[man] Tsk, tsk... [sighs] Okay.
[throat clearing]
[throat clearing]
In the future-- [throat clears]
[sighs] In the future,
we can't just expect
for water--
In the fut-- in the future,
we're gonna [stuttering],
in the future,
we cannot just take
for granted the idea that,
ah...
[stuttering] In the future,
in the future, waters--
In the future, wars--
In the future...
wars will not just be...
[deep breath]
[exhales] Something like that.
Some-- some--
something like that.
[folk country music]
[man 2] I-- I know his ethics.
I know what he stands for.
He has been balancing between
progress and our environment.
-[thud]
-[cheering]
I'm so proud to
call him a friend.
[bell ringing]
[wings flapping]
Senator Payton Burnham.
[crowd cheering]
[Payton] Thank you all
for coming, John.
-[metal clink]
-Thank you so much.
My friend John Lloyd
has been helping me
gather people to
listen to me talk,
whether they wanted to
or not, for years.
-[woman screaming]
-[thud then yelp]
[boy] Yo! Get your nose
out of his butt!
[protesters yelling]
[Payton] In the future, wars
won't be fought with weapons.
They'll be fought with water.
And it's not gonna be about
who has the most b*ll*ts.
It's gonna be about who has
their hand on the spigot.
-[water splashing]
-[man yelling]
[woman] What specific new
processes are being
shepherded in with these
emerging technologies
and programs
that can ensure that
these types of issues will
never happen again?
Yes, it's hard to argue
against the fact that a man
who made his fortune in
environmental technology
would have some of
the best intelligence
towards solving the problem.
[Payton]
Now, I hear the doubters.
I hear you say,
"Payton, you're asking us
to have faith in a system for
which we are already
extremely skeptical."
Sure, he's a good
looking politician.
Can-- can we even say
that these days?
[Payton] But you wanna have
faith in the system?
Let's change the system.
[crowd cheering]
[waves crashing]
[music continues]
[distant sirens]
But if we don't start
paying for the services.
-[music fades]
-[Payton inaudible]
We pay more in money,
we pay more in culture,
we pay more in our soul.
Those people are
gonna affect me
whether I realize it or not.
We are built on
each other's backs.
It's one--
[woman] So typically I'm not a
political person, but...
Payton Burnham
Is like a sexy version of
Uncle Sam [chuckling]
[phone ringing]
[scoffs] Morning.
[woman 2]
Oh my God, are you serious?
I'm sorry, are you in
the middle of something?
Yeah, sleeping.
[Payton] Oh, great.
So nothing important.
[Becca sighs]
You're such an as*h*le.
Oh, come on. How can you sleep
when we're so close?
Look, you know,
some of us need sleep.
I know you don't,
but the rest of us do.
I got some sleep.
[Becca]
Three hours is called a nap.
And a nap is called sleep.
[Becca]
I thought we were taking
the first half the day off.
[Payton]
I didn't mean that literally.
I'll tell you what,
after you and me
have made history,
we can take the whole day off,
all right?
I swear I'm gonna block you,
I'm serious this time.
Do me a favor, check out the
coverage of last night's event.
Baxter is tough, but
he's always been fair to me,
and something
about this seems off.
Skeptical.
He pissed at us for any reason?
I can't think of any
reason why he would be.
Ah, give it a read,
tell me what you think.
We cannot afford to lose
any press friendlies.
They can hate me all they want,
but not until next week.
[Becca scoffs]
Like you could get over
anyone hating you ever.
-[Becca scoffs]
-[child yells]
[Payton] Oh, oh, you got me.
Call you right back.
Ah! [kisses]
[boy giggling]
Where were you, Dad?
-Uh...
-[boy 2] We waited forever.
Oh, I'm sorry, guys.
But look at this,
you made me breakfast.
-This is amazing.
-You can't have cake
for breakfast, Dad.
-[Payton] Why not?
-Apparently, your father
can do whatever he likes.
[Payton] I'm sorry.
I thought I'd catch
a couple hours
in the guest room
without waking you.
[Mrs. Burnham]
Well, I appreciate that.
I would have appreciated
a call more,
-or even a text.
-I'm at the one yard line here.
You know I'm trying to get this
thing across the...
Oh, no-- no, I'm sorry.
Sorry, was that... [chuckles]
was that for me or for you?
The Charles Bridge guys needed
me to walk them through this
-thing, I just--
-[Mrs. Burnham] Honey,
you do so much more than
enough for those guys,
and I've seen it
a million times.
If you don't set
the ground rules
and the boundaries,
they're gonna own
every inch of our life.
[sigh]
Wanna have lunch with me?
I'm supposed to
take the day off.
Well, half off,
anyway, and, um...
I could just...
f*ck this place, you know?
Mmm. I don't believe you.
[soft chuckle]
-[kiss]
-Come on, boys,
we're gonna be late.
-[boy] No.
-[Mrs. Burnham] Oh, enjoy your
fake day off.
-Thank you.
-[Mrs. Burnham] I'm excited
for you.
-[both boys] Okay.
-[Mrs. Burnham] Thank you.
[boy] Bye, Dad.
-Bye, guys.
-[door closes]
[phone notification]
[pensive music]
[scoffs]
[phone ringing]
-Hey.
-[Becca] Is she mad?
-Measured.
-[rattling]
She's right, I should do better.
[soft chuckle]
[Becca] Yeah, agreed.
-[power hum]
-Oh, sh*t.
What's that?
-Power went out.
-[power hum]
-Back on.
-[Becca] Oh, while I have you,
uh, Monica Hall's office
called again.
Yeah... [scoffs] No.
[Becca] No, don't worry,
she's not gunning for you.
But this is the third time
they've reached out.
She did call because
they're just trying to see if
you'll weigh in on the story
they're doing about the
water situation in Fenton.
-Where's Fenton?
-[Becca] Small town in
Pennsylvania.
I don't think you've
ever been there.
I just thought getting
on the record as an
expert on water safety and
one more story couldn't hurt.
Oh, come on, Monica Hall's
a f*cking wrecking ball.
Everything she does hurts.
[Becca]
Come on, she's not that bad.
Becca, do you really
think I need to be
taking those kinds of
chances right now?
Oh.
That reminds me,
Diller and Viejo,
they all set for the tour
of the Pittsburgh plant?
[Becca] I believe so.
"I believe" is not gonna cut it.
I need to know I have
at least one of them.
It should be all taken care of.
[Payton]
Okay, just listen to me.
Just call David Foster at
Charles Bridge Capital and
ask him for some... help.
I don't need anyone to apply
a lot of pressure here.
Just get them to do whatever
they need to do to make sure
this f*cking tour happens
so people can see
what real jobs and
progress look like
and we're good, okay?
Okay.
I think I got it, Senator,
I'll call you in a bit.
-Thank you, okay.
-[phone thuds]
[sighs]
[lively classical music]
Code: Select all
[soft beeping]
[cup rattles]
[paper rustling]
-[beep]
-Hey, I am gonna hope
that the cake splattered
knife that's been left
by the door was left by you
and not one of the kids.
-Give me a call.
-[beep]
[metal clinks]
[knife rattles]
[light switch clicks]
[woman] Very quiet.
Hold on, hold on. [indistinct]
Wars won't be
fought with weapons.
[inaudible]
[paper rustling]
[music continues]
-[beep]
-Becca,
I got a... media thing today?
-Equipment's set up.
-[beep]
-[ding]
-[Beca] As today was
supposed to be a day off,
nothing is scheduled.
I'm blocking you.
