Original subtitles

[typewriter clacking]

We've got a hostage situation in Indianapolis.

A gunman has kidnapped his mortgage broker.

I'm gonna talk to Fred Heckman! He'll get my story out!

[Ralph Bass] You put him on the air?

I did. It was one of

the hardest decisions I've ever had to make,

but it turned out to be the interview of my life.

[Tony] Now listen, Fred.

I want an apology from M.L. Hall himself,

and then I'm gonna want full immunity.

I'm also gonna need a couple of lawyers,

John Ruckelshaus and Charles Wilson.

[Ralph] How would you feel

about broadcasting this story nationally?

Did M.L. issue the apology?

Tony, we're working on it.

Ed, it's Gene.

That guy you mentioned, the expert,

I think we're gonna need him.

Mr. Hall? Hi. This is Fred Heckman.

[M.L.] Hello, Mr. Heckman.

I'm not apologizing.

[dial tone buzzing]

[pounding receiver]

[typewriter clacking]

[tuning radio]

[reel-to-reel machine clicks]

[main show theme begins]

[upbeat jazz music]

[reel-to-reel clicks]

[upbeat jazz music]

- [tuning radio] - [telephone ringing]

[upbeat jazz music]

[disconnected tone beeping]

[upbeat jazz music]

[O'Brien] For Anthony Kiritsis, it has been a very long day,

but for mortgage man Dick Hall,

- [Tony whistles] - ...it's been even longer,

held by Kiritsis for over nine hours.

Power and heat have been cut,

and due to the high volume of community calls...

[Tony] Doesn't bother me! Can't smoke me out!

I got food and drink for days.

There you are.

[can cracks open]

[Tony] Oh, shit.

I had six beers in 1976.

Haven't had one drink since.

Don't miss it a bit.

What're you looking at?

Just... thirsty.

[O'Brien] Authorities continue to negotiate with Mr. Kiritsis,

who has demanded an apology...

[Tony] Damn straight, baby!

[Ben] And from what I understand,

those apology discussions with Meridian

are still ongoing, is that correct?

- [O'Brien] Yes. - [Tony] Vitamin D.

[O'Brien] Mr. Kiritsis has also requested

full immunity for his crimes...

No rickets for you.

[O'Brien] ...an unprecedented and controversial demand

that continues to be deliberated

by the D.A.'s office.

While negotiators work tirelessly,

there's nothing but silence

behind the walls of apartment C-308.

WIBC Radio. I'm Doug O'Brien.

[Ben] Keep us apprised, Doug.

It's 6:00.

We'll be back with Big Mike

and the traffic report after this.

♪ WIBC ♪

♪ 10 7 on the radio ♪

♪ It's WIBC ♪

[Ginny] I know it's difficult to talk about,

but I have to ask again.

Can you tell me about what happened with your brother?

[Effie] They have news girls at WIBC?

Yes.

Really?

[kitchen faucet dripping]

You were saying that you didn't want to press charges.

[Effie] Because I haven't heard

any female reporters doin' the news.

Maybe a weather girl on TV kind of thing...

oof, Barbara Walters.

[she chuckles]

[clicking recorder off]

Well, this is my first assignment.

No kidding?

[laughing]

I know that this must be an unimaginable situation.

You have a brother?

No.

Then you don't know.

[water dripping]

Do you have a wrench?

You should go now.

A wrench?

I-I know you have one.

[water dripping]

Tony does those kind of things,

leaky faucet, blown-out bulb.

All gets magically fixed or replaced...

when he knows I'm gone.

[tightening the wrench]

[dripping stops]

Tony only wanted the money owed him.

This is a family property.

He wanted to be bought out for his land.

He didn't mean it.

What did he do?

My brothers couldn't agree on a price.

They should have just given him the money.

Effie, what did he do?

[music playing on radio]

[turning power off]

Yes, Jerry.

Oh...

I'm staring right at him.

- Hi. - [kissing]

Yeah, I will have him home to you in 30, as always.

You too.

What's the update?

Uh, well, M.L. is an asshole.

Really?

Yes. He's not coming home from Florida,

and he will not issue an apology.

- For his own son? - For his own son.

Do you want a roll?

Yes, thank you. Did you see me on TV?

Yes, I did.

Ralph Bass is an asshole too.

- What did he do? - Dad!

- Yeah? - Teddy said he shot a deer.

You're not getting a rifle. Not happening.

- Absolutely not. - Sorry, bud.

- [Julie] Told ya. - [Carl] Shut up!

[parents] Hey!

I need a permission slip for my field trip, Dad.

Julie, I have been home all day.

But I want Dad to sign it.

[wearily] Oh...

it's not the Paris Peace Accords.

Finish setting the table, please.

Thank you.

[Julie] Okay.

[Fred] Where's Ritchie?

He says "at the library." Heh.

