Original subtitles

Who can turn the world on with her smile?

Who can take a nothing day and suddenly make it all seem worthwhile?

Well, it's you, girl, and you should know it.

With each glance and every little movement you show it. Love is all

need to waste it. You can never tell, why don't you take it?

You're gonna make it after all.

You're gonna make it after all.

And that's the local picture. And now to the international scene.

expedition in West Germany has discovered a secret cache of weapons

to have been buried since World War.

One mini -weapon still... Oh, wait a minute.

That's World War I.

Mini -weapons. What a shame. Just a few more minutes and he would have gotten

through the whole show without a mistake.

No, Drew.

Oh, hi, Marie.

What? Look, calm down, honey.

What's the matter? I don't know.

Marie, Marie, now just say it slowly.

What is it?

She thinks the hot water heater's busted.

What? Oh, no, honey, I can't. You can't what? Well, she wants me to rush right

home. Well, Marie, why can't you? Look, there's only a few more minutes to go on

the show. I'll cover for you.

I'm on my way, honey. Mary's going to cover for me.

Hey, thanks, Mary. I'll cover for you any time you want. Now, you sure you

what to do? Yes, I'm sure.

If a bulletin comes in over the teletype, just type it up and get it

studio. No.

Mary, don't worry. If anything comes over the wire, I can handle it.

Go on.

All you have to do is take it off the machine, type it up, and get it into

munitions plant on the outskirts of town.

Wow, I didn't know that there was a munitions plant on the outskirts of

did you?

Mary! Yes, I know. I've got to type this up really fast and whip it into Ted

before he goes off the air.

Don't worry, Mr. Grant, I'll have it in just a second.

Now, let's see.

No, Ted, that's not quite what I had in mind.

Don't they get to find out how it ends?

Sure.

Tune in to competition at 7 o 'clock news. They ought to have it by then.

Boy, I am just terrific. I've been here for over a year, and I can't even write

up a simple news bulletin. That's not your job.

Well, what is, Mr. Grant? I mean, I am the associate producer. I feel like I'm

taking the money under false pretenses.

Why, those newscasters on the West Coast get all the breaks.

How's that, Ted?

Well, it's two hours earlier.

out there, and they get to do this story.

I mean, out there, this fire hasn't even started yet.

And you're worried about taking money under false pretenses?

Well,

you should have seen the look on Mr. Grant's face. If it had been anybody

but me, they would have been fired right then and there.

Don't be silly. You do a great job.

And besides, they... love you there. Oh, sure, but why?

Because I'm fun or something.

Sometimes I get the feeling that I'm making it on my personality instead of

ability. That's a problem I've never had. Beat you to it, didn't I?

I don't think Mary's making it on her personality.

I mean Mary.

You have certain abilities.

The trick is to work on improving them.

You know, believe it or not, I too...

Once had a feeling of inadequacy. We're not going to hear about your honeymoon

again.

I was about to suggest that you take a course.

A journalism course.

Wait, I'll get you my college catalog.

Oh, well, no, don't go all the way downstairs, Phil. Some other time.

idea. It is a wonderful idea.

Do you see anything that appeals to you?

Well, yeah. Television journalism.

Emphasis on writing for the medium.

Introductory and advanced.

Let's take introductory.

Let's take? Yeah, I'm going to take the course, too. What for?

Because, Mary, you are a golden person.

A what?

Next time your fairy godmother comes to visit, when she swoops down on you, I

want to be sure I'm right there at your side.

when she waves her magic wand, some of the old gold dust will sprinkle down on

me. Well, listen, I don't feel I have been that sprinkled on lately, but if

want to come and take the course, fine.

It's coincidental that you should make that analogy, Rhoda.

I often think of my life with Lars as a kind of fairy tale.

Really, Phil?

Which one of the seven dwarfs do you see him as?

thought I'd take a course in television journalism. I mean, to learn what goes

on behind the cameras.

I mean, after all, I am in the business.

What do you do in the business, Mr. DeForest?

I'm a TV repairman.

Oh. Well, good. I hope you can learn something here.

Yes, next, please.

My name is Mrs. Marshall, Mr. Whitfield, and I'm just a housewife.

I'm here because I want to fulfill myself.

enlarge my horizons, and participate in an enriching life experience.

And the ceramics class was filled.

