City on Fire (1979) Movie Script

- What do you think?
- She's a beauty, Dad,
but a 47-footer?
- You get to my age, you just don't fiddle around.
- Jeannie's not gonna like this!
- Trying smiling a lot!
(Chuckling)
(Whistling)
- You guys are going all the way!
- Dad's buying the boat. I'm just paying for the anchor.
- If you need a crew, count me in.
- You're in.
Two months.
Two months, then I'm off.
(Chuckling)
- Well, that's what you said last year
and the year before.
- And the year before the year before.
- Ah, this time, and I told him so,
I've got this incurable affliction.
It's called sea fever.
(Chuckling)
Well, better get to work.
- Chief.
- Captain.
- Morning, Chief.
- Morning, Andrew. Thank you!
(Rock on radio )
- Mmm!
- What is that?
- Breakfast!
- Breakfast? I don't eat breakfast.
(Sighing)
- Yeah, you wouldn't.
OK!
(Birds chirping)
(Cars honking)
- I borrowed this. Do you mind?
- No! It looks better on you!
- Will I see you tonight?
- Tonight?
Gee, no, I can't. I--I've got a lecture.
- Afterwards! I'll make you dinner.
- Dinner? No, no, no. I don't eat dinner.
You OK?
- Yeah!
- Listen, I'm sorry. I gotta go now.
But just close the door behind you when you leave, hmm?
(Tires screeching)
(Car honking)
- Morning, Dr. Whitman!
- Good morning, Doctor. - Franks, Hudson.
- Morning, Doctor.
- Morning, Dr. Mars.
- Good morning, Doctor. - Take it easy!
- Sorry, Dr. Whitman.
(Car honking and telephone ringing)
- (Woman): EFTM-TV. Can I help you, please?
- 4:00, promptly.
- (Man): Camera Crew 3 to Studio A for color lineup...
- Good morning, Miss Grayson.
- Morning, Miss Grayson.
- Good morning, good morning, good morning!
- Morning, Jimbo! Cigarette?
Sorry, forgot you quit.
(Chuckling)
- Listen, run this over with Freddie, will you?
- Sure!
- Gotta have a word with Lucrezia Borgia.
- Good luck!
- Ah! Good morning, princess!
Good morning!
- That schmuck, Fulton!
Couldn't you find somebody better?
Eh, and what about that stuff on Diana Brockhurst?
How good is it?
- Ah, it's a good 3 minutes!
- Sure?
- Sure.
- Mm-hmm.
Must be worth at least one good minute, eh?
(Door closing)
- Ready? Check the level.
(Staff talking simultaneously)
- Yeah, they look OK to me.
- This is Maggie Grayson.
- Does it show? Can you tell?
- We'd like to welcome you to 90 minutes of news and interviews.
- No! No, you can't tell.
- Our cameras were at the airport last night
to greet a local celebrity.
Mayor Dudley and his charming wife
were at the airport to welcome them.
Only recently widowed from her second husband,
the European publishing giant, David Lautrec...
- Herman! Herman!
Herman, you're on television!
(Crowd applauding on TV)
- Diana's here for the dedication of the new hospital,
built right smack
in the derelict downtown part of our city.
- Look, it's you! It's you!
- Diana is our special...
- What were you doing at the airport?
You didn't tell me you--
- I have nothing to say,
except that I hope that you'll all be there
for the dedication ceremony tomorrow.
(Dudley chuckling)
- We all thank you,
and we're proud that you're home.
- The hospital is a memorial to her first husband,
the late Governor Paul Brockhurst.
She herself has endowed the hospital
with a trust of $3 million,
a generous gesture.
Diana is now worth a modest $35 million.
Welcome home, Diana.
And now for the weather forecast.
(Television clicking)
(Kissing teeth)
- $35 million!
- Oh, Herman, you did it!
- I've got an important meeting this morning.
- Don't forget your lunch!
- Mr. Clark.
- Who's Mr. Clark?
- Just keep your fingers crossed.
- Hmm! Bye!
- (Man): Discussing the water shortage today
is Maggie Grayson's guest...
- I'll take care of the zoning board,
but you better handle Carson yourself.
And the flowers for Diana's room were delivered.
- The mayor's office issued a release,
indicating that the water reserves were slightly over 40%.
- My information says that it is much lower than that.
- Of course, you can't tell us where you got that information.
(Laughing)
Alderman, you've been wrong about Mayor Dudley before.
- Go get 'em, Maggie!
- I'm appalled! Mayor Dudley--
(Switch clicking)
- That son of a bitch!
He's starting his campaign for mayor!
Why can't he wait until I'm governor?
I could kick him in the ass.
- Never get into a pissing contest with a skunk.
- How'd he find out about the water?
(Thudding in distance)
- Uh, thanks.
- Hey! Give my regards to Diana.
If I were 20 years younger, I'd fight you for her.
- You'd lose!
(Laughing)
(Knocking on door)
Well!
Just like the good old days, huh?
- Champagne's the same.
- What does that mean?
- Edith looked good last night.
You too. Every inch a governor.
I mean, even I'd vote for you.
- Diana...
I still love you.
(Telephone ringing)
- Hello?
Monsieur Pierre!
Uh, pas maintenant.
Non. Uh, Rappelez-moi demain 3h00.
Non, notre heure.
(Chuckling)
C'est bien, a. Au revoir.
- As I was saying...
I still love you.
You remember Saint-Tropez?
- This isn't Saint-Tropez.
- I am still the same, and you're still the same.
- No, I'm not.
- Oh yeah. - No!
(Grunting)
(Camera clicking)
(Men talking, indistinct)
- Morning, guys. - Morning!
- Good morning!
