American Crime Story
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At the last minute, though, he cancels.
I jest, and yet I jest not.
Exploring the personal motivations of those involved in the ClintonLewinsky scandal risks exaggerating their significance.
Can a potato chip eaten by a woman ever just be a source of calories?
Lindas so prone to overstating her importance that its hard to believe shes genuinely implicated in something provocative.
Somehow, the friends persuade each other against it.
If you do nothing, Monica tells Linda.
Shes not so much doing nothing as moving slowly, extending and luxuriating this brief period of salience.
Monica, on the other hand, couldnt feel smaller.
Since attending Bills radio address weeks ago, shes been stonewalled by the White House.
Finally, at his secretarys gentle pleading, Bill invites her to come by.
Monica arrives in her most form-fitting claret-hued dress, but somethings off.
She brings Bill a book he barely pretends hell read; Bill barely laughs at her barely jokes.
Now, hes recommitting again.
Monicas devastated; Bills got Tony Blair waiting on the line.
Parting is never easy.
Linda is a sobering influence.
Amazingly, it works.
Intriguingly, Bill was under the impression Isikoff was hounding Kathleen to come forward.
(Welcome to Washington, amirite?)
This time Bill wants Linda to call his attorney, which we know she did.
He just didnt bother to call her back.
That query leads us toImpeachments eternal B-story: Paula Jones.
The Joneses celebrate; Bill calls it the worst decision in the history of the Court sinceDred Scott.
He complains its just another witch-hunt in a series of witch-hunts, like Whitewater and Vince Fosters death.
Hillary will never let him settle, he adds with even more finality.
Tellingly, Bill changes his mind on settling when he learns Kathleen Willey is talking.
By then, its already too late.
Conway, still moonlighting for Team Jones, is happy to help.
But Drudge doesnt publish his Kathleen Willey tip right away.
Maybe hes still under the illusion that his beta-mode news site will be respected within the Washington bullpen.
So Drudge goes ahead and scoopsNewsweek, publishing a story about Isikoff trying to publish a story.
Is it really news just because its on the Internet?
That question seems so quaint now.
In real life, the gloves came off hard.
Kathleen stopped answering his calls, but Lindas always thirsty for the satisfaction of a ringing phone.
She has Isikoff meet her at Georgetown salon;All The Presidents MenmeetsSteel Magnolias.
She wants to matter, Linda tells him with not even a hint of self-awareness.
WhenNewsweekfinally publishes, Linda buys three copies and takes them to her car in the Pentagon lot.
In the story, the presidents lawyer says Linda is not to be believed.
As cringe as she can be, its also sad.
Yes, shes inserting herself and she wants to matter, but shes not lying.
In her initial lawsuit, Paula Jones asked for $700,000 and an apology.
Clintons team offers $700,000 and a teak a joint statement clearing Paulas name.
Its a life-changing amount of money for a woman whod like her life to change.
She and Steve have been struggling in LA; hes an aspiring actor who cant act.
But this lawsuit isnt about changing Paulas life.
Its about ruining Bills.
Every mistake shes ever made, every lie shes ever told.
Itll be years before Paula sees any money, and Paulas name will never be cleared.
That horrific duty will belong to Monica, who wont make a cent.
And he really diddig through the CBS trashfor his early scoops.
Her face red and her lipstick was off.
