Shot in the Dark (2017) s01e05 Episode Script
String or Die
[Howard.]
We're out here documenting a war.
[tires screeching and sirens wailing.]
[indistinct chattering over radio.]
[Zak.]
You don't realize the danger until it's done.
[Austin.]
What we see in a week, most people do not see in an entire lifetime.
My objective every night is to go out with my team and make sure we're covering things accurately.
[Scott.]
This is my living.
I'm 100 percent reliant on news to be on TV to eat, to make rent, to have cool shit.
[Zak.]
It's more about, is my moral compass centered? And making sure that you're focused on that incident and that story and those victims.
[Scott.]
Even after all these years, it's still the same thing.
Get the hits, own the night.
I don't pretend that I'm doing something else.
I shoot what sells.
I tell myself I'm a pro cameraman, and this is my job.
Do your job.
Do your job.
[man 1 over radio.]
Shots fired at 74th and Crenshaw.
[man 2 over radio.]
I think it's a male Hold on.
Sixty years old.
Not conscious.
- He's not breathing - Damn it.
Fuck.
It's gonna be a really good call.
[woman over radio.]
74th and Crenshaw.
74th and Crenshaw.
[Zak.]
Oh, fuck.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
Control 455, it's gonna be en route to 74th and Crenshaw in an ambulance.
Shooting.
One victim, male, not breathing.
Every red light tonight, man.
What's going on? [indistinct chattering over radio.]
Police department asking for an RA, which is an ambulance.
Good news.
[Zak.]
Jesus Christ, they're still asking for the ambulance.
This guy is bleeding to death.
[woman over radio.]
Three supervisors are en route.
Jesus.
A dude just sitting there by himself it sounds like.
[tires squeal.]
[grumbles.]
Fucking dick.
[woman over radio.]
Highway 39 and 18, plus three supervisors.
- Three supervisors are en route.
- Three supervisors.
That means we have a homicide.
It's right there.
Where are you going? You're fucking up.
[laughs.]
The cop's messing up.
The problem we have is we are behind the tape.
[Zak.]
We've got crime scene tape, but There's room for us.
[siren wailing.]
He's looking for casings now.
It's only 10:45.
This isn't that late.
This isn't the 2-in-the-morning liquor-store shooting.
Did you see what happened? How many shots were fired? - [man.]
It was about five.
- Five shots? - And he's hanging out outside of the - [man.]
Yeah, there Yeah, it's between the Bloods and the Crips right here in this area, so it's kind of hot, but he doesn't gangbang.
[Zak.]
Got you.
Thank you.
Great, Scott's here.
Usually, our clients don't buy gang shootings, because people don't care.
It's the stringer's dilemma, but there's more to this one.
The victim was not in a gang.
That's the key.
He's a gang member, it's kiboshed.
I don't think Scott got that info.
[Scott.]
I don't know if it has anything to do with the store, but it did happen in front of it.
I don't consider myself a journalist.
I know how to shoot.
I'm a stringer.
Most stringers wanted to be a firefighter, wanted to be a soldier, wanted to be a police officer.
And it doesn't work out, so they become a stringer.
I wanted to be none of those.
I just wanted to play with cameras.
I took the job from a job to a career, and once it's a career, I took it serious.
Seventeen years later? Still doing it.
I'm coming up on my anniversary.
[officer.]
Thank you.
[woman.]
He shot him.
He shot him.
Fucking goddamn it! [woman crying.]
He shot him.
He shot him.
Fucking goddamn it! [Scott.]
Vice has recently contacted me, um, for some of my footage.
It relates to post-traumatic stress syndrome in the 'hood, with police officers and with people that live in it.
PTSD isn't just for, you know, people in war.
It happens around here, which is understandable.
That's just an everyday life.
It's fucking crazy, dude.
Crazy.
[Zak.]
Hey, so, our victim was either shot leaving or walking to the liquor store here.
Call the stations and let them know what's going on.
- Damn it, Scott.
Getting right in my shot.
- [Scott.]
I walked in front on purpose.
I never walk in front of shots, but I did, I saw him on the phone.
He's trying to do this as breaking news.
Like, "Fuck that.
" [Zak.]
He's like a lunatic.
It's like, take a breath, everything's gonna be okay.
I promise.
There's no desire to focus on the story.
It's just, "I want that shot.
" That's a news helicopter.
That would've never shown up if Zak didn't call stations.
He tried to get this out as breaking news, and because of that, he told stations.
So, now, the helicopters can shoot it and it's not news in the morning.
But, I mean, he's the big boss.
Just ask him.
I don't even think you need to ask him.
He'll just tell you.
He just screwed us both, pretty much is what he just did.
I would've shot it, not said a word until after midnight.
I wanna see what news chopper that is.
Sometimes it doesn't matter about the hits.
Understanding there's something bigger here than just us and what we're doing.
What I'm doing is more important than making money.
[indistinct chattering over radio.]
[Victor.]
David 17, White 90.
[Todd.]
There you are.
What? Hey, you might have a water main break, 400 block of South Kenmore Avenue.
Copy.
Okay, Vic.
Thank you.
During the drought, news We'd put our broken water mains up, 'cause it's a huge waste of water.
Depending on how big it is, there's a lot of angles, fun to shoot.
We're close, so I thought we'd go check it out.
[man over radio.]
Howard.
Torrance is talking about a pursuit.
[Howard.]
Yeah.
Thank you.
Could've been a pursuit already started, then he hit somebody at 190th and Western.
[indistinct chattering over radio.]