-[man on TV] . ..at the time,
and sh--
-[click]
[man 2 on TV] Coming up later,
Monica Hall investigates
Fenton, Pennsylvania.
[reporter] And in what felt more
like a presidential event
than a senatorial road show,
the media-savvy senator
seemed to rally resounding
support for a bill that was
once believed to be an
unrealistic pipe dream.
In other news, a 22-year-old
college student
suffered third-degree
burns in the latest
stacking challenge mishap
when he tried to balance a
hot pot of coffee with a
six-foot tall house of cards.
[phone ringing]
-Hey.
-[Mrs. Burnham] Hey, hon.
Um, I just got a really weird
call from my dad.
-Yeah?
-[Mrs. Burnham] John Lloyd
told him you're not
calling him back or something?
He says he's gonna call you.
Why is your dad calling
you about that?
[Mrs. Burnham]
I don't know, are you
ignoring John for some reason?
I'm not ignoring anybody,
I'm just...
trying to do what we
talked about, you know?
Set some boundaries.
[Mrs. Burnham] I-- I wasn't
talking about John.
If my dad's calling, then
there's something going on
-that you need to
pay attention to.
-[sighs]
Is there something going on?
Yeah, I'm trying to pass
bizarrely controversial
legislation and also
get reelected
without the help of either
of the two major parties.
[Mrs. Burnham]
I'm on your side, my love.
[sighs] I know.
I'm sorry. I will, uh...
[soft chuckle]
Tell your dad I will call John.
-[Mrs. Burnham] Okay.
-Okay.
-[Mrs. Burnham] I-- I gotta go.
-Bye.
[phone beeps]
[paper rustling]
[music fades]
[phone ringing]
[suspenseful music]
[ringing continues]
-[ringing stops]
-[music halts]
-[scoff]
-[phone notification]
[all phones ringing]
[fax whirring]
[music restarts]
[all ringing stops]
-Hello?
-[man] Hello, Senator.
Who am I speaking with?
[man] My name wouldn't
mean much to you but,
for now, you can call me Buddy.
Buddy, huh?
Well, if you had this number,
there's a pretty good chance
that I could, wouldn't I?
[Buddy] Well, anyone
can get a phone number.
Mm-hmm, well, that is true,
but this...
...newspaper trick?
Come on, Tony, you got me.
Let me get back to work,
okay? I'm busy.
[Buddy] I don't know any Tony,
and I-- I'm afraid you're gonna
have to put a stop to all work.
at least for the next...
90 minutes.
[scoff] Okay.
What are we doing for
the next 90 minutes?
[Buddy] I'm giving you the
chance to cleanse
some of the blood
from your hands.
Okay, fun's over, Buddy.
[Buddy] This is just beginning,
I'm afraid--
[receiver clicks]
[dials beep]
[phone rattles]
[computer clicks]
[keyboard typing]
[mouse clicks]
-[error beep]
-[phone ringing]
[notification chime]
[ringing continues]
[ringing continues]
[phone stops ringing]
[Buddy] Yes, I can see you
in your blue shirt and
your gray pants.
Hold up a number.
Three.
Two. [chuckles]
I don't know what you're
trying to do here,
but nothing good's
gonna come from
this stupid little prank.
[suspenseful music]
-[receiver clicks]
-[dial beeps]
sh*t.
-[interphone beeps]
-Carla?
Hey, Carla, I need you
to call security.
[Buddy] Go back to your office.
Okay, this is over.
You and whoever the
f*ck helped you hack
into my building are done.
Got that?
[Buddy laughing] Okay.
Oh, now that one
gave me chills.
I mean-- Little ones, but still.
-[sighs]
-[button clicks]
[inhales]
[exhales]
[elevator dings,
then door opens]
-[button clicks]
-[phone ringing]
-Hey, Freddy.
-[crying on the phone]
-Freddy?
-[static]
[Buddy] Just wait.
- Just give him a minute.
-[crying on the phone]
-Freddy?
-[Buddy] Shh!
Be patient.
[child wailing]
Freddy! Freddy!
[Buddy] He's okay.
They both are, but I get it.
There's nothing worse than
hearing your kid scream.
So let's work together to make
sure we don't have any more.
There's an envelope for you
at the front desk.
Get it and bring it upstairs.
And obviously, don't tell
anyone or I will--
[elevator door opens]
Well... you get it.
[notification chime]
-[thud]
-Hey,
maybe get your head
out of your phone.
[Payton] Sorry about that.
-Hi, Carla.
-[Carla] Morning, Mr. Burnham.
-Good morning.
-A package came for you.
I tried calling up, but I
couldn't get through.
Yeah, everything seems
to be a little crazy today.
Oh, yes, apologies
for the power outage,
but maintenance
is looking into it.
[Payton] I appreciate that.
I'm sorry, you said
I had a package?
[Carla] Yes.
-Here you go.
-[Payton] Thank you.
Um, did you see who dropped
this off by any chance?
It was before my shift.
But Frank was in last night,
so I can check with him
-and get back to you.
-That would be great. Thank you.
-Okay.
-I-- If I could also get the
security footage
from last night,
I'd appreciate that as well.
Oh, we can't do that,
it's a privacy policy.
You have to fill out all
these forms and then
put in a request to Strata
Security Commission and...
I understand, no problem.
Um, did you get a
chance to send in
that letter of
recommendation?
Um, your son, Jake, right?
Jenny.
I'm sorry...
Jenny, of course.
I... [scoffs] long morning.
-It's okay.
-Yes, of course I did.
About three weeks ago, I think.
-Thank you, I appreciate it.
-[Payton] No problem.
And, uh, as for
the security footage,
the new guy, Carl,
owes me a favor.
So let me see what
I can do for you, okay?
I would really appreciate that.
Thanks, Carla.
-[Carla] Thank you.
-Take care.
-[Carla] You too, thank you.
-Okay.
[suspenseful music]
-[static]
-[Buddy] So,
let me explain to you how
this is going to work.
I wanna talk to my kids.
Right now.
[Buddy]
When I text, you answer.
When I call, you answer.
My requests are not requests,
Senator.
They are commands.
You don't have them.
[Buddy] Oh, I do.
And I will hurt them.
Badly.
[ripping paper]
[rustling papers]
This is your big play?
This?
So, what? You're gonna send
pictures of me and
my aid to the media?
Show them to my wife?
Well, now at least I know you're
not someone close to me.
Otherwise, you'd have to
give my wife a lot more
credit than that.
[Buddy] You're probably right.
Your relationship
seems very tight.
I mean, she just jumped at the
chance to have lunch
with you today.
I was comforting Becca,
'cause her father was
diagnosed with cancer.
[Buddy] Yeah, I'm sure the media
will see it that way.
This is about trying
to smear me?
[Buddy]
No, Senator.
It's about how you're gonna
handle the reality
of what you've
done to yourself.
As I said, what happens
from here is up to you.
But this alone
won't destroy you.
Now, I-- I'm not
without sympathy.
Social media,
online news outlets--
[scoffs] They're not healthy.
So it doesn't actually matter
if the story's real or not.
That thing that became a post
is now turned into a fact.
And facts are really hard
to run from, Senator.
You could probably kiss
your vote this week
goodbye.
I'm obviously speculating here.
And I don't wanna be
presumptuous.
But I mean, I'd imagine
anyone who was on the fence
is sure to vote
against you, so.
Okay, thank you.
Now we're getting somewhere.
The vote.
So...
I'm sorry to tell you this, but
this isn't actually
going to work.
And I'm gonna give you one
chance to get out of this.
Now I...
recognize that all of this...
...requires some sort
of partnership and...
...within that partnership,
there is probably...
...some head of...
