All language subtitles for Madame X (1966)-en

Playback, please.

Five, four, three, two, one.

- Go.
- Camera two, we need to clear bars.

This is only 40 seconds long. Let's hustle up.

There we go.
Camera two is clear.

- Okay, let's preview.
- Red hair was a good idea.

- We talked about cutting it.
- What did she say?

We haven't talked to her,
but she'll do what we tell her.

- Good.
- Not much. That's it.

- Okay.
- Guys, what are we doing?

Studio B, this is remote.

We're gonna come out of the last section
tight. Tell Pete to say good-bye.

Studio B, this is Kimberly.
How soon do we go live?

Make sure Pete knows.
Just time to say good-bye.

Thank you.

Fellas, anybody listening to me?

- Coming to camera two.
- Is Mac there?

- Three seconds.
- Mac, here. What is it?

How soon are you gonna hit us?

We're gonna need at least five minutes
before we go on.

Can you put us after the commercial?

Not a chance. This is last section.

- Can you give us two?
- Coming to you in 40 seconds.

You can't do that.
We don't have a cameraman.

- Where the hell is George?
- He's taking a leak.

What do you want me to tell you?
He locked the camera down before he left.

This is a 2 1 /2 minute spot.
It's not gonna hold in a static shot.

Better tell Pete to stretch
because remote's gonna be late.

Stretch Pete. Slow him down.
Make sure he knows.

I was thinking maybe you could start
on a tight shot of me.

Then after I introduce them,
pull back to a wide.

No problem.
Just get George back.

Camera two is clear.
Here we come.

Got less than a minute.

We're about to go on the air.
Clear back there. Thanks.

- Y'all ready? Everybody ready?
- Fifteen seconds.

Right now barometric pressure
is at 30.07 and steady...

with the relative humidity 41 %.

The wind is from the south-southwest
at five miles an hour.

Now it's time to switch controls
to Kimberly Wells...

who is out in the field
with a live Minicam report.

Pete. What did you do the last time
someone had a birthday?

Send a card or maybe flowers?

Kinda boring, huh?
Wanna try something more imaginative?

Give an ''H'', give an ''H''
give an H-A-P.

Give a ''P'', give a ''P''
give a P-P-Y.

Give a ''B'', give an ''I'', give
an R-T-H Happy birthday.

Give a cheer, give a big hooray There's something
that I've come to say.

And this is just one part
of a new group...

that seems to be
taking L.A. by storm.

Live Wires--
the singing telegram people.

And there's one
for every occasion.

The Gederschkins and Matatowskis
all have sent us here
to tell you.

That they love you, surely
We've come to wish you gladness.

Madness, madness
We've come to wish you joy.

Happy anniversary
This is your golden year.

Maybe your parents are
celebrating their 50th
wedding anniversary...

and you'd like to send them
an opera-gram.

Or maybe you have a message
that words cannot express.

That's the kind of stuff
I wanna see.

Get in tight on the navel.

Oh, mercy.!

Stand by.
Coming to two.

That is a belly-gram...

and words cannot express that.

That's the kind of stuff
I wanna see.

Ratings have gone up
half a point since
we put her on the show.

Our research said she'd do well
in the L.A. market.

Hey, very good.!

Very nice show, Kimberly.

Mac here.

Can you hear me?

- Change of schedule.
- You gotta be kidding. Again?

- We're goin' to Ventana.
- That's great.!

Be there at 1 :30.

What about the crew,
Richard and Hector?

They'll pick you up
and you can all
drive up together.

Right. Okay.
Can I have a hit? Thanks.

I don't smoke.

It's 1 2:40 in Los Angeles.

Temperature is 68 degrees
at the Civic Center.

Here's a new one on the charts
for the first time this week.

They're here, Mr. Gibson.

Hi. Bill Gibson,
Public Relations. Here to
help you through security.

Exterior. Ventana special.
Take one.

We're rolling. Anytime.

This is Kimberly Wells.
I'm here at the Ventana
Nuclear Power Plant...

owned and operated
by California Gas and Electric.

The huge dome
that you see behind me...

is called the containment
and houses the nuclear fuel.

In this section of
''Energy in California''...

we're going to focus
on nuclear power--

that almost magical
transformation of
matter into energy...

that the experts tell us
may be our best shot...

at energy selfish suff--
suffi--

- Cut!
- Shit.

- What happened?
- You said ''selfish
sufficiency''...

instead of''self-sufficiency.''

Self-sufficiency.

Right from the top.
Let's keep going.

This is a pellet
of simulated uranium...

the exact size that's used
in the fuel rods.

This tiny pellet
contains more energy...

than six carloads of coal.

We have 20 million
of those pellets
inside the reactor vessel.

That's here.
We call it the ''core.''

Around the core,
of course, is water.

Water is used as a coolant.

Inside the fuel assembly
is another set of rods...

called the ''control rods.''

These rods actually control
the nuclear reaction.

What happens is this:

When the core is put on-line--

when it's activated--

the control rods are lifted out.

With them gone, nuclear fuel
sets up a chain reaction...

that produces a tremendous
amount of heat
that boils the water...

that turns to steam
that turns the turbine...

that turns the generator
that produces electricity.

That's it.

That's a cut.
That was great.

Let's get a reaction shot
on Kimberly over here.

- You don't need to do it again?
- No, it was great.

- You made it seem simple.
- It really is.

If you don't need me for
a couple of seconds, I'd
like to get your hard hats.

- You want me to get this light?
- You gonna take us
inside the plant?

- That's the next stop.
- Great.

- You all set, Kimbo?
- Yeah-- Oh, my God.

-Lookin' good.
-That's what I get
for staying out late.

- Get rid of my circles, will you?
- I'll try my best. We try harder.

You're a pal.
Don't touch my hair.

React on William Gibson.
He's right here.

- Did you get the pellet?
- Yeah, nice close insert.

- That's not cheating too much?
- No, highly complimentary angle.

You're gonna love it.
Gibson's talking. You're listening.

Interested, very interested.

The steam turns the turbine, turns the
generator. Then the shit hits the fan.

Come on, Kimbo.
Hold it together. Very good.

Uranium, huh?

They make bombs out of that stuff,
don't they?

They didn't mention that,
did they?

Wait till you get to the other room,
get that radiation all over that body.

Take one of those black pellets
and you'll really turn on.

- Ready?
- That's a cut.

You've got our hats?

Your hat. One size fits all.

- Let me have that.
- Great.

Can we film in the containment area?

No, not while we're on-line.

- Is it all right if I leave my jacket?
- That'll be fine.

-Just follow me.
- Man does his job, doesn't he?

Listen, you.

Don't blow it for me, Richard.

This is coverage,
not controversy.

- Will you be a friend?
- I'm trying.

This is the turbine room.

Rolling! Ventana power plant.
Kimberly Wells. Take one.

This is a rare opportunity
to see inside a nuclear power plant.

Standing here
next to this giant turbine...

you can actually feel the power.

And power is what it's all about.

This 800-megawatt plant
generates enough electricity...

to meet the needs of a city
of three-quarters of a million people.

We're now 50 feet above the floor
of the turbine room...

on an incredible moving crane.

Mr. Gibson,
what is this crane used for?

We use it to transport
very, very heavy pieces of machinery...

up to hundreds of tons.

I think it'll
support us all right.

I certainly hope so.

How many people
are employed here?

At present time,
we have a payroll of 1 50.

How do they work
in all this noise?

Noise? What noise?
I don't hear any noise.

What?

This level here
is 80 feet from where we were.

- Is there enough light for you?
- No way.

- Sound's no good.
- Meet our plant supervisor.

Herman DeYoung,
this is Kimberly Wells.

Yes, I recognize you.

How are you?

If I can do anything for you,
just let me know.

Thank you, Herman.

It's too dark here.
We can't film anything.

Okay. I got
a better idea anyway.

All right.

I think you'll like this.

That the way to the containment?

Yes.

Oh, God, my ears.

- How old is this plant?
- We went on-line four years ago.

Took over 1 2 years to build.

Don't you have another plant
opening pretty soon?

We'll be licensing Point Conception
hopefully in the next couple of weeks.

The safety hearings
are going on right now.

Together the two plants
will generate more electricity...

than the Hoover Dam
and the Grand Coulee combined.

That's very interesting.

Your tongue is black.
I think you're contaminated.

This is the control room.

Brains of the beast, huh?

The glass is bulletproof
and soundproof.

God, they're all so young.

- It's a young industry.
- I see an older guy.

