[Quick Summary: Based on a true story. A well-liked young staff writer from the esteemed The New Republic reports on the most fascinating stories,* until a journalist fact-checks one and finds it is fictional.]
I find contradictory characters both fascinating and frustrating, i.e., good reading.
Here, for example, I like AND dislike the Stephen Glass character.
a) I LIKE HIM BECAUSE: He's doesn't brag, is entertaining, thoughtful, and loyal. He's the friend that enters when all others exit.
ex. "INT. NEAR-EMPTY BALLROOM - TNR TABLE - RESUMING
Lane looks over theother reporters at this table - recalling that painful time:
LANE: No one on the staff would speak to me. No one... (they nod, remembering) Except for Stephen.
The Staffers react, surprised. Very.
CUT TO:
INT. TNR SUITE - HALLWAY - NIGHT (FLASHBACK)
It's late; the suite is still. Glass walks down the hallway in his socks, checking to see thatnoone's around to spot him... Then he ducks into:
INT. LANE'S OFFICE - CONTINUING (FLASHBACK)
Lane looks up from his desk, drained - and thrown... because Glass is standing in his doorway.
GLASS (softly, with compassion): How's it goin', Chuck?
Lane sighs with relief. He's got an ally."
b) I DISLIKE HIM BECAUSE: He lives in denial, even when the reputation of others is on the line.
The scene below is a conference call between Glass and Lane (his boss), and Penenberg, a Forbes Digital Tool reporter, who has questions about a Glass article.
ex. "PENENBERG: Um, a few other people we can't seem to locate. Julie Farthwork, Frank Juliet, and Restil's agent - Joe Hiert...We called the numbers you gave us and got voice-mails for all three. And all the e-mails we sent came back saying "no address" or "account closed."
GLASS: Really? 'Cause I've e-mailed them about a million times each. Hiert's on-line all day long.
PENENBERG: Did you ever call these people and get them directly?
GLASS: No. I always left messages and spoke to them when they called back.
PENENBERG: I see.
That hangs there...as we SPLIT SCREEN INTO FOUR SEPARATE IMAGES, each a little slice of tension: Lane's eyes, his notepad, Glass' fidgeting hands, the mini-cassette.
INTERCUT with Penenberg, who is as calm as can be...
PENENBERG: And the references in the article to Nevada law enforcement officials. Was Jim Ghort the only one you spoke to?
GLASS: Yes.
PENENBERG: Do you have a phone number for him?
GLASS: Yeah. Definitely. Somewhere around here.
Glass looks through his notes as if inconvenienced. Then:
GLASS (cont'd): Ready?
PENENBERG: Mmm-hmmm.
GLASS: 605-43--
PENENBERG: Wait.
GLASS: Huh?
PENENBERG: 605. That's not Nevada.
GLASS: Oh.
He pauses. Lane tightens.
GLASS: I guess I got him mixed up with another source. I just have to -- (shuffling pages) Ghort is actually the guy who told me about the Law Enforcement Officials. (more shuffling) I might have to --
LANE (sharply): Give him the number, Stephen.
END SPLIT-SCREEN...as a deafening silence fills both offices. Glass looks wounded.
...and Penenberg and Foroohar look stunned. They know that a lined just got crossed...
PENENBERG (for Foroohar only): This guy is toast.
Foroohar nods."
WHAT I'VE LEARNED: The contradictory nature of the Glass character (both loyal and untruthful) gives a familiar story a new angle.
Shattered Glass (2003)(revised draft, dated 5/20/02)
by Billy Ray
From an article by Buzz Bissinger
*He bamboozled The New Republic into printing at least 41 invented or partially invented articles.
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