All language subtitles for The Long Island Incident

[BELL DINGING]

[DOOR BUZZER BUZZING]

Hey, hey.

Hey, that's not cool.

[EXHALING]

I like this one.

I'm in a hurry.

Yeah, well, show me your license
and you can be on your way.

License?

Oh, boy.

Hey.

Hey, hey! What are you doing?
I want to buy one.

Yeah? Well, then,
find yourself a different state,

'cause in New York,
no license, no gun. Got it?

[SALESMAN GRUNTING]

Alec!

Let's go.

Don't you rough me, man.

I will not be persecuted.

I know my rights.

I am allowed
to protect myself

-just like anybody else!
-Get this crazy out of here.

-Let's go. Break it up.
-I'm smart!

I know what
you're trying to do.

-I know what this is all about.
-Yeah, yeah, yeah.

You! You-you'll hear
from my lawyer.

I will not be persecuted.

Slime!

[BELL DINGING]

-Remember to water the plants
this time, Kevin.
-All right.

-Okay? I mean it.
-All right.

-I--I... especially the ferns.
-All right.

And make sure you
bring in the mail

and, uh, take the garbage out
on Monday.

You need to be
writing this down?

-No, it's--
-Come on, people.
Let's go. Look at the time.

And mail the bills
from the city this time
so they're not late.

-Dad, is my knot okay?
-It's perfect!

Are you gonna stand around
pestering him all day?

-We're on vacation.
-He's not.

KEVIN:
Oh, thanks for reminding me.

[DENNIS LAUGHING]

Yeah, you can't wait
for us to go.

Party!

Do you have to
encourage him? Kev?

Kev, if the guys come over,
no hard stuff, all right?

-All right, all right.
-CAROLYN: Okay? Just beer.

-Ma, all right.
-All right?

And that I am serious about.

Oh, you mean,
the rest you're not?

[DENNIS LAUGHING]

DENNIS: Come on. We'll give you
a lift to the station.

-KEVIN: Thank you.
-That is, unless you'd rather
pester him all week

instead of going skiing.

-[LAUGHING]
-Oh, you!

[AIRPLANE APPROACHING]

MAN: How long will you
be staying in L.A., sir?

I prefer to think that
that's my business.

MAN: It's for the record.

-Fifteen-day waiting period.
-Excuse me?

Is this a hearing problem,
or is English not
your first language?

You have a problem here,
lots of motels down the road.

Fifteen days.

And I'll need
to know the address
of my new residence.

[TRUCK HORN BLARING]

Glad to have you.

Jerkhead.

DENNIS: No fair peeking.
Keep 'em closed.

CAROLYN: I'm not peeking.

DENNIS: Ready? Open.

[CAROLYN EXCLAIMS]

Happy anniversary.

You didn't buy it?

What already?

It's that piece of land
we saw at the top of the hill
near the ski lift.

CAROLYN: Tell me you didn't
actually put money down on that.

Well, not for this address.

Oh, my God!

-WOMAN: Excuse me.
-MAN: Excuse us!

-WOMAN: Coming through.
-Taj Mahal.

A booby trap. That's what
he almost gave me
for our anniversary.

But next year
we'll buy it.

We'll ski all winter,
and when we're old farts,
we'll retire there.

You're already
an old fart, Den.
I hate to break it to you.

[ALL LAUGHING]

Look, we can build a cabin
right here, facing west.

Just like this.
Overlooking all of Vermont.

And that view is the last thing
we'll see every night
until we're ancient.

-He's a dreamer.
-Yeah.

-I dreamt of marrying you,
didn't I?
-Aww.

-We can do this.
-This is so romantic.

-Yeah--
-Now don't go spoiling it
by making a joke.

-We need a toast.
-Yes, yes!

-Okay. To my best friend.
-Oh.

-My harshest critic.
My better half.
-That's true.

My pillow when we're camping.

The mother of my boy.

My sun, my moon, my wife.

-Happy anniversary, Carolyn.
-Thank you.

-Aww.
-Yeah.

I'm gonna cry.
How come you never say nice
things like that about me?

-You're the mother
of Dennis' kid?
-[LAUGHING]

Speech, Carolyn.

Well, okay.
Listen, uh, Den,

since we're going
to be together
for our long lives,

um, I just wanted to tell you
on our anniversary that, uh,

you gotta do something
about that snoring

-'cause I'm going deaf
in one ear.
-[ALL LAUGHING]

She got you.
She got you.

-DENNIS: Good.
-I love you.

-Good one.
-I love you.

I love you.

MAN:
Yeah, yeah. The one you got
in your hand there.

That's one of
L.A.'s bestsellers.

Or, uh, we got
the Glock 19 here,

which is no doubt
best of the line.

I mean, you know,
if you want to do
some serious damage.

No.

No, this is the one
I came here for.

[IMITATING GUNFIRE]

Excellent.

She's a sweetheart.

So I guess you're gonna
want some ammo for that,
right?

'Cause, I mean, you know,
once you pick her up

you don't wanna just
be waving her around.

What?
Do I look stupid to you?

Hey, trust me, huh?
[CHUCKLING]

I mean, a guy holding a Ruger
nine-millimeter semi-automatic
never looked stupid.

Ha.

[LAUGHING]

Yes.

[CHUCKLING]
Hey, come here.

Come on.

You ever hear of something
called the "Black Talons"?

Huh?

This ammo here,
this'll mess up your day.

[DENNIS GRUNTING]
It's good to be back.

Two weeks of skiing is enough
for these old bones.

[CAROLYN WHISPERING]: Den.

Come here a minute.

CAROLYN: He laid his clothes out
the same way you do.

Two months ago,
you two were at each other's
throats and now look.

Just the idea of you two
working together

and riding the train home
at night...

[CRYING] ...it just
makes me wanna cry.

[CHUCKLING]

You're Irish.
You cry at anything.

[BOTH CHUCKLING]

-[AIRPLANES FLYING OVERHEAD]
-Yes, I am still in California.

And he still hasn't
called me back yet.

Yeah, well, he'd better
take my call. Because I--

Well, that sounds
like a threat.

So be it.

But he is my lawyer, and he
hasn't called me back in two--

I am not raising
my voice to you. I am--

Look, I am tired
of this runaround.

I do not have to
take this anymore!

Now you tell him,

you tell him that
Colin Ferguson himself
is on the phone

and that I demand
their attention.

No.

I am being persecuted

by that university's
racist policies.

Exactly.

A bad grade. That is exactly
what I am talking about.

And that Asian swine professor
is not gonna get away with it.

Now, I am going to--

Are you lecturing me?

No, I do not want
to discuss it with--

You tell my lawyer
to get on the phone right now!

'Cause I am tired of being...

Do not put me on hold.

Do not put me on hold!

[LINE DISCONNECTS]

CAROLYN:
I'm a terrible singer.

Doesn't matter how many years
I do the caroling,
I never get better.

-Ma, is this still good?
-Check the date.

I gotta go. All right.
I'll see you tonight.

Don't forget
to bring the lyrics
to the Bethlehem song.

You know, the one that's:

♪♪ Oh, little town
of Bethlehem ♪♪

You--you thought
I was kidding?

My voice should be illegal.

All right.
I'll see you tonight.

-Bye-bye.
-Dad, smell this.

Not me.
When in doubt, toss it out.

Oh, that's economical.

Want to check out
some great quads?

You'd better go, you know,
you're gonna be late.

-Come on, feel this.
-Get out of here.

-Go. You're crazy.
-You'll be sorry.

I should be back
from rehearsal
at around 7:00.

-So we could
do the tree then, okay?
-You're on.

-I'll pick up some eggnog and--
-Did you lock the front door?

You two, if that tree's not
inside by the time I get back

-and I have to do it
like I did it last time...
-[KEVIN LAUGHING]

You.

-Love you.
-Love you, too.

COLIN: I know it when I see it.

And that's what
your university's
policies are, racist.

And you're going
to pay for it.

No, don't tell me
to calm down.

[SIREN WAILING]

Would you give a white student
that kind of grief?

No. No, no.
I am talking here.

I am talking!

Do I look stupid to you?

WOMAN: Ah.
Isn't that like me?

I remember the Bethlehem song
and forget my watch.

-What time is it, anyway?
-CAROLYN: I don't know.

[PEOPLE CHATTERING]

MAN:
One dollar. Thank you.

-[CASH REGISTER RINGS]
-MAN [ON P.A.]: Now boarding...

[PEOPLE CHATTERING]

[MAN ON P.A. CONTINUES,
INDISTINCT]

Bang.

Dad, come on.

I've been here 10 minutes.
We're gonna miss the train.

Relax. Miss the 5:33?

You kidding? I've been
taking that train
my whole life.

Hey. Forget about it. I could
catch the 5:33 in my sleep.

[CAR HORN BLARING]

Hey, let's grab a beer.

