[news fanfare playing]
ANCHOR: The bomber speaks.
Serial bomber Eric Rudolph,
currently under federal indictment for three bombings,
has released a series of inflammatory letters
to news organizations.
In the letters, Rudolph takes full responsibility
for the attacks at an abortion clinic outside Atlanta,
the Otherside lesbian lounge
and an abortion clinic in Birmingham,
which claimed the life of Officer Robert Sanderson.
Rudolph claims in his letters
that he never meant to harm anyone,
but wanted to "Stop the murder of children."
Rudolph calls himself a "defender of families
"and the family values and principles
our nation was founded on."
A n other wrinkle in the search for the elusive serial bomber.
♪ ♪
This section of the letters contains details
about the construction of the Sandy Springs, Otherside
and Birmingham bombs.
He provides them as proof that he's the bomber.
Embry, do the forensics match what's in these letters?
All the details are accurate.
And none have been released to the press by investigators.
The bomber would be the only guy who'd know all this stuff.
These letters have been written by Eric Rudolph,
the signature notwithstanding.
"Army of God."
Knox, what have we got on the Army of God?
- I-Is that a terrorist organization? - KNOX: This is typical
of communications from lone-wolf bombers.
Rudolph's trying to make himself seem powerful,
like he's a warrior in a broader movement, but he's not.
The Unabomber did the same thing.
Called himself "we," had an imaginary organization
called the Freedom Club.
- There is no Army of God. - Army of God
is Rudolph trying to make himself the good guy.
Here, too, when he says "I did not mean to hurt anyone."
BRENNAN: Right.
"Stop the murder of children."
"Let those who murder innocent babies be warned."
Same thing, right?
He's not the murderer, he's trying to prevent murder.
- Exactly. - Mailing these letters
is a risky move for him.
So, why does he do it? Huh?
KNOX: My theory is that one morning
he wakes up and there's no oatmeal
left in his backpack for breakfast.
Or there's a patrol too close for comfort.
Look, I think Rudolph is claiming
that he's doing God's work because he thinks that will sway
a pro-life jury in Birmingham.
And he's saying he never meant to hurt anyone to try to wriggle
out of a premeditated murder charge.
So he knows he's on the verge of being captured.
He's running scared
a n d already trying to set the table for his trial.
Well, good.
If Rudolph is thinking about standing before a jury,
let's get him there.
Knox, let's, uh, double up on the patrols,
concentrate on the areas near where he mailed these.
And I want extra men at all the checkpoints.
I f he's going to try and escape the woods,
he'll make his move now.
All right? Thank you.
Oh, hold up, hold up.
If you don't mind.
If you're right, who's the audience?
Potential jurors in Alabama.
And who knows, maybe some misguided fool here in Nantahala
who would give a fellow Christian a few sandwiches
so he can survive another day or two.
This is the first time
he's claimed responsibility for the bomb.
He's boasting about it, almost.
"Oh, it was me, I know all these details about the bomb,
I'm God's warrior."
I mean, who is that for, really?
I mean, I'm not saying you're wrong.
But the kind of guy who would plan two L-shaped ambushes?
He's not some rube flailing around the woods
trying to survive the week.
He's got a plan.
And I don't know what it is, but he's got one.
B R ENNAN: Agents,
will you excuse us a moment?
[door opens]
I'm sure you noticed
Rudolph took responsibility for three bombings, not four.
Sandy Springs, Otherside Lounge and Birmingham.
Not Olympic Park.
I've noticed that.
And I hate to sound like a broken record,
but the facts say otherwise.
So you're claiming that Rudolph managed to detonate a huge bomb
on the biggest stage in the world.
One of the most famous and successful terrorist bombings
on American soil ever.
Then he decided to write letters taking responsibility
for three tiny, relatively little bombings,
but for some reason,
makes no mention whatsoever of his masterpiece.
Even for you, that must sound pretty far-fetched.
By God, you are right.
I don't understand it.
Thank you for your help, Agent.
Earl, Earl.
[muttering]
Think you're the smartest mother--
Goddamn it. [continues muttering]
We'll be home in three hours, man.
Just-just put it behind us.
We're not going home.
If that directional plate isn't good enough for this bunch,
well, we'll just find something else.
MINISTER: I was gonna preach today about "turning the other cheek."