(Car honking)
- No, Doctor.
- Blood pressure.
- Damn dirty politicians!
They always have to have their finger in the pie!
- Morning, Andrea. - Morning!
We lost power in the west wing this morning.
- What? - Yes!
- The doctor will be with you in a moment, Mrs. Adams.
- Mrs. Adams! You again?
This makes, uh, the 3rd one in a little over 2 years?
What's the matter, girl?
Can you remember and practice what the doctor taught you?
(Sighing)
(Chuckling)
Obviously not.
Frank. - Yeah.
- Would you believe our backup generator
has only got half the juice we need?
We're very lucky
that this hospital isn't fully operational yet,
or we'd be in the-- up to here.
- Dr. Mars, continue with the rounds, would you, please?
- (Woman on PA): Patients are reminded
that visiting hours do not start until 13:00.
- Oh, sorry!
Oh, Doctor? - Mm-hmm.
- I'd like you meet one of our new nurses,
Miss Florence Stoddard, uh, Dr. Whitman.
- How do you do, Doctor?
- We've met. Nice to have you with us, Miss Stoddard.
- Dr. Beckstein. Dr. Beckstein.
- This way, Doctor! To the left.
(Knocking on door)
- Uh-huh?
- Mr. Clark?
Herman Stover.
- Oh yes! Yes, of course!
Come in, Stover.
Stover, we have an opening in research.
We'd like you to consider switching to that department.
- Research?
- Interesting opportunities in that branch, you know.
- Twelve years in maintenance,
they promised me I'd make foreman.
- Your aptitude test shows
that you would serve the company better
in Research and Development.
- I belong in maintenance.
I don't know anything about research. I'm in maintenance.
- I take this to mean that you won't accept the transfer?
- I wanna be foreman.
- The committee already decided on Kershaw.
- Kershaw? I ain't working for Kershaw!
- Very well.
You'll get the usual severance pay and one week's vacation.
You can present this to the paymaster.
Good luck, Stover.
- No, I don't want to. Here, take this!
Come on, Debbie!
- Here, Mommy!
Faster!
(Giggling)
- Hey, Gerald!
Why don't you come up?
- Mom!
- OK, but don't you be late for lunch now.
- I won't!
- Come on, sweetheart.
- Hey!
What you guys doing?
- Shhh!
- Mrs. Bogdanovich, Debbie's in bed,
but I'll be back as soon as I can.
- Oh, if I hear the little one cry,
I'll go right up!
- OK, thanks!
(Train horn blowing in distance)
- Come on, Joe, light up!
- Well...
- You gotta drag on it, meathead!
(Coughing)
Stand back, everybody! He's gonna up his Cornflakes!
- Fi--fi--fire!
Fire!
- Come on! Let's get out of here!
Come on, Robbie! Hustle!
- I'm coming, I'm coming!
Get going! Get going!
- Debbie, make 6 photocopies of this.
Send them up today.
- Yes, sir.
(Telephone ringing)
- What? I can't hear you, son.
- My number is 720 Birchwood Avenue!
- Let's go!
- My number is 720 Birchwood Avenue!
(Sirens wailing)
- Waller, start putting them out!
- OK, guys, let's move it!
(Coughing)
- Mommy!
(Coughing)
(Siren wailing in distance)
- Start getting the people out of those houses.
- They might lose it. - Right away, sir.
Waller, give the police a hand.
- Yes, Captain.
- Captain Risley here. Get me the chief, will ya?
- Captain Risley reporting from Birchwood, Chief.
- What do we got, Harrison?
- Three brick structures loaded with wood
and a couple of old garages.
Roof's starting to cook too.
Can't hold it.
- Andrew, where's Company 3?
- They're over at the new hospital for the dedication.
What can I tell you? The mayor wanted a band.
- Well, tell Company 3
to get their butts over to Birchwood now!
- Yes, Chief.
- All right, Captain, your reinforcements are coming.
Mayor wanted a band!
(Firefighters shouting, indistinct)
- Test one-two, one-two, one-two.
Master Control, have you got a picture?
- We don't have a picture yet, John.
- The power supply's screwed up.
- Aw, Christ! Come on, you guys, hurry up!
- We'll be back in a moment.
- OK, guys, take five. We're on a break.
- This station joins the American...
- Hey, Jimbo, we're getting picture from Mobile One
at the Birchwood fire.
- ...America's No. 1 fitness personality.
And the new Jack LaLanne Show!
- Maggie, we've got a picture on Mobile One.
(Siren wailing)
- Debbie!
- Now, get back! Back! Come on, get back!
- Debbie! - Get back now. OK.
- Oh, Debbie! - It's all right. Stay here.
- Oh my God! Debbie!
- Is there someone in the house?
- That's my little girl!
- Captain! There's a kid in the house.
- (Captain): Let's move!
(Sobbing)
- What's that?
We just learned that, apparently,
there's a little girl inside the house.
They're gonna find out what's going on here.
- Debbie! Where's Debbie?
- I only went to the store for the carrots!
Just to the store!
- Mom, Debbie's up there!
- What room is she in?
- Second floor, back room!
- Hey, hey!
- Gerald!
- Stand back. - NO!
- Keep your boy back, please.
- Stand back, ma'am. Come on, get back here, please.
- Jimbo, you're live with the remote.
We'll intercut to the spreading of the fire
with the trapped kid, OK?
- Get back. Back, back.
Ma'am! Ma'am! Can I speak to you a moment, please, ma'am?
Ma'am, can you turn to the camera?
Just speak to the camera over here.
- Oh my God! - Cut this way.
- Ma'am, we'd just like to ask you a couple questions.
- No! - Is your daughter in there?
Is she in there? Is your daughter inside?
