As August 1985 drew to a close, the pace on the set of Say Anything... remained relentless, particularly with a pivotal night shoot on the schedule. Today was the filming of the graduation party, the scene where Lloyd Dobler takes Diane Court on their first date.The filming of this pivotal party scene took two nights, demanding long hours and meticulous attention to detail. The cast and crew were utterly exhausted, having pulled two consecutive all-night shoots to capture the necessary scenes.
Cameron Crowe announced, "And... that's a cut! Scene complete!" A tired cheer rose from the weary crew, a collective sigh of relief.
Cameron walked over to Alex, a concerned look on his face. "Exhausted?" he questioned.
Alex managed a tired smile. "Well, working two nights a row makes anyone tired."
Cameron nodded in understanding. "I know. We don't have shooting for the next three days. Get some rest." He shook Alex's hand, who nodded in gratitude, and then Alex went to Mia.
Alex and Mia were ready to leave. Alex looked at Mia, dressed in the ethereal white gown she wore for the movie, as she collected her things.
"What?" she asked, noticing his gaze.
"You look like an angel in that dress," he said.
"You already said that many times since yesterday," she replied.
"Well, it's still true today, even when I'm tired," he said with a smile, pulling her hand and into his arms.
Alex then looked at Robert and Sarah and asked "Hey, Rob, Sarah, need a ride? We're heading back towards Hollywood Hills."
Robert shook his head, a grin on his face. "Nah, man, I brought my own ride. We're good, thanks."
Alex nodded and took Mia to the car. He started the car and drove off. The city lights blurred past them on the Santa Ana Freeway, the world quiet save for the purr of the engine. As dawn approached, Mia turned to Alex.
"Alex," Mia said, "can we pull over at that next convenience store? I really need to use the restroom."
"Sure thing," Alex replied, pulling into the brightly lit parking lot.
They both went inside. Alex, still feeling the lingering buzz from filming, thought about grabbing a Coca-Cola. He was wearing a scarf pulled up to his chin, cooling glasses, and a cap, a common disguise he used to deter recognition. The man behind the counter, a tired-looking older gentleman, looked at him weirdly, seeing someone wearing sunglasses at this early hour, but didn't say anything. As Alex moved towards the drink aisle, the counter man's eyes drifted towards the parking lot.
"Isn't that your car?" the man asked, pointing towards Alex's Ford Mustang.
Alex looked up, a frown creasing his brow. He saw a man trying to carjack his Ford Mustang.
He hurried towards the entrance, his voice rising in alarm. "Man, what are you doing with my car?"
A shadowy figure, a Hispanic man, wild-eyed and clearly desperate, turned from the driver's side. He brandished a knife, and Alex could see fear and a frantic hurry etched across his face.
"¡Dame las llaves y sal!" (Give me the keys and get out!) the man snarled in Spanish, the knife glinting menacingly.
Alex, stunned, instinctively retorted, "Are you kidding?"
The man lunged. As he demanded the keys with the knife pointed aggressively, Alex, stunned but driven by instinct honed from years of martial arts training, sidestepped swiftly. He delivered a quick, precise kick to the man's shins, sending him stumbling backward.
"Stay down, man!" Alex commanded, his voice sharp.
The attacker, fueled by desperation, cursed in Spanish as he tried to regain his footing. But Alex was already on him, his knee connecting sharply with the man's jaw. There was a sickening crunch, a sound of something breaking, but in his adrenaline-fueled state, the man barely registered it. He desperately tried to reach for his dropped knife, but Alex's back-heel flashed out, kicking the weapon far out of reach. Alex then grabbed the man's hand, twisting it behind his back, locking the arm, and driving his knee into the shoulder blade, effectively subduing him to the ground.
"Don't struggle, or I will break your hand," Alex warned, his grip firm.
He then heard Mia's voice from behind him, laced with fear. "Alex! What's happening?"
"Mia, go inside the store and call the police!" Alex yelled back, his eyes still fixed on the subdued man.
She hurried towards the store, but at that moment, Alex heard a commotion coming from the road outside the convenience store. He saw several Hispanic people running towards them, shouting, "¡Invasor Nocturno! ¡El Invasor Nocturno!" (Night Intruder! The Night Intruder!). It was then, seeing the man's face clearly under the convenience store lights, and hearing that chilling nickname, that Alex's mind clicked. He knew where he had seen him. On the news. Richard Ramirez. The infamous "Night Stalker."
As the chaos continued, police sirens wailed in the distance, growing rapidly louder. It became clear that Ramirez had been in such a hurry and so full of fear because he had already been identified by someone else and was actively being chased. The police, acting on information from the pursuing citizens, arrived moments later, swarming the scene and apprehending the notorious serial killer Alex had just subdued.
The adrenaline slowly began to recede, leaving Alex with a cold, unsettling realization of the danger he had just faced.
As Alex was still processing the shock of encountering a serial killer, a police officer approached him. "Aren't you Alex Hayes? The movie star?"
Alex, still somewhat dazed, simply nodded without saying anything.
The cop's eyes widened in surprise upon hearing the confirmation, a flicker of star-struck awe passing over his face before he quickly regained his composure. "Alright, Mr. Hayes," he said, "we'll need you to stay and give a statement."
"Can I come later to the station?" Alex asked, his voice still a little tight.
The first cop started to object, but another officer, older and seemingly more experienced, stepped in. "Sure, Mr. Hayes. We'll get your details and arrange a time for you to come down."
As Alex and Mia began to walk away, the first cop turned to the second, confusion on his face. "Why are you sending them away? We need a statement while it's still fresh in his mind!"
The second cop shook his head, a knowing look in his eyes. "In a while, this location will be flooded with reporters. If Mr. Hayes is still here, it'll turn into a circus and get completely out of control. We need to secure the scene and process the suspect without that kind of distraction."
The first cop nodded in sudden realization, understanding the pragmatic decision.
Later that same day, Alex, accompanied by his lawyer, arrived at the police station to give his official statement. The incident, the capture of one of California's most terrifying serial killers, would have been national news regardless. But the fact that it was accomplished by Alex Hayes, arguably the biggest movie star in Hollywood at that moment, transformed it into a genuine sensation. The story exploded across every media outlet, dominating headlines and evening news broadcasts.
Here are some of the headlines that screamed from newspaper stands:
"Hollywood Hero Halts Night Stalker! Alex Hayes Subdues Serial Killer in Early Morning Confrontation!" - Los Angeles Times
"From Silver Screen to Street Hero: Alex Hayes Nabs Richard Ramirez!" - The New York Times
"Movie Star's Real-Life Thriller: Hayes Tackles The Night Stalker!" - Daily News
"America's Golden Boy Stops Reign of Terror!" - The Wall Street Journal
"No More Nightmares: Hollywood's Hottest Star Helps End Ramirez's Rampage!" - USA Today
Due to this incident, filming for Say Anything... was halted for two weeks to allow the news frenzy to die down. Shooting officially resumed in the third week of September.
This incident also forced Alex to agree with CAA's persistent suggestions to hire bodyguards. While they initially proposed four, Alex argued his case and ultimately settled on two professional bodyguards to accompany him, especially during public appearances.
The news of his dramatic encounter significantly boosted the visibility and success of his film 'Catch Me If You Can', which was in its last legs, pushing it past $165 million domestically.
By the end of September, Catch Me If You Can concluded its theatrical run domestically with an impressive $167 million. Internationally, it grossed an additional $101 million, bringing its worldwide total box office to a remarkable $268 million, becoming his highest-grossing film.