Plot
In 2010, New York City photographer Jae Donnelly stakes out a private Manhattan home for an exclusive shot. He photographs Prince Andrew walking with Jeffrey Epstein in Central Park after just having photographed a young girl leaving from the same building.
Nine years later, directly after major staffing cuts are announced, young BBC Newsnight guest producer Sam McAlister comes across the photo placed next to an article about a Prince Andrew-sponsored, young entrepreneurs event. So, she tries to contact the photographer.
Prince Andrew's private secretary, Amanda Thirsk, believes the Epstein photo is a key reason the palace's event was not attended by the press. PR representative Jason Stein is consulted, but the prince insists he ended his friendship with Epstein after the mogul's original underage sex scandals had come to light.
Jason suggests Amanda should reach out to several "friendly" reporters to conduct one-on-one interviews, to improve Andrew's image. Having spoken to Sam, recently, Amanda agrees to meet and negotiate terms for an interview. Called out by a co-worker for being vocally critical of lead presenter Emily Maitlis and for having sensationalist leanings, the programme editor, Esme, has a word with Sam. Including Emily in the dialogue, she tells her she welcomes her innovations but reminds her they must find a way to work together, regardless of the tension.
Jae gets back to Sam, sharing photos of young girls going in and out of Epstein's Manhattan home. He insists that Epstein has been doing it for many years. Later at home, Sam greets her mother, who has been looking after her teenage son, Lucas. Working long hours, Sam does not get to see him often, but she tries to bond with him, as they talk about takeout and a crush he has on a girl.
The next day, Amanda invites Sam to Buckingham Palace. After tea, Sam convinces her to leave the grounds for a drink. Amid negotiations for the potential interview with Prince Andrew, Amanda asks what Emily is like, then, what Sam knows about her. She knows that she is also a single mother, formerly worked in banking, and has been working for Andrew, for seven years.
Both Amanda and Sam are criticised for meeting for drinks. Upset by the altercation, Sam vents to her mother. Jae calls to let her know that Epstein is about to be taken into custody by the FBI for child sex trafficking.
After informing Esme, Sam rushes to Amanda's to convince Prince Andrew to give Newsnight a TV interview. They hold off, until Epstein is found dead in his jail cell. Rumours circulate about the men's friendship. Sam gets her and Emily a negotiation meeting in Buckingham Palace with Amanda, the Prince, and his daughter, Beatrice.
Once Newsnight secures the "scoop of the decade,” Sam is left out of the loop, as Esme and Emily work with two male journalists and do not include her. Her mother gives her a pep talk, reminding her that she was responsible for the story. In the morning, Amanda calls Sam with the interview time.
The televised interview, broadcast on 16 November 2019, focuses on Andrew's relationship with convicted sex offender Epstein and allegations of Andrew's sexual assault of a minor, which Andrew denies, on several occasions. His lack of remorse and accountability on screen – along with now-infamous bizarre, erratic statements about visiting a PizzaExpress in Woking and an apparent inability to sweat – is widely viewed as the public catalyst for the downfall of Prince Andrew. It is a major PR crisis for the Royal Family, as a whole. Soon afterwards, the Duke chooses to step down from his royal duties.
Despite not admitting guilt, in early 2022, Prince Andrew settled, out of court, for £12 million for Virginia Giuffre's civil lawsuit for alleged sexual assault. Sam McAlister left the BBC in 2021 and now teaches negotiation at the London School of Economics.
