The Front Runner (2018) - full transcript

Subtitles by explosiveskull

We interrupt our
regularly scheduled programming

to bring you the following
report from NBC News.

Here now is Tom Brokaw.

Good evening from
Des Moines, Iowa, tonight.

The Democratic caucuses in the
state of Iowa now are underway,

and the first results
have just been reported.

The NBC News projection

is that Walter Mondale
will be the winner.

About half of those
attending the caucuses tonight

who expressed a preference
for a candidate



are for Mondale.

All the other candidates
are far behind.

It does appear, however,
that Senator John Glenn

will not finish second.

And it appears that there's
a very good chance tonight

that Gary Hart will be second
in the preferences

of those attending
the Iowa caucuses tonight.

Let some of the other...

His hair
looks like shit.

- When is he getting it cut?
- That is the new cut.

We can't get
a clear line.

What?
Are we at full stick?

Jesus. Did you have to park
so close to the building?

Okay, go, Steve!



Yes, we learned
just a few minutes ago

that Senator Hart
will soon leave this hotel,

head back to the convention
hall, where he will concede.

Yes, he will concede to former
vice president Walter Mondale.

Hart went into the primaries
a relative unknown,

eclipsed by challengers
like John Glenn...

I'm on
my hands and knees,

fiddling with these wires
behind the accelerator.

I'm trying to get a...

Congratulations.

I'm fooling with the wires
behind the accelerator

trying to jump-start
the damn thing, but...

- You know how to do that?
- Well, golf carts are easy

to jump-start, you got to get
the right wires together.

Say he's been making phone
calls and thanking supporters

and asking them to back
Walter Mondale's campaign.

Okay, let's try another one.
In three...

Hey, asshole, you're
walking through my shot!

- Yeah, sorry. Sorry.
- Come on!

Hart won every state
west of the Mississippi

in his fight
for the Democratic nomination,

but in the end,

it was a question taken
from a Wendy's advertisement

that dogged
his insurgent campaign.

Roll tape. Go.

When... When I hear...
When I... When I hear...

There are some
specific ways to do that.

When I hear
your new ideas,

I'm reminded of that ad,
"Where's the beef?"

- Yeah?
- Okay, go, Steve.

Hart will take
to the stage

- later this evening...
- Wait. Hold it, Steve. Hold it.

- To share his thoughts...
- We lost the signal.

Are we facing south?

- I think we're facing south.
- Steve, would you shut up?

We lost the signal again.

Well, maybe you should invest
in a goddamn compass.

Would someone tell...
Steve, shut up!

When he took
the New Hampshire primary.

Okay,
no one's listening to me.

At that point,
it was anyone's game.

This news tonight
resets the playing field.

Insiders of both camps
say the challenge now,

heading into the fall
campaign, will be to unify

this very divided
Democratic Party.

The long fight
between Mondale and Hart...

What's the plan
for after?

The body's still warm. You
want to talk about '88?

- I mean drinks.
- Oh, that Hawaiian place.

Polynesian.

I don't know
what he was talking about,

but he was in that...
Carter's White House...

- So, can you use it?
- I lost all feeling above the knuckle.

I could always tell
when it's about to rain.

- No, really?
- Yeah.

Mmm-hmm.

Yeah, okay.

I appreciate it, Walter.

I'll come with you
back to Denver.

You should stay.

Senator, it's time.

Remember to hit
homelessness, sir.

- I don't want you to fly alone.
- I'll be fine.

I'll take the kids.
You need to be in D.C.

- I don't need to be anywhere.
- Yeah, you do.

Senator,
we need to roll.

Are you really gonna
follow Mondale around

- for another six months?
- My apartment is grim.

I'll take
the free meals, though.

Maybe they'd like
your job, Quinn.

Ah, it's a good plan.
Well, it was a good plan.

They light the damn thing
on fire, don't they?

Uh, there's no weapons
allowed at the table.

The only shot
I want's whiskey.

- To the wisdom of the framers.
- Jefferson and his slaves.

Ah, leave Jefferson out of it.

- Gentlemen.
- Oh, hey, Bob.

Hmm.

Of course, they don't even
have a straw big enough

- to reach down the bottom...
- You want a real drink?

- Huh?
- You want a real drink?

No, that is a real drink.

America is the land

where dreams can come true
for all of us.

Ladies and gentlemen
of the convention...

Thinking of going swimming?

My name is
Geraldine Ferraro.

Remember our first trip
to New Hampshire?

Come home
in a Carter motorcade?

And those two vans, you know,
that time we won the primary.

Think Mondale's
got a chance?

Mondale? No.
Reagan's gonna crush him.

In four years, they won't
have an answer for us,

- for our ideas.
- George Bush might.

You think young people are
gonna vote for George Bush?

If the economy keeps up.

The world changes when young
people give a damn, Billy.

We're the only ones
who'll give a damn about them.

We should have won.

That's not
what this was about.

Then what was it about?

Now they know who we are.

- The circus.
- Uh, Jim, I would like to say,

we do miss home,
and four months ago, we left,

and I have not
walked into my house,

have not seen my puppies and my
kittens and all those things

and our dear friends
that we love so much since.

And so, to the people at home,
we love you,

- we miss you and...
- Yes.

And we hope all of the people we
love so much will forgive us.

Give the president
a little credit.

No...

One could argue
he's trying to keep us safe.

No, President Reagan has
allowed our cities to decay,

while he buys enough warheads

to destroy this planet
30 times over.

I mean, imagine if every
school could have a computer,

every library, every home.
That is...

Well, why don't we just
buy everyone a microwave?

And a television set,
while we're at it.

I'm interested in educating

the next generation,
not entertaining them.

You know, gentlemen,
this is beginning to sound

something like
a campaign debate.

Mr. Billy Shore,
what's the story?

Do either of you
have anything to announce?

It's not gonna happen today,
Alan, okay?

- After you, Senator.
- But keep asking.

You and your younger
Democratic colleagues

have been called
the "Atari Democrats."

I've heard.
I didn't coin that.

- Have you ever played Atari?
- Uh, yes,

I've tried Asteroids
a few times with my son.

Uh, I mostly drifted around
getting pelted with rocks.

Felt like my first term in the Senate.

Did you see
what Bono announced?

He's running for mayor
of Palm Springs.

Oh, come on.

I can certainly guess
his campaign slogan.

"He's got you, babe."

- He looks good.
- Yeah.

- I've read your spy novel.
- Well, thank you.

Hey, you guys be careful. Let's
put that inside right here.

Now, these other
candidates are all decent guys.

They all want what's best
for this country.

But they're not gonna win.

You know it, they know it. More
importantly, George Bush knows it.

That's why
they're all gunning for us.

We lose this primary,
that's it,

we can kiss
the White House good-bye.

And kiss your future good-bye,
because...

Will somebody
pay the pizza guy?

How much is it?

$17.99.

If line three rings, don't pick up.
That's the fax.

What if line one and
two are busy, though?

Use line four.

It's amazing.

We have a rusting
industrial base.

How does he look
that good?

Genetics.

Whose? Don Johnson's?

Yeah. That's why
I look like this.

What if line four is busy?

- Who the fuck did this?
- So, when you're exhausted

and your feet hurt
and your fingers are frozen

from knocking on doors in
Nashua for 12 hours straight,

you miss your boyfriend,
your girlfriend, your

kids...

You're tired of
eating fast food and

leftovers because we
don't pay you jack shit...

I want you to think
about the opportunity

that we have right here,
right now.

And the cost
to this great country

if we squander it.

Anyway, let's assume
Cranston's out. Who are we missing?

Well, if Cranston
doesn't know he's out,

- somebody better tell him.
- Gore's looking at it.

- What, Al Gore?
- Is he old enough?

- He's 38, I think.
- His daddy could win him the South.

- Have you seen the wife, Tipper?
- Thanks.

- That's her name.
- There's Dukakis, maybe.

- Who?
- The Governor of Massachusetts.

"Dukakis"? That's not gonna
look good on a campaign poster.

Yeah, add a "K,"
he could win the South.

Gallup's got Hart
beating Bush by 12.

- By 12?
- Uh-huh.

Jesus.

Woodward, you know the guy.

What do you think?

Gary Hart?
He could win it.

I mean,
he's got the hair.

How many points do you
think the hair is worth?

Six points.
Four, if it's windy.

I think it's a little lofty

for Senator Hart to be
discussing our grand future

without crediting
President Reagan...

Come on,
I'm not gonna credit...

...for the reforms
we're seeing

- in the Soviet Union.
- We did not bankrupt the Soviets.

Communism bankrupted itself
morally and economically.

You do not get credit
for kicking down a door

- that's already open.
- Well...

I mean...

Uh, ribbon-cutting
at the end of the week

and then a run-through
of the grand announcement

6,000 feet above sea level
at Red Rocks.

Has anybody been able to get him
off this weird mountain man thing?

- It's...
- No. He is entrenched.

Uh, technically, I don't think
he can be entrenched

if he's on top of a mountain.

