A Show of Force (1990) - full transcript

MAN:
Battalion!

MAN:
Ready! Fire!

MAN:
Fire!

WOMAN:
Permiso. Permiso.

Permiso. Permiso.
Permiso.

Can I see your pass?

Okay.Meléndez!

Somebody took a shot
at the governor,

and you missed it.

He's still standing there
waving. Brave guy.

Happy Constitution Day.
We're going to the beach.



Are we
the last ones?

We work a little harder.

TOUR GUIDE :
Attention. Come to
the Constitution Day parade

in Old San Juan Plaza.

Free bus rides to the Constitution Day parade.

Hear the governor speak.
Let's celebrate.

Where's the fucking taxi?

It'll get here.

Alfredo, we've been waiting here
an hour already.

Hey, it's a holiday.What?

You assholes wanna back out
or something?

Chucho--

Because your enthusiasm's
killing me here, man.

Hey, we're doing it,
all right? We're doing it!



We're not just bullshitting
anymore, you know?

Did you call for a cab,
muchachos?

This is going to be
a great day, my friends.

Hey, hey, hey, hey.
Let me out of here.

Take the cab.

Shut your face!

Puerto Rico's 26th anniversary
as a U.S. Commonwealth.

Although that's not good enough
for the campaigning governor.

He wants July 25th
to celebrate

the day Puerto Rico becomes
the 51st state.

This is Kate Meléndez,
Channel 74 News.

Don't miss the band.
Here they come.

CROWD:
Que bonita bandera,
que bonita bandera ♪

Que bonita bandera,
la bandera puertorriqueña ♪

Que bonita bandera ♪

Our Commonwealth status
isn't good enough

for the Ponce Firehouse Band
either.

They're in favor
of independence.

As you can hear, they're playing
what's become their theme song

at these parades,
"Que Bonita Bandera."

The anthem of
the Independentistas.

We're not gonna hurt you.
Don't worry.

We're revolutionaries.Oh, my God!

Please, slow down.
My car, it's all I have.

Would you
just shut up?

But where are you
taking me?

What are you going
to do with me?

Hey, back off!

Hey! Hey!

I told him to shut up.

He didn't shut up.
He didn't listen.

This is what happens, huh?

This won't take long.

Just in case you had
a good idea, huh?

Governor.
Huh?

Okay, pan to the man
over there.

MAN:
Your attention, please.

Please, I have an announcement.

Please, please.
I have an announcement.

Do you have sound?Yeah.

GOVERNOR:
I was just informed

that the police have beaten back

a group of
Independentista terrorists

who were trying to blow up
the communications towers

at Cerro Maravilla
in Toro Negro Forest.

The terrorists
refused to surrender,

and they were killed
in a gun battle

that they started
with the police.

One brave officer was wounded.

Now, this incident
in our Constitution Day

serves to put Mr. Castro
on notice

that he cannot export
his Communist terrorism

to Puerto Rico.

MAN :
Base reading you. Headed in?

Not if you want
the biggest story of the summer,

and I don't mean
the parade.

Don't tell me on the two-way.

The competition will be
all over your ass.

Nobody's listening, Howard.

Everybody's wrapped
for the day.

Don't you believe it.
They'll unwrap. How big?

Cops and bodies,
and it's better than it sounds.

Make the 6:00?

We always do.

The captain's
right over there.

You looking
for a statement?

Buenos días,Señora Meléndez.

¿Cómo estás?

Captain.

CAPTAIN:
The undercover agent

working with the terrorists
had alerted us of the plan.

The officers instructed them
to drop their weapons,

but they opened fire.

The officers hit the ground
and in self-defense,

from a prone position,
returned fire,

killing both of the men.MAN: Stop it.

What's that guy
doing there?

I never even
noticed him.

Well, pull him out.
He looks like a stray dog.

Okay. Keep going.

--defense,
from a prone position,

returned fire,
killing both of the men.

KATE:
The two dead men
were identified

as Alfredo Ruiz and Jorge Rey.

Both were students
known to be sympathetic

to the Independentista cause.

The undercover agent,
Jesus Fuentes, was also shot.

He's hospitalized tonight,
wounded in the abdomen,

but he is expected to recover.

This is Kate Meléndez,
Channel 74 News.

You didn't shoot
the explosives.

Yeah, well, they'd already
been taken down the hill.

Oh, yeah, and we couldn't
get any confirmation,

but we saw this older guy
looking kind of worked over

being brought down in a jeep.

Since nobody knows
what I'm talking about,

you know I'm talking
about something.

Kind of like
a third bad guy, you mean?

Oh, man, he wouldn't have
looked that good.

Maybe a witness.

WOMAN: Can you believe it?

KATE:
Hello!

Mommy!Hi, how's my girl?

I missed you.Oh. Where's your brother?

He's in his room.

Juanito!

KATE:
Juanito!

You ready for dinner,
Miss Kate?

Well...

when this show's over.

How's Blanca doing?

You never want to watch.

You could learn something
from her.

She knows
how to have a good time.

So do I.

If I could get
married again...

Except I don't
want to.

You don't wanna
go out either.

You sound just like
my mother.

Hi, Mom.
Hi.

You didn't hear me
come home?

Uh-uh.

What'd you do today?

Nothing.

Did you go to the beach?Yeah.

Was it nice?Very nice.

JUANITO:
Really nice.

KATE:
Hmmm.

JUANITO:
Mom,

women can't see this.

MAN:
Okay, if you need any help,
you give me a call.

Thanks a lot.

Since you two almost know
each other,

I'll make it official.

