Rich Man, Poor Man - Book II (1976) s01e04 Episode Script

Last on "Rich Man, Poor Man" - Thanks for the soda.
- Sure.
- I'm Ramona.
- Wes.
- I like your style, Wes.
- I'm glad.
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.
- (man) That kid looks like the old man.
- Forget about them.
You promised.
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! I've known a lot of bad guys, but nobody as bad as Falconetti.
Now, Senator, you better hear me and hear me good cos that guy is out there and he's gonna do it.
(man) Senator, all I'm asking is one simple question.
Oh, don't give me that "simple question".
No question a political reporter throws at you is ever simple.
The word is that you're gonna get up on that Senate floor tomorrow and lambast offshore oil drilling.
Is it true? You called me and I told you, I'm not passing out any advance information.
All I want is a simple yes or no.
No comment.
You trot up here uninvited and expect what? A pleasant interview? Just a straight answer.
If I wanted to tip the press to what I was going to say, I'd have had the speech handed out.
You want to know what I'm gonna say? You have your Washington man in the press gallery tomorrow when I speak.
What's the big secret? In the last two years, I've given you three interviews.
In every one I was misquoted.
This time what I've got to say goes on the record and you can take it from there.
I gotta catch the shuttle to Washington.
I got work to do.
See you around.
I don't see why you won't make a statement.
Because I read your paper, including the editorial page, and it's practically a house organ for the oil companies.
And I have no intention of giving you the chance to take a cheap shot at me.
Nice talking to you.
I've been working for you for a month.
It's the first time I've seen you in action.
- Impressive.
- The mars just trying to do his job.
He's useful when you want to leak a story and dangerous as a barracuda when he's out to get you.
You asked me to find out about Charles Estep and his Tri-Corp outfit.
OK.
What have you got? Tri-Corp is into oil tankers, mining in Venezuela, hotels in Reno and Vegas, a housing development in Brazil, various manufacturing companies.
- At least three, maybe more.
- What about the man? Spends most of his time in Dallas on a ranch about the size of Connecticut.
May be one of the richest men in the world.
Never gives interviews.
The people who work for him, will they talk? - They better not.
He fires fast.
- How old is he? - 42.
- How long has Tri-Corp existed? - Seven years.
- He didn't waste any time.
This conglomerate of his, what's it won'th? Oh, about 800 million.
Where'd he get the financing? Family money? Unlikely.
For all that Wasp background, there's no real wealth.
- So what was it? The banks? - No.
You don't build a conglomerate with deposits you get back on soda bottles.
He had to have at least six million.
Where'd he get it? That's a good question.
Well, let's find out.
OK.
I'll get on to my friend at The Wall Street Journal.
Maybe he knows something.
Look, if I dig anything up, I'll call you.
Just don't go into details on the phone.
When I get back, tell me in person.
A senator worries about his phone being tapped? Everyone in Washington worries about his phone being tapped.
OK.
I think that's everything.
Let's go.
(sighs) Three months ago I decided to stop working like a madman and take the time to enjoy my life a little, relate to other human beings.
- I haven't even offered you a drink.
- How long before you have to leave? - Eight minutes.
- I'll skip the drink.
Look, I'll be back from Washington on Thursday.
Would you like to go to dinner? - Is it wise to mix business with pleasure? - We can talk about tax loopholes.
In that case, I'd be delighted.
Oh, allow me.
Boss.
(distant gunshots) (man) Pull! Eric.
Did you find out who's making those inquiries? A reporter from The Wall Street Journal.
Pull! Well, not bad for a city boy.
He's meeting with a woman lawyer who works for Jordache.
Jordache is a difficult man to communicate with.
- There's nothing to worry about.
- Worry? No.
Concern? Yes.
Never underestimate a senator, Eric.
Let me see.
Where I come from, school lets out when the hunting season starts.
If I can hit a quail on the wing, I ought to be able to knock down clay pigeons.
