880 um do you think that in uh in this 323 00:13:53,880 --> 00:13:56,320 series that the entire series is going 324 00:13:56,320 --> 00:13:59,959 to be working toward a goal or uh or is 325 00:13:59,959 --> 00:14:01,920 is it more like the westwing where each 326 00:14:01,920 --> 00:14:04,480 episode is a slightly different 327 00:14:04,480 --> 00:14:06,600 Adventure in in their lives um I think 328 00:14:06,600 --> 00:14:08,000 it's a little bit of both it's more of a 329 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:12,120 serialized um show than the westwing um 330 00:14:12,120 --> 00:14:13,639 I think the main goal is for them to 331 00:14:13,639 --> 00:14:17,079 sort of bring uh oil trading into this 332 00:14:17,079 --> 00:14:18,399 they're they're basically Midway through 333 00:14:18,399 --> 00:14:21,320 the series it's going to be the peak of 334 00:14:21,320 --> 00:14:22,839 uh oil trading and they're basically 335 00:14:22,839 --> 00:14:25,759 going to it's it's a reversal of Fortune 336 00:14:25,759 --> 00:14:27,360 and then their eventual downfall don't 337 00:14:27,360 --> 00:14:30,759 we need to know why bringing oil trading 338 00:14:30,759 --> 00:14:35,079 into the Merc is a big deal to Andy yeah 339 00:14:35,079 --> 00:14:37,240 um we need to know that pretty early on 340 00:14:37,240 --> 00:14:38,600 right because you're talking about 341 00:14:38,600 --> 00:14:41,199 something fairly 342 00:14:41,199 --> 00:14:45,880 cerebral um um I would frontload uh that 343 00:14:45,880 --> 00:14:49,279 stuff okay by all means have the scene 344 00:14:49,279 --> 00:14:50,639 on the yacht with the hookers in the 345 00:14:50,639 --> 00:14:55,639 blow uh okay do it um and uh if your 346 00:14:55,639 --> 00:14:59,040 line producer uh can figure out and a 347 00:14:59,040 --> 00:15:00,959 affordable way to have one yacht crash 348 00:15:00,959 --> 00:15:03,480 into another yacht uh uh the way you're 349 00:15:03,480 --> 00:15:04,920 doing here because when I was reading it 350 00:15:04,920 --> 00:15:07,560 I was thinking how how do do you do that 351 00:15:07,560 --> 00:15:11,079 um Can the yacht crash into a canoe uh 352 00:15:11,079 --> 00:15:12,079 is that because those are going to be 353 00:15:12,079 --> 00:15:14,040 the questions uh that you get if your 354 00:15:14,040 --> 00:15:15,480 line producer can do that I've never 355 00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:19,199 seen that on TV before so do that um uh 356 00:15:19,199 --> 00:15:23,120 and uh uh the big takeaway here should 357 00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:26,320 be your you're really very very good 358 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:28,600 that means a lot coming from you um I'm 359 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:30,519 uh you have an exciting career in front 360 00:15:30,519 --> 00:15:32,839 of you and I'm looking forward to uh to 361 00:15:32,839 --> 00:15:35,839 watching it as helpful as it is for the 362 00:15:35,839 --> 00:15:38,040 read when when you call characters 363 00:15:38,040 --> 00:15:40,639 mustache and necklace and um uh and 364 00:15:40,639 --> 00:15:42,519 things like that it's actually very 365 00:15:42,519 --> 00:15:44,800 helpful uh uh for the read Because 366 00:15:44,800 --> 00:15:47,120 reading it we know this is an 367 00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:49,600 unimportant character we just it's to 368 00:15:49,600 --> 00:15:52,560 distinguish that kind we get that when 369 00:15:52,560 --> 00:15:55,199 you're reading it um when you're 370 00:15:55,199 --> 00:15:57,920 actually doing it 371 00:15:57,920 --> 00:16:01,000 uh like for in I I would I would give 372 00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:03,480 them names uh and here's why just the 373 00:16:03,480 --> 00:16:06,800 way uh uh when I send out the uh the 374 00:16:06,800 --> 00:16:08,759 final draft I'll change waiter number 375 00:16:08,759 --> 00:16:12,519 two to Jonathan or something just the 376 00:16:12,519 --> 00:16:16,959 Dignity of the actor sure uh uh okay um 377 00:16:16,959 --> 00:16:19,920 who if they came and auditioned for the 378 00:16:19,920 --> 00:16:23,680 job of mustache um uh and competed 379 00:16:23,680 --> 00:16:25,360 against 14 other people to get the job 380 00:16:25,360 --> 00:16:27,079 of mustache and they've got to go back 381 00:16:27,079 --> 00:16:29,519 and tell their family guess what but uh 382 00:16:29,519 --> 00:16:32,319 I got cast on Evelyn Eve's show I'm 383 00:16:32,319 --> 00:16:35,240 playing mustache okay let them have 384 00:16:35,240 --> 00:16:38,680 their dignity um uh uh it's you don't 385 00:16:38,680 --> 00:16:40,279 make them play waiter number two or 386 00:16:40,279 --> 00:16:41,959 mustache or necklace but it's it's 387 00:16:41,959 --> 00:16:44,399 really good for the read um just when 388 00:16:44,399 --> 00:16:46,839 you get to actually casting it I hope to 389 00:16:46,839 --> 00:16:50,600 have that problem and you will um uh 390 00:16:50,600 --> 00:16:55,279 don't uh you know be nice to act 1 00:00:12,799 --> 00:00:17,119 Cory yes you're up all righty um uh from 2 00:00:17,119 --> 00:00:18,960 here to Ali is that how it's pronounced 3 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:21,519 a i yes so it's not at all how it's 4 00:00:21,519 --> 00:00:23,560 pronounced all could missed any more 5 00:00:23,560 --> 00:00:27,599 than I did from here to iie um uh let's 6 00:00:27,599 --> 00:00:31,240 uh uh read the first couple of Pages uh 7 00:00:31,240 --> 00:00:33,320 of it um and then I have some questions 8 00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:35,399 I want to ask I think it's fantastic I 9 00:00:35,399 --> 00:00:36,920 think it's terrific as you know I was 10 00:00:36,920 --> 00:00:41,039 hoping that you'd tank um uh but uh just 11 00:00:41,039 --> 00:00:43,640 out of spite you know I I hear that um 12 00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:44,800 uh but let's read the first couple of 13 00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:46,920 pages go ahead it's all yours interior 14 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:49,680 nail salon day M Lyn hollingworth a m a 15 00:00:49,680 --> 00:00:51,120 middle-aged Caucasian woman who hasn't 16 00:00:51,120 --> 00:00:52,399 worked a day in her married life is 17 00:00:52,399 --> 00:00:54,280 sitting in a chair in a spot she's 18 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:55,960 wearing yoga pants with a matching top 19 00:00:55,960 --> 00:00:57,480 and sporting a ring that could fund a 20 00:00:57,480 --> 00:01:00,000 small business chance a male nail worker 21 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:01,840 is fervently falling away at her toes 22 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:03,519 mty Lynn is on the phone sipping a kale 23 00:01:03,519 --> 00:01:06,159 juice no Olivia I'm telling you it's the 24 00:01:06,159 --> 00:01:08,080 absolute best it was the most gentle 25 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:10,119 colonic I've ever had it was like he 26 00:01:10,119 --> 00:01:11,920 wasn't even there it was like I wasn't 27 00:01:11,920 --> 00:01:14,360 even there wait hold on she Taps chance 28 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:16,400 on the shoulder Ola um you're digging 29 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:19,960 into my pinky toey mucho hurt mucho okay 30 00:01:19,960 --> 00:01:22,840 I'm Asian and I speak English sound good 31 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:24,520 you just keep it at keep at it down 32 00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:27,880 there big tippo big tip yeah chance 33 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:30,320 rolls his eyes Olivia sweetie what are 34 00:01:30,320 --> 00:01:31,720 you doing over there well it sounds like 35 00:01:31,720 --> 00:01:32,960 you're trying to push a car out of your 36 00:01:32,960 --> 00:01:35,799 vagina a what honey a master cleanse on 37 00:01:35,799 --> 00:01:37,600 Monday is never something to explore 38 00:01:37,600 --> 00:01:39,200 especially with the way you drink you're 39 00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:42,840 all done thank you mu mu Zapatos Olivia 40 00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:45,079 honey I got to go she slurps down the 41 00:01:45,079 --> 00:01:46,439 rest of her kale juice and hobbles out 42 00:01:46,439 --> 00:01:48,600 of her chair she goes up to pay over her 43 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:50,600 shoulder on the television screen could 44 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:52,040 be the biggest embezzlement in Ponzi 45 00:01:52,040 --> 00:01:53,680 scheme to hit America in the last 100 46 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:55,920 years all employees are being indicted 47 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:57,399 and will be brought uh in for 48 00:01:57,399 --> 00:01:59,960 questioning meanwhile Cromwell says it's 49 00:01:59,960 --> 00:02:02,399 not his fault uh so who's right more 50 00:02:02,399 --> 00:02:05,280 details coming up but first Jan is with 51 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:07,600 the weather such a shame thanks Tom well 52 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:08,920 today's going to be another hot one here 53 00:02:08,920 --> 00:02:10,759 in Los Angeles with temperatures ranging 54 00:02:10,759 --> 00:02:12,319 in the high 90s so if you're thinking 55 00:02:12,319 --> 00:02:14,800 about hitting the pool Meanwhile your 56 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:17,200 card now working your machine no working 57 00:02:17,200 --> 00:02:19,239 swipe it again please she does the 58 00:02:19,239 --> 00:02:21,239 machine beeps and seals her fate nope 59 00:02:21,239 --> 00:02:23,160 the salon cashier Hannah an older Asian 60 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:25,800 lady in a Mumu holds out her card mty 61 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:27,319 Lynn snatches it back and starts to dig 62 00:02:27,319 --> 00:02:28,959 into her purse this is obviously a 63 00:02:28,959 --> 00:02:30,360 mistake and I can't believe that as 64 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:32,040 loyal as a loyal customer who pretty 65 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:33,319 much keeps you in business you can't 66 00:02:33,319 --> 00:02:36,239 figure this out I'm sorry well me too 67 00:02:36,239 --> 00:02:38,200 here try this one she hands her another 68 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:41,599 card it works there we go thank you come 69 00:02:41,599 --> 00:02:44,360 again Mrs mty Ren okay Hannah we've been 70 00:02:44,360 --> 00:02:46,120 through this before every time you work 71 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:48,239 here every time she works here it's 72 00:02:48,239 --> 00:02:51,640 Maddie Lynn yes Maddie Ren Maddy Lynn 73 00:02:51,640 --> 00:02:56,200 Ren Lynn Ren no oh 74 00:02:56,200 --> 00:03:00,200 Lyn l 75 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:14,360 wa okay uh on page three you have a joke 76 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:16,720 that I'm really impressed with uh 77 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:19,840 because it uh you stick with it a long 78 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:22,200 time it's a joke that it's the Lin Rin 79 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:26,920 Lin Rin um uh uh thing and uh uh you 80 00:03:26,920 --> 00:03:29,840 stick with it for an entire page which 81 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:33,720 shows a lot of confidence uh confidence 82 00:03:33,720 --> 00:03:35,519 is terribly important as a writer yeah 83 00:03:35,519 --> 00:03:38,920 you have to write with confidence uh and 84 00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:41,640 uh this to me doesn't look like a new 85 00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:44,040 writer uh uh this looks like somebody 86 00:03:44,040 --> 00:03:47,000 who's doing this uh for a long time who 87 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:49,680 has absolute faith in themsel uh uh that 88 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:51,239 they're funny who understands that the 89 00:03:51,239 --> 00:03:54,040 two actresses uh are going to be able to 90 00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:56,480 pull this off I was very impressed with 91 00:03:56,480 --> 00:04:02,319 this joke so um uh somewhere some 92 00:04:02,319 --> 00:04:05,239 somewhere along the line someone will 93 00:04:05,239 --> 00:04:08,079 raise a concern that is 94 00:04:08,079 --> 00:04:12,760 this uh is there subtle racism uh here I 95 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:16,320 don't think there is uh um uh and truly 96 00:04:16,320 --> 00:04:17,959 I think what's funny is how long you 97 00:04:17,959 --> 00:04:22,840 stuck with it um uh it's really good 98 00:04:22,840 --> 00:04:26,800 now I think I know uh but uh and and 99 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:29,199 just to so we're all on the P same page 100 00:04:29,199 --> 00:04:31,199 here what we have have here is basically 101 00:04:31,199 --> 00:04:35,639 a Brentwood woman of leisure who's uh um 102 00:04:35,639 --> 00:04:41,560 also not very nice uh uh to people uh 103 00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:44,720 who she doesn't believe is in the are in 104 00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:48,919 the same social class as she is uh she 105 00:04:48,919 --> 00:04:52,120 has two children 15-year-old twins boy 106 00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:56,520 uh and a girl uh and there is another 107 00:04:56,520 --> 00:05:00,199 couple um uh from the other side of the 108 00:05:00,199 --> 00:05:04,120 tracks a woman for whom uh getting a 109 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:09,759 manicure is a a luxury Splurge um uh uh 110 00:05:09,759 --> 00:05:12,639 having a a Visa card is a is a very big 111 00:05:12,639 --> 00:05:14,400 deal it's a proud thing and it's just 112 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:17,199 for emergencies she's married to a 113 00:05:17,199 --> 00:05:20,199 gardener it's it uh it's a Mexican 114 00:05:20,199 --> 00:05:24,360 couple uh and what I'm assuming is about 115 00:05:24,360 --> 00:05:27,400 to happen are we about to find out 116 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:31,360 excuse me that mty Lynn's husband 117 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:35,280 um is involved in this uh Ponzi scheme 118 00:05:35,280 --> 00:05:39,080 that we heard in the news okay 119 00:05:39,080 --> 00:05:43,639 uh you gave me up to page 120 00:05:43,639 --> 00:05:46,000 12 and we 121 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:51,560 had we uh a phone call just got dumped 122 00:05:51,560 --> 00:05:54,759 between uh between M Linn's son right 123 00:05:54,759 --> 00:05:56,680 before this last scene that you gave me 124 00:05:56,680 --> 00:05:59,440 the second to last scene um was MN and 125 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:03,240 Jud are talking uh uh that call gets 126 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:05,880 dropped but uh is that what Judson is 127 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:10,400 about to tell Mulin yes okay uh so and 128 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:13,759 tell me again they're up to page 13 here 129 00:06:13,759 --> 00:06:16,639 is that going to happen on page 14 it is 130 00:06:16,639 --> 00:06:17,960 that very next scene is him crawling out 131 00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:20,160 of the back window of his office trying 132 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:21,039 to 133 00:06:21,039 --> 00:06:23,160 escape uh okay I should have mentioned 134 00:06:23,160 --> 00:06:25,479 by the way this is a uh a pilot episode 135 00:06:25,479 --> 00:06:30,039 for a 30 or 60 Minute 60 60 um 136 00:06:30,039 --> 00:06:31,280 uh okay 137 00:06:31,280 --> 00:06:33,000 because 138 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:37,199 uh if we had gone three more pages uh 139 00:06:37,199 --> 00:06:38,599 without that happening I would have said 140 00:06:38,599 --> 00:06:40,720 you need to move up the inciting action 141 00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:42,759 uh a little bit earlier uh but I think 142 00:06:42,759 --> 00:06:45,120 you did it just fine uh uh can you talk 143 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:47,759 about the rest of this yes um we also 144 00:06:47,759 --> 00:06:51,599 meet um Diego who actually owns a yard 145 00:06:51,599 --> 00:06:53,000 and landscaping business that he wants 146 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:55,919 to pass down to his son um because he 147 00:06:55,919 --> 00:06:58,039 got it from his dad and the son doesn't 148 00:06:58,039 --> 00:06:59,919 want to do it because he wants to be 149 00:06:59,919 --> 00:07:02,520 more and the wife gab Gabriella she 150 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:05,120 wants him to be more as well um more 151 00:07:05,120 --> 00:07:06,520 than a gardener more than a gardener 152 00:07:06,520 --> 00:07:10,759 right but the thing is uh Fernando the 153 00:07:10,759 --> 00:07:12,840 son is failing Spanish even though he's 154 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:14,520 fluent so there's this whole thing 155 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:17,160 between the two of them him disgracing 156 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:19,319 the family with the F in Spanish but A's 157 00:07:19,319 --> 00:07:22,080 everywhere else and him not wanting to 158 00:07:22,080 --> 00:07:24,759 be like his dad and ttin to to Art I'm 159 00:07:24,759 --> 00:07:26,680 just I'm so curious I need to stop you 160 00:07:26,680 --> 00:07:30,080 is he fing Spanish on purpose um uh 161 00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:32,479 it's just a [ __ ] you yes it pretty much 162 00:07:32,479 --> 00:07:34,759 is because his dad asks him and he's 163 00:07:34,759 --> 00:07:36,639 like see that's it he's like he speaks 164 00:07:36,639 --> 00:07:38,160 Spanish I don't care if he makes F I 165 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:41,120 don't care you know um so there's that 166 00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:43,560 but then he's also uh struggling a 167 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:46,120 little bit with his sexuality and the 168 00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:50,039 Judson uh on the the white family MH is 169 00:07:50,039 --> 00:07:51,280 not necessarily struggling with his 170 00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:54,280 sexuality he wears makeup so those two 171 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:56,560 will have a secret something at some 172 00:07:56,560 --> 00:07:58,759 point later on in the season or whatever 173 00:07:58,759 --> 00:08:00,280 so there's there's all these things that 174 00:08:00,280 --> 00:08:01,879 cross it's not going to deal 175 00:08:01,879 --> 00:08:03,240 specifically with the families together 176 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:05,840 all the time because in the each 177 00:08:05,840 --> 00:08:07,919 separate family there are smaller things 178 00:08:07,919 --> 00:08:10,039 um the dad is Peruvian and the mom is 179 00:08:10,039 --> 00:08:13,120 Mexican those two things Clash sometimes 180 00:08:13,120 --> 00:08:14,759 like a Dominican and a Puerto Rican 181 00:08:14,759 --> 00:08:17,520 together it's kind of even in the the 182 00:08:17,520 --> 00:08:20,080 family unit them coming from different 183 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:23,800 types of you know Hispanic Latino um 184 00:08:23,800 --> 00:08:26,120 causes more things like the Maria on the 185 00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:27,159 shelf or in the middle of the dinner 186 00:08:27,159 --> 00:08:28,720 table it's like no we're not going to do 187 00:08:28,720 --> 00:08:30,680 that so there there's all these 188 00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:32,880 different things but but in the in the 189 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:35,080 Hispanic family the uncle lives there 190 00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:36,599 the grandmother lives there who is the 191 00:08:36,599 --> 00:08:38,839 housekeeper for the Hollingsworth family 192 00:08:38,839 --> 00:08:41,800 M and the um that's how the two families 193 00:08:41,800 --> 00:08:42,959 are connected that's how the two 194 00:08:42,959 --> 00:08:44,959 families are connected right and also 195 00:08:44,959 --> 00:08:47,240 the grandmother has been saving for 196 00:08:47,240 --> 00:08:48,720 years to buy this particular house 197 00:08:48,720 --> 00:08:50,680 across the street which she didn't know 198 00:08:50,680 --> 00:08:53,120 belonged to the hollingworth family so 199 00:08:53,120 --> 00:08:54,360 they're moving into the house that she 200 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:56,480 worked so hard to pay for but now she 201 00:08:56,480 --> 00:08:58,040 can't but she still has to work for them 202 00:08:58,040 --> 00:08:59,680 because she's the housekeeper got it 203 00:08:59,680 --> 00:09:01,839 because she doesn't have another job so 204 00:09:01,839 --> 00:09:04,279 okay so this is going to be a uh uh uh 205 00:09:04,279 --> 00:09:08,200 this is a pilot for an hourong uh uh 206 00:09:08,200 --> 00:09:10,040 drama we can call it a drama I get that 207 00:09:10,040 --> 00:09:13,000 there are jokes in it yeah um uh uh an 208 00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:15,200 hourong drama uh about these two 209 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:16,440 families 210 00:09:16,440 --> 00:09:20,120 mhm individually and together okay uh 211 00:09:20,120 --> 00:09:22,680 tell me a little about yourself I am 212 00:09:22,680 --> 00:09:25,480 from the south bat rge Louisiana M and 213 00:09:25,480 --> 00:09:29,839 um I grew up a shy kaet kid I spent a 214 00:09:29,839 --> 00:09:31,839 lot of time actually writing in journals 215 00:09:31,839 --> 00:09:33,320 and creating stories in my head and when 216 00:09:33,320 --> 00:09:35,480 I was in fifth grade my aunt gave me a 217 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:38,079 book called uh children's stories and 218 00:09:38,079 --> 00:09:39,519 the back of this book was a play called 219 00:09:39,519 --> 00:09:41,880 the trial of Mother Goose and what I did 220 00:09:41,880 --> 00:09:44,120 was I got one of my teachers to print 221 00:09:44,120 --> 00:09:47,120 out copies for each character and then I 222 00:09:47,120 --> 00:09:49,399 got the art Department to direct to get 223 00:09:49,399 --> 00:09:50,720 boxes so that we could paint and 224 00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:52,480 costumes and things like that and in the 225 00:09:52,480 --> 00:09:54,360 middle of rehearsal in this happened in 226 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:57,320 Fifth Fifth Grade yes the principal said 227 00:09:57,320 --> 00:10:00,160 what are you doing you you can't do that 228 00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:01,680 I was like well why not next week we're 229 00:10:01,680 --> 00:10:02,680 just going to have the whole thing she's 230 00:10:02,680 --> 00:10:04,240 like well we're graduating next week you 231 00:10:04,240 --> 00:10:06,079 can't just have the auditorium so she 232 00:10:06,079 --> 00:10:08,440 shut down my production and oh man that 233 00:10:08,440 --> 00:10:10,920 was the very first no that I heard um 234 00:10:10,920 --> 00:10:13,079 and unlike uh a lot of these other 235 00:10:13,079 --> 00:10:14,959 brilliant writers here I didn't have the 236 00:10:14,959 --> 00:10:17,519 opportunity to go to school for writing 237 00:10:17,519 --> 00:10:20,480 um I think the most dangerous know that 238 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:22,079 a person can hear is the one from 239 00:10:22,079 --> 00:10:24,640 themselves and for a long time I gave 240 00:10:24,640 --> 00:10:28,160 myself that no um but an incident 241 00:10:28,160 --> 00:10:30,320 happened that pushed me into uh you only 242 00:10:30,320 --> 00:10:32,360 live once kind of thing and I moved to 243 00:10:32,360 --> 00:10:35,399 New York um still with that no as an 244 00:10:35,399 --> 00:10:37,200 actor and a writer I mean an actor and a 245 00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:39,600 dancer and a singer MH and then I wrote 246 00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:42,560 a play had a table read over some chili 247 00:10:42,560 --> 00:10:44,680 then got some notes for some rewrites 248 00:10:44,680 --> 00:10:47,040 had a table read again put it back there 249 00:10:47,040 --> 00:10:50,160 behind that no and then eventually 250 00:10:50,160 --> 00:10:54,440 um I started to allow things to happen 251 00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:55,839 naturally in 252 00:10:55,839 --> 00:10:58,399 2013 um I'm sorry you said eventually 253 00:10:58,399 --> 00:10:59,800 you started to allow things to happen 254 00:10:59,800 --> 00:11:01,399 naturally that play that you were 255 00:11:01,399 --> 00:11:05,160 writing the Chile play um uh did it feel 256 00:11:05,160 --> 00:11:06,160 good when you were writing it did you 257 00:11:06,160 --> 00:11:08,279 feel confident it felt amazing yeah okay 258 00:11:08,279 --> 00:11:11,320 go ahead um in 2013 in the middle of the 259 00:11:11,320 --> 00:11:13,680 night I got a call from my dad that said 260 00:11:13,680 --> 00:11:14,920 my brother who was younger than me was 261 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:18,440 24 the time um had been murdered and Jes 262 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:22,480 I in my self I thought I only get one 263 00:11:22,480 --> 00:11:25,360 shot I let somebody tell me that I 264 00:11:25,360 --> 00:11:27,079 couldn't be a writer because I was an 265 00:11:27,079 --> 00:11:29,040 actor and a and a singer and a dancer 266 00:11:29,040 --> 00:11:30,480 and people would get confused about who 267 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:34,360 I was so I just put pedal to the metal 268 00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:35,920 and just started writing writing 269 00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:37,360 everything I started reading scripts I 270 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:40,560 started reading um uh books on 271 00:11:40,560 --> 00:11:43,600 screenwriting I started reading um just 272 00:11:43,600 --> 00:11:44,680 regular books because I love to read 273 00:11:44,680 --> 00:11:47,200 anyway watching things from writers that 274 00:11:47,200 --> 00:11:49,560 I admired and pretty soon I just start 275 00:11:49,560 --> 00:11:53,880 to sit into my and and and just write so 276 00:11:53,880 --> 00:11:56,000 that's how I stumbled up on all of all 277 00:11:56,000 --> 00:11:57,360 of this 278 00:11:57,360 --> 00:11:59,680 um you and I got started roughly the 279 00:11:59,680 --> 00:12:03,519 same way I didn't have anything remotely 280 00:12:03,519 --> 00:12:05,600 approaching the tragedy uh that you did 281 00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:08,399 in your life but I thought I was an 282 00:12:08,399 --> 00:12:12,920 actor too uh when I was going back to 283 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:17,000 Elementary School uh even I was just 284 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:19,880 starring in all the school plays and 285 00:12:19,880 --> 00:12:22,000 loving plays my I grew up just outside 286 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:23,880 New York City my parents took me to see 287 00:12:23,880 --> 00:12:26,440 plays all the time plays that I was 288 00:12:26,440 --> 00:12:28,720 often too young to understand uh what 289 00:12:28,720 --> 00:12:30,240 was going like who's Afraid of Virginia 290 00:12:30,240 --> 00:12:32,079 wolf when I was nine uh that kind of 291 00:12:32,079 --> 00:12:35,279 thing um where I I I either wasn't old 292 00:12:35,279 --> 00:12:36,519 enough or wasn't smart enough to 293 00:12:36,519 --> 00:12:37,680 understand what was going on on stage 294 00:12:37,680 --> 00:12:39,560 but I love the sound of dialogue it 295 00:12:39,560 --> 00:12:43,399 sounded like music to me um uh anyway I 296 00:12:43,399 --> 00:12:46,120 uh I I thought what I was was an actor 297 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:49,160 and uh uh I went to school and studied 298 00:12:49,160 --> 00:12:52,639 acting uh and it wasn't until I 299 00:12:52,639 --> 00:12:54,720 graduated and moved to New York uh when 300 00:12:54,720 --> 00:12:57,560 I was 21 301 00:12:57,560 --> 00:12:59,920 that I I was 302 00:12:59,920 --> 00:13:02,440 uh I was living in my ex-girl I was 303 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:04,639 sharing my ex-girlfriend's studio 304 00:13:04,639 --> 00:13:05,880 apartment I don't mean she's my 305 00:13:05,880 --> 00:13:06,959 ex-girlfriend now I mean she was my 306 00:13:06,959 --> 00:13:09,160 exgirlfriend then when I was sharing the 307 00:13:09,160 --> 00:13:10,880 apartment and she was dating my best 308 00:13:10,880 --> 00:13:13,399 friend and for $250 a month I got to 309 00:13:13,399 --> 00:13:17,120 sleep on a futon uh on the floor and uh 310 00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:20,120 I it was a Friday night uh a friend of 311 00:13:20,120 --> 00:13:22,639 mine who had also just graduated from 312 00:13:22,639 --> 00:13:25,199 college and and was a budding journalist 313 00:13:25,199 --> 00:13:27,240 had his grandfather's semi-automatic 314 00:13:27,240 --> 00:13:29,320 typewriter with him that's uh it's 315 00:13:29,320 --> 00:13:32,639 electric keys with a manual return and 316 00:13:32,639 --> 00:13:34,079 he was going out of town for the weekend 317 00:13:34,079 --> 00:13:35,199 he didn't want to schle it around with 318 00:13:35,199 --> 00:13:37,800 him he asked me if I could uh uh just 319 00:13:37,800 --> 00:13:41,440 hang on to it for him for the weekend my 320 00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:43,560 roommate ex-girlfriend was out of town 321 00:13:43,560 --> 00:13:44,600 for the weekend it was one of those 322 00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:47,320 Friday nights in New York where it just 323 00:13:47,320 --> 00:13:49,560 feels like everyone in the world has 324 00:13:49,560 --> 00:13:51,199 been invited to a party that you haven't 325 00:13:51,199 --> 00:13:53,480 been invited to uh somehow I didn't have 326 00:13:53,480 --> 00:13:56,480 $3 in my pocket the television wasn't 327 00:13:56,480 --> 00:13:59,199 working the stereo wasn't working the 328 00:13:59,199 --> 00:14:01,560 home computer hadn't been invented yet 329 00:14:01,560 --> 00:14:05,399 uh and uh there there was no way for me 330 00:14:05,399 --> 00:14:07,120 to entertain myself except to stick a 331 00:14:07,120 --> 00:14:09,920 piece of paper in this old 332 00:14:09,920 --> 00:14:12,880 semi-automatic typewriter and I began 333 00:14:12,880 --> 00:14:15,279 for the first time ever in my life 334 00:14:15,279 --> 00:14:17,199 writing for pleasure instead of for a 335 00:14:17,199 --> 00:14:19,880 school assignment to be gotten through 336 00:14:19,880 --> 00:14:21,480 and I began for the first time in my 337 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:25,160 life writing dialogue um uh I I started 338 00:14:25,160 --> 00:14:29,240 writing a play and I felt an immediate 339 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:31,639 confidence doing that just a really 340 00:14:31,639 --> 00:14:33,959 great feeling that I had never felt 341 00:14:33,959 --> 00:14:36,120 acting and I was pretty cocky uh actor 342 00:14:36,120 --> 00:14:39,000 but I knew right away 343 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:44,680 as young and green and uh much more than 344 00:14:44,680 --> 00:14:47,600 rough uh around the edges as I was uh as 345 00:14:47,600 --> 00:14:51,560 a writer I knew that I was a writer now 346 00:14:51,560 --> 00:14:54,639 I I really identified with what you said 347 00:14:54,639 --> 00:14:57,240 as your identity as an actor singer uh 348 00:14:57,240 --> 00:15:00,320 uh dancer I at that that point for as 349 00:15:00,320 --> 00:15:03,880 far as I was concerned 21 years uh had 350 00:15:03,880 --> 00:15:06,120 identified as an actor that's who I 351 00:15:06,120 --> 00:15:08,160 thought I was so it wasn't like it was 352 00:15:08,160 --> 00:15:12,639 easy to instantly uh stop doing that uh 353 00:15:12,639 --> 00:15:15,079 but what I did 354 00:15:15,079 --> 00:15:18,199 um well then all kinds of lightning 355 00:15:18,199 --> 00:15:20,279 struck my older sister had graduated 356 00:15:20,279 --> 00:15:22,000 from law school she wanted to get trial 357 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:23,920 experience right away so she she signed 358 00:15:23,920 --> 00:15:25,680 up with the Navy Judge Advocate 359 00:15:25,680 --> 00:15:28,040 General's Corps and started telling me 360 00:15:28,040 --> 00:15:30,440 some stories that made me start writing 361 00:15:30,440 --> 00:15:35,759 A Few Good Men um and uh it in the 362 00:15:35,759 --> 00:15:38,240 middle of that I stopped writing A Few 363 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:40,480 Good Men to write a one act play because 364 00:15:40,480 --> 00:15:41,839 it never occurred to me to come to if 365 00:15:41,839 --> 00:15:44,279 you want to be a writer to come to Los 366 00:15:44,279 --> 00:15:47,120 Angeles because it may be hard there may 367 00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:48,560 be a lot of competition but there are 368 00:15:48,560 --> 00:15:51,160 jobs here there you you can if you're 369 00:15:51,160 --> 00:15:53,240 lucky get a job as a writer's assistant 370 00:15:53,240 --> 00:15:55,000 as a PA as an intern you can write a 371 00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:57,240 spec script as you guys uh have done get 372 00:15:57,240 --> 00:15:59,519 someone to see it uh those kinds of 373 00:15:59,519 --> 00:16:01,600 opportunities aren't really available uh 374 00:16:01,600 --> 00:16:03,519 in New York uh but what they have are 375 00:16:03,519 --> 00:16:05,319 one act play festivals and I wrote a one 376 00:16:05,319 --> 00:16:07,920 act play it got accepted in this 377 00:16:07,920 --> 00:16:10,560 festival and I was in it I was acting in 378 00:16:10,560 --> 00:16:13,160 it along with Nathan Lane and a couple 379 00:16:13,160 --> 00:16:16,199 of good actors and I was on stage uh of 380 00:16:16,199 --> 00:16:18,279 one night doing the play kind of 381 00:16:18,279 --> 00:16:20,720 watching the other actors and thinking 382 00:16:20,720 --> 00:16:22,319 these guys are really good wouldn't it 383 00:16:22,319 --> 00:16:25,720 be great if everyone in the cast was as 384 00:16:25,720 --> 00:16:27,800 as good as they were and that was the 385 00:16:27,800 --> 00:16:30,600 moment that it was very easy for me to 386 00:16:30,600 --> 00:16:34,160 stop identifying uh as an actor and 387 00:16:34,160 --> 00:16:38,519 identify as a as a playright uh and and 388 00:16:38,519 --> 00:16:41,360 so now uh if I'm doing an interview and 389 00:16:41,360 --> 00:16:43,959 someone says uh now you started out as 390 00:16:43,959 --> 00:16:47,800 an actor right I always say no um I mean 391 00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:49,360 when I was very little I thought I was 392 00:16:49,360 --> 00:16:50,839 going to be an actor but I was never I 393 00:16:50,839 --> 00:16:54,240 mean I I cling to my uh Iden identity as 394 00:16:54,240 --> 00:16:56,639 a writer and what's worse is when they 395 00:16:56,639 --> 00:16:59,480 say and you used to be a playwright 396 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:02,880 I I haven't written a play in six or 397 00:17:02,880 --> 00:17:05,079 seven years but I'm still a playright i 398 00:17:05,079 --> 00:17:07,480 I'd like to hold on to that title so 399 00:17:07,480 --> 00:17:10,559 identities are are important I think the 400 00:17:10,559 --> 00:17:12,600 fact that you had that really good 401 00:17:12,600 --> 00:17:16,120 feeling uh when you were writing is is 402 00:17:16,120 --> 00:17:18,839 an important sign you're a writer and 403 00:17:18,839 --> 00:17:23,880 and uh and this is very good work uh I 404 00:17:23,880 --> 00:17:26,280 does anybody uh uh want to say anything 405 00:17:26,280 --> 00:17:28,160 about this anybody have any questions or 406 00:17:28,160 --> 00:17:30,720 comments observ 407 00:17:30,720 --> 00:17:34,440 it's good yeah right um also I haven't 408 00:17:34,440 --> 00:17:40,919 seen this uh on television you know um 409 00:17:40,919 --> 00:17:43,520 uh so uh I I really wish you good luck 410 00:17:43,520 --> 00:17:45,160 with it I'd love to read the rest of it 411 00:17:45,160 --> 00:17:47,360 I'd love to read the rest of all of 412 00:17:47,360 --> 00:17:50,160 these scripts I really tip my hat to 413 00:17:50,160 --> 00:17:55,039 whoever found the five of you um uh uh I 414 00:17:55,039 --> 00:18:00,200 I I I think that that you are uh 415 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:03,320 really good uh uh with really exciting 416 00:18:03,320 --> 00:18:07,760 Futures and uh I I I 417 00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:10,679 would I would hire any of you all of you 418 00:18:10,679 --> 00:18:13,799 uh uh for the staff of a TV show I think 419 00:18:13,799 --> 00:18:18,360 in a in just a short time you've uh um 420 00:18:18,360 --> 00:18:21,000 you you've displayed real talent you uh 421 00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:23,919 uh you really have it 1 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:14,519 if you're not moving the story forward 2 00:00:14,519 --> 00:00:17,119 you're standing still and you better be 3 00:00:17,119 --> 00:00:18,840 careful about how long you're standing 4 00:00:18,840 --> 00:00:23,000 still uh uh because the audience won't 5 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:26,199 uh hang out with you as long as uh as 6 00:00:26,199 --> 00:00:28,880 long as you want them to uh so you you 7 00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:32,000 have to be moving the story forward 8 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:33,840 stories 9 00:00:33,840 --> 00:00:38,480 uh in involve motion okay um if you're 10 00:00:38,480 --> 00:00:40,039 about to write something you're thinking 11 00:00:40,039 --> 00:00:41,280 about this thing that you're going to 12 00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:44,280 write and the idea is that you're going 13 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:47,960 to start at Point a and you're going to 14 00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:51,760 go do north um uh and end at point B 15 00:00:51,760 --> 00:00:55,320 which is somewhere North uh of point a 16 00:00:55,320 --> 00:00:57,920 but in the writing process somehow uh 17 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:01,120 you stop going north and you start going 18 00:01:01,120 --> 00:01:03,440 uh uh you know North by Northeast uh and 19 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:05,479 that kind of thing and somehow point B 20 00:01:05,479 --> 00:01:09,000 ends up being due east um uh and not do 21 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:11,560 North you haven't done anything wrong as 22 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:13,759 long as you have traveled from one place 23 00:01:13,759 --> 00:01:15,240 to another 24 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:17,680 place uh uh you're in good shape your 25 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:20,479 next script you can go uh uh uh due 26 00:01:20,479 --> 00:01:22,280 north that one you'll probably end up 27 00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:23,720 Due West and then you've got a third 28 00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:25,799 script where uh where you can go doe 29 00:01:25,799 --> 00:01:28,640 North but you have to travel there uh 30 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:31,720 there has to be motion so at the end of 31 00:01:31,720 --> 00:01:33,600 the scene we have 32 00:01:33,600 --> 00:01:37,720 to uh be at least one step further than 33 00:01:37,720 --> 00:01:40,479 uh than we were 34 00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:47,439 before you can do a uh a a a few 35 00:01:47,439 --> 00:01:51,759 different things um 36 00:01:51,759 --> 00:01:55,399 to to launch yourself from uh from the 37 00:01:55,399 --> 00:01:58,799 end of one scene uh into uh another 38 00:01:58,799 --> 00:02:03,240 scene uh um uh you can have the next 39 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:06,000 scene be an answer to a question that 40 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:09,800 you asked in the previous scene um uh in 41 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:13,680 other words you can uh let's just take 42 00:02:13,680 --> 00:02:15,200 for the sake of argument the Jets and 43 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:17,840 the Sharks uh okay West Side Story uh 44 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:21,560 the Jets and the sharks um I uh if you 45 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:23,519 have a scene with the Jets at their 46 00:02:23,519 --> 00:02:25,720 hangout it's before the rumble uh this 47 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:27,360 scene by the way does not exist I'm now 48 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:30,360 making up scenes for Westside Story um 49 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:31,480 uh 50 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:34,319 uh this scene does exist they sing cool 51 00:02:34,319 --> 00:02:37,200 boy uh the Jets are you know in their 52 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:40,159 their Hideout they hang out uh um uh and 53 00:02:40,159 --> 00:02:41,400 they're nervous for the rumble and 54 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:44,360 they're talking about the rumble um uh 55 00:02:44,360 --> 00:02:45,720 uh you know and someone says you know 56 00:02:45,720 --> 00:02:48,000 gee uh I wonder what the sharks are 57 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:50,959 doing right now lights up on uh the 58 00:02:50,959 --> 00:02:54,200 Sharks and uh and you do that 59 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:57,959 uh if uh there was a really 60 00:02:57,959 --> 00:03:01,560 well-made um 61 00:03:01,560 --> 00:03:05,159 HBO movie was written by Danny Strong uh 62 00:03:05,159 --> 00:03:08,120 called recount about the 2000 uh a 63 00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:09,080 Florida 64 00:03:09,080 --> 00:03:15,480 recount and every scene ended with a a 65 00:03:15,480 --> 00:03:18,640 launch uh uh into the next scene um I 66 00:03:18,640 --> 00:03:20,360 mean it was beautifully constructed 67 00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:23,440 every scene would end with well there's 68 00:03:23,440 --> 00:03:25,640 no way that uh you know the Florida 69 00:03:25,640 --> 00:03:28,000 Supreme Court is going to rule this way 70 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:30,040 cut to the Florida Supreme Court has R 71 00:03:30,040 --> 00:03:32,760 this way uh uh that kind of thing and uh 72 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:35,599 you know Danny connected that together 73 00:03:35,599 --> 00:03:38,120 like like Lego blocks it was perfect 74 00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:40,360 depending how you're structuring the 75 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:44,319 script uh uh the the end of a scene can 76 00:03:44,319 --> 00:03:49,360 be you know a a a kind of a mini climax 77 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:52,640 um and it should jettison you into the 78 00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:55,879 next scene 79 00:04:00,079 --> 00:04:01,879 not every scene has to end with a symbol 80 00:04:01,879 --> 00:04:06,159 crash you know um uh but a a scene does 81 00:04:06,159 --> 00:04:10,840 have to end with you very happy to move 82 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:13,400 uh uh on you that that you want to keep 83 00:04:13,400 --> 00:04:16,359 going um uh as opposed to this feeling 84 00:04:16,359 --> 00:04:18,639 that you're spinning your wheels when is 85 00:04:18,639 --> 00:04:21,639 this thing uh uh going to gain traction 86 00:04:21,639 --> 00:04:24,680 what am I supposed to be uh looking 87 00:04:24,680 --> 00:04:27,639 for I'm I'm not going to name the show 88 00:04:27,639 --> 00:04:31,240 but there's a show on television uh uh 89 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:35,800 right now that uh that I have a really 90 00:04:35,800 --> 00:04:39,479 strange relationship with because it's 91 00:04:39,479 --> 00:04:43,240 um it's done by very good people um and 92 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:46,280 it's there's I'm admiring it there's 93 00:04:46,280 --> 00:04:51,000 there's plainly quality there uh 94 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:54,840 but I'm on episode four of of this show 95 00:04:54,840 --> 00:04:57,680 and I have no idea what I'm supposed to 96 00:04:57,680 --> 00:04:59,240 be paying attention to or what's 97 00:04:59,240 --> 00:05:01,320 happening or who I'm supposed to care 98 00:05:01,320 --> 00:05:03,400 about I have this really weird feeling 99 00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:05,440 that you could take these four episodes 100 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:07,840 put them in any order you want and you 101 00:05:07,840 --> 00:05:10,680 would get uh uh the same result and I am 102 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:12,639 sticking with this show because I'm 103 00:05:12,639 --> 00:05:15,520 certain it can't go on like this uh uh 104 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:17,080 that at some point they're going to 105 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:22,160 reward my patience um uh and those 106 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:25,319 spinning tires will get traction uh on 107 00:05:25,319 --> 00:05:28,479 something uh and I'll say brilliant 108 00:05:28,479 --> 00:05:30,960 that's what uh now I can put all these 109 00:05:30,960 --> 00:05:34,840 pieces together uh that phrase rewarding 110 00:05:34,840 --> 00:05:39,160 patience is is one that I've used from 111 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:42,360 time to time uh sometimes just as an 112 00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:45,000 excuse for why everything up until now 113 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:48,800 has been boring um uh but sometimes for 114 00:05:48,800 --> 00:05:53,000 real Steve Jobs um uh that was a movie 115 00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:57,160 that rewarded patience uh uh that uh it 116 00:05:57,160 --> 00:05:58,560 it was essentially saying if you can 117 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:02,120 stick with us until the last scene uh of 118 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:05,880 the movie uh I I I think it'll pay off 119 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:08,160 uh for you and I'll try to make the two 120 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:11,080 hours leading up to that last scene uh 121 00:06:11,080 --> 00:06:13,479 interesting for you but if we were to 122 00:06:13,479 --> 00:06:15,960 cut that last scene and only show you 123 00:06:15,960 --> 00:06:18,240 everything up until that last scene 124 00:06:18,240 --> 00:06:21,440 there would be a riot in the theater 125 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:30,000 In terms of how to handle a a 126 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:34,599 comedy and I I I I always try to I if if 127 00:06:34,599 --> 00:06:39,520 if I can tell a serious story funny uh I 128 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:42,440 I I think you're uh uh you're you're 129 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:47,120 you're winning uh so and especially with 130 00:06:47,120 --> 00:06:50,160 characters on The Newsroom characters uh 131 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:53,759 uh in the West Wing these Mena people uh 132 00:06:53,759 --> 00:06:55,759 uh these super smart people super 133 00:06:55,759 --> 00:06:58,319 dedicated people super hardworking 134 00:06:58,319 --> 00:07:01,680 people uh who are all sure that they're 135 00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:04,479 right having them slip on a banana peel 136 00:07:04,479 --> 00:07:08,360 uh uh from time to time is a lot of fun 137 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:11,800 I don't know a lot of rules uh uh for 138 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:14,039 comedy I know that for some reason odd 139 00:07:14,039 --> 00:07:17,759 numbers are funnier than even numbers um 140 00:07:17,759 --> 00:07:23,120 uh so uh the line uh I I told you this 141 00:07:23,120 --> 00:07:25,919 17 times is for some reason better than 142 00:07:25,919 --> 00:07:28,639 I told you this 16 times uh I don't know 143 00:07:28,639 --> 00:07:31,479 why uh words with a K in them uh are 144 00:07:31,479 --> 00:07:35,319 funny I don't know why uh and I can tell 145 00:07:35,319 --> 00:07:40,160 you what I don't do uh uh I I don't use 146 00:07:40,160 --> 00:07:43,080 anyone's physical appearance uh as the 147 00:07:43,080 --> 00:07:47,159 source of Comedy for me the the best 148 00:07:47,159 --> 00:07:51,120 kind of joke is a a a joke you don't see 149 00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:54,159 coming a joke that was set up early that 150 00:07:54,159 --> 00:07:56,560 pays off late that doesn't just exist in 151 00:07:56,560 --> 00:07:59,120 that second that it takes to do it for 152 00:07:59,120 --> 00:08:00,159 example 153 00:08:00,159 --> 00:08:03,800 Le uh in the I'm pretty sure still with 154 00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:07,039 the westwing I I think it's the season 1 155 00:08:07,039 --> 00:08:09,039 finale 156 00:08:09,039 --> 00:08:14,680 um uh Josh's chair is broken uh and um 157 00:08:14,680 --> 00:08:19,159 Donna has taken the chair uh away to get 158 00:08:19,159 --> 00:08:23,000 it fixed uh I shine a light on that with 159 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:24,599 conversations about why did this chair 160 00:08:24,599 --> 00:08:26,840 have to be taken away to uh get fixed 161 00:08:26,840 --> 00:08:29,599 anything anyway it's put in our head 162 00:08:29,599 --> 00:08:33,599 that there is no chair uh at Josh's desk 163 00:08:33,599 --> 00:08:37,519 so that much later when Charlie duay 164 00:08:37,519 --> 00:08:41,640 Hill is telling Zoe Elizabeth uh Moss 165 00:08:41,640 --> 00:08:44,120 that he works in a building with the 166 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:46,600 smartest people in the world Josh is in 167 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:48,279 the background sitting down on his desk 168 00:08:48,279 --> 00:08:50,360 and just falling on the floor uh uh 169 00:08:50,360 --> 00:08:52,160 because there's no chair there I don't 170 00:08:52,160 --> 00:08:53,399 think it's out of line for you to put 171 00:08:53,399 --> 00:08:55,760 your two cents in hi I'm sorry we're 172 00:08:55,760 --> 00:08:57,200 just using your office for you can keep 173 00:08:57,200 --> 00:08:58,480 fighting in just a second I just need to 174 00:08:58,480 --> 00:09:00,680 find something 175 00:09:00,680 --> 00:09:02,120 I also do not think it was out of line 176 00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:03,600 for me to have stuck up for you since 177 00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:05,839 you were clearly chicken Zoe I work in a 178 00:09:05,839 --> 00:09:09,040 building with the smartest people in the 179 00:09:11,040 --> 00:09:14,040 world 180 00:09:14,680 --> 00:09:17,640 Donna hi how you doing we should get 181 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:19,160 something temporary so that doesn't 182 00:09:19,160 --> 00:09:22,360 happen yeah 1 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:14,679 boy there are a lot of different great 2 00:00:14,679 --> 00:00:19,119 opening scenes um there are some great 3 00:00:19,119 --> 00:00:23,160 opening scenes that uh without you even 4 00:00:23,160 --> 00:00:24,400 realizing 5 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:28,880 it uh lay out the theme uh for the 6 00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:31,000 entire movie 7 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:33,040 go to Butch castley and the Sundance Kid 8 00:00:33,040 --> 00:00:35,480 which is always a great lesson uh in 9 00:00:35,480 --> 00:00:39,719 everything opening scene Paul Newman uh 10 00:00:39,719 --> 00:00:44,280 uh goes into a bank right um and he 11 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:47,640 looks around and everywhere he looks our 12 00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:51,559 new modern modern being late 19th 13 00:00:51,559 --> 00:00:55,840 century uh a new modern security systems 14 00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:58,760 uh uh a a safe with a heavy iron door 15 00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:01,600 and a big lock a great coming down over 16 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:04,239 a thing things being closed and and he 17 00:01:04,239 --> 00:01:07,200 says to the uh a security guard uh what 18 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:08,360 happened to the old bank it was 19 00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:10,920 beautiful security guard says uh people 20 00:01:10,920 --> 00:01:13,520 kept robbing it and uh Paul Newman says 21 00:01:13,520 --> 00:01:15,320 it's a small price to pay for beauty uh 22 00:01:15,320 --> 00:01:18,439 and walks out three lines uh in that 23 00:01:18,439 --> 00:01:20,720 opening scene and it lays out the theme 24 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:22,840 of Butch casting the sundance's kid 25 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:26,920 which is that their Days Are Over uh 26 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:30,439 this is the end of the Wild West uh 27 00:01:30,439 --> 00:01:32,479 uh modernity I never know how to 28 00:01:32,479 --> 00:01:35,119 pronounce that word uh is it 29 00:01:35,119 --> 00:01:41,439 modernity modern itsy um uh uh is has 30 00:01:41,439 --> 00:01:44,240 caught out to them and uh and is passing 31 00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:48,240 them uh now it plays as a very Charming 32 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:50,759 uh uh scene meet Paul Newman he's a 33 00:01:50,759 --> 00:01:53,799 handsome cowboy and he's great with uh 34 00:01:53,799 --> 00:01:57,159 uh aqy one liner um uh but that scene 35 00:01:57,159 --> 00:02:01,840 lays out the theme uh of the movie 36 00:02:05,439 --> 00:02:06,520 there 37 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:11,879 are opening scenes uh basically just 38 00:02:11,879 --> 00:02:17,160 meant to kind of grab you uh I like for 39 00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:21,160 instance um I like starting right in the 40 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:22,160 middle of 41 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:24,920 conversations um the it back to the 42 00:02:24,920 --> 00:02:27,280 Social Network it begins uh in the 43 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:29,360 middle of a conversation Steve Jobs 44 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:31,720 begins in the middle of a conversation 45 00:02:31,720 --> 00:02:35,000 um uh I if you do that if you drop the 46 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:36,680 audience into a situation where you're 47 00:02:36,680 --> 00:02:39,840 already going uh 100 miles an hour it 48 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:42,760 forces them to sit forward and uh and 49 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:45,879 catch up in other cases with uh uh With 50 00:02:45,879 --> 00:02:49,519 A Few Good Men uh it it was a very 51 00:02:49,519 --> 00:02:51,959 traditional opening scene you'll see it 52 00:02:51,959 --> 00:02:54,280 at the the roughly the same opening 53 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:56,800 scene at the beginning of any television 54 00:02:56,800 --> 00:03:00,760 procedural uh which is to say we see 55 00:03:00,760 --> 00:03:04,360 a a crime being committed um uh and cut 56 00:03:04,360 --> 00:03:07,000 to main titles and now we you know by 57 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:10,360 the end uh it'll be resolved uh uh if 58 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:14,280 it's an action movie um uh there's a 59 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:15,840 there's an action comedy with Will 60 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:18,000 farell and uh and Mark wallberg