The Rookies (TV Series)

Ladies Day (1975)

Dorothy Tristan: Maxine

Quotes 

• Maxine : [Maxine opens the prison rec-room door]  Here they are.

  [She addresses Terry, who is posing as a news reporter; he is accompanied by a real news cameraman. Terry is dressed in regular street clothes, with his shirt casually unbuttoned halfway down and he is wearing sunglasses. As he is working undercover as a reporter to gain info on the prison hostage situation, a tote bag, which holds a tape recorder, is hanging from his left shoulder and he is holding a microphone in his hand. Maxine is pointing a gun at Terry as she speaks] 

  Maxine : You, with the recorder.

  Officer Terry Webster : [Terry calmly maintains his professional demeanor, then he points the microphone toward Maxine]  You the one to speak to all of them?

  [Jill, recognizing Terry is working undercover, sits up straight in her chair, careful not to blow his cover] 

  Maxine : [Maxine indicates Landers]  No. She'll do the talking; you do the shuttin' up and listening.

  Officer Terry Webster : [Maxine is still pointing the gun at Terry, as he takes the tape recorder out of the tote bag and turns it on]  Ok. Just want to make sure I get every... uh... everything just the way you say it. Stan, you ready?

  [the cameraman moves over between Terry and Maxine, and begins filming the dialogue. Terry, without moving his head, looks over at Jill, and catches her attention. As he begins conducting the interview with Landers, Terry's eyes, hidden behind his dark lenses, are intently scanning the room] 

  Landers : [Terry holds the microphone up to Landers' mouth and she starts speaking stridently]  Well, we'll start with the reason for all this in the first place. We've got diphtheria in this place. And our infirmary is staffed with an old doctor and nurse who don't even know what a bottle of iodine was. Sure, they sent us a medical team to treat us, when the disease hit. One lousy doctor and a nurse... that's all they sent for a place this size. And they didn't get here soon enough. We just ain't gettin' the right care... a couple of women have already died.

  Officer Terry Webster : [the scene now shows Lt Ryker, Mike Danko and the Superintendent outside, listening to the conversation. Terry's voice, echoing slightly, is now being heard on the walkie-talkie held by Lt Ryker]  What about the hostages? When will you let them go?

  Landers : [Landers' voice comes over the walkie-talkie]  We'll talk about that when we take care of our business.

  Officer Terry Webster : [Terry's voice is still being heard over the walkie-talkie]  I'm glad to see that they're not harmed.

  Superintendent : [the Superintendent looks at Lt Ryker]  That's Irene Landers Lieutenant. She's all right... tough, but not mean. As long as she's heading up things, we have a little hope.

  Lt. Ed Ryker : [Lt Ryker looks directly at the Superintendent]  What about this Maxine Wills?

  Superintendent : [the Superintendent replies to Lt Ryker's question]  Well, she's another story; she's capable of a lot of things. She'll kill if she has to.

  Landers : [Landers' strident voice comes over the walkie-talkie]  There's a lot I want the people outside to know. Most of us are repeaters in joints like this, all over the country, and we need help. Doctors to help straighten out our heads so we'll have a chance once we do get on the outside.

  [the scene switches back inside; Landers is staring intently at Terry, as she drives her point home] 

  Landers : A place to learn a trade so that we don't have to be ripping off and stealing to make a living. This is like a revolving door with no way out!

  Officer Terry Webster : [Terry is holding the microphone up to Landers; Maxine is still pointing the gun at Terry]  Exactly what is it that you hope to gain for this?

  Landers : We want better conditions in this place.

  Officer Terry Webster : [Terry is keeping his composure as he replies to her statement]  And, uh, you feel that you're going about it the right way?

  Landers : This is the only way we have to go about it.

  Officer Terry Webster : [Terry contemplates Landers' answer]  Mmm-hmmmm. How long are you prepared to hold out here?

  [Leslie walks into the room; Maxine walks away from Terry and goes over to her and they whisper together] 

  Landers : When your lives are at stake, you hold out as long as you can.

  Maxine : [Maxine finishes her conversation with Leslie and returns to Terry's side and points her gun at him again]  Ok. That's it; you heard what we want. Now you either get the superintendent to deal with us, or we deal with the hostages. You tell them that. Now, move outta the building.

  Landers : [Landers protests]  Wait a minute, wait a minute!

  Maxine : [Maxine looks directly at Landers and scoffs]  You let 'em stay any longer and it looks like you're begging. Trust me, Landers, I was in Frontier when they pulled the big riot. The reason they failed is because they talked too much.

  Landers : [Landers acquiesces]  Ok.

  Maxine : [Maxine's voice is rising]  Ok, move it out... out!