06x15 - Breakdown

[bunniefuu]

[TURNS OFF ENGINE]

[TURNS ON ENGINE]

[ENGINE HISSING]

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

[HONKING]

STANLEY: What's the trouble?

Well, the electrical system went
out on the squad on the last run.

How long was it out?

Couple of minutes. Couple of seconds,
actually.

The lights, the sirens,
the engine. Everything went off.

Battery cables are tight.

Guys think you ought
to call Charley?

No, Cap,
we don't need a mechanic right now.

Come on, now. You don't want to get
in over your heads on a thing like this.

Oh, we know what we're...

Roy, look at that.

Huh. Well, it's bare there,
but that wouldn't cause

the engine and the lights and
the siren to go off, would it?

No, it wouldn't. But it wouldn't
hurt to put some tape on it.

[ALARM SOUNDING]
Okay, I'll get it.

Well, off we go.

JOHNNY: Hope it
doesn't happen again.

DISPATCHER ON RADIO:
Engine 36, Station 51,

Engine 73, structure fire,

1642 Washington Street.


Cross street, 147th.

Time out, 0947.

Station 51, KMG 365.

[ENGINES STARTING]

[SIRENS WAILING]

DISPATCHER ON RADIO:


toxic chemicals are stored
in a tanker.

Use caution.

KELLY ON RADIO: Squad 51,
this is Rampart. Can you send me some EKG?

JOHNNY ON RADIO:


We're sending you a strip.
Vitals to follow.

Pulse is 160. The victim
is in extreme pain, Rampart.

[INTERCOM BEEPING]

This patient is in V-fib.

Rampart, we have lost the
victim's pulse. Beginning CPR.

[RAPID BEEPING]

We're defibrillating victim,
Rampart.

Rampart, we've defibrillated
victim. Decent sinus rhythm.

JOE ON RADIO: Administer 2 amps
sodium bicarb and insert an airway.

KELLY ON RADIO: Start an IV,


DIXIE: Squad 51, continue monitoring
Vitals and transport immediately.

JOHNNY ON RADIO:
We're on our way, Rampart.

[SIRENS WAILING]

JOHNNY ON RADIO:
Engine 51, Squad 51.

We have mechanical problems.
Unable to continue response.

STANLEY: 10-4, Squad 51.

Dead? Yeah.

That's strange.

[ENGINE STARTING] There it goes.

There it goes.

Well, that's really weird.

[SIREN WAILING]

JOHNNY ON RADIO:
Engine 51, Squad 51.

We're back in service.
Continuing response.

STANLEY: 10-4, Squad 51.

DISPATCHER: All units
with Engine 36, cancel.

Squad 51.

STANLEY: Engine 51.

ROY: Okay,
give me a screwdriver.

I didn't ask for a bayonet.
I asked for a screwdriver.

You don't have anything
smaller? Thank you.

You think you can be
a little less sarcastic?

I'm only trying to help you,
you know.

Can you hand me the pliers?

You know what I
think you guys need?

Professional advice.

[SCOFFING] From who? You?

No, not me. Charley.

Well, if we need his help,
we'll call him.

Roy,
you just moved that wire. Look.

See that... See that
junction box right there?

Yeah. It looked loose
when you moved that.

You're right. It is loose.

Hey,
hey. Maybe that's the problem. Could be.

Chet,
you wanna get inside and start it up?

JOHNNY: Only if
you feel qualified.

Yeah, right.

You ready? ROY: Yeah, go.

[ENGINE STARTING]

Wanna give me the screwdriver?

Not the little one, the big one.

Oh, you mean the bayonet?

Yep, I'll bet that's what it is.

Oh, great.

Maybe if we hide the tools.

You,
uh... You boys lose something under there?

We were just talking about you.

JOHNNY: Yeah,
we were just now talking.

What are you doing to my engine?

Oh, we were
just checking it out.

Okay, Chet, you can k*ll it.

Yeah, turn it off.

Something wrong?

No, nothing important. No.

Hi, Charley. Bye, Charley.

Why don't you let me be the judge of that,
huh?

What happened?

Well, this morning we were out on a run,
the power went off

for a few seconds,
then everything came back on again.

