Original subtitles

I can get police, fire, highway patrol, FBI, forestry.

How about Linda Ronstadt?

23, Charlie, to the desk. Do you read me?

What do you know about a shooting in North Hollywood?

Yeah,

that one. The one on Magnolia.

Yeah, Rossi's right here with me.

Who said Rossi? I didn't hear my name in that.

Okay, get moving.

Right. We're rolling.

Hold on.

Hmm. Out of gas.

Out of gas?

Out of gas?

There's got to be a gas station around here.

Wait for me.

Where would I be going?

Hello? Rossi, is that you?

Yeah. I want the animal. Put him on.

He's not here.

He's, uh... He's on an errand.

Doing what?

Picking up his laundry?

He ran out of gas.

Out of gas?

When he comes back, ask him if he has any film in his camera.

Uh, do you have five bucks for the deposit on the gas can?

What's happening?

Here comes the trip, on time as usual.

What's going on?

Attempted robbery.

Two hood kids came in.

The store owner's a disabled veteran.

Plug one of them.

Dead? No, now.

I was showing him how to load the gun.

The next thing I know, he's holding it on me.

So I moved, like to open the gun case.

And then I made my grab. I know some Juro.

What's the spelling on the name?

A -G.

A -G -E -E.

Harold.

Most people call me Hal.

You know, they say you got to take a stand, but I could have got killed.

I should have let them take it.

Of course, then there'd be two more kids out in the street with guns, right?

They said you were disabled. You seem okay.

Well, I don't like to make a big deal out of it. Well, our readers will

be interested.

I'd rather you didn't print it.

It was in them in 67. I got in some sniper fire.

I caught one in the worst place.

Officer? You want to come over here? I want to get a couple of shots with the

artillery in the background. Oh, yeah, sure.

Look, I'm just glad there was nobody else in the store.

They could have got hurt.

City desk.

Uh -huh.

Yeah. You've got some information that we ought to have. Okay, go ahead.

The Japanese are going to attack Pearl Harbor.

Uh, listen.

Listen. I think they already did.

Again?

Well, look, um... Try the Times.

They referred you to us.

Hey, I saw this in the Sunday magazine section. You think my place could look

like that?

No.

What do you think?

Well, you don't have the beams like this, or the bay windows here, or the

fireplace, or the view of the ocean.

I've got an ashtray like that.

I was thinking of getting one of those sofa beds for when my daughter comes

visiting with her husband and the four kids.

I don't think you'll be able to find one large enough.

Listen, Lou, if you need some help, I'll go shopping with you at lunch.

That was a good piece you did on the disabled vet who stopped the robbery.

Yeah, I guess so.

You're supposed to say thank you. I guess I just don't feel good about

hero out of this gung -ho ex -army sergeant who shot a kid.

Just because someone's a war hero, disabled, and defends himself, he isn't

necessarily a bad guy.

City desk.

Yeah. You know that boy who got shot in house sporting goods yesterday?

That was my brother. Now, did you put that in the paper?

Yes. Well, he didn't do that.

What you said?

Oh, yeah, sure, he was arrested before, but that was years ago.

We just said it was alleged that... Wait a minute, wait a minute. Did you know

him? No.

You didn't.

All right, I'll tell you.

He was a good kid.

He wouldn't rob anybody, but you say he did.

So, I think that you owe it to him to print in your paper that Bobby Martin

a straight, good kid.

I mean, just because he's dead now, you're calling him a criminal.

Look, I'm sorry.

I want to come down there and tell you all the good things that my brother did.

If you want, I'll come down. You can put it in the paper.

I'm very sorry. We can't do that.

Listen, I realize you're upset, but your brother was...

It's very simple. You just lift it up and out like this.

Yeah.

Feels pretty firm.

This isn't bad.

Oh, it's a good mattress.

I wonder if it's roomy enough for two.

There's only one way to find out.

