Monica Lewinsky (Beanie Feldstein) is called to testify in the Paula Jones (Annaleigh Ashford) lawsuit in Tuesday’s new episode of Impeachment: American Crime Story.
The series is inspired by the infamous Bill Clinton scandal which saw the then US-President accused of having a sexual relationship with a White House intern.
Last week’s episode, The Telephone Hour, ended with literary agent Lucianne Goldberg (Margo Martindale) telling George Conway (George Salazar) about Monica Lewinsky, and puts her on the witness list for the Paula Jones trial.
This week’s episode, dubbed Do You Hear What I Hear, showing Linda Tripp’s (Sarah Paulson) carefully constructed web of deceit starting to unravel all around her.
Testify: Monica Lewinsky (Beanie Feldstein) is called to testify in the Paula Jones (Annaleigh Ashford) lawsuit in Tuesday’s new episode of Impeachment: American Crime Story
Lies: This week’s episode, dubbed Do You Hear What I Hear, showing Linda Tripp’s (Sarah Paulson) carefully constructed web of deceit starting to unravel all around her (pictured right Linda in 1998)
The episode begins in December 1997 in Washington D.C. at a bar, where a couple of guys recognize Monica Lewinsksy and one approaches her, Jake Tapper (Chris Riggi).
He asks to buy her a drink but she said she was going to go get dinner, when he tells her they have ‘world famous’ Tex-Mex food.
They have dinner as Monica admits she’s been ‘myopic’ about her time in D.C., and she has a job interview in New York.
Jake: The episode begins in December 1997 in Washington D.C. at a bar, where a couple of guys recognize Monica Lewinsksy and one approaches her, Jake Tapper (Chris Riggi)
Myopic: They have dinner as Monica admits she’s been ‘myopic’ about her time in D.C., and she has a job interview in New York (pictured right Monica in an undated photo)
She says she’s been, ‘a bit of a D.C. zombie,’ and she’s waking up now. When the check arrives she asks to split it but he insists to pay for it because it’s a ‘date.’
Back at work, Monica tells Linda she’s going to get the dress cleaned for her job interview, which worries Linda.
She calls Luciane, who gets worried and tells Linda that she has to stop Monica from getting the dress cleaned.
Dress: Back at work, Monica tells Linda she’s going to get the dress cleaned for her job interview, which worries Linda
Stop: She calls Luciane, who gets worried and tells Linda that she has to stop Monica from getting the dress cleaned
Linda calls Monica and tells her not to wear it to an interview, and she thinks it would be smart to keep it, in case she may need it years down the line.
Monica says that she will never come forward and she shouldn’t need to worry about proving the identity.
Monica says she knows she looks good in the blue dress… but Linda lies and says she looks heavy in that dress, saying the peach suit she has is ‘exquisite.’
Need it: Linda calls Monica and tells her not to wear it to an interview, and she thinks it would be smart to keep it, in case she may need it years down the line
Never come forward: Monica says that she will never come forward and she shouldn’t need to worry about proving the identity
Heavy: Monica says she knows she looks good in the blue dress… but Linda lies and says she looks heavy in that dress, saying the peach suit she has is ‘exquisite.
Judge Kenneth Starr (Dan Bakkedahl) arrives to meet with his team, apologizing for being late and then reading a bible verse in front of the lawyers.
Starr asks if they have enough to recommend impeachment, but they think there isn’t quite enough, though Jackie Bennett (Darren Goldstein) doesn’t want to quit.
Starr adds they convicted 12 people around the Clintons but none of them could flip on the Clintons, as Starr makes it clear they believe he is guilty, but they don’t have enough evidence to prove it after four years.
Ken: Judge Kenneth Starr (Dan Bakkedahl) arrives to meet with his team, apologizing for being late and then reading a bible verse in front of the lawyers (pictured right Kenneth in 1998)
Jackie: Starr asks if they have enough to recommend impeachment, but they think there isn’t quite enough, though Jackie Bennett (Darren Goldstein) doesn’t want to quit
They take a vote among them all, including future Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh (Alan Starzinski), and none think there is enough.
Clinton is getting grilled by his Bob Bennett (Christopher McDonald) and another team member (Tim Martin Gleason), to get an idea of what he can expect, but he gets frustrated and says, ‘I bet Kennedy didn’t have to deal with this s**t.’
His team member said, ‘That was the 60s’ which angers Clinton, who rattles off all of the female cabinet members, adding, ‘No one supports women more than me.’
