Rich Man, Poor Man - Book II (1976) s01e08 Episode Script

(siren) Last on "Rich Man, Poor Man - Book ll": - I don't want you to leave here! - I don't care! From now on, I make my own decisions - what I do, where I go, who I see.
And that means Wesley Jordache, if he comes out of this alive.
- What do you think about him? - Billy? I don't know.
He mixes me up.
A visit to old smiling Sam right now.
We're gonna lay your tape on him.
- Well - There's thousands listening.
If they hear it, they're gonna go for it.
I'm telling you, it's gonna take off like a rocket.
Sarah Hunt.
Name ring a bell? Charles Estep's personal secretary for nine years and, so the rumour goes, his mistress.
I want her found.
You do what you have to do, you spend what you have to spend.
But you find her.
I guess I should, unless Rudy's already told you.
- About what? - Falconetti.
Angled down.
The bullet must've come from that overpass.
Any ideas, Senator? About who did it? Uh, could have something to do with the strike at my plant.
Some goons put my nephew in hospital.
- It wasrt them.
- No? - It's a guy named Falconetti.
- Who's he? - Why did you mention Falconetti? - Why didn't you? You knew he was out.
- Who told you? - Roy Dwyer.
Senator, this Falconetti, what does he have against you? He spent time in a French prison.
I helped put him there.
Know where he is now? All right, he's a possibility.
He might be more than that.
He broke into my apartment in New York.
The police lifted prints.
They're Falconetti's.
- Can you give us a description? - He must be around 40 now.
Six foot two, three.
Dark hair.
Wears a patch over his right eye.
OK.
I'll put it on the wire.
Maybe we'll get lucky.
Why didn't you tell me about it? I didn't wanna worry you.
I'm not a kid, Rudy.
I don't need you to protect me.
I can handle the facts of life.
We don't know for sure that Falconetti did this.
- Yeah, well, I know! - Oh? How? - Cos he's crazy.
Dwyer said so.
- Wesley let's let the police pick him up.
And then what? There aren't any witnesses.
He walks out.
- You wanna blow his head off?! - It's a thought! That's what I was afraid of.
I was afraid you would react just that way.
How do you expect me to react? My father's dead and he's walking around! - Wes - There's something wrong with that.
Somebody ought to make it right.
(phone buzzes) Yeah? Send him in.
Come on in.
How are you? Confused.
Last time I saw you, you fired me.
- You deserved it.
- Why do you wanna see me now? Sit down.
Tell me, how's that girl singer of yours, uh the wedding dress? - Annie Adams? - Whatever.
Terrific.
She's terrific.
You know that demo she cut? It's been playing round the clock on W-O-O-F.
- I heard it.
- You did? What do you think? An old schmutz like me doesn't listen to underground radio? Then you know I'm into something hot.
All I gotta do is lay back, pick my spot.
I've been in this business since they wrote "The Star-Spangled Banner".
I know what's going on.
You've been to Capitol, you've been to Decca, you've been to Coral.
You spend more time in waiting rooms than old magazines.
- It takes time.
- How about she records for Greenway? Are you serious? We can cut a single next week, promote the hell out of it, and if it hits the charts, we'll follow up with an album.
I knew I was right when I first came to you.
- All it'll cost you is 50,000.
- Yeah! No, I said 50,000.
Now, wait a minute.
I haven't been in this business since "The Star-Spangled Banner", but I heard the record company pays the artist, not the other way around.
- You believe in her? - Yes.
Do you wanna knock on doors for six months? You want her to get restless and all you've got is bruised knuckles? - Do you want her to go to someone else? - I don't have $50,000.
What about all your big connections? My stepfather? He must leave that much in his pants at night.
I can't go to him.
Kid, I'm giving you a chance to put your money where your mouth is.
Let me think about it.
You got till Monday.
If the answer's yes, bring the money.
Otherwise I never wanna see you again.
- What else? - Background on Sarah Hunt.
Thin.
People who work for Charles Estep learn to keep a low profile.
It's healthier.
Well, having been his private secretary as well as his lady of the moment, she'll know where the bodies are buried.
- Is she going to talk? - We'll know when you're in New Orleans.
This is the agreement you worked out with Scotty.
If he can sell this to the rank and file, the plant could be in operation next week.
Well, that's that.
Sorry to leave you with this mess.
Hey.
Slow down.
I have to catch a plane in an hour and you have to pick up Diane in less than that.
What was that for? Do you realise that we have been here together for close to two hours, and we have talked about nothing but business? We haven't touched.
We haven't even smiled at one another.
