April 5, 2022 • 19 mins
As the public joins the airwaves to sound off on Tony and the hostage crisis, local authorities send in SWAT, setting Tony off, and putting everyone's life at risk.
Starring: Jon Hamm, Joe Perrino, Dylan Baker, Carla Gugino and Becky Ann Baker
Directed by: Shawn Christensen
Written by: CD Carpenter
Starring: Jon Hamm, Joe Perrino, Dylan Baker, Carla Gugino and Becky Ann Baker
Directed by: Shawn Christensen
Written by: CD Carpenter
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:04):
American Hostage is an Amazon Original andCriminal Content production. This podcast is based
on a true story of a hostagecrisis that took place in Indianapolis in nineteen
seventy seven. Listener discretion is advised, Episode six, Playing with Fire.
(00:34):
Somewhere in the middle of the wholething, they took a national poll of
how many people related to Tony kuritzisseventy percent of the country related to him,
the man with the gun. ButI mean, let's be honest about
it, does anyone really root forthe banker? We're back with Tony kuritzis
(00:56):
here on WIBC. I'm Fred Heckman. Before we took our little break,
Tony here asked us to open upour phone lines so listeners could call in
and give us their thoughts and questionson this whole ordeal. We've obliged Tony's
request and the lines are now open. So if you have a question,
feel free to give us a call. You've got to give out the number
(01:17):
for it. Oh right, yet, that's five five, five zero six
three nine, And I believe wehave our first caller on the line now,
Hello caller, if you could introduceyourself. You're on the air.
Hello, Hello, this is Tamara. Yes, ma'am Tamara. Hello,
mister Tomorrow. Yes, do youhave a question for Tony? Yeah,
(01:40):
yeah, I was. I wasjust curious what all that land stuff was
about. I heard that like whatyou said earlier about mister Hall screwing you
over, But just what was itall about? Let me tell you what,
mister Tomorrow. I am damn gladyou asked. Now, let me
ask you a question in return.What is Indianapolis missing right now? I
(02:02):
don't know. I will come onthink well, Tony. I don't think
she necessarily a high and steakhouse.I know we've got richer sins, but
I'm talking about a bona fide,real and mean steakhouse with product right out
of Texas. I'm talking to theleanest, best tender loins you ever had
in your life. I'm talking aboutangus like you've never ever had. I
(02:23):
grew up in this city and Inever had a good steak until after I
get out of here, till aftermy father passed. I went a whole
lifetime without a good steak, andpeople deserve to have a good steak.
And that's just one restaurant I wasgoing to develop a whole strip of restaurants
and shops. So I went upthere to borrow money to build a ten
thousand foot restaurant. I would havedrown between a million and two million bucks
(02:44):
a year, scream at her andin these motherfucker's shot at to somebody else.
I had a lessie who guaranteed onehundred thousand dollars a year in ranked
bus temper sent over a million dollars, and I could have built a building
for two hundred and twenty grand andput one hundred grand worth of equipment in
it. Now, what do youthink about that, mister Morrow? All
right, Tony, we understand weshould probably get to our next caller.
(03:06):
No, I want to know whatshe thinks about that, Fred, I
want to know what mister Morrow thinksabout me having all that squared away,
all that squared away for her sakeso she can have a great restaurant for
her and her family to go toin the city. Well, I'm a
vegetarian. Potatoes, then the bestgoddamn potatoes you ever had. No,
(03:28):
I agree with you. Mister Kurtzsays it wasn't right that that you apparently
had all that going for you andthey stepped in like that. That's right,
that's goddamn right. You see that, Fred, yep, I heard
her. Tony, mister Tomorrow,what's the maddest you ever been? Well?
I got fired from my favorite jobabout two years ago. I was
(03:50):
a waitress. H And did youdeserve to get fired? No? No,
sir. I was never late.I always gave good service. Didn't
get along with the manager. Andwere you so mad it felt like you
wouldn't blow somebody's head off. Iwasn't mad enough, sure, but you
know I got a daughter that Ihave to look after, and I didn't
(04:12):
know how I was gonna do thatwith with without a paycheck. You're goddamn
right, goddamn right. Do yousee that, Fred? You see what
they're doing to us? I seeit, Tony. Thank you, mister
Tomorrow. God bless you, Honey. When I get out of this with
my money, you come down tothe restaurant and I'm gonna take good carry
you. Thank thank you, sir, Thank you. Mister Curtsis you bet
(04:34):
all right? We're we're gonna moveon, move on to our next caller.