- Okay, thanks, Doug.
- There is a long, storied history

of announcing one's candidacy from a
drab, shit-colored ballroom with,

you know,
electricity and lights.

And elevators.

Oh, has anybody told him we
can't drop balloons from a mountain?

Maybe we could
rent a plane.

...not just this quarter's
bottom line.

We did not prep any of this.
He's just shooting from the hip.

It's unbelievable.

Yo, we're gonna
need water for the press.

- Maybe oxygen, too.
- I moved here two weeks ago,

I still can't find
a decent package store.

Okay, maybe stop that,
and focus on...

She's not the one who gets
the coffee, by the way.

- Downtime in Miami...
- You haven't found the one on Wynkoop?

It's right around the corner.

Doesn't it close at,
like, 5:00?

- Can we... Can we just focus?
- I'll put together

some local party leaders
out of Fort Lauderdale.

Yeah, no,
we're not doing that.

We're not
getting endorsements?

We're not filling up
a photo album with people

who are gonna think
we owe them something.

Anything else we're not doing?

Yeah. No barbecues.

- I love barbecues!
- Dix, the road

to the presidency goes
through the Iowa State Fair.

- What about the steak fry, Dix?
- Not this year.

- The steak fry?
- Oh, my God, calm down

about the barbecues.
It's not happening.

Okay, we're gonna
talk about this.

- No, we won't.
- Who's staffing Miami?

Billy's there all weekend.

- You're going to Miami?
- Billy B. Broadhurst, not...

How about I get
a down week in Miami?

Jesus, there's a lot
of Billys around here, right?

Well, I'm Bill, right?

Only an 8-year-old
should be called Billy.

So, I'm not sure if I'm
supposed to ask this question,

but what exactly is Billy B.'s
position on this campaign?

Well, he's
a Louisiana lobbyist,

so his chief contributions
to the political process

seem to be gumbo and bourbon.

And dirty jokes.

- He makes the senator laugh, so...
- All right, going back.

Last week in April,
we kick off and hit the road,

starting with a grip-and-greet
in Kansas.

Kansas is a go?

Yeah, we think
Kansas is a go.

He'll actually talk
about his parents?

- No. He finds that irrelevant.
- Right.

How? Everyone has parents.
It's relatable.

So, what's relatable?
That he was born?

Okay.

It's not
four years ago, though.

He is up 12 points. People are
gonna want to get to know him.

- Yeah, Dix.
- How do we get the senator to open up?

We don't, okay?
We just don't.

I've never known a guy more talented
at untangling the bullshit of politics

so that anyone can understand.

It is a gift,

and he wants to
share that with people.

And all anybody wants is for
him to take a stupid photo.

He will never understand that.

The danger is this.

Will America,
in the year 2000,

wake up to a future
as a second-rate power?

This is the key test
of American leadership.

What about his marriage?

I heard
she looks the other way.

Must be
a limited field of view.

Sounds pretty ideal to me.

No, sounds like
a zipper story.

What is the candidate's
position on zippers?

He prefers them open.

Bob, you and he
were roommates for a while?

Yeah, when Lee kicked him
out a few years ago,

- he crashed on my couch.
- And?

And anything that happens on my
sectional sofa is irrelevant.

A.J. says the trail reporters
are obsessed with it.

Mr. Parker, is this so?

No, just some stories
circulating.

Such as?

Oh, well, I heard one
when I was in Dallas.

Someone said they saw Hart
go into his hotel room

with a blonde heiress after a fundraiser.

- Original.
- Well, when I was on trail,

we fucked each other,
we didn't write about it.

- Well, I'm married.
- Good luck with that.

Should we follow up?

You know how many
members of Congress...

We'd have to expel
half the Senate.

And you wouldn't be thrilled
with who was left.

I'm not thrilled now.

Why do they need three
hours to take a picture?

It's the cover of People.
It's just what they do.

And they want
Gary and Lee, right?

- That's right.
- They call me every single day.

They're not the only ones, either.
I need to know what the plan is.

As in?

Uh...

As in...

I don't think that
it would hurt us

to put them both out there.

Okay, okay,
what are you talking about?

The state of things.

There's a ton of interest

in the separations,
in the getting-back-togethers.

It wouldn't hurt us to...

What? I think that...

I think that people want
to get to know the Harts.

I think that they want to see
them out, walking their dog,

pumping their gas,
being regular people.

He's not
a regular person...

He's the next fucking president
of the United fucking States!

Nope, it's not
up for discussion.

Your husband won't move off
announcing at Red Rocks.

It's a powerful
backdrop, Billy.

You're gonna have to distribute
oxygen tanks to the press.

Perhaps they'll conserve
energy by not asking questions.

Billy wants us to pose
for People magazine.

Millions of people
read People.

- Oh, it has words?
- Oh, don't be fooled.

- Gary loves People.
- That is slander.

You should have told him
it was for Popular Science.

- Hey, Andrea.
- Hey.

You know, people want
to feel like they know you,

and this is a good forum
for that.

Come on, if I do a photo shoot,
uh, today, what's tomorrow,

swimsuit competition,
talent show?

Okay.

Well, there will be
photographers in Kansas.

Yeah, and I will be
smiling like

- some sort of game show host.
- I love drinking Robitussin

to fall asleep every night.

What do you think? This time next year,
you might be living at the White House.

Ah.

Just think what
my chores will be.

Just think what
your rent will be.

How are the
applications coming?

Utterly fascinating.

This is really good.

But I just don't think you need
the paragraph about the iguanas.

It's kind of making light of everything
else you're saying about yourself.

It says I have
a sense of humor.

Yeah, I don't think
they care.

So, Red Rocks?

Yeah. I mean, if you're
gonna reframe the debate,

you got to
reframe the location.

I know that.
Dad, I really like it.

Thanks.

I'm still getting a hard time
about the road trip with Kate.

Well, we're your parents. We're
supposed to, you know...

Just, uh, stay on the main
roads and call us every night.

It's Kate's dad.

He doesn't like
that we're sharing a room.

He's uncomfortable
about it.

One bed or two?

Make an economics argument.

Hotel rooms aren't cheap.

It's a little
bit farther.

Seriously,
was Everest not available?

Uh, we should
hit Enlightened Engagement

before the three E's, I think.

You're calling it
"the three E's"?

Economy,
education, environment.

You forgot ethics.

- Huh?
- So there's four "E's"?

- Gary'll need some water.
- What's that?

You're gonna
need some water.

- We'll have water, Mrs. Hart.
- And beer.

The straight-down light's
gonna make brutal shadows.

Mrs. Hart,
you okay with the climb?

Are you?

Uh, no, it's gotta be
three "E's," linguistically.

Ah, so we're losing
an "E"? Which one?

Environment,
education or economy?

- Which do you suggest?
- Add an "E." Who gives a fuck?

Can we get some music?

Like, a high school
marching band or something?

- No band.
- No? Music is important.

It sets a tone.

What, are we opening
a Stater Bros.?

- Where's Bill?
- I'm right here.

No, not you. Shore.

He's Billy. I'm Bill.

Oh, hey.

Senator,
how would you react to a tent?

- Lee.
- Poorly.

Can we run
this much cable?

- We'll use a mult box.
- All right,

- you'll be standing over here.
- Okay.

With Andrea. And I
think you'll want to wear

- something dark, maybe a blue.
- Dark? In nature?

Yeah.

I... I don't know,
I've already bought something.

What'd you buy?

Can we, uh...

Excuse me, I'm sorry.
Can we just have a minute?

- Have you talked to Andrea?
- Uh, yeah. Remind me later.

- Okay.
- Sorry.

Really? Is this necessary?

The Brown Palace has
a perfectly lovely ballroom.

Dixon, Dixon, Dixon. You know what
brought me to Colorado originally?

The railroad.

I spent a summer hammering railroad ties.
Can you imagine?

I actually can, yeah.

You know the last time a Democratic
president came out of the West?

- Never.
- Exactly.

The West is the future.
Always has been. Still is.

Uh, oh, yeah.
Remind me later.

The announcement was originally
scheduled to begin exactly at noon,

but now they say that Gary Hart is
going to be a few minutes late.

Senator Hart will be out
any moment.

- Please take a step back.
- He's gonna be going here.

Everybody needs to be
behind that line.

What are you thinking?
I'm leaning towards the red.

I feel like the red's
gonna pop for camera.

- Why are you asking me?
- I'm not sure. Hey, Grace,

I feel like the red. Let's get the red
ribbon up, please. Nice and taut.

I'm just gonna
make it go the other way.

Mmm-hmm.

- You ready?
- Senator.

- Okay. You all right?
- Sir?

- Yes? Yes?
- Here you go.

Wow. Couldn't find
the big ones?

Gary Hart's been a United
States senator for 10 years.

At 46, he's one
of the youngest candidates.

You've built up
quite a lead.

Do you already have your eyes
on the general election?

You know what,
don't shoot the fucking desk.

