- 13 hours ago
repare for a searing cinematic voyage into the high-stakes world of New York big business. This high-quality, full movie, written by the legendary Rod Serling, is a brutal and brilliant dissection of corporate ethics, ambition, and the human cost of the bottom line. Brimming with atmospheric mid-century office tension and powerhouse performances by Van Heflin and Everett Sloane, this sharp-edged drama remains startlingly relevant today and is now free to watch for all fans of classic cinema who appreciate a story with a conscience and a razor-sharp script.
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Short filmTranscript
00:00:00The End
00:01:57Good morning, Mr. Neer.
00:01:59This early, you'll have to take the local.
00:02:01All right, Phil.
00:02:1440th floor executive, Mr. Neer.
00:02:15Thank you, Phil.
00:02:21Good morning, Ms. Lanier.
00:02:23Good morning, Martha.
00:02:24I couldn't find a cab anywhere.
00:02:25Such a lovely day, though.
00:02:3140th floor executive, Ramsey and Company.
00:02:33Ms. Stevens.
00:02:35I'm sorry, sir.
00:02:36Our switchboard doesn't open till 9.
00:02:38You should be able to reach him shortly thereafter.
00:02:41Ann.
00:02:43That's correct, sir.
00:02:45Mr. Staples begins with the company today.
00:02:47I'll leave you a message on his desk.
00:02:50Ann, would you put this on Mr. Staples' desk, please?
00:02:53Yes, ma'am.
00:02:53Mr. Staples will be in Mr. Quinn's old office, executive corridor.
00:02:57Yes, I know.
00:02:57Oh, I said deliver it, not read it.
00:03:02Yes, ma'am.
00:03:06Executive, audio floor, Ms. Stevens.
00:03:14Morning.
00:03:15Hi.
00:03:16Oh, good morning, madam.
00:03:17I wonder if Marge is going to go to work next door.
00:03:20Oh, no.
00:03:21Well, I'm glad I don't.
00:03:22Not there.
00:03:23Maybe.
00:03:24Well.
00:03:25We really fixed up a new exec's office for him, didn't we?
00:03:28Very nice.
00:03:29A new man.
00:03:31Right next door to your boss.
00:03:33And awfully close to Mr. Ramsey.
00:03:36So happens it's a new man.
00:03:38What's his name?
00:03:39Staples?
00:03:40Mm-hmm.
00:03:41We'll be working with Mr. Briggs.
00:03:43That's why they have adjoining offices.
00:03:45Marjorie, baby, you're awfully defensive.
00:03:49I guess that's because you're worried about your Mr. Briggs.
00:03:53Run along, will you?
00:03:58May I have some more cream, please?
00:04:21Next car, please.
00:04:22Next car, next car, please.
00:04:23Okay.
00:04:24Next car.
00:04:28Harry, Charlie, Joe, express down.
00:04:31No stops for Jen.
00:04:40Next car, next car.
00:04:42Next car, please.
00:04:44Next car.
00:04:45Next car.
00:04:46Morning, Mr. Ramsey.
00:04:47Next car, please.
00:04:48It's all right.
00:04:57Thank you, Lanny.
00:04:58Yes, sir.
00:05:01Miss Lallier.
00:05:02Miss Stevens.
00:05:03He's here.
00:05:04Thank you, Martha.
00:05:09Chief Operator, please.
00:05:12Miss Phillips, you can put this morning's three long-distance calls through to Mr. Ramsey.
00:05:16Portland, Dallas, St. Louis offices.
00:05:23Good morning, Mr. Ramsey.
00:05:24Good morning, Miss Lannier.
00:05:29Any messages?
00:05:30You have calls placed for our Portland, Dallas, and St. Louis offices.
00:05:34Nothing else important, sir.
00:05:35Martin Tool and Dye, you said you'd wire him.
00:05:37Yes, you'll find a copy in my briefcase.
00:05:40You're right, as usual.
00:05:41Nothing important.
00:05:43I have the Portland report in my briefcase.
00:05:45I want it teletyped this morning to Seattle.
00:05:48Have someone there drive over to Portland and get it to Johnson before lunch.
00:05:52Then run off 20 copies, confidential mimeographing, and have them ready in time for the board meeting.
00:05:56I want it on the agenda.
00:05:59Has Mr. Staples arrived yet?
00:06:01Not yet, sir.
00:06:02Delay that meeting until 10 this morning to give you time to get the report mimeoed and distributed.
00:06:07I want it read, and carefully.
00:06:10Get word underground to their secretaries that no one is to count on making any early luncheon appointments.
00:06:15And make a note.
00:06:17Staples is to sit one down from Van de Venter on my left.
00:06:20Yes, sir.
00:06:21Let me know as soon as Mr. Staples arrives.
00:06:24Yes, Mr. Ramsey.
00:06:38Let me know as soon as Mr. Staples arrives.
00:06:59Well, Fred, here we are.
00:07:01Ah, here we are.
00:07:03A little different than Mansfield, isn't it?
00:07:05Now I know what a mother feels like when a child goes to school for the first time.
00:07:09Oh, goodbye, mother.
00:07:11Looks big, doesn't it?
00:07:13Oh, give me a chance, honey.
00:07:14Maybe I can cut it down to my size.
00:07:17Well, I'm a little late.
00:07:19Shall I call you when I...
00:07:20No, no, no.
00:07:21You go on home after you finish shopping.
00:07:23And find a garage somewhere out mid-town.
00:07:26Apart from the car.
00:07:27I'll phone you on what train I'll be on.
00:07:29I'll...
00:07:29Bye-bye.
00:07:34Goodbye, darling!
00:07:55Oh, Ramsey and Company, the board said...
00:07:58Yes, sir.
00:07:58Executive or Administrative?
00:08:00Oh, the Executive, Mr. Ramsey.
00:08:0140th floor, sir.
00:08:03Morning.
00:08:04Morning.
00:08:06So, uh, you went to the tower, sir.
00:08:09The tower elevator, sir?
00:08:12It'll be down in a minute.
00:08:13Oh, I'm sorry.
00:08:15My pleasure, sir.
00:08:17Good morning.
00:08:18Good morning, Ed.
00:08:19Good morning.
00:08:21Good morning.
00:08:22Good morning.
00:08:23Good morning, Jamie.
00:08:24Good morning, Bill.
00:08:28Good morning, Marge.
00:08:29How was the weekend?
00:08:30Your letters are on your desk, and the coffee cart will be here in a minute.
00:08:32I can use some coffee.
00:08:34Didn't you get any rest at all?
00:08:35Couldn't even take my kid to the doubleheader.
00:08:37Oh, what a shame.
00:08:38That planning report's going to be a real job, Marge.
00:08:41This will be a big week for you, too, with that thing.
00:08:43I believe we'll try a rough first draft.
00:08:46Long?
00:08:46No longer than the telephone directory.
00:08:48Phew!
00:08:50Marge?
00:08:53Has Mr. Staples come in yet, Marge?
00:08:57No, sir.
00:08:59Mr. Staples?
00:09:00Yes.
00:09:01I'm Margaret Lanier, Mr. Ramsey's secretary.
00:09:03Oh, how do you do?
00:09:04Mr. Ramsey would, of course, be here to welcome you himself, but you caught him on a long-distance call.
00:09:08May I take you back to your office?
00:09:10Well, thank you very much.
00:09:12And on our way, I might show you some of our other departments.
00:09:15Have you met Miss Stevens?
00:09:17I introduced myself, Miss Lanier.
00:09:19Fine.
00:09:20And may I bid you my own personal welcome.
00:09:22We're very glad to see you.
00:09:24Well, that's very nice of you.
00:09:26Now, if you'll just come with me, Mr. Staples.
00:09:31Miss Stevens.
00:09:32Marketing and sales are below here.
00:09:34We have our own research department on the 40th floor.
00:09:37Perhaps you'd like to see that later.
00:09:39This is the executive corridor.
00:09:42Mr. Ramsey's office is that one down at the end.
00:09:45Then Mr. Jameson, head of purchasing.
00:09:47Mr. Briggs.
00:09:48You'll be working closely with Mr. Briggs.
00:09:50Mr. Briggs.
00:09:51Mr. Briggs, thank you, dear.
00:09:52And this is your office.
00:10:04Isn't it nice?
00:10:06I hope you like it.
00:10:09Mr. Ramsey was told by someone in your old office that you were especially fond of this period.
00:10:14Weren't your office in Mansfield furnished in early American?
00:10:17My furniture consisted of two filing cabinets and a surplus metal desk off of a destroyer escort.
