All language subtitles for Lou Grant s04e17 Business

Hello, I'm calling from the trip. I'd
like to... How much money was it? It was

over $1 ,000.

Was it over $10 ,000?

the airport. How's it look? A mess in
there, Mr. Davis. A real mess.

What about injuries? Radio said two men
were hurt? Yeah, second degree burns.

Too early to tell.

They were within ten feet from the
blast.

Oh.

Any idea what caused it? Not yet.

I was in New York.

Well, nobody ended the week.

Damn.

It's probably going to be all over the
six o 'clock news.

Keep me up to date on those two men.

Will do.

Rossi, back off, will you?

Please?

A little more?

Thanks. Let's go.

I guess we better talk to these people,
huh? Look, I understand these guys. Let

me handle them. That's what you're
paying me for. Okay, thanks, Rick. See

get what they need, I'll check out the
damage.

Ah, Rick Haven, media liaison for
electronics.

Joe Rossi, trivia.

I'll call us in, I'll meet you at the
car. Be there in a minute.

Give a damage estimate yet? Place looks
pretty well gutted. Fire department

estimates loss at over a million. Oh,
yeah, I'd say it's more than that.

How much more?

Well, I really couldn't say until the
insurance boys go through it. Just a

ballpark figure.

I really couldn't say. I mean, there's
too many factors to consider. Unit swaps

and productions, how much gear is
salvageable, how much we'll lose

upon how long we're shut down.

The division handles stereo components,
is that right?

Yeah, that's correct.

But calotronic is highly diversified, so
it shouldn't be too badly hurt by this.

Do you have the ID on the injured
workers?

Well, we're trying to notify the family
first, you understand.

You'll get to them first. The story
doesn't come out in the streets until

tomorrow.

Look, I can always check with the
hospital for the name. I'm sure you can.

Look, if you need anything else, don't
hesitate to call.

Oh, and say hi to Adam Wilkins for me. I
helped him out in the story not too

long ago. He should be able to give you
all the background on what you need.

Nice talking to you, Joe.

Hi, Billy.

Hi, Hal.

Working on anything interesting?

I've got the dumb story about a parrot.

You run out of new column ideas?

I ran out of new column ideas in June,
1963.

How about an African grey at the animal
shelter?

Nobody wants him because the only things
he says are words we can't print.

A dumb parrot.

And I must have done a dozen columns on
obscenity.

Sounds like my kind of bird, though.
Thanks anyway.

wrote a funny story? His expense
account.

I love how the only conferences he goes
to are at Flesh Resort.

He even puts ski lessons down.

His most creative writing goes into his
expense account.

Say this.

I need more time, Lou. I'm getting
stonewalled.

You've got the story, haven't you?
What's the big deal about a fire?

I have a funny feeling about these guys.
Rick Havens is their flat. I never

trusted him to be covered business to
Channel 10.

Do you think they're trying to hide
something?

These big companies are always hiding
something. I think there's more to it

just a simple fire, or they wouldn't be
so evasive. I can't even get the names

of the guys in.

Okay, send Animo back in.

And stick with it. You can take a cab
back.

Billy, what are you working on?

Dirty old parrots that deserve to be
locked up. It'll keep. Check the clips

Calectonics Industries. See what you can
find on the fire they had at the plant

today.

Did you find anything yet?

You know as much as we do at this point.

An explosion in the assembly area and
the whole building was involved in

minutes.

That's it?

It was one hell of an explosion.

Very scientific.

Come on, Richardson. Your unit doesn't
usually show up unless it's a

of ours.

Just routine, Joe. It may not be ours.

When you say it may not be, do you
mean... Forget it, Joe.

I know what you're trying to do. I'm
trying to do a story is what I'm trying

do. Look, I'll file a report soon.

If I make an extra copy for you, will
you stop shadowing me?

I'm not trying to shadow you.

Hey, Richardson, how about a lift
downtown?

Keep me informed on the buyer stuff. It
looks like it's the only thing we have

to lead with.

Right. I'll see you two back any minute.
Yeah.

Charlie.

Yeah.

I'm a little dry on column material.

I need to jet.

There's new stuff going on all the time.
What's your problem?

You've been writing a daily column as
long as I have. Nothing's new.

Have you tried just relaxing?

And giving the thoughts from your
subconscious a chance to bubble up.

