Ben Richards quotes from The Running Man (2025)

Ben Richards

Don't worry. Daddy's not that crazy.

Ben Richards

Oh, look at the fuzzy hamster! Did you see the fuzzy hamster?

Ben Richards

You mention my daughter again, they don't make glass thick enough to stop me from choking you out!

Ben Richards

No best dog shit, still dog shit.

Ben Richards

More than enough... to burn this building down and everyone in it! How small... does your dick have to be, to sit out there? **** you!

Ben Richards

You say anything, I will kill you so fast your mom won't even wake up.

Ben Richards

Just... have a good night. Day. You know what? Have both.

Ben Richards

Rules say I have to be on camera ten minutes a day. They didn't say which part. So... I guess you can watch my ass take a nap. [Lies on bed with back to camera, slaps his gluteus cheeks and gives the finger]

Ben Richards

You know, I've always been the guy who followed the rules. I showed up to work first, I left last. [Out loud when he finds a soda pop can in hotel room fridge] Nice. [Voice of thought] Hasn't done much for me, obviously. I mean, I'm on the murder show. Ah, but what are you gonna do? Take on the whole world? [Out loud when going through a personal effects box] Sweet. [Voice of thought] So here I am, a grown-ass man playing hide-and-seek for money. [Outloud when grenade falls out box] Please don't. [Whispers to higher powers] Thank you. [Voice of thought] I think I'll just lay low. Keep it cool. Try not to burn out.

Ben Richards

Hey, Jim. How do you like this energy wine? I'm a big fan. Love it. How about you, Bill? That's pretty much my favorite thing, Jim. So, uh, guys. You mind if I ask you a personal question? Why do we all have the same voice? [Looks at watch to read "MAIL YOUR TAPE"]Relax, Ben. Mail later. [Referring to Running Man hunter disguised as a ranting schizophrenic homeless man in alley] Good to see you too, Frank. Give it a rest, Frank. At least you got someone to talk to. Damn, son.

Ben Richards

Stop filming me!

Ben Richards

Get out of here! The place is about to blow!

Ben Richards

I'm still here, you shit-eaters! [Displays the finger gesture]

Ben Richards

For all you watching, not the execs. Not the technicos. If you live in a tower uptown, I'm not talking to you. I'm talking to the people in the co-ops. The ones who can't get a job. The squatter tribes. The kids getting shot for looking at a goon the wrong way. There's something you all need to know. The network is giving our kids cancer and they are covering it up.

Ben Richards

There's something you all need to know. I laughed my ass off smoking those goons! And I wasn't just laughing at the screams! I was laughing at their kids! Now you know how it felt when daddy did it to someone else! Bring them all on!

Ben Richards

**** it. I am the initiator.

Ben Richards

This message is for Kathy. In case you see her someday. Wanted to impart a little dad advice. Rule one. Take care of your mom. She's your best friend. Rule two. Bullies are cowards. Hit back. Rule three. You can be kind and strong at the same time. Rule four. Don't trust the network. Ever. And rule five. You remember your mom. Your daddy loves you a whole lot. I'll be looking out for you. No matter what.

Ben Richards

This is the message for Killian. Hey, Dan. Man, I'm starting to get how this game works. [Becomes voiceover as hit squad approaches house] It's not about me winning or losing. It's about your ratings. About how much chaos I can cause. [Hit squad enters house to see "YOU MAIL IT" written in dust on floor] I'm taking this thing all the way to the end. [Climbing up Interstate 95 freeway overpass] And I'm done playing defense, I promise you that. So here's the deal. I will see my family again. And as long as they keep getting paid... you can put whoever you want in front of me. I will run through all of them. I know you fight dirty. Well, guess what, you son of a bitch. I'm from Slumside. Let's throw the rule book out. Here's to mutually profitable annihilation. You want a show? [Sees The Running Man hovering camera balls] Damn it. [Voiceover] I'll give you a show.

Ben Richards

Those goons are going to frag us if you don't back this car up right now!

Ben Richards

Nothing I've done on this show makes me a hero. I tried to be a hero once, and they blacklisted my ass. My daughter got sick. This is the only job I could get. It seems like the whole point of Free-Vee is to make us hate each other so they can keep stealing from us while we fight in the mud. You want the truth? Turn it off. We are all being **** by the Network. Find out who really runs it. Record, report them. Get their names. You just met one of 'em. Dan Killian. You remember that face. Don’t watch Free-Vee. Watch who pays for it. Turn it off.