Ha. Dubious.

[Barbara] Yeah.

[phone ringing]

Heckman residence.

Hi, Ben.

We're just about to sit down to eat.

- I need to talk to him. - Oh, here he is.

Hey, what's happening?

Anything with, uh, with-with Ginny and Tony's sister?

No, I'm fine.

Um... well, let's see what she gets on tape, huh?

Then foreclosures?

Well, yeah.

Lower income? That doesn't seem like a coincidence.

Okay, I will... meet you in an hour.

Great. Bye.

[phone rings]

Heckman residence.

Hello, Tony.

Yes, we were just about to sit down to dinner.

Um...

the-the wife and kids are here.

I know your-your power's out, Tony.

I-I've got nothing to do with that. I'm sorry.

I will certainly tell her.

Goodbye.

[hanging up]

He called our house?

[Fred] Yes, he did.

What does he want from you?

He wanted to apologize for bothering us during dinner.

[doorbell chimes]

[phone rings]

[sighs] You get the phone. I'll get the door.

[ringing]

It's not gonna be him.

[ringing]

Heckman residence.

Can I help you?

You're Fred Heckman?

Special Agent Cormac McNally.

Chief Gallagher called me in.

[typewriter clacking]

[upbeat jazz music]

Of course. Please, come in.

[McNally] Thank you.

[Fred] Barb, this is, uh...

Special Agent McNally... from the FBI.

We need you at Meridian Mortgage.

- Now? - Yeah.

We got M.L. on the phone.

- We were just gonna... - Sit down for dinner.

I apologize. It's interesting.

Indy's a big city, but it feels like a small town.

Do you know the Halls?

Well, just in passing. Not really.

Oh. Yeah. We see them occasionally at church.

Mrs. Hall mostly attends during the holidays or Easter.

Sweeps week.

Uh, yeah.

Yeah, well, uh, like you said,

Indianapolis is a... is a big city.

Um... I guess we should get going.

I-I'll call you. - Yeah.

It's nice meeting you, Mrs. Heckman.

You too.

Uh, did you wanna follow me, or...?

I took a taxi. I thought we could drive together.

[Fred] Uh, yeah.

Whatever you like. Uh...

[McNally] They're almost finished drafting

the apology at Meridian.

[Fred] Have they spoken to M.L.?

[McNally] They'll get all that sorted.

[Fred] Well, when did the FBI get called in?

[McNally] Local law enforcement

wants to make use of federal expertise.

Or shall I say my expertise?

You know, Tony called my home this evening.

To say what?

I believe he wanted the power restored in his apartment.

Interesting that he calls you.

Any theories? - Why he called?

The most trusted man in radio.

Well, I don't know if it's my place to speculate.

That sounds like a thing Fred Heckman would say.

[chuckles] Does it?

What is a Fred Heckman thing to say?

Modest, in that Midwestern way that belies a deep desire

to be the very best at something.

Driven. Family man.

Doesn't suffer fools.

You got all that from a two-minute visit to my house?

Fred Heckman was born in Michigan

on November 11th, 1923.

Parents are Gladys and Fred Senior.

You studied theater at college,

but before you could get a degree,

you joined the Coast Guard to serve in World War II.

Were in the Naval Reserves in Korea,

where you worked as a radio man and cryptologist.

Radio man First Class, actually.

You worked in radio stations in Delaware, South Carolina,

Georgia, DC, and then here.

In 1957,

you made WIBC your home for the next two decades.

It's the longest you've ever lived in one place.

You want my jacket size too? It's 42 long.

I know that before you were the age of 16,

your dad had moved the family 29 times.

That must've been hard.

Well, the FBI has an excellent research department,

I'll give you that.

And fast, too, especially given the turnaround...

but there's nothing in there that I haven't said before

or that hasn't been printed in the newspaper.

But there's a story in between those lines.

What do you mean by that?

I'm trying to figure out why the subject picked you.

For whatever reason,

you're the means to getting things through to Tony.

- Don't know if that's true. - No, it is.

You're the conduit.

You seem very sure of how things are gonna work here,

especially given that you've never met Tony, or me...

[McNally] Mm.

...or the Halls, for that matter.

I am. I have to be.

I'm part of the new science in law enforcement

that's the wave of the future.

[music on radio]

I'm a, uh... a forensic profiler.

...finally agree on the word "encourage,"

for fuck's sake?

- Fine. - Fine.

I think it's the best word

to encompass what we're all trying to say.

- [Fred] Gentlemen. - [Gallagher] Fred.

Special Agent McNally, welcome to the soup.

Never thought at the age of 62

I would be knee-deep in synonyms,

but here we are.

Can we move to the next line?

He won't like the word "encourage."

"Promote."

"Further." Um, "stimulate"?

Definitely not "stimulate."

Can I just hear what you guys have already?

