Breaking (2022) - full transcript

A Marine war veteran faces mental and emotional challenges when he tries to reintegrate back into civilian life.

[footsteps]

[people chattering]

[sighs]

[cello tuning up]

[cello music playing]

[music continues]

[music fades]

Gandalf?

[child on phone] No...

- Gimli?

- One guess left.

[person]

Okay, Baby Ruth. Gollum.

- [imitating Gollum] Gollum! Gollum! My precious!

- Dad!

- [shouts]

- Dad! Dad!

[laughs]

You can't name a dog Gollum.

It'll get to her head.

You right. You right.

[motel manager]

Be out tomorrow, all right?

[child] Do I look like a Gollum?

[Dad] No, baby, you do not

look like a Gollum.

Okay, I give in.

What's the name?

[people shouting in distance]

[sighs]

[phone beeps]

Got it?

I got it.

[child] What time tomorrow?

Petland opens at 11:00.

[Dad] Kiah, let me talk

to your mother, okay?

[Kiah] Dad, you gave me

your word. You promised.

[Dad] Baby Ruth, go on. Let me

speak to your mother. [phone beeps]

Baby, I'm running out of credit,

okay? Phone's going to cut off, okay.

[Kiah]

Well, put some more on it.

I can't right now. Baby?

[phone alarm chiming]

[sighs]

[device beeps]

Are you paying or leaving?

Either way, you better be back

by 12:00 or your shit's mine.

[alarm blaring in distance]

[siren wailing in distance]

[breathing raggedly]

[chattering]

[chattering continues]

[money counter whirs]

[laughter]

I'll take you. Over here.

Hello.

Hey.

Let me put up my monitor.

I'd like to withdraw

$25 from my account.

Big bills.

Yeah, I prefer big bills

too. Yeah. [chuckles]

Do you have a paper

I could borrow?

Yeah.

Thank God it's Friday.

It's been one of those days.

My neighbor knocked

on my door at 5:00 a.m.

because my Isabel pulled out one

of their trees for her summer play.

[sighs]

It's been going nonstop.

- Anything for the kids, huh?

- That's right, anything for the kids. [chuckles]

Okay. Let me get you

your big bills here.

Get you on your way.

You have a good day.

[breathing shakily]

What do you want me to do?

Trigger the alarm.

- The alarm? Really?

- Yes, ma'am.

Right here...

Leave, right now.

What?

Leave.

There's no sirens.

I could press the button...

I need you to call 911.

Right now.

Okay.

[dial tone hums]

[busy signal beeps]

Drop what you're doing.

The guy in the gray hoodie

is robbing the bank.

Yeah.

Just go. Follow Diana. Jesus.

[busy signal beeps]

Do you have 911?

No, because...

You can't get them? No,

because the code is not working.

I'm dialing...

Sir, we cannot help you

right now. Please leave.

Thank you so much.

[mouthing] Leave now.

[teller] The code

is not letting me dial out.

I need you to move

faster, ma'am. Okay.

[clattering]

Ma'am.

There's a situation. Everybody,

let me just get your attention.

[teller]

I... I can't...

Don't be alarmed.

Don't move too fast.

We're going to

slowly move out...

Okay, uh...

Who... Who's in charge here?

Who?

Well, she is, but we're both...

I'm... I'm the manager.

Estel Valerie.

Estel, um...

Okay. Anyone in the back?

- All right, well, once they leave...

- [line ringing]

...you lock the front and back doors,

you understand me? You lock 'em all.

Now go do it.

You heard him, slowly...

[teller] I have a customer.

He says he has a bomb.

Is that the operator?

Ye... Yes.

- [operator] What's the location of the bank?

- Yes, um...

- At the Wells Fargo.

- Let me talk to them.

He said he's gonna...

[shouts, whimpers]

No, no, no!

[beeps]

Sorry. Sorry.

[operator]

Hello, is anyone there?

I'm sorry, okay.

Hello?

Hello.

Hello, sir.

This is Brian Brown-Easley.

I have a bomb, and...

basically, I'm going to kill

myself and everybody in here

if my demands are not met.

[operator typing]

[operator] ...going to blow

the place and kill everyone...

Okay, we do have units

on the way out there.

What demands

are you wanting met?

Fraud was committed.

My disability check was stolen

from me, and I want it back.

Fraud was committed.

Ma'am. Ma'am. Ma'am. Ma'am.

Can you make sure those doors are locked

and don't allow anybody in? Thank you.

- Are you having them lock the doors?

- Uh, yes, ma'am.

And what do you look like?

Are you Black, white, Hispanic?

I'm Black. But I'm not affiliated

with any groups. It's just me.

Okay.

Yeah.

Okay, my officers are asking if

you let the employees leave the bank.

Brown?

Brown?

Nah.

I... I can't do that. I can't

do that. I can't do that.

As long as everybody stays

calm, nobody gets hurt, okay?

I promise I-I won't hurt nobody,

but I can't let them go. Sorry.

I'm... I'm gonna let y'all out

- if I detonate the bomb, okay? Okay?

- Okay.

Ma'am, I need to speak to

somebody, a negotiator or someone.

I'm running out of time.

I just...

I do have someone on the

way out there to meet with you.

Okay. What number

does he have to call?

Uh, the bank.

What is their number,

can you ask them?

Confirm I have the right one.

She doesn't have the bank number.

She asking for the bank number.

- She could call the land line. One, eight...

- I could find it.

Brown, what kind of clothing

are you w... wearing?

Why are you asking me that?

What kind of clothes... Why?

But why are you asking me that?

Why did you

just ask me that question?

You got the sniper on me?

You got the sniper on me?

I'm not sure if there are any officers

on scene yet, but they're requesting

to know what clothing you are

wearing. You got the sniper on me.

That's why you asking that question,

'cause you got a sniper on me right now.

You want to kill me.

[gasps]

They gonna kill me.

You cannot go out like that.

They gon'...

[breathing heavily]

They're going to attack me.

They're gonna attack me

from right there.

You know what, call 'em.

Sorry... [Brian] Call!

I need everybody to see

what's happening here.

I need the fire trucks!

I need the news cameras!

I need the X-Men!

Call 'em!

Call 'em!

[Brian grunts]

I ain't playing! I'm not!

I'm not playing!

Everybody thinks I'm playing,

but I'm not. I'm not!

I just...

