Sudden Terror: The Hijacking of School Bus #17

Chopper One to Command.

No sign of hostages released.

We have three minutes, repeat, three minutes to his deadline.

-All buildings and civilians are evacuated. Sniper, Chief.

He's got a gun pointed at the head of a hostage. We're taking position.

Attention. Tear gas ready. Bomb squad has arrived.

We're in position and awaiting orders.

Clear to the left! Let's go. We're going in.

We've got access to the roof.

Command to Air One. Hostage. Suspect. Bystanders. Anyone. Over!

No, sir. Negative. No movement.

-Negotiations? -Broken off, sir. He refuses to answer the phone.

-Leone. -No hostages released.

He's walking up and down the aisle of the bus.

I see nine of the sixteen hostages.

Snipers report ready, sir.

Assault teams are ready, and all bystanders have been evacuated.

We have to meet his demands in three minutes, or he starts killing hostages.

Sir, he's bluffed before. We have five children on there.

All teams, this is Ritter. We're out of time.

Negotiations have broken off. I believe the hostages are in imminent danger.

Snipers, if you get a clear shot, take him out.

Assault team... Go.

Everybody off, now!

Well, the hostage taker's down.

-Five balloons popped. -Casualty report.

Hijacker is dead.

Five hostages killed or injured. One child, sir.

Oh, not acceptable.

Maybe we should have waited.

Okay, we'll try this again next week.

Okay, gentlemen, let's go home.

Hotel 598, Hotel 598, what is your status?

(INDISTINCT CHATTER FROM POLICE RADIO)

-School day. -Oh, that's okay. I'll write you a note.

-School day. -(INDISTINCT MUTTERING)

You raised two great girls there.

It'll be wonderful having them home for the holidays.

They're both in college. It's incredible.

So, why are you sad? You miss them?

You're on the phone with them about ten times a day.

Every day when I take those children to their school, I get sad.

They have their problems, you know, and they work so hard.

But maybe they will never be able to go to college.

Yeah, but you've never been sad about them before.

I mean, you talk about them all the time. About how Benito's going to the moon

and how Katie's always smoothing out the wrinkles in her dress,

and how Fernando is always rating everything, how...

-I don't think you're sad about them. -You don't, huh?

I think, I think you want a baby.

I know you would be a great father.

And I know that we can't have a baby. That's why I'm sad.

Well, maybe we could look into adoption.

Let's talk about it later, okay?

I don't want to be late. Okay.

Nice car. It's sexy, it's sensible. You look great in this car.

Yeah?

Well, that's what some sweet-talking salesman told me once.

-And you know why? -Why?

-I ended up marrying him. -(SARCASTICALLY) Ah-ha.

Look, I'm, I'm substituting in a gym class across from Jackson today.

We could have lunch there. It would be thirty minutes of kids running and screaming

and yelling and throwing food and totally misbehaving. What do you think?

I think you are very clever, trying to cheer me up.

Mmm.

I'll see you later.

Bye.

-What? -You're sure you're okay?

I'm okay. You okay?

Yeah, I'm okay.

-I love you. -I love you.

-What's the matter? You don't like my buses, Angel? -(SIGHS)

Well, the last time I drove this bus, you know, the radio

went nada after about an hour and I had to write it up.

It's all fixed, Angel. We can talk to your heart's content.

Yeah, we'll just see about that, won't we?

Good morning. No more nada, okay?

If those kids aren't picked up precisely on time, it upsets them and their parents.

Have I ever been late? What's he talking "late"?

-Not once have we ever... -Just go, ladies.

Ohh-kay!

-Goodbye. -Goodbye.

Brakes!

Left signal.

Right. Flashers.

Okay.

Hmph.

Ooh. What's the matter, hon?

Moving a little bit little bit slow today?

Well, last night, Joe and the kids wanted Cuban food, and I'm still tasting it.

Oh. That's because you have to eat the right Cuban food.

How do you think I get my muscles to drive this, huh?

Ah, someday I'm gonna cook you the good stuff.

Oh. Well, you just use those muscles to avoid these potholes, okay?

