The China Syndrome Page #3

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caused the turbine to trip.

Relief valve number eight

opened automatically.

This shut down the reactor.

A "scram" situation.

- But the second shock wave...

- Excuse me.

Sir, it's not really a shock wave.

It was more of a shudder.

A vibration.

So you were clear in your mind

up to this point?

Yes, sir.

- The water level began to drop?

- We thought the level was high.

The water level recorder was stuck.

You began to cut off the feedwater,

thinking the water was too high?

Yes, sir.

- But the water was dangerously low?

- Low, yes.

Why didn't your operator

look at the other indicators?

I don't know.

I didn't look at it, either.

- Jack, how did it go?

- Okay.

- What did you tell them?

- I'm not allowed to discuss it.

- Mr. Spindler.

- Yeah, right here.

- Can I interest you in this?

- In your ear, Pete.

Do you know what she's getting?

Two hundred and fifty thou.

- Did you know that?

- She started out doing the weather.

Her visual image is perfect.

I like her hair red.

We're sitting there.

- Puerto what?

- Puerto Vallarta.

- How can you afford it?

- Three hundred and sixty-nine dollars.

- May I?

- Mr. Jacovich.

- Excuse me.

- Enjoying yourself?

I saw your zoo piece, it was brilliant.

We got a lot of calls.

How are you doing

on the energy specials?

We just have the beginning

and ending to do. We're editing.

I think you'll be pleased.

I want to apologize for Richard.

He's difficult sometimes.

But he's the best cameraman I know.

- You haven't worked with many.

- Yes, as a matter of fact, I have.

If he was on the staff,

I'd fire him. I don't like him.

There were no staff crew available

for the specials.

And Richard's won awards.

Hot-head award, Foul-mouth

award, Can of Worms award.

What he said was wrong, I agree.

- What will you do with the film?

- The legal hassles have just begun.

Don't you worry,

we'll take care of it.

- Coffee?

- No, thank you.

You just keep doing a good job.

Our ratings have gone up

because of you.

So Don,

let me do some hard news.

You're better with the softer stuff.

You're not an investigator.

Don't try to be anything else.

- I love you doing what you do best.

- I'd be good doing news.

We'll see.

Let's take a look at the specials.

We'll see.

I like your hair like that.

Don't stay too late.

You lonely old coot.

You want to come inside?

Come and have a little chat with me.

Us two girls sitting by the fire.

What can I give you?

How about some yucky old lettuce?

You must be hungry.

Let's see here.

Just you and me, kid.

You want a bath?

Hi, it's your mother.

I hate these machines.

Call me. Bye-bye.

Corrine here. I was going to ask

you to take me to the party.

See you there, bye.

How about those ratings!

Hi, Kimberly, it's Buck Brewer,

the American Airlines pilot.

I'll be here for a couple of days

and I'd love to see you.

Call me if you're in before 11.

Oh, sh*t.

It's your mother again.

Don't forget your father's birthday.

He says he doesn't want presents,

but you know him. Call me tomorrow.

This is Richard.

You really are an a**hole.

Ted? Can I see you a sec?

I wanted to get your impressions

of one phase here.

Just after the turbine trip,

did you feel a vibration?

- The steam line closure.

- No, that's here. I mean later.

- More of a vibration.

- Right here. It's relief valve 14.

I don't think so.

Didn't they ask you about this?

- They asked us not to discuss it.

- That's during the investigation.

- Is this part of the investigation?

- What's the matter?

I was in there

for twice as long as anyone else.

You Navy guys have credentials,

but I'm a 25-year company man.

I knew nothing nuclear before.

You tell me, where do you think

the axe of "human error" will fall?

Why do you think

they want a scapegoat?

Tradition.

I'm going to get a cup of coffee.

What goes up, must come down,

and that's what happened in Cudahy.

Hot-air balloons

are lighter than air...

...but not lighter than gravity.

So sometimes, they don't fly.

William Levin was flying near Cudahy

when his balloon came down.

It didn't land in a tree-top.

It wouldn't land on a flat roof.

It landed on a camper.

There were no injuries,

except wounded pride.

But the police held no grudge.

They gave him a ride home. Pete?

- Is that your hot-air report?

- You're the expert.

I don't know about that.

We'll be back at 6:00.

For Kimberly Wells and all of us,

I'm Pete Martin, have a good day.

I can't believe what you said!

What about my credibility?

You'll recover.

Kimberly.

Have you seen Richard?

Not since yesterday,

but I'll probably see him today. Why?

The son of a b*tch stole the film.

I just came from the vault.

You brought him in, so it's your neck.

Jacovich is away until tomorrow.

I want the film back by then.

Okay, Mac. Thanks.

Hey, guys!

- Give me a look.

- Where did you get it?

- Ted, what's going on?

- It's the preliminary report, Jack.

That was fast.

Listen:
"Personnel responded

swiftly and professionally," et cetera.

"While some errors were made

and procedures violated...

...the overall result was containment

of a potentially costly event."

We're going back on-line tomorrow.

In this section of "Energy in

California" we look at solar power.

What will it do for our economy

and our environment?

Mr. Thurston,

according to a recent study...

Richard!

Hector? Where's Richard?

I don't know where he is.

He gave me some work to do

and he left.

He stole the film from the station.

He's going to get us into trouble.

- Where is he, Hector?

- I don't know.

You're an observant person. You must

have some idea where he was going.

He took the projector and the film.

Maybe he went back to the plant

to get someone to explain it.

And he calls me an a**hole.

- Tell him to call and fill me in.

- You're a real mensch.

- See you guys.

- Good night.

- Is that the girl from Channel 3?

- Yes.

- Are you looking for somebody?

- Yes, a friend of mine.

Drink? Your friend will show up.

It's the only decent bar around.

- That's what I heard.

- Come on, have a drink.

- Yeah, I could use a drink.

- Good. Harry?

Someone from the plant?

What would you like?

- Scotch on the rocks.

- I saw you on the 6. Terrific.

- You work at the plant.

- Yes, Jack Godell.

This is Alma and Ted Spindler.

Kimberly Wells.

- What's all the celebrating?

- We got a clean bill of health.

- The investigation's over?

- Why are you so surprised?

- I was there. I saw the accident.

- There wasn't any accident.

- What was it?

- A faulty relay in the generator.

- A what?

- A faulty relay in the generator circuit.

- And that's all?

- And a stuck valve.

On the house.

- You seemed relieved afterwards.

- There wasn't any accident.

When do you start up again?

The plant?

Oh, tomorrow or something.

Was the investigation so quick

because of Point Conception?

Because the same company is trying

to get a license for a new plant?

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