"Hi, I'm Don Konkey." "I'm a photographer." "Technically, I'm a freelancer but outside of the occasional cat fancy or magazine photo," "I'm exclusive to Dirt Now." "Last week, I was covering a story for Lucy Spiller, my best friend and boss, and things didn't go so well." "Get him!" "I ended up in jail." "Don, are you okay?" "Yeah." "Not the best place for a schizophrenic." "That's Holt McLaren." "He gives Lucy dirt." "With her help, he's gonna be the next big thing in action movies." "You're gonna have to bulk up." "That's Holt's girlfriend, Julia Mallory." "With the help of her dealer Garbo, she could be the next big thing in rehab." "Holt's relationship with Lucy and Julia is starting to take a toll on his stomach." "We all have something." "Lucy's dad committed suicide when she was 15." "Now her relationships with men aren't so good." "Did you come the last time?" "Maybe you could give me some directions." "I could draw you a map, it's not gonna happen." "I have better luck alone." "Good thing she's got me." " So we were thinking..." " If it works for you..." "And this will be exclusive." "If it works for you," "I get caught in a lesbian affair with China." "We already talked to her and she's totally in." "And once it hits," "Chris will accept it." "Yeah, I accept it and then we move in together as a "throuple"." "But when that dies down," "I get jalous of him and China." "So China and I have Adrienne move out." "And I have to win him back." "Thank you!" "That is good stuff." "It really is." "You've obviously put a lot of thought into it." "I have to deal with an editorial issue but you can come back, right?" "Oh sure." "And just so you know, we're completely flexible on the story." "These are just a few ideas." "Great!" "I'll have Kenny show you out." "Be in touch." " Okay." " Thank you." "What do you think?" "Dude, we are totally gonna get cover." "$400,000 for an exclusive on the wedding and some waiter with a cellphone cam scoops us." "They're crap images." "People wanna see the glam." "People wanna see the glam?" "What is that?" "A Shakira lyric?" "I wanna see an exclusive." "What do we know about this dead cheerleader?" "Amber Carmichael, disappeared at a pep rally, found the next day in the woods behind her high school." "Not a lot on the wires, no arrest yet, small town story." "How small a town?" "Walnut Valley, about an hour and a half out of L.A." "Population: 11,000." "Now that's a solid cover." "It's a great cover but we've about 2 days to close and we don't even had a reason to think she had a secret life." "Everyone has a secret life." "She was murdered." "Her secret life is our next cover, you better all get to work." "Hello." "Your office just seems to get bigger and bigger." "Same office, Chuck." "And yet... bigger." "Maybe I should do a story:" "mysterious expanding office takes on all in its path." "I need you on something." "You already have me up to my ears and nuts and sluts." "I've got family keeps pet hippo in living room," "Idaho patatoe that looks like Virgin Mary." "My plate is kinda full." "I need you on a cover." "It's a crime story." "I'm sending a small army to Walnut Valley to get into this cheerleader murder." "These knuckleheads will treat it like some premiere after party." "I need hard journalism, M.E. reports, D.A.'s office..." "I have 2 Polk awards and a Peabody," "I know how to cover a damn crime story, Lucy." "That's why I called you." "You're sending me for a cover or a story?" "Meaning?" "You already picked out your headline: "her secret life"." "If this girl has no secret, fine come home, I'll run something else." "Girl's dead, maybe some things should just stay secret." "Do you want the story or not?" "Yeah, I'll take the story." "Okay, I want Willa McPherson to go with you." "You think a chaperon can keep me on the wagon?" "One can only hope." "She seems hungry." "Maybe she'll learn something from you." "Like you did?" "If she's lucky." "Hey!" "$400,000 for an exclusive on Cherryl's wedding and you're bumping the cover?" "Exclusive being the operative word." "Pictures are all over the Internet, the deal is off." "So what's the cover?" "Or are you planning on surprising me again 'cause as I recall, that didn't go so well last time." "Meet Amber Carmichael." "Never heard of her." "White, attractive, murdered in her cheerleading uniform." "America is gonna love her." "More than Cherryl Lane and her fairy tale wedding?" "Celebrity murder always trumps