Original subtitles

I can't hear you.

Garbage! Garbage! I'm just kidding.

Just kidding. Just a little joke. Hey, I'll go get my weight picker basket and

I'll bring it right downstairs.

You better hurry.

Dad's going bananas.

Oh, yeah? What's Dad going bananas about now?

The garbage.

Oh.

The garbage?

Yeah. The garbage men don't like us anymore.

Yeah, well, I can understand that. We sure do give them a lot of business.

Yeah, Dad said we have to pay taxes. And if they don't shape up, he's gonna...

He's gonna what?

I'm not supposed to tell you.

Nicholas, I'm a big girl now. You can tell me. Okay, come here.

Dad said that?

Uh -huh. But don't quote me. I'm not allowed to talk that way.

David, what are you doing here so early?

Well, Nicholas called at the crack of dawn. Something about wanting a meeting

with me. Oh, it sounds serious.

Oh, are you staying for breakfast?

Depends on when the meeting breaks up.

Hi,

Mary. Early.

Morning. Morning.

Hi,

Chip. You're late.

Well, I'm sorry, but there was a lot of traffic.

Oh, wait a second. What am I late for? For living up to your promise.

Aren't trying to back down, are you?

I don't think so.

Which promise?

Remember the promise that says, when I grow up, they hear I get your old BB

Oh, yeah, that's right. I did say that, didn't I?

Now, wait a minute. Do you think you're really up to that?

Look, no shoes either.

See for yourself.

Okay, I'll check on it.

Ah, my goodness. From the looks of this, you were probably big enough for the BB

gun last week.

Well, I didn't want to seem too pushy, you know.

So when are you going to give it to me?

Well, first I have to find the darn thing.

Oh, it's in the basement by the furnace, way back in the corner, under Susan's

old sleeping bag. And after I find it, it has to be checked out and cleaned.

So when do you... Tonight after work. Is that soon enough?

I guess so.

See you at breakfast.

Hey, Abby, what's for breakfast?

Let's see. If it's Tuesday, these must be waffles. Oh, I just gained a pound. I

guess I'll have to have dry toast. I'm in between bell sizes.

Sports, sports, sports.

I'll have the fruit sexy. Yeah, if I can't eat it. Good morning.

Hey, by the way, Tommy, the waste paper baskets upstairs are flowing over.

Get on the job, boy.

Well, I can't help it. There's no place to put it. We've got more trash around

here than we do trash. I don't believe it. Listen to this, you guys.

One man's rubbish is another man's trash.

by any other name smells just as rank.

The time has finally arrived for someone to restate the obvious.

Man's garbage is a byproduct of his environment.

That being the case, the accumulation of garbage has gotten to the point where

it either must be lived with as a friend or else dealt with in a firm yet

intelligent fashion.

Some guy's got to be a real idiot. to be writing about garbage.

That happens to be my column your sister is reading. Oh, no. As my younger

brother was saying, a man must be very wise and forgiving to write about such

important subject as garbage.

Go ahead and laugh. In a family this size, trash is no laughing matter.

Still sounds like garbage to me.

Yeah.

And here we have the king

of the trash heap, even as we speak.

Mr. Bradford, it's Dr. Maxwell.

Oh!

Hi,

Greg. How are you?

Lunch? Oh, sure, I'd love to.

What time, old buddy?

12 .30? That's just great.

Okay. Bye -bye.

I think that you are going to have to get an unlisted number.

Oh.

I finally told the message desk to pick up your incomings.

I think your column had a sensitive nerve.

Oh, yeah?

Oh, well, that was the intention. I find that if you really want to do

something, you've got to force the issue. Tom?

I'm glad I caught you. Mr. Randolph. Hi.

How are you, Elliot? Come on in. What's on your mind?

Much ado about garbage. It's big, Tom. It's really big.

The switchboard has been lit up like a Christmas tree ever since the morning

editions hit the streets.

You hit the public where they live, Tom.

Right between the trash cans.

Well, I only write what I feel. I really do feel that this whole trash situation

has gone on long enough.

Apparently, the mayor's office agrees with you. They called me this morning,

first thing.