Well, I'm sorry about ceramics, Mrs. Marshall, but welcome to television

journalism. Thank you.

Oh, my name is Mary Richards, and I,

too, am in the business of...

I guess I'm here to get some formal background to go with the practical on

-job experience that I do have.

What do you do in the business?

Well, I am the associate producer of a television news show, the 6 o 'clock

over at WJM -TV.

Well,

I'm complimented you chose our little class.

You feel free to straighten me out if I make any mistakes.

Oh, sure, I'd be glad to.

I'm sure that won't be necessary.

You're doing just fine.

Thanks for the vote of confidence.

Yes, please.

My name is Miss Rhoda Morgan.

And I'm here because she's here. I mean, I'm not in showbiz or anything, but I

guess I'm what you news people would call an interested bystander. Well, I...

hope I can keep you interested, Miss Morgenstern.

You're doing fine so far.

Cutie.

Now, this is the required text for the course. The author's name is Dan

Whitfield, which is the same as mine, which is why it's the required text.

It's not on the bestseller list yet, but at last count, it had sold 12 copies.

Now, during this... semester, we'll be talking about objective journalism

what is now called personal journalism.

You know, the sort of fun and games approach now being adopted by many

newscasters. They seem to think that... Yes, Miss Richards?

Well, it's just that just yesterday over at WJM, we were discussing whether we

should change the news format to make it a more personal, feature -heavy type of

program.

Yes. And, um... Well, Mr.

Grant hasn't made that decision yet.

Well, you keep us posted.

Another topic we'll be covering will be the influence on the culture by the

media. Should they lead or simply reflect the culture?

That's a question a lot of people are... Yes, Miss Richardson? Well, it's just

that it is so very pertinent to the everyday decisions that we make at the

station. But don't you think there's really too much bad news on TV?

No, not really. I mean, we have to report the news as it is, not as we

like it to be. I mean, we can't just select what is good and then leave out

rest. We wouldn't be doing our jobs.

Well, she asked me.

I asked him.

fundamentals of any news story.

Oh, I see our time is over for tonight. So, uh, oh, unless, uh, unless Miss

Richards has something to add.

I'll see you all next week. Miss Richards, I'd like to see you after

please.

Uh, you don't mind if I wait out in the hall, do you?

I'd hate to let friendship stand in the way of my grade.

anything. I had something in my throat.

Miss Richards, while I was listening to you tonight, a thought occurred to me.

May I ask you a perfectly blunt question?

Would you like to go out for a cup of coffee with me?

Sure.

You mean now?

I have to turn this into the office. I'll be right back.

Okay.

So, why aren't you clapping the races together, Rhoda?

You will not believe it.

You're out of the class, huh?

He wants me to go have coffee with him. I know.

And at the age of 26, he winds up the head of UPI in Chicago.

Oh, wow.

You really like teaching, don't you? Oh, I love it. I mean, it's hard work, long

hours, and absolutely no money.

No, I do love it. I mean, how else would I have met you?

Well, in a newsroom for one place.

Had you ever thought of working in one?

Yeah, I thought about it so much, I even did it for a while. I really hated it.

I guess I'm just the academic type.

Well, I like the academic type.

I like your patches.

I'll let you in on a little secret. They're not for style. They cover holes.

Hey, you know it's after one?

Is it really?

Yeah. I may teach night school, but you've got a day job. Yeah, at WJM. I

yeah. Listen, Dan, I promise... Thomas, I won't talk so much in class anymore.

Now, please, don't not talk. Your enthusiasm was great. It's good for the

really.

Hey, does it bother you that I'm in your class and we're going out?

No.

And that was the president making that statement this morning.

I've just been handed a bulletin.

have something on your front tooth.

Well, for the lighter side of the news.

He is the lighter side of the news.

Finished. Well, what have you been working on there for so long? An

for my class. It's a news story on D -Day.

most tightly kept secret in military history. Just launched a pre -dawn

invasion. Lose.

Matt, we're staying on air. I don't know how long, but we've got the greatest

news story here since E -Day.

I'll ask you a favor. Why did you leave this lying around where I could read it?

Oh, Mr. Grant.

You didn't think that that would... But then, of course, almost anybody would.

And now you want a favor.

Well, Mr. Grant, I sort of volunteered you to speak at my class next week.

Sort of.

Mary, I don't give speeches.