00:10:26No, it's, uh, it's really very attractive.
00:10:30Very, I appreciate it very much indeed.
00:10:34Excuse me, Miss Lanier.
00:10:35Ann said you wanted to see me.
00:10:37Oh, yes, Marge.
00:10:38Mr. Staples, this is Miss Fleming.
00:10:40How do you do?
00:10:40How do you do?
00:10:41Marge, will you see that Mr. Staples has everything he needs in the way of office equipment?
00:10:45It was arranged for this morning at Mr. Briggs' suggestion.
00:10:48Oh, fine.
00:10:49I was rushed now, Mr. Staples.
00:10:50Again, a most cordial welcome.
00:10:52Thank you very much.
00:10:53And, uh, Marge, will you step by at my desk when you finish here, please?
00:10:57Yes, Miss Lanier.
00:11:03I think I'd better explain the phone system, Mrs. Staples.
00:11:06There are four lines.
00:11:08One is your private line, direct to outside.
00:11:11Two is for conference calls.
00:11:13Three is for inter-office.
00:11:14And four, this button is for your secretary.
00:11:18Oh, I'm sorry.
00:11:19May I?
00:11:19Oh, yes, thank you.
00:11:22Yes, I think I have that, uh, let's see.
00:11:27Outside, inter-office, uh, conference, uh, yes, that's, that's fine.
00:11:37Thank heavens, this isn't early American.
00:11:43Busy?
00:11:45No, no, not at all.
00:11:47Well, you must be, uh...
00:11:48Bill Briggs, your next-door neighbor.
00:11:50Yes, of course.
00:11:51Well, I'm certainly glad to meet you, sir.
00:11:53I, I think, uh, Mr. Ramsey told me you'd been sick, didn't he?
00:11:56Oh, did he?
00:11:58Actually, it's just a, just a pesky stomach that's been acting up on me.
00:12:01You just in from Mansfield?
00:12:03Yes, they took a house for...
00:12:05Oh, uh, sit down, Mr. Briggs.
00:12:06Settled already?
00:12:08Good.
00:12:09I'm not trying to set myself up as a real New Yorker.
00:12:13Altoona, Pennsylvania, that's where I came from.
00:12:15My first trip home, I was wearing spats.
00:12:18I remember my father not being able to get over it.
00:12:20He says, Bill?
00:12:21Bill, he says, you went to New York to see the sights, and instead you become one of them.
00:12:29Well, we just got here Friday afternoon, so this morning Nancy insisted, uh, my wife, she insisted on driving me
00:12:36to work the first morning.
00:12:38You know, the way women are.
00:12:40You know, you, you come out of a small-town plant, you, you feel a little lost in a place
00:12:47like this.
00:12:49Well, as I was saying, you know, we, uh, walked into our house Friday afternoon.
00:12:52We'd never laid eyes on the place before, you know.
00:12:55And there it was, furnished like a magazine.
00:12:57Milk in the ice box, bourbon on the shelf, and I don't know, you gotta hand it to them the
00:13:02way they do things around here.
00:13:04Yes, Miss Lanier handles all that, does a fine job.
00:13:07Well, that feeling that I got driving into town this morning.
00:13:12Well, I've got to admit, it's just, uh, it's just a little overwhelming.
00:13:19Yes, and it's a pretty wonderful thing to be as young as you are and see it all spread out
00:13:24in front of you like a, like a Christmas tree.
00:13:29You know, you think of, uh, you think of big business, you always think of it as being very impersonal,
00:13:37you know.
00:13:39Well, but, uh, it's certainly not true with your Mr. Ramsey.
00:13:45I know what you mean.
00:13:49How much time did you put in in Mansfield?
00:13:51Almost six years.
00:13:52You must have blown a bugle in Ramsey's ear out in Ohio.
00:13:55He brought you here in a hurry.
00:13:58Well, actually, I wasn't at all sure I wanted to come to New York, but, uh, this Ramsey is a
00:14:04pretty dynamic man.
00:14:06Yes, I know.
00:14:09You see, you've been with a firm some time now, haven't you?
00:14:12Oh, maybe 40 years or so.
00:14:16I seem to recall Mr. Ramsey's talking about you as a production man.
00:14:21You're an engineer, aren't you?
00:14:23Yes, but, uh, from what he told me, I guess I'll be a little of everything around here.
00:14:28Mostly in industrial relations.
00:14:32Industrial relations.
00:14:35Matter of fact, it's been one of my specialties.
00:14:40We, we ought to get along pretty well together.
00:14:44I'm sure we will.
00:14:47Excuse me.
00:14:48Mr. Ramsey's called a meeting in the conference room, Mr. Briggs.
00:14:51Oh?
00:14:52Well, Fred, it's been a real pleasure meeting you.
00:14:56Mr. Ramsey's expecting Mr. Staples, too.
00:14:59Oh.
00:15:01Well, then, I'll, uh, I'll go in with you if you don't mind.
00:15:05Not at all.
00:15:08I just hope Mr. Ramsey remembers hiring me.
00:15:12Mr. Ramsey rarely forgets anything.
00:15:15After you.
00:15:18Staples?
00:15:18Yes.
00:15:19Hello.
00:15:19Oh, Fred, uh, this is Harvey Jameson, head of purchasing.
00:15:22Oh, how are you?
00:15:23Well, they finally finished it.
00:15:25What?
00:15:26Oh, Fred, your office on Friday, the painters and all, it was a madhouse.
00:15:29Say, Bill, are you taking along Ramsey's breakdown?
00:15:31Um, oh, no, I forgot that.
00:15:33There are a couple of other things I forgot, too.
00:15:35Jamie, would you and Fred go along together?
00:15:37I'll be in in a few minutes.
00:15:38Fine.
00:15:38I suppose Lanier's giving you the cook's tour.
00:15:40What?
00:15:41Oh, yes.
00:15:41Did she show you the conference room?
00:15:43Oh, yes, on the other side, yes.
00:15:46Mr. Briggs?
00:15:47What is it, Marge?
00:15:51I don't know.
00:15:55Mr. Briggs, I think I ought to resign.
00:15:57Resign?
00:15:58What are you talking about?
00:15:59What happened?
00:16:00What is it, Marge?
00:16:02Mr. Briggs, I've just been ordered to go over to Mr. Staples as his new secretary.
00:16:06Temporarily?
00:16:07No, I don't think so.
00:16:08Who gave this order?
00:16:10Mr. Lanier.
00:16:11When?
00:16:12About five minutes ago.
00:16:14I'm supposed to break in your new secretary.
00:16:16They've picked a new secretary for me?
00:16:18Yes, I think so.
00:16:21It's out of the question for you to resign, Marge, to even think of resigning.
00:16:25You're a fine, wonderful woman and a great secretary.
00:16:29That's the reason they want you over with Staples.
00:16:31He'll need someone like you because he's new here and they want him to get into harness fast.
00:16:35Who can tell, Marge, one of these days?
00:16:38Yes, that stomach of mine, pretty perverse organ.
00:16:41And I'm tired.
00:16:44You know as it must to all men.
00:16:47Mr. Briggs.
00:16:49Have you any idea who your successor is?
00:16:53Yes, they've chosen Sylvia Trammell.
00:16:56Miss Trammell?
00:16:57It is so ordained.
00:16:58So be it.
00:17:00She's new, but she's supposed to be very good at dictation.
00:17:03Well, we'll give her a chance to prove it.
00:17:06Mr. Briggs.
00:17:09If I could only tell you what this job has meant to me.
00:17:12What working with you has meant to me.
00:17:15All right, kid.
00:17:17Wash up, get your money and get out of here.
00:17:22And give Mr. Staples all the best you've got in you.
00:17:25I know you will.
00:17:26That's the only way you operate.
00:17:28I like the guy.
00:17:30I have a feeling he's going to carve out a career around here.
00:17:33Yes, sir.
00:17:35Everybody seems to think so.
00:17:39I'm sorry to keep you waiting, gentlemen.
00:17:41Mr. Ramsey will be with us in a moment.
00:17:53I'll see you.
00:17:56I'll see you.
00:18:06I'll see you.
00:18:08I'll see you.
00:18:08Been away, have you?
00:18:09Good to see you.
00:18:10Good to see you.
00:18:10Good to see you.
00:18:11Oh, sorry, Fred.
00:18:12I was held up for a few minutes.
00:18:13See you later, Fred.
00:18:14Good to see you.
00:18:14Good to see you.
00:18:14Now, where are we going to sit you?
00:18:15Oh, here's an empty chair.
