My Scientology Movie (2015) - full transcript

You get a sense
of the scale and ambition

of the Church of Scientology

from the footage of their galas.

They look more like a
Hollywood awards show

than anything
recognizably spiritual.

A religion created
by a sci-fi writer...

and now run by a mysterious
and unapproachable leader...

whose disciples include
top Hollywood actors.

For years, my dream was that
I might be the first journalist

to see another, more positive
side of the church.

Their commercials
promise enlightenment



using techniques that combine
spirituality and science.

With the ultimate aim
of a planet

free from insanity, crime
and war.

The videos boast
of the church's global reach...

and followers, they say,
are in the millions.

Watching
their promotional films,

I dreamed of experiencing
their practices first-hand.

I made repeated requests
to be allowed inside...

but my approaches
were all turned down.

Gradually, I realized

they were never going
to let me in.

But inspired
by their religious film-making,

I began thinking
of another way inside

that was still true
to the spirit of Scientology.



I've been in touch with one

of the most prominent
ex-members of Scientology.

His name is Marty Rathbun

and my hope is that
he can help me realize

this idea I have.

For many years, he was one
of the most senior figures

in the whole church.

Their photos show him in uniform

next to David Miscavige,
the church leader.

And then in 2004, he left,

and started giving interviews
about the church

and his role within it.

I was basically
"Mr. Fix-It" for Scientology

for a number of...

Well, a couple of decades,
frankly.

I mean, I was...

Wherever there was a fire,
I was out there to put it out.

- Do you need a push?
- Maybe.

The church now regards him

as deeply untrustworthy.

Oh, this Louis,
he's a yoga master.

But for more than 20 years

he was the consummate insider...

It feels pretty secure.

...and he still believes
in aspects of Scientology.

You wanna just get some B roll?

Yeah.

Have you driven in LA before,
Louis?

Er... I've been living in LA
for the last year.

Get out of town!
Where do you live?

North Hobart.

Very close
to the Celebrity Center.

I'll be darned.

And we've flown him in
from Texas where he now lives

and brought him back
to Scientology's birthplace

and his old home, Los Angeles.

I've got my written response
from the church.

- Oh, really?
- I wanted to mention that.

Okay.

And what they mention is that:

"Mr. Theroux had been
in direct communication..."

With and had interviewed
bitter anti-Scientologist,

"Marty Rathbun."

Is that what poisoned them
against our production?

Is that what closed the door
to us, do you think?

Or would they never
have taken part?

You can't film me.

- Okay.
- We're not filming you.

You are, you have the camera
in my face.

Turn the camera that way.

So what are you doing
the documentary about?

It's about
the Church of Scientology.

Oh.

You probably
should interview her.

Well, maybe we will,

but we should probably finish
what we were...

Yeah.
We'll finish what we're doing.

I am an actress and...

Well, we are in LA.

Yeah. Well, no, I mean,
I've done over 45 films...

Sure.

...in French and Spanish
and a lot of things.

Okay, well, my name is Paz.
Paz.

- How do you spell that?
- Paz De La Huerte?

- Yes.
- That's great.

Thank you so much.

They sent her over.

- The church?
- Don't you think?

No, they're not
that sophisticated.

Honey trap.

They're not that sophisticated.

You would have done that
in your day.

No, I wouldn't
have done that in my day.

The founder
of Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard

was a writer of pulp fiction
and in 1950,

he published a self-help book
called Dianetics.

It became the basis
for an entire religion,

teaching that we are all
immortal spirits

called Thetans,

who live multiple lifetimes.

Using Scientology processes,
we can become enlightened,

remember past lives and carry
all our present day memories

into future lifetimes.

Over the years, Hubbard won
thousands of converts.

- Hello
- Hello.

My name is David Miscavige...

and I'm very happy
that you could all make it

to this important briefing
this evening.

And then, in 1986,

there was a gathering
of Scientologists

at the Hollywood Palladium,

and it was announced
that Hubbard had died.

The body he had used
to facilitate his existence

in this messed universe
had ceased to be useful.

And, in fact, had become
an impediment to the work...

he now must do
outside of its confines.

Louis: The announcement
was made in this famous footage

by a young man in his 20s
called David Miscavige,

and he has run Scientology
ever since...

and done so,
according to his critics,

in an increasingly unpredictable

and volatile fashion.

Joining us live
tonight is David Miscavige

whose formal title
is Chairman of the Board

of the Religious
Technology Center.

The organization which manages
Dianetics and Scientology.

Mr. Miscavige took over

as the head of Scientology
in 1987,

following the death
of the church's founder,

L. Ron Hubbard.

Louis: In 1992,
he spoke to Ted Koppel

the host of Nightline.

It was an unusually
revealing encounter

and to date,
his only TV interview.

Louis: So, we've got
actors coming in

to be David Miscavige,

and, for me, the idea, really,
is to kind of recreate...

You know, we can't get
the real Miscavige

but we can create
our own Miscavige

using lines from that rare
Ted Koppel interview

to help Marty to cast him.

I'm gonna lean heavily on Marty.

I'm conscious it's his version

and it's seen in hindsight

after an acrimonious split
from the church.

- OK.
- Hi, guys.

- Hi, Chris.
- How you doing?

Hi, my name's Chris Gehrt.

Shall I...
I mean, should I sit in,

what do you think?
Should I do a Koppel voice?

- John: No.
- No. It's cheesy.

It's up to you, Louis,
whatever you...

Yeah, I'll just do... I'd like
to begin, Mr. Miscavige,

with, I guess,
the kind of broad question

perhaps folks at home

may be asking themselves
right now.

Perhaps folks at home might be
asking themselves right now,

but let me be the guinea pig
for a moment.

- David Miscavige: Mm-hm.
- See if you can explain to me

why I would want to be
a Scientologist.

Because you care about yourself
and life itself.

Because you care about...

It's... your life.
Wait, hold on.

- Yourself and life itself.
- Yeah, yeah.

Scientology.
The word means study of life,

study of knowledge. Uh...

And that's what it is. It takes
up all areas of life itself.

Things that are integral
and maxims.

They're related to life
and very existence.

Let me give you an example,
it's better if I take that

because it's such
a broad-ranging subject.

It's better if I take that

because it covers such
a broad range of subjects.

That's the area
of communication.

Um...

being able to communicate
with the world around you

- and everyone here.
- Good, good, good.

I just... I want it feel...
as real as possible,

but I also want
to get Marty back

into the headspace
of where he was

when he was inside the church.

And we're using
this rare bit of footage

because he was there
in the studio

at Miscavige's side
when it was recorded.

- Thank you so much.
- Thank you.

That's not Miscavige.

I'm just...
I'm serious, you know.

All these guys that you'd like,
they're no good.

Well, no, but he actually...

But this is... not a minor game
we're playing here.

Every man, woman and child.

Their immortal future
depends on us succeeding.

This is the attitude.
This is what you're missing.

You've got to have
that intensity. Okay?

Because this is not
some minor game.

I thought he had that.

This is dying.
Not just dying this lifetime.

It's dying, and dying, and dying
and being a smoldering ember

that floats through space.
Hurtling through space.

Literally that?

It's literally that
if we don't succeed.

Is that something he would say?

Marty: Absolutely,
it's right in the policy letters

in keeping Scientology working.

We'd rather have you dead
than incapable.

That's the training attitude.

- That was your mind-set.
- Yeah.

- For 27 years.
- Well, for 22 years.

First five years,
I was pretty laid back.

Scary, huh?

Makes you wonder
what I'm capable of, right?

- Little bit.
- Yeah.

I'll tell you what,
let's stick with me, okay?

So far in life,

I haven't had a whole lot
of trouble communicating.

Now see
if you can communicate to me

what it is that you're gonna
be able to do for me

that makes me
a better communicator.

Well, number one,
I would never try to talk you

into that Scientology
is for you.

You see, that's the funny thing
about this,

as if I'm now gonna give
a sales pitch to you

on Scientology.

