Early Edition (1996) s01e09 Episode Script

RADIO ANNOUNCER: avoid the Kennedy and the Eisenhower for the rest of rush hour and that's traffic.
Sunshine, sunshine, sunshine.
Not a drop of rain, snow, sleet or hail, today or tomorrow.
If you have outdoor plans, go for it.
CHUCK: One thing about hanging around with a guy with tomorrow's newspaper, you never know what's coming next.
(car horn honking) (chickens clucking) You get the kids.
I'll get the parents.
What about my car? It's going to ruin my paint job.
All right, kids, I'm your Uncle Chuck.
Now, you see, there's going to be a storm.
We got to go inside.
You got a storm cellar? What? There's a tornado coming.
This time of year? Look, it's a freak.
I'm telling you, there's a tornado coming.
(rumbling) Trust me.
Over there.
You get the baby.
I'll gather up the kids.
All right, kids, that's enough.
Stop fighting! Let's go.
Go, go, go.
(wind whistling) Dad, where's Teddy? (wind whooshing) (whimpers) (nearby shattering) (glass breaking) (thunder rumbles) CHUCK: It's all right.
It's okay.
(children crying) (whooshing stops) GARY: Let me take a look.
(crying continues) (horse whinnying) CHILD: Teddy's okay! Awesome.
Look at the house.
CHUCK: Like I said, knowing the headlines is one thing.
Knowing the future's another.
My car.
My brand-new car.
Gary! What? Where's your car? Hey, look.
(theme music playing) That's it? That's all that's left? That and a puddle of oil on the ground.
(whistles) Must have been one hell of a wind.
Hops over a dog and sucks up my brand-new car.
No sign of it anywhere.
Do I deserve this? I hope you got insurance.
What good would that do? No wheels, no payoffs.
Habeas corpus.
Don't take it so hard, Chuck.
We saved a family today.
Yeah, I know.
Give me the financial section.
Nice try.
Come on, I got an investment in there, a big one.
What kind of an investment? It's a sleeper.
Idaho Industrials.
It's going to break any day.
Guaranteed minimum five to one.
And when it does, believe me, my ship is going to come in.
Hey, uh, Chuck? Hmm? Man the life boats.
Your ship's going down.
(blues music playing) I don't believe this.
What do I have to do to catch a break around here? I already told you, sell that stock before it's too late.
Yeah? And then what? Come on, just give me another Oh, no.
Don't think Chuck, think Mexico.
Savings and loans.
A simple bail out.
I can't do that.
Why not? Number one, that's not why the paper comes.
Number two, every time I do let someone see this thing, things get screwed up.
I'm telling you, one of these days, someone's going to get hurt.
(telephone rings) Ah, Miss Carson, my brooding star reporter.
Working hard, are we, huh? Go away, Hawks.
Maybe it's that new arson piece.
The one that actually names some names, huh? I'm making progress.
I can see that.
Put a lid on it, Harry.
I'm waiting for a source to call me back.
What's his name, Hobson? I thought so.
You know, ever since that guy walked in here, you've been writing powder-puff stuff.
What's happened to you? Nothing.
So I can see.
For your information, he and I were over six weeks ago.
And you've been mooning ever since.
I have not.
Bad sign in a newspaper woman.
I hope you're not getting soft on me.
Me? Quit dreaming.
Just checking, 'cause Washington called asked about you.
They're looking to hire One lousy date, Harry.
What? Chinese food and then nothing.
Not even a call.
So maybe you ought to call him.
I have.
Then try something else.
Like what? You'll think of something.
You always do.
(phone rings) ANNOUNCER: Now approaching, route line.
Now approaching, route line.
Well, well, fancy meeting you here.
Long time no see.
What's it been, a lifetime? Gary, I think we should talk.
GARY: Yeah, well, look, now's not a good time.
When would be a good time? A month? A couple years? Look, I got to go.
Fine.
Fine.
Let's have lunch.
Say yes, and I'll let you go.
Say yes.
Yes.
One more thing, the toddler story's a fake.
Had to get your attention somehow.
I don't believe it.
You lie on the front page of the Sun-Times? Well, only in theory.
The paper hasn't come out yet.
