1INT. POLICE STATION, BOSTON - NIGHT, 1976

A quiet, cold winter night. An OLDER COP emerges from an INTERVIEW ROOM, walks down a long hall.

Boston, MA - December, 1976

He reaches the front desk. A YOUNG COP looks to him, curious, as he lights a cigarette.

YOUNG COP

How’s that going?

OLDER COP

The mother’s bawling and the uncle’s

pissed off.

YOUNG COP

She’s not married?

OLDER COP

Divorced with four kids. I guess

Father was helping out.

YOUNG COP

Helping out?

The Older Cop shrugs. The front door opens and BURKE, FRESH FACED, 32, walks in. He wears a dark overcoat.

OLDER COP

Hey, Mr. Burke. They’re in the back

talking to the Bishop.

BURKE

And Father?

The Older Cop nods in the other direction.

OLDER COP

We put him in the break room.

BURKE

Any press?

OLDER COP

Some guy from the Citizen, but we

sent him away. None of the big

papers.

BURKE

Let’s keep it that way.

Burke walks toward the interview room.

YOUNG COP

(off Burke)

Who’s that?

OLDER COP

Assistant DA.

YOUNG COP

Gonna be hard to keep the papers

away from the arraignment.

OLDER COP

What arraignment?

He’s matter of fact. The young cop reacts, looks towards the PRIEST (GEOGHAN) sitting in the break room.

OLDER COP (O.C.) (CONT’D)

You can tell Father Geoghan it won’t

be much longer.

OMITTED

2INT. POLICE STATION, INTERVIEW ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

A BISHOP, 50s, talks in hushed tones with SHEILA, 33. TWO BOYS, 7 and 9, sit coloring.

BISHOP

Sheila, you know what good work the

church does in the community. I

give you my personal guarantee that

I’m going to take Father out of the

parish and this will never happen

again.

Burke enters, eyes Sheila nervously fingering ROSARY BEADS.

BISHOP (CONT’D)

We’ll just be another moment, Paul.

BURKE

Of course, Father.

The Bishop turns back to Sheila. Burke eyes the kids.

BISHOP (O.C.)

Now Sheila, I’m going to give you my

personal card...

3EXT. POLICE STATION - LATER

The Young Cop stands outside smoking. He watches as the Bishop and Father Geoghan exit the police station and get into a TOWN CAR, a DRIVER behind the wheel. As they drive away, we HOLD ON the cop. PROCESSING.

FADE TO BLACK.

SPOTLIGHT

FADE IN:

4INT. BOSTON GLOBE, NEWSROOM - DAY, 2001

A large newsroom. REPORTERS and EDITORS gathered.

Boston, MA - July, 2001

DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR BEN BRADLEE JR., 50s, gruff, stands in front with an older reporter, STEWART, 60s. And a cake.

BEN

Losing good reporters, it’s tough.

And losing one of our best... well

to put it as eloquently as I can,

it’s a real kick in the ass.

A few polite chuckles from those in the crowd.

BEN (CONT’D)

But Robby’s known Stewart longer

than most of you have been alive so

I’m gonna turn it over to him.

Robby?

Ben looks to WALTER ‘ROBBY’ ROBINSON, 55, Boston Everyman.

ROBBY

Thanks, Ben. I think. And although

I take issue with the reference to

my seniority, I will say Stewart’s

departure is especially painful for

me. You see, for... what? 20 years

now, Stewart’s been more than

willing to part with his money at

the poker table...

(Laughter)

And I got a kid in college.

More laughter.

STEWART

Yeah, but I’m gonna keep playing.

ROBBY

Problem solved. Godspeed, buddy.

Everyone’s laughing now. Robby connects in a warm, easy way.

ROBBY (CONT’D)

Now, Stewart, I find the timing of

your departure a bit disconcerting.

The corner office sits empty, the

new editor arrives on Monday, so

forgive me, buddy, but I gotta

ask... what the hell do you know?

The room hoots and laughs. Stewart covers his mouth. Speak no evil. More laughter takes us to...

5INT. GLOBE, HALL/STAIRWELL - LATER

SACHA PFEIFFER, 28, wholesome, no bullshit, and MATT CARROLL, mid 40s, mustache, family man, walk down the hall, into a stairwell and down a set of stairs, both carrying cake.

7A INT. GLOBE, HALL OUTSIDE SPOTLIGHT - MOMENTS LATER

They emerge on the floor below, Sacha eating her cake.

MATT

How’s the cake?

SACHA

It’s really good. Saving yours?

MATT

Nah, it’s for Mike. I can never eat

at those things. They kind of

depress me.

SACHA

I know.

(taking a bite)

You see the numbers from Washington?

MATT

Yeah. Very interesting.

SACHA

I think so too.

They walk into --

6INT. GLOBE, SPOTLIGHT OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

CRAMPED OFFICE. Small windows. MIKE REZENDES, late 30s, good looks, so-so haircut, sits at his UNHOLY MESS of a desk.

MIKE (INTO PHONE)

Uh huh. Uh huh. Uh huh. Dan, I

talked to my guy at Justice, I know

you guys have been dropping cases...

(then)

Look, Dan, I’m not asking if the

PD’s lying, I know they are. All

I’m asking is who’s behind it?

Matt sets the cake by Mike, sits at a desk full of FAMILY PHOTOS. Sacha checks messages at a tidy desk, full of books.

MIKE (INTO PHONE) (CONT’D)

I get it. You don’t want to talk.

(listens)

I’m not mad, Dan, I’m hungry. We’ve

been talking so long, I missed

lunch. So I’m going to go eat,

which gives you an hour to decide if

you want to be on the right side of

this or read about it in the paper

like everyone else.

Mike hangs up the phone, digs into the cake.

SACHA

You think Cahill’s got something?

MIKE

Maybe, I just don’t think this

story’s for us.

MATT

Ben likes it.

MIKE

Yeah, it’s not bad, it’s just not

Spotlight.

Robby enters.

ROBBY

What’s just not Spotlight?

SACHA MIKE *

The PD numbers. The numbers story. It feels *

thin.

ROBBY (CONT’D)

Oh. You got Cahill to talk?

MIKE

(busted)

No. But I will.

ROBBY

Good. Then we’ll know if it’s thin.

Robby goes into his office, bit of an edge to him.

MIKE

How’d it go upstairs?

MATT

Okay. Robby gave a good speech.

SACHA

I heard Lubin and Connor are going

to the Times.

MATTY MIKE

Come on, really? Yeah, I heard the same thing.

MATT

They’re leeching us.

MIKE

At least they’re sending us a guy

from Miami to run things. That

should help.

MATT

Has Baron even spent time in Boston?

MIKE

I don’t think he’s ever been here

before. Maybe we should buy him a

map.

SACHA

I have a friend down at the Herald,

said Baron cut 15% of the staff.

MATT

Great.

Mike rolls his chair back, calls out to Robby in his office.

MIKE

Hey Robby, the new boss coming in to

make cuts?

ROBBY

I have no idea.

MIKE

Aren’t you sitting down with him?

Robby looks up, fucking Rezendes, always snooping.

ROBBY

Yes, I am.

MIKE

You think it’s about Spotlight?

ROBBY

I don’t know, Mike, but I do know

Ben needs an answer on the crime

numbers story.

MIKE

I’m telling you, I really don’t

think that story’s for us.

ROBBY

So you did get Cahill to talk then?

Mike, annoyed, wheels back to his desk, picks up his phone...

7INT. FOUR SEASONS HOTEL, RESTAURANT - LATER

Marty sits at a table reading “The Curse of the Bambino,” a NOTEPAD beside him.

ROBBY

Mr. Baron.

Marty looks up and rises to greet Robby.

ROBBY (CONT’D)

Walter Robinson. Robby.

MARTY

Thanks for taking time out of your

weekend, Robby.

ROBBY

My pleasure.

(they sit)

What are you reading?

Marty holds up a book.

MARTY

‘The Curse of the Bambino.’

ROBBY

(sitting)

That’s a great book. The Globe has

season tickets at Fenway, once you

settle in.

MARTY

Thank you. Uh, to be honest, I’m

not much of a baseball fan. I’m

just trying to get a feel for city.

Are you originally from Boston?

ROBBY

I am, born and raised. A lot of the

newsroom is from here. It really

feels like a local paper in that

way.

MARTY

And did that change at all after the

paper was sold to the Times?

ROBBY

No. I don’t think that had a big

impact.

MARTY

Good.

(then)

So, you’re an editor for, uh, the

Spotlight team?

ROBBY

I prefer to think of myself as more

of a player-coach. But yes. Are

you familiar with Spotlight?

MARTY

No. Not particularly.

ROBBY

Well, we’re a four person

investigative team. We report to

Ben Bradlee Jr. and we keep our work

confidential.

MARTY

What are you working on now?

ROBBY

We just put out a piece on this

shoddy construction outfit and right

now we’re trolling around for our

next story.

MARTY

How long does that typically take?

ROBBY

Hard to say. A couple of months.

MARTY

A couple of months.

ROBBY

Yeah, we don’t like to rush it.

Once we settle on a project, we can

spend a year or more investigating

it.

Marty jots down some notes. Robby sees he’s writing a lot.

ROBBY (CONT’D)

Is that a concern?

MARTY

Not necessarily. Uh, but from what

I understand readership is down, the

Internet is cutting into the

Classified business and, uh, I

think, uh, I’m going to have to take

a hard look at things.

ROBBY

So you anticipate more cuts?

MARTY

I would assume so, yes, but what I’m

more focused on right now is finding

a way to make this paper essential

to its readers.

ROBBY

I’d like to think it already is.

MARTY

Fair enough. I just think we can do

better.

Off Robby --

12A EXT. BOSTON GLOBE - DAY

The front of the Globe. Marty gets out of a cab, shuts the door. He walks inside.

8INT. GLOBE, NEWSROOM - DAY

Ben strides across the newsroom. Robby falls in.

ROBBY

Mr. Bradlee.

BEN

Hey. Saw the email on the PD

numbers. Looks interesting.

ROBBY

Yeah. There’s something there.

BEN

How much longer you need?

ROBBY

Another week.

BEN

(realizing)

Where are you going?

ROBBY

To the 10:30.

BEN

You? Since when?

ROBBY

Technically, I am an editor.

BEN

Technically. Your sit-down with

Baron go that well?

ROBBY

I couldn’t get a read on him.

BEN

That’s a first.

ROBBY

How ‘bout you?

BEN

(shrugs)

He’s a barrel of laughs.

9INT. GLOBE, LARGE CONFERENCE ROOM - LATER

Editors around a horseshoe table, side seats filled. It’s QUIET, nervous eyes on Marty, who reads some notes. Ben and editor HELEN DONOVAN, 50s, to either side. Robby sits off to the side, WATCHING.

HELEN DONOVAN

Morning everyone. Let’s get started.

Do you want to say something, Marty?

MARTY

Uh, sure.

(to the group)

Hello. As most of you know by now,

my name is Marty Baron, I’m

delighted to be here. If you can

tell me your name as we go around,

that would be helpful.

Marty looks back to his notes.

HELEN DONONVAN

Okay. Peter?

Ben nods to METRO EDITOR PETER CANELLOS, 40s.

CANELLOS

Peter Canellos, Metro. We’ve got a

major Big Dig closure that’s just

been scheduled for early August...

Marty makes notes. Off Ben and Robby, trading a look.

10INT. GLOBE, NEWSROOM - LATER

Mike, cuppa coffee, walks over to STEVE KURKJIAN’s desk. 60s.

MIKE

Hey Steve. Crappy game last night.

KURKJIAN

They can’t hit worth a nickle.

Mike looks toward the conference room of editors.

MIKE

What’s Eileen McNamara doing in the

10:30?

KURKJIAN

Do you need something, Mike?

MIKE

No. Just curious.

KURKJIAN

I got work to do. Go be curious

somewhere else, will you?

11INT. GLOBE, LARGE CONFERENCE ROOM - LATER

The meeting is wrapping up.

SPORTS EDITOR

...and it looks like Pedro’s gonna

be out until September 1st. Jimmy

says he’ll be back this year, but

the doc didn’t seem so sure.

BEN

When’s the Pats opener?

Laughter. Except Marty.

MARTY

Is that everyone?

HELEN

Yes, that’s it.

MARTY

Great, thank you. Uh, did everyone

read Eileen McNamara’s column this

weekend?

The room reacts. Huh? Editors look at EILEEN MCNAMARA, 50s.

HELEN

That’s the Geoghan case?

MARTY

Yes, what’s the folo on that?

BEN

It’s a column, what kind of folo

were you thinking?

MARTY

Well, apparently this priest

molested kids in six different

parishes over the last thirty years

and the attorney for the victims,

Mr...

EILEEN

Garabedian.

MARTY

Thanks, Eileen. Mr. Garabedian says

Cardinal Law found out about it

fifteen years ago and did nothing.

CANELLOS

I think that attorney’s a bit of a

crank. And the Church dismissed the

claim.

EILEEN

He said, she said.

MARTY

Whether Mr. Garabedian is a crank or

not, he says he has documents that

prove the Cardinal knew.

BEN

As I understand it, those documents

are under seal.

Silence. No one knows what to do. Robby watches.

MARTY

Okay, but the fact remains, we have

a Boston priest abused 80 kids,

we’ve got a lawyer who says he has

proof Law knew about it, and we’ve

written all of...

(checking his notes)

...two stories on this in the last

six months?

(then)

This strikes me as an essential

story for a local paper. At the

very least, we should be going after

those documents.

CANELLOS

How would you like to do that?

MARTY

Well, I don’t know what the laws are

here, but in Florida we would go to

court.

Robby raises an eyebrow. In fact, the whole room does.

BEN

You want to sue the church?

MARTY

Technically we wouldn’t sue the

Church. We would file a motion to

lift the seal on those documents.

BEN

The church will read that as us

suing them. So will everybody else.

MARTY

Good to know.

Off Robby, intrigued --

12INT. GLOBE, BEN’S OFFICE - LATER

Ben and Robby walk into Ben’s office.

ROBBY

Gutsy call for the first day.

BEN

That’s one word for it.

ROBBY

How do you think it’s gonna play

down front?

BEN

I think Gilman’s gonna shit a brick.

Knock. Knock. Mike’s at the door.

MIKE

Hey.

BEN

Door.

Mike shuts the door, looks at Robby.

MIKE

How’d it go?

ROBBY

Baron wants to sue for the sealed

docs in the Geoghan case.

MIKE

He wants to sue the church? That’s

great.

BEN

We covered Geoghan when the story

broke three years ago. Baron was

still in Miami.

ROBBY

(needling Ben)

I think he was at the Times then.

BEN

He wasn’t here.

MIKE

You think the suit has a chance?

ROBBY

Depends on the judge.

BEN

And what parish he belongs to.

Ben’s phone RINGS. Ben picks it up.

BEN (CONT’D)

Bradlee. Yeah. Okay.

(hanging up, to Robby)

Baron wants to talk to us.

ROBBY

Us?

Off Robby, surprised --

13INT. GLOBE, MARTY’S OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER

Ben and Robby enter. Marty’s on the phone.

MARTY (INTO PHONE)

Okay, thank you. Yes. Okay, thanks.

Marty hangs up as they sit.

MARTY (CONT’D)

I set up a meeting for tomorrow with

outside counsel...

BEN

Jon Albano?

MARTY

Yeah.

BEN

Who’s the Judge on this case?

MARTY

Uh, Constance Sweeney.

BEN

Tough.

MARTY

Why’s that?

BEN

Good Catholic girl.

Marty pushes on.

MARTY

Judging from what I’ve read, it

doesn’t seem like we’ve done a

thorough investigation of the

Geoghan case. Is that right?

BEN

No it’s not. We looked hard at

Geoghan. David Armstrong for Metro

and Michael Paulson for Religion.

Marty isn’t impressed.

MARTY

Okay, but, uh, just so I understand,

beyond our daily coverage, we

haven’t committed any long term

investigative resources to the

question of whether or not Cardinal

Law knew about this?

BEN

No, we haven’t.

MARTY

(to Robby)

And that’s the kind of thing your

team does?

ROBBY

Spotlight? Well, yeah, but we’re

still prospecting the Boston PD

story I told you about.

MARTY

Could you set it aside?

ROBBY

We could.

BEN

Marty, in the past, Spotlight has

had success in large part because

they pick their own projects.

MARTY

Would you consider picking this one?

14INT. GLOBE, SPOTLIGHT OFFICE - LATER

Mike, Sacha, Matt all working. Sacha on the phone.

SACHA (INTO PHONE)

I don’t know if he’s writing about

you but I will let him know you

called. Okay. Bye.

Sacha hangs up as Robby enters.

MIKE

Hey, how’d it go?

ROBBY

Okay. Baron wants us to scrub the

Geoghan case.

MIKE

That’s great. MATTY Didn’t we cover Geoghan?

ROBBY (CONT’D)

There’s a lawyer alleging Cardinal

Law knew about it.

SACHA

Mitch Garabedian, right? I covered

him at the courthouse.

ROBBY

Can you get to him?

SACHA

I only interviewed him once. He’s

kind of a character.

MIKE

I like characters. I’ll take him.

ROBBY

He’s yours. Also, we should talk to

the lawyer who repped the victims in

the Porter case. Eric MacLeish.

MATT

That guy was always on TV.

SACHA

The Porter case? Remind me?

MIKE

Father Porter, similar story,

molested dozens of kids in Fall

River about ten years ago.

MATT

So we’re dropping the Boston PD?

MIKE

I vote yes.

ROBBY

No, we’re just setting it aside for

now. I don’t need to tell you guys,

we need to be more discreet than

usual. Everybody’s gonna be

interested in this, not just the

Herald. I don’t want the Chancery

getting wind of this before we know

what we have.

MATT

Good luck with that.

They reach for phones and computers, Robby leaves them to it.

15EXT. SACHA’S GRANDMOTHER’S HOUSE, SOUTHIE - NIGHT

The quiet street dips down, disappearing into the harbour. Sacha and Hansi get out of their car, cross the street.

16INT. SACHA’S GRANDMOTHER’S HOUSE, DINING ROOM - NIGHT

A cozy dining room. Sacha, her GRANDMOTHER and her husband HANSI finish dinner. Sacha’s grandmother wears a gold cross.

SACHA

When are you leaving, Nana?

NANA

The bus is picking us up in the

church parking lot at nine o’clock.

We have forty people going.

SACHA

Is Father Dominic going?

NANA

No. He said, he’s very unlucky. But

luck has nothing to do with it.

Hansi can’t help but smile.

SACHA

Nana won a hundred and sixty dollars

last time.

HANSI

Wow.

17INT. SACHA’S GRANDMOTHER’S HOUSE, KITCHEN - NIGHT

Hansi and Sacha wash dishes. They talk quietly.

HANSI

You gonna tell her?

SACHA

We don’t even know if there’s a

story yet.

HANSI

“Globe sues church?” There’s gonna

be a story.

Sacha continues rinsing, glances at the small, porcelain Virgin Mary on the window sill above the sink.

18INT. GLOBE, LARGE PUBLISHER’S FOYER - DAY

Marty ascends a large, open air staircase in the upscale business side of the building. He steps off, heads down the hall then stops, looks around. Lost in his own building.

A YOUNG EMPLOYEE walks past.

MARTY

Excuse me, do you know where the

Publisher’s office is?

The employee points. Marty heads that direction.

19INT. GLOBE, PUBLISHER’S OFFICE - DAY

RICHARD GILMAN, 50s, Brooks Brothers suit, finishes a call. Marty is sitting on a couch in large, plush office opposite.

GILMAN (INTO PHONE)

Thanks, Tom. Will do.

(hangs up, to Marty)

How are you, Marty? Settling in?

MARTY

Yes, I think so.

