Ken H
Second Unit
Episode 7 - The Assassination of Monica Lewinsky
On schedule, after Monica has given her perjurious testimony in the Paula Jones case, Clinton is deposed for same. He doesn't know what Jones's attorneys know, and thus also perjurers himself about their relationship. But Clinton gets a bad feeling about the questions and how they were being asked, and decides to try and cover his tracks even better by asking his secretary Betty Currie to verify his version of events when Monica saw Clinton in the White House. She dutifully agrees with him. He also asks Betty to contact Monica and see how she is doing. Currie calls Monica’s pager a number of times, but Monica is being handled by her mother (portrayed by Mira Sorvino) and lawyer Ginsberg, and is not allowed to reply. Much to my surprise, Currie is portrayed by Rae Dawn Chong, who looks like someone’s grandmother. Maybe mine. How time flies.
Monica is told by Ginsberg that he will 'make this all go away', when they meet with the OIC. Unfortunately, the Office of Independent Council and Kenneth Starr have different ideas, and are now going to investigate her family if she doesn't fully cooperate, among other threats.
Newsweek reporter Michael Isikoff, who has been investigating Clinton's various ethical misdeeds, and spoken to Tripp, is ready with his story exposing Clinton's lies about his relationship with Monica, is told his story will not be run, because there is no other proof except the Tripp tapes. The reporter knows this is time sensitive material and sees all his effort being cast into the wind. Which turns out to be right, as Matt Drudge breaks Isikoff's story on his web site, creating an entirely new way of communicating news to the public.
Tripp, knowing the 'you know what' is about to hit the fan, tells her children they will perhaps hear some nasty things about her, but she wants them to know she ‘did the right thing’.
The Washington Post reports the OIC is investigating if Clinton told an aid, Monica, to lie about their relationship for the Jones deposition.
And finally we get to see Edie Falco as Hillary Clinton, as Bill tells his wife about The Post report, and denies everything, lying right to his wife’s face.
For reasons unknown, Falco has no prosthetic makeup, which makes her and Beanie Feldstein the two main players who essentially look like they do in the real world. On the other hand, Clive Owen as Clinton, and Sarah Paulson as Tripp, appear as Tussauds Wax Museum replicas of their characters, not recognizable as themselves. This disconnect is distracting for me.
The story has gone mainstream, as CNN, et al, are covering it nonstop, much to Monica’s horror. And the tapes now become public knowledge, even as Clinton continues to lie.
As Clinton sees his presidency swirling down the drain, he calls back Dick Morris, a disgraced (prostitute toe sucking) former political pollster and consultant, to help formulate his strategy. Morris tells him it’s too late to tell the truth, and he must continue to lie about his relationship with Monica, if he is going to survive.
Meanwhile, the press coverage is digging up pictures of Monica with Clinton, video of them at public gatherings, her old HS teacher she had an affair with and followed him and his wife to another city, and on and on. Monica is watching all the coverage, including the late night shows lampooning her, and her mother says she won’t let Monica watch all the lies. Monica tells her mother it’s all true; she had affair with Clinton, she did go to fat camp, and her parents did break up, and I did tell Linda you raised me in a house of lies, and now the whole world knows that too.
Ginsberg finally cuts a deal with Starr’s OIC, and gets Monica immunity. At least that’s what is supposed to happen. But Starr sees Ginsberg on all the Sunday morning news programs and he’s gloating, saying Starr should be worried about going to jail, not Monica, etc. Starr says he's not going to sign off, and abruptly decides to cancel the deal.
Meanwhile back at the White House, Hillary tells Clinton they must address the issue directly, and now. He makes an appearance at a White House presser that Hillary was previously scheduled for, for an after school funding program, and makes a brief statement congratulating everyone, including Hillary, for making it happen. Then, he says he is going to make a direct statement to the American people; he did not have sex with that woman, Miss Lewinsky, he did not tell anyone to lie, not a single one, these allegations are false.
The episode ends with Monica hearing from Starr’s office that the immunity deal is dead, sees Clinton empathically deny everything, again, on national TV, and is about as distraught as a 23 year old could be, considering her plight.
A very powerful look at how very powerful people go through life.
If you like ensemble acting, as I do, this is an excellent example of it. Continues to be very enjoyable.