When I saw you, I called the office and spiked the story, but by tomorrow Boy, you got it all figured out, don't you? Well, I'm a reporter.
It's my job.
Look, Meredith, knock it off.
This paper's not a game.
What the hell are you thinking? What happened? One date and then good-bye, Gary.
What happened? Nothing happened.
You're lying.
Something was happening till you chickened out.
I'll tell you what, it wasn't smooth, but it wasn't dull.
We were getting along like cats and dogs, but you liked it, and that was the rub, huh? 'Cause the closer I got, the closer you wanted me.
Right in here.
But you couldn't do that, 'cause you're afraid.
You're scared 'cause I know your secret.
And I don't mean the paper.
I mean you and me.
I got to go.
MARISSA: So you just walked out on her? What was I supposed to do? She had me cornered.
Hmm.
And you didn't like that.
Must have taken guts.
Not really.
I didn't mean you.
I meant her.
She kind of went out on a limb for you, you know.
And you just cut it off? She must really like you.
That's not the point.
Really? The point is, it would never work between the two of us.
Hmm.
Give me a reason.
Give you a reason? Mm-hmm.
This paper.
She's a reporter.
I'm the guy that gets tomorrow's news.
You know what that spells? Trouble.
So don't let her see it.
You don't know her, Marissa.
She's like little Miss Curiosity.
She's into everything.
Things that should be left alone.
Things you think should be left alone.
Well, maybe, yes.
Live your life.
What? That's what the old typesetter wrote.
Maybe he knew something.
Like what? Do you really need me to tell you? I gotta go.
Sooner or later you're going to have to decide.
You can't keep running forever.
Try me.
(woman giggling) (elevator bell dings) I just came by to tell you that I got offered this job in Washington DC, and I I think I'm going to take it.
Don't cry your eyes out.
Is that true? How do I know? You don't.
I guess you just have to trust me.
You won't like it there.
You'd be better off here, I think.
(meowing) Hey, little buddy.
Come on in.
(meowing) Hi.
Hi.
Did you sleep well? Did you sleep well? Well, no, I didn't.
I do you know that you snore? I could hear you from the couch.
No, I don't.
I don't snore.
Yeah, you do.
You lie.
(cat meows) What's its name? I don't know.
He doesn't exactly have a name, you know.
Kind of come with the paper? Kind of.
I should probably put this away.
No, no.
Wait.
That's not going to work.
I told you last night.
It's you.
It's not the paper.
If it's part of your life.
I'll have to deal with it.
I won't look.
I don't have to.
See? That wasn't so hard, was it? Good morning.
(door closes) (shower running) (wind whooshing) (rustling) (rustling) (shower running) (meowing) "Three Youths Killed in Arson Fire.
" Gare, you left your keys in the door.
(gasps) And I got your crullers.
You're Meredith, right? You know, this is not what it looks like.
Of course not.
No, I just, um Right.
So now what? Hard to say.
We could tell him.
Got the financials? (door shuts) Is there someone here? MEREDITH: What? I thought I heard the front door close.
Oh, no.
That was Chuck.
He brought you, um crullers.
What? Nothing.
I have to go to work.
I'm going to be late.
Are you hungry? Uh yeah.
I'll call you as soon as I can from the office, okay? Uh-huh.
Hey, why didn't he stay? Who? Chuck? Yeah.
I don't know.
I guess he had an appointment or something.
Oh.
Bye.
(door closes) Com Tran November 145.
You got them? Got two holds on them.
How much? Good.
5,000.
That's right.
Buy them.
All of them.
But Com Tran's trading at 90.
What can I say? I-I feel lucky today.
Next.
Um Brush Co, November 125.
How much? Hey, that one's going belly up.
Three-eighths and a half? Buy them.
That's right.
All of them.
(man's body crashes to floor) And get a paramedic while you're at it.
(dog barks in distance) (door opens) (door latch creaks) (kids talking and laughing) BOY: Check it out.
(thud) Throw it! Throw it! Ooh! (laughing) All right! Yeah! Hey, guys.
Hey, guys! Let's get out of here! Guys, hang on! Guys! Guys! Guys, you got to get out of here.
Wait! Quiet.
What are you doing? Shh! Be quiet.
What are you doing here? They're over there.
Hey, I thought you went to the office.
I did.