I don't want them to snipe me. I don't want

them to snipe me before I tell my side.

I haven't even told my side of

the story. They're gonna snipe me.

They're gonna shoot me.

They're gon...

[exhales] Fuck.

[breathing heavily]

All right.

You know what? Just contact

the news networks, okay.

Just contact the news networks

and tell 'em what's going on

and have 'em all come down here.

I wanna see CNN, NBC,

I wanna see Don Lemon,

I wanna see daytime!

Everything! Tell them

about what's happening.

Just tell 'em!

Just tell 'em.

See? See!

See, there's an officer right

there, trying to take a pop at me.

He's trying to take a pop at me. There's an

officer... officer right there, across the street.

I can see him.

He's trying to take a pop at me.

He trying to take a pop.

Get the switches!

Get the lights!

All right. Okay.

Do I have my negotiator?

He says he wants a negotiator.

[operator] Well, I do have

the call already entered.

And they will either come out

there or call you as soon as possible.

She says they're on their way.

Okay.

Get the blinds.

Get the blinds behind you!

- Can you hold, please?

- Get the blinds.

I have to get the blinds.

Get the blinds!

Get the blinds!

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

Okay. Thank you.

It's okay.

Okay.

How do I... How do I use

this? The flashing one.

The flashing one, okay.

Yeah, hello?

Yeah, I'm online here.

Do you have someone

out here for me?

If you want to speak with him,

you will need to tell me.

Ma'am, I do not have as

much time as you think I do.

Hello, they're going to call. And once

they do that, you can talk with them,

but I need to keep you

on the line until they do.

Come over here.

Come on down here.

Come on.

It's okay.

Just come on over here.

All right, stay right there.

There you go.

Just stay right there.

You okay? No, no, no. No,

no, no. No need to go down.

They ain't gonna shoot you.

They're going to have my body

on the tarmac before you, trust me.

Okay. All right, you good?

I'm not going to hurt you. You

know that, right? [muffled cry]

I ain't going to hurt you. I ain't gonna

lay one finger on you, I promise you that.

Okay?

Why don't you

tell me something positive?

Uh, what do you like?

Go to the club?

I like Jean Grey.

[crying]

That's random.

That's really random.

You ever been robbed before?

Yes. Once.

How'd it end?

What's your name again?

- Estel.

- Estel, okay. Estel, how'd it end?

And don't lie to me.

I don't...

I don't like people lying to me.

Mm-mmm. No, uh,

he... he was arrested.

- They didn't kill him?

- Mm-mmm. No, sir.

He got to be white.

[scoffs]

Estel, can you get on the phone

with the network?

But call 911 first. This woman

on the phone, she is no help.

- I gotta go to my desk for that.

- Okay.

That's fine, and shut

those doors again, okay.

They come in here,

they gonna shoot everybody up.

- Spray and pray. That's how they do.

- Okay.

- I... I did... I-I locked it when you first asked me to.

- When? When?

When you first asked me to.

Okay. Okay. It's all right.

Forgive me.

Okay.

Is there another dial-out number

I could use here?

I need to contact my people, make sure

they know what's happening, you know?

Don't want to have

everybody worried.

- You could use that one over there.

- Yeah?

Yeah. I'm going to leave here.

Don't want you to do anything.

I'm just going to move

over there, take a call, okay?

[Estel] I'm here

at the Windy Hills Wells Fargo,

and there's a man

holding up the bank.

[Rosa] The code is nine.

[Estel]

There is a man holding us up.

[line ringing]

Hi, this is Cassandra Deets. Drop

what you're gonna ask at the beep.

[message tone beeps]

Come on, baby.

[Estel]

We could use some help.

Ma'am, are you there?

[line ringing]

Hi, this is Cassandra Deets. Drop

what you're gonna ask at the beep.

[phone rings]

Hello?

Hey there.

Is this the Windy Hills

Wells Fargo?

Uh, yes, ma'am.

This is the Wells Fargo.

Uh, yeah, I need to talk

to Bridget about my 401(k).

I think she made

a $9,000 mistake.

Unfortunately, uh, Bridget is

not here to discuss your 401(k),

but can I take a

message for you? Yeah.

You been having a good day?

Uh, could be better.

Sorry to hear that, ma'am.

Okay, shoot.

816-935-6105.

Just have her call me back

right away. Thank you, ma'am.

That's for Bridget.

She gonna need that.

[operator]

Where are you located at?

I am near the front door.

Okay, just stay on the line

with me.

They got fire?

[Estel] I don't know.

- He wants fire trucks.

- What do you mean you don't know?

[scoffs] Our fire trucks will not

pull up on scene if there is a bomb.

I'm sorry.

How much money do you need, sir?

I can get it for you.

[line ringing]

It's sitting right up there.

[automated voice] You have reached

the voice mailbox of... [Kiah] Kiah.

I don't want the bank's money.

I just want the cash...

that those people took from me.

That's all I want.

[banging]

Okay. Okay, it's okay! It's

okay. I got it, I got it, I got it!

Go! Go! Go!

[panting]

What happening? Who's shooting?

[Estel] It is an employee!

It's all clear.

[operator] Hello?

He's gone.

Estel, do you need me?

[Rosa crying]

Are you okay in there?

Sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

It's just a reflex. I'm sorry.

You still have a visual on him?

No. No. I'm sorry,

okay. I apologize.

Ma'am, I apologize, okay?

I did not mean to do that.

How come y'all letting people

walk up to the entrance?

It seems like y'all

could do better than that.

[whispers]

You gotta get us out of here.

[gasping]

Hello?

Yes, I'm here.

I still don't have a damn

negotiator, and I'm wondering why.

Where's my negotiator?

Hello?

All right,

hang on just a second.

[Brian] Hello?

Sir, we can really help you.

Please, um... Please don't!

[crying] No, don't...

[Brian]

I had a button made, okay.

You see this?

We got kids.

Please don't, sir.

I need my negotiator. Somebody...

Somebody to come down and talk!

To talk! That's all!

Where's my negotiator?

Please, ma'am, just...

Sir. Just hold onto the phone

right here...

I've been holding on.

I've been holding on though.

I've been holding on though.

I held on.

If we get disconnected,

I'll call you right back, okay?

Okay?

You gonna have

my negotiator ready for me?

Ma'am?

Yes, sir, you just hold

onto the line. Okay.

I'll get him on.

Okay.

