Terry Gross

You investigate power and corruption in Tulsa, where this is set.

And you also break all the rules of journalism.

You get beaten up a lot.

And unlike the tough guys in a lot of hard-boiled film noir and in novels, when you get beaten up, you hurt.

You're crying out in pain.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And so I want to play a short scene.

This is toward the beginning of the first episode.

So you're investigating a powerful, wealthy guy who runs an investment company, has been buying up a lot of black owned businesses.

And you're wondering, like, what's this about?

Tracy Letts plays that guy.

You've walked into his office, dressed way too casually for a meeting like this, and you start looking around the room, picking up things, examining them, sniffing the carafe of brandy, and being intentionally sarcastic and rude.

So let's pick it up with the clip.

So, Ethan Hawke, the series is inspired by film noir, but it's also kind of a satire of the genre.

Your character talks tough, but as I said, gets beaten up a lot.

Are you a fan of noir novels, you know, hard-boiled novels or film noir?

So what was your take on this character?

Like, what did you model him on?

It's time to take another break, so let me reintroduce you.