Gaslit (2022) s01e02 Episode Script

1 This won't be first time I've had to be glamorous under my husband.
I decided long ago that I will say how I feel.
Well, if you're gonna put me on the stand, I better have my lawyer present.
The election is in eight fucking months.
Keep your mouth shut, we'll be fine.
Get another wife if you want a silent one.
They used to like each other.
You're a good person deep down.
Met a young couple tonight, reminded me of being at the beginning of something.
McCord, wasn't it? I appreciate you, James McCord.
California? We got a couple of fundraisers out there.
- My mom says Nixon's dogshit.
- I've never even met the guy.
We got a kind of special opportunity for you.
You mean you want to set up an espionage unit here, in-inside the Committee to Re-elect.
I think I know a guy.
- Liddy, general counsel.
- Soldier.
This operation requires untraceable foreign contractors.
I need five Cubans.
How expensive are Cubans these days? They're freedom fighters, you fuck! - Mr.
Dean? - I'll see myself out.
There she is, machos our destiny.
El Watergate.
Voilà, Mrs.
Mitchell.
What do you think? I don't-I don't see a difference.
We love it.
I knew you would.
I'm noticing a few gaps in your employment history.
One here in 1965, and here a whole year in 1969.
You mind explaining what you were doing during those periods? I guess you could say there was times I was doing it and, um, you know, times I was getting it done.
You know what I mean, brother? I'm afraid I do not.
Mm-hmm.
Um, just odd jobs, mostly.
Mr.
Wills Frank, you can just You just call me Frank.
Mr.
Wills, I really appreciate, um, you coming all the way down here, but I'm afraid you're not what we're looking for.
What-what is it? My-my mustache? 'Cause I can shave it off, no problem.
To be honest, you're not really a right fit for the front desk.
Come on, man, please.
Look, I'll level with you.
I've been to, like, ten of these interviews this week.
I got my bills up to here.
If this ain't working for me, I'm out of this town, dig? Now, you just tell me, what do I gotta do? Name the capitals.
Sorry? If you're on the front desk, you only have one job, and that job is to make white folks feel secure, and nothing makes white folks feel more secure than a friendly public-school-educated boy that knows the capitals.
Now, if you feel that's unfair, I hear that the Howard Johnson's across the street is hiring.
What you want? Yeah, I got the job.
The night job at the Watergate.
Yeah, guy hired me on a provisional basis, but that's only 'cause I forgot Bismarck.
It's the capital of North Dakota.
Look, never mind.
The bus is coming.
I will tell you about it later.
All right, I gotta go.
All right, all right, bye.
Oh, I-I'm so sorry, man.
We're all flaked with sorrow from birth, son.
It's up to each of us to pull it off.
No apology necessary.
Shh.
The whole point of breaking into the DNC was to capture intimate campaign conversations.
And you idiots, you bug the secretarial lines? Hey, Gordo.
What's up, compadre? All these transcripts, Howard.
Uh-huh.
We've got nothing but a secretary dirty-birding her boyfriend.
"I am in my posy-pink panties.
"They're so cute stretched across my little red bottom.
" Jesus, I wish I could get my wife to talk like that.
You have any idea how this reflects on the two of us, Hunt? This operation? To Mitchell and everybody? Yeah.
Now, I want to know which one of you slack-jawed equines placed these taps.
Hmm? Who was it? - Look - Oh, we have a winner.
I can't stop a secretary from using the phone for personal calls.
You bug the source, not the ancillary.
Are you familiar with black bag ops? - You've done black bag ops.
- You ever done that? Honestly, maybe it'd be better to find another target.
Hold on.
I'm sorry.
Are you the target finder now? Are-are you the main guy who helps us find the targets? Nixon's beating the hell out of McGovern in every poll.
Is the DNC really his biggest threat? It is not your job to determine the threat level, you dumb donkey.
It's your job to sit by the phone and wait for a fucking order.
Now, do you think you can do your job? Insofar as any of this is my job? Yes, sir.
I can do my job.
Brilliant.
Okay.
We gotta go in again.
It's our only option.
Yeah, somebody's gonna have to ask Mitchell for more money.
I can do it.
You're going to get more out of Mitchell if you send me rather than one of the wetbacks.
