All language subtitles for Lou Grant s03e18 Censored

Hello, I'm calling from the trip.

I'd like to confirm a quote. How much
money was involved?

Was it over $1 ,000?

Was it over $10 ,000?

What are you working on? The girls of
Theta House. All those girls have such

great figures. Tiny little waists. And
such enormous problems.

I talked Charlie's secretary into
letting me look at tomorrow's strips

does. Couldn't wait to see what's going
to happen in Duffy's menagerie.

And I will as soon as Billy finishes.

It's really good.

You're just saying that because when you
were in college you used to date the

guy that draws that strip. Yeah, I
carried Dieffenbaker before he was rich

famous. Damn it.

This is good.

Look at the gas station attendant.

Yes, sir. Arab cat. Isn't that great?
Looks just like him. I get it, animal.

There, there. Now, you see? There's
money coming out of the gas nozzle.

I can see that. I have eyes.

It's awfully political for a comic
strip.

It's a political strip.

If you ask me, he's flirting with
defamation.

Everyone's heard the rumors about
Senator Fleming's Arab ties, but no

able to prove it. What makes you think
it's Senator Fleming?

License plate, California.

Sticker, re -elect 1980.

We've only got two senators, and only
one of them is running for re -election.

And I'll bet you he's got a strip coming
up that shows that guy's face. And I'll

bet you he's a dead ringer for Fleming.

Ah, Charlie, I don't think he'd go that
far.

I promised I'd get this stuff back.

Whatever happened to having the
controversial stuff on the editorial

the funny stuff in the comics?

I don't know. Sometimes the editorial
page can be pretty funny.

Rousey? Yeah, Lou?

This came off the wire. There's been a
book burning up in all the mirror.

It's got the dateline in there, so it
could be 1953.

Well, this happened last night. Listen
to some of the stuff they burned.

The Scarlet Letter, Slaughterhouse
-Five, Brave New World.

Huh, could have saved me a lot of
homework. Let me see that.

Hmm, maybe I should follow up.

I'm really glad to hear that. You know
how much I hate to send you out on an

assignment when you're not really
excited about it.

Okay, okay, I'm going. Yeah, wait a
minute.

When you get into town, look at an old
friend of mine, Mitchell Webster.

We spent a lot of time together back in
Detroit.

Maybe he can help you. He owns a
newspaper up there.

Fully remember you?

Are you kidding? Of course he'll
remember me. We spent a lot of time

Great time.

I wrecked his car once.

Okay, but if the guy doesn't pay his
taxes, well, then he's stealing from all

us. It's our money.

Yeah? Then we should send it to me,
direct.

Listen, I'd love to keep discussing
this, but we have to move on to your

topic.

Sex education.

Mr. Kiefer, do we have to talk about
sex?

Okay.

A junior high school teacher who is
concerned for her students' welfare

offers them birth control information.

Isn't she like saying it's okay to have
sex? Wait, wait, wait. Not necessarily.

What if she didn't give out the
information? Wouldn't that be

Just because you read the information
doesn't mean you'll do it.

Oh, please, go on. Just ignore me.

It's easy.

Pretend we're having an assembly.

Okay.

We have a teacher who wants to give out
birth control information.

What is it that we need to know?

I need to know the name of that teacher.

We'll come back this month.

Marilyn.

We've discussed the use of this book
before.

I know, but I need it.

It gives the class a focus.

Maybe you'd better change the focus.

This book on cultural values doesn't fit
the board's plan.

We've committed ourselves to a back -to
-basics approach.

The curriculum is more backward than
basic.

It's less open than when I was a student
here 12 years ago.

And besides, I think getting students to
understand right and wrong is pretty

basic. Marilyn, you're really forcing my
hand.

The board made the decision. I'm to
carry out policy.

Well, they've taken away my whole
reading list.

Pretty soon the only book I'll be able
to use around here is the telephone

If you persist in this, you've... Only
yourself to blame for how it turns out.

them like that anymore.

Donna Reed?

Oh, the old movies.

Nowadays, they only got time for one
thing.

Sex.

Yeah, right. Listen, I just need a room
for the night.

Eighteen a night in advance.

Pear Blossom Festival don't start for
another two weeks.

I'm not a tourist.

Didn't think you looked like the Pear
Blossom type.

What do you do?

I'm a reporter for the Los Angeles
Tribune.

