All language subtitles for cris1111111111111111111155555555555555555555577777777777777778888888888888

And we are back, in living color,
with our exclusive interview

with the president of the United States,
Richard Milhous Nixon.

Mr. President, before the break,

we were discussing the pending
impeachment investigation.

And I guess we're all wondering,

how are you feeling about your ability
to defend yourself against the charges?

Well, that's very interesting
to hear you say that, Mr. President.

It begs the question,

is it paranoia
if indeed everyone is coming after you?

If you can just drop it
on the floor for now. Hey, Christine.

- Hey.
- Are we interrupting something?

No, I... I was just running
some tape on myself.

It's the new quad machine. Sorry.

- Hey, Jean?
- Yeah?

Have you, uh, noticed
that I do this thing when I...

I nod a little too sympathetically
when I'm interviewing a subject?

- No. How can you be too sympathetic?
- I don't know.

It feels forced.

I'm gonna cue up the interview
for the zoning piece.

- Can you look at the film intro?
- Yes.

After we're done here,
I need your help in the studio.

- Hey, Chris. Is it cued up?
- Yes, it's cued up.

Alright.

- Your stomach's still acting up?
- Yeah, it's just stress.

So I-I was thinking we'll go film intro,
and then go to graphics,

and then jump into this.

We don't need that film intro.
Let's cut it.

- Are you sure?
- This is good. This is solid as it is.

...at least put it to vote,

because while we wait,
there are kids who are suffering.

The whole of Florida suffers...

Stop! Rewind.

- How come?
- It's that lean-in. I wanna see it.

Oh. Hey, I was wondering, um,

if you have time after the show tonight,
can you take a look at something?

Uh, I took your advice. I've been trying
to put a story together.

Well, I have my volunteer shift,

and then dinner, but tomorrow maybe?

- Yeah, alright.
- OK.

...or at least put it to vote,

because while we wait,
there are kids who are suffering.

There. Right there. Stop. See that?

You don't think that's... forced?

No, it's fine. You're listening to them.

Have you noticed Gail has been putting
fake flowers on the table?

- Yeah. Mike asked her to.
- Wayne!

They're silk or something.

How does our new,
very expensive quad look?

Uh, don't know yet. It's still in the box.

Let me know when you get it
up and running.

If it doesn't work, I'm not paying for it.

- Ladies, team meeting. Five minutes.
- Copy five.

I mean it!

- "I mean it!"
- "Five minutes, ladies."

Steve, what's going on in your world?

Orlando's looking at a big storm tonight.

It'd be great to get another ten seconds.

It's gonna have
to come in the lead, then, George.

The lead-in's ten long as it is,

and I got fat to trim
all over the rest of the show.

OK. Keep working on it.

- This just came in.
- Fire just called.

Pickup truck went off the road
on Orangeville.

- Chubbuck, can you get out there?
- Uh, no, sorry. I can't.

What do you mean, you can't?

I'm tucking in that hospital piece.
I need more time.

You're shitting me. I thought
you finished with that last week.

That was Part One.

What is with this
zoning obsession of yours?

- It's inane.
- No, it's important.

People could be dying out there.

Mike, it's fender-bender reporting.
It's demeaning.

I have been very clear

that I am doing issue-oriented
or character-based pieces.

You always make it very, very clear.

Thank you for your clearness.
It's too dry!

We gotta liven things up around here.

The ratings are in the fucking toilet.

You know, I can be on that real quick.

All the film rigs are out anyway.

- Don't.
- Take one of the Akais.

The Akais don't work.

They work, Chubbuck,
you just refuse to learn them.

Which reminds me,
everybody, September the 1st,

everybody in this room! September the 1st.

Mark it on your calendars.

We are all video by then.
There's no excuses.

- Yes?
- Yes.

No excuses!

Jean, d'you mind picking up that footage?

- No, I'm on it.
- Mike, Bob's on the phone.

- Bob, Ford Dealership Bob?
- No. Bob Bob.

- Station owner.
- Fuck.

Tell him I'll be right there.

Tell him I'll call him right back.

Mike, you should go take that.

Probably calling to tell me he's gonna
come here to put us out of our misery.

Bob Andersen deigning to visit us.

That'd be something.

Right. Will he be traveling
by spaceship or unicorn?

OK, quick. Sports. Kirby. Go.

Get your curlers out, Kirby.
We're on in 30.

Thank you.
"...quarterback among his two main..."

- They're gonna skip that.
- That's good. Thank you, Gail.

Anytime, George.

In other news, there was a car
accident on the 301 this morning.

- What time do we have
Christine in the line-up? 5-20.

Five, four, stand by... Take VC1.

The erratic flight patterns
of a pelican. End quote.

The resulting pile-up

fortunately did not result
in any injuries,

but did back up south-bound traffic
all the way to Somerset.

Driving conditions are now normal.

I've changed my mind. We need to add
a film of me walking the county line.

I don't think we can.
We're up in three minutes.

Goddamn it, Chubbuck!

- I'll load it.
- How's that graphic looking?

I don't know. I like it.

The meeting
will begin promptly at 7:30 pm,

and we're told that cookies and coffee
will be served.

Ready, camera two.

And now,
let's kick it over to Steve Turner.

Moving on to weather.

Just a couple of seconds off the top.
Let's go.

- Cue camera two.
- Tell George to stretch.

Tell George to stretch it.
Camera two, go to a two-shot.

It really mucked things up
with that rainstorm last week, huh?

Well, like any new technology,
it has its kinks.

It just kinda makes you look
like a liar, Steve.

Well, I think you know
that I'm not, George.

I'd like to see you jump to the hot seat
one night. See how it feels.

- That sounds like fun, actually.
- I'm sure it does.

- Two.
- As always...

VT1 is open, ladies.
Whenever you're ready.

OK.

Here.

My asshole is like this right now.
It's like this.

I'm going. Copy, copy.

- Let's go.
- OK.

Load graphic on VT1.
Load film on film two.

TRT is 35 seconds. Sound on film.

- Go to interview on VT2.
- Sound on film.

And now, in a special edition
of the Sarasota Suncoast Digest,

an ongoing investigative report
from reporter Christine Chubbuck.

Christine?

Thank you, George.

As you know, there's been some controversy

with several of the hospitals
up near Longboat Key.

I sat down with councilman and
zoning Board president Tom D'Esposito

and some local healthcare professionals

for an exclusive interview
to talk about it

and how it ties into what might be
a larger crisis in Sarasota.

A zoning crisis.

Projector two.

You can't see,
but I'm standing on the line

that divides
Manatee and Sarasota Counties.

There's a proposal on the table right now

to move the line up a fifth of a mile,

so that the Sunshine Children's Home
and other facilities like it

are eligible for more state funding.

However, discussions,
like this railway track,

have come to a dead end.

Mr. D'Esposito, this is the fifth time
in as many months

that the re-zone proposal
has gone forth before the board.

Is your plan to postpone the vote again?

What's your message to residents,

and to the workers
at the Sunshine Children's Center,

and the children in their care?

# You fill up my senses

# Like a night in the forest

# Like a mountain in springtime

# Like a walk in the rain

# Like a storm in the desert

# Like a sleepy blue ocean

Hm, but Miss Tangerine...

Yes, See Saw, darling?

How do you know if it's a stranger?

What do you mean?

Well, what if you know them,

but you don't really know them?

Then what?

Hm. Well, that's a tricky question,
See Saw, darling.

If you've spoken to them more than once,
then they're not a stranger,

and it's probably OK.

Well, thank you, Miss Tangerine.

You're welcome, See Saw.

Thanks, kids.

Thank you, kids.

That was wonderful!
Can everyone thank Miss Christine?

- Thank you, Miss Christine!
- Alright, dinner time, everyone.

Hey, Stevie,
I have a good one for you today.

- Knock knock.
- Who's there?

- Harry.
- Harry who?

Harry up and let me in, it's cold outside.

