Original subtitles

Chorus: * SHOULD OLD ACQUAINTANCE BE FORGOT *

* AND NEVER BROUGHT TO MIND

* SHOULD OLD ACQUAINTANCE BE FORGOT *

* IN DAYS OF AULD LANG SYNE

* FOR AULD LANG SYNE, MY DEAR *

* FOR AULD LANG SYNE

* WE'LL TAKE A CUP OF KINDNESS YET *

* FOR AULD LANG SYNE.

MR. FOREMAN, HAVE YOU ARRIVED AT A VERDICT?

WE HAVE, YOUR HONOR.

WE FIND THE DEFENDANT

GUILTY OF ALL CHARGES.

HE HAS NO PRIORS, YOUR HONOR...

THAT'S MISLEADING, YOUR HONOR.

HE HAS NO CONVICTIONS.

Judge: IS HE DANGEROUS?

NO. HE'S A SLIPPERY LITTLE SHIT.

REQUEST BAIL BE CONTINUED.

BAIL FOR THIS SLEAZEBAG?

HE'S ALREADY WASTED THE JURY'S TIME.

JUDGE, KNOCK HIM IN NOW.

YOUR HONOR, HE'S A VERY DECENT FAMILY MAN.

HE HAS NO PRIORS.

Judge: FORGET ABOUT THE PRIORS.

WAS HE VIOLENT OR SOMETHING?

HE WOULDN'T HURT A FLEA.

I MEAN, A FLY.

BUT I'M ASKING BAIL.

I'M NOT NAIVE.

Judge: THAT'S ENOUGH.

ALL RIGHT, I'M GOING WITH YOU.

I GOT YOUR BAIL CONTINUED.

I DON'T WANT MY BAIL CONTINUED.

YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, MR. LaPLANTE

THAT THEY FOUND YOU GUILTY.

GUILTY?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

THE JURY FOUND YOU GUILTY.

I'M INNOCENT, FOR CHRIST'S SAKE.

MR. LaPLANTE, I HAVE BEEN PERSUADED

IN VIEW OF YOUR CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT AND YOUR LACK

OF PRIOR CONVICTIONS, TO CONTINUE YOUR BAIL

UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS HERETOFORE

PENDING SENTENCING SIX DAYS FROM NOW.

IN THE MEANTIME, YOU'LL MAKE AN APPOINTMENT

WITH A PROBATION OFFICER

WHO WILL MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO ME

REGARDING YOUR SENTENCE.

I URGE YOU TO USE THOSE SIX DAYS

TO GET YOUR PERSONAL AFFAIRS IN ORDER

IN ANTICIPATION OF INCARCERATION.

IN ANTICIPATION OF INCARCERATION.

ANTICIPATION OF INCARCERATION.

HE MEANS PRISON.

I KNOW WHAT HE MEANS.

I'M NOT A PRISONER KIND OF GUY, MISS O'DAY.

LISTEN, YOU'RE NOT DOING YOUR JOB HERE.

LAST TIME, MY LAWYER GOT THE CHARGES DISMISSED.

THAT'S WHY THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY

IS BEING SO HARD-NOSED THIS TIME.

WHAT ABOUT AN APPEAL?

WE DON'T HAVE GROUNDS.

WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON THE PROBATION OFFICER'S REPORTS.

HE GIVES A GOOD REPORT AND I WALK?

A SUSPENDED SENTENCE IS UNLIKELY NOW.

YOU STILL HAVE YOUR JOB, RIGHT?

YEAH. I'VE BEEN CALLING IN SICK.

THEY THINK I GOT THE FLU.

AND A SON BY YOUR EX-WIFE? JOSEPH?

A SON? YEAH.

WHAT ABOUT HIM? JOEY.

ARE YOU INVOLVED IN HIS UPBRINGING?

CHRIST, SHE ATTACHED MY PAYCHECK, CHILD SUPPORT.

THAT'S WHY I GOT A COURT-APPOINTED LAWYER

INSTEAD OF A... YOU KNOW, MORE EXPERIENCED ONE.

HOW OFTEN DO YOU SEE YOUR SON?

I DON'T KNOW.

ON HIS BIRTHDAY.

MAY, I THINK.

SHE DON'T LIKE ME TO SEE HIM.

SHE THINKS I'M A BAD INFLUENCE.

YOU SHOULD SEE YOUR SON

AND GET A NOTE FROM YOUR BOSS

ABOUT YOUR JOB PERFORMANCE.

YOU NEED TO CREATE THE IMPRESSION

OF A DECENT CITIZEN WITH FAMILIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

WHO HAPPENED TO SLIP UP ONCE.

I KNOW THAT YOU'RE HAVING FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES

BUT I WAS WONDERING ABOUT THE MONEY

THAT I LOANED YOU LAST WEEK?

SOME OF IT.

I'LL GET YOU THE REST AS SOON AS I CAN.

IF YOU'RE A LITTLE SHORT, I MEAN, IT'S OKAY.

WELL, I BETTER KEEP SOME OF IT

IF I'M GOING TO SEE THE KID

FOR GAS AND STUFF.

( snarling )

LOOK AT THAT ONE.

IF YOU WERE IN THERE, HE'D KILL YOU.

WOULDN'T HE, DAD?

YEAH, YEAH, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

YOU KNOW, THIS GUY THAT YOUR MOTHER IS SEEING--

WHAT IS HE, A FIREMAN?

DID HE EVER, UH, YOU KNOW, LIKE, JUST SPEND THE NIGHT?

SOMETIMES.

HIS NAME IS ELLIOTT.

SAVED A GUY'S LIFE ONE TIME IN A FIRE.

OH, A HERO.

WAS HE EVER IN THE 'NAM, THIS GUY ELLIOTT?

THE 'NAM?

YEAH.

WHAT'S THAT?

IT WAS THIS WAR, VIETNAM.

DOESN'T MATTER.

WERE YOU IN IT? IN THE WAR?

YOU DIDN'T SEE THAT PICTURE?

WHAT PICTURE?

ME IN MY UNIFORM.

USED TO BE OVER THE FIREPLACE.

HMM.

SEE WHAT I DON'T LIKE ABOUT PUBLIC REST ROOMS

IS YOU'RE ALWAYS STANDING IN PISS.

YOU GOT THEM SNEAKERS ON

BUT I'M STANDING IN PISS IN VERY EXPENSIVE SHOES.

I DON'T WANT PISS ON THEM.

IT'S A BREAKDOWN IN CUSTODIAL SERVICES.

LOOK, SOMEBODY LOST THEIR WALLET.

WHAT?

WHERE YOU GOING?

TO GIVE IT TO THE MANAGER.

YOU GIVE IT TO THE MANAGER, HE POCKETS THE DOUGH.

WE'LL GO OUT BACK.

MOST PEOPLE IN SUPERVISORY POSITIONS ARE CROOKS.

WHAT ABOUT THE CHECK?

I'VE GOT AN ACCOUNT HERE.

TOMORROW WHEN I GET TO THE OFFICE

I'LL HAVE MY SECRETARY PHONE THIS GUY UP.

LET THE GUY COME AND GET HIS WALLET.

MAKE SURE YOU GET A REWARD.

YOU DESERVE A REWARD.

YOU WANT ONE, DON'T YOU?

CAN YOU SPARE SOME CHANGE?

GO AWAY, FELLOW.

RESIST THE URGE TO BE NICE TO THOSE PEOPLE.

THEY'RE CON ARTISTS.

A LOT OF THEM ARE FINANCIALLY BETTER OFF

THAN THE REST OF US.

YOU GOT TO LOOK OUT FOR NUMBER ONE.

IT'S A GODDAMN--

EXCUSE THE VULGARITY-- JUNGLE OUT THERE.

YOU GOT TO KEEP A LOW PROFILE.

RIGHT? A LOW PROFILE.

( rattling )

HEY, BERNIE, WHERE YOU BEEN, PAL?

SOME GUYS BEEN LOOKING FOR ME, CHICK?

SPANISH KIND OF GUYS?

SPANISH KIND OF GUYS?

BUSINESS TYPES.

GIVE ME A SEVEN AND SEVEN, WILL YOU?

WHAT IS IT, FIVE DAYS NOW I DON'T SEE YOU?

'CAUSE I'M UP TO MY ASS IN SHIT IS WHY.

BROKE 'CAUSE I GOT LEGAL PROBLEMS.

NOBODY WAS ASKING FOR ME, HUH?

NOPE.

LEGAL PROBLEMS?

YOU GOT TO HAVE A GOOD ATTORNEY.

MY ATTORNEY, SHE'S JUST OUT OF LAW SCHOOL.

COUPLE OF YEARS OLDER THAN MY KID, FOR CHRIST'S SAKE.

YOU GOT A KID, BERNIE?

HOW OLD IS YOUR KID?

NINE, I THINK.

MAYBE TEN.

YEAH, TEN.

NICE KID.

YOU GOT A TEN-YEAR-OLD ATTORNEY, BERNIE?

I CAN'T AFFORD NO BETTER.

MY EX, SHE ATTACHED MY PAYCHECK FOR CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS.

YOU LOOKING FOR BERNIE LaPLANTE BY ANY CHANCE?

I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW YOU HAD A KID.

THE THING IS, KIDS THINK THEY'RE GOING TO GROW UP

TO BE A WONDERFUL PERSON INSTEAD OF AN ASSHOLE

LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.

WE'RE ALL ASSHOLES, BERNIE?

WHEN I WAS A KID, I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO BE

THIS FANTASTIC, WONDERFUL, HEROIC HUMAN BEING.

ARE YOU BERNIE LaPLANTA?

LaPLANTE-- BERNIE LaPLANTE.

YOU THE GUYS THAT BUNNY CALLED?

MM-HMM. YEAH.

ESTAS NO SIRVEN.

NO TRAE NADA.

THREE HOURS IS OLD, MAN.

HE MIGHT NOT HAVE REPORTED THEM YET.

HE MIGHT NOT KNOW FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS.

WHAT DID YOU DO, PICK HIS POCKET?

YEAH, MORE OR LESS.

TRUST ME, THESE ARE VERY, VERY FRESH.

TO BE HONEST, IT DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE

TO ME EITHER, MISS GAYLEY.

THINGS SEEM TO BE ON THE UPSWING.

OUR DIFFICULTIES WITH THE FCC HAVE BEEN FAVORABLY RESOLVED.

IN A BUSINESS SENSE, I THINK WE'VE TURNED THE CORNER.

YOUR WIFE AND CHILDREN ARE ON THEIR WAY.

THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT HERE

AND LETTING ME TALK TO YOU.

OH, MY GOD!

CHUCKY, TILT DOWN!

( thudding )

DID YOU GET IT?

JESUS, DID I SAY THAT?

YEAH, I GOT IT.

SPORTS TRAINING-- LEARN TO FOLLOW THE BALL.

HEY, LISTEN, HOW ABOUT YOU DO YOU WRAP-UP FROM UP HERE?

I'LL PULL BACK FROM THAT SKYSCRAPER THERE

FIND YOU HERE, THEN REVEAL THE DROP.

SUICIDE #137 OF THIS YEAR IN THIS CITY

WAS NEITHER A DESTITUTE NOR A LONELY MAN

BUT A SUCCESSFUL EXECUTIVE WITH A LOVING FAMILY

AND $40 MILLION IN THE BANK.

If there's nameless despair in executive offices

what can there be 60 stories below

where the hungry and the homeless

the brutalized and the addicted

fight their daily battle for survival.

From a ledge 60 stories above the street

I'm Gale Gayley for Channel 4 news.

WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE FALL SHOT, CHIEF?

THE GUY DROPS 20 STORIES IN PERFECT FOCUS

CENTER FRAME WHILE I SMOOTHLY GO FROM F16 TO F5.6.

HELL OF A SHOT, CHUCKY.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

PARKER, RUN THIS DOWN TO FRAZIER.

TELL HIM WE'LL OPEN WITH IT.

BET SHE PUSHED HIM

JUST FOR THE GREAT SHOT.

PUSHED HIM?

HE'S KIDDING, MR. WALLACE.

CONKLIN'S JEALOUS

BECAUSE IT WASN'T HIS STORY.

ACTUALLY, IT TORE HER UP

BECAUSE WE COULDN'T SAVE THE GUY.

SHE WANTED TO REACH OUT.

HI, CHIEF. LIKE THE SUICIDE?

NEVER REACH OUT.

HE'S RIGHT.

IT'S UNPROFESSIONAL.

WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

SAVING PEOPLE IS NOT OUR JOB.

IT'S JUST AS WRONG

TO STEP IN AND SAVE SOMEONE

AS IT WOULD BE TO PUSH HIM OFF.

I DIDN'T SAY I THOUGHT WE SHOULD HAVE SAVED HIM.

I SAID I WISH IT HAD OCCURRED TO ME TO CONSIDER SAVING HIM.

IT'S NOT A BAD STORY-- NEWSWOMAN SAVES SUICIDE.

IT'S UNPROFESSIONAL.

YOU JUST CAN'T BEAR GOOD NEWS.

YOU'RE SITTING ON YOUR TICKET.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

SHE'S FLYING TO NEW YORK.

SHE'S BEEN NOMINATED FOR A SILVER MIC AWARD.

YOU ARE COVERING US IN GLORY.

I HAVEN'T WON YET.

I NOTICED YOU HAD ME SCHEDULED ON A FLIGHT BACK

AN HOUR AFTER THE CEREMONY.

DEAK, LET'S AT LEAST GIVE HER A NIGHT IN NEW YORK CITY.

WE'LL PUT HER AND HER BOYFRIEND UP...

SHE BROKE UP WITH HER BOYFRIEND.

WE NEED YOU BACK

TO FOLLOW UP ON THE JUMPER.

FIND THE HUMAN INTEREST IN THE UNENDING WOE

POURING FROM THE HEARTLESS METROPOLIS.

THE DIRT, YOU MEAN.

THAT TOO.

A REALLY GOOD HOTEL?

ABSOLUTELY.

SO LONG, BABE.

OKAY, THE HELL WITH IT.

PARTY ON, GALE.

IS THAT WHAT THEY SAY?

I'LL FIGURE SOMETHING OUT.

SHE'S PRETENDING TO BE A PERSON.

SHE'S REALLY JUST A REPORTER.

