Come on, everybody.
Time for garbage.
Hey, could you speak up there
a little bit? I can't hear you.
- Garbage call!
- Hold on. Just-just kidding.
Just kidding.
Just a little joke.
Hey, I'll go get
my wastepaper basket
and I'll bring it
right down the stairs.
You better hurry.
Dad's goin' bananas.
Oh, yeah? What's dad
goin' bananas about now?
- The garbage.
- Huh.
The garbage?
Yeah, the garbagemen
don't like us anymore.
Yeah, well,
I can understand now.
We sure do give him
a lot of business.
Yeah, dad said
we have to pay taxes
and if they don't shape up,
he's gonna..
- Oops.
- He's gonna what?
I'm not supposed to tell you.
Nicholas, I'm a big girl now.
You can tell me.
Okay, come here.
[whispers]
- Dad said that?
- Uh-huh.
But don't quote me. I'm not
allowed to talk that way.
Okay.
Garbage call!
Everybody, it's garbage call.
Time for garbage.
[theme music]
David, what are you
doing here so early?
Well, Nicholas called
at the crack of dawn.
Something about wanting
a meeting with me.
Oh, it sounds serious.
Oh, are you staying
for breakfast?
Depends on
when the meeting breaks up.
Yeah.
[humming]
- Hi, Mary.
- Early!
- Morning.
- Good morning.
- Hi, David.
- Hi.
- Hi, champ.
- You're late.
Well, I'm sorry,
but there was a lot of traffic.
Now wait a second.
What am I late for?
For living up to your promise.
Aren't trying to back down,
are you?
Unh-unh, I don't think so.
Which promise?
Remember the promise that says
when I grow up till here
I get your old BB g*n?
Oh, yeah, that's right.
I did say that, didn't I?
Now wait a minute. Do you think
you're really up till there?
[sighs]
Look. No shoes either.
See for yourself.
Okay, I'll check it out.
Give me that.
'Ah, my goodness.'
From the looks of this,
you were probably
big enough
for the BB g*n last week.
Well, I didn't wanna seem
too pushy, you know?
So when are you gonna
give it to me?
Well, first I have to find
the darned thing.
Oh, it's in the basement
by the furnace
way at the back in the corner
under Susan's old sleeping bag.
And after I find it, it has
to be checked out and cleaned.
- So when do you--
- Tonight after work.
- Is that soon enough?
- I guess so.
- See you at breakfast.
- Yeah.
Hey, Abby, what's for breakfast?
Let's see. If this is Tuesday,
these must be waffles.
Oh, I just gained a pound.
I guess I'll have
to have dry toast.
I'm in between belt sizes.
Sports! Sports! Sports.
Funnies. Where's the Funnies?
I want the Funnies. Funnies!
- I'll have the food section.
- Yeah.
If I can't eat it,
might as well read about it.
- Here you go.
- Good morning.
Hey, by the way, Tommy,
the waste paper baskets
upstairs are flowing over.
Get on the job, boy.
Well, I can't help it.
There's no place to put it.
We've got more trash around here
than we do trashcans.
I don't believe it!
Listen to this, you guys.
"One man's rubbish
is another man's trash.
"But refuse by any other name
smells just as right.
"The time has finally arrived
"for someone to restate
the obvious.
'"Man's garbage is a by-product
of his environment.'
'"That being the case,
the accumulation of garbage'
'"has gotten to the point
where it either must be'
"lived with as a friend
or else dealt with"
in a firm,
yet intelligent fashion."
Some guy's gotta be a real idiot
to be writing about garbage.
[laughs]
That happens to be my column
your sister is reading.
Oh, no, as my younger brother
was saying
a man must be very wise
and forgiving
to write about such an important
subject as garbage.
Go ahead and laugh.
In a family this size,
trash is no laughing matter.
Still sounds like garbage to me.
I'm really happy
he got into that stuff.
Yeah. Okay.
[clears throat]
Ah. Ah-ha.
And here we have the king
of the trash heap,
even as we speak.
Mr. Bradford, it's Dr. Maxwell.
Oh.
Hi, Greg. How are you?
Lunch? Oh, sure, I'd love to.
What time, old buddy?
That's just great. Okay. Bye-bye.
Uh, I think that
you were going to have
to get an unlisted number.
