[eerie music]
[female voice] Stay awake, Rick.
Stay awake.
[female voice echoing] Stay awake, Rick.
[eerie music]
[man 1] The world record, 11 days.
Eleven days.
Stay awake, Rick.
You can do it.
I'm watching you, Rick.
Stay awake, or you're next.
Stay awake, or you die.
You'll wind up in hell like all the others.
Save the children, Rick.
Save the children.
[man 2] You are worthless. Give up.
Give up!
[man 1] Save the children.
[man 2] Give up!
- [man 1] You failed your job. - [Kathy] Rick, I'm right here!
- [man 1] You failed your job. - [Kathy] Come on, Rick!
[Kathy] I'm here! Can you even hear me, Rick?
[man 1] Save the children.
[Kathy] Talk to me!
Please, talk to me.
[man 1] Sleep, and I'll kill you.
[thudding]
[whirring]
[traffic noise]
[ominous music]
[rasping]
[Dr. Rance] Hey!
What are you doing?
Get out of the way!
[Dr. Rance whistles] Hey!
Get out of the...
What are you doing, man?
I've had enough of your pestering!
I am working as hard as I can.
Okay?
I'm... I'm working as hard as I can!
Do you think we could cure a disease overnight?
Do you think my job is easy?
Do you think so?
[Dr. Rance panting]
[suspenseful music]
What?
No. [grunts]
[distant siren wailing]
[eerie music]
[eerie music continues]
[siren wailing]
[lively music playing]
[band singer] ♪ I'm happy, I'm alive
♪ And I know he's about to cry
♪ But it's just a little jive
♪ So I'm gonna let The sinner life shine ♪
Yeah!
[band singer] ♪ Oh, yeah
[claps] We gotta go!
[laughs] They're awesome!
- ♪ What am I to do? - Yes!
This is what I'm talking about.
Watch and learn, boy!
♪ Tell me what you got 'Cause I am... ♪
Rick, we're on the air!
Gotta hear the end of the song, man.
We gotta go.
[trumpet playing]
Why? Why?
Why does he do this to me?
[Charlene] He's on in ten.
Oh, Charlene, you know he'll be here.
Always is.
[sighs]
[lively music]
Back it up, Phil. I saw them first.
Greatest gypsy punk band ever.
I got some sweet action for you.
A cinch to beat the point spread.
You're an intern, Phil. Not a bookie.
He's conning you, Rick.
Shut it, Miguel!
[door opens]
Your place is in. Play that second song first.
Hi. Hey, Rick.
Hey, how are you?
[exhales]
One whole minute to go.
I hope they're worth it.
[female announcer] WZLW New York.
The Rick Weider Show.
[Rick over radio]Good morning, friends and neighbors.
Another glorious WZLW New York
day of possibility.
What you're hearing right now, folks,
- is the best... - [band member 1] Yeah, punk!
...gypsy punk band alive.
[Rick] And you and I are gonna make them famous.
So, wherever you are this morning,
start this day dancing!
One, two, three, quatorzo!
- That's it. - [perky music playing]
[band singer] Hey!
Hey, hey, hey!
- [perky music playing] - [band shouting to the beat]
What are you doing later?
[Teresa] Um...
Something... else.
[band singer]♪ It don't matter How it goes, and the fact ♪
♪ God'll hit you
♪ Straight directly Through your soul ♪
♪ We play uptown
♪ We play downtown
♪ East and west
♪ And everywhere we play We play our best ♪
[music halting]
[Rick] Cliff.
Those crazy gypsies,
we gotta get them to some A&R...
You remember Mr. Larabee from Clamorant Media?
Well, well, enter the feudal lords.
We need to talk numbers.
- He can talk to sales. - They're not the problem.
You are.
[Larabee] You've been on the fringe for too long.
Your slot's going Top 40.
You new owners, you're just...
[inhales sharply] I don't do Top 40.
Uh, I do the eclectic, and it works.
Pulse of New York.
We want all nine million listeners of the city.
Not just a sliver out in Williamsburg
that feeds your ego.
My ego?
Was it my ego that promotes undervalued artist
instead of your processed plastic bump and grind bands?
We're not renewing your contract.
Not with these numbers.
Not ever.
Your ratings, they just need to come up.
Or you're done.
[gloomy music]
[door opens]
[Marcus] Oh... [snickers]
Tough meeting, Rick, huh?
Almost makes me believe
that there's justice in the universe after all.
I never took you for a dreamer, Marcus.
[inhales sharply] Just a... Just a sore loser
for not getting the morning slot.
Yeah?
Well, I'm keeping my slot, though.
[laughs]
Fuck...
Try that again, mother...
[Teresa] Oh, Rick, um, your wife's here.
- She's looking for you. - Oh, shit.
[Rick] Hey, sweetheart.
What you doing here?
Do you have any idea how humiliating it is
to show up to your first marriage counseling session
and get stood up by your husband?
[sighs]
Uh...
[exhales deeply] It's just that I...
[sighs]
I'll give you one more chance.
- Okay? - Okay.
[Rick] Okay.
There's a...
super exclusive marriage retreat
in Newport at the end of the month,
and I want us to go.
[Kathy] You know I...
I had to pull a lot of strings to get us in.
- [Rick] Mm-hm. - And I just...
Please, I just need you to wanna go, okay?
Yeah.
I guess, yeah.
You guess?
God. Does it mean nothing to you?
How much sleep I have lost worrying about us?
[whimsical music]
You're losing sleep? You're losing sleep?
Yes, Rick, that's what I said.
[upbeat music]
You're a genius. [smooches]
I gotta go, okay?
The 28th, buddy!
[Kathy] Remember that!
Oh! Um, I was just...
[clears throat, chuckles]
Sleep deprivation.
- Get me intel. - Yeah. Of course.
Mm-hm.
A stunt's not gonna raise your ratings quick enough.
No, no, no. A sleep deprivation marathon would be great.
[door opens]
What's the record on this thing?
Two hundred and sixty-four hours.
That's 11 days awake.
Whoa, 11 days?
Seriously? Okay, 11 days it is.
No harm in trying. Let's, uh...
Let's make it a charity fundraiser, huh?
We'll, uh, we'll find a disease or something.
[Cliff] When might this earthshaking
slumber party happen?
Somewhere around the 28th would be perfect.
[distant siren wailing]
We're doing a Wake-A-Thon charity fundraiser.
So, who's got me a disease?
How about AIDS?
No, too '90s. Next.
[Teresa] How about breast cancer?
- I don't like breast cancer. - Nobody likes
- breast cancer, Phil. - [Rick] Come on.
Raise my eyebrows.
Fibrocystic disease.
It's another woman thing.
- Is it fatal? - [Teresa] No,
- but that's... But... - It has, it has to be fatal.
It has to be something that grabs people by the throat.
[Charlene] It could be in today's headlines.
Dr. Harold Rance, SMA researcher murdered.
That's the dude hanging from the bridge.
- [Teresa] Yeah, yeah, yeah. - Yeah.
- It just happened this morning. - Yeah, his, his guts
were like, hanging all out, and...
What's, uh... What's SMA?
"Spinal Muscular Atrophy."
"SMA is the number one genetic killer of children.
Victims never acquire or progressively lose
the ability to walk, stand, or move.
And, ultimately, fatal respiratory complications.
No known cure."
[Rick over radio] And so, New York, with this Wake-A-Thon,
SMA will feel the wrath of Rick Weider.
A webcam will show me awake around the clock
inside a glass booth on the street in Times Square.
Even bathroom breaks will be strictly monitored.
Keeping a watchful eye on me will be Dr. Maurice Falco,
eminent expert in the field of sleep research.
Any thoughts, doctor?
This is not just a question of mere physical endurance,
for that would punish only mortal flesh.
It is rather an intense assault on the mind,
or dare I say,
it's the soul...
that denies a man his deeply needed nightly escape
from the horrors of this world.
[Rick] Sobering thoughts, indeed, doctor.
So, I'll be awake day and night, night and day,
starting October 24th.
[Rick] How long can I last?
Four days? Five? A week?
Or beyond?
Stay tuned for news, weather, and sports.
[phone ringing]
Rick Weider.
[man 1 over phone] As an SMA parent,
I can't tell you what this Wake-A-Thon means.
Oh, no. You're, uh, you're expressing it fine.
[man 1] Well, it's great
to hear a man as passionate as yourself involved.
Impossible is nothing when it matters.
After all,
"A man's reach should always exceed his grasp."
"Or what's a heaven for?"
Robert Browning.
[chuckles] He's not quoted much.
[man 1] Yeah, and he didn't really become popular
until after he died.
