The Pretender s01e15 Episode Script
Jaroldo!
[Man.]
Jarod was a real even-tempered man.
Stayed here for about a week, then he was gone.
I sort of act as building manager here but my real passion is acupuncture.
Jarod really got into it too.
You stuck needles into him? Actually, I taught him how to do it himself.
- For what purpose? - Stress reduction.
I'm very good at reducing tensions in the body.
Funny.
I'm very good at causing them.
Jarod wanted the needles placed along the brachial plexus.
Brachial plexus? Nerve center for the upper extremities? [Man.]
He wanted me to leave them in until his arm was paralyzed.
He'd walk around like that for days.
You obviously lived through the '60s.
Does your companion know the concept of free love? - When did he leave? - Two days ago.
Well, then our work here is mercifully done.
Oh.
But then you'll miss out on this.
He said you'd know what it meant.
This building isn't far from here.
Hmm.
[Chattering.]
- [Woman.]
He's up there.
- [Sirens Wailing.]
Where the hell's my cameraman? - It's a long way down.
- Stay away from me.
- Stay away from me.
- I just want to talk to you.
Jarod, what the hell are you doing up there? You'd better be rolling on this guy.
My name's Jarod.
What's your name? Dave.
My name's Dave.
Beautiful family.
I'm guessing that's your wife and your children.
They're gone.
They were evicted, and now I can't find them.
Dave, I'm sure they're fine.
I'll bet they're out there somewhere worrying about you.
Nobody's worried about me.
If that were true, would I be up here on this ledge? I'm sure that they are looking for you.
Why should they? I drink some.
I can't hold a job.
I've lost them for good.
I can help you find them, Dave.
Use the camera.
Tell them how much you love them how much you miss them, how much you need them.
But first, we have to get off this ledge.
Grab my hand.
[Man Narrating.]
[Chattering.]
[Jarod.]
Grab my hand.
Only thing would've made this better was if thejumper was a topless dancer.
- [Laughs.]
- Poor guy.
Annie, edit out some clips for the promo team A.
S.
A.
P.
This runs tonight.
We gotta get some footage of this loser's wife and kids.
Maybe they've checked into a homeless shelter.
After all this, don't you think the family deserves a little privacy? Privacy? To get her face on the 10:00 news and some party money in her pocket this guy's wife'll jump at the chance.
- No pun intended, huh? - [Men Laugh.]
Too bad you got such a good grip there, Jarod.
- Why is that? - A heroic attempt is as good as a save.
The plunge would've given this piece a better punch.
Spoken like an anchorman who wants his anchor back.
You know, Jarod, if my instincts are as good as I know they are your face is going to be running in every living room in America.
Actually, I think it would play better if Phil got credit for the save.
- What? - I mean, he's the talent.
He's the hero that everyone tunes in to see each day, not me.
Only problem is, our hero was standing in a parking lot 100 feet below the action.
- Yes, I know, but you never saw my face.
- So? So if you cut in just after I make the grab we use all the coverage I shot before I got up on the roof.
We lay in Phil's voice-over, and then we tag it with a pickup shot of Phil exiting the building with the jumper.
We're not long for a two-share and last place with that kind of attitude.
Do it.
- But Chris, it's - Unethical? You heard me.
Make Phil a hero.
- I thought only God rewrote history.
- God never won sweeps.
- [Miss Parker.]
Beautiful part of town.
- [Sydney.]
Dangerous.
No wonderJarod left the notebook with the acupuncturist.
- He doesn't want us down here.
- Come on, Sydney.
We're here.
Let's see if Ratboy left anything behind.
This is futile.
Jarod's long gone.
Afraid of the dark, Syd? Only when I can't see what's in it.
[Clatter.]
- Damn it.
- [Clatter.]
Miss Parker, maybe we should get the cleanup team to check this place out.
Forget it, Syd.
I'd trade a dozen Ferragamos for oneJarod any day.
[Object Clangs.]
I'm counting to three.
Then I'm going to shoot whoever you are.
One two Three.
! - What do you want? - What you got? I have a nine millimeter in your face and you appear to have a knife a rusty knife.
Oh, you must be feeling lucky today.
- [Glass Shatters.]
- [Sydney Shouts.]
[Groaning.]
[Chuckles.]
Are you feeling lucky today, hmm? Get their wallets andjewelry and let's get out ofhere.
[Keyboarding.]
Writing Phil's copy for him too? I'm just trying to send a message to an old friend.
So you think I was wrong letting Phil take credit for saving the jumper.
As our new, esteemed news director always reminds me I get paid to cut tape, not to think.
From what I understand, you win awards doing it.
Well, awards don't count for much around here.
Pulitzer's rolling over in his grave, and Nielsen's packing down the dirt.
Phil has asked me to go over some of his old footage to see how he likes to be shot.
Do you think maybe you could show me some of his old tapes? Yeah.
- Second shelf.
- Great.
Thank you.
The Ken Watanabe shooting.
I heard about this.
So has half the world.
And our Ivy League Hitler was pissed we didn't hook the other half.
It's Chris's job to know what people want and it's our job to make sure they get it.
Which doesn't mean we should throw out anything resembling journalistic integrity.
If it bleeds, it leads.
That's the new wave of the news, Annie, like it or not.
We either surf along with it, or we get torn apart in the riptide.
[Annie.]
It's really an act.
Phil actually worships Cronkite in secret midnight rituals.
Hmm.
Who's Cronkite? You're gonna fit in just fine here.
Tonight, exclusively on Seattle's Channel 43 our continuing series on local gangs.
In this shocking footage, our own cameraman, Ken Watanabe captured on videotape a gang gathering at the North Puget dock area.
But what happened next took us both by surprise.
Out of nowhere, the 15th Street Bleeders crashed the turf of the Burns leading to an explosive conflict a conflict in which one of our own became a casualty.
