Nightcrawler Page #5

a relationship

with someone I

can team up with

and share, like we share, the

same job and hours and whatnot.

I could go down a laundry

list, but you get the idea.

Yes.

Well, I hope

you find someone.

Here's the thing

about that, Nina.

I'm quite certain

I already have.

OK3'! -

Let me put this politely.

I only came out to

dinner with you, Lou,

purely as

a professional courtesy.

Thank you.

I don't think

it's any secret

that I've

single-handedly raised

the unit price of

your ratings book.

Our ratings book price?

Whoa!

I'm a very fast learner.

We had a conversation where I

specifically mentioned that.

Do you remember that?

Well, do you?

Yes.

I recently learned,

for instance,

that most Americans watch

local news to stay informed.

I also learned that

the average half-hour of Los

Angeles television news

packs all of its

local government coverage

including law enforcement,

budget, transportation,

education and immigration

into 22 seconds.

Local crime stories, however,

not only usually led the news

but filled 14

times the broadcast,

averaging five minutes

and seven seconds.

KWLA relies heavily

on such stories.

With Los Angeles

crime rates going down,

I think that makes items like

mine particularly valuable.

Like rare animals.

I can only imagine that

your needs will increase

during next month's

rating sweeps period.

Ooh!

Yeah.

Well, we certainly

appreciate what you do.

There's certain good things

about being alone.

You have time to do

the things you wanna do,

like study and plan,

but you can't have

dinners like this

or be physical

with a person.

I mean, outside

of flirtation-ship.

Where are you going

with this?

I want that

With you.

Like you want to keep your job

and your health insurance.

Look, just for starters,

I don't need you to

keep my f***ing job.

You're the news director

on the vampire shift

of the lowest-rated

station in Los Angeles.

We have what could be considered

an almost-exclusive relationship.

There are many

other places I could go.

I have to think that you're

invested in this transaction.

Here you are.

Wow.

Enjoy.

Thank you.

Where did you get the balls to

even suggest something like this?

We're still talking.

No. There's nothing

more to say.

You can leave.

Okay, look.

You've done well. Okay?

And we pay you well, very well.

We always have.

If you like, I could get

you an exclusive retainer.

That would be on top

of your segment fees.

I could maybe even get

you a job at the station

starting as

a production assistant.

So that you could learn the

business from the inside.

That's where you

said your interests lie.

Mmm-hmm.

You're not listening,

Nina.

I happen to know that you

haven't stayed atone station

for longer than

two years at a time,

and you're coming

up on two years soon.

I can imagine

that your contract is

for that length of time.

And that

next month's ratings

directly affect that.

So, you're threatening

that if I don't...

I'm negotiating.

You're threatening

to stop selling to me.

That's your choice.

The true price of any item

is what somebody's

willing to pay for it.

You want something.

And I want you.

To f*** you.

And as a friend.

Jesus Christ, friends

don't pressure friends

to f***ing sleep with them.

Actually,

that's not true, Nina.

Because as I'm sure

you know,

a friend is a gift

you give yourself.

Okay,

a left on Roth,

and then six

blocks to the ramp.

You're putting me

on the 5?

Yeah, the 2 to the 5

to the 110 to the 10.

Did you read my

traffic memo yesterday?

Did I read it?

Yeah, I read it.

What did it say?

About the 5?

Okay. I looked at it.

What?

Well, for one thing,

it included that

the 5 has

floating construction

in the fast lane for

the next three weeks.

So, given that,

I expect you to put me

on the 2 to the 101

to the 110 to the 10.

That's half of one,

six of the other.

It's half dozen of one,

six of the other.

What I'd like you

to do is admit that

you didn't read

what you said you did.

You know I'm

a reasonable person,

but nobody

likes to be lied to!

Okay! When am I

going to get my raise?

That's reasonable, right?

You keep talking about

this performance review.

When is it gonna happen?

I've been out here

two months already,

busting my ass every night.

I'm tired of your

promises for more pay, man.

I'm sleeping in a garage.

Rick, trying to

leverage your salary

in this economic environment

is near impossible.

Most firms have

set starting wages.

Ideally, you could

leverage with other offers,

but that's just

not the case

in your situation right now.

MALE DISPATCHERZ

Test 498.

Engine 91. North division.

Battalion 12.

Heavy rescue. 56.

Air ops respond.

Reported plane down.

Whiteman Field,

south of Foothill.

Reroute us to that

We're 22 minutes

from Foothill,

and only five

from a hit and run.

They're rolling heavy rescue

and an air ambulance.

Get me there, please.

it's good right there.

Stay on that spot.

Not getting through here.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

It's all over here, buddy.

Turn it around, let's go.

You're late.

Hey, brah!

Five fatals. Come screaming

out of the f***ing sky.

All lit up with

the brush on fire.

Mine. Exclusive.

I'm banging!

And my other van is in

Carson, getting the jumper.

You know...

I was trying to

hook you up, man.

I was trying to

teach you something.

Welcome to the future,

brah.

A car crash.

Well, none of this is

gonna knock anybody out.

I can't use any of

this in my rundown.

Is this ii?

No, I have a stabbing

in Corona.

Where's the plane

crash at Foothill?

I don't mind saying that I'm

trying to bring you stories

that happen

here on the ground.

Two has it.

It'll be their lead.

Well, I hope that

works well for them.

Now, let me show you

the stabbing in Corona.

I don't give a goddamn

about f***ing Corona!

You know how

important this week is.

This sh*t is

f***ing death to me!

I understand

your frustration.

I was just trying not

to be too hard on myself.

I sold you upstairs as some

kind of f***ing sweeps savior.

And I'm leading with

a goddamn stabbing.

In Corona!

So, you want that, then?

I want you to get

in the goddamn game!

I want something

people can't turn away from.

I want what you

f***ing promised me!

Good morning, everyone.

Thanks for joining us.

I'm Pat Harvey.

Hope your day's getting off

to a good start. Fm Kent Shocknek.

We begin with

a tragedy last night

in the foothills

of Santa Susana Pass

where a private plane crashed

with no survivors.

C382 has obtained

this exclusive video.

We want to remind you now

that what you're

about to see is graphic,

and viewer

discretion is advised.

Since when did Goldwater

become faster than Laurel?

Huh? What was

the thinking there?

I didn't ask that

to hear myself speak.

Because, you know, Goldwater

only has six lights.

Laurel has places to pass.

I can't get around

this person until Ventura.

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