I don't want to hear from my
subconscious.

What did you do, Rossi? Cover the fire
or

fight it?

That's nice. I ruined a brand new pair
of shoes vlogging around for a story,

that's the thanks I get.

It's amazing how whenever a reporter
ruins a pair of shoes covering an

assignment, they always pan down.

I got enough for a fire story, but I
know there's more there. I just don't

these big companies.

Well, good reason.

What'd you find on the clip, Billy?

Very dapper. You must have a date.

It's just one item on the plant itself.

Last year, the fire department cited
Calatronics for 12 safety violations.

I knew they were hiding something.

There's an article from a month ago
about a Lester Sorensen.

He was general manager of the company
for years, and then he just up and quit.

It took everybody by surprise because
he'd just been named the company's

president. It says here a Russell
Davidson took his place.

From the young hot shot out of New York.
Adam did the story. It's a little

uncooked. Figures.

Adam, what can you tell us about
Calectronics and this Davidson thing?

like you wrote this story from a press
release.

Hold on a minute. Who I built this for?
I'm talking to everybody I could.

If you look, you'll notice we were the
only paper that had the story of

Davidson's appointment before it
happened.

Okay, but why did it happen?

As near as I can tell, the old man,
Sorenson, wanted to retire.

It's just a case of a company deciding
to go with young leadership.

What do we really know about Cal
Electronics?

Well, they used to be a pretty healthy
company.

Imports have cut their share of the
market, but their management is stable,

reasonably progressive.

I get the picture. You never met a
company you didn't like, right?

According to the clip, the plant was set
up for 12 safety violations last year.

What about that?

Yeah. Could this be a convenient fire or
the result of negligence?

Oh, I doubt it.

Cal Electronics has always been a pretty
straight outfit.

Okay. Billy, contact the company. Get an
interview with Davidson.

Rossi, we'll go with what you've got,
but follow up on it. I knew we'd find

something on these guys.

Rossi, you see conspiracies everywhere.

Yeah, and sometimes I find them.

and bring this up in front of everybody
else, but your story on a change of

command wasn't very complete.

I got what I could.

The prime rate was going through the
roof. I had all those stories on how the

election would affect business.

How about the old guy who retired,
Sorensen?

Sorensen was gone. The new guy hadn't
come in yet.

Lou, I don't always have time to be as
thorough as I'd like to be.

We did elect a new president, remember?

Big kid, used to live in the Palisades.

If you want me to go back and get more,
I'll go back and get more.

No, that's okay.

Bossy and Billy can handle it. We have a
lot to do.

Whatever you say.

Lou Grant will continue in a moment here
on A &E.

In a company this size, everything can't
filter through this office. It has to

be split up. You mean decentralized,
free the slaves. Right.

By the first of the month, I want to
break the company up into four

each with its own general manager.

Yes.

Ask her to wait a minute, please.

What?

Sorry to break this up, but I promised
to talk to a reporter from the trip

the fire.

We don't have much to tell yet. We
haven't gotten the investigator's

Then I'll just tell her the truth.

Why don't you let me take this?

I don't trust reporters from the trib,
especially after the shot that Guy Rossi

took at us.

Well, give her what you can. We still
can't afford to alienate the press.

Hello, Ms. Newman. I'm Russell Davidson.

This is Rick Haydens in charge of
communications. Hi. Pleased to meet you.

sorry about the circumstance.

Yes. I've had a meeting come up that I
just can't avoid, and Rick here can give

you whatever you need. Use my office. I
hope you can come back when we have more

time.

Of course.

Well, shall we?

Well,

would you like some coffee?

No, thanks.

How can I help?

Do you have a cause of the fire yet?

We expect a report tomorrow.

When is your deadline? Oh, I need it by
six tonight.

Oh, why don't you give me a call then? I
may have something for you.

Oh, by the way, I have the names and
medical reports on those two workers.

Thank you. We already got the details
from the hospital.

You know, I was really disappointed in
Mr. Rossi's story. The safety violations

were a cheap shot.

Couldn't they have caused the fire?

No way. I mean, they were all minor, and
we corrected them immediately at the

time. I'll tell him.

Is the fire a serious setback?

When do you expect to resume production?

We don't know yet.

Have you been covering business long,
Miss Newman?

Actually, I'm a general assignment
reporter.

I see.

The manufacture of stereo components is
only one of the things that we do.