And don't give me that wishy -washy line that I'm the one who has to live with

it. I want a straight -out answer. Get it.

You think?

Yeah, I wonder.

What is it?

Channel 6 has just learned that the police are now holding A .G. on

homicide in that incident.

The shooting, which left one dead, was originally reported to be self -defense,

but police are now in possession of new information, which resulted in... A

railway disaster outside Bucharest. 200 casualties.

Basic Romanian train wreck.

It can go inside.

There were two Southern Californians on that train.

Now it's a tragedy.

Page one.

We have art on it.

All right.

Lou?

The ex -army guy who killed a robber yesterday was picked up for homicide.

All right, we can use that. Page one below the fold.

You got... Two China stories here, Phil.

The rise of the new kind of leadership just broke, and we've got Ted Oxley's in

-depth piece on the Chinese mine to go alongside it.

That's going to bumble his shooting to page three.

Ah, this is good stuff.

Yesterday's hero may be a murder suspect.

The alleged robber may be innocent.

We're just too tight today.

The in -depth can go on page three with a two -line referral.

Oxley's teeth is too good. He's been on it two months.

I've seen some. It is good.

And the lady upstairs has been pushing for us to do that kind of treatment.

We'll go page one with the China staff.

Morning, Lou.

Morning.

Carla.

They gave me this at the store. Now, I'm thinking of this material or maybe

this one.

Buying a new suit?

That's nice. I heard flowers are coming back.

Don't listen to him. Listen to me.

Yeah. Keep looking.

City desk.

Hello, Lou?

Remember the guy who was shot in the sporting goods store?

Well, there is a gentleman here who is the brother of the guy who was shot.

And he would like me to rewrite the story, explaining what a fine young man

brother was, and also pointing out that the store owner is a vicious, crazed

murderer. And he wants it on the front page with a three -inch banner headline.

We can't do that!

I really hope we can.

Because this gentleman has a gun pointed at my head.

Rossi.

A guy's got a gun on Rossi. Call the cops.

Where is he?

He was supposed to cover the police commission hearing with Animal today,

he? This is Art Donovan of the Tribune. A guy's got a gun on one of our

reporters. Get a hold of the animal. Find out if he's seen Rossi.

But we're checking into that. Where's Rossi?

Did anyone talk to Rossi to find out what his plans were for today?

Did anyone see him socially last night?

Who sees him socially?

What? A guy's got a gun on Rossi. Wants us to print a story or something.

You wanted to see me, Lou? Of course I do.

Do you have any idea, any idea at all where Rossi could be?

Well?

How about his house?

How long are you going to be?

How long do you think this could be?

Maybe eternity.

I'll be three bucks.

Give me the key.

Don't go anywhere.

Don't let anybody move!

If anybody moves, I'm going to blow his head off. Take it easy.

I don't have a whole lot of friends in this room.

All right, where's your office?

That desk over there.

That's it? Just the desk?

Thought you were an important guy It's one of the newer desks All

right, let's go everybody just stay

calm

All

right, I want all you people out of here on the other side of the room you you

and you go

Take it easy. Take it easy.

Stop!

Everybody stay where you are!

Okay. Let's get started. Sit down.

Why is it so quiet in here?

What?

Will you sit down, please?

Come on!

Okay.

Right, just like I told you.

What are you stopping for?

I'm thinking.

Don't think, just write.

Is that a TV?

It's a VDT.

It's a video display terminal. It's a kind of a new... It's a computer

terminal that prints out the copy on the screen there when it's typed.

And it appears on the other terminals at the various stations.

And it's programmed so that it can be edited by an editor or another outlet.

then it goes into a computer where the pipe is set automatically.

I just asked if it was a TV.

No.

I said don't put any calls through!

That's my private line.

Oh.

Okay, answer it.

City desk.

Lou, this is Ed Lasky from the Times.

We just want to confirm a tip that you've got a guy with a gun in the

I, um... I can confirm that.

