Original subtitles

Hello, I'm calling from the trip. I'd like to confirm... How much money was

involved? Was it over $1 ,000?

Was it over $10 ,000?

He has to pinch the tackles and let the linebackers fire the gap.

Ross, I didn't know you knew so much about football.

He does, and he does well connected.

Okay, so I happen to know someone with a club.

One of the cheerleaders?

Thank you, George. The offensive line coach, a friend of mine, lived in my

building. Gave me some terrific inside stuff.

Oh, yeah?

Like what quarterback and wide receiver aren't talking in the huddle?

L .A. is inverting from tackle to tackle and stunting on short yardage

situations. Really?

Does this stuff interest you guys?

Oh, Billy, it's just because you didn't play football when you were in high

school. Who says?

You know, you'd probably like it better if McKenna's had scraped for a cutter.

What's the matter? You knew there was a game tonight.

Oh, no, I didn't. I thought they just played on Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays,

Thursdays.

Don't let him get outside.

All right.

Good way to stick him, huh?

It sounded bad. Doesn't that hurt?

Of course it does, but just for a second. Anyway, there weren't a lot of

There he is, Clifford Crusher Carter, a third -year pro out of Cooksey

University. Pound for pound, this guy is the most devastating hitter in

professional football.

I'd like to add, though I appreciate his superior athletic abilities, I have an

equal disdain for his penchant for the occasional cheap shot. And I disdain

I disdain you. Come on, Harvey. That's enough of you. Let's get back to the

game. Let's tell her my goods.

Apologies of defense.

Defense.

Stop him.

Stop him.

Stop him.

All right. All right. Way to go.

By Clifford Carter.

Get him up, get him up. He's killing the grass.

It's an artificial turf, and he's killing the artificial turf.

Well, listen, guys, it's funny. I have to go home on my plans.

The team doctor is out there with Templeton already.

I'll miss you, too.

And there it is again, ladies and gentlemen, the very thing we've been

about, the devastating hitting of Clifford Crusher Carter of Los Angeles.

All right, that's it, Harvey.

I've had enough of you. Here's a rundown of last Sunday's league action. In the

east, it was Boston 35, New York 14.

Baltimore scored over Washington 17.

Animal, I don't care about the bodybuilding championships.

I want you at the dedication in Whittier.

That's right. The mayor before muscle.

Did you read about the knifing in the movie theater last night?

No. It sounded like the audience went a little nuts. There were fights. A bunch

of people got hurt.

I've seen movies that made me feel that way.

What was it?

The Devil's Club.

Never heard of it. I asked Billy to check it out, see what it's about.

Sure is nice to be working for a class outfit.

You mean they finally put paper towels in the men's room? I just got that

assignment with Sportsview I told you about. I'm doing a feature on Crusher

Carter. Rossi writing sports?

Not a little beneath you? That's why they want me to do it. It won't be just

puff piece by some local sports writer protecting his job. I'll go at it like

everything else.

Clear eye and hard nose.

Full head of steam and a full head of hair.

When you interview this guy, you better temper your usual style.

Remember, the referees call him Mr. Carter.

An interview is an interview.

How'd our movie do? Who wrote the review?

By Melissa Cummings. She surprised me on this one. Why? Seems to be in English.

I predict that Mark Campanella's The Devil's Club, a raw and uncompromising

at youth gangs, a film of shocking power and dazzling artistry, will evoke knee

-jerk cries of alarm from those who blame the movies for every one of

ills. But see it for yourself.

I hear the impression she liked it.

I think of the impression she starred in it. For an attractive -looking woman,

she seems to have strange tastes.

Oh, that reminds me. The other day when I was talking to her, she said she

wanted to meet you. She thinks you're cute.

That's what I mean.

I thought you might be interested.

This is about the guy who got hit in the game last night.

Templeton? Yeah.

City News says he's in a coma.

Possible brain damage.

Boss, he's going to do an interview with Clifford Carter, the guy who did it.

Better tell him to wear a helmet.

Hi.

I'm Clifford Carter.

