be sure to catch us again next week for another edition of "what would you do?" like us on facebook and follow us on twitter. and don't go away. "20/20" starts now. i'm sick of it. every year! >> tonight on "20/20," from the drive through to the driving you crazy, they're all losing it. first, a showdown over shrubbery turns fatal. >> he has a gun pointed at my chest. >> her boyfriend, shot dead after messing with tree trimming. >> a modern-day dirty harry. >> but was her father the mr. nice guy everyone thought? or did he have a dark side?

>> you're saying he deserved to die? plus, getting maced while you wait for muffins? road rage, move over. the new rage is cutting in line rage. out of line. and, every hair is in place. but when the people you elect go into meltdown mode. tonight, they're losing it. >> ah! >> now, elizabeth vargas and david muir. >> tonight, perhaps you've seen it yourself. heated tempers in your own neighborhood. but now, neighbors losing it. >> and you'll hear the heart-pounding 911 calls, the

girlfriend who heard her boyfriend shot in front of her. matt gutman has the story. >> reporter: in the lush green hills of genteel encinitas, california, a toxic tale of shrubbery. the invasive brazilian pepper tree, and two men losing it. in a dispute over clearing the poisonous bushes from a driveway. >> 99 emergency. my partner just got shot. please come to lone jack road. please hurry! he's bleeding, got shot in the head. >> reporter: for evelyn zeller, march 28, 2013, began as a beautiful day. they're all beautiful days here in the san diego suburbs. that morning she awoke in the master bedroom of this rented spanish contemporary and shared a tender moment with her boyfriend, john upton. >> it was my birthday. john woke me up to wish me a happy birthday. >> reporter: she says upton, still in his pajamas, headed outside to make room for two

day laborers clearing brush on the driveway of their neighbor, michael vilkin. john went out to offer to move the car? >> yes, yes. >> reporter: to understand what happened, you need to understand the lay of the land. upton lived here. vilkin owned the adjacent undeveloped 2.6 acre lot, including this narrow strip -- his future driveway. the problem was these brazilian pepper trees along that strip had become a creeping menace. choking off access. and vilkin needed them gone. on this morning, upton's mercedes suv is parked beside the trees on vilkin's land. >> he wanted to move the car to give them more space to trim the trees. >> reporter: a couple of minutes later, evelyn gets up to follow him outside. >> i had set foot on the first step right there as i heard the shots. >> reporter: using this massive .44 magnum revolver, vilkin shoots 56-year-old john upton once in the midsection, followed

several seconds later by a second shot to the head, execution-style. >> so, i look up the path, and i see john lying on the path. >> reporter: and you instantly knew he was dead? >> i felt he was dead. and suddenly i hear vilkin go, "don't get any [ bleep ] closer." and he has the gun pointed at my chest. yeah, the crazy, crazy dude. he's got a gun. oh my god! what a [ bleep ] nut. he's still got a gun, man. you gotta be careful. >> reporter: none of it makes sense. murders just don't happen around here in encinitas, and neither of these men were magnets for trouble -- certainly not the diminutive, cerebral and hard-working michael vilkin. >> it was a shock, to imagine michael was the one to do that. >> reporter: the neighbors were aghast. >> i talked to him all the time. he was friendly to us. he let us park on his lot. >> reporter: tamara vilkin, vilkin's wife and companion for the past 30 years stands by her man. >> michael has a beautiful heart.

and other people saying that, too. it's not me saying that. >> reporter: they were god-fearing immigrants who fled the former communist soviet georgia to chase their american dream. they bought this vacant land on lone jack road after years of scrimping and saving from his past fledgling career as an economist and hers as a piano teacher. did he have any hopes or dreams for that land? >> yes, we wanted to build a house over there and probably retire over there. >> reporter: vilkin spent every minute he could spare working the land the old-fashioned way, with shovel, wheelbarrow, axe and saw, lovingly nursing it to health for the day when they could build their dream home. >> he was there every day for 8 to 10 hours a day, tending to his empty lot, cutting things down, moving dirt around. >> reporter: as for vilkin's neighbor john upton, a 6'2",

235-pound teddy bear of a man, he wasn't just a hero to his children john and elizabeth. >> so many fond memories. >> so many memories. and you look at like, in a span of 56 years of how many things he accomplished. and how he's impacted the world. >> hello! hello! >> reporter: to many he was practically a saint. >> this is "20/20." from abc news -- >> reporter: as reported here on "20/20" in 1993, upton was a documentary filmmaker who made it his personal mission to rescue romanian orphans. >> the government has put these kids on the back burner. >> for god's sake, let me help these kids. >> i really knew from a very very young age that you really can make a difference because i saw my dad do it. >> reporter: since then, he'd settled down here with his girlfriend evelyn, a new-ager enthralled with upton's zen.

