Thinking Pulitzer Prize and hoping to bring down a President, D.C. political columnist Rachel Armstrong writes that the President ignored the findings of a covert CIA operative when ordering air strikes against Venezuela. Rachel names the agent, Erica Van Doren, a woman whose young daughter is in Rachel's son's class at school. The government moves quickly to force Rachel to name her source. She's jailed for contempt when she refuses. She won't change her mind, and the days add up. Chaos descends on Van Doren's life as well. First Amendment versus national security, marriage and motherhood versus separation. What's the value of a principle?
Written by <jhailey@hotmail.com>
Rod Lurie's previous film
Resurrecting the Champ also dealt with a journalist seeking a big story and trying to get the Pulitzer Prize. Both films were also influenced by true events.
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Goofs
Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers):
Numerous times, Rachael is referred to as "Miss Armstrong", but since she's married, the correct title is "Mrs."
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Quotes
Dubois:
Okay, I'll do all the yadda-yadda. Now you were within your rights to print the information that you obtained. However, you are not within your rights to protect who it was that gave Erica up to you, who exposed her. It's a 1982 law called the Intelligence Identity's Protection Act. Your source is in a great deal of trouble. Rachel Armstrong:
[Interrupting]
I have no intention to... Dubois:
[Overrides her]
I'm doing the yadda-yadda, remember? See more »