- Oh, God, I'm hit.
Oh, God.
Oh, God.
- [Gunfire.]
Phil, where are you? Phil, I'm hit.
I'm hit, man.
My arm.
My arm.
I can't move my arm.
Get me out ofhere, man.
- Get me out of here.
- Come on.
Come on.
Come on.
Get up.
Tonight, our prayers are with Ken Watanabe a courageous young cameraman.
God bless you, Ken.
Phil Campbell, Channel 43 News, at 10:00.
Dehlila, I think about you so much, my brain hurts.
I have to meet you, to see you.
- [Phone Rings.]
- Samson.
I mean, Broots.
Mr.
Parker? Uh, Mr.
Parker, sir.
How-How can I help you, sir? Uh Uh, no.
No, sir, I haven't seen your daughter since yesterday.
Sydney neither.
I mean, either.
Y-Yes, sir.
I'll get on it right away, sir.
- Yeah, well, it's a pleasure talk talk - [Click, Dial Tone.]
Hello? Hello? - Jarod.
! - Dave? You look great.
A step at a time.
That's what they tell me.
I just came by to say thanks.
Of course, the way that story aired - I don't know if I should thank that reporter Phil or you.
- [Laughs.]
Well, strange things happen in TV.
I'm glad you're doing well.
I don't know what got into me.
Did you find your wife and kids? Yeah, but she doesn't want me back until I find a job, so - I'll keep my eyes open.
- Yeah.
- What do you keep looking at? - Oh, those wires there.
If they're planning on hooking up that satellite dish to them wires they're gonna blow out their electricity in nothing flat.
- You're an electrician? - Nope.
Satcom grunt.
I wasn't any better at jumping out of airplanes than I am from buildings but I do know a wiring problem when I see one.
Hey, thanks again, really.
- Good luck.
- Thanks.
Phil, these pieces are excellent.
Twenty years of broadcasting will do that.
I was especially impressed with the Ken Watanabe segment.
I was wondering.
Is the raw footage lying around somewhere? I'd love to see how it was cut together.
Most of those tapes get recycled.
Even with a piece this good? Yeah, well, the station didn't use to charge me for parking either.
Yeah, right.
- Way to go, Dave.
- [Chattering.]
[Grunting.]
[Pipes Clanking.]
As if getting mugged wasn't enough.
[Weakly.]
You shot me.
I did not shoot you.
It was an accident.
I never liked guns.
I hope you'll stop carrying yours now.
[Sighs.]
- You're bleeding again.
- [Groans.]
- I need something else to tie this wound with.
- What about that neck scarf? - It's one of a kind, Sydney.
- [Chuckles.]
Which is what my good leg will be if we don't stop the bleeding.
[Shuddering.]
I'm sorry.
[Groaning, Grunting.]
[Sighs.]
- Thank you.
- You're going into shock.
You need to be warm.
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God, Sydney.
Don't look now, but we are ground zero for detonation to bring this dump down.
Please tell me that you told someone where we were going.
[Sighs.]
[Cooing.]
There's something I don't understand.
- What's that? - Where are the little ones? The what? You always see the big pigeons, you know, with the scars and the broken wings and the missing legs.
But you never see the little ones.
- I never really thought about it.
- Hey, I know you.
You're the cameraman that was on the news.
- I'm Jarod Crane.
- Ken.
That was incredible footage you captured.
Thanks.
I never planned on becoming a story though.
When are you going back to work at the station? And do what? Log commercials? I'm a shooter, man.
My days on the front line are over.
You know, it's funny.
You plan for your life to go up one road and when you finally get there, the bridge washes out.
Well, you never know.
Life has a strange way of surprising you.
Hey, look at that.
[Ken.]
I'll be damned.
Like I said, life is full of surprises.
[Beeping.]
Ken Watanabe and Phil Campbell, February 18, roll number one.
Okay.
Uh Nothing fancy, Kenny.
We're just gonna go in there and we're gonna sit down, and we're gonna listen to the Burns talk about their side of this turf war.
These guys tend to talk with their guns.
Know what I'm saying? You don't have to worry about getting fancy from me.
Don't worry about it, Ken.
You'll be fine.
[Exhales.]
Let's do it.
[Ken.]
You sure these guys are gonna show? [Phil.]
Yeah, they'll be here.
Don't worry about it.
Okay, um Right up there.
Head there.
[Ken.]
You been hanging with the homies, Phil, huh? Yo! Hey, D-Mac! Hey, D-Mac! Bleeders in the hood! [Gunfire Resumes.]
- [Tires Screeching.]
- I'm hit! I'm hit! Oh, God! - My arm! My arm! - [Gunfire Continues.]
I'm hit, man! Phil, get me out of here, man! - Get me out of here! Get me out of here! - You're okay.
Get me out of here, man! Get me out of here! Get me out of here! Interesting undershirt, Phil.
Flak jacket standard issue for a street reporter now, Phil? I'm dying for a cigarette! How the hell did I end up here? You regret taking on theJarod assignment? - I regret a lot of things.
- Such as? I regret not going to the prom.
I regret laughing at my first boyfriend when he told me I was the one.
And in this instant, I regret not having a nicotine patch the size of a doormat.
[Groans.]
Oh, no.
Your ulcer, huh? And no medication.
[Sighs.]
Ladies and gentlemen, the fabulous Sherlock Holmes.
[Groaning.]
Let me see it, Sydney.
Regret's often born out of a lack of choice, you know? Unlike you, Syd, I don't think that everything is out of my control.
You do when it comes to your father.
Please, don't don't misunderstand that.
Why don't you just say it? I caved.
I always do around him.
You can still walk up to your father and tell him "Dad, I'm leaving.
'" [Chuckling.]
[Chuckling.]
Right.
I can see it now.