- No offense.
- Oye, coño.
Who you calling a wetback, brother? We're Cuban, not Mexican.
Okay, okay, take it easy.
I'll do it.
But I'm gonna need a lift.
Sarah's got the station wagon today.
Of course.
- After you.
- You guys are so sensitive.
You're listening to WRBT 630AM No, oh, no, honey, honey.
If you're gonna bring more than three pairs of shoes, you gotta do it in secret, or else people lose faith in you.
You don't do anything in secret.
- Mr.
McCord.
- Hello.
- How are you? - Fine, thank you.
What can I do for you? Uh, I'm just here to drop off some papers for your husband.
Oh, sure.
Um, Marty, Katarina, would you Could you find Mr.
Mitchell, please? He's around here somewhere.
Sorry to bother you at home.
I tried his office first.
I was sorry to hear that you were taken off my detail.
Apologies.
I wanted to tell you myself, but it all happened so quickly.
They put me on some security work.
Clerical stuff mostly.
Oh, this is a fine collection.
You like it? Mm, I don't know if you can say you like Rilke.
There's so much desire in there and isolation.
I don't know.
I had to turn 40 before I got any of it.
Oh, well, I'll give it a try in a few years, then.
Um, Mr.
McCord, uh, my-my family and I, we are traveling out to California for a fundraiser.
I was wondering if you would like to accompany us there.
Oh, I would love to, Mrs.
Mitchell, but the campaign does have me very busy, and, um, I am needed at home.
Of course, understood.
I just um, I don't often find a bodyguard that I can have a conversation with, that's all.
I'm sorry if I overstepped.
Oh, no, no, no, no.
Of course not.
McCord? Yes, sir.
Uh, I have a few matters of paperwork pertaining to our earlier conversation.
In the study.
It's very nice to see you again.
Oh.
What are you doing with my book? Helping you not forget it.
I-is he, um You think he'll be out soon? I-I don't mean to be rude.
It's just, I ha-I have a plane to catch this afternoon for a conference in the Philippines.
The president should be wrapping up with Senator Thurmond in just a moment.
Hard candy? Couple of Chatty Cathys.
It shouldn't be too much longer.
Mr.
Keane.
- Dean.
- I'm sorry? My last name.
You-you just called me Keane.
- Keane? - Dean.
- With a K? - With a D.
Dean.
I don't remember a Dean in the Department of Transportation.
Excuse me? You're an assistant secretary in the Department of Transportation? N-no.
What? I'm junior counsel.
Oh, gosh.
What is my brain doing up there? Yes, Mr.
President? Um, Mr.
Dean has been here for the past 45 minutes.
Uh-huh.
Certainly, I'll let him know.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
The president apologizes, but his meeting with Senator Thurmond has been extended indefinitely.
Fortunately, it looks like we can reschedule your get-to-know-you for September.
September? It's June.
That's the next space the president has available, unless that's a problem.
I serve at the pleasure of the president.
That's the spirit.
President Fucking Dick.
Fucking piece of fucking asshole.
Fucking, fucking shit.
Fuck.
Ow, Jesus.
Sir, I have Maureen Kane returning.
Miss Kane.
Hi.
Well, I God, that's all a girl's gotta do to reach White House counsel? I think I imagined switchboards all the way up Mount Olympus.
Stop, I'm not that important.
Oh, Mr.
False Modesty.
So come on, you have to tell me.
How'd it go, anyway? How-how'd what go? Your meeting with the president of the United States? Oh, that, I yeah, I, um No, I-I-I had to reschedule that, actually.
You had to reschedule? Yeah, you know, I-I've been so busy lately with, uh, you know, meetings and stuff.
You don't think that's rude, do you, to reschedule a meeting with the president? Maybe it looks like I'm too busy for him.
Uh, no, I-I don't I think it's a good thing, shows you're not sitting around like the village idiot waiting for him to meet with you.
You've, you know, got other things going on.
- Important things.
- Right.
Blonde, important, "best thing that ever happened to you" things.
Well, that reminds me, I-I got some bad news.
I-I don't think I can make it to see you this weekend.
What? No.
I've got the tickets to Cat Stevens at the Bowl Saturday night.
I know, and I love Cat Stevens, but I have this conference in Manila.
