Going Clear

by Lawrence Wright

  62 it was simply impossible: Joe Childs and Thomas C. Tobin, “Church of Scientology Runs Afoul of Widely Accepted Best Practices for Fundraising,” Tampa Bay Times, Nov. 20, [year tk].

  63 who was a bank teller: Interview with Garry Scarff.

  64 Stephen E. Brackett: American Safety Casualty Insurance Company and National American Insurance Company of California v. Nancy Cartwright and YO NANCY, INC., Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles, Sept. 21, 2010.

  65 The biggest financial scandal: Notice of Lodging of the Reporter’s Transcript of Proceedings of the Sentencing Hearing in United States v. Reed E. Slatkin, United States Bankruptcy Court, Central District of California, Northern Division, Sept. 25, 2003.

  66 Anne Archer and … Greta Van Susteren: Rathbun, The Scientology Reformation, p. 26.

  67 pay back $3.5 million: E. Scott Reckard, “Scientology Groups to Pay Back $3.5 Million,” Los Angeles Times, Nov. 8, 2006.

  68 Valeska Paris: www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v​=XWJlEWWLvLM;markrathbun.wordpress.com/​2010/06/20/keepin-it-real-on-fathers-day/.

  69 Shortly before Cruise arrived: Tony Ortega, “Scientology’s Cruise Ship as Prison,” Runnin’ Scared (blog), The Village Voice, Nov. 29, 2011, blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/11/​valeska_paris_chris_guider_scientology_​freewinds.php.

  70 “the most dedicated”: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh2uS-Om–Bs.

  71 Lana Mitchell, the cook: Lana Mitchell, personal communication.

  72 paying a significant portion: Interview with Roger Christian.

  73 “I told my manager”: Glenn Whipp, “The Battle for ‘Earth’: Travolta’s Scientology Ties Raise Controversy over New Film,” Los Angeles Daily News, May 12, 2000.

  74 His critiques would then be: The head of Author Services International, Barbara Ruiz, was constantly with Travolta. Interview with Roger Christian.

  75 He predicted it was: Interview with Mike Rinder.

  76 Even at the premiere, Sea: Interviews with Spanky Taylor and Noriyuki Matsumaru.

  77 “ ‘Battlefield Earth’ may well”: Elvis Mitchell, “Earth Capitulates in 9 Minutes to Mean Entrepreneurs from Space,” New York Times, May 12, 2000.

  78 There were false accusations: Interview with Roger Christian.

  79 Miscavige responded that it: Interview with Mark “Marty” Rathbun.

  80 “Why didn’t anyone watch”: Mark McKinstry, personal communication.

  81 Shelly Miscavige had been: Interview with Claire Headley.

  82 Penélope was suspect: Interview with Mark “Marty” Rathbun. The church denied that they objected to Cruz’s religious beliefs; see Maureen Orth, “What Katie Didn’t Know: Marriage, Scientology-Style,” Vanity Fair, October 2012.

  83 “I want you to look”: Interview with Tom De Vocht.

  84 Miscavige then assigned Greg: Headley, Blown for Good, p. 279.

  85 Shelly Miscavige, the leader’s: Interviews with Claire Headley and Noriyuki Matsumaru.

  86 Wilhere, who was actually in the Hole: Ibid. According to Vanity Fair, Scientology denies that any clothes were purchased or that Wilhere was sent to New York “for this phantom project that never existed.”

  87 Nazanin Boniadi: Boniadi’s story comes from four off-the-record former Scientologists, in addition to the published sources.

  88 “was a military commander”: Hubbard, “The Responsibilities of Leaders,” HCO Bulletin, Feb. 12, 1967, corrected and reissued Sept. 4, 1979.

  89 Then came the shopping spree: According to Vanity Fair, “Scientology denies that any such clothes were purchased or that any such trip took place ‘for this phantom project that never existed.’ ” Maureen Orth, “What Katie Didn’t Know,” Vanity Fair, Oct. 2012.

  90 She spent that first night: Ibid.

  91 “He needs to get his ethics”: Rathbun, The Scientology Reformation, p. 85.

  92 Naz had embarrassed Miscavige: Maureen Orth, “What Katie Didn’t Know,” Vanity Fair, Oct. 2012. The church told Vanity Fair, “Mr. Miscavige doesn’t remember any girlfriend of anyone, in his entire life, insulting him.”

  93 “You don’t get it”: Interview with Mark “Marty” Rathbun; also, Rathbun, The Scientology Reformation, p. 86. Tom Cruise’s attorney, Bertram Fields, denies that this exchange took place. “He’s never said anything like that, and he doesn’t think that. This is vicious rubbish.”

