Mad City Page #4

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That's what was going on in my mind.

- I couldn't tell my wife. | - You couldn't tell her you were fired?

I'd get dressed for work every day, | like a fool, and...

...go to a movie theater | and spend the day...

...eating popcorn, thinking.

And when you came here, | what did you want?

- I just wanted her to listen. | - Did you want to hurt her?

Not really.

Why'd you grab a gun and explosives | if you didn't want to hurt her?

- I don't know. | - You have to know.

Sam, this is critical.

When you grabbed that gun, | what went on in your head?

I thought of my babies.

Good point. What about them?

You see, if I lose my job, | I lose my house and my benefits...

...and I can't take care of them | if I lose my benefits.

I'm in front of Sam Baily's house with | his best friend, Travis Bartholomew.

That's right. I know Sam well.

We go fishing.

Is he weird or what?

Who is this guy? Who is this guy?

- Does he have a temper?

Temper?

If we could talk to a few of them...

Mr. Brackett said | that we only talk to him.

- Dangerous, yeah.

Dangerous. Whatever, you know?

You heard it from Sam's best friend. | Thank you very much.

How could Sam do this to us? | How could he?

There's some activity in the house. | Let's get a statement.

They're standing in my flowers! | That does it! That does it!

Would you get out of my flowers? | Do not stand in my flowers!

Has your husband been in contact | with you? Can we get a statement?

Jackson is with the victim's wife. | I'm being completely blocked out.

- Ready? | - Anytime.

Roll.

Your husband was kept on at the museum.

The white man who was let go, shot him.

- Did race have anything to do with it? | - Cliff and Sam were friends.

Sam didn't blame Cliff | for what happened.

At least, I don't think he did.

Christ, I'm going to hate this.

Chief, showtime.

Here we go.

It's about to start.

in the Museum of Natural History...

... to meet the hostage-taker.

We bring you an exclusive report.

- Max Brackett is inside the siege. | - Key in the graphic.

a loving husband...

...and a devoted father of two.

You've got a mortgage, | car and medical bills...

...food bills, electricity bills, | gas bills, clothing bills...

...and, by the way...

...you're fired.

I just want to say that I'm...

I didn't mean to shoot that guy, Cliff. | That was an accident.

And...

I used to complain about my paycheck.

And then when...

...when I didn't get it no more, | I realized that was the last...

That little piece of paper | was the only thing...

...holding my life together. | And...

You know, I seen people | out on the street, living...

...and...

...I thought they were maybe | like bums or like junkies.

I seen this family live...

I seen a family living in a box.

I imagined my babies living in a box | and I couldn't stand it. I went crazy.

And about the gun...

It ain't nothing, really.

I've seen on TV shows...

...where they flash a gun | and it gets them attention.

I thought | maybe if I brought the gun in...

...that Mrs. Banks, | who's my boss...

...she would...

...she would listen, you know, | for maybe just even five minutes.

You know, but I don't know | if people listen to guys like me.

every day, and people don't listen.

We're a good family. | We don't do drugs...

...and we don't cause trouble.

- We go to church. | - I go to church with my family.

But I don't think anybody listens | to someone like me.

I don't think anybody cares about us.

He shot a man in cold blood...

...and I feel like bringing him | to Christmas dinner.

Let's run a nationwide poll | and see how this guy is playing.

I don't know if anybody's listening.

- Are they? | - You're Sam Baily.

The law is pushing in on you.

Because of an impulsive act, you're | trapped in the fight of your life.

Your sole demand is simple | to the point of absurdity...

...and yet dauntingly complex.

I just want the police to...

I just want everybody | to forget about it...

... and let me go home.

Yeah, right.

He's my friend.

I'm praying for him.

he'll forgive me.

I'm sorry, Cliff.

The kids, you know, they're fine. | They're happy.

Look. They're okay.

- Look, we're on TV! | - Kids, please sit down.

The kids are seeing themselves on TV.

Start over right now about the kids. | Talk about the kids.

I never hurt them. | I'd never hurt them.

I got kids of my own.

I just don't have a job to take care | of them. I don't know how I will.

I'm sorry. I couldn't be sorrier.

- That's my daddy. | - Come back here.

Come here.

Mommy wants to watch Daddy.

I just want to go home, okay? | Just...

I want to go. That's my demand. | That's it, right there.

Hey, wait. Sam, wait.

I hope I don't have to | go through that again.

We're not finished yet. | You know why?

Because people watching this right now | are saying, "Yeah, right."

"He's holding a gun on helpless kids..."

I ain't holding no gun on kids. | They're okay.

They think you are. They think | you should be shot, executed...

...strung up.

For those who are saying this, | what do you have to say to them?

- I hope you never go through this. | - You say it to them.

I hope nobody ever has to go through | what I'm going through, that's all.

Your name is Sam Baily.

You're asking for | the most poignant ransom of all:

Forgiveness.

While we have it in our hearts to give, | we're not the law.

Why'd you bring up the shotgun?

I'm Max Brackett.

We're clear. | I thought it was great.

- Why'd you bring it up? | - It was for your own benefit.

- It didn't seem like it. | - It was important.

- All right, now what? | - Now what?

Now we wait.

- Take a look. | - Is anybody listening?

Is anybody listening

Careful.

See what I mean?

Sam Baily's all over the place. | Television, radio, newspapers.

Look at the front page of the "Times".

Turn the radio up.

He is under pressure.

so I think we should let him walk.

The situation's a shame, isn't it?

A man takes children hostage.

This is America. | It can make you crazy.

Hollander arrived the next morning.

You'll see why Hollander | still hates Brackett's guts.

They were live.

What's it like out there?

It's basically a mess.

There's a kind of a...

over many acres.

- Yes, there are.

What condition are they in?

Condition?

- Were they mutilated?

We're hoping...

Were they...?

Were they broken up?

They fell out of the sky.

Were there any body parts?

if I saw any body parts?

were reports of sharks in the area.

But don't let the fact that the...

stop you. You're just doing your job.

- No.

for me, and for you.

You can see the vultures there...

to see these body parts.

If you want a body part, I'll get a...

What do you want?

You can have your pick.

- Have a seat.

All of it.

It'd be interesting to see them | together again.

I thought of that. One here, one there. | It'd be good for 2 or 3 points.

At least.

- I wanna show you something. | - It's gonna be tough.

- Not for me. | - Good morning.

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