- Oh, Debbie!
- The stairs are gone! Come on!
Give her to me! I got her!
Now you get the hell out of here!
(Screaming)
- They're coming out now, and the girl is with them.
There's only one fireman that's come out. Two have gone in.
We can only tell that the girl is unconscious as she comes out.
(Reporter on TV, indistinct)
- Chief!
- We have no idea what has happened to her.
She was in the fire from the beginning,
and as you can see, the flames are really becoming very strong.
One of the firemen is still trapped inside.
We see Captain Risley going back in with a couple other firemen.
They're obviously trying to save their buddy
still inside that burning building,
the flames going higher and higher all the time.
The heat must be fantastic inside that building.
They've gone in to save their buddy.
(Man on radio, indistinct)
- Get a pulse. - I'm trying.
Can't get a reading. Her eyes are dilated.
Asphyxia. Try direct pressure.
- Debbie, please don't die. Please don't die!
- Move her!
- I'll stop smoking. I promise!
- Let's get her in the ambulance.
Get her up! This way!
- What happened? Is she all right?
Is she dead or what?
What happened?
He still breathing? Did you get a pulse?
What happened? Do you know what happened?
What happened there? Did you get her name?
What? Is she unconscious or what?
The flames are now licking out of the ceiling, the roof.
- OK, Captain, leave him to us.
Let's get the belt on him. Come on!
- Here it is.
- I got it. That's it. That's it.
- Come on, let me through. - Yeah, OK.
- Can I talk to you for a moment, please?
- Piss off!
- Is he going to die?
- Get out of here!
It's on.
Let's get him out of here.
- Did support get here yet?
- I don't know!
Let me pour the water on it.
(Firefighter shouting, indistinct)
- Get that hose down! Get the fire!
- Guys! Come on!
- ...the building on the side there off to our right,
as our cameras look at it right now.
We'll be watching this fire very closely...
- Andrew, have Units 4 and 11 stand by.
Get me Captain Risley.
- Roger.
- ...reporting for Channel 10, Action News.
(Siren wailing on TV)
- So good of you to come early, Mrs. Lautrec.
It allows me to show you our beautiful hospital.
- Hello, Mr. Lewis. How's Mrs. Lewis?
- Fine! Fine! - Good.
- Sir Henry. - Hello!
- Mr. Sterling. His assistant, Mr. Zacharov.
- Hello.
- This way, Mrs. Lautrec.
- I got you, Diana, baby! Muah!
(Laughing)
"Two-time loser Diana goes for number three!"
- No, no! "Does Mrs. Dudley know what Mayor Dudley do?"
(Laughing)
- "Diana and Mayor Dudley living it up.
Heartbroken wife seeks divorce and custody of children!"
(Both laughing)
(EKG monitor beeping and ventilator whirring)
- Here, let me do that.
(Beeping)
Get me a vial of bicarbonate.
Half CC of epinephrine.
Let's try a shock.
Everybody stand back.
(EKG beeping rapidly)
(Beeping slowly)
(Beeping stops)
(Beeping continuously)
Notify Chief Risley.
- Enjoy the show, Diana?
- Let's continue, Mr. Lewis.
- No, no, no. Allow me.
For 3 million bucks, she's entitled to it.
International symbols:
clever drawings by clever people.
Sign language. No words!
Trouble is you need someone to tell you
what the no words don't mean.
You look older.
- I am older.
- I guess jet-setting around,
you know, marrying one guy, burying another,
I'd look older too.
- Hear you're only good for bed and breakfast.
- Oh, sometimes they skip the breakfast.
By the way, the story is
that, uh, I had to go to bed with you to get this job.
- Really?
Well, if we did go to bed, it couldn't have been terrific,
'cause I don't remember it.
- No, I think if I made a house call,
I think you'd remember it, all right.
- (Chuckling): Ooh!
Is it tough being accused of bedding your way to the top?
- Morning!
Hmm?
(Woman on PA, indistinct)
- I loved Paul. I loved David.
- Yeah.
- I did! - Mm-hmm.
- I loved all the men I went to bed with.
- All the men. Well, how many were there?
- How many with you?
- Oh, don't know. 200, 300.
No, no, no. I had a bicycle.
(Laughing)
- Still fast.
I paid $3 million for this walk,
but could we get it over with?
- Doctor, how's my sister?
- Hello, Gerald.
I think she's got a very good chance.
Is your father coming to get you?
- You sure my sister will be all right?
- You bet she will be.
Excuse me.
(Chirping)
- Oh, she's pretty! Is she yours?
- Shhh!
Mrs. Bogdanovich brought her for Debbie,
but birds aren't allowed here.
- Oh! Well, you better hide her over there.
- We went to the same school.
Same lousy neighborhood.
The pits.
Diana Brockhurst-Lautrec.
And me.
She started the year I graduated.
Every senior at Sycamore High was in love with her.
And she goes and marries some guy 30 years older.
A governor. 30 years older.
- Cute!
- Nobody listens.
- It's OK, Herman.
I'll go and mop over there.
- Yeah, why don't you do that?
Then she goes and marries another old man.
Hmm! Hmm!
But you're gonna listen.
- Hey, boss! What's wrong with the stacks?
- Christ, we're building up a lot of pressure!
(Alarm blaring)
(Siren wailing)
- I know that, but you--
- Diana!
Dr. Whitman.
- Johnny?
Aha! I was beginning to think you were avoiding me.
- Oh, I'd never forget you, Diana.
And I'm never very far, believe me.
- You old fox!
- I hope you change your mind
and join us on the speaker's platform, Dr. Whitman.
- No, I don't think so, really.
- It would look better, you know,
the head of a new hospital.
