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.

On the labor front, a story that may hit close to home.

This is it.

The Television News Writers Union has so far failed to come to a negotiated

agreement with the Association of Independent Television Stations with a

deadline set for 6 p .m. tomorrow night.

A news writer walkout appears to be a distinct possibility.

I'm surprised he can read the copy with my tear stains all over it.

I'll be back tomorrow with the news.

Or without the news if we go on strike.

Murray, if you guys go on strike, I think we'll be able to muddle through

without you.

Sure you will, Lou.

Ted is able to muddle through even when we're here.

You're both talking as though there's definitely going to be a strike, and you

don't know that for sure.

Do you? You never can tell.

Don't forget that big television strike in 61.

That one lasted four months. My picket sign turned yellow.

Hey, Murray, what's the latest on the strike, man? Strike? What strike?

Ted, you just read about it on the air.

Oh, really?

I wasn't listening.

The news writers, Ted, they're probably going to go on strike.

Hey, Gordy, you don't really think there'll be a strike, do you?

Well, I sure hope not. Why?

It's not your union.

Yes, it is. I write my own weather reports.

You see, Gordo, that's a mistake I never make.

I never write anything.

Nobody here has seen me write anything. have they you don't hear many people

bragging about being illiterate hi everybody oh hey Al have you heard

about the strike heard anything that's all I've heard all day long I'm on a

negotiating committee and I just got out so what did you hear I don't know it's

too close to me have you guys heard any rumors not in the last five minutes boy

it's sure a bad time for us to think about striking why is that Because it's

snowing outside and I don't like to pick it in sludge.

Snowing? Yeah, it's really coming down.

Mary, see you in a minute. Coming, Mr. Grant.

You know, Mary, I don't care what anybody says. I predict there's going to

settlement. There, you see, you guys, if I'm trying to tell you, Gordy knows

what he's talking about.

Of course, I'm the guy that predicted fair and warmer today, too.

Yes, sir.

Sit down, Mary.

You know what we are?

Well, we're, uh, we're, uh... Management.

When there's a strike, management is expected to report to work. Then you do

think there'll be a strike, huh? I'm not saying that.

But I remember the first time I had to cross a picket line.

Like you're going to sue me.

I felt rotten.

They were all my friends.

Guys I'd spent long hours with.

They were booing.

Swearing at me.

Well, I had to do it. Was that the big television strike in 61?

No, that was a big bartender strike in 59.

Come on in, Rona.

I come bearing food.

Good. I am starved. What'd you bring?

What kind you got?

Oh, Waldorf. You know, raisins, nuts, apples.

Good. Yours will be dessert.

Hey, Mayor, I see where there's going to be a strike down at your station.

No, it's not definite.

It's more definite than you think. I was down picking up window display cards at

the sign shop, and they were working on the picket signs.

Oh, boy. I'm going to feel terrible crossing a picket line with Gordy and

in it. You're going to cross a picket line?

Well, yeah, I have to. to. I'm management.

What's that?

You're the first management person anyone in my family has ever socialized

Really? I mean it, Mayor. You are the bad guys.

Thanks. No, it's true. I come from a long line of labor.

The only person in management my father could tolerate was Casey Stengel.

jokes, but when I have to cross that ticket line, believe me, it's not going

be any fun. Hey, look, Mary, I'm sorry. I know it isn't funny to you, and it's

not going to be pleasant what you've got to do, but life isn't easy when you're

a dirty, rotten scab.

Well, wouldn't you think we'd have heard by now if the strike was on or off?

It's on, Mary. I know it's on. There's no use kidding ourselves.

I mean, I've been through this before, and I know what it's like.

In fact, I'm glad I... I was in that big strike in 61.

But now, I don't care if there's a strike or not. This time, I am prepared.

We're on strike.

No, no.

What am I going to do?

Mary, look, I have house payments. The kid needs braces. I just bought a new

car. I don't know what I'm going to do. A long strike will wipe me out. Oh,

Murray, I'm sure it won't be a long one.

Hi, guys. What's happening? They're on strike.

Here's the wire story.

Why are we always the heavies? It's always management's offers, but union's

demands.

you about the weather, Gordo. I'll cover that base for you.

Ted, how are you going to know what the weather's going to be? You'll tell me.

I'll be picketing outside.

Well, that's perfect. You know exactly what the weather's like.

Boy, you're a happy man, aren't you, Ted? Sure.

I'm not going to be out of a job like... I mean... We want you to know that

we in management wish you fellas the best of luck.

Right, Lou?

What am I then?

You want to take it, Lou?

No, it's too easy.