- Let's look at it this way...
- See that edge?

He's got that down. He's pissed.

And...
But he's not overtly showing it.

- But he's combating with me.
- If you want me...

If you want to see
something else

throw any direction at me
and I'll just give you another.

Marty: Get up and get
in my face,

and put your finger in my chest

and let me know that my problem
is that I buy my own bullshit.

- Okay.
- Okay, go ahead.

Who are you to come in here

and tell me
that what I stand for

and what I have learned...

What I have learned
is the right way!

Look, you people are programmed
and sold!

Listen to me,
you slimy, little cocksucker.

You fuck up one more time,

I will rip your fucking
face off! You got that?

Get with me, motherfucker!

Get personal. Put...
Dress the guy down.

I don't want you
just to agree with me.

Marty: Call him a four-eyed,
son of a bitch cocksucker.

You're a four-eyed
son of a bitch, you cocksucker.

I mean, you... you had no idea

what you were doing
from the beginning

- and I knew that.
- Louder.

You had no idea

what you were doing
from the beginning

and I knew that!

Marty:
Shove him against the wall.

Son of bitch, you listen to me!

Marty: This is really good.

Okay. You're going to fucking
do what I tell you next time

and you're going to actually
listen to me!

Louis, this is really good.

- From the start!
- Okay, cut.

Okay.

You're a cock-sucking loser!
You're a piece of shit!

I'm telling you
what you're worth!

I'm telling you what you've
been doing with your life!

- Don't look away.
- He's got it, he's got it.

This is David Miscavige,
right here.

Where were you
getting that from?

Er... I tap into anger
very easily.

And righteousness.

Yeah.
That's exactly what it is.

It's a righteous anger.
That was like being there. Yeah.

- Thank you so much.
- Thanks a lot, man.

Take care. Okay, cheers.

Um, I'm aware

that we're going to the violence
quite quickly

and to the sort of
the negative characterization.

But I don't know
if we're gonna get

the sense of why, for 22 years,
you were working hand-in-glove

in a devoted fashion
with that guy.

Well, as you said,
it was kind of...

You thought it was kind of nice

having your face ripped off
up against the wall.

Yeah, but that was play acting.

I know,
so what's the difference?

The orthodoxy
in the Scientology religion

so that
it forever remains faithful...

Louis: Good.

He's indignant but he's also
trying to make his case

to an impartial person,
like a judge, right?

Yeah.

Okay, shall we go? Go.

I am, and since 1987, have been

the Chairman of the Board
of Religious Technology Center.

A section 501C3 tax exempt, non-
profit religious corporation,

whose sole purpose
is to maintain the orthodoxy

of the Scientology religion.

I mean,
I would take it down a notch.

- Okay.
- Because I think

that went
a little too conversational.

Yeah.

Most Scientologists would
never meet David Miscavige.

They have normal jobs.

They might volunteer
in the church's bookshops,

which they call "Orgs."

They don't wear uniforms,

and in LA,
many of them are actors.

I grew in Boston.

Small-town boy
with big-town dreams.

So I decided, you know,
to just, like,

take the leap to Hollywood

and become an actor.

I didn't really have, like,
a plan in mind per se.

I just kind of came here
and just hoped that I would,

you know, find my way
in the business.

So I picked up a copy
of Backstage newspaper

which is the trade newspaper
that actors subscribe to

that lists all the different
auditions in town

and all the different classes.

And there's a huge ad:

"How to break
into the industry."

Teaching you
all the ins and outs

of how to make it in Hollywood.

So I took the bus up
to the Celebrity Center

and I walk in

and we went
into their theater room

to watch their orientation film.

Right this instant,

you are at the threshold
of your next trillion years.

You will live it
in shivering agonized darkness.

Or you will live it
triumphantly in the light.

The choice is yours.

That's the one where he says,
"If at the end of this,

you're not convinced
that this is for you,

you're free to walk away."

It would be stupid,
but you can do it.

You can also dive off a bridge
or blow your brains out.

Blow your brains out, yeah.

That is your choice.

When you're a new actor

and you come to somewhere
like the Celebrity Center

and they're telling you,

"We can help make you someone
like the new Tom Cruise,"

you know, you're like,
"Oh, wow! That's what I want."

You know, they just tell you,
you know, it's a course away.

Your happiness is a course away.

If I see someone on the street,
at the bus stop,

you'd go up to them
and just try to be their friend.

Give them one of these?

Give them one
of these booklets and say,

"Hey, check out my church."

And if I get you to sign up
for services, it helps me

because I get
a ten percent commission

on whatever you buy.

They say it brainwashes people.

It is, it's mind numbing.

No, no, no I'm doing the...
They say it brainwashes people.

Do I look like
I'm brainwashed to you?

I'm your neighbor.
I'm your best friend.

Scientology is an applied
religious philosophy.

It's not a religion
you just sit down

and pray at an altar about.

This is something
that you actually apply

every single day in your life.

Tools to improve yourself.

Pass them here.

Oh, my God,
they're really heavy.

There's apparently
one million spoken

and transcribed L. Ron Hubbard
words in all these books.

- But you paid for all of them.
- I paid for all of them.

How much did you pay
for all your materials?

For all
the book course materials?

Everything,
just for the whole...

The services, books, everything.

- Everything? Fifty grand.
- About $50,000?

$50,000.

This is a simple ohmmeter.

And there is a very
slight amount of electricity

actually passing
through your body,

although it's imperceptible.

When I address thought

that has some trauma
connected with it,

or some anxiety connected
with it,

I get a particular type of read.

It's a device
that measures thought.

All right, is there a particular
area of your life that, um...

fixates your attention
or you feel is a...

That, there.

- Did you get one?
- Yeah.

- Can I answer?
- Please.

I'm thinking about a time
when I was about 11 or 12.

The most basic practice
in Scientology is auditing.

It's a form of counseling

using a primitive lie detector
called an "E-meter."

Okay.
So, earlier similar problems.

Basically, you talk
about memories

and traumas called engrams

until they no longer register
on the machine.

Interesting.
Your needle's floating.

Which is good, right?

That means
I've cleared something.

I don't know, do you feel like

you've kind
of realized something?

I feel like
I've made a connection, yeah.

That's basically
what a session is.

So, how does this relate
to Scientology

and this idea of being clear?

Okay. You desensitize
a lot of these things,

like this little thing
that gave you

a little bit of angst.
I mean, there's tons of things

that any given individual has
like that.

- Got it.
- That is clear, basically.

Though it's a religion,

Scientologists
don't worship a god.

Instead, what they offer

is a highly detailed
step-by-step program

of classes and courses.
Each with a price tag,

and all of it laid out

in an extremely
complex-looking diagram.

They call the teachings

"religious technology"
or "tech."

As you advance up the bridge,

you deal with engrams
from past lifetimes.

At the very top
are the OT levels.

OT stands for "Operating Thetan"

and the possibility
of extra-sensory abilities.

The most dedicated believers
can join Scientology's clergy

the Sea Org.

You can see them in church
photos, styled like a navy.

Their glossy recruitment posters

depict them
as being like warrior monks.

They sign billion-year
contracts,

committing
all their future lifetimes

to saving Earth from ruin.

And while there may be as many

as 25,000 Scientologists
in the U.S.,

only a fraction has signed up
as members of the Sea Org.

And it's within the Sea Org

that the most
controversial practices

are alleged to have taken place.

We're going down
to a little town called Hemet

and close by Hemet
is the headquarters

of Scientology,
a legendary location.

And we're going there
with Marc Headley

who worked and lived there
for 15 years,

from 1990 to 2005,

when he "blew,"
which he means he left

in an unauthorized fashion.

He later sued the church for
keeping him against his will,

but he lost the case.

And, like Marty,
he's viewed by the church

as an embittered and a liar.

You know, and you know we've
been filming with Marty Rathbun?

Yes, I was aware of that, yes.

- And you know him, don't you?
- Yes, I do.

Basically, it's where
David Miscavige mainly works.

It's where he runs
Scientology from.

