text / [US] Paddy Chayevsky
translation / dry bodybuilding
narration: "This is a story that happened to Howard Bill, the TV news host of the
United Broadcasting Corporation ." United Broadcasting Corporation TV station.
In the surveillance room, four huge televisions were turned on at the same time, showing the TV news festivals of the four major U.S. broadcasters-CBS, National Broadcasting Corporation, ABC, and United Broadcasting Corporation. The volume of the four televisions were all turned off, leaving only the four presenters on the screen squirming their mouths mechanically and quickly, while constantly changing the expressions on their faces with the content of the news.
The host of the United Broadcasting Company’s TV news is a silver-haired man. He is elegant, generous and decent when he broadcasts. He is both solemn and humorous. This is the man in the TV industry and the idol in the eyes of the audience-Howard Beal.
Behind him, the news screen is constantly changing: Honduras was hit by a hurricane, Teddy Kennedy announced his abandonment of the presidential candidate, Kissinger will make an important speech on energy at the UN General Assembly tomorrow...
Narrator: "... However, in 1969, his audience was reduced to 22%, and in 1972 it was further reduced to 15%. By 1973, he was widowed in middle age and became a childless widower. There were only eight, and only 12% of the audience remained. Since then, he has become lonely and perverse. He often drunk his sorrows and drunk. On September 22, 1975, he was finally fired. The company notified him within two weeks. Leaving. The first to tell him the news was Max Schumacher..."
September 22, 1975.
It was half past eleven in the middle of the night. Near 55th Street in New York.
The surroundings are silent. Except for a few idlers looking around in front of the window of a major department store, the sidewalk was almost empty.
After a while, two drunk middle-aged men staggered across the street.
Narrator: "...He was the director of the United Broadcasting Corporation's press department at the time, and was Howard's old friend for many years. On this day, they drank again..."
On the street.
Two people approached gradually, and one of the silver-haired people was Howard Bill, whom we had already seen on TV. The other one seems to be in his early 50s, and what is easy to impress at the first meeting is his messy hair and his square face with very obvious edges and corners. He is Max Schumacher.
The two of them walked forward staggeringly, and at the same time they tried to turn their tongues that were not very flexible, and tried to tell some interesting stories, bursting out from time to time-bursts of laughter.
Suddenly, Howard, who was laughing up to the sky, staggered and almost fell. He hurriedly hugged a postbox on the sidewalk, and kept asking: "When is this?"
Max: "1951."
Howard opened his red eyes, thinking hard: " …I was working with Ed Murrow at CBS in 1951. Aren’t you also under Murrow?”
Max shook his head, indifferently: “Then it was 1950. I was national at the time. Associate producer of the broadcaster, hosting the morning news program. I was only twenty-six years old at the time and I was a kid. Anyway, anyway, they are building the lower part of the Washington Bridge and we are also installing remote controls there. Device. But no one notified me..." For some
reason, Howard laughed out inexplicably. He laughed so that his shoulders were shaking violently, and his hands were tightly holding the postbox so that he would not fall to the ground. Max had to raise his voice and yelled to finish his story.
Max: "...Just after ten o'clock in the morning, I received a call:'Where did you die? You should be on the Washington Bridge now!' So I jumped out of the bed, outside of my dressing gown a windbreaker jacket, in a hurry to go out into the street, I stopped a taxi, opened the door a dig, directed at the driver said: 'fast, the Washington Bridge!' "
here he also Can't help laughing with Howard. After a while, he stopped laughing easily, wiped the tears that overflowed from the corner of his eyes, and gasped and continued: "...The driver turned his head away and said to me, don't think so, friend...you are still young. The road to life is still long..."
He finally couldn't help laughing again. The two people leaned on the post box and laughed like crazy, the laughter spreading far and far in the quiet street-
three o'clock in the morning. bar.
The light in the bar is dim and the air is very dull. Most of the customers have already left, and the room appears empty.
In one corner, Mikes and Howard were still drinking from their glasses. They had bloodshot eyes and muddy eyes, and they were already drunk, but no one was willing to stop, they continued to drink and talk indiscriminately.
Howard stared straight ahead, and said vaguely: "I want to commit suicide..."
Max put down his glass: "Oh, Howard..."
Howard: "I want to use a gun on TV, when hosting news programs. Open your head, just like the girl in Florida a few months ago..."
Mikes suddenly thought of something and said hurriedly: "Excellent, so your ratings will increase greatly. I tell you, you will Easily win over 50% of the audience..."
Howard languidly: "Really?"
Mikes went on excitedly and went on: "We can make a series! The title is called "Suicide Case of the Week". We You can open it up a bit more and have some programs that are welcome by ladies and ladies, such as "Death Penalty of the Week." Let them sit in front of the TV every Sunday night and watch people beheaded or hanged while they wear sweaters. Electrode death, poisoned death with poisonous gas... As for the poster, we can draw a monster with a human face and a beast heart and a rope around its neck. We can also consider filming a set of "The Rape of the Week"..."
Howard seemed to have been inspired, and then said. "And "The Horror Case of the Week"..."
Mike picked up the cup and placed it heavily on the table: "It's wonderful!"
Howard: "How about another set of "Casino 74"? Every week Throw a few Christians into the mouth of the lion’s blood basin..."
Under the stimulation of alcohol, Mikes was so excited that he almost lost his self-control, clamoring loudly: "Awesome! It's called "Death Show"! Great! Suicide, assassination, crazy bullets, mafia, barbershop Murders in the witches, human sacrifices in the witch stove, car collisions... "Death Show"! Every Sunday night, the audience will sit in front of the TV with their family and watch with relish. We can make Disney from the TV from now on Disappear, let him..." He waved his hands vigorously, yelling nonstop to himself. Opposite him, Howard was on the table, his eyes closed slightly, as if he was about to fall asleep.
4:30 in the morning. Howard's bedroom.
Howard lay on the unrolled bed with his clothes, and fell asleep.
Suddenly, he sat up straight, his eyes widened in fear, and he screamed as if he had run into a ghost...
At eight o'clock in the morning, Howard's apartment.
The housekeeper hired by Howard, a middle-aged woman named Mrs. Merriman, opened the door of the apartment and walked in.
Mrs. Merriman took off her trench coat as she walked in the corridor and put it on her arm. At this time, a soft alarm bell sounded in the room. She walked into the dim living room, ignored her windbreaker and handbag, walked to the window and opened the thick curtains, and the room immediately lit up.
The alarm clock is still ringing. Mrs. Merriman listened attentively, and found that there was still nothing in the bedroom next door, she walked out puzzled.
She came to the bedroom door: gently pushed the door open a gap, and looked in.
In the bedroom, Howard wore yesterday's clothes, lying shrunk on the floor in the corner of the room, as if he was hit by someone and fell to the ground injured.
