Battle in Seattle

This programme contains very strong language

EXPLOSION

MAN: 1947, shortly after the close of World War II,

23 nations signed a General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade - the GATT.

Its purpose was to liberalise and expand world trade.

Stability, a sense of global community - they were the key.

For five decades, the GATT would grow,

adding more members and becoming the World Trade Organization.

MAN: We're writing the constitution for a single global economy.

With over 150 member nations, the WTO controls 90% of world trade.

Unlike the GATT, the WTO can impose punishing fines on member countries

that don't abide by its laws.

Along with this expansion of free trade,

the WTO avows to help developing countries

benefit fully from the global trading system.

WOMAN: It has very little to do with trade and it's certainly not free.

MAN: It is a system of global governance

none of us voted for and none of us control.

MAN: It simply means breaking down the borders of countries.

So that large corporations will be free to operate anywhere,

without interference by governments or the people of these nations.

And what they are saying is that money values

should rule over life values,

that human rights and the environment

should be subordinated to the needs of commerce.

MAN: The clean air rules were gutted.

MAN: Cases of asthma increased.

Genetically modified foods forced onto European consumers.

Small-scale banana growers crushed by large corporations.

MAN: Despite the problems and criticism,

the WTO continues to grow, making it more powerful than ever.

On the upcoming meeting in Seattle, dubbed the "Millennium Round",

new issues will be added to the WTO's existing rules.

MAN: Imposing even tighter corporate control

over more areas of our lives.

To many, this meeting has become a battle...

for the future.

WOMAN PANTS

SHE GASPS

Here, you take this, man.

Jay, she's turtling.

Shit. Hold it, hold it.

OK, you drop the rope.

All right, I'm coming to get you.

All right, I got you.

Not much of a last-minute replacement, am I?

No, but you're better-looking than he was.

Hey, don't get any ideas.

Must have checked everything three times,

never ended up like this before.

That's why you've got to be a little crazy to take this gig.

All right. You're good.

OK, you wait for my signal before we descend, all right?

-I'm Lou, by the way.

-Oh. Jay.

SIRENS APPROACH

We better get going before we're eating breakfast in jail.

I don't plan on getting arrested until at least tomorrow.

Fuck!

-Close one.

-Yeah, real smooth.

All right! Let's do it!

MAN: Tomorrow, the World Trade Organization will meet in Seattle.

It will be the largest meeting on global trade ever held...

WOMAN: Jimmy Hoffa and the labour unions along with environmentalists

and human rights advocates

put together a rally at Memorial Stadium

with an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 people.

MAN: More than 50,000 protesters may be in the streets to demonstrate

against the WTO.

WOMAN: It's been 30 years since the Democratic Convention riots of 1968

pitted police and protesters against each other,

but some fear history will repeat itself this week in Seattle

as the World Trade Organization prepares

to hold its first ever ministerial meeting on US soil.

We have identified the subjects of our most recent surveillance photos,

and they're not anarchists as we originally thought.

All right, so we have a great team of lawyers

that are pulling together to help us out.

It's really important that you call this number...

-MAN: All right, Jay!

-ALL CHEER

All right.

First one, Django Mills,

arrested in four different countries for property damage

involving whaling ships and shrimp trawlers.

Louise Philips.

Burned down her father's animal research lab,

although she wasn't formally charged.

She has been involved in black bloc demonstrations

that have turned violent.

Samantha Clayton, no criminal record.

Appears to have studied law

and was involved in the Sequoia Forest legal case back in '98.

And last but not least, Jay Algion.

We've got 13 major intersections downtown,

and each of the affinity groups are going to shut these areas down.

-Now, how are we gonna do it?

-MAN: Non-violently.

That's right, and by consensus.

Jay's brother was killed in the Sequoia Forest demonstration.

'Help! Help! My brother's been hit!'

'My brother's been hit! Get an ambulance!'

-MAN: 'Just calm down.'

-'My brother's been hit!'

-SCUFFLING CONTINUES

-'My brother's been hit!

'We need an ambulance!'

Since then he's been involved in every major demonstration

across the country, including getting himself arrested at the IMF in '98.

We need a show of hands

of those of you prepared to go to jail if need be.

Don't feel bad if you're not -

we need as many people on the outside as we can get.

All right, well, opening ceremonies begin in about 24 hours,

so please get ready, because we are going to

shut these motherfuckers down!

-ALL CHEER

-All right!

All right.

We set up two trip-wire barricades around the Paramount Theater.

We believe that all the protesters will be concentrated there.

To get through that, they're going to have to climb fences,

jump over Metro buses, at which point they'll be arrested.

Well, make sure we're only arresting them there, OK?

I want to keep this city's image clean.

How many protesters are we expecting?

Several thousand, maybe ten.

-Are we ready for this?

-I'm quite sure of it.

The WTO opening ceremonies are scheduled to take place

at the Paramount Theater downtown.

WOMAN ON RADIO: 'Issues such as human rights,

'labour standards and environmental protection

'are not on the formal agenda of the Seattle meeting.

'But with more than 20,000 WTO critics planning to march,

'it looks as though...'

-RADIO STOPS

-What? That makes no sense to you?

I'm just looking for a good story.

BABY'S HEARTBEAT

WOMAN: Nothing irregular. Everything seems great.

Looks like you're going to be having a very healthy baby

four months from now.

Have you chosen any names yet?

No, not...not really.

Yeah, well, there's a few we like, right?

-Yeah, she has a few she likes.

-WOMEN LAUGH

-I gotta go, baby.

-Oh, no, don't go now.

I wish I didn't have to, but I'm running late as it is.

-I love you, baby.

-Come on, five more minutes.

This protest is driving me crazy and it hasn't even started yet.

-Oh, come on!

-I'll call you.

Doc, will you look after this woman? She's made me very happy.

I sure will. SHE GIGGLES

I'll see you.

APPLAUSE

It's taken two years to bring the World Trade Organization to Seattle.

And we did it! APPLAUSE

MAN: Nathan. You've arrived safe and sound.

