Original subtitles

I have just taken a prisoner.

I got a 12-gauge sawed-off shotgun wrapped around a man's head.

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

This is Fred Heckman speaking.

I want you to interview me live on the air.

Special Agent Cormac McNally. I'm a forensic profiler.

I'm here now to serve as point person.

Tony called my home this evening.

For whatever reason, you're the means to getting things through to Tony.

You're the conduit.

You'll never know what it's like to be without hope.

You don't know anything about me, Tony.

I lost a daughter.

Patricia was 11 weeks old and two days.

-I'm sorry. -We don't talk about her.

We have never talked about her.

And now you have to an entire city.

I'm worried about six feet of shade starving my roses.

I will pray for a miracle that there will be enough light to go around.

I got in touch with Tony's brother, Jimmie.

He was traveling, but he's on his way now.

Better not be the press.

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

I'm Barbara. We've seen each other at First Presbyterian.

This is for you. May I come in?

DA Kelley has authorized us to negotiate an immunity deal for Mr. Kiritsis.

Well, aren't you worried about the precedent that this sets?

The priority is getting the hostage out safely.

Exactly. You're not a neutral observer anymore.

We think that it would be in the best interest for you

to step down as News Director.

-Who's going to replace me? -I will be acting News Director.

I won't apologize for prioritizing a man's life over a story.

Belly of the beast.

They better not piss backwards on this.

If even one peep comes out of the DA's office,

I will personally make it my mission to destroy them all.

I can't get disbarred.

In times like this, I think of H.R. Haldeman,

18 months at Lompoc just for protecting the president.

I believe he was caught on tape pressuring the CIA to pressure the FBI

to drop the Watergate investigation.

Exactly.

Don't say anything in case they're wearing a wire.

This is it.

Tony's gonna feel ten feet tall when he signs this.

So will I.

We're almost out of the woods, Fred.

Tony, good news!

Hey, open up. You got your deal.

Tony.

You're about to walk out scot-free, brother.

What's it look like? They're giving me a fair shake?

It's the most legal looking document I've ever seen.

-What did my fucking lawyers say? -I'm told it's airtight.

Slide it under the door.

-Slide it under the door. -Okay, okay.

-I'll just go wait outside again. -Yeah, wait outside.

Yeah, so they're gonna give him immunity.

Hey, hey, hey.

That is not how we answer the telephone.

Please put your mother on.

It's Dad.

Mom's busy?

Tell her I am on a payphone at the Crestwood Apartments

and I need to speak to her, please.

He says he's at a payphone.

-Yes, Fred. What? -I think this is gonna end soon.

The crisis.

It's going to end soon? That's good.

Is that it?

Yeah, that's... that's it.

We can... we can get back to normal. That's what I was trying to say.

Well, I'm not sure things will go back to normal, Fred. For me.

Okay. After I do the "Coming to you live from location,"

I'll go straight into, "We have an urgent update

regarding the current hostage situation."

And the, as soon as we get the okay, I wanna go live.

-Okay. Where are we at? -O'Brien went to go check.

Then we'll get into, "The DA and Mr. Kiritsis's lawyers--"

-You're burying the lede. -Can't be about who did the negotiating.

Yeah, no, I know.

What it should be about is, "When is this nightmare gonna be over?"

-Maybe I should take this one. -No, Ben, I don't think so.

I think that given Tony and the public...

-They really need to hear it in my voice. -Okay.

So then you go into, "Mr. Kiritsis is in the process--"

-"Process of signing a deal for the--" -"Deal" is too vague.

It needs to be something more specific.

All right. "Mr. Kiritsis is in the process of signing an immunity agreement--"

Ben, I know that until this is over, you're head of news,

but I can still write my own copy.

Except for the times that I helped.

-All right. -Hey.

-Gallagher's about to make a statement. -Stand by. I'll count you in.

Yeah.

In three, two, one...

This is Fred Heckman coming to you live from the Crestwood Apartments,

where we have an urgent update.

After 36 hours, the crisis may very well be coming to an end.

Chief Eugene Gallagher is about to give a briefing.

Good evening. As of 8 p.m.,

the Marion County District Attorney's Office

has delivered an immunity agreement to Anthony Kiritsis to consider and sign.

It is our hope that this will bring a swift conclusion to this situation.