As a professional athlete, I know what it is to be on the road away from my

family. That's why I like to spend as much time with my kids as I can, when I

can. Go, Tucker.

Let your kids know you care.

Support the family, huh?

Hey, boy, you're pulling that

football just like a girl. Nobody's going to take it away from you.

It's a fumble. Get it.

Hi, Cliff. I'm Joe Rossi. I'm here to talk to you about that article I'm doing

for Sportsview.

Joe, how you doing?

Oh, fine.

Hey, look, man, I'm a little sorry about the mix -up. I forgot I had to do a

public service promo.

Oh, that's okay.

Is there any chance we can squeeze in a few minutes before practice?

Yeah, I got to get tape first.

I hope you don't mind the smell of liniment and sweat socks.

Hey, I love it. I'm right at home in a lot of them. Okay, I'll be with you in a

minute. So I have a corner of my eye. See this guy streaking in like he's on a

blindside? Well, I turned around, and I belted pretty good, see?

Then I realized I just decked a referee.

Or a two -legged zebra.

Anyway, it's the last time I intentionally decked the official.

Was that Chuck Gibbs?

Yep, that was him.

My man is not much into comedy. As a matter of fact, he's just barely in his

piece, right, man? That's right.

Large fella.

Extra large.

Matter of fact, he's so big that when we leave from the hotels and go to the

stadium, we all climb aboard him.

Runs on diesel for economy.

Boy, it amazes me that someone your size can play on the same field with a guy

that big. Well, fortunately, my man is not a running back or a receiver.

Yeah, well, some of them are even that big.

I'm getting out of the game before the next year's models come out.

What do you think of when a guy that size is heading for you?

Well, I figure I got two choices.

Play the hell out of the way, I'll meet him head up.

And you prefer the latter.

Well, they don't pay me to step aside, Joe.

I try to hit him a little harder than the next guy.

Give him something to think about.

I call it aggressive tackling.

I hate to ask this, but it's part of the story after what happened.

What about Ron Templeton?

Yeah, well, I'm sorry that happened.

But he was a fair and legal target. It's tough, but that's the breaks of the

game. Anybody come into my zone, man, they can expect to be hit.

What do you say to guys like Clarence Harvey who claim that you're a cheap

artist and that you intentionally go out of your way to hurt the opponent?

Yeah, I've heard a few guys.

I mean to, but not permanently, of course.

Whenever a receiver goes out for the pass, he has two things to think about.

Catch the ball, sacrifice his tail.

Or miss the ball and save his tail.

If he thinks about me, he's going to miss the pass.

Got to go to work. Later.

Hey, man.

Hey, Mike, I need some background about how the other players think about that

guy.

How do I view him? With a great deal of alarm.

Don't print that. I was just kidding.

He's a tough guy.

He's also a damn good football player.

How do you feel about his style of play?

Different players motivate themselves different ways.

He intimidates. A lot of players do.

You just have to use what's best for you.

What about you? You've been all pro six years?

Like I said, different strokes for different folks.

I'm a finesse player.

I like to slash in and make a nice, pretty tackle.

It's more important for me to be on top of the pile than it is underneath it.

That's good.

Thanks. Yeah.

Hi.

Hello. You're Melissa Cummings.

And you are Lou Grant.

I've been meaning to say welcome to the trip to you, but since you've been here

a year now, it seems a little bit late.

Thanks for the thought, anyway.

How you doing?

Oh, how would you be doing if you had to see Space Wars at 8 o 'clock in the

morning?

Root beer and popcorn for breakfast.

Oh, I just read one of your reviews.

A movie called The Devil's Club.

And you rushed right off and bought tickets and hated it. I'm sorry. No

-back guarantees on my reviews.

Well, actually, I decided to pass on it.

You know, I can't picture a nice -looking girl like you going in for all

blood and gut stuff.

I like realism, Lou. The Devil's Club is a vivid portrayal of another way of

life, but it's something that does exist.

Uh -huh.

There was a riot after the show Monday night.

Somebody got knifed.

I think the type of people who go to pictures like that are looking for

Come on, Lou.

Movies don't create violence. They reflect it.

