Gaslit (2022) s01e06 Episode Script
Tuffy
1
Frank Wills.
I found a piece of tape on the parking garage door.
I thought it was a mistake the first time, and then it happened again, and I found another piece on the sixth floor.
Wow, wow you really saved the day here.
Well, I'm just glad I could represent myself on behalf of the building.
The president and the first lady would like to gift you a little getaway weekend.
Something to tide you over until you and the missus can spring for the real honeymoon.
And look, it'll be good to have a little time away from the city to write that investigative report, right? I could be indicted for obstruction of justice.
I entrusted the task of getting me the written report to John Dean.
We're gonna have you tell the truth in a way that America likes you.
Convicted Watergate conspirators might be first to testify at the formal hearings.
The ship's going down, John.
It might be best if I explore other options.
Uh, Mr.
Mitchell, if you ever need anything, I'm right outside your door.
- Here we go.
- Should the Nixon administration be afraid of you, Mrs.
Mitchell? Well, I think you know the answer to that.
The committee called.
I'm gonna testify.
Ah, hey, hey, hey.
A-all right, all right, all right, I'm up.
I'm up, I'm up.
Come on.
Come on, Tu Tuffy, come on.
I got you, okay, breakfast time.
That was pretty Patti Austin with a little soul for your bowl on WOL.
I'll tell it to the hot, and I'll tell it to the cold.
I'll tell it to the young, and I'll tell it to the old.
This is Petey Greene's Washington, and the whole town's burnin' a hunk of funk 'cause we got Senate Watergate hearings this week.
Ooh, I can't wait to see which one of these turkeys is gonna fry.
Speaking of which this next one's going out to that funky turncoat, John Dean.
We got The O'Jays with "Back Stabbers.
" What they do ♪ They smilin' in your face ♪ All the time ♪ They wanna take your place ♪ The back stabbers ♪ Back stabbers ♪ They smilin' in your face ♪ All the time ♪ They wanna take your place ♪ The back stabbers ♪ Back stabbers ♪ All you fellas ♪ Who have someone ♪ And you really care, yeah, yeah ♪ Then it's all of you fellas ♪ Who better beware ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ Somebody's out to get your name ♪ What are you looking at? A few of your buddies ♪ They sure look shady ♪ Blades are long ♪ Clenched tight in their fist ♪ Aimin' straight at your back ♪ And I don't think they'll miss ♪ Tuffy, how do I look? Like a cat who's gonna be on the cover of Jetmagazine? Speechless.
So, Mr.
Wills, how's life been for you since the burglary? Well, you know how it be.
Sometimes up, sometimes down.
Are you dating anyone? Married? I don't see a ring.
That depends.
Who you asking for? Let's just say I have a feeling our female readers might be interested.
I was seeing someone before all this, but, uh, she broke it off a couple weeks ago.
Mm, sorry to hear that.
All right, Frank, we're good.
All right.
My man.
Thank you, sir.
Yeah, uh, it's copacetic.
Tuffy never really took kind to her anyway.
Tuffy? - He's my cat.
- Hmm.
He can always tell when I'm headed in the wrong direction, and he has a way of letting me know it too.
Sounds like a good companion.
Cheap date too.
Tuna's, what, a quarter these days? Must be interesting working in a building that's become the center of a national scandal.
Well, actually, I'm not employed here anymore.
Management let me go a few weeks ago.
Said I was becoming too much of a distraction.
Anyway, I'm looking for a new gig.
I'm not saying they shut me out, but it's been a lot harder than I thought it'd be.
What's this? My number.
Don't get any ideas.
I adjunct over at Howard.
This Jetthing's just freelance.
I happen to know that the security department needs a coordinator.
- Coordinator? - Mm-hmm.
Oh, shoot, I can coordinate anything.
See? Coordinated.
I'll get you an interview.
Mm-hmm.
Great.
And, um, after that? What you mean, "After that?" I was thinking dinner, maybe? So when I said, "Don't get any ideas" I got 'em anyway.
Ah, okay.
Well, take care, Mr.
Wills.
Smilin' in your face ♪ All the time ♪ They wanna take your place ♪ The back stabbers ♪ Back stabbers ♪ Man.
Mr.
Tuffy, your lobster has arrived, courtesy of Howard University.
Hey, you ever met a Howard girl, Tuffy? Ooh, this one's nice.
You would've been proud of me, boy.
Hey, I made her laugh and everything, uh, cracked a few jokes.
But she ain't easy.
She is as smart as an ankle sprain, boy, I can tell you that much.
A'ight, boy.
Come and get it.
Tuffy? Tuffy? Oh, no.
Oh, no, no.
Oh, shit.
No, no, no, no, no.
Tuffy! Call me once you land in Little Rock.
Like I said, if you decide to spend a little longer down there Oh, nice try.
We'll see you on Monday.
Sweetheart.
Well, you look like a lesbian.
Martha.
Well, hi, Lloyd.
How are you? Good.
Good.
Glad I caught you before you left.
Is it true? You'll be testifying against the president next week? Yes, yes, it is true, but before that, I am focusing on my goodwill trip to Pine Bluff.
My daughter and I are going down there.
We're gonna go to a luncheon at the historical society.
We'll be the honored guests.
Marty's so excited.
No, I'm not.
She's just being modest.
Get in the car.
Attorney General Mitchell, how do you feel about your wife potentially speaking to the Senate? Oh, as usual, I support Martha in whatever she decides to do.
Except there's no deciding left to do.
I am testifying on Monday.
Right, that's the plan.
Not the plan, the facts.
I really think you should think about spending a little more time down there.
Might be very good for you to get away from all this And for Marty too.
Love you.
Don't slam the door.
Mr.
Mitchell, do you have any thoughts on John Dean's upcoming testimony? Takes more than a smile to take on the U.
S.
government.
Kid's gonna need a fucking miracle.
Programs regularly scheduled for this time will not be seen today in order that we might bring you the following NBC News Special Report.
Watergate: Senate Hearings.
Mr.
Dean, would you care to describe what documents have been made available to you? As my lawyer detailed earlier, I I don't think you should say "lawyer.
" Just say "my counsel," 'cause people do not like lawyers no offense.
Okay.
As my counsel detailed earlier, I maintain an extensive log of clippings to which I refer with some regularity.
And how do these clippings relate to the question, exactly? Uh, well, um my meetings with the With the president no? Uh, I was often dealing with containment of press issues "Containment"? I just think that sounds evil.
I mean, what's he working on, a nuclear reactor? I agree with that, actually.
- Wh - Well, good.
Well, what should I call it, then? Don't call it anything.
If a committee member gives you a question like that, throw it to me, and I'll answer it.
No, no.
Won't that make him look weak? Why don't we take a little break, okay? Sounds like the best idea you've had all day.
Okay.
I think those are the ones.
Baby-baby, I love how much you're helping, how much you care, but you know, trial prep is what Shaffer does for a living.
Why don't we let him take the lead on this? But this isn't just some stuffy jury trial, John.
This is a television show for the American public.
Yeah.
God, I don't know how you're staying so calm.
Well, 'cause we're in this together.
Just the two of us against the world, huh? Yeah.
Well, three of us now 'cause of the baby.
Hmm? What wait, what did you just say? - Hmm? - What? No.
- What'd you just say? That - I didn't say anything.
- No.
Come on.
- Wait, you said something.
- Are you serious? - Are you pregnant? - Wait, really? - Yup.
Like, seven weeks, really.
Oh, my God.
Oh, jeez, I don't wanna squash it.
I'm so sorry.
I oh, my God.
Wait, just take these off.
Come here.
Oh, my God.
Whoa! Yay! - Ha-ha-ha-ha.
- Whoo! - Oh, yeah! - Yee-haw! - Hey! - Yeah! Way down in Arkansas ♪ Way down in Arkansas ♪ That's where I been ♪ And I'm goin' again ♪ Way down in Arkansas ♪ Whoa, I had a mule ♪ And he weren't no fool ♪ Best mule you ever saw ♪ I heard him say "I think I'll stay ♪" Down here in Arkansas" ♪ Way down in Arkansas ♪ - Way down in Arkansas ♪ - Oh, thank you.
You're welcome.
Do you smell that? Pear trees in bloom.
Smells like death.
We should go later by Gillan's Market, get some pears and some potato salad.
And then we can go by Sampsons shoe store.