Alright, it's dinner time, kiddo.

- Goodbye, Miss Christine.
- Bye, Steven.

- Thanks again, Christine.
- Oh, of course.

You know, I was a little torn.

I know most of them
don't leave the grounds ever, so...

No, it's all helpful.

- Yeah?
- Yeah.

Hey, Miranda...

Uh, I've been,
I've been having these, uh...

awful stomach pains, uh, right down here.

Could you, uh...
Could you maybe have a look for me?

Honey, I'm a pediatric nurse.
I'm not really qualified.

That might be in your lady parts.

You should call a doctor.

Yeah, that... that makes sense.

Well, it's... it's probably
just stress anyway.

From the NBC News Center
in New York, this is NBC Nightly News...

- Sorry I'm late, roomie.
- Oh, hey. It's OK.

- Long day?
- Long day.

I was stuck behind this guy on the 41.

We were not moving
in the left-hand lane. It was crazy.

- Don't worry about it.
- Can I have the usual?

- The show was great tonight.
- It wasn't.

They always put me
to the back of the line.

It was great!

Hey, who did the graphic
for the zoning crisis? That was wild.

Yeah? Well, it was my concept.

But Jean did the graphic.
I'm not very good with the tech stuff.

So... how were things
with gorgeous George today?

Don't be weird.

We're still not speaking.

- What's all this stuff?
- I know. I'm sorry.

We're out of storage at work,

and Frank just asked
if I could keep some of it here.

Just for a week or so.

Rent's due tomorrow.
Don't forget this month.

I won't! Jeez!

- Hey, Chris?
- Uh-huh?

Thought more about what
you might wanna do on your birthday?

I'm trying not to think about it.

At least let me take you to dinner.
We could go to Davenport's.

- Maybe you could invite George?
- I have to get to bed.

Oh, come on, Chris,
I was just kidding around.

No, it's fine.

I just have to get up early tomorrow
to grind out a piece before Friday.

Goodnight, Mom.

Oh!

Frank Delmonaco, Miami Action 6,
got an eight with this.

An eight.
He beat out reruns of All in the Family.

They got a 7.6.

- You're reading the numbers now?
- I always read the numbers.

- It's called rounding up.
- Why do I have to be here? I do sports.

This is a team meeting.

It's a simple concept, guys.
If it bleeds, it leads.

There's a reason this idea is
catching fire in the culture right now.

But he... They didn't show that, Mike.
They cut out just before it.

If they'd had the guts
to show the whole thing,

they could've doubled their rating.

There aren't sniper standoffs
in Sarasota. We're not in Miami.

Also, "if it bleeds, it leads"
is not some concept, Mike,

it's a catchphrase that you picked up
at a conference in Cleveland last month.

Chubbuck, this is not debate club.

Well, this is a joke.

This sort of thing, it'll make us a joke.

- I gotta side with Chris on this one.
- Steve, you do weather.

We're the joke, Chubbuck, OK?

We're the joke. You read the numbers?

Tell me, Chubbuck. Tell us all.
What did we do last month?

We're drowning here, guys.

ABC is not kicking in
what they promised this quarter.

The last round of local ads didn't hit,
so people aren't re-upping.

I know this is all
just fun and games for you.

You're all just breezing through here
on your way to a national market.

But the situation is getting fucking dire.

Hear me when I say that.

We need higher ratings.
How do we get them?

Juicier stories. It's simple math, guys.

That's not math, that's logic.

Here we are at the fifth annual
Sarasota Strawberry Festival.

- Shit. Ow.
- ...and humid with a high of 96.

It's currently 75 degrees.

Hey, Chubbuck.

You ready?

A or B?

"The salmonella can seemingly be traced
to poorly packaged chicken from..."

or, "The authorities believe
the salmonella originated..."?

Are you OK?

Why?

Do I not seem OK?

You're not upset about Nelson, are you?

No.

You can't let him get inside your head.

Can he even hear himself sometimes?

He just gets all grumpy,

because he's got Mrs. Mike Nelson
back home waiting for him.

Use the "authorities" line.

Make people feel like someone's
steering the ship, you know?

Yeah.

You're OK?

I'm OK.

I'm OK, you're OK, right?

Alright.

...the Sarasota Strawberry Festival.

Here we go, folks.
My first strawberry of the season.

So, Sharon Davis, what can you tell me
about this...?

Well, this is our fifth year.
We've been doing it since 1969.

New in town, huh?

- Yeah. Uh, uh, about a year.
- Hm.

- I used to vacation here as a kid.
- Hm.

Yeah.

You were, uh...
You were in Boston before this, right?

- Hm-hmm.
- Great city.

- Yeah, but Ohio originally.
- Hm.

So...

How long have these pains
been going on for?

- I don't know. About a month or two.
- Hm.

- Probably just stress.
- Probably.

But better safe than sorry, right?

We'll take blood and urine,
and do a pregnancy test.

A pregnancy test?

OK. Sure. Whatever. Good luck with that.

- Been a while, huh?
- Oh, you could say.

And I think we'll do some x-rays.

We'll need to schedule
a follow-up for next week. Alright?

Absolutely. Whatever you need.

Says here someone's
got a birthday coming up, huh?

Oh, yeah, don't remind me.

The big 3-0, huh?

Can you put your feet up
in the stirrups, please?

Oh. Sure.

Alright. Now slide down.

Slide your hips right down
to the edge of the table for me.

- Hm-hmm.
- Thank you.

From the NBC News Center
in New York, this is NBC Nightly News,

reported by John Chancellor.

The House Judiciary Committee
voted today to make public

all the classified material
it has amassed in seven weeks

into the inquiry into the impeachment
of President Nixon.

The vote was 22 to 16,
with 16 Democrats and six Republicans

voting to release the evidence.

Anything else while you wait?

No, no.

Long day.

- I guess I've been stood up.
- That's rough.

I'll just, uh, take the check there.

Hi, hi. Sorry to interrupt.

I, uh, couldn't help
but, uh, notice you back there.

Y-Y-You both seem
to be v-very much in love.

Thanks. We are.

How long have you been together?

It's our third anniversary.

Oh.

Wow.

You must think I'm crazy.
My name is Christine.

I'm a reporter at WZRB, and I have
a community affairs segment

called The Suncoast Digest.

And I'm always on the lookout
for a positive, human-interest story.

Uh... Here.

Let me give you my...

You wanna call me.

I, uh, I can't guarantee
that you'll make it to air,

but, uh, why not give it a shot, right?

"OK, lady, we get it.
Let us get back to our dinner."

I am... I'm real sorry to interrupt.

I just... You just made my night.

Don't lose sight
of what you have here. OK?

Words...

matter.

Coffee never killed anyone.

Chris? I'm so, so sorry I missed dinner.

I got a little tied up at work.

You could've called the restaurant.

I know. I... I got a little distracted.

Frank had us do an inventory.

Well, you've got to learn
how to stand up to him.

I know, I know. You wanna hang out?

No, I think I'm gonna get to bed early.

You sure?

One hundred percent positive.

Do better. Better, goddamn it.

Can somebody grab the phone?

Are you freaking out? I am freaking out.

No. Why?

Well, it's just the worst
possible time for this to be happening.

Is your computer acting up again?

My computer is more than
acting up. It's taking over my mind.

I'm in the booth, talking it over
with the Japanese tech guy,

and that's no small feat.

"The circuits are flied."

I swear, we are about
to break the whole thing wide.

I'm talking countries
coming together here, Chris.

And Jean busts in,
like I'm in some sort of bad dream,

and tells me that I have to get out,
because Mike is giving Bob a tour,

and I'm just like, "Really, Jean?"

- Wait. Bob?
- Yeah.

Now I gotta stand up
in front of an empty map

with nothing to say
like a goddamn birthday clown!

Bob Andersen?

Yeah. Bob fucking Andersen.
Are we having the same conversation?

Jean? Hey, Jean! Jean!

Hurry.

- Yeah?
- What do you know?