But I read these letters this morning.
We've been hearing over and over from the FBI:
"Eric Rudolph is a terrorist, an enemy of society."
I bought that.
But then, I read the man's words.
And it didn't fit.
What I see is a man who dared to stand up
for what we all believe in: protecting defenseless babies.
- [agreeing chatter] - Eric's so-called "crime"?
The one that is bringing the full might
of the U.S. government and the FBI down on this town,
down upon this congregation?
He attacked a few empty buildings.
- WOMAN: Yeah. - He blew up some bricks.
A n d accidentally killed one guard
and hurt one nurse,
who, let's be honest, has made a career
out of aiding and abetting mass murder.
- [agreeing chatter] - That's right.
Now, I don't know what all this means.
A n d I absolutely would never condone violence.
By Eric Rudolph or anyone here in this church. Hear me on that.
"Thou shalt not kill" is a commandment, not a suggestion.
[agreeing chatter]
But I got to say,
if there is an Army of God,
- shouldn't we all be enlisting? - [agreeing chatter]
Today?
Right now? There is an Army of God.
It's not a terrorist group.
It is right here in this church.
A n d in 10,000 churches all over this country.
And if you are not in it,
then the hour of your downfall is at hand.
Because if God is with us, who can be against us?!
[cheering, applause]
That's right.
[piano playing]
♪ M y hope is built on nothing less ♪
♪ Than Jesus' blood ♪
♪ And righteousness ♪
♪ I dare not trust the sweetest frame ♪
♪ B ut wholly lean on Jesus' name ♪
♪ On Christ, the solid rock, I stand ♪
♪ A ll other ground is sinking sand ♪
♪ All other ground ♪
♪ Is sinking sand... ♪
[grunting]
THOMPSON: Well, well, well.
All right, gentlemen.
[chuckles] Make yourself at home.
Appreciate it, Sheriff. Really do.
Well, there you are.
Keys to Eric's kingdom.
- Y'all have a good day. - Thank you.
H A NNAH: Phineas?
Phineas?
[Phineas barking in distance]
You found it?
Phineas.
Oh, he's a beautiful dog.
Think he f-- think he smelled my food.
I know who you are.
Oh, you don't have to be scared.
Me? Don't worry, I'm not.
Phineas, go home.
[barking]
I think I know who you are, too.
You're the woman the FBI assaulted.
Your kids, too, right?
I heard about that.
I'm-I'm so sorry.
You should keep farther from town.
Feds are up and down this hollow couple times a day.
You know, I did all this to help people.
To protect the innocent.
Uh, just the idea that good people like you are suffering
'cause I'm on the run...
No, little kids shouldn't have to see that.
I'm sorry. It ain't right.
You want to head up that way.
Northeast.
Ah.
Well, thank you...
Hannah.
Thank you, Hannah.
Okay, sit. Sit, boy.
Good job.
What do you think, can you stay put for me?
- [whimpers] - [shushes]
Stay.
[praying quietly]
[twig snaps]
It's me. I'm sorry.
Oh, you just startled me is all.
These FBI patrols have got me all jumpy.
Why are you here...
exactly?
Why are you in Nantahala?
W e ll, it's God's country. Filled with God's people.
Plus, it's home. I grew up here.
Did you? Nobody in town seems to know you.
Y o u go ask Mrs. Patterson down at Cherokee Valley Elementary,
I'm sure she remembers me.
I used to give her a whole mess of trouble.
Well, she got me expelled for the "great crime"
of having a Christian view of history and science.
We used to live right next door to Paul Ashland.
You knew old Paul?
Oh.
He was like a dad to me.
He's the one who brought us Rudolphs to Christ.
P a ul was a friend of my husband's.
A m an you could rely on when it all hit the fan.
I'd like to think he'd say the same about me,
if he was still with us.
I read your letters.
Is it true?
- Is all that stuff true? - Uh, yes, ma'am.
I'm shivering in the woods, starving half the time,
running from FBI patrols day and night,
but it's all worth it.
And I would do it all over again if I had the choice.
You know, in my lowest moments...
I imagine a little baby...
that would've been torn limb from limb
in its mama's womb.
I imagine that baby growing up,
peaceful...
running around laughing...
and I think:
if I have to suffer like this,
so that just one baby can live,
then by God, let me suffer.
