Original subtitles

-* Feliz Navidad * -(laughter)

* Feliz Navidad... *

I don't know, Jake.

There's got to be some girl you like.

* Prospero año y felicidad... *

The girl in the purple-- she's kind of cute.

Oh. I think she used to work at the White House

a couple years ago.

Yeah?

Yeah.

Good luck.

Um...

I've been trying to give off an air of unapproachability.

-Mm. -Was I successful?

Oh, yes. Good job.

-Good. Good. -(laughs)

I'm Jake. Jake Tapper.

-I'm Monica. -Can I, uh,

buy you a drink?

Oh, you know, it's-it's a weeknight.

I was gonna head home and have dinner.

You know they have food here.

It's, uh... it's Tex-Mex.

It's world-famous Washington, D.C. Tex-Mex.

Sure.

On long-haul flights,

the secretary of defense does press avails,

and then, they all get to go to sleep,

and I stay up through the night transcribing every word.

That sounds fun.

It's a spelling minefield.

The Chernomyrdins and the Khmelnytskys.

I mean, you go east of Austria,

and the vowels are just never where you expect them to be.

Plus, I'm a shit typist, so...

(laughs)

But, um, talking about it now, I...

I've been sort of myopic this past year,

and... I really look at it.

This job's actually been kind of neat.

-Mm. -Yeah, I'm actually... I'm...

I'm moving soon. I have a job interview

-in New York on... on Friday. -Ah.

What did you mean-- you've been myopic?

I don't know. I just...

I guess I've been a bit of a D.C. zombie.

Hmm.

And I'm... I'm ready to wake up.

-Oh. Thank you. -Thank you.

-We're gonna split that. -No, no, no.

-Yes. -This is a date.

(distant phones ringing)

(footsteps approaching)

MONICA: Hey, Linda.

What to watch me fix the Xerox for the 20th time

-this week? -Oh. No.

-(laughs) -Oh, wait.

-Are these the invitations? -Yes.

Ah.

You can help me hand them out.

God. How did you afford these?

Oh. Well, I go nuts for Christmas.

I know it's maybe not your thing.

Oh, please. We're L.A. Jews.

I've been going to Christmas parties since I was born.

You can come, right?

When do you go up for your interview?

Thursday. I'm a wreck.

You'll do great.

Ugh. After Revlon, we're going to 21 with basically

my entire extended family, and I have to look nice.

My family's a whole thing.

So I think I'm gonna wear that navy dress I showed you.

You got it cleaned?

Oh, no, not yet, but I will before I go.

Oh. Merry Christmas.

LUCIANNE: How'd the girl take the news?

Oh. I still haven't told her about the subpoena.

-You haven't? Why? -I know.

If she doesn't hear it from you, she's going to get suspicious.

Yes, I realize that. I'm going to tell her.

That-That's not even why I called.

She's gonna get the dress cleaned.

-What? -She wants

-to wear it. -That stain is

white gold.

It proves what she says on your tapes really happened.

Ugh.

-Are you sure? -Yes.

It can absolutely be used to match DNA,

even years later.

(sighs) Really?

You get her on the horn right now, and you stop her!

(phone beeps)

-I need a minute. -Uh, yeah, this is your favorite thing,

-and you had us stay home for a night. -I just, I have to do a call.

Just need a minute.

(Allison scoffs softly)

(line ringing)

-Hello? -LINDA: Hi.

How are you?

Fine. I'm tired. I just got off the treadmill.

LINDA: You're so good.

-(laughs) -Listen.

I wanted to say to you-- and you can do

what you want with this-- but the blue dress.

I don't think you should wear that to your interview.

-Why? -Call me crazy, but

I believe it would be smart for you to keep that,

uncleaned, in your possession in case you ever need it years

-from now. -(laughs)

What?

You think I need to keep

a dress with that on it for years?

Okay, instead of always just dissing what I say,

listen.

My cousin is a genetic...

whatchamacallit.

And during O.J. Simpson, I was hooked on the trial.

It was fabulous, but all the

DNA was Greek to me, so I asked him about it.

And he told me

that an old crusty bit of semen can be matched

to a man's identity, even ages later.

But why would I care if it could be matched to his identity?

If you were ever to need proof.

But I'm never going to come forward about this.

(laughing): I'm not saying you would ever.

And if anyone else did, I would deny, deny, deny.

I know. I know that, but just

-do this... -(sighs)

for your own ultimate protection,

which-- mea culpa--

I hope you never need it.

I would say this to my own daughter.

Hello?

Look, I want to feel confident at the interview,

and I know I look good in that dress.

(laughs): Well, I mean...

If you think it's flattering, I mean, that's what matters.

What?

I want you to look thin and beautiful.

-What does that mean? -(scoffs)

I'm sorry, but I would want to be told.

The truth is, you look heavy in that dress.

Are you serious?

(TV plays quietly)

Okay, well... well, what's more slimming--

the peach suit, or the... or the dark teal?

Your peach suit is exquisite.