Hey, I bet you hear about that book
burning, aren't you?

A couple reporters have been nosing
around.

Not as many as we had during the farm
workers' strike back in the 60s. They

crawling all over the place.

Because back then we had the one thing
you guys really loved to write about.

Sex?

Violence.

You guys love to write about that, don't
you?

Look, I'm just here to write about the
book burning.

Maybe you can help me out.

Sorry, I don't know much about it.

Don't get involved in nothing political.

I was taught if you don't have something
good to say, then you don't say

nothing. I ain't had nothing good to say
about politics since Nixon left office.

Oh, you really like Nixon, huh?

No, I liked it when he left office.

Number five's out the door and up the
stairs.

There's no TV in the room, but you're
welcome to watch that one any time.

Oh, thanks. I think I'll just find
myself an uncharged book and read myself

sleep. See ya.

It was a beautiful day until Mr. Sackler
called from the legal department.

I know, I know. That piece we did on 101
ways to beat the IRS.

But every one of those loopholes is
legal.

Wonderful, but that's not why he called.

Oh, it's this comic strip, Duffy's
Menagerie. Oh, yeah.

Mr. Sackler seems to feel the
cartoonist, Mr.

Diefenbaker, is begging a larval suit
for his series on Arab influence in

Congress. He's got it all set up.

And if Senator Fleming steps out of the
car... Senator Lemming.

Yes, Senator F.

Lemming. Who are we kidding?

If he does step out of the car, what'll
we do?

We don't do anything.

It's a spoof. Satire.

But even a comic strip has to be careful
when they're going to defame a public

figure. Mr. Pinchon's right.

And he's clearly implying that Senator
Fleming has been bought by Arab money.

If... If I remember correctly, these
charges were made before. Didn't we

an investigation of our own?

Every reporter in town has heard the
rumors, but nobody's been able to prove

Yeah, we tried like hell.

Burroughs came up with some stuff. A lot
of hearsay, but nothing we could nail

him with.

Well, unless Mr. Diefenbaker has better
sources than we do, he's causing

trouble.

And Senator Fleming is rather sensitive
on this subject. We're going to censor

this trip because we're afraid of
hurting a senator's feelings?

No.

We've criticized the senator's actions
before. I have never interfered as long

as we had the evidence to back it up.
Well, don't you worry. I'll be checking

this strip myself every day before it
goes to composing.

That'll make Mr. Sackler's life a lot
easier. Thank you, Mr. Hume.

Mr. Grant.

Hmm?

My paper.

Oh.

I haven't finished the funnies yet.

Lou Grant.

We'll continue in a moment here on A &E.

Payday's a crazy calendar game where
you're at the top of the world one day.

want to sleep one day.

So there I was holding down the desk at
the free press. And I get the call from

Lou. He tells me my car's wrapped around
a telephone pole with grass shit and

liver noise.

And he's on his way to that shootout on
foot.

It's a tough grade. What are you
kidding?

No, he got an exclusive.

Young reporters don't have the kind of
help a leather spirit we had in those

days. Well, I got a ticket on the way up
here. Does that count?

Well, what'd you get it for?

Fawlty taillight.

Doesn't count. Doesn't count.

So, Joe, where you staying? The Vista
Verde Motel.

Selby's place.

Well, I can't knock old Hank. He takes
out an ad about once a year.

But it's not exactly the Hilton, is it?

You'd be a lot more comfortable out at
the ranch with me and Jenny.

Oh, thanks, but I couldn't. My hours are
so crazy.

I see.

Single guy, out of town. Oh, I got you.
But you will come for dinner one night.

Oh, for sure. Thanks.

So, what brings that trip way up here?

Well, I'm investigating the book burning
that took place the other day.

You came all this way for that?

There seems to be more to it.

I read about that teacher getting fired,
and then there's this citizens group,

the Poor Review Society.

Oh, that's just a bunch of senior
citizens who think the school's a true

They want to alert the nation to the
dangers of moral decay.

They're a little overzealous, but they
mean well. Well, I'm going to want to

talk to them.

Okay, Joe. Just don't judge us by a
bunch of eccentrics.

Oh, I wouldn't do that.

There's always a fringe group, one kind
or another.

But most of the folks in this town are
just hardworking.

Family, people, nothing... Nothing
sinister about it.