that's 61 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:20,280 terrific called the other guys uh in 62 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:23,159 which they both do that kind of opening 63 00:03:23,159 --> 00:03:25,560 scene and mock that kind of uh opening 64 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:27,519 scene it's just a 65 00:03:27,519 --> 00:03:30,319 hellacious crime Chase with 66 00:03:30,319 --> 00:03:33,480 uh uh Dwayne Johnson and uh Samuel 67 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:37,040 Jackson uh I think um and you'll find 68 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:38,599 that at the beginning of Buddy comedies 69 00:03:38,599 --> 00:03:41,280 they'll just there'll there'll be action 70 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:43,480 uh that'll grab you and then you have 71 00:03:43,480 --> 00:03:45,560 the scene with the captain who gives you 72 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:47,200 your real assignment and that's what the 73 00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:49,200 movie is going to be about could you 74 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:51,360 start with that scene with the captain 75 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:52,680 um I'll give you the assignment 76 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:55,360 absolutely uh if you needed to cut 10 77 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:58,040 minutes uh off this movie you could cut 78 00:03:58,040 --> 00:04:00,120 the first scene uh off that kind of 79 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:02,239 movie but you don't want to because it's 80 00:04:02,239 --> 00:04:05,720 an action comedy and um uh uh we we want 81 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:07,120 to be grabbed a little bit it sort of 82 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:09,680 plays like uh an overture uh uh for a 83 00:04:09,680 --> 00:04:11,920 Broadway musical that action scene at 84 00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:13,840 the top of action movies for those of 85 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:14,920 you who don't know what an overture at 86 00:04:14,920 --> 00:04:16,799 the beginning of a Broadway musical is I 87 00:04:16,799 --> 00:04:19,239 can't help you um uh you should go see 88 00:04:19,239 --> 00:04:20,359 Broadway 89 00:04:20,359 --> 00:04:22,280 musicals actually if you don't know what 90 00:04:22,280 --> 00:04:23,560 the Overture is at the begin of Broadway 91 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:24,919 musical I understand because there 92 00:04:24,919 --> 00:04:27,639 aren't overtures uh anymore it used to 93 00:04:27,639 --> 00:04:31,199 be that uh Broadway musical began with 94 00:04:31,199 --> 00:04:33,479 before the curtain went up the orchestra 95 00:04:33,479 --> 00:04:37,400 for 5 minutes playing basically a medley 96 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:40,720 of four or five musical themes that are 97 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:43,840 going to come up uh uh in the show um 98 00:04:43,840 --> 00:04:45,479 and that gets you in the mood and then 99 00:04:45,479 --> 00:04:47,120 the curtain goes up and it's a what a 100 00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:49,440 beautiful 101 00:04:53,240 --> 00:04:56,479 morning a great character introduction 102 00:04:56,479 --> 00:04:58,120 scene a great first scene for a 103 00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:00,639 character is sh the audience what the 104 00:05:00,639 --> 00:05:02,960 character wants not telling the audience 105 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:05,000 who the character is not having the 106 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:07,800 character come in there uh and say well 107 00:05:07,800 --> 00:05:09,960 I am as you know chairman of this 108 00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:12,919 company and a very powerful billionaire 109 00:05:12,919 --> 00:05:15,520 um who likes these kinds of cigars and 110 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:19,960 this kind of food we'll get all that um 111 00:05:19,960 --> 00:05:22,319 uh uh tell us what this character wants 112 00:05:22,319 --> 00:05:24,440 this character doesn't want anything 113 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:25,919 they're probably cluttering up your 114 00:05:25,919 --> 00:05:27,280 script and you don't need it the 115 00:05:27,280 --> 00:05:29,240 character in there I I I think I talked 116 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:30,759 about this before with the social 117 00:05:30,759 --> 00:05:33,919 network um I I knew I wanted the opening 118 00:05:33,919 --> 00:05:36,479 scene to be the scene that Mark 119 00:05:36,479 --> 00:05:38,919 Zuckerberg was writing about in his Blog 120 00:05:38,919 --> 00:05:41,319 the scene that we didn't uh uh get to 121 00:05:41,319 --> 00:05:46,840 see um that uh if I could introduce Mark 122 00:05:46,840 --> 00:05:49,759 as a guy who badly wanted to get 123 00:05:49,759 --> 00:05:53,600 accepted into one of the uh final clubs 124 00:05:53,600 --> 00:05:58,160 um uh and that uh we would we would 125 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:01,120 understand him uh it was an want scene 126 00:06:01,120 --> 00:06:04,680 uh from uh from Mark 127 00:06:08,680 --> 00:06:11,120 Zuckerberg Annette benning's character 128 00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:12,599 Sydney Ellen 129 00:06:12,599 --> 00:06:15,919 Wade it she's introduced in and I want 130 00:06:15,919 --> 00:06:18,759 scene um uh and and I want scene where 131 00:06:18,759 --> 00:06:21,520 the obstacle is also uh introduced right 132 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:23,400 because Martin Sheen who playing the 133 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:26,000 chief of staff there is is telling 134 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:29,240 Annette Benning why she can't get uh uh 135 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:31,360 what she wants why this is an obstacle 136 00:06:31,360 --> 00:06:34,520 and Anette Benning is uh uh is telling 137 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:37,800 us okay well then I and my organization 138 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:39,120 and the zillions of people that we 139 00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:42,440 represent we are now an enemy uh of this 140 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:45,720 President and so we've got the conflict 141 00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:50,000 uh uh set up and in the part that's fun 142 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:51,520 and that Benning doesn't realize that 143 00:06:51,520 --> 00:06:52,759 the president of the United States is 144 00:06:52,759 --> 00:06:55,199 standing right behind her as uh as she's 145 00:06:55,199 --> 00:06:57,639 saying all these things Sydney we should 146 00:06:57,639 --> 00:06:59,919 leave Mr mcin Ernie alone now he already 147 00:06:59,919 --> 00:07:01,840 given us Mr maer doesn't want us to 148 00:07:01,840 --> 00:07:03,720 leave him alone because Mr maer's not 149 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:06,680 yet done what he needs to do 150 00:07:06,680 --> 00:07:09,560 today sir uh Miss Wade's been thrown 151 00:07:09,560 --> 00:07:11,120 into the deep end of the pool on her 152 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:13,400 first day she hasn't even had a chance 153 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:15,680 to read the report of the Quebec 154 00:07:15,680 --> 00:07:18,160 conference you're right I haven't read 155 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:20,160 it if someone had asked me yesterday I 156 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:21,400 would have told them that the Quebec 157 00:07:21,400 --> 00:07:22,639 conference was made up of six 158 00:07:22,639 --> 00:07:23,919 professional hockey 159 00:07:23,919 --> 00:07:26,360 teams but what I do know is that it's 160 00:07:26,360 --> 00:07:27,840 time for the president to run for 161 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:30,800 president again Leon Kodak is as good as 162 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:32,240 it gets when it comes to electoral 163 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:33,520 strategy and I'm certain he's told the 164 00:07:33,520 --> 00:07:34,919 president exactly what i' tell him you 165 00:07:34,919 --> 00:07:36,720 got to nail down Michigan and California 166 00:07:36,720 --> 00:07:38,080 where they make cars and airplanes and 167 00:07:38,080 --> 00:07:40,160 they burn plenty of fossil fuels but if 168 00:07:40,160 --> 00:07:41,919 ID read these 800 pages I would have 169 00:07:41,919 --> 00:07:42,879 discovered that it's the burning of 170 00:07:42,879 --> 00:07:44,639 fossil fuels which is mostly responsible 171 00:07:44,639 --> 00:07:46,879 for global warming and that the 20% 172 00:07:46,879 --> 00:07:48,720 reduction recommended by the GDC is a 173 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:50,639 necessary first step toward arresting 174 00:07:50,639 --> 00:07:52,479 the catastrophic greenhouse effect which 175 00:07:52,479 --> 00:07:53,919 has gone unchecked by this 176 00:07:53,919 --> 00:07:55,879 Administration Susan I promise you the 177 00:07:55,879 --> 00:07:57,199 white house chief of staff will not let 178 00:07:57,199 --> 00:07:59,080 us leave here until he's broken the bad 179 00:07:59,080 --> 00:08:01,440 news 180 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:05,680 I'm afraid Sydney's right although not 181 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:07,120 about Michigan in 182 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:09,360 California the president has asked me to 183 00:08:09,360 --> 00:08:10,879 convey to you that he's sending his 184 00:08:10,879 --> 00:08:12,960 energy bill to the floor with a call for 185 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:14,639 a 10% 186 00:08:14,639 --> 00:08:17,000 reduction now the president is willing 187 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:18,720 to go It Alone on this but he's asking 188 00:08:18,720 --> 00:08:20,440 for and frankly he's expecting the full 189 00:08:20,440 --> 00:08:22,960 support of the GDC the president's 190 00:08:22,960 --> 00:08:25,080 expecting our full support yes he is the 191 00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:27,080 president's dreaming AJ the president 192 00:08:27,080 --> 00:08:29,599 has critically misjudged reality if 193 00:08:29,599 --> 00:08:30,879 honestly thinks that the environmental 194 00:08:30,879 --> 00:08:32,360 Community is going to whistle a Happy 195 00:08:32,360 --> 00:08:34,560 tune while rallying support around this 196 00:08:34,560 --> 00:08:36,800 pitifully lame mockery of environmental 197 00:08:36,800 --> 00:08:38,959 leadership just because he's a nice guy 198 00:08:38,959 --> 00:08:40,000 and he's done better than his 199 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:42,159 predecessors then your boss is the chief 200 00:08:42,159 --> 00:08:44,039 executive of fantasy lamb let's take him 201 00:08:44,039 --> 00:08:45,880 out back and beat the [ __ ] out of good 202 00:08:45,880 --> 00:08:47,760 morning Mr President how are you today 203 00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:49,440 couldn't be better my apologies for the 204 00:08:49,440 --> 00:08:51,440 interruption AJ suggests that I come by 205 00:08:51,440 --> 00:08:52,360 and say 206 00:08:52,360 --> 00:08:54,880 hello you wouldn't be Sydney elow Wade 207 00:08:54,880 --> 00:08:58,720 by any chance would you 208 00:09:02,320 --> 00:09:04,640 I don't think he cares about the money 209 00:09:04,640 --> 00:09:07,000 uh uh Mark I think as Rashida Jones 210 00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:08,920 character uh uh says to him you know 211 00:09:08,920 --> 00:09:10,680 we're going to settle for $60 million in 212 00:09:10,680 --> 00:09:12,040 the scheme of things that's a speeding 213 00:09:12,040 --> 00:09:13,920 ticket and we all know how how much 214 00:09:13,920 --> 00:09:17,600 money uh Mark has now 215 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:19,920 um I think his 216 00:09:19,920 --> 00:09:22,320 intention 217 00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:25,320 I I think he doesn't like being 218 00:09:25,320 --> 00:09:29,120 questioned um uh especially by the 219 00:09:29,120 --> 00:09:30,760 people 220 00:09:30,760 --> 00:09:32,959 people who wouldn't let him into the 221 00:09:32,959 --> 00:09:34,920 club in the first place and that's what 222 00:09:34,920 --> 00:09:40,600 he sees all these other people as 223 00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:44,079 um uh his 224 00:09:44,079 --> 00:09:46,480 intention his intention is to get out of 225 00:09:46,480 --> 00:09:49,320 there uh uh he wants it to be over he's 226 00:09:49,320 --> 00:09:53,399 being held against uh his will and he is 227 00:09:53,399 --> 00:09:55,480 not going to cooperate uh he's not going 228 00:09:55,480 --> 00:09:58,160 to play nicely especially when it comes 229 00:09:58,160 --> 00:10:00,040 to 230 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:03,680 the accusation that he stole Facebook uh 231 00:10:03,680 --> 00:10:05,760 uh from someone else it was pretty easy 232 00:10:05,760 --> 00:10:07,760 for me to identify with all I had to do 233 00:10:07,760 --> 00:10:11,200 was pretend that um someone was claiming 234 00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:13,440 that they wrote something uh uh that I 235 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:16,440 wrote and it was 236 00:10:16,440 --> 00:10:19,480 uh pretty easy to you know come up with 237 00:10:19,480 --> 00:10:22,880 a line like um uh if you guys were the 238 00:10:22,880 --> 00:10:24,079 inventors of Facebook you'd have 239 00:10:24,079 --> 00:10:28,000 invented Facebook you sent 36 emails to 240 00:10:28,000 --> 00:10:30,680 Mr Zuckerberg and received 16 emails in 241 00:10:30,680 --> 00:10:32,200 return and this was the first time he 242 00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:33,959 indicated he was not happy that's 243 00:10:33,959 --> 00:10:36,120 correct he had 42 days to study your 244 00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:38,040 system and get out ahead do you see any 245 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:40,160 of your code on Facebook I could did I 246 00:10:40,160 --> 00:10:42,279 use any of your code you stole our whole 247 00:10:42,279 --> 00:10:45,839 goddamn idea fellas match.com for can I 248 00:10:45,839 --> 00:10:47,320 continue with my deposition you know you 249 00:10:47,320 --> 00:10:48,920 really don't need a forensic team to get 250 00:10:48,920 --> 00:10:50,440 to the bottom of this if you guys were 251 00:10:50,440 --> 00:10:51,680 the inventors of 252 00:10:51,680 --> 00:10:54,440 Facebook you'd have invented 253 00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:56,760 Facebook I can't wait to stand over your 254 00:10:56,760 --> 00:10:59,000 shoulder in what you write as a check no 255 00:10:59,000 --> 00:11:01,240 [ __ ] 256 00:11:01,639 --> 00:11:04,519 let's continue I was most excited in 257 00:11:04,519 --> 00:11:08,519 that movie um uh for the deposition room 258 00:11:08,519 --> 00:11:11,720 scenes uh a at heart I want everything 259 00:11:11,720 --> 00:11:14,399 to be a courtroom drama because the 260 00:11:14,399 --> 00:11:16,920 intention and obstacle in a courtroom 261 00:11:16,920 --> 00:11:19,040 are incredibly clear they don't need to 262 00:11:19,040 --> 00:11:20,959 be explained to anybody the stakes don't 263 00:11:20,959 --> 00:11:24,160 need to be explained to anybody uh the 264 00:11:24,160 --> 00:11:28,120 the jury is a standin for the audience 265 00:11:28,120 --> 00:11:30,040 um uh in that 266 00:11:30,040 --> 00:11:32,200 uh the jury knows as little as as the 267 00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:34,880 audience does uh 268 00:11:34,880 --> 00:11:37,839 so uh I'm I'm I'm crazy about courtroom 269 00:11:37,839 --> 00:11:39,560 dramas and like I said I I try to turn 270 00:11:39,560 --> 00:11:43,120 everything I do into one 1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:09,019 [Music] 2 00:00:09,320 --> 00:00:12,280 we're there hey Chris hey Andy how are 3 00:00:12,280 --> 00:00:14,519 you doing terrible you guys caught up 4 00:00:14,519 --> 00:00:16,440 now excuse me for saying hello to my 5 00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:17,960 friend who thinks you're a dick I don't 6 00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:20,119 think you're we're there no it's got a 7 00:00:20,119 --> 00:00:22,720 one in six chance of working God damn it 8 00:00:22,720 --> 00:00:24,640 we're not a pit crew at Daytona this 9 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:27,480 can't be fixed in seconds you didn't 10 00:00:27,480 --> 00:00:30,039 have seconds you had 3 weeks the 11 00:00:30,039 --> 00:00:32,040 Universe was created in a third of that 12 00:00:32,040 --> 00:00:34,440 time well someday you'll have to tell us 13 00:00:34,440 --> 00:00:36,840 how you did 14 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:40,120 it here's what I'm going to 15 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:42,399 do I'm going to announce the names of 16 00:00:42,399 --> 00:00:44,480 everyone who designed the launch 17 00:00:44,480 --> 00:00:46,640 demo I'm going to introduce everyone and 18 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:48,760 ask them to stand up the bag was 19 00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:51,199 designed by Susan care the Macintosh 20 00:00:51,199 --> 00:00:52,680 font that's scrolling across the screen 21 00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:54,960 was designed by Steve caps The Starry 22 00:00:54,960 --> 00:00:58,039 Night and Sky riding was Bruce horn Mac 23 00:00:58,039 --> 00:01:00,559 paint Mac right 24 00:01:00,559 --> 00:01:03,640 Alice down to the calculator and then 25 00:01:03,640 --> 00:01:05,600 I'm going to say The Voice demo that 26 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:08,380 didn't work was designed by Andy 27 00:01:08,380 --> 00:01:15,200 [Music] 28 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:17,759 herzfeld Steve five and six is your 29 00:01:17,759 --> 00:01:19,320 chance of surviving the first round of 30 00:01:19,320 --> 00:01:21,840 Russian allad and you reverse those odds 31 00:01:21,840 --> 00:01:23,280 so unless you want to be disgraced in 32 00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:25,520 front of your friends family colleagues 33 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:27,840 stockholders and the Press I wouldn't 34 00:01:27,840 --> 00:01:29,920 stand here arguing i' go try and get 35 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:31,640 some more bullets out of the 36 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:33,820 gun do it 37 00:01:33,820 --> 00:01:38,479 [Music] 38 00:01:38,479 --> 00:01:42,560 Andy uh I like the scene um uh it's the 39 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:45,759 scene with uh the first act scene with 40 00:01:45,759 --> 00:01:48,119 uh Steve and Andy 41 00:01:48,119 --> 00:01:51,799 herzfeld Andy herzfeld can't make the 42 00:01:51,799 --> 00:01:55,799 Voice demo work and Steve threatens him 43 00:01:55,799 --> 00:01:58,680 uh uh by saying uh listen I'm going to 44 00:01:58,680 --> 00:02:00,560 introduce everybody who had everything 45 00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:01,799 to do with this and I'm going to get to 46 00:02:01,799 --> 00:02:03,520 The Voice demo I'm going to say it was 47 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:05,280 Andy herzfeld and it's not going to work 48 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:06,960 and you're going to be humiliated uh in 49 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:08,959 front of everybody uh I should tell you 50 00:02:08,959 --> 00:02:10,679 that like the the idea for the scene 51 00:02:10,679 --> 00:02:14,800 came from Andy herfeld uh uh in an email 52 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:18,640 exchange uh uh I just asked 53 00:02:18,640 --> 00:02:23,319 him in this situation um uh uh tell me 54 00:02:23,319 --> 00:02:25,040 what would happen What would be Steve's 55 00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:28,400 reaction and he said he would say I'm 56 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:31,440 going to he would say what 57 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:35,020 [Music] 58 00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:38,360 happened you'll get bored of hearing the 59 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:39,879 word conflict you'll get bored of 60 00:02:39,879 --> 00:02:42,720 hearing intention and obstacle but uh 61 00:02:42,720 --> 00:02:44,480 the scene works because the conflict is 62 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:47,080 clear because the intention and obstacle 63 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:49,640 uh is clear uh writing intention and 64 00:02:49,640 --> 00:02:52,400 obstacle with Steve was fun because of 65 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:56,120 his famous reality Distortion field uh 66 00:02:56,120 --> 00:02:58,560 uh which is to say that to Steve there 67 00:02:58,560 --> 00:03:00,040 was no such thing as as an 68 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:03,280 insurmountable obstacle uh um he you 69 00:03:03,280 --> 00:03:05,599 know someone an expert can say what 70 00:03:05,599 --> 00:03:07,840 you're describing is impossible and 71 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:10,760 Steve would say do it anyway or in this 72 00:03:10,760 --> 00:03:13,640 case I'm going to embarrass you 73 00:03:13,640 --> 00:03:18,959 um uh so uh uh clear intention an 74 00:03:18,959 --> 00:03:23,599 obstacle uh it revealed uh a lot about 75 00:03:23,599 --> 00:03:25,840 Steve uh remember you don't want to tell 76 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:27,720 the audience who a character is you want 77 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:29,439 to show the audience what a character 78 00:03:29,439 --> 00:03:30,760 wants 79 00:03:30,760 --> 00:03:34,720 um uh and we we do that with Steve what 80 00:03:34,720 --> 00:03:36,720 he wants at that moment is for The Voice 81 00:03:36,720 --> 00:03:39,799 demo to work um uh so Steve's tactic is 82 00:03:39,799 --> 00:03:43,439 to threaten Andy with uh a humiliation 83 00:03:43,439 --> 00:03:45,519 out there uh and remember there are 84 00:03:45,519 --> 00:03:48,159 people watching uh uh this this scene 85 00:03:48,159 --> 00:03:49,680 too not just what's going to happen on 86 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:52,879 stage uh Andy's crew is uh uh is hanging 87 00:03:52,879 --> 00:03:54,519 around him and seeing seeing him being 88 00:03:54,519 --> 00:03:57,680 dressed down by Steve 89 00:03:57,680 --> 00:04:00,239 um uh 90 00:04:00,239 --> 00:04:06,040 Andy's intention uh is to make is to 91 00:04:06,040 --> 00:04:07,799 bust through that reality Distortion 92 00:04:07,799 --> 00:04:11,079 field and make Steve understand that he 93 00:04:11,079 --> 00:04:14,480 is asking for Niagara Falls to go up uh 94 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:17,239 somehow that what he is asking for is uh 95 00:04:17,239 --> 00:04:20,560 is impossible uh so that Steve will say 96 00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:22,199 okay but you did a great job on 97 00:04:22,199 --> 00:04:24,680 everything else don't worry about it uh 98 00:04:24,680 --> 00:04:26,720 uh we don't need uh The Voice demo and 99 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:28,240 he's not going to get that from Steve 100 00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:30,400 logic are his 101 00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:36,960 uh uh tactics um and I listen he gets in 102 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:41,160 a dig uh at Steve right um uh when Steve 103 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:43,720 says you know the world was created uh 104 00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:46,120 uh in a third of that time uh and and he 105 00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:47,720 says sometime you'll have to tell us uh 106 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:50,120 how you did it uh he gets in a dig at 107 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:53,440 Steve which only makes Steve matter 108 00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:56,120 that's when he does uh uh his thing 109 00:04:56,120 --> 00:05:00,600 here's what I'm going to do um so 110 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:02,919 there's a little bit of more than a 111 00:05:02,919 --> 00:05:05,479 little bit of uh you know listen if 112 00:05:05,479 --> 00:05:08,400 you're going to emasculate me um uh uh 113 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:11,120 to my face and in front of these people 114 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:14,039 um then you know I'm G to try to get at 115 00:05:14,039 --> 00:05:17,220 least one punch in uh before I leave 116 00:05:17,220 --> 00:05:22,120 [Music] 117 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:25,160 here there's a third person uh in that 118 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:30,680 moment Chan right um uh and uh San says 119 00:05:30,680 --> 00:05:31,680 to 120 00:05:31,680 --> 00:05:34,800 Steve that Andy thinks you're a dick 121 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:37,479 okay um 122 00:05:37,479 --> 00:05:40,759 I so there there there are kind of 123 00:05:40,759 --> 00:05:44,360 three levels of Personality uh uh 124 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:48,639 happening there um Andy's semi 125 00:05:48,639 --> 00:05:51,960 sheepish uh uh denial of thinking a 126 00:05:51,960 --> 00:05:53,560 Steve's a dick you know Andy's a nice 127 00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:56,039 guy he doesn't think his friend and boss 128 00:05:56,039 --> 00:06:00,240 uh uh is a dick Steve is a dick um uh uh 129 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:01,880 he's cutting off the guy as he's saying 130 00:06:01,880 --> 00:06:05,520 I don't think you're a dick um and uh uh 131 00:06:05,520 --> 00:06:08,560 croissan who wields these things uh like 132 00:06:08,560 --> 00:06:11,400 weapons by the way I'm not the only one 133 00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:12,639 uh who thinks this way about you 134 00:06:12,639 --> 00:06:14,880 everybody in this building uh uh thinks 135 00:06:14,880 --> 00:06:17,520 you're a dick it's three things in a 136 00:06:17,520 --> 00:06:19,320 pile we call 137 00:06:19,320 --> 00:06:24,199 [Music] 138 00:06:24,199 --> 00:06:28,520 it I write as uh uh the minimum amount 139 00:06:28,520 --> 00:06:30,319 of description 140 00:06:30,319 --> 00:06:34,000 necessary to make whoever is reading the 141 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:37,199 script understand what What's Happening 142 00:06:37,199 --> 00:06:41,039 Here uh um I I won't 143 00:06:41,039 --> 00:06:43,720 write what Steve is feeling inside as a 144 00:06:43,720 --> 00:06:45,840 turmoil of this and this and this the 145 00:06:45,840 --> 00:06:48,800 the actor is going to uh is going to 146 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:51,680 take care of that uh but I was picturing 147 00:06:51,680 --> 00:06:54,160 something very specific uh uh in my head 148 00:06:54,160 --> 00:06:56,160 there I wanted to 149 00:06:56,160 --> 00:06:58,000 communicate that in addition to the 150 00:06:58,000 --> 00:06:59,879 dialogue uh that I've written there's 151 00:06:59,879 --> 00:07:03,160 another thing happening which is that 152 00:07:03,160 --> 00:07:07,280 Andy's crew Andy's gang are embarrassed 153 00:07:07,280 --> 00:07:10,479 for him uh okay uh so they're there but 154 00:07:10,479 --> 00:07:11,400 they're 155 00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:14,240 pretending uh uh you know to be doing 156 00:07:14,240 --> 00:07:16,120 something else 157 00:07:16,120 --> 00:07:19,319 um I it was just a 158 00:07:19,319 --> 00:07:21,319 moment I just felt like the moment was 159 00:07:21,319 --> 00:07:23,720 just going to land better if if we saw 160 00:07:23,720 --> 00:07:26,240 that so I wanted to be specific about 161 00:07:26,240 --> 00:07:30,120 you know let's do that uh and 162 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:32,639 uh I I think also because I don't write 163 00:07:32,639 --> 00:07:34,800 very much description that when I do 164 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:35,800 write 165 00:07:35,800 --> 00:07:39,440 description uh it's taken seriously 166 00:07:39,440 --> 00:07:42,280 ordinarily I'm not visualizing it very 167 00:07:42,280 --> 00:07:44,319 much I'm hearing it I'm hearing the 168 00:07:44,319 --> 00:07:47,599 whole thing how it sounds but I'm not in 169 00:07:47,599 --> 00:07:51,199 terms of visualizing it it's a there's a 170 00:07:51,199 --> 00:07:54,440 vagueness uh uh to it it's it's I 171 00:07:54,440 --> 00:07:56,199 visualize it a little bit but it's it's 172 00:07:56,199 --> 00:07:57,520 kind of out of 173 00:07:57,520 --> 00:08:01,000 focus so I'm always delighted when uh uh 174 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:04,199 when I actually see it uh and uh you 175 00:08:04,199 --> 00:08:06,919 know a director who has done nothing but 176 00:08:06,919 --> 00:08:09,919 visualize it uh uh is you know you've 177 00:08:09,919 --> 00:08:13,199 got a partner there now here's the one 178 00:08:13,199 --> 00:08:15,599 exception it's the movie I just wrote 179 00:08:15,599 --> 00:08:18,919 which I'm also going to direct um uh and 180 00:08:18,919 --> 00:08:20,960 in this particular 181 00:08:20,960 --> 00:08:24,720 case I was visualizing it as much as I 182 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:29,759 was uh uh hearing it um from every ship 183 00:08:29,759 --> 00:08:33,360 of ice coming off a rim of a ski um uh 184 00:08:33,360 --> 00:08:36,039 uh to the clacking of poker chips I I 185 00:08:36,039 --> 00:08:39,719 knew everything that uh uh that I wanted 186 00:08:39,719 --> 00:08:43,959 so I decided to direct it 1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,880 [Music] 2 00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:09,080 the scene is this but um uh Bartlett is 3 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:11,040 in the middle of his re-election 4 00:00:11,040 --> 00:00:12,960 campaign he's running for his second 5 00:00:12,960 --> 00:00:16,440 term uh he's running against Robert 6 00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:18,800 Richie uh the governor of Florida the 7 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:21,840 Republican uh nominees played by James 8 00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:26,199 Brolin and they're both in New York uh 9 00:00:26,199 --> 00:00:30,240 tonight there is a benefit uh I believe 10 00:00:30,240 --> 00:00:33,520 for a c excuse my memory I think it's 11 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:35,520 for a Catholic charity uh that the 12 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:38,640 benefit was for uh it's a performance of 13 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:41,440 a Broadway play I made up uh uh I 14 00:00:41,440 --> 00:00:43,719 invented a Broadway play at the Royal 15 00:00:43,719 --> 00:00:47,640 Shakespeare company uh was doing uh 16 00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:51,280 called the uh the wars of the Roses um 17 00:00:51,280 --> 00:00:52,960 uh where they had put together a bunch 18 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:55,320 of Shakespeare plays into one evening 19 00:00:55,320 --> 00:00:58,440 and added songs and and things like that 20 00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:00,480 anyway Bartlett is prot 21 00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:03,719 is attending a a Broadway show tonight 22 00:01:03,719 --> 00:01:06,680 and uh uncomfortably enough so is his 23 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:09,799 opponent uh Richie and in the middle of 24 00:01:09,799 --> 00:01:14,119 the show they both find themselves in 25 00:01:14,119 --> 00:01:16,600 downstairs in in the lounge near the 26 00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:17,960 restrooms if you've ever been in a 27 00:01:17,960 --> 00:01:20,119 Broadway Theater you can uh uh picture 28 00:01:20,119 --> 00:01:25,720 what that looks like uh and uh Bartlett 29 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:27,280 uh 30 00:01:27,280 --> 00:01:31,079 has a lot of things uh on on his mind 31 00:01:31,079 --> 00:01:35,000 he's uh contemplating contemplating 32 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:40,640 assassinating uh uh someone and uh CJ 33 00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:43,479 Craig's secret service agent played by 34 00:01:43,479 --> 00:01:47,680 Mark Harmon uh has been shot and killed 35 00:01:47,680 --> 00:01:53,880 uh and just in in the last hour uh so uh 36 00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:56,000 Bartlett's gone down there just for a 37 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:59,039 private moment and a moment later Richie 38 00:01:59,039 --> 00:02:00,520 comes down there for the the same thing 39 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:02,560 and there they are the two candidates 40 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:06,799 for president alone no press no staff 41 00:02:06,799 --> 00:02:09,479 presumably their Secret Service uh uh 42 00:02:09,479 --> 00:02:13,000 nearby uh but they're by themselves for 43 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:15,000 the first time in their 44 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:22,880 [Music] 45 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:27,400 lives caught 46 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:31,120 me Mr President 47 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:33,879 Governor you enjoying the play I am how 48 00:02:33,879 --> 00:02:35,599 about you well we just got here we were 49 00:02:35,599 --> 00:02:38,120 at the Yankee game we got you know up in 50 00:02:38,120 --> 00:02:41,239 traffic yeah I know listen politics 51 00:02:41,239 --> 00:02:42,640 aside and I don't want to make a big 52 00:02:42,640 --> 00:02:44,519 deal out of it but you probably insulted 53 00:02:44,519 --> 00:02:45,760 the church and you can head it off at 54 00:02:45,760 --> 00:02:47,360 the pass if you speak to the Cardinal 55 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:49,480 tonight well I didn't mean to insult 56 00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:52,800 anybody no it's a baseball game it's how 57 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:56,200 ordinary Americans 58 00:02:56,959 --> 00:03:00,360 yeah no I don't understand that 59 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:02,239 the center fielder for the Yankees is an 60 00:03:02,239 --> 00:03:04,519 accomplished classical guitarist people 61 00:03:04,519 --> 00:03:07,280 who like baseball can't like books are 62 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:08,879 you taking this 63 00:03:08,879 --> 00:03:11,440 personally 64 00:03:11,440 --> 00:03:14,040 no something horrible happened about an 65 00:03:14,040 --> 00:03:15,920 hour 66 00:03:15,920 --> 00:03:18,879 ago CJ Craig was getting threats so we 67 00:03:18,879 --> 00:03:20,599 put an agent on 68 00:03:20,599 --> 00:03:24,000 her he's a good guy he was on my detail 69 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:25,480 for a while and he was in 70 00:03:25,480 --> 00:03:27,799 Roslin he walked into the middle of an 71 00:03:27,799 --> 00:03:29,560 armed robbery and was shot and killed 72 00:03:29,560 --> 00:03:32,720 after to detaining one of the 73 00:03:34,239 --> 00:03:36,879 suspects 74 00:03:36,879 --> 00:03:40,480 crime boy I don't 75 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:48,599 know we should have a great debate Rob 76 00:03:48,599 --> 00:03:50,920 we owe it to everyone when I was running 77 00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:52,640 as a governor I didn't know anything I 78 00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:54,560 made them start Bartlet College in my 79 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:56,480 dining room two hours every morning on 80 00:03:56,480 --> 00:03:58,920 Foreign Affairs in the military you can 81 00:03:58,920 --> 00:04:01,079 do that how many different ways you 82 00:04:01,079 --> 00:04:03,120 think you're going to find to call me 83 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:05,480 Tom I wasn't 84 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:08,680 Rob but you've turned being unengaged 85 00:04:08,680 --> 00:04:10,680 into a Zen likee thing and you shouldn't 86 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:12,760 enjoy it so much as all and if it 87 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:14,840 appears at times as if I don't like you 88 00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:16,840 that's the only reason why you're what 89 00:04:16,840 --> 00:04:20,440 my friends call a superior son [ __ ] 90 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:23,560 you're an academic elitist and a snob 91 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:25,199 you're uh 92 00:04:25,199 --> 00:04:28,720 Hollywood you're weak you're 93 00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:31,240 liberal and you can't be 94 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:33,880 trusted and if it appears from time to 95 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:36,600 time as if I don't like 96 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:39,039 you well those are just a few of the 97 00:04:39,039 --> 00:04:42,160 many reasons 98 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:51,960 why they're playing my 99 00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:58,600 song in the future if you're wondering 100 00:04:58,600 --> 00:05:02,120 crime boy I don't know is when I decided 101 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:03,919 to kick your 102 00:05:03,919 --> 00:05:07,479 ass I've talked about ad nauseum 103 00:05:07,479 --> 00:05:11,360 intention an obstacle and uh how if you 104 00:05:11,360 --> 00:05:12,479 build 105 00:05:12,479 --> 00:05:15,880 that and it's sturdy uh that that that 106 00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:19,120 is the drive shaft of the car that's the 107 00:05:19,120 --> 00:05:21,840 mechanism and that everything else that 108 00:05:21,840 --> 00:05:25,479 you like uh uh about writing all the fun 109 00:05:25,479 --> 00:05:28,600 stuff about writing you can do now and 110 00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:30,520 that scene that that Bartlett Richie 111 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:33,919 scene is a pretty good example of uh 112 00:05:33,919 --> 00:05:37,360 sort of the what you can do once 113 00:05:37,360 --> 00:05:40,000 everything else uh uh is working once 114 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:41,960 all the intentions and obstacles are in 115 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:44,039 place once all the conflicts are in 116 00:05:44,039 --> 00:05:49,639 place so that scene was the most 117 00:05:49,639 --> 00:05:52,039 literal uh 118 00:05:52,039 --> 00:05:56,479 expression of the of the thought of the 119 00:05:56,479 --> 00:06:00,520 whole campaign the whole Richie story uh 120 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:01,639 everything having to do with the 121 00:06:01,639 --> 00:06:03,680 reelection campaign the reelection 122 00:06:03,680 --> 00:06:08,160 campaign on the westwing came uh a 123 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:13,160 couple of years after the bush Gore uh 124 00:06:13,160 --> 00:06:14,919 campaign of 125 00:06:14,919 --> 00:06:17,360 2000 and 126 00:06:17,360 --> 00:06:20,599 uh what what that election seemed about 127 00:06:20,599 --> 00:06:25,280 seemed to be about Bush and Gore was uh 128 00:06:25,280 --> 00:06:27,960 bush bush was offered to us as a guy you 129 00:06:27,960 --> 00:06:31,319 could have a beer with as uh a plain 130 00:06:31,319 --> 00:06:35,039 spoken guy sort of all these synonyms 131 00:06:35,039 --> 00:06:39,199 for uh he's not an intellectual uh and 132 00:06:39,199 --> 00:06:41,120 if you're running as not an intellectual 133 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:42,479 you're going to have to 134 00:06:42,479 --> 00:06:47,199 demonize intellectualism so Gore is the 135 00:06:47,199 --> 00:06:50,400 Egghead glasses wearing intellectual 136 00:06:50,400 --> 00:06:54,759 stiff guy uh uh who's just too wonky uh 137 00:06:54,759 --> 00:06:59,840 while while bush is the Cowboy and uh 138 00:06:59,840 --> 00:07:03,360 and and and the we touched on that 139 00:07:03,360 --> 00:07:07,160 plenty uh uh throughout the season um uh 140 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:09,280 in an episode uh uh earlier in the 141 00:07:09,280 --> 00:07:12,479 season called the two bartletts uh uh 142 00:07:12,479 --> 00:07:15,919 Toby dress Richard chiff as Toby uh uh 143 00:07:15,919 --> 00:07:20,080 dresses down Bartlett for trying to be 144 00:07:20,080 --> 00:07:22,360 he says you know don't be just plain 145 00:07:22,360 --> 00:07:24,919 folks uh okay you aren't just plain 146 00:07:24,919 --> 00:07:27,599 folks you are the smartest guy in the 147 00:07:27,599 --> 00:07:30,240 room uh uh be the smart smartest guy in 148 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:32,840 the room don't run away from that I 149 00:07:32,840 --> 00:07:35,360 don't remember I I honestly have no 150 00:07:35,360 --> 00:07:38,440 memory but I wouldn't be surprised if 151 00:07:38,440 --> 00:07:41,360 that scene between Bartlett and Richie 152 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:45,280 was never carded um in other words was 153 00:07:45,280 --> 00:07:48,120 never uh written on an index card and 154 00:07:48,120 --> 00:07:50,400 put on the bulleon board if it was never 155 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:54,159 planned for uh if it was just something 156 00:07:54,159 --> 00:07:58,280 that while I was writing I I wrote um a 157 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:01,720 and I I I could be dead wrong um uh if 158 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:04,159 if there was Florence O'Donnell was here 159 00:08:04,159 --> 00:08:05,120 if there was someone on the writing 160 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:08,759 staff here Eli Addie uh uh Kevin Falls 161 00:08:08,759 --> 00:08:10,240 uh they may say no no no you're crazy we 162 00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:13,599 talked about that scene for a year um uh 163 00:08:13,599 --> 00:08:15,599 but it it wouldn't surprise that would 164 00:08:15,599 --> 00:08:18,080 be the kind of scene uh that would 165 00:08:18,080 --> 00:08:21,360 happen organically by yourself uh when 166 00:08:21,360 --> 00:08:22,200 you're 167 00:08:22,200 --> 00:08:27,280 [Music] 168 00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:29,520 writing it's one of those things we can 169 00:08:29,520 --> 00:08:32,279 all identify with I if if you're 170 00:08:32,279 --> 00:08:36,000 exhausted enough and there's 171 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:41,519 enough bad stuff going on uh uh for you 172 00:08:41,519 --> 00:08:44,160 this is for anybody I'm talking 173 00:08:44,160 --> 00:08:47,240 about you find yourself actually able to 174 00:08:47,240 --> 00:08:50,240 be more honest uh than you usually are 175 00:08:50,240 --> 00:08:52,240 because you no longer have the energy or 176 00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:57,279 the will to to sugarcoat it um uh and 177 00:08:57,279 --> 00:09:00,040 this was just the right moment 178 00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:03,480 uh uh for Bartlett to say something kind 179 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:05,440 of extraordinary I don't mean to say 180 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:06,680 that the writing was extraordinary I 181 00:09:06,680 --> 00:09:09,320 mean just by extraordinary I mean 182 00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:13,880 something you wouldn't expect uh which 183 00:09:13,880 --> 00:09:20,959 is pleading with Richie to Bone up on um 184 00:09:20,959 --> 00:09:23,519 issues uh uh to educate himself to 185 00:09:23,519 --> 00:09:26,720 demand uh uh to be better prepared so 186 00:09:26,720 --> 00:09:30,360 that they can have a a real debate so 187 00:09:30,360 --> 00:09:31,880 here's 188 00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:36,000 Bartlett not trying to win just saying 189 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:38,760 can we not waste this opportunity uh 190 00:09:38,760 --> 00:09:40,399 maybe I'm wrong about this maybe I'm 191 00:09:40,399 --> 00:09:42,760 wrong about this I won't know until a 192 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:45,480 smart person uh uh tells me why I'm 193 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:49,480 wrong now Richie of course of course is 194 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:53,079 insulted uh uh by this anyone uh uh 195 00:09:53,079 --> 00:09:55,680 would be uh what was Richie's uh 196 00:09:55,680 --> 00:10:00,240 intention in that scene um uh 197 00:10:00,240 --> 00:10:01,360 I 198 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:06,480 I respect uh I suppose uh right um you 199 00:10:06,480 --> 00:10:08,640 you you got to stop calling me dumb it 200 00:10:08,640 --> 00:10:11,680 wasn't the first time he had um and I 201 00:10:11,680 --> 00:10:14,360 think he says something like um how many 202 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:16,360 different ways uh are are you going to 203 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:20,079 find to call me stupid uh and what what 204 00:10:20,079 --> 00:10:22,200 finally pushes Bartlett over the edge 205 00:10:22,200 --> 00:10:24,640 when Bartlett explains that this secret 206 00:10:24,640 --> 00:10:27,760 service agent has been shot and killed 207 00:10:27,760 --> 00:10:30,079 bartlet's just explained that 208 00:10:30,079 --> 00:10:34,360 uh to Richie and Richie's reaction is 209 00:10:34,360 --> 00:10:38,519 crime boy I don't know um and Bartlett 210 00:10:38,519 --> 00:10:39,760 can't get 211 00:10:39,760 --> 00:10:44,600 over the vapid empty like that that's 212 00:10:44,600 --> 00:10:48,720 what you had to say um uh and that's 213 00:10:48,720 --> 00:10:51,120 what kind of pushes him over the edge 214 00:10:51,120 --> 00:10:54,600 and so uh you know the scene ends with 215 00:10:54,600 --> 00:10:56,519 uh in the future if you're wondering 216 00:10:56,519 --> 00:10:58,680 crime boy I don't know is when I decided 217 00:10:58,680 --> 00:11:00,160 to kick your ass 218 00:11:00,160 --> 00:11:04,060 um uh tosses him no 219 00:11:04,060 --> 00:11:08,639 [Music] 220 00:11:08,639 --> 00:11:12,399 lighter Martin Sheen's wife uh uh who is 221 00:11:12,399 --> 00:11:16,680 a wonderful woman um would send me notes 222 00:11:16,680 --> 00:11:19,360 I I I had Bartlett smoke from time to 223 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:23,760 time maybe uh again I'm sorry if my 224 00:11:23,760 --> 00:11:25,680 memory is off on this I'm trusting my 225 00:11:25,680 --> 00:11:28,680 memory uh uh maybe five or six times uh 226 00:11:28,680 --> 00:11:31,000 in in those four years that uh that I 227 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:32,920 was writing the show and Martin Sheen's 228 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:35,839 wife would uh send me notes asking me 229 00:11:35,839 --> 00:11:38,760 please um uh not to have him smoking 230 00:11:38,760 --> 00:11:42,639 that Martin had recently quit uh smoking 231 00:11:42,639 --> 00:11:46,360 and that you know listen when you see 232 00:11:46,360 --> 00:11:50,720 him smoke half a cigarette in a scene 233 00:11:50,720 --> 00:11:53,399 that represents an entire morning of 234 00:11:53,399 --> 00:11:57,399 smoking he's lit that cigarette 15 20 235 00:11:57,399 --> 00:12:00,000 times uh uh and smoked it 236 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:03,639 um so I and I would always say sure uh 237 00:12:03,639 --> 00:12:06,639 uh to Mrs Sheen that's a request you you 238 00:12:06,639 --> 00:12:10,399 don't deny um and moments later Martin 239 00:12:10,399 --> 00:12:11,639 would always come to me and say it's 240 00:12:11,639 --> 00:12:15,639 okay I can smoke uh uh so the reason why 241 00:12:15,639 --> 00:12:20,320 I I had Bartlett smoking was at any time 242 00:12:20,320 --> 00:12:22,519 I 243 00:12:22,959 --> 00:12:25,160 could the 244 00:12:25,160 --> 00:12:27,680 westwing what I would always tell 245 00:12:27,680 --> 00:12:29,639 everyone who was working on it is that 246 00:12:29,639 --> 00:12:31,440 we want to capture the 2 minutes before 247 00:12:31,440 --> 00:12:34,560 and after what you see on CNN uh we want 248 00:12:34,560 --> 00:12:37,279 to in the westwing get to see things 249 00:12:37,279 --> 00:12:38,360 that we don't 250 00:12:38,360 --> 00:12:41,279 get to see from the president and that's 251 00:12:41,279 --> 00:12:45,800 going to be uh him being [ __ ] uh him 252 00:12:45,800 --> 00:12:49,480 being a person now most stories uh are 253 00:12:49,480 --> 00:12:51,519 about an ordinary person in 254 00:12:51,519 --> 00:12:54,519 extraordinary circumstances I discovered 255 00:12:54,519 --> 00:12:57,600 back with the American president that uh 256 00:12:57,600 --> 00:12:59,560 there is no such thing as an 257 00:12:59,560 --> 00:13:01,279 extraordinary circumstance that the 258 00:13:01,279 --> 00:13:03,920 president can be in he wakes up every 259 00:13:03,920 --> 00:13:06,320 day and he is surrounded by 260 00:13:06,320 --> 00:13:07,600 extraordinary 261 00:13:07,600 --> 00:13:10,240 circumstances uh so what would be more 262 00:13:10,240 --> 00:13:13,600 fun would be to invert that take an 263 00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:15,320 extraordinary man and put him in 264 00:13:15,320 --> 00:13:17,360 ordinary circumstances that's why in the 265 00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:19,480 American president we have him I have 266 00:13:19,480 --> 00:13:22,040 him trying to buy flowers uh for Sydney 267 00:13:22,040 --> 00:13:23,440 trying to just to ask her out on the 268 00:13:23,440 --> 00:13:25,240 phone and she doesn't even believe that 269 00:13:25,240 --> 00:13:27,639 uh uh it's him um you know and he says 270 00:13:27,639 --> 00:13:31,560 this used to be easier um uh I I I loved 271 00:13:31,560 --> 00:13:33,760 all those moments same thing uh uh with 272 00:13:33,760 --> 00:13:40,199 the westwing so uh uh smoking was one of 273 00:13:40,199 --> 00:13:42,199 the ways to do that you know we would 274 00:13:42,199 --> 00:13:44,800 never see a president smoke a cigarette 275 00:13:44,800 --> 00:13:47,279 um and the idea that the most powerful 276 00:13:47,279 --> 00:13:49,600 man in the world has to sneak a 277 00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:53,440 cigarette um uh for the same reason most 278 00:13:53,440 --> 00:13:55,160 people have to sneak a cigarette which 279 00:13:55,160 --> 00:13:56,600 is they don't want their wife to know 280 00:13:56,600 --> 00:13:59,560 that they're uh smoking a cigarette uh 281 00:13:59,560 --> 00:14:01,399 you know I I really like that I you know 282 00:14:01,399 --> 00:14:02,759 I didn't go there all the time but I 283 00:14:02,759 --> 00:14:04,639 went there from time to time and this 284 00:14:04,639 --> 00:14:07,399 was a moment the Bartlett Richie scene 285 00:14:07,399 --> 00:14:11,960 uh that seemed ripe for smoking a 286 00:14:11,960 --> 00:14:17,079 [Music] 287 00:14:17,079 --> 00:14:19,959 cigarette I I don't have a political 288 00:14:19,959 --> 00:14:22,279 agenda uh when I write I'm not 289 00:14:22,279 --> 00:14:24,160 particularly politically 290 00:14:24,160 --> 00:14:27,399 sophisticated uh the the the characters 291 00:14:27,399 --> 00:14:29,759 on the westwing are more politically 292 00:14:29,759 --> 00:14:32,440 sophisticated than I am they are smarter 293 00:14:32,440 --> 00:14:35,759 uh uh than I am almost always I write 294 00:14:35,759 --> 00:14:38,040 characters that are uh smarter than I am 295 00:14:38,040 --> 00:14:40,800 and if you're thinking well how is that 296 00:14:40,800 --> 00:14:44,560 possible uh it's possible the same way 297 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:47,560 that a a person 298 00:14:47,560 --> 00:14:50,399 can draw a house without being able to 299 00:14:50,399 --> 00:14:52,600 build a house uh uh you know what I mean 300 00:14:52,600 --> 00:14:56,199 um uh uh an artist can draw a 100 story 301 00:14:56,199 --> 00:14:58,320 building uh and have no idea how to 302 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:03,560 build 100 story building um uh and it's 303 00:15:03,560 --> 00:15:07,000 roughly the same with writing uh I can 304 00:15:07,000 --> 00:15:08,800 create the illusion of uh of 305 00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:10,800 intelligence what I'm drawing on for a 306 00:15:10,800 --> 00:15:14,560 thing like um uh uh people can who who 307 00:15:14,560 --> 00:15:17,720 who like baseball can read books and uh 308 00:15:17,720 --> 00:15:21,519 uh it's a reaction 309 00:15:21,519 --> 00:15:24,920 to dividing the 310 00:15:24,920 --> 00:15:28,199 country in a silly way uh uh dividing 311 00:15:28,199 --> 00:15:30,399 the country into and this is what had to 312 00:15:30,399 --> 00:15:32,800 happen in the bush Gore election in 313 00:15:32,800 --> 00:15:36,880 order for for Bush to win into real men 314 00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:39,440 and something slightly 315 00:15:39,440 --> 00:15:43,759 feminized um uh that if you read books 316 00:15:43,759 --> 00:15:47,160 if you do well in school if you're an 317 00:15:47,160 --> 00:15:49,079 intellectual uh that means that you're 318 00:15:49,079 --> 00:15:52,680 something less than a man uh uh somehow 319 00:15:52,680 --> 00:15:54,519 uh that real men don't read books they 320 00:15:54,519 --> 00:15:57,880 clear brush uh this is a place where you 321 00:15:57,880 --> 00:16:02,680 know my own politics uh uh seeped in for 322 00:16:02,680 --> 00:16:05,880 sure I think that every four years since 323 00:16:05,880 --> 00:16:10,880 I've been born we criminally waste this 324 00:16:10,880 --> 00:16:14,720 opportunity to have the public here to 325 00:16:14,720 --> 00:16:16,959 very bright people with 326 00:16:16,959 --> 00:16:20,360 opposing views argue with each other 327 00:16:20,360 --> 00:16:23,720 debate each other uh so that we can 328 00:16:23,720 --> 00:16:26,720 educate ourselves and participate uh in 329 00:16:26,720 --> 00:16:30,120 our own democracy and instead we always 330 00:16:30,120 --> 00:16:33,399 end up talking about something dumb uh 331 00:16:33,399 --> 00:16:35,480 uh and the campaign uh is about 332 00:16:35,480 --> 00:16:38,079 something else it's wasted opportunity 333 00:16:38,079 --> 00:16:41,360 uh and uh you 334 00:16:41,360 --> 00:16:44,720 know I I react to that in the writing uh 335 00:16:44,720 --> 00:16:48,000 that I do 1 00:00:06,600 --> 00:00:08,400 once we start talking about 2 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:12,799 dialogue we are talking about the least 3 00:00:12,799 --> 00:00:15,880 teachable part of 4 00:00:15,880 --> 00:00:19,039 writing it it's not completely 5 00:00:19,039 --> 00:00:21,160 unteachable but there are a couple of 6 00:00:21,160 --> 00:00:23,560 things that uh that you can teach it's 7 00:00:23,560 --> 00:00:26,080 also the most personal part of writing 8 00:00:26,080 --> 00:00:28,840 so everybody is going to do it a a 9 00:00:28,840 --> 00:00:30,240 different way everybody's going to cross 10 00:00:30,240 --> 00:00:32,880 the finish line a different way so all 11 00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:35,000 I'm going to talk about is the way I uh 12 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:37,200 uh do it I'm I'm I'm not suggesting that 13 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:40,280 this is the way it must be 14 00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:45,840 done my first experience witnessing 15 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:47,840 great dialogue was uh I think who's 16 00:00:47,840 --> 00:00:50,760 Afraid of Virginia wolf my parents took 17 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:53,359 me to see plays all the time and often 18 00:00:53,359 --> 00:00:55,079 they were I was too young to understand 19 00:00:55,079 --> 00:00:56,760 what was going on on stage like I saw 20 00:00:56,760 --> 00:00:58,600 who's freder Virginia wolf when I was 9 21 00:00:58,600 --> 00:01:01,239 