Real Ken and Brett: Kenneth Starr seen at a special hearing in 1988 with future Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh seated to his right
Vote: They take a vote among them all, including future Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh (Alan Starzinski), and none think there is enough
Grilled: Clinton is getting grilled by his Bob Bennett (Christopher McDonald) and another team member (Tim Martin Gleason), to get an idea of what he can expect, but he gets frustrated and says, ‘I bet Kennedy didn’t have to deal with this s**t
Real Bob: The real Robert ‘Bob’ Bennett speaks to reporters at a 1998 press conference
Angers: His team member said, ‘That was the 60s’ which angers Clinton, who rattles off all of the female cabinet members, adding, ‘No one supports women more than me’ (pictured Bill in 1998)
Bill calls Monica at 2:33 AM, as she smiles and tells him she was awake, but she was sleeping.
He tells her that he saw the witness list for the Paula Jones lawsuit, saying that she was on there.
He says that she might not have to show up, just have a lawyer draw up an affidavit, and she says that she would say nothing ever happened.
Bill calls: Bill calls Monica at 2:33 AM, as she smiles and tells him she was awake, but she was sleeping
Lawyer: He says that she might not have to show up, just have a lawyer draw up an affidavit, and she says that she would say nothing ever happened
Monica is holiday shopping with Linda, saying she can’t stop thinking about her name being on that list, adding it’s ‘unthinkable’ to answer questions about him.
Linda says she got a subpoena, and she thought to mention it, but she knew Monica would freak out, which she does.
Monica asks her to lie about everything but Linda says she cannot commit perjury, which upsets Monica.
Shopping: Monica is holiday shopping with Linda, saying she can’t stop thinking about her name being on that list, adding it’s ‘unthinkable’ to answer questions about him
Freak out: Linda says she got a subpoena, and she thought to mention it, but she knew Monica would freak out, which she does
Back in Little Rock, Arkansas, Paula Jones visits with her mother Delmer (Jeanetta Arnette) with Susie (Judith Light).
Her mother is confused about what’s happening, as Paula says she is doing her deposition before the trial.
Her mother said she heard she was offered money to settle, but Susie says there is no settlement without an apology.
Paula and Susie: Back in Little Rock, Arkansas, Paula Jones visits with her mother Delmer (Jeanetta Arnette) with Susie (Judith Light)
Mother: Her mother is confused about what’s happening, as Paula says she is doing her deposition before the trial (pictured Paula in 1998)
Her mother is worried about her, but Paula says she’ll be OK and she has people looking out for her, but mother says to watch out for her.
The story cuts to Van Buren, Arkansas, where Beverly Lambert (Kara Luiz) and Rick visit a woman named Juanita Broaddrick (Ashlie Atkinson), who had another experience with the President.
Rick makes it clear that they’re all Christian lawyers but she still doesn’t want to participate, saying she’s a businesswoman and she doesn’t want to get involved.
Beverly: The story cuts to Van Buren, Arkansas, where Beverly Lambert (Kara Luiz) and Rick visit a woman named Juanita Broaddrick (Ashlie Atkinson), who had another experience with the President
Juanita: Rick makes it clear that they’re all Christian lawyers but she still doesn’t want to participate, saying she’s a businesswoman and she doesn’t want to get involved (pictured right Juanita in 1999)
They start to leave when she adds that Paula Jones is telling the truth.
Back in Little Rock, Paula is in her deposition, as Robert Bennett (Christopher McDonald) introduces himself as Bill Clinton’s lawyer.
She asks how long she was in the room before he exposed his penis, and she said five or six minutes.
Truth: They start to leave when she adds that Paula Jones is telling the truth
Robert: Back in Little Rock, Paula is in her deposition, as Robert Bennett (Christopher McDonald) introduces himself as Bill Clinton’s lawyer
Room: She asks how long she was in the room before he exposed his penis, and she said five or six minutes
Robert starts grilling her about how many male penises she’s seen, as another lawyer asks if he knows a man named Dennis Kirkland.
The lawyer says this man said, under oath, testified he performed oral sex and she had sex with three other men, but Paula is flustered since that’s not true.
Paula comes back to Susie, who says she’s sorry but adds they have ‘no idea how hard it’s going to get for him.’
Grilling: Robert starts grilling her about how many male penises she’s seen, as another lawyer asks if he knows a man named Dennis Kirkland
Not true: The lawyer says this man said, under oath, testified he performed oral sex and she had sex with three other men, but Paula is flustered since that’s not true
Hard: Paula comes back to Susie, who says she’s sorry but adds they have ‘no idea how hard it’s going to get for him’
Back at her office, Monica gets served a subpoena and goes to visit Linda at her house during her Christmas party as she chats with her daughter Allison (Emma Mausolf) briefly.