I'm sure there isn't. But I'd like to
speak to a lot of different people.

Well, I can help you there.

Yeah, we got this old fellow who started
our first movie theater in 1927.

It's still open. Same popcorn, too.

Well, that's not exactly what I had in
mind.

How about the principal of the high
school, then?

No.

I'd like to start...

With those eccentrics you mentioned. The
Paul Revere Society?

Okay.

Herbert!

Herbert!

Can I help you?

I'm curious. Why are you located right
next to an adult bookstore?

To make those people uncomfortable.

To let them know that we're going to
keep an eye on things.

We've even taken pictures of customers
going in and out.

You took pictures?

Yes, indeed.

We figure that if they know someone's
watching them, they'll think twice about

going in there.

I see a little community pressure.

Supreme Court says a community has a
right to set its own standards.

And that kind of filth next door is
polluting our town.

I can see why you'd be opposed to that
store and the books it sells, but some

the books you burned last week were
different. I mean, dictionaries and

books and works of literature.

You call it literature.

Those books, they tear down everything
we believe in.

They don't belong in a classroom.

You see, Mr. Rossi, we don't burn good
books.

Just the objectionable ones.

Who's to say which books are
objectionable?

Their parents.

People who care.

Not those educators who don't have any
kids.

Sitting around their ivory tower, just
thinking up new ideas.

They're experimenting with our kids.

I used to be able to work with my boy,
help him with his arithmetic.

Then they come up with this new math.

We're both in the dark.

If a child reads a novel or a history
book that tells him that this country

wrong, and that he should be ashamed of
it, That comes between us, too. And you

think these books are responsible for
that?

They're a beginning.

Well, he's gone too far.

Who? Stephen Baker, the guy who does
this strip.

Boy, he really captured Senator
Fleming's nose, didn't he? Today's strip

enough, but in this one for tomorrow, he
has Senator Fleming paying the Arab off

with all this military hardware.

Senator Lemming.

No doubt who Senator Lemming is.

Look at how Steven Baker has caught
Fleming with the eyebrows and the

All right.

What does that look like to you?

That looks like where I buy my gas.

Only it looks friendlier. No, no, no. I
mean, what person?

Don't you love the way he draws Fleming?

Hear that?

What'd I say?

Look, okay, okay.

I wish I could talk to that Diefenbaker
guy.

I've called his syndicate, but I can't
get through to him. I could try to reach

him for you.

You know it?

I used to.

It's worth a try.

You still got his number?

I should.

Here.

I always keep all my old phone numbers.
You never know when one might come in.

It's always been my motto.

Hello, is this the Diefenbaker
residence?

Is this Mrs. Diefenbaker?

That's not.

Oh. Well, this is Billy Newman. I'm an
old friend of Carrie's.

From college.

Thank you. Boy, she's suspicious for
somebody who's not even married to her.

Hi, Carrie.

Hi.

Uh -huh.

Yeah, I would love to sometime.

Uh, listen, Carrie, you know, I work
over at the Trib now.

You have?

Well, how nice. Thank you.

Uh,

anyway, Carrie, the reason why I called
is my managing editor, Charles Hume,

would like to talk to you if you have a
minute.

Okay. Great. I'll put him up.

Mr. Diefenbaker, Charles Hume.

By the way, I love your stuff.

Yeah, but tomorrow's trip, the legal
department's having some problems with

As you know, those guys don't have the
best sense of humor.

Well, it's a little too on the nose for
us.

We're just afraid it goes too far.

So we may just have to drop it, unless
you want to make some changes.

Wait a minute, we have a responsibility,
too.

Well, that... Nice guy, your boyfriend.

He hung up on me.

We'll continue in a moment here on A &E.

Fancy rapping isn't necessary.

You were right, Lou. It's not just the
book burning.

Huh? So what else do you have?

Well, a teacher lost her job over this
thing.

Are you sure they're connected?

Well, it's going to take a little more
time.

Rossi, have you ever been on a story
where you didn't say those famous words

me, it's going to take a little more
time?

But Lou, have I ever let you down?

Yeah, a lot. I've got the list right
here. You want me to read it back to

No, no.

Listen, Lou, this time it's going to be
worth waiting for. Believe me. How's

Webster? He's fine, sis. Hello.

Hello.

I wreck his car up a pole and all he can
say is hello?

Well, uh, he did say more than that, but
I don't want to use profanity in this

town. Right, okay.

