Rich Man, Poor Man - Book II (1976) s01e03 Episode Script

Last on "Rich Man, Poor Man" Slut! You filthy, disgusting slut! What it amounts to is sexual advances to my wife and an unprovoked assault on my person.
It goes without saying that Wesley has been expelled.
The last thing she talked about was you.
- She hoped we find a way to be friends.
- You want me to be friends? You're out of your mind.
Cos I hate your guts.
Oh, Rudy, I don't believe you've met Porter, from my office.
- Rudy Jordache, Maggie Porter.
- How do you do? There are certain rules I expect you to follow.
Behave like a human being.
As long as you're under my roof, you'll do as I say.
Like hell I will! All I'm asking is what you promised me in Nam - to introduce me to that guy from the record company.
So introduce me to somebody else.
- Listen, dude, you made me a promise - (hangs up) Murphy? Murph? - Hi.
- Come in.
Billy, Wes.
- Hi.
- How's it goir? Wow.
Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home.
(melodramatic music from downstairs) Hi, there! Hey, you're just in time to see the spider from Mars devour Boise, Idaho.
- I hate to miss it.
- (switches TV off) You and I have some talking to do.
Sounds heavy.
OK.
Bottom line.
- Why did you come here? - I told you, I'm broke.
Is that the only reason? No.
The other one is I don't have any money.
- Did you try getting a job? - Yes, and I'll get one.
You think I've taken up freeloading for a living and I'm signing on here? Well, that's a possibility, I suppose.
What do you want from me, man? That was a free-will offer you gave me in Nam - "Come to Whitby.
" If you've changed your mind, say so and I'm gone.
The offer still stands.
I just wondered how hard you tried to avoid accepting it.
Because of what I said to you the day my mother died? I wasrt really sure I would see you again after that.
I wasrt sure I cared.
To tell you the truth, it was a long shot my coming here.
- I figured you'd slam the door in my face.
- That was my first impulse.
What stopped you? - Several things.
- You owed it to my mother.
That, and I'm trying to open doors in my life right now, not close them.
Well! Lucky me! I'm related to the late Julie Jordache, and my timing's good.
What? Is it something I said? No.
It's something I realised, just this minute, for the very first time.
Share the revelation.
Having you here makes me recall all those years of your growing up.
I was a lousy stepfather to you.
- That's just now occurring to you? - I used to feel guilty about it.
I'd pledge to myself to do better.
But I didn't.
And all the time I thought it was work that got in the way.
It wasrt.
Work was what I put in the way.
What got in the way was one very simple thing: I didn't like you.
- It was mutual.
- I know.
Even when you were a kid, you went out of your way to show me that.
I'm sorry to stir up the ugly past for you, man.
But let me just tell you what it cost me to walk through that door.
I hate this place.
I hate it! I hate this living room.
I hate that kitchen.
I hate these stairs! But most of all, most of all I hate that bedroom.
I can't even make myself go up there.
You see, that room has got a lot of memories for me.
All those Christmas holidays when I'd lay in bed in my room across the hall from you and my mother.
Your voice was the only voice I could hear.
Nagging at her, picking away at her, pushing her, driving her into that bottle! You made me homesick for boarding school! I've paid my guilt dues, Billy.
OK.
Why don't I just make it easy on both of us, huh? I'll just slam the door for you! I'm not guilty any more.
- But I am sorry.
- Well, too bad.
It's too late.
Look.
Billy, it's possible you didn't come here just because you're broke.
I'm sure you're not gonna leave just because you're hurt.
You didn't like me then, I didn't like you.
That was then.
Now we have another chance.
- Don't put any money on that chance.
- All right, maybe it'd be wise not to.
But if it turned out that we came to care for each other, you and me, and Wes, then we'd have another chance - to be something we've all gone hungry for.
Yes, it'd be our own version of it, but all the same, Billy, it would be a family.
- Well, don't count on it.
- I won't.
Well, what page are we talking about? No, no, that's fine.
All right, now, when does that offshore drilling bill come up for a vote? Monday? Monday All right, all right, I'll plan to be there.
Would you see if you could push that meeting with Senator Fulbright to Friday? I'll plan to fly in for the weekend.
Yeah, fine.
Thanks.
OK.
Goodbye.
That's all.
Wesley! Get your tail down here! - Morning.