Ted, what are you doing standing around here? You're on the air in ten seconds.

Never fear, Lewis. When you've been doing this as long as I have, you'll

to play it right down to the wire.

All right, guys, we're all leaving now.

Murray! No, no, I'm right in the middle of this strike bulletin.

Who's late? You're on...

Bill, get the message.

So long, Lou. So long.

Come on, guys, this is all. Bye, Mary. Lou.

Well, Lou, I guess this is it.

Take care of yourself.

Well, Mary.

Hey, look, Murray, I'm sure they'll... Mary, it's happened.

Let's just hope it's not for long, huh? Oh, Gordy, I'm sure it won't be. I'm

sure. We'll see you.

Hey, good luck, guys.

Here we are.

The six o 'clock news team.

Plus, Ted.

I've just been handed this bulletin.

Here in the Twin Cities, negotiations broke down between the Association of

Independent Television Stations and the television newswriters.

The strike is now official, having begun just moments ago.

Though union leaders are meeting at this moment with representatives of...

moments ago, here in the Twin Cities, where negotiations broke down just

ago.

Repeating that story.

Mary, I think he's stuck.

Would you go out there and nudge him into the next story?

I'd do it, but I'm afraid I'd nudge him into the next building.

What do you say, management?

Well, you were right, Mr. Grant.

You said crossing a picket line wasn't going to be any fun.

Did I give you a hard time?

Well, I started to cross the picket line, and some guy from another station

started to make a couple of smart remarks, so Gordy told him to shut up,

wouldn't, so Gordy went after him, and... Well, I just wanted to prepare

Prepare me for what?

Well, when Gordy went after him, he handed me his picket sign.

So? So, there was a newspaper photographer there, and there may be a

shot of me in tomorrow's paper holding a sign that says, you stink.

Those ticket lines.

Yeah, what happened? They rough you up? No, I got dirty going up the fire

escape.

You climb nine floors up the fire escape?

Ten, really. I lost count and overshot.

look at it this way. On your way down, there's very little chance that you can

overshoot the ground floor.

I don't know. It'll be pretty dark out there.

Oh, say, Lois, about the show tonight, I'd just as soon not wing it again.

Are you going to write the news?

No, Mary is.

I am? Oh, really?

How great for you. What a terrific opportunity. I just know you're going to

crackerjack job.

Lou, talk to you in a minute.

Lou, what are we doing here? That girl's no news writer.

Ted, it all balances out.

Mr. Grant, I agree with Ted. Why don't you write the news? I agree with Mary.

Well, I'd like to. But it's settled. But I can't. The technicians just walked

out in support of the news writers. I'm going to be number two cameraman on the

Chuckles the Clown show.

Who's more important, me or some dumb clown?

Hmm.

Yes, yes, I'll tell him. Thank you.

Astra is honoring the picket line, too.

Oh, who's he?

Ted, Astra is your union, the American Federation of Television and Radio

Artists. Artists? I've never drawn a picture in my life.

I'm no artist.

Ted, the point is, you are going on strike, too. You mean I won't be

tonight? Nope.

You mean the show's not going to be on tonight?

They're going to have to get someone to replace you. But they can't do that.

I never even wanted to join a union.

I'm an individualist. The union's never done anything for me.

I mean, they just can't do it. Well, Ted, they've done it, and there's

you can do about it.

I can complain to my union.

Newsroom. Just a minute, please. Mr. Grant's for you. Say, Mary, I can do it

you don't tell anyone. No, Ted.

Yes, I can put on a mustache.

Ted, they'd recognize your voice.

I'll talk funny.

Who are we going to get, Mr. Grant?

Well, whoever it is that can't use my blazer. It wouldn't matter, Ted.

It won't fit the person who's filling in for you anyway.

Oh, no.

Oh, Mr. Grant.

Hey, you don't mean it. It's going to be... No.

Oh. Well, who then?

Me.

The measure to lower the legal drinking age is now before the legislature where

the 18 -year -old bill is not expected to pass.

Hi.

Mr. Grant, why aren't you in makeup? You go on in just a few minutes.

I didn't have time. Remember, I had to do camera on the Chuckles the Clown

Who did they get to replace Chuckles? His producer.

Boy, you know, I just, I can't picture Herb Bernstein in a clown suit.

I've been looking at him for a half hour and I still can't picture him.

You don't have to go out in the air and make a fool of yourself.

I don't want to talk about it.

Let's see what you've been doing here.

Mr.

Grant, are you a little bit nervous?

No, why?

If I had to talk to more than six people at a time.

Here, feel him.

Well, that's... Feel him!

