Spotlight Quotes

Eric Macleish: I already sent you a list of names.
Walter 'Robby' Robinson: What are you talking about? To whom?
Eric Macleish: The Globe. Years ago. After the Porter case, I got plenty of calls. I had twenty priests in Boston alone, but I couldn't go after 'em without the press. So I sent you guys a list of names, and you buried it.

Walter 'Robby' Robinson: I want those names tomorrow.
Eric Macleish: Check your god damn clips, Robby.

Walter 'Robby' Robinson: Look, I'm close to stories on 70 priests. We nail that, along with those letters, this is proof that this is bigger than Law. It's the whole system.
Marty Baron: You have multiple sources confirming all those priests?
Walter 'Robby' Robinson: On some. I can get more.
Ben Bradlee Jr.:

Too risky. If we're not buttoned up on every single one of them, the Church will pick us apart.
Walter 'Robby' Robinson: I think I can get us someone from the other side of the aisle.
Ben Bradlee Jr.: Somebody inside the Church?
Walter 'Robby' Robinson: Yeah. A lawyer.
Marty Baron: Will he go on the

record?
Walter 'Robby' Robinson: Deep background. But he's a solid source.

Phil Saviano: Look, I get it. No one wants to read about kids getting raped by priests, especially now. But you asked a lot of people to re-live some very painful experiences...
Sacha Pfeiffer: Phil, you know why we were taken off of this story.
Phil Saviano: ...and-and... and you just disappear. It's been six weeks since 9/11.

Sacha Pfeiffer: I realize that, and we're gonna get back to it.
Phil Saviano: When? You're doing the same thing you guys did last time.
Sacha Pfeiffer: No.
Phil Saviano: You're dropping us.
Sacha Pfeiffer: No.
Phil Saviano: Maybe I should tell the Herald that

story.
Sacha Pfeiffer: Okay, Phil, you go ahead and do that. It'll undo all the work we've done, but I can't stop you. Listen to me. I am here because I care. We're not going away. We're gonna tell this story. We're gonna tell it right. We just need a little more time. That's all we're asking for.
Phil Saviano: Why bother asking? You're gonna do what

you want anyway. You always do.

Pete Conley: You know, you got a lot of people here who respect you, Robby.
Walter 'Robby' Robinson: Oh, well..
Pete Conley: The work you do.
Walter 'Robby' Robinson: That's good to know.
Pete Conley: Well, it's 'cause you care about this place.
Walter 'Robby'

Robinson: Yeah.
Pete Conley: It's why you do what you do. It's who you are. You know, but people need the Church more than ever right now. You know, you can feel it. And the cardinal, um... you know, the cardinal, he might not be perfect. But we can't throw out all the good he's doing over a few bad apples. Now, you know, I'm bringing this up to you because I know

this is Baron's idea. His agenda. I gotta tell you, I mean, honest to God, I mean, he doesn't care about this city the way we do. I mean, how could he?
Walter 'Robby' Robinson: This is how it happens, isn't it, Pete?
Pete Conley: What's that?
Walter 'Robby' Robinson: A guy leans on a guy, and suddenly the whole town just looks

the other way.
Pete Conley: Robby. Robby. Lookit. Marty Baron is just trying to make his mark. He's gonna be here for a couple of years and he's gonna move on. Just like he did in New York and Miami. Where are you gonna go?

Marty Baron: These are substantial. They... they clearly show that Law was negligent.
Walter 'Robby' Robinson: I need more time. I wanna keep digging.
Ben Bradlee Jr.: For what? This is the god damn story.
Walter 'Robby' Robinson: It's not the whole story.
Ben Bradlee Jr.: Tough shit.

We're on a clock now. Even if we don't run Sweeny's ruling, another paper could find these letters and fuck the story.
Walter 'Robby' Robinson: Agreed. But we run these letters alone, Law apologizes, says it's a one-time thing. He can bury it.
Marty Baron: How? These clearly show he knew and did nothing about it.

Sacha Pfeiffer: Does Jack Dunn work for the school?
Walter 'Robby' Robinson: No, he's PR for Boston College. They call him when they need help.
Sacha Pfeiffer: And Pete Conley, why-why was he there?
Walter 'Robby' Robinson: Good question. Pete's a big alum. But I called Bill directly and I asked for a

sit-down. I never mentioned anybody else.
Sacha Pfeiffer: It's like everybody already knows the story.
Walter 'Robby' Robinson: [indicating the Globe building across the street] Yeah. Except us. And we work right there.