GILMAN

Good. What can I do for you?

MARTY

I’d like to challenge the protective

order in the Geoghan case.

GILMAN

You want to sue the Catholic Church?

MARTY

We’re just filing a motion. But yes.

GILMAN

You think it’s that important?

MARTY

Yes. I do.

GILMAN

Because, obviously, the Church will

fight us very hard on this. Which

won’t go unnoticed by our subscriber

base. 53% of them are Catholic.

MARTY

Uh, I think they’ll be interested.

Gilman considers for a long moment, looks unsettled.

GILMAN

Okay.

Marty nods, gets up to go.

GILMAN (CONT’D)

Marty? Lake Street will probably

contact you about a face to face

with the Cardinal. It’s customary.

MARTY

They already have. It’s set up for

next week.

GILMAN

I wouldn’t mention this.

24A INT. GLOBE - DAY

Matt walks down a row of cubicles, disappears down a spiral staircase.

24B INT. BOSTON GLOBE LIBRARY - CONTINUOUS

Matt descends the staircase and arrives at the front desk.

MATT

Hey Lisa. Could you pull all the

relevant clips on that for me?

He hands her a sheet of paper. She looks at it. Reacts.

LISA

Yeah. This is for Spotlight?

MATT

Just drop them off when they’re

ready, thanks.

Matt walks off.

20INT. MITCHELL GARABEDIAN’S OFFICE - DAY

Mike steps off an elevator and into a DUMP of an office. He eyes a small reception desk covered with FILE BOXES.

MIKE

Hello. Hello?

Mike peeks through an open door... a small office, crammed FLOOR TO CEILING with BOXES, each with GEOGHAN written on it.

PARALEGAL

Can I help you?

Mike turns. A PARALEGAL pokes her head out of a cubicle.

MIKE

Oh. Hi. I’m Mike Rezendes from the

Boston Globe. I’m here to see

Mitchell Garabedian.

PARALEGAL

He’s on a call. Please have a seat.

Mike grabs a seat, checks his watch. He hears YELLING coming from behind a closed door. Garabedian?

21INT. ONE INTERNATIONAL PLACE, LOBBY - DAY

Robby and Sacha stride across an enormous, marble and stone lobby, a STARK CONTRAST to Garabedian’s digs.

27 OMITTED

22INT. GREENBERG TRAURIG, CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY

ERIC MACLEISH, 40s, good looks, quick with a story and a smile, walks into the posh room, finds Sacha and Robby.

ERIC MACLEISH

The famous Walter Robinson in my

conference room.

MacLeish and Robby shake hands.

ROBBY

Good to see you again, Eric. Sacha

Pfeiffer, Eric MacLeish.

ERIC MACLEISH

Nice to meet you. Do you play golf?

SACHA

(caught off guard)

Uh, no.

ERIC MACLEISH

Good. Your colleague took some money

off me at a charity event last year.

ROBBY

Lucky putt. I actually had my eyes

closed.

MacLeish smiles. Chummy.

ERIC MACLEISH

So, how can I help you?

ROBBY

You’re familiar with the Geoghan

case?

ERIC MACLEISH

Sure. Eighty plaintiffs. All

individual cases, Garabedian must be

swimming.

ROBBY

And the allegations against Cardinal

Law?

MacLeish considers the question.

ERIC MACLEISH

Look, it’s tricky. You need to

understand these are shitty cases.

The statute of limitations is only 3

years and most of these victims

don’t come forward until long after

that.

SACHA

Why is that?

ERIC MACLEISH

They’re kids. Shame. Guilt. And

they come from tough neighborhoods,

nobody wants to admit this kind of

thing. So you’re screwed on the

time limit and even if you argue

your way around that, the charitable

immunity statute caps damages at

twenty grand.

SACHA

Twenty grand for molesting a child?

ERIC MACLEISH

That’s the way the system works.

The Church is tough. So your best

shot is to try these cases in the

press like I did on Porter. But

most victims want nothing to do with

being on TV. And Mitch isn’t

exactly a people person.

ROBBY

So if Garabedian can’t get these

victims to talk to the press...

ERIC MACLEISH

Then he has a long road ahead of

him. My guess? He doesn’t have

anything on Law.

SACHA

You think he’s bluffing?

ERIC MACLEISH

I think he’s grandstanding to cut a

better deal.

ROBBY

Seems a bit reckless.

ERIC MACLEISH

Have you met Mitch Garabedian?

23INT. GARABEDIAN’S OFFICE - LATER

Mike, still waiting, checks his watch. He hears more YELLING behind the door. Suddenly the door opens. A SHORT MAN exits.

Mike looks at the paralegal, points: “Is that him?” She shakes her head, walks off screen. Mike watches her go. Then, impatient, he stands, walks into --

24INT. GARABEDIAN’S OFFICE, CONFERENCE ROOM - CONTINUOUS

A small boardroom. MITCHELL GARABEDIAN, thin, 50s, sits at a table buried in paperwork. He’s abrasive, to say the least.

MIKE

Hi.

GARABEDIAN

Who are you?

MIKE

Mike Rezendes from the Boston Globe.

I had an appointment with you about

an hour ago.

GARABEDIAN

I can’t talk to you, I’m very busy.

(calling to reception)

Sharon?!

MIKE

Sharon went out for coffee, she said

she’d be right back, I’m following

up on an article...

GARABEDIAN

The one in the Phoenix?

MIKE

No. In the Globe.

GARABEDIAN

Did you see the one in the Phoenix?

MIKE

No, I didn’t.

GARABEDIAN

I thought it was very good. I have a

copy here somewhere.

He starts to dig through the heap of papers.

MIKE

That’s okay. I’ll track it down. I’m

actually following up on a column

that Eileen McNamara wrote for the

Globe about your suit.

GARABEDIAN

Suits. There are eighty-four of

them, it’s not a class action. You

should get your facts straight.

True to word. Garabedian is a bit of crank.

MIKE

You’re right. I should. I’m just

trying to get some background

information on the Geoghan case...

GARABEDIAN

You’re not recording this are you?

MIKE

No, I wouldn’t do that without

asking.

GARABEDIAN

(brusque)

I can’t show you the Church

documents if that’s what you’re

after, they’re under seal.

MIKE

I know that.

GARABEDIAN

Do you know they’ve tried to bring

me before the Massachusetts Board of

Bar Overseers three times? They’re

watching me very closely.

MIKE

The Church?

GARABEDIAN

Yes, the Church. They’d like to get

me disbarred. In fact, put that

away.

(off Mike’s pad)

Put it away! I don’t want you

recording this in any way, shape or

form. Not on paper, not on tape,

nothing. In fact, I probably

shouldn’t even be speaking to you.

MIKE

Look, Mr. Garabedian, I know there

are things you can’t tell me. But I

also know that there’s a story here.

And I think it’s an important story.

GARABEDIAN

I already talked to the Phoenix.

MIKE

Yeah, and there’s a reason I didn’t

see it, nobody reads the Phoenix

anymore. They’re broke, they don’t

have any power. The Globe does.

And if we cover this story,

everybody will hear about it.

GARABEDIAN

The Church thinks in centuries, Mr.

Rezendes. You think your paper has

the resources to take that on?

MIKE

Yeah, I do. But if you don’t mind

me asking, do you?

Mike’s question is non-threatening, but Garabedian reacts. He stands, walking Mike to the door...

GARABEDIAN

I don’t have the time to talk to

you, Mr. Rezendes, I’m very busy.

(calling out)

Sharon!

But before he can push Mike out the door, Mike turns back --

MIKE

Can I at least talk to some of your

clients? The victims? I’d like to

do that.

GARABEDIAN

Call me tomorrow. I need to think

about it.

25INT. GLOBE, LIBRARY - DAY

A Button is pushed, CONTROL PANEL lights up.

A rotating library clip file comes to stop.

A few old newspaper clips are pulled.

A folder from the LARGE PHOTO clip file is pulled.

A Nexis search on a computer screen.

A Micro Fiche search on another screen.

A PRINTER spits out the Micro Fiche article.

The PRINT OUT out is added to a STACK OF ARTICLES and dropped into a file marked Porter.

26INT. GLOBE, HALLWAY - LATER

CLOSE ON the same file. Moving.

REVEAL the folder is now one of many on a METAL CART that an intern (WANDA) wheels down the hall.

27INT. GLOBE, SPOTLIGHT OFFICE - LATER

A desk covered with old newspaper clips, Matt and Sacha read. A knock... Wanda in the door. With the metal cart.

WANDA

I got more clips from the library.

MATT

Leave ‘em right there.

Wanda the intern unloads them beside Matt’s desk.

WANDA

You guys doing a story on the

Church?

MATT

No. We are not doing a story on the

Church.

Wanda blanches, leaves. Robby pours some coffee.

SACHA

Matt, you find anything on this guy

Phil Saviano?

MATT

No. Who is he?

SACHA

He’s part of a victims’

organization. Kurkjian ran a story

on him just after the Porter case.

ROBBY

There’s a victims’ organization?

SACHA

Yeah, it’s called SNAP, Survivors

Network of those Abused by Priests.

MATT

Crummy acronym.

SACHA

You want me to track him down?

ROBBY

Yeah. Bring him in. How much longer

do you need to get through the

clips?

SACHA

A few days. There’s a lot and

Lisa’s still sending stuff up. Most

of it is on Porter.

MATT

Hey guys... I think I got another

priest.

Robby and Sacha turn. Matt stares down at a clip.

MATT (CONT’D)

Liam Barrett. Molested some kids in

Philly then was moved to Boston, did

the same thing then was moved again.

SACHA

Really? Sounds like Geoghan.

ROBBY

Is that one of our clips?

MATT

Yeah. Byline’s Diego Ribadeneira,

1997. Must’ve been back when he was

working religion.

ROBBY

Was there any folo?

MATT

Not much. One short piece. Looks

like the Church settled the case.

(then)

Don’t you know Jim Sullivan?

ROBBY

Yeah, why?

MATT

Looks like the Church brought him in

to help out.

Matt shows Robby the clip. Robby reads, surprised.

28EXT. FENWAY PARK - NIGHT

Establishing. From up above, a game in progress.

34A INT. FENWAY PARK - NIGHT

Mike and Matt sit with Ben and Steve Kurkjian at the game. A called third strike and the crowd groans.

BEN

Jesus. Has anybody but Manny gotten

the ball out of the infield?

Matt, who’s been scoring the game, checks.

MATT

Nope.

MIKE

I don’t know why you bother with

that thing.

MATT

It distracts me from the game.

KURKJIAN

Know what else is good for that?

Kurkjian holds up an empty beer cup. Matt stands.

MATT

Good idea. My round. I’ll be back.

Anybody want food?

MIKE

Hot dog.

Matt heads off. Ben grabs some peanuts, turns to Mike.

BEN

You guys making any progress?

MIKE

Absolutely. It’s a good story.

BEN

Why? Cause you’re another lapsed

Catholic pissed off at the Church?

MIKE

We’ve got some good stuff.

BEN

Like what?

Mike glances over at Kurkjian.

KURKJIAN

I’m just watching the game. Omerta.

MIKE

We got another priest, Liam Barrett.

KURKJIAN

We reported on him.

(off Mike’s look)

We did, I’m just saying.

MIKE

Okay, but the guy was shuffled from

parish to parish every few years,

just like Geoghan and Porter. I

think there’s a pattern.

Ben looks at Kurkjian, who’s not impressed.

BEN

Sounds thin. What else you got?

MIKE

Sacha found this guy from a victims’

organization, Phil Saviano.

KURKJIAN

From SNAP? Oh boy. We reported on

him too.

MIKE

I thought you were watching the

game, Steve?

KURKJIAN

That guy’s pretty banged up, Mike.

BEN

We ran a couple stories on him, the

guy would not stop writing letters.

KURKJIAN

He wants a holy war.

MIKE

So he’s not worth taking to?

BEN

Where are you on Garabedian?

MIKE

I’m working on it.

BEN

Robby said MacLeish thinks he’s

bluffing.

MIKE

I think there’s something there,

Ben.

BEN

Get me something solid or I'm taking

you off it. I don’t want us chasing

our tails on this.

Off Mike --

29EXT. WOLLASTON GOLF CLUB, 8TH TEE, MILTON, MA - DAY

JIM SULLIVAN, 50s, lines up a tee shot. Smacks it. ROBBY and TWO OTHER GOLFERS watch as Jim talks to his ball...

JIM

Stay away from that trap.

ROBBY

You couldn’t reach that trap in a

million years, partner.

One of the other golfers (PAUL) tees up his ball.

JIM

I’ve reached that trap before.

ROBBY

Yeah. Now Paul, maybe.

The group laughs.

30EXT. WOLLASTON GOLF CLUB, 8TH HOLE FAIRWAY - DAY

Robby and Jim walk down the fairway. Robby checks the card.

JIM

How we doing?

ROBBY

We’re good. We’re two up.

JIM

Good.

(then)

How’s the new editor working out?

ROBBY

Well, he doesn’t like baseball. But

he seems like a smart guy.

JIM

Yeah, I just read an article about

him. Said he’s the first Jewish

editor at the Globe.

ROBBY

Must have been a slow news day.

JIM

He got a family?

ROBBY

No, he’s not married.

JIM

Divorced?

ROBBY

Don’t think so.

JIM

So the new editor of the Boston

Globe is an unmarried man of the

Jewish faith who hates baseball?

Robby half smiles, shrugs.

JIM (CONT’D)

They should have given it to Ben.

He’s a Bradlee for crying out loud.

ROBBY

He didn’t raise his hand fast

enough.

(then)

By the way, I was reading about this

priest, Father Barrett. Said you

were involved in the case.

Jim reacts, surprised.

JIM

Barrett, yeah. Bad egg. Lake

Street asked for help, I pitched in.

ROBBY

The victim said Cardinal Law knew

about Barrett when he came from

Philly.

JIM

You know I can’t talk about the

case, Robby.

ROBBY

Off the record?

JIM

Off the record, I can’t talk about

it. Is this related to the lawsuit?

Now Robby hides his surprise. He stops.

ROBBY

You heard about that?

JIM

Look, I don’t know this guy Baron or

what his agenda is and frankly I

don’t care, I just don’t want you

taking a bullet for him.

Jim heads off toward his ball. Off Robby, processing.

31INT. BARBARA’S CAR, WOLLASTON PARKING LOT - LATER

Robby gets in. She pulls off.

BARBARA

How’d you play?

ROBBY

Not too bad. Shoulda left my putter

at home.

BARBARA

How’s Jimmy?

ROBBY

Good. He brought up the suit.

BARBARA

Really? What’d he say?

ROBBY

He was thrilled about it.

BARBARA

It’s not a surprise, Robby. The

Church does a lot a good in this

town.

Robby nods, but something about that doesn’t sit right.

32EXT. MATT CARROLL’S HOUSE, WEST ROXBURY - SUNDAY MORNING

Matt, in coat and tie, shepherds his family out the door and into a minivan. His wife and daughter wear DRESSES, his sons are in BLUE BLAZERS and KHAKIS -- clearly en route to church.

PRIEST (PRELAP)

The other day I was on the world

wide web. Anything you want to

know. It’s right there.

33INT. CHURCH, SOUTHIE - DAY

Sunday mass. Full house. A PRIEST mid homily. In back, FIND Sacha, her husband, HANSI, and her GRANDMOTHER.

PRIEST

Now as a priest, I admit, this makes

me a little nervous. Should I be

worried about job security?

Sacha watches her grandmother laugh with the congregation.

34EXT. CHURCH/INT. DINER, SOUTH BOSTON - DAY

CONGREGANTS milling outside a church.

PRIEST (O.C.)

I don’t think so. You see knowledge

is one thing. But faith is another.

FIND Marty, sitting in a diner across the street, eating breakfast and reading. He glances at the church.

42A EXT. OLD HARBOR, DORCHESTER - DAY

Mike, in running gear, runs along the water.

43 OMITTED

35INT. GLOBE, NEWSROOM - LATER

Mike walks through the mostly empty newsroom.

36INT. GLOBE, SPOTLIGHT OFFICE - DAY

Mike walks in, grabs a gym bag by his desk, pulls out a towel when he spots... Robby. Sitting in his office. Working.

37INT. GLOBE, ROBBY’S OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER

Robby’s looking over some of the clips Matt pulled.

MIKE

Hey. Shouldn’t you be golfing?

Robby looks up. Mike’s in the door, towel around his neck.

ROBBY

Golfing’s not a verb. And I

couldn’t get a tee time today.

MIKE

Is that what they call it? A tee

time?

ROBBY

They also call it a leisure

activity. You should try it, Mike.

MIKE

I run.

ROBBY

You run to work.

Mike shrugs, true. He eyes the clips on Robby’s desk.

MIKE

So what are you doing here today?

ROBBY

Looking at clips. On Saviano.

MIKE

Ben and Steve think he’s a dead end.

They gave me a bunch of crap about

it at the game.

ROBBY

Yeah, Ben emailed me.

MIKE

He did?

ROBBY

Yeah. He said we should let it go.

MIKE

What do you wanna do?

ROBBY

Bring Saviano in.

MIKE

So just ignore those guys?

ROBBY

I think we have to start ignoring

everybody on this one.

MIKE

I’m good with that.

(then)

You think Baron has any idea what’s

coming down the Pike?

ROBBY

No. I don’t think he cares either.

MIKE

That’s refreshing.

ROBBY

Yeah. Unless he’s wrong.

Mike registers this.

38EXT. LAKE STREET, CARDINAL’S RESIDENCE - DAY

An Audi A4 pulls up in a large parking lot. Marty gets out, looks up at the Cardinal’s MASSIVE LAKE STREET MANSION.

CARDINAL LAW (PRELAP)

I’ve always been fascinated with the

newspaper business.

39INT. LAKE STREET, CARDINAL LAW’S PRIVATE STUDY - DAY

Mahogany bookshelves, leather furniture. CARDINAL LAW, large, 50s, wears a collar and sits across from Marty.

CARDINAL LAW

I used to sit in on lectures with

the Nieman fellows when I was at

Harvard.

MARTY

I, uh, read you were an editor once.

Law chuckles.

CARDINAL LAW

Yes. A very long time ago. The

Mississippi Register. Small,

diocesan newspaper, but for a 30-

year-old pastor it was a big

responsibility. Too much at times.

MARTY

How so?

CARDINAL LAW

I was close with the Evers brothers,

we took a stand on civil rights.

Our readership was not pleased.

They saw me as a meddling outsider.

MARTY

I can imagine.

CARDINAL LAW

Tough seat to sit in, especially in

a small town. I think you’ll find

Boston’s a small town too, Marty, in

many ways. But if I can be of any

help, don’t hesitate to ask. I find

that this city flourishes when its

great institutions work together.

MARTY

Uh, thank you. Personally I’m of

the opinion that for the paper to

best perform its function it needs

to, uh, stand alone.

Law reacts, surprised -- the rebuff almost feels unwarranted.

CARDINAL LAW

Of course, but my offer stands.

A KNOCK on the door.

CARDINAL LAW (CONT’D)

Come in.

A SECRETARY slips in with a WRAPPED GIFT.

CARDINAL LAW (CONT’D)

Oh. Thank you, Maureen. A little

gift, Marty. Think of it as A

Cardinal’s guide to Boston.

Law hands the gift to Marty. Who looks at it. Bemused.

40INT. MARTY’S CAR (PARKED), LAKE STREET - LATER

Marty gets into to his car. He sits, unwraps the gift. A thick book, THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. Off Marty--

49A INT. GLOBE, LOBBY - DAY

A MAN (SAVIANO) carrying a LARGE BOX walks up to reception.

SAVIANO

I’m here to see Sacha Pfeiffer?

GUARD

Name?

SAVIANO

Phil Saviano.