May I present Nathan Abasi, one of the toughest negotiators in the Southern Hemisphere.

I bet Mr Durell was telling you

why we'll be cutting agricultural subsidies.

ALL LAUGH

..the Emerald City has beaten out Detroit, Denver, Dallas,

San Diego and Honolulu...

Oh, have you met Dr Alex Maric?

He's from Bosnia, but works in Africa with Medecins Sans Frontieres.

-Nice to meet you.

-Nice to meet you too.

He's here to raise awareness about the cost of AIDS medications.

-Oh.

-Yes.

Well, I hope you have more luck at these talks than I usually do.

I welcome all of you for what will be a productive and successful week.

To success.

Thank you. Thank you all.

APPLAUSE

Well, I've just been to the WTO cocktail party.

AUDIENCE BOOS

Where the hors d'oeuvres were much better,

but the music - not so good.

AUDIENCE LAUGHS

Look, you may or may not know this,

but I was once a protester too, during Vietnam.

So I am happy to have the demonstrators' voice be heard.

In turn, I've been promised by numerous organisations

that there will be no violence.

If we stick to this plan,

I believe we will achieve all that is hoped for.

What I'm trying to say is be tough on your issues,

but be gentle on my town.

Thank you. Thank you. APPLAUSE

SHE LAUGHS All right.

Six months' planning - here we go.

-What time is it?

-Don't know.

That was nice last night.

We should get going.

What?

Man, you are not much of a morning person, are you?

Heads up.

Chief said there might be chemical or bio attacks today.

-Got my fucking chemicals right here.

-Oh, yeah?

I think if there was going to be chemical warfare,

we'd have more than a couple of hundred guys out there.

-How is Ella and the baby?

-Oh, great!

Yeah, we went for the ultrasound yesterday,

and you can see the whole little body,

and even down to the little fingers.

And then you hear the heartbeat. IMITATES HEARTBEAT

Really fast.

Like the little guy was saying, "Hi, Daddy. Hi, Daddy. Hi, Daddy."

HE LAUGHS

-So how'd you get into this?

-What are you, a cop?

Yeah, and if you don't answer my questions, I'll handcuff you.

When I was an animal activist,

I used to think the strong prey on the weak.

When I was an anarchist, I thought we could all be equal.

-What about now?

-I don't know.

I'm just taking one long look at the enemy.

What about you? What's got your panties all in a bunch?

My panties are in a bunch,

because I want to make sure everything runs smoothly and nobody gets hurt.

Of course we'll get hurt. What do you think this is?

Pretty tough, aren't you?

Protests get me excited AND depressed at the same time.

I don't know what that makes me.

We're on the move in 15 minutes, Dale.

-We're not keeping you, are we?

-No, sir!

Good luck out there.

Luck? Only peoples gonna need luck is those fucking tree huggers.

Give me your arm.

Your number?

A lawyer's number for when you're in jail.

I thought you were going to be my knight in shining armour.

Rescuing you on the crane was enough.

All right, kids, enough small talk. Come on, we've gotta get moving.

Come on.

-How did it go yesterday?

-Oh, my God, you have to see this.

-Let me see.

-Look at that!

Oh, my God, we are going shopping for baby clothes immediately.

I don't even know what it is yet.

You're five months pregnant and you haven't bought any baby clothes?

I'm just waiting, you know.

-So, is it a boy or a girl?

-I don't want to know.

-Wow, is that a police badge I see?

-You're so funny(!)

Anyway, I hate to break up this baby shower

but I need someone at the other register, tout de suite.

What is it with him and foreign languages?

Congratulations.

MAN: You look beautiful!

You are the people!

You are the power!

And we're gonna show it today, when we march!

We live under an economic system

that wants to divide us from each other.

But we will not, today, be divided!

All right, bring it in now.

ENGINE APPROACHES

Come on, come on, come on, quick, quick, quick.

Come on, move! Get up.

POLICEMAN ON RADIO: 'They're over the barricades.'

Get moving, get moving. Go, go, go.

-Bring 'em in, bring 'em in.

-Get it in there.

Here they come, here they come.

Jay, we're set over here.

Take care of yourself.

ALL CHANT: Nobody in, nobody out! Nobody in, nobody out! Nobody in...

Hey, Sam, we've taken the Paramount. How you holding up?

-We're moving now.

-All right, see you later.

-MAN: Let's shut 'em down!

-Go, go, go.

-MAN CHANTS: Whose streets?

-ALL CHANT: Our streets!

-Whose streets?

-Our streets!

-Whose streets?

-Our streets!

-Whose streets?

-Our streets!

We have lockdown.

-CHANTING

-Hey, hey! Ho, ho! The WTO has got to go!

This is what democracy looks like!

-CHANTING

-Whose streets? Our streets!

MAN: Jean!

What's going on?

The delegates can't get to the Paramount.

What? OK, let's go there.

I have to be inside, please.

-You go back to your hotel.

-I am not WTO.

-WTO can help us.

-I'm sorry, man.

We're gonna shut 'em down today.

-CHANTING

-Nobody in, nobody out! Nobody in, nobody out!

MAN: We were given assurances by the city that this would not happen.

Sir, I have some news. It's not good.

What the hell's going on out there? Look at this place.

Most of the delegates can't get to the conference.

The protesters have seized the intersections outside.

-Weren't the police preventing that?

-No, sir.

Well, why not?

As you ordered, there were to be no arrests made outside the barricades.

Look, the police have been trying to secure safe passage

for the delegates and the ambassadors

but the protesters have cemented their arms together.

What?

They've formed circles so the only way you can separate them

is by breaking their arms.

Sir, the chief of police is on line one.

Gordon, I thought you said they wouldn't get past the barricades.

We got a lot bigger problems than that, Jim.

Right now, they've captured the entire downtown core.

There's so many we couldn't arrest 'em all if we wanted to.

-I thought they were not violent.

-They're not being violent.

All right. What are we gonna do?

I have called every patrol in the state.

I've even called the fire department to hose down the protesters,

but they refused.

