The Company You Keep

A Federal Grand Jury in Detroit today charged the thirteen top leaders of 'the Weathermen'

with plotting to bomb public buildings in Chicago, Detroit, New York,

and Berkeley, California.

'The Weathermen' are the militant faction of the Students for a Democratic Society,

only one of the thirteen is now in custody.

Never before has this nation fought a war which

so many Americans opposed for so many different reasons.

Never has this dissent been as emotional, as intense,

as is the dissent against the war in Vietnam.

The bomb went off in the State Department and did a lot of damage

another was detonated in Oakland.

Three suspects remain at large after a security guard was shot and killed

during a robbery at the Bank of Michigan.

The FBI has released the names

Mimi Lurie, Nicholas Sloan, and Sharon Solarz;

all members of the radical anti-war group, 'The Weather Underground'.

Come on you guys, let's go.

- Bye Mom. - Don't forget I have practice after school.

What are you still practicing for? You already got into college.

- ...take out. - Thank you sir, have a good one!

- Hey! - Hey.

- That's $25.74, do you want that warmed up? - No, Thanks

- Don't move! Hands in the air! - Don't move, Federal agents!

Get on the car! Hands behind your back!

Sharon Solarz, you are under arrest for the murder of Hugh Kroessna,

You have the right to remain silent, if you give up that right, anything you say

can and will be used against you in a court of law.

You have the right to an attorney,

if you cannot afford one, one will be provided for you.

Do you understand these rights?

Sharon Elizabeth Solarz, one of the longest-standing fugitives

on the FBI's most wanted list

was arrested yesterday, just outside Heatherton, New York.

30 years after the notorious Bank of Michigan robbery

that claimed the life of a guard. - Good morning, Jess.

You're late.

Well, if I'm not here they can't fire me, right?

You look beautiful! - Thanks

Oh... look at that.

National story, right in our own backyard, and where were we?

Hold on. Crime was Yukanowitz's, you fired him. - Yeah, and I passed it on to you.

Along with the courts and the State house and like 55 other things, I mean...

This... is news, Ben.

This!

We're a goddamn newspaper! Remember?

So why don't you go out and write a nice little story that informs our readers, while we still have a few?

I'm sorry, okay?

It's that bad, huh?

Do you still have your friend in the FBI field office?

In theory, although I'm not sure she ever wants to speak to me again.

Y' keep telling me you're a good reporter, right? - Right.

Prove it.

These were major radicals, Ben, who know how to hide.

So how does the FBI find her after 30 years? Hmm?

So, let me s... the State wants to sieze private property in transfer, right?

Y... Yes, I know what 'imminent domain' is.

I will if I have to.

Court of Appeals exist for a reason.

Izzy! - Yeah.

You'd better be getting ready.

Aha...

And you're saying that satisfies public use?

Really?

Izzy! You ready?

Yeah.

Come on, we're gonna be late.

We're not gonna be late. - You wanna bet?

My client bought it from his dad, who bought it from his dad,

and hopes one day to sell it to his son.

It's a great family, I'm sure the jury would enjoy meeting them.

Okay.

Right on time!

- All set? - Yup.

You got your lunch?

No...

So, what's last, math? - No, I've got volleyball practice...

Oh, okay. I'll pick you up after practice. - Okay.

Hey, what's your hurry? Haven't you forgotten something?

Billy.

- Hi, Mr. Cusinamo. - Hi, sweetie!

Are your kids a little old for this school? - I came to see you... you seen the news?

Oh, they're still reporting the news! - Sharon Solarz

Go ahead, go ahead.

You know who she is, right? - What?

She was busted, man. She was arrested over in Heatherton.

Why are you telling me this? - 'Cause Sharon's an old friend.

- Are you in trouble, Billy, y' know, or are you still on parole? - I'm clean, man.

What's going on?

She called me, wanting to turn herself in to the Feds. They're assholes, they don't care!

- But you can't get involved in someth... - She's a friend, she needs a lawyer.

- Well, I can't give advice... - They knew exactly where she was gonna be, Jim, alright?

Exactly. They knew.

- They knew exactly. - Well, this is outa my league.

Out of my league.

I can't let her twist in the wind. - I can't do it.

I have a kid that just lost her mom.

It's been a year...

Sorry.

Call Maggie Hart,

Lockwood and Dunlop, Philly.

Okay? She's great. Better'n me.

Sorry.

Please set it here.

Go ahead.

So... you moved her this morning?

Why do you care? I thought you were covering politics now.

Well, I'm multi-talented.

How come she was arrested here if she's been a Vermont housewife for thirty years?