Oh, I see. Films don't kill people. People kill people.

You know, this argument would have a lot more weight to it if both of us had

seen the movie.

Okay, you've got a point.

I have passes to a preview tomorrow night.

We could argue about it after you buy me dinner.

Hey, Phil.

How's it going?

Hello, Clifford. Nice to see you. Hey, nice to see you the other night.

You guys really swarmed them. Yeah, right on. Thank you, man.

Hey, look, this is Joe Ross. Please, you don't have to tell me who he is. Don't

introduce me.

This is Phil Eslewski.

Listen, I got to tell you, you've been a personal favorite of mine for many

years. I think, in my opinion, you're the quickest linebacker of them all.

Thanks,

Joe. Hey, listen to this man. He knows he's football.

Hey, can I buy you another drink?

No, no, it's okay.

I got to shove off.

Yeah.

Take it easy now, okay?

We'll see ya. Right.

Wow.

I had no idea he was in that bad of shape.

Me, occupational hazard.

Hey, who's that pretty fella?

Hey, Vinnie, turn it up. We can't hear you.

Ronnie Templer, a gifted young athlete, paid a huge price to play the game that

he loved.

And today, an attorney went into court, filed a $3 .5 million lawsuit in behalf

of the Templeton family against Clifford Carter, the football club, and the

officials who worked that ballgame.

And to this not -so -casual observer, it was indeed an act without a modicum of

regard for a fellow football player's safety. And in this reporter's opinion,

there is no place in a great game of football for the likes of Clifford

What does he know?

What the hell does he know?

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

What is it?

The Ron Templeton thing.

Yeah? It's a story.

It's a sports story. What's wrong with it? Well, I don't like the way they're

running with it.

They're ganging up on a lady whose husband is lying in a coma.

Templeton's wife? Why are they picking on her?

Very outspoken in her criticism. They're treating her like she burned a flag or

something. If we put it in our section, it'll make too much of it. Stop talking

it, Lou. If we leave it to sports, they'll make too little of it. I want

put somebody on it. Somebody sharp.

Why me? It's a sports story, Lou. Let them do it.

We're doing it.

But it's football.

What do I know about football?

Stop ducking this, Billy. You date a baseball player. That's close enough.

Don't worry. You'll do fine.

Yeah.

Look, if there's anything you don't understand, just ask. I mean, I know the

game can look complicated to an outsider.

Outsider?

Yes. Not because you're a woman. I just happen to be closer to the game than a

lot of people.

Male or female.

Thanks, Ross. You have to keep it in mind.

Look, it's a very sophisticated game. You have to be pretty sharp to follow

strategy, so just don't underestimate football.

I see it as a story about a guy who gets hurt on the job, not just a story about

football. That's what I was afraid of. Look, just remain objective.

Rossi, trust me, okay?

It's just that I've been doing this piece on Crusher Carter for Sportsview,

I've been spending a lot of time with him and the other players, and Crusher

I, well...

We really hit it off. We respect each other because we both approach our jobs

the same way.

Aggressive, honest, and direct.

And I'll tell you something else. For a guy who's good -looking, talented, and

terrific athlete, he's pretty well down to earth.

I'm glad you can be so objective.

Dr. Dockley?

Is he still in a coma?

Yes, he is.

When do you expect a change in his condition?

Well, we don't know, but we're hoping real soon.

What is his condition?

Guarded. What does that mean? Is he responding to treatment?

I'm sorry, but I have no further comments at this time. However, there

an announcement in half an hour. Now, if you'll excuse me.

Attention, please. Code 1.

Do you mind if I share your table?

No. Have a seat. Thank you.

Last time I looked up, there were only three people in here.

Must have been here a long time.

All night.

Relative?

What about you?

Actually, I'm a reporter.

I'm here to check up on the condition of a patient. I can't believe what a

hassle it's been, all because of a football player.

I know what you mean.

football player is my husband.

Oh, no.

You're Mrs. Templeton.

I'm sorry.

That's all right.

I'm Jackie.

Billy Newman.

The doctor says that your husband's condition hasn't changed. Is that right?