I'm one of
the good guys.

Then I'm glad to meet you.

HOWARD: Kate Meléndez.Oh, I watch the show.

Frank's a--

He's a source.Yeah?

Yeah. You need
a fact checked,

you need something reconfirmed
on background, you, uh...

You give me a call.

It's one of my services.

Nice to meet you.Likewise.

Well...

It was just a courtesy.

Why didn't you tell me
he was FBI

when you had me
cut him out of the footage?

He's one of the best sources
we have around,

okay?
You should've told me.

I hate
not knowing things.

KATE:
One of the students

killed at Cerro Maravilla
was Jorge Rey,

son of Professor Rey, head of the history department

at the University
of Puerto Rico.

My son, Jorge,

he was not a terrorist.

He was not a revolutionary.

He was an Independentista.

And so am I, as you all know.

It's not a capital crime.

The police also claim

that my son and Alfredo Ruiz
were killed instantly.

Then I want to know,
why was my son so bruised?

I want the medical examiners
to explain that to me.

What bruises,
professor?

He was battered.

KATE:
Alfredo Ruiz,
sociology student,

leaves a wife
and a 10-month-old baby.

Do you want to talk
about Alfredo's politics?

He loved to read.

Do you know the police
are calling him a revolutionary?

He was a good husband.

He was a real good father.

Him and Jorge
and I don't know who else,

they go to cafeterias
and bars,

and they talk.

But he always came home.

Except yesterday.

I want to
show you something.

Can I show you
something, missus?

That's what I have left.

The police came,
and they look everywhere.

That's okay.

But they took everything.

Open it.

CARLA:
That's the "personal effects,"
they call them.

I went to the morgue.

His father and I went.

I wasn't even sure
it was Alfredo for a second.

His face...

the whole side of his face,

it was all busted open.

We just finished paying
for his glasses.

I went to the morgue.

His father and I went.

I wasn't even sure
it was Alfredo for a second.

His face...

the whole side
of his face,

it was
all busted open.

A spokesman
for the police department

says that the bruises
seen by the families

were caused when the two boys
fell down an embankment

when they were shot.

Insert the bit
with the governor here.

Cerro Maravilla was a triumph for the forces of law and order

over the forces of terrorism
and subversion.

How were we supposed
to meet them?

With white gloves,
a friendly greeting?

A message of surrender
with flowers?

It is a case of charges
and countercharges--

I still don't like it,
Meléndez.

It's aired.

I want a piece on the wounded
undercover again, okay?

I'm on the phone.

Fuck your preconceptions.

How many times do
I have to tell you,

there are two sides
to every story?

Now, you wanna pick one,
go work for editorial.

You still talking to me?

Okay, all right.

How about a piece
on the undercover agent?

Hey, you remember
the explosives?

I just found out the DA's office
is going to announce

there weren't any.

The guy said to just ask.
I'll be back.

¿Dónde vive Fuentes?

Over there, señora.

Gracias.

I thought you were
going to be taller.

Nope.

You ever see these?

Heard about it.

So they can draw blood
with every strike.

But you didn't come here
to talk about cocks, did you?

My 10-year-old likes
dirty words too.

Can someone go get
my crew for me?

Domingo.

All the other reporters
already interviewed me.

Where were you?

Other assignments.

Because I could
take that personally.

But why bother?

True.

So how you doing now?
You look pretty well recovered.

Oh, yeah?

You think so, huh?

Check it out.

Pretty impressive, huh?

They just took
the bandages off.

Doesn't look so bad to me.

What do you know?

The bullet grazed me.
I could have died, lady.

So you took a taxi up there?

How do you know that?

It's in the police report.

DOMINGO:
Here they are.

Let's just do it right here.

I never heard of

the Armed Revolutionary Movement
before.

It's a four-man cell,
including myself.

Two are dead, you're a hero.

Who's missing?

Missing?

"Missing."
That's the right word for it.

He went underground
right after the attack.

I figure the radical students
are hiding him.

Didn't you
hear this already?

Can you tell me his name?

How come I'm doing
your job for you, Kate?

His name is Nestor Chavez.

Do you ever notice how
it's the assholes in charge

who always get away?

That's off the record.

Ready.

You infiltrated
their group, Fuentes.

You knew all their plans.

How did they expect
to blow up the transmitter

without any explosives?

Without explosives?

According to
the district attorney's office.

They weren't planning
to blow up the tower.

They were planning
to sabotage it.

It's a...
It's a question of semantics.

They had the guns, the matches,
the fire starters.

They were gonna burn down
a metal tower?

FUENTES:
We weren't going to give them
the opportunity.

And nobody said
they were intelligent.

MAN:
--in spite of our hard-working
Latin American brother.

And therefore,
Puerto Rico must embrace

the political and social
aspirations of Latin America,

like in Salvador...MAN: Come to the meeting.

...Cuba and Nicaragua.

Ya viva Puerto Rico libre.CROWD: !¡Viva!

!¡Ya viva la independencia
de Puerto Rico!

CROWD: !¡Viva!

I'm Kate Meléndez,
Channel 74 News.

Yeah, I know.

I'd like to talk
to Mr. Chavez.

I bet.

You and everybody else
in Puerto Rico.

I'm sure you don't know
where he is,

but if you happen to come in
contact with him...

You are
Juan Meléndez's widow?

Yes.
Okay.

I'll find out
if he wants to talk to you.

MAN:
Can I help you, miss?

You have a reservation,
right?

Let's talk fast.

You're the head
of the A.R.M.?