- Have you found a way to go, Jake? - It can be handled.
You're in a tricky legal position.
Your union has a no-strike clause.
I know.
Then how can you close down Jordache's plant? Wildcat strike.
Pull! (Wes) There.
That's all there is to it.
(Ramona) It just goes by itself? Forever? (Wes) Sure.
(Ramona) Why didn't I do this before? The lake's been here all my life and all I ever did was swim.
I suppose all the rich know how to sail.
It's normal.
Yeah, sure.
Tie the boat.
- Are you hungry? - I'll do it.
My dad had a boat when we lived in the south of France.
- France? What's that like? - It's great.
The Mediterranears a special colour.
It's like deep blue ink.
The harbour towns are old.
Some have Roman ruins.
So you just lived on your yacht, sailing around? If it was so good, why did you leave? My father died.
Oh.
My mother's dead.
It's just you and your father? That's really rough.
Is he always mad? Oh, he's all right.
I mean, once you get to know him.
He's just kind of old-fashioned.
- He sure doesn't like me.
- He's afraid you might break my heart.
Well, you're the boss's son.
You'd take advantage of my innocence and then you'd go merrily on your way, while I suffered and pined away and finally killed myself, just before the baby came.
Hi.
So what happens after the summer? - I don't know.
- Arert you going to college? Harvard? Yale? I might not go anywhere.
You're not going to college? I don't know.
That's crazy.
I mean, you've got the chance and you don't want to go? I don't know what I want to do yet.
Boy.
It must be rough, living in that big house, going to private schools, sailing around on a yacht.
Poor little rich boy, is that it? Well, it wasrt a yacht, it was a charter boat.
We'd take tourists out on cruises, then try to live the rest of the year off the money, only the year lasted longer than the money.
- OK.
- No, not OK.
Get something straight.
I'm not choking on a silver spoon cos I never had one.
That's my uncle's house, it's not mine.
It's big and it's expensive, and a lot of times I feel out of place there.
I'm not looking for an easy score.
OK? OK.
Come on.
We're almost home.
- Jake Logan knows what he's doing.
- Well, I don't.
You're one of the best men in the labour movement.
- He's just asking you - Telling me, you mean.
That's right, Mr Scott.
I'm glad you're finally beginning to understand.
Hi.
How are you? - Who were they? - Union fellas.
From the national.
What do they want? - What's he doing here? - We went sailing, Mr Scott.
I gotta see you around the plant, but I don't have to see you here.
Buzz off.
- Stay away from my daughter.
- Mr Scott Go on.
Get your duff out of here.
Go on! - Daddy, we're not 12 year olds.
- Get in the house.
Hey.
Hi.
Hi.
Got a minute to talk? That was really heavy, what you laid on me about my mother.
I didn't know.
It really blew my mind.
Yeah.
I guess I I'm sorry.
I really am.
It wasrt your fault.
I mean, I'm not hung up about you, it's just at the way things happened.
Yeah, sure.
I yell at the way things happen all the time.
But if we're gonna live in the same house together, we'd better get our heads straight.
It's OK.
That's cool.
Hey, Bill.
I'm glad you got the job you wanted.
Thanks.
- (woman) Is that gonna hurt, Doctor? - No.
Not any more than it did the last two or three times when I measured his socket.
That one matches.
It's perfect.
Hm.
Now, we have a choice here.
These three eyes will match your own eye, but there's a price range.
This one is the best, with the edges that facilitate moving the eyes synchronously.
What? It means both eyes will turn together when he looks from side to side.
Now, this one is less expensive, and it will look all right but there'll be very little movement.
You mean it'll just stare straight ahead all the time? Yes, more or less.
He'll have to learn to turn his head instead.
We want the best one.
Give him the best one.
Well, I'm afraid it's, uh $800.
OK.
Give him that one.
We'll manage.
All right.
How will this do, honey? See? It's nice and clean.
Yeah, this is great.
Is this where you bring everybody? No, honey.