Oh.
I finally told the message desk
to pick up your incomings.
I think your column
hit a sensitive nerve.
Oh, yeah? Oh, well,
that was the intention.
I find that if you really
wanna do something
you've got to force the issue.
Tom, I'm glad I caught you.
- Mr. Randolph.
- Hi. How are you, Eliot?
Come on in.
What's on your mind?
"Much ado about garbage!"
It's big, Tom. It's really big.
The switchboard has been lit up
like a Christmas tree
'ever since the morning
edition's hit the streets.'
You hit the public
where they live, Tom.
Right between the trashcans.
Well, I only write what I feel.
I really do feel
this whole trash situation
has gone on long enough.
Apparently, the mayor's office
agrees with you.
They called me this morning
first thing.
'They wanna see you this
afternoon if you're free.'
'About :, I think they said.'
The mayor's office? Me?
W-what do they want?
Oh, they didn't elaborate.
I suppose they wanna give you
a commendation or something.
Listen, I can see it now.
Thomas Bradford
engraved across a miniature
bronze trashcan.
Yeah.
Oh, it's big, Tom.
It's really big.
It's big, Tom. Really big.
So if you definitely want
the Caesar salad
I suggest we split one.
Alright, that's fine with me.
I'm not really too hungry.
Not with all those
telephone calls
and my meeting
with the mayor later.
I guess my stomach
is doing funny things.
Oh. Well, then,
I'll have your anchovies.
Not good for funny stomach.
By the way, uh, where are you
getting all your info
about the garbage situation?
I'll never tell.
Listen, that stuff
about recycling kids
that don't treat you
with respect
that could lead
to repercussions.
Max, that's pure satire.
How can anybody
take that seriously?
Do not underestimate
the power of the pen, Tom.
Oh, come on now.
Did the people in Ireland
start eating children
after Swift wrote
"A Modest Proposal?"
Not that I know of.
No, nobody could possibly
take my proposal literally.
Listen, there an awful
lot of weirdos
running around out there.
Yeah? Well then, maybe I better,
uh, lay off the satire.
And the anchovies.
Even worse for you than satire.
[imitates g*nsh*t]
Perfect.
Hey, hey! Hold on there,
Butch Cassidy.
- But it's all finished.
- Yeah, the BB g*n is.
But your lessons
on how to handle it aren't.
Now, it's a short list
and it's easy to remember.
And you will remember it, right?
- Right.
- Alright.
First of all, never ever
point the g*n at anybody.
Not in fun. Not when
it's unloaded. Never.
Yeah, but how can you hurt
somebody with an unloaded g*n?
Because more often than not,
the g*n ends up being loaded.
But if it's loaded, it's not--
Nicholas, no discussion
on this point.
If you point the g*n at anybody,
I have to take it back.
Got you.
Second of all, don't sh**t
at birds or animals.
I mean, they don't sh**t at you
'so they deserve the same
consideration.'
And last, don't go off
half-cocked.
What does that mean?
That means don't try
pulling this trigger
when the cocking handle
is half-cocked
because you will smash
your fingers and ruin the g*n.
Okay? Now you try.
Don't aim the g*n at anybody
even when it's not loaded.
Unh.
Don't sh**t at birds
and don't go off half-cocked.
Oh, my boy,
you are now the proud owner
of your very own antique BB g*n.
[imitates g*nsh*t
Excuse me, aren't I supposed
to see the mayor?
I think you just did,
Mr. Bradford.
Samuel Benchley,
district attorney.
I must apologize
for keeping you waiting.
'Won't you come in
and have a seat?'
Oh, sure, that's alright.
It's just that, uh
I didn't know I was supposed
to see you.
W-why am I here?
Well, uh, my office
is so conspicuous
and you know how reporters are.
Always looking for a scandal
to report.
No, I meant, uh, why are you
and I together at all?
I read your column this morning.
Oh.
'In fact,
so did my entire staff.'
Found it very interesting.
I'd like to read something
to you.
[sighs]
"While certain middle class
neighborhoods
"have been reduced from two
to one pick-up per week
'"is it merely a coincidence
that other areas'
"such as Councilman Myers
very own
"posh Royal Heights
neighborhoods still merit
'"garbage pick-ups
twice a week?'