It totally slipped my mind.
I'm sorry.
I have Senator Gurney on the line, and he says it's urgent.
Right.
Look, I-I gotta take this other call, but, um, on my way back through the States, how about I stop by LA? Who's playing at the Bowl Tuesday? - The Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
- Perfect.
I love it's beautiful.
I We'll make a night of it, okay? I'll talk to you soon.
Okay, I'll light a candle in my window.
Bye, now.
Anything else, Mrs.
Mitchell? I'm fine.
Thank you, dear.
Oh, and about your daughter.
She asked for a Bloody Mary.
Okay.
She's 11 years old, ma'am.
Mm-hmm.
Oh, I see.
Don't make it too spicy.
Three campaign events in one day, we'll die of dumbfuck exposure.
You reading poetry now? I'm in a bit of a wistful mood, I guess, thinking about a a boy I once knew.
Is this gonna be the center fielder from college? The oil baron from Midland? Walter.
Arkansas boy.
Took me to my first dance when we were 12.
Mm.
And once in a while, you still wonder what it might have been like if you had married simple Walter from Pine Bluff.
We used to be a team.
Now it's just jokes and silences and the occasional rough sex and campaign business.
Doesn't sound so bad.
I'm serious.
I thought you'd be happy going to California.
You can talk to Zsa Zsa and Clint.
Push Lana Turner in the pool.
I'm not a show pony.
You can't just trot me around and then put me back in the stable at the end of the night.
I don't know what you want me to say.
These things happen in a marriage, and you didn't marry simple Walter from Pine Bluff.
You married me.
I like your traveling suit.
Ten Americans killed, eight missing, 75 wounded.
South Vietnam reported 1,149 killed, the heaviest weekly toll for them for the entire war.
Gotta get the crease right.
President Nixon said last night See that? It's all in the details, Tuffy.
Look at you licking the plate.
I will be back at the crack of dawn, and I'm bringing doughnuts.
I'm all right.
Thank you, thank you.
Ma'am.
How you doing this evening? All right.
Oh, man, don't mind Mrs.
Emerson.
She's, um She's a little skittish.
Name's Alberto.
- Frank Wills.
- Nice to meet you.
Yeah.
You ever work security before, Frank Wills? Well, I, um I was up in Michigan at Job Corps - Mm-hmm.
- and before that, I was working part-time at a department store back in Georgia.
Well, things around here are pretty simple.
Uh, there's the logbook, schedule, uh, walkie, flashlight for your rounds.
Anyone comes down for a package, we keep them under the desk.
Shit, man, uh, weekend's a dead zone.
Oh, there's a bum who comes around and pisses in the planters, but that's about it.
I got you.
Have a good night.
And hey, don't fall asleep on the job.
Got it.
At least don't get caught.
Eagle Eye, this is Sparrow.
Come in, Eagle Eye.
Go for Eagle Eye.
Over.
The guards have just changed shifts for the night.
Over.
How are we doing otherwise? Over.
We still have a few guys in the office.
Looks like they're packing up to get out of there.
Over.
Copy that.
We've got a visual on the side street from our room.
Carrion Falcon, you in position? Over.
Carrion Falcon, are you in position? Over.
Roger that, Eagle Eye.
In position and waiting on your signal.
Over.
Over and out, I mean.
Things to do ♪ Can't let my shoes pick dust up ♪ Won't slow down ♪ I can't afford to let up ♪ - Excuse me.
- Pardon me.
Can I get another gin and tonic, please? Ah, yes.
And the president is very pleased with this conservative movement you got going out here with Reagan.
John, we're not building it for the president's pleasure.
We consider this our own movement out here, a-a new conservative politics centered around the Christian family, not making nice with Red China.
All I'm saying is that Ronnie's endorsement would mean the world to Dick.
The only thing that means dick to Dick is more glory for Dick.
Both of you, stop it.
Don't tell me y'all are still talking shop.
Your husband here set a trap for me.
I've been struggling to get out of it.
I've been trying to wriggle my way out of his snare for 15 years.
- Michael.
- Oh.
Would you like to join me in a game of pool? Maybe it'll make him jealous.
I'd love nothing more.
Oh, God.
I forgot the first rule of billiards.
