Mad City Page #2

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Could be dying. | You want that on camera?

They didn't pull the plug | when the "Challenger" blew up.

Our viewers don't need to see blood.

We're telling them what's happening. | Mort is.

and you're giving them radio.

- It's the story of your career.

In 24 hours there's 1000 people here. | If you don't record it, they will.

- Please don't blow this. | - Go.

Yeah, move.

We have reestablished our live | hookup to the museum. Max?

Yes, Mort, I am still here.

Sorry, the camera's not responding.

approaching the wounded man.

I can't make him out.

Why are we on TV?

Oh, my God. You're bleeding.

- Can you walk? | - I don't know.

I just called the ambulance.

Max, how are the children?

These kids are very frightened.

They're together in the lobby | with the curator next to them.

keeping them calm.

A man has been shot.

situation here.

Oh, God.

We're live. | Max Brackett, KXBD News.

Wanna tell us why you're here? | You don't? Okay.

- We lost him. | - What happened?

Max, can you hear me?

Max Brackett, are you there?

Max, are you there?

with Max Brackett, reporting...

This is not news, brothers.

Stories like this happen every day.

What we have here is news | for all time in the word of God.

Out of there! Back up! | There's an armed man inside!

Franklin, Johnson, I want those people | off the steps now!

What happened?

Sir, can you tell me who shot you? | How do you feel?

Sir, can you tell us who shot you? | Are you all right?

Can you tell us who shot you? | One man? Two men?

There's the chief!

Chief Lemke, | do you have any plans yet?

- Any statement? | - What are you going to do?

the victim is Clifford Williams...

... a security guard at the museum.

Mom! It's Dad.

- In front of the museum.

Flooding has claimed four lives. | Coming up...

...an unexpected role for pigeons | in New York at the United Nations.

We'll have that story when we return.

We're back in two.

I heard you talking | during the broadcast. What's up?

Hostage situation.

- Who's feeding us this? | - Our affiliate in Madeline.

Guess who the reporter | in the museum is. Max Brackett.

I knew that bastard | would pop up again.

Here's the tease you use | at the top of the hour.

I'm not sharing a broadcast with him.

Say, "The situation's unfolding. | Tune in tonight for an update."

I'm not teasing a story | I know nothing about.

I promise a story, it evaporates. | How does that make me look?

- It comes from above. | - We're back in 30.

- Foolishness because somebody thinks | this is a good lead-in.

- Back in 20. | - With Brackett, it won't evaporate.

Kevin, it's a guy getting shot, | bunch of kids taken hostage.

It's good television. | And no other net has it.

He can't be trusted. I'm not going | on the air with that crazy man.

- Kind of before the beginning of time. | - Five, and...

I wanna find out how Brackett got | there and what the hell he's doing.

to use firepower...

It was an accident, moron.

- Boys. | - It's broken.

I just want my job back.

Now look at this. Look at this!

Look. I'm never gonna | get my job back now.

Everybody knows who I am, | where I...

Everyone knows where I am | because of you.

- No, because you shot someone. | - Shut up, newsboy.

Did you do this | to get your job back?

What do you think?

That's for you.

If you make contact...

...tell them everyone is okay. | You'll buy yourself time.

I'll tell them they better back off | because I will shoot someone.

I'll throw your body | out the front door.

- I wouldn't do that. | - Why not?

That'll make them jumpy. They might | do something we'll all regret.

Remember that hostage situation | in Torrance years ago?

- Car dealership. | - Four people died. One was the gunman.

- Shut up! | - I was there. I covered that story.

- Hello? | - This is Chief Alvin Lemke.

Am I speaking to the man | responsible for this?

- Yep, you are. | - Could I have your name, please?

No.

Hey, how's that guy Cliff? | Is he all right?

No, he's in the hospital! | May I have your name?

You gotta know I didn't mean | to shoot him. That was an accident.

That's a good thing.

We'll take that into account | if you give up now.

No.

- I don't think so. | - He's a killer.

I can't do that.

What are your demands?

- My what? | - What do you want?

Hold on.

- He said, "What are my demands?" | - Tell him.

I don't got any. | I didn't plan this.

Miss, you're making | my job very difficult.

Tell them that you'll talk | when you're ready.

- And no bodies out the front door. | - All right.

I want everybody to back off, | and I'll talk when I'm good and ready.

Hello? He hung up.

- How was that? | - Sounded good to me.

That was good. That was good. | All right.

Okay. Okay. Okay.

Why don't you kids just sit down? | Just sit down.

All right, now what's next?

Give up or you get yourself | some demands.

- Like what? | - Money.

- Ransom. | - I can't take money I didn't earn.

I want my job back.

You gotta ask for a fast car, | a Learjet, or a Greyhound bus.

You need a valid demand, | or you'll make them nervous.

- I came to get my job back. | - Why did you bring a gun?

- I want her to listen! | - Who?

Mrs. Banks!

Look...

...I can't go out there. | If I do, I'll be put in prison.

- I can't take care of my family there. | - There's different ways of giving up.

What?

- Ways? | - Can I show you something?

Here. No, it's dangerous.

You got another window in this place? | Listen.

Slowly. Slowly.

- Ever arrested? | - No.

- That's very good. | - American bald eagle.

I want you to look at this.

See those people?

Not the cops, not the news media.

I want you to look. Go on. | See? The people.

- Public opinion. | - I guess.

It's a powerful force. | You got a problem right now.

Those people hate your guts.

Holding kids hostage is a no-no. | At best, they think you're nuts.

But I'm not.

I mean, not usually. | Jenny tells me I don't think.

Who's Jenny?

- My wife. | - And you're...?

"Sam."

I don't think you're crazy.

You're an ordinary guy | who's popped his top.

You must connect with those people.

They know what it's like to lose their | job, or know someone who has.

They'll understand | if you give them a chance.

What you might want to do, | before you give up...

...is let those people know | what you're about.

How?

If I put a camera on | and interview you...

...and you tell them what's going on, | they'll want to know.

Don't you?

No.

That's your jury pool out there.

All right.

- Exchange the kids for the interview. | - No.

You help them, they help you.

- One. One, that's it. | - One's good.

I can't do that. I can't put | a hostage-taker on television.

I understand, but he's insisting | that I put him on now.

"As a good faith gesture, | I'll let a child go."

"Once Mr. Brackett has put me on TV, | I will...

...consider releasing others."

- No, you let everybody go first. | - Hold on.

- He said let everybody go. | - He can't negotiate with your emotions.

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