[BELL RINGING]

SANTA: Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas.

-MAN: Taxi!
-That's funny.

Dad, stop fooling around.
We're gonna miss the train.

SANTA: Merry Christmas.
Thank you.

KEVIN: What took you
so long up there?

Hey, what do you want?
It's the holidays.
We're busy.

-MAN: Roasted chestnuts.
-Hey, wait, chestnuts.

MAN:
One bag, sir?

-DENNIS: Yeah, just one.
-Dad.

You mother loves these.

Great, let's go.

What's the rush?

We're gonna--we're gonna
miss the train.
I'm hungry for God's sake.

Yeah? So, eat.

Dad, if we miss the train...

-Come on.
-We'll get the next one.

That's nice.
Hey, look around.
Drink it in.

♪♪ Joy to the world ♪♪

♪♪ The lord is come ♪♪

♪♪ Let earth receive
her king ♪♪

♪♪ Let every heart ♪♪

♪♪ Prepare him room ♪♪

♪♪ And heaven
and nature sing ♪♪

[LAUGHING]

[PLAYING PIANO]

MAN: Okay. Okay, good.

-WOMAN: You did a wonderful job.
-Two, three, four.

♪♪ Joy to the world ♪♪

♪♪ The lord is come ♪♪

♪♪ Let earth receive
her king ♪♪

♪♪ Let every heart ♪♪

♪♪ Prepare him room ♪♪

♪♪ And heaven
and nature sing ♪♪

♪♪ And heaven
and nature sing ♪♪

♪♪ And heaven, and heaven... ♪♪

MAN [ON P.A.]:
5:33 departing from track two.

Making station stops.

Wait, hang on a second.

Dad!

Come on.
What, are you kidding?

What? My shoe.

[MAN ON P.A. CONTINUES,
INDISTINCT]

Final boarding.

Dad.

-MAN: Board! All aboard!
-Did you hear that? Come on.

All right.
I'm coming already.

[TRAIN HISSING]

♪♪ Joy to the world ♪♪

♪♪ The savior reigns ♪♪

♪♪ Let men their songs
employ ♪♪

♪♪ While fields and floods ♪♪

♪♪ Rocks, hills and plains ♪♪

♪♪ Repeat the sounding joy ♪♪

♪♪ Repeat the sounding joy ♪♪

♪♪ Repeat, repeat
the sounding joy ♪♪

♪♪ He rules the world
with truth and grace ♪♪

♪♪ And makes the nations
prove ♪♪

♪♪ The glories of ♪♪

♪♪ His righteousness ♪♪

♪♪ And wonders of his love ♪♪

[LOUD POPPING SOUND]

-[CHILDREN LAUGHING]
-WOMAN: Oh, God.

Anyway, well done,
carolers.

Music, please.

REPORTER [ON TV]:
...on this commuter train
just a few minutes ago.

Police and emergency crews
are rushing to the scene,

local hospitals
are on full alert.

No word yet on the number
of casualties,

but reports indicate...

Okay. Good night.

Learn those harmonies.

Oh, yeah. Okay, right.

[CAROLYN SIGHING]

[WOMEN CHATTERING]

MAN [ON RADIO]:
And traffic is backed up on
the interstate for three miles.

Ambulances and emergency crews

are making their way
to the scene.

We have reports that vehicles
are being rerouted

on surrounding
residential streets.

[CHANGES RADIO STATION
TO CHRISTMAS MUSIC]

WOMAN #1:
As the train left
the city limits,

eyewitnesses report
that a man in car number three
stood up and opened fire.

MAN: All of a sudden, I--I heard
this pop, pop, pop and, uh,

and when I turned around,
I saw him shooting people,
just point black.

WOMAN #2: He just emptied his
gun out, just randomly shooting
people all over the place.

He--he didn't even care.

WOMAN #3: Listed as dead so far
are Mikyung Kim, Jim Gorycki
and Dennis McCarthy,

whose son was also
critically wounded.

Police sources at this time
have indicated
the shooting took place

on the Long Island railroad's
5:33 commuter train.

[CHRISTMAS MUSIC
CONTINUES ON RADIO]

[CAROLYN EXCLAIMING]

They didn't bring in the tree.

God.

I can't believe it.

They were supposed
to bring in the tree.

Um, just a minute.

[INAUDIBLE]

Oh, my God!
Oh, my God, no!

[WAILING] Oh, my God!
Oh, my God!

I gotta get...
What hospital?!

Oh, my God, Tommy!

[INDISTINCT SHOUTING]

Oh, my God!

MAN: All right. We need
an intubator right now.

Where are the relatives
of Kevin McCarthy?

Over here.

My sister Carolyn's
his mother.

I'm sorry,
but it's not good.

Your son was shot
in the frontal lobe
of his brain.

There was almost
no neurological functioning
when he arrived,

but we're trying everything.

We've debrided the wound
and we're trying
to minimize the edema,

but the bullet exploded and
I've had to cut out a lot of
brain tissue which is causing...

Are you understanding this?

I was a nurse for a long time.

What you're saying is that
my son is going to die, too.

Oh, Carolyn.

I'm so sorry about Dennis.

Carolyn.

Mrs. McCarthy.

For what it's worth,
the city is grieving with you.

In a few minutes,
I'm gonna go in
to a press conference

and let them know
how Kevin is doing.

If you're up to it,
you can sit in with me
and say a few words.

No, no.
That, that's impossible.

Carolyn's in no condition
to talk to the press.

-I'll go.
-Carolyn...

For Kevin.

When Kevin arrived last night,

he was basically
neurologically dead.

We've done
everything we could,

but, unfortunately,
despite our efforts,

Kevin McCarthy only has
a ten percent chance
of surviving this.

Even if he does,
the prognosis
isn't encouraging.

The brain damage
he has suffered
will result in paralysis

-and a significant--
-CAROLYN: I'm sorry,
but you're wrong.

[REPORTERS CHATTERING]

I'm Kevin's mother
and he's not going to die.
He's going to live.

[PEOPLE CHATTERING]

[CAMERAS CLICKING]

REPORTER [ON TV]: News Four
has learned that
another victim has died today,

bringing the death toll to five
after Jamaican immigrant,
Colin Ferguson,

opened fire
on the commuter train.

His motive remains unknown.

-Tonight, another young man,
Kevin McCarthy, clings to life.
-She been there all day?

His father Dennis McCarthy was
killed in what is being called

the worst mass murder
in the railroad's history.

Any improvement
in his left hemiparesis?

Nothing.

I was afraid of that.

The kid got a bad break with
these overlapping injuries.

Keep an eye
on the dressing here.

What do you mean,
"a bad break"?

He probably held up his hand
to protect himself
from the shooting.

So the bullet
shattered his right hand.

Then the bullet passed
through the right cortex
of his brain,

which paralyzed
his left side.

We aren't seeing
the improvement
that we had hoped for.

And so it's doubtful that he'll
ever have the use of his hands
again, or his left leg.

I'll be back to check on him
in a few hours.

Will you be here?

Mmm-hmm.

Don't listen to anything
they say, Kev.

You're gonna get better, okay?
You just listen to me.

Where is he?

Kevin?

Where's Dad?

You don't need to
think about that right now,
you've got to rest.

Is--is he dead?

We'll think about it later.

Both of us. Okay?

Dr. Lipsky?
Doctor?

[GROANING]
Dad.

[SOBBING]
Dad.

Visiting hours are over.

Sorry,
we'll see you tomorrow.

[MONITOR BEEPING]

[CHOIR SINGING]

[CAMERAS FLASHING]

-[REPORTERS CHATTERING]
-Mrs. McCarthy.

-Mrs. McCarthy...
-[CAMERAS CLICKING]

God bless you.

Thank you.

DAN: Oh, no. The best...

The best was the time that
he decided to compete
in that downhill race, you know?

-I remember.
-He didn't wanna be seen as--

He didn't wanna go into
the seniors division,

because he--he thought
it made him seem old.

DAN: But he didn't want to lose
to the younger guys, either,

so it was his competitive spirit
against his vanity.

-[DOORBELL RINGS]
-Oh, the conflict.

-[ALL LAUGHING]
-He wasn't just conflicted,
he was in agony.

-[ALL LAUGHING]
-Carolyn, Carolyn.

-[WHISPERING]
Someone here to see you.
-DAN: The golf bet. Huh?

-Excuse me.
-DAN: What about that story?

-Carolyn,
you remember the golf bet?
-[ALL CHATTERING]

DAN: You remember that.

Oh, I hope you don't mind,
Mrs. McCarthy.

I wanted to offer
my condolences.

I'm Tim Bobek, I was with...
on that train.

Oh, oh,
I remember your name, yes.

Uh, uh, can I get you...

-Uh, no, I'm just passing.
-Are you all right?

Well, I was lucky.

That's a word that sits
on a sliding scale, huh?