years old there was no way I could 22 00:01:01,239 --> 00:01:03,199 understand uh what was going on up there 23 00:01:03,199 --> 00:01:06,479 but the dialogue sounded like music to 24 00:01:06,479 --> 00:01:11,840 me just these fantastic actors um uh 25 00:01:11,840 --> 00:01:15,600 uh singing it sounded like Edward Al's 26 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:18,960 uh uh dialogue David mammo uh uh for 27 00:01:18,960 --> 00:01:22,400 instance uh who is a virtuoso at 28 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:25,400 dialogue in a particular type uh of 29 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:27,520 dialogue there's there's no one better 30 00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:30,119 than David mammo at writing a 31 00:01:30,119 --> 00:01:31,799 conversation between two people who 32 00:01:31,799 --> 00:01:33,720 don't know how to communicate with each 33 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:37,759 other um uh that if you look at Glen 34 00:01:37,759 --> 00:01:40,280 Gary Glenn Ross speed the plow uh 35 00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:43,960 American buffalo uh those always feel 36 00:01:43,960 --> 00:01:45,280 like 37 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:50,280 um algr uh uh uh very sharp uh kind of 38 00:01:50,280 --> 00:01:53,600 violin Duets uh playing off each other 39 00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:55,719 it's not just that dialogue sounds like 40 00:01:55,719 --> 00:02:00,600 music to me it actually is music anytime 41 00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:02,799 uh someone is speaking for the purpose 42 00:02:02,799 --> 00:02:04,960 of performance whether they're doing it 43 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:07,240 from a Pulpit uh in a church whether 44 00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:11,680 it's a candidate on the stump uh or an 45 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:13,800 actor on a stage anytime they're 46 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:16,519 speaking for uh the purposes of 47 00:02:16,519 --> 00:02:20,440 performance all the rules of Music apply 48 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:27,400 um I uh Cadence uh and tone and uh 49 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:30,680 volume all of the rules of music uh uh 50 00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:33,280 apply to this so when I'm writing what 51 00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:35,920 the words sound like are as important to 52 00:02:35,920 --> 00:02:38,959 me as is as important to me as uh uh as 53 00:02:38,959 --> 00:02:40,680 what the words mean it's a lot about 54 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:45,239 Rhythm uh the actors will know uh uh if 55 00:02:45,239 --> 00:02:48,400 they have dropped a syllable or added a 56 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:50,480 syllable uh accidentally they'll know 57 00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:53,400 that something was wrong the same way uh 58 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:55,840 uh you know if if you're playing music 59 00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:57,239 and there's a time signature at the 60 00:02:57,239 --> 00:02:59,200 beginning of it it says four4 time that 61 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:00,360 means they're four four beats in a 62 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:02,440 measure and a cordin note gets one beat 63 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:04,200 there can't be five beats in a measure 64 00:03:04,200 --> 00:03:06,159 there can't be three beats in a measure 65 00:03:06,159 --> 00:03:09,480 and the actors know uh uh if they've 66 00:03:09,480 --> 00:03:10,640 dropped something like I said if they've 67 00:03:10,640 --> 00:03:12,680 dropped a syllable and I know when I'm 68 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:15,120 writing uh uh if 69 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:18,319 that if that didn't quite work uh what I 70 00:03:18,319 --> 00:03:21,159 was doing so it and and then if you look 71 00:03:21,159 --> 00:03:23,560 at the uh at the whole piece say a 72 00:03:23,560 --> 00:03:26,720 two-hour play a 2hour movie uh a 1hour 73 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:29,799 episode of Television it follows along 74 00:03:29,799 --> 00:03:32,560 on the U it has a lot of the same 75 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:35,680 properties as uh a long piece of music 76 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:39,159 like a symphony uh uh does or an opera 77 00:03:39,159 --> 00:03:41,239 uh it's got solos and Duets it's got 78 00:03:41,239 --> 00:03:45,680 alros and adagios uh it's got Aras uh 79 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:47,519 and sometimes they're good and sometimes 80 00:03:47,519 --> 00:03:51,439 they're bad but it it is music 81 00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:57,720 nonetheless here's something important 82 00:03:57,720 --> 00:04:01,360 to remember about dialog uh 83 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:05,159 you'll hear uh uh 84 00:04:05,159 --> 00:04:07,760 from critics and by critics I don't just 85 00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:10,120 mean you know professional critics I 86 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:13,920 mean the world uh uh you'll 87 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:17,519 hear that's not the way people really 88 00:04:17,519 --> 00:04:21,639 talk that who cares that that that 89 00:04:21,639 --> 00:04:24,840 you're not your goal isn't necessarily 90 00:04:24,840 --> 00:04:28,240 writing things the way people talk 91 00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:31,520 people don't rhyme um Shakespeare didn't 92 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:34,280 care about that he was writing something 93 00:04:34,280 --> 00:04:37,680 different um uh now there are people 94 00:04:37,680 --> 00:04:40,840 who's you know what they do uh what's 95 00:04:40,840 --> 00:04:44,080 really cool uh about their dialogue is 96 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:47,479 that they are able to uh imitate the way 97 00:04:47,479 --> 00:04:49,320 people actually talk that really sounds 98 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:50,680 like people 99 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:54,600 talking most of the time I mean 98% of 100 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:56,960 the time that happens through 101 00:04:56,960 --> 00:05:00,160 improvisation okay uh whether it's 102 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:04,360 J A Adam McKay uh or anyone else people 103 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:06,960 who are fantastic Todd Phillips people 104 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:10,639 who are fantastic at creating space for 105 00:05:10,639 --> 00:05:12,840 actors who are fantastic at 106 00:05:12,840 --> 00:05:14,680 improvisation to 107 00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:17,000 improvise then suddenly it sounds like 108 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:18,840 the way people really talk because it's 109 00:05:18,840 --> 00:05:21,240 people really talking uh it was never 110 00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:24,360 written uh it just it's starting out as 111 00:05:24,360 --> 00:05:26,039 as people really 112 00:05:26,039 --> 00:05:28,400 talking imitating the way people really 113 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:30,639 talk is 114 00:05:30,639 --> 00:05:33,560 has never been a goal of 115 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:40,840 mine again my goal isn't to imitate how 116 00:05:40,840 --> 00:05:44,000 people really speak but nor do I want it 117 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:45,919 to sound like how people speak on 118 00:05:45,919 --> 00:05:48,319 television um I want it to sound like 119 00:05:48,319 --> 00:05:50,840 how I write one thing that I wasn't able 120 00:05:50,840 --> 00:05:54,000 to do with Bartlett because it was on a 121 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:56,120 broadcast network it was on NBC as 122 00:05:56,120 --> 00:05:58,160 opposed to say uh 123 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:01,800 HBO is that that there's language that 124 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:05,800 uh that you can't use um I'm not a big 125 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:08,680 uh I'm not 126 00:06:08,680 --> 00:06:12,599 uh like I'm not David milch I'm not 127 00:06:12,599 --> 00:06:15,639 Steven botko I'm not Armando yucci I'm 128 00:06:15,639 --> 00:06:18,800 naming fantastic writers who are 129 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:22,599 virtuosos when it comes to using 130 00:06:22,599 --> 00:06:26,400 four-letter words um and uh I'm I'm not 131 00:06:26,400 --> 00:06:30,240 one of those guys but there are times 132 00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:32,280 uh when it would have been really 133 00:06:32,280 --> 00:06:34,479 helpful there's a 134 00:06:34,479 --> 00:06:39,280 moment uh there's a moment in an 135 00:06:39,280 --> 00:06:43,520 episode that I can't remember uh what it 136 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:46,800 was but a bunch of De agents have been 137 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:50,680 captured in South America and a rescue 138 00:06:50,680 --> 00:06:54,639 mission uh uh goes bad because they were 139 00:06:54,639 --> 00:06:56,560 basically our guys the good guys were 140 00:06:56,560 --> 00:06:59,000 lured into a trap and they were killed 141 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:01,479 uh helicopter uh full of people were 142 00:07:01,479 --> 00:07:05,960 killed in Columbia um and you cannot on 143 00:07:05,960 --> 00:07:08,400 network television take the lord's name 144 00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:10,039 in vain you'll be able to say 145 00:07:10,039 --> 00:07:12,240 [ __ ] on network television 146 00:07:12,240 --> 00:07:14,960 before you'll be able to say godamn it 147 00:07:14,960 --> 00:07:19,879 um and all I wanted in the world that 148 00:07:19,879 --> 00:07:22,599 when Bartlett F finds out that that 149 00:07:22,599 --> 00:07:25,000 they've been tricked uh uh by these 150 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:27,840 thugs he busts out of the Oval Office 151 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:30,080 into the uh uh there's kind of a 152 00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:32,440 prominade uh uh out there and Leo 153 00:07:32,440 --> 00:07:35,599 follows him out there and I just wanted 154 00:07:35,599 --> 00:07:40,479 to say godamn it um uh uh again a moment 155 00:07:40,479 --> 00:07:42,319 that you don't see on CNN you don't see 156 00:07:42,319 --> 00:07:45,159 the president curse but you can't do 157 00:07:45,159 --> 00:07:48,400 that all you're left with is damn it 158 00:07:48,400 --> 00:07:53,240 and it's only in plays and movies and 159 00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:55,280 television that someone starts a 160 00:07:55,280 --> 00:07:58,360 sentence with damn it no one ever in 161 00:07:58,360 --> 00:08:01,080 life says damn it how could this have 162 00:08:01,080 --> 00:08:03,879 happened um uh they'll say godamn it but 163 00:08:03,879 --> 00:08:05,759 they won't begin with damn it they also 164 00:08:05,759 --> 00:08:08,560 won't end with damn it I want it here on 165 00:08:08,560 --> 00:08:11,199 time damn 166 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:18,000 it when I'm writing I'm very physical 167 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:20,599 when I'm writing I'm uh I'm talking out 168 00:08:20,599 --> 00:08:24,000 loud uh uh while I write uh I'm playing 169 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:27,080 all the parts I'm getting up and down uh 170 00:08:27,080 --> 00:08:29,039 from the desk I'm walking around 171 00:08:29,039 --> 00:08:30,759 everyone once in a while there'll be a 172 00:08:30,759 --> 00:08:33,200 day or I can string three days together 173 00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:36,360 uh sometimes where I know what I'm doing 174 00:08:36,360 --> 00:08:38,200 where it is going well and if it's going 175 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:41,479 particularly well uh I I'll get excited 176 00:08:41,479 --> 00:08:43,680 uh like I'll say I I I I won't even be 177 00:08:43,680 --> 00:08:46,320 at the keyboard I'll be doing the scene 178 00:08:46,320 --> 00:08:48,360 playing all the parts uh in the scene 179 00:08:48,360 --> 00:08:50,440 I'll I'll I'll have walked two blocks 180 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:52,959 away from my office I'll have if I'm at 181 00:08:52,959 --> 00:08:55,680 home I'll have walked outside my house I 182 00:08:55,680 --> 00:08:57,640 once broke my nose when I was riding 183 00:08:57,640 --> 00:08:59,680 because I was uh uh being so physical 184 00:08:59,680 --> 00:09:02,480 about it uh and then finally you know 185 00:09:02,480 --> 00:09:06,680 sit down at the desk and and type it 186 00:09:06,680 --> 00:09:12,720 sometimes I'm on my feet um and uh I I I 187 00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:15,839 invent a piece of dialogue in my head uh 188 00:09:15,839 --> 00:09:18,160 and then I kind of keep going suddenly 189 00:09:18,160 --> 00:09:20,720 I'm I'm writing a scene in my head I'll 190 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:23,519 get very excited about it 191 00:09:23,519 --> 00:09:27,920 after uh 20 30 minutes an hour two hours 192 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:30,200 of uh of doing that I'll realize I 193 00:09:30,200 --> 00:09:33,160 really should be writing this down uh uh 194 00:09:33,160 --> 00:09:35,560 because I might forget it so I'll I'll 195 00:09:35,560 --> 00:09:37,920 make a note and then I'll feel like you 196 00:09:37,920 --> 00:09:40,320 know that note wasn't enough to remember 197 00:09:40,320 --> 00:09:41,640 the whole thing let me just write down 198 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:43,399 those first two lines of dialogue that I 199 00:09:43,399 --> 00:09:44,839 was thinking of well you know what I 200 00:09:44,839 --> 00:09:45,959 I've written the first two lines of 201 00:09:45,959 --> 00:09:47,760 dialogue just type the first two lines 202 00:09:47,760 --> 00:09:50,800 of dialogue now keep and the scene will 203 00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:53,360 get 204 00:09:58,040 --> 00:10:00,040 written I would 205 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:04,480 try uh performing the the scenes that 206 00:10:04,480 --> 00:10:06,760 that you're writing I would I would play 207 00:10:06,760 --> 00:10:10,079 every part uh in the scene and what 208 00:10:10,079 --> 00:10:13,040 you're looking for 209 00:10:13,040 --> 00:10:16,360 is can are these words speakable uh you 210 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:20,880 know um uh or or does it just sound like 211 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:22,519 clunky writing let's say it's a 212 00:10:22,519 --> 00:10:27,160 five-page scene um uh cuz I I read long 213 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:29,680 scenes I'll I'll then read it get 214 00:10:29,680 --> 00:10:33,000 through and I'll not like some of it 215 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:36,320 some of it will be clunky uh there'll be 216 00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:38,720 a joke that got halfway there but didn't 217 00:10:38,720 --> 00:10:41,200 quite land so I'll either have to fix 218 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:44,000 the joke or cut the joke 219 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:48,760 um uh I I will be uh uh I'm I'm reading 220 00:10:48,760 --> 00:10:51,240 it out loud uh 221 00:10:51,240 --> 00:10:54,120 to to listen 222 00:10:54,120 --> 00:10:57,600 for to listen for uh a writing that 223 00:10:57,600 --> 00:10:59,839 doesn't sound good to me 224 00:10:59,839 --> 00:11:03,680 I'll start adding in the idiosyncrasies 225 00:11:03,680 --> 00:11:06,839 the hiccups that I like putting in the 226 00:11:06,839 --> 00:11:10,120 uh the false starts uh of sentences the 227 00:11:10,120 --> 00:11:13,760 stopping and saying um uh uh that kind 228 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:18,160 of thing I'll look for places where uh I 229 00:11:18,160 --> 00:11:21,040 I went a line or two too far uh that we 230 00:11:21,040 --> 00:11:25,399 we got it already uh and uh you know a 231 00:11:25,399 --> 00:11:26,959 big rule is that you don't tell the 232 00:11:26,959 --> 00:11:28,639 audience something they already know so 233 00:11:28,639 --> 00:11:30,920 if they if you've already said I love 234 00:11:30,920 --> 00:11:33,519 you you the second time you say I love 235 00:11:33,519 --> 00:11:35,160 you is not going to be 236 00:11:35,160 --> 00:11:38,600 meaningful uh that's what I do I do have 237 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:43,320 to perform it because I want to uh I 238 00:11:43,320 --> 00:11:46,639 want to make sure that actors can say it 239 00:11:46,639 --> 00:11:49,399 uh uh that it it sounds right coming out 240 00:11:49,399 --> 00:11:54,000 of uh uh someone's mouth um uh otherwise 241 00:11:54,000 --> 00:12:00,040 you you kind of end up writing um 242 00:12:00,040 --> 00:12:04,560 o Denise the sunrise it it it it becomes 243 00:12:04,560 --> 00:12:07,360 very stilted uh it becomes more like 244 00:12:07,360 --> 00:12:11,440 dialogue in a novel uh I like 245 00:12:11,440 --> 00:12:15,639 idiosyncrasies and hiccups uh I I write 246 00:12:15,639 --> 00:12:19,160 every sound uh the actors make uh when 247 00:12:19,160 --> 00:12:21,000 they're interrupting themselves when 248 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:23,240 there's a false start uh in what they're 249 00:12:23,240 --> 00:12:26,040 saying and they uh and they start again 250 00:12:26,040 --> 00:12:29,320 uh I like the sound of uh of two Act 251 00:12:29,320 --> 00:12:31,600 speaking at the same time uh so I'll 252 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:35,079 write dual or even triple uh a dialogue 253 00:12:35,079 --> 00:12:38,000 sometimes uh that when we're rehearsing 254 00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:41,480 it needs to be kind of time to within uh 255 00:12:41,480 --> 00:12:44,160 an inch of its life again the same 256 00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:46,160 things a composer would fiddle around 257 00:12:46,160 --> 00:12:50,079 with uh when he was writing music 1 00:00:06,359 --> 00:00:10,040 when I talk about a a dialogue being 2 00:00:10,040 --> 00:00:12,599 musical most of the music I mean 3 00:00:12,599 --> 00:00:14,519 sometimes there's a there'll be a line 4 00:00:14,519 --> 00:00:18,359 or a speech which by itself has the 5 00:00:18,359 --> 00:00:19,800 kinds of musical qualities that I'm 6 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:21,800 talking about 7 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:26,720 but it in order to create uh that music 8 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:30,080 you need listen in order to create music 9 00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:32,360 literally uh uh real 10 00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:35,559 music you don't just need the first note 11 00:00:35,559 --> 00:00:38,559 you need the second note before it's 12 00:00:38,559 --> 00:00:41,280 music is not 13 00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:44,000 music it is music 14 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:47,360 or it it's you need the second note uh 15 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:50,360 for it to become music with dialogue uh 16 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:53,640 uh you generally need the next line uh 17 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:55,399 uh for it to be music it's going to go 18 00:00:55,399 --> 00:00:58,719 back and forth 19 00:01:06,799 --> 00:01:09,119 caught 20 00:01:09,159 --> 00:01:11,119 me Mr 21 00:01:11,119 --> 00:01:12,799 president 22 00:01:12,799 --> 00:01:15,560 governor you enjoying the play I am how 23 00:01:15,560 --> 00:01:17,320 about you well we just got here we were 24 00:01:17,320 --> 00:01:19,799 at the Yankee game we got you know up in 25 00:01:19,799 --> 00:01:22,920 traffic yeah I know listen politics 26 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:24,360 aside and I don't want to make a big 27 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:26,200 deal out of it but you probably insulted 28 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:27,479 the church and you can head it off at 29 00:01:27,479 --> 00:01:29,079 the pass if you speak to the Cardinal 30 00:01:29,079 --> 00:01:30,720 tonight well well I didn't mean to 31 00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:34,119 insult anybody no it's a baseball game 32 00:01:34,119 --> 00:01:36,960 it's how ordinary 33 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:42,159 Americans no I don't understand that the 34 00:01:42,159 --> 00:01:43,920 center fielder for the Yankees is an 35 00:01:43,920 --> 00:01:46,200 accomplished classical guitarist people 36 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:48,960 who like baseball can't like books are 37 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:50,600 you taking this 38 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:53,119 personally 39 00:01:53,119 --> 00:01:55,719 no something horrible happened about an 40 00:01:55,719 --> 00:01:57,600 hour 41 00:01:57,600 --> 00:02:00,600 ago CJ Craig was getting threat so we 42 00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:02,320 put an agent on 43 00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:05,680 her he's a good guy he was on my detail 44 00:02:05,680 --> 00:02:07,160 for a while and he was in 45 00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:09,520 Roslin he walked into the middle of an 46 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:11,319 armed robbery and was shot and killed 47 00:02:11,319 --> 00:02:14,480 after detaining one of the 48 00:02:15,959 --> 00:02:18,599 suspects 49 00:02:18,599 --> 00:02:22,200 crime boy I don't 50 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:30,319 know we should have a great debate Rob 51 00:02:30,319 --> 00:02:32,680 we owe it to everyone when I was running 52 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:34,360 as a governor I didn't know anything I 53 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:36,319 made them start Bartlett College in my 54 00:02:36,319 --> 00:02:38,239 dining room two hours every morning on 55 00:02:38,239 --> 00:02:40,680 Foreign Affairs in the military you can 56 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:42,840 do that how many different ways you 57 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:44,879 think you're going to find to call me 58 00:02:44,879 --> 00:02:47,200 dumb I wasn't 59 00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:50,400 Rob but you've turned being unengaged 60 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:52,440 into a Zen like thing and you shouldn't 61 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:54,519 enjoy it so much as all and if it 62 00:02:54,519 --> 00:02:56,599 appears at times as if I don't like you 63 00:02:56,599 --> 00:02:58,560 that's the only reason why you're what 64 00:02:58,560 --> 00:03:02,159 my friends call us Superior son [ __ ] 65 00:03:02,159 --> 00:03:05,319 you're an academic elitist and a snob 66 00:03:05,319 --> 00:03:06,959 you're a 67 00:03:06,959 --> 00:03:10,519 Hollywood you're weak you're 68 00:03:10,519 --> 00:03:12,959 liberal and you can't be 69 00:03:12,959 --> 00:03:15,560 trusted and if it appears from time to 70 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:18,360 time as if I don't like 71 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:20,760 you well those are just a few of the 72 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:24,879 many reasons why 73 00:03:30,799 --> 00:03:33,640 they're playing my 74 00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:40,319 song in the future if you're wondering 75 00:03:40,319 --> 00:03:43,799 crime boy I don't know is when I decided 76 00:03:43,799 --> 00:03:45,560 to kick your 77 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:47,760 ass I'm looking at the beginning of the 78 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:50,159 scene um and that at least at the 79 00:03:50,159 --> 00:03:52,920 beginning of the scene I am making a 80 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:54,959 concerted effort for it not to be 81 00:03:54,959 --> 00:03:58,159 musical uh I want it to be stilted and 82 00:03:58,159 --> 00:04:00,519 awkward uh between the these two I want 83 00:04:00,519 --> 00:04:03,519 it to be slightly formal and I'm looking 84 00:04:03,519 --> 00:04:06,480 at a line that I already want to rewrite 85 00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:09,319 uh because I just read it to myself it's 86 00:04:09,319 --> 00:04:12,640 it's this line um uh Richie says 87 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:14,799 Bartlett says uh 88 00:04:14,799 --> 00:04:16,720 um doesn't matter what Bartlett says 89 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:19,320 Richie says uh we just got here we were 90 00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:21,120 at the Yankee game we were you know hung 91 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:24,919 up in traffic uh okay that you know is 92 00:04:24,919 --> 00:04:28,160 one of those hiccups uh uh that I like 93 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:30,560 to throw in but now I wish I'd written 94 00:04:30,560 --> 00:04:32,360 we were you know we were hung up in 95 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:35,000 traffic that I'd put a second we were uh 96 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:36,560 in there we were you know we were hung 97 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:39,919 up in traffic um it's a it's just a 98 00:04:39,919 --> 00:04:43,520 rhythm thing I just said it to myself um 99 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:45,759 and it comes out more naturally with the 100 00:04:45,759 --> 00:04:50,520 second uh we were um and uh I guess hat 101 00:04:50,520 --> 00:04:54,120 hats off to James Brolin who uh was able 102 00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:57,639 to disguise the fact that uh uh that the 103 00:04:57,639 --> 00:05:02,720 line wasn't written well um so uh uh I'm 104 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:04,120 I'm 105 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:08,720 writing I'm writing it stilted 106 00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:13,000 until Richie says uh uh what's happened 107 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:17,840 is uh uh again this is a a a an event 108 00:05:17,840 --> 00:05:20,840 for uh uh Catholic 109 00:05:20,840 --> 00:05:23,800 Charities uh Richie went to a Yankees 110 00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:28,919 game and has arrived late uh at at this 111 00:05:28,919 --> 00:05:30,759 Broadway show 112 00:05:30,759 --> 00:05:32,680 um and 113 00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:36,560 uh Bartlett says 114 00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:39,199 um uh listen politics aside and I don't 115 00:05:39,199 --> 00:05:40,600 want to make a big deal out of it but 116 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:42,479 you probably insulted the church and you 117 00:05:42,479 --> 00:05:44,080 can head it off at the past if you speak 118 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:47,919 to the Cardinal tonight um uh he's you 119 00:05:47,919 --> 00:05:48,919 know this is 120 00:05:48,919 --> 00:05:51,960 a just between you and me a thing he's 121 00:05:51,960 --> 00:05:54,680 helping Richie out um uh Richie says 122 00:05:54,680 --> 00:05:55,800 well I didn't mean to insult anybody 123 00:05:55,800 --> 00:05:58,160 Bart says no uh uh and Richie says and 124 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:01,400 it's a baseball game it's how ordinary 125 00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:05,440 Americans uh okay this is a dog whistle 126 00:06:05,440 --> 00:06:08,440 he's pushed one of Bartlett's buttons he 127 00:06:08,440 --> 00:06:13,199 he's landed right on the uh uh I 128 00:06:13,199 --> 00:06:15,800 if if you're educated you're not an 129 00:06:15,800 --> 00:06:21,280 ordinary American uh okay um uh and it's 130 00:06:21,280 --> 00:06:23,400 it's you know the the thing that I found 131 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:25,880 objectionable in that bush Gore race and 132 00:06:25,880 --> 00:06:28,199 again it happened again with bush Cary 133 00:06:28,199 --> 00:06:31,560 uh was the uh 134 00:06:32,160 --> 00:06:34,880 glamorization of lack of 135 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:37,360 curiosity and the 136 00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:40,280 demonization of 137 00:06:40,280 --> 00:06:42,160 brains 138 00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:47,440 um and so uh he says that Bartlett says 139 00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:50,639 yeah and now suddenly uh uh the stilted 140 00:06:50,639 --> 00:06:53,440 this stops because we've kind of flipped 141 00:06:53,440 --> 00:06:56,319 a switch uh in Bartlett says no I don't 142 00:06:56,319 --> 00:06:57,520 understand that the center field for the 143 00:06:57,520 --> 00:06:59,199 Yankees is an accomplished classical 144 00:06:59,199 --> 00:07:00,039 guitar 145 00:07:00,039 --> 00:07:01,520 people who like baseball can't like 146 00:07:01,520 --> 00:07:04,840 books um uh and now I'm suddenly 147 00:07:04,840 --> 00:07:09,000 starting to employ subtly some musical 148 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:12,400 techniques no I don't understand that 149 00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:14,240 the center fielder for the Yankees is an 150 00:07:14,240 --> 00:07:16,560 accomplished classical guitarist people 151 00:07:16,560 --> 00:07:19,160 who like baseball can't like books 152 00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:21,120 people who like baseball can't like 153 00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:24,120 books there's an alliteration there uh 154 00:07:24,120 --> 00:07:27,440 uh with baseball and books um uh there 155 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:31,240 is a rhythm um uh because I'm using the 156 00:07:31,240 --> 00:07:33,879 word like uh uh twice people who like 157 00:07:33,879 --> 00:07:39,039 this can't like that um uh and uh uh and 158 00:07:39,039 --> 00:07:42,639 it has a rhythm uh uh uh to it uh so as 159 00:07:42,639 --> 00:07:44,879 soon as like I said I wanted the 160 00:07:44,879 --> 00:07:48,639 beginning to feel stilted uh uh I suck 161 00:07:48,639 --> 00:07:52,759 the music out of it 162 00:07:53,360 --> 00:07:56,599 um but I can make a musical comparison 163 00:07:56,599 --> 00:07:59,599 uh which is Opera has rest te right 164 00:07:59,599 --> 00:08:04,080 right um uh uh it'll have an Arya or a 165 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:07,000 duet or a trio or a coral thing but 166 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:09,440 it'll also have those what seemed like 167 00:08:09,440 --> 00:08:12,960 kind of silly moments of uh you know a a 168 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:15,039 a baritone 169 00:08:15,039 --> 00:08:17,599 saying bring me the 170 00:08:17,599 --> 00:08:19,479 flowers 171 00:08:19,479 --> 00:08:23,240 good hello uh uh that kind of thing that 172 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:26,319 that's the uh God I hope you cut my 173 00:08:26,319 --> 00:08:29,960 operon um uh from this uh uh uh so I 174 00:08:29,960 --> 00:08:32,919 suck the music uh out of the top and 175 00:08:32,919 --> 00:08:35,000 Richie kind of push pushes the music 176 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:38,320 button um and then it starts to get a 177 00:08:38,320 --> 00:08:40,680 little musical then we have our o uh 178 00:08:40,680 --> 00:08:44,440 crime boy I don't know moment it was a 179 00:08:44,440 --> 00:08:46,959 line meant to 180 00:08:46,959 --> 00:08:50,279 be uh the equivalent musically the 181 00:08:50,279 --> 00:08:57,800 equivalent of just uh a thud um uh uh 182 00:08:57,800 --> 00:09:05,880 uh just a thud uh uh something empty uh 183 00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:11,680 it it was it was devoid of Music um 184 00:09:11,680 --> 00:09:14,800 well not really because now that I think 185 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:18,480 about it be it emotionally it was a thud 186 00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:20,680 uh uh but 187 00:09:20,680 --> 00:09:25,000 musically crime boy I don't know I uh 188 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:27,920 because Bartlett repeats it uh with with 189 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:31,240 some disgust 190 00:09:31,399 --> 00:09:35,680 I it was just percussion there uh there 191 00:09:35,680 --> 00:09:39,040 was no tone there it was 192 00:09:40,279 --> 00:09:42,760 just something horrible happened about 193 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:44,800 an hour 194 00:09:44,800 --> 00:09:47,760 ago CJ Craig was getting threats so we 195 00:09:47,760 --> 00:09:49,480 put an agent on 196 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:52,880 her he's a good guy he was on my detail 197 00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:54,360 for a while and he was in 198 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:56,720 rosin he walked into the middle of an 199 00:09:56,720 --> 00:09:58,480 armed robbery and was shot and killed 200 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:01,680 after detaining one of the 201 00:10:03,120 --> 00:10:05,800 suspects 202 00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:09,240 crime boy I don't know okay I've I've 203 00:10:09,240 --> 00:10:13,040 spotted some musicality uh uh here and 204 00:10:13,040 --> 00:10:17,120 that is the music of taking some words 205 00:10:17,120 --> 00:10:19,839 that someone has just said holding them 206 00:10:19,839 --> 00:10:22,120 in your hand for a moment and then 207 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:24,000 punching them in the face with it and 208 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:26,160 that's what Richie does uh uh to 209 00:10:26,160 --> 00:10:29,560 Bartlett Bartlett says uh uh I wasn't 210 00:10:29,560 --> 00:10:31,200 Rob but you've turned being unengaged 211 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:33,320 into a zen-like thing and you shouldn't 212 00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:37,360 enjoy it so much as all okay is all it 213 00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:39,959 is a musical Thing um and if it appears 214 00:10:39,959 --> 00:10:42,440 at times and if it appears at times as 215 00:10:42,440 --> 00:10:44,440 if I don't like you that's the reason 216 00:10:44,440 --> 00:10:46,720 why Richie says you're what my friends 217 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:49,040 call a superior some [ __ ] you're an 218 00:10:49,040 --> 00:10:52,320 academic elitist and a snob you're uh 219 00:10:52,320 --> 00:10:54,760 Hollywood you're weak you're liberal and 220 00:10:54,760 --> 00:10:57,160 you can't be trusted and if it appears 221 00:10:57,160 --> 00:10:59,519 from time to time as if I don't like you 222 00:10:59,519 --> 00:11:00,920 well those are just few of the many 223 00:11:00,920 --> 00:11:04,279 reasons why um uh we never expected 224 00:11:04,279 --> 00:11:06,720 Richie to climb on top of Bartlett and 225 00:11:06,720 --> 00:11:11,440 uh uh and kick him that way um and 226 00:11:11,440 --> 00:11:13,800 uh and I like that he does because it's 227 00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:16,160 a game on kind of thing it's uh uh you 228 00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:18,680 know now we got ourselves a fight how 229 00:11:18,680 --> 00:11:20,079 many different ways you think you're 230 00:11:20,079 --> 00:11:24,120 going to find to call me dumb I wasn't 231 00:11:24,120 --> 00:11:27,320 right but you've turned being unengaged 232 00:11:27,320 --> 00:11:29,399 into a Zen like thing and you shouldn't 233 00:11:29,399 --> 00:11:31,440 enjoy it so much as all and if it 234 00:11:31,440 --> 00:11:33,519 appears at times as if I don't like you 235 00:11:33,519 --> 00:11:35,480 that's the only reason why you're what 236 00:11:35,480 --> 00:11:39,120 my friends call a superior son [ __ ] 237 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:42,240 you're an academic elitist and a snob 238 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:43,880 you're a 239 00:11:43,880 --> 00:11:47,480 Hollywood you're weak you're 240 00:11:47,480 --> 00:11:49,920 liberal and you can't be 241 00:11:49,920 --> 00:11:52,560 trusted and if it appears from time to 242 00:11:52,560 --> 00:11:55,320 time as if I don't like 243 00:11:55,320 --> 00:11:57,720 you well those are just a few of the 244 00:11:57,720 --> 00:12:01,240 many reasons why 245 00:12:02,680 --> 00:12:05,360 I remember this 246 00:12:06,120 --> 00:12:11,000 scene I wish I could rewrite it 1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,920 [Music] 2 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:13,559 the screenplay isn't as good as you 3 00:00:13,559 --> 00:00:16,880 think it is uh once you finish it 4 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:20,240 because uh you've got 5 00:00:20,240 --> 00:00:22,439 something you probably got something 6 00:00:22,439 --> 00:00:25,000 good in your head uh it feels really 7 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:28,039 good in in your head it feels emotional 8 00:00:28,039 --> 00:00:31,000 uh it feels sharp but you probably 9 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:33,800 haven't gotten all of that onto the page 10 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:39,079 yet uh and uh you discover that once you 11 00:00:39,079 --> 00:00:42,120 start reading it through uh you become 12 00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:46,239 horrified uh that this whole thing 13 00:00:46,239 --> 00:00:48,559 doesn't even matter much you that that 14 00:00:48,559 --> 00:00:51,680 kind of thing this didn't 15 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:54,680 work rewriting is a lot easier than 16 00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:57,079 writing because you have a problem to 17 00:00:57,079 --> 00:00:58,719 solve you're no longer looking at an 18 00:00:58,719 --> 00:01:00,480 empty page with a flash 19 00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:03,239 cursor uh uh you have a problem to solve 20 00:01:03,239 --> 00:01:06,240 this thing doesn't work here because uh 21 00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:08,720 and uh and you can attack that specific 22 00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:11,240 problem I always recommend if you're 23 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:13,280 writing something to get to the end of 24 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:16,960 it before you start rewriting it uh so 25 00:01:16,960 --> 00:01:18,600 you're on page 25 you look down you 26 00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:19,960 haven't introduced the protagonist yet 27 00:01:19,960 --> 00:01:21,600 you haven't introduced the inciting 28 00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:25,320 action yet don't crumple up those 25 29 00:01:25,320 --> 00:01:27,439 pages and start again uh from page one 30 00:01:27,439 --> 00:01:30,600 unless you really want to unless it 31 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:33,320 really feels good get to the end get all 32 00:01:33,320 --> 00:01:38,040 the way to the end and get to page 400 33 00:01:38,040 --> 00:01:41,520 of this mon shapeless monstrosity uh uh 34 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:44,000 that you're putting 35 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:49,640 [Music] 36 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:53,119 together I don't know what sculptor it 37 00:01:53,119 --> 00:01:56,079 was uh who said this it was a famous 38 00:01:56,079 --> 00:02:00,320 sculpter who was asked uh uh you know 39 00:02:00,320 --> 00:02:04,079 how how did you sculpt that fantastic 40 00:02:04,079 --> 00:02:08,360 statue of uh of David uh uh and they'll 41 00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:11,879 say uh I look at a giant block of marble 42 00:02:11,879 --> 00:02:13,879 and I take away everything that isn't 43 00:02:13,879 --> 00:02:17,280 David uh now that's that's easy for the 44 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:19,920 sculptor to say it sounds really hard to 45 00:02:19,920 --> 00:02:23,920 me but if in writing terms get to the 46 00:02:23,920 --> 00:02:27,040 end of the thing that you're doing that 47 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:28,800 thing then once you've gotten to the end 48 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:31,519 of it that's your big block of Marvel uh 49 00:02:31,519 --> 00:02:33,360 okay 50 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:37,200 that again that that 51 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:40,800 clunky monstrosity this unwieldy thing 52 00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:43,200 that doesn't work uh that's your block 53 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:45,599 of marble but when you get to the end 54 00:02:45,599 --> 00:02:47,200 you're going to know more about it than 55 00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:49,040 you did at the beginning you're going to 56 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:51,239 realize we talked about the American 57 00:02:51,239 --> 00:02:54,640 president and that 300 almost 400 page 58 00:02:54,640 --> 00:02:58,200 uh a screenplay that had so much in it 59 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:00,440 that wasn't 60 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:03,120 Sydney and uh and the president that 61 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:05,879 that that wasn't that conflict to get to 62 00:03:05,879 --> 00:03:08,200 the American president I just took away 63 00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:11,319 everything that wasn't that uh and 64 00:03:11,319 --> 00:03:13,640 that's what we were left with uh but I 65 00:03:13,640 --> 00:03:16,280 only was able to do that by by writing 66 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:17,799 the 400 page 67 00:03:17,799 --> 00:03:20,480 monstrosity uh and realizing okay where 68 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:24,000 this thing lives is in the Love Story 69 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:26,319 between these two people so I recommend 70 00:03:26,319 --> 00:03:28,680 getting to the end of uh of what you're 71 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:31,519 doing uh and then saying okay I I know 72 00:03:31,519 --> 00:03:32,680 what this is 73 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:36,360 now one of my favorite screenplays 74 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:39,400 certainly of the last 10 years and and 75 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:41,840 possibly of all time is Tony Kushner 76 00:03:41,840 --> 00:03:44,319 screenplay for the movie Lincoln uh 77 00:03:44,319 --> 00:03:47,680 which also was originally four or 500 78 00:03:47,680 --> 00:03:50,120 pages when he turned it into Steven 79 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:52,879 Spielberg uh and they looked at it and 80 00:03:52,879 --> 00:03:55,760 said you know the the the part of this 81 00:03:55,760 --> 00:03:57,200 we should do is the part where he's 82 00:03:57,200 --> 00:03:59,599 trying to get the 13th Amendment passed 83 00:03:59,599 --> 00:04:02,239 uh uh and Krishna proceeded to take away 84 00:04:02,239 --> 00:04:04,799 everything that wasn't that uh and ended 85 00:04:04,799 --> 00:04:06,519 up with a fantastic movie about Lincoln 86 00:04:06,519 --> 00:04:08,920 trying to pass the 13th Amendment and 87 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:10,319 slavery and end the Civil War at the 88 00:04:10,319 --> 00:04:11,680 same 89 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:14,799 time so get to the end uh before you 90 00:04:14,799 --> 00:04:18,880 start rewriting then go back to the 91 00:04:20,519 --> 00:04:22,520 [Music] 92 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:27,199 beginning the really tough test uh is if 93 00:04:27,199 --> 00:04:29,320 the thing works without it it shouldn't 94 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:30,800 be there 95 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:33,560 uh uh if you can cut it then you should 96 00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:36,280 cut it it's called killing Your Darlings 97 00:04:36,280 --> 00:04:40,400 um uh and uh a lot of it is that 98 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:44,639 it's hard to do uh because you'll have 99 00:04:44,639 --> 00:04:47,039 written something that you love a a 100 00:04:47,039 --> 00:04:50,120 really good joke uh a really Snappy line 101 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:53,280 a really good scene and uh you'll 102 00:04:53,280 --> 00:04:54,639 discover usually because it's been 103 00:04:54,639 --> 00:04:57,080 pointed out for you uh by the person 104 00:04:57,080 --> 00:04:59,440 that you're working with you that you 105 00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:01,600 don't need it uh uh that it's 106 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:04,520 unnecessary that you uh 107 00:05:04,520 --> 00:05:07,960 uh went off on on a little detour and 108 00:05:07,960 --> 00:05:10,320 you need to come back to uh to the 109 00:05:10,320 --> 00:05:14,759 freeway and uh cutting that thing really 110 00:05:14,759 --> 00:05:17,520 for me and it's probably an ego thing 111 00:05:17,520 --> 00:05:20,240 it's it's the hardest thing in the world 112 00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:21,479 I really 113 00:05:21,479 --> 00:05:24,240 admire uh there are writers for instance 114 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:28,360 the con Brothers uh uh 115 00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:32,600 who if you remember Fargo uh there's a 116 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:34,680 great scene in Fargo where Francis 117 00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:38,560 mcdorman meets with uh an old classmate 118 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:41,000 of hers from high school they have lunch 119 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:41,759 at the 120 00:05:41,759 --> 00:05:45,800 Rison uh and uh he clearly has feelings 121 00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:48,600 for Francis mcdorman Francis mcdorman 122 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:51,400 finds out later that he's having mental 123 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:53,520 or emotional problems that his wife 124 00:05:53,520 --> 00:05:55,720 didn't die that all these things that he 125 00:05:55,720 --> 00:06:00,240 was saying weren't true you that scene 126 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:02,000 doesn't have anything to do with the 127 00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:03,960 rest of the movie that story doesn't 128 00:06:03,960 --> 00:06:05,280 have anything to do with the rest of the 129 00:06:05,280 --> 00:06:09,039 movie and I love that the cons did it uh 130 00:06:09,039 --> 00:06:12,039 uh it it it feels right like tonally 131 00:06:12,039 --> 00:06:14,080 it's eerie and it it and it feels right 132 00:06:14,080 --> 00:06:16,319 in the movie and it's one of those 133 00:06:16,319 --> 00:06:18,400 scenes where if the con Brothers weren't 134 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:21,080 as you know powerful uh as they are if 135 00:06:21,080 --> 00:06:22,599 the con brothers were brand new on the 136 00:06:22,599 --> 00:06:25,800 scene a studio executive would say cut 137 00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:27,759 that scene but since nobody tells the 138 00:06:27,759 --> 00:06:30,120 con Brothers to cut a scene get to do 139 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:32,400 that kind of thing um I I'll tell you 140 00:06:32,400 --> 00:06:36,919 another story I I I I saw um an early 141 00:06:36,919 --> 00:06:39,800 screening of Paul Thomas Anderson's film 142 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:44,039 Magnolia okay um uh and uh I was 143 00:06:44,039 --> 00:06:46,720 watching it with Gary Ross the uh uh the 144 00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:49,520 great writer director Gary Ross we 145 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:51,120 watched the movie and the cut that we 146 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:53,800 saw was about 3 hours and 20 minutes 147 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:57,599 long and the movie was over and it's 148 00:06:57,599 --> 00:06:59,319 it's kind of an epic Masterpiece from 149 00:06:59,319 --> 00:07:04,639 from PTA and uh um and Gary Ross said 150 00:07:04,639 --> 00:07:08,000 you know what uh he needs to cut 30 151 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:10,319 minutes from the movie but I would never 152 00:07:10,319 --> 00:07:13,000 want to tell him which 30 minutes for 153 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:14,879 fear that I would accidentally be 154 00:07:14,879 --> 00:07:18,599 cutting some Real Genius uh uh 155 00:07:18,599 --> 00:07:22,240 and I I 156 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:25,960 personally like movies like that uh or 157 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:28,039 plays like that or television shows like 158 00:07:28,039 --> 00:07:30,680 that uh where 159 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:34,319 not everything uh is plot plot plot plot 160 00:07:34,319 --> 00:07:37,599 plot plot plot uh uh where you can take 161 00:07:37,599 --> 00:07:40,960 a moment and and breathe and if you're 162 00:07:40,960 --> 00:07:43,240 good enough the way Joel and Ethan CL 163 00:07:43,240 --> 00:07:44,800 are if you're good enough the way Paul 164 00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:47,599 Thomas Anderson is you can earn those 165 00:07:47,599 --> 00:07:49,840 moments but those moments do have to be 166 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:52,800 earned 1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,900 [Music] 2 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:14,280 as a writer um uh you're going to 3 00:00:14,280 --> 00:00:16,960 develop over a course of time a 4 00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:20,199 relationship with someone hopefully two 5 00:00:20,199 --> 00:00:23,279 three four people uh who you really like 6 00:00:23,279 --> 00:00:27,000 talking about your work with you uh uh 7 00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:29,359 they they're speaking in a vocabulary 8 00:00:29,359 --> 00:00:30,880 you understand 9 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:34,360 uh uh you trust their taste it it takes 10 00:00:34,360 --> 00:00:37,200 a while uh uh to collect them I I would 11 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:41,680 say that uh uh for me um the big people 12 00:00:41,680 --> 00:00:43,879 for me obviously Bill Goldman uh uh who 13 00:00:43,879 --> 00:00:46,559 you've heard me mention but then came 14 00:00:46,559 --> 00:00:49,480 along uh a guy with a funny name Tommy 15 00:00:49,480 --> 00:00:53,199 schami okay uh uh he's Thomas schamy 16 00:00:53,199 --> 00:00:55,000 professionally but uh everybody knows 17 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:58,039 him as Tommy why he doesn't call himself 18 00:00:58,039 --> 00:01:04,000 Tom he's a big 6'5 inch Texan um uh and 19 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:06,560 for my money uh the best director in 20 00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:09,439 television he and I did Sports night 21 00:01:09,439 --> 00:01:10,880 together he was the other executive 22 00:01:10,880 --> 00:01:13,200 producer and uh and principal director 23 00:01:13,200 --> 00:01:15,000 of sports night same thing on The West 24 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:19,119 Wing same thing on uh uh Studio 60 and 25 00:01:19,119 --> 00:01:22,600 uh with Tommy I felt I had a great 26 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:26,840 creative uh uh collaborator uh that um 27 00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:29,640 we understood each other we had respect 28 00:01:29,640 --> 00:01:31,320 for the the other person's job and knew 29 00:01:31,320 --> 00:01:33,479 that we couldn't really do the other 30 00:01:33,479 --> 00:01:35,759 person's job uh we understood and 31 00:01:35,759 --> 00:01:37,079 respected the way the other person 32 00:01:37,079 --> 00:01:40,439 worked and I liked talking to him uh 33 00:01:40,439 --> 00:01:43,600 about uh my material another person is 34 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:46,680 Scott Ruden uh the producer of The 35 00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:50,159 Social Network Money Ball Steve Jobs um 36 00:01:50,159 --> 00:01:52,640 and I expect a lot of things uh uh that 37 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:54,439 I'll do in the future Scott's one of the 38 00:01:54,439 --> 00:01:57,119 best producers of both plays and uh and 39 00:01:57,119 --> 00:02:00,719 movies around and he is a great for me a 40 00:02:00,719 --> 00:02:06,680 a a great great script editor um and 41 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:08,679 then one or 42 00:02:08,679 --> 00:02:13,440 two civilian uh uh friends um my for 43 00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:16,080 instance my assistant Lauren lman um 44 00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:18,480 who's not quite a civilian she's uh uh 45 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:22,400 she's in Show Business uh but um uh you 46 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:26,200 know I'll I'll give her pages and her 47 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:30,080 reactions will range from I'm faking it 48 00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:34,040 polite um you know good job uh Aaron to 49 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:36,400 I can tell when she genuinely uh likes 50 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:39,400 something but I can also tell again if 51 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:42,319 it's comprehensible if uh uh if the 52 00:02:42,319 --> 00:02:45,000 story landed or or if did did too much 53 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:46,560 of it stay in my head and not make it 54 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:50,560 onto the paper so those are the 55 00:02:54,640 --> 00:02:58,040 people you really want to be careful uh 56 00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:01,080 about who you're listening to be polite 57 00:03:01,080 --> 00:03:03,200 to everybody uh you can pretend you're 58 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:05,040 listening to everybody and be polite and 59 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:07,080 thank them um but but you really want to 60 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:10,640 be careful about who you're listening to 61 00:03:10,640 --> 00:03:12,159 uh if if you're 62 00:03:12,159 --> 00:03:14,840 lucky you're talking to someone whether 63 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:18,599 they're your producer your director your 64 00:03:18,599 --> 00:03:23,200 your friend uh you're talking to someone 65 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:27,720 who's smart who understands scripts and 66 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:30,319 who understands the way you write 67 00:03:30,319 --> 00:03:33,879 okay uh what you don't want in in a 68 00:03:33,879 --> 00:03:35,400 script editor if you're talking to your 69 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:39,159 friend who's also a screenwriter um you 70 00:03:39,159 --> 00:03:40,959 want to make sure 71 00:03:40,959 --> 00:03:43,760 that they're not trying to write your 72 00:03:43,760 --> 00:03:46,599 script the way they would write it you 73 00:03:46,599 --> 00:03:50,560 