The world record, 11 days.
Can you do it?
Uh, it's, uh... It's daunting.
[man 1] But are you committed to it?
It would bring so much attention to our cause.
Well, I'll, uh, I'll certainly give it a try.
[man 1] It's a decision of the will.
Dedication.
That's what Dr. Rance couldn't understand.
Uh, wait, Rance, the...
[scoffs, stutters] The dead guy on the bridge?
[man 1] He didn't care enough
about what he was leaving undone.
That's why we don't have a cure yet.
We need dedicated warriors.
Like yourself.
So, how much money will you raise?
Uh, we, uh, we haven't set a definite goal yet.
- [man 1] Millions. - Millions?
Uh, we'll be lucky to get 20 grand, sir.
[man 1] Twenty grand. Twenty grand.
[man 1 raising voice] Twenty grand?
Are you out of your mind?
You need to have a bigger vision for this, Weider.
Okay, why, why don't you give me your number,
and we'll orchestrate something?
It'd be wonderful if you could help us.
[line drops, beeps]
[door closes]
- Damn. - [phone clanks]
- I think that was the killer. - [Miguel] What killer?
- That, that killer? The... - [Rick] The bridge killer.
[scoffs] If...
- [Miguel] Whoa. - If...
we could get this guy to confess or something,
we would be news!
Co... confess?
Rick, how is he gonna confess on air?
That's not gonna happen. That's...
- We should call the police. - No.
No, no, no. We gotta milk it first.
"Milk it"?
[Rick] Haven't I taught you anything?
- Not, not really. - What the...
- Right. Okay. - [Miguel] We'll milk it.
- Right. Do you wanna... - [Rick] Go back to school.
- Go back to school, Miguel. - We'll milk it. No...
- We'll milk it. - Go back to school.
[gloomy music]
[indistinct chatter]
[sighs] You son of a bitch.
Don't tell me you forgot the date.
- Look, Kathy, I... - [Kathy] Deliberately.
You deliberately did that.
No. Wait, wait, wait. No. Hold it.
You don't understand. Uh, sorry, sir.
My job is on the line, my career, my whole...
Now, I have a chance to catch a killer on the air.
- It could be huge! - A killer?
What are you talking about?
Are you completely delusional, Rick?
All right, look, you're busy.
Let's talk about it tonight at home. All right?
No, Rick. You know what,
I'm gonna go stay with my sister for a while.
- I have to do some thinking. - Oh, come on, really?
You hate her.
Good luck with your stunt.
[upbeat music]
[upbeat music continues]
[Rick] Good morning, New York.
The great WZLW Wake-A-Thon with me, Rick Weider, has begun.
We are broadcasting live from Times Square.
Night and day, day and night,
I'll be awake, fighting the good fight for SMA.
The number one genetic killer of children.
Now we need money for research,
and I am going to stay awake, as long as it takes,
to convince you to make a donation
at StayAwakeRick.com.
Let's do this, guys. For all the SMA kids.
♪ You got my attention
♪ I would walk the world For you ♪
♪ You got my attention
♪ I would lose sleep over you
♪ Lose sleep over you
♪ You got my attention
♪ I would lose sleep over you
Wake up.
Wake up!
The study of sleep deprivation is not bedtime reading.
The rats' brains hemorrhaged.
The American Medical Journal, 1965.
But it didn't include,
the rats ate their own tails first.
[Marcus] A Wake-A-Thon?
You'll be asleep before the first day
of this circus is over.
Oh, and by the way,
guess who's gonna be getting the morning slot?
[phone ringing]
[Rick] Rick Weider.
[man 1] Let me ask you something.
Oh, hey. Uh, thanks for calling back.
Let me, uh, let me get your name and number
in case we get disconnected again.
[man 1] You are going to reach for something.
- Right, Rick? - Yeah, man, I'm reaching.
You, uh, you mentioned the doctor before.
- The doctor that... - You've got to give them
more substance than sensation.
[man 1] Honestly convey your passion to your listeners.
Uh-huh. You're right. The human element.
So with you. So, tell me, you...
[man 1] Stop yessing me, Weider!
You're not expecting enough from your listeners!
You have no idea what they're capable of
if they can believe in you.
Be real! Be honest!
They will rise up in solidarity with our cause,
and we will triumph!
Do not blow this!
[line drops, beeps]
Dude.
What the hell was that?
Ah, he was just a prank caller.
I take back what I said.
This will be over by lunch.
[scoffs]
- [doorknob clicks] - [traffic noise]
Rick. Rick?
Rick!
Um, this is Dr. Gray, the SMA expert.
Hello, doctor.
Welcome.
I'm moving out of SMA into other fields of research.
[Rick] Oh.
Oh, that's a shame.
Joining me once again is Dr. Gray,
who has been illuminating us on the subject of SMA.
So, Dr. Gray,
tell us more about the,
the challenges of dealing with this deadly disease.
The families must face difficult lifestyle decisions,
uh, in order to make life manageable
for their children, and...
of course, the specter of death is always a burden to bear.
Intricate stuff.
Prognosis is tricky.
Time-cost issues,
parental expectations...
For, for tangible results.
Ta... Tangible results?
To save a life.
We need to find a cure.
Uh, and you think Dr. Rance was making headway?
- [exhales] - I mean, he died so suddenly.
Were, were you working with him toward that tangible result?
[clears throat] That's a...
[groans]
That's difficult to go... [blows air]
...to go into.
[Dr. Gray groaning]
[groaning continues]
[retches]
Oh, uh, we'll... we'll be right back.
[Dr. Gray stuttering] I'm terribly sorry.
Don't worry, man. It's radio. No one saw it.
- [Dr. Gray] Yeah, um... - [indistinct background chatter]
I've, uh...
[stammering] I've been under...
tremendous stress.
- Pharmacy is two blocks down. - Oh, okay.
I've, uh...
I've been getting these...
these terrible threats.
[foreboding music]
[indistinct background chatter]
That was... disgusting.
[inhales] Smile. It's for charity.
[phone ringing]
WZLW Rick Weider.
[man 1] "Tangible result"?
I'll give you a tangible result.
He doesn't look healthy enough-It's that guy.
to live anyway.
- What? - [man 1] Yeah.
[car horn honking]
[man 1] You see him now?
He definitely doesn't look like he's gonna make it.
You gonna threaten one of my guests now?
[man 1] Call this a lesson in dedication.
[scoffs] You're not gonna do anything.
You're just another media-crazy, celebrity ballbuster.
- Get a life. - [man 1] Like Gray's?
And when I'm finished busting, Rick,
you'll be a star.
Go find Gray. Now.
- Okay? - What?
- He's going to the pharmacy. Go! - What's going on?
Just please!
- Tell me what's going on. - Please go find Gray now!
Go! Go!
Okay, jokes over.
Knock it off, or I'm calling the police.
[man 1]Better call the morgue.
[indistinct chatter]
Charlene, do you see him?
Not yet. What's going on?
Wait, look. [sighs deeply]
I don't know what you're after,
but this isn't helping your kid, okay?
[Rick] Look, you hear me?
I said this isn't helping.
[man 1] She died. [sobbing]
She died.
[dial tone]
Charlene, what's happening?
I'm looking.
Come on, Charlene. Give me something.
[Charlene] Uh, yeah. Excuse me, excuse me.
[gasps]
[Charlene gasps over phone]
Oh, god, Rick.
[Charlene over phone] Oh, god.
No.
He's... He's dead, Rick. He's dead!
[Charlene breathes heavily]
[Charlene] He's dead.
- [breathing heavily] - [man 3] He's dead!
[phone ringing]
[phone ringing continues]
[man 1] Message received?
[Rick] You killed him?
[scoffs] You killed him for a radio show?
[man 1] Five million.
You're going to raise five million dollars
before you fall asleep.
Not 20,000.
Not a hundred thousand.
Five million dollars,
or you're next.
You're insane.
[man 1] Five million dollars before you sleep.
Or you will never...
wake up.
Wait.
Wait, that's impossible.
It, it can't be done.
[dial tone]
[suspenseful music]
Look, Rick, you can't...
You can't stay awake until we raise five million...
Five million.
What am I gonna do, huh?
If I fall asleep, he's gonna kill me.
I have to break the record.
Okay, okay. Say that you do break it...
- [Rick sighs heavily] - ...there's no guarantee
you're gonna raise that much money.
I mean, it's not even possible to go 11 days.
No? Tell her, Falco. Tell her.
But if you could get past 11 days
and break the record,
the research data alone would be invaluable.
Research data. Great.
[Rick] Shit. [sighs]
Nice cage.