celebrity wedding, you know that." "She's not a celebrity." "Yes, well, she will be." "Okay, check the paper before you head out, even if you have your assignments." "Here you are." "Hi, we're doing a story for Dirt Now magazine." "Did any of you know Amber Carmichael?" "Poor bastards will never know what hit them." "Lucy's told us to wait." "You don't have to tell me what Lucy said, everything she knows about reporting, she learnt from me." "Lucy learnt from you?" "I was her mentor at the Trib' back when I was a respected journalist." "Hard to believe, I know." "Wow!" "You worked with Lucy at the Trib', I thought you were like the" "Dirt's spooks and cooks guy*** since forever." "Nice interview technique." "Subtle." "Let's regroup." "What do we got so far?" "I called the D.A.'s office but they don't have a press liaison so..." "Hmmm... interesting." "Look, there's a memorial for this girl at the local church in 2 hours." "Why don't we go there, check it out, see what we see?" "How did you know about it?" "Big complicated story like this... intricate local politics... you really got to know how to dig!" "Nice work." "Let's walk." "Maybe we'll find another scoop in the way." "So what was Lucy like when she was starting out?" "What was her first big story?" "How did she rise so far and so fast?" "You're a one-man-press-conference." "Look, you wanna be a reporter, remember this:" "everyone wants to tell their story." "You gotta cultivate your source." "One question at a time." "Sometimes... no questions." "Sorry." "So what was Lucy like when she started out?" "Kind of a little bit like you." "Not necessarily a compliment." "So we'll do the flowers ourselves." "Fine, I'll call them." "I will." "I gotta go." "Sorry, people hear it's a wedding and the prices triple." "Not interested." "Has Don called?" "No, you want me to try him again?" "Yes." "And can you just use our florist?" "We spend a fortune there every month, should count for something." " Thank you." " Are you dialing Don?" "Local cops, they got nothing." "How can you tell?" "No one's talking to them." "They're talking to no one." "Maybe they're just being respectful." "Their mistake." "Killer not IDed in the first 24 hours probably won't be." "No one in this crowd is gonna give any dirt on the girl." "No dirt, no suspect." "Well, if they're not gonna give it up for their own cops, what makes you think that they're gonna talk to us?" "We're in a church." "Maybe we can get a blessing from the reverend." "Come on." "Reverend.." "I'm Chuck Lafoun." "This is Willa McPherson." "We're from Dirt Now magazine." " I'm sorry for the intrusion." " Please, this is a house of mourning." "Impressive." "Excuse me, did you say you're from Dirt Now?" "Yes." "Amber and I were best friends." "We're both totally into Dirt Now." "I mean... we were." "She was." "I still can't beleieve she's gone." "I'm so sorry." "Anyway I saw you talking to my dad so..." "Your father is the minister?" "Willa has family in the clergé." "Constant choir, right?" "Yeah, totally." "Well, uh... you probably wanna focus on the service." "Maybe you guys could get together afterwards and talk a little bit, get some background for the magazine." "Sure." "Yeah." "Okay." " Should I?" " We'll find you after." "Cool." "Well, you got your first crime story interview." "God help us!" "Great." "No, it's great." "Ok, listen." "I just got home so I gotta get off." "Alright, I will." "Thanks." "Hey." "Quinn says hi." "If he wanted to talk to me, I could have answered my goddamn phone calls." "He said he called, he wants to have lunch with you." "When was the last time you checked your voicemail?" "Recharger's deal just closed." "Name above the title." "Shit!" "That's..." " That's..." " Huge!" "After Dawson fell down, *** people all over *** only one but me." "3 movies in a row." "All summer ***.." " It's awesome." " Yeah." "Come here." "Leave it, I can..." "Wow!" "What the hell is that?" "I squashed** myself in the taxi." "You squashed yourself?" "Let me see!" "Let me see!" "Jesus Christ, Julia!" "What the hell are you doing?" "It's not a big deal!" "God!" "I knew you were gonna a drag today." "Don!" "Don!" "Don!" "Hey." "Don?" "You haven't been returning my calls." "I'm working." "You're writing on your photos." "I have to get it out." "You know I worry about you when you don't call me back." "I'm sorry, Lucy." "How's your finger?" "It throbs a lot but doctor said that's good." "Good." "I brought you some