Original subtitles

Hello, I'm calling from the trip. I'd like to confirm a call.

How much money was involved?

Was it over $1 ,000?

Was it over $10 ,000?

Walker, when are you going to learn to use a VDT instead of that relic?

I'm a rider, got a tight setter. The VDT's faster, a lot faster.

You want faster, you want good.

Can I get both?

Has anything decent come in yet?

Guy in Bel Air has discovered a way to make his car run on water.

No kidding.

Well, don't get your hopes up. The car moved a quarter of a mile and the engine

died, seized from rust.

On LA water, no wonder.

A quarter mile to an engine?

That's just an estimate. Your mileage may vary.

Rotten weather. Looks like Tacoma out there.

Looks like the end of the world.

That's what I said.

Boy, do I have good news.

Scott, we need it for phase one.

I just hired Marcy Lockman away from the Long Beach Sun.

The consumer affairs writer? So what?

What did we give up? Cash or a first -round draft choice?

Cash. You remember when we offered that guy from the Miami Herald?

Yeah. A little bit more than that.

Really? Not that one.

She's coming in today.

I'll introduce you.

Lou, I've got a story for you. It's so neat, it's so perfect.

It's got a little bit of everything.

Take it easy, Rossi. On a day like today, you don't need a hard sell.

On the 15th, Supervisor Wendell Kirby went to Denver. Right, for the county

administrator's conference. While he was in Denver, he took a side trip to

Aspen. So?

So, when I asked him how he liked Aspen, he flew off the handle and said he'd

never even been there.

Well, maybe he hadn't.

A Glendale stockbroker was in Aspen with his wife and saw Kirby.

Is the stockbroker reliable?

I would say so.

So Kirby denies something we think is true.

Why would he do that?

Let me go find out. And if I nail it, can I get some real play today?

Paid one good enough?

Ross, he smells blood.

Nice to see him happy again.

Sometimes a small animal struck going by. Some pesky kids can set these things

off.

Usually they're trouble -free. And again, what sets them off can be a

with a gun.

Shouldn't have any more trouble. It's okay now.

Do you install these?

Well, that's how I earn a living.

However, the thing I'm really proud of is a little neighborhood organization

we've developed here.

It's called CATCH.

Citizens Alliance to Control Hoodlums.

Des. Catch, have good relations with the police, Mr. Longwood?

I've always supported the police.

Let's face it, they can't be everywhere at once.

But you do work with them. You don't make arrests on your own.

Oh, well, we'll detain a suspect.

Maybe try to point out the error of his ways, so the cops come.

Do you carry guns?

Technically, of course, the police don't allow us to carry weapons on patrol.

But do you own a gun?

Of course I do. If things ever get out of control, I'm not going to be caught

walking around without protection.

So what do you do when you catch someone doing something illegal?

We have our own ways of making an impression on the criminal element.

Know what I mean?

Yeah. I think we do.

Marcy, this is Art Donovan, our assistant city editor. You'll be

him. Hi.

Hi.

We haven't decided exactly where your desk is going to be yet. I'll get a copy

boy to show you around.

Oh, that's okay, Lou. I'll do it. I've got a couple of minutes.

If you want something done right, you've got to do it yourself.

Oh, that's very good of you.

You know, this paper has really needed a good consumer affairs reporter.

I'm really looking forward to it.

When I walked into the building, I couldn't believe I'd finally made it to

Big City has a lot to offer.

Yeah. Giant public utilities, thousands of car repair shops, and dozens of big

corporations.

I can't wait to investigate them all.

Go get them.

Are you familiar with our VDTs? They the same as you have in Long Beach?

Not exactly.

Do you mind if we look over your shoulder?

Not at all. I'm riding my mother.

Oh, she got a terminal at home?

Did you feel that?

Yeah, I felt that.

5 .2.

No, 4 .8.

5 .2, you got it? Yeah.

5 .4. Not a chance.

5 .0.

4 .6.

No way.

It has to be at least 5 .5.

I'm in?

I'm in, too.

You mark me now? What is it?

5 .5. All right, all right.

Yeah.

Oh, hi, Reggie. How are things?

I never thought you'd stoop to rating.

It's a big opportunity.