[door closes]
But your ratings, they haven't improved, and...
you've got a dead guest.
You really think you're gonna raise
five million dollars with this sideshow?
Do you?
Money will pour in. You'll see.
[Larabee] All right.
Of course, it will.
[chuckles]
♪ And I love you
WZLW. Good morning!
Day two of the great Wake-A-Thon.
We, uh, we had, uh, an exciting show yesterday.
Emotions ran high.
And, uh, the city was dared to raise the bar
to five million dollars.
[Rick] So, let's jump it, New York.
Help alleviate a child's suffering.
Make your pledges now.
♪ A blessing from heaven
♪ I'm so grateful
♪ For this love that I found
Wake up, son!
Wake up for life.
[man on street] Please don't give up now.
♪ Gets stuck Between the stations ♪
♪ Then just move that antenna
♪ Until you tune me back in
[screams]
♪ I loved you
♪ For you who thought I was
[helicopter blades whirring]
♪ Now I'm
♪ Leaving you, baby
♪ Because all your friends
♪ They say
♪ They might like What they see ♪
♪ But I can't go on Livin' my life ♪
[high-pitched feedback]
♪ Livin' my life
♪ Through your vision of me
[phone ringing]
- [clicks] - Rick Weider.
[man 1] You're not telling the dollar amounts.
How much have you raised?
Uh... [clears throat]
So...
[sighs] What do I call you?
[man 1] We started this with a quote
from Robert Browning.
Leave it at that.
Okay. Okay, Browning.
Browning.
Do you think Dr. Gray was wondering,
"What's a heaven for?"
[Browning] Gray was a selfish little sponge
soaking up perks from the drug companies.
I have bigger plans for you, Rick.
You want me to be real for my audience, huh?
Why don't you be real with them?
Come on the show, and, uh, tell us your story.
Inspire us with your dedication that killed doctors
to make them find a cure faster
or whatever the hell it is you're doing.
[Browning]Five million dollars
before you sleep.
Hey, look, look, look, Browning.
Um, your, your daughter died, and...
and now you wanna help others.
- I, I get that, but... - [line drops, beeps]
Rick. Rick! You're on!
- [door closes] - [Teresa] Rick, you're on.
Oh.
[grunts, gasps]
[Rick] All right, this is The Rick Weider Show,
and we're rocking to find a cure for SMA,
and, uh, and to stay awake.
[clanks, clatters]
Are you okay?
[ominous music]
I've been trying to get you for two days.
Detective Murdoch.
Your killer just threatened me again.
To, to murder me if, if I don't raise millions before I sleep.
A murderer? Oh.
That's a great hook. [chuckles]
Grab your audience, reel 'em in.
Hey, hey, hey.
Do I look like I'm making this up?
[Rick sighs]
Why would someone wanna kill the doctor?
I don't know. How the hell should I know?
Um, maybe, maybe, uh...
[clicks tongue] Maybe he knew too much.
About what?
About him.
Him, the files. Files or something.
Files, files that...
can link him to the first murder,
and so, he kills him.
With a poisoned syringe?
The first doctor had his intestines
hanging over the East River.
That's an entirely different MO.
[chuckles] So what?
How many phone calls did you receive from this, um,
supposed killer?
Um...
[groans] I don't know, three?
No. No, four.
When was the first call?
About, uh... About a week ago.
When did he reveal to you that he killed the first doctor?
The first call...
So you knew days ahead of this, this Wake-A-Thon
- that this guy was the killer. - [sighs]
I might have tried to reel him in myself,
and that was stupid.
[clicks tongue] Stupid.
And now he's... He's killed Gray,
and he's set on killing me.
That is not a hoax.
So you've gotta do something.
Police work isn't done in front of your microphone.
For the last two days,
I've taken statements from his associates,
searched their offices.
I even had an autopsy done on Dr. Gray.
He died...
of a heart attack.
A heart attack? No.
For SMA.
Have a nice day.
[eerie music]
[male voice] Rick?
[voices speak in reverse]
[indistinct whispering]
[voices speak in reverse]
[overlapping voices echoing]
[overlapping laughter]
[canned applause]
[male voice] Psst. Rick.
- Ricky boy. - [mumbling]
[male voice] Oh, Rick.
[low male voice] From your throat...
[male voice] Rick. Rick. Oh, Ricky boy.
Oh, Rick.
Hey.
Down here.
Hi, pal.
Wow, you certainly look like hell.
You don't really think you're going to break
the record, do you?
[mantis] Eleven days. That would be something.
You're a loser, though.
So, no chance.
Hey, guess what?
I've got a hot date with your wife tonight.
I mean, with you being such a dud,
she'll come running into my big beautiful arms.
[moans] "Mantis, love."
- Stop talking to me, okay? - [mantis] Ooh.
- Stop talking to me. - She's going to...
- Stop talking to me, okay? - love it, love it.
[mantis] Love it!
- Shut up. - Hey.
Do you see that, chap? What's he doing out there?
- What? - [mantis] Strange.
[echoing voice]
[Rick gasps]
[indistinct background chatter]
[indistinct chatter continues]
[echoing voice]
[eerie music]
[indistinct background chatter]
[line ringing]
- [mumbling] - [ringing continues]
[Kathy on voicemail] Hey, this is Kathy.
- Leave a message. - [beeps]
Kathy.
Darling, you're...
[sighs deeply]
You're my bride, and you're the...
You're the most important thing
in the world to me. It's...
I'm not gonna let anything...
come between us.
I'm not, I'm not going anywhere.
I'm just, I'm just sitting here, uh...
hoping that...
- [cell phone buzzing] - [muttering]
[groans]
[phone clanks]
[grunts]
[cell phone buzzing]
[cell phone beeps]
Rick Weider.
[Browning] I miss her.
I miss my little girl.
How'd you find my cell number?
[Browning] It's not that hard.
Smart guy, huh?
You can make a murder look like a heart attack, too.
[Browning] Necessity,
mother of invention.
- [thudding] - [man 4] You're a loser, Weider.
[Browning]I popped by earlier.
You sounded terrible,
so I figured I should check on my investment.
How old was she?
I said,
how old was your daughter when she died?
[Browning] I don't wanna talk about her,
- circus boy. - What was her name?
[Browning] None of your business!
You gotta give me something, okay?
People are telling me you're a hoax.
- [Browning] You know better. - I know squat!
[Rick] I just, I just...
I need a human face, man.
[Browning] She's not your poster child.
What's the investment for?
[raising voice] Who are we fighting for?
[Browning] Clarissa.
[tense music]
Got you, you bastard.
- What the hell's going on? - Clarissa.
[panting] Her name is Clarissa.
Clarissa?
I need to speak to Detective Murdoch.
This is an emergency.
[door opens]
All right.
What is this, this emergency you're going on about?
What? Are you having a heart attack, too?
You wanted evidence, Murdoch?
[breathes heavily] Now, I got you evidence.
You gotta be kidding me.
Browning's daughter's name...
- is Clarissa. - Clarissa?
- I think it was Cla... Clarissa. - Clarissa.
I got that out of him while you were...
looking for donuts up your ass.
Is that right?
So, all you gotta do is, uh...
is you gotta find... [clicks tongue]
...Clarissa, who died of SMA on the list.
And, uh, that'll get you her last name.
And then, and you trace it
- to the killer. Simple. - Dr. Rance
and Dr. Gray's deaths are unrelated.
Deal with it.
The idea that a murderer is gonna call you
and offer you evidence
- is absurd. - Listen!
No, you listen!
You use me again...
to boost your dog and pony show,
and I'll arrest you.
You better take his, uh, blood pressure again, doc.
[door opens]
[door closes]
- [sighs] - Sorry, Rick.
Cops, huh?
Now, now you're a doctor.
Why don't you find me...
Gray's list?
You may as well ask me to steal gold from Fort Knox.
[sighs]
[eerie music]
[sirens wailing]
[eerie music]
[eerie music continues]
- [bells clinking] - [disembodied voices muttering]
[echoing] [male voice] Clarissa!
[Browning] "A man's reach should always exceed his grasp."
[overlapping chatter]
[Rick] "Or what's a heaven for?"
[echoing voices]
[male voice] Clarissa!
[Browning] You need to have a bigger vision
for this, Weider.
They can believe in you, Weider.
[disembodied voice] They can believe in you...
[tense music]
[Browning] Why, Weider?
[echoing voices]
[indistinct disembodied voice]
- [gasps] - [Maurice] Oh, damn it.
[panting]
What?
She is not on the list.
What list? What are you talking about?
Didn't I tell you I... I got ahold of Gray's SMA list?