know um uh boy there's an awful lot of 74 00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:52,760 talking uh uh in this thing you got to 75 00:03:52,760 --> 00:03:55,000 cut out that talking and put in more 76 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:59,720 action um I 77 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:05,079 it's it you're probably not going to 78 00:04:05,079 --> 00:04:07,920 find that person uh right off the bat 79 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:09,439 much like you're probably not going to 80 00:04:09,439 --> 00:04:11,640 marry the first person you went on a 81 00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:15,480 date with uh but uh try to find that 82 00:04:15,480 --> 00:04:16,959 person and once you find that person 83 00:04:16,959 --> 00:04:18,600 don't you know keep them in your pocket 84 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:20,040 don't lose 85 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:25,160 [Music] 86 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:28,160 them with a Few Good Men that play and 87 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:30,120 that was my first professional uh 88 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:32,080 experience we had our out of town try 89 00:04:32,080 --> 00:04:35,160 out at the Kennedy Center in Washington 90 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:37,320 and I was standing in uh the back of the 91 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:39,479 theater and the watching the play the 92 00:04:39,479 --> 00:04:41,960 play would be over the audience would uh 93 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:46,160 uh file out and uh two women uh came up 94 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:49,039 the aisle and one of them uh uh as they 95 00:04:49,039 --> 00:04:52,800 passed me said uh I like it I liked it 96 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:54,400 but I didn't think the second act was 97 00:04:54,400 --> 00:04:59,240 really structured uh right and uh after 98 00:04:59,240 --> 00:05:01,039 I was young then so after you know 99 00:05:01,039 --> 00:05:03,240 stomping my feet and uh and huffing and 100 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:05,080 puffing 101 00:05:05,080 --> 00:05:08,840 um this is what uh occurred to 102 00:05:08,840 --> 00:05:12,680 me those people um uh those two people 103 00:05:12,680 --> 00:05:14,720 don't really know anything about the 104 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:17,039 structure of the second act but 105 00:05:17,039 --> 00:05:19,160 something was stopping them from uh 106 00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:20,800 enjoying the second act as much as I 107 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:23,360 wanted them to do I want to address that 108 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:26,560 or or were they were they an anomaly 109 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:28,919 when I go into a doctor's office if I 110 00:05:28,919 --> 00:05:31,199 raise my arm and say hey Doc it hurts uh 111 00:05:31,199 --> 00:05:33,479 when I do that I think it's my rotator 112 00:05:33,479 --> 00:05:35,440 cuff and what I would do is operate 113 00:05:35,440 --> 00:05:37,199 using this kind of surgery and this kind 114 00:05:37,199 --> 00:05:38,880 of anesthetic and I would give it this 115 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:40,680 kind of treatment I really hope my 116 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:42,520 doctor stopped listening to me after it 117 00:05:42,520 --> 00:05:45,800 hurts when I uh uh do that because that 118 00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:48,360 was the only useful piece of information 119 00:05:48,360 --> 00:05:50,759 uh that I can give him at that point he 120 00:05:50,759 --> 00:05:52,800 is uh the expert and I don't know 121 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:54,830 anything 122 00:05:54,830 --> 00:06:00,960 [Music] 123 00:06:00,960 --> 00:06:03,400 here's what it looks like 124 00:06:03,400 --> 00:06:07,599 uh I I finished the first draft of the 125 00:06:07,599 --> 00:06:09,960 script I've sent it to New York I've 126 00:06:09,960 --> 00:06:14,919 sent it to Scott rudden um I at he calls 127 00:06:14,919 --> 00:06:19,680 me a few hours later and does a really 128 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:23,160 good job saying good job uh and uh why 129 00:06:23,160 --> 00:06:25,479 don't you fly here tomorrow morning um 130 00:06:25,479 --> 00:06:27,759 and we will as he calls it we'll start 131 00:06:27,759 --> 00:06:31,520 turning Pages uh so uh I'll go to New 132 00:06:31,520 --> 00:06:33,560 York and I'll pack a big suitcase 133 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:35,280 because I know I'm going to be there for 134 00:06:35,280 --> 00:06:38,479 a while um he he'll say a couple of days 135 00:06:38,479 --> 00:06:41,280 and it'll be three weeks I go to his 136 00:06:41,280 --> 00:06:45,160 office every morning uh 137 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:49,400 we Page by Page line by line uh we go 138 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:53,479 through the whole script uh and uh 139 00:06:53,479 --> 00:06:55,919 sometimes there's a large note like this 140 00:06:55,919 --> 00:06:58,160 whole thing this whole story with this 141 00:06:58,160 --> 00:07:01,199 character isn't working sometimes it's a 142 00:07:01,199 --> 00:07:03,199 small note uh that's just going to take 143 00:07:03,199 --> 00:07:05,440 an adjustment and I I hear all these 144 00:07:05,440 --> 00:07:08,039 notes I walk out of his office and by 145 00:07:08,039 --> 00:07:10,000 the time I'm pushing the button on the 146 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:13,360 elevator I want to kill myself uh 147 00:07:13,360 --> 00:07:18,360 because uh I I I realized that I was 148 00:07:18,360 --> 00:07:19,840 nodding my head in there but I don't 149 00:07:19,840 --> 00:07:22,039 know how to fix what he's asked me to 150 00:07:22,039 --> 00:07:25,800 fix um and uh it's going to be a long 151 00:07:25,800 --> 00:07:29,560 night and and and I hate that it wasn't 152 00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:31,960 perfect the first time you know I get 153 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:32,919 back to the 154 00:07:32,919 --> 00:07:35,280 hotel and I have the notes in front of 155 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:37,720 me and 156 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:42,479 uh I just start um uh you know the first 157 00:07:42,479 --> 00:07:43,759 note will 158 00:07:43,759 --> 00:07:47,199 be uh hopefully the first note is an 159 00:07:47,199 --> 00:07:49,039 easy one hopefully the first note will 160 00:07:49,039 --> 00:07:50,840 be You 161 00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:54,840 misspelled something um uh and I'll just 162 00:07:54,840 --> 00:07:57,639 start but I I what I really like doing 163 00:07:57,639 --> 00:07:59,199 the the notes are all written out on a 164 00:07:59,199 --> 00:08:01,919 piece of paper and I like Crossing them 165 00:08:01,919 --> 00:08:04,340 off uh uh as they get 166 00:08:04,340 --> 00:08:09,000 [Music] 167 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:11,440 done first of all if you're lucky if 168 00:08:11,440 --> 00:08:16,680 you're as lucky as I've been um you work 169 00:08:16,680 --> 00:08:19,680 you you get to work with uh a director 170 00:08:19,680 --> 00:08:22,240 or a producer who's a very good script 171 00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:25,879 editor uh who can sit down and direct 172 00:08:25,879 --> 00:08:30,280 you now direct me uh and 173 00:08:30,280 --> 00:08:33,440 uh you'll you'll take notes uh from that 174 00:08:33,440 --> 00:08:37,159 producer or director uh and if they're 175 00:08:37,159 --> 00:08:39,919 good those notes will be specific those 176 00:08:39,919 --> 00:08:42,959 notes won't be I think it needs to be 33 177 00:08:42,959 --> 00:08:46,720 and a half% funnier uh you will hear a 178 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:49,720 note 179 00:08:49,920 --> 00:08:53,519 and sometimes immediately sometimes the 180 00:08:53,519 --> 00:08:57,640 next day uh you'll say that's absolutely 181 00:08:57,640 --> 00:08:59,120 right I can't believe I didn't see that 182 00:08:59,120 --> 00:09:02,399 the first first time um it'll usually be 183 00:09:02,399 --> 00:09:04,279 uh you know I talked about uh uh Scott 184 00:09:04,279 --> 00:09:06,519 Ruden being a great script editor so is 185 00:09:06,519 --> 00:09:09,519 David Fincher uh uh David Fincher in 186 00:09:09,519 --> 00:09:12,200 addition directing The Social 187 00:09:12,200 --> 00:09:16,800 Network directed Fight Club seven gong 188 00:09:16,800 --> 00:09:20,640 girl uh uh he's one of the greatest 189 00:09:20,640 --> 00:09:22,760 directors of all time so I love giving 190 00:09:22,760 --> 00:09:25,640 him pages and uh hearing his thoughts he 191 00:09:25,640 --> 00:09:30,240 won't candy coat anything uh and usually 192 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:35,560 uh uh a a note from David will 193 00:09:35,560 --> 00:09:38,040 be this thing here that was just 194 00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:40,760 described we should see that uh uh 195 00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:42,920 that's a really good moment and and 196 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:45,600 you'll say God of course uh and if we 197 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:49,000 see it it'll it'll really land Tommy 198 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:51,320 will uh give a note that we'll always 199 00:09:51,320 --> 00:09:54,160 start with all right the bad writing 200 00:09:54,160 --> 00:09:58,200 version of it is um I've always loved 201 00:09:58,200 --> 00:10:02,600 you John don't don't you know that uh we 202 00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:06,160 we we need to hear him or her say I've 203 00:10:06,160 --> 00:10:08,720 always loved you now go and write that 204 00:10:08,720 --> 00:10:11,440 better than uh I've always loved you and 205 00:10:11,440 --> 00:10:13,190 that'll be the 206 00:10:13,190 --> 00:10:16,769 [Music] 207 00:10:18,360 --> 00:10:20,600 assignment generally the notes that I 208 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:22,760 get whether it's from David or Scott uh 209 00:10:22,760 --> 00:10:27,160 or or or anybody else will be centered 210 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:29,959 around the central conflict 211 00:10:29,959 --> 00:10:32,160 and bringing something into relief that 212 00:10:32,160 --> 00:10:34,440 that's just not quite landing hard 213 00:10:34,440 --> 00:10:38,120 enough yet that has to uh you know 214 00:10:38,120 --> 00:10:40,880 figure out a way to make it land harder 215 00:10:40,880 --> 00:10:42,920 so uh uh you know working with Scott 216 00:10:42,920 --> 00:10:45,079 Scott will know what it was I was going 217 00:10:45,079 --> 00:10:48,880 for um uh and he'll be able to tell me 218 00:10:48,880 --> 00:10:51,279 if I got it or not if it's clear or not 219 00:10:51,279 --> 00:10:53,279 that's the first thing you want to know 220 00:10:53,279 --> 00:10:54,920 when you've written a script not is it 221 00:10:54,920 --> 00:10:58,639 good or bad did I did you understand it 222 00:10:58,639 --> 00:11:00,839 did you 223 00:11:00,839 --> 00:11:03,000 as they say deliver the package 224 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:04,880 unharmed 225 00:11:04,880 --> 00:11:09,079 um and and then the notes just uh uh 226 00:11:09,079 --> 00:11:11,320 vary depending on what the thing is a 227 00:11:11,320 --> 00:11:15,120 note that I'll get a lot because I lots 228 00:11:15,120 --> 00:11:17,120 of times when I'm writing I sort of live 229 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:18,399 in this 230 00:11:18,399 --> 00:11:22,240 area uh that's almost melodrama uh uh 231 00:11:22,240 --> 00:11:24,920 you know um uh I I write romantically 232 00:11:24,920 --> 00:11:25,680 and 233 00:11:25,680 --> 00:11:29,360 idealistically uh and unchecked it can 234 00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:32,720 go into melodrama so uh a note that I'll 235 00:11:32,720 --> 00:11:37,160 get is uh this scene is kind of wet um 236 00:11:37,160 --> 00:11:43,839 uh which means uh I went too far in 237 00:11:44,760 --> 00:11:46,760 uh 238 00:11:46,760 --> 00:11:50,000 in an example of a scene that's too wet 239 00:11:50,000 --> 00:11:54,800 is you know just the amount of hugging 240 00:11:54,800 --> 00:11:59,040 and I love you and we did it uh uh when 241 00:11:59,040 --> 00:12:00,440 when when you start having the 242 00:12:00,440 --> 00:12:03,160 characters perform the emotion that you 243 00:12:03,160 --> 00:12:06,320 want the audience uh to be feeling uh 244 00:12:06,320 --> 00:12:09,680 there's a famous story about um uh Maria 245 00:12:09,680 --> 00:12:13,079 callus uh who was teaching uh a master 246 00:12:13,079 --> 00:12:16,639 class an opera uh uh master class and 247 00:12:16,639 --> 00:12:18,880 one of the students got up and sang a 248 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:22,800 very emotional ARA and the student uh uh 249 00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:25,800 began crying while singing the Arya and 250 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:28,800 Maria Callis uh got up smacked her 251 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:31,120 across the face and said I'm supposed to 252 00:12:31,120 --> 00:12:34,880 be crying not you um and uh I I don't 253 00:12:34,880 --> 00:12:36,480 recommend smacking anyone in the face 254 00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:39,120 but uh it's a good lesson the most 255 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:42,600 important note uh I'll give 256 00:12:42,600 --> 00:12:47,120 is either I don't buy the obstacle uh or 257 00:12:47,120 --> 00:12:50,320 uh I don't buy the intention why does 258 00:12:50,320 --> 00:12:56,079 she need uh uh to do this um uh uh why 259 00:12:56,079 --> 00:12:59,360 does she need to somehow get to the 260 00:12:59,360 --> 00:13:02,320 grocery store that's 5 miles away to get 261 00:13:02,320 --> 00:13:04,320 to buy a bottle of water when there's a 262 00:13:04,320 --> 00:13:07,240 bottle of water right next to her or 263 00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:09,199 when there are surely places that have 264 00:13:09,199 --> 00:13:12,959 water that aren't 5 miles away like the 265 00:13:12,959 --> 00:13:16,360 tap uh uh in your sink it's usually why 266 00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:19,800 does he or she need to do this uh that 267 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:22,820 you need to shore up 268 00:13:22,820 --> 00:13:27,600 [Music] 269 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:30,360 that well at some point in the process 270 00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:33,600 even without notes um uh even without a 271 00:13:33,600 --> 00:13:36,160 a goal that I need to go in there and uh 272 00:13:36,160 --> 00:13:39,079 cut 10 pages I need to go in there and 273 00:13:39,079 --> 00:13:42,839 make uh uh you know Eduardo's uh 274 00:13:42,839 --> 00:13:44,760 intention clearer in that scene even 275 00:13:44,760 --> 00:13:47,199 without notes at some point during the 276 00:13:47,199 --> 00:13:50,440 process I type the script all over again 277 00:13:50,440 --> 00:13:52,519 um I I will type the script all over 278 00:13:52,519 --> 00:13:56,399 again just because uh as a hedge against 279 00:13:56,399 --> 00:13:59,600 laziness um and here's what I mean 280 00:13:59,600 --> 00:14:01,160 the script is 281 00:14:01,160 --> 00:14:03,680 there everybody's happy there are no 282 00:14:03,680 --> 00:14:06,800 notes but I know that there's stuff in 283 00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:10,279 that script that's kind of first drafty 284 00:14:10,279 --> 00:14:13,720 uh still um it's it's still high school 285 00:14:13,720 --> 00:14:16,279 yearbook picture it's it's still well 286 00:14:16,279 --> 00:14:18,959 that that's a promising new writer there 287 00:14:18,959 --> 00:14:22,560 uh and it it's it's a a joke that's kind 288 00:14:22,560 --> 00:14:24,959 of that doesn't quite work that kind of 289 00:14:24,959 --> 00:14:29,800 thing and I won't go in and fix it 290 00:14:29,800 --> 00:14:33,560 uh unless again I if I retype the whole 291 00:14:33,560 --> 00:14:36,079 thing then when I get to that moment I'm 292 00:14:36,079 --> 00:14:37,720 automatically going to fix it I'm not 293 00:14:37,720 --> 00:14:40,480 going to retype that uh that bad line so 294 00:14:40,480 --> 00:14:44,279 at some point um uh just as a hedge uh 295 00:14:44,279 --> 00:14:49,279 against laziness as a hedge against uh 296 00:14:49,279 --> 00:14:52,560 you know my memory not uh uh being great 297 00:14:52,560 --> 00:14:54,759 uh I'll will retype the whole thing this 298 00:14:54,759 --> 00:14:59,279 is an addition to uh Surgical rewrites 299 00:14:59,279 --> 00:15:00,839 that I'm doing this is an addition to 300 00:15:00,839 --> 00:15:03,199 problem solving once all the problems uh 301 00:15:03,199 --> 00:15:04,800 have been solved or once we think they 302 00:15:04,800 --> 00:15:05,839 uh that all the problems have been 303 00:15:05,839 --> 00:15:10,639 solved uh I will retype the script twice 304 00:15:10,639 --> 00:15:13,440 once with a copy of the screenplay uh 305 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:15,199 next to me and I'm just retyping it and 306 00:15:15,199 --> 00:15:18,680 you know that line is weak uh um uh and 307 00:15:18,680 --> 00:15:21,360 I'll try to do better and one time I'll 308 00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:23,920 retype the whole thing from memory uh 309 00:15:23,920 --> 00:15:26,519 and there are times when you're doing it 310 00:15:26,519 --> 00:15:29,639 without it that you are able to write a 311 00:15:29,639 --> 00:15:32,199 scene better uh uh that you you found 312 00:15:32,199 --> 00:15:36,639 something new that you uh didn't write 313 00:15:36,639 --> 00:15:38,440 something that was 314 00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:40,639 unnecessary uh uh that kind of thing so 315 00:15:40,639 --> 00:15:42,680 I do it I do both do you know what some 316 00:15:42,680 --> 00:15:45,279 people do um uh this isn't when they're 317 00:15:45,279 --> 00:15:48,079 working on a script this is when uh uh 318 00:15:48,079 --> 00:15:50,079 they're they're starting out this is a a 319 00:15:50,079 --> 00:15:54,519 thing for new writers they will take a 320 00:15:54,519 --> 00:15:56,000 really good screenplay they'll take 321 00:15:56,000 --> 00:15:58,120 Butch casting in the Sundance Kid and 322 00:15:58,120 --> 00:15:59,839 they'll put it next to to them and they 323 00:15:59,839 --> 00:16:03,399 will type P casting in the Sundance Kid 324 00:16:03,399 --> 00:16:06,000 in the hope and it works 325 00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:10,360 sometimes that um that William Goldman 326 00:16:10,360 --> 00:16:15,079 will osmosis into uh uh them somehow 327 00:16:15,079 --> 00:16:19,600 that just the action of typing who are 328 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:23,800 those guys or um I can't swim uh 329 00:16:23,800 --> 00:16:29,120 will uh will be a lesson for them uh I I 330 00:16:29,120 --> 00:16:30,839 I know novelists who do that with Mark 331 00:16:30,839 --> 00:16:33,399 Twain uh and I know screenwriters who do 332 00:16:33,399 --> 00:16:36,800 that with the great screenwriters 1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,910 [Music] 2 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:08,320 we wanted to as part of 3 00:00:08,320 --> 00:00:13,480 this uh try Rec recreating a writer's 4 00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:17,080 room okay uh but here's the 5 00:00:17,080 --> 00:00:19,680 problem there in in script writing there 6 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:22,119 there are two big parts of script 7 00:00:22,119 --> 00:00:24,480 writing one is the fun 8 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:28,080 part and one is the agonizing part the 9 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:31,160 fun part is the writing um uh just the 10 00:00:31,160 --> 00:00:34,920 the the actual writing of it is is 11 00:00:34,920 --> 00:00:37,239 fun it's the thinking of what you're 12 00:00:37,239 --> 00:00:41,360 going to write that is just agonizing 13 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:44,760 because you can't um force yourself to 14 00:00:44,760 --> 00:00:47,960 think at least if your job was digging 15 00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:51,840 ditches as backbreaking and thankless as 16 00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:54,280 that might be at least you know what 17 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:56,680 you're supposed to do right you show up 18 00:00:56,680 --> 00:00:58,600 to work and there's a shovel and 19 00:00:58,600 --> 00:01:00,960 somebody points and says dig a five foot 20 00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:04,119 ditch uh uh there like I said it's not a 21 00:01:04,119 --> 00:01:06,280 job I would want to have and I tip my 22 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:08,640 cap to those who have it but at least 23 00:01:08,640 --> 00:01:11,720 you know what you're supposed to do okay 24 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:14,520 um uh by the way same thing with 25 00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:17,680 directors directing is a really hard job 26 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:19,159 but at least when you come to work in 27 00:01:19,159 --> 00:01:20,920 the morning there's a set of 28 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:24,520 instructions for you it's a script we 29 00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:27,880 have this okay it it it's just a blank 30 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:30,439 piece of paper with nothing on it and 31 00:01:30,439 --> 00:01:34,880 it's a soul crushing experience because 32 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:38,960 you humans are not able to make themsel 33 00:01:38,960 --> 00:01:41,799 force themselves to come up with ideas 34 00:01:41,799 --> 00:01:43,320 okay you can't 35 00:01:43,320 --> 00:01:46,520 go and uh and have it happen so when 36 00:01:46,520 --> 00:01:48,920 they talked to me about you know how can 37 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:51,840 we have a uh uh sort of virtual writer 38 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:55,119 room in here I balked because I said 39 00:01:55,119 --> 00:01:57,719 it's going to be mostly filming people 40 00:01:57,719 --> 00:02:01,240 lying down on couches and and and not 41 00:02:01,240 --> 00:02:03,880 having any ideas and I thought to 42 00:02:03,880 --> 00:02:06,920 perhaps cut through that we'd do 43 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:09,360 something a little crazy uh which is 44 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:13,239 this uh I left the westwing after season 45 00:02:13,239 --> 00:02:16,120 four okay I wrote the first four uh uh 46 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:17,440 Seasons with the exception of two 47 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:20,480 episodes um uh and I left at the end of 48 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:21,560 uh season 49 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:25,040 4 I have not seen an episode of The West 50 00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:29,160 Wing from seasons 5 six uh and 7even um 51 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:31,120 uh there's 52 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:34,680 there's a reason why I um uh when it was 53 00:02:34,680 --> 00:02:36,080 announced that I was leaving the show 54 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:39,640 Larry David uh called me he he had left 55 00:02:39,640 --> 00:02:42,599 Seinfeld before Seinfeld was over um and 56 00:02:42,599 --> 00:02:44,519 he said listen you can never watch the 57 00:02:44,519 --> 00:02:46,200 show again you can never watch the 58 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:48,599 westwing again um because either it's 59 00:02:48,599 --> 00:02:50,680 going to be really great without you and 60 00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:52,440 you're going to be miserable or it's 61 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:54,120 going to be less than great without you 62 00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:55,560 and you're going to be miserable but 63 00:02:55,560 --> 00:02:57,640 either way you're going to be miserable 64 00:02:57,640 --> 00:02:59,519 and I thought well it's Larry David he's 65 00:02:59,519 --> 00:03:02,800 professional miserable so um uh I had 66 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:06,280 them send me episode 501 the season 5 67 00:03:06,280 --> 00:03:08,120 episode one I had it was on half inch 68 00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:09,560 tape that's how he looked at things back 69 00:03:09,560 --> 00:03:12,159 then uh I had them sent uh to my house a 70 00:03:12,159 --> 00:03:14,040 couple of days before it aired popped it 71 00:03:14,040 --> 00:03:19,840 in the VCR uh hit play and I don't think 72 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:23,159 20 seconds went by before I left the TV 73 00:03:23,159 --> 00:03:26,159 and slammed it off not because it was 74 00:03:26,159 --> 00:03:28,480 fantastic or less than fantastic but 75 00:03:28,480 --> 00:03:29,959 simply because it was like watch 76 00:03:29,959 --> 00:03:32,560 somebody make out with my girlfriend um 77 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:35,360 uh Donna was speaking words that uh uh 78 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:37,040 that I didn't write you know Josh was 79 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:40,720 saying these and uh for me it was uh uh 80 00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:43,640 tough so I Then followed lus advice I I 81 00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:45,120 I didn't watch any of the episodes so I 82 00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:49,799 don't know what they did um uh with the 83 00:03:49,799 --> 00:03:52,120 leave uh uh that I gave them leave 84 00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:53,239 anybody play 85 00:03:53,239 --> 00:03:58,000 pool okay uh a leave and pool is you're 86 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:01,200 not just interested in in uh in getting 87 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:03,480 that particular ball uh in the pocket 88 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:05,360 you care about the leave where you're 89 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:07,439 looking at the next five shots uh I'm 90 00:04:07,439 --> 00:04:08,840 going to hit that ball so the Q ball is 91 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:10,400 going to end up there which lines up 92 00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:12,200 with that and the Q ball end up there 93 00:04:12,200 --> 00:04:14,319 and that's you're looking five shots uh 94 00:04:14,319 --> 00:04:18,479 ahead at the end of season 4 there was a 95 00:04:18,479 --> 00:04:21,840 good leave um uh uh and I did that on 96 00:04:21,840 --> 00:04:24,120 purpose because I didn't want the uh the 97 00:04:24,120 --> 00:04:26,120 new gang to have to be staring at the 98 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:28,040 white piece of paper uh I wanted to give 99 00:04:28,040 --> 00:04:30,479 them uh a healthy Le 100 00:04:30,479 --> 00:04:32,840 uh uh that they could deal with I don't 101 00:04:32,840 --> 00:04:36,520 know what they did but let's review for 102 00:04:36,520 --> 00:04:39,320 a second where we left off at the end of 103 00:04:39,320 --> 00:04:42,280 season 4 because together we are going 104 00:04:42,280 --> 00:04:46,039 to break not right but break uh the 105 00:04:46,039 --> 00:04:50,320 teaser and First Act of episode 501 of 106 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:53,080 the westwing it's entirely possible that 107 00:04:53,080 --> 00:04:55,560 we'll do the exact same thing that uh uh 108 00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:58,479 that they did um by the way has anybody 109 00:04:58,479 --> 00:05:01,560 here seen episode 501 season 5 episode 110 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:04,840 one I've done my best to forget it okay 111 00:05:04,840 --> 00:05:08,039 um let's talk about where we left off um 112 00:05:08,039 --> 00:05:11,520 uh with uh episode I I guess uh 113 00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:15,280 422 um uh which was an episode called 114 00:05:15,280 --> 00:05:19,639 25 titled after the 25th Amendment um 115 00:05:19,639 --> 00:05:22,520 which gives con give gives the uh the 116 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:26,080 cabinet uh the power to uh REM 117 00:05:26,080 --> 00:05:28,039 temporarily remove the president from 118 00:05:28,039 --> 00:05:31,479 office if he is mentally 119 00:05:31,479 --> 00:05:35,039 incapacitated um I without that it's 120 00:05:35,039 --> 00:05:37,000 kind of interesting um the vice 121 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:38,400 president is not the president's 122 00:05:38,400 --> 00:05:40,840 understudy um uh if if the president 123 00:05:40,840 --> 00:05:43,319 gets sick power doesn't automatically 124 00:05:43,319 --> 00:05:46,039 shift to uh to the vice president the 125 00:05:46,039 --> 00:05:47,840 only circumstance under which the vice 126 00:05:47,840 --> 00:05:50,400 president can assume power is if the 127 00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:53,520 president is dead or if the cabinet has 128 00:05:53,520 --> 00:05:55,520 invoke the 25th uh Amendment those are 129 00:05:55,520 --> 00:05:57,280 the only 130 00:05:57,280 --> 00:06:02,240 circumstances Bartlett in season 1 131 00:06:02,240 --> 00:06:06,199 described foretold exactly what happens 132 00:06:06,199 --> 00:06:11,199 uh uh at the end of uh uh season 4 when 133 00:06:11,199 --> 00:06:15,840 Zoe played by Elizabeth Moss um kind of 134 00:06:15,840 --> 00:06:18,680 messes around with her Secret Service uh 135 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:21,440 uh detail and tries to give him the slip 136 00:06:21,440 --> 00:06:24,039 uh Bartlett purposely scares the hell 137 00:06:24,039 --> 00:06:26,199 out of her by explaining to her that the 138 00:06:26,199 --> 00:06:28,160 secret service's nightmare scenario is 139 00:06:28,160 --> 00:06:31,280 not him getting uh uh shot there's a 140 00:06:31,280 --> 00:06:33,720 constitutional mechanism for the uh uh 141 00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:34,919 president getting killed the vice 142 00:06:34,919 --> 00:06:37,840 president uh uh takes power big deal um 143 00:06:37,840 --> 00:06:40,680 their nightmare scenario is the 144 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:43,080 president's kid getting kidnapped and it 145 00:06:43,080 --> 00:06:45,759 always is anytime the president has a 146 00:06:45,759 --> 00:06:48,000 little kid they don't talk about it you 147 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:50,039 don't see articles about what happens if 148 00:06:50,039 --> 00:06:52,360 Sasha or Malia uh uh get kidnapped they 149 00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:54,759 don't want to give anybody any uh ideas 150 00:06:54,759 --> 00:06:58,000 but that is the nightmare scenario what 151 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:00,280 happens if 152 00:07:00,280 --> 00:07:02,800 Al Qaeda or Isis uh takes the 153 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:06,400 president's kid hostage and even before 154 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:09,560 they make demands like let the following 155 00:07:09,560 --> 00:07:12,879 prisoners out of jail or point a bomb a 156 00:07:12,879 --> 00:07:15,080 missile at Israel um or or we're going 157 00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:17,120 to Slit your daughter's throat even 158 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:19,080 before that you simply you no longer 159 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:22,360 have I'm the father of a daughter um uh 160 00:07:22,360 --> 00:07:23,639 uh you no longer have a 161 00:07:23,639 --> 00:07:26,120 commander-in-chief you have an out of 162 00:07:26,120 --> 00:07:31,520 his mind father um uh who is not going 163 00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:34,319 to be really can't be trusted to make 164 00:07:34,319 --> 00:07:36,280 these decisions and Bartlett 165 00:07:36,280 --> 00:07:38,639 understanding that uh uh in the episode 166 00:07:38,639 --> 00:07:42,560 25 goes to the cabinet and has them uh 167 00:07:42,560 --> 00:07:45,159 uh invoke the 25th Amendment but we're 168 00:07:45,159 --> 00:07:48,240 not up to the nightmare uh uh part yet 169 00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:50,199 he invokes the 25th Amendment and in 170 00:07:50,199 --> 00:07:52,680 this case uh uh remember there's no vice 171 00:07:52,680 --> 00:07:54,840 president now because I got rid of hins 172 00:07:54,840 --> 00:07:57,599 uh a couple of episodes earlier uh uh to 173 00:07:57,599 --> 00:08:00,400 line this all up the 174 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:01,840 next in the line of succession as the 175 00:08:01,840 --> 00:08:05,000 speaker of the house right John Goodman 176 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:06,599 uh I cannot remember his character's 177 00:08:06,599 --> 00:08:14,000 name w w Walkin thank you Glen Glen nice 178 00:08:14,919 --> 00:08:17,039 uh that's a good name I wonder where I 179 00:08:17,039 --> 00:08:19,199 got that from seriously Christopher 180 00:08:19,199 --> 00:08:21,960 Walkin um it's yeah Christopher Walkin 181 00:08:21,960 --> 00:08:24,440 maybe but Glenn Allen Glenn Allen I 182 00:08:24,440 --> 00:08:26,400 don't know where I got that from uh 183 00:08:26,400 --> 00:08:29,840 usually I get a lot of names from um uh 184 00:08:29,840 --> 00:08:31,680 College athletes I don't know just 185 00:08:31,680 --> 00:08:34,479 always have the best names um and I'll 186 00:08:34,479 --> 00:08:36,159 hear a name that I like a lot and I'll 187 00:08:36,159 --> 00:08:38,599 just try to imitate the Rhythm uh of 188 00:08:38,599 --> 00:08:40,519 that name 189 00:08:40,519 --> 00:08:45,000 um uh you know Santana Moss uh um you 190 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:46,800 can imitate the rhythm of that name 191 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:49,959 anyway the speaker who is not of the 192 00:08:49,959 --> 00:08:53,000 same party uh as Barlett needs to be 193 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:56,360 sworn in uh uh as 194 00:08:56,360 --> 00:09:00,760 president now what happens uh okay for 195 00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:03,399 forget for one second the clo and Dagger 196 00:09:03,399 --> 00:09:05,680 part of it of where is Zoe and how do we 197 00:09:05,680 --> 00:09:07,680 find her I will tell you that it was 198 00:09:07,680 --> 00:09:09,240 always my 199 00:09:09,240 --> 00:09:14,040 intention that annaira Smith was right 200 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:16,560 that this isn't a James Bond operation 201 00:09:16,560 --> 00:09:18,480 this isn't International Terror and 202 00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:20,120 we're going to find Zoe in the back of a 203 00:09:20,120 --> 00:09:23,360 muffler shop in uh in Upstate New York 204 00:09:23,360 --> 00:09:25,680 um and what inspired that by the way was 205 00:09:25,680 --> 00:09:30,200 I was reading about uh 206 00:09:30,200 --> 00:09:32,720 rapturous um I think that's what they're 207 00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:35,920 called uh people who want to hasten the 208 00:09:35,920 --> 00:09:39,160 end of the world uh because the you know 209 00:09:39,160 --> 00:09:41,440 good things will happen they believe 210 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:43,600 when the girl when when the world ends 211 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:45,000 uh so they've done this in order to 212 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:47,880 hasten the end of the world but what 213 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:52,279 happens now we are now in uh there's no 214 00:09:52,279 --> 00:09:55,160 precedent for this and it's kind of fun 215 00:09:55,160 --> 00:09:56,920 doing something on The West Wing that 216 00:09:56,920 --> 00:10:00,370 there's no precedent uh uh for 217 00:10:00,370 --> 00:10:01,680 [Music] 218 00:10:01,680 --> 00:10:06,000 um you've got the 219 00:10:06,040 --> 00:10:09,120 president I think he's still living in 220 00:10:09,120 --> 00:10:10,800 the residence I think that they've got 221 00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:13,519 him uh in the East Wing I think that 222 00:10:13,519 --> 00:10:16,120 John Goodman is there's no vice 223 00:10:16,120 --> 00:10:17,640 president anyway so you might as well 224 00:10:17,640 --> 00:10:19,519 put him at the Naval Observatory the 225 00:10:19,519 --> 00:10:22,800 vice president's house but what happens 226 00:10:22,800 --> 00:10:26,839 if Leo McGary is talking to the 227 00:10:26,839 --> 00:10:28,959 president the president hates the way 228 00:10:28,959 --> 00:10:32,120 John Goodman is handling something and 229 00:10:32,120 --> 00:10:34,279 Leo McGary loyal to the president starts 230 00:10:34,279 --> 00:10:37,200 to give a contradictory order uh uh what 231 00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:39,680 happens then uh those are the kind of 232 00:10:39,680 --> 00:10:43,920 arguments uh uh that I want to see what 233 00:10:43,920 --> 00:10:45,920 what kind of fight is going to take 234 00:10:45,920 --> 00:10:48,880 place between Josh uh uh and Leo about 235 00:10:48,880 --> 00:10:52,279 the sort of extra constitutionality of 236 00:10:52,279 --> 00:10:55,519 uh of what's going on also I did this 237 00:10:55,519 --> 00:10:57,399 without finding out something and I 238 00:10:57,399 --> 00:10:58,920 still don't know what the answer is and 239 00:10:58,920 --> 00:11:00,639 I'm going to give you some uh research 240 00:11:00,639 --> 00:11:02,880 homework to find out how does the 241 00:11:02,880 --> 00:11:05,440 president get reinstated um uh once the 242 00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:10,360 25th amendment has been uh installed 243 00:11:10,360 --> 00:11:13,200 what has to happen um uh does the 244 00:11:13,200 --> 00:11:15,000 president have to get reelected does the 245 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:18,760 cabinate uh uh reinstate him uh uh I I 246 00:11:18,760 --> 00:11:23,120 honestly have no answer but what I know 247 00:11:23,120 --> 00:11:27,040 is this we've got the 248 00:11:27,480 --> 00:11:31,240 teaser and then we've got a 249 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:36,639 one um now uh in the old days uh and 250 00:11:36,639 --> 00:11:40,519 this was uh like 2003 uh I think uh the 251 00:11:40,519 --> 00:11:43,519 format of one hour drama on network TV 252 00:11:43,519 --> 00:11:47,279 was a teaser and forax okay nowadays I'm 253 00:11:47,279 --> 00:11:50,279 pretty sure it's six acts uh is the way 254 00:11:50,279 --> 00:11:51,760 they do it in other words five 255 00:11:51,760 --> 00:11:54,920 commercial breaks uh of slightly longer 256 00:11:54,920 --> 00:11:58,079 a shorter uh uh duration what we did on 257 00:11:58,079 --> 00:12:01,519 the westwing was after the previously on 258 00:12:01,519 --> 00:12:04,440 we did the teaser or cold open uh as we 259 00:12:04,440 --> 00:12:08,600 called it um uh then smash cut to main 260 00:12:08,600 --> 00:12:11,720 titles uh and then the first act before 261 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:14,839 our first uh commercial break now we're 262 00:12:14,839 --> 00:12:17,720 coming back at the top of a new season 263 00:12:17,720 --> 00:12:21,720 we have got to tackle the exposition uh 264 00:12:21,720 --> 00:12:24,279 of what's going on here Exposition is 265 00:12:24,279 --> 00:12:27,199 one of the toughest things to do because 266 00:12:27,199 --> 00:12:29,240 uh it's an artificial thing that you're 267 00:12:29,240 --> 00:12:33,120 doing you're doing it uh for the sake 268 00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:36,160 of uh the audience knowing everything 269 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:38,880 they need to know in order to understand 270 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:44,160 uh uh what follows um uh and to do that 271 00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:46,880 you kind of you need to find uh a 272 00:12:46,880 --> 00:12:48,839 character more than one character who 273 00:12:48,839 --> 00:12:51,600 knows as little as the audience does uh 274 00:12:51,600 --> 00:12:54,199 uh right now uh now you might say well 275 00:12:54,199 --> 00:12:56,000 the audience knows 276 00:12:56,000 --> 00:12:58,560 everything that everybody knows uh cuz 277 00:12:58,560 --> 00:13:01,680 they were watching the show uh last 278 00:13:01,680 --> 00:13:05,240 season I I don't like to trust that over 279 00:13:05,240 --> 00:13:08,120 a three or four month summer Hiatus and 280 00:13:08,120 --> 00:13:09,880 everything they brought everything with 281 00:13:09,880 --> 00:13:13,000 them um so the stuff that's important I 282 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:17,199 want to tell them again um uh and uh and 283 00:13:17,199 --> 00:13:20,880 do it in a slightly different way 284 00:13:20,880 --> 00:13:23,480 uh so 285 00:13:23,480 --> 00:13:26,720 let's let's talk right now about all the 286 00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:30,079 balls that are up in the air 287 00:13:30,079 --> 00:13:33,839 um and and where we're going to go the 288 00:13:33,839 --> 00:13:35,720 biggest ball that's up in the air right 289 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:40,480 is that uh uh to Zoe is in danger all 290 00:13:40,480 --> 00:13:43,519 right uh the second is that Bartlett is 291 00:13:43,519 --> 00:13:45,880 no longer the president uh why don't we 292 00:13:45,880 --> 00:13:47,320 write some of these down who's got who 293 00:13:47,320 --> 00:13:50,000 prints nicely this chick right 294 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:54,800 here okay never never be the one in the 295 00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:57,560 room who PRS niely okay you should have 296 00:13:57,560 --> 00:14:01,040 just not said 297 00:14:01,759 --> 00:14:03,800 now it isn't even like for a whole 298 00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:05,600 season it's for the whole show you're 299 00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:07,800 now the one who does this oh now now I 300 00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:12,160 have something to do okay uh uh Zoe's 301 00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:14,839 missing 302 00:14:17,920 --> 00:14:20,399 okay you do right 303 00:14:20,399 --> 00:14:22,519 nice I don't know about the little 304 00:14:22,519 --> 00:14:24,480 circle above the 305 00:14:24,480 --> 00:14:29,440 eyes I'll live with it uh okay um 306 00:14:29,440 --> 00:14:32,160 Bartlett is not 307 00:14:32,160 --> 00:14:35,639 president Bartlett 308 00:14:37,240 --> 00:14:38,880 out 309 00:14:38,880 --> 00:14:44,519 uh okay um Toby uh just had twins Toby 310 00:14:44,519 --> 00:14:48,000 twins to's twins Toby's twins so happy 311 00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:51,360 for him me 312 00:14:51,360 --> 00:14:55,120 too uh it took us like 26 babies to sh 313 00:14:55,120 --> 00:14:57,639 that scene because it you for a good 314 00:14:57,639 --> 00:15:01,040 reason you you can't these are um we 315 00:15:01,040 --> 00:15:03,279 were working with like two or 3 week old 316 00:15:03,279 --> 00:15:05,079 uh uh newborns and you can't keep them 317 00:15:05,079 --> 00:15:07,759 under Hot Lights uh for more than 20 318 00:15:07,759 --> 00:15:10,880 seconds or so um and so you just kind of 319 00:15:10,880 --> 00:15:12,959 you go into a room filled with mothers 320 00:15:12,959 --> 00:15:16,800 and babies um and you uh you grab the 321 00:15:16,800 --> 00:15:18,800 two that aren't 322 00:15:18,800 --> 00:15:21,199 crying let's go let's go let's go let's 323 00:15:21,199 --> 00:15:23,800 go 324 00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:26,720 um okay am I am I forgetting anything 325 00:15:26,720 --> 00:15:28,240 there's also the deadline coming up for 326 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:31,560 the Sharie story going public mhm oh 327 00:15:31,560 --> 00:15:36,480 yeah um nice uh deadline on 328 00:15:39,279 --> 00:15:42,240 share anything else we still don't know 329 00:15:42,240 --> 00:15:45,160 who killed Molly I don't know if that's 330 00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:47,199 I think that's part of the Zoe's missing 331 00:15:47,199 --> 00:15:51,800 story um uh and that story The Zoe's 332 00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:54,079 missing story that's our tough one you 333 00:15:54,079 --> 00:15:55,560 can sit down now if you like you did a 334 00:15:55,560 --> 00:15:58,079 beautiful job thank you um it's it won't 335 00:15:58,079 --> 00:15:59,440 be the last time you'll be doing that 336 00:15:59,440 --> 00:16:01,440 I'm just saying you can take a little 337 00:16:01,440 --> 00:16:05,040 break uh this is going to be our 338 00:16:05,040 --> 00:16:07,160 toughest story 339 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:10,600 because um first of all I wrote it 340 00:16:10,600 --> 00:16:13,000 without knowing exactly what happened I 341 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:15,880 I I like going with the idea of of the 342 00:16:15,880 --> 00:16:18,279 rapturous but I don't know the mechanics 343 00:16:18,279 --> 00:16:22,480 of uh here here's what we know uh okay 344 00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:25,639 um uh Zoe is uh uh she went to a 345 00:16:25,639 --> 00:16:28,720 nightclub uh right on graduation night 346 00:16:28,720 --> 00:16:30,399 um tell me by the way if I'm remembering 347 00:16:30,399 --> 00:16:32,639 it wrong I haven't seen this episode in 348 00:16:32,639 --> 00:16:35,040 since it was on 349 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:37,639 um uh 350 00:16:37,639 --> 00:16:40,959 she gets ruied basically I mean with a 351 00:16:40,959 --> 00:16:44,360 really bad drug from her French 352 00:16:44,360 --> 00:16:48,199 boyfriend right uh right 353 00:16:48,199 --> 00:16:50,319 um I 354 00:16:50,319 --> 00:16:52,199 believe 355 00:16:52,199 --> 00:16:55,800 uh I think it was John Spencer um it was 356 00:16:55,800 --> 00:16:57,240 either John Spencer or Clark Greg the 357 00:16:57,240 --> 00:17:00,399 FBI agent one of them said uh uh we're 358 00:17:00,399 --> 00:17:01,600 going to find the drug dealer but he's 359 00:17:01,600 --> 00:17:04,240 going to be dead when we do yes okay uh 360 00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:08,600 I believe them uh uh okay um uh 361 00:17:08,600 --> 00:17:12,720 so plainly a drug dealer was hired by 362 00:17:12,720 --> 00:17:16,919 somebody to give 363 00:17:16,919 --> 00:17:20,959 the French boyfriend a bad 364 00:17:20,959 --> 00:17:23,480 drug which he gave I think he thought he 365 00:17:23,480 --> 00:17:26,760 was giving Zoe ecstasy um uh uh because 366 00:17:26,760 --> 00:17:30,200 they had talked about that uh 367 00:17:30,200 --> 00:17:35,679 so I'm very bad at cops and robbers uh 368 00:17:35,679 --> 00:17:38,320 plots and it's not what the West Wing 369 00:17:38,320 --> 00:17:42,000 does uh okay um uh the westwing isn't a 370 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:45,520 clo and Dagger show uh and it's not like 371 00:17:45,520 --> 00:17:49,640 you know Toby and CJ are gonna go out 372 00:17:49,640 --> 00:17:52,679 there and solve this crime or anything 373 00:17:52,679 --> 00:17:56,679 our conduit to the to the Crim solving 374 00:17:56,679 --> 00:18:01,120 world is Clark Greg asent Casper was his 375 00:18:01,120 --> 00:18:02,559 name 376 00:18:02,559 --> 00:18:07,320 right sounds right yeah um uh uh as the 377 00:18:07,320 --> 00:18:12,080 FBI leaon so we can hear what's going on 378 00:18:12,080 --> 00:18:14,200 um that they just found this clue or 379 00:18:14,200 --> 00:18:16,480 they just raided this place uh but we're 380 00:18:16,480 --> 00:18:19,919 not going to see it 381 00:18:19,919 --> 00:18:25,280 and I'm also conflicted because uh and 382 00:18:25,280 --> 00:18:27,760 what I'm doing now is I'm I'm giving you 383 00:18:27,760 --> 00:18:31,679 a vague the very vague uh idea of what 384 00:18:31,679 --> 00:18:33,559 I'm looking for and then together we're 385 00:18:33,559 --> 00:18:35,799 going to break it we're going to come up 386 00:18:35,799 --> 00:18:39,039 uh with these plots 1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:08,160 [Music] 2 00:00:08,160 --> 00:00:12,120 I would love for the Zoe's missing story 3 00:00:12,120 --> 00:00:13,719 for that clo and Dagger thing I would 4 00:00:13,719 --> 00:00:15,320 love for that to be over at the end of 5 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:19,279 this episode but I don't think I can 6 00:00:19,279 --> 00:00:22,279 because maybe I can I I don't know 7 00:00:22,279 --> 00:00:25,119 because what I really like uh to me like 8 00:00:25,119 --> 00:00:31,040 where the good stuff is is Bartlett the 9 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:35,960 powerless king um uh uh in his residence 10 00:00:35,960 --> 00:00:38,680 basically under guard I mean we're in 11 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:42,020 Shakespearean uh uh territory now 12 00:00:42,020 --> 00:00:43,200 [Music] 13 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:47,039 um and his loyal 14 00:00:47,039 --> 00:00:50,920 staff uh having to deal with not being 15 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:52,879 able to take his instructions and is 16 00:00:52,879 --> 00:00:56,480 somebody or more than one somebody uh uh 17 00:00:56,480 --> 00:00:59,840 going to 18 00:01:00,239 --> 00:01:03,239 betray President John Goodman um uh and 19 00:01:03,239 --> 00:01:05,360 probably break break the law uh in the 20 00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:07,479 process like I I wouldn't mind if that 21 00:01:07,479 --> 00:01:09,119 went on for a couple of episodes maybe 22 00:01:09,119 --> 00:01:10,439 it doesn't have to maybe we can wrap it 23 00:01:10,439 --> 00:01:16,119 all up uh uh in this in this one 24 00:01:16,119 --> 00:01:18,880 um so what we need to 25 00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:21,680 do is 26 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:25,560 uh reverse engineer what happened to Zoe 27 00:01:25,560 --> 00:01:28,759 um figure out how we figure it out um 28 00:01:28,759 --> 00:01:30,759 how how they're caught 29 00:01:30,759 --> 00:01:33,479 uh I I'm assuming that we want Zoe to 30 00:01:33,479 --> 00:01:36,320 live she doesn't have to I'm I'm I'm 31 00:01:36,320 --> 00:01:38,280 assuming she lived in seasons 5 six to 32 00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:41,560 seven um but we can now do whatever we 33 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:45,119 want um uh here's why I'm assuming Zoe 34 00:01:45,119 --> 00:01:47,000 lives I think it'd be a pretty bad idea 35 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:50,200 for her to die because everything after 36 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:53,079 that we're never going to have the 37 00:01:53,079 --> 00:01:56,240 Bartlett that we love back again um uh 38 00:01:56,240 --> 00:01:58,240 he's right he's never going to make 39 00:01:58,240 --> 00:02:00,280 another joke again he's never going to 40 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:02,520 care about pardoning turkeys uh again we 41 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:04,960 can't ask him to do that once he's lost 42 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:08,479 a kid 43 00:02:09,599 --> 00:02:13,280 uh so we're going to reverse engineer uh 44 00:02:13,280 --> 00:02:13,920 uh 45 00:02:13,920 --> 00:02:17,519 Zoe we're going 46 00:02:17,519 --> 00:02:22,280 to get as much as we can out of uh 47 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:23,920 Bartlett 48 00:02:23,920 --> 00:02:26,160 not uh uh you know sort of being a king 49 00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:27,120 in 50 00:02:27,120 --> 00:02:31,120 Exile um 51 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:34,840 I I I feel 52 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:39,360 like we have to kind of Nod at at Toby 53 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:42,319 being a father really empowered him uh 54 00:02:42,319 --> 00:02:46,000 at the end of uh a season 4 55 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:50,280 um uh I'd kind of like to stay away from 56 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:51,760 a baby in Jeopardy you know one of them 57 00:02:51,760 --> 00:02:54,040 is sick or something and and and do 58 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:56,760 something else um we've got to deal with 59 00:02:56,760 --> 00:03:00,440 the deadline for shareif and we've got a 60 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:02,800 start a couple of brand new stories uh 61 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:05,560 uh going we can't just clean up from uh 62 00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:07,920 from the Cliffhanger uh at the end of 63 00:03:07,920 --> 00:03:09,920 four 64 00:03:09,920 --> 00:03:13,239 so like I said the agonizing part is the 65 00:03:13,239 --> 00:03:16,120 thinking um and the 66 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:19,040 thinking generally doesn't happen in 67 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:22,280 this room people can start to bat things 68 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:24,159 around but then usually everyone 69 00:03:24,159 --> 00:03:26,480 retreats to their own offices and thinks 70 00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:29,879 for a while sleeps on it comes back in 71 00:03:29,879 --> 00:03:32,560 uh uh with an idea we know we need some 72 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:35,200 raw research right on on the 25th 73 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:39,280 Amendment and uh uh I I may have gotten 74 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:42,360 it right uh that first time uh but I'd 75 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:44,270 love to find out 76 00:03:44,270 --> 00:03:45,959 [Music] 77 00:03:45,959 --> 00:03:50,519 um we want to create some 78 00:03:50,519 --> 00:03:54,040 things that John Goodman can do that 79 00:03:54,040 --> 00:04:00,120 Bartlet strongly disagrees with um 80 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:05,239 whether it's the way the Zoey situation 81 00:04:05,239 --> 00:04:08,760 uh is being solved I and and again I I I 82 00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:11,760 want it to feel real and and in a in a 83 00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:13,959 real the the rest of the 84 00:04:13,959 --> 00:04:16,199 world well the rest of the world would 85 00:04:16,199 --> 00:04:18,320 be captivated by this and the rest of 86 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:20,440 the world would be scared to death I was 87 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:21,600 going to say the rest of the world is 88 00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:23,040 still going on there's still a stock 89 00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:26,199 market and stuff but 90 00:04:26,199 --> 00:04:29,320 um all right that that thing that John 91 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:31,639 Goodman is is doing wrong can either be 92 00:04:31,639 --> 00:04:34,800 something having to do with Zoe uh or it 93 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:36,120 can be something having to do with 94 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:38,280 anything uh uh that the president 95 00:04:38,280 --> 00:04:40,759 handles 96 00:04:40,759 --> 00:04:43,639 um and we've got the deadline for sharef 97 00:04:43,639 --> 00:04:45,160 which is good because it means we get to 98 00:04:45,160 --> 00:04:47,400 have John amus and and de Smith on the 99 00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:53,120 show uh uh which is which is great 100 00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:58,160 um my only idea for a teaser uh at the 101 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:00,160 moment uh 102 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:02,400 