I've just been sitting here praying that Ronnie will come out of it.

Have you been worried that something like this would happen?

You try not to.

But it's always there.

Ronnie says the moment you start to worry, that's when it'll happen.

Has Ronnie been hurt before?

I can't even count.

He's always in pain.

Either his legs hurt or his back.

Sometimes his muscles just go into spasm.

He never sleeps well the night of a game.

Suppression? Right.

And you never know when he's going to be cut or traded.

We have moved three times in the last five years.

As a matter of fact, both of our daughters were born when Ronnie was in

camp.

They wouldn't let him out when his own children were born?

Ronnie didn't ask to be let off.

It was before a final cut, and he was afraid that he would lose his job if he

came home.

I just talked to my daughter.

She wants to know how long her father's going to be asleep.

You're having a very tough time.

All this, plus all the flack from the football establishment over your

The owner of our own team called me and asked me to drop the suit.

Those owners, they always stick together.

Even some of Ronnie's teammates.

Well, I don't care.

The man that did this to my husband is a criminal, and everybody's letting him

get away with it.

Well, not me.

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

How'd you get a refund?

Half the time I was watching the movie with my eyes shut. It's the depiction of

a lifestyle you're unfamiliar with that makes you feel uncomfortable.

I'm familiar with it. I just don't want to pay to see it.

To me, it isn't entertainment.

I don't think it's really going to entertain them either.

Most of them will find it a catharsis. They'll feel better afterwards.

They'll get their aggressions out.

I guess his catharsis got a little out of hand.

Violence isn't something that dramatists and filmmakers invented.

It's a part of us. It's a condition of life.

Well, I'm not disagreeing with that. Thanks.

We live in a violent world.

That's true.

But I don't see anything in that film which suggests any answers to it.

Films don't have to suggest answers. I think that it would be pretentious of

them if they tried. That's a cop -out.

If anything, that junk encourages violence, makes it seem romantic and

This director is an artist.

Artist? He's in love with technique. I mean those slow motion shootings of

spurting across the room.

Nobody dies gracefully in real life. I've seen people kill Melissa.

There's nothing artistic about it.

Well, we've covered violence.

How do you feel about sex?

Huh?

In the movies, Lou.

In the movies.

Excuse me.

One of the advantages of being on the staff of a university medical center is

having access to the athletic department.

I've been reading some of your recent articles deploring the escalating rate

injury in sports.

I gather if it weren't for the advancements in sports medicine, it

lot worse.

That's correct.

Forty percent of all injuries are caused by equipment.

Try that again.

That's right.

Shoes, shoulder pads, and most dangerous of all, helmets.

Gee, that's heavy. It feels like a bowling. You should feel it when the

quarter comes around.

Well, like my basketball coach used to say, when the going gets tough, the

get going.

Yeah, my coach said that, too. It's motivational, but in reality,

nonsense. I thought so, too. That's why I quit the game.

You see, fatigue invites carelessness and poor body mechanics.

And it's in the last moments of any event that injuries are most likely to

occur.

Hard, isn't it?

I'll say. I've seen quarterbacks throw a pass and break their fingers hitting

one of those things.

29 % of football's most serious injuries, that's brain and spinal cord

broken ribs, ruptured spleens, bruised kidneys, all came as a direct result of

contact with the helmet.

Let's face it, today's helmet is a lethal weapon.

to protect the player from getting hit with a helmet?

Yeah, it's called spearing, but the rule is only occasionally enforced.

And the officials, are they involved?

Referees can't see everything.

Ms. Newman, I believe if the game is going to survive, coaches must stop

teaching helmet -first blocking and tackling.

In 1979 alone, over 40 ,000 interscholastic high school and college

players were treated for injuries involving the head and neck.

They gotta start using a different kind of helmet.

You know, coal mining was once thought to be the most dangerous occupation in

the United States.

The new leader is professional football.

Boy, what an assignment.

What?

First I was at the hospital checking in on the latest developments with

Templeton, and then I found myself talking to his wife at the cafeteria.

Well, that's good.