00:18:17I guess you can sit right here.
00:18:18Oh, Mr. Staples, will you sit over there, please?
00:18:20Right next to Mr. Van de Venter.
00:18:22One down for Mr. Ramsey, please.
00:18:27Welcome back, Bill.
00:18:29Feeling better?
00:18:30Much, thank you.
00:18:31A little stomach.
00:18:32Good.
00:18:33I'm glad it's cleared up.
00:18:36John, don't forget that contract.
00:18:38Can you get it through tomorrow?
00:18:39I think so.
00:18:40I have a problem.
00:18:41I'll just stand over your arms.
00:18:42First, gentlemen, I'd like you to look over the mimeo sheet on top.
00:18:47Haverford Mutual had some doctors look into the matter of executive diets.
00:18:51Their findings showed incredible deficiencies.
00:18:55They've gotten up some food tables.
00:18:57I've had them mimeoed.
00:18:58I'd like you to look them over.
00:19:00As you know, it's been my feeling that a healthy executive is an efficient one.
00:19:07I think it not amiss now to introduce the newest member of our team, Mr. Fred Staples.
00:19:12He's from Mansfield, Ohio.
00:19:14As you all know, he was general manager of Queen City Tool and Dye until we took it over.
00:19:19His record there was a brilliant one.
00:19:21He's a production engineer by training, an industrial relations man by instinct.
00:19:25I expect good things from him.
00:19:34Oh, you've probably met everyone, but just for the record, reading from left to right,
00:19:39Mr. Jameson, head of purchasing.
00:19:40Yes, we met.
00:19:41Mr. Granigan, controller.
00:19:42Mr. Staple.
00:19:43Mr. Gordon, head of sales.
00:19:45How are you?
00:19:45Mr. Latham, head of service.
00:19:46Mr. Portier, chief of operations.
00:19:49Yes, nice knowing him.
00:19:50And Mr. Van Deventer, chief engineer.
00:19:53How are you?
00:19:53Nice to see you.
00:19:54Nice to play you.
00:19:55Oh, and of course, you've met Mr. Briggs.
00:19:58Oh, yes.
00:19:59Who is our vice president, assistant general manager, in charge of everything that everybody
00:20:03else forgets to be in charge.
00:20:06Now, gentlemen, you all have before you a copy of the Williamston plant purchase prospectus.
00:20:12Mr. Jameson, did you attach your supplements?
00:20:14It's right there, Mr. Ramsey, page 17R, under process equipment.
00:20:19And, uh, Mr. Granigan, the stock purchase plan I outlined, do I have your comments here?
00:20:23Uh, you do, Mr. Ramsey.
00:20:24Good.
00:20:25Feasible, is it?
00:20:26Very much so, in my opinion.
00:20:29Good.
00:20:31Well, that about winds it up, unless there are any further points to be made.
00:20:35I do think, Mr. Ramsey, if we could keep the transaction under wraps for a bit, at least
00:20:39during the preliminaries, you know, what'll happen to the stock quotations if it leaks
00:20:43out that we've agreed to purchase.
00:20:45I've arranged it this way.
00:20:46The stock quotation as of yesterday morning...
00:20:53You seem to be straining at the leash, Mr. Briggs, or am I mistaken?
00:20:57You mention here that probable time of purchase would be sometime in June.
00:21:00Are the plants to be in receivership until then?
00:21:03That seems to be what it says.
00:21:05That means six months with improper maintenance of equipment.
00:21:07Oh, I doubt it, Bill.
00:21:09I've had two of my best men out there for the last six weeks.
00:21:11Oh, we had a varying voltage problem, but that was taken care of.
00:21:15You know, maintenance-wise, I doubt if there'll be a thousand dollars worth of deterioration.
00:21:19How about goodwill?
00:21:20What about it?
00:21:21The plant employs 900 men.
00:21:23That's half the working force of the village.
00:21:25So?
00:21:25So what do we do with these men?
00:21:27Cover them with cosmoline and put them away in a drawer until we get ready to resume production?
00:21:31I thought your concern was for the plant.
00:21:33And what good is the plant without the men?
00:21:34You chop a village payroll in half for six months,
00:21:36and you might not have a plan, because you might not have a village.
00:21:39Mr. Briggs, if we may be permitted to disregard for the moment the considerations that you have brought up,
00:21:44what about the rest of the plan?
00:21:47I'd say it was adequate.
00:21:49Adequate?
00:21:52That gentleman is the kiss of death, believe me.
00:21:55I've known Mr. Briggs for a long time.
00:21:58When he says something is adequate, what he means is that it is entirely inadequate.
00:22:02I must admit to feeling a concern over some 900 men suddenly deprived of a livelihood.
00:22:06Mr. Briggs, if you would do me the goodness to look at what I consider to be a fairly elementary
00:22:10business principle.
00:22:11By putting 900 men out of work temporarily, we may ultimately employ twice that number in the same town.
00:22:17By cutting production costs as a result, we will then be able to compete more favorably in the market.
00:22:22Thus, we'll be able to sell more goods.
00:22:24We're not going to ruin that town.
00:22:26We're going to make it.
00:22:26I should think, Mr. Briggs, that after 30 years, you'd be able to think beyond the tongue-clucking stage
00:22:32and come up with something resembling an analytical point of view.
00:22:35I was under the impression I'd given you a point of view.
00:22:37I saw none.
00:22:38I perceived what amounts to a rather emotional little tidbit that was decidedly more charitable than cooperative
00:22:43and by no means thought through.
00:22:45I asked, I believe, for an objective view of a business venture.
00:22:48From you, I got, and I seem constantly to be getting a very negative response of any at all.
00:22:53Adequate, I believe you said.
00:22:55Well, Mr. Briggs, this little move will save us conservatively half a million dollars,
00:22:59which we'll be able to put back into the business.
00:23:01I must say you take a liberal view of adequacy.
00:23:03I didn't intend to make a central issue out of this,
00:23:06but I did feel it important enough to air in this meeting.
00:23:13Well, you have aired it in this meeting.
00:23:15I think it's a good thing you did.
00:23:17But I think, Bill, we're pretty much of one mind about it now.
00:23:20And we may assume the matter is closed now.
00:23:24Mr. Briggs.
00:23:34How about you, Mr. Staples?
00:23:36Do you have an opinion?
00:23:38No.
00:23:40No, I think not, Mr. Enzi.
00:23:42Why not?
00:23:44Well, frankly, it's a little out of my grasp at the moment.
00:23:47I don't know anything about the firm,
00:23:48its corporative setup, reasons for bankruptcy,
00:23:52or for that matter, its product.
00:23:54I'm afraid I'll have to pass.
00:23:57Good answer.
00:24:00I respect thoughtful judgment, Mr. Staples.
00:24:04Congratulations.
00:24:09We'll adjourn now until two o'clock.
00:24:12I'm sorry we got started so late this morning,
00:24:15but I wanted this analysis mimeoed for your inspection.
00:24:18After lunch, we'll take up the Portland report,
00:24:20which you have before you.
00:24:22Mr. Grannigan attended a stockholders meeting there on Tuesday,
00:24:25and we'll begin our discussion with his report.
00:24:28That's all.
00:24:30All right, sir.
00:24:32Oh, Bill.
00:24:34All right, have a good lunch, eh?
00:24:36Oh, thank you.
00:24:37Yes.
00:24:40Oh, uh, Bill, wasn't there something
00:24:42you wanted to speak to me about before?
00:24:44Nothing important.
00:24:46Fine.
00:24:47Tummy's all right, eh?
00:24:48Cast iron.
00:24:49Couldn't be better.
00:24:50Good.
00:24:50Keep it up.
00:24:53Oh, uh, Staples.
00:24:55See you, sir.
00:24:55You bet.
00:24:58Good to have you with us, Staples.
00:25:00The arrangement satisfactory?
00:25:01Oh, yes, just perfect.
00:25:03I'm sure you'll be hearing from my wife very soon about that.
00:25:05That's a beautiful house.
00:25:06Beautiful country up there.
00:25:08I'm sure you'll love it.
00:25:09Oh, uh, see you later, Bill.
00:25:14Oh, Fred, Briggs is working on a project now,
00:25:18a comprehensive planning report.
00:25:20The point is that it's very important,
00:25:22most important indeed for our future program,
00:25:24and it's far too big a job for Briggs,
00:25:26or for any one man to handle.
00:25:29Now, what I want you to do is get your finger in here.
00:25:31Certainly.
00:25:32What I mean is more than just your finger.
00:25:35You understand me?