Hmph. What a joke.
We didn't have a name.

I saw it in the papers,
I thought,

"What the hell
is that about?"

Fuentes making himself
look good.

That's a real Fuentes touch.

You wanna talk
to the guy in charge?

Talk to him.
It was his plan.

To sabotage the transmitter?

Hmph. Sure.

Except we were going
to sabotage their minds.

Constitution Day, right?

We were going to seize
the air waves

and broadcast
an Independentista communiqué

to all of Puerto Rico.

That's it?

That was the whole idea?

Your husband would have
liked the timing.

Great piece of propaganda, huh?

Fuentes thought it was a little
wimpy, not enough action.

He was always promoting action.

He's the one
who got us the guns.

He used to say that we were
all show, no go.

And you know what?

They shouldn't have gone.

Why didn't you go, Nestor?

I'd stayed out too late
the night before.

MAN:
Let's go, Chavez.

You too, Meléndez.

Let go of me!

No!

No! No!

No! No!

KATE:
No!

No!

MAN:
Kate Meléndez!

Kate Meléndez!

WOMAN:
Is that the chick
on Channel 74?

WOMAN 2:
It's not her.

I need to call home.
I have children.

I have a right
to a phone call.

Is he dead?

He may as well be.
He's comatose.

Are you gonna cry?

I'm sorry too. I had my suspect
if you hadn't interfered.

I didn't interfere.
You used me.

Chavez knows a lot of
information that I need.

He was obviously afraid
of how you were going to get it.

Tsk-tsk-tsk-tsk-tsk.

This isn't Chile.
This isn't Cuba.

We're Americans.

We operate
under the American law.

So you gonna tell me
the charges, then?

Every citizen's duty is to
support enforcement of the law.

What are the charges
against me?

Because I've got two kids
at home,

and you have no right
holding me here.

I don't like you,
either.

You think you know
what's going on.

But you don't know
a damn thing.

You didn't have grounds for
arrest, so resisting arrest--

Interfering with
a lawful arrest,

resisting arrest,

assault on a police officer.

So now you're gonna try
and cut me a deal?

Get her
out of here.

OFFICER: Sí, capitán.

I have a...

I got a big case
coming up.

Yeah. It's a...

It involves
a woman who was, uh...

Said she was...

COP:
What do you know
about that?

COP:
Yeah, that's
what I said.

But there's
some problem with, uh,

proving that it's,
you know, a burden.

COP:
The woman's saying
that there's foul play

between her husband
and the neighbor...

I'm sorry, Daddy.

The arrest report came
across at the base.

Mother wanted to invite you
and the kids to dinner.

You didn't tell her.I said you were busy.

I guess
that was the truth.

You're supposed to be
so damn smart.

What were you doing
in a nightclub

with a Cuban terrorist
almost getting yourself killed?

He wasn't Cuban,
he was Puerto Rican.

Right.
That makes sense now.

Daddy.You should've said so.

I was working on a story.

The police set me up
to find the guy for them.

My big mistake.
What a waste of money that was.

I should never have
sent you to college.

This started there.

I didn't call you
to bail me out.

Nice normal kid. I just wanted
to get you out of Puerto Rico.

You came back
with a Puerto Rican.

Daddy, don't get started.
Please don't.

Not just a Puerto Rican,
a radical-left Puerto Rican.

He was a lawyer
with a cause, so--

Don't talk about him.

Was that the attraction?I mean it!

Mommy?

Right here, baby.

Where were you?

You didn't call.

I couldn't call.

I didn't know
where you were.

I'm right here.

Mrs. Meléndez.

Teresa.

TERESA:
What brings you back here?

Nestor Chavez.

Is this for the news?

I was with him
when it happened.

Oh.

He's in Critical.

TERESA: That's the family.

Teresa, will you call me
if there are any changes?

I know it's
against policy, but...

Give me
your number again.

I remember how you called
every day.

Your husband was the favorite
in the whole unit.

I just wanted to ask
about what happened.

Go ask the police.

Except they weren't in the car
with you, Don Julio.

I don't want to get
into any more trouble.

I've had enough trouble.

See my cab?

I can't even work
with a cab like that.

It doesn't pass
regulation.

Police shot up your car,

they ought to pay
for the damage.

All I did was to pick up a fare,
and look what happened to me.

Every one of those boys
had a gun.

I wasn't going to argue.

And they made you drive
to Cerro Maravilla?

Hey, hey!
No, no, no, no, no.

I'm just trying to
explain to you.

All right.
All right.

You guys go wait for me
in the truck.

So... you went up
to Cerro Maravilla.

That's my life savings.
That car.

Sorry. It's a nice car.

Hmph, it used to be.

I saw the police coming.
I didn't know they were police.

I just saw more guns.

Then...

I tried to get
under the dashboard.

I tried to hide.

Chevys didn't have
such a lot of sheet metal,

I'd be dead myself.

Then the police started
shooting, that first time.

I thought the whole car was
gonna fall apart all around me.

Well, did the police
identify themselves

or shout, "Halt,"
or anything like that?

I couldn't see anything.
I was hiding.

I didn't see anything.

W-well, did you
hear anything

before the police
started shooting...

that first time?

I already told the police.
Go. Ask the police.

I just--I don't have to talk to you.

No. You don't.

Thanks anyway.I-I-I--

I haven't said anything,
okay?

I don't blame you.

How do I look?You look great.

I won't be late. There's only
one band playing tonight.

Have fun.

We heard
all the shooting.

People started
to get scared.

Noise carries in the mountains.

Everybody had just calmed down when it started again.