- We've got, like, policy papers and...
- Senator Hart...

- Senator Hart is taking...
- Senator Hart...

The Democratic Party has
been in the dumps psychologically,

and in disarray ideologically.

Bill Martin, Senator.

- Bill.
- Really proud to be

- here with you.
- Excited to have you on my team.

- Thank you.
- Thank you very much.

Joe Trippi,
part of our press team.

- Joe, how are you?
- Senator. Nice to meet you.

- Senator, Ginny Terrazo.
- Hi, Ginny.

- I'm sorry?
- Uh, press team.

- What was your name?
- Ginny Terzano.

- Ginny. Yeah.
- These guys you know.

- Gentlemen.
- Hi.

- Hi, Billy. How are you?
- How are you?

Hi, hi. This is Tom Fiedler
from the Miami Herald.

- Miami. Yes, I can tell by your tie.
- Oh.

That's Miami, all right.

Thank you. Really appreciate it.
Thank you.

A small army of
reporters and photographers...

At least 20 or 30 cameras

- or 50 or 60 reporters.
- Three, two, one.

I intend, as I always have,
to run a campaign of ideas.

Ideas have power.

Ideas are what
governing is all about,

and governing is what
this election is all about.

Standing before the snow-capped
Rocky Mountains in Colorado,

Gary Hart announced
for the presidency.

Nowhere is Hart
as much a front runner

as he is in his own hometown,
Ottawa, Kansas.

The former senator
from Colorado

arrived at the airport just
about an hour and a half ago.

Now, we're rolling here.

In an era of great change,
challenge and opportunity,

it's less important
that our...

So we flew to Ottawa fucking
Kansas to give a policy speech?

I thought he was
gonna get personal.

Personal is not
a comfort zone.

If it's any consolation, he is
hitting all four of the "E's."

We added an "E"?

Gary Hart, known as
the voice of a new generation,

continues to inspire voters
both young and old,

who say this Colorado senator
has both the presence

and idealism of a Kennedy.

Senator, how does
it feel to be back home?

Well, uh...

Are we gonna swing
through the South or not?

Why waste the money?

- Carter won the South.
- Carter was the South.

Trust me, it's already gone.

Irene's right.
I'm not writing off the South.

If my ideas make sense in Youngstown,
they'll make sense in Mobile.

Then we get to go to Alabama.

Gary Hart prepares for another
busy day on the campaign trail.

No matter what the most
hardened political cynics may say,

Gary Hart's speech here

was not simply about furthering
his own presidential ambitions.

Take two.

Gary Hart was campaigning
in New England today...

Gary Hart is back in the race
and back in New Hampshire...

It was typical
of what you might see

with the visit
of a front runner.

- Gary Hart's campaign circus...
- ...is in Fort Wayne tonight.

Why don't we invest in their
enterprise, in their industry,

create opportunities
for Mexicans in Mexico.

Instead of stealing your jobs,
they'll buy your chairs.

They're not very good chairs.

Can't really help you
with that.

Let's forget about jobs for a second.
Let's talk about security.

Gary Hart is running far ahead
of the pack of contenders.

- Give me another take.
- Serious campaigning aside,

Hart's mood in recent days...

This week's issue of
Newsweek magazine profiles Hart.

...considered to
be the leading contender

for the Democratic
presidential nomination.

Hart spoke at four schools,

was interviewed by the editors
of two newspapers...

After a blistering first week,

Senator Hart is taking a break
from the campaign trail.

So, he comes to me, he says,

"Hey, Mr. B.B.,
if I go for that deal,

"I will trade you the car
and the crawfish."

So I took that deal.

I took that goddamn deal.

- There it is there.
- Oh, is it anybody I know?

You know, friends are
for dinner parties,

yachts are for
new acquaintances, Hart.

Quite a boat, Billy.

Well, belongs to a man
named Soffer.

Good fella. Nice guy. Owns a shit-ton
of real estate around up in here.

- Hi, B.B.
- Hey, darling. How are you?

- I'm good.
- Told you it was a friendly crowd.

- Hey.
- This is Gary.

I can't hear. What?

- You're a senator?
- No, recently retired.

Oh, yeah.

Gary.

Hi. I'm Donna.

- Sorry?
- Donna!

Donna? Right.

Gary.

Nice boat.

- Yeah.
- Right?

It's just, I, you know...
I wanna go back up.

I might just go up.

Okay, three, two, one.
This is Mike Ritchie reporting

from Austin, Texas, where
Senator Gary Hart of Texas...

Colorado. Fuck. Let's take it
from the top. Ready?

- Okay, 30 minutes away.
- Three, two, one.

This is Mike Ritchie
reporting...

Where's Sally?

...Senator Gary Hart of Colorado
spent the day talking...

- A designer suit?
- It's not about the suit.

- It's the presentation of things.
- Hmm.

What's this?

Ralph Lauren announced they're
doing wardrobe for CBS News.

- John's not sure about that.
- What?

You, uh,
preferred Hugo Boss?

It's that word,
"wardrobe."

Like they're on
Three's Company.

Well, it is a television show.

No. It's the news.

A bad suit should mean
something, it's trustworthy.

Trustworthy?

Yeah, look, it
starts with designer clothes,

and everyone says,
"Don't they look nice,"

and pretty soon Vidal Sassoon
is doing Tom Brokaw's hair.

Right. Then they add
some pop music, right?

- Yeah.
- Electric guitar?

Sure, great.

Mark Knopfler's writing
some opening theme song,

and they'll have
fucking action shots

of anchors leaping
away from fires

and pulling kittens
out of storm drains.

Hey, I'd watch that.

Dix, what do you think?

I don't give a fuck.

All right.

You should give a fuck.

It's the death nail
of journalism.

Do you mean
"death knell"?

It's a common mistake.

How often do people
just punch you in the face?

Hey. It's Gary.

You were?

I would love that.
You know I would.

Well, within
the next 10 days.

Miss you, too.

Yeah.

Now boarding flight 435.

Now boarding.

Another foolish call,
and everybody gets a secret.

Can we swing him
by the high school?

- Unlikely. No.
- We can't do that.

I think it's a good opportunity,
a photo op, whole family.

If we keep him hopping around,
he's gonna get scratchy.

- Yeah.
- Scratchy?

Remember this time last year
we had that flat on our bus?

- Oh, here she comes.
- Oh, here we go.

I always assumed
that he was born in '36

and two years
after we were married,

he had said '37...

Oh. Sorry about that.

- We're gonna get started.
- Yep. Who is it?

It's Parker. Yeah, he's from
The Washington Post.

- He's coming up right now.
- Parker?

Yeah. Yeah,
we'll bring him up.

It's kind of going up.

- Yeah, yeah.
- Okay.

If you don't see it
kind of curving up like that...

Hey.

We have a few minutes
right now, if you're ready.

Oh, yeah.
Yeah, great. Thanks.

- Sorry, sir. Thank you.
- Hey, guys.

Go get him, tiger.

So, second row up, in.

- Uh, Kevin?
- Yeah?

Uh, when can I get some
face time with the senator?

We're gonna do
a presser on the ground.

No, no, I mean a one-on-one.

We're not doing that
this time.

What do you call that?

The Washington Post.

- Please.
- Hey. Hi.

There have been several
opportunities to negotiate,

but it seems that the president
is not interested in that.

Well, but you don't think the
president has gone far enough?

I know he hasn't
gone far enough.

I know Gorbachev, too,
don't forget.

Well, what are we supposed to do,
aside from negotiate more reductions?

Well, there won't be
any peace dividend

if we don't meet Gorbachev
more than halfway.

I'd, uh, invite him
to my inauguration.

What? The Soviet premier?

Sure. Yeah.

Why wouldn't he come?

Why... Why wouldn't we
show him democracy in action?

- I think we need to be bolder.
- Do you really think that'll

lay the groundwork
for more negotiations?

Groundwork?
The groundwork's already laid.

It's just, uh...
It's just turbulence.

Yeah. Uh-huh.

Hey, hey.

It's just wind.

Just close your eyes.

Seriously.

Okay, you're just

driving down a country road.

See? See? Yeah.

We just hit...
We hit a few bumps.

The truck keeps going.

You've been doing this
your whole life.

Okay? Some roads
aren't paved, that's all.

Um...
Thank you.

So, the, uh, Soviets are
in an economic tailspin,

but, um, that change
has to be managed,

otherwise, you'll get a power
vacuum in Asia and the Mideast,

and you know
what fills vacuums, right?

- Human nature?
- Exactly.

Uh, wars, dictators,
religious extremism.

That's your view
of human nature?

Didn't they teach you
Tolstoy at, uh...

Oh, Yale.
And I was a history major.

Right.

Uh...

Here.

Teach you something
about the, uh, Soviets.

Thank you.

Um... I'll get it
back to you.

Keep it.
I'm not a library.

It is your job,
specifically,

to convince the senator not to
do things exactly like this.

What exactly
do you want me to say?

He's gonna
look like an idiot.