- It may have looked better,
but I don't think it would sound better.
I don't think you'd like what you'd be hearing.
- What's eating you now?
You have a new job. The city has a beautiful new hospital.
- That's right. Some new hospital!
It looks real good on the outside.
But thanks to your political favors here and there,
see, I'm stuck with a patch-up job.
- Well, nothing is perfect.
Everything is compromised.
Now, if you're the mayor of a big city
and you wanna get things done,
you have to learn to give and take.
- Try talking to a surgeon about compromise
during an open-heart operation, huh?
- Uh, Dr. Whitman.
When I call on you,
I expect you to come up and speak.
- Is that a challenge?
- If you'd like to put it that way.
- Well, you just do that, Mr. Mayor.
I look forward to it.
- Listen, Boss, we're in a hell of a mess here.
The steam power's broken.
(Siren wailing)
- Is it true you're running your late husband's publishing house?
- That's right.
- Does that mean there's a new man behind you?
- None that I can see.
- You gonna get married again, Diana?
(Chuckling)
- Well, if I do, you'll be the first to know.
- Johnny, where's the band?
- Well, there's a big fire going on.
- This is gonna be on TV, for Christ's sake!
- Hello, Vans. Hey, George.
Rob, good to see you.
- Mr. Mayor, can I have a word with you?
- Uh, no. A little later, OK?
- OK, remotes 4, 5 and 6 stand by
for the pickup of the dedication.
After Mrs. Lautrec, we're gonna cut back to Birchwood.
- Make-up! Hey!
(Snapping fingers)
- (Man): All that protects your engine
is a layer of oil this thin...
- You look gorgeous, princess!
Gorgeous!
OK, stand by, one. Stand by, Maggie.
- Shell Super Multigrade.
- Out, fade up Maggie.
- And now to the dedication ceremonies of our new hospital
where Mayor Dudley and Diana Brockhurst-Lautrec
are the guests of honor.
(Crowd applauding)
- You look very chic, sir.
- I'll take it.
(Car honking)
(Horns and sirens blaring)
(Blaring stops)
- OK, we can go again.
- And to have his name on a memorial devoted to life
as he was devoted to life and to people
would please him enormously.
He loved this city and was proud of its success,
particularly the last 10 years.
And so it's with great joy
that I present the check for $3 million
to the chairmen of the board of directors.
(Both talking, indistinct)
- (Both): OK.
- Captain Risley reporting.
Birchwood is a controlled situation.
I repeat, Birchwood is under control.
- Harrison.
- Yes, Chief?
- Harrison, Joe Waller didn't make it.
I'll go see his wife myself.
Did a good job at Birchwood, Captain.
- Thank you, sir.
(Screaming)
- I would like to introduce to you now
the new head of the Brockhurst Hospital.
It was not an easy choice. It was quite difficult.
- Well, see ya! Have a good day!
- You too.
- Well, let's get this thing on the road.
(Talking indistinctly)
(Screaming)
- What the hell was that?
- What the fuck's going on?
- Holy shit! That was on the air!
- Uh, um...
(Chuckling)
(Explosion in distance)
- At the refinery!
(All screaming)
(All screaming)
- Attention! Let me have your attention!
Do not panic!
- Are you all right? Ow!
(Whitman on mic, indistinct)
- Johnny!
- I gotta get to a phone!
- Can I help? I'm a paramedic.
- Let's get him out of here.
(Sirens wailing)
- Help me! Somebody, please help me!
- It's all right. Come on, get up.
- (Whitman): Doctors! Nurses!
Help everyone who is hurt inside...
- Lift him up. - Put your arm on my shoulder.
- Do not panic! We will help you.
- That's it! Come on! OK! OK?
- Hold on, hold on! Here, lean on me.
(All clamoring)
Switch over to emergency power immediately.
Harper, have all staff report to me as soon as possible.
Clear out that receiving area. Clear it out!
(Siren wailing)
(Explosions)
- That refinery's leveled.
Over 60 fires have started already.
Haven't been able to reach the mayor to get a Code 9,
so I'm assuming command.
Mike, radio the governor to mobilize the National Guard.
- Yes, Chief.
- Johnson, contact Temple County.
Ask the National Park Service for the tanker planes.
- Yes, sir!
- Martin, call the Parker Airfield
about some mission choppers.
- Yes, sir.
- Everyone, and I mean everyone, is subject to immediate recall.
Stellhoff. - Yes, sir.
- I wanna talk to both Police Chief Abrams
and Councilman Palin.
- God, this is it! This is really it!
Just imagine, Jimbo.
Every station on the network, and they want me.
- You gonna do it without cameras, Maggie?
(Chuckling)
- Oh, is that the best you can do?
- I'm sorry, Miss Grayson. All the roads are blocked.
I had to fish into wardrobe for these.
- Listen, what about that Birchwood crew?
- Already taking care of that.
- Hmm, good. What a goddamn mess!
- Darling, do sit still!
- What about the crew from the dedication ceremony?
- Yeah, we can use it.
- Good. Put 'em on the roof!
- The roof?
- Yes!
- Maggie, you're a genius!
- I know! I know!
Oh, can't you do something about these lines?
- Maggie, darling, only God can perform miracles.
- Out! Out.
Both of you! The hell out of here!
(Sighing)
(Sighing)
- (Man): We'll get a picture on our monitors, Jimbo.
(Reporters on TV, indistinct)
Standby car is ready.
All right, stand by to cue Maggie.
Stand by, one. Stand by, Maggie.
(Man talking, indistinct)
Whole world's on fire and that turkey picks now to get loaded.
- Ten seconds.
Nine, eight...
- Seven, six...
- This is Maggie Grayson reporting.
