American scandal uses dramatizations that are based on true events.

Some elements, including dialogue, might be invented, but everything is based on historical research.

It's March 2018 in Claremont, a small city just outside Los Angeles, California.

Late morning sunlight slants through the blinds of the office of William Conan.

Narrow bars or shadow stretch across his desk, and a cup of coffee goes cold in his hands,

as Conan sits lost in thought. Conan is a CEO of Hyd goes cold in his hands, as Conan sits lost and thawed.

Conan is a CEO of hydrospace, a sub-sea and aerospace engineering company.

Last year, they were contracted by the entrepreneur Stockton Rush to design an experimental

porthole for his new Titan submersible. Conan only supplied it on the understanding that Rush

and his company

Ocean Gate would get the new window thoroughly tested, but what he's heard about Titan's

development in the month since has him worried. Conan is also a senior figure in the

Marine Technology Society, a professional organization of engineers and inventors, and several

other members have been reaching out to him

to share their concerns about the Titan. Conan feels pressure to step in, but he knows Stockton

Rush won't appreciate the interference, so he needs some advice. He reaches for his phone

and calls someone he thinks can help.

Yeah, Rob McCallin speaking.

Engineer Rob McCallum is also a member of the Marine Technology Society.

Hey, Rob, it's Will Conan.

Will, how are you?

Well, to be honest, I'm worried when I think you know why.

...