Original subtitles

You are crazy.

Go ahead.

Stop.

This is nice.

I'll tell you what would be nicer.

What?

OK, stop. Quit.

That tickles.

That tickles.

Oh, you don't like being tickled?

No. And neither do you.

- I'm not ticklish. - Oh, really?

No.

Oh, so this doesn't bother you.

Stop playing.

I'm not really-- I'm not ticklish.

OK. Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop.

We're gonna wake up Calvin and Miranda.

- What? - What

They can't hear us?

CALVIN: Yes, we can.

See?

That's why I told you to stop it.

What this?

Baby, we not done.

I'm gonna finish this.

Come on.

Let's go upstairs. - No.

Our room is right next to theirs.

I don't want them to hear.

Well, what do you suggest?

MIRANDA: I suggest the basement.

I suggest yo find your own place to live.

I'm going to the basement. Come on.

Come on, me too.

[ringing]

Oh, not now.

Go on and get that, baby.

This will wait.

Hey.

What?

No.

I didn't hear.

A four-alarm fire?

Where?

Oh my god.

What?

You two want to give it a rest?

We're trying to get some sleep.

There's a bad fire downtown.

Look.

Whoa.

How many people are trapped?

Well, yes.

Well, send zones three and four.

[ringing]

Yeah?

Yeah.

I'm watching it now.

Of course. Yeah.

I can come in.

I'll field the media calls.

Bye.

Janine, you want me to come in with you?

Yes. We're gonna need you.

OK.

I'm on it.

OK.

Keep me posted.

I'm on my way.

Listen.

I got to get down there quick.

Couple of people are trapped.

And other people are on their way to the hospital.

This blaze is our of control.

Just be careful. All right.

All right. OK.

OK?

Bye.

I got to get dressed.

I got to get dressed.

OK.

Is there-- is there-- is there anything that I can do?

Aside from watching the kids?

Pray that everyone makes it out that fire alive.

Calvin, we got to get going.

[music playing]

CJ, there were five companies on the scene.

Your men did the best they could.

Yeah.

That doesn't make it any easier.

But baby, listen are you sure you want to talk to the press

tonight?

It's really late. - Yeah, CJ.

Maybe you should wait.

You looked tired.

Yeah.

I got to make a statement tonight.

Did I miss it?

No.

I'll check and make sure all the press is here.

I'll go make copies of the press release.

Thanks for coming, [inaudible]..

You need to relax.

You're gonna be fine.

A mother and her two kids died.

I'm gonna have to answer for that.

Yeah.

You know I've been there.

OK.

I prepared a statement for you to read.

You can put anything into your own words,

if it makes you feel better.

Chief Payne.

Yeah.

I didn't realize you were coming.

Oh, I'm here to support CJ.

And of course, you know, the press loves me.

So in case y'all need me to say a few words.

No.

Please, don't.

Just in case.

No.

I mean, you're a great speaker, but I just want the focus

to be on the issue at hand.

You're smooth.

You're smooth.

CJ, remember, don't stare directly into the cameras.

Not too many hand movements.

And--

And make sure your fly is zipped.

always check the fly.

I learned the hard way.

Ready?

CJ: Yeah.

I want to--

want to thank the firefighters for saving so many lives.

Also, our thoughts and prayers go

out to families who've lost loved

ones in this tragic event.

Any questions?

Is there anything the fire department

could've done differently to avoid the fatalities?

We followed proper procedure.

And we had crews on the scene within minutes

of-- of the 911 call.

Witnesses from the scene are saying the response

time was a lot longer.

It's late.

That's enough questions for tonight.

We will release another statement tomorrow.

Thank you.

Everyone, follow me.

I have copies of today's press release for everyone.

Does anybody need to talk to me?

Yeah, did you fight the big blaze?

Yes, I did.

It was 1987.

I'll never forget, because I was a rookie.

And it was-- I was a rookie.

I was just getting out of the academy.

I was too green to even know what fear tasted like.

Morning, baby.

Good morning, handsome.

So does the boss have time for lunch today?

Sorry, baby.

I'm booked.

Somebody's become quite popular at the office.

You know, I'm the man.

They just like you because you started

the weekly football pool.

Don't hate.

I'm just teasing.

But really, between that big fire last week

and you cutting the budgets, you are doing a great job.

Yeah, well, you know, you are quite the little

PR woman yourself.

Who? You mean me?

Yeah.

You.

Can you two give it a rest?

Jealous?

Yes.

I miss working.

I mean, it is wonderful staying here with the kids.

