[Greg Anos]

<Taken from the security hidden

wire recordings of the conversation

between Red Edwards and the

Secretary of State. Not admissable

in a court of law. As this was not

a wiretap, only Red's side of the

conversation was recorded, along

with other comments in the room.

Gaps denoting the response from

the other end of the line are

denoted by matching double

arrows.>



<Red> I call this number, and I get

Kaitempi Kate?


<Jake> Well, this is the number I call

when I need to speak with her.

You should get a communication

officer who will patch you through

to her. And her name is not

Kaitempi Kate.

<Red> You're right, I shouldn't insult the

Kaitempi.


<Jake> Are you usually this respectful.


<Red> Naw, I prefer to call her somethin'

else, but I got enough anti-defamation

organizations on my back as it is. Did

you know there's a slime mold defense

league?


Strangled sound in the background,

turning into guffaws. Source not

identified...


<Jake> Just get on with it, before I find a

window to jump out of.



Sound of telephone number being

punched.


<>


<Red> I need to speak with the Secretary

of State.


<>


<Red> No this isn't Jake ------. This is

Red Edwards.


<>


<Red> This is an authorized call. I have

been authorized by Jake -----

to provide certain pertinent

information concerning the hostage

situation in San Antonio.

I need to provide it to the Secretary

of State personally.


<>


<Red> No, he's out reviewing the

situation right now. This is of critical

security importance. Can you scramble

the line when I get through?


<>


<Red> Good. I'll ask at this end.


<Red> Major, how do I scramble the line?


<Major Ruiz> You push that button there.


<Red> Thanks, Major. <To the line>

Ready at this end.


<>


<Red> On at this end.


<>


<Red> Receiving 5 by 5.



Short gap of no particular information.




<>


<Red> Howdy, Ms. ------. I need to

discuss this deal down here in San

Antonio.


<>


<Red> No, this isn't Jake -----. This

is Red Edwards.


<>


<Red> He had his reasons for delegating,

ma'am.


<>


<Red> That's awful drastic, ma'am.

Couldn't we settle for keelhauling?


<>


<Red> I agree this is serious business

and your time is important. Can I pass

on my information necessary for your

decision making process?


<>


<Red> I'm the negotiator down here for

the situation, workin' through the FBI.

I -


<>


<Red> I repectfully disagre-


<>


<Red> I know who you are, ma'am. Do

you know who I am.


<>


<Red> Can't we leave dead rats out of

this.


<>


<Red> SHUT UP, BIGMOUTH! ... I'm here

to save your backside, not fry it.

And I'm not Bill, I don't have to put

up with your <expletive deleted>.


<>


<Red> I dare real easily. I'm reportin'

straight The Prez on this one. He isn't

gonna take too kindly to your kibitzing

when I tell him.


<>


<Red> This ain't Mena. The Chicago

mob will step on your boys like Cartiff

on a toad. They threw you a bone to

shut you up as long as you behaved.

You know that and I do. They don't

take kindly to freelancing in Chi-Town.


<>


<Red> Yes, this is a secure line. I saw to

that right off.


<>


<Red> Obviously you're not a lady. I'm

only doing this a favor for Bubba.


<>


<Red> Yep, that Bubba. The one who

introduced you to the commodity broker,

and Lord knows who else.


<>


<Red> We're old buddies. We were out

fishin' when the Prez's call

came though. He might take

offense if I showed up missin'.


<>


<Red> That wasn't a threat, just an

observation, ma'am.


<>


<Red> Look, ma'am, you've got a busted

flush. Can't we just put this to sleep

without anybody getting hurt. It's

easier on everybody.


<>


<Red> I know you don't like them, but

another Wacko, and you can kiss

2016 bye-bye. You know how the

Republican would play it. Vote for

----- and die. It'll make Willie Horton

looks like Mother Theresa. And you

know they'll do it.


<>


<Red> I'm happy with not callin' the Prez

about this as long as you pull your

hands out of this deal. And that includes

any other A-teams you've got assigned

on this project.


<>


<Red> I'll need to see the faxed

stand-down orders.


<>


<Red> In a word, no.


<>


<Red> I'm don't think highly of any

ambitious politician, anywhere.


<>


<Red> 5 minutes, fine. And ma'am, try

and have a nice day, anyways.


<>


<Red> Look at the bright side, ma'am.

I leave here and my prize is

back to negotitation with religious

zealots. And it's my backside if it

doesn't work. The buck stomps here.


<>


<Red> Goodbye, Madame Secretary.



Phone hung up.




<Red> I hope I don't have to do that

one again soon. Anybody got a

Pearl? I need one after that.


<Apparently looks at watch>


<Red> OMG, it's 6 PM. I gotta get

back and feed the clowns and hostages.

Jake, here's the FBI phone number.

Call 'em when you get the stand-down

fax. If you or the Major want to come

by as observers, feel free to drop in.

I'm outta here...


Transcript ends here.