Business before pleasure.
- When you get back - Yes? we'll go someplace.
No lawyer, no client.
Just Rudy and Maggie.
And we'll see what we find.
OK.
OK.
(door buzzer) I forgot to say no doorbells, either.
- Hello, Rudy.
- What are you doing in this part of town? - I knew I should've phoned first.
- No, it's all right.
Ah, Maggie Porter, my stepson Billy Abbott.
- Nice to meet you.
- Billy.
- If you're busy, I can - It's all right.
I was just on my way when the senator came up with a brilliant idea.
Yes, we'll move on it when you get back from New Orleans.
I'll call you tonight, OK? - Billy.
- So long.
Very attractive.
Good lawyer, too.
So what's happening in New Orleans? - You really care? - Not a whole lot.
Then why don't you get to what's on your mind? OK.
A guy I used to work for, Phil Greenberg, he's in hock up to his hairpiece.
He can't stay away from the ponies.
If he had kids, he'd bet their lunch money.
That's how bad it is.
He thinks I'm desperate to lay out cash to get a record for a singer I found.
- Are you? - I would be, if he wasrt more desperate.
I'm gonna hit him with another proposition - part ownership in his company.
You think he'll go for it? He has no choice.
He's flat on his back.
And you're gonna step on his neck? Isn't that how you operated when you started? - I'm afraid so.
- "Afraid"? It got you where you wanted to be - top of the heap.
- Think you'll like it up there? - I can't wait to find out.
I just wanna get there, man, as fast and as far as I can.
You know, anyone who moves as fast as you do, must be trying to outrun something.
All right.
All right, I don't wanna end up like my father.
I mean, he was a great guy, only he had this thing about failure.
He kept looking for it until he found it.
You afraid that's part of you? I I don't wanna think about it.
Sometimes when I wake up in the middle of the night, sweat pouring off my face and I know I'm gonna end up like him.
Billy, something we'd better get straight and I think now is the time.
I did not buy your father off.
Willie Abbott made a choice.
- You forced him to make it.
- I was in love with your mother.
Your father wasrt, and they both knew it.
Well, what about me? Why was I part of the deal, that he could never see me? Do you think that if he really wanted to see you, he would've agreed to that? Hey I'm some kind of salesman, aren't I? Here I am trying to pitch you, and I wind up yelling at you instead.
- Just as long as you heard what I said.
- Yeah, I heard.
OK.
OK.
Now how much money do you need? 50,000.
You said I had to learn to need people.
Well, I need you, Rudy, your help.
There's a strike going on at my plant.
All my capital is tied up in it.
You mean you don't have $50,000? I don't believe it.
You were always the guy with enough bread to buy the world.
Not any more.
I love it.
It's beautiful.
I work up the courage to ask you to help me, and the well's run dry.
I said that I didn't have the money lying around.
I didn't say I couldn't get it.
I can sell some stock.
- I couldn't let you do that.
- You asked for my help.
How I give it is up to me.
I want some financial records on the company.
If it passes inspection you'll have a cheque on Monday.
Maybe maybe we're on our way.
Where? Being a family.
(Wes) Look, I was in that car too! I have as much right as my uncle to know what progress you're making.
You've got his fingerprints, you've got a description.
(sighs) Yeah, well, they do it a lot faster on television.
I wanna make a long-distance call to New York City.
Person to person, Mr Roy Dwyer.
- The number is 769 - (door opens) Never mind.
Hi.
Uh, Diane Porter, my nephew Wesley.
- How's it going? - I'll let you know.
Uh, there are a couple more outside.
Hello.
Diane, this is Mrs Rowe, our housekeeper.
How do you do? Well, your room's all ready.
Why don't you come down whenever you're settled? What do you think of our house guest? - Great legs.
- You two are gonna get along just fine.
- You had time to cool off? - Some.
- Time to do a little thinking? - Yeah.
I'll wait and see what the police can come up with.
And from now on we talk to one another, huh? No more secrets.
No more secrets.
I've been trying to reach Dwyer.
He should know about Falconetti.
All right, as long as he also knows the police are handling it.
- I'll have dinner ready in about an hour.
- Thank you.
- Planning on staying long? - Just till I get bored.
You must have a lot of faith in us to keep you amused.
What does one do in Whitby, New York? What does one like to do? - Go dancing at places like Arnold's Apple.
- We have a country club.
Anyone under 50 ever go there? Yeah, once.
Guy about 30 came in looking for his golf ball.
And what do you do for amusement? Go sailing, horseback riding, take my bike out.