Have you ever felt clammy your hands in that?

And those are just my hands.

Can you imagine what the rest of me is like?

I'm just one big...

I don't want to talk about it. Let's go over this.

Some of it might need a little punching up, but, you know, I think on the whole

you'll find it pretty readable.

This isn't the story.

It's the world's longest sentence.

Doesn't that typewriter have any periods?

You think it's a little long?

The wind and water swept victims of the tidal wave.

looked stoically upon the flooded remains of their town and stood in

at nature's rage as the evacuation continued with local schoolhouses used

Cross centers.

Well, I was just trying to make it interesting.

Mary, a tidal wave is pretty interesting all by itself.

It doesn't need your help.

That was my best story.

Your best story?

My hair just went clammy.

The measure to lower the legal drinking age is now before the legislature, where

the 18 -year -old bill is not expected to pass. Ah, that's all wrong.

It sounds like the bill is a...

the news for me. No chance, Lou. I'm already doing four shows.

Mr. Grant, you're going to be just fine, just fine. Just go in there and be

natural and remember to smile.

You can't have both things, Mary.

Look, I'll have that legislature story for you before the end of the show. I'll

never make it to the end of the show.

Mr. Grant!

For those of you who are not aware of it, we are in the midst of a strike.

So management personnel have been filling in for the striking performers.

Now for the 6 o 'clock news.

Substituting for Ted Baxter, Lou Grant.

blue ground within six o 'clock news.

The news headlines tonight.

Lawmakers in St. Paul.

Tonight, of course, a long debate at Texas.

Majority leader, Cat Olson.

There's the most comprehensive.

The sound boom came down in the picture. Lou looked like he was going to bite

it.

His hand was shaking so hard.

He looked like he was fanning himself with the carpet.

And how about when he burped?

Two scotches, Harry.

Harry, you want anything?

You guys caught me on the air, huh?

What do you mean?

Did you take Ted's place or something?

No kidding.

How'd it go?

What about you, Mary? Are you laughing at the situation, too?

We're not laughing at you, Mr. Grant.

We are laughing at... With you.

But, Mary, I'm not laughing.

I've got to do it all over again tomorrow night.

Okay, guys, I've got this whole thing worked out. Mary Lou... You can listen

this, too. Shove over, Gordy.

You want to sign this, Gordo? It's a petition. I've got the perfect

to end this strike.

This I got to hear. What is it, Ted?

Simply this, that your union accepts management's offer. Ted, management's

is no pension plan, no health insurance, and a cut in pay.

It's only a small cut.

No chance, Ted. How about a drink, Mr. Baxter?

Are you kidding, Paul? I'm out of work. I can't afford it.

I'll buy you a drink.

A double scotch and a creme de menthe frappe.

Paul, give me one of those hard -boiled eggs, too, will you?

Boy, suddenly I feel so relaxed.

Look, no clams.

I'm a big cucumber, cool and dry.

I sure wish I could do the news now.

I saw you do the news, Lou.

You were terrible.

I know.

That's because I made a mistake.

What's that, Lou? I started drinking after the show.

how you feel about your authority in the newsroom, and I would do nothing to

circumvent that... Mr.

Grant!

Now, what did you want to say, Mary? Mr. Grant, you are in no condition to do

the news tonight.

No, no, no, no, no, no.

I was in no condition to do the news last night.

But tonight... Tonight, I'm beautiful.

phone to go on.

Thank you.

Mr. Grant, what I mean is I can't let you.

Can't let me what?

Go on.

What? Due to the fact that you are not in possession of your faculties, I am

taking charge of the newsroom.

As long as you're in charge, would you help me out with my coat?

not let you pass.

Okay, go ahead.

Go on.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. This is Lou Grant with the 6 o 'clock news.

Quints were born in Caracas, Venezuela.

New tariff talks in Geneva and a new highway for the Twin Cities.

This is Estelle Arandiera.

month is expected to go to jury sometime next week.

I'll be back with a wrap -up of the late news headlines and the weather for the

Twin Cities after this message.

Blyest is my secret.

How am I doing? Oh, Mr. Grant, you're great.

You're so cool and professional.

Thank you. Where are you going?

I'm going in to get a little more professional.

substituting for Ted Baxter and the news.

The news isn't too bad tonight.

Drink it, Mr. Grant. It'll make you feel better.

I, uh... Lou, Mary, have you heard the news?

The strike is over.

Oh, that's terrific, Mr. Grant. Did you hear that? I heard, I heard.

Boy, I feel so good, I think I'll celebrate.

Harry, drinks for everyone on me.