Did I ever tell you I was briefly a foot model? That's weird.
Did you come here a lot when you were a kid? Oh, no.
The country club raised the drawbridge on us the day my daddy skipped town.
My mama tried to charm and cajole her way back in, but it was never gonna happen.
These people have a sixth sense for weakness.
- That sounds scary.
- It is.
Keep your guard up.
Oh, my goodness, is that Oh, it is.
That's Susan Wales and Henry Daniels.
Hey, whoo, whoo! Henry! Susan! It's Martha Beall.
Class of '36.
- Get in the car.
- Hey, Henry.
Well, I guess they didn't recognize me.
Oh, look at the poster.
Wow.
Where are people? Where are people? Oh! I love its gentle warble.
I love its gentle flow.
I love to wind my tongue up.
And I love to let it go! Oh, my God.
I almost forgot about that.
Oh, I wish I could.
Come here, baby.
This is one of Mama's oldest friends, Lurleen Landry.
Oh, my goodness.
Oh, looking at you, it's like it's like looking in the past and seeing an angel.
You are just the perfect picture of your mother.
I would say attendance seems a little light.
Yeah, well, you know, we had some last-minute cancellations.
It seems your mama is quite the controversial lady these days.
Mm, I guess I didn't realize being honest was so controversial.
Oh, honey, this is Arkansas.
It's too humid for honesty.
You want some lemonade, sweetheart? - Can I? - Of course, darling.
Sure.
Oh, she's so pretty.
And, uh, now, Mr.
Magruder, I'd like to turn the questions over to my distinguished colleague from Florida, Senator Edward Gurney.
Uh, thank you, Mr.
Chairman.
Mr.
Magruder, over the course of this hearing, you have struggled to put forth a straightforward answer to even the most elementary questions.
So I will ask you once again.
Did you at any point have any operational knowledge of the break-in at the Watergate complex? I do not recall, Senator.
Were you aware that the proposed espionage activities were to be paid for using campaign funds? I do not recall, Senator.
Do you recall any of the directives that you, uh, undertook at the Committee to Re-elect the President? Uh, well, uh, that would have to depend, of course, on what directives you were referring to, Senator, but, uh, in general, I would have to say that That you do not recall? Uh, yeah, that's correct, Senator.
Son, did you suffer some acute brain injury on your way into the rotunda this morning? No, si no, sir, I did n I did not.
- Mr.
Cookie Monster? - Huh? Did you take the cookies? Uh Me no recall.
You don't recall? Me fuzzy on that one.
You're fuzzy, period.
Uh, I object.
Oh, come on.
That is funny.
It-it-it's really not.
That is Jeb up there.
Cookie Monster is-is Jeb.
They made him into a laughingstock, and they're gonna do the same to me.
Who am I gonna be, Beaker? The whole thing is-is designed to make you look guilty.
Baby, you're being paranoid.
You're not on trial.
Yet.
I'm not on trial yet.
If I fuck this up, I could be.
I could kiss my credibility goodbye.
Well, you'll have the Democratic senators on your side.
Democrats.
With friends like them, who needs enemies? Mm.
It doesn't matter what glasses I wear or how much I rehearse.
I'm facing off against the president of the United States.
How do I not look small up there? Uh, Mr.
MacNeil, uh, we-we've been sitting here You get rid of that guy.
two and a half minutes answering your questions, and-and I just hope that we can finish this up soon, because my client here is almost out of patience.
Yeah, almost out of cookies too.
- Thank you.
- Wow.
They don't call it dragon rice for nothing.
This is a lot.
And yet there's more.
Mambo sauce, trust me.
Mm, no, no.
You don't wanna drizzle.
You wanna bathe.
You wanna just, like, really get nasty.
Okay.
Yeah.
Yeah, that's it.
Mix it in good.
Oh.
I'm sorry, I'm-I'm not even too good with these.
Oh, shit.
It's okay.
Go ahead.
- Oh, shit.
- Mm-hmm.
More.
Give me some more.
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
So you been keeping up with the latest Watergate drama? Oh, um you know, off and on.
That Magruder testimony was excruciating, wasn't it? - Magruder? - Mm-hmm.
He's the deputy campaign director under John Mitchell.
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, Magruder.
Right on, yeah.
Mm-hmm.
I mean, it's bad enough that Nixon is a narcissistic crypto-fascist, but does he have to surround himself with such hopeless dipshits? I'm sorry, you must be tired of hearing about Watergate.
It's not that.
It's just I was thinking about my cat.
He went missing yesterday.
Oh, no.
He's ran off twice before, but he always comes back after a day or so.
You know, electromagnetic fields and whatnot.
I'm sorry, electromagnetic fields? Yeah, see, cats have, like, iron in their ears.
Helps them sense the Earth's electromagnetic fields, you know.
Helps them sense, uh, where they're going, how to get back home.
At least that's what my uncle used to tell me.
He was a vet back in North Augusta.
Hold up.
You're from North Augusta? Mm-hmm.
What part? Round Belvedere.
Why? I'm a Clearwater girl.
G'on.
What school'd you go to? Jefferson High.
Bulldogs.
You? Pius X.
I knew it.
See, I knew you were fancy from the first time I saw you.
St.
Pius was not fancy.
Lord, have mercy, if Miss Margie Wills knew her son was having some dragon rice with a Pius girl hmm.
Hey, listen, um, a friend of mine is having a birthday thing at a bar across town.
Wanna join? Grab a drink? That depends.
You, um you got some room in your bag for some of this here mambo sauce? Mm-hmm.
- Let's see what she learned.
- Yes, sir.
Am I a winter or a spring? You're an autumn like me.
See, we have, uh, olive undertones.
- Is that bad? - Mm.
It's unique.
Boys'll go nuts.
Trust me.
Boys think I'm weird.
Boys thought I was weird, too, until I was 15 at least.
They all went for Lurleen.
You see where that got her, lurking around the country club like some haunted radiator.
I thought you and Lurleen were friends.
Mm.
Are you kidding? That rich-girl Goody Two-shoes, ugh, she was my mama's favorite.
I never heard the end of it.
"Darling, why can't you be more like Lurleen Landry? "Lurleen Landry knows her entire chromatic scale "and two languages.
Isn't she brilliant?" But Lord knows she's had a hard time with that forehead of hers.
Mom! That is so mean.
We used to have a lot more fun, before Dad went to work for Uncle Dick.
Oh, come on, now, nothing's changed.
What if we stayed in Pine Bluff a little longer? You could show me more places from when you were a kid, and we could go dress shopping.
I don't know.
You don't have to testify.
You could just tell them that you changed your mind.
Dad said that that would be fine.
Uh, well, your daddy says a lot of things.
Are you guys gonna get a divorce? No.
Don't be ridiculous.
We're a family.
Then why are you talking to the papers all the time, making Dad into a villain? Can you can you just stop? What would be so bad about that? And let Nixon and the whole lot of them just get away with it? Kids at school make fun of me because of you, Mom.
There's reporters everywhere I go because of you.
You might think what you're doing is helping but all I want is for things to go back to the way they were.
I just want us to be normal again.
Mitchell.
Hey, sleepyhead.
Did I wake you? Oh.
I was wondering when you'd call.
Sorry, I was occupied with Marty.
You two having a hootenanny down there? No, just a real nice time.
You gonna watch the, uh, festivities tomorrow? Probably not.
Although Lurleen Landry did invite us over to her house for a John Dean watch party.
Yeah, well, maybe you should project it on her forehead.
She was sweet to me today.
It was actually kind of nice to see her.
Mm, well, maybe you should go to her little party.
I mean, the whole country's gonna be watching.
Listen, I was, um I was thinking maybe you're right.
Maybe we could extend our stay here a little longer.
Wh-what about your testimony? Well, maybe it can wait.
I miss you.
I miss you too.
Have fun down there.
- Bye-bye, now.
- Bye-bye.
Everything okay? Yeah.
Excuse me.
Excuse me.
Uh, when you said your friend's birthday was at a bar, I thought you meant something more, you know, mellowed out.
Stop.
Everyone's gonna love you.
Don't overthink it.
All right.
Janelle.
Janelle! Oh, hey.
Excuse me.
Excuse me.
- Hey! - Hi! How's the birthday boy? Twenty-five and feeling fine, thank you very much.
Frank, this is Marc and Mary.
They work on the Watergate Committee.