- Good afternoon.
It's only 9:30.
You want to be a working man, right? Well, you're two hours late for work.
I'm taking you to the electronics plant.
- Where you can work with your hands.
- What about breakfast? You ate enough last night to keep a small village alive indefinitely.
- But I'm hungry! - Think lunch.
- Help! Anybody! - No one can hear you.
- This man is a white-slaver! - No one will believe you.
- I'm being taken against my will! - There is one other problem.
- What's that? - No one in particular cares.
- Without food or water! - Catch.
Saved! Greenway Records? Phil Greenberg, please.
Billy Abbott.
Yes, I did call previously.
Yes, I did leave my phone number.
I'd like to leave a new number.
I'm staying with Senator Jordache, in Whitby.
That's right.
SenatorJordache.
That Whitby number is Well, hello, Mr Greenberg.
Just fine, thank you.
How about yourself? Good, good.
The senator? He's He's family, actually.
Oh.
What would be a good time for you, sir? Five o'clock? Fine.
All right, I'll be there.
Goodbye.
- Good morning, Senator Jordache.
- Good morning.
(phone rings) - Senator, welcome.
Good morning.
- Good morning.
- I guess we belong to you now.
- Well something like that.
Oh, Mr Scott's waiting in the conference room for you.
- Mr Scott? - President of the union local.
Wes, I'm gonna be a minute.
- Is that your son? - Oh, no.
It's my nephew.
Wesley.
Could've fooled me.
There's a strong resemblance.
Thank you.
Mr Scott.
How do you do? Please sit down.
I'll stand.
What can I do for you? There's a rumour you're selling the plant, the buyer's moving operations to Atlanta.
That's exactly what you called it - a rumour.
If it turns out to be true, 400 men and women I represent won't be invited along.
The phrase "out of work" means no meat on the table to them.
Look, Mr Scott, I've just put my feet under the desk.
After I've made some evaluations, then I'll make some decisions.
Look, you don't remember me, but I remember you, from the last time you made evaluations and decisions.
What are you talking about? You reorganised the company.
- And you were laid off.
- Yeah.
My wife took daywork, till I finally got a job as a janitor in my kids' school.
When Westco started hiring again, I got my old job back.
I'm here seven years.
Mr Scott, I'm sorry.
But it wasrt personal.
I did what I judged best for this company.
- What about grievances? - Who dealt with them in the past? Mr Calderwood.
But he didn't have a job in Washington.
I can be back here from Washington in two hours.
And I will be if you need me.
Mr Scott, would you permit me a personal note? I am not the same man who streamlined Westco eight years ago.
I'm older.
Maybe wiser.
I hope more sensitive to the human side of the corporate life.
Give me a chance to prove that to you.
Come to me.
Deal with me.
All right.
- Is there anything more I can do for you? - No, that's it.
Then there's something you can do for me.
Wes? Wesley, this is Mr Scott.
My nephew Wesley.
Take him to the plant and have the foreman put him to work.
- He can't replace a skilled man.
- He won't.
Wes has been in school.
He has no formal skills, but he has a strong back and he's willing to work hard at whatever needs doing.
Oh No favours.
All right, no favours, Senator.
(heavy machinery noise) (women giggle) Hey, Joe! Joe, stop the belt a minute! I got a problem.
(mouths) (whistle sounds) (woman) Hey! Get me one, would ya? - What are you doing? - Hang on! (engine starts) I don't believe this! (cheering and clapping) What the hell do you think you're doir? Get off my machine! - Do that again, I'll break your arm.
- OK.
I'm sorry.
This ain't a schoolyard, this ain't no sandbox.
- Go play somewhere else.
- Yes, sir.
(starts engine) - Thanks for the soda.
- Sure.
- I'm Ramona.
- Wes.
- I like your style, Wes.
- I'm glad.
- That old wart sure didn't like it.
- Ah, don't worry about him.
- Is he always in such a rotten mood? - Not always, but mostly.
- You know him, huh? - Yup, I know him.
That old wart's my father.
All right, let's put it all together.
Just exactly where do I stand? Unfortunately, Senator, the largest part of your assets was represented by your stock at DeeCee Enterprises.
And when they sold out to Tri-Corp for that ridiculous price, you took a bath.
What about the electronics plant Duncan left me? It's surviving - on Pentagon contracts.