Monica really needs to talk to Linda but she’s busy hosting the party, as Monica not-so-patiently waits for her.
She studies all of the dolls and collectibles that Linda has in her home during the whole party before stomping over and telling him she got a subpoena.
Served: Back at her office, Monica gets served a subpoena and goes to visit Linda at her house during her Christmas party as she chats with her daughter Allison (Emma Mausolf) briefly
Party: Monica really needs to talk to Linda but she’s busy hosting the party, as Monica not-so-patiently waits for her
They chat in her car and it says they have the hairpin in the affidavit, meaning ‘someone’ told them something, but Monica says the only ones who know are her closest friends.
Linda says she’s worried too but she needs to talk to her lawyer before she does anything, adding, ‘Merry Christmas Monica’ before leaving the car.
Monica visits Vernon Jordan (Blair Underwood) with the subpoena who says they will focus on two questions – about having sexual relations with Bill Clinton.
Hairpin: They chat in her car and it says they have the hairpin in the affidavit, meaning ‘someone’ told them something, but Monica says the only ones who know are her closest friends
Worried: Linda says she’s worried too but she needs to talk to her lawyer before she does anything, adding, ‘Merry Christmas Monica’ before leaving the car
Linda smiles: The real Linda Tripp seen after testifying before Kenneth Starr’s grand jury in 1998
He sends her to a lawyer and she signs the affidavit just before Christmas Day.
Linda is watching her kids opening presents when she gets a call from Monica… and she decides to ignore it.
Monica leaves a message saying she just wants to wish her a Merry Christmas and just wanted to talk and see if she made a decision.
Message: Monica leaves a message saying she just wants to wish her a Merry Christmas and just wanted to talk and see if she made a decision
Monica’s boss Kenneth Bacon (Jim Rash) says some kind words for Monica on her last day, as Monica rushes up to Linda and asks what she’s going to do.
Linda says they can talk later because she is going to see her lawyer later, before asking to take a photo together, because she’s leaving, which they do.
Linda goes to see her lawyer (TJ Thyne), asking him to hold on to her tapes… but gives her quite the shock by telling her that that Virginia is a two-consent state, and she could go to jail for recording Monica without her consent.
Kind words: Monica’s boss Kenneth Bacon (Jim Rash) says some kind words for Monica on her last day, as Monica rushes up to Linda and asks what she’s going to do (pictured right Kenneth in 1999)
Photo: Linda says they can talk later because she is going to see her lawyer later, before asking to take a photo together, because she’s leaving, which they do (right the real photo taken of Linda and Monica before she left the Department of Defense)
Linda calls Luciane, who says she just has to find a way to get her immunity from prosecution, she said she needs to make some calls.
Lucianne calls George Conway, telling him they need to make Paula’s lawyers aware of Linda Tripp as fast as they can.
Monica goes to see Bill before the big move, who showers her with random gifts, one of which is a bear, which symbolizes courage.
Immunity: Linda calls Luciane, who says she just has to find a way to get her immunity from prosecution, she said she needs to make some calls
Monica and Bill: Monica goes to see Bill before the big move, who showers her with random gifts, one of which is a bear, which symbolizes courage
‘When you need to be strong, just hold him close,’ Bill says.
Monica says that she can’t accept the gifts because of the subpoena, and Bill asks if she signed the subpoena.
He asks if her friend in the Pentagon knows about them and she says she doesn’t and she’s not really her friend anymore.
Bear: ‘When you need to be strong, just hold him close,’ Bill says
Sign: Monica says that she can’t accept the gifts because of the subpoena, and Bill asks if she signed the subpoena, pictured right Bill denies having an affair with Monica Lewinsky in 1998
Bill says this will be a crazy story she’ll tell her grandkids someday but she says he was more than a crazy story.
He promises to call when she gets settled, and she says she knows she shouldn’t say this but, ‘you are my whole world.’
He kisses her on the forehead and says, ‘Good luck in New York. Be good’ before she leaves the Oval Office for the last time before Bill gets back to work.
Crazy story: Bill says this will be a crazy story she’ll tell her grandkids someday but she says he was more than a crazy story
Promise: He promises to call when she gets settled, and she says she knows she shouldn’t say this but, ‘you are my whole world’
Back to work: He kisses her on the forehead and says, ‘Good luck in New York. Be good’ before she leaves the Oval Office for the last time before Bill gets back to work
Kenneth Starr is told about Monica Lewinsky, but he needs to figure out if it’s something they can use within their mandate.