Well, I know, but...

Not just this once.

There's a reason I don't give speeches. But no, it isn't a speech. It's just a

15 -minute little talk.

The reason is I don't have what you call the gift of gab.

Besides, I don't think I could talk about a subject for 15 minutes.

How about three subjects for five minutes each?

I guess I don't have the old gift of gab either.

Mr. Grant, it's just that I sort of promised.

If you didn't... I think you'll do well.

Anybody got any dental floss?

You want me to look over your story and tell you what I think?

No, no, that's okay.

Why don't you want me to read it?

Because you'll say it's terrific.

That's a reason.

Murray, you think everything I do is terrific.

You're always saying nice things to me and complimenting me. Well, why

I? You're terrific.

You see?

You're just not objective.

Listen, I love it that you think I'm terrific, but on this paper what I need

good, tough criticism.

And you don't think I can be critical?

May I have that, please?

Please.

Thank you.

very fortunate tonight in having with us Mr. Lou Grant, the news director of WJM

-TV, who will speak on news and news writing.

And after the talk, we'll have a question and answer period, if there's

Mr. Grant, right here, please.

speech. I just jotted down a few notes.

Want me to read them again?

No, no, that's okay. I think we got the facts. We got them fast and you

presented them well.

Questions?

Mr. DeForest.

How good are job opportunities in news writing today?

Lousy.

Not enough jobs to go around.

I'd like to know if you'd be interested in buying any freelance...

Freelance news writing?

Yes. I thought I could do it at home. I've got the typewriter and the paper.

At home?

Where are you going to find this news?

The radio, newspapers, what you hear at the market.

Uh -huh.

Next question, please.

Yeah. What you said about getting the facts, Lou, we read in our books. Books?

Forget.

as you turned in last week.

And I've written some comments along with the letter grade.

And if there are any questions, I'd be glad to talk to you individually.

There you go. And I'll see you all next week. So I'll give you your papers over

there. And you?

I've got a B!

I've got a B! I've got a B, too!

Mr. Grant, I want to tell you how much I really enjoyed your talk.

I mean, it's good to hear somebody knows what he's talking about.

Oh, thanks.

So, Mayor, what'd you get?

Oh, I, uh, got a C. What?

A C. A C?

Oh, you're kidding. Let me see your paper.

What do you mean you got a C? You got a C+. It's the same thing.

How can he give you a C?

C+. You're a pro.

What does that amateur know? I'm gonna talk to him. Mr. Graham, please, don't.

It's embarrassing enough without the...

You know, listen, I appreciate how you feel.

Well, okay.

See you tomorrow.

Right.

Gee, Mayor, I'm really sorry, kid.

Hey, do you think there's some mistake?

No. Did you read the comments there by the grade? Maybe that would explain it.

This subject is well -trod ground, so needs a fresh approach.

Check sources more carefully.

Flowery writing.

Where are we going tonight?

I'll trade you my B for your where are we going tonight.

Listen, Mary, you've got to say something to him.

Oh, Rhoda, I can't. I mean, what can I say?

So you're not going to say anything?

No. Nothing? No.

Only if he brings it up.

How

you doing?

How about it?

C plus.

Oh, I suppose you're talking about your grade.

Well, as long as you brought it up.

Let's talk about it over dinner.

I get a C and you want to have dinner?

That's all right. I've gone out with C students before.

You're really upset, aren't you?

Well, would you tell me why you gave me a C? I mean, just give me one good

reason. Okay, I gave you a C plus because I thought that's what your paper

deserved.

Mrs. Marshall... Gotta be. Yes, I know.

Well, I think I know a little bit more about news than Mrs. Marshall.

You know a lot more about news than Mrs. Marshall. You're an associate producer.

You're a professional.

I may have to grade you on a different scale than I grade Mrs.

Marshall. She came because ceramics was filled. Why did you come?

To become better at my job.

And a C -plus.

Well, a C is average. And that's what you are right now.

An average professional.

What about the plus?

Well, I couldn't keep my personal feelings entirely out of it.

Good

morning.

Oh, good morning, Mary. Hey, how did Lou do last night?

He was concise.

And your term paper, how'd you do? An A?

No. A plus?

Murray. Well, there isn't anything higher.

C plus.

C plus.

You know, for a first paper, a C plus, that's terrific.