That's all for now.

What about the damages that Mr. Kiritsis is asking for? Is Meridian gonna pay?

Does this mean Kiritsis won't be prosecuted?

What do the men on the force think

that Tony's gonna get a get-out-of-jail-free card?

-When's our next update? -As soon as Kiritsis signs.

Until then, we wait.

Chief, you're promising an end to this. What does a swift conclusion mean?

-Come on, chief. Chief. -Answer the question, Gallagher.

I understand the situation.

Chief.

Can you hold onto this?

What's wrong?

Kiritsis didn't sign the fucking document.

-Why not? -How do I fucking know why?

-You should know why. -We should call him.

-He's not answering the fucking phone. -Well, I can talk to him.

-Through the door? No. -Tony trusts me.

Look, Fred, I appreciate the offer,

but I don't need the headache

of a civilian putting himself in harm's way.

I'll talk to him. I'll tell him the agreement is solid.

And I'll remind him that if he signs it, he walks out of there a free man.

Tony trusts me.

That's true. That could work.

McNally goes with you to help coach.

You can't go your fucking self. And you need to get suited up.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Let's get this fucking circus over with.

Oh, shit. Gonna have to fucking erase that.

Oyez, oyez. The state of Indiana versus Mr. Richard Hall Jr.

Mr. Hall, time for your day in court.

As the city eagerly awaits news of the end of a hostage crisis,

we take a look back.

In an unusual move, Fred Heckman,

the venerable WIBC news anchor and radio essayist of My Town Indy

has at times parried with Mr. Kiritsis.

Other times he has encouraged him and also comforted him,

all in an effort to assuage the volatile and unpredictable hostage-taker.

I know that you don't abandon hope without hope abandoning you first,

that's for sure.

My wife...

throughout the whole pregnancy, was knitting a blanket.

Forest green trim with a...

with a moss green stitch on it. Beautiful.

Pretty much the only sound you heard in our house for nine months

was the clacking of knitting needles.

We had hope coming out of our ears.

Kids! We're going out!

Mr. Richard Hall,

M.L. Hall, and Meridian Mortgage.

You are being charged with crimes against humanity and depraved fraud.

All rise!

That's you, pal. Get up.

The Honorable Anthony George Kiritsis presiding.

Defendant Richard Hall...

how do you plead?

-Tony, I-- -Defendant, how do you plead?

We need verbal confirmation for the record.

The defendant pleads not guilty.

Ladies and gent-- You can sit down, sir.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury...

prosecution will show beyond a reasonable doubt,

the Meridian Mortgage represented by this man, the son of M.L. Hall,

this man and his family of vultures deceived my client, Tony Kiritsis,

and forced him into foreclosure.

Over the course of this trial...

M.L.

Probation officer says, call the house, not the office.

Bit of a horse show, if you ask me.

Tomorrow's papers will have a grand time. "Meridian Bilks Veterans."

The prosecution will bring forth 198 exhibits of grievances.

I will show that my client, Tony Kiritsis, was a hardworking man

who had good faith that this company wouldn't lie, cheat, or steal.

You, the jury, will deliberate based on the evidence provided

and render your verdict.

We got the scales of justice right here, baby.

It's immunity or execution.

...deliberate based on the evidence presented,

and render your verdict.

Now, ladies and gentlemen, I need you to understand

that this trial is about more than just monetary gain.

Over the past 18 months,

my client has suffered a variety of physical ailments

due to the pressure...

...that this man's company has...

No, no. Away from the door.

Against the wall. Yeah. Yeah, yeah.

Hey, Tony. It's Fred Heckman.

Fred?

Yeah. It's me.

What are you doing here?

Well, I wanted to talk to you.

Good. Good. Yeah, we're just working out some kinks.

Okay. Well, basically, I just wanted to...

reassure you

that I think this immunity agreement is a really good deal.

-Well, thanks for your input, Fred. -Yeah, and I'm just...

I'm just curious as to why you haven't signed it yet.

Well, Fred, you know I love you, baby.

And you'll be the first to know when I sign,

but we're in the middle of something right now, and I'll call you later.

Well, Tony, I could wait out here if you like.

Well, I'm sorry, Fred.

Look, like I said, we're in the middle of something.