>> we love buddhas, we love serenity, and peacefulness and inspiration. >> reporter: so where did it all go wrong? the answer is in the poisonous trees on that narrow strip of vilkin's land. upton liked them. but remember, vilkin wanted them gone, and his interest in landscaping bordered on obsession. >> i questioned why he spent so much time on the lot. >> reporter: he just seemed eccentric? >> he just seemed a little eccentric, yeah. >> reporter: others chose a different word. >> i think his behavior was absolutely bizarre. who buys a site and then hangs out on it and works on it 10, 12 hours a day when the same amount of work can be done in a day with a bulldozer? it doesn't make any sense. >> none of what he did was permitted. this was a landslide property, it wasn't safe for the neighbors. >> reporter: despite those concerns, evelyn says upton never complained about his neighbor. >> he used to say many times, "wow, i admire his work ethic."

>> i talk to my dad forever. >> reporter: did he ever mention vilkin? >> i've never even heard that name in my entire life. >> reporter: and yet, surely something happened to provoke that brutal homicide on the morning of march 28th, something that would make the egghead immigrant "lose it." >> hurry up! hurry up! hurry up. he's dead! i think he's dead! hurry up, please! >> reporter: before she called 911, before she even approached the crime scene, evelyn zeller noticed something odd about the shooter. when you came out, he first saw you. what did he do? >> he seemed to be on the phone. >> reporter: it's not often that the killer calls in the homicide he's just committed, but that's exactly what happened here. >> emergency. >> i need a detective here. >> what's going on there? >> well, the neighbor assaulted me and i shot him. >> reporter: in theory, vilkin did the right thing. he shoots someone, calls 911.

and yet, there was something sort of cold and callous about the call. >> you shot him? >> yes. >> like, with a gun? >> yes. >> where is the gun right now? >> i have my gun. and don't worry about it. when the sheriff comes it will be in the gun case. i am a responsible person. don't worry about it. >> reporter: within minutes sheriff's deputies arrive to find vilkin still on the phone with the 911 operator. >> put the phone down! put the phone down! >> reporter: he's arrested, but remains cool. and so confident that the next day he agrees to talk with our san diego affiliate kgtv, expressing no remorse, but shockingly he does express disappointment with the performance of the massive handgun he used to kill john upton -- this .44 magnum, because it failed to drop him with one shot.

>> but somehow he made two or three steps. and i was in disbelief. i shot him in the head. >> reporter: michael vilkin's mission to rid his driveway of brazilian pepper trees had somehow opened a door to a dark place in his mind where he could justify taking a man's life. >> who is this guy? this man who murdered my father in cold blood. for what? >> reporter: for good reason, says vilkin. >> i expect justice will be done. >> reporter: because, as he is about to tell us, john upton was no saint. but a menace who terrorized him. like this. >> stop cutting trees! >> reporter: what you're saying is that john upton deserved to die. stay with us. we monitor every purchase every day and alert you if anything looks unusual. wow! you're really looking out for us.

we are. and if there are unauthorized purchases on your discover card, you're never held responsible. just to be clear, you are saying "frog protection" right? yeah, fraud protection. frog protection. fraud protection. frog. fraud. fro-g. frau-d. i think we're on the same page. we're totally on the same page. at discover, we treat you like you'd treat you. fraud protection. get it at discover.com jim's hair is perfect. so's his serve. but like up to 90% of us, jim falls short in getting important nutrients from food alone. jim, here's $2 off one a day multivitamins to get key nutrients you may need. go to oneaday.com for savings. ladies, we need to talk... ... about haircolor. it's garnier nutrisse nourishing color creme. rich, radiant... ravishing color! nutrisse nourishes while it colors. plus it has avocado, olive, and shea oils. garnier nutrisse. nourished hair, better color with crest 3d white luxe toothpaste. only crest 3d white has whitelock technology. it removes stains within the microfine lines of your teeth...

and locks out future stains. crest 3d white luxe toothpaste. life opens up with a whiter smile. crest 3d white luxe toothpaste. ♪ yoplait. with a smooth and creamy taste your whole family loves. it is so good all of the time. [prof. burke] at farmers,we believe what you don't know [bell rings] can hurt you. like what if you didn't know to get coverage for uninsured drivers? [robot] uh oh. [prof. burke] talk to farmers and get smarter about your insurance. ♪ we are farmers bum - pa - dum, bum - bum - bum - bum♪ [ female announcer ] aveeno® introduces new positively radiant targeted tone corrector. it helps reduce the look of stubborn brown spots in just two weeks. what are you waiting for? aveeno®. naturally beautiful results™. aveeno®. i'm living the life of dreams. i'm living the life of dreams, with good people all around me.