I mean, she will be working on an important daily in a major metropolitan

Well, what are we here in Long Beach? A Pueblo? Let me tell you something. I'm

never going to forget this. Never. Look, Reggie, don't take it personally. I

mean, it just shows that we respect you as a judge of talent.

4 .2, okay?

Mr. Grant.

Huh? Did you feel the earthquake?

Yes, we did. Is everyone in the building all right?

Oh, no damage is reported. The only trouble is with the VDTs. We lost

copy was on the screen when the power was interrupted.

But it didn't affect the copy already stored in the memory banks.

Thank heaven for that.

I have these recurring dreams about our losing the entire paper when somebody

hits the wrong button.

Were you taking out the collection?

No, this is for the earthquake pool.

Really? How strong was the earthquake?

Well, we don't know yet. Walker, Chuck, I think it was about a 4 .8. Oh, no.

No, much too low. It was more like a 5 .7. Someone pick 5 .7.

No. Good. Put me down.

This picture ought to cost a dollar to get in.

Oh, are you suggesting I'm not good for the money, Mr. Brown?

Nuts. 4 .5. That percent is near Saugus.

This is amazing.

I never want anything.

You owe me a buck, Mr. Bichotte.

See Mr. Gurion in accounting.

Supervisor Kirby, can I ask you a few questions? I'm late for a campaign

meeting. But if it's about the earthquake, there have been no reported

or major damage throughout the county. It's about your trip to Denver.

Why didn't you attend the conference?

Are you still on that?

I told you before, I did attend the conference.

But nobody remembers seeing you after the opening meeting. Was your wife with

you? No, my wife didn't accompany me on that trip.

Then who was that woman you were seeing with in Aspen?

Off limits.

Off limits.

Look, I don't care if you fool around. Not many of the supervisors look like

they'd be up to it. I just don't think the tax pay should finance it, do you?

I'm not going to comment on that kind of a question.

No matter how many different ways you try to ask it, it's slander.

Find that story and somebody will be looking for a job.

Let's see if it's you or me.

Now, when you've done that, crunch in your personal entry code.

What was your code at the time?

Oh, no.

I was kind of hoping to start fresh.

The code that they gave me in Long Beach was so dumb.

I don't ever want to hear or say that word again.

What was it?

Cupcake.

Not so bad.

I'm sorry.

I want my new code to express the kind of job I do.

Barracuda? No, it's got too many letters.

You pick.

Something that really describes me.

Ken.

You have a way with numbers.

This is hot stuff.

Can you support it?

The hotel clerk read the names to me right off the register. Three witnesses

Kirby was never at the conference. And then, there's this.

She's pretty, so?

Not her. That's the broker's wife. That's Kirby, and the woman's one of his

aides. Why didn't you show me this before?

I just picked it up. Besides, I like to save the best for last.

It's not bad.

I always like to break a lump with a cripple.

Well, I think if it were more as a double, then you stole third.

Bye, Lou.

Billy, how are you coming on neighborhood patrol?

I should have something for you tonight. I'm going to start out right now.

Good.

I'm sorry, Lou. I didn't mean to hit it so hard.

Lou Grant will continue in a moment here on A &E.

All right. All right.

Enough's enough.

Look at that.

It's taking out the whole downtown area.

At least.

I think it's kind of pretty.

Just when I'm in a hot story. City room, hello.

Relax, Rossi Power will be back soon. I see. The entire area gets blacked out

and Rossi takes it personally.

No, no, keep going.

Wow, it's like a giant dark room with me.

For you maybe, but what am I supposed to write with?

Yeah. Mm -hmm. Yeah.

Yeah, I got it. Fine, thank you.

Okay, cops say most of the city's affected, near as they can tell. It

the valley, it rolled right through the pass into town, and out to the beach.

It's a good story.

Terrific. What are we supposed to do, mimeograph it? Any word from the

Department of Water and Power?

I couldn't get through.

At least the phones still work. Why do the phones still work?

They have their own power supply.

Burroughs! Where's Burroughs?

Here, Lou. Stop hiding like that.

You smoke, give me some matches.

I'm sorry, I quit last week.

Great timing.

Walker, what are you used to light that pipe with?

Don't work it, throw them away.

Lou? Lou, I got the Department of Water and Power.

Well?

It's a recording.

