Original subtitles

What are you talking about?

This is Randy Rayface reporting live.

We are now in the 11th hour of a living nightmare for poor six -year -old

Jennifer Biloxi and her mother.

Jennifer was playing with friends when she fell into the shaft of an abandoned

well and became trapped.

This tragic woman, Mrs. James Biloxi, a widow, now stands to lose the last

remaining important thing in her life, her daughter.

Mrs. Biloxi, whatever possessed you to allow your daughter to play unsupervised

in an area with a dangerous and potentially fatal... Guys, we've got to

of here. We just received a gas leak.

Wait a minute. We're going to have to evacuate the area.

Apparently, rescuers have hit a pocket of natural gas and are retreating to

consider their next move.

Everybody get back. Come on, move, move, move.

No, keep rolling, keep rolling. Mrs. Biloxi, do you have any comments on this

latest threat to your daughter's life?

Just stay calm.

Come on, give me a hand.

Peace.

Just in time for the 11 o 'clock news.

You're a hero.

He's the real hero.

Well, there you have it, folks.

A little girl saved, a familiar hero.

For a face in the crowd, this is Randy Ray Face.

Touching. Visually exciting, even.

Forty, sir, I don't know my disaster junkies. Doesn't get any better than

On the contrary, it could be a lot better.

Eighty, ninety, maybe even a hundred.

I could help you get there.

The name is Bennett Heard.

One hundred percent.

That means everyone would be watching.

Talk to me.

It is the year 2020, and the world has changed.

In 2020, times are tough. This man's tougher.

That feels better.

Better? At least you don't smell like the world's biggest barbecue now.

Things did get a little hot for me in there.

Had it not been for the timely setting of your shield to wide dispersion, it

might have been hotter for some others as well.

Yeah, I wonder how that little girl is doing. I believe we can find out on the

local news.

See, the only reporter on the scene was, uh...

Randy Ray face.

You mean the one with the degree in journalism from the National Academy of

Flaming Baton Twirlers? We now return to A Face in the Crowd.

In my next segment, the wild vigilante of the streets, Superforce. That's me.

Demonstrates his awareness of public relations with the daring rescue of a

girl. I was there, and now you are too.

Is that yellow journalism or what?

He does possess a certain popularity in the ratings. I can't imagine why.

That's because some people are more interested in drama and emotions than

facts.

Well,

I will grant you that she does have a sense of where the action is.

And she does look hot.

You think every girl looks hot?

Yes, you do.

But she has a certain... Yes?

He means that she has a certain... You'll have to be more specific. Your

attraction to her should be quantifiable and capable of being expressed

verbally.

Really, that woman's arrogance is overwhelming.

Her indifference to the mother's suffering is unconscionable. Don't you

Gentlemen, some response would be appreciated, even in the negative.

Can you hear me?

I direct you to respond immediately.

Well, there you have it, folks. A little girl saved a familiar hero.

For a face in the crowd, this is Randy Ray Face.

And if you don't say something right away, I should be forced to believe you

were deliberately upsetting me.

Why would we do something like that?

Oh, well, I suppose it gives you amusement to ignore me.

What are you talking about?

Do you mean to say you actually didn't hear any word I said for the last

You didn't say anything. I didn't hear anything.

Obviously, you were enthralled by that harridan, because I did speak.

Well, I gotta say, she was pretty good tonight.

Yeah, and I have to admit, I like seeing myself on TV.

I didn't notice anything.

You will.

When the ratings come out tomorrow.

Assuming this does work.

What's in it for you? I mean, you're not a sponsor or anything, so what do you

want? What does anyone want?

Fame, money, ratings.

You lift out love, loyalty, and happiness.

Really, what do you want?

What do you care what I want?

The machine works.

But I should point out that there's more to ratings than a machine and lights.

I know. That's why I did an edit to downplay the fat guy on the winch.

Wasn't as hot -looking as Superforce.

Clever.

But for a 100 share, you need to maximize all aspects of production.

The story has got to be as strong as the technology.

Now I have a suggestion.

A week -long report on the...

Special police logistical and tactical group.

Pressures, dangers, personalities, stuff like that.

Not really into character pieces.

