El Camino Christmas Page #5

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- Don't say anything stupid.

Are you a hostage?

We want money, lots of money.

Do-re-mi. Big bills.

Christmastime, we didn't get any packages,

we're all pissed off in here.

Unmarked

and none of that blue dye or anything.

Bye.

Seriously?

What the f*** is wrong with you?

- I have always wanted to do that.

- You're out of your goddamn mind.

- You better call them back.

- They're at 911.

- They're gonna think you're part of this.

- They're not.

It's a bunch of dumb shits out there.

Well, that was an older man.

That wasn't that kid I spoke to earlier.

You saying it was an older man?

That's what I just said.

- Okay.

- So, who the hell is who in there?

Well, here's what we know.

Vicente Santos is the owner

of Santos Liquor Mart, and as such...

Damn it, I know what you got written

in your little notebook there, Sherlock.

That wasn't Vicente,

and it sure as hell wasn't Carl.

Well, I don't have a vehicle

for an old-timer.

- I got Vicente's blue pickup...

- Did you talk to that reporter yet?

- No.

- What the hell you waiting for?

Okay.

I'm hungry.

I think we should eat.

The peanuts just aren't doing it.

Come on. What do you say?

We are live, outside

of Vicente's Liquor Mart in El Camino,

in the midst of what appears

to be a hostage situation

on Christmas Eve.

Authorities cannot confirm the identities

of the hostages.

- However, Action 19 News has learned...

- Oh, my grace.

...that Deputy Carl Hooker,

of El Camino's sheriff's department,

is trapped inside the mart.

So, Carl, why don't you tell us

what really happened last night?

You'll find out in court,

or at his funeral.

He don't know the truthat this point.

Come on.

Give us the truth.

- We're all friends here.

- What good is the truth?

The truth will set you free.

Set us free.

I mean, you're a drunk, we all know that.

- It's a small town.

- You're a drunk.

Yeah, but I don't hide behind a badge.

I don't drink and drive.

You ran a red light.

- He had narcotics in his system.

- Yeah?

- What'd you have in your system?

- Had a little blonde girl in my system.

How about that? Ha!

- That's disgusting.

- Tell you what, Carl.

Tell everybody here

what really happened last night,

and I'll walk outside

and surrender right now.

Is there anything else

you can tell us

about the people in the store

when you were shopping?

Not really.

Hello, ma'am.

I'm with the sheriff's department.

Oh, my! They hide that well on TV.

- Beth Flowers.

- Oh, I know.

Billy Calhoun.

Deputy Billy Calhoun.

Second-in-command here on the scene.

May I ask you a few questions?

- Yes, ma'am. That's why I'm here.

- Fantastic.

Deputy Calhoun, do you have any idea

who the gunman is?

Do you have a name? A suspect?

Uh, well, me and my partner and I,

Deputy Carl Hooker, H-O-O-K-E-R,

- arrested a young man last night.

- And what was he arrested for?

He was drug running.

Methamphetamine, we imagine.

We had the suspect, Mr.Eric Norris,

under surveillance

because he fit a profile

- with a gold credit card.

- Eric Norris...

- Drano.

- ...you said?

Well, it's just a feeling you get

when you've been doing this

as long as we have.

It's like a sixth sense.

- Off the record.

- Right.

Right.

So, the suspect posts bail

and was released?

Not exactly. No, ma'am.

He escaped.

- Escaped from?

- From our facilities.

County jail?

Yes, ma'am.

How does that happen, exactly?

You know, we just...

We want to get everyone

outta here safely,

and reunited with their loved ones

before this very special holiday.

All right.This is Beth Flowers

reporting from...

If you have any further questions,

I will be on scene.

Just look for...

Okay.

This is Beth Flowers, reporting live

from Vicente's Liquor Mart.

I'm gonna need some medical attention.

Start talking.

Oh, you're gonna have a dead cop

on your hands,

you don't get me out of here soon.

That's... that's life in prison.

He's right.

Dead pig...

no es bueno.

I just want my life back.

I wanna rewind before I ever came here.

You can do that.

I'm just gonna tell them what happened.

You know?

Everybody's got their own truth.

- You know?

- Yeah.

Only one of them's right.

Only God knows.

He probably knows you don't know sh*t.

The f*** you know, Vicente.

Remember when your alarm went off?

I was the first one to arrive here.

You were home...

taking care of your sick wife.

Remember?

Huh? I saved your business.

And you, blondie.

Who'd you come running to...

when your boyfriend

was slapping you around?

Hmm?

I ran that ingrate outta town.

And you, you f***ing drunk,

with your goddamn Vietnam sob story.

I been cleaning all your messes.

All y'all's.

See, that's my truth.

You, son, are a bad seed.

I'm just doing my job.

What's your truth?

My mom passed away.

I found a letter from my father.

I never met the guy.

So, I came here to try to close a loop.

And that's when you came along.

Well, damn. It's a Christmas miracle,

right here on County Road 191.

Folks, who wants a beer?

You got any of that Bud Lemon?

Bud Light Lemon, that's my favorite.

Got it.

Got it, buddy.

Ooh, ooh.

Stood up too fast.

All right!

It's Christmas. Yum!

Joy to the world

The Lord has come

And Earth receives her king

And everyone prepares his room

And heaven and nature sing

And heaven and nature sing

And heaven and nature sing

Come on.

Joy to the world, the Lord has come

And Earth receives her king

Come on.

And everyone, prepare his room

And heaven and nature sing

Billy.

Yeah?

Call the State Patrol.

State troopers?

This fruitcake is dancing in there.

Now, sing it big.

Joy! To the world

The Lord...

Sheriff Fuller, what can you tell us

about Eric Norris?

You see that barricade over there?

The one that you just walked over?

How would you like to spend Christmas

on a four-by concrete pad?

Sheriff, we're going national.

This is a live feed.

So, you either cooperate

and answer the questions,

or we report it as we see it.

It's up to you.

All right.

I'll give you one comment.

Sheriff, at exactly what time

did Eric Norris escape your custody?

We can't comment on thatat this time.

We also have not released

any statement indicating

that one Eric Norris is responsible

for this situation.

What exactly are you sure of, Sheriff?

I'll tell you what we know here.

There is a criminal in that liquor mart.

And he's holed up in there

with numerous hostages.

Exactly how many hostages,

we can't be certain at this time.

Now, you get your ass

behind that barricade.

Yes, sir. Thank you so much, sir.

I really appreciate it.

This is gonna get us live.

Seth needs to go to the bathroom.

All right. Fine.

Anybody else?

I'm good.

Piss on you.

Come on. Keep close.

Keep your heads down.

In there.

Why'd you wait so long

to come looking for him?

Uh... I didn't know anything about him.

My mom never talked about him.

I found all these letters

that he wrote to her.

Must have been a hundred of 'em.

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