[busy signal beeping]

[hangs up receiver]

I'm sorry, y'all,

I had to do that.

Any of y'all ladies

need the restroom?

- I could do to use the restroom.

- All right, go on then.

[Rosa breathing shakily]

You okay?

[door creaks, closes]

[exhales]

[typing on phone]

[phone rings]

Hello? Okay. I have

Major Riddick on the phone.

Okay.

Check on Estel

in the bathroom, okay.

Make sure she good, aight?

You there, sir?

Uh, yes, I am.

Hello, Mr. Easley.

My name is Major Riddick.

Now you tell us

what's going on in there, okay?

- The Department of Veterans Affairs...

- Estel?

Estel.

They left me destitute

and homeless and, uh...

I'm... I'm going to be on the streets.

So I need your assistance, sir.

All right.

What can we do to help you out?

Well, pay me my money.

That's the whole reason why we

having this conversation, sir.

All right, how much...

How much is that exactly?

Estel, I think we're gonna be

on the TV. Turn it on.

We're gonna be on one of

the channels. Sorry about that.

Well, would you be willing to come

outside and talk... talk to us about that?

Sir, I'm not coming outside.

All right, what are your

intentions right now?

Well, uh,

my intentions are to blow up this

place if my demands aren't met.

I told y'all before. I don't know why

I have to repeat myself, but okay.

Uh, you know, I'm serious, sir.

I will blow this place up, sir.

- Okay. Okay.

- Oh, sir, most importantly,

I want to talk to my daughter.

I can't seem to get through.

All right.

Call you back in a little bit, Mr. Weasley,

okay? Yeah, that is absolutely fine.

[busy signal beeps]

Okay.

[hangs up receiver]

What you think? Think

the conversation was good?

Yes. I think it was a

good conversation. You?

Yes.

Yeah.

Yeah.

[dialing on phone]

[line ringing]

[cell phone buzzing]

Mom?

Mmm.

Mama?

Mm-hmm.

[buzzing continues]

Mama.

Mm-hmm.

Mom.

Mm-hmm.

Someone must really

wanna talk to you.

Okay, baby. My phone...

Okay.

Okay.

Let me see.

Okay, baby.

Hello.

[Brian] Hello, Cass?

[sighing] Yes. I've been

calling you all morning.

Why you ain't

pick up your phone?

All right, all right, all right.

I'm up now, all right?

I just... Why you call me so many

times? It's not even your number.

That's why you should have picked up your

damn phone. I've been callin' and callin'...

I had a patient die at four o'clock this

morning. I'm gonna go back to sleep.

Oh, no. Don't do that, okay?

Hey, look, uh...

I'm in the middle

of something and, um,

depending on how everything works out,

I... I might go to jail for a long time.

[scoffs]

Okay. Listen, Brian, I...

Are you off your medication?

Don't do that, Cass.

I was just calling

to tell you that

if something

were to happen to me...

I'm trying to do right, okay?

I'm trying to right something

here, and I'm in a little situation.

And I just wanted you to know

I'm just trying to do the right thing.

I'm trying to make the

right decisions. Yeah...

And I'm just trying to tell you

that everything I do...

Everything I do

is for you and Kiah.

Mm-hmm.

Everything.

Yeah, well, uh, Brian, I don't...

I don't really know where

you're going with this, so...

I don't know what...

Okay, thank you. [chuckles]

You know what, you right.

Put my daughter on the phone.

All right. But don't you be

spooking her like you did.

I never spook our baby.

Yesterday you told her how you

got thrown on the street in handcuffs.

She needs to know how this

world treats people like us.

I'm just letting her know. She's

about to be in the world herself.

Yeah, all right, Brian.

I'm not going through this

with you again, all right?

[sighs] Yes, ma'am.

Kiah!

Your father's on the phone,

Kiah.

[Brian] Hey, she mad?

[Cassandra]

She got reason to be.

Cassandra...

I'm holding up the bank, and now's not the

right time to be ignoring my calls, okay?

I've got hostages. I'm holding

up the bank. You're not... [laughs]

So, could you put my daughter

on the phone, please?

Thank you.

[Kiah] Daddy?

Hey, hey, hey, baby girl.

Don't hang up.

Don't hang up.

Hey.

I just wanted to let you know

that I love you, okay.

Are you apologizing

and picking me up?

You gonna be mean to Daddy?

You ain't gonna give Daddy a break?

Baby, you know

I'll always tell you the truth.

And, uh, I hurt you.

I did.

Well, you shouldn't have

given me your word.

I apologize, baby.

That's not telling the truth.

You hate when people don't

tell you the truth. I know. I know.

Baby, you know, sometimes when people

steal from you, you've got no choice.

You gotta get it back.

And when I do,

I'm gonna get you a puppy.

Are you for real?

Mm-hmm.

Yes. That's the first thing

on my list.

Okay, call me when you're ready.

Love you. Bye.

- Don't hang up. Hey.

- [busy signal beeps]

What did your father say?

He got money, so he's

gonna get me my puppy.

Just like your damn mama.

You look scared.

You scared?

I am.

I told you...

if I die today...

I die alone.

[helicopter approaching]

[soldier] Come on, Easley.

[gunfire in distance]

[phone ringing]

[picks up receiver]

Hello?

Hi, is Bridget back yet?

Ma'am, the bank is being robbed.

I'm the one robbing it. Do not call again!

[Brian sighs]

Come on, man.

Come on.

[news reporter on TV

speaking faintly]

[sniffs]

[news reporter on TV

speaking faintly]

Kiah. Baby,

go back to your room.

Why I gotta be in my

room, Mama? Listen.

When I know what I need to

know, I'll let you know, okay?

Please, baby. Just

go back to your room.

Thank you.

[Estel] Brian? Brian?

My ex-husband... same thing

happened to him almost.

[Estel sighs]

I, um...

I'm scared.

But I feel compassion for you.

You know, my son

and, uh, I... [chuckles]

...we go to downtown Atlanta

on the weekends,

pass out to the homeless.

And they have stories.

People judge. They underestimate

how folks get in their position.

I know stories like yours.

They fought for the country,

and they come here and they

don't get approved, and I'm like...

[scoffs] "I'm sorry."

I'm sorry.

[cell phone buzzes]

Who's that?

[sighs]

An old friend.

[Brian]

It's your ex-husband.

[scoffs]

I mean, if... if it is, you

probably should hit him back.