...a large corporation,
maybe a CEO
of an energy company, something.
Somebody who is...
...not interested
in losing their position
in the America
that my truly
independent party is...
attempting to shape
for our future.
And I...
...realize that sometimes
people can be misled
to... do things on behalf
of organizations that...
...have not earned
your allegiance.
So I promise...
...I promise...
...when you and everyone in
your organization is caught,
I will ensure your safety.
But you need to let
my children go.
Right now.
[Buddy sighs on the phone]
I'm sorry, but you
really do not have
what you think you have.
And by the time
you realize it...
My wife is gonna laugh
at these pictures.
Becca is going to help her
clear up any confusion.
And my vote, my vote that you--
The vote's gonna be fine.
It'll be fine.
I-- I have well over the
60 votes needed to pass.
So it's gonna pass with or
without me at this point.
There's--
[Buddy] You lied,
you almost have the votes.
[Payton] That reminds me,
Diller and Viejo.
They all set for the tour
of the Pittsburgh plant?
-I believe so.
-[Payton] " I believe" it's not
gonna cut it.
I need to know I have
at least one of them.
[Becca]
It should be all taken care of.
Call David Foster at
Charles Bridge Capital
and ask him for some help.
Just please don't hurt
my kids, o-- okay? I--
[Buddy] Yeah, well,
we'll see about that.
[groans] Look, just...
before things
get really out of hand...
[Buddy]
You're assuming I don't want it
-to get out of hand.
-[notification chime]
Safer bet would be to assume
the worst at this point.
-[TV clicks]
-[presenter] Full Members of
both the Energy and Natural
Resources and the Science
and Transportation Committees.
Senator Payton Burnham may have
landed in some hot water
over leaked images of the
senator with his
communications director,
Rebecca Simpson,
in what appears to be...
a clearly intimate moment.
[reporter]
The photos and detailed logs
of the senator and his aid
sharing hotel rooms on the road
have gone viral, and while
certainty of the affair
-has yet to be confirmed,
-[bell ringing]
the pictures alone seem
to fly in the face of an
otherwise well-constructed
family man image.
[news continues in the
background]
[Buddy]
Don't say a word to her.
[dramatic music]
[soft thuds]
[sighs]
-[door opens]
-Hey, Carla.
[Carla] Hi, Mr. Burnham.
I spoke with Frank
and he said that
the envelope was dropped
off by a courier company.
And before you ask,
I did call that company
and they said it was a
doorstop pickup.
So there was no
description available.
-Okay, thank you so much.
-Okay.
I, um...
[stuttering] Just, um...
You know, I-- I had this
weird mishap this morning.
I couldn't find a watch,
which is fine, I misplaced it.
But it did make us realize
that we never did a proper
security check when we came in
to the building originally.
If you could help me out and get
me a staff list of everyone who
has access to this floor, uh,
any social security numbers
or payroll information,
anything that you guys use
to keep track of that
would be really helpful.
I'll have my people do a proper
background check and...
-we can just take it from there.
-I--
I can't do that.
I would be fired.
I'm sorry.
Of course, yeah, no problem.
You know what?
I'll have my office contact
Strata Security,
I believe it was.
-Correct.
-And, uh, we'll just,
-take it from there.
-Okay.
-Thanks so much.
-Is everything okay?
Yeah, I just, um... fine.
-Are you sure?
-Yeah, I'm just a
little bit tired.
-Thank you, Carla.
I appreciate it.
-Okay. And--
And as far as the power
outages go, I apologize.
But we do have someone
looking into that.
-[Payton] Okay.
-Okay.
Thank you so much.
[phone ringing]
[sighs] I didn't say
anything to her.
[man] Excuse me?
Senator Burnham?
-Who is this?
-[man] My name is Scott Neal,
I'm with PolitiTrace.
I wanted to get your thoughts
on the report--
[Buddy] Talk to Scott or
I'll hurt your kids.
Own up to it and
all of this can stop.
[phone ringing]
[Payton scoffs]
Hello, Scott.
What can I do for ya?
-[Scott] Sorry, we got
disconnected.
-Yeah.
[Scott] Senator, well,
first off, let me assure you
I'm not going to sway the
story one way or another.
I just wanna hear
your side and--
I did not have an affair
with Rebecca Simpson.
That is my side.
[Scott]
That's not what this is about.
-Do you not know?
-Know what, Scott?
Why not just do us both a favor
and, just... spit it out.
[Scott] Your alleged involvement
with Seth Humphries?
What?
[Scott] I uncovered a
story linking you
to a series of incidents
dating back to your--
Scott, you didn't un--
uncover anything.
Whatever you--
Whatever you think you have is--
[presenter] There seems to be
a growing tidal wave
of bad news for
Senator Burnham.
Scott Neal of PolitiTrace.com
has broken a story about the
senator's possible involvement
in a fraternity hazing ritual
when he was a senior at
Northwestern University.
Burnham was reported to be
present at a ceremony
that included various forms of
verbal and emotional abuse.
We've secured information
about a settlement between
Northwestern University
and Seth Humphries.
...spanking pledges with
paddles until they were
bruised
-so badly they couldn't sit.
-[phone ringing]
And tying leashes around
pledges' genitalia.
I didn't do anything
to this guy.
[Buddy] But you were there.
You didn't stop it.
A pattern that continued.
[soft chuckle]
-Uh, congrats, you're, uh...
-[phone notifications]
trending on...
[Buddy laughing]
Well, everywhere actually.
You should really
check this out.
-[Buddy laughs]
-[notifications continue]
[intense instrumental music]
[Payton] In the future, wars
won't be fought with weapons.
And it's not gonna be about
who has the most b*ll*ts.
-[whip cracks]
- It's gonna be about who
who has their hand
on the spigot.
-[notification chimes]
- Now, I hear the doubters.
-I hear you, and I get it.
- [woman] No, no, no.
I get it, but you wanna
have faith in the system?
But you wanna have faith
in the system?
Do you trust him?
[Payton]
Let's change the system.
[woman 2] Mmm. No, I'm kidding.
I mean, I know you do.
But like, do you trust him?
[reporter]
...hazing would become as*ault.
File charges against
the fraternity and
individual members,
including Payton Burnham.
Somehow, through the
investigation,
Burnham's name was dropped.
While he was never
charged with a crime,
the senator was not
officially cleared either.
[man 4] We have secured
information about a settlement
between Northwestern University
and--
How the f*ck are you doing this?
[Buddy] Why... am I doing this?
It was to smear me,
I-- I'm sorry, destroy me.
Making me look guilty
of things that, uh...
I didn't do.
[Buddy] I'm just releasing
more information
about you every time
you tell a lie.
As for Seth Humphries, he
understandably left the school.
According to his family,
he spent years in and out
of counseling and
psychiatric care.
[Buddy] Have you checked your
voicemail? [laughing]
[man 5] Hey, David Foster here.
-What's going on, man?
-[sighs]
Look, we were all
set for the tour,
but I think we
can probably agree
that a press event at
the Pittsburgh plant
is not the best idea this week.
Let us know how you want
to softball this.
...have been unsuccessful,
and family members
have said they
have not heard from him
since yesterday.
[John] Hey, John Lloyd,
I'm not sure how many texts
I need
to send to punctuate
the importance
of us speaking immediately.
I need you to call me back.
[presenter] Firm reports at the
time called out John Lloyd,
renowned law professor
and political strategist,
for helping the senator
negotiate a quiet way out.
An early advocate and supporter
for Burnham's political career,
Lloyd has been an advisor to
Burnham on many issues.
[Becca] Jesus, Payton,
what the hell is going on?
