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Spotlight · written by Josh Singer & Tom McCarthy · 2015
Scene 4 of 143 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act one
The Boston Globe's Spotlight team pries open the Catholic Church's decades-long cover-up of child abuse — one sealed record, one silenced victim at a time.
Assistant DA Burke arrives at a 1976 Boston police station to quietly handle Father Geoghan's arrest, telling the desk cop to keep the press away.
A Bishop assures Sheila, mother of the two boys Geoghan molested, that he will pull Father from the parish and this will never happen again.
The young cop watches the Bishop drive Geoghan away from the station in a town car, processing what he's just seen swept under.
This scene
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...