Ain't nothing harder on the

heart than reaching out to an ex

and not hearing from them.

I see you love your family.

[scoffs]

My close family.

My daughter,

Kiah.

Maybe if you let us out,

- we'll tell them how good you been to us.

- They're not gonna kill me?

They're not gonna kill me?

Did you tell me about your

family and your husband

and your good times

'cause you think I'm a fool?

- No.

- Try to soften me up? Is that what it is?

You think I'm dumb or slow?

Is that what it is? No. Not at all.

'Cause people be doing that a lot.

Thinking I'm a fool, thinking I'm slow.

I... I don't know if that's

what you was doing, ma'am.

Brother, you're not a fool.

I'm not a fool?

Okay. I'm not a fool.

I'm just scared. [chuckles]

That's all. Scared.

Okay.

I understand.

You gonna turn the TV off.

This is not working.

[sighs]

Did y'all just turn off the TV

in the bus... in the business?

You've got to let me know

what he's doing inside the bank.

Excuse me if I'm not doing

exactly what you need of me.

I don't know what y'all are doing. We

need someone to negotiate with him now.

[police chattering]

[officer] Bernard!

Hey, how you doing?

Riddick

is setting the perimeter.

Wants the area clear of any

potential bombs or co-conspirators.

Okay. We got four

SWAT units here.

Cobb County PD, plus Marietta.

Cobb sheriff's team is out.

Got the dogs.

[dog barks]

Smyrna PD.

We got the FBI, the GBI.

Everybody here.

Got yourself a party.

So how many snipers we got?

Uh, three units,

as I understand.

But like I said,

there's a lot going on.

- That's the new chief?

- Yeah. That's him.

[line rings]

[phone rings]

WSB-TV tip-line. This is

Lisa Larson. What's your tip?

Hello, this is, uh,

Brian Brown-Easley.

I'm heisting a Wells Fargo

on Windy Hills Road,

and I have a bomb and hostages.

You're what?

Just calling to let

y'all know. Uh...

You're at the Wells Fargo...

You're at the Wells Fargo now,

at the bank...

Holding up the bank

and you're calling us at WSB?

Yes, ma'am.

Uh, what was your name again,

sir, please?

My name is Brian Brown-Easley.

Brian Brown-Easley.

Okay, you hold one sec.

Okay.

I want you to sit here,

close to the camera.

Lisa's got the Windy

Hill robber on the line.

[cameraman]

All right, I'm hot.

You got sound?

[crew] Yeah, we're good.

[cameraman]

We're recording.

Okay, thank you. Um...

And how would you like to

be addressed? Is it Brian?

Or... Or Mr. Easley?

Brian's good.

Okay, Brian.

Why are you holding up

a bank today, sir?

Because I'm a nobody to the VA.

You know, just so we

can verify who you are,

do you have a social

security number or something?

You trying to steal my

money too, like the VA?

No, no, no. [chuckles]

Trying to take my cash?

No, I'm good. I'm not

trying to steal your money.

This is...

This is just so we can help.

Ma'am, just so you know,

I don't have a criminal record.

I mean this is not

my day-to-day.

Well, but you say you have

bombs, right? Where'd you get that?

Oh, I can't give you

that information, ma'am.

Well, is it something that

could, you know, level the bank?

Probably gonna

take out the whole room.

What kind of bomb?

Semtex.

Semtex?

Take care now.

You too.

[siren blares]

[police radio chatter]

[helicopter flies over]

[officer] Can we contact

Wells Fargo security

and see if they have the cameras

inside that we might be able to access?

[indistinct radio chatter]

Major Riddick.

Sergeant, you up

to speed? Indeed.

Okay, we're ready

to conference in.

We're conferencing in.

[phone beeps]

Ma'am, I'm... I'm not a thief.

Okay, I haven't taken anything

from the bank.

I'm a decorated marine.

I'm a lance corporal.

Who's this on the phone?

[Riddick] WSB-TV.

So why is the suspect talking

to a reporter and not us?

We were just buying time

until you decided to show up.

[Brian]

Two tours Iraq.

Camp Fox and Taqaddum.

Honorable discharge.

[Lisa] Good for you, sir.

And did you make friends? You know,

along the way that you've kept up with?

[Brian] Yeah, I did,

but we lost contact, you know.

I don't really check in with

nobody or everybody these days.

I kinda stay to myself.

So the VA...

What's going on there?

[typing on keyboard]

Okay. Okay. Thanks.

So it looks like this payment

was redirected

to a college you're using

your GI Bill at, to cure a deficit.

Good news is, you're all

caught up on payments.

I was not behind on anything. Damn, I

overpaid on that Windows '08 bullshit.

Disability checks never are

confiscated unless there's an unpaid bill.

Does an unpaid bill

sound familiar?

I've been over this with

the VA helpline. Twice.

I called the-the VA crisis-line.

I called, uh, Lincoln Tech.

I been down to the office, but you...

you know what the problem is, ma'am?

- You don't write nothing down.

- [sighs]

If you put that pen to that paper,

you would have that information.

Please, please don't raise

your voice, Mr. Easley.

It's just a suggestion.

- I ain't raising my voice.

- That's who's got your money.

I have two jobs.

Two.

I've been ill.

I had to take leave, so I'm

reliant on this disability check.

Ma'am, don't dip into my money

and call it a day.

You gonna have me on...

On the streets.

I'm a grown man.

I won't be able to feed myself.

We have programs for those

who are food and housing insecure.

You can call the helpline or you can

take a number and wait in that line.

Okay.

Thank you.

[clerk] Next.

[service desk chimes]

Yeah, they said I still owe,

which is a damn lie.

It's a lie.

[sighs] That must've been

very frustrating.

[Brian]

It was. I'm not a psychopath.

I know what I do

and I know what I don't.

I know, I hear you.

Truth.

I hear you, Brian.

Do you?

What station is this again?

WSB-TV, why?

We're recording right now,

we live, on TV?

[Lisa] Um...

I'll take that as a no.

Well, what it means is that

we're not gonna exploit you

for ratings.

So we're gonna wait... I need the

world to see what's happening here.

Can you do that for me, ma'am?

Can we do that?

Please.

Major Riddick,

are we allowed to go live?

Hey, uh, put the TV on WSB.

[operator] We're working

to get you two out.

Don't try nothing. Just

stay put until we get there.