- Or worse, kill someone.
- Roosevelt was an outdoorsman.

He shot a grizzly once.

You know that's
where teddy bears come from?

- Fuck off.
- It's true.

Teddy Roosevelt almost killed a
giant bear, and they commemorate it

by making plush toys
for children.

It was a national sensation.

Ten bucks says
he misses?

- I'm all right, thanks.
- I can't believe

we're at a fucking
axe-throwing contest.

What do they call it,
Timbersport?

This is a first.

He might just actually
throw away his campaign.

I can't fucking watch this.

That was incredible!

Oh, my God!

- Excuse me.
- Yes.

Could you sign my diary?

Hey, guys.

- What's the news?
- Cuomo's officially out.

Wow.

Well, long way to go.

Mmm, Kennedy, Bradley...
They're all out.

I like Gephardt.
Al's still in this thing.

Jesse Jackson.

Come on,
I mean, Senator, sir.

What?
He's got double digits.

You think the people of this country
will elect Jesse Jackson as president?

- Maybe vice president.
- Well, that's what Jesse

really wants, anyway,
right?

Uh, another round on me.

Oh, I'm sorry,
you can't do that.

Fine.
Another round on them.

Word is
you're gonna be president.

I don't know, how does
Secretary of the Navy sound?

Mmm, I've already been
a secretary, honey.

But you're sweet.

Right before
they breach our airspace,

they dump the entire fucking
shipment into the Atlantic.

And not pounds.
Like, tons of coke.

It's like a Volkswagen
worth of coke, just boom.

Like a Volkswagen,
not like a Honda or something?

Yeah, like a Volkswagen.

What the fuck am I talking about here?
I got an old Navy buddy

gives fishing tours
out of Islamorada.

I spent five nights
under a fucking cargo net.

All right, well, maybe
you'll be more comfortable

in a cushy chair, Murph.

Let's work up
some sort of map of the route

and make sure we have artwork on
these cigarette boats in motion.

No bullshit stock photo.
I want to see surf kicking up.

Got it. Sexy boats
kicking up surf.

Anything from
the Mickey desk?

MGM is suing Disney World.

- No shit?
- It's a license violation.

Let's work up a top
for the front page,

and some options
on a crying Mickey drawing.

Oh, we've done crying Mickey.

Twice. When Universal
came to Orlando,

and then when that alligator

- ate that kid near Epcot.
- Oh, yeah.

Who builds a theme park
in a swamp?

All right, give me, uh,
Mickey in handcuffs.

Politics?

Good morning.
Politics.

Uh, yeah. I just got back from
the kickoff tour with Gary Hart.

Whew!

Okay,
anything new?

I mean,
it's the curtain raiser

on the guy that's gonna
win the presidency, so...

Keep it to 100 twills, Tom.
We're tight today.

- Are you serious?
- Sports!

How about
those Dolphins?

He's knocked down.
Allison has it. Centers.

He scores!

Mike Allison scores...

Tom Fiedler.

Hello?

Um...

Did you write the story
about Gary Hart today?

Yeah. That was me.

He's having an affair
with a friend of mine.

Uh, what's her name?

What's your name?

I can't tell you that!

Look, this isn't funny, okay?

I mean, you just can't call
people and make allegations.

- So who are you, and...
- She's flying up there

to see him in Washington
this weekend.

Uh, Hart's not in D.C.
this weekend.

He's going to Kentucky
for the Derby.

Sorry, lady.

Wait.

I want to ask you,

do you guys pay for pictures?

That's great. Jesus.

Good luck, lady.

- What'd he say?
- He hung up.

- Thank you so much.
- That's great...

- Hi... Yes.
- You can go out...

Yes, sir, he is a voice for
the working man, that's correct.

That's right, ma'am.
Thank you so much for...

- Glad we can count on your support.
- Yeah...

My name's Gary Hart.
I'm running for president.

Now, over the next year, you're
gonna see a lot of campaign ads...

Goddamn,
he looks good.

- He... Yeah, he's great.
- That's a great tie.

- Very attractive man.
- Yeah.

I think I like the second
take better, though.

He's got his hand
in his pocket.

Senator Hart actually opposed the
current administration's efforts

to reduce federal
unemployment benefits.

Yes. He actually also voted
against every aspect

of the Reagan program in 1981.

Well, you know what,
that's fantastic to hear.

Well, we will. Eileen,
I really appreciate it.

Hal will call you about where to send
the check and all that, and, uh...

Righto.

Okay. Talk soon.

You're a free man.

- Until call time tomorrow.
- Thank you. Oh, Irene,

will you tell Steve and Kitty
I can't make, uh, Kentucky?

You're gonna
miss the Derby?

And, uh, get Ellie
to get me some coffee.

You never get the tacos.

Someone should have
told you that.

But Friday's taco day, man.

Yeah. Let me know
how Saturday goes.

- Hey.
- What's doing?

Uh, I think I need
your help on something.

You all right?

You look like
you've seen a ghost.

All right!

Won't be a moment.

There's the beef.

It's not bad, actually.

A lot of potatoes
in that one right there?

- It's good.
- Yeah.

Baked potatoes too?

- Fries are pretty good, huh?
- Good gravy.

Um, but don't let your burger
that I slaved over go cold, okay?

Sure.

Mmm.

We'd like the burger to be mentioned
in the first paragraph, A.J.,

- if that's okay.
- Sure. Absolutely.

Maybe the best thing I've done
this entire campaign.

So, uh,
are we almost done?

- Uh, just about.
- Mmm-hmm.

Oh, have you, uh...
Have you read the book yet?

Mmm. Just about.
It's Tolstoy.

Can I ask you
about your separation?

It's a fairly
common occurrence.

I'd avoid it if you can.

Um, look, I'm not having fun
asking about this,

in case you're wondering.

I wasn't.

Well... Well, look, I just...

Why should anybody care?
How... How is it relevant?

- Well, some people feel like...
- Senator?

...it's hard to know you,
and I'm trying to help...

No. Why are... People...
Who are these people

- everyone keeps telling me about?
- Okay, fine.

- Because no...
- Maybe... Maybe some of us.

- We feel that way.
- So, reporters?

Some of us, yes.

Oh, some of you
who were still in high school

when I was running
McGovern's campaign.

A.J., either ask
something else...

It's not my fault you're just
arriving at the party, A.J.

Well, okay. Fine.

So, around that time
you told Gail Sheehy

you believed in reform
marriage, what did that mean?

Oh, for crying out loud. I...

I was young and tired and living
across the country from my wife,

and I made a stupid joke.

You know, this right here is why people
don't want to be in public life,

because someone will dredge up something
you said in a moment 15 years ago

and act like it somehow
encapsulates your life.

- Look. Hey, look, I don't...
- No, look I... I'm gonna

answer one more of these. I'm
not gonna sit here anymore.

We've covered all the stuff
that matters.

Did... Did you ask Reagan

- about his marriage?
- All right, let's wrap this up.

No, no. Listen, did you ask
Carter these questions?

There have been rumors,
particularly about...

For God's sake, A.J., just ask
whatever it is you came here to ask

or whatever your editor
told you to ask me.

This is beneath you.

- Okay.
- Hmm?

Do you feel like you have
a traditional marriage?

"A..."

- Yeah, no, that's it. We're done here.
- You know,

you... You want to know what I'm doing
in my spare time, A.J., is that it?

Follow me around, put a tail on me.
You'd be very bored.

That was bullshit.

Just relax.

- What am I supposed to do?
- Act bored.

Most people just look bored.

- What does she look like?
- Attractive. You know?

Hot enough to make you
leave your wife.

Honestly, it wouldn't
take that much.

Miami passengers...

Please have your passports available
for inspection by the gate agent.

Stop staring at 'em.

You don't have to look
at the floor. Just...

- Here you go, sir.
- Thank you.

- What would you like, ma'am?
- Just a...

Good evening,
ladies and gentlemen.

We will soon be arriving at
Washington National Airport.

Do we know
where they're going?

I know
where Hart lives.

This one here
on the left.

You want me
to pull over?

Uh,
just hang a second.

No security? Nothing?

- You think this is it?
- It's his place.

- You guys getting out?
- Just give us a second.

- No Secret Service?
- He isn't the nominee yet.

Look, I don't know what
you guys are up to, but...

I think somebody
pulled your leg, buddy.

We've been here
all of two fucking seconds.

Look, this isn't
a peep show.

Now, which one of you guys
are paying me?

New destination.
We're gonna need a hotel.

Hold on!

Look, man, I'm...

Fuck me.

- You chilly?
- Yeah.

We're gonna need
a photographer.

Hi.

Is this the stakeout?

No, we ran out of gas.

Will you get in
the fucking car, please?

- Oh, right, sure. Yeah.
- Get in the car.

Jesus fucking Christ.

You sure they're in there?

Yeah, yeah. We saw them come
in and out a couple of times.

"Follow me around."

Hart told The Post to follow him around.
Hey, Roy.

"Follow me around,
put a tail on me.