Uh,

Marilyn? What would you like? I just
want to talk to you.

Listen, I'm brand new to this whole
routine, and I'm having a hard time

just serving, much less socializing.
Well, I'd be willing to stay after

Oh, yeah.

Okay.

I'm Joe Rossi.

Look, I'm a reporter for the Los Angeles
Tribune, and I'd like a beer.

Look, I'm up here doing a story on the
book, and you're getting fired seems to

be a part of it.

I thought you might want a chance to
tell your side.

You want to hear my side? Yeah.

Well, that's a switch.

The local press hasn't been exactly
sympathetic.

Well, I want to hear.

Why were you fired, or why do you think
you were?

For reading offensive material in class.

Offensive? What is that?

Wait a minute.

It was a social studies textbook.

That sounds pretty tame.

It started with the adult bookstore's
pornography.

Now it's gone way beyond that.

Now, offensive can be anything from sex
to social criticism.

There are teachers in their classrooms
who are terrified of saying the wrong

thing. There are rumors that the
intercoms are being used as two -way

devices. Sounds like 1984.

Well, these students wouldn't know that.

It's one of the books they banned.

Oh, and it's not just the school, Peter.

You should see what they have done to
the town library.

It's okay. We, uh, we went to school
together.

Sorry, but I can't afford to lose this
job, too.

You know, I make more here dressed up
like a...

X -rated Dale Evans, and I did teach
him.

But I really missed him.

Is there any chance you get your job
back?

Oh, I'm entitled to a hearing with the
school board.

Even the Paul Revere Society can't
prevent that.

Are they responsible for this?

The question is, who's responsible for
them?

You know, really, I should be grateful
to the Paul Revere Society for one

What's that?

Before they came along, this place was
topless.

Well, you took it off my back. I've got
no choice.

Believe me, if you pull that strip for
tomorrow, you're just going to be making

a bigger mistake.

I don't care.

Try to be reasonable, a guy hung up on
you. I don't really think that trip is

offensive, Charlie. Why don't you ask
ten people in this city room and find

if it bothers them?

Yeah, start with me.

There's only one person I'm worried
about, Senator Fleming's lawyer.

Senator Fleming is a public figure. He
gets lambasted in the press all the

How can he take a cartoon seriously?
Because people take them seriously.

Cartoons? Yes.

I mean, they believe that you can't
print something unless it's true. They

if they see it in a newspaper, it's a
fact.

Everybody knows that there are things in
the paper that are fiction.

Flash Gordon.

Art Buckwell.

The weather forecast.

You can wipe that grin off your face.
I've heard all the lines before.

But there's no other way to handle all
this newly restricted material.

Yeah, it looks like you got a lot of it,
too.

Well, there sure is, but you don't want
to hear about that.

Yes, I do. I'm Joe Rossi.

I'm a reporter at the Los Angeles
Tribune.

I'm Irene Thiel.

I'm doing a story on the censorship
campaign.

Well, there's not much I can tell you,
except it's made a lot more work for me.

Wait a minute. You're the librarian.

You must have some say, some control
over... I don't have any control.

The Catcher in the Rye.

At least this is still in circulation.

Look inside.

What is this?

They feel it has literary merit with
reservations.

So they did their own editing with
scissors?

That's the new library review board.

Catcher in the Rye.

Before I read this book, I thought I was
the only messed up teenager in the

world. Then I met Holden Caulfield, and
this book got me through being 14.

I know what you're talking about, but
you're lucky.

They burnt my book, The Bell Jar.

But making paper dolls out of J .D.

Salinger, it's a great little town you
got here.

It's not just this town, it's happening
all over.

There are nationwide movements, pressure
groups, lobbyists.

Look at this.

It's called pink slipping.

It's a warning from the book wholesaler
to his customers.

Bookstores, libraries.

If the distributor receives three or
more complaints about any book for

anything... They tagged the book with
one of these to indicate it may contain

possibly objectionable material.

They're branding their own book before
it's even been read.

Well, they feel it's a service to their
customers, a legitimate business

practice. Listen, I can't talk anymore
right now.

Okay, let's have dinner.

I'll pick you up here at closing. We can
talk more then.

No, but we could meet at the restaurant.

I'm sorry. I know the food isn't the
greatest.

