All language subtitles for Highway to Heaven S05E01 Whose Trash is it Anyway.eng

I still can't understand

why Pete would want
to go into politics.

Maybe he wants to do
something to help his city.

[scoffs] Since when did
a politician want to help
anybody except himself?

You know, they're all
crooks and liars.

Oh come on, Mark,
there's a lot of good,
honest people in public office.

Honest?
You can't be honest.

You tell the truth,
you don't get elected.

Well, whose fault is that?

The politician
or the people
who vote for him?

Both. The people want
the government to be
everything for them.

But they won't elect
the guy who says they're
gonna have to pay for it.

We're getting to be like
a bunch of spoiled kids
with bad parents.

Would you mind telling me
why we are going over

to your friend's
campaign headquarters
to help?

Because Pete Nelson
is not a politician.

He's a cop who
worked his way
through law school,

thinks he can
make a difference.

When you look in the dictionary
under the word "integrity,"

you'll find Pete's
picture there.

Then he's
running for mayor,

because he wants to do
something for his city.

Isn't that what
I just said?

Yeah, one of us said it.

The other one said
that he doesn't trust
any politicians.

What are you
listening to him for?

[Mark] I told you,
he don't even look
like a politician.

How would you know
what a politician looks like?

Hey, how are you?

You always were good at
sneaking up on people.

Hey, listen, I want you to meet
my friend, Jonathan Smith.

Listen, we kind of work
together these days,
if that's all right with you.

-Welcome aboard.
-Thank you.

I can use
all the help
I can get.

Come on in,
I'll show you around.

Where you taking us to,
a smoke-filled room?

As a matter of fact,
I am, except nobody
smokes anymore.

Ann, look who I found
out in the streets.

Mark Gordon.
Oakland's finest.

How you doing?

Oh, I'm fine.
I'm so glad
to see you.

I'd like you to meet my
campaign manager, Phil Schott.

Phil, this is Mark Gordon
and Jonathan Smith,

our new advance men.

We've already got advance men,
professional advance men.

[Mark] That's the problem.

You professionals
treat me like I'm
running for president.

I can't even go to the bathroom
without a press release.

I've known Mark Gordon
for 20 years.

He's a buddy,
not a PR man.

Besides, if anyone can keep
his perspective under fire,

-it's Mark Gordon.
-Right.

Perspective doesn't
win elections, Pete.

Money wins elections,

media exposure
wins elections,

advertising wins elections.

You'll have to
forgive Phil.

He doesn't have much
faith in the voter.

I don't have
much faith
in anything

except getting my candidate
up on the podium

with a smile on his face,
come election night.

There is only one rule
in politics. That's to win.

Richard Osbourne knows
that rule, believe me.

Who's Richard Osbourne?

He's the enemy,
right, dad?

Don't tell me
this is Jeff!

Well, it had better be.

Or I've been feeding
the wrong boy
all these years.

This is the guy who threw
the first pass you ever
caught, son.

And now he's all-city
tight end, Mark.

You're Mark Gordon?

Yeah, that's right.

Well, I'll be...

The last time I saw you,
you were about this high.

I remember you being
a little bigger, too.

Well, everybody changes
over the years.

Almost everybody.

I can't promise to change
the system overnight,

but I guarantee you that
if I'm elected mayor,

there will be enough books
in the schoolrooms,

and the kids will be
able to play in their
schoolyard without fear.

That's what
the last mayor said.

Now what makes
you different?

Because the last mayor didn't
make you pay the price.

What price?
Higher taxes?

I won't rule out
higher taxes if necessary.

Look, in Japan, teachers
are in the upper 10%
of the wage scale.

In the United States,
they're in the bottom 10%.

But I'm talking
about what you,

what you must pay
as parents.

The best teacher
in the world is a parent.

The best crime prevention
I know of

is the example parents
give their children at home.

[scoffs] You believe
that Nelson?

First, he won't
rule out higher taxes,

then he wants the people
to solve their own problems.

You see, people want answers,
they don't want lectures.

Yeah, well, whatever he's
saying, it's working.

These overnight
tracking polls

still have him with
higher integrity numbers
than you have,

and lower negatives.

Well, we'll see what
Pete Nelson's
integrity numbers are

after we nail
his father-in-law.