I-I'm really sorry about...

Well, l-let me, uh, just
get you a cup of coffee.

-I was just passing.
-Oh, just come on in.
Come on.

All right, thanks.

[ALL CONTINUE CHATTERING]

-Unless you want a drink.
-Oh, no. No, thanks.

[CHUCKLING]
Okay, just coffee.

Uh, I'm gonna be talking
to some press people...

-Carolyn, I'll call you.
-...about what happened
on that train.

-Tim, have a seat.
-TIM: Right, thanks.

I want people
to understand that

gun violence
is more than just words.

They need to know
what it feels like,
and, uh...

Thanks.

And I thought maybe
you'd like to say something.

Oh, I don't--I don't even
know what I would say.

I don't know anything
about gun laws.

TIM: Well, you know
they weren't enough
to protect your husband.

Deranged animal was
walking around with
a semi-automatic weapon

that fires 15 bullets,
and he bought the thing legally.

The cops aren't even allowed
to carry those guns.

I mean,
we need to say something.

Politicians have got
to hear--

Well, I don't know what I...
I'm not really a public person.

I'm not really a talker.

I couldn't read a speech
because I have dyslexia, so...

You wouldn't need to read
anything. I mean, you--you
just say how you feel,

and others will understand
that we're--we're more
than statistics.

Even if I wanted to,
I have my son to take care of.

Uh, I appreciate
your asking...

I understand.

Well, maybe... maybe you'll
consider it for later.

Well, I don't think...
Uh, it's just not who I am.

I'm sorry.

Here, take a look.

And it's the recovery
in this area
that is the most--

-Well, it's miraculous.
-Uh-huh?

He shouldn't even
be alive,

but to think that he's come
this far in a month...

I'm going to recommend
that he be sent to
the rehab center.

Oh, great.
Oh, that's great news.

I need to warn you
not to get your hopes up.

Or Kevin's.
He's stabilized,

but he may never walk
or use his hands.

"May never"?
"May never" means
that he could, right?

-[CAROLYN LAUGHS]
-I'm not gonna promise
that he will,

but let's
never say never.

We'll wait and see
how he responds to
physical therapy.

You probably don't want
to look at that.

It's the remains of
a hollow-point bullet.

This is what
killed my husband?

Same kind.

See?

The hollow tip explodes
on impact, like shrapnel.

The bullet
that killed your husband

-also explodes with little claws
that are sharp as razors.
-Oh, my God.

It's how they get their name,
Black Talons.

What kind of animal
is this meant to hunt?

They're not made for animals.

They're made for
killing people.

Colin Ferguson
bought these legally.

How can that be?
That's crazy.

We live in a crazy time.

[INDISTINCT CHATTERING]

REPORTER #1: Mrs. McCarthy,
how are you doing?

Will Kevin be able
to walk again?

REPORTER #2:
Kevin, how are you feeling?

REPORTER #3: What are your
thoughts on the shooter?
Are you going to sue?

-REPORTER #2: What about the
National Rifle Association?
-I'm really not political.

I just want my son to get
better, just like any mom.
Excuse us, please.

Mrs. McCarthy,
Mrs. McCarthy,

are you hoping
that Colin Ferguson
gets the death penalty?

I have been a working nurse
for most of my life.

I believe in saving lives,
not taking them.

No, I do not believe
in the death penalty.
No, not for anyone.

Not even for the man
who did this to my family.
Thanks.

TIM: Hmm.

Look at this. People care
what you say. I told you.

-Oh...
-Come to Washington
with me next week.

Clinton's anti-crime bill
will ban 19 kinds of
semi-automatic assault weapons.

And if we show our support--

People are listening to me
because they feel sorry
for me, Tim.

In a week it will be
some other wife or mom.

That's why you gotta
support the bill now,
while you got their attention.

Maybe it'll prevent
some other wife
from being in your shoes.

Not now, Tim.

I have got a kid in here
who cannot walk, not one step.

There is just no more of me
to go around. I'm sorry.

Hmm.

Ugh. What was that?

Oh, peas, spinach,
something pureed.

That's a new winner.

Worst yet.

[CHUCKLES]

I gotta tell you something,
Kev.

Tomorrow, you're gonna meet
someone you're not gonna like.

-The cook.
-[LAUGHING] No. No.

I'm serious. Me.

Today, I'm your mom.
Tomorrow, I'm gonna
be your nurse.

Therapy is hard,
and I'm gonna be tough.

Don't bother, Ma.
I want to stay handicapped.

Why would you say that?

Better parking.

[SIGHING]

You...

That's what you
used to say to Dad.

W-we were just...

I think he was getting
proud of me.

[WHISPERING]
Kevin.

[SOBBING]
I never...

I never got a chance
to thank him.

I miss him, Mom.

[SIGHS]

Okay.

[SIGHING]

[GRUNTING]

[GLASS SHATTERING]

[CRYING]

[WAILING]

[KEVIN SCREAMING]

CAROLYN: Oh, there, there,
there, there.

[GRUNTING] Mom!

-I know.
-Oh, God.

-You gotta push through it.
-CAROLYN: I know.

[GROANING]

This one, you see?

You--you can do it,
buddy.

Okay, okay, that's it.

-Tough it out.
-All right, there... Okay.

[CONTINUES GROANING]

Okay, let's save this hand.

[GROANING CONTINUES]

That's it. That's it.
Yeah. Yeah.

There you are.
That's good. That's good.

-We're gonna use it again.
-God!

There, there.
That's good. That's good.

MAN: The railroad massacre
was back in the news today...

Come on, come on.

I'm suffering
from deplorable conditions.

I am being mistreated
by my cell mates.

I'm being mistreated
by the authorities,

who fail to give me the respect

-I believe I deserve.
-Shut up! Shut up!

Mom, Mom! Leave it on.
I want to see his face.

...and cuts.

And I am not getting
adequate medical attention.

I am addressing you today,
because my conditions
are deplorable.

And I demand respect.

-How dare you.
-...all over my body and cuts.

And I am
not getting adequate...

[SHIP HORNS BLOWING]

[DOGS BARKING]

Hiya!

Hi.

Dennis and I used to come here
to sort things out.

Something about the water
kinda puts things
in perspective.

At least, that's what Dennis
always used to say.

I don't know.
What do you think?

You called me out
into this weather...

-[CHUCKLING]
-...to get my opinion on water?

You said that crime bill will be
on certain kinds of guns?

Yeah. Nineteen kinds of
semi-automatic assault weapons,

plus the high capacity magazines
like Ferguson used.

Then tell me
what you want me to do.

I'm ready. If I can save one
other family from this torture,

I'll go to Washington
with you.

If you think
it'll make a difference,

I'll talk to anybody
who'll listen.

Maybe someone will hear.

TIM: I'll tell you why we need
your support on this
crime bill, Congressman.

There are over 100 gun-related
deaths in this country
every single day.

And the crime bill is the one
line of defense that we've got.

We don't need semi-automatic
weapons on the street,

and your constituents
will back you up on this.

It's common knowledge that 70%
of Americans favor the ban.

Well, I appreciate you
taking the time to come on
and see me about this.

And I wanna assure you that I
will take your passion to heart.

But I have to say that I have
some problems with the bill.

To limit the size
of a magazine's clip
from 15 bullets to 10,

I mean, five bullets
is not the issue.

Colin Ferguson's
last five bullets
killed three people.

It was an issue
for them, sir.

I appreciate that.
All I can do is reiterate

that I'm anti-crime in the
extreme, so that you can trust--

Why did you... Why did you
add riders to the bill
when you knew that

that would make the bill
impossible to pass? That doesn't
sound very anti-crime to me.

Oh, well, I...
[CLEARING THROAT]

There are a lot of things
about Washington that
don't make sense to outsiders.

It's not always possible
to separate the issues--

Well, I can separate
the issues.

I will, uh, get
a pair of scissors and, uh,
cut the bill in half,

then you can vote on
one issue in the morning

and vote on the assault weapon
ban issue in the afternoon.
Just makes common sense.

-Oh, well, Mrs.--
-This isn't about
political issues to us.

It is about people's lives.
And I have to tell you,

I am going to be
in everybody's face until
this crime bill gets passed.

Well, thank you again
for your concern. I...

[CAROLYN LAUGHING]

Tell me I didn't just
lecture a US Congressman.
Is that legal?

-[LAUGHING]
-I just-- I just
lost it in there.

My old Irish temper.
My hands are shaking.

You were great
in there.

He was talking to us like
we were a couple of idiots.

How does anything
get done around there?
Where is the logic?

-Was I really--
-You bet.

Oh, I--I gotta walk around.

I got a meeting with
Congressman Schumer. He says--

Yeah. What time is it?
No, well, see, I've got
to get on the shuttle,

or I'm gonna miss afternoon
therapy. So I'll just
see you back home.

-Right. Have a good trip.
-Bye-bye.