So why didn't you call me?

Oh, we didn't really
wanna call you, Charley.

I mean,
we fixed it ourselves. See?

ROY: The junction connector
was loose.

Yeah, just loose there.
Right there in the junction box.

You're sure
that's all there was?

Yeah, well, we checked
everything else out.

Well, as long as I'm here,
let me take a look at it.

Oh, I see you guys
got some help.

Hi, Hank.

[CLEARS THROAT] Oh, not really.

[CHUCKLES]
We fixed it ourselves.

These two prima donnas here
don't believe in calling in a repair.

They want to do my job for me.

It was just a loose
connection there.

CHARLEY: Now they're telling
me I'm not needed around here.

JOHNNY: No, Charley,
we're not telling you that at all.

What's this? What... What
is this? Adhesive tape here?

Well, there was a bare
connection there.

You thought it was gonna bleed to death,
so you put a bandage on her, right?

Look, we were at the hospital

and we just put it on just to
get us back here to the station.

Thanks.

You got tape? JOHNNY: Yeah.

CHARLEY: If it wasn't for me,
you guys would probably

give an IV to the gas line
and defibrillate the battery.

You know, if you guys get Charley
mad at us, you're in big trouble.

You're all in big trouble! Without me,
you'd just be a bucket brigade, that's all.

Now, look, sorry to interrupt
you here. Look, we got a call here.

Got some weeds out there
on Peppertree Canyon Road.

Right at the end of the canyon.

As soon as Charley's got you fixed up,
take off.

Oh, okay. There.

That ought to hold her.

Do you mind?

Sure.

I was wondering where that was.

Well, Hank,
I was gonna service the engine,

but I'll just leave the grease
in the driveway, okay?

Charley, please. Truce, okay?

Look, next time the squad
so much as backfires,

we'll give you a call.
I promise.

Yeah, but not before you check it over,
okay? Because I hate false alarms.

Right, okay.

Thanks a lot for coming by,
Charley. We really appreciate it.

Look! Look at this, will you?

You guys have been cramming
these wheels into the curb again.

You know what this
does to the alignment?

That must've been
the other shift.

Oh, sure, the other shift.
Always the other shift.

You know, every time one of
these vehicles breaks down,

it's only crying out for
mercy against the drivers.

You know the worst thing that
could happen to one of these rigs?

A fireman. A fireman.

It's a fireman! What
do you think of that?

You guys planning to take those tools
out there to Peppertree Canyon, are you?

[HENS CLUCKING]

ROY: Well, it's the only
house at the end of the canyon.

Let's check it out.

[GOAT BLEATING]

Boy! Looks like this brush
hasn't been cut back in years.

Yeah, looks like they've
had a recent fire here, too.

Well, let's go check it out.

Okay.

[GOAT BLEATING]

Hey!

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

Come in.

Howdy. Is this 5119
Peppertree Canyon? Hi. Yes.

We're from the Los Angeles
County Fire Department.

My name is John Gage. This is my partner,
Roy DeSoto.

Pleasure, nice to meet you.

Gerald T. Edwards. Can
I help you with anything?

Well, we got a complaint
about weeds and brush here.

Hmm. I don't
remember complaining.

Want some tea?

Uh, no, thank you.
Not for me, anyway.

Well, actually, your neighbors
were the ones that were complaining.

Yeah, you see,
this is a high-risk fire area around here.

And the county ordinance
requires you to have

your brush and weeds cut
back 100 feet from the house.

Isn't that a shame?

Well, people nowadays are
so concerned with ordinances,

they just lose all
appreciation of nature.

[CHUCKLES] Oh,
Mr. Edwards, weed abatement

is actually for your own protection,
you know.

Can't you see
how absurd that is?

I mean, society turns people
loose with g*ns and cars,

and now they want to
protect me from my weeds.

[WOMAN COUGHING]

Oh, excuse me.

Is somebody sick?

Yeah, my wife.

Hey, Roy, did you see this?

It's kind of neat, isn't it?

He's making a blanket here.

Looks like a tapestry.

No, it's a blanket.
I can tell by the weave.

Huh.

