The Public (2018) Movie Script

These racks

and shelves

contain a lot of books.

Tens of thousands.

Hundreds of thousands.

Perhaps millions.

How do you feel about them?

Do they mean something to you?

Are they your friends?

Have you a real love

of books and learning?

You do? That's good.

Now, do you like people

and do people like you?

Do you like

all kinds of people?

The young as well as the old?

People in all stations of life?

You do? That's wonderful.

Because when you have these

two important qualifications,

love for books

and love for people,

you may well consider

the vocation of a librarian,

a vocation that gives

full enjoyment to the librarian

and radiates it to the public.

♪ Whoo whoo whoo

♪ Burn the books

♪ Weaponize

♪ Burn them all

♪ Weaponize

♪ If you hate their history

erase their history ♪

♪ Weaponize

♪ Remove monuments

♪ Leave no trace

of their existence ♪

♪ They say we lucky

just to make it out ♪

♪ I made it out

now here we go again ♪

♪ I could see the sky open up

♪ While I feel

the doors closing in ♪

♪ They got you livin'

on a timeline ♪

♪ With your body

and your mind dyin' ♪

♪ I ain't goin' out

without a bang ♪

♪ I'm fittin'

to weaponize Einstein ♪

♪ I have a bug in my head

♪ Like what you gonna do

with those thoughts? ♪

♪ Medicate? Drink?

Put a gun to my brain? ♪

♪ Feel sorry for myself

'til I blow this mother ♪

♪ Black Collar

♪ Yo television go private

♪ Wi-Fi list got me

on the terror no-fly list ♪

♪ 'Cause I might just

like this dynamite shit ♪

♪ Boom vendettas make you

fight better ♪

♪ You know the haters

is the motivators ♪

♪ Okay

♪ I use my enemies for energy

♪ As we ridin' up elevators

♪ On my way to meet

the Kennedys ♪

♪ The Rothschilds

and the Gandhis ♪

♪ The Al Amoudis

in the Middle East ♪

♪ Let's go to war

for a little peace ♪

♪ We go to war

for a little peace ♪

♪ I'm non-emotional

I'm a soldier ♪

♪ So see the pain in my eyes

♪ We very volatile

♪ Like a Molotov

firefly through the sky ♪

♪ In this country

'tis of thee ♪

- Good morning, Nick.

- Good morning, Mr. Goodson.

♪ I see God

in the devil's eye ♪♪

What the hell you lookin' at?

Because of the Jews.

The Jews don't want me in here.

- Athena?

- Oh, thank God you're here.

This man won't let me in.

He's one of them, you know.

- One of whom?

- The tribe. The Jews.

Athena, nobody is trying

to stop you

from going into the library

when we open,

but the Jews have nothing

to do with it.

I get it.

You're Jewish too.

Athena, keep this up,

and I promise

you will not be allowed back

in the library for six months.

- Is that what you want?

- No, no, no. I don't want that.

Morning.

- Cold enough for you, Ernesto?

- I'm from Jalisco, bro.

I'm takin' my ass back to Mexico

if this cold keeps up.

No, you're not.

- Have a good one, man.

- You, too, man.

You got ten more minutes.

Ten minutes.

- Good morning, Mr. Anderson.

- Mr. Goodson.

Why is there a polar bear

in the library, sir?

The Natural History Museum

is under renovation temporarily.

I asked if we could house

part of their collection.

Say hello to Beary White.

Hello, Beary.

When, uh,

when you have a moment,

I need to speak to you.

I have a moment right now.

Board of trustees room, noon.

- I'm not late.

- Uh-huh.

- I'm not!

- Myra time.

It's metro time.

The public transportation

in this city

runs like a broken clock.

You make enough money

to buy a car.

Right, I can be like every other

self-centered individual,

that just wants to drive

all over the country

and ruin the environment

and not care about

their carbon footprint.

You're so fashionably green.

I'm committed

to doing my part, Stuart.

What about you?

Posting a meme on Facebook

doesn't make you

an activist, Myra.

Besides, it's not like

I drive to work in an SUV.

You still drive to work

when there's adequate

public transportation.

Which gets you to work late

every day.

So says you.

You've seen our new polar bear?

Kind of hard to miss.

I think it's rather appropriate,

because I think

we are the new polar bear.

Me, you, everyone,

unless we start

actually doing something

about our carbon footprint.

Myra, if you don't wanna

leave a carbon footprint

you're gonna have to stand

in one place

for the rest of your life.

Oh, and you're also gonna

need to stop

eating, drinking and breathing.

I will if you will.

What,

is this your third request?

- Fourth.

- Mm.

I know you're my supervisor.

I am trying to be respectful.

I don't wanna go over your head,

but, Stuart,

I will if I have to.

Why do you wanna transfer

off this floor so badly?

I want more literature.

Well, then go hang out down in

Arts and Lit on your lunchbreak.

I wanna be around more

of my literary heroes.

This guy.

"Wherever there's a fight

so hungry people can eat,

I'll be there."

My tenth grade crush.

Good old Johnny Steinbeck.

You know, it's all drunks

and crazy people down in Lit.

Which is so different

than up here?

I'm talking about the authors.

Incoming.

Welcome

to the Downtown

Cincinnati Public Library.

Good morning, Dave.

So explain to me again,

how do you make cheesecake

without the cheese?

I substitute the cheese

with condensed milk is how.

Oh, I don't believe it.

Ain't nobody never heard

of no cheesecake

without the cheese, Smutts.

Cheese was invented

by the Chinese 3000 years ago.

Hail, Caesar.

I don't have to prove anything

to any of you.

I learned how to make it

when I was in the Navy.

The United States Navy

sailed its first ships in 1492.

Hail, Caesar.

Hey, I heard two more people

froze to death last night

in Northside.

I don't know why they don't just

let us stay here

when it gets this cold.

- Yeah. You know, he's right.

- Yeah.

We should just stay right here

when it gets this cold.

They're not gonna turn

the library into a flophouse

for alcoholics, Smutts.

I haven't had a drink

in two weeks.

- That's a lie.

- That's a miracle!

That's a lie, Smutts.

You and me, we had some beer

a few days ago.

- See, see, I knew it.

- Oh, come on, man.

I knew you was full of shit

with that no drinkin' shit.

Just like y... your cheese-less

cheesecake too.

Anybody got any aspirin?

Aspirin was discovered

by the French 600 years ago.

It was originally made

from apple seeds.

- Hail, Caesar.

Aspirin, Caesar,

is made from willow bark,

not apple seeds.

Then how come

it's always white, huh?

Answer me that one, smart guy.

'Cause it's mixed

with cornstarch.

Hey.

So it's cold enough for you,

Mr. Goodson?

It's gonna be brutal

the next couple nights for sure.

We can all come

stay at your place.

- I would if I could.

- You could, but you won't.

No judgement here though.

Look, Jackson.

Use it to get some food,

maybe a room.

You're gonna offer me money and

then tell me what to do with it?

W... well, no, I was just

suggesting a few things

that I thought

you... you might need, is all.

How do you know what I need?

I'm just messing with you, man.

He was just messing with you.

- For the cause.

- Evil is the root of all money.

Hail, Caesar!

You guys are just

encouraging him.

Whoa.

- Who's he?

- That's George.

- Where are you from, George?

- He's shy.

Has to get to know you.

Okay.

Montana.

Montana?

The land of 10,000 lakes.

Hail, Caesar.

♪ Clearly now

the rain is gone ♪

Come on.

♪ I can see all the obstacles

♪ In my way

♪ Gone are the dark clouds

♪ That had me blind

♪ It's gonna be a bright

♪ Bright bright bright

sun-shiny day ♪

♪ I think I can make it now

♪ The pain is gone

It's okay.

♪ All of the bad feelings

♪ Have disappeared

♪ Here is the rainbow

I've been praying for ♪

♪ It's gonna be a bright

bright bright... ♪

Sir?

You... you're gonna have to put

your clothes back on.

Sir?

♪ Blue skies...

William,

we've got a situation on three.

♪ Look straight ahead

there's nothing but... ♪

This guy is really nuts.

- You know him?

- Never seen him in here before.