You'll have to ask her that.

You know, it's funny you should mention it, Dee

'cause from what I hear people give jailhouse interviews all the time.

Who do you think you are, The New York Times?

You say New York Times like it's 1985 and you're still impressed.

You're just a local beat reporter. - I love it when you do that with your hair.

This is a national news story, I think you should go home and tweet about it.

I don't tweet. - Right! You don't email either.

Can I just see the case file? For old times' sake? Please?

Just because we hooked up in college I'm gonna give you access to FBI wiretaps?

Wiretaps? What wiretaps? - This is why I don't talk to you.

And we didn't just "hook up" in college, okay, we were... - I have to go.

New sheriff in town? - How can you tell?

Well, that's how it usually goes, right?

Big case like this, they usually bring in someone from out of town?

Grab all the glory?

Course, the local field office should at least get credit in the local paper.

Why don't I go put in a good word for you! I'm a very social guy...

Billy Cusimano. - Organic grocery guy?

It didn't come from me. - No, just a well-placed, extremely attractive government source.

Cusimano

Hey Dad! Here? - Yeah.

Hello!

Billy Cusimano?

My name's Ben Shepard, from the Albany Sun-Times,

I wanted to ask you a few questions about the Sharon Solarz arrest?

You can, but why would I comment about that? - Well, you know her, don't you?

No, I don't.

Quick search of police records shows you and Sharon together in Mendocino in 1971.

I've never been to Mendocino.

That's not true, is it? You were dealing hash there for an outfit called the Brotherhood of Eternal Love.

Which is a great name, by the way.

Sharon been in touch recently?

Look, I know she called you prior to her arrest.

You talked to Jim Grant. - No, I talked to the FBI, who's Jim Grant?

Who is the FBI? - Well, they had you on a wiretap here for a while,

so it seems you're growin' somethin' more than tomatoes and potatoes here, Billy.

Shit. That's why I pay taxes, right? So Big Brother can... hack my fuckin' phone!

Who's Jim Grant? - He's a lawyer, man.

Lawyer? Sharon's? - Nah, he wouldn't take the case.

Look, kid...

Sharon called me wanting to turn herself in... - Turn herself in?

Nope, I'm not saying anything else. Everything here is off the record.

Ah, see... it doesn't work that way. You gotta say "off the record" before we have the conversation.

Who says? - Those are the rules.

There's rules for what you people do, huh?

So, what did she say? - She said that I did great

and that she was very impressed.

What'd I tell you?

Yeah? - Hi... uh, is this Mr. Grant?

This is Ben Shepherd from the Albany Sun-Times? - Oh... yes.

Just wondering if you care to comment on the Sharon Solarz arrest?

- What? - The Sharon Solarz arrest, you declined to take her case...

Yeah, you know... I'm just sitting down to dinner right now. I gotta call you back, okay?

Uh, sir... I ju...

As the turbulent decade drew to a close

the Students for a Democratic Society,

the leading student group opposed to the war in Vietnam,

had its power usurped by a more militant faction, known as the Weather Underground Organization.

Frustrated with years of non-violent protests

that had failed to end the war,

the so-called "Weathermen" decided the best way to stop America's involvement in Vietnam

was to bring the war home.

The Weathermen radicalized the anti-war movement,

and carried out a series of bombings against government institutions including

bombing the Pentagon, the U.S. Capitol, and the State Department.

No group has been more successful in carrying out attacks on U.S. soil.

What's wrong? - Nothin'.

You look weird. - I'm fine, honey.

You're lying. - I'm not lying...

You are lying, because you're smiling.

I'm not smiling. - "I'm not smiling."

Well maybe I'm happy? Here. Come on, eat.

And then get ready.

Hey! - Hey.

- You Jim Grant, by chance? - Not by chance.

Would you follow up on those counter-signatures from Roger?

Yep.

I'm Ben Shepherd, Albany Sun-Times, we spoke on the phone. I just figured I'd come by and say hi...

I don't really have anything to say... Oh, and Susan, would you pull out the Rochester files for...?

You don't know what I'm gonna ask you yet. - ..the report for my deposition? Do what?

I said you don't know what I'm gonna ask you yet.

Well, you're a reporter.

Well, I could just put "Refused to answer any questions."

What? - I'm just doing a little background, sir.

Okay. - Thank you! (Thank you.)

No, no... we're off the record here.

Which part? - All of it...

whatever it is we're gonna be talking about here, otherwise, you can leave now.

No, that's fine. It's not important.

So, did Sharon Solarz contact you prior to her arrest?

Does it matter? Since you already printed that she did?