50 BUCKS SAYS SHE'LL BE BACK ON THE FIRST FLIGHT.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU MEAN BY A TECHNICALITY.

YOU WERE FOUND GUILTY BY A JURY.

BUT THE COPS DIDN'T FOLLOW

THE CORRECT PROCEDURE WITH THE EVIDENCE.

YOU KNOW, THE CHAIN OF EVIDENCE?

THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED BY YOUR ATTORNEY.

THAT'S IT. I'M BROKE.

I GOT THIS COURT-APPOINTED LAWYER.

SHE'S A KID.

MR. LaPLANTE, MY JOB TODAY

IS TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION FOR SENTENCING

BASED ON THIS INTERVIEW.

I'M TRYING TO TELL YOU I'M NOT A CRIMINAL.

BUYING STOLEN GOODS?

IT'S A LITTLE TECHNICAL THING.

DO I ROB ANYBODY?

DO I HIT ANYBODY?

YOU DON'T WANT TO CLUTTER UP PRISONS WITH GUYS LIKE ME.

PRISONS ARE FOR TOUGH GUYS--

GUYS WHO LIKE TO BEAT EACH OTHER UP

LIFT WEIGHTS, FUCK EACH OTHER.

I CAN'T DO THAT KIND OF TIME.

I DON'T BELONG IN THAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT.

GIVE ME A BREAK.

LOOK, I...

I GOT THIS KID-- NINE, TEN YEARS OLD.

I'M TAKING HIM TO THE MOVIES TONIGHT AFTER WORK.

HE WORSHIPS ME.

IF I GO TO THE SLAMMER

WHAT'S THIS GOING TO DO TO THE KID?

I'M HIS GODDAMN ROLE MODEL, FOR CHRIST'S SAKE.

I DON'T HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO YOU HOW MUCH MY CAMERAMAN, EDITOR

ASSIGNMENT EDITOR, AND NEWS DIRECTOR--

TO NAME A FEW-- DID TO GET ME THIS AWARD.

THIS IS AN ONION.

IT'S A METAPHOR FOR A NEWS STORY.

ONLY A FEW HOUR AGO, I WAS STANDING ON A LEDGE

60 STORIES ABOVE THE STREET

INTERVIEWING A MAN

WHO SUBSEQUENTLY JUMPED TO HIS DEATH.

$40 MILLION IN THE BANK, HAPPILY MARRIED, GOOD HEALTH.

GREAT STORY.

BUT THERE'S GOT TO BE MORE.

I MEAN, WE'RE PROS, RIGHT?

SOME KIND OF EXTRAMARITAL HANKY-PANKY, MAYBE?

ANOTHER GREAT STORY.

MAYBE THE GUY'S BEEN ACCUSED

OF CHILD MOLESTING.

AH, A TERRIFIC STORY!

WHAT? IT TURNS OUT THE ACCUSATIONS WERE FALSE?

WONDERFUL. MORE STORY.

MAYBE THE ALLEGED MISTRESS WAS LYING.

SETTING THE GUY UP, HUH?

SENSATIONAL STORY.

SO WE KEEP GOING.

OH. EXCUSE ME.

KEEP DIGGING, INVESTIGATING.

WE EXPOSE THE GUY'S WHOLE LIFE, HIS FAMILY.

WHY? BECAUSE WE'RE PROS.

BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE TRUTH.

WHAT IF IT TURNS OUT-- AFTER ALL OUR DIGGING

AFTER ALL OUR PAINSTAKING INVESTIGATION--

WHAT IF IT TURNS OUT THERE WASN'T ANY TRUTH?

JUST STORIES--

ONE STORY AFTER ANOTHER, LAYER AFTER LAYER

TILL THERE'S NOTHING LEFT.

DO WE HAVE ANY OBLIGATION TO STOP AT ANY POINT

OR DO WE JUST KEEP GOING--

DIGGING, DIGGING, PEELING

TILL WE'VE PEELED IT ALL AWAY?

TILL WE'VE DESTROYED WHAT WE WERE INVESTIGATING

IN THE FIRST PLACE?

I'LL BET ALL OF YOU, LIKE ME, YEARN FOR JUST ONE STORY

THAT ISN'T ABOUT UNVEILING LAYER AFTER LAYER OF HUMAN WEAKNESS--

A STORY THAT REVEALS

WITH EACH NEW LAYER OF INVESTIGATION

SOMETHING FINER AND NOBLER.

SOMETHING EVEN...

INSPIRATIONAL.

( applause )

NO, IT'S VERY NICE, ACTUALLY.

UM...

"FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE PURSUIT OF TRUTH."

LISTEN, I JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT I GOT A SEAT

BACK ON THE EARLY FLIGHT AFTER ALL, SO...

WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU GAVE IT TO CONKLIN?

HE WASN'T ON THAT LEDGE.

HE WASN'T THE ONE THE GUY WANTED TO TALK TO.

YOU WERE GOING TO DO THE TOWN, REMEMBER?

FANCY SUITE AT THE STATION'S EXPENSE

SEE A SHOW, GET LAID.

WHAT WAS I TO DO?

Cut the shit.

You know I won't hang around New York

while you give away all my stories to Conklin.

OKAY, YOU GET BACK TONIGHT, DOLL.

I'LL TAKE CONKLIN OFF YOUR SUICIDE.

CONGRATULATIONS ON THE AWARD.

WHAT DID I TELL YOU?

THEY'RE ALL ALIKE-- THE GOOD ONES.

THEY'RE JUNKIES FOR THE STORY.

CAN'T LET GO.

First rule out here on the streets is

you got to watch out for number one.

If you go down, break a bone, you're gone.

Nobody's going to pick you up.

SHITTY COLOR.

LOOK AT THE SKIN TONES.

FOR CHRIST'S SAKE.

HOMELESS PEOPLE ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE SHITTY SKIN TONES.

I'm not moving.

* Put the blame on...

You're a VIP, right?

From the most beautiful place in the world...

THERE YOU GO-- SKIN TONES.

YOU GOT A FISH TO CUT.

I WOULDN'T EVEN DO THIS

IF I DIDN'T HAVE THESE LEGAL PROBLEMS.

$95, THAT'S IT.

I GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE.

I GOT TO TAKE MY KID TO THE MOVIES TONIGHT, WINSTON.

I'M LATE.

FIFTY.

HOW ABOUT A WATCH?

WANT TO BUY A WATCH?

SAME KIND I GOT, HUH?

TELL YOU WHAT.

GIVE ME $85 FOR THE MACHINE, THE WATCH

I'LL THROW IN A COUPLE OF WHEEL COVERS

A CASE OF INSECT REPELLANT.

HERE--

YOU NEED A AIR FILTER?

I KNOW WHY IT'S RAINING.

I COULD HAVE PREDICTED IT.

IT'S RAINING BECAUSE MY GODDAMN WIPERS ARE ALL SCREWED UP.

IF MY WIPERS WERE OKAY

THE GODDAMN SUN WOULD BE SHINING AT NIGHT.

OH, DAMN IT.

( engine sputtering )

DAMN IT.

Ladies and gentlemen

this is your captain.

We're experiencing a high reading

on one of our indicators.

Ten to one it's a malfunction in the gauge.

I'll ask you to fasten your seat belts

while the flight attendants

run through some safety procedures.

MAKE SURE YOUR SEAT BELTS ARE FASTENED SECURELY.

WHEN THE CAPTAIN GIVES THE SIGNAL

YOU WILL BRACE YOUR ARMS

AGAINST THE SEAT IN FRONT OF YOU LIKE THIS.

YOU MAY USE PILLOWS AND BLANKETS

TO PROTECT YOUR FACE

FROM FLYING GLASS AND DEBRIS.

BEFORE YOU DO THIS

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE REMOVED YOUR EYEGLASSES

AND THAT YOUR SHOES...

( engine sputtering )

REMEMBER, OUR BIGGEST ASSET

IN AN EMERGENCY IS CALM, CLEAR THINKING.

ALL OF US ON THE CREW HAVE BEEN CAREFULLY TRAINED

FOR AN EMERGENCY SUCH AS...

Bernie: COME ON, COME ON.

I'M LATE ALREADY.

DON'T QUIT ON ME NOW.

( engine sputtering )

COME ON, COME ON.

( engine cranking )

( jet engine roaring )

( explosion )

( metal scraping )

( crackling )

( clattering )

NOW WHAT?

Man: HEY!

SOMEBODY!

IS ANYBODY OUT THERE?

( thumping )

IS ANYBODY THERE?

WHAT'S THE PROBLEM, PAL?

GET OUT! GET OUT!

( people moaning and child crying )

Flight attendant: STAY CALM, EVERYONE.

EVERYONE, PLEASE, STAY CALM.

PLEASE DON'T PUSH.

EVERYONE, PLEASE.

EVERYTHING WILL BE ALL RIGHT IF WE CAN JUST STAY CALM.

( screaming )

( people moaning and crying )

( grunting )

Gayley: I CAN'T MOVE.

I'M TRAPPED.

GET ME OUT OF HERE!

MOMMY, MOMMY!

Man: HELP! WE'RE STUCK.

HOLD IT, HOLD IT.

JUST A MINUTE.

PLEASE, DADDY, WAKE UP.

DADDY, WAKE UP.

SOMEBODY'S COMING.

HEY, MISTER.

MISTER, CAN YOU GIVE US A HAND?

HOLD ON, BUDDY!

WE'RE TALKING $100 SHOES HERE.

WHOA!

( coughing )

OH!

SHIT!

SHIT!

SHIT!

HELP US, PLEASE!

THE HANDLE'S JAMMED.

YOU GOT TO PUSH ON THE DOOR.

YOU GOT TO PUSH HARD.

WHAT DO YOU THINK I'M DOING?

HARDER!

AGAIN, COME ON.

COME ON.

I'M PUSHING IT.

HARDER!

I'M PUSHING IT, ASSHOLE.

( all coughing )

COME ON!

OH!

COME ON!

ONE AT A TIME!

DON'T PUSH.

OOH!

( coughing )

OOH!

( coughing )

( yelling )

WHEN YOU GET OUTSIDE, MOVE AS FAR AWAY

FROM THE AIRPLANE AS POSSIBLE.

PLEASE, ONE AT A TIME.

PLEASE, MISS, MY FATHER CAN'T MOVE.

WE'LL TRY TO HELP HIM.

YOU WAIT OUTSIDE.

MOVE AS FAR AWAY FROM THE PLANE AS YOU CAN.

ONE AT A TIME. LET'S GO, LET'S GO.

THERE'S A WOMAN BACK THERE.

SHE'S TRAPPED.

YOU GET AS FAR AWAY FROM THE PLANE AS YOU CAN.

Boy: DADDY!

DADDY!

WHERE IS MY SHOE?

DADDY!

WHERE ARE MY SHOES?

DAD!

DADDY, PLEASE.

DAD!

SIR, PLEASE!

MY DAD CAN'T MOVE.

WHERE? WHERE IS HE?

IN THERE. HE'S HURT.

LISTEN, KID, THE COPS ARE COMING

AND THE FIREMEN--

THEY GOT EQUIPMENT FOR THIS KIND OF THING.

THEY'RE EXPERTS.

WHERE ARE MY SHOES?

PLEASE, SIR.

PLEASE.

IT'S ON FIRE.

HE CAN'T MOVE.

( sniffing )

OH, FOR CHRIST'S SAKE.

WHAT'S HIS NAME?

SIR, YOU CAN'T...

FLETCHER, WHERE ARE YOU?

FLETCHER! FLETCHER!

WHERE ARE YOU, FELLOW?

FLETCHER!

FLET...

ARE YOU FLETCHER?

( grunting )

WHO ARE YOU? YOU FLETCHER?

AH, COME ON.

HEY, SOMEBODY GRAB HIM, WILL YOU?

GET AS FAR AWAY AS YOU CAN.

HELP THIS GUY, WILL YOU, GODDAMN IT?!

HELP HIM. GET HIM AWAY FROM THE PLANE.

GET AS FAR AWAY FROM THE PLANE AS YOU CAN.

WHERE ARE YOU?

HEY, BUDDY, GODDAMN IT.

MR. FLETCHER! FLETCHER!

FLETCHER, SPEAK UP!

OH.

FLETCHER?

( moaning )

( gasping )

OH, SHIT.

( coughing )

MY LEG IS CAUGHT.

MY LEG... MY LEG IS...

CAN YOU GET ME OUT OF HERE?

OH, SURE.

YEAH, I THINK.

LET ME HELP YOU, THERE.

( pained groaning )

GIVE ME A HAND HERE, LADY.

I'M NOT A GODDAMN BODY BUILDER.

GET AWAY FROM THE PLANE QUICKLY!

IT MAY EXPLODE!

( coughing )

( grunting and coughing )

GIVE ME A HAND HERE, WILL YOU, HONEY?

MOVE THIS PIECE OF SHIT OUT OF HERE RIGHT NOW.

COME ON.

DAD?!

DAD! SON!

DAD!

THANK GOD.

PUT HER ON YOUR SHOULDER!

Fire fighter: I GOT HER.

YOU BETTER GET OUT OF HERE! YOU TOO, MISS.

FLETCHER!

I'VE LOST COUNT!

RIGHT AWAY!

I THINK EVERYBODY'S OUT.

FLETCHER! HEY, FLETCHER!

( coughing )

WHERE ARE YOU?

( coughing )

FLETCHER! HEY, FLETCHER!

Man: HERE!

I'M OVER HERE! HELP ME.

WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?

OH... HERE. MY LEG IS BROKEN.

I NEED HELP.

FLETCHER, RIGHT?

SMITH.

YOU'RE NOT FLETCHER?

I'M SMITH. PLEASE HELP ME.

FUCK THIS. I'M LOOKING FOR FLETCHER.

NO! DON'T LEAVE ME.

PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME!

OH...

ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

COME HERE. HOLD ON.

COME ON. THANK GOD.

DON'T COUNT YOUR CHICKENS.

I CAN'T SEE SHIT HERE.

YOU BETTER COME OUT!

Flight attendant: THERE'S ANOTHER GUY IN THERE.

LaPlante: HEY, YOU!

GET OUT OF THERE!

GIVE ME A HAND HERE. COME HERE.

I'LL HELP HIM FOR YOU.

NO, I'VE GOT THIS GUY.