Your bike? Oh, do you have a paper route? No, I just give kids rides on the handlebars.
Stick around, maybe I can fit you in some time.
This'll go over big at the local pizza joint.
Oh, Wesley, I don't quite know how to say this, but I hope you werert asking me for a date.
- You see, I prefer older men.
- At your age, that must include everyone.
I'm so glad to see that your face has cleared up.
Acne can be terribly demoralising.
- How long are we gonna keep this up? - What? - The fancy put-down.
- I'm sorry.
I wasrt putting you down.
Small-town boys can be so sensitive.
See you in the sandbox.
We've located Sarah Hunt.
- (Estep) Where? - New Orleans.
Good.
Very good.
It has occurred to me there's a possibility that Jordache knows about Sarah now.
If they reach her, it could be embarrassing.
I'm going to deal with the matter personally.
That's wise, Raymond.
It'd be a shame to let things get away from you again.
They won't, Charles.
I promise.
Tell me about this.
- As soon as I saw that, I got on the phone.
- It was none of our people.
It wasrt? They put Jordache's nephew into the hospital.
And as soon as that happened, I put a clamp on things.
Says here that police have a suspect.
Who? I don't know.
Some crackpot, probably.
It's certainly a year for them.
Some nut gets a mail-order rifle and sets out to bag a United States senator.
Why? You're asking a question a psychiatrist couldn't handle.
It doesn't wash.
Even crackpots have reasons.
Somebody somebody has a grudge against our senator.
I would like to know who that gentleman is and why he's so angry.
- Police have the jump on us.
- We have more resources.
Use them.
And the Sarah Hunt matter? I can cross that off my list of concerns? Absolutely.
- Rudy.
- How's it going? It isn't.
I can't get past the front door.
- What's the problem? - Me.
Sarah Hunt does not like or trust women, especially when they have a career.
- What about her mother? Any help there? - No, just the opposite.
Maybe Sarah wants to talk to someone, but Mama is against it in that gentile Southern way.
She's like she's like a velvet steamroller and I'm tired of getting run over.
- Any suggestions? - I think she might talk to you.
You know, big, strong senator.
Hold her hand, tell her how brave she is.
I have to be in Washington for a Senate hearing tomorrow.
Well, I've tried everything I can think of.
All right, I'll grab the first plane out.
Rudy, I'm sorry I flubbed it.
Well, that's what you get for being all soft and feminine.
- Next time, try a cigar and a crew cut.
- Thank you.
- I'll see you soon.
- Bye.
- Where are you going? - Out.
First Rudy runs off and deserts me and now you.
- You want company? Talk to Mrs Rowe.
- About what? All she does is bake.
- When will you be back? - Late if I'm lucky.
That's great, really great.
I'm invited here for a weekend and everyone splits, leaving me with the Pillsbury bake-off lady.
Diane, I don't want this to be a shock to your system, but there are other things in life besides keeping you entertained.
- Why don't I go with you? - I've got a date.
Swell.
Look, uh we'll do something tomorrow, OK? - Why don't you watch some TV? - Why don't you take a flying leap? Don't wait up.
All right, wait a minute.
Will you all wait a minute and listen to me? Come on, listen to me.
All I'm saying is, we stay out longer, there aren't gonna be any jobs to come back to.
Give me the right to negotiate with Jordache.
Any agreement we work out has to be approved by you.
- What are you gonna negotiate about? - Cost of living makes the most sense.
- How about the pension fund? - Sure, national stuck that in.
They want pension money, let them get it.
- I want something when I retire.
- Don't count on your pension fund, mate.
Every time you turn around, they change the rules about who's gonna be eligible.
You work your whole life for it and end up with nothing.
I'd rather be able to put bread on the table now, today, than starve for pie in the sky later on! - Ready to take a vote? - National ain't gonna like your attitude.
You can speak for national, can't you, Al? - What's that supposed to mean? - You work for 'em.
That's a lie! They've paid you to spy on us since the strike began.
You want me to name the fellas that have been paying you? The places you've met? No, I didn't think so.
Go on, get out.
You don't belong here.
Oh, let him go.
We've got more important things to take care of here.
All those in favour of negotiating to end this strike, say "Aye".
(all) Aye! Those opposed? - Motion carried.
- (cheering) - You were beautiful! - Thanks, baby.
Thanks.
- How did it go? - Voted to negotiate.
Fantastic.
We all missed you in there, Wes.
I wasrt sure how some of the guys would take it, me working all the time.
But you're smarter than some of the rest of us.
Some of us are gonna grab a beer.