00:25:36Yes, Mr. Ramsey.
00:25:37You make that quite clear.
00:25:52Oh, could I see you a minute, Miss Flumman?
00:26:13Yes, sir?
00:26:15Oh, I wonder if you could check for me, please,
00:26:18as to who's to be my secretary.
00:26:20I need some notes typed up.
00:26:23I'm to be your secretary, Mr. Staples.
00:26:28But I thought Mr. Briggs.
00:26:30It was arranged for just before the meeting, Mr. Staples.
00:26:35I take it you'd rather remain with Mr. Briggs.
00:26:38I was Mr. Briggs' secretary for seven years, Mr. Staples.
00:26:41Well, in that case, I see no reason
00:26:43why I shouldn't be able to get someone else.
00:26:47It was Mr. Ramsey's idea.
00:26:50Do you want to give me those notes now?
00:26:56No, uh, why don't you have your lunch first, Miss Fleming?
00:26:59We'll take care of these when you come back.
00:27:15Mr. Briggs.
00:27:20There are some notes here that...
00:27:23Later, Marge.
00:27:25I'll do it later.
00:27:31I'll do it later.
00:28:08You didn't say anything about my new hairdo.
00:28:10Do you like it?
00:28:11Yeah, it's lovely.
00:28:16I wish you could see the new dresses I bought.
00:28:18They're just beautiful.
00:28:20Where are they?
00:28:21Oh, they're still at the store,
00:28:23having little things done to them.
00:28:25Come on, the kitchen.
00:28:26I'll fix your drink.
00:28:26Not the kitchen.
00:28:28The library.
00:28:31Oh, fine.
00:28:40I hope they'd have the dresses ready
00:28:42and have them sent over to your office this afternoon.
00:28:45I spoke to your secretary about it when I called.
00:28:48It's funny she didn't mention it.
00:28:50They didn't get the job done in time.
00:28:52She had a nice voice.
00:28:54What'd she like?
00:28:55Who?
00:28:57Your secretary.
00:28:59Oh, what you might expect.
00:29:03You know.
00:29:06What's her name?
00:29:09Now, to tell you the truth, I didn't get her name.
00:29:11Only your dimensions.
00:29:13All right.
00:29:16No, her name is Fleming.
00:29:19It so happens you don't have a thing in the world to worry about.
00:29:22She doesn't like me worth a bit.
00:29:24Well, I guess she prefers working for her former boss.
00:29:32Well, then why doesn't she?
00:29:34I don't know.
00:29:35Some kind of strategy at the top, I guess.
00:29:41That sounds funny.
00:29:43Yeah.
00:29:46Her ex-boss happens to be only one of the vice presidents.
00:29:51My superior and a very nice guy to boot.
00:29:55Could that perhaps be a good sign?
00:29:58Well, you figured out.
00:30:00Left me a little up in the air.
00:30:03You know, Nancy, running a plant in Ohio
00:30:06is beginning to take on all the aspects
00:30:10of a nice, simple, uncomplicated gravy train.
00:30:17What happened today?
00:30:19Oh, nothing, really.
00:30:21Just an impression, I guess.
00:30:27Sort of queer undercurrents and tensions and...
00:30:37Good luck.
00:31:06Mr. Ramsey.
00:31:08Good morning, Mr. Ramsey.
00:31:10Mr. Stevens.
00:31:15Fine, thanks, Jerry.
00:31:17Let me see that breakdown again.
00:31:18Oh, sure.
00:31:20Miss Fleming, would you step in for a minute, please?
00:31:21Yes, Mr. Stevens.
00:31:26No, that's not the one.
00:31:28Oh, sorry.
00:31:28Let me see this.
00:31:30That's yours.
00:31:31Yeah.
00:31:32Now, this is the only one that I have cross-indexed for division,
00:31:35so don't let him keep it.
00:31:35I want Billy to take my letter from Henry Jacobson with him.
00:31:38Oh, yes.
00:31:40Now, look, Billy.
00:31:42Henry is a nice, sincere guy, you know?
00:31:45Made out of Bessemer steel.
00:31:47He hasn't been off of his duff since he learned how to walk.
00:31:49He started out stoking coke furnaces when he's 14,
00:31:52was mill foreman when he was 20,
00:31:54and then he ended up buying the whole plant for his own 40th birthday present.
00:31:57So, you know what I mean.
00:31:58Watch out.
00:31:59I sure will.
00:31:59Now, give him that report, and then remember what he says.
00:32:02Make stenographic notes when you can,
00:32:04and when you can't, put it all down on paper as soon as you get out of the office.
00:32:07No approximations.
00:32:08Make it as...
00:32:08Yes, I know you have to go.
00:32:10I want to know what they're thinking.
00:32:11I want to know how they feel about every paragraph of that thing.
00:32:13I just hope they'll open up more to you than they did to me.
00:32:16I'll be down there sometime next week for their decision.
00:32:18Okay.
00:32:19Mention that to them, will you?
00:32:20Yes, I will.
00:32:21Hello?
00:32:23Uh, hold it, please, just a second.
00:32:25Have a nice trip, Billy, and be sure and call me Sunday night.
00:32:28Yeah, I will.
00:32:29Thank you very much.
00:32:29Thank you, Mark.
00:32:30Yes, put him on.
00:32:31Uh, don't go away, Mr. Fleming, please.
00:32:33Hello?
00:32:35Judd.
00:32:35Look, I'm sorry.
00:32:36I meant to call you right back.
00:32:37Uh, it's about that Atlantic States Nitrate meeting set up for October the 3rd.
00:32:41I'd like a delay on that.
00:32:46Well, I want to walk in there sure of my ground,
00:32:48and October's not going to give me any ground at all.
00:32:54Yeah, could you do that?
00:32:55Well, that'll be a help.
00:32:59November 7th?
00:33:01Fine.
00:33:03Look, I'll see you in the dining room.
00:33:05Okay, good.
00:33:07Put that on my calendar, please.
00:33:09Now then, uh, would you get those wires off?
00:33:12Yes, sir.
00:33:13Good.
00:33:14Right after lunch, I want you to set up a conference call
00:33:16with Ramsey, Jameson, myself, with Frank Daring in Denver.
00:33:19You've got a minute, Fred.
00:33:20Sorry, Mark, this is urgent.
00:33:21It's about that NLRB vote in Portland.
00:33:23What about it?
00:33:24Ramsey's grumbling about it.
00:33:25He thinks it's premature.
00:33:27Premature?
00:33:27What's he talking about?
00:33:29He's had that plant running on wishful thinking for 19 months now.
00:33:33We've got a labor problem out there all primed to explode in our face.
00:33:37Now, look, Bill, you better walk in his office with a great big neon sign.
00:33:40Strike, you know?
00:33:41Then tell him I've got a little estimate worked out,
00:33:43that it'll cost us conservatively $4,000 a day if that plant goes out.
00:33:47Oof, you know how that'll hit him.
00:33:48Yeah, well, you go in there and dig up the ground
00:33:50and I'll follow you with a bulldozer and we'll plow him under.
00:33:53No, we've got 800 big lumberjacks out there
00:33:55and if they go, that'll do it big, you know.
00:33:57This won't be any one-week picket.
00:33:58This thing could go on for a year with no strain at all.
00:34:01You walk in there, set the charge,
00:34:03and I'll be in to light to fuse, huh?
00:34:05Fine.
00:34:05I'll have to call you back.
00:34:13Is 2.30 convenient for your call to Denver, Mr. Staples?
00:34:17Do I have everything else on?
00:34:18I've got another problem out here, if you can spare a minute.
00:34:20Well, Paul, how are you, partner?
00:34:23Mr. Staples, that gun.
00:34:24Oh, you got it.
00:34:25You like it?
00:34:26Did you try it out yet?
00:34:27Try it yet.
00:34:2730 seconds from the time he read Winchester double barrel on the box,
00:34:30he was sighting it.
00:34:31Well, how about going out for a little skeet shooting on Sunday?
00:34:33Give it a try, huh?
00:34:34Wonderful.
00:34:35Can I, Dad?
00:34:36He's all yours, Fred.
00:34:37He's a little too strenuous for me.
00:34:39Mr. Staples doesn't get tired like you do, Dad.
00:34:41Don't get tired.
00:34:42He was an all-American.
00:34:44Well, it was just horrific, so I had to stop by and thank you.
00:34:46You forget it.
00:34:47Well, so long.
00:34:48I'll see you outside.
00:34:52Were you thoughtful of your friend?
00:34:55It's my pleasure, Bill.
