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.

Good morning.

It's an advanced copy of an article in this week's Sunday Supplement about me.

Wow. A whole page.

Marie, did you see the spread on Sue Ann? Oh, yeah. But you don't notice it

much when she sits down.

This article has put me in such a good mood, I'm not going to bother to trade

insults with you about our respective physical shortcomings.

Is Lou in? Yes.

is.

What are you doing?

Just taking my lipstick, dear.

Murray, it says here Sue Ann makes $47 ,000 a year.

That's $2 ,000 more than I make. That's obscene. That's outrageous. She doesn't

deserve it. Ted, don't come to me for sympathy. You make twice as much as I

make. Murray, there's no place in this business for petty jealousy.

Hey, Sue Ann, that's really a great article.

Say, tell me, is it really all accurate, what they say here?

Well, not entirely. They did get a couple of things wrong. Uh -huh.

the part about the salary. Uh -huh.

I earn much more than that.

That's not fair, Murray.

Sue Ann makes more money than me.

I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm not a male chauvinist.

I think a woman should get paid what she's worth.

I just don't believe any woman is worth more than a man.

Good morning.

Mary, do you know what Sue Ann takes home every week?

Three sailors, a tree surgeon, and the boy in the mail room.

Mr. Grant, you know that story on organized crime in the Twin Cities you

us to do?

Yeah, what about it? Well, I think I have a lead. I met yesterday with a man

used to be involved with them. He's retired now.

Well, what'd he say?

Well, he didn't trust me at first. He said that the people in the news media

always giving a very negative view of what they do, you know, the bad things,

how they're always killing people.

He said just once, why don't you mention how many people we don't kill?

Anyway,

here's a summary of everything he told me. I think we have the makings of a

terrific documentary.

Hey, hey, this is great, Mary, great.

He told me something else that really disturbs me. What's that?

Well, he... said that they send a lot of people to medical school, law school,

pay their tuitions.

Oh, yeah, sure, sure.

It's an old story.

Then the mob's got a hold on them if they need them.

So what else is new?

Well, so what else is new is that he told me that one of the people they sent

law school about 15 years ago was, and boy, this is hard to believe, Brian

Nordquist.

Congressman Brian Nordquist? Yeah, I mean, it really shattered me. Why?

Because I know the man. I know his family. I went to college with his wife.

I mean, I really believe in him. I've worked in every one of his campaigns. I

just can't believe I misjudged someone like that. Oh, we all make mistakes,

Mary. I once voted for Miss Rheingold and found out later that she was a

impersonator.

And a darn good one, I might add.

It's funny.

I mean, if this should get out about Brian, it could ruin his whole political

career. What do you mean, if it gets out?

This is a great news story if it's true.

Oh, no.

No, no, Mr. Grant, what I told you was in confidence. That wasn't part of the

story.

Mary, it is now.

Mary, this is news the people have a right to know.

All right, all right.

Won't you at least owe it to Brian to get his side of it, a denial at least?

Okay, okay.

Set up a meeting.

I'll call him right now.

Says Sue Ann makes more money than I do.

So what?

You lied, Lou.

You went around telling everybody that I was the highest paid person here.

No, Ted, no. You got it wrong. I said you're the most overpaid person here.

Oh!

I knew it was something like that.

Just keep an open mind. Be fair.

See, I remember when Gail, that's his wife, and I were freshmen in college, he

really wanted to go out with Brian.

Even then, he was student body president.

Mary, will you stop with all the folklore about Brian Nordquist? I told

was going to be open -minded about this. I'm just trying to show you how honest

he's always been.

Anyway, they went out on their first date, and the car ran out of gas, way

in some isolated place.

But across the road, there was a construction site.

And Gail wanted him to siphon gas out of one of the tractors. So?

Brian wouldn't do it.

Instead, they waited in the cold for hours until help came.

Well, that really is admirable of a guy.

I mean, to prefer huddling in a car with a beautiful girl to sucking gasoline

through a window.

But you know by now about politicians.

What do you mean?

Professional charmers.

They can make you believe anything.

This guy will walk in here, and I'll say, Nice to meet you, Congressman. And

he'll say, Please, I insist.

Call me Brian.

And you'll say, Would you like a drink? And he'll say, No, thanks.

I'm campaigning.

Maybe a Coke.

Yeah.

Hi, Brian.

Good to see you.

Good to see you, too. Oh, Brian, I'd like you to meet my boss and friend, Lou

Grant. This is Congressman Brian Nordquist. Mr. Grant, call me Lou.

Okay, Lou.

I suppose you want me to call you Brian.

Well, as a matter of fact, I kind of like the sound of congressman, if you

mind. I worked so hard to get it.

I am campaigning you.

You better make that a double.

Gail says hello, Mary. She wanted to come tonight, but she has a meeting.

Oh? What kind of meeting?

PTA.

PTA.

How's little Billy?

Terrific. He's got the best batting average on his Little League team. Oh,

you hear that, Mr.

Grant? Little League.

And how's little Sharon?

Wonderful. Uh, she just joined the Girl Scouts. No.

And little Linda?

She's taking ballet.

