Original subtitles

Miss Krause. Speaking.

What do you know about candy jams?

They are very good with roast turkey.

Well, according to this, you bought six cases of them.

I got a very good bargain.

You call this a bargain? You keep getting bargains like this and we're

go broke.

I cannot concern myself with that.

Miss Krause, we're supposed to be cutting back, which we discussed at the

meeting this morning, which I note you didn't attend.

Oh, did I miss your little meeting?

Yes. Did it slip your little mind?

I have heard all about this budget business, and I am not buying it.

You're too busy buying everything else. It's not your money.

Well, we pay taxes and go for that stuff.

So it's your money and my money, too.

With my share, I bought candied yams.

What are you doing?

Pruning trees.

What does it look like on the wall?

There's nothing wrong with that bulb, and you changed it. It's Wednesday.

I change all the bulbs on Wednesday.

You mean you go around here and change bulbs before they blow?

I also eat before I starve to death.

Who hired you?

We got a contract with the state, mister.

No more bulb changing. That's it.

Mister, what do you care? It's the state's money.

It's stealing.

What's stealing?

Did I come in here with a gun and say, hand over your bulbs?

No more bulb changing. We'll change our own bulbs.

Fine. I'm leaving.

My luck, I had to come in and change Ralph Nader's bulb.

Good morning, Benson.

Do you know we got a guy who comes in here and changes light bulbs before the

old ones are warm?

Good morning, Benson.

You said that.

I know.

Good morning, Marcy.

Thank you.

Miss Ellie, are you baking something special today?

Seven -layer chocolate cake.

Did you save the icing bowl for me?

Don't I always.

Come on, Katie, your ride is waiting to take you to school.

Okay. Goodbye, Miss Ellie. Bye, Katie.

Goodbye, Benson.

Goodbye, Sudak.

Sorry to have missed the meeting this morning, Benson.

I hope you brought a note from your mother.

Oh, Benson, I just missed my bus. I almost caught it as a signal.

Spirit was willing, but the ankles were weak.

Miss Ellie, sit, have tea.

Kraut can make God bless you sound like an order.

Wouldn't you have some of your own pastry?

No, thank you, Gretchen.

And I thought you were watching your figure.

Glad somebody is.

All right, read the speech again, Governor.

What was wrong with the way I just read it?

Everything, sir.

You have to deliver this to the State Employees Association. Now, they know

these layoffs are coming, and they're going to be hostile.

So you have to be forceful.

Where would you like me to begin?

From the beginning.

Forceful. Good idea.

Fellow citizens, we all share a common goal.

To reach the objective that we have mutually decided is in our best

Together, we can work toward that end.

You're not selling it, sir. Sell it. How can I sell it? It doesn't make any

sense. Of course it doesn't. I wrote it that way on purpose.

It doesn't make any sense either.

But if you don't say anything, you can't offend anyone.

Oh, Taylor, just saying fellow citizens will offend somebody.

We can't please all the people all the time.

That's why we have to face up to this layoff problem head on and not hide

a lot of empty phrases. We got to call a spade a spade.

And right after you call them that, you better run like hell.

I hope you didn't misunderstand.

No, no, no.

We were talking about laying people off.

Well, it figures we're usually the first to go.

No, no, that wasn't it at all. Governor, Benson understands that. Now, the 20 %

layoff... Are you sure, Benson? The 20 % layoff... Of course, Governor.

We'll be with you in a minute, Benson.

I can wait.

The 20 % layoff will eliminate all superfluous personnel.

Superfluous personnel?

He means people.

Taylor, this state may be able to function without certain services, but

are never superfluous.

Well, almost never.

Percentages don't mean very much to me. How many people are, am I, about to

fire? Um, 6 ,000.

6 ,000? Give or take a few hundred.

Boy, am I glad I don't have your job, Governor.

Vincent, do you have any idea how I became Governor?

Don't blame it on me. I didn't vote for you.

No, no, no. Of course not.

Well, I was elected on my campaign promise to cut taxes and reduce waste.

Now, I've got to keep that promise.

Benson, I'm afraid reduction in personnel includes this household.

Unfortunately, you'll have to fire 20 % of the help.

What are you talking to me?

Artistry Director of Household Affairs.

Well, I must be doing a good job because ain't nobody in this household having

an affair.

Governor, I've never fired anybody.

I have, back at the paper mill.

Old Frank Booty.

He ran one of the buzz saws, but he loved his bourbon, and he kept cutting

his finger. So I had to stop him while he could still scratch.

So I fired him.

That was 20 years ago. I hope I haven't lost the knack.

20 % of the staff?

Benson, you're blowing this up out of all proportion. It comes to only five

people. Oh, sir, I don't know how to do it. Well, it isn't easy.