I wouldn't want you to wait on those cold stairs.

I wouldn't do that to you, pal.

Listen, I think this deal is...

really has everything that you've asked for.

Are they pressuring you?

'Cause if they're pressuring you,

you can tell them to wait a goddamn minute.

As a matter of fact, the more they pressure,

-the longer the wait. -Well, now, Tony, just--

Fred, clear out of here. It's dangerous.

No.

-You guys win yet? -No.

Lester, would you get that?

It's probably your mother-in-law.

Cops are angry about Tony's immunity deal. They're getting all itchy.

-Was anyone ready to talk? -Loose lips.

God help me if the IndyStar gets an interview before we do.

Well, they got the Effie story, and that was our gold.

Okay, Ginny, I gotta say it.

When it comes to Fred, or any superior--

-You saw my face? -I... I did.

He did.

Well, maybe this isn't for me.

Maybe this isn't for you.

You.

Go down to the basement and crank up the heat

till he sweats more than a pig in a sauna.

Go.

Look, I've been passed over for as long as I can remember.

I had promotions denied and had credit stolen.

I had people talking down to me.

All the while, people are going on and on about how...

What? People go on and on, how?

Well, going on and on about how I should be grateful because I'm Black.

It is what it is.

I get up every morning, I put on the suit and the tie,

I put on the smile to go with it.

But I don't wanna have to smile.

-I want Fred to see what I can do. -He does.

Look, this hostage thing is gonna end one way or the other.

And when it does, Fred is gonna be your boss again.

And mine, just like always.

Are you sure about that?

Maybe we can get one of these cops to talk off the record?

My broadcast is at the top of the hour, so if you don't mind...

This is McNally. I'm in apartment Bravo 203 with Heckman.

As soon as Kiritsis phones, patch him through here. Understand?

You and Tony in the hall. That should have worked.

Well, maybe I wasn't Fred Heckman enough for him.

Talking to him through the door.

Intimacy, real gravitas, trustworthy baritone.

It should've worked. He should've signed the document right there. He trusts you.

Well, maybe Tony, like most other people, isn't always predictable.

No, he is. We are.

I just need to figure out what went wrong.

Christ, it's hot in here.

Need to open a window or something.

Whose apartment did you say this was?

Pearl somebody.

Bermuda. Oh, look at her.

Young, and pretty, and full of hope.

Guessing she's a widow now.

I have no idea. Come on, Pearl. Open something. Jesus.

Here's her husband catching a fish.

Deep sea fishing.

No idea that someday, he's gonna be dead,

and she's gonna be stuck in a tacky little overheated apartment.

-With kids that never visit. -You don't know that.

Says the monkey to the chimp.

Do you like steak?

Well, I certainly enjoy a nice rib eye now and again.

'Course you do! What honest American man does--

I've been upset for 44 fucking years, and I know what it's like.

Listen, you tell those guys to play it cool,

because this here's the real fucking McCoy, Jack.

You know, I'm trying to work here.

So am I.

Heckman residence.

I don't think I can keep it together much longer.

I don't know what to do, what to say to... to all my kids.

Couldn't stay at the house any longer. I couldn't. And now...

I don't know what to do.

Where are you?

Hey, I'm fucking naked up here.

Where's the goddamn heater?

-You know, everyone wants to see you... -Never had worse...

I've been dancing for my whole life.

And I'm done. I'm done.

Can you turn that fucking thing off, please?

I didn't think this would upset you so much.

I found the heater.

Jesus. This place is a fire trap.

Prosecution will now present

198 documented grievances of Mr. Kiritsis's

to be entered and received as evidence.

Grievance number one.

Your father, Mr. M.L. Hall, poached my lessee, Eisner-Osco,

who was gonna pay yours truly a pretty penny.

Grievance number two.

Your father, Mr. M.L. Hall,

was conspiring to foreclose on me since day one.

Grievance number three.

Your father shook my hand, looked me in the eye,

and called me an American dreamer.

Number four.

On January 12th, 1977,

your father put his hands on me,

called me crazy, and threw me out of his office.

Five.

Your father never apologized.

Six. This one's for you.

You, Dick Hall, disparaged my reputation,

insinuating that I would never be able to pay.

No.

I was concerned that you couldn't pay your mortgage

-because you didn't have a job. -Hearsay! Hearsay!