So you hear that, Fred?So I told you, I told
you they would get it to people. Get it, Fred, and our
next caller is on the air.If you could introduce yourself please, Hi,
this is Leah, Oh another woman. You've turned me into a real
ladies man. Fred, you havea question for going Jesus say you love
(05:00):
him? It's better than the alternative. Yeah, because what he's been missing
is some encouragement. Chief Gallagher isprobably blowing a gasket right now. What
what come in, jo? LeoMalone? Yes, what can I do
for you? We need to talkto you about how long Fred's going to
broadcast? Hell, that's an answerI don't have, Leo. At this
point, it seems like it's upto Tony. Well, we need to
(05:24):
kill it fast. Chief wants tosend in Swat. How the hell is
SWAT going to defuse anything? Swatthinks they can incapacitate Tony and get in
the apartment without setting the bomb off, And how are they going to do
that? Magic s No, theincredible shrinking man. Can't you get Fred
to shut the broadcast down? Fredisn't the issue, Leo, I know,
(05:44):
But if he doesn't, they've gotorders to go in asap and there's
no counting for what'll be air allright, I'm sorry. I don't understand,
and I need this question answer.Just what the hell are they gonna
do? They're gonna gass him,gass him? You can't gass him.
If he falls unconscious, the gunwill go off. Jim. We've been
through this one hundred times down here. Just who the hell are you saving
(06:06):
right now? The bomb is thepriority. They don't know what it looks
like, they don't know what it'smade of, the potential blast. Now
you got everyone else out. Well, he can't blow up an entire fucking
building, Sally, About one hundredor so people live there. Anyway,
it's a swat call. Swat justwants to play with their toys. All
right, Does she have to bein here? Hey, don't talk to
(06:26):
her like that. Now, Nowyou're saying that they have given up on
Dick call? Is that I'm notsaying that at all. Well, if
they're gas and Tony to get inthere and cut off the bomb, Jim,
are you telling me that you're notgoing to talk to Fred Sally,
go get agent Peterson. Yes,Sir Peterson doesn't make the calls. He
makes the calls here. He's federal. He makes the calls. I'm just
(06:47):
the messenger, Jim, just amessenger here, Leo. I was on
the phone with the FBI just thismorning, and I promised them I would
listen to Roy Peterson. Now,don't don't you throw me in between you
got We'll see what Peterson says.Then, goddamn right, well, your
bitch saving the building. God damn, Peter, it's a downright fucking shame
(07:11):
what they said about me. I'vehad the TV and radio going the whole
time, and the things I've beenhearing are just boggling my mind. They
said, you almost killed your sisterwith an axe. They said, what
now, Yeah, that's what wason with today, that you almost killed
your sister with an axe. NowI didn't see that, but that's a
goddamn lie. That is a goddamnmy friend, do you hear the shit?
(07:32):
Are you hearing this? Tell howthat's a lie? Friend? Well,
if that's what you say, itis, Tony, I'm inclined to
take your side. It is alie. You tell well, Peter,
it seems uh uh, it seemsthat what Tony is saying is telling him
Fred. It seems like that wasmisreported, Peter. They'll do anything.
They're trying to get one over onme. They'll lie and they'll cheat.
(07:55):
They're all liars. They think I'ma nutcase with the gun. He's just
having a bad Do you think I'manotcase with a gun? Peterson? No,
sir, what do you think Iam? Peter? I think you
got pushed to where you can't takeit anymore. That's fucking right, you
understand me. Just write Pal,you're hit the nail. I'm all right.
(08:16):
Who's saying that's what's going in?Agent Peterson? I'm Leo More.
Okay, you call the chief rightnow and you tell them the back off
right now, Agent Peterson, Iknow for a fact. Look they're not
gonna do it. Then I'll call. They're gonna say you're out of your
jurisdiction. Well, they called me, they brought me out here. You
get Eugene on the phone right now. You tell them the back off,
Jim, Can I use your phone? Guest, christ is the closest thing
(08:37):
we've had the progress in two days, and you're gonna have swapload Dick calls
at off. Just the messenger.We'll get him on the phone. Tony.
I think we've got time for justone more caller. You see what
I'm talking about. Fred. Ithas been quite a trip, Tony.
These people get it, Fred,so hopefully you get it to These people
know what it's like to be atthe end of their rope, and they
(08:58):
may not him done what I've done, but they've wanted to. What's wrong
with this country? Fred? Well, I think it's a great country,
Tony, but there's always room forimprovement. That's right, that's right now.