I need you to answer me,
my phone is blowing up,
and I don't know
what the hell to say.
John Lloyd has
called me six times.
He sounds like
he's going to lose it.
I'm trying to get there, okay?
But my Uber driver
has missed me
like five times. Just--
Just f*cking call me,
this isn't good.
This won't work.
My team, my-- my supporters,
they're not gonna be swayed
by stupid slander like this.
[Buddy] You mean to tell me that
you've never tiptoed away
from someone when
things got a little hot?
Never had to back away from a
good friend because you didn't
wanna get painted with the
momentary perceived controversy
that their sh*t-stained brush
might splatter on you?
I just wanna talk to my kids,
I-- I just--
[Buddy] I want you to stop
trying to fix things
and start being honest.
I am being honest.
I didn't...
I didn't do anything
to this guy.
And I truly...
couldn't have stopped...
[deep breath]
...whatever happened to him
if I had tried.
[Buddy]
But did you? Try, that is.
I wasn't in a position--
[Buddy]
To what? To do the right thing?
You should have faced
the music back then.
Facing it now is gonna be,
well, harder.
I think explaining this to your
kids is gonna be tough.
All the values their dad
spouts about on TV,
claiming to care so much about
helping those who most need it.
When he didn't even bother to
help one scared, bullied kid.
Todd, the fact is
this could not only
tank this week's upcoming vote
on Senator Burnham's bill,
but his political career
as a whole.
With the flood of information
coming out against
Senator Burnham today,
we have to wonder,
is this the tip
of the iceberg?
[sad piano music]
[deep breath]
[sobbing]
[deep breath]
[sobbing]
[sniffing and sobbing]
[objects rattling]
[beep]
-[digital clicking]
-[phone dialing]
-[whispering] Kat!
-[Kat] Hello?
Kat... [stutters] Listen...
Kat, the kids have been
kidnapped, okay? Go to the
police, right now.
[Kat] Wha-- What are you talking
about? The kids are fine.
No, they're not fine.
No, they're not in school.
go to the police,
they've been kidnapped.
[Kat]
But they're not in school.
They're with me,
they-- they had
dentist appointments
this morning.
The kids are with you?
Yes, they're in the car
with me right now.
-[boy] Hey daddy!
-Hey, buddy.
[sobbing]
[Kat] Hey boys,
can you go back to your games...
- Can you put your
headphones on?
-[sobbing]
[Kat]
Okay, so this is the point
where I understandably wonder
if there is anything you'd
like to share with me?
Anything you're not telling me?
No, babe.
[Kat] Hey... [sighs]
-I know where they go--
-Kat, there is nothing.
Except that someone
has gone through...
[sighs]
...a lot of trouble to try
and turn the entire world
against me today.
[Kat sighs] God, um...
Okay, uh...
Well, my dad thinks I should
bring the kids to his house.
Yeah. [sniffs]
Yeah, that's probably
a good idea.
[Kat] And he also said that
if I'm gonna have to do
the whole "stand behind
my husband" thing,
we need to get the kids far,
far away from this.
Kat... [sniffles]
I'm telling you,
I didn't do anything here, okay?
[sniffles]
-This-- This is all a--
-[Kat] Look, hon.
Um...
I've seen my dad
counsel literally
hundreds of politicians
through scandals,
real or not, deserved or not.
The wife always
ends up standing
behind the man while he...
apologizes or denies or
takes responsibility, whatever.
Babe, everything you see...
-[stutters]
-[Kat] Look, I was
probably lying to myself,
thinking that it wouldn't
be me eventually.
-Anyway, that's not the point.
-[sniffles]
I just want the kids
far away from those
flashbulbs when
they come, okay?
Look. [soft chuckle]
Everything's fine, okay?
The kids are fine.
We're fine.
f*ck everybody else, okay?
Right?
[Kat] Are-- are we?
Are we fine?
-Like, really--
-[disconnected tone]
[phone snaps shut]
[gentle instrumental music]
-[keys rattling]
-[Buddy] Where do you think
you're going, Senator?
Hey!
[button clicks]
[Buddy]
Senator, you have 30 seconds
to go back inside before--
[elevator moving]
[music transitions to dramatic]
[man] You're not getting out.
[door shuts]
I'm sorry?
[man] None of us are.
The power just time-locked
the gate or something.
Now they can't open
the g*dd*mn thing.
Smart building, my a*s.
[soft dramatic music]
You okay, son?
[soft chuckle] Yeah, you know
what? Let me go, um...
Let me go see if I can, uh,
work this thing out, okay?
-[car door opening]
-[scoffs]
[engine starting]
[tires screech]
[gear change]
[man] Mr. Burnham! Mr. Burnham!
-[window whirring]
-Hi.
Uh, I need you to get this gate
open immediately, okay?
I can't, I'm sorry.
It's, uh, stuck.
-It's been jammed ever
since the power outage.
-[sighs]
Are you new here?
No, I-- I've been here
four and a half years.
Well, then you should probably
have some kind of a workaround
to get this f*cking gate open.
Don't you think?
Yeah. No, I wish I did. Um...
I'm sorry, this is
gonna be a while.
Maybe, uh-- maybe you can
talk to Carla at the front desk,
she can call you a car?
Listen, I-- I need you
to find some way
-to get this thing open, so--
-Jesus, look--
Looks like you cut yourself.
-Here, take this.
-Oh sh*t.
Yeah, I'm sorry, I, uh--
Um, cracked a mirror upstairs.
It's been one of
these crazy mornings.
Ugh...
That's seven years bad luck.
You're telling me.
Uh, you know, uh, I'm just gonna
take your suggestion.
Let me go talk to Carla,
I appreciate that.
-Great. Thank you for
your patience.
-Okay, thank you.
Oh, yeah, my pleasure.
[engine rumbling]
[car door closes]
[dramatic music]
[button clicks]
[button clicks]
[door closes]
[door handle rattles]
[sighs]
[door handle rattles]
-[loud door knocking]
-[grunts]
[footsteps on metal]
[door handle rattles]
[sighs]
[distant thud]
[eerie music]
[footsteps on metal]
[Payton] Hello?
Hello?
[footsteps continue]
-[door opening]
-Hold the door, please!
Hold the door.
Hold the door! Hold the door!
-[door slams closed]
-[handle rattles]
[door pounding]
Open the door, please!
Please open the door!
[woman whispers] Senator.
[footsteps on metal]
[footsteps continue]
[ominous sting]
[door opening]
Oh... oh, Senator!
Oh, my goodness!
-You startled me!
-[sighs] I'm sorry.
Thank you for opening the door.
This building's had some very
interesting
issues today.
Now that I have you,
we've got to get you to do
another meet and greet
with the club.
-Absolutely, let me just, um--
-[gasps] Senator Burnham.
[gasps]
No time like the present.
[woman 2] Senator.
-[indistinct chatter]
-[soft chuckle]
-Oh, Senator, what a treat!
-[Payton] Hi.
-Nice to see you.
-Maria.
-Maria. Nice to see you, Maria.
-[Maria] Maria.
Yeah, Senator, we have to get
your picture with us.
[Payton] Oh...
uh...
I would love to,
but unfortunately,
today's a bit of a...
challenging day for me.
[woman 3] Come on, Senator.
It'll only be a minute.
Um. [soft chuckle]
[claps] Well, what do you say?
One quick pic, huh? Let's go.
-[whispers indistinctly]
-Oh, sure.
Okay.
[Maria] Oh, well--
well just a minute.
-Just a minute here.
-[camera shutter]
Oh...