You're my very first.
- How about a drink? - No, thanks.
Come on.
It'll loosen you up.
I'm loose, honey.
Don't you worry.
But you have one.
- What's your name? - Collie.
Oh, my feet.
These boots are so hot.
Did you just get into town? No.
No.
Why? I don't know.
You just seem nicer than a lot of the guys around here.
- Do I look all right? - Sure, honey.
Did you notice my eyes? Sure.
It was the first thing I noticed.
You've got nice eyes.
Eyes are really important, you know.
I can always tell from a fella's eyes what kind of guy he is.
You didn't look at them.
Yeah, sure, I did.
I said, you've got nice eyes.
- Look at them! - I am.
Have you got a thing about eyes, honey? You can't tell, can you? Can you? Tell what? You're gonna be nice, aren't you? (Collie shrieks) (Collie whimpers) (# "Strangers in the Night") (man sings) No, hold it.
Hold it! (musicians stop playing) Hey.
Hey, fellas.
It's lousy.
Phil.
Where's Phil? I said I wanted 22 musicians and what did I get? Tell me how 12 instruments are going to sound like 22.
Danny, I gave Phil the list.
Everything you asked for.
Everything?! Where's my drummer? That guy sounds like he's chopping wood.
I told him.
I told him.
Hey, hey, give me that, will you, kid? - Don't blow up.
It was just a mistake.
- Hey! "Just a mistake.
" Everything around here is a mistake lately.
Where's Phil? - He said he'd be here.
- Do you think I could have some coffee? Say, could we get some coffee for Mr Miller? Hey, kid.
Forget about the coffee.
Get Greenberg.
I want him here right now or else I'm walking.
Yes, sir.
Yes, sir.
11 musicians! Give me a break, will you? Sure, Phil.
Anybody can get some tough breaks.
Jerry knows that.
He understands.
Sorry.
- What do you want? - Danny wants to see you.
He's teed off.
- Tell him I'll be right there.
- He says he's gonna walk.
Keep him there.
I'll be right down.
OK.
- He'll be here.
He's on the phone.
- Forget the whole thing.
Greenberg is running this company into the ground but not me.
- He'll be here, honest.
- To hell with it! You can't do this.
You've got a contract.
Contract? You tell him to take that contract and stuff it! Hey, what do we do with the musicians? I, uh In five minutes we're on double gold.
OK, what's going on? Where is he? Where's Danny? - He left.
- He left? Yes, sir.
He said he's finished, and they're on golden time.
OK, that's all, boys.
Pack up.
Sessiors over.
What's that supposed to mean? Finished? He's got a contract.
Yeah, well, he also had a suggestion about what you could do with it, sir.
- I thought I told you to keep him here.
- I tried.
You know what he is? A revolving schmutz.
Any way you look at him, he's a schmutz.
I started that ungrateful hog-caller.
I did.
I'm his father, mother and wet nurse.
I fed and clothed him and wiped his chin.
Everything he's got came from me, including his ego, and he's walking out? The hell he is! He's fired.
He can die for all I care.
I never want to see him again and I never want to hear his droning voice.
It's about as musical as a bee trapped in a bottle.
I don't need him.
And I don't need you either.
You're fired too.
(# "Once Upon A Time") (applause) Remember me? Billy Abbott, Phil Greenberg's assistant.
- Can I talk to you a second? - No.
- It's about Mr Greenberg.
He's pretty sick.
- Oh, good.
I hope he dies.
I came here to say something and you're gonna hear it.
It was my fault about the musicians.
Mr Greenberg told me to handle it.
I blew it.
You sure did.
I left it too late.
I tried to get the guys you requested, but most were booked so I had to take what I could get.
What do you want from me, kid? The damage is done.
I want your attention, dammit.
If you want to unload, at least pick on the right guy.
Who the hell do you think you're talking to? - A guy with an ego as big as a redwood.
- You little I got nothing to lose by telling the truth.