[CHUCKLES] Now,
this is kind of nice here.

Yeah, it is nice. Ooh! In fact,
take a look at this.

That is really nice.

You know, this would look great
on the wall above my television set.

Uh-huh.

Looks like he doesn't
have any electricity here.

Yeah, I know.
I was noticing this here.

I'll be with you in a minute,
gentlemen.

I just have to get
some more water heated.

Sure. That's okay.

Hey, that blanket
you're making there,

it's really gonna be
beautiful. You making that?

Yeah. But it's not a
blanket. It's a tapestry.

My wife and I are both weavers.

Oh.

Yeah, whatever it's gonna be,
it's gonna be beautiful.

Yep. That's 100%
natural goat hair fiber.

No coal tar derivatives
and nothing synthetic.

You don't have
any electricity here, huh?

No, we don't have gas, plumbing,
telephone, or mail delivery.

Makes it kind of inconvenient,
doesn't it?

Yeah.

But so does air pollution,
nuclear waste, traffic,

and all the other
products of technology.

[GROANS] Oh. Did
you burn yourself there?

Yeah. Splash some water.

Can I give you a hand
with anything?

Uh, yeah. Will you take
that pot in the other room?

ROY: All right. Sure.

[WOMAN COUGHING]

This is my wife, Jane.

Hello, there.

These gentlemen
are firemen, honey.

They tell me I have to cut all the
shrubs down around the house.

[JANE CONTINUES COUGHING]

Mrs. Edwards,
how long have you been coughing like this?

Oh, ifs just a bad cold.

Jane has chronic bronchitis.

Comes from
breathing polluted air.

I'm very sensitive
to pollutants.

You have a very bad fever.

Have you taken her
to see a doctor?

A doctor?

[LAUGHS] The best
doctor is Mother Nature.

You see, I've made a steam tent

with vapor from
eucalyptus leaves.

Yeah, well,
maybe we should check her out.

We're paramedics. Maybe
we can be of some help.

No, that's okay.

That isn't necessary,
is it, Jane?

As soon as I dump this water,
I think everything will be under control.

[JANE WHEEZING]

We'd better leave her alone now.

Yeah.

JOHNNY: Mr. Edwards,

your wife is a very sick lady.

You really should
go see a doctor.

Do you know why there are so
many sick people in the world?

No, why?

Because there's so many doctors.

They're just like gas,
electricity, and water.

Once you give them up, you realize
you're really better off without them.

Well, whatever you say,
but if she gets any worse,

why don't you call us,
all right?

I don't have a telephone,
remember?

Well, whatever, Mr. Edwards.

I want you to be sure and
clean up your weeds, okay?

Those aren't just weeds.
That's an ecosystem.

A home for small animals,
birds, plants, and insects.

Well, I can appreciate
that, Mr. Edwards,

but if you don't
cut your weeds down,

your ecosystem is
going to burn down.

Well, do you think he really
will cut these weeds back?

I sure hope so.

I wouldn't wanna have to come
back and debate with him again.

[CHUCKLES] There was a point there
where you looked like you were winning.

Yeah.

Hey, wait a minute! Please!

Listen, Jane just
coughed up some blood.

That's pretty serious,
isn't it? Yeah, we'll be right in.

LA, this is Squad 51.

We have a still alarm at


Woman down.

DISPATCHER ON RADIO: 10-4,




All right.

All right, Mrs. Edwards.
We're gonna put this on you.

It's oxygen. It's gonna make
you breathe a lot easier, okay?

How serious is she?

We're gonna have
to call the doctor.

Oh, is that necessary?

She's having a lot
of difficulty breathing.

Rampart, this is County 51.

I'll get those reports to
you by tomorrow afternoon.

You bet.

Go ahead, 51.

Rampart,
we have a female patient, age 20.

Honey,
I think we'd better call your mother.

[MUFFLED GRUNTING]

No! No, I don't want to!
We have got to.

[COUGHING] I...
Ma'am, ma'am, please.

You're gonna have to lay back.

Put the mask back on,
okay? Okay, honey. Okay, relax.

Request permission
to start an IV.


continue O2,

and transport
as soon as possible.

