Rich Man, Poor Man - Book II (1976) s01e01 Episode Script

To Tom Jordache and his beautiful bride.
They came to us as strangers, but now they are part of us.
All happiness forever.
(cheering) - No more.
- Oh.
Everybody, over here.
Mon frère formidable, rest-ce pas? That's the way they say it over here.
Which means some kind of a guy, the best.
- Pinky, what is it? What do you want? - I've just seen your sister-in-law.
- Where was she? - She was at a at a striptease club.
You know it - La Porte Rose on the Rue Whatsitsname.
- Was she drinking? - Drinking? Mate, she was drunk! (screams) No! Oh, don't.
Stop it! Argh! Oh, no.
No.
No.
No! Rudy.
He would like to see you.
Mon frère formidable.
Rudy.
Rudy, you go get 'em.
What? You go get 'em, Rudy.
The bad guys.
I don't know who they are any more.
I think I'm one of them.
You can cry if you want to, Wes.
He was won'th crying for.
I'm not crying, Kate.
I'm not gonna cry.
Goodbye, my darling.
Rest well.
I just wanted to make sure you were all right.
Oh, poor thing.
I forgot to water it.
Have you thought about what you're going to do now? Oh, I I'm gonna put the Clothilde up for sale.
After you pay the bank, there won't be much left.
Yeah, but there'll be enough to get me back to the States and to have the baby.
Where is that? - I can't find it.
- What? The shell that Tom gave me.
If you'd like to hang on to the boat, if it's a matter of covering expenses No.
It's just that I don't think that I can sleep in that bed any more, you know, or Iook up at the wheel and know that I'm never going to see Tom there again.
Damn, damn! Kate, it's going to be tough on Wesley growing up without a father.
Would you consider letting me take him? I'd like to raise him as my son.
All right.
Listen, Rudy's alone now.
You guys could do all those things, like go to baseball games and rebuild carburettors and all that kind of stuff.
I told you, I'm not going.
I know how you feel about Julie, but she's not going to be there.
I just wanna stay with you.
But I don't even know where I'm gonna end up.
I could end up in some tiny little room in the village.
- That's OK.
- I'll have enough taking care of the baby.
- I can help you.
- Right, you and me and the baby.
You can sleep on the couch, mop the kitchen floor, clean up the dirty diapers - That's fine.
- Don't you understand? You and I are just going to keep reminding each other of Tom.
- We're going to be mourning all the time.
- You mean you don't want me? Oh.
I do.
I want you more than anything in the world.
It's just that every time I look at you, I see I see Tom.
And I can't handle it.
It's tearing me apart.
I just don't know what I can do.
I wonder who decorated this room.
Must have been someone very clever.
It's after three.
Every bar ought to have a mirror so when you get a drink you can look at yourself.
Why don't you try and get some sleep? I don't feel like sleeping.
I don't feel like drinking.
Congratulations.
I've been standing here forcing myself to face what I've become.
What are you looking for, Julie? Pity? I'm past feeling pity.
- What do you feel? - Disgust.
That makes two of us.
Look at me.
No, really, look at me.
What do you see? A woman who was beautiful, who deliberately set out to make herself ugly.
Go on.
A woman who seems to get some sort of twisted pleasure feeling sorry for herself.
Who never takes the blame for her own failures? Exactly.
Wesley was right, I did murder Tom.
That's what I am, a destroyer.
Lady, most of all what you're destroying is yourself.
And if we stay together, I'll end up destroying you.
It's not much of a marriage, is it? You should have walked out on me a long time ago.
Why didn't you? Because I loved you.
Let's be honest.
There hasn't been any love between us in a long time.
I don't even think we like each other any more.
Rudy, I'm leaving.
I'm sorry.
It's over.
You can look on it as a gift.
Maybe the first generous thing I've done since we married.
Julie.
I have to.
See if I can manage without a crutch to lean on.
Not the bottle and not you.
- Is there any way I can help? - Yes.
Let me go.
- Falconetti.
- Halt! Police! I don't want him shot.
It's OK.
All set? Hi.
Hi.
Prescott, Julie Prescott.
P-r-e-s Yes, that's right.
No, not the Chicago Tribune.
I'm a photographer with Life Magazine.
It should all be on my application.
Where does it state I'm paying the legal costs? The last page.
Paragraph two.
I must say, this has been one of the rare ones.
Most clients start out insisting it's all going to be civilised and before it's over, you're up to your ankles in blood.
You must have a million people working there.
Surely you can spare me one clerk to get my papers processed? Thank you.
I'd appreciate it.
I'm sorry.
Just one more.
It's a quick one.
That story you did in Israel on the Six Day War, those children in the bomb shelter - You're very good.
