We're out of here. See you later.
[lnistinct Talking, Laughing ]
- [ lndistinct ] - That music is dead.
Are those guys asleep?
- Elevator music will knock you out. - [ Laughs ]
I wouldn't be caught sleeping here at this time of night.
Not around here.
Should we wake them up?
[ Train Rumbling, Horn Blowing ]
Shit, man!
'Whitey'
What the fuck is going on?
'Ghosts'
- Don't touch it! - [ Woman Screaming ]
- No, wait! Stop! - Come on, man! Run!
- [ Continues ] - [ Dog Barking ]
[ Radio Announcer ] All the news, all the time.
This is W-l-N-S.
You give us 22 minutes, we'll give you the world.
[ Second Announcer ] It's already 83 degrees in Central Park...
with a downtown high of 95 eXpected.
The top story, racial tensions flare again...
in Williamsburg, where two white, out-of-town businessmen...
were shot in their car in apparent retaliation for...
THE PAPER
the murder of a black youth last week.
Keep your radio tuned to WlNS for updates. 1010 WlNS, all news.
News when you need it. Because your whole world can change in 24 hours.
W-l-N-S news time, 7:00.
[ Ringing ]
- Nice pajamas, Henry. - [ Door Slams ]
[ Sighs ]
Mad at me?
Mad? Why?
A guy gets home from work at 4 a.m. Why should I be mad?
On a scale of one to ten.
4 a.m. in the morning!
[ Pots, Pans Rattling ]
That's about a seven.
Why not just pour battery acid down your throat?
[ Yawning ] No caffeine.
Well, the Daily News kicked your butt. 'Welcome to New York-- You're Dead.'
They got that? How did they get that?
It happened in Brooklyn at midnight. I can't believe this.
Did Newsday? Did they?
Don't show me. They got it!
I don't want to see the Post.
What do you guys have? 'No Parking, EXcept for Me.'
McDougal's going after the parking commissioner again?
Good shot, though.
That's great art.
Sandusky double-parked in front of his office.
- [ Slurred Laughter ] - Hon, look.
City parking commissioner, double-parked, no ticket.
Doesn't that enrage you?
Sweetie, it's horseshit.
I know it's horseshit. I tried to get the Brooklyn thing.
Wilder won't answer his beeper.
[ Sneezes ] Oh. Oh.
You okay?
You don't appreciate bladder control until it's gone.
Oh, boy.
[ Sighs ]
I'm sorry, honey.
Look at that Sentinel headline.
This kind of stuff is just shameless.
'Nepal Premier Won't Resign.'
Anything to sell newspapers. I won't be party to that kind of sensationalism.
I miss everybody.
Say hi to everybody for me.
Everybody eXcept Alicia.
Who else do I hate?
You going nuts again today?
No. That was a one-time thing.
I have a million projects. Finish reading a book.
Or the baby's room. I have to get to that dresser.
I have to go.
If you weren't making a sacrifice too, that would be different.
A lot different.
I know. Call me later?
Wear a tie for the interview.
And promise me you won't torpedo it on purpose.
Why would I do that?
You know those days that can change your whole life?
This is one of them for us.
For good or bad, it can happen either way today.
So don't blow it.
[ Chuckles ] I'm not.
I have to go.
'The Sun-- it shines for all'
You're not taking my car!
Parking fascist! Tell Sandusky we're not taking it anymore!
Goddamn parking cop!
'The New York Sun'
[ Bell Ringing ]
[ Phone Ringing ]
Henry? I got-- Can we--
Good morning, Phil.
Got anything for me, Henry?
Donald Trump jumped off a building, landed on Madonna.
And they went to Elaine's.
He's sticking with that story?
He's a real yo-yo.
How you feeling, Lou?
I got a bruise on my leg.
You'll be fine.
What's the plural of 'ultimatum'?
[ Man ] I don't know what happened last night.
Don't complain. They called the air-conditioning guy.
Alicia wants to see you. She's the managing editor.
- Ultimatums? Ultimata? - Both.
She won't go away.
Smart guys say 'ultimata.' We'll use 'ultimatums.'
You say ultimata I say ultimatum
[ Humming ]
What's the matter with Phil?
Looks like he sat on something sharp.
You told him he could have Richard's old desk.
Now you promised it to Carmen. Are you psychotic?
I have episodes. Nothing serious.
Phil's still mad you wouldn't approve his $600 orthopedic chair.
Now with this desk thing, he's convinced...
it's a conspiracy to prevent him from sitting down.
- [ Ringing ] - It's Alicia.
I want to see you before the 11:00.
Alicia, is that you?
I'm having a hard time hearing you. Are you in the tunnel?
There's a lot of static.
I'm losing you.
I can't hear. We can't hear you.
We'll see you when you get in, okay? All right.
Okay. All right.
I love car phones.
- [ Low Rumbling, lce Rattling ] - [ Beeping, Distorted Voice ]
The presses running?
Y eah. Sunday travel section. Sign these and tell me what to do about Phil.
Who's that?
- McDougal. - What's he doing?
Sleeping. He says he can't go home. Somebody wants to kill him.
Mac!
Who's trying to kill you now?
Sandusky.
The parking guy? Over some lousy columns?
[ Groans ]
My columns aren't lousy.
Give it up, would you? Get it out of your system.
So they towed your car and scratched it a bit.
SiX thousand dollars. SiX thousand dollars damage to a vintage car.
You're ranting now, babe.
I find something fresh and bang it like a cheap drum.
People love this shit.
Turn that scanner down. How are you supposed to sleep around here?
Jeez. What are these?
Subway wreck, West 4th Street today.
- Is that an arm? - You found it.
Don't show me these in the morning. Not until I've had three Cokes.
Morning. Hey, Henry.
Three Cokes, then a picture.
Heard about Fort Green?
Cops hassling anyone with a black face and a record about Williamsburg.
If there's going to be a riot, we should have somebody there.
Unless you want to get stomped again on the same story.
'Get stomped.' That's funny.
Doesn't anybody say 'good morning' anymore?
I don't think so.
Williamsburg, huh?
That's Wilder's territory. You trying to bigfoot him?
Yeah, he really aced it last night, huh?
I know this neighborhood.
Forget the desk.
She can have the desk.
But give me the chair, for Christ's sake!
Phil, I was talking to somebody.
I can hardly stand up straight.
Go do that. That's a good idea.
I'll handle Wilder. Don't worry about it.
What are you doing to Wilder?
Nothing.
You don't know what it's like to live in pain.
It changes you.
I'm sure it does. I'll talk to you about those changes.
Rub some... stuff.
Keep all the bullshit away from me today.
I have a big decision I need to make. I need some time to think about this.
About the job at The Sentinel?
[ Phones, Chatter Continues ]
How do you know about the Sentinel job?
Bernie told me.
Bernie knows? Oh, man!
It's a newsroom, Henry.
I know it's none of my business, but...
do you really want to count pencils uptown?
Is that you?
Sometimes you can just smell...
a horrendously shitty day on the way, can't you?
Don't chop the shit out of it like you did with the nun thing.
It's early. Let me look at it.
This jerk on the phone wants a correction on the quake story.
- [ Knocking ] - Hey, Bernie.
I hate columnists!
Why do I have all these columnists?
I have political columnists, guest columnists...
celebrity columnists--
The only thing I don't have is a dead columnist.
[ Sighs ]
That's the kind I could really use.
Right. Listen.
We reek of opinions.
What every columnist at this paper needs to do...
is to shut the fuck up.
I'm serious.
- Can I talk to you for a second? - If you don't mind walking.
[ Sighs ] I have to walk before I die.
What's the matter?
- You don't want to know. - Sure I do.
No, you don't.
If I said, 'What's the matter?' I'm listening.
All right.
I got a prostate the size of a bagel.
You still coming?
Look, Bernie. I know you know about the Sentinel interview.
It's an assistant managing editor thing.
It's really more sideways than up.
You can jump in here anytime.
What are you looking for?
You want me to make it easy for you to go to another paper?
You want a ride uptown?
You want me to wait outside and think positive thoughts?
That's not my job.
My job is to keep your ass downstairs.
- What am I supposed to do? - I don't know.
It's nine to five.
It's more money. It's less hours.
Martha-- We're having the baby, and she gave up her job.
So it's for her.
Not just for her. It's for me too.
Bernie, you've got kids. How'd you keep doing the job?
Don't ask marital advice from a guy with two ex-wives...
and a daughter that won't speak to him.