"One begins to speculate that
perhaps a different sort of
garbage is on the minds of those
running the city dump."
You read that very well.
- Is that all you have to say?
- What else is there to say?
I mean,
I'm very familiar with it.
I wrote the article, remember?
Precisely why you're here.
I knew there must be
some reason.
You made some very poignant
accusations, Mr. Bradford.
No, no, no. Nothing in my column
was an accusation.
I just calls them
the way eye sees them.
Well then, would you mind
telling me
where you got your information?
Excuse me?
Your source or sources
for the column. Who were they?
I don't see why that has
anything to do with it.
I think you do.
Now if there's a leak
in my office
I wanna know about it.
If it's somewhere else,
I still wanna know.
On the record, off the record,
whatever makes you happy.
I'm sorry to let you down,
Mr. Benchley.
But on the record,
I have nothing to say.
Even a columnist is a reporter.
I don't have to reveal
my sources.
That's final?
I'm a very fair man,
Mr. Bradford.
Good. In that case,
our visit is over.
'So I'm going to give you more
time to consider your position.'
No no. All the time in the world
is not going to change my mind.
And in that time, I suggest
that you do something
very important to your future.
I suggest that you consult
an attorney, Mr. Bradford.
- What?
- 'A very competent attorney.'
One who knows what the inside
of a jail looks like?
Because if you refuse
to answer my question
the next time I ask,
Mr. Bradford
you're going to be
in big trouble.
Really big trouble.
I tell you, kids,
all my life as a writer
I don't think I've ever had
my journalistic integrity
threatened the way it was today.
Obviously, he must think
I'm as unscrupulous as he is
to ask me to do such a thing.
Then to suggest
I get an attorney.
He's full of more garbage
than we have stocked out there.
Sure, yeah.
Well, dad, why can't you
just tell the DA
what he wants to know?
Oh, Elizabeth,
are you kidding me?
I-I mean, what about
First Amendment
freedoms of, uh, speech
in the press?
Reporter's confidence
is, is sacred
just like a doctor or a priest.
Well, if the DA is going
to all these trouble
dad's information
might be really important.
Oh, boy.
(Elizabeth)
'Well, isn't
the district attorney'
'supposed to be a good guy?'
Huh, that just depends on
which side of the court
you're sitting.
- Right on.
- Oh, yeah, that's right.
Elizabeth, if dad knuckled under
and revealed his sources
no one will ever
trust him again.
He'd be considered a traitor
like, uh, Benedict Arnold.
You know, there's this kid in
my class called Benjamin Arnold
and he always tells
on everybody.
'He shouldn't do that,
right, dad?'
- That's right, Nicholas.
- He told on me today.
And, boy, did I get in trouble.
So, Nicholas, you're gonna
tell us what you did?
Unh-unh, I'm not gonna
be a traitor on myself.
Integrity runs deep
in this family.
(Susan)
'Um, so what's gonna happen?'
I don't know. It's hard to say.
It's the DA's move next.
But I'm ready for him.
I tell you kids, I'm gonna go
the distance on this.
- I really am.
- I think that's great, dad.
I mean, you should stand up
for what you believe in.
Yeah, even if what you believe
in is garbage.
No no. I didn't mean it
that way, really.
- You guys know what I mean.
- I can see it now, dad.
Every journalist,
every columnist, every reporter
in this country is gonna
be rallying behind you.
Give me liberty
or give me death.
Let's hope it doesn't
get that far.
Well, believe me, it won't.
Okay, we have other work
to do right now.
Tommy, time to hit the sack.
But it's not even o'clock yet.
Yes, but we have to get up
at : a.m. tomorrow.
What for?
We have a very
important mission.
You know, dad, somehow I don't
think that lying in wait
to ambush the garbageman
is an important mission.
Tommy, there comes a time
in a man's life
when he has got to take
the bull by the horns.
Yeah, I know,
but o'clock in the morning?
Hi. Uh, good morning, men.
Uh, listen, uh,
men, what about these cans?
Too heavy.
Oh, no, no.
They're not too heavy.
My son and I had no problem
carrying them out here.
Congratulations.
Must be non-union.
Rules say we can't lift
anything over pounds.
Ha! You just picked that up.
I also put it back down.
H-how do you know
how much these weigh?