What I had was a $5 million idea,

and planned to turn that idea into a concrete reality.

I understand that, but it takes a lot more--

Is it your turn to speak, Mr. Hall? No, I don't think so.

You will respect the rules of this court, or I will hold you in contempt.

-Do you understand? -Yes.

Good.

Excuse me.

You will address this court with the proper decorum.

Do you understand?

Yes, Your Honor.

Good.

Seven.

Failure to return phone calls promptly.

My girlfriend and I saw The Omen last week.

You see that yet?

-Nope. -It's good.

Not as good as The Exorcist.

-You see that? -Yup.

Lot of vomit.

Bunch of condensation on the window. Must be hot as hell in there.

Jesus.

-Are you twisting to the right? -Do you wanna do this?

Well, there have to be directions here. She must have buried them somewhere.

Well, why don't you go have a look? In fact, here, you do it.

Come on. Give it a whirl.

Careful. Might be hot.

Oh, you stripped it.

So I'm gonna hold it really tight here. Come twist. Come here.

Heckman here.

Fred, I have a little angle on the immunity story.

Cops are not happy with how Gallagher is handling things.

Can you throw to me after the local?

Tony could be calling any minute.

I can't. I'm sorry, Ben. I can't. I don't have it.

-Don't have what? -I don't... I don't have the lede.

I've been distracted. Can you just do it, please?

-Fred, get off the phone. -Shut up. I...

-Do you want my copy, for what it's worth? -No, no. I got it, Fred.

Okay, Ben. Yeah.

Thanks.

Good evening.

A drama that began yesterday morning is still unfolding tonight

on the west side of Indianapolis.

A former used car salesman, furious over a more fluid mortgage,

took a real estate president hostage yesterday.

Number 12.

August 28th, 1976. Your father criticized my sport coat.

Number 13-- No, that's not for this case.

-What are you looking at? -Is that your father?

No, that's Charles Laughton.

All right. He looks very proud.

Yeah, he loved that truck.

Sold ice cream out of a gravel lot behind the gas station.

Don't think I don't know what you're trying to do.

You're trying to get me to talk about myself,

about my family, acting like we're friends.

My father was a real S.O.B., just like yours.

Well, we have that in common.

Oh, you don't know the first thing about it.

Your father was nothing like my father.

You couldn't last a day with my father.

You have no idea what a real S.O.B. is.

People used to litter their ice cream cups all over the parking lot.

That motherfucker would make me pick them up,

wash them out, so he could reuse them.

Four years old. I get the belt if I let any of those cups get soggy.

And trust me, you never wanted the belt.

Not at 4, not at 10, not at 12. Never wanted the belt.

We will now hear from the defendant, Mr. Richard Hall.

You're up at bat.

Bases loaded, two outs, full count.

Go ahead, Dickie.

Start talking.

So a company like Meridian is in the business of risk and returns.

-High risk, high reward. -Objection.

-For what? -Argumentative.

The judge knows perfectly well how companies work.

Your Honor, Mr. Kiritsis complained that he was feeling wronged.

Well, feeling wronged and being wronged are two different things.

Objection!

Criticizing your jacket? What kind of allegation is that, Tony?

You wouldn't fucking know!

You've had a silver spoon up your fucking ass

your whole entire fucking life!

It took me three months of savings to get that fucking jacket.

You people think that you're better than everyone else.

You think because I wore the wrong fucking jacket

that you're better than me?

That I'm not entitled to the same things you have?

-Tony, it's not personal. -Objection.

Tony, you just didn't have enough capital.

Objection!

Objection, you fucker! You motherfucker!

Strike! Strike! Strike the witness!

Strike Meridian! Strike you! Objection! Objection!

Strike! Strike! Strike the witness! Strike!

I was wronged. Not felt wronged.

Was wronged. And I continue to be-- I'm as hot as a fucking pig right now.

I don't feel good.

Wait here, man.

Flop sweat.

Oh, I don't feel good.

Oh, shit.

Oh, good God.

Oh, yeah.

Change that shirt.

Yeah, it's colder than a witch's tit out here.

I smell like a pigpen.

How you doing?

Dick, you look parched. Here.

I thought I was gonna throw up.

I threw up five years ago. That was the last time.