Are you gonna do

something about this?

'Cause he's kind of ruining

the song for me.

Why don't you take this one,

Ernesto?

No way, amigo.

My job description

doesn't say anything

about handling no naked dude.

♪ In my way

♪ Gone are the dark clouds...

Damn, Ernesto. Why didn't you

say on the radio he was naked?

Because I knew

you wouldn't come if I did.

♪ Bright bright

bright bright... ♪

Sir. Sir?

♪ It's gonna be

a bright bright... ♪♪

Hey, we got a medical

emergency on level three.

I got a quote from a book

I turned in, like, last week.

Uh, forgot the author,

and the title,

but, uh, it's big, it's red,

and I... I found it

on the top shelf.

Can you find it for me?

I need journal articles

on parents

going back to college.

Where are your books

on critical thinking?

What kind of apple did Eve eat?

I need the addresses

of the permanent missions

of the United Nations

listed by countries.

Can you tell me why so many

famous civil war battles

were fought

on national park sites?

I need a colored photograph

of George Washington.

I'm looking for a list of laws

that I can break

that would send me

back to jail...

for a couple of months.

- I am looking...

- I'm looking...

- Thank you.

- Here you go.

Remember

that children's story time

will take place today

at 2:00 and at 4:00 p.m...

Recommended for children

ages four through eight.

Mr. Goodson.

I didn't know this meeting would

be so formal, Mr. Anderson.

Well, it's time-sensitive,

Mr. Goodson.

The, uh, the library's

being sued.

Have a seat.

The attorneys for the plaintiff

have presented the city

a settlement offer.

However, we need to have

all the facts.

I believe you've met

Mr. Foley and Mr. Larson before

from our board of trustees

who have been named

as defendants in this case.

Their attorney, Mr. Abernathy.

Of course,

you know Mr. Ramirez.

He as well has been named

a defendant in this

along with me and you.

Hamilton County Prosecutor

Josh Davis.

- I've seen you on television.

- Hmm.

Do you recognize this man?

- Yeah, that's Ike.

- Ike's name is Isiah Jennings.

Mr. Jennings is suing

the Cincinnati Public Library

for discrimination.

In his petition, he claims

approximately ten weeks ago

Mr. Goodson and Mr. Ramirez

asked him to leave the library

because, and I quote,

"My body odor."

Did you ask Mr. Jennings

to leave the library

because of his body odor?

We'd been getting complaints.

Daily complaints

from library personnel

and patrons

about the way Ike smelled.

- So that's yes then?

- Yes.

And then

you and Mr. Goodson

escorted Mr. Jennings

outside of the building?

That's right.

And as you were

escorting him out

do you recall

saying anything to him?

I may have said something.

Small talk.

So when you got him

out to the sidewalk

in front of the library,

did you say,

"Elvis has left the building?"

Excuse me.

- What is that?

- Excuse me.

I'm asking Mr. Ramirez

right now.

I just need to get some facts.

Have you taken into account

that in addition

to being homeless

and on the street

for the last ten years

that Ike is also mentally ill?

Mr. Goodson,

I will get to you soon enough.

He hears voices. One of them...

Mr. Goodson,

Mr. Davis is simply trying

to determine what action

the city needs to take,

if it goes to trial or not,

okay?

The settlement offer

from the attorneys

representing Mr. Jennings

is $750,000.

Now if the city

passes on this offer,

it's gonna go to trial,

and if the city of Cincinnati

is gonna write a check

for $750,000

to a mentally ill homeless man,

I need to be able to explain

to the mayor's office

exactly what happened.

What do you smell?

On me, what do you smell?

- Cologne.

- Is it offensive?

It's on a little heavy,

but obviously that's your style.

Would you ask me to leave the

library because of my cologne?

If we received enough complaints

from other patrons,

yes, maybe I would.

And you'd be violating my First

Amendment rights, Mr. Goodson

'cause at present, there is no

law about people wearing cologne

nor is there a law determining

how much cologne

a person can apply...

Mr. Davis, libraries

all over the country

struggle with the balance

between individual rights

and the rights of other patrons

to have a safe

and healthy environment.

If Mr. Goodson asked me

to leave the premises

because of my cologne,

is he not impinging

on my First Amendment rights

to access the public library,

to information

and its resources?

Librarians take very seriously

the right to freedom

of information.

It's a core tenet

of what we do.

Which is exactly what

Mr. Goodson

denied Isiah Jennings

when he asked him

to leave the library

because of how he smelled.

Please

be respectful of those patrons

who are on the waiting list

to use the computers.

Thank you so much, chief.

I'm glad to know

we're on the same page.

- Of course.

- Appreciate it, chief.

Okay. Bill, come on in.

Excuse me.

Josh Davis looking

for an endorsement?

You can't get elected

mayor of Cincy

without the support

of this department.

He's an asshole.

I'm endorsing Bradley.

Davis knows it.

- He thinks it's a black thing.

- Oh.

- Is it?

- It's a character thing.

But, yes,

I would like to see more color

in the local government.

But you ain't come here

to talk politics.

No.

It's about your request

for a leave of absence.

That's right.

I don't need to tell you

this is the busiest time of year

for my best crisis negotiator

to be off the clock.

My son is missing.

Bill, we both know

your son's not missing.

He's strung out somewhere

doing God knows what.

Yes, he is an addict,

and I'm trying to keep him

from becoming another casualty

on the streets, Tom.

There's only so much

you can do, brother.

You don't think I know that?

For God's sakes, Tom! Come on.

Bill... I'm sorry.

I can't let you go right now.

Not right now.

You're a father, Tom.

I'm also the chief of police

for a city

with one of the biggest

opioid epidemics in the country.

Look, I am sorry about your son.

I truly am.

I mean, do you have any leads

or anything?

He used his debit card

last Sunday,

so he's still in town.

We just don't know where.

- A debit card?

- His mom.

You know, she hopes he'll use it

for food or warm clothes or...

I get it.

Tom...

please.

Tom, please.

I'm gonna get you

some time off, pal.

That's my promise to you.

Good evening.

May I have your attention,

please?

In ten minutes, the main library

will be closing for the night.

If you're working on a computer,

please be sure

to save your work

before shutting it down

and pick up any items

you may have at the printer.

Also, be sure

to take any materials

you wish to borrow

to the checkout station.

Once again, the main library

will be closing in ten minutes.

Library is closed,

people!

Wrap it up and let's go!

Library is closed.

Athena, time to go.

I'll leave

when I'm damn good and ready.

Our End Hunger

in Cincy donation drive

will continue through...

- I'm ready now.

- Okay.

Accepting all

canned and bottled food items.

Remember, every donation counts.

We open at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow,

okay?

- You need a ride home?

- I'm halfway across the city.

And the bus

is actually much warmer

than your shitty old car, so...

- How you holding up?

- I'm peachy.

Well, please don't let it

get to you.

You know, literally,

our biggest struggle here

is knowing which side of right

we're actually walking on, so...

I mean, I wish all these

problems could just be solved

by a community bake sale, but...

they can't.

I do go home sometimes and...

just cry myself to sleep

because...

I mean, we're only human, right?

But not tonight.

Because tonight is

make-dinner-for-my-mama night.

So your transfer

to Arts and Lit...

next week.

My hero.

A training course...

Sleep well, comrade.

Will be

taking place this Saturday

in the quad after closing hours.

Attendance is voluntary.

So you did get my messages.

- About the heat?

- About the absence of it.

- It's an old building, Stuart.

- Yeah. I know.

Built 1865.

Did you know that?

- It's part of the charm.

- Oh, yeah?

How charming

wearing my entire wardrobe

to bed

for the last three nights.

You were aware

that this building had issues

with its heat

when you signed the lease.

It's, like, a 0 degrees in here.

As you can see,

I'm working on it.

Did you work up an appetite?

I brought you these heaters

from upstairs.

I thought you could use them

until the heat comes back on.

Thank you.

I'm gonna have to call

a real repairman tomorrow.

Real being the operative word.

I took the job...

because it offered a break

on the rent.

But I'm not gonna lie,

there's an awful lot

that needs fixing

about this place.