Car's on fire at Western, half a mile.
It'll be off the freeway at 190th.
We're gonna get this.
We need the car on fire.
[man over radio.]
Western is shut down.
[Scott.]
Fuck.
I better take the surface streets.
[Howard.]
Don't tell me the fucking ramp's closed.
Oh, son of a bitch.
Fucking Western is closed.
[horn honking.]
Fucking wankers.
Of all the ramps to be shut down, it has to be the one I need to get a fucking car on fire.
That's just cost me a shitload of money.
[Scott.]
Oh, there it is.
Ciao, buddy.
Come on, come on.
Dude, move.
Dude, yeah, go.
I'll park right here.
[siren wailing.]
I know there was a pursuit, two cars crashed.
Whether I missed the fire or not, I'll still work it accordingly.
So far, no competition.
Oh, the car is still smoking up.
[Todd.]
Let's play in the water.
[siren wailing.]
I haven't seen this in a while.
It's a good one.
It's gushing pretty good.
It ruined two cars, there's a lot of broken windows, broken windshield, sunroof.
It's kicking rocks up everywhere.
Sir.
- That's a stop sign.
We'll cordon it off.
- Yeah.
[Todd.]
It's a good one.
The news will be interested in this.
I can get three or four hits for this.
Nineties, 97, 98th, flooding.
That was a good one, man.
Copy.
I'm en route to Gower and Franklin for a garbage fire.
[indistinct chattering over radio.]
You've been chasing those garbage fires all night.
It's crazy.
I was just saying earlier, there's been so many.
Almost ten in the last couple of hours.
Kind of strange, but they're so spread apart, I have no suspicion.
[Todd laughs.]
Yeah, you might catch that infamous garbage arsonist of Los Angeles.
[laughing.]
[Howard.]
Car on fire at the end of a pursuit.
No flames, but I've got good smoke.
Scott.
He's over there.
I'm gonna go to the other side.
Fuck.
He's a force to be reckoned with.
He's an arrogant asshole, but he's a good shooter.
I would've had that on fire.
I've got the fire department putting water on it.
That's a good shot.
It looks really nice.
That thing's destroyed.
[Scott.]
Right there? It's our suspect.
He was just given a breathalyzer.
I think he lost it.
You get it on fire? [Scott.]
He wanted to know if I got it on fire, which is one of two things.
One, he was showing off that he got it on fire, or two, he was asking if I got it on fire because he didn't.
I mean, this is the shot they want.
Look at how colorful and nice that is.
It's not on fire, which is a shame, but from where Scott was, he's over here.
He didn't see this guy.
But he'll package a whole bunch of shit, but I will send it out.
If we're lucky, we'll both get hits.
[newscaster over TV.]
A police pursuit in Torrance ended in a violent crash that sent two people to the hospital.
The pursuit started after 11 last night after the male suspect was spotted driving recklessly through a red light.
Moments later, the suspect crashed into another car at Western and 190th Street.
Suspect was arrested and both drivers taken to hospital.
No word on conditions.
The intersection's shut down as police investigate.
[Howard.]
I'm one team member down, trying to run down every story, because Zak and Scott have guys out there all the time, so it's Mark and I trying to cover, you know, the size of LA County.
And the station's told me that LoudLabs are doing seven stories for the price of one last night.
Packaging a story is Say I shoot three stories in a night.
I'd give all stories to the stations for the price of one story.
Maybe I've shot three weaker stories, or I needed to package them because someone else has got better stuff on a bigger story.
The only people that really make any benefits from that are the stations.
No one's making any more money.
Because we're a smaller operation, how are we meant to compete? You know, it's definitely, uh Yeah, the industry is definitely struggling, struggling for us.
We're being squeezed out, and it's annoying as fuck.
There's a point where you gotta say no.
- [Zak.]
Yes, hello? Zak speaking.
- Hey, Zak.
How are you? [woman over radio.]
There are over ten males driving the vehicle.
41, be advised, FD are staging at Pico and Grand.
It happened at 12th and Hope, and he drove to 12th and Grand.
Or Pico and Grand.
Because they're having a Damn, dude.
See that? Just fell off someone's car.
[chuckles.]
I saw it come flying by, it just fell off someone's car.
All right.
[phone line ringing.]
Hello? My name's Scott.
I found this phone on the ground.
Yeah, do you know where McDonald's is? On Figueroa near USC? I'll meet you there.
All right.
Bye.
[indistinct chattering over radio.]
Karma definitely exists.
Don't mess with karma.
I can use my powers for good instead of my powers for evil.
[cell phone rings.]
Hello? Hi.
You're right there with the lights? Cool.
All right.
- Were you hanging out over there? Yeah? - Yeah.
- Because What's up? - Thank you.
I was parked at the light and all of a sudden, I just see something on the ground rolling to me and then I saw three cars go by, so it had to have been on a car and then fell off.
That's weird, but at least you got it back.
- I appreciate it.
- I like your hat.
[Scott chuckles.]
This is my baby hat.
I was like, "I think I'm gonna rock this shit today.
" So, I just put it on.
[giggles.]
- [man.]
He's a lone wolf.
- Smell like they took a safety meeting.
[Zak.]
What's going on? Um, I gotta be honest, I don't know what to do.
I'm stuck.
Um, packaging is not only fucking me, it's fucking the industry and I don't know if you're packaging because LoudLabs is packaging.
Giving stuff away leaves us in a really bad position.
I couldn't agree more.
It's probably, like, the worst idea ever.
It's a race to the bottom.
It doesn't help anybody.