What?
You, you said it was Fort Knox.
Turns out it wasn't so hard.
Had a friend of mine...
[clears throat] ...hack it.
What's on it?
This...
is a registry of every single child
who's died from SMA in the last 30 years.
I've scanned every single name.
No Clarissa.
No Clarissa?
Wait. Are you tell...
Are you telling me that there's no Clarissa
who died of SMA?
[dramatic music]
Clarissa, Clarissa, Clarissa.
Clarissa had the disease.
[clicks tongue] She, she...
She died tragically.
Poor thing, and, uh... [sighs heavily]
[inhales deeply]
And, uh, and then maybe your kids...
knew her, you know,
or, or the family from, uh...
Uh...
If, uh, you could give us a ring,
- we would love to hear from you. - [clicks]
- [traffic noise] - [Rick] Mm, what...
What are you doing here? [chuckles]
The marriage retreat starts today.
Remember?
I've got a car outside.
Uh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Marriage retreat. Okay, okay.
Yeah. [chuckles]
[Kathy] You look like you need a rest.
Yeah, sure.
Well, but wait a minute.
You want me to walk outta here, and, uh...
go to some retreat with you?
But it's...
Fuck, Rick. You've had a good run here, okay?
I'm sure your ratings have improved.
Now just... come with me.
- Do the right thing. - [scoffs]
- Come with me. - You don't understand.
If I walk, if I walk out of here, it's...
Someone is going to kill me.
Okay, you know what? I understand you're exhausted.
I understand where your paranoia is...
I am not paranoid, okay?
Someone is actually going to kill me.
Okay. Listen, okay?
You either come with me and you save our marriage
or we're through.
Why can't you just help me for once?
Help you for once?
These last nine years haven't been me helping you,
me by your side, Rick?
You think you'd be here without me,
and now, here I am trying to save our marriage,
and you can't.
You want my help now
with your precious ratings, Rick?
- Yeah, that's what I want. - Yeah?
- [mumbling] - Then how about you and me
- right now? - Mm. What?
- Yeah. - [chuckles]
Let's make the front page of the news.
- Oh, I can't, I can't do that. - Yeah, you can.
Hmm.
[smooches]
- What the hell? - Yeah?
[both chuckle]
- No. - Yeah?
Come on.
Mm, right.
[both panting]
- Wait, wait, wait. Wait. - [sighs]
No, I'd, I'd fall asleep afterwards, you know?
Oh, come on, baby. Do it for your ratings!
No, no. This is my show.
Okay? I call the shots.
This is... I do things my way.
Do you understand this? Do you?
[Rick groans]
[Rick sighs]
[somber music]
- [traffic noise] - [indistinct background chatter]
- [door slams shut] - Kathy.
Kathy!
[pounding]
[muffled voice] Kathy.
[eerie music]
[echoing voice]
- [male voice] We can wake... - Wake up!
- [Kathy] Come on, Rick. - Wake up!
[Kathy's voice echoes]I'm here. Can you even hear me, Rick?
Talk to me.
Please. Talk to me, Rick.
[echoing voices]
It's intriguing just to...
watch the human brain
do its thing.
Look, you've gotta give me something.
Like, uh...
speed or, like, smelling salts.
Cocaine. I just...
[inhales sharply] I just... I need drugs.
- I do happen... - [whimpers]
to have an old formula. It's...
not exactly FDA approved, if you know what I mean.
- [door opens] - Yeah.
[police siren wailing]
Always the easy way, huh, Rick?
I'm not dead yet, you tool.
Dude, I'm taking your spot,
so I don't know why you're doing all this crazy stuff.
I'm taking your spot.
- Yeah, yeah, yeah. Blah, blah. - Yeah, it's mine.
- You're not getting my slot. - Your slot's mine.
- Now come on. Calm down. - The spot's mine, dude.
- Get away! - No, don't touch me, dude.
- Get away. Get away from me. - You're losing your mind.
- Get away from my booth. - [overlapping chatter]
Get away from my booth. Get away from my booth!
- No, no, no. Calm down. - You're scaring the children.
- [Rick] Get away! - [blabbering]
- [blabbering continues] - Scaring the children.
[tense music]
[groans]
[sighs heavily]
[grunts]
[warbling]
[echoing voices]
[male voice] Wake up, wake up, wake up.
[ominous music]
[Teresa] Hey.
Rick, what's...
going on?
Are you okay?
[eerie music]
[distorted voice] Stay awake, Rick.
Come on, I know you can.
[groans]
Wake up, young man!
Wake up!
[man on street] Wake up, young man!
[eerie music]
[sighs]
[gasps, mutters]
[sighs heavily]
[foreboding music]
[sighs, scoffs]
[creaking]
[creaking continues]
[creaking]
[gasps]
[creaks]
[creaking]
[tense music]
[squelches]
[hissing]
[classical Indian music playing]
[growls]
[snarling]
[snarling continues]
- [indistinct background chatter] - [car horn honks]
[whooshing]
[sighs, snickers]
[mumbling]
- [phone clanks] - And you...
This one's gonna be you, Browning.
I'll find you.
[sighs heavily]
- [line ringing] - This is you.
I know this...
- This one's gotta be you. - [man 5 over phone] Hello?
Hello, yes.
Yes, I got your, um...
I got your number from an SMA registry.
And there's, uh...
- There's no Clarissa on it. - [man 5] What?
[clicks tongue] So maybe they changed the name.
- What are you talking about? - Huh?
Is your daughter Clarissa?
- [man 5] What? Get lost. - I know it's you, Browning.
- [Rick] Browning. Browning! - [man 5] Go to hell.
- [dial tone] - [phone clanks]
- [Rick] Shit! - [clanks, clatters]
Stay awake, Rick. Stay... Stay awake.
[sighs]
[eerie music]
That clock's not right, is it?
What do you mean? It was... It's 135 hours.
You trying to screw with me, dude?
[Miguel] No, why would I do that?
You're changing clock times now.
- No, I promise you. Why... - You're, like, getting
really helpful, Miguel.
- Why would I do that? - Thanks, dude.
[Miguel] What's going on, man?
- I'm so fucking sorry. - Oh, you know what?
- I'm fucking sorry. - What's goin' on, man?
I'm sorry.
Hey, what do we have?
I was talking to the preacher...
He's giving stupid, mean-spirited assistance.
- What the hell? - I don't know, Rick.
- [Maurice] What is going on? - What is this about?
- [Maurice] What happened to him? - This is unbelievable!
- [Maurice] Rick, just... - [Miguel] Dude.
[Maurice] What's going on?
- I gotta call her. Get off me! - Who are you calling?
- You need to just calm down.
Relax. Have you eaten? Did he eat?
- He drank. He, he... - Has he eaten something?
Is Kathy there?
Who is he calling?
If she, you know... Wait, wait.
Is, um...
Okay, when, when she gets back, well, it's me again.
So, when she gets back, she can...
It's okay. Never mind. I'm gonna try again at five.
- Okay? Yeah. - Are you feeling...
Are you feeling, like, anxious?
[Maurice] What happened? Did something happen?
- I can't do this. - Yes, you can.
You can do this. You can do this.
- Yeah... - [indistinct chatter]
- I gotta get out... - I promise you,
- I'll get you something. - You guys like salsa?
- I'm not hungry right now. - [Miguel] Yeah, I love salsa.
- [mumbling] - Yes.
- [Maurice] Rick. - Salsa.
[Rick and Miguel chanting] Salsa, salsa, salsa.
- Salsa. - Do you know what time it is?
[shouts] Salsa!
[salsa music]
[salsa music continues]
[salsa music]
[salsa music continues]
[laughing]
- He's here. - What?
- Browning. - What?
- Do you see him? - I can't hear
- what you're saying. He's not... - He's here! Browning!
- [Rick] It's Browning! - Rick, come back!
Rick!
[indistinct chatter]
- [thwacks] - [crowd] Ooh! Ooh!
[Miguel chuckles]
[Miguel] Oh, man, Rick. That was... That was awesome.
We are in the footsteps of Edison.
Thomas Edison. He...
He fought to eradicate sleep.
He was a raging, driven man.
Didn't win,
but he contributed.
[scoffs]
Gave us the electric light bulb
to find our way through the darkness.
[clicks tongue] Man, do you even have a license?
[Rick] For whatever it is that you do?
Over to you, Miguel. [sighs]
- Call me if you need me. - [exhales]
[Maurice] Goodnight, sweet prince.
[smooches]
- It was Tesla, by the way. - [door closes]
That's strange.
Isn't that the exact same amount of money
we had four hours ago?