Like, a whole lot.

Our landlord doesn't really

expect you to do

all the maintenance around here,

does he?

I refused to have dinner

with him last month

and then the month before that,

so he seems to think

he's really screwing me

even though he's not

really screwing me.

What are you doing?

A medium pizza

with fresh tomatoes and basil

costs $12.50.

But a plain cheese

costs just under ten bucks.

So since I grow my own...

Wow.

You keep your apartment

really neat and clean.

- You'd hate to see my place.

- That's my thing.

- I'm a little OCD.

- Ah.

Chaos in the environment,

chaos in your head.

Oh, well, there's always chaos

in my head.

It doesn't matter whether

I take the trash out or not.

What made you decide

to become a librarian?

You know,

I've been asking myself

that question a lot lately.

It must be really nice

to have a job

where you get to sit around

and read all day, huh?

Oh, yeah.

I mean, do people even go

to libraries anymore?

Yes. You should come visit.

Get yourself a library card.

Impress your friends.

I might just do that.

Come and watch you do

all your freaky

librarian things.

You know,

watch you get all crazy

with your Dewey Decimal System.

"Learning The Qur'an."

Hm.

You getting into it? Are you

thinking about converting?

Some books get defaced

and, you know,

if I can fix them,

make a little extra money, I do.

Oh, wow.

Hate crimes.

Seeing a lot of that lately.

So you're just

really into books, huh?

Books saved my life.

Saved your life?

Books helped me get sober

and... helped me

turn my life around.

They were tangible

and they were real.

Something I could get my hands

and my head around, so yeah.

Yeah, they saved my life.

"It works if you work it."

One year.

One year and still trudging

the road of happy destiny.

I piled up

a bunch of other addictions

while I was at it.

Drugs...

sex.

Tell me about it.

I'm still working on that one.

Stuart.

Come on.

It's not like I see

a parade of women

coming in and out

of your apartment.

Are you clockin' me?

I'm the building manager.

I... see a lot of stuff.

I get to know

the habits of the tenants.

- Okay.

- Yeah.

The guy, over in 6,

I'll bet he's got a freezer

full of body parts.

No.

No, he's an accountant.

Never late on his rent.

Okay.

Um, t... the couple over in 4?

Oh. They're professors at UC.

Also, swingers.

- No way.

- Mm-hmm.

- Did they...

- Invite me to join them? Yes.

I didn't, of course.

The guy up in 10?

Still gathering

some intel on him.

He's a little weird.

Not creepy...

but weird.

So far, I know

he's really into books...

and he's a librarian,

so that makes sense.

He's, uh, sober.

He grows his own tomatoes.

And he doesn't really

have a lot of visitors.

I think you should stay away

from him.

Ramstead?

No. Nobody in here

with that name, man.

Well, maybe he's under an alias.

He doesn't wanna be found.

Most of the men in here don't,

detective,

but you can go ahead and have

yourself a peek just the same.

So we'll try again tomorrow.

Sure.

You don't have to walk me

to the door.

I wasn't going to.

It's 10 degrees outside.

I know you're still upset

about the debit card...

No, I'm not.

He's your son, too, Marcy.

And if he's not too loaded,

let's just hope

he had the sense to use it

to get a room tonight.

- Good morning.

- Hi.

You know, I think I'd like

to come down to the library

and see some of those books

that saved your life.

Alright, if you feel like

braving the cold.

Yeah. We close at 6 o'clock,

so come on down.

Maybe we can, I don't know,

grab a bite to eat over at OTR?

- Yeah.

- Yeah. Good.

Okay.

Hey.

You know, I was a lot of things

before I was a drunk.

I wasn't always...

fixing broken heaters

for cheap rent.

I hope

this isn't gonna get weird,

because I don't really think

I can handle this getting weird.

You seem like

a really good guy

and I hope I'm not wrong.

And with

this blast

of Arctic air

and frigid temperatures,

local homeless shelters

are hitting capacity...

The bitter cold

Arctic air is settling in

and we've got a very cold night

coming up tonight.

Probably the coldest night

of the year. The lowest...

These guys bought this lion cub,

right, at Harrods,

release it into the wild.

Twenty years later, they go back

and the freakin' lion

remembers them.

- Barnes.

- He's okay.

Alright. You're good.

- Drugs?

- Exposure.

- You know him?

- Yeah, he's a regular patron.

We're gonna go live

in moments, Rebecca.

Alright. Let's go.

Let's get this over with before

I freakin' freeze to death.

- Ernesto.

- Yeah?

- Did you find him?

- Yeah.

I tried to revive him,

but he was unresponsive.

This weather's no joke, brother.

City in recent days.

The severe cold spell

has already claimed

nearly half a dozen lives

this week.

The unidentified homeless man

was found dead

just outside the doors

of the Downtown Cincinnati

Public Library.

Witnesses called police

early this morning

to report a body outside

the library near Walnut Street.

Police are not treating the

scene as a homicide. However...

Indian Hill,

where Josh Davis grew up

with a silver spoon

in his mouth.

Even if he's now trying

to deny it.

I'm Earl Bradley.

I grew up here,

on these streets,

in this community.

I'm a pastor

and small businessman.

It's why I'll stand up

to special interest

and fight for you every day

because we need a mayor

for all of us.

This thing went up

on their website last week.

It's already gone viral.

Hm. Freakin' baby carriage?

It's effective, and it's, uh,

it's driving grassroots

low-dollar fundraising, Josh.

Also means Bradley gets

on TV earlier than we do.

Maybe you should go

work for him.

Maybe I will.

Let's have a look at our spot.

If it sucks,

then maybe you'll need to.

What happened

to Cincinnati?

To our neighborhoods?

Who let criminals

take control of our city?

Politicians in Columbus

who don't have a clue,

that's who.

Voice sounds good.

Well, enough's enough.

I'm Josh Davis.

As prosecutor,

I cracked down on crime.

Tough but fair.

As mayor, I will take on

politics as usual

and restore law and order

so we can help grow

small business,

protect our way of life

to move Cincinnati forward.

It doesn't suck.

This goes up

on our website Monday, Josh.

Tell me,

what don't you like about it?

I just wish I looked nicer.

- Nicer?

- Yeah, you know, not so angry.

I mean, I'm not an angry guy.

Just, I'm passionate, you know.

I wanna, I wanna look nicer

in the ad.

Yeah, yeah.

Pl... plenty of takes.

We'll... we'll go

through them all

with that in mind,

find you a nicer take.

You got it, Josh. Nicer take.

Can I beat him?

Bradley's a pillar

of the community, Josh.

- He's a pastor, he's a...

- Can I beat him?

No.

Early polling suggests

that if the election

were held tomorrow,

he wins in a walk.

Unless...

unless something were to happen,

something big

that puts you and the community

in the spotlight, alright?

Something besides...

another embarrassing

unarmed police shooting.

- Hi.

- Yes.

I'm looking for a globe

of the Earth.

They're all right there.

No, that's not good enough.

Isn't there a life-sized one?

Yes, but it's currently in use.

Hey, uh, there are a bunch of

guys fighting in the men's room.

You were supposed

to look out for him, Ray.

Lay off him, man,

you were more concerned

about finding a bottle

than you were about any of us.

Oh, that's bullshit, Smutts!

You would be dead ten times if

I wasn't there to save your ass!

- You know it!

- What's going on, fellas?

Caesar's missing.

No one has seen him

since last night.

We were riding on the metro

to keep warm.

Somewhere along the way,

he must have wandered off.

We looked around

and he was just gone!

Just like that.

One minute he's there,

the next minute he's not.

We looked all around.

No one has seen him.

I mean, nobody!

Cold must have got him,

Mr. Goodson.

I got a bad feeling, man.

It ain't like Caesar to not be

here when the public opens.

- Caesar's dead.

- What?

How do you know that, George?

- Because I killed him.

- What?

You killed Caesar?

- That's right.

- Why would you kill Caesar?

What did he ever do to you?

He never did anything to me.

I didn't even know him

that good.

So... what do you mean

you killed him?

I killed him with my laser eyes.

See, the government,

they... they... they put

this weapon in my head

when I was a baby.

