Episode 136 scene 5.  

     Press conference in John Fowler's office, room B.
     Randy has a speed graphic® camera.  He tests the flash.
     Elliot enters.
     Mr. Sanford, John Fowler, Elliot Carson, Jim Fogarty, Randy, Mitch

EC:  Oh, I'm sorry.
R:   Hi.
EC:  Hello, Randy.  How are you?

     [Elliot and Randy shake hands.]

R:   Fine.  Thank you.  I was sorry to hear about your daughter.
EC:  Thank you.
     [Fowler enters.]
JF:  Gentlemen.  We're all here.  You must be Mr. Sanford?  
S:   Yes.
     [Shake.]
JF:  How are you?

JF:  Well, you were all calling with pretty much the same questions.  It 
     seemed a good idea to meet with you all at once. 

JF:  I assume you have been given the routine information from the court 
     that awarded bail, so as far as I'm concerned you can just fire when 
     ready.  Yes, sir?
M:   What's going on, John?  I mean, we all know there is no precedent 
     for awarding bail on a capital case.
JF:  Well, it is due process, Mitch.  An appeal was made and it was granted.
M:   On what grounds?
JF:  Two.  The Harrington boy has no previous criminal record, and there 
     were extenuating circumstances.  Frankly, personally, I think that 
     this whole matter is tangential to the case proper. 
S:   Is it?
JF:  Mr. Sanford.
     [John Fowler sits.  Sanford stands.]
S:   Let's look at the facts, Mr. Fowler.  Bail in a capital case is 
     unprecedented.  Yet it is awarded.  The amount demanded is in six 
     figures.  It is met.  And yet you say the whole matter is 
     tangential.  I think you'll find the entire Atlantic seaboard in 
     disagreement.  And I hope the whole country.  We have seen enough 
     legal favoritism based on wealth and position. 
JF:  You may be a bit premature in your judgment.
S:   Maybe.  But that is not the point.  We came here to get your version 
     of something that is highly irregular.  Frankly, I find you 
     exasperating indirect.  Couldn't you be a little less diplomatic? 
JF:  Well, as I understand my job, Mr. Sanford, what I'm being is legal.
S:   Do you think that if the situation had been reversed and the young 
     Chernak boy had appealed to higher court, he would be now out walking 
     around? 
JF:  Perhaps, if there had been extenuating circumstances.
S:   There wouldn't have been.
Fog: It wasn't so much that they allowed bail but that the figure they set 
     was clearly tailored to a bank account that the average man will never see.  
M:   Come on.  Level with us John, was it a power play? 
JF:  I have no way of knowing that.
S:   Well, what's your guess?
JF:  I'm not in a guessing mood.
S:   Well, quite frankly, my paper sent me down here to get your guess.
     Too bad.  
     [Sanford stands.]
S:   We'll have catch a train back to Boston.
     [Sanford retrieves his hat.]
S:   Thank you, Mr. Fowler, you have been amazingly helpful.
     [Fowler laughs uncomfortably.]
S:   Good day, Gentlemen.
     [Sanford leaves.]
JF:  Well, have we touched all the bases?
Fog: Have we touched any of them?
R:   Okay.  How about a couple of shots, Mr. Fowler.
JF:  I'm not very photogenic.
R:   Oh, no, no, no.  This won't take a few minutes.  My paper needs it, 
     and if I don't get it, I'm out of a job.  And you don't want that on 
     your conscience, do you?  Okay.  Hold it.  Good let's get one over here. 
Fog: You're Elliot Carson, aren't you.
EC:  Yes.
Fog: Jim Fogarty, Hastings Sun.    
EC:  Oh, yes.  How do you do?
Fog: I covered your trial.  I didn't know you were a newspaper man. 
EC:  Well, I have had a little experience, but I still consider myself a 
     neophyte. 
Fog: Matt Swain thought you were the man to succeed him.  You are.
EC:  Thank you.
Fog: I'll say this, (indicating Fowler) He's got his father's charm.
EC:  . . . And his acumen.
Fog: We'll have to talk some time.
EC:  I'd like that.
R:   Hold it.  Okay, now let's get one serious one over here.
JF:  I think that's enough, Randy.
R:   Okay, I'll send you a couple in the mail.

R:   [To Mitch] Ready?
M:   And waiting.

M:   How about a beer, Mr. Fogarty.  Mr. Carson.
Fog: I'm sorry,  I've got to meet a deadline.  
EC:  Some other time.
M:   All right.  See you soon.
Fog: Remember me to Matt.
EC:  All right.  I will.

     [All leave, with the exception of John Fowler and Elliot Carson.]

JF:  Elliot, you were awfully quiet.
EC:  So were you.  Since when did a press conference start without an 
     opening statement?
JF:  Well, didn't I follow Robert's rules?
EC:  You didn't even follow the Marquis of Queensbury's rules.
JF:  Are you accusing me of hitting below the belt?
EC:  Let's just say that you presented some very fast foot work.
EC:  You were also very nice about letting other people voice your 
     opinions for you, so that you don't have to go out on a limb yourself. 
JF:  And as a newspaper man, you object to that?
EC:  As a man I object to it.
EC:  If you feel awarding Rodney Harrington bail, is an instance of favoritism, 
     why don't you say so.
EC:  Why trade an innuendo?
JF:  Maybe we should define our terms, Elliot.  You call it innuendo.  I call 
     it discretion.  The same discretion that you used in your open letter to 
     the driver that hit Allison.  Well, I noticed you were very careful not 
     to do any branding yourself, but you put a red hot iron in the hands of 
     everyone else in town.  Maybe I took a page out of your book. 
     [Dramatic music]
JF:  We both live in glass houses, don't we?

     [Elliot leaves as the scene ends.]

Episode 136, scene 5