Yes, uh, sweetheart,

would you read back what we have?

"This statement is authorized by Mr. M.L. Hall,

the Chairman of the Board of Meridian Mortgage.

This is a public apology to Anthony Kiritsis

for all wrongs

that Meridian Mortgage have committed."

Bullshit.

"This involvement our company had with Eisner-Osco

in regards to Mr. Kiritsis, on encouraging them to..."

[M.L. over speaker] Uh-uh.

Uh, Dad says no on "encouraging."

Uh... "fostering"?

[M.L.] No.

Mr. Hall, uh, we all appreciate how gracious you're being

during these incredibly trying times.

I-I can only imagine

what you and your family are going through right now.

[M.L.] Thank you.

Yeah, so, uh... "fostering"?

Does "fostering" work?

For the love of the Blessed Mother?

- Yes. - Criminal? Civil?

Yeah, the word "foster" conveys a sense of...

Okay, so, do we, do we have a winner with "fostering,"

uh, Mr. Hall?

- Fine. - Okay.

And Mr. M.L. Hall

will be reading this apology personally?

- No. - No way.

I believe that Tony made that specific request.

That's correct.

We specifically say authorized by M.L.

Now, wait a minute. When did that get decided?

He's unable to travel to Indianapolis

at this time, right, Dad?

[M.L.] Have Cliff read it.

[hanging up]

[dial tone buzzing]

- [man] Who the hell is Cliff? - Who's Cliff?

[typewriter clacking]

This won't work.

[Tony] You ever been to Vegas, Dick?

'Course you have.

Rich kids love Vegas.

What's your favorite casino, the Dunes or the Sands?

I love the King.

What's your favorite movie?

Viva Las Vegas.

[Tony laughs]

Ann-Margret, hubba-hubba. Whoo!

[Tony] ♪ If you think I don't need you ♪

♪ Take a look at my eyes ♪

♪ Baby, these ain't raindrops ♪

♪ Fallin' out of the skies ♪

[laughing]

- [chains clanking] - Ahem.

Don't even think about it. I'm faster than you.

Can't stand Dean Martin, though.

I do like "Oh Marie."

Bill? I've been trying you all day.

Uh, a little bit in the thick of it here, Dwayne.

Of course, and we're all praying for Dick's safe return.

- Be right there. - In the meantime,

this sheriff's sale is at 8:00 a.m. tomorrow.

Do I have the go-ahead to bid on the property?

On which, now?

440 Maynard. We foreclosed.

Let's talk about this in Dad's office.

[Gallagher] Roger that.

Hey. We're needed at the command center.

I'm on the air in 90 minutes.

It shouldn't take too goddamn long.

[elevator dings]

Tony wants his power back on.

Yeah, I know. He called me.

At your house? Jesus.

I told him we're working on it.

He has to give something to get something.

Insist on a call from Dick to his wife.

[Gallagher] Only problem is,

uh, we've already sent a female officer over,

and Mrs. Hall wouldn't let her in

because the kids were there.

I assume you've asked the Hall brothers

to try calling her?

As you can imagine, they weren't encouraging.

Obviously, she feels under siege.

Mrs. Heckman knows Ibby.

Well, yeah, but not... well.

But a passing familiarity.

Might Mrs. Heckman reach out?

Oh, good idea.

I mean, I could ask.

Terrific. Settled. Next item on the menu,

were you able to locate an overhead projector?

- [elevator dings] - [Gallagher] Yep.

After you.

[DJ Ricksy] Here is a request from Linda in Greenwood.

[music playing on radio]

Where's Ritchie?

[turning volume up]

[music playing on radio]

[phone ringing]

Hey! Anything?

Yeah, Ginny has a lead with the sister.

I know that lead.

[coin drops]

[phone ringing]

Heckman residence.

Hi.

What is it?

[sighing] Uh...

Chief Gallagher would like you

to pay a visit to Ibby Hall.

No.

Tony is willing to let her speak to Dick.

Why me?

Well, this FBI agent, McNally,

seems to think it would be a good idea.

Oh...

I barely know her,

and you need me to do this tonight?

Can you?

I mean, you want Carl watching Julie?

Well, I-I think they'll be fine for an hour.

The poor woman. What am I going to say?

Well, that I'm not worried about.

McNally seems to think

when Ibby speaks to Tony,

her tone should be conciliatory,

so could you pass that along?

Fred...

I know.

Okay. I'll go see her.

Has Tony called you again?

No, but he will.

Okay, I'll be in touch.

All right. I love you.

Love you too.

[hanging up]

[McNally] Thank you all for gathering.

Chief Gallagher, Sheriff Broderick,

the contingent from the state police.

I believe we have all possible arms of law enforcement

in the State of Indiana present tonight.

I caution you,

the last thing that we need

is interagency conflict.

I'm here now to serve as point person...

as a profiler

who analyzes criminal behavior to assist in the negotiation.

