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Wonderly.

The Wondry! It's November 20th, 1952 at the Superior Court in Los Angeles, California.

A buzz ripples around the courtroom as 46-year-old film producer Howard Hughes

steps into the witness stand. Reporters lean forward, pens poised, ready to capture every word

of his much-anticipated testimony. The lawyer rises to speak. Now, Mr. Hughes, did you

yourself make the decision to fire my client, Mr. Jericho?

Howard casts a glance across the courtroom.

His former employee, screenwriter Paul Jericho, sits stone-faced, eyes locked on Howard.

Yes, it was my call to let Mr. Jericho go.

And when exactly did you make that decision?

Was it before or after the Las Vegas story was filmed?

I believe it was after a filming had wrapped. Thank you, Mr. Hughes. And on what grounds did you make

this decision? I fired him because I learned that he's a communist. That's the sort of thing that

might fly at other studios, but commies aren't welcome at RKO. I see. And your reasoning was that Mr. Jericho's

alleged and unproven political beliefs were a violation of his contract? That's right,

the Morals Clause. Ah, the Morals Clause. I gather you're quite familiar with that particular part

of the contract, aren't you, Mr. Hughes? I'm sorry, I don't know what you're getting at.

The Morals Clause could have been

...