But I want my career back.

Baby, the real estate market will be back up in no time.

I can't wait.

And we'll be right back in our house.

I can't wait.

Not helping.

Besides, work has it's downsides.

That's true.

Like the long hours.

Boring meetings.

Annoying coworkers.

It's like that, huh?

I'm just trying to cheer up my wife.

Honestly, we-- we really appreciate

you helping with the kids.

You know, I know.

I really know.

It's just it's lonely here with just me and the kids sometimes.

I want to sell a house, not play house.

Whoever it is, let them in.

As long as they can complete a sentence.

Commissioner Payne.

What's going on?

Did you say the firefighters got on time

to the downtown fire last week?

Yes.

Why?

The 911 tape revealed it actually took them more

than 20 minutes to get there.

What?

There's been speculation that your decision

to close a nearby fire station might've

slowed down the response times and jeopardized lives.

Can you comment on that?

CJ don't comment on that.

I can't comment.

You can call the PR office.

They will have an official statement for you.

REPORTER: We need to know. - No comment.

- The public needs-- - Appreciate it.

No.

We have no comment at this moment.

We'll issue a statement as soon as we can.

[ringing]

Media relations.

No.

We have no comment at this time.

We'll issue a statement as soon as we can.

No.

No comment.

Oh, hi, ma.

Sorry.

This is not a good time.

What?

No.

I don't have a comment on the response times, ma.

Look, we'll issue a statement as soon as we can.

I'm doing my job, ma.

[ringing]

Calvin, no more calls, not even my mom.

It's all over the news.

Have you heard?

Yeah, I've heard.

The phones won't stop ringing.

They're saying the firefighters were

late responding to the fire.

Did you know?

Of course not.

I wish I would have.

Maybe we could've avoided all of this.

This is bad.

Hey, I'm sorry.

But the mayor wants to see you in 15 minutes.

What now?

Should we come too maybe?

No.

No. - You sure?

I'll handle the mayor. Yeah.

Yeah. I can handle it.

Listen, you guys keep answering the phones.

I want a full press conference today.

Wait a minute.

Let's think this through, CJ.

Why?

I mean, the media had their say.

I want to have mine.

And you will get your say.

But we can't go in front of media

again without having all the facts.

I think Roland is right.

Look, I want a full inquiry, not just this fire,

but I want every fire this year.

I want to prove that we haven't done anything wrong.

OK.

Commissioner Payne?

I want to ask a few questions about the fire.

I'm sorry, but I'm on my way to a meeting.

I'm sorry, are you with the press?

No.

Please.

I just need a moment.

It's very important.

Five minutes.

Is it OK if we have your office for a few minutes?

Yeah, sure.

OK.

OK.

Just remember, you have to meet with the mayor soon.

- Right. - OK.

Did Calvin let you in here?

Calvin.

What can I do for you--

Chester Wilkinson.

Mr. Wilkinson, what can I do for you?

I want to know what took the fire department

so long to get to us.

Look, I'm about to have a press conference.

So you can just find out then exactly everything that you.

I want to know now.

OK.

I'm gonna have to ask you to open that door.

I will, as soon as you tell me why my wife and two kids

had to die in that fire.

Mr. Mr. Wilkinson, I am very sorry--

Are you?

Because your family's still here, healthy, alive.

Yes, but--

But nothing.

You still got your wife and four kids.

How do you know about my family?

Since I lost mine, I got a lot of free time.

This is a terrible, terrible tragedy.

And if there was anything that I could do to change the outcome,

I would.

But at this point, the only thing that we can do

is just to find out--

You saying a bunch of words.

But it's all garbage.

That might sound real good on the news.

But we're talking about real people.

Hey.

Hey.

Hey.

That's my wife, Sarah.

I can't remember a day without her being in my life.

That's my son, Jason.

Jason was five.

And he loved playing with trains.

Mr. Wilkinson, what I want--

Don't interrupt me.

OK.

That's my daughter, Alyssa.

All my baby wanted to do was help people.

I'm sorry.

- Look at them. - No.

I'm very sorry.

Look at them.

My family is gone.

All of my reasons for living are gone.

Look at them.

Whoa.

Whoa, man.

Why did you do this?

Why did you do this?

Was balancing a stupid budget more important than my family?

You'll rot in hell for this.

I swear it.

You'll rot in hell for this.

Hey, you all right?

Yeah, I'm fine.

Hey, baby, what are you doing here?

Janine left some files.

I got to get them back to the office.

OK. Wait.