Oh, yeah, it's good for the story, but it really bummed me out.

And then Animal and I got the rundown on how all the players are getting injured

because of the new football equipment.

What'd you do that for?

I just put you on a temple in case.

Part of the same story. We were talking to the team doctor, and it's a story

about violence in football.

No, it isn't. It's a story about a special incident.

Well, how can I look at one incident without getting the background?

You don't need background. I've been watching this game all my life. It's a

freak case.

Let's talk about that for a second.

I don't want to talk about it.

St.

Louis offense will be too much for L .A. Jackson will pick that paper mache

secondary clean with his passing.

Paper mache?

L .A. has the best deep coverage in the league.

Jackson and his backfield will think they're playing in wet cement.

I'm telling you, their receivers just can't be stopped. They have speed, they

have hands, they have excellent moves. That's because they've never run into a

meat grinder.

After a few shots from Carter and company, St. Louis will still be

it'll be for cover.

Want to put some money on it? Oh, save your money, Charlie. Spend it wisely.

Dinner at McKenna's. Hey, this is a big game. Let's have a big bet. Okay, dinner

anywhere but McKenna's. You got it.

Yes.

on Templeton. Yeah?

Frankly, I'm a little disappointed.

And why is that?

I don't think you know what these guys are really made of. I'm getting to know

Crusher, and he seems like a real good guy.

Funny, Templeton's wife doesn't feel that way. The guy's vicious.

Yeah, but from what you said in your piece, the person get the impression

guys are being trained to kill. Now, that's ridiculous.

Here's an update from the hospital on the Ron Templeton story.

Came out of his coma.

He's permanently paralyzed from the neck down.

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

So I wound up playing football anyway.

I was a junior in high school before she came to the first game.

I'll never forget that night.

I scored four touchdowns.

That must have made her proud.

Yeah, sure.

I was a junior in college before she came to another one.

Standing here on the sideline with my helmet on my arm, listening to the style

of Spangle Bennett.

Praying to kick off when you come to me.

All right. Come on, you guys. Let's go. We'll see you, man.

Hey. Hey,

man.

Look over there. It looks like Crusher Quarter. Where?

Over there with that little guy.

Hey, let's go. Come on, you guys.

You guys must be out of shape.

That's right. I'm in shape.

What's your name? Spike.

Spike made All -State last year. He also broke your high school interception

record. Most tackles, too.

That's right.

You that good, huh? That's right.

You must be a good hitter. Just like you.

You know, I hear a lot about that. Exactly what do you consider a good hit?

Well, that's when a guy wakes up on the sideline wondering who he is and what

planet he's on, right?

That's right.

This is Joe Rossi. He's a writer for the Trib.

How you doing, Joe? How you doing?

How many of you guys plan on going to college?

We all do. We're all going to college. Hey, man, how are you going to go to

college? You can't even remember a snap count.

Hey, hey, hey, hold up, guys. Remember, rule number one, hit the books. Of

course, I never did a lot, but then I don't think you cats are smart as I am.

Crusher, how about a few pointers?

Well, I don't know if you babes are ready for that.

All right, all right, all right. Okay, okay, I'll go in better than that. I'll

show you. Put your helmet on. All right. Come on over here.

All right.

Okay. You defensive people, you listen up.

Now, I'm going to show you how to give that bull back something to think about

that's been running over you.

When you're ready to make a tackle, you stick your helmet right in the numbers,

lock your arms around him, jerk your head right up, clip him right on that

Got it?

All right. Is that legal?

Well, they call it sometimes.

Now, look, you put that in your pocket.

I'm going to show you something else now. Get down on a three -point stance.

I'm a defensive, right? Hey.

What did you say your name was? Huh?

Let's call a head slap. Right now, my man is listening to the doorbells.

He'll be over in about 30 seconds, which is enough time for him to miss an

audible. The coach will take him out, put in a second stringer, all to our

advantage. What was that again?

Hey, how about something for the offense, Crusher?

Yeah, I got something for the offense. If you got the ball, don't forget to put

your head down, close your eyes, hang on to your teeth when you see the Crusher

coming at you.