I remember it took me three hours and a half a bottle of bourbon to fire old

Frank.

Multiplied by 6 ,000? That's a lot of bourbon.

It's part of your job, Benson.

And there's no other way.

Come on, Benson.

Certainly it must have occurred to you that sooner or later a member of the

household staff would have to be fired.

Yeah.

But I always thought it would be me.

Got some more, Benson.

Marcy, do you believe we've got a man who does nothing but turn on the lawn

sprinklers? He doesn't do anything else at all?

Turns them off.

I sure don't envy you this job.

I know I couldn't do it.

I'm just not cold -blooded enough.

Yes. Thank you, Miss Gunn.

I think for the sake of staffing around, we should keep the layoffs a secret.

Good idea.

Benson, did you hear the hatchet man?

The whole staff's wondering who you're going to give the axe to first.

I thought it was a rumor.

You wouldn't fire anyone.

Right, Benson? Kay, I think your father's calling you. All the way from

capital?

Sweetheart, sometimes we have to do things we don't want to do.

Just following orders?

Who are you going to fire?

Nobody. Anybody'd miss.

Administrations come, administrations go, Benson, and I stay.

Why? Because I am an institution.

Stingster. Can I fire Mrs. Nagel? Oh, honey, of course you can.

Benson's simply reviewing personnel files.

Not Thelma Benson, you can't. When's the last time the governor needed a formal

gown? The woman's got nothing to do.

Well, she does, too. At this very moment, she's monogramming the cocktail

napkins. Ooh, pardonnez -moi.

Benson, Mr.

Nagel ran away.

Benson Thelma has three little children.

No bedridden mother?

Sister.

Well,

I hope we can get along without an assistant groundskeeper to turn the lawn

sprinklers on. What's his name?

Haggerty. Hap Haggerty? Yeah. Well, prepare for a little statewide

Hap's famous.

For turning on lawn sprinklers?

He's our most highly decorated veteran.

Walter Whitley, is he somebody's mama?

Walter Whitley. Never heard of him. Good. I'll check him out.

Great. Now, could I put the rest of these away?

Except that one. Oh, Benson, not Miss Ellie.

No, Benson, please.

Over my dead body.

Hmm.

Sally can't leave Benson.

She's showing me how to make a pie crust and bake brownies. And teaching me how

to play poker.

For cookie.

Look, I feel the same way.

But everyone else here does an essential job.

Miss Ellie is a luxury.

The taxpayers won't stand for the governor keeping a pastry chef.

The high living is over.

Find something else for Miss Ellie to do. Well, there isn't anything else,

sweetheart.

She's my friend, Benson.

You're my friend.

You help her.

Friends help each other. Right, Benson?

Whenever they can, Katie.

It is not easy, I know, Benson.

I once had to fire my mother.

Oh, yeah, yeah, he's a terrific guy, yeah. Did I mention he's a war hero?

I did?

got the job, and it pays more than she was getting here.

What doesn't?

Now, now, well, what kind of job?

Uh -huh.

And what does a flood control engineer do?

Well, that's what he does best.

How much does it pay?

Hmm? That much, huh?

You need two?

No, no, no, okay.

Okay, tomorrow...

Any luck with Miss Ellie?

Well, they like her references and experience.

But when they find out how old she is, they hang up.

Well, Benson, Miss Ellie is 75 years old. She's built up a very nice pension.

She'll probably love retirement.

Let us hope so, because she's going to retire any minute now.

I sent for her.

Anything to nibble?

Problem?

Firing people can be, yes.

Benson, you'll get used to it.

You may even grow to like it. And just between the two of us, don't deny that

gives you a certain sense of power.

He has to fire Miss Ellie.

What? That sweet little old lady?

My Lord.

What kind of a man are you, Benson?

Are you completely devoid of feelings?

Hey, crackers.

Anyone like some homemade fudge? Why, thank you very much, Miss Ellie.

I don't know what we'd do without you around here, Miss Ellie.

Lucy, I thought this might brighten up your desk.

Thank you.

I'm making something special for you and Gretchen.

Strawberry tart.

Good. It will give him something to choke on.

Is Gretchen angry with you? She's just kidding. She's got a great sense of

humor. Really?

I've known her over 20 years and never noticed.

You asked to see me.

Yes, ma 'am.

Miss Alley, how do you find time for roses, strawberries, tarts, and

making everybody feel so happy?

That's my whole life, Benson, doing little things for people here at the

mansion. You have to have a purpose in life or you shrivel up and die.

This is my home, Benson, and everyone here is very dear to me.

Everyone here is my family.

That's all right, Benson. I can do it.

Miss Ellie?

Yes, Benson?

You're doing a wonderful job. Keep up the good work, miss.

Thank you, Nancy.