Pratt, how are you
and the U.S. Attorney
doing on the Steelgrave case?

Hmm?

Of course he did
inside trading,

and he cheated
on his taxes.

Nobody made that kind of
money by being honest.

[chuckles]

That's what I like
to hear, yeah.

Um... don't let anybody know
where you got this idea.

-Dad.
-What?

Are we still going to
the game on Saturday?

[Richard] What game?

The game between
Taft and Kennedy.

Well you want me to
go watch Nelson's kid
beat your school?

Jeff Nelson
isn't that good.

We can beat them.

"We"? "We"? What are you
talking about, "we"?

You didn't
make the team.

Sheila, I want to go over
these debate notes.

[Sheila] Good idea.

Look, I think the harder
we hit the drug issue,
the better.

I mean, it's headline
stuff every day now.

We can't go wrong.

[Richard] Well, I want
to drop that bombshell
on Nelson tonight.

[Sheila] I thought
you wanted to save
that one for a while.

[Richard] Well, no, I think
it's good timing right now

because look, it got Ginsburg
out in nothing, flat.

-How you doing today?
-Good.

There's some
seats right there.

Hi, how you doing?

Nice to see you here.
Follow these guys here.

Hey, you're
Richie Osbourne,
aren't you?

Yeah. What of it?

I'm Jeff Nelson.
I'm Pete Nelson's son.

Yeah, I know who you are.

Hey, you go to
Taft, don't you?

Yeah.

We'll play you guys, Saturday.

So what?

-That was Jeff Nelson--
-You know it was, mom.

His picture's
only in the paper
every other day.

We can't escape it.

It's in the news everyday,

and both of you know
what I'm talking about.

What are you going to do
about the drug problem
in our city, Mr. Osbourne?

As District Attorney of
this city for the last 4 years,

I have prosecuted
more drug offenders
than anyone in the whole state.

Now, unlike
my opponent,

I wholeheartedly
endorse the new procedures

given to us by the court
and the police

to deal with the scum
who would poison our children.

Zero tolerance.

Searching trash.

Hot pursuit.

Looking through
school lockers.

Finally we're
getting the tools

to bring those
who deal with drugs
to their knees.

Mr. Nelson?

There is no more
pressing problem

in our society today
than drug abuse.

When our children
aren't safe from drugs,

even in our
elementary schools,

then it's time
for drastic action.

It's my opinion

that actions should
center on education
and interdiction,

not the hysterical
tramplings of our
constitutional rights

as favored by
Mr. Osbourne.

Drug dealers
have no rights.

That's the kind of
demagogic rhetoric

that confuses the issue.

All American citizens
have rights

until proven guilty
of a crime.

That's what this country
has fought 200 years for.

What kind of message
are we sending
our young people

when our own government
makes deals with drug dealers
in foreign governments

while taking away
the constitutional rights
of it's own citizens?

That's exactly the kind
of remark I'd expect to hear
from a former drug user.

How'd they get that?

Those are pretty serious
charges, Mr. Osbourne.

I don't make charges
I can't back up.

[Pete] I...
I believe...

Mr. Osbourne is alluding
to a period 20 years ago
when I was in college.

If it weren't for people
like you in the '60s,

we wouldn't have any
drug addicts in the '80s.

I admit, I smoked marijuana
when I was in Berkeley.

We all do things
when we're young that
we aren't proud of.

If we didn't make mistakes,
we'd never learn.

I've tried to teach
my own son about
the horror of drugs,

including this nation's
most vicious killer, alcohol.

When you give your
body and your mind
over to a chemical,

nothing good can happen.

And I promise you,

that drug dealers
and drug users

will be prosecuted

just as vigorously
under a Nelson
administration

as they would be
under my opponent's.

And I'd also like to add

that is the DA's office
wasn't so busy

rummaging through
people's 20-year-old trash,

they'd know that
I worked for six years

in the Oakland
Police Department in
the narcotics division.

My office is interested
in truth and justice,
not excuses.

When it comes to getting
tough on crime, you don't
sound very much like a cop.

Now maybe that's why
you became a lawyer.

Because you're more interested
in defending the criminals,

instead of arresting them.

[applause]

That's okay.
That's okay.