YOU GO IN...

THERE'S A GUY IN THERE!

IT'S GOING TO EXPLODE, YOU DUMBSHIT!

THERE'S A GUY IN THERE.

YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE A FIREMAN!

SHE'S GOING TO GO!

COME ON, COME ON!

GET BACK!

IT'S GOING TO GO!

COME ON, YOU STUPID SHIT!

I LOST MY OTHER SHOE.

Man: GET BACK!

I NEED A MEDIC HERE!

YES, YES-- ANGLE ON FIREMAN.

JONESY!

HEROIC, BACKLIT...

BLAZING INFERNO!

LOOK AT THAT! AWESOME!

MAJOR AWARDS!

"HE STANDS HIS GROUND

"WHILE CAPTURING IMAGES OF RAGING FLAMES

WITH NO REGARD FOR HIS OWN PERSONAL SAFETY."

GO, CHUCKY.

GO, BABY!

SORRY, FLETCHER.

( booming explosion )

OOH...

WHAT A WAY TO GO, PAL.

Gayley: I'M OKAY.

LADY, YOU'RE NOT OKAY.

I'M A REPORTER.

YOU'VE GOT A BROKEN ARM.

IT'S MY LEG. MY LEG HURTS.

CHUCKY!

CHUCKY! CHUCKY!

HOLY SHIT, IT'S GAYLEY!

GAYLEY! YOU WERE ON THE PLANE?

IT'S MY STORY.

I DID THE RESEARCH.

GET THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT WHO MANNED THE DOOR.

ALSO, SOME PASSENGER PULLED ME OUT.

TAKE HIM DOWN TO THE HOSPITAL...

SHE'S A REAL PIECE OF WORK.

UNBELIEVABLE!

"IT'S MY STORY. I DID THE RESEARCH"?

YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE THE SHOT I GOT.

MAJOR AWARD!

I START ON THIS FIREMAN'S FACE--

FANTASTIC! YOU KNOW, SAD BUT EXCITED.

WHERE'S MY CAR?

MY CAR WAS RIGHT HERE.

WHERE'S MY..?

WHERE ARE YOU HURT, SIR?

WHAT? HURT?

LET'S GO OVER TO THE AMBULANCE

AND CHECK YOU OUT.

I DON'T NEED AN AMBULANCE.

I'M LOOKING FOR MY CAR.

IT MUST HAVE BURNT UP.

YOU WEREN'T IN YOUR CAR, SIR.

YOU'VE BEEN IN AN AIRPLANE CRASH.

PLEASE, MY DAUGHTER NEEDS MEDICAL ATTENTION.

Okay, Ray, give me one high and outside.

( car approaching )

( engine sputtering )

HE WAITED FOR THREE HOURS.

YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHAT...

I'M SO TIRED OF YOUR BULLSHIT!

EV, IT'S NOT MY FAULT.

IT'S NEVER YOUR FAULT!

I'M TRYING TO TELL YOU...

YOU'RE GOING TO SCREW UP YOUR SON'S LIFE

AND YOU'LL NEVER ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY!

IS HE HERE? WHO?

THE FIREMAN.

HE HAD AN EMERGENCY.

A REAL EMERGENCY.

WHY DON'T YOU LET ME IN

INSTEAD OF WAKING UP THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD?

IF YOU LET ME TALK, FOR CHRIST'S SAKE

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENED.

WHAT HAPPENED IS THE SAME THING THAT ALWAYS HAPPENS--

YOU BLEW IT

ONLY THIS TIME, YOU BROKE YOUR SON'S HEART INSTEAD OF MINE.

HE WAS SO PROUD--

LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING TO THE MOVIES WITH HIS FATHER

AND YOU LET HIM DOWN, LIKE ALWAYS.

WHAT DID YOU DO, TAKE A MUD BATH?

THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO TELL...

SHUT UP, BERNIE!

OH... OKAY, FORGET IT.

JUST LET ME TALK TO JOEY TO APOLOGIZE.

HE'S IN BED

AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO WAKE HIM UP

AND MAKE HIM CRAZY.

HE COMES HOME FROM THE ZOO

AND WANTS TO KNOW

IF ELLIOT'S A WAR HERO, LIKE YOU.

HE WANTS TO KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU KILLED.

ELIOTT-- THE FIREMAN.

I EXPLAINED

YOUR TENDENCY TO EXAGGERATE--

HOW YOU KILLED AS MANY PEOPLE

AS THE OTHER SUPPLY CLERKS IN YOUR OUTFIT.

I DIDN'T SAY I KILLED ANYBODY.

YOU LET HIM BELIEVE IT!

THEN I HAD TO EXPLAIN ABOUT THE HOMELESS.

THE HOMELESS?

HOW NOT ALL OF THEM OWN APARTMENT COMPLEXES.

HOW NOT ALL OF THEM PLAY THE STOCK MARKET.

HOW NOT ALL OF THEM RENT BABIES

WHEN THEY'RE PANHANDLING.

HE'S A YOUNG BOY, BERNIE.

IMPRESSIONABLE.

LISTEN, EV, I GOT TO SEE HIM.

WELL, USE THE PHONE.

HE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU.

I'VE GOT VERY IMPORTANT GODDAMN REASONS.

WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR SHOE?

NO, I DON'T WANT TO KNOW.

SOME FANTASTIC ADVENTURE?

SOMETHING REALLY CRAZY?

ALL I WAS DOING WAS GIVING HIM ADVICE

PREPARING HIM FOR LIFE.

YOU DON'T WANT HIM TO GROW UP SOFT, DO YOU?

IT'S TOUGH OUT THERE.

IT'S A GODDAMN JUNGLE.

WELL, BACK TO THE JUNGLE, BERNIE.

( knocking )

SORRY I HAVE TO BOTHER YOU AGAIN.

THIS IS FOR JOEY.

A REWARD FOR THIS WALLET HE FOUND.

WHEN I RETURNED IT, I TOLD THE GUY

HE HAD TO GIVE MY KID SOMETHING FOR FINDING IT--

YOU KNOW, FOR THE HONESTY--

SO THE KID WOULD LEARN HOW HONESTY PAYS.

DO YOU WANT TO GIVE IT TO HIM, EV

OR SHOULD I?

RIGHT.

( horn honking )

( women yelling and laughing )

HEY!

MORON.

Man: YOU ACTUALLY WENT INTO A BURNING AIRPLANE?

LaPlante: INTO IT?

I WAS PRACTICALLY LIVING IN THE GODDAMN THING.

EVERY TIME I TURN AROUND

SOME OTHER PERSON WANTS ME TO SAVE THEM.

ALL OF A SUDDEN, BOOM! IT EXPLODES.

YOU KNOW, I COULD BE DEAD.

BUT YOU PULLED PEOPLE OUT.

YOU'RE A HERO.

NO, I FUCKED IT UP.

I WAS TRYING TO IMPRESS THIS KID.

I WAS GOING TO RESCUE HIS OLD MAN

BUT I COULDN'T FIND HIM.

HE MUST HAVE BLEW UP.

I GOT THE HELL OUT OF THERE.

I DIDN'T HAVE THE NERVE TO FACE THE KID.

MOST PEOPLE WOULDN'T EVEN TRY.

IT WAS A BRAVE THING

EVEN TO TRY.

YEAH, TRY STUPID.

JUST TOSS THEM

IN THE BACK, PLEASE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD SAY

THAT'S WHAT HEROISM IS--

STUPIDITY.

DOING SOMETHING THAT IF YOU THOUGHT ABOUT IT

YOU WOULDN'T DO IT.

IT'S NOT IN YOUR INTEREST.

ONE MORE.

AH, GOT IT.

I GUESS YOU KIND OF GOT A DRINKING PROBLEM, HUH?

I SELL THEM AT THE RECYCLING CENTER.

IT GIVES ME A LITTLE

FOR GAS AND FOOD.

LOOKS LIKE YOU LIVE IN HERE.

I DO IN BAD WEATHER

BUT MOSTLY I LIKE CAMPING IN THE WOODS.

I THOUGHT YOU WERE DOWN ON YOUR LUCK TOO.

DOWN ON MY LUCK?

HEY, I TOLD YOU, A GODDAMN PLANE FELL ON ME

FROM OUT OF THE SKY, IN AMERICA, FOR CHRIST'S SAKE.

SEE THESE SHOES-- $100 PAIR OF SHOES?

ONE SHOE.

YOU SHOULD GIVE IT TO SOMEBODY WITH ONE LEG.

LET ME OFF AT THE NEXT EXIT.

I COULD TAKE A BUS.

I KNOW A GENTLEMAN

WHO SELLS STUFF AT THE RECYCLING CENTER.

HE HAS ONE LEG.

IT'S THE RIGHT FOOT.

SELL IT TO HIM.

IF YOU GET A COUPLE OF BUCKS

IT PAYS FOR THE GAS.

HE DOESN'T HAVE ANY MONEY.

THAT'S VERY KIND OF YOU.

DOWN ON MY LUCK.

GOT SOME MUD ON ME, IS ALL.

I GOT A NICE APARTMENT, STEREO.

WE COULD LISTEN TO YOU ON THE NEWS.

WHAT, ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT THE STOCK MARKET?

NO. DIDN'T THEY INTERVIEW YOU?

I DON'T... I DON'T GIVE NO INTERVIEWS.

THAT'S A LOT OF SHIT.

KEEP A LOW PROFILE--

THAT'S MY MOTTO.

IT HAPPENS I GOT SOME LEGAL PROBLEMS.

MY ATTORNEYS DON'T LIKE ME TALKING TO THE MEDIA.

NOW, IF YOU COULD STEP ON IT

I'M SUPPOSED TO BE IN MY OFFICE FIVE MINUTES AGO.

MY SECRETARY HAS GOT APPOINTMENTS

BOOKED FOR ME, YOU KNOW? ALL DAY.

I'M VERY LATE.

ONE WORD--

ONE WORD, LaPLANTE, AND YOU'RE FIRED.

YOU GOT THAT?

BILL...

DON'T SAY "BILL," BERNIE.

DIDN'T I SAY ONE WORD AND YOU'RE FIRED?

YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE IT WILL BE AN EXCUSE.

IT WILL BE BERNIE LaPLANTE EXCUSE #4,106.

THAT'S HOW MANY EXCUSES YOU'VE GIVEN ME.

I KEEP TRACK OF THEM ELECTRONICALLY.

I'VE HEARD ALL OF THEM.

I GOT LEGAL PROBLEMS.

THAT'S IT! YOU TALKED!

YOU'RE FIRED! OUT OF HERE!

JESUS CHRIST!

I GOT PEOPLE WAITING.

I GOT ORDERS COMING IN.

AND YOU? YOU'RE GOING TO GO OUT LIKE THAT--

MEET THE PUBLIC IN STINKING STOCKING FEET?

I ALSO HAVE FINANCIAL PROBLEMS.

I CARE ABOUT MY PROBLEMS

AND YOU ARE ONE OF MY PROBLEMS.

I WAS DRIVING...

OUT!

I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ANY MORE ABOUT THIS.

A PLANE FELL ON MY HEAD.

I'LL BE ON YOUR HEAD IN A SECOND!

I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

YOU CAN'T FIND HIM?

THERE'S A LOT OF CONFUSION

AROUND WHAT TOOK PLACE LAST NIGHT.

YOU SAID ALL THE PASSENGERS WERE ACCOUNTED FOR.

THE GUY WHO PULLED YOU OUT WASN'T A PASSENGER.

A FIREMAN? A PARAMEDIC?

HE DIDN'T HAVE A UNIFORM.

FROM WHAT WE COULD GET, THERE WAS A KIND OF...

SORT OF A MYSTERY GUY INVOLVED.

WE'RE PIECING TOGETHER DIFFERENT ACCOUNTS.

A MYSTERY GUY.

NOT A PASSENGER.

WHO?

WE DON'T KNOW WHO HE IS. HE...

HE DISAPPEARED.

A NON-PASSENGER, NON-RESCUE WORKER

WENT INTO A BURNING PLANE AND PULLED ME OUT

AND DISAPPEARED?

APPARENTLY, THIS GUY IS THE ONE WHO OPENED

THE EMERGENCY EXIT

FROM THE OUTSIDE.

HE SAVED EVERYBODY.

BECAUSE OF HIM, THERE WERE NO FATALITIES.

I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD BE MOVING AROUND.

YOU'RE ATTACHED OVER HERE.

CHUCKY, WHERE'S YOUR CAMERA?

GET THIS THING. BRING THAT.

ALL OF A SUDDEN, THIS CIVILIAN RUSHES INTO THE PLANE.

WHAT DID HE LOOK LIKE?

UH, HE WAS... JUST THIS FACE-- ALL DIRTY.

IT JUST APPEARED.

HE WAS ASKING FOR MR. FLETCHER.

MY SON AND I GOT SEPARATED IN THE CONFUSION AND SMOKE.

A VERY COURAGEOUS STEWARDESS AT THE EXIT

TOLD ME MY BOY HAD GOTTEN OUT, SO I GOT OUT TOO

BUT MY SON HAD ALREADY TOLD THIS MAN

THAT I WAS STILL IN THERE.

Boy: I THOUGHT MY DAD WAS STILL...

STILL IN THERE.

SO I ASKED THE MAN TO SAVE MY FATHER.

WHAT DID THE MAN SAY, RICHIE?

HE SAID, UH...

HE SAID... "I'LL SAVE HIM."

HE SAID, "I'LL SAVE YOUR FATHER."

THANKS.

I need a medic here!

I need a medic.

Jonesy!

Holy shit!

Gayley: NOW FREEZE!

GO BACK, YOU MISSED IT.

KEEP GOING, KEEP GOING.

BACK.

NOW. GO FORWARD AGAIN.

MISSED IT AGAIN.

THERE.

RIGHT THERE.

THAT'S HIM?

WE'VE ACCOUNTED FOR EVERYBODY ELSE.

THAT'S OUR HERO.

I DIDN'T EVEN NOTICE THE GUY.

I WAS INTO THE FOREGROUND DRAMA--

HEROIC FIREMAN LOOMING IN THE FRAME.

CAN WE DO SOME ELECTRONIC ENHANCEMENT?

GET A CLEAR PICTURE, IDENTIFY HIM?

FAR OUT!

NEVER SAW HIM.