Guys, this is the Frank.
Oh, Frank.
Oh, my Babe, this is Frank Wills.
He is the security guard who caught the guys.
Holy shit, man.
You're the guy who made this all happen.
Yeah, I guess so.
I-in a way.
No, not in away.
In the way.
You got in the way of Nixon trying to enact his fascist fucking agenda.
'Cause Nixon's a fucking fascist! - Hey, Janelle.
Janelle! - Hey, girl, come over here.
Come on.
- Get over here.
- Come on, y'all.
Ooh! How are you? Damn, you lovely.
Elijah.
I'd like you to meet a good friend of mine.
Frank Wills, this is Elijah Cummings.
It's an honor to meet you, brother.
Janelle's told me a lot about you.
Oh, I guess I'm a popular subject.
This is Tina and Hillary.
They work over on the Hill.
- Hey.
- Hi.
And I know it's probably already been expressed to you, but I would like to thank you.
You done a great good for this nation.
Oh, um, just doing my job.
Really? Well, doing your job properly is plenty heroic in D.
C.
these days.
Rest of us stuck running on campus sit-ins.
Well, hey, now, that is heroic work too, so Yeah, if you'd show up more often.
- Yeah.
- Whoo! Fair enough, sister.
But this man, this man, he brought the president to his knees.
So what are you gonna do with your new position in the national consciousness, brother? Consciousness? Excuse me? You got a name now, a platform.
A lot of people would kill for that chance.
Y-yeah, um well, I there are a lot of, uh, issues I'd like to address in the world currently, such as mostly in some form of helping other people, you know, to ensure them that Frank Wills' name I mean, that is my name Um, to assure them that Frank Wills' name is, um, mentioned not only in the Watergate but, um, still in history.
And I want to do some type of form of, you know, helping humanitarians.
I don't I don't exactly have an exact plan of how to do that, but yeah, I wanna do something to help somebody.
Well, uh, I think it's time for another round.
- You a whiskey man? - No.
- You sure? - I'm sure.
Thank you.
All right, brother.
I know you want something.
Oh, okay.
Come on over here.
Look at you, coming in here lookin' sweet like a peach cobbler.
Why, thank you.
Man to man, you gonna try for a book deal? Excuse me, I gotta use the restroom.
Oh my God! change the country.
Wow.
Oh, my God this is this is different.
- How's, uh, prep coming along? - Ugh.
I'm thinking when the mob erect the guillotine, you should probably stand on the Senate steps so that I can see you as my head hits the basket.
Honey.
Look at me.
For the thousandth time, you're gonna do great.
You really believe that? I really believe it.
Just gotta get through this week.
Yeah.
Couldn't do any of this without you, you know? You make me better, you really do.
We make each other better, you mean.
Right.
That's exactly what I meant.
Right.
So what are we going for? I guess the yellow matches the Porsche.
Can you get a baby in the back of a Porsche? I guess you didn't want the baby sleeping under a "Fuck Communism" sign, eh? What about my beer cans? You're putting those back, right? You know, baby's gotta learn to drink.
Something wrong? What? No.
I'm I just Yeah, I think I'm just tired.
Okay.
All right.
- You upset about something? - No, no.
- Are you sure? - Yes.
You sure? I'm getting a little upsetness.
No, I don't I'm fine.
I'm happy.
I'm just, um I'm in a zone.
- I love you.
- Love you.
Don't stay up too late.
Okay.
Fuck.
And now we resume live coverage of the Senate Watergate hearings.
Let's go talk to Dan Shore, who is outside the committee room.
Dan? Uh, yes, George.
Uh, while you're looking at John Dean, I'm holding here the first 98 pages of what's expected to be 140 pages of testimony that Mr.
Dean will be delivering today.
You ask me, John Dean's a half a gallon of nothing much.
What's he gonna give a nation so used by this administration? But he do look slick, I'll give him that.
By his own admission, Mr.
Dean was a partial coconspirator in the president's alleged obstruction of justice.
Dean was fired by Nixon in April of this year after he refused to publicly absolve the White House of any blame in the break-in.
According to sources familiar with his opening statement, the former White House counsel and admitted coconspirator intends to level several criminal claims against President Nixon, including obstruction of justice.
Our coverage of the Watergate hearings live from Washington will continue in a moment.
Oh, I'll get it.
Hey, you fall, I'm not helping you.
Martha! Oh, my gosh, I didn't know if you'd make it.
Come on in! Look at you in your precious little dress.
She picked it out.
Ma'am.
Hello.
Uh, here.
You wanna put that down over here? Thank you.
Oh, look at that.
Isn't that darling? You and your sweet mama.
I wanted you to see that before I gave it to the historical society.
You know how she always wanted to be a part of things.
- Oh, yeah.
- Now she really can be.
Oh, Lurleen, I just, um I just wanted to say thank you for having me here.
It's been real nice to be back home.
Oh, Martha Beall, you always have a home in Pine Bluff.
Come on, you want a drink? God knows you need a drink.
I need a drink.
They're ready for you, Mr.
Dean.
All right.
Time to knock them dead in there, champ.
Let's go.
I can't.
What's that? C I can't.
We-we have to call it off.
We can't call it off.
Y-you're up in five minutes.
Stop fucking around.
I'm not joking.
I can't do it! I can't go up there.
That is perfect.
Two of you wanted to do this without a lawyer, and, what, now you're chickening out? They will see right through me.
I'm a fraud.
Don't you get it? No one will believe me.
I mean, this is just too This is too much.
Hey, this is not about you anymore.
This is about everything that we have worked towards, and you're not going to fuck this up now, okay? Here's what we're gonna do.
You're gonna stop whatever this is, this blubbering, pull yourself together.
We'll walk into that room together, and you'll give your testimony just like we practiced.
Remember the three things? No slumping, no fumbling your words, no excuses.
Do you think this is hard? Because this is not hard.
Put on your coat, and let's go.
Mr.
Dean, would you raise your hand? Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God? I do.
You may be seated.
All right, good morning, ladies and gentlemen.
Welcome to the 12th day of public testimony for the Watergate subcommittee.
I can't help but notice that our featured speaker here, Mr.
John Dean, is seated without counsel present.
Is that a mistake, Sir? Uh, no, sir, it is not.
My counsel is present in the room, but I intend to testify alone.
Son, excuse me for asking, but why in the hell would you do that? Because I intend to tell the truth, Mr.
Chairman.
I do not need a lawyer to help me with that.
Well, gee, aren't you a keeper of the gosh-durn flame? All right, would you care to read your prepared statement, son? Yes, sir.
Thank you.
Chairman Ervin, members of the committee, I would like to commence with a general description of the atmosphere that existed in the White House prior to June 1972.
To one who was in the White House and became somewhat familiar with its inner workings, the Watergate matter was an inevitable outgrowth of a climate of excessive concern over the political impact of demonstrators, excessive concern over leaks, coupled with a do-it-yourself White House staff with no regard for the law.
It was not until I joined the White House staff in July of 1970 that I had fully realized the strong feelings that the president and his staff - I think he's doing great, don't you? - Yeah.
However, the fact that many of these elements culminated with the creation of a covert intelligence operation was not by conscious design Rather an accident of fate.
Now Mr.
Dean, did it worry you that this Liddy fellow came up with schemes involving kidnapping, prostitution, mugging, and all the rest of it? Yes, sir, it did, and for the record, I recall Liddy saying that the girls would be high-class and the best in the business.
He's so dreamy.
I smoked a cigarette with him once.
Do kids in D.
C.
smoke? If they want to.
Were you surprised when you heard about the break-in on June 17th? I was more appalled than surprised.
He's lying.
Seems like he's telling the truth.
How do you know, Harold? You've never been to D.
C.
I've been to Harrisburg once.
It's all smoke and mirrors, you see.
Now, Dean, he's a climber.
He's not the best I've ever seen that'd be Lyndon But he's not the worst either.
You know how D.
C.
lawyers are.
The only difference between them and gigolos is, a gigolo only screws one person at a time.
Well, you should know.
You're married to one.
Jesus Christ, would you two quiet down already? You're just like him.
Get on TV every day like a fool.
You're bringing down our president.
Wow, golly, didn't realize I was so powerful.
Golly.
You're a Southern girl, huh? In the South, we believe in America.
We don't need no cheap road act coming here and holding court like you're some kinda damn queen.
Loudmouth fucking cunt.