I t ain't right the way they're treating you.
The FBI would be happy to put a bullet in your back
and call it justice.
Hey, this is the path I chose, for the glory of God.
I want to help you, sir.
You don't know me...
but me and my husband...
w e 've got a lot of "reliable friends."
You tell me what you need,
how we can help keep you safe...
and I'll see it through.
Ma'am, will you pray with me?
Dear Father,
give us your light...
[continues praying quietly]
♪ ♪
HOLLIWELL: We can keep beating our heads against the wall,
but it's not here.
He's supposed to be all religious.
Pro-life,
anti-government,
bombing for his beliefs...
Well, there's not one pamphlet,
prayer card,
no picture of a dead baby,
no anti-government books or neocon manifestos.
Look, Earl, when...
when the most relevant evidence
you've got is You Might Be a Redneck If...
and a couple of Cheech & Chong tapes?
It's time to go home.
[exhales] You ever hear the old Greek fable
of the farmer and the snake?
Oh, boy. Story hour.
I like story hour.
I like it.
Well, this farmer's coming along home
late one cold winter night, and he...
sees this viper lying in the road,
frozen near to death.
The farmer picks up this cute little viper,
he puts it in his coat, right up against his skin.
G e t him all warm. He saves his life.
Well, that viper,
as soon as he feels a little warmth come in his body?
Oh-- [hisses] He bites that farmer.
Now the farmer's dying...
and he looks down at that snake.
He said,
"Why the hell did you do that?"
Says the snake,
"It is puzzling. I reckon it's just my nature."”
I've been in hundreds of rooms like this.
Going through people's things,
piecing together their reasons why.
99% of these bombers, it's simple.
It's personal.
Boss fired you, woman left you, judge dropped the hammer.
Hell, your neighbor's playing
Guns N' Roses at 3:00 in the morning.
The other one percent
is extreme ideology.
The kind that takes over your thoughts,
your relationships, your home.
Consumes your life.
It's like a fever.
But...
I ' ve seen a few, a very rare few--
maybe one or two
in the 40 years I've been doing this--
who do it just because they like it.
They don't believe anything.
They don't want anything, except blood, chaos, horror.
There's no "what."
There's no "why."
They just like it.
It's their nature.
So...
young Joe Holliwell,
you're right.
There's nothing here.
And that's what scares me.
HANNAH: Babe.
I've seen him.
I've met him. And he is the real deal.
He is walking the walk.
And he is a Godly man.
And he's one of us.
Paul Ashland brought him to Christ.
Oh...
You asked him questions?
Made sure?
I made sure.
He didn't ask for help, but he sure needs it.
The FBI's gonna shoot that boy in the back.
And there's only one man who can help him.
[exhales]
♪ ♪
MAN: Okay, back it up.
[indistinct chatter]
[chatter continues]
[all cheering]
W h at makes us Regulators and not civilians, huh?
I thought it was that we're trained and armed
and swore an oath to stand up to government tyranny.
Yeah, it's easy for you to say. You ain't got a job,
much less a wife and kids to take care of.
- MAN: That's right. - You ain't got nothing to lose
by going off half-cocked.
Did you even read those letters?
How can you say we shouldn't act?
If we don't pull the trigger right now,
we might as well admit this whole militia is a joke
- and close up shop. - [others clamoring]
MAN: We don't even know this guy!
You ready to start a war for him?
- Risk jail time for him? - Yeah.
I ain't getting sodomized in a federal pen for 30 years
'cause some little goddamn boy thinks it's a good idea.
- Yeah! - [banging on table]
- All right. - BIG JOHN: Hey!
We have to be smart.
We got kids and families, and none of us
wants to go to jail for 30 years.
And that's the reality.
But there's a reason
- that flag hangs above that door. - [agreeing chatter]
Now,
I have read them letters,
and reread 'em.
And the only way I can see this is,
it's like someone bombed the gas chambers at Auschwitz,
and accidentally hurt Dr. Mengele
and killed an SS guard.
[agreeing chatter]
And now the Waffen-SS is right here,
in our town, trying to hunt down
- and kill this hero. - [agreeing chatter]
Now, we all know how history judged the SS.
- [agreeing chatter] - MAN: Oh, yeah.
We also know how history judged those who resisted...
and those who didn't.