I think that works beautifully.

*

(sighs)

(Starr humming "O Little Town of Bethlehem")

(elevator bell dings)

-(humming continues) -Good morning, Judge Starr.

Hmm. Good morning, Neille.

They're in there waiting for you.

This is not going to be pleasant.

Mm-hmm.

Morning. Sorry I'm late.

I wanted to read a verse, if I may.

"We are persecuted, but not forsaken by God;

cast down, but not destroyed."

Corinthians, chapter four, verse nine.

That's a prayer for the defeated.

No one in this room should feel defeated.

Now, I've asked Paul to take every piece of evidence we have

on President Clinton and Whitewater,

and put it all into one document

so we can take a look and decide,

do we have enough to recommend impeachment.

No. Not-not today, not yet.

But we're close.

This doesn't say to me it's time to shut down.

This says keep going.

Oh, Jackie, it's been four years.

We've exhausted all of our leads.

Bill Clinton committed loan fraud when he was governor,

and then he lied about it under oath.

We're just one witness short of proving that.

Every potential crime is one witness short.

What'd you just say?

I said we don't have it. Do you think

I don't feel like a failure, too?

We're failures if we quit.

What am I... the only one who sees this? Huh?

Come on. Kavanaugh, huh?

You don't think we should just quit?

I never like to take "no" for an answer,

but, Jackie, there isn't a path forward here.

Oh, great. Okay, so you all want to fucking fold.

-Jackie, please. -I'm sorry, Judge.

I look around this room, and I see success.

They said we were on a partisan witch hunt,

but we found real wrongdoing.

Because of us, the governor of Arkansas had to resign,

and we achieved 12 convictions

of other people around the Clintons.

Yeah, but none of whom would flip on Bill or Hillary.

No, that didn't happen,

and there's no indication that's going to change,

and that's our problem.

Oh, Judge, you can't sit there after all this time

and tell me that they're not guilty.

In fact, I'll sit here and tell you candidly

that I believe President Clinton is guilty as sin.

Even worse, I believe, he actively

blocked people from cooperating in this investigation.

Now, I can believe that and you can believe that,

but it doesn't matter what we believe.

It matters what we can prove.

Let's put it to a vote.

Does anyone here feel we have the goods

to take this to the Hill

and recommend the impeachment of President Clinton?

ASSOCIATE: All right, Mr. President.

Let's move on to a different line of questioning.

In 1987, you repeatedly visited the home of Beth Coulson,

always while her husband was away.

Was the purpose of these visits to have sex with Beth Coulson?

No, it was not.

So you just happened to only visit her when she was alone?

Are you asking me a question?

Yes. Do you honestly expect us to believe

that that was not a sexual relationship?

I told you before, we were just friends.

Let's move on to Marilyn Jo Jenkins.

Is it true that you met with her four times in your private

basement office at the Arkansas Governor's Mansion?

Fuck this.

Mr. President, this is what

they're going to do to you.

Yeah, this is horseshit. You should be making a list

like this for Paula Jones.

We are. When she sits for her deposition

next week, she won't know what hit her.

But right after that, you're up, under oath.

We can't delay it anymore.

No. I bet you Kennedy didn't have to answer this shit.

Yeah, well, that was the '60s.

Excuse me.

What did you say?

Just that... that that was the '60s.

Ti-Times are changing.

For women.

You know how many women I have in my cabinet?

Not... off the top of...

I mean, there's, um...

Janet Reno, first female attorney general.

Madeleine Albright, first female secretary of state.

Donna Shalala, secretary of Health and Human Services.

Alexis Herman, secretary of Labor.

Carol Browner, EPA.

Aida Alvarez, SBA.

Charlene Barshefsky, U.S. trade rep.

Janet Yellen, chair of the Council of Economic Advisors.

No one supports women more than me.

(clears throat)

(door slams)

(phone receiver clicks)

(dialing)

(line ringing)

(sighs)

(phone ringing)

Hello?

Hey. Did I wake you?

No.

No. It's fine. I was awake.

How you doing?

Um, I'm good.

I went to New York for my Revlon interview,

and they basically offered me the job.

Oh, that's great. Good job.

What's wrong?

I just wanted to tell you, um...

I saw the witness list for the Paula Jones suit,

and your name is on it.

What?

It's-it's not a big deal.

It just broke my heart a little to see you there.

Wait. Paula Jones.

Why would I be on the witness list? What does that mean?

Oh, it doesn't mean anything.

You know, this thing is pretty much

every woman I've ever talked to.

But we've more than talked.

You know, you-you probably won't even get a subpoena.

Okay, okay, well, but what if I do?

Well, for something like this, you know,

you probably wouldn't even have to show up

in person.

You just get a lawyer to draft an affidavit.

-Saying what? -Well, Monica...

...what would you want to say?

(quietly): Uh...

I would say that nothing ever happened between us.

If anything happens...

you can call Betty.

Okay.

Thank you.

Can I just ask?

This lawsuit has caused so much trouble for you.

