Original subtitles

Thank you.

Hey, folks, folks.

Folks, I know that this isn't what you call a serious occasion, but I think

something should be said. But I still think something should be said.

I mean...

The real spirit of Christmas.

Now, here we are, all of us good friends, sharing a little fun

along with the hard work. Hey, Sam, that's the same speech you gave last

year. Don't you remember?

Wait a minute. Just give me another minute. I want to say something. Listen,

this company's had a very good year this year.

I think you all deserve credit because when a company works as a unit... Now,

listen. When a company works as a unit...

When I get there, that's all.

Mother, will you quit treating me like a child? I know you're all happy with your

salaries, right?

Well,

one of you is anyhow.

Well, why do you always make it sound so terrible? I mean, it's only an office

party.

Okay, okay. We're not going to go through that routine again.

Mother.

Mother. Sonny is only two years old. He doesn't even know what Christmas is.

Well, I'm not like you.

I'm entitled to do what I want.

And I want to have some fun.

Well, then why do you always make me sound like such a terrible mother?

I mean, I do take him on the weekends, don't I?

Look, Mom, we're going to spend all day together tomorrow, right?

Okay. And kiss Sonny for me, will you?

Okay, Mother.

Bye.

Oh, thank God that's over.

Excuse me. Will you take care of her, please?

Really wanted to say that.

And I just want everybody to know that I think that we've got the

greatest people in this country.

Yeah!

the Intimate National Division, too.

Merry Christmas.

Now, I'll tell you something.

Oh, yeah. Just one, just one. Next year, we'll have a party again, and I'm

probably going to get up here and say the same thing that I just said tonight.

But it'll be a pleasure to see all your smiling faces and to see the happiness

that I see here right now. So, God bless you all.

Merry Christmas.

Welcome to paradise.

Dan. I didn't mean to blow paradise for you, Howard.

I was just showing Lee and Darlene your office. You know, the big tour.

Help yourself.

Dan, we're sorry. We thought you'd already gone.

It's all right. I had a little work to catch up on before the weekend.

Really sorry, Dan, old boy. Listen, we'll get right on out of here. Come on,

girls, back to the present. Let's go.

Let's go.

Oh, wait a minute.

Stay and have a drink with me.

You sure did. I mean, we don't want to barge in.

Nonsense. I'm glad you came.

I've got something here that's better than that office punch.

Have you heard the executive BP?

It's open house.

It's very nice, Mr. Overland.

I've never been this close to Executive Row before.

You look so comfortable, darling.

I'll do my best.

Thank you, Dan, for your hospitality.

Only the best for us, Lee. We're the old-timers.

Here you are, girls.

Mmm, I love champagne.

Yes, it does seem to fit the occasion.

Everything fits.

Uh-oh.

Relax, Kelly.

Howard's already done that routine.

I invited myself to your party.

You're the boss, Kelly. Get it together.

That's great.

We just buried him, eh? What happened?

Sam Lewis cornered Ginger in the accounting department.

What? Oh, it was okay.

Well, he's funny when he's drunk.

Well,

after all the hassle, I hope no one has to go home in five minutes.

Not me.

Hey, hey, hey. It's time to rock around the clock, huh, Ginger? Sit down. I'll

get you something to drink.

I think I'll have gin this time.

up in here for the night? No such luck, Sam. No such luck.

Ever since we had that robbery, I got orders to sit you on this floor on the

weekend. But there's one problem with that, Stash. You're opening it again

Monday morning, right? Come on, come on. Everybody's left the building already.

Come on. Come on, Sam. I thought you guys were going to make a night of this.

I tried, but who listens to me, Stash?

Where's my elevator?

Mr. Overland?

Kenny, I thought everybody had gone home.

I was just bringing up the rear. Want me to hold the elevator? Hi,

Kenny. Hi, Darlene.

Kenny was just on his way to the elevator.

Oh.

Merry Christmas.

Yeah, Merry Christmas.

You see, I'm supposed to lock up. I'll let myself out.