And it's where,

allegedly, in the years
running up to 2005,

there was a reign of terror.

There was actually
a time in the mid-1990s

when I was being accused

of myself being violent
with somebody...

of one of my own crew.

And I was being interrogated
on an E-meter

about this incident,
and Marty was actually standing

behind the girl
that was doing the interrogation

in the little auditing room
with us.

And... and it just
kept going on and on,

and she'd say "Did you do this?"
I said, No, I didn't do that."

"And did you do this?"
"No, I didn't do that."

And then Marty actually
just said,

"Listen, let's just take
a break for a second."

And he cold-cocked me.

Just boom. And he's a big guy,
he's much bigger than I am.

- He punched you?
- He punched me square in jaw

out of nowhere,
I wasn't expecting it,

it was just boom.

And then he goes,
"Good, now go back in there

and tell her
what she wants to hear."

- This is it.
- Yeah, this is it.

We're there. This building up...
on the right here,

that is
the cinematography studio.

It's called the cine-castle.

So they make promotional videos

- for Scientology in there?
- Films and videos.

It looks like you could walk
quite close.

If we did, they'd know.

I mean, they know
we're here right now.

There's cameras right there.

We have their attention.
No doubt, 100 percent.

So I'm going to take
my lead from you, Marc.

You think this is a good place
to stop, or maybe not?

- Are you okay?
- I'm fine.

You just went...

Is it stress
or are you just, uh...

- No, no. I'm fine.
- You're good.

I'm good.

You're not getting flashbacks?

No, no.
I'm not getting flashbacks.

It's called Int Base

because it's the international
headquarters of Scientology,

but it's also called Gold Base,

because it's the Headquarters
of Gold Studios,

and Gold Studios
was a production facility

that L. Ron Hubbard himself
created

Churning out

epic, Hollywood-style
promotional videos.

When the history
of this planet is finally told

it will be a tale
of exalted triumph

that forever changed
the destiny of Earth.

We are the IAS!

And Marc was well acquainted

with a lot of these
very dramatic films

and how they were made,

because he was working
on them as a producer.

Well, you show the best spot.

Yeah.

- Is it this one?
- Yeah.

Whose land is this then?

This is public.
This is public land.

So you can see
this is the razor wire

that's always talked about.

See, they don't have it
on the main highway road,

but as soon
as you get off the highway,

then there's razor wire

around the entirety
of the property,

just like that.

And you can see
the high-power floodlights.

You can see the motion sensors,

those little black things
near every fence post.

Those are called fence shakers.

So somebody climbs
over the fence from the inside,

that sets off an alarm
in that main security booth

and all those flood lights

all around the entire property
turn on,

so they can easily locate
someone who's trying to escape.

Let's hop out.

You lived here for 15 years.

15 years.

Do you feel now, looking back,

that you were kept
against your will?

I think that I was a prisoner
in my own...

I was keeping myself here
based on what they told me.

I knew that there would be
consequences of me leaving

that would make it
so it would be very hard for me

to live outside of this world.

Those consequences
became so miniscule

compared to the terror
that I was living through here,

that it got to the point
where I would rather be dead

than to live here.

They recite events
that never took place.

I am left in a position
of my word against their word,

which is precisely the effect

I feel
they have tried to create.

Their efforts are orchestrated,

pursuant to a well-used
litigation strategy

that has been employed
against L. Ron Hubbard

various churches of Scientology,
and me, for years.

Namely, the gathering
of apostates in search of money

who are then used
as a traveling roadshow

to present packaged,
yet false, testimony

concerning Scientologists,
churches of Scientology and me.

That was very good.

Did you not think
that was very good?

Hubbard understood early on

that he could spread his
religious ideas using actors.

He wrote screenplays

and liked being photographed
on set, directing.

And as early as 1955,

he launched something
called "Project Celebrity",

a list of high-profile people
he hoped to recruit:

James Stewart, Greta Garbo,
Danny Kaye.

And the practices of Scientology

are like
acting class techniques.

You're learning a new role
in life.

It's an exciting day today

because we are here
to cast Tom Cruise.

He's obviously the most famous
Scientologist in the world.

In fact,
probably a lot of people,

all they know about Scientology
is that Tom Cruise is a member.

And Tom Cruise is best friends
with David Miscavige.

It was widely reported

that David Miscavige
was best man

at Tom Cruise's wedding
to Katie Holmes.

The other thing is
that Marc was involved

in making the promotional videos

and one of the most famous
and controversial

promotional videos
of Scientology

was one involving
Tom Cruise "On Tom Cruise."

I think it's a privilege
to call yourself a Scientologist

and it's something
that you have to earn.

And... Because
a Scientologist does.

And so we're going
to use quotes from that footage

to help us cast our actor

and to understand
what motivates Tom Cruise.

Got it.

Action.

I think it's a privilege to
call yourself a Scientologist,

because it's something
that you have to earn.

It's a privilege to call
yourself a Scientologist.

It's something
that you have to earn.

Because a Scientologist does.

- Cut.
- This is not a bad place

just to do a quick bit
of background.

How... What level
is Tom Cruise at

- in Scientology?
- OT 7.

And what... Is that high?

Yeah, the only one higher
is OT 8.

When he gets to that next one,

there's nothing he can do
that's higher.

And each one costs money, right?

Yeah, yeah.
To get all the way to top

it can cost anywhere
from half a million

to $2 million.

So, for me, it really is KSW.

For me, it really is KSW.

And, uh...

I don't mince words with that,
you know.

For me, you know,
the pulse is just...

Really it's just gone...

Do you wanna tell him
what KSW is?

Sure. KSW
is Keeping Scientology Working.

And Keeping Scientology Working

is basically like
obliterating anything

that doesn't have to do
with Scientology.

And keeping it working.

Any time somebody
does something in Scientology

that's not
100 percent Scientology,

you crush that person

so that they do not ever
do that again.

So, for me, it really is KSW.
It's just like...

It's something that...

I don't mince words with that.

You know
with anything that LRH does,

but that policy, to me,
has really gone...

Boy!

I...
There's a time I went through

and I said, "You know what?"

When I read it
I was just like...

Can you pause it?

We just paused that
at random, right?

- Yeah.
- I mean, if you saw him

across the breakfast table
looking at you like that...

Like, that's not, you know,
pass the mustard. That...

In that KSW policy,
L. Ron Hubbard says,

"We want you to have a
dedicated glare in your eyes."

But, you know, I feel like

there's a bigger question
outside...

What, like,
I don't understand...

Why does he think
this is so important?

Because Scientology's
the only way

that the world
is ever going to survive.

He thinks
that without Scientology,

- what would happen?
- Charred ruins.

When the day's over,

the only thing that's workable
is Scientology.

Workable as what?

As a technology,
as an organizational technology.

As a spiritual technology.
It's a universal solvent

that will handle
all of the world's problems

and the universe's problems.

They said, "So, like,
have you met an SP?"

Maybe one day
it will actually be like that.

Maybe one day, it'll be...
Wow! Like, SPs.

They'll just read about those

in the history books, you know.

Do you wanna tell Caleb
what an SP is?

If you bad mouth Scientology
or speak out against Scientology

you're labeled
a suppressive person.

And there's actually a policy
within Scientology

that says how you handle
a suppressive person

or how you deal
with a suppressive person

is to ruin him utterly.

It's PTSSP,
how to shatter suppression.

Confront, shatter suppression.
You apply and it's like, boom.

Because they don't come up
to me.

No,
because they don't come up to me

and say that.

Not to my face, you know.
Or anywhere in my vicinity.

Where, they can be...

Confronting.
They just don't do it.

Why not?

- Because they're afraid.
- Afraid of?

Of what they might find out
about themselves.

Yeah, see, that's not in there.

We were just improv-ing.

No, no, I know, but what he said
is exactly true.

Why did you say that?

It's a fear of whatever,
but usually themself.

Wait, are you in character now
or is this just you?

- Little bit of both.
- I was going to say,

he's getting really scary on me
right now.

