Network (1976) Edit

A 28 share is 80,000 dollar minutes.

A crusty but benign managing editor who's always

A latter day prophet denouncing the hypocrisies of our times.

A magnificent, messianic figure inveighing against the hypocrisies of our times.

A month.

A phenomenal state of affairs for a news show.

A series about a bunch of, uh, bank robbing guerillas?

A series out of what? What are we talking about?

A strip Savonarola, Monday through Friday...

Actually shot while the robbery was going on.

Admittedly an act of madness. Well, I'll tell you what happened.

Affiliates will kiss your ass, if you can hand them a hit show.

After living with you for six months, I'm turning into one of your scripts.

After this show, you could have 50.

Ah, I've got to warn you, I don't do anything on my first date.

Ahmed Kahn, a massive man of well over 6 feet, carrying an automatic weapon.

ALL [CHANTING]: We're number one!

All I know is that first, you've got to get mad.

All I know is this violates every canon of respectable broadcasting.

All I know is, I can't get you out of my mind.

All I need is six weeks' federal litigation...

All I want out of life is a 30 share and a 20 rating.

All I'm saying is, if you're gonna hustle, at least do it right.

All my friends seem to be dying or having grandchildren.

All of her plot outlines have me leaving her...

All of life is reduced to the common rubble of banality.

All right, Clarence, take it easy. I don't know what you're talking about.

All right, Diana.

All right, put him on.

All right, thank you.

All right. Howard Beale obviously fills a void.

All right. We've got a stockholders' meeting tomorrow...

All you'll get from me is a couple months of intermittent sex...

ALL: Ha ha ha! MAN: Wait a minute! Wait a minute!

ALL: We're mad as hell and we're not going to take this anymore!

ALL: We're mad as hell and we're not going to take this anymore!

Am I getting it through to you, Mr. Beale?

Am I still on the air?

Am I supposed to sit home knitting and purling while you slink back...

An adapted for television version of Anna Karenina...

An hour ago, Clarence McElheny called me from New York.

An industrial park in Salt Lake City.

An unusual thing happened at one of our sister networks, UBS, this evening.

ANCHOR: identified themselves as the group responsible for the killing.

ANCHOR: The extraordinary incident...

ANCHOR: The Network News anchorman on the UBS Network News show...

And all you grave robbers think about is that he's a hit.

And as the AR department's carefully considered judgment and mine...

And at the time CCA took control of the UBS TV Network...

And based upon the projected rate of return on invested capital...

And believe me, Mr. Jensen's going to be sitting there rocking back and forth...

And comes November 14, I'm going to be standing up there...

And death is suddenly a perceptible thing to me...

And even the news has to have a little showmanship.

And every mountain and island was moved from its place.

And everything you touch dies with you.

And here are a few scenes from next week's show.

And here I am.

And Howard Beale's not a bearded lady.

And I certainly don't want Hackett's people in all of the divisional positions.

And I feel lousy about that.

And I have chosen you, Mr. Beale...

And I jumped in and I yell at the driver:

And I miss my home...

And I said, "Why me?"

And I said, "You're kidding.

And I saw the moon became like blood.

And I say to the cabby, "Take me to the middle of the George Washington Bridge."

And I still pray to God it's just a menopausal infatuation.

And I was hoping that you were looking for an emotional involvement...

And I was married for 33 years of shrill, shrieking fraud.

And I won't have it! Is that clear?

And I'm tired of pretending to write this dumb book...

And it's a happy ending.

And just once I wanted to say what I really felt.

And keep yelling and yell:

And listen carefully because this is your goddamn life I'm talking about today.

And maybe they'll take movies of themselves kidnapping heiresses...

And no booze today, Howard.

And nobody told me.

And nobody wants a dumb, damn, goddamn book...

And on October 15, Diana Christensen flew to Los Angeles...

And on September 22, 1975, he was fired...

And our children will live, Mr. Beale...

And right now, over a million homes using television in this city...

And she does all this with tarot cards?

And she said, "Don't worry, you will."

And starring the Mad Prophet of the Airways, Howard Beale!

And starring the Mad Prophet of the Airways, Howard Beale!

And that painful, decaying love is the only thing between you...

And that's why woe is us that Edward George Ruddy died.

And the cabbie turns around and he says...

And the daily business of life is a corrupt comedy.

And the driver turns around and he says: "Don't do it, buddy, don't do it.

And the voice said to me, "I want you to tell the people the truth.

And the voice said, "Because you're on television, dummy.

And the whole front page of the Daily News is Howard Beale.

And the wrath of God wants Howard Beale fired!

And tonight, another segment of Vox Populi.

And tonight, another segment of Vox Populi.

And Walter says we'll all wind up in federal prison.

And we better start putting together one winner for next September.

And when the 12th largest company in the world...

And why is that woe to us?

And with the specific intention...

And woe is us if it ever falls into the hands of the wrong people.

And you have meddled...

And you know, I'm going to be eyeball to eyeball with Mr. Ruddy on this.

And you will atone.

And you will not take me off the air for now, or for any other spaceless time.

And you would describe Mr. Jensen's position on Beale as inflexible?

And, by the way, the next time I send an audience research report around...

ANNOUNCER: Howard Beale!

ANNOUNCER: Jim Webbing and his It's the Emes Truth Department.

ANNOUNCER: Ladies and gentlemen, the Network News Hour...

ANNOUNCER: Ms. Mata Hari and her Skeletons in the Closet.

ANNOUNCER: The UBS evening news with Howard Beale.

ANNOUNCER: The UBS Evening News with Howard Beale.

ANNOUNCER: This has been the UBS evening news with Howard Beale.

ANNOUNCER: We never compromise, so why should you?

Another couple of weeks and the sponsors will be bailing out!

Any day now. My wife's out there for the occasion.

Any second that phone's gonna ring and Clarence McElheny is gonna tell me...

Anyway, they were building the lower level of the George Washington Bridge.

Anyway...

Are we going to get involved, Max?

Arthur Jensen has taken a strong personal interest in the Howard Beale Show.

As a matter of fact, you're rather serene in the sack.

As far as I know, Howard's going to do it.

Assassinations.

At next year's affiliates' meeting...

AUDIENCE: I want the CCA deal stopped now!

Banks are going bust. Shopkeepers keep a gun under the counter.

BARBARA: Coffee? Okay.

Beale doesn't do the angry man thing well at all.

Beautiful.

Because after 25 years...

Because all of a sudden it's closer to the end than it is to the beginning.

Because all of those Arab petrol dollars...

Because at the bottom of all our terrified souls...

Because I'm your last contact with human reality.

Because less than 15 percent of you read newspapers.

Because less than 3 percent of you people read books.

Because that's the only place you're ever gonna find any real truth.

Because the only truth you know is what you get over this tube.

Because this company is now in the hands of CCA...

Because this is no longer...

Because this isn't a convention weekend with your secretary, is it?

Because when a national television network...

Because you people...

Because you're on television, dummy.

BILL: Wait till you see it. I don't know whether to edit or leave it raw like this.

BILL: Yeah. This is from a David Susskind thing a while back.

Bob McDonough in News, please.

Bob McDonough will take over the news division...

Bob McDonough's running the news division now.

BOY 1: Supposed to be good for you.

BOY 1: Yeah. He won't eat it. He hates everything.

Brinkley, Sevareid, Reasoner, all have their comments.

Bullshit is all the reasons we give for living.

But as for this whole CCA deal with the Saudis...

But don't worry about me. I'll manage.

But don't worry, I'll come back to you in the end.

But ever since CCA acquired control of UBS Systems 10 months ago...

But first you've got to get mad. You've gotta say:

But he may be unhappy, but he isn't stupid enough...

But he says absolutely nix on going to series.

But he's got about eight minutes of a bank robbery...

But I think that was it, fellas.

But I'm gonna make a TV star out of you.

But it is an infatuation, Louise.

But Monday's rating dropped a point...

But not me.

But now, somebody's buying up CCA.

But the business of management is management.

But the voice said to me, "Don't worry about the truth.

But to our minds, this philosophy is a wanton fiscal affront...

But you people sit there, day after day, night after night...

But, man, you're never gonna get any truth from us.

Buy you a cup of coffee?

By the end of the first week in June...

By then, he'll be down 16 points...

By tomorrow he'll have a 50 share, maybe even a 60.

By tomorrow morning, they'll be suffocating in telegrams.

Canada Dry mixers, why compromise?

Certainly Mr. Jensen will.

Christ, it's cold in here.

Christensen? What's she got to do with this?

Clarence? Frank Hackett here.

Close the door, Harry.

Come on, Laureen. The Party's in for 7500 a week production expenses.

Corridor gossip, uh, says that you are Frank Hackett's backstage girl.

Could we ? If we could just have one statement about Mr. Beale.

Cue announcer.

Cue announcer.

Democrats, Independents, Republicans and others.

Diana, give me copies of all your audience research reports.

DIANA: And I'm gonna stick The Mao Tse Tung Hour in at 8...

DIANA: Can't win them all. Where can I reach you later?

DIANA: Christ.

DIANA: Forty million loss in revenues. I'll take out a contract.

DIANA: Have you still got yesterday's overnights?

DIANA: I'd like to see the two of you for a moment.

DIANA: Lady cops?

DIANA: Let's get back to Howard Beale.

DIANA: Next one.

DIANA: No, but we're getting around the FBI...

DIANA: You can't. I'll be gone all weekend.

DIANA: You mean, they actually shot this film...

Did any of you read it?

Did you get that, Paul?

Did you know there are a number of psychics...

Did you see the film we made of San Marino jail breakout...

Did you see the news this morning? Did you see the Times?

Did you see the overnights on the Network News?

Didn't I ever tell you that one before?

Disaster. The show is a disaster.

Do something! Do anything!

Do something! You gotta do something about Howard Beale!

Do you love her?

Do you wanna figure out the revenues of a strip show...

Do you want me to leave? Check into a hotel?

Do you want to be an angry prophet denouncing the hypocrisies of our times?

Does she love you, Max?

Don't forget, Howard, Ron Nessen is now 16, okay?

Don't fuck with my distribution costs.