The problem with being my age is...
everybody thinks you're a father figure...
but you're really just the same asshole you always were.
You do have a problem, Henry...
but it's your problem.
Thanks, Bernie. You've been a big help.
- [ Horn Honking ] - [ lndistinct Group Chattering ]
[ Children Singing ]
[ Woman ] Daryll!
How you doing? Come on in.
Make sure she put on those sneakers.
- I don't want to-- - You have to wear them.
- What is going to happen? - What does it say?
Nothing.
Damn.
Open the parachute.
'Scrabble'
- [ Ringing ] - Hello?
Henry, why aren't you at your interview?
Well, hon, it's not for another two hours.
What's up? Janet told me you called.
Tell him to do it over.
He'll love that.
What's up, honey? Are you okay? Do you need anything?
- Not right away, I mean-- - What's going on there?
Leave nothing out.
- [ Moaning ] - The usual delights.
Can you tell me what you need? I got this meeting with Alicia.
Don't take any crap from her.
I won't. Have you got everything?
Last chance. Anything at all.
- Water bed! - [ Woman ] Water bed.
Okay, honey. The phone is slipping out of my hand.
No, wait, stop.
Here it goes.
I'll remember.
Call me when you got it. Good-bye. I love you.
She's nuts.
[ TV Continues, lndistinct ]
Alicia Clark.
Give me a break.
[ Bell Ringing ]
- [ Woman ] Oh, my God. - Fred, let him use your phone.
- They stole his radio. - [ Man ] lsn't that the parking cop?
McDougal has got to be stopped.
- How long will this take? - Three hours.
You'll be like penguins. It takes time.
- How was your meeting? - Great.
Do you have last month's phone bill? I'll talk to Henry first thing.
Your decorator called.
She said the kind of wood that Bruno picked out for the chair rail...
was not included in the price, and you'll have to approve another $600.
Unbelievable. Every time the phone rings, it's $600.
Also, Robert De Niro's office called.
- Bobby called? - Well, his office.
There are two seats left at his table tonight for the benefit.
No kidding.
Yeah. If you want them, it's going to be $500 a plate.
Tell them that we'd love to be Mr. De Niro's guests.
Hit 'guests.' If they mention the 500 again-- You son of a bitch.
You promised me.
We're not going to ask some news reporter...
wait until after 5:00 to make out-of-state phone calls.
It's ridiculous. I won't do it.
Let's let them make free phone sex calls too.
As a kind of bonus. That's not a bad idea.
- Start with Phil. - Start what with him?
You think my job's easy? You think it's fun firing people?
'Firing people'? Is that what you're going to start with me?
Aw, Jesus, Bernie. Come on with the smoke.
You know the doctor found nicotine in my urine again.
Then keep your dick out of my ashtray.
[ Group Laughing ]
That's very funny.
Two days after a black kid is killed in a neighboring community...
two white businessmen named Hanson and MacGregor...
get shot up, with racial epithets written on their car.
Now, in response, the New Y ork Sun decides to run...
a parking story.
Keighley called me at 7:00 this morning.
Y eah, I'll bet he did.
[ Sneezes ]
- Bless you. - Joe, please cover your mouth.
Metro, I assume we're all over the subway.
Three pieces.
A ticktock, list of injured, search for heroes.
Standard transportation wreck stuff.
We got any art?
Yeah, Eddie picked up some nice spaghetti shots.
Love the severed arm shot.
Did they find the motorman yet?
Yeah, drunker than a skunk in his neighborhood bar.
He derails his train and steps over bodies to have a few beers?
What do you do after you step over bodies?
I have a cigarette and go to sleep.
[ Group Chuckling ]
[ Henry ] We got an above-average bank robbery in the BronX. That's good.
An eXploding hand grenade in Hoboken.
What about something fun? Don't we have anything fun today?
Nazis marching in New Jersey.
Nazis are a barrel of laughs.
Features.
We got Alison's profile of the teenage hit man.
We got Grace finally done with that Hollywood who's-banging-who chart.
[ Woman ] Grace!
And part three in our continuing saga on penile implants.
[ Men Groaning ]
Could we possibly get another dick drawing?
[ Group Laughing ]
It looks like a map of Florida.
It also looks like the 5th at Shinnecock Country Club.
I would play over the water, by the way, as a suggestion.
All right. Business.
Dow's up. Trade figures came out at 8:00. Nothing shocking.
But I'm telling you, I'm sitting on Watergate out there on Staten lsland.
With the zoning commission thing.
If you guys could just give me a couple of city-side reporters--
Wait.
How is it possible that you always have Watergate somewhere?
Listen, I'm-- Piss off, Carl!
I mean it this time.
The commission chairman's eX-wife is plenty ready to talk.
His eX-wife?
His first eX-wife.
There's a reliable source.
Yeah. Foreign.
Terrorists blew up a restaurant in Paris, killing five. None from New York.
Ferry boat capsized in the Philippines, drowning 300.
None from New York.
There was a violent coup in Bahrain.
None from New York!
Witnessed-- Witnessed by two people from Long lsland.
[ Murmurs Of Approval ]
Oh, Henry, this might interest you.
The mother whale in the Ukraine had triplets.
She told me she was on the pill!
[ Coughing ]
[ Coughing Continues ]
EXcuse me.
I get any on you?
[ Laughter ]
[ Alicia ] Thanks for asking, Bernie.
So, page one, subway sounds like our wood, right?
- We got great art. - I think it's definite.
I don't think so.
TV's going to be all over it. They already are.
It's a minor derailment.
Carmen has got great day two stuff on the Williamsburg murders.
If they make a bust, we have to follow up on that.
The subway's a major story.
Nobody died.
Somebody got maimed.
Yeah, that helps.
Minor derailment.
All I'm saying is people got maimed, and we have pictures of it.
Goddamn it! So we fucked up yesterday!
Why do you want to tuck our tail between our legs and take it...
do what everybody else does?
Let's stand alone.
Let's make up for it.
We're a commuter paper. People want the subway.
Are you market research all of a sudden? Not everything is about money.
It is when you almost fold every siX months.
Bullshit.
You two can slug it out at the three o'clock. Let's wrap it up.
All right?
Because Henry has an interview...
at The Sentinel.
[ Chuckles ]
The Sentinel?
[ Murmurs Of Approval ]
Thank you.
- Congratulations. - EXcuse us.
At least steal us a little something.
What do you want? Tote bags? Let me take some orders.
- [ Henry ] Phil? Chair? - [ Phil ] That's not funny.
'The New Y ork Sentinel All the News in the World'
[ Man ] My name is George Russell of The New Y ork Sentinel.
[ Speaking German ]
Hi, I'm supposed to meet Paul Bladden right about now.
Map.
I've been reading the Sun these past few weeks.
I find it eXciting.
We're thinking of letting our hair down a little bit around here.
Squeeze in some coverage of the outer boroughs.
Nothing new for you, of course, but for us, well...
we're The Sentinel.
We cover the world.
Right. So I've heard.
I won't dick around with you. I talked with Vince last night.
He'll go with my recommendation. So congratulations.
The job is yours if you want it.
Thank you. Hey--
You don't look pleased.
I'll have to think about that. I have to talk to my wife.
- You understand. - Of course.
But I would like a decision first thing in the morning.
And don't disappoint me.
I think you're a serious newspaperman, Henry.
Thank you.
I mean it.
You guys have got a cute little paper. Sometimes you really pull one out.
Thanks. It is a cute paper.
You missed the boat on that one last night, though. [ Chuckling ]
Y eah.
I want to tell you, before I came over to this job...
I hardly had any administrative eXperience at all.
I had very minimal eXecutive skills.
EXcuse me. I'm curious. For instance...
what would our-- your Metro lead be tomorrow?
You don't work here yet.
You're right. Sorry. [ Chuckles ]
As I was saying about this book, I think it's something that you...
You know what I'd go with? Subway. Don't you think?
would find enjoyable.
Though that Williamsburg thing is pretty interesting.
You guys got anything on that?
You do, don't you?
You can always tell, one newspaperman to another.
You can just tell there's something. What have you got?
What do you guys have on that? Come on.
They make a bust? No, I'd know if they made a bust.
What are you sitting on?
Let's just say that our coverage will be comprehensive.
Got you. Comprehensive.
I understand.
Anyway, I'd love to borrow it. [ Taps Desk ]
What?
The book.
Ah! The book.
I got it right here.
'Williamsburg... Hanson, MacGregor... Sedona Savings'
Nice.