00:34:56Hello, Mr. Ramsey.
00:34:58How are you, Paul?
00:34:58Still taking your vitamins, are you?
00:35:00I guess so, sir.
00:35:01Fine, fine.
00:35:03Keep it up.
00:35:04Excuse me, Mr. Fulham.
00:35:08Oh, man, I'm tired.
00:35:10I've made arrangements for your call to Denver, Mr. Staples.
00:35:12If I could go over one paragraph...
00:35:13No, I think I'll knock that off after lunch, if you don't mind, Miss Fleming.
00:35:17All right, Mr. Staples.
00:35:20No, drink it here.
00:35:21Relax a minute.
00:35:26I will?
00:35:46Would you like some of mine?
00:35:48Yes, thank you.
00:35:49As a matter of fact, I would.
00:35:54No, that is fine.
00:36:01Where'd you play your football, Mr. Staples?
00:36:05Oh, Ohio State.
00:36:06But don't ask me the years.
00:36:07I won't tell you.
00:36:08I won't ask you.
00:36:10Anyway, I feel about three times older than when I first came here.
00:36:14They've kept you busy.
00:36:16Yes, I sure have.
00:36:19You've done very well.
00:36:20You fit it in quickly.
00:36:30You know, I think that's the first out-and-out friendly thing you've said to me.
00:36:34I think you resent me a little, don't you, Miss Fleming?
00:36:37I don't know why.
00:36:38You should...
00:36:38Well, it's just a feeling that I've gotten from time to time.
00:36:44You work with a man for a long time.
00:36:46A fine man.
00:36:47You become part of him.
00:36:48You identify yourself with him.
00:36:50Then along comes the new man.
00:36:53I like Bill Briggs.
00:36:54I like him a lot.
00:36:55I have from the first.
00:36:57If I have done or said anything that could...
00:37:00Oh, no, no.
00:37:00Of course not.
00:37:03Because I must say you've been very fair.
00:37:08But seven years isn't a day.
00:37:11I owe a lot to Mr. Briggs.
00:37:14Mr. Briggs is the last of the original bunch around here.
00:37:18The people who really started this business.
00:37:20That's not easy to be the last of the original bunch.
00:37:24I know.
00:37:25He's not well.
00:37:26He has a bad heart.
00:37:28And an ulcer.
00:37:31I guess that's just about par for the executive course, isn't it?
00:37:35Well, I guess I've always been a field man.
00:37:38I haven't been an executive long enough to find that out for myself.
00:37:41But you're a good one.
00:37:43I think you're a very good executive.
00:37:46You admit mistakes.
00:37:48You don't pass the buck.
00:37:51You're a lot like Mr. Briggs that way.
00:37:54I take that as a very nice compliment.
00:37:57I mean it.
00:37:59Mr. Briggs' only trouble is that he could never be a yes man.
00:38:02Not even to Mr. Ramsey himself.
00:38:05He always has to speak his mind.
00:38:08And Mr. Ramsey doesn't like his judgment questioned.
00:38:13You either go along or you get off.
00:38:17Bill Briggs never got off.
00:38:20No, he never did.
00:38:23But maybe he's about to be pushed.
00:38:33I see the ball.
00:38:34He blew up at the next round.
00:38:35And then Howard went right by him at the 65.
00:38:37A 65, I ask you.
00:38:39Seven birdies.
00:38:40And he sank an 82-foot cutter in the last green for a knee.
00:38:42Oh, hello, my dear.
00:38:43You know, that's some gop.
00:38:47Yes, indeed, it's worth it.
00:39:04The coffee will be ready in just a little while.
00:39:07Fine.
00:39:09You know, my father's recipe for coffee
00:39:12was to mix salt and chocolate with the grounds.
00:39:16Cook them all up together.
00:39:19He'd never drink anything else.
00:39:21Sounds wonderful.
00:39:24They serve it at a small downtown restaurant I eat at occasionally.
00:39:28I must remember to mention it to Fred.
00:39:32You said he was a confirmed coffee drinker?
00:39:36Dedicated.
00:39:37Fine.
00:39:39He's quite a young man, this husband of yours.
00:39:42Have you had a chance to read much of the report?
00:39:44Of course, it isn't finished yet, but...
00:39:46Well, thank you for letting me see this much.
00:39:49Not according to Miss Post, I suppose, at the dinner party,
00:39:52but it makes me extremely proud of my gentleman.
00:39:57I'm so happy.
00:39:58He's been worried about it and...
00:40:00Nancy!
00:40:02Will you excuse me?
00:40:11Wonderful party, you two.
00:40:12Makes me think I should get married.
00:40:14Oh, don't do anything as drastic as that.
00:40:17Wonderful having you, Ed.
00:40:18Come again soon.
00:40:19Will you try keeping me away?
00:40:20I'll see you at the office tomorrow, Fred.
00:40:22Yes, right and early, Ed.
00:40:22Good night.
00:40:23Ah, Jamie, you don't have to go yet.
00:40:25Stick around a while.
00:40:26It's early.
00:40:26Of course, I'd love to stay all night.
00:40:28However...
00:40:28We're going home.
00:40:29Can't get him out of here, Nancy.
00:40:31Usually, he leaves off his parties as soon as the canapes are fast.
00:40:34I thought everybody behaved very well.
00:40:36I thought so.
00:40:37Gotta give some credit for that.
00:40:38Not again.
00:40:39I was beginning to like all of them.
00:40:41Will you come over and see us?
00:40:43Certainly.
00:40:43Come over during the day.
00:40:45You know, nowadays, Jamie never gets home at all.
00:40:47I think we wives will form a union.
00:40:49You're right, we should.
00:40:50Good night, dear.
00:40:50Bye-bye.
00:40:51Good night.
00:40:59I wonder what happened to Bill Briggs tonight.
00:41:01Oh, darling, I forgot to tell you.
00:41:03He phoned earlier.
00:41:05He said he wanted to come, but he just didn't feel up to it.
00:41:07Oh, Nancy, I wish you'd have called me to the phone.
00:41:09I wanted to talk to him anyway.
00:41:11But darling, you weren't busy.
00:41:12Well, I know, but I...
00:41:15What about Ramsey?
00:41:16Is he planning to spend the night?
00:41:18No.
00:41:19He just gravitated towards the library and made himself cozy.
00:41:23That sounds a little like artificial gravitation to me.
00:41:26You didn't have anything to do with it, of course.
00:41:28Well, he's really an amazing person.
00:41:32You know, I expected a real tycoon, but he's so simple.
00:41:37Almost childlike.
00:41:38Baby, I just hope by mistake you never wander into a jungle.
00:41:44Good night, Jack.
00:41:45Good night, dear.
00:41:46A wonderful party.
00:41:51An interesting reading matter here, Fred.
00:41:54Very interesting reading.
00:41:57I took the liberty of accepting your wife's kind invitation to look over your report.
00:42:02Oh, really?
00:42:04Good, heady stuff.
00:42:05Good, solid thinking.
00:42:07And some of it is better than good.
00:42:10Of course, I can't say that I agree with all your conclusions, but I listen to arguments.
00:42:16It'll be good to hear arguments for a change.
00:42:19Good arguments.
00:42:21Well, I can't tell you what a relief that is.
00:42:23We really sweat that one out.
00:42:25Fred, I like a man to show initiative.
00:42:27I like a man who's not afraid to think a new thought, to take a different kind of step on
00:42:31his own.
00:42:33With your permission, I'll borrow this extra copy of your report just overnight.
00:42:38But for now, I can say I'm very impressed.
00:42:44Well, of course, we haven't finished this thing yet, but Bill and I feel that another week...
00:42:47Bill?
00:42:49You mean Briggs?
00:42:52Yes, sir.
00:42:53Well, we work together on this.
00:42:55Oh, come now, Staples.
00:42:57I pride myself on my sense for style.
00:43:00I can link what I see with what I know to be peculiar to a certain individual.
00:43:05And I know Bill Briggsworth.
00:43:07I've been exposed to it since I was a voting age.
00:43:10This...
00:43:11This isn't his style.
00:43:13It isn't his brand of thinking.
00:43:15Well, I don't know what Nancy could have told you, but Bill and I work together...
00:43:18Fred, learn to accept success.
00:43:21It's tougher sometimes than learning to accept failure.
00:43:24Don't take half of your accomplishment and hand it out gratuitously to the man on your left...
00:43:29who hasn't the stuff to do it on his own.
00:43:32That's charitable, humane, and it makes you feel good.
00:43:35But it's not business.
00:43:36Mr. Ramsey, I'd like to clear up one point.