You heard
more gunshots?

Not as many as the first time.

You couldn't count those.

The second time was

a "bang-bang," and then "bang-bang."

KATE:
Don Jaime,
how long was it

between
the two volleys of shots?

I had time to finish my lunch.

Ten minutes at least.

KATE:
Okay, that's it.

What do the police say?

That they must have
heard hunters.

Could've been.
Could've been.

You're gonna use this,
aren't you?

I mean,
it's great stuff.

And that's why
I'm gonna use it.

A blind man.

You know your two pals,

Professor Rey
and the widow Ruiz?

Together, they're suing
the government

for 2 and a half...

mil.

Good for them.

I just got a tip

that the grand jury's
about to be convened.

I don't air tips.

I didn't ask you to,
Howard.

I'm just
keeping you informed.

Well,
that's decent of you.

Bye-bye.

DON JAIME :
We heard all the shooting.

WOMAN:
Julio, your food
is getting cold.

Everybody had just calmed down when it started again.

You heard more gunshots?

Not as many as the first time.

The second time was

a "bang-bang," and then "bang-bang."

Don Jaime,
how long was it

between
the two volleys of shots?

I had time to finish my lunch.

Ten minutes at least.

For Channel 74 News,
Kate Meléndez.

Mommy's home!

Pepita?

What the hell are you doing
in my house?!

Hi, Kate.

Nice place
you got here.

This is
Lieutenant Fuentes.

He's... the one that was
on the television with you.

Pepita,
take them upstairs.

Bye.FUENTES: Good night, Juanito.

Sophie,
sweet dreams, huh?

I just wanted to
talk to you, Kate.

You wanna talk to me,

we'll talk outside,
not in my house.

You're a very
disturbed lady, Kate.

I thought I could try
to explain to you--

Hey, try.

Listen to me.

Ruiz and Rey
were Communists.

They were terrorists,
and you're taking their side.

Not if you're all
telling the truth.

We are supposed
to stop Communism.

We were doing our jobs.
Fidel got the word.

Now you're trying to make
out like we were murderers.

It was self-defense.

Then there's nothing
to worry about.

Okay.

Here's the headlines:

"Cerro Maravilla
is over and out."

It's old news. Nobody cares.
Forget about it.

I told them that I would
come to see you, Kate.

Hey.

It could've been somebody else,
you know?

How clear do you want me
to make it?

The police dragged me
out of the car.

I didn't know
they were police right away.

Nobody said so.

He started hitting me
with a rifle butt.

He said he was going to
shoot me to pieces,

and, Mother of God,
I believed him.

He had me on the ground,

like the other
two muchachos.

They were being kicked
and hit worse than I was.

Had they been shot already?

Yes, but they were alive.

Wait a minute.
Are you saying--?

That's what I'm
trying to tell you.

One of the boys said,

"Don't hurt the old man.
He isn't involved."

So he stopped hitting me,

and then they brought me over
to a different tower.

And that's where I heard
the other shots.

Well, why did you
wait so long to talk?

I was afraid.

And the police said
they would fix my taxi.

KATE:
They didn't?

Cheap.

Aren't you still afraid?

Well, the blind man talked.

And...
three, two, one.

Go.The federal grand jury,

which has just been seated,
must now decide

whether or not the police action
at Cerro Maravilla

was an ambush that violated
the civil rights

of Jorge Rey and Alfredo Ruiz.

This is Kate Meléndez...

GOVERNOR:
Terrorists should
know they'll be

received as what they are:

Enemies of the people
of Puerto Rico.

The police should be
congratulated

for this act of courage.

This investigation and
the grand jury will prove it.

ANCHORMAN:
Governor Villanueva
went on to call for a...

Why don't you look
like that on air? Hmm?

Because you didn't hire me
for my looks.

Well, they didn't hurt.

God, a compliment.

So...

where you going?

It's my birthday.

My parents are
taking me out.

Hot date.

Happy birthday, Meléndez.

You're kidding me.

Open it.

God, it's beautiful.

Did you pick this out?

Put it in your bag,
get out of here.

Go have a happy birthday.

Thank you, Howard.

No! No! No!

You got me in
a lot of trouble, Kate.

No.

I'm not stupid.

I didn't
violate you, Kate.

Actually, I'm a pretty nice guy
when you're not around.

You don't bring out
my best side.

That's the truth.

And it's such a waste,
Kate,

because I'm gonna
come out of this clean.

Okay, sure, the grand jury's
a big embarrassment, but...

I'll figure that out.

That's how it is.

I like you, Kate.

JUANITO & SOPHIE:
Happy birthday to you ♪

Happy birthday to you ♪

Happy birthday, dear Mommy ♪

Happy birthday to you ♪

Make a wish, Mommy.
Make a wish.

I'm sorry about
the kids, honey.

They were just dying
to wake you up.

I'm going to
back off the story.

End of problem.

That's not like you, Kate.

If you're right about
what happened on the mountain,

then the truth
is bound to come out.

Oh, Mom.

No, I believe that.

You're so American.

You're such an optimist.

You gotta base your life
on positive values, baby.

Now, we've always done that.

Shit.

ANCHORMAN: We interrupt this program for a special WPRN news bulletin.

The U.S. Justice Department just sent home the grand jury,

which has been hearing evidence
in the Cerro Maravilla case.

And so the investigation ends
without an indictment.

In Washington today,

a spokesman for
the Justice Department said,

"The allegations were not
supported by the evidence,"

which is welcome news to
the police officers involved.

Nestor Chavez, the student

who was shot
resisting arrest, died today.