Make you feel better?

No, he just looks like the only guy
old enough to know what he's doing.

That's Ted Spindler.

He's been with the company
since before the plant was built.

I'm sorry. We can't film in that
direction for obvious security reasons.

- Not one shot?
- No.

How 'bout a cold drink?

No, thank you.

I'll take one.

You people always work together?

- Yeah.
- No.

We're just doing
this energy special together.

I used to make commercials
with these bums.

Kimberly's employed full-time
by the station...

but old Hector and I,
we're just independent.

Very independent.

- What was that?
- Felt like an earthquake.

What the hell is--

What have we got,
turbine trip?

Yeah.

''Generator trip. Full load.
Rejection. Turbine trip.''

''Reactor scram.''

Okay, we're off the line.

Disconnected from the grid.
Ted, stabilize the reac--

Right.

Radiation in the containment!

- What level?
- Level 8.

Okay. Borden, relax.

Must be that safety valve
just opened after the trip.

Holt, cut down
the recirc pumps.

Barney, come over here
and keep your eye on the feedwater.

Holler out those numbers
if they don't start to drop.

Line up the valves and
put the turbine on a turning gear.

Somebody turn off
the goddamned alarm.

Thank you. I don't know
how they figure...

you're supposed to be able to give
orders with a racket like that.

- Are you within limits, Ted?
- Yeah, it's gonna level out okay.

- Systems status.
- Reactor pressure back to normal.

Right.

Jack, phone for you.

- We still have high radiation--
- Perfectly normal.

Feedwater's low-- 450,000 pounds
per hour, and it's decreasing.

- Godell here.
- Bill Gibson in the visitor's gallery.

I got some people here
from Channel 3.

They're shootin'
a TVnews special at the plant.

Listen, what the hell's
goin'on down there?

It's just a routine
turbine trip, Bill.

Just take it easy.

High water level
in the reactor!

We're still
on main auxiliary power.

Okay, relax!

Everybody, relax.

Got high water in the core,
and I'm gonna dump it.

There's nothing to worry about.
It's just a routine turbine trip.

See if you can find out
where that goddamn water's coming from.

Wherever it's coming from, we gotta
get rid of it. Look at this.

- Uh-oh.
- Hey, Barney.

- Open 1 4 and 1 5.
- You can't do that.

- Open 'em!
- The book says you can't.

Screw the book. We're almost
up to the steam lines.

Those flashing lights
are called annunciators.

When they're activated, it means
something in the plant needs attention.

There's obviously a lot of activity,
but Godell says it's routine.

- Are you filming?
- He's a good man, Godell.

He was a commander of a submarine
in the nuclear navy.

We have these turbine trips
a couple of times a year.

- What's a turbine trip?
- The turbine is no longer turning...

because the steam's been shut down.

It just might be
a feedwater leak.

- Which valve?
- Can't really tell.

- Shut the isolation valves.
- You're gonna need that water later.

You wanna go down there
and do it by hand? Do it!

Close the isolation valves!

Go back to your stations. We'll try
to handle the goddamn feedwater.

- Hey,Jack!
- What?

Look at this water level indicator.
Water level's low.

This says it's high.

Well, that's-- that's--

Jesus Christ!

Barney, give me feedwater!
Goddamn it!

We may have uncovered the core.

- Operations.
- We have a serious condition.

Get everybody into safety areas,
and make sure that they stay there.

All personnel proceed directly
to safety areas.

All personnel proceed directly
to safety areas.

Caution: Code six.
This is not a drill.

We stay right here.

This is a safety area.

Jesus!

Hurry up!

Come on, you guys!
Move it!

Routine, huh?

- Talk to me.
- I can't give you very much.

We're isolated and
on auxiliary feedwater.

Besides, I've only got one system
that's operational.

- Less than nine inches.
- Is it holding?

It's dropping.

We're losing it.
My God, we're losing it.

What the hell happened
to the high pressure coolant injection?

LPCI's valved out
for maintenance.

I don't believe it.

We gotta dump pressure.

We can't take that chance!

Let me know the split second
the L.P.C.I. comes in.

Right.

Water.

Eight inches.
Still droppin'.

Oh, please, God,
cover it.

Cover it!

We've got LPCI!

Comin' up.

It's comin' up.

All right!

We got it!

Don't bother with the interviews.Just
the stuff we did in the control room.

Just the magazine
on the accident.

- Did you shoot normal?
- Straight normal A.S.A., 230 feet.

Shouldn't take
more than 40 minutes.

Hey, Mort,
we got a rush.

It's for me for the 6:00.

The film in the machine has to run
through, then I have these two.

Mort, it's hot.
Do it.

- You gonna wait?
- Yeah. Go get 'em!

- What is it?
- Dynamite, Morty. Nuclear dynamite.

I'll bet.

- We need more of that.
- You're right.

About time you got back.
You better get into makeup.

George has written the marathon piece.

He'll have a shot sheet by the time
you get back. How'd it go?

Dump the marathon.
I got the lead story.

Fine. You'll be on eight minutes in,
right after the first commercial.

Did you hear me?
I got the lead story.

It's in the lab. I'm gonna write
the script before it's out of the soup.

- What is it?
- An accident at Ventana.

Richard's got it all on film.

Why didn't you call in?

We didn't want to risk
talking on the mobile phone.

You never know
who might be listening.

Mac, the crew's reached the scene
on the hostage story.

Frank, check that out,
will you?

- You want a beeper for the 6:00?
- Call me in the control--

No, we'll plan on it.

What have you got? There's nothing on
the wire about an accident at Ventana.

I know.

We were looking at the control room,
and there was an accident.

I don't know what it was, but it's clear
the guys inside were scared to death.

Richard's got it all on film
without them knowing it.

I better callJacovich.

This is the script
that goes with it.

Hello?

Yeah. Mr.Jacovich.

- It's for you.
- Thank you.

Hello. Yeah.

Who?

- Okay, I'll be right there.
- I cut off the whole front part.

- Do they know this film exists?
- No.

- I wish we had the sound.
- Clean it up, get it to telecine.

- I'm not putting it on the 6:00.
- Why?

- Not till I find out what's going on.
- But it's an exclusive.

This is the first decent hard news story
we've had in months.

It looks like a great story,
but we don't know exactly what it is.

It's totally irresponsible to go
on the air without checking the facts.

The fact is that it happened.
We were there--

- Make sure that film gets in the vault.
- Right.

Move it, you guys.
You've got a newscast.

Kimberly, you better hurry.
You're gonna be late.

- I'll talk to you.
- Yeah, please do.

We're gonna open on one.
Then camera two, R.P.

Places, everyone!

- Hurry up, Kimberly.
- Bernie, you wanna give me a spritz?

-Just a little bit of powder.
- Slide the key to the left.

Commercial ends in 1 0 seconds. Stand by,
TelePrompTer. Stand by, studio.

Hurry up, Kimberly.

Ten seconds.

There she is.
About time, lovely.

Five, four, three, two.

This is Channel 3 Update...

Southern California's most complete
television newscast...

gathered and prepared by Los Angeles'
most professional news men and women.

With award-winning anchorman
Pete Martin...

Henry Leeds, weather,
Leon Klaster, sports...

and Kimberly Wells
with ''California Close-up. ''

And now, Pete Martin.

Good evening. In the headlines tonight,
six people have been killed...

in the crash
of a light plane near Lake Tahoe.

A compromise seems near
in the Social Security funding bill.

And a Los Angeles group has petitioned
the Food and Drug Administration...

to outlaw all food additives.

If the license on Point Conception
is delayed even slightly...

our cash flow dries up.

We've got debts on the power grid
to every utility west of the Rockies.

I figure we'll be losing...

$492,000 a day.

After that, Herman...

anything you say
should be good news, shouldn't it?

Sir, there's no damage.
We have a little cleaning up to do.

- There will have to be a hearing.
- Formal?

Yes, the N.R.C. is sending
an investigating team.

We'll be testifying ourselves
starting tomorrow.

Will you be back on-line
by the end of the week?

We should be,
if we don't run into any snags.

I want you to keep
that investigation on track.

Now you be thorough.

Make sure everything's all right...

but let's not waste
any unnecessary time.

- Let's get it over with.
- Yes, sir.

And for God's sake...

we've had our surprise
for the year.

Yes, sir.

Hello?

It's Gibson.

Hi, Bill. Yeah.

What kind of film?

They were where?

- Good morning.
- Hi, David.

How are you?
Hi,Jim. Come in.