- About what?
- About what? About Bob Andersen.

Oh, nothing, really. He just came by.

It's crazy, right?
I think he's with Mike right now.

Hey... I keep meaning
to talk to you about something.

Communication.

Get someone out there.
See if we can get some shots.

Did you see Bob Andersen?

Yes, Chubbuck,
can I help you with something?

I'm sorry.

Uh...

I...

I just wanted to let you know
that I've been getting a lot of calls

about that Strawberry Festival piece.

Great! Thank you.

Goodbye.

I'm serious.
Are we taking a championship this year?

This might be the year, George.

There you have it, ladies and gentlemen,

a bold prediction
from our own Andrea Kirby.

And that's all we have for you, Sarasota.

Stay tuned for Police Surgeon,
followed by the national news.

Until tomorrow.

And we are out.
Thank you, everybody. Great show.

Who's thirsty?

Oh, yeah, let's go
to that place across the street.

Bob Andersen
was watching you from back there.

Yeah, I saw him.

Everybody's freaked out about it.

- Thank you.
- Thank you.

- Good one, guys.
- You too, Steve.

No, I saw him wave. Did he say
anything to you? Did he talk to you?

He didn't talk to anybody.
He spent the whole day with Mike.

Oh.

So that's how it feels to have
everyone's attention and respect?

What's going on here, Mike?

Calm down, Steve.

What do you mean, calm down, Mike?

We are talking about
all of our lives here.

Why didn't you tell us that he was here?

I didn't know he was coming
any more than you guys.

He flew down this morning,
called me at home, asked to have lunch.

Mike, are we... are we gonna be shut down?

In defiance of any logic,
or common sense I can discern...

he's here to see if he can poach
some on-screen talent.

- What do you mean, poach?
- He's not shutting us down.

He's actually picking up
another station in Baltimore. WKRB.

So I guess he's doubling down
on this whole news thing.

Wait, so he wants to hire one of us
to work in Baltimore?

It's a top 30 market.

I love how quickly you've all
moved off your fear of getting fired.

If he takes one of you,

it's gonna be a royal pain in the ass
for the rest of us.

- Who's he gonna take?
- Steve, I have no fucking idea.

But he's gonna be hanging around
for a couple of weeks,

working on this and a couple of other
real-estate deals he's got going on.

He's even offered
to host our 4th of July party.

But believe me
when I say he'll be watching.

Mike, you always host our 4th party.

Yeah, well... Things are gonna be
a little different this year.

Goodnight, kids.

Baltimore.

That's so close to New York.
That'll be huge.

Maybe he'd take a couple of us.
That'd be a fun road trip.

Almost half of all the meals
we now eat are junk-food meals.

Hi, Mike.

It's called knocking, Chubbuck.

Do you have a minute?

Sure.

Check this out.

I'm watching an Action 6 air check
from last month.

They're doing a series on, uh, fat people.

You know, people addicted to junk food,
you know, like Twinkies.

They're trying shock therapy now.
Can you believe this?

OK.

We're gonna ask you do a couple of things.

I'm gonna turn the machine on.

At first, you're not gonna
feel anything at all.

As a matter of fact,
the machine is on now.

Mike, level with me.

I haven't led in over a month now.

Tell me what I have to do
to get to Baltimore.

Why not try to get me something like this?

Because this is totally at odds with
the work that I've been doing, Mike.

It's exploitative.

Then why are so many people watching it?

The people you're so concerned
about representing

are the ones
that are gobbling this stuff up.

We're supposed to know better than them.

That's a pretty superior attitude to take.

It's on the job description.

You asked me a question,
I'm answering your question.

So what, get some footage of
some fat people burning in a car crash,

and I'm on a plane to Baltimore,
is that what you're saying?

Now you're being a smart-ass.

Know what your problem is, Chubbuck?
You're a feminist.

You think that the way to get ahead
is by talking louder than the other guy.

That's the whole movement in a nutshell.

Oh. So you're saying that I'm not fit
for a bigger market 'cause I'm a woman?

No, I'm saying that there's no respect
for institutions of authority.

You're the smartest person here.

If you took half the energy
you use to give me a hard time,

and did what I'm asking you to do...

- I'm just trying to understand you.
- Jesus Christ! Make your stories juicy.

But I thought people
were supposed to like me for who I am.

That it's what's on the inside
that counts.

They are. But you have to show them
who you are.

Well, how do I do that?

Well, you do it with your actions.
You act boldly and bravely.

You put on nice clothes,

and you wake up every day,
and you tell people who you are.

You use your body language.

You use your words.

So what I say can count, too?

Yes, it can.

Sometimes it can.

Thank you, Miss Christine.

OK, come on.

You seem bigger in real life,
a little taller.

I can't believe I didn't recognize you.
Oh, don't mind him.

He's on a damn drunk.

Maybe I can get your autograph
on the way out, hm?

Frank! You have a celebrity visitor.

So I'm looking to run
some grittier stuff for my segment.

Grittier? OK.

Well, you know crime is on the rise.
In Sarasota last month,

there were at least two armed robberies
and four burglaries.

Well, that was an anomaly. If you
look at the charts, it's pretty even.

I wouldn't say it's rising.

Well, maybe not rising, but it is here.

You know, I think people
are a little too happy to ignore it.

Did something happen to someone
you know? 'Cause you can tell me.

No. I... I just need to...

to show the darker side of Sarasota.

- Find a darker angle, you know.
- For what it's worth, Miss Chubbuck,

I think your show is great.

You do these think pieces.
They're so positive.

I love coming on.

Well, I appreciate that.

Captain, people
are really listening to me.

So I just need to make sure
that I'm really saying something.

You know, she's paranoid and crazy, right?

Oh, hi, honey.

- I need a minute, Peg.
- What's in the box?

Shh!

Can I come in?

You were smoking pot out there,
and you know how much I hate that.

It's my day off.

Please let me come in.
I wanna talk to you.

I heard you talking about me.

If you have a problem with me,
you can say it to my face.

I was talking about Janice.
Janice from the Yarn Barn.

I'm sure you were.

Chris, will you stop looking at that?
What is that, a HAM radio?

It's for work. What?

I'm making shark steaks for dinner.
I was hoping to talk to you.

Well, we're talking right now. What?

Christine...

This isn't the start of one
of your moods, is it? You can tell me.

I hate to see you go through that.

Peg. Jeez. Moods?

- What is it?
- It's just...

You're sounding a little like you sounded

towards the end of your time in Boston.

Yeah, well, I'm fine, OK?

- What?
- I have some news.

I met someone.

His name is Mitch.
He came into work a few weeks ago.

He, um, he lives in Bradenton.

OK. What do you want me to say?

I want you to be happy for me.

I'd like you to meet him.

Well, why don't we,
uh, give it a few weeks?

Historically, these things
don't always go as planned with you.

Christine, I know that's not you talking.

That's whatever
you're carrying around right now.

And I think you should apologize to me.

Christine!

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
I shouldn't say things like that to you.

It's just that you don't even ask me
what's going on with... with... with...

with George or anything.

- And it's like, uh...
- Whoa! Whoa, whoa, whoa.

I wanted to talk to you about it
the other day, and...

And now you're telling me all this,

and it, well, it just, uh,
just feels like gloating.

Oh! Oh, my God, no! I'm sorry,
I should've checked in with you.

Hmm. Do you really see that or are you
just saying that to shut me up?

No! I can totally see
where you're coming from. OK?

Can I give you a hug?

- That usually seems to help.
- Yeah.

Oh.

Thank you.

I don't think I realized
how much I needed this.

Thank you.

Of course, honey.
You can always talk to me.

I'm your mom. That's what moms are for.

OK.

If you could go over
to Island Park, there's those kids

that've been loitering around
the last couple of weeks.

If you could shine your flashlight
or whatever. Over.

32-15, show me en route.

I'm at Fifth and Pineapple now,
headed back toward Main.

