Hi, I'm Don Konkey. I'm a photographer.
Technically, I'm a freelancer,
but outside of the occasional Cat Fancier Magazine photo,
I'm exclusive to Dirt Now.
Last week, I was covering a story for Lucy Spiller, my friend and boss,
- and things didn't go so well. - Get him!
I ended up in jail...
- Don, are you OK? - Yeah.
...not the best place for a schizophrenic.
That's Holt McLaren. He gives Lucy dirt.
With her help, he's gonna be the next big thing in action movies.
You're gonna have to bulk up.
That's Holt's girlfriend, Julia Mallory.
With the help of her dealer, Garbo,
she's gonna be the next big thing in rehab.
Holt's relationship with Lucy and Julia
are starting to take a toll on his stomach.
We all have something.
Lucy's dad committed suicide when she was 15.
Now her relationships with men aren't so good.
Did you come the last time? Maybe you could give me some direction.
I could draw a map. It's not going to happen. I have better luck alone.
Good thing she's got me.
- We were thinking... - If it works for you...
And this'll be exclusive, if it works for you,
I get caught in a lesbian affair with Chyna!
We've already talked to her. She's totally in.
And once it hits, Chris will accept it.
Yeah. I accept it, and then we move in together as a "thrupple."
But when that dies down, I get jealous of him and Chyna.
So Chyna and I have Adrianne move out!
And I have to win him back!
Thank you. That is good stuff, it really is.
You've put a lot of thought into it.
I have to deal with an editorial issue. But you can come back?
Sure, and just so you know, we're completely flexible on the story.
These are just a few ideas.
Great. I'll have Kenny show you out. Be in touch.
- OK! - Thank you!
- What do you think? - Dude, we are totally getting a cover.
$400,000 for an exclusive on the wedding
and some waiter with a cell-phone cam scoops us?
They're crap images. People want the glam.
"People want to see the glam?" What is that, a Shakira lyric?
I want to see an exclusive.
What do we know about this cheerleader?
Amber Carmichael, disappeared at a pep rally,
found behind her high school.
Not a lot on the wires. No arrest yet, small-town story.
- How small a town? - Uh, Walnut Valley,
about an hour and a half out of L.A.
- Population 11,000. - Now that's a solid cover.
It's a great cover, but we have two days to close
and we don't have a reason to think she had a secret life.
Everyone has a secret life. She was murdered!
Her secret life is our next cover. You'd better all get to work.
♪ Dig in ♪
♪ Dig deep ♪
♪ Deserve what you reap ♪
♪ Don't you know the truth will set you free ♪
Hello.
Your office seems to get bigger and bigger.
- Same office, Chuck. - And yet... bigger.
"Mysterious expanding office takes on all in its path."
I need you on something.
You already have me up to my ears in nuts and sluts.
I got "Family Keeps Pet Hippo in Living Room,"
"Idaho Potato Looks Like Virgin Mary."
My plate's kinda full.
I need you on a cover. It's a crime story.
I'm sending an army to Walnut Valley to get into this cheerleader murder.
These knuckleheads will treat it like some premiere after-party.
I need hard journalism, ME reports, DA's office...
I have two Polk awards. I know how to cover a crime story.
That's why I called you.
- You sending me for a cover or a story? - Meaning?
You've already picked out your headline, "Her Secret Life."
If this girl had no secrets, fine. Come home, I'll run something else.
Girl's dead. Maybe some things should just stay secret.
Do you want the story or not?
Yeah. I'll take the story.
I want Willa McPherson to go with you.
Think a chaperone can keep me on the wagon?
One can only hope. She seems hungry. Maybe she'll learn something from you.
- Like you did? - If she's lucky.
Hey, $400,000 for exclusives of Cheryl Lane's wedding
and you're bumping the cover?
"Exclusive" the operative word. Pictures all over the Internet.
So, what's the cover? Or do you plan on surprising me?
Because as I recall that didn't go so well last time.
- Meet Amber Carmichael. - Never heard of her.
White, attractive, murdered in her uniform. America's gonna love her.