They want to see you this afternoon if you're free. About 5 .15, I think they

said. The mayor's office? Me? What do they want?

They didn't elaborate. I suppose they want to give you a commendation or

something. Listen, I can see it now.

Thomas Bradford.

Engraved across a miniature bronze trash can.

Yeah. Oh, it's big, Tom. It's really big.

It's big, Tom.

Really big.

So if you definitely want the Caesar salad... I suggest we split one.

All right, that's fine with me. I'm not really too hungry, not with all those

telephone calls and my meeting with the mayor later. I tell you, my stomach is

doing funny things.

Oh, well, then I'll have your anchovies. Not good for a funny stomach.

By the way, where are you getting all your info about the garbage situation?

I'll never tell.

Listen, that stuff about recycling kids that don't treat you with respect, that

could lead to repercussions.

Max, that's pure satire. How could anybody take that seriously?

Do not underestimate the power of the pen, Tom. Oh, come on now. Did the

in Ireland start eating children after Swift wrote a modest proposal?

Not that I know of.

Nobody could possibly take my proposal, literally.

Listen, there are an awful lot of weirdos running around out there.

Yeah? Well, then maybe I'd better lay off the satire. And the anchovies.

Even worse for you than...

Satire.

Perfect.

Hey, hey.

Hold on there, Butch Cassidy.

But it's all finished.

Yeah, the BB gun is, but your lessons on how to handle it aren't.

Now, it's a short list, and it's easy to remember.

And you will remember it, right?

Right. All right.

First of all, never, ever point the gun at anybody.

Not in fun, not when it's unloaded, never.

Yeah, but how can you hurt somebody with an unloaded gun?

Because more often than not, the gun ends up being loaded.

But if it's loaded, it's not... Nicholas, no discussion on this point.

point the gun at anybody, I have to take it back.

Gotcha. Second of all, don't shoot at birds or animals.

I mean, they don't shoot at you, so they deserve the same consideration.

And last, don't go off half -cocked.

What does that mean?

That means don't try pulling this...

Trigger when the cocking handle is half -cocked, because you will smash your

fingers and ruin the gun.

Okay? Now you try it.

Don't aim the gun at anybody, even when it's not loaded.

Don't shoot at birds, and don't go off half -cocked. Oh, my boy.

You are now the proud owner of your very own antique BB gun.

Excuse me, aren't I supposed to see the mayor?

I think you just did, Mr. Bradford.

Samuel Benchley, district attorney.

I must apologize for keeping you waiting. Won't you come in and have a

Oh, sure, that's all right. It's just that I didn't know I was supposed to see

you. Why am I here?

Well, my office is so conspicuous, and you know how reporters are. Always

looking for a scandal to report.

I meant, why are you and I together at all?

I read your column this morning.

Oh. In fact, so did my entire staff.

Found it very interesting. I'd like to read something to you.

While certain middle -class neighborhoods have been reduced from two

pickup per week, is it merely a coincidence that other areas, such as

Myers' very own posh Royal Heights neighborhood, still merit garbage

twice a week?

One begins to speculate that perhaps a different sort of...

Garbage is on the minds of those running the city dump.

You read that very well.

Is that all you have to say?

What else is there to say? I mean, I'm very familiar with it. I wrote the

article, remember?

Precisely why you're here.

I knew there must be some reason.

You made some very pointed accusations, Mr. Bradford. No, no, no. Nothing in my

column was an accusation.

I just called them the way I sees them.

Well, then...

Would you mind telling me where you got your information?

Excuse me?

Your source, or sources, for the column. Who were they?

I don't see where that has anything to do with it.

I think you do.

Now, if there's a leak in my office, I want to know about it.

If it's somewhere else, I still want to know.

On the record, off the record, whatever makes you happy.

I'm sorry to let you down, Mr. Benchley, but on the record, I have nothing to

say. Even a columnist is a reporter. I don't have to reveal my sources.

That's final.

I'm a very fair man, Mr. Bradford. Good. In that case, our visit is over.

So, I'm going to give you more time to consider your position.

No, no.

All the time in the world is not going to change my mind. And in that time, I

suggest that you do something very important to your future.

I suggest that you consult an attorney, Mr. Bradford. What? A very competent

attorney. One who knows what the inside of a jail looks like.