My concern is the stations are gonna be so used to it, they'll expect it.
But if we all agree not to package, - they won't have a choice.
- I'm on board.
Whenever you wanna start doing that, I'm right there.
Now, trying to get LoudLabs to stop, he might say, "Fuck you.
" It's not his problem.
It's our problem.
- And - But you have a better shot than anybody.
- I'll speak to him, see what I can do.
- Way better shot.
[Scott.]
I'm good at predicting the future.
[chuckles.]
I don't believe in psychic stuff.
I don't care what year you were born.
None of that means anything to me.
But I kind of have I got a little something.
I'm in tune with things.
When I first started, I was predicting my stories.
The word was, don't hang out with me, bad shit happens near me, because I'd go out, I'd come out at 10:00.
"I'm gonna get a fire.
" And I'd get a fire.
Next day, "I'll get a crash.
" I'd get a crash.
It got to the point where it wasn't fun anymore.
I'm probably gonna get a car crash.
[chuckles.]
[indistinct chattering over radio.]
Stalled vehicle, stalled vehicle.
This is what we do, man.
So fucking dangerous right now.
So fucking dangerous.
There's no shoulder.
They're straight in the fast lane.
There's no shoulder.
I can turn my lights on, but then people look here, not there, and they might hit that.
Whoa! So, the best thing to do is stay out of the way.
Stay small, stay hidden.
Dude, you should not be there.
See them? They need to be in front of the other car.
'Cause they're flying.
They're flying, man.
Dude, where is CHP? Come on, man, where are you guys at? Like, this guy is going way too fucking fast.
[tires squeal.]
Fuck! [horns blaring.]
Fuck me, dude.
[Anthony over radio.]
Twenty-four is behind the vehicle.
It's riding on its rims in the slow lane at, like, 20 miles an hour.
This car is either gonna wreck or catch on fire soon.
[Zak.]
Is this CHP? I'm eastbound 210.
One of my photographers is on the radio with me.
He's at Vernon behind a vehicle that was rolling with the wheels flat, and the vehicle is now catching on fire with people inside is what he's reporting.
Cool, thank you.
Roger, we got CHP en route, and I'll shut down the freeway for you.
I need to grab a bunch of cars.
Roger, 10-22 to break.
I'll be Code 6 in a minute.
They're all slowing down behind us.
If the vehicle's on fire with people in the car with my guys out in the freeway, I'll shut it down.
I hope CHP is already rolling up.
A couple of brake lights here.
Just gonna put on my vest.
[siren wailing.]
Anthony is back there.
He's doing his job.
We show up really early on a lot of things.
Sometimes you get there before the fire department.
Your job is don't get involved unless your inaction leads to someone's death.
[tire explodes.]
Watch that tire.
Tires are gonna pop.
It gets me every time.
[laughs.]
[tire explodes.]
[Scott.]
I do not wanna watch people die tonight.
Fuck, man.
What are you doing? Not good.
Oh, shit.
Oh, here we go.
[tires squeal.]
Oh-ho-ho! Fucking heart is racing.
Fuck! [sirens wailing.]
There's CHP.
Wow.
They're there.
Let's go.
Whew, that was close.
All right.
Red 5's back in the vehicle.
I almost got a live-action crash.
5 Calzona in the East LA interchange.
I almost watched people die.
Like, you want it, but then you don't.
I wanna watch cars crash.
It's what I do, but I don't wanna watch anybody die.
There's some Definitely some moral issues going on there, but I can't be a part of this.
Don't become the story.
Number one rule of stringing, don't become the story.
[siren wailing.]
[horns honking.]
[Zak.]
Anthony comes up on the radio.
He's got a vehicle that he's behind catching on fire.
At that point, my job isn't to get there and film things.
It's to get there and make sure things are being taken care of.
Stop.
[laughing.]
Stop.
Be good.
Be good.
- [fireman.]
Where are you from? - [Zak.]
OnScene TV.
I'll give you a card.
- Racing out, getting footage? - That's the ones.
The good ones, though.
The good ones, not the jerks.
[laughs.]
The ones who help before we pull the cameras out.
We've got Scott and his team and Howard and his team, and we do things differently, because we are different organizations.
I'd rather have my guys and myself doing the right thing than, like, "Oh, we'll film what's going on.
" It comes down to, how do you live with yourself? How do you go to bed at night at the end of the day and say, "I did everything in my power to do the right thing"? - Okay.
Thanks.
- Hey, cap.
Here's my card.
- We're all with OnScene TV - I know.
I've dealt with you guys before.
Awesome.
If you need a copy, send me an e-mail.
- Speak to these guys.
They're new.
- Awesome.
They'll love to see it.
- Thanks, guys.
Thanks again.
- Good to meet you, sir.
[Zak.]
See you, guys.
[phone line ringing.]
Hey, what's up? What am I missing? [chuckles.]
Hey, how are you? I'm good.
How are you? Let me get out.
It's loud.
[Howard.]
Not too bad.
Not too bad.
Um Quick question.
Last night, I heard you did an eight-for-one, is that right? No.
I did not do an eight-for-one.
That's false information.
Um, I did a nine-for-one.
- A nine-for-one? - I don't decide whether I package or not.
You guys do.
I'll stop packaging if you stop showing up to the stories.
[laughing.]
I know.
It's all fun and games.
Look at it from my point of view.
The only people that win in this situation, as far as I'm concerned, is the stations.
I've spoken to Zak already.
He would say he would stop packaging if you stop packaging.
You believed him? I kind of did.
