tonight on "nightline," never on sundays. faith has helped make the chick-fil-a chain a fortune and you won't believe how far some chicken fans will go for a free lunch. just not on the sabbath. and al qaeda alert. a mastermind behind a new terror plot is flown back to new york. how worried should we be? plus on the cheap.

from dumpster diving to homemade laundry detergent, she's the cheapest thrift in america and she's tonight's "sign of the times". gggggggggggggggggggggg captions paid for by abc, inc. >> good evening, i'm cynthia mcfadden. we continue with our series on the ten commandments. an unusual look at number four. thou shalt remember the sabbath day and keep it holy. a chicken restaurant, may be a surprising way to the biblical edict, but an important ingredient in their recipe for success is safe, and that means that each week when the sabbath arrives the doors are closed. as vicki mabry now reports in the latest installment of our series "the ten commandments". >> want to know where the in

place is wednesdays on these days? ♪ one of the hottest spots, parking lot. more precisely the asphalt outside soon to be opened chick-fil-a restaurants. ♪ originally conceived as a way to attract publicity in a new market, the lure is a free chicken sandwich meal once a week for a year for the first hundred people through the door. so wednesday mornings around 6:00 a.m., tents sprout up and lounge the lounge chairs appear and for the next 24 hours there's a party. with lots of dancing and games. >> check out my crib, come on. >> plenty of time for just hanging out. >> i see i've got my nice little chair here. >> how many times have you done a campout? >> 41. >> you came from oklahoma all the way to dallas to camp out overnight? >> yes. i don't know what it is. we just do that. >> in the midst of all the

action is a friendly -- >> hi, i'm dan. >> -- unassuming -- >> would you like to take a tour? >> a corporate executive. >> i like to say i work in customer service. >> yes, that's dan cathy, the president of chick-fil-a, a restaurant scheduled to open up 72 new restaurants over the year. cathy has been to nearly 100 campouts himself. why do you come out here? >> i'm a party animal, i love it. i enjoy it, you know? >> for sure, some come for the chicken. but for most celebrating on wednesday is a way to honer what the restaurants do on sunday. they're closed. >> come on done! bring all your people, sunday we close to go to the steeple. >> every employee knows ahead of time sunday is their day. >> we like chick-fil-a because they're very christian people.

they don't work their employees on sunday. >> where does it say honor the sabbath. >> honor the sabbath? chapter 20. >> justin dardee found the biblical reference fairly easily. >> remember the sabbath day by keeping it holy. six days you shall labor and the sixth day shall be holy. >> yes, they follow the fourth commandment but the closed on sunday rule actually started when dan's father truett opened his first restaurant. >> we have been closed ever since. >> so it started because your dad didn't want to work on sunday? >> no he didn't. he figured if he didn't like working on sunday other people don't like it either. i won't ask other people to do what i don't want to do myself. >> still, others -- >> we thank you for your greatness. >> -- simply because it includes a strong, spiritual component.

>> the corporate promise that chick-fil-a is something i want to put on my tombstone. we are here to glorify god by being a faithful steward and have a positive influence on all that we come in contact with at chick-fil-a. >> we wanted to acknowledge god, and the bible says that soloman says if you acknowledge me, i'll direct your paths. since god has directed our paths. >> it's a successful business plan. there are now 1,600 restaurants with sales growing to about $3 billion this year. >> i know we've got -- >> it's a tough place to get a job though. how many interviews do people have to go through to get to be an owner/operator? >> it's kind of legendary. it's said that it's easier to get a job with the cia than the

cfa. >> last year, 25,000 people applied to be owner/operators. only a hundred were picked. based on cathy's three c's -- competence, chemistry and character. >> if they're a fourth c christian? >> not at all. we know that christian values, biblical values are important. but we found that it's not an issue of religious labels. we've got a wide range of folks that identify with these principles. they have a lot of different religious preferences that are there. >> so you can be any religion, but you're looking for people of -- >> they have got to be honest. they've got to be people of integrity. they've got to be passionate about what they're doing. and so we find that, you know, some those core values, you know, are common among people of all faiths. >> the grand opening celebration shows no sign of winding down. ♪

