Thank You for Smoking thank you for smoking English scriptThank You for Smoking script Robin Williger He is a 15-year-old freshman from Racine Wisconsin He enjoys studying history Hes on the debate te

f Ivy League law schools and give them $200,000 a year to start. They make sure we're protected from all those frivolous lawsuits that the public keeps throwing our way. And finally, we have me, the chief spokesman for the tobacco industry. I have a job that requires a certain moral flexibility. (laughter) And while I may be a bit of a scoundrel, I'm not a monster. I'm just doing my job, which happens to be defending an industry that creates jobs, produces a legal product, and pays its taxes. So, if you'll excuse me, I have a flight to catch. (applause)

(Scene changes to Nick in a restaurant with two reporters)

REPORTER 1: How many people do you think die each year from smoking-related illnesses?

NICK: We don't know, and we don't care. Those people were gonna die anyway. (laughter)

REPORTER 2: That's a pretty callous thing to say.

NICK: Well, let's face it, smoking is not for everyone. We have to be honest about that. We're not trying to force anyone to smoke. That's not our job. We're just here to make sure that those who do choose to smoke have the freedom to do so without harassment from the government or anyone else.

REPORTER 1: What about the children who start smoking?

NICK: That's not our target demographic. We don't want kids smoking. We want adults smoking. And if we can convince them to start, well, that's just good business.

REPORTER 2: So, you don't think that smoking is addictive?

NICK: Nicotine is not addictive. It's a mild stimulant, like caffeine. And if you don't believe me, just ask Erhardt Von Grupten Mundt. He'll tell you the same thing.

(Scene changes to Nick in a meeting with other tobacco executives)

NICK: Gentlemen, we have a problem. The anti-smoking lobby is gaining ground. The government is cracking down on us. We need to change our strategy.

EXECUTIVE 1: What do you suggest?

NICK: We need to rebrand ourselves. We need to make smoking cool again.

EXECUTIVE 2: How do we do that?

NICK: We start by targeting the youth market. We create a new line of cigarettes that are hip, trendy, and edgy. We sponsor concerts, music festivals, and extreme sports events. We create a whole new culture around smoking.

EXECUTIVE 3: And what about the health risks?

NICK: We downplay them. We make smoking a lifestyle choice, not a health risk. We turn smokers into rebels, outcasts, and mavericks. We make them feel like they're sticking it to the man by smoking.

(Scene changes to Nick in a TV interview)

REPORTER: Mr. Naylor, how do you sleep at night knowing that you're responsible for the deaths of thousands of people each year?

NICK: Well, I sleep just fine, thank you. Because I know that I'm not responsible for anyone's death. The people who choose to smoke are responsible for their own actions. And if they happen to die from smoking-related illnesses, well, that's just the price they pay for their freedom.

REPORTER: But don't you think that the tobacco industry has a moral obligation to warn people about the dangers of smoking?

NICK: We do. We put warning labels on our products. We fund anti-smoking campaigns. But at the end of the day, it's up to the individual to decide whether or not they want to smoke. And if they do, that's their choice.

(Scene changes to Nick in a meeting with a Hollywood producer)

PRODUCER: Mr. Naylor, we love your idea for a movie about a tobacco lobbyist who turns into a whistleblower. But we have some concerns.

NICK: What concerns?

PRODUCER: Well, for starters, the hero of the movie is a tobacco lobbyist. That's not exactly a sympathetic character.

NICK: We can change that. We can make him a flawed but ultimately noble character.

PRODUCER: And what about the message of the movie? It seems to be anti-tobacco.

NICK: We can change that too. We can make the movie about the dangers of government overreach, about the importance of individual freedom, about the power of big business to stand up to the tyranny of the state.

PRODUCER: I see. And what about the ending? Does he win or lose?

NICK: He wins, of course. Because in America, the good guys always win.

(Scene changes to Nick in a bar with a young reporter)

REPORTER: Mr. Naylor, I have to ask you, do you ever feel guilty about what you do?

NICK: Guilty? Why would I feel guilty? I'm just doing my job.

REPORTER: But your job is to defend a product that kills people.

NICK: My job is to defend the rights of smokers to smoke. My job is to defend the rights of businesses to make a profit. My job is to defend the principles of freedom and individual choice that this country was founded on.

REPORTER: But what about the people who die from smoking-related illnesses? What about their families?

NICK: What about them? They made a choice. They knew the risks. And if they didn't, well, that's not my problem. My problem is making sure that the tobacco industry remains profitable, that it remains a vital part of the American economy, and that it remains an icon of American culture.

(Scene changes to Nick in a hospital room with Robin Williger)

NICK: Hi there, Robin. I heard you're a big fan of cigarettes.

ROBIN: I used to be.

NICK: Well, let me tell you something, Robin. Cigarettes are not the problem. The problem is people who don't know how to smoke. People who don't know how to enjoy a good smoke without getting addicted. People who don't know how to live life on their own terms. You don't want to be like them, do you?

ROBIN: No, I don't.

NICK: That's good. Because you're a smart kid, Robin. You're going to do great things in life. You just need to remember one thing. Smoking is not a habit, it's a lifestyle. And if you're going to smoke, you need to do it with style. (Nick hands Robin a cigarette)

ROBIN: I don't think I should.

NICK: It's okay, Robin. It's your choice. Just remember, smoking is not cool. It's the coolest thing there is. (Nick exits)

(Scene changes to Nick in a TV interview)

REPORTER: Mr. Naylor, what do you say to critics who accuse you of being a shill for the tobacco industry?

NICK: I say that I'm proud to be a shill for the tobacco industry. I'm proud to defend a product that has brought joy and pleasure to millions of people around the world. I'm proud to defend a product that has created jobs, paid taxes, and fueled the American economy for generations. And I'm proud to defend the principles of freedom and individual choice that this country was founded on. So, if you'll excuse me, I have a cigarette break to take. (Nick exits)

(Scene changes to Nick in his office, smoking a cigarette)

NICK: (voiceover) Look, I'm not defending smoking. I'm defending freedom. The freedom to make your own choices, to live your own life, and to take risks if you want to. That's what America is all about. And if you don't like it, well, tough. Because I'm not going anywhere. I'm Nick Naylor, and I'm the face of cigarettes. The Colonel Sanders of nicotine. And I'm not going to stop until every last smoker in this country is free to smoke without fear or guilt. (Nick takes a drag on his cigarette and exhales) Because that's what freedom is all about. (fade out