Calectronics is into fiber optics, solar
applications. I'm sure that's the case.

But getting back to the fire itself,
there's a question of possible

Or some might see it as beneficial.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait a minute. I mean,
that's an unfair accusation. I suggest

you wait till the full report is out.

Okay, what can you give me on the damage
estimate?

Nothing yet.

We don't know how much equipment needs
replacing.

You're not being very helpful, Mr.

Havens. I'm afraid Calectronics is going
to look bad in our story.

I can't give you what I don't have.

Why did Mr.

Sorensen resign?

I went over all that with Adam Wilson.

Mr. Sorensen retired for personal
reasons.

He wanted to enjoy life.

Some people do.

I guess I couldn't do it here.

What about the injured workers? They
should know what happened.

I tried to contact them. They refused to
talk to the press.

That's interesting.

It's not that I doubt you on this, but
we just have to be very sure. Do you

a chance to read Billy's story?

I think it'll cause trouble. It implies
the company is being secretive. The

company is being secretive. We're saying
we have nothing new on the cause of the

fire, nothing new on Sorensen's
resignation.

Why don't we just wait until we have
something?

Because it's news, Adam. It's
perishable. So is the company's

And what about this?

The company denied that negligence was a
possible cause, claiming that safety

violations had been corrected.

It's accurate.

It's slanted. Okay, that's enough.

We'll go with the story. It's
misleading.

We'll go with it.

After you read it to them and give
Kelektronik the chance to respond.

Fair?

But it's important that I speak with Mr.
Halen.

Right.

He's still in the same meeting?

Well, has he gotten my other messages?

He has.

Well, that's all I needed to know. Thank
you.

Any luck?

I called three times. He's ducking me.

Then he's out.

He's in. He got his message.

Okay. Let's go to what we've got.
They've had their chance.

Good morning.

For you, maybe. I already got a call
from Rick Haven at home at 6 .30.

He's unhappy.

Should have called yesterday.

Ed, it's Dan.

Don't worry. The more they complain, the
more we know we're on the right track.

You could be wrong on this.

Negligence is still a possible cause of
the fire until there's evidence to the

contrary. Excuse me. Joe, this just came
by messenger. It might be important.

Thanks, Leon. It's a report from my
awesome investigator brother.

It was an accident.

The explosion was caused by ruptured gas
mains which were weakened by recent

load repairs.

According to this, the city is
responsible.

The electronics is in the clear.

Lou Grant will continue in a moment here
on A &E.

This will be in the courts for years.

Maybe somebody in the company got to the
investigator.

I thought he was your buddy.

Yeah, up to a point.

It just kills you to find out that big
business isn't guilty of something, does

it? Come on, the story's over. Admit you
were wrong.

I'm still not satisfied with the way the
company's handling this.

Billy, I guess you better start working
on your correction.

Correction? The story was right as far
as I knew at the time. This report is

just new information.

I don't care what you call it. I just
think you better start working on it.

Possibly see if you can get to Sorenson.

Trying to find out why a man retires
five minutes after he's named company

president.

Anything interesting coming in off the
wire?

This is interesting.

Tension mounting in his track at Red
Canyon Paper Mills up north.

Yeah? So?

Well, that's one of the mills that the
trivia announced.

Want to put it on the budget?

No, bother.

Who cares about a fiddly little labor
dispute more than a thousand miles away?

Another one of Adam's expense accounts?

No, it's Al Henniker's column. He tells
of an environmental rally protesting a

power plant left a half a ton of garbage
littering the park.

Funny stuff.

Jimmy, I can use a laugh.

Okay if I join you?

Oh, sure. Oh, thanks for the
advertising.

Well, sometimes you make it a little
sticky for us, but we do okay.

What do you mean sticky?

Well, I don't mean to make a big deal
out of it.

But a lot of people seem to feel that
the Trib has been running roughshod over

Cal Electronics.

We just report the news, Maris. We don't
make it. Well, I'm not looking for a

fine. But what gives?

I mean, the company spends a lot of
money with us.

They've been a major employer around
here for nearly 30 years.

Oh, I see.

You think we should give special
treatment to the people who support the

You'd rather we give special treatment
to people who oppose the Trib. If that's

what it takes to be fair, yeah.

Our news columns aren't for sale.

We gave Cal Electronics plenty of
chances to tell their side of the story.