When Mrs. Merriman saw this, she couldn't help but stunned, and hurriedly walked to Howard, leaning over and asking nervously, "What's the matter with you, Mr. Bill?"
Howard slowly opened one eye and grunted in her throat: "I'm fine. Thank you. You, Mrs. Merriman." As he said, he stood up with difficulty on the floor with both hands.
Mrs. Merriman turned to the bed and reached out to turn off the small clock on the bedside table, which was still alarming.
Nine twenty in the morning. United Broadcasting Corporation Television.
Howard's office is a room that is neither spacious nor decorated. It is filled with various books, magazines, periodicals, photos, etc., and there are several certificates of merit hanging on the wall.
Howard wore a washed shirt and a black tie, and was sitting in front of the typewriter typing the press release that night. While he was beating, he stopped from time to time, picked up the glass on the table, and gulped the scotch in the glass.
The news editor complex connected to Howard's office.
This is the main office of the Press Office. Although the room is large, it is full of desks, bookshelves, typewriters, telex machines, etc. It still does not have enough space and is very crowded. The ringing of telephones, the sound of typewriters and telexes in the office are busy. The walls are covered with newspaper clippings and telegraphs, colorful, like a huge bulletin board. Four televisions were installed in the mid-air directly in front, and as usual, only the images were seen, but the sound was not heard. The various producers, associate producers, headline writers and news writers sat at their desks, immersed in their work.
With a wine glass in one hand, Howard opened the door and walked in. He crossed the rows of tables and came to a large bookshelf. He pulled out a reference book from dictionaries and magazines of various sizes and opened it for reference.
At this time, a young man walked up to him and told him to answer the phone. Howard nodded, put the reference book back in place, and walked out while drinking.
One p.m. Production director Harry Hunt's office.
This is another small room connected to the large office. Eight or nine people are squeezing into it to hold a daily meeting to preliminarily determine the content and procedures of the news program that night.
Except for Harry and Howard, the rest are young people in their 20s and 30s. Similarly, except for the two of them neatly dressed and sitting on chairs, the rest of them are dressed very casually, some standing, and some simply sitting on the table.
Howard leaned forward and picked up a bottle from the table, and poured whiskey into the glass in his hand: "...Well, three seconds later, the camera turned to Lennon and was expelled..."
Harry suspiciously: "I'm afraid there is not enough time, right? "
Howard took a sip of his drink: "Let's take a second. Let me start with a few opening remarks, then broadcast the advertisement, and then continue to report on the San Francisco assassination..."
A young man from the graphics department said: "About shooting The footage seems to last ten seconds..."
Another production assistant hurriedly interrupted: "The whole show is only one minute and twenty-five seconds."
Howard: "How long is it in total?" The
production assistant: "About four. Minutes and fifty seconds."
Another associate producer turned his head and asked Harry, "Is Squiqui Frome, too?"
Harry nodded, "We will broadcast in two parts. One is Squiqui, the other is Ford. At the airport, and then'bang'-shooting. A map of San Francisco is also used."
The young man in the graphics department said hurriedly, "I think it's better to use news photos."
Howard drank the wine in the glass in one gulp. He picked up the bottle again: "What else hasn't been discussed?" The
production assistant replied with his fingers folded: "Gun control, Chad's guerrillas, Vienna's OPEC meeting..."
6:28 pm point. TV news dressing room.
Howard is doing the final preparations before the show. He looked in the mirror, took off the absorbent makeup paper from the collar, then picked up a stack of press releases, took a sip from the wine glass on the makeup rack, turned and walked out.
News studio.
The indoor lighting was bright, and several cameras were aimed at a long curved table in the center of the room. The cameraman, assistant director, assistant producer and other staff stood in their respective positions and waited quietly.
Howard walked in, smiled and nodded to everyone, then walked to the long table and sat down. He placed the press release in front of him, while raising his head, he nodded to the window of the control room upstairs.
Control room.
The hand of the wall clock pointed to six thirty. The director in charge of the news program sat in front of a row of TV sets with production assistants, technicians and others, staring at the images on the screen. There is also a small room like a large glass box in the room, which is the sound engineer's work room.
On TV, Washington reporter Jack Snowman was reporting on the scene after President Ford's attempted assassination in San Francisco.
Snowman: "...Eighteen days ago, someone tried to assassinate President Ford for the first time. A similar incident happened the other day..." The
director suddenly frowned and whispered into the microphone: "Lu, put the bottom That line is shut down."
Snowman: "...but despite repeated assassinations..."
At this time, Snowman's image was lost from the screen and replaced by President Ford when he arrived at the San Francisco airport.
Snowman (voice-over): "President Ford insisted that he would never become a prisoner in the Oval Office, or an assassin..." The
technician stared at the screen while counting down into the microphone: " ...Twenty-five, twenty-four..." On the
TV, President Ford was steadfastly speaking to the crowd waiting at the airport: "The American people are kind people..."
Behind the director, Harry Hunt Flirting with the female secretary: "Why do you always like to be entangled with married men?"
President Ford: "...whether it is Democrats, Independents, Republicans, or other people..." The
director heard Harry and The female secretary was still flirting and scolding, and couldn’t help but turn around to make fun: "Sheila, if you really like married men, why do you have to go so hard to find strangers? What do you think of me? ? "
President Ford:" in any case ...... ...... "
technician:" ...... ten seconds, nine seconds, eight seconds ...... "
director busy Zhuaqihuatong:" the time is coming. "
President Ford:" If ...... He wants to destroy everything that is true, good, and beautiful in American society..."
Director: "...one second."
The image of Howard Bill suddenly jumped onto the screen.
The production assistant said to the director: "The commercial will be broadcast in 30 seconds." The
director simply ordered: "Start the countdown." After that, he turned around and joked with Harry, the female secretary and others.
On the screen, Howard did not even look at the press release in his hand, and said: "Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to take this opportunity to announce to everyone that I will withdraw from this show in two weeks due to the decline in ratings. ..." In the
corner of the room, the director attached to the female secretary Sheila's ear and didn't know what to say, making the female secretary and Harrigg laugh. Upon seeing this, the technician hurriedly leaned forward.
Howard: "...Because this show is the only career I have devoted my life to, so I decided to quit and I will die..."
Horny Lori burst into laughter. The director is still talking vividly.
Howard: "...I tell you what I will do. From today, one week from now, I will open my head with a gun while hosting this show..."
At this time, the only one sitting there and looking at the TV screen The production assistant seemed to feel bad and frowned: "Ten seconds before the commercial."
