All language subtitles for Flash.of.Genius.2008.1080p.WEBRip.x264-RARBG

(HORN BLARING)

MAN ON RADIO:
On the Maryland Giant,

I'm the Fryman in the morning,
and it's time for sports!

The Orioles continue
to shoot skyward
like a Saturn V.

Having locked up the
pennant over a week ago,

last night in
Municipal Stadium in
front of over 19,000.

(SIREN WAILS)

OFFICER: Excuse me, sir.
Can I speak with one
of your passengers?

DRIVER: Sure.
Go ahead. Go in back.

OFFICER: I'll go
back there now. Thanks.

Robert Kearns?

Dr. Kearns?

Yes?

Sir, your family's
very concerned about you.

Why don't you come with us?

The Vice President
asked me to
come to Washington.

OFFICER 2:
Yes, sir, we understand.

You should come with us.

I suppose I could.

I'll take that for you.

Be careful.

That's for my kids.

Don't you worry, sir.
We'll take good care of it.

(CHURCH CHOIR SINGING)

PETE: Scott,
you and Louise want to come

to our place for
dinner tonight?

SCOTT: Well,
what about the Pistons game?

No,
I gave my tickets to my kids.

Prices where they are,
you gotta be kidding.

Hey., Bob.

Oh, good. teaching going?

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)

How many Kearns
kids are there now? 13?

I can divine it.

Oh, you can divine it.

What Scott here divines
is that the Knicks
have two guys out

with ankle injuries,
right, Bob?

You talking about basketball?

Kearns,
you probably mean that.

I do.

(PETE CHUCKLES)

(ORGAN PLAYING)

REVEREND: As I look out
over this sea of
familiar faces,

I see men from G.M., A.M.C.,

Ford, Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge

all under one roof,
as it should be.

And it brings to
mind the apostles.

What was it that brought
these very different
men together as one?

(KIDS CHATTERING)

Father Rooney was
good today, huh?
He was funny.

He was great. He really was.

Can I pinch you?

Mom,
make him stop calling me...

What did you just say?

Dipstick.
It's an automotive term, Mom.

Well, say that one
more time and I will
have your chassis waxed.

Okay? That's
an automotive term, too.

Look at this.

I turn this thing off,
10 seconds later, I can't see.

PHYLLIS: I can't see, either.

So you turn it back on,

and now
the windshield's clean,
but the wipers are dragging.

You hear that,
that screeching?

Yeah, I hear it, I hear it.

TIM: Yeah, it's annoying.

All right,
so it's raining and
I turn it back off.

But now I can barely see.

I can't, either.hing, sweetie.

Right now,
I can't see a thing.n.

If I don't turn this
thing on right now,
we'll hit somebody.

Look at this!oney. Please.

(ALL EXCLAIMING)

(HORN BLARING)

PHYLLIS: Okay,
that's not funny at all.

BOB: All right.
All right. All right.

BOB: Ten thousand
engineers in Detroit,

you'd think they'd know
how to design an automobile.

What are you doing?

Oh, I was thinking
about how eyes work.

We blink about
every four, six seconds,

and there's this
lachrymal fluid and...

Really?

Interesting.

And what are you
thinking about?

(PHYLLIS SIGHS)

I'm thinking we
should make another kid.

(CHUCKLES) Yeah.

Oh, that's good. You're funny.

(PHYLLIS CHUCKLING)

I'm gonna be right back.

Yeah.Huh?

Spell "giant."

KATHY: G-I...

PATRICK: G-I-A-N-T.
It's so easy.

Is your name Kathy?
Is it your test?
I don't think so.

It's Kathy's test.
Kathy, what's the next one?

KATHY: Puppy.

Puppy or science?
Puppy's too easy. Do science.

Hi, poop.

Okay. S-C-I-E-N-C-E.

Six minutes, you guys.
Come on, let's really hustle.

KATHY: S-C-I-E-N-C-E.

PATRICK:
When is Calvin's sleepover?

Friday.
KATHY: Can I go... mom.

TIM: "Police described
the badly decomposed body..."

I don't think so today,
sweetie. I don't know.

"...as one of
PATRICK: What time?rimes..."

My current event.that?

PHYLLIS: I thought we agreed
we weren't doing
murders for a while.

KATHY:
Mom, what about after school?

Hey.y, good morning.

No, I'm fine.

What time did you come to bed?

I don't really know.
Are you substituting today?

Yeah, fourth grade.
Eat something.

