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00:00:15Grazie a tutti
00:00:46Grazie a tutti
00:01:19Grazie a tutti
00:01:49Grazie a tutti
00:02:14Grazie a tutti
00:02:18Grazie a tutti
00:02:49Grazie a tutti
00:04:01Grazie a tutti
00:04:04You're awfully defensive
00:04:07I guess that's cause
00:04:08you're worried about
00:04:08your Mr. Briggs
00:04:11Run along will you?
00:04:40Can I have some more cream
00:04:42next car?
00:04:46next car?
00:04:46Harry, Charlie, Joe
00:04:47express down
00:04:48no stops
00:04:49for Jen
00:04:58next car
00:04:59next car
00:04:59next car please
00:05:01next car
00:05:02next car
00:05:03good morning
00:05:04good morning Mr. Ramsey
00:05:04next car please
00:05:05it's all right
00:05:15thank you
00:05:15thank you
00:05:27chief operative please
00:05:28chief operative please
00:05:29chief operative please
00:05:30you can put this morning's
00:05:31three long distance calls
00:05:32through to Mr. Ramsey
00:05:33Portland, Dallas, St. Louis offices
00:05:40good morning Mr. Ramsey
00:05:41good morning Mr. Ramsey
00:05:42good morning Mr. Lanier
00:05:47any messages?
00:05:48you have calls placed for our
00:05:49Portland, Dallas, and St. Louis offices
00:05:51nothing else important sir
00:05:52Martin Toulin died
00:05:53you said you'd wire him
00:05:54yes you'll find a copy
00:05:55in my briefcase
00:05:57you're right as usual
00:05:58nothing important
00:06:00I have the Portland report
00:06:01in my briefcase
00:06:03I want it teletyped
00:06:04this morning to Seattle
00:06:05have someone there
00:06:06drive over to Portland
00:06:07and get it to Johnson
00:06:08before lunch
00:06:09then run off 20 copies
00:06:11confidential mimeographing
00:06:12and have them ready in time
00:06:13for the board meeting
00:06:13I want it on the agenda
00:06:16has Mr. Staples arrived yet?
00:06:18not yet sir
00:06:20delay that meeting
00:06:21until 10 this morning
00:06:22to give you time
00:06:23to get the report
00:06:23mimeoed and distributed
00:06:25I want it read
00:06:26and carefully
00:06:27get word underground
00:06:29to their secretaries
00:06:29that no one is to count
00:06:30on making any early
00:06:31luncheon appointments
00:06:32and make a note
00:06:34Staples is to sit
00:06:35one down from
00:06:36Van de Venter
00:06:36on my left
00:06:37yes sir
00:06:39let me know
00:06:40as soon as Mr. Staples arrives
00:06:42yes Mr. Ramsey
00:06:43thank you
00:07:15No, no, no, no, go on home after you finish shopping.
00:07:41And find a garage somewhere on midtown.
00:07:44I'll phone you on what train I'll be on.
00:07:46Bye-bye.
00:07:51Goodbye, darling.
00:08:12Oh, Ramsey and Company, the board, sir.
00:08:15Yes, sir.
00:08:15Executive or administrative?
00:08:17Oh, the executive, Mr. Ramsey.
00:08:19Fortieth floor, sir.
00:08:20Thank you.
00:08:20Morning.
00:08:22Morning.
00:08:23Oh, uh, here went the tower, sir.
00:08:27The tower elevator, sir?
00:08:29It'll be down in a minute.
00:08:31Oh, I'm sorry.
00:08:32Thank you.
00:08:33My pleasure, sir.
00:08:34Good morning.
00:08:35Good morning, Ed.
00:08:36Good morning.
00:08:38Good morning.
00:08:39Good morning.
00:08:40Morning, Jamie.
00:08:41Good morning, Bill.
00:08:45Morning, Marge.
00:08:46How was the weekend?
00:08:47Fine.
00:08:47Your letters are on your desk, and the coffee cart will be here in a minute.
00:08:49I can use some coffee.
00:08:51Didn't you get any rest at all?
00:08:52Couldn't even take my kid to the doubleheader.
00:08:54Oh, what a shame.
00:08:55That planning report's going to be a real job, Marge.
00:08:58This will be a big week for you, too, with that thing.
00:09:00I believe we'll try a rough first draft.
00:09:03Long?
00:09:03No longer than the telephone directory.
00:09:05Phew!
00:09:08Marge?
00:09:10Has Mr. Staples come in yet, Marge?
00:09:14No, sir.
00:09:16Mr. Staples?
00:09:17Yes?
00:09:18I'm Margaret Lanier, Mr. Ramsey's secretary.
00:09:20Oh, how do you do?
00:09:21Mr. Ramsey would, of course, be here to welcome you himself,
00:09:23but you called him on a long-distance call.
00:09:25May I take you back to your office?
00:09:27Well, thank you very much.
00:09:29And on our way, I might show you some of our other departments.
00:09:33Have you met Miss Stevens?
00:09:34I introduced myself, Miss Lanier.
00:09:36Fine.
00:09:37And may I bid you my own personal welcome.
00:09:39We're very glad to see you.
00:09:41Well, that's very nice of you.
00:09:43Thank you.
00:09:43Now, if you'll just come with me, Mr. Staples.
00:09:48Miss Stevens?
00:09:50Marketing and sales are below here.
00:09:51We have our own research department on the 40th floor.
00:09:54Perhaps you'd like to see that later.
00:09:56This is the executive corridor.
00:09:59Mr. Ramsey's office is that one down at the end.
00:10:02Then Mr. Jameson, head of purchasing.
00:10:04Mr. Briggs.
00:10:05You'll be working closely with Mr. Briggs.
00:10:07Mr. Van Bremsen, engineer.
00:10:09And this is your office.
00:10:21Isn't it nice?
00:10:24I hope you like it.
00:10:26Mr. Ramsey was told by someone in your old office that you were especially fond of this serious.
00:10:31Wasn't your office in Mansfield furnished in early American?
00:10:35My furniture consisted of two filing cabinets and a surplus metal desk off of a destroyer escort.
00:10:44No, it's really very attractive.
00:10:47Very.
00:10:48I appreciate it very much indeed.
00:10:51Excuse me, Miss Lanier.
00:10:52Ann said you wanted to see me.
00:10:54Oh, yes, Marge.
00:10:55Mr. Staples, this is Miss Fleming.
00:10:57How do you do?
00:10:57How do you do?
00:10:58Marge, will you see that Mr. Staples has everything he needs in the way of office equipment?
00:11:02It was arranged for this morning at Mr. Briggs' suggestion.
00:11:05Oh, fine.
00:11:06I was rushed now, Mr. Staples.
00:11:07Again, a most cordial welcome.
00:11:09Thank you very much.
00:11:10And, Marge, will you step by at my desk when you can hear, please?
00:11:14Yes, Miss Lanier.
00:11:20I think I'd better explain the phone system, Mrs. Staples.
00:11:24There are four lines.
00:11:25One is your private line, direct to outside.
00:11:28Two is for conference calls.
00:11:30Three is for inter-office.
00:11:31And four, this button is for your secretary.
00:11:35Oh, I'm sorry.
00:11:36May I?
00:11:37Oh, yes, thank you.
00:11:40Yes, I think I have that.
00:11:42Let's see.
00:11:44Outside, inter-office, conference.
00:11:48Yes, that's fine.
00:11:54Thank heavens, this isn't early American.
00:12:01Busy?
00:12:02No.
00:12:03No, not at all.
00:12:03Well, you must be, uh...
00:12:05Bill Briggs, your next-door neighbor.
00:12:07Yes, of course.
00:12:08Well, I'm certainly glad to meet you, sir.
00:12:10I think, uh, Mr. Ramsey told me you'd been sick, didn't he?
00:12:13Oh, did he?
00:12:15Actually, it's just a...
00:12:16Just a pesky stomach that's been acting up on me.
00:12:19You just in from Mansfield?
00:12:20Yes, they took a house for...
00:12:22Oh, uh, sit down, Mr. Staples.
00:12:24Sitting already?
00:12:25Good.
00:12:26All right, I'm not trying to set myself up as a real New Yorker.
00:12:30Altoona, Pennsylvania, that's where I came from.
00:12:32My first trip home, I was wearing spats.
00:12:35I remember my father not being able to get over it.
00:12:37He says, Bill?
00:12:39Bill, he says, you went to New York to see the sights, and instead you become one of them.
00:12:46Well, we just got here Friday afternoon, so this morning Nancy insisted, uh, my wife,
00:12:52she insisted on driving me to work the first morning.
00:12:55You know, the way women are.
00:12:57You know, you, you come out of a small-town plant, you, you feel a little lost in the place
00:13:04like this.
00:13:06Well, as I was saying, you know, we, uh, walked into our house Friday afternoon.
00:13:09We'd never laid eyes on the place before, you know?
00:13:12And there it was, furnished like a magazine.
00:13:14Milk in the icebox, bourbon on the shelf, and...
00:13:18I don't know, you gotta hand it to them the way they do things around here.