Yeah, but when the war winds down, these contracts are cancelled.
I'm afraid you've had it.
That is, unless you can come up with the $6 million necessary to diversify.
Maggie's really done quite a job getting your financial status squared away.
I'd like you to consider letting her be the one here to handle your affairs.
Not enough in it any more to make it won'th your while? - Miss Porter happens to be a fine lawyer.
- I'm sure.
- But, with all due respect, I think I'd - (Maggie) Prefer a man.
- Actually - You've nothing against women.
Quote: "Some of my best friends are women.
" Unquote.
But property values drop when they move into the neighbourhood and you wouldn't want one to marry your sister.
Let's just accept the fact that I'm a male chauvinist pig.
Yeah.
Let's.
Now, having disposed of the female revolution, can we move on? - Sure.
- Do we have enough evidence to go after those responsible for the DeeCee takeover? Enough to get a couple of the small fry indicted.
- Not the big boys? - Big boy.
Singular.
- Who? - Charles Estep, chairman of Tri-Corp International.
Tell me about him.
Well, he's not quite in a league with J Paul Getty and Howard Hughes, but then he's only 42.
Give him a little time.
- What else? - Mystery man.
Real mania for privacy.
Digging up the dope on Charles Estep is a little like calling the Kremlin and asking for a copy of their military budget.
I want to know everything there is to know about him.
You put somebody on it.
I have half a dozen people on it, Senator, getting nowhere.
Except for this.
One of the few things about him that's public.
It's the law.
The list of Tri-Corp's board of directors.
Very impressive.
Well, well, well.
It explains one thing.
- What? - This.
An invitation to a garden party at the Long Island estate of Douglas Haviland.
The Douglas Haviland? An advisor to presidents, former ambassador to the Court of St James.
I've met this man exactly twice.
White House reception for General de Gaulle and a dinner in Georgetown listening to his reminiscences of Churchill and Stalin.
Why do you think Mr Haviland has invited you to his party? Thanks what I asked myself until I read this.
Board of directors, Tri-Corp International.
One retired admiral, two generals, a college president, a banker, and the Honourable Douglas Haviland.
Keep digging.
And notify the Securities and Exchange Commission that we expect to file suit against Tri-Corp.
- Care for a drink? - No, I've got to run.
Uh, Miss Porter? Nice work.
I'll take a shot at having you handle my affairs.
- Thank you.
- So long as you understand I intend to demand everything I'd demand from a man.
That's all? That's easy.
Uh You are planning to attend the ambassador's party, aren't you? Well, what do you think? Wanna find out what the lion has on his mind, the place to find out is the liors den.
(party music) Mr Ambassador? Excuse me, sir.
- Senator Jordache.
- Of course.
I'm pleased you could come.
Someone here has been looking forward to meeting you.
Come, I'll introduce you.
Senator Jordache, Charles Estep.
Senator.
Mr Estep.
If you'll excuse me, I see some old friends have arrived.
- I'll leave you two to get acquainted.
- Certainly.
- (Estep) He's quite a man.
- (Rudy) Yes, he is.
You must find him valuable on the board of Tri-Corp.
(Estep) Invaluable.
- Have you seen the house? - No, not yet.
(Estep) Come on, then.
You'll quite enjoy it.
From what the ambassador tells me, it was unbelievable at Yalta.
It was almost like a poker game - three men using countries as chips.
"I'll see you Czechoslovakia and raise you East Germany.
" And he was right there, right in the centre of all that power.
Must be an incredible feeling to shape history.
Yes, it must.
- What can I do for you, Senator? - Well, cognac has been selected for us.
Cognac will be fine.
I understand you've decided to give up politics.
Hm.
News travels fast.
There are no secrets in Washington, Senator.
You've been there long enough to know that.
Personally, I think you're making a big mistake.
Oh? In what way? What do you think about Mr Nixon? He's probably going to be our next president.
And, more than likely, will serve two terms.
What happens then? You're talking about 1976.
That's eight years away.
Gmelina arborea.
Did you ever hear of it? It's a hardwood tree from Honduras.
Grows 18 feet a year.
I've just finished planting a forest of them across a half a million acres, because everything points to a worldwide shortage of lumber - ten years from now.
Men like us can't just live in the present.
We have to look to the future.