Clarence! Think you've had enough.
It's all right.
It's all right.
It's probably best that Clarence doesn't remember this in the morning.
Sit down, sit down.
I'm gonna get myself a drink.
I'll get you a fresh one too.
If you were to die, how would you want it to happen? Um, drowning, maybe? Marty, come here, honey.
We need to get going.
What? But we just got here.
I know, but we're gonna get an early flight tomorrow, so I want us to go now.
You-you're still testifying? Mm-hmm.
Everything all right? Let's be on our way.
So you made me come down here, and then once I actually start to have fun and have friends for once, you wanna leave? Excuse me, Marty, would you consider keeping your voice down? Excuse me, Lurleen.
Do you know what you should consider? Bangs.
Why-why can't you just listen to Dad and let it go? Why do you have to make our lives miserable? You do not know what you're talking about.
Now, get in the car right now, without another word.
Uh, all right, calm down, Marty.
Are you sure that's what Mommy said? She's coming home to testify? I don't wanna go home.
I don't want her to testify.
Okay, well, I'll be here when you get back tomorrow and we-we'll talk about it then, okay? - Okay, bye.
- Okay, darling.
Diana, get me Senator Gurney.
Thank you for your testimony, Mr.
Dean.
I'm sure we all appreciate your candor.
All right, the committees will stand in recess at the close of business tomorrow instead of Friday, until we reconvene again on Tuesday, July tenth.
Mr.
Dean, Mr.
Dean.
How do you feel? Everyone seems to think you did pretty darn good.
John.
Thank you very much.
Thanks.
All right.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
John.
Please.
And so the committee finishes its work, and the public and the Senate committee will have to judge between Mr.
Dean and those who contradict him, the conflicting parties.
For George Herman and Daniel shore, this is Nelson Benton, CBS News, Washington.
And I was so nervous beforehand.
I'm so sorry I freaked out, you know, but once I Once I locked in, man, when I locked in, I was in the flow.
You see Gurney's face when I When I threw that question back at him? Oh, my God.
It was priceless.
I am gonna fix myself a G&T.
You want one? Oh, wait, that's right.
I'm sorry.
We should go to that restaurant with the singing waiters.
What's it called? Luciano's? I love that place.
Oh, God, that's good.
Are you sad you can't have a G&T? You want me just to fix you the T or a tea? I can I can put the kettle on.
You want it? It's over.
You did it.
Mo.
Moser, what's What's going on, hmm? I'm sorry, the reporters were mobbing me.
It's not the reporters.
Um Okay.
Well, I was sitting there behind you, and I just started thinking, "Oh, gosh, once Watergate is over "and your image is salvaged, where does that leave, um, me?" Baby, look, if I can stay out of jail, we can We can move past this.
We can get past anything.
Into your future.
Yes.
No, come on.
I think I'm just realizing I can't just play the dutiful wife in your story, okay? Just picking out your clothes and smiling for the cameras.
I thought I could, but I can't.
I think I'll, um, lose myself.
I just don't Um, I lost the baby.
What? When? Last night and this morning.
- Oh, my God.
- And it's a long process, - apparently.
- Oh, my God.
I'd like to be alone.
Frank, are you there? It's Janelle.
Coming, coming.
I've been calling you all day.
Mind if I come in? Yeah, come on in.
Ooh, it's, uh, chilly in here.
Yeah, I been leaving the window open for Tuffy.
What happened to you last night? You left, didn't say goodbye.
Yeah, sorry, I forgot to tell you.
I heard about the Howard job.
What happened? The man on the phone says I'm a-a controversial political figure.
He says I got notoriety.
Ain't that a trip? I ain't even got no car, but yet I got notoriety.
It's that damn university president.
He is a secret Nixon freak.
Janelle, come And listen, I promise we will fight this.
- Stop.
- Okay? There's plenty of political groups on campus, and they will gladly nail his ass to the ground.
J-Janelle, stop.
Please.
I don't wanna fight anymore.
I'm going back to Georgia.
What? Yeah, rent's a lot cheaper there, and my mama's getting pretty old.
No.
No.
Look, listen, I know it is tough right now, but you can't just give up.
Give up? Give up on what? On your friends looking at me like Like I'm some kinda dummy? You're real smart, you know that? And smart people like you got this way of Of-of-of turning things over in your head and-and figuring it all out, you know? Figure me out until even I start to believe what you think about me.
But come on.
Look at this place.
Look around.
Look, every morning since that break-in, I wake up telling myself that things are gonna change.
But every morning, I keep waking up in this same damn bed on this same damn block.
We can get you a better apartment.
See, it ain't about the apartment, Janelle.
- Okay, okay, look, it's not - I can write a Write a what? It's not about the apartment.
Don't you get it? I don't belong here.
This place this place don't want me.
Why would I fight to stay in a place that doesn't want me? And that is exactly how they want you to feel.
They don't want you here.
But that doesn't mean you don't belong.
Frank Wills, listen to me.
You are a hero.
Oh, yeah? To who? Ah, for the love of steaming fuck.
John fucking Dean.
That slick bastard pulled out quite a little pirouette today, didn't he? Oh, crying out loud.
Hey, uh, I hear Martha's on deck for Thursday.
Yeah.
How you feeling about that? More importantly, how does the president feel about it? Well, he's not exactly thrilled at the prospect of watching a bunch of senators bully a woman on national television.
What if the cameras weren't allowed? Sorry? What if there were no cameras in the hearing room? I mean, that's something that you could arrange.
Right, Ed? But if there were no cameras, then, uh, well, senators would have free rein, and I don't know that you'd want that.
Martha's, uh she's pissed off a lot of people on that committee.
Yeah.
Yeah.
You know, when I was in the navy, I was on a PT boat.
You knew you knew that.
The only thing that kept me sane was a monkey.
Yeah, a little crab-eating macaque found in Palau.
Ah.
I named him Pete, and, uh, I loved him but, uh, he had a bad habit.
He had, uh he had a big appetite, and he'd rummage in the rations, and that would drive my guys mad, of course.
They knew there was not a shit they could do about it.
But then one day Pete got into the medic's bag.
The morphine, the sulfanilamide.
Yeah.
It was bad luck.
Yeah, bad break.
When a monkey cries, Ed, I'll tell you, sounds like a child.
Course, it was up to me to put him down.
But, uh, I couldn't do it.
One of my boys took my gun from me, said, "Lieutenant, "the problem with loving something too much" "is that you can't do what needs to be done.
" She's not some monkey, John.
She's your wife.
Ed I trust you'll do what needs to be done.
Times are hard ♪ You're afraid to pay the fee ♪ So you find yourself somebody ♪ Who can do the job for free ♪ When you need a bit of lovin' ♪ 'Cause your woman's out of town ♪ That's the time you get me runnin' ♪ And you know I'll be around ♪ I'm a fool to do your dirty work ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ I don't wanna do your dirty work ♪ No more ♪ I'm a fool to do your dirty work ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ ♪ Light the candle ♪ Put the lock upon the door ♪ You have sent the maid home early ♪ Like a thousand times before ♪ Like a castle in his corner ♪ In a medieval game ♪ I foresee terrible trouble ♪ And I stay here just the same ♪ I'm a fool to do your dirty work ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ I don't wanna do your dirty work ♪ No more ♪ I'm a fool to do your dirty work ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ What? Hang on one second, sir.
Excuse me.
Excuse me.
Son, I can't wait all day.
Tuff? You came to see me on the cover of the magazine? Oh, my boy, we going back home.
Those electromagnetic fields I was talking about.
Thank you so much.
Hey, got some room for my cat? I'm a fool to do ♪ Your dirty work ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ - Hey, John, come here.
- What? John, come in here right now.
Come in here! There was a surprise witness at the Watergate hearings today, and he made a dramatic disclosure.
What's going on? Alexander Butterfield, former aide to HR Haldeman, said that President Nixon ordered secret electronic listening devices installed in his offices and on his telephones.
Butterfield said the listening devices, or bugs, were installed in the president's Oval Office and in a smaller office in the Executive Office Building.
I don't wanna do ♪ Your dirty work ♪ No more ♪ I'm a fool to do Your dirty work ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ I don't wanna do your dirty work ♪ No more ♪ I'm a fool to do your dirty work ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ I don't wanna do your dirty work ♪ No more ♪ I'm a fool to do your dirty work ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ I don't wanna do your dirty work ♪
I found a piece of tape on the parking garage door.