Try not to excite her. IV
with Ringer's. 10-4, Rampart.

I don't want you to call
my mother. It's okay, honey.

It's okay. Just relax,
will you, honey? Please. No.

All right. All right.
Take it easy, okay?

Just try to breathe easy.
Just take it easy.

Here,
Johnny. An IV with Ringer's. Okay.

I'll go and get an ambulance,
all right?

[CRYING] All right.

Promise you won't call her.
Promise. Yeah. Okay, I promise.

Come on. Just relax. I promise.

All right. All right.
Take it easy.

He's promised. He won't call.

Take some deep breaths.

I want you to try not to upset her,
okay?

Okay.

Temperature is 103.8.

Pulse is 130,
respirations are 40,

blood pressure is 90 over 60.

Sounds like chronic bronchitis,
complicated by pneumonia.

She may be getting septic.

Are you allergic to penicillin?

Dix, let's get some cooling
blankets on her, huh?

Start her on procaine penicillin,


Right, Kel.

Kel, take a look at there.

Hmm. I'm gonna start drawing
blood for arterial blood gases,

CBC differential
and electrolytes.

Anything else you're gonna need?

Yeah. We'll need a liver function test,
BUN, creatinine,

PT, PTT, and I want cultures of
the blood and the sputum samples.

Okay.

Jane, you just
take it easy, huh?

I'll be back in a minute.

[WEAKLY] When
can I see my husband?

As soon as you're
admitted. It won't be long.

WOMAN ON PA: Dr. Parker,
Outpatient Area.

Dr. Parker, Outpatient Area.

Mr. Edwards? Yeah.

I'm Dr. Brackett.

How is she?

Jane has pneumonia
complicated by bronchitis.

We'll know more as soon
as we get the lab reports.

Jane told me that
she was treated

for chronic bronchitis
when she was a child,

but she doesn't remember
the doctor's name.

Her mother would know.

But I can't call her mother.

Why not?

I promised Jane I wouldn't.

Mr. Edwards,
Jane's condition is very serious.

I've got to have
her complete medical history.

I guess there's no way
to get the stuff you need

without calling her, is there?

Is there a problem between
Jane and her mother?

Yeah, it's me.

Her mother never liked me.

I guess she thought
Jane could do better.

Then when we moved to the canyon,
they had a terrible fight.

Her mother said
we lived like animals.

And they haven't spoken
to each other since.

I see.

It's unfortunate they feel
that way about each other,

but maybe she has a
right to know Jane is ill.

At any rate,
I've got to have her medical history.

WOMAN ON PA: Dr. Shapiro,
Emergency Area.

Okay, I'll call her.

Mr. Edwards,
may I have a look at your arms?

How long have you had these?

Oh, they're just sores.

When I weave,
the yarn hangs down over my arm.

I must have had a cut or scrape
or something that got infected.

Did you say you're
a weaver? Uh-huh.

And what about Jane?

Yeah. She is, too.

After you telephone Jane's mother,
I'd like to examine you.

There's nothing wrong with me.

I noticed a similar lesion
on your wife's shoulder.

There may be a relationship.

You can use the phone
in my office. Right here.

If you're through with your article,
I'll turn the page, Henry.

That's a boy.

[DOOR OPENING]

Hi. Where's Charley?
STANLEY: How you doing?

He finished servicing
the engine and took off.

Oh, yeah? Couldn't face us,
huh? He knew we fixed that squad.

Oh, come on,
Gage. He just had another call, that's all.

Have any trouble with the squad?

Nope. None.

Cap, it was just like we
said. A loose connection.

Yeah, it's not like we were born yesterday,
you know.

[CHUCKLES] I mean, we have had
experience fixing engines before, you know.

Yeah. We're the ones that repaired that old
engine that was older than us, remember?

That's right. Just because Charley
thinks firemen have 10 thumbs...

Twelve.

That doesn't mean we can't find
the loose connection, you know.

Well, let me quote you a little maxim I
learned when I got to be an engineer.

Never cross a mechanic.

Oh, you heard that one,
too, have you?

Yeah.

[ALARM SOUNDING]

DISPATCHER ON RADIO: Engine 36,
Squad 51, man down.