Two kids, a little yellow house chitchatting with the girls over lattes at the mall.
You still have a future, Miss Parker.
It's a hell of a future, sitting here waiting to get blown to bits.
[Chuckles.]
[Laughing.]
Here I am, trying to comfort you.
[Laughing Continues.]
As if anything you could ever do would give me comfort.
It did once.
You are one hell of a thrower, Jarod.
It's about understanding the projectile's aerodynamics.
Well, actually, I just close one eye and let it fly.
- Oh.
- That's it.
Good game.
I should've warned you.
I don't like to lose.
- Good man.
- Next round's on me.
[Patrons Cheering.]
Phil certainly is in a good mood tonight.
You must be very proud of Annie and Phil getting nominated for the Ken Watanabe segment.
Yeah, even stiffs like Phil get lucky.
If only Grecian Formula were talent.
Awards help the promo guys, I suppose.
They also make a news team lazy.
News is about being hungry.
Always has been.
You guys gonna drink water all night, or are you coming to join the real party? And you, smile.
[Laughing.]
- Is this about Ken? - He should be here.
Somebody forgot to invite him.
[Inaudible.]
He must've been very proud, taking one for the team.
[Chris.]
KTJE's got a hell of a medical package.
Watanabe's all right.
Ken's gonna be fine.
Look, everybody in this business knows that putting your tail on the line is a job requirement.
Ken was green.
He was too zealous, and it cost him.
If I'd have known how dangerous it was, I never would've let him go out there.
I'm sure you wouldn't.
I'm not trying to be a pest, but I've got the Tower breathing down my neck to find them.
Now surely there's got to be a Sweeper team somewhere near the New York City area.
Excuse me? What business is it of yours what my clearance level is? - Now, listen.
You S.
I.
S.
guys are really startin' to tick me off.
- [Phone Ringing.]
Hold on a second.
Just hold on.
- Broots! - It's me.
Don't bother trying to trace me.
- I've scrambled the source signal.
- Jarod? - I've been trying to contact Sydney.
- Join the party.
He and Miss Parker went looking for you two days ago.
We haven't heard from them since.
She's too persistent for her own good.
You're going to have to find them.
You don't know how peaceful it's been here without her.
Would it be more peaceful working for Raines? - Mr.
Raines? No.
- Take down this address.
the Bronx.
[Crying.]
[Soft Chattering.]
Miss Parker? Tell me again how my mother died.
Stop torturing yourself.
I know it wasn't suicide.
Was she murdered because of the rescued children? - I don't know.
- Was it my father? Miss Parker, I know about your mother's life, not about her death.
She was a kind woman a driving force at the Centre in those days when it was still involved in altruistic projects.
I can't believe the Centre was ever involved with anything positive.
We helped four countries become democracies during the cold war.
We brought the sides together for the Korean Peace Accord.
And rumor has it that we even helped design the Popemobile.
The Centre saved thousands oflives lives that they later reclaimed as it turned out, in other ways.
Why didn't you leave when things turned? There were others whose welfare was of more concern to me than my own.
Jarod.
He's not very different from us, you know? We'd all have taken very different paths had we had our way.
- Here you go.
Pass the ball, man.
- [Chattering.]
- Boo-ya! - Excuse me.
Excuse me.
I think that was traveling.
You must be crazy, stupid or both.
No, no.
After you lifted your pivot foot, you took more than the allotted two steps as outlined in the official rule book.
- Mmm.
- Pizza? Thank you, anyway, but it already comes presliced.
Help yourselves.
- What, you got a death wish or something, man? - Not that I know of.
Didn't your mama ever tell you that white people shouldn't go walking through other people's neighborhoods? Well, I never actually knew my mother, so I guess the answer is no.
My name's Jarod Crane.
I'm with Channel 43 News.
I'm looking for a D-Mac.
- You gonna put him on TV? - Quite possibly, yes.
- I'm D-Mac.
- Nice to meet you.
Ow.
! He's got game.
The boy's got some game.
[Chattering.]
Hey, man, that camera guy shouldn't have been there.
- Tell me what happened.
- A man hits my cell phone.
He must've paid somebody off to get the number.
Sounded white.
Tells me he wants to talk about the turf wars.
Sounded cool to me.
This white man that called you, is that unusual? You really didn't have no mother, did you? I never knew my old lady either.
Later I heard word the Bleeders got the same call.
They show up, and boom, boom, the fireworks started.
Do you remember what day you got this call? I don't know.
Hey, Duane, man, bring my Day Runner.
We're bangers, not cavemen.
Thanks, man.
Okay, here you go.
February 18, at about 8:00 at night.
Could you tell me your cell phone number? [Chattering.]
[Crying.]
- Take Miss Parker upstairs.
- Yes, sir.
You get some rest now.
- If you ever want to talk to me, I'm always here.
- [Crying Continues.]
- Okay? - Thank you, Sydney.
Sydney? Why is everyone wearing black? How come you're so sad? We're remembering someone who has left us, Jarod.
Is it the woman that got shot in the elevator? Miss Parker's mother, isn't it? Don't you ever speak of that to anyone ever again, understand? [Groans.]
I could've saved him.
Who? Jarod.
He should have lived a normal life.
- They would've killed you.
- [Chuckles.]
You can't kill someone who's already dead.
[Shuddering.]
You do remember.
You broke into my edit file and stole footage? "Borrowed" is more like it.
- And I did it for Ken Watanabe.
- You lost me.
- Ken was set up.
- What are you talking about? What happened to Ken happened because Phil is desperate for ratings.
l-l-I don't buy that.
Buy it.
Why else would Phil have been wearing a bulletproof vest the night that Ken was shot? You actually think Phil would do something like that? I'm certain of it.
Annie, you know him.
You've seen the kind of pressure that Phil has been under to get back on top.
Yeah, but to risk somebody else's life.