Where do I get a taxi
around here?

-Oh, Mrs. McCarthy,
-Yeah.

I'm Natalie Berger. I've been
trying to catch up with you.

I was hoping you'd let me offer
my services as a volunteer.

A volunteer for what?

Well, I've seen you on TV,

and I respect what you're doing
for the crime bill.

It's something I care about,
and you're making an impact.

Oh, really?
How can you tell?

People seem to speak
a foreign language around here.

Second-generation
political junkie.
I know that language.

And I know people are
talking about you.

And believe it or not,
sometimes the truth
resonates around here.

Will you think about it?

-Uh, here's my number.
-Yeah. Oh.

If nothing else,
I'm a great stamp-licker

and you're probably getting
a mountain of mail still.

You know that, too, huh?

Oh, and the best place
for you to catch your taxi
is over on Independence.

-Okay.
-But you've got
exactly 17 minutes

-before the 14th St. Bridge--
-Oh, all right.

-Okay. Well, thank you.
-NATALIE: Okay.

-Thanks a lot. Okay.
-No problem.

CAROLYN:
That's it. There you go.

Yes, Kevin.
Where-- where are you?
Oh, here you are.

I can't get the zoom.

See? When you see
this progress next week,

you're really gonna be amazed
at how it went.

-TRAINER: Keep pushing, Kev.
-Very good.

-We have to retrain
the muscles so...
-Okay.

-At least he'll be able
to handle his wheelchair.
-Exactly.

[KEVIN GRUNTING]

Forget the chair.
I'm gonna walk.

No, Kevin. You know, honey,
it's--it's too soon.

-TRAINER: One day
at a time, Kev.
-That's right.

There it goes.
Very good!

-Kevin, what's the time?
-Two minutes, 20 seconds.

Very good!
There he-- Wait a minute.

Let me go there.
There you are.

Give me a smile.
That's the guy.

[LAUGHING] Very good.

-[WATER SPLASHING]
-It's gonna be cold.

-It's not so bad.
-It is too.

-It's not cold.
-It is too.

[PEOPLE CHATTERING]

Now turn.

-Fine?
-Okay.

-I'm gonna pick you up.
-Yeah.

[GRUNTING]
When I get out of here,
I'm gonna walk out that door.

Well, listen to you.

You know you don't need
to push yourself that hard.
You're doing great.

Mrs. McCarthy,
you might wanna see this.

TV REPORTER: It appears that
you have a double agenda
in regards to this case.

KUNSTLER: Oh, yes.
I have a double agenda.
There's no question about that.

I want to do the best
for him that we can do,

but at the same time, I want
to do an educational job

with reference to
what the Black Rage is
and what the--

what white racism has done
to this country.

TV REPORTER: The Black Rage
defense that William Kunstler

is intending to use to defend
Long Island rail road gunman,
Colin Ferguson,

is already proving
controversial
in the legal community.

Did you know they were
going to do this?

TRAINER: This is good.

Take your first steps.

[CAR DOOR OPENING]

[CAR DOOR CLOSING]

[DOG BARKING]

[MORE DOORS OPENING AND CLOSING]

[PEOPLE CHATTERING]

[SIGHING]

Geez.

REPORTERS [CLAMORING]:
Mrs. McCarthy! Mrs. McCarthy!

[SHUSHING]

I have neighbors sleeping
down the block.

Mrs. McCarthy, could you
give us your response
to the Black Rage defense.

[SIGHING]

Can I brush my teeth first?

[ALL CHUCKLING]

Well, my first instinct
would be to ask, uh,

what about the rage
of his victims?

The very reason why guns
should not be available...

What I really wanna know,
is why Colin Ferguson
was allowed to buy the gun?

Twenty years ago, a man with,
uh, any sort of rage

would get on a train
and start screaming.

-Today...
-Kev, you're making me dizzy.

What? It's a new kind
of physical therapy.
You should be happy.

-I've created a monster.
-...his rage is not important.

Carolyn McCarthy,
the Long Island housewife

whose husband and son
were shot by Colin Ferguson,

is appealing
to members of Congress

to support a crime bill that
would restrict the number--

[INAUDIBLE]

-[SNIFFLING]
-Mom, you're famous.

[SIGHING]
It's... kind of funny
that your dad

was always the talker
in the family.

Yeah. Well, maybe you're
talking for him now.

And...
[CHUCKLING]

...you know what?
You're doing a hell of a job.

[BOTH LAUGHING]

PRESIDENT CLINTON:
Well, first of all,
it's a terrible human tragedy

and my sympathies go out
to all the families involved.

Uh, I-I will say, I think
we have to note that, uh,

the-the gun that was used
contained, uh, apparently,

two 15-round clips that were
expended while this man,

in a manic state, was walking
down the, uh, subway.

And, uh, one of the reasons
we ought to pass the crime bill

is that Senator Feinstein's
amendment to limit
assault weapons

would make those
15-round clips illegal.

We're now joined
by Carolyn McCarthy
from her house in Long Island.

Carolyn, it's been some time
since you lost your husband
and your son was wounded.

How have you dealt
with your grief and
maintained your dignity?

Well, I couldn't for
a long time, is the answer.

Uh, we didn't know
if we could have a funeral
for my husband for a while

because we didn't know
if Kevin was going to make it.

It's hard. Some days
are worse than others,

but we take it
a day at a time.

I believe that, uh,

inside everyone there is
an inner strength.
It's hidden...

-Is she on TV?
-...most of us, thank God,

are called on to show it,
but it's there.

It's that strength
and compassion that
makes us human.

I really believe that.

I am exactly the same.

The only difference is,
that I have learned
how fragile life can be.

In just a blink,
your whole normal life
can be turned inside out.

And the thing is,

that there is such
a proliferation of guns
on the streets now

that it could happen
to anyone, anytime.

You know, it's got to stop.

We have got to let
our politicians know
that we care about this.

The safety of people
has got to be
more important to politicians

than getting money from
the National Rifle Association.

-Congresswoman? I wonder
if I could have a moment.
-Yes?

I'm Carolyn McCarthy.
I wonder if I can talk to you
about Clinton's crime bill.

I'm afraid I'm late
for my next appointment.

Just one m-moment.

Congresswoman, last year,
people armed with hand guns

committed more than
a million violent crimes.

My husband and son
were two of these victims.

So I'm hoping that you will
reconsider your vote
on the crime bill this week.

That's very interesting.
I'll think about it.

As a woman,
I'm sure that you know

that even a man
with a restraining order
against him

can still legally go out
and buy a gun.

-So Clinton's crime bill--
-Uh, Mrs. McCarthy?

-Yes.
-So nice to have met you.

-Thank you. Thank you.
-I do appreciate your thoughts.

CAROLYN: Um, if I have...

[GROANING]

Tough day, huh?

Uh, yeah. And it's hot,
and my feet hurt.

[CHUCKLING]
Here.

No, that's all...

Why are these old buildings
so overheated?

-Well, try life
in a suit and tie.
-Yeah.

-Listen, I--
-Excuse me, Mrs. McCarthy.

-Yeah.
-Uh, critics are saying
you're being used

by the Democrats to play
the, uh, sympathy card.

-"The sympathy card"?
-Any comments for the record?

Well, no, I, uh...

To be used you have to feel
like you're being used.

And, besides, if these
politicians aren't sympathetic

to the people that they elected,
then they've been sitting
in their offices for too long.

-[CHUCKLING]
-CAMERAMAN: Could you look
this way, please?

I was wondering
how it feels to become
a celebrity

at the expense
of your husband's life?

I beg your pardon?

Quite the actress.

[REPORTERS CHATTERING]

-Hmm, no comment, huh?
-REPORTERS [CLAMORING]:
Mrs. McCarthy. Mrs. McCarthy.

This crime bill
would outlaw 19 types
of semi-automatic weapons.

It's only a fraction
of the guns
that are out there,

but if this could keep
one family from going through
what my family's gone through,

if I can get one Congressman
to change his vote
and get this bill passed,

then one good thing
has come out of this incident.

I don't know who you are
or what you want,

but if you think that I would
rather be here doing this

than be at home
waiting for my husband
to get back from work...

I'll tell you who I am.
I'm Bill Leffert,

and I'm here to keep
sentimentality out of
the political debate.

My job is to protect
the second amendment
from people like you.

-"People like me"?
-The trouble with people--

These are-- these are all
people like me.

These are all people
with husbands and wives
and children.

And they all have a right
to take a walk,
or to get on a bus,

or ride a commuter train home
from work without the fear

that they will be wiped out
by an assault weapon
with exploding bullets.

-That's all that
people like me want.
-You're missing--

And one other thing,
Mr. Leffert. This has nothing
to do with the second amendment,

and you know that
as well as I do.

Better luck on the vote
this week, Bill.

TRAINER: All right, on three.

One, two, three.

