Hostile Takeover (1988) - full transcript

(tense music)

(subdued piano music)

(alarm buzzing)

(kettle whistling)

(pigeons cooing)

- [Man] Hey, fellas.

Show a little bit of manners.

(grunts)

(dog growling)

- Oh, shh, Bossy.

Oh, off on a trip, Mr. Brackin?

- Oh, no, Mrs. Hampton.

We're just putting some

shelves up in the office.

It's easier if we

do it ourselves.

- They're making you

work on a Saturday?

- Well, we're a

little bit behind.

Mr. Gaylord asked a few of

us if we'd care to volunteer.

- [Mrs. Hampton] Oh, well.

Not much choice, I suppose.

Will you be home for dinner?

- Yes, of course I

will, Mrs. Hampton.

Why shouldn't I be?

(tense music)

(bike squeaking)

- [Woman] Morning, Gene.

- [Gene] Good morning.

- Would you like a bite?

Going somewhere?

- Uh, yes, Ms. Ladd.

After work, I'm going

to visit with my aunt.

She lives out of town.

- [Ms. Ladd] That's an awfully

big case for half a weekend.

- [Gene] It is the

only suitcase I have.

- Oh, Gene, you disappoint me.

I was hoping you'd say

you had two tickets

to some tropical paradise

and you'd go mad if I

didn't run away with you.

I mean, maybe one day, darling,

you and I alone on

a far away island.

I get goosebumps just

thinking about it.

Fat chance on our salary, right?

(bike squeaking)

- The liberties

some people take.

- Oh, Sally was just having

a little bit of

fun, Mrs. Talmage.

- Well, sometimes I think

you and I are the only ones

who adhere to proper

procedures in this office.

Without procedure,

there'd be chaos.

- Yes, I suppose you're

right, Mrs. Talmage.

Without procedures, chaos.

(knocks on door)

- This Rhinehart

report, first rate.

Absolutely top drawer.

It'll impact the hell out

of them at the front office.

- Thank you, kind master.

- Look, I know you had

better things to do

then to come in

here on a Saturday.

It won't go unnoticed

come your evaluation time.

Myself, I was planning on

flying back to The Big Apple.

Be with the missus.

You know, after six

months in this hole.

- I happen to have been

born in this hole, Lar.

- Uh-huh.

And it doesn't show one bit.

Listen, why don't you

let me make it up to you?

You...

We deserve a day to

unwind, to relax.

And I do have a company

expense account.

Ask me how's business.

- How's business, Lar?

- Business is great.

What do you say?

Ah.

Excuse me.

(laughs)

(tense music)

(blowing)

(humming)

(metal clicks)

- [Sally] Mrs. Talmage.

- Thank you.

(pigeons cooing)

(key clinks)

(clears throat)

(pigeons cawing)

Well, it's nice to see

somebody who still has

some respect for the company.

Have a nice weekend, Eugene.

(humming)

- [Sally] Come on, Eugene.

It's quitting time.

- Everyone, thank you for today.

I think you all did a super job.

And come payday,

you can expect a little

something for your trouble.

- No trouble, Mr. Gaylord.

I enjoy working.

- Well, ciao.

See you guys on Monday.

Goodnight.

(metal rattling)

Hey, Larry.

There's a lock on the door.

- No, there isn't.

It's probably just jammed.

- I can recognize a bloody

bicycle lock, Larry.

I'm telling you, someone's

locked up the door.

(tense music)

- What is this?

Somebody's idea of a joke?

Hmm?

Joan, call security.

- Right away, Mr. Gaylord.

- No need to, Mrs. Talmage.

I put the lock on the door.

- You did?

Well, take it off.

- I threw away the key.

- What?

Gene.

- You did what?

If you didn't want

to work today,

you could've said something.

You could've called us.

Well, I'm not gonna put up

with this kind of stunt.

And this is not coming

out of my paycheck.

(gun fires)

(screaming)

- I'm sorry to frighten you.

I don't want to hurt

anybody, really.

Just do what I say and

everything will be all right.

- [Sally] Why have

you taken us hostage?

- Because.

- Because?

What kind of answer's that?

- Will you just put that

end through underneath

the arms of the

chair and attach it

to his other wrist, please?

- Oh, my god, Eugene.

We've worked together

for three years.

A couple hours ago we were

having coffee together

and now you're chaining us up.

What do you want?

- I don't want anything.

Sally, will you put these

on yourself, please?

- No.

No, what Sally means is, every

hostage taker has demands.

Now, do you want money?

Look, take my wallet.

And you can have my watch.

- [Eugene] No.

- You don't want money?

- Do you want to make

a political statement?

Do you want to save something?

Is that what you wanna do?

- Like whales, or baby seals,

or squirrels, or something?

- Mm-mm.

- No.

- What's going to happen to us?

- I'm not sure exactly, but

we're gonna be here for a while.

(phone ringing)

Hello?

Oh, hello, Mr. Talmage.

No, she hasn't left yet.

Um, no, I'm afraid she can't

come to the phone right now.

Oh, no, no, she's fine.

It's just that we have a

sort of situation here.

Well, I'm sort of holding

everybody hostage.

Yes, well, perhaps it

would be a good idea

to call the police.

But be sure to tell

them not to try and come

into the building or I'll

have to start shooting people.

Now, don't make any

sudden movements.

- Look, don't panic.

Remember who we're

dealing with here.

It's Eugene.

I can handle him.

He's a piece of cake compared...

Shit.

- The police will be here soon.

It's important this

bit goes smoothly

so we don't commit

any accidents.

Mrs. Talmage, please.

If the telephone rings,

will you answer it and

let me know who it is?

(sirens wailing)

They're very quick.

(tires squealing)

- Hey, what's this

all about, Officer?

- We got a call claiming

and employee of Felton,

one Eugene Brackin, is holding

three people hostage inside.

- Eugene Brackin?

You're shittin' me.

He wouldn't hurt a fly.

- Yeah, well let's

hope you're right.

Call the chief, he's

weekending with his kid.

Tell him not to bother.

(siren wailing)

- Too late, Joe.

- Shit.

The guard says this Brackin

guy is a jelly roll.

