All language subtitles for Highway.To.Heaven.S05E01.Whose.Trash.Is.It.Anyway.1080p.WEB-DL.AAC2.0.H.264-squalor (1)_track3_[eng]

[music playing]

[music playing]

I still can't
understand why Pete

would want to go into politics.

Maybe he wants to do
something to help his city.

Since when did
a politician want

to help anybody except himself.

I mean, they're all
crooks and liars.

Aw, come on, Mark.

There's a lot of good, honest
people in public office.

Honest?

You can't be honest.

You tell the truth,
you don't get elected.

Well, whose fault is that?

The politician or the
people who vote for him?

Both.

I mean, the people want the
government to be everything

for them, but they won't
elect the guy who says they're

going to have to pay for it.

I mean, we're getting to be
like a bunch of spoiled kids

with bad parents.

Well, do you
mind telling me why

we're going over to your
friend's campaign headquarters

to help him?

Because Pete Nelson
is not a politician.

He's a cop who worked his
way through law school--

thinks he can make a difference.

Man, you look in the dictionary
under the word integrity,

you find Pete's picture there.

Then he's running for
mayor because he wants

to do something for his city.

Isn't that what I just said?

Yeah, one of us said it.

The other one said he doesn't
trust any politicians.

What are you
listening to him for?

[music playing]

I tell, you, he doesn't
even look like a politician.

How would you know what
a politician looks like?

- Hey, Pete!
- Hey!

How are you?

Oh, you always were good
at sneaking up on people.

I know.

Hey, listen, I want you to
meet my friend Jonathan Smith.

Listen, we kind of work
together these days

if that's all right with you.

- Welcome aboard.
- Thank you.

I could use all
the help I can get.

Come on in, I'll
show you around.

Where are you taking us to?

A smoke-filled room?

As a matter of fact, I am,
except nobody smokes anymore.

Ann, look who I found
out in the street.

Mark Gordon!

Oakland's finest!

How are you doing?

Oh, I'm fine.

I'm so glad to see you!

I'd like you to meet my
campaign manager, Phil Schott.

Phil, this is Mark Gordon
and Jonathan Smith--

our new advancement.

We've already
got advancement--

professional advancement.

That's the problem--

you professionals treat me
like I'm running for president.

I can't even go to the bathroom
without a press release.

I've known Mark
Gordon for 20 years.

He's a buddy, not a PR man.

Besides, if anyone can keep
his perspective under fire,

it's Mark Gordon.

That's right.

Perspective doesn't
win elections, Pete.

Money wins elections.

Media exposure wins elections.

Advertising wins elections.

You'll have to forgive Phil.

He doesn't have much
faith in the voter.

I don't have much
faith in anything,

except getting my
candidate up on the podium

with a smile on his face
come election night.

There is only one
rule in politics.

That's to win.

Richard Osbourne knows
that rule, believe me.

Who's Richard Osbourne?

He's the enemy, right, Dad?

Don't tell me this is Jeff!

Well, it had better
be, or I've been feeding

the wrong boy all these years.

This is the guy who threw
the first pass you ever caught,

son.

And now he's All
City tight end, Mark.

You're Mark Gordon?

Yeah, that's right.

Well, I'll be!

You know, the last time I saw
you, you were about this high.

I remember you being
a little bigger, too.

Well, everybody
changes over the years.

Almost everybody.

I can't promise to change
the system overnight,

but I guarantee you that
if I'm elected mayor,

there will be enough
books in the school rooms.

And the kids will be able
to play in their schoolyard

without fear.

That's what the
last mayor said.

Now, what makes you different?

Because the last mayor
didn't make you pay the price.

What price?

Higher taxes.

I won't rule out higher
taxes if necessary.

Look, in Japan, teachers
are in the upper 10%

of the wage scale.

In the United States,
they're in the bottom 10%.

But I'm talking about what you--
what you must pay as parents.

The best teacher in
the world is a parent.

The best crime
prevention I know of

is the example parents give
their children at home.

You believe that, Nelson?

First he won't rule
out higher taxes--

then he wants the people to
solve their own problems.

You see, people want answers.

They don't want lectures.

Yeah, well, whatever
he's saying, it's working.

These overnight
tracking polls still

have him with higher integrity
numbers than you have

and lower negatives.