What are you talkin' about?

You gotta put it on the air.
I photographed an accident.

An accident in nuclear power plant.

I don't know that ''accident''
is the right word.

Accident is the right word!

- Nice of you to make it.
- Sorry I'm late.

This station's got a yellow streak
that wide down its back.

- Obviously, you've made a decision.
- Don't start.

I'm not. I was just
making an observation.

Let me read something
to you, Richard.

''Nuclear plants are considered
security installations...

and as such, fall under
the protection ofTitle 1 8...

of the United States
Criminal Code.

Unauthorized photography--''
And I'm quoting.

''Unauthorized photography
is a felony.''

In the strictest technical sense, we
could all be considered accessories...

just for having that film
on the premises.

It's all bullshit!

Don't kick me under the table.
I'm not gonna shut up!

Have you seen what they
officially released?

''An unanticipated transient''?

What the hell is that?

It was an accident,
and we could have been killed!

Don't you think that's
stretching it a little bit?

''Stretching it''?
Thank you.

According to CG&E, you were
in no real danger at any time.

Don, I know what you're saying...

but if you'd been there, it'd be hard
to believe there wasn't any danger.

Maybe we should show it to an expert
and get an objective opinion.

The film stays in the vault.

This is all
a goddamned cover-up.

Kimberly says she sees you talking
to their P.R. guy, Gibson.

That's right. I told him that we've got
the film and it stays in the vault.

So, it's a conspiracy?

It is not a conspiracy.
It is not a cover-up.

The plant had no obligation
to contact the press.

And they wouldn't have
if we had not been there!

They did exactly what they are
required by law to do.

They shut down the plant.
They contacted the N.R.C.

They are conducting
an investigation.

I'll bet.

It's gonna be a hell of a fast one with
another plant trying to get a license!

Please calm down.

Who is conducting
the investigation?

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
We will be given a full report.

At that time, and only at that time, we
will decide what to do about the film!

I don't believe this.
I really don't believe this.

I just--

So you're gonna sit here?

This is none of her business. She
doesn't make policy. She is a performer.

But she is a professional.
Aren't you?

She understands the problems connected
with something this sensitive.

We are not gonna open ourselves up
to a massive lawsuit.

- You're being pressured.
- We're not.

- Yes, you're being pressured.
- You're being hysterical.

And you're bein'
a chickenshit asshole.

I'm gonna talk to him.

What did you do that for?

They got you, didn't they?

A piece of talking furniture.
Never thought I'd see it--

All we could hope for
is they'd go for the scoop.

I thought they would, you thought
they would, and they didn't.

They're right.
Legally, they'd be sued.

Yeah.

I am not ashamed
that I've got a good job...

and I have every intention
of keeping it and getting a better one.

That's right. ''Good.''

If that means they've got me,
then they've got me.

If I remember right, you called me and
said you wanted to work on the inside.

- And could I throw you a bone?
- Thank you for the bone.

Anytime.

- I want to talk to him.
- Later. Talk to him tonight.

The Minicam van
is waiting to take you...

to wherever you're going
for your Live At Noon spot.

I'm going to the zoo.
There's a tiger having a birthday party.

'A faulty relay
in the generator circuit...

tripped the generator breakers open.

The resultant transient
in water level and pressure...

caused the turbine to trip and
for safety relief valve number eight...

to open automatically.

This, of course,
suddenly shut down the reactor.''

A scram situation.

So except for the course
of the second shock wave--

Uh, excuse me.

Uh, it's not really...

a shock wave, it's--

It was more of a shudder.

A heavy vibration. Right here.

So except for this shudder, you're
clear in your mind up to this point?

Yes, sir.

Now, the reactor water level
begins to drop.

Yes, but that's because we thought
the water level was high.

It turns out that the pen...

in the water level recorder
was stuck.

So you began cutting off the feedwater
flow and releasing steam...

in the belief
that the water was too high.

Yes, sir.

But, in fact, the water level
was becoming dangerously low.

Yes.

Why didn't your operator
look at the other indicators?

I don't know.

I was beside him.
I didn't look at it either.

- How'd it go?
- Okay.

What'd you tell 'em?

I'm not allowed to discuss
the testimony. I'll see you later.

Yeah, I'm right here.

Can I interest you
in one of these?

- Please eat!
- In your ear, Pete.

- Did you hear how much she's getting?
- What?

250 thou.

You gotta be kidding.
Did you know that she's getting--

She started out doing the weather.

I like the idea
of her hair being shorter.

We'll be sitting over there.

- Puerto what?
- Puerto Vallarta.

- How can you afford it?
- American plan.

$369.

Excuse me. May I?

Excuse me. Gonna have
a drink, I think.

- Enjoying yourself?
- It's a good party.

I saw your zoo piece
on Live At Noon.

It was brilliant. We got
a lot of calls about that.

You did? That's good.

How are you doing on the energy
specials? Any more shooting on that?

We've finished shooting. We just have
the beginning and ending to do...

and we're editing.

I think you're gonna be pleased.

I want to apologize
for Richard this morning.

He's difficult sometimes...

but he's the best cameraman
I've ever worked with.

You haven't worked with that many,
have you?

As a matter of fact,
I've worked with quite a few.

I thought he was on staff until I
called down this afternoon to fire him.

I don't like him.

When they offered me the specials,
there were no staff crew available.

That's why I asked for Richard.
I think he's good.

- He's won a lot of awards.
- I'm sure.

Hothead award, foul mouth award,
can of worms award.

I know. I think it was wrong that
he said what he said. I agree with you.

What are you gonna do
with the film?

The legal hassles have just begun.
Not to worry your pretty head about.

- Let us take care of that.
- Coffee?

- No, thanks.
- No, thank you.

You just keep doing a good job.
You're doing one hell of a good job.

Our ratings,
and the research confirms this...

have gone up because of you.

So, Don, let me
do some hard news.

I wanna do some real reporting.

I feel you're better off
doing the softer stuff.

You didn't get this job because of
your investigative abilities.

Don't fight it.
Don't try to be anything else.

I love you doing exactly
what you do best.

But I'd be good doing news.

Okay. We'll see.
Let's take a look at the specials.

We'll see.

Yeah. I like your hair like that.

Don't stay too late.

You lonely old coot.
You wanna come inside with me a minute?

How ya been? There.

Just come in and have
a little chat with me.

Us two girls
sittin' around by the fire.

What am I gonna give you today?
How about some yucky old lettuce?

Let's see here.

Just you and me, kid.

You wanna take a little bath?

Hi, darling.
It's your mother.

You know how I hate
talking into these machines.

Call me when you can.
Bye-bye.

Corinne here. Wanted you to take me
to theJacovich party...

but I'll call David.

See you there. Bye.
How about those ratings?

Hi, it's Buck Brewer.
You remember me?

Pilot, American Airlines.
We met in New York.

I'm gonna be here a couple of days,
and I would love to get together.

I saw you on the news tonight.
You were great.

Call me if you get in before 1 1:00.
I'm at the Beverly Hillcrest. Ciao.

Oh, shit.

It's your mother again.

Don't forget your father's birthday
is next week.

Says he doesn't want any presents,
but you know him.

Call me after he
goes to work tomorrow.

This is Richard.
You really are an asshole.

Oh, God.

- Yeah.
- Can I see you a sec?

I want to get your impressions
of one phase of the transient.

Yeah, right there.

About 1 5 seconds after the turbine trip,
did you feel a secondary vibration?

- The main steam line closure.
- No, that's right at the start.

I felt that too.
I'm talking about later.

More of a vibration
than a shock.

Right here.
It's relief valve 1 4.

No, I don't think so,
'cause that was late--

Didn't they ask you
anything about this?

They asked us not to discuss
the hearing procedures.

That's during the investigation.

Is this part of the investigation?

What's the matter?

They had me in there seven hours,
twice as long as anybody else.

You and these hotshot navy guys,
you got credentials.

I'm a 25-year company man.

I didn't know nothin' about nuclear
till they built this plant.

You tell me:

Where do you think
the ax of human error is gonna fall?

What makes you think
they're looking for a scapegoat?

Tradition.

I'm gonna get
a cup of coffee.

Yeah.

One of the basic principles
of physics...

is that what goes up
must come down.

And that's exactly
what happened today in Cudahy.

Hot air balloons are lighter than air
and that's why they fly.

But they aren't
always lighter than gravity.

And that's why sometimes
they don't fly.