Because if you refuse to answer my question the next time I ask, Mr.

you are going to be in big trouble. Really big trouble.

I tell you, kid, all my life as a writer, I don't think I've ever had my

journalistic integrity threatened the way it was today.

Obviously, he must think I'm as unscrupulous as he is to ask me to do

thing. Then to suggest I get an attorney?

He's full of more garbage than we have stocked out there.

Well, Dad, why can't you just tell the DA what he wants to know?

Oh, Elizabeth, are you kidding me?

I mean, what about First Amendment freedoms of speech in the press?

A reporter's confidence is sacred, just like a doctor or a priest.

Well, if the DA's going to all this trouble, Dad's information might be

important. Oh, boy.

Well, isn't the district attorney supposed to be a good guy?

Huh. That just depends on which side of the court you're sitting.

Right on.

Yeah, that's right. Elizabeth, if Dad knuckled under and revealed his sources,

no one would ever trust him again.

He'd be considered a traitor like Benedict Arnold.

You know...

There's this kid in my class called Benjamin Arnold, and he always tells on

everybody. He shouldn't do that, right, Dad? That's right, Nicholas.

He told on me today, and boy, did I get in trouble.

So, Nicholas, are you going to tell us what you did?

Oh, oh, I'm not going to be a traitor on myself.

Integrity runs deep in this family.

Um, so what's going to happen?

I don't know. It's hard to say.

It's the DA's move next.

But I'm ready for him.

I tell you, kids, I'm going to go the distance on this. I really am.

I think that's great, Dad. I mean, you should stand up for what you believe in.

Yeah, even if what you believe in is garbage.

No, no.

I didn't mean it that way, really. You guys know what I mean.

I can see it now, Dad.

Every journalist, every columnist, every reporter in this country is going to be

rallying behind you.

Give me liberty or give me death.

Let's hope it doesn't get that far.

Well, believe me, it won't.

Okay, we have other work to do right now.

Tommy, time to hit the sack.

But it's not even 9 o 'clock yet. Yes, but we have to get up at 5 a .m.

tomorrow. What for?

We have a very important mission.

You know, Dad, somehow I don't think that lying in wait to ambush the garbage

men is an important mission.

Tommy, there comes a time in a man's life when he's got to take the bull by

horns. Yeah, I know, but 5 o 'clock in the morning?

Good morning, men.

Listen, men, what about these cans?

Too heavy?

Oh, no, no, they're not too heavy. My son and I had no problem carrying them

here. Congratulations.

Must be non -union. Rules say we can't lift anything over 40 pounds. Ha! You

just picked that up.

I also put it back down.

How do you know how much these weigh?

It's my job, Mac. You trying to tell me I don't know my job?

Oh, no, no, of course not. No, it's just that I... Well, I would like a second

opinion.

Drago?

Drago? Yes, Smith?

What's that can weigh?

Forty -six pounds.

What do you think?

Smith?

How much is that can worth?

Forty -five.

Forty -six.

Stop.

Forty -five.

Forty -six. Bet you're now behind the wheel.

You're off.

Okay, you drive.

Wait a minute. Look, now listen. You guys have your rules, and we've got our

garbage. So would it be all right if my son and I just empty these cans into the

truck for you? Can't do that, Mac.

Gant's the rule.

You really should use a stronger box.

Oh, I think we're running late.

Wait, listen. Are you doing this because of my article in the register?

Register?

We don't read that rag. It's too liberal.

Well, what about this stuff on the street?

Sorry, mister. We don't do gutters.

What'd you go out and do that for? You made me miss the bottle by a pile. I

meant to.

What are you doing?

I'm taking this away. I don't approve of guns.

But it only shoots babies.

I don't care. I don't like guns.

But David gave it to me in his mind.

Not anymore. It isn't, Nicholas.

Hey, kid, is this the Bradford house?

Yeah, what are you?

Lance Hamm, Sacramento Union.

What?

Who is it?

Tom, the register is prepared to go to the mat on this.

We are behind you, boy, 1 ,000%. Oh, Elliot, that's nice. I appreciate it.

just that, you know, I was thinking about this all night, and I don't think

going to go any further. I think the DA is just making a lot of noise.