More than Cheryl Lane's fairy-tale wedding?
Celebrity murder trumps celebrity wedding.
- She's not a celebrity. - Yes, well, she will be.
OK, check with me before you head out,
even if you have your assignments.
Hi! We're doing a story for Dirt Now magazine.
Did any of you know Amber Carmichael?
Poor bastards, they'll never know what hit them.
Um, we're... Lucy told us to wait before...
You don't have to tell me what Lucy said.
Everything she knows about reporting, she learned from me.
Lucy learned from you?
I was her mentor at The Trib, back when I was a respected journalist.
- Hard to believe, I know. - You worked with Lucy at The Trib?
I thought you were the Dirt spooks-and-kooks guy since forever.
Nice interview technique. Subtle.
- Did you know Amber Carmichael? - All right. Let's regroup.
What do we got so far?
I called the DA's office, but they don't have a press liaison.
Hm. Interesting.
Look, there's a memorial for this girl
at the local church in two hours.
- Why don't we go there, check it out? - How did you know about it?
Big, complicated story like this, intricate local politics,
you really gotta know how to dig.
Oh.
It's nice out. Let's walk.
Maybe we'll, uh, find another scoop on the way.
So, what was Lucy like when she was starting out?
What was her first big story? How did she rise so far so fast?
You're a one-man press conference.
Look, you want to be a reporter,
Everyone wants to tell their story. You gotta cultivate your source.
One question at a time. Sometimes no questions.
Sorry.
So, what was Lucy like when she started out?
Kind of a little bit like you.
Not necessarily a compliment.
So we'll do the flowers ourselves. Fine, I'll call then.
I will. I... I gotta go.
Sorry. People hear it's a wedding, and the prices triple.
Not interested. Has Don called?
No. You want me to try him again?
Yes! And can you just use our florist?
We spend a fortune. Should count for something.
- Thank you. Yes. - Are you dialing Don?
Local cops. They got nothing.
How can you tell?
No one's talking to them, they're talking to no one.
- Maybe they're just being respectful. - Their mistake.
Killer isn't ID'd in the first 24 hours, probably won't be.
No one in this crowd's gonna give up dirt on the girl. No dirt, no suspect.
Well, if they're not gonna give it up for cops,
what makes you think they're going to talk to us?
We're in a church.
Maybe we can get a blessing from the reverend.
Reverend, I'm Chuck Lafoon. This is Willa McPherson.
We're from Dirt Now Magazine. I'm sorry for the intrusion.
Please, this is a house of mourning.
Impressive.
Excuse me, did you say you're from Dirt Now?
Yes.
Amber and I were best friends.
We're both totally into Dirt Now.
I mean, we were... she was.
- I still can't believe she's gone. - I'm so sorry.
Anyway, I saw you talking to my dad, so...
Your father's the minister? Willa has family in the clergy.
Constant chore, right?
Yeah, totally.
Well, uh, you probably want to focus on the service.
Maybe you guys could get together afterwards and talk a little bit,
- get some background for the magazine. - Sure. Yeah, OK.
Should I...?
- We'll find you after. - Cool.
Well, you got your first crime-story interview.
God help us.
Great, Quinn. That's great.
OK, listen, I just got home, so I gotta go.
All right, I will. Thanks.
Hey.
Quinn says hi.
If he wanted to talk to me, he could answer one of my goddamned phone calls.
He said he wants to have lunch with you.
When's the last time you checked your voicemail?
Hard Charger deal just closed.
Name above the title.
Shit!
- That's... that's... - Huge!
After Dawson fell out, Johnny Gage's people
were all over them, but they only wanted me.
Three movies in a row, all summer tent poles.
- Babe, that's awesome. - Yeah.
Come here.
Just lay back.
Whoa. What the hell is that?
I scratched myself in a taxi.
You scratched yourself? Let me see!
- Let me see! - What?
Jesus Christ, Julia! What the hell are you doing?
It's not a big deal! God!
I knew you were gonna be a drag today!
- - Don?
Don!
Don?
Hey.