Oh, I wouldn't say that. I just never
had lasagna made with American cheese

before this.

The truth is I wanted to come here
because it's dark and hardly anyone ever

comes here.

I really don't want to be seen with you.

Oh, thanks a lot.

I just don't want anyone to think I'm
making trouble like that teacher who got

fired.

Look, I moved here with my son after my
divorce because I wanted out of L .A. I

like my job. I like living here.

You're just here to get a story.

Oh, no. It's not just a story. I'm
trying to understand.

You like this town. You know the people.
What's going on?

I don't know.

Maybe they just want what I wanted when
I moved here.

Some control over their lives.

The world's changing so fast.
Everything's breaking down.

Families, relationships.

They just want some stability in their
lives.

So burn the books and get rid of the
problems.

Yes, when the ideas in those books are
threatening.

Listen, there are a lot of good things
about living in Altamira.

It's a real community. People pitch in
and help their neighbors.

Sure, and I bet you have one of those
kids with a baseball cap and freckles

delivers the morning paper on his bike.

Actually, it's a moped.

A moped.

But it is a great place to bring up the
kids.

There's a lot less crime.

You don't have to be afraid all the
time. Except about losing your job.

Rossi. I thought that was you.

Mitch. Sit, sit.

Mrs. Teal.

I'm glad you're showing our guest
around.

Don't let me disturb your dinner.

Oh, why don't you join us?

Oh, nothing. I just wanted to say hello.
Remember, anything you need, you just

give me a call. Sure will. Thanks. I
still owe you that dinner.

I remember.

Damn it.

All the dumb things to do. I knew I
shouldn't have done this.

What are you talking about?

Being seen by him, of all people.

Who, Webster?

I don't think we'll put it in the paper.
I don't think it's that newsworthy.

It's not so funny.

What are you so nervous about?

Well, it's just my job, that's all.

What does Mitch Webster have to do with
your job?

Are you kidding?

He's the one who's behind this whole
thing.

Lou Grant will continue in a moment here
on A &E.

You're watching the amazing...

Yes, I understand.

But the man you... But the man you want
to speak to is Charles Hugh.

That's right.

H -U -M -E.

Huh? You're welcome. No, it's only
temporary.

Yes, Duffy's Menagerie will be back.

Why aren't the operators handling these
calls?

Because that's for dropping Duffy's
Menagerie.

City desk.

Yes, I know.

But the man you want to speak to is our
managing editor.

Just ask for Mr. Hugh.

No, it is not a conspiracy to silence
Mr.

Diefenbaker. I can assure you the oil
companies had nothing to do with it.

Did they?

All right, Lou, you can cut it out right
now. I get the point. It's very funny,

but enough is enough.

City desk.

No, we didn't forget.

Duffy's menagerie is not in today's
paper.

Why don't you have him turn on the
radio?

A local DJ is having somebody in San
Francisco read it over the air.

Apparently the strip that's too hot for
L .A. is carried in a San Francisco

case. I think it makes us look foolish.

Your turn.

Hello?

Oh, hello, Rossi. Yes, he's here. Just a
minute.

I never thought I'd be glad to hear
Rossi's voice.

What is it? Hey, Lou, what are you
doing? Making book on the side? It's

impossible to get through to you.

It's a long story, which reminds me,
where's yours?

Well, I've got a whole new angle on
this.

For one thing, it looks like your old
buddy Webster might be involved, more

a little.

You sure about that, Rossi? That doesn't
sound like him.

Well, maybe this town has gotten to him,
Lou. It's really kind of creepy here. I

just don't feel welcome.

You mean you don't feel warm and
accepted?

Like you do here?

Lou, I'll get back to you.

Well, just look at it. It won't bite
you. Hey. Unless you're afraid of the

truth. I'm not interested, that's all.

Well, how do you know if you haven't
read it? Look, kid, anytime somebody

me a sheet of paper, tells me it's the
truth, I get suspicious.

Either that's a petition for a citizen's
tax revolt, or you're a disciple of

Baba Ram, somebody.

It's a newspaper.

If you really care about what's going on
in this town, you'll take the time to

read it.

Go on.

Boy, sometimes I wonder how democracy
can survive such a disinterested public.

Hey, kid, hold it.

Hey, kid, come here.

Hey, look, kid, I just want to talk to
you, that's all.

I just want to talk.

So you're right for the L .A. trip, huh?