>> there's a happy birthday shout-out. ♪ the usual celebrity responsibilities and constant conversation. >> we just appreciate what you do corporately and we wanted our sons to meet a strong christian man. >> then there's the dan cathy sermon. >> how many have done this before? if you camped out before, raise your hand. my goodness a lot. >> a little bit of history. >> we opened the smaller restaurant in 1946 called the dwarf grill restaurant. >> a little bit of sales. >> by the way, you can purchase the pants, they're available on chick-fil-a.com. >> and a little bit of prayer. that's it for late night. >> give thanks and when -- even while you're camping out and it's 90 degrees at midnight. be thankful in all

circumstances. >> approaching midnight, cathy squeezes in time for the life perspectives, christian radio call-in show. >> give us -- to know where to go, where we should be. i said we might acknowledge you in all our ways in jesus' name, amen. >> after a quick kitchen raid, dan cathy heads to the drive-through lane where there's a spot for the boss to pitch his own tent. >> i like to come to this side because it's usually a little quieter. >> not to mention that's where the company does 60% of its business. after barely enough time to get comfortable on the concrete, cathy is back up with the trumpet. it's 6:00 a.m. and time for the grand finale. the first 100 get their chicken meals and as soon as that is finished the restaurant is open. that's business to be done. because in the chick-fil-a

world, there are only six days to get that business. if you go in the mall on sunday and you see a dark, shuttered chick-fil-a and everything else open, do you think maybe? >> i think isn't that incredible, isn't that neat that we can be closed on sunday? we're generating more business in six days than any of all these are generating in seven and we can be with our family. >> that's the chick-fil-a way. providing nourishment for the body as well as the soul. this is vicki mabry for "nightline" in dallas. >> and so far it's working for business. vicki mabry reporting. when we come back, we'll turn to the alarming wave of terror activity and the man who authorities are calling the most dangerous man in america. crime in new york city has dropped 27% since 2001. response times in madrid...

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we turn now to the recent string of terror threats with high-profile arrests in dallas, illinois and here in new york where authorities say they disrupted the biggest plot on american soil since 9-11. while these plots were stopped, they are a grim reminder of extremists among us, some acting indten dentally -- independently, some aligned with al qaeda. brian ross reports. >> some were wondering if al qaeda still posed a threat to this country. and just today, al qaeda issued a new threat, this one against germany which has troops in afghanistan and a general election next week. tonight, officials are scrambling to figure out if it is somehow connected. the man who authorities say posed the most serious threat was flown from denver to new york today on a u.s. marshals jet. sha

shackled to the seat and to the floor. najibullah zazi, a one-time coffee cart vendor and airport shuttle driver arrived in the city he is accused of trying to attack. >> this is the kind of guy we have been anticipating for years now. someone who had a green card or passport and could go in and out of the country. >> zazi may have been planning to explode a series of bombs in new york on september 11, two weeks ago, a day that still evokes painful memories for the city and the country. tonight, police and federal agents are still on round the clock surveillance in the neighborhood in new york where zazi moved from afghanistan ten years ago when he was 14 years old. >> he was a very nice person. i mean, i never seen anything in him as a danger. but maybe a person can be changed. >> in august 2008, zazi went to pakistan and according to the fbi spent months in an al qaeda training camp where he learned

how to make bombs, using a recipe provided by al qaeda. but zazi's lawyer says that is not accurate, and that his client will plead not guilty. >> i think the charges brought against my client are a long way from being proved in way, shape or form. >>n the last month agents say, zazi began to show up at the beauty supply shops in the denver area to assemble the components for the bomb. this is zazi on a beauty product shopping spree made at one of the stores. >> he was very nonchalant, blended in pretty well which i presume was his goal. >> authorities say the same products used to bleach hair, create highlights contain the very set of chemicals listed in zazi's homemade bomb recipe. >> it flies under the radar when you purchase it. who's going to question someone going in to the beauty supply

store? >> he had actually checked into a suite outside of denver two weeks ago and had begun to mix the chemicals for the bombs in the kitchen. leaving traces behind in the stove vent. in documents filed in court, agents said zazi sent messages to others working with him. each more urgent in tone than the la, unquote. but zazi's lawyer says there's nothing to fear from his client. >> with regards to my client, i'm not aware of there being any reason for anyone to be concerned about it. >> at the same time the fbi was dealing with a realtor report plot, the agents in texas and illinois were carrying out two separate stings on men who allegedly wanted to be terrorists. one of them thought he was about to blow up this 60-story skyscraper in downtown dallas. 19-year-old smadi, an illegal immigrant dialled a cell phone number that he was told that would activate a bomb. the same technique was used one day earlier by fbi 600 miles

away in springfield, illinois, against a man who was told he could blow up the federal building there. michael finton was charged with attempted murder. then tonight, yet another american showed up as an al qaeda killer, a man identified as almarici. he levelled threats in german against the people. this is against the upcoming german election. the german tv anchors tonight called it the serious and unpress departmented threat level experienced by germany in years. one more sign this week that al qaeda is still far from defeated. >> it's a good reminder to us that we are still at risk, both at home and abroad. >> but agents say the arrest of najibullah zazi was a major victory. if convicted he faces life in prison.