‘It has to appear that this witness came to us out of the blue. She has to call us,’ he tells Jackie Bennett and Sol.
Monica gets an email from Monica asking to meet for lunch tomorrow, which she agrees to, as Linda gets a call from Luciane saying Ken Starr wants to see her in the office.
Mandate: Kenneth Starr is told about Monica Lewinsky, but he needs to figure out if it’s something they can use within their mandate
Call us: ‘It has to appear that this witness came to us out of the blue. She has to call us,’ he tells Jackie Bennett and Sol
Lunch: Monica gets an email from Monica asking to meet for lunch tomorrow, which she agrees to, as Linda gets a call from Luciane saying Ken Starr wants to see her in the office
‘They’ll be expecting your call tonight… but the second you call them, this all turns into something else,’ Lucianne tells her… before she makes the call.
Linda has a cigarette in her home, with the Christmas tree still up, as Jackie shows up, with Mike Emmick (Colin Hanks), Sol Wisenberg (Jared Gertner) and Special Agent Steve Irons (Craig Welzbacher).
Linda says she’s in a ‘terrible situation’ because she ‘bore witness to a series of ongoing crimes,’ but Mike Emmick asks what crimes.
Agents: Linda has a cigarette in her home, with the Christmas tree still up, as Jackie shows up, with Mike Emmick (Colin Hanks), Sol Wisenberg (Jared Gertner) and Special Agent Steve Irons (Craig Welzbacher)
What crimes: Linda says she’s in a ‘terrible situation’ because she ‘bore witness to a series of ongoing crimes,’ but Mike Emmick asks what crimes
Linda says she started recording when she was subject to ‘character assassination’ in Newsweek by the President.
Emmick questions her motives, since she said she was a close friend, but Linda goes off and makes it clear she had to protect herself.
Jackie says they will help her avoid prosecution but she just needs copies of her tapes, as LInda says she she can get the tapes tomorrow.
Character assassination: Linda says she started recording when she was subject to ‘character assassination’ in Newsweek by the President
Plus, she will have a ‘clean tape,’ revealing she will have lunch with Monica tomorrow and she’s going to record the whole thing.
Jackie says this is a federal investigation and if she’s going to be wired, she’ll be wired by the FBI.
While leaving, Jackie and Mike comment on how this is bigger than Watergate, with Mike saying, ‘Thank God we do ’cause a jury would f***ing hate that lady.’
Clean tape: Plus, she will have a ‘clean tape,’ revealing she will have lunch with Monica tomorrow and she’s going to record the whole thing
FBI: Jackie says this is a federal investigation and if she’s going to be wired, she’ll be wired by the FBI
Jury: While leaving, Jackie and Mike comment on how this is bigger than Watergate, with Mike saying, ‘Thank God we do ‘cause a jury would f***ing hate that lady’
Linda is being wired up, as Jackie tells her that she needs to get Monica to admit she’s planning on lying under oath and what Vernon Jordan is doing in exchange for the lie.
Monica gets a table in the back of the restaurant, as suggested by Jackie, where she can see the whole restaurant, as Monica arrives.
Linda says she has been thinking about her non-stop, saying she’s ‘been a wreck,’ as Monica says she thinks she’s going crazy.
Wired: Linda is being wired up, as Jackie tells her that she needs to get Monica to admit she’s planning on lying under oath and what Vernon Jordan is doing in exchange for the lie
Wreck: Linda says she has been thinking about her non-stop, saying she’s ‘been a wreck,’ as Monica says she thinks she’s going crazy
‘I feel an overwhelming sense of dread every minute of every day,’ Monica says.
Monica asks if she spoke to a lawyer but she says it’s still up in the air. Linda asks if she’s planning on lying, as Monica says she already signed the affidavit.
The agents all rejoice in the room, as Monica says her testimony, ‘has absolutely nothing to do with Paula Jones,’ but if it were a ‘serious lawsuit’ she might feel differently.
Dread: ‘I feel an overwhelming sense of dread every minute of every day,’ Monica says
Rejoice: Monica asks if she spoke to a lawyer but she says it’s still up in the air. Linda asks if she’s planning on lying, as Monica says she already signed the affidavit.
Rejoice: The agents all rejoice in the room, as Monica says her testimony, ‘has absolutely nothing to do with Paula Jones,’ but if it were a ‘serious lawsuit’ she might feel differently
Linda says she’s worried about ‘us’ as Monica says that she’s gone over it in her head a million times and if the tables were turned, she would, ‘keep your secret. I know I would do that for you.’