Tell me, Senator, are you as interested in the future of this country as I am? I hope so.
With the exception of Vietnam, nothing much will change during the Nixon era.
After eight years of status quo, the people are gonna be very restless.
In fact, they're gonna demand a change, and the Democrats will offer it to them.
That means our side has to come up with someone who can match that offer.
Someone vital, young, attractive.
A Republican Johnny Kennedy.
We've had our eye on you for some time, Senator.
We're impressed with your voting record.
You're a maverick.
That's very good.
The voter likes a man who does not run with the crowd.
I'm delighted you could come here today.
It's good for you to meet these people.
Between them, they could finance an entire presidential campaign for the right man.
Just what does it take to be "the right man"? A common philosophy, dedication to the same goals, the same interests.
What if those interests are in conflict with those of the country? That's unlikely.
What's good for Charles Estep and his friends is good for the country.
That it? Senator, don't wave your flag under my nose.
I am as concerned about this country as you are.
It's being ripped apart, and we'd like to see it put back together again, with a minimum of scarring.
I know we all share that goal, don't we? This non-offer of the presidency is highly complimentary.
I'm quite flattered.
But I'm concerned that you and I might be in conflict over one small matter.
Oh? This morning I ordered my attorney to notify the SEC I'm investigating your takeover of DeeCee, and I intend to file a formal complaint.
I don't think that such a small matter - as you so very aptly put it yourself - should get in our way at all.
Well, I'm afraid I disagree with you.
It would.
And it will.
I'm beginning to think that we've misjudged your qualifications.
Well, I don't think I've misjudged you.
You're a dangerous man, and if there's any way I can nail you for fraud, or stock manipulation, or anything else in the book, I'm going to do it.
It's a pity when they start believing their own press notices.
Senator Jordache likes the image of a maverick.
Unfortunately Senator Jordache has not yet learned that mavericks never have friends when they're in trouble.
Never.
Call him back, Phil.
We need another take.
- It's finished.
- Finished? You call that finished? It sounds like four monkeys and a mynah bird with a kazoo.
It's perfect.
Wait till Danny hears it.
If you short-change him once more, I swear to God Danny's like my own brother! When did I ever short-change my brother? Not since his last album.
You wouldn't go to overtime then either.
Phil, Cash Box did a whole column! "Did Danny Miller record his new album in Phil Greenberg's garage?" Manny, you know that was a mistake.
- I promised Danny, "Never happen again!" - OK, so what about the playback? Go home.
I'll listen to the playback.
If it's not perfect, tomorrow we'll do it again.
OK.
But I'm warning you, Phil, you're walking on thin ice with Danny.
You hear me good? Thin ice! Give him a hug for me.
I'll give him a hug for you.
Forget the playback.
Send the track.
- Who are you? - Billy Abbott, Mr Greenberg.
I phoned from Senator Jordache's house.
- We have a five o'clock appointment.
- Oh, yeah.
Well, I'm just in from Vietnam.
I did the A&R for all the talent over there.
Singers, combos, the whole bit.
I can produce any kind of record.
- I know tapes, tracks, mikes, everything.
- No kidding? This is a company I really admire.
I know the Greenway stuff.
It's the best.
- I wanna do things here.
- I'm flattered.
Of course, I have offers from the Coast but I'd rather be in New York.
A little freaky out there.
- I hate those birds that sing all night.
- I know what you mean.
Anyway, this is my town.
I like it here.
- The seasons, the whole feel, you know? - Me too.
That's why I came to you before I did anything.
I appreciate that, kid.
- This is where I wanna be, Mr Greenberg.
- And I'd love to have you.
- Great! When do I start? - You don't.
I got nothing for you.
Except maybe Jasors job.
- Jason? - He's the clean-up, the gofer.
General all-around whatnot.
The ungrateful dog's leaving me to go to law school.
Oh? But, of course, that's not for you, with all your talent.
Give my best regards to the senator.
- Mr Greenberg! - Yeah? - You're sure gonna laugh at this.
- Try me.
(clears throat) Well, I have been away a while and I did want to get started.
You ought to take some of those offers from the Coast.
You'll get used to the birds.
I hear what you're saying, and you're absolutely right.
- Pay your dues and start at the bottom.
- I wouldn't want you to waste your talent on a job that pays two buttons and a comb.