As such, the approach that we take to Tony Kiritsis

needs to flow through me.

Make no mistake, the situation is bleak.

We need to understand

the mentality that we're dealing with.

Who's this guy, again?

Said he's a pro-lifer.

[McNally] ...in total rage.

We have three objectives.

First, reduce Tony's fear.

Second, emphasize the optimistic outcome.

Third, reinforce Tony's self-esteem.

Let's begin with controlling phone calls in and out.

[radio playing music]

[Dick] Gin.

[Tony] Well, you can fool some of the people some of the time.

Does your hand still hurt?

What?

You-you were complaining about your hand hurting

the last time you were in the office.

You mean when I took you hostage?

No, before that.

You were favoring your left hand.

You okay holding that gun?

That was... part of the ruse.

[chuckling]

Sure fooled you. [laughing]

Your turn.

[whistling a tune]

Do you mind not whistling?

Helps me concentrate.

Well, it wouldn't fly in Vegas.

I don't know about that.

I do.

Have you ever been, Tony?

[doorbell chiming]

[children squealing]

[Ibby] Dickie! Stop that.

Better not be the press.

I've got a security guard in here with a cattle prod.

No, I'm not,

uh, well, actually, my husband is,

um, Fred Heckman.

He's helping with the... situation.

Um, I'm Barbara.

Uh, we've seen each other at First Presbyterian

on occasion... Easter,

and, um...

and I've been tasked with...

This is for you.

May I come in?

Come on in.

- [Barbara] Thank you. - [Ibby] Of course.

[toilet flushing]

[squealing]

Let's keep it to a dull roar, please?

Sorry, Mrs. Hall.

[Ibby] It's fine, Lester. I managed opening a door.

This is Mrs. Heckman.

- Hello. - Hello.

[Ibby] Well, you can just place that in the kitchen.

[child laughing]

[Ibby] It's very kind of you.

I don't think the kids have had much to eat lately

besides jellybeans and ice cream.

I try to avoid turning on the news or the radio.

They don't know what's happening.

What a lovely home.

[phone ringing]

[exhales wearily]

It's been ringing off the hook.

We have the same problem at my house.

[ringing continues]

Would you like me to answer it for you?

It's my in-laws, so... no.

[calling out] Lester, would you get that?

If it's Dick's mother,

tell her I'm busy ironing and praying.

[phone ringing]

Well...

thank you...

for the casserole.

I'm sorry. I, um...

I, um...

I am here for a reason other than the casserole,

although it is very good, so please eat it.

It's important to stay nourished.

Ahem. Um, first of all...

I want to say how sorry I am

that this is happening to you and your family.

Thank you.

[Barbara] And I have been tasked

with what I hope is good news,

or hopeful news.

Um, Tony has agreed to allow you to speak with Dick.

[music on TV playing]

I have the phone number here.

I wouldn't know what to say.

[Barbara] I understand.

To be honest, I didn't know

what to say coming here today...

but if you would like to call,

I could stay and...

[child] Mommy! Mommy!

...I'm sure that whatever you say

will be more than enough for Dick.

[chuckling]

[Jenny] Hey! Give it back!

Give it back!

Hi! Do you have TV trays?

That's a job for big girls.

Can you go find Lester...

and set them up? Okay?

Lester!

Well, you heard Mrs. Heckman.

Go wash up for dinner.

The sink is the white thing in the bathroom

that spurts out water.

You're gonna love it.

Ben? Where are we?

Did you get in touch with the head of the...

CEND, Community to End Neighborhood Deterioration.

They picketed out in front of Meridian two weeks ago.

[Fred] What, to protest the 400-some-odd foreclosures?

[Ben] Yeah. So it turns out

that Meridian is giving these mortgages

to working-class and low-income people,

and then they close on those houses, fast.

I mean, there's HUD regulations,

but there's no way that they're not profiting.

[Fred] Yeah, no, they foreclose on those properties,

and they buy 'em back at a sheriff's sale.

You know, there's a sheriff's sale

tomorrow morning, 8:00 a.m., 440 Maynard.

Oh? Yeah, where'd you get that little kernel?

You know I never divulge my sources.

Who do you have on, uh, deep background or tape

to confirm this hunch?

Yeah, well, there's a bank guy

that might know something, but he needs some convincing.

It's gotta be pristine.

Ah, if it walks like a duck...

You don't have the duck.

Somebody out there wants to go on the record.

Your job is to find them.

Okay. Here's local, national,

everything that's happening today beyond Tony.

Obie's on-site.

O'Brien, I've got Fred, Ben, and Ginny here.

[O'Brien] Uh, Meridian Mortgage guys arrived.

WENB is gonna broadcast his apology in 15.

We got a two-way setup, so we'll air it live.

Uh, anything else?