GUARD

Okay, just a minute.

The guard picks up the phone, calls upstairs.

41INT. GLOBE, ROBBY’S OFFICE - DAY

The entire team sits in Robby’s small sitting area facing PHIL SAVIANO. Phil is mid-40s, thin and twitchy. He’s got a medium sized BOX in front if him. He rifles through some papers on his lap.

SAVIANO

So am I the first survivor you’ve

talked to?

ROBBY

Yes, Phil. You are.

SAVIANO

Okay, well, first of all, let me say

thank you for having me in today. I

want you to know that you have the

full cooperation of my organization,

SNAP.

SACHA

How many members are there in your

organization, Phil?

SAVIANO

We had eleven at our last chapter

meeting. No ten. Karen just moved.

ROBBY

There was a woman in your group?

SAVIANO

Of course there was a woman. They

don’t discriminate, not when it

comes to abuse. And this has

nothing to do with being gay. What

this is, is priests using the collar

to rape kids. Kids. Boys and girls.

He reaches into a file, pulls a PHOTO of himself as a kid.

SAVIANO (CONT’D)

I was eleven. I was preyed upon by

Father David Holley in Worcester.

And I don’t mean prayed for. I mean

preyed upon. Are any of you

Catholic?

The whole team looks at each other. Good question.

MATT

I was raised Catholic but now I go

to my wife’s Presbyterian church.

SACHA

I’m lapsed but I go to church with

my grandmother sometimes.

ROBBY

It’s safe to say we were all raised

Catholic but now...

MIKE

Not so much.

SAVIANO

Okay. Well, let me tell you, when

you’re a poor kid from a poor

family, religion counts for a lot.

And when a priest pays attention to

you it’s a big deal. He asks you to

collect the hymnals or take out the

trash, you feel special. It’s like

God asking for help. And maybe it’s

a little weird when he tells you a

dirty joke but now you got a secret

together so you go along. Then he

shows you a porno mag, and you go

along. And you go along, and you go

along, until one day he asks you to

jerk him off or give him a blow job.

And so you go along with that too.

Because you feel trapped. Because

he has groomed you. How do you say

no to God, right?

This lands.

SAVIANO (CONT’D)

See, it’s important to understand

that this is not just physical

abuse, it’s spiritual abuse too.

When priest does this to you, he

robs you of your faith.

SAVIANO (CONT’D)

So you reach for the bottle or the

needle or if those don’t work, you

jump off a bridge. That’s why we

call ourselves survivors.

The team stares, gobsmacked. Phil pulls a book from the box.

SAVIANO (CONT’D)

Have you read Jason Berry’s book?

He wrote about the Gauthe case in

Louisiana?

ROBBY SACHA

We’re not familiar. That’s G-U...

SAVIANO (CONT’D)

G-A-U-T-H-E. And talk to Richard

Sipe. He worked in one of the

Church’s ‘treatment’ centers, he’s

an ex-priest, married a nun.

(pulling out a file)

Here, this is his testimony from the

Kos case.

SACHA

Phil, what’s a treatment center?

SAVIANO

It’s where they send priests when

they get caught. This is all right

here in the box, I sent it all to

you guys five years ago.

ROBBY

To the Globe? Who’d you send it to?

SAVIANO

I don’t wanna say who, but they said

they weren’t interested.

MATT

But Phil, we did run a couple of

stories on you. I saw them in the

clips.

SAVIANO

Yeah but to be completely frank, it

wasn’t enough!

Robby and Mike trade a look as Phil takes a PACKET out of the box overflowing with tattered clips, articles and data CDs.

SAVIANO (CONT’D)

You guys gotta understand, this is

big. It’s not just Boston, it’s the

whole country, the whole world. And

it goes right up to the Vatican.

MIKE

Do you have any proof of that, Phil?

SAVIANO

No, not yet, but think about it,

there are so many of them, how else

could they have hidden it for so

long?

MIKE

So many what?

SAVIANO

Priests! I know of thirteen right

here in Boston.

ROBBY

You know of thirteen priests who

have molested children in Boston?

SAVIANO

Yeah. Why do you keep repeating

everything I say?

ROBBY

I just like to clarify things.

SAVIANO

Maybe you should have clarified it

five years ago when I sent you all

this stuff! It’s all right here.

Phil’s sudden anger catches the room off guard. He stares at the box, tries to pull himself together.

SAVIANO (CONT’D)

May I use your bathroom?

MATT

Yeah. Sure, Phil. Come on.

Matt leads Phil out. A beat. Mike quickly starts shuffling through the packet.

SACHA

What do you think?

ROBBY

He’s got an agenda, that’s for sure.

MIKE SACHA

You think? He’s obviously been through a

lot.

SACHA

But he’s smart and if he’s right

about thirteen priests...

ROBBY

Might be a big ‘if’ with this guy.

(then to Sacha)

Run background on him and follow up

with some of the other survivors in

his group.

MIKE

I’ll track down this ex-priest Sipe.

ROBBY

Okay. But stay on Garabedian,

that’s more important.

MIKE

Garabedian’s a pain in the ass.

ROBBY

You can be a pain in the ass,

Michael.

42EXT. STATE STREET, BOSTON - DAY

Garabedian walks down State Street. Mike falls in with him.

MIKE

Mitch, what a surprise. How are you?

GARABEDIAN

I’m fine, Mr. Rezendes.

The light changes and Garabedian walks. Mike tags along.

MIKE

Good. You know, I never heard back

from you. I left you a couple

messages.

GARABEDIAN

I’ve been very busy. I don’t have

time for calls.

MIKE

Jeez, I’m sure you don’t. Listen,

Mitch, lemme talk to a couple of

your victims... You can sit in on

the interview, if you’re not happy

you can kill it.

GARABEDIAN

I spoke to my clients, they don’t

want to be in the press. I’m sorry.

Garabedian walks into --

43INT. GARABEDIAN’S BUILDING, LOBBY - CONTINUOUS

A shitty lobby, Mike follows Mitch in, continues --

MIKE

I get that but I don’t need to name

names, Mitch.

GARABEDIAN

I don’t believe you, Mr. Rezendes.

Mitch walks to the elevator, presses the button.

MIKE

Yeah, I’m sure you don’t.

GARABEDIAN

I don’t.

The elevator opens. Mitch walks on. Mike follows him into --

44INT. GARABEDIAN’S BUILDING, ELEVATOR - CONTINUOUS

The doors close. It’s cramped, but Mike keeps going.

MIKE

Listen, Mitch, I’m not writing a

profile here. I’m working on

something bigger.

GARABEDIAN

Bigger, what does that mean?

MIKE

I’m not supposed to tell you this,

but I’m digging around for

Spotlight.

This registers with Mitch.

GARABEDIAN

Spotlight’s on this?

MIKE

Yeah, we’re looking into it. But I

need some help, Mitch. You gotta

let me talk to some of these

victims. Please.

GARABEDIAN

(beat, then)

Come back tomorrow. 9:30am.

MIKE

Thank you.

Doors open. Garabedian walks out. Mike smiles. Got him.

55A EXT. CAFE FRANCESCA, SOUTH END - DAY

Sacha walks up to a small cafe in the South end.

45INT. CAFE FRANCESCA, SOUTH END - DAY

A small, bohemian cafe, mostly men. JOE CROWLEY, 42, heavy, boyish face, sits alone WATCHING the door. NERVOUS as shit. The door opens. Sacha walks in, pauses, looking around...

JOE CROWLEY

Ms. Pfeiffer?

SACHA

Joe?

He stands, almost knocking over his coffee. He starts to straighten the messy table, clean the crumbs all over it.

JOE CROWLEY SACHA

Shoot. Sorry. No, that’s okay, no problem.

JOE CROWLEY

Uh... please sit. Is this table

okay? I had a muffin while I was

waiting. Two actually. I eat when

I’m nervous.

SACHA

I do that too.

(then)

I hope I’m not late. Phil said one.

JOE CROWLEY

No, you’re fine. I got here early.

About an hour.

SACHA

Would you mind if I took some of

notes? Would that be alright?

46INT. GARABEDIAN’S OFFICE, CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY

Mike and Garabedian sit with 25-year-old PATRICK MCSORLEY. McSorley is good looking but ragged. Not outwardly nervous, but he’s got a high-pitched voice and an ADDICT’S ITCH.

MIKE

You don’t mind if I take some notes,

do you?

PATRICK MCSORELY

You gonna use my name?

GARABEDIAN

No.

MIKE

Not if you don’t want me to.

PATRICK MCSORLEY

I just had a kid. He’s only one but

I’m not sure I want him to know

about this.

MIKE

Yeah. I get it.

GARABEDIAN

You can stop this interview any time

you want, Patrick.

PATRICK MCSORLEY

Okay. Go ‘head with your notes.

MIKE

Where did you live when it first

happened?

PATRICK MCSORLEY

In the projects, over in Hyde Park.

MIKE

Over by the Stop & Shop?

PATRICK MCSORLEY

Yeah, you know it?

MIKE

Yeah, I drove a cab for years. Opens

early, bad coffee, right?

PATRICK MCSORLEY

Yeah, I guess.

McSorley isn’t having it.

MIKE

How old were you? When it happened.

PATRICK MCSORLEY

I was twelve. My dad had just

killed himself.

MIKE

Jeez.

PATRICK MCSORLEY

He was a real piece of shit. And my

mom, she wasn’t so stable to begin

with.

MIKE

What do mean?

PATRICK MCSORLEY I mean she was nuts. GARABEDIAN She was schizophrenic.

PATRICK MCSORLEY

Same shit.

MIKE

So how did you meet Geoghan?

PATRICK MCSORLEY

My sister saw him in the Dunkin’

Donuts. She tells him about my old

man and he rushed right over.

Patrick nervously itches at his arm as we CUT TO --

47INT. CAFE FRANCESCA, SOUTH END - DAY

Joe talks very fast. He takes a big gulp of water.

JOE CROWLEY

...and there was this nun, Sister

Barbara, she ran this group for kids

from troubled families.

SACHA

Where was that?

JOE CROWLEY

St. Ambrose in Dorchester. She’s

the one who introduced me to Father

Shanley. He was a street priest,

long hair, very hip. He invited me

to his apartment in Back Bay.

SACHA

Where in Back Bay?

JOE CROWLEY

Beacon Street. Are you from here?

SACHA

I grew up in Ohio but my mom’s from

Southie.

JOE CROWLEY

So you get it. I’d never even been

to Back Bay.

SACHA

What happened on that first visit?

JOE CROWLEY

Well, he was very nice at first,

very casual, very funny. And I

think he could tell I was gay

because he showed me this mobile he

had, like over a baby’s crib? But

with different words. Homosexual,

bisexual, transsexual...

SACHA

Did you know you were gay at the

time, Joe?

JOE CROWLEY

Yes, but that wasn’t information I

was sharing with anybody. Not in

Dorchester.

SACHA

Right. So, what happened when he

showed you the mobile?

JOE CROWLEY

Well, I was a little freaked out and

I guess he could tell so he said,

you know what will help is if we

play strip poker. Of course I lost.

And things went on from there.

SACHA

What happened specifically?

JOE CROWLEY

Specifically, he molested me.

SASHA

Joe, I think the language here is

going to be very important. We

can’t sanitize this, just saying

molest isn’t enough. People need to

know what actually happened.

Joe sits back, getting it as the waiter serves two coffees.

JOE CROWLEY

Maybe we should get these to go.

48INT. GARABEDIAN’S OFFICE, CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY

Mike sits with McSorley and Garabedian.

PATRICK MCSORLEY

Geoghan shows up and my mom, she’s

thrilled. I mean this was like God

showing up, you know?

MIKE

Sure. So what happened then?

PATRICK MCSORLEY

You really want to hear this shit?

MIKE

Yeah, Patrick. I do.

Patrick is struggling a bit. But he continues.

PATRICK MCSORLEY

He offers to take me to get ice

cream. He’s a priest, I’m a kid, so

I go.

MIKE

Sure.

PATRICK MCSORLEY

So we’re driving home and he starts

patting my leg and then... his hand

just slides up and he grabs my dick.

I just froze up, I was fucking

petrified. I couldn’t move. I

didn’t know what to do, I was just a

little kid.

(then)

I never even touched my freakin’ ice

cream, it just melted down my arm.

MIKE

Did you see him again after that?

PATRICK MCSORLEY

Yeah.

GARABEDIAN

Alright, it’s good. Let’s stop

there for now...

McSorley stares down at his hands. Trembling. Then he itches his arm. This time, Mike notes the HEROIN TRACKS.

49EXT. TITUS SPARROW PARK, SOUTH END - DAY

Sacha and Crowley walk through Peter’s Park. We can see the Cathedral in the distance. Crowley’s a little less nervous.

JOE CROWLEY

He said it was a way to make me more

comfortable with my body.

SACHA

And what happened next.

JOE CROWLEY

...he took off his clothes and said

I’ve been depressed, maybe you can

cheer me up and give me a blow job.

Classy guy.

SACHA

And did you?

JOE CROWLEY

Yeah. I know what you must be

thinking, why I would ever do that

with some creepy guy thirty years

older than me. But you have to

understand, this was the first time

in my life that someone told me it

was okay to be gay. And he was a

priest.

SACHA

So you had oral sex. Did you have

intercourse as well?

JOE CROWLEY

Yes. Not then, but later. It

really messed me up. I’m sober now

but that was the beginning of it

all. It’s very confusing, you know,

to be introduced to sex like that

and then to be attracted to men...

Joe tears up a bit. He stops, wipes his eyes.

JOE CROWLEY (CONT’D)

I’m sorry, I knew I was gonna SACHA

do this. I’m sorry. Don’t be sorry. It’s okay,

Joe. It’s okay.

Joe notices the kids on the church playground.

JOE CROWLEY (CONT’D)

And of course there’s a church right

here. And a playground.

Joe laughs nervously.

SACHA

Joe, did you ever tell anyone?

JOE CROWLEY

Like who, a priest?

50INT. GARABEDIAN’S OFFICE, CONFERENCE ROOM - NIGHT

It’s dark now. Mike’s writing up some notes as McSorley puts on his coat. Mike stands as McSorley heads for the door.

PATRICK MCSORLEY

Can I use your phone?

GARABEDIAN

Yeah, you know where it is.

McSorley nods in thanks. Then turns to Mike.

PATRICK MCSORLEY

You can use my name if you want.

MIKE

Thanks, Patrick.

PATRICK MCSORLEY

Don’t thank me, just get that

asshole, will you?

He exits. Mike lets out a breath. It’s a lot, even for him.

GARABEDIAN

He’s one of the lucky ones.

(off Mike’s look)

He’s still alive.

61A INT. KITCHEN, SACHA’S GRANDMOTHER’S APARTMENT - DAY

Sacha sits at the table looking through her notes. Her grandmother is at the stove cooking.

Sacha notices something in her notes, stands and takes out her cell. She walks out while she dials.

SACHA’S GRANDMOTHER

Would you like a cup of tea, Sacha?

SACHA

I’m fine, Nana. Thanks.

Sacha walks into --

61B INT. DINING ROOM, SACHA’S GRANDMOTHER’S APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS61B

Sacha on her phone, looking over her notes.

JOE CROWLEY (OVER THE PHONE)

Hello?

SACHA (INTO PHONE)

Hi Joe, it’s Sacha Pfeiffer.

JOE CROWLEY (OVER THE PHONE)

Hi Sacha. How are you?

SACHA (INTO PHONE)

I’m good, thanks. Listen, Joe,

there’s one thing that I wanted to

follow up on. You talked to Phil

Saviano about all this, right?

JOE CROWLEY (OVER THE PHONE)

Yeah. I went to a couple SNAP

meetings.

SACHA (INTO PHONE)

Right. And did Phil ever suggest

doing anything about it?

JOE CROWLEY (OVER THE PHONE)

No. The meetings weren’t really

about that. I mean, a couple of

them had gone to a lawyer but I

didn’t think it was worth it.

SACHA (INTO PHONE)

Why not?

JOE CROWLEY (OVER THE PHONE)

There were so many forms to fill

out, it was overwhelming. And he

said he could get only get me a

small settlement.

SACHA (INTO PHONE)

Who said that?

JOE CROWLEY (OVER THE PHONE)

The lawyer.

SACHA (INTO PHONE)

So you did go to see a lawyer?

Sacha takes out her pen, starts taking notes.

JOE CROWLEY (OVER THE PHONE)

Yeah, but I didn’t end up using him,

so I didn’t think it was important.

I’m sorry. I’m not trying to hide

anything.

SACHA (INTO PHONE)

No, I know, Joe. Do you remember

his name? The lawyer?

JOE CROWLEY (OVER THE PHONE)

No. But maybe Phil would know. The

guy was on TV a lot during the

Porter case. He was handsome.

SACHA (INTO PHONE)

Was it Eric MacLeish?

JOE CROWLEY (OVER THE PHONE)

Yeah, that’s it. MacLeish. I

thought he was very handsome.

Off Sacha --

62AA INT. GLOBE, CANTEEN - NIGHT 62AA

Robby getting a coffee, paying. Matt enters.

MATT

Hey.

ROBBY

Hey.

Matt heads for the Peanut M&Ms as Robby pays.

MATT

I was just in the newsroom, Judge

Sweeney set a date for the hearing.

ROBBY

When?

MATT

Two weeks. Canellos started a pool.

Ten bucks to get in.

ROBBY

Anyone picking the Globe?

MATT

He’s only taking bets on how fast

Sweeney rules against us.

Robby’s phone rings.

ROBBY

Huh.

He heads into the hall --

62A INT. GLOBE - LATER

Robby picks up.

ROBBY (INTO PHONE)

Robby.

SACHA (OVER THE PHONE)

Hi, it’s me. Did you get my message?

ROBBY (INTO PHONE)

I did. Looks like Father Shanley

could be our fourth priest.

SACHA (OVER THE PHONE)

I think he is.

ROBBY (INTO PHONE)

Did you follow up on MacLeish?

SACHA (OVER THE PHONE)

I just talked to Phil. He said

MacLeish dealt with a number of

these cases.

62B INT. NANA’S HOUSE - LATER

Sacha is alone at the dining room table.

ROBBY (INTO PHONE)

Guess he forgot to mention that.

SACHA (INTO PHONE)

I’m gonna go to the courthouse

tomorrow to see if I can find any

cases he settled against the church.

ROBBY (OVER THE PHONE)

Call me after you do. Good work.

Robby hangs up. Sacha sits there, spent, the day and the story LANDING on her. Hard.

51INT. GLOBE, BEN’S OFFICE - NIGHT

Ben packs up. A KNOCK. He turns, finds Robby with his bag.

ROBBY

You wanted to chat?

BEN

I’m late for a dinner. Walk me out.

52INT. GLOBE, NEWSROOM - CONTINUOUS

Ben and Robby walk. Robby sees Marty in his office, working.

ROBBY

Does he ever go home?

BEN

Apparently not. I got guys who

won’t leave ‘til he does, he’s

wearing out the goddamn newsroom.

Robby smiles.

BEN (CONT’D)

Where are we on Geoghan?

ROBBY

Following up with more victims. I

want to expand the investigation.

BEN

Why?

ROBBY

We got a fourth priest. There might

be as many as thirteen.

BEN

Thirteen? Who’s your source?

ROBBY

Phil Saviano.

Ben stops.

BEN

Christ, Robby, I told Mike --

ROBBY

I know. I think Saviano might be

legit, Ben.

BEN

You wanna elaborate on that?

ROBBY

No. Not yet. Just feels like this

is stacking up. That’s my gut.

Robby doesn’t embellish. The case is turning.

BEN

Okay.

ROBBY

Good. Thanks.