Well, we'll see what
Pete Nelson's integrity

numbers are after we
nail his father-in-law.

Pratt, how are you
and the US Attorney

doing on the Steelgrave case?

Hmm?

Of course he did
insider training,

and he cheated on his taxes.

Nobody made money
by being honest.

That's what I like.

Yeah.

Don't let anybody know
where you got this idea.

RICHIE OSBOURNE: Dad?

What?

Uh, are we still going
on the game on Saturday?

RICHARD OSBOURNE: What game?

The game between
Taft and Kennedy.

What, you want me to go watch
Nelson's kid beat your school?

Jeff Nelson isn't that good.

We can beat him.

We?
We?

What are you talking about we?

You didn't even make the team.

Sheila, I want to go
over these debate notes.

SHEILA TROY: Oh, good idea.

Look, I think the harder we
hit the drug issue, the better.

I mean, it's headline
stuff every day now.

You can't go wrong.

RICHARD OSBOURNE: Well, I
want to drop that bombshell

on Nelson tonight.

SHEILA TROY: I thought wanted
to save that one for a while.

RICHARD OSBOURNE:
Well, no, I think

it's good timing right now.

Because, look, it got
Ginsburg out in nothing flat.

- How are you doing today?
- Good.

There's some seats
right there for you.

Hi, how are you doing?

Nice to see you here.

Follow these guys here.

Hey, you're, uh, Richie
Osbourne, aren't you?

Yeah, what of it?

Well, I'm Jeff Nelson.

I'm Pete Nelson's son.

Yeah, I know who you are.

Uh, hey, you go
to Taft, don't you?

Yeah.

JEFF NELSON: We play
you guys Saturday.

So what?

That was Jeff
Nelson, wasn't it?

You know it was, Mom.

His picture's only in the
paper every other day.

[inaudible] It's in the news
every day, and both of you

know what I'm talking about.

What are you going to do
about the drug problem

in our city, Mr. Osbourne?

Warren.

As District Attorney of this
city for the last four years,

I prosecuted more drug offenders
than anyone in the whole state.

Now, unlike my opponent,
I wholeheartedly

endorse the new
procedures given to us

by the court and the police
to deal with the scum

who would poison our children.

Zero tolerance.

Searching trash-- hot pursuit--

looking through school lockers.

I mean, finally we're getting
the tools to bring those who

deal with drugs to their knees!

Mr. Nelson?

There is no more pressing
problem in our society

today than drug abuse.

When our children
aren't safe from drugs

even in our elementary
schools, then

it's time for drastic action.

But it's my opinion that action
should center on education

and interdiction, not
the hysterical tramplings

of our constitutional rights
as favored by Mr. Osbourne.

Drug dealers have no rights.

See, that's the kind
of demagogic rhetoric

that confuses the issue.

All American
citizens have rights

until proven guilty of a crime.

That's what this country
has fought 200 years for.

What-- what kind of message
are we sending our young people

when our own
government makes deals

with drug dealers in
foreign governments

while taking away the
constitutional rights

of its own citizens?

That's exactly the kind
of remark I'd expect to hear

from a former drug user.

[commotion from crowd]

How did they get that?

Those are pretty serious
charges, Mr. Osbourne.

I don't make charges
I can't back up.

I, uh--

I believe, uh, Mr. Osbourne is
alluding to period 20 years ago

when I was in college.

If it weren't
for people like you

in the '60s, we wouldn't have
any drug addicts in the '80s!

I admit I smoked marijuana
when I was in Berkeley.

We all do things when we're
young that we aren't proud of.

If we didn't make
mistakes, we'd never learn.

I've tried to teach my own
son about the horror of drugs,

including this nation's most
vicious killer, alcohol.

When you give your body and
your mind over to a chemical,

nothing good can happen.

And I promise you that drug
dealers and drug users will be

prosecuted just as
vigorously under

a Nelson administration as they
would be under my opponent's.

I'd also like to add that
if the DA's office wasn't so

busy rummaging through
people's 20-year-old trash,

they'd know that
I worked for six

years in the Oakland
Police Department

in the Narcotics division.

My office is interested in
truth and justice, not excuses.

And when it comes to
getting tough on crime,

you don't sound very
much like a cop.

So maybe that's why you became
a lawyer, because you were more

interested in
defending the criminals

instead of arresting them.