Well, there's two ways of looking at talent, Mr Greenberg.
It's not that I haven't got it.
It could be I, uh It could be I oversold myself a little in my enthusiasm.
Is that a fact? As it stands, I'll take about anything you've got.
I thought you would.
You got a lot of chutzpah, kid.
OK.
Put your name on Jasors broom.
You start tomorrow.
Thanks, Mr Greenberg! Really! Thanks! - You won't regret it.
- How do I know? (sighs) - Ramona! Hi.
Where are you going? - Home.
I'm waiting for my ride.
- Wanna go have a beer? - I can't.
- Tomorrow.
- I don't know.
- I got an idea.
Come on.
- Hey! I can't go anyplace.
My ride.
Don't worry, you're not going anyplace.
You won't miss your ride.
Trust me, OK? - You like pizza? - Sure, I do, but I don't have time.
- Me too.
You like flicks? - Yes, but I told you So do I! - Sports? - Some.
I like football.
- The water? - I love the water.
All right.
Far out.
- There.
See? I got you home on time.
- Huh? - On a first date I like to take a walk.
- Oh, yeah? At the movies you look at the screen.
If you eat, you can't talk - your mouth is full.
But if you walk, you can rap and get to know a person.
Oh.
- And it's not too expensive.
- Yeah.
I really dug our first date.
I'd like to see you again, tomorrow.
- Well, tomorrow I'm busy.
- Day after.
(car horn) He offered you a shot at the presidency, right? - What did you do? - I told him we'd keep investigating, and if we get the goods on him, take it to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
You know how long anything takes to push through that maze of bureaucrats.
It was so beautiful.
I'm standing there holding a loaded pistol to Estep's head.
And it's gonna take three years to go off.
You're asking for trouble.
Estep's not the type to take something like this lying down.
You know, if you work in Washington, it doesn't take long to learn there's one way to get action out of a government agency.
You've just got to get the matter before the public and to put a spotlight on it.
Tell me about your gentlemen friends.
- Uh What about 'em? - Well I mean, you're an attractive woman.
You must lead an active life.
I'm sure you have any number of admirers.
There are men that I, uh go out with.
If that's what you mean.
What men? What do they do for a living? What is going on in that devious little mind of yours? Is there any objection to answering my question? Um One is a doctor, one teaches anthropology at Columbia, one, um You want to know if I have a gentleman friend who's a reporter.
Well, it just so happens I do.
Small, dark and handsome and works for The Wall Street Journal.
Why don't you have a talk with him about Estep's business tactics? See if there isn't a story in it.
Fine.
Estep is flying pretty high.
I think it's time to tell the truth about him.
You know, I've always wondered what happened to that little boy in the fairy tale, the one who said, "The emperor has no clothes.
" They beat him to death with rubber hoses.
(woman) Anthony! You ready for dinner? - Hey.
Did you hear me? - Huh? Ah.
Yeah, yeah, sure.
We're having your favourite - lasagne.
Ah.
That's beautiful.
- Where'd you get all these magazines? - From the library.
- I borrowed your card.
- Anthony! You can't cut things out of these magazines.
They belong to the library.
Well, what's a few magazines to them? They got millions of 'em.
Who's he? What do you want his picture for? Him? That's the guy that took five years out of my life.
- Anthony - Hey.
He lives nice, don't he? Big house upstate, fancy apartment in the city.
And a kid.
That kid looks just like the old man, doesn't he? Forget about them.
You promised.
Oh! Oh.
That lasagne smells so good! Hey, Ma, you know you make the best in the world, huh? Well, come on, then.
- As soon as I wash up.
- OK.
(Billy) Hey! Anybody home? - Yeah! - Where? Kitchen! (Billy hums to himself) Where's Rudy? He's staying in New York tonight.
He has to be in Washington tomorrow.
- Do you want a drink? - I got a beer.
Congratulate me.
You are looking at the new A&R man for Greenway Records.
What's an A&R man? He spots the talent, finds the right song, gets it arranged, cuts a record, makes a hit.
Of course, it's not exactly like that yet, but that's where it's goir.
I'm in.
How about yourself? You got a job yet? On the loading dock at the plant.
- That was big of Rudy.
- It's what I wanted.
- Right.
You'll be back at school in the fall.
- Nah.