Come on, hup, hup. All right.

We got you, Kevin.
You're okay.

Relax. We're not letting go.

KEVIN:
Okay. Let go.

[PANTING]
Let go. I--I can do it.

It's okay. I can do it.

Not so fast, buddy.

It's okay. I can do it.
I can do it myself.

TRAINER [QUIETLY]:
All right. Real easy.

Easy.

That's it.

NATALIE: Carolyn.

[PEOPLE CHATTERING]

Carolyn.

Uh, you-- you got a message.
You should phone the hospital
sometime.

-What happened?
-I--I think Kevin fell,
but it's not--

-Call him for me.
-Wait, he's not hurt!

--Tell him I'm on my way.
-NATALIE: To New York?

To the hospital?
But the crime bill!

-Carolyn!
-They're in session right now!
You're gonna miss the vote!

I'm on my way. Make sure
that Kevin knows that. Okay?

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

Mom, what are you
doing here?

Wondering how I ever
gave birth to anybody
as gutsy as you.

Oh, no. The vote.
Ma, are you missing
the vote?

No.

What?

We won. The bill passed.

I heard about it in the cab
on the way over.

So, I just wanted to,
uh, celebrate with you.

No, no, no, Ma.

You missed the vote
because of me.
You shouldn't have bothered.

Kevin, you fell. That's all.
You'll do it again.

Why bother, Ma?

I can't stand up.
How am I gonna walk
if I can't stand, huh?

I don't-- God, I'm--I'm not
gonna walk outta here.
Now or ever.

-Look at me.
-Look at me, Kevin.
Who am I?

But I managed to get
a handful of congressmen
to change their vote

and got a bill passed today
in the House
of Representatives.

I helped to do that.
Don't give up, Kevin.

You will walk again.

You just cannot stop
believing in yourself.

Yeah.
What if you're wrong?

[PEOPLE CHEERING]

REPORTER: Kevin, how does it
feel to be going home?

Okay. It--it--it feels good.

CAROLYN: Oh, the master
of understatement.

So now what, Carolyn?
Now that Kevin's
out of the hospital?

Well, we still have
a long way to go
towards Kevin's recovery.

Uh, we'll be coming back here
on a regular
outpatient basis--

As you can see, he has already
defied the odds.

Mrs. McCarthy, how does
it feel to be invited
to the White House?

Amazing. It was great
to see him sign the bill.

It's great to know
that there are 19 types
of semi-automatic guns

outlawed
and off our streets.
Thank you.

REPORTER:
Thank you very much.

Colin Ferguson today
fired his attorneys
William Kunstler and Ron Kuby,

and has rejected
their controversial defense
of insanity by Black Rage.

Ferguson insists
he is not insane.

And has entered
a plea of innocent,

as well as a request
to defend himself
at his own trial.

COLIN: I will prove
beyond a shadow of a doubt

that I am innocent.

And that my prosecution
is yet another example

of the conspiracy
in white America

to condemn innocent
people of color.

CAROLYN:
Dinner's ready.

[CUTLERY RATTLING]

They're gonna let him
represent himself.

I heard.

I wanna go.

[SIGHING]
Maybe. We'll see.

No, I mean, I wanna go
and I wanna testify.

-CAROLYN: No way. That is
out of the question.
-Ma.

Kevin, I don't know how
you can handle being
in the same room with that man.

I don't even know
how I'm gonna do it.

But him
representing himself?

That means that the man
who shot you, the man
who killed your father,

would be five feet
from your face,
cross-examining you.

I want to do it.

You're not strong enough.

I'll be able to walk
by then.

CAROLYN: How do you know?

Ma, how am I supposed to
believe in me,
if you don't, huh?

I didn't mean it that way.
It's just that you don't--

There's no reason
to put yourself
through this.

Prosecution
has other witnesses.

-Ma, the--the rest of my life...
-[SIGHING]

You know, how am I gonna feel
for-- for the rest of my life,

knowing that I just sat by?

That I didn't-- That I didn't
play a part in putting away
the man who did this to Dad?

He could ask you anything.

And there will be press
and cameras and so many...

Kevin, I don't even know
how you think that
you could get through that.

Doesn't matter
how hard it would be.

Not doing it,

for the rest of my life,
that would be harder.

[SIGHING]

Don't worry, Mom.
I'll be strong enough by then.

ATTORNEY: It is a place where
you are not supposed
to fear for your life.

But at the end
of Colin Ferguson's
rampage of hate,

six people were dead,
19 more were wounded,

and the others
will never forget.

I will show you in this trial
the heartache of this reality.

The constant heartache
of never forgetting.

And regretfully,

these will be days

that you, too,
will not forget.

Because you will witness
the human suffering
that will not stop.

The point is that
their suffering,

these victims,

is our suffering.

[PEOPLE MURMURING]

Kev? I'm home.

[TREADMILL HUMMING]

Kevin?

[PANTING]

Oh, Kev.

COLIN: And isn't it true,
Mr., uh, Mr. Bobek,

that you were looking towards
a westerly direction

on the night in question?

And isn't it true,

that you could not
see the shooter?

And isn't it also true that,
in the ensuing chaos,

you never got a good look
at the shooter?

-Tell me.
-No, sir.

It is true there was chaos.

People were screaming,
falling,

people were dying
all around me,

but I turned around
and I looked straight at you,

and you were holding a gun,

and you were coming
towards me, and then...

you shot me.

I'll never forget you
as long as I live.

Your Honor, would you admonish
the witness to, uh,

to answer the question,
yes or no?

Witness is so admonished.
Continue with your
questioning, please.

MAN: Hey, Jimmy, there he is.

[REPORTERS CLAMORING]

REPORTER: Open up, open up.
Come on,
I wanna stay tight on him.

[RAMP HUMMING]

[RAMP CLANKING]

-FEMALE REPORTER: Kevin.
-MALE REPORTER:
How are you doing, Kevin?

[REPORTERS CLAMORING]

FEMALE REPORTER: Kevin, can we
get a shot of you over here?

TOMMY: Can you back up
a bit there? Thanks.

FEMALE REPORTER: How do you feel
about seeing Ferguson again?

TOMMY: Let us through, here.

Folks, take your pictures.

Back up.

Kevin, you going one-on-one
with the shooter?

TOMMY: Now, give him room,
folks.

Uncle Tommy, stop.

Uncle Tommy, stop, stop, stop.

-You want to change your mind?
-No, no, no. I wanna walk in.

-I wanna walk.
-No. Kevin, no.

-I'm fine. Get my leg.
-It's too soon.

Kevin, it's not...

FEMALE REPORTER: Mrs. McCarthy,
this way, please.

Could the two of you
stay in there, please?

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

-TOMMY: Just give him
a little space now.
-MAN: Kevin, over here.

-CAROLYN [SHUSHING]: Quiet.
-WOMAN: Oh.

-You okay?
-[CAMERA CLICKING]

MAN: Good for you, Kevin.
Way to go, man.

COLIN:
Isn't it true, Mr. McCarthy,

that, uh, that if you were
on the floor of the train, uh...

Uh, one moment,
please, Your Honor.

[PEOPLE MURMURING]

Mr. McCarthy...
[CLEARING THROAT]

...isn't it true, that, uh,

you were looking towards
the front of the train
on the night in question?

And therefore,
isn't it true,

that you could not see
what happened on that train?

Tell me.

KEVIN: I--I saw...

I heard shots.

Um... [CLEARING THROAT]

Like firecrackers,
but louder.

And, um... screams.

E-everybody screamed.

Just red,

uh, blood.

There was just blood,
everywhere,

on--on--on my hand,

um, and my...
[SIGHING]

And my dad was, uh,

he was lying...
he was l-leaning on me...

um...

on--on my shoulder
like, uh,

like he was sleeping.

But you...

you did not see the shooter,
isn't that right?

Yeah.

Thank you, Your Honor.

[PEOPLE CHATTERING QUIETLY]

Kevin, were you happy
with your testimony?

Kevin?

More another day, folks.

I expect another two days,
three at most, then this circus
will be over.

Mmm-hmm.

-You okay?
-Yeah.

I'm a little drained.

You know, I have to tell you,
I've been a prosecutor
all my life.

-I don't know how you do it.
-Hmm.

-I wish I had half your courage.
-Courage?

There's courage.

[HUMMING]

[REPORTERS CLAMORING]

JUDGE: Ladies and gentlemen
of the jury,

have you reached
a verdict?

FOREMAN: We have, Your Honor.

JUDGE: Mr. Foreman,
how does the jury find?

FOREMAN: In the case of
The People vs Colin Ferguson,

we find the defendant
guilty of murder
in the second degree...

-[PEOPLE EXCLAIMING]
-...of Maria Theresa Magtoto,

-Jim Gorycki,
Dennis McCarthy...
-JUDGE: Order, please!