Is that something you would consider stopping? I can tell you that I'm gonna think about it, but I'd be lying to you.
All right.
Have a good one.
Bye.
[sighs.]
He's just annoying.
Oh, well.
Well, I tried.
[indistinct chattering over radio.]
Honestly, I don't really know what I was expecting to get out of it.
Maybe some kind of truce on the packaging front.
Ain't gonna happen.
[man over radio.]
I just had a trapped vehicle with two people trapped.
[Howard.]
No way.
Shit.
Yeah.
Right.
Thank you.
Two upside-down vehicles and two people trapped at the end of a chase.
Stole a Mustang, crashed into a police car.
This is the Story of the Night.
[indistinct chattering over radio.]
[Howard.]
Eighteen minutes away.
It's just off of the 105.
Four o'clock deadline.
I'm really pushing my luck.
[siren wailing.]
Move! Right.
Here we go.
Let's see how close we can get.
We need to get in there.
There's two cars upside down.
Somebody's trapped in one of them.
There's a light pole down.
Live wires.
I need to get to the other side.
Is this your house? Can you see from the other side? [man.]
Yeah.
If you wanna come over.
[Howard.]
I'd love to take a look if I can.
Oh, yeah.
That's - You know your neighbors? - [man.]
Yeah.
[Howard.]
You think they'd let me in to film? [man.]
I don't know.
Do you have their phone number? Can we call? [man.]
Uh, my wife does.
If I can get a shot through their window, it'd be perfect.
You gotta work this shit.
Come on, man.
[car horn honking.]
She said that she will be able to open the back door, but - Would you be able to come through? - Yeah.
We can.
- Yeah? - Yeah.
Now, I'm extremely competitive in everything I do.
Whether it's against OnScene or LoudLabs I just have this complete drive and passion to beat these other guys.
I appreciate your help.
I do.
[Scott.]
A white tow truck pulled up to the ATM and was last seen driving away with the door dragging behind it.
Suspect's gone in his white tow truck.
Think they took the whole front of the building off.
[chuckles.]
- [officer.]
We'd like to ask a favor.
- [Scott.]
What's up? [officer.]
Since we have a bunch of evidence and stuff all over [Scott.]
Yeah.
That's why we stayed out of that way.
We found some, like, on the other end.
So, we'll shut down this parking lot.
If you guys wanna go out the main street area, that's fine.
- [Scott.]
Oh, killing me softly.
- [officer.]
Thank you.
[Scott.]
This story is gonna make hits because it's different.
It's visual.
Never seen anything like it.
And it has an aspect that everybody relates to.
Who doesn't use an ATM? So, it's a good story.
[newscaster over TV.]
Police are investigating a brazen break-in at a Chase Bank in South Bay.
Officers say a white tow truck took out the entire storefront of the bank while trying to steal an ATM.
It happened at 2 in the morning at the Plaza El Segundo location at Sepulveda.
Now, it appears the thieves were unsuccessful in snatching that ATM, but they did manage to take the front of the store with them, dropping pieces of the front doors across the parking lot as they took off.
[Howard.]
Thank you.
They're gonna laugh when they see me.
[chuckles.]
Am I able to shoot? Is there a front door? Can I? They won't let us open it because there's an electric cable on the floor.
Uh-huh.
[girl.]
Okay.
That's funny.
It's crazy.
[girl.]
Are they, like, recording? - Make sure you get my good side.
- Absolutely.
Man, that is one hell of a crash.
[men chattering.]
- [Howard.]
See other camera guys? - [man.]
No.
- Good.
Don't let them in.
- [man.]
Only you guys [man laughs.]
That's the Story of the Night, and that's made everything worth it now.
I usually get luck.
In the last week, I've been shafted by everything coming my way.
It hasn't happened.
I got stories late.
I got the stories after OnScene and LoudLabs, but tonight, it has turned around for me.
I worked the story.
To sweet-talk somebody to get into their house and knowing the cops can't do anything about it.
And I've also found footage from a guy who actually saw the crash.
I think tonight is ours.
Who needs Austin? [phone line ringing.]
- [man.]
Good morning.
Summer desk.
- Hey, it's Howard with RMG.
[man.]
Hey, how are you? [Howard.]
Good, thanks.
I got a Buena Park pursuit that ended in a double rollover.
[man.]
Yeah.
I saw that.
I got that.
I also got cell phone footage of the crash.
- It's not great.
- Okay.
Um, but it's worth taking a look at.
- Thanks so much.
- Bye.
A wild pursuit ending this morning in Lynwood.
The driver of a stolen vehicle lost control and crashed into a parked car, the moment of impact caught on camera.
Take a look.
[sirens wailing and tires screeching.]
The pursuit ended at Norton and Martin Luther King Boulevard in Lynwood when the Mustang hit a parked car and rolled over.
Two women and one man had to be cut from wreckage and taken to the hospital.
An officer was also hurt and taken to the hospital.
How was your night? Uh, slow.
I didn't really get a lot of stuff.
I just burned a bunch of gas.
That's all I did.
[Scott.]
I got a crazy story.
- Yeah? - Yeah.
I'm gonna have a little stringer.
I'm not fucking with you.
I'm gonna have a baby.
Wow.
[Todd.]
Yeah.
"Wow" is right.
Gonna be a full-time fucking dad now.
[Scott.]
The baby's gonna fit into the routine already going on.
The routine that's going on now is, mom takes care of shit, I work.
You know what's gonna happen when this kid gets here.
I know what's gonna happen with me.
I'm in charge of me.
All right.
Good for you guys.