- Enjoy. - I will.
And hey, thanks, you've-- 'Managing On The Edge'
You've been a big help.
Don't overreact.
If we go after it early, before it metastasizes to a bone...
the majority of these prostate cancer cases are beatable.
Go after it how?
Irradiation therapy.
That's fantastic, that's wonderful, because...
as it turns out, that's eXactly the portion of my anatomy...
I'd like to see eXposed to radiation.
You'll have to take time off work for each treatment.
We should start soon. How's neXt Monday?
To burn a hole in my ass?
Sounds good. Then I still have the weekend.
[ Sighs ]
Could you possibly be any more humorless about this?
I don't believe so.
There's growing apprehension at Kennedy...
among arriving tourists.
Sir, can you tell me, do the possible racial overtones...
of what happened in Williamsburg...
make you think twice about visiting New Y ork?
My brother cancelled his trip.
Big scoop from the TV guys.
Pinhead's brother cancels trip.
[ Blowing Nose ]
Come on. It's hardly Watergate.
Your source is the man's eX-wife, for God's sake.
You try selling it at a staff meeting.
Had the shit kicked out of me.
Deanne White, please.
Bernard White. Tell her that it's her father.
Thank you.
'Deanne White, Office of the District Attorney'
No, I understand. It's just that--
Do you know if she's free for lunch?
I know it's short notice, but-- or dinner or whatever.
Well, it was just a shot.
[ Coughs ]
It was just a shot.
You'll tell her that I called?
Thank you very much.
[ Muttering ] What a stupid fucking thing to do.
Actually, the first siX weeks is no problem.
The first siX weeks you're so eXhausted...
and consumed by incredibly tedious domestic tasks...
you have no time to get depressed.
[ Laughs ] Oh.
After that...
you have all the time in the world.
- I have tons of projects. - You do?
- Like what? - Like reading, for one.
With a kid? [ Laughing ]
I had projects.
Things I wanted to do but never had the time.
You know what my hobby turned out to be?
Living Bob's life. I hung on his every word.
I'll only be off the paper for siX months. I'm going back.
That's what I said too, seven years ago.
Oh, maybe I'm just being a bitch.
No, you're probably just having a bad day.
You didn't drive into town, did you?
I shouldn't be doing this to you.
It's all... manageable.
Physical pain, the loss of adult contact...
Iess money coming in, feeling worthless around people who work.
All the crap?
You can't even remember it the first time you look at your new baby.
But?
But he gets the baby too, and he didn't have to--
Fact is, once you have kids, a man's best work can still be ahead of him.
But a woman's is very definitely in the past.
I am so glad you called me today.
Me too.
[ Carl ] Your husband is right. Age has nothing to do with it.
If you push your skin together, it bunches up. That's why it's called skin.
Y eah, but it's the way it bunches.
Your skin is the central preoccupation of my life.
How much did this room cost?
I can't afford this.
I've got financial problems that make Russia look well-managed.
[ Sighs ]
This was the last time, Carl.
Really, absolutely the last time.
I'll pay.
Y eah, but what about neXt time?
God, I have to get back to work.
[ TV In Spanish ]
'Gunned Down Dead'
[ Continues In Spanish ]
[ Officer ] Police! Freeze! Get down!
What are you doing?
[ Shouting Continues, lndistinct ]
I'm going to blow your head off!
[ Screams ]
We didn't do it!
You have the right to remain silent. You have the right to an attorney.
We were just walking by. What are you doing?
[ Shouting, Screaming Continues ]
- You understand that? - We didn't do it!
[ Man ] The dog was chasing the man, and the woman got hit with a shovel?
For God's sake, Alicia, you're the managing editor...
of the siXth largest paper in the country.
All I want is to be fairly compensated.
You can't come in here every siX months--
I have other offers. Don't make me bring them up.
Do we have to do this today?
I have real pressures, Bernie.
I see. Pressures.
I know you loved running Features.
I know Keighley shoved you into this administrative job you didn't want.
[ Sighs ] I never knew how isolating it was going to be.
There are not eXactly a lot of laughs around my office these days.
You're in management now.
If everybody loved you, you'd be doing something wrong.
But the fact is, I think you're working miracles with the job.
EXactly. I have 300 people doing the work they need 750 for over at Newsday.
I know. Thank you.
But there's no more money for you.
There's a ceiling in this business, and you're hitting your head on it.
Okay. Fine.
My contract's up in 18 months. I'd like permission to start interviewing now.
You leave me no choice. That contract leaves me no choice.
Pardon me saying this, and I know I'm no one to talk...
but the problem isn't with your contract.
It really isn't. No way.
Let me tell you a story. Sit down.
It won't take long.
Very interesting. You'll like it.
In '68, a bunch of us who were covering the Olympics in Grenoble...
decided to go to the best restaurant in town.
Now, the menu didn't have any prices...
but we were on eXpense account, so we figured, 'Fuck it,' got drunk.
Somehow there ended up being 15 or 20 of us at the table...
and when the check came...
it was $9,000.
[ Chuckling ]
EXactly. So now we're all starting to point fingers.
We're trying to remember who invited who.
We're talking about going to Western Union to get money cabled.
And just when it was getting really embarrassing...
this funny-looking old guy at the neXt table called the maitre d' over.
He drew a couple of squiggly lines on a napkin...
signed his name, winked at us, and that was that.
The old guy was Pablo Picasso...
and that napkin paid our bill.
So? [ Chuckles ]
I'm not sure I caught the segue here.
The people we cover, we move in their world, but it is their world.
You can't live like them. You'll never keep up.
If you try to make this job about the money...
you'll be nothing but miserable, because we don't get the money.
Never have, never will.
[ Claps Hands ] What can I say?
Talk to Bruno about the decoration, renovation, whatever.
Ask him to be reasonable. Your husband's a reasonable guy.
Or give up the nights in town Bruno... doesn't know about.
What?
It won't lead anywhere good. I know what I'm talking about.
[ Chuckling ] I know what I'm talking about.
Okay.
[ Sighs ]
I'm going to see Keighley tonight at the benefit.
It's obvious that I'll have to take this up with him directly.
If you go over my head on this, you'll only make it worse for yourself.
McDougal, you still sleeping?
- I went out for lunch. - Get up. I need a favor.
- What time is it? - Five after 3:00.
Come on. I need you to do me a favor here.
You remember a-- Is that a gun?
I told you. Sandusky's after me.
- When did you get so paranoid? - When they started plotting against me.
I have to talk to you. McDougal, how are you?
Why?
3:07.
I have to know about that interview now.
Can it wait? I've got the three o'clock.
I cannot wait. This is our marriage here, okay?
You walked in three seconds ago.
When did whatever it is escalate to our marriage?
Over lunch. You should have been there. Very enlightening.
I've seen my future. I'm a bitter, nasty broad...
who can suck down a bottle of wine in a single gulp.
Give me a second. Remember Sedona Savings and Loan?
They went under siX months ago. We ran an article.
- I don't read this newspaper. - Take my word for it.
If you got the other job, maybe I have a prayer.
Wait a second. Do you still have that friend in the Justice Department?
Sure, but he hates me now.
At least you'll be around to refill my Prozac prescriptions.
Can you get a list of investors from him?
I'll need to be medicated. Heavily.
Major investors. Guys who lost the most money in New York.
Brooklyn, maybe.
They made a bust in Brooklyn. In Williamsburg.
Two black kids. One 17, one 19.
One of them did siX months for felonious assault.
But they look like babies. This is a very poignant story.
Marty, how are you? I thought you were on leave.
- The bust is no good. - What?
- The bust is no good. - Can we talk alone?
- How do you know? - I heard it on your scanner.
It was subtle, but I know what I heard.
Some beat cops were talking about it, and the dispatcher...
came on and told them to shut up.
They said they think this bust is totally cosmetic.
Whether it is or it is not, they're still walking them at 7.:30.
We need art. And, please, don't send Robin.
She's too green. If things get rough, she'll miss the shot.
It's the Puerto Rican poacher! Who told you to cover Williamsburg?
Calm down, Wilder. You told me you'd handle him.
- Let Marty talk to her husband. - 'Handle him'?
You become 40 years old at this paper and you have to be handled?
[ Carmen ] If you'd answer your beeper, you'd know what was going on!
- Oh, answer this! - You know what?
Williamsburg is turning into our lead. We could wood on this.
This is good. I want you both on this one.
You got the cops, I get the poignant shit.
- I bought it! - Why does she get the poignant shit?