Robby walks off. Ben watches him go... then heads out --

53INT. MIKE’S APARTMENT, EAST BOSTON - NIGHT

Mike opens the fridge when his phone RINGS. He picks up.

MIKE (INTO PHONE)

Hello.

SIPE (OVER THE PHONE)

Mr. Rezendes?

MIKE (INTO PHONE)

Yeah. Who’s this?

SIPE (OVER THE PHONE)

It’s Richard Sipe.

MIKE (INTO PHONE)

Oh, hey Richard, thanks for calling.

Phil Saviano gave me your name, can

I ask you a few questions?

SIPE (OVER THE PHONE)

Of course.

Mike reaches for his bag, pulls out his pad and a pen.

MIKE (INTO PHONE)

Great. So Phil said you worked at

one of the church’s treatment

centers in Baltimore...

SIPE (OVER THE PHONE)

Yes, that’s right. The Seton

Psychiatric Institute. It was run

by the Daughters of Charity.

MIKE

And when was that, Richard?

SIPE (OVER THE PHONE)

Well, I started my psychotherapy

fellowship there in 1965 and I was

there for five years, but I spent

the next thirty studying abusive

priests and their victims.

MIKE

Really? That’s been your sole

focus?

SIPE

Look, Mike, the church wants us to

believe that it’s just a few bad

apples, but it’s a much bigger

problem than that.

MIKE

How much bigger?

SIPE

Well, based on the research, I would

classify it as a recognizable

psychiatric phenomenon.

As Mike starts scribbling, sucked back in...

MIKE

That’s big.

54INT. GLOBE, CAFETERIA - LATE MORNING

Eileen reads the paper, drinks a diet coke. Kurkjian sits nearby, working on a story and some eggs. Matt joins.

MATT

Hey Mac, if I needed historical data

on a priest, parishes he’d been

assigned to, where would I find it?

EILEEN

For Geoghan? It’s all in the clips.

Lisa has the source material.

MATT

Yeah, what if it was another priest?

One that hadn’t been in the papers.

EILEEN

You’re looking at another priest?

KURKJIAN

Who’re you looking at?

Kurkjian looks over. Matt tries to focus on Eileen.

MATT

Any ideas?

EILEEN

Come on Matt, you’re not going to

tell me?

Matt stares at her. Then pulls back.

MATT

I gotta get to a meeting. Thanks

Mac.

Matt beats a hasty retreat. Eileen and Kurkjian trade a look. Huh.

55INT. GLOBE, LIBRARY - LATER

A HAND pulls a BOOK off a reference shelf. FIND LISA TUITE, handing Matt the 2001 CATHOLIC CHURCH DIRECTORY.

LISA TUITE

The Archdiocese puts out an annual

directory, every priest and parish.

MATT

This is great. Do these go back any

further than ‘98?

LISA TUITE

Oh yeah. They go back to the 80’s

in the Mez. Beyond that, you gotta

go to the BPL.

MATT

In the Mez. Thanks, Lisa.

56INT. GLOBE, LONG HALLWAY - DAY

Robby and Mike walk down the hall. Mike debriefs him, a little manic, not unaffected by what he’s picked up.

MIKE

He said they all target the same

kinda kid. Low income family,

absentee father, broken home...

They walk into --

57INT. GLOBE, PRESSES - CONTINUOUS

It’s early. The presses are relatively quiet.

MIKE

And guys like Geoghan go after boys

not cause they prefer them, but

cause they’re more ashamed, less

likely to talk. These guys are

predators, Robby. Sipe says he saw

dozens of them at Seton in the 60’s.

He called it a “a phenomenon.”

ROBBY

Why didn’t he go public?

MIKE

He did, but the church has made a

huge effort to discredit him. Smear

campaigns, public statements by

prominent bishops. It’s just like

Saviano said. And Garabedian.

ROBBY

You getting anywhere with him?

MIKE

More victims.

ROBBY

You can’t empty his pockets?

MIKE

I’ll get him. I just need more

time.

ROBBY

Come on, Mike, you gotta get him.

MIKE

I’ll get him, I’ll get him.

They open a door, walk into --

58INT. GLOBE, BASEMENT - CONTINUOUS

A dank basement, low fluorescents and rows of old books on cheap tin bookshelves. Robby and Mike react to the smell.

MIKE

Jeez, what the hell is that smell?

MATT (O.C.)

There’s a dead rat in the corner.

Mike and Robby find Matt beside a HUGE STACK OF BOOKS.

ROBBY

What do we got?

MATT

Church directories. It’s every

priest in Massachusetts, what parish

they’re assigned to...

MIKE

These are official?

Mike and Robby grab directories, flipping through.

MATT

Yeah. I figured they could help us

track down the priests Saviano

mentioned, maybe find more victims.

ROBBY

(reads, squinting)

Can we turn on some more lights?

MATT

I couldn’t find the switch. You

wanna borrow my glasses?

ROBBY

No, I’m good.

MIKE

(off a directory)

1983, John Geoghan... St. Brendan’s

in Dorchester. So we can see where

any priest was in any given year.

MATT

(flips through another)

Exactly. I got him here at... huh.

ROBBY

What?

MATT

1980, the year he was pulled from

JP. It says he’s on sick leave.

MIKE

Come on. It actually says that?

Matt shows Mike. Robby urgently searches the directories.

ROBBY

Where’s 1991?

Robby finds the 1991 Directory and opens it. He searches...

ROBBY (CONT’D)

Barrett... Barrett... Liam Barrett..

I can’t read this. Can you look up

Liam Barrett?

(handing it to Mike)

1991’s the year they pulled him out

of Charlestown.

MIKE

(reading)

Barrett, Liam. Sick leave.

He shows them. We see the designation. SICK LEAVE.

MIKE (CONT’D)

It’s an official designation.

ROBBY

Let’s get these upstairs. And Matt,

let’s check the priests Saviano gave

us.

They start to collect the directories. Robby’s cell RINGS.

ROBBY (INTO THE PHONE) (CONT’D)

Robby.

SACHA (OVER THE PHONE)

Hey, I’m down at the courthouse.

59INT. SUFFOLK COUNTY COURTHOUSE, RECORDS ROOM - DAY

Sacha makes notes on a pad, a couple of files to one side.

SACHA (INTO PHONE)

Something’s not right here.

A COURT CLERK (MARK) walks over.

COURT CLERK (MARK)

There’s nothing on Shanley either,

Sacha.

SACHA

Okay, thanks.

(into phone)

We need to talk to MacLeish again.

ROBBY (OVER THE PHONE)

Really. Why?

SACHA (INTO PHONE)

There’s nothing here. There aren’t

any records...

60INT. GREENBERG TRAURIG, CONFERENCE ROOM - MORNING

Robby and Sacha have been waiting. Macleish enters.

ERIC MACLEISH

Thanks for waiting, so sorry guys, I

got stuck on a call. What’s up?

SACHA

Mr. MacLeish, are you familiar with

a priest named Paul Shanley?

MacLeish looks at her. Surprised. He sits back.

ERIC MACLEISH

Yes, I’m familiar with him.

SACHA

Have you settled cases against

Father Shanley?

ERIC MACLEISH

As I’m sure you can understand, I

can’t discuss that.

ROBBY

What about Father Ronald Paquin?

ERIC MACLEISH

I can’t discuss that either. Come

on, guys.

SACHA

We understand you’ve settled several

cases against each of them.

ERIC MACLEISH

Even if I’d been involved in those

cases, the settlements would be

confidential. I could be disbarred

for acknowledging their existence.

Robby’s not backing down. MacLeish shakes his head.

ERIC MACLEISH (CONT’D)

Look, I told you, these are tough

cases. Most of these folks just

want some acknowledgement of what

happened. We got them a sit-down

with the bishop and a little dough.

It was the best they could hope for.

ROBBY

It was certainly the best the priest

could hope for.

ERIC MACLEISH

No, the Church promised to take the

priests out of circulation.

ROBBY

And did you follow up on that?

ERIC MACLEISH

(done with this)

You guys need anything else?

SACHA

Yes. Why aren’t there any records?

I was just down at the courthouse,

why aren’t there any records of

these settlements?

MacLeish pauses. Hesitant, now not so sure of himself.

ERIC MACLEISH

We dealt directly with the Church.

We’d draw up a demand letter and

we’d send it to the chancery.

SACHA

You never filed anything in court?

ERIC MACLEISH

It was a private mediation.

So that’s a no. Jesus. Sacha and Robby react.

ROBBY

So this is just you and the

archdiocese’s lawyers in a room?

ERIC MACLEISH

Correct.

SACHA

Anyone else?

ERIC MACLEISH

Occasionally, the Church would bring

in another defense attorney to help

out.

ROBBY

You have any names?

ERIC MACLEISH

(stonewalling him)

No. No I don’t.

61INT. GLOBE, SPOTLIGHT - LATE AFTERNOON

Ben sits with the gang.

BEN

So this was all under the table?

SACHA

There’s no paper trail at all. The

victim has to sign a confidentiality

agreement to get the settlement.

The lawyer takes his third and the

Church sweeps it under the rug.

MIKE

Jeez. It’s a freakin’ racket.

BEN

It’s more complicated than that.

MacLeish has got a duty to his

clients to get the best deal he can.

SACHA

Sure, but how many victims do you

represent and profit from before you

say something?

MIKE

Garabedian would say none. That’s

why he’s taking these cases to

court. Because he wants people to

know about this.

SACHA

I agree. And, legal ethics aside,

Ben, operating the way MacLeish has

all but guarantees the abuse stays

under wraps.

BEN

Yeah.

(then)

Did MacLeish confirm all of

Saviano’s priests?

ROBBY

No. He’s limited by the

confidentiality agreement.

SACHA

But he’s clearly settled cases

against a number of them. Phil’s

put me in touch with some of the

other victims, I’m pretty confident

all of his priests are going to

check out.

BEN

So it’s thirteen priests?

SACHA ROBBY

Yeah. Looks that way.

BEN (CONT’D)

Holy Shit. Okay. Keep going.

Off Ben --

62INT. COPLEY SQUARE BALLROOM, ATRIUM - NIGHT

CLOSE ON a woman scanning a list of names on clipboard.

WOMAN

I’m sorry, what was it again?

REVEAL Marty standing next to her at the base of wide staircase. Several such women are checking off attendees.

MARTY

Uh, Baron? B-A-R-O-N.

WOMAN

I’m sorry, I don’t see you here.

PETE CONLEY (O.C.)

It’s okay, Kim, I can vouch for him.

Marty turns, finds PETE CONLEY, 60s, Irish wealth and power. He extends a hand.

PETE CONLEY (CONT’D)

Pete Conley, I’m on the board of

Catholic Charities. Welcome to

Boston, Mr. Baron.

MARTY

Uh, thank you.

PETE CONLEY

I appreciate you joining us. We’re

very proud of the work we do here in

Boston.

(then)

The Cardinal said you had a nice

visit.

MARTY

Uh, yes. We did.

PETER CONLEY

He’s an extraordinary man. I’m glad

you had a chance to chat.

75A INT. COPLEY SQUARE BALLROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Marty walks into the party, not knowing a soul. He stands alone, taking it in.

ROBBY

Enjoying yourself?

Marty turns. Robby’s there. Slacks and a blazer.

MARTY

Uh, to be honest, these events

aren’t really my strong suit.

(then)

Are you involved with the charity?

ROBBY

Not directly. Several of my friends

are. We all went to BC High

together. That’s the school across

the street from the Globe.

MARTY

It’s hard to miss.

ROBBY

Yeah. Hard to get away from too,

apparently.

Marty smiles.

ROBBY (CONT’D)

The Cardinal’s in the corner if

you’re so inclined.

Robby nods. Indeed, there’s the Cardinal and he’s talking to Pete Conley and few others.

MARTY

We’ve met.

ROBBY

Did he mention the suit?

MARTY

No, but he did give me a copy of the

Catechism.

ROBBY

(laughs)

Yeah, the Cardinal’s not known for

his subtlety. During the Porter

investigation, he literally called

down the power of God on the Globe.

MARTY

How did that play out?

ROBBY

A week later our editor broke his

leg skiing.

Marty reacts to Robby’s line.

WAITER

Shrimp toast, gentlemen?

Robby takes a shrimp.

63INT. ARMENIAN DINER, DOWNTOWN BOSTON - NIGHT

CLOSE ON a bowl of soup. HANDS reach for it... REVEAL Garabedian and Mike having dinner. Mike’s going over notes.

MIKE

You said there was a victim who

filed a criminal complaint?

GARABEDIAN

There were a few, but the judge

sealed the case records after

friends of the Church stepped in.

The Church has a lot of friends.

MIKE

Like Eric MacLeish?

Garabedian sees he understands. Garabedian’s impressed.

GARABEDIAN

Let’s just say, he’s not part of the

solution. You follow what I’m

saying?

MIKE

Sure.

Mike jots down some notes. Garabedian watches him.

GARABEDIAN

You work hard, Mr. Rezendes. Are

you married?

MIKE

Yeah.

GARABEDIAN

And your wife doesn’t mind you

working all the time?

MIKE

Yeah, she does.

GARABEDIAN

See. That’s why I never got

married. I’m too busy, what I do is

too important.

Garabedian salts his soup.

GARABEDIAN (CONT’D)

Your new editor, he’s a Jew right?

MIKE

Uh, that’s right.

GARABEDIAN

He comes in, suddenly everybody is

interested in the Church. You know

why? Because it takes an outsider.

Like me. I’m Armenian. How many

Armenians do you know in Boston?

MIKE

Steve Kurkjian, works at the Globe.

GARABEDIAN

That’s two! You should get a prize

or something. What are you, Italian?

MIKE

Portuguese.

GARABEDIAN

From where?

MIKE

East Boston.

GARABEDIAN

You don’t sound like it.

Mike shrugs. Garabedian shakes his head, chuckles.

GARABEDIAN (CONT’D)

This city, these people, making the

rest of us feel like we don’t

belong. But they’re no better than

us. Look how they treat their

children.

(wiping his mouth)

Mark my words, Mr. Rezendes, if it

takes a village to raise a child, it

takes a village to abuse one.

Garabedian eats. Mike ponders. Oddly moved.

64INT. COPLEY SQUARE BALLROOM, ATRIUM - NIGHT

Robby crosses the room, joins Jim Sullivan at the bar.

JIM

There he is.

They two men shake.

JIM (CONT’D)

Wanna beer?

ROBBY

Love one.

Jim nods to the bartender.

JIM

You here with Barbara?

ROBBY

No. She hates these things.

JIM

Karen too. Smart ladies.

The bartender sets down two beers. Robby hands one to Jim.

ROBBY

Sláinte.

JIM

I just met your new editor, seems

like a decent fella.

ROBBY

I think he is.

(then)

I had an interesting conversation

with Eric MacLeish yesterday. Turns

out he’s been settling abuse cases

with the archdiocese for years.

JIM

You really wanna talk about this

here?

ROBBY

You said you helped out on Father

Barrett as a favor, that was a one-

off?

Jim doesn’t say anything. Robby DARKENS.

ROBBY (CONT’D)

How many of these cases have you

been involved with, Jim?

JIM

You know I can’t answer that, Robby.

It’s unethical.

ROBBY

Is that all it is?

Jim stares Robby down. He drinks.

JIM

So this is the Robby Robinson I’ve

always heard about but never met.

ROBBY

Listen to me, Jimmy. You want to be

on the right side of this.

JIM

You’re talking about the Church,

Robby. Look around. These are good

people who’ve done a lot of good for

this city.

(then)

Enjoy the party.

Jim smiles, heads into the party, leaving Robby alone at the bar. Robby glances over at Marty, still on the edge of the party. So this is what it feels like to be on the outside...

65INT. GLOBE, ROBBY’S OFFICE - DAY

Matt, Sacha and Mike are crammed in Robby’s office, Matt downloading the team on the directories.

MATT

I’ve been through a lot of these.

‘Sick leave’ isn’t the only

designation they use when they take

one of these priests out of

circulation. They use a slew of

terms - ‘absent on leave,’

‘unassigned,’ ‘emergency response.’

MIKE

They got a name for everything,

these guys.

SACHA

Except rape.

A phone rings in the Spotlight office. Mike exits to get it.

MATT

And they move parishes way more

frequently than other priests. When

I was a kid, a priest moved after

seven or eight years. These guys,

it’s two to three tops.

SACHA

Did they use these designations for

all of Saviano’s priests?

MATT

Yeah. It’s a pretty clear pattern.

As Robby considers this, Mike calls from Spotlight --

MIKE

Guys, I’ve got Sipe.

66INT. GLOBE, SPOTLIGHT OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

The team is HUDDLED around a SPEAKERPHONE.

SIPE (ON SPEAKERPHONE)

I think if you want to understand

the crisis, you need to start with

the celibacy requirement. That was

my first major finding: only 50% of

the clergy are celibate.

They share a look. 50%? Can that be true?

SIPE (ON SPEAKERPHONE) (CONT’D)

Now, most of them are having sex

with other adults. But this creates

a culture of secrecy, that tolerates

and even protects pedophiles.

SACHA

So you believe the church is aware

of the extent of this ‘crisis?’

SIPE (ON SPEAKERPHONE)

Absolutely. After the first major

scandal in Louisiana, Tom Doyle, the

Secretary Canonist for the Papal

Nuncio, coauthored a report warning

pedophile priests were a billion-

dollar liability. That was in 1985.

MIKE

1985?

SIPE (ON SPEAKERPHONE)

That’s right.

MIKE

Who saw this document? Anyone in

the Catholic hierarchy?

SIPE (ON SPEAKERPHONE)

Sure. Doyle tried to introduce the

report at the National Conference of

Catholic Bishops. In fact, Cardinal

Law initially helped to fund the

report, but then he backed out and

they shelved it.

REZENDEZ

(to Sacha and Matt)

Are you kidding me?

ROBBY

Richard, Robby here. We think we

have thirteen priests in Boston that

fit this pattern, which would be a

very big story. Does that sound

right to you? In terms of scale?

SIPE (ON SPEAKERPHONE)

No. Not really. It sounds low. My

estimates suggest six percent act

out sexually with minors.

MIKE

Six percent of what?

SIPE (ON SPEAKERPHONE)

Six percent of all priests.

Holy shit. Robby turns to the team.

ROBBY

How many priests do we have in

Boston?

MATT

About fifteen hundred. One percent

is fifteen... six percent is ninety.

ROBBY SACHA

Ninety priests? Is that possible?

SIPE (ON SPEAKERPHONE)

From a metric standpoint, that would

be in line with my findings.

The team looks at each other. FLOORED. A beat, then --

SIPE (ON SPEAKERPHONE) (CONT’D)

Hello?

67INT. GLOBE, BEN’S OFFICE - DAY

Ben eats lunch, Robby and Mike download him. Ben’s shocked.

BEN

Ninety fucking priests? In Boston?

ROBBY

That’s what he said.

BEN

If there were ninety of these

bastards people would know.

MIKE

Maybe they do.

BEN

And no one said a thing?

MIKE

Good Germans?

BEN

I don’t think that’s a comparison

you want to make publicly.

ROBBY

MacLeish knew and said nothing.

BEN

That’s thirteen priests, big

difference between thirteen and

ninety. Where’s this guy Sipe

getting his numbers?

MIKE

He’s studied this for thirty years,

he’s a trained psychotherapist --

BEN

Okay, but we need something more

than a metric from some hippy ex-

priest who’s shacking up with a nun.

MIKE

So we’ll track down more victims,

we’ll get more priests. Then we can

check them against the directories.

BEN

That’s a shitload of victims.

MIKE

We’ll get them.

BEN

How long’s it gonna take?

Mike shrugs. Robby considers. Then...

ROBBY

Too long.

Robby gets up, moves for the door. Maybe with an idea.

BEN

Meeting over?