Court's in recess.

Here you go.

I got the gun. I still got the gun. Take a drink.

...and Anthony Kiritsis continues to hold Richard Hall hostage

in his booby-trapped apartment...

Hi. I'm parked right outside.

-What can I get for you? -Nothing. Thank you.

I hate to say it.

If that mortgage fella's gonna walk out of there alive,

he would've been out yesterday.

If you hate to say it, why'd you say it?

Ibby.

I couldn't stay in that house anymore.

The phone won't stop ringing,

and the press keeps getting closer to the front door and I...

I'm trying to keep the kids from knowing anything is wrong

and I didn't want them to see me upset.

I'm not a bad mother.

And if you think I am, then you can just move along.

Can I have another?

I'll have a B&B, straight up.

What's he doing in there?

It was a bad idea to send you to the door.

I can't have sacrificed all this, my job, my...

for this to go south now. No way.

-She'll forgive you, Fred. -What did you say?

McNally.

No calls.

Well, when he gets one, he should take it.

Copy. Thanks.

Gallagher saying, "Why the fuck hasn't this fucking thing fucking ended yet?"

Take what?

You said he should take it. What should he take?

What kind of guns are snipers using these days?

I believe it's a Springfield 1903 A3 with 7.62 NATO rounds.

I thought a sniper was the last resort.

What do you want me to say, Fred?

We're trying everything and anything that we can

to get Kiritsis out of his foxhole.

I'm handling a crisis.

Like you're handling me.

In a manner of speaking.

Yeah.

You profiled me?

I profile everyone, Fred.

What is this, some kind of game to you?

Don't be a child. We're trying to win here.

The immunity agreement isn't real.

It's all bullshit.

-What the fuck's wrong with you? -Wow, cowboy.

I didn't know your fuse was this short. I wasn't sure.

All that matters is that Tony thinks the immunity agreement is real.

That's what gets us across the finish line.

-Cheers! -Cheers!

Big night for the Elks.

My first date with Dick was here.

My father was a diplomat,

and my mother had an interior-design business

while we were stationed in Japan.

And because I was blond, she would have me stand at the front door

and greet people as they would come in.

And then when I was in high school, I wanted to be Dovima from Vogue.

You know?

Anyway, that didn't happen.

And I didn't go to New York, either. I wound up here, and now I have...

a mother-in-law who likes to gift me his-and-her towels

because she doesn't like for things to mix-and-match. Isn't that great?

-Your father's a diplomat? -God, did he have thoughts about Dick.

But I...

I couldn't wait to get engaged.

Now I only see them at Christmas.

What about you?

What about me, what?

How did you find yourself in your current predicament?

I don't think I am in a predicament.

So what? Everything's just perfect over at your house?

No.

No, I didn't say that, either.

You know how to antagonize a person.

It's just what Dick says.

How you doing, Jimmie?

What do you think he's doing up there?

Sniper's looking for a shot to kill my brother.

It's a scenario.

Everyone's trying their best.

I know in their hearts, the police and the rest

don't want harm to come to my brother or Dick Hall.

It's my mother's.

Saint Jude, patron saint of hopeless situations.

It's beautiful.

I'm glad she's not here to see this.

-You take it. -Oh, no. Jimmie, come on.

No, no, no. I want you to take it. Tony would want it too.

I mean, I don't think he'd still be alive if not for you.

So come on, you take it, Fred.

I'll tell you what, I'll get this back to you

when this is all over and everyone's home safe, okay?

You're a good man, Mr. Heckman. God bless you.

-I'm gonna call and check on my sister. -Yeah, go ahead.

While the city waits with baited breath,

questions remain about whether or not Kiritsis

will receive the funds he's asked for.

When asked, Police Chief Gallagher offered no comment.

More on the unprecedented immunity agreement

from our reporter Ginny Hughes.

Anonymous sources at the police department say

that a growing number of officers

are furious over a blanket immunity promise

in what some describe as, quote, "a lunatic running the asylum."

This is Ginny Hughes, WIBC News.

Thank you, Ginny. Up next is Hockey Bob with tonight's scores.

How did I do?

-You feel like you're about to throw up? -Yeah, definitely.

Then you did good.

Okay.

Gin.

Hi.

I just did my first report on air. I'm sorry. I didn't have time to tell you.