00:13:21Yes, Miss Lemire handles all that, does a fine job.
00:13:25That feeling that I got driving into town this morning.
00:13:29Well, I got to admit, it's just, uh...
00:13:33It's just a little overwhelming.
00:13:36Yes, and it's a pretty wonderful thing to be as young as you are
00:13:39and see it all spread out in front of you like a...
00:13:43like a Christmas tree.
00:13:46You know, you think of, uh...
00:13:50You think of big business, you always think of it as being...
00:13:53very impersonal, you know?
00:13:56But, uh, that's certainly not true with you, Mr. Ramsey.
00:14:02I know what you mean.
00:14:06How much time did you put in in Mansfield?
00:14:08Almost six years.
00:14:10You must have blown a bugle in Ramsey's ear out in Ohio.
00:14:13He brought you here in a hurry.
00:14:15Well, actually, I wasn't at all sure I wanted to come to New York, but, uh...
00:14:20This Ramsey is a pretty dynamic man.
00:14:23Yes, I know.
00:14:26You see, you've been with the firm some time now, haven't you?
00:14:29Oh, maybe 40 years or so.
00:14:33I seem to recall Mr. Ramsey's talking about you as a production man.
00:14:38You're an engineer, aren't you?
00:14:40Yes, but, uh, from what he told me,
00:14:43I guess I'll be a little of everything around here.
00:14:45Mostly in industrial relations.
00:14:49Industrial relations.
00:14:52Matter of fact, it's been one of my specialties.
00:14:57We...
00:14:58We ought to get along pretty well together.
00:15:01I'm sure we will.
00:15:04Excuse me.
00:15:05Mr. Ramsey's called a meeting in the conference room, Mr. Briggs.
00:15:08Oh?
00:15:10Well, Fred, it's been a real pleasure meeting you.
00:15:13Thank you.
00:15:13Mr. Ramsey's expecting Mr. Staples, too.
00:15:16Oh.
00:15:18Well, then, I'll, uh...
00:15:20I'll go in with you, if you don't mind.
00:15:22Not at all.
00:15:25I just hope Mr. Ramsey remembers hiring me.
00:15:29Mr. Ramsey rarely forgets anything.
00:15:32After you.
00:15:33Thank you.
00:15:35Oops.
00:15:35Yes.
00:15:36Hello.
00:15:37Fred, uh, this is Harvey Jameson, head of purchasing.
00:15:39Oh, how are you?
00:15:40Well, they finally finished it.
00:15:42What?
00:15:43Well, Fred, your office on Friday, the painters and all, it was a madhouse.
00:15:46Say, Bill, are you taking along Ramsey's breakdown?
00:15:49No, I forgot that.
00:15:50A couple of other things I forgot, too.
00:15:52Jamie, would you and Fred go along together?
00:15:54I'll be in in a few minutes.
00:15:55Fine.
00:15:55I suppose Lanier's giving you the cook's tour.
00:15:57What?
00:15:58Oh, yes.
00:15:58Did she show you the conference room?
00:16:00Oh, yes.
00:16:01On the other side, yes.
00:16:03Mr. Briggs?
00:16:04What is it, Marge?
00:16:08I don't know.
00:16:12Mr. Briggs, I think I ought to resign.
00:16:14Resign?
00:16:15What are you talking about?
00:16:16What happened?
00:16:17What is it, Marge?
00:16:19Mr. Briggs, I've just been ordered to go over to Mr. Staples as his new secretary.
00:16:23Temporarily?
00:16:24No, I don't think so.
00:16:25Who gave this order?
00:16:27Mr. Lanier.
00:16:28When?
00:16:29About five minutes ago.
00:16:30I was supposed to break in your new secretary.
00:16:33They picked a new secretary for me?
00:16:35Yes, I think so.
00:16:38It's out of the question for you to resign, Marge, to even think of resigning.
00:16:42You're a fine, wonderful woman and a great secretary.
00:16:45That's the reason they want you over with Staples.
00:16:47He'll need someone like you because he's new here and they want him to get him to harness fast.
00:16:52Who can tell, Marge?
00:16:53One of these days.
00:16:55That stomach of mine pretty perverse organ.
00:16:58And I'm tired.
00:17:01You know, as it must to all men.
00:17:04Mr. Briggs?
00:17:06Have you any idea who your successor is?
00:17:10Yes, they've chosen Sylvia Trammell.
00:17:12Miss Trammell?
00:17:14It is so ordained.
00:17:15So be it.
00:17:17She's new.
00:17:18But she's supposed to be very good at dictation.
00:17:20Well, we'll give her a chance to prove it.
00:17:23Briggs.
00:17:25If I could only tell you what this job has meant to me.
00:17:29What working with you has meant to me.
00:17:32All right, kid.
00:17:34Wash up.
00:17:35Get your money and get out of here.
00:17:39And give Mr. Staples all the best you've got in you.
00:17:42I know you will.
00:17:43That's the only way you operate.
00:17:45I like the guy.
00:17:46I have a feeling he's going to carve out a career around here.
00:17:50Yes, sir.
00:17:52Everybody seems to think so.
00:17:56I'm sorry to keep you waiting, gentlemen.
00:17:57Mr. Ramsey will be with us in a moment.
00:18:24I've been away, Edgar.
00:18:27Oh, sorry, Fred.
00:18:28I was held up for a few minutes.
00:18:29See you later, Fred.
00:18:30Now, where are we going to sit you?
00:18:32Oh, here's an empty chair.
00:18:34I guess you can sit right here.
00:18:35Oh, Mr. Staples, will you sit over there, please?
00:18:37Right next to Mr. Van De Venter.
00:18:38One down for Mr. Ramsey, please.
00:18:44Welcome back, Bill.
00:18:45Feeling better?
00:18:46Much, thank you.
00:18:47A little stomach.
00:18:48Good.
00:18:49I'm glad it's cleared up.
00:18:53John, don't forget that conflict.
00:18:54Can you get it through tomorrow?
00:18:56I think so.
00:18:59First, gentlemen, I'd like you to look over the mimeode sheet on top.
00:19:03Haverford Mutual had some doctors look into the matter of executive diets.
00:19:08Their findings showed incredible deficiencies.
00:19:11They've gotten up some food tables.
00:19:13I've had them mimeode.
00:19:14I'd like you to look them over.
00:19:17As you know, it's been my feeling that a healthy executive is an efficient one.
00:19:24I think it's not amiss now to introduce the newest member of our team, Mr. Fred Staples.
00:19:29He's from Mansfield, Ohio.
00:19:31As you all know, he was general manager of Queen City Tool and Dye until we took it over.
00:19:35His record there was a brilliant one.
00:19:37He's a production engineer by training, an industrial relations man by instinct.
00:19:42I expect good things from him.
00:19:50Well, you've probably met everyone, but just for the record, reading from left to right,
00:19:55Mr. Jameson, head of purchasing.
00:19:57Yes, we met him.
00:19:57Mr. Grannigan, controller.
00:19:59Mr. Gordon, head of sales.
00:20:01How are you?
00:20:01Mr. Latham, head of service.
00:20:03Mr. Portier, chief of operations.
00:20:06Nice to know you.
00:20:06And Mr. Vandiventer, chief engineer.
00:20:09How are you?
00:20:10Nice to see you.
00:20:11Pleasure.
00:20:12Oh, and of course you've met Mr. Briggs.
00:20:15Oh, yes.
00:20:16Who is our vice president, assistant general manager, in charge of everything that everybody
00:20:19else forgets to be.
00:20:23Now, gentlemen, you all have before you a copy of the Williamston plant purchase prospectus.
00:20:29Mr. Jameson, did you attach your supplements?
00:20:31It's right there, Mr. Ramsey.
00:20:32Page 17R, under process equipment.
00:20:35And Mr. Grannigan, the stock purchase plan I outlined, I have your comments here?
00:20:39You do, Mr. Ramsey.
00:20:41Good.
00:20:42Feasible, is it?
00:20:42Very much so, in my opinion.
00:20:45Good.
00:20:48Well, that about winds it up, unless there are any further points to be made.
00:20:52I do think, Mr. Ramsey, if we could keep the transaction under wraps for a bit, at least
00:20:56during the preliminaries, you know, what'll happen to the stock quotations if it leaks
00:20:59out that we've agreed to purchase.
00:21:01I've arranged it this way.
00:21:03The stock quotation as of yesterday morning...
00:21:10You seem to be straining at the leash, Mr. Briggs.
00:21:12Or am I mistaken?
00:21:14You mention here that probable time of purchase would be sometime in June.
00:21:17Are the plants to be in receivership until then?
00:21:19That seems to be what it says.
00:21:21That means six months with improper maintenance of equipment.
00:21:24Oh, I doubt it, Bill.
00:21:25I've had two of my best men out there for the last six weeks.
00:21:28We had a varying voltage problem, but that was taken care of.
00:21:31You know, maintenance-wise, I doubt if there'll be a thousand dollars worth of deterioration.
00:21:35How about goodwill?
00:21:36What about it?
00:21:37The plant employs 900 men.