I don't want it to seem likeI don't love this country. I
do. I serve that this countryis my life. But it's got to
do better, and the banks havegot to do better, or they need
(09:18):
to go because they're strangling up.Tony. Won't need to take a short
break here, so it stay onthe line there, Tony. If you
would like to call into the station, our number is five five zero six
three nine day. We got tocontinue. His name is Riley WI DC.
(09:54):
We're back with Tony kurtzis here onWIBC. I'm Fred Heckman. Well,
this will be the last caller ofthe dead caller. You're on the
air. Hello, this is brotherJackson speaking brother who's a brother. I'm
the minister down at the church,the Christ the redeem of Baptist Church.
(10:15):
Oh, I'm minister now. I'mjust gonna tell you right now, Jackson,
that I'm no man at God andyou're wasting your time. This isn't
a call for conversion. Mister Curtzus, Well, good good on that,
because that sure is hell not happening, Brother Jackson. What would you like
to ask Tony Well, mister Critzus, I called today because i'd like to
(10:37):
make you an offer. An offer. What's your offer? I'd like to
take the place of mister Hall.You want to do what Chief's not picking
up. Get a hold of himright now. I'm trying. Cliff Anderson's
down there right now with the lawyers. Sally, you get to your desk
and you called Cliff. I swearto God it already since swatop it's ringing.
(11:01):
You all may have just killed DickCale and everybody's gonna hear it.
I don't know what you're on,Jackson. Mister Cariszus, if you just
hear me off for one moment.Now, I know your anger. I've
known it myself, and I've knownit for many years. I don't want
you to tell me how hard you'vehad it pastor because I've had it just
(11:22):
as hard for just as long.I'm telling you right now, nobody knows
the adversity I've been through. Nobodyand willing to be with you in this
moment. Mister Critzus, stop callingme mister Carissus like you're trying to be
some damn gentleman. Now. Idon't know what you're about, Master Jackson,
and I'm sure you're a fine man, but you're trying to take away
(11:43):
the last thing that I got.So if you need somebody, you can
take me. You can take meand we'll go wherever you want and talk
about whatever you want. You aren'tfucking listening to me. You aren't fucking
listening to me at all. Cliff, it's Sally. You get to Chief
(12:03):
Gallagher right now. You yell andscream at him to pull swap back.
Now, you drop the phone rightnow, tell Gallagher. The FBI says,
to stop swats you. You arelistening to me. You are listening
to Jackson. Tony seems adamant onkeeping things the way they are and given
(12:24):
how suation, Fred, don't youtry to fight my battles for me,
Fred Now, I know you're tryingto help me battle and Jackson, I
know you're trying to help. You'regoddamn insane, but I know you're trying
to help. But let me becrystal fucking clear about this. Nobody's got
to worry about the state of mysoul. Let me tell you what this
man has done to me, howhe and his family have cheated me,
how they've wronged me. I've neverbeen a great man, but I've been
(12:48):
good, all right, for allof my life. And what I'm doing
now is justice. It's just asso great that I fear is I haven't
split in his head. Open isgonna be my ticket in. I'm gonna
walk right through those burly gates andshake the hand of God, and all
he's gonna say to me is agood job. S down. You know
this is not the way my brother. All right, We're gonna pull back
on all of this now and letTony speak with his lawyers. You know
(13:11):
I don't want you, Jackson.It's enough for trades. Look at you.
I'm not killing anybody wanting to tradelives with a stranger. It's not
the same with you. There's nojustice with you, and I don't want
anybody to put what's that? TONIare you? Are you okay? Talk
to me? Talky Buddy's name andTony are you there? Tony? Tony?
(13:37):
Can you? Can you hear brotherJackson? Or you're still here?
He sounds like we lost Uh,folks, h folks, I'm I am,
Oh my god, folks. I'mgonna drop you into some music while
I call Tony back and see ifI can get him on the phone.
Thank you for listening. Well,I'll be back in the moments right after
(13:58):
this. A right, what happened? Hey? What happened? Trying him
again? Sally? Sally didn't?I got it? He just shung up.
I don't Gallagher, I was sittting, swatted he was what. We
tried to pull him back, butI don't know if we got to him
in time. Well, he's notpicking up Broy. I don't. I
(14:20):
don't know what. Okay, comeon, let's go see what's happening on
the police radio. Hello, Tony, Honey, it's me Barbara. What
happened, Barbara, sweetheart? Weneed to keep this line open for Tony.