ROBBY

For now.

68INT. GLOBE, NEWSROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Robby walks through the newsroom. Mike catches up to him.

MIKE

What do you got?

ROBBY

What if we work backwards?

MIKE

What do you mean? From what?

ROBBY

The directories. We’ve been using

them to confirm bad priests. What

if we do it the other way around?

MIKE

(getting it)

Use the directories to identify bad

priests?

ROBBY

Yeah, exactly. We search by

designation, we look for any priest

on ‘sick leave’ or ‘unnassigned’ --

MIKE

Or for priests who moved around a

lot...

ROBBY

Yeah.

MIKE

That’s gonna take a load of time.

ROBBY

Not if we’re all on it.

MIKE

You too?

ROBBY

Generally, that’s what all means.

MIKE

Yeah, generally.

That’s the plan. Robby looks set. Off Mike, we --

69INT. GLOBE, SPOTLIGHT - LATER

CLOSE ON a ruler moving down a directory. It stops at a designation: Sick Leave. PAN TO the name of a priest. MAHAN. A pen circles it and we --

CUT TO another ruler scanning a directory. It stops. Unassigned. PAN TO the name of another priest. KEANE. The name is circled and we --

CUT TO another ruler scanning. Sick Leave. PAQUIN.

REVEAL Sacha, moving a ruler down a directory. CUT TO --

ABOVE Mike, scanning a directory with a ruler. CUT TO --

CLOSE ON Robby. Squinting at a directory. CUT TO --

Matt, hunched over a computer, entering data. CUT TO --

CLOSE ON an excel spreadsheet. A date, a priest’s name, then the designation are typed into a column. CUT TO --

More names and designations, logged year by year, into the spreadsheet. CUT TO --

82A INT. SACHA’S HOUSE - NIGHT

Sacha at her desk at home, scanning a directory. It’s late.

70INT. SANTARPIO’S, EAST BOSTON - NIGHT

Mike sits in the pizza joint, marking up a directory, two others beside him. A waiter delivers a pizza and a beer. Without looking up, Mike reaches for the beer, keeps working.

84A EXT. PORTER SQUARE T-STOP, CAMBRIDGE, MA - MORNING

Sacha waits for the T, working on a directory.

84B INT. GLOBE, LIBRARY - DAY

From the crow’s nest above, we see Mike and Matt at the table in the library, stacks of directories between them.

84BB INT. GLOBE, CAFETERIA - DAY 84BB

Robby sits alone in cafeteria, working on a directory.

84C EXT. BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, DOWNTOWN BOSTON - DAY

Sacha walks up the grand steps, enters the massive library.

84D INT. GLOBE, SPOTLIGHT - DAY

CLOSE ON the spreadsheet. More names are entered. We scan down the growing list of priests...

84F INT. GLOBE, LIBRARY - NIGHT

Mike in a back aisle, works on the directories.

85A INT. BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, READING ROOM - EARLY EVENING 85A

A beautiful, mostly empty reading room, green banker’s lamps everywhere. Sacha works late, directories all around her.

71INT. MATT CARROLL’S HOUSE, WEST ROXBURY - NIGHT

Matt sits at a desk at home, hunched over a directory, scanning it with a ruler. He pauses... leans in further.

CLOSE ON a directory entry. O’Sullivan. Treatment Center, 276 Pelton Street, West Roxbury.

MATT

Holy shit.

Matt PALES, then takes off his glasses and leaves the house.

72EXT. MATT CARROLL’S HOUSE, WEST ROXBURY - CONTINUOUS

Matt heads across the lawn, down the sidewalk. He crosses the street, rounds the corner, turning onto Pelton Street.

He picks up his pace, checking house numbers. Finally, he stops at A CLASSIC, TWO STORY VICTORIAN HOUSE. Number 276.

MATT

No freakin’ way.

73INT. MATT CARROLL’S HOUSE, KITCHEN - LATER

Matt sits on the kitchen floor in front of the refrigerator, taping a note to the door. We push in over his shoulder...

“Kids. Stay away from this house at 276 Pelton Street. And stay away from the men who live inside it.”

Beside the note is a B&W photo of the house down the street.

74INT. GLOBE, SPOTLIGHT OFFICE - DAY

CLOSE ON a COMPUTER SCREEN. We’re scrolling through the EXCEL SPREADSHEET. Dozens of problematic priests.

REVEAL Mike, Sacha and Matt huddled around the computer. Sacha reads from a large printout. Matt checks it against a short list on a computer screen.

SACHA

Talbot. MATT Yep.

SACHA

Tivnan. MATT Yep.

SACHA

Toma. MATT Yep.

SACHA

Turnbull. MATT Yep.

SACHA

Walsh. MATT Yep.

SACHA

Welsh. MATT Yep.

MIKE

Is that it?

SACHA

That’s it. MATT That’s it.

Mike looks at the screen.

MIKE (CONT’D)

Holy Shit.

MATT

Robby?

Robby looks up from his desk. He walks over to join them.

SACHA

Three off Sipe’s estimate. That’s

incredible.

ROBBY

How many?

MATT

Eighty-seven.

MIKE

Eighty-seven priests. In Boston.

ROBBY

Call MacLeish. I wanna talk to him.

Robby takes the PRINTOUT, walks into --

75INT. GLOBE, ROBBY’S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

Robby shuts his door, picks up his phone and dials. It rings. A secretary picks up.

SECRETARY (OVER THE PHONE)

Jim Sullivan’s office.

ROBBY (INTO PHONE)

Walter Robinson for Jim Sullivan.

Tell him it’s important.

A beat, then we hear --

JIM (OVER THE PHONE)

Hey Robby. Everything okay?

ROBBY (INTO PHONE)

I need you to tell me something,

Jim. Could it be ninety priests?

JIM (OVER THE PHONE)

What?

ROBBY (INTO PHONE)

Could it be as high as ninety?

JIM (OVER THE PHONE)

Jesus, Robby.

ROBBY (INTO PHONE)

I need to know, Jim. I wouldn’t be

asking if it wasn’t important.

Silence.

JIM (OVER THE PHONE)

You gotta stop this, Robby.

Click. Robby darkens. Then sees Sacha in the doorway.

SACHA

MacLeish’s assistant said he’s all

booked up, he can’t see us.

ROBBY

The hell he can’t.

Robby exits. Sacha quickly follows. Off Mike and Matt --

76INT. ONE INTERNATIONAL PLACE, LOBBY - EARLY EVENING

Eric MacLeish and a colleague get off an elevator, head out. MacLeish sees Robby and Sacha sitting in the lobby, waiting for him. As they stand, MacLeish turns to his colleague.

MACLEISH

You know what, I’ll catch up with

you, okay?

The colleague heads off.

MACLEISH (CONT’D)

Hey guys, I’m really sorry, I am, I

don’t have any time to talk right

now, but if you call my assistant --

SACHA

Mr. MacLeish, we have reason to

believe that there have been

allegations against as many as 87

priests in Boston.

ERIC MACLEISH

I can’t talk about that.

SACHA

Does that number sound right to you?

ERIC MACLEISH

You gotta be... I don’t have time

for this crap.

He starts to move but Robby steps in his way, angrier than Sacha’s ever seen.

ROBBY

Eric, how many priests did you

settle?

ERIC MACLEISH

You know I can’t tell you, Robby.

ROBBY

You’re gonna give me their names.

And the names of their victims.

ERIC MACLEISH

Are you threatening me?

A beat. Robby controls himself, turns calm. Professional.

ROBBY

We’ve got two stories here. We’ve

got a story about degenerate clergy

and we’ve got a story about a bunch

of lawyers turning child abuse into

a cottage industry. Now, which

story do you want us to write?

Cause we’re writing one of them.

MacLeish recedes. Robby’s got him.

ERIC MACLEISH

I already sent you a list of names.

ROBBY

What are you talking about? To

whom?

ERIC MACLEISH

The Globe. Years ago. After the

Porter case, I got plenty of calls.

I had 20 priests in Boston but I

couldn’t go after them without

press. So I sent you guys a list of

names and you buried it.

ROBBY

I want those names tomorrow.

ERIC MACLEISH

Check your goddamn clips, Robby.

Robby turns and leaves. Sacha follows. They walk a bit.

SACHA

We didn’t find anything in the

clips.

ROBBY

Yeah. Big surprise.

77INT. MIKE’S APARTMENT, EAST BOSTON - NIGHT

Mike boils hot dogs on the stove.

MIKE

Richard, do you still go to mass?

SIPE (ON SPEAKERPHONE)

No, I haven’t been to church for

some time now. But I still consider

myself a Catholic.

MIKE

How does that work?

SIPE (ON SPEAKERPHONE)

The Church is an institution, Mike,

made of men. It’s passing. My

faith is in the eternal. I try to

separate the two.

MIKE

Sounds tricky.

Mike’s shakes his pen, out of ink. He crosses to his backpack by the front door. He reaches in, digs around.

SIPE (ON SPEAKERPHONE)

It is. Especially since the Church

continues to go after me. It takes

a toll, Mike.

SIPE (CONT’D)

They’ll try to silence anyone who

speaks out. I’m sure they’ll come

after you and your team soon enough.

MIKE

And how do you think they’ll do

that? Hello? ...Richard?

Mike checks his phone. Disconnected. Huh. Suddenly, there’s a loud KNOCK on the door. Mike JUMPS.

MIKE (CONT’D)

Who is it?

BEN (O.C.)

The Archbishop of Canterbury.

Mike opens the door. Ben’s there with a PIZZA BOX.

BEN (CONT’D)

I had dinner at Santarpio’s, had

some leftovers.

He hands Mike the pizza.

MIKE

Ah, you’re the freakin’ best. You

want a beer?

BEN

Yeah.

Ben enters, takes in Mike’s apartment. Mike grabs two beers.

Jesus. How much longer you gonna be

in this shithole?

MIKE

Working on it.

BEN

She’s a good girl, Mike.

MIKE

Yeah, she is. We’ll figure it out. I

haven’t had a lot of time lately.

(then)

I was just on the phone with Sipe

actually.

BEN

Have you met this guy in person yet?

MIKE

No, but his knowledge of this is on

a whole other level.

Ben frowns, skeptical. Mike hands him a beer. They sit. Mike opens the pizza box, digs in.

MIKE (CONT’D)

Oh man, I’m starving.

BEN

So, where are we on the ninety?

MIKE

Close.

BEN

How close?

MIKE

We’re close.

BEN

Just answer the question, will you?

Mike clocks this.

MIKE

We got 87 names. We’re trying to get

confirmation. I think we will.

(then, off Ben)

Something bugging you?

BEN

Just surprising, that’s all.

MIKE

Yeah, it is. For everyone.

93A EXT. MIKE’S APARTMENT BUILDING, HALLWAY - NIGHT

Ben walks out of Mike’s apartment, heads up the stairs when Mike opens his door, calls after him.

MIKE

Hey. Ben, I forgot to ask, Phil

Saviano said he sent a bunch of info

to the Globe years ago. You have

any idea to who?

BEN

(irked)

No. Why?

MIKE

Just curious. I wanted to see if

there were any other leads you guys

didn’t run out?

BEN

(pissed off)

Saviano was a fucking train wreck

five years ago, Mike. We didn’t miss

anything. This story needed

Spotlight.

Mike’s taken aback.

MIKE

Yeah. I know. Just following up.

Nothing more to say.

BEN

Good night.

Ben walks off. Mike watches him go.

78INT. GLOBE, MARTY’S OFFICE - DAY

CLOSE ON an EMAILED LIST of Priests and victims.

BEN (O.C.)

This is unbelievable.

MARTY

When did you get this?

ROBBY

MacLeish emailed the list this

morning. He settled cases against

forty-five priests.

REVEAL Marty and Ben across the table from Robby and the rest of the Spotlight team. Marty pages through the printout.

MARTY

Where are we on Law? Anything that

shows he had knowledge of this?

BEN

We’re still working Garabedian. But

nothing concrete.

Marty considers this. Then he turns to Robby.

MARTY

I keep thinking about that

conversation we had the other night.

You said Law called down the power

of God when we reported on Porter.

BEN

That’s just Law being Law.

MARTY

Okay, but I checked the clips,

Porter wasn’t even in the Boston

Archdiocese. He was in Fall River.

So, why the extreme reaction?

ROBBY

(realizing)

Law had to know.

That’s why he had the reaction. He

knew there were others.

MARTY

I think that’s the bigger story.

The team reacts. Robby watches.

MIKE

Bigger than fifty priests?

MARTY

If it came from the top down, yes.

SACHA

But the numbers clearly indicate

senior clergy were involved.

MARTY

That’s all they do, indicate.

MIKE

You’re telling me we run a ROBBY story about fifty pedophile (stepping in) priests in Boston -- Mike--

MARTY (CONT’D)

We’ll get into the same cat fight

you got into on Porter, which made a

lot of noise but changed things not

one bit. We need to focus on the

institution not the individual

priests. Practice and policy. Show

me the Church manipulated the system

so that these guys wouldn’t have to

face charges. Show me they put

those same priests back into

parishes, time and time again. Show

me this was systemic, that it came

from the top down.

Beat. Pretty fucking clear.

BEN

Sounds like we’re going after Law?

MARTY

We’re going after the system.

94B INT. GLOBE, SPOTLIGHT - LATER

The team enters together, heads for their desks. Robby talks to Sacha.

ROBBY

Make a list of all the victims we

have and start reaching out. Pull

Matt in if you need help.

SACHA

Okay.

ROBBY

(to Mike)

When you are going to Springfield?

MIKE

Hearing is Monday.

Robby nods, heads into --

94C INT. GLOBE, ROBBY’S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

Robby settles in. Starts to check e-mails.

MATT

Robby? You got a second?

Robby looks up, Matt’s in the door.

ROBBY

Yeah.

MATT

I, uh, got one of those treatment

centers a block from my house.

(then)

We got neighbors with kids. I know

our work is confidential but I feel

like I should tell ‘em.

ROBBY

We’ll tell ‘em soon.

Matt hesitates. Then nods and exits.

95-99 SUMMER VICTIM MONTAGE 95-99

In a series of quick cuts, we see --

-- Sacha (and Matt) out and about in JP, Dorchester, Mission Hill, trying to find victims. They knock on some doors and get no answer, they knock on others to find that victims have moved, it’s tough to track folks down.

-- Sacha (and Matt) manage to track victims down, but face obstacles. Obstructionist family members, reticent victims...

-- Finally, Sacha (and Matt) actually are let in. We see shot after shot of them entering houses, some new, some where they were previously denied. They’re getting the story...

79INT. RUNDOWN HOUSE, DORCHESTER - DAY

Sacha sits with the middle-aged-man.

MIDDLE-AGED-MAN

The Bishop came over the house. He

said nothing like this had ever

happened before, they asked us not

to press charges.

SACHA

And what did your mother do?

MIDDLE-AGED-MAN

My mother? She put out freakin’

cookies.

Sacha blinks.

103A INT. DUSSOURD APARTMENT, JAMAICA PLAIN - DAY (FORMERLY 102)103A

A small apartment. MARYETTA DUSSOURD, 57, wears a gold cross.

DUSSOURD

There was a lot of pressure to keep

quiet.

She struggles. Matt across from her, prods...

MATT

From the Church?

DUSSOURD

Yeah, from the Church... but not

just the Church. From my friends,

from the other parishioners...

80INT. GLOBE, SPOTLIGHT OFFICE - EARLY EVENING

CLOSE ON a spreadsheet, going up on the wall. Names of priests, dates, reports...

SIPE (OVER THE PHONE)

Well, many of the priests I treated

were psychosexually stunted....

REVEAL Sacha putting up the list of 15 priests on the corkboard as Matt walks over 3x5 CARDS with VICTIM’S STORIES. In the foreground, Mike talks on the phone to Sipe.

SIPE (OVER THE PHONE) (CONT’D)

...on the emotional level of a

twelve or thirteen year old.

MIKE

Jeez.

81INT. COFFEE SHOP, HINGHAM - DAY

Sacha sits with the a COP, 40s, African-American.

COP

Sure, the chief knew, everybody

knew. But nobody wants to cuff a

priest.

SACHA

What about the prosecutor?

COP

I shouldn’t talk about this shit.

SACHA

I think you should actually.

Sacha waits, stares him down.

103a EXT. JAMAICA PLAIN - DAY 103a

Sacha talks to a painter on a ladder.

SACHA

Do you know a Father Hurley or a

Father Gale?

MAN

I do.

103aa EXT. TWO DECKER, DORCHESTER - DAY 103aa

A man yells at Matt from his porch.

MAN

You get out of here before I MATT kick the shit out of you, Sorry to bother you. Sorry alright? to bother you....

MAN

You leave me alone, leave my brother

alone, you hear me goddammit?

82EXT. TWO FAMILY HOUSE - MALDEN, MA - LATE AFTERNOON

Sacha walks up to a door. The knock. A kindly looking OLDER MAN (RONALD PAQUIN) in a checkered shirt answers the door.

SACHA

Hi, I’m looking for Ronald Paquin.

RONALD PAQUIN

Yes?

Sacha blinks, surprised.

SACHA

You’re... Father Paquin?

FATHER PAQUIN

Yes, that’s right.

SACHA

(rapid, tense)

My name is Sacha Pfeiffer, I, I’m a

reporter with the Boston Globe.

FATHER PAQUIN

Okay.

Sacha, awkward, reaches for her pad.

SACHA

Could I ask you a few questions?

FATHER PAQUIN

Go ahead, dear.

Sacha starts recording.

SACHA

We’ve talked to several men who knew

you when they were boys at St. John

the Baptist in Haverhill? They told

us you molested them? Is that true?

FATHER PAQUIN

...Sure. I fooled around. But I

never felt gratified myself.

Sacha almost hides her shock.

SACHA

Right, uh, but you admit that you

molested boys at St. John the

Baptist?

FATHER PAQUIN

Yes, yes, but as I said, I never got

any pleasure from it. That’s

important to understand.

SACHA

Right. Can you tell me where and

how you, uh, fooled around with

these boys.

FATHER PAQUIN

I want to be clear, I never raped

anyone. There’s a difference. I

should know.

SACHA

How would you know?

FATHER PAQUIN

I was raped.

SACHA

...I’m sorry... who raped you?

JANE PAQUIN (O.C.) Ronny? Who’re you talking to? FATHER PAQUIN It’s okay, Jane.

SACHA (CONT’D)

Father Paquin, who raped you?

Paquin’s sister, JANE PAQUIN, 50s, comes to the door.

JANE PAQUIN

Who are you? SACHA Sacha Pfeiffer, I’m with the Globe--

JANE PAQUIN

Please get off my porch. FATHER PAQUIN I can speak for myself, Jane.

JANE PAQUIN

Get inside the house, Ronald. SACHA I just have a few more--

JANE PAQUIN

Get inside, Ronnie. SACHA I’m sorry, who are you?

JANE PAQUIN

I’m his sister, and I don’t SACHA want you coming back here. Ms. Paquin --

But Jane SLAMS the door. Sacha stands there for a moment, STUNNED. Then she turns, quickly heads down the walkway, scribbling notes. She pauses as she reaches the sidewalk, finishing up. Two CHILDREN ride past on bikes. She’s VISIBLY SHAKEN by the encounter.

83INT. HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT, COURTROOM, SPRINGFIELD, MA - DAY105

Mike watching the Globe’s lawyer, JON ALBANO, 50s, white beard and moustache, present to JUDGE CONSTANCE SWEENEY, 40s.

JUDGE SWEENEY

Could you please clarify the Globe’s

position for me, Mr. Albano?

The courtroom’s empty, Garabedian at one desk, WILSON D. ROGERS JR., 60s, the Church’s lawyer, at another.