Don't have any illusions about who's running this network. You're fired!

Don't keep telling me that you're obsessed, that you're infatuated.

Don't start no shit with me about a piece.

Don't want faith healers, evangelists or Oberammergau passion players!

Don't write to your congressmen. I wouldn't know what to tell you.

Dress like the tube, you eat like the tube...

ED: I'll want to see Mr. Beale after this.

ED: Sorry, I don't have all the information yet.

Edward George Ruddy died today.

Edward George Ruddy was the chairman of the board...

Every day, five days a week for 15 years, I've been sitting behind that desk.

Every goddamned affiliate from Albuquerque to Sandusky.

Every goddamned executive fired from a network in the last 20 years...

Every other network will grab him the minute he walks.

Every time you come from seeing somebody in your family...

Every TV station and wire service in the city. I could barely get in.

Everybody's out of work or scared of losing their job.

Everyone's going crazy.

Everything everywhere is going crazy, so we don't go out anymore.

Execution of the Week.

Final commercial.

Fine. How's it going?

For example, she said:

For example, what we don't know about is this CCA deal...

For God's sake, Diana...

For God's sakes. Are you suggesting that we put that lunatic...

FORD: The American people are good people:

FORD: Under no circumstances will I...

Four hours ago, I was the sun god at CCA.

Frank is a corporation man, body and soul.

Frank, it's being handed to us on a plate. Let's not blow it.

Frank, let's not go to committee on this. It's 20 after 10.

FRANK: I gave her the show, Schumacher.

FRANK: I'll call you back, John.

FRANK: Mr. Jensen was unhappy at the idea of taking Howard Beale off the air.

FRANK: The top brass of a bankrupt national television network...

FRANK: We know all about it, Herb.

FRANK: Well, the issue is, shall we kill Howard Beale or not?

FRANK: Yes?

FRANK: You don't know where he is?

Fully fledged messiahs don't come in bunches.

George Bosch, Barbara Schlesinger, Tommy Pellegrino.

George, can, uh, you come into my office for a minute?

GEORGE: Right.

Get him off that corporate universe kick, or so help me, I'll pull it off the air!

Get him off the air! Get him off!

Get up, get up out of your chairs.

GIFFORD: You fucking fascist!

Go anywhere you want. Go to a hotel, go live with her, but don't come back.

Go down to the mail room. As of this minute, over 14,000 telegrams!

Go to standby. You dumb schmuck!

Go to your gurus.

Go to yourselves.

Goddamn it, I spoke to John Wheeler this morning...

Goddamn it. When, Louise?

Gonna quit their jobs for you? Not in this recession.

Good afternoon, Mr. Ruddy.

Good evening. Today is Wednesday, September the 24th...

Great Sunday night show for the whole family.

Guerrillas in Chad, OPEC in Vienna.

Ha, ha. I'm not.

Hackett is clearly forcing a confrontation.

Hackett told the FBI to fuck off.

Hackett.

Hackett. Chaney was there. The Legal Affairs guy.

Halloway's going to make a brief statement at the end of the show...

Harry, Howard Beale left my house about 20 minutes ago. Has he come in yet?

HARRY: Is he okay? MAX: He's just fainted.

Have Lester cover the CIA hearings...

Have we settled that sublicensing thing?

He became morose and isolated, began to drink heavily.

He calls himself the Great Ahmed Kahn and wears a hussar's shako.

He came in the building about five minutes ago.

He didn't care if Howard Beale was the number one show or the 50th.

He didn't really care if the Beale Show lost money.

He fell to a 22 share.

He has no loves, lusts or allegiances that are not consummately directed...

He just might lose it over this Beale business.

He listens to you. You're his best friend.

He needs care and treatment.

He returned to the Vienna...

He said, "Tune in next Tuesday. I'm gonna shoot myself."

He says, "Don't do it, buddy.

He should do more apocalyptic doom.

He told me I was the worst lay he'd ever had.

He wants Howard Beale on the air and he wants him kept on.

He wants Mr. Beale in his office at 10:00 tomorrow morning.

He wants to put Howard on the air.

He was hoping I'd fall on my face with this Beale Show, but I didn't.

He was supposed to do a tag on Ron Nessen

He'll be back on the air for ABC and we'll lose 20 points

He's a plague. He's smallpox.

He's been funny as hell. Had everybody cracking up at the rundown meeting.

He's saying that life is bullshit and it is. What are you screaming about?

He's talking to Wheeler. Over 900 phone calls...

He's the kid I think you once sent out to interview Cleveland Amory on vivisection.

He's too, uh, kvetchy. He's being irascible. We want a prophet, not a curmudgeon.

He's typhoid. I don't wanna follow his goddamn show.

Heartless young woman left alone in her arctic desolation.

Helen, call Mr. Hackett's office.

Hell, they already own half of England. So listen to me.

Hell, yes.

Hell, you're not serious, are you?

Hell. Why limit ourselves?

Help me get him up.

Her name, aptly enough, is Sibyl.

Here we are going through the obligatory middle of Act 2...

Here, let me do that.

Hey, that sounds pretty good.

Hi, I'm Diana Christensen, a racist lackey of the imperialist ruling circles.

His ass ending.

Hmm.

How are we handling it?

How did I get here? Who's gonna believe this?

How did it go?

How long has it been going on?

How the hell could I see it? It's just going on now!

How the hell you always get mixed up...

How's everything back in New York? How's the good lady?

Howard Beale interrupted his Network News program tonight...

Howard Beale is processed, instant God.

Howard Beale may be my best friend. I'll go to court.

Howard Beale said what every American feels...

Howard in his office?

Howard just said he was going to blow his brains out next Tuesday.

Howard just said he was going to kill himself next Tuesday.

Howard, I'm taking you off the air.

Howard, I've got Max on 4. Would you pick up?

Howard, what are you doing?

Howard, you're gonna spend the night at my place.

HOWARD: And there's not a single law in the books to stop them.

HOWARD: I can't hear you. You will have to talk a little louder.

HOWARD: I don't mean the whole show...

HOWARD: Let's do the Lenin deportation at the end of three.

HOWARD: Mm hm.

HOWARD: The hell it ain't! Do you wanna turn that down, please?

HOWARD: What have we got left?

HOWARD: You're kidding, aren't you? I'm not kidding.

However, I think he's making a serious mistake with this Beale business.

Hysteria swept through the network.

I always have, I always will. I'm more concerned about you.

I am not putting Howard back on the air.

I am pleased to announce I am submitting to the board of directors...

I apparently have a masculine temperament.

I argued that television was a volatile industry in which success and failure...

I arouse quickly, consummate prematurely...

I assume that Hackett wouldn't take such steps...

I await your questions and comments.

I can't make it tonight, love. Call me tomorrow.

I can't tell you how many men have told me what a lousy lay I am.

I couldn't make it out at first in the dark bedroom...

I don't believe this. I don't believe the top brass...

I don't call that 'getting involved."'

I don't care how bankrupt.

I don't even wanna think about the litigious possibilities, Frank.

I don't expect you people to be capable of truth...

I don't fancy myself the president of a whorehouse.

I don't get it, Diana.

I don't get it.

I don't have to tell you things are bad, everybody knows things are bad.

I don't know how I feel.

I don't know how to do that.

I don't know what to do about the depression...

I don't like network hassles. I was hoping you and I could work this out.

I don't like the way this script of ours is turning out.

I don't mean that the United States is finished as a world power.

I don't mean the communists are gonna take over the world.

I don't need you, Max.

I don't see we have any option, Frank. Let's kill the son of a bitch.

I don't suppose you have any ideas on that, Diana?

I don't think I'll listen to any protestations of high standards of journalism...

I don't think the show has any substantial syndication value...

I don't wanna be the messenger that has to tell Max Schumacher.

I don't wanna play butch boss with you people.

I don't want conventional programming on this network, I want counterculture.

I don't want the banks selling my country to the Arabs.

I don't want this grotesque incident to interfere with that.

I don't want you to protest, to riot.

I don't want your pain. I don't want your menopausal decay and death!

I drop down to the news studios every now and then...

I expect a positive cash flow for the entire complex of 45 million...

I feel connected to all living things.

I feel guilty and conscience stricken...

I feel lousy about the pain that I've caused my wife and my kids.

I feel on the verge of some great ultimate truth.

I feel vivid and flashing, as if suddenly...

I gave up comparing genitals back in the schoolyard.

I go beyond that.

I got a hit, Schumacher, and Ruddy doesn't count anymore.

I got everything through Laureen Hobbs. She's my contact for all this stuff.

I had a terrible schoolgirl crush on you for a couple of months.

I have 11 years at this network, Max.

I have a married daughter in Seattle who's six months pregnant...

I have seen the face of God.

I have seen the shattering fulgurations of ultimate clarity.

I have some standing in the industry.

I have two other friends in the hospital whom I visit regularly...

I hope you don't have any hidden tape machines in this office, Frank.

I hurt badly.

I jump out of bed, throw my raincoat over my pajamas.

I just don't wanna go out like a clown.

I just ran out of bullshit.

I just ran out of it, you see.

I just want you to love me, primal doubts and all.

I just want you to love me.

I know I'm obsessed with her.

I know our contract with Beale contains a buy out clause...

I know that, historically, news divisions are expected to lose money.

I know.

I live here. I'm real.

I love it.

I love you.

I may need them for Jensen. Is 10:00 convenient for everyone?

I may teach or I may write a book...

I mean you're president of the Systems Group...

I met one of them last week and thought of doing a show around her.

I need to become involved very much. How about you?

I probably did. I don't know anymore.

I run down the stairs, I run out in the street, hail a cab.

I run out in the street and I hail a cab.

I said, "Walter, let the government sue us.

I said, "What's this, the Burning Bush? For God's sake, I'm not Moses."

I said, "Why me?"

I said, "You know, Sibyl, about four months ago you predicted...

I see Howard Beale as a latter day prophet.

I see you don't fancy my suggestions.

I seem to be inept at everything except my work.

I sold sewing machines and automobile parts...

I started as a salesman, Mr. Beale.

I suppose we'll have to kill him.

I suspect CCA will be upset at Hackett's presumptuousness.