The police were unable to get

a statement from him
for the grand jury.

This is Kate Meléndez
for Channel 74 News.

What are you doing here?

You don't belong here.

You killed him!

You killed him!

KATE :
I-- I kept watching

to see if anyone was following.

I didn't see anybody.

I led the cops straight to him.

I mean, Chavez would be alive
if he hadn't trusted me.

Well, that's not
necessarily true.

I'm Juan Meléndez's widow.
The movement's main lawyer.

Juan would have known
he was being followed.

All right,
Chavez went for the cop's gun.

That was a decision, see?
That's not your fault.

No, but it wouldn't
have happened.

Somebody will break soon.

I mean, too many people
know about it.

Well...

not when Frank Curtin's
a player, they won't.

Frank?

Yeah. Let me tell you
something.

Why do you think he was
up at Cerro Maravilla?

Damage control.

Yeah, but how about damage?

You mean Frank Curtin
was involved in this?

Well, he sure as hell
wasn't

just taking
a walk in the woods.

I'm not backing
off the story, Howard.

Because of Chavez?

No.

O-okay, yes!

I mean, I don't give a shit
it was an accident!

Rey and Ruiz weren't...

I mean, cops shouldn't
get away with murder

just because they're cops!

Spare me the principles,
please. Please.

You're not listening.

Now, what do they have to do?
Kill you too?

For you to get five minutes
on the evening news?

This isn't about the news,
Howard!

Nothing is worth dying for.

Guarantee. Nothing!

Nobody'd even remember you,
kiddo.

There'd be a long obituary
and a short investigation.

Now, your kids spend Sundays
at the cemetery,

and the lady selling flowers
makes a little extra change.

That's the only difference.

The story goes away,
in any case.

Are you worrying about me,
Howard...

or Frank?

I don't give a fuck
about Frank Curtin!

Except the guy's obviously...

cutting his own story.

And I don't wanna see
anything else happen to you.

I hired you, I trained you.
Shit, I even like you.

You're not gonna die
while you're working for me.

That's it.

You're off the air.
That's it!

You're firing me?!
No!

I'm protecting you!

Come on, Howard!

And I shouldn't have told you
about him, should I?

I had the idea you were
a rational person.

Now, if you wanna work
as a news writer,

I'll hire you
as associate producer.

That's it.

But you're taking away
the mike.

I-I'll jump stations.

Do it. Fine.

I'll give the eulogy.

I still think you're
looking out for him, Howard.

To constitute a federal
civil-rights offense,

it has to be proven

that the force used
was excessive, deliberate

and not the result
of accident

or mistake or negligence
or reasonable responsive action.

Now, especially since
the federal grand jury--

That's a pretty piece
of work, isn't it?

They heard
a lot of witnesses.

They wanted to believe
the cops.

Maybe the cops
were more believable.

Except they had
a reason to lie.

The cab driver didn't.

Neither did the blind man.
You know about the bruises?

They fell down an embankment
when they were shot.

I was up there.
There's no embankment.

So, what are you
trying to tell me?

That the police
were hot-doggers

who decided to save the public
the cost of a trial?

It's an election year.

I think somebody decided

to scare the voters
into the governor's corner.

He's big on law and order.

Somebody like the FBI?

You know Frank Curtin?

Sure.

I taped him
up at Cerro Maravilla.

I still have the outtakes.

Okay, he was up there. So?
You were too.

Yeah, but you know him.

I think he took

a general directive
to back the governor

a little too literally.

What would happen

if an FBI agent is suspected
of civil-rights violations?

You know who investigates
for my division? The FBI.

I wanna jerk around,
I'll stay at home, lady.

Bye, sweetheart.Bye, Mom.

Sophie!

Where's my kiss?

Thank you.Bye, Mom.

Wanna get a cup of coffee
or something?

Man, I don't even wanna be
on the same sidewalk with you.

I was at Cerro Maravilla
doing my job, you know?

It went down,
they called me.

I work with the police.

Now, you wanna know
something about that,

you could've come to me
and asked me.

You could've come to me.
You should've come to me, Kate.

I have to hear about it from
some... goddamn internal memo

from the Civil Rights Division?
What were you doing?

To listen to Ms. Foster,

you implicated me
in a criminal act.

Would you please
just listen to me?

You don't get it,
do you?!

Maybe I do.

An update on the election results.

The latest precincts reporting in

now show the opposition candidate

leading over Villanueva by 9,000 votes.

And with the polls closing in the next hour,

we should be getting closer to a final result.

In other local news, a fire--

Two milks, please.

Coke for me.

Two milks.

What--?
What happened?

Looks like
a power failure.

Hmmm, this is
kind of spooky.

Mom?
Hmm?

Why does Grandpa say
you're not Puerto Rican?

I'm Puerto Rican
by marriage.

Your dad's family lives
in New York now,

but he was born in San Juan,
just like you guys.

Does that make us
Puerto Rican?

Sure you are.

I'm American.

No, you're not.
You're not American.

Because I'm white.

Pepita said.

Pepita made a mistake.

You're American because
every Puerto Rican is American.

ANCHORMAN: And as the computers

come back online,
a surprising development

has pushed
Governor Villanueva ahead.

And it seems only
a matter of time

before the opposition party
concedes.

Governor Villanueva's supporters

are already beginning to celebrate

at the city hall in Plaza de las Almas.

Give me one!Give me one!

All right!

Hey, hey, guys.

Look who's here.Where's Mommy?

How you doing?Over there.

ASENCIO: Hey.Hi. How are you?