What? What are you talking about?
[scoffs]
No, I'm just saying that it's kinda weird
that not a single person has given us a dollar since.
- [line ringing] - Should I wake her up?
It's gotta wake her up, or I'm gonna try to do it myself.
Just like last summer.
I need her help.
- [Charlene] Hello? - Uh, yeah, Charlene.
- Um... - [Charlene]Is everything okay?
Yeah. Something's gone, uh, wonky with the board.
- [Charlene] Oh, my god. - I need you to, um...
to check the total at the source.
Check the total at the source.
[Charlene] Okay, hang on.
- [Charlene mumbles] - [sighs]
- [mumbling] - [Charlene] Log in.
- [mumbling continues] - [Charlene yawning]
- [mumbles, chuckles] - [Charlene sighs]
[Charlene] Okay.
- [Charlene mumbles] - Uh...
Monitor's... all right.
[Charlene] Oh, boy.
Charlene, are you there?
[Charlene] Oh, my god.
- Oh, my god. - What?
[stutters] What's going on?
[stutters] [Charlene] It's gone.
- [Charlene stammers] - What? What's gone?
- [Charlene] It's all gone. - [Rick] What's all gone?
[stutters] [Charlene] The money!
The... The, uh, account.
The... The pledges are, uh, empty.
Zero.
What the hell is happening?
[cell phone buzzing]
[phone clanks]
I saw you.
You're out there.
[Browning] So, what are you gonna tell your wife
about that coed you were dancing with?
You're a good liar.
No, you're the liar, Browning.
No Clarissa died from SMA in the past 30 years.
Do you... Do you even have a daughter?
Huh?
Just put her on the phone.
[Browning] Are you finished?
[Rick] Hey, listen.
Listen, about this, uh, arbitrary five million, uh.
Let's, uh... Let's make it half a million.
Still a lot of money, huh?
[Browning]You're in no position to negotiate.
[dial tone]
- [thuds] - Shit.
[tense music]
[tense music continues]
[snarling]
[growling]
[growls, hisses]
[snarling]
[growls]
[Charlene] Rick.
[gasps]
I'm dead.
There's no way I can raise this money now.
Rick, the money's been stolen.
We have to call the police.
No.
No, the word will get out.
[gasps]
Whoever took the money
had to be someone who could get in.
[Charlene] Like who?
What if Browning took the money?
No, no. Browning wouldn't, wouldn't screw over SMA.
[Charlene] No, hear me out.
There is no Clarissa.
Dr. Gray, he died of a heart attack.
This guy isn't a murderer.
He's an opportunist.
He was just looking for the biggest pot of money
he could find.
No, no, no.
Browning didn't, didn't know about the money.
On the phone, he...
He didn't know what I was talking about.
Someone else.
[sighs] If we can't find the money,
it's...
I'm dead.
[suspenseful music]
Breathe. Look, look at me, look at me, look at me.
[inhales] Just breathe. Relax.
Relax. Rick, Rick.
- Shut up! - Rick, listen to me, man.
You're not well, huh?
Let's get you to the medical room,
we'll run some tests.
No, I'm not leaving. No, no, he's out there!
I can't leave. I can't cross that street.
He's out there!
Okay, yeah, I need that stuff.
We got that stronger stuff that you were talking about?
I need it now. Now! Get it, get it. Get it. Now.
[Kathy] Come with me and you save our marriage,
or we're through!
[echoing] We're through!
[Larabee] They're not the problem.
You are.
- You are. - [Rick mumbling]
- What ya lookin' at? - They're not the problem.
- [Kathy echoes] We're through! - [Larabee] You are.
- [singing] - [scoffs]
[mumbling]
[Browning] Clarissa.
- [mumbles] - [Kathy echoes] We're through!
- [Browning] Clarissa. - [Larabee] You are.
Larabee.
[Larabee] They're not the problem.
- [Browning] Clarissa. - [Larabee] You are. You are.
- Top down. Top down.
- [male voice] Rick. - [mumbling]
Top down.
[static]
Larabee.
Holy shit. He took it.
He took the money.
Larabee took it.
- [sirens wailing] - [door closes]
This should do the trick.
[electricity crackles]
[yells, laughs]
- [electricity crackling] - [sinister laugh]
[gasps]
This should do the trick.
You be, uh, careful though. This is potent stuff.
[upbeat music]
[upbeat dance music]
[upbeat dance music continues]
[laughing]
[upbeat dance music]
Rick?
- [Rick] Teresa, Teresa. - Hi.
[Rick] Come here. Come here, Teresa.
- Yup. - [Rick] Come here.
- Hi. - Yeah, hey.
- You... You okay? - Yeah, I'm great.
Never been better.
Good. It's really great what you're doing.
[Rick] It's really great that you're here.
- Yeah, um... - I like you. I like you, Teresa.
You're a good girl. I like good girls.
Thanks. Thank you.
Um, Charlene, she... Charlene, um,
she said if you can't, um, leave the booth
to take a shower, you should, should have these baby wipes.
Oh, thank you.
- Charlene said that? - Yeah.
So, I'm gonna do what Charlene says, right?
- Um... - You like Charlene?
Uh, yeah, sure.
- Really? - [chuckles]
- Yeah. Okay. You like, like her? - Yeah.
Mm-hm.
[both laugh]
Thank you. Happy now?
- Um, she's... - Happy? Happy now? Go. Go, go.
- Oh, yeah. - Tell Charlene I did it.
[foreboding music]
[phone ringing]
Rick Weider.
[Roy] Yeah. Hi, Rick.
Uh, Roy Angstrom from The Daily News.
I have it from a confidential source
that the money you're raising in the Wake-A-Thon
has gone missing.
Would, uh... Would you care to comment?
Uh, what?
Uh...
Uh, who, who told you that?
It's, uh... [stutters]
It's, uh...
[Roy] Rick, you sound upset.
Are you confirming?
Uh, no, I got it. I got it.
I... I mean, I got it under control.
All right? It's, uh...
Huh? [sniffles]
[Roy] So, the money for the dying kids,
it's, it's all there, right?
Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yes.
I mean, yeah. Yeah.
[Roy] You sound very nervous, Rick.
You sure you're telling the truth?
You okay with us looking at your financial statements?
- Uh... - [phone clanks]
[sighs]
[mantis] Rick, Rick, Rick.
Rick, Rick.
Oh, my.
Look at you, my boy.
What a mess you're in!
It's all your fault, you know?
Your lack of talent.
Your worthlessness.
- Worthlessness. - No.
[mantis] Oh, yes.
There's no denying it. You know that.
Why don't you just give up and be done with it?
What chance do you really have?
Zippo.
I can do this.
Can't I?
No, you can't. You're a failure.
No one cares.
Just die already.
[Rick gasps]
[sighs]
[inhales deeply]
♪ I lay my life down
♪ It's you, my love
I can't live without ♪
[thunder rumbling]
[raindrops pattering]
Good...
[clears throat]
Good morning.
Morning, New York. This is, uh...
the seventh day.
Seven days awake.
Wide, wide awake.
You know, they...
They tell us that God created the world...
in six days, and then...
rested on the seventh.
Well, God... God may have taken a little nap
on, uh, on the seventh day, but...
not me, I'm still going. Still...
Still fighting.
Still awake.
I can't rest.
I can't rest, won't rest. I can't rest, won't rest till...
[Rick] Until we get those five million...
dollars.
Thousands of children,
dying children are waiting for...
for your help before they die.
And then, the parents are left to cry their eyes out...
until they die.
[Rick sighs deeply]
[thunder rumbling]
The worst...
part...
about having
to stay awake day after day
after day, after day, after day...
[sighs deeply]
is having to have to spend
every waking...
waking minute
with your...
horrible self.
[clicks tongue]
You've got to face everything rotten,
sordid,
every miserable thing
wrong with you.
[sighs]
[Rick] And just when you've had enough, and you can't...
you can't stand the wretched sight anymore,
you just... you just wanna put your head down
and fall asleep, and...
dream, just dream.
Dream about all the little things
that make you happy.
[sighs]
[Rick] But you've gotta stay awake
until you've got five million dollars.
Come on, buddy, you can do it!
[Rick groans]
[pants]
I'll rest when we get the five million.
So, give it to me, New York.
[sighs heavily]
So I can dream again.
[thunder rumbles]
[line ringing]
[pants]
Rick.
Uh, I, I... I've been trying to reach you, Kath.
Honey, so...
so much is going on,
and I can't trust anybody but you.
Rick.
[sighs] I can't.
Honey, I need you,
to, to help me fight this through.
Yeah.