That's right.

I guess it's tough to get a job in a
really good newspaper.

Well, it's no alchemy or alternative,
but it's a living.

I guess not everybody can write for
Rolling Stone.

Yeah, well, listen, Ernie.

About these charges you make about
Webster... That's just the tip of the

iceberg. I'm doing a whole series on how
he used his newspaper to promote this

censorship campaign and to strengthen
his own influence on local politics.

A reporter can't just make statements
like that. You've got to have

substantiation. I do.

The post office box, rented by the Paul
Revere Society, turns out to be in

Webster's father -in -law's name.

So maybe his father -in -law's involved
with the Paul Revere Society.

His father -in -law died last year.

An editorial from The Sun, August, five
years ago. It calls for the removal of

the two school board members who
consistently voted for innovative

Four years ago, all these scare stories
started appearing about muggings, rapes,

crime in the streets.

Yeah, well, the newspaper's supposed to
report what's going on. Yeah, but these

things were going on in Los Angeles, New
Orleans, Seattle, and Philadelphia.

And then, look at this.

Two years ago, a news item about the
activities of the Paul Revere Society.

What's wrong with that?

It was before the Paul Revere Society
even existed.

He invented the group and used the sun
to make it a reality.

Well, it's interesting.

It's interesting.

I'm not through yet.

By this time, they were getting cocky.

They thought they could get away with
anything.

So they threw me off the school paper.

Wow, the last bastion of freedom.

Okay, laugh.

But I had to go underground.

So now you're in it all alone?

I don't care.

Figured there aren't a lot of people I
can trust anyhow.

And, uh, when the Trib publishes this
story, maybe I won't be all alone.

I'm gonna want to check this out.

It's all there.

Do I have to write the story for you,
too?

You know, Ernie, you're the most
arrogant, overbearing kid I ever met.

I think that's why I liked you.

I got a piece to go to the art animal I
has on the restoration of the Watts

Towers.

It's fine, but I still want something
timely for page one.

You want timely?

I've got something that's not on the
budget. The inside story of the Duffy's

Menagerie controversy.

What are you talking about?

The pulling of this strip is newsworthy.

By banning it, we've created a lot of
interest.

The wires have picked it up.

I've assigned Billy to get the public
reaction and to see if the other papers

have banned it as well.

If not, why not?

So I guess you want to interview me
next.

He's waiting in your office right now.

Wait a minute. How far are we going to
go with this?

I think it's a good idea.

It's news whether we like it or not.

Big news out in that room.

I'm with Adam.

Look, we all know that Senator Fleming
is tied in with the Arabs, right?

Well, we've never been able to prove it.

Well, here's a way to raise the question
and let the public in on what we know.

Yeah, people with columns and cartoons,
you know, guys like Herblock, Russell

Baker, Doonesbury, they serve a
function.

Sometimes they're ahead of the news.

Look, I'd like the public to know about
Senator Fleming, but I just don't want

to get clobbered in court.

I think all these arguments go into this
story.

You've been very helpful, Charlie.

I've also got heart to go with it.

You must have been quite an athlete.

Most of these belong to Jeff.

My son.

We lost him at 69.

Sorry.

Say, take a look at these.

Oh, wow.

How did you get a hold of those? Oh, it
took years of collecting.

These are history in the making.

Oh, history making?

I mean, back then, newspaper was the
only source of information. A well

piece could influence a lot of people.
Oh, wow.

Newspaper was a powerful thing, all
right.

Still is.

It can be in the right hands.

That's why I take my work so seriously.

Yeah, this town's been good to me.

I just like to give something back.

I can understand that.

I used to work for a big city newspaper
like the Trib, but it wore me out.

Too many stories with unhappy endings.

Victims seemed to get younger and
younger.

Everybody out for himself.

I wouldn't want that to happen in this
town.

I like to think I'm doing something to
prevent it.

I'm a reporter.

I don't make news.

I know.

And you're a damn good reporter.

You don't let anything or anybody stand
in your way when you're after a good

story. I've been watching you.

You have?

I have.

I've seen you work on the trip, and I
like what I've read.

You know, I have a... I have a selfish
reason for asking you here for dinner

tonight.

Running the Sun's a 24 -hour job.

I'm beginning to slow down just a little
bit, but... I'm looking for someone to

take over the paper down the line.

Now, don't say anything now. You just
think about it.