On schedule, after Monica has given her perjurious testimony in the Paula Jones case, Clinton is deposed for same. He doesn't know what Jones's attorneys know, and thus also perjurers himself about their relationship. But Clinton gets a bad feeling about the questions and how they were being asked, and decides to try and cover his tracks even better by asking his secretary Betty Currie to verify his version of events when Monica saw Clinton in the White House. She dutifully agrees with him. He also asks Betty to contact Monica and see how she is doing. Currie calls Monica’s pager a number of times, but Monica is being handled by her mother (portrayed by Mira Sorvino) and lawyer Ginsberg, and is not allowed to reply. Much to my surprise, Currie is portrayed by Rae Dawn Chong, who looks like someone’s grandmother. Maybe mine. How time flies.
Monica is told by Ginsberg that he will 'make this all go away', when they meet with the OIC. Unfortunately, the Office of Independent Council and Kenneth Starr have different ideas, and are now going to investigate her family if she doesn't fully cooperate, among other threats.
Newsweek reporter Michael Isikoff, who has been investigating Clinton's various ethical misdeeds, and spoken to Tripp, is ready with his story exposing Clinton's lies about his relationship with Monica, is told his story will not be run, because there is no other proof except the Tripp tapes. The reporter knows this is time sensitive material and sees all his effort being cast into the wind. Which turns out to be right, as Matt Drudge breaks Isikoff's story on his web site, creating an entirely new way of communicating news to the public.
Tripp, knowing the 'you know what' is about to hit the fan, tells her children they will perhaps hear some nasty things about her, but she wants them to know she ‘did the right thing’.
The Washington Post reports the OIC is investigating if Clinton told an aid, Monica, to lie about their relationship for the Jones deposition.
And finally we get to see Edie Falco as Hillary Clinton, as Bill tells his wife about The Post report, and denies everything, lying right to his wife’s face.
For reasons unknown, Falco has no prosthetic makeup, which makes her and Beanie Feldstein the two main players who essentially look like they do in the real world. On the other hand, Clive Owen as Clinton, and Sarah Paulson as Tripp, appear as Tussauds Wax Museum replicas of their characters, not recognizable as themselves. This disconnect is distracting for me.
The story has gone mainstream, as CNN, et al, are covering it nonstop, much to Monica’s horror. And the tapes now become public knowledge, even as Clinton continues to lie.
As Clinton sees his presidency swirling down the drain, he calls back Dick Morris, a disgraced (prostitute toe sucking) former political pollster and consultant, to help formulate his strategy. Morris tells him it’s too late to tell the truth, and he must continue to lie about his relationship with Monica, if he is going to survive.
Meanwhile, the press coverage is digging up pictures of Monica with Clinton, video of them at public gatherings, her old HS teacher she had an affair with and followed him and his wife to another city, and on and on. Monica is watching all the coverage, including the late night shows lampooning her, and her mother says she won’t let Monica watch all the lies. Monica tells her mother it’s all true; she had affair with Clinton, she did go to fat camp, and her parents did break up, and I did tell Linda you raised me in a house of lies, and now the whole world knows that too.
Ginsberg finally cuts a deal with Starr’s OIC, and gets Monica immunity. At least that’s what is supposed to happen. But Starr sees Ginsberg on all the Sunday morning news programs and he’s gloating, saying Starr should be worried about going to jail, not Monica, etc. Starr says he's not going to sign off, and abruptly decides to cancel the deal.
Meanwhile back at the White House, Hillary tells Clinton they must address the issue directly, and now. He makes an appearance at a White House presser that Hillary was previously scheduled for, for an after school funding program, and makes a brief statement congratulating everyone, including Hillary, for making it happen. Then, he says he is going to make a direct statement to the American people; he did not have sex with that woman, Miss Lewinsky, he did not tell anyone to lie, not a single one, these allegations are false.
The episode ends with Monica hearing from Starr’s office that the immunity deal is dead, sees Clinton empathically deny everything, again, on national TV, and is about as distraught as a 23 year old could be, considering her plight.
A very powerful look at how very powerful people go through life.
If you like ensemble acting, as I do, this is an excellent example of it. Continues to be very enjoyable.
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