Ben Richards

In five. Four. Three. Two. One. And action.

Ben Richards

I'm not asking for special treatment, I'm just... begging. You said I was one of your best guys.

Was.

Ben Richards

Look, if you can't hire me back, just ask them to take me off the blacklist.

Say that again, and I'll kick you and your kid out on your ass. Bringing her here to guilt me.

Ben Richards

Look, I need to work. She's had a fever for the last week.

No, no, no. That ain't on me. I'm not the jerk that spoke to a union rep about radiation exposure.

Ben Richards

One time!

You got your daughter. Your nuts didn't fly. Take the win. Bye-bye. Sick kid in my office.

Ben Richards

You know, I didn't bring her here to guilt you. I brought her to stop myself from bouncing your face off this desk.

And this is you...not angry? [Ben leaves Richard's office]

Thanks. You didn't have to do that back there.

Ben Richards

No problem.

Wrong! No helping, welf! [attempts to shock Ben only to be thwarted]

Obedience.

Ben Richards

Never.

Heroism.

Ben Richards

Useless.

Technology.

Ben Richards

Abuse.

Freedom.

Ben Richards

Nope.

Authority.

Ben Richards

Burn.

Anarchy.

Ben Richards

When.

Justice.

Ben Richards

Hilarious.

Family.

Ben Richards

Everything.

Next image. [Plays levitating hologram of rohrscach-esque animating complex patterns] What do you see?

Ben Richards

Cutest puppy ever.

What about this one?

Ben Richards

Aw, it's my favorite flower. Giving me a hug.

Final image. Tell me about it.

Ben Richards

Infinite bunnies getting sucked into a naive tornado, spraying blood all over the galaxy.

And Mr. Richards, you are quantifiably the angriest man to ever audition for our shows.

Ben Richards

Well, that really pisses me off.

Proceed directly to your next destination. Final assessment.

Ben Richards

13th and Obama.

Whoa! [Chuckles and points to rearview] Hey, Running Man! Hey! I-I-I was watching you on... [points] the Free-Vee!

Ben Richards

13th and Obama.

Okay. [Driving] What's up, man? [Holds up camera] Hey! Take a pic with me!

Ben Richards

Hey! It's okay.

What do you mean, "no, it's okay"? You gotta be nice, man, so people don't report you! Okay? Because people will do that! Not me, though, man. I'm a nice guy.

Ben Richards

No, you know what? You're right. Hey, we should pull over and pick up one of these hookers. She can take the pic, alright?

Yeah, sickest idea ever, man! Yeah! I like the way you think! [Pulls over in red light district and Ben gets out running] Yeah! You'd better run! I hope they burn your ass! You're dead meat, pal! You're dead!

Ben Richards

Yo, Molie!

What?

Ben Richards

You don't see me on the hatch?

I saw you two blocks away on the infrared. What do you want?

Ben Richards

Look, I need... two I.D. cards and a gun.

Forget it. I don't do guns. Go see Mickey on 3rd.

Ben Richards

What in the hell is your problem, man?

The Running Man? What are you thinking?

Ben Richards

I don't know.

I had you pegged for smart.

Ben Richards

Look, I didn't have a choice. Kathy was sick.

Do you know how much danger you put me in coming here? Do you want to kill yourself? Fine. But leave me out of it. Okay? You got it? [Ben walks away] Goddamn it, Ben. I.D.s are 100. [Ben walks back] It's 30 each for costumes and accessories. I got a priest. I've got a combat veteran. I've got an exec. And the rush order makes it two. 200 new. All in.

Ben Richards

Okay.

Go hide out in survival. It's aisle 5. I'm going to lock the incinerator.

Ben Richards

Oh, I already did.

You don't mind if I check, do you?

Ben Richards

You sell a lot of these?

I can't keep them in stock. Those TVs don't watch you back. Come on.

Ben Richards

Is this going to work?

Absolutely. [Ben poses in disguise for I.D. photo]

Let's test out those contacts.

Ben Richards

Okay.

Can you read anything on that shelf?

Ben Richards

All right. "BFE 20." Holy shit. How do you have black Irish?