I mean, if the intent
behind it is to help people

then I mean there should be
no harm in that.

- Louis: Very good.
- Great.

That was nice.
Thank you for that.

Not a problem.

You guys have yourself
a wonderful afternoon.

- You too. Very good.
- Crew: Thanks. You too.

What is the license plate again?

Crew member: 9353 I.

Louis: After four hours
of the same car being behind you

it starts to look
a bit suspicious.

And it's a white pickup truck.
A Tacoma.

He's right behind us now.

His windshield's quite dark,
isn't it?

Nothing suspicious about that.

Well, there's no question,
is there?

He's a private investigator.

(sighs)

What you've got to
remember is, this is a church.

I mean, that's the thing,
isn't it?

It's just not like any church
that you can really think of.

I can't see him.
I think we've lost them.

So, this is a letter
that was forwarded to me

from, um...

one of our producers,
and... it's...

from the lawyers, Carter Ruck,

retained by
the Church of Scientology.

So, evidently...
they've got wind

of... what we're doing.

And they say...

"Our client is aware
that Mr. Theroux

has auditioned for actors

to play
a young David Miscavige."

They don't know that we've also
auditioned actors

to play Tom Cruise.
But...

"In relation to the auditions,

our client's information
is that Mr. Theroux filmed these

with Marty Rathbun in attendance

and advising.
This is most concerning."

And so, how do they know
that Marty was at the casting?

Was one of the actors,
conceivably...

Did he put the word out,
tell people in his circle?

And did that get back
to the church?

Or was one of the actors
a Scientologist?

Or was there someone
on the inside

who was somehow a mole?

- Or we were followed.
- Or we were followed.

So, you know we're going
to see Tom De Vocht?

Yes, sir.

And he is a...

another embittered
and disgruntled,

defrocked apostate.

- "Another"?
- Well, in addition to you.

Why would you call me
what the church calls me?

- I was... I was...
- Do I look embittered?

I couldn't care less, Louis.

Embittered is last adjective
that would apply to me.

I'm way beyond embittered,
I don't care.

Hey, hey, hey.

Guys, this in Erin, by the way.

- How do you do? Louis.
- Louis.

Erin, nice to meet you.

Are you Tom's other half,
could we say?

- We're business partners.
- We're business partners.

Really?
What are you guys doing?

A lot of people
described David Miscavige

as a sort of an aloof figure,

but I've heard
that you were quite tight

with David Miscavige.

Yeah. I mean,
we became pretty...

It depends how you look at it.

You know,
tight with David Miscavige

isn't really possible,
I don't think.

But, we did get along
and he did...

He liked you?

I think what really happens is:
He may or may not like you,

but he uses you
until you're fucking used up.

And then he chops your head off
and everybody's gone.

- And it's... It happens.
- It's a pattern.

It is a pattern,
it happens to everybody.

The guy...
I mean, it scared you,

you thought, "What the hell?"

I played backgammon with him
and I'd make a point to lose.

- I mean, it was...
- Why?

And I got good at it,
by the way.

- Because he had to.
- Because he... If you...

If he felt at all
that you were more popular,

or better in any way,
or anything, he'd flip.

And he could flip like that.

Then you spend a little time
up there.

The guy's got somebody,

I'm sure you know this,
recording him 24/7.

Even when we were
sitting there drinking scotch

tape recorders down
and everything's being recorded.

Even if you were just saying...

If we were playing backgammon,

that damn thing was rolling.

- Why?
- You shocked by all this?

You're on record as saying
that you saw him beat people.

Yeah. It's unbelievable.
In the real world,

you'd go to jail
if you did something like that.

But what I don't
understand is...

So... But you seem
like a normal, reasonable person

and Marty's fairly normal
and reasonable.

And there are other
people there, and why...

How does someone get away
with behaving in that way?

This is the only thing
I can tell you:

You got people
who wrap bombs around themselves

fly planes into buildings.
It's the same thing.

You believe so much
in that technology

or so much in whatever,

they can convince you
of anything.

When I got interviewed
by the FBI, they said...

"Would you help us?
If we went in to Gold up there,

busted open the gates
and went in,

would you show us
where things are?"

I said, Abso-fucking-lutely,
but you're wasting your time.

After I told them
the same thing,

they went to him to cross-check
and we'd never talked.

And I said,
"You're gonna walk in

and you might find
terrible situations,

and every one of them
are gonna go

'No, no, no,
this is the way we want it.'"

And at that point, you're done.
They can't do anything.

What, so they were...

They thought
they could do a raid

and liberate some
of the church members?

Tom: They thought they could
do a raid and liberate and find,

you know,
the crazy shit going on.

I mean, it's insane.

It is the most destructive
quote-unquote "religion," cult

I have ever read anything about
or anything.

It is a fucking nightmare.

It really is.
And I see people today,

I meet with people who still
believe in a little bit of it,

and I just want to shake them
and go,

"You've got to fucking stop."

Tom: It's a crock of shit.

We've come back to Hemet
with Marc.

And we'll be getting
some shots of the base.

But I've also decided
to drop off a reply

to the latest letter
from the church's lawyers.

David Miscavige lives and works
most of the time at the Int Base

So it's very easy for me
to drop off the letter.

It's just sort of saying,
you know,

"The letter that you sent us
has been forwarded on to me

and that you're concerned
that we may be following

a kind of bigoted line

of not giving Scientology
the respect that it deserves."

Hello?

Can I just give you a letter?
Can I just... Hello?

Excuse me, you're trespassing.

I've got a letter
for Mr. Miscavige.

Wait, I've got...

You're trespassing

and if you don't leave,

I'm gonna have you arrested
right now.

Can I deliver a letter, please?

No, there's a bloke there,
but he seems enturbulated.

It's almost like,
just by receiving the letter,

he seemed afraid
that he was in trouble

or that it represented a threat
to him.

We've been told
it's a public road.

We own everything.

We own that, we own
every house on this property.

- The road?
- We own everything here.

They have a 100 feet
right of way from there

from the middle of that road.

This is our property.
You need to leave.

The road,
I'm talking about the road.

You already...
Yes, it's our property.

- We're standing on this road.
- This is not a public road.

This is not a county road.

This is our road,
we own everything on this place.

We own the golf course.
We own every house along here.

You now need to leave.

I'm trying to drop off a letter.

Well, the police will be coming.

We'll see my partner
gets the important information.

I know that just by
pointing that out to you...

Yeah. We're not trying
to get in there, on there...

We're not trying
to climb on the fence.

We're trying to have
a stand out safe area.

- London.
- London?

- From London, England.
- How's the weather?

This is beautiful.
It is a little too hot,

or am I just imagining it?

And this is our film permit.

Do you know
if it's a public road?

I believe they own the roadway

up to 50 percent
from the center meter.

Look, if I'm six feet tall...

Let's say
there's three of me from there,

three of me there,

then easily it gets
to have curb, doesn't it?

Do you know
why this guy's filming us?

You don't mind,
that's not bothering you?

- That what?
- That he's filming us?

It doesn't bother me
that you're filming us.

Oh, good.

You guys,
have a good one, all right?

Hey, no, appreciate it.
Okay, thank you.

What's your name?

You need to leave too.

Yes, that's fine.

- Both of you.
- Yeah.

What's your name?

We're done.
Get in the car.

Are you in the Sea Org?

Thanks, guys.

- Did you see that?
- Absolutely.

- We had a moment.
- Yeah, absolutely.

Did you recognize the woman
who came and talked to me?

Catherine Fraser. Yeah.

And she... Catherine Fraser,

her husband is a gentleman
by the name of Jeff Hawkins...

who is another guy that left,

- and he wrote a book.
- I've read his book.

Counterfeit Dreams.
He's the guy...

Who wrote a book
about how he was many times

or at least several times
beaten up by David Miscavige.

He was one
of Miscavige's alleged...

- He was a punching bag.
- Punching bag.

And then he blew.

We've brought Marty back.

