 |
|
Buzz Wescott dominates the drive-time airwaves throughout the
Minneapolis-St. Paul area. His radio show is number one and about
to go national. All he needs to get where he wants to be is that
little something extra. Of course, that little something is going
to push him in a direction he never anticipated.
With the ratings high, and the usual amount of idiot callers, Buzz
is just settling into his routine of pre-made insults and mock
outrage, when something happens. He is informed by his producer,
Su Kim, and his call screener, Monica, that his guests for the
hour have cancelled. It seems that the Siamese twins he had
booked are stuck in traffic due to the ill-timed suicidal impulse
of a depressed teen.
Scott Hardwick, is fifteen, and reeling after the suicide death of
his best friend. Having just arrived home from the funeral, while
his parents are away on a cruise, he has stepped out onto the
ledge of his apartment building to contemplate jumping. This
decision has led to a gigantic traffic jam, as people stop their
cars to look up at him.
Buzz is inspired. After talking with a classmate of Scott’s he
plans to take his show to the next level. He decides to call
Scott and put him on the air. By this time, Sgt. Richardson and
his partner, Gloria, have already arrived on the scene. They
answer the phone and pass it out to Scott. It is only after Scott
picks up, do they realize that the man on the phone who claimed to
be his father, is actually Buzz Wescott. Amazingly though, Buzz
actually begins to get through to him. Scott is a fan of Buzz’s
and once they begin to speak, a connection develops. It seems
that Buzz has a real chance to help the boy. But first he has to
cut to commercial.
During the commercial break, Buzz takes a call from his lawyer,
who tells him that his request for joint custody of his children
has been denied. Buzz is shattered, he had his hopes up and now
he has nothing. He goes back on the air and tells Scott to get on
with, that he’s holding up traffic. Soon the people listening in
the traffic jam begin to take up the cry. As Scott reels from
Buzz’s parting words, the chant of “Jump!” filters up to him from
the street. Now he is shattered.
After Buzz storms out of the studio, Monica confronts him with the
truth of what he has become. A man who alienated himself from his
family for success, and now for just a little more, he’s willing
to alienate a boy in need. Buzz has lost his compassion and now,
thousands of people are screaming for that boy to kill himself.
Buzz breaks up. He had no idea it would go so far, he had no idea
how bad he’d become. He rushes back to the studio and tries to
call Scott back, but can’t get through. So instead he goes back
on the air, and unburdens his soul, to Scott and to everyone
listening. He begs Scott to take another look at things, to not
be dissuaded by idiots like him. He can only hope that Scott is
listening. And he is. With the help of Gloria and Sgt.
Richardson, he comes in off of the ledge.
|