Why don't you just try to settle it again?

Well...

It's complicated.

(sighs heavily)

-I mean, I think this is charming. -(sighs)

Okay, I don't understand what's supposed to fit on this plate.

-Cookies, Monica. -Like what?

-One single cookie? -Ugh.

It's about creating a festive ambience,

not the utility of the plate.

Sorry. I really don't mean to be a drag. I just...

I can't stop thinking about my name on that list.

Well, it sounded like he wasn't especially concerned, so...

He says that I probably won't get a subpoena,

but what if I do?

I mean, I would have to answer questions about him under oath.

It's unthinkable.

I got a subpoena.

I've been meaning to mention it. It's just...

(sighs)

("We Wish You a Merry Christmas" plays over speakers)

What? When?

A week or so go.

Well, why haven't you told me?

Well, because I knew you would lose it.

Yeah, I'm gonna lose it

because I'm on a witness list, and you got a subpoena.

It's probably about Kathleen.

What does that mean-- probably?

Well, I don't know. I'm not a lawyer.

I hope it's about her,

but what if they ask about the other women?

What if they ask about you?

Well, what would you say?

I can't commit perjury.

-Linda. -Look,

it's a hypothetical. I mean...

No. Listen.

Promise me, please,

if-if... if they ask you anything,

you just say, "I don't know.

I don't recall."

-That is a crime, Monica. -I promised him

-that I wouldn't tell anybody. -Monica,

you are asking me to commit a crime.

-It's not lying, Linda. -And also,

this isn't only happening to you.

It is also happening to me.

I'm a single mother.

I'm a political appointee.

I have to be careful.

Anyway, I'm behind on my gifts.

We-we should just get to Macy's.

I get so overwhelmed this time of year.

(indistinct chatter)

(instrumental of "O Christmas Tree" plays over P.A.)

-(gasps) Mama! -DELMER: Oh.

Oh, my God!

-(laughs) -Oh. Oh, my goodness.

-Oh, Mama. -My little Minnie Mouse.

Come, honey. Oh. Oh.

-Mmm. -Oh, look at you.

Oh, my Lord. Look at those nails.

-Oh. Susie took me to get 'em done. -Oh.

-Mama, this is Susie. -Susan Carpenter-McMillan.

I have heard so much about you.

Um, Susie is helping me with my case

-and my publicity and all that. -Oh.

And we stay at her house in San Marino.

-I wish you could come see it. -Oh.

She has a person who just looks after her roses.

-Oh. -California?

Oh, honey, it took everything out of me

to drive down here today. I...

Just so you know, Lonoke is a half hour from here.

On Interstate 40. You know, I hate driving that thing,

but I will to see my Paula.

Oh, Mama. Mama.

You know, I-I'm confused what's happening now.

-Is the trial starting? -No.

-Okay. -No. I told you.

I'm doing my deposition, and that's before the trial,

uh, where you go and say everything that happened.

-Mm-hmm. -Well, you know, your sister told me

-you got offered money to settle. -Yes, they did

try to throw a check at us to make this all go away,

but any settlement needs

to start with an apology to our Paula.

You know what?

I'm gonna go check us into the restaurant.

(both laugh)

Can't wait to hear what this one was like

when she was a little girl.

-Oh. -Paula Poo.

(laughs)

I heard that... that they offered you $700,000.

-Is that true? -Mm-hmm.

Gosh, that's a lot of money.

I know, but Susie and Steve thought

that it wouldn't be right if I took it.

Look, Paula, how are you staying here?

Who's paying for all this?

Well, Susie has some really powerful friends.

-Oh, I bet. -And they got me a new lawyer and everything.

I'm worried about you.

I mean, you're gonna be going into that courthouse,

and they're gonna be asking you questions.

I'm gonna be okay, Mama.

I got people looking out for me.

Paula, Mama? They're ready.

Do just watch out for her.

Okay.

-PAULA: Oh, I love it. -Ah, ready, girls.

-PAULA: Let's go to lunch. -All right.

PAULA: I'm gonna have the Cobb salad.

(Delmer laughs)

*

(Beverly inhales deeply)

Hello, ma'am. Sorry to disturb you.

Does your name happen to be Juanita Broaddrick?

Yeah. What is this about?

I'm Beverly Lambert. This is my husband Rick.

We're private investigators working with the attorneys

representing Paula Jones.

I-I'm sorry. I don't want to be involved.

Oh, well, ma'am, to explain, we're interviewing women

who've had encounters similar to Paula's.

I don't want to participate.

I can certainly understand your hesitation.

There's a rumor of what occurred with you and the president.

-I know what's out there. -Is it true?

It's the past.

I don't want to relive it. I'm sorry.

Okay. It's just, Rick and I have been praying

the Lord would send us to the right people.

We've been on this awhile now, so...

Are you a Christian, ma'am?

-Yeah. -So is Paula Jones.

And all of her attorneys. Good Christian men.

Well, I hope y'all find what you need,

but it won't be me.