BOB: No, no.
I'll get something at school.
That seems like a lot.

No, they called.
It's at Pat's school,

and so I can pick
them up after anyway.

And I'm gonna
take him to the...watch him?

Don't worry about it.
Okay. Hey.ing, honey.

Bye, kids. All right?

DENNIS: Bye, Dad..

Don't use your wipers today.

Bob, what?

Yeah, I needed the motor.

Honey, what if it rains?

No, no. It's not gonna rain.

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

BOB: Good morning, everybody.
I want to welcome you all

to the first
day of the quarter

for Applied
Electrical Engineering.

My name is Dr. Robert Kearns

and I'd like to start
by talking to
you about ethics.

I can't think of
a job or a career

where
the understanding of ethics

is more important
than engineering.

Who designed
the artificial
aortic heart valve?

An engineer did that.

And who designed
the gas chambers at Auschwitz?

An engineer did that, too.

One man was responsible
for helping save tens
of thousands of lives,

another man
helped kill millions.

Now,
I don't know what any of you

are gonna end up
doing in your lives,

but I can guarantee you
that there will come a day

where you have
a decision to make.

And it won't be as
easy as deciding between

a heart valve
and a gas chamber.

Everything we do
in this classroom

ultimately comes
back to that notion.
All right?

(STUDENTS
MURMURING IN AGREEMENT)

Grades count, too.

Hi, Jerry.

Dr. Kearns.

I'm gonna make a donut run.
Are you interested?

You can't do it mechanically.

Can't do what?

That's
the pause between wipes.
That was my mistake.

Can't do it mechanically.
You might be able to
do it electronically.

Oh, probably.
You want a donut?

No, thanks.

Okay.

BOB: Dennis, stop it.
Timmy!
Cut it out. Get over here.

Okay, Dennis, problem again?

To make it pause
between sweeps.

BOB: Good. And solution?

Well, I guess we
could change the speed.

Yeah.

Yeah, except it would be
the wrong approach
and it wouldn't work.

What do I always say?

"Who farted?"

Besides that.

Uh, look for the unobvious.

Yeah. So you do listen.
All right.
Well, we're just looking

for a measured,
consistent pause.

Like your eye, right there.
See that?
The way it blinks away a tear?

And we could try
a bimetallic timer

that responds to heat changes.

But then, of course,
what do we do on a cold day?

Put the ball down.
Sit down here.

I want you to
put this together.

I want you to
solder this, all right?

Dennis, help him out.
Get over here.

Here we go. Here we go.
We got Team Kearns here!

Yeah,
this is hot, this is hot.
So, careful, all right?

That's got a transistor
and a capacitor,
and resistors in there.

That's as simple
as I can get it.

That's when you
get real beauty.

When less is more.

Will it work?

It works up here perfectly.

We got resistors,
each one rated at
a different tolerance.

And each one should
work in a wiper motor.
Where are the meter cords?

Uh, just over there.

BOB: Of course,
there's a thousand
different combinations.

Our job is to find
the one that works.

And there is one
that'll work in theory.

You know, Marconi spent
seven years trying
to perfect the radio.

(BALL BOUNCING)

Timmy,
stop with the ball, please!

Well,
what do you know about that?

One, two, three, now!

One, two...

PHYLLIS: Honey, it's so great.
It really works.

MAUREEN: Two, three, now!

PATRICK:
That's it, it's going.

(MIMICKING
FRANKENSTEIN) It's alive!

It moves! It pauses!

It's alive!
Alive! Alive! Alive!

What do you think?

Let's go out and
celebrate in real style.

Yeah.y?

KATHY:
I'm gonna buy a diamond ring.

PATRICK: You're only six.

You got a little
ways to go, sweetie.

BOB: I got the burger, right?

DENNIS:
Can I have some more Pepsi?

Uh, me, too, please.

Sure, if your
parents say it's okay.

All right this time.

PATRICK: Did you get a pickle?

You know why I
wanted so many kids?

Because I had six in my family
and you loved my family?

(BOB CHUCKLES)

True.
I missed that growing up.

I think you're all caught up.

BOB: Hey. Hey. Listen up!

Look at him. Look.

There's 20 million cars
built in this
country every year,

and every one of them
is gonna need our wiper.

Huh?

And guess who's gonna
manufacture those.

KIDS: Who, Dad?

Us.

We are?

Yeah, we are.
In fact, here you go.

I want to toast to the
Kearns Corporation right here

(KIDS CHEERING)

and its board of directors.