Crusher, we got to talk. There's a lot to cover.

Okay, later, man. But I'm showing my boys here some of the final points of

game. All right.

Now here's something for that hot shot receiver that's been giving you a lot of

trouble. You can lay a good hammer tackle on him, but a couple years ago it

made illegal.

So here's how they're doing it now.

Instead of taking your arm all the way back when you're ready to make a tackle

like that, what you do is come over the backside like that.

Same hit, same hurt, same result.

Just give them a little something to think about. Got it?

Go do it.

a little juice.

Because that's right.

I'll be right back, okay?

This is going to be even harder than I thought.

I was feeding him lunch, and he said, I bet you'll be glad when you don't have

to do this anymore.

Doesn't he know the damage is coming? They told him, but he just won't accept

it.

Have you had a chance to discuss the lawsuit with him yet?

Yes. Won't you believe it?

He wants me to drop the suit.

He said that he knew what he was doing. He knew what the risks were.

It's the player's code.

Yeah, I just can't fight this without him.

She just doesn't realize what the bills are going to be for the rest of our

lives.

Fine, Melissa, attractive, but... I know.

She's young.

No, that's not that.

It's just that she sees things in a peculiar way.

So what?

Easier hard to talk to about women.

Oh, yeah?

Well,

check out the gams on this doll.

Mrs. Pidgeot, come join us.

We don't want to interrupt your conversation.

I want you to.

Martin, meet Charles Hume, new grant.

Oh, hey.

Hi. Mr. Martin Opa. Sit down. I always find it uncomfortable when I try to

in a booth.

Well,

what the owner of our football club and the owner of our... Paper doing

together. We just left an Olympic committee meeting.

And Martin saw McKenna's and was curious to see just how much it had changed

since he was last here.

Well, I thought this place was torn down years ago.

It was.

They just never told us. Oh,

I'll have a glass of red wine.

I was telling Margaret your coverage of the Templeton thing was pretty

balanced.

Although I think you've come down a little hard on organized football.

Now, Martin, I happened to watch a game the other night.

I must say it was awfully brutal. It certainly wasn't the game I loved

in my college days.

It probably has changed a lot.

The players are bigger, faster, stronger.

Don't you think if it were less violent, people would enjoy it just as much?

Margaret, we have sold out every game this season.

So whatever's happening out there on the field, people seem to be enjoying it.

How do you feel about the Templeton lawsuit?

Lawsuits have no place in football.

Now, you have to remember, our players are professionals.

They understand the risks involved.

And they are paid, well paid, to take those risks.

Sounds as though he were talking about gladiators.

Oh, isn't there something you can do to reduce the injury problem?

Well, of course. The last thing the owners want is to have their player

And we make rule changes.

For example, we've added the grasp and control rule protects the quarterback.

A lot of them still get hurt.

Well, of course.

There are risks.

There's an enormous amount of body contact.

It's rough.

But you've got to admit one thing.

There's nothing like it for excitement.

Huh?

No, I'm afraid if we make too many rule changes, it'll destroy the game.

It won't.

Not if the game is worth saving.

Oh, Mike, I'm sorry.

Your wife said it was okay. I can come back later. No, no, that's all right.

It won't be any better later.

Well, that was some game you played yesterday.

Oh, thanks.

Yeah, it was a real dogfight, man.

What was the final score?

24 -20.

You won.

Well,

we played lousy the first half.

But this team's got a lot of character. You know, we knew we'd pull it out.

Is it always this hard the day after?

Lately.

You know, when I was in college, I was a real kamikaze.

I used to just roll over and fall out of bed just to get it all over with at

once. But lately, it's one limb at a time.

How does it feel?

Have you ever been run over by a bunch of horses pulling a beer wagon?

No, I can't say that I have.

Well, if you'd had, you'd know.

My crusher sure was fired up yesterday.

Well, I'll say.

You know, as a matter of fact...

The hardest I was hit all day was by him.

I was tackling Carmichael and he came up to support.

Man, he hit.

Somebody stuck a hell of my ribs and it feels like it's still there.

Mike.