Good fucking times, dude.
Good fucking time.
We're out here documenting a war.
[tires screeching and sirens wailing.]
[indistinct chattering over radio.]
[Zak.]
You don't realize the danger until it's done.
[Austin.]
What we see in a week, most people do not see in an entire lifetime.
My objective every night is to go out with my team and make sure we're covering things accurately.
[Scott.]
This is my living.
I'm 100 percent reliant on news to be on TV to eat, to make rent, to have cool shit.
[Zak.]
It's more about, is my moral compass centered? And making sure that you're focused on that incident and that story and those victims.
[Scott.]
Even after all these years, it's still the same thing.
Get the hits, own the night.
I don't pretend that I'm doing something else.
I shoot what sells.
I tell myself I'm a pro cameraman, and this is my job.
Do your job.
Do your job.
[man 1 over radio.]
Shots fired at 74th and Crenshaw.
[man 2 over radio.]
I think it's a male Hold on.
Sixty years old.
Not conscious.
- He's not breathing - Damn it.
Fuck.
It's gonna be a really good call.
[woman over radio.]
74th and Crenshaw.
74th and Crenshaw.
[Zak.]
Oh, fuck.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
Control 455, it's gonna be en route to 74th and Crenshaw in an ambulance.
Shooting.
One victim, male, not breathing.
Every red light tonight, man.
What's going on? [indistinct chattering over radio.]
Police department asking for an RA, which is an ambulance.
Good news.
[Zak.]
Jesus Christ, they're still asking for the ambulance.
This guy is bleeding to death.
[woman over radio.]
Three supervisors are en route.
Jesus.
A dude just sitting there by himself it sounds like.
[tires squeal.]
[grumbles.]
Fucking dick.
[woman over radio.]
Highway 39 and 18, plus three supervisors.
- Three supervisors are en route.
- Three supervisors.
That means we have a homicide.
It's right there.
Where are you going? You're fucking up.
[laughs.]
The cop's messing up.
The problem we have is we are behind the tape.
[Zak.]
We've got crime scene tape, but There's room for us.
[siren wailing.]
He's looking for casings now.
It's only 10:45.
This isn't that late.
This isn't the 2-in-the-morning liquor-store shooting.
Did you see what happened? How many shots were fired? - [man.]
It was about five.
- Five shots? - And he's hanging out outside of the - [man.]
Yeah, there Yeah, it's between the Bloods and the Crips right here in this area, so it's kind of hot, but he doesn't gangbang.
[Zak.]
Got you.
Thank you.
Great, Scott's here.
Usually, our clients don't buy gang shootings, because people don't care.
It's the stringer's dilemma, but there's more to this one.
The victim was not in a gang.
That's the key.
He's a gang member, it's kiboshed.
I don't think Scott got that info.
[Scott.]
I don't know if it has anything to do with the store, but it did happen in front of it.
I don't consider myself a journalist.
I know how to shoot.
I'm a stringer.
Most stringers wanted to be a firefighter, wanted to be a soldier, wanted to be a police officer.
And it doesn't work out, so they become a stringer.
I wanted to be none of those.
I just wanted to play with cameras.
I took the job from a job to a career, and once it's a career, I took it serious.
Seventeen years later? Still doing it.
I'm coming up on my anniversary.
[officer.]
Thank you.
[woman.]
He shot him.
He shot him.
Fucking goddamn it! [woman crying.]
He shot him.
He shot him.
Fucking goddamn it! [Scott.]
Vice has recently contacted me, um, for some of my footage.
It relates to post-traumatic stress syndrome in the 'hood, with police officers and with people that live in it.
PTSD isn't just for, you know, people in war.
It happens around here, which is understandable.
That's just an everyday life.
It's fucking crazy, dude.
Crazy.
[Zak.]
Hey, so, our victim was either shot leaving or walking to the liquor store here.
Call the stations and let them know what's going on.
- Damn it, Scott.
Getting right in my shot.
- [Scott.]
I walked in front on purpose.
I never walk in front of shots, but I did, I saw him on the phone.
He's trying to do this as breaking news.
Like, "Fuck that.
" [Zak.]
He's like a lunatic.
It's like, take a breath, everything's gonna be okay.
I promise.
There's no desire to focus on the story.
It's just, "I want that shot.
" That's a news helicopter.
That would've never shown up if Zak didn't call stations.
He tried to get this out as breaking news, and because of that, he told stations.
So, now, the helicopters can shoot it and it's not news in the morning.
But, I mean, he's the big boss.
Just ask him.
I don't even think you need to ask him.
He'll just tell you.
He just screwed us both, pretty much is what he just did.
I would've shot it, not said a word until after midnight.
I wanna see what news chopper that is.
Sometimes it doesn't matter about the hits.
Understanding there's something bigger here than just us and what we're doing.
What I'm doing is more important than making money.
[indistinct chattering over radio.]
[Victor.]
David 17, White 90.
[Todd.]
There you are.
What? Hey, you might have a water main break, 400 block of South Kenmore Avenue.
Copy.
Okay, Vic.
Thank you.
During the drought, news We'd put our broken water mains up, 'cause it's a huge waste of water.
Depending on how big it is, there's a lot of angles, fun to shoot.
We're close, so I thought we'd go check it out.
[man over radio.]
Howard.
Torrance is talking about a pursuit.
[Howard.]
Yeah.
Thank you.
Could've been a pursuit already started, then he hit somebody at 190th and Western.
[indistinct chattering over radio.]
Car's on fire at Western, half a mile.
It'll be off the freeway at 190th.