00:43:38There'll be a meeting on Tuesday, Fred.
00:43:40We can discuss the report then.
00:43:42I assure you I don't want any undue credit.
00:43:45I never extend undue credit.
00:43:47Ask anybody.
00:43:48Ask your friend Briggs.
00:43:51You think I'm tough on him, don't you?
00:43:55I am tough on him.
00:44:00Well, I think Bill is...
00:44:03I think he's a good man.
00:44:05He was.
00:44:07And grandfather clocks were good clocks, and Stanley steamers were good automobiles...
00:44:11but you can't run them in competition today.
00:44:14I must say that I like some of his ideas very much.
00:44:18Very much indeed.
00:44:20So do I.
00:44:22Some of them.
00:44:24Not many.
00:44:26Still a man with...
00:44:29Bill's experience and...
00:44:32I don't know, I think he'd be very hard to replace.
00:44:34I'll see if that coffee's ready.
00:44:35Are you serious, Fred?
00:44:37Briggs would be hard to replace?
00:44:39Do you honestly think that?
00:44:41Then why do you think I brought you on here from Mansfield on such short notice?
00:44:45Do you think that was a whim?
00:44:47Is that what you think?
00:44:49Fred, you're Briggs' replacement.
00:44:51I thought you understood that.
00:44:56I'm...
00:44:57expecting his resignation.
00:44:59I don't like to prolong these things.
00:45:01They're...
00:45:02unpleasant and personal, no matter what tack you use.
00:45:06And...
00:45:07Under no circumstances could I or...
00:45:10would I undertake to fire him.
00:45:18Coffee's in the living room.
00:45:20I thought perhaps you'd like to go in there. It's quiet.
00:45:22Look at the time. I really must go.
00:45:25It's been a wonderful evening.
00:45:27I'm sorry you have to leave so soon.
00:45:29I really must.
00:45:32My coat, I think, is in the bedroom.
00:45:35Oh, yes, of course. I'll get it for you.
00:45:47May I make a suggestion?
00:45:50Mr. Ramsey, I don't want to seem ungrateful.
00:45:52I'm not looking for gratitude.
00:45:55You can't run a business on thank you notes.
00:45:58That's Briggs' trouble.
00:46:00And, God forgive me, that was my father's trouble too.
00:46:04This...
00:46:05This incredible conception of a huge industry being run like a soup kitchen,
00:46:10like a... like a welfare comfort station.
00:46:14I know what the old timers think of me.
00:46:17I've grown up getting stared at by a lot of tongue-clucking old fogies
00:46:21who find me ruthless.
00:46:24The kind of people who represent everything that might have kept our business
00:46:27from growing to anything like its present size.
00:46:31This... this stupid black and white idea that honesty and fair profit are incompatible.
00:46:38I just happen to feel that the atmosphere of a large corporation
00:46:42cannot be constantly cathedral-like.
00:46:56Thank you, Mrs. Staples.
00:46:59And...
00:46:59again, thanks for a wonderful evening.
00:47:08I'll see you in the morning, friend.
00:47:12You didn't steal that promotion.
00:47:15You won it.
00:47:17Remember that.
00:47:25Good night, Mr. Anthony. I hope you'll come see him again.
00:47:27Thank you, Nancy. I hope I'll be able to.
00:47:29Good night.
00:47:30Good night.
00:47:31Good night.
00:47:46What was it all about?
00:47:48I'm Bill Briggs' replacement.
00:47:52Vice-presidency?
00:47:53He must have really spread it on.
00:47:58listen a little rare roast beef and wifely pride don't get you that kind of a promotion
00:48:03yeah take something a little more a little misrepresentation for one thing
00:48:09a little switch in authorship for another you told him i'd written that report i did not i told
00:48:16him bill it helped you but nancy this is bill's basic idea the same set of ideas that he's had
00:48:20for years i gathered that much you gave it life you made it work you made it practical even so
00:48:25nancy i don't want any part of it oh fred i happen to know what you contributed to this
00:48:29i also know that you can't stand winning if you have even a nodding acquaintance with a loser i
00:48:34don't like stepping on another human being to get into a capital gains bracket ramsey stalking that
00:48:39poor guy like an animal you whip him to death if he has to to make him resign i didn't
00:48:42hear you tell
00:48:43mr ramsey that he was mistaken i didn't hear any clear-cut defense of mr briggs if you don't want
00:48:48to be successful go and tell that to mr ramsey he'll give you a room and you can check in
00:48:52at seven
00:48:52the clock every night but don't tell me now look i don't want to argue about why neither do i
00:48:56i just
00:48:56want you to answer me did you tell him that your wife was mistaken did you tell him that you
00:49:02were
00:49:02taking bows for something you did not do
00:49:10no
00:49:14no i didn't
00:49:17why not fred
00:49:20why not
00:49:23because i want the job
00:49:28thank you for a straight and honest answer now i think we can both sleep tonight
00:50:08i
00:50:09good morning paul
00:50:12where's cora she's late i guess
00:50:19aren't you going to be late for school
00:50:21it's only 8 10. i've still got six minutes
00:50:25you've got to figure out to a science haven't you
00:50:29i've just got it figured to how far i have to go and how long it's going to take me
00:50:33well if you
00:50:34found that out you've found out a lot
00:50:39thanks for breakfast
00:50:42you worked late again last night yeah no rest for the weary
00:50:48you haven't got it done with science yet have you dad what
00:50:52how far you have to go and how long it'll take you
00:50:58what's the matter paul
00:51:04here here's last night's double header the one we were going to see
00:51:08oh i forgot all about it paul i'm i'm sorry
00:51:12we didn't miss much i watched it on television crummy double header the braves took both of them
00:51:18you're lucky
00:51:19the yanks are playing tonight aren't they yeah they play the red sox
00:51:23let's start all over again you meet me at the office we'll have dinner and then we'll go to the
00:51:27game together sounds good it's a date you're on so long dad have a good day and uh if you
00:51:37can't make it tonight would you give me a call at school i've raised the world's worst pessimist
00:51:43at eight o'clock in the morning you're figuring out the worst possible thing that could happen at
00:51:47six o'clock tonight upstairs in my room i've i've got a drawer full of tickets to ball games we've
00:51:53never
00:51:53seen because of that stuff but um call me if you can't dad it's important i'll make it this time
00:52:01son
00:52:03can't you have another glass of milk and maybe tell me about last night's double header i'd be late
00:52:08wish i could so long dad take it easy sure
00:52:32good evening mr staples good evening sally
00:52:50paul
00:53:01hi bill hi friend i thought it was my son he's gonna pick me up
00:53:11got time for a cigarette sure
00:53:18what are you doing here i thought you were going to the ball game i've had a miserable headache since
00:53:24dinner so i sent paul on to see the game alone uh he's gonna pick me up how long you've
00:53:30been here
00:53:32a couple of hours i guess
00:53:36can i get you an aspirin or something oh no no it's much better now
00:53:43anyway it gave me a chance to look over the supplements you did for the report
00:53:49i think ramsey's right fred you may be an engineer by diploma but you're a crackerjack industrial
00:53:57planner by instinct or something coming from you bill that sounds real good no question about it
00:54:04some of your suggestions were great fred really great i've incorporated them verbatim
00:54:12i like your approach fred you think of people in terms of the human factor
00:54:17not just logistically something i've never been able to make ramsey understand
00:54:26anyway now he can't complain i turn in the same report every year
00:54:31you won't be able to say that this year
00:54:36join me fred no thanks bill i've got to pick nancy up for supper and and that long drive home
00:54:45you know
00:54:49i don't know maybe i'm just getting old
00:54:53i used to be pretty tough i'm still tough i guess but every now and then i get tired
00:55:06tired of arguments tired of battling tired of the whole bloody mess with all this fancy
00:55:12organization and super finagling oh i know it's legal and modern and all that it's what they call
00:55:18the trend isn't it in the old days things were a lot simpler businesses grow bill this business didn't
00:55:26grow not since old man ramsey passed on it's been added to that's not growth it's just plain acquisition
00:55:34of business of stock transfers and bank loans manipulated by hired shysters and their sharp
00:55:40shooting accountants and organized and controlled by a barracuda like walter ramsey
00:55:48you sure you won't have a snifter fred i wish you would no
00:55:56well times change bill you know that but do they always change for the better old man ramsey could
00:56:03walk down a production line and call every man by his first name and get called by his first name
00:56:07in
00:56:08return now i i know that feeling believe me he didn't need public relations experts honor was enough
00:56:15character and he never sold a share of stock in his company either not till the depression came
00:56:21along and he had to raise cash or go under and do you know why because he would not lay
00:56:26off one
00:56:27single man that's the kind of man jim ramsey was now i sit in that fancy conference room with jim
00:56:35ramsey's
00:56:36son i sit there and i see all the old man's principles all his beliefs every single thing
00:56:45holy to him jobbed off by this spindly little financial wizard this wall-eyed ice-coated little
00:56:52rooster who knows more about debentures than he does about the human heart bill i'm all right
00:56:57take it easy i'm all right begin to work yourself up all right