There's a chance to use your talents to
their fullest.

It could be a good thing, Joe.

For both of us.

Any messages?

The paper called.

TV on the blanket.

Decided to get rid of it.

Why? Got sick of all the trash they put
on.

Too bad they burned all those books.
You'd have something to read. Maybe they

didn't go far enough.

Books aren't the only bad influence.

I was watching TV last night with my
family.

Show we've enjoyed for years.

All of a sudden, the star of the show,
this pretty nurse. This is a comedy,

you. She says she's on the pill.

I couldn't believe it.

My daughters always thought the world of
that girl.

But isn't that realistic? Don't some
people do that?

She's got a responsibility when she gets
on the TV.

Doesn't she know there's going to be
kids watching her?

Nowadays, they've got doctors in those
stories that give out pills just to make

people feel good. And cops that act like
criminals.

But those things do happen.

Not around here, they don't. I won't
have it in my home.

Permanently? You're going to turn off
the television permanently?

Come Tuesday night, my family may have
to start talking to each other again.

Why? What's happening Tuesday night?

Stick around, you'll see.

We'll put that TV to good use.

Books aren't the only things that burn,
you know.

Lou Grant will continue in a moment here
on A &E.

Does your bra have a time?

Morning.

Morning, Miss Pitcher. Morning.

Morning, Miss Pitcher. Good morning.

Good morning, Miss Pitcher.

Morning. Morning.

This may be someone's idea of cute. I
find it infuriating.

I gave it a lot of thought.

Hardly enough.

We dared not run that strip on the comic
page. The following day, I find it on

page one.

There's a critical difference here.

Let me explain it for me.

The withholding of the strip was an
event which became news.

A matter of interest and of curiosity to
our readers.

Now, for them to judge the controversy,
they had to see what it was all about.

And in the opinion of everyone on
editorial, we felt that we were obliged

the strip as a news item.

We laid it out with legal, and Sackler
agreed that we were on solid legal

ground. I appreciate your opinion.

And I'm shocked to learn Mr. Sackler, a
man who's had three years of law school,

passed the bar, practiced journalistic
law for ten years, has agreed with you.

In my opinion, for whatever that's
worth.

This newspaper is in big trouble.

I thought you expressed yourself very
well.

And it's not just a question of this
book or of my conduct.

It's a question of whether the board is
acting properly when it begins to censor

material in the classrooms.

Miss Kiefer, we're not here to debate
school board policy.

We're here to determine whether or not
you were fired with just cause.

But that is why I was fired.

Because I refused to accept censorship
of textbooks in my classroom. Do you

anything else to say?

Yes.

I really don't want to lose my job.

And the board recognizes Mr. Grizzard.

Miss Kiefer, my boy Ray Jr. is in your
class.

And he thinks highly of you.

But let me tell you what happened the
other night.

My son sits down at the dinner table and
asked me, Dad, do you think we ought to

legalize prostitution?

And I said, where did you pick that up?

I figured he'd tell me on the playground
from some of the older kids, something

like that.

But he got it in our school, in your
class, Miss Kiefer.

He said they had a discussion.

And those children voted to legalize
prostitution. May I respond to this,

please? I couldn't believe it. It was
something in a magazine one of the kids

read. They wanted to talk about it. Ms.
Kiefer, you've had the floor, Ms.

Kiefer. Mrs. Alden?

I'm worried about 12 -year -olds on
dope.

Kids who run away.

Families that aren't families anymore.

See, if I have anything besides material
things to give my kids, it's my

beliefs, my values.

And I'm not going to stand by and have
them torn down. Not in the schools.

Not any place.

And if it means burning a few books to
protect my family, I say burn them.

It's getting late.

I think we're ready to vote.

Mr. Chairman, I'd just like to say that
I agree with Mr. Grizzard and

Mrs. Alden.

Something bad is happening in our school
because they're unloading the best

teacher I ever had, Miss Kiefer.

who got the kids talking and listening.
I refuse to be lectured to by a 16 -year

-old. Well, I'm not going to shut up
just because you say to. Ernie.

Maybe you should listen to someone else
for a change. Ernie, let's not have a

big ruckus here.

You've had your say.

Let's proceed with the vote.

All right, Mrs. Teal, but you're the
last.

I know it isn't the smartest thing for
me to speak at this hearing, but I can

understand your wanting to protect this
community.