But who's going to close the light? Merry Christmas, Kenny.

Yeah. Good night, sir.

Hey, hold it!

Is that everybody?

Yeah, I'm the last one. All right, stand by, please.

Every year it's the same thing. What's the same?

Same speeches, same promises.

Here we go, right? You can bet on that.

Yeah, well, Mr. Gordon's going to make sure he drives home safely.

Oh, that's for sure. Here we go, right? Look, Merry Christmas to you, Stash.

Same to you, Kenny. Now drive carefully. I will. I will.

Hey, look out. I'm sorry.

What's the hurry?

Kids are always in a hurry today.

Charlie, what are you doing here? I thought you had the weekend off. They

changed the schedule.

That's too bad.

Oh, look, it's just you and me tonight, so how about a game of checkers later?

Got to fix the heating system on 12.

Mm-hmm.

Is it going to take long? Probably all night.

Well, look, I'll bring you up some coffee later, all right? You kidding?

Who drinks coffee on Christmas Eve?

That's why Christmas parties are fun.

Why? Well, you walk down the halls, you see people all year long.

How long have you been with the company, Ginger?

Three and a half months next week. Two more weeks in the big city.

Back to nature.

Where are you going?

Aspen.

Skiing?

Yeah, they call me King of the Mountain.

Oh, fantastic.

I've never been skiing.

Well, maybe if you're lucky, the king here will let you carry a ski.

You always seem to do the most exciting things, Kelly.

I mean, Aspen.

That's fantastic.

Yeah, I hope to go up there at least twice this season.

That is, if I can convince the old man there he can get along without me.

I don't think that ought to be too difficult for you.

You remind me of a little girl on a swing.

I love it.

This chair is so comfortable.

I suppose that you have a boyfriend waiting, or...

Or a party that you're going to go to.

Nothing urgent.

Well, I'm glad you decided to stay.

So am I.

I'm also curious.

What about?

The flowery, the tender smiles.

Now, is that just a required protocol for executive role?

Or are you really interested?

I find you a very interesting man.

Just a little water, thanks.

We can talk straight with each other, Ginger, can't we? I mean, we're both in

the same team.

Sure.

That's why I know I could ask a little favor, and you'd do it for me.

Sure, if I could. Yeah.

Now, uh... Hold on a second.

Come on.

Yeah,

right here.

This may sound crazy, but you are the only one in this whole company that I

can ask.

I am? Yeah.

You're in charge of the personnel records, aren't you? I mean, the

confidential files.

More or less.

Ginger.

I can sure use a look at those files. Just one quick look.

The files are locked.

Ginger. I'm not supposed to let anybody look at them.

Charlie!

Charlie!

Hi, Charlie!

Yes?

Hi!

Italian 1, we have a major fire in progress on the 12th floor of the

Whitney Towers building. Give me a third alarm assignment, three additional truck

companies, and all available air bottles.

Italian 1, do you have a rescue problem?

Negative. We have one fatality, one man injured. The injured man has been

identified as a security guard. He said there's nobody else in the building.

10-4.

We're here for a moment.

Tell us the problems these men are having with this fire. Chief Packard,

can you tell us, please, what's going on?

Well, for one thing, the fire started 126 feet above ground level, and we

don't have aerial equipment high enough to reach that far.

So everything we're fighting this fire with has to be carried up on our backs.

I see.

There's a surprising lack of flames visible from the outside. Why is that?

Well, that's because a tall building like this is like a giant incinerator.

The heat and smoke and flames go straight up. The building literally

becomes a chimney.

And any inside opening, like an elevator shaft or a stairwell or air conditioning

ducts, just sucks the smoke, the heat, the flame straight up and pushes them

outward. We can't get above it, so we have to fight it from below, so to chase

it from floor to floor.

Well, the fire has already climbed seven floors so far. Now, is there a

possibility it would go all the way to the top?

Yeah, there's always that possibility, but we're certainly going to do

everything we can to keep that from happening.

Well, what steps, sir, would you be... Excuse me. Please.