But they're not listening to me.
[scoffs] No matter what I do,
they just still don't listen.
I saw a divorce lawyer this morning.
[foreboding music]
What?
[Kathy] When I heard you on the radio,
I always thought that you just loved yourself
more than anything.
But that's not true, is it?
You hate yourself.
And you always have.
[sighs]
And if you can't love you, then,
well, you're sure as hell never gonna be able to love me.
Don't.
[sighs]
I want a divorce.
[somber music]
[sobs]
[eerie music]
Whoa!
Good, this is radio.
It stinks in here! [chuckles]
- Get out. - [Maurice] You okay?
Get out.
- You okay? - [Rick] Get out.
- Hey. Hey, hey, hey! - Get out.
- [Maurice] I'm out of here. - Get out!
[Maurice] I'm going, I'm going!
[gloomy music]
[eerie music]
[rapid heartbeat]
[rapid heartbeat continues]
[ominous music]
[rapid heartbeat]
[sniffles]
[sobbing]
[dreamy music]
Help me.
[funky music]
[Kathy] You can do this, Rick.
You can do this.
You're doing it, Rick.
You're doing a great job.
[Kathy]You're gonna stay awake. You're gonna break the record.
Keep going.
[light music]
[Kathy] Wake up, sleepyhead. I believe in you, sweetheart.
Good job, darling.
Keep it up.
[echoing] You are the best, Rick.
[switch clanks]
[Kathy]You are a radio god.
[echoing] You are a radio god.
Rick.
[Kathy] You are a radio god.
Rick, you are a radio god.
[overlapping chatter]
- [Teresa] Rick, come on! - [Maurice]Stay awake. Come on.
- You're on the air. We're live! - Stay awake. Stay awake.
- [Maurice] Stay awake. - [Teresa] You got this.
- Come on, get up! - [Maurice] You can do this.
- Yes! Yes! - Come on. Come on.
- [Maurice] You can do this. - Oh, my god. Come on, come on.
- Yes! Yes, yes, yes! - Yes!
[Maurice] Put it back.
- WZLW, Rick Weider. - [chuckles]
- We are back. - [Teresa] Yep.
[grunts] Against, uh, against all odds,
for the cause of the eradication of SMA.
- [Teresa] Mm-hm. - Good job.
I'm still awake.
This is day... Hey, hey, what day is it?
Day eight.
- Eight? - [Teresa] It's eight.
- Holy... how'd we do that? - [laughing]
What do these kids with SMA do?
Or their parents?
- They're counting on you. - We've got to prevail.
- The rage... - Yes.
against the dying of the light!
- [Maurice] Yes! - Yeah!
- We must prevail! - [Maurice] Yes!
- So, send your money in. - Mm-hm.
And, uh, let's just give these kids a fighting chance.
Do it. Do it. Do it while, while there's still time.
- [sighs heavily] - [Teresa] Mm-hm.
Do it.
[panting]
[Rick] Yes.
[Maurice] Great job, buddy.
You're back. [laughs]
- Oh! Oh! - [Teresa gasps]
- Okay. - You're gonna be fine.
- [Teresa] You got it. - [Maurice laughing]
Hey, I just got a call from POSMA.
Have you been making obscene phone calls?
- POSMA? - People of SMA.
It's a support group for parents.
They're complaining that somebody
is calling them in the middle of the night,
asking if their kids are still dead.
You know, Browning's one of them. I know it.
Look, Rick.
These people have lost a lot.
You have got to be sensitive to that.
Why is that? Why isn't Clarissa on this list?
He told me she died.
[sighs sharply] She should be on it.
Well, maybe she...
died of something else.
[foreboding music]
- Sign up here. Help find a cure. - SMA pledge.
Come here.
Hey, you know, I was thinking, um...
You know, I heard about this place downtown.
- Yeah. - Uh...
It's a cool, like, dinner, like underground vibe.
They have, like, jazz bands.
And I was thinking, you know,
maybe if you're not doing anything later...
Um...
No. I... I have a lot of work to do, actually.
I have a midterm on Monday,
- and... - Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Um, maybe some other time?
- Yeah, yeah, okay. - Yeah.
[Teresa] Pledges!
And we're back with Nancy Turner
who, uh... [inhales deeply]
tragically lost a daughter to SMA.
So, um, tell us... tell us, Nancy, about, um...
about the final days.
[clicks tongue]
Megan, she could...
she, um...
she couldn't do anything.
[Nancy] The process was long and difficult for all of us.
She was so, so brave.
[sobs]
[groans] Yeah.
Ooh, that must have been real hard.
Well, she died in her sleep.
I was glad for that.
I'd kill to die in my sleep.
- [sighs] - Oh, my.
You have had a time of it.
I should have brought you some soup.
Soup?
[people shouting in distance]
I mean, you want me to drown or something?
I know that we gotta... we gotta think
of these things going in.
It's like having children.
You know, there's a risk there.
A risk worth taking.
Yeah, that's what they say, you know.
What, uh, whatever comes, you accept the responsibility.
Life is in God's hands.
God? God isn't raising money for SMA research. I am.
[Rick] God... God isn't...
didn't ultimately help your kid from dying.
- Let's face it. - [mouthing]
When push came to shove,
you... you didn't take her to... to a healer,
you took her to a doctor.
She... She's in heaven now.
And, uh... So tell me, tell me.
Did you, uh, did you donate the kid's brains?
[Nancy] What?
Or did you just store her in the ground
where she's no use to anybody?
How dare you?
- [thwacks] - [Rick groans]
- Please, I am so sorry. - [Nancy] No.
I, I didn't...
[door slams]
Well, that went better than expected, didn't it?
[thwacks]
- Charlene! - I don't care how tired you are,
- you self-serving monster! - Wait a minute.
Wait, wait. Charlene, okay. It's... It's not his fault.
Okay? He's just tired.
- He's really, really tired. - Yeah, I'm just really tired.
- Yeah, he's tired. - He's really tired!
[in mocking tone] He's really tired.
- It's okay. Oh! - [Rick] I'm tired.
- Yeah, it's okay. - [Rick groans]
- Oh, my god. - Oh, please!
Oh, my god.
- [Charlene] I've had it! - [siren wailing]
[sighs] It's okay.
Great.
Yeah, yeah. It's okay.
[Phil scoffs]
- [phone rings] - [door closes]
Just go, go get coffee.
[sighs] Yeah.
[Browning] Abusing a guest?
- Get control of yourself. - [door closes]
The lady,
she lost a child, too.
But she isn't here threatening me.
[sighs deeply]
I won't be a martyr for you.
For SMA.
[distant background chatter]
Or for anyone else.
[Browning] Oh, you might.
The DJ dies for SMA research.
And five million will be a drop in the bucket.
And I win, and you'll be damned.
No. Damn you.
Damn you.
This... whole thing's cost me my marriage,
my job.
I have nothing.
- [Browning] You? - [blows air]
[Browning] I lost everything!
My wife left me when my Clarissa died.
I... I cared for her.
More than my own health!
I, I trudged through the snow with her in my arms,
to get her to the emergency room,
because 911 wasn't responding!
[Rick] Those five million bucks won't...
won't settle your grief.
[phone clanks]
[suspenseful music]
[mouthing] Come on, come on.
[ominous music]
What the hell?
[foreboding music]
[ominous music]
[exhales deeply]
[mantis] Psst, hey.
Yes, I'm back.
Listen. Listen carefully.
Look at her.
Look at that slut.
She cooked up this plot against you.
It's her and Larabee. They're in this together.
Did you ever think about that?
That moron Larabee,
he's out to get you.
He's gonna take your job away.
It's really her that set this whole thing up.
Ooh, wouldn't you just like to put your hands
around her throat and crush that windpipe of hers?
Oh, yes.
[sighs]
Look, Rick.
I'm sorry about yesterday.
I guess I'm pretty tired myself.
[foreboding music]
You found your comfort, haven't you?
Oh, you disgust me!
You need to up your dosage.
I saw you kissing him.
[sighs]
[Rick] You're on his side, aren't you?
Why... Why him?
You think you're the only one whose job is on the line?
[scoffs] Oh, Charlene.
I begged him not to fire you!
But he doesn't seem to have a problem with you now.
He thinks you'll actually break the record.
He doesn't have a problem now?
That's 'cause he's got the money.
Don't make any more trouble for yourself.
Your new boyfriend Larabee is a sharp customer.
Just get him over here tonight.
I... I'm gonna trip him up in a subtle way that he...
he can't see coming.
Huh?
Give me the money, you prick.
Give it to me or I'll kill you!