IT'S THE CAMERA.

IT HAS A LIFE OF ITS OWN.

AT TIMES, I FEEL AS IF WE WERE ONE

TOGETHER CAPTURING LITTLE MOMENTS OF HISTORY

IN A KALEIDOSCOPE OF COLORS AND DRAMA.

Woman: THERE'S NO FACE.

THERE'S NOTHING REALLY TO WORK WITH.

BIG DOTS-- THAT'S ALL YOU'RE GOING TO GET.

LOOK AT THAT GUY.

HE JUST SAVED 54 PEOPLE

AND NOW HE'S GOING TO DISAPPEAR.

WHO IS HE?

( loud snoring )

"I'll save him."

He said, "I'll save your father."

All of a sudden, this civilian

he rushed into the plane.

Leslie, the other flight attendant

told me the guy dragged me

to the exit.

Leslie: "Here, give this guy a hand," he said.

And the next thing I knew

he was going back in there

into all that smoke.

Gayley: Out of the darkness

out of the smoke and the fear

came a man with no name, no uniform

but an abundance of courage--

A man who was thinking not about himself

but about others, risking his own life for ours.

He's out there now, somewhere

and whoever you are

I, and the other survivors of Flight 104, say...

...thank you.

God bless you.

( "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" playing )

NOT BAD, BUT YOU SHOULD FEATURE THE CAST MORE.

IT'S PART OF THE STORY.

NETWORK'S TAKING EVERYTHING WE GIVE THEM.

THEY WANT A FEED OFF OUR 6:00

WHETHER WE FIND THE MYSTERY GUY OR NOT.

WE'RE VERY BIG NATIONALLY.

IT'S A WONDERFUL PIECE.

EMOTIONAL. I LOVE IT.

WE'LL FEATURE GALE'S CAST MORE.

MY CAST IS INTERESTING UNTIL THE HERO SHOWS UP.

WHOEVER HAS HIM HAS THE STORY.

GOOD REASON FOR YOU TO FIND HIM.

YOU SHOULD BE OUT DIGGING.

HOW ABOUT OFFERING A REWARD

IN EXCHANGE FOR AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW?

MONEY AND NEWS, WALLY-- DANGEROUS WATERS.

YEAH? SPEAKING.

WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT HE LOOKS LIKE.

OF COURSE YOU KNOW. HE SAVED YOU.

THEY FOUND WHAT?

A phone check with survivors

confirmed that the shoe does not belong

to any of the passengers or crew of Flight 104.

However, several witnesses recall the mysterious man

who saved 54 people

referring to his missing shoe.

The conclusion is

the unknown hero

known to many as "The Angel of Flight 104"

wears a size 10-B.

Evelyn: JOEY, DINNER, NOW! TURN THAT THING OFF.

MOM! MOM!

HE LOST HIS SHOE.

HE LOST HIS SHOE.

HE LOST HIS SHOE.

WHO LOST HIS SHOE?

THE UNKNOWN HERO.

WASH YOUR HANDS.

THEY FOUND HIS SHOE BESIDE THE PLANE CRASH.

SUPERMAN, YOU MEAN?

LOST HIS SHOE?

WHAT NEXT?

ELLIOT, THE MAN SAVED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE.

54. I WAS THERE, REMEMBER?

DO YOU KNOW WHY NONE OF US RUSHED IN THAT PLANE?

WE'RE TRAINED FIREMEN

PART OF A TEAM-- A DISCIPLINED TEAM.

WE TAKE CHANCES ALL THE TIME, SAVE PEOPLE'S LIVES

BUT WE DON'T DO CRAZY THINGS.

THIS GUY DOES SOMETHING REALLY DUMB

AND HE LUCKS OUT.

SO THE MEDIA GO CRAZY OVER HIS SHOE, FOR GOD SAKES.

WHAT KIND OF MESSAGE ARE THEY GIVING TO THE YOUTH, HUH?

WHAT KIND OF MESSAGE

ARE YOU GIVING TO THE YOUTH?

SNEERING AT SOMEONE FOR STICKING HIS NECK OUT.

YOU SOUND LIKE MY EX-- MR. CYNICISM.

SO WHAT CAN I SAY?

GIVE YOUR EX CREDIT FOR BEING SMART ENOUGH

NOT TO DO SOMETHING STUPID.

MAYBE THE GUY'S NOT ALL BAD.

I'M GOING TO WATCH TV

AND HOPE IT'S NOT ALL THIS SUPERMAN STUFF.

MOM, MY FATHER ONLY HAD ONE SHOE ON

WHEN HE CAME HERE.

YOU WERE IN BED, WEREN'T YOU?

I SAW HIM OUT THE WINDOW.

UH-HUH.

AND YOU THINK YOUR FATHER

WOULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

RESCUE PEOPLE?

YOUR FATHER IS BERNIE LaPLANTE.

IT'S AGAINST HIS RELIGION

TO STICK HIS NECK OUT.

SIT DOWN.

The warden of a Montana prison

insists that the unknown hero is a dangerous child molester

who escaped from the institution in April.

As far away as Scotland

the leader of a religious sect claims the mysterious hero

is, in fact, an angel anticipated in scripture.

HEY, BERNIE.

HOW'S IT GOING?

YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW, CHICK.

YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW.

THOSE GUYS BEEN IN YET?

YOU IN BUSINESS WITH THEM GUYS?

'CAUSE I WOULDN'T WANT A PROBLEM

FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT.

YOU COULDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM

BECAUSE I HAVE GOT THEM ALL.

I CORNERED THE MARKET.

YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT I'VE BEEN THROUGH.

I WAS TAKING MY CAR TO GET MY KID...

( door closes )

OH.

HOW YOU DOING?

BROUGHT SOME FRIENDS, OKAY?

OH, YEAH, SURE.

EXCUSE ME, CHICK.

In addition, we bring you a special announcement

from Channel 4 Station Manager

James Wallace.

Good evening.

We at Channel 4, like you

have been stirred by the courage and humanity of this...

WHAT YOU GOT THERE FOR US?

MORE PLASTIC?

YEAH, PLASTIC.

PREMIUM STUFF HERE.

HIGH LIMITS. NOT REPORTED.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IT'S NOT REPORTED?

BECAUSE I KNOW. TRUST ME ON THIS.

HEY, HOMBRE, HE DON'T EVEN TRUST HIS MOTHER.

WHY HE GOING TO TRUST YOU?

'CAUSE I'M NOT HIS MOTHER.

HEY, HOMBRE, POR AQUI.

...like you, we want to see what is best in us.

We want to examine it, and for that reason

we at Channel 4

have decided to offer this unknown hero

a reward of $1 million.

HOW MANY YOU GOT, EIGHT? TEN?

THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE THAT PLANE CRASH GUY

A MILLION-DOLLAR REWARD.

A MILLION BUCKS?

WHAT PLANE CRASH GUY?

THE ONE-SHOE DUDE.

THE GUY THAT SAVED ALL THOSE PEOPLE.

CHANNEL 4 IS GOING TO GIVE THIS GUY

A MILLION DOLLARS JUST FOR AN INTERVIEW.

DAMN.

A MILLION BUCKS.

HEY, HEY, HOMBRE

WE'RE TRYING TO DO SOME BUSINESS HERE.

YOU GOT MORE OF THESE?

A MILLION DOLLARS?

HEY...

I'M THE GUY.

I GOT AN APPOINTMENT.

I GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE.

BULLSHIT!

LaPLANTE, YOU'RE UNDER ARREST.

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT.

DON'T YOU KNOW WHO I AM?

DON'T YOU KNOW WHERE I GOT THE PLASTIC?

CALL MY ATTORNEY.

HOLD IT, I GOT A MILLION BUCKS..!

$1 MILLION TO THE ANONYMOUS HERO!

ONE MILLION BUCKS TO THE ANGEL

WHO SAVED 50 PEOPLE AND TAKES OFF!

NOW, PLEASE, IF YOUR FOOT ISN'T A SIZE 10-B

DON'T REMAIN IN LINE.

WE'RE ONLY LOOKING FOR SIZE 10-B HEROES.

I'LL KICK YOUR ASS!

HEY, IT AIN'T JUST ME.

EVERYBODY IN LINE KNOWS YOU'RE NOT THE HERO.

THAT'S A RACIST PERSPECTIVE--

ASSUMING BECAUSE SOMETHING HEROIC WAS DONE

A WHITE MAN DONE IT.

A MAN WITH MUD ON HIS FACE

COULD BE ANY COLOR.

MOST LIKELY WAS, WHICH IS TRUE IN THIS CASE

'CAUSE IT WAS ME... WITH MUD ALL OVER ME.

CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?

THERE MUST BE A THOUSAND PHONIES

AFTER MY REWARD.

MISS GAYLEY, IT'S ME!

I SAVED YOUR LIFE, REMEMBER?

MY FOOT IS ONLY AN 81/2

BUT I WEAR A 10-B FOR COMFORT, I SWEAR.

THERE'S A COP LOOKING FOR YOU--

INSPECTOR DAYTON-- WANTS YOU TO CALL.

WHAT ABOUT?

I DIDN'T ASK.

CALL BACK AND FIND OUT.

I'M REAL BUSY.

EXCUSE ME.

Judge: BAIL IN THIS MATTER WILL REMAIN AT $5,000.

THE ANGEL OF FLIGHT 104?

YOU'RE SAYING YOU'RE THE ANGEL OF..?

"ANGEL" IS A LITTLE STRONG.

I GOT TO GET TO THE TV STATION

AND GET MY MILLION BUCKS.

THE PEOPLE v. BERNARD LaPLANTE.

THAT'S ME! I'M MR. LaPLANTE.

THE D.A. IS ASKING THAT YOUR BAIL BE SET

AT $25,000 BECAUSE YOU WERE ARRESTED

WHILE AWAITING SENTENCING.

25 GRAND IS PEANUTS.

JUST GET ME OUT LONG ENOUGH TO COLLECT.

MY ATTORNEY SAYS THE PROSECUTOR

WANTS 25 GRAND FOR BAIL.

MR. LaPLANTE, YOU'LL BE SILENT

UNTIL THE COURT RECOGNIZES YOU.

I GOT NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.

IN FACT, YOUR HONOR

I'D BE PROUD TO DOUBLE IT.

50 GRAND... FOR THE PEOPLE. LIKE A TIP.

( gavel sounding ) WHAT DO YOU SAY?

IF YOU DON'T STOP CHATTERING IMMEDIATELY

I WILL ASK THE BAILIFF TO...

I...

SAID...

I WANT...

ORDER!

SORRY, YOUR HONOR.

WE GOT CARRIED AWAY.

THEY FOUND HIM.

FOUND WHO?

THE ANGEL OF FLIGHT 104.

IT WAS ON THE NEWS, SIR, JUST NOW.

HE'S GOING TO BE ON CHANNEL 4 AT NOON.

THE BAIL REMAINS $25,000.

THAT OUGHT TO KEEP YOU OUT OF TROUBLE.

YOUR HONOR, MY CLIENT...

YOUR CLIENT IS A PAIN IN THE ASS.

TWELVE NOON, HUH?

CHANNEL 4.

I WAS OUT IN THE WOODS...

AND...

I HEARD A HUGE CRASH...

AND I SAW FLAMES...

AND I WENT OVER THERE TO TAKE A LOOK.

AND EVERYTHING THERE WAS LIKE A BLUR.

THERE WAS A LOT OF SMOKE...

AND SCREAMING.

UH, I WAS ACTUALLY RELIEVED

THAT IT WAS JUST A PLANE CRASH

AND I COULD HELP.

BUT I DON'T HAVE A DETAILED MEMORY OF IT.

IT WAS TOO SCARY.

TELL US WHY YOU DISAPPEARED, JOHN.

Well, uh...

At first I didn't know I was a hero.

I thought the boy's father hadn't survived

and I had failed him, and I couldn't face the boy.

And then...

After that, uh...

Well, I've been, uh...

I've been down on my luck lately

and I just didn't really, uh, feel too presentable.

But you did come forward.

Why?

The money.

I wouldn't have come forward if it wasn't for...

if it wasn't for the money.

Gayley: GO BACK.

( tape rewinding )

CUT.

RIGHT THERE.

RIGHT ON THAT LOOK.

YOU DIDN'T TELL ME HE WAS SO CUTE.

HE SAVED MY LIFE.

The survivors were shocked to learn

that the hero who pulled them to safety was indigent

and hadn't slept

in a bed in three years.

John Bubber was living in his car

at the time of the nearly tragic crash

surviving by collecting bottles and cans...

OH, HE'S A FAKE.

YOU KNOW HIM?

HE'S A GODDAMN FAKE.

HE'S A GODDAMN HOMELESS BUM.

HE AIN'T NO HERO.

YOU CAN TRUST ME THAT MUCH.

FUCK YOU!

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE HOMELESS?

YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT THEY'D ALL GO, "IT'S HIM"

AND WANT TO HUG THE GUY OR SOMETHING.

HE HAD THE SHOE, AND THE SHOE CHECKED OUT.

THIS MEANS I COULD STOP WORRYING?

WHERE ARE WE PUTTING HIM UP?

DRAKE HOTEL.

NEVER STOP WORRYING.

WE'LL DO A SIDEBAR ON GOING FROM SLEEPING IN YOUR CAR

TO SLEEPING IN THE POSHEST SUITE IN TOWN.

ALSO, GALE'S CHECKING INTO HIS BACKGROUND.

WHAT'S IT GOING TO BE, DIRT OR MORE POETRY?

WE KNOW WHAT YOU PREFER.

INSPECTOR DAYTON'S RECOVERED YOUR CREDIT CARDS.

HE'S THAT COP FROM ROBBERY DETAIL.

THEY CAUGHT THE GUY WHO STOLE THEM.

NOBODY STOLE MY CREDIT CARDS.

THEY WERE BURNED UP IN THE CRASH.

YOU GOT MY MONEY?

WHAT ABOUT THE RESERVATIONS?

TWO AT 8:00 AT THE BARCELONA.

$400 FOR DINNER?

SHE'S TAKING MR. BUBBER

TO DINNER AT THE BARCELONA.

BUBBER? TO DINNER?

THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.

CHUCKY, COME IN HERE, CHUCKY.

THIS IS PRIVATE AND PERSONAL.

