The publication of an immense report detailing the findings of a four-year investigation into President Bill Clinton served as the dramatic backdrop for Tuesday evening’s finale of Impeachment: American Crime Story.
The 453-page Starr report was one of the most accessed documents on the Internet when it was released to the public on September 11, 1998, leading to the impeachment of Clinton – only the second US President in history to be impeached.
Reliving that pivotal moment, the final episode of American Crime Story’s latest true-life saga sees the ladies at the heart of the scandal – Monica Lewinsky (played by Beanie Feldstein), Paula Jones (Annaleigh Ashford) and Linda Tripp (Sarah Paulson) attempt to move on after the scandal.
Finale: The publication of an immense report detailing the findings of a four-year investigation into President Bill Clinton served as the dramatic backdrop for Tuesday evening’s finale of Impeachment: American Crime Story
Move on: The report lead to the impeachment of Clinton (only the second in history to be impeached) as the ladies at the center of the scandal – Monica Lewinsky (Beanie Feldstein), Paula Jones (Annaleigh Ashford) and Linda Tripp (Sarah Paulson) try to find a way to move on after the scandal
The episode begins in September 1998, with Marcia Lewis (Mira Sorvino) arriving at her hotel when she makes a phone call… received by Monica.
She tells Monica it’s room 305 and she can come up now, as she’s incognito, wearing a hat and sunglasses.
Monica tells her mom that she has met with a few other writing teams about putting a book together and she has some real interest.
September: The episode begins in September 1998, with Marcia Lewis (Mira Sorvino) arriving at her hotel when she makes a phone call… received by Monica
Incognito: She tells Monica it’s room 305 and she can come up now, as she’s incognito, wearing a hat and sunglasses
Writing: Monica tells her mom that she has met with a few other writing teams about putting a book together and she has some real interest
Brett Kavanagh (Alan Starzinski) is getting yelled at as the whole team argues about who gets assigned what parts of the report.
Mike Emmick (Colin Hanks) wonders why they care which part of the report they’re assigned to, when Jackie Bennett (Darren Goldstein) tells them it’s all going out.
‘Hey. Just leave it all where it is. We don’t have time. We have to start printing now. Boys and girls, this is it,’ Jackie says to the team.
Brett: Brett Kavanagh (Alan Starzinski) is getting yelled at as the whole team argues about who gets assigned what parts of the report
Who cares: Mike Emmick (Colin Hanks) wonders why they care which part of the report they’re assigned to, when Jackie (Darren Goldstein) tells them it’s all going out
This is it: ‘Hey. Just leave it all where it is. We don’t have time. We have to start printing now. Boys and girls, this is it,’ Jackie says to the team
Starr assembles his team, as one of the team members records the speech, as Starr says he is ‘proud of this report.’
‘It shows that no President is above the law,’ Starr says’
Jackie is walking with Mike as the report is about to be delivered, but Jackie makes a call to an NBC reporter saying the report is done.
Proud: Starr assembles his team, as one of the team members records the speech, as Starr says he is ‘proud of this report’
Shows: ‘It shows that no President is above the law,’ Starr says
This sets a chain of events in motion as it’s revealed no one had a clue Starr was delivering the report at that moment, including the President.
Jackie and Mike arrive in the van, as the boxes filled with reams of paper are being delivered, while Monica and his mother find out the report is being delivered.
Ann Coulter (Cobie Smulders) asks George Conway (George Salazar) when they can get a copy of that report, as Conway says Laura Ingraham might get a hold of it, since she’s dating Lindsay Graham now.
No clue: This sets a chain of events in motion as it’s revealed no one had a clue Starr was delivering the report at that moment, including the President
Report: Jackie and Mike arrive in the van, as the boxes filled with reams of paper are being delivered, while Monica and his mother find out the report is being delivered
Ann and George: Ann Coulter (Cobie Smulders) asks George Conway (George Salazar) when they can get a copy of that report, as Conway says Laura Ingraham might get a hold of it, since she’s dating Lindsay Graham now
Monica and her mother are watching CBS as they reveal the website to access the report, as they wait for their internet to bring up the massive document.