We're gonna get this.
We need the car on fire.
[man over radio.]
Western is shut down.
[Scott.]
Fuck.
I better take the surface streets.
[Howard.]
Don't tell me the fucking ramp's closed.
Oh, son of a bitch.
Fucking Western is closed.
[horn honking.]
Fucking wankers.
Of all the ramps to be shut down, it has to be the one I need to get a fucking car on fire.
That's just cost me a shitload of money.
[Scott.]
Oh, there it is.
Ciao, buddy.
Come on, come on.
Dude, move.
Dude, yeah, go.
I'll park right here.
[siren wailing.]
I know there was a pursuit, two cars crashed.
Whether I missed the fire or not, I'll still work it accordingly.
So far, no competition.
Oh, the car is still smoking up.
[Todd.]
Let's play in the water.
[siren wailing.]
I haven't seen this in a while.
It's a good one.
It's gushing pretty good.
It ruined two cars, there's a lot of broken windows, broken windshield, sunroof.
It's kicking rocks up everywhere.
Sir.
- That's a stop sign.
We'll cordon it off.
- Yeah.
[Todd.]
It's a good one.
The news will be interested in this.
I can get three or four hits for this.
Nineties, 97, 98th, flooding.
That was a good one, man.
Copy.
I'm en route to Gower and Franklin for a garbage fire.
[indistinct chattering over radio.]
You've been chasing those garbage fires all night.
It's crazy.
I was just saying earlier, there's been so many.
Almost ten in the last couple of hours.
Kind of strange, but they're so spread apart, I have no suspicion.
[Todd laughs.]
Yeah, you might catch that infamous garbage arsonist of Los Angeles.
[laughing.]
[Howard.]
Car on fire at the end of a pursuit.
No flames, but I've got good smoke.
Scott.
He's over there.
I'm gonna go to the other side.
Fuck.
He's a force to be reckoned with.
He's an arrogant asshole, but he's a good shooter.
I would've had that on fire.
I've got the fire department putting water on it.
That's a good shot.
It looks really nice.
That thing's destroyed.
[Scott.]
Right there? It's our suspect.
He was just given a breathalyzer.
I think he lost it.
You get it on fire? [Scott.]
He wanted to know if I got it on fire, which is one of two things.
One, he was showing off that he got it on fire, or two, he was asking if I got it on fire because he didn't.
I mean, this is the shot they want.
Look at how colorful and nice that is.
It's not on fire, which is a shame, but from where Scott was, he's over here.
He didn't see this guy.
But he'll package a whole bunch of shit, but I will send it out.
If we're lucky, we'll both get hits.
[newscaster over TV.]
A police pursuit in Torrance ended in a violent crash that sent two people to the hospital.
The pursuit started after 11 last night after the male suspect was spotted driving recklessly through a red light.
Moments later, the suspect crashed into another car at Western and 190th Street.
Suspect was arrested and both drivers taken to hospital.
No word on conditions.
The intersection's shut down as police investigate.
[Howard.]
I'm one team member down, trying to run down every story, because Zak and Scott have guys out there all the time, so it's Mark and I trying to cover, you know, the size of LA County.
And the station's told me that LoudLabs are doing seven stories for the price of one last night.
Packaging a story is Say I shoot three stories in a night.
I'd give all stories to the stations for the price of one story.
Maybe I've shot three weaker stories, or I needed to package them because someone else has got better stuff on a bigger story.
The only people that really make any benefits from that are the stations.
No one's making any more money.
Because we're a smaller operation, how are we meant to compete? You know, it's definitely, uh Yeah, the industry is definitely struggling, struggling for us.
We're being squeezed out, and it's annoying as fuck.
There's a point where you gotta say no.
- [Zak.]
Yes, hello? Zak speaking.
- Hey, Zak.
How are you? [woman over radio.]
There are over ten males driving the vehicle.
41, be advised, FD are staging at Pico and Grand.
It happened at 12th and Hope, and he drove to 12th and Grand.
Or Pico and Grand.
Because they're having a Damn, dude.
See that? Just fell off someone's car.
[chuckles.]
I saw it come flying by, it just fell off someone's car.
All right.
[phone line ringing.]
Hello? My name's Scott.
I found this phone on the ground.
Yeah, do you know where McDonald's is? On Figueroa near USC? I'll meet you there.
All right.
Bye.
[indistinct chattering over radio.]
Karma definitely exists.
Don't mess with karma.
I can use my powers for good instead of my powers for evil.
[cell phone rings.]
Hello? Hi.
You're right there with the lights? Cool.
All right.
- Were you hanging out over there? Yeah? - Yeah.
- Because What's up? - Thank you.
I was parked at the light and all of a sudden, I just see something on the ground rolling to me and then I saw three cars go by, so it had to have been on a car and then fell off.
That's weird, but at least you got it back.
- I appreciate it.
- I like your hat.
[Scott chuckles.]
This is my baby hat.
I was like, "I think I'm gonna rock this shit today.
" So, I just put it on.
[giggles.]
- [man.]
He's a lone wolf.
- Smell like they took a safety meeting.
[Zak.]
What's going on? Um, I gotta be honest, I don't know what to do.
I'm stuck.
Um, packaging is not only fucking me, it's fucking the industry and I don't know if you're packaging because LoudLabs is packaging.
Giving stuff away leaves us in a really bad position.
I couldn't agree more.
It's probably, like, the worst idea ever.
It's a race to the bottom.
It doesn't help anybody.
My concern is the stations are gonna be so used to it, they'll expect it.