- [agreeing chatter] - That's right.
- You're right. - BIG JOHN: So...
we are going to be very careful.
And very prudent.
But you make no mistake,
this iswhat we've been training for.
A L L: Yeah!
Eric Rudolph took a stand
to save unborn children from mass murder.
A L L: Yeah!
- He needs our help. - ALL: Yeah!
And we are going to help him.
- ALL: Yeah! - So that our children know
that we were on the right side of history.
A L L: Yeah!
[all shouting, clamoring]
Let's go! Let's go!
- [horns honking] -DISPATCH: Be advised, we need to search...
What's going on?
We don't know what to do, sir. He won't let us
- search the truck or show ID. - Wha... This one?
All of them. They won't even roll down their windows.
They just keep saying the same thing over and over.
My squad mate says it's happening
- over at his checkpoint, too. - [honking continues]
- Sir. - MAN: Am I being detained
- or am I free to go? - Could you please pull aside
- so we can safely search your vehicle? - Am I being detained
or am I free to go?
Who told you to say that?
- [honking continuing] - DISPATCH: All right,
just go ahead and divert, take a right at...
Are you militia?
You one of the Regulators?
A m I being detained or am I free to go?
Am I being detained
or am I free to go?
Am I being detained
or am I free to go?
Am I being detained
or am I free to go?
A m I being detained or am I free to go?
- [indistinct radio chatter] - [cars continue honking]
What's he doing here?
AGENT: I don't know.
Want us to run him off?
Eric Rudolph could be in any one of these trunks.
We can't let any of these vehicles through.
- Is that clear? - Roger that, sir.
So what do we do?
[siren chirps]
Sir, get in. We got a tip. We know where Eric Rudolph is.
Come on, let's go, let's go!
Take over.
[quiet chatter]
- Backpack! - Take cover!
Bomb tech. Clear that bag.
Clear.
Shit.
Another bullshit tip.
Anybody hurt?
[indistinct shouting]
I have eyes. Go! Go!
MAN: Go, go, go!
[gunshot]
Get down! Take cover!
[rapid gunfire]
KNOX: This is Red Team One.
Repeat, Red Team One.
Need cover, now.
I need cover, now!
[gunfire continuing]
[indistinct shouting]
C e ase fire! Cease fire!
- MAN: Cease fire! - MAN 2: Cease fire!
- Hold up! - Hold your fire!
Sound off! Anybody hit?
MAN: We're good here.
- MAN: Red two, good. - MAN 2: Red three, all good.
MAN 3: We're good, sir.
They were shooting over our heads.
They were shooting over our goddamn heads!
T h ought the Army of God didn't actually exist.
It didn't.
Sure as hell does now.
[clears throat]
Yeah, this is Jack Brennan. Tell the director
I have some developments to report.
I'd like to dedicate this next song
to a local hero.
- Y'all know who I'm talking about. - CROWD: Oh, yeah...
It's called "Run Rudolph Run."
[whooping, applause]
♪ ♪
♪ H e never meant to hurt no one ♪
♪ He wouldn't harm a fly ♪
♪ But the Lord knows Eric Rudolph ♪
♪ Didn't want that man to die ♪
♪ But he could not just sit back ♪
♪ Knowing all the things they done ♪
♪ So he stopped that baby-killing factory ♪
♪ He made a homemade bomb ♪
♪ Now you gotta ♪
[ o thers join in]: ♪ Run, Rudolph ♪
♪ Run Rudolph, run ♪
♪ Or the FBI's gonna shoot you ♪
♪ With their gun ♪
Not this time.
♪ A modern-day Billy the Kid ♪
♪ S o you better do just like he did ♪
♪ Run, Rudolph, Run, Rudolph, run ♪
What are you doing here?
I'm waiting on my order,
drinking a beer.
It's the only bar in town, right?
FBI, I assume?
No.
- ATF. - MAN: Sounds great!
[chuckling]: What's the difference?
Well...
they pledge fraternities and wear wingtips.
♪ Run, Rudolph, run, Rudolph, run... ♪
I wear work boots and bowl.
[chuckles]
Fair enough, Mr. ATF.
♪ Or the FBI's gonna shoot you with their gun ♪
I'll tell you something.
This right here?
This is my family.
Do you understand that?