HE'S A NEWS STORY.

HE SAVED MY LIFE.

THANK YOU.

THEY'RE ALL LOOKING AT US.

NOT US, JOHN.

THEY'RE USED TO CELEBRITIES HERE.

LISTEN, MISS GAYLEY...

GALE.

GALE.

I DIDN'T MEAN TO, UH...

IT'S NOT WHAT I WANTED, THAT REWARD.

I DIDN'T EVEN THINK...

THANK YOU.

ALL I WANTED WAS A SQUARE MEAL

MAYBE A BATH

A NIGHT BETWEEN CLEAN SHEETS.

I WASN'T AFTER A MILLION DOLLARS.

WHAT'S A GUY LIKE ME GOING TO DO WITH A MILLION DOLLARS?

TAKE A LOOK AT THESE PRICES AND SAY THAT.

YOU MESS WITH ME

I'LL CUT YOUR HEART OUT AND EAT IT!

STOP IT, STOP IT!

OH, YOU'RE SUCH A BRUTE.

COME ON!

COME ON!

VERY GOOD, SIR.

IT'S A SPECIAL PRIVILEGE TO SERVE YOU.

OH, THANK YOU...

AND YOU.

YOU WERE SAYING

YOU DON'T WANT A MILLION DOLLARS?

I'M NOT ENTITLED TO IT.

I DIDN'T EXPECT...

...ALL THE ADULATION?

MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE A FAKE?

YES. I SHOULD HAVE NEVER COME FORWARD.

YOU'RE A CREDIT TO THE GODDAMN HUMAN RACE.

WELL, I WOULDN'T PUT IT...

IT COULD HAVE BEEN ME ON THAT PLANE

OR MY FAMILY.

YOU'RE A CELEBRITY NOW.

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO WANT TO PLEASE YOU...

OR USE YOU, OR BOTH.

( reporters shouting )

MR. BUBBER.

MR. BUBBER, DO YOU THINK YOU COULD...

YOU COULD...

YOU WANT ME TO SIGN THIS?

WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

SYLVIA.

SYLVIA.

SYLVIA, IF I SIGN THIS FOR YOU

WILL YOU DO ME A FAVOR?

ALL RIGHT, WHAT I'D LIKE IS, AND MAYBE

SOME OF THE REST OF YOU CAN HELP SYLVIA HERE

I'D LIKE YOU TO SCROUNGE UP SOME BLANKETS...

OLD ONES, MAYBE 50.

TAKE THEM DOWN TO THE CORNER OF FIFTH AND GRAND

AND PASS THEM OUT.

Man: FIFTH AND GRAND?

Boy: HE MEANS THE HOMELESS.

THE BUMS.

IT'S COLD OUT THERE.

YOU'LL FEEL WARMER

FOR EVERY PERSON YOU GIVE A BLANKET TO.

I'LL BET THEY'LL DO IT.

I'LL BET THEY'LL GET SOME BLANKETS.

WHAT YOU DID WAS SO UPLIFTING.

YOU'RE A SAINT, JOHN BUBBER.

YOU THINK SO?

MAYBE YOU SHOULD UP...

SUPPORT THE...

UP THE SUPPORT FOR THE NEEDY...

SHE COULD SUPPORT THE ENTIRE CHICAGO BULLS.

GOOD NIGHT.

I THINK I'D BETTER SEE YOU TO YOUR ROOM.

KIND OF A BODYGUARD.

UM... COULD YOU MAYBE SUPPORT A SMALL AIRFIELD?

GALE, UH...

IT'S BEEN SOME TIME SINCE I'VE RECEIVED

THAT KIND OF ATTENTION.

IT'S BEEN SEVERAL YEARS.

YEARS?

YES.

HUH.

WELL, THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES.

YOU'RE A VERY NICE PERSON.

I DON'T WANT TO HURT YOU.

I KNOW.

YOU THINK I SAVED YOUR LIFE.

I CAN'T TAKE ADVANTAGE.

YOU DID SAVE ME

AND THAT'S ME-- I'D BE TAKING ADVANTAGE.

I'M A REPORTER.

I'M...

I'M SUPPOSED TO BE A PROFESSIONAL.

I CAN'T DO THIS.

IT'S NOT RIGHT.

I DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT, HUH?

YOU'RE A NEWS STORY.

A NEWS STORY, RIGHT.

GOOD NIGHT.

I KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT YOU, JOHN.

THEY'RE FLYING IN GUYS FROM YOUR UNIT IN VIETNAM TOMORROW.

VIETNAM?

GOOD NIGHT.

Smoke, mortar fire.

People screaming.

We would have all died in that rice paddy

if it hadn't been for Johnny Bubber.

Gayley: What did he do?

He pulled us out.

He pulled us out one by one.

I wouldn't be giving no TV interview.

I'd be lying in my grave if it hadn't been for Johnny.

Why didn't he get a medal?

Wasn't no officers around to write him up.

It didn't surprise me that he was the one

that saved all those people in the plane.

He was always thinking about the other guy before himself.

After an emotional reunion

Bubber's fellow veterans watched as station manager James Wallace

presented Bubber with a check for one million dollars.

As Bubber reacted to his sudden wealth

word came that the Secretary of the Navy

responding to an urgent resolution of the Senate

has conferred upon John Bubber the Medal of Honor.

Bubber: When you're out on the streets

whether it's living in your car

or sleeping under bridges

even worse than the hunger is the feeling

that you're just plain useless--

that you don't matter to a single soul

in the entire world.

Nobody really needs you.

Nobody really wants you.

So I guess I...

I did what I did

because I think I was really trying

to save my life more than anything else.

I was trying to connect myself with people again.

Trying to be part of the whole

and you have to help others in order to do that.

You need a role to play--

even a humble role--

that gives you self worth.

I'm not one

of those guys that say money isn't important.

When you're down on your luck like I was

a buck can be the difference between life and death

but money isn't everything.

Even millionaires commit suicide.

HE IS LIKE THAT IN REAL LIFE?

SO GORGEOUS?

HE'S PRETTY REMARKABLE.

YOU DIDN'T GET IT ON WITH HIM.

DON'T BE RIDICULOUS.

I'M A REPORTER.

REPORTERS DON'T HAVE HORMONES?

REPORTERS HAVE TO RISE ABOVE THEIR HORMONES.

He needs to be a person.

THE GUY IS A NATURAL.

He needs to be

part of society.

You can do that

by helping those

who need help.

You've helped me.

You've made me a hero.

It makes you a hero.

If we help each other, we can all be heroes together.

WE'RE ALL HEROES, HUH?

ASSHOLE.

LaPLANTE, BERNARD.

ME?

YOU MADE BAIL, ACE.

ME?

Man: YOU LUCKY THEY TAKING YOUR ASS

OUT OF HERE, BOY.

HOW DID YOU GET ME OUT?

I TOOK A LOAN ON MY CAR AND MY COMPUTER.

YOU PAID A DEPOSIT OF 10%?

I WAS INSPIRED BY THE HERO--

HOW HE STUCK HIS NECK OUT FOR OTHERS

HOW HE TOOK A CHANCE.

THAT FAKE INSPIRED YOU TO LOAN ME--

A GUY WHO'S PROBABLY GOING TO DO TIME?

YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE AN ATTORNEY.

YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO USE GOOD JUDGEMENT.

AS YOU POINT OUT, I AM RELATIVELY INEXPERIENCED.

MY NAIVETE MAY HAVE WORKED TO YOUR BENEFIT.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

I'M GLAD YOU GOT ME OUT.

I APPRECIATE IT.

OH, MISS O'DAY...

MISS O'DAY, COME HERE.

NOW THAT YOU LOANED ME 2,500 PLUS

CAN I HAVE $20 FOR CAB FARE, PLEASE?

WHAT DO YOU SAY, MISS O'DAY?

I READ THE PROBATION REPORT

AND IT'S NOT GOOD.

BERNIE, I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO PRISON.

WELL, AT LEAST I'M GOING TO GET MY MILLION BUCKS.

I SEEN WHERE THAT DO-GOODER IS GOING

TO A CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL TO VISIT SICK KIDS.

HE'S GOT TO BE STOPPED.

WHO, JOHN BUBBER?

LOOK WHAT HE'S DONE TO YOU.

HE'S MAKING PEOPLE WACKO.

I MEAN WACKO.

WACKO, WACKO, WACKO.

( horn honking )

Boy: WHEN'S HE COMING?

I WANT TO SEE BUBBER.

YOU, LEAVE!

LEAVE!

IS THAT HIM?

NO, IT'S JUST SOME GUY.

MAY I HELP YOU?

WELL...

YOU'LL HAVE TO LEAVE.

IF YOU WANT TO ARRANGE A VISIT, PLEASE GO DOWNSTAIRS.

HI.

Bubber: WHAT'S YOUR NAME, CHAMP?

JOSE.

HI, JOSE.

HI, BEAUTIFUL.

I'M MANDY.

HI. WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

CODY.

CODY, I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

CAN I GET YOUR AUTOGRAPH?

DID YOU SAVE ALL THOSE PEOPLE?

YES, ALL THOSE PEOPLE.

Woman: THIS WAY PLEASE.

Bubber: HI.

EXCUSE ME.

I JUST WANT TO...

YOU GOT A PRESS PASS, SIR?

I FORGOT IT.

GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME!

IS HE HERE?

I WANT TO SEE HIM FIRST.

IS HE HERE?

LISTEN, KID...

YOU GOT TO HANG ON.

I KNOW YOU'RE SCARED.

WE ALL GET SCARED.

THAT'S WHEN YOU HAVE TO FIGHT.

ALLEN'S IN A COMA.

HE CAN'T HEAR YOU.

HE CAN HEAR ME.

LISTEN, ALLEN...

OKAY.

LISTEN, ALLEN

I KNOW YOU'RE IN THE DARKNESS IN THERE.

I KNOW IT'S SCARY.

NOW, THE DOCTORS ARE TRYING THEIR BEST

BUT THEY CAN'T DO IT.

YOU HAVE TO DO IT.

YOU GOT TO COME OUT OF THE DARKNESS.

I WANT YOU TO STRUGGLE FOR ME, ALLEN.

YOU'RE A HERO.

YOU CAN'T QUIT.

HEROES NEVER QUIT.

COME ON, THIS IS A HOSPITAL.

LET'S COOPERATE.

LET'S KEEP THIS AREA CLEAR

UNLESS YOU HAVE HOSPITAL BUSINESS.

COME ON, FELLA, HOW'S ABOUT SOME COOPERATION?

HEY, BUDDY, YOU'RE WITH THE MEDIA, RIGHT?

I GOT A STORY FOR YOU.

BUBBER-- HE'S A FAKE.

I'M TALKING TO YOU!

LaPlante: WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU?

( crowd clapping )

BUBBER! REMEMBER ME? REMEMBER ME?

( crowd cheering )

I LOVE YOU, JOHN BUBBER.

LaPlante: YOU PHONY!

THANKS FOR HELPING.

LaPlante: I'M TALKING TO YOU.

YOU GOT MY SHOE.

WHERE'S MY MONEY?

I WANT MY MONEY.

YOU FAKE! YOU PHONY!

YOU HEAR ME?

DON'T PUSH!

THAT'S MY SHOE AND MY MONEY!

( playing "Marine Corps Hymn" )

COME ON, UP, UP, RISE AND SHINE.

WATCH IT, YOU BIG BOZO!

DON'T YOU TELL ME WHAT I CAN OR CANNOT SAY!

THIS IS AMERICA.

IF IT MAKES YOU FEEL BETTER

TO INSULT THE VERY BRAVE MAN

WHO'S WORTH A THOUSAND OF YOU, GO AHEAD.

LIKE HE SAYS, WE'RE ALL HEROES, PAL.

BULLSHIT.

THAT'S A LOT OF BULLSHIT.

OKAY, HAVE IT YOUR OWN WAY.

YOU'RE NOT A HERO.

Announcer: John Bubber himself

along with 20 of the real survivors of Flight 104.

See the real-life participants reenact the terrifying drama

inside the burning plane.

Out of the darkness

the fire, a nightmare of fear

came The Angel of Flight 104.

John Bubber saved 54 people.

This is his story and theirs--

a drama featuring the actual people

who actually lived those moments of terror.

No makeup, no music, no actors.

This is the real thing.

Thursday night, Channel 4.

Be there.

ALL RIGHT.

UPSET?

WHAT'S HE UPSET ABOUT?

HE SAID HE'S NOT AN ACTOR.

HE'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE AN ACTOR.

HE'S A REAL-LIFE HERO.

ALL HE HAS TO DO IS ACT LIKE A REAL-LIFE HERO.

THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF THE CONCEPT--

THE WHOLE FRESHNESS OF IT.

DID SHE CALL HIM BACK?

SHE'S TALKING TO HIM.

WALLY.

WE PAID HIM A MILLION DOLLARS.

YOU'D THINK HE'D WANT TO COOPERATE A LITTLE--

HELP US WITH OUR RATINGS.

HOW DID IT GO?

WELL, HE'LL DO IT.

YOU REALLY SHOULD HAVE TALKED TO HIM FIRST, YOU KNOW.

Back in the news again, John Bubber.

The man who saved 54 people from a burning plane

has apparently awakened...

HEY, I DON'T BLAME YOU FOR BEING SORE.

I KNOW I SCREWED UP

FOR GETTING BUSTED IN HERE.

YOU GOT THE RIGHT TO KICK ME OUT.

Young Allen Baird had been unconscious

since an automobile accident five days ago.

Bubber insisted on talking to Allen

though doctors discouraged it

saying the boy couldn't hear Bubber's encouragement...

I'M NOT GOING TO KICK YOU OUT, BERNIE.

...suddenly and unexpectedly

regained consciousness.

The doctors who had believed

the boy had little or no chance of survival

now predict the slow but complete recovery.

THANKS, CHICK.

I APPRECIATE IT.

HELL OF A GUY.

VIETNAM, PLANE CRASH...

NOW MIRACLES.

Allen himself has yet to comment.

A nurse who was with him says

his first words were

"Could you ask my mom to make me some pancakes?"

JUST A REHEARSAL.

ACTION.

Gayley: JOHN.

WHAT?

COME HERE, COME HERE.

AND THEN YOU LEAN DOWN AND FREE ME FROM THE SEAT.