"You'd be very bored."

He asked us to follow him.

Technically, you were
already following him.

Look, it's an invitation.

We... We have
a responsibility here.

Are some folks in Iowa
seriously supposed to vet

some governor or congressman
from God-knows-where?

You know, it...
It's up to us

to hold
these guys accountable.

Oh, shit.

Is there a reason
you brought a camera?

- Oh, yeah, sure. Right.
- Go ahead.

Yeah, okay.

...have a triple, two singles,

and all they have for it
is a tie.

Raines, and then Wallach.

Winningham at first, Candaele
at second and Nichols at third.

- Hey.
- Hey, Senator.

Uh, last...
Last draft here.

- We changed the last paragraph here...
- Yup.

And you've done that
already? Good.

- Yeah.
- Uh...

- No, that's it. It's good.
- Okay?

- Okay.
- Bye.

Wilson, the policy guy.

Did he make you?

I don't think so. Fuck.

Have you seen the girl?

I... I need a closer look.

Guys, it stinks in here.

Who are they?
Bush campaign?

I don't know. Maybe.

Better head on
back to your place.

Fuck.

Come on, come on.

Do you think he saw us?

Good evening, gentlemen.

Evening, Senator.

I'm a reporter
from the Miami Herald. Uh...

We... We'd like to
talk to you. Um...

I'd like to ask you about the woman
that's staying in your townhouse.

No one is staying
in my townhouse.

Uh, we saw you leave and come back with
the same woman. It's a blonde woman.

I may, I may not have.

We saw you.

I don't know
what you think you saw.

Uh...

Hello, Senator.

Tom?

Yes, sir. Uh...

I wonder
if you could tell us

whether this woman
works for the campaign,

the one we saw you with.

She's not
part of my campaign.

Okay. Uh...

Then can you
tell us how you know her?

Oh, uh...

I don't think that's relevant.

I can assure you, Senator,
this is relevant.

Yeah, it's just that we saw you leave
and come back with this woman,

and we...
We didn't see her...

Tom, you can't be serious.
No one is staying in my home.

There's no need for that,
all right?

Uh, I am serious, sir.

How long have you
known this woman?

What kind of question...

What kind of questions
are these?

Is she a friend?

Well, I don't know
why I would tell you that.

- Tom, I am not going to...
- Can you produce her

to corroborate
what you're saying here?

I don't have to
produce anything.

This has gone on long enough.

Senator, we know you've made
calls to this woman

from Kansas
and New Hampshire.

- We have the dates.
- Well, I make calls every day.

I don't see how I'd remember,
and I don't...

But, Senator, I was at
your announcement speech, okay?

You said... You said,

- "We must hold ourselves accountable..."
- I know what I...

- I know what I said.
- "...to the highest possible

"standards of integrity
and ethics."

Then why are we standing here?

Why are we standing in an
alley on a Saturday night?

I mean, don't
you think you owe it to us

- to be forthcoming?
- Owe you?

You're denying what we've seen
with our own eyes.

The only thing I deny
is the idea that somehow

you have the right
to ask me these things.

- You're running for president.
- I'm aware of that, Tom.

- It's in the papers.
- Well, you have a responsibility.

I know full well
what my responsibilities are.

Do you know yours?

Senator.

Have you had sex
with that woman?

You should be...

You should be ashamed
of yourself.

The only one putting you
in this alley, Tom, is you.

Holy shit.

We gotta type this up.

Hey, Billy. Get Dixon now.

Hey, how long is it going
to take you to develop those?

Uh, about eight,
10 minutes.

- All right. Well, don't fuck it up.
- Something like that.

I'll try not to.

All right. Okay.

Ah, fuck me.

Coffee.

Hey.

- They want us to hold for a day.
- Why?

Just until we can get our shit
straight, maybe get the girl's name.

I can't.
We'll lose half the readers.

We can't do it.
We can't do it.

No, no, it's not...
It's not a Monday story.

It's a Sunday story.

Yeah, we saw her.

We saw her.

We got pictures.
We got everything.

Hello?

Hey.
How soon can you pick me up?

- We need to get to D.C.
- What's... What's going on?

I can't tell you.
It's Gary.

Forty-two minutes.

Hey, you want to say
"linked" here?

Saying she's "tied to Hart"

- kind of sounds...
- Professional.

No, like whips and chains
and shit going on.

I know, I know.

- Hello?
- Billy.

- Yeah.
- They're here.

I brought 'em back
to my place.

Tell Fiedler we can give him
an interview with the girl.

Yes, yes.
Just tell him anything.

Just straighten this out.

Yes. Just buy us some time.

Okay, Donna, Donna, I need you
to be straight with me here.

Maybe you told somebody.

Your mama, the mailman.

Somebody.

Gary said the reporters
are from Miami.

That means they're
following you, not Gary.

- Are we...
- I don't know.

Okay, well,
can I talk to her?

No, I can put you on the phone with
the girl if you give me a day.

Yeah, how about
I give you a week?

- You want a month?
- No, come on, now.

You give me a day, huh?

We'll talk about it.

They're stalling.

Listen, we know
what you're doing, okay?

We're not writing
for some college paper here.

We're not giving you a day,
all right?

Give me a day,
and I'll put you...

We haven't
fact-checked a word of this.

You don't even have
the woman's name.

You want to rush to print
with some other paper's quote,

a quote from The Post?

- We need the quote.
- You want the quote.

- We can credit The Post.
- Yeah, yeah, yeah.

All right, look, we could...
We could tease the interview,

follow it up
later in the week?

No, no, no.
I'm telling you right now,

they're gonna find a way
to spin this thing.

You guys are crazy.
We got him right now.

We got him dead to rights.
You're gonna let him go.

Easy, Crockett.
This isn't a drug bust.

He was asking for it.
Yeah, that's...

- I mean, that is the story.
- I got it, I got it.

You guys are walking away
from this. Hang on, hang on.

Uh, "In an interview
with The Post,

"he challenged those
who questioned him

"to, quote,
'follow me around.'"

Look, right now,
The Post is in bed asleep.

Gary Hart is locked in a room
with his entire campaign team,

figuring a way out of this.

He's not wrong.

You got 20 minutes
to make tomorrow's A1.

No quote.

All right.

- Hello?
- Hey, kiddo.

- I need you to get your mother for me.
- Dad.

It's the middle of the night.
Is everything okay?

Andrea...

It's Dad.

Hello?

Something's happened.

Okay. What is it?

There's going to be a...

There's going to be
a story tomorrow

about me.

And you know what,
they would...

What they're going to write shouldn't...
Should never be written.

Um...

I can't seem to stop them.
Um...

I...

Oh, go on, Gary.
Just say it.

I met a woman, uh, in Miami,

and they followed her to D.C.,
to our townhouse in D.C.

I see.

I'm so sorry.

The one thing I ever asked was
that you don't embarrass me.

I feel so stupid.

Good.
It sounds like you should.

Feel stupid for a while.

Military
authorities in Fort Belvoir

have been searching
all vehicles leaving

the compound tonight
as they continue looking for

the reputed contract killer...

...today, and Thursday,
before a congressional panel

investigating the Iran-Contra Affair.
He also conceded that...

What's going on, Donna?

I don't know.

I just want to go home.

Can I go home now?

Soon.

I know you want
to get home.

I don't belong here.

Hmm.

I just need
to get the facts.

- Talk to Gary.
- Uh...

Gary's not a real big
talker when it comes to

this kind of thing.

I told you already.

Uh-huh.

I wanted a job
with the campaign.

B.B. arranged the interview.

"Interview."

You've worked in politics
before, Donna?

No. I just wanted to work
for Senator Hart.

Why's that?

I like his positions.

You think
I'm some stupid bimbo.

I don't think anything.

I sell pharmaceuticals,
you know?

Okay.

I was the top saleswoman
in my district.

I don't doubt it.

I graduated Phi Beta Kappa.

I did all the things
I was supposed to do

to make sure that
men don't look at me

the way that you're
looking at me right now.

I just want to go home.

Yeah, let's see
how we're doing with that.

The Herald piece
just came across.

Jesus. Already?

Yeah, they didn't exactly
wait for comment.

Did Gary see it?

No. We sent him to Georgetown.
Steve and Kitty's.

Yeah, who he should have gone
to the fucking Derby with.

Okay.

Let's go.

You're up.

It shouldn't take much.

Presidential candidate
Gary Hart

has dismissed allegations
he's a womanizer,

challenging reporters
to follow him around.

Well, this weekend, the
Miami Herald did just that.

- They're using my quote.
- Congratulations.

- It's completely out of context.
- What context?

The only context is the idiot
says, "Follow me around,"

and then goes
and fucks his mistress.

It was a throwaway line. They're
using it after the fact

to justify
their tabloid bullshit.

Would we have
staked him out? No.

- If we knew about the girl?
- I hope not.

So you get to decide what...

All right, all right,
that's enough.

Just covering their asses.

I swear this is true.