I think Howard's making a goddamn fool of himself...

I think I can get the Mao Tse Tung people to kill Beale for us...

I think I'm speaking for Howard Beale and everybody else "

I think it was 50 percent of salary plus 25 percent of the first year's profit...

I think it'll take the strain off the show, Max.

I think Joe ought to spell it out for us. Joe?

I think perhaps it is better if you move out.

I think the time has come to re evaluate our relationship, Max.

I think this lady could be very useful to you, Max.

I think we can sell complete positions on the whole.

I think we can use some of this stuff.

I think we ought to give it a shot. Let's see what happens tonight.

I think we should fire Howard.

I think we should put Beale back on the air tonight and keep him on.

I think we've got about 10 seconds on the shooting itself.

I think we've lucked into something.

I think you should take on a couple of writers to write some jeremiads for him.

I think you'll like this footage better than the stuff I showed you last time, Max.

I think you're having a breakdown. Require treatment.

I thought it was a transient thing, blow over in a week.

I told him, Lou! I've been telling him every day for a week!

I told him. I told him.

I told them. I said:

I told you at the stockholders' meeting, Max...

I told you I'd much rather work the Beale Show out just between the two of us.

I took this job with your personal assurance...

I understand there's at least a hundred reporters and camera crews in the lobby.

I want a lot more film like the bank rip off the Ecumenical sent in.

I want a show developed based on the activities of a terrorist group.

I want all of you to get up out of your chairs.

I want antiestablishment.

I want ideas from you people. That is what you're paid for.

I want out of that 8:00 spot.

I want Snowden here by noon.

I want that show, Frank. I can turn that show into the biggest smash on television.

I want the CCA deal stopped now!

I want the CCA deal stopped now.

I want the CCA deal stopped now. Come on.

I want them wading knee deep in telegrams at the White House.

I want to know why that whole debasement of the news division...

I want you out of your office before noon or I'll have you thrown out.

I want you to get up from your chairs, go to the phone, get in your cars...

I want you to get up out of your chairs.

I want you to get up right now and go to the phone.

I want you to get up right now and go to the window...

I want you to get up right now and write a telegram to President Ford saying:

I want you to send a telegram to the White House.

I was at CBS with Ed Murrow in 1951.

I was in the audience.

I was just a kid, 26 years old.

I was married for four years and pretended to be happy...

I was NBC, uh, associate producer, Morning News.

I was sure you hated me for my part in taking your news show away.

I was thinking, before we start digging into our Chateaubriands...

I went to visit my wife today because she's in a state of depression...

I will expect your resignation at 10:00 tomorrow morning...

I will put the words in your mouth."

I will tell you who they're buying CCA for.

I wish you had.

I won't give you up easily, Max.

I would describe his position on this as inflexible.

I wouldn't interfere with the actual news itself, but TV is showbiz, Max.

I, uh, think I once gave a lecture...

I...

I'd better get him back to my house again tonight.

I'd go nuts without some kind of work.

I'd just like to come on, make some brief farewell statement...

I'd like to hear some more opinions on that.

I'd like to see Mr. Beale now.

I'd like to talk to Legal Affairs at least and Herb Thackeray...

I'd like to try to sell something to you.

I'd like you to reconsider your resignation, Max.

I'll be in L.A. until Saturday, and I'd like to get it rolling.

I'll be out on the coast in, uh, four weeks.

I'll be with you in a minute, Max.

I'll call the security guards and have you thrown out, if you're still here.

I'll get back to you, Diana.

I'll give it a try, but I don't think she'll jump at it.

I'll have to go directly to Mr. Jensen.

I'll have to take this matter to the central Committee...

I'll make you some coffee.

I'll put him in a hospital before I'll let you exploit him like a freak.

I'll see you then.

I'll suggest Mr. Ruddy open with a short statement, washing this whole thing off.

I'm already deficiting $25,000 a week with Metro!

I'm as mad as hell and I'm not gonna take it anymore!

I'm as mad as hell and I'm not gonna take it anymore.

I'm as mad as hell. I'm not gonna take it anymore!

I'm finished.

I'm giving this turkey $10,000 and another five to this fruitcake.

I'm going to look at audition footage now!

I'm going to take you into our conference room.

I'm gonna announce projected earnings for this network...

I'm gonna blow my brains out right on the air.

I'm gonna blow my brains out right on this program, a week from today.

I'm gonna bring this up at tomorrow's meeting.

I'm gonna impale the son of a bitch with a sharp stick!

I'm gonna kill myself.

I'm gonna spread this whole reeking business in every newspaper...

I'm good at my work. So I confine myself to that.

I'm grateful I can feel anything.

I'm having dinner with him tonight. Let me have another crack at Jensen...

I'm imbued with some special spirit. It's not a religious feeling at all.

I'm imbued, Max.

I'm in love with her.

I'm Laureen Hobbs, a bad ass commie ******.

I'm mad as hell!

I'm mad as hell!

I'm mad as hell! I'm not gonna take this anymore.

I'm making a lousy 215 per segment.

I'm not asking you to walk the land in sackcloth, preaching the Armageddon.

I'm not giving him script approval. I'm not cutting him in on my distribution charges.

I'm not giving this pseudo insurrectionary sectarian a piece of my show.

I'm not gonna take it anymore. I'm mad as hell!

I'm not knocking down my goddamn distribution charges.

I'm not some guy discussing male menopause on the Barbara Walters Show.

I'm not sure she's capable of any real feelings.

I'm offering an hour of prime time television every week...

I'm part of your life.

I'm paying Metro 20 percent for all foreign and Canadian distribution after recoupment.

I'm paying William Morris 10 percent off the top!

I'm putting the Network News show under programming.

I'm ruined. I'm dead. Finished.

I'm sick of telling him. Now you tell him!

I'm sitting here in a goddamn farmhouse in Encino...

I'm sorry for all those things I said to you last night.

I'm sorry I'm late.

I'm talking about a hundred A 130,000 dollar minutes.

I'm telling you. They want Howard to go back on and yell "bullshit."

I'm the man that you presumably love.

I'm the one whose ass is going on the line.

I'm thinking of doing a homosexual soap opera.

I'm tired of all this hysteria about Howard Beale.

I'm tired of being an accessory in your life.

I'm tired of finding you on the telephone every time I turn around.

I'm your wife, damn it.

I've been telling you people since I took this job six months ago...

I've got a guru from Spokane and two more hellfires...

I've got enough troubles without Howard Beale as a lead in!

I've got nothing to say.

I've got some surprises for you too, Schumacher.

I've got the red eye flight, I won't be back in New York...

I've got three more, but you've already seen the best ones.

I've had it up to here with your cruddy division and its annual $33 million deficit!

I've just come back from Frank Hackett's office.

I've never felt more orderly in my life.

I've reached for the phone to call you a hundred times.

I've thought many times of calling you.

If he wants to take me up before the CCA Board, let him.

If her tips were any good, she could wreck the market.

If I'm going to the mat with Ruddy, I wanna make sure of some of my ground.

If John Wheeler calls, switch him to Projection Room 7.

If that's any indication, we're talking 40 , 45 million dollar loss in annual revenues.

If there's anybody out there...

If this is how he wants to go out, this is how he goes out.

If we can't think up any reasons of our own, we have the God bullshit.

If we could get back for a moment to that gypsy...

If we wanted hellfire we'd get Billy Graham!

If you can't work up a winter passion for me...

If you think I'm gonna go along with this bastardization...

If you think that's funny

In 1969, however, his fortunes began to decline.

In fact, it'll make a hell of a kickoff show for the season.

In five, four, three, two...

In God's name, you people are the real thing.

In his absence, I'm making all network decisions...

In his time, Howard Beale had been a mandarin of television.

In one then, I'll do a lead on Sara Jane Moore to Mayberry in San Francisco.

In spite of the two attempts...

In the Nielsen ratings, the Howard Beale Show...

In this country, when one company wants to take over another company...

Indifferent to suffering, insensitive to joy.

Instead, you sulked off like a child and engaged this network...

Intractable and adamantine.

Is it true?

Is that my share? She gets the winter passion and I get the dotage.

Is that what's left for me?

Is your wife in town?

It could be done right on camera in the studio.

It has an eight in New York, a nine in L.A. and a 27 share in both cities.

It has been since man crawled out of the slime.

It is a consortium of banks and insurance companies...

It is a shattering and beautiful sensation.

It is ebb and flow, tidal gravity, it is ecological balance.

It is exactly 7:00 here in Los Angeles.

It is not a breakdown.

It is the exalted flow of the space time continuum...

It is the international system of currency which determines...

It looks like he may just go bigger than Mary Tyler Moore.

It received a 47 share.

It was 10:00 in the east and our people in the White House report...

It was a fluke. It didn't work.

It was a many splendored night, wasn't it, Max?

It was all sex, scandal, brutal crimes, sports...

It was clear the fat on the network had to be flitched off.

It was heavy, baby. I saw the earth quake.

It was unconscionable.

It was, after all, my last...

It was, however, also a very depressing one.

It would be disaster to let this situation go on another week.

It'll be simple, dignified.

It's a big, fat, big titted hit and I don't have to waffle around with Ruddy anymore.

It's a depression.

It's a lot better than handing out...

It's a nation of some 200 odd million...

It's a shocking eruption of great electrical energy.

It's every single one of you out there that's finished.

It's not your show anymore, Max, it's mine.

It's that bunch of nuts. She's in the movie shooting off machine guns.

It's the individual that's finished.

It's the single, solitary, human being that's finished.

It's too late, Diana.

It's turning into a seedy little drama.

JENSEN: Good morning, Mr. Beale.

Jesus Christ.

Jesus. Turn him off!

Jim Webbing and his It's the Emes Truth Department.

Joseph Stalin and his merry band of Bolsheviks.

Just get up from your chairs, right now, go to the window!

Just like Archie Bunker.

Knock it off, Arthur.

KTNS, Kansas City, refuses to carry our Network News show anymore...

Ladies and gentlemen, let's hear it. How do you feel?

Ladies and gentlemen, let's hear it. How do you feel?