00:57:05sit down friend
00:57:08sit down quietly and be a nice sympathetic friend and associate
00:57:14i'm wondering if you're as good a human being as you are an industrial relations man
00:57:23he doesn't like you does he no
00:57:29bill has it ever occurred to you to resign of course it has a thousand times
00:57:37why don't you
00:57:45you can't take the chance of letting this man fire you on our level you don't get fired you know
00:57:51that
00:57:52after 30 years of productive work they can't say to a man like me all right now get out
00:57:57they just can't do that so what do they do they create a situation situation you can't work in and
00:58:07finally that you can't live in where this tension abuse
00:58:13small humiliations it all starts out on a scale so subtle so microscopic
00:58:20that at first you can't really believe it's happening at all
00:58:25but gradually the thing begins to take shape
00:58:28the pieces fit together all the little bits and it becomes unmistakable
00:58:34the chip away at your pride your security till you begin to have
00:58:41doubts and then fears
00:58:47ramsey
00:58:48he wants me to resign he wants me to get my cross so full that i'll be miserable enough to
00:58:53do just
00:58:53that but you take it yes i take it why the bigger the job the more desperately you try to
00:58:59why
00:59:01why
00:59:01why do you take it why don't you quit
00:59:05quit
00:59:05yes quit get out of it chuck it you'd have your pension your peace of mind
00:59:11no you know ramsey's gonna go on hounding you until he makes you quit never
00:59:17you'll never make me quit
00:59:24bill i i wish i could understand why you go on taking it
00:59:30because i'm weak i guess because i'm 62 years old and i don't think i could get another job
00:59:36how's that strike you how do you think
00:59:42once in a while i have a dream
00:59:45i dream i'm sitting in that conference room when he starts working me over
00:59:50i'm just smiling see perfectly calm and i'm taking it i don't show the slightest resentment
00:59:58and then
01:00:00then without any change of expression i get up out of my chair and i walk over to him
01:00:06and i say ramsey bill ramsay bill ramsay i say and then i smash him and then i smash him
01:00:13again get a hold of yourself and i hit him again what's wrong with you and i hold him up
01:00:18bill head up ramsey i say i'm not through you
01:00:26it's the kid he's coming to pick me up fred i don't want him to see me not like this
01:00:32you're all right just sit down now no you can't see me like this fred help me help me all
01:00:38right
01:00:38all right i'll take care of him you just lay low for a minute i'll see he gets home tell
01:00:42him
01:00:42i left early to get some reason please please hurry be quiet
01:00:52oh it's me paul oh hi mr staples man what a place by night where do they keep the caskets
01:01:01how you doing partner dad said i should drop in and pick him up
01:01:05oh well he went on home he needed a little rest oh good he's under orders not to work late
01:01:12he can't seem to keep away lately always work always worrying no wonder he's number two man
01:01:20suppose i drop you off at grand central hmm swell thanks mr staples ever since i can remember he's
01:01:25been married to this place mom used to say the same thing they were great together mr staples mom and
01:01:31dad
01:01:32he used to yell and argue and carry on he was a fighter he was great growing up i remember
01:01:48oh
01:02:27i have a standee complex made up if you'd like to take a look at it
01:02:33i have a knife
01:02:41yes mr staples now this is the proposals report give that to miss lanier for confidential memory
01:02:48tell her that mr briggs has the only carbon is he in yet no sir mr staples yes it's not
01:02:55signed
01:02:56how would you like the name in what order first yours or first mr briggs oh i don't care it
01:03:02makes
01:03:02no difference to me but in joint projects mr staples i really don't think it's too important put mr
01:03:07briggs name first if you like just give it to miss lanier right away like this thing printed by afternoon
01:03:14if possible
01:03:17that's all marge
01:03:37the proposal's report would you sign it so it can be printed oh would you
01:03:42just a moment please marge will you please take it into mr ramsey he has to see it first
01:03:47hello oh yes good morning is that the report yes sir miss lanier said you wanted to see it yes
01:03:54i do
01:03:55who signed this i wrote the title page mr staples suggested i sign it
01:04:05i'm sure that if mr staples print it miss fleming
01:04:16i can sign that report now marge
01:04:31i can sign that report now hold us up for a while you've got to order section b
01:04:39and review thank you marge
01:04:55the major projects during the period of aforementioned being the huber petroleum refinery
01:04:59the sterling casters refinery the chatham nickel smelter company the henderson valley dam the swing
01:05:05carbon steam plant and the new england canadian natural gas pipeline good report van thank you
01:05:12i got a real feeling of activity during your reading
01:05:17the next item of business is the project's proposal report clearly of the greatest single importance on
01:05:23our docket this morning i must say and i'm sure you'll all agree that i am not given to enthusiasms
01:05:29at the drop of a submission but of this i feel impelled to say that it is unique in effort
01:05:34in
01:05:34genius and thought to mr fred staples of our organization goes my heartfelt thanks and
01:05:39congratulations besides being our newest member he seems to be shaping up as among our most astute
01:05:45this set of proposals is ingenious comprehensive and fresh congratulations
01:05:51your success is a reaffirmation of my own judgment mr rancy of my own good judgment i may
01:05:55add mr ramsey i prefer not to be drenched with modesty mr staples this is not modesty just the
01:06:00extension of credit where it's due bill here is as responsible is your name about to be used in vain
01:06:07i don't think fred would use my name in vain and it's refreshing to find someone not suffering from
01:06:12over modesty what i was trying to say is that we worked on this project together it's a combined effort
01:06:17i'm sure it was well as long as that's understood oh it is it is it's just that i feel
01:06:24reasonably
01:06:24competent to assess individual performances and to single out those that i feel should be singled
01:06:30out with all due regard for mr staples concern for his fellow man now then if mr briggs ego has
01:06:39been
01:06:39sufficiently nourished i don't think fred brought this out to feed my ego oh well then whatever
01:06:44it was that prompted his precipitate dash to your defense there was no dash to my defense why don't
01:06:48we drop the thing mr briggs i hate becoming entangled in absurd little personality conflicts
01:06:53i'll put a star by your name on the front cover if that'll make you happy my name is no
01:06:57longer
01:06:57around the front cover mr briggs you're twisting the entire thing to make it appear as if i were
01:07:01grubbing for some sort of recognition mr briggs i find it unfair mr ramsey we have a full agenda
01:07:07if you feel so bruised that you must persist in prolonging this discussion mr ramsey let me finish
01:07:12mr staples if i may we have only one purpose here to work we cannot hope to accomplish this if
01:07:19we must be
01:07:19continually subjected to these to these singularly unbecoming strains and tensions these childish
01:07:25claims and counter claims mr briggs i ask you a simple question is it or is it not within my
01:07:32province to credit a man with a job well done of course it is then may we drop it now
01:07:36only if it's
01:07:37clearly understood that i don't submit to any of these calculated discolorations of a man's worth
01:07:41as to a man's worth mr briggs i think i've proven myself a competent judge
01:07:45i ask you to recall that i built this business from a scratch pile of used lumber and a few
01:07:50machines into a giant and i made few mistakes in doing it few mistakes in business and few mistakes
01:07:55in judging men well you've made one this time this report i refuse to engage in a running fight
01:08:00because a supposedly responsible official of this company persists in wasting time haggling over
01:08:05credit that is not fair i was not haggling over credit this is a joint report that we worked on
01:08:10what's true and what is not true what am i some kind of idiot that i can't recognize another man's
01:08:15thinking whatever your abilities in the past mr briggs your work hasn't shown this stamp of originality
01:08:20and talent in 10 years a man slips clutches he loses his grip he tries to hang on by someone
01:08:27else's
01:08:28you have no right to say that bill will you please speak up
01:08:33do by all means mr briggs you think i'm mistaken do you shall i go through 150 pages and point
01:08:41out to
01:08:41you line by line where another man has taken over for you has had to take over for you and
01:08:46i can point
01:08:47out sections of this report that i never had to touch had to mr staples of course you can let
01:08:51me
01:08:52show them to you i've seen them submitted year after year principles and precepts for better
01:08:57business mr briggs yearly platitudes but you translated his unworkable well-intentioned philosophy
01:09:04into tough business procedure you make it work ramsey mr briggs i will not tolerate insubordination on
01:09:11any level and if anyone here finds that intolerable he has the god-given right to offer his resignation
01:09:31well please
01:09:36mr ramsey
01:09:40i had no intention of seeming insubordinate i
01:10:00The meeting is adjourned.