to begin the expository 103 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:05,759 process is a uh is CJ and a press 104 00:05:05,759 --> 00:05:07,720 conference right the press needs to be 105 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:09,600 briefed if we pick up the 106 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:11,240 show 107 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:14,880 uh you know minutes uh uh after we left 108 00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:17,000 off which was John Goodman being sworn 109 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:20,479 in uh in the middle of the night 110 00:05:20,479 --> 00:05:24,600 um uh the you know the the Press would 111 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:26,919 get there at 1: in the morning whatever 112 00:05:26,919 --> 00:05:28,960 uh uh time it is and the Press would be 113 00:05:28,960 --> 00:05:30,639 briefed and reporters are going to ask 114 00:05:30,639 --> 00:05:32,240 questions same kind of questions that 115 00:05:32,240 --> 00:05:33,720 the audience is going to have so we have 116 00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:35,120 our group of people that knows as little 117 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:37,960 as the audience uh uh does and CJ can 118 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:39,759 give them information it just doesn't 119 00:05:39,759 --> 00:05:42,360 sound very interesting to 120 00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:44,560 me the one thing that that could feed 121 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:47,160 into is then recharging the the Sharie 122 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:49,720 deadline thing um by having her and 123 00:05:49,720 --> 00:05:51,639 Danny peel off together to wrap up the 124 00:05:51,639 --> 00:05:54,759 teaser um and her put the screws to him 125 00:05:54,759 --> 00:05:57,039 about continuing to go past the 3-day 126 00:05:57,039 --> 00:05:59,639 deadline on releasing the story because 127 00:05:59,639 --> 00:06:03,600 because now not only is a terrorist act 128 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:06,720 potentially at risk if this further fuel 129 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:08,880 is added to the fire but in addition to 130 00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:11,440 that uh Zoe's life may be at risk if 131 00:06:11,440 --> 00:06:14,039 that story goes public okay but don't 132 00:06:14,039 --> 00:06:17,039 you believe Danny being Danny um uh that 133 00:06:17,039 --> 00:06:18,880 he wouldn't push back very hard on that 134 00:06:18,880 --> 00:06:21,520 given the circumstances uh that he'd say 135 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:26,440 sure um I'll hold on to this um by the 136 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:30,759 way I I also want to include since the 137 00:06:30,759 --> 00:06:32,800 rapturous what their hope is is that 138 00:06:32,800 --> 00:06:35,000 this is going to end the world right 139 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:38,440 there has to be an assumption that uh 140 00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:40,720 it's something far more dangerous than 141 00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:43,520 two people in a muffler shop uh uh that 142 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:48,199 this uh in other words we we 143 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:51,759 um what happens in in this situation we 144 00:06:51,759 --> 00:06:54,759 know uh um that when the president is 145 00:06:54,759 --> 00:06:56,319 shot when there's when there's an 146 00:06:56,319 --> 00:06:59,599 attempt made on the president's life we 147 00:06:59,599 --> 00:07:02,479 go into a new defense conditioner Defcon 148 00:07:02,479 --> 00:07:05,280 um uh we assume we're at War uh when 149 00:07:05,280 --> 00:07:07,319 that happens are we assuming that we're 150 00:07:07,319 --> 00:07:10,360 at War now there's a lot I mean there's 151 00:07:10,360 --> 00:07:12,919 a uh uh there's a lot of plot and we 152 00:07:12,919 --> 00:07:14,039 just need to be 153 00:07:14,039 --> 00:07:17,000 careful we need to remember where this 154 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:19,919 show lives it doesn't live out on a 155 00:07:19,919 --> 00:07:23,240 battlefield somewhere um uh you know it 156 00:07:23,240 --> 00:07:27,120 doesn't live in a CIA uh uh room where 157 00:07:27,120 --> 00:07:29,120 they've the closest we get is the 158 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:30,479 situation 159 00:07:30,479 --> 00:07:33,479 room 160 00:07:33,479 --> 00:07:38,039 um there's a lot 161 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:41,080 uh I don't know how to end the 162 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:43,599 teaser I mean we can have Exposition in 163 00:07:43,599 --> 00:07:46,840 the teaser um uh but I don't know how to 164 00:07:46,840 --> 00:07:47,720 end 165 00:07:47,720 --> 00:07:50,560 it 166 00:07:50,560 --> 00:07:55,120 uh I don't know what happened to Zoe uh 167 00:07:55,120 --> 00:07:59,360 and I'd love to figure that out 168 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:12,000 anybody have anything 1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,890 [Music] 2 00:00:07,279 --> 00:00:11,480 okay so uh I want to hear from you guys 3 00:00:11,480 --> 00:00:13,679 uh I just want to hear your off the top 4 00:00:13,679 --> 00:00:16,160 of your head 5 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:20,119 unformed uh bad ideas okay this is the 6 00:00:20,119 --> 00:00:24,000 time now for bad ideas and feel free to 7 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:27,039 reach outside the box there's no reason 8 00:00:27,039 --> 00:00:28,960 we've done this several times on the 9 00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:30,840 show and I like it when we do there's no 10 00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:35,320 reason why this episode has to begin 2 11 00:00:35,320 --> 00:00:38,040 minutes after the last episode ended it 12 00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:40,879 can that was my first thought it can 13 00:00:40,879 --> 00:00:45,160 begin um five years ago uh okay it can 14 00:00:45,160 --> 00:00:49,760 be a flashback uh episode um uh we if if 15 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:51,280 we hadn't done it already and we've done 16 00:00:51,280 --> 00:00:53,800 it twice uh uh you could cut back and 17 00:00:53,800 --> 00:00:57,039 forth between you know the campaign uh 18 00:00:57,039 --> 00:00:59,120 uh when everything's great to now when 19 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:00,920 everything is terrible but we did that 20 00:01:00,920 --> 00:01:03,519 with uh at the top of season two uh 21 00:01:03,519 --> 00:01:05,119 within the shadow to G so let me hear 22 00:01:05,119 --> 00:01:07,040 from you guys uh uh what do you think so 23 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:09,960 far I have two um intertwined story 24 00:01:09,960 --> 00:01:12,799 lines so one of them is related to uh 25 00:01:12,799 --> 00:01:16,840 Zoe's boyfriend waking up and um CJ and 26 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:19,680 The West Wing crew finding out that um 27 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:21,560 his drug dealer is basically linked to 28 00:01:21,560 --> 00:01:23,280 this white supremacist group of like 29 00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:24,759 Christian fundamentalists and they're 30 00:01:24,759 --> 00:01:26,640 trying to resurrect this group called 31 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:28,119 The Covenant The Sword and the arm of 32 00:01:28,119 --> 00:01:31,640 the Lord um and so they're basically uh 33 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:33,439 that's a real group that's a real group 34 00:01:33,439 --> 00:01:36,600 that basically went defunct in the 80s 35 00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:37,720 so these are basically like young 36 00:01:37,720 --> 00:01:40,159 Christian fundamentalists who um 37 00:01:40,159 --> 00:01:41,840 supposedly have kidnapped Zoe but they 38 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:43,880 don't know yet that she's been kidnapped 39 00:01:43,880 --> 00:01:46,520 they just know that this might be a link 40 00:01:46,520 --> 00:01:48,759 um that I think Nancy MCN had kind of 41 00:01:48,759 --> 00:01:51,560 alluded to at the end of season 4 um so 42 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:53,200 that's that's the information that they 43 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:54,840 have right now is that they have this 44 00:01:54,840 --> 00:01:57,159 drug dealer um there's a supremacist 45 00:01:57,159 --> 00:01:58,960 group that he's linked to and maybe they 46 00:01:58,960 --> 00:02:00,399 have zoee 47 00:02:00,399 --> 00:02:02,399 um and then the other storyline is 48 00:02:02,399 --> 00:02:04,759 linked to uh John Goodman's character as 49 00:02:04,759 --> 00:02:09,160 the acting president and um the Kumari 50 00:02:09,160 --> 00:02:11,239 terrorists or baji operatives have 51 00:02:11,239 --> 00:02:12,879 basically sent a video to the White 52 00:02:12,879 --> 00:02:15,480 House claiming responsibility for Zoe's 53 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:18,680 kidnapping and um the the footage 54 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:20,440 basically shows a captured girl who kind 55 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:22,599 of resembles Zoe but they can't confirm 56 00:02:22,599 --> 00:02:25,200 for sure that it actually is her um but 57 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:27,920 going off of this uh video basically 58 00:02:27,920 --> 00:02:30,879 that is not leaked to the Press yet um 59 00:02:30,879 --> 00:02:34,280 Leo and uh Glenn Allen walking in their 60 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:37,040 The Situation Room basically um are 61 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:41,040 forced to decide whether or not to uh 62 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:43,200 basically storm the place because the 63 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:45,800 CIA is located they pinpointed where 64 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:47,519 this place is where they shot the 65 00:02:47,519 --> 00:02:49,879 footage and where Zoe might be located 66 00:02:49,879 --> 00:02:52,440 um so the question is whether or not to 67 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:55,159 Stage the sort of like Rescue Mission 68 00:02:55,159 --> 00:02:58,480 which you know may very well incite a 69 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:02,879 war between Kumar which is uh a US Ally 70 00:03:02,879 --> 00:03:05,280 at the moment in order to save uh the 71 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:06,319 president's 72 00:03:06,319 --> 00:03:09,120 daughter and uh there's a lot of 73 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:11,959 interesting stuff uh uh in there it's 74 00:03:11,959 --> 00:03:14,840 but I'm I'm confused about one thing 75 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:18,080 they've they've got footage of someone 76 00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:20,239 who's going to turn out to not be Zoe 77 00:03:20,239 --> 00:03:21,720 right 78 00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:25,840 um but based on where this footage was 79 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:30,799 shot uh you know they're able to somehow 80 00:03:30,879 --> 00:03:34,720 recognize uh uh this place which which I 81 00:03:34,720 --> 00:03:36,319 buy 82 00:03:36,319 --> 00:03:40,040 um if uh anybody see the movie The Good 83 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:44,360 Shepherd yes in that movie there's um uh 84 00:03:44,360 --> 00:03:46,200 and this is talking about technology 85 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:51,879 from the 60s um uh there's a a a short 86 00:03:51,879 --> 00:03:55,959 tape recording um uh they've uh uh they' 87 00:03:55,959 --> 00:03:59,280 they've wired tapped a room um somewhere 88 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:01,640 and there's a short tape recording of a 89 00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:04,120 girl speaking to we don't know that it's 90 00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:07,920 Eddie redm yet um just saying you know I 91 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:10,799 love you or something uh like that and 92 00:04:10,799 --> 00:04:13,360 the CIA is able to wash this tape and 93 00:04:13,360 --> 00:04:17,120 based on things that we can barely hear 94 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:20,120 um uh you know this the sound of a plane 95 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:23,080 engine um uh they know that it's got to 96 00:04:23,080 --> 00:04:26,240 be located X miles from an airport that 97 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:29,160 can handle this kind of plane there's an 98 00:04:29,160 --> 00:04:33,160 overhead fan that they know was built in 99 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:35,479 you know was manufactured in 1960 by 100 00:04:35,479 --> 00:04:37,919 this company uh and they keep narrowing 101 00:04:37,919 --> 00:04:39,800 down where this place has to be they 102 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:42,639 hear uh a certain kind of church bell uh 103 00:04:42,639 --> 00:04:44,520 going off so they know that it's within 104 00:04:44,520 --> 00:04:46,479 a block and a half of this particular 105 00:04:46,479 --> 00:04:48,600 kind of church that they only built in 106 00:04:48,600 --> 00:04:50,880 the 16th century and so that's going to 107 00:04:50,880 --> 00:04:54,080 be located in Northern Africa um uh and 108 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:56,880 that kind of thing today the CIA and the 109 00:04:56,880 --> 00:04:58,880 NSA would absolutely be able to do that 110 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:01,600 kind of thing and more more with uh with 111 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:06,240 a picture but if it's not real if it's 112 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:10,520 the Kumaris taking fake control uh of 113 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:13,000 the situation then whatever room they're 114 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:18,720 in doesn't matter either right right so 115 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:22,160 um it seems to me that we can do one of 116 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:24,400 two things perhaps there's a way to do 117 00:05:24,400 --> 00:05:29,080 them both um but one is we go with the 118 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:33,280 with fig Zoe uh uh footage 119 00:05:33,280 --> 00:05:38,530 um and and simply have the moment of 120 00:05:38,530 --> 00:05:40,400 [Music] 121 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:43,880 um no Zoe has a birth mark on her left 122 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:47,639 ankle that's uh um you know that that's 123 00:05:47,639 --> 00:05:51,960 not you have that's not Zoe uh a moment 124 00:05:51,960 --> 00:05:57,520 uh or um we have real footage of real 125 00:05:57,520 --> 00:06:01,720 Zoey uh and uh we are incredibly 126 00:06:01,720 --> 00:06:05,840 impressed with uh how the CIA uh is able 127 00:06:05,840 --> 00:06:09,280 to locate exactly uh where this place is 128 00:06:09,280 --> 00:06:11,960 that second one both of these were your 129 00:06:11,960 --> 00:06:14,120 ideas by the way I don't want to I'm 130 00:06:14,120 --> 00:06:15,800 going to talk like I'm I had this idea 131 00:06:15,800 --> 00:06:20,400 but uh that second one helps me a lot um 132 00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:23,000 uh it it it helps us get out of 133 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:25,960 the we don't want to spend an entire 134 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:30,520 season um uh uh doing a spy Story doing 135 00:06:30,520 --> 00:06:32,960 a thriller right we we kind of want to 136 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:36,440 get out of this um but we we want to get 137 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:39,199 out of it good I mean this was a big 138 00:06:39,199 --> 00:06:41,680 time setup here's what we don't want to 139 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:46,039 do um we don't want 140 00:06:46,039 --> 00:06:50,080 to come back in season five and have 141 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:51,599 someone running down the hall to tell 142 00:06:51,599 --> 00:06:54,960 bar we found Zoe okay that's that's a 143 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:59,120 cheat uh um uh you can't do that uh I 144 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:01,440 it's it's what William Goldman calls 145 00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:04,319 once out of the well um and what he 146 00:07:04,319 --> 00:07:07,720 means by that bill Goldman is is the the 147 00:07:07,720 --> 00:07:10,160 best screenwriting teacher uh that there 148 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:12,120 is and if you haven't read it I 149 00:07:12,120 --> 00:07:13,840 recommend reading adventures in the 150 00:07:13,840 --> 00:07:15,840 screen trade uh by William Gold but you 151 00:07:15,840 --> 00:07:18,280 know he won Oscars for All the 152 00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:19,759 President's Men for Butch Cassy and the 153 00:07:19,759 --> 00:07:22,759 Sundance Kid he wrote The Princess Bride 154 00:07:22,759 --> 00:07:26,599 misery A Bridge Too Far magic he's great 155 00:07:26,599 --> 00:07:29,039 and when he talks about screenwriting uh 156 00:07:29,039 --> 00:07:33,240 uh he's great to listen to but um 157 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:38,240 I he he he talks about um you know in 158 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:40,160 the old days they had shorts in front of 159 00:07:40,160 --> 00:07:42,759 a movie a a two-reeler a 20-minute uh uh 160 00:07:42,759 --> 00:07:45,199 movie there'll always be a cliffhanger 161 00:07:45,199 --> 00:07:47,960 um at the end and in one particular 162 00:07:47,960 --> 00:07:51,039 Cliffhanger our hero has fallen down a 163 00:07:51,039 --> 00:07:56,240 well um and the next movie began with 164 00:07:56,240 --> 00:07:58,919 the narrator saying once out of the well 165 00:07:58,919 --> 00:08:01,440 he 166 00:08:01,599 --> 00:08:03,680 and clearly it was a ro full of people 167 00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:05,440 who couldn't figure out how he got out 168 00:08:05,440 --> 00:08:08,440 of the well and they wrote that well 169 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:10,319 let's try to avoid it once out of the 170 00:08:10,319 --> 00:08:15,479 well okay um uh uh I I I do like the 171 00:08:15,479 --> 00:08:20,759 idea um of the CIA being able to uh uh 172 00:08:20,759 --> 00:08:25,280 close in on where this place is 173 00:08:25,280 --> 00:08:27,199 um 174 00:08:27,199 --> 00:08:30,639 uh will we're not going to worry about 175 00:08:30,639 --> 00:08:33,399 the third and fourth act now where they 176 00:08:33,399 --> 00:08:37,560 close in on Zoe so let's 177 00:08:37,560 --> 00:08:43,599 um let's end the First Act with uh uh 178 00:08:43,599 --> 00:08:44,959 film that they've gotten tape that 179 00:08:44,959 --> 00:08:49,399 they've gotten um uh on Zoe uh so we 180 00:08:49,399 --> 00:08:52,120 have the she's alive uh a moment and our 181 00:08:52,120 --> 00:08:54,200 first queue because you'll remember back 182 00:08:54,200 --> 00:08:56,600 in um in 183 00:08:56,600 --> 00:09:00,120 422 uh uh in the season finale 184 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:03,200 uh in one of my favorite moments from 185 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:06,800 Martin uh uh when he says to Leo I I 186 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:11,360 need you to to tell me the truth uh I is 187 00:09:11,360 --> 00:09:14,320 is is she alive uh right now do you 188 00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:16,680 think she's alive um it's a pretty tough 189 00:09:16,680 --> 00:09:19,920 question for a father to ask um and Leo 190 00:09:19,920 --> 00:09:23,640 says what I am absolutely certain that 191 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:26,160 she is uh uh still alive so he's going 192 00:09:26,160 --> 00:09:30,480 to be right um okay 193 00:09:30,480 --> 00:09:33,360 great uh anybody else have we've got 194 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:36,240 we've left uh Walkin with a a line in 195 00:09:36,240 --> 00:09:40,120 that uh his swearing in scene where um 196 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:42,000 he talks about playing chicken with the 197 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:44,600 Air Force yes um and so he's going to be 198 00:09:44,600 --> 00:09:47,360 quick on the trigger um Andes that rule 199 00:09:47,360 --> 00:09:49,200 they get any unidentified aircraft they 200 00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:50,560 get one warning and then blow them out 201 00:09:50,560 --> 00:09:52,839 of the sky so uh if we extend from that 202 00:09:52,839 --> 00:09:54,440 to something else it feels like 203 00:09:54,440 --> 00:09:55,839 particularly if she's going to be held 204 00:09:55,839 --> 00:09:59,560 by domestic terrorists or or rapturous M 205 00:09:59,560 --> 00:10:03,200 um we want to push as far as possible 206 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:05,880 toward pulling the trigger on bombing 207 00:10:05,880 --> 00:10:09,720 Kumar right um and so if we can maybe 208 00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:12,959 like a teaser out could be if you have 209 00:10:12,959 --> 00:10:17,640 um the rapists are trying to stoke a um 210 00:10:17,640 --> 00:10:19,440 cataclysmic war in the Middle East which 211 00:10:19,440 --> 00:10:22,800 is what a lot of these uh you know 212 00:10:22,800 --> 00:10:25,959 Evangelical extremists want to do um so 213 00:10:25,959 --> 00:10:28,120 that they can hasten the return of of 214 00:10:28,120 --> 00:10:30,240 the of of Christ 215 00:10:30,240 --> 00:10:34,600 um then you could have them set off to 216 00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:38,440 go to their wider plan um bombings that 217 00:10:38,440 --> 00:10:40,800 they want to look like Kumari bombings 218 00:10:40,800 --> 00:10:44,320 in uh Israel and so you could have your 219 00:10:44,320 --> 00:10:47,959 CJ doing the the the the Press briefing 220 00:10:47,959 --> 00:10:50,880 and it's interrupted by word that there 221 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:52,360 have been a series of coordinated 222 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:57,200 attacks in you know Tel Aviv um that I 223 00:10:57,200 --> 00:10:58,519 think that's cool but before we get to 224 00:10:58,519 --> 00:11:01,959 that don't we need to 225 00:11:01,959 --> 00:11:04,399 um when do we learn what these people 226 00:11:04,399 --> 00:11:08,519 want uh uh in exchange for a living 227 00:11:08,519 --> 00:11:11,079 Zoey um uh don't we need to hear some 228 00:11:11,079 --> 00:11:12,440 kind of demand there demands that are 229 00:11:12,440 --> 00:11:16,560 put through on the facts um uh right 230 00:11:16,560 --> 00:11:18,680 that they want three particular people 231 00:11:18,680 --> 00:11:21,160 released based on the the teachings of a 232 00:11:21,160 --> 00:11:22,720 Muti and that happened at the end of 233 00:11:22,720 --> 00:11:25,160 season in the end of season 4ot Donna 234 00:11:25,160 --> 00:11:28,079 Donna gets the gets the facts it has the 235 00:11:28,079 --> 00:11:30,519 two uh that's right I remember Donna 236 00:11:30,519 --> 00:11:33,519 getting the facts yes that was 237 00:11:33,519 --> 00:11:37,279 cool you wrote it that was cool uh it's 238 00:11:37,279 --> 00:11:38,680 it sounds like something that wasn't my 239 00:11:38,680 --> 00:11:40,519 idea um because I can't think of cool 240 00:11:40,519 --> 00:11:44,880 things okay 241 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:47,639 uh let me just keep I'm I'm just going 242 00:11:47,639 --> 00:11:50,800 to keep reminding everybody just so it 243 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:54,800 stays in the Air Supply uh in here the 244 00:11:54,800 --> 00:11:59,440 westwing is at its best when all all of 245 00:11:59,440 --> 00:12:02,000 our characters are talking to each other 246 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:05,279 okay and dealing with each other it's at 247 00:12:05,279 --> 00:12:08,639 its weakest um 248 00:12:08,639 --> 00:12:10,519 when 249 00:12:10,519 --> 00:12:16,000 uh we suddenly cut to bombings in uh in 250 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:17,519 Israel other words we have to hear about 251 00:12:17,519 --> 00:12:18,760 these things and our characters need to 252 00:12:18,760 --> 00:12:22,839 be dealing with each other um uh which 253 00:12:22,839 --> 00:12:25,920 means they have to disagree if in the 254 00:12:25,920 --> 00:12:28,880 midst of all this um uh because I I I 255 00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:32,120 also again I want to keep mining as much 256 00:12:32,120 --> 00:12:35,959 as possible things that could happen a 257 00:12:35,959 --> 00:12:38,519 at the White House that that haven't 258 00:12:38,519 --> 00:12:41,440 happened yet let me give you uh an 259 00:12:41,440 --> 00:12:43,560 example I didn't want to get political 260 00:12:43,560 --> 00:12:46,160 uh uh at all but uh but I will a little 261 00:12:46,160 --> 00:12:47,320 bit because we're living in 262 00:12:47,320 --> 00:12:49,560 extraordinary times uh Donald Trump is 263 00:12:49,560 --> 00:12:51,880 going to be the Republican nominee 264 00:12:51,880 --> 00:12:55,560 probably uh uh for president and maybe 265 00:12:55,560 --> 00:12:58,240 one or more of you support uh uh Donald 266 00:12:58,240 --> 00:13:00,920 Trump and if you do I don't want 267 00:13:00,920 --> 00:13:06,680 to ruffle you um but I believe that 268 00:13:06,680 --> 00:13:09,880 Donald Trump in addition to everything 269 00:13:09,880 --> 00:13:12,800 else uh is a constitutional crisis 270 00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:15,760 waiting to happen Okay I believe that 271 00:13:15,760 --> 00:13:19,199 when Donald Trump's Watergate uh happens 272 00:13:19,199 --> 00:13:22,120 and you know it will okay I don't think 273 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:23,920 this guy leaves the building 274 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:27,560 voluntarily um uh uh the way Nixon did 275 00:13:27,560 --> 00:13:30,000 so now we have a problem 276 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:33,560 uh he also might be a walking even 277 00:13:33,560 --> 00:13:36,720 bigger crisis uh in that some of the 278 00:13:36,720 --> 00:13:38,560 things that he talks 279 00:13:38,560 --> 00:13:40,959 about we should go after the family 280 00:13:40,959 --> 00:13:43,279 members of terrorists uh we should 281 00:13:43,279 --> 00:13:45,760 torture people even worse than water 282 00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:49,120 boarding um uh I'm going to Nuke this 283 00:13:49,120 --> 00:13:50,759 country I'm going to Nuke that country 284 00:13:50,759 --> 00:13:52,720 he is saying that as commander-in-chief 285 00:13:52,720 --> 00:13:55,839 he would be issuing illegal orders okay 286 00:13:55,839 --> 00:13:57,920 and there are very smart military people 287 00:13:57,920 --> 00:13:58,839 who are saying let's going to be a real 288 00:13:58,839 --> 00:14:00,480 problem because I don't know anyone who 289 00:14:00,480 --> 00:14:02,880 would follow that order uh to kill the 290 00:14:02,880 --> 00:14:09,320 child of uh of a terrorist um so uh you 291 00:14:09,320 --> 00:14:12,000 know you you could have a 292 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:13,880 situation that we only ever see in 293 00:14:13,880 --> 00:14:16,120 movies or third world countries where 294 00:14:16,120 --> 00:14:18,480 there's like the one crazy General who's 295 00:14:18,480 --> 00:14:21,079 loyal to Trump and he's got his Division 296 00:14:21,079 --> 00:14:23,399 and that's a civil war that's uh that's 297 00:14:23,399 --> 00:14:25,160 how Civil Wars start so I don't want to 298 00:14:25,160 --> 00:14:27,360 do a civil war on The West Wing but like 299 00:14:27,360 --> 00:14:29,720 I said I do want to show stuff we 300 00:14:29,720 --> 00:14:33,920 haven't seen before do they quickly need 301 00:14:33,920 --> 00:14:37,639 to name a new vice president because 302 00:14:37,639 --> 00:14:40,759 what if John Goodman suddenly kills over 303 00:14:40,759 --> 00:14:44,160 from pneumonia um it's who is it next 304 00:14:44,160 --> 00:14:47,360 the Secretary of State um who who we're 305 00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:50,199 going through a lot of yeah the 306 00:14:50,199 --> 00:14:51,440 Postmaster General is going to be 307 00:14:51,440 --> 00:14:53,720 president any any second now we we got 308 00:14:53,720 --> 00:14:57,519 to stop the bleeding um your homework is 309 00:14:57,519 --> 00:14:59,519 these are great uh ideas that I'm 310 00:14:59,519 --> 00:15:03,000 hearing coming with more okay um uh 311 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:05,480 let's find out what the real deal is on 312 00:15:05,480 --> 00:15:08,839 uh on reinstating the president uh who 313 00:15:08,839 --> 00:15:10,040 has 314 00:15:10,040 --> 00:15:13,600 been unin stated uh who's been removed 315 00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:15,920 due to the 25th amendment has anyone 316 00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:18,480 ever been removed to I I used to know 317 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:20,040 things like this and I don't anymore 318 00:15:20,040 --> 00:15:23,079 there hasn't um I think two I can't 319 00:15:23,079 --> 00:15:24,800 remember exactly which president but 320 00:15:24,800 --> 00:15:26,880 there have been some instances wasn't 321 00:15:26,880 --> 00:15:29,040 the 25th Amendment didn't it happen 322 00:15:29,040 --> 00:15:32,279 because of woodro Wilson um woodro 323 00:15:32,279 --> 00:15:34,800 Wilson was very sick for a long time and 324 00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:37,519 his wife was kind of running the place 325 00:15:37,519 --> 00:15:38,680 right 326 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:41,480 yeahh I wonder if it happened because of 327 00:15:41,480 --> 00:15:44,480 woodro Wilson 328 00:15:44,480 --> 00:15:47,240 um we might as well learn Garfield took 329 00:15:47,240 --> 00:15:50,120 how long to I like Garfield was 30 like 330 00:15:50,120 --> 00:15:52,959 38 days or something yeah 331 00:15:52,959 --> 00:15:57,639 um poor guy well the doctors killed him 332 00:15:57,639 --> 00:15:59,440 he could have worn a coat you know he 333 00:15:59,440 --> 00:16:00,600 really could have worn a coat and a 334 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:04,680 scarf if if he' had my mother he'd be 335 00:16:04,680 --> 00:16:06,600 alive okay so I'd like you to come back 336 00:16:06,600 --> 00:16:08,759 with ideas great I'd like you to come 337 00:16:08,759 --> 00:16:09,839 back 338 00:16:09,839 --> 00:16:13,720 with uh uh with the 25th Amendment 339 00:16:13,720 --> 00:16:15,399 stuff 340 00:16:15,399 --> 00:16:19,279 um and we're doing great uh this is we 341 00:16:19,279 --> 00:16:21,519 we're further along than I've ever been 342 00:16:21,519 --> 00:16:24,920 after the first you know uh staff 343 00:16:24,920 --> 00:16:27,519 session on on an episode really doing 344 00:16:27,519 --> 00:16:29,720 fantastic uh I would I would take the 345 00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:33,959 rest of the day and do nothing 1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,870 [Music] 2 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:08,519 I was thinking about this uh uh last 3 00:00:08,519 --> 00:00:10,440 night all all I heard yesterday were 4 00:00:10,440 --> 00:00:13,440 good ideas um uh let's hear some bad 5 00:00:13,440 --> 00:00:16,160 ideas so we can talk about uh uh why 6 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:18,199 they're bad let's learn from some 7 00:00:18,199 --> 00:00:22,680 mistakes okay uh I also had uh another 8 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:26,199 idea that I was certain I didn't need to 9 00:00:26,199 --> 00:00:27,560 write down because I was going to 10 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:31,960 remember it just hang on a 11 00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:36,879 second God damn 12 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:42,440 it okay 13 00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:47,280 um all right let's go back to where we 14 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:50,360 were uh I remember what my idea is now 15 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:54,960 um uh I think we do have to start uh 16 00:00:54,960 --> 00:00:57,160 that the logical place to start is in 17 00:00:57,160 --> 00:01:00,280 the Press briefing room in the middle of 18 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:06,560 tonight uh the last briefing CJ gave 19 00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:10,799 does anybody remember um uh was it in 20 00:01:10,799 --> 00:01:14,960 here's what I remember um uh I because I 21 00:01:14,960 --> 00:01:16,360 I haven't seen you guys have seen it 22 00:01:16,360 --> 00:01:19,759 more recently than I have uh Leo Told CJ 23 00:01:19,759 --> 00:01:22,159 she's got to give uh uh the best 24 00:01:22,159 --> 00:01:26,479 briefing of her life uh when did that 25 00:01:26,479 --> 00:01:30,240 happen early uh did it happened after 26 00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:33,759 Zoe uh uh was taken right okay that's 27 00:01:33,759 --> 00:01:37,560 happened um Abby stalker Channing uh uh 28 00:01:37,560 --> 00:01:40,759 then who has been sedated uh uh 29 00:01:40,759 --> 00:01:44,119 nonetheless kind of shrugged off the SED 30 00:01:44,119 --> 00:01:47,240 Barrel through the sedation um uh uh to 31 00:01:47,240 --> 00:01:49,159 go into the Press briefing room to make 32 00:01:49,159 --> 00:01:51,759 a personal plea from a mother um all 33 00:01:51,759 --> 00:01:54,479 hell broke loose instantly I I I 34 00:01:54,479 --> 00:01:58,399 remember in the script uh uh I I wrote a 35 00:01:58,399 --> 00:02:00,520 stage Direction This has gone from 0 to 36 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:04,880 60 uh uh instantly with CJ and with uh 37 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:08,399 Mary Luis Parker uh uh trying to to stop 38 00:02:08,399 --> 00:02:11,360 her Abby gets a couple of feet into uh 39 00:02:11,360 --> 00:02:13,760 uh the Press briefing room everyone 40 00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:16,040 starts screaming they get her uh uh out 41 00:02:16,040 --> 00:02:20,959 of there um uh but that CJ's briefing 42 00:02:20,959 --> 00:02:23,480 was prior to the the president stepping 43 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:25,160 down okay the press needs to be briefed 44 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:27,640 again uh it's the middle of the night 45 00:02:27,640 --> 00:02:30,319 right now right midnight 1:00 a.m. 46 00:02:30,319 --> 00:02:33,519 somewhere around then okay so great 47 00:02:33,519 --> 00:02:35,120 we've got that press briefing room to 48 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:37,879 handle Exposition for us uh and that's 49 00:02:37,879 --> 00:02:39,720 what's going to happen CJ is going to go 50 00:02:39,720 --> 00:02:44,120 in uh uh and brief the Press on the fact 51 00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:47,800 that a short while ago uh uh the 52 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:50,159 president called his cabinet together 53 00:02:50,159 --> 00:02:52,519 requested that they invoke uh uh the 54 00:02:52,519 --> 00:02:56,319 25th Amendment the president believes uh 55 00:02:56,319 --> 00:02:58,680 uh he is he does not have the mental 56 00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:01,599 capacity uh uh to do this and according 57 00:03:01,599 --> 00:03:03,640 to the Constitution the following has 58 00:03:03,640 --> 00:03:05,760 happened people will have a ton of 59 00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:08,760 questions I uh reporters will have a ton 60 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:10,400 of questions we'll 61 00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:14,280 decide what questions we want to hear uh 62 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:18,560 uh answered uh uh that kind of thing um 63 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:22,680 and I I I I think it's a good idea to 64 00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:27,920 let the audience know that um we expect 65 00:03:27,920 --> 00:03:30,840 this to be wrapped up soon that the that 66 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:32,519 the West Wing that the series has not 67 00:03:32,519 --> 00:03:35,640 gone into a permanent condition of John 68 00:03:35,640 --> 00:03:38,640 Goodman being the President Martin Sheen 69 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:42,439 being in the East wing and worse yet um 70 00:03:42,439 --> 00:03:44,760 uh that World War I uh uh is about to 71 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:48,400 happen I remember um uh early on at the 72 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:50,560 end of the second episode uh of the 73 00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:51,439 first 74 00:03:51,439 --> 00:03:53,159 season 75 00:03:53,159 --> 00:03:58,200 uh an air force uh a US Air Force uh 76 00:03:58,200 --> 00:04:01,239 plane carrying a bunch of uh military 77 00:04:01,239 --> 00:04:02,840 doctors including the president's 78 00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:05,360 personal physician accidentally wandered 79 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:08,120 into Syrian airspace got and got shot 80 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:11,400 down by uh was it Syrian airspace or 81 00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:12,879 Libyan airspace I think it was Syrian 82 00:04:12,879 --> 00:04:15,840 airspace can't remember now um and they 83 00:04:15,840 --> 00:04:18,880 got shot down requiring uh military 84 00:04:18,880 --> 00:04:22,160 action on uh on our part and the head of 85 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:26,639 NBC at the time uh uh Scott sassa uh who 86 00:04:26,639 --> 00:04:29,479 who was a big champion of the pilot uh 87 00:04:29,479 --> 00:04:30,840 and that was the pilot was the only 88 00:04:30,840 --> 00:04:31,960 script that had been written it's not 89 00:04:31,960 --> 00:04:33,639 like I went to NBC with 10 episodes or 90 00:04:33,639 --> 00:04:35,039 anything it was just the pilot and then 91 00:04:35,039 --> 00:04:38,039 flying by the seat of my pants um uh and 92 00:04:38,039 --> 00:04:41,080 he he came to me and begged to me please 93 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:43,240 don't we can't spend the the whole first 94 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:46,120 season at War um uh uh don't don't make 95 00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:47,840 up a phony war that we're fighting I 96 00:04:47,840 --> 00:04:49,639 just I love it when these guys are all 97 00:04:49,639 --> 00:04:51,919 In The West Wing just you know trying to 98 00:04:51,919 --> 00:04:54,880 lift America up and I assured him it's 99 00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:58,720 the that there wasn't going to be a war 100 00:04:58,720 --> 00:05:00,560 though Bartlett 101 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:03,479 was pretty quick to invade anybody who 102 00:05:03,479 --> 00:05:06,560 bothered him um I think that we need to 103 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:10,160 tell the audience in this opening press 104 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:13,880 briefing we need to indicate to them uh 105 00:05:13,880 --> 00:05:15,120 uh uh that this is going to be wrapped 106 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:18,680 up by the end of the episode uh uh 107 00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:21,520 somehow I I don't want to end there uh 108 00:05:21,520 --> 00:05:25,080 because we all we've done is review the 109 00:05:25,080 --> 00:05:26,080 conflict 110 00:05:26,080 --> 00:05:28,639 [Music] 111 00:05:28,639 --> 00:05:31,720 um we were we had been looking for and I 112 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:33,039 I gave you guys some homework last night 113 00:05:33,039 --> 00:05:34,240 so I'm going to ask you for it in a 114 00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:37,440 second uh we had been looking 115 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:42,319 for uh the first Rift 116 00:05:42,319 --> 00:05:45,560 between Bartlett and John Goodman right 117 00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:48,199 the first Rift between Bartlett and uh 118 00:05:48,199 --> 00:05:53,360 uh and wkan and I thought of one um I 119 00:05:53,360 --> 00:05:55,720 thought it could be that Walkin and his 120 00:05:55,720 --> 00:05:59,680 people and he should have people um I 121 00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:01,400 think it would be a good idea for 122 00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:04,440 walking to address the 123 00:06:04,440 --> 00:06:08,080 nation our people the CJs and the joshes 124 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:12,000 and and everything oh also um uh uh 125 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:14,400 let's assume that Rob low is willing um 126 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:16,919 uh let's bring Sam uh uh back okay this 127 00:06:16,919 --> 00:06:20,759 is a terrible tragedy uh that's going on 128 00:06:20,759 --> 00:06:24,680 both publicly and privately and I I I 129 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:29,160 believe Sam sourn uh uh got in his car I 130 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:31,440 put the best to the medal and uh and 131 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:33,199 headed for Washington so Sam's going to 132 00:06:33,199 --> 00:06:36,800 show up uh uh to help out our people do 133 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:39,880 not want uh uh John Goodman uh uh to 134 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:42,800 address the country because now it seems 135 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:45,199 like he's the president but he is the 136 00:06:45,199 --> 00:06:47,000 president um yeah but he's not going to 137 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:49,759 be the president that much uh uh longer 138 00:06:49,759 --> 00:06:52,160 and we we don't want to project the 139 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:55,000 image of a uh uh that there's been a 140 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:57,360 coup or a weaken bar I can see that 141 00:06:57,360 --> 00:07:00,240 being a rift I can see the arguments on 142 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:02,680 both sides there and what we were 143 00:07:02,680 --> 00:07:06,400 looking for the reason why we wanted a a 144 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:10,120 rift hopefully the first of of several 145 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:11,720 um 146 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:15,560 is because that's where the drama is and 147 00:07:15,560 --> 00:07:20,560 in this story are are our 148 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:23,240 guys you know the temptation to be loyal 149 00:07:23,240 --> 00:07:28,199 to Bartlett and yet their constitutional 150 00:07:28,199 --> 00:07:31,479 responsibility to be uh uh loyal to the 151 00:07:31,479 --> 00:07:33,960 the president uh are gonna come in 152 00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:36,160 conflict with each other well get back 153 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:38,680 to that tell me about tell me your 154 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:40,599 thoughts tell me what happened 155 00:07:40,599 --> 00:07:44,199 overnight I'll start I guess um so one 156 00:07:44,199 --> 00:07:45,879 of the ways that you can does anybody 157 00:07:45,879 --> 00:07:48,479 feel like Evelyn is hogging sorry 158 00:07:48,479 --> 00:07:50,520 someone else come on Evelyn well she 159 00:07:50,520 --> 00:07:52,319 started yesterday and I go ahead you 160 00:07:52,319 --> 00:07:54,240 know what I'm gonna ever since Genie 161 00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:55,960 thought I was serious about the corn 162 00:07:55,960 --> 00:08:00,000 I've been nervous about uh making jokes 163 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:01,440 do you really think I thought you ruined 164 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:04,400 a script with yeah I thought because I 165 00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:06,000 had a professor tell me once if you make 166 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:07,520 an if you make a mistake and you take 167 00:08:07,520 --> 00:08:08,919 the reader out of it like you're [ __ ] 168 00:08:08,919 --> 00:08:11,400 and I was like oh I I did that to myself 169 00:08:11,400 --> 00:08:14,000 but they so that's why I believed you 170 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:15,479 you didn't take me that far out of it I 171 00:08:15,479 --> 00:08:17,599 was 172 00:08:17,599 --> 00:08:22,000 okay go ahead okay so one of the ways um 173 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:24,560 in which the president can assume power 174 00:08:24,560 --> 00:08:26,800 again is basically by uh just submitting 175 00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:29,800 another declaration um but there's conf 176 00:08:29,800 --> 00:08:32,080 there because if the acting uh pus 177 00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:34,279 submits another declaration that uh 178 00:08:34,279 --> 00:08:36,640 conflicts with that then we're in 179 00:08:36,640 --> 00:08:40,039 gridlock basically so if uh it's really 180 00:08:40,039 --> 00:08:42,039 interesting yeah so if Bartlett were 181 00:08:42,039 --> 00:08:43,800 sorry no no go ahead go ahead and ask 182 00:08:43,800 --> 00:08:46,800 question if if Bartlett were to uh to 183 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:49,000 attempt to give out orders to his staff 184 00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:51,000 or if his staff were to try to get him 185 00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:54,600 to uh to issue orders is the president 186 00:08:54,600 --> 00:08:56,480 um I would imagine that John Goodman's 187 00:08:56,480 --> 00:08:58,720 character uh Walkin would have his own 188 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:01,079 teams you said of people who might uh 189 00:09:01,079 --> 00:09:02,519 oppose that and one of the ways in which 190 00:09:02,519 --> 00:09:04,680 to do that is to get some of the defense 191 00:09:04,680 --> 00:09:06,720 uh not the defense minister he could be 192 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:08,920 one of them but um some of the other 193 00:09:08,920 --> 00:09:11,880 members of cabinet to oppose uh 194 00:09:11,880 --> 00:09:14,040 president Bartlett if that were at all 195 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:15,640 possible how does first of all is there 196 00:09:15,640 --> 00:09:18,240 any president for this uh it I mean it's 197 00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:20,959 written within uh the 25th amendment 198 00:09:20,959 --> 00:09:24,399 that uh basically within four days uh 199 00:09:24,399 --> 00:09:26,880 the acting podus needs to submit another 200 00:09:26,880 --> 00:09:29,440 declaration negating what the what the 201 00:09:29,440 --> 00:09:32,560 president has so it is only and I ask if 202 00:09:32,560 --> 00:09:34,920 if there's precedent we we it's never 203 00:09:34,920 --> 00:09:37,560 happened before we we the 25th amendment 204 00:09:37,560 --> 00:09:39,040 has never been invoked it has been 205 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:41,839 invoked but typically it's uh when the 206 00:09:41,839 --> 00:09:44,760 the president is in a coma or it's the 207 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:45,839 last thing that happens before the 208 00:09:45,839 --> 00:09:48,360 president dies yes and or not not dies 209 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:50,320 but is in a coma or in some sort 210 00:09:50,320 --> 00:09:51,760 actually seems to be the 211 00:09:51,760 --> 00:09:53,720 colonoscopy basically whenever a 212 00:09:53,720 --> 00:09:55,640 president gets a colonoscopy yeah the 213 00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:58,959 25th amendment is in V right um but it's 214 00:09:58,959 --> 00:10:00,399 typically so there there are a couple I 215 00:10:00,399 --> 00:10:02,000 think the my reading of it was a little 216 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:04,240 bit different than that um there's 217 00:10:04,240 --> 00:10:06,959 there's uh the first couple of sections 218 00:10:06,959 --> 00:10:09,120 are about the selection of a of a of a 219 00:10:09,120 --> 00:10:12,160 vice president uh the third section gets 220 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:14,200 is the thing that Bartlett invokes where 221 00:10:14,200 --> 00:10:17,600 the president uh willingly declares 222 00:10:17,600 --> 00:10:21,560 himself or herself um incapable of of uh 223 00:10:21,560 --> 00:10:23,480 fulfilling the the the obligations of 224 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:26,920 the office um and in that case is 225 00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:29,760 because it was his or her choice is 226 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:33,720 empowered to at any time offer a second 227 00:10:33,720 --> 00:10:35,839 Declaration of Competency see that's 228 00:10:35,839 --> 00:10:38,480 what by the way this is all fantastic 229 00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:40,240 and there's no question but that good 230 00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:43,880 scenes uh uh come out of it what seems 231 00:10:43,880 --> 00:10:45,760 strange to me is that once the 25th 232 00:10:45,760 --> 00:10:48,079 amendment has been invoked okay once 233 00:10:48,079 --> 00:10:50,760 Bartlett is no longer president how does 234 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:54,320 he have any more power than you or I do 235 00:10:54,320 --> 00:10:56,720 to submit any kind of letter that says 236 00:10:56,720 --> 00:10:58,880 anything but he does he does have that 237 00:10:58,880 --> 00:11:01,000 power submit the second declaration but 238 00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:05,000 under the fourth section yeah if the uh 239 00:11:05,000 --> 00:11:06,920 if there is the 25th Amendment section 240 00:11:06,920 --> 00:11:11,399 four section four uhuh um if the uh the 241 00:11:11,399 --> 00:11:13,040 vice president and the majority of the 242 00:11:13,040 --> 00:11:14,920 cabinet are the ones initially 243 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:16,680 responsible for declaring the the 244 00:11:16,680 --> 00:11:18,240 president 245 00:11:18,240 --> 00:11:21,360 incompetent then if the president tries 246 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:22,800 to reinstate I'm sorry the ones 247 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:24,880 initially responsible for declaring the 248 00:11:24,880 --> 00:11:27,240 president incompetent as opposed to to 249 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:29,920 the president himself initiating or 250 00:11:29,920 --> 00:11:33,360 initiating um that that that 251 00:11:33,360 --> 00:11:36,200 declaration in that case we get into 252 00:11:36,200 --> 00:11:39,720 some of these questions of um I think 253 00:11:39,720 --> 00:11:42,240 it's in both cases like it's pretty it 254 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:45,399 seems it the the the the thing about the 255 00:11:45,399 --> 00:11:47,519 the disputes is entirely contained 256 00:11:47,519 --> 00:11:50,360 within section 4 and with a thereafter 257 00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:53,480 which suggests legally that it it's only 258 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:56,040 under those conditions um now we could 259 00:11:56,040 --> 00:11:59,760 have play some legalism you know and and 260 00:11:59,760 --> 00:12:03,480 and do that um we'd have to go through 261 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:05,800 it seems like more firmly we'd have to 262 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:10,200 go through a step of of having the um 263 00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:12,760 the president 264 00:12:12,760 --> 00:12:15,320 proem get the cabinet to declare 265 00:12:15,320 --> 00:12:18,320 Bartlett still incompetent yeah um and 266 00:12:18,320 --> 00:12:20,720 then you could get into a point where 267 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:24,199 actually the Congress has to vote um by 268 00:12:24,199 --> 00:12:26,800 2third and we get into all sorts of sh 269 00:12:26,800 --> 00:12:28,360 would won pull like a power play like 270 00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:31,120 that because when I was I not 24th 271 00:12:31,120 --> 00:12:32,480 Amendment at all but I was thinking like 272 00:12:32,480 --> 00:12:34,720 if I was walking I know realistically I 273 00:12:34,720 --> 00:12:36,480 have a finite time to be the president 274 00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:38,639 Bartlett's going to step back in I'm I'm 275 00:12:38,639 --> 00:12:40,000 going to be up for re election soon this 276 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:41,600 is a first-term president maybe I can 277 00:12:41,600 --> 00:12:43,279 run for president what can I do as I 278 00:12:43,279 --> 00:12:46,040 hold the Oval Office to maybe sabotage 279 00:12:46,040 --> 00:12:47,480 any chances Bartlett has to getting 280 00:12:47,480 --> 00:12:49,880 reelected maybe I can run that's what I 281 00:12:49,880 --> 00:12:51,279 was thinking okay let's hear your 282 00:12:51,279 --> 00:12:54,720 thought um well I was I was still stuck 283 00:12:54,720 --> 00:12:58,680 on the uh on the the the shareif story 284 00:12:58,680 --> 00:13:01,680 thing and there is earlier in in season 285 00:13:01,680 --> 00:13:06,279 4 there's the moment that um Jack uh the 286 00:13:06,279 --> 00:13:09,000 Christian Slater characters words are 287 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:11,360 taken are taken out of context or sorry 288 00:13:11,360 --> 00:13:13,360 not taken out of context are that he 289 00:13:13,360 --> 00:13:16,079 thought were said off the Record were 290 00:13:16,079 --> 00:13:17,880 put on the record in one of Danny's 291 00:13:17,880 --> 00:13:20,920 Pieces by a researcher and Danny's 292 00:13:20,920 --> 00:13:23,800 editor yes and there seems to be the 293 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:26,959 potential for some ill will on the part 294 00:13:26,959 --> 00:13:30,720 of that editor um which we could play 295 00:13:30,720 --> 00:13:35,920 here um uh in uh a sequence of events 296 00:13:35,920 --> 00:13:39,079 that I sort of blocked out um that would 297 00:13:39,079 --> 00:13:42,279 renew that three-day deadline over 298 00:13:42,279 --> 00:13:43,560 dany's 299 00:13:43,560 --> 00:13:49,720 opposition um and make uh walin aware of 300 00:13:49,720 --> 00:13:51,880 the sharf business which he wouldn't 301 00:13:51,880 --> 00:13:54,560 have been before this point in his 302 00:13:54,560 --> 00:13:57,279 capacity as as Speaker of the House once 303 00:13:57,279 --> 00:13:59,639 he's aware of that he's got the source 304 00:13:59,639 --> 00:14:02,040 of political sabotage that he can 305 00:14:02,040 --> 00:14:05,839 possibly use to undermine Bartlett going 306 00:14:05,839 --> 00:14:08,160 forward um I can walk you through the 307 00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:09,959 the thing if we want to well I'm going 308 00:14:09,959 --> 00:14:12,600 to want to hear it but I think first 309 00:14:12,600 --> 00:14:17,839 what I need to do is call NBC and um uh 310 00:14:17,839 --> 00:14:19,360 let them know we'll be doing a two-hour 311 00:14:19,360 --> 00:14:20,440 season 312 00:14:20,440 --> 00:14:23,600 premiere I mean it I I think actually it 313 00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:26,320 I think that's what it needs um