Howard: "...So, don't miss the TV show next Tuesday. In this way, those who engage in public relations will I have a whole week to interpret the major events of this program, thereby increasing the ratings and easily winning 50% of the audience..." The
production assistant became even more puzzled, and hurriedly turned his head to greet the director who can speak vigorously: "Quickly, listen to what he's talking about." The
director turned around and looked at it, and ordered: "Ad A."
A set of commercial advertisements about cat food appeared on the screen.
The production assistant suspiciously said to the director who returned to the TV: "Just now, Howard said he will open his head next Tuesday." The
director couldn't help but froze, "What are you talking about?" The
production assistant anxiously: "You Didn't you hear? He said... "
At this moment, Harry seemed to feel that the atmosphere was not right, and he hurriedly dropped the female secretary and stepped forward and asked: "What, Howard said he will commit suicide next Tuesday? What do you mean by that?"
Production assistant Obviously nervous. He flipped through the stack of papers on the table subconsciously with his hands, and said: "He should have said a few opening remarks for the following commercials..."
The sound engineer also walked out of the glass room with an unusual expression, and interrupted, "He said don't miss the TV show next week, I'm going to get a gun..."
At this time, everyone in the control room focused on two stations. Monitor the entire TV station on the black and white TV screen. The screen is divided into small squares, showing the scenes in each workshop. In the studio, Howard is still sitting behind a long table, flushing and arguing with a few staff members wearing headphones and looking surprised.
Dao Guang hurriedly shouted into the microphone: "What's wrong?"
On the screen, a staff member looked up to the control room, and at the same time his voice came from the microphone: "I don't know. He said. , He wants to open his head..." The
director suppressed his anger, and said into the microphone: "What the hell is going on, Howard?"
Howard ignored the director and continued to wave his hands excitedly at the people around him. "You guys get out of here, okay? You're going to be on TV in a few seconds!" The
director couldn't help but cursed, "What the fuck is wrong with you, Howard?!"
Howard: "I can't hear you!" The
director was angry. Rushingly said to the sound engineer: "Turn on the microphone below!" The
sound engineer hesitated: "I will be on TV in eleven seconds..." But he went back to the glass room and turned on the microphone.
The production assistant was still counting down continuously: "Ten seconds, nine seconds..." The
deputy director
hurriedly gave instructions: "Ready for number two, ready for number two..." Harry couldn't help but see that the time was approaching, and the following was still in a mess. Anxiously yelled: "Howard, what's the matter with you guy? Is it dizzy?!" Suddenly, he realized that his deafening roar had entered the studio below, and hurriedly shouted to the sound engineer: "Turn off the microphone. Drop!"
The sound engineer who was walking out of the glass room didn't understand for a while: "What?"
Harry stomped anxiously, "Turn off that damn microphone! You idiot! All this will be broadcast live soon. That's it!" The
production assistant continued to count down: "Three, two, one,"
As soon as he uttered the word "one", the technician put his finger on a button. Suddenly, the cat food advertisement on the screen disappeared, and there was a scene of Howard and a few staff twisted together behind a long table. The sound engineer hurried into his glass room to turn off the microphone, but it was too late, and Harry and the director's roar flew on the TV:
Harry: "God! Turn it off! This will be broadcast live to the sixty-seven Splitting!"
Director: "Damn, I've never seen such a stupid thing!"
Max Schumacher's office.
Mikes sat behind the desk, staring dumbly at the chaotic scene on the TV in front of him.
On the screen, a staff member and an assistant director were desperately dragging Howard away from the long table. Howard struggled hard and kept beating with his fists.
Howard: "Go away!" There was a
loud noise from the TV:
"Quickly stop this show!"
"Drag him out!"
"Let him go away!"
"Oh, God, this stupid—"
on the table His phone rang quickly. Max grabbed the microphone, heard one sentence, and replied angrily: "How do I know?!" After speaking, he dropped the microphone and grabbed another one: "Give me the news control room!" on the
TV screen , Several people are still twisting into a ball almost hysterically. Suddenly, the screen went dark, and then another set of cat food ads appeared. This set of advertisements is intermittent and upside-down, apparently it was temporarily caught to make up the number. Then, there was another scene
on the screen showing the Vice President appointing Nelson Rockefeller to testify to the Senate Rules Committee... The call in the control room was connected, and Mikes didn't care to say anything, and ordered the microphone: "Turn off!" The
screen suddenly Blank. Max dropped the phone and strode out the door.
Outside the door, a staff member greeted me uninterestingly and asked, "What's the matter, Max?"
Max replied angrily, "How do I know? I'll go down and take a look!"
The four-story corridor where the studio is located.
The technician hurried out of the control room and was seeing Mike striding towards the studio below. He hurriedly shouted, "Oh, God, Mr. Schumacher!" Max ignored him and stepped into the studio. The technician quickly followed in.
Studio.
All of them stopped their work and were huddling together to talk about the farce just now, and they laughed softly from time to time.
In a corner of the room, Howard was pale and sat down dejected. Harry, the director, and several photographers and associate producers closely surrounded him.
Mike stepped into the room, glanced around majestically, and then went straight to the crowd in the corner. Everyone hurriedly flashed on both sides.
Harry greeted him and said, "Tom Cabel asked you to call him first after you come in."
Mikes nodded with a sullen face and fixed his eyes on Howard.
At this time, someone shouted: "Harry, Joe Sweeney is calling!"
Harry turned around and replied: "I won't answer the phone anymore! Tell them, Mr. Schumacher is here, and you have something to say to him!"
Mike Si didn't seem to hear Harry's words, still staring at Howard silently. After a while, he finally spoke: "Howard, I think you must be crazy. Are you drunk?" Seeing Howard didn't say a word, he asked everyone, "How much wine did he drink today?"
Harry and the others just said. To answer, I was interrupted by several voices that sounded at the same time in the room:
"Mr. Schumacher, please answer Mr. Carbell's call!"
"Mr. Schumacher, Zangwill is looking for you!"
"Harry, please answer three ." Thackery's phone on the number line!"
"..."
Howard slowly raised his head and stared at Max, who was still tight. Suddenly, he blinked and grinned.
Mikes frowned unconsciously. He turned his gaze to Harry: "You'd better find Mr. Chaney and Frank Hackett right away..."
At 10:47 in the evening. The elevator entrance on the fifth floor.
A forty-year-old man in a black tuxedo stepped out of the elevator and hurried to Room 509, the office of a senior official of the Press Service. He is Frank Hackett, the deputy director of the United Broadcasting Corporation television station, who is known for his ruthlessness and decisiveness.
Room 509 was crowded with people from the press office. When they saw Frank coming, they hurriedly stepped aside from the door, looking at him anxiously.
Frank walked in front of them and said to one of them: "Lu, can you make the hall downstairs clean? At least a hundred reporters squeezed in there. Just now, I used all my strength to make it difficult. They squeezed in."