[dog barking]

-Good morning.
-Good morning, honey.

Your breakfast
is on the table.

Thank you.

Well, ready for
the Taft game, son?

I better be.
City championship's
on the line.

I hope that little dust-up
with Osbourne

on the marijuana issue
last night

doesn't get
a lot of tongues
wagging at school.

Most of the kids
are pretty cool
about things like that.

But you're still
gonna get some flak,
you know that.

I can handle it.

Not easy being in
the public eye, is it?

Dad, I said
I can handle it.

All right.

[chuckles]
I got to go.

I don't want to miss
geography class.

You mean you don't
want to miss Tracy Clark
before geography class, hmm?

Dad, when you're right,
you're right.

-Bye, mom.
-Bye, honey.

I didn't want Jeff
to see this.

-"U.S. Attorney
indicts financier.
-Hmm.

Bill Steelgrave...

was accused
of insider trading
and tax fraud.

Steelgrave, father-in-law
of mayoral candidate

Pete Nelson,

will be indicted
in federal court
next week."

Oh God, now they're
attacking your father.

Welcome to
the wonderful world
of politics.

Thanks.

There you go, Richie.
Just like you like 'em.

Cut it!

That good for you?

Alright, that was fine.

Now we'll do
that walking shot.

Come on. Richie?

Come on, Richie,
let's move it.

There we go.
All right.

-One big happy family.
-Shut up.

-Stand up straight.
-I am.

Okay, Dolly zoom, we're gonna
keep it tight three.

Okay, we're all set.

Okay, now I want you to
start walking toward me.

Big smiles.

That's it.

How can the voters
resist this family?

And... Cut it!

We'll go
one more time.

Okay, this time, I don't
want you to follow them
the whole way.

Don't pan with them.
Let them walk out. Okay?

Richard, these
are the latest
tracking polls.

These are the latest?

Yeah. They're
the overnights.

You're still 10 points
behind Nelson.

20 points with women.

The only group
you're leading with
is white males over 50.

Well, these
can't be right.

Because Nelson is
an admitted drug user

and his father-in-law
is a crook.

Yeah, I can't figure it either,
but the numbers don't lie.

People must like him.

Or they don't like me.
Look at all these negatives.

They'd like you, dad,
if you gave them a chance,

If you spent more time
talking to them,
like Nelson does.

What are you,
a political consultant?

You can't even
get into college,

But you you know how to
run a campaign, huh?

He was just trying
to help, Richard.

Yeah, well, I don't
want his help.

He can't help himself.
So how can I expect
him to help me?

[photographer] Mr. Osbourne,
we're losing the light.

Yeah, we're
losing the light.

We're losing
the damn election.

Come on, let's
get this over with.

Hey, Richie, come on.
Come on, please.

I hate wearing tuxedos.

Feel like a penguin
in a straitjacket.

You mean,
you feel auk-ward?

[laughs]

What's funny?

Awkward. Auk... A-u-k. Auk.

An auk. It's a type
of a penguin.
It's a joke.

Oh, that's funny.

[laughs]

These just came
across the wire on
the city news service.

Look at those numbers.

We've got that weasel Osbourne
by the short hairs.

You know I don't
trust polls, Phil.

Maybe you don't.
But these folks sure do.

May I have your
attention, folks?

May I have
your attention, folks?

I'd like to announce
the results

of the latest
mayoralty tracking poll

taken over
the past 24 hours.

Pete Nelson, 53%.
Richard Osbourne, 42%,

with 5% undecided.

We got him now.

Don't be so sure.

Thomas Dewey would have
been the 33rd President
of the United States

if candidates were
elected by polls.

Oh, come one, Jonathan,
don't be such a killjoy.

You don't remind me
of Thomas Dewey,

and I won't remind you
of your auk-ward joke.

Hmm?

[laughing]

As I told you
at the start
of the evening,

we're gonna keep
the speeches brief.

Thank you.

And to lead off
the evening,

I'd like to introduce
a young man

who I'm sure
knows Pete Nelson

better than any other
man in this room.

He's a well-known gentleman
in his own right.

He's an honor student,
an all-city tight end,

and a son to make
any father proud.

Jeff Nelson.

Thank you.
Thank you very much.