i'm living the life of dreams. no! i'm living the life of dreams. i'm feeling hopefully. feeling quite hopefully, it's right up here, turn right, turn right. with good people all around me. right, right, right, right, right! with good people all around me. ok look you guys, she's up here somewhere. with good people all around me. there she is! cara! come here girl! i'm feeling hopefully. and the light shines bright all through the night. oh i don't know it. and the light shines bright all through the night. yes, you do. and the light shines bright all through the night. 42. and the light shines bright all through the night. good job. and the light shines bright all through the night. and the light shines bright all through the night. and our dreams are making us nice stories. and my loves are well sleeping just right. and i know know know know now... ...that we're, living the life of dreams... dreams... there's no monsters down here, [music fades out] dreams...dreams...dreams... it's just mr. elephant. come on, let's get to bed.

we continue with "20/20"'s losing it. once again, matt gutman. >> reporter: one year after blowing away his neighbor with a cannon of a handgun, michael vilkin is on trial. the stakes are high. a total of 50 years to life if convicted of first degree murder. but vilkin is unfazed. he's confident that this was no murder, but an act of self-defense. >> this case was justified. self-defense. mr. vilkin protected himself. >> you have to wonder whether vilkin saw himself as sort of a modern-day dirty harry, out there to protect himself against the bad guy in defense of a principle. >> go ahead, make my day. >> he told me, "you are a

fanatic." the way he looked at me would fry a hamburger. >> he loved owning that land. >> reporter: the defense strategy was to put the victim on trial. according to vilkin, his neighbor john upton, seen as a saint for his selfless work rescuing abused orphans in romania, had a volcanic temper which had been erupting on vilkin with increasing ferocity as vilkin pursued his assault on those trees. >> the heart of the defense here was that upton was a threat to vilkin, that he wasn't just this lovable, friendly guy, but he was an angry, aggressive guy who came after vilkin. >> my body language was -- don't cut the trees here! when he was talking to me angrily it was like, "uh!" >> reporter: but what had transformed upton from a global do-gooder to the ogre next door?

remember, he didn't even own his home. he was just renting. the trees were on vilkin's property and he had every right to cut them down. >> this was his land! >> reporter: the issue is that, for upton, those brazilian pepper trees weren't just pretty, they provided him and his girlfriend evelyn zeller precious privacy. >> he took privacy away. wow, do you really need to cut these trees down, too? i mean you'll see how it looks. >> reporter: rising in the witness stand, vilkin demonstrates how upton would get in his face. >> stop cutting trees! >> reporter: and vilkin had a powerful witness to attest to this ugly aspect to john upton's character. >> i would say john upton was a bully, a dominant, controlling kind of guy, liked to get into people's business. >> reporter: did he get in your business? >> yes, he did. >> reporter: duane byrum is the ex-husband of upton's girlfriend evelyn zeller. >> when i was dropping off my kids, he'd get in my face.

get the [ bleep ] back to the car, back to the driveway, you have no right to come to my house. >> reporter: byrum says the verbal abuse was withering and unprovoked. >> you're a [ bleep ]. you're a [ bleep ]. get the [ bleep ] out of here. i believe john upton had a dark side. >> reporter: and so when you hear michael vilkin talking about being physically intimidated frequently by john upton, you're saying that's within the realm of reason? >> yes. absolutely. >> reporter: a sheriff's deputy testified that exactly one week before the homicide, vilkin called for help because upton's vehicle was parked on vilkin's driveway, where he wanted to work. >> got angry, said, don't get closer to me, something like that. >> reporter: in fact, vilkin made several calls to the sheriff's department for help dealing with john upton, but profanity is not against the law. and upton made no specific threats. there was nothing the

authorities could do. >> he did not threaten to break my neck. he did not threaten to break my legs, but i was afraid of him. >> reporter: afraid, but not deterred. vilkin stood his ground, continuing to cut away at those trees while also purchasing that fateful .44 magnum and warning the uptons to steer clear. >> i nailed a sign. the sign said "no parking" on the 30 feet road. >> reporter: but, was vilkin secretly plotting something sinister? two day laborers whose faces we were not permitted to photograph testify that on the morning vilkin went ballistic, they saw him carrying this gun case when he instructed them to remove the brazilian pepper trees on the driveway where upton's car was parked. >> he told you that if someone came out, don't worry about getting involved. he'll take care of it.