Could be it's just some punks

jerking us around a bit.

- Maybe.

Talmage is a member

of the Granite Club.

Not prone to schoolyard pranks.

We'll take a look-see.

I want everybody in vests.

Nobody goes in or out of

this plant without my say so.

I'll take this vehicle.

This the only entrance?

- Yes, sir.

- Thought you were gonna

get a haircut, McGregor.

- Yes, sir.

- [Chief] Open up.

Which office is it, you know?

- [Joe] Market

Analysis, third floor.

You think it's just some

kids fucking around?

- [Chief] The window, get down!

- [Joe] Shit.

(gun fires)

God, I should've

stayed in fucking bed.

- Whoever he is, he's

not fuckin' around.

- [Joe] Son of a bitch.

(gun fires)

(explosion booms)

Fuck!

Let's get out of here!

- [Chief] Son of a bitch

had me dead in his sights.

- Nobody's hurt.

- Oh, my god.

(tires squeal)

- [Joe] McGregor, prepare to

move in the heavy equipment.

Mobile HQ, ambulances,

lights, the whole nine yards.

- What's the number

in that office?

- [Guard] 3859.

- Get down, get back.

- [Guard] Jesus H Christ.

Eugene Brackin firing a rifle?

Jesus H Christ.

I don't fuckin' believe this.

(phone ringing)

(gasps)

- Um, you answer it,

please, Mrs. Talmage.

- Market Analysis,

Mrs. Talmage speaking.

- Mrs. Talmage?

Are you all right?

- Uh, yes.

Yes, I am, thank you.

To whom do you wish to speak?

- Is Eugene Brackin there?

- Yes, he is.

He may be indisposed

at the moment.

Whom should I say is calling?

- This is Chief of

Police Smolen, ma'am.

- One moment, please.

Mr. Brackin, there's a Chief

Smolen on the phone for you.

Can you take the call or shall

I tell him to call you back

at a more convenient time?

- I'll take it, Mrs. Talmage.

Hello?

Chief.

- Brackin?

You Eugene Brackin?

- Yes.

- You know you're in

big trouble, mister.

- I didn't hurt anyone, did I?

- What do you want?

- Nothing.

- You don't wanna play

games with me, Brackin.

- I'm sorry, but I really

don't want anything.

- [Smolen] That's ridiculous.

What the fuck did you

kidnap three people for?

- No need to swear, Chief.

- I didn't swear.

Right.

Hey listen, I'm sorry.

Why don't you just explain to

me exactly what you're doing.

- I'm holding them.

Isn't that what these

things are all about?

- You've abducted

three innocent people.

You've taken potshots

at officers of the law

with an illegal

automatic weapon.

You've willfully destroyed

private property.

And you have no demands?

- Uh-huh.

- I'm losing my

patience, Brackin.

- All right.

Well, I demand that nobody tries

to come into this building.

And if anybody tries to enter

here, I start shooting people.

Is that what you'd like, Chief?

And do you see that flagpole

outside there in the front,

the one with the

rope attached to it?

- Yeah, I see it.

What about it?

You want some revolutionary

flag up there or something?

- No, this isn't a

joke, I'm serious.

I need to use that to

get some food in here.

We're hungry.

I want four dinners.

- Dinners?

What kind of dinners?

- He wants to know

what we'd like to eat.

- What can we get?

- Oh, I don't know.

Anything we want, I suppose.

- How about roast chicken?

I was going to make

roast chicken tonight.

- No, let's do Chinese.

I know this great

place on Maplewalk.

- Why don't you decide, Eugene?

- I'd like steak.

- Steaks will be fine.

Right, everybody?

- [Joe] Move it up!

Move it!

Move along there!

I said, move it!

Move your ass!

Come on, move it!

(people chattering)

- Okay, so that three baked

potatoes, two with sour cream,

one French fry,

four chef's salad

with Thousand Island dressing.

- And Mr. Gaylord would

like a bottle of seltzer.

- Uh, could you make

that New York, please?

- New York seltzer.

- Done.

Brackin, you have your

party, you make your speech,

you come on out of there.

- No, not tonight.

We're spending the night here.

- [Officer] Shine

the light up there.

- Hey, what's going on?

- [Officer] Get

that light on him.

- Turn that light off!

- Brackin?

Brackin, calm down.

Listen.

- Turn that light off!

I decide what goes on here!

- [Chief] Brackin,

I'm shutting 'em off.

- [Eugene] Get stuffed, Chief!

It's not time to

create a murder!

- Get down there!

- [Eugene] I decide

when it's time!

Don't disturb us again!

- Brackin, can you hear me?

There, I shut 'em off, Brackin.

Pick up the phone

and talk to me.

Brackin, I've done

everything you asked me.

Brackin?

Brackin!

Brackin, will you pick up

the phone and talk to me?

Brackin, so help me.

Will you answer me?

- I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to scare you.

Would you like to be a

little more comfortable?

Undo the right one.

Put it there.

You too, Mrs. Talmage.

- Oh, thank you.

- Okay, Greg.

Shoot, I'm all ears.

- Well, we got a real

jewel here, Mr. Mayor.

We got a guy up there with a gun

holding three Felton

employees hostage.

- What does he want?

- Four steak dinners.

- And?

- Nada.

Beyond that he's a blank.

- Give him his goddamn dinners

and drag his ass out of there.

- I wish it were

that simple, Steve,

but I don't want anybody hurt.

Guy's got an automatic weapon.

God knows what else.

- The nerve of that asshole

pulling a stunt like this.

In an election year.

- This is not rare.

- You don't like your

steak, Mr. Gaylord?

- I've worn softer shoes.

- If you hold your

knife a little bit low,

you'll find it cuts better.

- It's money.

You're after the payroll, right?

What?

I'm sorry, I'm curious.

It's a normal, natural,

healthy thing to wonder why.

- Certainly.

- I'm sure Eugene

has good reasons.

- Thank you very much for your

cooperation, Mrs. Hampton.

You've been very helpful.

This officer will take you home.

- [Mrs. Hampton] Thanks.

- Listen, if you think

of anything else,

anything at all, please.

- It's right over here.

(engine starts)

- This is Brackin's apartment.