I think what we did to that company
stinks.

Write a letter to the editor.

I wonder if the trip could take the kind
of investigation we dish out.

You can bet on it, Maris.

So whenever I take on a new position,
I'm reminded of that classic proverb

Vietnam.

The light at the end of the tunnel is
probably the headlamp of an oncoming

train.

Would it be an intrusion?

I'm glad to see you two enjoying
yourselves. We are.

But let's hit the trail line.

To tell you the truth, Russell and I
have been so busy talking, we've not

gone beyond first names.

Oh, I'm sorry, Margaret. This is Russell
Davidson.

I've known his family since New York.

Margaret, attention.

Russell's just taken over Calectronics.

It's keeping me busy. What do you do,
Margaret?

Oh, Margaret delivers newspapers for a
living.

Well, she must have a good route.

Actually, she owns the Tribune.

Oh, hi.

I'm glad we met.

But I do think the Tribune is a fine
newspaper. What I don't understand is

it insists on picking on big
corporations.

Big corporations can take care of
themselves.

I knew it was a good idea bringing you
two together.

Actually, I don't think the Tribune
picks on anybody.

Undeservedly. Well, maybe I'm being
sensitive, but you do run many pieces

criticizing business, and the Tribune
itself is one of the biggest

in California.

Our financial reporters treat the
Tribune Corporation the same way they

any other large business.

Really?

I understand there's a bitter strike
involving one of your paper mills in

Washington. I've seen nothing on it in
the Tribune. Well, I don't... think

people are interested in a labor dispute
that far away from home.

How is it the Times ran a story on it?

The same with one of the TV stations.
They obviously feel people are

That's so.

Margaret, come on, you guys.

Let's talk about something non
-controversial, like bussing.

Gentlemen, have we been fair?

Or has the Tribune gone too far in its
coverage of the Calectronics fire?

You can see we gave good play to the
story, denying that the fire may have

caused by negligence. That should
satisfy them.

I'm not so sure.

They have only themselves to blame.

The way they handle things after the
fire, refusing to cooperate, give out

information, they act guilty.

Right. When things go wrong, it's easier
to blame the press instead of

themselves.

Excuse me.

Yes.

I'll take it.

This shouldn't take long.

This is Margaret Pinchon.

I see.

The truck drivers, too?

Well, have we been able to get any paper
out at all?

I understand.

We're going to have to make other
arrangements before the strike spreads.

Call me again when you have some
cheerful news.

Come on, Adam.

I know you didn't buy me lunch just to
find out about my family.

I want to know about Cal Electronics.

So that's it.

Tribbs slapped him around pretty good,
I'd say.

How come I haven't seen your byline?

You might say I've been slapped around a
bit myself.

Well, why ask me about Cal Electronics?
I work for Braswell.

Cal Electronics tried to buy Braswell a
couple of years ago.

And they had to have passed on a lot of
internal information to you.

That isn't stuff we can just give out.

What do you want it?

You looking to pin something on him?

No, not really.

I don't like a lot of stuff that's
disappeared in the trip either, but if

going to argue about it, I need some
ammunition.

You help?

We had to return all that background
information.

Are you trying to tell me you didn't
make copies?

Only about three file drawers full.
They're in my office.

Am I going to get to see them?

I suppose so.

But you're sure getting a lot to an ice
cream cone.

It's imaginative, but I'm not sure the
banks will go for it, especially with

media on our backs. Well, I think we
ought to fight fire with fire. We ought

start our own ad campaign.

I don't think that'll help us get a
loan. Well, something has to, because

without the banks, we can kiss the
consumer products division goodbye.

We'd have to sell.

I don't want to do that. Well, let's not
forget those guys from the National

News Watch show. They want an interview.
We could use it to our advantage.

I want to think more about that.

I'm not sure you're ever at an advantage
when it's their show.

Russell, you turn them down and you've
got 30 million people hearing

saying, no comment.

That could sound sinister.

Yes.

I'll be right there.

Gentlemen, you're going to have to
excuse me for a few minutes. I really

talk to this lady from the tribunes.

Hello, Miss Newman. Please come in.

Thank you.

Oh, hi again.

If you need me, I'll be in my office.
Okay.

Dylan.

except New York.

Sit down, please.

To be honest, Mr. Davidson, I wasn't
sure I'd be welcome.