Ladies and gentlemen, the Network News Hour with Sibyl the Soothsayer!

Ladies and gentlemen...

Last night Howard Beale went on the air and yelled "bullshit" for two minutes...

Last night I got up here and asked you people...

Last night, I was awakened from a fitful sleep...

Last year, we were the number four network...

LAUREEN: Well, Ahmed, you ain't gonna believe this.

Laureen?

Leave him on.

Let me have my toaster and my TV, and my steel belted radials...

Let me tell you what I want.

Let me think it over.

Let the federal government sue us. We'll take them to the Supreme Court.

Let's get back to Page 22, 5, small "A", Subsidiary Rights.

Let's see how the other networks handle this.

Like everything that you and the institution of television touch...

Like Howard Beale was destroyed.

Like Laureen Hobbs was destroyed.

Listen to me, goddamn it. The Arabs are simply buying us.

Look, I just saw some rough footage of a special Bill's doing...

Look, I sent you all a concept analysis report yesterday.

Look, we've got a bunch of hobgoblin radicals...

Lou, can't we clear out that downstairs lobby?

LOUISE: I hurt, don't you understand that?

Mad bombers, Mafia hit men...

MAN [ON SCREEN]: Communist Party to be these

MAN [ON SCREEN]: And how when the sicks heal...

MAN [ON TV]: Good evening. Howard Beale, one of television's...

MAN [OVER SPEAKER]: He said he was going to blow his brains out.

MAN 1: How many spots were wiped out? Frank just walked in.

MAN 1: I'm as mad as hell and I'm not gonna take this anymore!

MAN 1: That strong enough to bump?

MAN 1: Three, you're on the announcer.

MAN 2: Come on, Mickey, what page are you putting it on?

MAN 2: I'm mad as hell!

MAN 2: In the film I saw, it was the chief of detectives.

MAN 2: Stand by, VTA.

MAN 2: Um, I prefer our news pics.

MAN 2: We using Squeaky Fromme? MAN 1: Let's do that in two.

MAN 3: Hackett just walked in. ABC again, they want the tape.

MAN 3: He wants to talk to you. Who's replacing Beale tomorrow?

MAN 3: I'm mad as hell!

MAN 4: I'm mad as hell! I'm not gonna take this anymore.

Man is a noble creature that can order his own world. Who needs God?

Man, give her the fucking overhead clause.

MAN: All right, fine. I'll see you later.

MAN: How much time we got?

MAN: Jimmy Caan's agent just called and says absolutely nix.

MAN: Margot, come in here a minute.

MAN: Okay?

MAN: Ready, two?

MAN: Sixty seven. It goes to Louisville and Atlanta.

MAN: Summaries have been received. We're forwarding them...

MAN: Take Tellison. Listen.

MAN: They're yelling in Baton Rouge. HOWARD: Goddamn it.

MAN: Two, cue Howard.

MAN: We're number one! We're number one!

MAN: Well, if Beale dies, what would our continuing obligation...

Marty, I'm in a big hurry and you and Charlie are supposed to be negotiating this...

Marty. Marty, I know what NBC offered them...

Max doesn't work at this network anymore.

Max Schumacher.

Max, I told you I didn't want a network hassle on this.

Max, I'm telling you, he's fine. He's been sharp all day.

Max, my little visit here tonight...

Max, this is going out live to 67 affiliates.

MAX: I have something to say, Ed.

MAX: It's the truth.

MAX: Oh, boy.

MAX: So I jump out of bed in my pajamas, I grab my raincoat, I run downstairs.

Maybe she could do the weather.

Maybe we're overstating Beale's clout with the public.

Merely to add editorial comment to our Network News show.

Middle aged man leaves wife and family for young heartless woman, goes to pot.

Middle aged man reaffirming his middle aged manhood...

Minimally, we're talking about a 10 point differential in shares.

Moldanian called me. Joe Donnelly called me.

Most of this loss occurred in the child and teen and 18 34 categories...

Mr. Beale has been under professional and personal strain.

Mr. Jensen feels we're too catastrophic in our thinking.

Mr. Jensen said he did not like volatile industries and suggested...

Mr. Jensen thinks Howard Beale is bringing a very important message...

Mr. Jensen wants to meet Howard Beale personally.

Mr. Jensen?

Mr. Jensen's hand picked golden boy, the heir apparent.

Mr. Jensen's unhappy with Howard Beale and wants him discontinued.

Mr. Ruddy fired him last night.

Mr. Ruddy has had a mild heart attack and is not taking calls.

Mr. Schumacher's right here. Wanna talk to him?

Ms. Christensen, just what the hell's this all about?

Ms. Hobbs, we're talking about 30 to 50 million people a shot.

Ms. Mata Hari and her Skeletons in the Closet.

Music up with a swell.

Must've been 1950, then.

My God, I'm supposed to be the romantic...

My God, is that me?

My God, look at us, Louise.

My God, you are serious.

My husband ran off with his boyfriend...

My reports say we'll do better without him.

NARRATOR: By mid October...

NARRATOR: By the first week in July...

NARRATOR: It was a perfectly admissible argument...

NARRATOR: That evening, Howard Beale went on the air...

NARRATOR: The initial response to the new Howard Beale Show was not auspicatory.

NARRATOR: The Mao Tse Tung Hour went on the air March 14.

NARRATOR: This story is about Howard Beale...

NARRATOR: This was the story of Howard Beale...

NBC's got a lock on daytime...

NBC's got Little House on the Prairie. ABC's got The Bionic Woman.

NBC's offering $3.25 mil...

Nelson Chaney tells me Beale may actually go on the air this evening.

Nelson here, president of a network...

NELSON: Max.

News radio would be transferred to the UBS Radio Division and in effect...

No booze.

No matter how much trouble the hero is in, don't worry...

No, I'll do it myself. I'll strangle him with a sash cord!

No, if you think that's funny, wait till you hear this.

No, no, no. Damn it.

No, no. That's the Symbionese Liberation Army.

No.

No. Howard just brought in a picture of Ed Murrow...

No. This one operates on parapsychology.

Nobody particularly cared to hear his life was utterly valueless.

Nobody wants to hear about dying democracy and dehumanization.

Not an easy thing to do because the people don't want to know."

Not anymore.

Not as long as I can feel pleasure and pain...

Now Howard Beale will have his.

Now look, what in substance are we proposing?

Now that's why I'm here.

Now who the hell is running this network? You or some conglomerate called CCA?

Now you listen to me.

Now, ha, ha, I'm a man without a corporation.

Now, you using a map going into San Francisco?

Of course, Ed.

Offhand, I think it was based on a multiple 1975 earnings...

Oh, and that girl from Programming.

Oh, Harry, I'm killing this whole screwball, angry prophet thing.

Oh, hell, Diana, I knew it was over with us weeks ago.

Oh, I don't know.

Oh, I wouldn't rule that out entirely.

Oh, I'm serious.

Oh, say something, for God's sake.

Oh, shit, Howard.

Oh. I watched your 6:00 news today. It's straight tabloid.

Oil ministers of the OPEC nations meeting in Vienna still haven't decided...

Okay.

Okay.

One show like that could pull this network out of the hole.

One vast and ecumenical holding company...

One vast and immane...

One, you have the audience to pan.

Open it, and stick your head out, and yell, and keep yelling

Or jump out of your 14th floor office window.

Or some broad that you picked up after three belts of booze.

Our AR reports show that it is Howard Beale...

Over the past two days, you've all had opportunity to meet Diana Christensen...

Page 22, middle of the page. Subsidiary Rights.

Petrol dollars, electro dollars, multi dollars.

Please note an increase in projected initial programming revenues...

Point one.

Punks are running wild in the streets.

Ready, two.

Really terrific footage. I think we can get a hell of a Movie of the Week out of it...

Reichsmarks, rins, rubles, pounds and shekels.

REPORTER: Mr. Ruddy, could we have just one statement from you?

REPORTER: One question.

REPORTER: This has been the most divisive meeting the oil states have ever had.

Right in the middle of the 7:00 news.

Right now the Arabs have screwed us out of enough American dollars...

Right now, how do we get Beale out of here?

Right now, there is a whole and entire generation...

Right. Okay.

Say that you're in love with her.

Scheduled me against Tony Orlando and Dawn.

Schmuck, what are you getting into?

See if he can give me a few minutes this morning.

See, we're paying these nuts from the Ecumenical Liberation Army...

Seems more seemly a setting for what I have to say to you.

She can have it. I don't give a damn about the political content.

She does have one script in which I kill myself.

She has trance like episodes and feels things in her energy field.

She said she was occasionally prescient.

She's television generation. She learned life from Bugs Bunny.

She's very carefully devised a number of scenarios...

Sibyl the Soothsayer.

Since this show was the only thing I had going for me in my life...

Sit down. Diana asked if she could sit in on this.

Sitting in their house and they don't do anything about it.

Six million telegrams were received at the White House.

Sixty million people watch you every night of the week, Monday through Friday.

So a rich little man with white hair died.

So he wants Howard Beale on the air and he wants him kept on.

So I called her this morning and asked her how she was on predicting the future.

So I don't have any bullshit left.

So I figure a year, maybe two, before you crack up.

So I see.

So I thought about it for a moment...

So I want you to get up now.

So I want you to get up now.

So I'd like you to stay on, Max.

So I'm going to let Hackett have his head for a while.

So if you want the truth, go to God.

So this concept analysis report concludes the American people want somebody...

So tomorrow, Howard goes back to the old format...

So tune in next Tuesday.

So turn off your television sets. Turn them off now.

So why should he bother with me? I'm not even a stockholder.

So you listen to me. Listen to me! Television is not the truth.

So, what did she say?

So, what do we do about this Beale son of a bitch?

Some of them counsel their clients by use of tarot cards.

Somebody called the Western World Funding Corporation.

Something going on between you and Schumacher?

Son of a bitch, I get a feeling I'm being made.

Son of a bitch, we struck the mother lode!

Sooner or later, with or without you...

Sounds like the basis of a firm friendship. We're gonna need more chairs.

Squeaky, Ford at the airport, bump.

Stick your head out of the window, stick your head out.

Stop it, stop it!