He's a desperate man, Annie.
He was the king of the hill, and now he's on his way out.
Annie, I need your help to stop him.
Hello, Dave.
This is Jarod.
How would you like to come to work for Channel 43? Uh-huh.
You can tell your wife you've got a job.
[Rap, Indistinct.]
Lights.
[Continues.]
Camera.
Hello, Annie.
I'm setting up a very special screening in Chris's office.
I want you to do me a favor.
Make sure the general manager is there.
Action.
[Jarod.]
Phil.
Chris just got word of a summit going down between two rival gangs.
He thinks it's going to make a terrific follow-up to the Ken Watanabe segment.
Chris tipped you on this? His snitch said there could be fireworks, and fireworks mean ratings.
Let's go.
Phil, why don't you test your headset? Check, one, two.
So, where shall we set up? Over here.
We can cover the door, stay in the shadows.
Uh, Jarod.
Something doesn't feel right about this.
Well, it's a pretty scary place.
That and the fact that Ken Watanabe was shot just outside of that door.
That might have something to do with it.
But putting our tail on the line it's part of thejob, isn't it? Okay, Jarod.
Jarod? - Jarod! - [Door Opens.]
- [Man.]
Burns in the house.
! - [Man #2.]
Word.
! [Men Shouting.]
- Bring your punk-asses out! - Let's go.
! - Don't wait for their asses.
- Jarod, where are you? [Jarod On Headset.]
Above you.
[Phil.]
This is not good.
[On Headset.]
It's okay.
I've got you in my sights.
Smile, Phil.
It's showtime.
Annie, why is the general manager here? I think you have a meeting with him.
Mr.
Ferren, what a surprise.
Nice to see you again, Mr.
Ferren.
Show's about to begin, gentlemen.
Please take your seats.
I'm intrigued, Rockwell.
This must be some show you've put together.
Yes, sir.
The best.
[Men Shouting.]
- [Man On TV.]
What? - What you want with me? - What's up, fool? - [Mr.
Ferren.]
What is this, a gang fight? - Want some of this, huh? You want some of this? - [Chris.]
Is that Phil? - What you got? - Jarod, these guys are gonna kill each other.
- [Jarod.]
It'll be great TV.
- You call me here to threaten my ass? This is on you, dog.
Deal or die.
[Chattering.]
This is great stuff, Phil.
Get closer so we can pick up sound.
I've got no cover here, you idiot! I'm getting out of here.
[Jarod.]
Don't leave now, Phil.
You're gonna miss the story.
[Man.]
You want some of this? Huh? You want some of this? - [Jarod.]
Or maybe you are the story.
- [Banging.]
- What the hell is this? - [Banging.]
- He's mine! - Jarod, help me! Jarod, help me! - Jarod.
! - [Men Chattering.]
- Jarod, help me! - Yeah! This is great.
This is great.
Keep it up.
Look what we got here, fellas.
Uh-huh.
Dave, ready to go citywide? Get ready, Seattle.
[Men Whooping.]
- So what we gonna do with this white punk? - [Men Grumbling.]
I say we bury his sorry ass right where he stands.
- [Clicking.]
- [Grumbling Continues.]
[Man.]
Hey, it's on every channel.
[Man #2.]
Something's going on.
Look at this.
[Jarod.]
This is gonna be a great piece, Phil.
Just keep them talking.
[Men Chattering On TV.]
This guy's gonna shoot me.
- Just like Ken Watanabe? - What? Jarod, come down here.
! What's up? You gonna do the deed or not? 'Cause if you're not - [Guns Cocking.]
- No, no, you can't shoot me! No, you can't! He's got a TV camera on you.
Cameras.
They can do wonderful things.
But Ken Watanabe's camera couldn't stop him from getting shot.
I didn't know there was gonna be shooting.
But you did know that a rival gang was going to be there because you tipped them off and that's why you wore a bulletproof vest.
I tipped them off.
Okay, okay! [Jarod.]
You knew you were putting Ken Watanabe in danger but you didn't care because all you care about is getting the story.
Yes! Please, help me! I can't do that, Phil.
It's ratings at all costs.
Like you always say, "If it bleeds, it leads.
" I set him up.
I set him up.
I set it up, okay? - You got what you need, bro? - It's a slam dunk.
I got everything I need right here.
[Men Laughing.]
"I set him up! I set him up!" [Voices, Indistinct.]
That was the money shot you've all been waiting for.
Jarod Crane, Channel 43 News, reporting.
[Crowd Murmuring.]
I'm holding you responsible for this, Mr.
Rockwell.
Forget the liability this station faces in light of this.
You ruined a man's life.
- Sir, l - Save it.
Save it.
You want a news flash, Chris? You're fired.
[All Murmuring.]
Oh, my God.
Miss Parker! Sydney! - It can't be.
- Sydney! Miss P.
! - Broots! You moron! - Miss Parker.
! Down here.
! Sydney, wake up.
[Chattering.]
Hi.
How're you doing? I figured you guys might be hungry.
Forget that.
Does anybody smoke? Smoke? - No.
- No.
Hi.
Uh, can l Thank you.
Boy, it's lucky I found you guys.
Otherwise, you would've been toast.
You can put any fantasy about me thanking you to rest, Broots.
[Huffs.]
Right.
[Chuckles.]
So, what did you guys talk about all this time? Nothing.
Nothing at all.
[Huffs.]
You're welcome.
This is great.
I don't know how to thank you.
- I mean, you built this harness for me - [Chuckling.]
and got me myjob back at the station.
You've got to promise me that this will never make the air.
I promise.
Well, you're gonna have to send me the video.
- That's what you do, isn't it? - Yeah, it is.
- Good luck, huh? - Take care.
[Woman Over Headset.]
We got you covered down here, Jarod.
This could be a new world record.