Amateur balloonist William Levin
was flying near Cudahy this morning...

when his balloon apparently decided
it was time to come down.

It could have landed
in a treetop, but it didn't.

On a flat rooftop,
but it wouldn't.

Or on top of a camper
where it shouldn't, but it did.

There were no injuries, unless you
include one slightly wounded pride.

The police didn't
hold a grudge, though.

They helped him pick up the pieces
and even gave him a ride home.

- Pete?
- That your filled-with-hot-air report?

You should know.
You're the expert.

I don't know about that. I think I've
been the victim of the perfect squelch.

That's the News At Noon.
Thanks for watching.

We'll be back at 6:00.

Right now, for all of us here
at Channel 3 News, I'm Pete Martin.

Have a good day, everybody.

I can't believe what you said
right on the air.

Are you trying
to destroy my credibility?

You'll recover.

Leave the cameras in position.
Next item on the schedule--

- Have you seen Richard?
- Not since yesterday morning.

I'm probably gonna see him this
afternoon to work on the special.

- Why?
- The son of a bitch stole the film.

- What?
- I just came from the vault.

You brought him in on this,
so it is your neck.

Jacovich is in San Francisco
until tomorrow afternoon.

I want that film on my desk
before he gets back!

Okay, Mac. Thanks.

- Let me read that.
- Wait a second.

Where'd you get it?

- In the front office.
- Ted, what's goin'on?

It's a preliminary report.
It just came down.

God, that was fast.

Listen to this. ''Operating personnel
responded swiftly...

and professionally,
etcetera, etcetera.

While some operator error
was evident...

and procedures violated
to some degree...

the result was a swift containment
of a potentially costly event.''

I heard up front we're
goin' back on-line tomorrow.

In this section of
''Energy in California'...

we're going to take a look
at the power of the sun--

what it will do for our economy
and our environment.

Mr. Thurston,
according to a recent study...

by the California
Public Policy Center--

- Where's Richard?
- He's not here.

- Where is he?
- I don't know.

He asked me to come in and work on
the energy special, then he left.

Do you know that he
stole the film from the station?

He's gonna get us
into a lot of trouble.

- Where is he?
- I don't know where he is.

You are one of the more observant people
that I know.

I don't believe you saw him...

and he didn't give you
any idea where he was going.

He came in and
took the projector and the film.

My guess is he went back
to the power plant...

to try and get somebody
to explain this stuff.

And he calls me an asshole.

If you see him, tell him
to let me know what's going on.

You're a real mensch.

We were lucky as hell.
This could have dragged on for months.

Hey, hon, you new in town?

- Isn't that that girl on Channel 3?
- It sure is.

Are you looking for somebody?

- I'm looking for a friend.
- Would you like to join us?

Your friend's gonna get here sooner
or later because everybody does.

It's the only decent watering hole
in the area.

That's what they told me
at the visitor's center.

- Come on. Have a drink.
- Yeah, I could use a drink.

Good. Harry!

- Somebody who works at the plant?
- No.

- What would you like?
- Scotch on the rocks.

- Double.
- You got it.

Saw you tonight on the 6:00.
Terrific, huh?

- You work at that plant.
- I'm sorry.Jack Godell.

This is Alma and Ted Spindler.

How do you do?
Nice to meet you.

What's all the celebrating?

The plant got a clean bill of health
this afternoon.

- The investigation's over?
- Why are you so surprised?

Because I was there
when the accident happened.

I saw you there.
There wasn't any accident.

What was it?

A faulty relay
in the generator circuit.

- A faulty what?
- Relay in the generator circuit.

- Well, you wouldn't understand.
- And that's all?

A stuck valve.

- On the house!
- Thank you.

You guys certainly seemed relieved
when it was over for a stuck valve.

There wasn't any accident.

When are you starting up again?

The plant? Tomorrow.
Something like that.

Do you think the safety hearings
at Point Conception...

could have anything to do
with the speed of the investigation?

Same utility company trying to get
a license on a new plant.

You are up here
looking for a friend, aren't you?

You wouldn't be asking questions
just to get a story?

I wish I were.
I'm not an investigative reporter.

I don't like reporters...

because most of them feel
that the only good news is bad news.

And, oh, God, they give our industry
a very rough time.

Excuse me.

We'll see you in the morning.
Listen, nice to meet you.

Good night.

Don't you think that reporters
serve a public function?

There's Woodward, Bernstein.

Why don't you ask me
a ''public function'' question...

and I'll tell you
whether I do or I don't.

All right.

Was the public at any time
in danger as a result--

Miss Wells, could I
have your autograph?

Oh, my God, it is!

I thought he was kidding.

- I told you.
- You look just like on TV.

Our little girl watches you
all the time.

- Who shall I make it out to?
- To Cindy.

C-I-N-D-Y.

Here tonight in my bar...

we've got that most beautiful
TV personality...

Miss Kimberly Wells, with us!

Okay, bring her on!
All right!

Let me see that.

That's unreal.
Wait. Where were we?

You were asking me
a public function question.

Right.

Was the public in any danger
at any time as a result of the accident?

I'm using that word deliberately because
I think an investigative reporter would.

Jack, watch yourself.
You're gonna get yourself on TV.

Excuse me.

Let me try to explain something...

that, unfortunately,
people do not understand.

These plants are designed
for the possibility of an accident.

Every conceivable thing that could go
wrong has been taken into consideration.

Hell, we've got a quality control
that's only equaled by NASA.

Every component,
every one of them...

is tested
and then is tested again.

Every critical weld
is radiographed.

Every single thing is checked.
It's double-checked. It's rechecked.

- Everything.
- You haven't answered the question.

All right.

In anything that man ever does,
there's some element of risk.

That's why we have what we call
defense-in-depth.

That means backup systems,
two backup systems. You were there.

You saw what happened.
There was no leakage of radiation.

You know why?
The system works.

Even with a faulty relay,
a stuck valve, that system works.

There was no accident.

- Can I get you another drink?
- No, thanks.

I have to get up in the morning.

I'm covering the migration
of the gray whale...

at my Live At Noon spot tomorrow
from Point Mugu.

Jesus, you're halfway there.

Why don't you spend the night
somewhere around here?

Then in the morning you just
slide over the mountains.

I've got a stack of things
I've gotta read.

- And you gotta find your friend.
- And I have to find my friend.

- Thank you.
- Thank you.

Good night.

When you turn on your lights,
think ten percent me.

Beg your pardon?

That's the amount of power
that CG&E supplies you.

- Good night.
- Good night.

Thank you, Miss Wells.

- Got your map?
- Yeah.

You know where you're going?
Okay, I'll follow you.

- I just talked to Richard.
- Where is he?

He told me to tell you
if you want the film...

he's out at Point Conception
at the safety hearing.

Some big demonstration there.

You got great timing, kid.

Hold on a second.
We may change our plans.

Can I speak to Mac?

Get a crew down here
and clean this up.

Tell your boys
to go over this pump.

I want them to check
every flange, every seal...

every rivet and nut
in the whole loop.

Stay on top of it. I want a full report
at the end of each shift.

Okay. Right. Let's go,Jack.
We've gotta talk.

Damn it, that could be
very serious.

I know it.
What the hell are we gonna do?

We've gotta tear the pump down
and get a complete inspection.

You know we can't. That would
keep us down for at least two weeks.

- How the hell are we gonna find out--
- Now, look.

- The leak came from a recirc pump--
- You don't know that.

Wait a minute. We'll tighten up
the seals, and we'll test it.

- Let's not tear the whole pump apart.
- How are we really going to find--

Put TV monitors on the pump
and run it up to 1 00% of rate of speed.

- That might tell us what's happening.
- That might tell us what's happening.

I want you to get
right on top of this.

Test it as soon as possible.

I sure ain't lookin' forward to calling
'em downtown. They're gonna crap.

I told 'em we'd be
back on-line by 3:00.

I gotta run.
I'll see you later.

To the Atomic Safety
and Licensing Board...

these are pictures
of children we love.

Since these children
cannot be here...

we ask that you consider them
in making your decision.

They and others like them
will be the ones...

who will inherit
the consequences of your actions.

Now the names of the children.

Ronald Borsak, 5 years old.

Tony Bulotte, 7.

Robert Brimble, 1 1 /2.

Douglas Brown, 2.

Arnold Calfie, 1 4.
Ernest Chollet, 1 0.

Dean Smith, 1 2.
Juan Garcia, 3.

Lonnie Lewis, Scott Lewis, 1 2.