Mike, how come you play football?

When you have your degree, your own business, there are easier ways to make

living.

I love football.

I believe in those cliches about sports.

I believe football builds character.

I believe it allows you to channel your aggressions in a controlled and specific

way. But the game is changing.

What do you mean?

Well, in the old days, you're blocked with your shoulders.

And you didn't put your head in places they do now.

The key word used to be skill. But that word has been replaced with other words

like intimidation and punishment.

I get the feeling that's a big attraction for the fans.

Oh, you're right. They really get off on it.

Did you know Crusher got a box full of fan mail the other day from people

congratulating him on what he did to Templeton?

Can you figure that?

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

Morning, Lou.

Charlie. Morning, Melissa.

I can't believe this. What's that?

Some citizen's group has gotten an injunction to prevent the L .A. showing

film that won a silver wreath at the Vienna Film Festival.

How come?

Oh, they're afraid it will stir up gang violence in the community. I mean, it

stirred. What's the picture?

It's called Carlos and Wendy.

That sounds innocent enough, unless Carlos and Wendy spewed it out.

It's graphic, but it's not the point.

Thanks. The point is that the film is a minor masterpiece, and some bureaucrats

are going to stop people from seeing it.

Not me.

What do you mean?

It's on my movie channel all this week.

Yeah? Yeah, I guess the Dutch figures gangs don't subscribe to cable.

If you want to see it, I can ask the people over.

Marion's away. I'll make some of my chili. This doesn't get you out of

dinner when I win that bet.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. How about it, Melissa?

Sounds good to me. Tonight?

No good.

Tonight's football.

How about Wednesday?

Good. Lou?

Sure. I'll see you then.

I don't know what to make of this.

I guess it's good news.

What? Police Beach said that there were no murders reported in Los Angeles

yesterday for the first time this year.

I mean, what kind of a city is this? When nobody kills anybody, that's news.

You want to run it?

No. I don't want to challenge anybody to keep the numbers up. Sort of like

saying, come on, folks, you're just not trying hard enough.

Too bad I had the headline, Death Takes a Holiday.

Oh, wonderful movie.

Frederick March, Evelyn Venable, 1934.

That started down in 19... years ago. Nothing is going to work today.

I don't know why you're so excited, Lou. I'm very calm.

It's easy to be calm when you're nine points ahead.

Interceptor, I told him not to go.

Where are we eating tonight, Lou? I'm thinking fettuccine.

It's not over yet.

Let Rusty be here.

No, he's at the game. If I know him, he's probably on the bench.

If I know him, he's probably in the huddle.

Now we'll get the ball back.

Stevens! Stevens!

Just hang on a little. Only 30 seconds till I have.

Don't let him burn you with a life bomb, that's all.

Here comes Mike Houser from the back.

He hits it. Oh, Mike Houser.

He's been taking lessons from Crusher. Came around this man and he really loves

him. We're bringing out the stretcher.

Brompton is still on his back. Boy, did he take a shot.

Houser, with nobody blocking him, really creamed him. And Houser, by the way, is

very, very concerned.

But, ladies and gentlemen, There's no need for second thoughts here because

was a good, clean hit.

They had to win last night.

Now, if Atlanta loses on Sunday, we could end up in a three -way tie for

Really touch and go there for a while. I like the way they came back. Yeah.

Brompton's out for the season, you know. Oh, no. Really? Gee, that's too bad.

Talking to Miss Pichon.

She's not happy with the way sports handled that little incident.

Well, what's the matter?

She thinks they sugar -coated an act of mayhem.

This wasn't a temple in case. It was a clean shot.

You know, something else she pointed out, and I think she's right.

Violence starts the minute you turn on the set.

Those beginning shots of the game with all those bodies colliding, pow, pow,

pow. It's all heavy hitting. They don't give play to the beautiful runner who

makes the great moves.

They're giving people what they want.

I don't care what TV does. I still appreciate a good pass or a good catch.

media can be faulted on this, including us. I mean, we tend to do what TV does.

I thought we did a pretty good job with Ron Templeton.