At 12:37, the Manson Refinery, the 9th largest in the world,
erupted with devastating force.
The cause is as yet unknown.
The massive refinery, built against public protest,
covers some 300 acres
and has a supposed storage capacity
of 15 million gallons.
The initial casualty reports are staggering.
And fires are raging out of control all over our city.
The multiple explosions have created havoc
and total destruction of a large part of the city.
(Siren wailing)
(Gasping)
(Tray clattering)
(Yelping)
- Get an IV started, Ringer's lactate.
Put him on 100% oxygen.
I want a urinary catheter, an NJ2.
Now move, move, move!
- (Woman on PA): Dr. Pratt. Dr. Pratt to OR-4.
(Groaning)
47-C is now clear and ready
to receive incoming patients.
- How you feeling?
- Yeah, yeah, yeah.
A hell of a mess in this one, Johnny,
I put for that refinery.
- Yeah, that's the risk of politics.
Yesterday, you're a hero,
and today, you're a fool for exactly the same reason.
- Come on, come on!
I don't know what the hell to do.
Can't get through on the phone to Risley or Abrams or anybody.
- Now it's bad.
But you can turn it around, make it good.
- Goddammit, Johnny! Don't humor me!
Don't know how to deal with this one.
On top of it all, you picked today
to go ahead and get a heart attack.
(Grunting)
Hey, Johnny!
- Never...
Never admit that you were wrong about the refinery.
- Now, don't you go dying me, for Christ's sake! Come on!
(Chuckling)
- You'll be governor. You'll do it.
Bet you 7 bucks you'll do it, kid! Huh?
(Man coughing)
(Women 1 on PA, indistinct)
- (Woman 2): Dr. Carr. Dr. Carr.
- Doctor, I'm looking for my--
- Go to reception.
- Dr. Carr. Dr. Carr.
- Doctor, the IV's empty.
- Hmm? Give the D5W.
(Man moaning)
- Dr. Whitman, take a look at this, please.
- Just prep him for OR. - Yes, Doctor.
(Women on PA, indistinct)
- Miss Harper.
I want everybody out of the hospital.
Everybody except patients and doctors.
That means all visitors, administrative staff,
security guards, everybody out.
Try the Prince Street exit. That'll still be safe.
I want you to do it right now.
We need all the room for the sick ones.
- Oh my God!
- We need oxygen!
- I can't!
Oh!
(Spitting)
- Diana!
(Spitting, coughing)
I found some, Diana. Found some.
- You know how to work that thing?
- I'll figure it out.
- Hope so, 'cause I don't think I can do that again.
Come on, hurry up! - OK!
- Doctor!
Please, my son.
- OK, come on, son.
(Baby crying)
- Now we have to find him a room.
- There aren't any.
- Well, we'll find some!
- We're gonna put you down right over here, OK?
Here you are.
- Nurse--
- All visitors out of the hospital!
- Please! - No, I mean now! Come on!
(Clapping hands)
(Boy screaming, joint cracking)
- Sorry, lady, we need this room.
- Hey, you can't take me out of here.
I'm gonna have a baby!
A baby born in a corridor is illegitimate!
- I don't like it, Sam.
Those fires look awful close to me,
and they're getting closer.
- Well, just think of your pension.
- I am thinking about it.
I'm thinking about how I wanna live to collect it.
- Man, will you get to work?
- The casualties are now close to 3,000.
To complicate matters,
water pressure has fallen considerably.
Despite the help of neighboring communities,
the scattered locations of fires...
- Does it show? Can you tell?
- ...are more than combined firefighters.
- No, you can't.
- And now, as night approaches, looting has begun.
- Nah, you can't tell.
The hell you can't! Jesus!
- ...more than the National Guard and the police
can cope with.

(Siren wailing)
(Shouting indistinctly)
- Wish to hell he'd start smoking again and be nice.
- (Man): Zoom in on that, please.
(Reporters on TV, indistinct)
(Cars honking)
- Look, I just wanna get in there!
- No. - I'm not a looter!
I just wanna get the pictures!
- You got the pictures? - No!
- I can! - Leave me alone!
- I'll try! - No, Terry!
(Grunting)
(Screaming)
(Tires screeching)
OK, Terry! It'll be OK!
- Real bad shape.
- 187 fires have already been reported out of control.
Here, here and here.
We have little chance of preventing total destruction.
I recommend we evacuate the areas immediately.
Prepare for demolition
to prevent the fires from spreading any further.
- Chief Risley, I do think we should first confer
with Mayor Dudley.
- Councilman, if you can contact him, you confer.
In the meantime, I'll take the responsibility.
Andrew, what's the latest forecast?
- Hot, dry weather with northeasterly winds
increasing 20-30 miles an hour.
- Gentlemen, gather around.
Take a look. Here's the hospital.
Only the area to the south of the hospital
is unthreatened so far.
- The hospital's gonna burn! We just built the damn thing!
- My biggest concern right now is a firestorm. - A what?
- If the fire surrounds the hospital,
it'll burn up the oxygen.
The people will suffocate.
We've got to find a way to communicate with the hospital.
- The TV high-angle shots were taken
from the roof of the Brockhurst Hospital.
Maybe there's a way to talk to them up there.
- What are you waiting for?
Get in touch with the station. - Yes, sir!
- Is anybody-- - I'm here, Nurse!
- Nurse Collingwood to X-ray.
Nurse Collingwood to X-ray.
- Yeah.
We understand, Jimbo. You can count on us.
- Sam...
(Siren wailing)
- Thanks, Jimbo! We're doing our best.
Yeah.
- Sam, the fire's getting closer.
- Get going! You heard the man!
- Patients are requested to board the vehicles outside
in an orderly fashion.