Did you get that 11-20 under control
or whatever that was? What was that?

32-15, yeah. Just a couple of kids.

We kind of flashed the lights,
pulled up and they took off.

You wanna hear something
on a happier note?

Yeah, please do.

I finally touched
Marie's pussy last night.

What else is going on?
I'm bored out of my fucking mind.

What can I say?

I hate my job, I hate my family,
I hate my fucking brother.

Now we're getting somewhere.
Now you're opening up.

10-21, 32-15, 32-75, 32-50,

respond to a 10-55 in progress
at Sycamore and Orange.

Sycamore and Orange,
there's a 10-55 in progress.

Sycamore and Orange.

- 32-15, show me en route.
- Yes. I'll come and get you.

This is so exciting.
I feel like Bob Woodward.

- Uh-huh.
- Is this for the zoning crisis?

I am not exactly sure yet, Jean.
We will find out.

What's going on?

- A fire.
- Oh, my God. Is that a fire?

Yeah. Find where
the good angles are, Jean.

Copy. You want the Auricon or the Akai?

Uh, Auricon. Auricon, color film.

I have a feeling
this is going to be special.

Hello, sir. Christine Chubbuck.

I'm a reporter at WZRB.

This is some fire.
Can you tell me how it got started?

I really don't know for sure.

I just know bad things
have been happening to me.

OK, OK. Can, uh, can you stay here
for... for one second?

I will be right back. Jean?

- Chris.
- Jean.

I'll get an establishing of the trailer.
You want to check framing?

No. We don't need it.
We, uh, we need to shoot this guy.

OK, but... we can frame him up
with the fire behind him.

No, we have to frame up on his face.
Real close.

I didn't know I fell asleep last night
with a cigarette in my hand.

Um... But I do check the smoke...
smoke detector quite regular.

I'm grateful my wife got me
into that habit.

I woke up. I heard the alarm go off.

I ran quickly outside to the front lawn.

Realized I forgot my cigarettes.

And I ran back in.

And when I ran to the kitchen,
two canisters exploded and ignited.

And that's how I did this.

You know...

That's the third time
this happened this year.

I hope they don't, but, uh...

I think they're gonna cancel
my homeowner's insurance tomorrow.

A man driven back into a burning house
by a primal need to feed an addiction.

An entire community imperiled.

A sad story,

but not one without hope.

What does it mean?

Real Floridians. Real stories.

This is Christine Chubbuck
with your Suncoast Digest.

Thank you, Christine, for that story.

Next up after the break,
the sports report with Andrea Kirby.

And after that, sales of lemons
are on the rise in Western Florida.

Bad cars from bad dealers.

A special report on
what's looking like an epidemic.

And... we're on a break, guys.
Back in 60 seconds.

Hey, Mike. What do you think?

I was trying to tap
into some real suffering.

It wasn't a story. The guy burned
himself going back in for cigarettes.

Mike, that's exactly
what you've been asking for. It was...

It was raw,
and the man had an irony to him.

We're not making irony, we're making news.

I mean, where was any footage
of the smoldering house?

At least that would be something.
You just showed his face.

But his face was burnt!

You showed a guy talking.
Mumbling, actually.

Guys, I got to get out of here early.
Go pick up my wife for the party.

I'll see you all at Bob's.
No-shows will be fired!

Darren, you're in charge!

That guy was a real pistol, huh?
That was real different, Chris.

It wasn't supposed to be different,
it was supposed to be good.

And we're back in 30 seconds, guys!

From the whole gang here at WZRB...

Happy 4th of July, Sarasota!

Yeah!

Andrea, welcome to the party.

I don't know if you remember me,
but I'm Michael's wife.

Yeah. Of course, I remember you.

Have you seen this place?
It's like their second or third house.

I mean, it just sits here
most of the year.

I mean...

It's just wild.

- Oh, God. Are you OK?
- I'm so sorry.

- Damn it. Every goddamn time.
- Sorry.

Come over here, and drink some coffee.

Stop it.

Uh-oh, here comes trouble!

Steve's had a few.

Jean...

How bad was that? Honestly?

I liked how it came together.

I-I thought Mike was way too hard on you.

You don't think that...

You don't think that Bob Andersen
was watching, do you?

I don't know.

But it was good. Don't worry about it.

Hey, Turner, you keeping it together?

You know what, George?

- One of these days...
- Yeah?

I'm gonna test you.

Yeah, I'm gonna give you the test,
you'll see.

- Well, I'll study.
- Hmm. You should.

- I will.
- Good.

Hey, Chubbuck,
I found a pool table in the den.

- Good.
- Come on.

What? Uh...

OK.

Here you go, Mr. Andersen.

That is not Andrea!

Now that was some report you gave today.

Uh, thank you, George.

Strange. Interesting. I liked it.

OK. Tell that to Mike.

Jeez, just take the compliment, Chubbuck.

It's good stuff you do in the field.

I wish I could get out there
and do something like that.

Make an impression.

No one on anchor wants to be in the field.

That's what people in the field think.

Still stripes.

You and I have been working together
for over a year now,

and we've never gone out
and had a drink together.

Well, I don't really drink.

Well, you know what I mean.

Well, you've never asked me.

You're not always the most
approachable person, Chubbuck.

Well, I am approachable.

Maybe you just don't know
how to approach me.

Oh? And who does know how to approach you?

A lot of people. Jean, Steve.

You're funny, Chubbuck.

People are just so funny.

I mean, take Mike and Mrs. Nelson.

Something drew them
to each other, you know? But now?

God.

It's like we all have
these different versions of ourselves

competing to be the real us.

You ever think about stuff like that?

That was George McCrae's "Rock Your Baby".

Your turn.

Coming up we've got Sonny and Cher,

"I'm Leaving It All Up to You".

I don't think I'm very good at this.

Sometimes I'll be daydreaming at work...

and I'll just gaze off,

and imagine, like, this big wad
of shoelaces, you know?

Like in a box.

All tangled up.

Different colors, too.

Grey, black, red, neon orange.

It's a big ugly knot.

And that's...

my life.

I don't think we're so different,
you and me, Chubbuck.

I think sometimes maybe we make things
too hard on ourselves.

I think you and I might have...
something to offer one another.

You know we're not alone out there.

Well, hello, you two.

- Hey, soldier. Did you just get here?
- Hm-hmm.

I-I have, uh...
a lot of work to be doing so...

I should... I should go.

Chubbuck, just admit
this was a little fun.

Sure. Goodnight, George.

- So what's the game?
- Pool, dummy.

Uh, happy 4th, Mr. Andersen.

Chubbuck, aren't you gonna stay and watch?

Uh, no, I... I have
to say goodbye to someone.

The fireworks are starting.

Mom?

Are you home?

I'm telling you, man,
you got to take it to Tug.

I don't trust an outside guy with my gun,

especially not Tug Daiss.

It's pronounced "dice".

It's the Daiss Auto Service Center.

You've never seen the "Daiss"
on the side of the building?

I dunno about that guy.

He fixes cars, he fixes guns,
he just fixes stuff.

It's like if I had a sandwich shop
and you came in and I was like,

"Today we're selling blowjobs."

That's why you see him.

He's crazy. He's a real character.
His stories are fuckin' hilarious.

I don't find him hilarious.

I find him pretty disturbing,
to be honest.

That is the Tug Show, my friend.

Look, he's there from four to eight.

You do what you wanna do.

Anyway, let me tell you how it went
with Betty last night, alright?

So we go back to her place, but, um...

She's raring to go, you know.

I-I-I thought I-I was just stressed.

Is it from stress?

It's hard to say. It could be.
It could be genetic.

As we get older, our bodies
do things to us that we can't control.

Alright, well, I-I have been stressed.

You know, if you're stressed,
we can give you something for that.

Give me something?

You used to take trazodone
as an antidepressant.

I didn't like the way
that they made me feel, OK?

And, uh, I would really appreciate it
if we could stay on topic.

