The China Syndrome Page #2

---

- It's normal.

- Feedwater flow is decreasing.

- Godell.

- Bill Gibson here.

We've got some people here

shooting a TV news special.

- What the hell's going on?

- It's just a turbine trip.

- Nothing to worry about.

- High water level in the reactor!

Okay, relax. Everybody relax.

Dump the water.

It's just a routine turbine trip.

Find out

where that water's coming from.

We've got to get rid of it.

Look, Ted.

- Barney. Open 14 and 15.

- You can't do that, Jack.

- The book says you can't do it.

- We have to.

The flashing lights, "enunciators,"

means something needs attention.

- Godell says it's routine.

- Are you filming?

Godell was a submarine commander.

Turbine trips happen now and then.

It means the turbine is shut down.

It may be a feedwater leak,

but we can't tell which valve.

- Shut the isolation valves.

- You're gonna need that later.

You want to do it by hand? Do it!

- Closing isolation valves.

- Please go back to your stations.

Jack! Look at this

water level indicator. It's low.

This says it's high.

But that's...

Jesus Christ!

Barney, give me feedwater.

Ted, we may uncover the core.

Operations.

Jack Godell. We have an emergency.

Get everybody into safety areas.

All personnel, go to safety areas.

Caution! This is not a drill.

We stay here. This is a safety area.

Jesus!

Hurry up, Frank.

Move it!

Routine, huh?

Talk to me, Barney.

Only one system is operational.

- Under nine inches.

- Is it holding?

- It's dropping.

- We're losing it.

My God.

Where's the coolant injection?

- It's down for maintenance.

- I don't believe it.

- We have to dump pressure.

- You can't take that chance.

Borden, let me know exactly

when the LPCI comes in.

- Water.

- Eight inches. Still dropping.

Please God, cover it!

- Cover it!

- We've got LPCI!

It's coming up.

- Don't bother with the interviews.

- Just give them the accident.

- Did you shoot normal?

- Normal ASA. It'll take 40 minutes.

- Mort! We've got a rush.

- There's a film in the machine.

- It's hot, do it. Will you wait?

- Go get them.

- What is it?

- Dynamite. Nuclear dynamite.

It's about time.

George has already written

the marathon piece.

- How did it go?

- I've got the lead story.

Fine. You'll be on

after the first commercial.

Did you hear me? I've got the lead

story. I'll write the script now.

An accident at Ventana.

It's all on film.

- Why didn't you call in?

- We didn't want to use the phone.

- The hostage story is ready.

- Frank, will you check that out?

- You want a beeper?

- Call me... No, we'll plan on it.

Kimberly, there's nothing

on the wire about an accident.

We were in the visitors' gallery

when it happened.

Whatever it was,

they were scared to death.

- Richard's got it on film.

- I'd better call Jacovich.

This is the script that goes with it.

Hello? Yeah.

Mr. Jacovich? It's for you.

Yeah. Who? Okay, I'll be right there.

- Do they know this film exists?

- No.

I'm not putting it on until

I find out what's going on.

- It's an exclusive!

- It's our best story in months.

We don't know exactly what it is.

We have to check our facts first.

- The fact is it happened.

- Put it in the vault. And move it!

Kimberly, you'd better hurry.

- I'll talk to you, Richard.

- Yeah, please do.

Gonna open on one, then Camera 2.

Places, everyone! Hurry up, Kimberly.

Bernie, you want to get me a spritz?

Just a little powder.

Stand by, studio. Hurry up, Kimberly.

Ten seconds.

Five, four, three, two...

Channel 3 Update, California's

most complete newscast.

With award-winning anchorman

Pete Martin...

...and Kimberly Wells

with California Close-up.

Good evening. Six people died

in a light-airplane crash...

...the social funding bill

may pass...

...and the FDA have been asked

to ban all food additives.

If the license on Point Conception

is delayed, our cash flow dries up.

We have debts to every power utility

west of the Rockies.

I figure we'll be losing

$492,000 a day.

Well, after that, Herman,

you can only bring good news.

There's no damage, just cleaning up.

There will be an accident hearing.

The NRC is investigating.

Our testimony starts tomorrow.

- Can you be back on-line this week?

- If there are no snags.

Herman, I want you to

keep that investigation on track.

Be thorough,

make sure everything's all right.

But let's not waste any time.

- Let's get it over with.

- Yes, sir.

And for God's sake,

we've had our surprise for the year.

Hello? It's Gibson.

Hi, Bill. Yeah?

What kind of film? They were where?

- Good morning, Kimberly.

- Hi, David.

What are you talking about?

I filmed an accident!

- In a nuclear power plant.

- Is "accident" the right word?

Nice of you to make it.

- This station is yellow.

- Obviously, you've made a decision.

- Don't start.

- It was just an observation.

Listen to this. "Nuclear plants

are security installations...

...and as such fall under title 18

of the United States criminal code.

Unauthorized photography is a felony."

We're all accessories

just for keeping that film here.

Bullshit!

Don't kick me, I won't shut up.

Have you seen the official release?

"An unanticipated transient."

What the hell is that?

We could have been killed.

- Isn't that stretching it a bit?

- You think so?

They say you were never in danger.

If you'd been there, you'd find it

hard to believe there was no danger.

Let's show it to an expert.

- It stays in the vault.

- This is all a cover-up.

Kimberly told me she saw

you talking to their PR guy, Gibson.

I told him the film

stays in the vault.

- Is this a conspiracy?

- It is not a cover-up.

- They didn't have to say anything.

- They only did because of us.

They did what they should do.

They're holding an investigation.

It'll be a fast investigation with

another plant waiting for a license.

Calm down.

Who is conducting the investigation?

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

We'll get a full report.

Then we will decide

what to do with the film.

I really don't believe this. I just...

- Are you just going to sit here?

- Performers don't make policy.

She's a professional, right?

This is a sensitive subject.

We're not going to risk a massive lawsuit.

- You're being pressured.

- You're being hysterical, Richard.

And you're being

a chickenshit a**hole.

Richard.

I'll talk to him.

- Why did you do that?

- They really got to you, huh?

All we could hope for is that they'd

go for the scoop, but they didn't.

And they're right. They'd be sued.

I'm not ashamed of having a

good job, and I intend to keep it.

If that means they've got me,

then they've got me.

You were the one that called me

and asked if I could get you work.

- Thank you very much.

- Anytime.

Talk to him later, Kimberly.

The van is waiting to take you

to your "Live at Noon" spot.

I'm going to the zoo.

It's the tiger's birthday.

A faulty relay opened

the generator breakers.

The transient in water and pressure

Rate this script:3.0 / 2 votes