You know, when my father
asked me to introduce him
here this evening, I was...

I was very proud,
because, well, it gives me
a chance to be his son.

When I was younger,

my father was a policeman.

And at night he'd
go to law school
to study law.

Now, that's not
an easy task.

You know, but somehow
he always found time
for his family.

For mom and for me.

Oh, he coached me in T-ball,
then Pop Warner.

He loved sports.

But he always made sure
I kept them in perspective,

Made sure
my education came first.

Taught me to love reading,

and he showed me
how hard work

can give a person
a sense of pride.

He taught me
how to be a man.

Oh, he was rough on me
when he had to. Trust me.

He doesn't abide
telling lies.

Mistakes he can understand,
but lies he won't put up with.

I'll tell you one thing.

He was always gentle
with me when I was hurt.

I know this kid of thing
embarrasses you, dad,

but it's your fault
for asking me
to introduce you.

Ladies and gentlemen,
I give you the next mayor,

and the best father
any kid could ever have,

Pete Nelson.

[applause]

[gloomy music]

Jeff.

Hey, good morning, Mr. Lee.

I received a disturbing
phone call this morning.

A boy who said
he was a student
here at Kennedy,

but who wouldn't
give me his name,

told me you were selling
marijuana here at school.

What?

I'm afraid I'm going to have
to search your locker, Jeff.

You'll search my locker
because of some
anonymous phone call?

That's right, son.
I'm sorry.

I'll open it
for you.

You know, I know as a parent
the pride a father
has in his children.

I mean, my own son Richie
is a senior in High School
like Jeff Nelson.

And my first reaction was

there, but for
the grace of God, go I.

Come on, Jonathan,
turn the television off.

I don't want to watch
this hypocrite.

I also know as a parent
you have to talk to them.

You have to try
to understand them.

I ask for one favor,
one lousy favor.

Turn off the television.

Mark, you were closer
to the set than I was.

This lousy motel
doesn't have
remote control.

You do!

I'm sorry, Jonathan.

It's this whole thing
with Pete and Jeff
and the campaign.

I mean, Pete would
make a great mayor.

And I know Jeff wasn't
selling drugs in a school

That kid doesn't
touch anything
stronger than wheat germ.

Well, you're right
about that, it wasn't his.

I mean, all you've
got to do is look at him.

It wasn't?

No.

You know that
for a fact?

Of course you
know that for a fact.

Well, who was it?
Who planted the stuff?

It was Osbourne, wasn't it?

I can't tell you
who it was, Mark.

What do you mean
you can't tell me?

You don't tell me,
then Pete loses the election.

Not to mention what's
going to happen to Jeff.

Mark, I can't
tell you who it was

because I don't know.

And even it I did
now we couldn't prove it.

The kid's innocent.
He's being crucified.

We've got to do something.

It was Osbourne.
You know it was Osbourne,
and I know it.

Now I'm going to do
something to prove that.

There is no way we can
keep our heads
in the sand any longer.

Working mothers
make up more and more
of today's work force,

Yet our city has only
three day-care centers
in operation.

That's not only
bad government
it's bad politics.

[horn honking]

Pete! Pete!

Excuse me.

What is it?

Daddy's in the hospital.

It's his heart again.

Jeff went straight over there.
Can you come now?

I'm sorry,
something's come up,
family matter.

I have to go
to the hospital.

Now you get that
look off your face.

It'll take more than
a little palpitation

...to cash in my chips.

You had us worried though.

Well, stop worrying.

I'm not gonna kick off
until my name is cleared.

I'm not paying those
lawyers all that money

just to miss
my day in court.

You wouldn't be in court
if it wasn't for me.

Dad, Pete's thinking
about giving up the race.

He what?

Is that true?

We've talked about it.

Last couple of days
have been rough
on everyone.

Rough, maybe.

Nobody ever said
politics was easy.

I remember once
reading about

an English M.P.,
his name was Burke.

-Edmund Burke.
-Grandpa,

Edmund Burke was Irish,
and he lived in
the 17th century.

Irish, of course.

I'm glad to see that
our schools are
teaching something

other than
computer ping-pong.

[all laugh]

Anyway, this Burke
was a member

of one of the most corrupt
British parliaments.