And we're doing drills.
Marty's offered to take us

through some of the Scientology
TRs or training routines.

So this is my chance,
and our actors' chance,

to experience
the Scientology tech,

its technology, first-hand.

And Marty,
when he was in Scientology,

was the inspector general
in charge of tech.

He used to maintain orthodoxy

he made sure
all the Hubbard-written drills

and processes were implemented
exactly correctly,

and so, who better than him
to take us through drills today?

- Hi.
- Hi. Are you filming?

- Yes.
- Okay.

- Are you with him?
- Yeah.

What are you filming?

Can you say?

Er...

We're just filming
a documentary for us.

- For you?
- Yeah.

Can you tell me about it?

No.

Can you tell me
about the scene you're filming?

I'm a freelance cameraman.
I'm just working with her.

With her?
What's your name?

I'm not gonna say.

Can you tell me a little
bit about why you're here?

We're just filming
a documentary of people.

That's it.

Um...
Because you were filming us,

so I just wondered
if there was a reason.

We're just filming. That's it.

- Yeah.
- Is that okay or not?

Well, I'd just like to know,

since you were filming me
why you were filming me.

- Would you like to...
- I'm not answering.

Well, can you explain?

I'm a freelance cameraman,

- I'm just hired by her to...
- Right,

but what did she tell you
about what you were doing?

To just roll camera
on this location.

Come on, help me out,
let's get...

Let's not place the...

She is in charge of this.

I'm happy to tell you
about what I'm doing,

but I'd like you tell
me what you're doing.

I'm... Well, I guess
I can't help you on any of this.

I'm just... You're going to have
to talk to her.

She's the one who called me.

So, I honestly, I don't know.

You know, I'm...

We don't have
to be silly about this.

Why don't you just tell me
what you're doing?

I'm more than happy to tell you
about what we're working on.

That's fine. I'm not.

Come back, don't run away.

Did you know
that we're doing a documentary

about Scientology?

I think you're harassing me now.

Listen, you're filming me!

How can I be harassing you?

Come back.

Stop running away.

Did you see any of that unfold?

Yeah, yeah.

What's the big picture here?
I mean, why are they doing this?

The big picture is:
If you look into us,

we'll look into you
ten times as much,

and we will make your life
too miserable

to continue
with what you're doing.

That's the point of it,
that's the bigger picture.

Been there, done it.
On both sides.

On both sides?

Are we gonna get started?

Yeah, I think we're good to go

whenever you want to.

- Hi.
- Hi.

My name's Marty.

Okay, so he said you're willing
to participate in the drills...

- for real, no? Yeah? Okay.
- Mm-hm.

Student and coach
sit facing each other

with eyes closed.

There is no conversation,
it is a silent drill.

There is no twitching, moving.
Simply be there.

What you can do is,
is if you feel like,

like you accomplish
something on it,

just raise your hand.

Because we're not doing it

under the official auspices
of Scientology,

we're doing something
that's called squirreling.

And in Scientology,
that is the crime of crimes.

Come on, Marty,
you got anything to say?

You can't even defend
yourself on this, can you?

What's your name?

Why don't you answer
his question?

Marty, I'm with
Squirrel Busters Productions.

In goof ball outfits.

Squirreling is heresy

and squirreling
is the reason why,

for more than a year,

Marty was hounded and harassed
by the Squirrel Busters.

They were busting him

for attempting to set up
a rival church to Scientology.

Marty, knock it off.

Anything that is not official,

Scientology-authenticated tech
is... terrible,

is deeply dangerous.

And putting
the entire fate of the planet

and not just this planet,

all planets in the universe
at risk,

because you're
not doing it correctly.

How you doing, Mr. Squirrel?

And then
the debate becomes, well...

Is that because they want
to maintain a monopoly

over the practices,

because their whole
business model

is to do
with selling these services?

Start. You are one ugly
motherfucker, you know that?

Flunk. Ever so slightly.

Start. You are one ugly
motherfucker, you know that?

Okay.

Flunk, you twitched.

This is
the make-break point here.

Now you're gonna teach somebody

how to have some forbearance
and tolerance

and ability to take some shit.
You know.

This is the most
highly criticized drill,

but it's the most highly
sworn-by drill too.

It's called Bull Bait. Okay?

You're not
a very good journalist, are you?

You're really bad at it.

This is probably
the best you're gonna do.

Your wife really doesn't
love you.

At all.

She's fucking
some other guy right now.

It's probably someone you know.

It's probably your brother,
if you have a brother,

or a relative of yours.

Your boyfriend's having sex
in your own room.

God, he's really good,
I don't really know what to say.

What do I do?

- Let me do something.
- Okay.

Let me take over for a second.
Let me just, let me see.

Okay, John, I'm gonna do

a little drilling with you,
okay?

- Louis.
- Start.

Oh, Jesus.
Do we have to do that?

I hate you!

Face me comfortably. Okay?

- Flunked.
- Can we not do that one?

- We've got to flatten it now.
- I don't like loud noises.

Now that it's started,
we have to flatten it.

We're gonna flatten this button.
Okay?

Start.

I think if you've seen
in the public eye

people who are prominent
Scientologists,

they have a sort
of very forceful bearing.

An intentional type
of personality.

That's essentially
what these things drill in.

Purpose.
To make student clearly achieve

tone 40 commands.

Tone 40.

The highest tone.

So they'd be the
most effective commands?

The most effective commands.

It's an effortless thing,
ultimately.

First, locate the space
in which the object is located.

- You see that space?
- Yes, I do.

Locate the object in that space.

Okay.

Command the object

in the loudest possible voice
he can muster.

Now. We're gonna get
into the commands which are

"stand up," "thank you,"
"sit down in that chair," right?

Okay. Put one hand on each side.
Okay, good.

So, command it
as loudly as you can.

Stand up!

Okay. Have it comply.

Acknowledge it
as loudly as you can.

Thank you!

Command it as loudly as you can.

Sit down in that chair!

Thank you.

Now have it comply. Now.

- Thank you!
- Okay, good.

All right, now do this.

Think the thought,
"I am a wildflower."

- Okay.
- Good.

Think the thought
that you are sitting in a chair.

- Okay.
- Imagine the thought...

that thought,
of you sitting in a chair.

Imagine that thought
being in that ashtray.

- Imagine it.
- Okay.

Now get the ashtray
thinking that it is an ashtray.

You know,
I'm going along with this,

but it isn't making
a whole lot of sense.

- Okay.
- But is that okay?

- Well, it's imagination.
- Okay. Got it.

I'm telling you...
Put in the ashtray

the intention
to remain where it is.

- Okay.
- Marty: Okay.

Do you get any...
Did you get that at all?

Well, I'm imagining it
having a little voice saying,

"I'm gonna remain where I am."

Okay, all right.

Get the idea of putting
a thought into my mind...

about whether to continue
this drill or to dump it.

One way or the other.

I want you to put that intention
right back here.

Whether I should
continue this drill,

or whether I should dump it.

You want me
to continue the drill.

- Yes.
- Okay, good. I got that.

Now, we always end up
by the portrait of Hubbard.

Let's give a hand to him
and everybody stands up.

If we wanted to do that,

would you be comfortable with us
doing it?

You can do it but I'm gonna go.

If we all visualized
a picture of Hubbard?

I mean, I advise you guys
not to do it but...

Guys, do you want to...

If you want to join
this guy's cult,

that's okay with me.

Let's just get a sense
of what it feels like.

Whether it feels...
It might not even feel weird.

Connor's up for it.

I don't want to do it
if it's gonna annoy you, Marty.

No, go ahead and do it,

I'm just not participating,
that's all.

Then the thing...

The other thing
that goes with it, Louis, is,

everything positive
that happens to you,

you get validated
by attributing it

to what you learned
from Hubbard.

And everything negative
that happens to you

you're counseled that it's your
lack of application

of what you did learn.

And then it really becomes
mind control, by definition.

And that's the game.
That's why I really don't want

- to participate in it.
- You don't seriously...