Oh, maybe, Tom, maybe.

Then again, maybe not.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Tom Bradford, this is Ezra Brandeis Howard from Legal Affairs. I took the

liberty of inviting him to sit in with us. Oh, sure. That's fine, Elliot. It's

just that I don't think I need a lawyer.

Better to have an attorney when you don't require one than not to get one

it's too late. I'll remember that.

I think.

Well, then let it get down to the particulars in this case.

We've already spoken with the other side, and they've assured me that they

mean business.

Apparently the grand jury is investigating some allegations of

between a privately contracted waste removal company and a certain member of

city government.

And they seem to feel that you just might be the missing link.

Well, so what if I am? I mean, they can't force me to reveal my sources.

Constitutional precedents are still unclear on this matter of First and

Amendment protections. And until the state Supreme Court makes a ruling one

or the other, the grand jury may just decide to hold you in custody.

Hold me in custody?

Hold me in custody? What do you mean? They're going to put me in jail?

Come on now, they can't do that.

I'd say they not only can, they most definitely will.

Oh, for how long?

Not being indeterminate, I'd estimate the Supreme Court would make a ruling

unusually prompt in a case like this, say, eight or ten weeks.

But of course, there's no guarantee the court will rule in our favor. You can

see, Tom, how much we all have at stake.

Well, freedom of the press has its price, Tom.

Listen, I can see that you two have a great deal to discuss.

I'll be in my office if you need me with the corporate attorneys.

Remember, Tom, 1 ,000%, huh?

Ten weeks at 1 ,000%, that's only 100 % a week.

You say you've initiated a policy of recycling garbage.

Can you give me an idea how you accomplished that?

Oh, sure. It's all based on the theory of supply and demand.

That's right, along with the theory of diminishing returns.

Oh, diminishing returns.

Can you be more specific?

We use paper towels three times before we throw them away.

Great angle.

When is a paper towel past its prime?

a think piece.

Mr. Hamm, I really think that you should wait until my father gets home.

Wait a second.

Whose car is blocking my driveway? It's Mr. Hamm's. He's a reporter for the

union. What does he want?

A scoop.

What?

Hamm? Be right with you, Mr. Bradford. Be right out of my house, Mr. Hamm.

But he didn't take down all my background yet.

Yeah, I was just getting to the best part.

Yeah, Nancy was telling him about her first date.

I don't care if she was telling him about the secret of eternal life.

going to come into the house and do an expose on my family. Now, please get

But what about the public's right to know? What about freedom of speech? What

about freedom of the press? What about getting out of the house while you still

can under your own power?

I'll call you later. Out!

Out! Oh, what a nerve.

Tom, wake up. There's someone at the front door.

Oh, it's 3 o 'clock.

3 o 'clock. What?

Who's button is it? I don't know.

Come around.

It's 3 o 'clock in the morning. Somebody wants something?

Can somebody order a pizza?

Maybe it's another burglar. No, burglars don't ring doorbells.

You've got to be kidding.

I don't believe it.

Mr. Thomas Bradford? Yes.

I have a subpoena requiring you to appear as a witness before the grand

Sacramento.

Have a pleasant evening, Mr. Bradford.

By the way, I loved your article.

It's too bad that it wasn't a pizza. There's nothing to eat around here.

How can you feel like eating at a time like this? What time is it, anyway?

Certainly isn't time to get up yet.

Did they get a Barry Port card or something?

Sort of, Nicholas.

Except it's called a subpoena.

And it's like a report card, but it has four Fs.

Boy, Dad sure is in trouble.

No, Nicholas, he's not in trouble. It's just that he has to appear in front of a

grand jury.

I'm not going to appear.

What do you mean you're not going to appear? Dad, if you don't appear,

going to put you in jail.

Let them. I'm not going to be intimidated by this witch hunt. Is Dad

to jail?

No, Nicholas, Dad is not going to go to jail.

That's not true. I might very well go to jail.

Hey, I got an idea.

We could sneak Dad a cake hidden in a file.

Oh, very funny, Tommy.

Dad, whatever you decide, we're behind you 100%. You bet.