- Thank you.
Ben, it's Julie.
Is my stuff on the barbecue at the LBJ ranch up yet? Oh, good.
OK, great.
I'll see you back at the office about three.
- All right, where were we? - The final agreement.
OK, where do I sign? - Arert you going to read it? - I take it you have.
- Yes.
- Well, then it's fine.
The way you wanted it - no settlement, no alimony.
- Right.
OK.
Here? - The bottom line.
Anything you want from the house? Furniture? No.
I've taken my books.
That's all I wanted.
I decided that was one of the things wrong with our life, too many possessions.
Rudy.
- Is this it? - That's it.
I'll make a routine appearance in court to have the judge hand down the decree, but to all intents and purposes, you are divorced.
Well, if you'll excuse me, gentlemen, I have to run.
It could be we're trapped here for life.
That's the third elevator that's gone by.
So how are things in Washington? Fine.
Great.
- My career has taken off like a skyrocket.
- Really? I'm on the Rules and Administration Committee.
Sounds impressive.
The chairman makes the really important decisions.
- Such as? - Assigning parking spaces.
Well, then, what do you do? Well, actually, I've handled a number of crucial matters.
The kinds of things that shape the destiny of a nation.
Only last week, I OKed a request from the distinguished senator from Missouri to OK the transfer of five wastepaper baskets and an electric pencil sharpener.
How's Billy? I don't know.
Do all sons punish their mothers? Still? Well, he didn't even bother to tell me when he re-enlisted.
He's still in Vietnam.
I'm hoping to see him soon.
I've been pushing the magazine to send me there.
- What? - You really have become quite a dame.
Keep going.
Keep the line.
Keep going.
Go! (man) Come on, put your back in it! Hey, Jordache, telephone, over in the corner there.
- Wes, it's Rudy.
- Hey, how are you doing? I've been meaning to call, but things got jammed up.
- That's OK.
I know how it is.
- Listen, I'm in New York.
I don't have to be in Washington until tomorrow.
I've got an evening free.
I had an inspiration.
Why don't you come down? I'll clear it with the school.
- Hey, that'd be beautiful.
- We can go out to dinner, take in a movie.
- Beautiful.
- Or we'll just talk.
It's been a long time since we talked.
I'd like that, only I've got this math exam tomorrow and I've gotta put in a little more study.
You know, polish up.
- Meaning you haven't cracked a book? - Yeah, right.
Well, we'll skip it then.
I'm sorry.
Is anything wrong? - You sound down.
- No, no, everything's fine.
If it's important, I'll come.
To hell with the exam.
No, it's not important.
We'll do it some other time.
Great.
Wesley, take care of yourself.
You too.
Shut the door.
- You know what I have here? - No, sir.
I have a communication from your mathematics instructor.
- You know what it's about? - I got an idea.
I'm a little shaky in math.
You're flunking math.
Do you understand what that means? Automatic suspension from athletics.
You're a good kid, Jordache.
A decent boy.
Also, you're a natural-born grade-A screwup! You're one of my best defensive ends.
Keep playing the way you are now, there'll be colleges waiting to grab you.
And right now you're pouring it down the drain.
I've been trying, only I - You know my daughter Marian? - Yes.
- Hello.
- Hi.
She was an honours student all through school.
Straight As in math.
I've explained your situation to her and she's offered to tutor you.
I'll leave it to you two to work out the schedule.
Jordache, I'm going out of my way to give you a chance.
Make the most of it.
All right, Wesley.
Now, we'll start off with two nights a week.
I'll go over assignments, make sure you understand.
Give you some extra homework.
Wesley, what are you doing? I'm hot.
(Marian) Wesley, I can't go in there.
It's OK.
Um All right, we'd better review some of the things you've already had.
- We can start with the simple - Hey.
with the simple basics.
Polynomials, variables and quantifiers.
You probably need some work on trigonometry and vectors.
Yeah.
Let's see now.
Um We could also brush up on rational expressions.
Now, those are the quotient of two And square roots.
Now, Wesley, square roots are very, very important.
We can't forget those.
Quadratic equations.
How to calculate rational (door closes) Wesley.
We should probably go over additive inverses.
And absolute value.
Absolutely.
Hi, John.
Rudy.
(Rudy) Hello, Marsh.
- I've been trying to get in touch with you.
- I was in New York.
Marsh, you know, I had the strangest experience.
For the first time in months, I had free time.
I tried to think of someone to spend it with.
There wasrt a soul.
That's ridiculous.
All your friends? Friends? What friends? I don't have time to make friends.
Come on, you're just tired.
Now, listen.
That speech LBJ is going to make on television tonight, the word's around he's going to announce he's not running for re-election.