This is very... unexpected.

Look, it's great we caught it so early.
It's very manageable at this stage.

We just... We need to take it out
in the next few months.

- The cyst?
- The whole ovary.

It's the only way
to make sure the issue doesn't recur.

But it's a very manageable surgery.

It's tantamount
to having your tonsils out.

The only issue is, of course,
it can create complications

should you want to conceive in the future.

Are... are you saying

that, uh, if I have this treated that I...

that I won't be able to have ch...

That I... That I have two months
to have a baby?

I'm not saying that at all.
Now, you will only have one ovary,

so, it just... might require
a little coordination.

We want our residents to partake,

but they need to get on
that waiting list quickly.

We can't help it if we've turned this

into an attractive destination
for retirees and non-retirees alike.

You know Florida
is the place you want to be.

We've got sun, sand, surf,

championship golf, great cuisine, culture.

Everything you could imagine.

And everybody wants
to come here right now.

- People are coming here from...
- Can we stop for a second. Jean?

- Yes.
- Jean? Stop.

Can you... can you... can you get Gail?

I thought she was meant
to get some fresh flowers.

Oh, yeah, I told her to.
It must've slipped her mind.

It slipped her mind? Well, I can't think
about anything else. Sorry.

You're gonna have to...
Someone get some fresh flowers!

OK, um, I'm sorry, sir.

We're just gonna have to wait
a little bit. I'm sorry.

I'll be right back.

Chris?

Hey, Chris.

Are you OK?

Yeah, yeah.

It's just, uh... summer allergies.

Oh.

But... are you, you know...

OK?

What do you mean?

Well, you just seem
a little more wound up than usual.

What do you mean?

- Like, tense.
- No.

You said "more than usual."

Well, a little. But you just seemed like
you got really upset out there.

Hey... Do you wanna get out of here?

Where?

Why don't we just go play hookie?

Jean, don't be weird.

I'm serious. When I get bummed out,

I like to go eat ice cream.
It's this little trick I learned.

When things are starting to be too much,
I just get a cone, and...

This is gonna sound stupid,
but I sing, you know,

along with a song on the radio
or whatever, it doesn't even matter.

Look, come on. It's my treat.

I have a lot of work
to be getting on with,

so I should do that.

I should get on with my work.

And, uh, I'm sorry. Sorry, but, uh...

Can you sign the Akai out for me?

- Alright.
- I need to learn it.

And, you know what?
I'll just... I'll go get the flowers.

- OK.
- Uh, sir?

I'm very sorry, and we will
pick this up at a later date.

OK, thanks, Christine.

My source at the police station
called it the Tug Show, actually.

- He said that?
- Yes, he did.

And, uh, how did you get into this?
Into this business with the police?

Officer Jimmy Suskind comes out here
with a busted-up cop car,

starts fiddling with his pistol,
says it doesn't shoot straight.

I said, "Alright, give me
your keys and your pistol."

He said,
"I ain't gonna give you my pistol."

I said, "I'll take it for one day,
get it fixed for you.

I'll have it shooting
straighter than a pecker in a peepshow."

He says, "Alright."

Madman, take care of the front office.
I gotta take care of a little business.

Here we go. There you are.
Come on in. This is it.

And, um... All of these guns,
they belong to other people?

About half of 'em
I'm working on for other people.

Others I sell to friends.
The rest of 'em are mine, though.

Um...

Uh, how about, uh, that one there?

- What's that?
- What, that one there?

What, that bad boy?

- Look at that. That's a.44.
- Oh.

Yeah, it's loud. It's got a big kick.

It's got a lot of weight to it.
It's a damn monster.

- Here, hold it.
- Really?

Oh, yeah. Come on.
It ain't loaded or nothing.

There you go.

Oh... Holy cow, that's heavy.

Here.

I had no idea that
so many people carried guns down here.

Oh, sure. Now this is a.38 special.

My momma carried that in her purse.

It aims for shit,
but it's good for close contact.

- Hm-hmm.
- Yeah.

We just got bullets for those,
called wadcutters.

They explode on contact.

Stop a threat dead in its tracks.

I didn't know that Sarasota
was a town known for its threats.

Oh, yeah, there's threats everywhere.

There's a fever settling
into this country, Miss Chubbuck.

Can't you feel it?

I mean, you gotta be ready
to protect yourself. Be aware.

You're living in Condition White.

Condition White?

When you're sleeping.
When you're home, tucked in your covers.

Condition White sounds nice.

Oh, it's a victim's mentality.
Condition White is for sheep.

Condition Yellow, that's when you are
aware of your surroundings.

You're Yellow when you leave the house.

There's a bird. There's a car.

Most people live and die
in White and Yellow.

Carrying a gun on you
usually jumps you right up to Orange.

And that's the next level.
That's where you wanna be.

That's when you're aware
of your surroundings and of threats.

And...

Well, what happens after Orange?

Well, that's Red.

That's when you see the threat,
and you're ready to take an action.

You carry one of these around
with you for a few weeks.

You'll see.

Changes things.

Let me tell you, please!

Hi. You've reached Jean Reed.

I'm probably not here, or if I am, I'm...

That's great, Wayne.
Re-rack it. Cue it up for preview.

Will do.

- Is Mike in his office?
- Yeah.

Oh, that is a great shot.

Yeah, I thought so.

The shoe's been in evidence for a year,
with blood all over it. They missed it.

- I love it. I love it.
- Yeah.

You've got some pep in your step.

I think I've got something.
Look out for it.

Michael, I have some footage
that you need to see right now.

I think it's really
gonna blow your hair back.

We're always fighting, but I actually
think that we're saying the same thing.

You want flash and pizzazz,
and that's fine.

You know what?
Who am I to say that's not OK?

There's drama and tragedy
and suffering all around us.

I just wanna get to know these issues
and the people behind them.

We need to put it in context, you know?

The mistake we've been making
is not doubling down on the idea.

We need to go deeper.
Wayne? Where's Wayne? Wayne!

I don't follow you.

I am saying let's get rid
of this pedestrian idea of the news,

so-and-so did such-and-such
at this place and time.

It's so cold. Let's really examine it.

There's a subjectivity to those stories
that we're not tapping into.

We need to go inside people's homes.

Really spend some time with them.
Plant cameras.

Heck, give them the camera, so we can
see what goes on behind closed doors,

'cause that is the big question

that we're running around here
trying to answer.

What would it be like to be someone else?

They did this, Chubbuck
and it was called American Family.

- It was on PBS last year.
- Oh, I've thought about that, Mike.

Wayne? I need you... Wayne.

So I'm thinking long form docu-journalism

with little... little movies
to fill in the gaps.

- Movies on the news?
- Yes.

Wayne, Wayne, come on.

- Stand by. I'm coming.
- Cue it up.

People just watch stuff, Mike.

You know, a never-ending parade of stuff

to distract themselves
from their miserable lives.

So I mocked up something like
a domestic dispute and a home invasion.

You know... Uh...

It's a little... It's a little rough.
So, uh, try to follow me here.

The door is unlocked. Hm.

Hey, you never leave the door unlocked.

Are you home?

What you're seeing here
is a sort of dramatic rendering

of the moment a roommate comes home

and realizes her friend isn't home
when she should be.

She's usually home by nine o'clock.

This is based on that case last year

where that girl in Reno was abducted
from her dorm room,

and no one reported it for over a week.

We've got more standard talking-head
interview, which will go right in front.

But then we just jump into this.

We don't make a big thing out of it.
We just do it.

What is that, a knife?

What am I looking at?

The exposure's off. We'll adjust that.

Jean wouldn't come out
and run camera with me.

It's a little too much to do
for one person.

Christine!

- Why are you even here?
- Look, Chubbuck, this is...

interesting, but I think you need
to, uh, develop the idea more.

I'm punting the Chicken Lady tonight.
Why don't you take the rest of...?

If you're punting Chicken Lady anyway,
I should go on and announce it.