That's not for sale.

Ben Richards

Yeah, like I put that shit in my pocket. Only took a couple grams to blow up fatbergs in the sewers uptown.

BFE. Big **** explosion. So what's your plan?

Ben Richards

I don't know. Lay low with my own kind?

Your own kind will sell you out in a heartbeat. I'd find the busiest place you can and disappear in the crowd. That's my advice. Well, uh... you can leave the same way you came.

Ben Richards

Molie... I had to do it.

No, you didn't. [Places box on desk with Ben opening it to discover a work uniform shirt] I was going to bring you on here. Sort of as a partner. I should have told Sheila yesterday. But I wanted to tell you myself. Hey. Too late for that now. [Closes box and picks it up] Well... [shakes Ben's hand] Godspeed. See you on big screen.

Live update! Let's go! Our hunters are hard at work near a Co-op City Netmart where Mr. Jansky is flirting with the clerk that just reported him. Let's find out if he's also flirting with death.

Do you watch the Running Man?

Uh... I guess.

I heard there's this guy on there who kinda looks like me and he's really hot or something, I don't... I don't know.

I don't know.

I'm gonna come back in a little bit and I'm gonna try and ask you out again.

Yeah?

Ben Richards

Jesus, Tim.

And that's Jansky stepping out with his breakfast burrito.

Evan McCone

Green light on Jansky.

Will it be his final meal? [Hunters disguised as construction workers start moving in on Timothy]

Ben Richards

Come on.

The fuse has been lit. It's just a matter of time.

Ben Richards

Get out of there, buddy.

Better eat up, Tim. Enjoy those last bites before it's last rights.

Ben Richards

Move, move! You're walking! It's the **** running man!

Here we go.

Oh, man. [Timothy is shot point blank in the head]

Bang!

Ben Richards

God.

And Jansky crosses the finish line! That's one down and two to go! Watch tonight at 8 to see if Jenny Laughlin and Ben Richards are still on the run! How long do they have left?! Tune in and find out!

Ben Richards

Hey, brother. I need to get off to street.

Oh, yeah?

Ben Richards

I'm lookin' for a place to rack out for the month.

Mm-hmm.

Ben Richards

Off net, if you know what I mean.

Oh, is that so? I'll give you a hundo new for your room and another hundo for your jacket.

Ben Richards

A deuce hundo for this rat-ass jacket in that rat-ass room?

Fella, you need to get to Jamaica Plain, pick up your head meds.

Ben Richards

Come on.

Put that shit away. What are you, trying to get us killed? [Ben lifts up boonie hat] Let me see your face. Where'd you deploy?

Ben Richards

Alaska. Ate shrapnel.

You ain't seen combat. But I reckon it ain't stolen, Vala, if you paid me for it. [They exchange goods and payment]

Ben Richards

Thanks.

Stacey Throckmorton

Hey, come on out. I know you're here.

Ben Richards

Come here, you rat!

Stacey Throckmorton

Get off me!

Ben Richards

You're the one who reported me!

Stacey Throckmorton

It wasn't me! I ain't no rat!

Ben Richards

Oh yeah?

Stacey Throckmorton

Let me go! I'm gonna get Big Bro to take care of you.

Ben Richards

You think your Big Bro can kick my ass after what I just went through?

Stacey Throckmorton

He's not gonna kick your ass. He's gonna save it. You need help. Man, you gotta get off these streets, man!

Suspect at large. Curfew at large.

Stacey Throckmorton

Goons and Zooms all up in this bitch. Everyone's looking for you! Hey. Hey, stay here. [Picks up envelope and gets on bicycle] I'll be right back! I got you Richards.

Ben Richards

I got a grenade! [Throws it down hall to Evan]

Evan McCone

Back at'cha. [Kicks it back into elevator, Ben catches it and throws it up where it detonates]

Bradley Throckmorton

You know, you seem like a smart cat. Who made you sign up to be a cog in their propaganda machine?

Ben Richards

I'm just trying to take care of my family. Just like you and your sister.

Ben Richards

You know, my kid was sick. I sent my wife enough to get her well. Now I'm trying to win enough to get them out. She's only two. So if I do my job, she'll never even remember Slumside.

Bradley Throckmorton

Okay, Richards. I can get you past that blockade. But I'm gonna need a couple days to set it up. So hide out here in the meantime. You know, you could go to full 30 if you play smart.