Stop selling, Max. I don't need you.

Suicide of the Week.

Suicides.

Sure thing, Mr. Beale.

Sure.

Syndication profits are minimal.

Take 2, cue Howard.

Telephone, please.

Television is a circus, a carnival, a traveling troupe of acrobats...

Television's a goddamned amusement park.

Tell him I'll be a few minutes.

Tell him to go fuck himself. That goes for you too.

Tell Snowden when he comes in to let him go on.

Ten o'clock news opened with it.

Ten seconds to commercial.

Terrific, Max! Maybe you can start a whole new career as an actor.

Terrorist of the Week.

Thank you, Max.

That dumb show jumped five rating points in one night.

That he is, in fact, imbued with some special spirit.

That is not the case.

That is the atomic...

That is the natural order of things today.

That Mao Tse Tung Hour's turning into one big pain in the ass.

That puts us in the shithouse, that's where that puts us.

That should give the public relations people a week to promote the show.

That son of a bitch Beale has caught on.

That sort of thing is not likely to happen again.

That would account for his behavior at the stockholders' meeting.

That'll be just fine.

That's how CCA took over the company that owns this network.

That's Laureen Hobbs, isn't it?

That's my job you're turning down.

That's not the one that kidnapped Patty Hearst?

That's one hell of a way to get me to resign.

That's the God bullshit.

That's the Great Ahmed Kahn, he's their leader.

That's very commendable of you, Nelson. Now, sit down.

That's your job, Ms. Hobbs.

The New York City's still facing default.

The 13 nations of OPEC have still not been able to decide by how much...

The American masses are not yet ready for open revolt.

The Arab takeover of CCA has been stopped.

The Arabs have taken billions of dollars out of this country...

The assassins were members of a terrorist group...

The audience out there wants a prophet, even a manufactured one...

The Beale Show Q score's down to 33.

The Blue Angel with Marlene Dietrich and Emil Jannings. I don't like it.

The CCA has 2 billion in loans with the Saudis...

The Communist Party believes...

The Communist Party's not gonna see a nickel until we go into syndication!

The communists are deader than we are. What is finished...

The Death Hour.

The dispassionate pundit...

The division producing the lowest rate of return has been the news division...

The dollar buys a nickel's worth.

The Dykes.

The Ecumenical Liberation Army is an ultra left sect...

The Ecumenicals are an undisciplined ultra left gang...

The fact is I could make your Beale Show the highest rated news show...

The FCC can't do anything except rap our knuckles.

The final revelation is at hand.

The first attempt on President Ford's life was 18 days ago...

The first one is set in a large Eastern law school, presumably Harvard.

The Flagstaff Independent Bank of Arizona was ripped off last week...

The following year his wife died, and he was left a childless widower...

The grand old man of news, with a HUT rating of 16 and a 28 audience share.

The heart rendering saga about a woman hopelessly in love...

The Howard Beale Show is just going on out here.

The leader of the group, known as the Great Ahmed Kahn, escaped.

The light is impending. I bear witness to the light!

The man is insane. He's not responsible for himself.

The network can't be implicated.

The network can't deal with them directly. They are, after all, wanted criminals.

The network promptly committed to 15 shows with an option for 10 more.

The new plan calls for local news to be transferred to owned stations' divisions.

The New York Times

The New York Times and The Washington Post...

The New York Times doesn't advertise on our network.

The news was broken to him by Max Schumacher...

The next is another one of those investigative reporter shows.

The only reality she knows comes to her over the TV set.

The other segments of the show, Sibyl the Soothsayer...

The people spoke, the people won. It was a radiant eruption of democracy.

The popular reaction

The press was without exception hostile and the industry reaction negative.

The ratings for the Thursday and Friday shows were both 14.

The response is sensational!

The response is sensational! Tell him. Herb's phone hasn't stopped ringing.

The running characters are a crusty but benign ex Supreme Court Justice...

The running characters include a crusty but benign lieutenant...

The SEC could hold this deal up for 20 years, if they wanted to.

The second one is called The Amazon Squad.

The series is irresistibly entitled The New Lawyers.

The simple fact is, Max, that you're a family man.

The son of a bitch is a hit, goddamn it! Over 2000 phone calls.

The States is the richest and most powerful...

The two old friends got properly pissed.

The voice said to me, "And I'm not God. What has that got to do with it?"

The voice said to me:

The way I hear it, Max, you were primarily responsible...

The way I see the series is...

The Wayward Witch of Wall Street, something like that.

The whole place has gone crazy.

The whole world is becoming humanoid, creatures that look human but aren't.

The whole world, not just us.

The whole world's people are becoming mass produced, programmed...

The world is a business, Mr. Beale.

The world is a college of corporations...

Then after 7 in the morning, I get a call.

Then don't leave me.

Then get out!

Then grab it. Grab it!

Then next week everyone tunes in to see how good her predictions were.

Then say it.

Then we go to the drama behind the opening film footage.

Then we'll figure out the depression and the inflation...

There are no Arabs. There are no Third Worlds.

There are no nations, there are no peoples. There are no Russians.

There doesn't seem to be anything more to say.

There is a beautiful girl graduate student...

There is no America. There is no democracy.

There is no West!

There is only IBM and ITT and AT&T...

There is only one holistic system of systems.

There must be a formula for the computation of the purchase price.

There were the usual contractual difficulties.

There's a civil war in Angola, another one in Beirut.

There's a hell of a lot more we don't know about.

There's a lot of liberation armies in the revolutionary underground...

There's a new chairman. A man called Frank Hackett...

There's also a two column story on Page 1 of the Times.

There's bound to be press around yours.

There's no sense in my saying I won't see her again, because I will.

There's nothing left in you that I can live with.

There's only one thing that can stop them. You!

There's some kind of corporate maneuvering going on, Max.

There's some real, actual life going on here.

These are those four outlines submitted by Universal for an hour series.

They actually took movies of the rip off while they were ripping it off.

They control Aramco, so that puts them into Exxon, Texaco and Mobil Oil.

They filed the notice this morning.

They finally caught up with Patricia Hearst.

They get out their linear programming charts...

They heard about our Flagstaff bank rip off film and they want it.

They own a chunk of 5th Avenue...

They own big hunks of the Atlanta Hilton, the Arizona Land and Cattle Company...

They say I can sell anything.

They wanna know what the fuck's going on.

They want Howard to go on spontaneously letting out his anger.

They won't tell you, they won't tell the Senate...

They'll hit us with conspiracy and inducement to commit a crime.

They're all gonna make it their lead story.

They're all over! New Jersey, Louisville, St. Louis, Missouri...

They're all pretty successful, even in a bear market and selling short.

They're buying it for the Arabs!

They're buying it for the Saudi Arabian Investment Corporation.

They're looking for him, Ed. They don't know where he is.

They're the ones who kidnapped Mary Ann Gifford three weeks ago.

They've been clobbered by Vietnam, Watergate, inflation, the Depression.

They've got Strike Force, Task Force, SWAT, why not Che Guevara...

They've turned off, shot up and fucked themselves limp. And nothing helps.

Think Ruddy is stupid enough to go to the CCA Board and say:

This afternoon, you all saw some of the stuff she's set up for the new season.

This is a breach of contract. This isn't the Howard Beale we signed.

This is a cleansing moment of clarity.

This is mass madness, you maniacs.

This is Mr. Hackett. Do you have a New York call for me?

This is my lawyer, Sam Haywood, and his associate, Merrill Grant.

This is not a psychotic episode.

This is terrific stuff. Where did you get it?

This is the Ecumenical Liberation Army.

This is the, uh, third funeral I've been to in two weeks.

This is your great winter romance, isn't it?

This network hasn't one show in the top 20.

This network is an industry joke.

This network may well be the most significant profit center...

This tube can make or break presidents, popes, prime ministers!

This tube is the Gospel. The ultimate revelation.

This tube is the most awesome goddamn force...

This way...

Those are the nations of the world today.

To flowers...

Tonight's show has gotta be at least 15.

Turn them off right in the middle of the sentence I'm speaking to you now.

Turn them off right now. Turn them off and leave them off.

Turn them off!

Twenty five years.

Two billion dollars isn't pique! That's the wrath of God!

Two FBI guys turned up in Hackett's office last week...

Two, cue Howard.

UBS was running at a cash flow break even point...

Uh, the CIA has been caught opening Senator Humphrey's mail.

Uh, this is Bill Herron from our West Coast Special Programs Department.

Uh, well, can you give me a little more time than that?

Unmitigated disaster. The death knell.

Up. Cue VTA.

Valhalla, Mr. Beale. Please, sit down.

Very good, Frank. Exemplary. Keep it up.

Virulent madness.

Wake up, Max, because Howard's gone.

Walter Cronkite, Harry Reasoner, Hollenbeck, Bob Trout.

Walter thinks we can knock out the misprision of felony charge. Ha, ha.

Wanna hear the flak from the affiliates?

Want to come take some coffee orders?

War, murder, death...

Wayward husband comes to his senses...

We all know she's beautiful.

We all know she's brainy.

We all know that the Arabs control $16 billion in this country.

We are the illusion.

We deal in illusions, man. None of it is true.

We don't know the popular reaction. We have to find out.

We either go with Howard Beale or we go without him.

We got a goddamn hit, goddamn it. Diana, show him the Times.

We got a limo at the freight exit.

We got an editorial in the holy goddamn New York Times.

We had to abort. What could we do?

We have the number one show in television!

We have to take whatever we can get.

We just increased our audience by 20 or 30 million people in one night.

We know the air is unfit to breathe and our food is unfit to eat.

We need that Saudi money bad.

We no longer live in a world of nations and ideologies, Mr. Beale.

We ought to get a fantastic look in audience...

We ought to get a hell of a rating out of that. A 50 share, easy.

We sit in the house and the world we're living in is getting smaller...

We sit watching our TVs while some local newscaster tells us...

We want Beale in that studio. We don't wanna lose the momentum.

We were doing a remote from there.

We would not want to produce a television show...

We'd open each week's segment with that authentic footage...

We'll be front page for months. We'll have more press than Watergate."

We'll be front page, mm, for months.