Do you wanna join us? We were gonna go get a pizza.
- Well, next time.
- Sure thing.
- Did you say something about a pizza? - That's what I said.
- Pizza will get cold.
- I like cold pizza.
Let me put it in the oven.
Wes.
You're right.
Never have dessert before dinner.
What time did you say your father would be home? Probably around 11.
How much time do we have? Enough.
Oh! Pizza? Couldrt eat another bite.
What? I'm I feel funny.
Good funny or bad funny? Confused funny, like I don't know what's going on inside me.
Is it the first time you've ever felt that way? With you, you mean? With anybody.
I'll get the pizza.
You know that time I told you I wasrt looking for an easy score? I wasrt looking to become a monk, either.
Not here, Wes.
OK.
(gasps) - What the hell are you doing?! - Waiting for you.
Why? I was bored.
I've been alone all night and I'm not used to be alone.
I can see why.
I'm beginning to think there's something wrong.
Is there something wrong with me, Wes? Not so you can tell.
Have I done something to make you mad at me? If I have, I'm really sorry, and I'd like to make it up to you.
- What can I do to make it up to you, Wes? - Diane, for God's sake Don't you like me? - You're a nice kid.
- Is that the way you look at me? A kid? Diane, I've already got a girl, OK? - Are you in love with her? - Yes.
That's all right with me.
I don't mind.
Because I believe you can still be in love with one girl and have fun with another.
I get your message.
Good.
But I can't play that game right now.
Oh, Wes.
Don't be so small town.
It doesn't have to mean anything.
I'm gonna hate myself in the morning for this.
No, you're not.
Yes, I am.
- Hey, what are you doing? - I'm gonna tuck you in.
I don't wanna go back there all by myself! Put me down! - I got an old teddy bear someplace.
- Come on.
I don't wanna go back! Hey, I know, it's a hell of a way to end an evening, but good night.
(doorbell) - Who is it? - Senator Jordache.
I believe you're expecting me.
You look younger than your newspaper picture, Senator.
Wort you come in, please? - I'm Mrs Hunt.
- Mrs Hunt, how do you do? - How do you do? - I came here to see your daughter.
Yes, she told me that you called, but I'm not sure that she'll be able to see you.
Well, I won't keep her long.
Senator, I would rather you don't talk to her.
And I'm quite sure that I can tell you anything that you want to know.
To tell you the truth, she's not well enough to see you.
- Oh, yes, she is.
- Sarah.
Besides, it's always a pleasure to talk to such a good-Iooking gentleman.
Mother, where are your manners? It's not nice to keep the poor man standing out here in the hall.
Wort you come into the parlour, Senator? I'm sorry that we can't offer you a mint julep, but mother doesn't keep alcohol in the house any more, so I'm reduced to drinking ginger ale.
Mrs Hunt, I think it might be best if I talk to your daughter alone.
- I'm afraid that I can't allow that.
- You can.
Why don't you run along? Very well.
Senator.
You called the Wall Street Journal, said you had information about Charles Estep.
It was an impulse.
I I was angry with Charles.
He hurt me very badly.
I found out there was another woman and I threatened to tell what I knew about him.
He had me committed to a sanatorium.
- But I managed to get away.
- I'm sorry.
- I hope you feel safe with me.
- Not really.
Charles will find me if I stay.
- So you're going to run? - It beats dying! If you really have information that could hurt Charles Estep, how long do you think you can last on your own? You need friends, Miss Hunt - people who aren't afraid of Estep.
Anybody who's not afraid of Charles Estep is a fool.
- I'm not afraid of him.
- Case closed.
Good luck.
Wait.
If I if I tell you what I know If I tell you a tenth of what I know, I might as well go to a cemetery because it'll be all over.
I am here to offer you help, offer you protection.
I'll take you to Washington.
I'll get you a new identity if you want it.
Why should I trust you? Because you don't have anyone else.
Charles has many powerful friends in government.
People that he bought.
- Who? - Top men in the justice department.
Be specific.
Those are just numbers, initials.
- What do they mean? - Payoffs.
To whom? - Not till I get to Washington.
- OK.
I was there at the creation of Tricorp International, you know.
It was all built on blood and bodies.
Nobody would believe me if I told them.
No one! Try me.
Did you ever meet that wife of his? So well bred.
All the best schools.
Smelling of the best horses.
The former Claire West, you know.
Only there wasrt ever a Claire West.
She didn't exist.
She was like one of those old Hollywood movie stars.
The background's all phoney.
Her real name is Claire Dietrich.
Go on.
Albert Dietrich's daughter.
