Loyalties

Last night I was flipping through the channels and came across "All The Presidents Men," the 1976 film adaptation of the Washington Post's coverage of the Watergate scandal. The film reminded me that there was once a time when people in movies actually looked and behaved like people in the real world. Today it's mostly about perfect bodies doing super human things.

The film suggests that Woodward and Bernstein had to interview dozens of average folk to get even the slightest information on what had really gone on behind the scenes. Most of the time, they had doors slammed in their face. But on the few occasions when they actually found someone who was willing to talk to them, the interview was surprising. Far from haughty conspirators trying to win at all cost, these were largely goodhearted men and women who found themselves a part of something that just didn't sit right with them. They were simply caught up in the machinery.

Although these people were saddened, even sicked, by the some of the activities they had been associated with; they were equally sicked by the prospect of ratting out their superiors. At one point, Woodward and Bernstein are interviewing a woman. Here is the section from the screenplay:

A MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN--kind of an honest, hard-working face.

WOODWARD and BERNSTEIN are standing in her doorway.

WOODWARD
A friend at the Committee told us to contact you--

WOMAN
--who was it?

BERNSTEIN
We never reveal our sources, which is why you can talk to us.

WOODWARD
It's safe, try it, you'll see.

[She doesn't talk at first, but she doesn't slam the door either.]

BERNSTEIN
We understand your problem--

WOODWARD
--you believe in the President, you wouldn't ever want to do anything disloyal.

BERNSTEIN
We appreciate your position--really.

[And now she starts, at last, to talk, and they expect it to be their first breakthrough, but when it turns out to be the most withering onslaught yet, they are stunned.]

WOMAN
You people--you think that you can come into someone's life, squeeze what you want, then get out.(to BERNSTEIN) You don't appreciate a goddamn thing, mister. (to WOODWARD) And you don't understand nothing. (voice rising) But the Committee's briefed us on you--so get the hell out of here-- (big) --do you like scaring the life out decent people?--'cause if you don't, in the name of God--stop it!

[And she slams the door--]

From http://www.dailyscript.com/scripts/all_the_presidents_men.html

The woman knows that her loyalties are suspect but she also knows that the same is true for the reporters. Even though they imagine themselves to be on a righteous crusade, there is also a degree of self-deception and dirt about it. At times, the reporters reflect the same win-at-all-cost ambitious that we see in the Watergate villains.

This is tough stuff. Loyalty is a character trait. It is a good thing to stand by your friends and your values. And the fact is, it is not always easy to find such things. But at the same time, this can turn out to be our end. Sometimes we find ourselves choosing between our loyalties and our conscience. This is no easy thing.