What are you doing here?

Your parents have been worried sick about you being down here.

We've been trying to reach you all day.

-I'm sorry. I have to go. -Yeah.

My friends and I would like to buy you ladies a drink.

No, thank you.

-My friend has VD. -No. No, I don't.

No, it's nothing to be ashamed of.

She got it because her husband sees prostitutes.

-Thank you anyway. -Ibby...

What? It worked, didn't it?

What do you care?

Well, you could have said you had it instead of hanging me out to dry.

Things aren't perfect at my house.

For one thing, I hate my neighbor.

I think about how controlling she is about the goddamn property line,

like we're the Rockefellers.

She makes me wanna scream.

My mother used to hate her neighbor, and I never understood why.

But now I get it. I have this...

real and deep hatred that burns each time I even think about her.

She's built a fence that will kill my roses.

It's a rare rose...

I planted for my daughter...

Patricia.

I didn't know you had another daughter.

I did.

Your Honor, I understand that it is late in the trial,

but I'd like to make a motion to submit an additional witness.

A surprise witness.

Someone who should be here but isn't.

We'll allow it, Mr. Prosecutor. You may proceed with your witness.

If Muhammad won't come to the mountain... Well, you know the rest.

And the surprise witness is...

Drumroll.

...Mr. M.L. Hall!

I'm never gonna answer, Dick.

Dad.

-You need to apologize. -We did that, son.

On TV and the radio.

Yes, sir, but he wants to hear it from you.

Only you.

At some point, we have to put our foot down

to people who can't pull themselves up by their own bootstraps.

Dad. Please.

Probation officer says he'll call the house, not the office.

Eleven rings.

Dad.

I's the b'y that builds the boat, And I's the b'y that sails her

I's the b'y that catches the fish And brings it home to Mabel

"Meridian Bilks Veterans."

Thirteen.

Fourteen fucking rings and no answer.

What is more important than the safety of your own son?

You got a gun to your head.

Gun to your head and he still won't apologize.

I should have written everything down.

The star witness is a no-show.

He put hands on me.

He put hands on me and marched me out of his office like I was nothing.

You know what I say?

You know what I say?

Don't let it bother you.

Water off a duck's back.

Don't let him get to you.

-Tony? -Yeah? Yeah?

I apologize.

On behalf of my father, on behalf of myself, I apologize.

I'm sorry.

Sorry.

Thank you.

Let the record show that the defendant...

gave a heartfelt apology.

An apology that constitutes an admission of guilt.

I'm sorry, Dick.

But the verdict is in.

-No. -Yeah.

But before I render your sentence...

Oh, my God!

Oh, my God!

That's Tony. That's Tony.

Command, this is Overwatch. I've got eyes. Permission to engage.

Overwatch, this is Chief.

-You see him through the window? -Affirmative.

Did you think I was gonna kill you?

Fred. Fred.

-Hear anything? -I see him through the window.

Sniper's gonna take the shot.

-Shot clear. -Crystal.

-Take the shot. -Copy. Marking target.

Lost the shot. Standing down.

Lost the shot.

What the fuck's the matter with you?

Hey, what's going on? What is happening?

What do you think is happening?

Our hostage has been held for over 40 fucking hours!

If I can blow the head off this Tiny Tim, goddamn it, I'm gonna do it.

He's got the immunity agreement. He's gonna sign it.

We don't know that.

Maybe Tony, like most human beings, isn't entirely predictable.

So, I'm sorry, what? We're just gonna give up? That's it?

You have to sell the immunity, Fred.

-I tried that already. -On the news.

Through the radio.

That's the conduit.

You're gonna have to talk to him like you're friends.

Tell all of Indianapolis that you believe in this agreement.

That you personally vouch for this agreement.

And you better fucking be convincing.

-I'm sorry. I don't sell lies on the news. -Oh, come on, Fred.

Two men's lives are at stake here.

You got the wrong guy.

I'd say, "Call me when you get home," but...

I'll send up a smoke signal.

Dick was hungover the morning it happened.

I had to tie his tie for him.

The things we do.

When this is all over...

do you think Fred will remember us?

What do you say we partner up

and shoot our way out of this in a blaze of glory?

I'm just kidding. I'd never give you a gun.

I don't trust you for that.