- Bought the goddamn chair! - This is the last straw.
What eXactly were the previous straws?
Now it's your problem!
Let Marty talk to her husband.
I want you to call the cops. Find out if the bust is good.
I need to know for the three o'clock.
What's the matter with you people?
3:09!
Who took my stapler?
I've been here longer than she's been here.
For that matter, I've been here longer than you've been here.
You want to cover Brooklyn? Then cover Brooklyn.
But you can't cover it from a bar stool in Manhattan.
[ Arguing Continues, lndistinct ]
Call the cops.
I better see the $600 in my paycheck!
- Not now! - She's been pulling the same shit!
- [ Sneezes ] - [ Arguing Continues ]
I'm waiting!
- [ Gunshot ] - Jesus Christ!
Let Marty talk to her husband.
[ EXhales Deeply ]
Please.
Y eah, cops. Maybe I can type up some weather reports while I'm at it.
Just call the cops.
You two take your time. I'm on the Sedona thing.
God, I miss this place.
Vinnie, can you bring your creamy friend along with you and join us?
The heat's killing us. When are you going to be done?
In a couple of hours, you'll see your breath.
I've got 64 seconds. What's wrong?
Well, why don't you let me go to Justice for you?
I've got a better contact than McDougal.
You're on leave.
Okay. I'll go anyway.
So, how was the interview?
Did he offer you the job?
Not-- Yes. You got any change?
'Not-- Yes'? What does 'Not-- Yes' mean?
It means he offered me the job, but I said I had to think about it.
You have thought about it.
- I'd like to think some more. - Why?
Because I have until tomorrow morning, I'd like to think...
and that's the end of the conversation.
You wish!
Anybody hear a gunshot?
A gunshot? Y eah, that was down in Alicia's office.
- Watch this. - [ Sarcastic Chuckle ]
It's empty.
[ Bernie ] Anybody respect a deadline anymore?
[ Repairman ] Their whole system's screwed up.
Have you ruled The Sentinel out?
Don't be a reporter.
Don't worry. I'm not anymore.
- Let me give you a hypothetical. - Can it be a short one?
You're a professional tennis player. You love tennis.
But you wreck your knee and you can't play tennis again.
Your doubles partner, however, goes on and wins Wimbledon.
- How do you feel? - Wins Wimbledon?
Happy as hell.
Bullshit! You hate him.
- Do not. - I don't want to hate you.
- [ Woman ] They're doing it now. - Coming.
I have to go to this. Okay?
Yeah. I'll see you at dinner tonight.
8.:30, Gus's Place.
Your parents. Please, don't be late.
Honey, am I ever late?
It's not funny.
It's a little bit funny. See you.
- See you. - Give me a kiss. Good-bye.
- That's it? - See you.
'Deadline.. A date or time before which something must be done.'
Sorry.
It's a MarX Brothers movie every time I step in my office.
One of our security guards actually tried to frisk me.
- We're having drinks later. - [ Laughter ]
What was that gunshot?
[ Man ] McDougal.
- [ Bernie ] Is he dead? - I wish.
- [ Phil ] McDougal's insane. - [ Lou ] The man is certifiable.
[ Bernie ] Before we go through the schedule...
are we still in love with the schedule for page one?
No. Subway is ancient history.
They made a bust in the Williamsburg shooting.
Two black kids in Fort Green. One has a record.
- Everybody has a record. - We have any art yet?
We'll get them at the perp walk. What's the wood?
Something simple. 'Caught.'
Something like that.
'Caught'? That's so boring.
How about something like 'Gotcha'?
Okay, great. 'Gotcha' with a slammer.
Oh, yeah.
God forbid this paper ever runs anything without an eXclamation mark.
Hold on there.
Let's hold it. It's not that clear cut.
McDougal heard on the police scanner...
even the arresting cops think this bust is bullshit.
Let's think about this.
Doesn't this set anybody's alarm bells off?
Y eah.
It could be like when everyone thought the Westies--
The union guy. EXactly.
Did you get anything officially from the cops?
I am working on that.
The other thing is, these dead guys were not your ordinary businessmen.
They were on the board of Sedona Savings and Loan...
and they lost a lot of money-- millions of somebody's money.
The Feds are looking into that right now.
Where did you get this?
This?
I stole it off Bladden's desk at The Sentinel.
- [ Laughter ] - I don't believe it!
You stole it?
Jesus, Henry, I was kidding.
They called us 'cute,' and I was right there...
and they were out of tote bags.
[ Alicia ] Okay, wait a minute, Henry.
What are you saying here?
That these bankers got shot by some pissed-off Wall Street guy?
I don't know. McDougal's down at Justice trying to get an investors list.
You got a cop quote?
A what?
Quote. You know, they talk, you write, we print?
- Oh, cop quote. - I'm on hold.
Go talk to them. Get me something.
- Working on the quote. - Fine.
Good. It's a great lead.
We'll follow it up tomorrow, but without a confirmation, we'll run 'Gotcha!'
What if these aren't the guys? What if they're innocent?
Taint them today, make them look good on Saturday. Everybody's happy.
[ Man ] Makes sense to me.
Wait. This is a story that could permanently alter...
the public's perception of two teenagers who might be innocent...
and as a weekend bonus, ignite another race war.
- Think about this. - We have Nazi--
- Give me a cigarette. - Move it up front a little.
Come on, Bernie. We're not talking about some publicity hound...
who crawls into the cage and begs for this kind of thing.
It's two kids who may not enjoy the prison eXperience.
You don't care whether they get beaten up or not.
We got our ass kicked yesterday, so you want to beat everyone today.
Y eah, I do.
- You don't? - Give me a break.
Tell me you don't. You do! Fuck it!
Let's not beat anybody all week.
Bernie, what do you say? Let's not beat anybody 'til... October?
Let's never beat anybody the rest of our lives.
- I'm glad you're not overreacting. - What do you want to run?
I don't know. What do I want to run?
'They didn't do it.'
- 'They didn't do it'? - I don't think of these things.
You don't have close to that. You have unattributed cops.
She doesn't have 'Gotcha!'
You don't have 'Gotcha!' for page one until you have a shot of the kids.
So we're going on the perp walk.
- When do they walk? - 7.:30.
- So we stretch it a little. - You're paying for that?
Yes, we stretch the deadline to 8:00.
If we get art on the two kids at the walk of shame, it's 'Gotcha!'
If we miss them, the subway is page one.
The subway is bullshit!
You don't have it, you know it.
You want to run the story? You have five hours. Get the story.
Do your job!
Don't just take a position because it's the opposite of what she says!
It's like watching a bunch of siXth graders, for Christ's sake!
Photo. Where's MaX?
He went home sick.
You make damn sure Photo's at the perp walk, Henry.
I mean damn sure.
EXcuse me.
[ Coughs ]
EXcuse me.
What's up his ass?
Bagel.
[ Woman ] Anyway, okay, so-- [ Continues, lndistinct ]
[ Repairman ] You know anything about air-conditioning?
The problem is not down there. It's up there.
Where's Robin?
In there.
Oh, fuck!
Oh, shit! I mean, I'm sorry.
Mr. Hackett, what's wrong?
Nothing.
Listen, Robin, I've got a really, really...
important assignment...
for you.
- For me? - Yeah.
- [ Sighs ] - This is big, okay?
I don't want to put any pressure on you...
but I just want to tell you, if you miss this shot...
that means that Alicia can't run the page one that she wants to.
Do you understand?
Good.
[ Man ] Hey, Grace! Give me Mike in Omaha!
- [ Phone Ringing ] - 'Do Not Touch'
Y es!
Sorry. I've had better days.
Hey, Bernie, please. Forget about it.
It's coal into a furnace.
I've done this for 36 years.
Every day you still start from zero.
[ EXhales Deeply ]
You okay?
No. I'm in a foul mood. [ Chuckles ]
I have to get out of here early tonight, so...
page one is up to you and Alicia, but...
play nice.
I'll try.
Why does that Sedona thing have to be today?
Because 'Gotcha' is wrong.
I don't want to be wrong today.
Hang with it if you want, but have Lou do a subway page one just in case.
All right.
I mean, we might get it. It's not even 4:00 yet, so-- [ Chuckles ]
- Oh, man! - Good luck.
See what you can do with this.
[ Chattering, Phones Ringing ]
Eighty-siX Bahrain. They weren't from Long lsland.
I think it's fine.
Anybody got another word for--
Ed, you have Nazis. It's nine inches.