Now, suppose someone come in your home
and threaten your family.
- What would you do about it? - [whooping]
I reckon I'd introduce that fella
to my 12-gauge.
Exactly right.
[short chuckle] Oh, and so you know--
when the shit hits the fan...
we won't be looking at your footwear. [chuckles]
- [chuckling] -♪ Rudolph knows how to survive ♪
♪ And he's doing well to stay alive ♪
♪ And he's camouflaged in a cave... ♪
I see that picture. I hear that song.
I wonder what you think about all that.
♪ With blackberry wine, but right now ♪
♪ It's mama's cooking sure would be good... ♪
I'm sure you do.
Fed's gonna take his order to go.
Aw, you wouldn't begrudge a fella his beer,
now, would you?
To go.
♪ S o you better do just like he did ♪
♪ Run, Rudolph, run... ♪
[music continuing in distance]
- [song ends] - [whoops, whistling]
[clears throat]
- How you doing tonight? - Pretty good.
♪ You gotta run, Rudolph ♪ - [chuckles]
- ♪ Run, Rudolph, run ♪ [chuckles]
♪ Or the FBI gonna shoot you with their gun. ♪
[both chuckle]
I got to admit, it is catchy.
Oh, yeah.
On the radio already. Day and night.
- Mm? - Nah.
I just don't get it.
They're treating this guy like
he's some kind of sainted crusader.
Well, I'll tell you what.
I d on't know if Eric Rudolph is who he says he is or not,
but he's got these folks hooked.
And if they ever decide
to actually activate, it...
it's gonna get real bad real fast.
What are you talking about?
- Those militia men in there? - Yeah. The Regulators.
They ain't playing around. I mean...
they shot over the FBI's heads today,
but, uh, next time they're gonna shoot to kill.
And where's it gonna go from there?
[indistinct radio chatter]
Put it this way.
Big John Gray has got militia connections
all over the region.
And...
my God, if you ever wanted to start a war,
right here in America,
Big John is exactly who you need to meet.
[siren chirps]
FREEH: I'm disgusted by the passivity
of this whole operation.
You've allowed your quarry to determine the arena,
the tempo, every parameter of the search.
But more than that,
I'm disgusted
by your weakness!
This firefight didn't just happen.
It's the result of a string of failures.
Failures you all helped nurture.
When you let cars run through roadblocks
and you're not arresting the drivers
and impounding the vehicles.
When you let signs go up supporting a fugitive.
And you're not out there pounding on doors.
When you allow a known militia group
to operate with impunity
inside of a fugitive search zone,
and you do nothing.
When you get shot at by that same militia group...
...and your first instinct
is to call Daddy for help,
instead of immediately
striking back.
Each one of those actions
is a test.
Each one of those tests
you have systematically failed.
Each one of those failures has been broadcast
around the world,
and each one of those failures
r e flects not only upon yourselves,
but upon the entire FBI.
I want you to think about that.
I hate barking at my own people.
What I hate even worse...
...is that you put me in a position where I had no choice.
You once said the fish rots from the head down.
That's true.
This is my op, my command.
I take full responsibility.
The failures here were failures of my leadership.
But I can turn this around, sir.
I know who's behind the shooting,
and I know exactly what our next move should be.
Big John Gray.
L e ader of a local militia known as The Regulators.
If we arrest him, the resistance to the FBI
will be leaderless and fall apart.
We cut off the head of the snake.
And why haven't you done so already?
I need real striking power.
You don't just go and knock on Big John's door.
You kick it in, hard and fast.
I n eed breacher teams trained in night ops
and the support that goes with them.
You get me the teams I need,
Big John'll be perp-walked on the evening news
by the end of the week.
There's the Brennan I've been waiting for.
You got the loyalty and the brains.
J u st need to get back that killer instinct
if you're gonna stay at the top.
The shark inside the suit.
Yes, sir.
I'm not giving you strike teams.
I'm gonna give you an army.
Armored Humvees,
helicopters, all the manpower and gear you need.
I'll even build you a base to hold it all.
We are gonna dominate here.
We are gonna show these people who's boss.
I appreciate that, sir.
Um, it's just...
we're walking a fine line here.
Despite recent events, we believe only a small minority
of people would even consider helping Rudolph
or opposing the FBI.