correct? >> yes. that's right. >> he was told, basically, "don't get involved in anything." mr. vilkin indicated that if somebody comes out, he had a gun for them. >> reporter: vilkin then retreats some distance up the driveway to a partially obscured vantage point along the fence. >> some would say you were lying in wait. >> if i wanted to wait for him, i would not cut bushes. i would grow the bushes and with a rifle i would wait in the bushes. >> reporter: and sure enough, within minutes, upton emerges from his home. >> and he told you he was going to move his car? correct? >> yes, that's right. >> i was afraid of john upton. i was just very concerned he might do something, something very dangerous. i took the gun out of the gun

case and stuck it in the waistband. >> why? >> i was getting ready for eventual confrontation. >> reporter: the prosecution had already put on a parade of witnesses to show premeditation -- sheriff's deputies who vilkin contacted five times with questions about his right to carry a gun and stand his ground on his land. >> he was asking when it was legally justified to carry a firearm on his property and when he was justified in using it. >> reporter: ironically, no witness may have been more damaging to the defense than vilkin himself. detached, showing zero empathy for his victim. he cooly recounts the morning of march 28th. john upton came out of his house and bullied him for the last time. >> when he was about ten feet

away i saw a pistol in his right hand. it was like one second. and i pulled out my revolver and shot him. >> reporter: but in fact, there was no pistol in upton's hand. just a blackberry. as a practical matter, in a case where you're claiming self-defense, with these facts, vilkin almost had to testify. and yet, he was a pretty terrible witness. vilkin's attorney richard berkon argues it was self-defense. remember, vilkin did not run. he stayed and called 911 himself. >> he could've planned this in such a way that he could've been on a plan to russia before anybody showed up. but he stood there and he stuck around because he believes and knows he did what he had to do. >> reporter: as the trial winds down, tamara vilkin's faith in

her husband and god remains unshakable. >> i think everything is in god's hands. whatever he decides. >> reporter: she waits for justice in the sweltering heat of this lonely parking lot outside the jail. >> and he stood before the angel. >> reporter: as she reads the bible, we visit with the man who thought he could skip that part about "thou shalt not kill." mr. vilkin, hello. >> hello. >> reporter: are you hopeful? >> i'm always hopeful. >> reporter: but would the jury see a man just trying to stand his ground, or a stone cold killer? ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ celebrate your love of crab with gthis year's largest variety!. 'cause it's crabfest at red lobster! dig into a succulent selection of crab entrées. like new crab lover's trio! with sweet snow crab legs, split king crab, and jumbo lump crab over savory shrimp. crab three ways! all on one plate. or try new jumbo lump crab over wood-grilled salmon. experience crabfest at red lobster today. only for a limited time. come in and sea food differently! ganncr: we took care of your back pain. you make him the mvp. tylenol is clinically proven to provide strong, fast pain relief. but for everything we do, we know you do so much more. tylenol those hot dogs look good. oh yeah, hebrew national. their all-beef like yours but they're also kosher.

so, not just any beef goes into it. oh, honey! oh! here, have some of ours. oh! hebrew national. a hot dog you can trust. honey, look i got one to land. uh-huh there's good more... honey, look at all these smart rewards points verizon just gave me. ooh, you got a buddy. i'm like a statue. i just signed up and, boom, all these points. ...and there's not-so-good more. you're a big guy... oh no. get the good more with verizon smart rewards and rack up points to use towards the things you really want. now get 50% off all new smartphones.

to pitch in for an industrial-sized smoker. before earning 1% cash back everywhere, every time. and 2% back at the grocery store. even before he got 3% back on gas. all with no hoops to jump through. norm used his bankamericard cash rewards credit card to enter the bbq masters invitational. where he smoked 40 pounds of ribs and the competition. that's the satisfaction of rewarding connections. apply online or at a bank of america near you.

"20/20" continues, once again with matt gutman. >> reporter: john upton is dead. it has been 18 months since his family tearfully buried him. michael vilkin is alive, but the

jury is about to make the fateful decision about the rest of his life. >> this isn't bang-bang. he's taking his time. >> reporter: in his closing arguments the prosecutor opens up on vilkin, blasting holes in his story. saying his claim of self defense is indefensible. >> that gun was overkill. >> reporter: prosecutors clearly believe that this wasn't a fight that culminated in someone getting shot. they believe this was an execution. portraying not a frightened, diminutive immigrant, but quite possibly the first person in this jurisdiction to commit murder over landscaping. >> my neighbor assaulted me and i shot him. >> you shot him? >> yes. >> calm, collected, trying to assure the 911 operator that he is a responsible person. >> reporter: the defense, scrambling. >> it sounds so stupid. we're talking about trimming trees.