Okay, all right. I do need to tell you,

if you don't talk with me and Bev here,

then those attorneys will subpoena you.

Do you understand that?

They can speak to my lawyer.

He'll say "no" just like I'm saying "no."

I have been a businesswoman here for years.

I do not want my name tied up in this.

So wouldn't it be easier just to talk with us,

here in the quiet?

We drove all the way from Dallas today.

I wish I could be of more help. I'm sorry.

All right, then.

If you change your mind at all.

Just would ask that you pray on it.

One thing I will say.

Paula Jones?

She's telling the truth.

Anything she'd say bad about him,

she's telling the truth.

COURT REPORTER: Please raise

your right hand.

Do you swear to tell the truth,

the whole truth

-and nothing but the truth? -Okay.

BENNETT: Mrs. Jones, I don't think we've met.

I'm Robert Bennett.

I represent William Jefferson Clinton.

He's the president of the United...

-I know who he is. -Okay. Uh,

you've testified that, uh, Mr. Clinton exposed his penis

to you in a room at the Excelsior Hotel

in May... May 8, 1991.

How long were you in the room before this happened?

Probably five minutes, maybe six.

And after he exposed his penis,

did Mr. Clinton require you

to do anything against your will?

Well, he asked me to kiss his...

Well, that wasn't my question, Mrs. Jones.

Did he require you to do anything against your will?

Well, he tried to kiss me.

-Did he force you to kiss him? -No.

Did he force you to kiss his penis?

No. He asked.

Well, did you kiss his penis?

No. I wouldn't.

Uh, you filed an affidavit claiming that

President Clinton's penis has a distinguishing characteristic.

Is that correct?

Yes. Um, it's got sort of a... a U-turn in it.

Oh, you also made a statement that, uh,

the president's penis is small.

Have you ever taken an anatomy course, Mrs. Jones?

No, I haven't.

And your husband, Steven Jones-- was he

your first sexual partner?

No.

So I'm left to gather that your ability

to tell whether a man's penis is small or large is based

on opportunities you've had to view other male penises.

Is that correct?

Well, uh, yes.

-Okay. -(clears throat)

Ms. Jones, do you know a man named Dennis Kirkland?

Yeah, I know Dennis.

-Uh, he's from Lonoke. -Mr. Kirkland

has stated under oath that you gave him oral sex

and had sex with him at a party in 1987. Is that true?

Mrs. Jones, this is a deposition.

You're required to answer these questions.

Did you provide oral sex and engage in sex with Mr. Kirkland?

No. I... With Dennis, no, I did not.

Mr. Kirkland also states that on the same night

that you provided oral sex to him,

he watched as you provided oral sex

to three other men.

-Is that correct? -What?

At a party, did you give oral sex

to Dennis Kirkland and then again

to three other men as Mr. Kirkland has affirmed

under oath?

No. Why would Dennis say that?

Well, I have the names of three men right here, Ms. Jones.

Uh, I don't even know what you're talking about.

I-I swear. I swear I did not do that.

I swear. How are they allowed to say that? That is a lie.

You have no idea what all they said.

It was horrible, and they acted like it was true, and...

(crying): Susie, you didn't tell me it was gonna be like that.

-You said it was gonna be okay. -Mm. I'm sorry, Paula.

Now you listen to me.

These are ruthless, terrible people,

but they are not going to win.

They have no idea how hard it's about to get for him.

No idea.

(keys clacking)

Monica Lewinsky. You've been served.

*

(doorbell rings)

Allison, hi.

-Hey. -Oh, wow. I love that dress.

Thank you. (laughs)

* *

-Oh, it means "Merry Christmas." -Oh.

Um, can I take your coat?

-Oh, yes, please. -Okay.

Wow. You guys really go all-out, don't you?

-Yeah, we do. -Do you know where your mom is?

Um... she's probably over there.

-Okay. Thanks. -Yeah. Sure.

-Oh, I see her. Thanks. -Okay. Yeah.

Oh, um, excuse me.

Oh, Monica?

Oh, my God, you have to try these cookies. They're so...

I will. Just one second. Sorry.

-Merry Christmas. -Oh, Willy. Hi. Merry Christmas.

-Good to see you. -Sorry. Just one second. Sorry.

-(Monica sighs) -(quiet chatter)

-Hi. Yeah. -Oh, hi there.

-Merry Christmas. -Oh.

I love pine. Thank you. You're too much.

Cathy, this is my, uh... my good friend Monica.

If you want to talk about the fiasco

that's DLA's electronic acquisition system,

park yourself next to Monica.

She works with me at DoD.

-She's been in the trenches. -So nice to meet you.

Cathy's in my bridge group. She-she works

in ground-based missile defense.

Can we speak privately for a moment?

-Not right now. -I really, really need to talk to you.

-I'm hosting a party. -Uh, Monica.

Oh, Ken. Can you believe these two came?

KEN: Oh, well, we were just thrilled

that we could finally make it this year.

But now, can you please tell us

all about your wonderful Christmas village in there?