[applause]

Thank you.

[dog barking]

Good morning.

Oh, good morning, honey.

Mmm.

Your breakfast
is on the table.

Thank you.

Oh.

Ready for the Taft game, son?

I better be.

The city championship's
on the line.

I hope that little dust-up
with Osbourne on the marijuana

issue last night
doesn't get a lot

of tongues wagging at school.

Mostly kids are pretty cool
about things like that, Dad.

Right.

Well, you're still
going to get some slack.

You know that.

I can handle it.

It's not easy being in
the public eye, is it?

Dad!

I said I can handle it.

All right.

Look, I got to go.

I don't want to miss
geography class.

You mean you don't want
to miss, uh, Tracey Clark

before geography class, hmm?

Dad, when you're
right, you're right.

Bye, Mom.

Bye, honey.

[dog barking]

I didn't want
Jeff to see this.

The US Attorney
indicts financier--

Mmm.

Bill Steelgrave was accused of
insider trading and tax fraud.

Steelgrave, father-in-law, of
mayoral candidate Pete Nelson,

will be indicted in
federal court next week.

Oh, God.

Now they're attacking
your father.

Welcome to the wonderful
world of politics.

Thanks.

[hamburgers sizzling]

There you go, Richie.

Just like you like them.

Cut it!

Was that good for you?

All right, that was fine.

Now we're going do
that walking shot.

Come on.

Richie?

Come on, Richie.

Let's move it.

There we go.

All right.

One big happy family.

Shut up.

Stand up straight?

I am.

OK, dolly zoom-- we're
going to keep a tight three.

OK?

We're all set.

OK, now I want you to
start walking toward me.

Big smiles!

That's it.

How can the voters
resist this family?

And cut it!

We'll go one more time.

OK, this time, I don't want you
to follow them the whole way.

Don't pan with them.

Let them walk out.

OK?

Richard, these are the
latest tracking polls.

This is the latest?

Yeah, they're the overnights.

You're still 10
points behind Nelson--

20 points with women.

The only group you're leading
with is white males over 50.

Well, these can't be right.

Because Nelson is an
admitted drug user,

and his father-in-law
is a crook!

Yeah, I can't
figure it either,

but the numbers don't lie.

People must like him.

Or they don't like me.

Look at all these negatives.

They'd like it, Dad, if
you gave them a chance--

if you spent some more time
talking to them like Nelson

does.

What.

Are you a political consultant?

You can't even get into
college, but you know

how to run a campaign, huh?

He was just trying
to help, Richard.

Yeah, well, I
don't want his help.

He can't help himself, so how
can I expect him to help me?

DIRECTOR: Mr. Osbourne,
we're losing the light!

Yeah, we're losing the light.

We're losing the damn election.

Come on, let's get
this over with.

Hey, Richie.

Come on!

Come on, please!

[music playing]

I hate wearing tuxedos.

I feel like a penguin
in a straitjacket.

You mean you feel awkward?

What's funny?

Auk-ward.

Auk-- A-U-K. An auk.

An auk.

It's a-- it's a type a penguin.

It's a joke.

Oh, that's funny.

These just came across the
wire on the city news service.

Look at those numbers.

We've got that weasel
Osbourne by the short hairs.

Uh, you know I don't
trust polls, Phil.

Maybe you don't, but
these folks sure do.

[applause]

May I have your
attention, folks?

May I have your
attention, folks?

I'd like to announce the
results of the latest

mayoralty tracking poll,
taken over the past 24 hours.

Pete Nelson, 53%--

Richard Osbourne 42%--
with 5% undecided.

[applause]

All right, we've got them now!

Hey, don't be so sure.

Remember, Thomas
Dewey would've have

been the 33rd president
the United States

if candidates were
elected by polls.

Oh, come on, Jonathan.

Don't be such a killjoy.

I'll tell you what--

you don't remind
me of Thomas Dewey,

and I won't remind you
of your awkward joke.

Hmm?

Now, as I told you at
the start of the evening,

we're going to keep
the speeches brief.

[applause]

And to lead off the evening I'd
like to introduce a young man

who I am sure knows Pete Nelson
better than any other man

in this room.

He's a well known
gentleman in his own right.

He's an honors student, an
All City tight end, and a son

to make any father proud--

Jeff Nelson.