REMEMBER? I WAS CAUGHT, AND YOU...

LIKE THAT...

YEAH, RIGHT, LIKE THAT.

AND THEN YOU HELPED ME UP.

YEAH.

BOY, YOU SEEM TALLER.

MUST BE PSYCHOLOGICAL

NOW THAT I KNOW YOU SAVED MY LIFE.

OH, GALE, I CAN'T...

THIS IS WRONG.

I CAN'T DO THIS.

I CAN'T GO THROUGH WITH THIS.

YOU'RE DOING FINE.

IT'S OKAY.

NO, WAIT.

YOU DIDN'T LIFT ME, THOUGH.

WAIT. PUT ME DOWN.

PUT ME DOWN.

COME ON.

IT WAS MORE, UM... LIKE YOU SUPPORTED ME.

YOU WERE LIKE THIS.

LIKE THAT.

YEAH. IT WAS KIND OF SEXY.

YOU CAN SUPPORT ME ANY TIME, JOHN.

OH, GALE.

THIS IS NO GOOD.

YOU KNOW WHAT I JUST REMEMBERED?

YOU WERE, LIKE, SWEARING

AND TALKING ABOUT BODY BUILDING.

BODY BUILDING?

GUYS, THIS HAS TO PLAY SERIOUS.

JOHN, COULD YOU LIFT HER MORE AND CARRY HER LIKE THIS?

I THINK IT WILL PLAY BETTER.

GALE, IF YOUR ARTISTIC AND JOURNALISTIC INTEGRITY

CAN HANDLE IT, IT WILL LOOK FABULOUS ON THE SCREEN.

TAKE THIS THROUGH TO THE END, PLEASE.

THEN WE'LL PUT JOHN IN HIS MUD MAKEUP

AND DO A TAKE FROM THE TOP.

THIS IS NOT RIGHT.

IT'S OKAY.

IT JUST LOOKS BETTER THIS WAY.

I DIDN'T HAVE MY PURSE THEN THOUGH.

YOU'RE AN INSPIRATION, JOHN.

YOU'RE MAKING US BETTER HUMAN BEINGS--

LESS CYNICAL, MORE OPEN, MORE GIVING.

DO YOU REALIZE THAT?

YEAH.

OH, MY GOODNESS.

YOU LEAVE HER HERE

AND YOU GO BACK INSIDE FOR MR. SMITH.

MR. SMITH?

RIGHT.

MR. SMITH?

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IF I TOLD YOU I RAN INTO A BURNING PLANE

AND SAVED A BUNCH OF PEOPLE

AND RISKED MY LIFE?

YOU MEAN LIKE BUBBER?

THE HERO?

YEAH.

LIKE THAT. SAME THING.

WELL, I MEAN, UH...

WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO SAY HERE, BERNIE?

IS THIS LIKE A RIDDLE OR SOMETHING?

I MEAN...

IF I SAID IT, WOULD YOU BELIEVE ME?

YOU WOULDN'T, WOULD YOU?

WELL, I MEAN

IT'S A CHARACTER THING, BERNIE.

YOU WOULDN'T DO IT.

NO OFFENSE. ME EITHER.

BUBBER, THOUGH, HE'S A CERTAIN KIND OF GUY.

HE'S HEROIC.

YOU AND ME, WE'RE NOT.

IT'S NOT OUR NATURE.

IT DON'T MEAN WE'RE BAD OR NOTHING.

WE'RE JUST NOT SO INCLINED.

WHAT ABOUT IT?

DON'T BE DEPRESSED, BERNIE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A HERO TO BE A HUMAN BEING.

THE THING IS, CHICK, I'M GOING DOWN.

YOU MEAN JAIL

FOR THAT CREDIT CARD STUFF?

JESUS, BERNIE.

NOT JAIL. PRISON.

NOT THAT CREDIT CARD BULLSHIT.

THAT'S NOTHING.

I GOT A CONVICTION.

SENTENCING TOMORROW.

SOME CASES OF PAINT I GOT INVOLVED WITH.

LATEX.

I SEE THIS PROBATION OFFICER.

HE WRITES A LETTER TO THE JUDGE

SAYS I'M...

ANTISOCIAL.

ANTISOCIAL?

JESUS, BERNIE.

HOW MUCH PAINT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

A LOT.

Director: I THINK WE'VE ALL DONE SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT TODAY.

CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU.

EXCELLENT JOB. GOOD WORK.

TAKE CARE OF THAT EYE.

OKAY. NICE TO MEET YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

KEEP STUDYING. YOU'LL BE A BIG ACTRESS.

BYE.

JOHN, JOHN.

POWERFUL STUFF, VERY POWERFUL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

LET'S KEEP IN TOUCH, OKAY?

WHAT'S IT ABOUT, ANYWAY?

CAN WE GO SOMEWHERE AND TALK?

OH, MY GOODNESS.

JUST LET ME GET THAT GUNK OFF YOUR FACE.

MR. BUBBER...

JOHN, WOULD YOU SIGN KELLY'S BUBBER DOLL?

BUBBER DOLL?

IT WON'T TAKE MORE THAN TEN MINUTES OF YOUR TIME.

15 AT THE MOST.

I'LL BUY YOU A CUP OF COFFEE.

Bubber: GALE?

GALE!

SO HOW DOES THIS, WHAT'S HIS NAME, SLEAZEBAG

SAY HE GOT MY CARDS?

BERNARD LaPLANTE?

THIS BOZO GOT MORE STORIES THAN A NEWSPAPER.

ONE OF THEM, HE SAYS HE'S THE ANGEL OF FLIGHT 104.

PULLS YOU OFF THE PLANE

SAVES YOUR PURSE, AND FORGETS TO RETURN IT

AND THAT'S VERSION 63.

VERSION 64, HE SAYS HE KEPT IT

TO PAY FOR HIS HUNDRED-DOLLAR SHOES.

THE GUY'S A TWO-BIT BULLSHIT ARTIST.

ALREADY GOT A SENTENCE PENDING FOR DEALING STOLEN GOODS.

LISTEN, THIS GUY-- THE HERO

BUBBER-- HE WAS A HOMELESS GUY, RIGHT?

I MEAN, HE WAS DOWN ON HIS LUCK.

HE COULDN'T HAVE SWIPED YOUR PURSE, COULD HE

WHILE HE WAS RESCUING YOU

AND SOLD IT TO THIS GUY LaPLANTE?

JOHN BUBBER RISKS HIS LIFE TO SAVE ME AND 54 OTHER PEOPLE

AND SWIPES MY PURSE?

TOO FARFETCHED.

LISTEN, I'M NOT TRYING

TO MAKE PROBLEMS FOR JOHN BUBBER.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE

THIS LaPLANTE GUY DOES SOME MEANINGFUL TIME.

TELL ME MORE ABOUT HIM.

HOMEWORK.

YOU'RE DOING YOUR HOMEWORK, REMEMBER?

( phone ringing )

HOMEWORK, HOMEWORK, HOMEWORK, HOMEWORK!

NO HOMEWORK, NO ZOO TRIPS, NO MOVIES.

HELLO?

HE'S DOING HIS HOMEWORK.

IT'S YOUR FATHER.

IF YOU DON'T TALK TO HIM, HE'LL CALL ALL NIGHT.

HEY, JOEY, HOW YOU DOING, PAL?

IT'S ME, YOUR OLD MAN.

DID YOU GET THE $20?

WHAT?

OH, WELL, SHE'S RIGHT ON THAT, JOEY.

THAT'S THE BEST PLACE FOR IT.

YEAH, COLLEGE FUND.

I WAS GOING TO TELL YOU THAT MYSELF.

LOOK, ABOUT HOW I DIDN'T SHOW UP THE OTHER NIGHT, I JUST...

WHAT? YOU SEEN ME OUT THE WINDOW?

ONE SHOE, YEAH, AND THE MUD.

SO YOU THOUGHT I MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE HEROIC GUY.

YEP.

AND WHAT DID SHE SAY WHEN YOU..?

AGAINST MY RELIGION, HUH?

WELL, YOU KNOW, JOEY, THIS KIND OF STUFF

WE GOT TO TALK ABOUT IT SOMETIME MAN-TO-MAN

BUT LISTEN, I GOT TO GO AWAY ON THIS BUSINESS TRIP

SO I WON'T BE SEEING YOU FOR A WHILE

AND YOU GOT TO LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER

BECAUSE SHE'S SMART.

SHE'S VERY SMART.

YOU KNOW, SHE KNOWS WHAT'S BEST FOR YOU.

NO.

NO.

NO!

NO!

JOEY, IT AIN'T BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE YOU.

CHRIST! I MEAN, NOT CHRIST.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T...

I DON'T WANT TO GO AWAY ON THIS BUSINESS TRIP.

I LOVE YOU.

BUT I GOT TO...

THAT'S PART OF GROWING OLDER.

IT'S ALL THESE GODDAMN-- PARDON THE EXPRESSION--

BUSINESS THINGS YOU HAVE TO DO.

WHICH REMINDS ME, YOU KNOW, THIS HERO BUSINESS?

ONE OF THE THINGS YOU'LL LEARN AS YOU GROW...

AS, AS, AS YOU GROW OLDER

IS THAT LIFE GETS VERY COMPLICATED.

WE'RE NATURALLY...

IT'S... YOU KNOW, LIKE PEOPLE AREN'T EXACTLY LIKE THEY SEEM.

NOTHING IS.

LIFE GETS UN-UN-UN-UNBELIEVABLE.

THIS IS NORMAL AS YOU GROW OLDER.

I-I WOULD... I WOULD HAVE SEEN YOU THAT NIGHT.

I WAS TALKING TO JOEY.

YOUR SON ACTUALLY WANTS TO SPEND TIME WITH YOU.

IF YOU LET HIM DOWN THIS TIME

AFTER POPPING BACK INTO HIS LIFE...

YOU GOT TO UNDERSTAND.

IT'S THIS GODDAMN BUSINESS TRIP...

PLEASE DON'T HANG UP.

WAIT A SECOND, EV, PLEASE?

JUST LET ME SAY ONE THING.

( theme from Close Encounters of the Third Kind playing )

LOOK, I KNOW I KIND OF ACT LIKE AN ASSHOLE SOMETIMES.

I KNOW THAT.

I KNOW YOU WERE A GOOD...

WIFE.

I KNOW I FUCKED IT UP.

I HAD A GOOD THING. I BLEW IT.

I JUST... I JUST...

I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I KNOW THAT.

THAT'S ALL.

I GOT TO GO NOW.

BUSINESS TRIP, YOU KNOW.

BE A WHILE.

OKAY?

I'M SORRY I TOOK SO MUCH TIME.

BERNIE.

BERNIE!

HEY, LaPLANTE, OPEN THE DOOR!

TELEVISION INTERVIEW.

FAME AND FORTUNE.

GEEZ, I HOPE THE SILLY BASTARD DIDN'T KILL HIMSELF.

HE'S BEEN VERY UPSET ABOUT THIS SENTENCE THAT HE GOT.

HE'S GOING TO PRISON.

HEY, IS THAT A CAMERA YOU'RE CARRYING?

IF HE KILLED HIMSELF YOU COULD TAKE PICTURES.

TOO BAD, NO DEAD BODY.

I SUPPOSE IT'S NOT TOO OFTEN YOU GET TO TAKE PICTURES

OF THE BODY BEFORE THE COPS ARRIVE.

EXCLUSIVE.

MR, WINSTON, I WONDER IF YOU'D MIND

IF WE WAITED HERE.

WHAT'S HE GOING TO DO-- SUE?

HE'S LUCKY THAT A PERSON LIKE YOURSELF...

A CELEBRITY LIKE YOURSELF

WOULD TAKE AN INTEREST IN HIM.

WHAT HE DO, SOME KIND OF DRUG THING?

WE'RE NOT REALLY FREE TO SAY.

OF COURSE, I UNDERSTAND.

IT'S CONFIDENTIAL.

OKAY, IT'S PERSONAL.

OKAY, WELL, I'LL WATCH IT ON TELEVISION.

ALL RIGHT.

OKAY.

WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?

THIS GUY COULD BE HOURS.

I HAVE A FEELING HE'S IMPORTANT SOMEHOW.

LISTEN, I KNOW YOU'RE THIS CAREER FIEND

BUT I'VE GOT A WIFE AND FAMILY.

WELL, YOU'RE LUCKY, CHUCKY. OW!

WHAT'S THE MATTER?

THIS SOFA.

WHAT IS IT?

THE SILVER MIC AWARD.

HOW DID A GUY LIKE LaPLANTE GET AN AWARD?

"FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE PURSUIT OF TRUTH."

LaPLANTE?

SHH!

( footsteps approaching )

( whispering: ) CAMERA, CHUCKY.

ARE YOU

BERNARD LaPLANTE?

WHAT'S YOUR RELATIONSHIP

WITH JOHN BUBBER?

TURN THAT...

YOU?! HOW DID YOU

ACQUIRE THIS?

HOW DO YOU THINK?

PUT THAT DOWN.

WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO GET JOHN BUBBER TO DO?

BUBBER'S GOING TO JUMP!

IT'S ON CHANNEL 13.

13!

Officials say they cannot rig a net below him

because it may trigger his decision to jump.

Bubber has said

he will only talk with Gale Gayley.

THE PHONE, QUICK!

IT'S OVER HERE.

HE'S GREEN, FOR CHRIST'S SAKE.

NO SHIT.

YOU TOOK ADVANTAGE OF ME.

IT'S A PIECE OF SHIT.

YOU GOT TO ADJUST IT.

DON'T TOUCH IT, SCUMBAG!

YOU'LL SCREW IT UP MORE.

TELL HIM I'M ON MY WAY.

LET'S GO, CHUCKY.

POLICE ESCORT WILL PICK US UP.

LaPLANTE, YOU'RE COMING WITH ME.

ME?

IF YOU'RE NOT IN THAT VAN

THE COPS WILL PICK YOU UP.

WHAT KIND OF BULLSHIT IS THIS?

LET'S SEE IF MONEY CAN TALK.

CHUCKY, WHAT HAVE YOU GOT?

GIVE MR. LaPLANTE YOUR MONEY.

COME ON, LET'S GO.

YOU MEDIA PEOPLE THINK YOU CAN JUST BUY PEOPLE.