Of course. Do you want the three-hour version,

-or just the two? -Well...

-(laughter) -LINDA: Yeah. Come on. Come on.

Well...

it all starts here.

I got this when I was girl

on my first ever trip to Frankfurt

to meet my mother's family.

They took me to a darling Christmas shop

that sold hand-carved miniatures,

and I saw this little snow-dusted fir,

-and I was captivated. -(overlapping chatter)

-KEN: Oh, it's beautiful. -LINDA: My dream is to

one day open my own shop like that.

A place where it's Christmas all year round.

It would fill a real need, and...

Oh.

(laughs) I see Richard's

discovered my newest Weihnachtspyramide.

(Ken chuckles)

LINDA: Aren't they beautiful?

This one belonged to my mother.

She brought it all the way from Germany.

With my father in tow.

-(laughter) -And so, uh, do you know

what the Weihnachtspyramide is?

It's the original Christmas pyramid.

(distorted chatter)

LINDA: ...seasonal miniatures.

-* -(continues indistinctly)

* Oh, how they pound, raising the sound *

* O'er hill and dale, telling their tale *

* Gaily they ring while people sing *

* Songs of good cheer, Christmas is here *

* Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas... *

LINDA: Take his keys. (chuckles)

-Thank you. -Can you please talk to me?

One minute. Let me get Helen my stollen recipe.

Linda!

(whispers): I got the subpoena.

Your cheese log is so creamy.

Not now, Susan.

* It is to ride *

* In a one-horse open sleigh... *

I'll walk you to your car.

"You are commanded to appear in the United States..."

Oh. This is incredibly alarming.

I know, but I've been thinking this might actually help you.

What? Why?

You've been so worried about them asking you

about me and Bill, and-and now,

I'll have already said that nothing happened,

so you can just say the same thing.

It's so detailed.

The hat pin?

They have intel.

The only people that know are my closest friends, my mom--

but she doesn't even know any details--

and-and Bill and you.

Well, Monica, somebody has told them something.

Oh, yeah. Thank you.

You think I haven't been torturing myself about that?

That I haven't fucking stopped thinking about that?

But I am going to deny it, and it'll be over, okay?

So I'm gonna sign that affidavit tomorrow,

and you are gonna sign one that matches mine,

and then we're both gonna be off the hook.

Hello?

I can't believe it's almost over.

What?

Christmas.

The closer you get, the nearer you are to the end.

Hmm.

(panting)

I should get back.

Susan has probably consumed my entire cheese log.

Inviting her was a misstep.

-Linda, please. -I understand that you're worried.

I am worried, too.

But I need to talk to my lawyer before I do anything.

Merry Christmas, Monica.

(door closes)

VERNON: Did you tell the president

-about this? -I couldn't reach him.

Okay, here's the deal.

They're probably going to focus on two questions.

Did you have sex with the president?

No.

Did he ever ask for it?

Then I don't see any cause for alarm.

You'll just submit an affidavit saying nothing happened,

and they won't make you testify in person.

But how did they even know my name?

And on page three, it says to turn over

anything he's given you, including hat pins.

How could they have known that he gave me a hat pin?

Frank Carter is a great lawyer.

I'll introduce you.

He'll help you with the affidavit.

Can you please tell the president about this?

Yeah, I'll make sure he knows, but, Monica,

you'll be okay.

CARTER: So,

by signing this, you're affirming under oath

that you can think of no reason why the plaintiff, Paula Jones,

would seek information from you,

and that you've never had a sexual relationship

with President Clinton.

-That's right. -Good.

John Hancock right here.

Wow. Wonder what this is. (laughs)

-Oh, I actually needed one of these. -Ooh.

I needed one of these.

ALLISON: You do, because you really need to practice.

-You're really, um... -Okay.

ALLISON: You suck at basketball.

RYAN: You never even watch me play.

-ALLISON: Oh, my gosh. -Not at all.

-I'm way better than you. -Are you kidding me?

-(phone ringing) -ALLISON: Oh, this is really cute.

-I like this. -RYAN: Yeah, it is cute.

-ALLISON: Right? Isn't it? -Yeah, very cute.

(ringing continues)

ALLISON: Yes.

(chatter continues indistinctly)

(ringing continues)

LINDA: Hi. You've reached the home of Linda, Ryan And Allison Tripp.

We're not available to take your call.

Please leave a message.

-(beeps) -Hey.

I just wanted to say Merry Christmas, and, um,

I just... I just want to talk

about everything.

*

And, uh...

see if you made a decision.

Okay, uh, please just...

just call me any time.

TORE SANTA (on TV):S ou'll shoot your eye out, kid.Y

Merry Christmas.

Ho, ho, ho.

KEN BACON: Monica, you traversed the globe with our team.

You worked all hours, you did a great job,

and you certainly have the best fashion sense

that an Air Force C-40 aircraft has ever seen, right?

(laughter)

The folks at Revlon don't know how lucky they are.

We're sure gonna miss your kindness,

your keen intelligence and your bright spirit.