I'm concerned that building a big base here
will alienate pretty much everyone in Nantahala.
Sit down.
This is what it means to be an FBI agent.
You're completely alone in this.
T h e locals-- they're not your allies and they never will be.
If Eric Rudolph escapes, bombs again,
runs to Tennessee or Kentucky, kills another ten cops?
Local sheriff here, you know what he says to himself?
"Not my town, not my problem."
[scoffs] Yeah.
We never get to say that.
You let your guard down for one minute,
Eric escapes in the trunk of a car,
goes on to kill more people,
that blood is on your hands, on our hands,
and it never washes off.
We don't answer to a few locals.
We answer to the entire nation.
The American people.
That's why I can forgive a few mistakes.
You know? Nobody's gonna get it right 100% of the time.
What I cannot forgive is weakness.
Not in this organization,
with this responsibility on our shoulders.
The end of the day, it is far better
to be strong and wrong
than to be weak and right.
You just got the keys to the Lamborghini.
Hope you know how to drive it.
EMBRY: I know why Rudolph didn't claim Centbom.
And I know how to find him.
Will you listen to me?
We are T-minus ten minutes away from ending this war
- in one operation. - Excuse me.
Can you and me just talk for a second?
- T-minus nine. - Just a minute.
You asked me before
why Eric Rudolph didn't claim credit for the Olympic bombing.
This is why.
Because Olympic Park shows Eric Rudolph
for who he truly is.
There were babies there, man.
The guy who bombed Olympic Park
wasn't pro-life, he was evil
- and everybody knows that. - Okay. All right.
Let's imagine Eric Rudolph did Centbom--
he didn't, but let's just imagine--
it doesn't matter.
It doesn't help me catch the guy.
But it does.
You go to Big John with the facts
and he will listen.
He will not protect the man who bombed the Olympic Games.
Do you think the men who shot at me and my people
with assault rifles give a shit about facts?
I just talked to the guy. Come on, man,
what would you do?
Law or no law, if somebody rolled up heavy on you
and your folks and did what you did to him.
He just wants to do the right thing, same as you.
And if you go to Big John with the truth
and a littlehumility,
him and that bunch-- they'll come around and they'll
bring Eric Rudolph with them.
Two problems. One,
Richard Jewell bombed the Olympics.
And two, Big John isn't gonna last the night.
I h ave the resources, I'm making the move.
No, look, listen.
Listen. L... Look.
I know you're a good investigator,
you're a good agent.
I know you're in a shitty,
no-win situation. I know you're under unbelievable pressure.
I know that.
But I also know that truth is truth
whether we accept it or not,
and you know that everything you have
on Richard Jewell is veneer.
It looks good on paper but it's not solid wood,
and sooner or later it's gonna
start to crack and peel off on you
and then where you gonna be?
You talk to him. You talk to Big John, man.
That is the move.
I'm telling you,
that is the move.
It's weak.
And we can't afford to be weak.
Besides,
- it's too late. - We're wheels up.
It's go time.
Good luck.
Stay safe.
[indistinct radio chatter]
You wanted to see me?
Just the man. Sheriffs in Cherokee County
h a ve the same rights as fish and game inspectors, correct?
- All rights and privileges. - And Fish and Game doesn't need
a warrant to conduct a search of a property, correct?
- Right. - Good.
You'll stay in the vehicle.
We'll all be acting as your deputies.
I'll explain on the way.
On the way where?
♪ ♪
Damn it.
K N OX: Sir.
Shit.
You got to see this.
Pretty solid "F you," if you ask me.
You agents might want to see this.
Looks like they took all their bug-out supplies
when they ghosted.
Shit.
[indistinct chatter]
[bagpipes playing in distance]
[Thompson chuckles] You hear that?
That's "The Misty Glen."
It's an old rebel song.
Civil War rebels?
THOMPSON: Nah. Earlier than that.
Folks out here got long memories.
They've been screwed over by outsiders
for 300 years.
Those pipes are saying,
"Ignore our history
at your peril."
[bagpipes continue playing]
They're saying,
"We own these hills."
Timothy, you go brush your teeth and say your prayers, okay?
- Okay. - I love you, buddy.
Okay.
You settled in? Got everything you need?
Got everything I need right here.
Be safe.
I will.
You take first watch.
I got business.
♪ ♪