- Get off me, you maniac! - [grunts]
[pants]
- You won't get away with it. - What money?
[Rick] I'll take you down.
I'll make sure he gets you, too.
You mean the SMA money?
It's gone.
That's it.
I'm pulling the plug on this sham. You're done.
Wait. Please, please, please, hold on.
Wait, wait, look at me.
Um... [exhales sharply]
I need you to get me the money back, okay?
'Cause I wanna live.
So, look, I'll, uh... I'll do anything.
I'll play Top 40. See, I love these stuff.
♪ Baby, baby, wait, wait, wait
♪ Baby, melt your broken heart
- ♪ Baby, I'll - What the hell's going on
- in here? - ♪ I'll
You're one pathetic bastard.
You're not taking me off the air.
You do that,
and everyone will find out
about the kickbacks you're getting
from record companies
to play your precious Top 40.
[Larabee] That's very funny.
[door slams]
[Cliff] How'd you know he's getting kickbacks?
He's getting kickbacks?
You just said he was!
What?
Oh, yeah. I... I was bluffing.
- [static] - [groaning]
[echoing voices]
[Maurice] Rick.
Rick.
[Phil] Rick.
Rick.
Rick!
Rick?
I think the pills are kicking in.
He's technically awake, right?
Technically?
The machine is registering REM.
It's a dream phase.
- [male voice] Rick. - [Maurice] Look at him.
Rapid eye movement.
He's crossed a very dangerous threshold.
We've pushed him too far.
We should let him drift off to sleep.
[grunts] No. No.
Rick, forget about it. It's not safe.
Man, I wanted the glory of this as much as you,
but I can't let you go on with this.
Now come on, Rick.
You could get permanent brain damage.
Rick?
Who you calling "Rick"?
Rick... [pants]
Can't you see?
I'm an imposter.
What have you done with the real Rick?
Where is he?
- [Rick groans] - Rick?
I'm a fake.
- I'm an imposter. - Rick, Rick, listen to me.
You're not in control of yourself anymore.
- [Rick mumbles] - It's too risky.
I will not...
[panting] I will not give up.
- Listen to me. - [Rick groans]
If you lose enough sleep, you will die.
[Rick] I will not give up.
And you know what will finally kill you?
- You'll freeze to death. - Huh?
The human body has an internal thermostat
that regulates our body temperature.
When you lose enough sleep,
your body temperature drops,
and then you effectively freeze to death,
that's if your brain doesn't hemorrhage first.
What? Freeze to... Freeze...
What do you mean "freeze to death"?
Well, even in 100-degree weather,
that's what will kill him.
Do you notice how cold you get when you're tired?
When his internal thermostat goes kaput,
he will go into hypothermia.
- And then... - [crunching]
And I have videotape of lab rats
that'll make your skin crawl.
- [Maurice] Look at him. - [crunches]
Like all warm-blooded creatures,
he's instinctively gorging on food
to try and raise his body temperature
when he's so cold inside.
Mm.
- Rick. - [Rick] Mm-hmm.
I wanted you to break that record.
But I'm your doctor first.
I told you, I'm not Rick.
I'm an imposter.
I have to find Rick.
- [Charlene gasps] - I have to find Rick.
Damn it, Phil. Grab him!
[rock music]
[oxygen hissing]
[hissing continues]
Uh, we're... we're here with Brett,
and, uh... [clears throat]
his... his parents.
[Rick sighs deeply]
[Rick] Brett is 12.
And he's... he's known SMA...
all his life.
I, I bet that's... difficult.
- [Brett mumbles] - [machine beeps]
[automated voice] Yes. Yes.
Do you... Do you know of, uh...
any children that have already...
gone?
- [machine beeps] - [automated voice] Yes. Yes.
[oxygen hissing]
Did... Did you know Clarissa?
- [tapping] - [machine beeping]
[automated voice] I don't think so.
[stammers] Oh... okay.
[groans]
[sniffles, clicks tongue]
[Rick] We, uh... I... I know that the...
There... is there, uh, any...
anything, money, whatever, any...
anything that, that... that we can do?
- [taps] - [machine beeps]
[automated voice] We really need a cure.
A cure, folks. You heard that.
Uh...
We are... are still way under
our, our five-million-dollar goal.
And, uh, there is...
there isn't enough time in the world
to... to help these children.
So we need to develop a cure.
[inhales deeply]
Uh, Brett, is, is there...
any... anything else that...
you wanna say?
- [taps] - [machine beeps]
[automated voice]Never give up.
[uplifting music]
[Rick mumbles]
Never.
[mouthing] Never.
[somber music]
[mutters]
[indistinct chatter]
[indistinct chatter continues]
[Maurice] Hey, Rick, you all right?
You all right?
[Rick] Listen.
I need to tell you something.
[Maurice] Well, sure. What is it?
I've seen something.
[sighs heavily] It's just something...
[Maurice] What did you see?
I've seen...
God.
I understand.
The synapses in your brain
are doing strange things right now.
You'll be fine.
- It's gonna be okay. - [Rick] No, no, no.
It's real.
It's more than real. It's...
I'm seeing things clearly now.
And it's...
beautiful.
I've looked into eternity.
And He told me...
that I'm the chosen one.
A beacon.
Beacon.
Beacon for hope and light.
Look at all the faces of those people out there.
I can hear their souls.
And they're crying out...
for help.
That's what I'm... That's what I'm doing in here.
They need to know that...
they can endure.
[Rick sighs]
What you need is a cup of coffee.
I love you, man.
I love you.
- Mm. - [Maurice] Coffee.
[door opens]
[phone rings]
- Rick? - Kathy.
Kathy, I'm a beacon.
What were you gonna do, Rick?
Just fake your own death and skip town?
Huh? Fake? What?
Embezzlement, Rick? Embezzlement?
You bastard!
I mean, to put all that money that you stole
in our account.
I mean, how could you drag me into this?
[Kathy] Are you kidding me?
I mean, I knew you were a selfish jerk.
- This is... This is crazy. - [Kathy] But I had no idea
- that you were a thief! - Um, I'm checking our account.
The press has our bank statements.
They are harassing me, Rick!
They are calling me, and they know, okay?
They know. What the hell are you doing?
Are you giving it to them?
Holy shit. Password.
What the hell are you doing over there?
[grunts] Radio god.
[keyboard clacking]
[Kathy]How could you be so dumb
to put it in our account?
Oh, no, no.
No, no, no!
[tense music]
Son of a bitch.
[people jeering]
[door closes]
[thumping]
[crowd shouting]
What the hell's going on?
Must be this, Rick.
[phone rings]
[ring tone playing]
Hello?
Hey, what's up, Cliff?
[Rick] Cliff?
- I've been set up. - [Cliff] Relax, Rick.
I've already got the FCC breathing down my neck.
Don't... Don't pull the plug, Cliff.
We'll, uh, we'll still raise the five million.
[Cliff] Enough! Don't say anymore!
We could lose our license over this.
Don't you dare!
- [line drops, beeps] - [Rick sighs heavily]
[Rick] No! [grunts]
[Rick whimpers]
[man shouting in distance]
See you later...
radio god.
[suspenseful music]
[door opens]
[crowd shouting]
[door closes]
- [phone ringing] - [gasps]
[phone ringing]
- Look. Hey. - [Browning] You ruined it.
- Listen, Browning. - [Browning] You ruined it!
[panting] We can finish this.
- You and I. - [Browning] It's over.
No, wait, wait, wait. Wait, let me fix this.
- Let me fix... - [Browning] You'll be dead
in a few minutes.
I'm coming for you.
Right now.
[suspenseful music]
[whimpers]
[intense music]
[siren wailing]
[car horn honks]
[indistinct chatter]
[woman speaks indistinctly]
[foreboding music]
[tense music]
[grunts]
Marcus. Marcus, please.
He's trying to kill me.
It's Rick, it's Rick. He's trying to kill me.
- Whoa. Slow down, Rick. - [Rick]Now, could you help me,
- Marcus? - What?
Marcus, you have to put me on the air.
Just go put me on the air. I, I, I...
I can't die like this. I can't die like this.
What are you talking about? Who's trying to kill you?
Just put me on the air.
It's not a hoax, believe me.
- [Rick] Believe me! - Dude. Dude, I can't.
Man, I'll lose my job.
Marcus, Marcus, whatever... whatever you thought about me...
Yo, if... Listen, listen.
If someone's trying to kill you, why don't you call the police?
- Why're you calling me? - [Rick] Put me on the air.
Just tell Charlene...
Tell Charlene to just call Murdoch and listen in.
Dude, I can't put you on, dude!