Our priority is the protection

of life inside the dwelling.

We're now running a multi-agency

operation to get these hostages out safe.

- [interviewer] At what point do you have to change...

- Ma'am.

You have

a police officer on air,

but the man who the situation

is about is nowhere to be seen.

- Does that make sense to you?

- Have you got kids?

You know I do.

Well, then you know why

you called here first.

Why'd I do that?

Because we are not

going to let your children...

Yours and mine...

Watch you blow up that bank

on the air.

[officer on TV] The suspect,

I should say, is workable...

[reporter] I understand he is a

local. Yes, but I cannot confirm that.

And what can you tell us...

So what's it look like

out there?

[reporter] It may have something

to do with this outcome.

[officer] I do not have information

regarding that at this moment.

They got a lot of people

waiting for me?

[helicopter whirring]

[police radio chatter]

[cell phone buzzes]

Hello?

Cassandra Easley?

Yes.

I'm Agent Jackman of the FBI. Can

you confirm your current address?

[police chatter]

[police dog barks]

[Lisa] Do you have any

other family we could contact?

[Brian]

My brother. But we don't talk.

[officer] Nothing.

Hey, everybody.

Riddick, right? Yes,

sir. Real pleasure.

Fine job out here.

Got everything you need?

Yeah, snipers are in place. Area's

clean. Uh, no sign of an accomplice.

Now that Bernard's here,

we're ready to rock and roll.

Good, good. Atlanta's

watching you today, son.

- [Brian] Okay, this is good.

- No pressure.

[Lisa] ...trying to figure out

what's happening over there...

Let's just give him five more

minutes. Let him wind down.

Lisa...

can I ask you a question?

Sure.

Is life hard for you?

It's hard for everybody I know.

They...

Is it really hard, like...

Seems like everywhere I turn,

they...

You know, my own brother

put a hit out on me.

How did he, uh...

I don't know.

I don't know. They said...

They said he put

20,000 on my head.

Brian, who said that?

The streets is talking.

He a part of some secret

society, some cult like that.

I don't really mess with him,

but they real, real sick people.

Just four kidnapping attempts

on me last year.

You know that? Four.

[Lisa] Are you sure?

[Brian] Am I sure?

We gotta stop this.

[Lisa] All right.

Uh...

Well...

You know what?

I don't need a translator.

I need to be on the camera.

Can you send somebody down here?

Oh. Well, we have, um...

We have reporters out there.

Mark said that it can work, uh...

You can meet him at a window.

Yeah, we have reporters

out there, uh...

But how would we do it?

Is there a window...

[Brian] Ma'am, ma'am,

I'm not going near the window.

I do not want to get shot.

- Coming through. Coming through!

- [person] Hey!

[person 2] Sir!

Stay away from that bank.

Tell your reporters

to stay the fuck off the phone.

You're jeopardizing

his life and yours.

That reporter...

You have been warned.

As you can see, this is

a very volatile situation.

Don't you have a... a long lens that

zoom in that you can see me with?

I'm asking about a long lens.

Oh, long lens. Let me ask.

We're checking on that for you.

Because that's a good idea.

Keep you safe.

[Bernard] Major. I can't

prevent that. Hold on.

Major. We haven't even talked to this

guy yet, and you're letting them film him?

What are we doing here?

What is this?

What is what? You're

highly emotional, Sergeant.

Sir, my professional opinion?

This some bullshit.

May I start

a direct line of communication

so someone trained in

this field can talk to him?

[officer] I'm at North Park,

trying to divert traffic...

Just push redial.

Yeah, I'm back.

Suspect exits the bank,

he will not leave the sidewalk.

Are you clear on that?

Suspect exits the bank,

he will not leave the sidewalk.

[Brian] Can you

send somebody down here?

Ma'am, ma'am,

I'm not going down there, okay?

I do not wanna get sniped.

Okay, I kinda hear him

talking in the background.

He's still on

with the media, right?

Uh-huh.

We don't play that around here,

I'll tell you that much.

[police chattering]

[Lisa] Brian.

Brian, calm down.

[Brian]

I need to be on camera, okay?

[engine starts]

[Lisa] Yeah. Yeah.

[breathing heavily]

Look, they're telling me

that it's just going to take a minute to

locate the camera equipment we need.

But it's coming. Okay?

You're lying.

No, sir.

You're lying to me right now.

I can hear you.

You're lying, I hear it

in your voice. No. No.

You know what,

we're gonna wrap this up.

No, no, no.

We're gonna wrap this up.

Don't do that. Hey...

Wait, my, uh...

God. Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait!

That's all I've been told!

Is to wait!

Brian.

What do I need to do

to get the attention

that I need right now?

Right now!

Right now, ma'am!

Brian. Brian, calm down.

Calm down.

Is this what I need to do?

No. We're gonna...

We're going to take care...

This what I need to do? Okay.

Okay.

[detonator beeping]

Is this what you need?

Is this all the motivation you

need to get me what I need?

You have hostages

in here, ma'am!

Hostages, and they scared!

They scared for their

damn lives! Brian...

I need a phone call!

Brian,

you have my undivided attention.

I don't need

your undivided attention!

I need the attention of the VA!

Not you!

- [Riddick] Yeah, we're ready.

- [WSB staff] All right. We're gonna do this.

You got it.

Brian...

[Brian] Now, ma'am, can

you get me this phone call?

Hey, Brian... Or do I

have to blow this bitch up?

Brian, they just told me the negotiator wants

to call you on this line, like, right now.

Negotiator

is on the phone, ma'am?

You're not lying to me

right now?

The negotiator is

on the phone? Yeah.

'Cause we can't go back and

forth no more. We can't do that.

No, no, no. So... So... You go talk

to him. And then you call me back.

[detonator continues beeping]

Okay.

[beeping stops]

Okay, that's... that's a start.

That's a start.

- Ring him through.

- Okay.

Yeah.

She's doing it right now.

I apologize.

[Rosa crying softly]

What are we going to report?

Everything.

[crew] And we're live.

Five, four, three, two...

[anchor] Breaking news, we have

a hostage standoff at a Wells Fargo

with Team 2 coverage from

our news chopper in the air,

and a team on the ground.

The suspect made exclusive contact

with our seasoned producer, Lisa Larson.

This is Channel 2 Action News. We

start with Keith James live in Marietta.

