Great scene: “Broadcast News”
Aaron’s dream come true of being a news anchorman is a flop… sweat.
I love the movie Broadcast News (1987), written and directed by James L. Brooks. It’s full of great moments, but this one might be the best: The “flop-sweat” scene starring Albert Brooks. Playing Aaron, a field reporter desperate to get one shot at being an on-air news anchor, Aaron finally has the opportunity — only to fail in a most visible and embarrassing way.
Here’s the scripted version:
INT. NEWS STUDIO - NIGHTWE are on the studio floor, FOCUSING on the activity around
the Anchor Desk and three cameras... The FLOOR MANAGER stands
ready to cue Aaron, the script is ready to roll on the prompter
machine. FLOOR MANAGER
Twenty seconds.ON AARONMaking sure he is seated on his jacket -- taking one last look
at the hand mirror being held by the MAKEUP WOMAN. She starts
off -- but Aaron regrabs the mirror almost making her lose her
footing -- a check -- then another check -- he points to a spot
on his forehead which she dabs with the makeup sponge... Both of
them fuss enormously with his hair -- four busy hands. FLOOR MANAGER
Ten seconds. AARON
How many? FLOOR MANAGER
Ten. AARON
Okay.He watches the Makeup Woman scurry underneath a camera lens,
resits on his jacket and finally has the moment the system has
been denying him for years. We can HEAR the END OF HIS CUE
in a barely AUDIBLE CRACKLE from the Floor Manager's earphones...
"...with Aaron Altman." AARON
(on TV)
Good Evening...In mood and language
better suited to an espionage novel
than the delicate world of the Western
Alliance, the British Foreign Secretary
today pounced on what he termed, 'The
nest of profession spies and amateur
traitors who were turning NATO
Headquarters into an instrument whose
only true function is folly.' We begin
our coverage with Edward Towne in London.Aaron looks up -- takes a breath. He's done well -- he's
punched his words and his one thought for the story. His gaze
has been steady, his voice firm but he has begun to perspire.
He dabs with his finger at the first trickles from his brow --
brushes some more prominent sweat from his upper lip... He
beckons nervously to the Makeup Woman -- who comes in and dabs --
then dabs again as Aaron feels himself under his arms... MAKEUP WOMAN
Gee whiz. FLOOR MANAGER
Five seconds.She scurries away, Aaron reaching for another Kleenex from herbox and missing it... A graphic illustrating his next scripted
section appears behind him. AARON
...the sub-bases referred to are
located in five countries...And now the moisture on his face is clearly discernible -- the
Floor Manager and Makeup Woman grimacing at the growing specter
as they look at a large monitor. AARON
France, Belgium, the Netherlands,
Spain as...And now so much moisture sprouts from his upper lip that he
pushes his lower lip out to slurp away the sweat... The Makeup
Woman laughs briefly out loud before catching herself...
Aaron's eyes dart angrily in her direction. AARON
We well as Great Britain...Our own
State Department was rocked not only
by the revelation but from the highly
unusual persistence from the State
Press Corps. Martin Klein reports on
the ruckus at Foggy Bottom.Half-beat until he's sure that he's off -- his shirt now
showing distinct sweat stains... AARON
Help me.The Makeup Woman picks up her Kleenex box -- then thinks
better of it... MAKEUP WOMAN
Someone finds me some big towels.ON AARONHe blots his face -- some makeup streaked -- by the towel. FLOOR MANAGER
Five seconds.ON MAKEUP WOMANAs she scurries away, this time entering the control room
trotting up one stair to look at the monitor... the Director
talking to his Camera Operators. DIRECTOR
I'd go looser but we wouldn't
see the graphic. TECHNICIAN
(to other Technician)
No -- this is more than Nixon ever
sweated.The Makeup Woman now looks at the bank of monitors. MAKEUP WOMAN
Can't you just die for him?ON MONITORAaron's makeup-streaked face.
Here is the scene from the movie:
When you write comedies, you pray for comic bits. Then you milk them for all you can get. This is a GREAT comic bit… and milked for all it’s worth, which is why it’s a Great Scene.
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