For Christ's sake! I don't have nine inches for Nazis!
Did Wilder call back?
Do you have any change?
You have no change?
Oh, Henry, no!
Check the dr--
Do you really want to run 'Smashed' for the wood on the subway?
Whatever fits. I don't care. You have any change?
You got another word for 'mangled'?
It implies he was drunk while driving the train.
He could have gotten drunk afterwards.
You're accurate and ethical. I want you out of this building.
'Torn,' 'mutilated'-- I don't care.
'Mutilated.' That ought to work.
Haven't you gotten anything on Sedona yet?
It's 6.:15. Beep Wilder!
- You got another word for-- - I got another word for all of them.
Get out of the chair.
No, don't change that. Oh, that's pretty good.
- That baby's over here. - For God's sake!
We're minutes away, okay?
I struck out with the cops. There's something definitely going on.
None of those sons of bitches are talking.
- Where did you go? - Police headquarters.
You have to go to the precinct on this stuff.
Of course nobody is talking at T.C.P.I.
- Jesus Christ! - How about 'Smashed?'
[ TV Reporter ] From Williamsburg, where the prompt arrest of two suspects...
in the brutal murder of the two white Arizona businessmen--
'Smashed?' What do you think?
It won't matter.
I took up a collection, and you can never ask anyone again.
Did McDougal call in?
No message at all from McDougal?
I have no motive for lying.
I'll make a proof of 'Smashed?' I'll show it to you.
I'm going to Composing. I'll check it out there.
Nice chair. My back feels great.
Yeah, great chair.
[ Foreign Editor ] I have two minutes to sub that Bahrain piece!
Hey!
- Come on, guys! - [ Laughter ]
It's not funny.
Police discovered the bodies of two men...
sitting in a parked vehicle.
What do you have, Chuck? Ah, it's old news. Carmen!
Wilder whiffed with the cops. Go to the 91 in Brooklyn.
Get to the bottom of this bust already!
You want this for tonight?
Give me a break. It's only--
[ Alarm Ringing ]
Seven o'clock.
'Smashed? Motorman Arrested In Bar' What do you think?
- I hate it. - Me too.
- What happened to 'Gotcha'? - Artwork's not back yet.
Perp walk's not for another ten minutes.
- That's our backup. - Hold page one until 8:00.
Not a minute more. It's $12,000 every half hour we wait.
Those are union drivers waiting out there, mister.
[ As John Wayne ] 'Those are union drivers waitin' out there, mister.'
Shoot it!
[ Elevator Bell Ringing ]
Deanne. Just give me a second. All right? It won't kill you.
- What are you doing here? - I came to see my daughter.
It's good to see you.
My God. I don't believe this.
You're married.
I have to sit down.
I've made it clear. I don't wish to see you.
Drop the rehearsed stuff.
You sound like you just walked out of your shrink's office.
Hold it. That was a rotten thing to say.
I'm sorry. Let me start over.
- Why are you here? - Why?
I saw your name in that piece we ran on the Murray Hill trial.
I was proud, Mrs. Whatever-your-name-is...
and I wanted to tell you that.
Thank you.
Let me just ask you this.
Would you have cared to come if my name hadn't been in your paper?
Do you hate me? If you hate me, there's no point.
I don't know you enough to hate you.
[ Man ] It turns out the guy they've been looking for for 18 months...
has been dead for five years.
He was 90 years old.
He couldn't have stolen a motorcycle...
and driven it from Kansas City to Ozone Park.
- That is so funny! - That's just an eXample.
I could tell you dozens of stories eXactly like that.
You could do a whole series on the Justice Department.
- People would like that. - I bet they would.
- So, where's Henry tonight? - Working.
Give my regards. You sure you don't want some juice?
- You have another, though. - I think I will.
So, Tom, did you bring the list?
Yeah, yeah.
You can't take it. Just a look.
I'm supposed to memorize every single investor in a major bank?
You'll know what you're looking for when you see it.
Tell me something.
Did you honestly find even one of my stories funny?
No, Tom, I didn't.
- Just wanted to know where I stood. - You knew when I called.
Yeah.
Oh, my God!
- Jumps right out at you, doesn't it? - [ Whistles ]
Everybody stay back. Just relaX. Stay back.
- [ Crowd Chanting ] - Justice! Justice! Justice!
Stay over there. Thank you very much.
Beyond the barricade.
EXcuse me.
New Y ork Sun.
Hey, go around! Can't you see the cable?
Sorry.
[ Man ] There they are!
Damn it!
[ Shouting, Chattering ]
Shit!
[ Alarm Beeping ]
- [ Woman, lndistinct ] - Shit!
- Would you make room? - What do you think your chances are?
[ Officer ] Get out of the way!
[ Officers Shouting ]
[ Camera Clicking ]
Hey! I'm down here!
[ Engine Starts ]
Good luck. Stand back. Everybody back.
[ Bus Drives Off, Chattering Continues ]
Carmen on four.
[ Telephone Rings ]
Tell me, tell me.
Nothing. I'm sorry. I can't even get into the building.
They're not talking to any reporters.
The guy from The Sentinel is standing over there and crying.
- [ Telephone Rings ] - You're killing me here. It's 8.:20.
Wife line!
Hang on, Carmen. I'm not late yet.
No, the Sedona thing. I got something.
You did go to the Justice Department. This ticks me off! What do you have?
I saw the investor list. I'm reading it.
It's just your average bunch of Wall Street schmoes.
Trusts and stuff, names I don't recognize.
I'm thinking, 'This goes nowhere.' Then, all of sudden, pow!
Pow? Hold on.
Hang in there, Carmen. Yeah, so, pow.
Sedona Savings' single largest investor, who alone lost over $5 million?
E & R lnterstate Trucking.
Nicholas D'Onofrio, proprietor.
Are you telling me these banker schmucks...
Iost $5 million of the Mob's money?
Dumb fellas, huh? Unwise guys.
Oh, hon, you are so good.
I love you!
This is great. Do you know how good you are at that?
I mean, you drive me crazy when you're like this.
What are you wearing?
[ Laughing ]
- Oh, baby. - [ Horns Honking ]
[ TV Newswoman ] As fear of racial tension mounts...
New Yorkers got their first look at the suspects...
in the brutal Williamsburg killings this afternoon...
following their booking at police headquarters.
Formal charges will be filed tomorrow at the arraignment--
We have to get that cop quote. They have to say it.
Oh, come on! I dump a big, fat juicy steak in your lap...
and you ask for sauce?
Hang on.
Carmen, you have to get a quote.
Henry, I can't even get past the desk sergeant.
All cops want to talk. They just don't know they want to talk. Tell them.
He took one look at my press pass--
You can't wear your press pass!
Paul Bladden from The Sentinel on siX.
Shit! Hang on.
Paul, hi. Can you hold on for a second?
Thanks. Marty.
This is so good, I'm running this tonight.
You're due at dinner in five minutes.
I can't help it. You're too good.
That's how good you are.
It's your fault. You actually got yourself into a jam.
Henry, listen. Tomorrow is fine.
No, today.
- Tomorrow. - Today.
Tomorrow. Tomorrow.
Today, now.
I'm on my way out at 8.:25 and l notice our presses aren't running...
which strikes me as odd since we are, after all, a newspaper.
Got to go. See you later.
Carmen, just write up whatever it is you have.
I'll get the quote myself. It's okay.
Hi. Hey, Paul. Looks like I owe you one.
90 more seconds? Can you? Thank you.
[ Sighs ]
First of all, you look fabulous.
Cut it out. What's going on?
I didn't get the artwork back from the perp walk.
Who did you send?
You sent Robin to cover the Williamsburg perp walk?
Robin happens to be a professional news photographer.
Robin happens to be 14 years old.
Now you're being silly.
That was a cheap-ass trick!
I'm onto something with the Sedona thing. I just need a quote.
You don't have it, and you screwed the story you do have.
It's a fuck-up. It's a goddamn $12,000 error...
if you get the art back in the neXt 20 minutes, which I doubt.
Bernie's not here, so this is my call.
Wait for Robin 'til 9:00.
If she makes it by then, run 'Gotcha.' If not, go with the subway.
What's the matter with you?
You are the most unethical, unprincipled--
I cannot believe you had the balls to do it!
Slow down. What are you talking about?
You know what I'm talking about.
The Sedona item. You stole it right off my desk.
Uh, uh, my ass!
Come on! You know you stole it!
Hold on a second.
If we were working on a Sedona thing, how would you know about it?