Who is it?

It's a guy from the Times. You don't want to talk to him, do you?

No.

Holy... He's right there with you.

Ed, we'll get back to you.

Son, what exactly is it you want?

Justice.

Yeah.

That's what I want.

Justice.

Everybody has a right to that, right?

And to the $148 .50 that my brother was cheated out of, and which A .G.

owes him from the sporting goods store, and which I demand.

You got me?

I'm not quite sure I follow you.

Mr. Martin, isn't it?

Yeah, that's right.

You say the sporting goods store owner owed your brother some money.

Yeah.

That's why he shot him.

You see, my brother used to work for Agee, and he was a good kid, like I told

you.

And then one day, A .G. lays him off and still owes him $148 .50, which Bobby

goes back to collect.

So A .G. shoots him.

And they call my brother the criminal.

I'm not going to let him get away with it.

My first demand is for $148 .50.

I, um... I think, um...

We can reimburse you.

It's not for me. It's for him. It's for my brother. It's his money.

I understand.

I think we can come up with it.

Now... Let's see.

$148 .50.

Let's see what I have.

145 .50.

I must have left my wallet in the car.

Would you take a check?

How about credit cards?

I have $20 in my purse.

Yeah.

Okay, now let's see. We got 120,

40, 48, 148.

Now we need 50 cents more.

Can you break a dollar?

Here.

Go back to your desk, please.

here and cover me.

Bring the typewriter.

You too.

Come on, you too.

In

that

office.

Come on, move.

You too, in there.

Keep those cops out of here. Keep them back.

Shut the doors.

This is Lou Grant.

Let's talk.

Get out! Get out of the way!

Tell those cops to stay out of here!

Get them out!

He doesn't want any cops.

Hey, you.

Is that a TV?

team has arrived and has moved into position here at the Trib.

Thank you, Kathy Ann Wills.

From our vantage point down the street, we can see about a dozen...

This suit is brand new.

Stay

tuned

to Channel 6 for further development.

This is Kathy Ann Wills on the scene at Pershing Square.

Now, back to our studio.

Could you turn that down, please?

Everybody always says you have to get it together.

My brother Bobby had it together.

And they killed him.

Is

this one

of those speaker things for the phone?

Yeah.

How does it work?

It's really very simple. All you have to... Never mind. Just turn it on for

would you please?

Can you hear me?

Yes.

Thank you.

You see, I'm the one who's still trying to get it together.

And I'm alive.

If anybody should be dead, it's me, not him.

And you didn't even print anything about the guy who killed him.

Yes, we did.

Oh, yeah, yeah, inside the paper.

But that first one, the one about my brother being a robber, that was on page

one.

There was other news.

Yeah.

This wasn't important news.

Now it's important news.

Yes, it is.

They fired me from my job after two years.

Just like that.

Same thing happened to me.

Nine years on the job.

New owner comes along, decides the ratings are too low, fires a whole

Yeah, but I was doing a good job.

I thought I was doing a good job.

I just never had a lucky break.

You're supposed to have at least one lucky break.

Then maybe you're due for one.

Let's negotiate a project.

You want to take this?

No, no, no, no.

You're doing fine.

Keep talking.

I've got to get in there and get a close look. The uniform's going to spook the

kids. Yeah, I know.

Change clothes with me.

That won't work.

The suit will never fit you.

It's way too small on the shoulders.

We've got a crazed gunman in there, not a fashion editor.

What if you get a bullet hole in it?

We'd do great re -weaving today.

Come on, let's do it.

Back on the scene where at least one heavily armed gunman has taken over the

fourth floor of the Tribune building in a daring mid -morning raid.

The drama here apparently is confined to the fourth floor.

Newspaper staff remain on the other floors.

Although the only people we have seen entering the building are police

We are trying to verify the exact number of people taken hostage here.

Okay,

that's it.