  94 Naz’s last glimpse was: Maureen Orth, “What Katie Didn’t Know,” Vanity Fair, Oct. 2012.

  95 The search for a new mate: Morton, Tom Cruise, pp. 261–66.

  96 The names included Kate Bosworth: Morton, Tom Cruise, p. 270; “Katie Holmes’ Missing Days,” FoxNews.com, June 21, 2005, http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,160192,00.html.

  97 Holmes was an ingénue: Sara Stewart, “Katie Loves Her Cruise Control,” New York Post, June 12, 2005.

  98 “I think every young girl dreams”: Jeannette Walls, “No ‘Risky Business’ for Cruise, Holmes,” MSNBC.com, May 2, 2005.

  99 “I was in love from”: Ibid., p. 271.

  100 nighttime helicopter ride: Interview with Noriyuki Matsumaru.

  101 “best friend”: Robert Haskell, “Holmes, Sweet Holmes,” W, Aug. 2005; “Katie Holmes’ Missing Days,” FoxNews.com, June 21, 2005, www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,160192,00.html.

  102 “Something’s happened”: The Oprah Winfrey Show, May 23, 2005.

  103 Today show: Today show, June 25, 2005.

  104 “At this stage”: Ibid.

  105 “five billion years ago”: Hubbard, “Aberration and the Sixth Dynamic,” lecture on Nov. 13, 1956.

  106 “place Scientology at the absolute”: David Miscavige speech, International Association of Scientologists, Copenhagen, Oct. 6, 1995.

  107 The Citizens Commission on: www.cchr.org/quick-facts/real-disease-vs-mental-disorder.html.

  108 “Whatever type of drugs that Zawahiri”: Larry Byrnes, The Know Drugs Show, Freedom magazine video, video.google.fr/videoplay?docid=4437051883726295326.

  109 more than twenty percent of children: Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General, www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/​mentalhealth/chapter3/sec1.html.

  110 About ten percent of Americans: Marcia Angell, “The Epidemic of Mental Illness: Why?” New York Review of Books, June 23, 2011.

  111 “I identified”: Interview with Paul Haggis.

  112 Kirstie Alley and Kelly Preston: Alisa Ulferts, “Scientologists Push Mental Health Law,” St. Petersburg Times, April 9, 2005. Katherine Mieszkowski, “Scientology’s War on Psychiatry,” Salon, July 1, 2005. Retrieved from http://www.salon.com/2005/07/01/sci_psy/.

  113 “None of these children were psychotic”: Alisa Ulferts, “Panel Waters Down Limits on Student Mental Services,” St. Petersburg Times, April 20, 2005.

  114 Eli Lilly … suppressed data: Marilyn Elias, “Prozac Linked to Child Suicide Risk,” USA Today, Sept. 13, 2004.

  115 were twelve times more: Tom Watkins, “Papers Indicate Firm Knew Possible Prozac Suicide Risk,” CNN Health, Jan. 3, 2005.

  116 One of the killers was: Joel Achenbach and Dale Russakoff, “Teen Shooter’s Life Paints Antisocial Portrait,” Washington Post, April 29, 1999.

  117 “can experience nervousness”: W. Alexander Morton and Gwendolyn G. Stockton, “Methylphenidate Abuse and Psychiatric Side Effects,” The Primary Care Companion to the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 2, no. 5 (Oct. 2000).

  118 Several studies have found: Thomas P. Laughren, “Overview for December 13 Meeting of Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee (PDAC),” memorandum, Nov. 16, 2006.

  119 saving 33,600 lives: Michael S. Milane, Marc A. Suchard, Ma-Li Wong, Julio Licinio, “Modeling of the Temporal Patterns of Fluoxetine Prescriptions and Suicide Rates in the United States,” PLoS Medicine 3, no. 6 (June 2006), pp. 816–24.

  120 Jeremy Perkins: “Scientology: A Question of Faith,” CBS News, May 7, 2009.

  121 she came close to jumping: Affidavit of Hana Eltringham Whi
tfield, Mar. 8, 1994.

  122 It was only when she: Interview with Hana Eltringham Whitfield.

  123 “It has changed my”: “Prozac Frees Ex-Scientology Leader from Depression,” Psychiatric Times 8, no. 6 (June 1991).

  124 The Los Angeles County: www.whyaretheydead.info/flo_barnett/coroner.html.

  125 In 2007, Kyle Brennan: Plaintiff’s Supplement to Response to Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment, Estate of Kyle Thomas Brennan vs. Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization, Inc., Denise Miscavige Gentile, Gerald Gentile, and Thomas Brennan, US District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division.

  126 costs approximately $25,000: Ibid.; and Tony Ortega, “Jamie De Wolf, L. Ron Hubbard’s Great Grandson, Gaining More Notoriety for His Views on Scientology,” Runnin’ Scared (blog), The Village Voice, July 26, 2012.