I hope The Sentinel doesn't have a mole over here.
Did you take the item?
Because if they did, they could get you into a lot of trouble.
It might even be illegal. I can check on that for you.
Cut the bullshit!
Why don't I do that? Janet, get Dick Palone in the D.A.'s office.
I want to ask him a question. Don't worry. I'll keep you out of this.
I just want to ask him a question. Okay?
I'll check for you.
Give it up, Henry.
Our guy saw McDougal banging on doors all over the Justice Department.
I'll ask you one last time. Did you or did you not take the item?
Well, Paul, you realize you were talking to a journalist.
- Dick who? - [ Telephone Ringing ]
I realize this doesn't eXactly get us off on the right foot.
Are you out of your mind? The offer is rescinded.
How stupid do you think we are? What do you think I get...
when I put two and two together, three?
Look, I'm trying to be reasonable here.
Why don't you just take my wallet as well?
Let me talk. I need to say something--
Well, I hope you're satisfied, asshole!
You just blew your chance to cover the world!
Really.
Well, guess fucking what?
I don't really fucking care. You want to know fucking why?
Because I don't fucking live in the fucking world!
I live in fucking New York City!
So go fuck yourself!
You handled that well.
Thank you.
[ Woman ] Martha?
Oh, my God! You look like you're going to eXplode.
[ Chuckling ] That's how I feel.
Where's Henry?
- Running a little late, I suppose. - [ Chuckles ]
Right here. For E & R Trucking, what would we say?
Not an alias. You know what I mean?
Good night.
- Reputed Mob front. - We can say that.
That's it. Way to go, Ray.
I have to go. It's a sidebar. Keep it tight.
Henry, I couldn't get anything out of Justice.
I told you my friend hates me. Send Marty.
- She knows that guy. - Don't worry about it.
- Does your friend at 9-1 hate you too? - Not for a good reason. Why?
We have to talk to him. Pick me up at Gus's in 10 minutes.
What's with all the grunt work? I'm a columnist.
You're not a columnist. You're a reporter who writes long.
Grab a clipboard.
I've got things to write, my own stories I'm working on.
Just get a clipboard.
You can't leave until you okay page one.
Working on it. Tell him to get a clipboard.
[ Newswoman On TV lndistinct, Elevator Bell Rings ]
The mayor was optimistic that peace would prevail in the streets.
The mayor remains in close contact with church leaders and activists...
in an attempt to calm fears of rioting and widespread violence.
Tonight he will lead a solidarity march...
beginning outside city hall...
and proceeding through Washington Square Park.
The mayor will be urging New Y orkers...
to remain calm and to work with one another...
to get through these days without incident.
- He looks familiar. - Never saw him before.
Says he's waiting for a fight. [ Chuckles ]
A fight? With who?
None of your goddamn business.
[ Chuckles ]
- Turn it off. - Yeah.
Hi. How are you doing?
Sorry I'm late. I hope you ordered.
No, we waited.
Hi, Mom. Dr. Hackett. How was the drive down?
One hour, 45 minutes.
So, how is work?
- Work is... - [ Baby Squeals ]
Iooking good.
[ Crying ]
[ Mother ] Oh, you liar!
Martha told us about The Sentinel job.
Congratulations, darling.
Howard, let's get some champagne.
The New Y ork Sentinel. That's what I call a newspaper.
Good evening.
Have you decided yet?
Oh, Henry, look fast.
- [ Baby Crying Continues ] - We'll fill in for you here. Sarah?
[ Sarah ] I'll start with a small Caesar salad.
I don't see it on the menu, but I always love to have--
[ Waiter ] Small Caesar? No problem.
[ Ticking, Humming ]
And then I'll have with that small Caesar salad...
a rack of lamb.
[ Humming lncreases ]
[ Ticking Continues ]
[ Synthesized Voice ] Are you okay?
[ Synthesized Voice ] And for you, sir?
[ Bell Chiming ]
[ Synthesized Voice ] Henry?
[ Noises Stop ]
What's that, Mom? Oh, yeah.
Okay, here we go.
What I was going to say was--
You're probably going to find this a little hard to believe.
You in particular, I think...
are going to get a big kick out of it.
I can't stay. I have to put the paper to bed.
But what do you say we all get together later...
and go have some dessert at that... place.
Are you kidding?
It was a two-hour trip.
Don't they even let you eat dinner now?
And you know the other thing I was going to tell you?
I lost The Sentinel job...
because I stole the lead off the editor's desk.
That's the other thing.
I couldn't resist. They are so smug over there.
They've got maps, seating charts, guys wearing bow ties.
You did it on purpose! You did eXactly what I asked you not to do!
I-- You're shouting, first of all.
I know I'm shouting! I like to shout!
Don't you notice? I keep talking louder because you haven't heard!
I try to have a sense of humor. All it gets me is a pat on the head.
- You don't listen! You don't see! - I am listening.
Of course I see. Hi. See what?
How scared I am.
I will be there.
I swear to God I will be there. We mean more to me...
than anything else.
- You know that. - Let me give you a hypothetical.
Really? [ Sighs ]
- A guy breaks into the apartment. - Oh, breaks into the apartment.
He holds a gun to my head.
He says, 'l blow your wife's brains out or I blow up the Sun building.'
Choose. Now.
What do you say?
What do you think I say?
It's ridiculous. It won't happen.
That is eXactly my point. It's never one big dramatic choice.
It's little, vague situations every day...
and you're either there or you're not.
If you keep waiting for the guy with the gun to show up, it will be too late.
- I will be there. I promise. - [ Horn Honking ]
Henry, 9:00! Let's go!
What?
You know, I mean after tonight, hon.
[ Stammering ] You would do the same thing.
I saw you waddle off 8 1/2 months pregnant to chase a story.
We're going to miss this guy!
Wait! Hold on a minute!
Come inside now. Sit down and have dinner like you said you would.
Hon, come on.
Don't take the bat out of my hand. It's the ninth inning.
I have to get the quote. The guy won't be there all night.
Why are you calm? Don't get calm.
- I hate this. - [ Horn Honks ]
Shout or something. You like to shout.
You should have just told me if we had a kid, I'd be on my own.
You really should have told me.
You won't.
Two hours.
Two hours. You hear me?
Probably not even two hours. Hour and a half, okay?
Come on. Wait a minute.
It's not even-- It will be two--
- Listen to me. - [ Horn Honking ]
- Henry, come on! - Oh, man.
Y eah, 99% of your time and effort...
goes into three basic things..
your house, your work, your family.
- Well? - Women in general...
if you don't have a family.
- Or men or sheep or whatever you like. - I made the leap, Bern.
If you put them all together...
the three of them want more than you have to give, so what do you do?
That's a tough one.
Now...
your family, they're people...
so you figure you can get a little human leeway there.
You figure they'll bend.
- But-- - So you crap all over them.
Yeah, you do.
- Freshen it up for you? - Yeah, you read my mind.
[ Chuckles, Mutters ]
Hey, you. Bong! [ Laughs ]
[ Laughs, Snorts ]
[ Panting ]
[ Sighs ]
Oh, God, please. Something. Anything.
Anything in focus. [ Holds Breath ]
Oh, shit!
I am fired.
Oh, that's it.
[ Gasps, Mutters ]
I got it!
[ Man ] I've been writing a book about my life--
an autobiography of my days with the Civil Rights movement and other cases.
I hope it's a big success.
Probably a movie.
[ Chattering Continues ]
- Ah, Greg, Cynthia. - How are you?
Send me that advance issue. Talk to you neXt week.
How are you? It's good to see you.
I feel funny about it. Yeah. See you later.
[ Laughing ] EXcuse me.
- Graham. - Yeah?
There's something I'd like to discuss. I didn't want to bother you upstairs.
I feel an obligation...
to act on this directly with you because I think we have a good--
I think we have a good relationship...
and I'd like to take it further.
And I think the way to do that is face to face.
You know, you and l, face to face.
I'm gay.
Well, I wasn't-- I mean, that's fine.
- Alicia. - Yeah?
I'm kidding.
[ Laughing ]
- That was really good. - Yeah, well, what's up?
Well, I won't waste your time. I have other offers.
Didn't we just renegotiate your contract?
Yeah, but my deal's up in just under a year.
Eighteen months, isn't it?
Well, technically, that would be more accurate, but you know, with--
Yeah. Well, I'll tell you what.
If you have other offers, you have my permission to pursue them.
Don't come to me again without talking to Bernie first.
I don't like it. It's cheap. Okay?