-What are the options, then?

-There's only one option left.

Gordon, I am not gonna start gassing people, do you hear me?

I gave the protesters my word. The press would have a field day.

Jim, I think we're past having that choice.

Sir, the White House is on line two.

All right, OK.

All right, just do whatever you have to do...and just do it fast.

SOFTLY: Oh, my God.

Nervous, Johnson?

-HE LAUGHS Nervous?

-Are you fucking kidding me, man?

I put on all this shit, it's like I'm fucking invincible.

I used to feel that way when I was a toddler.

We've got some new orders, so listen up.

We're going to the Paramount Theater

and our orders are to use dispersement techniques.

No arrests are to be made, understood?

Wait, so you're saying if a protester's breaking the law,

I'm supposed to, what, just stand there and watch them?

That's right, Johnson. That's coming from the top.

We'll be there in five, so let's be ready.

Can you tell me the reason why you're here today?

Well, basically the Endangered Species Act requires

that shrimp trawlers place special devices on their boats

to prevent the killing of sea turtles.

Now, the WTO, they come along and they say,

"Well, these devices are somehow illegal."

Well, we all love turtles

but don't you think there are more important problems to be addressed?

If you feel a ruling that threatens an endangered species

is any different from millions of working-class jobs being outsourced

or the quality of our environment, or our food getting worse,

you're just not connecting the dots.

FIRES TEAR GAS

Do you think a few signs and some catchy slogans

are going to somehow stop global trade?

Well, see, we have no problem with so-called "free trade"...

-PHONE RINGS

-..if it's not at the expense of our human values.

-Yes.

-Because of the WTO's laws...

Thank you so much. That was great. Michael, let's go. Pine and Fifth.

Good luck, man.

SHOUTING, SCREAMING

PROTESTERS COUGH

Lou? Lou?

HE COUGHS Lou.

Put your head back, put your head back.

-It hurts. It burns.

-Put your head back. Come on.

Open your eyes, open your eyes.

Come on, tilt your head back.

OK, everyone, this is what I've heard.

There are protesters at the end of Sixth Avenue,

so you'll be let out right in the middle of the protest, OK?

Now, I've called and asked for immediate updates.

-COUGHS

-They said just relax, have lunch.

MAN ON TV: WTO Director-General Michael Moore says

an effort to launch a new round of global trade talks...

-207, please.

-..has not been derailed.

This conference will be a success. Indeed, it's doomed to succeed.

It is our best chance to provide the conditions

for the next century's trading regime.

-Can I get water? And whiskey, please?

-Absolutely.

DRUMMING, MUSIC

SHUTS WINDOW KNOCK AT DOOR

-What?

-Sir, Hoffa Jr's agreed.

-Oh.

-Ah...ah, sir...

DIALS NUMBER Governor? Yeah, I've got some good news.

The White House is giving labour a seat at the negotiating table.

They won't be joining the protest downtown.

Well, that's a bonus. But we have other problems.

I have the Secret Service all over me,

and they're saying action must be taken immediately.

I'm under extreme pressure here to call in the Guard, now!

The protesters are non-violent.

You bring in the National Guard,

the whole community's going to become alarmed.

Jim, I have the Secretary of State confined to a hotel.

I have the White House pressuring me to call a state of emergency.

I understand that, but right now we simply cannot do that!

They'll clash with the entire labour march.

That'll make our problems now seem like a walk in the park.

-We cannot call in the National Guard!

-Are you prepared to handle this?

Because we have a potential catastrophe on our hands.

John, listen, please, OK?

Just give the police some time. They'll be effective.

Just give me a few more hours.

OK, I'm giving you two hours, and that's it.

-Sir...

-What?!

The WTO ceremonies have just been cancelled.

OK.

Oh, my God.

ALL CHEER Yes! It worked! It worked!

There were so many people. Where did they come from?

It was like the Thriller video.

Coming out of the garbage can, out of the ground!

Welcome to the first internet protest in history!

-CHANTING

-Think labour's ready to join us?

Come on, labour. MARCHERS CHANT

Hey, hey! Ho, ho! WTO has got to go!

Give me that! Don't go that way! We need you downtown!

We were told to do that, that's what we're doing.

The guy chopping down the redwoods

is the same guy destroying your workers' rights!

We're fighting for the same thing!

Teamsters and turtles together! Teamsters and turtles together!

-MORE TAKE UP CHANT

-Teamsters and turtles together!

Teamsters and turtles together! Teamsters and turtles together!

-Teamsters and turtles together!

-We need you!

Teamsters and turtles together!

Teamsters and turtles together! Teamsters and turtles together!

Gordon, what's going on? We making any progress out there?

Just got reports back our boys are seeing labour marchers downtown.

Away from the designated march route? How the hell did that happen?

-We don't know yet.

-What do you mean you don't know?!

Labour promised to march back to Memorial Stadium!

-I know!

-Find out what's going on!

Fuck!

The TV crews pulled out. They said they were covering the protests.

HE SIGHS

Aww.

Oh, you should just get pregnant. We always said we'd do it together.

Then I better find a good sperm bank.

You better hurry up. I'm five months ahead of you.

I do have something a little different in mind.

Lambada, anyone?

-No!

-Oh, yeah, the forbidden dance.

-Dale and I were gonna go to Brazil.

-You never told me that.

Yeah, three days after his dad died,

he came back from some park he'd been to,

and said, "Let's just quit our jobs, let's go travelling."

Even started buying guidebooks.

Two weeks later, I found out I was pregnant. Dale got promoted.

And we just never talked about it again.

Just wish it was better timing, you know?

There's never a good time, you just do it and it's right.

I feel like my life is being shuffled into this next phase

and I don't feel quite ready for it.

I don't want the cover of some brochure magazine

to be the closest thing we ever get to adventure.

You want adventure? You just signed up for the biggest adventure of all.

It's gonna be great. You'll see.

Maybe I will go visit a sperm bank.

If you're going there, you don't have to.

Ooh, that would be better, wouldn't...