01:10:13Mr. Briggs?
01:10:19Mr. Briggs?
01:10:23Mr. Briggs?
01:10:25Bill!
01:10:25Bill!
01:10:25Bill!
01:10:27Bill, can you hear me?
01:10:29Little, little bottle of pills.
01:10:33Cold feet.
01:10:34Office.
01:10:35Get some water.
01:10:36Yeah.
01:10:37Rannigan, get an ambulance.
01:10:39I called Dr. Blake.
01:10:40Don't move him.
01:10:42Fred, he's still, still giving orders.
01:10:47Do me a favor, Fred.
01:10:50What, Bill?
01:10:51Tell him.
01:10:53Tell him.
01:10:54Golden.
01:10:56Golden.
01:11:16Hello?
01:11:21Thank you, Mr. Staples.
01:11:27Five minutes to go.
01:11:46I just had word from the hospital. He died five minutes ago.
01:11:52Thank you, Mr. Brannigan.
01:11:53Tell him.��
01:13:56Nancy, what are you doing here?
01:13:58I called your office.
01:14:01And there wasn't any train, so I drove here.
01:14:06How did you know where to find me?
01:14:09They told me at the hospital.
01:14:13Does Paul know?
01:14:18Yes, he's with Bill's sister.
01:14:21He's all right.
01:14:22Did you have something, miss?
01:14:27Have you had anything to eat?
01:14:30Have you eaten anything?
01:14:39Fred, what happened?
01:14:44Nothing.
01:14:47Not a thing.
01:14:49Except a murder.
01:14:52There were witnesses, too.
01:14:54Plenty of us.
01:14:56And no one lifted a finger to stop it.
01:14:59Oh, Fred.
01:15:00Nancy, I know.
01:15:01I didn't lift a finger.
01:15:02You don't know.
01:15:04I'm not going to have you going around in sackcloth and ashes for something that you did everything in your
01:15:08power to stop.
01:15:10You begged him to resign.
01:15:11You know that.
01:15:12What more could you have done?
01:15:14What more could anyone have done?
01:15:16Nancy, I think you'd better go home.
01:15:18Would you take this, please?
01:15:21Are you coming?
01:15:22No.
01:15:23Then I won't go.
01:15:25I want you to go home and start packing.
01:15:29Where are we going?
01:15:31I don't know.
01:15:32Somewhere, anywhere.
01:15:34Just away.
01:15:36There's an awful stink in this town, and we're going to get away from it.
01:15:42Come on, I'll put you in the car.
01:15:43No, I'm not going to leave you alone.
01:15:45Nancy, I want you to go home, please.
01:15:47No, I'm not going tonight.
01:15:49Tomorrow, I'll do anything you ask.
01:15:50I'll pack.
01:15:51I'll go anywhere you ask, but not tonight.
01:15:53Not in the state you're in.
01:15:54Now, look, there's something I've got to do.
01:15:56Fine.
01:15:57Then we'll do it together.
01:16:17Keep going.
01:16:18I don't know.
01:16:48You'll have to go to Lansing tomorrow morning for a meeting with Phillips.
01:16:51You'll have to take his place.
01:16:53I believe I've already mentioned that.
01:16:56Yeah, you mentioned it.
01:17:02You'll leave on flight number 116832 from LaGuardia.
01:17:08Miss Lanier will meet you at the airport with your reservation
01:17:11and all the memoranda and correspondence pertaining to the negotiation.
01:17:15You'll have three uninterrupted hours in the air to familiarize yourself with all the details.
01:17:20I have no interest whatever in the Phillips matter.
01:17:24What was that?
01:17:25I'm telling you that I don't want the job. I'm through. I'm quitting. I resign as of now.
01:17:31Why?
01:17:31Because I hate your guts.
01:17:34You used Bill Briggs for a whipping boy.
01:17:37You made him knuckle under and then you beat him to death.
01:17:39You wouldn't try anything like that with me because I'd kill you first.
01:17:43I'm not a nice human being.
01:17:44What else?
01:17:45You're nothing but a freak.
01:17:47You'd drive your people into peak efficiency if they can make it or a grave if they can't.
01:17:52Because Bill Briggs lacked the strength and the capacity.
01:17:55He was second in command.
01:17:56He had a lot of responsibility to hold and he cracked out of it.
01:17:59It was his business too.
01:18:00It's no one's business.
01:18:02It belongs only to the best.
01:18:03To those who can control it, sustain it, nurture it, keep it growing.
01:18:07Right now it belongs to us because we're producing.
01:18:10But in the future it belongs to whoever has the brains, the nerve and the skill to take it away
01:18:15from us.
01:18:15Well they can have my share of it right now because I don't want any part of it.
01:18:18What do you want from me? Apologies?
01:18:20I don't apologize.
01:18:23What else?
01:18:26A nice unsullied conscience?
01:18:29You walk out of here with a halo because you spoke your mind?
01:18:32What do you do then?
01:18:34Go to work for some nickel and dime outfit run by nice people who won't challenge you and prod you
01:18:39and goad you and drive you to a height you never even dreamed of?
01:18:43A company where there's nothing to fight for because you're the best and there's no competition?
01:18:48Where everything is handed to you and nothing is worth fighting for?
01:18:53I want you to stay.
01:18:56I don't think you understand, Ramsey.
01:18:59I don't like you. I don't like anything about you.
01:19:02I didn't hire you to like me.
01:19:04All right, I'm not a nice person in your eyes.
01:19:07But whatever I am, you learn more, grow more and do more here with me than anywhere else on earth.
01:19:13I want you to stay because I need help on my level.
01:19:16And you're the only one who's able to function there.
01:19:19Be a conscience for me if you want.
01:19:21Be anything you like.
01:19:22And if it's something I don't like, you'll know about it soon enough.
01:19:26I think you're strong enough to take it.
01:19:28And if not, I think you're strong enough to get out.
01:19:32Name your terms.
01:19:33All terms are negotiable.
01:19:36I don't think so. Not mine.
01:19:39All right.
01:19:40I just assume not waste any time doing trading.
01:19:44As of now, your salary is doubled.
01:19:47Your stock option is doubled right down the line.
01:19:50Your expense account is whatever you make it.
01:19:53Add to that a new title, Vice President.
01:19:59I want a lot more than that.
01:20:01You're not going to take me on as just another Vice President you can push around.
01:20:06You'll take me as someone who hates you down to the bare nerve.
01:20:10Nothing in the world will ever change that.
01:20:12I'll argue with you, contradict you, fight you in every way I know how.
01:20:17I'll do everything in my power to push you out and take your place myself.
01:20:21Go ahead and try.
01:20:24Mr. Staples, you have yourself a deal.
01:20:28Have it drawn up.
01:20:30No reservations now?
01:20:35Yes, one.
01:20:37Bill had one pitiful little dream that someday he'd walk in here and break your jaw.
01:20:43I reserve the right to have that wish for myself.
01:20:47I'll have it drawn into the contract.
01:20:50With a little rider giving me the same privilege.
01:21:01Oh, uh, Staples.
01:21:04You'll be pleased to know that Bill Briggs' boy is being taken care of.
01:21:12Will that let you sleep better tonight?
01:21:16It begins, huh?
01:21:17Fair enough.
01:21:21Fair enough.
01:21:23Fair enough.
01:21:47Fair enough.
01:22:05Do we pack?
01:22:08No.
01:22:09We stay.
01:22:11On whose terms?
01:22:13Mine.
01:22:15And his.
01:22:17Are you satisfied?
01:22:19Yes.
01:22:20Oh, Fred.
01:22:21You know, it's easier not to chuck something if you think is wrong.
01:22:26But, I don't know, this way maybe there's a chance.
01:22:29I'm so happy.
01:22:30Well, we'll see.
01:22:33I've got to go to Lansing.
01:22:35Morning plane.
01:22:36When will you be back?
01:22:38Tomorrow night.
01:22:40I'll be late.
01:22:43Aren't you always?
01:22:4780...
01:22:51Gosling.
01:22:56Let's get started.
01:22:58How?
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