-...Mikyung Kim, Amy Federici
and Richard Nettleton.
-JUDGE: Order, please!

[EXCITED CHATTER]

And so, before I determine
Mr. Ferguson's sentence,

I'd like to take this day
to hear from some
of the crime victims,

who have expressed a desire
to address this court.

Kevin and Carolyn McCarthy,
please.

Your Honor, to quote the great
Irish statesman Edmund Burke,

"It is not what a lawyer
tells me I may do,

but what reason, justice, and
humanity tell me I ought to do."

And that is why
I'm here today.

On December 7, 1993,

I was sentenced to a life

of pain and suffering,

because of this man's actions.

I do not...

I do not have the luxury
of a trial or an appeal.

I was convicted and sentenced
by a depraved madman

with an assault gun.

[CAROLYN CLEARING THROAT]

[MAN COUGHS]

[KEVIN CLEARING THROAT]

I respectfully ask that this man
receive no special treatment,

and that he should be placed

with other criminals
like himself,

that might make him reflect
on his actions

and the pain and suffering
that he has caused so many.

[VOICE BREAKS]
Thank you, sir.

Colin Ferguson,

since December 7, 1993,

I have not allowed you
to come into my thoughts.

Since that night,
I have concentrated

on getting my son
to where he is today.

When I woke up this morning,
I didn't know what
I was going to say.

But the day started out
like any other, where I had
to help Kevin get ready.

I couldn't put his tie on.

That's where his father
should have been.

I couldn't put on his shoe,

and that's where his father
should have been.

You took away my husband,

you took away my best friend,

but you cannot take away
my memories of him.

[SNIFFLING]

Everything that I wanted
to say about my husband today,

I don't want you to hear it.

You don't deserve to hear
what a good man he was.

You don't deserve to hear
the laughter that he gave us.

Colin Ferguson,

I will give you no hatred,

I will give you
none of my rage.

You are an evil person,

so you are not worth my time
or my thoughts.

[SNIFFLING]

Tomorrow you will be sentenced,

and then you will be gone
from my thoughts forever.

And we will learn
to laugh again.

And we will learn
to love again.

And we will all survive.

But you will not.

Thank you, Your Honor.

[WIND HOWLING]

-Listen, here it comes.
-[TRAIN HORN BLOWING]

The 5:33, there it is.

Huh. Another year already.

[TRAIN CHUGGING]

[WHISPERING]
Look at that fat car.

[BRAKES SQUEALING]

[TRAIN HISSING]

[SIGHING]

Okay, hold on a second.

You know, it's--,
I'm gonna be late.

How's it gonna look
on my first day if I'm late?

I'll drive you to the train.

No, Mom.
What? Like I'm some baby.
I'll drive myself.

-Well, I'll come with you.
-No. No. Mom.

Honey, all right,
I just thought, uh...

just an idea.

All right.

[INDISTINCT CHATTERING]

Yeah. Well, get in the frame.
There he is.

MAN: Kevin!

Kevin, congratulations
on your first day
back at work.

-How does it feel?
-Uh, like I'm gonna be late.

Other than that, I guess, okay.

REPORTER #2: We hear that
you're taking the same train,

the 5:33 back home tonight.

Is that the first time
you'll be on it, right?

So, are you anxious?
How were you
preparing yourself to do it?

Uh, I don't know.

The normal way, I guess.
One foot in front of the other.

[ALL LAUGHING]

Oh, by the way, you can
tell my mom she can come
out of hiding now. I'm fine.

[REPORTERS CHUCKLING]

ANNOUNCER: And it was reported
that more controversy developed
in Washington today,

when Senator Bob Dole
promised to lead the fight

to repeal President Clinton's
crime bill,

a bill that was passed
less than a year ago.

In a letter addressed to
the National Rifle Association,

Dole promised an end
to the type of scare tactics

that led to the passage
of the bill in the first place.

Payback time,
that's what its about.

New congress just got elected.

And you know who financed
a lot of those campaigns.
The NRA.

Assault weapons!
Tim, they want to put assault
weapons back on the street.

-That's crazy!
-No, no, it's politics.

And the
National Rifle Association
ain't gonna let 'em forget it.

We're right back
to square one.

So, are you in?

Am I in?

I can be packed in an hour.

Let's go to Washington.

[AIRPLANE ROARING]

NATALIE: Here you go.

-These are the guys
we're gonna try to meet.
-Mm-hmm.

Dan Frisa's office says he's
still too busy to talk with you.

Our own congressman
won't meet with us?

Well, he's in favor
of the repeal,

and says he won't
change his mind.

Twenty-five people get shot up
in his own district,

he still won't vote to take
assault weapons off the streets.

And he can't find the time
to meet with us.

He's probably afraid he'll get
caught with you in a photo op.

-[CHUCKLING] Yeah.
-Caught like a deer
in the headlights.

He's more responsive
to the NRA then he is to
the people who elected him.

You have any idea
how much the NRA lays out
for political contributions?

I don't know
how he sleeps at night.
I really don't.

Huh. Politicians know
who butters their bread.

Well, that doesn't mean
he can stop us

from waiting outside
his office, now does it?

MAN #1:
...organization as a whole.

MAN #2: Well, we've got
to come to some agreement.

MAN #1: If we've got to come to
an agreement, then we have
to lose some of this...

-Tim.
-Hmm?

Congressman Frisa.

We'd like to talk to you
about your position
on the crime bill repeal.

FRISA: Uh, you'll forgive me.
I'm, uh, late for a committee.

Congressman, we--
we only needed a moment.

Congressman...

just want to have
one word with you.

If that'd be okay.
Just one...

[CLEARING THROAT]
Can you believe that?

He did look like a deer
caught in headlights.

As a lobbyist,
what particularly galls me

is how the facts are twisted
by the NRA leadership.

-Like the right to bear arms.
-[SCOFFING]
The right to bear arms!

Did you know the head
of the Supreme Court,

former Chief Justice Burger,

called the NRA's
misrepresentation of
the second amendment

one of the greatest pieces
of fraud that he'd ever seen.

-He called it fraud?
-Fraud.

And no matter what the NRA
wants you to believe,

the second amendment
has never been about

the rights of an individual
to bear arms.

It's about the right
to arm a militia.

A well-regulated militia.

Yeah. And the NRA figures
that most people won't read
the actual Bill of Rights.

You're right about that.

And that's where we come in.

MAN: We lobby to keep
the political dialogue honest.

I just saw someone.
Excuse me for a sec.

[PEOPLE CHATTERING]

[LAUGHING]

CAROLYN:
Congressman Frisa.

Uh, you might remember me.
I'm Carolyn McCarthy.

I'm sorry to barge in
on your lunch like this.

But I wondered if you could
tell me how you're gonna vote
on the repeal issue?

Uh, look, I don't normally--

I don't mean to tell you
how to do your job,

but I have spoken to a lot
of our friends on the Island,

and they don't want
this repeal.

We want guns off our streets.

Especially, after what just
happened in our own backyard.

Maybe if you get in touch--

As my congressman, could you
tell me how you're gonna vote?

Well, ahem, you're gonna hear
a lot of rhetoric out there.

I know this firsthand.

And I also know that the current
assault's ban regime

is not, uh, is not effective.

Now, I'm very much
in favor of it,

but before it was
watered-down to the point

where it's--it's not gonna
get assault ban, uh,
weapons off the street.

And that's what I'm for.
100%.

I don't, uh, claim to know
as much as you do,
Congressman Frisa,

but I do speak English.

Did you just say you're gonna
vote for or against the repeal?

I'm very much in favor
of a strong bill.

And that's all I can say
at the moment.

Thanks for stopping by,
Mrs. McCarthy.

Well, it's my pleasure.

-Danny boy, gotta be careful.
-Hmm?

People like her,
they identify with her.

And the media,
it's a damn love affair.

Now, you might want
to consider that.

She is just a self-serving
"Cuomo liberal,"

whom people listen to because
they have sympathy for her.

Don't sweat it.
Finish your steak,

so we can have that sensational
key lime pie they do here,
will you?

CONGRESSMAN: What is needed
is a reminder of what
our country stands for.

And that's liberty.
Personal freedom.

And one of those most
important of those freedoms
is the right to bear arms.

MAN: Hear, hear.

MAN: Excuse me, ma'am.
You got to sit back.

You're not allowed
to touch the railing.

CONGRESSMAN: Now, maybe this is,
uh, just a personal anecdote,

but my dear old mama
was widowed last year.

And where my people come from,
well, it's rule.

You could be desolate
as all get out.

Now, all I got to do
is think of her safety,

and I know where my vote
is gonna to be placed

on the repeal of this heinous
gun control legislation.

She's 89-years-old, and it's
her right to protect herself!

-[PEOPLE APPLAUDING LOUDER]
-CAROLYN: You just don't get it.

This is about gun violence!