for "nightline." this is brian ross, abc news, new york. >> an ongoing story, brian ross reporting this evening. when we come back, so you think you have a penny pincher in your family? wait until you see tonight's "sign of the times". right now five coworkers are working from the road using a mifi-- a mobile hotspot that provides up to five shared wi-fi connections. two are downloading the final final revised final presentation. - one just got an email. - woman: what?! hmph. it's being revised again. the copilot is on mapquest. and tom is streaming meeting psych-up music - from meltedmetal.com. - ( heavy metal music playing ) that's happening now with the new mifi from sprint-- the mobile hotspot that fits in your pocket. sprint. the now network. deaf, hard-of-hearing, and people with speech disabilities access www.sprintrelay.com. the mobile hotspot that fits in your pocket. sprint. the now network. ♪ ♪ to my family [ female announcer ] clean you can see. softness you can feel. tide with a touch of downy.

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vehicles that have been in stock the longest. while we turn now to the economy and a particularly economical woman. there is no doubt the recession has americans everywhere tightening their belts, but this self-proclaimed cheap skate

literally wrote the book about it. while her frugal lifestyle may not be for everyone, it has paid off. for andrea canning it's "a sign of times". >> now there's actually a technique to this. >> for lauren weber, saving money is an obsession. >> you don't want to stick your hands into any bags. >> we are on the streets of new york looking for end of day bag bagels. what am i looking for? >> for the feel of a bagel. >> this feels like an egg carton. >> okay. you don't want that. here's bagels. they were probably baked today. >> jackpot of bagels. she could be one of the cheapest people in america, but listen to her and you might save yourself rich. >> very comfortable. i would say in general, i can save about 30% of my income. >> billionaires like warren buffett have remained frugal through cycle after cycle, living in the same home he

bought in 1958 for $31,000. ikea founder reportedly drives a 15-year-old volvo and flies coach and david rear don of google fan cuts his own hair. >> no one has to feel ashamed if they feel they need to live as cheaply as possible. >> you're proud of wearing the cheap skate label? >> yeah. >> to learn some of her saving secrets we spent a day in the life of a cheap skate, tallying the annual savings along the day. >> it's the little extra fees, like the late fees and atm fees and i'll do everything i can to avoid them. >> the atm fees can be as high as 3 bucks. what about time is money? >> if i have extra time, i don't mind. >> there's $100 a year. one place you won't catch weber

walking toward is the mall. >> i try to spend less than $5 for a pair of jeans. >> she avoids the temptation by opting for thrift stores where we find designer clothes and shoes. what would this cost in barney? >> probably new $150, maybe $200. they're in good shape. >> savings from buying used clothes -- $800 a year. how far she willing to go? would you buy something like this for $1.50? >> um, you know, if it had a label on it saying that it was new. what could be wrong with it? as long as you wash it, wash it in hot water. >> with your homemade detergent. >> exactly. >> yes, she makes her own laundry detergent. >> one cup of borax and one cup of super washing soda and then grate a bar of ivory soap. this costs in total 75 cents. >> laundry savings these supplies will last her years.

>> hat of people -- a lot of people would be happier if they put less emphasis on material things and sort of keeping up with the joneses and being a part of that sort of work and spend cycle. >> weber does believe the country is headed in that direction with the faltering economy and the average american now carrying over $10,000 in credit card debt. she says cheap is chic again, at least for now. >> people are rediscovering some frugal skills they once had. history is full of periods when we have championed frugality as a virtue. then when people reset their appetites, it's a notch or two higher than before. >> but she says she can go too far for her search of savings. >> i found a jar of baby clams that i had for seven years or so. i opened up the clams and they were greenish blue and smelled coppery. i've got my laptop open and i'm

looking up the symptoms of botulism. >> she wrote a book about it in cheap we trust where she details the savings methods that adds up to a whopping $24,000 a year. are you still having fun? >> oh, yeah. i have a lot of fun. i don't feel deprived at all. to me being frugal is about buying my freedom. i have been all over the world and i spend money on that. >> do you think it's safe? >> i'm sure it's safe. >> back on the streets of new york, a trash bagel taste test. >> okay. how does it taste? >> pretty good. i can't believe i'm eating -- >> totally fine. >> breakfast saving, $360. i'm andrea canning for "nightline" in new york. >> okay, there's thrifty and then that's yucky. andrea canning reporting. when we come back, tonight's "closing argument." m