I figured the
whole mousetrap out,

and I just don't want
to engage in it, that's all.

I'm not participating
in that shit.

Let's give a hand to LRH!

You see, I think the whole thing

was a freaking failure.
You wanna know why?

Because they went ahead
and did what he suggested,

after I went through
all that work

to try and get them
to become self-determined

and able to exercise intention,

and they all went and followed
this new cult leader.

The Louis Theroux cult.

Is he all right?

Do you find my questions
inane in general?

In general, no.
I'm just, you know...

But the ones you're asking now,
I mean, I find...

I just don't understand
why you're asking them

like you're asking them
at this point.

I've spent
so many hours with you...

and then you make everything
sound so pedestrian, and you...

I don't know
what you're wanting me to...

I've told the story, like,
I don't know how many times,

do you want me
to tell you again?

I mean, we went through this
last time I was here.

I got into
the whole freaking thing.

I remember these are
the same questions coming again,

like you're gonna get
a different answer now?

Or you're gonna find
an inconsistency,

you know, you're gonna...
What's the purpose of this?

Yesterday, it seemed like you,
a couple of times

maybe I was getting
on your nerves a little bit.

Is that a statement?

I'm sorry you had...

I'm sorry you got
that impression.

Ask me something
that truly puzzles you,

that you think
I might have the answer to.

That you haven't asked me
six times already.

What did it feel like
punching Marc Headley?

Er... It hurt my... It hurt.

It hurt my fist.
The guy is built like a tank.

We've had another letter.

To be honest with you, we've
had a couple more letters.

And they're similar in tone
and what they basically say

is you are embarked on a project

that is run through
with religious bigotry.

The church's version
of events is that

they do massive amounts
of good work.

Social betterment programs.

They alleviate illiteracy,
drug addiction,

criminal behavior.
They do disaster relief.

And... it, you know,

and what we're doing
is ignoring all of that

and focusing of a tiny handful
of disgruntled ex-members.

And that Marty Rathbun,
in particular,

is a deeply unstable
and untrustworthy figure

with a vendetta
against the church.

These are letters
from Carter Ruck

the lawyers retained
by the Church of Scientology

and they were sent to me.

"These are from
Marty Rathbun's web blog

describing the leader
of the Scientology religion

as 'Ayatollah Miscavige'...

and the Church of Scientology
as 'Radical Scientology, '

which is obviously abusive
and offensive

"of both Mr. Miscavige
and the church."

Well, first of all...

I think it's an understatement,
if anything.

"Mr. Rathbun
has an extensive record

of misrepresenting his position.

For instance, he worked
in an external-affairs position

when in the church
and never served

in an ecclesiastical
management role,

"contrary to his claims."

This is absurd.

There are absurd things
in these letters

that you're taking for granted.

What was your issue
with that one?

Because I was
the inspector general.

Which is what, what did you do?

Which is, actually, the highest
ecclesiastical position.

Contemplated ever
by L. Ron Hubbard.

I was the baddest
ass dude in Scientology.

The highest level...

The hierarchy of the
Church of Scientology

was absolutely at the beck
and call of me.

When you look back
at the stuff you did,

what is the stuff
you most regret?

You see,
why are you jumping to that?

You ask me these questions
that act as if what happened

in a one-minute period
is who I was for 28 years?

It's bullshit.

As I've spent time with Marty,

it's become clear
he is a double-edged figure.

Both the chief whistle-blower,

but also, as the church's
own documents make clear

in his time, the chief enforcer.

One of the most
notorious episodes

was when
he was inspector general.

Marty claims he arranged
for a top Scientology defector

to be tailed by two Pls,

because they thought
he might have absconded

with some religious writings
of Hubbard's.

And the tailing,
apparently, continued

for around 20 years.

So you could argue that Marty
went along with the regime

until he fell out of favor.

By Marty's account, in 2004,

he'd been away on assignment
and he returned to the Int Base

to find that David Miscavige

had created this punishment area

for upper management
called the SP Hole.

And within weeks, Marty,
himself, had been sent there,

and it was only then
that he blew.

You know,
if those are Scientologists,

they're not SPs,
they're not outsiders,

so why are they going
into the Hole?

Well, Miscavige
says that they are SPs

who are working against him
and trying to get him to fail.

They were sleeping in there,

they would eat their meals
in there,

and you can imagine,
if you have 30 or 40 people

living in an office space
24 hours a day

for weeks and months,

you can imagine
what it was like.

It was just dirty and degraded,
you know?

This is something I was awarded

when I got Dianetics
on the bestseller list.

Louis:
Oh, see, this is interesting.

It's a leather bound copy of...

Let me grab some other photos
if I can find them.

That's some photos
of my third wife, Catherine.

Louis: You know, I went down
to the Int Base

and I met Catherine Fraser.

- Jeff: My ex. Yeah.
- Louis: Your ex-wife.

Jeff: I think she, at heart,
is a good person,

that's trapped in
a not-so-good system and...

But I know that she's
a good person at heart.

Louis: I've also been spending

a bit of time
with Marty Rathbun.

What was the impression
of Marty at the base?

- How was he viewed?
- He was...

tough, uncompromising and...

Liked?

Not really. Feared maybe.

That atmosphere brings out
the worst in people.

Either they submit
or they become

one of the predators, you know?

And Marty, for a while,
was one of the predators there.

And in a sense,
he was, you know,

the "Mr. Fix-It"
for David Miscavige,

and did some of the dirty work.

Oh, yeah, yeah.

And I don't think
he's divulged all.

- I'll just say that.
- You don't think so?

I don't think
he's divulged everything.

What makes you say that?

Well, because I've read
all of his books

and his columns,
and stuff like that,

and I just get the feeling

he's tiptoeing
around some subjects, you know?

Marty knows where
all the bodies are buried.

Marty: This was
the escape route,

I was coming
in the other direction.

The base is about five miles
down that way.

This was your escape route?

Yeah, I was on my motorcycle,
it was about low 40s.

- Were you pursued?
- Raining.

I don't know.
I didn't see anybody.

But I just went
like a bat out of hell

and I went down this road here.

Louis: When you blew,
this is the way you came?

- Marty: Yeah.
- Louis: When you fled the Hole?

Marty: Yes, sir.

So the idea is just to re-enact
some of the events...

- that you lived through, Marty.
- Uh-huh.

Using, you know...

And you want to have
the environment to be similar?

Yeah, we want to do it

as close to the real place
as we can.

(Marty sighs)

Marty: Well, it was all inside.

So you could
literally recreate it anywhere.

Louis: I think we're good,
what do you think?

Paul: I'll have a look,
I can't see anything.

- Have a look.
- Oh, this is great.

So what did you think
of the lines?

What lines?

These lines, the ones that I...

They suck, they're unnatural.

- They're from your book.
- You got to be natural.

It just comes out like a flood.

Do we think we're going
to put trailers out here

or do you think that we would do

just as well doing it
in a set in LA?

- Marty: Better.
- Better?

- Better.
- Why?

You don't have
the logistical problems

of bringing all these actors
out here.

There's... This is a logistics
nightmare out here, okay?

You got to create
that claustrophobia, you know.

You know, it's non-descript,
cheap-ass sort of office set-up.

Well,
we'll figure that stuff out.

Hey, before we lose the light,
Marty,

I was just gonna take Andrew
just by the base,

by the Int Base, he expressed
an interest in doing that.

You don't want to go
by the base, do you?

No.

It was that red car
that was there for a long time

and Marty was in...

We're going to lose the light,
we'd better get down there.

What is this, Sublette Road?

Road Closed?

- Closed.
- What?

Was this closed last time?

No. Can they do that?

Lights.

- Oh, shit.
- What? That's us.

Is that's barbed wire?

I think that's some kind
of barbed wire

or spikes on top of there.

Spikes? Yeah.

- Whoa.
- Whoa.

That is actually quite helpful.

And there are cameras there
as well.

Okay.

What, is it trying
to communicate something?

Why is it flashing?

