NBC SUNDAY NIGHT MOVIE: THE LONG ISLAND INCIDENT (TV)
Summary
This made-for-television drama film depicts the true story of the 1993 Long Island Rail Road shooting and its aftermath.
The story begins in Los Angeles as Jamaican émigré Colin Ferguson reacts with outrage when he is denied a firearm purchase. In New York, suburban married couple Dennis and Carolyn McCarthy head out on a ski trip and celebrate their wedding anniversary with friends; Colin soon travels to the East Coast and, after the required 15-day waiting period, buys a handgun and a quantity of ammunition. Having enrolled at Adelphi University, he declares that he is being persecuted by racist policies. Dennis and Carolyn's twenty-something son Kevin soon joins his father at his job at Prudential Securities in New York City; as Dennis and Kevin head for home on the 5:33 p.m. LIRR train on Dec. 7, Colin boards the same train and randomly opens fire on the terrified passengers.
A horrified Carolyn learns that Dennis is among the six dead and Kevin is seriously injured, having suffered extensive brain damage in the shooting; she refuses to accept that he will also die. At Dennis' wake, Carolyn is approached by Tim Bobek, another train passenger who suffered only minor injuries. He urges her to join him in lobbying for a crime bill that will limit certain types of gun sales. Carolyn demurs, stating that she must focus on Kevin's "miraculous" recovery. She is shaken to learn that the hollow-point bullets used in the rampage are specifically intended to kill humans, though she publicly denounces the death penalty, even in Colin's case. Kevin, partially paralyzed, struggles through challenging physical therapy, and Carolyn is disgusted to see Colin on television, denouncing the "deplorable" conditions in prison. She eventually changes her mind and joins Tim in Washington D.C., where they try in vain to get politicians to support their bill banning semi-automatic weapons; activist Natalie Berger soon joins their crusade.
Kevin slowly improves as Colin's lawyers mount a defense of "black rage," blaming his actions on a form of racism-fueled psychosis. Carolyn becomes a "celebrity" as she speaks out on television about the victims and the need for more gun control. Pundits and politicians, including Republican Congressman Dan Frisa accuse her of "playing the sympathy card" for political reasons. Carolyn remains determined and is soon rewarded for her hard work when the crime bill is passed. As the criminal trial approaches, Colin fires his lawyers and resolves to represent himself. Kevin, who is determined to walk again, insists on testifying despite his mother's worries. On the stand, Colin tries to prove his "innocence" by forcing Tim and Kevin to admit that they did not clearly see the shooter; the jurors are moved by the witnesses' harrowing testimony and Colin is eventually found guilty of six counts of murder and 19 counts of attempted murder. Speaking before the sentencing, Kevin requests "no special treatment" for the murderer, and Carolyn coldly states that he deserves "none of her rage" or attention.
On the anniversary of the shooting, the victims and families hold a vigil by the 5:33 train, and Kevin eventually returns to work, still hounded by the press. Carolyn then learns that Senator Bob Dole intends to repeal the crime bill; aware that the National Rifle Association gives significant financial contributions to Republican politicians, she immediately heads back to D.C. with Tim. She boldly confronts Congressman Frisa, who evades her questions about his upcoming vote, and when the bill is indeed repealed, Carolyn realizes that she herself must run and enact significant change. She warns Kevin that a campaign, let alone a potential win, will demand much of her time; he encourages her to follow her conscience and honor Dennis' memory.
Campaign strategist Bob Leahy joins the team and advises Carolyn to avoid the "single-issue" stigma. She decides to announce her candidacy from her own home, emphasizing her of-the-people qualities. Congressman Frisa compares her gun-control views to "McCarthyism," but Carolyn refuses to fight dirty against him and eventually places Natalie in control of her campaign. Natalie is upset when the congressman tries to use Carolyn's pro-choice views against her, but Carolyn continues speaking out about her positions and reaching voters on a personal level. She is eventually elected to New York's 4th congressional district in 1997. Kevin proudly introduces his mother, and Carolyn delivers a speech about her intentions to enact positive change, declaring that "enough is enough." Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: November 30, 1999 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:32:03
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 132671
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; New York (N.Y.); Trials (murder); Gun control; U S Congress
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV, 1998
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Barbra Streisand … Executive Producer
- Cis Corman … Executive Producer
- Jordan Davis … Co-Executive Producer
- Rick Rosenberg … Producer
- Bob Christiansen … Producer
- Judith Miller … Co-Producer
- Rachel Verno … Co-Producer
- Judith Verno … Co-Producer
- Lawrence E. Neiman … Associate Producer
- Nicholas J. Gray … Line Producer
- Joseph Sargent … Director
- Maria Nation … Writer
- Charles Bernstein … Music by
- Laurie Metcalf … Cast, Carolyn McCarthy
- Mackenzie Astin … Cast, Kevin McCarthy
- Peter MacNeill … Cast, Dennis McCarthy
- Tyrone Benskin … Cast, Colin Ferguson
- Elisa Moolecherry … Cast, Natalie Berger
- Cedric Smith … Cast, Tim Bobek
- Lawrence Dane … Cast, Tommy
- Diane D'Aquila … Cast, Dr. Ellen Lipsky
- Nancy Beatty … Cast, Jean McBride
- John Boylan … Cast, Frank McBride
- Greg Ellwand … Cast, Bob Leahy
- Sandy Crawley … Cast, Dan Frisa
- Bill Lake … Cast, Bill Leffert
- Peter Mensah … Cast, Hugh
- Martin Doyle … Cast, Leonard Marshall
- Richard Fitzpatrick … Cast, Congressman Simmons
- Tim Weber … Cast, Male Newscaster
- Edward D. Burke … Cast, Judge
- Karl Pruner … Cast, Congressman #1
- Emidio Michetti … Cast, L.A. Gun Salesman
- Aron Tager … Cast, Gun Salesman
- Deborah Burgess … Cast, News 4 Reporter
- Gloria Slade … Cast, Choir Leader
- David Crean … Cast, Lobbyist #1
- Sandra Caldwell … Cast, Lobbyist #2
- Robert King … Cast, Motel Manager