It's my job, Mack. You're trying
to tell me I don't know my job?
Oh, no, no, of course not.
No, it's just that I..
Well, I..
I-I would like a second opinion.
Drego.
Drego.
Yes, mister?
How much that can weigh?
pounds.
Hey, Fink. Come here a sec.
How much does that can weigh?
- .
- '.'
Nope, .
. Bet you an hour
behind the wheel.
You're on.
Okay, you drive.
Wait a minute, look.
Now listen.
You guys have your rules
and we've got our garbage.
So would it be alright
if my son and I just
empty these cans
into the truck for you?
Can't do that, Mack.
It's against the rules.
- Ah. What a mess.
- Ah.
You really should use
a stronger box.
Come on, Fink.
We're running late.
Wait, listen, are you doing this
because of my article
on "The Register?"
"The Register?" We don't read
that rag. It's too liberal.
Well, what about this stuff
on the street?
Sorry, mister,
we don't do gutters.
(Abby)
'Nicholas!'
Why did you go on
and do that for?
You made me miss the bottle
by a mile.
- I meant to.
- What are you doing?
I'm taking this away.
I don't approve of g*ns.
But it only sh**t BBs.
I don't care.
I don't like g*ns.
But David gave it to me
and it's mine.
Not anymore.
It isn't, Nicholas.
Hey, kid, is this
the Bradford house?
Yeah, what are you?
Lance Ham, Sacramento Union.
What? Who are you?
(Elliot)
'Tom, "The Register" is prepared
to go to the mat on this.'
We are behind you, boy, %.
Oh, Elliot, that's nice.
I appreciate it.
It's just that, you know, I was
thinking about this all night
and I don't think
it's gonna go any further.
I think the DA is just
making a lot of noise.
- Well, maybe, Tom, maybe.
- And again, maybe not.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Uh, Tom Bradford.
This is Ezra Brandice Howard,
uh, from Legal Affairs.
I took the liberty of inviting
him to sit in with us.
Oh, sure, that's fine, Elliot.
It's just that I don't think
I need a lawyer.
Better to have an attorney
when you don't require one
than not to get one
until it's too late.
I'll remember that, I think.
(Ezra)
Well, then, let us get down
to the particulars
in this, uh, case.
We've already spoken
with the other side
and they've assured me
that they do mean business.
Apparently,
the grand jury's investigating
some allegations of corruption
between a privately contracted
waste removal company
'and a certain member
of the city government.'
And they seem to feel that you
just might be the missing link.
Well, so what if I am?
I mean, they can't force me
to reveal my sources.
Uh, constitutional precedents
are still unclear on this matter
of First and Fifth Amendment
protection
and still the State Supreme
Court makes a ruling
one way or the other,
the grand jury may just
decide to hold you in custody.
Hold me in custody?
Hold me in custody?
What do you mean?
They're gonna put me in jail?
Come on now.
They can't do that.
I'd say they not only can,
they, uh, most definitely will.
- Oh. For how long?
- Nothing in determinant.
I'd estimate the Supreme Court
will make a ruling unusually
prompt in a case like this,
say eight or ten weeks.
But, of course,
there's no guarantee
the court will rule
in our favor.
You can see, Tom, how much
we all have at stake.
Ten weeks.
Well, freedom of the press
has its price, Tom.
Uh, listen,
I can see that you two
have a great deal to discuss.
Uh, I'll be in my office
if you need me
with the corporate attorneys.
Remember, Tom, %, huh?
Ten weeks at %
that's only a % a week.
Uh, now you-you say
you've initiated
a policy of, uh,
recycling garbage.
Can you give me an idea
how you accomplished that?
Oh, sure, it's all based
on the theory of supply
and demand.
- Oh, supply and demand.
- That's right.
And along with the theory
of diminishing returns and--
Oh, diminishing returns.
That's terrific.
Can you be more, uh, specific?
We use paper towels three times
before we throw them away.
Great angle.
When is a paper towel
past its prime?
What a think piece?
Mr. Ham, I really think
that you should wait
until my father gets home.
[door opens]
Wait a second.
Uh, who-who's car
is blocking my driveway?
It's Mr. Ham's.
He's a reporter for the Union.
- What does he want?
- A scoop.
What! Uh, Ham.
Be right with you, Mr. Bradford.