Oh, my God. That--
[sigh]
[mumbling]
Where is my lipsti--
[woman 3] Oh, Maria.
Um, you know what?
Let's switch you
to the other side.
Okay.
All right.
-Hmm.
-Here we go.
Oh, um... [inhales sharply]
Darn it, Rita.
So now you're out of frame.
Um... [clicks tongue]
you know what?
Let-- Let's just have you on the
other side of the Senator.
Okay.
All right, here we go.
[woman 3]
R-- Rita, I'm so sorry.
Now you're blocking,
um, the card.
Can you just scoot
over a little bit?
[indistinct mumbling]
All right. [indistinct]
All right, everybody ready?
Here we go.
-And one, two, three.
-[camera shutter]
All right, then. Thanks,
everybody.
I really appreciate it.
-It was so nice to
see you again.
-Oh! Senator, um,
can I get one shot of you
putting that last card on top?
Oh, I don't really think
you need me to.
-Oh!
-[cards rustling]
[gasping]
-I'm sorry... um...
-[woman 4] Oh my God, no!
[indistinct complaining
and moaning]
You could have just taken
the card, Senator.
I didn't realize how
close that was.
And, um... [stutters] Uh...
You're not gonna
help us pick them up?
I-- I'll have Carla,
uh, come send
someone else to help. I'm--
[soft chuckle]
G-- They're gonna be
much faster than I would. I--
Wow! Calling on the help
to clean up your mess.
I'm sorry.
I really do need to leave.
[ding]
[elevator moving]
[sighs]
[repeated clicks]
[soft music]
[presenter]
And while I'm sure the
Senator is just trying to
keep his head above water,
he has to know that his
silence is only helping to
expedite the tarnishing
of his image.
[female presenter]
An anonymous advisor that's
closest to the Senator
are pleading with him to
make a statement of some kind.
[presenter]
We're pleading with him.
Senator, please,
give us something.
[sighs] f*ck you.
You don't have my kids.
[Buddy laughing]
True, I don't have your kids.
But you're not leaving this
building until we're done.
-[ding]
- About 45 more minutes.
Whose clothes are in my truck?
[Buddy] Hm, good question.
Let's think.
Who would be harmful to you
if he turned up dead?
Someone from your past
that's resurfaced lately,
causing real problems
about something you thought
you ran away from in college.
-You shot Seth?
-[Buddy laughing]
Well, I could have shot him
in the parking garage.
Or perhaps it was
Professor Plum
in the library with
a candlestick. [soft chuckle]
Or you stabbed him
in your kitchen
when he came by your
house last Thursday.
[doors open]
[long beep]
[door closing]
[tap]
[bell chime]
[phone ringing]
-What?
-[Scott] Senator Burnham,
Scott Neal again.
Had one quick question for you
about the legislation
Republican Senator Gilliam
was pushing that opposes
deeper background
checks on g*n control.
-What about it?
-[Scott] I have an email
from you
stating that you would
support the
bill if he backed
your crime reform.
Well, I voted against it, Scott.
[Scott] Only after you knew he
didn't have the votes.
Says here in the email
that you would be
the swing vote if it
came down to it.
I have no idea what you're
talking about, Scott.
[Scott]
When I publish the email,
you might remember.
-[Payton sighs]
-[Scott] Senator? Uh-- Hello?
m*therf*cker.
[Scott] Excuse me?
I-- I'm just trying to
give you a chance to say
something to get ahead of it.
Why would you give
me that chance, Scott?
[Scott]
My source made me agree to it
before I was given
the documents.
Well...
I knew his bill wouldn't pass.
But to make sure that mine did
pass, I gave him my support.
But I knew his bill would
not pass, so I--
[Scott]
So your vote is for sale as
long as you get what you want.
The crime bill is gonna be
helping millions of people for
years to come, and that
g*n legislation,
as you well know, Scott, will be
caught up in debate for decades.
I made a very calculated move to
actually get
something real done.
[Scott]
I guess it's just hard to gauge
whether you were lying
to your fellow senator
to get something done,
or you're lying to me
-to make this go away.
-Oh, please.
I am on the record,
as you know, for--
[Scott]
Do you believe we should have
deeper background checks and
-ban as*ault r*fles
in the public sector?
-Of course I do.
[Scott] You were willing to
vote against that--
To help save a bill that had a
real chance of
making a difference.
Because making a difference
actually matters.
Why don't you f*cking
print that, Scott?
[knife clattering]
[water running]
[Buddy sighs] You know you're
being taped, right?
Oh, what do you think is
going to look stranger,
that you had the bloody knife
of a man who was k*lled,
or that you cleaned the bloody
knife of a man who was k*lled.
[Buddy laughing]
[dramatic music]
[wires snap]
Senator, I have cameras
everywhere.
Your whole house
is covered in wires.
[objects rustling]
-[plug clicks in]
-[music ends abruptly]
[digital buttons clicking]
[phone ringing]
-Catherine.
-[Kat] I'm-- I'm just
not sure...
Catherine. Catherine,
please, call the police.
Call the police.
-I'm stuck inside the house--
-[Kat] Tell me what you
think I should do.
[man] At some point, we all
need to make our own choices.
-[Kat] But... Dad,
is he in trouble?
-Allen?
[Allen]
He's obviously in trouble.
-[Kat] Okay, Dad, but--
-[Allen] Honey,
I'm not sure what you
want me to say exactly.
-You know I can't
get into specifics.
-[Kat] Oh please, I--
[Allen] Do I think he's
gonna go to jail? No.
Not with what's
out there right now.
Do I think it could
get it worse.
Yes, a lot f*cking worse.
As his advisor, I really
can't say any more.
And as your father, you really
shouldn't know any more.
You either buckle in and
support or back away quietly.
-Either way works for me, baby,
but you gotta choose.
-[Kat sighs]
[Kat] I just... um...
I didn't sign up for this.
[Buddy] Did you really think
I didn't know
-your kids had a phone?
-[static]
You're on a family plan,
for Christ's sake.
[lively instrumental music]
Senator, you could probably
use a close friend right now.
Or at least a trusted employee.
[scoffs] You know, like Becca.
Not a smart move sending her
that termination email, though.
A little harsh, in my opinion.
[presenter]
We are just getting word of a
long-awaited Senator Burnham
sighting.
And in keeping
with the spirit of this
rather unusual day,
the Senator stopped by
a local Rotary Club
for a photo op that turned
somewhat aggressive.
Apparently, the Senator
refused to participate in the
elderly women's
stacking challenge
and ended up knocking
over the group's
almost completed
house of cards.
I'm not sure what kind of
campaign strategy this is,
but he's certainly alienating
elderly voters
and stacking challenge fans.
-[metal clink]
-[box rustling]
[lighter sparking]
[Buddy]
Aren't you full of surprises?
Smoking kills, you know.
-[metal thud]
-[car honking]
[gate rattles]
[Buddy] Oh, yeah.
The-- The gate is now open.
A-- And the doors are unlocked.
You want out?
Okay.
Tell you what.
You say I'm not being fair, not
letting you have a
shot to gather your
resources to fight this.
Well, here's your shot.
You have four minutes.
I'm unlocking the
elevators and doors now.
Who knows?
Maybe you'll make it.
-[hurried footsteps]
-[panting]
[music intensifying gradually]
[hurried footsteps]
[handle rattling]
-[door shuts]
-[music ends]
Mr. Burnham, I was able to get
the employment information
that you requested,
and I was also able to get
some of the banking information.
Great, listen,
if you wouldn't mind just
holding on to that for me--
I'd really rather give
it to you right now
because I can't get
caught with any of that.