New Year's Eve
after Jack died,

Lyndon Johnson sits down
with a whole bunch of us,

pulls us in close and says,
"Boys, you're gonna see

"a whole lot of women coming
in and out of my hotel suites.

"I want you to pay us the
same courtesy you did Jack."

And we did.

- Different time, Ben.
- Yeah, but why?

I mean, who decides that?

The readers.

And if the readers want
to see the candidates naked?

Well, that's one kind
of measuring contest.

Has anyone seen Hart?

No,
he's gone into hiding.

Sweeney won't tell me where.

He's got a big econ speech
Tuesday in New York

with the Newspaper
Association.

- The publishers.
- All right.

Suppose we start
with something small.

Write up a story from the wires
about the Herald's little expose.

Are we going after Hart or the Herald?

When Americans
choose presidents,

personal character traits
are important,

and most candidates agree
they should be.

Mom, what's going on?

Maureen, listen to what I'm telling you.
They were hiding in the bushes, okay?

Like fucking scavengers.
Is that journalism?

Right.

I've got Mrs. Hart
on line five.

Maureen, listen,
I got to go, okay?

But do me a favor
and remind your editors

that they run
The New York fucking Times!

Okay? And not Us Weekly.

Oh, that's funny.
You're hilarious.

You don't think he...

You got a car?

Uh, no, sir.

Mrs. Hart.

- Who are you?
- Uh, I'm sorry.

I've got no comment.

- Are you with the Hart campaign?
- I'm sorry.

- I've got no comment.
- Is Lee coming out? Will there be a statement?

I really don't know.
I'm sorry.

Do you just have time for
one question? Have you had

- any conversations with her?
- How are you, young man?

Steve Dunleavy,
A Current Affair.

- "A Current Affair"?
- Who are you going to see in there?

- You bringing a message from Gary?
- I don't... I got...

- I gotta go. Please!
- Can you just give us a statement

before you go in? Tell me your
role in the Hart campaign.

You just come
to keep her company?

Can you just bring Lee out?
Just make one statement for us.

- Have you talked to her?
- The kid's in there.

What an asshole.

Joe Trippi, ma'am.

We met with the campaign.

I'm, uh...

I'm here to help.

Okay.

What's your plan?

Um...

So, it's really just
a pretty simple stacking game.

I used to play it
with my grandfather.

Everybody gets seven cards.

So, one, two...

Sure you don't
want some?

Tea?

Yeah.

Can you make a hot tea?

What's...

Yes, ma'am.

Why were they
interrogating me?

The standard practice for...

Um...

Is to get all the damaging facts
out yourself, if there are any.

So, that way, it doesn't
look like you're hiding.

But they'll leave me
out of it?

My parents won't hear
about any of this, will they?

We know what we're doing.

B.B. did say that you might
have a job for me.

Fundraising?

I graduated magna cum laude.

That's impressive.

Do you believe it,
about a job?

You sound very qualified.

Yeah, well,

when you're a model,
you know, people just assume.

That you can't be smart.

Yeah.

I don't have that problem.

- No, I wasn't comparing.
- I'm kidding.

I mean, I don't
have that problem.

Um...

But I get why you do.

You want
some honey in that, honey?

Southern Comfort.

Well, we'll throw
a little fire in there.

We can't leave
unskilled workers

wondering what happens
to them and their families.

I mean, when they hear the
word "technology," they, uh...

They think you're taking away
their job, so move that up.

Hey. How are you holding up?

You know,
we have to, uh...

When we talk about
a digitized economy,

we have to talk more
about equality of opportunity.

Gary, we can't hide
from this.

Who's hiding? I'm working.

We... We need to
say something.

I've already spoken
to the person that matters.

There are stories
being written right now.

It's gossip, Dix.
It'll blow over.

I don't think
it's gonna "blow over."

We... We need to
go through some things.

Now. Like this boat cruise
I'm hearing about, for one.

Do you think
they completely missed

- the back door of the townhouse?
- Bimini?

- I mean, I know...
- It's not in the piece.

If they don't
have her leaving...

- So?
- Yeah, no, exactly.

I mean,
without the back door,

- the entire article amounts...
- Gary, I mean, the whole...

...to, yeah, garbage.

That whole trip... Bimini
and Billy fucking Broadhurst.

God. Forget the back door.

The point is, it's nobody's
goddamn business.

None of it is.

Right? They shouldn't
have been there, period.

Now, if we could
all just move on.

The... Yeah, that's what
we're trying to do.

I mean, I've been doing this
for 20 years. So have you.

The public doesn't care
about this crap.

They won't stand for it.

- They won't.
- I don't know. It...

You know, it's not '72.

It's not even '82.
It's different now.

- It's not different.
- I wish it wasn't.

It is, and...

And I don't understand why,

but we have to figure out how we're
gonna respond to this story.

We're not...
There is no story.

They can write all this crap
all they want.

They will not earn the dignity
of my response.

Jesus, Gary.
What about us?

Do we deserve a response?

- About this?
- Yeah.

No.

Are you...
Are you kidding me?

I got 100 kids unpacking boxes
in Denver right now

because we told them you would do
what it takes to win this thing.

I told them.

The best and the brightest.

They left jobs.
They left their families.

People are sacrificing
for you.

And I'm not sacrificing?

What, should I sacrifice
my privacy, Bill?

My self-respect? Hmm?

And it won't just be me
that gets dragged down.

None of those kids
you're talking about

will work another campaign
where some candidate

doesn't have to account
for who comes and goes

from their bedroom, and
that is just the beginning.

Okay, okay, but we're not...
We're not talking

- about that right now.
- I am talking about that.

No, no. We're talking about
how you get through today

without pissing away everything
we've all worked for

- on this campaign!
- No, Bill.

This campaign is about the
future, not rumors, not sleaze,

and I care about the sanctity
of this process,

whether you do or do not!

I want to reexamine
this language on page 17.

"It's not," uh...

Here it is. "It's not just the specter
of a trade war I worry about,

"it's our loss
of influence globally."

I saw a bar.

That's
my one time in Miami.

Shit-faced, lost,
bumming a ride

off some lecherous guy
I knew I'd never see again.

Thank you.

Guys in Miami are...

Thank you.

- Well, one of my ex-boyfriends...
- Mmm-hmm.

...had his car repo'd
while we were at the movies.

- Seriously?
- Mmm-hmm. Mmm.

Oh, and another one is in jail
for selling cocaine.

- Wow, that's classy.
- Yeah.

Even my mom doesn't
know about that one.

Gary is so different.

How so?

I feel like I can
just be quiet with him.

Myself.

You ever have that feeling?

Yeah.

I'm sorry you got caught up
in this, Donna.

This whole world we're in,

none of it's
making sense right now.

You have to be smart.

Well, you are.

Thank you.

I mean, coming from
someone like you...

Look at where you are.

If she swears
it was a job interview,

that has to
mean something. Right?

I've known Gary
a long time.

In, uh, '84,
we were at a hotel.

I forget which one.
Doesn't matter.

There was Gary and me
and Warren Beatty.

And Gary's wigging out

because he might actually
win the thing, you know?

He starts grilling
the Secret Service guys.

"If I'm president and I want
to fly to Boulder for the day

"and shop for used books
with my kids, how about that?

"What about
my private time?"

And Warren says,
"Gary, you're not getting it.

"There is no privacy.

"The cameras go
everywhere now."

And Gary was, like, confounded.

He says, "Well, that's...
That's Hollywood, Warren.

"That's the paparazzi.
That's not politics."

He's right, isn't he?

I don't know. Is he?

NBC announced
Shelley Long's replacement

on Cheers for next season.

Tammy Bakker.

Are we just
spinning our wheels?

I mean, when do we
know we're dead?

Poor Gary Hart.

Here's a man who's running for the
presidency of the United States.

Now, the day before yesterday,

somebody asked him
what the name of the boat was,

and they didn't
seem to remember.

Well...

I can see why they
wouldn't want to remember.

The name of the boat
was Monkey Business.

Now, here's what
I don't figure out.

You're running for the
highest office in the land,

you're going to take
a little trip to Bimini

with a couple of ladies...

...and you're gonna go down
and charter a boat.

Now, of all the boat names
that are out there,

like Mother,

or Mother Teresa,

you hire a boat
called Monkey Business?

That's not good thinking.

Nobody knows what...
What happened on the boat,

but I understand the whales
were watching them.

You...

You can, uh,
take that off the hook.

Jesse Jackson called.

Really?

Yeah, he told me
to keep my chin up.

He's a lovely man.

Strange.

Oh, man.

Oh, these people.

These people want to feel
outrage for me,

but it doesn't belong to them.

Um... Won't be easy
getting out of that gate.

I know.

We'll have to figure it out.

I think I'll be ready
to fly soon.

What?

I need to see my husband.

Mom, seriously?

I have spent 30 years of
my life with your father.

I have made
many allowances.

What, you think
I should feel humiliated?

Feelings that simple are
a privilege of being young.