Surprise!

How are you?

How'd you like
the blackout?

Does it come
any more convenient?

They're not even waiting
for the opposition to concede.

Like he needs to.

At least we're gonna have
an opposition congress.

Let's go.

This is Lila Torres.

I-- I'm Kate Meléndez.

I know.

I recognized you.
Hi, Kate.

Hi.

Let's go.Bye, Kate.

Bye.

MAN:
Which kind do you prefer?

The $1,000 type
or the $999 type...

Mommy.

BULLWINKLE:
I'd like something
right in the middle...

It's good.

Like it?

BULLWINKLE:
...is bound to run into
an occasional obstacle.

MAN 2:
Yes, sir?

BULLWINKLE: I'd like a loan.MAN 3: Any collateral?

Ah!

Sophie, you watch cartoons
or you do my hair.

Okay, Mom.

MAN 4:
This is a stick-up!

ANNOUNCER:
We interrupt this program

for a special
WPRN news bulletin.

ANCHORWOMAN:
The Puerto Rican Senate
has passed a bill

to open public hearingsStop.

into the shooting deaths

of the two alleged terrorists
at Cerro Maravilla.

A special prosecutor will be appointed as there was

for the Watergate hearings
in Washington.

A comparison is being made
in the halls of the Senate.

Governor Villanueva immediately called the investigation

a political witch hunt.

I'm Lila Torres.
This was a special newsbreak.

ANNOUNCER:
And now back
to our regular program.

BULLWINKLE:
But, Your Highness,
this is all a mistake.

In his last nine appearances,

Yabucoa's Julio Chumbo
is 2-to-nothing, with two saves.

In another game,
Cataño's Marcos Rodriguez

allowed only one double hit
in the top of the ninth inning

and obtained victory
for his team over Vega Baja.

This is Fernando Quinones
for WSTR-TV,

San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Buenas noche.

MAN: That's a wrap.MAN 2: Wanna kill the lights?

How you doing?
Good to see you.

Good to see you.

Please,
come into my office.

MAN 3:
Okay, let's set up for...

It's certainly been hot,
hasn't it?

Yes.

Have a seat, please.Thank you.

Oh, I'm Fernando Quinones,
the station owner.

Kate Meléndez.

I was surprised to hear
from you, Kate.

I thought about
calling you, but...

I didn't think
I had a chance.

This is not, uh,
Channel 74, you know.

No, thanks.

But I can
make you an anchor.

Which is more than
Howard ever did.

You can have my job.

Well, actually, I--
I've got a programming idea.

When do you wanna start?

What about airing
the Senate hearings?

The Cerro Maravilla hearings?

I could do the commentary.

Huh.
Wouldn't I love to, but, uh--

You don't run government ads.
I've been watching.

I'm practically on
the subversive list right now.

But I can't afford to cancel
any of my regular programming.

If you had a sponsor?

Like the opposition party.

KATE:
We put together
a budget to show you

what it would cost
to go live.

The hearings will become
a big media event,

and you, the opposition party,
will get the benefit of it.

The thing with television is
you get 100-percent saturation.

You reach Puerto Rico.

And you're never quoted
out of context.

MAN:
Well, the numbers look good.
What do you think?

MAN 2:
Looks fine to me.

Kate...

this is our special prosecutor,
Luis Angel Mora.

Kate Meléndez,
now from WSTR.

Channel 88.I'm still a fan.

Luis, we have
the opportunity

of airing the hearings
in their entirety.

Stop.Live. Without commercials.

I-it worked for Watergate.

The hearings have a chance,
don't they?

Yes.

But if the police version
turns out to be true,

we're going to
have to endorse

the Justice Department's
investigation

and close the case.

But I will admit,
in going over the reports,

I found a lot
of inconsistencies.

Such as?

Well, Alfredo Ruiz
was killed with a shotgun,

Jorge Rey with a .45.

That's according
to the autopsies.

Now nobody seems to know
where the guns are.

Did you know that there was
an FBI agent up there?

Who?
Frank Curtin.

Frank Curtin was up there?Yep.

Before or after?

Well, he was there
when I arrived,

and they hadn't even loaded
the bodies yet.

Did you see the bodies?They were covered.

Because either
they were killed instantly,

and that cab driver's lying,

or he isn't.

We'll soon find out.

Excuse me if I seem
a bit apprehensive,

but I'm used to the rules
of the court about publicity.

I don't like arguing my case
in the media.

You're not.

You're just getting the public
into public hearings.

I mean, how many people
can you seat in a hearing room?

You're as glib
as a lawyer.

Yeah, well, my husband
was a lawyer.

Juan Meléndez?Yes.

Good attorney.

I'm, uh... sorry.

This is me.Yeah, uh, better go.

Pleasure meeting you.And you.

MAN:
This is your seat,
Professor Rey.

Thank you.

What's this about?ASENCIO: Hey.

Job change.You guys quit?

Yep.

Coming out in 20 seconds.Good.

I can't believe
you're here.

Three, two, one.
Go.

On July 25th, 1978,

Jorge Rey

and Alfredo Ruiz
were shot to death

by the police
in Cerro Maravilla.

How and why are the questions

before the Senate committee
in these hearings.

Were Rey and Ruiz
Castro-backed terrorists

caught in an act of sabotage

who tried to shoot it out
with the police and lost?

Or were they
Independentista students

set up by an undercover agent
and led into an ambush

that was politically motivated?

Was there a cover-up?

And if there was,
how high did it go?

Are you ready,
Mr. Prosecutor?