I thought it was a mistake the first time, and then it happened again, and I found another piece on the sixth floor.
Wow, wow you really saved the day here.
Well, I'm just glad I could represent myself on behalf of the building.
The president and the first lady would like to gift you a little getaway weekend.
Something to tide you over until you and the missus can spring for the real honeymoon.
And look, it'll be good to have a little time away from the city to write that investigative report, right? I could be indicted for obstruction of justice.
I entrusted the task of getting me the written report to John Dean.
We're gonna have you tell the truth in a way that America likes you.
Convicted Watergate conspirators might be first to testify at the formal hearings.
The ship's going down, John.
It might be best if I explore other options.
Uh, Mr.
Mitchell, if you ever need anything, I'm right outside your door.
- Here we go.
- Should the Nixon administration be afraid of you, Mrs.
Mitchell? Well, I think you know the answer to that.
The committee called.
I'm gonna testify.
Ah, hey, hey, hey.
A-all right, all right, all right, I'm up.
I'm up, I'm up.
Come on.
Come on, Tu Tuffy, come on.
I got you, okay, breakfast time.
That was pretty Patti Austin with a little soul for your bowl on WOL.
I'll tell it to the hot, and I'll tell it to the cold.
I'll tell it to the young, and I'll tell it to the old.
This is Petey Greene's Washington, and the whole town's burnin' a hunk of funk 'cause we got Senate Watergate hearings this week.
Ooh, I can't wait to see which one of these turkeys is gonna fry.
Speaking of which this next one's going out to that funky turncoat, John Dean.
We got The O'Jays with "Back Stabbers.
" What they do ♪ They smilin' in your face ♪ All the time ♪ They wanna take your place ♪ The back stabbers ♪ Back stabbers ♪ They smilin' in your face ♪ All the time ♪ They wanna take your place ♪ The back stabbers ♪ Back stabbers ♪ All you fellas ♪ Who have someone ♪ And you really care, yeah, yeah ♪ Then it's all of you fellas ♪ Who better beware ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ Somebody's out to get your name ♪ What are you looking at? A few of your buddies ♪ They sure look shady ♪ Blades are long ♪ Clenched tight in their fist ♪ Aimin' straight at your back ♪ And I don't think they'll miss ♪ Tuffy, how do I look? Like a cat who's gonna be on the cover of Jetmagazine? Speechless.
So, Mr.
Wills, how's life been for you since the burglary? Well, you know how it be.
Sometimes up, sometimes down.
Are you dating anyone? Married? I don't see a ring.
That depends.
Who you asking for? Let's just say I have a feeling our female readers might be interested.
I was seeing someone before all this, but, uh, she broke it off a couple weeks ago.
Mm, sorry to hear that.
All right, Frank, we're good.
All right.
My man.
Thank you, sir.
Yeah, uh, it's copacetic.
Tuffy never really took kind to her anyway.
Tuffy? - He's my cat.
- Hmm.
He can always tell when I'm headed in the wrong direction, and he has a way of letting me know it too.
Sounds like a good companion.
Cheap date too.
Tuna's, what, a quarter these days? Must be interesting working in a building that's become the center of a national scandal.
Well, actually, I'm not employed here anymore.
Management let me go a few weeks ago.
Said I was becoming too much of a distraction.
Anyway, I'm looking for a new gig.
I'm not saying they shut me out, but it's been a lot harder than I thought it'd be.
What's this? My number.
Don't get any ideas.
I adjunct over at Howard.
This Jetthing's just freelance.
I happen to know that the security department needs a coordinator.
- Coordinator? - Mm-hmm.
Oh, shoot, I can coordinate anything.
See? Coordinated.
I'll get you an interview.
Mm-hmm.
Great.
And, um, after that? What you mean, "After that?" I was thinking dinner, maybe? So when I said, "Don't get any ideas" I got 'em anyway.
Ah, okay.
Well, take care, Mr.
Wills.
Smilin' in your face ♪ All the time ♪ They wanna take your place ♪ The back stabbers ♪ Back stabbers ♪ Man.
Mr.
Tuffy, your lobster has arrived, courtesy of Howard University.
Hey, you ever met a Howard girl, Tuffy? Ooh, this one's nice.
You would've been proud of me, boy.
Hey, I made her laugh and everything, uh, cracked a few jokes.
But she ain't easy.
She is as smart as an ankle sprain, boy, I can tell you that much.
A'ight, boy.
Come and get it.
Tuffy? Tuffy? Oh, no.
Oh, no, no.
Oh, shit.
No, no, no, no, no.
Tuffy! Call me once you land in Little Rock.
Like I said, if you decide to spend a little longer down there Oh, nice try.
We'll see you on Monday.
Sweetheart.
Well, you look like a lesbian.
Martha.
Well, hi, Lloyd.
How are you? Good.
Good.
Glad I caught you before you left.
Is it true? You'll be testifying against the president next week? Yes, yes, it is true, but before that, I am focusing on my goodwill trip to Pine Bluff.
My daughter and I are going down there.
We're gonna go to a luncheon at the historical society.
We'll be the honored guests.
Marty's so excited.
No, I'm not.
She's just being modest.
Get in the car.
Attorney General Mitchell, how do you feel about your wife potentially speaking to the Senate? Oh, as usual, I support Martha in whatever she decides to do.
Except there's no deciding left to do.
I am testifying on Monday.
Right, that's the plan.
Not the plan, the facts.
I really think you should think about spending a little more time down there.
Might be very good for you to get away from all this And for Marty too.
Love you.
Don't slam the door.
Mr.
Mitchell, do you have any thoughts on John Dean's upcoming testimony? Takes more than a smile to take on the U.
S.
government.
Kid's gonna need a fucking miracle.
Programs regularly scheduled for this time will not be seen today in order that we might bring you the following NBC News Special Report.
Watergate: Senate Hearings.
Mr.
Dean, would you care to describe what documents have been made available to you? As my lawyer detailed earlier, I I don't think you should say "lawyer.
" Just say "my counsel," 'cause people do not like lawyers no offense.
Okay.
As my counsel detailed earlier, I maintain an extensive log of clippings to which I refer with some regularity.
And how do these clippings relate to the question, exactly? Uh, well, um my meetings with the With the president no? Uh, I was often dealing with containment of press issues "Containment"? I just think that sounds evil.
I mean, what's he working on, a nuclear reactor? I agree with that, actually.
- Wh - Well, good.
Well, what should I call it, then? Don't call it anything.
If a committee member gives you a question like that, throw it to me, and I'll answer it.
No, no.
Won't that make him look weak? Why don't we take a little break, okay? Sounds like the best idea you've had all day.
Okay.
I think those are the ones.
Baby-baby, I love how much you're helping, how much you care, but you know, trial prep is what Shaffer does for a living.
Why don't we let him take the lead on this? But this isn't just some stuffy jury trial, John.
This is a television show for the American public.
Yeah.
God, I don't know how you're staying so calm.
Well, 'cause we're in this together.
Just the two of us against the world, huh? Yeah.
Well, three of us now 'cause of the baby.
Hmm? What wait, what did you just say? - Hmm? - What? No.
- What'd you just say? That - I didn't say anything.
- No.
Come on.
- Wait, you said something.
- Are you serious? - Are you pregnant? - Wait, really? - Yup.
Like, seven weeks, really.
Oh, my God.
Oh, jeez, I don't wanna squash it.
I'm so sorry.
I oh, my God.
Wait, just take these off.
Come here.
Oh, my God.
Whoa! Yay! - Ha-ha-ha-ha.
- Whoo! - Oh, yeah! - Yee-haw! - Hey! - Yeah! Way down in Arkansas ♪ Way down in Arkansas ♪ That's where I been ♪ And I'm goin' again ♪ Way down in Arkansas ♪ Whoa, I had a mule ♪ And he weren't no fool ♪ Best mule you ever saw ♪ I heard him say "I think I'll stay ♪" Down here in Arkansas" ♪ Way down in Arkansas ♪ - Way down in Arkansas ♪ - Oh, thank you.
You're welcome.
Do you smell that? Pear trees in bloom.
Smells like death.
We should go later by Gillan's Market, get some pears and some potato salad.
And then we can go by Sampsons shoe store.
Did I ever tell you I was briefly a foot model? That's weird.