ALBANO

Yes, Judge Sweeney. Our argument to

make these documents public rests

mainly on 1st amendment grounds. We

also have a number of other relevant

arguments. After all, your honor,

this was a discretionary order...

JUDGE SWEENEY

Yes, Mr. Albano, it was made at the

Judge’s discretion...

Mike FIGHTS TEDIUM... until a REPORTER slides in next to him.

HERALD REPORTER (JOE QUIMBY)

Hey Mike.

MIKE

Hey Joe.

HERALD REPORTER

What’s a Spotlight reporter doing in

Springfield?

Mike doesn’t answer.

HERALD REPORTER (CONT’D)

Your man Albano’s sledding uphill.

You really think you have a shot at

winning this thing?

MIKE

You want me to comment for the

Herald?

QUIMBY

(writing on his pad)

“Globe reporter would not comment

but did not seem hopeful.”

Mike settles in. Gonna be a long day.

84INT. GLOBE, SPOTLIGHT OFFICE/ROBBY’S OFFICE - DAY

Sacha downloads Robby. We see a large map of Boston on a desk, neighborhoods circled, writing and Post-its noting priests and victims.

SACHA

He didn’t try to hide it at all, he

had this odd rationalization for it.

Like it was normal to fool around

with little boys.

Nearby, we see Matt adding 3x5 victim cards to the wall. On the wall, 19 OF ROUGHLY 50 PRIESTS have cards. [N.B.: The priests (and victims) should be grouped by neighborhood].

SACHA (CONT’D)

I’d really like to go back. I think

he’d talk to us.

ROBBY

We will. Just not yet... Let’s

stay focused on victims right now.

MATT

Sacha, where’d they send Father

Talbot again?

SACHA

I think it was Cheverus? MATT Yeah, that’s right.

ROBBY

Father Talbot? From BC High?

SACHA

Yeah. You know him?

ROBBY

He was there when I was. We have a

victim?

MATT

Yeah. He lives in Providence.

Matt hands him the card. Robby stares down at the name.

85INT. HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT, COURTROOM - DAY

Mike is still listing.

ALBANO

There’s nothing personal in these

documents, your honor, they concern

how the Cardinal is handling--

JUDGE SWEENEY

Say the Archdiocese.

ALBANO

Er, excuse me?

JUDGE SWEENEY

You don’t get to tag the Cardinal

with everything, Mr. Albano. Say

the Archdiocese.

Albano looks flustered.

WILSON D. ROGERS JR.

Judge Sweeney, the Globe isn’t a

party to this case, they just want

to sell papers. If Mr. Garabedian

hadn’t smeared the Cardinal’s good

name, we wouldn’t even be here.

GARABEDIAN

Your honor, I object to the use of

the word smear.

JUDGE SWEENEY

Duly noted, Mr. Garabedian.

Garabedian, angry, mutters under his breath. Mike catches it.

86EXT. HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT, SPRINGFIELD, MA - LATER

Garabedian sits on the courthouse steps, eating a packed lunch out of tupperware. Simmering.

MIKE

How you doing, Mitch?

Mike walks up, sits down.

GARABEDIAN

I’m fine.

MIKE

(pushing him)

He’s tough, that Wilson Rogers.

GARABEDIAN

He’s smug. And he’s sloppy.

MIKE

He doesn’t seem sloppy.

GARABEDIAN

You don’t know the half of it.

Trust me.

MIKE

What’s the half of it?

(then)

Tell me the half of it, Mitch.

Garabedian looks at him, wrestling with something.

GARABEDIAN

Off the record.

MIKE

Off the record.

GARABEDIAN

Three years ago, I get a call from

an ex-Priest. Anthony Benzevich.

He was at Blessed Sacrament back in

‘62 and he saw Geoghan taking little

boys up to the Rectory bedroom.

Benzevich was appalled, he told the

Bishop. And the Bishop threatened

to reassign him. To South America.

MIKE

Jeez.

GARABEDIAN

Yeah. So, fast-forward 35 years,

Benzevich reads Geoghan’s been

charged with molesting more than a

hundred kids. Benzevich feels

guilty, he calls me.

MIKE

You have testimony from a priest

telling his superiors about Geoghan

in 62’?

GARABEDIAN

No, I do not. Because when I call

Benzevich in to give a deposition,

he shows up with a lawyer.

MIKE

Wilson Rogers.

GARABEDIAN

Suddenly, Father Benzevich has a

foggy memory. Can’t remember

anything. He’s useless. So I go

back to work, I forget about it,

whatever. Until about a year ago. I

find an article about a priest who

warned church officials about

Geoghan.

MIKE

(stunned)

Benzevich went to the press.

GARABEDIAN

Local paper, Patriot Ledger, nobody

saw it. But now I got Benzevich on

record, so I file a motion to depose

him a second time. And Wilson

Rogers, that smug son of a bitch, he

files a motion opposing my motion.

And that’s when I have him!

MIKE

Have him how?

GARABEDIAN

Rogers opposes my motion. So I gotta

make an argument as to why I’m

allowed to depose Father Benzevich a

second time. But now, I’m allowed

to attach exhibits. You follow what

I’m saying?

MIKE

The sealed documents...

GARABEDIAN

Yes, I can use the sealed documents

I’ve gotten in discovery, Mr.

Rezendes, the same documents your

paper is currently suing for.

MIKE

You’re shitting me.

GARABEDIAN

No, I am not shitting you. So I

pull out the 14 most damning docs

and I attach them to my motion. And

they prove everything.

About the Church, about the bishops,

about Law...

MIKE

And it’s all public? Because your

motion to oppose Rogers’ motion...

GARABEDIAN

...is public. That’s correct. Now

you’re paying attention.

MIKE

(head spinning)

So I can just walk into the

courthouse right now and get those

documents?

GARABEDIAN

No. You cannot. Because the

documents are not there.

MIKE

But you just said they’re public.

GARABEDIAN

I know I did. But this is Boston.

And the Church doesn’t want them to

be found. So they are not there.

MIKE

Mitch, are you telling me that the

Catholic Church had legal documents

removed from the courthouse?

Mitch collects his things, turns to Mike. With clarity.

GARABEDIAN

Look, I’m not crazy, I’m not

paranoid, I’m experienced. Check

the docket, you’ll see. They control

everything. Everything.

Mitch exits. Mike watches him go, UNNERVED. Is Mitch right? And was that just the mother of all tips? A beat... then Mike grabs his stuff and runs towards his car.

87EXT. SUFFOLK COUNTY COURTHOUSE, DOWNTOWN BOSTON - LATER

Mike gets out of his car, runs across same street into the courthouse.

88INT. SUFFOLK COUNTY COURTHOUSE, RECORDS ROOM - DAY

A mousy looking CLERK #2 (O’BRIAN) pushes a BINDER across a help desk to... Mike. Who starts going through the file.

CLERK #2 (O’BRIAN)

Docket entry #49 in the Geoghan

case.

(then)

We’re closing in ten minutes.

CLOSE ON DOCKET ENTRY #49: Plaintiff’s opposition to Reverend Anthony Benzevich’s Motion for Protective Order. Dated APR 2, 2001. And a list of 14 exhibits.

Mike, excited, opens the file, finds the motion and a FOLDER, EXHIBITS A - N. Mike opens it. It’s empty. HOLY SHIT.

89INT. ROBBY’S HOUSE, ROBBY’S HOME OFFICE - EARLY EVENING

Robby stands, searching through bookshelves... until he finds a BC HIGH YEARBOOK. He flips to the faculty page, homing in on a PHOTO... FATHER JAMES TALBOT. A beat. His phone RINGS.

ROBBY (INTO PHONE)

Robby.

MIKE (OVER THE PHONE)

Hey, it’s me. You’re not gonna

believe it.

90EXT. SUFFOLK COUNTY COURTHOUSE, DOWNTOWN BOSTON - SAME TIME113

Mike is walking out of the courthouse.

MIKE (INTO PHONE)

Garabedian gave me a tip, some of

the sealed docs are already public.

They’re part of a motion he filed.

He said they’re the best of the

bunch, we don’t have to wait for

Sweeney’s ruling.

INTERCUT THE TWO SCENES

ROBBY (INTO PHONE)

So we can get them?

MIKE (INTO PHONE)

Yeah, but they’re not there! I

already talked to Albano, he said

all we have to do is file a motion

and Sweeney will order Mitch to

refile the docs.

ROBBY (INTO PHONE)

And you think these documents are...

MIKE (INTO PHONE)

He said these 14 docs are all we

need. They’re huge, Robby.

ROBBY

Okay. I’ll call Ben. Good work.

91EXT. GLOBE, PARKING LOT - EARLY MORNING

Marty gets out of his car and walks toward the building. It’s a beautiful September morning.

92INT. GLOBE, NEWSROOM - MOMENTS LATER

It’s pretty empty. Marty walks in, heads toward his office, but slows when SOMETHING on a TV catches his attention. He walks to the TV, joins A YOUNG REPORTER already watching.

MARTY

What happened?

YOUNG REPORTER

They’re saying it’s a prop plane but

that’s not a prop plane.

We glimpse the TV. The World Trade Center. On fire.

MARTY

Tell Linda to get every reporter we

have in here now.

93INT. GLOBE, NEWSROOM - DAY

CLOSE ON a TV. Cardinal Law addressing a large group of reporters, citizens in front of the Cathedral.

CARDINAL LAW (REAL FOOTAGE)

You pray for the injured, and those

who survived. You pray, too, for

the nation, that our response might

reflect our best ideals and God’s

teaching as it is found in

Christianity and Islam as well.

REVEAL a group watching TV in the corner of the newsroom, Ben front and center. Robby, Matt, Sacha are off to the side.

BEN

Not bad. Who’s there?

FEMALE EDITOR

Paulson.

Ben starts to move, an editor at his side.

BEN

I wanna talk to him when he’s back.

(to Robby)

Did Rezendes find a way to get to

Florida?

ROBBY

They just opened the airport in

Providence, he’s on his way there

now.

News to Sacha and Matt.

CANELLOS

Ben, I’m gonna need more people on

Massport.

BEN

I’ll give you three of my guys.

Robby, put your team on that too.

ROBBY

Got it.

BEN

And Robby, everything else stops.

ROBBY

Understood.

Ben heads off.

MATT

Why’s Mike going to Florida?

ROBBY

Flight school. It’s where they

learned to fly.

SACHA

Robby, I’ve got a lot of victim

interviews set up this week.

ROBBY

You’re gonna have to cancel ‘em.

SACHA

That’s going to be hard.

MATT

This is nuts. Two days ago, I told

my wife we gotta be working the

biggest story on the planet....

Robby nods as we PAN to Reception. Linda and several others taking calls.

LINDA

Boston Globe. We have no RECEPTIONIST 1 knowledge of additional Boston Globe. One second threats. please.

RECEPTIONIST 2

Yes, if you have a tip I’ll transfer

you to the metro desk.

Off the RINGING PHONES --

94INT. GARABEDIAN’S OFFICE, CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY

Garabedian works at his desk. The phone rings, he picks up.

GARABEDIAN (INTO PHONE)

Mitchell Garabedian.

95INT. MIKE’S CAR (MOVING), I-95 - DAY

Mike speeds frantically down I-95 towards Providence, phone to his ear. It’s ringing.

MIKE (INTO PHONE)

Mitch, it’s Mike, I’ve been trying

to reach you...

GARABEDIAN (OVER THE PHONE)

I don’t have time to talk to you,

Mr. Rezendes.

MIKE (INTO PHONE)

Did you refile those documents yet?

GARABEDIAN (OVER THE PHONE)

No, I just got the order, it takes

time.

MIKE (INTO PHONE)

Okay, great. Can you to hold off on

refiling them?

GARABEDIAN MIKE

Hold off? I have to go to Florida, once

you refile, they’re public,

other newspapers will be able

to get a hold of...

GARABEDIAN (INTO PHONE)

Other newspapers are not my concern.

I received a judicial order, I told

you the Church is watching me...

MIKE (INTO PHONE)

Mitch, please, I just need a few

weeks.

GARABEDIAN (INTO PHONE)

I can’t make any promises. Goodbye.

Garabedian hangs up.

MIKE (INTO PHONE)

Mitch? Mitch! Shit!

96EXT. T-STOP, BOSTON - DAY

The season has changed. The leaves are all but gone. Sacha emerges from the subway, crosses the street.

97INT. BAR, JAMAICA PLAIN - SAME TIME

A relatively empty bar. ON TV, we see CNN coverage of the US BOMBING IN AFGHANISTAN. Phil Saviano sits in a booth across from Sacha. Phil’s on the edge.

SAVIANO

Look, I get it, no one wants to read

about kids getting raped by priests.

Especially now. But you asked a lot

of people to relive some very

painful experiences and then you

disappear!

SACHA

Phil, you know why we were SAVIANO taken off the story. It’s been six weeks since 9/11.

SACHA

I realize that and we’re going to

get back to it.

SAVIANO

When? You’re doing the same SACHA thing you guys did last time-- ...no...

SAVIANO

--you’re dropping us! Maybe I

should tell the Herald that story!

SACHA

Okay, Phil. You can do that, it’ll

undo all the work we’ve done. But I

can’t stop you.

Phil looks away, but quiets.

SACHA (CONT’D)

Listen to me. I am here because I

care. We are not going away. We

are not going away. We are going to

tell this story and we’re going to

tell it right. We just need more

time, that’s all we’re asking for.

PHIL

Why bother asking? You’re gonna do

what you want anyway. You always do.

He gets up and leaves.

SACHA

Phil. Phil...

But he’s gone. Off Sacha --

98INT. GLOBE, MARTY’S OFFICE - EVENING

Marty’s working at his computer. Ben knocks.

BEN

Marty, you gotta a second?

MARTY

Sure.

Marty turns as Ben walks in.

BEN

Robby’s itching to get his team back

on the church story. At this point,

I think we’re covered on 9/11.

MARTY

Okay. Sounds right.

Ben starts to leave when --

MARTY (CONT’D)

Ben.

(then)

I, uh, wanted to say thank you for

taking the lead on 9/11. All the

politics at Logan and Massport, I

wasn’t the person to do it. You’ve

done an excellent job over the last

six weeks.

Ben is completely caught off guard.

BEN

Oh. Well... thanks.

(awkward, exiting)

Good night.

MARTY

Good night.

99INT. HOLIDAY INN, HOTEL ROOM, MIAMI, FL - LATER

A crappy hotel room. ESPN on TV, a suitcase, clothes, papers everywhere. Mike takes a burrito out of the hotel microwave, tries to pick it up when his phone RINGS. He grabs the phone.

MIKE (INTO PHONE)

Hey.

ROBBY (OVER THE PHONE)

How’s South Beach?

MIKE (INTO PHONE)

I’m in Boynton Beach. Remarkably

different place. What’s up?

ROBBY (OVER THE PHONE)

Mitch Garabedian called me today.

MIKE (INTO PHONE)

Why’d he call you?

ROBBY (OVER THE PHONE)

Because he knew you’d yell at him.

He refiled the docs.

MIKE (INTO PHONE)

(yelling)

What? Robby, those docs are public

now, we gotta get them before anyone

else does...

100INT. GLOBE, ROBBY’S OFFICE/SPOTLIGHT - SAME TIME

Robby sitting in his chair.

ROBBY (INTO PHONE)

I know, wrap up what you’re doing

and catch the first flight you can.

MIKE (OVER THE PHONE)

I’ll book a flight, go straight to

the courthouse tomorrow.

ROBBY (INTO PHONE)

Good. Call me when you get it.

Robby hangs up. Sacha is in his door, putting on her coat.

SACHA

Robby, I’d like to let Phil Saviano

know that we are back on it.

ROBBY

Good idea. Go have dinner with

Hansi. Might be the last time for a

while.

SACHA

Okay.

Sacha hesitates, then grabs a clip off her desk.

SACHA (CONT’D)

Robby, after we saw MacLeish, I

started going back through the

clips... and I had a little time

last week finally, so, uh...

(she hands him the clip)

I found that. It’s from ‘93.

Robby looks down. We see the clip. “LAWYER FOR PORTER VICTIMS SAYS 20 OTHER PRIESTS IN AREA ARE ACCUSED.”

Robby’s face CHANGES. Sacha waits, expecting a response.

ROBBY

That it?

Robby’s abrupt tone catches Sacha by surprise.

SACHA

Yeah. That’s it.

ROBBY

Good night.

SACHA

Okay. Good night.

Sacha takes a beat, then leaves, a bit confused and hurt. Robby looks down at the clip. Off Robby --

101INT. MATT CARROLL’S HOUSE, BEDROOM, WEST ROXBURY, MA - NIGHT124

Matt sits up in bed. Checks the clock. 4am. Can’t sleep.

102INT. MATT CARROLL’S HOUSE, KITCHEN - LATER

Matt walks in, takes two aspirin. He eyes a 9/11 BUMPER STICKER on the fridge. His gaze drifts down to the photo of the house on Pelton Street. Matt frowns... realizing he’s back on the church.

103EXT. MODERN RESTAURANT, PROVIDENCE, RI - DAY

A wide shot. A well dressed, good looking MAN checking his blackberry.

Robby walks in, introduces himself to the man. PRELAP --

104INT. MODERN RESTAURANT, PROVIDENCE, RI - LATER

Robby and the man, KEVIN, 40s, sit at a table. We’re in a long shot. We see them talking. Kevin is friendly, amiable.

KEVIN

So, I was probably a few years after

you, right?

ROBBY

More than a few.

KEVIN

(laughing)

Well after BC High, I came down to

Providence, played hockey for the

Friars.

ROBBY

You must’ve been pretty good.

KEVIN

No, rode the bench in college. But

I loved the city, never left. We

just had our third kid. And I still

get my Globe, for the record.

ROBBY

Good to know.

Kevin smiles. Robby nods. Takes a beat. Then dives in.

ROBBY (CONT’D)

Look, Kevin, that’s actually why I’m

here. I need ask you some questions

about Father Talbot.

Kevin’s face tightens, his eyes intense. Robby waits.

KEVIN

How’d you find out? I guess that

doesn’t matter.

(shakes his head)

I never even told my wife.

105INT. SUFFOLK COUNTY COURTHOUSE, HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER

Mike, still carrying his bags from the plane, emerges from an elevator, hurries down the hall, nearly knocking people out of the way. He arrives at the Records Room and slams up against the glass just as the clerk (O’BRIAN) LOCKS the door.

MIKE

Hey, hey, I need to get in there.

CLERK O’BRIAN

We’re closed.

MIKE

Come on, let me in, five minutes,

come on.

CLERK O’BRIAN

I’m sorry, we’re closed!

MIKE

Come on, five minutes!

But the clerk leaves. Mike bangs the door in frustration.

106INT. SUFFOLK COUNTY COURTHOUSE, HALLWAY - MORNING

The elevator door opens and Clerk O’Brian walks out with coffee and a copy of the Globe. He approaches the door and stops.

Mike sits on the floor, waiting. O’Brian eyes him. A beat, then he unlocks the door. Mike follows him into --

107INT. SUFFOLK COUNTY COURTHOUSE, RECORDS ROOM - MORNING

O’Brian walks in. Mike fills out a form at the ‘application for records’ table. He turns to the desk, hands the form to Clerk O’Brian, who reads it.

CLERK O’BRIAN

This is the Geoghan case?

MIKE

Yeah. That’s right.

CLERK O’BRIAN

Those records are sealed.

MIKE

No, that’s a public motion, those

records are public. Look, I work

for the Globe.

Mike shows his credentials.

CLERK O’BRIAN

Good for you.

MIKE

Can I talk to your supervisor?

CLERK O’BRIAN

He’s not in today.

Mike, frustrated, eyes the CROSS the clerk is wearing.

MIKE

What about a judge? You gotta have

a judge who handles these issues.