We'll see.

We'll talk about this tomorrow at our regular morning meeting.

We'll tell you any shit you want to hear.

We'll tell you anything you want to hear. We lie like hell.

We'll tell you that, uh, Kojak always gets the killer...

We'll wipe that fucking Disney right off the air.

We're all you know.

We're facing heavy opposition on the other networks for Wednesday nights...

We're having heavy legal problems with the federal government right now.

We're in a lot of fucking trouble down here.

We're just getting into the pre Christmas gift sellers...

We're just the most advanced country, so we're getting there first.

We're not a respectable network. We're a whorehouse network.

We're not gonna find a replacement for Howard Beale. Let's stop kidding ourselves.

We're not sitting still for overhead charges as a cost prior to distribution.

We're number one!

We're responsible to corporate level, not you.

We're standing on the First Amendment, Freedom of the Press...

We're starting to get rumbles from the agencies.

We're talking about a capital crime here.

We're talking about impermanent, transient, human truth.

We're trying to find a replacement for him!

We've got press on this you couldn't buy for a million dollars. Frank.

Well, did he say anything?

Well, I don't want any part of it.

Well, I'd like to see a typescript and run through a couple more times.

Well, I'm not gonna leave you alone. I want you to get mad!

Well, I'm sorry I impugned your cocksmanship.

Well, in a nutshell, it said the American people are turning sullen.

Well, just who in the hell is the Western World Funding Corporation?

Well, let me know when he arrives, huh?

Well, let's just say, "Fuck you too, honey."

Well, let's say, "Fuck you, Hackett."

Well, Max, here we are.

Well, okay.

Well, sure. We could make a series out of it.

Well, the time has come to say...

Well, then, we better go to my place.

Well, this is not a script, Diana.

Well, what do you think?

Well, what would you fellows say to an assassination?

Well, you'll get a hell of a rating, I'll guarantee you that.

What about that messiah that ABC was supposed to have signed up...

What about your loves, lusts and allegiances?

What am I supposed to do?

What are we gonna call it, The Mao Tse Tung Hour?

What are you doing for dinner tonight?

What are you talking about?

What are you talking about?

What do you mean, "Howard just said he was going to kill himself next Tuesday"?

What do you mean? It's a news show. It's not your department.

What do you think the Russians talk about in their councils of state? Karl Marx?

What do you think, Max?

What exactly is it you want me to do?

What has that got to do with the price of rice, right?

What I think the Hindus call prana.

What Mr. Haywood was saying, Ms. Christensen, was that our client...

What sort of script do you think we can make out of this?

What the fuck are you talking about?

What the fuck's going on, Howard?

What the hell should I know about the truth?"

What the hell's going on?

What we're going to see now is something really sensational.

What's really bugging me now is my daytime programming.

What's so funny?

What's wrong with being an angry prophet denouncing the hypocrisies of our times?

What's your scam in this?

When did Mr. Jensen call?

When I took over this department...

When Ruddy gets back he'll have your ass.

When that happens, I'm going to need every friend I've got.

When? Tonight's show? Clarence, take it easy.

Where are we now?

Where does that put us, Diana?

Whether it's good or bad, that's what is so.

Who is this somebody else? They won't tell you.

Who isn't?

Who's this "they"?

Why is it that a woman always thinks...

Why me?

Why me?

Why was I led up onto that podium and publicly humiliated...

Why wasn't I told about this?

Will you go back to your wife?

Will you set up a meeting with Laureen Hobbs?

WOMAN [OVER SPEAKER]: Fifteen seconds, 14, 13...

WOMAN 1: I'm as mad as hell and I'm not gonna take it anymore!

WOMAN 2: I'm mad as hell!

WOMAN: ...nine, eight, seven, six.

WOMAN: ...six, five, four, three...

WOMAN: Eleven, 10... MAN: Roll VTA.

WOMAN: Fifteen, 14, 13, 12...

WOMAN: Gun control, Patty Hearst affidavit.

WOMAN: Holy Mary, Mother of Christ. Tom, what is it?

WOMAN: One. MAN: One, cue VTA.

WOMAN: Shall I bring them in? DIANA: Yeah.

WOMAN: Six, five, four, three, two...

WOMAN: The whole thing is 1:25.

WOMAN: Thirty seconds. MAN 1: All right, ready VTA.

WOMAN: Twenty.

WOMAN: You're late for your screening, Max.

Worse than bad, they're crazy.

Yeah, I think I'd like to be an angry prophet denouncing the hypocrisies of our times.

Yeah? What?

Yeah.

Yes, Clarence. I've already booked my flight.

Yes, it was.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes. All right. For you, Herb. Get back to your office.

Yes. I hear you.

Yes. I think Hackett's overstepped himself.

Yesterday I announced on this program that I was going to commit public suicide.

You all know that she is the woman behind the Howard Beale Show.

You and Harry can check the copy.

You and I go back 20 years, Ed.

You are an old man...

You are.

You bring up all your ideas at the meeting tomorrow...

You brought half the William Morris West Coast office along with you.

You can blow the seminal prisoner class infrastructure out your ass!

You can't be seriously proposing, and the rest of us seriously considering...

You can't switch to another station.

You changed your tailor.

You could give her two minutes of trance at the end of a Howard Beale Show...

You could help me out with Howard if you wanted to.

You do whatever the tube tells you.

You don't puff or snorkle...

You even shatter the sensations of time and space...

You get up on your little 21 inch screen...

You get your psychiatrists, I'll get mine.

You go along with this?

You going to sit still for this, Ed?

You gonna be a household word.

You got your whole life ahead of you."

You gotta get the Ecumenicals to bring in that film footage for us.

You guys get it three hours earlier in New York. Clarence, take it easy.

You had a minute and a half of that lady riding a bike naked in Central Park.

You had less than a minute of hard national and international news.

You have 40 million Americans listening to you.

You have a pregnant daughter in Seattle, don't you?

You have meddled with the primal forces of nature, Mr. Beale.

You hung around until 7:30 and then came all the way down here...

You just might be right, Mr. Beale.

You keep your hands off my news division, Frank.

You know, Barbara...

You know, I bumped into Sibyl the Soothsayer in the elevator last week.

You know, Max, it's just possible that he isn't insane.

You like a home and kids. That's beautiful. I'm incapable of any such commitment.

You needn't bother to read them. I'll tell them to you.

You remember the Mary Ann Gifford kidnapping?

You should be a grandfather yourself about now.

You think you've merely stopped a business deal.

You understand that, don't you?

You want me out, you're gonna have to drag me out kicking and screaming...

You wouldn't believe it.

You, Max, you better have some answers...

You!

You're a young man.

You're beginning to believe the illusions we're spinning here.

You're beginning to think the tube is reality and that your own lives are unreal.

You're being docile as hell about this.

You're dealing with a man that has primal doubts, Diana...

You're fired. I want you out of this building by noon.

You're his goddamn agent. I'm counting on you to talk some sense into the lunatic.

You're in for some dreadful grief, Max.

You're madness, Diana.

You're married, surely?

You're not gonna get this dumped in your lap...

You're not seriously gonna pull Beale off the air?

You're not the boozer type.

You're not the worst fuck I've ever had. Believe me, I've had worse.

You're off the air as of now.

You're on TV, man."

You're one of Howard's humanoids...

You're television incarnate, Diana.

You're young, you got your whole life ahead of you."

You've got to say, "I'm a human being, goddamn it. My life has value."

Your indignation has been duly recorded. You can always resign tomorrow.

Your last roar of passion before you settle into your emeritus years.

Your Network News is going to need some help, Max, if it's gonna hold.

Your position is no longer tenable...

"A call to morality." I don't know where he is.

Afternoon, Mr. Ruddy. Good afternoon.

All right, cut him off. Leave him on.

and a breach of the consent decree. I don't think Jensen's gonna fire anybody.

Anybody want coffee? MAN: I'd love some.

Are you keeping busy? Oh, in a fashion.

Arthur, anything litigable? Not so far.

Barbara, is Tommy around anywhere? I think so.

by the broadest possible coalition...

Can the government stop the deal? They can hold it up.

Could be up to our ears in lawsuits. The affiliates won't carry it.

Did the overnight ratings come in yet? They're on your desk.

Did you try it? BOY 2: I'm not gonna try it, you try it.

Didn't you hear him? He just said What's wrong now?

Do you have a favorite restaurant? I eat anything.

Do you have to get back to the office? Nothing that can't wait.

Do you want me to go through this? FRANK: Yes.

Don't tell me you don't know. Could be jumping off a roof for all I know.

except I just ran out of bullshit.

Get him off. What's the matter with you?

Get your fucking hands off. Turn the sound off. He's going out live!

Ha, ha! DIANA: Why not?

Have you flipped? I think we better get him off.

He's waiting for you, Mr. Ruddy. ED: Thank you.

Hello, Howard, how are you? HOWARD: Hi. Okay.

How are you now? I'm as mad as a hatter.

How do you do, Mr. Beale? I must make my witness.

I can't hear you. Turn the studio mike on.

I want you to get up right now, get up... Stay with him.

I'm gonna make a lot of noise about this. Great. We need all the press we can get.

I'm not gonna try it. Let's get Mikey.

I'm sorry. This Beale business... It's all right.

In what way? Well...

Is that the fact, Max? That's the fact.

Is that you, Howard? Mm hm.

Let's not discount federal action... I'll hire professional killers.

Listen, Max, I'd like another shot. Oh, come on, Howard.

Look, could we have the room? MAN: Sure.

Mr. Hackett's trying to get through to you. Tell Mr. Hackett to go fuck himself.

No. We want a clear definition here.

Now get out of here! You need me! You need me badly.

of the bourgeois democratic state...

Oh, my God. By midnight tonight...

Okay, Dick, we'll be in touch. Right. You remember this kid?

Ready, VTA? Yeah. Okay.

So you're gonna cancel the show. Right.

splintered underground groups?

The bottomless pit is here. DIANA: That's him?

The FCC'd kill us. Sit down, Nelson.

There must be a hundred people. How?

They tell me you're a madman. Only desultorily.

They yelling in Atlanta? Are they yelling in Atlanta?