We went through it

with a bushy comb.

- And?

- Nothing.

Place is a blank, just like him.

- Terrific.

I know less and

it scares me more.

- Of course, there's

another reason, Larry.

It's power.

I'd do it for power.

- Money is power.

- Money is just paper.

Power is something

you can taste.

- [Larry] What do

you think, Joan?

- [Joan] I'm sorry, what?

- What would make you do it?

- Why, I'd never harm

anyone willfully.

- But what if you

had to take hostages

and you had to hurt them

to get what you wanted?

- I'd never take a

hostage, Mr. Gaylord.

- What if we were

in Russia, you know?

And the government,

they had your children.

- I don't have any children.

- Pretend.

- Well, I suppose I could

if I was angry enough.

- Ha.

(tense music)

- Is everything all right?

- Goodness, look at this mess.

- No, no, no.

You sit down, Mrs. Talmage.

- I want an itemized account.

I want to know to the

last goddamn penny

what this circus

is gonna cost me.

- Yes, Mr. Mayor.

- And I want to know

by tomorrow morning.

- Tomorrow morning?

Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor.

- Do you have some idea when

we're gonna get out of here?

I mean, you are gonna ask

for something, aren't you?

- It's nice having guests.

- Guests?

This guy's getting very weird.

I could understand if he

was doing it for money.

- Oh, Larry.

You have a goddamn

one-track mind.

- He can't expect

us to put up with

this sort of thing

for much longer.

I mean, people have

their limitations.

- Larry.

(tense music)

- Excuse me.

What's gonna happen to us?

- [Man] Bark, you

spineless little prick.

Bark like a dog.

You hear me, Eugene?

(Eugene barking)

Bark louder!

- [Larry] Eugene, come here.

(Eugene barking)

- [Man] Louder!

- [Larry] Eugene, come here.

- [Man] Eugene!

- Eugene!

Eugene, come here!

- Larry, damn it.

- No.

Eugene, goddamn

it, you talk to me.

Eugene, will you answer me?

Will you talk to me?

Come on, talk to me.

- Shut up!

- Eugene.

Eugene, I want an answer.

Answer me.

- Shut up!

- Eugene.

- Shut up!

- No, Eugene!

- Will you talk to me?

- Shut up!

(gun fires)

(people shouting)

- No, Joan, don't!

Don't!

Don't be stupid!

- That's enough!

(grunts)

(tense music)

(Joan sobbing)

- I wanna know

what that was, Joe.

Send somebody up there.

- McGregor, it's yours.

Move it.

(blinds rattling)

- Sally, Mr. Gaylord, go

back over there, please.

(chairs clattering)

(tense music)

Face the wall.

(phone ringing)

Promise you'll

never do that again.

- I promise.

- Cross your heart

and hope to die?

- Cross my heart

and hope to die.

- Answer the phone.

- Uh...

Market Analysis, Mrs.

Talmage speaking.

- Are you all right?

We heard a shot.

- No one's been hurt.

I just got a little

carried away.

I'll be more

careful from now on.

- Mrs. Talmage, please.

Don't take any chances.

Put Brackin on.

- Mr. Brackin.

- Yeah?

- What the hell's

going on in there?

- Oh, Mrs. Talmage just got

a little bit

excited, that's all.

Everything's all right, now.

- Brackin, you gotta help me.

I've got the mayor

breathing down my neck.

- No, Chief.

We stay here until I decide we

move, not you, not the mayor.

I decide what happens.

- Maybe I'm not making

myself clear, Brackin.

If you don't come out--

(phone clicks)

Yeah, you get the message.

- Is that our asshole?

What happened?

- [Greg] Nothing.

He wants us to keep

the noise down.

They can't get any

sleep in there.

- Listen, Greg.

I've already got a call from

Marsh, the Felton president.

He's concerned, very concerned,

about any adverse publicity.

- He sounds like a

real humanitarian.

- I don't need to

remind you that

the Felton Power

Corporation services

250,000 people in the area.

Which translates into

250,000 voters, eh?

Angry voters that their power's

gonna be shut off

Monday morning.

- You want him

out dead or alive.

- [Steve] I want to move fast.

- Even Marsh wants him out.

- Same damn thing.

You sure you know

what you're doing?

- Positive.

- All right.

- Positive and negative.

It's all relative, isn't it?

- Gene, every prisoner's

entitled to one phone call.

- No.

No phone calls.

Mrs. Talmage, you're

sleeping over there.

- Oh.

- I just think Marsh would

appreciate a call, you know.

Something to let him know

that the plant's okay.

- Jesus Christ, Larry.

Don't you ever stop

bucking for brownie points?

- It's so goddamn hot in here.

Don't those pipes ever shut off?

- They would've if you'd

signed the repair requisition

they gave you last month.

- Look, Sally.

Let's you and I not fight, okay?

We gotta come up with a plan.

- Great, the heater doesn't work

and it's going

below zero tonight.

- [Officer] Brackin's

file's clean, Chief.

No priors.

He's been a good boy at work.

Never missed a

shift in 10 years.

- Tear gas arrived yet?

- Yeah.

Don't let the mayor get

under your skin, Greg.

He's just doing his job.

That's all any of us can

do in this situation.

Do our jobs.

Bag it.

- Your turn, Mr. Gaylord.

- But why do I have

to sleep on the floor?

- We can't really

ask the ladies to.

- No, I can't leave.

Listen, Jill, this is not

a stickup at Shop Rite.

No, don't keep the

casserole warm.

Look, I'm surrounded by psychos.

Honey, the mayor's on my case.

I can't...

I can't move two

inches in any direction

without somebody

jumping on my head.

- Can we open a window?

- Don't bother, Gene.

It'll do Mr. Gaylord good to get

a taste of his own medicine.

- You bitch.

- [Eugene] You'll sleep

in the office, Sally.

(tense music)

- How come I get

the royal suite?

- 'Cause you're

the nicest person.

- That's very sweet of you.

I think you're nice, too.

Would you do me a

favor and turn around?

I just want to get

out of these clothes.

Can you shut off

the light, please?

Don't you just hate

sleeping with clothes on?

(Sally sighs)

Blanket, please.