He's not? I don't believe it.
I think the mars nuts.
Maybe he's just fed up never getting a minute of privacy.
Marsh, take a look at them.
You know them as well as I do.
- Most of their personal lives are disasters.
- What's eating you? Some haven't made love to their wives in years, but they keep their marriages for their image.
So? One senator's kids are with him so seldom, when their mother says, "Come see your father", they say, "What channel's he on?" When you make it to the top, buddy, it's won'th it.
Is it? Well, you're just about to find out.
It's a lead-pipe cinch that the next man in the White House will be a Republican.
And it's going to be Nixon.
What does that mean, that grin? I've got it staked out for you to be his key speaker in New York State.
- I'm not interested.
- You're not what? - Marsh, I'm quitting politics.
- What the hell are you saying? When my term's over, I'm not running again.
(buzzer) - It's a roll-call vote.
I've got to go.
- You've got five minutes.
Listen to me.
There's a party organisation that worked its tail off to get you into office.
Marsh, I'm grateful I put my sweat and blood into it, and you tell me you don't give a damn? Oh, Marsh, would you listen to me? I'm trying to tell you I've taken a long, hard look at my life.
And I don't like what I see.
I don't understand you.
What in God's name are you after? I'm not sure.
I'm looking for the answer.
All I do know is that something in my life has got to change.
I'm always driving for success.
It's always drive, drive, drive! And when you get there, when you get there and you stand there, it just doesn't match the dream.
(buzzer) - That's the vote.
- Rudy.
- Don't do this to me.
- I'm sorry.
But I have given all that I have to give.
I'm out.
(Rudy) All right, let's have it.
- What? - Your health, what's wrong with it? I don't know.
I never did trust that doctor of mine.
He's as stupid as a flatiron.
- What's he treating you for? - I don't know.
He doesn't tell me anything.
Just gives me that medical jargon.
Keeps dragging me off to the hospital.
Tests, treatments.
I think I can make this one.
- You see? - Lovely.
So - You're getting out of politics? - I want some time for myself.
Don't make me laugh.
You wouldn't know what to do with it.
- You're coming back to DeeCee? - I doubt it.
Course you are.
I need someone to take over.
- You'll find someone.
- I want you.
It's not what I'm looking for.
What are you looking for? I want to relate to people, not pieces of paper.
Is that it? Or just an out because you know we've got problems? - Or didn't you know? - Oh, I own stock.
I know it's taken a dive.
Didrt pay much attention.
DeeCee shares have fallen before.
They bounce back.
- This time it's different.
We're in trouble.
- How bad? In the past six months, three operations have collapsed and have been sold off.
- Competition? Mismanagement? What? - I don't know.
I only know the answer is somewhere under that mountain of paper on my desk.
With doctors dragging me to hospital every time I turn around, I've had no time to dig into it.
Oh, you're cute.
You really are cute.
- What are you talking about? - "Please, Rudy, as a favour to a sick man, look over those files for me and see what you can come up with.
" - That's what you're asking for, right? - I wouldn't dream of it.
Rudy.
Just until I get on my feet again.
Just this one thing.
For old times' sake? OK.
Thank you.
Virginia and Brad are flying up from Texas for a visit.
- When? - Tomorrow.
How are they? When analysing my daughter, I'm the last guy who should hazard an opinion.
Oh, Martin.
Put those files, all that junk on my desk, in the senator's car.
Yes, sir.
I got most of it packed up earlier when Mr Calderwood said you'd want it.
Oh! - You're playing real good, aren't you? - Thanks.
It feels good to be out on the court again.
- Boy, you sure did play.
- You're just out of practice.
No, no, that's just about as good as I ever play.
Well, you know what's slowing you down, don't you? It's that beard.
No, that's Virginia's pride and joy.
She says it makes me look real distinguished.
It's like this beer gut.
You can't be an honourable citizen in Texas without one.
- What are you grinning about? - Us horsing around like old times.
Those crazy days in college when we were rooming together.
Just getting drunk and chasing the chickies around.
Remember that ski lodge we were gonna open? Boy, we were gonna be millionaires, werert we? That's one thing I miss about Texas - no skiing.
But me and Virginia's gonna go up to Aspen.
You ought to come up there and join us next month.
- I'd like that.
- (woman) Hey, you two.
Hi, sugar.
Hello, Rudy.
Hi, Virginia.
How did it go? Oh, I just got my tail beat off.
Oh, poor baby.
So I gather you two like it in Texas? Well, you know when you kept me from moving up in the office that time? I got pretty teed off about it, but I think you ended up doing me a favour.
He's doing beautifully.
In charge of Daddy's affairs in the Southwest.