Ben Richards

And what makes you such an expert?

Bradley Throckmorton

Tune in and find out. [Leads Ben to media room] Welcome to the pulpit. [Inserts and plays a tape]

What goes on behind the scenes of the biggest Free-Vee show of all time? Welcome to The Apostle. Episode 30, Real Rules of the Running Man. If you dig, dupe, and distribute. The network has three types for every run. Type 1, Hopeless Dude.

Oh my God.

Hopeless Dude is cursed with a fatal misunderstanding of human nature. He usually lasts less than 48 hours.

Come and get me. Dinner is served, pal. [At door] Oh, damn. [Gets shot by the Hunters]

Pa-pow! That's a takeout!

Ben Richards

Woof.

Oh! He is cooked!

Type 2, Negative Dude. Negative Dude knows he ain't got a chance in hell. He just wants to go out with a bang or two.

Make life greater. Leave a **** crater.

Bro gets smoked by the end of week one cause he buys too much ass and not enough food with his running start. [Negative Dude is cornered by the Hunters in strip club parking lot] A slave to his appetites, he often serves himself up on a plate.

Suck dicks in hell! [Detonates suicide bomb vest]

Final Dude. Final Dude has a fierce will to survive. Yet, he never wins. The network cheats. They can't find anyone anytime. But, if a runner's getting good ratings, let him run. 13 days.

And just like Papa always said, you can try, but you can't catch a ghost.

Oh shit.

The crowd wants blood, and Final Dude becomes a victim of his own success. They might hide from destiny, but they never outrun fate. [Final Dude is finished off in a lumber mill and is ground up in wood chipper]

That's me, McCone! I'm the Running Man! Bi-

Double kill! Rest in pieces!

Evan McCone

That's game.

Ben Richards

Whew. Is that supposed to inspire me?

Bradley Throckmorton

Oh, come on, man! Don't you get it? After that escape tonight, live, prime time, you... you are... [rewinds tape to shot of Final Dude and points to Ben] Final Dude. And they're gonna squeeze every last drop of ratings out of your ass, so you got at least until Negative Dude flames out to get somewhere safe. Which gives us enough time to set you up for the biggest underdog win in game show history.

Ben Richards

So where the hell's safe?

Bradley Throckmorton

I'm working on it.

Ben Richards

So how does a five year old get lung cancer?

Bradley Throckmorton

Radioactive dust. From the Rhode Island explosion.

Ben Richards

Never heard about that.

Bradley Throckmorton

Yeah, you never heard of it because the network owns the news. Just like they own that munitions factory. Just like they own the government. So why bother complying with safety regs, right? That's how June got sick.

Ben Richards

Go ahead. Say what you gotta say.

Amelia Williams

Why? You can go crazy and kill me? No.

Ben Richards

You have one minute to speak freely.

Amelia Williams

How do you live with yourself? Hmm? You dare sit there and criticize my driving?! Tell me how to operate my own car?! I am a member of society! You disgust me! You abandoned that starving baby, that horrible wife of yours! So you can what?! Kill people for money?! And you only kill the best people! The people who protect us from... from welfs like you! And that's not a word I use!

Ben Richards

That is my family. Our number finally came up for the park. Watched Kathy try ice cream for the first time. That was the best day of my life. So yeah, you're right. The show is so fake. Not the bullets. Not the death. Just the part that makes people like you think you're better than people like us.

Ben Richards

Let me ask you something. How much was that scarf?

Amelia Williams

Huh?

Ben Richards

More than the meds my daughter needed when she was dying of the flu? The flu! That is a human life hanging around your neck. You seem to be doing fine. Who can blame you? It's a nice scarf.

Amelia Williams

I'm not a bad person.

Ben Richards

No, do not start crying. I will shoot us both if you start crying. Cry when it's over. When will that be?!

You have successfully yielded. Nice!

Oh, hey, Richards. You've been pulled over by the Rustic Rock Mulisha Boyz. We're here to secure our homestead in the name of the network!

Don't worry, lady! We're the good guys! Just step out of the car. You'll be safe with us. It's him we want. :Ben Richards: Just go. [The Running Man camera ball opens automatic fire on the two militia men and destroys their truck]

Amelia Williams

What the **** is happening?!