it's on this man's land. >> reporter: defense attorney richard berkon tries to assert that the georgian emigre was simply engaged in that most american of activities, protecting his homestead. >> draw upon your common sense. you've got a much larger person a much smaller person, don't work here any more. and that's what mr. vilkin was enduring, threatening behavior. >> reporter: but it was his unsympathetic demeanor on the witness stand, often nonchalant, sometimes even laughing, that had more of an impact on jury foreman brook haley. and the fact that he was his own character witness and he didn't acquit himself well. >> i am ashamed to use this figure of speech, but he shot himself in the foot on the stand, yeah. >> reporter: finally, just last month, the verdict. >> we the jury in the above entitled cause, find the defendant, michael vilkin, guilty of the crime of murder in the first degree. >> reporter: first degree murder, those words cruelly ricocheting in tamara vilkin's head. when you were sitting there in

court, and you heard murder in the first degree, what went through your mind? >> i didn't believe it. i did not believe it. i still don't believe. i'm going to appeal as much as far as i can go. doesn't matter, whatever it i am going to fight. >> reporter: we meet outside the courthouse and jail complex. inside just a few yards down these grim, color-coded halls behind that thick glass we meet inmate vilkin. still emitting a glow of self-righteousness. what did you think that they were gonna give you? what was the verdict that you expected? >> the worst case, manslaughter. >> reporter: vilkin says when he bought that land he felt like a citizen farmer, nurturing it until he was ready to build. why is it so important to you? what were your dreams for that land?

>> i wanted to clear the land from the wood and to build a house there. >> reporter: those fuzzy dreams, he says, were soon uprooted by his fear. or was it enmity with that bear of a neighbor, john upton. but did he ever raise a hand at you? >> reporter: no, he did not. but i was afraid of him, really afraid because he was roaring at me, he was yelling at me. >> reporter: on the stand and in person you don't seem like someone who is afraid. >> on the stand? >> reporter: you didn't show any emotion. you never showed that you seemed afraid. >> i'm not a hollywood actor. >> reporter: but in vilkin's mind, he'd embellished the neighbor feud into a hollywood mobster movie, starring john upton as the villain. >> he acted like a gangster, like a tough guy, like a mafioso. >> reporter: so what you're saying is that john upton deserved to die? >> no, i'm saying that i saw a

mafioso and i was afraid of him. >> reporter: mr. vilkin, it sounds, no offense, but it sounds like you're detached from reality. this is a fight over shrubbery. this had nothing to do with the mafia. >> no. he encroached on the road. >> reporter: so you expected to shoot him. >> i expected to act in self defense. >> reporter: regrets? not even a few. >> if you spit in my face, i will not just turn around and leave. >> reporter: you don't turn the other cheek? >> no, no. and upton was, figuratively speaking, was spitting in my face the whole year. >> reporter: but probe beneath all the bravado, and it's clear vilkin knows he knows he's shattered the person he loves most. do you feel badly for your wife? for tamara? >> yes, yes, of course. >> reporter: because you know that this has destroyed her. she loves you more than anything in the world. >> i know.

>> reporter: vilkin, his beard whiter after 18 months in jail, tells me he'll appeal, saying his lawyer was incompetent. and he has a hand-written note that he wants us to read, listing his complaints. >> sitting there like a hostage while my defense counsel was blowing hot air. >> reporter: but as we wrap the interview, this convicted killer who at times smiled like a jolly uncle patiently answering all of my questions without a hint of anger or remorse leaves me with one final chilling thought. are you hopeful? >> i'm always hopeful, unless i see a pistol in your hand. >> reporter: then you shoot me. >> then i will shoot you in one second. >> reporter: our time is over, vilkin turns and walks to the guard station, cheerfully nodding to his jailers. outside, his victim's daughter still struggling to come to terms with her loss.

>> i can't believe that it really happened. i wake up and i feel like, "okay, when is this movie going to end?" and all for what? for nothing! that's the worst part. >> reporter: today, the vacant lot at 2902 lone jack road sits abandoned. in real estate terms, it's a distressed property with unstable slopes, but distressed also by the murder that happened here. and though the owner and his neighbor are long gone, those brazilian pepper trees will soon grow back, their strangling vines and poisonous fruit a testament to the toxic obsession that pushed one man over the edge. >> so, the question tonight, what did you think of the verdict? and have you ever witnessed neighbors pushed over the edge? >> stay with us. coming up, do you lose it when you have to wait in line?

they did. >> chaos at the pasadena apple store. >> or do you get crazier when someone cuts in line? get in line for video you won't believe. ♪ during the cadillac summer's best event, lease this 2014 ats for around $299 a month and make this the summer of style. ♪

i dothe more people we have,ily! the more we save. he already owes me money for like 4 pizzas. we all get separate bills. besides, if you don't like gordon why did you invite him this weekend? i didn't invite him. he just, like, shows up! it's pronounced gor-don. hey let's go! those tacos aren't going to eat themselves over there. tacos! you look great, by the way. the bills are separate? with the sprint unlimited framily plan, the more you add, the more you save. unlimited framily plan get unlimited data, talk, and text for as low as $45 a month per line. happy connecting from sprint.