Blake Hopefield, 2.
Eric Jones, 5.

-Steven Lance, 1 3.
- Richard!

Greg, excuse me one minute.
I have to talk to this lady.

- Sure.
- Thank you.

Did you miss me, huh?

I don't believe you.
Where have you been?

Where's the film?
They know you stole it.

If you don't get it back tomorrow night,
Jacovich is gonna call the cops.

- Okay.
- What?

Come on.
I want to show you something.

- I'm doing my spot out front.
- I'm in room E309.

- I need that film!
- I understand. I promise.

E309, all right?

You wait for me!

That's good.
You got these people in the background.

It's a lot tighter.
Right over there.

- What? Here?
- Right there.

Were you thinking them in the background
and a tight two-shot with me and--

- That'd be great.
- How much time do we have? Oh, God.

The sun's gonna
be right in my eyes.

- Anyway, who have you got for me?
- We have a couple of people.

The top two right there.
This man's pro-nuke.

We're going with the redhead out to the
beach as she does a whale story, right?

- Stand by, Minicam.
- What's she doing?

A nuclear story?
She's gonna do hard news?

Hang by. I'll ad-lib it.

Now here's Kimberly Wells with
a report from Point Conception.

- Go, Kimberly.
- I'm speaking with Al Baietti.

- He's a certified health physicist.
- I hopeJacovich is nowhere near a set.

You have concerns about health
and safety measures and nuclear energy.

- Correct?
- Correct.

Studio Control.
One moment, please.

Why is the licensing of this plant
important to California?

Mr.Jacovich.

The licensing
of any energy source is...

- Hi, Don.
-important to our country as a whole.

I want the cameras here,
here and here: D3, 5 and 7.

I need somebody to stand by
in the diesel generator room.

I'm gonna run a pump test at 1 300.
What is that?

-Now, opinions from those who oppose it.
-Demonstrators at the hearings.

Watch these bozos.
You won't believe it.

- Your name, please.
- Hazel Washburn.

I'm a housewife. I have 6 grandchildren,
2 of whom I brought with me today.

I'm out here protesting because
I'm frightened about nuclear energy.

How you gonna keep your grandkids
warm in wintertime?

- How's she gonna use her hair dryer?
- Quiet.

What do we do
in case of an accident?

What have they done really
to be absolutely sure that...

the waste disposal
is taken care of?.

That hasn't been answered.

- We still goin' on-line at 3:00?
- According to DeYoung.

- Who is it?
- It's Kimberly.

It's all right. It's okay. This is
the lady I was tellin' you about.

- You can't show this--
- Listen to what the man's got to say.

- Who are these men?
- Guy on the right is Elliot Lowell.

He's a physics professor.
The other guy is a nuclear engineer.

- You can stop it here.
- Yeah.

When I saw it, I thought we'd better
show it to you. What do you think?

I may be wrong, but I would say
you're probably lucky to be alive.

For that matter, we might say the same
for the rest of Southern California.

- Steady as a rock.
- Tell 3 5 to go to 1 1 0.

Wait a minute.
We're at the top of the scale.

I got a technician
in the diesel engine room.

He's got it rigged to go up to 1 1 0.
We watch it on the monitor.

Okay. Go ahead.

Take it to 1 1 0.

Okay, fine.
The seals are holding.

Take it back down
to normal and off.

Go back on-line this afternoon
as planned.

Leave it a minute.

In a reactor scram, which is apparently
what they're having at this point...

the system operates
automatically for ten minutes.

They obviously have a problem.
Watch.

- Could you stop it right there?
- Yeah.

A problem they have
to deal with manually.

- It's a stuck valve of some sort.
- How do you know it's a stuck valve?

Because I was there last night looking
for you, and I talked toJack Godell.

He told me it was a stuck valve.

- You talked to him last night?
- Yes, that's right.

Can you start it up again?
Whatever stuck valve it was...

it's forcing them to deal
with the reactor water level.

From their behavior,
it looks pretty serious.

As I remember
the control room layout...

the annunciators
they're concerned with...

are also in the area
of the core water level.

I don't know. They might have
come close to exposing the core.

If that's true, then we came
very close to the China Syndrome.

The what?

If the core is exposed
for whatever reason...

the fuel heats beyond core heat
tolerance in a matter of minutes.

Nothing can stop it.

It melts right down
through the bottom of the plant...

theoretically to China...

but, of course,
as soon as it hits groundwater...

it blasts into the atmosphere
and sends out clouds of radioactivity.

The number of people killed would depend
on which way the wind is blowing.

Render an area the size of Pennsylvania
permanently uninhabitable...

not to mention the cancer
that would show up later.

Okay, in there is D3, D8s.

R6.

Perfect.

Perfect.

And perfect.

''D.B. Royce.''

Herman, we got a serious problem.

- Pump checked out okay, didn't it?
- Static tests don't tell us anything.

Jack, listen to me. You ran the damn
thing up to 1 1 0% of rate of speed.

That is not gonna tell us what
will happen if we ever shut down again.

If we scram at full power,
any sudden shock--

- But that's only--
- Goddamn it! Will you listen to me?

- Take it easy!
-Just once!

I'm sorry. I decided to go through
the quality assurance reports.

I came across irregularities...

in the contractor's documentation
of the pump support structure.

So I decided to double-check
the welding X rays.

This is just a sample.
They're identical, Herman.

It's the same picture
over and over.

No contractor can possibly supply every
stupid document the government asks for.

So they didn't take all the pictures
they were supposed to. So what?

- These X rays are six years old.
- So are those welds down there.

- For God's sake,Jack--
- You listen to me!

We should get new radiographs
of the pump support structure.

What? That's absurd.

You know how long that would take?
What it would cost?

$1 5 million to $20 million.
Forget it!

Go to the control room and start her up.
We got to get back on-line today.

The company is losing
half a million bucks a day.

Start her up.

Borden, go get samples
of the service water.

- Have Health Physics run an analysis.
- Yes, sir.

Barney, did you check out
the auxiliary feedwater pumps?

Sure did. Lube oil flow and
bearing temperatures are A-okay.

- Drain valve at station 47 is clear.
- Fine.

- How you comin',Jack?
- Fine.

- Almost 3:00.
- Reactor's on hot standby.

The turbine is on turning gear.

Well, all right.

Load Dispatch.

Load Dispatch, this is Ventana,
leaving hot standby...

approaching power
per normal procedure.

I'll contact you when we're ready
to synchronize the generator.

We expect to be back on the grid
in a couple of hours.

We got a clear board,Jack.

We got a clear board.

Follow normal sequence for rod
withdrawal up to the top of the S.R.M.s.

Group one.

Group three.

Group five.

Group seven.

Group two.

Group four.

Have these films developed
as soon as possible.

- Mr. Royce?
- Yeah.

- Can I speak to you for a minute?
- Sure.

My name is Jack Godell.
I'm a shift supervisor at Ventana.

What can I do for you?

We had a problem at the plant
a couple of days ago.

Yeah, I heard, but I heard
everything checked out fine.

- You're going back on the line today.
- We're back on the line.

Did you sign for these X rays?

That's my signature.
What about it?

- You signed the same one over and over.
- All the welds are fine.

- How do you know if you didn't check?
- Every weld I checked was fine.

- How many didn't you check?
- I said all the welds were fine.

How can you say all the welds are fine?
The plant may not be safe.

That plant is perfectly safe.

We may have a serious problem. I don't
have time to go through every X ray.

I get a straight answer or else.

- Now, how many and which ones?
- I don't remember.

- There's more where those came from.
- You know the procedures.

There's no problem.
Don't make a problem.

Those welds have held for six years.
They'll hold for 6,000 more.

- I'm goin' to the N.R.C.
- Wait a minute.

- Get off me.
- Think it over!

You're talkin' about
a billion-dollar lawsuit.

It'll send them into receivership.
Will you wait a minute?

- Slow down! Goddamn it!
- Get your hands off me!

You're not dealing with some
pissant public utility company.

This is Foster-Sullivan, one of the
world's biggest construction companies.

They've got their own security men.
Do you hear what I'm saying?

I hope I don't have to
spell it out for you.

You gotta think that over! Wait!
They have their own security men!

- Hey, Redman.
- Yeah.

- We got a problem.
- I'm sorry, Don.

- The whales will be there tomorrow.
- She was supposed to cover the whales!

It was scheduled.
We advertised on radio.

I want to see her the minute she gets
back. I want to talk to you later too!

Who is it?

It's Kimberly Wells. I need
to talk to you. It's very important.