[O'Brien] Yeah, it's pretty fuckin' cold out here.

[all chuckling]

[Fred] Well, we'll talk later.

We'll go right from that into the evening broadcast.

Uh, Ben, scratch the local.

If this apology is happening,

let's dedicate the top of the hour to Kiritsis.

Ginny, how'd you make out?

I have an exclusive with his sister.

- You got copy? - Mm-hmm.

Eight years ago, Tony imprisoned his sister

in her home with a knife

until the family agreed to give him $55,000.

Tony's first hostage.

- Mm-hmm. - How does it end?

[Ginny] I don't know yet.

He was arrested.

Uh, the nature of the crime,

his propensity for violence...

But the case was dropped. Why?

Court records noted that his sister didn't testify.

She refused to bear witness in court nine times.

- Nine times? - Mm-hmm.

He held her hostage?

But she forgives him.

She... he still fixes things in her trailer.

They don't speak,

but she said if there's a leaky faucet

or a broken handrail,

she'll come home and find it repaired.

You just had to be there

to understand their relationship.

He's her brother.

What was the money for?

For the 17 acres of land.

From hostage to hostage,

the story of one man's obsession.

This is very good.

You got all that out of her?

I didn't get it on tape.

I fixed her sink.

[colleagues chuckling]

[Ginny] I think...

I think she's just waiting for him to come home.

Well, there's your ending, right there.

She's just waiting for him to come home.

I think you've got your first story.

[Fred] Okay.

[Ben] Okay, yeah. Um...

In national news,

we have President Jimmy Carter's

announcement of his $30-billion stimulus package.

[TV playing quietly]

[laughter]

[boy] Gotta get used to it.

[child] I don't want to get used to it.

[boy] Why? What does it feel like?

[child] Gideon, I can't see good!

[boy] What else does it feel like?

[child] I told you what it feels like.

Now, get me out of this!

[dialing]

[call ringing]

[Tony] Good as new.

Bet you don't know the first thing

about sewing a button.

Actually, my mother is an excellent seamstress.

[phone ringing]

No. My mother was an excellent seamstress,

but she taught me the trade.

She didn't coddle me and keep me in short pants.

You know your brothers call you a mama's boy?

We're still in the dark here, fuckers!

Mr. Kiritsis?

It's Ibby Hall.

I'm told you're expecting my call?

Uh, pardon my language, Mrs. Hall! [chuckling]

That's right, we had a... we had a call scheduled.

Uh... yeah, uh, call me Tony.

Look, um...

I want... I want to be the first,

uh, to apologize, uh...

for putting you and your children through this.

Thank you.

I want you to...

I want you to know that I-I had no choice,

and, you know, Meridian, these people were jacking me.

It's not paranoia.

Like, you know, I didn't imagine these things.

Now, Dick is gonna sit here and deny it,

he has denied it,

but the simple fact of the matter is that, uh...

your husband screwed me over.

Well, Tony, maybe he did.

Maybe he did.

[Tony starts laughing]

Maybe he did!

Finally, a Hall gives me a straight answer.

You know, you sound like a...

like an intelligent lady,

and I hope you won't hold it against me,

because I'm awfully sorry about all this for your sake.

Here, Dick...

talk to your wife.

Are you there?

Hi, B.B.

Hi.

[he sighs]

Do you want me to write the script?

Give me the phone. Give me the phone.

I don't know why he's not talking.

[Ibby] No, no.

It's okay. - No, it's not okay!

You're home, worried sick, and he's tight as a clam.

Here... Dick.

Tell your wife you love her.

Goddamn... well, shit.

Sorry, pardon my French.

Look, if I had a wife like you, I'd treat her right.

If she called me in this current situation,

I'd say something.

I'd know how worried she'd be.

She would be very worried.

[Tony] That's right! That's right. Well...

I'm gonna do for him

what he can't do for himself.

He loves you, Mrs. Hall.

Dick says he loves you.

You take care of him, Tony.

[hanging up]

Would you like help getting the kids to bed?

I can take care of my own kids.

I'll walk you out.

Boy, Dick.

We bent over backwards for you here, and what'd you do?

Nothing. You're a cold-hearted fish.

You always get dealt the best hands,

and you don't even appreciate it.

[Dick] I wouldn't expect you to understand.

Listen, motherfucker, I...

[phone begins ringing]

Let there be light!

Well, Tony, a deal's a deal.

Turn on WENB.

Uh, Meridian's going live with the apology.

WIBC's got it too.

[Tony] So, M.L.'s come out to see his shadow, huh?

I've had many conversations with M.L.

Me and Number One have had some good dialogues.

I'll tell you,

I've put on some classic performances in my life.

With M.L., I've been my best.

That's not to sound egotistical,

you know, but I've done some dandies.

Now it's M.L.'s turn.