Never put money on a game when there's a Southern woman involved.
Mm.
Now, tell me something.
When Reagan went for the nomination in '68, did he make a stop in Pine Bluff? Uh, I can't say that we did.
Mm, it's probably for the best.
They're just wild for Nixon down there.
They love him even more than they love me.
All right.
One Mitchell gets me toast, and the other one butters me up for the Reagan endorsement.
Is that how this works? Oh, no, don't be ridiculous.
You're more than just some jacket potato to us.
You're a dear friend, Michael.
Scotch, please.
Nixon's on the road to reelection.
We all know that.
But his reputation's taken a huge hit.
People know what he did to Muskie, what he and Kissinger did to tank the peace talks in '68.
That didn't play too well in California.
Yeah, that was a tough call in '68.
Not as tough as the one Ronnie had to make to book his flight home after he lost the nomination.
Beloved.
In four years, Ronnie wants to run a presidential campaign that's based on Yeah, on fair representation and-and moral integrity and all bullshit, bullshit, bullshit.
You know, with that attitude, it's a wonder you haven't racked up our endorsement yet.
Well, with that kind of blind confidence, it's a wonder you haven't been able to break through in the South.
You know, if I were Reagan, I would wonder why someone as charming and noble as myself could get crushed in the South by a supposed liar and cheat like Nixon.
It's no mystery, at least not to the people of Pine Bluff.
They put their faith in Nixon, and in return, he won the presidency for them, and now everything he does looks like a confirmation of their faith.
So what if he had to get down in the mud to do it? Even Christ had to wash a few dirty feet.
Are you actually comparing Dick Nixon to Jesus Christ right now? No.
Jesus Christ wouldn't make it through the Republican primary.
their Constitution and their love of apple pie.
It is difficult to alert this country and throughout the media that the conspiracy is not something small.
It is huge, and it is beyond the realm of most people's imagination.
The conspiracy is for the world domination of the United States.
Down by two in the fourth quarter, the young star from North Augusta lines up for a 48-yarder.
I gotta tell you, this is a risky one for Wills.
A lot riding on this.
Can he pull this off? Ooh.
Sorry, sir.
Oh, man.
Oh, shoot.
Eagle Eye, the final gophers have left the hole.
Repeat, we are a go on the hole.
Ah, coño.
Shit.
- What? - Quiet.
The transceivers, they're back at HQ.
Liddy wanted fresh batteries.
I told him the batteries were already fresh.
- Fuck me! - Quiet! Eagle Eye, this is Carrion Falcon.
We are earless.
Repeat, we are without ears.
Over.
Cleared to retrieve.
Over.
But make it quick.
Over.
Oh, shit, get out of here.
Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit.
Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit.
Shit, shit, shit, shit.
Watch it, asshole! Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit.
Hey, man.
Hey, you can't be putting tape on the door like this.
It's against code or something.
Pardon me, sir? Hawkins Deli is already closed.
Do you know if there's another place open? Sorry, man, it's my first night on the job.
- All right, thanks anyway.
- Mm-hmm.
Hey, wait up.
Um I just remembered there's a burger joint down the street from here.
Come on, I'll take you to it.
Like the wind, man, go! You can always put on another jacket, but, like, if it's hot, you can only take off so many layers, so Yeah, well, I mean, but see, in Atlanta, you can Shit, shit, shit.
Clay Pigeon, this is Carrion Falcon.
Something's wrong with the door down here.
Requesting immediate assistance.
Over.
Help me.
Over.
What the fuck? Something's wrong with the fucking door.
Get Road Runner down there immediately.
Copy.
Road Runner is on his way.
I repeat, Road Runner's on his way.
Over.
All right, let me do a patty melt, add Swiss cheese, and let me get some extra mushrooms.
Sorry, buddy, ran out of mushrooms.
Y'all ran outta mushrooms? Look, pal, it's a mushroom town.
What can I tell you? Venga, cabrón.
Vamos.
Oh, whoa.
Venga.
My strength is leaving me.
Rápido, rápido.
Copy.
What the hell? The lock's all worn to shit.
Gonzalez figured this'd be easier.
Okay, okay, okay, okay.
Venga.
Rápido, rápido.
Vamos.
- Take it easy.