You can turn around now.

Thank you, Gene.

I feel so much more secure now.

Guess I should say goodnight.

Goodnight.

(soft piano music)

- [Eugene] Where do I begin?

In your eyes are the

best of dark and bright?

How can I presume?

How should I presume?

Arms that are

braceleted barren white.

Do I dare?

So, this is the

way the day ends.

With yellow fog on

the window panes.

Do I dare?

Do I dare?

(tense music)

(gun cocks)

(gun fires)

(people applauding)

(Larry groaning)

You okay?

(Larry groaning)

(boat horn blowing)

- [Sally] Who is this guy?

- Gaylord.

Larry Gaylord.

- That was my job.

- Just hold it

right there, Sally.

I know you deserve the

job more than that bozo,

but my hands are tied.

That's not why you're

here though, is it?

- No, that's not

why I'm here, Burt.

This fucking Mr. Larry Gaylord

better be very, very good.

- Greg, I got a meeting at 0900

with the chamber of commerce.

What am I gonna say to them?

When is that nut

gonna surrender?

- How the hell do I know, man?

I'm not a mind reader.

- Damn it, man, you're

the police chief.

It's your job to get

him out of there.

- It's my job to

get him out alive.

- Look, Greg, you've

been doing a super job,

ever since you first got here.

I'm very proud of you.

Local boy makes good.

But I really think you

need some help on this one.

- Who?

- Garlas.

Special Weapons and Tactics.

- Oh, shit.

Steve, that's just what we need.

RoboCop.

- You'll still be in charge.

I don't wanna see you

fumble the ball, Greg.

(uptempo piano music)

(yawning)

(phone ringing)

- Hello, Chief.

- [Greg] Good morning, Eugene.

How's everybody doing, okay?

- Yeah, they're fine.

What you want?

- Well, I just want

to let you know

that we've installed

a new phone line here.

A direct line from your

office to the trailer.

All you gotta do is dial nine.

- Nine?

Fine.

- Look, I want you to

throw in the towel.

- Not until the circle closes.

- The circle?

What the hell are

you talking about?

Listen, if you force

me to come up there,

somebody might get killed.

Now, you told me you didn't

want to hurt anybody.

- All right, tomorrow.

I swear.

- If anybody gets hurt,

it's gonna be your fault.

- [Eugene] Yours,

if you betray me.

- Your fault.

- You wonder what makes

a guy like that crack.

- Who knows.

Maybe it's something he ate.

(door opens)

- Morning, everybody.

- Morning.

- Good morning.

- Princess Di slept

well last night.

- I didn't ask for

your office, Larry.

- [Larry] Not in so many words.

- What's that supposed to mean?

- Nothing.

I just slept like

shit last night.

- And you look like shit, Lar.

- I can't stand

this shit anymore.

- You know, I once read

about this tribe in Borneo.

You know, the fuckers with

the bones in their noses.

Anyway, when one of them

goes loco, you know,

besides fucking the

livestock or something,

they string the bugger

up by his balls,

slice his head open

like a can of tuna,

and scoop out his brains.

- How did that honky

redneck get trapped

in that black man's body?

- Admit it, Greg.

You're breathing

a whole lot easier

now that the real pros are here.

My boys got the whole

fucking quadrant covered.

Nobody can get out.

- Nobody wants to get

out or in, Sydney.

- Yeah?

Well, I say we go in and put

the fucker out of our misery.

- Then can we string

him up by his balls

and scoop his brains out?

- I don't want you

to worry, Joan.

We'll be out of

here pretty soon.

- That's not what

Mr. Brackin says.

- Yeah.

- [Reporter] This is

a WKMX news update.

Chief of police Greg Smolen

is about to make a statement.

- [Greg] We are confident

that the situation

will be resolved soon.

The alleged

perpetrator has claimed

that he doesn't want

to harm anybody.

And so far, we have no

reason to disbelieve him.

- [Reporter] Thank

you, Chief Smolen.

Now to Lieutenant Garlas of the

Hostage Insurgency

and Kidnapping Squad.

What can you tell

us, Lieutenant?

- [Sydney] We have a very

sensitive situation here.

There's a maniac with a

rifle holding three people.

We can't predict what he'll do.

You see, these psycho types

tend to be unpredictable.

- No, that's not it.

Not it at all.

- [Reporter] Thank

you, Lieutenant Garlas.

Well, you heard it folks.

- You don't think

I'm a maniac, do you?

- No.

- No.

We don't understand why

you're doing this thing.

Most people don't take hostages.

- But everyone's crazy, Gene.

We're all a bit crazy.

- Yeah, but all of them

to think that I'm crazy.

This thing's gonna end soon.

Every circle closes.

If they think I'm crazy

they won't put my in prison,

they'll put me in a hospital.

I've gotta do this first.

- That's right, Gene.

You do what you have to do.

- Yeah, but what if he

has to kill someone?

- I'm not gonna kill anyone.

I told you.

- But remember, if you

have to kill Sally,

she'll understand.

(computer beeps)

- You people don't care

about consequences, do you?

If you'd shut your trap

for a couple of seconds

I'll tell you something,

smart boy, all right?

I've got four people whose

lives are at stake in there

and all you care about

is your freaking ratings.

Now, get out of here.

- Do you know his name, sir?

Sir, do you know his name?

Sir, what is his name, sir?

- [Joe] Let's go,

let's go, let's go.

You heard what the man said.

Let's go, move it.

- You couldn't resist opening

your fucking trap, could you?

- I just told it like

it is, Boy Scout.

What the fuck do you want me

to do hold a prayer meeting?

- [Greg] I want you to

think before you speak.

- Don't fucking

patronize me, Smolen.

I didn't get this

job by farting around

with my thumb up my ass.

Now, get your

fucking hands off me.

- Come on, guys.

Show some fucking decorum.

People are watching.

- You don't speak to

the press, understand?

Nobody.

- [Man] Sir.

Okay, okay, okay, listen.

- It's all right.

- He's losing it, man.

(computer beeping)

- Is there any seltzer left?

- There's always

the water cooler.

- Tastes like shit.

(bottle clatters)

What do you say, Gene?

Why don't you let us go?