Ann and George finally get the report, as Ann’s eyes widen when he says ‘sexual encounters’ in the table of contents.
Coulter wonders if she’s ‘high’ or if she’s taken ‘LSD’ and Conway says, ‘No, this is a real report that was delivered to Congress.’
Monica: Monica and her mother are watching CBS as they reveal the website to access the report, as they wait for their internet to bring up the massive document
High: Ann and George finally get the report, as Ann’s eyes widen when he says ‘sexual encounters’ in the table of contents.
Real report: Coulter wonders if she’s ‘high’ or if she’s taken ‘LSD’ and Conway says, ‘No, this is a real report that was delivered to Congress’
Mike Drudge (Billy Eichner) is trying to access the report when his computer starts to lock up as he starts freaking out.
Back at the Department of Defense, her old co-workers are reading the report, as one wonders why she would go into so much detail.
Mike is angrily on the phone with his internet service provider, saying that he needs to post because the government is about to collapse.
Computer: Mike Drudge (Billy Eichner) is trying to access the report when his computer starts to lock up as he starts freaking out
Department: Back at the Department of Defense, her old co-workers are reading the report, as one wonders why she would go into so much detail
Freaking out: Mike is angrily on the phone with his internet service provider, saying that he needs to post because the government is about to collapse
Various people all over the country are seen reading the report on their computers as news reporters break down some of the stats of the report, including that the word ‘impeachment’ is only used 15 times.
Ann and George continue to read the report, with Ann stating that Strom Thurmond would be reading this report, as George jokes, ‘With one hand.’
George is worried no one will think of Clinton’s actual crimes, but Ann thinks he will be done.
Report: Various people all over the country are seen reading the report on their computers as news reporters break down some of the stats of the report, including that the word ‘impeachment’ is only used 15 times
One hand: Ann and George continue to read the report, with Ann stating that Strom Thurmond would be reading this report, as George jokes, ‘With one hand’
Crimes: George is worried no one will think of Clinton’s actual crimes, but Ann thinks he will be done
‘Yes, Bill Clinton is the most shameless coagulum of skin ever born in a trailer park, but even he can’t withstand this. It’s too humiliating. He embarrassed the country. He embarrassed humanity. He’s done,’ she says.
Back in the Oval Office, Clinton meets with his lawyer David Kendall (Peter Oldring) and Sidney Blumenthal (Patrick Fischler), with Bill saying he’s read the report.
Kendall doesn’t think the Republicans can actually impeach from this report, stating it’s ‘vile,’ but ultimately, ‘what they are arguing is possible perjury in a minor lawsuit on a topic totally unrelated to Paula Jones herself. That that is a crime against the republic. No sane person would find that impeachable.’
Shameless: ‘Yes, Bill Clinton is the most shameless coagulum of skin ever born in a trailer park, but even he can’t withstand this. It’s too humiliating. He embarrassed the country. He embarrassed humanity. He’s done,’ she says
Read: Back in the Oval Office, Clinton meets with his lawyer David Kendall (Peter Oldring) and Sidney Blumenthal (Patrick Fischler), with Bill saying he’s read the report
Impeachable: Kendall doesn’t think the Republicans can actually impeach from this report, stating it’s ‘vile,’ but ultimately, ‘what they are arguing is possible perjury in a minor lawsuit on a topic totally unrelated to Paula Jones herself. That that is a crime against the republic. No sane person would find that impeachable’
Clinton responds, ‘Have you met Republican leadership?’ as Blumenthal adds, ‘You’re right. I spoke to Schumer just now. The GOP is writing up the articles.’
‘Of course they are. They were always going to,’ Bill says, but Sidney thinks that Starr made a ‘huge mistake.’
Hillary says that she hasn’t read it, ‘But Chelsea has.’
Articles: Clinton responds, ‘Have you met Republican leadership?’ as Blumenthal adds, ‘You’re right. I spoke to Schumer just now. The GOP is writing up the articles’
Chelsea: Hillary says that she hasn’t read it, ‘But Chelsea has’
The episode cuts to November 1998 when Linda Tripp is visiting her lawyer and asked to sign in and she’s asked for photo ID.
As she walks by, the two security guards laugh and say that’s Linda Tripp as she heads up to see her lawyer.
