Backdraft Page #3

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- if you're just gonna do this job--"

- Or be great at it, right?

He using that line of sh*t on you now?

You think he made that little gem up?

My old man used to use that line every other day.

It's no line, man!

That's no line.

[Fire Bell]

Hey, kid, we ain't waitin'!

Go, go, go!

Let's go! No, no, not that way!

What's going on?

Come on. Let's go!

It's lunch, Probies! Let's get started!

Ooo, caw, caw! A couple of crows, man!

[TV] That money will probably end up coming from--

- This better be good.

- Or we feed you to the thing.

Shut up. You got something against dalmatians?

[TV] Accident or murder?

That's the question arson investigators are struggling with...

after a freak explosion known by firefighters as a backdraft--

Hey, Pengelly, you're on TV.

- I saw you too!

- Look, that's me.

[TV] He's been identified as Alan Seagrave, a prominent Chicago C.P.A.

Despite pressure from the city council,

fire officials refuse to speculate on the cause,

saying only that their investigation is continuing.

- Gentlemen, gentlemen.

- Here he goes again.

As 17th's official toastmaster--

- And bullshitter.

- Thank you, Santos.

Did I mention you were cut out of my will?

I think it appropriate...

that we recognize the two asswipes... probationary firemen,

among us today, who were officially baptized...

into the world of old man fire.

First, to Tim.

Despite the fact he was born with a dull expression...

and a really hideous pair of ears,

he not only took on the beast,

but pulled from its clutches,

assisted by a more famous and brilliant firefighter... me,

a kicking and screaming civilian...

who'll probably wind up suing us for breaking her fingernails.

And to Brian.

Help me, Santos.

[Laughter, Whistling]

Whose own contribution...

was both more beautiful and less likely to sue us.

Son-of-a-b*tch.

When I heard that both McCaffrey brothers...

were being assigned here at this station at the same time,

my heart was filled with a... sudden desire to transfer.

So raise a glass, lads,

to funny-looking Tim and the McCaffrey brothers.

For despite the fact...

they've gotten on each other's nerves for years,

have managed with great effort to still be pissed off at each other.

Gentlemen...

[Everybody] F*** you!

[Car Radio] #War, yeah#

#What is it good for Absolutely nothing#

#Say it again, y'all War, look out#

#What is it good for Absolutely nothing#

#Listen to me Ohh war#

#I despise 'cause it means--#

Thanks for the ride.

Hey, Brian.

I'll see you tonight, huh?

Yeah, I'll see you tonight.

I've known Jack Fitzgerald since he was a candidate.

They had fire engines then?

- Get that man's name!

- I gotta say, he was just as ugly then.

Can I have a beer, please?

- Hey. How you doin'?

- Hey.

- ...home of the real firemen.

- [Groaning]

Enough of us stroking each other.

Here's the man we're here to honor,

- Chief Jack Fitzgerald.

- [Applause]

I know I speak for everybody here.

It's about time you retired...

and made a promotion for somebody else.

Think I oughta change the view.

[Fitzgerald] I couldn't have wished for a better life.

Thank you much.

- I don't believe this sh*t!

- Pretty boy, get a load of this.

Bull, wait'll you listen to this sh*t.

- Let me see.

- Hey-hey-hey.

"Probationary Fireman, Brian McCaffrey,

on his first fire, showed the bravery and courage of a veteran...

when he risked life and limb to...

- double-check a burning floor, alone.

- [Chuckling]

Emerging victoriously with Anna Rodriquez,

a seamstress for the North Shore Clothing Company."

Axe, get a load of this sh*t!

"McCaffrey first gained prominence as the subject...

of a 1972 Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph taken...

- at the scene of his father's death."

- That's me.

What are we gonna do about this?

- Hey, 17, what's going on?

- Well...

I think that it's union bylaw...

that if you get your picture in the paper, even if it's bullshit,

- you buy the whole company a drink.

- All right!

I know I'm gonna have another double... on the hero!

- Give him a hand over here.

- What's this?

Leave 'em alone.

Good job.

# [Irish Jig]

Brian McCaffrey, huh?

Brian, this is my boss, Alderman Swayzak. He wanted to meet you.

You should be proud of helping to save that woman's life.

- That was a hell of a job.

- Don't believe everything you read.

Don't be so modest, Brian.

See that?

That's a mannequin.

Look, Brian,

let me just get down to it, okay?

I've been checking you out. Jennifer can't say enough.

I need your help.

- I'm gonna offer you a job.

- I've already got a job.

The great thing about this job, it's still with the fire department.

One of your best investigators, Don Rimgale, is working a really tough case.

He needs an extra pair of hands.

If that name is gonna come from my office,

- I want it to be you.

- Why is that?

I want someone from a real traditional fire-fighting clan.

Yeah, we got all kinds of traditions...

like dying young. Thanks anyway.

Took you all of 30 seconds to blow that off.

Brian, I know it's not my place to say this,

but I think you're passing on a great opportunity.

- You're smarter than that.

- Look, Jen.

I'm trying to do something here. Can't you see that?

I'm trying to be a fireman,

not some kind of poster boy for Swayzak.

There's gotta be at least 500 other smoke eaters here...

that do that sh*t for real every day.

Why don't you tell Swayzak to talk to one of them?

#Lost the wanted driver#

#His crooked style forgotten and unchanged#

#He took a train to draw me over#

#You're not the only one#

#Caught where there's nothing for you#

[Grindle] Hey, Bull, slow down.

#I used to be king of the evening#

#And I'm not ungenerous now#

#The work is light but not easy#

Helen, can I talk to you for a minute?

- What about?

- It's about Sean.

Right here, right now, you wanna talk about Sean?

- How you doin', Stephen?

- Hey, Jackson.

You don't have to stop dancing.

It's only our son, for Christ's sake.

- Stephen, you don't have to remind me.

- Stephen,

- what about your dumbass brother?

- Wait a second.

Saving a mannequin. How f***in' stupid can a guy get?

- Stephen, relax.

- Let go.

Stephen!

You got anything else you want to say about my brother?

Goddamn you, McCaffrey!

Atta boy, Brian!

Take it outside!

- Knock it off!

- Come here, you son-of-a-b*tch!

Ow-ow-ow. Oh, I'm bleeding.

Jesus!

Knock it off. Come on, eh?

Hey! Knock it off.

Hey, hey, I'm fine.

Jesus, Stevie, you never know when to quit, do you?

Do you ever wonder why...

you're stuck a f***ing lieutenant for life?

No.

Come on. Let's get a drink.

- [Brian] You okay?

- Yeah, I'm all right.

Hey, whoa!

- Get him outta here!

- I just wanna get a drink.

You need to get the hell outta here. Let's go.

The whole family's crazy.

[Brian] You nailed him.

He's all right. He said something.

- What'd he say?

- I don't remember.

Listen, I can walk by myself.

Ow! I hurt my ankle, man.

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