hey pal? you ready? can you pick me up at 6:30? ah... (boy) i'm here! i'm here! (cop) too late. i was gone for five minutes! ugh! move it. you're killing me.

you know what, dad? i'm good. (dad) it may be quite a while before he's ready, but our subaru legacy will be waiting for him. (vo) the longest-lasting midsize sedan in its class. introducing the all-new subaru legacy. it's not just a sedan. it's a subaru. [ female announcer ] the internet gets more exciting the faster it goes. that's why, coming soon, xfinity will double the internet speed on two of our most popular plans. xfinity continues to innovate, bringing you the fastest, most reliable internet, period. [ heart beating ] xfinity internet from comcast. double the speed. [ heart beats ]

i think we all hate people cutting in line. but this past weekend, another bieber gate almost erupted at disneyland. he was in a wheelchair, with a knee injury.

do you lose it with people cutting in line? >> reporter: even in this age of instant gratification -- click it. ship it. say it. pay it. we still have to endure that ancient anger of waiting in lines. >> it's momentary, involuntary imprisonment. >> reporter: so, when fast food is too slow, even a happy meal can turn nasty, which is what happened when this toledo, ohio, woman was denied her chicken mcnuggets. if you want fries with your police record, just biggie-size the madness. >> i was told by apple care that i could walk in the store and get the part. >> reporter: yes, "line rage" is real. in fact, it's even being studied at m.i.t, which is where we met dr. richard larson, a renowned expert in the physics and psychology of lines. >> right now, we're in line. >> reporter: dr. larson says people innately understand the rules of waiting in line. had moses added an eleventh commandment, it may well have been "thou shalt not cut in

line." >> when people cut in line like this, that person is saying, my time is much more valuable than your time. some people who are close to the tipping point, just totally lose it. >> reporter: oh, yes, there's hell to pay. arrests like this guy, who tried to muscle his way to the front of an l.l. bean store opening line. or the line to the bathroom at an nfl game that stalled, then brawled. >> there are kind of fundamental laws at work. the top one is "first come, first serve." >> chaos at the pasedena apple store. >> reporter: the launching of a new apple product has been the genesis of many a great line story. like the one pastor scott jones told us about. >> as i'm driving up, i'm thinking, this is going to be an experience. >> reporter: jones and roughly fifty of the apple faithful lined up at 4:30 in the morning to be among the first to get the ipad 2 at this ardmore, pennsylvania, store, only to have this jenny-come-lately

three hours later, plant herself at the front of the pack. >> i'm not going to have somebody yell at me. >> oh, honey, you haven't even heard yelling yet! >> she plopped herself right here. >> reporter: stunned by the wicked interloper, jones pulls out his trusty iphone and begins videotaping her. >> she can't really think this is okay. >> reporter: actually, she thinks cutting is fine. it's filming her that brings out her dark side. >> ah, dude! get your hands off me! >> well, then get in the back of the line! >> reporter: now, the crowd takes another tactic -- shaming her. >> it's a justice issue, right? >> reporter: the next thing was the police. >> then, she just quickly got in her car and drove away. >> it was as if society had withstood the test! >> get out of the way! >> reporter: perhaps. but never underestimate the likelihood of someone upping the ante to vigilante justice. >> lines can be hazardous to your health. >> reporter: take sam rosenwinkel for instance, whose story, which went viral on youtube and introduced hundreds

of thousands of viewers worldwide to the muffin macer, will bring tears to your eyes. it did his. popping into a duluth, minnesota, gas station for cigarettes, he cuts in front of this woman whose fuse was not just short. it was nonexistent. >> no, actually, i was here first. you wait! >> reporter: she's just getting started, grabbing muffins slowly. >> i started commenting on how many muffins were left. buy like 70 muffins. >> you're the [ bleep ] that's still back there. >> buy more muffins. >> you're the [ bleep ] that's still back there. >> reporter: suddenly, the muffin lady stops buying and starts spraying mace. >> told your stupid [ bleep ]! now! i did get enough muffins. >> reporter: you'd been maced. >> yeah. it kind of blew my mind. i didn't think that she was gonna do that. even though that she stepped way further out of line than i did, in my opinion, i don't think it's nice to cut in line. i should have asked her. >> reporter: not surprisingly, somewhere between the danger and drudgery of line waiting, a niche business has been born. robert samuel is one of its

pioneers. what's the name of your company? >> sold, inc. same old line dudes. >> reporter: for a price, robert will wait in line for you. >> i need to know where you are. >> reporter: in this case, the daily crush for the new york foodie craze called cronuts -- a scrumptious cross between a croissant and a donut. what's your hourly rate here on the cronut line? >> $60 for two. >> reporter: to who? >> to somebody who doesn't wanna do this. >> reporter: and who might that be? a sultan? a hedge fund titan? no, just a sweet lady with a sweet tooth. >> i don't have to get up super early. i don't have to wait in the cold. >> reporter: ironically, a week after we met robert, we found the best way to make a line disappear -- when the city health department found mouse droppings at the bakery. >> well, it's something of a crisis. >> reporter: since then it's all been cleared up and the crowds are back, but it made us think of the greatest mouse and line story of them all. >> how good are they?