Unless your 89-year-old mother
is hanging an Uzi over her door,

this bill isn't gonna limit
in her rights!

You don't get it!
This is about

-banning assault weapons!
-This is the House of
Representatives.

Ladies and gentlemen,
it appears we have a differing
opinion in the gallery.

[PEOPLE LAUGHING]

REPORTER: In what critics
have called a "fruit of
middle-of-the-night vote,"

the new Republican-led
House of Representatives
have voted today

to repeal a ban
on semi-automatic
assault weapons.

Which will allow 19 brands
of assault weapons...

REPORTER: With only
one day's notice, and
virtually no public hearings,

House Republicans have leveled
a striking blow

to Clinton's recently passed
crime bill,

which had banned 19 brands
of assault weapons.

It was stunning,
stunning victory for
the National Rifle Association.

And clearly shows where
the hearts and minds
of the American people stand

on this issue of gun control.

The American people
want no political intervention
of any kind

into the right to arm themselves
in whatever way they see fit.

MAN: All right.

MAN #1: Ms. McCarthy,
Ms. McCarthy, how do you feel
about the vote?

I'm furious. I have been working
for over two years--

Maybe in the morning.
I'm too beat to take
the shuttle tonight. Is Tommy...

CAROLYN: Politicians are not
listening to their own people.

WOMAN: What About Dan Frisa?
Your own Congressman
voted to repeal--

I'm speechless, I'm so mad.

Mad enough to run against him
next year?

The way I feel today,
I would run.

All right, I'll see you
in the morning.

-Okay. I love you.
-MAN: How did the vote go down?

CAROLYN: I don't have
a comment about it now.

WOMAN: Any other comment
on what went on in there today?

Ohh...

-TIM: Carolyn McCarthy...
-[WOMAN LAUGHING]

...congratulations.

-[ALL APPLAUDING]
-What?

Look at this: "McCarthy
announces bid for Frisa's seat."

"McCarthy to
challenge Frisa."

"McCarthy announces bid
for Frisa's seat."

You said you were
mad enough to.

I got my Irish up.
I didn't mean it literally.

-[ALL LAUGHING]
-No, I don't want
to run for office.

No offense, Congressman.

Oh, well, I don't want
to be in politics.

Oh, well, tell them that.
I've been getting, what,

tons of these all day
telling me different.

The phones been ringing
all morning.

They want to volunteer
to help you win.

People believe in you,
Carolyn.

Carolyn, as Congressman
and bona fide member
of the Old Boys' Network...

[LAUGHING]

...let me be the first
to welcome you inside.

To our next Congresswoman,
Carolyn McCarthy.

-Yes.
-Hear, hear.

-ALL: Hear, hear.
-Yeah. Yeah.

[CHUCKLING]
Hear, hear.

[MUFFLED] What you got?

-What?
-[SIGHS] Kev...

should I do it?

Looks like Dad has
more stuff he wants you to say.

I don't want to be
in the public eye.

I mean, I don't know
anything about politics.

Yeah, well, you didn't know
anything about guns before,
but now you're an expert.

This is Congress, Kevin.

This is running for a seat
in the House of Representatives.

Well, a-at least, uh, at least
nobody will be able to tell you

to sit down and
keep your mouth shut, lady.

You'd have a--
You'd have a vote.

If I campaign,

and I'm not even, you know,
talking about winning,

if I campaign, this is going
to take me away from you
for days at a time.

Yeah, and...?

You already are away a lot.
I can handle that.

How can you handle that?
Tommy's not gonna be here
all the time. Huh?

How are you going to get ready
every morning for work
if I'm in Washington?

Mom, let me...

Can I tell you something?

All this time, you know,
all these months,

I--I-- I've worked real hard,
you know.

But I-- I always knew,

somewhere in the back
of my head, or something,

I always knew if I couldn't
do it you'd be there to do it
for me.

'Cause of that...

You know, maybe this'd be good
for me, if you were away.

-I'd-- I'd have to learn
to trust myself.
-No, I...

-Oh, I don't know.
-Ma, I--
I'll make you a deal.

If you run, I'll be totally
independent by election day.

Totally.

Deal?

[MOANING]

Come on, Ma.

Go for it, huh?

I can do it if you can do it.

Yeah, deal.

[LAUGHS]

-[WOMAN WHOOPING]
-NATALIE: Right on,
we're in the race.

My sister in Washington.
I can't wait to see Frisa's face
when he hears about it. Whoo!

A housewife from Mineola
is going to kick his tush.

-Or that butt. Big butt!
-Oh, now, where do we start?

-Speech.
-Oh, yeah.

Speech.
That's a little formal.

No, no, no, no, no.
Not for now.

You'll need an announcement
speech for the press.

-Oh, right.
-NATALIE: What else do we need?

What else are we gonna need?
I guess we're gonna need...

Oh, oh, we have
to set up offices...

I-- I can get on the phone,
make some calls.

I know, I know, we--we can
clear out the living room...

Uh, um, Tom, maybe we can
put some of the furniture
out in the garage.

TOM: Yeah, I can do that. Hey,
I saw some desks at the thrift.

NATALIE: And you're gonna need
a campaign manager.

-[PEOPLE CHATTERING]
-I got the lampshade.
Where do you want it?

[HAMMER TAPPING]

-[MAN WHOOPING]
-[CHATTERING CONTINUES]

-Carolyn...
-[PHONE RINGING]

Bob Leahy, he knows the beast
inside the machine.

-He's run a number
of local campaigns.
-Oh.

-And won 'em all.
Good to meet you, Carolyn.
-Well, well, sure.

I've got some early numbers
on some poll results

I'd like to share with you.

Now, running as a--as a Democrat
in a deeply committed
Republican district,

isn't going to help you.
But you've got strong numbers

with women and a high
name recognition, which is
half the battle right there.

As long as you get
some serious momentum going.

Now, I'd like to create
an image of you as
a more rounded candidate,

because at the moment
you're very vulnerable
to the single issue criticism.

Do you need a drink of water
or take a breath of air or...

-I'm sorry. I just get all fired
up about this kind of stuff.
-No, no.

You know,
the thrill of the battle...

Well, I just thought we
would, uh, concentrate
on my announcement,

-that's the first thing.
-BOB: That's done.

I cleared permission to have
a press conference at
the Merillon Station, which...

Oh, we had already planned
on,uh, having it right here at
the house, out in the backyard.

Uh, here?

With the clothesline
strung out there?

Yeah. Well, Tommy says he can
take the clothesline down.

Yeah. Shouldn't be a problem.

Well, the house creates an image
of... perhaps too homespun.

Got to have it back up
by Saturday, though.
I got to do laundry.

-No problem-ski.
-All right.

No, that's all right.
That's all right.

Uh, we can announce it here.
Why not?

-CAROLYN: Okay, great.
-[HAMMER TAPPING]

-[PEOPLE CHATTERING]
-Okay, this is--this is
what I put.

-"I don't claim
to be an expert--"
-Excuse me a minute, Carolyn.

People, could you please
keep it down in here?
Thank you.

"I don't claim
to be an expert on policy,

but as your Congresswoman,

I can promise to be diligent
in learning the issues.

From my years of experience
as a practical nurse--"

Wait, hang on there.
If--if I may.

I just...
I think, Carolyn,

that you'll come off
as a stronger candidate
right out of the box

if, uh, you don't lay out
in your speech you're
inexperience in public--

Well, yeah, I am
a housewife from Mineola.

And I don't want to pretend
to know about politics.

Yeah. This is who I am.

I know what you mean.
But look, this is more
what I had in mind.

What do you think?

Um...

"And with my leadership
as Congresswoman,

I envision a new era
for Long Island.

An era when
this community's concerns
are heard in Washington.

An era when..."

Era. See, era.

Era. Look, sounds like
the ice age. I don't know.

-You're fine.
-It doesn't seem like me.

-It sounds good, Ma.
It sounds good.
-Okay, I'll go again.

"Good morning."

"Today, I begin a quest to bring
a new voice to Washington,
and the political process.

Like a lot of people
in my community,

I am disappointed in the
promises made and never kept
by either..."

You know what, guys,
this just isn't me,
I'm gonna start over.

[JOURNALISTS LAUGHING]

-Good morning.
-CROWD: Good morning.

Welcome to my home
and my neighborhood,
and the community I grew up in.

My name is Carolyn McCarthy.

And I am announcing,
in my own words,

that, uh, today
I am running for Congress.

-Hey! Hey!
-[SUPPORTERS CLAPPING]

Thank you.

[TRAIN HORN BLARING]

[INDISTINCT CHATTERING]

-MAN: You got it?
-[PEOPLE APPLAUDING]

-[PEOPLE CHEERING]
-MAN: Congratulations.

[PEOPLE CHATTERING]

MAN #2: Where you been, buddy?

[CLAPPING CONTINUES]

CROWD [CHANTING]:
Carolyn for Congress!
Carolyn for Congress!