As soon as Mr Greenberg found out, he canned me.
Oh.
You got fired because I walked.
I'm not here looking for sympathy, Mr Miller.
I don't want to see you and Mr Greenberg in a hassle because of something I did.
Well, it's not just the orchestra.
It's everything.
I mean, the guy used to be a giant in the business.
Now he's nothing.
He loves you, Mr Miller.
Really, he does.
Only I guess his ego's a little big too.
He's too proud to make the first move.
Oh.
- And you want me to kiss and make up? - I want you to make your best album ever.
I mean, isn't that what it's all about? I mean, besides friendship and loyalty.
All right.
You go set up this record session, but you just make sure that I have 22 musicians, right? Oh, yeah.
You got it.
- You know something? - What? You are as special as Mr Greenberg says you are.
Hey, get out of here.
No, Irv, you are missing the point.
I need it in five days.
It's a loan.
When did I ever stiff you? All right, I'll pay you that back too in a couple of weeks.
Irv! For God's sake, Irv, this is serious.
(lrv hangs up) - How's it going, Mr G? - Get lost.
- I've been looking for you.
- Why? Why don't you look for a decent job in a decent business, if there is such a thing? - Set up another session for Danny Miller.
- What? Set up another session for Danny.
- Who said? - He did.
- When? - I caught him between acts.
Told him it was my fault that he only had 11 musicians and that you loved him.
I what? And this time, if he wants the Boston Symphony, give it to him.
I owe you something.
My job.
OK.
And a raise.
We'll negotiate.
And a title.
You're a good kid, Billy.
I think.
Is this rock taken? What are you reading? What is it? It's Valley of the Dolls.
- What's it about? - Well Sex, mostly.
Must be good.
How's your father? Has he cooled off yet? - He's OK.
- How about you? Have you cooled off yet? It's three days since he chucked me out of the house.
I only ever see you at the plant.
Look, even though it doesn't make any sense to us, he's my father.
I owe him a lot.
I'm going to New York tonight.
I'd like you to come with me.
If you want to come, fine.
If you don't want to come, fine.
Just so I know.
Wes? I wanna come.
(Danny sings "Strangers in the Night") Hey, I'm glad you invited me.
Terrific.
Terrific.
How was that for you, Danny? Oh, that was terrific, man.
It was great.
Hey, Phil, any problems on your end? - Thank you for letting us be here.
- Yeah, thanks a lot.
Sure, any time.
Looks like we've got us a budding producer here, boss.
If he gives you any lip, step on his tongue.
In fact, step on it anyway, just on general principles.
There you go, Ramona.
Hey, you're a pretty little thing.
Thanks, Mr Miller.
Thanks a lot.
Nice to meet you.
Hey, Phil, do you need me up there? Can't think why, Billy.
OK.
Good night.
Hey, I'm sprung.
- Let's go someplace.
- Uh we gotta get back to Whitby.
- Oh, it's still early.
- Good.
I know some great places where we can hear some real music.
Come on.
(lively rock music plays) - Hi, baby.
- Hi, Billy.
- Gee, he knows everyone.
- Yeah, old Billy gets around.
- Can you do that? - Sure.
- This is really something.
- Super.
- Have they got anything to eat? - I'll order drinks.
- What'll you have? - I don't know, a Coke.
- Oh, you can do better than that.
- They'll ask for ID.
Leave that to me.
Come on, let's dance.
- Having a good time? - Super.
- You say that a lot, don't you? - It's the way I feel tonight.
Oh, it was great meeting Danny Miller.
Danny's all right.
His music's a little square, but he's a sweet guy.
Now, there's a party later at Jimi Hendrix's.
- Really? - But you've got to get back to hicksville.
- What time is the party? - Way past midnight, Cinderella.
Say, how long have you and Wesley been a thing? - We're not a thing.
- Oh? Well, then, what are you? - We're friends.
- Oh, come on.
There's no friendship between a guy and a girl.
