NELLIE BLY HUNTS A RAPIST.
INT. NEWSPAPER OFFICE – DAY
Madden greets his New York man, GEORGE MCCAIN.
MADDEN
George? George McCain! Why are you back in Pittsburgh?
McCain throws newspapers on Madden’s desk.
MCCAIN
Nellie Bly. I’m your New York correspondent, right? Why is she in New York writing stories for you?
MADDEN
She just does these things. Not long ago she appointed herself our correspondent in Mexico.
MCCAIN
Well, get her out of New York!
MADDEN
And how do I do that? You’re not the only one she’s tormenting. She did a story on the editors of the big papers – they said women couldn’t write or cover dangerous stories, she made fools out of all of them.
MCCAIN
I worked long and hard to get that position in New York. And since Bly arrived, the Dispatch has carried more of her reports, than mine.
MADDEN
Sorry. But they’re good. She’s getting better as a reporter.
MCCAIN
That’s wonderful. Now let her go do it somewhere else. There are thirty seven other states she can report from – let her pick one and go there.
MADDEN
What happened to that story she was working on, in the park?
MCCAIN
There’s a man in the park, he entices women into a carriage, and then he drugs them and rapes them.
MADDEN
And she got the story?
MCCAIN
Not yet. She’s trying to reel him in, using a little bait.
MADDEN
What is she using as bait?...She’s using herself as bait, isn’t she?
MCCAIN
Six nights in the park already. All alone.
MADDEN
What the hell is the matter with you? Didn’t you stop her?
MCCAIN
Have you ever tried to stop Nellie Bly from hunting down a story?
MADDEN
Goddamn it!
He runs into the outer office.
MADDEN (CONT'D)
Boy, don’t move, you’re making a run to the telegraph. Alice, write this down. Night watch, New York Police. Young woman in Central Park, in mortal danger…
EXT. CENTRAL PARK – NIGHT
Bly looks at a creepy STRANGER with a flask.
NELLIE
Mister, like I said, I really need to find my way back to the avenue.
STRANGER
Give me your arm, I have a carriage around the corner.
They survey each other.
STRANGER (CONT'D)
You’re not cold, are you? Got brandy if you like….
NELLIE
Could I see your flask? I’ve heard about a flask like this one.
She takes it, looks it over and smiles.
NELLIE (CONT'D)
My lucky day. You wouldn’t have a match? Got one of those newfangled cigarettes, would you like one?
STRANGER
Why, I sure do. Don’t forget the brandy.
She looks at him again. She puts the brandy in her purse and pulls out a whistle. Blows hard.
NELLIE
Sergeant, just like we practiced it.
The stranger grabs her and throws her to the ground. A dozen policemen appear and grab him. Nellie gets up.
NELLIE (CONT'D)
Let’s see em try to keep me off the front page now.
OFFICER
Miss, those Pittsburgh people sent you a telegram. Do not wire more copy, come home immediately.
NELLIE
Yes, I’ll to do exactly as I’m told.
(pause, then explodes in laughter)
Can you direct me to the offices of the New York World?
INT. NEWSPAPER OFFICE – DAY
The fancy editorial office of the New York World; Nellie sits in the chair of editor JOHN COCKERILL who is entering.
COCKERILL
Make yourself at home…. You’re that crazy girl who was almost shot in Mexico?
NELLIE
Yes, Mister Cockerill.
COCKERILL
The last time somebody ambushed me in my office, he had a gun. I shot him dead.
NELLIE
New York is a tough little town.
COCKERILL
It’s not usual to find a girl with your pluck in a place like Pittsburgh.
NELLIE
A lot you know about Pittsburgh.
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