  127 suit was dismissed: Joe Childs and Thomas C. Tobin, “Appeals Court Upholds Dismissal of Wrongful Death Suit Against Church of Scientology,” Tampa Bay Times, Sept. 21, 2012.

  128 “It is irresponsible for Mr. Cruise”: www.rickross.com/reference/scientology/​psychiatry/psychiatry7.html.

  129 But at the 2005 annual: Morton, Tom Cruise, p. 292.

  130 “If someone wants to get off drugs”: “Spiegel Interview with Tom Cruise and Steven Spielberg,” Spiegel, Apr. 27, 2005.

  131 “a movie of intense fascination”: Roger Ebert, “Crash,” Chicago Sun Times, May 5, 2005.

  132 “frustrating movie”: A. O. Scott, “Bigotry as the Outer Side of Inner Angst,” New York Times, May 6, 2005.

  133 most powerful actor: “The Power List,” Premiere, June 2006.

  134 most powerful celebrity: “Tom Cruise Ranked 1 among the Top 100 Celebrities in 2006,” Forbes, May 1, 2007.

  135 “Cruise was drooling”: Interview with John Brousseau.

  136 “It was a half-million-dollar beauty”: Ibid.

  137 “Oh, J.B.”: Tony Ortega, “ ‘Tom Cruise Worships David Miscavige like a God’: The John Brousseau Story, Part Two,” Runnin’ Scared (blog), The Village Voice, July 29, 2012.

  138 “None of the Church staff”: Church of Scientology responses to queries.

  139 reincarnations of Simón Bolívar and Manuela Sáenz: Interview with Tom De Vocht. Mark “Marty” Rathbun, Moving on Up a Little Higher; Commemorative Edition, p. 106.

  140 “The bulldog was gone”: Interview with John Brousseau.

  141 Former Sea Org members say: Ibid.; Mark “Marty” Rathbun, personal communication.

  142 Miscavige sent Shelly: Interview with Noriyuki Matsumaru.

  143 Among the celebrities attending: Morton, Tom Cruise, pp. 307–8.

  10. THE INVESTIGATION

  1 “The sexual pervert”: Hubbard, Dianetics, p. 103.

  2 “the most dangerous and wicked level”:” Hubbard, The Science of Survival, p. 88. Hubbard’s remarks about homosexuality don’t appear in later editions of the book.

  3 “This is the level”: Ibid., p. 89.

  4 “to dispose of them quietly”: Ibid., p. 157.

  5 “Homosexuality is about as serious”: Hubbard, “The Resolution of the Second Dynamic,” lecture, Oct. 1952.

  6 “sacked for homosexuality”: Hubbard: HCO Executive Letter: Amprinistics, Sept. 27, 1965.

  7 “It has never been any part”: Hubbard, “Second Dynamic Rules,” HCO Policy Letter, Aug. 11, 1967.

  8 Gays in the church: Interview with Guy White.

  9 “to make go away”: Interview with Mark “Marty” Rathbun.

  10 In 2003, a gay artist: Interview with Michael Pattinson.

  11 “I was just floored”: Interview with Lauren Haggis.

  12 In 1996, the church sent: Tony Ortega, “Sympathy for the Devil,” New Times L.A., Sept. 27, 2001. The church explains, “In 1996, the Church had in place a program to assist members to post websites about their activities as Scientologists. The Church included in the program a spam filter that these parishioners could use to modulate the inquiries they received as a result of placing their personal stories as Scientologists on the Internet. This program lasted about a year.” Karin Pouw, personal communication.

  13 “The worldwide interest in Scientology”: www.youtube.com/watch/v=OfbLn9xPW4.

  14 “Hana told us”: Interview with Mary Benjamin.

  15 “I was PTS, but I”: “Celebrity Interview: Kelly Preston,” Celebrity, #376, undated.

  16 “It was that”: Interview with Deborah Rennard Haggis.

  17 “Until then”: Ibid.

  18 “We tried to do”: Letter from “Mom and Bob” to Deborah and Paul Haggis, Sept. 14, 2006.

  19 “You don’t have any money”: Joe Childs and Thomas C. Tobin, “The Truth Rundown,” St. Petersburg Times, June 21, 2009.

  20 “It was immensely tender”: Joe Childs and Thomas C. Tobin, “Scientology’s Response to Church Defectors: ‘Total Lies,’ ” St. Petersburg Times, June 20, 2009.

  21 “At the top of the church”: Interview with Paul Haggis.

  22 “We ran ourselves completely”: Interview with Jenna Miscavige Hill.

  23 These stories reminded him: The church says that it adheres to “all child labor laws,” and that minors can’t sign up without parental consent; the freeloader tabs are an “ecclesiastical matter” and are not enforced through litigation.

  24 “They were ten, twelve”: Interview with Paul Haggis.