- Who the hell is that?
- My cameraman. It's all right.

You lied to me last night when
you told me it was a stuck valve.

- It was a stuck valve.
- It was not.

- Did Kimberly tell you I filmed it?
- You what?

I took that footage up
to the Point Conception hearings...

and showed it
to a nuclear engineer.

You almost uncovered the core,
Mr. Godell.

You lied to me last night.

We're not gonna leave here until
you tell us what happened at the plant.

So some antinuclear nut tells you
we almost uncovered the core!

But we didn't uncover it, did we?
We stopped it in time for one reason.

I told you that! The system works.
That's not the problem!

If that is not the problem,
then what the hell is?

I love that plant.

That's my whole life.

- What is the problem?
- The shudder. The damned shudder.

The vibration that I felt during
the turbine trip that bothered me.

And it sure didn't
bother anybody else.

Then when I'm checking it,
I find that some idiot...

phonied the welding X rays.

I just cannot believe
a man would deliberately...

falsify the records
of a nuclear reactor.

- Holy shit.
- That means the plant's not safe.

It means that vibration was a warning.
The plant should be shut down.

Every one of those welds
should be re-X-rayed.

We're talking about
millions of dollars, aren't we?

We don't want to talk about that.

And no one will believe me.

But if they ever put
too much pressure on that pump...

and they rupture those pipes--

It's the China Syndrome.

That's possible.

Would you go on television with this
and tell this to the public?

An hour ago, I threatened to go to
the N.R.C. and a man threatened my life.

Who threatened you?

The bastard that works
for the company that did it.

The same company that
built Point Conception.

If I got some of those X rays to you
and I stayed out of it...

could you get those entered
as evidence at the hearings?

- Lowell will present them.
- Would he do it?

- I'll make sure of it.
- Wait--

I'll convince the station to send me
up there with a mobile unit.

That way we can be sure
it'll be on the air.

- Wait--
- I'm gonna miss my 6:00.

- Wait!
- I'll call you tonight.

We'll work out the transfer.

I don't think I should get them
to either of you two.

I may get followed.
Get me somebody that you trust.

- I'll get there early in the morning.
- Don't leave here.

- Thank you.
- Call me later.

Jesus, what am I--

-Stand by. Commercial on V-1. Roll V-1.
- Roll V-1, please.

Five, four, three...

two, one.

- Fade up, please.
- Where the hell is Tasha?

Ask Tasha to step in for a moment.
We want to look at her on camera three.

Tell her to hurry up.
We're on the air.

Boy, is that hot!
Can you do anything about that dress?

Hello. I'm sorry.
No, she never showed up.

Thirty seconds.
Stand by to roll.

Preset, please.

Camera two, is that
as wide as you can get?

- Thank you, buddy.
- Lock it down for the opening shot.

Stand by. Coming up on 1 5 seconds.
Quiet in the studio, please.

- Stand by, studio.
- Come through with your wide shot.

- Go ahead. Ask her to step out.
- V-1, clear. Set for your next piece.

- She's here!
- Tell her to hurry.

- Stand by to roll.
- Ten seconds.

Kimberlyjust walked in.
Five seconds.

- Five, four, three, two--
- Here we go.

This is Channel 3 Update, Southern
California's most complete TVnewscast.

So nice of you to drop by, Kimberly.
Thank you.

Cutting it a little close,
aren't we, Kimberly?

Kimberly Wells with
''California Close-up. ''

Now, Pete Martin.

Good evening. Another
terrorist bombing in the Middle East.

The Los Angeles school board
has authorized a pay raise for teachers.

Three people have died
in a head-on collision--

- When am I on?
- I don't know.

- About five minutes in?
- What is going on? Where have you been?

GetJacovich. I've got a story.

- Richard, I want that goddamn film.
- Kiss my ass.

You'll get your film, Mac.
GetJacovich.

- Roll V-2, please.
- Three, two, one.

At least one storm-related death
was reported.

We'll get the phony X rays
first thing in the morning.

Then we'll work out the transfer,
have them up there for you by noon.

It might be a great story, but we'll
give it to Frank. It's not your job.

I know it's not my area,
as you define my role at the station.

But I am tired of birthday parties
with tigers and lions.

It's my story, my exclusive.
I want to do it.

- Who's the guy at the plant?
- He needs to be anonymous.

Dr. Lowell said he would be very happy
to submit the evidence.

Elliot Lowell is not an objective
source. That's not balanced reporting.

- If you don't want it, someone will.
- Kimberly, you're on.

There are still stations
in this town that like hard news.

- Now to two and then to one, right?
- Right.

Everybody moving in.
That's right.

We'll be crossing in three, two, one.
And up two. Cue Pete.

Now it's time for ''California Now'' with
Kimberly Wells. What do you have for us?

A few words about a veterinarian
who makes house calls on sick fish.

Or is it aquarium calls?

Anyway, Dr. E.G. Steward
advises the owners...

to imagine themselves
in their pet's place...

inside the aquarium,
thinking like a fish.

That way they won't have to wonder
if it's time to change the water.

They'll just know.

The doctor offers classes
as well as house calls...

ranging from ick, fin congestion
and tail rot...

to fish lice, popeye
and bladder bloat.

The most common mysterious ailment
that fishes suffer?

It's people problems.

Poison sprays, dirty hands
and cigarette ashes in the tank.

- I guess nobody's immune.
- It's quite a service.

When was the last time someone
came to your house when you were sick?

To the Atomic Safety and
Licensing Board and the public...

To the Atomic Safety and
Licensing Board and the public...

I am speaking for my friends
who choose not to speak.

But these hearings are not for the
purpose of weighing public sentiment.

The N.R.C. has held
60 licensing hearings to date...

and not once has
a license been refused.

This country is proceeding
with the building of nuclear plants.

Yet we do not have a program
for the safe disposal of nuclear wastes.

Any further words are pointless.

- Well, what do you think?
- Honest to God, I don't know.

Do you think it's the film?

Your five minutes is up.
Thank you.

Dr. Elliot Lowell.

Mr. Chairman.

If the chairman would excuse me,
I'm expecting crucial information...

which may arrive
in 20 or 30 minutes.

If I could have that much of a delay,
I would appreciate it.

Granted.

What the hell are you doing,
you dumb--

Son of a bitch!
What are you doing? Hey!

Hey, man! What?

What are you doing?

I am also concerned
about the misinformation...

in my opinion
with regards to nuclear waste.

Much is made of the fact
that these wastes are radioactive.

Therefore, there's some special problem
this radioactivity produces.

One hears it is necessary
to wait for centuries...

before this radioactivity
decays to a safe level.

Channel 3, KXLA, Los Angeles.

Unfortunately, the five major
U.S. tire manufacturers...

no longer cover their tires
against road hazards.

Fortunately,
one company still does. Winston.

If any passenger car tire purchased--

- Yes?
- It's Kimberly.

- Did you connect with Hector?
- A couple of hours ago.

He hasn't shown up,
and Lowell's about to go on.

- You got to come up and help us.
- What?

You got to tell them
what you told us last night.

- I understand.
- Please hurry.

My God.

I would like to remind
the members of the audience--

David, getJim to call the station.
See if they've heard from Hector.

Say,Jim, call the desk.
See if Hector's checked in, please.

Thank you for the opportunity
to put this matter on record.

Thank you, Mr. Baietti.

Dr. Lowell, has
your information arrived yet?

No. Mr. Chairman,
if I might request another hour?

Dr. Lowell,
we have a very busy agenda.

We'll try to schedule you
for another day.

We're going to take
a 20-minute recess.

If you need me,
I'll be downtown.

The Highway Patrol just called.
Hector's been in an accident.

It's about 1 0 miles south
on Highway 6.

- What?
- Hector's been in an accident.

Would you hold these for me?

Hector's been in an accident.
He's on Highway 6. Excuse me.

Would you be sure
Godell's on the agenda?

-Jesus, Mr. Godell.
- I'm sorry.

He could get himself shot
driving up here like that.

What the hell is that?
Hey, Godell, what's going on?

Easy. I'm here to help.

Don't fight me.

- You ready?
- Vital signs are stable. Go ahead.

- Cover up his face.
- You got it.

- Is he alive?
- He's alive.

- Is he gonna make it?
- He's gonna be all right.

It's okay. He's gonna make it.

- How high do you plan on taking this?
- I can't hear you.

How high do you plan on going?

- Hi,Jack.
- See ya,Jack.

Yeah, okay.