They said there's been a major outage and power should be restored shortly.

Bulletin, bulletin.

All right, everybody, listen up.

Check your sources and pin down how widespread this thing is. Animal, you

flashlight? Yeah, I'll get it.

Burroughs.

Airports. Shipping terminals.

RTD. Billy.

Stay after the DWP.

Rossi. Yeah, Lou. Check for political reaction.

And then help out with the cops.

Marcy. Yeah. You just officially started. You'll take notes for Walker.

We'll get you a desk.

Leon. Yeah. Leon.

Right, Lou. All right. Call the staff in. Get everybody a can.

We need some light. Does anybody have any candles?

Try the religion editor.

City desk.

City desk.

The little lights don't work.

Probably tied in with the local power supply.

I know, everybody. We don't know how long this is going to last.

So just in case, let's be prepared.

Fan out, hit the streets, and get some lights in here.

Candles, flashlights, anything.

Donovan, what about the typewriters? They're all electric.

What about the old ones, the ones we used before the VDTs?

Leon, the old typewriters, any stashed in the building somewhere? See, will

Get right on it.

It's the press room. They had exactly 12 copies run off before the blackout. Get

them up there. We might need them.

Who's got some money?

Come on. You'll all be reimbursed.

Put my last buck in the pool, Luke.

All right, Luke.

Easy come.

Thanks, Charlie.

How about you?

Oh, sorry, Mrs. Benshaw. That's all right.

Say, you got any money?

Oh, I wasn't able to get to the bank today. Is everything under control here?

Nothing is under control.

Come on, we need money for flashlights.

Donna Byrne.

Donna Byrne.

Donna, you've always got cash.

Give.

Don't teach me to cash my paycheck at lunch.

Some of us were working through lunch.

Okay, here's 20 plus Charlie's six.

Here's another 20. Walker?

Yeah?

And another.

That's it?

That's not going to be enough.

Here's 50.

Now that is it. Unless you want to take the dimes out of my loafers. Thanks,

Adamant. Rossi. I'll bring you change.

I got an idea.

Ow!

Father?

Sorry, but there's been an emergency.

See, we've been blacked out. They could put out the paper.

I mean, we're the Tribune, and we've been hit with this thing like everyone

else. I guess you don't know about that in here.

Sure, I do. I just finished dinner, and my dishwasher went on the fritz.

I'm sorry, Father.

How widespread is this blackout?

We don't know yet, but it looks like the entire city's been hit.

Is it okay if I take these? We really need them. Of course.

Thank you. Father, I'd really like to pay for them, but... See, all I have is

50. There's no charge. Take as many as you need.

Thank you, Father. And any donation of any size that you'd like to make to our

orphans, we greatly appreciate.

Charlie?

Hey, Charlie.

What'd you find?

Oh, those are great.

Great.

Why do we keep our emergency flashlights in a storage room in the basement?

Yeah, a lot of things are going to do better in the next blackout. Not the

of which is an emergency light in a men's room.

Billy, what'd you find?

Restaurant candles.

Thanks. It all helps.

Where'd you get these? Villa DiNapoli around the corner? Right. They cook with

gas, so they're still open.

The candlelight makes it kind of romantic. Their business is booming.

Come on.

City desk.

City desk.

Hold on a minute.

Billy, get over to the Department of Water and Power. See what they have to

Call in as soon as you have something. Right. Yeah, go ahead. Where are you

calling from?

What are you doing, looking for an honest man?

Here. Add these to your collection.

How are we doing? Well, we still can't do anything without power for the

presses, but at least now we can see what we can't do.

Rossi, where the hell have you been?

Supervisor Kirby's giving a press conference in ten minutes. Get over

Where's my change?

Uh, it wasn't any.

Fifty dollars?

There's nothing like a good crisis to fire up a campaign, right, Supervisor?

That depends on the crisis, Mr. Rossi. I don't see the TV people. Why don't we

wait till the TV crews show up? There is no TV. Their power's out, too. Be

grateful for giant sister radios.

Well, there's one question answered. I guess we should get started.

All right, ladies and gentlemen, if I could have your attention.

We seem to have suffered a major power outage. The reports are incomplete at

this time, but it appears to have affected the entire L .A. basin.

Have you heard about any looting?