Don, you haven't been returning my calls.
I'm working.
You're writing on your photos.
I have to get it out.
I worry about you when you don't call me back.
Sorry, Lucy.
How's your finger?
It throbs a lot, but doctor said that's good.
Good.
I brought you some food.
It's your favorite soup from Nate 'n Al's.
OK.
Oh, no, no, no...
Hey, what happened? You seemed to be doing so much better.
- Do you want to go to the hospital? - No!
It's just the police, you know. I didn't like their bathrooms.
You're still upset about the arrest.
- They still might come back for me. - No. I took care of it.
The police will not come back.
OK.
I'm fine.
It's just, you know, it's up and down like always.
I just need to work, you know, for focus.
- It'll help. - OK.
Why don't you come in on Wednesday, and I'll have something for you.
It's OK.
You actually know Britney?
It was a little interview, but we did have a burping contest.
- Bet she won. - Oh, hands down.
This is all Britney. Amber and I made it together.
Did K-Fed really sleep in the basement?
That one she wouldn't answer. So who else was Amber into?
She was a Lindsay girl all the way. I'm all about Paris. You?
- Ah, Paris. - I know, right?
We always have this debate.
Well, had.
We had it.
How long were you friends?
Forever. We shared everything.
- Did she have a boyfriend? - We're not supposed to date.
We both took the church chastity vows.
We're supposed to wait to be married.
But now she'll never have that chance.
Maddy, would you mind if I borrowed this?
- I'd give it back. - For the magazine?
Wow. Yeah, do you want to see my others?
Holt! Holt. No sorbet, extra peach and bee pollen.
- Thanks. - Bee pollen's good for stress.
When things get tough at home, I always double up on the bee pollen.
I could grab a bottle so you could bring it for Julia.
I heard she's been having a rough time, so...
- You heard, huh? - I mean, the magazines and stuff.
I'm sure it's all bullshit, right?
Yeah, it is, believe me.
- She's fine. - Good, good. Um...
They'll be ready for you in five, so...
Hey, it's me. Just checking in.
I really hope you're checking your voicemail.
All right, I'm working late, so call my cell.
- Whoa! Sorry! - Jesus, man!
- Not loud enough for you? - What?
- Miss something? - No.
You fishing for a story? Are you selling to the tabs?
What are they paying you? How much?
- What are you talking about? - How much, you little shit?
I swear to God! They're ready for you on set, man!
They're ready for you on set, that's it.
No, the chief and I agreed we are not talking to the press.
On the record.
It is a matter in our local justice system.
We are gonna let the system do the work.
- Thanks, that's great. - Seriously.
No, I get it. "Let the system do the work." It's a strong quote.
Aloof, in charge, gives the sense you're closing in.
Have you worked high-profile murder cases?
High profile? This is Walnut Valley.
When I covered the Blue River Killer murders, that was 14 years ago,
it was that D.A.'s first big murder case.
Blue...
You're Chuck Lafoon. I knew I knew you.
I read your book! Did you read his book?
- Uh, yeah. - The prosecutor you wrote about,
Engler. He is one of the reasons I became a D.A.
Engler's great. He made that case.
The fingerprint on the light bulb in the hallway, genius.
He's an amazing guy.
The book-worthy cases always have great characters like that,
a leading man making the case and a twist.
- You gotta have a twist. - Oh, this story has a major twist.
No worries. We're off the record.
Come here.
Anything you give me on deep background, not for attribution,
whatever, it won't get back to you.
No one knew I was talking to Engler till the verdict was in.
All right, the ME's report won't be out for a couple of days,
but the victim, the girl... she was pregnant.
- Holy shit. - What?
Lucy was right. Girl did have a goddamn secret life.
Residents of Walnut Valley
have been shocked and outraged to find out the truth...
Tell me the networks are using our name.
We got different exclusives in exchange for crediting us
for breaking the story in the issue.
The numbers should be great. I'm glad we upped the West Coast draw.
Somebody get this guy a stylist or at least some powder.
He's going to drown in his sweat.
We're not gonna have it all to ourselves next week.