So bad that many
of the best men

would have nothing
to do with politics.

One day, his countrymen
were complaining to him

about the sorry state
of the parliament

and how the king was
driving their country to ruin.

Old Burke fixed these fellows
with a hard stare and said,

"For evil to triumph,
good men must do nothing."

Seems to me those words
mean as much today
as they did then.

What do you think?

Maybe even more.

What are you doing?

Uh... nothing.

Yes, you are.
What are you doing?

I'm not doing anything.

Why don't you go
ride your bike?

I know what you're doing.
You're looking for food.

That right?

You're a bum,
aren't you?

No, I am not a bum.

Now, why don't you
go ride your trike, huh?

If you're not a bum,
then why are you
looking for food?

Look, I am not
looking for food,
and I am not a bum.

All right. All right.

You look like a bum.

Excuse me.
I'm looking for
some rolling papers.

Friend of mine said
I can buy them here.

Sure, you can
buy them here.

How many you want?

Oh, one will be fine.

I also need
some tobacco.

We only sell
pipe tobacco.

You sell cigarette
rolling papers,

but you don't sell
cigarette tobacco?

You're right.
There's no law
against it.

All the stores do it.

Everybody knows what
the papers are for.

That'll be 66 cents.

You sell a lot of these?

What's your game,
mister?

Are you some kind of cop?

Actually, I'm
a private investigator.

You're a P.I.?

Yeah. I need
some information

on this market sales slip.

-It's from two days ago.
-I know.

They got a magazine,
bag of potato chips,

packet of cigarette papers...

Hey, cigarette papers.

This guy smokes
doobie, too.

It says "charge"
there on the slip,

but it doesn't say
who charged it.

I wasn't here two days ago,
but it would be
easy to find out.

Our charge customers
have these numbers.

All I'd have to do
would be to...

Look it up,

and tell you

this customer's
name is...

Osbourne.

4419 Loma Linda Drive.

Thanks.

Hey, mister.

You forgot to pay
for the papers.

I don't smoke.

This slip proves that somebody
in the Osbourne family,

probably Richie,
bought a pack of
cigarette rolling papers

the day before
Jeff was framed.

Where did you
get this slip, Mark?

Where did you get it?

The Osbourne trash.

Listen, I had a hunch
about Osbourne.

The only way I could
prove it was to go
through his trash.

With Osbourne's
account number
on that slip,

all we have to do
is point the reporters
in the right direction.

They'll find
enough witnesses.

Are you sure, Mark,
this is Osbourne's?

The clerk wouldn't lie,
not for $40.

You mean you bribed
someone for this information?

Give him a break, Pete.
He saved your kid's reputation,

not to mention the election.
What more do you want?

I can't wait to see
the look on Osbourne's face

when he finds out
we searched his trash.

Hoisted on his
own petard!

I just can't believe
Osbourne would do
something like this.

We have to give him
a chance to explain.

Explain? His kid didn't think
this scheme up on his own.

I don't have to
tell you, Pete.

If Osbourne
had this on you,
he'd go to the press.

And I don't have
to tell you,

I'm not Richard Osbourne.

Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. [chuckles]
Sheila, you know that's
a sway of over 20 points.

Hmm? No, no, I know,
I'll play it very low-key
at the debate tonight. Yes.

One father understanding
the pain of another. Hmm?

Don''t worry. You know,
I didn't just...
a load of hay

Sheila, we're in.
You know what?
I'll see you tonight.

[chuckles]

We are ready.
And the car's ready.

Oh. By the way Sheila
just got the results
of the latest poll.

Nelson is down by ten,
and I'm up by 11.

So what do you think
of that, Mrs. Mayor.

-It's wonderful.
-[laughs]

That Nelson kid,
I'd kiss him,

that big speech he
made about his old man,

totally buried him.

I can't wait to
get to that debate.

And you, you got to
stand up straight, you
got to watch your posture.

You're going to be
the son of the next mayor.

Let's go.

Of course
he's going to win.
You've seen the polls.

No, no,
we won't forget.

I will. I'll tell him.
Okay. Bye.

[knock on door]

Richie,
get that,
please.

Richie, I'd like to have
a word with your father
if I could.

You work for
Nelson, don't you?
What do you want?