The public is showing great resourcefulness and restraint in coping

blackout, and we urge all citizens to continue to be patient until the power

restored. When will that be?

We can't estimate at this time.

Meanwhile, we are trying to clear the street of traffic jams.

So, folks, please stay off the streets so the utility crews can do their job,

and that will be greatly appreciated.

Do we know what caused the blackout?

No, Mr. Rossi, but I am glad you asked.

I have contacted the other supervisors who will join with me in asking for a

complete investigation as to the cause of the outage.

Now, are there any other questions?

City desk.

City desk.

City desk.

Walker, what have you found out?

I just called home. I've got a freezer thawing. I just paid 300 bucks for a

of beef.

Sounds like it's time to have a party.

What about your story?

On the airport, you got LAX operating an emergency power and Hollywood Burbank

is closed down.

Say the surface streets and most of the freeways are jammed.

And, oh, an 18 -year -old secretary directed traffic outside the museum for

than an hour.

Cops said she did a dandy job.

Okay, thank you.

The county general put out an urgent appeal for blood when the refrigerator

down. I thought hospitals had backup systems.

They do, but county generals is like ours. It doesn't work.

Oh, over 10 ,000 people were stranded at Pauley Pavilion when the lights went

out, but Goldman over at Sport said it all worked out for the best.

How's that?

UCLA was down by 14 points. He had 20 bucks on him.

You okay?

Hey.

Hey, Frank.

Looks like business is good.

Yeah, we have a sale on Fender Bendis.

Officer Johnson, folks, would you go with the officer? She'll take care of

please. Go with her.

Thank you. Take him in the back.

Louie, did those reserves get here yet? No. Well, when they do, you send them

out to Hollywood to man the intersections.

Right.

Those things will kill you.

Antacids don't kill people. People kill people.

False alarms. Are you having much trouble with vandals, looters?

Just the opposite.

A lot of accidents, but nothing serious. People pitching in trying to help. Some

blind guy let 80 people out of the Arco Plaza.

You got his name?

If I give it to you, will you go bother somebody else for a while? Sure.

What about the watch commander? Is he busy?

Oh, no, no. He's been sitting in his office all night just waiting for Joe

to show up and scrounge up a story.

Now, take that and beat it.

Thank you. Okay.

Thank you all for waiting.

Here, Mrs. Pinjon. Sit here.

Hi.

Well, this is certainly a romantic setting for a press conference.

Mrs. Benjana, in this light, you look just like Lauren Bacall.

Oh, thank you, Mr. Grant.

So do you.

Excuse me, kids.

Can we go over the budget?

Oh, why this question mark beside Mr. Rossi's story about Supervisor Kirby's

vacation in Aspen?

We had to cut it from eight books to three. It's so short, it might be better

hold it.

Any news yet on what caused the blackout in the first place?

I seem to recall our running articles describing why such a thing could never

happen. Well, in a normal emergency, everything would have been fine.

Emergencies are seldom normal.

It began when an earthquake disrupted two power lines in the valley.

Then two key transformers were hit by lightning.

They're due back online within an hour.

This also occurred at rush hour during peak usage.

What about the nuclear plant?

Can't that take up some of the slack? It was shut down for revamping the safety

system. Also, it was human error. At the DWP, they told me that a group of

trainees was in charge of a key switching station, and when their

overloaded, they simply didn't know what to do.

We've got some good stories.

Human interest stuff.

Acts of kindness, people working together, some heroism.

Should be a nice issue.

The blackout occurred at 5 .22 p .m.

We were informed power would be restored by 6 .30.

It is now 8 .47 p .m., and once again, power is to be restored

within an hour.

We have no electricity.

If those presses aren't running by midnight, we will have no newspaper

Lou Grant will continue in a moment here on A &E.

Wait a minute.

Just wait a minute.

I can't believe we're just going to roll over and play dead on this.

I can assure you, Mr. Grant, I don't like it any better than you.

Since the first issue this newspaper published 64 years ago, we have never

failed to make the street with an edition.

You had printing problems before?

Yes, twice. The Times helped us out.

We returned the favor for nearly a month when they renovated their presses.

Well, this time we can't count on the times to bail us out.

What are they doing?

They'll use their Orange County plant.