It goes one way or the other.
(slow music plays) How much did Eddie Heath tell you about me? Oh, you graduated near the top of your class, spent some time with the Justice Department before joining his law firm.
He tell you I was married? No.
And divorced.
Happens in the best of families, including mine.
Any children? I have a daughter.
- Where is she? - She's with her father.
Do you see much of her? As much as I can, yes.
(music finishes) You had a bad marriage? My mother and father didn't think so.
- But you did? - Thank you.
What was wrong was the the way I grew up.
- You don't want to hear this, do you? - I'm listening.
My father was a classics professor at Dartmouth.
- His idol was Aristotle.
- Not a bad philosopher.
So they say.
You wanna hear a quotation from Aristotle? My father's favourite.
"Women do not suffer from baldness because they have never used the contents of their heads.
" Uh-huh.
In high school, if I didn't have a date two Saturday nights in a row - oh, there had to be something wrong with me.
I was being too smart, too aggressive.
Something I was doing was scaring them off.
I like smart ladies.
The other kind bore the hell out of me.
If you really mean that, Senator, you are one in a million.
Thank you.
What happened to your marriage? I didn't follow the scenario.
I decided I wanted to go to law school.
And he couldn't take it.
Well, I will tell you how badly brainwashed I was.
I have not been able to kick it.
What? The feeling, every now and then, that that I wrecked that marriage because I was greedy and selfish and too ambitious.
And, you know, I still find myself using men as a mirror to find my self-image.
If they like me, I'm OK.
I like you.
But that's just the point.
Even if you didn't, doesn't mean I'm not marvellous.
What? Oh, I was just thinking, it's probably the reason my marriage went down the drain.
I, uh I was greedy, selfish, too ambitious.
Huh.
That's a relief.
I was beginning to find you very attractive and it was making me nervous.
But now? Well, I can see that in the romance department, we would be oh, the worst possible combination in the world.
A couple of overachievers.
Know anything about avocados? - Should I? - It's a lovely tax loophole.
If you raise avocados, the IRS gives you a deduction on your expenses.
That is a great idea.
- Thank you.
- You see? I told you.
I like smart ladies.
Oh, thank you.
Thank you.
(# "Born To Be Wild" in a funky version plays) - Hey, what is that stuff? - Ginger ale.
That kind of ginger ale can blow your head off.
Hey, it's about time, man.
I thought you were glued to that chair.
Come on, dance with your lady.
I feel like a baby-sitter.
- You and Billy looked good out here.
- He's a really neat dancer.
Yeah.
He's got all the right moves.
He's been telling me about the people he's met and parties he's been to.
We ought to start back.
I don't want your father waiting with a gun.
Hey, Wes, you're doing really great.
You look really super.
I mean, you're really with it.
Yeah, me and Chubby Checker.
Hey, why don't you leave his girl alone? You have a dirty mind, Victoria.
But your body more than makes up for it.
Well, what now? How about Paris? We can go to the opera.
We missed the first act.
- Come along.
- Um Oh, you're kidding.
Oh, come on.
Nobody from New York does this.
Oh! There's a lot New Yorkers don't do.
Have you been up the Empire State Building? - No.
- The Statue of Liberty? - I've seen it.
Isn't that enough? - Grant's Tomb? Where is it? Well, tonight you are going to see New York like most New Yorkers never do.
Oh! Good night.
(Ramona, laughing) Stop.
Stop! (Ramona and Billy laugh) I think I'm getting hysterical.
Every time I look, I see him tiptoeing over the roofs of those cars and disappearing.
He never even saw it was a convertible.
It was really pretty good till then.
All right, here's fine.
- There's a light on.
- Maybe he left it for you.
I hope so.
I hope he's asleep.
Oh! It was terrific.
It really was.
That's what I'm here for.
Good night.
Say good night to Wes for me.
Cinderella.
Hey, Cinderella, like I said, it goes one way or the other.
See you.