It's a laser.

It, it kills people

when I look at 'em for too long.

It's, it's a chip.

They put 'em in a lot of babies

when they're born.

And... and that's why I...

I don't wanna look

at any of you for so long.

I...

I don't wanna kill anyone else.

You looked at Caesar too long?

That's what happened,

Big George?

I looked at him...

for a real long time

with my laser eyes.

He exploded.

Caesar exploded?

You mean like in that movie,

"Scanners?"

- I love that movie, man.

- Oh, man.

You know. You... you remember?

Boom.

- You saw that movie, right?

- Oh!

- Oh, come on, Stuart!

- That was a good movie.

- You gotta know! You know!

- You guys are crazy, man.

- It's like...

- Oh.

Boom.

Yeah.

Stupid. You're so...

Oh, I love it.

I love it though.

Good evening.

May I have your attention,

please?

In ten minutes, the main library

will be closing for the night.

If you are working

on a computer,

please be sure to save your work

before shutting it down.

Once again, the main library

will be closing in ten minutes.

Mr. Goodson,

I gotta talk to you.

Look, all, all the shelters

downtown are full up again.

Uh-huh. What about the emergency

overflow at Shelterhouse?

That's a 40-minute walk

away.

In this weather?

In these shoes?

Look, Mr. Goodson,

you know I'm a veteran, right?

I served my country.

This all I get?

Well, look.

I... I... I decided to organize.

Organize?

We ain't gonna leave

the library tonight.

Tonight we occupy.

- Occupy? Is that right?

- Yeah.

Well, so what about

tomorrow night?

And the night after that?

What if this cold snap

lasts into next week?

- Have you thought about that?

- Mr. Goodson, listen to me!

Every public official

in this town know

there's not enough shelter

for us people on the street.

Those so-called Christians,

they, they pretend

like they don't know that.

Feed the hungry.

Clothe the poor.

House the homeless.

Now see, that's what Jesus said.

But I don't think

he said occupy.

Well, it worked for those

hippies down in Wall Street.

Maybe it can work here for us.

Who is us?

♪ Whoo whoo whoo

♪ Hey hey hey weaponized

♪ Whoo whoo whoo

♪ Weaponized

♪ Whoo whoo whoo

♪ Hey hey hey weaponized

Oh, shit.

Come on, come on, come on.

♪ Weaponized

♪ Whoo whoo whoo

Come on.

Mr. Anderson, I was just

coming up to see you.

Do you have a moment?

Is this about the settlement?

It has nothing to do with that.

I... it's about the weather.

I'll catch up with you.

- The weather?

- Yes.

We need to keep the library

open tonight because of it.

Our patrons

who don't get into shelters,

they are at risk of exposure.

T... the temperature's

gonna drop below 0.

Mr. Goodson,

I'm well aware of the problem,

but we're a public library.

We're not a shelter

for the homeless.

No, that's exactly what we are.

Every day of every week.

I'm not in the position

to declare our library

an emergency shelter.

People are freezing to death

in our own city.

- How are you okay with that?

- Whoa, hey! I'm not.

I'm not okay with it.

Okay, you could, you could call

the mayor's office.

You could call

the mayor's office right now!

- Mr. Goodson...

- But...

Stuart, listen.

The board of trustees

wants you gone.

That's what's going on.

And I'm trying,

but I'm having a difficult time

makin' a case for you

to stay here.

So, no. The library will not be

an emergency shelter tonight,

tomorrow, not ever.

They wanna fire me?

They'd prefer if you tendered

your resignation.

I was following

library protocol, sir.

Fire me for doing my job?

I'm sorry.

- It's out of my control.

- Out of your control?

You have no idea how much shit

is about to get out

of your control, sir.

♪ Weaponize

♪ Whoo whoo whoo

♪ Weaponize

♪ Whoo whoo whoo ♪

Does anyone know if we have a

special event going on tonight?

- I don't know.

- I don't know anything.

Can anyone confirm or deny if

we have a special event tonight?

I'm seein' a bunch of patrons

up on the third floor.

Good evening.

May I have your attention,

please?

The main library is now closed.

Pleas exit the building.

Once again...

Stuart, what's going on?

Nobody's leaving.

Patrons are staging an action.

- What are they protesting?

- Freezing to death.

Stuart.

What the hell's going on, man?

What are all these people

still doing here?

Remember how difficult

it was

to get Ike out of the library?

Yeah, we should have left

his stinky-ass alone.

We wouldn't be

in all this trouble.

Well, now we got

a whole lot of Ikes in here

who don't wanna go out

in the cold.

I don't blame 'em, man.

I wouldn't either.

What's it gonna be,

Mr. Goodson?

You're either one of us

or you're one of them, right?

Everybody, uh, rally up!

Rally up!

Ernesto,

what's going on up on three?

Uh, everybody, listen up!

The library

has not been sanctioned

an official emergency shelter

yet.

- But we believe it should be!

- Ernesto, you on this?

Yeah, give me a sec.

What the hell do I tell him?

Dude.

Uh, you ever been arrested?

- Uh, no, have you?

- Unfortunately.

- Pepper sprayed?

- No. You have?

Are we staying or we goin'?

Get out of here, Myra.

If you're staying,

I'm gonna stay.

Incoming!

- George.

- Don't look at me.

I'm... I'm not...

I'm not lookin' at you.

But I need you to move

that bookshelf

up against the doors.

Why?

Be... because security is coming

and... and... and we don't

want 'em in here.

Why?

Because they have

laser eyes too.

From... from the government?

Wh... when they were babies?

Yes, and we don't want them

in here hurting people.

Jackson, give us a hand!

What is it they want,

Mr. Anderson?

- They wanna stay warm.

- Warm?

Why can't we handle

this in-house

with our own security detail?

It's standard operating

procedure to alert the Cincy PD

if we're

in a lockdown situation, sir.

So, what's the plan?

Uh, plan?

Uh, uh, that was it.

You know, um, they're out,

we're in.

I know they're watchin'.

Oh, yeah. They're...

they're lookin' at us

like a... another bunch

of crazy angry niggas.

It's up to you

to prove 'em wrong, Mr. Goodson.

Why me?

'Cause they don't think

you crazy.

Come on, man!

Why him?

This isn't an action.

This is... a disaster.

Yeah?

Wh... what about Peters?

Can't you track down Lou?

Okay.

Yeah, okay.

Five minutes.

What is it?

There's some situation

at the central library.

Probably somebody having a

meltdown about an overdue book.

Mm.

You wanna go with?

I mean, it could be

just a bunch of nothing.

Yeah, when's the last time

they called you in

for just a bunch of nothing?

- I'm sorry.

- I know.

Shit.

What have we got?

We've got 70-plus homeless men

barricaded on the northeast

corner of the third floor.

Now, why would this guy

initiate this action?

Has he got some beef

with the library or...

he's been spending too much time

in the True Crime section?

- Excuse me, sir.

- Yes, uh, Ernesto.

Yeah, Stuart did not

initiate this. The patrons did.

Mr. Anderson, I'm gonna need

an address for Goodson

so that a judge can issue

a search warrant

for his residence,

try to get some idea

of his state of mind.

Mr. Goodson was recently named

in a lawsuit

brought against the library

in which he and...

Mr. Ramirez

were primary defendants.

We... we settled yesterday.

In the tune of $750,000.

You can read all about it

in the paper on Monday.

Hm.

Stuart Goodson.

What is it with this guy?

He seems hell-bent

on ruining my week.

He thinks

he's saving people's lives

by keeping them out of the cold.

Well, we have shelters

in place for that.

Well, apparently,

not enough of them.

So that's what

this is all about?

It's some sort of exercise

in civil disobedience?

So, we, uh,

send in a tactical team,

battering ram, crash the door,

toss in some tear gas,

arrest 'em all for trespassing,

we're home

before "The Tonight Show."

This is my operation, Davis.

Besides, we don't even know

what they want.

What they want?

Who cares what they want?

This is a public facility,

they're trespassing,

they're breaking the law, we

need to get them out of there!

Well, now,

what are you doin' up here

when the cameras are downstairs?

Excuse me! Do you people know

how to do anything without

the use of excessive force?