Absolutely. I mean, you've heard of the Chicago 7?

Here we have the Sacramento one.

Yeah. Right on.

Do we still get our allowance if Dad goes to jail?

Hello? David?

Nicholas, why are you whispering?

Because I don't want her to hear what I say.

What are you saying?

She took the BB gun away.

Who did?

Abby. Can she do that?

I certainly can do that. Abby, I gave him that gun.

Well, you shouldn't have. An eight -year -old has no business playing with guns.

It's only a BB gun, Abby. You're acting like I gave him a machine gun.

I don't care if it's a water pistol. I will not have guns in this house.

Why?

Because I don't approve of guns.

Listen, Abby, he's my brother. You have no right to take away a gun. I have

every right to. I am his stepmother.

And as long as I'm in this house, I will not have him playing with guns. Do you

understand that?

Are you pulling rank on me?

Yes, yes, I'm pulling rank on you. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm late for work.

His lawyer's here. He's not my lawyer. The paper owns him.

Make yourself at home, Mr. Howard.

I've looked over the subpoena, and it's quite specific. Failure to appear will

clearly be an act of contempt.

I've already discussed this with the district attorney, and he won't budge on

it. Of course, we could always file a motion for continuance, but since you're

witness and not a defendant, such a motion would hardly be in order.

Unless, of course, we could show reasonable cause.

I don't care.

Pardon me?

Look, you can do whatever you want. You can file motions, briefs, affidavits,

anything. You can stand on your law books and recite the Gettysburg Address.

am not going to appear before the grand jury.

You get me?

Please, spare me the histrionics.

Now, then, where were we? Uh, motion for continuance, yes.

Look, Donna, I'll be in the city room. Call me when my office is free.

Findable, isn't he?

You should see him when he's angry.

What do you say, Mary? Disposal?

No. Elizabeth's celery is much too fibrous. It just doesn't go down. I

the garbage can's overflowing, ma 'am.

All right.

Considering we are in a state of garbage emergency, give it a try.

Hi, what's for dinner?

Here goes.

Huh?

Wait a second. We...

Dinner. I don't know what's for dinner. Will you call David?

What does David do?

David. You're kidding.

It doesn't work. It doesn't work?

I'll throw the hook and break it. Try it again. Try it again. Okay, I'll try it.

boys and girlies. Just keep that dial right where it's filled with Uncle Miles

and his K -R -L -J jambo.

The TV went out right in the middle of Wonderfront.

Blame it on the celery.

Huh? Hey, you know, this is a good time to defrost.

Come in.

It's bedtime, Nicholas.

All right.

Would you like me to tuck you in?

Are you sure?

Yeah.

Nicholas, about the BB gun.

David told me I should listen to him.

I'm not trying to be mean to you.

Then why can't I have the gun?

Well, Nicholas, it's... Well, it's, um... It's complicated.

See, there's a whole lot of things involved, a lot of things I don't think

understand.

I'm going to bed now.

Tom, I know you have a lot on your mind, but do you have a moment for me?

What?

Oh, Abby, I'm sorry. Yeah, of course. Of course I do.

Well, yesterday I caught Nicholas in the backyard playing with an old BB gun

that David had given him.

And I took it away from him. And, well, David and I had words about it this

morning. And now Nicholas is angry with me.

Nicholas with a BB gun?

Well, your boys had a couple of shotguns around the house.

David and I used to go duck hunting every November.

We had this tradition.

Yeah, so did I.

My father taught me to shoot when I was 11.

I got my first jackrabbit when I was 12.

And after we were married, Frank and I used to go hunting. But that was before,

um... See, when he was shot down, something inside me

just snapped, you know?

I know it was a bullet that killed Franksy, so... So if there were no

And then yesterday when I saw that little eight -year -old boy out there

gun in the backyard, you know, I was right back there.

Do you understand?

Oh, Abby.

I understand.

I understand.

It's just that... The war's over now. You've got to...

You've got to find peace with yourself sooner or later. I know. I know. I know

I'm just being emotional, you know, and I know it was just a BB gun, but... No,

no.

You're a parent now, Abby. You have every right to make judgments for the

children.

I'll tell you something, though.