00:21:39That's half the working force of the village.
00:21:41So?
00:21:42So what do we do with these men?
00:21:43Cover them with cosmoline and put them away in a drawer until we get ready to resume production?
00:21:47I thought your concern was for the plant.
00:21:49And what good is the plant without the men?
00:21:51You chop a village payroll in half for six months and you might not have a plant.
00:21:54Because you might not have a village.
00:21:56Mr. Briggs, if we may be permitted to disregard for the moment the considerations that you have brought up,
00:22:01what about the rest of the plant?
00:22:03I'd say it was adequate.
00:22:06Adequate?
00:22:09That gentleman is the kiss of death, believe me.
00:22:12I've known Mr. Briggs for a long time.
00:22:14When he says something is adequate, what he means is that it is entirely inadequate.
00:22:18I must admit to feeling a concern over some 900 men suddenly deprived of a livelihood.
00:22:23Mr. Briggs, if you would do me the goodness to look at what I consider to be a fairly elementary
00:22:26business principle.
00:22:28By putting 900 men out of work temporarily, we may ultimately employ twice that number in the same town.
00:22:33By cutting production costs as a result, we will then be able to compete more favorably in the market.
00:22:39Thus, we'll be able to sell more goods.
00:22:41We're not going to ruin that town.
00:22:42We're going to make it.
00:22:43I should think, Mr. Briggs, that after 30 years, you'd be able to think beyond the tongue-clucking stage
00:22:48and come up with something resembling an analytical point of view.
00:22:51I was under the impression I'd given you a point of view.
00:22:53I saw none.
00:22:55I perceived what amounts to a rather emotional little tidbit that was decidedly more charitable than cooperative
00:23:00and by no means thought through.
00:23:01I asked, I believe, for an objective view of a business venture.
00:23:05From you, I got, and I seem constantly to be getting a very negative response of any at all.
00:23:10Adequate, I believe you said.
00:23:11Well, Mr. Briggs, this little move will save us conservatively half a million dollars,
00:23:15which we'll be able to put back into the business.
00:23:17I must say you take a liberal view of adequacy.
00:23:20I didn't intend to make a central issue out of this,
00:23:22but I did feel it important enough to air in this meeting.
00:23:29Well, you have aired it in this meeting.
00:23:31I think it's a good thing you did.
00:23:33But I think, Bill, we're pretty much of one mind about it now.
00:23:37And we may assume the matter is closed now.
00:23:41Mr. Briggs.
00:23:49How about you, Mr. Staples?
00:23:51Do you have an opinion?
00:23:54No.
00:23:55No.
00:23:55No, I think not, Mr. Enzi.
00:23:57Why not?
00:23:59Well, frankly, it's a little out of my grasp at the moment.
00:24:02I don't know anything about the firm,
00:24:03its corporative setup, reasons for bankruptcy,
00:24:07or for that matter, its product.
00:24:09I'm afraid I'll have to pass.
00:24:13Good answer.
00:24:15I respect thoughtful judgment, Mr. Staples.
00:24:19Congratulations.
00:24:24We'll adjourn now until two o'clock.
00:24:27I'm sorry we got started so late this morning,
00:24:29but I wanted this analysis mimeoed for your inspection.
00:24:33After lunch, we'll take up the Portland report,
00:24:35which you have before you.
00:24:37Mr. Granigan attended the stockholders' meeting there on Tuesday,
00:24:40and we'll begin our discussion with this report.
00:24:43That's all.
00:24:45All right, sir.
00:24:47Oh, Bill.
00:24:49All right, come and have some lunch, eh?
00:24:51Oh, thank you.
00:24:55Oh, Bill, wasn't there something you wanted to speak to me about before?
00:24:59Nothing important.
00:25:01Fine.
00:25:02Tummy's all right, eh?
00:25:03Cast iron. Couldn't be better.
00:25:05Good. Keep it up.
00:25:08Oh, Staples.
00:25:10See you then.
00:25:13Good to have you with us, Staples.
00:25:14Thank you.
00:25:15The arrangement's satisfactory?
00:25:17Oh, yes.
00:25:17Just perfect.
00:25:18I'm sure you'll be hearing from my wife very soon about that.
00:25:20That's a beautiful house.
00:25:22Beautiful country up there.
00:25:23I'm sure you'll love it.
00:25:24Oh, uh, see you later, Bill.
00:25:29Oh, Fred.
00:25:31Briggs is working on a project now,
00:25:33a comprehensive planning report.
00:25:35The point is that it's very important,
00:25:37most important indeed for our future programs,
00:25:39and it's far too big a job to bring,
00:25:42or for any one man to handle.
00:25:44Now, what I want you to do is get your finger in here.
00:25:46Certainly.
00:25:47What I mean is more than just your finger.
00:25:50You understand?
00:25:51Yes, Mr. Ramsey.
00:25:52You may have quite clear.
00:26:07Oh, could I see you a minute, Mr. William?
00:26:28Yes, sir?
00:26:30Oh, I wonder if you could check for me, please,
00:26:33as to who's to be my secretary.
00:26:35I need some notes typed up.
00:26:37I'm to be your secretary, Mr. Staples.
00:26:43But I thought Mr. Briggs.
00:26:44It was arranged for,
00:26:46just before the meeting, Mr. Staples.
00:26:50I take it you'd rather remain with Mr. Briggs.
00:26:53I was Mr. Briggs' secretary for seven years, Mr. Staples.
00:26:56Well, in that case,
00:26:57I see no reason why I shouldn't be able to get someone else.
00:27:02It was Mr. Ramsey's idea.
00:27:05Do you want to give me those notes now?
00:27:10No, uh,
00:27:12why don't you have your lunch first, Mrs. Fleming?
00:27:14We'll take care of these when you come back.
00:27:30Mr. Briggs.
00:27:35There are some notes here that...
00:27:37Later, Marge.
00:27:39I'll do it later.
00:28:08I'll do it later.
00:28:23Sì, non ho parlato della mia nuova, ti piace?
00:28:26Sì, è davvero bello.
00:28:31Vissi vedere i nuovi vestimenti che ho comprato, sono davvero bellissima.
00:28:35Perché?
00:28:35Oh, they're still at the store having little things done with them.
00:28:39Come on, the kitchen. I'll fix your drink.
00:28:41Not the kitchen. The library.
00:28:55I hoped they'd have the dresses ready and have them sent over to your office this afternoon.
00:29:00I spoke to your secretary about it when I called.
00:29:03It's funny she didn't mention it.
00:29:04They didn't get the job done in time.
00:29:07She had a nice voice. What's she like?
00:29:10Who?
00:29:12Your secretary.
00:29:14Oh, what you might expect. You know.
00:29:21What's her name?
00:29:23Now, to tell you the truth, I didn't get her name. Only your dimensions.
00:29:28All right.
00:29:31No, her name is Fleming.
00:29:32And it so happens you don't have a thing in the world to worry about.
00:29:36She doesn't like me with a bit.
00:29:39Well, I guess she prefers working for her former boss.
00:29:46Well, then why doesn't she?
00:29:49I don't know. Some kind of strategy at the top, I guess.
00:29:56That sounds funny.
00:29:58Yeah.
00:30:01Her ex-boss happens to be only one of the vice presidents.
00:30:06My superior and a very nice guy to boot.
00:30:09could that perhaps be a good sign?
00:30:13Well, you figured it out.
00:30:14It left me a little up in here.
00:30:17You know, Nancy, running a plant in Ohio is beginning to take on all the...
00:30:25aspects of a nice, simple, uncomplicated gravy train.
00:30:31What happened today?
00:30:34Oh, nothing really.
00:30:36Just an impression, I guess.
00:30:42Sort of queer undercurrents and tensions and...
00:30:51Good luck.
00:30:52Good luck.
00:31:10Good luck.
00:31:24Buongiorno, Mr. Ramsey.
00:31:30Fine, grazie, Gerry.
00:31:32Let me see that break down again.
00:31:34Oh, sure.
00:31:35Miss Fleming, would you step in for a minute, please?
00:31:37Yes, Mr. Stevens.
00:31:42No, that's not the one.
00:31:43Oh, sure.
00:31:43Let me see that.
00:31:45It's yours.
00:31:46Yeah.
00:31:47Now, this is the only one that I have cross-indexed for division, so don't let him keep it.
00:31:51I want Billy to take my letter from Henry Jacobson with him.
00:31:54Oh.
00:31:55Now, look, Billy.
00:31:58Henry is a nice, sincere guy, you know?
00:32:00Made out of Bessemer steel.
00:32:02He hasn't been off of his duff since he learned how to walk.
00:32:04He started out stoking coke furnaces when he was 14, was mill foreman when he was 20,
00:32:09and then he ended up buying the whole plant for his own 40th birthday present.
00:32:12So, you know what I mean.
00:32:14Watch out.
00:32:14I sure will.
00:32:15Now, get him that report, and then remember what he says.
00:32:17Make stenographic notes when you can, and when you can't, put it all down on paper as soon
00:32:21as you get out of the office.
00:32:22No approximations.