This is a public library,

for God's sake.

Yes, sir.

Next station,

Ninth and Walnut,

The Library.

- Hello.

- Hey.

I'm outside of the library

and there are

a lot of cop cars here.

Is everything alright?

Not exactly.

Is this one of your freaky

librarian things?

The patrons have turned

the building

into an emergency

homeless shelter.

Obviously,

there's been some pushback.

Okay, so now is probably

not a great time

to come and get my library card.

You still wanna hang out

with me?

Do you have any idea

how much cooler

you're gonna be

with a criminal record?

Well, I... I kind of

already have one.

I knew deep down

you're a bad boy.

Wow. You know, news trucks

just pulled up.

The news?

You know, you're gonna be on TV.

Good evening,

this is Rebecca Parks

with breaking news

from Downtown Cincinnati

where a situation is unfolding

inside the public library.

Information is sketchy

at this time,

and no details

have been released.

But as you can see,

the Cincinnati Police Department

has been dispatched.

So we don't know

if it's a hostage situation

or an active shooter.

What was that?

To update you on news

as it breaks.

As you know, resources

are already stretched thin

due to the record-breaking cold

weather we are experiencing.

Live and trying to stay warm

from Downtown Public Library.

Well, at least

we're all staying warm.

Back to you

in the studio.

Thank you, Rebeca,

we'll stay

on top of that story

as it develops.

Myra?

The cops? Really?

I can't do this.

I... I have... I have

the worst feeling about this.

- I have to get out of here.

- Hold on. Hold on.

This is totally

in your wheelhouse.

You're the one who's always

like, "Vive la Resistance!"

I wish

this was in my wheelhouse!

This is bigger

than riding the metro

and getting organic food.

I am not prepared to be

in a standoff with a cop.

I can't do that.

I don't know how to do that.

- Please, just understand me.

- Okay.

My mom's gonna watch that.

She is not well.

You know that. It is not gonna

be good for her to see that.

I get it.

And...

we're gonna get you out of here.

How?

You gonna answer that,

Mr. Goodson?

- Why don't you?

- Well, I don't work here.

- Hello?

- What are you doing in there?

- Who is this?

- Is this Stuart Goodson?

It is.

This is Detective Bill Ramstead

from the Cincinnati PD.

- Hello, detective.

- Why don't you call me Bill?

Why don't I call you

William?

Only my mother calls me William.

May I call you Stuart?

Only my friends call me Stuart.

A lot of your friends out here

are worried about you, buddy.

They'd like to see

this situation

resolve itself peacefully.

Tell him, tell him this is

a peaceful demonstration.

This is

a peaceful demonstration.

So no one's being held

against their will?

No. Everyone is here

because they wanna be here.

Everyone is here

because they wanna be here.

Would it be safe to assume

that some are not of, uh,

sound mind?

Uh, I mean, you don't need

to be mentally ill

to know that it's freezing

outside, detective.

That was good, man.

So why'd you barricade

the doors?

[whispers To make it hard

for you mo-fuckers

to get in here to take us out.

You can say it. Yeah.

Go on, say that. Say that.

To... to make it harder on you...

mo-fos to get in here

and take us out.

Look, you make it harder on us,

we're gonna have to make it

harder on you, brother.

And sooner or later, you're

gonna have to open that door.

Well, tell him we plan to open

the doors first thing tomor...

Look, why don't you just

hand the phone

to the guy that's doin'

all the talking?

It will be a real timesaver,

okay?

No, I don't wanna talk

to the police.

He says he doesn't

wanna talk to the police.

Yeah, yeah, I heard him.

Look, Goodson,

do you have any idea

what the hell

you're doin' in there?

And how much trouble you're all

gonna be in for this stunt?

Um, "We need the library

to remain open

as an emergency shelter

for the duration

of the cold spell.

Or provide us

with a reasonable facility."

Now what are you gonna

give me in return?

We're negotiating?

That's what they pay me for,

buddy.

We don't have

anything to give you.

Well, why don't you just quit?

Come on out now

before anybody gets hurt.

Which is what you should do,

Goodson!

- That sounds like Davis.

- Goddamn right it is!

You still wearing

that cheap cologne?

- Everybody...

- Son of a bitch!

Everybody, calm down. Just...

Please, calm down.

Goodson.

You still there, Goodson?

Here's our demand.

I want Davis to go outside.

Outside?

That's right.

I want Davis to go outside

in front of the library

to lay down on the concrete

for five minutes.

No blankets.

I guess you're gonna miss

"The Tonight Show."

Civil disobedience, my ass.

This is petty revenge.

That's a pretty odd demand.

Um...

Mr. Goodson, you okay?

Stuart?

Hi.

Can you do me a favor

and just, uh,

keep the press back

for about five minutes?

Josh,

Rebecca Parks with WCBO.

What are you doing, sir?

Can you tell us what's

happening inside the library?

Is there an emergency

inside the building?

Hi, yeah.

Jim and Carol.

We're still live at the scene

at the Downtown branch

of the public library

where Hamilton County

prosecutor Josh Davis

has emerged from the building

and for some unknown reason...

He's doin' it. He's actually

laying on the pavement.

- That's awesome.

- You sure about that?

Bizarre and crazy

are certainly two words

I would use to describe this.

Strange live images

to you at home.

Many of you know Josh Davis

has announced his plans

to run for mayor of Cincinnati.

So I'm sure he'll have

some explanation

for us and for the viewers

of this city

as to just what the heck

is going on here.

Son of a bitch.

You son of a bitch.

Okay, I'll answer all your

questions in just a moment.

Well, we can all agree that, uh,

what we've just witnessed

was an irrational act,

especially considering the, uh,

extreme temperatures

this evening,

but I want to assure

all of you that, uh,

and the people of Cincinnati

that I am not mad.

The only madness tonight

comes in the form

of one particular individual

who has seized control

of one of our most

respected institutions.

Now without getting

into details,

this individual is an employee

of the public library,

and as we've tried to negotiate

in a peaceful manner

with this individual,

we were presented

with a, a list of demands,

one of which was an order for me

to lay outside in front

of the building on the street

for a period of five minutes.

Did the suspect say

why he wanted you

to lie down in the street?

Well, obviously, he's, uh,

he's disturbed in some way.

I mean, he may be mentally ill.

We're, uh, we're still

investigating that.

- Is the suspect armed?

- Uh, is he armed?

Well, my experience

would tell me that, uh,

this individual would have

a hard time detaining 100 people

if he wasn't armed

with... with some kind of weapon.

Thank you very much,

we're trying to resolve

this situation as calmly

and as peacefully

as we possibly can.

Oh, great.

You have a gun. Mr. Goodson?

Of course, he doesn't, Ray.

You don't, do you?

I've never even

held a gun, Smutts.

Hey, buddy. Kill 'em all.

- Let God sort 'em out.

- Have a nice night. sir.

You hear me?

Kill 'em all.

Who... who was that?

It's a wrong number.

This is Ramstead.

I'm gonna try to control

the incoming calls,

keep the crackpots at bay.

Well, you can start with Davis.

Why is he telling the press

that this is

a hostage situation?

Goodson, you're the one

who told him

to go outside

and lie on the ground.

The guy wants to be mayor,

he doesn't have a clue

what's going on

in his own damn city.

- Goodson...

- Nobody in here has a weapon!

You gotta calm down.

Why are you guys

treating me like I'm a suspect?

This thing isn't about me!

What about

your apartment?

My apartment?

What about it?

We have a warrant. Now

you tell me are we gonna find

anything funny

when we get inside there?

Funny?

You mean like a... a booby trap?

Or a circus clown?

Uh, uh, Mr. Goodson,

we gotta keep...

Don't you see

what they're trying to do here?

- I have to ask.

- I'm a librarian.

And you got a lot

of nervous people out here.

What the hell do you guys

have to be nervous about?

You got all the guns.

Are you on any drugs

or medication right now?

Not at the moment, detective,

but what are you sellin'?

Maybe I better take

the rest of the calls.

You're probably gonna

get us all killed.

Yeah.

That was quite

a campaign speech.