Linda tells her lawyer that she’s reached out to Ken Bacon (Jim Rash) about getting her job back at the Department of Defense.
Linda: Linda tells her lawyer that she’s reached out to Ken Bacon (Jim Rash) about getting her job back at the Department of Defense
Her lawyer has some bad news, that the state of Delaware wants to charge her for recording all of those phone conversations.
Linda, naturally, is not pleased, as she insists, ‘The Starr Report only exists because I called OIC one night and offered access to my tapes in exchange for full immunity. I made the extraordinary decision to pick up that phone precisely so that this would never, ever happen. You have to make them stop.’
The lawyer insists that Maryland is a Democratic state and prosecuting her for the tapes, ‘is a very popular idea there.’
Bad news: Her lawyer has some bad news, that the state of Delaware wants to charge her for recording all of those phone conversations
Not pleased: Linda, naturally, is not pleased, as she insists, ‘The Starr Report only exists because I called OIC one night and offered access to my tapes in exchange for full immunity. I made the extraordinary decision to pick up that phone precisely so that this would never, ever happen. You have to make them stop’
Linda insists she has immunity, but the lawyer says she has federal immunity, but the lawyer thinks she’s not immune to state charges.
The lawyer adds that Monica will testify against her, but Linda insists that cannot happen, and he says they will ‘do our best to fight it.’
‘Do you understand what my life is like right now? Every day there is a new investigation being launched against me by some arm of the government. I’m being locked out of my job. I can’t go anywhere without being sneered at. Every night, I-I go check on all of my locks on my doors and then-then, I just lie there, awake in bed, terrified, because people know where I live. I tried to do the right thing. I trusted our institutions to protect a person like me, but instead I’ve been abandoned to an unceasing nightmare in which everyone on the planet somehow agrees that in this whole, god-awful national tragedy, I’m the villain. It doesn’t make any sense,’ she says.
Immunity: Linda insists she has immunity, but the lawyer says she has federal immunity, but the lawyer thinks she’s not immune to state charges
Cannot: The lawyer adds that Monica will testify against her, but Linda insists that cannot happen, and he says they will ‘do our best to fight it’
Monica is at the hotel watching news reports while knitting something, as she sees a report about feminists supporting Clinton.
The next report reveals that they are planning on releasing all 22 hours of phone conversations that Linda Tripp recorded, which angers Monica as she turns off the TV.
Her dad sees her in the kitchen and tells her that he didn’t read the report as she starts to make coffee.
Father: Her dad sees her in the kitchen and tells her that he didn’t read the report as she starts to make coffee
Meanwhile, on TV, a commercial comes on for Paula Jones’ new psychic service, as we cut to Paula back home in Arkansas, when she gets a call.
She starts reading from a script while her mother Delmer (Jeannetta Arnette) tends to their kid, but the call is clearly a prank and she hangs up.
Her mother tries to console her by stating at least she’s getting calls, but Paula says that if they don’t stay on for at least five minutes she gets nothing.
Commercial: Meanwhile, on TV, a commercial comes on for Paula Jones’ new psychic service, as we cut to Paula back home in Arkansas, when she gets a call
Mother: She starts reading from a script while her mother Delmer (Jeannetta Arnette) tends to their kid, but the call is clearly a prank and she hangs up
Nothing: Her mother tries to console her by stating at least she’s getting calls, but Paula says that if they don’t stay on for at least five minutes she gets nothing
Monica calls Mike Emmick, pleading to let her release a statement about how sorry she was before the tapes are released.
She wants to make it clear how sorry she was to Hillary and Monica and that this will the first time the public will hear her voice.
Emmick says he’s sorry but Starr won’t let her say anything until after she testifies.
Statement: Monica calls Mike Emmick, pleading to let her release a statement about how sorry she was before the tapes are released
Monica is feeling depressed when she gets a surprise visit from her friend Cat (Sarah Catherine Hook), who flew in to surprise her and distract her, on the day the tapes were released, as they go out for a stroll.
Cat insists she didn’t read the Starr Report, with Monica joking that her and her dad are the only two on the planet who haven’t, but Kat jokes, ‘At least you helped the whole world learn how to use the Internet,’ but Monica adds, ‘Not really how I wanted to contribute to society.’