Well, it seems to me that... Morvino, anyone?

Stay with this.

I'll take some, Kelly.

Just happened to have another bottle. Oh, nice.

Oh, really?

Yeah. I would say the last statistic I read said that there are about 51 and

some odd percent women... You really like him, don't you?

He's fantastic.

He's rotten.

But he's fantastic.

Yeah, he makes a pretty good presentation.

You mean you and him?

No.

Well, almost.

But, um, that was another office party.

Anyway, don't let it worry you. I mean, Kelly's really not my type.

Besides, that was almost two years ago.

What if Mr. Oberlin catches us?

He's busy.

He wouldn't know we're gone.

Come on, Ginger, it's just down the hall.

Come on, please.

Yes, that's true.

I've got a refill.

Help yourself. We've got our own bottle. All right.

Howard?

There you are.

A little bubbly.

Here we go.

You're crazy about lamb chops?

Well done.

Medium.

And you buy your clothes at Boardman's?

It's impressive. You've done quite a bit of research.

A little.

Not exactly hot office gossip, but interesting.

What about the negative side?

You mean like a wife?

I do have one.

Every successful executive shoot?

You ready?

It's gonna be hot.

Go ahead, get the door.

I've got a lot of trouble holding this thing. The fire's extended up the

utility shaft to the 17th floor. Now get those hose packs up there in a hurry.

Come on.

Let's go.

Battalion 1, this is Battalion 7. We need more help on the 18th floor.

Battalion 7, Battalion 1, I'm sending three additional companies.

Battalion 7, 10-4.

The air conditioning is shoving heat and smoke into the upper floors. I'm going

to shut off the power. We need those elevators, Chief. The guys are ragged

from hauling stuff up that stairwell. I don't want those flames carried any

higher. All right, then let me cut the power on the fire floor.

That'll shut off the air conditioners and we'll still have power to the rest

of the building.

All right, try it. If those flames jump any higher, I'm cutting the power to

everything. Go on.

Probably going to call some gorgeous number.

That's beautiful.

Yes, it's nicely bound.

I collect... Might be too obvious. I can't because they're so expensive

nowadays. If you're worried about our boss over there, I think he's pretty

well occupied.

Yes, expensive, but good.

Go on, let's see.

Go on, Kim.

Have you ever seen the boardroom?

No. We have some very rare volumes in there.

This must be where all the big decisions are made.

Some of them.

Yeah. Why not?

I don't want it to be like that. Oh, hey.

Relax.

Don't you like me?

Should I apologize?

Who are all these important looking gentlemen?

Past members of the board of directors.

I don't see your picture.

I'm not dead yet.

It won't be that easy.

Not so sure I even wanted it to be.

Look, why don't you kids give us a break and you play alone by yourselves, okay?

Hey, why don't you go ride your bike?

Okay, let's have a race.

I think I'm getting too old for this.

You probably are over the hill. As a matter of fact, you're definitely over

the hill.

Listen, my friend, in case you're interested, ladies over 35 are over the

hill. Is that what they are?

I know how you enjoy your Sundays with a kid.

Without me.

Pushing in. Are you kidding?

These kids are crazy about you.

Yeah, I know.

I just thought that it would be... easier to talk, more relaxed.

I'm relaxed.

I, um... I had it all figured out.

The way I was going to.

I'll tell you.

You had one all figured out.

Jim, I'm pregnant.

Of what?

You can call me stupid or dumb or whatever. It's just that I

didn't stay on the pill when I should have. Are you sure you're pregnant?

Sure. That's great.

That is just great.

What do we do now?

We can discuss it.

I mean, I can think of a couple of possibilities right off.

Like what?

Abortion is a lot easier now.

We could just get married and have the baby.

What about Kathy and Paul?

What about them?

They're part of you, aren't they?

I mean... Well, it'd be kind of a package deal.

Sure. I just...

Tell them their daddy made a slight bedroom mistake and had to get married.

Is that what it is, Jim?

A mistake?

I've got to think about it.