We appear to have a

very volatile situation here,

where a man has barricaded

himself inside a bank with...

...an explosive device and a

story that he needs to have told.

Police are no longer calling this a

robbery, rather a hostage situation.

And ten to 15 minutes ago,

the sheriff's SWAT team arrived.

[anchor] Keith, thank you.

And now to Mark Cavanaugh.

He's live on the other side

of this standoff with police.

Mark, what can you tell us

about the suspect?

Well, I can tell you

the area has been sealed off.

I've also been assured that

the public is not in danger.

Now, the suspect inside that

Wells Fargo told us he's a marine,

and we've worked with several

agencies to confirm that he is in fact

Lance Corporal

Brian Brown-Easley.

Daddy.

Huh?

[reporter] ...our own Lisa

Larson had with the former marine.

I just want to say...

He's calm and composed

and came across as caring.

[Brian] Gandalf?

[Kiah] No.

[Brian] Gimli?

[Kiah] One guess left.

[Brian] Okay, Gollum.

Does she look like a Gollum?

[phone rings]

Hello?

[Bernard]

Hi, is this Mr. Easley?

[Brian]

Who am I speaking with?

This is Eli Bernard, chief

negotiator for Marietta PD.

[Brian] Chief?

Damn, they sent me the big dog.

[Bernard] I'm actually a

sergeant, but that doesn't matter.

I'm just pleased

to be talking to you.

Why you pleased?

I like to help people.

And it looks like

you can use some help today.

Yeah, you the chief.

Then we good, man.

People know the truth

when they hear it. I do agree.

My mama said show me a liar

and I'll show you a thief.

[Bernard] Mine said the same.

Right.

- Your mama sound like a smart woman.

- Oh, she's smart. She was.

I'm sorry.

No. No sorries.

We all die

at our appointed time.

Yes, we do. So tell me, Brian,

what can I do for you today?

Is it okay if I call you

Brian? Absolutely. Uh...

Sir, I know

you know why I'm here.

And I just simply want

my money back. That's all.

From the VA, right?

Yes, sir.

Yeah, I've had some problems

with Veteran Affairs myself.

It's difficult when they

drag their feet. Right.

Hey, what branch of service

you in?

Marine.

Semper fi, sir.

Where'd you train?

I'm a West Coaster.

MCRD, San Diego.

Okay, okay. So you one

of them Hollywood brothers

with the veneers

in your mouth, huh?

[Bernard laughs]

Shooting bubble gum bullets.

[Bernard laughs]

I'm from St. Louis,

Missouri.

But yes, sir,

a Hollywood marine I am.

So tell me, sir, how can we

put this back in the VA's hands

versus the bank tellers?

[Brian] Tell the VA to

send over the cash and fix it.

That's all, okay?

[Bernard] Anything else

you need help with?

Brian?

Yeah, I need you to help me find the words

to tell my ex-wife and my daughter that...

that I'm gonna die.

[Bernard]

Sir, with all due respect,

it is my responsibility to make

sure that you get out of here alive.

Yeah, I understand,

but we both know they

going to kill me, man. They...

We both know I'm dying here.

You know.

Ain't nothing for me out there

but bullets.

At least everybody gonna know.

They gonna know how the VA do, man.

They gonna know.

Everybody will see.

[Bernard] You said you

had an ex-wife. [chuckles]

I got one of those

too. Painful. [sniffs]

Anybody else in your life I

can contact? Like a woman?

Yeah.

I had but one deep cut in

my life, and I married her.

Well done you, sir.

She beautiful.

Yeah, actually, uh,

I had thought about her...

right at the moment

I decided to do...

what I'm doing right now.

[Bernard]

When was that moment, Brian?

[breathing heavily]

- [grunts]

- [crowd gasps]

[Brian shouting]

Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop!

[grunting]

I don't wanna...

I'm not gonna leave!

I'm not leaving until... No!

[handcuffs ratcheting]

No!

[officer] Okay.

I want my cash!

[officer] Take a breath.

Where's my money?

[shouts]

[Brian]

In front of all those brothers.

I tried to go about it

the way we trained, but...

sir, they've taken

everything from me.

Everything.

I apologize.

For what?

Well, that... that another

human being, a fellow marine,

had to go through so much.

How much money

does the VA owe you?

[Brian] $892.34.

That it?

[Brian] Yes, sir.

[Bernard] Sir, your honor's

worth more than $892.

You're worth more than $892.

I'm worth nothing.

I am nothing.

I'm gonna die tonight...

and nobody will care why.

CNT's up and running.

Let's get you in there

so we can hear y'all.

Look...

This is what we're going to do,

okay? Brother to brother.

I'm gonna call your ex-wife

and daughter.

I'ma tell her that we have talked

and we're going to work this out.

Then I'm going to call you back.

Is that okay?

Okay. Now, after

I've done that, Brian,

I'm gonna need you

to do me a favor.

I'm going to need you

to let one of the ladies go.

Can you do that for me?

Brian, you still there?

What about the cash?

What about the money?

I give my word as a marine

and on my daddy,

you let one of them go,

and we will sort this out.

They're gonna come in that door

and crack my head open.

Ain't nobody coming in there

and cracking open your skull, man.

No. No, no, sir.

Not on my word.

Nigga, please, you don't control these

people, man. You ain't got no power.

Don't do that to me now.

Don't you underestimate me.

Not me.

I'm gonna call your family and

I'll call you back in a moment.

All right?

Okay.

[busy signal beeps]

Don't you ever, ever disrespect

me or cut me off when I'm talking, sir!

Give me the ex-wife's number.

[reporter on radio] A man has

taken over a Wells Fargo bank

and is threatening

to blow it up.

He apparently has an explosive,

some sort of backpack or package...

[cell phone buzzes]

Hello? [Bernard]

Hello, Ms. Easley.

I'm Sergeant Bernard from

the Marietta Police Depart...

Is he dead?

No. No, ma'am.

No, Brian is still

very much alive.

Say, you got Face Time?

Yeah.

I just want you to see me.

Uh, yeah, I do. I do. I do.

Hold on.

Okay, good.

I am pressin' that button...

right about... now.

[chuckles]

Hi.

I gotta tell you, I'm not too

much for all this technology,

but let's just say

it's a pleasure to see you.

Yeah.

First of all, I want to let

you and your daughter know

I do this day in and day out, and I

know a good man when I see one.

Your husband's a good man.