CRASH

What are you doing? This woman is pregnant!

-Oh, yeah? You're gonna have a kid?

-NERVOUSLY: Yeah.

You want your kid to work to death in a sweatshop making baby clothes?!

-Of course not.

-Then don't fucking shop here!

-Oh, God.

-What the hell's going on out there?

LOU: What the fuck?!

We asked you not to do this shit today!

I didn't promise you anything!

I didn't get in your way so you stay out of mine!

Take the fucking mask off and join the rest of us!

Are you fucking kidding me? Are you a fucking moron, man?

You're ruining everything we worked for!

-We stopped them today!

-And what about tomorrow?

-And frankly, I don't give a fuck what you accomplished.

-Ready?

They're not just gonna lay down and say, "Peace, love.

"Can I stick a flower in your machine gun?"

The streets of Seattle have descended into chaos

as violent demonstrators are smashing shop windows...

Do you understand me?!

-What the hell are we waiting on?

-This is a non-violent protest!

And that's not violence! Did you see anybody getting hurt?!

-We attacked corporate America!

-That's not the point!

The media's feasting on this!

Exactly! We are the ones making this day famous.

Are you blind? You're feeding them! You're giving them what they want!

You call that anarchy?

You're just pissed cos you're not getting enough attention.

Stop!

-Non-violence, huh?

-Fuck you!

-Wake up!

-Stop!

-Get off of me!

-Stop, Lou!

What do you know, huh?

You're trying to run the show without getting your hands dirty.

Lou, you know nothing about me.

I've been around men like you my whole life.

You are a fucking coward, Jay.

Lou!

-Fuck off!

-Lou!

Excuse me.

Why do you believe violence is the best way to get your message across?

Oh, you want to know my message?

I want you to stop spreading corporate-controlled disinformation

around the globe, and start covering the real issues,

like why this fucking world is being raped

by guys who make 500 million a year while the rest of the world starves.

Why don't you put that on the nine o'clock news?

We're cut. You want me to keep the tape?

What do you think?

They're breaking shit and we're running from civilians.

Supplies are almost out of tear gas. We need to regroup.

Regroup or not, this is a bad message to send. We look useless.

You want to be useful, Johnson? You can be the one to resupply the gas.

We've got a van heading upstate to restock.

Hey, don't smile at me, boy.

Now, go get changed. Bring your civilian clothes.

I don't want any more lip. We've got to move fast.

We've got a problem a block down! Let's go! Come on!

MUSIC: WHITE CHRISTMAS

GOVERNOR: You asked for a few hours, I gave it to you.

-And they've remained non-violent.

-That does not mean law-abiding!

If we'd called in the National Guard when I requested it,

Seattle wouldn't be in every goddamn newspaper around the globe.

We got taken by surprise, Jim. Now it's time to take control back.

The National Guard won't be here until tomorrow.

And that is why calling a state of emergency and imposing a curfew

is our only option.

Are you out of your mind? You'll turn downtown into a war zone.

Have you been outside, lately? It looks like Beirut!

HE SIGHS

In 12 hours, the President of the United States

is going to be landing here.

He has already called and threatened to cancel,

and that is not going to happen, do you understand?

His arrival will signal a return to normalcy, right?

Are we agreed?

CRASH, SIREN BLARES

The window just smashed behind us and it was terrifying.

I'm still shaken up by it.

-Do you smell that?

-PHONE RINGS

Whatever that is, it's not natural. Can you taste that?

Yes! Can you believe this is happening here?

-Hey.

-DALE: Hey, sweetheart.

-Where are you?

-I'm at work.

I want you to go home now. It's getting crazy downtown.

-Get out now, OK?

-OK. OK. I'll get there.

All right.

Dale, I've gotta call you back.

-Are you OK?

-Ella! Carla, we have to...

-Are you all right? Hold his head up.

-Yeah.

OK, just take a breath.

Due to the street protests, we are closing the store immediately.

All customers must vacate the premises now. Thank you.

Close it up here, OK?

We're gonna need to reschedule the presentation.

No-one's coming because of the riots.

I'm sorry.

MAN ON TV: In Sudan, more than a million have faced famine

caused by civil war and drought.

It's a crisis situation at the mom...

TURNS TV OFF

-CHANTING

-The whole world is watching!

The whole world is watching! The whole world is watching!

The whole world is watching! The whole world is watching!

The whole world is watching! The whole world is watching!

The whole world is watching! The whole world is watching!

The whole world is watching! The whole world is watching!

JOURNALISTS CALL OUT

Good afternoon.

It is my unfortunate duty today to have to tell you

that I am authorising the use of the National Guard.

I am also de...

I'm also declaring a state of emergency in Seattle

from this moment forth.

There will be a curfew imposed from 7:00pm tonight

until 7:30am tomorrow morning in downtown Seattle.

These actions are unavoidable

in light of recent property destruction - yes?

JEAN: Mr Mayor, there have been rumours you knew what to expect.

Yet you were still unprepared for today's events.

-We had full...

-Can you comment?

We had full knowledge of the protesters' aims

and decided that freedom of speech and the right to assembly

would be celebrated today.

JOURNALISTS CALL OUT

Mr Mayor, why wasn't the National Guard called in earlier?

We believed that a show of force would make the circumstances worse.

We did not want to present Seattle with the face of an armed camp

as the WTO did its work.

MAN: Any comment on police violence in retaliation?

Some of the protesters chose to be unlawful.

The police responded appropriately.

Thank you. JOURNALISTS CALL OUT

WOMAN: Mr Mayor, isn't declaring martial law on peaceful protesters

in violation of the First Amendment rights?

Halt!

We are ordering you to immediately disperse

otherwise you'll be the subject of chemical and pain compliance.

Comply immediately. Any failure to do so with result in the...

We are peaceful protesters exercising free speech.

If you do not remove yourselves...

We ask that you do not take away our constitutional rights.

..chemical dispersement techniques.

We are peaceful protesters exercising free speech.

You have 10 minutes to comply.