Lu said with an embarrassed expression: "How can I blast them away, Frank?"
Frank didn't answer him, and turned back into Li's office.
Room 509.
This is the meeting place for senior officials of the Information Service. There are several doors in the room that lead to the offices of the Director of the Information Service and the offices of the Deputy Directors. At this moment, most of the dignitaries of the Press Office are holding an emergency meeting in the house to discuss how to deal with the sudden chaos.
Joe Donnelly, the deputy director in charge of sales, was calling sweating profusely: "...how many points of sale have you lost?"
Frank walked into the office and said to Walter Jaeni, the deputy director in charge of legal affairs. "Did any lawsuits happen?"
Walter was reading a transcript about the sudden interruption of the news program. Hearing Frank ask him, he raised his head and replied, "No."
Donnelly was still calling: "... We have to interrupt the program, Ed, otherwise, what else can we do? Don’t worry, we will compensate for all the losses.”
At this time, Arthur Zangwill, the official in charge of standards and routine affairs in the Information Service, said Mikes walked out of his office. Frank asked hurriedly: "Is Nelson there?"
Zangwill: "He is talking to Wheeler. So far, more than 900 people have called him, expressing dissatisfaction with the rude language on TV just now."
Frank could not help cursing: "Damn--" Then he walked towards Max's office.
Mikes office.
Mikes stood against the wall, bowed his head silently. Howard Bill sat on the sofa, still downcast, looking exhausted.
The director of the TV station Nelson Chaney, a fifty-two-year-old man of prominent status, was sitting behind Max’s desk with a sullen face and talking on the phone. When he saw Frank opening the door, he hurriedly said into the microphone: "Frank Hackett just came in..."
Milton Steinman, the deputy director of public relations, was using another phone. He said impatiently, "...Marty, I can't give you the tape right now, we haven't finished studying it ourselves..."
At this moment , someone reached in from the door and said to Milton, "ABC Here comes the tape again..."
Milton turned his head and said
angrily : "Tell him to go to hell!" He said to the microphone again: "You follow along, Marty!" Frank walked straight to Howard and simply ordered. : "You don't want to be on TV for now."
Howard slowly raised his head and looked at him blankly.
Nelson hurriedly handed the phone to Frank: "He wants to talk to you."
Frank didn't answer the phone right away, but turned to ask Mikes: "Who will replace Mr. Bill tomorrow?"
Mikes: "We have sent a plane to Washington to pick up Snow. Man."
Frank answered the phone and said quickly: "Walter has drafted a statement, I haven't had time to read it. I am attending a banquet and just rushed back..."
At this moment, Milton stretched out his hand and pressed Mike. A switch on the desk said: "Okay, don't talk for now, and watch what other TV stations are doing..."
The four TVs in the room were turned on at the same time, showing the other broadcaster TV stations and United The news program of the local branch of the broadcasting company.
CBS Television: "...Tonight, our sister station, United Broadcasting Corporation Television, has an unusual incident..."
United Broadcasting Corporation local branch: "Howard Bill, one of the famous broadcasters of the television station ,tonight……"
ABC Television: "...Howard Bill interrupted his news program tonight and announced..."
Frank clenched his fists unconsciously: "Damn--" He turned off the TV and gritted his teeth and asked Mike. S: "How are you going to end it?"
Mikes glanced at Frank and replied: "Hallover will make a short statement at the end of the news program to the effect that Howard has been under the weight of personal problems. That's why..."
Frank suddenly realized that he was still holding the phone in his hand, so he hurriedly said into the microphone: "John, I'll call you later." After speaking, he put down the phone and glanced at everyone. Said: "Okay. Tomorrow, we will hold a shareholder meeting, at which time we will announce the plan for reorganization and management. I hope that the weird incident today will not affect the normal progress of the meeting tomorrow. Therefore, I suggest that as soon as the meeting starts tomorrow, Let Mr. Rady say a few words to clarify the matter. You," he turned to Max, "Max, it’s best to make some preparations to deal with those who like to do nothing at shareholder meetings. ..."
Mikes was still leaning against the wall and looked at the domineering Frank coldly: "I'm ready, just say Mr. Bill has been under the pressure of personal problems and work..."
Frank was taken aback, then immediately Understand the sarcasm in Max's words. He suppressed his anger and said, "I'll surprise you by then, Mr. Schumacher! Your crappy press office, and the annual deficit of 32 million dollars, have already made me intolerable!"
Mikes When I was poked in the painful spot, I couldn't help turning into anger: "Please don't interfere with my press office! We are only responsible for cooperation, you can't control us!"
Frank gritted his teeth: "Let's wait and see!"
Cheney kept silent eyes. When the two of them were about to quarrel, they hurriedly stood up and finished the game: "Okay, don't get too excited. Now, how do we send Bill out? As far as I know, there are at least a hundred reporters and photographers waiting in the hall. There."
Mikes: "We sent a car to wait at the cargo exit. Howard is staying with me tonight. His apartment must be surrounded by journalists." The
next day (Wednesday) at ten o'clock in the morning. United Broadcasting Corporation.
It was another day of autumn, fresh and sunny. On the bustling Sixth Avenue, the United Broadcasting Corporation’s skyscraper stands eye-catchingly, with countless glass windows emitting dizzying light under the sunlight.
Mikes office.
Max rolled up his sleeve and was calling: "...I ask Snowman to be there before noon. Let Leicester cover the Rockefeller hearings and Doris report the White House news..."
At this time, his secretary He came in outside the door and reminded him: "Come on to the screening room, you are already late."
Mike hung up the phone, stood up, took off his coat from the back of his chair, put it on his body and hurriedly walked out:" If John Wheeler calls, please transfer me to the seventh screening room." The
seventh screening room.
This is a medium-sized screening room with only twenty seats. There are already two people waiting in the room. One is a young man with shabby clothes and shabby clothes named Bill Herron; the other is a beautiful woman full of charm-Diana Christensen, deputy director of the program. .
The two were standing next to the projector and talking, and suddenly the door rang and Mikes walked in. They are busy saying hello. Mikes apologized: "I'm sorry... it was all upset by this Bill..." He gave Diana a special attention and nodded at her.
While playing with the projector, Herron explained: "Diana wants to ask, can she watch it together?"
Max: "Yes." He sat down in a seat next to him and looked back at Dai. Anna: "Satisfied?"
Diana smiled silently. The lights in the room dimmed, and a white light came out of the projector and shone on the front screen.
Suddenly, the phone next to Mike rang. Max hurriedly picked up the microphone: "This is Max Schumacher. Oh, John, I finally found you. Listen, last night, I had a quarrel with Frank Hackett about Howard Bill. He Inadvertently revealed something about the shareholders meeting this afternoon. I was surprised by what they said... John, are they planning something that I don’t know?... John, I rely on you and Mr. Ruddy. Support to deal with that bastard... well, see you this afternoon." He hung up the phone, breathed a sigh of relief, and seemed to feel at ease.