Ben Richards

The producers just killed Network Mulisha instead of me.

Amelia Williams

They wouldn't do that! All those men were just trying to protect me from you!

Ben Richards

What is it going to take for you to get... I'm not the bad guy! [Slams revolver on dashboard with Amelia grabbing it and pointing it at Ben]

Amelia Williams

Take the car! Just drive away! I don't want to hurt you!

Ben Richards

You think they're going to let you walk after seeing that? You're on the show now.

Amelia Williams

No, I'm not!

Richards lives. And this time, he's got a hostage. Amelia Williams, a 27-year-old realtor from Bangor, Maine. [Faked overhead footage of Amelia waving from vehicle window]

Amelia Williams

Help me! He's got a gun!

Ben Richards

Welcome to the Running Man.

Amelia Williams

Help me, please!

The crisis continues as Miss Williams Gray Alpine heads north on Rustic Rock Siding Road. The hostage situation has triggered the NCG to go into full tactical alert.

Amelia Williams

Turn it off!

Miss Williams was carjacked and kidnapped by- [Ben complies]

Amelia Williams

Unbelievable.

Ben Richards

Yeah, it's a circus, all right.

Amelia Williams

So they're just going to keep filming us?

Ben Richards

If a runner gets good ratings, they let him run.

Amelia Williams

Oh, God. Is that a blockade?

Ben Richards

Oh, shit. All right. If we play our parts, they'll let us pass.

Amelia Williams

Oh, shit, shit, shit.

Ben Richards

Okay. Just keep driving. We're not going to shoot.

Amelia Williams

How do you know?

Ben Richards

Because they're going to wait for the show to start. Do it live.

Amelia Williams

Do what live?

Ben Richards

Kill me.

Amelia Williams

They're waving us through. Why are they turning for you when I'm the hostage? Unbelievable.

Ben Richards

Amelia? Can you give me the gun?

Amelia Williams

Why not? You're obviously the hero.

Ben Richards

Trust me. I don't think we're going to need this anymore. [Throws gun out window]

Record and report. State your claim.

Fake Ben Richards

Oh, my God. I just saw Ben Richards. I'm sorry. Wait. I am Ben Richards. And if you don't want to be the reason Amelia dies... get this message to Killian.

Fake Amelia Williams

Do what he says please.

Fake Ben Richards

You heard the lady.

Ben Richards

Before you murder us, make up some bullshit why it had to be done. Look at all these people who know, the truth. Are you willing to kill all of them? Because I am. I'm holding on to this bullhorn with my right hand. My left hand is in my front pouch, wrapped around 12 pounds of black Irish. [Supporters get spooked] When I used to work at Network Public Utility, you get these two ton fatbergs, take less than a gram to blow those up. Twelve pounds. It'll vaporize everything in a half mile radius. [Supporters all turn running]

Evan McCone

Bullshit. BFE 20 is the most highly regulated industrial explosive and you haven't even set foot in a state that sells it.

Ben Richards

Guess Molie didn't tell you everything. I got my finger stuck in the detonator ring and it's on half ****. [Evan hands bullhorn to subordinate] So, I want one of those big fancy flying V airplanes. [Evan takes off sunglasses] I want two auto shoots handed to Amelia at the bottom of the ramp. If the shoots are sabotaged, if you make any sudden moves, [Evan cleans sunglasses with shirt] if you don't back those trucks up and let me on that tarmac right **** now, you won't even hear it go boom. I'll just see you in hell and let you laugh in your face. You got one minute. [Throws bullhorn on ground and closes vehicle door] Shouldn't take long. He's got a direct line to the boss. Last chance to run.

Amelia Williams

No. You made me feel like I'm the bad guy. Now I have to prove I'm not.

Ben Richards

Why don't you give a shit what I think?

Amelia Williams

You're not the one I'm trying to prove it to. So what's our plan?

Evan McCone

Let him through.

Ben Richards

I'm gonna convince them your handbag is a bomb long enough to bail out over Canada. They'll never let me win, so I'm gonna slip out the back door and wait out the clock. We just have to keep the audience entertained until that jet crosses the border.

Amelia Williams

What if they call your bluff?

Ben Richards

You make sure they know it's real. Get scared, freak out. Curse, scream. Call me the worst names possible. Just remember, everything bad, it's all good Free-Vee. Act terrified when McCone hands you the chutes.

