Looks like a long day.Spotlight · 2015 — Chapter 18 of 21 · 2'15" · B2
Pete Pressures Robby Over Drinks, Explained: a few bad apples
Over drinks, a well-connected friend tries to talk the editor out of chasing the Cardinal, insisting they can't lose "all the good he's doing over a few bad apples." The editor answers with a quiet warning: "A guy leans on a guy, and suddenly the whole town just looks the other way."
What happens
Over drinks, a friend of the paper tries to steer an editor away from the Cardinal. He praises the editor's love for Boston, argues that the Church is needed more than ever, and warns that a few bad apples shouldn't cost the Cardinal all the good he does. The editor quietly names the pattern and, at the end, asks for a comment from the Cardinal.
Listen for
a few bad appleslook the other waylean on someonemake his mark
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Now
Phrase of the scene
a few bad apples
a small number of people who spoil things for everyone
皮特在酒吧替主教说话，说不能因为几个坏苹果就把主教做的好事全盘否定，试图让罗比收手。
They called the scandal a case of a few bad apples.
Also in this scene
- look the other way
to deliberately ignore something wrong
- lean on someone
to put pressure on someone to make them comply
- make his mark
to become successful or influential in a field
Everything marked in this scene
29 notes across 42 lines
Has anyone ever said no to a drink with you, Pete?present perfect with ever
Has anyone ever said no to a drink with you, Pete?Well, sure. But the trick is to keep asking.Well, sure. But the trick is to keep asking.I wouldn't presume to speak for the Cardinal. No.you got a lot of people here who respect you, Robby, the work you do.That's good to know.You know, it's because you care about this place.nominal clause with what
It's why you do what you do. It's who you are.more than ever right now.a small number of people who spoil things for everyone
but we can't throw out all the good he's doing over a few bad apples.but we can't throw out all the good he's doing over a few bad apples.liaison
but we can't throw out all the good he's doing over a few bad apples.Now, you know, I'm bringing this up to you because I know this is Baron's idea, his agenda.I gotta tell ya, I mean, honest to God,liaison
I gotta tell ya, I mean, honest to God,I mean, he doesn't care about this city the way we do.This is how it happens, isn't it, Pete? What's that?tag question
This is how it happens, isn't it, Pete? What's that?to put pressure on someone to make them comply
A guy leans on a guy,liaison
A guy leans on a guy,to deliberately ignore something wrong
just looks the other way.weak form
just looks the other way.to become successful or influential in a field
Marty Baron is just trying to make his mark.He's gonna be here for a couple of years, and he's gonna move on.He's gonna be here for a couple of years, and he's gonna move on.When we do run the story, uh, I'm gonna need a comment from the Cardinal.When we do run the story, uh, I'm gonna need a comment from the Cardinal.Pete Pressures Robby Over Drinks, explained
What's really going on
The scene is a pressure campaign disguised as friendship. The man buys the drinks, praises the editor's devotion to Boston, and argues that the Church matters too much to be damaged; his real message is that the paper should back off. His flattery is almost too smooth - "It's why you do what you do. It's who you are." - and then he pivots to the plea: the Cardinal may not be perfect, but they cannot abandon him "over a few bad apples." The editor sees exactly what is happening and says it out loud in three short lines, that a guy leans on a guy and the whole town looks the other way. He does not argue or refuse; he simply lets it pass, then asks for a comment from the Cardinal, quietly making clear the story is still going forward.
Theme
PowerAn influential friend uses charm and pressure to protect the Cardinal and steer the paper away.
CorruptionThe scene names how a whole city learns to look the other way when someone powerful leans on others.
Listen for
- throw out — liaison
- honest to God — liaison
- leans on — liaison
- looks the other way — weak form
Well, sure. But the trick is to keep asking.A light line about persistence: people say no, so you simply keep asking.
It's why you do what you do. It's who you are.Flattery aimed at the editor, framing his work as a matter of identity rather than duty.
but we can't throw out all the good he's doing over a few bad apples.The classic excuse for protecting an institution: blame a few individuals, spare the whole.
I mean, he doesn't care about this city the way we do.An appeal to local loyalty, used to suggest the new editor is an outsider who should not decide.
Questions about this scene
Why does Pete try to talk Robby out of the story?
He is connected to the Church and wants to protect the Cardinal, so he uses flattery and warnings to persuade the paper to back off.
What does Robby mean by 'a guy leans on a guy'?
He means that pressure moves down a chain of relationships until an entire city learns to ignore wrongdoing.
Why does Pete mention the editor's love for Boston?
He praises Robby's loyalty to the city to flatter him, then uses that same loyalty to argue the paper should go easy on the Church.
Why does Robby ask for a comment from the Cardinal?
It quietly signals that the story is still going ahead and that the Cardinal will be asked to respond.
What does Pete predict will happen to Marty Baron?
He says Baron is only trying to make his mark and will move on after a couple of years, just as he did in New York and Miami.
Spotlight · 21 chapters
All chapters →
Up next · Chapter 19on a clockRobby Gets Six Weeks to Publish
Chapter 1take a hard look atBaron Meets Robinson for a Drink
Chapter 2file a motionMarty Baron's First News Meeting
Chapter 3have something on someoneLawyers Break Down the Geoghan Case
Chapter 4think in centuriesRezendes Meets Garabedian
Chapter 5stand aloneMarty Baron Meets Cardinal Law
Chapter 6preyed uponPhil Saviano Tells His Story
Chapter 7the beginning of it allReporters Interview Abuse Survivors
Chapter 8out of circulationPressuring Macleish on Settlements
Chapter 9it takes a villageRezendes Meets the Informant
Chapter 10Good GermansSipe's Six Percent Estimate
Chapter 11off the estimateThe Team Counts 87 Priests
Chapter 12cottage industryRobby Confronts Macleish
Chapter 13from the top downThe Team Goes After the System
Chapter 14sledding uphillSpringfield Hearing on Sealed Records
Chapter 15off the recordGarabedian Reveals the Sealed Documents
Chapter 16get on the same pageReporters Confront Boston College
Chapter 17broke ranksRobby Refuses to Rush the Story
Watching · Chapter 18a few bad applesPete Pressures Robby Over Drinks
Chapter 19on a clockRobby Gets Six Weeks to Publish
Chapter 20lay something on someoneRobby Confronts His Old Friend
Chapter 21stumbling around in the darkThe Newsroom Finalizes the StoryChapter 18 of 21 · about 10 min to go