food." "Your favorite soup from Nate  Alice." "Okay." "No, no, no." "What happened?" "You seemed to be doing so much better." " Do you wanna go to the hospital?" " No." "It's just the police, you know." "I didn't like their bathrooms." "You're still upset about the arrest?" "They still might come back for me." "No." "I took care of it." "The police will not come back." "Okay." "I'm fine." "It's just, you know, it's up and down like always." "I just need to work." "You know, for focus." " It will help." " Okay." "Why don't you come in on Wednesday and I'll have something for you?" "It's okay." "You actually know Britney?" "Well, it was just a little interview but we did have a burping contest." " Bet she won?" " Oh, hands down." "This is all Britney." "Amber and I made it together." "Did K-Fed really sleep in the basement?" "That one she wouldn't answer." "So who else was Amber into?" "She was a Lindsay girl all the way." "I'm more about Paris." "You?" " Uh, Paris." " I know, right?" "We always have this debate." "Well, had." "We had it." "How long were you friends?" "Forever." "We shared everything." " Did she have a boyfriend?" " We're not supposed to date." "We both took the church chastity vows." "We're supposed to wait to be married." "Now she'll never have that chance." "Maddie?" "Would you mind if I borrowed this?" "I'll give it back." "For the magazine?" "Wow!" "Yeah, do you wanna see my others?" "Holt!" "Holt!" "New ***, extra peech and bipollen**." "Bipollen is good for stress when things get tough at home I always double upon the bipolen." "If you want, I could grab a bottle so you could bring it home for Julia." "I heard she's been having a rough time, so..." "Oh, you heard, huh?" "Well, I mean... the magazines and stuff but uh..." "I'm sure it's all bullshit anyway, right?" "Yeah, it is, believe me." " She's fine." " Good." "They'll be ready for you in 5 so..." "Hey, it's me." "Just checking in." "I really hope you're checking your voicemail." "I'm working late so call my cell." " Jesus, man!" " Wow, sorry." "That wasn't out of line enough for you?" " What?" " Did you miss something?" " No, I just." " Were you fishing for a story, junior?" "Are you selling to the tabs?" "What are they paying you?" "How much?" " What are you talking about?" " How much?" " Holt." " How much, you little shit!" "I swear to God!" "It's just that they're ready for you on set." "They're ready for you on set." "That's it." "No, the chief and I agreed: we are not talking to the press." "On the record." "It is a matter in our local justice system." "We are gonna let the system do the work." "Thanks, that's great." "Seriously!" "No, I get it." "Let the system do the work." "It's a strong quote." "Aloof, in charge, gives a sense you're closing in." "Have you worked a lot of big high profile murder cases?" "High profile..." "This is Walnut Valley." "When I covered the Blue River killer murders, of course that was 14 years ago, it was that D.A.'s first big murder case." "Who..." "You're Chuck Lafoun." "I knew I knew you." "I read your book." "Did you read his book?" "Uh, yeah." "The prosecutor you wrote about, Angler, he was one of the reasons I became a D.A." "Angler's great, he made that case." "The fingerprint on the lightbulb in the hallway, that was genius!" "He's an amazing guy." "The book worthy cases always have great characters like that." "A leading man making the case." "And a twist." "You gotta have a twist." "Oh, this story has a major twist." "No worries." "We're off the record." "Come here." "Anything you give me on deep background, not for attribution, whatever, it won't get back to you." "No one knew I was talking to Angler 'till the verdict was in." "Alright, the M.E.s report won't be out for a couple of days but the the victim, the girl, she was pregnant." "Holy shit!" "What?" "Lucy was right." "Girl did have a goddamn secret life." "Residents of Walnut Valley have been shocked and outraged to find out the truth about their favorite cheerleader." "Tell me the networks are still using our name." "We got 'em all different exclusives and exchange for credit in Us for breaking the story in the new issue." "The numbers should be great." "I'm glad we upped the West Coast draw." "Oh, and somebody please get this guy a stylist." "Or at least some powder, he's gonna drown in his own flop sweat." "We're not gonna have it all to ourselves next week, does anyone has a jump on the next cover?" "We're thinking