On the screen, the censored documentary has just begun. A black woman in her thirties was talking endlessly.
Mikes asked puzzledly: "Who is this? Is that Laurin Hobbs?"
Herron replied in the dark, "Yes."
There were several blacks and whites sitting on the left and right of Miss Hobbs . They all wear big leather boots, sunglasses, and the costume of an urban guerrilla. Miss Hobbs faced the camera and continued: "...The Communist Party believes that the current political priority is to consolidate all revolutionary, radical and democratic movements and form a united front..." The
phone rang softly again. Up. Max picked up the microphone: "Hey...oh, damn! When, Louise? Okay, did he say anything...? Okay, thank you." He put down the phone, thought about it, and picked it up again: " Go to 4807."
Hobbs: "...The imperialist ruling group is in despair, and its answer to the revolution is suppression. In fact, the entire machinery of a bourgeois democratic state, especially its judicial and prison system, is falling apart... "The
call was connected, and Max said softly: "Harry, Howard left my apartment ten minutes ago. It is said that he is here. If he comes, please tell me immediately."
Hobbs: "...should be Form the widest alliance and defeat the fascist master's conspiracy before it comes out..."
Twenty minutes later. The seventh screening room.
The documentary is not over yet. On the screen, a few white people were walking down the street looking around.
Herron explained: “Next, we will see some truly extraordinary footage. Last week, a terrorist group called the World’s Liberation Army attacked the Flagstaff Independent Bank in Arizona. The whole process was filmed, but it was black and white. Look..." The
camera pans from the street to the interior of a bank. There are not many customers in the bank, and they are waiting in twos and threes at the windows of the tellers. After a while, five or six blacks and whites came in at the same time outside the door. They walked slowly to every corner, like a normal customer who came to deposit and withdraw money...
Diana looked at it with interest and asked. "The People's Liberation Army of the whole world...is the Patty Hirst kidnapping organization?"
Herron: "No. That's the Symbiosis People's Liberation Army, this is the All-sex People's Liberation Army, it's the kidnapping organization of Mary Ann Gifford. Now There are many such so-called revolutionary underground activities of the People’s Liberation Army. They often kidnap some heiresses... Look, that’s Mary..." On the
screen, a young white woman walked into the bank with a big bag and stood in front of the cashier's window. Behind the team.
Diana was dubious: "Are these shots really taken during the looting of this bank?"
Herron said with certainty, "Yes. You'll know when you look at it. I don't know if I should edit it, or just like that. Let go. Look, that's King Ahmed, he is the head..." On the
screen, the camera jumped a few times, and then stopped on a tall man who was pretending to fill out a deposit slip.
Diana excitedly: "It's a rare film. Where did you get it?"
Herron: "All my materials are from Laurin Hobbs. She is my contact with these organizations. People."
At this moment, Marie Ann Gifford on the screen suddenly pulled out a Czech submachine gun from her big pocket, raised her head high, and hit the ceiling with a shuttle. There was a sudden turmoil in the bank, and people were panicked. Some scrambled to flee for their lives, some were dumbfounded and at a loss...
Mikes was watching attentively, and the phone next to him rang again. He reached out and picked up the microphone: "Hey, okay, get him through."
Harry's office.
Harry leaned on the sofa and said to the microphone in his hand: "Howard, Max is on line four, you can talk to him."
Howard's office.
Howard: "...Listen to me, Mikes, I want to be on TV again..." The
seventh screening room.
While watching Mary and her gang frantically rob the bank on the screen, he said impatiently: "...Forget it, Howard."
Howard's office.
Howard earnestly: "I don't ask to host the whole show, I just want to show my face, say a few goodbyes, and then hand over the show to Jack Snowman." He paused and continued emotionally: " …I’ve been here for eleven years, Mikes. I still have a certain place in this industry. I don’t want to disappear like a clown. I want to be simple but decent with the audience. Say goodbye...you and Harry can review my text..."
Harry's office.
Harry, who was listening to Howard and Max talk from another extension, couldn't help but intervene and said: "...Max, I think this is good, it can relieve the pressure on this show. Howard, how much do you need? Time?" On the
phone, Howard was silent for a while, and then replied: "One minute and forty-five seconds, two minutes at most."
Harry: "Well, I will give you the first two minutes, and then let Jack Si Norman reports on Kissinger's speech at the United Nations..." The
seventh screening room.
The documentary is over. Diana excitedly talked with Herron in a low voice while walking towards the door.
Mikes was still on the phone: "...Listen, I'm not allowed to drink anymore, Howard..." He waved to Diana who was standing at the door looking back and saying goodbye to him with a smile.
Howard's office.
Howard: "...Okay, don't drink..." He slowly put down the microphone and let out a long breath. He sat motionless and thought for a while, and suddenly made a very strange face. Then he stood up, took off his coat, and threw it together on the chair. Then he rolled up his sleeves and walked over to the typewriter to sit down. He tilted his head and thought for a moment, and then he slapped quickly, while muttering vaguely in his mouth.
Outside.
A female production assistant was passing by the door of Howard's office. Suddenly, a strange low roar came from the open door. She was taken aback for a moment, and stopped unconsciously, and looked inside. She saw Howard type quickly while making various expressions, sometimes yelling, sometimes muttering... She couldn't help but widen her eyes and asked, "What's the matter with you, Mr. Bill?" she saw. Howard nodded at her inexplicably, and then asked, "Should I close the door for you, Mr. Bill?" Seeing Howard nodded again, she stretched her hand to the door and turned away.
Fourteen floors.
Diana and Herron came out of the elevator and walked to the glass door with the three red-painted characters "Program Department" written on them.
Diana's office.
Diana and Herron walked in one after another. Diana sat down on the chair behind the desk, and took a phone record handed to her by the secretary, and looked at it at a glance.
After a while, Qiao Ye Bosch, the deputy minister in charge of East Coast Affairs of the Program Department, walked in. Behind him were two people, a man and a woman. The man was Assistant Minister Tommy Pellegrino, and the woman was Barbara Schlesinger, chief of the feature film department. After entering the room, they nodded to Herron who was standing next to Diana, and then sat down on the sofa and chairs.
Diana put the phone record in her hand on the table and happily said to everyone: "Let me introduce this. This is Bill Herron from West Coast Special Programs." She introduced Barbara, Bosch, and Tommy. To Herron, then she couldn’t wait to say: "Listen, I just watched a film about the underground revolution that Herron brought up. It’s really amazing! Although most of the shots are of Laurin Hobbs and the other four. A guerrilla pretender talked about Marxism, but about eight minutes of it were about a bank robbery case. It was a real shot taken at the scene..." Seeing everyone looking at her in confusion, she quickly explained:" Do you remember the case of Mary Ann Gifford kidnapping the Sole? It was her group who did it. She also appeared in the film and fired with a submachine gun. What a rare sample! I think we can base it on it Make a "movie of the week" or even make a series..."