00:32:23Make it as...
00:32:24Yes, I know you have notes.
00:32:25I want to know what they're thinking.
00:32:26I want to know how they feel about every paragraph that I think.
00:32:29I just hope they'll open up more to you than they did to me.
00:32:31I'll be down there sometime next week for their decision.
00:32:34Okay.
00:32:34Uh, mention that to him, will you?
00:32:35Yes, I will.
00:32:37Hello?
00:32:39Uh, hold it, please, just a second.
00:32:40Have a nice trip, Billy, and be sure and call me Sunday night.
00:32:43Yeah, I will.
00:32:44Thank you very much.
00:32:44Thank you, Mark.
00:32:45Yes, put him on.
00:32:46Uh, don't go away, Mr. Fleming, please.
00:32:48Hello?
00:32:50Judd.
00:32:51Look, I'm sorry.
00:32:51I meant to call you right back.
00:32:52Uh, it's about that Atlantic States Nitric meeting set up for October the 3rd.
00:32:56I'd like a delay on that.
00:33:01Well, I want to walk in there sure of my ground, and October's not going to give me any ground
00:33:05at all.
00:33:09Yeah, could you do that?
00:33:10Well, that'll be a help.
00:33:14November 7th?
00:33:16Fine.
00:33:18Look, I'll see you in the dining room.
00:33:20Okay, good.
00:33:22Put that on my calendar, please.
00:33:24Now then, uh, would you get those wires off?
00:33:28Yes, sir.
00:33:29Good.
00:33:29Right after lunch, I want you to set up a conference call with Ramsey, Jameson, myself, with Frank Daring in
00:33:33Denver.
00:33:34A minute, Fred.
00:33:35Sorry, Mark.
00:33:36This is urgent.
00:33:36It's about that NLRB vote in Portland.
00:33:38What about it?
00:33:39Ramsey's grumbling about it.
00:33:40He thinks it's premature.
00:33:42Premature?
00:33:42What's he talking about?
00:33:44He's had that plant running on wishful thinking for 19 months now.
00:33:48We've got a labor problem out there all primed to explode in our face.
00:33:52Now, look, Bill, you better walk in his office with a great big neon sign, Strike, you know?
00:33:57Then tell him I've got a little estimate worked out, but it'll cost us conservatively $4,000 a day if
00:34:01that plant goes out.
00:34:02Oof, you know how that'll hit him.
00:34:04Yeah, well, you go in there and dig up the ground, and I'll follow you with a bulldozer, and we'll
00:34:07plow him under.
00:34:08Oh, we've got 800 big lumberjacks out there, and if they go, that'll do it big, you know.
00:34:12This won't be any one-week picket.
00:34:14This thing could go on for a year with no strain at all.
00:34:17You walk in there, set the charge, and I'll be in to light diffuse, huh?
00:34:20Fine.
00:34:21I'll have to call you back.
00:34:28Is 2.30 convenient for your call to Denver, Mr. Staples?
00:34:32Is everything else on?
00:34:33I've got another problem out here, if you can spare a minute.
00:34:36Well, Paul, how are you, partner?
00:34:38Mr. Staples, that gun.
00:34:40Oh, you got it.
00:34:40Now, you like it?
00:34:41Did you try it out yet?
00:34:42Try it yet.
00:34:43Thirty seconds from the time he read Winchester double barrel on the box, he was sighting it.
00:34:46Well, how about going out for a little skeet shooting on Sunday?
00:34:48Give it a try, huh?
00:34:49Wonderful.
00:34:50Can I, Dad?
00:34:51He's all yours, Fred.
00:34:52He's a little too strenuous for me.
00:34:54Mr. Staples doesn't get tired like you do, Dad.
00:34:56I don't get tired.
00:34:58He was an all-American.
00:34:59Well, it was just terrific, so I had to stop by and thank you.
00:35:02You forget it.
00:35:03Well, so long.
00:35:03I'll see you outside.
00:35:08Are you thoughtful of your friend?
00:35:10It's my pleasure, Belle.
00:35:11Hello, Mr. Ramsey.
00:35:13How are you, Paul?
00:35:14Still taking your vitamins, are you?
00:35:15I guess so, sir.
00:35:17Fine, fine.
00:35:18Keep it up.
00:35:19Excuse me, Mr. Fulton.
00:35:24Oh, man, I'm tired.
00:35:25I've made arrangements for your call to Denver, Mr. Staples.
00:35:27If I could go over one paragraph...
00:35:29No, I think I'll knock that off after lunch, if you don't mind, Miss Fleming.
00:35:32All right, Mr. Staples.
00:35:35No, drink it here.
00:35:36Relax a minute.
00:35:38Thank you.
00:35:41I will?
00:36:01Would you like some of mine?
00:36:03Yes, thank you.
00:36:05As a matter of fact, I would.
00:36:09No, that is plenty.
00:36:11Thank you.
00:36:16Where'd you play your football, Mr. Staples?
00:36:20Oh, Ohio State.
00:36:21But don't ask me the years.
00:36:22I won't tell you.
00:36:24I won't ask you.
00:36:25Anyway, I feel about three times older than when I first came here.
00:36:30They've kept you busy.
00:36:32Yes, I sure have.
00:36:34You've done very well.
00:36:36You fit it in quickly.
00:36:40Thank you.
00:36:45You know, I think that's the first out-and-out friendly thing you've said to me.
00:36:50I think you resent me a little, don't you, Miss Fleming?
00:36:52I don't know why you should...
00:36:53Well, it's just a feeling that I've gotten from time to time.
00:36:59You work with a man for a long time, a fine man.
00:37:02You become part of him.
00:37:03You identify yourself with him.
00:37:05Then along comes the new man.
00:37:08I like Bill Briggs.
00:37:09I like him a lot.
00:37:10I have from the first.
00:37:12If I had done or said anything that could...
00:37:15No, no, no, of course not.
00:37:18Because I must say you've been very fair.
00:37:23But seven years isn't a day.
00:37:26I owe a lot to Mr. Briggs.
00:37:30Mr. Briggs is the last of the original bunch around here,
00:37:33the people who really started this business.
00:37:35That's not easy to be the last of the original bunch.
00:37:39I know.
00:37:40He's not well.
00:37:42He has a bad heart.
00:37:43And an ulcer.
00:37:47I guess that's just about par for the executive course, isn't it?
00:37:50Well, I guess I've always been a field man.
00:37:52I haven't been an executive long enough to find that out for myself.
00:37:56But you're a good one.
00:37:58I think you're a very good executive.
00:38:01You admit mistakes.
00:38:03You don't pass the buck.
00:38:07You're a lot like Mr. Briggs that way.
00:38:09I take that as a very nice compliment.
00:38:12I mean it.
00:38:14Mr. Briggs' only trouble is that he could never be a yes man.
00:38:17Not even a Mr. Ramsey himself.
00:38:21He always has to speak his mind.
00:38:24If Mr. Ramsey doesn't like his judgment questioned,
00:38:28you either go along or you get off.
00:38:33Bill Briggs never got off.
00:38:35No, he never did.
00:38:38But maybe he's about to be pushed.
00:38:48He blew up at the next round and then Howard went right by him with a 65.
00:38:52A 65, I ask you.
00:38:54Seven birdies and he sank an 82 foot putter on the last green for a week.
00:38:57Oh, hello, my dear.
00:38:58You know, that's some guff.
00:39:02Yes, indeed it's worth it.
00:39:20The coffee will be ready in just a little while.
00:39:23You know, my father's recipe for coffee was to mix salt and chocolate with the grounds.
00:39:31Cook them all up together.
00:39:34He'd never drink anything else.
00:39:36Sounds wonderful.
00:39:38They, uh, they serve it at a small downtown restaurant I eat at occasionally.
00:39:44I must remember to mention it to Fred.
00:39:47You said he was a confirmed coffee drinker?
00:39:51Dedicated.
00:39:52He's fine.
00:39:53He's quite a young man, this husband of yours.
00:39:57Have you had a chance to read much of the report?
00:39:59Of course it isn't finished yet, but...
00:40:01Well, thank you for letting me see this much.
00:40:04Not according to Miss Post, I suppose, at the dinner party, but...
00:40:08It makes me extremely proud of my gentleman.
00:40:11So happy.
00:40:13He's been worried about it.
00:40:15Nancy!
00:40:16Nancy!
00:40:17Will you excuse me?
00:40:18Yes.
00:40:25Wonderful party, you two.
00:40:27Makes me think I should get married.
00:40:29Oh, don't do anything as drastic as that.
00:40:31Wonderful having you, Ed.
00:40:32Come again soon.
00:40:33Will you try keeping me away?
00:40:35I'll see if you're...
00:40:36Yes, right and early.
00:40:37Good night.
00:40:38All right.
00:40:38Ah, Jamie, you don't have to go yet.
00:40:40Stick around.
00:40:40Well, it's early.
00:40:41Of course, I'd love to stay all night, however.
00:40:43We're going home.
00:40:44Can't get him out of here, Nancy.
00:40:46You think he leaves off this party.