It's big enough for most of their full run, but they can't handle us as well.

There's got to be a way.

Instead of us thinking of all the reasons why we can't do it, let's figure

how we can.

What's the closest metropolitan area that isn't affected by the blackout?

me that.

Long Beach.

Their downtown area isn't blacked out. That's where the Sun publishes. Now,

a minute, Mr. Grant.

They have their own paper to put out. They can't typeset 24 pages for us in an

hour and a half.

There are print shops in Long Beach.

Mr. Hume, you have an old friend at the Sun.

Mr., um, Mr... Washburn.

Reggie Washburn.

There's the answer.

Give them a call, Charlie.

Well, I'll try, but they may not go for it. Why not? No paper would turn down a

chance to help another. They weren't too happy about our hiring away Marcy

Lachman. Then they'll love having us owe them one. Tell them money's no object.

Mr. Brown, that phrase always made me very, very nervous.

But go ahead, Mr. Hume. Call your friend.

My friend.

Is there anything we should know about the operation in Long Beach?

When you're down there, don't order the fish in the commissary.

When I'm down there?

I'm not going. This is Lou's baby.

Did you see the look in his eyes? He loves this.

A whole new paper to put out in one night.

He'd never trust it to anybody else.

I don't blame him. I wouldn't either if it were mine.

Let me take a look at that.

Ties are 650.

I helped get these things recalled.

I know.

I know, Reggie.

You're right.

Yeah.

Everything you say is true.

I really am.

Yeah.

Listen, now that you've got all this off your chest,

How about I using your presence?

Really?

After all that?

Oh, that's great.

Thanks, Reggie.

He was really very nice about it.

who's picked up.

Where's the supervisor?

In the watch commander's office.

Thanks. Can you give me a rundown on what's happening?

Yep. People are roaming the streets, ripping off every thing they can.

been major looting in Westdale. They even knocked over Florida.

And the gangs are just smashing and burning.

Why? You tell me.

Uh -oh. Here he comes now.

I get your question, May. Just a minute, please. Just a minute.

I have a brief announcement.

Despite the efforts of off -duty personnel,

and the hard -working efforts of the reserve, there have been reported

of violence in some areas of the city.

But rest assured that anyone caught looting will be dealt with severely.

I understand.

I've contacted the governor and requested National Guard assistance.

This should be good for a few votes.

In addition, about 30 minutes ago, I've called for a statewide investigation

into the causes of this blackout.

And I am the only elected official in California to have done that.

This is the last of the copy paper, Luce.

What are you talking about?

Well, we don't keep much on hand since we went to DDT.

Tell them to start using stationery.

Okay.

Walker, is that Billy?

I want to talk to her when she's done.

Burroughs, any estimate on the results of the power?

They moved back again.

745. The lightning did more damage than they thought.

That's a little more than an hour.

Mrs. Bichon.

Hold on a minute.

As soon as we'll have juice, it's 11 .45.

We have to decide now.

I'll call you right back.

That would give us time to print here.

Assuming the power comes on when they say it will.

Lou, even if we can do it, it'll be expensive to use Long Beach.

We'd have to cut out most of the ads and go with the small paper, 24 pages at

most. Charlie, the only thing for sure is if we try to publish here and we have

no power, we have no paper.

I will indeed.

Mr. Hume, call your friend at the sound. Tell him to expect company.

Boxes. We gotta get boxes.

Lay down!

When looters attacked their patrol car, period, paragraph, firemen in the area

were stoned by looters and beaten back while fighting a blaze in an appliance

shop, comma, as a six -block area of downtown resembled a combat zone,

Thirty. Where's the...

Yeah, Billy.

Come on.

Tell Animal to bop you off, then take his film directly to the sun on Long

Beach.

We'll do the fresh run from there if we have to. If we get power back here, he

can transmit the art over the wire.

Okay, Lou. We'll be in pretty soon, I guess. There's a few things here I want

check out. Come in now, Billy. I need you.

Hold it down, Rossi. We're not going to have too much room in this issue.

Okay. Okay, so last graph.

Residents of high -rise buildings were particularly affected, comma, since

water supply is dependent on electrically powered pumps, period.

They were reduced to drinking water out of ice trays and fire hydrants, period.