Jesus Christ! I'm punting the Chicken Lady

to make room
for the serial killer from Gainesville.

- It's gonna lead.
- What?

Who?

Young Jean Reed here. She's been working
as an extracurricular activity.

Doing really good work. Real grisly.

- Exclusive stuff, too.
- I tried to tell you about it. I swear.

Is this a joke?

We do local news. Gainesville isn't local.

He's at large. He could be anywhere.

Well, I didn't know those were the rules.

There's no rule book, Chubbuck.
And I don't need your permission.

Excuse me.

I never wanted
to do the chicken story anyway!

Good. I'm glad we agree.

You know, Mike, just because
your wife has a drinking problem

doesn't mean
that you get to treat me like this!

That's on you!
Don't put it on me! That's on you!

I'm trying to do my best
for this station! And it isn't easy!

Are you fucking kidding me?

You fucked up. Again!
And now you insult me?

You insult my family?

You know, I got half my savings
invested in this station.

I believe in it. What do you believe in?

What are you doing to make a mark?

OK.

I'll do the Chicken Lady.

But there's gonna have
to be some changes around here.

Christine! Go home!

Have you even seen the flowers
that Gail has put out for us?

They're fake, Mike. Just fake!

Sums up the whole operation!

Running our own cameras in the field.

We're a joke, Mike! We're not real!

We're a joke!

I don't know
what is going on with you right now,

but you need to get the fuck out of here!

Chris, what happened?

You OK?

I'll have the complete
weather picture for you at 5:20

on Channel 30 Weather Watch.

Watch yourself, Sarasota,
with the Channel 30 News team.

Meanwhile, sit back, relax,
and enjoy our afternoon...

Oh, hi, Chrissy. You're home early.
Aren't you on air tonight?

Well, it would, uh, it would seem not.

Uh, we were gonna surprise you.
Making an apple pie. Your favorite.

Um, this is Mitch,
my friend I was telling you about.

Hi, honey. I'm Mitch.

Um, y-your mom's told me
so much about you.

Peg, can I talk to you
for a minute? Alone.

- Nice to meet you, too, sweetheart!
- Mitch.

Christine, we have company.

Now, please.

What is going on with you?

What is going on with me?
Where have you even been?

Mitch surprised me.
We went to Key West. To a hotel.

Are you kidding me?

- What about work?
- Honey...

Here I am, just drowning under water,

and you decide to take a romantic
getaway without telling anyone?

- What are you, 15?
- What happened to you?

What happened to me? How about
my mother abandoned me for four days,

and now she shows up out of the blue
with some stranger

that she's gonna have
sex with in my house?

- Our house.
- Our house that I pay all the rent on,

while she stays at home and smokes pot!

- Christine, that is not fair.
- My life is a cesspool!

I'm so, so sorry the smell
is inconvenient for you.

It must be very, very nice
to have an escape hatch.

Christine, you are scaring me.
It's getting to feel a lot like Boston.

What is this?
Bring Up Boston month? I'm...

I'm hurting. I'm in pain here.

And it is... it is that simple.

Baby, I can see that.

What do you want me to do? Tell me
what to do. Look at me. I'm here!

- But he's...
- Forget about him. Never mind him.

Look at me. Look at Mom.

You... You have these moods, baby.
You know you do.

You put all this pressure on yourself,
and this is how it comes out.

Can you see that? For a second.

And I'm not always equipped
to deal with it.

Maybe you should go back
to Dr. Benolken for a little.

You liked him.

That is a temporary solution.

I need to fix my life.
My life is the problem.

What? He's answering the phone now?

Uh, she's indisposed right now.
Can I take a message?

Yes, could you tell her that Jean called?

And that I... uh, wanted to talk to her.

And that I'm her friend, and I'm sorry.

- Alright.
- You know, I guess...

Can you just ask her to call me back?

OK.

Why don't you just invite him
to move in with us, hm?

Maybe I will. Maybe I'll move out.

- Oh, the truth comes out!
- My God! You want me to act like this!

I... I don't know
what to do with you sometimes!

You want me to be your mom,
you want me to be your friend,

you want me to be your punching bag!

I am a person, too, Chris!
We're both adults here!

I'm your child! You were supposed
to figure this all out.

And maybe if you did, and spared me
for one day all your hippie baloney,

I would actually understand
how the world works!

Christine...

I love you. Look, look,
let's just take some breaths.

Why would you love me?

It's weird that we live together.
Just say it.

- I won't say that!
- We both know what's going on here.

I got all turned around in Boston,

and I come here to relax and rehabilitate,

and you're here to babysit me.

- I won't say something that's not true.
- Well, it's not relaxing here, Peg!

It's a trap here!

These people
are ruining me all over again!

- These people...?
- Why won't anyone just listen to me?

Hello, WZRB, This is Gail speaking.

He's in a meeting right now.

Hey, Chris. Did you get my message?

Hi.

WZRB, this is Gail speaking.
How may I direct your call?

Hey, Chris, I, um...

Chubbuck.

You got a minute
to pop into my office with me?

Did you wanna talk?

No, it's just, um...

Mondays, you know.

It's Thursday, Turner.

- It's just a saying, George.
- Right.

Have a seat.

So, how are you?

- I'm fine. You?
- You didn't seem fine yesterday.

Didn't you ever have a bad day?

Sure. I have bad days all the time.

Listen...

Do you... Do you wanna
maybe get some dinner tonight?

What do you mean?

You know,
fork, knife, plate, food. Dinner.

I don't... I don't get it.

Chubbuck, I'm not gonna bite you.

I feel like we're always about
to make some breakthrough

to some new level of connectivity,

but something gets in the way.

- Dinner?
- Yeah.

And then maybe afterwards,
I could take you somewhere.

Somewhere where we could talk.

Well, uh...

I'm gonna have to think about my schedule.

Don't think. Just say what you wanna say.

It's a little more complicated than that.

Why don't you just say... yes?

And usually we can harvest
about 200, 300 eggs in a day.

And they go straight out to market.

Well, that's fascinating.

Maybe you can get us some footage
of the chickens having sex,

so people can see
how the eggs are really made.

I'm kidding. That's a joke.

We can edit it out later.

I was gonna say, I've seen it.
It ain't pretty.

Oh, well, I can only imagine.

But before we get into those things,
I got to tell you the story

told me by one of the cameraman
a few minutes ago.

I thought it was a pretty hip story.
It's about this...

I'm, uh... I'm going out, Peg.

Oh, you're talking to me now?

How do I look?

Really nice, actually.

I have a date.

You have a date?

Guess who with.

No!

No!

Baby, I'm so happy for you.

Yeah?

Hi, George.

Why, hello, Christine!

Shall we?

I thought you didn't drink.

For the most part, I don't.

Special occasions.
Uh, like Easter, or, um...

I'm surprised that you,
uh, remembered that about me.

I didn't drink for a really long time.

Just easing back into it.

Sometimes I still slip up and overdo it.

If you'd told me a year ago
that I'd be sitting down

for a one-on-one dinner
with Christine Chubbuck,

I would have told you you were crazy.

Yeah, well, I-I would have, too.

I mean, I-I... I don't mean me,
I mean about you.

Having dinner with you.

- Right?
- I understood what you meant.

So why haven't we been able
to just sit down

and have a dinner like this together, huh?

Well, I...

I can shut people out,

even when I don't mean to.

I know how that feels, Christine.

Believe me, I know how that feels.

OK.

Thank you.

If you believe it will happen,
it will happen.

Right.

My mom always says stuff like, uh,
"Thoughts become things,"

and mostly I just tune her out.

But I really think that if I just
harness all the energy that I have,

and put it into getting back
into a major market, then...

I'm... I'm rambling.

Uh... I'm rambling.

I'm sorry. I don't know.

I don't usually drink.

This is very pretty. Where are we?

This is where I went to high school.

Really?

Yeah, I'm a Florida boy. Never left home.

Failure to launch.