Did you come here a lot when you were a kid? Oh, no.
The country club raised the drawbridge on us the day my daddy skipped town.
My mama tried to charm and cajole her way back in, but it was never gonna happen.
These people have a sixth sense for weakness.
- That sounds scary.
- It is.
Keep your guard up.
Oh, my goodness, is that Oh, it is.
That's Susan Wales and Henry Daniels.
Hey, whoo, whoo! Henry! Susan! It's Martha Beall.
Class of '36.
- Get in the car.
- Hey, Henry.
Well, I guess they didn't recognize me.
Oh, look at the poster.
Wow.
Where are people? Where are people? Oh! I love its gentle warble.
I love its gentle flow.
I love to wind my tongue up.
And I love to let it go! Oh, my God.
I almost forgot about that.
Oh, I wish I could.
Come here, baby.
This is one of Mama's oldest friends, Lurleen Landry.
Oh, my goodness.
Oh, looking at you, it's like it's like looking in the past and seeing an angel.
You are just the perfect picture of your mother.
I would say attendance seems a little light.
Yeah, well, you know, we had some last-minute cancellations.
It seems your mama is quite the controversial lady these days.
Mm, I guess I didn't realize being honest was so controversial.
Oh, honey, this is Arkansas.
It's too humid for honesty.
You want some lemonade, sweetheart? - Can I? - Of course, darling.
Sure.
Oh, she's so pretty.
And, uh, now, Mr.
Magruder, I'd like to turn the questions over to my distinguished colleague from Florida, Senator Edward Gurney.
Uh, thank you, Mr.
Chairman.
Mr.
Magruder, over the course of this hearing, you have struggled to put forth a straightforward answer to even the most elementary questions.
So I will ask you once again.
Did you at any point have any operational knowledge of the break-in at the Watergate complex? I do not recall, Senator.
Were you aware that the proposed espionage activities were to be paid for using campaign funds? I do not recall, Senator.
Do you recall any of the directives that you, uh, undertook at the Committee to Re-elect the President? Uh, well, uh, that would have to depend, of course, on what directives you were referring to, Senator, but, uh, in general, I would have to say that That you do not recall? Uh, yeah, that's correct, Senator.
Son, did you suffer some acute brain injury on your way into the rotunda this morning? No, si no, sir, I did n I did not.
- Mr.
Cookie Monster? - Huh? Did you take the cookies? Uh Me no recall.
You don't recall? Me fuzzy on that one.
You're fuzzy, period.
Uh, I object.
Oh, come on.
That is funny.
It-it-it's really not.
That is Jeb up there.
Cookie Monster is-is Jeb.
They made him into a laughingstock, and they're gonna do the same to me.
Who am I gonna be, Beaker? The whole thing is-is designed to make you look guilty.
Baby, you're being paranoid.
You're not on trial.
Yet.
I'm not on trial yet.
If I fuck this up, I could be.
I could kiss my credibility goodbye.
Well, you'll have the Democratic senators on your side.
Democrats.
With friends like them, who needs enemies? Mm.
It doesn't matter what glasses I wear or how much I rehearse.
I'm facing off against the president of the United States.
How do I not look small up there? Uh, Mr.
MacNeil, uh, we-we've been sitting here You get rid of that guy.
two and a half minutes answering your questions, and-and I just hope that we can finish this up soon, because my client here is almost out of patience.
Yeah, almost out of cookies too.
- Thank you.
- Wow.
They don't call it dragon rice for nothing.
This is a lot.
And yet there's more.
Mambo sauce, trust me.
Mm, no, no.
You don't wanna drizzle.
You wanna bathe.
You wanna just, like, really get nasty.
Okay.
Yeah.
Yeah, that's it.
Mix it in good.
Oh.
I'm sorry, I'm-I'm not even too good with these.
Oh, shit.
It's okay.
Go ahead.
- Oh, shit.
- Mm-hmm.
More.
Give me some more.
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
So you been keeping up with the latest Watergate drama? Oh, um you know, off and on.
That Magruder testimony was excruciating, wasn't it? - Magruder? - Mm-hmm.
He's the deputy campaign director under John Mitchell.
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, Magruder.
Right on, yeah.
Mm-hmm.
I mean, it's bad enough that Nixon is a narcissistic crypto-fascist, but does he have to surround himself with such hopeless dipshits? I'm sorry, you must be tired of hearing about Watergate.
It's not that.
It's just I was thinking about my cat.
He went missing yesterday.
Oh, no.
He's ran off twice before, but he always comes back after a day or so.
You know, electromagnetic fields and whatnot.
I'm sorry, electromagnetic fields? Yeah, see, cats have, like, iron in their ears.
Helps them sense the Earth's electromagnetic fields, you know.
Helps them sense, uh, where they're going, how to get back home.
At least that's what my uncle used to tell me.
He was a vet back in North Augusta.
Hold up.
You're from North Augusta? Mm-hmm.
What part? Round Belvedere.
Why? I'm a Clearwater girl.
G'on.
What school'd you go to? Jefferson High.
Bulldogs.
You? Pius X.
I knew it.
See, I knew you were fancy from the first time I saw you.
St.
Pius was not fancy.
Lord, have mercy, if Miss Margie Wills knew her son was having some dragon rice with a Pius girl hmm.
Hey, listen, um, a friend of mine is having a birthday thing at a bar across town.
Wanna join? Grab a drink? That depends.
You, um you got some room in your bag for some of this here mambo sauce? Mm-hmm.
- Let's see what she learned.
- Yes, sir.
Am I a winter or a spring? You're an autumn like me.
See, we have, uh, olive undertones.
- Is that bad? - Mm.
It's unique.
Boys'll go nuts.
Trust me.
Boys think I'm weird.
Boys thought I was weird, too, until I was 15 at least.
They all went for Lurleen.
You see where that got her, lurking around the country club like some haunted radiator.
I thought you and Lurleen were friends.
Mm.
Are you kidding? That rich-girl Goody Two-shoes, ugh, she was my mama's favorite.
I never heard the end of it.
"Darling, why can't you be more like Lurleen Landry? "Lurleen Landry knows her entire chromatic scale "and two languages.
Isn't she brilliant?" But Lord knows she's had a hard time with that forehead of hers.
Mom! That is so mean.
We used to have a lot more fun, before Dad went to work for Uncle Dick.
Oh, come on, now, nothing's changed.
What if we stayed in Pine Bluff a little longer? You could show me more places from when you were a kid, and we could go dress shopping.
I don't know.
You don't have to testify.
You could just tell them that you changed your mind.
Dad said that that would be fine.
Uh, well, your daddy says a lot of things.
Are you guys gonna get a divorce? No.
Don't be ridiculous.
We're a family.
Then why are you talking to the papers all the time, making Dad into a villain? Can you can you just stop? What would be so bad about that? And let Nixon and the whole lot of them just get away with it? Kids at school make fun of me because of you, Mom.
There's reporters everywhere I go because of you.
You might think what you're doing is helping but all I want is for things to go back to the way they were.
I just want us to be normal again.
Mitchell.
Hey, sleepyhead.
Did I wake you? Oh.
I was wondering when you'd call.
Sorry, I was occupied with Marty.
You two having a hootenanny down there? No, just a real nice time.
You gonna watch the, uh, festivities tomorrow? Probably not.
Although Lurleen Landry did invite us over to her house for a John Dean watch party.
Yeah, well, maybe you should project it on her forehead.
She was sweet to me today.
It was actually kind of nice to see her.
Mm, well, maybe you should go to her little party.
I mean, the whole country's gonna be watching.
Listen, I was, um I was thinking maybe you're right.
Maybe we could extend our stay here a little longer.
Wh-what about your testimony? Well, maybe it can wait.
I miss you.
I miss you too.
Have fun down there.
- Bye-bye, now.
- Bye-bye.
Everything okay? Yeah.
Excuse me.
Excuse me.
Uh, when you said your friend's birthday was at a bar, I thought you meant something more, you know, mellowed out.
Stop.
Everyone's gonna love you.
Don't overthink it.
All right.
Janelle.
Janelle! Oh, hey.
Excuse me.
Excuse me.
- Hey! - Hi! How's the birthday boy? Twenty-five and feeling fine, thank you very much.
Frank, this is Marc and Mary.
They work on the Watergate Committee.
Guys, this is the Frank.
Oh, Frank.
