Original subtitles

Who can turn the world on with her smile?

Who can take a nothing date 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 I know

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

You're gonna make it after all.

Richards, you have no idea what great satisfaction we get from working on your

car. Why don't you wait here and we'll have your car for you in a few minutes.

Thank you. Yeah, any word on my car?

No, they're still trying to put it back together.

You know, the trouble with you is you always wait until something goes wrong

before you bring it in. Why don't you do what your friend does? She brings it in

every 3 ,000 miles.

She takes care of her car like she takes care of herself.

You should take care of your car like...

She takes care of herself.

Why do I have the terrible feeling he's going to have my body recalled?

It's embarrassing.

They always make that kind of fuss over me. Oh, it's better than sitting in the

back of the shop on a greasy 10 -gallon drum.

That's where they put me when I'm not with you.

Not so great up here, either.

I mean, do you ever notice how they always aim you right at the new cars?

Yeah. I think they do it just to tease you.

Oh, Rhoda, it's still here.

I love this little beauty.

Yes, it really is gorgeous, ma 'am.

Look, look how it stares at you. Those big, soulful headlines.

You know, you can almost hear it saying, I love you, take me home. Oh, I want

to, I want to.

But I can't.

Too much, huh? Oh, it has to be.

Ah, Mary, you mean you haven't even looked?

No. Oh, look at the price. If I can't have it, why look?

If I felt that way, I'd never go to a Paul Newman movie.

get behind the wheel, ma 'am. Huh?

Okay, I will.

Oh, Rhoda.

I gotta say, the two of you look terrific together.

Well, I feel a little ridiculous. I mean, what do I do now that I'm in back

the wheel? I don't know. Make engine noises.

Vroom, vroom.

I was just looking, really.

My car's being serviced, and I was just whiling away the time. Fine. If you need

me, I'll be over there.

Good, good. Thank you. Thank you.

Boy, car salesmen really are pushy, aren't they?

Well, your car's ready, Miss Richards.

Oh, thank you. Here's your bill. You can pay the cashier on the way out.

Listen, Miss Richards, some of the boys who worked on the car, you know, they

heard me talk about you all week, and they, well, they want to meet you. Bob

Charlie.

Come on, you guys. Come on out.

Just don't touch anything.

Miss Richards, Bob.

How do you do? Let me wipe my hand.

You're incredible.

60 ,000 miles and you can eat up your carburetor. Thank you.

Miss Richards, Charlie.

Hi.

You don't know, lady. You just don't know.

Nice to see you fellows again. I had the 65 Falk and you've been working on it

for three weeks?

What color?

Sort of green over rust. Oh, that car needs a lot of work.

Yeah, and that candy bar underneath the front seat isn't in such good shape

either.

Well, I think most people think of their cars as transportation.

I think of mine as a big purse on wheels.

Yeah, Rhoda, come on in.

You ready, Tamir?

Your revived African Violet.

Oh, Rhoda, you brought it back to life. Yeah, consider myself the Catherine

Coleman of African Violets.

Rhoda Morgenstern, the incredible plant lady.

What did I do wrong?

Mary, a plant knows what... A plant knows when it's being

taken for granted.

Maybe if you shared your feelings with it, talk to it more.

Uh -huh. Well, it certainly does look like a good little listener.

I'll try it.

What are you doing, kid?

Oh, I'm just trying to figure out whether or not I can afford that new

I... Well, I found out I just barely can. Now I need somebody to talk me out

it. Rhoda, talk me out of it. Sure. You can't buy that car.

Why? Because, one, your car is in perfect shape.

Two, what do you care if people see you driving a slightly older car?

Three, a convertible in Minneapolis in winter is ridiculous.

You're absolutely right. Not necessarily.

Why? Because, one, you're old. You can't last much longer.

Two, you cannot be seen driving that old clunker.

Three... A convertible in Minneapolis in summer is wonderful.

That's absolutely amazing how you can argue both sides of the issue with such

conviction. Yeah, you should hear me on Nixon.

So, what do you think, ma 'am? You're going to buy the car or you're not going

to buy the car? I think I'm going to buy it.

Good. What are you saving all that money for anyway?

Right. Wait.

You want to give me the other side on that one?

You're saving your money so if you lose your job, you won't have to move back in

with your parents.

and sleep in a room with storybook dolls and pennants on the walls at the age of

32.