There is no cause for alarm...
- Can I help you with that?
- No, I don't need any help.
I went to medical school for 3 years.
- What medical school taught you to do this?
All right, hero, listen.
Why don't you help, uh,
get all those people into the trucks, huh?
Come on, come on. Get out of here.
(Breathing heavily)
- Uh, have you had babies before?
- Ah, sure! Two!
- Oh, well, uh,
do you think you have to have this one right now?
- For you, maybe another half an hour.
- Oh, good girl!
(Chuckling)
(Groaning)
- OK, move along!
Come on, everybody! That's it.
Right to the back. Right to the back.
- There is no cause for alarm...
Hospital personnel will be traveling with you.
- Come on, everybody out! Let's go!
- Come on, keep moving!
- You mind telling me what's going on out here
with the ambulances?
- Ah, not a bit, Mr. Mayor!
You know, it seems that there was some idiot
who let them build a refinery right in the middle of the city,
and this is the result!
And I bet it was you.
I really would like
to hear you talk yourself out of this boo-boo.
- Do you mind telling me what's going on out here?
- Doctor's orders.
Dr. Whitman wants the rest of the hospital
evacuated in a hurry.
You could do both of us a favor, Mr. Mayor.
Get yourself in one of those trucks.
Least this will keep you out of the governor's mansion.
- Don't take any bets on it.
- Well, I ain't gonna vote for you!
(Siren wailing)
(Children screaming)
- Children! Children!
- Hey, gang! Attention!
Now, listen, we're all gonna play a little game now, OK?
Now, you all know how to play follow the leader?
- (Children): Yeah! - (Boy): I know how to play!
- Now, if you don't do what I tell you to do,
I'll take all your tonsils out.
You understand? - I don't want my tonsils out!
- OK, everybody, come on. Get in line, now.
We're gonna get ready. Come on, kids!
Miss Stoddard, help them out, will you, please?
- (Boy): No! - Here we go! OK?
Now, remember, you gotta do everything that I do.
Here she comes. Ready?
George, I'll come back for you, OK?
Miss Stoddard, look after him.
Here we go! Follow the leader!
(Children and Whitman imitating marching band )
(Girl giggling)
- I don't wanna go. What are you doing?
- Would you stop being so difficult?
- Go away, little girl!
- What on earth is the matter with you, you silly old man?
- Miss! Miss!
- What?
Oh. All right, we'll do something about that. Uh...
- Diana! - Aha, Bill!
- What? - Just the man I need.
Well, don't stand there! Come on, help me get him up.
Wait a minute. Whoop!
(Grunting)
- Better now?
- I'm going back down to City Hall.
I want you to come with me.
- Through all this?
- We can make it now. We may not be able to later.
- I--I can't! I can't just--
- Diana, now, listen to me.
(Imitating marching band )
Johnny died.
(Siren wailing)
- I'm ready!
- OK!
(Children and Whitman imitating marching band )
In we go!
Here we go! OK!
Up and away!
Up and away! Here we go.
Up and away!
- Come on! Up you go!
- Next! Whoa!
Here we go, sweetheart.
- Hey, doctor, is that your girlfriend?
- (Girl): Old McDonald had a farm...
- Mayor Dudley?
- Yeah, what?
- Chief Risley wants you.
- Wants me where? - On the roof.
- On the roof? - With the TV crew.
- TV? For Christ's sake, now you tell me!
- Maggie, sweetheart...
- Hmm?
- You have got to get back up there.
Listen, we just got the go-head from the network.
We're going national! - I can't do it.
- With you as liaison between Dudley and Risley.
- Jimbo, I can't do it. - Yes, you can, Maggie.
- I can't do it! - You can, sweetheart!
- I can't! Listen, listen. Hey, maybe if I had some.
- No, no! This, you're gonna have to do without that.
No, no!
(Laughing)
- You put on a dress! You do it! It'd be great.
- Oh, Maggie...
- You'd be absolutely...
(Laughing)
Absolutely great! You want to, don't you?
- Maggie, listen. Do you trust me?
- Yes, darling. - Do you trust me?
- Oh yeah, like a snake. Oh, I trust you!
- Haven't I always taken care of you,
seen you through every show?
- Yes, my darling!
- Made sure that you came across
intelligent, bright, beautiful?
- Right, of course! Oh yes!
- That's just how you're gonna be this time.
- But, you see, I am!
- You're gonna bright, intelligent and beautiful!
- I am bright. I am intelligent.
- You're gonna be wonderful!
- Aaah! You rotten son of a bitch!
- It's all right now. You just need freshening up.
- I'll have you fired for this, you rotten bastard!
- Get some more of that on your face. That's wonderful!
Just stay like that. I'm gonna bring in the crew.
- I'll get even with you! I will!
- I love you too.
- You rotten--
- I'll see you on the set in 10 minutes.
- Yeah, maybe. Maybe so.
(Groaning)
(Exhaling sharply)
- Fix her.
(Sirens wailing)
(Firefighters shouting, indistinct)

- (Man on loudspeaker): And if your car breaks down
or you get into trouble of any kind,
pull it off onto the side of the road.
Traffic must be kept moving. Traffic must move right along.
- Diana!
- That woman on the 3rd bed is bleeding from the nose.
Mop her up a bit. I need something for pain.
- All right. Have you ever given an injection?
- Don't be ridiculous! Of course not!
- All right, you put it in his shoulder. Don't let any air in.
You just pretend it's... Come on, you can do it.
- Get an IV ready! It could be a perforated ulcer.
See if there's any blood in the bag.
(Fire roaring in distance)
What's taking so long?
- (Man 1): OK, go to Bill. - Raise the sound.