[applause]

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

You know, when my father
asked me to introduce him

here this evening, I was, uh--

well, I was very proud,
because, well, it gives me

a chance to be his son.

You know, when I was younger,
my father worked as a policeman.

And at night, he'd go
to school to study law.

Now, that's not an easy task.

You know, but somehow he always
found time for his family.

For mom and for me.

Oh, he coached me in tee
ball and then Pop Warner.

He loved sports, but
he always made sure I

kept them in perspective.

He made sure my
education came first.

He taught me to
love reading, and he

showed me how hard work can
give a person a sense of pride.

He taught me how to be a man.

Aw, he was rough on me
when he had to-- trust me.

[laughter]

He doesn't abide telling lies.

Now, mistakes he can understand,
but lies, he won't put up with.

But I'll tell you one thing--

he was always gentle
with me when I was hurt.

I know this kind of thing
embarrasses you, Dad,

but it's your fault for
asking me to introduce you.

[laughter]

Ladies and gentlemen, I
give you the next mayor

and the best father any
kid could ever have--

Pete Nelson.

[applause]

[music playing]

[music playing]

Jeff.

Hey, morning, Mr. Lee.

I received a disturbing
phone call this morning.

A boy who said he was a
student here at Kennedy

but who wouldn't
give me his name

told me you were selling
marijuana here at school.

What?

I'm afraid I'm going to have
to search your locker, Jeff.

You're going to
search my locker because

of some anonymous phone call?

That's right, son.

I'm sorry.

I'll open it for you.

[ominous music]

You know, I--

I know as a parent the pride
a father has in his children.

I mean, my-- my own son, Richie,
is a senior in high school

like Jeff Nelson.

My first reaction was, there
but for the grace of God go I.

Come on, Jon.

Turn the television off!

I don't want to
watch this hypocrite!

RICHARD OSBOURNE: I
also know as a parent

he has to talk to them.

He has to try to
understand them.

I ask for one favor--
one lousy favor!

Turn off the television!

Mark, you were closer
to the set than I was.

This lousy motel doesn't
have remote control!

You do!

I'm sorry, Jon.

This whole thing with Pete
and Jeff and the campaign.

I mean, Pete would
make a great mayor!

And I know Jeff wasn't
selling drugs in his school.

I mean, that kid doesn't
touch anything stronger

than wheat germ.

Well, you're right about that.

It wasn't his.

I mean, all you got
to do was look at him.

It wasn't?

No.

You know that for a fact?

Of course you know
that for a fact.

Well, who was it?

Who planted the stuff?

It was Osbourne, wasn't it?

I can't tell you
what it was, Mark.

What do you mean
you can't tell me!

You don't tell me, then
Pete loses the election,

not to mention what's
going to happen to Jeff!

Mark, I can't tell you who
it was, because I don't know.

And even if I did know,
we couldn't prove it.

The kid's innocent.

He's being crucified!

We've got to do something.

Now, it was Osbourne.

You know it was
Osbourne, and I know it.

Now, I am going to do
something to prove that.

[music playing]

There is no way we can
keep our heads in the sand

any longer.

Working mothers make up more
and more of today's workforce,

yet our city has only three
daycare centers in operation.

That's not only bad
government-- it's bad politics.

[horn honking]

Pete!
Pete!

Excuse me.

Oh.

What is it?

Daddy's in the hospital.

It's his heart again.

Jeff went straight over there.

Can you come now?

I'm sorry!
Something's come up.

Family matter.

I have to go to the hospital.

[music playing]

Now, you get that
look off your face.

It'll take more than a little
complication with the ticker

for me to cash in my chips.

You had us worried, Bill.

Well, stop worrying.

I'm not going to kick off
until my name is cleared.

I'm not paying those
lawyers all of that money

just to miss my day in court.

You wouldn't be in
court if it wasn't for me.

Dad, Pete's thinking
about giving up the race.

What?

Is that true?

We've talked about it.

The last couple of days
have been rough on everyone.

Rough?

Maybe.

Nobody ever said
politics was easy.

I remember once
reading about a--

an English MP.

His name was Burke--

Edmund Burke.

Grandpa.

Edmund Burke was Irish, and
he lived in the 17th century.

Irish, of course.

I'm glad to see that our
schools are teaching something

other than computer ping pong.

