Letterman was buying from him the rights of the screenplay.
Letterman thought it was extortion and this guy thought it was a business deal. Elcheapo decided he didn’t want buy it from Halderman and cries extortion.
Letterman thought it was extortion and this guy thought it was a business deal. Elcheapo decided he didn’t want buy it from Halderman and cries extortion.
That's certainly Halderman's defense. He used his skills in investigative TV journalism to amass a damaging profile of Letterman the goat. It turns out to be a tough sell as a TV expose. So Halderman figures to get paid for his effort he'll "pitch" it to WorldWide Pants. Maybe they'd be "interested"?
It's still extortion even if thinly veiled as a business proposition.