And that, my friends,

was a lesson

in how you sway public opinion.

Fake news?

I created a narrative

which allows us

to bring this situation

to a close.

Not next week or a month

from now but tonight.

This evenin'.

Don't everybody

thank me at once.

Are you mentally unstable?

Listen, Davis is trying

to spin this story

to make me look crazy.

This is

a peaceful demonstration.

Okay,

so you need to tell your side.

How?

You need to get on TV...

or you need to get

on the phone with a reporter.

Because if people see something

on TV, they believe it's true.

I can't go

on television.

Stuart, get some photos

or videos

and send them to me.

Video of what?

Whatever. Whatever's really

happening in there, okay?

- Help!

- Stuart?

Hey. Hello... Hello?

Can someone call 911?

Stuart, could you call 9-1-1?

- He's having a seizure.

- Got it.

Can I have your coat, please?

It's okay. It's okay. It's okay.

It's okay.

Hold on.

Yeah, we have

a medical emergency in here.

We have a man down.

We're calling for a truce.

I'm calling for a truce

to get him out.

Hey, be cool in here.

I don't wanna be coming back

to take you out on one of these.

- Sorry, Myra.

- Don't apologize.

Just... I'm gonna see you soon,

okay?

You the detective

I've been talking to?

That's right.

You're in poor company.

Coming from the guy

who's got himself locked down

in a room full of bums.

Ah, you'd fit right in.

Goodson,

you got the doors open.

Now this is an opportunity

for you

to stand down,

end this right now.

You want us out?

Give us somewhere to go.

How about we all go

to your place?

Well, my ex-wife got the house

in Mount Adams,

so I'd love to see

everybody go over there.

I'm gonna go, uh,

bring in some food.

I'll call in an order

and pay for it.

I'm gonna have to run

that request up the flagpole.

Well, you run it up the flagpole

and across the street

to LaRosa's.

Are we negotiating now?

That's what they pay you for.

- Uh, wait a second.

- Wh... what are you doing?

Stop! You stop!

What about our truce?

Hey, take it easy.

I'm not going for my weapon.

Anybody that look like him

in there tonight?

- Is that your son?

- Yeah.

- What's his name?

- Michael. Mike.

I thought he might be in there.

I haven't seen him.

Oh, you hang on to it.

This is what we netted from the

search of Goodson's apartment.

And he has a series of priors.

"Drunk and disorderly,

resisting arrest

shoplifting

from a grocery store,

trespassing."

From this sheet, it sounds like

this guy was on the streets.

He was.

- And you hired him, anyway?

- I did.

He's been sober for a number

of years, earned his degree

and worked harder than anyone

I've ever seen

to get himself right.

Library gave him

a second chance.

Tonight he pisses it all away.

♪ Mm mm mm mm

- Hey, guys.

- Hey, what's up, baby?

Mr. Goodson.

♪ Mm mm mm mm

Look at her, Mr. Goodson.

- What do you think?

- She's pretty, Smutts.

And she wants to go out

on a date with me.

She's from around here too.

Just across the river

in Covington.

She's a flight attendant

for Delta.

And have you told her about you?

Hell, no.

She thinks I'm a pilot.

Oh, this internet dating stuff

is a liar's paradise,

Mr. Goodson.

Good luck.

Hi, mom.

Do you know that

Smutts is online right now

trying to get a date?

That's what he does

every day, Mr. Goodson.

Has he ever hooked up?

That fool be dreamin'.

What about you?

You ever dream about

getting off the street?

No, not really.

I mean, there's a certain

freedom out there.

I mean, you know...

I may not have money

and stuff...

but on the other hand,

I don't have anything

that anybody wants

or could take.

Now that's freedom.

So why do all this?

For who? For what?

To shake the tree.

Let 'em know

that we still matter.

God gives us all a voice.

It's up to us whether we use it

or stay silent.

I mean, the police

are out there, the media.

We got their attention, right?

They'll forget all about this

by tomorrow.

No. Maybe, maybe not.

We gotta raise the level.

We gotta keep...

the black prophetic fire...

alive.

We gotta make some noise.

♪ Make some noise

♪ Make some noise ♪

Well, if you guys

aren't gonna charge me,

I think I'm just gonna

get out of here.

Sit down.

So you worked with him

for how long?

Yeah, you know, you don't

have to answer any of this.

- Five years.

- Mm.

He's a model citizen.

He's a real stand-up guy.

I mean, I don't know what

the hell you want me to say.

He's having some sort

of nervous breakdown?

He's come unhinged?

So you guys have an excuse,

you can just go in there

and, you know,

do what cops do best.

Break down the door.

Don't shoot me,

it's just my cell phone.

Probably...

Oh, my mom. Can I take it?

Yeah.

Hey, mama.

I know. I'm safe.

It's okay.

Well, I'm gonna be leaving

once these douchebags

stop violating

my Fourth Amendment rights

and... and then I can text you,

okay.

Alright, I love you. Bye.

- Excuse me. Sorry, just...

- Here you go.

- Oh, Ernesto, you're a saint.

- Y tu.

Food's here.

Wait a minute!

Wait, wait, wait, wait. Wait.

How do we know

they're not a cop?

How do we know you're not a cop?

I don't know.

But I'm not.

W... why don't we ask him

a question that,

that only a pizza guy

would know?

How much do you charge

for a... a plain cheese pizza?

Medium or large?

- Medium.

- 9.50.

And if I wanna add

fresh tomatoes and basil?

- 12.50.

- He's legit.

Damn it, Chip.

Close the door!

Excuse me.

Can I talk to you for a sec?

Honey, look, we're about

to go live.

I don't have the time.

Sorry, doll.

I was wondering if you wanted

to have contact with my friend

who's in the middle

of the situation inside,

but since you're being

such a bitch,

I'm gonna have to find

somebody else...

No, no, no.

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

- What's your name?

- Uh, I'm Angela.

- Angela.

- Yeah.

Hey.

I've had an impossible day.

Really? Did your manicurist

cancel on you?

I deserve that.

You said

you had a friend inside?

- Yeah.

- Inside the room with hostages?

They're not hostages.

And I have video to prove it.

Thought we weren't allowed to

eat in the library, Mr. Goodson?

Just tonight, Ray.

Only one piece, Big George?

I'm practicing portion control.

- Yo, what you doin', man?

- Hey, yo!

Hey, give me that!

You can't take that!

Hey, just takin'

what's mine, man.

Quit being an asshole,

man! Come on!

And what's the downside

of letting them

stay put here tonight,

or if not that,

finding them

an alternative shelter?

I mean, wha... what's the cost?

Busses to transport them to it?

It opens the door

to every nutcase with a cause

to hold this city hostage.

This is a disrupter.

The Cincinnati PD

has effective protocols in place

to neutralize this.

It's not always pretty,

but it gets the job done.

So you're saying we go in there

and we teargas

100 homeless people?

That would make one hell

of a campaign ad.

"Vote for Davis

or he'll teargas you."

You... you... you know,

I'm not trying to diminish

the severity

of the situation here

or... or what it is that you do,

but, uh...

Stuart Goodson is no nutcase.

It is my job to uphold the law

and protect democracy

in this city.

You know,

I devoted my entire life

to preserving

the freedom of information

that flows

in and out of this institution.

The public library

is the last bastion

of true democracy

that we have in this country,

and I'll be damned

if I'm gonna sit here

and let you thugs

turn it into a battlefield.

Well, if we're not gonna get

kinky and start waterboarding,

I'm just gonna, I'm gonna go.

Hey...

try not to... kill

any of my friends tonight.

- Hey, Rebecca?

- Wait, wait, wait.

This just in.

Wait for it, Chip.

Our next feed is going national.

Oh, cool.

Oh, wait, wait.

My Twitter feed is blowing up.

I've got 3000 new followers

since this story broke.

- Chip, this is huge.

- Great.

Listen, um,

based on what I'm seeing

in these video clips here,

uh, there doesn't appear to be

anything more than

a demonstration going on inside.

- What? Hm?

- Take a look.

There's no evidence

of any threat.

I think there is.

What are you seeing

that I'm not?

There are more eyeballs

tuned in to this story

than anything we've covered

in the last six months.