I know. You're better at character assassination. But we'll find time for

The Splat story has a nice arc to it. A built -in climax.

The General Secretary of the UN arrives on Friday.

He'll be conferring with certain leaders of the embassy suites.

The Splat Group has been assigned to do security for the hotel.

Yeah, I could get an inside look at General Secretary Bassan Dupar's.

Inside and out.

And you want no kickbacks?

No percentage?

Not now, not ever.

Call me a hobbyist of sorts.

Ratings aren't a hobby with me, Mr. Hurd. A 100 share, Miss Faces.

I always keep my promises.

Where's Merkle?

Who are you?

I'm Merkle.

What am I, some alternate universe here?

You're not Merkle. I'm Captain Francis Merkle, Avery Merkle's brother.

I'm filling in form while he's out on sick leave.

And I've heard all about you, Stone.

So stay out of my way.

Nice to meet you, too.

At least you can read.

I'm studying those ads for embeds.

Embeds?

Subliminal messages.

Color separation, airbrush, a lot of subversive stuff.

What's the subversive message for today, Merkel?

Oh, libertarian.

Did you see Superforce on the news last night? Oh, yeah. It was kicking, wasn't

it? Glad to say I missed it.

Another glory -grabbing stunt by Superforce, and the media is only too

sensationalize anyone who's politically correct, while the real heroes just do

their jobs, quietly and well.

Excuse me. Could you point out Captain, uh, Merkel to me, please?

Thank you.

Captain Merkel.

Randy Ray Face. I do the Face in the Crowd segment on the news. I know who

are. I'd like to do a story on you, Captain.

That's funny, because he was your thing. I can speak for myself, Stone.

Listen, Miss Face, I don't need any media jockey, no matter how good

coming in here and doing a hatchet job on me and my brother's men.

That's right. He's perfectly capable of doing that himself.

No, no, you don't understand. I want to do something upbeat, something positive,

something everybody's going to want to see.

The Splat Group, its leader.

Up close and intimate with plenty of action.

Well, I'm not really the permanent commander here. The public needs heroes,

Captain.

Well, we are extremely busy, what with the General Secretary coming in and all.

But I suppose it might be possible.

Anything for the good of the department.

Heroes, huh?

Well, you're right.

Doesn't seem nearly as good as it did last night.

I didn't think it would.

Well, my furry analysis of the broadcast shows a subsonic phase pulse of very

low frequency.

What's it doing there?

I don't know, but it would cause a diminution of field of the visual and

auditory cortex.

Okay.

Well, what was that? Power surge?

It's some sort of signal that was multiplexed into the bandwidth of the

satellite uplink feed.

Wow.

Messages from Earth?

Somebody's putting an extra message into the broadcast?

Can you isolate it? I have.

It's on the screen now.

No, no, no, no, no. Tune it up, BB. I can't read this.

Unfortunately, neither can I.

There is no message.

It's just a power surge.

It would seem so.

I wish we lived in a world that didn't make these necessary. But unfortunately,

we don't.

The plastic carbon lining is almost completely resistant to penetration.

Almost, Captain?

Well, nothing is sure, Miss Faith.

And sometimes the baddies get a hold of some of these.

Hardened uranium.

Intended to stop heavy mechanized armor outlawed by the Geneva Conventions.

Only the most depraved would use those against a human target.

But we're not talking about knife here, are we?

And are these a part of your own arsenal? Certainly. But I and my fellow

officers are enforcing the law, not breaking it.

Well, I'm excited.

When do we get to see some action?

Well, Randy, action means trouble.

And certainly none of us want more trouble in the world, do we?

But it's out there.

And when it calls, I'm indeed ready.

And until then, you might want to do an action -adventure story to search for

Merkel's brain.

Stone!

Camaraderie. A little good -natured kidding between me and the men. Helps

us sane here.

You continue to enjoy this reporter's work.

Now you want to share that joy.

And sit to everyone you know that they watch Randy Ray face.

Nothing will prevent you from watching.

You can't even think of anything else.

It will be pure pleasure.

Pure pleasure.

You look great on TV last night, Captain. Thank you. I hate to admit it,

came off very well. Well, thank you, Stone.