- No.

- Think about our families.

Think about Mrs.

Talmage's husband.

Think about my wife.

They're gonna be worried sick.

- I haven't finished yet.

- Why not let me go?

I could be like your

go-between, your mediator.

- You're always covering

yourself, Larry.

- Not true.

I'm thinking about you.

I'm thinking about us.

- That's bullshit

and you know it.

- [Larry] What do you say, Gene?

Come on.

- [Sally] Stop it, Larry.

- [Larry] No!

- Leave him alone!

- Come on, all I wanna

do is talk with him.

Why won't you let

me do that, huh?

- Because, you got a big

mouth and it's dangerous.

- Well, I'd take

him into my office

for a little private one on one,

but you've already got

that covered, haven't you?

- You've got a filthy mind.

- [Larry] Yeah?

Well, why don't you tell

us nothing's going on?

- Nothing is going on!

- That's bullshit!

- Stop it!

If you don't shut

up, I'll shoot!

I will!

Now, shut the fuck up!

(phone ringing)

Hello.

- Hey, Eugene.

I wanna talk to you, man.

- You didn't speak very

nicely to me this morning

and that man called me

a maniac on the radio.

I don't wanna talk to you.

I'm sorry.

(tense music)

- You are one colossal

asshole, Garlas.

- What's the matter?

- Brackin's furious

about the interview.

- Well, ain't that

just too fucking bad?

- From now on, mister,

you don't breathe,

let alone position a hitman,

without clearing

it with me first.

You understand?

- Greg.

Greg?

- [Greg] What?

- You are mollycoddling

that asshole

and it's getting you nowhere.

And running out of slack, huh?

Something's gotta give.

(phone ringing)

- Hello.

- Gene, listen to me.

I can prove I'm your friend.

Yes, I can.

Now, you trust me.

If I can prove it,

can we be friends?

- I suppose so.

- Good.

Now, I want you to

be very careful.

I want you to go over to

the window, not the center,

but to the edge of the window.

Will the phone reach?

- Yeah, it reaches.

- Good.

Now, carefully look

out the window.

You see those oil

tanks across the way,

the second one from the left?

I want you to look along

the top of the oil tank.

See something there?

- Yeah.

Yeah, I see him.

- It's a sniper, Eugene.

He can hit a dime at 600 meters.

He's there to shoot you, Eugene.

You stand in that window

for a second, you're dead.

- Well, why would

he want to kill me?

I haven't hurt anybody.

- Eugene, I have been

trying to tell you.

I don't want to kill you.

But there are some

people down here

who think you want to

stay up there forever.

- Not forever.

- [Greg] When, tomorrow?

- Tomorrow, yes.

- Tomorrow morning?

- [Eugene] Maybe.

- What is this

maybe shit, Eugene?

Come on.

- What about the guy

who wants to shoot me?

- I will take care of

the sniper, Eugene.

I'll call you later,

see how you're doing.

- Jesus Christ.

What are you, a fucking

cop or a puffball?

You could've lured

that cocksucker

to the window for my sniper.

- [Eugene] If you betray

me, Chief, you'll see.

Before the clock strikes three.

(tense music)

- Everybody's coming down on us.

Marsh, the plant union.

They want this thing finished.

Sid's ready to take him out.

- Steve.

Look, I'm not a psychiatrist,

and neither are you,

but that man is not a killer.

Give him 12 hours.

- I'll give that person nothing.

(subdued piano music)

- Strange Sins, the

story of Lady Barbara

and Jake the Slave.

Two lovers torn apart

by class and prejudice.

Two lovers drawn

together by a passion.

I didn't think you went in

for such hot stuff, Joan.

- Well, back in high school

I was the first one to own

a copy of Lady Chatterley's

Lover, the unedited version.

It caused quite a

stir, I can tell you.

- [Sally] Bet you were a

real hottie in school days.

- [Eugene] Bang.

- I was what you might

call a modern girl.

I was the first one to wear

a two-piece bathing suit

around the public pool.

I was the first one to smoke.

And I was the first...

Well, let's just say I

didn't think it was fair

that the boys were

having all the fun.

- I agree.

Would you excuse me.

- Bang, bang.

(tense music)

Gene?

(gasps)

It's all right.

I just came by to say

that I think what you're

doing is not terrible.

I know some people are gonna

say it's wrong and bad,

but sometimes there is no

right or wrong, or good or bad.

You're going through with this.

And when it's all over,

we'll be released unharmed.

- Sally, you wanna

give me a hand here?

Double time for hostage days.

- [Sally] Please, don't

let him bother you.

He doesn't have your vision.

- Damn bitch.

- I can tell you can

see things clearly.

If you can do this,

you can do anything.

You are very, very powerful.

That's why they're

afraid of you.

That's what everything's

about in this world.

Power.

- Mr. Brackin, may I

go to the ladies room?

- [Sally] Me too, Joan.

I'll join you.

Can you grab my purse, please?

- That door doesn't

lock, does it?

- No.

(sighs)

I know these things

screw up you insides,

but I'm in no mood

for an accident.

Kids should be wanted,

don't you think?

I'd like to have one one day.

If the right man comes along.

Fat chance of that

happening in Mansfield.

God, it's funny.

You can work with

someone for years

and it takes something like

this to get to know them.

Like I was surprised to find

that you don't

have any children.

Joan?

- Yeah.

I was pregnant in

my sophomore year.

I had an abortion.

This doctor gave me these pills

that were supposed

to stop the bleeding.

But I was so scared and ashamed.

I...

I thought they were pain pills.

I threw them away.

I felt that I deserved the pain.

Well, three days later,

I almost bled to death.

- Wow.

- So, I quit gymnastics,

I quit college,

and I married my boring

high school sweetheart.

Two years later, I found out

I could never have children.

And to this day, Robert

doesn't know why.

- I'm really sorry.

- Well, I have nobody but myself

to blame, that's for sure.

- No, you were screwed by

a system that protects men

and punishes women.

We do all the work,

they make all the money.

They sow their oats

and we pay the price.

All this talk of equality

is still just talk.

Nothing's changed.

- Well, yes.

But that's old history now.

No point in crying about it.

