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My Fellow Americans · 1996 — Chapter 11 of 13 · 3'42" · B2

Haney Confesses to the Cover-Up, Explained: up to its knees in

A taped confession lays out the scheme: the kickback money was laundered through a front company, Olympia, and a cover-up was ordered. Then the two men must choose — storm the White House or go to the press. "We've done enough already," one says, before the other refuses to settle for that.

What happens

With a confession in hand, the men learn the money was run through a front company and a cover-up was ordered. Joe offers them two choices: walk into the White House and face Tanner, or hand the tape to the press. One decides to go to Haney anyway, and argues it is worth it for the people who still believe in them.

InterrogationsPersuasionConfessingPersuadingRivalsB2mediumamericanClean
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pushed the buttonup to its knees incover-upfront company

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  54. ❝ MonologueThe speech for the sucker who still believes9 linesPractice page ↗
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Phrase of the scene

up to its knees in

overwhelmed by or flooded with something

有人放话说，只要给媒体打个电话，到中午华盛顿就会被这件丑闻淹到膝盖。

By Friday the office was up to its knees in complaints.

Also in this scene

  • pushed the button

    to make the final decision that starts something

  • cover-up

    掩盖（行为）；对错误或罪行的隐瞒掩饰

  • front company

    幌子公司；表面合法、实为掩护的外壳企业

Everything marked in this scene

47 notes across 74 lines

Phrase · B1find a way to do somethingLook, Haney had to find a way to spin dry the kickback money,
Phrase · C1spin dry the moneyLook, Haney had to find a way to spin dry the kickback money,
Soundfind a way to

liaison

Look, Haney had to find a way to spin dry the kickback money,
Phrase · B2that's where someone came inthat's where Olympia came in.
Phrase · B2a front companyIt was a front company, that's all.
Phrase · B2order someone to do somethingAnd again, I never ordered anyone to kill you.
Phrase · B2order the cover-upYeah, but you did order the cover-up.
Phrase · B2at someone's requestall that was done at my request.
Phrase · B1take care of someoneWere you in charge of taking care of him?
Phrase · B1be out of controlI'm telling you, it was Tanner. This guy is out of control.
Slang · C1a lot of bullOh, that's a lot of bull!
Phrase · C1a rogue agent turned hit manYou're saying that you got a rogue agent turned hit man in your ranks? Well, I don't believe it!
Phrase · B2in someone's ranksYou're saying that you got a rogue agent turned hit man in your ranks? Well, I don't believe it!
Grammar · B2You're saying that

that-clause after saying

You're saying that you got a rogue agent turned hit man in your ranks? Well, I don't believe it!
Phrase · B2push the button

to make the final decision that starts something

You ordered Tanner to put us on that chopper, and you pushed the button!
Phrase · C1get one's marching ordersLooks like Tanner's been getting his marching orders directly from Haney. What do we do now, Joe?
Phrase · A2a couple of optionsWell, you got a couple of options.
Phrase · B2go through someoneOf course, to get to him, you gotta go through Tanner.
Phrase · C1a hell of a somethingOh, that's a hell of an option. What's the other one?
Phrase · B1have something on tapeYou got a confession on tape.
Phrase · B2go to the pressStop running. Go to the press.
SoundGo to the press

weak form

Stop running. Go to the press.
Phrase · C1be up to one's knees in something

overwhelmed by or flooded with something

I'll call Kaye, and by noon Washington will be up to its knees in Olympia.
Phrase · B1do the smart thingYou're doing the smart thing, gentlemen.
Phrase · B2the big fishBureaucrats like Witnaur might pay a price, but the big fish is gonna get away.
Phrase · B1get awayBureaucrats like Witnaur might pay a price, but the big fish is gonna get away.
Soundget away

flap

Bureaucrats like Witnaur might pay a price, but the big fish is gonna get away.
Phrase · B2be willing to let something happenAre we really willing to let that happen?
Phrase · B2make a career out of somethingNo, I've made a career out of doing enough.
Grammar · B2I've made a career out of

present perfect

No, I've made a career out of doing enough.
Phrase · B2just enough not to do somethingI always did just enough not to piss anybody off, 'cause a pissed-off somebody won't vote for you.
Grammar · B2just enough not to