We done?
I don't think you--
I'd love it if you weren't here.
[ Water Running ]
[ Prisoners Shouting ]
I'm going to keep you as my bitch, boy. Word, my mother.
[ Shouting Continues ]
I want those sneakers, man.
- What the hell you looking at, boy? - How you doing, sweetheart?
You got a problem here?
- Man, I'm so scared. - Don't talk.
Y eah, what am l supposed to do?
Stay awake.
Here's your damn clipboard. The neXt time you want office supplies--
Keep the clipboard. The clipboard's for you.
A clipboard and a confident wave will get you into any building in the world.
[ Telephones Ringing, Dispatcher lndistinct ]
Hi. How are you?
Hey, Richie.
You scared the shit out of me.
We have to talk about this Williamsburg-Sedona thing.
Oh, geez, I don't believe this.
Let's go. Everybody's on edge around here.
At home!
I told you a million times.. You want to talk to me, talk to me at home.
We think we know what happened. Nick D'Onofrio wanted to settle a debt.
His guys made it look like a race war.
Now they got the neighborhoods all stirred up.
You know what would happen to me if somebody saw us talking?
What's going on?
The dead guys lost his five million bucks.
What's he gonna do, buy 'em Giants tickets?
Congratulations. You have a firm grasp of the obvious.
Thank you.
If you do suspect him, why are those kids in jail?
I ain't going on record. Who the fuck is this guy?
We just want to know what you think.
To characterize the arrest, what would you say?
- To who? - To anybody. To your wife.
Your wife says, 'How was your day?' What do you say?
Fuck you.
To your wife?
You're not getting me fired.
Okay. [ Sighs ]
If you're all right with 'Gotcha' as tomorrow's headline...
that's what it's going to be.
Me, I can't live with it, but if you can, okay. Thanks.
- 'Gotcha'? - Over a picture of the kids.
Don't run that bullshit!
What do you think I'm trying to do? Look, I got news for you.
I'm not locked up in the men's room with a cop because it's a good time.
Frankly, I've had better times.
I'm here because I think the story is wrong. Is it?
If you have something, give it to me, but don't act coy...
and say 'Fuck you,' because it's a waste of our time.
And you know what? I have no more fucking time.
I need it right now!
We run what you guys give us. You gave us 'Gotcha.'
I didn't give you that bullshit. Downtown gave you that shit.
All downtown cares...
is that you guys run nice, front-page stories about how we got the guys.
Everybody can still come to New Y ork with their money. NeXt month...
when the kids are released because of lack of evidence--
They were just walking by, for Christ's sake.
We don't even have a print on a murder weapon.
When that gets out, you guys...
will bury it on page 23 and nobody will notice.
- Can you give me that on the record? - Stop the shit, will you?
Bullshit.
These are nice kids you guys threw in jail.
These kids have bright futures. One of them is an honor student.
The other one's a ball player.
He's a tailback. He's going to Penn State this fall.
This makes me sick.
Penn State?
Y eah. Nittany Lions.
[ Siren Wailing ]
[ Richie Panting ]
You guys use my name on this, and I will fucking find you.
You understand?
I got it. Police department source only. Promise, right?
These kids?
They didn't do it.
[ Sighs ]
[ Tires Screeching ]
This is great! It writes like butter.
There is actual butter coming out of my pen.
The guy actually said the headline.
He used the word.
'They didn't do it.'
You got an honest-to-God eXclusive.
Alicia's going to have to kiss my ass on this one.
Come on, baby. Right here!
[ Laughing ]
[ Tires Screeching ]
I have to know if she hates me. If she hates me, there's no point.
[ Sniffs ] Hates you?
She's your daughter.
What could you do that she would hate you?
I kept fucking my reporters.
Broke her mother's heart.
- That would do it. - Yeah, it would. It did.
[ Tires Screeching ]
[ Elevator Bell Rings ]
I think we have room for 20 inches on this one.
Give me a killer lead. You got three minutes.
- I need four. - Three.
Whatever. Just make it fast. We're ripping page one for a new wood.
- I have to talk to you. - 'They Didn't Do lt' as big as you can.
I'm subbing one and three.
Main bar on three. 120-point, all caps.
Slap 'EXclusive' in there. Big, big.
You know if we get these kids-- What's the matter?
Did you feel that?
[ Rumbling ]
'Gotcha' Oh, my God.
They ran it.
They fucking ran it.
They ran the wrong fucking headline! God!
I'm stopping it.
What?
We stop and replate.
Go write up what you've got. Tell Lou to send down 'They Didn't Do lt.'
Are you going to say it?
You gotta say it.
Use the same art.
How often do you get the chance? You can't do it and not say it!
[ Stammers ]
Stop the presses!
- How do we stop the run? - Who are you?
I'm the Metro editor.
- How do we stop the run? - We don't.
I mean if we had to. A guy breaks in, puts a gun to your head.
- How do you stop the run? - Hit the kill button.
Thank you.
Hey, don't touch that!
- Where's the key? - Chuck's got it.
Give me Chuck!
Hi. How are you?
[ lndistinct Chattering, Laughing ]
This is working.
[ Laughing Continues ]
This is crazy.
'Cop Confirms.. They Didn't Do lt' All right.
Y es!
What the hell is going on?
You sure you got authorization for this?
I got authorization. How long will it take?
Twenty, thirty minutes. We have to rethread the whole machine.
I'd feel better if I talked to Ms. Clark first.
- I already talked to her. - You son of a bitch.
You're not going to stop this run.
- Did you run that headline? - You're goddamn right.
We were two hours past deadline. Nobody knew where you were.
It's 180 degrees wrong. We have to change it.
- How far are we into the run? - A quarter of the way, maybe more.
- There's 90,000 papers on the trucks. - No way! We run what we got.
It's wrong!
Given the information we had, it's right.
Yeah, but it's not right.
I got a cop. I got a quote. It's wrong.
Not today. Tomorrow it's wrong. We only have to be right for a day.
This shouldn't be semantics or money.
People will read this, and they'll believe us.
People take the Sun with a grain of salt. We'll run yours tomorrow.
No! Not tomorrow! Right fucking now today!
I bet you thought it would never catch up with you--
that I don't know the shit you guys say about me.
You think I don't get the bean counter jokes or understand your snide shit?
You don't even have a college degree.
You couldn't take the shit I put up with.
You assholes think I don't know that you wait until I leave...
before you sneak off to the Bear's Head?
Can't invite me for a lousy drink.
It's not about you or me.
You never thought it would catch up with you.
Well, fuck you. It catches up today.
We run what we've got.
Give me those fucking keys.
- Give me those keys. - No.
Get out of my way.
[ Grunts ]
Can you believe this?
Are you all right? [ Grunts ]
Hold it!
Give me the keys! [ Panting ]
[ Groaning ]
- [ Panting ] - Are you nuts?
[ Grunting, Groaning ]
Somebody should stop this.
[ Grunting ]
Give me the goddamn--
[ Groaning ]
[ Screaming ]
- I'm sorry! - [ Screaming Continues ]
[ Grunts ]
Come on!
[ Panting ] Give me the keys!
Get away from me.
Son of a bitch!
Arrogant bastard!
- [ Gasping ] - [ Y elling ]
- Get away from me! - [ Groaning ]
[ Alarm Blaring ]
[ Machines Winding Down ]
[ Panting ]
You are so fucking fired.
- [ Alarm Rings ] - I'm fired? You can't--
- Can you start without a web break? - Probably.
- Do it. - Yes, ma'am.
[ Alarm Ringing ]
[ Sighs ]
[ Alarm Rings ]
[ Panting ]
Congratulations.
You've officially become everything you used to hate.
What the hell is that supposed to mean?
[ Pants, Scoffs ]
[ Alarm Rings, Machines Start Up ]
[ Alarms Ringing ]
Hey! Come here!
That's my car, you son of a bitch! Come here!
Shit!
Come back here, you--
Oh, come on!
Did you see that?
You're a witness! God!
[ Groans ] Oh, shit!
Son of a bitch.
What's the matter with you?
- The car got towed. - Again?
[ Sniffs ]
You want a ride?
[ Sighs ] I'm not a leper. I'll buy you a drink.
[ Martha Typing ]
Thank you so much for the ugly spotted thing...
I got from two other people. 'for the beautiful...'
What was it? On sale?
[ Sniffs ]
[ Groaning ]
[ Glass Shatters, Martha Yells ]
[ Panting, Groaning ]
[ Dial Tone ]
[ Panting Continues ]
I know you're in training, but would you have another drink with me?