Be right out of my house,
Mr. Ham.
But he didn't take down
all my background yet?
Yeah, I was just getting
to the best part.
Yeah, Nancy was telling him
about her first date.
I don't care
if she was telling him
about the secret
of eternal life.
Nobody is gonna come
into the house
and do an expose on my family.
Now please get out.
But what about the public's
right to know?
'What about freedom of speech?'
'What about freedom
of the press?'
What about getting out
of the house
while you still can
under your own power?
- I'll call you later.
- 'Out! Out!'
Hey, what a nerve.
[door bell rings]
Tom, Tom, wake up. There's
someone at the front door.
- Oh, it's o'clock.
- o'clock. What?
- Who do you suppose it is?
- I don't know.
[door bell rings]
Who would come around
at o'clock in the morning?
Somebody who wants something?
- Did somebody order pizza?
- Maybe it's another burglar?
(Abby)
No, burglars
don't ring door bells.
(Tom)
You've got to be kidding.
I don't believe it.
- Mr. Thomas Bradford?
- Yes.
I have a subpoena requiring you
to appear as a witness
before the grand jury
of Sacramento.
Have a pleasant evening,
Mr. Bradford.
Oh, by the way,
I loved your article.
Uh, it's too bad
that wasn't a pizza.
There's nothing to eat
around here.
Oh, Tommy, how can you feel like
eating at a time like this?
Hey, what time is it, anyway?
Certainly isn't time
to get up yet.
Did daddy get a bad report card
or something?
(Mary)
W-well, sort of, Nicholas.
Um, except it's called
a subpoena.
And, uh, it's like a report
card, but it has four Fs.
Boy, that sure is a trouble.
(Mary)
'No, Nicholas,
he's not in trouble.'
It's just that he has to appear
in front of a grand jury.
I'm not going to appear.
(Mary)
'What do you mean
you're not gonna appear?'
Dad, if you don't appear,
they're gonna put you in jail.
Let them.
I'm not gonna be intimidated
by this, this witch hunt.
Is dad gonna go to jail?
No, Nicolas, dad is not
gonna go to jail.
That's not true,
I might very well go to jail.
Hey, I got an idea
We could sneak dad a cake
hidden in a file.
Oh, very funny, Tommy.
Dad, whatever you decide,
we're be behind you %.
- You bet. Absolutely.
- Sure.
I mean, you've heard
of the Chicago Seven?
Here we have the Sacramento One.
Yeah, right on.
Do we still get our allowance
if dad goes to jail?
[telephone rings]
- Hello.
- 'David?'
Nicholas,
why are you whispering?
'Cause I don't want her
to hear what I say.
- What are you saying?
- She took the BB g*n away.
- 'Who did?'
- Abby. Can she do that?
I certainly can do that.
- Abby, I gave him that g*n.
- Well, you shouldn't have.
An eight year old has no
business playing with g*ns.
It's only a BB g*n.
Abby, you're acting like
I gave him a machine g*n.
I don't care
if it's a water p*stol.
I will not have g*ns
in this house.
'Why?'
Because I don't approve of g*ns.
Hey, listen, Abby,
he's my brother.
You have no right
to take away--
I have every right to.
I'm his stepmother.
And as long as I'm in this house
I will not have him
playing with g*ns.
Do you understand that?
Are you pulling rank on me?
Yes, yes,
I'm pulling rank on you.
Now if you'll excuse me,
I'm-I'm late for work.
- The lawyer's here.
- He's not my lawyer.
The paper owns him.
Make yourself at home,
Mr. Howard.
I've looked over the subpoena
and it's quite specific.
Failure to appear will clearly
be an act of contempt.
'I've already discussed this
with the district attorney'
and he won't budge on it.
Of course, we could always
file a motion for continuance
but since you're a witness
and not a defendant
such a motion
will hardly be an order.
Unless, of course, if we could
show reasonable cause--
- I don't care.
- Pardon me.
Look, you can do
whatever you want.
You can file motions, briefs
affidavits, anything you..
'You can stand
on your law books'
and recite
the Gettysburg Address.
I am not going to appear
before the grand jury.
You get me?
Please, spare me
the histrionics.
Now then where were we?
Uh, motion for continuance, yes.