Good luck in the Big Apple, Monica.

Don't forget your friends at the DoD

who care about you very much.

(applause)

Excuse me, sir. Just one second.

Hey. Can you call me back?

Yes, of course.

'Cause I've been trying you and trying you.

I know. I'm sorry.

(whispering): What is your plan?

We can talk about all of this later.

I'm actually meeting with my lawyer today.

Okay, good. That's good, right?

You know, we don't have a picture together.

You hate having your photo taken.

I know, but you're leaving.

Can't believe it.

Nathan?

Okay, ladies.

(camera shutter clicks)

(camera winding)

(camera shutter clicks)

-Linda, please. -(door closes)

So, your subpoena.

I can help you draft an affidavit

so you won't have to testify.

I mean, you have no connection

to Paula Jones or the president.

You're entirely wrong. I'm quite close

to a woman in the midst of an affair with President Clinton.

And he's covering it up

by getting her a job at Revlon.

Her name is Monica.

And the Jones lawyers know this.

They know I know things.

(scoffs)

I'd like to give these to you. For safekeeping.

My calls with Monica.

KIRBY: You've been taping her.

And does she know?

No, she had no idea.

-Where were you calling her from? -My house in Columbia.

Linda, that's a felony.

-What? -You cannot

secretly tape phone calls in Maryland.

It's a two-party consent state.

I was told it was fine.

-By who? -My literary agent.

I'm your lawyer. Why didn't you ask me?

All right, all right, look,

here's what we're gonna do, okay?

I-I'm gonna call Bob Bennett.

Ugh. (laughs airily)

I know you're not a fan, but he's a reasonable guy.

-Oh, yeah. -I'm gonna tell him about this,

and push him to settle now with Paula Jones.

-No, I don't want that. -Linda, do you understand

how much trouble you're in?

If these tapes are introduced into evidence,

you will be prosecuted, you could go to jail.

(gasps)

You said taping phone calls was entirely fine.

LUCIANNE: Well, it is in New York.

Well, not everyone lives in New York.

(laughing): Yes, I never understand that.

This is serious.

I could go to prison.

-I could lose everything. -Okay.

What does your lawyer say to do?

He wants to tell Bob Bennett about the tapes.

What?

So he'll settle, so they won't come to light.

If this case gets killed, he gets away with all of it.

I don't want that, either,

but Maryland has a Democrat for governor and attorney general.

The White House will have no trouble sending them after me.

Maximum sentence.

Linda, calm down. We just need to figure out a way

to get you immunity from prosecution.

How are we gonna do that?

I have an idea. Let me get my Rolodex.

(sighs)

(phone ringing)

Conway.

Do you have connections

-to Ken Starr's office? -Of course I do.

We need to make them aware of Linda Tripp as fast as we can.

(knocking)

Hey, stranger.

-MONICA: Hey. -(door closes)

(Monica sighs)

When's the big move?

Next week.

You okay?

Yeah.

Yeah. No, I'm fine.

I got you a few things.

For the new New Yorker.

Wow. That's, um...

That's very sweet. Thank you, but I, um...

Hold on. We're not done.

Oh, my God. I love him, um,

-but I... -And the last

but not least.

I found this in Vancouver

in a First Nation store.

You know, a bear symbolizes courage.

So in your new life up there in the big city,

when you need to be strong, just hold him close.

You okay?

I... I...

I love them.

Really, I love them, but I can't take them.

My subpoena asked for every gift you've ever given me,

and it just feels too dangerous.

Well, d-don't worry about that.

I am worried.

Don't you think that something weird is going on?

I wish I did. I'm sorry you're having

to experience it, but, uh, this is what they do to me

and anyone I'm close to.

You know, sad thing is, just feels normal to me now.

Okay. I just... I guess it feels different for me.

I don't know. I just keep thinking

about the witness list and the subpoena and the hat pin...

You'll be okay.

I mean, you signed the affidavit, right?

And, uh...

no one knows about us.

Right.

And your friend at the Pentagon--

she doesn't know?

No.

She's not really my friend anymore anyway.

So you got nothing to worry about.

This I do know.

You are gonna do great in New York.

You know, building a career,

making new friends,

lighting up every life you walk into like you did mine.

-(sighs) -And one day, you'll look back on all this and laugh.

I'll be some crazy story you tell your grandkids.

-You're more than a crazy story. -(knocking)

Mr. President, Prime Minister Blair.

Yeah, I'll just be a moment.

-There's never enough time. -(door closes)

Safe travels, Monica.

I'll never, um, be in this room again.

I'll, uh... I'll call you next week once you're settled in.

Will you really call me?

Of course, middle of next week.

(sighs) I know I shouldn't say this, and...

But I...

I need you to know that...

you are my whole world.

Good luck in New York.

Be good.

(Monica sniffles)

(knocking)

(sighs)

(door closes)

(elevator bell dings)

Sorry.

Clinton has a mistress.

She-She's an intern or she was an intern.