[Gallagher] Well, uh, yeah, uh, yeah, yeah,

he certainly approved the apology.

Uh, yeah, it's coming on.

Over and out, baby.

We interrupt our program

to bring you this important message.

[Cliff] The statement that I'm reading

has been authorized by M.L. Hall,

Chairman of the Board of Meridian.

This is a public apology to Anthony Kiritsis...

Where the hell is M.L.?

...Meridian Mortgage or its officers...

Cliff? They sent Cliff?

...with respect to Mr. Kiritsis.

The involvement of Meridian with Eisner, in... ahem.

The involvement our company had with Eisner-Osco,

in regards to Mr. Kiritsis,

and on fostering them towards other properties...

[shattering]

He's not taking responsibility

if he can't make the apology himself.

Yeah, I... guess your father doesn't care if you die?

[Cliff] ...would like Mr. Kiritsis to recognize

that Mr. Dick Hall

was not personally responsible for any decisions made.

You hear that?

Low man on the totem pole Cliff

says that you're not responsible.

[Cliff] Thank you.

- [phone rings] - Tony.

[Tony] Motherfucker, where's Fred?

[Gallagher] Connecting now.

Patch in Heckman.

[pressing button]

[call ringing]

[phone ringing]

WIBC.

I'm asking for Fred Heckman!

Where's Fred Heckman?

[Judy] Yes, Mr. Kiritsis.

Fred!

It's Tony. Not good.

As expected.

Hi, Tony. It's, uh, Fred. I'm listening.

[Jerry] Clint! Patch the call on the air.

No! Don't!

[Tony] "Betray" is a pretty strong word,

but I don't think "betray" really covers it here.

[Fred] Well, Tony, I'm sorry

that you feel like that apology was insufficient.

This apology is inadequate! I know it,

you know it, and they know it.

If we could get these people,

these executives, minor executives,

and maybe some of the people who have definite jobs

on the development end of it, the mortgage end of it,

and the construction end of it,

if we could get them to disclose what the dialogue was,

what was discussed about my personal business,

and what they ought to do,

and what they would rather do, and how we can do this,

and how we cannot let 'em do that...

I'm sorry, Tony. I'm not following this.

...I would tell you, it'd be so goddamn horrendous

that you wouldn't be able to put it on paper.

If this family of phonies,

if we could, if we could get them,

and make them tell what they know,

it would be so disgusting

that this company would have to close their fucking doors!

Fuck!

[dial tone]

I'm gonna need to get an alternate plan.

Dick, you're a goddamn phony!

[kicking chair leg]

[quietly] Oh, shit.

How do you think this is gonna end?

I don't know.

But I do know

that it is your first story in five minutes,

so you might want to call your parents.

Okay.

Hey! Great work today.

[quiet conversations]

[playing piano]

[playing a chord]

[quiet conversations]

[Broderick] Possible to enter through the vents

here and here.

[Flack] We gotta move.

[Fred] All right. Relaxes the vocal cords.

Liquid courage, oh! Okay! All right!

[Fred] Wow! Here we go.

[Clint] Obie says he has something.

[Fred] Okay, I'll throw to him first.

What do you say we do a news broadcast,

ladies and gentlemen?

- [exhaling] - [throwing switches]

Good evening. It's 8:00.

This is Fred Heckman with the WIBC News Hour.

The Kiritsis hostage crisis enters its 11th hour,

as Meridian Mortgage has met one of Kiritsis's demands

by reading an on-air apology on behalf of M.L. Hall.

However, Mr. Kiritsis has declared the apology,

quote, "Totally inadequate," unquote.

Now we hear from WIBC's Doug O'Brien, who is live

and on the scene at Crestwood Apartments.

What do we need to know, Doug?

Well, Fred, I'm hearing that the situation deteriorated.

Mr. Kiritsis was angered by the Meridian apology.

And are all parties working to get that issue resolved?

[O'Brien] Well, the volatility was noted

as concern for Dick Hall's safety increased.

[Fred] Uh, right, but my understanding is

that Mr. Hall has been well-treated for the most part,

uh, with adequate food and water?

Yes. However, the big news is that the Army bomb squad

has a plan to get in without setting off explosives.

[Fred] I'm sorry, has...

There's been no confirmation of this, has there, Doug?

[phone ringing]

Yeah.

[Gallagher] What the fuck, Fred?

Look, what is going on down there, Gene?

[Gallagher] For fuck's sakes!

Tell that moron reporter nothing is going on!

Hey, can you patch Gallagher through, please?

[Jerry] Patch him in. Patch him in.

I am patching him in, thank you.

[Fred] Uh, Doug, I've got Chief Gallagher here,

on the line, who denies what you just reported.

Uh, Chief Gallagher, you are live and on the air.

Now, there is no current plan for the bomb squad

to breach Tony's apartment. Is that correct?

[Gallagher] No. No. Negative. No breach.