So who needs a new car?

Anyway, mine will probably last forever.

Well, then you think you won't buy a new one? Yeah, I don't think I will.

You sure?

I'm sure.

Then, Mary, there's something I want to talk to you about. Okay.

Uh, not here. Why not here? Come on, up in my place.

Why? Well, I have a Boston Fern and a Creepin' Charlie. I don't want to leave

them alone together.

Oh, thanks, kid. Gee, I hope it's not too warm in here for you. Yeah, it is

of humid, isn't it? I know, but they like it that way.

They need the warmth, ma 'am.

You know, they're just like people.

Little green people.

As a matter of fact, I'm embarrassed to get dressed in front of this character.

Stop that.

See, Rhoda, you're not getting weird, are you? What?

I mean, you know, like little old ladies with hundreds of caps.

Oh, don't be silly.

So, last night, Mayor, I'm not sure about this, but I think I experienced

photosynthesis. Now that I got you in a good mood, sit down.

Mayor,

believe it or not, this is hard.

What's hard?

Asking for money. You borrow money from me?

But that's just five, ten, you know, little stuff.

This is something big.

Big?

Mary, it all started when I did that garden window down at Hempel's. Oh,

saw that. It was beautiful. Thank you. Anyway, since then, a lot of people at

the store, including Mrs. Hempel herself, whose taste is so good she

even shop at her own store, they've ordered plants and planters and...

Well, just look for yourself. I can't keep up with it. You seem to be doing

okay. Oh, Mary, but it's showdown time.

Something's got to go. Me or the plants?

Well, listen, can't you find some kind of a place for them? I did. An empty

store. But then I got to thinking, Mary, as long as I got the store, why don't I

make it into a plant boutique?

You know, with a name like Rhoda's Dendron.

You do? I really do.

Oh, Mary.

Well, see, the thing is, I need rent money. Yeah. And I need to stock more

plants and fix it. Rhoda, I will lend you the money. Oh, Mary, you, what a

friend. You don't even know how much I need. Thanks.

Well, uh, how much do you need?

$995.

$995? Yeah.

How come not $1 ,000? Well, $995 sounds like so much less than $1 ,000.

I'll get the five from somebody else.

Okay. Oh.

rape. And listen, kid, I'm not even going to feel guilty about this loan

I know I can get it back to you in a hurry. Ah, don't worry. Really, in three

weeks. Absolutely.

Okay. I mean, four weeks the outside. And this, I promise you, five weeks

maximum.

Come on in, Georgette. It's open.

That's okay. That was great. But Mary already loaned me the money.

She was supposed to be my clincher.

Rhoda says I can work in the plant shop with her if she can get $1 ,000.

Did you get it? Can you loan me five?

Sure. I got it.

stuff to catch up on. What about you?

Oh, well, I woke up early and I didn't feel like having any breakfast, so I

thought I'd just come in and have a cup of hot coffee and a breakfast roll and

just, you know, relax and read the paper.

That's a nice thought.

What smells so good?

My sweet roll. Still warm, too.

Mary?

Mr. Grant, you here, too?

Mary, I've got a nine o 'clock programming meeting upstairs and I can't

head or tail out of these notes you took on Friday.

Untangle them for me.

Then get out the ratings book and figure out what our average rating was for the

last three months.

Can I have a bite of that?

Mmm.

Why?

Is that good?

Are you gonna... No, go ahead, take it. I didn't want it anyway.

No, I had a big bite. Go ahead, take it.

You sure? Take it.

Oh, thanks.

You won't regret it.

Newsroom.

Oh, hi, Rhoda.

No, no, I didn't forget. I'm going over to the bank at noon.

Uh, listen, uh, do you want cash or is my personal check okay?

You want a certified check?

Oh, your fault, Mary.

Fault? What's my fault?

Ted, what are you doing wandering loose at this hour?

A man practically yanked me out of my bed this morning.

Made me give my free rental car back.

Your rental car?

It's the one that Georgette lets me use.

Last night, she gave up her rental car job. Go to work for your friend, Rhoda.

$300? Well, let's see, that would bring it to $1 ,295.

No, no, no, it's okay.

No, really, it'll be fine.

Okay, bye.

Well, it's hard for me to say no.

Say Mary. No.

Please call me Ann and have a seat. Oh, thank you, Ann. Do you mind if I call

you Mary?