I got thrown out.
Good! What'd you do? Did you set the place on fire? Nah.
I'd just had it with school.
Yeah, I never liked boarding schools either.
But you know what happens if you're not in school? Greetings from Uncle Sam.
I hope not.
But we must all be ready to serve our country in its hour of need.
And you should see Nam.
It's wonderful.
It's a real fun war.
I learned all about human dignity, honour, sacrifice, decency, why, the grandeur of man.
And I was always where the action was - behind the lines, in Special Services.
I supplied the booze and the fun and games and handled the talent that came over to entertain our boys.
Oh, yeah.
I'll always remember Vietnam.
I had a ball.
It's where I saw my mother die.
See, we never were too close before.
We were just getting started.
It's like we suddenly found something good.
She was a terrific lady.
Of course, you knew her, didn't you? My mother.
Yeah.
It's funny, you and I growing up around all the same people and we never met.
Rudy's my stepfather, he's your uncle.
What does that make us - stepcousins? I don't know.
That's really weird, that we never met.
I don't know.
Do you think there are any normal families left? Ones that have Thanksgiving and Christmas, a grandma and a grandpa, everybody sings around the piano, and everybody knows everybody? I don't know.
They just didn't want us around.
Gives you a warm feeling inside, doesn't it? I lived with my father for a while.
He took me out of school.
We lived over in France on his boat.
I had something then.
I really did.
Yeah, and he was killed.
It was just like you and he were gettir it together, like me and my mother.
Yeah.
Hey, excuse me.
I got to get up in the morning.
(knock at door, door opens) Hey.
Unless I'm paranoid, something's wrong.
Whatever it is happens when I mention my mother.
- What is it? - Nothing.
- Yeah, it is.
- I don't wanna talk about it.
- I'm sorry, but I do.
- I said I don't wanna talk about it! You started it.
You think something's wrong with my mother.
- I wanna know what the hell it is! - She was a drunk! - She was wiped out all the time.
- Tell me something I don't know.
Who are you? St Peter keepir her out of heaven? I said my mother was gettir it together.
What's it to you? What's it to me? She got my father killed.
What are you talking about? She was on the bottle as usual and she got in a jam with some guy she picked up.
- What guy? - The guy that killed my father! - Watch it, man.
- My father got her before Rudy found out, and he got killed because he went to help that lush.
- Shut up! - He could still be alive! I said shut up! (door slams) Senator Jordache? Roy Dwyer.
With Tom on the boat.
Remember? Why, sure.
How are you? - Hey, it's good to see you.
- Good to see you too.
I've been trying to reach you.
I was anxious to talk to you.
I'm practically never here.
Let me buy you a drink.
Thanks.
So where have you been all this time? What have you been doing? - I shipped around a lot, around the world.
- That is terrific.
That's great.
- OK.
What do you like to drink? - Anything.
Whatever you're having.
- Scotch? - Sure.
Listen.
Why don't you come up to Whitby and see us? Wesley's there now.
He'd love it.
- I'd like to see him.
How's he doing? - Oh, he is a great kid.
I'm glad he's with you.
I was afraid he had gone away to school.
Afraid? That's part of the reason why I wanted to talk to you.
- About Wesley? - Mm-hm.
- You remember Falconetti? - Of course I do.
He's out of jail.
The French deported him and he's probably in New York.
I wanted you to know cos a guy like that won't forget who put him in the slammer.
I don't know whether you know all about him - No, I don't, but I - I do.
I was on a ship with him, and I'm telling you he's bad, he's sick, and he's gonna get even.
Maybe me and maybe you.
Maybe even Wesley.
You know what I'm talkir about, Senator? Yes.
I think so.
- But I just can't have him picked up.
- Come on, man! You got the power.
- He hasn't done anything.
- You're gonna wait for that? Look Maybe what you're saying is true, maybe it's not.
Maybe too much time has gone by.
- Prison can change a man.
- Yeah.
It makes him madder.
Senator, I gotta get through to you.
You live like this, you think that you're safe, that you're a long way from the jungle.
You're not.
It's right out there.
It's no more than a few feet away.
I know all about it.
I grew up in it.
I've known a lot of bad guys, but nobody as bad as Falconetti.
Now, Senator, you'd better hear and hear me good cos that guy is out there and he's gonna do it.