Two more, I got.

Hey, man, can you hold this up for me?

No, I can't help you.

"JINGLE BELLS" PLAYS ON PIANO

SIREN WAILS

There's no buses and all the cabs are on strike, lady.

How are you supposed to get home?

Hey, Gabi. Hey, do you mind if I stop by your place for a while?

SIREN WAILS

MAN: Get the gas ready.

This is your final warning.

Stand by.

-PROTESTERS CHANT

-Peaceful protest! Peaceful protest!

-DJANGO: You all right?

-SAM: Yeah.

-Take this one. Here, put this on.

-Do you have one?

-Do you have one?

-No, no, I'm all right.

I got a tough shirt.

All right, people, this is it.

(SIGHS)

Fire canisters!

POLICE CONTINUE TO FIRE CANISTERS

ALL CHANT: This is what democracy looks like!

That is what a police state looks like!

This is what democracy looks like!

That is what a police state looks like!

This is what democracy looks like!

That is what a police state looks like!

This is what democracy looks like!

That is what a police state looks like!

This is what democracy looks like!

That is what a police state looks like!

GLASS SHATTERS, CHANTING CONTINUES

(COUGHS)

SHE COUGHS

Hurry! Get out of the way, lady!

SHOUTING

That is what a police state looks like!

This is what democracy looks like!

That is what a police state looks like!

Power! Power! Power to the people!

Power to the people! Power! Power!

Power! Power! Power to the people!

Power to the people! Power! Power!

Power! Power! Power to the people!

-Aarggh!

-Hey, get off!

Deploy!

SCREAMING

I am a peaceful protester! I am a peaceful protester!

-THUD

-Fuck!

-Mike, let's go.

-You wanna go out there?

-Let's go!

-Shit.

Come on! You ready?

ALL CHANT: The whole world is watching!

The whole world is watching!

The whole world is watching! The whole world is watching!

The whole world is watching! The whole world is watching!

The whole world is watching! The whole world is watching!

The whole world is watching! The whole world is watching!

The whole world is watching! The whole world is watching!

SCREAMING, SHOUTING

SHE GASPS

SHE GASPS

SHE GROANS

I am watching a completely unprovoked attack by police...

-Help me!

-..here in downtown Seattle.

Oh, God! Help me!

Oh, my God! Take this.

Please help me!

-(GROANS)

-My God, what happened?!

-What happened? What happened?

-My baby.

-Oh, my God, my baby!

-MICHAEL! MICHAEL!

-MICHAEL!

-(SCREAMS)

-HELP!

-(SCREAMS)

HELP!

(EXPLOSION)

Night, you guys.

-I'm on the job. I'm on the job!

-Hold up! Hold up!

-Hey, guys, guys. Let him through.

-You all right?

Where you been? We got restocked hours ago.

-Oh...

-What happened to your face?

It's a long story.

What the fuck is this shit?

Careful, we've been using that as a Porta-Potty.

There's some bottles you don't want to knock over.

Oh, these bottles? That's great.

This is bullshit. We haven't had a break or food since we woke up.

I'm sick of this.

-Oh, incoming!

-What?

He's been looking for you.

Dale, your wife's in the hospital.

MAN: Let's go ahead and prep Trauma One and Two.

WOMAN: The group just continue destroying property,

vandalising cars, creating havoc.

The police were nowhere to be found.

About an hour after that, the group was back in action. CHANGES CHANNEL

For us to have to close our stores during the peak season,

the holiday Christmas season just beginning, really is an injustice.

WOMAN: They're breaking the bank windows here at US Bank,

we've gotta get out of here.

The group we now know as anarchists...

EXPLOSIONS

The Battle in Seattle turns into a war.

-TURNS TV OFF

-Jesus Christ.

Battle in Seattle? Sounds like a monster truck show.

They turned us into icons of violence.

-Well, what did you expect?

-What did I expect?

Eight corporations own half the US media, you know that.

Then what the fuck are we doing this for?

I'm sorry.

Jay, please.

If you want to leave again, then just leave.

That's not fair. This is hard for me.

We shut them down and look what they did to us.

-We failed, Jay.

-You only fail when you quit.

Oh, fuck you!

I wanted justice for your brother as much as you did

but we never would have won that case.

Oh, how would you know? You gave up on it!

Because I knew we didn't stand a chance!

Oh, like now.

QUIETLY: Yeah.

OK, you're right, OK, maybe we wouldn't have won back then

but we still have a chance now, OK?

Now, I understand if you don't want to protest,

you don't want to be part of the legal team, that's fine,

but maybe you could be a medic.

Look, I know you want to make a difference.

Yeah, I do.

How do you stop those who'll stop at nothing?

You don't stop.

-Who brought my wife in?

-She's right over there.

Excuse me. You came in with my wife, Ella.

-Yes.

-What happened?

She was attacked by...police.

Thank you.

Oh!

-Ella.

-Mmm.

Hi.

How are you?

What happened?

SHE MURMURS What?

SHE MURMURS Shh, shh, shh.

-It's OK. It's OK.

-The baby...

It's OK, baby. It's OK. SHE CRIES

It's OK. WHISPERS: Get off me.

-It's me, baby. It's me.

-Get off me!

-SHE SOBS

-Please get off me.

-Baby...

-Dale, don't.

WOMAN: Yesterday, the protest spotlight

was supposed to have been on labour,

and its critique of the WTO,

but by the time the labour march was ending,

the confrontations on the street were heating up,

and labour's message was all but drowned out.

Last night, in an effort to...

MAN: ..why more arrests weren't made.

Many protesters had trained in civil disobedience,

expecting, some even hoping, they would be arrested.

The Seattle police chief said last night

that he had never been more proud of his officers

and he defended their actions.

MAN: Our police officers, in my judgement,

did an extraordinary job today, against all odds.

Something tells me they're not gonna be as friendly

as they were yesterday.

-Look like you're going somewhere.

-So do you.

-DJANGO: Jay.

-Yeah?

-You got it?

-This will get you in.