That's all I can say, Lee.

You gotta think about it.

Qualify?

Find a questionable choice for this position. I've got 12 years with this

company. Mr. Foster.

Does he know what I can do? He's trying to wipe me out 12 years just like that.

Put the letter back and let's get out of here. In a minute, let me read it, will

you?

Tal and Ginger.

I don't want them to see it.

Go back around the other way and I'll meet you in the office.

Come with me.

No, no, go on, go on.

Put it back, please.

You don't even understand. You're just a kid.

I didn't mean anything, Mr. Foster.

I'm sorry, Ginger. It was a surprise. Everybody said about me in this letter.

What did he say about you, Howie?

You would have wear a bell around your neck, Kelly.

I didn't mean to interrupt anything.

It's getting late.

I better go home. I promised my folks. Yeah, it's late.

Good night.

Good night.

Well, she's sacred, man. I've been working on that for two months.

Maybe you're just too subtle.

It's none of my business, but it took a big chance. It did?

Yeah, I think if Oberlin finds you poking around in the confidential files,

he'd probably fire you right on the spot.

Probably.

Yeah, but I wouldn't worry about it, Kelly. He won't find out.

Unless somebody tells him.

Why should I tell him?

Exactly. Why should you?

We can't hold this thing here.

It's extending through the air conditioning duct.

Can I not participate?

Don't let this thing get around the back of us. We'll never get out.

Give me a report on conditions.

It's broken through the 19th, Chief.

The air conditions must have tripped on the top floors.

Better shut it off. Give me five more minutes. We're bringing up smoke

ejectors on the elevator right now, and I've got a relief crew coming up. No,

I've got to shut the building down and get your light generators up to the fire

floor. Go on. All right.

Battalion 7, Battalion 1.

Battalion 7, go ahead.

Mickey, get a crew down to the basement right away. Chop off all part of the

building, everything.

10-4.

What is it, Mr. Overland? What's wrong?

Oh, it's probably...

Equipment fire or something in the basement. Nothing to worry about,

Ginger. My new coat. I've got to get my new coat.

Well, Darlene, would you get my briefcase? That's that brown one on the

desk in there.

Come on. Everybody get whatever you need.

Dad, you think I should call the fire department?

That's a good idea, but maybe we ought to find out what it is first.

I wonder if Stash is still downstairs.

Ten after eight on Christmas evening? I don't know.

Everything's going to be all right, Ginger.

It's really good. Smoke it.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Yeah.

Try not to breathe too much in this stuff.

It's terrible. My clothes are going to pick up the smell. That's a real

tragedy. The elevator's on its way up. We should be out in the fresh air in a

couple of minutes.

This is one way to break up a party.

What happened?

Oh, the power must have failed.

Oh,

it's not working. Those are the emergency lights. Yeah.

Oh, it's not working.

Let's take the stairs out.

Yes, that's a good idea.

Well,

can't you break it down or something?

Solid steel.

A phone call will fix that.

Try those lines over there.

Go try the phones across the hall.

Might be better to wait in my office.

At least we'll be away from the smoke until we decide what to do.

What are we going to do? We're going to be safe. This is a solid building.

Ginger.

It's all right. You stick with me. We'll get out of here.

If we don't pinch this thing out here, it's going to run us right out the

window. And it's a long way down.

Give me some more light.

hardly see any visible evidence of a fire from our vantage point here on the

street. The fire department tells us there are now at least seven floors

involved and they still have not been able to bring it under control.

I remember now. They sealed off these windows when they put in the air

conditioning. Well, can't you break one?

They're reinforced with wire.

But what did you do anyway? I mean, we're 40 stories high.

Well, we could yell at somebody down in the street.

Now, don't be stupid, Betty. They couldn't hear us from up here. They

couldn't even see us at night.

Might be wiser going easy on that stuff, Howard. Is that a management directive

or just a personal opinion?

like a little get-together at the home office once a year.

Dan.