Cat also insists that all of this is, ‘not all you’ll do in life,’ but Monica is certainly doubting her prospects.
Stroll: Monica is feeling depressed when she gets a surprise visit from her friend Cat (Sarah Catherine Hook), who flew in to surprise her and distract her, on the day the tapes were released, as they go out for a stroll
Didn’t read: Cat insists she didn’t read the Starr Report, with Monica joking that her and her dad are the only two on the planet who haven’t, but Kat jokes, ‘At least you helped the whole world learn how to use the Internet,’ but Monica adds, ‘Not really how I wanted to contribute to society’
Doubting: Cat also insists that all of this is, ‘not all you’ll do in life,’ but Monica is certainly doubting her prospects
‘Yeah, it’s gonna go really well for me. I just need to find someone who’s been in a… -A coma for a really long time,’ or a, ‘long line of guys that just want to brag to their friends that they did everything that’s in the Starr Report.’
Monica adds she’s the best-selling Halloween costume this year, while telling Cat she had to listen to every one of those tapes Linda recorded and verify it was her voice.
‘When I listen to it back, I mean, it’s… It’s so clear she knew she was taping. In the moment, I had no idea, and… God, the things you say when you’re not even thinking. I mean, the random shit that comes out of your mouth when you’re just-just talking, killing time on the phone to a friend, and when I talk about him… …I-I clearly couldn’t see how bad it was at the time because I did not recognize myself. I sound… So lost and-and obsessed and desperate. Totally out of control. And now everyone gets to listen to it. And watch it on TV,’ Monica says, while starting to get depressed.
Really well: ‘Yeah, it’s gonna go really well for me. I just need to find someone who’s been in a… -A coma for a really long time,’ or a, ‘long line of guys that just want to brag to their friends that they did everything that’s in the Starr Report’
‘Hey, it’s either moping on this hill, or making the 1 o’clock of You’ve Got Mail,’ Cat says, as Monica just says ‘Meg,’ and they take off.
Monica gets home, feeling good for a change, when she turns on the TV and finds Dr. Joyce Brothers talking about her, and she turns the TV off.
The affidavit that Juanita Broaddrick (Ashlie Atkinson) gave is discovered, when she comes home to a number of messages, and ultimately she decides to give an interview to Lisa Myers of NBC News.
Juanita: The affidavit that Juanita Broaddrick (Ashlie Atkinson) gave is discovered
Back at the White House, Bill breaks down how many would vote for impeachment if the vote happened now, it would be 204 yeas, 195 nays and 35 undecided.
Blumenthal adds the moderates are ‘leaning no,’ as Clinton thinks the, ‘whole goddamn party is going insane.
Blumental reveals that Hillary is quite popular in the districts of the undecideds, and if she made a few ‘targeted calls’ that may help.
Break down: Back at the White House, Bill breaks down how many would vote for impeachment if the vote happened now, it would be 204 yeas, 195 nays and 35 undecided
When Blumenthal and Kendall leave they remark about Hillary’s polling numbers which are, ‘insane,’ as Kendall says, ‘God, if you had told me in 1992 she’d ever be this popular, I’d have thought you were on crack.’
Hillary gets a call from Congressman Rangel, who tells her there will be a Senate seat open in the great state of New York, and she’s their first choice, as a smile comes to her face.
Paula is back in Beebee, Arkansas when gets a call from Susie (Judith Light) who tells her that her psychic hotline is ‘against their religion,’ but she is angry about her interview.
Senator: Hillary gets a call from Congressman Rangel, who tells her there will be a Senate seat open in the great state of New York, and she’s their first choice, as a smile comes to her face
Susie: Paula is back in Beebee, Arkansas when gets a call from Susie (Judith Light) who tells her that her psychic hotline is ‘against their religion,’ but she is angry about her interview
‘It is Penthouse magazine!’ Susie says, but Paula insists that there will be ‘a few tasteful photos.’
Susie demands that she backs out of the photo shoot, but Paula says she already signed it and she can’t do it, because she needs the money, as Susie hangs up.