I moved to Altamira because people count
for something here.

But what's happened recently has made us
forget that.

We've said there are ideas out there we
don't want to hear about.

We're afraid to listen.

And we end up afraid to listen to each
other.

I just want Marilyn Kiefer to know she's
not alone.

Just one more, Senator.

Senator, do you have any comment on the
recent charges made in a popular comic

strip regarding your alleged Arab ties?

Well, I'd like to say I do enjoy Duffy's
menagerie, especially when he makes fun

of the other party.

But the charges you're referring to are
completely false, and I might add,

libelous. Then do you plan any... Just
one more thing, Senator. Just one more.

One more thing. Right over here. Senator
Fleming, do you plan any legal action

against the strip or the newspapers
involved?

There's very little a public figure can
do to protect himself from this kind of

smear, so I won't take any legal action.

But I do wish Mr.

Diepenbaker'd get a new pair of glasses.
I don't look anything like that

character in the strip.

Don't you think I'm much better looking?

We got some great news. Tell us,
Charlie. Yeah, we just got a call from

She's hurt from Fleming. The senator
says he has no intention of suing the

She just wants to drop the whole thing.

There's relief in it while you were
talking to Miss Newman. I was on the

to mr.

Diefenbaker's lawyer It seems the artist
is very angry with us for pulling his

strip He says it is the breach of
contract and he is suing the Tribune for

restraint of trade

Joe

you're a hard man to reach

Well, I've been busy.

I was just wondering what you thought
about the job here at the Sun we were

talking about. Do I have an addition to
my staff?

Oh, no. No, I'm still working for the
Trib. In fact, I'm here in Trib

See, I need your reaction to something
for my story.

What's that?

How do you respond to the charge that
you created the poor of your society and

that you whipped up this censorship
hysteria in Altamira?

Oh, Joe.

You spend a few days here and you think
you know this town.

If you did, you'd know that my newspaper
just reflects the views of the

community. Reflects or creates?

Listen, if you agreed with me, you'd be
praising me as a committed, involved

journalist. I'm not so sure.

You slanted stories. You printed lies.

You used inflammatory editorials. You're
intimidating people and getting them

fired. And you call that being an
involved journalist?

What do you think I'm after?

You think I'm after money?

You think I'm after power? No, sir, I'm
not.

I'm just concerned about this community.

I'm trying to stop the corruption that's
out there from claiming any more

victims.

What are you talking about?

I'm talking about my own son.

Excuse me. I thought your son died in
Vietnam.

It wasn't the war that killed him.

It was his coming back to this country
and getting involved with that element

L .A.

It was drugs.

That's what killed him.

I couldn't save Jeff.

But there are kids out there who still
have a chance.

Mr. Webster, I'm sorry for your loss, I
am.

But you're not helping these kids by
controlling what they see and read.

If it's destructive to them, I can damn
well try.

You know, I don't know if I believe in
much of anything.

And the more I see, the less I believe.

But there is one thing I do hang on to.

I'll give you a quote.

If all human ideas, good and bad, are
allowed a battleground, so long as truth

is in the field, truth will prevail.
That's John Milton. I don't think you've

gotten around to burning him yet.

Where you been, Ross? Yeah, been leaving
messages at your motel. Yeah, I know.

They're running around a lot.

You have the story?

Well, yeah, almost.

There's just one more little event I
have to cover.

How's it shape up?

Well, I came up here looking for bad
guys, and you know I've been a little

spooked, looking over my shoulder
expecting a lynch mob to come around the

corner.

But I had it all wrong, Lou. So it's not
that bad?

No, Lou, it's a lot worse than that.

These are just nice, ordinary people who
are confused, uncertain, and

frightened, and very scary.

Hey, I thought you'd be gone by now.

I had to get a finish for my story.

You got your finish, all right.

It's not just books tonight.

It's album covers and records.

It's skin magazines and movie ads.

It's television sets.

They want to burn everything they don't
want.

I feel so dumb just watching it happen.

I don't know what to do.

Write about it.

Write it.

He's a distinguished actor with an
unforgettable voice. Yet as a child, he

rarely spoke.

Follow the dramatic success story of
James Earl Jones tonight on an all -new

biography. Now, a San Francisco
terrorist sets a deadly trap for Sammy

Macmillan and White. Next on A &A.