Mr. Senate President,
point of order.

The chair recognizes
the honorable Senator Balboa.

I want to call a floor vote

to end these proceedings
on constitutional grounds.

SENATE PRESIDENT:
Noted and rejected.

Call your witness,
Mr. Prosecutor.

I call Julio Dominguez.

Don Julio.

You told a reporter that Rey
and Ruiz were wounded but alive

when the shooting stopped.

Yes, sir."Yes, sir."

Well, I have
a police report here

stating that both men...

were killed instantly.

Not unless dead men talk.

What is that?

Not unless dead men talk.

Get out.
REY: Hey, don't
hurt the old man!

He's not involved!

Shut up!

BALBOA:
This is the first time we've heard about this finger.

It's not in your statement,

Mr. Dominguez.

Even when you changed
your statement for the press,

you didn't mention
your finger.

SENATE PRESIDENT:
Senator, would you

lower your voice,
please?

You're berating
the witness.

BALBOA:
Which finger did you say
was injured?

Was it this finger?

What about this finger?!

SENATE PRESIDENT: Senator!

BALBOA: You are the number one liar.

I am telling
the truth.

BALBOA: Which finger?

You think he's
telling the truth?

Sí, sí.

I have no further questions.

SENATE PRESIDENT:
You're excused,
Mr. Dominguez.

These hearings are adjourned
until tomorrow.

MORA:
Dr. Salazar.

How many autopsies
would you say

you've performed
in your career?

An estimate.

SALAZAR: More than 17,000.

17,000.

Two of which were
the autopsies

for the police on Jorge Rey
and Alfredo Ruiz.

Correct.

Doctor, what would you say
was the cause of death?

Multiple gunshot wounds.

Multiple gunshot wounds.

Were there any other
signs of trauma?

No, sir.

Excuse me? What?

I found no other
antemortem trauma.

You found no cuts,

no lacerations, no bruises,
no abrasions?

Mr. Senate President,

the prosecutor
is leading his own witness.

I withdraw the question.
Doctor...

let me refresh
your memory.

Get the shot.

Is it true or no

that these injuries
are signs of trauma?

I said I found
no antemortem trauma

other than the round,
penetrating wounds,

"antemortem"
meaning "beforedeath."

Oh, I think I understand
the word, doctor.

The postmortem injuries
are consistent

with the bodies falling down
an embankment,

as the police described!

Why did you join the
Armed Revolutionary Movement?

I was never
an Independentista.

I was an informer

and, after that,

an agent for the police.

MORA:
So you were assigned
to infiltrate the group.

I was told to find
a terrorist group,

and I did.

By whom?

By whom?
Who told you?

I'm not sure now. It's--
It's been a long time.

MORA:
You're not sure.

Did you ever work
for the FBI?

BALBOA:
Mr. Prosecutor,
what's the object

of this line of questioning?

MORA:
Senator, I'm trying
to establish

whether or not
the police were acting alone.

This is pure hysteria.

The FBI is an unimpeachable

federal institution.

Mr. Senate President,

I ask for a vote of censure.

Overruled.

MORA:
Thank you, Mr. President.

Is it true or no,
did you ever work for the FBI?

No.

I work for the police.

You work for the police.

So you set up Rey and Ruiz
for the police.

You're trying to entrap me.

No, that was your job, son.

Didn't you buy the guns
for Alfredo Ruiz and Jorge Rey?

Everything I ever did
was out of patriotism.

I am an American,
and I love my country.

Answer the question.
Is it true or no?

Sometimes, you have to
bend things a little

to protect the public

and--
And the national security.

I have a purchase receipt here
for those guns

made out to your name.

Could you answer the question?
Is it true or no?

It's a simple question,
answer it. Is it true or no?

You're the one feeding him
that crap about the FBI.

Let go.

You should be careful, Kate.

Who did you think
I was working for?

You're never gonna nail Frank.

He's too smart.

If he were real smart,

we wouldn't be
standing here in the Senate.

Nice suit.

MORA:
Dr. Martin.

You're a professor
of forensic science

at Texas A&M University.That's correct.

And you're a specialist
in gunshot wounds.

I've just published a book
on that subject.

Now, you've had a chance
to examine the autopsy reports

and the clothing
of the deceased.

That's
correct.

Can you summarize
your conclusions?

MARTIN:
Mr. Ruiz was killed by a shotgun

used at a distance
of no more than 4 feet

while he was...
kneeling on both knees.

The clothes were soaked
with massive amounts of blood

from the chest
down to the knees,

but no blood below that.

The person who fired
must have been

standing over the deceased

because of the downward
trajectory of the pellets.

Doctor,
the police report states

that they were firing
from a prone position.

No, I'm sorry, that's--

That's just not
physically possible.

KATE:
Apparently,
the evidence just given

by the American professor
of forensic science,

Dr. Martin,
has angered some senators

of the investigating committee.

It seems to be
the same group of senators

who have opposed these hearings from the beginning.

Excuse the interruptions,
doctor.

What about Jorge Rey?

Mr. Rey was struck by four shots
from a revolver.

The first one broke

the right femur
just below the hip,

causing him
to fall to the right.

The second struck
the left kneecap.

A third entered his chest.

And a fourth
penetrated his heart.

I have
no further questions.

I am very, very surprised.

If the witness is not mistaken,

then I have been deceived
by the police

the same way the grand jury and the Justice Department were.

ANCHORMAN: Moving to international news,

demonstrations continued today against the shah of Iran.

Thousands of people flood the streets of Tehran...