6501 Martin Avenue.

6501 Martin Avenue.

Cross street, 3rd.
Time out, 1306.

Squad 51, KMG 365.

[ENGINE STARTING]

[SIREN WAILING]

[SIREN DIES]

[ENGINE DIES]

Here we go again.

Is it dead?

Yeah.

Look, I don't believe this.

We checked all the
connections. They're tight.

Oh, come on, come on.

Nothing.

LA, this is...

LA, this is Squad 51 with a
mechanical breakdown at Park and 3rd.

Request emergency repair.

DISPATCHER ON RADIO:
Squad 51... I don't understand it.

Squad 116... I'm really
getting tired of this.

Respond with Engine 36.
Man down.

6501 Martin Avenue.

6501 Martin Avenue.

Hello, there.

[CLEARS THROAT] Hi, Charley.

You boys been putting
bandages on my vehicle again?

Not this time. No.

Then what happened?

Well, same thing as before.

It just went dead on us.

Look, it's not the connections.

I just checked them
all. They're tight.

All right,
let me check it. Let me see.

[ENGINE ROARING]

[HORN norms]

[TURNS OFF ENGINE]

I can't understand it.

All right, you guys pulling
some kind of a joke or what?

Charley. Charley, really,
honestly, it was dead.

Didn't neither of you figure
to turn it back on again?

Yeah, yeah. I did that. I did that,
and nothing happened.

Well, then it must have been the
magic in these hands here that did it.

Charley, that makes more
sense than what's happening here.

All right. Look, guys, what I don't
need right now is false alarms.

I mean, I'm backed up from
here to Christmas with engines.

Look, we were telling you,
everything went dead.

Okay,
okay. I'll follow you back to the station.

Unless you two figure you
can repair it yourselves again.

Hey, Roy?

Huh?

I think we just crossed
the mechanic.

Yeah.

I never thought I'd see the day

that I was wishing that
the squad wouldn't start.

You doing your own
lab work these days?

Dix said you wanted me.

Yeah, and a lot of reading, too.

Those cultures from that pneumonia
patient won't be back for a couple of days.

But I think I've got something
here that might prove my diagnosis.

Take a look at this, Joe.

Okay.

That slide is a gram stain of
the patient's sputum sample.

Now, this one's
a sample of fluid

taken from a skin lesion
on her husband.

They both have
gram positive rods.

And, Joe, they're both weavers.

Uh-oh.

I better notify the health
department right away.

WOMAN ON PA:
Dr. Reid, Treatment Room 3.

Dr. Reid, Treatment Room 3.

Gerald.

What's wrong with Jane?

[SIGHING] She's got pneumonia.

She's been coughing up blood.

How long has she been sick?

A couple of days.

I didn't think it was
anything serious at first.

You know, if she's
got pneumonia,

it's because of that filthy,
drafty shack that you made her live in.

Oh, please don't start that.

Why did you take so long?

I mean, why couldn't you have
brought her to a doctor sooner?

I told you, I didn't think it was
anything more serious than a cold.

It just seemed like a cold.

Look, Mrs. Winslow,
you didn't have to come down here.

All we needed was
the name of Jane's doctor.

She's still my daughter.

Even though you have turned
her into something that is...

KELLY: Excuse me?

Doctor. Doctor,
I'm Grace Winslow.

I'm Jane's mother.

How do you do? How is she?

There hasn't been
any significant change.

Did you get Jane's
medical history?

Yes, the doctor's
sending it right over.

Now, I want her to have
the best possible care.

I'll be glad to pay
for anything.

Don't you think
I can pay for it?

With what, rugs and blankets?

All right, look, we can
talk about that later.

The important thing right
now is Jane's condition.

Would you come
into my office, please?

Sit down, please.

I'm afraid Jane's
condition is very serious.

Well, if she's
just got pneumonia,

you can cure that, can't you?

Now, Jane has contracted
woolsorter's disease.

Woolsorter's disease?

It's a form of anthr*x, a disease
which is usually confined to animals.

But sometimes
it's transmitted to humans

through contaminated animal products,
such as hides or yarn.