  25 “He turned off all women”: Bryan Burrough, “Sleeping with the Fishes,” Vanity Fair, Dec. 2006.

  26 “Being a Scientologist”: “Tom Cruise Scientology Video—(Original UNCUT),” www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFBZ_uAbxS0.

  27 “When somebody enrols”: Hubbard, “Keeping Scientology Working,” HCO Policy L, Feb. 7, 1965.

  28 “We were a bunch of kids”: Interview with Gregg Housh.

  29 “We shall proceed to expel”: Anonymous, Message to Scientology, video, Jan. 21, 2008.

  30 the star had a favor: Haggis remembers the show being Larry King Live. A former professional associate of Cruise’s says it was Oprah, although both shows may have been approached.

  31 “Yeah, I get that it sounds crazy”: Paul Haggis, personal communication.

  32 “I came across”: Matt Lauer interview with Tom Cruise, Today, Dec. 15, 2008.

  33 “a rocket ride”: Interview with Jason Beghe.

  34 “Nobody tells me”: Interview with Paul Haggis.

  35 “Tommy”: Paul Haggis, e-mail to Tommy Davis, Aug. 19, 2009.

  36 “If you audit somebody”: Interview with Marc Headley.

  37 “I just left”: Interview with John Brousseau.

  38 “Hey, J.B.”: Ibid.

  39 “seashells and butterflies”: Interview with Mike Rinder.

  40 “No clearer than when”: Interview with Anne Archer.

  41 “it was like reading”: Interview with Mark Isham.

  42 They showed up at his office: Interviews with Michael Nozik and Gian Sardar.

  43 “Tommy, you are absolutely right”: Interview with Paul Haggis.

  44 “You’re a journalist”: Interview with Paul Haggis.

  45 “Paul, what the hell!”: Ibid.

  11. TOMMY

  1 “It made little difference”: Interview with Tommy Davis.

  2 “I want our time”: Tommy Davis, personal correspondence.

  3 “Maybe Paul shouldn’t have”: Interview with Jessica Feshbach.

  4 “I saw this girl”: Interview with Terry Jastrow.

  5 “We were friends”: Interview with Anne Archer.

  6 “I remember walking”: Ibid.

  7 He would wander around: Interview with Tommy Davis.

  8 “I am a really good dad”: Interview with Terry Jastrow.

  9 His father, William Davis: Christopher Wood, “The CenterPort Partners,” Denver Business Journal, Nov. 29, 1991.

  10 “a sweet and bright boy”: Interview with Paul Haggis. Tommy Davis told me in one instance that he didn’t meet Haggis until 1991, but on another occasion he said
he has known Haggis since he was eighteen years old.

  11 Archer had taken him: William Shaw, “The Cult of Personalities,” Details, Feb. 1996.

  12 “You can either go to college”: Interview with John Peeler.

  13 Davis would arrange for: Interview with Tiziano Lugli.

  14 “Miscavige liked the fact”: Interview with Mike Rinder.

  15 “When we told Tommy”: Interview with Amy Scobee.

  16 Davis was disappointed: Interview with Tommy Davis.

  17 When Miscavige found out: Interview with Amy Scobee. Davis admits that he has the tattoo.

  18 Davis had been called Tom: Ibid.

  19 “I made the decision”: 20/20, Dec. 20, 1998.

  20 “Somehow dealing with Katie”: Interview with Mike Rinder.

  21 “He complained about”: Interview with Donna Shannon.

  22 Archer was also at the Clearwater base: Interview with Daniel Montalvo.

  23 “You’re Tommy Davis’s servant”: Interview with Mike Rinder.

  24 “gaunt, hollow-eyed”: John Sweeney, personal communication.

  25 “sadistic cult”: “The Secrets of Scientology,” Panorama (BBC), May 14, 2007.

  26 Are you a member of a sinister, brainwashing cult?” www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRfMrvpDzj8.

  27 “Who’s the witness?”: BBC footage, Mar. 31, 2007.

  28 “That’s not his temperament”: Thomas C. Tobin, “The Man Behind Scientology,” St. Petersburg Times, Oct. 25, 1998.

  29 “That’s the biggest lie: www.tampabay.com/specials/2009/​reports/project/rathbun.shtml.

  30 Marc Headley, one of: www.blogtalkradio.com/glosslip/2008/04/25/glosslip-from-our-lips-to-your-ears.

  31 Rinder says he witnessed: Mike Rinder, personal communication.

  32 Lana Mitchell, who worked: Interviews with Marc Headley and Mike Rinder; Lana Mitchell, markrathbun.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/​transcript_of_bryan_seymour_interview_with_lana_mitchell_17b1u9r-17b1u9t.pdf.

  33 “You get very hardened”: Interview with Mariette Lindstein.