enough plus infinitive

I always did just enough not to piss anybody off, 'cause a pissed-off somebody won't vote for you.
Phrase · B1part of the gameThat's all part of the game. Right.
Phrase · B1play the game"I'm sorry things are tough, but I've been playing the game."
Slang · B2RamboI'm going to see Haney. Hold on, Rambo.
Phrase · B2a damn foolWell, you're a damn fool.
Phrase · C1an idealistic suckersome idealistic sucker who still believes in us.
Phrase · B1believe in someonesome idealistic sucker who still believes in us.
Phrase · B2party politicsAfter all the scandals, and the party politics, and all the bull,
Phrase · B1do what someone promisedthere's somebody out there who still believes that we care, that we would do what we promised to do,
Phrase · C1preserve, protect, and defendPreserve, protect, and defend.
Phrase · B1it's all overBecause if we lose that idealistic, gloriously diluted fool out there, hey, it's all over.
Phrase · B2a margin of lossMy margin of loss would have been staggering.
Phrase · B1hold on a minuteNow, hold on, hold on a minute.
Phrase · B2how can we be sureIf we do get to Haney, how can we be sure he'll cooperate?
Phrase · B2learn from the masterLearn from the master.
Phrase · B1on one's way overGentlemen, Kaye's on her way over now.

Haney Confesses to the Cover-Up, explained

What's really going on

The scene turns a confession into a question of character. The facts are almost secondary — a front company, a cover-up, a rogue agent — because Joe already knows where they lead: the big fish will slip away, and nothing changes. What matters is the argument that follows. One man attacks the safe, career-long habit of never offending anyone, and answers it with "some idealistic sucker who still believes in us." The speech is not about winning; it is about whether public service means anything once the cameras are gone, and it ends on the promise itself, "Preserve, protect, and defend."

Theme

CorruptionThe confession exposes a front company, laundered kickbacks and an official order to cover it all up.
DutyOne man decides his promise to the public matters more than staying safe and playing the game.

Listen for

  • find a way to — liaison
  • Go to the press — weak form
  • get away — flap
some idealistic sucker who still believes in us.

The ordinary voter the speech is built around — proof, for the speaker, that public service still means something.

Well, tell that to Wayne and Genny and their kids living in their car.

A sharp rebuttal: real people are suffering while the other man hides behind the rules of the game.

No, I've made a career out of doing enough.

A confession of a lifetime spent doing the minimum to stay safe and avoid offending anyone.

I always did just enough not to piss anybody off, 'cause a pissed-off somebody won't vote for you.

The political logic of caution laid bare: never risk a vote, even when it means doing too little.

Questions about this scene

What did Haney admit to?

He admits the kickback money was laundered through a front company, Olympia, and that he ordered the cover-up. He insists, however, that he never ordered anyone to kill.

What does 'cover-up' mean here?

It means hiding the truth about a crime or mistake to protect those involved. The confession includes the line "you did order the cover-up," even while the killings are denied.

What two options does Joe offer?

First, go to the White House and tell Haney they know about Olympia — which means getting past Tanner, who may kill them. Second, stop running and take the taped confession to the press.

Why does Kramer want to see Haney instead of going public?

He fears going public would only trigger another cover-up, letting the big fish escape. He wants to confront Haney directly, bringing Witnaur along, so the truth cannot be buried again.

My Fellow Americans · 13 chapters

All chapters →
Up next · Chapter 12the end of the worldTanner Corners Them in the Tunnel
Chapter 1too little too lateGolf Talk Turns AwkwardChapter 2shift the stinkThe Missing Appointment LogChapter 3skedaddleTanner Summons the PresidentsChapter 4in the middle of nowherePresidents Hijacked in the WoodsChapter 5get away with itWalking to Ohio for EvidenceChapter 6stick a fork inPassengers Gossip About the PresidentsChapter 7steams my clamsPresidents Trade a Watch for a RideChapter 8live in the pastOld Rivals Almost BondChapter 9shut your cake holeWayne Gets the History WrongChapter 10put on a spreadKramer and Douglas Find the FixWatching · Chapter 11up to its knees inHaney Confesses to the Cover-UpChapter 12the end of the worldTanner Corners Them in the TunnelChapter 13a way aroundThe Presidents Confront Each Other
Chapter 11 of 13 · about 3 min to go