00:40:47The canapé, the sass.
00:40:49I thought everybody behaved very well.
00:40:51I thought so.
00:40:52You've got to get some credit for that.
00:40:53Not again.
00:40:54I was beginning to like all of that.
00:40:56Will you come over and see us?
00:40:58Come over during the day?
00:40:59You know, nowadays, Jamie never gets home at all.
00:41:02I think we're wise to form a union.
00:41:04You're right.
00:41:04Good night, Ed.
00:41:05Bye-bye.
00:41:06Good night.
00:41:13I wonder what happened to Bill Briggs tonight.
00:41:16Oh, darling, I forgot to tell you.
00:41:18He phoned earlier.
00:41:19He said he wanted to come, but he just didn't feel up to him.
00:41:22Oh, Nancy, I wish you'd have called him to the phone.
00:41:24I wanted to talk to him anyway.
00:41:25But darling, you weren't busy.
00:41:26Well, I know, but I...
00:41:30What about Ramsey?
00:41:31Is he planning to spend the night?
00:41:33No.
00:41:33He just gravitated towards the library and made himself cozy.
00:41:38Sounds a little like artificial gravitation to me.
00:41:41You didn't have anything to do with it, of course.
00:41:43Well, he's really an amazing person.
00:41:46You know, I expected a real tycoon, but he's so simple.
00:41:51Almost childlike.
00:41:53Baby, I just hope by mistake you never wander into a jungle.
00:41:59Good night, Jim.
00:42:00Good night, dear.
00:42:00Thank you.
00:42:01Wonderful, Father.
00:42:02Thank you.
00:42:02Good night, dear.
00:42:06Some interesting reading matter here, Fred.
00:42:09Very interesting reading.
00:42:12I took the liberty of accepting your wife's kind invitation to look over your report.
00:42:17Oh, really?
00:42:18Good, heady stuff.
00:42:20Good, solid thinking.
00:42:22And some of it is better than good.
00:42:25Of course, I can't say that I agree with all your conclusions, but I listen to arguments.
00:42:30It'll be good to hear arguments for a change.
00:42:33Good arguments.
00:42:35Well, I can't tell you what a relief that is.
00:42:37We really sweat that one out.
00:42:39Well, Fred, I like a man to show initiative.
00:42:42I like a man who's not afraid to think a new thought, to take a different kind of step
00:42:46on his own.
00:42:48With your permission, I'll borrow this extra copy of your report just overnight.
00:42:53But for now, I can say I'm very impressed.
00:42:58Well, of course, we haven't finished this thing yet, but Bill and I feel that another week...
00:43:02Bill?
00:43:04You mean Briggs?
00:43:07Yes, sir.
00:43:08Well, we work together on this.
00:43:10Oh, come now, Staples.
00:43:12I pride myself on my sense for style.
00:43:15I can link what I see with what I know to be peculiar to a certain individual.
00:43:20And I know Bill Briggs' work.
00:43:22I've been exposed to it since I was a voting age.
00:43:25This...
00:43:26This isn't his style.
00:43:27It isn't his brand of thinking.
00:43:29Well, I don't know what Nancy could have told you, but Bill and I worked together...
00:43:33Fred, learn to accept success.
00:43:35It's tougher sometimes than learning to accept failure.
00:43:39Don't take half of your accomplishment and hand it out gratuitously to the man on your
00:43:43left who hasn't the stuff to do it on his own.
00:43:46That's charitable, humane, and he makes you feel good.
00:43:50But it's not business.
00:43:51Mr. Ramsey, I'd like to clear up one point.
00:43:53There'll be a meeting on Tuesday, Fred.
00:43:55We can discuss the report then.
00:43:57I assure you I don't want any undue credit.
00:43:59I never extend undue credit.
00:44:02Ask anybody.
00:44:03Ask your friend Briggs.
00:44:05You think I'm tough on him, don't you?
00:44:10I am tough on him.
00:44:15I think Bill is...
00:44:18I think he's a good man.
00:44:20He was.
00:44:21And grandfather clocks were good clocks, and Stanley steamers were good automobiles, but
00:44:26you can't run them in competition today.
00:44:29I must say that I like some of his ideas very much.
00:44:33Very much indeed.
00:44:35So do I.
00:44:37Some of them.
00:44:38Not many.
00:44:41Still a man with Bill's experience and...
00:44:46I don't know.
00:44:47I think he'd be very hard to replace.
00:44:49I'll see if that coffee's ready yet.
00:44:50Are you serious, Fred?
00:44:52Briggs would be hard to replace?
00:44:54Do you honestly think that?
00:44:56And why do you think I brought you on here from Mansfield on such short notice?
00:44:59Do you think that was a whim?
00:45:01Is that what you think?
00:45:04Fred, you're Briggs' replacement.
00:45:06I thought you understood that.
00:45:10I'm...
00:45:12expecting his resignation.
00:45:13I don't like to prolong these things.
00:45:16They're unpleasant and personal, no matter what tack you use.
00:45:21and under no circumstances could I or would I undertake to fire him.
00:45:33Coffee's in the living room.
00:45:34I thought perhaps you'd like to go in there.
00:45:36It's quiet.
00:45:36Look at the time.
00:45:37I really must go.
00:45:39It's been a wonderful evening.
00:45:41Sorry you have to leave so soon.
00:45:43I really must.
00:45:46My, uh...
00:45:47coat, I think, is in the bedroom.
00:45:49Oh, yes, of course.
00:45:50I'll get it for you.
00:46:01May I make a suggestion?
00:46:05Mr. Ramsey, I don't want to seem ungrateful.
00:46:07I'm not looking for gratitude.
00:46:09You can't run a business on thank you notes.
00:46:12That's Briggs' trouble.
00:46:14And God forgive me, that was my father's trouble too.
00:46:18This...
00:46:20This incredible conception of a huge industry being run like a soup kitchen,
00:46:24like a...
00:46:25like a welfare comfort station.
00:46:29I know what the old timers think of me.
00:46:32I've grown up getting stared at by a lot of tongue-clucking old fogies
00:46:36who find me ruthless.
00:46:38The kind of people who represent everything that might have kept our business
00:46:42from growing to anything like its present size.
00:46:45This...
00:46:46This stupid black-and-white idea that honesty and fair profit are incompatible.
00:46:52I just happen to feel
00:46:54that the atmosphere of a large corporation
00:46:57cannot be constantly cathedral-like.
00:47:11Thank you, Mrs. Staples.
00:47:14And again, thanks for a wonderful evening.
00:47:23I'll see you in the morning, friend.
00:47:27You didn't steal that promotion.
00:47:30If you want it,
00:47:32remember that.
00:47:39Good night, Mr. Anthony.
00:47:41If you'll come to the dinner.
00:47:42Thank you, Nancy.
00:47:43I hope I'll be able to.
00:47:44Good night.
00:47:44Bye.
00:47:45Bye.
00:47:46Bye.
00:47:47Bye.
00:48:00What was that all about?
00:48:03I'm Bill Briggs' replacement.
00:48:06A vicepresidency.
00:48:08You must have really spread it on me.
00:48:11Listen.
00:48:13A little rare roast beef and wifely pride
00:48:16I don't get you that kind of a promotion.
00:48:18Yeah, I'll take something a little more.
00:48:21A little misrepresentation for one thing.
00:48:24A little switch in authorship for another.
00:48:27You told him I'd written that report.
00:48:29I did not.
00:48:30I told him Bill it helped you.
00:48:31But Nancy, this is Bill's basic idea.
00:48:33Oh, the same set of ideas that he's had for years.
00:48:35I gathered that much.
00:48:37You gave it life.
00:48:38You made it work.
00:48:38You made it practical.
00:48:39Even so, Nancy, I don't want any part of it.
00:48:41Oh, Fred, I hadn't done know what you contributed to this.
00:48:44I also know that you can't stand winning
00:48:46if you have even a nodding acquaintance with a loser.
00:48:49I don't like stepping on another human being
00:48:51to get into a capital gains bracket.
00:48:53Ramsey's stalking that poor guy like an animal.
00:48:54He'll whip him to death if he has to to make him resign.
00:48:56I didn't hear you tell Mr. Ramsey that he was mistaken.
00:48:59I didn't hear any clear-cut defense of Mr. Briggs.
00:49:02If you don't want to be successful,
00:49:04go and tell that to Mr. Ramsey.
00:49:05He'll give you a broom.
00:49:06Will you please?
00:49:06Then you can check in at the center clock every night.
00:49:08But don't tell me.
00:49:08Now, look, I don't want to argue about this.
00:49:10Neither do I.
00:49:11I just want you to answer me.
00:49:13Did you tell him that your wife was mistaken?
00:49:16Did you tell him that you were taking vows
00:49:17for something you did not do?
00:49:25No.
00:49:29No, I didn't.
00:49:32Why not, Fred?
00:49:35Why not?
00:49:38Because I want the job.
00:49:42Thank you.
00:49:44For a straight and honest answer.
00:49:48Now, I think we can both sleep tonight.
00:50:23Good morning, Paul.