Does anyone have a jump on the next cover?
We're thinking victim's parents, something like this...
Filler. The girl was pregnant. Who is the baby's father?
- I haven't found a boyfriend. - Stop telling me what you don't have.
- You've got an in with the best friend. - I'm working on it.
Hey! Wanted to come by and congratulate everybody.
- Good job this week. - Thanks, Brent.
- Is that next week's cover? - Something we're playing around with.
- I'll let you know when it's locked. - Uh-huh.
- We have the parents' cooperation? - We'll see.
Talk to legal. They're not public figures. If they won't cooperate...
Last week they weren't public figures. Today the whole world knows them.
- Because of us. - You only worry about your image.
About the magazine's image. What we publish has consequences.
This case was going nowhere until we stepped in.
We may raise enough hell to bring this girl's killer to justice.
How's that for consequences?
Wow. Seems like I hit a nerve.
What are the odds of that, one in a billion?
Oh, God.
The competition on this case is about to get intense.
We need to continue breaking this story.
If we do, we won't get one more cover, we'll get five,
explosive reveal of the unborn baby's father,
the arrest, perp walk, trial, justice.
This girl's dead. I want to know who. I want to know what. I want to know why.
- Fun story, huh? - Yeah, everyone loves a murder.
Fifteen and, bam, it's over just like that.
Yep.
You're not objective.
Excuse me?
This story. I know why you're so obsessed by it.
I'm a mad genius? Or is it my gift to find editorial gold?
It's the girl.
I remember way back one night, you got drunk at McClootey's,
told me the story of your father's suicide,
how you found his body, how you never understood why he did it.
You were 15, just like this girl.
You said you died that day. Your words. "I died that day."
That's why you wanted to be a reporter, so you could know the why of things.
- I said that? - You were drunk.
Yeah. Must've been.
You said your father's suicide was the one mystery
you most wanted to solve.
You said it like everything would fall into place if you knew
the answer to that question. "Why? Why did he do it?"
Aren't you curious? About her life? Her death?
Don't you want to know what happened?
Or have your reporting instincts gone the way of your liver?
You can stop negating my concern by focusing on my alcoholism.
I concede. I'm a drunk.
But you are emotionally involved in this story...
I'm finding answers.
Not everything has an answer.
Don't tell me you can't do an interview.
You're getting a makeover for Larry King!
Everything goes through my publicist.
How'd you get a publicist, Andy?
Anything to do with coverage I gave you?
I'm not saying no, Chuck. It's just the deal with CNN is exclusive.
I think it's just TV, but we might be talking about print.
I can get a different leading man. It's still my story.
Larry's ready when you are. Look into the camera.
Wait, wait! I'm not saying no, OK?
It's that they're talking about a book deal.
Call my publicist. I may need a ghost writer.
And four, three, two, one...
- - Well?
And you want to release this?
Oh, no, not "release." It'll be "stolen from our bedroom by a worker."
Not a Mexican 'cause we don't want to be racist.
- - I have to be honest with you.
I don't think anybody really cares to see this sex tape.
These are the numbers from our wedding special.
- Check out the 18-34 demo. - Boys love her.
Every girl wants a little Brady.
Plus this video totally takes the image thing and just smashes it on its head.
Fast-forward to the part where you choke me.
I passed out for at least ten seconds.
It's way edgy. I wanna see where you drip the hot candle wax on my balls.
Yield to your mistress!
There it is!
Let me think about this and kick it around with my staff.
- OK. - OK.
- I'll be in touch with Rema. - Great.
Thank you.
- I'm sorry, Lucy. - No, I'm glad you're here.
We just finished.
- Who are they? - A favor to a publicist.
You look good.
- You have work? - I do.
We're doing a crime story in Walnut Valley.
I need candids of the victim's friends and family, school.
You want me to do civilian candids?
- That's what we're doing this week. - OK.
What?
It's not really... challenging.
I think staying on your meds
and off the streets is challenge enough for this week.
She looks sweet.
Sad.
- Why? She's smiling. - Sad smile.