That's what I'm seeing, Chip.

Oh.

- Who's that?

- Did you hear that?

Mr. Anderson.

I'm not here

to try to talk you out.

Let him in.

What's goin' on?

Hey.

Yeah. Kumbaya.

Hi.

- Anybody sittin' here?

- Go ahead.

- Hi.

Did you get those pictures

and the videos I sent?

I did.

Are you ready for your close-up?

- What do I say?

- You say the truth.

Hi.

Hi, did you get the clips

I sent you?

- I did. I did.

- Okay.

The guy's a friend of yours?

Yeah, I mean, well, we live

in the same building,

but you saw what's really

going on in there, right?

I did. I said I did,

so I must have, right?

Yeah.

- Angela.

- Uh-huh.

These things

very rarely end well, okay?

So why don't you

just stick around, stay close,

and in case this barrel

of monkeys goes sideways,

we can get you on

for an interview.

Thanks.

Okay.

Chip, we got him patched in?

Great. Okay.

- Stuart?

- Uh, yes. That's me.

Hi.

This is Rebecca Parks from WCBO.

How are you doing in there?

Well, uh, I... I'd be

a hell of a lot better

if you people in the media

would get your facts straight

before you start

spreading misinformation

with your broadcast.

Hey, thank you so much

for this exclusive.

Alright, Chip. We good?

We have breaking news

out of Cincinnati, Ohio, tonight

where it appears

a hostage situation

in a downtown library

has been going on

for the better part

of the night.

We're gonna take you there live

to our Cincinnati affiliate...

Would you mind clearing

my eye line, honey? Chip?

Rebecca Parks

has been covering the scene

since it began. Rebecca?

That's right,

we do have a breaking news,

a WCBO exclusive,

outside the extremely chilly

central library

which has been on lockdown since

about 6 o'clock this evening.

A newly released information

about this situation

is the man

responsible for the lockdown

has a criminal past.

We have obtained some images

from inside the building

that are exclusive to us.

Hi, mom.

What the...

How did they get this footage?

Where are they getting

this footage from?

And now, on the phone,

we have with us

Mr. Stuart Goodson

who many believe is

the instigator for the lockdown,

and some say is holding

over 100 people

inside the library

against their will.

Mr. Goodson, are you there, sir?

Yeah, I am.

You're a city librarian,

is that correct?

- A supervisor?

- Yes, that's right.

Are officials correct

in the assumption

that you are indeed holding

people against their will?

Of course not. No, tha... that

is absolutely false.

So this is not

a hostage situation?

It never was.

Well, there seems to be

a whole lot of confusion about

what exactly is going on inside

the building, Mr. Goodson.

Now a source

inside the police department

has confirmed that you've had

quite a few brushes

with law enforcement

in the past,

and that you yourself

were, in fact, homeless

and living on the street

some years ago.

Okay.

Would you care to comment

on that?

You just did.

Well, I'm... I'm simply

trying to clarify

for our viewers at home

what's happening in there.

This is

a humanitarian crisis

that's happening

in our own city.

This is not some problem

that's gonna be solved

with a community bake sale.

That's my line.

Well, I'm... I'm hoping

that you can

shed a little light on it

and... and give us all

some context here, Mr. Goodson.

- Context?

- Yes, that's right.

Context.

"There is a, uh...

a crime here

that goes beyond denunciation.

There is a...

a sorrow here

that weeping cannot symbolize.

There is a failure here

that topples all our success."

What is he saying?

What is he talking about?

Okay, a failure, Mr. Goodson.

Can you elaborate

on that a bit?

"The fertile earth,

the straight tree rows,

the sturdy trunks

and the ripe fruit,

and in the eyes of the people,

there is a failure,

and in the eyes of the hungry,

there is a...

a growing wrath."

Okay, so you're saying

my goodness,

the people inside are angry.

Is that right?

"In the soul

of the people,

the grapes of wrath

are filling

and growing heavy...

growing heavy for the vintage."

Well...

some interesting words

from inside the central library

here in Downtown Cincinnati

where we still have

a lockdown situation

that doesn't appear to be

ending... anytime soon.

Damn it. You put me on the phone

with a lunatic.

Hello? You set me up!

That was John Steinbeck.

"Grapes of Wrath."

It's required tenth grade

reading material.

And if that doesn't prove to you

that this is not

a hostage situation,

I don't think

that you're qualified

to report even the weather.

Chip.

Sweet.

Good words.

I wish they'd been mine.

Well, they are yours, Stuart.

And mine. And theirs.

They belong to all of us.

What do you think's

gonna happen to us, man?

We all going to jail tonight?

They'll probably get us

for trespassin' and resistin'.

I've never been to jail.

That's 'cause you ain't been on

the street long enough, George

- Give it time.

- Mm-hm. Yeah.

But I'm not a criminal.

None of us are, brother.

Never broken God's law

in my life.

Always did right.

Served my country,

married my high school mama,

raised three kids,

even paid my taxes.

But you lose that J-O-B, shit.

I've been arrested 19 times.

- Ten for jaywalkin'.

- Twenty six for me.

Thirty two.

Well, give or take.

Hey, you know who been to jail

more times than any man I know?

Caesar.

Fifty five times.

One time, they arrested him

for singin' in the street.

Wow.

Hail, Caesar.

What do you want?

Just checking in.

Seeing what's up.

Sure, whatever.

You know...

I was your age

when I hit rock bottom,

when I realized that my anger

and getting loaded

weren't workin' for me anymore.

- So you know what I did?

- Started selling crack?

I started reading...

in this room

in that same chair

you're sitting in now.

And look where you ended up.

Whoop-de-doo.

Must be like deja vu, huh?

Mike...

of all the men in this room...

I look at you and I say

he's the lucky one.

You know why?

'Cause there are people

out there

who are concerned about you.

Your family.

Your family needs to know

that you're...

Mike, stop!

- Stuart, you alright?

- Get off of me!

- Calm down!

- Get off of me!

Calm down!

Let go!

- It hurts!

- Don't resist, Michael.

- Bring your ass on.

- Just stop. Just stop.

- Don't resist, okay?

- Come on, bring...

- Come on.

- Michael, stop!

Come on, turn.

You lied to me about my son.

At least now you know

where he is.

Why did you lie to me?

Could I have a minute here,

please?

- Yes, sir.

Why did you lie to me?

A librarian's duty is to protect

the privacy of the patrons.

Maybe you've heard

of the Connecticut Four.

Yes. I've heard

of the Connecticut Four.

I read that appellate case

when I went back

to graduate school

ten years ago.

Goodson,

your intellectual vanity is...

breathtaking.

These people

that you're protecting,

your patrons, is it worth it?

Is it worth throwing

your life away for?

Would they do the same for you?

Not on your life, pal.

I've been working

with drunks and addicts

and the mentally ill

for my entire career,

all day, every day.

And they're not your friends.

They don't give two shits

about you!

All they care about

is their next hit,

their next bottle,

their next meal,

and they will beg,

borrow and steal

to get that from you.

But you already know that,

don't you?

How many years did you spend

on the street, Goodson?

Yeah. I read that file.

"A danger to himself

and others."

Seventy two hour

psychiatric hold twice,

51/50'd twice.

I wanted a second opinion.

How's this gonna end,

Goodson?

No.

Sir, no! This area's closed.

What are you doing?

Sir, this area's closed.

- I have to get through.

- You need to move your car.

- I have to get through.

- No, no, this area's closed.

You need to move your car

right now.

I have supplies,

I have clothing,

I have food

for the folks inside.

Things they need

to help keep them warm.

Wait, you're Pastor Bradley,

right?

You're, you're running

for mayor.

That's right.

Now are you gonna help me

put these boxes on the curb?

Here. Let's start here.

Yeah. There we go.

Listen, there's a lot of folks

coming from the church

with supplies.

You have to let them through.

Hey, what the hell's

going on here?

This is a secured area.

Well, you're gonna have

to tell all of them that.

Excuse me. Is this where

I can drop stuff off

for all those people in there?

Yeah, you can...

you can set it here.

Cool.

- Do you need some help?

- Sure, thanks.