I'll take care of it. Okay.

Ted, how high are we?
It sounds like the power's up.

Yeah, we'll be at full power
by midnight.

You cannot run it at full!
We can't risk another scram!

- What's the matter? You been drinking?
- Drinking?

There may be a defect
in the pump support structure.

- Listen!
- I got my orders!

There was a vibration!

So help me God, a sudden surge
could kick that off again.

Go home.

Why don't you just go home?

- What's the matter with Jack?
- I don't know.

- Where we at?
- We're at 7 5% full power.

Recirc flow at 80% normal.

- Control Room.
- Take it to 93% with the recirc.

Right.

Yes?

- Group one.
- What are you trying to do,Jack?

- Leave it there,Jim.
-Jesus Christ,Jack.

Just get out.

Go on. Get out.

Get out!

- You can't do this,Jack.
- Oh, I mean it, Ted.

Get out. Everybody out.

Let's go upstairs
and see what's goin' on.

It's all right, Hector.

Hang on.

All right, easy!

What are you trying to do,
finish him off?

You can't possibly believe we had
anything to do with this accident!

- It wasn't a goddamn accident!
- I need to talk to Kimberly.

Godell has taken over the control room.
He's got a gun. He wants to talk to you.

Okay, Herman, someone's trying
to tamper with the security circuits.

If you don't tell them to knock it off,
I'll flood the containment area.

God help you and your company.
Is that understood?

Ted, he's onto you guys.

We have to find another way
to get into the control room.

- You better find it fast.
- Here she is.

Thank you for coming.
I hope you can convince him to come out.

- Get him on the phone.
- Yes, sir.

Jack, I got Kimberly Wells here.

Bring her down alone.

He wants you
to go down there alone.

- Follow me.
- I'm right behind ya.

Bill, step out
where I can see ya.

Okay, fine.

Kimberly, when you hear the bolt slide,
come through the door alone.

Go ahead.

What happened to your friend?

- There was an accident.
- No accident.

I know.
The radiographs are gone.

Oh, those bastards.
They were chasing me.

I came here because
I knew they couldn't get in.

Once I get here I find the idiots are
going to put the plant up at full power.

- I don't think the pump can take that.
- What are you going to do?

What I would have done if I'd
have gotten to those hearings.

You're going to interview me
on television.

- You mean from here?
- Yeah, here. Now.

Is there any way I can talk
to my cameraman up there?

Yes.

He wants us to interview him.

You'll just have to talk him
out of it for his own safety.

We've been able to keep this
in the family, so to speak.

But one call to the outside and the
sheriff will be here with a SWAT team.

You get him to come out, and
we'll listen to anything he has to say.

We don't want
anybody to get hurt.

I wouldn't mess around.
The guy just said...

either he makes
a public statement...

or he's gonna flood
the containment with radiation.

- Can he do that?
- Yes, sir.

All he has to do
is open those valves.

Right now, he can do
pretty much anything he wants.

If he floods the containment
with radiation...

may as well take a shovel
to this place and bury it.

You tell him we'll do it.
He can go on the air, anything.

- Mr. McCormack--
- Shut up, Gibson.

Joe, you keep an eye
on this gentleman.

Gentlemen.

All right, they agreed.

I'm not only
gonna call your station...

I'm callin'every
goddamn TVstation in L.A.

They agreed.

I can't take
responsibility for this.

What's your alternative? Let this maniac
wash out a billion-dollar investment?

This buys time. It'll take
the press an hour to get here.

I wouldn't count on it.

I'm counting on you
to take care of the goddamn press.

You do your job,
and I'll do mine.

Yes, sir.

What the hell's
holding you people up?

You spent a fortune on security
in this place.

The whole thing is designed to prevent
a forced entry into that control room.

Goddamn it. I'm tired
of hearing what you can't do.

I wanna know what you can do.

Our only other choice
is to try to scram the plant.

That process can be triggered without
Godell knowing, then it's on automatic.

That should distract him long enough
for us to get in there.

You think you can do it
without that lunatic catching you?

We can sure as hell try.

Scram the son of a bitch.

No, Tom, that won't work for us.

Who's the man standing up there?

McCormack,
chairman of the board, CG&E.

Are we in danger
with this plant operating?

I don't think so.
I brought it down to 7 5%.

Why don't you just shut it down?

I shut it down, I lose power.

As long as we're on-line,
I'm a threat.

By getting control
of the generator circuits...

we can cause a generator
and a turbine trip.

That would eventually
cause the reactor to scram.

You realize that's exactly what
Godell's spooked about? A scram--

Whose side are you on?
Maybe you'd like to give him a hand?

How long will this take you?

I got to bridge
around a dozen circuits.

They all terminate in this room
one way or the other.

Could take me 30 minutes.
Could take me an hour. I can't say.

Get started.

I'm going to start off
with just a general introduction...

to explain to people where we are
and then I'll introduce you.

You should say who you are,
what your job is here...

and how long you've worked here.

Have you thought about
what you're going to say?

You want a cup of coffee?

Yeah.

Want cream and sugar?

Agent Four, over.

Level six, report in.

It's going to be fine.

Agent 1 4,
report to the staging area.

Joe, tell Mr. McCormack
the police cars are arriving.

Hey! Right here! Hey!

Come on!

Right here!

Come on, Mac!

We have men
on levels seven and eight.

Keep three or four officers
out here with us. Over.

- Is Kimberly in there already?
- Yes, she's inside.

- You gonna take a crew in there?
- Right!

Just like I did it before,
right through the glass.

Get the sound through the intercom.
Use all available light.

We'd like to ask you a few questions.
Can you give us the name--

Let's go! Come on!

- Are we on the air right now?
- Yes, we are.

We don't have anything to say now.
If you'd just be patient, you'll get it.

- Can you give us his name?
- Okay, over here! Over here!

- Can you give us the name of the man?
- Godell.

- What the hell is goin' on?
- Excuse me. Is this a SWAT team?

Come on back. Come on back.

Come on. You got it. Come on!

What the hell is
a SWAT team doin' there?

Where in the hell
is the battery pack?

- Is he armed?
- There are rumors--

Have your men follow me
up this back elevator.

Let's go.

They'll be comin'up through
the bottom of the plant. Stand by.

T-B-3-1 7.

-Negative. That's a front circuit panel.
-Let's go.

Studio B, this is remote. We're
feeding you tone and bars. Do you copy?

- Okay,Joe. Send 'em out.
- We've got tone and bars.

Okay, Minicam, we have bars.
Give us picture.

There goes
the picture breakup again.

Video, do whatever you can
to get camera two back on us.

- How close are we?
- We could go anytime.

- What you're doing is irresponsible.
- I just can't hear you, Gibson.

They're here.

Set up on sticks right here.

- You got it.
- Thank you, Don.

I want a two-shot right there
at the console, all right?

- Got it.
- Gotta take sound from this speaker.

Okay, we made it. Churchill's down
in the van. The press is everywhere.

Let's just work out this sound thing.
We'll be ready to go.

- All right?
- Okay.

It's gonna be a few minutes.
There's a lot of press.

Stay clear of that TV monitor.

You gotta get through two doors. He's
got 'em both secured from the inside.

Get DeYoung right now.

What do you do to get the voices
to come out on the loudspeaker?

Yes, right here. That button.

- The other button locks it.
- Do it.

- Lock it open?
- Yeah.

- You all set?
- Okay?

- You want to give us a voice level?
- Testing, one, two, three, four.

Kimberly, you move
a little closer to the speaker.

Testing, testing.
This is Kimberly Wells.

Just get a little closer together.

- What's the next one?
- T-B-4-6. That's a ground wire.

Affirmative.

Go to T-B-3-9.
That's a ground wire.

About ready.

- Your levels look fine.
- You got picture.

KXLA, Los Angeles.

- Pete to the phone, please.
- We're getting close.

Just checking levels.

Hold up something white
for a color test and stand by.

Let's see.

- Everything okay?
- He's setting the color balance on one.

Okay, fine.
Let's get this show on the road.

Stand by. Ready to go.

- How do you know when--
- When the red light comes on, we're on.

Goddamn it. Do something.

The son of a bitch
is about to go on the air.

How's that for you, David?
Stand by and let's get it goin'.

- Hello, Spindler? Come in.
- Yeah, DeYoung.

We almost got it.
The minute we get it, I'll call ya back.

-Just about ready.
- Do something.

My head is--

Camera one.
Stand by, camera two.

Camera one.
Stand by, camera two.