She reminds me of you when you were younger.
Wildcats, Wildcats, fight, fight, win!
Then we'd do this flip-switch thing. It was cool.
So, what did you think of the story?
I don't know.
What? You can tell me.
It was all about the crime and her being pregnant.
I mean, that's not her whole life, who she was.
It didn't mention anything about her friends...
I'm trying to get them to let me do a piece on that,
who she was and her social life, baton-twirling partner, boys...
No, she wasn't about boys.
She was about cheerleading and her friends and church.
Maddy, the police want to question whoever got her pregnant.
It's not their business.
Well, it is. It's too bad, but it is.
- He didn't kill her. - Who?
I just wish people could remember the good things.
Us... us smiling like this.
You know, I think
that this would be a great cover story.
That'd be... Wow.
And the more I talk to you,
the more I think that this was who she was, with you.
But my editor is insane about cover stories.
There needs to be more information. It just can't be background.
I don't agree with it, but that's her deal.
So, if you know who Amber was sleeping with...
Look, Maddy, the police are going to find out anyway.
So if you tell me, at least I can paint the right picture for people.
Amber did sort of have a boyfriend. Tyler Kurta.
She wasn't allowed to date, so no one really knew.
Hello?
Is anyone out there?
Are you lost?
I think so.
Come with me.
- It's quiet. - Yes.
- Can I take your picture? - Of course.
First, let's pray.
The book's jammed the next few issues.
- But we'll see what we can do. - Thank you.
There you are. Shar, I'd like you to meet our editor-in-chief, Lucy Spiller.
Lucy, this is Shar. She's a very talented singer.
- Oh, I'm sure she is. - So the new issue's killing.
Just got the newsstand numbers. 1.34.
- Hate to say I told you so. - That's her favorite expression.
Still exploiting the dead girl next week?
I don't know. Still exploiting a live girl this week?
Looks, brains and venom. How do you stay single?
- Oh, it's a battle. - Yeah. Clearly.
- Shall we? - Nice to meet you.
Well, her sister's in town, so... yeah.
Holt McLaren.
Hi, I heard you closed a deal
to star in Teddy Jick's new Hard Charger movies.
- I did. - Got a few exclusive comments
- for the magazine? - Of course. Yeah. Excuse me, fellas.
Excuse me.
Thank you. I don't know how many times I can tell the same stories
to a bunch of strangers who think they know me.
Party vampires. Get used to it.
Could I get another one, please?
I hate these damn things.
You've got to find a way to make it amusing.
I like find the people who donated 500 bucks to get in
but spent 10 grand on a dress.
That one does sort of scream "screw the homeless," right?
I'm done here. I got a car out back. You want a ride home?
- Yeah. - Let's go.
The star of your own big action franchise. How does it feel?
The first one's not even made. Who knows if it's gonna hit?
It'll hit. Look at you.
That's what's going to make you huge, you know that?
You're a really good actor, but the thing that'll make you pop
is that you have the look and you don't even know it.
Well, if I pop, it's just because of your magazine.
That too.
So I guess I owe you.
Yeah, you do.
Yeah.
Oh, God.
Are you OK?
Yeah.
Home sweet home.
I can't come in. Julia's expecting me.
Did I invite you in?
I'm sorry. No, no, no. I'm so sorry.
Don't apologize. I'm glad we left at the same time.
The car'll take you home.
- Thank you. - Anytime.
Good night.
Yo, I need you to pull over.
Yo, pull over, please.
No. Don't mind me, I'm going to grab some shit and see myself out.
- I didn't hear you come in. - Yeah, obviously.
Please, babe, come on. Come on, Holt, we were just...
- Just let him go, who cares? - Shut up. Holt...
No, don't come near me! Don't come near me!
Baby, please, come on.
- Listen to yourself begging... - Get out!
Now! Out!
Honey, what are you doing?
Really got her on a leash, don't you?
- Baby, nothing happened! - No! I don't want to hear it.
I'm done with your shit! I am. I'm done!
No! No! Nothing really happened!
All right? And it didn't mean anything!