You can't be hard on yourself.

I was an all-star quarterback here.

Starter, three years.

But then, I took a bad tackle in college
and messed up my shoulder,

and I couldn't play anymore.

After my injury,
I couldn't see the future.

And I felt like a train off the rails.

Not a lot of people know this,
but I got really into cocaine.

It's bad stuff.

It's the only way
I could feel alive anymore,

because, in many ways, I was dead inside.

But then one day,

I met a man named Marvin Lammer
here in town.

You ever heard that name before?

No, no.

Well, Marvin saw what was going on
inside of me as plain as day.

That my definitions were all wrong.

See, I see the same thing
going on with you.

The same thrashing around.

What is this?

We call it TA.

It's short for transactional analysis.

It's sort of like... group therapy.

Don't be scared.

Put your trust in me.

How do, George? We're just about to start.

Hey, everybody, this is my friend,
Christine, who I was telling you about.

Everybody, please say hi
to George's friend, Christine.

Hi, Christine!

We're just about
to start a round of Yes, But.

Um, Crystal, Jim, could y'all split up?

Crystal, you work with Christine,

and Jim, you can work with George.

- Just give it a shot.
- OK.

It's best just to dive right in.

- Yeah?
- Yeah.

Um.. maybe we'll set aside
some time later,

so we'll talk a little bit
about the broader process.

- Hm-hmm.
- OK.

- Hi, Christine.
- Hi.

- I'm Crystal.
- Hi.

So...

I know this can seem a little bit funny,

but just try to relax
and let it wash over you, you know?

Uh-huh.

We're gonna play
a little exercise called Yes, But.

I'm gonna be Black,
and you're gonna be White, OK?

Um, basically, you're just gonna tell me
a problem that you've been having,

and I'm gonna try to come up
with a solution to that problem,

and then you'll counter that
by saying, "Yes, but..."

For instance, "I need to lose weight."

I would say, "Why don't you join
an aerobics class?"

And you would say something like,

"Yes, but I can't afford
the membership fee," et cetera.

- Hmm.
- Got it?

And... this is, this is gonna
help... help me?

- Yes, in a way. In time. You'll see.
- Hmm.

Would you like to give it a shot?

Sure.

Whenever you're ready.

Uh, well... I-I really wish
that I could get a job promotion.

Why don't you ask for one?

- I already have.
- Um, yes, but...

Yes, but I already have.

They say I have to do different work.

Then why don't you do different work?

Yes, but if I do different work,

then I won't be doing the work
that I love.

Why don't you try a compromise?

Well, that just makes my stomach hurt.

Um... Yes, but...

Hm, yes, but that just
makes my stomach hurt.

Why don't you see a doctor?

Yes, but I have.

He tells me I have to have an operation.

Well, why don't you have the operation?

Yes, but if I have the operation, then...

I won't be able to have children.

Well, why don't you have a baby, then?

Yes, but I...

I haven't gotten the man I love
to fall in love with me yet.

Why don't you have a different man
impregnate you?

Yes, but I can't have sex
with just anyone.

I-I-I haven't had sex at all.
I'm a virgin.

Oh.

Um...

Why don't you try to adopt a baby?

Yes, but I've always
wanted to have a baby.

And I've always wanted to have a husband,

and I've always wanted to have a job

where I can do the work that I wanna do.

Why don't you manage your expectations?

Maybe, um, adjust your thinking?

I don't... I don't, um...

I don't understand the question.

Christine, it works.

I promise you.

Once you learn your life script...

it really just becomes OK.

Can I tell you something?
I'm gonna tell you something.

I want you to hear it from me first.

I've known for a couple days,
but I haven't told anybody yet.

I'm going to Baltimore.

To anchor.

For Bob Andersen's new station.

Wh... What?

How?

I don't know, Bob Andersen came up to me
at the 4th of July party,

and told me I had
a steady, paternal presence.

Then just like that,
bam, I'm going to Baltimore.

Just like that.

I know you were jockeying
for a spot up there, but...

This just goes to show
if a dumb quarterback like me

can get where he wants to go, so can you.

Believe me, Christine.

You have so much passion and integrity,

you're bound for even greater things.

Chicago. Hell, New York City!

I believe that.

I really hope you can
still help me with my copy.

Maybe we can do phone calls.

Phone calls sound good.

Good.

OK.

I'll see you at work.

Yes, I will see you at work. Goodnight.

OK. Oh, and thank you. For dinner.

- Can I help you?
- Hi... Forgive me.

I-I-I've blown a flat tire
outside of your house, and, uh...

Mr. Andersen?

Uh... Is this? I-I-I didn't realize
this was your house.

I'm sorry. Do I...?

It's me. I'm Christine Chubbuck.

I'm a field reporter at WZRB.

Oh! Oh, hi!
I... I thought I recognized you.

Would you like to come in...

- Yes.
- ...for a minute and use the phone?

Thank you. That'd... That'd be very nice.

Now I was just having
a little midnight snack.

Oh. Uh, excuse the mess.
I haven't had a chance to clean up.

Uh, you wanna use the phone?

Uh, I-I might need
just to take a... second here.

That's... I'm a little shaken up.

Sure, sure.

Did you happen to get to catch
any of our reporting

while you were here
the last couple of weeks?

Not as much as I would've liked.

No, I was mostly tied up

with construction
on the other properties I own down here.

Well, I always try to do
informational pieces, community affairs.

Uh...

I should, uh, show you a clip sometime.

Hmm. Have Michael send me a tape.

You know our anchor, George Ryan?

Well, yes. He's... He's the anchor.

Well, he and I have a terrific chemistry.

I think I should try and find a piece
where we're at the desk together.

You'll know what I'm talking about.

Well, sounds fantastic.

You see that there? The anchor,
he shuffled his papers there?

That seems like a tic, but...

actually he's added that
consciously to his delivery.

I think it makes people
feel more comfortable.

George and I,
we have that same attention to detail.

I guess I never saw that before.

I mostly just keep this on for company.

I feel like you were maybe leading up
to a question there.

Did I miss it? Uh, I've had a few.

I'm going to cut to the chase,
Mr. Andersen.

I'm not supposed to know, but I have heard

that George has been promoted
and is going to Baltimore.

And I want to know...

if you're still looking
for another news person.

If the qualities that I have mentioned
are important to you.

Oh, well... We've already hired our quota.

That... That little blonde number
in Sports...

Uh, um... Oh.

Hm.

- Andrea?
- Uh, yeah.

Andrea. Firecracker.

She's going to Baltimore?

Oh, well, George suggested
that they go together,

and I said, "Well, sounds like fun.
What the hell!"

Uh, but the door is always open.

I always leave the door open as policy.

I just try not to overthink
these things too much, you know?

My wife likes to read the papers,
watch the news.

Uh, she and I took a vacation
down here once.

She liked it.

Bam!

I bought the news station.

Bam! I bought this house.

See what I'm saying?

- Follow your gut.
- Exactly.

And leave the managing to the managers.

Life is hard enough
without dwelling on every little thing.

And... man, is it hard.

And that's... the liquor talking.

Which is another problem I have.

But there's only one way out.

Forward.

Hon?

Honey?

Hi, Peg.

Baby, your alarm's
been going off for an hour.

I don't think
I've ever seen you oversleep.

Was it a late night?

Oh.

Yes.

Well, great!

See, you were just lonely, right?

Bet you feel better already.

You always come through these funks.

Move in circles.

By the way, I made a reservation
at Davenport's for your birthday.

No pressure. We can always cancel.

Miss Tangerine?

Miss Tangerine?

You're not saying anything,
Miss Tangerine.

Well, what would you like me to say?

I don't know.

I like it when you talk to me.

Well, what if I don't have
anything else to say?

You mean it's... it's OK
to be quiet sometimes?

Yes, See Saw, sometimes it is.

Can I be quiet with you?

Yes. See Saw, you can be quiet with me.

- Morning, Jean.
- Hey. Good morning, Chris.