So far, the fire has spread from the 12th to the 21st floor of the Whitney

Towers. It broke out about 7.30 this evening at the tail end of... The

holiday rush hour.

We understand this is only about 30 minutes after the last group of people

left the building where they had been having an office party on the top floor.

We can't be thankful that these lucky people are home now, safe with their

families.

What a blessing this fire didn't start earlier when the building was full of

people. The fire department is doing everything possible to arrest the

flames, but so far have been unsuccessful.

Now, ladies and gentlemen, back to the studio.

Hello.

Yes. Yes, this is she.

Yes, Kenny, I remember you.

I hate to bother you, Mrs. Overland, but I didn't get a chance to ask Mr.

Overland about some letters he wanted mailed.

You know, like whether I should make him special delivery or not.

Is he there?

No, he hasn't come home yet.

Well, do you expect him soon?

I mean, has he called or anything?

Kenny, didn't you go to the office party?

Yes, ma'am.

Didn't you see Mr. Overland there?

I did, but I didn't get a chance to talk to him.

Well, neither have I.

Was it a good party, Kenny? Did you have a good time?

Yeah. It was okay.

I suppose everyone was there, hmm? All the secretaries, all the salesmen?

Most everybody.

Kenny, tell me something. I seem to have forgotten.

What is the name of that pretty dark-haired girl who works on Mr.

Oberlin's floor?

You know the one.

Darlene something or other, isn't that it?

Darlene Porter.

Yeah.

Was she there?

At the party?

I think so.

Well, thank you very much for calling, Kenny. I'll give my husband the message

when he comes home. Good night.

Wait, please. Mrs. Overland, there's a fire.

There's plenty of smoke coming out of the roof vents, but I don't see any

flames on the upper levels.

Check the west side of the building, every floor from the roof down.

Air one, roger.

I need some more rags.

And some more tape, too.

Over here.

Let's see if we can use this.

Yeah, bring it in.

Watch out, Lee.

I'm going to stuff it against the door.

Cover that crack with it.

I'm going to get the crack.

We're going to die.

Would you stop that? We're going to die. I know it. We're going to die. Somebody

shut her up.

We're going to die.

All right, Ginger. Everything is going to be all right.

It's a helicopter.

Though we're here.

Though we're here.

Evening.

Can I help you?

I'm the manager.

Oh, I was looking for a friend's car. I thought it might be parked here.

Did you see it?

Well, it doesn't really matter.

I thought my friend might be visiting a tenant of yours, but he doesn't seem to

be in.

Well, if you tell me the tenant's name, maybe I can help.

Port.

Darlene Porter.

Oh, that's Darlene's parking store right down there. Number 43.

Don't think she's here, though.

Of course, she usually parks her car in the street every night anyway.

Saves her parking space for her visitors.

Yes, I imagine she would.

Guess you heard about the big fire they're having.

Same building where Darlene works.

She's probably still down there watching.

Fire? Big one.

I couldn't get through. Couldn't get through?

There must be something, an air conditioning duct, a crawl space between

the floor, something.

I tried. I couldn't go any further. Take my word for it. What are we going to do?

Choked to death in this heat and smoke?

What would you like me to do? Call up a miracle from the chairman of the board?

Hey, what happened? Let me help.

That's all right. I've got it.

Hey, look.

Dan, you know what I said before? I didn't mean that. I was just kind of

edgy. Hey, you're the boss, Dan. Whatever you say goes, you know that.

I'm a company man, Dan. A company man all the way. Now, you know that, don't

you, Dan?

You're bucking for a raise, Howard.

This is a bad time for it.

Everything's going to be all right.

It's going to be all right.

What's the matter?

Let me help you.

Ginger, we're your friends. Ginger,

you know us.

It's me, Kelly, baby.

We're going to get out of here.

Ginger, it's me, Betty Carson.

It's going to be all right. Just take it easy.

Don't cry.

Is she okay?

She's bleeding dead. She's really badly hurt.

One of us has got to find a way to get down to the floor below and go for help.

How?

Those fire doors are open all the way down.