Fred what happened? We don't knowyet, honey, I'll call you
right back. Okay, what dowe know? Sally's got Cliff on the
(14:43):
phone. What's what's he saying?He stepped away, he's getting hang on,
Cliff, I'm here, We're here. What happened? Swap was going
up, but Gallagher pulled them back. Gallagher pulled them back in time.
Oh thank god, thank god.Then I have a heart attack. But
Sally, Tony knows that's something ishappening. Wait, I'm sorry, say
that again, Claire. I saidthat Tony knows they were doing something,
(15:03):
and he's hopping mad. Tony knowswhat they were doing. He knows.
Hello, friend, you don't justhappen to me. No, No,
what's going on Tony talking about?Because you're trying to gasp me out?
Friend? They just tried to gaspme out. They're trying to kill me,
friend. Listen, Tony, I'msure there's another explanation trying to kill
(15:26):
me friend. These fuckers want medead, which means they want Nick dead,
and he and I are not happyabout it at all. Tony looked,
let's just calm down for a moment, to down, told me to
calm down. I've never been sogoddamders in my mind, what would he
do that? Friend? I don'tknow, Tony, I don't know.
It was a stupid thing to do. Offer me five billion dollars and then
they try to kill me. HowI'm training his things up? Fred,
(15:48):
you're hearing me? What do youmean, Tony? Tomorrow night, We're
not doing this radial bullshit? Nomore, no more. Now you heard
how the people understand me. Youknow what I mean to them? No,
everyone cares about you, Tony.Everybody wants us to work out the
new stations. Get one day,Fred, one fucking day after the stuff
they just tried to pull. Imean, I don't feel safe in my
own home. So you tell themthis is how it's all gonna go down.
What's gonna go down tomorrow night,APM. I want to tell vising
(16:11):
news conference nationally, all three channels. I want a letter of apology written
by the Anster House Corporation. Iwant my airtime, Fred, and I
now I want to be seen.So these stupid folks are these asshole big
fuckers can't try to do anything stupidbecause everyone will see them. Do you
understand what I'm telling you? Fred? Yes? I think what you're saying
is what if you put on TV. That's exactly what I'm saying right here
(16:33):
my apartment. Eight o'clock. Youtell them, I'll tell them, And
I want you down here. Fred. You're my best friend and we're in
this together, are we? Pal? Cred Babe, you're coming down here,
right Pal. I'll be there,Tony. Yes, you're a good
man. Fred. I'll see youtomorrow night, eight pm. I'll see
(16:57):
you, Tony. You spend thenight with your wife, Fred, because
it's going to be a hell ofa day tomorrow, battle, a hell
of a day. I didn't justmake myself a part of the story.
I pulled the whole station into itwith me. I never once stopped to
(17:18):
think about what it might do tothem, the ramifications. Once I had
my sights on the prize, Iput the whole station, the whole city,
really in jeopardy. Tony Churtzis hadbeen screaming into the void for years
before the world noticed him, beforeI heard him. But that doesn't mean
(17:41):
I should have let him speak nexttime on American Hostage. You shouldn't be
going down there. Frand the onlyone Tony feels comfortable without harm. You're
not listening to me. They're goingto kill him. He's still praying for
me. Yeah, having talked toTony this morning, or you have satisfied
that he would be willing to trustyou. The goddamn cameras are. I'm
(18:06):
gonna show you something. Hello,Tony, He's calling the house now.
American Hostage is an Amazon Original andcriminal content production written by C. D.
(18:26):
Carpenter, directed by Sean Christiansen,produced by Adam Volerich and Brendan Hubbard.
Executive produced by John Hamm, SeanChristiansen and Gabriel Mason, starring John
Hamm, Carla Gugino, Joe Perino, Dylan Baker, and Becky Anne Baker,
with additional performances by James O'Connor,Christina Brucado, Michael Dreyer, Ryan
(18:52):
Willard, Mara Casson, Brian Wilson. Sound designed by Brandon Jones, composed
by Darren Wrzy, Editing by ThomasBeach, Sean Christiansen and Adam Voolridge.