HEY, THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

A BIG-TIME CAMERAMAN LIKE YOU?

( siren wailing )

LaPlante: THIS NUT CASE GOES OUT ON A LEDGE AND IT'S MY FAULT?

IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO JOHN, I WILL SEE YOU PROSECUTED.

WHAT, IS EVERYBODY IN LOVE WITH THIS BOZO?

YES, THE WHOLE COUNTRY, AND THEY WON'T BE HAPPY

IF HE LEAPS TO HIS DEATH BECAUSE HE WAS BLACKMAILED...

BLACKMAILED?! I BLACKMAILED HIM?

JUST 'CAUSE THE COPS AREN'T ON TO YOU

DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE HOME FREE.

I'VE SEEN YOUR KIND BEFORE--

THE UNDERBELLY OF CRIME.

IN ALL THAT SMOKE AND FLAME

JOHN HAD A MOMENT OF WEAKNESS.

IT WAS AN IMPULSE, STEALING MY PURSE.

HE STOLE YOUR PURSE WHILE SAVING YOU?

AND SOLD IT TO MR. LaPLANTE, WHO'S TRYING TO BLACKMAIL JOHN.

HE SAVES THOSE PEOPLE

THEN SWIPES YOUR PURSE?

BECAUSE HE WAS A REAL HERO.

HE DIDN'T EXPECT A REWARD.

HE SAVED 54 PEOPLE BECAUSE SOMETHING IN HIM

MADE HIM GO INTO THAT PLANE WHEN HIS GOOD SENSE

TOLD HIM OTHERWISE.

HE SETTLED FOR CREDIT CARDS

WHICH HE SOLD FOR, WHAT, A COUPLE OF BUCKS?

GIVE HIM ENOUGH FOR A DECENT MEAL?

ALL THIS IS OFF THE RECORD, CHUCKY.

IF JOHN LIVES, MR. LaPLANTE IS GOING TO OFFER HIS ASSURANCES

THERE WILL BE NO FURTHER MISBEHAVIOR ON HIS PART

AND WHAT'S MORE, HE'LL APOLOGIZE.

I'M GOING TO APOLOGIZE TO BUBBER?

I COULD DENY I HAD THOSE CARDS ON THE PLANE.

LIE, YOU MEAN.

I'LL TELL IT LIKE I JUST DID.

EVERYONE WILL SEE THAT JOHN IS A BIGGER HERO THAN THEY THOUGHT.

YOU ARE THE LOWEST FUCKING THING THAT EVER CRAWLED!

YOUR NAME IS GOING TO BE SYNONYMOUS

WITH BLACKMAIL.

I GOT A KID.

I'M A PERSON, FOR CHRIST'S SAKE.

FOR YOUR CHILD'S SAKE

TRY TO SHOW SOME DECENCY!

YOU MAY HAVE KILLED HIM ALREADY!

NOT YOU, PAL.

OFFICER, IT'S OKAY.

HE BELONGS TO ME.

GO AWAY, BOYS.

THAT WAS CHANNEL 4's GALE GAYELY

BEING ESCORTED INTO THE HOTEL BY POLICE OFFICERS.

GALE, WHO WAS RESCUED FROM THE PLANE CRASH BY JOHN BUBBER

HAS A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ANGEL OF FLIGHT 104.

NOW, AS TO WHAT SHE MIGHT BE DOING HERE

there might be a reason to be found

in her wanting to speak with him.

HE WILL ONLY TALK TO YOU, MS. GAYLEY

AND HE WON'T MOVE ANY CLOSER

SO IF YOU'LL JUST LEAN OUT, WE'LL HOLD YOU FROM BEHIND.

FELLOWS, GIVE US SOME ROOM.

LET HER IN THERE.

JOHN.

JOHN, I'M HERE.

DON'T DO IT.

EVERYTHING'S OKAY.

GALE.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW I NEVER MEANT TO HURT YOU.

THIS IS FOR YOU.

IT EXPLAINS EVERYTHING.

JOHN, I KNOW THE WHOLE STORY.

YOU DO?

JOHN, JOHN, JOHN!

JOHN, IT'S OKAY.

IT WAS A MOMENT OF WEAKNESS.

A LITTLE MISTAKE.

"A LITTLE MISTAKE"?

YOU'RE BEING TOO HARD.

I HAVE THE LITTLE CREEP THAT'S TRYING

TO BLACKMAIL YOU.

BULLSHIT, HOLD ON.

I JUST WANT TO TALK TO HIM.

I GOT TO TALK TO YOU, BUDDY.

LaPLANTE. DON'T BE AN ASSHOLE.

I DON'T LIKE HEIGHTS.

LaPLANTE, I'M SORRY.

IT'S ALL IN MY LETTER THERE.

TURN THAT OFF.

YOU WANT HIM TO JUMP?

GET OUT OF HERE, BOTH OF YOU.

I JUST WANT TO TALK TO YOU, AND THEN YOU CAN JUMP.

YOU CAN JUMP TWICE FOR ALL I CARE.

TALK FROM THERE.

IN PRIVATE.

THEY GOT CAMERAS.

MICROPHONES.

There is someone out on the ledge with Bubber.

We can only presume he's a rescue person of some kind

from the police or fire department.

He is moving...

He is crawling toward Bubber.

He does not have a safety rope tied to him

and as we've explained, the fire department...

I'M SORRY. I HAD THE SHOE.

YOU DIDN'T WANT ANY PUBLICITY.

I DIDN'T SAY I DIDN'T WANT A MILLION BUCKS.

I DIDN'T EXPECT THEM TO GO FOR IT.

THEY INVESTIGATED MY WAR RECORD.

I KEPT EXPECTING YOU TO EXPOSE ME.

I WAS IN JAIL, FOR CHRIST'S SAKE.

Man: Everyone, please stand back.

LaPlante: WHOA, THIS IS CRAZY.

WE COULD FALL OFF OF HERE.

YOU SHOULD GO INSIDE.

YOU'RE RISKING YOUR LIFE AGAIN.

I'M BEGINNING TO BE AWARE OF THAT, JOHN.

LISTEN, I'M NOT GOING TO DO NOTHING HEROIC HERE.

YOU CAN TRUST ME ON THAT, BUDDY.

NOW, WHY DON'T WE SIT DOWN FOR A WHILE?

YOU KNOW, YOU COULD, LIKE, REST UP FOR THE JUMP.

HUH?

( crowd cheering )

WHAT HAVE I DONE?

I WAS DIRT POOR AND USELESS

BUT I WAS HONEST.

OH, LIGHTEN UP, JOHN.

YOU THINK YOU GOT PROBLEMS, FOR CHRIST'S SAKE.

I'M THE GUY WITH THE PROBLEMS.

We still don't know why John Bubber, hero to the nation

stepped out onto the ledge

15 stories above the street more than an hour ago

but we now have the identity of the man

who has been talking to him for the last 15 minutes

at great personal risk.

He has been identified as Bernard LaPlante

former employee of...

MOM!

IT'S MY FATHER!

BERNIE?

HE'S ONE OF YOUR CLIENTS?

LaPLANTE, YOU CRAZY BASTARD.

LaPLANTE?

...Bernard LaPlante.

OH!

I'M GOING TO GET A HOT OVERHEAD ANGLE.

... at Gumley's Carpet Care Company.

LaPlante seems to have persuaded John Bubber to sit down

and the two men seem to be engrossed in conversation.

What they might be saying at a moment like this...

IT IS HIM.

WHAT'S HE DOING UP THERE, MOM?

WHERE'S YOUR COAT?

GET YOUR COAT.

...IS A GOOD SIGN SINCE HE HAS NOT JUMPED.

IF A MAN DOESN'T JUMP IMMEDIATELY

THERE IS A CHANCE THAT HE WON'T JUMP AT ALL.

...A MAN WHO CLAIMS THAT HE IS AN EXPERT LIP-READER

REPORTS THAT JOHN BUBBER AND BERNARD LaPLANTE

ARE DISCUSSING RELIGION AS THEY SIT ON THE LEDGE.

YOU STOLE HER PURSE WHILE YOU WERE SAVING HER?

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL?

YOU DECIDED TO PRETEND YOU WERE ME.

A LITTLE MOMENT OF WEAKNESS, RIGHT?

SO I SWIPED HER PURSE.

I GOT FEET OF CLAY TOO.

AND NOW SHE THINKS YOU'RE BLACKMAILING ME.

SHE DON'T LIKE ME, JOHN, AND SHE AIN'T ALONE.

I GUESS IT'S KIND OF A PERSONALITY THING.

LOOK AT THOSE MANIACS DOWN THERE.

THEY LOVE YOU, FOR CHRIST'S SAKE.

I CAN'T FACE THOSE PEOPLE NOW.

THE LOOKS IN THEIR EYES

AFTER THE TRUST THEY GAVE ME...

GREAT. YOU MAKE THIS BIG GODDAMN MESS

AND THEN YOU JUMP.

I WAS THERE AT THE HOSPITAL.

I SEEN YOU WITH THOSE LITTLE BASTARDS.

I THOUGHT I HEARD YOU.

I'M NOT SAYING I HATE SICK PEOPLE

BUT I HATE BEING AROUND THEM

IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

THERE YOU GO--

YOU INSPIRE THIS KID TO LIVE.

I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE VOMITED ON HIM.

ALLEN? ALLEN'S OKAY?

SEE WHAT I MEAN?

YOU REMEMBER HIS NAME, FOR CHRIST'S SAKE.

YOU'RE THE GUY THAT GOT THOSE PEOPLE OUT OF THE PLANE.

YOU WOULD HAVE GONE IN THERE.

YOU WOULDN'T HAVE THOUGHT TWICE.

THAT'S THE KIND OF GUY YOU ARE.

WHAT DO WE DO?

THE BLACKMAIL THING DON'T SOUND BAD.

YOU STILL HAVE SOME MONEY LEFT, DON'T YOU?

THERE'S A LOT OF IT LEFT.

THE TV LADY THINKS I'M BLACKMAILING YOU

BECAUSE YOU SWIPED HER PURSE.

SHE THINKS I KNOW YOU SWIPED IT

BECAUSE YOU SOLD IT TO ME.

WHAT SHE DON'T KNOW

IS THAT I REALLY AM GOING TO BLACKMAIL YOU

BECAUSE I SWIPED HER PURSE

BECAUSE IT WAS ME ON THE PLANE.

YOU WANT ME NOT TO JUMP

AND KEEP LYING AND PAY YOU TO KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT.

YOU ARE CRAZY. WHY?

I DON'T NEED YOUR PROBLEMS--

ALL THIS TV BULLSHIT, ALL THESE FANS.

I JUST WANT SOME OF THE MONEY.

HERE'S WHAT I GOT IN MIND.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN, WHAT DO I WANT TO KNOW?

I WANT TO KNOW EVERYTHING.

WHO'S THIS SCREWBALL LaPLANTE?

WHAT ARE THOSE TWO BOZOS CHATTERING ABOUT?

YOU CAN'T HEAR THEM?

READ THEIR LIPS.

YOU'RE A REPORTER-- IMPROVISE.

THIS IS NOT A NEWS STORY.

THIS IS REAL LIFE!

REAL LIFE?

JESUS CHRIST, GALE, DON'T CRACK UP ON ME NOW.

WHY WOULD I?

I'M A PROFESSIONAL, AREN'T I?

I'M A CYNICAL, HARD-BITTEN, PROFESSIONAL HARD-ASS, AREN'T I?

A COLD, AMBITIOUS BITCH OR SOMETHING.

ISN'T THAT WHAT EVERYBODY SAYS?

NO, GALE, YOU ARE NONE OF THOSE THINGS.

YOU ARE A GODDAMN CREAM PUFF.

YOU'RE A MARSHMALLOW.

THAT'S WHY EVERYBODY LOVES YOU.

NOW TRY AND BE A PROFESSIONAL MARSHMALLOW

AND GET OUT THERE AND REPORT THE GODDAMN HUMAN DRAMA!

( crowd chanting: ) BUBBER, BUBBER, BUBBER...

JOHN!

( sobbing )

I QUIT, DEAK.

YOU CAN'T! IT'S UNPROFESSIONAL!

MAYBE HE'S UP THERE BECAUSE HE MISSES YOU.

I WOULDN'T LET HIM SEE YOU THE OTHER NIGHT.

OH, GOD, MAYBE IT'S MY FAULT.

I THOUGHT YOU HATED HIM.

NO. HE JUST MAKES ME ANGRY.

HE'S SELFISH AND CYNICAL.

WHAT'S CYNICAL?

IT'S WHEN YOU SAY, "EVERYBODY ELSE CHEATS, WHY SHOULDN'T I?"

BUT HE DOES HAVE HIS GOOD SIDE

LIKE WHEN YOU WERE IN THE HOSPITAL

AND YOU HAD YOUR APPENDIX OUT.

HE STAYED WITH YOU THE WHOLE NIGHT

AND HE HATES HOSPITALS.

IT SEEMS LIKE YOUR FATHER'S AT HIS BEST

WHEN THERE'S A CRISIS.

WHEN SOMETHING GOES REALLY WRONG

OR THERE'S SOME KIND OF EMERGENCY

YOUR FATHER... HE JUST FORGETS TO BE BERNIE LaPLANTE

AND ACTS SORT OF LIKE A HUMAN BEING.

LOOK! OH, GOD, WHAT IS IT?

Something's going on.

HE SEEMS TO BE CALLING OUT TO THEM.

NOW... HE'S HOLDING UP TWO FINGERS.

He's signaling something.

HOLDING UP TWO FINGERS.

There are firemen leaning out the window.

They have long poles.

WHAT'S HAPPENING?!

They're reaching the poles towards the two men.

There's something at the tip of the poles.

It looks like...

( horn honking )

Wait a minute, I have a report here.

Coffee.

We're told that Bubber and LaPlante asked for coffee.

IT'S JUST LIKE YOUR FATHER

TO REQUEST SOMETHING TOTALLY INAPPROPRIATE.

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE WATCHING

AND HE WANTS COFFEE.

We have just learned that LaPlante is a convicted felon

due to be sentenced tomorrow for trafficking in stolen goods.

GALE SHOULD HAVE AIRED THAT BIT FIRST.

SHE'S THE ONE WHO FOUND THIS CLOWN LaPLANTE.