00:50:26Where's Cora?
00:50:27She's late, I guess.
00:50:33Aren't you going to be late for school?
00:50:35It's only 8.10.
00:50:37I've still got six minutes.
00:50:39You've got to figure out to a science, haven't you?
00:50:43I've just got to figure to
00:50:44how far I have to go
00:50:45and how long it's going to take me.
00:50:47Well, if you've found that out,
00:50:49you've found out a lot.
00:50:53Thanks for breakfast.
00:50:56You worked late again last night.
00:50:58Yeah, no rest for the weary.
00:51:02You haven't got it down to a science yet,
00:51:03have you, Dad?
00:51:04What?
00:51:06How far you have to go
00:51:07and how long it'll take you.
00:51:12What's the matter, Paul?
00:51:18Here.
00:51:18Here's last night's doubleheader.
00:51:20The one we were going to see.
00:51:22Oh, I forgot all about it, Paul.
00:51:25I'm sorry.
00:51:26We didn't miss much.
00:51:28I watched it on television.
00:51:29Crummy doubleheader.
00:51:30The Braves took both of them.
00:51:32You're lucky.
00:51:33The Yanks are playing tonight, aren't they?
00:51:35Yeah, they play the Red Sox.
00:51:37Let's start all over again.
00:51:39You meet me at the office,
00:51:40we'll have dinner,
00:51:41and then we'll go to the game together.
00:51:42Sounds good.
00:51:43It's a date.
00:51:45We're on.
00:51:47So long, Dad.
00:51:48Have a good day.
00:51:48and if you can't make it tonight,
00:51:53would you give me a call at school?
00:51:55I've raised the world's worst pessimist.
00:51:57At 8 o'clock in the morning,
00:51:58you're figuring out the worst possible thing
00:52:00that could happen at 6 o'clock tonight.
00:52:03upstairs in my room.
00:52:04I've got a drawer full of tickets
00:52:06to ballgames we've never seen
00:52:08because of that stuff.
00:52:10But, um,
00:52:11call me if you can't, Dad.
00:52:12It's important.
00:52:14I'll make it this time, son.
00:52:17Can't you have another glass of milk
00:52:18and maybe tell me
00:52:19about last night's doubleheader?
00:52:21I'd be late.
00:52:22Wish I could.
00:52:24So long, Dad.
00:52:25Take it easy.
00:52:26Sure.
00:52:46Good evening, Mr. Staple.
00:52:47Good evening, Sally.
00:53:03Paul?
00:53:14Hi, Bill.
00:53:16Hi, Fred.
00:53:18I thought it was my son.
00:53:20He's gonna pick me up.
00:53:23've got time for cigarettes?
00:53:27sure
00:53:31what are you doing here?
00:53:32I thought you were going to the ball game
00:53:35I've had a miserable headache since dinner
00:53:38so I sent Paul on to see the game alone
00:53:41it's gonna pick me up
00:53:43how long you been here?
00:53:45a couple of hours I guess
00:53:49can I get you an aspirin or something?
00:53:51Oh, no, no, è molto meglio ora.
00:53:56Anyway, mi ha dato un po' di spiegare i suprimenti che hai fatto per il rapporto.
00:54:02I credo Ramsey è right, Fred.
00:54:05You may be un'engineer per diploma,
00:54:07ma you're a crackerjack industrial planner per instincto o qualcosa.
00:54:12Come from you, Bill, that sounds real good.
00:54:15No question about it.
00:54:17Some of your suggestions were great, Fred.
00:54:19Really great.
00:54:20I have incorporated them verbatim.
00:54:25I like your approach, Fred.
00:54:27You think of people in terms of the human factor,
00:54:31not just logistically.
00:54:34Something I've never been able to make Ramsey understand.
00:54:38Anyway, now he can't complain I turn in the same report every year.
00:54:43He won't be able to say that this year.
00:54:49Join me, Fred?
00:54:51No, thanks, Bill.
00:54:53I've got to pick Nancy up for supper and that long drive home, you know.
00:55:02I don't know.
00:55:04Maybe I'm just getting old.
00:55:06I used to be pretty tough.
00:55:09Still tough, I guess.
00:55:12but every now and then I get tired.
00:55:19Tired of arguments, tired of battling, tired of the whole bloody mess with all this fancy organization and super finagling.
00:55:27Oh, I know it's legal and modern and all that, it's what they call the trend, isn't it?
00:55:32But in the old days things were a lot simpler.
00:55:36Businesses grow, Bill.
00:55:38This business didn't grow, not since old man Ramsey passed on.
00:55:42It's been added to, that's not growth, it's just plain acquisition of business of stock transfers and bank loans, manipulated
00:55:51by hired shysters and their sharpshooting accountants, and organized and controlled by a barracuda like Walter Ramsey.
00:56:01You sure you won't have a snifter, Fred?
00:56:04I wish you would.
00:56:05No.
00:56:09Well, times change, Bill, you know that.
00:56:12But do they always change for the better?
00:56:14Old man Ramsey could walk down a production line and call every man by his first name and get called
00:56:19by his first name in return.
00:56:21I know that feeling, believe me.
00:56:23He didn't need public relations experts.
00:56:27Honor was enough.
00:56:28Character.
00:56:29And he never sold a share of stock in his company either.
00:56:32Not till the Depression came along and he had to raise cash or go under.
00:56:36And do you know why?
00:56:37Because he would not lay off one single man.
00:56:41That's the kind of man Jim Ramsey was.
00:56:45Now I sit in that fancy conference room with Jim Ramsey's son.
00:56:50I sit there and I see all the old man's principles, all his beliefs, every single thing holy to him,
00:56:59job-darked by this spindly little financial wizard, this wall-eyed, ice-coated little rooster
00:57:06who knows more about debentures than he does about the human heart.
00:57:08Bill!
00:57:09I'm all right.
00:57:10Take it easy.
00:57:11I'm all right.
00:57:13Begin to work yourself up.
00:57:14I'm all right.
00:57:18Sit down, friend.
00:57:21Sit down quietly and be a nice, sympathetic friend and associate.
00:57:27I'm wondering if you're as good a human being as you are an industrial relations man.
00:57:36He doesn't like you, does he?
00:57:38No.
00:57:42Bill, has it ever occurred to you to resign?
00:57:45Of course it has.
00:57:47A thousand times.
00:57:50Why don't you...
00:57:52What?
00:57:55Resign.
00:57:58You can't take the chance of letting this man fire you.
00:58:01On our level, you don't get fired.
00:58:04You know that.
00:58:05After 30 years of productive work, they can't say to a man like me,
00:58:09All right, now get out.
00:58:10They just can't do that.
00:58:13So what do they do?
00:58:15They create a situation.
00:58:18A situation you can't work in and finally that you can't live in.
00:58:22Where there's tension, abuse,
00:58:26small humiliations.
00:58:28It all starts out on a scale so subtle, so microscopic,
00:58:33That at first you can't really believe it's happening at all.
00:58:38But gradually the thing begins to take shape.
00:58:41The pieces fit together, all the little bits.
00:58:44And it becomes unmistakable.
00:58:47They chip away at your pride, your security.
00:58:51Till you begin to have doubts.
00:58:55And then fears.
00:59:00Ramsey.
00:59:01He wants me to resign.
00:59:03He wants me to get my cross so full that I'll be miserable enough to do just that.
00:59:06But you take it.
00:59:08Yes, I take it.
00:59:09Why?
00:59:10The bigger the job, the more desperately you try to hang out.
00:59:12Why?
00:59:14Why do you take it?
00:59:16Why don't you quit?
00:59:18Quit?
00:59:18Yes, quit.
00:59:19Get out of it.
00:59:20Chuck it.
00:59:20You'd have your pension, your peace of mind.
00:59:23No.
00:59:24You know Ramsey's gonna go on hounding you until he makes you quit.
00:59:29Never.
00:59:30You'll never make me quit.
00:59:37Bill, I...
00:59:40I wish I could understand why you'd go on taking it.
00:59:43Because I'm weak, I guess.
00:59:45Because I'm 62 years old and I don't think I could get another job.
00:59:49How's that strike you?
00:59:51How do you think?
00:59:55Once in a while I have a dream.
00:59:58A dream I'm sitting in that conference room when he starts working me over.
01:00:03Just smiling, see?
01:00:05Perfectly calm and I'm taking it.
01:00:08I don't show the slightest resentment.
01:00:11And then...
01:00:13Then without any change of expression, I get up out of my chair and I walk over to him.
01:00:18And I say, Ramsey...
01:00:20Bill.
01:00:21Ramsey!
01:00:22Bill!
01:00:22Ramsey, I say!
01:00:24And then I smash him!
01:00:25Bill!
01:00:25And then I smash him again!
01:00:27Get a hold of yourself!
01:00:27Then I hit him again!
01:00:28What's wrong with you?
01:00:30And I hold him up!
01:00:31Bill!
01:00:31Head up, Ramsey!
01:00:32I say I'm not through you!
01:00:33Bill!
01:00:33Wait!
01:00:39It's the kid.