Amelia Williams

I won't have to act.

Ben Richards

He grabs his gun, you'll know it's time to go off. [Amelia boards plane] So, you think you're the guy who stops me from seeing my daughter again?

Evan McCone

Show starts at eight. Get on the plane.

Ben Richards

Only if you take your mask off. Audience will love it.

Evan McCone

Keep dreaming.

Dan Killian

Do what he says.

Evan McCone

No copy.

Dan Killian

Do what he says. [He complies and Ben boards plane]

Welcome aboard, Mr. Richards. To the Metair Flying V Luxury Jetliner. The ultimate in private travel. With state of the art safety features. This is first class comfort taken sky high. So sit back and enjoy the most relaxing flight of your life.

Welcome aboard, Mr. Richards. I'm Captain Holloway. You'll excuse me if I don't shake your hand. That's First Officer Dunninger and Navigation Officer Donaghy to your left. [Referring to extra seat] Looks like you're missing one.

Ben Richards

Hey Captain. How many lavatories are on this rust bucket?

Four.

Ben Richards

Six. Why don't you check them all for stowaways? Anyone sneaks up on me, it's going to be a real short ride.

So where are we headed tonight?

Ben Richards

Plot a route over the richest homes from here to Canada. Fly as low as you can. Let me know when we're ten minutes from the border.

As you wish.

The seatbelt sign is now off. Feel free to move about the cabin.

Evan McCone

Hey Richards, six minutes to showtime. You should get that last meal before they clear me to blow your head off in front of a couple billion people.

Ben Richards

Oh yeah? You know, you should really put some makeup on before the show starts.

Evan McCone

**** the show! Let's go!

Ben Richards

You want to go? We can all go right now!

Amelia Williams

No, no, no! Just stop!

Ben Richards

Do it! Do it, tough guy!

Amelia Williams

Why are you doing this?!

Ben Richards

See if I twitch!

Amelia Williams

Show him the bomb! Show it to him before he shoots you and kills us all!

Evan McCone

Ma'am.

Amelia Williams

No, just show it! [Evan pulls her away] 'Cause I don't want to feel like this anymore! Do you **** hear me?! I'm done!

Evan McCone

Let's calm down.

Amelia Williams

I'm **** done! [Evan seats her]

Evan McCone

Alright Richards, what if I offer you an amnesty deal and an exit visa?

Ben Richards

You're nothing but a Halloween costume. You can't offer me shit!

Dan Killian

Too true, Mr. Richards. He can't. But I can.

Ben Richards

How about I offer you a deal? You tell your hunters in the cockpit to do what I tell them. Otherwise... I blow up this jet and everyone on it!

Dan Killian

Ben, I admire your commitment to the bet but we're short on time so... I'll be blunt. We know you're bluffing. The Flying V Mark II has scanners built into the doors. It's been wildly entertaining. But you can give Amelia her lovely handbag back now. [Evan laughs, Ben sits and takes out Amelia's bag, throws it on ground and Evan walks up to Ben with gun drawn] Evan? Evan, don't.

Evan McCone

That's game.

Safety of that weapon, sir.

Dan Killian

Evan, are you insane? The show hasn't even started. Hand over your gun and go to the back of the jet. [Evan hands over gun to pilot] Thank you. [Evan walks to back] You can remain there until I say otherwise. I need a moment to have a word with Mr. Richards. To discuss a sensitive matter. [Dan appears on screen near Ben] Let's keep this between us. You know, it wasn't too long ago that someone with my job thought it was more important to force some hypocritical moral message down society's throat than to simply entertain them. They forgot about the power of illusion, the power of the star, which is what you are, Richards. And this is why we want to offer you your own show. Now picture it. A former runner, redeemed through righteous vengeance, turns his life around to become a lethal force for good. They call him... The Hunter. The board has authorized me to pay you five million new dollars per season. There's only one condition. Sit back, watch the intro, and when Bobby cues you, kill every hunter on that jet. Conditions met, I'll remote pilot you back to the studio jet port where the president of the United States will induct you as hunter number six. [Waves hand] Another title idea I'm playing with. The data says the revenge plot... revenge.