I mean, these pills! And the accident!
You did Johnny Gage on your movie long before the accident.
- No, I didn't. - I saw the tape!
- I saw it! - What?
Johnny giving it to you from behind in some hotel or some shit?
Yeah.
I saw the tape months ago!
Jesus. You knew someone had a sex tape on me and you didn't tell me?
What kind of a person are you?
I've been asking the same thing about you for a long time.
Look, I loved Amber. I'd never do anything to hurt her.
The police are going to believe that?
This is your chance to get out your side of the story.
We never did anything wrong. We're good Christians, both of us.
- She was pregnant, Tyler. - That's not possible.
We took the "True Love Waits" chastity pledge.
- Everyone at church does. - Tyler.
Look, we never had sex. Not "sex" sex.
We just...
Look, there's no way I got Amber pregnant, OK?
Her virginity was sacred to both of us.
That's why we agreed I'd only put it in her butt.
- There are no shots of the boyfriend. - He's her minister.
OK, Don, I need shots of the boyfriend.
I can do that.
You look different.
I do?
Your hands are relaxed and your eyes are soft.
These shots are useless. I need you to go back and get more.
Less pious minister, more ass-banging boyfriend.
OK.
And grab something to eat.
Peanut butter and banana on the croissant.
Mmm...
I've seen your stuff in a gallery, right?
No. No. This is... this is just for me.
That's too bad. They're beautiful.
Where'd you go?
Just out driving.
Did you expect everything to be different when you got back here?
What happened to us?
I don't know.
Other things just took over.
How do we go back?
I wish we could just get out of here, you know?
Go someplace where nobody knows us.
Where?
I don't know.
These stories always need great characters, a hero making the case.
- Could be the medical examiner. - You can drop the sales pitch.
National Enquirer's already offered me 10 grand for a first look at my report.
So, what's it really worth?
This small town's just not as quaint as it used to be, is it?
Twenty grand, cash, and that's exclusive. No one else sees it.
OK.
- Better be worth it. - Oh, it is.
We've ID'd the father of the victim's unborn baby.
My God.
God bless Don Konkey. He had the right shots all along.
- What do you think? - I think it's not accurate.
Excuse me?
It implies he killed the girl.
He's her minister. He got her pregnant. She's murdered.
Readers will draw their own conclusions.
Off a headline that reads "He Did It"?
It refers to getting her pregnant.
Oh, please. The cover's a lie and you know it.
The cover is a sales tool. The story is inside, and it's accurate.
This is why I don't do this anymore. I get sent in to get facts,
they get twisted around to make the cover work.
The guy is a child-violating asshole. That is fact.
You can keep going after everyone in the world, expose everyone else's secrets,
it's not gonna get you what you want.
It's not going to tell you why your father killed himself.
Get out! Drunk!
The wall is locked. Get it to press.
Reverend Sweet was arrested today for the murder
of 15-year-old Amber Carmichael in Walnut Valley, California.
Dirt Now's new issue says that according to coroner's report,
Reverend Sweet was the father of the victim's unborn child.
Oh, my God, Willa. Oh, my God.
I got here as fast as I could. Are you OK?
Who told you my father killed Amber?
I know you must be really freaked seeing your father get arrested...
It's in your magazine! "He Did It!" He didn't do it!
Maddy, your father got Amber pregnant...
I know, but he didn't kill her!
It's all wrong! I loved him!
She seduced him! She preyed on him!
- It was her! - What?
- Look, it's OK, you can... - It's not OK! He's my father.
He loved me, not her.
What we had was ours. Sacred.
Ours and God's and no one else's. That's what he said.
When she told me she was going to have his baby, I just...
I had to kill her.
I did. He wasn't supposed to be with anyone but me!
That was our promise! So I killed her.
I did it. Not Daddy.
This should be me on the cover.
Me.
I was pretty shocked when he told me, but he's my husband.
I love him forever, you know?
I have to be true to who I am inside. That's what Adrianne allows me to do.
I've started the hormone therapy,
and if it all goes well, I should be "Christina" by May.