Can you stay for a little while?

Are you in a rush?

I mean, can you have lunch?

Stay and have lunch or stay and have lunch?

Well, I can make some sandwiches

and we can have lunch.

And then, we can have lunch.

OK.

Well, yeah, yeah.

But I can't stay long.

I got to get back soon. - OK.

Great. Look, sit down.

Sit down.

Here.

I-- I TiVoed the game for you, because I

know you didn't get a chance to watch it last night.

So here.

You TiVoed the game?

Yeah.

Baby, are you OK?

It doesn't matter. don't have to watch the game.

OK, well, then, we can watch a quick movie.

The Roots' marathon's on.

Miranda, stop.

Sit down.

Now, tell me what's wrong.

Calvin, I am going crazy in this house with the kids

by myself.

I have got to get back to work.

Do you have a strategy?

Yes.

New babies.

What?

OK.

When people have new babies, they usually buy bigger houses.

So I'm gonna go down to the maternity ward

and I'm gonna pass out my business cards.

What do you think?

You think I still got it?

Baby, of course you still got it.

That's a great idea.

And besides, who can hustle harder than my baby?

Nobody.

And who could work harder than my baby.

Nobody.

And who's gonna get back in the game?

Me.

Good.

Besides, you were always there by my side.

So now, I got your back.

Oh, baby, thank you so much.

It means so much to me.

So how about that lunch?

Lunch coming right up.

All right. I only got five minutes.

OK. Come on.

Come on.

Let's go.

REPORTER: Meanwhile, a community tries to recover

from a devastating fire.

Hey, I tried to catch you.

Is that the report?

Yeah.

It's not good.

The units were late getting to the fire.

How late?

It took them 25 minutes.

What?

Yeah.

The report also shows that response times

have gotten slower recently.

What changed?

It's when I closed the station.

Yeah.

But listen, you were handling a very difficult situation, baby.

OK?

Yeah.

All right?

Obviously, I came up with the wrong solution.

Baby, it's not your fault. CJ.

What?

I-- I'm coming.

Lord, you got to stop all that yelling.

You gonna kill the mood.

Champagne.

I got that.

Got the strawberry.

Where the chocolate.

Baby.

Oh, now she don't want to say nothing.

Whipped cream.

I got the whipped cream.

[grumbling]

I hope she got these keys.

Cause I can't get these keys.

[inaudible]

I'll put this right--

hey, I was wondering if you--

just doing a little cleaning up.

I'm hoping you gonna offer me a sandwich.

I'm not making a sandwich.

If you don't know that, we got a long talk to have.

[inaudible]

What's going on with you?

Man, I didn't know where else to go.

All of this is my fault.

Well, CJ, sometime things just happen.

You know?

You didn't see the picture of the man's family.

I mean, he had his wife, his kids.

Whole family is gone.

That's awful.

Well, I'm sure you're gonna do everything

in your power to make sure it doesn't happen again.

Yeah.

I'll go back to firefighting.

CJ, please.

You are where you're supposed to be, sir.

You remember your first day on the job?

I knew from the first time I saw you step in that fire station

that you were supposed to be more than a firefighter.

That was a different time, Unc.

I'm in over my head.

I don't want to be responsible for any more dead bodies.

I'm gonna tell you something you might not want to hear, CJ.

Suck it up.

OK?

Handle this.

Now, you wanted the boots.

You got them.

Now, wear them.

What?

You closed the fire stations.

Right?

People died.

That's tragic.

But you also saved jobs, CJ.

And you saved lives too.

It's not enough, Unc.

It's never going be enough, CJ.

That don't mean you stop trying.

You keep on trying.

Yeah.

But it's real hard when you're struggling to find

out if your choices are right.

Well, it's because of the struggle that lets

you know you're a good man.

Because if you weren't, there wouldn't be any struggle.

Right?

Yeah.

You're fine.

I'd like to apologize again to Mr. Wilkinson

and the residents of Atlanta.

I take full responsibility.

So I've made up my mind.

And I vow to get our response time back to what it should be.

I owe that much to the city of Atlanta.

And if that means that we need more trucks or firefighters,

then I'll do that.

What about the budget though?

Isn't that gonna be tough?

Yeah, but I can handle tough.

And you can quote me on that.

As you all know, the great fire of 1987, which

I participated in, and I was actually

the one that put the fire out in the beer section--

have you ever seen alcohol burn?

Burn, baby, burn.

Wait a minute.

Well, let me you about how I put it out.

I had to use water balloons.