Crusher Carter did a pretty good job with Ron Templeton, too.

There's a guy whose life will never be the same because another guy decided he

was going to play football in a certain way.

I haven't seen anyone in the media, including us, really look this problem

violence in sports squarely in the face.

Making too much of that.

This includes you, too, Lou. You act like you're afraid they'll take the game

away from you if you admit it has some flaws.

Anyway, let's get started.

What's this all about?

I don't know. Houser called the trip, said he was having a press conference. I

figured we should be here.

Would you all take a seat, please?

Thank you for coming.

You know, I've been playing professional football now for nine years.

And I never thought I'd give up my career for any other.

But maybe the excitement of a game keeps you from realizing what's happening.

I put a man in the hospital yesterday.

And according to the rules, what I did was fair.

But my wife and I have been doing a lot of talking.

And I'm calling it quits, guys.

Uh, isn't your quitting a little extreme, Mike? All I know is how sick I

inside about what happened.

I don't want to be a martyr, but if my quitting will help people re -examine

game and make it safer for others to play, then what I'm doing's worth it.

Mike? Yes, Bob?

You've had salary disputes with the club this year. Is this your way of getting

more money?

Obviously, this gentleman hasn't been listening.

What's the matter? None of us guys are any good, huh?

You got to pick this stupid greaser, huh?

They've been through so much. Why aren't they leaving alone?

If this was a blowout, they would have made it.

Now what are you up to?

I don't want to see. I don't have enough.

I want to see what happens.

Notice how instead of dissolving here, you make the cut, but... Oh, terrific.

I was going to comment on that myself.

I hated it.

Wait a minute. He had you sitting on the edge of your seat.

You wanted to see Wendy get her revenge.

Yeah, I did.

But at the same time, I knew I was being manipulated.

Sure.

There's this nice young couple, just married, and some hoodlums come along,

they beat him up, then they rape the girl.

Naturally, you're just going to be screaming for justice.

You make that sound easy.

That manipulation is a craft, and he's a master at it. We're all of us sitting

on top of fear and rage and...

hate and vengeance, and he knows exactly how to get to that visceral response.

I always judge a picture by how I feel afterwards.

Yeah, I was caught up in it, but now I feel disappointed, you know what I mean?

Let down, a little empty.

It's precisely how he wants you to feel.

There wasn't one new idea in his picture.

Fredericks isn't interested in ideas.

He's interested in feelings.

He made us feel.

Yeah, rotten.

Hey, Crusher, hold up a minute.

I've just got a couple more questions and I can tie up the story.

Not now.

Oh, just take a couple of minutes.

I said no, man, so just back off.

Hey, what's bugging you?

I'll tell you what.

I got a lawsuit hanging over my head. The commissioner's threatening a fine

the front officer's talking trade. That's what's bugging me.

I'm sorry.

Yeah.

Well, this all comes from the media putting me down.

Talking about me taking cheap shots. You're the one taking cheap shots.

everything out of proportion. Now everybody's piling on.

Come on, Cliff. That's ridiculous.

I'm just trying to finish up a story.

Forget the story.

Dump it. You're not doing any story on me.

What do you mean?

I'm cutting you off. That's what I mean. The story is dead.

The hell it is. Nobody tells me what I can write.

I'm telling you.

The story is through.

When did I see you stir on the crusher in Sportsview?

You're nuts.

They shot it down.

How come?

Well, I didn't do what they were expecting.

They wanted a piece about the tiger on the field who's a pussycat off, and it

just didn't jive with what I found out.

So those guys aren't against printing negative articles about players?

Yeah, but they wanted their kind of negative article.

At least when I do something here, I know it'll be printed the way I see it.

Oh, yeah, that's why I came over.

Your piece on bus transit. You missed the lead.

Arming the drivers, that's your story. Do it over.

They murder at random for the

sport of the kill. From Jack the Ripper to Jeffrey Dahmer, we'll go inside the

twisted minds of history's serial killers. Tonight on American Justice.

Now, a new female officer tries to play her cards right.

Angie Dickinson targets an illegal gambling ring on Police Story, next on A