I think we got off on the wrong foot.

Let's start over, and this time I'll
answer any questions you have.

Fair enough.

Why don't we begin by you explaining
your position as you see it.

What is the biggest problem you face?

Age.

No. Not me. Not yet, anyway.

plants are old.

Out of step with the times.

That's not just us either. The same goes
for American industry in general. The

plants that taught the world how to
produce are ready for the scrap heap.

Excuse me.

Yes.

Would you mind waiting outside tonight?

Oh, no problem.

Davidson here.

to hear it straight.

You're sure you've checked all the major
lenders?

No, I know the publicity hasn't helped.

I think you've summed it up rather well.

Thank you.

Send Miss Newman back in.

I just have a few more questions.

Um, does your progressive approach to
running this business have anything to

with Mr. Sorensen's retirement?

Sort of a change in corporate thinking?

My hiring has nothing to do with Mr.

Sorensen. We try to explain things to
you, and you insist on coming back with

the same suspicions.

I didn't mean it that way. I just...
Look, I'm sorry.

Something's come up. Can we do this
another time? I just need another

You've had too many minutes already.

We lost the damn loan.

You were right. The only defense against
the press is a good offense.

So call the national news watch people
and tell them we'll do the interview.

Then get in here. We've got work to do.

Lou Grant will continue in a moment here
on A &E.

Remember, take your time, but try and
keep your answers short.

I'll be okay. I think we've gone over
every possible question he could ask.

Just try to relax, Mr. Davidson.

Take all the time you want. Make your
answers as long as you like.

Film's cheap. Besides that, we're paying
for it.

I'm ready when you are, Gary.

weather we're having.

Not bad.

Could be a lot worse.

I used to live in New Jersey.

It's a lot better than the winters in
New Jersey.

I used to travel back east a lot before
I retired.

Dreadful weather this time of year.

Except Christmas.

I always loved New York during
Christmas.

Me too.

I'm Joe Rossi.

Lester Thornton.

I'm with the Los Angeles Tribune.

Can I talk to you a minute?

I assume it's not about the weather.

No.

No. Would you mind telling me why you
left Cal Electronics?

That's none of your business.

Mr. Sorensen, we heard the company had
some financial difficulties. Were they

using you as a scapegoat? I have no
comment, Mr. Rossi.

Come on back.

Mr. Davidson, you're an expert.

You're a highly qualified man.

Tell us, where's the basic problem with
American business?

Our plants are outdated.

Without modernization, we're dead in the
world market.

But other countries have managed to
modernize.

Germany, Japan, for instance.

Well, after World War II, they rebuilt
their industries from the ground up.

So you're saying, in effect, that they
won the war, Germany and Japan?

Well, the industrial war.

With our help, yes.

Let's pretend for a moment that...

You are not the president of Cal
Electronics, but you have a chance to

Would you do it?

The price were right.

I think I'd be delighted to buy Cal
Electronics.

Really?

A corporation that's just posted
staggering losses?

A corporation whose equipment is
hopelessly outdated?

We're talking about a company that's
just had a disastrous fire.

It's been cited by the fire department
for a dozen safety violations.

Gary, those accusations are misleading.

And you've been losing ground to the
imports.

Now, how do we know that Cal Electronics
won't just belly up in a year?

Well, don't sell Cal Electronics short.
We're making a strong comeback, and we

fully intend to become a leader in our
field again.

Is this part of your comeback?

As you can see, we've set up two stereo
amplifiers.

They seem almost identical in every
detail, but one is made by your company,

other's from Japan. Now, what is the
real difference?

Well, the Japanese stereo doesn't have
the same high -range capabilities.

But it sells for $60 less.

Well, we can't touch that price, but you
get what you pay for.

With theirs, you pay a lot less.

Now, why is that?

They have the support of their
government, and they're willing to sell

.S. at a loss for years if necessary to
create demand.

Is the high cost of U .S. labor a major
part of the blame?

U .S. workers earn the highest wages in
the world.

They also deserve them.

But labor always wants more money.

And why not?

Inflation hits the workers harder than
the guys in the boardroom.

We've got a problem. What?

This is a newsletter for utility
companies.

Funny article about environmentalists
who left half a ton of litter at a rally

against a power plant.

Does that sound familiar?

So, Hal sold a freelance piece on his
column.

So what?