[laughter]

Anyway, this-- this Burke
was a member of one of the most

corrupt British parliaments.

So bad that many of
the best men would have

nothing to do with politics.

And one day his countrymen
were complaining

to him about the sorry
state of the parliament

and how the king was driving
their country to ruin.

Now, old Burke fixed these folks
with a hard stare and said,

for evil to triumph,
good men must do nothing.

Seems to me those words mean
as much today as they did then.

What do you think?

Maybe even more.

[music playing]

What are you doing?

Uh, nothing.

[inaudible],,
what are you doing?

Look, I'm not doing anything.

Why don't you go ride your bike?

I know what you're doing.

You're looking for food.

Yeah, right.

You're a bum, aren't you?

No, I am not a bum.

Now, why don't you go
ride your trike, huh?

CHILD: If you're not a bum, then
why are you looking for food?

Look, I am not looking for
food, and I am not a bum.

All right, all right!

You look like a bum.

Excuse me.

I'm looking for
some rolling papers.

A friend of mine said
I could buy them here.

Sure, you can buy them here.

How many you want?

Oh, one'll be fine.

I'll also need some tobacco.

Oh, we only sell pipe tobacco.

You sell cigarette
rolling papers,

but you don't sell
cigarette tobacco?

Right.

There's no law against it.

All the stores do it.

Everybody knows what
the papers are for.

It'll be, uh, $0.66.

You sell a lot of these?

Look, what's
your game, mister?

Are you some kind of cop?

Actually, I'm a
private investigator.

You're a PI?

Yeah.

I need some information
on this market sales slip.

That's from two days ago.

I know.

We got a magazine--
a bag of potato chips--

pack of the cigarette papers.

Hey, cigarette papers--
this guy smokes doobie, too.

Hmm.

That says charge
there on the slip,

but it doesn't say
who charged it.

Well, I wasn't
here two days ago,

but I'd be easy to find out.

All our charge customers
have these numbers.

All I'd have to do
would be to, uh,

look it up and tell you this
customer's name is Osbourne.

[music playing]

4419 Loma Linda Drive.

Thanks.

Uh, hey, mister.

Uh, you forgot to
pay for the papers.

I don't smoke.

[music playing]

This slip proves that somebody
in the Osbourne family--

probably Richie-- bought a pack
of cigarette rolling papers

the day before Jeff was framed.

Where did you get
this slip, Mark?

Where did you get it?

The Osbourne trash.

Listen, I had a
hunch about Osbourne.

The only way I could prove it
was to go through his trash.

With Osbourne's account number
on that slip, all we have to do

is point the reporters
in the right direction.

They'll find enough witnesses.

Are you sure, Mark,
this is Osbournes?

Listen, the clerk wouldn't
lie-- not for 40 bucks.

You mean you bribed
someone for this information?

Give him a break, Pete!

He saved your kid's reputation,
not to mention the election.

What more do you want?

I can't wait to see the
look on Osbourne's face

when he finds out we
searched his trash.

Hoisted on his own petard.

I just can't believe Osbourne
would do something like this.

We have to give him
a chance to explain.

Explain?

His kid didn't think this
scheme up on his own.

I don't have to tell you, Pete,
if Osbourne had this on you,

he'd go straight to the press.

And I don't have to tell
you I'm not Richard Osbourne.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Sheila, you know, that's
a swing of over 20 points.

Hmm?

No, no.

I-- no, I'll play it very
low-key at the debate tonight.

Yes.

One father understanding
the pain of another.

Hmm?

Don't worry.

You know, I didn't just
come down on a load of hay.

Sheila, we're in.

You know that?

I'll see you tonight.

We are ready, and
the car's ready.

Oh.

That was Sheila.

I was just got the results
of the latest poll.

Nelson is down by
10, and I'm up by 11.

So what do you think
of that, Mrs. Mayor?

It's wonderful.

That Nelson kid--

I'd kiss him.

That big speech he
made about his old man.

Well, he buried him.

I can't wait to get to
that debate tonight.

And you, you got to
stand up straight.

You got to watch your posture.

You're going to be the
son of the next mayor.

Let's go!

Of course he's going to win!

You've seen the polls.

No.

No, we won't forget.

I will.

I'll tell him.

OK.

Bye.

[knocking]

Richie, get that, please.

Richie, I'd like to have
a word with your father

if I could.