Yeah. Yeah, I know that. I know that.

He wouldn't... He wouldn't hurt a spider.

He has these episodes,

sometimes,

but nothing like this,

nothing this bad.

Has he ever been violent

towards you or your daughter?

Violent? No. No. Hell, no. He

loves that child with his whole heart.

[Bernard]

That's good to know.

And before I go, is there

anything I can help you with?

Yeah. Yeah, you can tell me why

the FBI is on their way to my house.

I didn't... I didn't...

I didn't do anything wrong.

I apologize, ma'am.

That's just procedure.

This here's my number.

If they do anything you

don't like, you just call me.

Make sense?

Yeah, it does.

Is there anything

you want me to tell Brian?

Yeah.

Yeah, tell him that I...

Tell him that Kiah says,

"Don't do nothing stupid."

Okay, ma'am.

I'll make sure

to pass that along.

All right. Thank you.

You're welcome.

Bye now.

[officer] Wells Fargo confirms,

cameras live any moment now.

[officer 2] All units, suspect does

not leave the perimeter with the bomb.

[phone rings]

[Bernard] Hey, Brian.

I spoke to your ex-wife, man.

We actually video talked, but...

Good, you did?

She's a lovely lady.

They okay?

She and your daughter

are doing just fine.

Told Cassandra she can call me

if she needs anything.

That's mighty fine of you.

Did you call the VA too?

To tell the truth,

that's going to take some time.

But I did

what I said I was going to do,

so, how about you release

one of those ladies?

I'ma release both of them

when the money's in my account.

I was really clear.

You gave me your word, marine.

Now don't do that.

Do not do that.

I did not reply, sir.

Now, you got me there.

Okay.

It's just, uh,

I care about you, Brian.

I care about you

just as much as I care about

what them ladies

must be going through.

[Brian] I understand

you're good at your job.

But I need you to go do it.

Just call the VA.

[Bernard] You went from

10% to 50% disability. Right?

How you know that?

Well, the VA just

sent over your file.

You were hurt in Iraqi Freedom.

[Brian] Yeah, right again.

[Bernard] It is a bitch

getting shot in the heat.

You... You were shot, right?

No, I was injured.

I was. Which means

you're just like me.

You've been through worse.

You just gotta push through,

Brian. I'll be here to help.

I understand

that you having conversations

that you're supposed to be having

with the VA, but what you need to do,

rather than trying to

straighten me out,

is call them,

then have them call me.

Because you know what you did?

You gave me your word, sir.

You did that.

So if that isn't the conversation,

then we don't need to talk.

Come on, Brian.

They taught us better than this.

No, no, no, no. We can

fix this. This is human error.

I'm gonna die

because of that human error.

Sleep on that.

Shit.

[Cassandra] I'm here, my baby.

[cell phone buzzes]

[agent] Please don't

answer that. It's Brian.

There'll be a moment

when you can. Just not now.

Hold on, baby.

[buzzing continues]

[tosses phone]

Come here.

I understand he is a local,

but I cannot confirm that.

[line ringing]

Hi, this is Cassandra Deets...

[phone rings]

[Bernard] Hey, Brian.

Don't put the phone down.

Since you didn't let those ladies out, you

can at least let me speak to one of them.

Hold on.

Negotiator wants to talk.

Estel.

Hello.

[Bernard]

Hi, who am I speaking with?

Estel Valerie.

Hello, Ms. Valerie.

This is Sergeant Bernard.

Is everyone all right in there?

[smacks lips]

No, we are not.

What are you people

doing out there?

Ma'am, we're doing

everything we possibly can

to get y'all out of there

safely.

Well, how long does it take to

put money into a man's account?

Estel, just please

try to stay calm.

I'm perfectly calm.

Okay. We're trying, ma'am.

Well, try harder, please.

[phone rings]

WSB-TV tip-line. This is

Lisa Larson. What's your tip?

Absolutely.

Uh, what is your address?

[officer]

The remaining feed is up now.

Can you put Brian

back on the phone, please?

[Brian] Hello?

I'm about to leave this car

and go over to the van.

When I'm out there,

is there anything you'd like?

Maybe some smokes?

Okay. I can do that.

What kind do you like?

Newports. Newport Longs.

Brian,

when I buy these cigarettes,

someone is going to have to

leave them at the door for you.

We got a plan for that?

[Brian]

Can't you do it?

Okay.

You give me a few minutes to buy those

cigarettes, and I... I'll meet you there.

[hangs up receiver]

[sniffs]

That's some bullshit.

I ain't going near that.

You know what,

they're not going to fix it.

I will.

I'm going to put your money

directly into your account.

That's not what I need to

happen. So, no, thank you.

Money is money.

Why you care about

where it comes from?

If I cared about the money, I'd have had

you do that when I walked in, but I didn't.

So, no, I do not need that.

You think the VA

got their own printed money?

We're the bank.

We get it back.

No.

I want their money.

So you set on dying?

How many times I gotta

hide my son from the news?

I'll tell you what.

When he asks me, "What did

you do to stop him from dying?"

I'm gonna look him in the eye...

and know that I tried.

[whispers] Please...

[whimpering] ...let me put what

you're owed into your account,

and let's please go home.

Look, you can bump it

to your... your wife.

Or your daughter.

I don't care,

but I need you not to die.

Okay, Brian?

Brian, I need you not to die.

Not today.

Okay.

I'm gonna handle this. Right?

I should probably...

If I'm gonna

leave her something,

I should probably call

Kiah, right? Mm-hmm.

You need some credit

on... on the phone?

- Yes, ma'am, I do.

- Okay. That's on me.

Okay.

I'ma need that number, okay?

Estel might be losing it.

I reckon she's going to take

matters into her own hands.

Okay, well, that's a problem.

We still got her

on the phone, right?

Why is that a problem?

If he finds out

that she put the money

in his account and not the VA,

it just might trigger him.

We don't know.

Hell, he doesn't know.

Whoever is talking to her

should tell her to stop.

In fact, we should kill all bank

communications except for the phones.

[Riddick] Kill all comms

except for the phones.

Let's go.

[typing on keyboard]

I got the phone credit,

but your account...

it's erroring.

Why... Why would they do that?

It just doesn't work?

Try again.

[phone rings]

Hello.

[Bernard] Brian.

- Man, why would you...

- Brian, look at your phone, man.

You're on CNN.

CNN?