Then I came here.
Why? Follow me.
That's why.
I've been chasing these guys for months.
Now I've got them.
What about those kids? We're gonna find them right after we get this shot.
Ready, Pete? Ready.
Here they go.
Now.
Hey, shut that thing off! Damn it! What are you doing? You got to get out of here.
Come on.
Come on.
We gotta get out of here.
Come on.
This way.
Let's find those kids.
Come on.
Hurry! (grunting) Oh, my God! Come on, back upstairs.
Come on, Pete! Oh, no.
I'm not jumping.
Come on, Pete! It's the ground floor.
Let's go! Come on, Gary.
I can't.
I gotta go back.
Well, I'll go with you.
I gotta find the kids.
Go! PETE: Meredith, come on! Meredith, come on! Go.
Be careful.
Hey, guys! (sirens wailing) Anyone in there? Yeah.
Three kids.
And some guy.
You think you can get them out? In there? I doubt it.
Well, then, I'm gonna go.
No, you don't.
Hey, hey, hey, hey.
You gotta stay put.
I can't Look! Look! Look! PETE: He's got the kids.
Hey, I got three kids over here.
(boy choking) (camera shutter snapping) (siren wailing) Gary! Where did he go? Who knows? We gotta get back to the paper.
Deadline's in half an hour.
Yeah, but we Come on! To a job well done, if I do say so myself.
What a day.
I've never seen anything like it.
That broke the bank.
What you got? Radar? Instincts, gentlemen.
God-given instincts.
Is that what we call it? Pritchard.
Uh Join the party.
Bubbly? Cuban? Not just yet, thank you.
I wonder you if you could spare me a moment.
My time is your time.
Excuse me.
(elevator bell dings) You know, Phil May I call you Phil? Now that I've shattered every record that was ever in this office, and in the process secured enormous commissions for both you and me, this raises some very important questions.
For instance? Office space.
Mine.
How about this one? Yours? You did do this all by yourself, didn't you? I mean, without any help from me or anyone else in the firm? Well, I'd love to share credit, Phil, but honesty forbids.
In that case, I'd like for you to meet Mr.
Connor.
Oh.
Hello.
Charmed.
New kid on the block? Uh-huh.
You want me to show him the ropes? Um, chief investigator.
Criminal Practices, SEC.
This is it.
This is the big story? I was having some problems, okay? You were in the building with the fire bugs and a photographer.
Where are the pictures? And how about some license plate numbers? And who is this hero that saved the kids? I don't know.
You don't know? This is junk.
I'd rather read about a tornado.
Sorry.
Yeah.
Look, kid, you know I'm fond of you.
Oh, Harry.
You're practically a son.
Okay, a daughter.
Be that as it may, I'm looking out for your interest.
I'm touched.
So let me give you a word of advice.
Shape up.
That's it? Yeah, now beat it.
Thanks, Harry.
(phone rings) WOMAN: Circulation.
MAN 1: If they cut any more of this might as well just print my outline.
MAN 2: Looks like, uh (sighs) Hi.
I want some answers.
To what? What were you doing there? I was covering a fire.
Before it started? I was following my leads.
Gary, I've been on this story for months.
So it's just coincidence us running into each other? Don't worry.
I kept your name out of the piece.
Yeah, so I read.
I need to know, did you look at the paper? I told you I was following my Did you look at the paper? It's a very powerful thing, Meredith.
It's nothing to fool with.
Neither is trust.
Yeah.
What am I doing? (phone ringing) Yeah, Carson here.
It's Chuck.
Gary's friend.
I'm in trouble.
Again.
You did what? CHUCK: I made too much money.
How? I don't know.
I just sort of got carried away.
How carried away? $15 million.
(glass shatters) What? I know.
I know.
II don't know what got into me.
I just just felt so good, I couldn't help myself.
I know what you mean.
Not only that, the feds are investigating me for insider trading.
What do I tell them? "Oh, sorry, I read tomorrow's newspaper.
" The way I see, there's only one thing to do.
I need your help getting the paper tomorrow's.
No.
No.
I am not doing that again.
I got in enough trouble as it is already.
I've got to lose this fast.
You know how hard it is to dump a fortune like that? I need all the help I can get.
Please, just this once for me.