Hey, look, uh, Dona,
I'll be in the city room.
Call me when my office is free.
Excitable, isn't he?
You should see him
when he's angry.
What do you say, Mary?
Disposer?
No, Elizabeth,
celery is much too fibrous
so it just doesn't go down.
I know, but the garbage can's
overflowing now.
Alright.
Considering we are in a state
of garbage emergency
give it a try.
Alright, what's for dinner?
- Here it goes.
- Huh?
[buzzing]
- Oh, no!
- Wait a second! We..
Dinner. I don't know
what's for dinner.
- Will you call David and--
- He's not home.
What does David do?
- David..
- Jump.
Are you kidding?
[grunts]
- Didn't work.
- Didn't work.
I'll draw the circuit breaker.
- Try it again, try it again.
- Okay, I'll try it.
[grunts]
- It's not working.
- No, it's not working.
(man on radio)
'Uh, yes, indeed-y,
boys and girlies'
'just keep that dial
right where it's filled'
'with Uncle Myles
and his K-R-L-J Jambo..'
[hairdryer stops]
The TV went out right
in the middle of "Wonder Frog."
- Blame it on the celery.
- Huh?
Hey, you know this is
a good time to defrost.
- The celery?
- The celery.
[knocks]
Come in.
It's bedtime, Nicolas.
Alright.
Would you like me to tug me in?
- Are you sure?
- Yeah.
Nicolas, about the BB g*n.
David told me
I shouldn't listen to you.
I'm not trying
to be mean to you.
Then why can't I have the g*n?
Well, Nicolas, it's..
Well, it's, um..
It's complicated.
See, it's, there's
a whole lot things involved.
A lot of things
I don't think you'd understand.
I'm going to bed now.
- 'Tom.'
- Hmm?
Tom, I know you have
a lot on your mind
but do you have a moment for me?
What?
Oh! Abby, I'm sorry. Yeah,
of course, of course, I do.
[sighs]
Well, yesterday I-I caught
Nicolas in the backyard
playing with an old BB g*n
that David had given him.
And I took it away
from him and..
Well, David and I had words
about it this morning
and-and now Nicolas
is angry with me.
Nicolas with a BB g*n?
We have always had couple
of shotguns around the house.
David and I used to go
duck hunting every November.
- 'We had this tradition.'
- Yeah, so did I.
My father taught me to sh**t
when I was .
[chuckles]
I got my first jackrabbit
when I was .
And after we were married,
Frank and I used to go hunting
but that was before, um..
See, when he was shot down
something inside me
just snapped, you know?
'I know it was a b*llet
that k*lled Frank'
So, so if there were no g*ns..
And then yesterday when I saw
that little eight-year-old boy
out there with the g*n
in the backyard, you know
I was right back there.
- 'Do you understand?'
- Alright, Abby.
I understand.
I understand.
It's just that..
The w*r is over now,
you gotta..
You've gotta find peace
with yourself sooner or later.
I know, I know, I-I know I'm
just being emotional, you know.
'And I know it was,
it was just a BB g*n, but..'
No, no.
You're a parent now, Abby.
You have very right to make
judgments for the children.
I'll tell you something though.
Sometimes some of those judgment
aren't gonna be perfect.
But I don't want them to suffer
because of my memories.
I'll tell you a secret.
They always do somehow.
They haven't invented
the all-perfect
all-knowing parent yet.
But when they do
I'm gonna order one
right on the spot.
Nobody said
it was gonna be easy, huh?
Nobody was right.
Good morning. It's
a gorgeous morning, isn't it?
Wow, what's on the agenda
for today?
Dona, is something wrong?
Dona, what's the matter?
[sobs]
Upstairs.
Dona, wait. W..
Yeah, give me Elliot Randolph
office, please, right away.
It's important.
Hello, Elliot. Oh, Thomas.
Yeah, get me, uh..
This is Tom Bradford.
Get me Mr. Randolph
right away, please.
Yeah, I'll hold on.
Yeah.
Hey, hold it.
No, no, not-not you, Thomas,
what..
Yes, I'm still here. Yeah.
Elliot, what's going on here?
Tom.
Tom, let me assure you,
we have every intention
of continuing the legal services
free of charge.
I want you to know
I'm sick to death about this.
But believe me, my back
is against the walls.