This is the only one that's locked up here because of that robbery.

Here, hold that.

Leave it over here on the wall.

Sweep that ceiling. It'll cool it down.

The old sauce on that wall not got fire now before it spread.

Don't drop any more in here or it'll flash over.

See if you can get more pressure.

Engine 26 is engine 13.

Gets more line up here. We need more line up here.

More line! More line!

open, there's got to be a lever back here. Yeah.

There's a lever back here to open.

Can't climb down there. You need a rope.

Yeah.

Maybe we could use the fire hose in the hall there.

Not me.

One of us has got to do it.

It's impossible.

Can't do that.

Wait. What for? Are you kidding?

It's crazy, Dan.

It's crazy.

One of us has just got to do it.

It won't work, Dad.

Ah, there we go.

Hey, do you realize that it's a half hour past bedtime for a couple of kids I

know? We still have some more decorations to put up. Please, Daddy.

You know, you see, Santa can't make any deliveries if you two are still up when

he gets here.

Off to bed. Good night, Daddy.

Good night, Molly.

Daddy. Come on, baby.

Why doesn't Lee come to see us anymore?

Lee's been busy, I guess.

I thought she was going to spend Christmas with us.

Yeah, that would have been nice, sweetheart.

But I guess she made other plans.

Now.

Night, Daddy.

Anybody feel the heat's getting worse?

All right.

We're on the top floor.

Whatever is below us is catching up to us by the minute.

Climbing up to us.

Now, I see that we've got to make a choice.

A...

We can wait here like frightened animals, cringing in a corner until

we're dead from suffocation.

Or B, we can try to save ourselves.

Those women back there in the dark, watching Ginger bleed to death, they're

waiting for us to do something.

All right, I'll ask you one more time, then I'll join you. Then we can all roll

over and play dead. Only we won't be playing now.

What are we going to do?

You're so cool.

You're always in charge.

Why should you always make the decisions?

You can take charge, Kelly.

I don't want the job. You tell me what to do and I'll do it.

Which one of us?

All right, I'll try it.

I realize I may not be able to open that door with just one good hand.

Big heroic gesture.

The cop out there.

You want to go along for a free ride?

You're impressive, Kelly.

You make keen analytical judgments, don't you?

Get all the facts.

Works nearly all the time. Winning formula.

What are you talking about?

It's called taking your best shot.

All right.

Let's see some of that clear, concise logic.

Who's the best man for the job?

Go on, evaluate.

Who is it between you and Howard and me?

This is not a sales meeting, Dan. You're not going to run over me like you do

everyone else. Now, which one stands the best chance of getting that floor down

below and going for help?

A man with two good hands or one?

He's right, Dan's right. It's got to be you or me.

Shut up. Kelly, we've got to go for help. We've got to do something.

He tossed a coin.

Okay.

How about you?

Loser goes down the elevator shaft.

Okay.

Heads.

A loser.

Be a hero.

Think about it, Howie.

You can get a nice letter for the files.

It's worth something, isn't it, Howie?

Files. Tales.

You didn't have to come to the most expensive restaurant in town, Dad.

What are you talking about? Can't I take my beautiful daughter to a nice place

and show her off?

Whatever you want.

We don't get to see enough of each other these days, Kathy.

I guess not.

So we'll celebrate, huh? Listen, I'll buy a bottle of champagne. No thanks.

I mean, I don't want anything to drink.

Oh, yeah, sure.

You're right.

I mean, a father's not supposed to booze it up with his own kid.

I'm old enough, Dad.

If I wanted a drink.

Yeah, you're going to be pretty pig.

Thank you.

Want any salad?

No, thank you.

I'm up for a promotion.

It's a big job.

Assistant Manager of the Eastern Division.

What do you think of your old man now?

It's good.

It's really good.

Of course, we're still dickering about money, but I got the top brass on my

side. After all, I'm a senior man with a company that carries a lot of weight.

You must really like that wine.

Oh, well, you know, I try to cut down on the hard stuff, you know, since your

mother's been gone.