emotional, victim's parents, something like this." "That's filler." "The girl was pregnant, who is the baby's father?" "Well, I haven't found a boyfriend yet." "Well, stop telling me what you don't have." "You've got an in with the best friend, get the story." " I'm working on it." " Hey." "Just wanted to come by and congratulate everybody." "Good job this week." "Thanks, Brent." "Is that next week's cover?" "That's something we were playing around with." "I'll let you know when it's locked." "We have the parents' cooperation?" " We'll see." " Talk to legal." "They're not public figures." "If they won't cooperate..." "Last week, they weren't public figures." " Today the whole world knows them." " Because of us." " You only worry about your image." " I'm worried about the magazine's image." "What we publish has consequences." "This case was going nowhere until we stepped in." "If we keep at it, we may just raise enough hell to bring this girl's killer to justice." "How's that for consequences?" "Wow!" "Seems like I hit a nerve." "What are the odds of that?" "Like one in a billion?" "Oh God." "The competition on this case is about to get intense." "We need to continue breaking the story." "If we do, we won't get just one more cover, we'll get 5." "Explosive reveal of unborn baby's father." "The arrest." "Perp walk, trial, justice." "This girl is dead." "I wanna know who." "I wanna know what." "I wanna know why." "Fun story, huh?" "Yeah, everyone loves a murder." "15 and bam!" "It's over just like that." "Yep." "You're not objective." "Excuse me?" "This story, I know why you're so obsessed by it." "Why?" "I'm a mad genius?" "Or is it just my God given gift to find editorial gold?" "It's the girl." "I remember way back one night you got drunk at McCloodey's." "You told me the whole story of your father's suicide." "How you found this body when you were 15." "How you never understood why he did it." "You were 15 just like this girl." "You said you died that day." "Your words." ""I died that day"." "You said that's why you wanted to be a reporter." "Seeking out the why of things." "I said that?" " You were drunk." " Yeah." "I must have been." "You said your father's suicide was the one mystery you most wanted to solve." "You said it like everything would just fall into place if you knew the answer to that one question: why?" "Why did he do it?" "Aren't you curious?" "About her life, her death." "Don't you wanna know what happened?" "Or have your reporting instincts gone the way of your liver?" "You can start negating my concern by focusing on my alcoholism." "I conceive." "I'm a drunk." "But you are emotionally involved in that story and that..." "We'll find the answers." "Not everything has an answer." "Don't tell me you can't do an interview, you're sitting here getting a make over for Larry King." "No, everything has to go through my publicist." "How did you get a publicist?" "Anything to do with the coverage I gave you." "I'm not saying no." "It's just..." "The deal was CNN exclusive." "It's just TV but I don't know we might be talking about brand..." "I can get a different leading man." "It's still my story." "Larry is ready when you are." "Just look right into the camera." "Wait, wait." "I'm not saying no, okay?" "It's just..." "They're talking about a book deal." "Call my publicist." "I may need to go straighter." "And 4, 3, 2, 1." "Well?" "And you wanna release this?" "Oh no, not release, it'll be stolen from our bedroom by a worker." "But not a mexican, 'cause we don't wanna be racists." "I have to be honest with you..." "I don't think anybody really cares to see this sex tape." "These are the numbers from our VH1 wedding special." "Check out the 18-34 demo." " Boys love her." " And every girl wants a little Brady." "Plus this video totally takes the image saying..." "I'm just smashed and unattached." "You know what?" "Fast forward to the part where you choke me." "I passed out for at least 10 seconds." "It's way edgy." "You know ,I wanna see the part where you drip the hot candle wax on my balls..." "Heel to your mistress." "Ok, let me think about this." "Alright and keep get around with my staff." " Ok." " Ok." "I'll be in touch with you." " Great." " Thank you." "I'm sorry Lucy..." "No, I'm glad you're here." "We just finished." "Who are they?" "A favour to a publicist." "You look good." " You have work?" " I do." "We're doing a crime story in Walnut Valley." "I need candids of the victim's friends