- Put it back on.
Yeah, well, you have a good night.
- Yeah, you too, man.
- Yes, sir.
"Even between the closest human beings, "infinite distances continue.
"A wonderful living side by side can grow if they succeed in loving the distance between them.
" It's Rilke.
Yes, we had books in Queens too.
John Newton Mitchell, I didn't know you were such a romantic.
How do you know I'm not just trying to get inside those Pine Bluff panties, my little jacket potato? What's your angle here? I was thinking about what we were talking about on the plane.
About holding on to a good thing.
And this is a good thing.
I like what they're doing out here for Reagan.
And I was thinking that after the campaign, maybe there'd be a place for us out here in California.
You want to move across the country and work for Reagan? The two of us are unstoppable.
But I was never the one driving that train.
It was always you.
Lord, look who sounds drunk now.
Come here, let me sober you up.
- Poetry.
- Mm.
Sparrow, come in.
Looks like someone just pulled up out front.
Can you make them out from your vantage? Over.
Just some hippies, sir.
Nothing to worry about.
Over.
What's your status, Carrion Falcon? Over.
Wrapping up in here.
Over.
Hey, guys, building's closed.
You can't come in here.
You're the one who called the cops, aren't you? Yeah, I mean Relax, Mr.
Tibbs.
We were on vice detail when we got the call.
Maybe tell us what the hell's going on so we can get back to it.
Okay, uh, I found a piece of tape on the parking garage door.
- Tape? - Over the door latch, like somebody was keeping it open.
I thought it was a mistake the first time, and then it happened again, and I found another piece on the sixth floor.
- Hmm.
- Okay, uh, not to worry.
We'll take it from here.
Oh, um, you guys gonna head up there now? I can come with you, you know, be your backup if you need.
Uh, that's all right.
We're good.
Uh, you stay down here and, uh Watch our perimeter.
That's right, watch our six, Officer.
Walkies off.
Hide, hide.
Andale, andale.
Eagle Eye, were any of our guys by chance wearing a sport coat? Over.
Our men are in suits.
Did you mean suit jacket, Sparrow? Over.
Maybe it's a windbreaker.
What is a windbreaker again? Over.
A windbreaker is the lighter version of what we typically refer to as a jacket.
Over.
I thought that was a parka.
Over.
No, no, no, a parka is a It's-it's a whole different thing.
It's much longer, like a-a trench coat or a - Yeah, it's a duster.
- Duster.
Think, uh, Gary Cooper in Shane.
Over.
Duster.
Mother of shit.
Eagle Eye, the hippies are armed.
The fucking hippies are armed.
Wait, wait, wait.
What's that, Sparrow? Armed pursuants on the sixth floor.
They're headed for the gopher hole.
Mayday! Mayday! Ah, ah! Carrion Falcon, did you hear that? You got company on your six.
Abort mission.
I repeat, abort mission.
Please acknowledge.
Over.
Fuck, their walkies must be off.
What's happening over there? How the fuck did you miss those guys? It was a goddamn hippie in a sport coat.
- What was I supposed to do? - You said windbreaker.
Hippies don't wear windbreakers.
Doesn't fucking matter! I'm gonna pack up my shit.
- I'll meet you in the lobby.
- Get the fucking shit out now.
Grab the equipment.
Swear to God, how do you fucking miss that shit? - Fucking God damn it.
- Damn it.
Help him.
Help him.
Get Don't leave any fucking papers.
I got no fucking fingernails.
God.
Jump in.
All right, we know you're in here.
You, get up.
Stand up.
Let me see your hands.
Slowly, slowly, slowly.
Don't shoot.
Don't shoot.
Are you guys cops? What the fuck does it look like? May I see your badge? You're horrible.
Oh, God, I'm trying to get to the bench.
Oh, ooh! - Sir.
- Oh, heavens.
Sorry to bother you.
There's a phone call for you.
It's-it's Mr.
Dean.
- He says it's urgent.
- Patch him through.
I don't like the new bodyguard.
Well, you never like the new bodyguard.
I had a good time tonight.
Me too.
All right, take your call.
I'll go check on Marty.
Somebody's playing possum.
You seem happy.
I am happy.
Daddy bought it for me at the airport.
People say it's scary.