I'm sorry.
I can't.
Look, I got to go.
What? Wait a minute.
(sighs) WAITRESS: Here's your check.
$5.
50.
Here.
Keep the change.
(cat meowing) (paper thudding against door) (cat snarling) (meowing) Where's the paper? (snarling) (elevator bell dings) Thanks.
Where is it? What? The paper.
I want it back.
I don't have it.
You got it, all right, don't you? Really? Nice to see you, too.
MAN: Could you hold that elevator, please? Look, I don't have time to play games.
Just tell me where it is Or what, you'll walk out of here again like you did yesterday? Yesterday I trusted you, and then I went to a fire.
Now I got a cat on my doorstep all by himself.
Which adds up to me? Well, who else? I don't have it.
What I need right now is for you to believe me.
Will you? I need the paper.
Well, I guess that answers my question.
Well, I guess so.
Oh, you're good.
Oh, wrong again.
Aw, shucks.
How could this be happening to me? Geez, maybe you ought to stop.
Hey, you know You're right.
You're oh, look at this.
(chuckles) Oh.
How could I be so stupid? Fishman, what is going on here? I understand you've been losing.
Losing is not the word.
This is a massacre.
Take a loo Oh, no.
I mean, talk about having a bad day.
How much is he down? $14 million or so.
Not exactly.
$15,124,000, on the nose.
(thud) I order you to stop.
You got it.
(computer beeps) My office, five minutes.
Hey, easy come, easy go, huh? Somebody get this slacker out of here.
Oh, you lose $15 million, you need a man-sized deodorant.
Chuck? Meredith what are you doing here? I need the paper.
Oh, wait, I thought you didn't want I got to get the paper to Gary.
So you expect me to risk my life, get scratched up Chuck, please.
Here.
Go ahead and take it.
It didn't do me any good anyway.
Well, maybe it will me.
Thanks.
Connor, buddy, guess what? I heard.
$15,124,000.
The ups and downs of fortunes.
Maybe.
You know what? I do believe that that is the exact amount of money that I made yesterday.
That that's amazing, huh? Astounding.
So I guess you won't be needing me anymore, huh? Quite the contrary.
We've just begun.
(horn honks) Blackstone Hotel.
CABBIE: You got it.
(sighs) Yeah, Meredith Carson, please.
She's not, huh? Can I leave her a message? Uh-huh.
Yeah, tell her that, uh Forget it.
I'll call her back.
Yeah.
VENDOR: Get your paper.
Hey, did you want a paper, sir? MAN: I forgot my umbrella.
MEREDITH: Gary? Gary, it's me.
Come to the door (whispers): Great.
(elevator bell dings) No (cat meowing) (meows) (cell phone beeping) Harry.
Carson.
Yeah, get me a photographer to the Morgan Building.
Now.
(whispers): Okay.
Name? Ernest Borgnine.
Chuck Fishman.
That's what I meant.
(chuckles) Remarkable record you've compiled this week, Mr.
Fishman.
Oh, I wouldn't say it was Well, Tuesday $15,124,000 in net profit.
Very nice work.
Thank you.
Wednesday net losses totaling exactly the same amount.
My, my, my.
Must have been a blow.
You have no idea.
Naturally, the Securities and Exchange Commission is quite anxious to know exactly how this remarkable coincidence occurred.
Explanation? One that you'd believe? Yup.
Nope.
Let me say this in this man's defense.
My firm denies all liability for his heinous and potentially criminal acts.
Ball's in your court.
I suppose bribery's out of the question here.
Just checking.
In that case, I'm gonna need a phone.
(rock music plays) MARISSA: Having fun? Yup.
Sounds like it.
Just make sure you don't break that cue stick, huh? Thanks.
You know, that's what I like about you.
You're the strong, silent type.
Nothing bothers you.
I want my paper back.
And that's funny, 'cause it seems to me you've been saying for quite some time you hoped it would go somewhere else.
That's different.
How? 'Cause she stole it.
Maybe.
Maybe? You don't know that for sure.
No.
She played me, all right.
All for a shot at tomorrow's news.
And I let her.
So what does that tell you? What does that tell me? I'll tell you what that tells me.
That tells me I'm stupid.
Or in love.