Frank.

George.

George Ryan.

Chris, can you get this VO done by noon?

- Oh, the children's hospital called.
- OK. Sure.

Using it when...

Come in.

Hi, Mike. Uh, do you have a second?

Chubbuck.

- Can we have a talk?
- Hey, I can go.

No, no. Stay, actually. I...

I would rather you stayed.

Uh, so, two things first.

I... I got the scratch VO for that piece
about the campsite from yesterday.

We're kicking the can on that.

I have to run this fucking story
about the bowling alley going under.

OK. Sure. You just... You just tell me.

I will.

Uh, second thing is, um...

I'm just gonna come right out and say it.

I wanna ask your permission
to lead a story from the desk.

You are not leading.

- Mike...
- You know what?

Don't. He's right.

You're right. I know.
I have been a... real bear lately.

I can see that now.

Look, Mike.

I know we're in a less-than-ideal
situation here together.

You're not going anywhere.

And I'm not going anywhere.

So I would like to wipe the slate clean.
I'll read anything you like.

What is this? What are you doing?

I've been thinking a lot about

your idea of, um...
sensationalizing the news.

- That's not what I'm saying.
- Mike, listen.

I'm agreeing with you.

I just got sidetracked for a second there.

I should've fired your ass
for your tantrum the other day.

You should have, but you didn't.

If I mess this up,
I'll never ask for anything again.

Cross my heart.

I mean, Mike, come on.

Mike.

I don't know.

No one's watching us anyway, remember?

Ha.

You can report whatever comes in
over the weekend. Whatever I say.

Thank you.

I mean...

You say please. It's nice.

"Please" I can work with.

We're not trying to prove psychic powers,

but let's see if you can pick up the image

which I'll tell you
at the end of the program.

Alright? Ready now? Begin.

Concentrate.

- Oh, hi, Chrissy.
- As you were. As you were.

The name which I can see...
on a sheet of paper...

She seems better.

She does, doesn't she?

With your eyes closed, of course.

She's my favorite person.

You're my favorite person.

- Get over yourself.
- Hubba hubba!

- That's great.
- OK. Good.

Let's keep it simple.

Let's use five or ten seconds at the top.

- OK, are you sure?
- Yeah.

Can you, uh...?

Can you make sure that Darren
is recording the show tonight?

I'll want it for my reels.
I will go out of pocket for it.

Alright.

Hey, Chris. Do you wanna go to lunch?

Uh...

- Maybe tomorrow.
- OK. Rain check.

OK, everyone, we're getting close.

Let's get ready.

Chubbuck's big night.

This is News Watch at Five
with your anchor, George Ryan,

Steve Turner, weather, Andrea Kirby...

OK, everyone,
We're going live in five, four...

three...

It is Monday, July 15th,
and this is your News Watch at Five.

Good evening, Sarasota. I'm George Ryan.

To begin our broadcast tonight,
we turn to Christine Chubbuck...

Camera two.

...with a report on some upsetting
events that occurred over the weekend.

- Christine.
- Take two.

Thank you, George.

An 18-year-old man named James Whitworth
was stabbed this weekend

in the parking lot
of the Starwood Tavern on 27th Street.

The event occurred
at roughly 4:30pm on Sunday.

It is unclear how the altercation
that led to the stabbing began

with conflicting reports
citing a financial disagreement

and an argument over a relationship.

Ready, projector one?

Telecine's down. One is not gonna run.

What? No! No, go fix it.

Go fix it, Kenny! Goddamn it!

...an assailant whose name
has not been released...

Tell him, uh, uh, uh...
Flag anything that needs film.

And we'll, uh, bump up anything
that's on the quad.

We go now to exclusive footage
of the crime scene just moments after...

- What do I do?
- Tell George, goddamn it.

It's jammed. It isn't going to roll.

It isn't going to roll.

Here we go. Come on, Kenny!

Uh, it appears that we're having
some technical difficulty.

We had wanted to show you
some film from the scene,

but I'm sure that if you...

Kenny, where are we with the projector?

No...

So...

Now...

In keeping with the WZRB policy...

- Don't give up on it.
- ...of presenting the most immediate

and complete reports
of local blood and guts,

TV 30 presents what is believed
to be a television first.

In living color,

an exclusive coverage
of an attempted suicide.

Go to black. Go to black.

Very funny, Christine.

Oh, my God!

Oh, my God! Somebody call an ambulance!

Grab a towel! Grab anything!

Gail! Get on the phone!

Get on the phone right now!

- I need you to try to calm down.
- OK.

I know you're scared. You gotta
stay calm. She needs you to be calm.

Christine. Christine.

Sir, I'm gonna need you to put that down.
That's evidence.

Sir, I'm sorry.
This is an active crime scene.

You're gonna have to put that down.

Respiration is shallow.

Bring it in, bring it in.

- There must be someone with...
- I'm sorry. No.

Mrs. Chubbuck?

- Yes.
- I'm Jean.

You're Jean, from the station?

Yeah.

I'm so sorry.

- How's she doing? What's going on?
- I'm really sorry.

- I know. I...
- Oh, my God!

I'm really sorry.

I'm OK. You're OK. I'm OK. You're OK.

Repeat it. Say it.
Say it, say it! I'm OK...

...and shot herself in the head
while the program was on the air.

30-year-old Chris Chubbuck,
is in critical condition tonight.

Seconds before shooting herself,
Miss Chubbuck told TV viewers,

"In keeping with Channel 30's policy
of bringing you the latest in bloody..."

TV 30 presents what is believed
to be a television first.

In living color,

an exclusive coverage
of an attempted suicide.

The woman host of a television
talk show in Sarasota, Florida,

Chris Chubbuck, today read a news item
about a local shooting,

then told her viewers they were
about to see a television first.

She pulled a gun from a shopping bag
and shot herself in the head.

She's in critical condition
at a Sarasota hospital.

In other news tonight,
Vice President Ford said today

that Watergate has this country deadlocked

on its major domestic problems,

and that something must be done
to break this impasse.

In California, the vice president said...

Scratch VO
for Christine Chubbuck memorial.

Uh, Christine Chubbuck was born August...

August 24, 1944.

Uh...

OK...

My name is Christine Chubbuck,

and I'm a field reporter at WZRB.

Mrs. Cazacracker do you call her?

You know. Come on.

Uh, chickens are a very serious...

An entire community imperiled.

It begs the question,

is it paranoia if everyone
is indeed coming after you?

You can just drop it on the floor for now.

Hey, Christine.
Are we interrupting something?

No. I was just running
some tape on myself.

Oh, it's a new quad machine. Sorry.

- Hey, Jean?
- Yeah?

Have you, uh, noticed
that I do this thing when I...

I nod a little too sympathetically
when I'm interviewing a subject?

No. How can you be too sympathetic?

Hey, Pepper. Hey, sweetie.

Pss, pss, pss, pss.

Good evening.

President Ford told
a congressional subcommittee today

that there was no deal, period,
involved in the pardon of Richard Nixon.

Mr. Ford's appearance
before a subcommittee

of the House Judiciary Committee
has no precedent in history.

He is the first president ever
to testify voluntarily

before the House of Representatives.
And the message he brought

was that his swift
and unexpected pardon of Mr. Nixon

was done only because resignation
and punishment was enough,

and because the country had to focus
on other problems facing it.

Here are some of the main points
the president made

in a two-hour session.

Our nation is under the severest
of challenges now

to employ its full energy and efforts

in the pursuit
of a sound and growing economy.

We would needlessly be diverted

from meeting those challenges

if we as a people were to...

...and treats its opponents
as enemies must never, never be...

# This world is awfully big

# Girl, this time you're on your own

# Well, it's time you started livin'

# It's time you let someone else
do some giving

# Love is all around No need to waste it

# You can have a town
Why don't you take it?

# You might just make it after all

# You might just make it after all

This show was taped
in front of a live studio audience.

Good morning, everyone...