- Mayor Dudley, can you hear me?
- Uh, yes, Miss Grayson. I hear you very well.
- Let's try to patch in the chief.
- (Man 2): Hey, Marty, looks like Jimbo's starting to weaken.
- Man, he's smoking! He's smoking.
- Mm-hmm!
There, he did it. I'll be damned!
- (Maggie): Chief Risley! - Go ahead, Chief.
- Can you hear me? - Can you hear her, Chief?
- Can you not hear me, Chief Risley?
- Yes, I do, Miss Grayson.
I apologize, but we have no time for formalities.
Mayor Dudley, are you having difficulty breathing?
- Well, uh, yes. As a matter of fact, I am.
- Mr. Mayor, I'm afraid the hospital may be caught
in a firestorm.
- Chief Risley, does that mean
that the people in the hospital are in danger of suffocating?
- Mayor Dudley, it's very important
that everyone in the hospital get out of the area
as quickly as possible.
(Sirens wailing)
- Look at that.
- (Reporter 1): The heat is unbearable...
- That's a hell of a shot. That's a hell of a shot!
- The courage that I've seen today. These guys are--
Oh! And the wall has collapsed on top of the fireman!
He's on fire! Oh my God, I can't believe it!
- (Reporter 2): Oh my God, there's a dog up there!
I can't imagine how he got there,
but he doesn't have much hope.
The building is about to collapse.
- Poor dog! - It could go any minute.
(Chirping)
- Come on!
- Back up! We can't go any further.
- Yeah, we'll never get through that.
Let's get out of here, man!
- Now the street's blocked.
Nothing can get through there.
We're on our own.
Uh, Chief Risley, let's get some helicopters out here.
- With the winds changing so drastically, it's impossible.
(Man on radio, indistinct)
However, we can try something else.
Get my son on the radio.
- (Woman on radio): Company 27 to the Prince Street exit
of the Brockhurst Hospital.
Company 27 to the Prince Street exit
of the Brockhurst Hospital.
- We're about a mile south, proceeding directly.
- Harrison, to get those people out of the hospital,
we're going to need a water tunnel.
- Roger. I'll report on arrival.
We'll need backup and paramedics.
- You OK?
- Yes, thanks. But I'm worried.
Dr. Whitman says there's no more oxygen, even for Debbie.
- Well, we can't use oxygen with the fire all around us.
Give her some of this.
Just not too much. Just a few drops at a time, OK?
- Thank you.
- How's the bird?
- Mrs. Lautrec.
I'm Terry James.
- Oh, the photographer.
- The one you had arrested.
- Don't--don't move too much. You're losing strength.
- It's all right. I got the pictures.
- What?
- I know you.
The camera never lies.
I'm gonna do your life in pictures.
(Chuckling)
- That's terrific.
- I see you, everything about you.
They're gonna know you, Diana, through my...
pictures.
- Diana, I guess you don't remember high school.
- What?
- Mrs. Lautrec, can you help me, please?
- High school?
- Yeah, you started the year I graduated.
Listen...
- Get him out of here, quick!
- (Man on radio): Company 27 on site at Prince Street.
Army support has arrived and paramedics are on their way.
(Firefighters shouting in distance)
Captain Risley's surveying the situation.
Expect a report momentarily.
(Coughing)
- We can't go out there! It's too damn hot!
Water tunnels in progress.
Affirmative. Captain Risley's still surveying the situation.
(Coughing)
- Come on. Come on, son. You can't stay out here.
There's no air.
- Stay back! There's fire out there!
You can't go yet!
- I can't stand it anymore!
Come on!
(Breathing unevenly)
(Firefighter shouting, indistinct)
(Grunting)
(Screaming)
- Oh my God! My God!
- Medics, come on!
- Chief, Mayor Dudley needs to cover the first 100 yards
from his end.
Can you find out if there are any hoses at the hospital?
- Mayor Dudley, the first 100 yards has to be covered
from your end.
Are there enough hoses at the hospital?
- I don't know. I'm gonna check on it.
- Scalpel.
- Here you go.
- Get me an emergency lamp.
- Switching to manual oxygen.
- Whitman! Whitman!
- Get out of here.
- This is urgent.
- I said get out of here.
(Groaning)
You were saying, Mr. Mayor?
(Sighing)
Your patient, Doctor.
- OK, let's stitch you up.
- That's fine. I can take over.
- Do you know where the fire-hose stations are
in the hospital,
the water-supply hookups?
Do you know where they are?
- Yeah, I think so.
- Well, good!
Show them to me, will you, please?
- You ought to have a doctor look at that leg.
- A doctor? After what I just saw, I think I'll pass on that.
- Franks, get Mason and come with me.
- Come on, man! Will you hurry it up?
(Breathing heavily)
- Mrs. Adams, you can't!
Not now!
- Would I lie at a time like this?
- Well, you gotta hold it until I find someone!
- It's not up to me anymore.
(Breathing heavily)
- Oh, OK.
So...
Uh, you have to tell me what to do.
You have a lot more experience than I have.
- Don't worry, you'll do fine.
I'll help you. - Thank you.
- You're welcome.
- OK, now, stretch it all the way! Stretch it!
(All shouting, indistinct)
(Screaming)
- Doctor! Fire!
- Oh my God!
Where's Dr. Morris. Morris!
(Alarm ringing)
I want everybody evacuated immediately.
(Monitors beeping)
Let's go. Move it.
(Siren wailing)
- All right! Turn it on as high as it can go!
- All right!
- What's happening?
- Nothing's coming out!
- Let it go!
All right! Let's get down further.
- This is as far as it will go!
- What? - That's all there is!
- All right, we'll have to wet them down,
and they can make a run for it.