Carolyn for Congress!
Carolyn for Congress!

Carolyn for Congress!

Hi, I'm Carolyn McCarthy.

Hope I can count on
your vote in November.

Hi, hope I can count
on your vote.

I want some new change.

Carolyn for Congress.

Hi, I'm Carolyn McCarthy
for Congress.

[INDISTINCT CHATTERING]

CROWD [CHANTING]:
Carolyn for Congress!
Carolyn for Congress!

[CHATTERING]

[NO AUDIO]

Hi, Carolyn McCarthy.
I'm running for Congress.

Just a few weeks
before the election,

newcomer Carolyn McCarthy
trails incumbent Dan Frisa.

McCarthy, a lifelong
Republican,
is running as a Democrat

because her party refused
to back her against Frisa.

My opponent
is a one-issue candidate.

I mean, I'm sure people
feel sorry for her,

and--and that's right,
she deserves that.

But it doesn't qualify her
to run for office.

I'm being called
a one-issue candidate?

Well, unlike my opponent,
at least I believe in something.

You're not going to
believe this.

CAROLYN: Yeah,
you can quote me on that.

[PEOPLE CHATTERING]

-Whoo-hoo!
-What is it?

A piece on Frisa.

[CHUCKLING]
Hey, listen up, people.

Hey, quiet in there
for one sec.

Hey, listen to this.
You gotta hear this.

"'In a word,
I think Carolyn McCarthy's
gambit is dishonest,'

Dan Frisa said.

'It's a new McCarthyism,
if you will.'"

You got to be kidding.

"'During the 1950s,
McCarthyism threatened
your civil liberties.

In the 1990s, our very lives
are being threatened

because she and the media--'"

-McCarthyism?
-Quote, unquote.

He's trying to identify you with
Joe McCarthy. That's desperate.

I thought his people said
they weren't going to run
a negative campaign.

Yeah, and there's
a Santa Claus.

Don't worry about it.
It comes with the territory.

Now, the key is to be prepared.

And we are.

We've got enough
to paper the entire island.

-MAN: Let's go get him.
-MAN #2: Okay, let's do it.

Ohh...

I don't want to say this
about Frisa.

I don't want to
take it down this path.

Oh, sure you do.
It's politics.

Besides, the gloves are off now.

MAN: Yeah, it's about time.

[PEOPLE CHATTERING]

TOMMY: All right,
everybody in the other room?

CAROLYN: Yeah. This is good.

I know it's late, everyone.
I, uh...

Yeah. I just wanted to call
a quick, uh, meeting

to thank everyone
for the great work
that they've been doing,

and, uh, all the time you've
been giving on the race.

And, uh, mostly
for believing in me.

But... uh,

I, uh, I really, uh,
wanted everyone to hear

a decision that I had come to,

uh, concerning
the negative approach

that the, uh, campaign
seems to be headed for.

BOB: Excuse me, Carolyn,

-I know you hate it.
-[CHUCKLING]

I mean, nobody wants to go
to the gutter, and I don't
suggest that we go there,

-but negative ads work.
-But, Bob--

I-- I've done this a lot and I
know what I'm doing. They work.

But, you see,
I'm not comfortable with it.

Carolyn, Bulletmagazine
is calling you
a "professional widow".

-I know that.
-Politics are ugly.

No. I have given this
a lot of thought.

And, uh, this is
a very hard decision to make
so close to the election,

but from now on,
I want, uh, Natalie to,
uh, take over the campaign.

She'll be in charge.

Carolyn, Frisa threw down
the gauntlet.

If you don't fight back,
you'll be trampled.

-I might get trampled, Bob!
-I just want to save you.

I might get trampled,
but I have to stay the way I am.

Have it your way.

Here you go, sir. Vote for
Carolyn McCarthy on Tuesday.
Thank you.

-[BELL TOLLING]
-McCarthy for Congress.

McCarthy for Congress.
Thank you.

You can take this back.
I don't want it.

But you can read it,
see what she stands for.

Here. You can read this
and see what she stands for.

Right there.

[SIGHING]

[NATALIE SOBBING]

Natalie,
what are you doing here?

What's wrong?

[SOBBING] You trusted me, but,
you know, it's just too much.

I should've seen it coming.

They were all over
the parking lot.

Uh, I tried to get them,
but they are everywhere.

They're urging people
not to vote for you
because you're pro-choice.

People from
your own congregation
are going against you.

How am I supposed to get
a rebuttal out by tomorrow?

-Oh, Natalie.
-Bob was right.

It's all about being prepared,
and I've let you down.

No. You know, some things
are out of our control.

This could cost us the race.

Come on.

Come on. Come on.

We ran an honest race,
we should be proud.

I'm not gonna change what I
believe in and neither are you.

So you go home, you get
some rest, and, uh...

you know, whatever happens
tomorrow, I'm having a drink.

[LAUGHING]
Okay. All right.

Get outta here.

On Long Island,
we are expecting a late night,

because the polls
are showing a close race

between incumbent, Dan Frisa,

and his challenger,
Democrat Carolyn McCarthy.

-KEVIN: Ma, what are you doing?
-McCarthy, the Mineola
housewife...

I'm washing the floor.
I haven't had time.

I don't know when I'm gonna
get another chance.

Could you stand up for a second?
There's something
I'd like to show you.

...activist crusade to change
this country's gun laws.

Despite criticism of
a single-issue candidacy,

McCarthy has earned the support
of her Long Island constituency

based on her common sense
approach to politics.

[REPORTER FADES]

[CHUCKLING]

Oh.

[SOBBING]

Oh, Dad was right.
You would cry at anything.

REPORTER: And the most closely
watched Congressional race
tonight is here on Long Island,

between Republican incumbent,
Dan Frisa,

and Democrat newcomer,
Carolyn McCarthy.

With the polls closing
in less than an hour,

the Frisa camp
is holding on to the hope

that the wave of popularity
for McCarthy

will disappear
under a sea of Frisa support.

[PEOPLE SHOUTING]

[PEOPLE CLAPPING]

[SIGHING]

[PEOPLE WHOOPING]

[PEOPLE CHATTERING]

Kevin said I should
bring you your lipstick.

My Kev? Where is he?

Last I saw,
he was on TV.

He's on television?

He's waiting
to introduce you.

You won.

[PEOPLE SHOUTING]

[MAN WHISTLING]

No, I can't have won.

It's only 9:40.

You want to debate it,
or you want to put on your
lipstick for national TV?

Congratulations,
Congresswoman McCarthy.

Oh, my God...

[BREATHING DEEPLY]

Oh, my God!

PEOPLE [CHANTING]:
We want Carolyn!
We want Carolyn!

We want Carolyn!

Now you're Congresswoman,
I don't know whether
to hug you or kiss you.

I'll hug you.

Come on, there's a lot of
hands for you to shake.
Come on.

Here she is, everybody!
Here she is!

[BAND PLAYING]

[NOISEMAKERS BLOWING]

[CROWD CHEERING]

[CAMERAS CLICKING]

Ladies and gentlemen...

Ladies--ladies and gentlemen,
please.

-[BAND STOPS PLAYING]
-Please, please.

I have the honor
of introducing

the next Congresswoman
of the United States, my mom.

[CROWD ROARING]

[WHISTLING]

Thank you.
Thank you.

Tonight is a victory
that belongs to all of us.

We all worked so hard
to get here.

We all started out
with an impossible goal.

And, uh...
[CHUCKLING]

...here we are in victory.
So... [LAUGHING]

[CROWD CHEERING]

[PEOPLE WHOOPING]

This just proves to me again,
that every person,

each one of us,
can make a difference.

During the campaign,
and over the last three years,

people have asked me
again and again

about the inner me.
The inner me.

Like it was
something remarkable.

It isn't.
There are so many people like me
out there, everywhere.

Every organization,

whether it is about
domestic violence,

or, uh, child abuse,
or poverty, or what have you,

every organization was started

because someone wanted
to make a difference.

Tonight, you have helped me
to start to make a difference
in our world.

And we have already
come a long way.

Gun violence takes the lives

of a 105 American men, women
and children every day.

Every day.

Tonight, you have sent a message
that enough is enough.

I promise you that that message
will be heard in Washington.

[PEOPLE CHEERING]

Three years ago,
I started out on a journey
that I didn't want to be on.

I was an ordinary woman.

I was a wife and a mother,
uh, with ordinary dreams.

I was born in the house that
I grew up in on Long Island,

uh, I might have been
the neighbor that you saw
out in her garden,

or standing in line
at the bank or at the store.

I was exactly the same
as-as every one of you.

Three years ago, um,
I started out on a journey

that I didn't want to take,

when my life was changed
because of a man with a gun.

This did not have to happen
to my family.

And I will work in Washington,

and I will pray that
it doesn't happen to yours.

[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]