You work for
Nelson, don't you?

What do you want?

Yeah.

My name's Jonathan Smith.

Mr. Nelson asked me
to come over and try

to arrange a meeting
with him tonight--

a private meeting
before the debate.

He wants to see me now?

What about?

He's dropping out, right?

All I know is it's
a private matter.

Well, anything that he
wants to say in front of me,

he can say in
front of my family.

So if he's so anxious
to see me, you

tell him to come here himself.

I'll tell him.

It's over.

I guarantee it.

He knows it.

He knows it.

He just wants to
avoid that debate.

'Cause he knows
it's a done deal.

Sheila, chill up the champagne.

[knocking]

Come on in.

Hi, Pete.

What's on your mind?

This isn't easy
for me, Richard.

Well, I'm sure it's not.

My campaign has found evidence
that leads us to conclude

that your son, Richie,
planted the marijuana

and papers in Jeff's locker.

Boy, I know you're
desperate, but that's absurd.

This is a photocopy
of a market receipt

charged to your account.

One of the items is a pack of
cigarette papers like those

found in Jeff's locker.

What do you mean a photocopy?

How'd you get my market receipt?

I'm afraid you can
blame me for that.

I went through your trash.

You had your people
go into my trash?

You?

The protector of
the Constitution?

You know, I should
sue you for slander.

You know, accusing
me and my family

for setting up your
drugged out kid.

Why don't you ask your son
if he bought those papers?

I don't have to.

Richie?

That clerk will be able
to identify you, son.

There's no use lying about it.

Richie?

Richie?

It's true.

I planted the stuff.

I'll be happy to let
you speak first, Richard,

if you want to clear the air.

But I have to warn
you, if you don't

say anything about
this matter, I'll

be forced to talk about it--

not to hurt Richie but to
redeem my own son's name.

I swear I didn't know
anything about this, Pete.

Yeah.

I believe you.

Well, what we need now is
some serious damage control.

No, Sheila, what
we need now is

for our family to talk alone.

We have a debate
starting in a few--

Get out!

You know what you've done?

Hmm?

Do you?

Do you know what you've done?

- I'm sorry.
- He's sorry.

You hear that, Liz?

He's sorry.

He's cost me the election!

Why did you do it, Richie?

Why did he do it?

Because he's stupid!

That's why!
It doesn't make any difference.

What the hell?
It's over.

Let him answer!

Why, Richie?

I wanted to do
something to help Dad.

Help me?
Oh!

[scoffs] Help me.

Let him finish.

[music playing]

You're always making such
a big deal over Nelson's kid.

I knew you wished you
had a son like that.

And I hated him, 'cause I knew.

So I did it.

So you'd win and wouldn't
want to have a son like him.

I love you, Dad.

I'm sorry.

Please forgive me.

No, get away from me.

Richie!

Richie!

Even now with your
own son begging

for your love and mercy, you
can't stop being the candidate!

The hell with your son!

The election's the
important thing!

What he did was wrong.

It was stupid!

Now, are you trying
to justify it?

What Richie did,
he did out of pain!

Out of hurt!

He was desperate, and he
tried to help his father

the only way he knew how.

Political hardball is
what you'd call it.

Negative campaigning taken
to its logical conclusion

by a 17-year-old boy.

You seeded an investigation
of Nelson's father-in-law--

Richie plants seeds
on Nelson's son!

There is a difference, Liz!

Ugh.

Maybe in degree-- not in kind!

This conversation
is getting us nowhere.

I've got 5 minutes to try to
salvage a political career.

Your career.

Always your career!

For 20 years, I have listened to
you moralizing and speechifying

about justice and truth!

You know, the funny
part is a part

of me really believed that.

You know, I should have known
why all those years you never

had any time for your son.

He wasn't old enough to vote.

[music playing]

Welcome to the final
League of Women Voters debate

for this year's mayoral race.

Now by mutual agreement, Richard
Osbourne will be speaking

first and then Pete Nelson.

Ladies and gentlemen, district
attorney Richard Osbourne.

[applause]

Warren.

Uh, ladies and gentlemen,
uh, before I make

my introductory remarks,
I would like to, uh, relay

some information that
I received shortly

before I came on stage tonight.

Uh, I'm sure you're
all aware of the fact

that my opponent's
son was suspended

from school last week.