You need to let him
deal with this, Mom.

Oh, he will. He will.

Rusting industrial base.

Deteriorating
public infrastructure.

Declining system
of public education.

Astounding accumulation
of public and private debt.

- The 49th Street entrance?
- No, we're going here.

- Why are we going in here?
- Because the front's worse.

Tenth is jammed.

Mike, how do you want
to go in right here?

- Has Dix seen what they've got?
- Are you serious?

Billy.

Jesus Christ!

- Are you fucking kidding me?
- Senator Hart!

Go, go. Drive.

- Where am I gonna go?
- Go around front.

- I'm afraid I might kill somebody.
- Go around front.

Jesus.

Please open the door!

Come on.

Mr. Hart,
are you dropping out?

Gotta go. Let's go.

How can the American
people trust you?

So, how was
your weekend, Gary?

- Is that Tom?
- Huh?

Brokaw?
Is that Brokaw here?

Guess they're really curious
about your economics plan.

Hell of a deal, Gary.

Hell of a deal.

- Hmm.
- Senator Hart? Sir.

- Yeah.
- Latest revisions, sir.

- Pen.
- Sorry?

You got a pen?

He's making changes.

- Changes on the changes?
- Uh-huh.

Okay, I believe
we are ready to begin.

On Sunday, at Ellis Island,
we heard from

the current president
of the United States.

Tomorrow, right here,
a former president will speak.

- Today...
- If he's here,

who's rummaging
through our trash?

...we offer you two men who,
by their own admission

and by the urgings of others,
would like to become president.

Kid's a fucking retard.

Ken, we're losing
the senator's eyes.

- What?
- They're lost in the shadows.

- You can't see his eyes.
- I'm not worried

about seeing his eyes
right now.

Please welcome
our first speaker,

from the state of Colorado,
Senator Gary Hart.

Good afternoon. Thank you.

I, uh... I came here today to talk
to you about America's future.

That is what my campaign is and...

And ought to be about.

Uh...

But with your permission,

I'd like to address the events
of the past few days,

which you, no doubt, have been
discussing amongst yourselves.

Last weekend, a newspaper
published a misleading story

that hurt my family

and reflected badly
upon my character.

The story was written
by journalists

who, by their own admission,
undertook a spotty surveillance.

Jesus Christ.
Man the lifeboats.

Sorry, what was that?

Uh,
you're doing great, Senator.

Is there something you'd like to
ask me, or does the Miami Herald

- prefer to chat in alleyways?
- Fuck. What do we do?

- I can yell, "Fire."
- He's got this.

This is not a story about
the Miami Herald, Senator.

It's a story about

- Gary Hart's judgment.
- Right, sorry.

Can we... Is it possible to get
Mr. Martindale a microphone?

That's okay.
It's not necessary.

I think it is. I'm pretty
sure people would love to hear.

- Thank you.
- Oh, look, a microphone.

Yes. Yes, we stand by the essential
correctness of our story.

"The..." I'm sorry,
"the essential correctness"?

Yes. This is a
story about a married man

who spent a little too much
time with an unmarried woman.

We didn't speculate
as to what went on, of course.

If I may, it was because
you simply don't know,

despite hiding in the bushes
outside my home.

Well, we certainly know
that you made

several calls to Donna Rice
on the campaign trail.

- Jesus.
- Oh, my God.

We know she was seen leaving
your townhouse in Washington.

Was she leaving or not?
Because, in your story,

you said she didn't leave my home,
and now you're saying she did.

Right. Well,
when we interviewed you...

No, your newsmen accosted me
in my alleyway.

Listen,
with all due respect...

Well, it's a little late
for respect, sir.

You ambushed me outside my home
in the middle of the night

after putting me under
some half-baked stakeout

during which your reporters,
your crack reporting team,

failed to realize
that my home had a back door.

A back door?

Sir, some surveillance is no
better than zero surveillance.

In fact, it's worse.

Okay. Why don't you
do your job, and we'll do ours?

Well, it would be
a welcome change.

Now, if I may,
I'd like to, uh...

I'd like to talk about something
a little more exciting.

Economics.

- Got out of it.
- That's pretty good. That's good.

Our challenges today,
ladies and gentlemen,

are greater than they've been
in over five decades.

Okay, so there's a driver
downstairs waiting.

- He'll take you wherever you need to go.
- Thank you.

And we've got a guy here
in Miami. A lawyer.

I just want to...

Just let me give you
his number. Really.

Thank you.

- Donna. Donna.
- Donna!

Are you and Gary in love?

Was your boyfriend
a drug dealer?

Do you have ties
to the drug trade?

Did he tell
you that this was something

you should not
get involved in?

- No.
- He didn't tell you,

Fawn or Miss Hall,
whatever he called you,

to go home and
"Don't worry about this"?

All right, this one's
got turkey with cheese...

- Back to New Hampshire.
- I'll take it.

Live free or die.

I wonder how many people
pick "die."

Oh, um...
Is there tuna salad?

- No, I didn't order that.
- Are you sure?

I stand by the essential
correctness of my order.

- Oh, the essential correctness?
- The essential correctness.

I can't, uh... I can't answer these
questions anymore. It's just...

One more presser.

We let them ask
whatever they want,

then we put it to bed,
we get back to the big ideas.

You have
conceded that you weren't able to

watch the back
of his townhouse

and that, therefore,
the lady in question,

may have left when you
thought she was still there.

Well, that's...

Mr. Koppel, uh... Ted...

If we're conceding that we're
not as good as the FBI

at conducting surveillance,

then I think we have
no problem agreeing to that.

That's kind of cute,
but that's not the point.

The point is, did she
spend the night with him?

And if, in fact, she left,

let's say, a half hour
after she got there,

which is what she claims,

then she would not have
spent the night with him.

Right.

Well, not right. I mean...

Is this the story that
the Miami Herald drops now,

or, I mean, do you...
You feel you've worked it?

Uh... I don't
know what you mean by that.

Let me put to you
an alternative question.

This wasn't
a competitive story.

There was no one else breathing
down your neck on this.

You could have waited another
24 hours and got it right.

I'm sorry, sir.
I believe we did get it right.

You have spoken
several times, Mr. Fiedler...

Jesus.

Run this by me again.

They're part of
a P.I. report.

A certain senator thought his
wife was sleeping with Hart.

- I know this broad.
- Gum?

Yeah, she's a lobbyist.

No, thanks. Who?

Uh, we're thinking Tydings.

But as it turns out,
Hart isn't fucking Mrs. Tydings.

He's been schtupping
this other woman.

- What a town.
- How did we get this?

- Anonymous package.
- I hate that.

If you got something to say,
just say it.

Give me some of that gum.

Do you think
Tydings sent it?

- But why?
- I don't know.

Wait, we're not even
talking about Bush here?

I mean, Hart is running against
the former head of the CIA.

- Not yet, he's not.
- No return address, no note.

Just a date, six months ago.

- Well, there's your other shoe, Ben.
- Yeah.

Just because some unmarked
envelope lands on our laps,

that doesn't obligate us
to use it.

It shows
a pattern of behavior.

Womanizing. Lies.

He's not lying to us.

Christ, don't be so naive.

Yeah, I'm sure this package
landed on the lap

of at least three other
enterprising journalists.

Okay, so can't we let some other
paper use gossip as front page news?

- I mean, that doesn't mean we have to.
- It does, A.J.

It does now.

We decline to publish, some other
newspaper runs with the story.

I don't know, the Poughkeepsie
Journal, the Miami Herald.

Uh, maybe even
The New York Times.

And the TVs go apeshit
over this stuff.

Meanwhile, we're sitting
on our high horse saying,

"Well, we still don't think
it's news, because guess what,

"we didn't think
it was news before."

And then the wires
start running stories

about how we're not
covering the one thing

everybody else
is talking about.

And so on, and so on.

Hey, why do you
hate him so much?

I don't hate Gary Hart.
I don't think I trust him.

That's one approach.

Why isn't that
your approach?

It's your job
to be skeptical.

I don't think
his own wife trusts him.

Oh, come on.
You don't know that.

I don't think
he respects women.

Are you kidding?
He loves women.

- Too much, frankly.
- He uses them.

Well, come on. Aren't you
being a little precious?

I mean, he's smart.
He's handsome.

These women are
throwing themselves at him.

He is a man with power
and opportunity.

And that takes
certain responsibility.

If he were just some day trader
screwing around with cocktail girls,

I could handle
just not liking him.

But as our
potential next president,

that makes me nervous,

and as a journalist,
you ought to care.

Yeah.

You're missing
all the excitement.

Yeah, thank God.

So, it looks like, um,

we are turning the corner
out here.

I could get you a flight.

What's on your mind?

I just keep thinking this is
never gonna be over for her.

Every time she applies
for a job...

Mmm...

She doesn't have a staff
of overeducated volunteers.

As far as I can tell,
she's alone.

You got anything for me?

Buck up, kid.

You got work to do.

Yeah.

Sorry.