01:00:41He's coming to pick me up.
01:00:43Fred!
01:00:43I don't want him to see me.
01:00:45Not like this!
01:00:45You're all right, Bill.
01:00:46Just sit down now.
01:00:47No, he can't see me like this!
01:00:49Fred!
01:00:49Help me!
01:00:50Help me!
01:00:51All right.
01:00:51All right.
01:00:51I'll take care of him.
01:00:52You just lay low for a minute.
01:00:54I'll see him get home.
01:00:54Tell him!
01:00:55I left early to get some milk.
01:00:56Bill!
01:00:56Be quiet!
01:01:05Oh, it's me, Paul.
01:01:07Oh, hi, Mr. Staple.
01:01:10Man, what a place by night.
01:01:13Where do they keep the caskets?
01:01:15How you doing, partner?
01:01:16Dad said I should drop in and pick him up.
01:01:18Oh, well, he went on home.
01:01:20He needs a little rest.
01:01:21Oh, good.
01:01:23He's under orders not to work late.
01:01:25He can't seem to keep away lately.
01:01:28Always work.
01:01:29Always worrying.
01:01:31No wonder he's number two man.
01:01:33Suppose I dropped you off at Grand Central, huh?
01:01:35Swell.
01:01:36Thanks, Mr. Staple.
01:01:37Ever since I can remember he's been married to this place,
01:01:39his mom used to say the same thing.
01:01:42They were great together, Mr. Staple.
01:01:44Mom and dad used to yell and argue and carry on.
01:01:48He was a fighter.
01:01:50He was great going up.
01:01:51I remember.
01:02:00Oh, thank you.
01:02:21More?
01:02:22There's another bundle on the truck.
01:02:38Mr. Staple, you left your hat in Mr. Briggs' office.
01:02:41Oh, Fred, I have a Stanley complex made up,
01:02:43if you'd like to take a look at it.
01:02:44Hey, here, please.
01:02:46Good night.
01:02:54Yes, Mr. Staple?
01:02:55Now, this is the proposal's report.
01:02:58Give that to Miss Lanier for confidential memoing.
01:03:01Tell her that Mr. Briggs has the only carbon.
01:03:03Is he in yet?
01:03:04No, sir.
01:03:05Mr. Staple?
01:03:06Yes.
01:03:07It's not signed.
01:03:08How would you like the name?
01:03:10In what order?
01:03:12First yours or first Mr. Briggs?
01:03:14Oh, I don't care.
01:03:15It makes no difference to me.
01:03:16But in joint projects, Mr. Staple...
01:03:17I really don't think it's too important.
01:03:19Put Mr. Briggs' name first, if you like.
01:03:21Just give it to Miss Lanier right away.
01:03:24I'd like this thing printed by afternoon, if possible.
01:03:30That's all, Marge.
01:03:31Yes, Mr. Staple.
01:03:48Yes, Marge, dear, what is it?
01:03:49The proposal's report.
01:03:50Would you sign it so it can be printed?
01:03:51Oh, would you...
01:03:54Just a moment, please.
01:03:56Marge, will you please take it in to Mr. Ramsey?
01:03:57He has to see it first.
01:03:59Hello?
01:04:00Oh, yes, good morning.
01:04:03Is that the report?
01:04:04Yes, sir.
01:04:04Miss Lanier, I said you wanted to see it.
01:04:06Yes, I do.
01:04:08Who signed this?
01:04:09I wrote the title page.
01:04:10Mr. Staple suggested I sign it.
01:04:16Print it.
01:04:17I'm sure that if Mr. Staple...
01:04:19Print it, Miss Fleming.
01:04:28I can sign that report now, Marge.
01:04:38Now, we meet with Ramsey in 20 minutes.
01:04:40Under the conditions, and in the time we've got left, it's the best plan I can devise,
01:04:43and it's the only one ready, so you fellas have got to go along.
01:04:45There's nothing wrong with...
01:04:46Marge, I can sign that report now.
01:04:48Hold us up for a while.
01:04:49You've got to order Section B, and we do the...
01:04:56Thank you, Marge.
01:05:07The major projects during the period of aforementioned being the Huber Petroleum Refinery,
01:05:12the Sterling Casters Refinery, the Chatham Nickel Smelter Company,
01:05:16the Henderson Valley Dam, the Swing Carbon Steam Plant,
01:05:19and the New England Canadian Natural Gas Pipeline.
01:05:22Good report, Van.
01:05:23Thank you.
01:05:24I've got a real feeling of activity during your evening.
01:05:29The next item of business is the project's proposal report.
01:05:34Clearly of the greatest single importance on our docket this morning.
01:05:37I must say, and I'm sure you'll all agree, that I am not given to enthusiasms at the drop of
01:05:42a submission.
01:05:43But of this, I feel impelled to say that it is unique in effort, ingenious in thought.
01:05:48To Mr. Fred Staples of our organization goes my heartfelt thanks and congratulations.
01:05:53Besides being our newest member, he seems to be shaping up as among our most astute.
01:05:57This set of proposals is ingenious, comprehensive, and fresh.
01:06:02Congratulations.
01:06:03Your success is a reaffirmation of my own judgment.
01:06:06Mr. Ramsey.
01:06:06Of my own good judgment, I may add.
01:06:08Mr. Ramsey.
01:06:08I prefer not to be drenched with modesty, Mr. Staples.
01:06:11This is not modesty, just the extension of credit where it's due.
01:06:15Bill here is as responsible as...
01:06:17Mr. Bates, is your name about to be used in vain?
01:06:19I don't think Fred would use my name in vain.
01:06:21And it's refreshing to find someone not suffering from over-modesty.
01:06:25What I was trying to say is that we worked on this project together.
01:06:29It's a combined effort.
01:06:30I'm sure it was.
01:06:32Well, as long as that's understood.
01:06:34Oh, it is. It is.
01:06:35It's just that I feel reasonably competent to assess individual performances
01:06:39and to single out those that I feel should be singled out,
01:06:43with all due regard for Mr. Staples' concern for his fellow man.
01:06:49Now then, if Mr. Briggs' ego has been sufficiently nourished...
01:06:52I don't think Fred brought this out to feed my ego.
01:06:55Oh?
01:06:55Well, then whatever it was that prompted his precipitate dash to your defense.
01:06:59There was no dash to my defense.
01:07:00Why don't we drop the thing, Mr. Briggs?
01:07:02I hate becoming entangled in absurd little personality conflicts.
01:07:05I'll put a star by your name on the front cover if that'll make you happy.
01:07:08My name is no longer on the front cover.
01:07:10Mr. Briggs.
01:07:11You're twisting the entire thing to make it appear as if I were grubbing for some sort of recognition.
01:07:14Mr. Briggs.
01:07:15I find it unfair, Mr. Ramsey.
01:07:17We have a full agenda.
01:07:19If you feel so bruised that you must persist in prolonging this discussion...
01:07:23Mr. Ramsey.
01:07:24Let me finish, Mr. Staples, if I may.
01:07:26We have only one purpose here.
01:07:28To work.
01:07:29We cannot hope to accomplish this if we must be continually subjected to these...
01:07:33to these singularly unbecoming strains and tensions.
01:07:36These childish claims and counterclaims.
01:07:40Mr. Briggs, I ask you a simple question.
01:07:42Is it or is it not within my province to credit a man with a job well done?
01:07:46Of course it is.
01:07:47Then may we drop it now?
01:07:49Only if it's clearly understood that I don't submit to any of these calculated discolorations of a man's worth.
01:07:53As to a man's worth, Mr. Briggs, I think I've proven myself a competent judge.
01:07:58I ask you to recall that I built this business from a scratch pile of used lumber...
01:08:02and a few machines into a giant.
01:08:04And I made few mistakes in doing it.
01:08:06Few mistakes in business and few mistakes in judging men.
01:08:09Well, you've made one this time.
01:08:10This report...
01:08:10I refuse to engage in a running fight because a supposedly responsible official of this company
01:08:15persists in wasting time haggling over credit.
01:08:18That is not fair.
01:08:19I was not haggling over credit.
01:08:20This is a joint report that we worked on.
01:08:22Don't produce for me what's true and what is not true.
01:08:24What am I, some kind of idiot that I can't recognize in other man's thinking?
01:08:28Whatever your abilities in the past, Mr. Briggs,
01:08:30your work hasn't shown this stamp of originality and talent in ten years.
01:08:34A man slips, clutches, he loses his grip,
01:08:37he tries to hang on by someone else's.
01:08:40You have no right to say that.
01:08:43Bill, will you please speak up?
01:08:46Do, by all means, Mr. Briggs.
01:08:48You think I'm mistaken, do you?
01:08:51Shall I go through 150 pages and point out to you line by line where another man has taken over
01:08:56for you?
01:08:57Has had to take over for you?
01:08:58And I can point out sections of this report that I never had to touch?
01:09:01Had to, Mr. Staples?
01:09:02Of course you can.
01:09:03Let me show them to you.
01:09:05I've seen them submitted year after year.
01:09:08Principles and precepts for better business.