- You ready?

- Nah, you go ahead, Sally.

I'll be out in a minute.

(tense music)

- He's in the

washroom with Joan.

He didn't take the rifle.

Get the rifle.

Get the rifle.

Move it.

(Joan screaming)

- What were you

doing in there, Gene?

- Tell us.

- What were you doing to her?

- I was just checking up.

- Joan, are you all right?

- Oh, it's my fault.

- [Larry] You know, you're sick.

We did exactly what you asked.

How could you do this to her?

- I didn't do anything!

Now, stop treating

me like a child!

(phone ringing)

Hello.

Chief?

- Yeah, it's me, Eugene.

Listen, you're gonna be

on your own for a while.

I got things to do.

- What?

No, you can't leave.

Not until the circle closes.

- Come on, Gene.

You're not the only

punk in this town

with a hair up his ass.

I've got things to do.

- If you go away, if

you don't protect me,

they'll pin me down.

You can't leave until

this thing's over.

- Calm down, calm down.

- [Eugene] They're gonna

know what I'm doing.

- You're not making a great

deal of sense, Eugene.

- You haven't been

listening, Chief.

- Eugene, I have been

nothing but ears ever since

I first spoke to

you on this phone,

but I'm not gonna

keep hanging around

if you're gonna keep

talking in circles.

Come on, guys, guys.

Stop fiddling, will ya?

Jesus.

- He can't leave us now.

- Circles.

Circles.

- It's a trick.

He won't leave.

He'll be there.

I know, I can tell.

He's just playing

some little game.

(phone ringing)

- Ah.

- He's there.

(phone ringing)

- Circles.

Circles.

- Please, Chief.

(phone ringing)

Don't leave me now.

- Hollow circles, Chief.

Rings of straw around

stuffed fingers.

It's not my time to whimper,

but it's time for

decisions and revisions.

- [Greg] Which a

minute will reverse.

(subdued piano music)

- I wanna go home.

I wanna go home.

- 260.

260.

- [Joe] 260.

- Joe, I'm sorry

to do this to you.

R&R's canceled.

- [Joe] So, what's up, Greg?

- I want you to

make a run for me.

(tense music)

Let it roll.

(phone ringing)

- Leave it.

Let it ring.

I decide.

- This thing's getting

more and more twisted.

Should've knocked him out when

he was having his little fit.

- I'm gonna risk getting

my head blown off?

- [Larry] I would've

done something,

except I'm chained up.

- [Sally] You're

a true hero, Lar.

- Look.

Do you think you could

get him to drink?

- Drink?

- In my desk drawer,

the deep one,

there's a very large, very

heavy bottle of scotch.

- You have scotch?

- Uh-huh.

- I could use a drink.

- You conned me into

giving you an extra day.

And like a jackass, I gave it.

You know, you're worse

than that maniac up there.

You're holding this

whole town at gunpoint.

If you don't clean this

whole thing up by morning,

you can kiss your job goodbye.

- Problems with the

connection, Smolen?

- You gotta make

up your mind, Greg.

You can't keep chasing

your tail forever.

Poetry.

(Larry laughing)

- Eugene, you know any jokes?

- No.

- Ah, I got another one.

How do women hold their liquor?

- Oh, you talk a

lot when you drink.

- Yes, I do.

And so would Eugene.

Pour him a drink.

Come on, Eugene.

Why don't you join us?

You know, after all,

it's your party.

- [Joan] How do they?

- What?

- Hold their liquor.

- By the ears.

- Ew.

(Sally laughing)

- All right, speech, speech.

- Oh, no.

I wouldn't know what to say.

- Oh, come on, Eugene.

Say something.

Hey.

- Mr. Brackin, you

must make a speech.

- Well...

I know you're all

very angry with me.

And I don't usually do things

that I don't usually do.

That's why this is so

important, so right.

It's not so bad, really.

If I hadn't have done this,

we wouldn't have gotten to know

each other the way we have.

Finally, I'd like to

tell you that I love you.

- Oh.

- Can I have another drink?

- Absolutely.

- It's music time.

Woo!

- You feeling all right, Sydney?

Did I hear you advise

patience to the mayor?

- Don't get all bent

out of shape, choir boy.

Sooner or later, your good

buddy's gonna do you in for me.

But in the meantime,

what do you say you and I

kill a few games of poker?

Five card stud, you and me.

- [Greg] Got your chips, Hollis?

- Never leave home without 'em.

- There you go, Joan.

There's something that

ain't rock and roll.

- [Sally] Yeah.

- Ooh.

(Joan mouthing music)

Mr. Brackin, could

you unchain me

so I could dance just a little?

(uptempo jazz music)

- Those poor bastards must

be going through hell.

Do you think he's

torturing them?

- [Greg] No.

- Like shit he ain't.

(uptempo drum music)

- [Sally] Yeah, Joaney.

(laughing)

- [Joan] Shake it, Sal!

All right.

Yeah, ha!

Woo!

Get down!

- [Sally] Oh, jeez.

(Joan laughing)

- Aha!

I knew Jones was a drinker.

- Queens. (laughs)

I accept checks, plastic,

whatever you got.

- Hey, you throw a

wild party, Gene.

I need some more fuel.

- You've had enough.

Why not get Eugene a drink?

- He can't drink anymore.

He's on guard.

- Guard?

- Do you wanna dance?

- No, I do not want to dance.

You're fucking up our plan.

- Do you really want

a man with a rifle

pointed at you to get drunk?

You know something, Larry?

I think you're the

craziest one in the room.

Woo!

Woo-woo!

Woo-woo!

(laughing)

(uptempo jazz music)

Woo-woo!

- [Eugene] Whoa, whoa,

whoa, whoa, whoa!

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!

(laughing)

(laughs)

- When's the last time

you had a woman, Larry?

- Oh, shut the fuck up.

- I mean, other than the missus.

One you didn't have to pay for.

Then from what I hear, she

doesn't come cheap, either.

- Would you like another dance?

- No!

- I wanna keep the party going.

- You can't keep a party going.

It either goes or it doesn't

and this one is over.

- Gene, turn off

the music, please.

- She's playing you

for a fool, mister.