Things have got to change... How many stations does this go to?

This is Ed Fletcher in Vienna. Take two, cue Howard.

This is the dumbest thing I've ever seen. HOWARD: That's my head.

through all this pointless pain, humiliation and decay...

Tonight we go back to straight news. Okay.

Two, you have the window to pull. WOMAN: Twenty five.

Uh, did you hear that? What was that about?

Wait till you see it. The Ecumenical Liberation Army.

Was I ever that young? Ha, ha.

We're back on in 11 seconds. WOMAN: Ten seconds.

We're flying Snowden up from Washington. Everybody, hold it.

Well, goddamn, we'll see about that. All right, take it easy.

What do you mean, "have a crack at it"? I'd like to program it for you. Develop it.

What do you want me to do? Nothing.

What does that come out? WOMAN: About 4:50.

What kind of show did you have in mind? I'm interested in a weekly dramatic series...

What's so goddamn funny? I can't help it, Harry. It's funny.

Where you going? I wanna see if anybody's yelling.

Who are you talking to, Herb? HERB: WCGG, Atlanta.

Yeah? MAN: I've got Howard on the other line.

yesterday for further consultations with his government.

You're kidding. Apparently...

...$10,000 a week in order to turn in authentic film footage...

...a hard drinking detective who thinks women belong in the kitchen...

...a hostage of would be assassins.

...a nation of independent individuals.

...a plan for the coordination of the main profit centers.

...a rejection of the happy American family.

...a sick, sick, dying, decaying, political concept writhing in its final pain.

...a younger girl who's starting at Northwestern in January.

...about my maverick days in the great early years of television.

...about the early days of television.

...achievable in this fiscal year, a year, in short, ahead of schedule.

...after taking into account $110 million...

...all ages, colors, creeds.

...all anxieties tranquillized...

...all boredom amused.

...All in the Family and Phyllis.

...all necessities provided...

...all the same to you as bottles of beer.

...and 20 other American companies.

...and 62 million other Americans are listening to me right now.

...and a brilliant and beautiful young girl cop...

...and a lot of kidnapped heiresses. This is Mary Ann Gifford.

...and a terrified young woman with a father complex.

...and again yesterday in San Francisco.

...and all of this gutter depravity comes to an end.

...and all of those things that you think sentimental...

...and all the other CCA deals.

...and all we say is, "Please, at least leave us alone in our living rooms.

...and as replaceable as piston rods.

...and ask Howard Beale about you, and he says you're doing fine. Are you?

...and because I personally admired you since I was a kid majoring in speech...

...and can't wait to get my clothes back on and get out of that bedroom.

...and certainly Joe Donnelly in Standards and Practices.

...and coming back to you, because the audience won't buy...

...and compute price cost probabilities of transactions and investments...

...and democratic movements into a united front.

...and Dupont, Dow, Union Carbide, and Exxon.

...and even to some great unseen living force.

...and flourishing of every individual in it.

...and football players. We're in the boredom killing business.

...and galactic structure of things today.

...and give the White House to Doris.

...and Hackett's nothing but a hatchet man for CCA.

...and had six years of analysis and pretended to be sane.

...and have you tell me you're in love with somebody else.

...and he assured me the news division was safe.

...and he hasn't a thing to say about anything anymore.

...and he wants Howard to go back on and do his angry man thing.

...and his own little mod squad?

...and howl about America and democracy.

...and I can tell you right now that tonight's show will get a 30 share, at least.

...and I figured I might as well start tonight.

...and I had an affair with my analyst.

...and I hope no others, capitulate...

...and I said, "I'm sorry, you will have to talk a little louder."

...and I think I'm gonna steal them for $3.5 million with a third run.

...and I want an option for a third run on all of them.

...and I won't say anything. Just leave us alone!"

...and I'd better check it out with the Great Ahmed Kahn.

...and I'd like to bust them.

...and I'll tell you the agencies are coming back to me with $4 CPM's.

...and I'm talking about a $6 cost per thousand show.

...and if I stay with you, I'll be destroyed.

...and if merger is eventually accomplished...

...and its trend of shares dipped under 48 for the first time since last November.

...and love.

...and make death like rattles.

...and now they must put it back!

...and recriminate and ugly little scenes like the one we had last night.

...and says they want to put the ongoing struggle of the oppressed masses...

...and served us with a subpoena.

...and so does everybody that Howard and I know in this industry.

...and so far, all that's happened has been one many splendored night.

...and subatomic...

...and tell me that man is a noble creature...

...and that can constitute inducement to commit a crime.

...and that nobody ever gets cancer in Archie Bunker's house.

...and that the reorganization of the division...

...and that's only what we know about.

...and the biggest banks in this country.

...and the district attorney who is brilliant and sometimes cuts corners.

...and The Mao Tse Tung Hour can start carrying its own time slot.

...and The Mao Tse Tung Hour could use a sensational opener.

...and the oil crisis, but first get up out of your chairs...

...and the right to protect our sources.

...and the Russians, and the crime in the street.

...and the shrieking nothingness you live the rest of the day.

...and the trend irreversible, if it isn't already.

...and the whole CBS gang when we were there.

...and the whole division kicking with me!

...and then I said, "Okay."

...and then let's meet in my office at 10:00 tonight.

...and then turn the show over to Jack Snowden.

...and they hold every pledge we've got.

...and this is my last broadcast.

...and to get production rolling on the shows for the coming season.

...and we will coordinate our statements to the least detriment of everyone.

...and we've got ourselves a series.

...and you've got to cope with it.

...and, uh, been to a couple of christenings.

...announced at the stockholders' meeting this afternoon was kept secret from me.

...are turning their dials to Channel 3 and that's our channel!

...are washed through Switzerland and Canada...

...as if that's the way it's supposed to be. We know things are bad.

...as one of their shows.

...as our competition for next year? MAN: That's him.

...at the annual CCA management meeting.

...at the University of Missouri.

...at the University of Missouri.

...at which we're gonna announce the restructuring of management plan.

...automobile smashups.

...back on the air yelling "bullshit"?

...based on the Ecumenical Liberation Army. And I'll tell you right now...

...because he had lousy ratings.

...because I'm beginning to get scared shitless.

...because if you don't, I will.

...because we're having a lot of trouble selling The Mao Tse Tung Hour.

...believe me, that man is full of bullshit.

...birds, all the animals of the world...

...but at least you're capable of self preservation."

...but first they have to file notice with the government.

...but which my generation calls simple, human decency.

...by a shrill, sibilant, faceless voice.

...by a terrorist group called the Ecumenical Liberation Army.

...by doing the show in collaboration with the news division.

...called the Ecumenical Liberation Army, two of whom were apprehended.

...called the Ecumenical Liberation Army...

...celebrating historically deviational terrorism.

...children with incurable diseases and lost puppies.

...clearly suggesting the novelty was wearing off.

...complaining about foul language. FRANK: Shit.

...controls the most awesome, goddamn propaganda force...

...creating political confusion with wildcat violence and pseudo insurrectionary acts...

...demonstrating the rising up of the seminal prisoner class infrastructure?

...drive into the Western Union offices in town.

...due to the phenomenal success of the Howard Beale Show.

...each week we open with an authentic act of political terrorism...

...effective in two weeks.

...eleven, 10, nine, eight, seven... MAN 1: Roll VTA.

...even if he's as mad as Moses.

...for 90 minute or longer television programs."

...for all of us to play, like the Movie of the Week.

...for the assassination of Howard Beale as our opening show.

...for the first time in five years.

...for the rest of your days. You can't piss it away.

...for this colossally stupid prank.

...for those nuts that come to stockholders' meetings.

...for what the trade calls powwows and confabs...

...for whom all men will work to serve a common profit...

...go to your windows, open them and stick your head out and yell:

...Hackett's been taking over everything.

...had been consulted and satisfied.

...hairbrushes and electronic equipment.

...has to be entirely in her control.

...has written this dumb book about the great early years of television.

...hire writers to write some story behind that footage...

...how much more to increase the price of oil.

...I have decided to kill myself.

...I want a million telegrams in the White House.

...I would get involved with a craggy, middle aged man...

...I would like to announce that I will be retiring from this program...

...I would've explained that I thought Frank Hackett precipitate...

...I'd been plugged into some great electromagnetic field.

...I'll be standing here telling you we've got the top five.

...I'm going to take over your Network News show...

...IBM, ITT, AT&T, Dupont, U.S. Steel...

...in a shocking and disgraceful episode.

...in front of the stockholders?

...in his little chair and he's going to say: "That's very good, Frank, keep it up."

...in television, if you'd let me have a crack at it.

...in the amount of $21 million...

...in the entire CCA empire.

...in the high 20s, possibly 30, with a comparable Q level.

...in the person of booby here, comes to me...

...in the whole godless world!

...in the whole godless world...

...in two weeks' time because of poor ratings.

...in which all men will hold a share of stock...

...in which there's no war or famine...

...including one I've been wanting to make a long time.

...inexorably determined by the immutable bylaws of business.

...interwoven, interacting, multi variate...

...into split seconds and instant replays.

...into which you can stick whatever propaganda.

...is "dehumanization" such a bad word?

...is destroyed.

...is the consolidation of the revolutionary, radical...

...is the idea that this great country is dedicated to the freedom...

...it had the worst programming record in television history.

...it was foundering with less than 7 percent of national television revenues...

...Jim Webbing, the Vox Populi, have all developed their own audiences.

...just as he began this evening's broadcast.

...just like we do.

...just look at your watch, at the end of the hour he's gonna win!

...just to pitch a couple of loony showbiz ideas...

...known to millions as the Mad Prophet of the Airways...

...let's show her how we feel about her.

...like some penitent drunk?

...man, I tell you I saw it!

...maybe even a series.

...mimeographed pamphlets on ghetto street corners.

...more than equaling all the other network news shows combined.

...most network programs being sold at station rates.

...Mr. Ford says he will not become a prisoner of the Oval Office...

...Mr. Jensen wants me in his office tomorrow morning...

...Ms. Hobbs, wants it up front that the political content of the show...

...multinational dominion of dollars.

...multiplied by the unexpired portion of the contract.