Ah, no, no, please go ahead. You know, Mary, I always had this image of bank

officers as a bunch of cigar -smoking, stuffy, conservative old men. And I

if I ever became one, I'd try to dispel that image.

Oh, well, you certainly don't look like a stuffy old man to me.

Of course, after dinner, I do like a good cigar, but... Now, Mary, how

can I help you? Yes, well, I... I have some money in a savings account here,

I would like to withdraw it.

But the teller told me that I had to see you.

Well, that's right. You do have to see me. You see, Mary, the very nature of a

time deposit is that you agreed to keep money in there for a specified time.

And the time isn't up yet, is it, Mary?

Well, no, Anne. I realize that. But you see, something came up, and I want the

money now.

Well, it's just not quite that simple, Mary.

You see, on this type of account, there are only two conditions where withdrawal

is allowed before maturity date.

Yes. It's poverty.

Poverty? Poverty.

No. Oh, well, that's too bad.

Or an emergency.

How about an emergency situation?

Is this an emergency situation?

Yes. Good.

What is the emergency?

I don't want to tell you. Oh, no, you have to tell me, Mary. If you want the

money, you have to tell me. Yes, but it's my...

No, not right now, it isn't, Mary. It's hours.

Now, just wait a minute, please. No. Look, I am standing here fighting to get

money out of your bank, and you are telling me that I can't. Mary, please

sit down and try to understand.

Just sit down and try to understand.

Oh, Mary.

Mary.

When you opened your rainy day time deposit account, you made a promise. to

That's just like you'd make a promise to a friend.

Right, exactly. I promised my money to a friend.

Yes, but we have you promised to us in writing.

Please give me my money.

Mary, I mean, I'd like to. You know, I have one of these accounts, too, and

if I wanted to get my money out, I couldn't.

Okay, I could, but, you know, everybody here likes me, and they hardly know you.

Mary, this is not my fault. Mary, please.

Mary, please. Mary, don't turn away.

Mary,

Mary, please. Mary,

I just thought of a way we can get you the money you need. You did?

Yes, I did.

Oh, thank you, thank you so much. Oh, you're welcome. You're welcome.

Sorry things got a little crazy. Well, you got a little upset, that's all.

Do you think I can have the money now? Yes, I do. Just as soon as you fill out

this loan application.

Don't be grumpy, Mary.

Thanks, I think, too.

You want to grab a fast lunch, Mary?

Oh, thanks, Murray, but I can't. Rhoda borrowed my car to pick up some plants,

and she's bringing it back at lunch.

How's that business of hers going?

Well, she says it's just booming. She's taking Georgette on full time now.

Did she pay you back yet?

Oh, well, no.

Oh. It's been about a month, hasn't it?

Oh, no, it hasn't been a month. Oh, I thought it was about a month. No, it

hasn't been a month. How long has it been?

Six and a half weeks.

Oh.

Now, look, Mary, you know those small businesses, they're tricky.

Sometimes it just looks like you're making a profit.

Oh, right. I'm sure it's something like that.

But you think she'd at least have mentioned it?

I mean, you know, that's a lot of money.

What are you so happy about, Ted?

Rhoda just gave Georgia the big raise.

Oh, really?

She's so cute.

You know what she wants to do?

She wants to come and take me to lunch.

You know what? I'm just going to let her.

Gee, what a surprise.

Well, that's what the woman's movement's all about, isn't it?

Oh, hi, Georgia.

Hi.

This for me?

It's for Miss...

always so nice to me. Of course he's nice to you. That's because you go out

his anchorman.

Doesn't mean you have to buy him anything.

Come in.

Surprise, surprise.

The plant lady's here.

Oh, hi, Georgette. How are you? Fine, thank you. I brought you this plant.

Oh, well, thank you.

It's called a prayer plant.

But don't worry, it's non -denominational.

Why not swear in front of it?

Now, where should we put it?

How about on Mary's desk?

Oh, no, it's especially for you.

Oh.

Look, Georgette, I'm not too good with plants.

Why?

Well, you see, when I was a kid, I had a plant.

I loved that plant.

I don't even know why I got it.

I just saw it, and I knew I had to have it.

I spent a whole month's allowance on it.

Then one day it died on me.

Just died on me.

Wilting leaves, dropping dead on me.

I'm not going to go through that again.

How about a box of candy?