Paula arrives at a large mansion while Hillary arrives for a photo shoot in a black dress, as it cuts between Paula and Hillary.
Tasteful: ‘It is Penthouse magazine!’ Susie says, but Paula insists that there will be ‘a few tasteful photos’
Demands: Susie demands that she backs out of the photo shoot, but Paula says she already signed it and she can’t do it, because she needs the money, as Susie hangs up
The hairdresser is complimenting Paula on her hair, but when they’re all done, she turns to her and says, ‘Between you and me, when you were alone in that room with the President, you did it, didn’t you?’
The show cuts back and forth between Hillary’s tasteful Vogue photoshoot while Paula is being instructed to take all sorts of ridiculous poses.
Paula is then directed to get fully nude, as the photographer insists they will be ‘tasteful’ before he starts snapping away.
Between: The hairdresser is complimenting Paula on her hair, but when they’re all done, she turns to her and says, ‘Between you and me, when you were alone in that room with the President, you did it, didn’t you?’
Hillary’s shoot: The show cuts back and forth between Hillary’s tasteful Vogue photoshoot while Paula is being instructed to take all sorts of ridiculous poses
Fully nude: Paula is then directed to get fully nude, as the photographer insists they will be ‘tasteful’ before he starts snapping away
Bill gets a late-night visit and is told that Juanita Broaddrick is the reason why the Democrats are flipping, because it says in the footnotes of the Starr Report that she said Clinton assaulted her.
‘She’s f***ing lying. You know, they take these women and they hound ’em and they scare ’em. 20 years they’ve been working on her until she finally broke. It’s f***ing insane. And f***king Starr takes his little poison pill and puts it in his little box. He knows what he’s doing. I can’t fight a charge I can’t even see. You know, they-they create a lie about me and another lie and another lie, and I can’t… I can’t even get the truth out, because if I say anything then I-it just brings it more attention. But when they spread something like this, you know, once-once it gets out, there’s nothing you can do. It never goes away. It’s a lie. It’s another f***ing lie. It’s not even a new one,’ Clinton says.
He adds that Broaddrick is doing a sit-down to Dateline, and that is tipping the undecided’s towards yes on impeachment.
Lying: Bill gets a late-night visit and is told that Juanita Broaddrick is the reason why the Democrats are flipping, because it says in the footnotes of the Starr Report that she said Clinton assaulted her
Linda Tripp shows up at an event and meets Lucianne Goldberg, who asks what it’s like to be notorious.
Linda says there is a ‘multi-pronged campaign’ to destroy her career, as Goldberg tells her that Monica has a book deal with Andrew Morton, who helped wrote the Princess Diana book.
Lucianne says she can check with some of the conservative publishers but the Starr Report already put out all the goods.
Linda: Linda Tripp shows up at an event and meets Lucianne Goldberg, who asks what it’s like to be notorious
Publishers: Lucianne says she can check with some of the conservative publishers but the Starr Report already put out all the goods
Linda insists that it was never about a book for her, as they enjoy the rest of their evening, but when she leaves, she sees a group of people, with a man saying she did a ‘hideous thing.’
Bill is talking with Hillary, who insists that history will ‘savage them,’ but Bill is more concerned about what to do now, but she insists they’re not done fighting.
Bill gets up and gets dressed while Hillary is still in bed, as he walks through the White House on this fateful day.
Hideous: Linda insists that it was never about a book for her, as they enjoy the rest of their evening, but when she leaves, she sees a group of people, with a man saying she did a ‘hideous thing’
History: Bill is talking with Hillary, who insists that history will ‘savage them,’ but Bill is more concerned about what to do now, but she insists they’re not done fighting
Fateful: Bill gets up and gets dressed while Hillary is still in bed, as he walks through the White House on this fateful day
Bill and his team watch the news coverage, as he learns on TV that the House has impeached him, guaranteeing it will go to the Senate.
Bill turns off the TV and turns to his team and asks, ‘Want to hear a joke?’
‘There’s this guy caught on a cliff in a storm. Wind and rain raging. He’s trying to hold on to a branch. It’s about to slip out of his hands. He’s about to fall. He looks up and he says, ‘Why me, God?’ And God looks down on him and says… ‘I just don’t like you,’ before walking out of the room.