Sometimes some of those judgments aren't going to be perfect.

But I don't want them to suffer because of my memories.

I'll tell you a secret.

They always do.

Somehow.

They haven't invented the all -perfect, all -knowing parent yet.

But when they do, I'm going to order one right on the spot.

Nobody said it was going to be easy, huh?

Nobody is right.

Good morning. It's a gorgeous morning, isn't it?

Well, what's on the agenda for today?

Donna, is something wrong?

Donna, what's the matter?

Upstairs.

Donna, wait.

What?

Yeah, give me Elliot Randolph's office, please, right away. It's important.

Hello, Elliot.

Oh, Thelma. Yeah, get me... This is Tom Bradford. Get me Mr. Randolph right

away, please.

Yeah, I'll hold on.

Yeah. Hey, hold it.

No, no, not you, Thelma.

Well, yes, I'm still here.

Yeah.

Elliot, what's going on here?

Tom.

Tom, let me assure you, we have every intention of continuing the legal

free of charge.

I want you to know I'm sick to death about this, but believe me, my back is

against the wall. The stockholders are leaving on me. The advertisers are

threatening to pull out.

The paper can't handle what?

Suspended without pay.

And for further investigation of the entire matter.

I don't believe this.

Elliot, do me a favor, will you?

Next time, back me 500 % instead of 1 ,000%.

What

did they think I was going to do, steal a typewriter?

What really gets me is they don't even have the courage to tell me. I mean, I

have to call up Randolph to find out. I could have been there for days, even

weeks, and nobody would have said a word until the paycheck doesn't arrive.

Tom, that's terrible.

But we've got to stay calm about this now. We have to stay calm. Isn't that

ridiculous? I have eight children. I have a mortgage hanging over my head and

one part -time job between us and you ask me to stay calm?

Well, I can go back to work full -time.

What about your Ph .D.? Well, it can wait a semester or two.

No, no. Even that won't be enough.

Tom, look, we can cut back to the bare necessities.

Food, shelter, utilities.

Oh, really? And what about clothing and gasoline?

And doctors, dentists, aid checkups, auto insurance, life insurance, home

insurance, not to mention Elizabeth's dancing lessons and Mary's medical

plus Nicholas's summer camp.

Would you come here a minute, please?

Yes.

There's something I want to show you.

What's this for?

Target practice.

Not bad, eh?

Yeah, and you're a girl.

So they tell me.

You see, Nicholas, I think my father really wanted a boy when I was born, so

taught me all these things that most little girls don't learn.

You want to give it a try?

You mean I can have the BB gun?

If you promise only to use it with an older person around, and if you promise

remember all of the things about safety that David told you, I talked to him

this morning, you're always supposed to keep the barrel pointed.

Downwards, right?

Okay, you ready to give it a try?

Okay.

Cock the gun, Kurt.

Okay. Now, kneel down.

Put the stock against your shoulder.

Okay. Now, squeeze the trigger gently. Don't pull.

I didn't hit nothing. Yeah, well, you will. Just try aiming a little bit below

your target, okay?

Okay.

We're going to have to stop meeting this way.

I mean, people are going to start talking.

We're doing so much trouble.

So I gather. At least you don't know the half of it.

All right.

So you got suspended from your job without pay because you wouldn't

with the grand jury.

If you would stop standing on principles.

I'm standing in quicksand.

Only because you refused to reveal your source.

Did I hear you correctly?

You mean you have no source?

That's right. I had no idea this was going to snowball into such a mess.

You mean a little snafu with your garbage man ended up costing you your

That's funny.

Yeah, if you think it's so funny, why don't you pay my kids' dental bills?

Oh, I'm sorry. I mean, it's ironic, all this to -do about...

Garbage? This whole to -do about garbage not only costs me being suspended from

my job, but it's very apt to get me a contempt citation.

If you can't substantiate your charges against Myers, that could be construed

libel.

Libel? Isn't that what they call public defamation of character?

Caesar salad?

Call the anchovies.

Okay, Joanie, $24 .65.

Oh, thanks.

Pips aren't very good in pizza joints. That's okay. It'll help. So how much we

got now?

$120, $40, $50, $60, $70, $4 .65.