- [pounding at door] - [Tony] You're goddamn right!

I'm gonna blow the whole complex up!

- [pounding persists] - [Fred] Okay, uh...

Quit banging on the fucking door!

[Fred] ...Chief Gallagher emphatically denies

any imminent breach.

[Tony] Motherfucker. Motherfucker!

- [pounding at door] - Listen...

[Tony] Stand up! Stand the fuck up!

Uh, to clarify, Fred, the bomb squad isn't...

[Gallagher] Clear the area!

Explosives! Clear! Clear!

[panic rising]

Things have escalated, and, um, I'm not really...

- [feedback screeching] - Ow.

- [loud feedback] - Oh, God!

[feedback wailing]

- Aah! Aah! - Fuck!

What do we do? What do we do?

Hang on!

Call. Call Tony right now.

Uh, Doug, we-we appear to have lost contact

with WIBC's Doug O'Brien on the scene

as the Crestwood Apartments are being evacuated.

More on this developing situation

after these messages.

[switch clicking]

[upbeat music]

♪ You toss you turn You shimmy and shake ♪

[phone dialing]

♪ You can't slow down You're wide awake ♪

♪ Call Daddy Mattress Daddy ♪

[call ringing]

Tony, it's Fred.

[Tony] That motherfucker

just broadcast on your radio station,

and they're trying to lie about it.

Don't tell me what I heard, Fred!

- Okay, Tony. Just listen... - I know what I heard!

Just listen to me, please.

- Evil bunch of fucking liars! - [Tony hangs up]

- Try back. - [dial tone buzzing]

[Fred sighs]

[phone dialing]

[call ringing]

Okay, Tony, just...

[Tony] I know goddamn well what I fuckin' heard,

and now they're saying I was hearing things?

What the fuck?

Okay, Tony, calm down.

Now, you know I don't lie to you.

[Tony] Don't tell me what I heard, Fred!

I know what I fuckin' heard.

This is on you! I don't like it!

You hear me? I don't like it at all!

It's your fault! - [he hangs up]

[McNally] You've got to keep him on the line.

Clint, run it again.

What do you mean, "Run it again?"

[Clint] We're back in a minute, Fred!

Jesus Christ. All right. Yes, Clint, run it again.

[dialing phone]

♪ You toss you turn You shimmy and shake ♪

♪ You can't slow down You're wide awake ♪

♪ Call Daddy Mattress Daddy ♪

- [busy signal buzzing] - It's busy.

Again.

- [phone dialing] - [Jerry] Taking one of these.

Yeah, yeah.

[dialing continues]

[busy signal buzzing]

It's still busy. I think it's off the hook.

You have to talk to him through the radio.

Tell him you understand.

Tell him... mistakes were made.

Admit to the mistake, but not to the malice.

[phone ringing]

Tony.

[Gallagher] No, it's not fucking Tony.

I don't care what shit you say to get him back,

but you say it, and say it now.

This is McNally. Did you tell them to stand down?

[Gallagher] Yes, I fucking told them to stand down!

You do your job, I'll do mine!

[Clint] Fred, we have 10 seconds left.

[McNally] Remember, Tony chose you.

[intense percussion music]

[switches clicking]

This is Fred Heckman, WIBC.

We are...

deviating from our usual program.

Tonight's news hour began with a report

from Crestwood Apartments that was given in error.

Neither the bomb squad nor SWAT

were entering Tony Kiritsis' building.

I repeat, Chief Gallagher

confirms there is no plan to breach Tony's apartment.

On behalf of WIBC,

I apologize for any confusion caused.

This was our mistake,

and quite a serious mistake at that.

But, now, folks, if you will please excuse me,

I would like to speak to my friend, Tony Kiritsis,

directly over the radio here.

Hi, Tony. How you doing?

It's Fred.

Now, listen, I said I would never lie to you,

and I have not,

so I want you to listen to me and I want you to believe me

when I say that the SWAT team is standing down, Tony.

Now, I know you served in the Korean conflict,

and I believe you know I played my part

in the Second World War.

You and I both know what it's like

to be caught up in the... what they call fog of war,

and more often than not, of course,

the right flank doesn't even know

what the left flank is doing.

[Fred takes a deep breath]

I think tonight,

we-we might have stepped back into that fog,

and now, I hope you can see me here,

Tony, standing right beside you,

and I hope that you can see

all the citizens of Indianapolis,

They're standing right beside you too.

So if you can call, call me, Tony.

I-I promise I will be on the other end of that line,

waiting...

...and ready to listen.

We'll hear a few words from our sponsors while we wait.

Tony, please...

give us a call.