You guys are trespassing.

You need to leave
or I'm gonna call the cops.

- Hi, how are you doing?
- You're trespassing.

You need to leave
or I'm calling the cops.

It's okay, we have a permit.

For the third time,
you're trespassing,

you need to leave
or I'm calling the cops.

We have a permit, it's fine.

Leave.

We've got a permit, sir.

Are we allowed to leave?

Are we allowed to leave?

Yeah,
while he's calling the cops,

or is that somehow...

- Not allowed.
- Yeah, yeah, yeah I think so.

I think that's what they want,
they want us to leave.

Okay.
Well, it doesn't seem

like we're doing much else here,
right? I mean...

- Are you okay?
- I'm fine.

You're not worried about it?

Well, the way
that guy was barking at us...

But he was using tone 40.
I'm serious.

Yeah, I think it was,
like, tone 20.

- You think 20?
- Yeah.

They're on Sublette Road.

They're just being
curious parkers,

they're trespassing.

The road is closed,
we've told them to leave.

You can't see where I'm calling?

What is my... Yeah, yeah.

Hello. Did you want
to see the permit?

One is from England,

I know he's a BBC reporter,
I have no idea of his name.

Louis.

- Louis?
- Louis.

Okay, the road's closed,

you're trespassing
and you need to leave.

Look, apparently
it's a public road.

- No, it isn't.
- And we have a...

The road is...
No, you don't.

But can I just show you
the permit?

No, it isn't,
it isn't a public road.

- It's trespassing.
- Look, Catherine.

You're not that stupid.

- You see that thing?
- You're assaulting me.

It says "road closed."

- Look. Look.
- No, look. Come here.

- Come here.
- Let me show you.

No, come on, what's your name?

- Lewis? Louis.
- Louis. Louis.

Look. Are you so stupid

you cannot see the sign
that says "road closed"?

But, look, it's...

Is there anything about that,

that you don't understand?
Closed?

Well, look, I've got
a permit with a name on it.

Do you know
what a road means? It's closed.

We're not... We don't...

The road is closed.

We don't want
to create any issue for you.

And I don't want him
filming me, so tell him to stop.

- Well, you're filming us.
- Tell him to stop.

Why don't you tell him to stop?

Tell him to stop.

You tell him to stop
and I'll tell him to stop.

- How about that?
- Stop.

Tell him to stop.

Louis, you need to leave.

Catherine,
we don't need to leave.

- Yes, you do.
- Catherine, we don't.

- You're trespassing.
- We're not. Catherine.

Well, you're not
trespassing now.

- You can stay here all night.
- Thank you. Catherine.

Catherine,
what are you angry about?

You know, we... Our... My...

You're gonna stand there.

My deep desire
is actually to speak to someone

- from the Sea Org.
- Oh, right.

You're actually doing me
quite a big favor by being here.

You're like, oh, yeah,
you're so honest.

Oh, yeah. Yeah.

You take the stars for honesty.

So this is good, like,

let's just keep
the conversation going.

- No, we're done. Bye, Louis.
- What, don't...

You don't have to go,
you're not trespassing.

Wait until the police come.

We'd like you to stay.

Catherine? Can we talk to you?

Are you in the Sea Org as well?

Are you making
a documentary, as well?

And if so, who is your one for?

Catherine,
I think we're gonna go, okay?

Just so you know. All right?

That would be insane.

You guys are missing

all the action
inside the terminal.

I've got Mark Yager,
Jenny De Vocht

and Dave Bloomberg,
another hit guy

sort of getting in my face here.

I've got it on videotape,

you guys might be
interested in it.

Anyway, there you go,
you guys missed the fireworks.

So a call's just come in
from Marty

saying that once he'd got
through security

there were
three prominent Scientologists

on the other side.

So they've started again,
squirrel busting.

Can you move on, please?
Can you guys move on, please?

They're behaving in a way

that's so obviously
pathological.

You would think
that they would realize

that other people would see that

and think this is a religion
of lunatics.

They are doing it
for one audience

which is David Miscavige.

They are trying to prove
that they are loyal to him

because he holds
all the strings.

He has the ultimate power
in Scientology.

He could banish them
from Scientology with a word.

He holds your eternity
in his hand

so it's not just
the threat of death,

it's the threat of,

really dying over
and over and over again

and in ignorance and darkness

and that's what they
think is in store for them.

He has ultimate spiritual power
over Scientologists.

He says who goes up the bridge

and who doesn't go
up the bridge, you know?

And he can bar you
from Scientology forever

if you cross him.

And he knows that.

You know, he knows the power
that he's got.

Same power Hubbard had.
You know?

You worked with
David Miscavige quite a bit.

Oh, yeah. Yeah,

And he didn't
like you much, did he?

No, no.

He physically beat me up

on about
five separate occasions.

There was one case

where I was in a meeting
with him

I was presenting
an infomercial script

that I had worked on.

He hated it

and he's getting himself
worked up

and worked up and worked up

and finally he jumps up
on the conference room table.

He's a little guy but he's like,
you know, muscular.

Jumps up
on the conference room table

launches himself at me,

knocks me back
against a partition

beating my face and then
he knocks me on the floor.

And then he stalks
out of the room

and there was like, literally,
30 or 40 top executives

in that room.
And they're saying

"Get up, get up you don't
want to make him wrong."

You know, like if I laid there
all scratched up and torn

that would be making him wrong
and that would be terrible.

This is the re-enactment

which we've been talking
about doing.

And Marty's here
and we've got our set

as discussed with him.

We've got actors,

we've got a script
written by Marty

based on what allegedly happened

at the Gold Base
around the time of the Hole.

So we're going to improvise
based on that.

And we have as well
in the background,

although, I haven't told Marty
this yet

but we have Tom Cruise.

I'm not suggesting
that he was at the Int Base

at this time

or that he knew
what was going on.

But as Scientology's poster boy,

whatever happened
in Scientology for good or ill

carries his name on it.

Welcome to the Hole.

This is a recreation

of the watchdog committee
conference room

which was at the international
base at Riverside, California.

There was a guard at the door,
meals were brought in.

Sleeping bags
were put on the floor,

people had to sleep there.

Miscavige then, reading
in all of these evil intentions

that these people
must have against him.

And it must be some kind of...

And this is kind
of Scientology thinking

that there's some
suppressive person

that's poisoning everything
unbeknownst to everybody else.

And so there was more
and more people getting into it

and when I was there
it was, like, 60 people

and apparently it went up
to 80 or 100

at different times after I left.

Were they kept
against their will,

would you say?

All of the doors
and windows were barred

and there was
a security guard at the door

so I would call that
against their will.

But if they'd wanted
to badly enough

it's hard not to feel

they could have made
a run for it.

Well, yes, yes.

And this is one of the things

that people don't understand
about that environment.

I mean, take my case.

I finally decided
to turn my back

on the whole subject and leave.

I had to walk away
from a 35-year commitment.

My wife, who I loved very much.

All of the friends I had
in the world

were at that Int Base.

A person has to be so desperate

to just turn their back
on everything

and say,
"I don't care about all that.

I have to leave this place

because it's just
too oppressive"

and walk out into a world
that is just totally foreign

and where they don't know
anybody,

they don't know the rules

they don't know
how to get a job,

they don't know
how to get a bank account.

You know, it's a foreign world

that they have to go out
and somehow cope with.

Alone.

And people say
"Why don't they just walk out?"

Well, that's why.

Because, in essence,
it's a kind of a suicide.

You have to say,
"My life is over

and I'm walking out of my life

and into
a totally different life."

You know, it's that level
of desperation

that you have to get to

and people
that are still in there,

they haven't gotten
to that level of desperation.

The people in the Hole,

they haven't gotten to
that level of desperation yet.

You know?

And this incident we're doing

is when he finally decides

the last person he trusts,
he doesn't trust anymore

and I'm getting sentenced
to the Hole.

And three days later,
I was gone.

Because I thought leaving

was the only thing I could do
to sort of...