uh just 314 00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:28,199 it feels right especially if we're going 315 00:14:28,199 --> 00:14:30,360 to wrap this all up uh uh by the end of 316 00:14:30,360 --> 00:14:33,279 it I it just feels a little bit better 317 00:14:33,279 --> 00:14:38,120 when we we did uh a two two hour shows 318 00:14:38,120 --> 00:14:39,639 uh uh I 319 00:14:39,639 --> 00:14:42,560 think it all it always felt like a meal 320 00:14:42,560 --> 00:14:46,639 um uh uh and uh I think for this not to 321 00:14:46,639 --> 00:14:49,880 seem hokey uh it's going to need to be 322 00:14:49,880 --> 00:14:52,480 uh two hours so uh I can't remember who 323 00:14:52,480 --> 00:14:54,600 it is I'm shoving off the schedule by 324 00:14:54,600 --> 00:14:58,720 doing that but they'll understand um uh 325 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:02,440 that's all really really good stuff 326 00:15:02,440 --> 00:15:08,720 um uh let me ask uh uh a mertile expert 327 00:15:08,720 --> 00:15:13,959 um under conditions like this of grave 328 00:15:13,959 --> 00:15:17,240 uncertainty uh in the world remember we 329 00:15:17,240 --> 00:15:20,360 have every reason to believe that we are 330 00:15:20,360 --> 00:15:26,399 minutes away from uh a mushroom clad uh 331 00:15:26,399 --> 00:15:30,399 uh somewhere our our worst uh Nightmares 332 00:15:30,399 --> 00:15:34,279 by the way all this stuff was uh well 25 333 00:15:34,279 --> 00:15:38,040 was written after uh a my four years at 334 00:15:38,040 --> 00:15:39,519 The West Wing were the two years before 335 00:15:39,519 --> 00:15:41,920 and after 911 um uh so it's was 336 00:15:41,920 --> 00:15:44,160 interesting to see that uh uh cultural 337 00:15:44,160 --> 00:15:47,680 shift but this is happening after uh uh 338 00:15:47,680 --> 00:15:51,079 911 which means we we are absolutely 339 00:15:51,079 --> 00:15:52,639 prepared to believe that a terrorist 340 00:15:52,639 --> 00:15:55,120 group is uh is not just going to do 341 00:15:55,120 --> 00:15:58,360 something bad to uh Zoey but is gonna uh 342 00:15:58,360 --> 00:16:00,720 harm a lot more people than that with 343 00:16:00,720 --> 00:16:03,240 this kind of uncertainty uh uh in the 344 00:16:03,240 --> 00:16:05,920 world um literally not knowing exactly 345 00:16:05,920 --> 00:16:07,839 who the president of the United States 346 00:16:07,839 --> 00:16:11,199 is uh wouldn't there be massive Chaos on 347 00:16:11,199 --> 00:16:13,199 the stock exchange yeah when the markets 348 00:16:13,199 --> 00:16:14,399 open yeah especially with the oil 349 00:16:14,399 --> 00:16:16,040 markets okay I mean I would imagine that 350 00:16:16,040 --> 00:16:18,279 Kumar is probably an oil producing 351 00:16:18,279 --> 00:16:21,160 nation under those circumstances is 352 00:16:21,160 --> 00:16:23,680 there anyone who is 353 00:16:23,680 --> 00:16:26,600 impowered to close 354 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:29,319 trading um I'm looking for these 355 00:16:29,319 --> 00:16:31,639 extraordinary these very dramatic things 356 00:16:31,639 --> 00:16:34,680 that would have to happen uh uh under 357 00:16:34,680 --> 00:16:36,959 these circumstances and I without 358 00:16:36,959 --> 00:16:39,920 knowing what I was talking about in the 359 00:16:39,920 --> 00:16:42,560 season 2 opener in the Shadow 2 gunman 360 00:16:42,560 --> 00:16:44,680 which it the president been shot in the 361 00:16:44,680 --> 00:16:47,839 end of uh uh season 1 he's like lying on 362 00:16:47,839 --> 00:16:50,000 a gurnie uh talking to Leo he's about to 363 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:55,120 be wheeled into uh uh preop and he says 364 00:16:55,120 --> 00:16:57,600 tell I can't remember the the we never 365 00:16:57,600 --> 00:17:00,519 saw the treasury secretary but um uh I 366 00:17:00,519 --> 00:17:03,160 had it was either Hutchinson or bar hill 367 00:17:03,160 --> 00:17:07,959 um tell Jim tell so and so uh to suspend 368 00:17:07,959 --> 00:17:10,319 trading uh on the stock exchange 369 00:17:10,319 --> 00:17:13,039 Bartlett says this knowing that because 370 00:17:13,039 --> 00:17:17,079 he's been shot uh uh the stocks are 371 00:17:17,079 --> 00:17:18,880 going to uh crater so just suspend 372 00:17:18,880 --> 00:17:21,559 trading um and I wrote that line not 373 00:17:21,559 --> 00:17:22,839 knowing if the president actually had 374 00:17:22,839 --> 00:17:24,880 the power uh uh to do that or not or if 375 00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:26,280 the treasury secretary had the power to 376 00:17:26,280 --> 00:17:29,520 do that or if it was the SEC uh or if it 377 00:17:29,520 --> 00:17:33,600 was the fed or if anybody uh can do that 378 00:17:33,600 --> 00:17:35,039 I know that 379 00:17:35,039 --> 00:17:38,480 we uh wasn't trading closed on I know it 380 00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:41,559 was it definitely closed on 911 you know 381 00:17:41,559 --> 00:17:43,000 on on the day I think it was closed on 382 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:45,640 the 12th uh uh too so somebody has the 383 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:47,600 power to uh shut that down what else do 384 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:51,360 we do well um at the mer at the New York 385 00:17:51,360 --> 00:17:52,960 mercile Exchange I think the only time 386 00:17:52,960 --> 00:17:54,240 it's ever been closed was when there was 387 00:17:54,240 --> 00:17:55,919 a bomb threat and they literally had to 388 00:17:55,919 --> 00:17:57,559 evacuate the building but they reopened 389 00:17:57,559 --> 00:17:59,600 immediately the next day 390 00:17:59,600 --> 00:18:03,159 so I I'm not sure I I'm sure there's 391 00:18:03,159 --> 00:18:05,840 some precedent um for it to happen for 392 00:18:05,840 --> 00:18:07,480 them to close trading I would imagine 393 00:18:07,480 --> 00:18:09,240 maybe this the Commodities future 394 00:18:09,240 --> 00:18:11,840 trading exchange might be involved I 395 00:18:11,840 --> 00:18:15,120 just find it so interesting that out of 396 00:18:15,120 --> 00:18:17,799 the entire world of things to choose 397 00:18:17,799 --> 00:18:19,840 from you like really got turned on by 398 00:18:19,840 --> 00:18:22,240 the New York mertile 399 00:18:22,240 --> 00:18:24,280 Exchange that like I think you're going 400 00:18:24,280 --> 00:18:27,280 to I think you're going to write five 401 00:18:27,280 --> 00:18:29,360 movies about the New York mark 402 00:18:29,360 --> 00:18:31,360 exchange uh uh you know it's going to be 403 00:18:31,360 --> 00:18:33,080 like you're 404 00:18:33,080 --> 00:18:37,559 Transformers oh all the sequels um okay 405 00:18:37,559 --> 00:18:40,799 man um uh now by the way we are doing 406 00:18:40,799 --> 00:18:42,799 what actually happens uh in a writer's 407 00:18:42,799 --> 00:18:44,960 room which is you kind of work for a 408 00:18:44,960 --> 00:18:47,799 minute and then screw around for 10 409 00:18:47,799 --> 00:18:50,600 minutes probably be around 410 00:18:50,600 --> 00:18:54,080 now um that I'd say uh you know let's 411 00:18:54,080 --> 00:18:57,039 take a Pop-Tart Break um and we'd have 412 00:18:57,039 --> 00:18:58,799 Pop-Tarts then there would be an 413 00:18:58,799 --> 00:19:01,039 argument about are they better toasted 414 00:19:01,039 --> 00:19:04,559 or not are they better frosted or not 415 00:19:04,559 --> 00:19:08,240 okay easy untoasted 416 00:19:08,240 --> 00:19:10,679 unfrosted really wow you got a problem 417 00:19:10,679 --> 00:19:12,679 with that my friend it's just the okay 418 00:19:12,679 --> 00:19:15,480 because we do your script tomorrow all 419 00:19:15,480 --> 00:19:18,039 right are you sure I think I am be very 420 00:19:18,039 --> 00:19:21,120 sure very sure before you frosted 421 00:19:21,120 --> 00:19:23,000 frosted frosted and untoasted we can 422 00:19:23,000 --> 00:19:24,960 agree on the untoasted thing 423 00:19:24,960 --> 00:19:28,280 but all right what about you I don't 424 00:19:28,280 --> 00:19:31,280 like Po shut the hell up okay I don't 425 00:19:31,280 --> 00:19:33,559 know how you got in this room all right 426 00:19:33,559 --> 00:19:37,039 guys um 1 00:00:07,399 --> 00:00:11,000 your idea about uh you know walking 2 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:13,040 seeing an opportunity leveraging this 3 00:00:13,040 --> 00:00:15,120 try to do something I think it's a good 4 00:00:15,120 --> 00:00:18,800 idea if it's a walking staffer uh okay 5 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:21,600 um and not make John Goodman a mustache 6 00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:24,640 twirling guy I think that John Goodman 7 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:27,320 can be you know he can be John Wayne he 8 00:00:27,320 --> 00:00:28,760 can be tough he can be shoot him out of 9 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:31,080 the sky uh uh after one warning that 10 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:34,520 kind of thing um uh and he can certainly 11 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:38,680 be uh ideologically the opposite of uh 12 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:41,640 our president but I think that he should 13 00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:44,200 be a fundamentally decent guy who does 14 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:46,680 not try to take advantage of such a 15 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:49,480 horrible situation and I'm saying that 16 00:00:49,480 --> 00:00:52,359 for two reasons one he he's a more 17 00:00:52,359 --> 00:00:55,280 interesting character that way 18 00:00:55,280 --> 00:00:58,640 to must we on a rare occasion when we're 19 00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:00,519 introducing a Republican 20 00:01:00,519 --> 00:01:05,520 into the mix make them Donald 21 00:01:05,520 --> 00:01:07,479 Trump 22 00:01:07,479 --> 00:01:11,040 life just writing what we know here um 23 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:14,040 yeah uh uh so uh if we want to do that 24 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:17,759 story I think it's uh uh I think it's 25 00:01:17,759 --> 00:01:18,680 wkins 26 00:01:18,680 --> 00:01:22,000 Josh right uh uh who's uh who's doing 27 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:23,840 that 28 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:27,320 um now if if we've got all these 29 00:01:27,320 --> 00:01:29,920 characters uh uh that we want to use all 30 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:32,200 old and new you know we're bringing Sam 31 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:35,280 back uh we have Josh Molina uh uh R 32 00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:37,960 playing will Bailey uh uh we're going to 33 00:01:37,960 --> 00:01:42,200 have a Walkin staffer uh possibly um uh 34 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:44,759 the discussion that you're having and 35 00:01:44,759 --> 00:01:48,000 you're having uh uh about just what the 36 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:50,759 law is here and how does Bartlett become 37 00:01:50,759 --> 00:01:53,680 president again we need some lawyers in 38 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:57,079 the room uh uh I mean on the show right 39 00:01:57,079 --> 00:02:00,520 whether it's um uh Oliver 40 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:05,079 or uh or we this was a show where every 41 00:02:05,079 --> 00:02:06,640 time we needed a White House Council it 42 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:08,319 was a different white house uh uh 43 00:02:08,319 --> 00:02:09,920 Council uh and they got to do an 44 00:02:09,920 --> 00:02:14,280 introductory scene um we need uh all 45 00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:17,160 those people uh the person I think we 46 00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:21,440 want to see most is Emily Proctor right 47 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:25,560 Angley Hayes uh okay so uh we are going 48 00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:30,000 to very nicely ask CSI Miami and I'm put 49 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:32,080 us all in a time capsule uh and putting 50 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:33,840 us back there we're going to very nicely 51 00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:36,400 ask CSI Miami which is on a different 52 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:39,840 network can we borrow uh Emily Proctor 53 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:41,599 does she square off against Matthew 54 00:02:41,599 --> 00:02:44,879 Perry um hey both Republicans going to 55 00:02:44,879 --> 00:02:47,280 war with each other and we need we need 56 00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:49,720 Matt too don't we all right it's going 57 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:53,239 be great but just imagine the promos uh 58 00:02:53,239 --> 00:02:56,360 for this episode uh um uh it's going to 59 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:59,519 be a good episode line bill that's right 60 00:02:59,519 --> 00:03:00,720 that's right 61 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:04,440 um but if we are going to have this many 62 00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:06,319 people sitting at the dinner table we 63 00:03:06,319 --> 00:03:09,920 need plenty of food uh uh for everybody 64 00:03:09,920 --> 00:03:11,239 that's not a hard metaphor to understand 65 00:03:11,239 --> 00:03:13,640 right seven course 66 00:03:13,640 --> 00:03:15,480 meal I don't know there's just something 67 00:03:15,480 --> 00:03:18,280 about you that's pissing me off I I 68 00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:20,360 can't like I'm okay with the Frosted 69 00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:22,799 poptart but I don't know what it is I 70 00:03:22,799 --> 00:03:26,000 agreed with you a little bit a little 71 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:28,080 bit not enough and I really feel like 72 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:29,519 you should have been kissing my ass I'll 73 00:03:29,519 --> 00:03:32,720 Stand the chair next time 74 00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:34,680 okay 75 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:40,319 um okay uh so we have right now uh two 76 00:03:40,319 --> 00:03:44,159 big juicy story problems uh uh to deal 77 00:03:44,159 --> 00:03:47,599 with obviously the priority is and one 78 00:03:47,599 --> 00:03:49,280 of those big juicy story problems kind 79 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:52,879 of has two branches uh okay uh so let's 80 00:03:52,879 --> 00:03:57,000 talk about the Abduction of Zoe uh uh a 81 00:03:57,000 --> 00:04:00,879 big story thing we've got to 82 00:04:00,879 --> 00:04:04,200 find and rescue Zoe okay get her back 83 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:06,879 safely and we the other branches we've 84 00:04:06,879 --> 00:04:08,519 got to deal 85 00:04:08,519 --> 00:04:14,120 with the uh uh assumption uh that this 86 00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:17,519 isn't a couple of crazy rapur interests 87 00:04:17,519 --> 00:04:20,320 in uh uh you know in Upstate New York uh 88 00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:23,919 that this that that we are at War uh uh 89 00:04:23,919 --> 00:04:24,800 that 90 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:27,479 there's something military uh uh 91 00:04:27,479 --> 00:04:30,800 Happening Here uh so we need to wrestle 92 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:32,919 both those stories to the ground we're 93 00:04:32,919 --> 00:04:38,360 close on the Zoe part uh um the idea 94 00:04:38,360 --> 00:04:41,240 that some kind 95 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:44,199 of remind me again where we left it 96 00:04:44,199 --> 00:04:46,840 Donna got a 97 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:52,000 fax with a really guys that that uh is 98 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:53,840 all I'm going to get it was I think like 99 00:04:53,840 --> 00:04:57,120 a blurry picture of 100 00:04:57,120 --> 00:05:00,919 of it was a a yeah blurry picture there 101 00:05:00,919 --> 00:05:02,039 was something I remember there was 102 00:05:02,039 --> 00:05:04,000 something about something Zoe was 103 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:06,720 wearing that two tank tops yeah two tank 104 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:09,240 tops she was wearing layered tank tops 105 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:13,639 that look like yeah and had I um just 106 00:05:13,639 --> 00:05:15,600 remind me if I did a good job or not had 107 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:17,720 I laid in earlier on that Zoe was 108 00:05:17,720 --> 00:05:19,960 wearing two tank tops somebody remarked 109 00:05:19,960 --> 00:05:24,600 on it CJ CJ remarked on it to the 110 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:27,720 Press oh CJ said to here's what she was 111 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:29,960 wearing when she was last seen uh have a 112 00:05:29,960 --> 00:05:32,160 picture of her at the time yeah great 113 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:35,160 okay 114 00:05:36,319 --> 00:05:40,680 uh I'll tell you what else 115 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:43,319 um stalker 116 00:05:43,319 --> 00:05:45,560 Abby cannot 117 00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:47,720 be 118 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:54,120 passive uh guys your protagonists um uh 119 00:05:54,120 --> 00:05:58,880 and in an ensemble TV series uh which a 120 00:05:58,880 --> 00:06:01,360 a at the moment 121 00:06:01,360 --> 00:06:03,000 the the two people pitching TV series 122 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:06,360 have not pitched uh Ensemble shows um uh 123 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:08,840 they're pretty much one or one or two uh 124 00:06:08,840 --> 00:06:12,680 uh character shows but your protagonist 125 00:06:12,680 --> 00:06:17,319 by definition cannot be passive uh okay 126 00:06:17,319 --> 00:06:21,840 they can't be a victim of events uh they 127 00:06:21,840 --> 00:06:25,319 can't a a and all of the characters on 128 00:06:25,319 --> 00:06:28,120 this show are protagonists um uh every 129 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:31,960 single one of them so Donna can't spend 130 00:06:31,960 --> 00:06:34,479 this two hours just saying oh God isn't 131 00:06:34,479 --> 00:06:37,639 it terrible all right she has to somehow 132 00:06:37,639 --> 00:06:41,000 be active Abby can't spend this whole 133 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:44,880 two hours under a doctor's care um uh 134 00:06:44,880 --> 00:06:47,000 you know saying it it isn't this 135 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:51,000 terrible she has to be active um and 136 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:54,400 this is not a show where uh you know the 137 00:06:54,400 --> 00:06:57,680 characters strap on weapons and go and 138 00:06:57,680 --> 00:07:02,400 cowboy uh themselves uh it makes it 139 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:05,759 harder so let me hear your ideas I 140 00:07:05,759 --> 00:07:07,240 actually just 141 00:07:07,240 --> 00:07:09,599 yours I actually wanted the first lady 142 00:07:09,599 --> 00:07:12,400 to say that she wanted to actually 143 00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:13,639 address the press and the reason why 144 00:07:13,639 --> 00:07:16,319 they bring Sam back is to give um they 145 00:07:16,319 --> 00:07:18,319 say they need another Kenesaw speech 146 00:07:18,319 --> 00:07:20,960 where when the pipes bursted that was 147 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:22,599 something that the president you know 148 00:07:22,599 --> 00:07:24,800 Sam wred in the car and he was the the 149 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:28,479 comment from Toby him being a freak um 150 00:07:28,479 --> 00:07:29,960 but Sam comes back and that's how he 151 00:07:29,960 --> 00:07:32,039 gets mixed back and Toby mixed back with 152 00:07:32,039 --> 00:07:33,919 Toby but the first lady actually does 153 00:07:33,919 --> 00:07:39,120 want to address the the press okay uh 154 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:41,759 how do we avoid that isn't it simply a 155 00:07:41,759 --> 00:07:44,000 redo of what we 156 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:48,800 did in uh in 422 in in uh uh in the 157 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:50,879 season finale where the first lady was 158 00:07:50,879 --> 00:07:53,240 desperate to address the Press you know 159 00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:56,560 make a personal Mother's plea uh uh and 160 00:07:56,560 --> 00:07:58,280 they wouldn't let her well coming from a 161 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:00,120 place of her being I guess emotionally 162 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:02,120 unstable so you think that enough time 163 00:08:02,120 --> 00:08:03,639 has passed 164 00:08:03,639 --> 00:08:06,159 that I mean she's there with her husband 165 00:08:06,159 --> 00:08:07,840 in that sense consoling him and 166 00:08:07,840 --> 00:08:09,159 obviously he 167 00:08:09,159 --> 00:08:12,599 can't I it's I think it's her moment to 168 00:08:12,599 --> 00:08:15,199 protect him in a sense like the the the 169 00:08:15,199 --> 00:08:17,400 family aspect of things the daughter's 170 00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:19,159 out there he's stepped down from the 171 00:08:19,159 --> 00:08:21,960 presidency so he has relinquished his 172 00:08:21,960 --> 00:08:23,800 power so I'm not sure how he's feeling 173 00:08:23,800 --> 00:08:26,159 um I can imagine it's not we we can 174 00:08:26,159 --> 00:08:28,840 definitely check in with them uh 175 00:08:28,840 --> 00:08:30,039 emotionally 176 00:08:30,039 --> 00:08:35,320 and uh listen it's a that that'll be a a 177 00:08:35,320 --> 00:08:37,240 tricky thing it's going to you know take 178 00:08:37,240 --> 00:08:41,599 some de uh writing because it can become 179 00:08:41,599 --> 00:08:45,839 just mock is and mod and uh incredibly 180 00:08:45,839 --> 00:08:48,240 fast the easiest fastest way for it to 181 00:08:48,240 --> 00:08:50,920 become Mock and modlin is to make these 182 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:53,600 people passive victims uh of this 183 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:56,800 circumstance make them active make them 184 00:08:56,800 --> 00:08:59,880 soldiers uh and uh and we you're clear 185 00:08:59,880 --> 00:09:01,760 of that I think that yours is a good 186 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:06,360 idea but I think that um I'm just not 187 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:09,160 like feeling enough conflict there and I 188 00:09:09,160 --> 00:09:10,480 think I yeah I'm going to call you in 189 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:13,440 one second I think that once we start to 190 00:09:13,440 --> 00:09:15,200 figure 191 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:18,560 out what the FBI is doing what the 192 00:09:18,560 --> 00:09:20,279 Secret Service is doing because those 193 00:09:20,279 --> 00:09:22,760 would be uh the 194 00:09:22,760 --> 00:09:26,680 two uh law enforcement uh agencies 195 00:09:26,680 --> 00:09:28,839 responsible for this right once we 196 00:09:28,839 --> 00:09:30,399 figure out what the FBI and the Secret 197 00:09:30,399 --> 00:09:34,800 Service are doing then we can have Abby 198 00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:37,079 feel like they're doing something wrong 199 00:09:37,079 --> 00:09:40,200 um uh and uh uh you know 200 00:09:40,200 --> 00:09:43,880 and disagreeing with uh her husband who 201 00:09:43,880 --> 00:09:47,640 is powerless uh in this situation anyway 202 00:09:47,640 --> 00:09:51,760 uh but I think that 203 00:09:52,040 --> 00:09:54,079 um uh I think it's going to be really 204 00:09:54,079 --> 00:09:56,839 helpful uh uh once we understand those 205 00:09:56,839 --> 00:09:58,920 things as well as the other branch of 206 00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:00,279 that 207 00:10:00,279 --> 00:10:01,800 uh which is what's going on in The 208 00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:04,959 Situation Room uh uh what are Fitz 209 00:10:04,959 --> 00:10:09,040 Wallace Nancy and Leo who is going to 210 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:11,959 have you know his hand in every pie uh 211 00:10:11,959 --> 00:10:13,959 uh in an episode like this what's going 212 00:10:13,959 --> 00:10:17,680 on in uh uh in the situation room 213 00:10:17,680 --> 00:10:22,160 um is someone taking false credit uh uh 214 00:10:22,160 --> 00:10:24,920 for this um uh 215 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:26,640 has 216 00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:29,079 uh I don't want to use names like Isis 217 00:10:29,079 --> 00:10:33,320 and Al qaa because um it it's jarring 218 00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:35,079 we're a parallel universe we're not the 219 00:10:35,079 --> 00:10:38,399 exact same universe uh uh so we we'll we 220 00:10:38,399 --> 00:10:40,200 we make up names like Sharif and Kumar 221 00:10:40,200 --> 00:10:42,279 and that kind of thing um uh is someone 222 00:10:42,279 --> 00:10:45,959 taking credit for it uh and it's quickly 223 00:10:45,959 --> 00:10:49,680 demonstrated that it that it wasn't them 224 00:10:49,680 --> 00:10:53,160 I don't know uh I'm sorry you keep 225 00:10:53,160 --> 00:10:54,639 wanted to say something couple of couple 226 00:10:54,639 --> 00:10:57,160 of things uh one a way to do something 227 00:10:57,160 --> 00:11:00,519 like uh uh Abby wrestling with what to 228 00:11:00,519 --> 00:11:03,920 say to the nation could be if they ask 229 00:11:03,920 --> 00:11:06,200 her to now that he stepped down he can't 230 00:11:06,200 --> 00:11:08,600 address the nation and maybe she needs 231 00:11:08,600 --> 00:11:13,079 to in his stead um to be able to 232 00:11:13,079 --> 00:11:16,480 um on the other track in terms of your 233 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:20,160 your last open question there um I 234 00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:23,959 remember on on the day of September 11th 235 00:11:23,959 --> 00:11:26,440 um by the early 236 00:11:26,440 --> 00:11:30,240 afternoon uh um the Taliban 237 00:11:30,240 --> 00:11:31,519 uh government in 238 00:11:31,519 --> 00:11:34,800 Afghanistan denied any involvement 239 00:11:34,800 --> 00:11:36,600 immediately you know released a 240 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:38,399 statement saying we had nothing 241 00:11:38,399 --> 00:11:41,920 whatsoever to do with this and the um 242 00:11:41,920 --> 00:11:44,920 that already felt like a sort of 243 00:11:44,920 --> 00:11:47,959 harburger of Doom like this this clearly 244 00:11:47,959 --> 00:11:50,959 and so if you have feeling the pressure 245 00:11:50,959 --> 00:11:53,639 the Kumari governments say we had 246 00:11:53,639 --> 00:11:56,160 nothing whatsoever to do with this um 247 00:11:56,160 --> 00:11:59,839 and that both feed the the 248 00:11:59,839 --> 00:12:03,360 um uh Anna De Smith Side by saying they 249 00:12:03,360 --> 00:12:06,519 really didn't and on the other side feel 250 00:12:06,519 --> 00:12:08,920 someone saying clearly they're denying 251 00:12:08,920 --> 00:12:10,560 it because they know we're going to 252 00:12:10,560 --> 00:12:11,880 they're trying to get out ahead of this 253 00:12:11,880 --> 00:12:13,760 or something can I ask a quick question 254 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:15,440 anybody here app 255 00:12:15,440 --> 00:12:22,360 parent okay I am um and if I were in 256 00:12:22,360 --> 00:12:24,639 Bartlett's shoes right now which is 257 00:12:24,639 --> 00:12:26,160 where you have to put yourself if you're 258 00:12:26,160 --> 00:12:28,839 going to any of you would have to put 259 00:12:28,839 --> 00:12:29,959 yourself 260 00:12:29,959 --> 00:12:32,959 uh if I'm in Bartlett situation I could 261 00:12:32,959 --> 00:12:35,199 give a [ __ ] if California falls into the 262 00:12:35,199 --> 00:12:37,440 Pacific Ocean I'm not thinking about 263 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:40,079 Kumar and shareif and how to do that 264 00:12:40,079 --> 00:12:41,920 which is I'm only thinking about one 265 00:12:41,920 --> 00:12:44,399 thing somebody is holding a knife to the 266 00:12:44,399 --> 00:12:47,519 throat uh of my kid that's it and that's 267 00:12:47,519 --> 00:12:50,720 exactly why I had the cabinet invoke the 268 00:12:50,720 --> 00:12:52,360 25th Amendment it was sort of like with 269 00:12:52,360 --> 00:12:58,120 my last gasp of sane oxygen okay the 270 00:12:58,120 --> 00:13:01,720 last smart thing uh uh that I can do 271 00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:06,440 here that isn't driven by emotion is to 272 00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:10,279 replace me right now um or I'm going to 273 00:13:10,279 --> 00:13:13,639 bomb somebody okay I'll do it uh I'm 274 00:13:13,639 --> 00:13:15,639 going to do whatever they ask me to do 275 00:13:15,639 --> 00:13:17,279 uh to get my kids so get me out of the 276 00:13:17,279 --> 00:13:20,880 game um uh so given that I don't think 277 00:13:20,880 --> 00:13:24,920 that Bartlett at least not right now at 278 00:13:24,920 --> 00:13:26,519 least not at 1:00 a.m. at least not in 279 00:13:26,519 --> 00:13:30,480 act one is strategizing uh uh about the 280 00:13:30,480 --> 00:13:32,160 world well I was separating those two 281 00:13:32,160 --> 00:13:33,199 they were they were two separate 282 00:13:33,199 --> 00:13:36,639 questions I I should them in my liar 283 00:13:36,639 --> 00:13:41,000 okay okay um depend he's still my least 284 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:43,040 favorite but I'm catching you're 285 00:13:43,040 --> 00:13:46,639 catching up now depending on how much on 286 00:13:46,639 --> 00:13:48,160 how much time is elaps between the 287 00:13:48,160 --> 00:13:50,160 finale and the premiere um because I I 288 00:13:50,160 --> 00:13:51,680 mean I made a small note to myself the 289 00:13:51,680 --> 00:13:53,399 only reference I have is I my dog went 290 00:13:53,399 --> 00:13:55,639 missing when I was like 11 and I didn't 291 00:13:55,639 --> 00:13:56,800 know cuz you're helpless you don't know 292 00:13:56,800 --> 00:13:57,959 what to do you can't be actively 293 00:13:57,959 --> 00:13:59,880 involved in the search so I just assumed 294 00:13:59,880 --> 00:14:01,839 my dog was dead so I made like I 295 00:14:01,839 --> 00:14:03,880 prepared a memorial for him assuming I 296 00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:05,519 have to grieve for my dog he he was 297 00:14:05,519 --> 00:14:09,279 found but when it comes to Bartlet Abby 298 00:14:09,279 --> 00:14:11,480 um an active role that someone could 299 00:14:11,480 --> 00:14:13,680 take is possibly just assuming and 300 00:14:13,680 --> 00:14:15,079 submitting to the fact that maybe your 301 00:14:15,079 --> 00:14:16,920 child is dead then you start making the 302 00:14:16,920 --> 00:14:18,519 prepar You' lost all hope it's an 303 00:14:18,519 --> 00:14:20,360 emotional state people can go on um can 304 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:22,680 I well well well but but I'm sorry uh 305 00:14:22,680 --> 00:14:23,839 I'm going to get to you in one second I 306 00:14:23,839 --> 00:14:26,639 do like the idea 307 00:14:26,639 --> 00:14:31,120 of uh someone making that suggestion uh 308 00:14:31,120 --> 00:14:35,000 uh to either Bartlett or Abby and having 309 00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:39,279 them you know if you talk to parents 310 00:14:39,279 --> 00:14:42,040 who and honestly if you're a parent just 311 00:14:42,040 --> 00:14:43,839 the thought of it makes your head 312 00:14:43,839 --> 00:14:46,720 explode if you talk to a parent whose 313 00:14:46,720 --> 00:14:49,120 child has been abducted they could be 314 00:14:49,120 --> 00:14:53,079 missing for 5 years and that parent will 315 00:14:53,079 --> 00:14:57,279 hold never uh concede uh uh that the kid 316 00:14:57,279 --> 00:14:59,959 isn't alive anymore in a million years 317 00:14:59,959 --> 00:15:01,959 so somebody made that suggestion to 318 00:15:01,959 --> 00:15:06,720 either of the bartletts um jeder Abby uh 319 00:15:06,720 --> 00:15:08,759 they would get pounded um and I'd like 320 00:15:08,759 --> 00:15:10,959 to see that scene uh so I think it's a 321 00:15:10,959 --> 00:15:15,839 good idea um uh if we do it a little bit 322 00:15:15,839 --> 00:15:17,839 different and jeie you want to say what 323 00:15:17,839 --> 00:15:19,639 if they what if they go to Molly's 324 00:15:19,639 --> 00:15:21,440 parents they have to go to her funeral 325 00:15:21,440 --> 00:15:23,759 and Molly 326 00:15:23,759 --> 00:15:28,040 yeah yeah all we did yeah that's great 327 00:15:28,040 --> 00:15:30,839 um all we did for Molly is Toby named 328 00:15:30,839 --> 00:15:32,519 his daughter after her which I thought 329 00:15:32,519 --> 00:15:36,160 deserves more so much more um but yeah 330 00:15:36,160 --> 00:15:37,839 they've got to 331 00:15:37,839 --> 00:15:40,519 um I love that and still not knowing 332 00:15:40,519 --> 00:15:42,440 that their daughter is is alive or dead 333 00:15:42,440 --> 00:15:43,880 and then they have to go pay to pay 334 00:15:43,880 --> 00:15:46,319 condolences to to Molly which they are 335 00:15:46,319 --> 00:15:48,480 in some regard responsible for they've 336 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:51,079 put their daughter in this position yeah 337 00:15:51,079 --> 00:15:54,000 that's a great idea it's possible that 338 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:56,079 by the end of this you will no longer be 339 00:15:56,079 --> 00:15:58,120 the person I like the least but I don't 340 00:15:58,120 --> 00:15:59,319 think I'm ever going to let you more 341 00:15:59,319 --> 00:16:00,240 than I like 342 00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:02,959 Genie just so you know and I also think 343 00:16:02,959 --> 00:16:04,440 it's important that you guys know where 344 00:16:04,440 --> 00:16:07,639 you stand uh uh with me who's my 345 00:16:07,639 --> 00:16:09,759 favorite who's my least favorite uh uh 346 00:16:09,759 --> 00:16:11,199 that kind of thing every few minutes 347 00:16:11,199 --> 00:16:13,839 I'll give you an update yeah I'd really 348 00:16:13,839 --> 00:16:15,360 like to see that scene and then at the 349 00:16:15,360 --> 00:16:16,600 end of the teaser so they go to the 350 00:16:16,600 --> 00:16:18,720 funeral the end of the teaser is she's 351 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:21,079 alive there's the video there's the she 352 00:16:21,079 --> 00:16:22,560 there there's hope so it's like you go 353 00:16:22,560 --> 00:16:25,639 from Death to she's she's sure I don't 354 00:16:25,639 --> 00:16:28,199 think we can I think that if you did the 355 00:16:28,199 --> 00:16:31,079 the funeral in the teaser um you're 356 00:16:31,079 --> 00:16:33,880 giving it short shrift uh um I I think 357 00:16:33,880 --> 00:16:36,319 we'd have to race by the uh uh the 358 00:16:36,319 --> 00:16:40,759 funeral um but uh I do like ending the 359 00:16:40,759 --> 00:16:44,160 teaser with 360 00:16:44,160 --> 00:16:46,319 uh well I was going to say I do like 361 00:16:46,319 --> 00:16:48,440 ending the teaser with uh she's alive it 362 00:16:48,440 --> 00:16:50,880 doesn't give us a chance to do what we 363 00:16:50,880 --> 00:16:52,560 were talking about we talked about that 364 00:16:52,560 --> 00:16:54,399 as the act one out yeah we talked about 365 00:16:54,399 --> 00:16:56,519 the she's alive as the act one out the 366 00:16:56,519 --> 00:16:59,680 footage the footage claiming 367 00:16:59,680 --> 00:17:01,120 uh claiming responsibility for 368 00:17:01,120 --> 00:17:03,720 kidnapping was was Molly the one who was 369 00:17:03,720 --> 00:17:06,000 who was on the detail no but was on the 370 00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:08,039 detail for one of the other yes 371 00:17:08,039 --> 00:17:09,760 daughters I believe it was Elizabeth in 372 00:17:09,760 --> 00:17:11,839 which case we can have at least 373 00:17:11,839 --> 00:17:13,640 Elizabeth at the funeral and Elizabeth 374 00:17:13,640 --> 00:17:15,520 might be the one who raises the 375 00:17:15,520 --> 00:17:17,919 possibility cuz who else their daughter 376 00:17:17,919 --> 00:17:19,439 could get away with that I would imagine 377 00:17:19,439 --> 00:17:20,760 that there would be a Bartlett Family 378 00:17:20,760 --> 00:17:22,919 Reunion in this absolutely there would 379 00:17:22,919 --> 00:17:26,439 have to be yeah uh-huh well um was there 380 00:17:26,439 --> 00:17:29,000 any evidence found on mol's body about 381 00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:30,559 there was a gunshot there was just a 382 00:17:30,559 --> 00:17:34,360 gunshot gun yeah gun um they didn't take 383 00:17:34,360 --> 00:17:38,120 forensics uh I I I I know this cast is 384 00:17:38,120 --> 00:17:39,840 getting uh uh pretty big but I really 385 00:17:39,840 --> 00:17:43,240 like Tay digs um he would probably I 386 00:17:43,240 --> 00:17:44,679 mean I would imagine the Secret Service 387 00:17:44,679 --> 00:17:47,160 would be after this yeah it'd be very 388 00:17:47,160 --> 00:17:49,640 easy to have I mean he'd be around he'd 389 00:17:49,640 --> 00:17:52,200 be feeling responsible uh uh right he I 390 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:55,600 mean he was the head of uh Zoe's detail 391 00:17:55,600 --> 00:17:57,799 um they probably follow the lead if they 392 00:17:57,799 --> 00:18:00,280 had one on uh on the rapturous or you 393 00:18:00,280 --> 00:18:03,200 know the the Christian fundamentalist uh 394 00:18:03,200 --> 00:18:06,799 yeah so if we can find some food for Tay 395 00:18:06,799 --> 00:18:10,240 to eat uh as they say it would be great 396 00:18:10,240 --> 00:18:13,320 I also 397 00:18:13,320 --> 00:18:17,200 um uh I really like Ron Butterfield um 398 00:18:17,200 --> 00:18:20,320 uh uh the head of Bartlett's uh uh 399 00:18:20,320 --> 00:18:25,400 detail uh and let's not forget duay uh 400 00:18:25,400 --> 00:18:29,520 that uh it's and I know it's not the 401 00:18:29,520 --> 00:18:32,520 same as a daughter but uh Zoe is 402 00:18:32,520 --> 00:18:36,000 Charlie's girlfriend um uh 403 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:39,159 so listen there's just a very personal 404 00:18:39,159 --> 00:18:43,039 uh aspect uh to this for a lot of people 405 00:18:43,039 --> 00:18:45,159 uh uh in this show you know you don't 406 00:18:45,159 --> 00:18:47,919 have to have have it be a girlfriend or 407 00:18:47,919 --> 00:18:51,320 a child uh uh who's missing uh you know 408 00:18:51,320 --> 00:18:54,360 if if you're Josh if you're CJ if you're 409 00:18:54,360 --> 00:18:56,720 Sam this is your your world's just been 410 00:18:56,720 --> 00:19:00,880 turned inside out and and an instant um 411 00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:05,840 uh uh this this friend uh is in grave 412 00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:09,440 grave danger the world might blow up uh 413 00:19:09,440 --> 00:19:10,640 any 414 00:19:10,640 --> 00:19:13,840 second someone who's not your boss uh uh 415 00:19:13,840 --> 00:19:15,440 is sitting in the Oval Office there's an 416 00:19:15,440 --> 00:19:18,159 entirely different president the the guy 417 00:19:18,159 --> 00:19:20,120 you know is the President Jed Bartlett 418 00:19:20,120 --> 00:19:22,960 who you've devoted your life to uh is 419 00:19:22,960 --> 00:19:25,840 essentially under armed guard uh in in 420 00:19:25,840 --> 00:19:30,559 the East Wing um uh for fear that any 421 00:19:30,559 --> 00:19:33,679 second he could call Fitz Wallace uh and 422 00:19:33,679 --> 00:19:37,080 say I'm tired of this mobilize the 82 423 00:19:37,080 --> 00:19:39,559 Airborne um uh and here's what we're 424 00:19:39,559 --> 00:19:41,720 going to do and suddenly we've got two 425 00:19:41,720 --> 00:19:46,200 commanders in Chief uh it if we can't 426 00:19:46,200 --> 00:19:47,880 get an episode out of this we should 427 00:19:47,880 --> 00:19:50,200 really turn in our wga 428 00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:53,600 cards uh it there's really good stuff 429 00:19:53,600 --> 00:19:56,880 happening talk to me more I'm I'm dying 430 00:19:56,880 --> 00:19:58,760 to hear a bad idea so I can talk about 431 00:19:58,760 --> 00:20:00,600 why it's 432 00:20:00,600 --> 00:20:05,520 bad um well I think there's a lot come 433 00:20:05,679 --> 00:20:08,120 on I'm kidding go ahead I was just going 434 00:20:08,120 --> 00:20:09,440 to say there's a lot of dramatic tension 435 00:20:09,440 --> 00:20:11,200 in the fact that um most of the West 436 00:20:11,200 --> 00:20:13,360 Wing staff have to deal with the the 437 00:20:13,360 --> 00:20:14,960 official story that's coming out to the 438 00:20:14,960 --> 00:20:17,880 public and that's largely um the extent 439 00:20:17,880 --> 00:20:20,200 to which they're they're controlling the 440 00:20:20,200 --> 00:20:22,480 situation right what what information is 441 00:20:22,480 --> 00:20:23,880 actually getting out to the press and to 442 00:20:23,880 --> 00:20:26,120 the public versus what they actually 443 00:20:26,120 --> 00:20:27,799 know about you know the footage that may 444 00:20:27,799 --> 00:20:29,679 have been found or uh the information 445 00:20:29,679 --> 00:20:32,799 about whatever group may have Zoey and I 446 00:20:32,799 --> 00:20:34,280 think it really parallels with the way 447 00:20:34,280 --> 00:20:36,840 that uh that President Bartlett and his 448 00:20:36,840 --> 00:20:38,559 family are sort of Trapped in the in the 449 00:20:38,559 --> 00:20:41,360 East Wing um trying to figure out what 450 00:20:41,360 --> 00:20:43,880 to do or how to how to communicate to 451 00:20:43,880 --> 00:20:45,760 the Secret Service if they're out on the 452 00:20:45,760 --> 00:20:48,799 field um or you know the FBI if they're 453 00:20:48,799 --> 00:20:51,159 following any lead on Zoe's kidnapping 454 00:20:51,159 --> 00:20:52,520 sort of domestically so we have these 455 00:20:52,520 --> 00:20:55,799 two yeah that's cool are you able to I I 456 00:20:55,799 --> 00:20:57,159 I don't mean to put you on the spot and 457 00:20:57,159 --> 00:20:58,280 this it's very hard to think of these 458 00:20:58,280 --> 00:20:59,520 things and 459 00:20:59,520 --> 00:21:02,679 like on command um are you able to put 460 00:21:02,679 --> 00:21:04,240 what you said 461 00:21:04,240 --> 00:21:08,919 into able to organize that into 462 00:21:08,919 --> 00:21:11,120 uh this happens then this happens then 463 00:21:11,120 --> 00:21:15,400 this happens um partially okay yeah uh I 464 00:21:15,400 --> 00:21:17,840 I I I'm impressed even partially that 465 00:21:17,840 --> 00:21:20,679 you can do it as much as you can do it 466 00:21:20,679 --> 00:21:26,039 right now um okay so uh CJ finds out 467 00:21:26,039 --> 00:21:29,400 from uh from Charlie and uh Tay Dig's 468 00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:30,679 character who I can't remember right now 469 00:21:30,679 --> 00:21:34,279 uh Wes Wes what's his name Wes Wes 470 00:21:34,279 --> 00:21:36,480 um yeah I can't remember his last name 471 00:21:36,480 --> 00:21:39,760 either Wesley Davis uh so Charlie and 472 00:21:39,760 --> 00:21:41,159 Wesley Davis uh I could been a little 473 00:21:41,159 --> 00:21:41,960 more 474 00:21:41,960 --> 00:21:44,720 imaginative Charlie and Wesley Davis uh 475 00:21:44,720 --> 00:21:46,480 find out um about the Christian 476 00:21:46,480 --> 00:21:48,960 fundamentalist group that may have Zoe 477 00:21:48,960 --> 00:21:52,360 um and so CJ is now uh privy to this 478 00:21:52,360 --> 00:21:54,600 information and she has to decide with 479 00:21:54,600 --> 00:21:56,919 you know with Josh and uh the other 480 00:21:56,919 --> 00:21:58,880 members of the The West Wing through 481 00:21:58,880 --> 00:22:01,880 whether or not um 482 00:22:01,880 --> 00:22:04,279 to deliver this information to the 483 00:22:04,279 --> 00:22:07,400 president and whether or not um whether 484 00:22:07,400 --> 00:22:09,320 or not they should sit on it uh before 485 00:22:09,320 --> 00:22:15,360 going to the Press I mean um yes I I I 486 00:22:15,360 --> 00:22:16,720 don't know and I think it's because you 487 00:22:16,720 --> 00:22:20,159 don't know I don't know how we got to uh 488 00:22:20,159 --> 00:22:22,360 uh the rapturous I think let's make 489 00:22:22,360 --> 00:22:24,880 ourselves feel better and uh and put up 490 00:22:24,880 --> 00:22:28,360 an index card 1 00:00:06,879 --> 00:00:09,880 these index cards are too small uh uh 2 00:00:09,880 --> 00:00:11,320 for our purposes but we're going to go 3 00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:13,639 with them anyway okay you index card 4 00:00:13,639 --> 00:00:16,199 junkies back there you have no idea how 5 00:00:16,199 --> 00:00:18,840 much index card stuff we went through um 6 00:00:18,840 --> 00:00:20,880 you're the one uh uh with the 7 00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:23,720 handwriting you blew it on day one okay 8 00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:25,960 would you just write 9 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:31,960 yeah uh CJ press briefing room 10 00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:35,079 we don't quite know well we know a 11 00:00:35,079 --> 00:00:36,320 little bit about what that scene's going 12 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:39,280 to be um uh we don't know everything 13 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:42,200 about what that scene's going to be but 14 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:45,160 watch how good we're going to feel when 15 00:00:45,160 --> 00:00:46,800 we put 16 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:50,320 up an index card and wait we even get to 17 00:00:50,320 --> 00:00:52,239 do another one we'll do it on the white 18 00:00:52,239 --> 00:00:55,920 index card would you write teaser yes on 19 00:00:55,920 --> 00:00:58,920 that 20 00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:04,080 were you worried for a second that you 21 00:01:04,080 --> 00:01:05,080 weren't going to be able to fit the 22 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:06,439 whole word or did you feel like you had 23 00:01:06,439 --> 00:01:09,040 it all the way I had 24 00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:13,320 it I let me tell you something at S I 25 00:01:13,320 --> 00:01:14,479 thought she's 26 00:01:14,479 --> 00:01:17,720 worried okay but you didn't show it uh 27 00:01:17,720 --> 00:01:19,640 all right you you showed nothing but 28 00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:21,680 confidence but at S I knew you were 29 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:25,280 worded okay you didn't have it all the 30 00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:27,840 way look how well we're 31 00:01:27,840 --> 00:01:31,920 doing okay uh 32 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:37,280 um uh let me just does anybody have any 33 00:01:37,280 --> 00:01:38,600 general thoughts did anybody have any 34 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:40,960 ideas 35 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:44,600 overnight okay here's the I overnight 36 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:48,320 idea I had we've seen this plot before 37 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:52,399 in various different forms let's explore 38 00:01:52,399 --> 00:01:55,119 it and see if we can do it in a way that 39 00:01:55,119 --> 00:01:57,439 we haven't seen 40 00:01:57,439 --> 00:02:00,880 before there is the illusion 41 00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:04,200 of uh some kind of international threat 42 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:06,520 out there right it's not real it's an 43 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:10,520 illusion that's been created by the 44 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:12,440 rapturous that's what they're called 45 00:02:12,440 --> 00:02:14,239 right am I using the right name does 46 00:02:14,239 --> 00:02:16,959 anybody know yeah okay well that's what 47 00:02:16,959 --> 00:02:18,319 we're calling them here there's an 48 00:02:18,319 --> 00:02:19,680 illusion that's been created by the 49 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:21,599 rapturous we're going to make that clear 50 00:02:21,599 --> 00:02:25,800 uh uh in our story that some 51 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:30,760 actual uh terrorist group uh or or or 52 00:02:30,760 --> 00:02:35,599 even a country uh has abducted uh uh 53 00:02:35,599 --> 00:02:40,400 Zoey and is making certain 54 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:43,000 demands 55 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:45,599 that there's an easy way to explain this 56 00:02:45,599 --> 00:02:47,400 by just talking about what we're ripping 57 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:50,760 it off from um uh uh so let's just talk 58 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:52,959 about Crimson Tide uh for a sec movie 59 00:02:52,959 --> 00:02:55,680 Crimson Tide do everybody know it y okay 60 00:02:55,680 --> 00:02:59,480 uh uh in Crimson Tide uh they get a 61 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:01,560 message message launch your nuclear 62 00:03:01,560 --> 00:03:03,959 missiles then they get another message 63 00:03:03,959 --> 00:03:07,360 that's cut off uh in the middle Jean 64 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:08,879 Hackman 65 00:03:08,879 --> 00:03:10,959 says that message was cut off in the 66 00:03:10,959 --> 00:03:12,680 middle we're going to launch these 67 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:14,920 missiles anyway Denzel Washington says 68 00:03:14,920 --> 00:03:16,760 whoa whoa whoa whoa we can't launch the 69 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:19,000 missiles uh uh we've got to wait and see 70 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:20,640 what this other message is because it 71 00:03:20,640 --> 00:03:22,959 might be saying don't launch the 72 00:03:22,959 --> 00:03:25,200 missiles uh everything's okay and the 73 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:28,760 movie is essentially aace uh uh with 74 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:32,280 time to see if they can get the second 75 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:34,680 half of that message that was cut off 76 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:36,319 before the moment that they're supposed 77 00:03:36,319 --> 00:03:39,879 to launch the missiles so what if we 78 00:03:39,879 --> 00:03:43,680 have roughly the same race that if we 79 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:45,280 devise and we're going to need some 80 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:48,000 military consultants in here to to make 81 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:51,760 this all legit but we have John Goodman 82 00:03:51,760 --> 00:03:55,159 and his people who are ready to make 83 00:03:55,159 --> 00:03:57,079 some sort of military move I'm not 84 00:03:57,079 --> 00:03:58,439 talking about anything as big as 85 00:03:58,439 --> 00:04:01,439 dropping a nuclear bomb uh or anything 86 00:04:01,439 --> 00:04:04,640 um but they are ready 87 00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:10,560 to start bombing a thing um uh and then 88 00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:13,000 we let's call that the Jean Hackman 89 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:15,919 faction and we had the Denzel Washington 90 00:04:15,919 --> 00:04:20,160 faction that's an de Smith and her 91 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:22,199 people saying 92 00:04:22,199 --> 00:04:25,360 th this is it's an illusion um this 93 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:28,560 isn't happening this is uh this is a 94 00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:31,479 police issue it's an FBI issue she's in 95 00:04:31,479 --> 00:04:33,639 the back of a musler shop uh in Upstate 96 00:04:33,639 --> 00:04:35,520 New York if 97 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:38,360 fundamentally that was the uh the 98 00:04:38,360 --> 00:04:41,759 skeleton uh of the episode isn't that 99 00:04:41,759 --> 00:04:43,440 enough to and it's a two-hour episode 100 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:46,360 isn't that enough to start hanging the 101 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:49,000 things that we want to uh hang which in 102 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:50,360 particular is 103 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:53,440 seeing I mean but what turns me on is 104 00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:58,240 the idea of an exiled king um uh uh 105 00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:01,160 Bartlett power 106 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:04,960 uh uh uh basically under guard in uh uh 107 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:08,720 in the East wing and a 108 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:13,000 staff torn between serving the president 109 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:15,960 and serving their president uh uh 110 00:05:15,960 --> 00:05:18,199 Bartlet does would would that work yeah 111 00:05:18,199 --> 00:05:20,880 can I can I just a couple of questions 112 00:05:20,880 --> 00:05:25,199 clarification um so in terms of the the 113 00:05:25,199 --> 00:05:26,919 um 114 00:05:26,919 --> 00:05:29,280 rapturous because we had we were 115 00:05:29,280 --> 00:05:30,520 discussing 116 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:33,960 as an aside earlier we had that that um 117 00:05:33,960 --> 00:05:35,520 facts come in and it had the picture of 118 00:05:35,520 --> 00:05:37,360 Zoe but it also had a list of Demands 119 00:05:37,360 --> 00:05:40,400 and those demands matched to the demands 120 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:45,960 that um a um Kumari Muti had made um 121 00:05:45,960 --> 00:05:49,039 during a sermon an online sermon uh in 122 00:05:49,039 --> 00:05:52,759 days previous um so that would suggest 123 00:05:52,759 --> 00:05:54,759 that the rapturous if they are behind it 124 00:05:54,759 --> 00:05:57,240 were trying to 125 00:05:57,240 --> 00:05:59,919 stoke uh the conflict between the United 126 00:05:59,919 --> 00:06:01,960 States and Kumar in order to incite 127 00:06:01,960 --> 00:06:03,759 exactly the thing that Walkin would be 128 00:06:03,759 --> 00:06:05,639 pushing for on the Gene Hackman side ah 129 00:06:05,639 --> 00:06:08,160 I think that's really interesting um so 130 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:11,639 uh if that's the case then I guess what 131 00:06:11,639 --> 00:06:12,639 we're look one of the things we're 132 00:06:12,639 --> 00:06:16,039 looking for are ways to stoke that from 133 00:06:16,039 --> 00:06:18,960 the Kumari side that either they're 134 00:06:18,960 --> 00:06:22,560 trying to avoid responsibility or um 135 00:06:22,560 --> 00:06:25,280 they're embracing you know the false 136 00:06:25,280 --> 00:06:26,440 responsibility and trying to get out 137 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:27,960 ahead of it by being aggressive towards 138 00:06:27,960 --> 00:06:30,160 someone else um so what are those things 139 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:31,759 that we're going to be sort of throwing 140 00:06:31,759 --> 00:06:34,280 fuel on the fire with from outside the 141 00:06:34,280 --> 00:06:37,000 White House is that I think that feels 142 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:39,280 like the yeah that feels really good 143 00:06:39,280 --> 00:06:41,319 yeah um let me mention since we've said 144 00:06:41,319 --> 00:06:44,759 the words word rapturous uh rapturous 10 145 00:06:44,759 --> 00:06:47,080 times now uh uh let let me mention this 146 00:06:47,080 --> 00:06:50,880 too I've had plenty of fun uh with this 147 00:06:50,880 --> 00:06:53,919 show and with other things 148 00:06:53,919 --> 00:06:57,199 mocking uh religious 149 00:06:57,199 --> 00:07:00,759 extremists uh let's take advantage of 150 00:07:00,759 --> 00:07:03,720 the fact that on this show we have a 151 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:06,720 character who is a devout Catholic uh uh 152 00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:09,720 Bartlett 153 00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:13,639 um we've got the crazy uh uh uh people 154 00:07:13,639 --> 00:07:16,520 in other words I I I I want to I want 155 00:07:16,520 --> 00:07:20,840 there to be a voice for the non-crazy uh 156 00:07:20,840 --> 00:07:24,479 uh part of Faith uh and and that can be 157 00:07:24,479 --> 00:07:28,800 Barlett okay even at this his his lowest 158 00:07:28,800 --> 00:07:31,879 moment he thought his lowest moment was 159 00:07:31,879 --> 00:07:34,319 when Mrs landingham was killed and 160 00:07:34,319 --> 00:07:36,039 that's when he at least for a few 161 00:07:36,039 --> 00:07:38,199 minutes abandoned his faith and uh and 162 00:07:38,199 --> 00:07:39,960 cursed out God maybe he didn't abandon 163 00:07:39,960 --> 00:07:42,520 his faith I don't know when we were 164 00:07:42,520 --> 00:07:44,120 shooting that scene you know what scene 165 00:07:44,120 --> 00:07:45,840 I'm talking about yeah uh three 166 00:07:45,840 --> 00:07:47,879 Cathedrals yeah two Cathedrals uh we 167 00:07:47,879 --> 00:07:51,599 shot it in the National Cathedral and uh 168 00:07:51,599 --> 00:07:54,520 uh there were a number of clergy 169 00:07:54,520 --> 00:07:58,639 standing around and uh uh we were about 170 00:07:58,639 --> 00:08:02,440 to rehearse the scene and uh I thought I 171 00:08:02,440 --> 00:08:05,280 better a scene in which Bartlett curses 172 00:08:05,280 --> 00:08:08,280 at God and in the National Cathedral so 173 00:08:08,280 --> 00:08:10,479 I thought i' better warn these guys who 174 00:08:10,479 --> 00:08:12,400 would just come down to watch you know 175 00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:15,280 oh cool the westwing rehearsing here uh 176 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:16,720 that that was going to happen and I so I 177 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:18,759 went up to a priest and I said father uh 178 00:08:18,759 --> 00:08:19,919 I just want to let you know that in the 179 00:08:19,919 --> 00:08:21,840 scene we're about to rehearse Martin 180 00:08:21,840 --> 00:08:24,520 Sheen is going to curse out God and he 181 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:27,319 said I know it's going to be great 182 00:08:27,319 --> 00:08:30,479 um uh uh so uh 183 00:08:30,479 --> 00:08:32,200 I 184 00:08:32,200 --> 00:08:34,959 the true people of Faith did not believe 185 00:08:34,959 --> 00:08:36,680 that Martin Sheen abandoned his faith in 186 00:08:36,680 --> 00:08:39,000 that moment um they believed he affirmed 187 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:42,919 it uh uh by by challenging God like that 188 00:08:42,919 --> 00:08:45,040 um 189 00:08:45,040 --> 00:08:47,519 I these conversations that don't go 190 00:08:47,519 --> 00:08:49,640 anywhere uh like this believe it or not 191 00:08:49,640 --> 00:08:52,519 are very important uh okay uh uh we 192 00:08:52,519 --> 00:08:55,399 Circle it uh for a long long time and 193 00:08:55,399 --> 00:08:58,040 just like cotton candy uh uh twirling in 194 00:08:58,040 --> 00:09:00,480 there bit by bit meat starts to go on 195 00:09:00,480 --> 00:09:04,360 the bones that said I want 196 00:09:04,360 --> 00:09:08,040 to have a teaser uh okay uh I want to be 197 00:09:08,040 --> 00:09:10,240 able to go in my office and uh and write 198 00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:13,480 the teaser and in order to do 199 00:09:13,480 --> 00:09:15,440 that 200 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:18,200 uh I think we need to know what the out 201 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:20,800 is uh on the teaser there was an idea 202 00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:22,839 yesterday can somebody remind 203 00:09:22,839 --> 00:09:25,560 me of what the the out would be on the 204 00:09:25,560 --> 00:09:26,760 teaser does anybody remember someone 205 00:09:26,760 --> 00:09:28,000 mention that the Press briefing gets 206 00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:30,760 interrupted by some major was that just 207 00:09:30,760 --> 00:09:34,200 happens uh bombings in Israel perhaps 208 00:09:34,200 --> 00:09:35,760 that the raptures would have staged in 209 00:09:35,760 --> 00:09:37,720 order to do that or could be something 210 00:09:37,720 --> 00:09:39,480 to do could there be a video I'll tell 211 00:09:39,480 --> 00:09:41,680 you I I I would hold off on that we're 212 00:09:41,680 --> 00:09:43,079 remember we're coming back at the 213 00:09:43,079 --> 00:09:47,279 beginning of a new season let's we got 214 00:09:47,279 --> 00:09:50,720 to catch the audience up not not just in 215 00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:55,200 terms of information um uh but just let 216 00:09:55,200 --> 00:09:58,079 them it's September it's a new season of 217 00:09:58,079 --> 00:10:01,800 The West Wing uh uh we're back can we 218 00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:03,480 just breathe a second before something 219 00:10:03,480 --> 00:10:05,760 blows up and and we have to look uh in 220 00:10:05,760 --> 00:10:08,560 another Direction um uh that's we 221 00:10:08,560 --> 00:10:11,079 basically want to pick up right where we 222 00:10:11,079 --> 00:10:15,920 left off and we are go through trickery 223 00:10:15,920 --> 00:10:19,120 um uh uh through crafty 224 00:10:19,120 --> 00:10:21,320 writing we're actually going to pick up 225 00:10:21,320 --> 00:10:24,000 about two minutes before uh uh we we 226 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:25,800 left off we're going to do that by going 227 00:10:25,800 --> 00:10:28,079 into the Press briefing room and have 228 00:10:28,079 --> 00:10:31,720 having CJ tell the Press about what we 229 00:10:31,720 --> 00:10:34,760 just saw four months ago uh uh in in the 230 00:10:34,760 --> 00:10:41,040 last SE okay so uh I I think I listen I 231 00:10:41,040 --> 00:10:42,959 I'm okay let's not worry about what 232 00:10:42,959 --> 00:10:45,320 happens in the Press briefing room I 233 00:10:45,320 --> 00:10:46,920 can 234 00:10:46,920 --> 00:10:49,560 uh 235 00:10:49,560 --> 00:10:53,120 uh I used to 236 00:10:53,120 --> 00:10:56,360 uh With A Few Good Men uh or it may have 237 00:10:56,360 --> 00:10:58,440 been the with either A Few Good Men or 238 00:10:58,440 --> 00:10:59,720 the American president one of the two 239 00:10:59,720 --> 00:11:03,480 movies I did with Rob Riner um I'm I'm 240 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:06,040 very bad at pitching I'm very bad at 241 00:11:06,040 --> 00:11:08,440 talking okay I'm I'm I'm much more 242 00:11:08,440 --> 00:11:11,959 comfortable writing than talking uh and 243 00:11:11,959 --> 00:11:14,880 I'd go to Rob riner's office every day 244 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:18,880 uh um to to get script notes uh and we'd 245 00:11:18,880 --> 00:11:22,120 come to a problem and we'd start kind of 246 00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:24,399 hashing out the problem and he'd have 247 00:11:24,399 --> 00:11:28,120 ideas that I wouldn't like um and uh I 248 00:11:28,120 --> 00:11:30,440 would say listen I I really feel like I 249 00:11:30,440 --> 00:11:33,360 I know how to fix it I I can't I'd 250 00:11:33,360 --> 00:11:35,360 rather write it than uh than talk about 251 00:11:35,360 --> 00:11:37,440 it can I just go back to the hotel write 252 00:11:37,440 --> 00:11:40,959 the scene uh uh and and bring it to you 253 00:11:40,959 --> 00:11:43,519 uh and those came to be known as trust 254 00:11:43,519 --> 00:11:48,519 me I'm Aaron uh scenes so um uh on on CJ 255 00:11:48,519 --> 00:11:49,800 in the Press briefing I'm gonna say 256 00:11:49,800 --> 00:11:52,680 trust me I'm a okay uh I know how to do 257 00:11:52,680 --> 00:11:54,160 that scene I know how to get out of that 258 00:11:54,160 --> 00:11:56,040 scene 259 00:11:56,040 --> 00:11:59,440 but we're not out of the teaser yet um 260 00:11:59,440 --> 00:12:03,680 um uh we we do need something strong I 261 00:12:03,680 --> 00:12:08,839 don't think it has to be a new event 262 00:12:08,839 --> 00:12:11,839 um I think it can be something just a 263 00:12:11,839 --> 00:12:16,639 statement a fact uh that just at for 264 00:12:16,639 --> 00:12:18,079 instance I don't know if this is it or 265 00:12:18,079 --> 00:12:21,760 not but just as John Goodman uh 266 00:12:21,760 --> 00:12:25,480 said any unidentified aircraft gets one 267 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:27,079 warning and then I don't care if my 268 00:12:27,079 --> 00:12:28,800 mother is on that plane going to visit 269 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:29,920 her mother 270 00:12:29,920 --> 00:12:34,120 shoot him out of the sky um I think I 271 00:12:34,120 --> 00:12:35,079 want to 272 00:12:35,079 --> 00:12:36,959 hear John 273 00:12:36,959 --> 00:12:40,399 Goodman make some kind of 274 00:12:40,399 --> 00:12:43,760 Declaration that it doesn't matter to 275 00:12:43,760 --> 00:12:48,600 him if that if Zoe Bartlett dies um uh 276 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:51,360 she is a casualty of War just like any 277 00:12:51,360 --> 00:12:54,279 Soldier uh uh who's out there that he's 278 00:12:54,279 --> 00:12:56,199 not going to take the demands of 279 00:12:56,199 --> 00:13:00,320 terrorists and that he is going to 280 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:03,440 fire missiles uh where they need to be 281 00:13:03,440 --> 00:13:06,440 fired 282 00:13:10,079 --> 00:13:13,279 um it's either something like that I 283 00:13:13,279 --> 00:13:18,079 don't think it's time yet for uh for a 284 00:13:18,079 --> 00:13:20,920 new clue like the Donna 285 00:13:20,920 --> 00:13:23,920 facts 286 00:13:25,880 --> 00:13:27,760 um okay I'm going to give you the 287 00:13:27,760 --> 00:13:29,920 radical edge of this thing 288 00:13:29,920 --> 00:13:32,079 okay just to let you know that it's okay 289 00:13:32,079 --> 00:13:35,639 to shout out bad ideas all right here 290 00:13:35,639 --> 00:13:38,360 I'll start with my own bad idea the 291 00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:42,880 teaser ends with uh Zoe's head in a box 292 00:13:42,880 --> 00:13:44,839 being delivered to the white house uh 293 00:13:44,839 --> 00:13:47,120 okay is an idea going to get worse than 294 00:13:47,120 --> 00:13:50,480 that no so go ahead don't be shy give me 295 00:13:50,480 --> 00:13:52,279 your ideas because I'm sticking with the 296 00:13:52,279 --> 00:13:54,720 head in the Box Wan takes over the Press 297 00:13:54,720 --> 00:13:56,680 briefing for CJ and makes a statement he 298 00:13:56,680 --> 00:14:00,480 walks very bad who who else has one 299 00:14:00,480 --> 00:14:03,120 uh but by the way uh it was by the way 300 00:14:03,120 --> 00:14:06,399 it wasn't that bad but um uh uh I I I do 301 00:14:06,399 --> 00:14:08,279 like the we talked yesterday about 302 00:14:08,279 --> 00:14:11,279 Walkin wants to address the nation and 303 00:14:11,279 --> 00:14:14,279 you know there's uh just a a 304 00:14:14,279 --> 00:14:17,920 rift fundamentally uh uh the the 305 00:14:17,920 --> 00:14:19,680 westwing takes place in the 306 00:14:19,680 --> 00:14:22,240 communication shop uh of of the White 307 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:24,320 House so that's a good uh place for a 308 00:14:24,320 --> 00:14:27,079 rift for us um uh but come on you must 309 00:14:27,079 --> 00:14:28,360 have a bad idea you must have a ton of 310 00:14:28,360 --> 00:14:30,320 them I do 311 00:14:30,320 --> 00:14:32,399 let's 312 00:14:32,399 --> 00:14:35,240 see the teaser could end with like an an 313 00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:37,240 qualter type accusing Zoe of being a 314 00:14:37,240 --> 00:14:39,160 drug drug addict and like V victim 315 00:14:39,160 --> 00:14:42,519 blaming her love it very bad conspiracy 316 00:14:42,519 --> 00:14:44,839 theory of some sort along along those 317 00:14:44,839 --> 00:14:46,720 lines but them claiming that they're 318 00:14:46,720 --> 00:14:48,600 hiding Zoey somewhere that that it's a 319 00:14:48,600 --> 00:14:50,480 White House conspiracy it's really bad 320 00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:54,040 at you okay we're gon to we're going to 321 00:14:54,040 --> 00:14:56,480 get rid of all the bad ideas right now 322 00:14:56,480 --> 00:14:59,079 okay let's do it Cory hit me John Paul 323 00:14:59,079 --> 00:15:02,839 wakes up there we go okay you are now 324 00:15:02,839 --> 00:15:07,160 tied with Zoe in a box and goes to the 325 00:15:07,800 --> 00:15:10,639 Press come on let's go everybody's 326 00:15:10,639 --> 00:15:12,000 offered their bad idea all right all 327 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:13,000 right 328 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:15,000 um 329 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:17,839 uh uh I don't have anything look at this 330 00:15:17,839 --> 00:15:20,199 corkboard this is two hours that needs 331 00:15:20,199 --> 00:15:23,560 to be filled we're like 40 seconds into 332 00:15:23,560 --> 00:15:26,120 this show NBC can't even sell ad time 333 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:27,120 yet one of the things we talked about 334 00:15:27,120 --> 00:15:28,480 earlier was we haven't gotten to the 335 00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:29,839 first commerci break one of the things 336 00:15:29,839 --> 00:15:31,240 we talked about earlier was Kumar 337 00:15:31,240 --> 00:15:33,720 issuing a statement on it okay I think 338 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:35,600 that good now we're done with the bad 339 00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:39,720 ideas um I don't think that the plot 340 00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:43,000 should be advanced in the teaser um I I 341 00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:46,000 think we should simply be reminded of 342 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:48,920 how serious the situation 343 00:15:48,920 --> 00:15:52,000 is a and the the various points of the 344 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:54,560 spear uh uh that there are I don't think 345 00:15:54,560 --> 00:15:56,680 there should be new information in the 346 00:15:56,680 --> 00:15:58,680 teaser uh uh we're not quite ready to 347 00:15:58,680 --> 00:16:00,680 abs we're going to and we're going to do 348 00:16:00,680 --> 00:16:02,079 this teaser we to roll the main titles 349 00:16:02,079 --> 00:16:03,079 we're going to be in the First Act we 350 00:16:03,079 --> 00:16:04,959 can have new information we maybe check 351 00:16:04,959 --> 00:16:08,040 in with um the bartletts as I think 352 00:16:08,040 --> 00:16:10,680 mentioned um that they would be visiting 353 00:16:10,680 --> 00:16:12,199 uh Molly's funeral or they would be 354 00:16:12,199 --> 00:16:13,839 attending Molly's funeral wherever that 355 00:16:13,839 --> 00:16:14,759 is 356 00:16:14,759 --> 00:16:16,880 or I don't I don't know if we want to go 357 00:16:16,880 --> 00:16:18,399 to the funeral yet because it's it's 358 00:16:18,399 --> 00:16:20,480 still like 1 in the morning on the night 359 00:16:20,480 --> 00:16:22,319 that that this has happened what about 360 00:16:22,319 --> 00:16:24,360 in The Press briefing if the question is 361 00:16:24,360 --> 00:16:26,440 raised if Zoe is actually found to be 362 00:16:26,440 --> 00:16:29,519 dead will Bartlett remain not in Pres 363 00:16:29,519 --> 00:16:31,160 are we going to have a new president now 364 00:16:31,160 --> 00:16:33,399 if the wor should happen is bartett just 365 00:16:33,399 --> 00:16:35,399 gone that's a question I definitely want 366 00:16:35,399 --> 00:16:37,319 to raise that question I'm not sure if I 367 00:16:37,319 --> 00:16:39,000 want to do it in the teaser I'll tell 368 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:40,240 you here's here's what I really do want 369 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:43,440 to do your instinct is right let's go to 370 00:16:43,440 --> 00:16:46,279 the bartletts let's go to the east Wing 371 00:16:46,279 --> 00:16:49,639 okay um and uh maybe the maybe the other 372 00:16:49,639 --> 00:16:51,360 daughters have arrived well I mean it's 373 00:16:51,360 --> 00:16:53,800 in the middle of the night but you know 374 00:16:53,800 --> 00:16:57,319 how in the first Superman movie um and 375 00:16:57,319 --> 00:16:58,600 when I say the first Superman I talk 376 00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:01,920 Chris for reason okay 377 00:17:01,920 --> 00:17:04,360 um and now I can't remember if it's the 378 00:17:04,360 --> 00:17:06,280 first Superman movie the second Superman 379 00:17:06,280 --> 00:17:07,959 movie I'm fairly sure that both of these 380 00:17:07,959 --> 00:17:09,520 Superman movies were made before any of 381 00:17:09,520 --> 00:17:12,799 you were born um but uh first of all who 382 00:17:12,799 --> 00:17:15,160 who who saw those Superman 383 00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:17,559 movies with Christopher Reed yeah yeah 384 00:17:17,559 --> 00:17:20,439 yeah okay he somehow he goes goes to the 385 00:17:20,439 --> 00:17:22,880 North Pole he goes to his uh foress of 386 00:17:22,880 --> 00:17:28,640 Fortress of of solitude um and kind of I 387 00:17:28,640 --> 00:17:30,360 can't remember how but he he absolves 388 00:17:30,360 --> 00:17:31,960 himself of he gets rid of his special 389 00:17:31,960 --> 00:17:34,960 powers uh he becomes human uh I can't 390 00:17:34,960 --> 00:17:38,679 remember how then coming back from uh 391 00:17:38,679 --> 00:17:42,360 the North Pole stops into a A Roadside 392 00:17:42,360 --> 00:17:48,200 Diner bar gets into a fight with a rude 393 00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:50,720 customer and 394 00:17:50,720 --> 00:17:55,000 experiences his lack of superpowers 395 00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:58,480 right then he bleeds um uh his punches 396 00:17:58,480 --> 00:18:01,080 don't send anybody into a wall uh uh 397 00:18:01,080 --> 00:18:03,280 anything like that why am I talking 398 00:18:03,280 --> 00:18:05,240 about this why the hell not we don't 399 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:07,840 have any other ideas I'm talking about 400 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:12,000 it for this reason um uh I somehow I 401 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:15,080 want Bartlett to experience his lack of 402 00:18:15,080 --> 00:18:18,159 powers uh uh right now for that go ahead 403 00:18:18,159 --> 00:18:20,000 um I think if Leo or one of the members 404 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:21,440 of The White House staff came in to 405 00:18:21,440 --> 00:18:23,679 check on him just to check on him but he 406 00:18:23,679 --> 00:18:25,559 expects on some level just because it's 407 00:18:25,559 --> 00:18:29,200 you know routine that they're there to 408 00:18:29,200 --> 00:18:30,640 brief him for something and then he 409 00:18:30,640 --> 00:18:31,799 realizes that they're just there to 410 00:18:31,799 --> 00:18:35,840 check on him so it could be 411 00:18:35,840 --> 00:18:39,039 that I'm still looking for some form of 412 00:18:39,039 --> 00:18:41,919 a moment we played already uh a little 413 00:18:41,919 --> 00:18:46,120 bit at the very end of 25 at the very 414 00:18:46,120 --> 00:18:51,760 end of the season finale 415 00:18:53,360 --> 00:18:56,159 um Bartlett's about to leave they're 416 00:18:56,159 --> 00:19:00,400 about to swear in uh uh John Goodman 417 00:19:00,400 --> 00:19:04,559 um I Bartlett starts to say something 418 00:19:04,559 --> 00:19:07,120 and John Goodman says you relieved uh uh 419 00:19:07,120 --> 00:19:10,440 Mr President um uh and Bartlett turns to 420 00:19:10,440 --> 00:19:12,799 Leo uh and start to says it starts to 421 00:19:12,799 --> 00:19:16,760 say it and Leo says you releves sir um 422 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:22,679 I I I loved uh uh uh that moment 423 00:19:22,679 --> 00:19:24,919 um so obviously we're not going to do 424 00:19:24,919 --> 00:19:29,000 that again um can we put can we put uh 425 00:19:29,000 --> 00:19:31,080 Walkin and Bartlett together alone in 426 00:19:31,080 --> 00:19:34,480 the room and you know there's some 427 00:19:34,480 --> 00:19:36,039 handoff not that you know obviously not 428 00:19:36,039 --> 00:19:38,559 the football but like something that's 429 00:19:38,559 --> 00:19:41,159 but you know that last little bit of 430 00:19:41,159 --> 00:19:44,080 business the bad really bad version is 431 00:19:44,080 --> 00:19:45,799 like his adjusting the chair a little 432 00:19:45,799 --> 00:19:47,720 bit lower because he's taller than you 433 00:19:47,720 --> 00:19:50,240 know that's a possibility you know 434 00:19:50,240 --> 00:19:51,840 something that that suggests that this 435 00:19:51,840 --> 00:19:54,720 is no longer his space one of my 436 00:19:54,720 --> 00:19:57,559 favorite alltime shows is the office and 437 00:19:57,559 --> 00:20:00,520 um uh I I kind of became obsessed 438 00:20:00,520 --> 00:20:03,200 with how that show got written what 439 00:20:03,200 --> 00:20:06,559 their writer from was like and I finally 440 00:20:06,559 --> 00:20:09,559 got to find out because in the in the 441 00:20:09,559 --> 00:20:11,360 last season of The Newsroom Paul 442 00:20:11,360 --> 00:20:14,320 lieberstein who was one of the EPS on uh 443 00:20:14,320 --> 00:20:16,880 on the office uh join the staff of of 444 00:20:16,880 --> 00:20:18,400 The Newsroom and he would tell these 445 00:20:18,400 --> 00:20:20,400 stories at the 446 00:20:20,400 --> 00:20:23,559 office the show uh uh the office in 447 00:20:23,559 --> 00:20:26,919 their writer's room just to loosen 448 00:20:26,919 --> 00:20:28,480 themselves up like in moments when they 449 00:20:28,480 --> 00:20:30,440 had uh run up against the wall they 450 00:20:30,440 --> 00:20:32,000 would break an episode of 451 00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:37,760 Entourage uh just just for fun um and uh 452 00:20:37,760 --> 00:20:40,720 but there was always one rule which was 453 00:20:40,720 --> 00:20:44,200 at the end of the episode 454 00:20:44,200 --> 00:20:48,799 um Adrien grineer um uh uh who played 455 00:20:48,799 --> 00:20:51,200 the lead uh I'm sorry Vinnie uh yeah 456 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:53,440 played Vinnie Vinnie Chase uh had to win 457 00:20:53,440 --> 00:20:56,320 the Oscar uh for best act uh so he had 458 00:20:56,320 --> 00:20:57,880 to do an episode that ends with Vinnie 459 00:20:57,880 --> 00:21:00,039 winning the Oscar for best actor uh 460 00:21:00,039 --> 00:21:02,080 we're going to do an episode that ends 461 00:21:02,080 --> 00:21:04,120 with Zoe being alive and Bartlett being 462 00:21:04,120 --> 00:21:08,480 the president uh again um and and we're 463 00:21:08,480 --> 00:21:11,919 almost there uh uh uh we're we're 464 00:21:11,919 --> 00:21:14,679 practically home we just need a last 465 00:21:14,679 --> 00:21:18,200 scene and like 38 other scenes that come 466 00:21:18,200 --> 00:21:22,480 before that and after this 1 00:00:06,240 --> 00:00:08,719 what is your idea um basically our idea 2 00:00:08,719 --> 00:00:10,719 is pretty similar actually just like the 3 00:00:10,719 --> 00:00:12,000 the person who's talking to president 4 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:13,240 Bartlett is the only thing that's 5 00:00:13,240 --> 00:00:16,400 different um so my idea was um for Leo 6 00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:19,240 to go uh check in on President Bartlett 7 00:00:19,240 --> 00:00:21,119 and uh there was some question of 8 00:00:21,119 --> 00:00:23,599 whether or not he would be briefing um 9 00:00:23,599 --> 00:00:25,439 the president still on a day-to-day 10 00:00:25,439 --> 00:00:28,000 basis or whether or not he would be able 11 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:30,199 to um deliver that information or there 12 00:00:30,199 --> 00:00:33,079 something would be withheld um because 13 00:00:33,079 --> 00:00:35,559 of the acting president's orders that is 14 00:00:35,559 --> 00:00:37,040 interesting and it's something I'm sorry 15 00:00:37,040 --> 00:00:38,719 did I interrupt you I just I was just 16 00:00:38,719 --> 00:00:40,640 going to finish that thought no it's 17 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:42,800 okay um and say that uh it would 18 00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:45,399 probably be uh president Bartlett's 19 00:00:45,399 --> 00:00:47,640 natural instinct to kind of give Leo 20 00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:49,840 orders or to find out more information 21 00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:52,559 about whatever it is um but he wouldn't 22 00:00:52,559 --> 00:00:54,239 be able to and Leo would remind him so 23 00:00:54,239 --> 00:00:56,760 it's sort of a call back to the end of 24 00:00:56,760 --> 00:01:00,079 that's what we're looking for I'll I'll 25 00:01:00,079 --> 00:01:02,359 add my thought to that in a second let's 26 00:01:02,359 --> 00:01:04,600 hear your idea kind of similar only I 27 00:01:04,600 --> 00:01:06,159 thought it might be um something that we 28 00:01:06,159 --> 00:01:08,439 haven't really flexed a lot is splett 29 00:01:08,439 --> 00:01:10,600 knows Toby's had twins but that's a new 30 00:01:10,600 --> 00:01:12,000 development at the end of 25 they 31 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:13,360 haven't really talked about it and 32 00:01:13,360 --> 00:01:14,400 there's this interesting parallel 33 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:15,960 between Toby having gain children and 34 00:01:15,960 --> 00:01:17,799 Bartlett having potentially lost a child 35 00:01:17,799 --> 00:01:19,759 sure and that's a conversation that I 36 00:01:19,759 --> 00:01:22,000 think could happen because Bartlett 37 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:24,799 maybe to distract himself maybe Toby he 38 00:01:24,799 --> 00:01:26,360 he knows how much this means to Toby 39 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:28,320 asks him about his kids you know he 40 00:01:28,320 --> 00:01:30,000 doesn't really know that much about him 41 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:32,119 um uh he doesn't neither does Toby for 42 00:01:32,119 --> 00:01:34,680 that matter um he just met them a couple 43 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:36,560 of hours ago I feel like the scene 44 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:38,360 you're talking about is a good scene 45 00:01:38,360 --> 00:01:41,360 that has to come later um that right now 46 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:46,320 we are still in the first hours of uh 47 00:01:46,320 --> 00:01:51,399 really Unthinkable crisis uh uh and the 48 00:01:51,399 --> 00:01:54,719 kind of the kind of early on talk 49 00:01:54,719 --> 00:01:57,119 happened uh in the Oval Office at the 50 00:01:57,119 --> 00:02:01,119 end of 25 and um 51 00:02:01,119 --> 00:02:04,119 in a moment where they're waiting uh uh 52 00:02:04,119 --> 00:02:06,840 they're just waiting uh Bartley 53 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:11,480 congratulates Toby and uh uh I can't 54 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:14,280 remember what the exactly what the setup 55 00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:17,879 line is but Bartlett asked Toby uh uh 56 00:02:17,879 --> 00:02:19,040 what do you know now that you didn't 57 00:02:19,040 --> 00:02:21,640 know uh uh before and Toby said babies 58 00:02:21,640 --> 00:02:26,000 come with Hats um uh uh and then bartl 59 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:28,840 says uh you know slap 60 00:02:28,840 --> 00:02:30,760 a can't remember what they're called 61 00:02:30,760 --> 00:02:33,239 those ankle bracelets 62 00:02:33,239 --> 00:02:36,879 that uh onor right now and don't take it 63 00:02:36,879 --> 00:02:39,280 off here's what I know and again it'll 64 00:02:39,280 --> 00:02:42,159 be helpful when we bring in the uh the 65 00:02:42,159 --> 00:02:43,840 military and intelligence and Secret 66 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:47,239 Service Consultants um uh but here's 67 00:02:47,239 --> 00:02:49,319 what I do know 68 00:02:49,319 --> 00:02:52,360 ex-presidents uh are entitled to every 69 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:54,959 morning uh uh the president receives an 70 00:02:54,959 --> 00:02:57,959 intelligence briefing uh uh from the CIA 71 00:02:57,959 --> 00:03:01,120 all the scary stuff that none of us uh 72 00:03:01,120 --> 00:03:05,720 uh know about um uh uh we we know about 73 00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:08,920 one of them because it became famous uh 74 00:03:08,920 --> 00:03:11,400 the uh the PDF the president's daily uh 75 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:15,560 uh pdb the president's Daily Brief um uh 76 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:17,720 that said uh Bin Laden determined to 77 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:20,560 attack inside the United States uh uh 78 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:22,560 presidents get that every morning 79 00:03:22,560 --> 00:03:27,840 ex-presidents are entitled to uh uh get 80 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:30,640 that intelligence briefing as well um 81 00:03:30,640 --> 00:03:32,480 and uh uh some of them take it 82 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:35,080 ex-presidents want to kind of be kept up 83 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:38,519 to date uh on what's going on 84 00:03:38,519 --> 00:03:41,959 uh so 85 00:03:41,959 --> 00:03:44,519 um it's possible that that's a loophole 86 00:03:44,519 --> 00:03:46,120 through which Bartley can get 87 00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:50,439 information it's possible that uh uh 88 00:03:50,439 --> 00:03:55,439 John Goodman wants to keep B it as in 89 00:03:55,439 --> 00:03:58,720 the dark uh as possible so for good 90 00:03:58,720 --> 00:04:02,519 reasons uh so that he can uh uh get this 91 00:04:02,519 --> 00:04:07,439 job done um and so has decided that 92 00:04:07,439 --> 00:04:09,239 Bartlet is not an 93 00:04:09,239 --> 00:04:14,519 ex-president uh that what he is is a 94 00:04:14,519 --> 00:04:17,160 president under the 25th 95 00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:21,280 Amendment umbrella of you're you're a 96 00:04:21,280 --> 00:04:25,400 powerless president um and that's that's 97 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:28,800 the thing that that we want to dramatize 98 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:33,120 it it it might be as simple 99 00:04:33,120 --> 00:04:34,639 um 100 00:04:34,639 --> 00:04:38,960 as Abby asking questions of Bartlett 101 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:43,600 like is is is the FBI doing this um are 102 00:04:43,600 --> 00:04:46,160 they doing this is you know is Fitz 103 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:48,199 Wallace doing this is this person doing 104 00:04:48,199 --> 00:04:51,400 this and and Bartlet just saying I don't 105 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:53,919 know they don't work for me uh uh 106 00:04:53,919 --> 00:04:57,080 anymore well she's she was sedated last 107 00:04:57,080 --> 00:05:00,479 we saw so uh if if she actually wakes up 108 00:05:00,479 --> 00:05:03,039 he's he's coming back for the first time 109 00:05:03,039 --> 00:05:06,720 to the east Wing from that scene we saw 110 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:08,639 and she wakes up as he comes back into 111 00:05:08,639 --> 00:05:10,880 the room and there's even just a moment 112 00:05:10,880 --> 00:05:13,560 as as something like that or even as 113 00:05:13,560 --> 00:05:15,120 simple as tell me you're doing 114 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:18,160 everything you can and that's the one 115 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:20,000 thing he can't tell 116 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:23,840 her you may have found something 117 00:05:23,840 --> 00:05:27,600 um if we play that Abby doesn't know yet 118 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:31,400 exactly uh that he not the president and 119 00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:34,919 that Abby flips 120 00:05:34,919 --> 00:05:37,360 out that he 121 00:05:37,360 --> 00:05:41,000 has at the moment when his power is most 122 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:46,240 needed he's given it up 123 00:05:47,319 --> 00:05:50,520 um what if they were to find out by 124 00:05:50,520 --> 00:05:53,160 watching CJ's press I mean is there I 125 00:05:53,160 --> 00:05:54,199 mean 126 00:05:54,199 --> 00:05:56,479 there's if they were finding if she 127 00:05:56,479 --> 00:05:58,440 found out along with the rest of the 128 00:05:58,440 --> 00:05:59,960 nation 129 00:05:59,960 --> 00:06:02,639 um through CJ's press briefing we could 130 00:06:02,639 --> 00:06:05,000 do that but isn't there more can't we 131 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:09,120 get more out of telling her her her 132 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:13,319 coming out of uh uh you know a sedated 133 00:06:13,319 --> 00:06:17,840 Haze um and uh and Bartlett telling her 134 00:06:17,840 --> 00:06:20,440 yeah I'll tell you what I I think it 135 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:24,120 sounds like we want to have a Bartlett 136 00:06:24,120 --> 00:06:29,880 ABY scene okay um 137 00:06:36,360 --> 00:06:38,720 residents Bartlet and Abby you can just 138 00:06:38,720 --> 00:06:41,639 write Bartlett 139 00:06:46,199 --> 00:06:49,199 Abby 140 00:06:49,199 --> 00:06:53,919 news bad news really captures it doesn't 141 00:06:55,599 --> 00:07:00,560 it okay yes to 142 00:07:00,560 --> 00:07:06,479 it's basically the cheer I I'll I think 143 00:07:06,479 --> 00:07:10,080 that I I'm I again I'm still not 100% 144 00:07:10,080 --> 00:07:12,879 sure what's here not 100% sure what's 145 00:07:12,879 --> 00:07:15,960 there either but uh not 100% sure what's 146 00:07:15,960 --> 00:07:21,039 here but that might be our 147 00:07:21,360 --> 00:07:23,400 out I still 148 00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:27,800 think I still think we have got to 149 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:31,520 basically hear 150 00:07:31,919 --> 00:07:35,080 that John 151 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:39,560 Goodman is is ready to was Zoe if uh uh 152 00:07:39,560 --> 00:07:42,080 if that's what it takes to save the 153 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:45,759 lives of of many more people 154 00:07:45,759 --> 00:07:48,759 um 155 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:52,639 so well I mean does does does Walkin 156 00:07:52,639 --> 00:07:55,039 does he address his cabinet does do is 157 00:07:55,039 --> 00:07:57,120 there I I don't know the precedent for 158 00:07:57,120 --> 00:07:58,759 how this happens but does he address the 159 00:07:58,759 --> 00:08:00,919 cabinet he now controls I was going to 160 00:08:00,919 --> 00:08:03,280 say let's go to the sit room Situation 161 00:08:03,280 --> 00:08:08,039 Room um uh uh so that's where uh uh 162 00:08:08,039 --> 00:08:09,960 Walkin would make that kind of thing 163 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:15,520 clear to Fitz Wallace to Leo to all the 164 00:08:15,520 --> 00:08:17,759 military people in that room to Nancy 165 00:08:17,759 --> 00:08:19,479 MCN uh 166 00:08:19,479 --> 00:08:22,520 so we've done it 167 00:08:22,520 --> 00:08:27,720 um Situation Room you can put sit room 168 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:32,839 so that's kind of coming off 169 00:08:32,839 --> 00:08:36,080 her uh uh just if you can write down uh 170 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:37,519 put it put this in 171 00:08:37,519 --> 00:08:42,919 quotes uh Zoe Bartlet may be a 172 00:08:55,080 --> 00:08:57,959 casualty should I WR maybe a 173 00:08:57,959 --> 00:08:59,959 casualty so 174 00:08:59,959 --> 00:09:02,519 maybe I I don't want to get finicky 175 00:09:02,519 --> 00:09:08,720 about cards but yes I'll do it again um 176 00:09:08,720 --> 00:09:11,320 uh you you do print beautifully I have 177 00:09:11,320 --> 00:09:15,440 to say um uh yeah you can put ZB if you 178 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:20,640 prefer okay no I'll sit room uh ZB maybe 179 00:09:20,640 --> 00:09:24,399 a casualty 180 00:09:44,839 --> 00:09:48,240 okay now it would be at this 181 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:50,079 point 182 00:09:50,079 --> 00:09:53,000 um and just to make us feel better would 183 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:57,959 you write act one on that card 184 00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:10,720 I have to tell you guys 185 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:13,160 something I've done four different 186 00:10:13,160 --> 00:10:15,399 television series I've written about 180 187 00:10:15,399 --> 00:10:17,800 episodes of Television this is the 188 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:20,680 farthest I've gotten the 189 00:10:20,680 --> 00:10:25,279 fastest ever uh it's too bad it's for an 190 00:10:25,279 --> 00:10:26,760 episode of Television that's never going 191 00:10:26,760 --> 00:10:30,200 to be done um 192 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:33,160 now here's what would actually happen uh 193 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:37,639 at this point um uh I would go into my 194 00:10:37,639 --> 00:10:41,839 office uh probably lie down on the couch 195 00:10:41,839 --> 00:10:47,720 uh and uh just start now really thinking 196 00:10:47,720 --> 00:10:50,560 about these scenes uh and then I would 197 00:10:50,560 --> 00:10:53,760 sit down and actually write them while 198 00:10:53,760 --> 00:10:57,320 you guys were starting to get a little 199 00:10:57,320 --> 00:11:01,120 bit ahead um and getting ready to 200 00:11:01,120 --> 00:11:02,680 pitch 201 00:11:02,680 --> 00:11:06,560 uh ideas either Big Ideas overall uh 202 00:11:06,560 --> 00:11:10,600 ideas or uh here's a loose structure for 203 00:11:10,600 --> 00:11:13,639 act one uh that we were thinking about 204 00:11:13,639 --> 00:11:16,880 um uh I would urge you to remember that 205 00:11:16,880 --> 00:11:20,680 it's a 2hour uh episode it's going to 206 00:11:20,680 --> 00:11:23,839 have not a teaser in forax it's going to 207 00:11:23,839 --> 00:11:30,079 have a teaser and eight ax okay um uh 208 00:11:30,079 --> 00:11:32,920 and you don't have to assault the 209 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:36,440 audience uh uh with plot you don't uh 210 00:11:36,440 --> 00:11:39,480 resist the temptation to have everything 211 00:11:39,480 --> 00:11:42,320 happen uh uh right away uh there's 212 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:45,560 there's a lot going on here and uh we 213 00:11:45,560 --> 00:11:47,920 talked about this yesterday this 214 00:11:47,920 --> 00:11:49,880 particular 215 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:52,519 show can't 216 00:11:52,519 --> 00:11:55,959 handle this particular show is is is 217 00:11:55,959 --> 00:11:58,880 best it's it's in its sweet spot when 218 00:11:58,880 --> 00:12:00,040 it's 219 00:12:00,040 --> 00:12:01,800 In The West Wing of the White House or 220 00:12:01,800 --> 00:12:03,000 the East wing of the White House in the 221 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:06,519 white house with our people talking to 222 00:12:06,519 --> 00:12:12,480 each other um so scenes of uh uh you 223 00:12:12,480 --> 00:12:14,320 know 224 00:12:14,320 --> 00:12:19,079 negotiating in somewhere in uh Libya we 225 00:12:19,079 --> 00:12:23,760 can't do that uh we can't blow things up 226 00:12:23,760 --> 00:12:28,600 um uh we we can't invade Japan um uh we 227 00:12:28,600 --> 00:12:33,600 can't Al history that much uh and we we 228 00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:37,320 can't do big giant things we can talk 229 00:12:37,320 --> 00:12:40,199 about big giant ideas like hey let's 230 00:12:40,199 --> 00:12:43,880 cure cancer um as long as it never 231 00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:46,399 happens uh right as long as it was a 232 00:12:46,399 --> 00:12:48,959 pipe dream that Fades by uh by the end 233 00:12:48,959 --> 00:12:50,959 of the episode these characters can 234 00:12:50,959 --> 00:12:53,360 dream big but they 235 00:12:53,360 --> 00:12:58,440 are confined by reality you know um uh 236 00:12:58,440 --> 00:13:00,680 which which breaks their heart uh 237 00:13:00,680 --> 00:13:03,639 sometimes 1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,880 [Music] 2 00:00:06,319 --> 00:00:10,120 to write the rest of the show uh what we 3 00:00:10,120 --> 00:00:13,960 need is specificity uh okay specificity 4 00:00:13,960 --> 00:00:15,280 uh when you're writing I mean when 5 00:00:15,280 --> 00:00:16,680 you're write actually writing when 6 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:19,920 you're writing dialogue is hugely 7 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:22,199 important for instance something that I 8 00:00:22,199 --> 00:00:24,720 was thinking when we were talking about 9 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:27,279 this scene uh okay over in the residence 10 00:00:27,279 --> 00:00:30,320 with Bartlett and Abby uh and we were 11 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:32,439 talking about you know what's the FBI 12 00:00:32,439 --> 00:00:37,480 doing uh uh Abby wouldn't say well call 13 00:00:37,480 --> 00:00:40,840 the FBI director she'd say well call Bob 14 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:44,719 uh uh right that kind of specificity uh 15 00:00:44,719 --> 00:00:47,960 is hugely important the specificity that 16 00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:50,800 we need to do the rest of the show is 17 00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:55,199 we're talking about right now just some 18 00:00:55,199 --> 00:00:57,199 vague uh we're talking about the 19 00:00:57,199 --> 00:00:59,320 illusion of the threat not the uh the 20 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:00,600 real thing but the illusion that they're 21 00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:02,600 trying to create we're talking in the 22 00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:05,040 vaguest possible terms we would need to 23 00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:08,320 start getting specific about that how is 24 00:01:08,320 --> 00:01:12,280 it unfolding over the course uh of 25 00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:15,320 hours what exactly is being done we're 26 00:01:15,320 --> 00:01:18,320 now past the time when Clark Greg and 27 00:01:18,320 --> 00:01:20,840 and ver Smith can just stand around 28 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:23,439 theorizing something has to be going on 29 00:01:23,439 --> 00:01:25,799 they have to be following Clues and we 30 00:01:25,799 --> 00:01:28,640 need to get specific about that we also 31 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:30,360 want it we're desperate for the 32 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:33,560 appearance of reality and with a plot 33 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:37,520 like this it's very easy to slide off 34 00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:43,079 into fantasy um of uh of of the world 35 00:01:43,079 --> 00:01:45,640 coming to an end uh that kind of thing 36 00:01:45,640 --> 00:01:48,159 uh what's going to help us with the 37 00:01:48,159 --> 00:01:50,880 appearance of reality is getting people 38 00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:53,280 in uh uh who know what they're doing so 39 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:57,320 what we would do is we would obviously I 40 00:01:57,320 --> 00:02:00,840 either have on a speaker phone 41 00:02:00,840 --> 00:02:03,600 um our the guy who's our secret service 42 00:02:03,600 --> 00:02:06,920 uh uh consultant um uh we would have 43 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:09,479 various expert consultants in the room 44 00:02:09,479 --> 00:02:12,680 or on the phone and we would tell them 45 00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:15,920 here's what's happened uh okay uh what 46 00:02:15,920 --> 00:02:20,120 do you do now and we'd ask them a ton of 47 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:22,200 questions all the questions that we can 48 00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:25,200 think of uh tell us uh uh what can go 49 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:27,480 wrong what's the wrong thing to do what 50 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:30,959 can our people argue about um uh and we 51 00:02:30,959 --> 00:02:35,160 would want to know for a show like this 52 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:38,239 answers uh about the military about the 53 00:02:38,239 --> 00:02:42,480 FBI we would want to know uh the the in 54 00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:44,680 terms of the press and the public how do 55 00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:47,959 you deal with this what's CJ's job uh in 56 00:02:47,959 --> 00:02:51,680 this situation um I if we want to bring 57 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:54,640 Tim busfield danik and Canon uh uh back 58 00:02:54,640 --> 00:02:58,280 in uh uh what he's doing we would remind 59 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:01,040 them about shareif and we we would get 60 00:03:01,040 --> 00:03:04,760 all these real answers and 61 00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:10,360 um that is what would uh uh make it seem 62 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:13,920 real uh uh to everybody and what we 63 00:03:13,920 --> 00:03:18,879 would do a lot of is struggle uh okay um 64 00:03:18,879 --> 00:03:21,040 uh uh we would do a lot of banging our 65 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:23,400 head against the wall uh we would do a 66 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:24,200 lot 67 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:26,799 of looking at each other around this 68 00:03:26,799 --> 00:03:29,799 table and then retreating back to uh uh 69 00:03:29,799 --> 00:03:32,280 our own offices to think they going home 70 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:35,200 at night coming back in with ideas days 71 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:38,519 would go by with uh uh no movement at 72 00:03:38,519 --> 00:03:41,519 all Panic would start to set in um 73 00:03:41,519 --> 00:03:44,319 because this thing starts shooting on uh 74 00:03:44,319 --> 00:03:46,080 next day and there's an even harder 75 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:47,760 deadline than that there's an air date 76 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:49,760 for this episode that uh that hasn't 77 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:52,680 been written yet and in this particular 78 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:55,920 case uh We've promised the audience a 79 00:03:55,920 --> 00:03:58,760 lot uh something big has happened we've 80 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:00,799 asked the network for an extra hour 81 00:04:00,799 --> 00:04:02,200 we're basically saying we're going to do 82 00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:05,799 a movie uh uh in this time slot uh so 83 00:04:05,799 --> 00:04:08,280 we've promised a lot and we would be 84 00:04:08,280 --> 00:04:10,640 scared to death and then it would get 85 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:13,280 done 1 00:00:06,520 --> 00:00:08,719 I'm terrible at pitching uh and 2 00:00:08,719 --> 00:00:12,200 fortunately I haven't had to do it uh uh 3 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:15,559 that much uh and I'm I'm really terrible 4 00:00:15,559 --> 00:00:17,560 at 5 00:00:17,560 --> 00:00:20,080 describing what it is uh that I'm going 6 00:00:20,080 --> 00:00:23,160 to do uh 7 00:00:23,160 --> 00:00:25,960 so all I can do to help 8 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:30,199 you uh is try to anticipate 9 00:00:30,199 --> 00:00:33,120 what you would be asked in uh uh in 10 00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:35,960 these pitch 11 00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:42,879 sessions go ahead I'll get it out of the 12 00:00:42,879 --> 00:00:47,920 way uh so uh after college I I um got a 13 00:00:47,920 --> 00:00:50,800 Fullbright Grant to go and do research 14 00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:54,600 in Italy um I was studying uh the 15 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:56,879 history sorry 16 00:00:56,879 --> 00:01:00,399 yes I was I've never come close to got a 17 00:01:00,399 --> 00:01:03,400 full bright go ahead 18 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:07,520 um uh and uh I was but I was studying um 19 00:01:07,520 --> 00:01:09,560 this practice in the 17th century in in 20 00:01:09,560 --> 00:01:11,520 European cities where they would stage 21 00:01:11,520 --> 00:01:14,240 these really highly ritualized and 22 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:17,640 elaborate uh public Anatomy lessons um 23 00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:19,920 they were these really bizarre events I 24 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:22,520 mean in in bolognia um they would do it 25 00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:24,040 during Carnival so people would be you 26 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:25,479 know' have doctors and Scholars looking 27 00:01:25,479 --> 00:01:27,079 at the body but you'd also have people 28 00:01:27,079 --> 00:01:29,439 in masks drunk in the back you'd have 29 00:01:29,439 --> 00:01:31,360 burly students at the door to fight off 30 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:33,600 the people trying to come in and reclaim 31 00:01:33,600 --> 00:01:36,439 the body of their loved one um and out 32 00:01:36,439 --> 00:01:38,200 of this sort of these stories that I was 33 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:39,880 getting doing this archival research 34 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:43,200 this this thing eventually evolved when 35 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:44,759 would this happen this would happen 36 00:01:44,759 --> 00:01:46,560 during Carnival in the 17th century in 37 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:50,119 the 17th century okay yeah go ahead um 38 00:01:50,119 --> 00:01:52,840 so uh in the context of all this I I I 39 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:54,759 wound up eventually coming up with this 40 00:01:54,759 --> 00:01:59,600 um idea for a a minseries um and so uh 41 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:01,759 the for the pilot episode of this series 42 00:02:01,759 --> 00:02:04,399 called the anatomist um does the series 43 00:02:04,399 --> 00:02:06,640 take place in the 1600s in 17th century 44 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:10,319 yeah yeah okay go ahead um so uh it 45 00:02:10,319 --> 00:02:15,080 follows uh the um official diss sector 46 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:17,640 uh for the the public Anatomy um a guy 47 00:02:17,640 --> 00:02:21,560 named niiko seni um who finds himself uh 48 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:24,239 on the trail of a of a of a killer who 49 00:02:24,239 --> 00:02:28,000 is staging um a sort of very public um 50 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:30,360 perverse anatomy of his own by 51 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:33,440 um killing anatomical abnormalities and 52 00:02:33,440 --> 00:02:36,319 then staging them around the city um but 53 00:02:36,319 --> 00:02:37,680 the real Challenge and the sort of 54 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:40,599 central idea of the thing is um that 55 00:02:40,599 --> 00:02:42,480 niolo in order to catch this guy has to 56 00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:45,159 invent forensic science um there is no 57 00:02:45,159 --> 00:02:46,440 such thing and so he has to sort of 58 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:49,280 invent tools along the way um to figure 59 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:53,040 this out um in an era where even 60 00:02:53,040 --> 00:02:55,800 empirical thinking uh was slightly 61 00:02:55,800 --> 00:02:59,680 dangerous and new uh so there's my pitch 62 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:02,959 wow I think that's really cool uh i' 63 00:03:02,959 --> 00:03:05,120 I've never heard of uh what you're 64 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:07,720 talking about I think it's really cool 65 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:12,560 uh I think that just uh 10 or 15 years 66 00:03:12,560 --> 00:03:15,280 ago you'd get laughed out of any room 67 00:03:15,280 --> 00:03:18,720 that uh uh that you pitched that in but 68 00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:23,120 uh we're no longer living in a a time of 69 00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:27,640 it's got to be ABC CBS or or NBC um uh 70 00:03:27,640 --> 00:03:29,799 and uh there are networks that would 71 00:03:29,799 --> 00:03:31,760 cable networks that would uh uh do that 72 00:03:31,760 --> 00:03:34,640 kind of work uh so I think it's terrific 73 00:03:34,640 --> 00:03:37,480 they would if you were in uh an actual 74 00:03:37,480 --> 00:03:40,640 pitch session they would ask you to talk 75 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:43,040 about uh you know describe some future 76 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:47,799 episodes uh uh down the line um uh but 77 00:03:47,799 --> 00:03:49,720 uh because I want to get to everyone who 78 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:52,799 has a pitch uh I want to move on but I 79 00:03:52,799 --> 00:03:55,480 totally wasn't expecting that and I 80 00:03:55,480 --> 00:03:57,760 think it it's cool as hell and keep 81 00:03:57,760 --> 00:04:02,239 thinking the way you think okay who's 82 00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:08,840 next um so I have been my sister's 83 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:11,760 Guardian since I was 20 years old um my 84 00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:13,920 parent my mom died of breast cancer my 85 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:16,000 dad ped out when we were little we were 86 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:17,479 raised by our grandmother who was this 87 00:04:17,479 --> 00:04:19,560 really eccentric woman in Wisconsin your 88 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:21,400 dad pieced out he pieced out like he 89 00:04:21,400 --> 00:04:25,720 just left yeah ped out Fred away green 90 00:04:25,720 --> 00:04:28,560 yeah um so he he left um we were raised 91 00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:30,120 by our grandmother who's really Centric 92 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:32,520 she once ran me over with the car um she 93 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:34,880 often was forgetting that I was not she 94 00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:36,479 she said that I was she couldn't see me 95 00:04:36,479 --> 00:04:38,600 she forgot that I was there um which was 96 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:40,400 you know pretty much a a metaphor for my 97 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:43,240 childhood because my sister was disabled 98 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:45,680 my sister got all the focus so um I 99 00:04:45,680 --> 00:04:47,199 turned to reading books I was this nerdy 100 00:04:47,199 --> 00:04:48,800 little kid I had a chip tooth I had 101 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:51,479 really no friends um so I was raised by 102 00:04:51,479 --> 00:04:54,600 her when I was 20 uh our grandma died so 103 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:56,240 um we had an aunt who was a part of the 104 00:04:56,240 --> 00:04:58,199 picture but she um couldn't she had a 105 00:04:58,199 --> 00:05:00,680 lot of problems taking care of my sister 106 00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:02,919 so I had to petition the court uh for 107 00:05:02,919 --> 00:05:06,240 guardianship when I was 20 um got that I 108 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:08,560 got married I um tried to take care of 109 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:11,320 my sister I had a caregiver um and I 110 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:12,560 realized that I wanted to pursue my 111 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:15,919 dream so I moved to Los Angeles and uh 112 00:05:15,919 --> 00:05:18,960 my marriage fell apart I um got into a 113 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:20,720 great grad school and then one day I got 114 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:22,319 a phone call that the caregiver was 115 00:05:22,319 --> 00:05:25,000 dying and um it was a complete surprise 116 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:27,520 to me um but I did what I believed was 117 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:29,000 