I'm finished.

Now what do I do?

Whatever you do.

Put it on as a copy, boy.

This is just a raving

diatribe against A .G.

Vicious killer, fiendish murderer.

No attribution.

You can't print this.

What's the minimum you can run off?

To get the presses up to speed.

A few hundred.

Not a bad idea.

Okay.

We'll give him what he wants.

Mr. Martin, we'll print this story if you release the people in there with

you.

Okay, you print the story, and I'll let the people go.

When I see the story.

Yeah? I tried to get down there. Some overzealous cop wouldn't let me through.

How's Mr. Rossi doing?

All right.

The guy's got the gun on Hume now.

Charlie?

How is he?

He's holding up.

Mr. Grant, we care a lot about all the people in that room. Make sure everyone

knows that.

Right. And, uh, Mr.

Grant?

Yes?

I'll back you up. I don't know what else I can do.

Right now, nothing.

But thank you.

Mr. Grant?

Yes?

Good luck.

can start their assault as a diversion.

Forget words like assault.

I've got friends in there.

He started this.

This isn't a schoolyard fight. No shooting from out here unless he starts

How long does it take to run those phony papers off?

Should be here any time.

Okay. I can take him in. Maybe I can get a shot at him.

What?

Why are you so ready to shoot him? He hasn't shot anybody.

Yet.

Is that the LAPD version of a copy boy?

At least he didn't yell extra.

Mr. Martin, the papers are here. You can let those people go.

Go get one.

You're supposed to let those people in there go now.

After I read this.

Here's an update on that scene at the Los Angeles Tribune building, which is

in its fourth hour.

The situation is very tense as negotiations are continuing.

We understand there's been a new development, details of which cannot be

released until the hostages are out of danger. Stay tuned to this channel for

further... An exclusive bulletin on the continuing drama here at the Tribune

building. The gunman has been demanding that the Trib print his story.

Just moments ago, in their latest maneuver, police and negotiators ran off

limited...

This one on my left is for the gunman, and this one is the real paper which was

distributed in the streets.

You know, sometimes there's just nothing you want to watch on television.

Mr.

Martin, you double -crossed me.

If we had distributed that article, it would have done the opposite of what you

want. You made a fool out of me!

Listen to me.

If we had done what you asked, that would have been considered prejudicial

-trial publicity.

You've got to believe that. There's a chance that A .G. could get off in

Why? The court might rule that A .G. couldn't get a fair trial because of

story. You see why we can't print it?

All right.

Don't print it.

You want your people back, you get A .G. here to this room.

Change the subject.

You must be hungry in there. Are you hungry?

I want to see A .G. here in this room now.

I'll see what I can do.

I've been fair.

Haven't I been fair? Didn't we have a deal? I think you've been very fair.

Yeah.

What is wrong with them out there pulling a stunt like that? We could get

killed.

You guys hungry?

I'm famished.

I think he's serpical. I can't wait to see his rabbi outfit.

Get the door, would you?

Thank you, officer.

Okay, we've got hamburgers, fries, and milkshakes.

I always thought I'd have a more elegant last meal.

Better eat.

Is this what they mean by a Big Mac attack?

I'm having an awfully good time in there.

It happens.

I have with me Richard T. Hardy, candidate for the state assembly seat in

28th district.

Sir, you are intervening in this case, making an offer to exchange places with

the hostages. Is that correct?

Yes, that's right, Kathy.

I've offered to substitute myself as a hostage.

Andrew, milkshakes and politicians always have this effect on me.

I have to go to the ladies' room.

Okay.

But come right back.

What's this, the commercial?

Say that.

Lou, Ed Lasky of the Times here again.

No comment. It's almost deadline time. You've got to give me something.

It's our deadline, too. We're right in the middle of the story, and we're going

to miss it. I'll be damned if I give it to you.

Where are you going?

I'm going back in.

There's a guy with a gun in there.