Mike Rezendes: Robby, it's incredible. Law knew about Geoghan for years, no question. There's a letter to Law from a woman, Margaret Gallant, who lived in Jamaica Plain in the early '80s when Geoghan was there. Listen to this. "Our family is rooted in the Church. Our desire is to protect the Holy Orders, even in the midst of our agony over the seven boys in our family who have

been violated." Seven, Robby. Seven boys. "It was suggested we keep silent. We did not question the authority of the Church two years ago. But since Father Geoghan is still in his parish..." But she sent it to Law and Law did shit. Here's another to Law, same year. Listen to this. "A word on the recent assignment of Father Geoghan as an associate at St. Julia's in Weston. Father Geoghan has a

history of homosexual involvement with young boys. I understand his recent departure from St. Brendan's may be related to this problem. I wonder if Father Geoghan should not be reduced to just weekend work while receiving some kind of therapy. You know how grateful I am to you for your constant concern. Sincerely yours in our Lord, Most Reverend John M D'Arcy, auxiliary bishop of Boston. December

7, 1984."
Matt Carroll: An auxiliary bishop wrote that?
Mike Rezendes: Right.
Sacha Pfeiffer: That's incredible. He broke ranks. I mean, w-when did Gallant write her letter?
Mike Rezendes: 1984.
Sacha Pfeiffer: And Law just ignored it?
Matt Carroll: How do

you ignore that freaking letter?

Mike Rezendes: You're not gonna believe it. Garabedian gave me a tip. Some of the sealed docs are already public. They're part of a motion he filed. He said they're the best of the bunch. We don't have to wait for Sweeny's ruling.
Walter 'Robby' Robinson: So, we can get them?
Mike Rezendes: Yeah, but they're not there. Already talked

to Albano. He said all we have to do is a file a motion, and Sweeny will order Mitch to re-file the docs.
Walter 'Robby' Robinson: And you think these documents are...
Mike Rezendes: He said these fourteen docs are all we need. They're huge.
Walter 'Robby' Robinson: Okay. I'll call Ben. Good work.

Mike Rezendes: Holy shit.
Matt Carroll: Robby.
Sacha Pfeiffer: That's three off Sipe's estimate. That's incredible.
Mike Rezendes: Robby.
Walter 'Robby' Robinson: How many?
Matt Carroll: 87.
Mike Rezendes: 87 priests in Boston.

Walter 'Robby' Robinson: Call Macleish. I wanna talk to him.

Walter 'Robby' Robinson: I'm out of time, Jim. We've got cover-up stories on 70 priests. But the boss isn't gonna run it unless I get confirmation from your side.
Jim Sullivan: Are you out of your mind?
Walter 'Robby' Robinson: Come on. This is our town, Jimmy. Everybody knew something was going on, and no one did a thing. We gotta

put an end to it.
Jim Sullivan: Don't tell me what I gotta do.

Mike Rezendes: I don't know why I got so pissed off. You know, I think Robby's wrong.
Sacha Pfeiffer: You know, you're just... you care about the story, Mike. We all do.
Mike Rezendes: Yeah, I guess.
Sacha Pfeiffer: Hmm. I stopped going to church with my nana. I-It was... it was too hard. I... you know, I'd be

sitting there, and I-I would start thinking about Joe Crowley or someone else, and I just... I just got so angry.
Mike Rezendes: Did you... did you tell her why?
Sacha Pfeiffer: [shaking her head] She goes to church three times a week, Mike.
Mike Rezendes: It really pisses me off. You know, I actually really liked going to

church when I was a little kid.
Sacha Pfeiffer: Mmm. Why'd you stop?
Mike Rezendes: Typical shit. But the weird thing is is... I think I... think I figured that maybe one day, I w... I... I would atually go back. I was really... I was holding on to that.
Sacha Pfeiffer: Mm-hmm.
Mike Rezendes: I read

those letters, and... and it... and something just... cracked.
Sacha Pfeiffer: It's a shitty feeling.
Mike Rezendes: Yeah. It's a shitty feeling.

Jack Dunn: I graduated in 1979, and I had no idea about any of this. So if you're suggesting that Father Gibbons and Father Callahan had in any way...
Walter 'Robby' Robinson: Gibbons and Callahan. I mean, they ran this place like the Navy. You really think they didn't know?
Jack Dunn: It's a big school, Robby. You know that. A-And

we're talking about seven alleged victims over, what, eight years?
Walter 'Robby' Robinson: No, we're talking about, you know, seven that we know about.
Jack Dunn: This is ridiculous. You're reaching for a story here.
Principal Bill Kemeza: Jack. Jack, Jack. If I had been president then, I would've known.
Jack

Dunn: Bill, I'm not sure that's relevant.
Principal Bill Kemeza: Why do you think they sent Talbot up to Cheverus? You know they wanted him out of town.
Pete Conley: Robby, as well-intentioned as Bill's remarks are, I'm hoping we can keep this between us until we all get on the same page.
Walter 'Robby' Robinson: Is

that why we're here, to get on the same page?

Matt Carroll: I got one of those treatment centers a block from my house. We got neighbors with kids. I know that the work we do is confidential, but I'm feeling like... I should tell 'em.
Walter 'Robby' Robinson: We'll tell 'em soon.
Matt Carroll: You sure?
Walter 'Robby' Robinson: Yeah.
Matt

Carroll: Okay.