...calling for an end to the shah's rule.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the shah denied reports

that members of the government

were transferring assets out of the country

as the political stability has forced them to.

Also in international news...

I'm Nelson Machado.

I'm the cop
who hit the cab driver.

Jesus, he looked like
he was part of it.

How was I supposed to know?

I didn't think
I hit him that hard.

He can identify me.

You've got a problem.

Can I come in?

I don't think so.

You're the only person
that I can talk to

that I know won't
talk to the department.

I didn't kill anybody.

If I can get immunity...

Officer Machado,

is it true or no
that you lied to the grand jury?

He's lying
right this minute.

I was thinking
of my friends.

So yes,
you did lie.

They were involved
by accident.

One of them is
my brother-in-law.

They're not evil.

These are agents who served
the police of Puerto Rico

well over the years.

I was just thinking
of my friends.

They're not responsible
for what happened.

And what did happen?

Everybody was firing.

Fuentes got... shot up.

!¡Basta! !Basta!

MACHADO:
I thought we'd killed him.

Rey and Ruiz threw
their guns out.

I went over to them.

And Ruiz, he started to say
how he wanted to work for us.

I could infiltrate-- Ah!

He said,

"I can be an agent
for the police."

This isn't testimony,
it's a performance.

The man has been coached.

Aren't you trying
to save yourself

from a perjury charge,
officer?

You're earning your immunity,
aren't--?

Senator!

MACHADO: The both of them never even fired their guns.

We did that afterwards...

for the ballistics tests.

So the story would hold up.

Somebody gave the order to fire.

Who gave the order?

Who gave the order to fire?

I don't know.

I don't know
who gave the order.

I'm an agent! Don't shoot me!
I'm an agent! Don't--

FUENTES: You shot me!

You shot me.

MAN: What about the other guy?RUIZ: I surrender.

I surrender.

I surrender!You, get up.

Get up!
Get over here.

!¡Basta! !Basta!

Get out.

Get out. Get out!

Oh, my God.

Don't kill me, please.
I'm a victim.

Oh, my...

Hey, don't hurt
the old man!

He's not involved!

Oh...

MAN: Come on.MAN 2: Go, go, go, go, go.

Oh, come on, man.

Give me a chance.

I could work for you guys.
I could be an agent.

I could do anything-- Ah!

N-- Noooo!

No! No!

Do it, man.

Hey, you all knew the plan.

Don't torture me!
Just sh-shoot me in the head!

Well, you wanted
a couple of terrorists,

there they are.

MORA:
Who gave the order to fire?

I don't know.

Who are you looking at?!

I don't know.

It was too confusing.

Who gave the order
to fire?!

I don't know.

Who gave the order to fire?!I don't know!

Who gave the order to fire?

I don't know!You do! Point him out!

I have no further questions.

KATE:
The truth about Cerro Maravilla
is now public record.

Why is not.

The Senate ends its hearings
without discovering

who ordered the deaths
of Jorge Rey and Alfredo Ruiz.

Who knew?

Did the Justice Department
and the FBI

conspire with the police,
at least in the cover-up?

How high did it go?

The investigation now moves

from the Senate to the courts
and continues there.

This is Kate Meléndez,
WSTR, Channel 88.

Whoo!

Let's wrap it up.

MAN:
Snow cones,
we got all flavors.

Snow cones.

Scare you?

I didn't see you.

Yeah, well, to tell you
the truth, Kate,

you never really
should have.

Late for that now.

MAN:
Snow cones, snow cones.
Go get your snow cones.

Snow cones.
We got all flavors.

Snow cones.
Snow cones, everybody.

Snow cones,

snow cones.

Snow cones, snow cones.
Go get your snow cones.

Snow cones.
We got all flavors.

Snow cones.

Snow cones.
Snow cones, everybody.

Snow cones.
We got all flavors.

Come get
your snow cones.

Do you have something
against me personally?

I just think you got

your hands dirty
this time, Frank.

It was
a beautiful operation.

But the whole thing
fell apart.

Not my fault.

It's hard to find good help
these days, you know?

KATE:
That's a problem.

If you just left
the whole thing alone,

I could've kept
a lid on it.

But you had to go and make
a fucking career out of it.

After a long parade
of witnesses

and thousands of pages
of testimony--

Just one moment.

We have more coming in
live from the field.

I didn't know it was your plan, Frank.

Well, who the hell else
had the capability, huh?

I don't know. I figured the police.

Broke like bread sticks,
didn't they?

I made them into heroes.

Shit. You know how tough it is

to produce a genuine terrorist
on this island?

Those two suckers
were a gift from heaven.

Except they weren't
terrorists, Frank.

I wish they had been,

but sometimes
you just have to make do.

At least they had the right
spirit, though, didn't they?

Fuentes didn't have to tie the
guns into their hands, did he?

Okay, but why'd you have
to murder them?

You really are a dumb bitch,
you know that?

They'd have done a year
on kidnapping and been out.

I needed an event.
I had a directive.

To get the governor re-elected?

The man's a damn good
anti-Communist.

I sure as hell wanted him
re-elected.

It's in America's interests.

I knew how to get results.

Nobody had to tell me
what was necessary.

You think I'm somebody's boy?

I fly solo.

Yeah, but then you don't have
any protection, Frank.

Nobody's gonna look out for you.

Well, it's not too late

for a little damage control
right here.

You'll end up hanging out to dry
on an indictment.

Shit.

I got too big a mouth.

Now I'm really gonna have to do
something about you, Kate.

It's not gonna happen.

Trust me.

You're dead.

And you're live.