Now, that would be news, wouldn't it? [Mews.]
Jarod was a real even-tempered man.
Stayed here for about a week, then he was gone.
I sort of act as building manager here but my real passion is acupuncture.
Jarod really got into it too.
You stuck needles into him? Actually, I taught him how to do it himself.
- For what purpose? - Stress reduction.
I'm very good at reducing tensions in the body.
Funny.
I'm very good at causing them.
Jarod wanted the needles placed along the brachial plexus.
Brachial plexus? Nerve center for the upper extremities? [Man.]
He wanted me to leave them in until his arm was paralyzed.
He'd walk around like that for days.
You obviously lived through the '60s.
Does your companion know the concept of free love? - When did he leave? - Two days ago.
Well, then our work here is mercifully done.
Oh.
But then you'll miss out on this.
He said you'd know what it meant.
This building isn't far from here.
Hmm.
[Chattering.]
- [Woman.]
He's up there.
- [Sirens Wailing.]
Where the hell's my cameraman? - It's a long way down.
- Stay away from me.
- Stay away from me.
- I just want to talk to you.
Jarod, what the hell are you doing up there? You'd better be rolling on this guy.
My name's Jarod.
What's your name? Dave.
My name's Dave.
Beautiful family.
I'm guessing that's your wife and your children.
They're gone.
They were evicted, and now I can't find them.
Dave, I'm sure they're fine.
I'll bet they're out there somewhere worrying about you.
Nobody's worried about me.
If that were true, would I be up here on this ledge? I'm sure that they are looking for you.
Why should they? I drink some.
I can't hold a job.
I've lost them for good.
I can help you find them, Dave.
Use the camera.
Tell them how much you love them how much you miss them, how much you need them.
But first, we have to get off this ledge.
Grab my hand.
[Man Narrating.]
[Chattering.]
[Jarod.]
Grab my hand.
Only thing would've made this better was if thejumper was a topless dancer.
- [Laughs.]
- Poor guy.
Annie, edit out some clips for the promo team A.
S.
A.
P.
This runs tonight.
We gotta get some footage of this loser's wife and kids.
Maybe they've checked into a homeless shelter.
After all this, don't you think the family deserves a little privacy? Privacy? To get her face on the 10:00 news and some party money in her pocket this guy's wife'll jump at the chance.
- No pun intended, huh? - [Men Laugh.]
Too bad you got such a good grip there, Jarod.
- Why is that? - A heroic attempt is as good as a save.
The plunge would've given this piece a better punch.
Spoken like an anchorman who wants his anchor back.
You know, Jarod, if my instincts are as good as I know they are your face is going to be running in every living room in America.
Actually, I think it would play better if Phil got credit for the save.
- What? - I mean, he's the talent.
He's the hero that everyone tunes in to see each day, not me.
Only problem is, our hero was standing in a parking lot 100 feet below the action.
- Yes, I know, but you never saw my face.
- So? So if you cut in just after I make the grab we use all the coverage I shot before I got up on the roof.
We lay in Phil's voice-over, and then we tag it with a pickup shot of Phil exiting the building with the jumper.
We're not long for a two-share and last place with that kind of attitude.
Do it.
- But Chris, it's - Unethical? You heard me.
Make Phil a hero.
- I thought only God rewrote history.
- God never won sweeps.
- [Miss Parker.]
Beautiful part of town.
- [Sydney.]
Dangerous.
No wonderJarod left the notebook with the acupuncturist.
- He doesn't want us down here.
- Come on, Sydney.
We're here.
Let's see if Ratboy left anything behind.
This is futile.
Jarod's long gone.
Afraid of the dark, Syd? Only when I can't see what's in it.
[Clatter.]
- Damn it.
- [Clatter.]
Miss Parker, maybe we should get the cleanup team to check this place out.
Forget it, Syd.
I'd trade a dozen Ferragamos for oneJarod any day.
[Object Clangs.]
I'm counting to three.
Then I'm going to shoot whoever you are.
One two Three.
! - What do you want? - What you got? I have a nine millimeter in your face and you appear to have a knife a rusty knife.
Oh, you must be feeling lucky today.
- [Glass Shatters.]
- [Sydney Shouts.]
[Groaning.]
[Chuckles.]
Are you feeling lucky today, hmm? Get their wallets andjewelry and let's get out ofhere.
[Keyboarding.]
Writing Phil's copy for him too? I'm just trying to send a message to an old friend.
So you think I was wrong letting Phil take credit for saving the jumper.
As our new, esteemed news director always reminds me I get paid to cut tape, not to think.
From what I understand, you win awards doing it.
Well, awards don't count for much around here.
Pulitzer's rolling over in his grave, and Nielsen's packing down the dirt.
Phil has asked me to go over some of his old footage to see how he likes to be shot.
Do you think maybe you could show me some of his old tapes? Yeah.
- Second shelf.
- Great.
Thank you.
The Ken Watanabe shooting.
I heard about this.
So has half the world.
And our Ivy League Hitler was pissed we didn't hook the other half.
It's Chris's job to know what people want and it's our job to make sure they get it.
Which doesn't mean we should throw out anything resembling journalistic integrity.
If it bleeds, it leads.
That's the new wave of the news, Annie, like it or not.
We either surf along with it, or we get torn apart in the riptide.
[Annie.]
It's really an act.
Phil actually worships Cronkite in secret midnight rituals.
Hmm.
Who's Cronkite? You're gonna fit in just fine here.
Tonight, exclusively on Seattle's Channel 43 our continuing series on local gangs.
In this shocking footage, our own cameraman, Ken Watanabe captured on videotape a gang gathering at the North Puget dock area.
But what happened next took us both by surprise.
Out of nowhere, the 15th Street Bleeders crashed the turf of the Burns leading to an explosive conflict a conflict in which one of our own became a casualty.