But if we all agree not to package, - they won't have a choice.
- I'm on board.
Whenever you wanna start doing that, I'm right there.
Now, trying to get LoudLabs to stop, he might say, "Fuck you.
" It's not his problem.
It's our problem.
- And - But you have a better shot than anybody.
- I'll speak to him, see what I can do.
- Way better shot.
[Scott.]
I'm good at predicting the future.
[chuckles.]
I don't believe in psychic stuff.
I don't care what year you were born.
None of that means anything to me.
But I kind of have I got a little something.
I'm in tune with things.
When I first started, I was predicting my stories.
The word was, don't hang out with me, bad shit happens near me, because I'd go out, I'd come out at 10:00.
"I'm gonna get a fire.
" And I'd get a fire.
Next day, "I'll get a crash.
" I'd get a crash.
It got to the point where it wasn't fun anymore.
I'm probably gonna get a car crash.
[chuckles.]
[indistinct chattering over radio.]
Stalled vehicle, stalled vehicle.
This is what we do, man.
So fucking dangerous right now.
So fucking dangerous.
There's no shoulder.
They're straight in the fast lane.
There's no shoulder.
I can turn my lights on, but then people look here, not there, and they might hit that.
Whoa! So, the best thing to do is stay out of the way.
Stay small, stay hidden.
Dude, you should not be there.
See them? They need to be in front of the other car.
'Cause they're flying.
They're flying, man.
Dude, where is CHP? Come on, man, where are you guys at? Like, this guy is going way too fucking fast.
[tires squeal.]
Fuck! [horns blaring.]
Fuck me, dude.
[Anthony over radio.]
Twenty-four is behind the vehicle.
It's riding on its rims in the slow lane at, like, 20 miles an hour.
This car is either gonna wreck or catch on fire soon.
[Zak.]
Is this CHP? I'm eastbound 210.
One of my photographers is on the radio with me.
He's at Vernon behind a vehicle that was rolling with the wheels flat, and the vehicle is now catching on fire with people inside is what he's reporting.
Cool, thank you.
Roger, we got CHP en route, and I'll shut down the freeway for you.
I need to grab a bunch of cars.
Roger, 10-22 to break.
I'll be Code 6 in a minute.
They're all slowing down behind us.
If the vehicle's on fire with people in the car with my guys out in the freeway, I'll shut it down.
I hope CHP is already rolling up.
A couple of brake lights here.
Just gonna put on my vest.
[siren wailing.]
Anthony is back there.
He's doing his job.
We show up really early on a lot of things.
Sometimes you get there before the fire department.
Your job is don't get involved unless your inaction leads to someone's death.
[tire explodes.]
Watch that tire.
Tires are gonna pop.
It gets me every time.
[laughs.]
[tire explodes.]
[Scott.]
I do not wanna watch people die tonight.
Fuck, man.
What are you doing? Not good.
Oh, shit.
Oh, here we go.
[tires squeal.]
Oh-ho-ho! Fucking heart is racing.
Fuck! [sirens wailing.]
There's CHP.
Wow.
They're there.
Let's go.
Whew, that was close.
All right.
Red 5's back in the vehicle.
I almost got a live-action crash.
5 Calzona in the East LA interchange.
I almost watched people die.
Like, you want it, but then you don't.
I wanna watch cars crash.
It's what I do, but I don't wanna watch anybody die.
There's some Definitely some moral issues going on there, but I can't be a part of this.
Don't become the story.
Number one rule of stringing, don't become the story.
[siren wailing.]
[horns honking.]
[Zak.]
Anthony comes up on the radio.
He's got a vehicle that he's behind catching on fire.
At that point, my job isn't to get there and film things.
It's to get there and make sure things are being taken care of.
Stop.
[laughing.]
Stop.
Be good.
Be good.
- [fireman.]
Where are you from? - [Zak.]
OnScene TV.
I'll give you a card.
- Racing out, getting footage? - That's the ones.
The good ones, though.
The good ones, not the jerks.
[laughs.]
The ones who help before we pull the cameras out.
We've got Scott and his team and Howard and his team, and we do things differently, because we are different organizations.
I'd rather have my guys and myself doing the right thing than, like, "Oh, we'll film what's going on.
" It comes down to, how do you live with yourself? How do you go to bed at night at the end of the day and say, "I did everything in my power to do the right thing"? - Okay.
Thanks.
- Hey, cap.
Here's my card.
- We're all with OnScene TV - I know.
I've dealt with you guys before.
Awesome.
If you need a copy, send me an e-mail.
- Speak to these guys.
They're new.
- Awesome.
They'll love to see it.
- Thanks, guys.
Thanks again.
- Good to meet you, sir.
[Zak.]
See you, guys.
[phone line ringing.]
Hey, what's up? What am I missing? [chuckles.]
Hey, how are you? I'm good.
How are you? Let me get out.
It's loud.
[Howard.]
Not too bad.
Not too bad.
Um Quick question.
Last night, I heard you did an eight-for-one, is that right? No.
I did not do an eight-for-one.
That's false information.
Um, I did a nine-for-one.
- A nine-for-one? - I don't decide whether I package or not.
You guys do.
I'll stop packaging if you stop showing up to the stories.
[laughing.]
I know.
It's all fun and games.
Look at it from my point of view.
The only people that win in this situation, as far as I'm concerned, is the stations.
I've spoken to Zak already.
He would say he would stop packaging if you stop packaging.
You believed him? I kind of did.
Is that something you would consider stopping? I can tell you that I'm gonna think about it, but I'd be lying to you.