That's fine, you know,
it-- it's okay. I'd
-appreciate that, but I
actually need to--
-[Becca] Payton!
-Payton!
-Don't say a word to her.
They're watching us.
You don't know what
they're capable of.
-Please, I beg of you.
-Payton, what the f*ck?
-Don't say anything.
-Payton!
-Excuse me--
-Why aren't you answering any of
my texts?
You don't even call me, but you
send me an email firing me?
Are you serious?
Becca, I'm sorry,
but I-- I need you to
give me a little bit of space
on this one, okay?
Oh my God,
you're a f*cking coward.
After everything
we've been through,
you don't even
give me a call? You--
No, no, you don't get
to fire me.
I get to choose to leave.
Here, I want it on record that
I'm leaving you and your staff.
I understand.
[Becca] You're not the man
I thought you were.
-I am.
-Look, it's one thing to
horse trade a deal that you
don't f*cking believe in,
but... to not be honest with me?
Are you even listening to me?
-I need you to be
honest with me.
-I am being honest.
All right, then what else is
coming my way?
-Like what?
-Like, I don't know,
you tell me!
Look, I can deal with people
thinking that I f*cked my boss.
I can handle that, okay?
But is anything else that's
gonna ruin my career?
Like, did I send an email,
forwarded anything,
facilitate something ill*gal?
How can you even ask me that?
'Cause I'm on Twitter and
watch the f*cking news.
Hey, I-- I have not
done anything
that every other elected
official doesn't do every day,
and I do it for way
better reasons.
I am not one of the bad guys,
Becca.
You know that, I'm just a
good guy swimming in some
murky f*cking waters.
You're not answering my
question.
I-- You know, someone is
out there trying to
destroy me today, and I was
kinda hoping that the people--
[Becca] No, this is not about
the people that dug up the dirt.
This is about the fact that
there was dirt to be dug up.
-I wanted to be part
of good policy.
-You are a part of good policy.
No, whatever we built is dead.
God, I thought you were one of
the good ones.
Becca, get-- come here.
-Wait, wait.
-Get off me.
Someone is trying
to hold me hostage.
Nobody's holding you hostage.
You're the one that
built this cage.
Now go f*cking lie in it.
[door closes, then buzzes]
[scoffs]
[deep breath]
[lively classical music]
[sighs]
I asked you not to say anything.
[Buddy]
You're not the only one with
something to lose, Senator.
[long beep]
[deep breath]
I'm sorry I got you in this.
Carla, but I can help, okay?
I can fix this, just get me--
Give me a phone,
please, and I will--
I will fix this.
[door rattling]
Just go upstairs, Senator.
[elevator door closing]
[Buddy] For a second, I thought
you were gonna just come clean.
I have nothing to
come clean about.
[Buddy]
You might really believe that.
[woman singing]
Payton Burnham
Is just trash
Payton Burnham
Can kiss my
[lock beeping]
[Buddy] Hey!
You have a voicemail
from your lawyer.
Forgot to put it through.
Seems important.
[lawyer] Payton, I-- I don't
know what the hell is going on,
but the police have
contacted me.
They want you to come in
and talk about Seth.
I told them you would cooperate
fully with any investigation.
Call me back and let me know
how soon you can come in.
[female presenter]
Seth Humphries, the man
at the center of the
sexual as*ault
scandal involving
Senator Payton Burnham,
is now reportedly missing.
Police have not been able to
locate Humphries
after the family
officially filed
a missing person's report
early this morning.
[male presenter] Seth is
five foot eight inches tall
and was last seen wearing
a Cubs baseball cap...
[Buddy] You know,
I think I know
where the body is.
f*ck you.
[Buddy laughing] Now, that is
not language becoming
of a U.S. Senator.
[man on TV] Up next, Monica Hall
and her investigation
into the water crisis
in Fenton...
-[Buddy] It's time.
-[phone ringing]
Time for what?
[woman] Excuse me?
Who is this?
This is Alex from
The Take with Monica Hall.
Just calling to confirm you're
all set with everything.
We go live in five minutes.
Monica Hall?
[Alex]
Yes, we really appreciate
you agreeing to be a part
of this story,
especially on what I'm sure has
been a very busy day.
It's an important piece and I
know it means a lot to Monica.
Who in my office
did you speak with?
[Alex] Gosh, almost everyone
at some point.
I know there's been
a lot of back and forth
trying to make this work.
I bet.
[Alex] Oh, the tech should
have already
set up everything
yesterday afternoon.
We just need to do a quick test
of your TODA Live feed
and we're all set. Good?
Yeah.
Yeah, we're good.
[dramatic music]
So this is what you wanted?
[Buddy] No, I'm simply giving
you what you wanted.
To get out in front of this,
explain away the day,
rally your supporters.
Now's your chance, Senator.
Yeah.
Yeah, it is.
Monica, I refuse to even
dignify it with a response.
It's an insult to my--
You know what?
I refuse to dignify any rumor
of infidelity or-- or any
unfounded rumor that
the, uh, media...
[Buddy] I'd go with a tie
with some color.
-Do you mind?
-[Buddy] Not at all.
Take some time to yourself.
Gather some thoughts.
I'm gonna go pop some popcorn.
What we have witnessed today
is a blatant attempt for those,
who do not believe
in the Green Nation Initiative,
who do not believe in
energy independence.
What-- What we have
witnessed today-- [stutters]
What the world has
witnessed today--
Monica, what you witnessed today
is a distraction.
A distraction on behalf
of-- of large corporations...
...looking to ensure their place
in-- in the future.
-Monica?
-[long beep]
-[beeping]
-[approaching footsteps]
[glass clinking]
[static]
[woman 2] Hello Senator, this is
Ellen from the control room.
Hello, Ellen, how are you?
[Ellen] Good, thanks,
camera looks great.
Thank you very much.
[Ellen] Can you hear okay?
I can hear you fine, thank you.
[Ellen] Is everything okay?
-Everything's fine.
-[Ellen] Great.
Could we please get
you to count of five
-so we can get your level?
-One, two, three, four, five.
[Ellen]
Perfect. Thank you, Senator.
Thank you.
Oh, hi.
Oh, hi, Senator Burnham.
How are you? Nice to see you.
Nice to finally meet you,
Monica.
Well, we very much appreciate
you joining the show, and
it means a lot
to a lot of people.
And while I understand
that, uh, today has been
challenging for you on some
other issues, rest assured
that is not the focus
of this piece.
-You don't need to--
-Oh, no, no, no, no, no.
No, I'm sorry, but I do plan on
taking this opportunity to
address the many fabrications
that have been...
circled about me today.
Of course, of course.
I'll make sure to
save time at the end of
the show for you to
address whatever you wish.
Thank you very much.
I appreciate that.
[Ellen] All right, everyone.
And we are going live
in five...
four... three... two...
[upbeat music]
Welcome to The Take.
I'm Monica Hall.
Today's broadcast
is the culmination
of an 18-month investigation
into what I believe,
will become known as one
of the largest injustices
done to the citizens of this
country in recent memory.
Today, we hope to shine some
much-needed light
on a town whose more than
a dozen deaths and
hundreds of illnesses seem to
have basically gone unnoticed.
Today, The Take
examines a big problem
in the small town
of Fenton, Pennsylvania.
At the intersection of Hope
and Main Street in
Fenton, Pennsylvania, you'll
find boarded up businesses
one after another,
not because of the economy
or outsourcing,
but because the people who ran
those businesses are
either too sick to
come to work... or dead.
Not due to a virus
or an oil spill,
but due to an all
too familiar mixture of
carelessness and greed.