They moved her to the Pentagon,

but Vernon Jordan got her a job at Revlon for perjury.

-What? -I just had dinner with friends from law school.

They said that Clinton was fucking a girl

who worked for him.

There's perjury, there's a cover-up.

And, Jackie, there are tapes.

STARR: You're telling me

these tapes have this young lady

explicitly stating that the president

had Vernon Jordan give her a job

in exchange for lying in an affidavit?

Yes, lying about the affair.

-Judge, they had sex in the Oval Office. -Okay.

-I don't need to hear that. -I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

We need to talk to this witness.

Wait. How did all this come to you?

Back channel from some friends that have been helping

Paula Jones' lawyers behind the scenes.

I see you two are very excited.

But I need to figure out

how I can justify this under our mandate.

(laughing): What? What?

Vernon Jordan's the president's fixer.

How many of our Whitewater witnesses

-has he interfered with? -Allegedly.

Let's just see if it's real, Judge.

We'll go where the evidence leads.

Look into it, but remember who we are.

This is a federal investigation reporting directly

to the United States Congress.

No more of this backdoor stuff with your friends.

It has to appear that this witness came

to us out of the blue.

She has to call us.

We... Yeah, got it. Go, go, go.

(door closes)

(paper crumpling)

AUTOMATED VOICE: You've got mail.

(sighs)

(typing)

(mouse clicking)

(chimes)

(phone ringing)

Hello?

Ken Starr's office wants to hear from you.

Oh.

-Okay. -Listen.

You know this isn't some dinky little subpoena

in this sexual harassment suit.

his is a prosecutorT ith the power to file charges,w

and the FBI on their side.

He'll be expecting your call tonight,

but, Linda, the second you call them,

this all turns into something else.

(dialing)

(line ringing)

JACKIE: OIC. This is Jackie Bennett.

It's me.

*

Linda Tripp.

Jackie Bennett. We spoke on the phone.

My colleagues-- Sol Wisenberg, Mike Emmick--

from the Office of the Independent Counsel.

This is Special Agent Steve Irons.

-FBI. -May we come in? -Please.

JACKIE: So,

-you called us? -I'm in a terrible situation.

Facing prison or worse. (scoffs)

All because I borne witness to a series of ongoing crimes.

-What crimes? -Were you not all briefed?

I assumed you'd all come briefed.

Well, please sit.

Uh, in short, I've been subpoenaed in the Jones suit,

and I'm being pressured into a... a cover-up

at the direction of the president of the United States.

Just to confirm-- this involves your colleague Monica...

Lewinsky. A friend.

A good friend.

It's not simply my word on this.

I-I have Monica describing it all on tape.

She also discusses her sexual affair

with the president... in detail.

So you started taping when you got the subpoena?

No.

I began when I was subjected to character assassination

by the president's attorney in Newsweek.

I knew I had to protect myself.

-From Bob Bennett. -From the Clintons.

We all know what they're capable of.

This Monica has no idea?

Of course not.

And I-I'm sorry.

You referred to this person as your "good friend"?

What's that supposed to mean?

Well, I'm just trying to ascertain...

Well, I have been Monica's sole support for-for over a year.

I've given her my time, my-my counsel

in her darkest, loneliest hour.

There was one person she knew would pick up the phone,

and that was me.

All I want, all I have ever wanted

is for Monica to be okay.

But I had to protect myself.

And thank fucking God I did.

Mrs. Tripp, we have been investigating

the Clintons for years now.

Yes, we know what they're capable of,

and we fully understand why you did what you did, okay?

Now, out of nowhere, I learn it's illegal

in Maryland to record a call.

-I-I got horrible advice on that. -Yeah.

We will help you avoid prosecution, anything you need.

We just need copies of your tapes.

I can have those to you tomorrow.

Okay, great.

I'll have a clean tape for you tomorrow, too.

What do you mean, "clean tape"?

I've arranged lunch with Monica

tomorrow in Virginia where they're less dictatorial

about single-party taping.

I'm going to tape the whole thing, but legal this time.

-And how are you gonna do that? -I'm going to wire myself

with a recording device. I plan to wear a loose blouse.

No, no, no. No, no way.

This is an active federal investigation.

If you're gonna be wired, you're gonna be wired by the FBI.

You realize what this means?

Clinton gives his deposition in the Jones case on Saturday.

He's gonna walk in there, he's gonna lie his ass off.

We're gonna be waiting for him.

I mean, this is... this is bigger than Whitewater.

What? Fuck that. It's bigger than Watergate, man.

-We have tapes. -Watergate had tapes.

And thank God we do, too,

'cause a jury would fucking hate that lady.

Just need to secure this.

How is this different than the one on my leg?

This one lets us listen live from up here.

Linda, look, just-just focus on two things, okay?

She needs to say she's planning on lying under oath

and she needs to say what Vernon Jordan is doing for her

in exchange for that lie.

-That's it. -AGENT: Okay.

Ms. Tripp, can you say a few words?

What if something goes wrong?