All right.
Have a good one.
Bye.
[sighs.]
He's just annoying.
Oh, well.
Well, I tried.
[indistinct chattering over radio.]
Honestly, I don't really know what I was expecting to get out of it.
Maybe some kind of truce on the packaging front.
Ain't gonna happen.
[man over radio.]
I just had a trapped vehicle with two people trapped.
[Howard.]
No way.
Shit.
Yeah.
Right.
Thank you.
Two upside-down vehicles and two people trapped at the end of a chase.
Stole a Mustang, crashed into a police car.
This is the Story of the Night.
[indistinct chattering over radio.]
[Howard.]
Eighteen minutes away.
It's just off of the 105.
Four o'clock deadline.
I'm really pushing my luck.
[siren wailing.]
Move! Right.
Here we go.
Let's see how close we can get.
We need to get in there.
There's two cars upside down.
Somebody's trapped in one of them.
There's a light pole down.
Live wires.
I need to get to the other side.
Is this your house? Can you see from the other side? [man.]
Yeah.
If you wanna come over.
[Howard.]
I'd love to take a look if I can.
Oh, yeah.
That's - You know your neighbors? - [man.]
Yeah.
[Howard.]
You think they'd let me in to film? [man.]
I don't know.
Do you have their phone number? Can we call? [man.]
Uh, my wife does.
If I can get a shot through their window, it'd be perfect.
You gotta work this shit.
Come on, man.
[car horn honking.]
She said that she will be able to open the back door, but - Would you be able to come through? - Yeah.
We can.
- Yeah? - Yeah.
Now, I'm extremely competitive in everything I do.
Whether it's against OnScene or LoudLabs I just have this complete drive and passion to beat these other guys.
I appreciate your help.
I do.
[Scott.]
A white tow truck pulled up to the ATM and was last seen driving away with the door dragging behind it.
Suspect's gone in his white tow truck.
Think they took the whole front of the building off.
[chuckles.]
- [officer.]
We'd like to ask a favor.
- [Scott.]
What's up? [officer.]
Since we have a bunch of evidence and stuff all over [Scott.]
Yeah.
That's why we stayed out of that way.
We found some, like, on the other end.
So, we'll shut down this parking lot.
If you guys wanna go out the main street area, that's fine.
- [Scott.]
Oh, killing me softly.
- [officer.]
Thank you.
[Scott.]
This story is gonna make hits because it's different.
It's visual.
Never seen anything like it.
And it has an aspect that everybody relates to.
Who doesn't use an ATM? So, it's a good story.
[newscaster over TV.]
Police are investigating a brazen break-in at a Chase Bank in South Bay.
Officers say a white tow truck took out the entire storefront of the bank while trying to steal an ATM.
It happened at 2 in the morning at the Plaza El Segundo location at Sepulveda.
Now, it appears the thieves were unsuccessful in snatching that ATM, but they did manage to take the front of the store with them, dropping pieces of the front doors across the parking lot as they took off.
[Howard.]
Thank you.
They're gonna laugh when they see me.
[chuckles.]
Am I able to shoot? Is there a front door? Can I? They won't let us open it because there's an electric cable on the floor.
Uh-huh.
[girl.]
Okay.
That's funny.
It's crazy.
[girl.]
Are they, like, recording? - Make sure you get my good side.
- Absolutely.
Man, that is one hell of a crash.
[men chattering.]
- [Howard.]
See other camera guys? - [man.]
No.
- Good.
Don't let them in.
- [man.]
Only you guys [man laughs.]
That's the Story of the Night, and that's made everything worth it now.
I usually get luck.
In the last week, I've been shafted by everything coming my way.
It hasn't happened.
I got stories late.
I got the stories after OnScene and LoudLabs, but tonight, it has turned around for me.
I worked the story.
To sweet-talk somebody to get into their house and knowing the cops can't do anything about it.
And I've also found footage from a guy who actually saw the crash.
I think tonight is ours.
Who needs Austin? [phone line ringing.]
- [man.]
Good morning.
Summer desk.
- Hey, it's Howard with RMG.
[man.]
Hey, how are you? [Howard.]
Good, thanks.
I got a Buena Park pursuit that ended in a double rollover.
[man.]
Yeah.
I saw that.
I got that.
I also got cell phone footage of the crash.
- It's not great.
- Okay.
Um, but it's worth taking a look at.
- Thanks so much.
- Bye.
A wild pursuit ending this morning in Lynwood.
The driver of a stolen vehicle lost control and crashed into a parked car, the moment of impact caught on camera.
Take a look.
[sirens wailing and tires screeching.]
The pursuit ended at Norton and Martin Luther King Boulevard in Lynwood when the Mustang hit a parked car and rolled over.
Two women and one man had to be cut from wreckage and taken to the hospital.
An officer was also hurt and taken to the hospital.
How was your night? Uh, slow.
I didn't really get a lot of stuff.
I just burned a bunch of gas.
That's all I did.
[Scott.]
I got a crazy story.
- Yeah? - Yeah.
I'm gonna have a little stringer.
I'm not fucking with you.
I'm gonna have a baby.
Wow.
[Todd.]
Yeah.
"Wow" is right.
Gonna be a full-time fucking dad now.
[Scott.]
The baby's gonna fit into the routine already going on.
The routine that's going on now is, mom takes care of shit, I work.
You know what's gonna happen when this kid gets here.
I know what's gonna happen with me.
I'm in charge of me.
All right.
Good for you guys.
Good fucking times, dude.
Good fucking time.