Hey, Billy. You want to let
Gary know we're around,

in case he wants
to get a drink or something?

With old friends?

The senator's unavailable.

"The senator's unavailable."

Fucking follow me.

Can you believe that?

Okay, so they don't have
a podium.

- I don't need one.
- You couldn't get a podium?

Don't start with me.

How are voters
supposed to believe you

- when you've clearly been lying?
- They will or they won't.

- I don't think they much care.
- Good. Okay.

Uh, you can
cite the polls here.

- I don't care about polls.
- Yes, you do.

Gallup just came out
of the field.

"Do you think
the media went too far

"in its reporting on
Senator Hart's private life?"

- 64% say "Yes."
- 64% say "Yes."

"Is a candidate's behavior
in his relationship

"relevant to his
qualifications as president?"

38% say "Yes."

- 52% say "No."
- 52 "No."

- Take that, fuckers!
- 64%. God.

Uh, they'll ask
about phone calls.

Uh-huh. Well, I'll say
I call lots of people.

Right, that's fine.

Are we gonna
bring up Donna Rice?

We could ask the pool
to respect her privacy.

Are you fucking nuts?

It might be seen
as a noble gesture.

They may have
questions, uh...

You know, they may have
questions about women.

Well, they can talk to Irene or
Ginny or anyone who's worked for me.

Uh...

Yeah, uh...

I think what

Billy means is, uh...

What?

Have there been others?

Women...

- That aren't your wife.
- You've got to be kidding me.

I'm not gonna answer that,
not for them and not for you.

It's nobody's
goddamn business!

That's it.

That's perfect.
That's your answer.

I'll come back
when it's time.

I, um...

You know, I've woken
the last two mornings

to the sound of helicopters.

They're waiting at our gates,
dozens of them.

Trucks with satellites.

Their garbage...

Littered all over the place.

How's Andrea?

She's disappointed.

Just to leave our home, she
had to climb in the back seat

of one of your staffers.

He threw an old blanket
on our daughter.

That's how
she left the house,

like a criminal,
like she should be ashamed.

No, these people
should be ashamed, Lee.

I mean, the public
won't stand for it. It's...

Right.

I'm so sorry.

I can imagine you are.

Were you thinking of me when you
were flirting with that girl?

Hmm?

Were you thinking of me
on that boat

when you were making her laugh
in front of 50 other people?

Were you thinking of me when
you invited her into our home?

Are you leaving me?

Not now.

Not yet.

Yeah, maybe at some point.

And that might
feel like a burden,

and it should,
because you hurt me,

and you need to feel it,
you need to know that.

You feel it, you carry it,
so I don't have to.

Do you think you can
ever accept my apology?

Excuse me.

I will get to
all of the questions

that you have,
and then hopefully tomorrow,

we can return to the real
business of this election.

- Senator.
- Yes. Ann.

- Yeah, thank you, sir.
- Yes, Ann.

Doesn't this episode

call your judgment as a leader
into question?

Uh, yes, I suppose I have...

I've made some mistakes,
but I think...

Judgment, like character,
needs to be measured

in the full context
of a career,

and I think what
I've undertaken in the Senate

and the plans I've outlined
for the country also speak

to my judgment.

David. Yes.

How are you going to convince
people in the Democratic Party

that you are not going to make
this kind of mistake again?

Uh, by not making
this kind of mistake again.

- Yes.
- Were there two people in the house?

Three people?
Did they go and come back?

Alan, we've been through this.
It's on the record.

Uh, there were three people
who came to my house

on the Saturday,
late afternoon,

and over the course
of maybe two or three hours,

we left, we came back,
and then they moved on. Yes.

Senator, you were once quoted
as saying that you love danger.

Is that why you've put
yourself in this position?

I don't love it that much,
Jack, trust me.

Yes.

Senator Hart, what would you say to
the women voters of this country?

Well, I would say that, uh,

if you speak to anyone
who's worked for me,

my campaign staff,
anyone in the Senate,

over the last 15 to 20 years,
you'll find that I have

a very healthy relationship,
working relationship with women.

You said
there's no relationship.

Are you willing to take
a lie detector test?

I think the voters are a
pretty good lie detector test.

- Will they believe you?
- I think they do.

The last poll I saw said
that most voters believe

the Herald was out of line.

- More than 60%, in fact.
- 64%.

Right. When the numbers are in
your favor, always be specific.

Right?

Senator? Senator?

Mr. Parker.

- Yes, Senator. Thank you.
- Yeah.

- Mmm-hmm.
- Good afternoon.

Glad you could make it.

Yes. Um...

Yesterday in your speech, you
raised the issue of morality.

- Mmm-hmm.
- Uh, I'd like to ask you,

specifically,
what you meant by that.

I have a series of questions, if
that's all right, if you don't mind.

- All right.
- Um...

When you said
you did nothing immoral,

were you referring to that
you had no sexual relationship

with Donna Rice last week
and/or at any other time?

Yeah, I've said
there was no relationship.

That's correct.

Do you believe
adultery is immoral?

Do I, uh...

Well, yes. Yes, I do.

- But, Senator...
- Mmm-hmm.

Senator, have you
ever committed adultery?

I, uh...

Say it. Say it.

Well...

I guess, um...

I guess I don't think
that that is a fair question.

- Anyone for more coffee?
- It's early.

Yeah, I'll have a cup.

- Sir?
- Yeah, I'll do it.

- Ma'am?
- No, thank you.

- Yeah, I'll have one, thank you.
- Yes, ma'am.

And, you, sir? Coffee?

- Gary?
- Hmm.

- You want a coffee?
- Uh, no.

I need some time
with the senator.

- Are you fucking kidding me?
- Come on.

You know what? I tried coke
while I was at Berkeley,

and I cheated
on my girlfriend. Twice.

Just to save you
some time.

Maybe we, uh,
we move up military reform.

Yeah. We can do
a big roll-out,

- get some generals on board.
- I need to call Andrea.

- Do you have a dime?
- I have one.

Do you have change?

- Yeah. I have a quarter.
- Thank you.

Look, I'm all for going
back out there, shaking more hands.

It's just, at the moment, I don't
think we can get the senator to...

I don't think it's safe
to put him in front of a crowd.

We could call Denver,
get some more bodies.

We can book some more TV time.

I mean, how long would it take
to shoot a 30-minute spot?

Can we pay for that?

You know,
it's, like, we go out there,

we go right to the voters.

Irene, is there any...
Any word from Miami?

Um, how do you mean?

Is she...
Is she okay?

I don't know how
you want me to answer that.

Congratulations.

You just became
the National Enquirer.

You're 50 cents
at the register.

I'm just, uh, not sure
enough people would see it.

If the media's
been talking about it...

We'd need
a national buy.

Where the fuck is Dixon?

It's outrageous.

Okay, but you're safe?

Well...

They cannot hound you like this.
They will not hound you like this.

You know what? They
shouldn't even be near you.

Okay, we will
take care of this.

Lee.

It's time to go home.

Tonight, Gary Hart
and his wife are back in Denver,

where he will end his latest
run for the White House.

Once considered
the man to beat in '88,

Hart plans to end his candidacy
in a formal announcement at noon.

Senator Hart,
will you be leaving the campaign?

Well, clearly,

under present circumstances,
this campaign cannot go on.

I refuse to submit
my family and my friends

to further rumors and gossip.

I don't want to be the issue,

and I cannot be the issue.

If you're gonna
have to spend all your time

talking about yourself

and you're not particularly
good at that anyway,

then you can't maintain
the link with the voters.

In public life, some things
may be interesting,

but that doesn't necessarily
mean they're important.

And the farmers in Amarillo,

the oil field workers
in Louisiana,

the steelworkers
in Pennsylvania,

they want jobs.

Their kids want an education,
and like all the rest of us,

they don't want to be killed
by some nuclear weapon.

Now, we're all gonna have to
seriously question the system

we have for electing
our national leaders,

that has reporters in bushes,

photographers peeking
in our windows,

that reduces the press of
this nation into the hunters

and the presidential
candidates into the hunted,

after which ponderous pundits
wonder in mock seriousness

as to why some of the best
people in this country

choose not to run
for high office.

Now, politics in this country,

take it from me,
is on the verge of becoming

another form of athletic
competition, or sport.

We'd all better do something
to make this system work,

or we're all soon gonna be
rephrasing Jefferson to say,

"I tremble for my country
when I fear we may, in fact,

"get the kind of leaders
we deserve."

I've said I bend,
but I do not break.

And believe me,
I'm not broken.

I say to my children,

and the young people
of this country,

I'm angry, too.

I've made some mistakes.
I said so.

I said I would
because I'm human.

But I'm an idealist,

and I want to
serve my country.

Events of the past week
should not deter any of you

who are idealistic
young people

from moving on,
from moving up.

The torch of idealism
in your hearts burns bright.

It should lead you to want
to make this country better.

Wherever you go,
whatever you do,

at least in spirit
I will be with you.

Thank you.

Subtitles by explosiveskull