This is the pre -written column that
they send out to the weekly shoppers and

throwaways.

Come here a minute.

I'm late, Lou. Can I wait?

Now!

What's the problem?

You're the problem.

You took a prepackaged column written by
a power company publicist and ran it

under your byline.

Okay, so it's a big deal.

It was a press release and I released
it. We pay you to write, not open mail.

can't use every piece the company sends
us.

I don't use every piece.

I'm very selective.

Then select your own ideas.

If that column you turned in for
tomorrow is another handout, you can

It's okay.

It's my own writing.

I just forgot to proof it.

I found Sorensen, but he won't talk. He
was very hostile.

He's not the only one.

Maybe he's hiding something.

Maybe the company paid him off and he
had to agree to silence.

Find out whatever it is.

A big company like that can't keep
secrets very long.

Adam, what do you got?

I got a good piece on Cal Electronics.

Another handout?

Not exactly.

But I got a look at a lot of their
record.

A few years back, one of their divisions
made components that apparently led to

several of their workers getting cancer.

Cancer? How many?

Maybe five.

They traced the cause back to a chemical
used in one stage of the manufacturing

and replaced it with a safe one. But
they never made it public? The workers

compensated, but I have memos warning of
the need for no publicity.

I wasn't on the budget. I'd like it for
first today.

I didn't think I'd have time to check
with them. I haven't been able to reach

Calectronics for a react.

Pay with it. I want it for tonight.

Luke? Thanks, Ralph.

Just an update on the strike at Red
Canyon Paper Mill. According to this,

strike may spread to other mills.

If it does, we'll take another look.

Yeah, that should do it.

And we also think there's a good
possibility that we can arrange a stock

Thanks.

So what do you think? You think the plan
will work? Of course it will work. You

don't need me to tell you that.

I'd value your opinion, Les. I wouldn't
be here without your help. Don't be so

quick to thank me.

You may live to regret taking the job.

Not.

chance. I'm serious.

Press has been hard on you, especially
the Tribune.

That negative publicity could wreck
everything you're trying to do.

I can handle the press. We've already
got a couple of things in the works.

worry about it. Well, I do worry about
it when I think how I'm responsible for

the company's nearly going under.

Les, it's not your fault. Of course it
is.

You know, a Tribune reporter tried to
interview me today.

I wouldn't talk to him, but maybe I
should.

It's time we explained why I left.

That was a fine story Adam cranked out
on the cancer victims at Cal

What sort of response have we had?

A lot of calls from readers wanting to
know more. People are afraid they've

exposed to the same chemicals.

I'd feel better if we could have gotten
a reaction from the company before we

ran with it.

Adam tried to reach him. They won't take
our calls.

That's their problem.

Hi, Glenn. Come on in. What do you got?

Trouble. Your personal copy?

Here's your reaction, Charlie.

Electronics taking out an ad in Madrid.

But it's not to sell stereo equipment.

It's to attack us.

It's so obvious they're looking for
revenge.

That's pretty expensive revenge.

They've scheduled an ad this size twice
a week for a solid month.

Maybe they figure they have nothing to
lose.

Maybe they figure they've got something
to gain like that loan they want.

Maybe it's the only way they can tell
their side of the story.

I'm warning you, Charlie. The way we've
treated that company is making a lot of

people in the business community
furious.

That's my problem, Glenn.

Not yours.

Fine, I'll transfer all the complaints
to you. You can explain our position.

I'm tired of apologizing for it.

Oh, you saw the ad.

Isn't it great?

You think that's great?

Yeah, they mentioned my name.

Must mean I have them scared.

No way it's a tribute.

Can I get this? Oh, be my guest.

Mr. Groff, have you seen this?

I figure they're trying to intimidate
us. You know, circumvent the press by

going directly to people.

This is not circumvention. It is not
even intimidation. This is an act of

Lou Grant will continue in a moment here
on A &E.

Cancer cover -up.

Calectronics workers hit.

This isn't a newspaper. It's a scandal
sheet. It's inexcusable. It's absolutely

inexcusable. Where could they have
gotten this? That's a good question.

going to take a long time to trace that
leak. It's a good thing you started the

ads today. It looks like we're fighting
back.

Yeah, you know what gets me? Is the
headline. The trip makes it sound like

thousands of our workers are involved
instead of just a few in one small

department. It's absolutely misleading.