[ Chuckles ] By the way, Bernie White's the name.
Marion Sandusky.
Why does that ring a bell?
[ McDougal ] What do you want me to say?
'Good job. You struck a blow for journalistic integrity today'?
I can't do it. You abused your position to settle a personal score.
It is what it is. Live with it. Henry was right.
- Double bourbon up. - What do you mean?
Dewars on the rocks, please. Henry was glib, that's all.
'Everything I used to hate.' What does that even mean?
Henry wouldn't have a newspaper to work on if I hadn't saved it.
Henry doesn't have a newspaper to work on.
Oh, please!
I'm O.D.ing on righteous indignation.
I know I know that name from someplace.
- Common name. - No, it's not a common name.
[ Sighs, Sniffs ] I gotta go to the john.
We're not eXactly the Washington Post, okay?
No, we're not.
We run stupid headlines because we think they're funny.
We run maimings on the front page because we got good art.
I spend three weeks bitching about my car because it sells papers.
At least it's the truth.
As far as I remember...
we never, ever knowingly got a story wrong, until tonight.
That's what Henry meant.
[ JukeboX lndistinct ]
- Any smokes? - What kind you want?
BoX is fine.
[ Car Horn Honks ]
[ Police Radios lndistinct ]
- Hey, Victor. - Mr. Hackett.
- What's going on? - Your wife.
They just went upstairs, but--
- Marty. Oh, God! - Go, go, go!
- Move. We're taking her down. - I'm her husband. What happened?
Your wife's hemorrhaging badly. We need to ask you some questions.
- Hold the elevator. - I got it.
- How long before she's due? - Two weeks.
Does she have any eXisting health problems or allergies?
She's allergic to penicillin. What's wrong with her?
- [ Gasping ] - Could be abruptio placentae.
- They'll diagnose at the hospital. - Blood pressure's high. 150 over 100.
Anything unusual about the pregnancy?
No.
Fetal heart rate is slipping down to 60 beats a minute.
- What's that mean? - Got to get her out of here.
It's going to be okay, honey. Come on!
- [ JukeboX ] - Who's this?
It's Alicia Clark. Get me the press room.
[ McDougal ] Richard!
Hey, big Mac. How you doing? Heard you got a novel going.
- Who said that? - Hamill.
I didn't tell Hamill.
Cheryl, let me get another bourbon.
What's it about?
It's a story I did a couple of years ago.
You're the parking commissioner.
You should do the Siamese triplets.
I don't want to.
- You're blowing it. - Hey, wait, wait!
Get the fuck out of my way!
[ Y ells, Grunts ]
I'll kill you, you son of a bitch!
[ Glass Shatters ]
What? You got stuck?
No! Chuck! I've got to talk to him now!
[ Grunting Continues ]
[ Groans ]
Fucking son of a bitch!
I'll kill you!
[ Y elling, Muttering ]
Son of a bitch. You little prick!
You won't get me!
[ Grunting Continues ]
- [ Crowd Gasps ] - Get back!
- [ Gasps, Shouts ] - Give me back that gun.
Shut up!
I don't need you to tell me the fucking department is fucked up!
I know it's fucked up! It was fucked up when I got there.
Why did you pick on me?
- You should have returned my calls. - You called me a mindless bureaucrat!
You should have paid for the damages.
You made my kids scared to go to school.
You made my wife cry when she reads the paper.
- At least she bought it. - [ Crowd Laughing ]
Now come on.
You tell me right now or I'm going to pull this fucking trigger.
Why me?
You work for the city. It was your turn.
[ Sobbing ] You guys don't understand.
Pal, you don't want to hurt him, and you don't want to go to jail.
- I'm not nuts. - We understand.
Give me the gun.
I'll scare him so fucking much! Be scared for a change!
Come on.
- Yeah? - Thank God I caught you.
Be scared!
I want you--
[ Yelling, Struggling ]
[ Body Falls, Gasps ]
What?
- Oh, my God. - [ Panting ]
- A bullet came out of the wall. - Call an ambulance.
- Why did it come out of the wall? - To get to the other side?
Sorry. [ Sobbing ]
Would you tell her I said I was sorry?
Shut up.
I have to talk to Chuck.
A woman's been shot. Send an ambulance.
Could I have one too? [ Panting ]
[ Paramedic ] Let's go.
We're at the hospital. They're eXpecting us.
- [ Gasping, Groaning ] - She'll be okay?
Type her for siX units.
I'm the anesthesiologist. I have to ask you some questions.
- Is there anything I can do? - We're going to the operating room.
- I'm going in. - Wait here!
- [ Muffled Shout ] - If you want to help, wait here.
- [ Telephone Ringing ] - I'll be back as soon as I can.
- [ Martha Groaning ] - No penicillin.
Oh, my God.
I have to call my office.
[ P.A. Indistinct ]
Let's prep her for O.R.
I need to make a telephone call.
You have to change planes in San Juan.
It's only 4 1/2 hours from New York.
No kidding.
I have to talk to Chuck.
Hello? I have to talk to Chuck!
Honey!
Lady, you're shot. They'll have to wait.
Isn't it hot down there?
So you're hot. So jump in the ocean. That's what it's for.
You're going to have a Caesarean. Do you have any medical problems?
- Do you take any medicine? - O.R. four.
Have you ever had surgery?
Any family members have problems with anesthesia?
[ Panting Continues ]
When did you eat last?
- Get the scrub ready. - Move over.
- Come on. Move over. - When did you last eat?
Today.
How long ago?
- Help us out here. - Bend your knees.
We cannot operate until you sign the consent form.
I will sign the consent form...
when you get me his goddamn phone!
- [ Machines Rumbling ] - Replate!
[ Martha Whimpering ] We're going to get the baby out.
[ lndistinct Talking ]
Get the arm board on. Put a wedge under her.
I got the l.V.
We're taking the baby out right now. We're doing a Caesarean section.
We're going to have you go off to sleep now.
Save the baby.
I'm going to give you some oXygen to breathe.
'They Didn't Do It - Feds Look into Mob Role in B'klyn Killings'
- Take a deep breath. - I'm ready. Let's go.
You'll be asleep soon. We'll get the baby out.
Get the Betadine on the belly.
This will be cold.
Blood pressure is dropping.
Everything's okay. You're doing fine.
[ Machines Starting Up ]
Get the drape on.
[ Alarms Ringing ]
- [ Martha Groaning ] - Try to relaX.
Everything will be okay. Nice deep breaths. Stop crying.
She's not asleep yet. Wait 'til I say 'cut.'
Get the retractor.
Hurry up.
She's not even intubated yet.
You're going to sleep now. Everything's fine.
Will the baby be all right?
[ Machine Beeping ]
'Heart rate - Respiratory rate' Two-second cardio.
It's okay. I need about 20 more seconds.
There isn't time.
I haven't intubated her yet.
I'm working as fast as I can.
Five more seconds.
Cut!
What are you doing here?
- It's a long story. - [ Siren Wailing ]
[ Sighs ] She going to be okay?
Maybe. I don't know.
I should have been with her.
[ Ship Whistle Blasts ]
[ Horns Honking ]
'Baby Building' There he is.
- [ Babies Crying ] - Under the lights. That's a warmer.
[ Crying Continues ]
- He looks great. - He is great. He's fine.
Congratulations.
Thanks.
[ Chuckles ]
[ Door Opens ]
Hi.
Guess you kind of kicked everybody's butt today.
[ Sighs ]
You did great.
Way to go.
I'm sorry.
- Didn't you notice? - What?
All the crap.
Today I can't even remember it.
I love you.
'First a Tragic Crime, Then a Travesty of Justice'
Can I read that when you're done?
Buy your own.
[ Radio Announcer ] All news, all the time.
This is W-l-N-S.
You give us 22 minutes. We'll give you the world.
[ Female Announcer ] It's 71 degrees in downtown Manhattan...
headed up to a tolerable 81.
At the top of the news, an eXclusive story in the New Y ork Sun reports...
the out-of-town businessmen slain two nights ago in Williamsburg...
were in fact connected to a New Y ork crime family...
which may now be implicated in their slaying.
Police have turned the murder over to the Anti-Organized Crime unit...
and the black youths arrested yesterday have been released without charges.
Keep your radio tuned to 1010 WINS for updates.
1010 WINS, all news. News whenever you need it.
Because your whole world can change in 24 hours.
W-I-N-S news time.. 7:00.