right and I went back there and I got my 118 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:32,120 sister and for N9 months we lived in my 119 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:33,720 one Bend apartment I was living 120 00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:35,360 completely off student loans I had no 121 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:39,120 money so the story it's it's about go 122 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:40,960 ahead it's about a young a young woman 123 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:42,880 who suddenly becomes a soul caregiver to 124 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:46,080 her disabled sister and um her decisions 125 00:05:46,080 --> 00:05:49,319 of you know her finding care um I had a 126 00:05:49,319 --> 00:05:50,639 you know the state caregivers that they 127 00:05:50,639 --> 00:05:51,960 sent me there was one woman who showed 128 00:05:51,960 --> 00:05:54,039 up in a handicap van handicapped your 129 00:05:54,039 --> 00:05:55,479 and just like the things that people try 130 00:05:55,479 --> 00:05:57,639 to do to get by um so it's really the 131 00:05:57,639 --> 00:06:00,319 story of Two Sisters um her getting to 132 00:06:00,319 --> 00:06:01,639 know her sister she's no longer an 133 00:06:01,639 --> 00:06:02,759 embarrassment but really her 134 00:06:02,759 --> 00:06:04,680 responsibility so it's in a way a single 135 00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:07,400 mom story but it's a sister story um and 136 00:06:07,400 --> 00:06:09,160 then the end of the season would her be 137 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:11,000 eventually finding a home for her sister 138 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:12,400 knowing that that's the right choice for 139 00:06:12,400 --> 00:06:14,360 both of them um but also being 140 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:15,800 devastated at that because they've now 141 00:06:15,800 --> 00:06:19,560 grown closer so that is e is for 142 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:24,800 Ed excellent excellent um uh is there a 143 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:28,960 love interest for Riley yes for Ry um 144 00:06:28,960 --> 00:06:31,240 yes there is he's he's very kind to her 145 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:32,680 and very sweet but she keeps pushing him 146 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:34,319 away she doesn't want to let anyone into 147 00:06:34,319 --> 00:06:36,400 her world she's really embarrassed by 148 00:06:36,400 --> 00:06:38,960 her circumstances but she keeps pushing 149 00:06:38,960 --> 00:06:40,840 him away because of her previous 150 00:06:40,840 --> 00:06:43,440 relationship um she puts a lot of the 151 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:45,280 reason it fell apart on her relationship 152 00:06:45,280 --> 00:06:47,280 with her sister so she's really hesitant 153 00:06:47,280 --> 00:06:49,280 about bringing someone in um but at the 154 00:06:49,280 --> 00:06:50,840 same time she thinks that part of 155 00:06:50,840 --> 00:06:52,880 normaly is having a relationship so she 156 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:54,759 has this young guy Who's hotter and he 157 00:06:54,759 --> 00:06:57,479 can go get anyone but she she has him 158 00:06:57,479 --> 00:06:58,960 but she doesn't keep around keep around 159 00:06:58,960 --> 00:07:01,080 for long okay they're also going to 160 00:07:01,080 --> 00:07:03,840 twist their brains into a pretzel trying 161 00:07:03,840 --> 00:07:06,800 out trying to figure out how to not be 162 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:09,479 offensive while asking you the following 163 00:07:09,479 --> 00:07:11,280 question how is this not going to be a 164 00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:13,479 total Downer every week well it's the 165 00:07:13,479 --> 00:07:15,400 absurdity of life I mean it's the silly 166 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:16,759 things that the you know the government 167 00:07:16,759 --> 00:07:18,720 requires of people like signing an ID 168 00:07:18,720 --> 00:07:20,800 card I mean my sister was sitting you 169 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:22,400 know or even going to the doctor I mean 170 00:07:22,400 --> 00:07:23,840 the doctors will always ask like does 171 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:26,240 she smoke does she drink any drug use 172 00:07:26,240 --> 00:07:27,599 and you know Edna's sitting she's 173 00:07:27,599 --> 00:07:28,720 sitting there she has her Winnie the 174 00:07:28,720 --> 00:07:30,840 Pooh book so so just little silly 175 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:33,360 moments like that it's and the the the 176 00:07:33,360 --> 00:07:34,639 comedy will never come from the 177 00:07:34,639 --> 00:07:36,879 disability itself but more the the 178 00:07:36,879 --> 00:07:38,919 circumstances that happen because of it 179 00:07:38,919 --> 00:07:40,240 or the wheelchair brakes giving out we 180 00:07:40,240 --> 00:07:41,639 were riding a city bus one time because 181 00:07:41,639 --> 00:07:43,160 I didn't have a car her wheelchair 182 00:07:43,160 --> 00:07:44,560 brakes gave out and she went rolling 183 00:07:44,560 --> 00:07:46,240 down the aisle and she looked at me a 184 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:48,759 smile and I was like you know like just 185 00:07:48,759 --> 00:07:50,360 silly little things like that I guess as 186 00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:52,120 long as she's smiling if she's not 187 00:07:52,120 --> 00:07:54,919 smiling then I'm right there's no chance 188 00:07:54,919 --> 00:07:56,960 I'm gonna laugh at that you 189 00:07:56,960 --> 00:07:59,879 know okay in the pilot you're going to 190 00:07:59,879 --> 00:08:03,120 set us up with Riley now has to take 191 00:08:03,120 --> 00:08:07,639 care of of Edy uh okay uh we get a sense 192 00:08:07,639 --> 00:08:11,520 of who uh uh Riley is but we set that up 193 00:08:11,520 --> 00:08:13,720 uh in the pilot episode tell us about 194 00:08:13,720 --> 00:08:15,599 the second episode 60 seconds or less 195 00:08:15,599 --> 00:08:17,360 second episode Riley has a roommate she 196 00:08:17,360 --> 00:08:19,319 brings Edie home to live with her says 197 00:08:19,319 --> 00:08:21,400 it's only going to be a week Riley then 198 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:22,879 takes her down to the division of 199 00:08:22,879 --> 00:08:24,840 Developmental Disabilities to try and 200 00:08:24,840 --> 00:08:26,599 see how she can get Services established 201 00:08:26,599 --> 00:08:28,639 in California she learns that there's a 202 00:08:28,639 --> 00:08:30,759 90-day rule that Edie has to live in the 203 00:08:30,759 --> 00:08:33,640 state of California for 90 days before 204 00:08:33,640 --> 00:08:36,680 she can get her services and so Riley uh 205 00:08:36,680 --> 00:08:39,320 now has to figure out how she's going to 206 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:42,519 um to get her Services much sooner um so 207 00:08:42,519 --> 00:08:44,159 it's really establishing her new place 208 00:08:44,159 --> 00:08:46,040 of living and um trying to maintain her 209 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:47,519 relationship with her roommate and 210 00:08:47,519 --> 00:08:49,279 smoothing it all over she's also just 211 00:08:49,279 --> 00:08:50,640 found out that she got this internship 212 00:08:50,640 --> 00:08:53,200 opportunity so she has to ex find out if 213 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:55,000 she can extend that opportunity so she 214 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:58,120 doesn't lose her her what she wants um 215 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:00,399 in this under the Circ 216 00:09:00,399 --> 00:09:05,240 cumstance okay um very 217 00:09:09,279 --> 00:09:12,800 good avelyn go ahead okay um I'm G to 218 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:15,200 pitch the Merc um basically we all know 219 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:16,720 the story about the Wall Street Stock 220 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:18,240 Brokers who'd sell out their mother for 221 00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:20,720 a quick Buck but the MC is an hourlong 222 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:22,519 drama based on the story you haven't 223 00:09:22,519 --> 00:09:25,160 heard about blue the blue collar Traders 224 00:09:25,160 --> 00:09:27,200 at the New York Mercantile Exchange who 225 00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:28,680 went from being the laughing stock of 226 00:09:28,680 --> 00:09:30,600 the financial IND indry to hijacking the 227 00:09:30,600 --> 00:09:32,959 oil market and led by a Wall Street 228 00:09:32,959 --> 00:09:35,680 reject hellbent on Breaking the system 229 00:09:35,680 --> 00:09:37,640 they claw and scrape their way through 230 00:09:37,640 --> 00:09:40,519 the late 70s and 80s an explosive David 231 00:09:40,519 --> 00:09:43,279 and Goliath battles against Wall Street 232 00:09:43,279 --> 00:09:45,880 the international oil cartel and the FBI 233 00:09:45,880 --> 00:09:48,440 agents trying to bring them down meet 234 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:50,440 the future kings of the oil Market a 235 00:09:50,440 --> 00:09:52,560 members only Club of former janitors 236 00:09:52,560 --> 00:09:54,880 cabbies and butchers they barely made it 237 00:09:54,880 --> 00:09:56,560 out of high school but they know the ins 238 00:09:56,560 --> 00:09:58,160 and outs of the market like a dealer 239 00:09:58,160 --> 00:10:00,880 knows blow nepotism blackmail and 240 00:10:00,880 --> 00:10:03,279 bribery nothing's off limits because at 241 00:10:03,279 --> 00:10:06,560 the end of every 24-hour workday whoever 242 00:10:06,560 --> 00:10:08,880 makes it out with a most cash wins our 243 00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:10,240 guy is about to find out if he's got 244 00:10:10,240 --> 00:10:12,920 what it takes he's Andy marks 30 and 245 00:10:12,920 --> 00:10:14,279 he's the kind of guy who's the only 246 00:10:14,279 --> 00:10:16,160 leather jacket in a room full of suits 247 00:10:16,160 --> 00:10:18,480 at a place but completely at ease and 248 00:10:18,480 --> 00:10:20,120 he's the heart of the show the underdog 249 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:21,920 who's trying to break uh who's trying to 250 00:10:21,920 --> 00:10:25,480 bring the Merc back from Exile um and 251 00:10:25,480 --> 00:10:26,839 he's trying to save this place for the 252 00:10:26,839 --> 00:10:28,240 old guys who showed him the ropes like 253 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:30,680 his mentor Vinnie sorry Vinnie used to 254 00:10:30,680 --> 00:10:32,240 run the floor but now he's basically 255 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:34,880 sweeping it and Andy doesn't just want 256 00:10:34,880 --> 00:10:36,600 to impress Vinnie he wants to win over 257 00:10:36,600 --> 00:10:38,200 Vinnie's daughter Karina but she wants 258 00:10:38,200 --> 00:10:40,639 nothing to do with this place um but 259 00:10:40,639 --> 00:10:43,680 Andy he he's not even close to giving up 260 00:10:43,680 --> 00:10:45,480 he's basically just got started and he 261 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:49,880 needs to find investors and cash and 262 00:10:49,880 --> 00:10:52,839 uh uh yeah basically just investors and 263 00:10:52,839 --> 00:10:55,240 cash um and he's willing to go to his 264 00:10:55,240 --> 00:10:57,200 sworn enemies on Wall Street to save 265 00:10:57,200 --> 00:11:00,639 this place cuz um if but if they can't 266 00:11:00,639 --> 00:11:03,519 figure out uh trading potatoes how the 267 00:11:03,519 --> 00:11:05,240 hell are they going to handle 268 00:11:05,240 --> 00:11:08,079 oil um so basically the rest of the 269 00:11:08,079 --> 00:11:11,440 series uh focuses on the problems that 270 00:11:11,440 --> 00:11:13,720 pile up and the delivery guys they bribe 271 00:11:13,720 --> 00:11:17,560 the politicians they blackmail um and uh 272 00:11:17,560 --> 00:11:19,600 the Traders and clients they manipulate 273 00:11:19,600 --> 00:11:21,920 into bankrolling this thing and by the 274 00:11:21,920 --> 00:11:25,320 end of the first season um they don't 275 00:11:25,320 --> 00:11:27,720 just start uh they don't just start 276 00:11:27,720 --> 00:11:31,279 killing it sorry they 277 00:11:31,279 --> 00:11:33,639 don't uh they don't you're doing great 278 00:11:33,639 --> 00:11:36,600 thank you um at by the end of the first 279 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:37,959 season they're not just breaking even 280 00:11:37,959 --> 00:11:40,360 they start to kill it um and once you've 281 00:11:40,360 --> 00:11:42,360 arrived everyone takes notice the titans 282 00:11:42,360 --> 00:11:44,760 of Wall Street the uh Founders in 283 00:11:44,760 --> 00:11:47,800 Chicago the international oil cartel and 284 00:11:47,800 --> 00:11:50,600 the FEDS from the FBI to the SEC Who 285 00:11:50,600 --> 00:11:52,200 start planning undercover agents and 286 00:11:52,200 --> 00:11:53,920 stings in the floor trying to bust them 287 00:11:53,920 --> 00:11:56,880 for rigging the market and basically uh 288 00:11:56,880 --> 00:11:58,360 the rest of the series focuses on Andy 289 00:11:58,360 --> 00:12:00,519 and the Mer's meteor Rise To Riches in 290 00:12:00,519 --> 00:12:02,680 power beyond their wildest dreams and to 291 00:12:02,680 --> 00:12:06,320 their eventual downfall okay fantastic 292 00:12:06,320 --> 00:12:07,360 just want to ask you a couple of 293 00:12:07,360 --> 00:12:09,639 questions that they would ask yeah in 294 00:12:09,639 --> 00:12:12,639 terms of physical production uh Evelyn 295 00:12:12,639 --> 00:12:15,360 uh are we is there a home base for this 296 00:12:15,360 --> 00:12:16,560 show we 297 00:12:16,560 --> 00:12:18,680 building part of the New York merile 298 00:12:18,680 --> 00:12:19,720 Exchange yeah basically the trading 299 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:21,519 floor okay that's what's going to be on 300 00:12:21,519 --> 00:12:23,680 our Sound Stage yeah 301 00:12:23,680 --> 00:12:31,440 um uh okay uh and since by and large 302 00:12:31,440 --> 00:12:34,800 people don't care about the price of oil 303 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:37,160 um uh or or at least 304 00:12:37,160 --> 00:12:39,199 they they care when they're heating bill 305 00:12:39,199 --> 00:12:40,800 CS but they in terms of watching a 306 00:12:40,800 --> 00:12:44,600 television series uh I assume what we're 307 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:45,800 really going to care about of the people 308 00:12:45,800 --> 00:12:49,120 right absolutely Andy and Vinnie and 309 00:12:49,120 --> 00:12:51,000 they're going to ask you a question like 310 00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:53,240 is there a love interest for Andy or is 311 00:12:53,240 --> 00:12:55,880 it a different girl every week um I want 312 00:12:55,880 --> 00:12:58,000 to see a love story forgot a central 313 00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:00,320 character 314 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:03,440 um David's uh former girlfriend ex uh 315 00:13:03,440 --> 00:13:06,079 clerk who comes to join Andy um is his 316 00:13:06,079 --> 00:13:09,360 clerk at the merant exchange she's she's 317 00:13:09,360 --> 00:13:10,760 essential character to the show and 318 00:13:10,760 --> 00:13:13,000 she's a love interest for Andy as well 319 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:14,839 describe the second 320 00:13:14,839 --> 00:13:19,120 episode uh uh in in 60 seconds or less 321 00:13:19,120 --> 00:13:22,000 uh basically after securing uh Texas oil 322 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:25,440 Baron to uh funnel money into uh the oil 323 00:13:25,440 --> 00:13:27,920 trading at the Mercantile Exchange Andy 324 00:13:27,920 --> 00:13:33,000 has to uh go after a a delivery guy 325 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:35,680 who's basically stalled um a shipment 326 00:13:35,680 --> 00:13:38,079 from coming an oil shipment from 327 00:13:38,079 --> 00:13:41,920 coming this these pitches are uh amazing 328 00:13:41,920 --> 00:13:43,199 this is not what I thought I was going 329 00:13:43,199 --> 00:13:46,399 to hear 1 00:00:06,279 --> 00:00:09,559 I got a series to pitch um uh it's not 2 00:00:09,559 --> 00:00:11,799 like anything uh I've ever done before 3 00:00:11,799 --> 00:00:14,519 and it's not science fiction um uh it's 4 00:00:14,519 --> 00:00:18,199 just science you ready Mission to 5 00:00:18,199 --> 00:00:22,560 Mars um uh whole series takes place uh 6 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:24,439 on the I think it's uh takes us about 7 00:00:24,439 --> 00:00:27,039 four years uh uh to get there whole 8 00:00:27,039 --> 00:00:30,119 series takes place on the ship and 9 00:00:30,119 --> 00:00:33,760 mission control um and there's going to 10 00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:36,760 be everything from you know 11 00:00:36,760 --> 00:00:39,040 life-threatening uh uh situations coming 12 00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:44,760 up to normal workplace things 13 00:00:44,760 --> 00:00:48,039 just in it's a Worth Place drama uh in 14 00:00:48,039 --> 00:00:50,079 in space this thing is not crazy 15 00:00:50,079 --> 00:00:53,120 far-fetched NASA is ready to go to Mars 16 00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:54,760 they know how to do it they can't get 17 00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:56,879 the funding for it but they absolutely 18 00:00:56,879 --> 00:01:00,920 uh know how to do it uh and um I I 19 00:01:00,920 --> 00:01:04,280 thought while the Martian dealt fairly 20 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:06,200 realistically with this with the Matt 21 00:01:06,200 --> 00:01:08,600 Damon part of the science uh of being on 22 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:11,000 Mars it didn't really care that much 23 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:13,360 about getting to Mars and uh and back 24 00:01:13,360 --> 00:01:15,600 from Mars The Gang on the ship they were 25 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:20,840 just a happy gang of people um uh but I 26 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:25,640 love NASA I love space mission to Mars 27 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:29,079 boom dro the mic all right okay that's 28 00:01:29,079 --> 00:01:30,560 amazing you should write a series called 29 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:32,520 ex 30 00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:37,000 presidents maybe maybe there's also uh 31 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:38,600 uh there's sort of a 32 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:40,960 secret exclusive Club well there's an 33 00:01:40,960 --> 00:01:43,200 ex-president's Club but there's also a 34 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:46,880 club in Washington DC for presidential 35 00:01:46,880 --> 00:01:49,119 speech writers uh for people whove been 36 00:01:49,119 --> 00:01:51,280 presidential speech writers uh and you 37 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:52,600 have to be a presidential speech writer 38 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:55,840 to uh uh to get into this club uh that I 39 00:01:55,840 --> 00:01:56,960 don't think would really be an 40 00:01:56,960 --> 00:01:58,920 interesting place to set a thing is 41 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:02,920 nobody turned on by Mission to Mars no 42 00:02:02,920 --> 00:02:04,600 going to freaking go to 43 00:02:04,600 --> 00:02:07,640 Mars okay would you build a Mars Sound 44 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:10,319 Stage with uh you're asking an 45 00:02:10,319 --> 00:02:12,720 interesting question would we ever get 46 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:16,400 there um uh would we you know would we 47 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:19,280 land on Mars uh that depends I guess how 48 00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:23,280 long the show runs um uh I I don't know 49 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:26,040 if if we begin with blasting off I don't 50 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:27,680 know if we begin with two years into the 51 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:32,160 thing or training uh uh to go up there 52 00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:34,519 but workplace 53 00:02:34,519 --> 00:02:38,920 drama on the ship that would go to Mars 54 00:02:38,920 --> 00:02:40,440 we work with 55 00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:45,400 NASA uh uh to see like a real drawing of 56 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:48,000 what this thing would look like it it's 57 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:49,480 not going to look like the space shuttle 58 00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:51,280 it's not going to look like the uh 59 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:53,159 Apollo ships you're going to have to 60 00:02:53,159 --> 00:02:55,440 live on this thing not for eight days I 61 00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:57,640 mean for Apollo they were just able to 62 00:02:57,640 --> 00:02:59,400 kind of seat Bel themselves into these 63 00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:00,560 things and 64 00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:02,480 it's zero gravity you go to sleep you're 65 00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:05,440 going to need living quarters and uh uh 66 00:03:05,440 --> 00:03:08,760 and all kinds of stuff uh like that uh 67 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:12,640 people can die um uh and what do you do 68 00:03:12,640 --> 00:03:15,200 then sick uh uh people can get sick 69 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:19,200 people can fall in love um uh e 70 00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:21,680 everything that can happen in uh a 71 00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:24,280 workplace drama can happen except this 72 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:25,879 time instead of it being the West Wing 73 00:03:25,879 --> 00:03:29,080 of the White House or a newsroom or uh 74 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:32,840 SNL uh a type show or a law firm or an 75 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:36,280 emergency room or a police precinct it 76 00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:40,560 is on a spaceship traveling 17,400 miles 77 00:03:40,560 --> 00:03:46,000 hour toward Mars boom again wonder mean 78 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:48,120 you're coming back to TV I'm sorry does 79 00:03:48,120 --> 00:03:49,000 this mean you're coming back to 80 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:52,400 television no um uh but feel free to 81 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:53,879 take Mission Mars I want to watch the 82 00:03:53,879 --> 00:03:55,959 show I don't have time to write the show 83 00:03:55,959 --> 00:03:59,079 but one of you should be right now 84 00:03:59,079 --> 00:04:01,760 sketching now the pilot episode for 85 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:03,319 Mission tomorrow we're all going to work 86 00:04:03,319 --> 00:04:06,680 on it together you know in colum Tobin's 87 00:04:06,680 --> 00:04:09,000 uh Brooklyn of the the Wake that they 88 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:12,120 would hold for for people about to go 89 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:14,319 off to to America because they may not 90 00:04:14,319 --> 00:04:16,519 ever even though it's the 50s in the 90 91 00:04:16,519 --> 00:04:19,320 the 1950s they may not ever come back 92 00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:20,600 but this is a place where you're 93 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:23,160 definitely not coming back and so you 94 00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:25,199 know starting on the the parties the 95 00:04:25,199 --> 00:04:27,360 send offs but they essentially wakes 96 00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:29,000 before someone's actually died of the 97 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:30,320 crew that's going to go go off to that 98 00:04:30,320 --> 00:04:32,680 thing that set that is pretty 99 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:35,560 interesting there's a short story and I 100 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:37,680 cannot for the life of me remember who 101 00:04:37,680 --> 00:04:40,479 wrote it um it's called the cold 102 00:04:40,479 --> 00:04:44,240 equation um and it's a it's a it's a ray 103 00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:47,360 Bradbery uh uh type story but it takes 104 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:50,960 place in the future uh at a time 105 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:55,280 when shuttling to various 106 00:04:55,280 --> 00:04:58,360 planets everywhere in the galaxy is 107 00:04:58,360 --> 00:05:01,240 common place as as Comm as a mailman uh 108 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:03,479 uh dropping off mail uh there are just 109 00:05:03,479 --> 00:05:06,320 these little shuttle pods with a pilot 110 00:05:06,320 --> 00:05:09,560 in it and you you zip off uh to 111 00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:14,560 someplace uh and a uh a particular pilot 112 00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:17,560 is zipping off to a particular Planet 113 00:05:17,560 --> 00:05:21,400 somewhere to deliver an important serum 114 00:05:21,400 --> 00:05:23,400 uh because there's a group of about 115 00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:27,440 eight people up there um uh a who who 116 00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:29,960 are doing important work uh and they've 117 00:05:29,960 --> 00:05:32,000 gotten sick uh with something and they 118 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:34,280 need this particular medicine and so 119 00:05:34,280 --> 00:05:35,840 he's bringing these people this 120 00:05:35,840 --> 00:05:39,560 particular medicine and he he blasts off 121 00:05:39,560 --> 00:05:42,360 only to discover about a day into the 122 00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:45,160 trip that there's a stowaway uh on the 123 00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:48,639 ship a young girl a young teenage girl 124 00:05:48,639 --> 00:05:51,880 whose brother uh is on that planet and 125 00:05:51,880 --> 00:05:53,400 the only you know she she wants to see 126 00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:55,080 him uh and the only way she can see him 127 00:05:55,080 --> 00:05:57,240 is to stow away on this thing and what 128 00:05:57,240 --> 00:05:59,240 she doesn't realize what she didn't 129 00:05:59,240 --> 00:06:03,400 realize before she's stowed away is that 130 00:06:03,400 --> 00:06:06,599 these chips are like pre-computer 131 00:06:06,599 --> 00:06:09,080 programmed to go where they need to go 132 00:06:09,080 --> 00:06:12,440 based on the weight uh of the ship and 133 00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:15,479 that by her being on the ship that ship 134 00:06:15,479 --> 00:06:18,440 is not going to get the serum uh uh to 135 00:06:18,440 --> 00:06:21,599 where it needs to go and so this pilot 136 00:06:21,599 --> 00:06:24,800 can either choose to kind of throw her 137 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:29,080 off the ship into the vacuum of space or 138 00:06:29,080 --> 00:06:32,840 not do that I haven't just described a 139 00:06:32,840 --> 00:06:35,120 series to you because that has a pretty 140 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:37,840 uh abrupt ending to it but uh I just 141 00:06:37,840 --> 00:06:39,440 wanted to blow your mind a little bit 142 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:43,400 did I you did you did uh while you all 143 00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:47,240 have pitched very interesting seriously 144 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:49,240 very interesting series and a very 145 00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:53,120 interesting feature I think I won uh 146 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:55,800 with Mission to 147 00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:58,240 Mars guys I I I don't I don't know what 148 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:00,080 I can do to get you excited about going 149 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:02,800 to Mars um uh what could be more 150 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:04,280 exciting than that should be should it 151 00:07:04,280 --> 00:07:05,960 be a mission to someplace else should we 152 00:07:05,960 --> 00:07:07,759 be going to Pluto or something not going 153 00:07:07,759 --> 00:07:09,919 to have that same ring Pluto is going to 154 00:07:09,919 --> 00:07:12,960 seem fake right Mars one day one day is 155 00:07:12,960 --> 00:07:15,680 not a planet but do you feel like we as 156 00:07:15,680 --> 00:07:17,879 as an audience as an as a global 157 00:07:17,879 --> 00:07:20,319 audience we've already kind of been on 158 00:07:20,319 --> 00:07:22,759 Mars with the 159 00:07:22,759 --> 00:07:24,599 Martian but we're not going to be on 160 00:07:24,599 --> 00:07:26,000 Mars we're going to be on the 161 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:28,680 ship this a the way to pitch this it's a 162 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:31,720 workplace show that happens to take 163 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:33,599 place on a spaceship it's about the 164 00:07:33,599 --> 00:07:34,919 journey and I think you've got to be 165 00:07:34,919 --> 00:07:37,120 able to cut away to someplace normal so 166 00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:38,960 um you've got to cut away to Mission 167 00:07:38,960 --> 00:07:41,560 Control and there should probably be 168 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:44,840 Eva's extra vehicular activity that's 169 00:07:44,840 --> 00:07:47,800 when they go outside the ship and Float 170 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:50,520 around but we just really doubled the 171 00:07:50,520 --> 00:07:53,199 budget uh uh didn't we by doing zero 172 00:07:53,199 --> 00:07:56,319 gravity stuff I think the show should be 173 00:07:56,319 --> 00:07:57,840 said the day after tomorrow where we 174 00:07:57,840 --> 00:07:59,800 have the ability to simulate gravity 175 00:07:59,800 --> 00:08:02,960 just for the sake of no not science 176 00:08:02,960 --> 00:08:05,159 fiction get out of 177 00:08:05,159 --> 00:08:07,800 here the first day it's not science 178 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:09,319 fiction does not set the day after 179 00:08:09,319 --> 00:08:11,080 tomorrow where we have the ability to do 180 00:08:11,080 --> 00:08:13,479 something that we don't have now we have 181 00:08:13,479 --> 00:08:16,800 right now the ability here's how I know 182 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:18,919 okay I'm going to name drop you ready 183 00:08:18,919 --> 00:08:22,560 it's a huge name drop I'm sorry but some 184 00:08:22,560 --> 00:08:25,960 years back Steven Spielberg asked me to 185 00:08:25,960 --> 00:08:28,240 come to his house and the reason why was 186 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:30,240 because he had just been visit Ed by 187 00:08:30,240 --> 00:08:35,440 some NASA hups um who said Mr Spielberg 188 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:38,080 we want to go to Mars okay and we know 189 00:08:38,080 --> 00:08:40,839 how to go to Mars we can do it not only 190 00:08:40,839 --> 00:08:42,279 that but we can do it for the bargain 191 00:08:42,279 --> 00:08:45,160 price of $25 billion uh uh we can go to 192 00:08:45,160 --> 00:08:48,560 Mars however there isn't an appetite uh 193 00:08:48,560 --> 00:08:50,040 uh we we can't get that money from 194 00:08:50,040 --> 00:08:51,480 Congress because there isn't a public 195 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:54,600 appetite uh uh for space exploration 196 00:08:54,600 --> 00:08:56,360 anymore so what we want you to do Mr 197 00:08:56,360 --> 00:08:59,440 Spielberg is make a movie uh about going 198 00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:00,519 going to Mars and that's going to get 199 00:09:00,519 --> 00:09:02,160 everybody excited about going to Mars 200 00:09:02,160 --> 00:09:03,680 it'll make it easier for us to get the 201 00:09:03,680 --> 00:09:06,800 $25 billion from Congress uh and SP said 202 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:08,959 you mean like a documentary or something 203 00:09:08,959 --> 00:09:13,279 no no no no a feature film like ET Close 204 00:09:13,279 --> 00:09:15,040 Encounters any of the movies uh uh that 205 00:09:15,040 --> 00:09:17,959 you've made but it's the real story of 206 00:09:17,959 --> 00:09:19,120 going to Mars and everybody's going to 207 00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:20,279 get excited about it so that's why 208 00:09:20,279 --> 00:09:22,720 Spielberg invited me to his house uh to 209 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:25,320 say do you want to write this movie and 210 00:09:25,320 --> 00:09:27,320 I said are you telling me that the 211 00:09:27,320 --> 00:09:30,640 future of man explo ation of space 212 00:09:30,640 --> 00:09:32,480 depends on like my delivering a really 213 00:09:32,480 --> 00:09:36,040 good screenplay and he said yes um uh 214 00:09:36,040 --> 00:09:38,959 now I didn't end up doing it but uh uh 215 00:09:38,959 --> 00:09:41,320 but I can tell you that we can go to 216 00:09:41,320 --> 00:09:44,360 Mars um so why in the world isn't there 217 00:09:44,360 --> 00:09:47,040 a TV show set 218 00:09:47,040 --> 00:09:50,920 on you know set on the genie set on the 219 00:09:50,920 --> 00:09:53,399 Evelyn 220 00:09:53,399 --> 00:09:57,560 okay guys Mission to Mars what what's 221 00:09:57,560 --> 00:10:01,040 wrong with you what taking it I think 222 00:10:01,040 --> 00:10:03,720 the title Mission to Mars is taken I 223 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:06,279 feel like we'll retitle it but uh I 224 00:10:06,279 --> 00:10:08,839 would title it either the name of the 225 00:10:08,839 --> 00:10:12,160 spip of the ship yeah 226 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:15,800 um uh yeah I would title it the the uh 227 00:10:15,800 --> 00:10:19,200 the name of the ship 1 00:00:08,519 --> 00:00:12,280 so the good news is uh uh is that you 2 00:00:12,280 --> 00:00:14,400 none of you none of the five of you are 3 00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:18,240 fooling yourselves uh uh you are all 4 00:00:18,240 --> 00:00:20,480 professional writers uh you're very good 5 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:22,279 the even better news is is that as a 6 00:00:22,279 --> 00:00:24,039 writer you get it's the opposite of 7 00:00:24,039 --> 00:00:25,640 being an athlete you get better as you 8 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:29,279 get older um uh not just because you've 9 00:00:29,279 --> 00:00:33,800 lived more uh but it's practice uh uh 10 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:37,600 you've you've done it a lot and you've 11 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:40,520 found your voice you found your stride 12 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:43,680 uh and uh you know what works for you 13 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:45,239 and what 14 00:00:45,239 --> 00:00:51,120 doesn't now uh you have to get used to 15 00:00:51,120 --> 00:00:55,760 tuning out other voices uh okay uh a as 16 00:00:55,760 --> 00:00:57,359 a writer whether you're writing a 17 00:00:57,359 --> 00:01:00,440 30-minute TV show a 60-minute TV show or 18 00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:04,799 screenplay uh uh in in this day and age 19 00:01:04,799 --> 00:01:09,240 um uh uh I mean because of social media 20 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:12,119 uh you're going to hear from a lot of 21 00:01:12,119 --> 00:01:14,040 people 22 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:17,880 and what you don't want to do is to try 23 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:20,200 to write in order to change someone's 24 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:24,759 mind okay uh uh let's say this show is 25 00:01:24,759 --> 00:01:27,200 on the air or your show uh is on the air 26 00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:31,040 you're three or four episodes in uh um 27 00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:34,159 and you're reading a Critic whether it's 28 00:01:34,159 --> 00:01:41,079 the New York Times or Dumbo Dumbo 29 00:01:51,119 --> 00:01:54,399 docomo to address that person's uh uh 30 00:01:54,399 --> 00:01:56,719 concerns it's it's going to be a a 31 00:01:56,719 --> 00:02:00,000 Fool's errand first of all it is 32 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:02,640 impossible to try to is impos it's 33 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:04,920 impossible to make everybody happy uh 34 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:06,960 who's watching your thing second of all 35 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:08,759 Dumbo Dumbo dcom doesn't know what 36 00:02:08,759 --> 00:02:11,920 they're talking about uh okay that's why 37 00:02:11,920 --> 00:02:15,440 they write a blog and you write what you 38 00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:20,319 write um uh you've got to have Corey 39 00:02:20,319 --> 00:02:24,680 level confidence uh uh in in yourself 40 00:02:24,680 --> 00:02:26,239 now that's not to say that you should 41 00:02:26,239 --> 00:02:29,920 tune out voices of people uh you trust 42 00:02:29,920 --> 00:02:32,480 hopefully you're working with a director 43 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:34,840 uh uh who's a real partner or a producer 44 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:36,800 who's a real partner hopefully you have 45 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:39,200 friends uh in your life you just need 46 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:41,680 one two three who you can show the pages 47 00:02:41,680 --> 00:02:45,319 to um and uh uh and they'll be 48 00:02:45,319 --> 00:02:48,599 encouraging and honest when you're doing 49 00:02:48,599 --> 00:02:51,120 that it's helpful if you ask them 50 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:53,720 questions rather than just giving pages 51 00:02:53,720 --> 00:02:56,319 and saying well what did you think okay 52 00:02:56,319 --> 00:02:58,879 ask questions like did you get it did 53 00:02:58,879 --> 00:03:00,360 you understand 54 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:01,800 this and this and this did you feel 55 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:05,760 anything uh uh when this happened 56 00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:09,239 um and then my the the the final piece 57 00:03:09,239 --> 00:03:11,680 of wisdom I I want to impart to you I 58 00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:15,040 know that you guys are are living 59 00:03:15,040 --> 00:03:20,760 in uh in in a tricky area uh uh that 60 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:22,200 exists 61 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:25,000 between listen basically you guys want 62 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:26,720 to be professional writers right you 63 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:29,360 want to pay your bills uh uh writing 64 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:32,840 that is your goal right now I caught a 65 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:38,720 lucky Break um uh I never had to write 66 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:43,080 anything for someone else um uh I never 67 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:47,560 uh had to uh uh you know be a staff 68 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:49,599 writer on a television show I didn't 69 00:03:49,599 --> 00:03:51,959 really lik but I could do the work and 70 00:03:51,959 --> 00:03:53,760 get a paycheck and I was a professional 71 00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:56,319 writer my first play Was A Few Good Men 72 00:03:56,319 --> 00:03:59,319 um it like I said it was a fluke uh uh 73 00:03:59,319 --> 00:04:01,400 it it open on Broadway I was brought out 74 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:04,120 to Los Angeles to turn into a movie that 75 00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:07,439 was a hit and from then on I just got 76 00:04:07,439 --> 00:04:09,760 paid to write what I wanted to write 77 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:12,480 careers generally uh don't happen like 78 00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:18,440 that so I don't blame you for 79 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:22,320 uh if you have to you know for for 80 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:24,759 trying to write what someone else wants 81 00:04:24,759 --> 00:04:26,479 uh uh right now I don't blame you for 82 00:04:26,479 --> 00:04:28,759 doing whatever it it takes to get your 83 00:04:28,759 --> 00:04:30,039 foot in the door to become become a 84 00:04:30,039 --> 00:04:32,960 professional writer but once you do once 85 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:34,840 you do get your foot in the door don't 86 00:04:34,840 --> 00:04:37,759 forget why you wanted uh uh to write it 87 00:04:37,759 --> 00:04:40,120 can be very easy to just go home at the 88 00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:43,240 end of the day uh uh veg out and go back 89 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:46,199 to work next day and come up for more 90 00:04:46,199 --> 00:04:51,160 stories for Hannah Montana um uh but I I 91 00:04:51,160 --> 00:04:53,840 I'll tell you I always encouraged uh uh 92 00:04:53,840 --> 00:04:55,199 when I'm working with a writing staff on 93 00:04:55,199 --> 00:04:58,960 a TV show I I know that their dream 94 00:04:58,960 --> 00:05:01,039 isn't 95 00:05:01,039 --> 00:05:04,000 helping me look good um I know that that 96 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:05,759 they didn't get into it uh for that 97 00:05:05,759 --> 00:05:07,800 reason that this is the job that pays 98 00:05:07,800 --> 00:05:09,840 the rent and that goes on their resume 99 00:05:09,840 --> 00:05:12,120 and I encourage them to anytime I don't 100 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:14,000 have them working go to your office and 101 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:16,199 work on your novel uh uh work on your 102 00:05:16,199 --> 00:05:18,880 screenplay work on your teleplay anyway 103 00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:21,639 I wanted to let you guys know that I I I 104 00:05:21,639 --> 00:05:25,440 I I work with a a lot of Young Writers a 105 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:30,080 lot of new writers um uh and uh I 106 00:05:30,080 --> 00:05:32,319 honestly I've never seen talents at the 107 00:05:32,319 --> 00:05:35,160 level of the of five of you so I really 108 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:37,080 wish you good luck and I'm looking 109 00:05:37,080 --> 00:05:39,960 forward to seeing uh everything that you 110 00:05:39,960 --> 00:05:44,199 do down the road um and uh I I I can't 111 00:05:44,199 --> 00:05:46,360 tell you any more than that except to 112 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:49,400 say that it's been a real real pleasure 113 00:05:49,400 --> 00:05:52,440 to be with you uh guys uh uh for the 114 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:55,639 last few days I have no doubt that you 115 00:05:55,639 --> 00:05:58,560 all five of you uh are going to have 116 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:01,240 very exciting career years uh as 117 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:03,400 professional writers I'm looking forward 118 00:06:03,400 --> 00:06:06,080 to seeing your movies uh and TV shows 119 00:06:06,080 --> 00:06:07,440 and I'm looking forward to losing jobs 120 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:10,520 to you okay thanks a lot everybody I 121 00:06:10,520 --> 00:06:15,199 really appreciate it you bet you take 122 00:06:17,280 --> 00:06:20,400 care one thing we haven't talked about 123 00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:24,440 uh is the importance of failure and uh 124 00:06:24,440 --> 00:06:26,280 and it is 125 00:06:26,280 --> 00:06:30,280 important I 126 00:06:31,280 --> 00:06:34,000 I'm always envious of uh of my friends 127 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:36,960 who got master's degrees in playwriting 128 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:39,599 I I have a bachelor's degree and uh and 129 00:06:39,599 --> 00:06:41,440 I didn't go to the L School of drama and 130 00:06:41,440 --> 00:06:43,039 and get a degree in playwriting so I'm 131 00:06:43,039 --> 00:06:46,840 always envious of my friends who did and 132 00:06:46,840 --> 00:06:49,360 when I asked them tell me exactly what 133 00:06:49,360 --> 00:06:52,000 you learned uh in your master's program 134 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:55,080 because I I'm I'm sure there are huge 135 00:06:55,080 --> 00:06:58,639 gaps in my uh understanding of of what 136 00:06:58,639 --> 00:07:01,280 it is that uh that I'm doing and they'll 137 00:07:01,280 --> 00:07:03,080 tell me that what they learned in their 138 00:07:03,080 --> 00:07:05,080 master's program was fundamentally the 139 00:07:05,080 --> 00:07:07,160 same thing uh that I learned in my 140 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:10,240 bachelor's uh uh program but that the 141 00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:12,680 real value the real value of say the 142 00:07:12,680 --> 00:07:16,800 school of drama uh uh or USC Film School 143 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:19,960 in uh in screenwriting or NYU or juliard 144 00:07:19,960 --> 00:07:23,160 or uh act Syracuse University where I 145 00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:25,680 went and any place uh uh where there's a 146 00:07:25,680 --> 00:07:30,400 conservatory program uh in in drama uh 147 00:07:30,400 --> 00:07:33,840 uh the real value they'll say is that it 148 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:35,440 gives you a chance to write the worst 149 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:37,639 plays you're ever going to write uh okay 150 00:07:37,639 --> 00:07:39,160 and what they really mean the end of 151 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:40,599 that sentence what they really mean is 152 00:07:40,599 --> 00:07:41,840 it gives you a chance to write the worst 153 00:07:41,840 --> 00:07:43,120 plays you're ever going to write without 154 00:07:43,120 --> 00:07:44,639 any 155 00:07:44,639 --> 00:07:48,720 consequence and uh I was stupid I I 156 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:51,199 didn't take advantage of that when I was 157 00:07:51,199 --> 00:07:56,560 in college uh like a lot of people uh I 158 00:07:56,560 --> 00:07:59,520 uh I I wanted to imp impress my friends 159 00:07:59,520 --> 00:08:01,120 I wanted to impress my teachers I wanted 160 00:08:01,120 --> 00:08:04,520 to impress girls uh so I would stick to 161 00:08:04,520 --> 00:08:08,000 doing what I knew I was good at uh and 162 00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:13,319 not take any chances at all and now I've 163 00:08:13,319 --> 00:08:17,319 missed my chance to take chances uh 164 00:08:17,319 --> 00:08:21,199 because now first of all uh writing is 165 00:08:21,199 --> 00:08:24,599 what pays my bills uh uh so failure uh 166 00:08:24,599 --> 00:08:27,879 has a lot of consequence now when I fail 167 00:08:27,879 --> 00:08:30,199 it makes a pretty loud noise when I get 168 00:08:30,199 --> 00:08:34,800 a report card it's seen by millions of 169 00:08:34,800 --> 00:08:37,839 of people uh are are weighing in on if 170 00:08:37,839 --> 00:08:40,959 I'm doing badly or not uh and and 171 00:08:40,959 --> 00:08:44,480 they're happy to tell you about it uh so 172 00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:47,560 so Taking Chances now is uh is a much 173 00:08:47,560 --> 00:08:51,160 harder thing and uh I I really recommend 174 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:55,959 two things to to Young 175 00:08:55,959 --> 00:08:57,959 Writers I'm going to recommend more than 176 00:08:57,959 --> 00:08:59,480 two things I take that back I'm going to 177 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:02,000 recommend the following things go ahead 178 00:09:02,000 --> 00:09:04,360 and take chances because that's the only 179 00:09:04,360 --> 00:09:06,320 way you're actually going to find out 180 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:08,680 where your sweet spot is uh uh what it 181 00:09:08,680 --> 00:09:10,320 is you're good 182 00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:13,720 at write in your own voice and when I 183 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:15,839 say write in your own voice I don't mean 184 00:09:15,839 --> 00:09:19,640 literally write the way uh you talk uh I 185 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:23,399 mean write the way you want to write and 186 00:09:23,399 --> 00:09:26,440 don't worry uh that you're not writing 187 00:09:26,440 --> 00:09:29,880 the way I write uh or you're 188 00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:33,680 not writing the way uh uh uh Diablo Cody 189 00:09:33,680 --> 00:09:36,360 writes or or anyone else you write the 190 00:09:36,360 --> 00:09:40,560 way you write uh 191 00:09:40,560 --> 00:09:44,680 and we've talked about this 192 00:09:44,800 --> 00:09:47,480 before if you're thinking to 193 00:09:47,480 --> 00:09:50,640 yourself uh what is it the studios want 194 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:52,920 to see what what do they hot on right 195 00:09:52,920 --> 00:09:54,959 now what is it people want to see if 196 00:09:54,959 --> 00:09:57,640 you're basically running this through an 197 00:09:57,640 --> 00:10:01,440 algorithm uh of some kind I don't know 198 00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:04,000 you uh uh you you you 199 00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:07,720 may you may hit your mark 200 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:09,560 uh but I think it's going to be 201 00:10:09,560 --> 00:10:13,160 bloodless and uh and I think you're not 202 00:10:13,160 --> 00:10:16,720 going to be happy doing it you're 203 00:10:16,720 --> 00:10:20,120 exposed uh when when you're writing uh 204 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:25,399 uh you you are pretty exposed even if 205 00:10:25,399 --> 00:10:27,240 you you don't have to be writing 206 00:10:27,240 --> 00:10:29,880 autobiographically um uh uh you know it 207 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:34,399 can be a a a futuristic Caper movie uh 208 00:10:34,399 --> 00:10:38,120 and you're still exposed 209 00:10:38,760 --> 00:10:42,079 because it's it's it's your mind uh uh 210 00:10:42,079 --> 00:10:43,839 that's on there it's it's it's your 211 00:10:43,839 --> 00:10:46,120 heart that's on there it's your way it's 212 00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:47,839 what you think is funny it's what you 213 00:10:47,839 --> 00:10:49,959 think is emotional it's what you think 214 00:10:49,959 --> 00:10:51,560 deserves a white hat and what you think 215 00:10:51,560 --> 00:10:53,160 deserves a black hat and what's in the 216 00:10:53,160 --> 00:10:56,320 middle uh it's it's you directly as 217 00:10:56,320 --> 00:10:59,800 opposed to sitting down at the piano and 218 00:10:59,800 --> 00:11:04,200 playing Beethoven uh and uh you are 219 00:11:04,200 --> 00:11:05,600 going 220 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:14,000 to never ever make everyone happy uh so 221 00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:17,240 I I would urge people to not 222 00:11:17,240 --> 00:11:21,279 try and I would remind them of this too 223 00:11:21,279 --> 00:11:23,680 that there are a zillion different ways 224 00:11:23,680 --> 00:11:27,639 to prepare beef uh uh you can have filet 225 00:11:27,639 --> 00:11:33,000 Minon or Beef Wellington or a a flank 226 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:34,519 steak anything but if you were to 227 00:11:34,519 --> 00:11:38,680 prepare beef the way the Fest people 228 00:11:38,680 --> 00:11:41,079 find objectionable it would be a 229 00:11:41,079 --> 00:11:44,600 McDonald's hamburger uh every single 230 00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:47,800 time I love McDonald's hamburgers I eat 231 00:11:47,800 --> 00:11:49,440 way too many of them but if I were a 232 00:11:49,440 --> 00:11:51,680 chef I wouldn't want to make one uh uh 233 00:11:51,680 --> 00:11:54,040 for a living 234 00:11:54,040 --> 00:11:57,560 so uh don't make McDonald's hamburgers I 235 00:11:57,560 --> 00:11:59,920 guess would be my advice 236 00:11:59,920 --> 00:12:03,600 uh but I I I really do believe that the 237 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:05,639 best 238 00:12:05,639 --> 00:12:10,240 way to get good uh at this 239 00:12:10,240 --> 00:12:13,000 is watch a lot of movies read a lot of 240 00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:17,240 movies and write practice find those 241 00:12:17,240 --> 00:12:20,360 people uh uh who you trust who can read 242 00:12:20,360 --> 00:12:22,839 your pages uh 243 00:12:22,839 --> 00:12:25,320 and talk to you about them they can be 244 00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:28,160 encouraging and honest uh at the same 245 00:12:28,160 --> 00:12:32,519 time shed those people uh uh 246 00:12:32,519 --> 00:12:34,600 who 247 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:38,720 uh might be there might be jealousy Envy 248 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:41,839 um uh and uh uh and they're they're not 249 00:12:41,839 --> 00:12:45,360 going to make you feel encouraged about 250 00:12:45,360 --> 00:12:46,839 what you're 251 00:12:46,839 --> 00:12:51,279 writing power through the days of not 252 00:12:51,279 --> 00:12:54,040 being able to write anything those days 253 00:12:54,040 --> 00:12:56,639 where uh you know we keep talking about 254 00:12:56,639 --> 00:13:00,120 how important movement is uh in a story 255 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:02,720 um I I I wish that I could guarantee 256 00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:06,480 movement uh in life that uh that on 257 00:13:06,480 --> 00:13:08,880 Friday evening uh you're going to be 258 00:13:08,880 --> 00:13:11,360 better off than you were Monday morning 259 00:13:11,360 --> 00:13:14,480 uh with the script uh 260 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:16,959 but most of the 261 00:13:16,959 --> 00:13:20,839 time for me maybe not for you I know not 262 00:13:20,839 --> 00:13:23,519 for Stephen King uh who goes to an 263 00:13:23,519 --> 00:13:26,120 office every day and just freaking 264 00:13:26,120 --> 00:13:28,920 writes okay um uh he doesn't have any 265 00:13:28,920 --> 00:13:31,639 problem problems uh but for me and I'm 266 00:13:31,639 --> 00:13:34,600 sure for at least some other people out 267 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:37,120 there most of your time is going to be 268 00:13:37,120 --> 00:13:40,560 spent not writing uh no most and and 269 00:13:40,560 --> 00:13:45,440 it's going to be Agony um uh but when 270 00:13:45,440 --> 00:13:47,079 you 271 00:13:47,079 --> 00:13:49,639 do finally 272 00:13:49,639 --> 00:13:53,240 write a scene that works and it's part 273 00:13:53,240 --> 00:13:56,759 of a script that works and you're not 274 00:13:56,759 --> 00:13:58,600 done yet cuz remember we're not writing 275 00:13:58,600 --> 00:13:59,880 things that are meant to be read we're 276 00:13:59,880 --> 00:14:01,959 writing things that are meant to be 277 00:14:01,959 --> 00:14:05,279 performed and you add worldclass actors 278 00:14:05,279 --> 00:14:07,639 worldclass directors worldclass 279 00:14:07,639 --> 00:14:10,759 designers worldclass technicians uh uh 280 00:14:10,759 --> 00:14:15,680 to this and you see it on a screen with 281 00:14:15,680 --> 00:14:17,440 an audience where it's Landing with an 282 00:14:17,440 --> 00:14:20,399 audience I promise you you will feel no 283 00:14:20,399 --> 00:14:23,399 pain