Yeah, my name's
Jonathan Smith.

Mr. Nelson asked me
to come over

and thought to arrange
a meeting with him tonight

A private meeting
before the debate.

He wants to
see me now?
What about?

He's dropping out, right?

All I know is,
it's a private matter.

Well, anything that he wants
to say in front of me, he can
say in front of my family.

So, if he's so anxious
to see me,

you tell him to
come here himself.

I'll tell him.

[chuckles] It's over.
I guarantee it.

He knows it.
He knows it.

He just wants to
avoid that debate.

'Cause he knows
it's a done deal.

Sheila, chill up
the champagne.

[knock on door]

Come on in.

Hi, Pete. What's
on your mind?

This isn't easy
for me, Richard.

Well, I'm sure it's not.

My campaign has
found evidence

that leads us to conclude
that your son Richie

planted the marijuana
and papers in Jeff's locker.

Well, I know
you're desperate,
but that's absurd.

This is a photocopy
of a market receipt

charged to your account.

One of the items is
a pack of cigarette papers

like those found
in Jeff's locker.

What do you mean
a photocopy?

How did you get
my market receipt?

...you can
blame me for that.

I went through
your trash.

You had your people
go into my trash?

You? The protector
of the constitution?

You know, I should
sue you for slander.

You're accusing me
and my family

for setting up your
drugged-out kid.

Why don't you ask your son
if he bought those papers?

I don't have to.

Richie?

The clerk will be able
to identify you, son.

There's no use
lying about it.

Richie?

Richie?

It's true.
I planted the stuff.

I'll be happy to
let you speak
first, Richard

if you want to
clear the air.

But I have to warn you,
if you don't say anything
about this matter,

I'll be...
forced to talk about it.

Not to hurt Richie,

but to redeem
my own son's name.

I swear I didn't know
anything about this, Pete.

Yeah. I believe you.

Well, what we need now
is some serious damage control.

No, Sheila, what we need now

is for our family
to talk. Alone.

We have a debate
starting in a few--

Get out!

Do you know
what you've done?
Hmm? Do you?

Do you know
what you've done?

-I'm sorry.
-You're sorry.

Hear that, Liz?
He's sorry.

He's cost me
the election!

Why did you
do it, Richie?

Why did he do it?
Because he's stupid,
that's why!

I don't think...
What the hell, it's over.

Let him answer.

Why, Richie?

I wanted to do
something to help dad.

Help me? Oh!
Help me.

Let him finish.

You were always making
such a big deal
over Nelson's kid.

I knew you wished
you had a son like that.

And I hated him...

Because I knew.

So I did it.

So you'd win, and...

Wouldn't want to have
a son like him.

I love you, dad.

I'm sorry.

Please forgive me.

No. Get away from me.

Richie!

Richie!

Even now, with your
own son begging for
your love and mercy,

you can't stop
being the candidate.

The hell with your son!
Election's the important thing.

What he did was wrong.
It was stupid.

Are you trying
to justify it?

What Richie did,
he did out of pain!

Out of hurt.

He was desperately
trying to help his father

the only way he knew how.

Political hardball,
is what you'd call it.

Negative campaigning
taken to it's
logical conclusion

By a 17-year-old boy.

You seeded an investigation
of Nelson's father-in-law,

Richie plants seeds
on Nelson's son.

There's a difference, Liz.

Oh, maybe in degree,
not in kind.

This conversation is
getting us nowhere.

I've got five minutes to try
to salvage a political career.

Your career.
Always your career.

For 20 years I have
listened to you moralizing

and speechifying
about justice and truth.

You know,
the funny part is

a part of me
really believed that.

I should have known

Why all those years,
you never had
any time for your son.

He wasn't
old enough to vote.

[somber music]

Welcome to the final league
of women voters' debate

for this year's mayoral race.

Now by mutual agreement,

Richard Osbourne
will be speaking first,

And then Pete Nelson.

Ladies and gentlemen,
District attorney
Richard Osbourne.

[applause]

Warren.

Ladies and gentlemen,
before I make my
introductory remarks,

I would like to

relay some information that
I received shortly before I
came on stage tonight.

I'm sure you're all
aware of the fact
that my opponent's son

was suspended from
school last week.

Marijuana was found
in his locker.