I know.

There's no problem with this anyway.

As a matter of fact, I'm thinking of adding a wine cellar to the house. You

know, that's the in thing to do these days.

You make it sound like Mother's dead.

She's not gone.

You're only separated.

Holy boy, now that's a word for you.

I just wanted you to understand how it sounded, Dad.

Well, we're a team anyway, you and me, Kathy.

You know, I was thinking about that just last week.

We've got to get together and go somewhere and do something really fun.

Might maybe take a trip to Europe. First class. The whole works.

Would you like to do that, Kathy?

Yes, I'd like that.

Oh, I'd love to go on one of those old cruise ships.

You're crying. What's the matter? What's wrong? What did I say?

Nothing.

Oh, come on. Don't tell me nothing.

I'm your old man. We level with each other. What is it, Kathy?

Dad, you always keep doing this.

Doing what?

The promises, the fantasies.

That's why Mother left, don't you see?

It's always another big deal or a new promotion or a scheme that never

happens.

It doesn't matter any of it. You're what matters.

Listen, Kathy, you're just a kid. You don't understand.

Look, when I make a promise, I do my best to keep it.

That's why it must hurt you so much when you can't.

The whole country's in a recession. Sales are off everywhere. Try to explain

that to your mother. Either one of you had any sense of business.

As soon as I get that promotion, things will change. She'll come home and...

Dad, you've got to let us love you for what you are, not what you pretend to

be. Please!

Very slow.

Easy. All right, hold it.

Easy.

I can't hold on much longer.

You can take Howard's place.

Howard, don't let me go. Please, don't let me go.

Can you... Can you get to the door?

I'm about...

Take it easy, Howard.

Let's go now.

Slowly.

Easy.

Too fast.

How's it going, Howard?

That lever's over on the right there.

I'm hanging in the middle.

Can you slide me over a little?

That's better.

Can you open the door?

Now hold it there.

You see that lever?

Hold it there.

He's got it.

One of the men remembered that we still had some hose packs in the disabled

elevator so we had to force the doors open.

It happened sometime after we cut power.

That guard told us there was nobody else in the building.

Come on.

The discovery of a body in the elevator shaft adds yet another grim complication

to this Christmas Eve tragedy.

The victim has tentatively been identified as an employee of the

Kendrick Industries, which we understand occupies the top five floors of the

Whitney Towers.

The fire department now faces the possibility that there may be other

people still trapped inside the building.

He didn't want to go.

It was my fault. He's dead.

He's dead.

Come on, Kelly.

Yeah, I killed him.

I killed Howie.

I made him... I made him go.

What difference does it make now?

A fire department helicopter is just landing to pick up a paramedic rescue

team. Chief Packer has ordered an emergency search of the building from

the roof down to the fire.

As you can see, the rescue team is loading equipment aboard the helicopter

they should be taking off momentarily.

All right, we're gonna move into this west road.

Okay, okay, be careful.

It's creeping around behind!

Over

there!

Over there!

His hose burned through. That's all he wrote.

Your client is big enough. You need a two and a half.

Enough!

Are you okay? Are you okay?

I think so.

I'm late.

I'm late.

Help! Help us!

Where are you?

Where are you?

We're over here, this way.

Battalion 1, engine 41.

Wall has collapsed on 36.

Two men trapped.

Can you get them out?

Negative. We don't have any water.

We can't get to them.

Too much fire.

All right, stick with it. Do what you can. I'll get help up right away.

10-4.

Johnson, this is 1.

Johnson, this is 1. Can you read me?

Battalion 1, go ahead.

Johnson, send a rescue squad up to 36. Use the south stairwell.

We've got a collapsed wall with men buried under it. Take some pike poles

and a K-12 up there. Right away. Hurry.

10-4.

Paramedics, where are you? This is 1.

Paramedics, where are you? This is 1. Italian 1, we're on 33, north of the

main utility shaft.

Get up to 36 right away. Report to Captain Jones.

We've got some men buried up there. I'll send up air bottles. Hurry.