I promised.

Carla.

He's not going to hurt anyone unless you force him to.

He has already been tricked once.

Do you want to be responsible for what happens if he's tricked again?

She sounds like she likes the guy.

Stockholm effect.

What?

A couple of crooks held some hostages in a bank vault in Sweden.

When it was all over, the hostages had nothing but good things to say about the

guys.

One of the girls later married one of the crooks.

If Carla marries that guy, I'm not going to the wedding.

Where's A .G.? Why haven't they brought him here yet?

I don't think they can bring him. He's in jail.

You look so tired.

You must be really exhausted.

I'm all right.

Don't get any ideas.

Don't worry, Andy. We're all in this together.

Mr.

Martin What is it I've been talking something around out here you interested

Maybe.

Nobody's been hurt yet, you know?

You with me so far?

Yeah.

Okay, listen to this.

The Los Angeles Tribune made a serious error in judgment.

In a world which is often confusing, frightening, we

have a special need for heroes.

The victim

of a shooting, Robert

Martin.

Was a criminal for this error the Tribune apologizes

Did you write that

Yeah, you like it

Yeah, I liked I thought maybe it was a

little goopy goopy

I'll have Rossi rewrite it.

You listening?

Yeah. Look, I can't make any promises.

But if you let everybody go, we'll print this story

and make a plea for leniency.

How can I believe you?

You promised me once before.

Who's that?

Is this Mr.

Martin?

Yes.

Margaret Pinchon speaking.

I am the owner and the publisher of this newspaper.

You let those people in there come out, and the article of Mr.

Grant's will be printed on page one of our next edition.

After it's been rewritten.

All right.

That's it. You can go now.

Now!

Well, go on. You can go.

Andrew, we'll go with you.

They can't shoot if we're around you.

I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to cause all this trouble.

You're very nice people.

Listen, Andrew.

I think you're very nice, too.

Carla.

You did a good job.

Yeah, I did, didn't I?

Okay, folks.

Clear.

Oh, there he is.

You're just wonderful.

Good job.

It was you.

He must be really sweaty.

Good job.

Good job.

Don't you worry about a thing. He doesn't like you, yeah?

You take it easy. Oh, boy, this is great. If we got a newspaper to put out,

is the best story I've ever been on.

Roxy, you still feel a little shaky?

Yeah.

Take five minutes.

Then start working. An inside exclusive covering the story from the moment he

put the gun to your head.

Carla, you do the news story. Oh, as soon as my knees stop trembling.

Sit down, sit down. Be comfortable.

You want to take five minutes, too?

Yeah. Take five minutes.

We'll spread it over page one next to this.

No, we won't.

What do you mean?

We'll run the apology on the front page, but not the other stories.

Every other paper in the country will run this page one.

Very probably.

Then we have to.

Look, Mr. Grant, frankly, I am sick to the teeth of this manipulation of the

news media by terrorism.

Yeah, yeah, so am I. But this is a big story, and we're sitting right on top of

it. Well, I happen to disagree.

This is just another shabby, violent incident in a world that produces all

many of.

But what occurred in this room isn't going to affect the lives of our readers

one iota.

That may be, Mrs. Pinchon, but we have a...

Pretty interesting story here.

Would you think so, Charlie, if it happened in some middle -sized daily in

Houston or Atlanta?

Look, I'm not saying that what happened here is of earth -shaking importance.

I'm saying that we were right here when it happened.

I've just been through 16 grueling hours, and this is our story.

Well, I realize that, and I hate to disappoint you.

But we're not going to glamorize terrorism. We're not going to be used by

terrorism.

Look, I don't want it to be possible for every sorry person with a gun to come

in here, use my paper to grab his little moment of pathetic glory.

The stories of the hostages in the Tribune building will go inside the

You will find, after you've been here a while, she can be a very aggravating

person to work for.

You know what really bugs me?

What?

This time she's right.