- Oh, God, I'm hit.
Oh, God.
Oh, God.
- [Gunfire.]
Phil, where are you? Phil, I'm hit.
I'm hit, man.
My arm.
My arm.
I can't move my arm.
Get me out ofhere, man.
- Get me out of here.
- Come on.
Come on.
Come on.
Get up.
Tonight, our prayers are with Ken Watanabe a courageous young cameraman.
God bless you, Ken.
Phil Campbell, Channel 43 News, at 10:00.
Dehlila, I think about you so much, my brain hurts.
I have to meet you, to see you.
- [Phone Rings.]
- Samson.
I mean, Broots.
Mr.
Parker? Uh, Mr.
Parker, sir.
How-How can I help you, sir? Uh Uh, no.
No, sir, I haven't seen your daughter since yesterday.
Sydney neither.
I mean, either.
Y-Yes, sir.
I'll get on it right away, sir.
- Yeah, well, it's a pleasure talk talk - [Click, Dial Tone.]
Hello? Hello? - Jarod.
! - Dave? You look great.
A step at a time.
That's what they tell me.
I just came by to say thanks.
Of course, the way that story aired - I don't know if I should thank that reporter Phil or you.
- [Laughs.]
Well, strange things happen in TV.
I'm glad you're doing well.
I don't know what got into me.
Did you find your wife and kids? Yeah, but she doesn't want me back until I find a job, so - I'll keep my eyes open.
- Yeah.
- What do you keep looking at? - Oh, those wires there.
If they're planning on hooking up that satellite dish to them wires they're gonna blow out their electricity in nothing flat.
- You're an electrician? - Nope.
Satcom grunt.
I wasn't any better at jumping out of airplanes than I am from buildings but I do know a wiring problem when I see one.
Hey, thanks again, really.
- Good luck.
- Thanks.
Phil, these pieces are excellent.
Twenty years of broadcasting will do that.
I was especially impressed with the Ken Watanabe segment.
I was wondering.
Is the raw footage lying around somewhere? I'd love to see how it was cut together.
Most of those tapes get recycled.
Even with a piece this good? Yeah, well, the station didn't use to charge me for parking either.
Yeah, right.
- Way to go, Dave.
- [Chattering.]
[Grunting.]
[Pipes Clanking.]
As if getting mugged wasn't enough.
[Weakly.]
You shot me.
I did not shoot you.
It was an accident.
I never liked guns.
I hope you'll stop carrying yours now.
[Sighs.]
- You're bleeding again.
- [Groans.]
- I need something else to tie this wound with.
- What about that neck scarf? - It's one of a kind, Sydney.
- [Chuckles.]
Which is what my good leg will be if we don't stop the bleeding.
[Shuddering.]
I'm sorry.
[Groaning, Grunting.]
[Sighs.]
- Thank you.
- You're going into shock.
You need to be warm.
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God, Sydney.
Don't look now, but we are ground zero for detonation to bring this dump down.
Please tell me that you told someone where we were going.
[Sighs.]
[Cooing.]
There's something I don't understand.
- What's that? - Where are the little ones? The what? You always see the big pigeons, you know, with the scars and the broken wings and the missing legs.
But you never see the little ones.
- I never really thought about it.
- Hey, I know you.
You're the cameraman that was on the news.
- I'm Jarod Crane.
- Ken.
That was incredible footage you captured.
Thanks.
I never planned on becoming a story though.
When are you going back to work at the station? And do what? Log commercials? I'm a shooter, man.
My days on the front line are over.
You know, it's funny.
You plan for your life to go up one road and when you finally get there, the bridge washes out.
Well, you never know.
Life has a strange way of surprising you.
Hey, look at that.
[Ken.]
I'll be damned.
Like I said, life is full of surprises.
[Beeping.]
Ken Watanabe and Phil Campbell, February 18, roll number one.
Okay.
Uh Nothing fancy, Kenny.
We're just gonna go in there and we're gonna sit down, and we're gonna listen to the Burns talk about their side of this turf war.
These guys tend to talk with their guns.
Know what I'm saying? You don't have to worry about getting fancy from me.
Don't worry about it, Ken.
You'll be fine.
[Exhales.]
Let's do it.
[Ken.]
You sure these guys are gonna show? [Phil.]
Yeah, they'll be here.
Don't worry about it.
Okay, um Right up there.
Head there.
[Ken.]
You been hanging with the homies, Phil, huh? Yo! Hey, D-Mac! Hey, D-Mac! Bleeders in the hood! [Gunfire Resumes.]
- [Tires Screeching.]
- I'm hit! I'm hit! Oh, God! - My arm! My arm! - [Gunfire Continues.]
I'm hit, man! Phil, get me out of here, man! - Get me out of here! Get me out of here! - You're okay.
Get me out of here, man! Get me out of here! Get me out of here! Interesting undershirt, Phil.
Flak jacket standard issue for a street reporter now, Phil? I'm dying for a cigarette! How the hell did I end up here? You regret taking on theJarod assignment? - I regret a lot of things.
- Such as? I regret not going to the prom.
I regret laughing at my first boyfriend when he told me I was the one.
And in this instant, I regret not having a nicotine patch the size of a doormat.
[Groans.]
Oh, no.
Your ulcer, huh? And no medication.
[Sighs.]
Ladies and gentlemen, the fabulous Sherlock Holmes.
[Groaning.]
Let me see it, Sydney.
Regret's often born out of a lack of choice, you know? Unlike you, Syd, I don't think that everything is out of my control.
You do when it comes to your father.
Please, don't don't misunderstand that.
Why don't you just say it? I caved.
I always do around him.
You can still walk up to your father and tell him "Dad, I'm leaving.
'" [Chuckling.]
[Chuckling.]
Right.
I can see it now.
Two kids, a little yellow house chitchatting with the girls over lattes at the mall.