- It's pretty boring so far.
- Hmm.
Well, let me know how it turns out.
She snores.
Mitchell.
Hello, sir.
I'm-I'm sorry to disturb you on vacation.
How is it down there? Or up there? Where is California in relation to the Philippines latitude-wise? I don't know.
It's just, I've had some disturbing news from Jeb, sir.
For Christ, fuck.
It seems there was a mix-up at the Watergate.
A security guard, uh, bust the whole operation, Jeb says.
Bust it wide open.
Apparently, a-a-a door was-was taped incorrectly.
What the fuck are you talking about? It was-it was difficult to make out the details exactly.
Jeb was crying when he told me.
He was actually crying, sir.
- Fucking Christ on the cross.
- I'm sorry, sir.
This is the first I'm hearing about all this.
- Was Liddy arrested too? - Well, no, uh, Liddy got away, Jeb says, as did Hunt and Baldwin.
Thank the shit Christ.
So there's no direct ties to the campaign.
Well-well, here's the thing, sir.
Uh, McCord did not get away.
Liddy let McCord go in there? Yes, sir.
I specifically said I want no one with ties to the campaign on-site.
Well, apparently we're short on Cubans.
All right, get the fuck back to D.
C.
tonight.
You hear me? The next 48 hours are gonna be crucial.
We'll have to go low and slow.
Let's not make any big moves.
I-I understand, sir.
Only I was hoping to stop in LA.
We'll regroup the whole team when we get in.
I'll get Jeb to write up a containment.
Sir, uh, before you go, sir, uh, one more thing.
I-I don't know how to put this.
Uh, Jeb and I were wondering about your wife.
What about her? Well, you know, I'd-I'd never go on the record with this, sir, but McCord did work in your home.
You really think that when Martha sees his face in the newspaper, she won't call one of her journalist friends? You said it yourself, sir, the next 48 hours are gonna be crucial.
Listen, Dean, I know you're trying to be a good little farmhand, but you're gonna have to get your dick out of the butter churn on this one.
You got it? Yes-yes, sir.
Won't happen again, sir.
What's going on? You gotta promise you'll tell no one.
I promise.
Dean got himself caught up in a raid on a Filipino brothel.
He's being forced out of the country.
- You're kidding.
- You didn't hear it from me.
I knew he was an operator the moment I laid eyes on him.
Oh, his sweet little girlfriend.
She'll be mortified.
Hmm.
This is what happens when there's no trust between two people.
Now, where were we? - Oh, yeah.
- Follow me.
Well, well, well, Mr.
Eye For Detail.
You really saved the day here.
Well, I'm just glad I could represent myself on behalf of the building.
The big bosses, uh, have approved a small token of their appreciation for your heroic actions during the course of the break-in.
- What's this? - It's a raise.
Two fifty? Every week.
I appreciate it.
Mitchell? Honeybun? Where are you? Mitchell? Marty? Oh, Jesus.
Oh, Peter, you scared me.
Sorry, ma'am, I was just getting some breakfast.
Where is everyone? Oh, your daughter went to Disneyland with Katarina.
Yes, of course.
And my husband? Mr.
Mitchell had to fly to Washington for an urgent business meeting.
His instructions were to have you stay here.
Oh.
I think I'll just, uh give his office a call, make sure everything's all right.
All right, Peter, seriously, what is going on? Where is everyone? As I said, your husband had an urgent meeting Okay, well, stop saying that and just tell me.
Okay, there's no need to get hysterical.
Why don't you just go back to your room and relax? This is ridiculous.
I am calling my husband.
You are not in charge here.
- Do you understand me? - Mm-hmm.
Good.
Your husband's a very busy man, and he doesn't have time right now to take your call.
Okay.
Here.
A little light reading.
Good girl.
To your right.
To your left.
I'm sorry, sir.
Your party's not answering.
Would you like to try another number? So am I your date tonight? Okay, Sandra, you are my date to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
Should be the last of it.
I saw this in a dream, Howard.
These flames consuming our best-laid plans.
It's all our fault.
We made too many mistakes, too many assumptions.
The tide of our ideals dashed against reality's rocky shore.
How could we have been so foolish as to not see it coming? See what coming, Gordon? Retribution.