Some residents responded to the challenge by drinking wine and brushing

teeth with beer, period, 30. Now, what about my supervisor story? I think we're

going to have to hold it till tomorrow.

Hold it? You can't. We'll lose our feet on it, Donovan. My source went to one of

the TV stations, too.

Okay, but we're going to have to cut it. I can't use more than three takes.

I'm crying out loud, Donovan. This is the first good story I've had in months.

You're working on a good story. Call in when you get to the hospital.

What's that about?

We're going to have to use whatever we can on the Kirby scandal. Apparently the

stockbroker that Rossi talked to had an axe to grind. He tipped off one of the

TV stations, so by tomorrow everybody's going to have it.

Perfect. What else?

Well, now Kirby wants an investigation of the blackout from the Department of

Energy. You know something?

He'll probably get it.

Okay, Merv, let's get ready to roll.

Hopkins, Burroughs, give the copy desk a hand.

When we're finished with these, come back and get the rest.

Take everything you need, even the typewriters. Those guys down there have

own paper to put out, and there isn't enough equipment to go around.

What's this?

Oh, it's the fire update, but it keeps changing.

Art? Yeah?

Are we really going to get out of paper?

We're trying.

I mean, that's really something.

Nobody would blame us if we didn't. And yet here... Who's watching your desk?

Oh, okay, Lou. I'm going right back.

We'll have people dictating the final updates when we get settled in Long

Right. We've got to be ready by 12.

With the additions the son has to put out, there's no leeway in press time.

Cutting it pretty close. Yeah.

Ready, Matt?

No, but... Why should that stop us?

Good luck, Mr. Grower.

Thanks.

Give me.

You know, it's crazy. This started out to be a pretty slow news day, then bang.

It turns into the kind of day you dream about for years.

It is, isn't it?

You're going to have fun down there.

What do you mean I'm going to have fun?

You're the one who's going.

Oh, Lou, I couldn't take that away from you.

What do you mean take it away from me? That's a lot of work.

Okay, before you change your mind, I'll go.

Good luck, Harkin.

Here!

Make it away, you loader!

Bluegrass will continue in a moment here on A &E.

I took one in the leg.

You a security guard?

Sort of.

I started the neighborhood group in Worcester.

The CATS program.

How did that happen?

I was on patrol.

Chased this guy who was trying to break into a house.

I just threw my gun and he steps out of the shadows and fires.

I don't know. I think I winged him, too.

Sounds like a close call.

Yeah, but that's the risks.

Sorry, I can't give you any more.

I gave me something. I feel a little dopey. Take it easy.

This guy tell you he's a hero?

Say he got shot by a prowler. Right. A bullet entered the back of the calf on a

downward angle.

Powder burns on his pants.

Damn poor shot himself, if you ask me.

Want some coffee?

Sure.

This looks a little primitive to me. A lot primitive.

First we lost power, then the backup system failed, then the backup system to

the backup system stayed on 20 minutes and died.

How do we operate under these conditions?

Oh, the tricky stuff we send to St. Elizabeth and Mercy.

We wouldn't even have this much without Supervisor Kirby.

Kirby? I know, I know. He's not exactly my type either, but when he heard that

we were in a jam, he ordered all that equipment.

Got through the red tape just like that.

We were back in business 15 minutes after the lights went out.

Got to give him points for that.

Say hello.

Oh, yeah. Hello, Ross.

Oh, no, no. That's all right. I can take it.

Wait a second.

Slug, it's surgery.

Okay. Hampered when hospital backup systems failed, medical personnel at

uppercase, county general, jury rigged an emergency center in the parking lot

take care of the casualties which occurred during the blackout period

There was a cop in a coma, coma, coma, coma.

Hey, Charlie, you haven't taken dictation in a long time. You sure you

do this?

Just give me the story, Rossi. You don't forget how to do this.

You got too much for page one, Charlie.

How about if we cut Billy's story, though?

That will be enough.

I'm getting a lot of art in. I want to play it big.

Well, then we'll just have to kick Rossi's piece on Kirby inside.

Maybe he won't notice.

Who's that?

Oh, it's Rick Danbury of the Times.

He's doing a story.

What kind of a story?

A lot of other newspapers trying to put out a paper.

Seems we're news.

City desk.

Just a minute.