It's about as much as I can handle too, I tell you.
Know what made all the difference in our marriage? When I quit trying to claw my way up to the top, I had some time to give this little girl some attention.
You look pooped and you're sweating like a hog.
Why don't you go take a shower? I guess you can see who runs the show around here, can't you? Well.
- How are you, Virginia? - How long has it been? Six years.
- You're not losing your hair.
- You haven't changed that much either.
I heard about you and Julie.
We're still friends.
Better friends than when we were married.
You don't know, you can't imagine, how delicious it is to see you again and not want to drag you into the bushes and have you make love to me, after all those years of tormenting and chasing you as if my life depended on it.
I managed to survive.
What a sick, neurotic little creature I was.
And how lovely to be close to you and to feel nothing, absolutely nothing.
I'm glad.
(doorbell) Hi, come in.
(man) What is so important to drag me out at one in the morning? (Rudy) Buddy, come on.
Why don't you make yourself a drink? All right.
- You keeping busy? - That is the understatement of the week.
Having trouble keeping up with DeeCee's affairs? What is that supposed to mean? Those three DeeCee companies that went into the red that had to be sold off.
- What about 'em? - Shopping malls in Kansas, plastics factory in California, a machine tool outfit in Oregon.
Different industries and locations, no similarity in business conditions, - yet they hit the skids at the same time.
- So? I dig into these files and what it looks like to me is a pattern.
It's a series of bad breaks.
The shopping centre was picking up prime real estate, somebody else grabs it.
Plastics factory plans to open a new plant, somebody beats them to the punch.
- It happens.
- You didn't consider it was an inside job? Someone passing out information? - A spy in DeeCee? - How do you know there isn't? Look.
- I am not a detective.
- You are DeeCee's counsel.
- And I was asleep at the switch? Is that it? - Yes.
I want a list of every person who has access to confidential files.
Get dossiers on them.
Hire an outfit that knows industrial espionage.
- Have you got someone to handle that? - I know just the person.
Porter.
Well, fine.
Well, get on it, Eddie! - Anybody see you? - Nelse, get the door.
- Tube.
- Tube.
Are you sure this is going to turn into beer? - Looks like yuck.
- No, no, that's the foam from the yeast.
You don't drink that.
Smell it.
Out of sight! You can get plastered just from the smell.
Smells like yuck.
- (boy) Here we go.
- (boy #2) Here it goes.
(boy) Oh, go, baby.
We gotta find some nice, dark place for this until it ferments.
- Beaker.
- (boy) Beaker.
- I got the caps.
- OK, you do the rest.
I'll cap it.
(boy) There it is.
Look at that.
Milwaukee, eat your heart out.
(people sing "Holy, Holy, Holy") All right, fellas.
A few announcements.
Mrs Martindale will be giving tea for the seniors at our home on Friday at five.
Oh, and the glee club is still in need of sopranos.
(bang) So some of you younger fellas, whose voices are still up there, come on.
Let's show some of that old St Timothy's spirit (bang) (bang) (bang) (mouths prayer) Well, Jordache.
You've had quite a spectacular record since you came to St Timothy's.
Only this time, you really surpassed yourself.
Congratulations.
Thank you, sir.
I will give you credit for owning up to your guilt in initiating this escapade.
At least one of St Timothy's precepts seems to have gotten through to you - when you're caught in the wrong, don't try to weasel out of it.
Stand up and take your punishment.
Yes, sir.
For the next month, every minute you have free after classes and football will be occupied by hard labour.
- Wesley.
- Yes, ma'am.
There's something else I'd like you to do for me.
Half a ton of sheep manure.
My husband gave it to me for my birthday.
Would you mind spreading some around my roses? Yes, ma'am.
When you're finished out here, why don't you wash up and then come inside? - There are things I want done in the attic.
- Yes, Mrs Martindale.
Mrs Martindale, where do you want this? Oh, just put it over there with the rest of the junk I'm throwing away.
Wesley, what do you think about that trunk? - You want it down? - Please.
(trousers rip) Oh, dear.
Your trousers.
What a pity.
Well, come on.
Let me have 'em.
I'll fix them for you.
That's OK, Mrs Martindale.
I mean, thanks just the same.
I've got an old sewing box here somewhere.
Ah.
There it is.
I got it.
Come on, now.
Let's have 'em.
You don't expect me to sew them while you're still wearing them? No, ma'am.
Well, then.
That's OK.
I mean, don't worry about it.
Wesley, if it's any comfort to you, I can assure you that this is not the first time I have seen an undressed male.
Wow, it's getting late.
Is it OK if I go now? Excuse me.
I'm supposed to meet with my math tutor.