Benson, you have just earned my share of the strawberry tart.

Strawberries give me hides.

Yeah, but who can seize them?

I can't. Me either.

I came down for some... It's on the stove.

Benson, I've got to get some sleep. Me too. I'm exhausted.

Me too. I'm depressed.

Me too.

If I don't get some sleep soon, I'll be a blithering idiot.

How do you want your milk?

Well, not too hot, but take the chill off it.

How's warm?

I'll try it that way.

What's this?

Walter Whitley's nameplate.

I found it in an office in the East Wing.

They've been paying the man for 14 years, and he hasn't even been here.

Well, I hope they gave him notice.

They're investigating.

You know, it's men like this Whidley that undermine the public's faith in

government. This man's a cheat, a fraud, a... Politician.

Oh, Boston, there's really nothing wrong with our government. It's the people

who run it.

Yeah, I know.

Uh, Governor, about my firing five of the staff.

Oh, Taylor told me about poor Miss Ellie.

I don't know how you did it.

Well, actually... No, no, no. Don't dwell on it, Benson.

I fired 6 ,302 people today. I'm not dwelling on it. Of course, I may never

sleep again.

Well, about Miss Ellie... I didn't think I could do it.

The power...

to alter so many lives by just one phone call. It's frightening.

Then I thought about you and how painful it must have been to fire that dear,

sweet old lady face to face, knowing that she has no hope for the future.

If you could do that, well, how could I shirk my duty?

You gave me the strength to live up to my responsibilities, Benson.

Thank you.

Anytime.

The kitchen is closed.

Get to bed.

I'm getting undermined.

Sorry we woke you, Miss Cross. Good night.

Good night.

If we put her out at night, we wouldn't need the guard dogs.

You'll have to excuse me. Me too.

Good night, Benson. Good night, Everett.

Miss Ellie? Oh, good morning, Benson.

Aren't they beautiful?

Yes, Miss Ellie, they're beautiful.

You have something to tell me?

Yes, ma 'am. Why don't we sit down?

No, thank you.

Come, Benson.

Out with it.

The world won't stop spinning.

Well, if you know what I'm going to say, why say it?

You don't seem like a man who'd take the easy way out.

It's your job, Benson.

Do it.

I'm going to have to let you go, Miss Ellie.

37 years, Benson.

It had to end sometime.

You tried to tell me yesterday.

But I made some calls, and a good pastry chef's hard to find.

We'll find something for you.

Benson, nobody wants a 75 -year -old pastry chef.

Nobody wants a 75 -year -old anything.

To hell with him. No, Miss Ellie.

have to do that.

You said you'd help her. I thought you were my friend, but you don't care about

anybody. You're gross and mean.

The child speaks the truth.

Katie, I want to talk about what happened downstairs.

Now, just to set the record straight, honey, I'm responsible for Miss Ellie

leaving, not Benson.

We have too many in government, honey. We can't afford it anymore.

I had to fire over 6 ,000 people yesterday.

Yes, I did.

And I didn't know any of them, so that made it a little easier.

Benson had to fire a sweet old lady that he really cares about.

I know Miss Ellie's your friend. So is Benson.

But he didn't... Just a minute, honey.

Let me finish.

You hurt him, Katie. You made him feel bad.

Now, you're both losing a good friend in Miss Ellie. Can you afford to lose one

another as well?

I know Benson can use a friend right now.

How about you?

Benson, would you give me credit for knowing what you're feeling?

After all, I learned something from seven years on the couch.

You learned how to irritate people.

You have been unjustly accused of not caring about Miss Ellie.

Now, you can't just tuck that away in the subconscious to fester and ferment

create blockage.

With all that on your mind, how do you expect to get any work done?

With my pencil.

I am just trying to help you.

I... Just thought you'd feel better if you talked it out, that's all.

Is that why you're doing all the talking?

Katie is all emotion at this age.

She didn't mean to accuse you of extreme cruelty and utter indifference towards

the agent.

Come on.

Look on the bright side.

That wasn't it?

Vincent's home.

Not yet.

They almost got me that time.

But I'm still faster.

You will slow down.

How's Miss Ellie doing with the new job you got for her? Fine. She likes it a

lot. She sent us some presents.

Handmade. Oh, how nice.

It will match my boots.

They clash with the helmet.

Here's a little something else.

Oh, Miss Ellie's eclairs.

Oh, they are so good. Not a calorie in them.

Hold it right there, Taylor.

Oh, no, sir. Sir, I was here first. Well, but rank has its privileges.

Yes, but I want it.

Taylor, I am the governor.

With all due respect, sir, I don't care if you're the queen of England.

Now, now, now, now. We must learn to share, mustn't we?

All right. Okay, there you go.

Canson is videotaped before a studio audience.