That'd be nice.

Okay, I'll bring it by tomorrow.

Hello, Georgette. I'm ready to have you take me to lunch.

Give me the money in the car, because it'll look funny if they see you pay.

Oh, hi, Georgette. Hi, Mary.

Here, it's from Rhoda and me. If you want plant pellets, just whistle.

Okay.

Hello, Mary.

Well, well.

Looks like you've been shopping. Oh, have I?

I thought it was a big waste to spend a lot on clothes.

But now that I'm in the money, it's kind of fun, I've got to admit.

Oh, is it?

Uh -huh. You know what I did today?

Fulfilled a lifelong dream.

I walked into a chic dress shop, picked out my favorite dress in the place, and

I bought it without even looking at the price.

Wow.

How much was it? $9 .99.

Which goes to show you how crummy my taste is.

Here's your car keys. Oh, thank you. I hate to tell you this, ma 'am, but your

car is running terrible.

Well, that's funny. It was running fine yesterday.

Maybe you shouldn't let me drive it. It probably thought it was mine and started

acting up.

I wonder if I have time to run it into the shop and have them take a look at

I would make the time if I were you. Really. I mean, take it from an expert.

When these old cars start to go, you have to sling a net under them to catch

parts.

You know, this is really sort of typical, isn't it?

I mean, if this had happened six and a half weeks ago...

You know, I probably would have bought that new car. And now that I don't have

the money... Well, if you don't have the money, you don't have the money.

Thanks, ma 'am.

How long do you think it'll take to find out what's wrong?

I've got the boys looking at it now.

Somehow we all feel like we've let you down.

Oh, no, no, please don't feel that way. Come on, it's not your fault.

I'd better take a look myself.

Come on, you guys. Quit hanging around.

Come on in.

Hey, look.

Somebody took your car.

Oh, yeah.

It's the same model. It's just a different color.

Yeah. Boy, what a great set of wheels.

This one's a little more expensive because it's a deluxe.

Yeah? How do you know? Well, if it costs more, it must be the deluxe.

Boy, do I love this car.

But I hate yellow.

Hate yellow? Oh, my Lord.

Yeah? Well, I thought it would be sort of boring.

Dull, to give you back the money.

So, knowing you wanted a new car, I took that money, added to it a little, you

know, extra for interest, and put a down payment on this yellow car.

Yes, Mary, yes.

The car you love in the color you hate is yours.

What? Yeah, yours.

Get inside. It doesn't look so yellow from in there.

Let's all get in. We'll do a few laps around the showroom.

Do you really think it was pushy of me? It was, yeah. To go and get something so

big without asking you first. It was pushy.

That's one of the reasons I like doing it. No!

No! You really hate yellow, huh?

Well... Yellow. I should have remembered how indifferent you were to that canary

I had.

No, I'm okay.

The one great thing I do for someone in my life, and I louse it up. Hey, will

you... Hurrying on? I think it's terrific what you did.

I even got them to throw in an air conditioner. And a tape deck.

Mary, you have no idea the fantastic deal I got you on this car.

I love yellow.

Yellow's a lovely color, Mary.

It's the color of the sun and wheat fields. Yeah.

Ticonderoga pencils.

And daffodils and lemons.

Oops, I shouldn't have said that.

me down there to see my new car.

Terrific. What color was it?

Sort of golden.

Mrs. Richards?

Yes. Oh, hi.

I brought your car. It's down in the parking lot. There's the keys. Oh, thank

you very much. Gee, I can hardly wait to get off work.

What are you, a secretary here? Oh, no. I'm an associate producer.

Well, I guess I can't go out with you then because I'm just a mechanic.

Hey, kid.

Come here.

Hi. My son -in -law is a mechanic.

Now, I just met you, so I don't want to get too hot with you.

But if my daughter isn't too good for a mechanic, then she isn't too good for a

mechanic.

I don't want to argue about it. Yeah, but I didn't mean anything by it. I

how often do you see associate producers going out with mechanics?

A young man.

I couldn't help overhearing what you just said.

Let me just point out to you that in this great land of ours, it doesn't

what you are.

It's who you are.

Blue collar, white collar.

Collars of all colors can mingle together.

From the lowest mechanic to the most exalted television anchorman, we're all

the same team.

That was very stirring, Ted.

I almost felt like humming Battle Hymn of the Jerk.