-Knock 'em dead, champ.

-All right.

-Bad tie.

-I'll give it to you when I get back.

Good luck!

I need more tear gas. Yesterday we ran out in four hours.

I don't care what they say downtown, all right?

-Lieutenant, do you have a moment?

-Yeah. Yeah, sure, Dale.

Ah, sir, I need to request permission to go home.

I...I need to be with my wife today.

Yeah, Dale, look, I heard about what happened with your wife. I'm sorry.

I know this is a bad time for you. But I need you out on the street.

Sir, I am not right to go out there today.

No, every man is important out there.

Look, when this thing's over I'll give you all the time you want, OK?

DR MARIC: Patients are dying, not because their diseases are incurable,

but because as consumers they do not provide a viable market

for pharmaceutical products.

I believe the WTO must review its TRIPS agreements

so that the public health comes before commercial interests.

It is vital to the survival of millions of people.

Thank you. APPLAUSE

I'm sure we all agree that Doctors Without Borders

have done many great things.

However, on the issue of patents, we believe they're a little misguided.

-Who is that?

-That's Mark Harrington.

He's a major lobbyist for the pharmaceutical industry.

Many of these nations are embroiled in bloody civil wars.

-They lack basic infrastructure...

-Let's go.

..such as clean water and sewage treatment.

Now, it is these that lead inevitably to a health crisis

no matter how much medicine is made available to them.

Doctor, your industry as well as ours

is dedicated to maintaining and preserving health.

-Thank you.

-APPLAUSE

Excuse...excuse... MICROPHONE SCREECHES

Excuse me.

I just wanted to congratulate the WTO

and particularly congratulate Mr Lovitz there.

It's because of Mr Lovitz'

and the WTO's effort at eliminating trade tariffs on lumber products

that 2 million acres of forest are being destroyed and cut down,

and on top of that, irreplaceable trees are being turned into profit

for people like you.

I want you to know, Mr Lovitz, that my brother's blood is on your head!

It's on your head, motherfucker!

You fucking murderer!

Help! My brother's been hurt! My brother's been hurt!

You murdered my brother!

Call an ambulance! Call an ambulance!

You need to book an ambulance!

PROTESTERS CHANT: Cos the power of the people don't stop!

Say what? Ain't no power like the power of the people!

Cos the power of the people don't stop!

Say what? Ain't no power like the power of the people!

Cos the power of the people don't stop!

Say what? Ain't no power like the power of the people!

Cos the power of the people don't stop!

Say what? Ain't no power like the power of the people!

Cos the power of the people don't stop!

Say what? Ain't no power like the power of the people!

Cos the power of the people don't stop!

Say what? Ain't no power like the power of the people!

Cos the power of the people don't stop! Say what?

HE SOBS CHANTING CONTINUES

HORSE NEIGHS

You ever wondered what those horses feel like about tear gas

and all that type of stuff?

They don't give them no mask.

No, but I do wonder how you stay so up-beat all the time.

Animals, working with animals instead of humans. Way healthier.

Next time we save some turtles you should come along with us.

-I think I'd like that.

-Yeah.

Why turtles?

When I was a little kid,

my grandfather, he told me this cool story

about how all the animals made fun of this one little turtle

because he was different, you know?

Couldn't defend itself, so of course they picked on him.

But then he was a turtle, he was smart.

So he developed this hard shell.

And that only made animals mad,

so they picked him up, threw him in the river,

and he broke his shell into, like, a dozen pieces.

-Poor turtle.

-Yeah, they got him good.

But he was tough, he picked himself back up,

put himself back together,

and even though, you know, this time his shell was cracked,

it was stronger than ever.

And that's why turtles have such beautiful patterns on their shells.

And then what happened?

Well, because of the WTO, they made him into an ashtray.

That's fucked up, Django.

Yeah, fucked up world.

JOHNSON: So let me get this straight.

Yesterday we're not supposed to arrest anybody,

and today we're supposed to arrest everybody.

Johnson, order them to disperse.

If they don't, arrest them, understand?

Get in a line. Let's go.

-Dale!

-Hey.

Baby, it's me.

Uh, I just wanted to say...

I don't know what to say.

Dale, get off the phone. Come on. Let's go.

Yeah. Uh, I gotta go.

I'll try to call you later.

I love you, baby.

The story is a lot bigger

than a few people dressed in black breaking windows.

Eric, the news is right here, I'm telling you!

Listen to me, Eric, just listen to me.

No, you listen, Jean! In one hour, Clinton's giving a press conference.

You are going live. You screw this up and we're gonna have major problems.

-Got it?

-Got it.

-Asshole.

-What do you want to do?

Let's just stick around a little bit.

MUTTERS: Fucking asshole.

-PROTESTERS CHANT

-Peaceful protest! Peaceful protest!

Peaceful protest! Peaceful protest! Peaceful protest! Peaceful protest!

Peaceful protest! Peaceful protest!

POLICE OFFICER ON MEGAPHONE: This is your first and last warning!

I need you to disperse! Stand up and leave.

Otherwise we will force you to leave.

I'm not gonna say it again. We need you to stand up and leave.

< Stand by!

Peaceful protest! Peaceful protest! Peaceful protest! Peaceful protest!

Peaceful protest! Peaceful protest!

Peaceful protest! Peaceful protest! Peaceful protest...

HEARTBEAT THUDS

Deploy!

SCREAMING

PROTESTERS CHANT: The whole world is watching!

The whole world is watching! The whole world is watching!

The whole world is watching! The whole world is watching!

Get your knee off my neck! I am not resisting!

-Shut the fuck up!

-I'm a non-violent protester!

I'm a non-violent protester!

SOUND FADES

Shut the fuck up!

SOUND FADES

SHOUTING

The whole world is watching! The whole world is watching!

The whole world is watching! The whole world is watching!

Why the hell do they keep doing it?

What?

How do they keep on putting themselves on the line like that

for a cause they can't win?

Because they believe they can win.

Stop the van.

Jean, the Clinton conference is in, like, five minutes.