Well, it's the same thing, isn't it? I see.
From now on, I'm staying away from anyone with even the slightest interest in that thing.
That's a lot of people, my friend.
You planning on running away from the world? Maybe.
Maybe that's what it wants.
What? The paper.
Maybe it wants you to be alone.
Live your life.
That's what the old man said.
Oh, but you can't.
Oh, yes I can.
And are you? Your point is? She's not stealing that paper.
That paper is stealing her from you.
So the question is Are you gonna let her go? Message from Fishman.
What's he want? Well, three things A top-flight attorney Change of underwear And, uh oh, yeah.
He's says he's sorry he stole the newspaper.
He says he'll never do it again.
(cash register dings) Let me explain myself, okay? I did it for a good cause.
What? My grandchildren.
How would they feel if their grandpa was in jail? What, do you think this is funny? I said I was sorry, okay? So you just talked your way out of it? By the skin of my teeth.
Now they're gonna be on my butt for the next 500 years.
Boy, I tell you, I really learned my lesson.
Which is? Never sell off your profits.
Just give me the paper, okay? Me? I don't have it.
You what? I gave it to Meredith.
She said she was gonna bring it back to you.
When? About an hour ago or so.
Come on.
Let's go.
Are you coming or what? (typewriter clacking) Excuse me, sir.
(newsroom chatter) Hawks, where is she? Oh, not again.
Listen, I need to find her.
Sure, you do.
And I need a day off in June.
If you haven't noticed, I'm running a newspaper here, and not a lost and found.
Yeah, that's very clever.
So you two had a fight, huh? About what I couldn't care less.
I'll tell you this, though, you're giving me gas.
Listen.
I No, you listen to me.
I don't know how you did it, but you took the best reporter I ever had and turned her into someone I don't even know.
A girl.
I just hope you know what you're getting into.
Well, I don't.
Good.
That's a start.
Morgan Building, up on the roof.
What's she doing there? How should I know? Thank you.
Damn.
(shutter clicking) They're not here.
It doesn't make any sense.
How'd you find out about this, anyway? Some kind of anonymous tip? Something like that.
Look you might as well go.
How 'bout you? No, I think I'll stay here for a bit.
I need some time to figure stuff out.
Your call.
Tell you what.
Next time I'd be more careful about where I got my information.
Hey, Pete? Yo? You ever fall in love? No.
Why? Don't.
Where is she? On the roof.
(distant siren blares) GARY: Meredith? I lied to you.
I know.
It's okay.
I I tried to stay away, but I couldn't do it.
It's just a paper.
It only tells what's gonna happen if we let it happen.
We decide the rest.
That's what Snow, the old typesetter, was trying to tell me.
Live your life.
(gasps) (clangs) (screams) Meredith! Let go of the paper.
Grab my arm.
Grab my arm, damn it.
No.
No.
Let go of the paper and grab my arm.
I can't.
Yes, you can.
Trust me.
Grab my arm.
Grab my arm, damn it! Come on.
Come on.
(paper rustling) Oh, I guess that's my train.
Yup.
Washington, huh? The big leagues, kid.
You wish you were going? Nah.
Besides, I like this town.
It's so corrupt.
Say hi to Cokie Roberts for me, huh? See you.
See you, Hawks.
You know Well, I guess No, go ahead.
You talk first.
You don't have to do this.
Well, once a newshound, always a newshound.
That paper comes to you for a reason.
It's a gift.
You can do good by it.
Don't ever lose sight of that.
Oil and water.
Cats and dogs.
See ya.
See ya.
ANNOUNCER: Last call for O'Hare.
CHUCK: Life's full of lessons.
Rock beats scissors.
Paper covers stone.
What goes up, must come down in theory anyway.
But hearts and headlines tend to follow other rules, and no one knows who writes 'em.
The car was just sitting up there in the tree.
It's the damnedest thing I ever saw.
Not me.
Welcome home.
I missed you.
MAN: That's good now! Bring it down! Easy.
Easy.
That's good! Yeah! Not too fast.
Hold it, Ry! I'll take that.
That should just about cover the fines.
MAN: Looking good.
That's good! Yeah! Easy Pull it down! CHUCK: Oh, no.
All right, hold it! I don't believe this.
Look at my baby.