The clerk eyes Mike.

CLERK O’BRIAN

Sixth floor.

108INT. SUFFOLK COUNTY COURTHOUSE, JUDGE’S CHAMBERS - LATER

Mike walks in. Sees a receptionist.

MIKE

I’d like to see Judge Volterra

please. It’s urgent.

RECEPTIONIST

Judge is in court until 3:30.

MIKE

There’s no other judge on duty?

RECEPTIONIST

Would you like to have a seat?

Her look says it all.

MIKE

Yeah. Sure. I’ll take a seat.

Mike sits. Frustrated and anxious. We PRELAP --

JACK DUNN (PRELAP)

We understand the nature of the

allegations against Father Talbot.

109INT. BC HIGH, PRESIDENT KEMEZA’S OFFICE, DORCHESTER - DAY

Robby, Sacha sit with PRESIDENT BILL KEMEZA, 50s, SPOKESMAN JACK DUNN, 40, and Pete Conley, the swell we met earlier.

JACK DUNN

I’m just not sure what you want from

President Kemeza. Talbot taught

here long before Bill took over.

SACHA

Of course. We just want to know if

it’s possible that the faculty, the

President, the Board, that no one

knew what was going on at the time.

JACK DUNN

I graduated in 1979 and I had no

idea about any of this, so if you’re

suggesting that Father Gibbons and

Father Callahan --

ROBBY

Gibbons and Callahan ran this place

like the navy, Jack, you really

think they didn’t know?

JACK DUNN

It’s a big school, Robby, you know

that. You’re talking about seven

alleged victims over eight years.

ROBBY

Seven that we know about.

JACK DUNN PRESIDENT KAMEZA This is ridiculous. You’re Jack. Jack -- reaching for a story here, we can’t possible know if...

PRESIDENT KAMEZA

Jack. If I had been President back

then, I would have known.

Conley looks at him, sharp.

JACK DUNN PRESIDENT KAMEZA

Bill, I’m not sure that’s Why do you think they sent *

relevant -- Talbot up to Cheverus? You *

know they wanted him out of

town.

PETER CONLEY

(to Robby, direct)

Robby, as well-intentioned as Bill’s

remarks are, I’m hoping maybe we can

keep this between us until we all

get on the same page.

ROBBY

Is that why we’re here, to get on

the same page?

PETER CONLEY

No, we’re here because you’re an

important alumnus, Robby, and a

friend.

JACK DUNN

Exactly. We know you care about

this school as much as we do.

Robby contains his anger.

ROBBY

Did you play a sport here, Jack?

JACK DUNN

(confused)

Yeah. Football. Why?

ROBBY

I ran track.

(then)

I went to Providence yesterday, to

talk to one of Talbot’s victims, he

played hockey here. He’s one of the

better ones, has a wife, kids, good

job. Ten minutes into the

conversation guy breaks down,

couldn’t stop crying. Said he could

never figure out why Father Talbot

picked him.

(beat, to Jack)

Father Talbot coached the hockey

team. So, I guess we just got lucky,

you and me.

Off Sacha, watching him.

110EXT. BC HIGH, DORCHESTER, MA - DAY

Robby and Sacha walk from BC High back to the Globe.

SACHA

Does Jack Dunn work for the school?

ROBBY

No. He’s PR for Boston College. They

call him when they need help.

SACHA

And Pete Conley? Why was he there?

ROBBY

Good question. Pete’s a big alum.

But I called Bill directly and I

asked for a sit-down, I never

mentioned anybody else.

SACHA

It’s like everybody already knows

the story.

This hits Robby. He pauses, looks back at BC High.

ROBBY

Yeah, except us. And we work right

there.

111INT. SUFFOLK COUNTY COURTHOUSE, JUDGE’S CHAMBERS - LATER

Mike is still waiting. A JUDGE enters. Mike stands.

MIKE

Judge Volterra?

JUDGE VOLTERRA

Yes?

MIKE

Hi, I’m Mike Rezendes from the

Boston Globe. I’m having some

trouble accessing some public

records down in the records room. I

was wondering if I could have a word

with you?

112INT. SUFFOLK COUNTY COURTHOUSE, JUDGE’S CHAMBERS - LATER

JUDGE VIERI VOLTERRA stares down at Mike’s request.

JUDGE VOLTERRA

These exhibits you’re after, Mr.

Rezendes, they’re very sensitive

records.

MIKE

All due respect, your honor, that’s

not the question here. The records

are public.

JUDGE VOLTERRA

Maybe so, but tell me, where is the

editorial responsibility in

publishing records of this nature?

MIKE

Where’s the editorial responsibility

in not publishing them?

113INT. SUFFOLK COUNTY COURTHOUSE, RECORDS ROOM - DAY

Clerk O’Brian drops the file in front of Mike, who dives in. His face says it all. HOLY SHIT. A beat, then Mike grabs the files, starts to rush out.

CLERK O’BRIAN

You can’t take those. You need to

make copies.

MIKE

Yeah, I’m going to the copy room.

CLERK O’BRIAN

It closed at four.

Mike stops, fucked. He digs into his pocket, counts bills.

MIKE

I’ll give you 83 bucks to use yours.

114EXT. SUFFOLK COUNTY COURTHOUSE, DOWNTOWN BOSTON - TWILIGHT

Mike, already on his cell phone, hurries across the street toward and catches a cab.

MIKE

Hey, Cabbie! Hey, hey, hey!

Mike gets in cab.

MIKE (CONT’D)

I’m going to the Boston Globe on

Morrisey Boulevard. Don't take 93.

Take Dorchester Avenue.

MIKE (CONT’D)

(into phone)

Robby, it’s incredible!

138A EXT. STATE STREET, BOSTON - MOMENTS LATER

Mike’s cab moves up State Street.

MIKE (V.O.)

Law knew about Geoghan for years, no

question! There’s a letter to Law

from a woman, Margaret Gallant, who

lived in Jamaica Plain in the early

80’s when Geoghan was there. Listen

to this...

115EXT. KING’S CHAPEL, TREMONT STREET, BOSTON - MOMENTS LATER

Mike’s cab whisks past the old King’s Chapel.

MIKE (V.O.)

(reading)

“Our family is rooted in the Church,

our desire is to protect the Holy

Orders...”

140B EXT. MONSIGNOR REYNOLD’S WAY, SOUTH END - MOMENTS LATER 140B

Mike’s cab passes the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.

MIKE (V.O.)

“...even in the midst of our agony

over the seven boys in our family...

140C EXT. PLAYGROUND BY THE CATHEDRAL - MOMENTS LATER

Patrick McSorley plays with his kid on the playground.

MIKE (V.O.)

...who have been violated.” Seven,

Robby! Seven boys!

116EXT. WEST 4TH STREET BRIDGE, BOSTON - LATER

The cab crosses over the bridge into Dorchester.

MIKE (V.O.)

“It was suggested we keep silent. We

did not question the Authority of

the Church two years ago...

117EXT. OLD COLONY ROAD, DORCHESTER - LATER

The cab is stuck on Old Colony Road. It turns into a TRAFFIC CIRCLE, past St. Monica’s church and onto Columbia Road.

MIKE (V.O.)

...but since Father Geoghan is still

in his parish...” She sent it to

Law and Law did shit!

142A EXT. COLUMBIA STREET, DORCHESTER - SAME TIME

The cab drives down by the water.

MIKE (V.O.)

Here’s another one to Law, same

year. Listen to this...

(reading)

“A word on the recent assignment of

Father John Geoghan...”

118EXT. BOSTON GLOBE - EVENING

The cab pulls up. Mike jumps out, pays the driver, hustles inside.

MIKE (V.O.)

“...as an associate at Saint Julia’s

in Weston. Father Geoghan...”

119INT. GLOBE, LOBBY - LATER

Mike races in through the glass doors, then hustles up the escalator...

MIKE (V.O.)

“...has a history of homosexual

involvement with young boys. I

understand his recent departure from

Saint Brendan's may be related to

this problem...”

120INT. GLOBE, SPOTLIGHT OFFICE - NIGHT

The whole team sits around as Mike finishes reading.

MIKE

“I wonder if Father Geoghan should

not be reduced to weekend work while

receiving therapy. You know how

grateful I am to you for your

constant concern, sincerely yours in

our Lord, Most Reverend John M.

D'Arcy, Auxiliary Bishop of Boston.

December 7, 1984.”

MATT

An auxiliary bishop wrote that?

We see the letters, both addressed to Law. The team reels.

SACHA

It’s incredible. He broke ranks.

When did Gallant write her letter?

MIKE

1984.

SACHA

And Law just ignored her.

MATT

How do you ignore that freakin’

letter?!

MIKE

We’ve got him. You can’t read those

letters and think anything else.

It’s proof.

ROBBY

Yeah. It is. This is good work.

MIKE

Should we take it up to Ben?

ROBBY

No, not yet.

MIKE

Why not? We got Law. This is it.

ROBBY

No, this is Law covering for one

priest. There’s another 90 out

there.

MIKE

Yeah, and we can print that story

when we get it but we gotta go with

this now.

ROBBY

I’m not gonna rush the story, Mike.

MIKE

We don’t have a choice, if we don’t

run to press, somebody else is gonna

find those letters and butcher the

story! Joe Quimby from the Herald

was at the freakin’ courthouse!

ROBBY

So we’ll write a holding story and

we’ll keep an eye on the Herald.

MIKE

(losing it)

Keep our eye on the Herald? They

run this and they get it wrong, the

Church will bury it! We gotta do

this now!

MATTY MIKE

Mike -- What? Why are we hesitating!

Baron told us to get Law!

ROBBY

Baron told us to get the system. We

need the full scope, that’s the only

thing that will put an end to this.

MIKE

Then let’s take it up to Ben, let

him decide!

ROBBY

We’ll take it to Ben when I say it’s

time.

MIKE

It’s time, Robby. They knew and they

let it happen! To kids! This

coulda been you, it coulda been me,

it could have been any one of us.

We gotta nail these scumbags, show

people that no one can get away with

this! Not a priest or a Cardinal or

a fricking Pope!

Robby, Sacha, and Matt are still. Mike looks around the room, out of breath, adrenaline draining. Robby is pissed.

ROBBY

You finished?

MIKE

Yeah. I am. This is bullshit.

Mike leaves, slamming the door behind him.

121INT. SACHA’S HOUSE, KITCHEN - NIGHT

Sacha and Hansi have just finished dinner. Hansi’s cleaning off the table as Sacha loads the dishwasher.

She tries to slide the upper rack into the dishwasher. It’s jammed. She tries again. It won’t go. She jiggles the rack, tries a third time... she SNAPS, slamming the rack hard, sending the dirty glasses crashing into each other.

She looks up... Hansi is just staring at her. Whoa.

HANSI

You okay?

Before she can answer, there’s a KNOCK on the door. Hansi walks over, opens the door. It’s Mike.

MIKE

Hey, Hansi.

HANSI

Hard day at work, Mike?

122EXT. SACHA’S HOUSE, BACK PORCH - LATER

Sacha walks onto the porch with two beers, hands one to Mike.

MIKE

Thanks. I dunno why I got so pissed

off. I mean I think Robby’s wrong

but...

SACHA

You care about the story, Mike. We

all do.

Mike takes a drink.

SACHA (CONT’D)

I stopped going to church with my

Nana. It was just too hard. I’d be

sitting there and I would start

thinking about Joe Crowley or

someone else and I’d just get so

angry.

MIKE

Did you tell her why?

SACHA

She goes to church three times a

week, Mike.

Mike considers this. Shakes his head.

MIKE

Really pisses me off.

(then)

You know, I actually liked going to

mass when I was a kid.

SACHA

Why’d you stop?

MIKE

Typical shit.

(then)

But the weird thing is, I think

there was a part of me that figured

one day, maybe I’d go back. I was

holding on to that.

Sacha watches him, not expecting this.

MIKE (CONT’D)

And when I read those letters,

something just cracked.

SACHA

That’s a shitty feeling.

MIKE

Yeah. It’s a shitty feeling.

Off the two of them, a little lost...

123INT. FAIRMONT HOTEL, OAK ROOM, DOWNTOWN BOSTON - NIGHT

The posh bar of one of Boston’s oldest hotels. Robby is at the bar, a glass of red wine in front of him.

PETER CONLEY

Looks like a long day.

ROBBY

Hey Pete.

PETER CONLEY

I’m sorry to make it longer. Brian?

Peter Conley sits, nods to the barman: ‘the usual.’

ROBBY

Anyone ever said no to a drink with

you, Pete?

PETER CONLEY

Sure. The trick is to keep asking.

(raising his glass)

For Boston.

ROBBY

For Boston.

(drinks, then)

So, you here for the Cardinal?

PETER CONLEY

No, no, I wouldn’t presume to speak

for the Cardinal.

(then)

You gotta a lot of people here who

respect you, Robby, respect your

work.

ROBBY

Good to know.

PETER CONLEY

It’s ‘cause you care about this

place. It’s why you do what you do,

it’s who you are. But people need

the Church more than ever right now.

You can feel it. And the Cardinal

may not be perfect but we can’t

throw out all the good he’s doing

over a few bad apples.

Robby lets this sink in. Nods as if in agreement.

PETER CONLEY (CONT’D)

I’m bringing this up with you

because I know this is Baron’s idea.

His agenda. And I gotta tell you,

honest to God, I don’t think he

cares about this city the way we do.

How could he?

Robby looks at Conley. A long beat.

ROBBY

This is how it happens, isn’t it,

Pete?

PETER CONLEY

What’s that?

ROBBY

A guy leans on a guy and suddenly

the whole town just looks the other

way.

Stung. Pete downs his drink. Gets up.

PETER CONLEY

Robby, look. Marty Baron is just

trying to make his mark. He’ll be

here for a couple years and he’s

gonna move on. Just like he did in

New York and Miami. Where you gonna

go?

He starts to go.

ROBBY

Pete?

(Pete turns)

When we do run the story, I’m gonna

need a comment from the Cardinal.

Conley takes it. Then smiles.

PETER CONLEY

We’ll talk again later. Good night,

Robby.

124INT. GLOBE, ROBBY’S OFFICE/SPOTLIGHT OFFICE - DAY

Robby, Mike, Sacha and Matt sit working. It’s dark, quiet, serious. A beat, then Robby’s phone RINGS. He answers.

ROBBY (INTO PHONE)

Robby. What? No shit, when? Okay.

(hangs up, calls out)

Hey.

The team looks towards Robby’s office as he walks in.

MIKE

What’s up?

ROBBY

Sweeney ruled in our favor. She

ruled to unseal the documents.

MIKE

Jeez...

The group sits stunned.

125INT. GLOBE, MARTY’S OFFICE - EARLY EVENING

Marty, Ben, Robby, and Canellos (the Metro editor we met earlier) sit with the Globe lawyer, Albano.

ALBANO

The Church already filed an appeal.

But the trial court’s ruling is

generally upheld in these matters.

MARTY

And when would we get the documents?

ALBANO

Probably takes Cohen a few weeks to

rule, then there’ll be a redaction

process... I’d say they’ll be made

public mid-January.

MARTY

Okay. Thanks, John. And nice work.

Albano exits.

CANELLOS

Metro should run something, Marty.

ROBBY

We can’t run this big.

CANELLOS

Why wouldn’t we? It’s a major First

Amendment victory. Not to mention,

an Irish Catholic judge rules

against the church? That’s a hell

of a precedent.

ROBBY

(to Ben)

We don’t want the Herald going too

deep on this.

MARTY

Why’s that?

ROBBY

You’re gonna have to step out,

Peter.

CANELLOS

I’m not stepping out.

Robby picks up a FOLDER OF DOCUMENTS on the table beside him. He places it in front of Marty. Marty picks it up.

BEN

Peter.

Marching orders. Canellos exits, not happy.

126INT. GLOBE, MARTY’S OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER

CLOSE ON the letters. Reveal Marty and Ben reading, STUNNED.

MARTY

When did you --

ROBBY

A couple of weeks ago.

BEN

A couple of weeks?

ROBBY

Yeah.

BEN

And you’re telling us now?

MARTY

These are substantial. They clearly

show that Law was negligent.

Ben and Marty stare at Robby. A beat, then --

ROBBY

I need more time. I want to keep

digging.

BEN

For what? This is the goddamn story.

ROBBY

It’s not the whole story.

BEN

(dismissive)

Tough shit. We’re on a clock now.

Even if we don’t run Sweeney’s

ruling, another paper could find

these letters and fuck the story.

ROBBY

Agreed. But we run the letters

alone, Law apologizes, says it’s a

one time thing, he can bury it.

MARTY

How? These clearly show he knew and

did nothing.

ROBBY

Look, I’m close to stories on 70

priests.

We nail that along with those

letters, it’s proof that this is

bigger than Law. It’s the whole

system.

Marty considers.

MARTY

You have multiple sources confirming

the 70 priests?

ROBBY

On some. I can get more.

BEN

Too risky. If we’re not buttoned up

on every single one of them, the

Church’ll pick us apart.

Robby’s up against it. He plays his hand.

ROBBY

I think I can get someone from the

other side of the aisle.

BEN

Someone inside the Church?

ROBBY

Yeah, a lawyer.

MARTY

Will he go on the record?

ROBBY

Deep background. But he’s a solid

source.

Marty considers. A beat, then Ben steps in.

BEN

Rezendes needs time to write up the

story. We don’t want to drop this

at Christmas, not after 9/11. We

could run it just after New Year’s,

before the rest of the documents are

released.

MARTY

Okay. Tell Canellos to bury the

ruling in Metro.

(then, to Robby)

You’ve got six weeks.

Robby nods, gets up and leaves. Ben follows him into --

127INT. GLOBE, NEWSROOM OUTSIDE MARTY’S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

Ben and Robby walk out.

BEN

Tell Mike I want a draft before

Christmas. And we need a response

from Lake Street. Who does PR for

the Cardinal? Still John Walsh?

ROBBY

No, somebody new, Donna Morrisey,

she came from TV, she’s young.

BEN

Good, get a quote, we need something

from Law to appear even-handed.

ROBBY

Got it.

BEN

And Robby? Next time give me a

goddamn heads up?

Ben exits. Robby takes it on the chin then walks off. As he does, we hear a child’s voice start into SILENT NIGHT...

157 INVESTIGATION/WRITING MONTAGE

As a second child joins in, we see a SERIES OF SHOTS...

157A MIKE’S COMPUTER. 41 days until deadline. The very 157A start of the story. FIND Mike in SPOTLIGHT, pecking out the story on his COMPUTER. Matt, coat and briefcase, walks out...

157I Sacha with Phil, Crowley and another guy at a shitty 157I DINER, sad Christmas decor. Sacha doesn’t eat, she writes on a pad.

157Fa MIKE’S COMPUTER. 21 days until deadline. The story 157Fa is further along...

157Fb Matt drives down the street in HIS CAR, eyes on an old 157Fb man, putting down salt on the front walk of the TREATMENT CENTER.

157E In BEN’S OFFICE, Mike watches Ben and Robby read the 157E story. Cross outs. He hands it back to Mike. Not there yet.

157F A SMALL HYDE PARK LIVING ROOM. A man in 40s cries, 157F talking to Sacha. A Christmas tree in the background.

157J MIKE’S COMPUTER. 8 days until deadline. More edits on 157J the story. FIND Mike in his APARTMENT. Editing. A beer by the computer...

157Ja An E-MAIL to Robby from Ben: ‘Where are we on your 157Ja source? It’s time.’ Find Robby IN HIS OFFICE, staring at the computer.

157M A night mass at an EAST BOSTON CHURCH.

As the children’s choir finishes Silent Night, we FIND Mike, in the doorway, standing there. Watching. Cut to --

128EXT. SULLIVAN HOUSE, BROOKLINE - NIGHT

The door of a pretty colonial, a wreath still up. A hand knocks. The door opens. A pretty woman (JIM’S WIFE) smiles.