Local drinking water,
pristine for decades,
callously manipulated
to allow toxic elements
such as lead, to infiltrate
the water supply,
poisoning dozens
and k*lling many.
How did we get here?
Why were the warning signs
ignored?
Today, with the help of our
renowned panel of experts,
Professor Daniel Huntley,
Doctor of Environmental Science
and
Industrial Hygiene,
whose independent study
has helped to bring these many
irregularities to light,
and Senator Payton Burnham, the
junior senator from Illinois
and environmental activist,
whose bill on the
Green Nation Initiative
aims to directly address
clean water access issues
like the one that has
developed in Fenton.
Today, we examine the facts
so that what happened in
this American small town
doesn't happen to every
small town in America.
Let's begin today with some
context from our panel.
Professor Huntley,
let's start with you.
You've been on the
ground in Fenton for...
Ten months in this role,
leading the independent study,
and 18 months before that in my
previous role as professor
-at Northwestern University.
-[pen scribbling]
[Monica] So, professor, how does
a water supply become
tainted with lead
in this day and age?
Ah, put as simply as possible,
lead stripped from
outdated pipes.
Senator, cost-efficient
clean water has been at
the centerpiece of your
Green Nation Initiative.
So how does something
like this happen?
Well, first, thank you for
having me, Monica.
I really appreciate
being included
in this important
conversation.
Now, while I cannot speak
to the particulars
of Fenton per se,
I can tell you,
for far too long,
the right balance between
governmental oversight and
private industry has not been
structured properly
so that real innovation
cannot grow at pace
with private industry.
This, of course, is what
is at the core of our
Green Nation Initiative and
is the kind of thing
that would help avoid
tragedies like the one currently
happening in Fenton.
Yeah, well, let's dig
down on that.
It seems incomprehensible
that a longstanding
safe water system
would lead to mass
lead poisoning.
I'll open this up to the
professor and to you, Senator.
What--
What was or wasn't
done in Fenton?
Well, uh, while I cannot speak
to the particulars of Fenton,
as I said, I can tell you
that our pilot program
in Pittsburgh
has paved the way for less
chemical use overall.
I'm sorry, Senator.
I don't know how
you can claim that
when the situation in
Fenton is a
direct result of the new water
treatment plant in Pittsburgh.
I'm not sure how you can
claim that, Professor.
The Pittsburgh Water Treatment
Center has an offshoot
that also feeds Fenton.
To accommodate an
accelerated timeline,
40-year-old pipes were
reintroduced to the system
from which the internal casings
were eroded by the Pittsburgh
plant's new water process.
I'm sorry, I need to see
some data on that before
I comment on a town
that I've never been to.
[Huntley] With respect, Senator,
I ran the impact study,
the public impact study,
that specifically highlighted
this specific problem
and recommended that
more studies be done
before allowing the plant
to go online in the
first place.
I'm sorry, you...
said that you were a
professor at Northwestern.
32 years.
I'm not sure if our paths
crossed while you
were there, but--
-I've been--
-Our paths crossed.
I can't say we're
exactly... buddies.
[ominous music]
[Monica] I believe the study
that the professor is referring
to was commissioned by
Charles Bridge Capital, who is
not only your former employer
and consistent
campaign contributor, but--
Monica, I'm gonna
stop you right there.
On a day where accusations seem
to be spreading like wildfire,
I cannot just sit here and
let you tie me to some dispute
between an ex-employer and
a town that I've never been to.
Wait-- Senator,
I'm not sure how you
can say that when your campaign
has made direct donations to
Professor Huntley's department
at Northwestern
on the back of...
Okay, I'm sorry, stop.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry. [stutters]
Monica, Monica,
if I could sit here today and
make only one thing clear,
if only one piece of this...
strangely manipulated narrative
is made clear about me
and my work, it is what I have
done throughout my entire life,
to try to help heal society
by working to create a
world where necessities
such as clean water and energy
are not seen as a luxury
or a privilege,
but they're seen as a right,
simply and economically
distributed in our lives
effortlessly,
so all can flourish.
-Yes, I understand that.
-Now, we do
-rely on studies, Monica.
-Senator, but the--
We rely on experts
to inform policy.
The public wants us
going to scholars and
leaders in the
private industry so we
can create the best policies
for the most amount of people.
Now, you wanna go through my
finances line by line, Monica?
Let's go.
Do I wish that I didn't
have to rely on
private donations to run
for office? Absolutely.
That way, the media cynicism
would have nowhere to place
their misguided accusations and
the necessary partnerships
that people like me form
with scholars, institutions,
and leaders in the private
industry would be judged and
acknowledged for what they are,
a necessary resource and
source of information
on behalf of the public.
It's why we've had such
tremendous success,
not just from my colleagues
in the House and the Senate,
but from everyday Americans
all across this country.
[Monica] That's all
understandable, Senator.
However, in this instance,
it would seem as though
something definitely did not
go right.
And when we come back,
we'll get some more insights
from our panel, as well
as meet some of the
community members of Fenton.
And Senator Burnham will
stay with us to address
the multiple accusations that
have come his way today,
from a potential affair with
a staffer and his
behind-the-scene
maneuvers to undermine
g*n control legislation,
to the decades-old accusations
of sexual violence
against a fraternity pledge
when he was
a college freshman.
When we return, on The Take.
-[wires clicking]
-[heavy breathing]
[Payton] f*ck.
[doorbell rings]
[doorbell rings]
[door opening]
[Carla]
This came for you, Mr. Burnham.
Careful, it's fragile.
[phone ringing]
You should probably answer that.
How much are they paying you,
Carla?
[Carla] Nothing.
It's not about money.
It's about an opportunity.
You care about people
like us as an idea.
You're gonna watch your daughter
grow up from jail.
You know that, right?
[Carla scoffs] Wow.
You remembered she's a girl.
-Progress.
-[phone ringing]
You really should answer that.
[door closes]
[phone ringing]
[Buddy] Payton. [soft chuckle]
Good to see you. [dry laugh]
Good to be seen, I guess.
[Payton]
So this is what you wanted?
Trying to embarrass me on some
fake gotcha news program?
N-- No, not ultimately, but
it's a pretty good bonus
to what comes next.
Nothing comes next.
I'm not going back.
I'm not sure what kind of
sh*t show you set up for me,
-but I'm done, man.
-If there's one thing
I hope that you'll
figure out today
is that you created
all of this.
-[scoffs]
-I just helped
repackage the information.
Now, you wanted a chance
to get in front of this.
Well, camera's 20 feet away,
Senator.
[chuckling]
And you don't have long
until that window closes.
It's gonna look pretty weird if
we come back to your segment
where you explain all these
false accusations and
don't show up.
Maybe even a little weirder
when I release what's
in that package.
[paper rustling]
[soft dramatic music]
Anybody could have written this.
[Buddy] I know.
That's why I had him
make a video.
[Seth]
My name is Seth Humphries,
and this is not a recording
that I planned to make.
The-- The worst of it
is how I was
forced to keep Payton's
involvement quiet.
He goes on,
but you get the point.
If that video gets
released, well...
it's gonna make the m*rder rap
a lot harder to beat. [laugh]
Is he actually dead?
[Buddy] Good question.
Maybe you ought to
check your trunk again, but
you're on in 20 seconds.
So, are you gonna
go back and sit down,
or am I sending this video?
Look, there are only two ways
to end this, Senator.
I promise you,
finishing this interview,
will be the easiest one.
Well, can you just tell me what
you actually f*cking want?
[Buddy] For you to be honest.
[Ellen] Hi Senator.
Great, you just made it.