Recording and engineering by Dave Williams,Mixing, mastering and additional editing by Nick
Massidi. Id reads by Natalie Prassfor Amazon Music. Executive producers are Morgan
(19:18):
Jones and Dave Easton. Senior Produceris Eliza Mills. Special thanks to Jacob
Braunstein, Phil Sanchez, Chris Davis, Jack Parker, Marcelino, v Yelpondo,
Stephanie Walkney, Blad Norman, VanessaRebert, Sam Petherbridge, Cale Bittner,
(19:41):
Alice Zoe, Trevor McNeil ty,Jacobsen, Rich Sherman Marshall, Louie
w IBC, WISH TV, andCreative Artists Agency
American Hostage is an Amazon Original andCriminal Content production. This podcast is based
on a true story of a hostagecrisis that took place in Indianapolis in nineteen
seventy seven. Listener discretion is advised, Episode six, Playing with Fire.
(00:34):
Somewhere in the middle of the wholething, they took a national poll of
how many people related to Tony kuritzisseventy percent of the country related to him,
the man with the gun. ButI mean, let's be honest about
it, does anyone really root forthe banker? We're back with Tony kuritzis
(00:56):
here on WIBC. I'm Fred Heckman. Before we took our little break,
Tony here asked us to open upour phone lines so listeners could call in
and give us their thoughts and questionson this whole ordeal. We've obliged Tony's
request and the lines are now open. So if you have a question,
feel free to give us a call. You've got to give out the number
(01:17):
for it. Oh right, yet, that's five five, five zero six
three nine, And I believe wehave our first caller on the line now,
Hello caller, if you could introduceyourself. You're on the air.
Hello, Hello, this is Tamara. Yes, ma'am Tamara. Hello,
mister Tomorrow. Yes, do youhave a question for Tony? Yeah,
(01:40):
yeah, I was. I wasjust curious what all that land stuff was
about. I heard that like whatyou said earlier about mister Hall screwing you
over, But just what was itall about? Let me tell you what,
mister Tomorrow. I am damn gladyou asked. Now, let me
ask you a question in return.What is Indianapolis missing right now? I
(02:02):
don't know. I will come onthink well, Tony. I don't think
she necessarily a high and steakhouse.I know we've got richer sins, but
I'm talking about a bona fide,real and mean steakhouse with product right out
of Texas. I'm talking to theleanest, best tender loins you ever had
in your life. I'm talking aboutangus like you've never ever had. I
(02:23):
grew up in this city and Inever had a good steak until after I
get out of here, till aftermy father passed. I went a whole
lifetime without a good steak, andpeople deserve to have a good steak.
And that's just one restaurant I wasgoing to develop a whole strip of restaurants
and shops. So I went upthere to borrow money to build a ten
thousand foot restaurant. I would havedrown between a million and two million bucks
(02:44):
a year, scream at her andin these motherfucker's shot at to somebody else.
I had a lessie who guaranteed onehundred thousand dollars a year in ranked
bus temper sent over a million dollars, and I could have built a building
for two hundred and twenty grand andput one hundred grand worth of equipment in
it. Now, what do youthink about that, mister Morrow? All
right, Tony, we understand weshould probably get to our next caller.
(03:06):
No, I want to know whatshe thinks about that, Fred, I
want to know what mister Morrow thinksabout me having all that squared away,
all that squared away for her sakeso she can have a great restaurant for
her and her family to go toin the city. Well, I'm a
vegetarian. Potatoes, then the bestgoddamn potatoes you ever had. No,
(03:28):
I agree with you. Mister Kurtzsays it wasn't right that that you apparently
had all that going for you andthey stepped in like that. That's right,
that's goddamn right. You see that, Fred, yep, I heard
her. Tony, mister Tomorrow,what's the maddest you ever been? Well?
I got fired from my favorite jobabout two years ago. I was
(03:50):
a waitress. H And did youdeserve to get fired? No? No,
sir. I was never late.I always gave good service. Didn't
get along with the manager. Andwere you so mad it felt like you
wouldn't blow somebody's head off. Iwasn't mad enough, sure, but you
know I got a daughter that Ihave to look after, and I didn't
(04:12):
know how I was gonna do thatwith with without a paycheck. You're goddamn
right, goddamn right. Do yousee that, Fred? You see what
they're doing to us? I seeit, Tony. Thank you, mister
Tomorrow. God bless you, Honey. When I get out of this with
my money, you come down tothe restaurant and I'm gonna take good carry
you. Thank thank you, sir, Thank you. Mister Curtsis you bet
(04:34):
all right? We're we're gonna moveon, move on to our next caller.