Oh, wait a second. Here comes all money bags themselves.

All right. What do we have? How's the deposit bottle business?

$4 .20.

That's a lot of bottles, right?

Yeah, he did.

And Mary typed term papers and Tommy distributed advertising leaflets. Nancy

waited on tables.

Elizabeth made telephone sales. And Susan and I took tickets at a movie

That is really wonderful.

That is so wonderful, isn't it?

I really think that we could put together $200 a week if we all just put

few more hours.

Easy. Yeah, and I'll kick in what I can.

Dad, we just want you to know that we're really behind you in this. Yeah. Don't

think on your source, okay? Right.

You're a real hero in Sacramento, Dad.

Yeah. You're a Patrick Henry. A Nathan Hale. Yeah.

A Henry David Thoreau. Yeah.

Tom Bradford, crusader for First Amendment rights. Dad, a lot of lesser

would have walked right into that courtroom and just spilled their guts.

they wouldn't have cared about freedom of speech or the confidentiality of

source.

Thanks, kids. I appreciate it.

Hey, Dad, you suppose maybe you could just tell us your source?

Tommy, that would be almost as unethical as telling the grand jury.

Okay, okay.

Just hope this guy's worth it.

City desk, please.

Hello, Gus. It's me, Tom Bradford.

Listen, I want you to do me a favor.

I'm scheduling a news conference tomorrow morning, 10 a .m. at City Hall,

want... Yes, yes, I know. I realize that the grand jury is meeting just down the

hall from the press room, but I still think there'll be reporters that want to

listen to me.

I want you to get this on the wire right away. I want maximum coverage.

It is a big story. It's a very big story.

Sorry, Gus, no scoops. I don't work for the register at the moment, remember?

All right, look, I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll give you an in -depth

interview right after the news conference.

I'll give you the whole story.

1 ,000 % worth.

You make a statement, Councilman. Are you going to take the stand?

Do you deny getting any kickbacks? What is your relationship with a Mr. Philip

Reed? Especially.

Oh, Mr. Bradford. What's going on?

Well, you'll be pleased to know that Councilman Myers has just admitted,

oath, to various impropriety in relation to the city's contract with various

waste removal companies.

He did?

Yeah, I nailed him.

You know, you're a pretty smart reporter, Bradford.

It took my staff of 30 people months to come up with the information that you

had. What information?

Oh, come on now.

Don't be modest, Tom.

You don't mind if I call you Tom, do you? Of course not, but what about the

subpoena? Frame it. Put it up in your den.

You can tell your grandchildren about the time you almost went to jail on a

First Amendment case. You mean I don't have to testify?

No, no, no.

We don't need your source anymore. I have my own witness, and he's an expert.

Oh, by the way.

Don't worry about your job. I'm going to call Randolph right away and give him

the news. He'll probably wind up giving you a bonus. But I have a press

conference scheduled for 10 o 'clock.

Well, then you better hurry or you're going to be late. I'll see you, Tom.

Ladies and gentlemen, because of certain allegations that I made in my column of

January 25th, I was subpoenaed to give testimony to the grand jury.

I refuse to cooperate with a district attorney because I believe that the

principles of confidentiality of news sources is protected by the First

Amendment.

I still believe in that principle, even though I stand before you today

ready to violate it.

Ladies and gentlemen, the

source for the allegations contained in my column is

Tom Bradford.

That's right.

There's no one else involved.

Now, if there are any questions, please.

Yeah, but I got a question.

You think it'd be against your principle to turn out the lights on your way out?

No problem.

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming.

Morning, Mr. Bradford. Yes. Now, you will notice that none of these bags

over 35 pounds. I've divided the cans and placed the garbage into each

individual plastic bag.

They okay, Drago?

35 pounds. 38 at the most.

Load them up.

Hey, wait a minute. Where are you going? There's more bags.

Oh, sorry, Mr. Bradford, but the rules say we can only take ten separate

articles at a time.

What? Gotta follow the rules.

Especially after that grand jury thing. I mean, they're watching every move we

make. Now, wait a minute. What am I going to do with all this garbage?

In a couple more weeks, these will all be out of here.

But in the meantime... Write another article.