-Okay. (LAUGHING)

Bus CX-17, radio check.

(OVER RADIO) CX-17, loud and clear, as promised.

CX-17 leaving the yard on time.

-As promised. -Roger, CX-17.

Have a safe trip.

Nice and easy.

-Oops. -(SLOWLY) This is gonna be one long day.

There. You like the ribbon?

Sweetie, the dress doesn't have any more wrinkles.

You got them all.

Okay. Here we go.

-Good morning, Mrs. Caldwell. -Good morning, Mrs. Stebbins.

Good morning, Katie. Oh, you look so beautiful in that dress. Hm?

Just like a princess.

Bye, sweetie. Have fun.

Hey, sweetie, can Mommy get a hug?

Okay, how about a wave?

-A wave is progress. -Yup. Bye.

-You know what? I'm gonna be a seal. -You can't. You're a person.

A person cannot be a seal. I rate that a zero.

Katie's here. Good morning, Katie.

Good morning, Katie. -Clean, and still

no wrinkles.

Adios.

Where are we going, Senora ?

-Same place as every day. -Where? Where are we going?

To the moon, Benito.

-How's everybody? Hello, Mrs. Caldwell.

Hey, Roberto. Did you know that I used to be a hair stylist?

And let me tell you, baby, you have the most beautiful hair.

-I know. -How do you know?

-Because every day you tell me. -(LAUGHING)

Ricky? Another record?

Yes. New world record. Twenty-seven days in a row with a new world record.

-This one's never gonna be broken. -Oh, yeah, until tomorrow.

Every day, you get better.

He's got the world record for new world records.

Okay, one more stop before school.

-Josefina, then the moon. -Yes. Then the moon, Benito.

I know a song. It's called "The Wheels on the Bus".

We sing that every day. I rate that a zero point one.

Fernando, I rate wiggling out of your harness a zero point zero.

You must stay in, okay?

Me. Me. I know a song. "The Fernando on the Bus"!

* The Fernando on the bus goes up and down

* up and down, up and down

* The Fernando on the bus goes up and down *

Oh, I didn't mean to startle you, Harry.

You know, if the Lord rewards fervor in praying, he'll look well upon you.

Oh, this is a poem, actually, Pastor.

"What is Success"? You could write your own book on that.

He's spoken to me, Pastor. He has shown me a way out.

-A way out of what, Harry? -Everything. He's watching over me.

Okay?

-Buenos dias, Senora. -Buenos dias.

Josefina, what a pretty hairdo.

-I hate it. I don't want to go. -Go.

* The Josefina on the bus goes up and down

* all over the town

Mama, I know already!

-Gracias. Bye. -Bye.

Get back on.

I said get back on.

Okay. Now wave goodbye to Mom and Dad...

Who are you?

Sit down with your child.

-Where's the bus driver? -I'm the driver, and you can't ride.

-You? -Yes. I'm in charge.

No. I am in charge now.

-Listen, I don't know who you are... -You don't need to know

who I am.

What you do need to know is if you don't follow my instructions to the letter,

I will detonate the explosives in this bag

and you and all these children will die.

-Okay? -(INHALES)

Hmm?

Okay.

Good. We understand each other.

Sit!

You see this bag? Anyone who touches it dies.

-What? -I said, anyone!

-He can't hear very well. -(HOARSLEY) Celena!

What's with these kids?

They're special. Okay? They're special children.

And you're scaring them.

Please, get off the bus.

-Where are we going, Senora? -Where?

To the Federal Building. Right up to the front door of the Internal Revenue Service.

And if they don't do exactly as I say,

and your bus driver doesn't do exactly as I say,

I will detonate the explosives in that bag back there,

and this bus and that building will blow so high,

it will make Oklahoma City look like a dud.

Okay? Are we all clear?

Yes. But please, I'll do whatever you ask me to.

Just don't hurt the children.

Let them off the bus, and we'll just...

Oh, you see, I need these kids.

Why? Why are you doing this?

Okay, I'll do whatever you tell me to.

Drive.