Linda comes back with, ‘You’ve lied under oath, and you’re asking me to do the same,’ as Monica asks why she’s talking in ‘legalese or whatever… but things go awry when the mic slips out of place.
Linda panics and rushes to the bathroom, where a female agent is there to clip the mic back into place, as Linda berates her before going back to Monica.
Worried: Linda says she’s worried about ‘us’ as Monica says that she’s gone over it in her head a million times and if the tables were turned, she would, ‘keep your secret. I know I would do that for you’
While she’s gone, a paranoid Monica digs through Linda’s purse, talking into it, as if there were a mic, while undercover agents make note that she’s rifling through Linda’s purse.
She gets her to admit that Vernon Jordan got her a job and she has, ‘the President of the United States looking out for you,’ but Linda says he will ‘hate me forever’ if this gets out.
Monica pleads, ‘All you have to do is say that you’ve never seen the president behave inappropriately with anyone, because that is 100% the truth,’ but Linda says, ‘I need to think about it.’
Paranoid: While she’s gone, a paranoid Monica digs through Linda’s purse, talking into it, as if there were a mic, while undercover agents make note that she’s rifling through Linda’s purse
Linda says it’s a ‘big decision’ and she has to sleep on it, but Monica can’t understand why she can’t promise her that.
After dinner she says she’ll call her tomorrow, she promises, as Monica walks away while sneaky feds take pictures of her from a van as the episode comes to an end.
The preview for next week’s episode reveals Monica and Linda’s world have been turned upside down, as Monica is told she has taken part in a conspiracy and she’s looking at 28 years, while Ann Coulter boasts that they have taken part in a coup and they’re the coup.
A livid Monica is seen screaming at Linda Tripp from the other room, ‘Linda what did you do!’
Impeachment: American Crime Story continues with the sixth episode Tuesday, October 12 at 10 PM ET on FX.
Big decision: Linda says it’s a ‘big decision’ and she has to sleep on it, but Monica can’t understand why she can’t promise her that
Pictures: After dinner she says she’ll call her tomorrow, she promises, as Monica walks away while sneaky feds take pictures of her from a van as the episode comes to an end
Timeline of Bill Clinton/ Monica Lewinsky sex scandal
November 1995 – President Bill Clinton, 49, engages in an affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky, 22
March 1997 – The affair ends, according to Lewinsky. She said they had engaged in sexual encounters on nine occasions
September 1997 – White House employee Linda Tripp begins recording her conversations with Lewinsky after she confided in Tripp about the affair
January 7, 1998 – Lewinsky signs an affidavit stating that she never had a sexual relationship with Bill Clinton. This was at the request of attorneys representing Paula Jones, who had accused Clinton of sexual harassment in 1994
January 17, 1998 – News of the scandal first breaks on the Drudge Report
January 21, 1998 – The Drudge Report publishes allegations that Lewinsky had kept a ‘garment with Clinton’s dried semen’. The story is picked up by major news outlets
January 26, 1998 – President Clinton denies the affair while standing with his wife Hillary at a White House press conference. He says the famous line: ‘I did not have sexual relations with that woman’
January 27, 1998 – Hillary Clinton appears on the TODAY Show where she defends her husband and calls the claims ‘a vast right-wing conspiracy that has been conspiring against my husband since the day he announced his run for president’
February 6, 1998 – President Clinton says in a press conference that he will not resign from office
August 3, 1998 – A blood sample is taken from President Clinton for DNA testing against stains from Lewinsky’s blue dress
August 6, 1998 – Lewinsky begins to testify before the grand jury
August 17, 1998 – Clinton testifies to the grand jury where he admits to ‘inappropriate intimate contact’. He speaks to the nation in a televised address, finally admitting that he had a relationship with Lewinsky
October 2, 1998 – Transcripts of Monica Lewinsky and Linda Tripp’s taped phone conversations are released
December 11, 1998 – The House Judiciary committee votes to impeach, approving two articles of impeachment, including lying to a grand jury and obstruction of justice
December 12, 1998 – Clinton says he won’t resign and denies lying under oath
December 19, 1998 – The House of Representatives votes to impeach President Clinton. Clinton vows to remain in office until ‘the last hour of the last day of my term’
January 7, 1999 – The Senate begins its trial of President Clinton
February 12, 1999 – The Senate acquits President Clinton on both charges of perjury and obstruction of justice