Rick!

Have you seen the way our financial section is handling this?

Lou Grant will continue in a moment here on A &E.

How are you coming with that layout?

Oh, it won't work, Lou. The sun's column sizes are larger and they use different

types. Half our headlines don't even fit.

Copy. Any change on when you'll have power?

They still claim 1145.

Listen.

We have a Times reporter here.

They're doing a story on us.

I sure hate to get beat on a story about us in some other paper.

Gotcha. I'll put Walker on a story about how we're doing this down here. I'd

like to keep this line open. The sun switchboard is really jammed. It's tough

getting in or out.

I want to keep this line open.

We're still hoping for 1145. Then we can get a lot of stuff right off the wire.

You better do more than hope. I can't guarantee a thing after midnight.

Hey, Bart, where is page six? It's screaming for page six. I thought you

it. I'm proofing it. It'll be there in a minute.

All right.

Oh,

I'm glad you made it. What do you got?

Yeah, some really good looting stuff. Where's the darkroom?

Darkroom's over there off to the left.

Thanks. I was picking you so long.

I'm not used to your sizes, and your layout's got me crazy.

I could use a little help.

Oh, you L .A. guys, you know you steal my reporters, you try to muscle in on my

circulation and advertising areas, and then you use my hospitality and use my

people. Listen, Reggie, I just want to remind you, we've got a big city

newspaper we're trying to get out here.

You don't realize what a break it is for you to have us do this here. You could

watch and learn from us, and it won't cost you anything.

L .A. Tribune, Onyx.

Well, get it up here right away, will you? They need it.

Is that stuff ready to go?

Yeah.

Thanks, Ray.

They're really under pressure, so get the thing moving as fast as you can.

I guess it does at that.

You getting everything you need?

I asked the governor to ask the president to declare certain parts of

disaster areas.

That should help people rebuild at low cost federal loans.

What's the odds of that happening?

Pretty good.

It's an election year.

You know, the timing of this blackout wasn't too bad for you, was it,

supervisor?

Well, it wasn't too bad for you either, Rossi.

You got a good story out of it.

No, don't!

That was our link to Long Beach.

Hello, Lou.

What's the matter?

We lost our line of long beats. Their switchboard's jammed.

Any news?

Nothing yet.

Listen, can we hold off till about ten past midnight? I'm sure to get through

then. Oh, if you don't roll by twelve, forget it. You've got to be out of here.

We have our own paper to get out.

you mean they have no authorization to start the presses until they hear from

you? Whose idea was that?

It was mine and it was dumb.

I can't make contact.

You're out of time, Jonathan. What do you want to do?

Don't ever want to make a decision like this again.

Roll.

Donovan. Art.

I got him on Reggie's private line. Line two.

Art, I got you.

We've been trying to reach you.

Donovan. Roll.

Don't wait another second.

Roll.

It's too late, Lou.

What do you mean it's too late?

It's only a couple of minutes after twelve.

You did it.

Isn't he wonderful?

You're wonderful.

This is terrific.

It's better than terrific.

What on earth are you eating?

Soup. It used to be ice cream. We liberated it from the cafeteria.

You have your choice of vanilla fudge, rocky road, or Neapolitan.

Which do you suppose goes best with cognac?

Anything goes with cognac.

Here,

let me... Listen, we're going to want a toast.

To our victory tonight.

To a paper on the streets every day for 64 years.

To modern technology.

Doesn't take much to knock us back 200 years.

I like people.

We beat the times on the streets.

I'm not even going to think about what it cost.

How is Long Beach?

They're dying without you.

Rossi, I'm sorry about your story on the supervisor. We had to dump it.

You know something?

As a reader, I miss it.

Walker's story on how he published looks good.

Where is he?

He's a good man.

That's one of the prices we had to pay. Reggie Washburn liked him, too. He

recruited him.

He's now the chief rewrite man for The Sun.

That's ridiculous. He can't do that.

Well, that's... That's unethical, Mr. Hill.

He races cars, sells popcorn, and has hit many a girl's heart aflutter. It's

Paul Newman, tonight on an all -new biography.

Now, a police chief's up against an angry anti -cop crowd.

John Forsythe stars in Police Story, next on A &E.

Nothing clean stains better than cloth, please.