She's waiting for you to hurt me

'cause she wants my fucking job.

- Keep your perverted little

theories to yourself, Larry.

Just leave him out of it.

He hasn't hurt anyone, has he?

- He hasn't hurt anyone yet.

- [Sally] Shut up!

We wouldn't be in this

mess if it weren't for you.

It's your fault.

- It's not my fault.

He's the one that did it.

- You fucked up while

you were the boss, man.

This all happened while

you were the boss.

- A million people a

week work overtime.

A billion come in on their days

off and they don't flip out.

- Why don't you

just tell everyone

how you got this job, Larry.

- I wouldn't brag,

Ms. Hot Pants.

Burt Sandor, vice president.

That ring a bell, huh?

- I wouldn't put too much

stock in office gossip, Larry.

The line on your dear

wife is that she does more

than serve cocktails

at company parties.

- [Larry] What the

fuck do you know about

corporate management at

the head office level, huh?

- [Sally] Ever since

you've got here,

all you've done is parade around

with your graphs

and your charts.

- Guys, you're out

of your league.

(phone rings)

- [Greg] Yes, Eugene.

- [Sally] Look at

yourself, Larry.

You're on your way down.

- [Larry] Get that away

from me, you fucker!

I'll kill you!

You bitch, I'll kill you!

(gun fires)

- [Greg] I want

everyone on alert.

- Stop it.

- Eugene, will you answer me?

- [Sydney] Keep

him on the phone.

- Fuck off.

Eugene?

Eugene?

What the hell is

going on in there?

Eugene?

Is anybody there?

(Sally laughing)

Eugene.

- Sally, are you okay?

- [Greg] Answer

the phone, Eugene.

Eugene, if you don't answer

me, I'm gonna come in.

- Mrs. Talmage, Marketing

Analysis speaking.

- Mrs. Talmage?

- Robert, is that you?

I don't feel very well.

Could you come pick me up?

- What the hell

is going on there?

Pick up the goddamn phone!

Why isn't that machine on?

Jesus Christ.

(phone rings)

- Yeah?

- Eugene.

What the hell's happening?

- [Eugene] Oh, my gun

just went off by accident.

- Listen, I'm

getting mighty sick

of this choirboy

routine of yours.

You're playing a

dangerous game, mister.

Now, throw those

weapons out the window

before you or

somebody gets killed.

- The circle, Chief.

It has to be completed.

- What is this circle, Eugene?

Why don't you come down

here and explain it to me.

- Hollow circles, empty

circles, everywhere.

- Listen, Eugene.

Eugene, I know you think

about a lot of things.

You think about things

that most people

wouldn't even bother

to think about.

But I'll try, Eugene,

if you give me a chance.

- You are the real criminal

in this office,

Lawrence Gaylord.

And you are going to

be tried and convicted.

Judge Eugene Brackin will

preside and I will prosecute.

(tense music)

- [Greg] See anything?

- [Officer] No, sir.

The blinds are down.

- All right.

This is gonna be as

easy as hunting ducks.

- [Greg] Whose

bright idea was this?

- [Sydney] The mayor's

placed me in charge.

- Like hell.

I decide.

(helicopter whirring)

(blinds rattling)

- Ah!

- I want that chopper

out of here now.

This is Smolen, you take

your orders from me.

Get 'em out of here now.

- You're finished, Smolen.

(grunting)

- [Greg] Just beginning.

(grunting)

- [Sydney] You're fucking crazy.

- [Greg] Maybe, but I

decide when this ends.

- [Joe] All right, fellas.

Quit busting each other's balls.

- You're making a big

fucking mistake, Greg.

- [Joe] Now, get that

fucking chopper out of here.

- [Sydney] Why'd you stick

your fucking neck out

for a nobody, a

low-life, a blank?

- Because.

I want everybody down below.

I'll shoot anybody

that comes up here.

Is that clear?

- [Joe] Anything you say, Greg.

- They're gone.

You came to my rescue like

a knight in shining armor.

Come on.

It's okay.

- [Greg] Give me your weapon.

Take a break, son.

Forget this ever happened.

Remember us, if at all.

None is lost violent souls.

- What's he up to?

- But only as the hollow men.

- I don't know.

I wish the hell I did.

I don't know.

- The stuffed men.

Eyes I dare not meet in dreams.

- [Eugene] Round and

round the prickly pear

at five o'clock in the morning.

Who's more lost, Chief?

Me for trusting you,

or you for trusting me?

- [Steve] You are

mollycoddling that asshole

and it's getting you nowhere.

The more time you

give that person,

the more dangerous he becomes.

- He told me he

wouldn't hurt anybody.

(bottle thuds)

- I hope you believe in

blind justice, Larry.

How do you plead?

- It's not my fault you

didn't get the promotion.

It's not my fault

you're not happy.

Don't do this, Sally.

(tense music)

- Your Honor, lady of the jury.

I submit to you that this

is the real criminal.

- That's insane.

He's the kidnapper.

- Shut up, pig, until

you're spoken to!

First, the charges.

There is, of course, the

charge of personal assault

and sexual harassment

against myself,

but that's just the

tip of the iceberg.

- No, that's bullshit.

- I submit that this man is

a conniving, brown-nosing,

shoe-licking, ass-kissing,

spineless, dickless worm.

He's the one that

held us hostage

with his goddamn

quarterly reports.

Admit it, slime.

- Hey, you're the boss here.

You make decisions now, not me.

- You're a liar and a cheat.

A pathetic schmuck

who indiscriminately

throws his weight around.

And he wears cheap cologne.

He deserves the full weight

of the law, Your Honor.

- She's crazy.

I've done nothing wrong.

- I need you to protect me.

- She's lying!

I didn't do it!

- What would you like me to do?

- The court has

ruled in my favor.

(bottle thuds)

- You're fired.

You're no longer an

employee of Felton Power.

- And the verdict is castration.

(bottle thuds)

- That's not funny, Sally.

- I'm gonna cut your itty-bitty

little balls off, Larry.

Not that you have any.

- Cut that out, Sally.

- That's exactly

what I intend to do.

Now, where are those scissors?

Where are those scissors?

Joan, what are you doing?