>> disney is superb. >> reporter: professor larson said to learn the secrets of stopping line rage, book yourself a ticket to disney world. so we did. and we rendezvoused with kathy mangum, creative executive of walt disney imagineering at, where else? the dumbo ride. >> we want you to have so much to look at or do or entertain your kids, because kids aren't the best line waiters, right? they're a little impatient. >> reporter: walt disney, our parent company, has reimagined what it means to wait in line. >> how many total? >> reporter: this isn't the dumbo ride. this is the line to the ride. where kids play until a buzzer goes off. but of course by then, the kids are buzzing and getting them back in line will require its own magic trick. >> now wait, you're -- i see your thing has gone off. >> yeah, and i can't get him out. >> reporter: in the end, perhaps the lesson to all these line stories is to take a deep

breath, relax and enjoy the ride. it might just be worth the wait. coming up, rocking the vote, or just your eardrums? politicia politicians, bawling like a baby? next. th all the running? running here. running there. running into things. running out of things. making runs. running out of more things. making more runs. running to. running from. running around in circles. sometimes you like running. but wouldn't it be nice if you didn't always have to? introducing target subscriptions. free scheduled delivery of your favorite essentials. now running out no longer requires running out. meet new dream pure bb . from maybelline, new york. our first 8-in-1 bb

with blemish-fighting salicylic acid conceals and reduces blemishes for healthy-looking, clearer skin. new dream pure bb ♪ maybe it's maybelline. [prof. burke] at farmers,we believe what you don't know [bell rings] can hurt you. like what if you didn't know to get coverage for uninsured drivers? [robot] uh oh. [prof. burke] talk to farmers and get smarter about your insurance. ♪ we are farmers bum - pa - dum, bum - bum - bum - bum♪ (vo) you know that dream... where you're the hero? hey... you guys mind warming this fella up for me? i'm gonna go back down, i saw some recyclables. make it happen with verizon xlte. find a car service. we've doubled our 4g lte bandwidth in cities coast to coast. thanks! sure. we've got a spike in temperature. so save the day... don't worry, i got this... oh yeah, i see your spaceship's broken. with xlte on largest, most reliable network. get 50% off all new smartphones like the lg g3.

illamookmook old fashioned is absolutely amazing. creammmmmy. it makes my tongue dance. me too. hey you two, stop that tillamook tongue dancing and get back to work! tillamook ice cream, tastes better because it's made better.

tonight, you don't need us to tell you, most of america is fed up with washington.

wondering why so little gets done. but here are some politicians losing it. >> reporter: here's the thing about buttoned-up politicians. they expend so much effort trying not to lose it. every utterance, focus-grouped. every hair, ruthlessly moussed, which makes it even more shocking when they explode. ♪ >> dispickable. >> i will not yield. >> reporter: meet mike bost, a mild-mannered representative in the great state of illinois. you seem a fairly placid, calm individual. >> mm-hmm. most times, i am. i work great with people. >> reporter: now meet his alter ego, "meltdown mike." >> these dills, all the damn time! >> reporter: apparently, members were asked to vote on an amended bill with no time to read it.

bost just lost it. >> i'm sick of it! every year! i wasn't violent towards anybody. well, i was violent towards the papers. schaub ashamed of yourself. >> reporter: enthusiastic, or extreme? either way, bost is one of those rare and delicious examples of "disorder in the house." when a mother's honor was questioned, charles bishop went all mike tyson on the alabama senate floor, clocking senator lowell barron upside the head. >> politicians are supposed to make laws. but bishop kind of laid down the law, with his fist. and that law was more or less, "no one talks about my momma." >> reporter: and there are other members of this illustrious club like u.s. congressman jared polis, who just like a good shout. >> they're here because our government is tearing apart our families!