Use that. Use that in the ads. Yeah,
I've already started a rough draft. Boy,

they are really getting arrogant. I
can't believe they didn't give us a

to respond.

Oh, they called.

called. One of the reporters called
after six, Adam Wilson. I got the

this morning when it was too late. The
real kicker is that there is not much we

can do. The facts are there, but
everything is slanted to put us in the

possible light. Sure, you run a
newspaper and you're home free. Run a

and you're a target.

Get me Margaret Pinchon at the Tribune.
If she's not in, find her.

This is Margaret Pinchon.

I want a meeting with you.

What a coincidence, Mr. Davidson,
because I certainly want to have a

with you.

But other countries have managed to
modernize.

Germany, Japan, for instance.

Yes, but after World War II, they
rebuilt their industries from the ground

Our plants are hopelessly outdated.
Without modernization, we're dead in the

world market.

Boy, they pissed him if that one could
knock that out of the park.

So, in a sense, you're saying that
they've won the war. With our help, yes.

They've chopped this up with editing. I
don't like it.

Mr. Davidson, let's pretend for a moment
that you are not the president of Cal

Electronics, but you have the chance to
buy it.

Now, would you do it?

I think if the price were right, I'd be
delighted to buy Cal Electronics.

He's really squirming.

You can just tell what a crook the guy
is. Look at him sweating.

He's put two under those lights.

Notice how they always show a much more
flattering shot of Hall.

Really?

A corporation that's just posted
staggering losses?

A corporation whose equipment is
hopelessly outdated?

Gary, those accusations are... It really
galls me to see him get away with this.

We're talking about a company that's
just had a disastrous fire.

They've been cited by the fire
department for a dozen safety

I think we're making a strong comeback,
and we have every intention of becoming

a leader in our field again. Is this
part of your comeback?

As you can see, we've set up two stereo
amplifiers.

They seem to be almost identical in
every detail.

But one was made by your company, and
the other's from Japan.

Now, what's the real difference?

The Japanese system doesn't have the
same high -range capabilities.

But it costs $60 less.

Well, we can't touch that price.

Is the high cost of U .S. labor a major
part of the problem?

U .S. workers earn the highest wages in
the world.

But labor always wants more money. And
why not?

This just came in, Luke. Figured you'd
want to see it. Thanks.

Something on the Davidson interview?

No, we've got our own troubles.

There's another big demonstration at the
Red Canyon paper mill.

Two men were killed in the melee.

I better call Mrs. Pinscher at home.

They're highly qualified.

Mr. Thornton, I was really surprised you
called.

I wanted to call you earlier.

Russell Davidson advised against it.

Somehow I'm not surprised.

Perhaps you will be.

Do you want to know why I left the
company, Mr. Ross?

I suspect by now you've imagined all
sorts of scenarios.

Political squeeze plays, scandals,
embezzlement.

We usually figure there's more to the
story than the company lets on.

A man doesn't spend a chunk of his life
moving up the ladder, get named

president, and suddenly retire.

You had a lot invested.

In all the wrong things.

So one day you just chucked it?

That's a little hard to buy.

Have you ever...

Come up against your own limitations.

What do you mean?

It happened at a board meeting.

One moment I found myself listening to a
report on the comparative costs of

model changeovers.

And the next, I found myself crying.

I didn't even know why it was happening
to me then.

The other board members didn't know what
to do.

The man reading the report was
embarrassed.

He just kept on reading.

I found myself feeling sorry for them.

But I could not stop crying.

I broke down after all.

Like an old, worn -out heart.

I understand.

Pressure's involved.

Why did they discard you?

No, you don't understand.

They wanted me back.

But I discovered I didn't need this in
my life anymore.

What do you need?

What will you do now?

I'll go back to work for the company.
But on a limited basis.

With less responsibility. Less pressure.

Why was the company so secretive? Why
didn't Davidson just explain what

to you and get it over with?

Because Russell Davidson is a decent
man.

Remember, tomorrow we have the suburbia
section, so deadlines are an hour early.

Plus, it's heading for page one.

We got that thing on the Red Canyon
strike.

I don't know.

A brief, maybe.

Come on, Charlie. Two deaths? The DA up
there is preparing murder charges?

I don't think we can ignore it. Not
unless we want to give Calectonic's ad

campaign more ammunition.