Oh, and how's little Billy? You already asked about little Billy. Yeah, right,

right.

I think Lou'd probably like to get down to business.

I was thinking about it on the way over here tonight.

I don't know who your source is, Lou, but it would be his word against mine.

After 15 years, what could be proved, right?

Right, right. What could be proved? Well, what the hell? Why play games?

I was a slum kid. No money, no way in the world to get through college, law

school.

Had a buddy in high school.

Turned out his uncle was a part of the syndicate.

They offered, I took it.

And it's true.

But it's also very straightforward.

Mary,

did you ever pay it back?

It took me three years, but I did it. Can you prove it?

They don't take checks, Lou.

Did they ever come to you for favors, deals?

Once.

I said no, that was it.

Well, there you are.

Where are we?

You've got a story and I've got an election.

Now, you run the story. I might not win the election, so I'd rather you didn't.

But it's your decision.

I have to run. I've got a fundraiser in a few minutes.

Thanks for the drink, Mary.

So long, Lou.

Brian, thank you for stopping by. And thank you for clearing up what I'm sure

all agree was a very minor, very unimportant... I'm going to air it,

Congressman.

Mr. Grant.

I'm going to put it on.

Oh, but you can't. That's all right, Mary.

Lou, if I had your job, I think I'd do the same thing.

Would you mind telling me something?

How did you two find out about this whole thing?

It comes from a guy who used to be connected with a mob.

Mob, huh?

That's funny. I knew they robbed and killed and beat people up. I never knew

they gossiped.

Morning. Oh, hi.

How'd it go last night?

Oh, well, Ryan was fantastic. He explained away the whole thing

honestly. Mr. Grant says we're going to do the story anyway.

Why? Because he is stubborn, pig -headed, and obstinate.

Well, as long as Lou had a good reason.

Murray, I've never caught him on a story before, but I am going to fight him on

this one. And what's more, I'm going to whip him.

You're going to whip Lou Grant?

Ooh, need any help?

Lou Grant. The name comes trippingly to the tongue.

Oh, great, magnificent ogre, Lou Grant.

He, uh, called me last night.

I think he may have been drinking.

What makes you think that?

He called her, didn't he?

Sue Ann, do you ever think you might be a more attractive woman if you didn't

earn quite as much?

You just wait, Murray. When Mr. Grant walks through that door, I'm going to

my fight.

Oh, dear, sweetie.

Turnly optimistic, Mary.

Thinking she's going to win a fight with someone she calls Mr.

Grant. No, no, no. Sue Ann, I...

Mr. Grant because I want to, not because I feel I have to.

I started calling him Mr. Grant six years ago. It was comfortable then. It's

comfortable now. It's what I want to call him. It's what I'm going to call

Lou!

You talking to me?

Yes, Mr. Grant.

Could I talk to you, Lou?

No, it was about your friend, Nordquist.

Lou, you were so cute when you called me last night.

Oh, I called you by accident.

I didn't know it was your number written on the wall.

They say it doesn't pay to advertise.

Let's start on a Norquist story, Murray.

Murray, don't you write a thing until I discuss it with Lou.

All right.

All right.

To show you I'm still open -minded about all this, I'll hear you out. Go right

on in.

Wait it up.

You called me Lou again.

You mad at me?

No, I am not mad at you.

Why is it everyone else around here can call you Lou and not be accused of being

mad at you? I call you Lou and you think I'm mad.

Then you're not mad. You bet I am.

Listen, Mr. Grant, after you left last night, I did a great deal of soul

-searching, as I'm sure you did, too.

Soul -searching?

Mary. Any man who calls Sue Ann Nivens at 4 o 'clock in the morning isn't

searching for soul.

Whatever.

Did it ever occur to you, Mr. Grant, to take into account all the good Brian

Nordquist has done for this community and quite possibly in the future for

country? Yes, yes.

But it also occurred to me that it isn't our job to decide what's best for the

country. It's our job to put out the news and let the country decide.

No, we just got to talk about more money. Dad, you're not getting any more

money. Mr. Grant, you are doing a great injustice to a fine man.

My mind is made up.

But he is respected and admired by everybody in this city.

In this state. Yes, in this country.

I'm sorry.

Well, if you're going to let this happen, then I can't stand by and be a

to it. The case is closed, Mary.

Then I quit.

That's a real friend.

A real friend.

Say, now that Mary's off the payroll, maybe you can afford to give me that

raise.

No, I guess not.

Come on, Mayor. Calm down.

Cool it. Don't do anything in a hurry.

Marie, I am perfectly calm. But unless Mr. Grant relents, I go.

Come on, guys.

Lou's not going to break up the newsroom team just because he wouldn't give me a

raise. Oh, Ted, this has nothing to do with your raise.

Mary is quitting because she doesn't want to run a story that she feels can

the congressman's career.

You'd quit over a silly thing like that? You're wacko, Mary.

Murray, you've got the stuff on the Northwest story. Write it up for Ted. I

it to lead off the evening news.

Sure, Lou, sure. But I'm in the middle of a piece on hamster diseases.