I'm on CNN?

People are listening

to your story.

They got pictures of you

all over Facebook and Twitter.

Mm-hmm.

Okay, uh, what they saying?

[Bernard] Well, they

know that you're angry.

Hell, most of them know

what's behind it.

It ain't no secret

that the VA is fubar.

You got them

on the back foot now, brother.

You hear me?

So everything you say,

everything you do,

it matters.

[Brian]

I don't know that it does.

It matters. You matter.

[Bernard] Just make good

where you are right now.

Thank you for the call,

Hollywood.

[sighs]

One of y'all can go.

[Lisa] But it does say here

that he owed the college money.

[person] It ain't,

though it says it is.

[Lisa] What does that mean?

Once a student wants out,

stops showing up,

school tells us

they're defaulting.

- Meaning what?

- We gotta take their money.

Pension, disability,

whatever we can get.

The kicker is,

that wasn't Brian.

This is on them.

Why didn't the VA make it right?

Give me a pack

of the Newport Longs.

6.50.

Uh, you got matches?

All right, listen up!

Prepare for a hostage release.

Got ourselves a swap.

Got a light?

Got matches?

I know you got a light.

Does anybody have a light?

Why don't you, uh, give him

a blowtorch while you're at it?

He has a detonator

attached to a bomb, sir.

Not a stick of dynamite.

SWAT command, let me know

when you're ready for hostage release.

[command] 32-01. All incoming

SWAT prepare for the exchange.

Guys! Hey, guys!

[officer] Our bad!

Now, ladies, we don't have

much time. You have to decide.

- You can't put that on us. It's not fair.

- I know.

Rosa, you can go. Go.

No.

Cannot leave you here.

[sighs]

You got to decide.

I'm...

Well, I think it's probably best

I have a senior manager here,

you know, in case they try to...

They try to shoot me.

As soon as the cigarettes

are at the door,

all three of us will go get it.

Estel, I need you to open

the door, hold it open.

And, Rosa, I need you to grab

the cigarettes, pass it on back,

move off.

Then, Estel,

you lock the door behind her.

That clear?

Okay.

Good.

You hot?

Not really.

No?

I think I'm burning up.

Excuse me.

Come on.

Come on. Let's go.

We got to go.

We got to go.

You gotta be kidding me.

[line ringing]

[Kiah] Daddy?

Hey, Baby Ruth.

Hey. Hey, baby.

I just wanted to let you know

that I'm gonna be okay.

You know, whatever happens...

and you gonna be okay.

My baby gonna be fine.

Am I?

Baby, why would you not be?

You don't understand. You're

the most brilliant person I know.

Yeah.

But Mommy says you in trouble.

Well, tell Mommy...

Tell Mommy

I'll be just fine. Okay?

Now, you know what we do.

Can you pray with Daddy?

If he comes back out,

he will shoot me.

If he had a gun,

we would have seen it by now.

Rosa. Rosa.

Rosa, come on.

- I can't.

- You the one supposed to be free.

Bitch, come on.

I can't move.

What the hell

is taking SWAT so long?

They'll let us know

when they're set.

"Those that dwell...

in the shelter

of the Most High...

shall rest...

shall rest..."

[crying]

[Kiah] Daddy, breathe.

Okay, baby.

[exhales]

[Brian] Okay, baby, okay.

"I will say of the Lord...

He is my refuge...

my fortress...

my God, in whom I trust.

Surely he will save me

from the fowler's snare...

and from the deadly pestilence."

Amen.

[Kiah] Amen.

Daddy...

are you breathing?

I am, baby.

I'm breathing.

I am.

Thank you for your prayer.

Thank you

for praying for me, baby.

I needed that.

Daddy,

can you get out of trouble?

Oh, baby, you can always get...

Just do right by people.

You understand me? Wherever

you go, you treat people good.

Okay?

[Kiah] Yes, sir.

That's why I love you.

You're so cool. [chuckles]

What did I do?

Nothing.

Daddy's gonna

let these women out now.

Then we gonna get my puppy?

Oh, baby.

I love you, Kiah.

I love you too, Daddy.

[sighs]

[dog barks]

[radio chatter]

[officer] 75-01, do you need

SWAT commander on your comm?

Ladies,

I just wanna say thank you for everything

you've done for me the last few hours.

And I'm very sorry.

I really am.

Fuck this.

We're gonna lose him.

Even though I don't pray often,

there's this book

I been reading...

[gunshot]

[officer]

What the hell was that?

[gasping, exclaiming]

- [officer] Shots fired.

- [person] What was that?

[anchor] And you are watching breaking

news with us, this scene unfolding...

Go! Go! Go!

[crying]

All right, move!

We're moving!

- Police!

- Nobody move!

[Estel crying]

Come here. Come here.

Ma'am, come on.

Come on, ma'am.

- What was that?

- I think it was a rescue.

- Who authorized the rescue, Chief?

- You had hostages in there.

Find out what that was.

Was that a flash-bang?

Where are the hostages, Chief?

You said you wanted a peaceful

negotiation. What happened?

Look, we saw

a window of opportunity

and we made contact

trying to extract the hostages.

Did you kill him?

I have no further comment

on this matter.

When will that information

be available?

[sirens wailing in distance]

[radio chatter]

[cell phone buzzes]

Yup.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah.

Thank you.

[agent]

We're on our way.

Excuse me.

Excuse me!

Is he dead?

You'll have to contact

your local PD, ma'am.

[Cassandra] I have to what?

Hello? I have to what?

Sir!

Excuse me, please.

Talk to me, sir.

Just talk to me.

Ma'am.

Ma'am. Ma'am.

Did you kill him?

Ma'am. Ma'am!

You'll find he may have

turned the weapon on himself.

[line ringing]

[voice mail]

Hi. This is Cassandra...

[officer] Bernard.

There's no bomb.

[anchor] That must've

been so frightening for you.

All I was doing, I think,

was just trying to

listen to him.

[anchor] You painted a

vivid image of this man...

[thunder rumbling]

[chuckles]

[Brian] Gandalf?

[Kiah] No.

[Brian] Gimli?

[Kiah] One guess left.

[Brian] Okay. Gollum.

[Kiah] Dad! You can't name a

dog Gollum. It'll get to her head.

Okay, I give in.

What's the name?

Sam wise the brave.

Sam wise the brave.

That's perfect, baby.

That is perfect.