And we are back in five...
four... three... two...
[upbeat music]
Welcome back to The Take.
As we dig deeper into
the whys and hows,
the water system in the
small town of Fenton
could have gone
so wrong for so many.
But first, one of the
many faces of Fenton,
a man who's lived the
ultimate consequence
of the unfortunate events
we've been exploring today,
-Paul Lanzano.
-Thank you for having me,
Monica.
Paul's son, Jason, tragically
died of acute lead poisoning
as a result of the eroding
casing that allowed
lead to fill
the sinks of Fenton over
the past three years.
Paul, before we get into the
how and why this happened,
I want our audience to get
a sense of the who
this happened to.
Paul, what is the
most important thing
you'd like us to know
about your son, Jason?
[Paul] U-- Um... [scoffs]
Well... [soft chuckle]
...um, my son...
...smiled... all the time.
[gentle music]
Uh, you know...
K-- The kind of smile that
reminded you
to believe in wonder.
[chuckles]
Every time he saw
something new, he would smile.
Eyes wide with wonder.
And, I mean, it didn't have
to be a-- a new bike or...
an ice cream cone after school.
[chuckles]
He-- He loved ice cream.
I mean, he could find
magic in a rock
that he picked up
off the side of the road.
I mean, cracking open the shell
of a sunflower seed
was like breaking into
a whole universe to him.
But that's, uh...
Um...
Paul... a-- are you all right?
I'm-- I'm sorry. Um...
[stutters]
My son died
346 days ago, and, uh--
I appreciate this, uh,
being invited here today
to talk about him.
But I know that-- [scoffs]
I--
I've watched shows
like this my whole life.
You know,
some sad parent lost a kid, s--
a-- a wife lost a husband. It--
It sort of becomes white noise.
Uh-- something to play in the
background on your TV as a
low murmur while
you're cooking dinner.
So the most I can hope for...
...is that the events around
what happened to my son
become noticed beyond
this broadcast,
remembered in a way
where my son can truly
be memorialized.
The most I can
hope for today...
...is for some accountability.
[music fades]
[Monica] Thank you, Paul.
It's very moving.
And I'm deeply sorry... uh.
Speaking to that
accountability, Professor,
if your study warned of the
possible dangers of
what sadly did
eventually transpire,
why weren't those
warnings heeded?
The entire reason I
dedicated my career to
creating studies such as
the one I did in Fenton was to
provide an undeniable roadmap
on how to prevent harm.
Why that information would be
pushed to the side is--
is truly beyond me.
[Monica] Senator?
[stuttering] Professor,
a-- as I-- I'm sure...
you're aware, uh,
oftentimes there is information
in a study that...
unto itself seems,
uh, of value,
but in a greater context is
meaningless, even hurtful,
deceptive.
I-- In fact, there are many
explanations as to
why one study is
or is not included.
I think my son is owed
one of those explanations,
so as to better understand why
money was sent to k*ll a study
that could have kept him alive.
Senator?
[dramatic music]
I agree.
Paul, what happened
to your son is a...
...tragedy that no parent
should experience, and I--
I am truly...
...truly sorry for your loss.
I wish--
[sighs]
I hope that...
...you would realize that,
um...
[deep breath]
...when a project like
this is created,
studies are commissioned
from...
all across our country,
and why one is included and
one is not is not
a nefarious thing.
Although I-- I recognize that
th-- this does nothing to--
to alleviate the
tremendous pain that
you and your family
are experiencing
from this loss, so...
...I would like to take
some responsibility.
Uh-- I-- I appreciate that,
Senator.
Paul... I promise you...
...that I will use my position
as a U.S. Senator
to bring the full force of the
government down to figure out
who is truly responsible for
the death of your son.
And while I know
nothing that I can do...
can bring him back...
I pledge to you on my life...
...that Jason's death
will not be in vain.
[Monica] Uh, but to that end,
Professor, i--
it would seem that
whether due to
callous incompetence or
malicious deception,
extremely vital
life-altering information
was ignored in this instance.
So at this point,
the one question left
appears to be about motivation.
Wouldn't you agree?
[Huntley sighs] Well,
I don't know if I could
speak to that,
but what I can say is that
after 32 years at Northwestern,
I was suddenly asked
to step down.
One week later, the Senator's
campaign made a
generous donation
to my department.
Now, I can't say that
that is to silence me,
but Professor John Lloyd was
the one who helped facilitate
the donation, so he should
probably be the one
you should be asking
about motivation.
[Monica] I'm sorry,
but we need to,
uh, jump away with
some breaking news.
-[news theme music]
-We are getting a report
that the car of Seth Humphries,
the man Senator Burnham
was accused of hazing
in an as*ault,
was found only blocks from
Senator Burnham's residence.
Traces of blood were
found in the car,
but no other information is
available at this time.
Meanwhile, we're learning that
Professor John Lloyd has
resigned from his position at
Northwestern University,
as well as his advisory role
-in Senator Burnham's campaign.
-[thud, static]
Senator-- uh, we seem to have
lost the Senator.
[phone ringing]
[Payton]
Paul. Paul, please listen.
-Uh-- Let me explain, okay? I--
-[Paul] What did I ask?
Paul, I-- I know you think that
I-- I had something to do
with Jason's death,
but I didn't. I--
Someone is-- is
telling you information
that's just-- just not true.
[Paul] I-- I asked you
to own up to it.
That's all-- all I wanted.
I just wanted--
I just wanted
you to own up to it.
[metal clink]
Paul, where are you?
I just wanted accountability.
-[sighs]
-Don't do this.
Please don't do this.
I can help.
I can help make this right,
Paul.
I promise you,
but not like this.
-Not like this.
-Oh, please spare me.
You know what? [chuckles]
Why don't you say it
to my face this time?
Paul, please, Paul, I'm--
Uh, you've said you'd
swear on your life.
-Well, swear to me.
-Paul, listen to me.
-Paul!
-[disconnected call]
[metal clink]
[heavy breathing]
[music intensifying gradually]
-[long beeps]
-[door opens]
-[panting]
-[footsteps approaching]
[wet impact]
-[Kat gasping]
-[Payton] Oh my God.
Oh, my God.
Oh, God. Hold on. Hold on, baby.
Hold on. Hold on.
Please, please, hold on.
Hold on. Hold on, baby.
-[phone ringing]
-Hold on.
-Oh God.
-[operator] 911, what's your
emergency?
-[Payton] My wife's
been stabbed! Call
-[operator] Where is your wife?
-an ambulance immediately,
please, please.
-[operator] Hello?
-I'm sorry baby, I'm so sorry.
-[operator] Is the person who
stabbed your wife still there?
-It's okay. It's okay.
-[operator] Sir?
-Just breathe. Just breathe.
-[operator] Sir,
-I need you to calm down.
-It's-- It's okay. It's okay.
It's alright, it's okay,
come on, come on.
[Monica]
You were at Northwestern
while Seth was a student,
correct?
[man stuttering] Yes.
Uh-- He was one of my students.
Um, he was only there for one
semester and never came back.
[Monica]
We are now getting reports
that Seth Humphries
has been found at a truck stop
outside of Round Lake, Illinois.
both clearing the Senator
of any wrongdoing in
his disappearance and giving us
an opportunity
to hear firsthand
about Seth Humphries' sexual
misconduct allegations
from his time as a fraternity
brother of Senator Burnham's.
We'll continue to follow
this story throughout the hour
as we dig even deeper into the
tainted water wells of Fenton
when we come back on The Take.
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[dings]
[phone ringing]
-[phone clicks]
-[ringing stops]
[deep breath]
[button clicks]
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