That name doesn't mean anything to you, does it? - Should it? - Oh, God, should it.
But it won't.
It never will.
There's no way to prove what Charles did.
After all we meant to each other.
Sarah.
Senator, please go.
Leave us alone.
I want you to pack her bags.
I'll be back in a few hours.
(phone buzzes) What? He is? Well, don't keep the man waiting.
Do you remember what I said, kid? - Absolutely.
- Then you've got the money? Billy! Ah, slow down.
- When you sign this, you get this.
- What is that? A contract stating that you agree to sell me ? ownership in Greenway Records for $50,000.
- The hell I do! - Is that any way to talk to your partner? Partner? You? I started this business in my basement.
I pressed the records myself, then I got on a train and distributed 'em to Philadelphia, Newark, all up and down the coast! 33 years I've been doing this, till I built the name Greenway into something that mattered in this business! Till I had gold records and the best people! And you, you little weasel, you think you can buy your way into my life? Phil, you got bad paper all over town.
- Quiet! - You think I didn't know? Everyone does.
That's a slight financial embarrassment.
If you don't have this money, a rabbi who doesn't know you will be standing over your body telling lies about what a great guy you were.
That is, if they find your body.
I'm offering you a chance to breathe past today.
Breathing ain't all that great, especially when I'm close to people like you.
Phil, I know music, you know the record business.
Between the two of us, Greenway doesn't have to take a back seat to anyone.
New stars, new sounds, new life.
Come on, Phil.
Give me a chance.
Give us a chance, hm? You know, Phil, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship.
OK, kid.
You go pick yourself an office, get settled.
You start tomorrow.
So long, partner.
So long schmutz.
Yeah, I wanna make a reservation - the next flight to Miami, one way.
Party of one.
Bloustein.
Peter Bloustein.
No, I'll pay cash.
Listen, do you have a connecting flight to Bermuda? Good.
No, I'll make that reservation when I get to Miami.
(knock on door) I bring tidings of comfort and joy and a little bubbly to go with them.
- What's this? - A celebration.
- What are we celebrating? - You.
Me? What have I got to celebrate? Glasses.
Whoever heard of drinking champagne from a bottle, hm? Ah, your finest crystal, madam.
Come on, Billy, don't do this to me.
Has something happened with the demo? - Does somebody wanna sign me? - A toast.
To the newest addition to the illustrious roster of stars in Greenway Records' stables, Miss Annie Adams.
- What happened? - Clink.
- What? - It isn't official until you clink glasses.
- You are driving me crazy.
- Good.
I like you crazy, wild and beautiful.
Would you stop playing around and tell me what happened? Well, as vice president in charge of talent, I took a long look at Greenway's artists, and found we were lacking key ingredients that make a successful and diversified recording company, the primary one being a dynamite girl singer named Annie Adams.
Or as Phil Greenberg calls you, the wedding dress.
You're a vice president? And you're a knockout.
We're gonna cut a single next week! - No! - Yeah! A simple thank you would've done, but since you're here Hey, I take it all back.
You delivered what you promised.
I always deliver what I promise.
Please don't.
- I'm grateful for everything you're doing - But? I don't have those kind of feelings for you.
What kind? The kind of feelings that make me want to go to bed with you.
Oh.
Those kind of feelings.
I like you, Billy, I really do.
And I want to make you proud of me, and to deliver everything you said I could.
But I can't fake it, that other thing.
I thought that's what women did best.
You wouldn't want me to go to bed with you just to pay you back.
Come on, let's be friends, huh? - Here, keep it.
It's all yours.
- Billy.
Tomorrow - I'll have an office then.
Be in it, ten o'clock.
- We'll pick the songs you'll record.
- I didn't mean to hurt you.
You have to care for somebody before they hurt you.
To me, you're nothing but merchandise, something I'll package and sell and make a fortune off of.
Now, get some sleep.
You're gonna have a lot of long, hard hours ahead of you.
(horn blares) (tyres screech) (doorbell) - Anything for Halloween? - Billy.
Didrt think you'd be here.
Thought you'd be with Wes.
- I was going shopping.
- Abbott Limousines at your disposal.
- It's OK.
I'll walk.
- Animals walk.
People ride, so you can tell the difference.
What are you doing here? I mean, did you want something? - I wanted to see you.
- Why? I'm celebrating and there's no one I'd rather celebrate with.
- What? What are you celebrating? - That, young lady, is a long story.
- Wait a minute.
I gotta get my purse.
- No.
Today, everything is on me.
There you go.
- Thanks.
- For what? Being home.