JIM’S WIFE

Robby. What a nice surprise.

REVEAL Robby at the door. He walks into --

129INT. SULLIVAN HOUSE, JIM’S HOME OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER

Jim sits at on a leather couch watching golf. Through a door, we see a Christmas tree. His wife and Robby walk in.

JIM’S WIFE

Look who I found outside.

Jim looks up, less than happy to see Robby standing there.

JIM

Hon, give us a minute, will you?

Jim’s wife looks surprised.

JIM’S WIFE

Sure.

ROBBY

Good to see you, Karen.

She leaves. Jim turns off the TV,

JIM

What’s up?

Robby pulls out a list, hands it to Jim.

ROBBY

I’m out of time, Jim. We’ve got

cover-up stories on 70 priests, but

the boss isn’t gonna run it unless I

get confirmation from your side.

Jim turns off the TV, looks it over.

JIM

Are you out of your mind?

ROBBY

Come on. This is our town, Jimmy.

We all knew something was going on

and no one did a thing. We gotta

put an end to it.

JIM

Don’t tell me what I gotta do!

Yeah, I helped defend these

scumbags, but that’s my job, Robby.

I was doing my job!

ROBBY

Yeah. You and everyone else.

Jim stands, hands Robby the list.

JIM

Get out of my house.

130EXT. SULLIVAN HOUSE, BROOKLINE - MOMENTS LATER

Robby walks out of the house, toward his car.

JIM

Hey!

Robby turns, finds Sullivan.

JIM (CONT’D)

You come to my home and lay this

shit on me!

(then)

You’re right, Robby, we all knew

something was going to on. So where

were you? What took you so long?!

This lands with Robby. No answer.

ROBBY

I don’t know, Jimmy.

Jim shakes his head, looks like he might slug Robby.

JIM

Give me the list.

Jim holds out his hand. Robby hands him the list. Jim eyes the first page, flips to the second. He checks the names... then flips back. He looks at Robby. Holds out a hand for a pen. Robby gives him one.

Jim leans on the roof of Robby’s car. Marks up the list, then hands it back to Robby. Nothing more to say, Jim turns and walks away. Robby looks down at the list. Reacts.

THE ENTIRE first page is CIRCLED. And the second.

163A EXT. GLOBE - DAY (FORMERLY 171A, ALREADY SHOT)

The Globe Building. Snow falls.

MIKE (INTO PHONE, PRELAP)

Larry, we’re going to press in six

hours.

131INT. GLOBE, SPOTLIGHT OFFICE - DAY

Mike and Matt work the phones.

MATT (INTO PHONE)

Donna Morrisey said she’d call us

with a quote from Law hours ago.

MIKE (INTO PHONE) MATT (INTO PHONE) That’s what I thought. Okay, When did you talk to her? * Larry. Yeah. That’s good to know. * Thanks, Pete.

They hang up. Mike walks to the coffee machine.

MIKE

Anything?

MATT

Conley said Donna Morrisey should

have called, he just left Lake

Street.

MIKE

Yeah. Rasky said the same thing.

MATT

This is ridiculous. You’d think

they want to get out ahead of this.

MIKE

They’d be idiots not to. I’d love

to see their faces when they read

this.

Both of them wait.

MATT

You know, Sunday’s the Feast of the

Epiphany.

MIKE

Seems appropriate.

The phone rings. Mike grabs it.

MIKE (INTO PHONE) (CONT’D)

Mike Rezendes. Hi Donna. Thanks for

calling. I just had a few questions

if you have a minute....

Mike listens. Matt waits.

MIKE (CONT’D)

What? I just hung up with Larry

Rasky...

He listens, then grabs a pad and starts writing furiously.

132INT. GLOBE, MARTY’S OFFICE - DAY

Marty sits reading copy. He crosses something out. Ben, Robby and Sacha sit opposite Marty.

BEN

What?

MARTY

Another adjective.

Mike and Matt roll in.

ROBBY

Anything?

MIKE

Law just turned us down.

BEN

Jesus Christ.

MIKE

I just got off the phone with Donna

Morrisey. She said, quote:

(off his pad)

“We don’t even want to know what the

questions are.” End quote.

ROBBY

She really said that?

MIKE

(slight smile)

Yeah.

BEN

(to Marty)

That oughta do it.

MARTY

(writing)

“The Church had no interest in

knowing what the Globe’s questions

would be.”

(hands it to Mike)

Work it in somewhere before the

jump.

(to the team)

Anything else?

ROBBY

Matt wants to put the letters online

so readers can see it for

themselves.

MATT

We can run the URL at the bottom of

the article. It’s pretty

straightforward.

No one really knows what that means.

MARTY

Okay.

MATT

We also put the Spotlight tip line

at the end of the story so people

can call in. Goes directly to our

office.

SACHA

Matt and I will be in in the morning

in case we get any calls.

BEN

I’m more concerned about the phones

at reception.

After we ran the Porter story, the

message center was tied up for

weeks. It was a real problem.

MATT

And we had picketers. Lots of them.

MARTY

I’ll talk to Gilman about security

and the phones.

(to Robby)

How’s it coming on the folo story?

Robby looks to Sacha.

SACHA

We’ve nailed down multiple stories

on seventy priests.

MARTY

All seventy?

SACHA

Yeah. And with the confirmation

from Robby’s source, we’re ready to

go. We can have a draft next week.

MARTY

Robby, that source of yours, is this

someone we could revisit?

ROBBY

Might be tough.

BEN

But he has no problem helping the

church protect dozens of dirty

priests. Guy’s a scumbag.

Matt glances at Robby. Who’s looking at Ben.

MATT

He’s a lawyer, he’s doing his job.

MIKE

He a shill for the Church.

BEN

He knew and did nothing.

MIKE

He coulda said something about this

years ago. Maybe saved some lives.

ROBBY

What about us?

BEN

What’s that supposed to mean?

ROBBY

We had all the pieces. Why didn’t

we get it sooner?

BEN

We didn’t have all the pieces.

ROBBY

We had Saviano, we had Barrett, we

had Geoghan. We had the directories

in the basement.

BEN

You know what? We got it now.

MIKE

Robby, this story needed Spotlight.

ROBBY

Spotlight’s been around since 1970.

BEN

So what? We didn’t know the scope

of this. No one did. This started

with one goddamn priest, Robby.

Robby looks at Sacha. A beat.

ROBBY

MacLeish sent us a letter on 20

priests, years ago. Sacha found the

clip.

MIKE

Are you freaking kidding me? 20

priests?

BEN

When?

SACHA

Just after Porter. December of ‘93.

ROBBY

We buried the story in Metro. No

folo. Sacha found the clip.

BEN

That was you. You were Metro.

ROBBY

Yeah, that was me. I’d just taken

over. I don’t remember it at all.

But yeah.

The room quiets. Gut punch. Ben shakes his head.

MARTY

Uh, can I say something?

They turn to him.

MARTY (CONT’D)

Sometimes it’s easy to forget that

we spend most of our time stumbling

around in the dark. Suddenly a

light gets turned on, and there’s

fair share of blame to go around.

(then)

I can’t speak to what happened

before I arrived but all of you have

done some very good reporting here,

reporting that I believe is going to

have an immediate and considerable

impact on our readers.

(then)

For me, this kind of story is why we

do this.

The team takes this in.

MARTY (CONT’D)

Having said that, Cardinal Law and

the Catholic community are going to

have a very strong response to this.

So if you need to take a moment,

you’ve earned it. But I will need

you back here Monday morning focused

and ready to do your job.

165A EXT. GLOBE - NIGHT (FORMERLY 171A, ALREADY SHOT)

The building is dark, save for the PRESS ROOM. Through the window, we see the presses. Running.

133INT. GLOBE, BEN’S OFFICE - NIGHT (FORMERLY

Ben, coat on, sits alone in his office.

MARTY (O.C.)

Leaving?

Ben looks up. Marty’s in the door. Ben stands.

BEN

Yeah.

Ben walks out into --

166A EXT. GLOBE NEWSROOM - CONTINUOUS (FORMERLY 166B)

Ben and Marty walk across the quiet press room.

MARTY

I just got a call from the Cardinal.

BEN

Really. Why?

MARTY

He wanted to tell me personally that

he had decided not to comment. He

said he wanted to, uh, extend me

that courtesy.

BEN

Jesus, the balls on that guy.

What’d you say?

MARTY

I told him he was making a mistake.

And that we were going to run the

story.

BEN

Damn right we’re gonna run it.

166B INT. GLOBE, PRESSES - NIGHT

The papers run...

134INT. SACHA’S GRANDMOTHER’S HOUSE, DINING ROOM = NIGHT

Old, delicate hands move slowly over copy. Find Sacha’s Grandmother reading an early edition of the paper. Upset.

Sacha, sitting nearby, watches her. But there’s no emotion, no empathy. She’s blank, empty. Nothing left to feel...

SACHA’S GRANDMOTHER

Sacha, can I have a drink of water?

SACHA

Sure, Nana.

Sacha gets up, walks into the kitchen.

167A INT. GLOBE, LOADING DOCKS - NIGHT

Bundles of papers fly down CIRCULAR CHUTES into the trucks. INSIDE THE TRUCKS, men grab the bundles, and stack them.

135INT. GARABEDIAN’S OFFICE, CONFERENCE ROOM = NIGHT

REVEAL Mitch standing behind his desk, at the window. He reads another early edition. Then folds it up and hands it back to Mike... who’s standing in front of the desk.

GARABEDIAN

Can I keep this?

MIKE

Sure. I thought you should see it

first.

GARABEDIAN

Thank you for bringing it by. Now I

have some clients I have to attend

to.

Mitch goes back to work. Same old Mitch. Mike walks out.

136INT. GARABEDIAN OFFICE, HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS.

Mike walks back toward the elevator. He presses the button, waits, hears children laughing. He peers into --

137INT. GARABEDIAN OFFICE, SMALL WAITING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

A MOTHER sits with TWO YOUNG CHILDREN, ten and eight, playing innocently. The mother, distraught, fingers ROSARY BEADS. It’s reminiscent of our open.

GARABEDIAN

Both boys were abused. Jamaica

Plain. Two weeks ago.

In the HALLWAY, Garabedian stands behind Mike.

GARABEDIAN (CONT’D)

Keep doing your work, Mr. Rezendes.

He goes in. Mike just stands there, GUTTED. Off Mike, his reflection playing on the window, CUT TO --

172A EXT. GLOBE - NIGHT

The GREEN AND GOLD TRUCKS roll out from the Globe. We see headlights, a car waits for the trucks to pass.

PUSH IN... and we see it’s Robby behind the wheel. CUT INTO --

172B INT. ROBBY’S CAR - SAME TIME

Robby sits in his car watching the trucks roll out.

A173 EXT. BOSTON - DAWN

The SPARKLING BOSTON SKYLINE. The City on the Hill.

138EXT. WEST ROXBURY, BOSTON - EARLY MORNING

A welcome mat. A copy of the Globe is slapped down. We see the HEADLINE: Church Allowed Abuse by Priest for Years.

Reveal Matt walking away from the door. We see it’s the treatment center near his house.

139INT. GLOBE, HALLWAY - EARLY MORNING

We’re behind Sacha as she walks down the hall. She opens the firehose box, grabs a key. Unlocks the door to Spotlight.

174A INT. GLOBE, SPOTLIGHT - EARLY MORNING

Sacha enters, turns on the lights, takes off her coat. Matt enters.

MATT

Hey.

SACHA

Morning.

MATT

How’d you sleep?

SACHA

Not very well. You?

MATT

I haven’t slept well for months.

I’ve actually started writing.

SACHA

Writing?

MATT

Yeah, I’m working on a book. Gives

me something else to focus on.

SACHA

That’s great. What kind of book?

MATT

Horror.

Sacha reacts, the irony not lost on her. The phone RINGS. The tip line. They both stare. At last, Matt picks up.

MATT (INTO PHONE) (CONT’D)

Spotlight. Yeah. Yeah, of course.

Can I get your name please?

He grabs a pen. As he and Sacha trade a look, CUT TO --

140EXT. GLOBE, FRONT PARKING LOT - MORNING

The small visitor’s lot at the Globe entrance is empty, save for MIKE’S CAR. Idling. Robby’s car enters, pulls up next to Mike’s. Robby looks across at Mike. The two men connect.

Mike and Robby get out of their cars.

ROBBY

You do know it’s Sunday, right?

MIKE

I couldn’t get a tee time.

Robby smiles. Mike notes the SECURITY GUARDS at the entrance.

MIKE (CONT’D)

No picketers.

ROBBY

Probably still at church.

They walk in. Warriors returning home.

141INT. GLOBE, NEWSROOM - EARLY MORNING

Mike and Robby walk into the newsroom. It’s QUIET. Mike and Robby share a CONFUSED look as they reach the desk. LINDA, the operator, and two others sit by the phones. BORED.

ROBBY

Hey Linda.

MIKE

It’s quiet, huh?

LINDA

Yeah. Easiest overtime I ever made,

phone hasn’t rung once. Marty sent

two of mine down to Spotlight.

Mike and Robby trade a look. Spotlight? They start moving.

LINDA (CONT’D)

(calls out after them)

Great article guys.

ROBBY MIKE

Thank you. Thanks.

They hustle through the empty newsroom, heading downstairs. We hold on Marty, in his office. Working. As always.

142INT. GLOBE, HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

Robby and Mike charge from the stairwell. They quickly walk down the corridor with purpose. As they do, we hear...

A MURMUR. Buzzing. And RINGING PHONES. Mike and Robby trade a look, pick up the pace. As they approach Spotlight, the murmur GROWS. We hear more phones... and VOICES...

Mike and Robby get to the door. We HOLD ON them for a second as they stand in the doorway, looking into --

143INT. GLOBE, SPOTLIGHT OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

Chaos. Sacha and Matt and two INTERNS answering phones. Overwhelmed. An intern cups a phone, turns to Matt --

INTERN

I got another Shanley victim. SACHA I’ll take it. (to Robby) The phones have been ringing all morning.

Sacha takes the call. Nearby, Matt’s on the phone, marking up the board... it has tons of new names, phone numbers.

MATTY (INTO THE PHONE) SACHA (INTO THE PHONE) Uh huh, yeah. I know it’s This is Sacha Pfeiffer. Yes, tough to talk about. thank you for calling. Who am I speaking with?

Mike and Robby stare. Matt spots them.

MATT (INTO PHONE)

Hold one minute please.

(to Mike)

Mike, could you grab that?

Mike moves for his desk, grabs the phone.

MATT (CONT’D)

They’re almost all victims, Robby.

This lands on Robby. A beat. Then he moves to his desk. Passing Mike, already picking up a phone...

MIKE (INTO PHONE)

This is Spotlight.

Robby moves to his desk. He watches the team answering phones, working. A beat. Then he grabs a phone.

ROBBY (INTO PHONE)

Spotlight.

FADE TO BLACK.

A CARD APPEARS.

Over the course of 2002, the Spotlight team published close to 600 stories about the scandal.

The card fades. ANOTHER CARD APPEARS.

249 priests and brothers were publicly accused of sexual abuse within the Boston Archdiocese.

The number of survivors in Boston is estimated to be well over 1,000.

The card fades. ANOTHER CARD APPEARS.

In December 2002, Cardinal Law resigned from the Boston Archdiocese.

He was re-assigned to the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, one of the highest ranking Roman Catholic churches in the world.

The card fades. ANOTHER CARD APPEARS.

Major abuse scandals have been uncovered in the following places:

Anchorage AK, Fairbanks AK, St. Michael AK, Stebbins AK, Mobile AL, Phoenix AZ, Tucson AZ, Yuma AZ, Los Angeles CA, Los Gatos CA, Monterey CA, Oakland CA, Orange CA, Sacramento CA, San Bernardino CA, San Diego CA, Santa Barbara CA, Santa Rosa CA, Stockton CA, Denver CO, Bridgeport CT, Hartford CT, Wilmington DE, Miami FL, Palm Beach FL, Marietta GA, Savannah GA, Honolulu HI, Davenport IA, Dubuque IA, Farmington IA, Grand Mound IA, Chicago IL, Joliet IL, Peoria IL, Indianapolis IN, Conway Springs KS, Kansas City KS, Anchorage KY, Covington KY, Louisville KY, New Orleans LA, Fall River MA, Springfield MA, Wellesley MA, Worcester MA, Baltimore MD, Portland ME, Detroit MI, Grand Rapids MI, Collegeville MN, Greenbush MN, Onamia MN, St.Paul/Minneapolis MN, Cape Girardeau MO, Hannibal MO, Kansas City MO, St. Louis MO, Jackson MS, Billings MT, Helena MT, St. Ignatius MT, Raleigh NC, Fargo ND, Lincoln NE, Omaha NE, Manchester NH, Camden NJ, Mendham NJ, Gallup NM, Santa Fe NM, Albany NY, Brooklyn NY, Goshen NY, New York NY, Rochester NY, Rockville Centre NY, Cincinnati OH, Cleveland OH, Toledo OH, Baker OR, Portland OR, Altoona PA, Philadelphia PA, Pittsburgh PA, Scranton PA, East Greenwich RI, Providence RI, Charleston SC, Marty Indian School SD, Rosebud Reservation SD, Memphis TN, Nashville TN, Dallas TX, El Paso TX, Fort Worth TX, San Antonio TX, Richmond VA, Burlington VT, Briscoe Memorial, WA, Seattle WA, Spokane WA, Yakima WA, Milwaukee WI, St. Francis WI

Berazategui Argentina, Buenos Aires Argentina, Morón Argentina, Paraná Argentina, Pilar Argentina, Quilmes Argentina, Salta Argentina, Adelaide Australia, Ballarat Australia, Bass Hill Australia, Bathurst Australia, Bindoon Australia, Canberra Australia, Dandenong Australia, Goulburn Australia, Hobart Australia, Lancefield Australia, Melbourne Australia, Mildura Australia, Mittagong Australia, Morisset Australia, Mount Isa Australia, Neerkol Australia, Newcastle Australia, Perth Australia, Sydney Australia, Toowoomba Australia, Wagga Wagga Australia, Wollongong Australia, Hollabrunn Austria, Bruges Belgium, Flawinne Belgium, Ottré Belgium, Arapiraca Brazil, Franca Brazil, Mariana Brazil, Rio de Janeiro Brazil, Antigonish Canada, Chatham Canada, Igloolik Canada, Sherbrooke Canada, St. John's Canada, Wilno Canada, Cottolengo Chile, Maipú Chile, Melipilla Chile, Quilicura Chile, Santiago Chile, Medellín Colombia, Rab Croatia, Santo Domingo Dominican Republic, London England, Manchester England, Middlesbrough England, Preston England, Reading England, Caen France, Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne France, Berlin Germany, Munich Germany, Riekhofen Germany, Ollur India, Curracloe Ireland, Dublin Ireland, Gortahork Ireland, Kilnacrott Ireland, Letterfrack Ireland, Lota Ireland, Monageer Ireland, Wexford Ireland, Nairobi Kenya, Ngong Kenya, Ciudad de México México, Cuacnopalan México, San Luis Potosí México, Auckland New Zealand, Christchurch New Zealand, Feilding New Zealand, Hamilton New Zealand, Masterton New Zealand, Silverstream New Zealand, Akute Nigeria, Kircubbin Northern Ireland, Trondheim Norway, Ayacucho Peru, Chimbote Peru, Bontoc Philippines, Cebu City Philippines, Manila Philippines, Naval Philippines, Tubay Philippines, Poznan Poland, Edinburgh Scotland, Rufisque Senegal,

FADE OUT.

THE END