You still have a future, Miss Parker.
It's a hell of a future, sitting here waiting to get blown to bits.
[Chuckles.]
[Laughing.]
Here I am, trying to comfort you.
[Laughing Continues.]
As if anything you could ever do would give me comfort.
It did once.
You are one hell of a thrower, Jarod.
It's about understanding the projectile's aerodynamics.
Well, actually, I just close one eye and let it fly.
- Oh.
- That's it.
Good game.
I should've warned you.
I don't like to lose.
- Good man.
- Next round's on me.
[Patrons Cheering.]
Phil certainly is in a good mood tonight.
You must be very proud of Annie and Phil getting nominated for the Ken Watanabe segment.
Yeah, even stiffs like Phil get lucky.
If only Grecian Formula were talent.
Awards help the promo guys, I suppose.
They also make a news team lazy.
News is about being hungry.
Always has been.
You guys gonna drink water all night, or are you coming to join the real party? And you, smile.
[Laughing.]
- Is this about Ken? - He should be here.
Somebody forgot to invite him.
[Inaudible.]
He must've been very proud, taking one for the team.
[Chris.]
KTJE's got a hell of a medical package.
Watanabe's all right.
Ken's gonna be fine.
Look, everybody in this business knows that putting your tail on the line is a job requirement.
Ken was green.
He was too zealous, and it cost him.
If I'd have known how dangerous it was, I never would've let him go out there.
I'm sure you wouldn't.
I'm not trying to be a pest, but I've got the Tower breathing down my neck to find them.
Now surely there's got to be a Sweeper team somewhere near the New York City area.
Excuse me? What business is it of yours what my clearance level is? - Now, listen.
You S.
I.
S.
guys are really startin' to tick me off.
- [Phone Ringing.]
Hold on a second.
Just hold on.
- Broots! - It's me.
Don't bother trying to trace me.
- I've scrambled the source signal.
- Jarod? - I've been trying to contact Sydney.
- Join the party.
He and Miss Parker went looking for you two days ago.
We haven't heard from them since.
She's too persistent for her own good.
You're going to have to find them.
You don't know how peaceful it's been here without her.
Would it be more peaceful working for Raines? - Mr.
Raines? No.
- Take down this address.
the Bronx.
[Crying.]
[Soft Chattering.]
Miss Parker? Tell me again how my mother died.
Stop torturing yourself.
I know it wasn't suicide.
Was she murdered because of the rescued children? - I don't know.
- Was it my father? Miss Parker, I know about your mother's life, not about her death.
She was a kind woman a driving force at the Centre in those days when it was still involved in altruistic projects.
I can't believe the Centre was ever involved with anything positive.
We helped four countries become democracies during the cold war.
We brought the sides together for the Korean Peace Accord.
And rumor has it that we even helped design the Popemobile.
The Centre saved thousands oflives lives that they later reclaimed as it turned out, in other ways.
Why didn't you leave when things turned? There were others whose welfare was of more concern to me than my own.
Jarod.
He's not very different from us, you know? We'd all have taken very different paths had we had our way.
- Here you go.
Pass the ball, man.
- [Chattering.]
- Boo-ya! - Excuse me.
Excuse me.
I think that was traveling.
You must be crazy, stupid or both.
No, no.
After you lifted your pivot foot, you took more than the allotted two steps as outlined in the official rule book.
- Mmm.
- Pizza? Thank you, anyway, but it already comes presliced.
Help yourselves.
- What, you got a death wish or something, man? - Not that I know of.
Didn't your mama ever tell you that white people shouldn't go walking through other people's neighborhoods? Well, I never actually knew my mother, so I guess the answer is no.
My name's Jarod Crane.
I'm with Channel 43 News.
I'm looking for a D-Mac.
- You gonna put him on TV? - Quite possibly, yes.
- I'm D-Mac.
- Nice to meet you.
Ow.
! He's got game.
The boy's got some game.
[Chattering.]
Hey, man, that camera guy shouldn't have been there.
- Tell me what happened.
- A man hits my cell phone.
He must've paid somebody off to get the number.
Sounded white.
Tells me he wants to talk about the turf wars.
Sounded cool to me.
This white man that called you, is that unusual? You really didn't have no mother, did you? I never knew my old lady either.
Later I heard word the Bleeders got the same call.
They show up, and boom, boom, the fireworks started.
Do you remember what day you got this call? I don't know.
Hey, Duane, man, bring my Day Runner.
We're bangers, not cavemen.
Thanks, man.
Okay, here you go.
February 18, at about 8:00 at night.
Could you tell me your cell phone number? [Chattering.]
[Crying.]
- Take Miss Parker upstairs.
- Yes, sir.
You get some rest now.
- If you ever want to talk to me, I'm always here.
- [Crying Continues.]
- Okay? - Thank you, Sydney.
Sydney? Why is everyone wearing black? How come you're so sad? We're remembering someone who has left us, Jarod.
Is it the woman that got shot in the elevator? Miss Parker's mother, isn't it? Don't you ever speak of that to anyone ever again, understand? [Groans.]
I could've saved him.
Who? Jarod.
He should have lived a normal life.
- They would've killed you.
- [Chuckles.]
You can't kill someone who's already dead.
[Shuddering.]
You do remember.
You broke into my edit file and stole footage? "Borrowed" is more like it.
- And I did it for Ken Watanabe.
- You lost me.
- Ken was set up.
- What are you talking about? What happened to Ken happened because Phil is desperate for ratings.
l-l-I don't buy that.
Buy it.
Why else would Phil have been wearing a bulletproof vest the night that Ken was shot? You actually think Phil would do something like that? I'm certain of it.
Annie, you know him.
You've seen the kind of pressure that Phil has been under to get back on top.
Yeah, but to risk somebody else's life.
He's a desperate man, Annie.