Was it the yarn?

Yeah. There's
a strong possibility.

Recently, a few types
of imported yarn

were found to be
contaminated with anthr*x.

The government
recalled most of them,

and the suppliers
are aware of it.

Being a weaver,
I'm surprised you didn't know.

Well, we've sort of been
hiding away for a year.

I had a whole bunch of it
stored up.

[SIGHING] Well, Jane undoubtedly
inhaled the anthr*x spores,

and they caused the pneumonia.

And I've got it, too?

Fortunately, you have
a mild form of the disease,

which is presently
confined to your skin.

We can clear that up
with penicillin.

Are you saying that
he's going to be all right,

and that Jane may die?

We're gonna do the best we can.

Oh...

When can I see her?

[SIGHING] Mrs. Winslow,

Jane has requested that you
not be informed of her condition.

But I'm her mother!

[sums]

I think it's up to you,
Mr. Edwards.

Jane didn't mean it. I mean,

I don't think she realized
how serious things are.

I think she should
see her mother.

[SNIFFLING]

Thank you, Gerald.

All right, if you'll wait here,

I'll send a nurse in
that will take you to Jane.

Mr. Edwards,
if you'll come with me,

we can start your
treatment right now.

It was pure virgin wool. I didn't
know it would make her sick.

This is Jane's mother.

How do you do? I'm Dr. Morton.

Now, you're not gonna
be able to stay too long.

Janey?

Janey? Can you hear me?

Janey?

[SNIFFLING]

Don't be mad at me anymore.

Please, Jane.

[GAGS]

Doctor, she's becoming cyanotic.

Dix, get Dr. Brackett, stat!

Give me a tongue depressor.

Try to get a BP on her.

NURSE: I can't get it, Doctor!

All right,
just hold her arms here.

Now I'll tell you
what we're gonna want.

When she calms down,
let's intubate her.

And I want you to
give me a BP right away.

[JANE GAGGING]
NURSE: Yes, Doctor.

MIKE: Think she's having
a rough time with this.

She's beginning to calm down.

Let's intubate her. Dix.

This way, please.

NURSE: Blood pressure,


KELLY: All right.

She looks a lot better.

Mmm.

Change her penicillin to aqueous
pen IV. Five million units Q6H.

Yes, Doctor.

Also, increase her fluids,
and watch her output.

Check her blood gases in an hour,
and we'll start to taper the oxygen.

Yes, Doctor.

That was pretty close, Kel.

[SIGHING] Too close.

Come on.

Hmm?

Huh?

[sums]

JOHNNY: You know,
you could help me with these spoons.

Hey, babe, I'll be back.

JOHNNY: He won't be back.
How's he doing?

He hasn't found the problem yet.

How long is the squad
gonna be out?

I don't know. I guess it
depends on how long it takes him

to find out
what's wrong with it.

STANLEY: Charley, are you done?

No way, Hank.

It just don't make any sense.

I mean, I can understand
her shorting out,

but what makes her come
on again? I don't know.

[sums]

[EXCLAIMS]

Tell me, guys, just exactly what
you were doing when she pooped out?

We told you,
we were making a left-hand turn.

CHARLEY: A hard left?

No, not a hard.
No harder than usual.

"No harder than usual"?
What's that supposed to mean?

I mean, did the tires squeal?

No! No, the tires didn't squeal.

So then what did you do?

Then we coasted to a stop.

That's all?

Yeah. You know, there are two other
paramedics who drive the squad out there.

I know that. I know that.

But I think you guys are playing
games with me, and I don't like it.

Now, wait a minute. We're
not playing games with you...

Wait, wait, hold on.
Come on, everybody.

Look, we're all on the same side here,
aren't we?

I wonder.

Charley, why can't we put
the squad in the shop

and have us
a reserve vehicle here?

No, no, Hank. Not until I'm


If there's anything
wrong with it.

This coffee stinks.

Are you guys playing
some kind of joke on him?

We didn't make the coffee.

Not the coffee,
you twit, the squad.

Cap. Cap, there's something
wrong with that squad out there.

[SIGHS] All right,
if you say so.

I made the coffee.