Ben Richards

Revenge for what? Who is gonna root for a guy who kills your national heroes? [Dan squints eyes] I call bullshit, Dan. [Dan waves hand]

Dan Killian

Let me worry about the creative.

Ben Richards

No deal. The truth, then.

Dan Killian

Revenge for your wife and child.

Ben Richards

Why would I ever believe you?

Dan Killian

Because. If they were still alive, I'd hold them at gunpoint and force you to do whatever I want. And torture them right in front of you. I didn't want to show you this. But I'm out of time to save your life. [Screen shows footage of hit squad arriving at apartment door] The hunter you killed was part of a tight crew. McCone and the men in that cockpit flew to Co-Op City, to Sheila and Kathy's secret uptown location.

Ben Richards

No.

Dan Killian

They badged their way past the family alliance agents and... I'm sorry, Ben. Not all accidents are happy. [Hit squad opens fire into apartment and Ben screams primally hitting screen] We want you to win. The audience is already on your side. Once I show them footage of McCone and his men killing your family, they will follow you into hell. Think of what this does for your narrative. Thirty seconds to showtime, Ben. You'll find a gun by the coffee station in the galley. But if you don't sign before the theme music ends, I'll order the bastards that killed your family to kill you, too. [Ben grabs screen out of stand and smashes it on table]

Amelia Williams

What's happening?

Ben Richards

Tune in and find out.

Everyone, everyone. Please settle. Now, now. [To camera] We start today's episode with a heavy heart. We here at the Running Man believe in following the rules. So it pains me to tell you that one of our most important rules has been broken by the very men we entrust to enforce them. Chief McCone and his hunters. And that rule is... [holds up cue cards] we protect the Runner's family from harm. No one would play if we didn't. We thought it only fair to let Richards administer the penalty for this grave infraction. [First Officer Duninger gets gun] As we go live to Richards, we pray he has what it takes.

Hey, Richards. You making coffee?

Ben Richards

Yeah. How do you take it?! [Shoots Duninger and engages two other pilots in struggle for firearms, causing the plane to drop down]

Altitude alert. Remote pilot engaged. Disengaged. [Finishes off two pilots in free fall] Altitude alert. Remote pilot engaged.

And then... there was one. Three hunters down. But the deadliest among them is still somewhere on this jet.

Ben Richards

He took the other parachute. I couldn't stop him.

Ben Richards

Strap that on. Keep your head down.

The prey has become the predator. Evan cone is trapped. Nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. Mr. Williams is checking all of the flying V's in executive toilets. It's four. The fuse has been lit. It's just a matter of time. Okay, here we go. The moment of truth.

Ben Richards

Six, bitch.

Uh-oh. That's gotta be disappointing. The tension is higher than ever Running fans. It all comes down to this.

Amelia Williams

Ben! [Evan hoists up Ben]

Whoa!

Amelia Williams

No!

Evan McCone

You wanna know who's stopping you from seeing your kid again? You! [Smacks Ben's head against a mirror shattering it.

That had to hurt! [Ben smashes Evan into a mirror]

Amelia Williams

No!

Oh, no. Richards has taken a savage blow!

Evan McCone

Shut the **** up Bobby! [To Ben, taking off sunglasses] If this is how they fire me, what do you think they'll do to you? Chump. You think you're the only Runner ever got offered a deal? You think surviving two weeks and change makes you big shit? [Pulls mirror shard out of left eye] Try 29 days. What's more likely? A: I killed your family. B: Killian sold you just the right lie to get a bloodbath season finale. Or C: you're too **** stupid to figure it out? [Picks up gun from floor] Take it from someone who took the deal to be a hunter instead of the hunted. The only time you'll ever see your family again is when they torture them in front of you. [Loads magazine in gun] **** with your head enough to make you wanna kill it all away.

Ben

You're full of shit. You're all full of shit.

Evan McCone

Truth is...? [Aims gun at Ben and Amelia gasps] ...I'm doing you a favor. [McCone shoots, but misses as the plane tips and the interior loses air pressure]

Cabin pressure compromised. Emergency doors disarmed.

Evan McCone

Hey, Killian! You think I need a gun to waste this loser?! [To Ben, who he pulls a knife on] You outran Fate. You can't hide from Destiny! This is my show now! [Ben activates McCone's parachute, pinning him against the wall of the plane. Ben stalks up to him] Do it, tough guy! See if I twitch!