Thanks.

- This is clothes stuffs?

- And some blankets.

Oh, that's so nice of you.

You can put food over there

by those, um, red baskets,

and we'll take this here.

Okay.

Don't worry.

I work at the library.

This is gonna be

the easiest way.

And you, can you help me

with the cars,

because I don't know how...

Oh, cool. This is food stuff,

so...

Here. Thank you.

They're not comin' out of there

unless we make 'em.

I know.

No matter

how this thing goes down...

we're gonna look like

the bad guys.

I know.

Man, I always knew

you was one of us.

Why you ain't never tell me

you was on the street?

- Would it have mattered?

- Hm.

Reckon there's gonna be

100 angry cops

at the door soon, huh?

You know,

there's a lot of vets in here.

I can't imagine

they care either way.

You're all a bunch of bums,

Jackson. Don't you know that?

- They gonna get in.

- They always do.

This time, I'mma fight back.

It's a fight you'll lose.

Yes, that's right,

we are still here live

in front of the Downtown

Cincinnati Public Library

where the action had been

unfolding on the inside

but is now unfolding

on the outside.

Hey.

Got it.

What we've been seeing

is ordinary citizens

turning up

on an incredibly chilly evening.

What had been a... a staging area

for local law enforcement...

Hi, this is Stuart.

Please leave a message.

So you're really pushing

the envelope, huh?

You seem hell-bent

on getting these guys to use

whatever means necessary

to get you out of there.

I thought that you were smarter

than this, Stuart.

Do you have any idea

how this is gonna end?

Do you have any idea?

Well, it looks like

these guys... do.

George?

You wear these now.

George, you wear these now

and you'll be able

to look at people

and not hurt them

with your laser eyes.

- For real?

- For real.

Oh.

See?

Nobody is exploding.

You're right.

Now listen.

I'm gonna need your help

doing something.

Uh, detective?

Shit.

Ah.

Jesus Christ. Come on.

Okay, time to go.

What? I'm a prosecutor,

not a policeman.

I mean,

this is... this is your gang.

Guess it's time for you

to leave the building, Elvis.

- Move, move, move.

- Go, go. Go, go, go.

- Let's breach.

- Alright.

Hold, hold. Here we go.

Let's go.

Ho... ho... hold on. Hold on.

♪ I can see clearly now

♪ The rain has gone

♪ I can see all obstacles

♪ In my way

♪ All of the dark clouds

♪ That had me blind

♪ Gonna be a bright bright

♪ Bright

♪ Sun-shiny day

♪ Oh I can make it now

♪ The pain is gone

♪ All of the bad feelings

♪ Have disappeared

♪ Here is that rainbow

I've been praying for ♪

♪ It's gonna be a bright

♪ Bright

♪ Bright sun-shiny day

♪ It's gonna be a bright

♪ Bright sun-shiny day

♪ I can see clearly now

♪ The rain is gone

♪ I can see all obstacles

♪ In my way

♪ All of the dark clouds

♪ That had me blind

♪ It's gonna be a bright

♪ Bright

♪ Bright sun-shiny day

♪ I can see clearly now

Burr.

I'm sorry about your son.

Well, at least we know

where he is.

Stuart Goodson...

you're under arrest.

You have the...

the right to remain silent.

You have the right

to speak to an attorney.

If you can't afford one,

one will be appointed to you

by a court of law.

Do you understand your rights?

Okay, good. Let's go.

♪ Be a bright

♪ Bright

♪ Bright sun-shiny day

♪ Whoo whoo whoo

♪ I can see clearly now

♪ The rain is gone

♪ I can see all obstacles

in my way... ♪

♪ Whoo whoo whoo

♪ Weaponize

♪ Whoo whoo whoo

♪ Weaponize

♪ Whoo whoo whoo

♪ Weaponize

♪ Whoo whoo whoo

♪ Weaponize

♪ Whoo whoo whoo

I... I... we can't put this

on the news.

♪ Weaponize

♪ Whoo whoo whoo

♪ Weaponize

♪ Whoo whoo whoo

♪ Weaponize

♪ Whoo whoo whoo

♪ Bright bright sun-shiny day

♪ Weaponize

♪ Whoo whoo whoo ♪

Hey, fellas!

- What happened to your clothes?

- Hey!

- Ha-ha-ha!

- Hey! Hey!

- Holy crap!

- Caesar, where you been?

I disappeared!

- We thought you were dead!

- Ah!

- No, I'm here!

What happened to you?

Oh, my God!

Put something on, Jackson!

♪ In my way

♪ All of the dark clouds

that had me blind ♪

♪ Bright bright

♪ Bright sun-shiny day

♪ It's gonna be

a bright bright ♪

♪ Bright sun-shiny day

♪ It's gonna be a bright...

Excuse me, sir.

Do you know these guys?

Yeah, these fellas,

they're my friends.

Would you mind answering a few

questions for our viewers?

- Is this a live broadcast?

- It is.

The first live broadcast

in the United States

took place September 4, 1951

when Harry S. Truman

gave a speech

to the Japanese Peace Treaty

Conference in San Francisco.

♪ Bright sun-shiny day

That's absolutely correct.

♪ It's gonna be a bright...

Hail, Caesar!

Hail, Caesar.

Who would have ever thought

that I would be, uh,

escorting you out of the library

in handcuffs, Mr. Goodson?

I promise not to sue you,

Mr. Ramirez.

♪ All of the dark clouds

♪ That had me blind

♪ It's gonna be a bright

♪ Bright

♪ Bright sun-shiny day

♪ It's gonna be a bright

♪ Bright

♪ Bright sun-shiny day

♪ It's gonna be a bright

♪ Bright

♪ Bright sun-shiny day

♪ It's gonna be a bright

♪ Bright sun-shiny day

♪ Gonna be a bright

♪ Bright sun-shiny day

Sorry about tonight,

Mr. Anderson.

I'm not.

♪ It's gonna be a bright

sun-shiny day ♪

♪ I can see all obstacles

in my way ♪

♪ Gone are the dark clouds

Hey.

I'm gonna go back

to your apartment

and pick up some clothes

for you.

♪ It's gonna be a bright...

See you in jail.

♪ Sun-shiny day

Yo, we made some noise tonight,

man!

Shit, they ain't never

gonna forget

what we did here tonight. Yeah!

- Whoo! We did it!

- They will never forget us.

♪ Gonna be a bright bright

♪ Bright bright sun-shiny day

♪ It's gonna be

a bright bright ♪

♪ Bright sun-shiny day

♪ It's gonna be

a bright bright ♪

♪ Bright sun-shiny day ♪

What percentage

of the world's population

has access to the internet?

How many miles is it

from the Earth to Mars?

I'm looking for

how many times

the 25th Amendment has been...

How long does it take

to die of hypothermia?

I'm looking for data

on total homeless population...

I'm looking for

how many nuclear weapons

are currently on the planet.

How many plots

are there in literature?

How many times is the

word God used in the Bible?

Where does it say in

the Holy Quran

to go forth

and kill the infidels?

I'm looking for

articles on climate change.

How does a person

become a librarian?

- I'm looking...

I'm looking...

I'm looking for a miracle.

Can you help me find one?

♪ Wakin' up on the train

tryin' ride through the pain ♪

♪ Now beggin' for money

he was askin' for change ♪

♪ Take a sip of the wine

that's the blood in his veins ♪

♪ Came back from Iraq

and got the war in his brain ♪

♪ How many days of waiting

♪ Man

♪ How many checks are pending

♪ The rent's due

♪ Got evicted just yesterday

♪ Layin' low standin' out

with nothin' to say ♪

♪ When you spend that

first night in your Chevrolet ♪

♪ You get to look at that life

in a different way ♪

♪ I got a suitcase briefcase

missin' a bag ♪

♪ With my diabetic pills

it was all that I had ♪

♪ In the library

waitin' on time to pass ♪

♪ Hey take another sip

hide the flask ♪

♪ I saw light in a flash

♪ And I thought thank God

I'm behind this glass 'cause ♪

♪ I can see clear

I can see clearly now ♪

♪ The rain ♪

The Public (2018) - full transcript