and family, school whatever you can get." "You want civilians candids." " That's what we are doing this week." " OK." "What?" "Not really... challenging." "Well I think staying on your meds and off the streets... is challenging enough for this week." "She looks sweet." "Sad." "Why?" "She's smiling." "Sad smile." "Truly reminds me of you when you were younger." "Wild Cats, Wild Cats!" "Fight, fight, win!" "And then we do this flip switch thing." "It was cool." "So, what did you think of the story?" "I don't know..." "What?" "You can tell me." "It was all about the crime and her being pregnant, I mean... that's not her whole life." "Who she was." "It didn't mention anything about her friends..." "I know, I'm trying to get them let me do a piece on that;" " Who she was and her social life, batton twirling partner, boys." " She wasn't about boys." "She was about cheerleading and her friends and church." "Maddy, the police wanna question whoever got her pregnant." "It's not their business." "Well, it is." "It's too bad but it is." "He didn't kill her." "Who?" "I just wish people could remember the good things." "Us smiling like this." "You know, I think that this would be a great cover story." "Hadn't be?" "Wow..." "And the more I talk to you the more I think... that this was who she was, with you." "But my editor is insane about cover stories... there needs to be some more information... it just can't be background." "I don't agree with it but that's her deal." "So... if you know who Amber was sleeping with..." "Look Maddy, the police are gonna find out anyway." "So if you tell me at least I can paint the right picture for people." "Amber did sort of have a boyfriend." "Tyler Kurta." "She was not out to date so no one really knew." "Hello?" "Is anyone out there?" "Are you lost?" "I-I think so." "Come with me." "It's quiet." "Yes." "Can I take your picture?" "Of course." "First, let's pray." "Thank you." "There you are." "Char, I'd like you to meet our editor..." "She's Lucy Spiller." "Lucy this is Char." "She's a... a very talented singer." "Oh, I'm sure she is." "So, the new issue is killing, just got the new stand numbers 1.34." " Oh, I hate to say I told you so" " Yes, it's her favourite expression." "So, still exploiting the dead girl next week?" "I don't know Brent, still exploiting the live girl this week?" "Looks, brains and venon." "How do you stay single?" "Oh, you know, it's a battle." "Clearly." "Shall we?" "Nice to meet you." "My sister's in town so..." "Holt McLaren." "Hi." "I heard you closed the deal to star in Teddy Gick's Hard Charger movies." " I did." " Really?" "You got a few.." "exclusive comments for me magazine?" "Of course, yeah, excuse me fellows." "Excuse me." "I don't know how many times I can tell the same stories to a bunch of strangers that think they know me." "You know?" "Party vampires, get used to it." "Can I get another one, please?" "I hate these damn things." "You gotta find a way to make it amusing." "I like to look and see if I can find the people who donated 500 bucks to get in but spent 10 grand on a dress." "Yeah, that one does sort of scream "screw the homeless", right?" "I'm done here." "I got a car out back you want a ride home?" "Yeah." "So, star of your own big action franchise." "How does it feel?" "The first one is not even made, I don't know if it's gonna hit." "It will hit." "Look at you." "That's what's gonna make you huge." "You know that?" "You're a really good actor." "but the thing that will make you pop... is that you have the look you don't even know it." "Well, if I pop out, this is because of your magazine." "And that too." "So I guess I owe you?" "Yeah, you do." "Yeah." "Oh God!" "Are you ok?" "Yeah." "Home sweet home." "I can't come in." "Julia's expecting me." "Did I invite you in?" "Ok, I'm sorry, no, listen, I..." "Don't apologize." "I'm glad we left at the same time." "The car will take you home." "Thank you." "Anytime." "Yo, hey..." "I need you to pull over." "Yo, pull over please." "No no..." "Don't mind me." "I'm just gonna grab some shit and see myself out." "Jesus, I didn't hear you come in." "Yeah, obviously." "Please baby, come on." "Come on!" "We were just..." "Just let him go." "Shut up!" "Holt!" "Don't come near me!" "Don't come near me!" "Baby please, c'mon." " Listen to yourself beg..." " Get out." "Now, out!" "Honey, what are you doing?" "Hey, you really got her on the leash, don't you?" "Alright baby, nothing happened." "I