The Post

Vietnam 1966. Daniel Ellsberg with soldiers. Witnessing war. Documenting. Later Pentagon analyst. Creating secret study. Before leak. Government lying to public about unwinnable war. Truth buried in classified documents.

Judge quote: "The press serves the governed, not the governors." Theme of free press vs. government power, courage to publish truth, and role of journalism in democracy. Speaking truth to power.

Kay Graham, Washington Post publisher. Inherited paper after husband suicide. Male-dominated industry. Insecure. Company going public. Editor Ben Bradlee ambitious. Post behind NY Times. Trying to compete. Before crisis forces decision.

NY Times publishes Pentagon Papers - government lied about Vietnam for decades. Bombshell. Nixon administration sues Times, stops publication. First Amendment crisis. Bradlee wants to publish too. Scoop opportunity. But also principle at stake.

Should Post publish? Legal danger. Injunction possible. IPO threatened. Prison for Graham and Bradlee possible. Nixon targeting press. But truth matters. Public deserves to know. Freedom of press at stake. Risk everything or stay safe?

Reporter finds Ellsberg source. Gets Pentagon Papers. Post has documents. Enters world of racing to publish before injunction. Working all night. Lawyers terrified. Bradlee determined. Graham must decide. All night sorting documents. Deadline looming.

Kay Graham finding voice. Surrounded by men dismissing her. Bradlee respects her but pushes. Board members patronizing. Daughter watching. Must become true leader. Also Graham and Bradlee partnership. Trust building. Two strong people finding respect.

Newsroom energy. Sorting documents. Reporting stories. Bradlee leadership. Reporters excited. Promise: journalism thriller, racing clock, Pentagon Papers revelations, newspaper collaboration. Democracy in action. Truth emerging from secrets.

Times injunction upheld. Cannot publish more. Post decision now crucial. Only paper that can continue story. False victory: have exclusive! But government will sue. Prison likely. Graham must choose: publish or protect company. Everything on her.

Board pressuring Graham not to publish. Lawyers threatening resignation. McNamara family friend, involved in lies. Investors worried. Nixon administration threatening. Bradlee waiting for decision. Graham isolated. Enormous pressure. Clock ticking.

IOI reaches third key. Deploying Cataclyst bomb - will kill all avatars, erase progress. Wade loses everything in OASIS. Zero. Samantha still trapped. Sorrento winning. Virtual life destroyed. Real life endangered. Total defeat imminent.

Graham almost decides not to publish. Too risky. Company at stake. Legacy of husband. But also betraying journalism. Trapped between safety and principle. Weight unbearable. Alone with decision. Most important moment of life.

Graham remembering husband. Father. Paper is family legacy. But also public trust. What would be right choice? Fear of failure vs. courage of conviction. Moment of truth. Woman alone making decision affecting democracy.

Graham: "Let us go. Let us publish." Synthesis: principle over profit. Press freedom over safety. Woman finds voice in male world. Courage over fear. Historic decision. Democracy protected. First Amendment defended.

Post publishes! Supreme Court rules for newspapers 6-3. Free press protected. Nixon furious. Graham transformed into leader. Bradlee victorious. Truth published. Government lies exposed. Democracy works. Press freedom secured. Journalistic triumph.

Nixon White House. Watergate break-in planning. "Washington Post." Next scandal coming. Graham and Bradlee ready now. Press emboldened. Woman publisher proved herself. Free press protected democracy. Chain of truth continues. Hope for accountability.