Michael, I need you to forget about the Clinton thing.

And forget about the live broadcast?

No, we're still going live.

You know what that'll mean, right?

WOMAN: President Clinton had arrived at Boeing Field

in the middle of the night.

We now know the Secret Service considered cancelling the visit

until they got assurances the President would be safe.

Coming up, we have Jean Asbury reporting live

from the President's press conference.

-Jean!

-We're set up and ready to go.

Are you sure you want to do this?

They want to keep truth gagged? So be it.

Jean!

We're going live to the Battle in Seattle with Jean on the scene.

(SILENCE)

MAN: What the fuck does she think she's doing?

Cut the transmission and go to the studio.

-What, right now?

-Now!

Well, that was Jean Asbury there in Seattle,

showing us the tactics that protesters are resorting to.

We'll be right back after this break.

I just want to say...

..thanks.

Yeah, she's gonna have to call you back.

The creation of this African caucus group is essential if we are to...

DULL THUD

..maintain a united voice against industrialised nations.

-SOFTLY: What's going on?

-What's happening?

Where are you going?

I'm sorry, Mr Abasi, but due to an unscheduled labour meeting

we need all available interpreters.

An unscheduled meeting takes precedence over us?

As hosts, we do reserve the right to determine

how our resources are allocated.

We can arrange for interpreters to be here some other time.

MIKE MOORE: And I will accept lots of criticisms about the WTO

and how we can improve what we do.

But one criticism I will not accept,

and that is that this house in some way is not democratic.

There are ministers from all over the world assembled.

There are ministers who are appointed by their presidents

or elected by their parliaments.

EXPLOSION

90% of all death and suffering from infectious disease

occurs in the Third World.

I'm sorry.

14 million people die every year.

So many could be saved if medicines were cheaper.

But they are simply too expensive...

..for developing nations to afford due to patent protection laws.

(SPEAKS FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Stop. Please, stop!

Don't you have children?!

How would you feel if your child was sick?

You knew there was a cure, but you couldn't afford it,

so you must stand by and watch your child die?

You people...right here.

You have a power to make a difference.

Isn't it time that people mattered more than profit?

PEOPLE COUGH AND SNIFFLE

(SINGS) # Here's a little song I wrote

# Everybody sing it note for note

# Don't worry

# Be happy

# Don't worry, be happy now

# Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo... #

HE LAUGHS

Come on, y'all.

I mean, this ain't the end of the world, we're just getting locked up.

Well, it ain't the end of the world yet.

You're being way too quiet on me.

Something happened with you and Jay, right?

-What do you mean?

-Oh, you know old Django know.

You know, I see everything.

I saw that little look he gave you.

-What look?

-What look? That look.

I mean, I ain't seen him give that look in a long time.

-I didn't see no look.

-OK. Well, OK.

I didn't see no look either.

Maybe it was just tear gas and that type of stuff messing my eyes up.

Then he almost gets arrested trying to save you and Sam. That ain't cool.

He cannot get locked up.

-God forbid.

-Yeah.

I mean, I like making fun of him too much to see him gone.

What do you mean gone?

He got two strikes against him.

He get one more he is out of here.

I mean for life. No joke.

-He didn't tell you?

-No, he didn't.

Oh, yeah. I mean, '98, IMF.

'97, the whole forest thing.

Boy, he got some nuts on him, though.

Even if they are organic nuts.

SCATTERED LAUGHTER

They some nuts! HE LAUGHS

Come on, y'all!

Tough crowd.

REPORTER: Forced from downtown by police as curfew descends,

an angry crowd of demonstrators mixed with residents

are near Broadway in Pine Street.

ALL SHOUT ANGRILY

Police patience finally runs out.

FIRES RIFLE

The battle for Capitol Hill begins.

Police retake Capitol Hill

but some say amid the tear gas and rubber bullets

they have lost credibility.

For many, the violent climax of the battle for Capitol Hill

is the last straw.

Hope you're ready for a long vacation.

-ANGRY SHOUTING ON TV

-MAN: This is not a police state!

REPORTER ON TV: The last group was pushed past the Paramount Theater,

up Pine Street, all the way to Capitol Hill.

-(BOTTLE SHATTERS)

-DALE: Fuck, man!

What the hell?! Fuckin' sonofabitch!

Shit.

They put piss in it!

ALL SHOUT Put fuckin'...

Dale! Get up there.

All right? You can shower later. Get up there now!

Shit. Sonofabitch!

ALL SHOUT ANGRILY

DALE: Stand back!

Where the fuck is everybody?

Haven't you done enough?!

You're the ones making this violent!

This was a peaceful protest!

-Yeah, come on!

-Stand back!

Do you feel proud of yourselves?!

Come on, you fuckin' cowards!

Oh, you think you're so...so brave now that there's only six of you!

-FIRES RIFLE

-Dale, what are you doing, man?

We've gotta wait for backup!

-I'm doing my job.

-Come on, he's just a kid!

WHIMPERS Would you shoot your own kid, huh?!

Would you shoot your own kid or use a fuckin' nightstick?!

-Huh?!

-Take this.

What?

Dale, what the fuck are you doing?

SIREN WAILS

ANGRY SHOUTING

Hey!

-Hey, you're not allowed in this bus.

-What?!

Open the fuckin' door!

Sonofabitch!

BREATHES HEAVILY CHURCH ORGAN PLAYS

JOHNSON: What the fuck?!

Hey! Hey, get off him!

Let it go! Let it go!

-Let it go! Let it go.

-HE COUGHS

Hey. It's over. Let it go.

HE COUGHS AND WHEEZES

-HE GROANS

-Hey, are you all right?

Come here. Look at me. Look at me.

Oh, fuck. Just lay there for a second.

Please...don't arrest me.

Don't arrest me.

Are you OK?

Don't arrest me.

Don't arrest...me.

Come on, man, get up.

Come on, get up.

Fuck.

-HE COUGHS

-Hey. Up against the fence.

-They fucked up.

-Hands behind your back, please.

All right. That's it.