Oh, my Babe, this is Frank Wills.
He is the security guard who caught the guys.
Holy shit, man.
You're the guy who made this all happen.
Yeah, I guess so.
I-in a way.
No, not in away.
In the way.
You got in the way of Nixon trying to enact his fascist fucking agenda.
'Cause Nixon's a fucking fascist! - Hey, Janelle.
Janelle! - Hey, girl, come over here.
Come on.
- Get over here.
- Come on, y'all.
Ooh! How are you? Damn, you lovely.
Elijah.
I'd like you to meet a good friend of mine.
Frank Wills, this is Elijah Cummings.
It's an honor to meet you, brother.
Janelle's told me a lot about you.
Oh, I guess I'm a popular subject.
This is Tina and Hillary.
They work over on the Hill.
- Hey.
- Hi.
And I know it's probably already been expressed to you, but I would like to thank you.
You done a great good for this nation.
Oh, um, just doing my job.
Really? Well, doing your job properly is plenty heroic in D.
C.
these days.
Rest of us stuck running on campus sit-ins.
Well, hey, now, that is heroic work too, so Yeah, if you'd show up more often.
- Yeah.
- Whoo! Fair enough, sister.
But this man, this man, he brought the president to his knees.
So what are you gonna do with your new position in the national consciousness, brother? Consciousness? Excuse me? You got a name now, a platform.
A lot of people would kill for that chance.
Y-yeah, um well, I there are a lot of, uh, issues I'd like to address in the world currently, such as mostly in some form of helping other people, you know, to ensure them that Frank Wills' name I mean, that is my name Um, to assure them that Frank Wills' name is, um, mentioned not only in the Watergate but, um, still in history.
And I want to do some type of form of, you know, helping humanitarians.
I don't I don't exactly have an exact plan of how to do that, but yeah, I wanna do something to help somebody.
Well, uh, I think it's time for another round.
- You a whiskey man? - No.
- You sure? - I'm sure.
Thank you.
All right, brother.
I know you want something.
Oh, okay.
Come on over here.
Look at you, coming in here lookin' sweet like a peach cobbler.
Why, thank you.
Man to man, you gonna try for a book deal? Excuse me, I gotta use the restroom.
Oh my God! change the country.
Wow.
Oh, my God this is this is different.
- How's, uh, prep coming along? - Ugh.
I'm thinking when the mob erect the guillotine, you should probably stand on the Senate steps so that I can see you as my head hits the basket.
Honey.
Look at me.
For the thousandth time, you're gonna do great.
You really believe that? I really believe it.
Just gotta get through this week.
Yeah.
Couldn't do any of this without you, you know? You make me better, you really do.
We make each other better, you mean.
Right.
That's exactly what I meant.
Right.
So what are we going for? I guess the yellow matches the Porsche.
Can you get a baby in the back of a Porsche? I guess you didn't want the baby sleeping under a "Fuck Communism" sign, eh? What about my beer cans? You're putting those back, right? You know, baby's gotta learn to drink.
Something wrong? What? No.
I'm I just Yeah, I think I'm just tired.
Okay.
All right.
- You upset about something? - No, no.
- Are you sure? - Yes.
You sure? I'm getting a little upsetness.
No, I don't I'm fine.
I'm happy.
I'm just, um I'm in a zone.
- I love you.
- Love you.
Don't stay up too late.
Okay.
Fuck.
And now we resume live coverage of the Senate Watergate hearings.
Let's go talk to Dan Shore, who is outside the committee room.
Dan? Uh, yes, George.
Uh, while you're looking at John Dean, I'm holding here the first 98 pages of what's expected to be 140 pages of testimony that Mr.
Dean will be delivering today.
You ask me, John Dean's a half a gallon of nothing much.
What's he gonna give a nation so used by this administration? But he do look slick, I'll give him that.
By his own admission, Mr.
Dean was a partial coconspirator in the president's alleged obstruction of justice.
Dean was fired by Nixon in April of this year after he refused to publicly absolve the White House of any blame in the break-in.
According to sources familiar with his opening statement, the former White House counsel and admitted coconspirator intends to level several criminal claims against President Nixon, including obstruction of justice.
Our coverage of the Watergate hearings live from Washington will continue in a moment.
Oh, I'll get it.
Hey, you fall, I'm not helping you.
Martha! Oh, my gosh, I didn't know if you'd make it.
Come on in! Look at you in your precious little dress.
She picked it out.
Ma'am.
Hello.
Uh, here.
You wanna put that down over here? Thank you.
Oh, look at that.
Isn't that darling? You and your sweet mama.
I wanted you to see that before I gave it to the historical society.
You know how she always wanted to be a part of things.
- Oh, yeah.
- Now she really can be.
Oh, Lurleen, I just, um I just wanted to say thank you for having me here.
It's been real nice to be back home.
Oh, Martha Beall, you always have a home in Pine Bluff.
Come on, you want a drink? God knows you need a drink.
I need a drink.
They're ready for you, Mr.
Dean.
All right.
Time to knock them dead in there, champ.
Let's go.
I can't.
What's that? C I can't.
We-we have to call it off.
We can't call it off.
Y-you're up in five minutes.
Stop fucking around.
I'm not joking.
I can't do it! I can't go up there.
That is perfect.
Two of you wanted to do this without a lawyer, and, what, now you're chickening out? They will see right through me.
I'm a fraud.
Don't you get it? No one will believe me.
I mean, this is just too This is too much.
Hey, this is not about you anymore.
This is about everything that we have worked towards, and you're not going to fuck this up now, okay? Here's what we're gonna do.
You're gonna stop whatever this is, this blubbering, pull yourself together.
We'll walk into that room together, and you'll give your testimony just like we practiced.
Remember the three things? No slumping, no fumbling your words, no excuses.
Do you think this is hard? Because this is not hard.
Put on your coat, and let's go.
Mr.
Dean, would you raise your hand? Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God? I do.
You may be seated.
All right, good morning, ladies and gentlemen.
Welcome to the 12th day of public testimony for the Watergate subcommittee.
I can't help but notice that our featured speaker here, Mr.
John Dean, is seated without counsel present.
Is that a mistake, Sir? Uh, no, sir, it is not.
My counsel is present in the room, but I intend to testify alone.
Son, excuse me for asking, but why in the hell would you do that? Because I intend to tell the truth, Mr.
Chairman.
I do not need a lawyer to help me with that.
Well, gee, aren't you a keeper of the gosh-durn flame? All right, would you care to read your prepared statement, son? Yes, sir.
Thank you.
Chairman Ervin, members of the committee, I would like to commence with a general description of the atmosphere that existed in the White House prior to June 1972.
To one who was in the White House and became somewhat familiar with its inner workings, the Watergate matter was an inevitable outgrowth of a climate of excessive concern over the political impact of demonstrators, excessive concern over leaks, coupled with a do-it-yourself White House staff with no regard for the law.
It was not until I joined the White House staff in July of 1970 that I had fully realized the strong feelings that the president and his staff - I think he's doing great, don't you? - Yeah.
However, the fact that many of these elements culminated with the creation of a covert intelligence operation was not by conscious design Rather an accident of fate.
Now Mr.
Dean, did it worry you that this Liddy fellow came up with schemes involving kidnapping, prostitution, mugging, and all the rest of it? Yes, sir, it did, and for the record, I recall Liddy saying that the girls would be high-class and the best in the business.
He's so dreamy.
I smoked a cigarette with him once.
Do kids in D.
C.
smoke? If they want to.
Were you surprised when you heard about the break-in on June 17th? I was more appalled than surprised.
He's lying.
Seems like he's telling the truth.
How do you know, Harold? You've never been to D.
C.
I've been to Harrisburg once.
It's all smoke and mirrors, you see.
Now, Dean, he's a climber.
He's not the best I've ever seen that'd be Lyndon But he's not the worst either.
You know how D.
C.
lawyers are.
The only difference between them and gigolos is, a gigolo only screws one person at a time.
Well, you should know.
You're married to one.
Jesus Christ, would you two quiet down already? You're just like him.
Get on TV every day like a fool.
You're bringing down our president.
Wow, golly, didn't realize I was so powerful.
Golly.
You're a Southern girl, huh? In the South, we believe in America.
We don't need no cheap road act coming here and holding court like you're some kinda damn queen.
Loudmouth fucking cunt.
Clarence! Think you've had enough.