He was the king of the hill, and now he's on his way out.
Annie, I need your help to stop him.
Hello, Dave.
This is Jarod.
How would you like to come to work for Channel 43? Uh-huh.
You can tell your wife you've got a job.
[Rap, Indistinct.]
Lights.
[Continues.]
Camera.
Hello, Annie.
I'm setting up a very special screening in Chris's office.
I want you to do me a favor.
Make sure the general manager is there.
Action.
[Jarod.]
Phil.
Chris just got word of a summit going down between two rival gangs.
He thinks it's going to make a terrific follow-up to the Ken Watanabe segment.
Chris tipped you on this? His snitch said there could be fireworks, and fireworks mean ratings.
Let's go.
Phil, why don't you test your headset? Check, one, two.
So, where shall we set up? Over here.
We can cover the door, stay in the shadows.
Uh, Jarod.
Something doesn't feel right about this.
Well, it's a pretty scary place.
That and the fact that Ken Watanabe was shot just outside of that door.
That might have something to do with it.
But putting our tail on the line it's part of thejob, isn't it? Okay, Jarod.
Jarod? - Jarod! - [Door Opens.]
- [Man.]
Burns in the house.
! - [Man #2.]
Word.
! [Men Shouting.]
- Bring your punk-asses out! - Let's go.
! - Don't wait for their asses.
- Jarod, where are you? [Jarod On Headset.]
Above you.
[Phil.]
This is not good.
[On Headset.]
It's okay.
I've got you in my sights.
Smile, Phil.
It's showtime.
Annie, why is the general manager here? I think you have a meeting with him.
Mr.
Ferren, what a surprise.
Nice to see you again, Mr.
Ferren.
Show's about to begin, gentlemen.
Please take your seats.
I'm intrigued, Rockwell.
This must be some show you've put together.
Yes, sir.
The best.
[Men Shouting.]
- [Man On TV.]
What? - What you want with me? - What's up, fool? - [Mr.
Ferren.]
What is this, a gang fight? - Want some of this, huh? You want some of this? - [Chris.]
Is that Phil? - What you got? - Jarod, these guys are gonna kill each other.
- [Jarod.]
It'll be great TV.
- You call me here to threaten my ass? This is on you, dog.
Deal or die.
[Chattering.]
This is great stuff, Phil.
Get closer so we can pick up sound.
I've got no cover here, you idiot! I'm getting out of here.
[Jarod.]
Don't leave now, Phil.
You're gonna miss the story.
[Man.]
You want some of this? Huh? You want some of this? - [Jarod.]
Or maybe you are the story.
- [Banging.]
- What the hell is this? - [Banging.]
- He's mine! - Jarod, help me! Jarod, help me! - Jarod.
! - [Men Chattering.]
- Jarod, help me! - Yeah! This is great.
This is great.
Keep it up.
Look what we got here, fellas.
Uh-huh.
Dave, ready to go citywide? Get ready, Seattle.
[Men Whooping.]
- So what we gonna do with this white punk? - [Men Grumbling.]
I say we bury his sorry ass right where he stands.
- [Clicking.]
- [Grumbling Continues.]
[Man.]
Hey, it's on every channel.
[Man #2.]
Something's going on.
Look at this.
[Jarod.]
This is gonna be a great piece, Phil.
Just keep them talking.
[Men Chattering On TV.]
This guy's gonna shoot me.
- Just like Ken Watanabe? - What? Jarod, come down here.
! What's up? You gonna do the deed or not? 'Cause if you're not - [Guns Cocking.]
- No, no, you can't shoot me! No, you can't! He's got a TV camera on you.
Cameras.
They can do wonderful things.
But Ken Watanabe's camera couldn't stop him from getting shot.
I didn't know there was gonna be shooting.
But you did know that a rival gang was going to be there because you tipped them off and that's why you wore a bulletproof vest.
I tipped them off.
Okay, okay! [Jarod.]
You knew you were putting Ken Watanabe in danger but you didn't care because all you care about is getting the story.
Yes! Please, help me! I can't do that, Phil.
It's ratings at all costs.
Like you always say, "If it bleeds, it leads.
" I set him up.
I set him up.
I set it up, okay? - You got what you need, bro? - It's a slam dunk.
I got everything I need right here.
[Men Laughing.]
"I set him up! I set him up!" [Voices, Indistinct.]
That was the money shot you've all been waiting for.
Jarod Crane, Channel 43 News, reporting.
[Crowd Murmuring.]
I'm holding you responsible for this, Mr.
Rockwell.
Forget the liability this station faces in light of this.
You ruined a man's life.
- Sir, l - Save it.
Save it.
You want a news flash, Chris? You're fired.
[All Murmuring.]
Oh, my God.
Miss Parker! Sydney! - It can't be.
- Sydney! Miss P.
! - Broots! You moron! - Miss Parker.
! Down here.
! Sydney, wake up.
[Chattering.]
Hi.
How're you doing? I figured you guys might be hungry.
Forget that.
Does anybody smoke? Smoke? - No.
- No.
Hi.
Uh, can l Thank you.
Boy, it's lucky I found you guys.
Otherwise, you would've been toast.
You can put any fantasy about me thanking you to rest, Broots.
[Huffs.]
Right.
[Chuckles.]
So, what did you guys talk about all this time? Nothing.
Nothing at all.
[Huffs.]
You're welcome.
This is great.
I don't know how to thank you.
- I mean, you built this harness for me - [Chuckling.]
and got me myjob back at the station.
You've got to promise me that this will never make the air.
I promise.
Well, you're gonna have to send me the video.
- That's what you do, isn't it? - Yeah, it is.
- Good luck, huh? - Take care.
[Woman Over Headset.]
We got you covered down here, Jarod.
This could be a new world record.
Now, that would be news, wouldn't it? [Mews.]