The stockholders
are leading on me.
The advertisers
are threatening to pull out.
The paper can't handle what?
Suspended without pay?
And for further investigation
of the entire matter.
I don't believe this.
Elliot, do me a favor, will you?
Next time back me %
instead of %.
(Tom)
'What do they think
I was gonna do?'
Steal a typewriter?
What really gets me
is they don't even
have the courage to tell me.
I mean, I have to call up
Randolph to find out.
I could have been there
for days, even weeks
and nobody would've said a word
until the paycheck
doesn't arrive.
Tom, it's terrible.
But we gotta stay calm
about this now.
We have to stay calm.
Isn't that ridiculous?
I have eight children, I have
mortgage hanging over my head
'and a one part-time job
between us'
'and you ask me to stay calm?'
Well, I can go back
to work full-time.
(Tom)
'What about your PhD?'
Well, that can wait
a semester or two.
No, no.
Even that won't be enough.
Tom, look, we can cut back
to the bare necessities.
Food, shelter, utilities.
Oh, really? And what about
clothing and gasoline?
And-and doctors, dentist,
eight checkups, auto insurance
life insurance, home insurance?
Not to mention,
Elizabeth's dancing lesson
and Mary's, uh, medical school
plus Nicolas' summer camp!
[sighs]
Sounds bleak.
(Abby)
'Nicholas.'
Would you come here
a minute, please?
Yes?
There's something
I wanna show you.
(Nicolas)
'What's this for?'
(Abby)
'Target practice.'
[g*nshots]
Not bad, eh?
Yeah, you're a girl.
So they tell me.
You see, Nicolas
I think my father really
wanted a boy when I was born.
So he taught me
all these things
that most little girls
don't learn.
- Hmm.
- You wanna give it a try?
You mean I can have the BB g*n?
If you promise only to use it
with an older person around
and if you promise to remember
all of the things about safety
that David told you.
I talked to him this morning.
You're always supposed
to keep the barrel
pointed downwards, right?
Okay, you're ready
to give it a try?
Okay.
Cock the g*n first.
That's it.
Kneel down.
Put the stock
against your shoulder.
Okay. Now squeeze
the trigger gently.
Don't pull.
- I didn't hit nothing.
- Yeah, well, you will.
Just try aiming a little bit
below your target, okay?
Cock the g*n.
Listen, Tom. We're gonna
have to stop meeting this way.
I mean, people are gonna
start talking.
Stop fooling around. You know,
I'm in so much trouble.
- So I gather.
- Oh.
That is, you don't know
the half of it.
Alright, so you got suspended
from your job without pay
because you didn't cooperate
with the grand jury.
If you would stop standing
on principles.
I'm standing in quicksand.
Only because you refused
to reveal your source.
[sighs]
Max, Max, Max.
There is no source.
Tom, did I hear you correctly?
'You mean, you have no source?'
That's right, I had no idea
'this was gonna snowball
into such a mess.'
You mean a, a little snafu
with your garbageman
ended up costing you your job?
[laughs]
Tom, that's funny.
Yeah, if you think it's so funny
why don't you pay
my kids' dental bills?
Oh, I'm sorry.
I mean, it's ironic.
All these to-do about garbage.
This whole to-do about garbage
that only caused me being
suspended from my job.
but it's very apt to get me
a contempt citation.
If you can't substantiate
your charges against Myers, uh
that could be construed
as liable.
Liable?
Isn't that what they call
public defamation of character?
Uh, Caesar salad?
Hold the anchovies.
Okay, Joannie,
uh, dollars and cents.
Oh, thanks.
Tips aren't very good
in pizza joints.
- That's okay, it'll help.
- So how much we got now?
Um, , , , , ,
dollars and cents.
Oh, wait a second, here comes
all moneybags himself.
Alright, what do we have?
How's the deposit
bottle business?
- dollars and cents.
- Not bad.
That's a lot of bottles, right?
- Deposit bottles?
- Yeah, he did.
And Mary typed term papers
and Tommy distributed
advertising leaflets.
Nancy waited on tables.
Elizabeth made telephone sales
and Susan and I took tickets
at a movie theater.
That is really wonderful.
That is so wonderful, isn't it?
But I really think we can
put together $ a week
if we all just put in
a few more hours.