Impeached: Bill and his team watch the news coverage, as he learns on TV that the House has impeached him, guaranteeing it will go to the Senate
Joke: ‘There’s this guy caught on a cliff in a storm. Wind and rain raging. He’s trying to hold on to a branch. It’s about to slip out of his hands. He’s about to fall. He looks up and he says, ‘Why me, God?’ And God looks down on him and says… ‘I just don’t like you,’ before walking out of the room
He goes to meet Hillary, who takes a deep breath as they walk the hallowed hallways together.
The episode cuts to February 1999 where Mike Drudge is on Fox News, where he has an interview with Ann Coulter, who bashes Paula Jones, but says Broaddrick is, ‘very credible.’
‘I’m deeply, pathetically despondent over what she’s done. I mean, she was our Rosa Parks. She was the hero in ‘A David and Goliath’ conflict. She used to have dignity and nobility and tremendous courage. Turns out she’s just the trailer park trash they said she was,’ she says.
Hillary and Bill: He goes to meet Hillary, who takes a deep breath as they walk the hallowed hallways together
Fox News: The episode cuts to February 1999 where Mike Drudge is on Fox News, where he has an interview with Ann Coulter, who bashes Paula Jones, but says Broaddrick is, ‘very credible’
Deeply: ‘I’m deeply, pathetically despondent over what she’s done. I mean, she was our Rosa Parks. She was the hero in “A David and Goliath” conflict. She used to have dignity and nobility and tremendous courage. Turns out she’s just the trailer park trash they said she was,’ she says
Backstage, Drudge asks how she likes his set, as Ann thinks this is their moment, calling it, ‘the dawn of a new conservative era.’
‘We exposed him– you, me, Conway… Starr exposed more disgusting detail than we even knew existed. But if he ran for a third term today, he’d win,’ Coulter adds.
She calls Hillary, ‘a walking void of charisma, a sentient bag of ice chips,’ adding she is, ‘so popular right now she’s going to be in the Senate.’
Dawn: Backstage, Drudge asks how she likes his set, as Ann thinks this is their moment, calling it, ‘the dawn of a new conservative era’
He’d win: ‘We exposed him– you, me, Conway… Starr exposed more disgusting detail than we even knew existed. But if he ran for a third term today, he’d win,’ Coulter adds
Senate: She calls Hillary, ‘a walking void of charisma, a sentient bag of ice chips,’ adding she is, ‘so popular right now she’s going to be in the Senate.
‘We showed this country exactly who they are and they said, ‘Yes, please, could we have some more?’ They’re who America want in power. Not us,’ Coulter says.
Drudge doesn’t think it was ‘that bleak,’ but she says, ‘the head of our justice system lied under oath and got off scot-free. We have no rule of law anymore. But sure, Drudge, don’t worry, our side is going to run the stupidest Bush for president. Oh, and the impotent GOP is calling on our secret weapon for the thousandth time,’ as they see Monica going in for more questioning.
Monica is told they don’t have enough votes to convict him so they are going to try and ‘rattle’ her but she adds this is her 22nd time being questioned about this.
Bleak: Drudge doesn’t think it was ‘that bleak,’ but she says, ‘the head of our justice system lied under oath and got off scot-free. We have no rule of law anymore. But sure, Drudge, don’t worry, our side is going to run the stupidest Bush for president. Oh, and the impotent GOP is calling on our secret weapon for the thousandth time,’ as they see Monica going in for more questioning
She declines to answer what might be in the President’s best interests, but says it was in her own best interests to lie in the affidavit because she was, ‘trying to avoid testifying in public about a personal relationship like I’m doing right now. Can we move along here? I’m paying my lawyers umpteen thousand dollars an hour. It’s coming out of my pocket. Please, can we get this over with?’
After the hearing, David tells Monica that the President wanted to relay a message to her on his behalf, to express how sorry he is for everything she’s experienced.
Paula Jones goes into a convenience store when a news report Clinton’s impeachment plays, and while waiting for the older clerk to ring her up… she sees her Penthouse magazine on a display behind him.