I have just been told
by my son, Richie,

That Jeff Nelson
was the victim
of a cruel prank.

A prank

that I sadly report
was perpetrated by my son.

[murmuring]

I would like to take
this opportunity

to apologize
to my friend Pete,

to his lovely wife, Ann,

and to his son.

I knew nothing
of Richie's action.

And as difficult
as it is for me,

I would just like to say
I take heart in the fact

that when we make a mistake,
we can learn from it.

I know that Richie
has already learned

a great deal, uh...
from his...

error in judgment.

An error of a son

trying to help his father
win an election.

But I know that I've
learned a great deal.

I've learned that a father
can only do his best,

That both of us,
both parent and child,

must assume
responsibility
for our deeds.

Now, I will
stand by Richie,

As...
I've always done.

But I will not shield him
from his guilt.

A guilt that
is his alone.

You're the DA.
Why don't you
prosecute him?

Think how good
that would look
in the press.

DA shows no favoritism.
Convicts own son.

Should be worth
10 points in
the election polls.

Obviously my wife
is very distraught
by this affair.

I'm sure you
understand that.

Ladies and gentlemen,
Pete Nelson.

[applause]

Before I came
here tonight,

I had a speech
all prepared.

It was about
the future of our city

And my role
in that future.

But then listening
to Richard,

I began to wonder

If the important thing
about this election,
indeed, all elections,

isn't what the politician
can do for the citizen,

but what the citizen
should do for himself
and his community.

Traveling our city,
the past few months,

I haven't seen
a lot of hope.

I've seen fear,
I've seen cynicism,
and I've seen apathy.

People ask why our country
has lost it's competitive edge,

why it's citizens
have lost their pride.

It's because
politicians like myself

Ask for your vote
by telling you

that everything
will be all right,

By giving you the good news
but not the bad,

by placating you,
the voter,
not challenging you.

Every day I'm flooded
with polling information,

telling me what to do
to boost my numbers

with black women
or white men.

That's my son-in-law.

Everything about politics today

is to appease and appeal
to the various voting groups.

Tell them what
they want to hear,
not what they need to hear.

Give it to it, Pete.

If this country is about
freedom and equality,

why do we have black polls
and white polls
and women's polls,

and age polls,
and income polls?

What's he doing?

He's being
a leader instead
of a politician.

[Pete] Is that how
you bring people together?
By separating them?

Well, I don't think so.

But campaign managers
tell you that you
need the information

in order to know what
promises to make
the different voting groups.

And that's how you win,
and winning is everything.

Oh, and don't worry
about those promises
once you're elected.

Because you don't
have to keep them.

People are so used to
broken promises,

they don't care anymore.

Politics has become a game
packaged by Madison Avenue.

You want to appeal to men,
they show me
throwing a football.

You want to appeal to women,
you kiss the babies.

And whatever
you do, don't sweat!

Sweating is the kiss
of death on television.

Well, I'm here to warn you,
if I'm elected mayor
of this city,

I'm going to sweat,
because it's a tough job!

And you're going to
have to sweat, too!

Because having a city
that you can be proud of

is a tough job!

And in order to
get that job done,

we're going to have
to work together
as a team.

And stop thinking
about ourselves.

I dream of a city
with pride,

where people care
about each other,

not just with words,
but with actions.

We have to help the poor,

we have to
educate our children,

we have to clean up
our environment,

and we have to make
our streets safe again

for all our people!

But I can't promise you
all those things,

although my campaign
manager would like me to.

Because it's not
up to me,
it's up to us!

This is our city!
This is our country!

And what happens to it,
is up to all of us!

Heck of a speech
he made tonight,
wasn't it?

It sure was.

Think it could
ever happen?

What?

You know, like
he was saying,

people working
together,

helping each other
to make this city,

this country,
the kind of place
it should be.

Think that
could ever be?

I don't know.

It's like Pete said,
it's up to all of us.

Hey!

What are you doing
throwing your trash
in the street?

Big deal.
What do you care?

I care about you
trashing up the city!

That's what we got
street cleaners for,
stupid.

♪ America, America ♪

♪ God shed his grace on thee ♪

♪ And crown thy good
With brotherhood ♪

♪ From sea to shining sea ♪

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