We'll be listening in the whole time,

and we have people posted downstairs.

What if she sees them?

-She won't. -(scoffs)

Why don't you go for a table in the back corner?

You'll be able to see the whole place.

It'll help you stay calm.

I hope I don't let you down.

-Hi. -Hi.

Uh, uh...

I'd like that table in the corner.

-Oh, okay. -It'll just be two of us.

Sure. Wherever you like.

Tell me about your smoking policy.

Oh, this is a nonsmoking section.

Okay, well, I don't want to do anything

that's not the normal routine.

-You can smoke at the bar. -No, that's fine.

There are plenty of seats at the bar if you want...

No, I don't want to go to the bar. Thank you.

-Enjoy. -Thank you.

(piano music plays quietly)

(sighs)

Hi.

Hi, Monica.

-(sighs) -It's her.

LINDA: Listen.

I have been thinking about you nonstop.

I know I've been out of touch.

Things feel so weird, and our last conversation was so...

I'm sorry. I've-I've been a wreck.

Me too.

Why have you been a wreck?

MONICA: Because I'm in a nightmare.

I feel like I'm going crazy, like actual DSM crazy.

I don't understand what's happening or why.

What do you... what do you mean?

What do you mean, "What do I mean?"

I feel an overwhelming sense of dread every minute of every day,

and honestly, you're not helping with that.

-I know. I know. -You dropped off the face of the earth, Linda.

You were gonna go talk to a lawyer, right?

-Did that happen? -Uh, I did,

but, uh, it's-it's all still very much up in the air.

-Well, what does that mean? -Thank you.

Mm. Can I get you ladies anything?

No, nothing. No, no.

-I'd love some coffee, please. -Mm-hmm.

I need to know what you're thinking

about your affidavit.

Are you still planning to lie?

I already signed it.

Nice.

MONICA: My thing with him was personal

and private, and it has absolutely nothing to do

with Paula Jones, and I... I really thought about it.

And maybe if this were a... a serious lawsuit,

I would feel differently, but I...

I'm not helping with a publicity stunt.

I'm just... I'm not, okay? And I think

-you would feel the same way if you would just... -Okay.

I-I'm not even concerned with her.

I'm concerned with us.

Me too.

Linda, I have to say,

I've turned this over in my mind a million times,

and if the shoe were on the other foot,

I would keep your secret.

I know I would do that for you.

So...

you've lied under oath,

and you're asking me to do the same.

-Why are you saying it like that? -What do you mean?

In legalese or whatever.

Oh. Fuck.

-LINDA: I don't know, Monica. -Shh.

I'm-I'm frightened.

Okay. I just... I think...

(static crackling)

-JACKIE: What's happening? -The mic fell down.

-Down where?! -Probably in her blouse.

-Go. Go, go. -Go. Go.

And tell her to bring up Vernon Jordan!

-What's going on? -I'm just itchy. Go ahead.

I think you're making this into something that it's not.

All you have to do, if they ask,

is say, "I don't remember.

I don't recall..." Okay, what's-what's happening?

I just... I'm gonna go to the bathroom.

I'll be right back. (sighs)

(panting)

Ah, I got it.

Get her to talk about Vernon Jordan.

Jesus Christ. Your one job was to properly clip.

-Okay, just breathe. -Oh, shut up.

I know how to breathe. Sorry.

The target is going through the asset's purse.

Hello.

(whispering): Hello. Is someone listening?

(glass clinks)

(coughing)

(quietly): God. Stop being paranoid, Monica.

(sighs)

-(glass clinking) -(quietly): Shit. Fuck.

Ah. (sighs)

You okay?

Mm. Yeah.

-Sorry. I... -We're back! We're back!

-We're back! We're back! -Listen.

(sighs)

I know this might sound insane,

but this whole situation, I think, in a way--

it might be easier for you than it is for me.

I'm a peon. I don't have powerful friends.

I have nobody.

But you, I mean... (laughs)

You've got huge heavy hitters in your back pocket.

You're protected.

What actual protection do you think I have?

I am not protected at all.

Vernon Jordan got you a big job, didn't he?

Yes.

Yes! Yes!

LINDA: You've got the president

of the United States looking out for you.

MONICA: Right, and if this gets out,

he will hate me forever.

(laughing): Jesus, Monica.

It just always comes back to what's best for him.

No, Linda. It's me.

This is for me.

And all you have to do is say

that you've never seen the president behave inappropriately

with anyone, because that is 100% the truth.

-I need to think about it. -You keep saying that.

-You have thought about it. -I know.

Linda, please.

Please. This is my real life we're talking about,

and I'm scared.

(sighs) All I need is for you to say that you just won't

tell them about me. Please?

Please.

It's a big decision. Let me sleep on it.

I don't understand why you can't just promise me that.

You're asking a lot.

I need the night, okay?

(laughs softly)

-He's put you through so much. -(sighs)

All I want is for you to be free of it.

-I hope you know that. -I...

-I don't know. -I'll call you tomorrow, I promise.

(shutter clicking)