Camera two. Go, Pete.

This is Pete Martin
in the Channel 3 newsroom.

We interrupt
our regular programming--

Power plant
where an armed employee--

-And is demanding to make--
- Ready?

- Exclusive, live coverage--
- Stand by.

- Kimberly?
- Take. Go.

This is Kimberly Wells. I'm speaking
to you from the control room...

of the Ventana
Nuclear Power Plant.

With me is Mr.Jack Godell who has
taken control of this plant by force...

and has demanded
to make a statement.

Mr. Godell?

I'm a shift supervisor here. I have
been here since before it ever opened.

I want you to know one thing.
I don't want to hurt anybody.

I'm not gonna try to contaminate
the state of California.

I just want you to--

Monday last at 3:36 p.m....

we had an event happen that--

- We had an accident happen here.
- Okay.

-Jesus.
- Nobody was hurt.

It was more serious
than you were ever led to believe.

It was human error.

A faulty relay in the generator circuit
caused the breakers to trip open.

Don't be so technical.

I know that sounds ridiculous.
That relay is a $ 1 0 or $ 1 2 item.

But it protects the generator.

On top of that, this could happen.
See, that's the reactor water level.

In the water level,
there is a pen, and the pen stuck.

Also, because of the stuck pen,
we got the wrong reading.

We tried to keep additional feedwater
from entering the system.

In actuality, that water level
was dangerously low.

With the main steam line isolated,
we only had one auxiliary feed pump...

to get more water
back into that core.

But that's not--

- Come on.
- But that's not why I'm here.

- I'm not makin'any sense.
- It's all right.

This is so complex.

There's something else.
You see, it's--

We got it! All right, DeYoung, you
give us the word, we'll cut the circuit.

- Okay.
- It's so complex.

It-- I-- It's simple.
It's simple.

- We're ready to begin the scram.
- It's terribly complex.

It's very difficult.

The-- I mean, that happened,
but that's not why I'm--

- The vibration.
- The vibration was not normal.

There was a vibration. Nobody will--
I know the vibration was not normal.

- Then do it, for Christ's sake.
- I know this plant.

- What's that?
- Dave, you okay?

- Oh, my God!
- Cut him off.

We're losing picture.

What happened?

Oh, my God. Oh, my God.!

Why? You idiots! You idiots!

- Ladies and gentlemen--
- No.! Please.! God.! No.!

- The lights flashed, but I think--
- He's gone nuts.

We've lost our picture
from the Ventana Nuclear Plant.

- Oh, my God, no.!
-Are we off the air? Is there no sound?

Please! God! No!
Oh, please, God! Oh, please!

You idiots!

- Stop!
- Stop!

Stop!

No, no, stop!

Stop it!

- Somebody check the feedwater.
- Have you secured the control room?

- Get a doctor.
- Somebody get a medic!

Unit Two, this is Command Center.
A medic team is on the way.

Unit Two, a medic team
is on the way. Over.

I can feel it.

- What did he say?
- He said, ''I feel it.''

I feel it.

Oh, my God, Ted.
It's that pump.

-Check isolation valves! Main feedwater!
-Stabilize the reactor!

- Check feedwater valves!
- Everybody stay at your stations!

Let's get the water level
under control.

Get D.C. backup power to the inverter.
Where are those lights?

Don't anybody move!
Stay at your stations!

- Can't get emergency lighting to work!
- Stay at your stations, everybody!

- Hold on!
- The thing's comin' apart!

Damn it! Shut up!

Christ.

It's over.

It's stable.

If you just tuned in,
let me take a moment to recap.

At about 4:00 this afternoon,
an armed man with a gun...

an employee of the Ventana plant,
Jack Godell, took over the control room.

As you saw a moment ago,
an interview started.

We were about three minutes into it
when we lost the signal.

- However, we do have a second Minicam--
- Pete, we've got picture now.

No sound, but we have picture.

I'm told we're about ready
to switch back live to Ventana...

to our second unit
which is locatedjust outside--

There you see it. You can see
a very big crowd outside the plant.

We don't have audio yet, but this
is the picture of what's going on.

Don't deviate.
Just stick to the prepared text.

- Can you tell us what's happened?
- Would you just gather around?

- Get out of the way.
- I have an announcement to read to you.

A few minutes ago,
the situation inside was resolved.

The Ventana Nuclear Plant is secure.

- I emphasize at no time--
- Did any of it get on the air?

Enough to make Godell
look like a lunatic.

Press releases will be
passed out to you shortly.

I'djust like to stress that
the public was never in any danger.

- Was there any damage?
- When can we get our cameras inside?

There was some damage done to the plant,
but it was slight. It's been contained.

- What happened?
- An emotionally disturbed employee...

was humoredjust long enough
to get the situation under control.

- Had he been drinking?
- We had a report he'd been drinking.

- Was there any damage?
- Was anyone injured?

Gentlemen, I'd like you to meet
Herman DeYoung and Ted Spindler.

Mr. DeYoung is
superintendent of the plant.

Mr. Spindler was in charge
of the operation throughout.

-How did you stop Godell?
-What happened to the television camera?

Minicam, watch your picture.
Fight for it. There's Kimberly.

- Mr. DeYoung, a few minutes ago--
- Kimberly Wells,you were inside.

- No, please, let me ask a question.
- We're losing the picture.

- Please.! Let me ask a question.
- Terry,just come around.

A few minutes ago,Jack Godell
was shot dead in front of me.

- How many times was he shot?
- Why was he killed?

Just a minute, Miss Wells. The man was
emotionally disturbed. I'm tellin' ya--

-Who ordered SWAT into the control room?
-I told you. He was out of control.

He was dangerous.
They had no choice in the matter.

Mr. Spindler, do you agree with that?
Was Jack Godell emotionally disturbed?

Mr. Spindler, do you agree with that?
Was Jack Godell emotionally disturbed?

- Did he have reason to be disturbed?
- I don't know.

Mr. Gibson said he was drinking.
Is it true?

- I don't know.
- Don't know?

How do you account for his behavior
tonight? What did he say to you?

Thank you,
Mr. Spindler, Mr. DeYoung.

- That's all now.
- What did he say to you, Mr. Spindler?

He said he thought this plant
ought to be shut down.

Do you agree with that?
Should it be shut down?

It's not my place to say.

If it's not your place,
whose is it?

- We have to go--
- Whose is it?

If there's nothing to hide,
let him speak. Whose place is it?

- Come on, Ted.
- Wait a minute!

Jack Godell was my best friend.

These guys are painting him
as some kind of a loony.

He wasn't a loony.

He was the sanest man
I ever knew in my life.

And he had reason to believe
this plant was not safe?

Yeah. Yeah.

I mean, he wouldn't have done what
he did if there wasn't somethin'to it.

Jack Godell wasn't that kind of guy.

I didn't know all the particulars.
He told me a few things.

There's gonna be
an investigation this time.

The truth will come out, and people will
know my friend Jack wasn't a lunatic.

He was a hero.

Jack Godell was a hero.

I gotta go.

- We gotta do a wrap.
-Spindler's comments were personal.

Hurry up. Come on. Let's go.
We're on the air live.

Can you give us more background?

He was a close friend ofJack Godell
and obviously very distraught.

Come on, Kimberly.
Hold on.

Come on! Hold on!

- Just a minute.
- Remind Kimberly we're still live.

Let me repeat myself.
Ted Spindler is only an employee.

- He does not speak on behalf--
- Hustle it up. We're on the air.

- Pete, I metJack--
- How many times was he shot?

- We're on the air.
- I metJack Godell two days ago.

I'm convinced that
what happened tonight...

was not the act of a drunk
or a crazy man.

Jack Godell was about
to present evidence...

that he believed would show
that this plant should be shut down.

I'm sorry I'm not very objective.

Let's just hope
it doesn't end here.

This is Kimberly Wells
live at Channel 3.

Just introduce a commercial, Pete.
Go right to commercial.

We'll be back with more on the Ventana
Nuclear Power Plant takeover...

by one of its employees
right after this.

Roll logo. Okay, F-2.

- Incredible.
- She did a hell of a good job.

I must say, I'm not surprised.

A man is dead inside tonight. We're
not exactly sure why or what happened.

The SWATteam appeared on the scene
and went into the control room.

Something took place there
that triggered that action.

Mr. Godell died at the controls
of this atomic plant.

Val Clenard, Channel 7 News.
Good night.

It turns the food
so you don't have to.

It turns the food
so you don't have to.