So you hear that, Fred?So I told you, I told
you they would get it to people. Get it, Fred, and our
next caller is on the air.If you could introduce yourself please, Hi,
this is Leah, Oh another woman. You've turned me into a real
ladies man. Fred, you havea question for going Jesus say you love
(05:00):
him? It's better than the alternative. Yeah, because what he's been missing
is some encouragement. Chief Gallagher isprobably blowing a gasket right now. What
what come in, jo? LeoMalone? Yes, what can I do
for you? We need to talkto you about how long Fred's going to
broadcast? Hell, that's an answerI don't have, Leo. At this
point, it seems like it's upto Tony. Well, we need to
(05:24):
kill it fast. Chief wants tosend in Swat. How the hell is
SWAT going to defuse anything? Swatthinks they can incapacitate Tony and get in
the apartment without setting the bomb off, And how are they going to do
that? Magic s No, theincredible shrinking man. Can't you get Fred
to shut the broadcast down? Fredisn't the issue, Leo, I know,
(05:44):
But if he doesn't, they've gotorders to go in asap and there's
no counting for what'll be air allright, I'm sorry. I don't understand,
and I need this question answer.Just what the hell are they gonna
do? They're gonna gass him,gass him? You can't gass him.
If he falls unconscious, the gunwill go off. Jim. We've been
through this one hundred times down here. Just who the hell are you saving
(06:06):
right now? The bomb is thepriority. They don't know what it looks
like, they don't know what it'smade of, the potential blast. Now
you got everyone else out. Well, he can't blow up an entire fucking
building, Sally, About one hundredor so people live there. Anyway,
it's a swat call. Swat justwants to play with their toys. All
right, Does she have to bein here? Hey, don't talk to
(06:26):
her like that. Now, Nowyou're saying that they have given up on
Dick call? Is that I'm notsaying that at all. Well, if
they're gas and Tony to get inthere and cut off the bomb, Jim,
are you telling me that you're notgoing to talk to Fred Sally,
go get agent Peterson. Yes,Sir Peterson doesn't make the calls. He
makes the calls here. He's federal. He makes the calls. I'm just
(06:47):
the messenger, Jim, just amessenger here, Leo. I was on
the phone with the FBI just thismorning, and I promised them I would
listen to Roy Peterson. Now,don't don't you throw me in between you
got We'll see what Peterson says.Then, goddamn right, well, your
bitch saving the building. God damn, Peter, it's a downright fucking shame
(07:11):
what they said about me. I'vehad the TV and radio going the whole
time, and the things I've beenhearing are just boggling my mind. They
said, you almost killed your sisterwith an axe. They said, what
now, Yeah, that's what wason with today, that you almost killed
your sister with an axe. NowI didn't see that, but that's a
goddamn lie. That is a goddamnmy friend, do you hear the shit?
(07:32):
Are you hearing this? Tell howthat's a lie? Friend? Well,
if that's what you say, itis, Tony, I'm inclined to
take your side. It is alie. You tell well, Peter,
it seems uh uh, it seemsthat what Tony is saying is telling him
Fred. It seems like that wasmisreported, Peter. They'll do anything.
They're trying to get one over onme. They'll lie and they'll cheat.
(07:55):
They're all liars. They think I'ma nutcase with the gun. He's just
having a bad Do you think I'manotcase with a gun? Peterson? No,
sir, what do you think Iam? Peter? I think you
got pushed to where you can't takeit anymore. That's fucking right, you
understand me. Just write Pal,you're hit the nail. I'm all right.
(08:16):
Who's saying that's what's going in?Agent Peterson? I'm Leo More.
Okay, you call the chief rightnow and you tell them the back off
right now, Agent Peterson, Iknow for a fact. Look they're not
gonna do it. Then I'll call. They're gonna say you're out of your
jurisdiction. Well, they called me, they brought me out here. You
get Eugene on the phone right now. You tell them the back off,
Jim, Can I use your phone? Guest, christ is the closest thing
(08:37):
we've had the progress in two days, and you're gonna have swapload Dick calls
at off. Just the messenger.We'll get him on the phone. Tony.
I think we've got time for justone more caller. You see what
I'm talking about. Fred. Ithas been quite a trip, Tony.
These people get it, Fred,so hopefully you get it to These people
know what it's like to be atthe end of their rope, and they
(08:58):
may not him done what I've done, but they've wanted to. What's wrong
with this country? Fred? Well, I think it's a great country,
Tony, but there's always room forimprovement. That's right, that's right now.
I don't want it to seem likeI don't love this country. I
do. I serve that this countryis my life. But it's got to
do better, and the banks havegot to do better, or they need
(09:18):
to go because they're strangling up.Tony. Won't need to take a short
break here, so it stay onthe line there, Tony. If you
would like to call into the station, our number is five five zero six
three nine day. We got tocontinue. His name is Riley WI DC.