And then I've got a human interest thing I have to do about this retired dentist

who's just completed a mural of Hubert Humphrey made entirely of old teeth.

But after that, Lou, I'll be very happy.

What is it?

Oh, look.

Hey, big fella.

Sure.

You know?

You follow me?

Sure you do.

Oh, you old son of a gun.

Well, you and me, I mean, the both of us, marry, Murray me.

Hey. Hey.

Hey.

Come on.

Son of a gun, what do you say?

Get out of here.

I tried.

What are you working on?

I'm preparing a list of things my replacement, she or he, should know

Mostly schedules, technical things like that. I sort of go into the philosophy

of working here. How it's necessary to eliminate any feelings of, well,

humanity.

Become a cog in an impersonal machine. Just grind it out, grind it out.

Unthinking, uncaring. All right, all right.

Lou, are you sure you want me to write this?

Forget it, Murray.

I'll write the story myself.

And read it on the air, too?

All right.

And a good, good evening.

This is Ted Baxter bringing you the evening news.

First in the headlines this evening is a fast -breaking election bulletin, which

we will bring you later on if we have time.

Now, Ted.

Oh, what the heck, we'll make time.

Congressman Brian Nordquist, three -term incumbent from Minneapolis and

candidate for re -election in tomorrow's primary, has admitted that his law

school education some 15 years ago was financed in large part by persons

believed to have ties with organized crime.

There's been no allegation of wrongdoing on the part of Congressman Nordquist,

who claims to have repaid the loan a number of years ago.

For an update on this story, stay tuned to this channel. I'm sorry, Mary, he

made me do it.

I don't have to be the director. Well,

nobody said when I took this job six years ago it was going to be permanent.

Maybe I've been here too long anyway.

Listen, Mary, I... That's all right. I understand, Mr. Grant. You made your

choice, and now I have to make my choice.

My resignation will be on your desk in the morning. Good night, Grant.

Mary? Good night, Mary.

Lou?

Lou, you're just going to let her go like that?

Don't worry, Mary. She'll think it over.

She'll be back. No, no, no, she won't, Lou. She's just as big a blockhead as

are. You better take that back, Murray.

All right, all right, you're right, Lou. Nobody's as big a blockhead as you are.

Okay, Lou, I did your dirty work.

Now do I get that raise?

Now, Ted, you are treating the most dedicated, caring person around here,

backbone of this whole operation, like dirt.

You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Lou.

And listen, if you don't change your mind, I may just hand in my resignation.

Did you hear that?

The good Lord has blessed me with many friends.

Not a damn one of them has any pull around here.

I just happened to be in the neighborhood.

Just happened to have a bottle with me.

You know.

Would you like a drink?

Champagne. I don't drink champagne.

Then why did you bring it?

Because you're not the kind of girl a guy brings a bottle of gin to.

Well, come in.

So, what are you up to?

I was just typing up my resignation.

Uh -huh.

How's it going?

Well, I'm having trouble with the salutation.

Oh, salutation.

I tried, dear Mr. Grant, but, you know, that sounds too... I mean, even though I

do call you Mr. Grant formal on paper, like I'm mad or hurt, you know, and I'm

not.

Yeah. Well, what's the other choice?

Well, I tried, dear Lou, Um, but, you know, when we were working together, I

always called you Mr. Grant. And now that we're not working together, I call

Dear Lou.

Uh,

I don't know.

Try it out loud.

Dear Lou.

It's not bad.

Try it again.

Dear Lou.

Sounds better all the time.

What else did you want to say?

Well, I don't know. I've never typed a resignation before.

I've just got a writer's block.

Sit down. I'll help you.

You will?

Oh, sure, sure, sure. Sit down.

Dear Lou.

Look all right?

Yeah, I guess so.

Whoever was right, whoever was wrong,

is not important.

What is important are the good times, the good feelings,

the respect, the affection.

That we had every day of these

last six years to get the job done.

To get the job done.

And to have fun doing it.

It's something very rare.

who have shared.

I hope we both keep this alive

and carry it with us wherever we go.

With these thoughts please

accept my resignation.

You really going to do this? Yes.

Why?

Because I have to.

Because I said I would.

I mean, what good is my word if I say I'm going to resign and then I don't?

What are you doing?

I can't. Except the resignation of someone who writes a beautiful letter

this.

Dear Lou.

See you tomorrow, Mary.

See you tomorrow, Mr. Grant.

Your friend Northquist's a hit by a mile.

You're kidding. After the story we did on him? Well, I guess the voters don't

care what a politician did then just as long as they like what he's doing now.

Well, more likely that nobody listens to Ted.

Okay, Lou.

We're going to have a showdown on the question of my raise. We're going to

it right now.

Hey, Ted, you hear the good news?

Mary isn't quitting.

Oh, that's nice.

How do I get that raise or not?

No, Ted, forget it.

Okay. I see how things work around here.

The only way to get results from you is by threats.

Now hear this.

Either I get that raise or I quit.

No raise. Very well, I quit.

Lou, did you hear what I said?

I quit.

Yeah, Ted, I heard you. You quit.

If I take a cut and pay, will you let me come back?