Best interests: She declines to answer what might be in the President’s best interests, but says it was in her own best interests to lie in the affidavit because she was, ‘trying to avoid testifying in public about a personal relationship like I’m doing right now. Can we move along here? I’m paying my lawyers umpteen thousand dollars an hour. It’s coming out of my pocket. Please, can we get this over with?’
Message: After the hearing, David tells Monica that the President wanted to relay a message to her on his behalf, to express how sorry he is for everything she’s experienced
Paula: Paula Jones goes into a convenience store when a news report Clinton’s impeachment plays
Linda is at home while her daughter Allison (Emma Malouff) watches impeachment coverage, as Allison argues that it might have been better if she lied, but she said that was not right.
She says she never told her daughter about her own father, because he was a liar, revealing he abandoned her for another family when she was a teenager.
Linda adds that she learned later he was having affairs all over the county, and everybody knew except her and her mother.
Daughter: Linda is at home while her daughter Allison (Emma Malouff) watches impeachment coverage, as Allison argues that it might have been better if she lied, but she said that was not right
Affair: She says she never told her daughter about her own father, because he was a liar, revealing he abandoned her for another family when she was a teenager
When Emma asks why nobody told her, Linda says, ‘They liked him more than her or me.’
‘He was a cheater. He was a liar. And nobody held it against him. That’s the truth. Men like that. Men like Bill Clinton– they ruin lives. And they get away with it. They just do,’ Linda adds.
Monica is packing up her apartment at the Watergate with her mother, when she finds the original letter that she was accepted into the White House internship program.
Get away: ‘He was a cheater. He was a liar. And nobody held it against him. That’s the truth. Men like that. Men like Bill Clinton– they ruin lives. And they get away with it. They just do,’ Linda adds
Letter: Monica is packing up her apartment at the Watergate with her mother, when she finds the original letter that she was accepted into the White House internship program
‘I honestly cannot stop thinking about that apology his lawyer said was from him. He’s sorry for all that you’ve been through? I… That’s something that you say to a coworker who’s having a tough month, one that you’re not even that close to. I would have done anything to protect him. I did. Because that’s how much he meant to me. But him? Every single chance that he had to help me, he-he chose to do nothing. When I got that subpoena, he… He could have said, ‘Monica, don’t lie. Don’t break the law. Don’t do that for me.’ And that-and that first week, when this all came out and everyone was saying that I was a stalker and that I was making it all up, he just… He just sat there a-and let them. He could have stopped this at any time,’ Monica says.
Lisa Myers is on the air, introducing Juanita Broaddrick, formerly known as ‘Jane Doe #5’ before the interview portion airs.
Juanita starts to explain her encounter with Bill Clinton back in 1978, starting to become overcome with emotions, insisting he was a ‘different person, a vicious awful person.’
Lisa: Lisa Myers is on the air, introducing Juanita Broaddrick, formerly known as ‘Jane Doe #5’ before the interview portion airs
Overcome: Juanita starts to explain her encounter with Bill Clinton back in 1978, starting to become overcome with emotions, insisting he was a ‘different person, a vicious awful person’
She adds that she was crying and he was straightening himself out and calmly puts on sunglasses and told her before he was leaving, to, ‘put some ice on that.’
Linda Tripp is waking up from plastic surgery, as she meets her private nurse Tina, with Linda saying Lucianne’s friends paid for this saying they wanted to help her look better.
Monica is at her new apartment in New York City as she gets a call from Cat, saying she has a signing later today.
Ice: She adds that she was crying and he was straightening himself out and calmly puts on sunglasses and told her before he was leaving, to, ‘put some ice on that’
Wake up: Linda Tripp is waking up from plastic surgery, as she meets her private nurse Tina, with Linda saying Lucianne’s friends paid for this saying they wanted to help her look better
Cat call: Monica is at her new apartment in New York City as she gets a call from Cat, saying she has a signing later today
She says it’s nice in New York, saying sometimes people leave her alone.
Meanwhile, Linda Tripp is walking through the streets of New York when she walks past Monica’s book signing getting set up.
She meets with a writer from George Magazine, who is surprised when she arrives, saying he didn’t recognize her.