It's all right.
It's all right.
It's probably best that Clarence doesn't remember this in the morning.
Sit down, sit down.
I'm gonna get myself a drink.
I'll get you a fresh one too.
If you were to die, how would you want it to happen? Um, drowning, maybe? Marty, come here, honey.
We need to get going.
What? But we just got here.
I know, but we're gonna get an early flight tomorrow, so I want us to go now.
You-you're still testifying? Mm-hmm.
Everything all right? Let's be on our way.
So you made me come down here, and then once I actually start to have fun and have friends for once, you wanna leave? Excuse me, Marty, would you consider keeping your voice down? Excuse me, Lurleen.
Do you know what you should consider? Bangs.
Why-why can't you just listen to Dad and let it go? Why do you have to make our lives miserable? You do not know what you're talking about.
Now, get in the car right now, without another word.
Uh, all right, calm down, Marty.
Are you sure that's what Mommy said? She's coming home to testify? I don't wanna go home.
I don't want her to testify.
Okay, well, I'll be here when you get back tomorrow and we-we'll talk about it then, okay? - Okay, bye.
- Okay, darling.
Diana, get me Senator Gurney.
Thank you for your testimony, Mr.
Dean.
I'm sure we all appreciate your candor.
All right, the committees will stand in recess at the close of business tomorrow instead of Friday, until we reconvene again on Tuesday, July tenth.
Mr.
Dean, Mr.
Dean.
How do you feel? Everyone seems to think you did pretty darn good.
John.
Thank you very much.
Thanks.
All right.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
John.
Please.
And so the committee finishes its work, and the public and the Senate committee will have to judge between Mr.
Dean and those who contradict him, the conflicting parties.
For George Herman and Daniel shore, this is Nelson Benton, CBS News, Washington.
And I was so nervous beforehand.
I'm so sorry I freaked out, you know, but once I Once I locked in, man, when I locked in, I was in the flow.
You see Gurney's face when I When I threw that question back at him? Oh, my God.
It was priceless.
I am gonna fix myself a G&T.
You want one? Oh, wait, that's right.
I'm sorry.
We should go to that restaurant with the singing waiters.
What's it called? Luciano's? I love that place.
Oh, God, that's good.
Are you sad you can't have a G&T? You want me just to fix you the T or a tea? I can I can put the kettle on.
You want it? It's over.
You did it.
Mo.
Moser, what's What's going on, hmm? I'm sorry, the reporters were mobbing me.
It's not the reporters.
Um Okay.
Well, I was sitting there behind you, and I just started thinking, "Oh, gosh, once Watergate is over "and your image is salvaged, where does that leave, um, me?" Baby, look, if I can stay out of jail, we can We can move past this.
We can get past anything.
Into your future.
Yes.
No, come on.
I think I'm just realizing I can't just play the dutiful wife in your story, okay? Just picking out your clothes and smiling for the cameras.
I thought I could, but I can't.
I think I'll, um, lose myself.
I just don't Um, I lost the baby.
What? When? Last night and this morning.
- Oh, my God.
- And it's a long process, - apparently.
- Oh, my God.
I'd like to be alone.
Frank, are you there? It's Janelle.
Coming, coming.
I've been calling you all day.
Mind if I come in? Yeah, come on in.
Ooh, it's, uh, chilly in here.
Yeah, I been leaving the window open for Tuffy.
What happened to you last night? You left, didn't say goodbye.
Yeah, sorry, I forgot to tell you.
I heard about the Howard job.
What happened? The man on the phone says I'm a-a controversial political figure.
He says I got notoriety.
Ain't that a trip? I ain't even got no car, but yet I got notoriety.
It's that damn university president.
He is a secret Nixon freak.
Janelle, come And listen, I promise we will fight this.
- Stop.
- Okay? There's plenty of political groups on campus, and they will gladly nail his ass to the ground.
J-Janelle, stop.
Please.
I don't wanna fight anymore.
I'm going back to Georgia.
What? Yeah, rent's a lot cheaper there, and my mama's getting pretty old.
No.
No.
Look, listen, I know it is tough right now, but you can't just give up.
Give up? Give up on what? On your friends looking at me like Like I'm some kinda dummy? You're real smart, you know that? And smart people like you got this way of Of-of-of turning things over in your head and-and figuring it all out, you know? Figure me out until even I start to believe what you think about me.
But come on.
Look at this place.
Look around.
Look, every morning since that break-in, I wake up telling myself that things are gonna change.
But every morning, I keep waking up in this same damn bed on this same damn block.
We can get you a better apartment.
See, it ain't about the apartment, Janelle.
- Okay, okay, look, it's not - I can write a Write a what? It's not about the apartment.
Don't you get it? I don't belong here.
This place this place don't want me.
Why would I fight to stay in a place that doesn't want me? And that is exactly how they want you to feel.
They don't want you here.
But that doesn't mean you don't belong.
Frank Wills, listen to me.
You are a hero.
Oh, yeah? To who? Ah, for the love of steaming fuck.
John fucking Dean.
That slick bastard pulled out quite a little pirouette today, didn't he? Oh, crying out loud.
Hey, uh, I hear Martha's on deck for Thursday.
Yeah.
How you feeling about that? More importantly, how does the president feel about it? Well, he's not exactly thrilled at the prospect of watching a bunch of senators bully a woman on national television.
What if the cameras weren't allowed? Sorry? What if there were no cameras in the hearing room? I mean, that's something that you could arrange.
Right, Ed? But if there were no cameras, then, uh, well, senators would have free rein, and I don't know that you'd want that.
Martha's, uh she's pissed off a lot of people on that committee.
Yeah.
Yeah.
You know, when I was in the navy, I was on a PT boat.
You knew you knew that.
The only thing that kept me sane was a monkey.
Yeah, a little crab-eating macaque found in Palau.
Ah.
I named him Pete, and, uh, I loved him but, uh, he had a bad habit.
He had, uh he had a big appetite, and he'd rummage in the rations, and that would drive my guys mad, of course.
They knew there was not a shit they could do about it.
But then one day Pete got into the medic's bag.
The morphine, the sulfanilamide.
Yeah.
It was bad luck.
Yeah, bad break.
When a monkey cries, Ed, I'll tell you, sounds like a child.
Course, it was up to me to put him down.
But, uh, I couldn't do it.
One of my boys took my gun from me, said, "Lieutenant, "the problem with loving something too much" "is that you can't do what needs to be done.
" She's not some monkey, John.
She's your wife.
Ed I trust you'll do what needs to be done.
Times are hard ♪ You're afraid to pay the fee ♪ So you find yourself somebody ♪ Who can do the job for free ♪ When you need a bit of lovin' ♪ 'Cause your woman's out of town ♪ That's the time you get me runnin' ♪ And you know I'll be around ♪ I'm a fool to do your dirty work ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ I don't wanna do your dirty work ♪ No more ♪ I'm a fool to do your dirty work ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ ♪ Light the candle ♪ Put the lock upon the door ♪ You have sent the maid home early ♪ Like a thousand times before ♪ Like a castle in his corner ♪ In a medieval game ♪ I foresee terrible trouble ♪ And I stay here just the same ♪ I'm a fool to do your dirty work ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ I don't wanna do your dirty work ♪ No more ♪ I'm a fool to do your dirty work ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ What? Hang on one second, sir.
Excuse me.
Excuse me.
Son, I can't wait all day.
Tuff? You came to see me on the cover of the magazine? Oh, my boy, we going back home.
Those electromagnetic fields I was talking about.
Thank you so much.
Hey, got some room for my cat? I'm a fool to do ♪ Your dirty work ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ - Hey, John, come here.
- What? John, come in here right now.
Come in here! There was a surprise witness at the Watergate hearings today, and he made a dramatic disclosure.
What's going on? Alexander Butterfield, former aide to HR Haldeman, said that President Nixon ordered secret electronic listening devices installed in his offices and on his telephones.
Butterfield said the listening devices, or bugs, were installed in the president's Oval Office and in a smaller office in the Executive Office Building.
I don't wanna do ♪ Your dirty work ♪ No more ♪ I'm a fool to do Your dirty work ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ I don't wanna do your dirty work ♪ No more ♪ I'm a fool to do your dirty work ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ I don't wanna do your dirty work ♪ No more ♪ I'm a fool to do your dirty work ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ I don't wanna do your dirty work ♪