(09:54):
We're back with Tony kurtzis here onWIBC. I'm Fred Heckman. Well,
this will be the last caller ofthe dead caller. You're on the
air. Hello, this is brotherJackson speaking brother who's a brother. I'm
the minister down at the church,the Christ the redeem of Baptist Church.
(10:15):
Oh, I'm minister now. I'mjust gonna tell you right now, Jackson,
that I'm no man at God andyou're wasting your time. This isn't
a call for conversion. Mister Curtzus, Well, good good on that,
because that sure is hell not happening, Brother Jackson. What would you like
to ask Tony Well, mister Critzus, I called today because i'd like to
(10:37):
make you an offer. An offer. What's your offer? I'd like to
take the place of mister Hall.You want to do what Chief's not picking
up. Get a hold of himright now. I'm trying. Cliff Anderson's
down there right now with the lawyers. Sally, you get to your desk
and you called Cliff. I swearto God it already since swatop it's ringing.
(11:01):
You all may have just killed DickCale and everybody's gonna hear it.
I don't know what you're on,Jackson. Mister Cariszus, if you just
hear me off for one moment.Now, I know your anger. I've
known it myself, and I've knownit for many years. I don't want
you to tell me how hard you'vehad it pastor because I've had it just
(11:22):
as hard for just as long.I'm telling you right now, nobody knows
the adversity I've been through. Nobodyand willing to be with you in this
moment. Mister Critzus, stop callingme mister Carissus like you're trying to be
some damn gentleman. Now. Idon't know what you're about, Master Jackson,
and I'm sure you're a fine man, but you're trying to take away
(11:43):
the last thing that I got.So if you need somebody, you can
take me. You can take meand we'll go wherever you want and talk
about whatever you want. You aren'tfucking listening to me. You aren't fucking
listening to me at all. Cliff, it's Sally. You get to Chief
(12:03):
Gallagher right now. You yell andscream at him to pull swap back.
Now, you drop the phone rightnow, tell Gallagher. The FBI says,
to stop swats you. You arelistening to me. You are listening
to Jackson. Tony seems adamant onkeeping things the way they are and given
(12:24):
how suation, Fred, don't youtry to fight my battles for me,
Fred Now, I know you're tryingto help me battle and Jackson, I
know you're trying to help. You'regoddamn insane, but I know you're trying
to help. But let me becrystal fucking clear about this. Nobody's got
to worry about the state of mysoul. Let me tell you what this
man has done to me, howhe and his family have cheated me,
how they've wronged me. I've neverbeen a great man, but I've been
(12:48):
good, all right, for allof my life. And what I'm doing
now is justice. It's just asso great that I fear is I haven't
split in his head. Open isgonna be my ticket in. I'm gonna
walk right through those burly gates andshake the hand of God, and all
he's gonna say to me is agood job. S down. You know
this is not the way my brother. All right, We're gonna pull back
on all of this now and letTony speak with his lawyers. You know
(13:11):
I don't want you, Jackson.It's enough for trades. Look at you.
I'm not killing anybody wanting to tradelives with a stranger. It's not
the same with you. There's nojustice with you, and I don't want
anybody to put what's that? TONIare you? Are you okay? Talk
to me? Talky Buddy's name andTony are you there? Tony? Tony?
(13:37):
Can you? Can you hear brotherJackson? Or you're still here?
He sounds like we lost Uh,folks, h folks, I'm I am,
Oh my god, folks. I'mgonna drop you into some music while
I call Tony back and see ifI can get him on the phone.
Thank you for listening. Well,I'll be back in the moments right after
(13:58):
this. A right, what happened? Hey? What happened? Trying him
again? Sally? Sally didn't?I got it? He just shung up.
I don't Gallagher, I was sittting, swatted he was what. We
tried to pull him back, butI don't know if we got to him
in time. Well, he's notpicking up Broy. I don't. I
(14:20):
don't know what. Okay, comeon, let's go see what's happening on
the police radio. Hello, Tony, Honey, it's me Barbara. What
happened, Barbara, sweetheart? Weneed to keep this line open for Tony.
Fred what happened? We don't knowyet, honey, I'll call you
right back. Okay, what dowe know? Sally's got Cliff on the
(14:43):
phone. What's what's he saying?He stepped away, he's getting hang on,
Cliff, I'm here, We're here. What happened? Swap was going
up, but Gallagher pulled them back. Gallagher pulled them back in time.