You know, I think these reports are going to be good for the entire

I have to say, I didn't even mind the part where you stuck your face in.

Found it a pleasure to watch.

Yeah, Randy Ray Face is doing a good job, isn't she?

She's a real looker, too.

You know, Stone, I used to think good -looking women were dumb.

Like a rule, you know?

But this Randy Ray is making me reevaluate my preconceptions.

Was it really that good, sir? I missed it. What?

Get over here, mister.

You didn't see last night's story?

No, sir. You better watch today.

Is that clear?

That's an order, mister.

And that goes for everybody.

But we're working today, sir. The general secretary's arrival.

My God, he's right.

We gotta work.

We'll miss the story.

No. Wait.

Wait. Stan, set me up a monitor in the truck.

I am not going to miss Randy Ray.

So do you think the same thing is going to happen tonight?

Exactly the same. You two will be mesmerized by the broadcast while

Randy Rayface and will not respond to me.

But for the last couple of nights, you haven't been saying anything, you beat.

Correction. You've never heard me.

Well, Randy Ray's reports have been getting more and more interesting.

Among my many talents, I do not count that of media critic.

But trust me, there is nothing the least bit remarkable about that woman.

with the possible exception of her ever -changing wardrobe.

Well, I'll still be looking forward to seeing her tonight.

And when you do, once again, a hidden message will be broadcast.

But, E .B., it's just static. I mean, we can see that.

No, it is not.

Then why can't you give us an interpretation?

Alas, I will never be able to.

You see, the subsonic pulse is processed in the cortex of the human brain.

Oh, I get it.

As great as your powers may be, Mr. H., you do not possess a human cortex.

No, but I do have an idea.

This is a live feed of the General Secretary's arrival.

I know.

Did you see the numbers for last night?

Ninety -seven.

Astounding, but not perfect.

Well, nothing's perfect.

We'll get there.

I'm afraid not.

This is our last broadcast.

Are you backing out of our deal?

My deal was never with you, Miss Faith.

My deal is with a group of concerned politicians and industrialists.

You see, I'm a high -priced heavy hitter, and I was merely using you as

thought you were using me.

What are you doing?

Life is a series of edits, Miss Faith.

You no longer have any relevance to this story.

Please.

Fight the Black.

You're a member of the Splat Security Force. You must do what I say.

The General Secretary is evil.

He does not deserve your personal protection.

Do not hesitate. Do not think of your personal safety.

You have one idea, one job, one duty.

Kill the General Secretary.

Kill the General Secretary.

Kill the General Secretary.

Just do it.

With the two of you interfaced to my circuitry, we might be able to make some

sense out of all this.

Why do I have the feeling I'm going to be getting a headache later?

I'll only be tapping into your cortexes electronically.

It will be painless.

Whoops, sorry.

Just keep watching.

I'll decipher the signal.

Do not answer.

Think personally.

Kill the General Secretary.

Kill the General Secretary.

All my word.

The General Secretary of the United Nations is only minutes away from a gala

reception at the Embassy Suites. I had to shut us down or you'd have been

controlled like the others.

They're going to kill the General Secretary.

Who? How?

The Splat Group.

Or whoever among them has been brainwashed by the signal.

Splat is assigned security at the embassy suite. And the general secretary

due there any moment.

Oh, no. Protect and serve is about to become shoot and kill. That's going to

start a world war.

Is there any way we can deprogram Merkel and his men?

It would take weeks of psychological counseling combined with electroshock

therapy.

It's too far.

You'll never make it in time.

So what are you going to do?

I don't know.

kill the general secretary.

It is my highest duty.

I'm very, very sorry.

Having trouble finding the right words, Burkle? I mean, how do you write a

letter of apology to the general secretary?

What should I say?

Well, what does your psychiatrist recommend?

Don't. You know, I think you should write a letter of thanks to Superforce.

After all, if he hadn't intercepted the general secretary's limousine, you'd be

writing that letter from prison.

Oh.

Not exactly, Stan.

I wouldn't have anyone to write to because he'd be dead. The general

would be dead.

Hey. Hey.

Let's not forget something here.

I'm the victim.

I'm the victim.

Viacom.