- Go! Move it!
Need more pressure!
(Firefighters shouting, indistinct)
- OK, now, everyone listen to me.
I wanna have your attention now.
Now, look, when you get outside,
Mayor Dudley's gonna soak you all with water.
He's gonna follow you as far as he can.
You got it?
Then the firemen...
The firemen will cover you the rest of the way
until you reach safety.
Morris, let's start with them.
- No, leave him there.
- No!
- Leave her. I'll take care of her.
Come on, now.
- Morris. Got get you good and wet.
Good and wet. That's it, that's it!
All right, go! Go on, run! Run
Get out here! Get out here!
Stay huddled. Hold it, hold it!
I gotta get that blanket wet.
One second, one second!
Go on, go on! Come on, come on!
- Go, go! Give me your hand!
- Hold up!
- Oh! Oh!
- Go on, run!
- Ah! Oh my!
- No, no, no! Here!
Mason, get a sheet and get him out of here.
OK, all right, he can go next.
Here, take this with you.
Fine. What's the matter with him?
- All right, there.
All right, move on.
All right, hold it! Hold it, hold it!
- Oh! - All right!
- Come on, son! Come on, you need some oxygen!
Go over there! Go on!
- Look at that house! It's gonna go!
(Siren wailing)
- Over here!
- OK! Let's go!
- Diane, we have to talk.
- What?
- It can't wait.
It's very important for you and me.
- Get out of here!
(Mrs. Adams groaning)
(Breathing heavily)
- I--I see something. What do I do?
- Uh, give me your hands. Give me your hands.
OK, all right.
(Grunting)
(Gasping)
- It's happening!
Ah! Oh my God!
- All right! Stay there.
All right, go quickly.
All right.
(Both whimpering)
Hold it. Just get 'em wet.
All right, move on!
(Groaning)
- All right! - Not so fast!
- OK!
- Move on, move on!
- Here we go! - Come on!
Move on! Come on! Get going!
(Groaning)
- It's too fast! Too fast!
You're pushing too fast!
- Not fast enough for me!
- (Man on radio): Firemen in control.
Second group's through to safety.
The paramedics are at attention.
- Medic! Come on, man!
- Oh! Oh!
(Women coughing)
- OK, let's move along quickly and orderly, but move.
Everybody, let's move along.
Come on back here. Let's go.
Bring him along. Move that along. That's it.
Now, everybody's gonna get wet down out there,
so remember, they're gonna soak you down.
Completely soaked, everybody.
(Coughing)
Get those gurneys. Go ahead, go.
- Aaah!
Come on, move on!
- We're here, John!
(Screaming)
- Second unit's just arrived. Send me more paramedics...
- Are you OK?
- I'm find, baby! Come on, let's get to work!
(Siren wailing)
- Hold it! Let me through. Let me through here.
- How many more are back there?
- We have many more to go!
- This water's not gonna hold out much longer.
- Harper! OK, now, look!
All you have to do is follow Nurse Harper.
- That's me! That's me!
- Stay close to each other so the spray covers all.
Is everyone set?
- Now, stay in line.
The water's gonna be a shock, but it's going to protect you.
- Officer.
Not him.
(Crying)
- Now what?
- What have I got?
- A baby!
- Thank God for that.
- Have you seen Diane?
- No!
- A little girl.
- Congratulations.
Not bad, kid. Not bad.
- Hey, you were terrific.
- You were better.
- You better get going.
We still have time to get you out with the last group.
- Shhh...
- All right, hold it! Hold it!
Stay. Let me get you wet.
Fine, you're good and wet. All right, go on!
Go on, go!
- Keep him covered up. Come on!
- All right, stay there.
You're good and wet here. All right, go on!
Go on!
- Are you OK?
- This heat!
- Oh, why aren't they coming?
- We gotta move faster! We're not gonna make it.
Watch the truck on the right!
- What you doing?
The heat's going down.
What's he doing? Come on! Come on!
- Officer! You!
Here. Take this.
OK.
- Hey, I'll see you next baby around, doc.
- You got a date.
Move on!
- Hold it! Hold it!
- Why the hell didn't you go with them?
(Sniffling)
- Leave it!
(Harper shouting in distance)
No, leave it there!
(Scaffold creaking)
- Oh! Oh my God!
- No! Oh my God!
- Go ahead! Get under it!
- Ah!
(Coughing)
- Go, go, go!
Go! Keep going!
(Grunting)
- Oh!
- Whitman! On the left!
Whitman!
Whitman! This way!
Come on! Come on!
This way! Come on!
- No!
- Frank! Frank! Frank!
Frank, run! Frank, run!
Frank!
(Both laughing)
- (Man): Hey, there's the doc! Let's go, doc!
(All cheering)
He made it!
- OK, move out! Move out!
Everybody out now! Come on, let's go!
(Siren wailing)
- Heard anything about Jeannie and the kids?
- Yes, they're OK.
- See you later, Dad.
- Take care!
- How does it feel to be a hero?
- Hero?
Well, the real heroes of this tragedy
are the people of this fair city.
- You know, um,
this won't work.
- Course it won't.
(Both chuckling)
- That's a wrap! Terrific show! Terrific!
OK, put it to bed now. Great show! Great!
(Chuckling)
Maggie! You were terrific!
- (Both): Mmm!
- Wasn't I?
And now can I have that drink?
- Come on! I'm buying!
- Oh!
- You should've seen the last close-up
of you talking to Dudley.
Low angle. The lighting was fantas--
You looked beautiful!
- Did I? - Yeah!
(Clicking tongue)
- All it takes is one man.
It could be anybody. Your neighbor, my neighbor.
One man to destroy a city.

Closed Captions: MELS