Oh thank god, thank god.Then I have a heart attack. But
Sally, Tony knows that's something ishappening. Wait, I'm sorry, say
that again, Claire. I saidthat Tony knows they were doing something,
(15:03):
and he's hopping mad. Tony knowswhat they were doing. He knows.
Hello, friend, you don't justhappen to me. No, No,
what's going on Tony talking about?Because you're trying to gasp me out?
Friend? They just tried to gaspme out. They're trying to kill me,
friend. Listen, Tony, I'msure there's another explanation trying to kill
(15:26):
me friend. These fuckers want medead, which means they want Nick dead,
and he and I are not happyabout it at all. Tony looked,
let's just calm down for a moment, to down, told me to
calm down. I've never been sogoddamders in my mind, what would he
do that? Friend? I don'tknow, Tony, I don't know.
It was a stupid thing to do. Offer me five billion dollars and then
they try to kill me. HowI'm training his things up? Fred,
(15:48):
you're hearing me? What do youmean, Tony? Tomorrow night, We're
not doing this radial bullshit? Nomore, no more. Now you heard
how the people understand me. Youknow what I mean to them? No,
everyone cares about you, Tony.Everybody wants us to work out the
new stations. Get one day,Fred, one fucking day after the stuff
they just tried to pull. Imean, I don't feel safe in my
own home. So you tell themthis is how it's all gonna go down.
What's gonna go down tomorrow night,APM. I want to tell vising
(16:11):
news conference nationally, all three channels. I want a letter of apology written
by the Anster House Corporation. Iwant my airtime, Fred, and I
now I want to be seen.So these stupid folks are these asshole big
fuckers can't try to do anything stupidbecause everyone will see them. Do you
understand what I'm telling you? Fred? Yes? I think what you're saying
is what if you put on TV. That's exactly what I'm saying right here
(16:33):
my apartment. Eight o'clock. Youtell them, I'll tell them, And
I want you down here. Fred. You're my best friend and we're in
this together, are we? Pal? Cred Babe, you're coming down here,
right Pal. I'll be there,Tony. Yes, you're a good
man. Fred. I'll see youtomorrow night, eight pm. I'll see
(16:57):
you, Tony. You spend thenight with your wife, Fred, because
it's going to be a hell ofa day tomorrow, battle, a hell
of a day. I didn't justmake myself a part of the story.
I pulled the whole station into itwith me. I never once stopped to
(17:18):
think about what it might do tothem, the ramifications. Once I had
my sights on the prize, Iput the whole station, the whole city,
really in jeopardy. Tony Churtzis hadbeen screaming into the void for years
before the world noticed him, beforeI heard him. But that doesn't mean
(17:41):
I should have let him speak nexttime on American Hostage. You shouldn't be
going down there. Frand the onlyone Tony feels comfortable without harm. You're
not listening to me. They're goingto kill him. He's still praying for
me. Yeah, having talked toTony this morning, or you have satisfied
that he would be willing to trustyou. The goddamn cameras are. I'm
(18:06):
gonna show you something. Hello,Tony, He's calling the house now.
American Hostage is an Amazon Original andcriminal content production written by C. D.
(18:26):
Carpenter, directed by Sean Christiansen,produced by Adam Volerich and Brendan Hubbard.
Executive produced by John Hamm, SeanChristiansen and Gabriel Mason, starring John
Hamm, Carla Gugino, Joe Perino, Dylan Baker, and Becky Anne Baker,
with additional performances by James O'Connor,Christina Brucado, Michael Dreyer, Ryan
(18:52):
Willard, Mara Casson, Brian Wilson. Sound designed by Brandon Jones, composed
by Darren Wrzy, Editing by ThomasBeach, Sean Christiansen and Adam Voolridge.
Recording and engineering by Dave Williams,Mixing, mastering and additional editing by Nick
Massidi. Id reads by Natalie Prassfor Amazon Music. Executive producers are Morgan
(19:18):
Jones and Dave Easton. Senior Produceris Eliza Mills. Special thanks to Jacob
Braunstein, Phil Sanchez, Chris Davis, Jack Parker, Marcelino, v Yelpondo,
Stephanie Walkney, Blad Norman, VanessaRebert, Sam Petherbridge, Cale Bittner,
(19:41):
Alice Zoe, Trevor McNeil ty,Jacobsen, Rich Sherman Marshall, Louie
w IBC, WISH TV, andCreative Artists Agency
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