She became more and more excited. Tommy hurriedly interrupted her: "What series? What are we talking about?"
Diana breathed a sigh of relief, and further explained: "That's it. Now there are a group of militants claiming to be the People's Liberation Army around the world, shooting themselves everywhere. The bank’s live footage, take it home to show. Maybe they will also shoot movies like kidnapping the heiress, hijacking Boeing 707 airplane, blowing up the bridge, assassinating the ambassador, etc. We can hire some writers to write lines for these shots, It is broadcasted every week, which constitutes a series of films."
Bosch disbelieved: "A series of guerrilla bank robberies?"
Barbara: "What about the title? "The Stalin Program"?"
Diana "Why not? They still have death squads and special contingents. Didn't I send you the analysis report on this idea yesterday? Why, I didn't read it?"
Everyone glanced at each other and didn't answer.
Diana suddenly reduced her smile and said dissatisfiedly: "Uh, the report is to the effect that the American people have been overwhelmed by the ensuing riots, Watergate, inflation, economic depression, etc., and are increasingly depressed and depressed. They have avoided reality. , Provoking troubles, or indulging in pornography, but it doesn’t help. Evil still prevails and Christ becomes a drug-addicted male prostitute. The whole world seems to be plunged into madness, wandering aimlessly in space like an abandoned balloon. …So," she stood up and walked towards the door," the report concluded that the American people need someone to stand up and vent their anger. Since I took office six months ago, I have been To you, I want to make some angry shows. I don’t like to stick to the rules and arrange the shows according to traditional concepts. Instead, I like to make things that run counter to our culture and established concepts..." She closed the door and looked back. Come and continue: "Listen, I don't want to be too harsh on you, but you know, the program department I took over is the worst unit in the history of the TV industry. Our TV station can't come up with a program that can enter the top 20. , Has become the object of fun by other TV stations. Therefore, we must start planning a program to win in September next year. I plan to arrange a program based on the activities of a terrorist group. I want to listen to your young people’s opinions first. By the way," her face sank, "By the way, next time you receive a research report from me, you'd better read it all. Otherwise, I'll ask you all to get out. Did you hear that?"
Everyone looked at each other.
Diana turned to Herron: "I'm going to the West Coast in a few weeks, can you arrange for me to meet Laurin Hobbs?"
Herron: "Of course."
Three o'clock in the afternoon. Ballroom of the Hilton Hotel in New York.
In the splendid banquet hall, the United Broadcasting Corporation is holding its annual shareholder meeting. On the rostrum directly in front, seated the main persons in charge of the United Broadcasting Corporation and its various agencies, including the chairman of the board of directors Edward Lardy, the presidents of record companies and publishing companies, and the owners of their respective theaters. Representing the TV station at the meeting were the directors Nelson Chaney, Frank Hackett and Max.
In the audience, hundreds of shareholders were sitting in jeopardy, listening to Frank on the podium to introduce the situation of the TV station without missing a word.
Frank: "...But, management is management after all. When American Communications Corporation took over the United Broadcasting Corporation, its entire television network accounted for only 7% of the national television revenue, and most of the sections had to be sold based on ratings. Therefore, I’m happy to announce here that I will submit a reorganization management plan with the board of directors. The purpose of the plan is to coordinate the work of the major profit-making units. Specifically, to make each department better Obey management..."
Mikes, who was sitting in the second row of the rostrum heard this, curled his lips disapprovingly, turned his head and talked with Nelson behind him in a low voice.
Frank still said calmly: "...Now let's talk about the third point. The press department has always been the lowest profitable unit..."
Mikeston felt a shock, turned his head in a hurry, and looked at Frank vigilantly.
Frank: "...The budget here is 98 million U.S. dollars, and the average annual deficit is as high as 32 million U.S. dollars. This is a financial shame and must not be taken lightly..."
Mikes Subconsciously squeezed his fist.
Frank: "...According to the new plan, the local news of the Press Office will be transferred to the respective TV stations, and the radio news will be transferred to the Radio Department. In other words, the Press Office will be downgraded..."
Mikes' blood poured into his face. Coming up. He hurried to the head of the United Broadcasting Corporation, Edward Lardy, who was sitting in front of him, and stared at him questioningly.
Ruddy seemed unaware, still staring straight ahead.
Frank: "...it is no longer an independent place, but a subordinate to the TV station..."
Mike gritted his teeth and stared at Frank with hatred.
It's five:20 in the afternoon.
The shareholders meeting is over. There was a buzzing voice in the banquet hall, and shareholders were mingling with senior managers of the United Broadcasting Corporation to discuss their respective concerns.
Max struggled in the crowd, and finally found Edward Rudy surrounded by several shareholders. He pulled Radi aside, lowered his voice and asked angrily, "What does this mean, Eddie?"
Ruddy politely: "It's not the time to talk about this, Mikes."
Mikes was trembling with anger: "Why didn't you tell me in advance? Why humiliate me and make me foolish in front of shareholders? I am today. I also asked John Wheeler in the morning, and he assured me that the press office would not be affected in the slightest. Are you trying to force me to resign? You did a great job!"
Ruddy still said quietly, smiling softly : "Let's talk about it at the regular meeting tomorrow morning." After all, he turned around and talked with the shareholders again. Max glared at him badly, turned his head and walked away.
United Broadcasting Corporation. Max's office.
Max Khan walked into the office nervously. He took off his coat, threw it on the sofa, and then sat down heavily. Immediately afterwards, he stood up irritably and walked back and forth in the room, like a lion imprisoned in a cage, not knowing how to vent his anger. After a while, he grabbed his coat again and strode out.
TV news control room.
The hand of the wall clock pointed to 6:28. The director led technicians, lighting engineers, production assistants and others in front of the two rows of TV monitor screens, waiting for the upcoming TV news program.
Suddenly, the door opened, and Mikes walked in with his coat, his face very ugly. Everyone exchanged their eyes in surprise. Harry, who was sitting in the high chair in the back row, died and got up to let Mikes sit down. Max waved his hand, still standing on the side.
Production Assistant: "...Five seconds..." The
lighting engineer looked at the screen carefully: "The color is too dark."
Director: "The time is up, one second!"
The image of Howard Bill jumped onto the screen immediately. He looked at the stack of manuscripts in his hand and said, "Good evening. Today is Wednesday, September 24. This is my last broadcast. I announced yesterday on this program that I will commit suicide in public. Everyone Thought I was crazy. Okay, let me tell you what happened. I just don’t think there is any more bullshit..."