SHE LET CHANNEL 8 GET A BEAT ON US.

DEAK, WHAT IF BUBBER HAS GOT SOMETHING TO HIDE?

WHAT IF HE'S THE WRONG GUY?

HELL OF A STORY.

NO, DEAK, THAT IS NOT A GOOD STORY.

WE BACKED THIS GUY.

HE'S OUR BOY.

WE GAVE HIM A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE.

WE GAVE HIM A MILLION DOLLARS.

YOU GOT IT?

FOUR-YEAR SCHOLARSHIP TO A TOP COLLEGE

PLUS MEDICAL SCHOOL OR LAW SCHOOL

OR WHATEVER JOEY WANTS.

PAY OFF MY ATTORNEY, PLUS MY ANNUAL CONSULTING FEE...

...PLUS GIVING A DEPOSITION TO THE JUDGE ON YOUR BEHALF.

IT IS NOT GOING TO WORK.

A TESTIMONIAL FROM JOHN BUBBER--

YOU THINK HE WON'T SUSPEND MY SENTENCE

FOR THE ANGEL OF FLIGHT 104?

THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEAN.

I'M NOT COMFORTABLE DECEIVING PEOPLE.

YOU TOOK MY SHOE, FOR CHRIST'S SAKE.

WHY SHOULD YOU BE COMFORTABLE?

UNCOMFORTABLE IS HOW YOU SHOULD BE.

BESIDES

HOW COMFORTABLE WILL YOU FEEL IF YOU JUMP

BREAKING THE HEARTS OF MILLIONS

AND LEAVING BERNIE LaPLANTE VOMITING ON KIDS

INSTEAD OF INSPIRING THEM?

YOU THINK I'D GIVE A CENT TO CHARITY?

GIVE DONATIONS TO THE HOMELESS?

I'M NOT A NICE GUY.

YOU'RE THE NICE GUY.

NOW DO YOUR JOB.

BE A HERO.

BETTER GET RID OF YOUR CONFESSION.

WILL YOU BE ALL RIGHT

WITH ME RECEIVING ALL THE CREDIT?

I DON'T TAKE CREDIT.

I'M A CASH KIND OF GUY.

WE GOT A DEAL?

YOU SURE WE CAN PULL THIS OFF?

JOHN, YOU'RE SITTING ON A LEDGE

ABOUT TO JUMP TO YOUR DOOM.

I'M ABOUT TO GO TO PRISON.

WHAT EXACTLY HAVE WE GOT TO LOSE?

( crowd cheering )

Conklin: THEY'RE GETTING TO THEIR FEET.

CAREFULLY.

YOU CAN FEEL THE EXCITEMENT IN THE CROWD.

JOHN BUBBER IS STANDING AND IS HELPING HIS COMPANION.

A MISSTEP, AND THEY COULD PLUMMET 15...

AFTER WHAT I DID

HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU CAN TRUST ME?

'CAUSE BOTTOM LINE, JOHN

I AIN'T NO DIFFERENT THAN ALL THOSE ASSHOLES.

WE ALL TRUST YOU

FOR...

FOR CHRIST'S SAKE.

WE...

THAT WAS REALLY DUMB

COMING OUT HERE ON THIS LEDGE.

OH, MY GOD, BERNIE.

( wood creaking )

WHOA!

( crowd screaming )

OH, MY GOD! OH, MY GOD!

Gayley: SAVE HIM!

DON'T GRAB HIM, DON'T!

NO, GRAB HIM!

YES, GRAB HIM!

GRAB THIS.

YOU CAN'T HELP HIM.

HE'LL PULL YOU OVER.

NO! NEVER REACH OUT!

Chorus: * GLORY, GLORY HALLELUJAH

* GLORY, GLORY HALLELUJAH

TAKE THE LINE.

PUT IT AROUND HIM.

HE'LL PULL YOU OFF.

IF HE GOES, I GO. YOU GOT THAT?

HE'LL PULL YOU OFF! DO IT!

YES, SIR. I GOT IT.

* GLORY, GLORY HALLELUJAH.

ZOOMING IN TIGHTER YET

HE CAPTURES THE STARK DRAMA AT GREAT PERSONAL RISK.

WAS I AFRAID?

WELL, AT MOMENTS LIKE THAT YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT YOURSELF.

YOU THINK ABOUT THE FOCUS.

YOU THINK ABOUT F-STOP.

YOU THINK ABOUT THE 11:00 NEWS

EVERYBODY COUNTING ON YOU.

LOOKING GOOD, PARTNER.

HANG IN THERE.

YOU'RE A GODDAMN SAINT, JOHN.

PARDON THE VULGARITY.

WHILE IT'S TRUE THAT I SAVED BERNARD LaPLANTE'S LIFE JUST NOW

BUT I COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT

IF HE HADN'T SAVED MY LIFE FIRST.

YOU SEE, I HAD A...

I HAD A TERRIBLE MOMENT OF WEAKNESS

AND I WAS FEELING...

I GUESS YOU'D CALL IT OVERWHELMED BY THE PRESSURES

OF FAME AND CELEBRITY.

I DIDN'T FEEL, UH, QUITE ADEQUATE.

I WASN'T MEASURING UP TO PEOPLE'S EXPECTATIONS

OF MY IMAGE

and I was going to take that despair out on the ledge

with the intention...

HOW DID YOU GET IN HERE?

I SNUCK IN.

THIS IS PRIVATE HERE.

NO MEDIA.

WAS IT YOU?

ON THE PLANE WHO SAVED MY LIFE?

LOOK, LADY

I DON'T GIVE NO INTERVIEWS.

I GOT AN ATTORNEY.

YOU GOT ANY QUESTIONS, YOU COULD TALK TO HER.

MR. LaPLANTE... BERNIE

I WANT TO TALK TO YOU LIKE A HUMAN BEING

NOT A REPORTER.

I'M SOMEBODY WHO WAS GOING TO DIE IN A BURNING PLANE

AND I LOOKED UP AND THIS MAN CAME OUT

OF THE SMOKE

HIS FACE COVERED WITH MUD AND SOOT

AND HE SAVED MY LIFE.

OFF THE RECORD... WAS IT YOU?

OFF THE RECORD--

WHAT'S THAT, LIKE, TIME OUT?

IT JUST MEANS IT'S BETWEEN US.

DOESN'T LEAVE THE ROOM.

LADY, DO I LOOK DUMB ENOUGH TO RUN INTO A BURNING PLANE

AND SAVE A BUNCH OF STRANGERS?

I AIN'T THE TYPE.

RIGHT.

We're here in the lobby with Evelyn LaPlante

who says she is the wife

of Bernie LaPlante...

OH, JESUS CHRIST ALL MIGHTY.

...who was rescued by John Bubber.

Mrs. LaPlante has just told me that Bernard LaPlante

spoke to her earlier today about going away on a long trip

and wanting to say good-bye

to his ten-year-old son, Joey.

I didn't know Bernie would try

to jump off a building.

I just thought he was up to his old...

THERE YOU GO, TV.

YOU CAN'T BELIEVE ONE WORD

YOU HEAR ON TV.

Bernard LaPlante is a decent, wonderful human being deep down.

IT'S ALL BULLSHIT.

You have to know him.

You love your father?

LEAVE MY BOY ALONE.

My dad's great.

How did you feel, Joey, seeing your dad on that ledge?

I was scared, but I...

But what, son?

But I knew John Bubber would save him.

I THINK YOU SHOULD AT LEAST TELL YOUR SON ABOUT HIS FATHER.

OFF THE RECORD

THANK YOU FOR SAVING MY LIFE.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

...AN ORGANIZATION DESIGNED TO HELP THE NEEDY...

...THE HOMELESS, VETERANS, ELDERLY.

WE'RE EVEN FUNDING A GROUP FOR THE PROTECTION

OF SMALL ANIMALS.

MR. BUBBER.

MR. BUBBER.

HELLO, MS. GAYLEY.

YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR ME?

EVERYONE THINKS OF YOU AS A HERO, MR. BUBBER.

HOW DO YOU SEE YOURSELF?

I THINK WE'RE ALL HEROES

IF YOU CATCH US AT THE RIGHT MOMENT.

WE ALL HAVE SOMETHING

NOBLE AND DECENT IN US TRYING TO GET OUT

AND WE'RE ALL LESS THAN HEROIC AT OTHER TIMES.

It's the media that notices

one person one moment

and not another.

I'm just like the next person- full of frailty

with some courage, some decency, mixed in.

You think I'm a hero.

To me, a hero is just a symbol of what's good in all of us.

You're looking at me

and maybe you just notice what's good in yourself.

WHAT A CROCK OF SHIT.

HAVE YOU EVER HEARD MORE BULLSHIT OR DRIVEL

COMING FROM SOMEBODY WHO'S NOT EVEN THE PRESIDENT?

IT'S NOT UNTHINKABLE.

WHAT?

THE PRESIDENCY-- THE PUBLIC LOVES HIM.

REMEMBER WHERE I SAID

I WAS GOING TO EXPLAIN

ABOUT LIFE, BUDDY?

THE THING ABOUT LIFE IS

IT GETS WEIRD.

PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT TRUTH

LIKE IT'S TOILET PAPER OR SOMETHING

AND THEY GOT A SUPPLY IN THE CLOSET.

WHAT YOU LEARN WHEN YOU'RE OLDER

IS THERE AIN'T NO TRUTH.

ALL THERE IS IS BULLSHIT--

PARDON MY VULGARITY--

LAYERS OF IT.

ONE LAYER OF BULLSHIT ON TOP OF ANOTHER

AND WHAT YOU DO IN LIFE

IS YOU PICK THE LAYER OF BULLSHIT YOU PREFER

AND THAT'S YOUR BULLSHIT, SO TO SPEAK.

YOU GOT THAT?

NO.

IT'S COMPLICATED.

MAYBE WHEN YOU GO TO COLLEGE...

YOU'RE GOING TO COLLEGE, RIGHT?

I GOT IT ALL FIXED UP.

YOUR MOM AND I WANT YOU TO GO.

NOW, LISTEN, JOEY.

WHAT I'M GOING TO TELL YOU NOW IS OFF THE RECORD.

STRICT CONFIDENCE, RIGHT?

REMEMBER THAT NIGHT

IT WAS RAINING LIKE A SON OF A BITCH--

THE NIGHT OF THE PLANE CRASH

WHERE YOU SEEN ON TV WHERE BUBBER SAVED THOSE PEOPLE?

THE THING ABOUT TV IS

YOU DON'T WANT TO BELIEVE WHAT YOU SEE--

NOT IF YOU'RE SMART.

NOW, WHAT REALLY HAPPENED...

( playing "Auld Lang Syne" )

...AND THAT'S WHAT REALLY HAPPENED.

WOW!

BUT YOU ALWAYS SAID KEEP A LOW PROFILE.

RIGHT.

YOU SAID NEVER STICK YOUR NECK OUT.

RIGHT.

WELL, HOW COULD YOU GO IN A BURNING PLANE

AND SAVE 54 PEOPLE?

WELL, I SCREWED UP.

( woman screaming )

Woman: MY DAUGHTER FELL IN THE LION'S CAGE!

CALL THE ZOO KEEPER.

HEY, SOMEBODY CALL THE ZOO KEEPER

FOR CHRIST'S SAKE.

Woman: PLEASE, MY LITTLE GIRL FELL IN THE LION'S CAGE!

HELP ME, PLEASE!

OH, FOR CHRIST'S SAKE.

HERE...

WATCH MY SHOES.

Chorus: * ...AND DRINK A CUP OF KINDNESS YET *

* FOR AULD LANG SYNE.

* HERO

* HERO

* SOMEONE ABOVE KEEPS SENDING US LOVE *

* HE WANTS US TO LOVE EACH OTHER *

* YOU SEE, THE MORE WE GIVE, THE BETTER WE LIVE *

* LET'S HELP THE WORLD OF THE FUTURE *

* WE'RE SINGING

* OH, HAPPY DAY

* LIFE IS FOR US

* 'CAUSE LIFE WITHOUT LOVE IS A ZERO *

* COME ON, SING IT TOGETHER

* OH, HAPPY DAY

* I HEARD SOMEONE SAY

* INSIDE EVERY HEART IS A HERO *

* YOU'RE A HERO

* IF YOU'RE A FRIEND TO EVERY MAN *

* YOU'RE THAT MUCH CLOSER TO HEAVEN *

* HEAVEN KNOWS, IN LOVE WE SHARE *

* GOD WANTS US TO CARE

* THINK OF THE WORLD WE'LL BE GETTING *

* KEEP SINGING

* OH, HAPPY DAY

* THIS WORLD IS FOR US

* BUT A WORLD WITHOUT LOVE IS A ZERO *

* THERE AIN'T NOTHING TO IT

* OH, HAPPY DAY

* GIVE LOVE TO SOMEONE

* AND YOU'LL HAVE THE HEART OF A HERO *

* YOU'RE A HERO

* SOMETIMES A HERO DOESN'T KNOW HE'S A HERO *

* AND THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF... *

* SHARING LOVE

* AND IT DOESN'T TAKE SUPERMAN *

* JUST PLAIN, ORDINARY PEOPLE *

* TRYING TO GIVE SOMEONE A HAND *

* IF THEY CAN

* TOGETHER

* OH, HAPPY DAY

* THANK GOD FOR HIS LOVE

* 'CAUSE LIFE WITHOUT LOVE IS A ZERO *

* COME ON, SING IT TOGETHER

* OH, HAPPY DAY

* GIVE LOVE TO SOMEONE

* AND YOU'LL HAVE THE HEART OF A HERO *

* OH, YES, YOU WILL 'CAUSE

* OH, HAPPY DAY

* OH, HAPPY DAY

* LIFE IS FOR US

* BUT LIFE WITHOUT LOVE IS A ZERO *

* I WANT TO HEAR EVERYBODY SAY *

* OH, HAPPY DAY

* OH, HAPPY DAY

* LIFE IS FOR US

* BUT LIFE WITHOUT LOVE IS A ZERO *

* I WANT TO HEAR EVERYBODY SAY *

* OH, HAPPY DAY

* OH, DAY

* I HEARD SOMEONE SAY

* THAT INSIDE EVERY HEART IS A HERO *

* YOU'RE A HERO

* SAY IT

* HERO