Marijuana was found
in his locker.

I have, uh, just been
told by my son, Richie,

that Jeff Nelson was the
victim of a cruel prank.

A prank that I sadly report
was perpetrated by my son.

[commotion from crowd]

Now, I would like to
take this opportunity

to apologize to my friend
Pete, to his lovely wife, Ann,

and to his son.

I knew nothing of
Richie's action.

And as difficult
as it is for me,

uh, I would just like to
say I take heart in the fact

that when we make a mistake,
we can learn from it.

I know that Richie has already
learned a great deal, uh,

from his error in judgment--

an error of a son trying to
help his father win an election.

But I know that I've
learned a great deal.

I've learned that a fa-- that
a father can only do his best.

That both of us-- both
parent and child--

must assume responsibility
for our deeds.

Now, I will stand by
Richie as I've always done.

But I, uh, will not shield
him from his guilt--

a guilt that is his alone.

You're the DA!

Why don't you prosecute him?

Think how good that
would look in the press.

DA shows no favoritism--
convicts own son.

Should be worth 10 points
in the election polls.

[commotion from crowd]

Obviously, my wife is very
distraught by this affair.

I'm sure you understand that.

Ladies and
gentlemen, Pete Nelson.

[applause]

Before I came here tonight,
I had a speech all prepared.

It was about the
future of our city

and my role in that future.

But then listening to
Richard, I begin to wonder

if the important thing
about this election--

indeed, all elections--

isn't what the politician
can do for the citizen

but what the citizen should do
for himself and his community.

Traveling our city
the past few months,

I haven't seen a lot of hope.

I've seen fear.

I've seen cynicism,
and I've seen apathy.

People ask why our country has
lost its competitive edge--

why its citizens have
lost their pride.

Well, it's because politicians
like myself ask for your vote

by telling you that
everything will be all right!

By giving you the good
news but not the bad!

By placating you, the
voter, not challenging you.

Every day I'm flooded with
polling information telling

me what to do to
boost my numbers

with Black women or white men.

That's my son-in-law.

Everything about
politics today

is to appease and appeal to
the various voting groups--

tell them what
they want to hear,

not what they need to hear.

Give it to us, Pete!

If this country is about
freedom and equality,

why do we have Black
polls and white polls

and women's polls and age
polls and income polls?

What's he doing?

He's being a leader
instead of a politician.

PETE NELSON: Is that
how you bring people

together-- by separating them?

Well, I don't think so!

But campaign managers tell you
that you need the information

in order to know
what promises to make

the different voting groups.

And that's how you win.

And winning is everything!

Oh, and don't worry
about those promises

once you're elected, because
you don't have to keep them.

People are so used
to broken promises,

they don't care anymore!

Politics has become a game
packaged by Madison Avenue.

You want to appeal to men, they
film you throwing a football.

You want to appeal to
women, you kiss the babies.

And whatever you
do, don't sweat,

'cause sweating is the kiss
of death on television!

Well, I'm here to
warn you that if I

am elected mayor of this
city, I am going to sweat.

Because it's a tough job!

And you're going to
have to sweat, too.

Because having a city that you
can be proud of is a tough job!

And in order to
get that job done,

we're going to have to
work together as a team

and stop thinking
about ourselves!

I dream of a city
with pride where

people care about
each other, not just

with words but with actions.

We have to help the poor.

We have to educate our children.

We have to clean
up our environment!

And we have to make our streets
safe again for all our people!

But I can't promise
you all those things,

although my campaign
manager would like me to.

Because it's not up to me--

it's up to us!

This is our city!

This is our country!

And what happens to
it is up to all of us!

[applause]

Heck of a speech he
made tonight, wasn't it?

It sure was.

Think it could ever happen?

What?

You know, like he was saying--

people working together,
helping each other

to make this city-- this country
the kind of place it should be.

You think that could ever be?

I don't know.

It's like Pete said.

It's up to all of us.

[dance music]

Hey!

What are you doing throwing
your trash in the street?

Big deal!

What do you care?

I care about you
trashing up this city!

That's we got street
cleaners for, stupid.

[MUSIC - "AMERICA THE
BEAUTIFUL"]

(SINGING) America,
America, God shed his grace

on thee and crowned thy
good with brotherhood

from sea to shining sea.

[music playing]