Harry froze for a moment, and hurriedly ordered: " Okay, stop ." The
screen was suddenly flashed. blank.
At this time, Max said calmly: "Let him go on."
The image of Howard jumped out again. He glanced around blankly, and blurted out, "Am I still on the screen?"
Everyone in the control room looked at Max at a loss.
With a grim expression on his face, Max said word by word: "If he wants to say goodbye to the audience in this way, then let him say goodbye like this."
Howard: "...I don't know how to explain it, but I just don't think there is anything to blame. That's..." The
phone rang quickly. Harry just picked up the handset when another phone rang. Harry's secretary hurried to pick it up. Harry glanced at Max, and said anxiously into the microphone: "Listen, Mr. Schumacher is here, are you talking to him?" He handed the phone to Max.
Howard talked more and more excited: "...We live purely for bullshit. Whenever we can't think of any reason for ourselves, we use God's bullshit to prevaricate..."
Harry's female secretary turned pale in surprise: "Hey, Virgin Mary..."
Max shook the phone and calmly said, "It's me, what's the matter, Tom?"
Howard: "...We don't know why we have to suffer, humiliate, and degenerate meaninglessly, but always Feeling that someone must know, so he moved out of God's bullshit..."
Mikes coldly said: "He said life is a bullshit, what's the matter? What's all the fuss about?" He hung up the phone all of a sudden. Another phone rang. The female secretary rushed to pick it up.
Howard: "...You don't like God's bullshit, but how do you treat people's bullshit? People are noble animals and can control their own world. Why do they need God?" The
female secretary timidly handed the microphone to Max: "It's Mr. Amundsen's call, Mr. Schumacher."
Max stared at Howard on the screen without expression, and replied without looking back: "I won't answer the phone anymore."
On the screen, Howard was happy. Pour out the words backlogged in my heart: "...if you look around at the world around us, our crazy and cruel world, and then tell me that man is a noble animal, an animal that can only pull eggs... "
The director's eyes widened in fright by Howard's bold language, and he muttered to himself: "I know, he has always been very clear-headed, and he must be crazy now..." He couldn't help laughing.
Harry hurriedly drank him: "What the hell are you laughing at?!"
Director: "I can't help it anymore, Harry. It's really interesting..."
Howard's voice suddenly fell, sadly: "I have no children... "The
phone rang again. The secretary hesitated, but went to pick it up.
Harry saw that the situation was getting more and more uncontrollable, and sweat dripped from the tip of his nose. Seeing that Mikes still had nothing to say, he couldn't help but reminded: "Max, this program is being broadcast live to 67 sub-stations..."
Mikes squeezed out a few words from his teeth: "Let him say Go down!"
Howard: "...I have been married for 30 years, 30 years of mental torture, 30 years of self-deception..."
Suddenly, the door of the control room was knocked open with a bang, and a young woman panicked. He rushed in in a panic and said, "Mr. Hackett is looking for you..."
Mikes gritted his teeth: "Tell Mr. Hackett and let him go to hell!"
Diana
sat alone in Diana's office . Watching Howard on the TV with interest: "...nothing to blame. I can't find any bullshit to talk about..." the
control room.
The door was slammed open again. Frank Hackett grimaced, and brought his assistant Tom Carbell into the house, and roared at everyone: "Stop! Are you crazy?!" The
technician was so frightened that he pressed the button, and the screen went blank.
Downstairs hall.
There was a loud voice in the hall. Reporters from major broadcasting companies and some local radio and television stations are standing here enthusiastically, asking each other while waiting.
Suddenly, Chairman Edward Lardy came in from outside the door, escorted by two guards. The reporters swarmed over immediately, scrambling to put the microphone to his mouth.
After all, Ruddy is so old that he can't stand the siege of reporters. He raised his arm, tried his best to block the dazzling flash, and at the same time apologized: "I'm sorry...I don't know all the facts..." With the help of the guards, he squeezed hard from the crowd. come out.
Twenty floors.
This is the office of the head of the United Broadcasting Corporation, with a quiet environment and gorgeous decoration. From the carpet to the door handle, all decorations are unique and elegant, showing the prominent status of the owner of the floor.
Mikes stood alone at the empty entrance reception, silently looking at the deserted corridor. All the doors were closed tightly, and the whole corridor was as silent as a gloomy church.
Suddenly, the door to a room at the top of the corridor opened, and Nelson Chaney walked out and waved to Max.
Mikes took a deep breath and walked forward slowly.
Office of the Chairman.
Ruddy was sitting behind his desk, contemplating. On the wall behind him, there are several impressionist paintings with strong color contrast, showing the different taste of the owner.
There was a man in his sixties sitting in the room, and he was John Wheeler.
The door opened, and Nelson and Max walked in. Max nodded to Ruddy, then pulled a leather chair and sat down in front of him.
Ruddy looked up and said to Nelson: "I want to see Mr. Bill again after I finish talking with Max."
Nelson immediately walked to the corner of the room and picked up the phone.
Ruddy looked at Max, was silent for a while, and slowly said, "As far as I know, you are primarily responsible for this stupid prank, isn't it, Max?"
Max: "Yes. "
Lardy sighed softly, shaking his head:" I do not have to imagine what it seems to say a. ".
As soon as he finished speaking, Max stood up and excitedly said, "But I have something to say, Eddie." He leaned forward to Ruddy and stared at him closely: "I want to know, why do you have today’s shareholder meeting? The press office demotion announced on the previous announcement was kept secret from me. I have been working with you for twenty years, Eddie. When I took over this job, you promised me personally that you would never compromise my autonomy. Any infringement. However, since the American Communications Company took control of the United Broadcasting Corporation system ten months ago, Hackett has monopolized the power step by step." He swallowed, angrily: "Who is this radio and television network? Is it you, or the American Communications Company? I mean, you are the chairman, and Frankland Hackett is just a running dog of the American Communications Company. And Nelson, oh god! He is the director of the TV station , But he can't do anything about it. Who is the head? Is it you, or the American Communications Company?!"
Ruddy looked at the angry Mikes, still seemingly indifferent. He calmly said: "Max, I told you at the shareholders meeting that we will discuss this matter at the regular meeting tomorrow morning. If you are a little bit patient, you will know, and I think Frank Hackett is too I am rash and reckless. I will not implement the plan to reorganize the Press Office until I have consulted with everyone, especially you, Mike, and satisfied you. However, you are like a child, making the company lose it. The face, making a fool of yourself, is really shocking. Therefore, no matter how the press office is reorganized, you can’t stay any longer. I hope you will submit a resignation at ten o’clock tomorrow morning. We will consider how to negotiate with the locals to announce to the outside world, Try not to harm anyone." He didn't wait for the pale Mikes to say anything, then turned to Wheeler: "Before we finish this matter, the press office will temporarily be in charge of Bob McDonald." He saw Wheeler nodded and said to Nelson who was still on the phone in the corner: "Now, I want to see Mr. Bill."