Easy.
Yeah, and I'll kick in
what I can.
(Mary)
'Dad, we just want you to know'
'that we're really
behind you in this.'
(Joannie)
'Yes, so don't think
on your source, okay?'
Yeah, we got a hero
in Sacramento, dad.
Yeah, you're a Patrick Henry.
- A Nathan Hale.
- Yeah.
A Henry David Thoreau.
'A Tom Bradford, crusader
for First Amendment Rights.'
Dad, a lot of lesser man
would've walked
right into that courtroom
and just spilled their guts.
'Look, they wouldn't have cared
about freedom of speech'
'or the confidentiality
of their source.'
Thanks, kids, I-I appreciate it.
Hey, dad, you suppose maybe you
could just tell us your source?
Tommy, that would be
almost as unethical
as-as telling the grand jury.
Okay, okay.
Just hope this guy's worth it.
City desk, please.
Hello, Gus, it's me,
Tom Bradford.
Listen, I want you
to do me a favor.
I'm scheduling a news conference
tomorrow morning
: a.m. at city hall
and I want..
Yes, yes, I know.
I realized that the grand jury
is meeting just down the hall
from the press room.
But I still think
there'll be reporters
that wanna listen to me.
I want you to get this
on the wire right away.
I want maximum coverage.
It is a big story.
It's a very big story.
Sorry, Gus. No, scoops.
I don't work for "The Register"
at the moment, remember?
Alright, look,
I tell you what I'll do.
I'll give you
an in-depth interview
right after the news conference.
I'll give you the whole story.
One thousand percent worth.
Will you make
a statement, councilman?
Are you gonna take the stand?
Do you deny
getting any kickbacks?
(male #)
'What is you relationship
with a Mr. Philip Reed?'
Mr. Benchley.
- Oh, Mr. Bradford.
- What's going on?
Well, you'll be pleased to know
that Councilman Myers
has just admitted under oath
to various improprieties
in relation
to the city's contract
with various
waste removal companies.
- He did?
- Yeah, I nailed him.
You know, you're a pretty
smart reporter, Bradford.
It took my staff of people
months to come up
with the information
that you had.
- What information?
- Oh, come on now.
Don't be modest, Tom.
You don't mind
if I call you Tom, do you?
Of course not.
But what about the subpoena?
Frame it.
Put it up in your den.
You can tell your grandchildren
about the time
you almost went to jail
on a First Amendment case.
You mean, I don't
have to, uh, testify?
No, no, no, uh, we don't
need your source anymore.
I have my own witness
and he is an expert.
Oh, by the way,
don't worry about your job.
I'm gonna call Randolph right
away and give him the news.
He'll probably wind up
giving you a bonus.
But I have a press conference
scheduled for o'clock.
Well, then you better hurry
or you're gonna be late.
I'll see you, Tom.
(Tom)
'Ladies and gentlemen'
'because of certain allegations'
'that I made in my column
of January th'
'I was subpoenaed to give
testimony to the grand jury.'
I refused to cooperate
with the district attorney
because I believed that the
principles of confidentiality
of news sources is protected
by the First Amendment.
I still believe
in that principle.
Even though I stand before you
today ready to violate it.
Ladies and gentlemen..
[clears throat]
...the source
for the allegations
contained in my column
is Tom Bradford.
That's right.
There's no one else involved.
Now if there are any question,
please.
Yeah. Bud, I got a question.
You think it'd be
against your principles
to turn out the lights
on your way out?
No problem.
Ladies and gentlemen,
thank you for coming.
Morning, Mr. Bradford.
Yes, now you will notice
that none of these bags
weigh over pounds.
I've divided the cans
and placed the garbage
into each individual
plastic bag.
A-okay, Drego?
pounds.
at the most.
Load them up.
Hey, wait a minute.
W-w-where-where are you going?
- Th-there's more bags.
- Oh, sorry, Mr. Bradford.
But the rules say
we can only take
ten separate articles at a time.
- What?
- 'Gotta follow the rules.'
Especially after that
grand jury thing.
I mean, they're watching
every move we make.
Now wait a minute.
What am I going to do
with all these garbage?
In a couple more weeks,
these will all be out of here.
But in the meantime?
Write another article.
[all cheering]
[indistinct chatter]
[theme music]