Wake him up, because if I leave,
I hold the keys to the kingdom

and that should sober him up.

What the fuck is that doing?

Get the fuck up. Fucking DB.

Walk! Walk!

Fucking crawl!

Get down!

Lick the fucking floor!

Lick the floor!

Louis:
It may be that every religion

carries within it the DNA
for its own distinct crimes.

Fucking mental midgets,
that's right!

Louis: The Hole
and the allegations of abuse

are in my view, an extreme,
but logical extension

of the principles
of Scientology.

Where do you sleep?
Answer my fucking question!

- On the ground, sir.
- Andrew: Where on the ground?

And I am so frantic

trying to light a fire
under your lazy asses

since you routinely
let everything go to hell

the second I don't have a gun
to your head.

Louis: The Sea Org is imbued
with a Spartan warrior ethic

and bull baiting,
squirrel busting

and shattering suppression
are part of their dogma.

Andrew: This motherfucker!

While I'm busy trying
to put things back in order

because you fucking degraded
beings don't get shit done!

Look at this fucking Org board!
Fucking Org board!

You fucking SP!

The way you fucking handle an SP

is you handle him roughly!

You handle him roughly!

You fucking handle him roughly!

Okay? Okay?

- All: Yes, sir.
- Yes!

- All: Yes, sir.
- Yes!

Louis: The church denies
the existence of the Hole

and any abuse
by David Miscavige.

It provides
numerous statements from people

who say these things
just never happened.

Andrew: Sit down! Sit down!
Sit down!

Louis: But there are also
many ex-church members

who say that they did happen

and I've come to believe

a version of this
did take place.

And watching it unfold,
I kept thinking about Marty

and his years of service
and his complicity.

Okay.

Anyone listens
to this fucking cocksucker

you are automatically
and immediately SP declared.

Have a pleasant evening.

Marty: Cut.
That was a command performance.

We're done. That was just
a command performance.

- Is everyone all right?
- Man, he was on a roll.

Marty: I just sat back
and watched

because it was as if
he was channeling that guy.

That was... That is what it was.

And you can see,
it becomes an overwhelm,

and you're like, "Whoa!"

What's an SP like you
doing in a place like this?

Marty:
Don't you ever give it up?

Scientologist 1:
We're actually...

You're not going to talk to us,
huh, Marty?

Oh, look! You've got another guy
with a camera.

Louis:
Hey, guys, what are you doing?

That's terrific.

We actually came
to talk to Marty.

- Louis: Go on.
- Yeah.

Scientologist 1: Yeah,
so anyway, Marty...

You wanna identify yourselves?

How much is the BBC
paying you, Marty?

I just wanted to find out,
like, between the foster care

and what the BBC is paying you,

is that enough for you
to cover your nut?

Can you
identify yourselves, please?

Did Moby have to go?

Actually I'm having
a comm cycle here with Marty.

Yeah, the foster care.

Do you get paid enough
for the foster care?

You, I think I know.

Where is your friend
from last time?

These guys hired me this time.

Can you tell me who they are?

You can ask them, don't...

They hired me
to work on their documentary.

Did you finish
the other project?

Nicely done. I have no interest
in being filmed.

- Thanks Marty.
- Thanks, Marty.

Guys, stick around.
Please.

It's the same guy.

Which guy, the cameraman?

Can we just have your names?

This is really sick, man.
This is really sick.

They're saying that
"Are you getting paid enough"

for your foster care between
this and your foster care,

is that paying you enough?
How much are they paying you?

Between that
and your foster care

"are you able to survive?"

I don't know anything
about foster care.

Monique and I
are providing for him.

It's a straight adoption.

None of these things
just happen.

David Miscavige
had to direct this.

He scripted it and directed it.

Big roll!
Dude! That is a five.

- That is a five.
- Two and five.

Now, I got to see what I'm
gonna do with it but...

- One, two.
- You lucky motherfucker.

He brought
my wife's name into it

and he's brought my son
into this.

I didn't want to do it

but I'm gonna have
to pull the plug

on this organization.

You don't bring my child
into this.

Not unless you want me
to do something extremely severe

in response.

Do the actors know
what was going on?

We probably shouldn't tell them.
They'll just get upset.

You know,
welcome to my life, Louis.

And I say
you've just illustrated it.

Like, I'm working
with these people

but I've got
to withhold from them

that these guys
are in my face here

because they might be upset.

It's the same thing
I have to go through

with all of my contacts in life.

I have to live this life

where I can't really share

what happens to me
on a day-to-day basis

because if I do,
it freaks people out.

Do you understand the burden?

We can't make friends.
It's very difficult.

To say, "Hey, you know,
come on over for a barbecue,"

but realize
you might be being surveilled

and it might be going
into the archive

of the most pernicious,
dangerous cult

that the western world
has known in the past 50 years.

You understand what I'm saying?

But I will tell you this.

He will rue the day that he
brought my son into this.

He will rue the day.

You know, we talked early
on about...

You know, you...
You ran private investigators.

I mean, some of these techniques

were things
you did to other people.

I mean,
you ran Pls who infiltrated...

You know, you are so wrong.

I never, ever, even crossed
my mind to think about...

About bringing a person's child
into something.

I never, ever,
ever crossed my mind

to use a terroristic technique
like that. Ever.

Nothing like this.

You mean, you had people

pretending to be
people's friends

- while secretly...
- Yeah, all right.

Louis: I mean, I'm not trying
to give you...

Isn't that a fact?
Isn't that a fact though?

You're a fucking asshole,
that's a fact. Fuck you.

You know, I'm sitting here

having my child
brought into this thing

and you want to fucking sit here
and make me defend myself.

Fuck yourself.

I have to be subjected
to this shit

and I got to take this shit
from him?

All right, forget it, Marty.
I'm not trying...

You know, fuck yourself.
Truly.

I consider myself fucked.
I don't know what to say now,

like, do you want
to change the...

You should apologize
for starters and say that's...

We're canceling that,
we'll pick up where we...

All right, fine, cancel that.

Before that whole thing started.

But even then,
I want a minute to cool down.

Because
this is really offensive.

I'm really fucking offended
by it.

I'm telling you, I have no life.

I can't even make friendships,
I am unemployable

and you start
giving me this shit?

Andrew:
That definitely brings us

to both the close
of tonight's event

and the start of a whole new era

yet before we part

I want you to remember
the two operative words

with which we opened
this evening,

Necessity Level.

The moment you realize
the scope of Scientology,

the very instant
you accepted its power

in one way or another,
you are committed by necessity

to help in every way you can.

We mean it.

And the only slim chance
that this planet has

David:
Rests on a few slim shoulders.

Over worked,
underpaid and fought,

the Scientologist.

Later on, if we make it

what will be your answer
to this question?

Did you help?

And I say,
let's all make it happen.

Thank you very much to LRH.

That inspirational speech
and the film of the 2004 gala

is the dream of how the world
would be with Scientology.

Well-ordered and grandiose

and reaching
for some higher purpose.

All the bull baiting
and the shattering suppression

they're justified
because of this.

And in spite
of everything I now know

a little part of me still feels
the pull of their vision.

It may be tempting
to look at the faces

and see foolishness.

But you could also choose
to see good people

who are members of a church

that's been hijacked
by its own Pope.

Thank you very much,
see you next year, goodnight.

Well, they think
they're saving the world, right?

They see you
as the ultimate suppressive.

See, that's where you're wrong.

That's where you're wrong.

Ultimately,
it's as if he, literally,

in his warped mind

is begging me to end all this
for him.

He knows I'm the truth, man.

And that is the scariest thing
in the world to him.

I am done with it.

- And they keep...
- Oh, your number's up,

Marty,
they're going to arrest you.

They keep pulling me back in.

- Morning.
- Howdy.

We're just doing some
random inspections here today.

We need to take a look
in the back

make sure you don't have any
scud missiles hidden back there.

There's some guys in there.

It is on, yeah,
that is on, we're filming.

- Okay.
- We're making a movie.