Nelson said hurriedly, "We are looking for him everywhere, Eddie. No one knows where he went. ."
Downstairs hall.
The reporters were surrounding Howard, asking him a series of questions.
Howard嘶哑着嗓子, facing numerous microphone loudly in front as much as possible against:. "...... eleven years, five days a week, every day sitting behind the desk, as if like a ...... without any emotional authority"
Dai Anna's apartment. bedroom.
The lights in the bedroom went out. Diana sat naked on the bed, watching television thoughtfully Howard to reporters in an impromptu speech: "...... pretend impartial coverage of the so-called news, those crazy events of the day ......"
Dai Next to Anna sat a man who was also naked. Obviously, his interest is not on the news program at 11 o'clock in the evening at all...
Howard: "...for this time, I want to say what's in my heart..."
At 9 o'clock in the morning on September 25th. United Broadcasting Corporation.
Wearing a light blue coarse cloth suit, Diana walked into the building with a stack of manuscript paper in her hand. She came to the newspaper rack in the lobby, took off a newspaper, and walked towards the elevator while watching it.
Fourteenth floor program department.
Diana pushed open the glass door with the words "Program Department" and walked to her office.
In the hallway, several secretaries, both male and female, were still talking about Howard’s news program last night. One of them saw Diana coming and hurriedly left his companions and followed her into the office.
Diana's office.
Diana flipped through the stack of papers on the desk of the outside secretary, and asked the secretary who followed in: "Did you send the ratings report last night?"
Secretary: "It's on your desk."
Diana was busy. Walking to her room, she asked: "Are the reports from the previous nights still there?" The
secretary: " Yes , do you want to bring it to you?"
Diana: "Okay." Then she walked in. Own room.
The room is sunny. After Diana walked to the desk, she bent down and glanced at the front page news of several newspapers on the desk, then sat down and picked up a report of last night's ratings. She took a hurried look, then took the ratings report of the previous nights handed over by the secretary, and couldn't wait to read it carefully.
At this moment, Barbara Schlesinger walked in. She pulled a chair and sat down, and sighed: "These are the four outlines of the Universe Film Studio for a series of films. You don't have to read it, let me tell you. The first scene is in the east. In a large law school in China, such as Harvard University. The title of this film is "Young Lawyers", which is tempting. The characters are a group of stubborn, but kind-hearted former Supreme Court judges. There is also a beautiful female graduate. She is a local lawyer. She is talented and sometimes likes to be a little clever..."
Diana asked indifferently, "What about the second one?"
Barbara: "The title of the second part is "The Amazon Criminal Police Team"."
Diana: "Policewoman?"
Barbara: "The protagonist is also a stubborn, but kind-hearted lieutenant colonel police officer. He specifically confronts the chief of police... …There is also a beautiful policewoman who advocates equality between men and women..."
Diana put down the report in her hand, picked up a newspaper and flipped through it: "Now, films about policewomen are flooded."
Barbara: " The next one is a story about an investigative reporter..."
Diana interrupted Barbara impatiently, reading the headline of the newspaper aloud: "The Arabs decided to raise oil prices by 20%, the CIA The private demolition of Senator Humphrey’s letter was caught on the spot, the civil war broke out in Angola, the war in Beirut resumed, the Bank of New York was about to close..." She leaned forward and stretched the newspaper to Barbara: "The entire front page of the Daily News. Almost all of them are occupied by Howard."
Barba stretched her neck and saw that the front page of the "Daily News" published a picture of Howard Beal three-quarters of the length, with a line of black and bold words on the top-Bill Was fired.
Diana: "The New York Times also published a two-column article..." She thought about it, and shouted outside: "Helen, call Hackett's office and ask him this morning. Can you spare time to talk to me..."
At nine thirty in the morning. News live studio.
Mikes walked into the rectangular studio with the lanky Bob McDonald. The entire staff of the Press Office-more than 60 people including managers and secretaries, directors, headline writers, editors, reporters, news announcers, etc., are already waiting in the room. They looked at Mike quietly, waiting for him to speak.
Max glanced at the crowd and said calmly: "Ladies and gentlemen, I have been working on this radio and television network for twelve years. Generally speaking, it's pretty pleasant..." In the
crowd, I don't know who called it.
Yilu: "Be louder!" Mike raised his voice slightly, "I thank you. Bob McDonald will take over my job temporarily; I believe that even though I'm gone, you can still get the job done." ..."
Ten o'clock in the morning. Frank Hackett's office on the fifteenth floor.
Frank has just finished reading the reports sent by the Public Relations Department and the Sales Department, frowning in thought.
The door opened gently, and Diana walked in.
Frank said without looking up: "Many TV stations claim that if I don't remove Bill, they will refuse to broadcast our TV news program."
Diana did not speak up, but put a stack of paper on Frank's desk. Throw: "Have you read the ratings report on TV news these nights? Yesterday, after Howard Bill yelled for two minutes on TV, the ratings for New York suddenly rose to eight. I dare Said, the audience tonight will definitely continue to increase. I think we are blind cats and dead mice!"
Frank suddenly understood what she meant, and couldn't help being surprised: "Oh, God! You mean, we should let That madman went to the TV and shouted'chuckling'?"
Diana nodded affirmatively: "Yes. I think we should let Bill be on again tonight and let him do this. You read this morning's "New York Times" and Didn’t other newspapers? They all reported this news, which you can’t buy for a few million dollars! Frank, this low-profile show made the ratings rise by five percent overnight! It’s definitely back tonight! Will rise. Our audience will increase by 20 to 30 million overnight. Where can you find such a good thing? How can you easily give up?!"
Seeing that Frank seemed suspicious, she further said: "Howard Bill said last night that he was tired of this kind of bullshit. This is what every American says. He shouted out the public's anger. I need it. This show, Frank. I can turn it into the most sensational TV show..."
Frank interrupted her impatiently: "What are you talking about? You need this show? This is a news show and has nothing to do with your department. "
Diana still said excitedly about her plan: "I want Howard Bill to play the role of a contemporary prophet and savior who angrily denounces all kinds of hypocrisy in our society. Listen to me, Frank, this must have a huge response. Moreover, you only need to spend six dollars to play a thousand games! That is to say, you can make 130,000 dollars per minute, which is more than striptease! We can definitely rely on it to get rid of the current predicament! Frank, now there is no chance I'm here, you can't let it go easily!"
Frank just wanted to answer when the intercom on the tabl
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