Ben Richards

That's game!

Amelia Williams

I'm sorry they did this to you!

Ben Richards

I did it to myself.

Amelia Williams

It's a sign! I'm not supposed to... [gets sucked out door, to camera ball] Stop **** filming me! Assholes!

Richards lives, ladies and gentlemen! Keep going kid! You've got this! Ben Richards, you are the man! We have command of the jet! Our best trauma surgeons are already on the tarmac, ready to patch you up as good as new. [Holds finger to commmlink] But wait. Making his Free-Vee debut with a special message. The creator of Running Man, super producer, Dan Killian!

Dan Killian

Mr. Richards, we here at the network believe you embody the raw strength and salt-of-the-earth moral backbone this country stands for. And we want... No. We need to see more.

This summer, Ben Richards is... Hunter 6!

Dan Killian

Congratulations, Ben. [Holds up and parts both spread hands] And welcome to the network family!

Ben Richards

I already got a family. Did you kill them or not, Dan? [Screen blacks out]

**** you Dan!

Give it up for Dan Killian! Come on. We're live. How many times do you get to tell two billion people how you really feel? How does it feel to be a hero, Ben?

Ben Richards

Nothing I've done on this show makes me a hero. I tried to be a hero once. And they blacklisted my ass. My daughter got sick. This is the only job I could get. Seems like the whole point of Free-Vee is to make us hate each other. So they can keep stealing from us. While we fight in the mud. You want the truth. Turn it off. We are all being **** by the network. Find out who really runs it. Record. Report them. Get their names. You just met one of them. Dan Killian. You remember that face. Don't watch Free-Ve. Watch who pays for it. Turn it off.

Dan Killian

Great speech. Too bad I'm the only one who saw it. We've been on an ad break since you said nothing you did on the show made you a hero. You think it was worth it? You think your little rant makes you a martyr? We're going live again in 30. And this time you'll play your part. Because if not, we're gonna run this instead. [Plays faked clip]

Fake Ben Richards

I told you I was gonna burn this building down and everyone in it!

Ben Richards

That was fast.

Dan Killian

Work with me, Richards. Don't throw your life away. Don't make me fly that jet into the network building. They'll blow you out of the sky.

Ben Richards

Are they dead or alive, Dan?

Dan Killian

Who?

Ben Richards

My family.

Dan Killian

Who cares? If I told you they were alive, would you even believe me? We are alive in five, four, [Ben holds up three finger in countdown sync] three, two, [Ben displays middle finger] one. [Does a hand sweep] Okay, have it your way.

Fake Ben Richards

I told you I was gonna burn this building down and everyone in it! I will see you in hell and laugh in your face!

Fake Ben Richards

Ben, are you insane? There's 5,000 innocent people in this building.

Remote pilot engaged.

Dan Killian

Look at what you've done. You happy?

Ben Richards

I told you I was gonna **** you up.

Dan Killian

Yeah.

Warning. Collision alert.

Missile inbound. Missile inbound. [Missile implodes plane]

Goddamn, Richards! You are indeed a tough act to follow. [Turns and walks]

Dan Killian

Where do you think you're going?

You don't hear that? I'd say that's invaluable. Valuable audience feedback, Dan.

Dan Killian

No, no, no, no, no. You get back out there and you do your job.

How about you do my job? [Hands microphone to Dan and walks]

Dan Killian

Hey, we've been crushing the ratings for twenty years. I own that audience. You don't think I can turn this around?

You're the one who wanted to make him a star, Dan. Mission accomplished. It's his show now. [Turns and two security men aims their guns at Bobby]

Dan Killian

You think he can just walk?

Sweeties, please. [Turns to Dan] Take another look at my contract. Page 42, paragraph 6. There's a special clause. And the smallest of clauses. The print that reads, **** YOU!

Ten seconds!

Ten seconds, Dan. [Walks away between security men] Coco, come on, let's go.

Dan Killian

You know what? **** that! This is my house! I set the rules! Max the theme, drown them out! [Walks onto stage only to realize out-of-control unruliness of fire-bombing audience and Ben emerges with a gun from audience]

Ben Richards

In five, four...

Dan Killian

No.

Ben Richards

Three.

Dan Killian

No.

Ben Richards

Two, one. And action. [Ben shoots at Dan]