don't wanna hear it." "I'm done with your shit." " I am, I'm done." " No!" "No!" "Nothing really happened, alright?" "It didn't mean anything." "I mean, this pills and the accident.." "You did Johnny Gage on your movie long before the accident." " No, I didn't." " I saw the tape!" " I saw it." " What?" "Well, yeah, yeah, Johnny giving it to you... from behind in some hotel or some shit." "Yeah." "I saw the tape months ago." "You knew someone had a sex tape on me." "And you didn't tell me." "What kind of person are you?" "Been asking the same thing about you for a long time." "Look, I loved Amber and I'd never do anything to hurt her." "You think the police really gonna believe that?" "Look, this is your chance to get out your side of the story." "We never did anything wrong." "We were good christians, both of us." "She was pregnant, Tyler." "It's not possible." "We took the true love chastity pledge." "Everyone at church does." " Tyler..." " We never had sex." "Not sex sex." "I just..." "Look, there's no way I got Amber pregnant." "Ok?" "Her virginity was sacred to both of us." "That's why we agreed I'd only put it in her butt." "There are no shots of the boyfriend." "He's her minister." "Ok Don, but I need shots of her boyfriend." "I can do that." "You look different." "I do?" "Your hands are relaxed and your eyes are soft." "These shots are useless." "I need you to go back and get more." "Less pious minister and more ass banging boyfriend." "Ok." "Grab something to eat." "The peanut butter and banana on the croissant." "I've seen your stuff in a gallery somewhere, right?" "No... no..." "They are... this is..." "this is just for me." "It's too bad." "They're beautiful." "Where'd you go?" "Just out driving." "Did you expect everything to be different when you got back here?" "What happened to us?" "I don't know." "Other things just took over." "How we go back?" "I wish we could just... get out of here, you know?" "Go some place where nobody knows us." "Where?" "These stories always need great characters." "A hero making the case." "Could be the medical examiner." "You can drop the sales pitch." "National Enquire already offered me 10 grand for a first look at my report." "So, what's it really worth?" "This small town is just not as clean as it used to be, is it?" "20 grand cash." "And that's exclusive, no one else sees it." "Ok." "Better be worth it." "Oh, it is." "We've IDed the father of the victim's unborn baby." "My God!" "God bless Don Konkey." "He had the right shots all along." "What do you think?" "I think it's not accurate." "Excuse me?" "It implies he killed the girl." "He's her minister, he got her pregnant." "She's murdered, readers will draw their own conclusions." "Of the headline that reads:" "'He did it'?" "It refers to getting her pregnant." "Oh, please." "The cover is a lie and you know it." "The cover is a sales tool, the story is inside and it's accurate." "This is why I don't do this anymore." "I get sent in to get facts and they get twisted around to make the cover work." "That guy is a child violating asshole, that's a fact." "You can keep going after everyone in the world... expose everyone else's secrets... but it's not gonna get you what you want." "It's not gonna tell you why your father killed himself." "Get out!" "Drunk!" "The wall is locked." "Get it to press." "Reverend Thomas Sweed was arrested today for the murder of 15 year old Amber Carmichael... in Walnut Valley, California." "Dirt Now's new issue says that according to coroner's report..." "Reverend Sweed was the father of the victim's unborn child." "Oh my God, Willa." "Oh my God." "I got here as fast as I could." "Are you ok?" "Who told you my father killed Amber?" "Who said that?" "Look Maddy, I know that you must be really freaked out..." " seeing your father get arrested." " It's in your magazine." "The cover: "He did it"." "He didn't do it." "Maddy, your father got Amber pregnant." "I know but he didn't kill her." "It's all wrong." "I loved him." "She seduced him, she preyed on him..." "It was her." "What?" " Look, it's ok you can..." " It's not ok." "He's my father, he loved me, not her." "What we had was ours, sacred." "Ours and God's and noone else's." "That's what he said." "When she told me she was gonna have his baby I just..." "I had to kill her." "I did." "He wasn't supposed to be with anyone but me." "That was our promise." "So I killed her." "I did it, not daddy." "It should be me on the cover... me."