Joan, sit down.

Joan.

- Mr. Gaylord.

- [Sally] Joan!

Joan, stay away from him.

- Mr. Gaylord.

- Joan, what are you do--

(Joan retching)

(laughing)

- [Joan] Oh, God.

I'm sorry.

- Don't feel bad, Joaney.

This is a much

better punishment.

You saved him, really.

Come on.

- [Joan] I'm sorry.

Oh, God.

(Joan sobbing)

- You're okay.

There.

(tense music)

Do you wanna lie down?

- No.

No, go away.

(sobbing)

- Better clean you up.

- No, Gene.

I'll take care of it.

Stand back.

(laughs)

Come on, Gene.

Gene, we gotta get you away.

We've gotta get you out of here.

Get you someplace safe where

they'll leave you alone.

- I don't wanna go

anywhere without you.

- You silly, sweet.

I wouldn't have

it any other way.

We'll go away together.

South America, how's that sound?

Just think of it, Gene.

Living in the sun,

eating mangoes,

listening to Latin

rhythms all day long.

No bosses, no time clocks.

Not a care in the world.

- They're gonna kill me.

- They can't kill us, Gene.

We're magical.

- They wanna kill me very much.

I know it.

Even angels wanna take me.

(subdued music)

Eyes I dare not meet in dreams.

(moaning)

(people chattering)

- He throws a wonderful party.

- I don't see why I have

to be nice to the jerk

just because you

work for him, Larry.

Why can't you get promoted

because you're good?

- It doesn't hurt to

cover our business assets.

I'm not asking you to fuck

him, just talk to him.

Charm him.

Be nice to him, make

him your friend.

- Okay, Larry, if

you think it'll help.

You know I'm so devoted to you.

- Yes, honey, you are.

- [Sally] Oh.

(moaning)

(sobbing)

(groaning)

- Chief Smolen?

I wanna speak to you.

You read me?

Over.

Greg?

What the hell are

you doing up there?

I want you down here right now.

That's an order.

- [Greg] There will be time.

There will be time

to prepare a face

to meet the faces that you meet.

There will be time

to murder and create.

And time for all the

works and days of hands.

(sobbing)

- Shh.

- Oh, God.

I feel terrible.

Oh, my sides.

I wanna go home.

- And you can.

But first you have to finish it.

- Finish it?

- You have to kill him.

I would, but I'm all chained up.

- I can't kill anybody.

- You have to.

Otherwise, we're not

getting out of here alive.

- [Joan] Oh.

(screaming)

- No, I've killed

enough already.

And I don't care if you fire me.

I'm not gonna live

a lie anymore.

- [Larry] Can I

ask you something?

- Sure.

- This hurts and I gotta go pee.

(Joan sobbing)

- I wanna see my husband.

I wanna tell him the truth.

- Of course you do.

I'll talk to Gene.

Just try and rest, okay?

(sighs)

You've got to set her free.

- Soon.

(door opens)

- [Sally] How did

you get unchained?

- I'm not unchained.

I'm just a little less chained.

- Gene, this is no good.

Gene, you can't let him

roam loose like this.

Chain him back up.

He's dangerous, Gene.

Chain him back up.

You can't let him walk

around like this, Gene.

Chain him back up now.

Gene, he's dangerous.

Chain him back up.

Gene, do it now.

Gene?

- How do you like being boss?

Not a lot of fun, is it?

- Larry, please.

Just cool down.

I can get us out of here.

- You can?

I'm impressed.

- Don't make this any more

difficult than it already is.

- You know, Sally,

with a little work

you could be just like me.

- No.

- You've got moves, bitch.

I've seen them.

- Hey.

I'm sorry about last night.

It was wrong.

Things just got out of hand.

Where are the scissors, Larry?

- Scissors?

Where are the scissors, Sal?

Where are those scissors?

(ashtray thuds)

Where are those scissors?

Scissors.

Where are the scissors?

Now, where are those scissors?

(whistling)

Come on, scissors.

Where are you?

Scissors.

(clattering)

I don't know.

- [Eugene] Larry,

don't open them!

They'll shoot you!

- Where are the scissors?

Where are the scissors?

Where are they?

- Code Red, Code Red.

- Where are the scissors?

- Larry!

- I asked you to talk

to him, not to fuck him.

- Don't make me shoot you!

(screaming)

Larry!

(gun fires)

- [Greg] Party's over.

(Sally screaming)

- [Sally] No!

Gene.

(helicopter whirring)

- No!

- No!

Get down, Gene!

(gun firing)

(Sally screaming)

Get down!

Gene, get down!

Get down!

You can still get away if

you use me as a shield.

- I promised not

to hurt anybody.

- You shot Larry to save me.

It's the truth.

You're loving, and

honest, and kind.

You don't have to

die for this, Gene!

No, Gene.

- [Greg] What a fucking waste.

- [Sally] No.

(gun fires)

No!

(Sally screaming)

(Sally sobbing)

(tense music)

No!

- [Eugene] I don't

usually do things

that I don't usually do.

And that's why this is

so important, so right.

It's not so bad, really.

If I hadn't have done this,

we wouldn't have gotten to know

each other the way we have.

Finally, I'd like to

tell you that I love you.

- [Greg] We are the hollow

men, we are the stuffed men.

Leaning together, headpiece

filled with straw.

Alas, our dried voices

when we whisper together,

are quiet and meaningless

as wind in dry grass.

A rats' feet over broken

glass in our dry cellar.

Shape without form,

shade without color.

Paralyzed force,

gesture without motion.

Those who have crossed

with direct eyes

to the deaths of the kingdom.

Remember us, if at all.

Not as lost, violent souls,

but only as the hollow men.

The stuffed men.

Eyes I dare not meet in dreams.

In death's dream kingdom,

these do not appear.

There the eyes are sunlight

on a broken column.

There is a tree swinging

and voices are in the wind

singing more distant and more

solemn than a fading star.

Let me be no nearer in

death's dream kingdom.

Let me also wear such

deliberate disguises.

Rat's coat, crowskin,

crossed staves in a field

behaving as the wind

behaves, no nearer.

Not that final meeting

in the Twilight Kingdom.

(tense music)