I'm here, Ginger.

I'm here.

Why can't you do something?

Why did you do it, Thelma?

Why did you bring that out?

I thought somehow it might please you.

Well, how nice.

I thought for some obscure reason that hanging Benji's stocking with care might

make things a little happier around here. Don't do this, Dom. Oh, please

don't do that. Don't you remember how we always used to go to the stocking first?

Stop it. Oh, I can see this is going to be a wonderful Christmas.

All right, let's talk about it again.

Never mind. I said let's talk about it. Let go of me, Dan.

Now, what about last month?

A picture of Benji at that summer camp, and before that, a relaxing evening with

his stamp collection. Now, it's got to stop. Benji seems to be the only thing

we have in common these days.

In fact, I think he probably was the only thing we ever had that kept us

together. Then we made a mistake.

Well, obviously, since we can't even talk about our own son anymore.

Benji is dead, Thelma.

He's been dead for six months.

An attempt to stop it on the 36th floor has failed, costing the life of one

fireman and critically injuring several others.

If the rumor is true, if there are still people on the upper floors, there is

grim doubt that they could survive the intense heat and smoke.

The fire department is still struggling desperately to stop the upper floors

from being engulfed by flame, but there doesn't seem to be much chance that they

can do it.

Where are they?

Nobody's going to make it in here anyway.

Cool this lot.

and burn right through.

Help!

Help! Get another light in here and more air bucket.

Air rescue, this is one.

This is one, go ahead.

After the drop, get back in the air. Do a 360 around the building.

Use your spotlight.

Check the windows. See if there's any sign of people in the building.

Air rescue, 10-4.

Put it back up. We can't hold it here.

Careful. Careful!

But stay together.

Battalion 1, engine 45, we've lost the 38th floor.

We're backing out.

It's into the ceiling and going up the vents.

Search team, this is one. Can you read me?

We're going down a stairwell from the roof, and there's a lot of smoke up

here. Stay on monitor, Air Rescue. They may need you fast.

Kenny, aren't you?

He's up there, isn't he?

You're not sure.

They know we're here.

They know.

Help. Help me.

Please. Wait. Help. Wait.

Help.

There wasn't a search game.

Got some people on the top floor, west side.

Got a windows.

Looks like at least three, one man and two women.

We're at the top level, breaking through.

Air rescue, hold position with that light.

Don't lose those people.

Here, take some breaths.

Real deep.

All right.

Just take it easy.

Breathe deeply.

All right. Now we're going to walk up to the roof. Can you both make it?

All right. Now stay close. Give her some air.

They're here.

They're here.

They're here.

Sir,

I'll lead you out of here. Just hold on to each other and follow me, okay? No,

no, no, wait. There's another girl in there.

She's injured.

We'll have to come back for her, sir. No, no, I'll wait.

You can take them.

Here, let me go on a sec.

We'll only be able to take three on the first trip. You stay here, we'll take

the ladies first, all right? All right.

We've got two more below. We'll go get them, bring them up the roof while you

drop off those three.

And four.

Let's go.

Mister, you stay put.

I don't think we can get in.

Stick with us. Stay close. We'll get you out.

4108C.

I'm fine.

Really, thank you very much.

Well, it wasn't the greatest party I've ever been to.

Yes, really, I'm fine.

I've missed you.

I don't just mean tonight, but...

Don't be galant, okay?

No hassle.

No bother. It's all settled.

Well, it's all settled.

They check you into the hospital in the morning and check you out again the next

afternoon.

I made the appointment.

Can we discuss it?

I don't think you'd make a very good swinger, Mr. Overland.

That's okay.

You're okay.

I never thought I'd see the senior vice president looking such a mess.

I never thought I'd be such a mess.

I think somebody wants to see you.

Can't we learn somehow to be good to each other again?

Hey, we're live. That's worth something, isn't it?

I was just scared.

Look, I've got an idea.

Why don't you and me spend Christmas Day together?

You might even find something to like about it.

Thank you.