Nice: She says it’s nice in New York, saying sometimes people leave her alone
Signing: Meanwhile, Linda Tripp is walking through the streets of New York when she walks past Monica’s book signing getting set up
Surprised: She meets with a writer from George Magazine, who is surprised when she arrives, saying he didn’t recognize her
He asks why she’s finally talking to press now, as she admits she made a ‘horrible mistake’ and she says there has been a smear campaign.
‘I mean, when the story broke and I saw pictures of myself, I wanted to sink into the Earth. Until all this happened, I didn’t know how ugly I was,’ Linda says.
The episode cuts back between Linda and Monica, with Linda admitting that she lied about what she told Monica at the mall, that they had done the ‘same thing to her.’
Mistake: He asks why she’s finally talking to press now, as she admits she made a ‘horrible mistake’ and she says there has been a smear campaign
Monica: The episode cuts back between Linda and Monica, with Linda admitting that she lied about what she told Monica at the mall, that they had done the ‘same thing to her’
The writer asks if she would reach out to Monica, but she doesn’t think that would be ‘welcome.’
Monica is going through her signing when security tackles a man, as she dips out to take a short break.
Linda says that Monica will never understand in a million years, and when he asks what he wants her to understand, she says, ‘I know it looks horrible. I know it looks like a betrayal. But she was his victim. He caused all this. He did. I just wish she could see that I saved her.’
Monica is catching her breath backstage when someone asks if she’s all right, as Monica responds, ‘Just need a minute. I’ll be OK. I’ll be OK,’ although her face – on the brink of tears – tells another story, as the episode, and the series, comes to an end.
Not welcome: The writer asks if she would reach out to Monica, but she doesn’t think that would be ‘welcome’
Saved: Linda says that Monica will never understand in a million years, and when he asks what he wants her to understand, she says, ‘I know it looks horrible. I know it looks like a betrayal. But she was his victim. He caused all this. He did. I just wish she could see that I saved her’
Tears: Monica is catching her breath backstage when someone asks if she’s all right, as Monica responds, ‘Just need a minute. I’ll be OK. I’ll be OK,’ although her face – on the brink of tears – tells another story, as the episode, and the series, comes to an end
Impeachment is based on Jeffrey Toobin’s book A Vast Conspiracy: The Real Story of the Sex Scandal That Nearly Brought Down a President.
The first season was based on another Toobin book, The Run of His Life: The People v. O. J. Simpson, with the second season, The Assassination of Gianni Versace based on Maureen Orth’s Vulgar Favors: Andrew Cunanan, Gianni Versace, and the Largest Failed Manhunt in U.S. History.
The all-star cast also includes Edie Falco as Hillary Clinton, Anthony Green as Al Gore, Billy Eichner as Mike Drudge, Cobie Smulders as Ann Coulter, Kathleen Turner as Susan Webber Wright, Margo Martindale as Lucianne Goldberg and Mira Sorvino as Marcia Lewis.
Scandal: Impeachment is based on Jeffrey Toobin’s book A Vast Conspiracy: The Real Story of the Sex Scandal That Nearly Brought Down a President
Sarah Burgess created the series, who is also Executive Producer alongside Ryan Murphy, Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, Brad Falchuk, Larry Karaszewski, Scott Alexander, Alexis Martin Woodall and Sarah Paulson.
Monica Lewinsky will serve as a producer alongside Henrietta Conrad and Jemima Khan.
The real-life scandal first unfolded in January 1998 on The Drudge Report website, which was later picked up by mainstream media outlets like The Washington Post.
Monica: Monica Lewinsky will serve as a producer alongside Henrietta Conrad and Jemima Khan
While Clinton, who was in his second term as President at the time, denied the allegations at first, more and more evidence came to light.
Such evidence included a semen-stained blue dress that Lewinsky had been encouraged to save without cleaning, by her one-time friend Linda Tripp.
While Clinton continued to deny the affair, he ultimately came clean in August 1998, which lead to his impeachment.
Clinton was ultimately acquitted on both impeachment charges, and he ultimately served out the remainder of his term.
Denied: While Clinton, who was in his second term as President at the time, denied the allegations at first, more and more evidence came to light