[LAUGHS]

Gentlemen,
I stand corrected. My apologies.

Here is the villain.

Well, what is it?

A switch. Installed incorrectly
at the factory, of course.

And it slipped out,
made contact with the sheet metal side.

Result, shorted out
the whole system.

But what made it break contact?

When you pulled the squad over,
what did you do?

I don't know. Got out of the door,
went over to the hood,

opened it up,
took a look at the engine.

Right. But first,
you slammed your door, right?

That's right.
It broke the contact.

How long will it take
to replace the switch?

Five minutes.

Five minutes.

All right. All right.

I'll make a fresh pot of coffee.

Thanks.

Now, remember, whenever one
of my vehicles starts acting up,

you give me a call, will you?

Sure will.

And no more bandages
on the wires.

All right. Done.

See you, Hank. You bet you.

See you later, Charley.

I'll make it official. Next time
something goes wrong, you call him.

You understand? That's an order.

Okay.

[STARTING ENGINE]

[ALARM SOUNDING]

DISPATCHER ON RADIO: Station 51,

man trapped, Oceanland Park,


66 Palos Verdes Drive South.
Time out, 1630.

Station 51, KMG 365.

[SIRENS WAILING]

I've got a man stuck at the
top of the Sky Tower. See?

STANLEY: How's he stuck?

SUPERVISOR: Boy,
I'm not sure. But I think he's hurt.

STANLEY: Anybody
up there with him?

Hey, listen, friend,
I've got only one man in my crew

that can climb that tower,
and he's it.

Okay. Looks like we may
have some injuries up there.

You're gonna have
to do some climbing.

Put everything you need
on a Stokes.

Why don't you guys
lend them a hand? Chet.

LA Engine 51, we have
a man trapped on the tower.

Station 51 out one hour.

DISPATCHER ON RADIO: 10-4, 51.

What was he doing up there?

He was working on
the beacon light at the top.

Boy, that's a long way up.

That's a long way down.

Well, don't think down,
think up.

You think up, I'll think down.

This leads through the
cable room to the roof.

That's too small in there. We'll
never get the Stokes in through there.

Kelly, you go on up on top and
throw the tag line over the side,

and we'll take the Stokes up
that way. What do you say?

Okay-Okay-

CHET: Roy, he looks like
he's unconscious.

Now, I'm gonna go above
him and get the lines rigged.

All right.

All right,
I'm pretty much rigged.

ROY: Okay, line coming down.

All right, I'm coming down.

Okay, Johnny,
let us know when you're ready.

JOHNNY: Okay!

Okay, he's loose.

Just lower him on down now.

All right, it's going good.

Watch his belt!

Okay, okay, got him.

All right.

Just swing him around
this way, yeah.

[SIREN WAILING]

JOHNNY: All right,
they're coming down to you.

All right, good. They got him.

All right, you can
take us on down now.

What have you got?

He's got a good, strong carotid.

What do you say? About 30?

Yeah.

JOHNNY: Rampart,
this is County 51.

DIXIE ON RADIO: Go ahead, 51.

JOHNNY: Rampart, we have a male,
approximately 30 years old.

He was trapped
on an exterior elevator.

He has a possible
broken right femur.

Standby for vitals.

[SIREN WAILING]

I don't mind telling you,
I was sweating it there for a while.

Don't blame you, pal.

Hey, what do you think?
Is he gonna be okay?

Oh, yeah,
he's gonna be fine. Don't worry about it.

I feel terrible,
kind of like a coward.

I couldn't make myself
climb up that mast.

Two hundred and
forty-four feet, I...

Look, don't worry
about it, okay?

Look, the reason why I do it,
I'm trained for it.

Plus, I've got safety equipment.

If I weren't trained and I didn't
have this, I wouldn't do it, either.

Hey, thanks again.

It's okay.

STANLEY: Oh,
how did the squad go on the run today?

Fine. No problems.

Good. I do not want to
talk to Charley again.

Can't say as I blame you.

[ENGINE STALLING]

The engine won't start.

Oh, no. Oh, no.

Oh, boy! Oh, boy. Now,
I've got to call Charley.

Why me?

Why me?