01:09:10Mr. Briggs, yearly platitudes.
01:09:13But you translated his unworkable, well-intentioned philosophy
01:09:16into tough business procedure.
01:09:18You make it work.
01:09:20Ramsey!
01:09:21Mr. Briggs, I will not tolerate insubordination on any level.
01:09:25And if anyone here finds that intolerable,
01:09:27he has the God-given right to offer his resignation.
01:09:42Bill, please.
01:09:48Mr. Ramsey,
01:09:52I had no intention of seeming insubordinate.
01:09:55I...
01:10:12Meeting is adjourned.
01:10:26Mr. Briggs?
01:10:32Mr. Briggs?
01:10:36There's one! There's one here!
01:10:37Bill!
01:10:39Bill, can you hear me?
01:10:41A little...
01:10:42a little bottle of Bill.
01:10:44Amber.
01:10:45Coat, please.
01:10:46Office.
01:10:48Let's get some water.
01:10:49Yeah.
01:10:50Rannigan, get on Amber's.
01:10:51I've called Dr. Blake.
01:10:52Don't move him.
01:10:53Oh, friend.
01:10:55He's still...
01:10:57still...
01:10:58still giving...
01:10:58orders.
01:11:00Do me a favor, friend.
01:11:02What bill?
01:11:03Tell him.
01:11:05Tell him.
01:11:07Golden.
01:11:24Hello?
01:11:30Thank you, Mr. Staple.
01:11:36Five minutes ago.
01:11:54I just had word from the hospital.
01:11:57He died five minutes ago.
01:12:00Thank you, Mr. Brannigan.
01:12:03Thank you.
01:12:04Thank you, Mr. Brannigan.
01:12:24Thank you for coming.
01:12:55Grazie.
01:13:32Grazie.
01:13:46Grazie.
01:14:04Grazie.
01:14:05What are you doing here?
01:14:07I called your office.
01:14:09And there wasn't any train, so I drove here.
01:14:15How did you know where to find me?
01:14:18They told me at the hospital.
01:14:22Does Paul know?
01:14:27Yes, he's with Bill's sister. He's all right.
01:14:31Did you have something else?
01:14:35Have you had anything to eat?
01:14:40Have you eaten anything?
01:14:48Fred.
01:14:50What happened?
01:14:53Nothing.
01:14:55Not a thing.
01:14:58Except a murder.
01:15:01There were witnesses too. Plenty of us.
01:15:05And no one lifted a finger to stop it.
01:15:08Oh, Fred.
01:15:09Nancy, I know I didn't lift a finger.
01:15:11You don't know.
01:15:12I'm not going to have you going around in sackcloth and ashes for something that you did everything in your
01:15:17power to stop.
01:15:18You begged him to resign. You know that.
01:15:21What more could you have done?
01:15:23What more could anyone have done?
01:15:25Nancy, I think you'd better go home.
01:15:27Would you take this, please?
01:15:29Are you coming?
01:15:30No.
01:15:32Then I won't go.
01:15:34I want you to go home and start packing.
01:15:37Where are we going?
01:15:39I don't know.
01:15:40Somewhere, anywhere.
01:15:43Just away.
01:15:45There's an awful stink in this town and we're going to get away from it.
01:15:51Come on, I'll put you in the car.
01:15:52No, I'm not going to leave you alone.
01:15:54Nancy, I want you to go home, please.
01:15:55No, I'm not going tonight.
01:15:57Tomorrow I'll do anything you ask.
01:15:59I'll pack.
01:16:00I'll go anywhere you ask, but not tonight.
01:16:02Not in the state you're in.
01:16:03Now look, there's something I've got to do.
01:16:04Fine.
01:16:05Then we'll do it together.
01:16:56Bill was supposed to go to Lansing tomorrow morning for a meeting with Phillips.
01:17:00You'll have to take his place.
01:17:02I believe I've already mentioned that.
01:17:04Yeah, you mentioned it.
01:17:11You'll leave on flight number 116832 from LaGuardia.
01:17:17Miss Lanier will meet you at the airport with your reservation and all the memoranda and correspondence pertaining to the
01:17:22negotiation.
01:17:23You'll have three uninterrupted hours in the air to familiarize yourself with all the details.
01:17:29I have no interest whatever in the Phillips matter.
01:17:32What was that?
01:17:34I'm telling you that I don't want the job.
01:17:36I'm through.
01:17:37I'm quitting.
01:17:37I resign as of now.
01:17:39Why?
01:17:40Because I hate your guts.
01:17:43You use Bill Briggs for a whipping boy.
01:17:45You made him knuckle under and then you beat him to death.
01:17:48You wouldn't try anything like that with me because I'd kill you first.
01:17:52I'm not a nice human being.
01:17:53What else?
01:17:54You're nothing but a freak.
01:17:55You'd drive your people into peak efficiency if they can make it or a grave if they can't.
01:18:00Because Bill Briggs lacked the strength and the capacity.
01:18:03He was second in command.
01:18:05He had a lot of responsibility to hold and he cracked under it.
01:18:07It was his business too.
01:18:09It's no one's business.
01:18:10It belongs only to the best.
01:18:12To those who can control it, sustain it, nurture it, keep it growing.
01:18:16Right now it belongs to us because we're producing.
01:18:19But in the future it belongs to whoever has the brains, the nerve and the skill to take it away
01:18:23from us.
01:18:24Well they can have my share of it right now because I don't want any part of it.
01:18:27What do you want from me? Apologies?
01:18:29I don't apologize.
01:18:32What else?
01:18:34A nice unsullied conscience?
01:18:37You walk out of here with a halo because you spoke your mind?
01:18:41What do you do then?
01:18:43Go to work for some nickel and dime outfit run by nice people
01:18:46who won't challenge you and prod you and goad you
01:18:49and drive you to a height you never even dreamed of?
01:18:52A company where there's nothing to fight for because you're the best and there's no competition?
01:18:57Where everything is handed to you and nothing is worth fighting for?
01:19:01I want you to stay!
01:19:05I don't think you understand, Ramsey.
01:19:08I don't like you.
01:19:09I don't like anything about you.
01:19:11I didn't hire you to like me!
01:19:13All right, I'm not a nice person in your eyes.
01:19:16But whatever I am, you learn more, grow more and do more here with me than anywhere else on earth.
01:19:22I want you to stay because I need help on my level.
01:19:25And you're the only one who's able to function there.
01:19:28Be a conscience for me if you want.
01:19:30Be anything you like.
01:19:31And if it's something I don't like, you'll know about it soon enough.
01:19:35I think you're strong enough to take it.
01:19:37And if not, I think you're strong enough to get out.
01:19:40Name your terms.
01:19:42All terms are negotiable.
01:19:44I don't think so.
01:19:46Not mine.
01:19:48All right.
01:19:49I just assume not waste any time doing trading.
01:19:52As of now, your salary is doubled.
01:19:56Your stock option is doubled right down the line.
01:19:59Your expense account is whatever you make it.
01:20:02Add to that a new title.
01:20:03Vice President.
01:20:08I want a lot more than that.
01:20:10You're not going to take me on as just another Vice President you can push around.
01:20:15You take me as someone who hates you down to the bare nerve.
01:20:19Nothing in the world will ever change that.
01:20:22I'll argue with you, contradict you, fight you in every way I know how.
01:20:26I'll do everything in my power to push you out and take your place myself.
01:20:30Go ahead and try.
01:20:33Mr. Staples.
01:20:35You have yourself a deal.
01:20:37Have it drawn up.
01:20:40No reservations now?
01:20:44Yes, one.
01:20:47Bill had one pitiful little dream that someday he'd walk in here and break your jaw.
01:20:53I reserve the right to have that wish for myself.
01:20:57I'll have it drawn into the contract.
01:20:59With a little rider giving me the same privilege.
01:21:11Oh, uh...
01:21:12Staples.
01:21:14You'll be pleased to know that Bill Briggs' boy is being taken care of.
01:21:21Will that let you sleep better tonight?
01:21:25It begins, huh?
01:21:28It begins. Fair enough?
01:21:31Fair enough.
01:21:46I've got to take care of myself.
01:21:47I was like, you know what I want.
01:21:48I've got to go.
01:21:54I...
01:22:03I'm like, Cthulhu.
01:22:05I've got to go.
01:22:09Oh, yeah.
01:22:11You're welcome.
01:22:14do we pack
01:22:17no
01:22:18we stay
01:22:20on whose terms
01:22:22mine
01:22:24and his
01:22:26are you satisfied
01:22:27yes
01:22:29oh Fred
01:22:30you know it's easy enough to chuck something
01:22:33you think is wrong
01:22:34but this way maybe there's a chance
01:22:38I'm so happy
01:22:39well we'll see
01:22:42I've got to go to Lansing
01:22:43morning clean
01:22:45when will you be back
01:22:47tomorrow night
01:22:49I'll be late
01:22:52aren't you always
01:23:25will you always
01:23:33will you
01:23:36be
01:23:37to
01:23:37you
01:23:39turn
01:23:40Grazie a tutti.
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