[clicking]

♪ WIBC... ♪

[exhaling wearily]

♪ Here and now ♪

♪ On the wings of a summer breeze ♪

♪ You can catch a tune ♪

♪ All the scores from your favorite teams ♪

♪ All the news and the weather to start your day ♪

♪ And in the skies ♪

♪ Super Big Mike in the whirlybird ♪

♪ Get your traffic tips ♪

♪ All the news that you care about ♪

♪ From your friends at WI... WIBC ♪

[silence falls]

What do you want to do, Fred?

We're broadcasting dead air.

[clicking switch]

Tony, are you there?

[phone rings]

[click]

Hi. This is Fred Heckman.

[Tony] Hey, pal.

We're alive.

[cheering]

That's good to hear, Tony. It's good to hear your voice.

How you doing?

How's Dick Hall?

How are you both?

Well, Dick says he could use something

to take the edge off...

huh, Dick?

It's too bad you poured out the PBR.

[Tony chuckles]

Dick's mad I poured the one PBR we had left

down the fuckin' drain.

[laughing]

[Fred] Well, Tony, I...

think I can speak for everybody here when I say

that we could all use a drink right about now.

For our listening audience,

that was a harrowing experience this evening,

but I'm pleased to say,

thank goodness we're all okay.

This is Fred Heckman, WIBC News.

Now, that is how you do radio!

- ♪ WIBC... ♪ - Nice work, Fred.

Thanks, fellas.

So, uh, after Ben is done, I'll do the local,

then I'll throw to you for Effie Kiritsis.

Okay.

What about Effie Kiritsis?

Uh, my segment's an interview

with Effie Kiritsis, his sister.

Tony once held her hostage,

No, no, no. We're not gonna do that.

What? I... Fred.

Hold on. What?

[McNally] You saw what just happened.

We almost had a tragic ending all because of something

that Tony heard on your news station.

[Fred] This is hardly commensurate with the threat

of a SWAT team raid.

[McNally] What's the game plan to handling the psychology

of a person in total rage?

I can tell you what it's not.

It's not bringing up painful episodes

that will serve to publicly humiliate him.

But his sister forgives him. This is an important aspect...

[McNally] You're talking nuance.

I'm talking about a man

with a shotgun at the back of somebody's head.

You run that story,

we're gonna get a repeat of what we had tonight,

and this time, we will not be so lucky.

[Ginny] Fred?

We don't allow government agents to dictate what we air.

♪ WI... WIBC ♪

He is right, Ginny. He's right. He's been right.

It is a risk... [sighing]

And I don't think it's one that we're willing to take.

I'm sorry. We're killing the story.

This is Ben Hairston, and you're listening to WIBC.

In his first formal press conference

since the inauguration,

Carter said he would ask Americans

to sacrifice a little comfort now

for a stronger economy later.

[door closing]

The President is expected

to propose new conservation efforts...

Think about what I said.

[door opening]

Don't tell me about radio.

[door closing]

I did radio

while Generalissimo Franco was marooned on the Canary Islands.

[Ben] ...and ticked up slightly last month,

but employment inched down,

now standing at 7.8% nationwide.

That's all for National.

It is 10 past the hour. Back to you, Fred.

- [click] - Thank you, Ben.

This is WIBC News with Fred Heckman.

In local news, the winter fair wrapped up last night

with strong attendance,

despite the weather on Friday and Saturday.

Very sticky, Fred.

And the story we're putting together on Meridian,

you gonna kill that too?

[Fred] Once upon a time,

the press didn't report that FDR was in a wheelchair.

[Ben] You say that as if it's a good thing.

What would you do?

I don't know, but I'm not the conduit.

I'm just reporting the story, wherever it goes.

You? You're his chief negotiator, Fred.

I'm just trying to do what's right.

How's that line holding now?

You ought to cut down on those things.

They'll kill ya.

[DJ Ricksy] Caller, this is DJ Ricksy

and the Pig's Power Hour.

What's your name, and what's your song?

[caller] Hi. I'm Marilyn.

I want you to play "Carry on, Wayward Son."

And, Tony? If you're listening,

you should know, it's like Fred said...

Indy's with you, baby.

♪ Carry on, my wayward son ♪

♪ There'll be peace when you are done ♪

♪ Lay your weary head to rest ♪

♪ Don't you cry no more ♪

[main riff begins]

[girl laughing]

[song tempo changes up]

[radio playing]

♪ Ahh... ♪

♪ Once I rose above the noise and confusion ♪

♪ Just to get a glimpse beyond this illusion ♪

♪ I was soaring ever higher ♪

♪ But I flew too high ♪

[crowd] Tony! Tony!

Tony! Tony! Tony! Tony!

Tony! Tony!

♪ I hear the voices when I'm dreaming ♪

♪ I can hear them say ♪

♪ "Carry on, my wayward son ♪

♪ There'll be peace when you are done ♪

♪ Lay your weary head to rest ♪

♪ Don't you cry ♪

♪ Don't you cry no more" ♪

[guitar solo]