- [cell phone buzzing] - Oh, shit.
[Rick] He's calling.
[stammers] I'll...
I'll conference call him.
I'll conference call him,
and... and you can hear it for yourself. Okay?
[Rick] We're gonna catch him together.
Put me on the air!
Browning.
[Browning] Where do you think you're running to, Rick?
Nowhere to go.
[mumbling]
[sighs] Fuck.
[suspenseful music]
The following is Rick Weider, WZLW Radio.
You're about to hear radio history in the making.
Browning, Browning, you've got to listen to me.
It wasn't me. It wasn't me. It was Phil.
It was... It was the intern, Phil.
[Rick] That prick. He...
He... He stole the money, and he put it in my account.
It was him.
[Browning] Always blaming someone else.
- Get off me, man. - You knew my password.
And you transferred the money into my account.
[Phil chuckles]
You called the newspaper. You set me up.
The show is over, Rick. Give it up.
Phil took the money.
- Tell him. - [chuckles]
[ominous music]
Bastard!
Rick, what's happening, dude?
- [switches clank] - [car horn honks]
[Rick shouts]
Hey, hold on. Hold on, hold on.
- [Rick muttering] - What are you doing in here?
- What are you guys doing? - [Phil muttering]
He's after us. Shut up! This is all your fault!
- [guard] We're closed. - [Phil] Do not listen to this,
- this selfish son of a bitch. - [Rick] I'm doing this
- charity thing at the moment. - [overlapping dialogue]
[Phil] You want to get a job?
I can give you a very nice job.
Please, I'll give you all the money in the world.
Please, please help me.
[Rick and Phil whimpering]
- [microphone squeals] - [guard] What's going on?
[Phil] Son of a bitch.
[Rick] I'm doing this charity thing.
[Phil] I will give you lots of money.
[overlapping dialogue]
We're closed, and you need to leave.
[Phil] He's there! He's there!
[Phil yelling]
- [gunshot] - [screams]
[foreboding music]
[indistinct chatter]
Oh, my god. Did he just get shot?
- [shushes] - [Rick groans]
[grunting] Marcus.
He's okay. He's okay.
- Yeah, 1-30-43, 1-30-43. - Go, come on. Come on.
1-30-43.
"1-30-43." What is he talking about?
Wait, wait, wait.
I think he's trying to give us an address.
- [thumps] - [guard groans]
[both panting]
[both breathing heavily]
[both panting]
You took the money from dying kids.
Just shut up and give me the phone!
[Rick] No.
[both panting]
[groans]
I was just out to raise my numbers.
[pants]
[Rick] Steve Larabee.
Dang him. I sat out there, so he could play his Top 40.
Anything, so long as the numbers go up.
Right, Phil?
[Phil] I don't know anything!
[both panting]
No.
It had to be you.
And Larabee.
Larabee's got his payoffs.
[Rick] From the record companies.
No, no, no. Get him off the air.
- [Larabee] Get him off... - No, no, it's breaking news.
- [Larabee] Go to commercial. - It's breaking news.
You cut into commercial. Move!
[Marcus] It's breaking news, man!
- I don't care if it's... - He stays on!
- [overlapping dialogue]
- It's my show. He stays on! - [Larabee] What he's saying...
- He's lying. Nothing... - [Marcus] No, no, no.
- that he's saying in there... - [Marcus] Rick stays on!
- No, he's getting off! He's off! - [Marcus] Rick is staying on!
- [Larabee] You're fired! - Rick's staying on.
- I don't give a damn! - [Larabee] You're fired!
- You're getting off. - I don't care.
- He's staying on now, though. - You will never work
- at another radio station - [Marcus] Whatever, man.
- in this country again. - Whatever. We're tired of you
- anyway. - Enjoy unemployment.
I'm tired of your crap anyway.
- Bitch! - [door opens]
[door closes]
What's your cut, Phil?
[panting] What's he paying you?
Huh?
What did I ever do to you,
except take your lousy bets?
You deserved this, Weider.
You're screwing everyone over
just as you please.
[foreboding music]
Hey! Hey!
Get your pencil-pushing ass out of my station!
Or I will bring down an investigation on you so hard,
you will never work in this industry again.
And Rick goes back on the air.
[ominous music]
Oh, god. [panting]
This wasn't even about you
and Larabee embezzling, was it?
It couldn't be. The money is in my account.
Why?
This was just about taking me down.
[exhales sharply]
Why?
For Teresa.
What?
She couldn't see me with you there.
- [Phil] I tried so hard. - What?
No. No, no, no.
You're not so hot now, are you, Rick?
It can't be. Seriously? Oh, my god.
Who the hell is Teresa?
You did this for a girl? [exhales sharply]
Why didn't you just buy her flowers,
you dumb son of a bitch?
Morning man Rick Weider is in the clutches
of a deadly attacker.
You are listening to him via his cell phone.
This is real, people. This is happening right now.
[sighs]
[gasps]
[inhales sharply]
[sighs deeply]
- [high-pitched feedback] - [blows air]
[groans]
[Rick groans, pants]
[sucks teeth]
[groans]
[blade rasps]
[sighs deeply]
[Rick groaning]
[breathes heavily]
[panting]
He's gone.
I'm out of here.
Later, loser.
[clattering in distance]
[suspenseful music]
[door opens]
[approaching footsteps]
[tense music]
[clanks]
[ominous music]
[ominous music intensifies]
[Rick] Phil, run!
- [gunshot] - [Phil yells]
[groans]
[gasps]
[grunts]
Oh, god. Oh, god.
[tense music]
[tense music continues]
This is live, people. This is not a game.
[Marcus] His life is in jeopardy.
He is in the clutches of a deadly attacker.
[approaching footsteps]
[panting]
No.
- No. Wait. - [switch clicks]
Wait.
[Rick sucks teeth]
- [clangs] - [Rick] Uh, wait.
- You failed. - Wait.
- You failed! - [thwacks]
You failed!
- [whimpers] - [Browning] You failed!
God, no.
[both sobbing]
[panting] [Rick] No.
[Rick gasping]
- [Rick] No. - You failed.
- [thwacks] - [groans]
You failed!
[tense music]
[officer 1] Oh.
- Still breathing. - We have one down. Roll EMS.
[groaning]
How about... How about Clarissa?
[Rick] Is...
Is this what she wanted?
How about...
Clarissa?
Clarissa.
Clarissa... is that what she wanted?
You don't know the pressure.
The doctors.
The constant whining.
[gulps]
Crying.
Excuses.
She'd be finishing college now.
My little girl.
[Browning] My little girl.
She didn't die of SMA, did she?
That's why she wasn't on the list.
Oh, is this...
[groans]
Is this how she died?
You did it, didn't you?
You murdered your own daughter.
She was suffering.
No.
No, you were suffering.
You were suffering.
And you couldn't take it anymore.
And you killed her.
You gave up on her.
[Rick] You gave up on her!
- You did. You gave up on her... - You don't know!
You don't know what it's like...
to look at all the other kids,
and see them, and how happy they are!
And you were weak.
And you killed... Clarissa.
[pants]
She was six,
and I was giving her a bath.
And I pushed her head under the water.
I pushed her head under the water.
[sobs]
[gloomy music]
But I'm not giving up.
[pants]
I'm not giving up.
[coughs] We can do it.
Together, we can raise the money.
We can still raise the money.
[Rick] For the kids. We can still do it.
We don't have to stop. Together.
You have to die.
[Browning] You need to die.
Yeah.
Yeah, you're right.
[Rick panting]
Kathy.
I love you, Kathy.
[Rick] Kathy.
- [sniffles] - [Rick] I love you, Kathy.
Come on, asshole...
and kill me.
[crowd screaming indistinctly]
Hey, hey! Hey, take the money!
- Hey, take the money! - [overlapping dialogue]
For the kids.
It's great publicity.
Let's do it.
Do it, and we'll raise millions.
Do it for the kids!
[groans]
- Freeze! - [screams]
[gunshots]
[gasping]
[pants]
[sighs]
You okay, Rick?
Rick?
I gotta find Rick.
[Rick] I gotta find Rick.
- What the hell? - [Rick] I gotta find Rick.
[Murdoch] Browning down. Weider on the run.
Find that lunatic! Now.
[light music]
[dreamy music]
[siren wailing in distance]
[uplifting music]
[softly] Oh, god.
Rick.
[Kathy sighs]
Kathy.
Kathy, I'm never ever gonna give up on you.
I won't...
[Rick] I won't give up on you.
[chuckles]
I just...
I just really...
really need some...
[Kathy chuckles softly]
[tranquil music]
[upbeat music]