>> reporter: but you know, far more damaging for the not so level-headed lawmaker is the media meltdown. you may remember earlier this year new york representative michael grimm was being interviewed on new york one. but grimm was peeved at the reporter's questioning about campaign finance. and when he thought the camera was off, he was back. >> i will throw you off this balcony. i will break you like a boy. >> reporter: grimm apologized for the outburst. >> bottom line, sometimes i wear my emotions on my sleeve. >> reporter: he was later indicted on 20 counts of fraud, perjury and obstruction in relation with his business affairs, while everyone else was left wondering how exactly do you break a boy? another media meltdown apology was offered by democratic congressman bob etheridge after this. >> whoa. who are you? >> reporter: etheridge said he was just having a bad day when he kicked off on a college kid who was only trying to interview him. >> reporter: now, republican

strategists later told the new york times this wasn't an innocent college project. they were baiting etheridge and he bit. >> you know who judges me? go visit with your rabbi. >> reporter: kicking it up a level are the politicians who turn on their own constituents. you know, those pesky people who elect them. take anthony wiener. no sooner had he weathered the whole johnson on the internet saga, when a guy in a new york bakery insulted his wife and called him a scumbag. >> takes one to know one. jackass. >> i think in the grand scheme, seeing his penis was worse. >> reporter: another fatal flaw can be overexcitement. there are some crazy campaigners out there. remember that scream a decade ago -- -- that some say derailed howard dean's election chances? >> when howard dean gave that speech i'm like, "hey amen, howard dean." because you know what he was? he was authentic. >> reporter: howard dean's dream was the white house.

phil davison's dream was this. >> i am seeking our party's nomination for treasurer. >> reporter: we're talking stark county, ohio. >> i have been a republican in good times and i have been a republican in bad times. stark county treasury is a mess! >> reporter: it's obvious he's just dialed up the passion too high. even davison gradually figured that out, in mid-flow. >> there was a little backing away in the room. the majority of people put their head down. i could kind of sense that, you know, something's wrong here. >> reporter: and listen, he'd been warned. >> when i was practicing the speech, the dog would start to run away from me. i should have known at that point something might go drastically wrong. >> he forgot the most important rule of public speaking, try not to look like a [ bleep ] lunatic. ♪ >> reporter: davison got to star in this super bowl ad for volkswagen. but he lost the election. >> had i ran for the position and got the nomination, i would be working here on one of these floors. >> reporter: whether you're

controlling the stark county purse strings or the nuclear launch codes, the public likes to think you're gonna be calm in a crisis. in this crazy world, we want our leaders to be cool. and usually they are. >> there haven't been that many politicians who have completely lost their cool. >> reporter: well, maybe not here in america, but take a look overseas. the otherwise well-mannered brits boo and hiss like children in their parliament. >> reporter: meanwhile in japan, yup -- that's a 47-year-old provincial politician wailing like a toddler when confronted with corruption allegations. i think he's saying he wants his mommy. in taiwan, it actually gets physical. this guy came prepared with a crash helmet. that's premeditated.

our friend meltdown mike claims his outburst was not. just raw passion. he's now running for u.s. congress. >> let my people go! >> reporter: you know what, that's actually the kind of dedication and passion i let'one that covers better, lasts longer, and protects us from the elements... ...inside and out. let's go to the place with the best paint, take it home for less, then...rock..and...roll. let's do the one thing that changes everything. let's do this. more saving. more doing. that's the power of the home depot. right now, behr premium plus paint with an easy-clean finish,

just $23.96 a gallon. but do you really? [ female announcer ] neutrogena® makeup remover erases 99% of your most stubborn makeup with one towelette. can your makeup remover do that? [ female announcer ] neutrogena® makeup remover. can your makeup remover do that? no, no, no, no... this is the wolverine. no, no, this is x-men origins. wolverine. dude, it's x-men origins. wolverine wow... fellas, i got this... press the button, and... it's the wolverine. how'd you do that? amazon's fire phone with firefly technology, it recognizes movies, products and music. that's amazing. i'm in 4b if you need anything else. the new amazon fire phone, with a full year of prime included. exclusively on at&t. i think she tried to kill us. no, it's only 15 calories. with reddi wip, fruit never sounded more delicious, with 15 calories per serving and real cream, the sound of reddi wip is the sound of joy.

i make a lot of purchases foand i get ass. lot in return with ink plus from chase. like 50,000 bonus points when i spent $5,000 in the first 3 months after i opened my account. and i earn 5 times the rewards on internet, phone services and at office supply stores. with ink plus i can choose how to redeem my points. travel, gift cards, even cash back. and my rewards points won't expire. so you can make owning a business even more rewarding. ink from chase. so you can. next, hot weather and claims, always a dangerous

combination. >> next, a live report on the challenges the firefighters challenges the firefighters face in the east bay. ♪ ♪ challenges the firefighters face in the east bay. thank you! thank you! dedicated bankers born to go the extra mile. you've been such a big help. it's what i like to do. so you can choose a bank where helping people comes first. chase. so you can.