...next year we're number one!

...not merely the net amount remitted after payment to the sublicensee or distributor."

...numbered insensate things.

...occurred in full view of his millions of viewers.

...of a heart condition, and woe is us, we're in a lot of trouble.

...of a national television network are sitting around their salads

...of building a home and raising a family and all the senseless pain...

...of Laureen Hobbs and two fatigue jackets muttering mutilated Marxism.

...of lunacies that constitute the news.

...of making each division more responsive to management.

...of negative cash flow from the network.

...of such loveliness.

...of the communications complex.

...of the Union Broadcasting Systems and he died at 11:00 this morning...

...of their revolutionary activities...

...on every network, group and affiliate in this country.

...on prime time television, I have to regard this askance.

...on the revolutionary underground. Most is tedious stuff...

...one. MAN: VTA?

...open it and stick your head out and yell:

...open the window, stick your head out and yell and say it!

...oppression or brutality.

...our vice president in charge of programming.

...part of a bank in California...

...per package of five James Bond movies...

...perfect world...

...presumably Oliver Wendell Holmes by way of Dr. Zorba.

...putting on a pornographic Network News show.

...raise your children like the tube, you think like the tube.

...regardless of how management is restructured.

...reporting with seemly detachment the daily parade...

...returns to his wife...

...save that it is spaceless and timeless and...

...say, once a week, Friday...

...scorned wife throws peccant husband out scene.

...shortly after 2:00 in the morning...

...sitting in an office with a craggy middle aged man...

...sitting in Mr. Ruddy's office on the 20th floor!

...so depressed that my daughter flew all the way from Seattle to be with her.

...so goodbye, good luck, I'll see you Monday.

...so he can personally chop my head off.

...so I'm saying go to 3.5...

...so there better be someone who does know.

...statistical decision theories, minimax solutions...

...storytellers, dancers, singers, jugglers, sideshow freaks, lion tamers...

...surpassed only by The Six Million Dollar Man...

...taken on the spot, in the actual moment.

...that can look around this slaughterhouse of a world we live in...

...that he's tired of all the bullshit. He's articulating the popular rage.

...that Howard Beale advanced in the days that followed.

...that Howard's been under great personal stress, et cetera.

...that I tell you, Frank, could just go through the roof...

...that I want angry shows.

...that if we get rid of Beale, we should maintain a respectable share...

...that is absolutely sensational. Authentic stuff.

...that is the destructive force here.

...that never knew anything that didn't come out of this tube.

...that sells for 100,000 bucks a minute?

...that the most pressing political necessity today...

...that the most savage thing she can say to a man is to impugn his cocksmanship?

...that today we had 15 homicides and 63 violent crimes...

...that volatility in business usually reflected bad management.

...that we have inflicted on each other, I'm damned if I'm gonna stand here...

...that we would discuss all that at our regular meeting tomorrow morning.

...that you'd back my autonomy against any encroachment.

...the Arabs have decided to jack up the price of oil another 20 percent.

...the autumn of one's years.

...the Bank of the Commonwealth in Detroit.

...the Communication Corporation of America.

...the communications complex may well become...

...the first known instance of a man who was killed...

...the Howard Beale Show dropped one point in the ratings...

...the Howard Beale Show had settled in on a 42 share...

...the Howard Beale Show was down 11 points.

...the least I require is respect and allegiance.

...the most advanced country, light years ahead of any country.

...the news division would be reduced from an independent division...

...the ratings went up five points last night...

...the totality of life on this planet.

...the towering and most profitable center...

...they buy up a controlling share of the stock...

...they were already knee deep in telegrams.

...they won't tell the SEC, the FTC, they won't tell the Justice Department...

...till 6 tomorrow morning.

...to a department accountable to network.

...to announce that he was gonna kill himself.

...to articulate their rage for them.

...to be resolutely resisted.

...to come right back and, with our own money, buy General Motors...

...to increase the price of oil. Saudi Arabian...

...to preach the corporate cosmology of Arthur Jensen.

...to preach this evangel.

...to see that...

...to stand up and fight for your heritage, and you did, and it was beautiful.

...to the American people.

...to the Beale corporation be?

...to those that want to undercut...

...to withdraw the number one show on television out of pique.

...tomorrow's news for you.

...toward becoming a CCA board member.

...transistorized, deodorized...

...triggered by his death or incapacity.

...twenty downtown pieces of Boston. A part of the port of New Orleans.

...two, one. MAN 1: Three, cue announcer.

...um, hijacking 747s, bombing bridges, assassinating ambassadors.

...unless Beale is taken off the air.

...until we can sort all this out.

...was a gesture made out of your stature in the industry...

...was listed as the fourth highest rated show of the month...

...was shot to death tonight in a fusillade of automatic rifle fire...

...we know that democracy is a dying giant...

...we're talking about putting a manifestly irresponsible man on national television.

...were determined week by week.

...what the first show has to be: a special on Mary Ann Gifford.

...what's all good in America.

...whatever the hell one does when one approaches...

...when you knew goddamn well I'd laugh you right out of the office.

...when you're soliciting audiences like the rest of us.

...where she's Count Vronsky and I'm Anna.

...which is suggestively occult, and she could oraculate.

...which the Communist Party does not endorse.

...which were our key core markets.

...while they were ripping off the bank?

...whiter than white steel belted bodies, totally unnecessary as human beings...

...who are not buying CCA for themselves, but as agents for somebody else.

...who go around taking home movies of themselves robbing banks.

...who knows what shit will be peddled for truth on this network.

...who predicted all that about, uh, emotional involvements and middle aged men.

...who see visions of the Virgin Mary.

...who thinks in terms of nations and peoples.

...who was the Network News anchorman on UBS TV.

...who was the president of the news division at UBS.

...who's always getting heat from the commissioner...

...who's fighting the feminist battle. DIANA: We're up to our ears in lady cops.

...whose leader is an eccentric, to say the least.

...will be writing two editorials a week about us.

...with a certain sinister silkiness...

...with a craggy middle aged man.

...with an 8 rating and a 12 share.

...with definable features.

...with her husband's mistress. What do you think?

...with its $98 million budget and its average annual deficit of 32 million.

...with our West Coast programming execs...

...with projected losses of close to $150 million.

...with Sibyl the Soothsayer.

...with the base period in 1975.

...with the primal forces of nature!

...with their lousy game shows...

...with whom he's established a long and sustaining love.

...with whom you are, or will be, emotionally involved."

...without some support on the CCA board.

...working as licensed brokers on Wall Street?

...would not be executed until everyone, specifically you, Max...

...would you say, Diana?

...you can have my resignation along with Max Schumacher's right now.

...you come back in one of these middle aged moods.

...you put on a news show and here's somebody who can predict...

...you'd all better read it, or I'll sack the fucking lot of you, is that clear?

...you'd know a lot more about that, Frank, than I would.

...you're the hard bitten realist.

"'Subsidiary rights' means without limitation any and all rights..."

"Equal to 20 percent, 20, except that such percentages shall be 30 percent, 30...

"Gross proceeds should consist of all funds the sublicensee receives...

"I just had a fleeting vision of you...

"I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take this anymore!"

"I'm as mad as hell and I'm not gonna take this anymore!"

"I'm as mad as hell and I'm not gonna take this anymore!"

"I'm as mad as hell and I'm not gonna take this anymore.

"I'm as mad as hell. I'm not gonna take this anymore!"

"I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take this anymore!"

"I'm taking our one hit show off the air"?

"Look, we're running a news department, not a circus.

"Take me to the middle of the George Washington Bridge."

"We're not going to take this!"

"We're not talking about eternal or absolute or ultimate truth.

"Where the hell are you? You're supposed to be on the George Washington Bridge."

[ALARM CLOCK BUZZES]

[ALARM STOPS]

[ALL CHATTERING]

[ALL CHATTERING]

[ALL CHEER]

[ALL CHEERING AND APPLAUDING]

[ALL CHEERING AND APPLAUDING]

[ALL CHEERING AND APPLAUDING]

[ALL CHEERING AND APPLAUDING]

[ALL CHEERING]

[ALL LAUGHING]

[ALL LAUGHING]

[ALL LAUGHING]

[ALL SHOUTING]

[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]

[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]

[AUDIENCE CHATTERING]

[BOTH LAUGHING]

[BOTH LAUGHING]

[BOTH LAUGHING]

[BOTH LAUGHING]

[BOTH LAUGHING]

[BOTH LAUGHING]

[CHUCKLES]

[DIALING PHONE]

[DIANA CHUCKLES]

[DIANA COUGHS]

[DIANA LAUGHING]

[DIANA LAUGHS]

[DIANA SHRIEKS]

[DIANA SIGHS]

[DOOR CLOSES]

[FORK CLANGS]

[FRANK SIGHS]

[HOWARD GROANS]

[HOWARD PANTING]

[LAUGHS]

[LAUGHS]

[LAUGHS]

[LOWERS VOLUME]

[MEN LAUGHING]

[MUTTERING]

[NEIGHBORS SHOUTING]

[NEIGHBORS SHOUTING]

[OVERLAPPING CHATTER]

[OVERLAPPING TV CHATTER]

[PANTING]

[PHONE BUZZES]

[PHONE BUZZES]

[PHONE BUZZES]

[PHONE BUZZING]

[PHONE RINGING]

[PHONE RINGING]

[PHONE RINGING]

[PHONE RINGING]

[PHONE RINGS]

[PIANO PLAYING SOFT MUSIC]

[PICKS UP PHONE]

[REPORTERS CLAMORING]

[SIGHS]

[SIGHS]

[SIGHS]

[SIGHS]

[SIGHS]

[SOBBING]

[SOBBING]

[SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]

[THEME MUSIC PLAYING AND AUDIENCE CHEERING]

[THEME MUSIC PLAYING]

[THEME MUSIC PLAYING]

[THEME MUSIC PLAYING]

[THEME MUSIC PLAYING]

[THUNDER CRASHING]

[THUNDER RUMBLING]

[THUNDER RUMBLING]

[THUNDER RUMBLING]

[WHISPERS INDISTINCTLY]

50 share easy. You think so?