Doonesbury by Garry Trudeau for March 08, 1981

Transcript:

Mark: And now for today's former hostage news! It looks like a breakthrough in negotiations for two top hostage memoirs. It's now been nearly two months since the hostages were released, but judging from the endless flow of articles, T.V. programs, books, and merchandizing, the hostages' ordeal is still far from over. With us to discuss their dilemma is State Department official Hank Stark. Mr. Stark, how are the hostages holding up? Man: Well, to be honest, Mark, we're a little worried. Ex-hostages and their families are reporting feelings of stress and paranoia owing to the unrelieved media coverage, not to mention the relentless affection of their fellow citizens. Mark: Is the State Department doing anything about it? Man: Well, yes. We've been having some success with our former hostage protection program. Hostages who qualify are being given completely new identities and jobs. We move them to new neighborhoods, and in severe cases, we even offer plastic surgery. Mark: How have the media been taking it? Man: Not too well. Some of them have been conducting house-to-house searches.