All right, we'll put it inside. Make
sure that the truck's ownership of the

is up near the lead. And hold it to 300
words.

What else?

Just one story from Metro you might
want.

Rossi's piece on Sorenson.

Analyzing the breakdown of a company and
a man.

Good piece.

Thorough and sympathetic.

Good enough for page one?

I think so.

And that's where it sits.

Below the floor.

Come in, gentlemen.

This is Mr.

Davidson.

He has some reservations about the
Sorensen article.

I don't have any reservations, Mrs.
Pinchon. I think it was unfair and cheap

destructive. Wait a second.

That story had a lot of relevance.

Why did it end up on page one? Because
it was humiliating gossip.

It was news when Sorensen joined
Calectronics.

It was news when his contributions added
to the success of the company. It was

news when he and the company got in
trouble. There is a difference between

reporting the news and sensationalizing
it. Mr. Davidson, a good newspaper tells

the reader who, what, where, when, and
why.

Unfortunately, Mr. Sorensen was the why,
which is the toughest part of any

story. Speaking of why...

Why have you downplayed this story about
violence at one of your own mills? We

have not downplayed that.

We ran a story today.

I noticed.

It's page 23.

The ad for tummy flatteners got better
position and more space.

It isn't exactly a local story.

Then why do you banner every development
in a strike in Poland half a world

away?

Two men died at Red Canyon Paper Mills,
which is only a thousand miles from

here, and owned by the Triff.

You're right.

It was a bad call.

First we ignored the story, then we
downplayed it.

Maybe we were too sensitive about our
own involvement to be really objective.

Oh.

When you make a mistake, it's a bad
call.

When we make one, you hang us out to
dry.

What am I supposed to do, call your
readers on the phone and say there was

error in the story? You guys try to
blame everything on the media.

Imports are threatening.

The quality of goods and services
deteriorates. You have national recalls.

And somehow it's our fault. Well, I
don't buy that.

I blame you for sacrificing accuracy for
speed, yes.

And what about that cancer story? You
made it seem as though all Calectronics

workers were affected, not just five.

Was the story accurate?

Gentlemen, please.

Are we here to discuss our problems or
to aggravate them?

Mr. Davidson, what do you want from us?

I want a little more consideration.

We're tired of constantly reading that
American business is second rate. That

we're riddled with inefficiency. You
print that often enough and you make it

come true.

We'll try to be sensitive to your needs.

But you'll be sensitive to ours.

You try to come up with the information
that we need. Don't duck us.

Don't treat us as though we were not
entitled to know.

And then we'll give you the benefit of
the doubt.

You work on being accurate, and we won't
need the benefit of the doubt.

I saw your memo about cutting Hal's
column down to twice a week. You got off

easy. You may be right.

Well, it gives me a chance to try out
something that I've been thinking about.

We're going to use guest columns
occasionally by leaders in business and

government industry.

Oh, let them have their views, huh?
Yeah.

What bothers me is I don't know if it's
a good idea or if I'm overreacting to

all that pressure from Cal Electronics,
you know, bending over backwards.

Relax.

I figure bending over backwards now and
then is pretty good exercise for a

newspaper.

Ladies and gentlemen of the press, I'll
try to make this brief.

Calectronics Industries is announcing
that it plans to sell its West Coast

Consumer Products Division.

This action is being taken to enable us
to retool to allow us to meet market

demands immediately.

Yes. Will the sale of the Consumer
Products Division cover the expansion

I wish. No.

We had to negotiate a $15 million loan.

And we expect to announce a new stock
issue to complete capitalization.

How will it feel to run a smaller
company than you used to?

I prefer to think of it as leaner,
tougher.

Can you give us the details on your new
loan? What did you use for collateral?

Well, there was my car.

And my mother's car.

And my mother.

The details are in your press kits,
which we have ready for you. Is this

conference indicative of a new candor
with regard to the press?

I hope so. We expect you to report the
news of our company fairly and with

insight to the public, and in return, if
you think we're ducking, you don't

hesitate to let us know.

I don't think I have to remind the
Tribune to do that, do I?

Thank you.

Well, Adam, what do you think?

You seem pretty forthright.

Answered all our questions without
trying to sidestep us.

I know. That's what I'm worried about.

His love life had the country talking.
Let's meet millionaire Donald Trump as

Wealth and Power Week continues on
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