A scene from All the President's Men 1976
Bernstein

[Woodward has just finished writing his first article on the Watergate break-in, and puts it in the pile to be submitted. Bernstein walks to the desk, sees the story, then takes it and starts working on it himself. Woodward goes to him]

How's it going?

Woodward

What're you doing?

Bernstein

I'm polishing it a little.

Woodward

You're what?

Bernstein

Polishing.

Woodward

What's wrong with it?

Bernstein

Nothing, nothing, it's good.

Woodward

Then what are you doing with it?

Bernstein

I'm helping it, it's a little fuzzy.

Woodward

May I have it?

Bernstein

I don't think you're saying what you mean.

Woodward

I know exactly what I mean.

Bernstein

Not here. I can't tell from this whether Hunt works for Coulson or Coulson works for Hunt-

Woodward

May I have it, please?

Bernstein

-so many conclusions to this-

Woodward

May I have it?

Bernstein

Yes, I'm not looking for a fight.

Woodward

I'm not looking for a fight either.

Bernstein

I'm just aware of the fact that you've only been here nine months.

Woodward

What's that got to do with anything?

Bernstein

Well, I've been in the business since I was 16.

Woodward

What're you saying?

Bernstein

Look, I'm trying to tell you that if you'd read mine, and then read yours-

Woodward

Can I read yours?

Bernstein

Yeah. [Woodward takes Bernstein's version and reads them side-by-side] I walked by, gave yours a glance, it didn't look right, so I figured I'd just refine it a little. The first paragraph has to have more clarity, the readers gotta understand. You don't mention Coulson's name till the third paragraph. I think mine's better, but you go ahead and read. If you think yours is better, we'll give yours to the desk. I've got Coulson's name up front. He's a White House consultant and nobody knows-

Woodward

You're right. Yours is better. [Goes to his desk, comes back with a bunch of papers] If you're gonna do it, do it right, here are my notes. If you're gonna hype it, hype it with the facts. I don't mind what you did, I mind the way you did it.

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