-I'm begging you.

-All right, we got him.

INDISTINCT CHATTERING

Where's everybody going?

There are hundreds of us in jail. What about them?

This isn't over yet.

You can't just leave them there. We can't leave them there to rot!

And what are we supposed to do?

MAN: Look, I don't have enough to get a fuckin' hamburger!

Every one of our lawyers are in there?

That's what I heard.

Who's gonna get us out?

Anybody hear anything about Jay?

Nobody's seen or heard from him.

Until they let us talk with somebody on the outside,

we have no idea what we're dealing with.

WOMAN: All jewellery, your wallet.

I'm gonna need the cigarettes and the phone too.

All personal belongings must be handed in. Let's go.

MEN SHOUT IN DISTANCE

Now step to your right.

MAN IN DISTANCE: What the fuck you looking at?!

-Excuse me. Can I make a phone call?

-No. Sit down.

-Look, I have the number right here.

-Do you understand what "no" means?

One call.

When you decide to give us your name then we'll give you your rights.

Jay?

Jay?! Jay!

What the fuck have you done to him?!

You friggin' pigs!

Is that what happens when you exercise your civil liberties?!

Miss Clayton, the Mayor will see you now.

DOOR OPENS

-Have a seat.

-DOOR CLOSES

It's a big responsibility you have, handling - what is it - 600 people?

600 innocent people, Mr Mayor.

I'll be the first to admit that mistakes were made,

but those protesters are in jail because they broke the law.

You and I both know you're incarcerating people

who will never stand trial.

This is a file of many of the known protesters who are in jail.

If they agree that for two years they won't demonstrate,

they'll be released immediately.

They'll never agree to having their civil liberties taken away

any more than they already have been.

Neither will I, Mr Mayor.

Well, I think you should give them the choice, don't you?

-Considering the consequences.

-Which are, exactly?

Your clients are in a precarious situation,

especially those with criminal records.

First of all, court rules have been violated

by not providing prisoners with access to counsel.

Second, access to counsel is not contingent on

answering police questions, including "What is your name?"

And lastly, you don't have the resources

to provide a jury and a public defender to everyone in that jail.

So let's not bother bluffing anymore.

I want my clients freed with no fines, no restitution orders

and no criminal charges.

It's hard to help your clients if they won't talk.

Well, their voices must have been taken away when their rights were.

-OK.

-I wanna see the prisoners now.

Well, I suggest you come back in a couple of days when it's quieter.

Thank you.

CROWD CHANTS: Let them go! Let them go! Let them go! Let them go!

Let them go! Let them go! Let them go! Let them go!

Let them go! Let them go! Let them go!

Doesn't look like it's gonna get much quieter.

CHANTING CONTINUES

Especially for you, Mr Mayor.

Thank you.

DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES

WOMAN: Ella? Dale's on the phone again.

Ella?

Just tell him I'll be back in a couple of days.

-JAY COUGHS AND GROANS

-Fuck.

Jay? HE GROANS

COUGHS

Jay, are you OK?

HE COUGHS

I guess I'm not gonna be able to rescue you after all.

Yeah.

I'm so sorry.

It's OK.

I didn't know...

What?

(SNIFFLES)

It's OK. Hey, hey.

I didn't know you had it in you too.

-What?

-That voice.

The one that tells you that if you don't stand up and fight...

..everything that's beautiful's gonna be taken away.

I just wanna run away.

Oh!

SHE SOBS

-I'm so sorry.

-Hey.

Hey.

Lou, give me your hand.

Are you all right?

Yeah, I'm OK.

You're crying like a girl.

BOTH LAUGH

Come on, tough girl.

SAM OVER LOUDHAILER: We want you to know...

-CROWD: We want you to know...

-..you are not alone.

..you are not alone.

People are protesting with us...

People are protesting with us...

-..in 30 cities across the world.

-..in 30 cities across the world.

ALL CHEER

-We'll all stay with you...

-We'll all stay with you...

-..until you're released.

-..until you're released.

ALL CHANT: The people united will never be divided.

The people united will never be divided.

-The people united...

-There they are!

(ALL CHEER)

(ALL CHANT)

ALL: The people united will never be divided.

The people united will never be divided.

..don't stop, say what?

Ain't no power like the power of the people

cos the power of the people don't stop, say what?

Ain't no power like the power of the people

cos the power of the people don't stop...

Um...I'm sorry, sir. I think you wanna turn on the TV.

Channel Seven.

TURNS ON TV

WOMAN ON TV: And huge protest crowds

still growing at the jail are creating...

COUGHING AND SOBBING

DOOR CLOSES, FOOTSTEPS APPROACH

DALE: How you doing?

I came to apologise. I was...way out of line.

My wife and I lost our baby.

I know that's no excuse, but I just...that's...

I'm really sorry. Really, really, really sorry.

And, so...

I don't blame you.

I mean, I do, but...

Shit, you're not the problem.

You're just doing your job, I guess.

The people that I'm really trying to fight

are the ones that...destroy so much.

And they hurt so many lives.

Not just one.

You know, literally, millions.

And nobody ever points a gun at them.

They just seem so unaccountable.

Untouchable.

Just seems kind of fucked that you and...

LAUGHS

..that you and me are the ones that have to fight each other.

WOMAN ON TV: At least a thousand protesters marched and sang.

PROTESTERS: Ain't no power like the power of the people

cos the power of the people...

KNOCK AT DOOR

Sir.

The labour council is threatening a general strike

if the jailed protesters aren't released.

-General strike?

-Yes, sir.

WOMAN ON TV: The protesters were demanding the release of

500 or so protesters behind bars.

PROTESTERS: Let them go! Let them go! Let them go!

-Let them go! Let them go!

-DOOR OPENS

Tell me I'm hallucinating.

You are not here right now.

Are you all right?

We'll get out of here.

Don't...don't worry, don't worry, we'll get out of here.

-What? What? What Django always say?

-Don't, man.

-Come on, what does Django always say?

-Don't.

Slow and steady wins the race every time.