GIL: Lou Galin's
two weeks late on
that glass shipment.

PAUL:
What do you want me to do?

GIL: Well, why don't
you give him a call?
He's your buddy.

PAUL: Did you pay him?

GIL: Yeah. Half.

I'll call him.

Well,
that's the damnedest thing.

Yeah.

Get this,
it's also possible to build

a timing control
into the wiper column

so that you could
adjust the time
between movements.

Well, why?

Well,
because it obviously rains
at different intensity levels.

Right.eah.

That's part of the whole idea.

What do you
want to do with it?

GIL: Well,
Bob wants to manufacture it.

So from our end,
we just put up
the dough for the patents,

research and development,
all of which
goes through Kearns,

and we also seed
the money for manufacturing.

And I could be
ready to go very soon.

Yeah, it's a pretty
simple deal. The fact is,

if we can nail a quarter
of cars in America at,
what, 50 bucks a pop?

Think about it.

Just curious, do you have
any manufacturing experience,
Mr. Kearns?

Inventing, with all due
respect, is one thing,
but building is...

Well, Bob's
background's in engineering,
so I don't see how...

Gil, Gil, let Bob talk,
for Christ's sake.

Right, right. Bob?

Yeah.

Well, no actual experience,
no, not yet.

But, look,
I know I'm not your
ordinary businessman.

I don't have an MBA, but...

No apologies, Bob.
You're doing great.

We'll hold his
hand the whole time.

It's not gonna be a problem.
Yeah, it's a bet.

But so was the kidney machine
that keeps Dad alive.

Barely alive.
What are you gonna call it?

The Kearns Blinking Eye Wiper.

Yeah. Well,
I'm not sure about the name.

You look sensational, hon.

Thanks.

You're a little nervous, huh?

Aren't you?

No.

(PHYLLIS CHUCKLES)

Thanks., ma'am.

Welcome, sir.

Sir? Here you go.

Funny, we've never
been inside here before.

Oh, yeah.
I never thought about it.

Well, start thinking about it.

I want to be able
to take you to
more places like this.

(CHUCKLES) Okay.

No, really.
This is a big deal.
Start of a new life.

You gonna quit teaching?

You think I should?

I think you should
take it a step at a time.

Oh, so you're saying
it's not gonna last.

No! I'm saying I'll
love you either way.

Which is French for
"be prepared to fail."

No.ert!

I just want to do
something important.

You will.

Will you love me more if I do?

No. I'll love you
more if you're rich.

I married a gold digger.
What do you know about that?

PHYLLIS: Oh, I just...
They're driving me crazy.

They don't want
to go to the rec
center any more,

and at least
when school starts,

that takes care
of four of them.

(CHUCKLES) And then
we've just got
the two little ones at home,

but we have fun.

Well, ours are up
at Harbor Springs.
They just love it up there.

Oh, I bet!
But you don't go with them?

Well, that's the problem.
It's just hard to
find time to get away.

Right, Bob?
They think it's like
summer camp up there.

I don't even think
they notice we're not there.

(GIL CHUCKLES)

Do you see Robert's eye?
Yeah, is that bothering you?

No.

Do you know
the story of Robert's eye?

The story of
our wedding night?forget it.

It's such
a funny story, honey!

So, it's our wedding night,
and I'm getting
ready in the bathroom

and putting on my
little negligee.

Okay, okay, okay!

And Robert's in the next room,
opening a bottle of champagne.

Well,
I'd never opened one before.

Figures. Bob had never opened

a bottle of champagne
before his wedding night.

So I had it down
between my legs,
and I look down and, pow!

Cork goes off right in my eye,

and I fall back on the sheets.
I was bleeding.

I come out and
start screaming.

Screaming bloody murder,
I don't know what's happened.

But it all turned out okay
and he made it up to me later.

Hey, hey!

JOE: Good evening, everyone.
My name is Joe Warwick,

and I'm the guy
who leaned on you
to come out tonight.

And I'm glad I did.

I want you to give yourselves
a big hand, because tonight,

we raised $11,000
for the Children's Hospital.

Now,
let's do some more dancing

to the sound of
the Telegraph Five!

No., let's dance.

It's okay, it's okay, come on.

No, Phyllis. Phyllis.

Come on.

(BAND PLAYING UPBEAT MUSIC)

(SCREAMS)

Hey. Say, Bob.
Phyllis, you look lovely.

Would you mind if
Gil and I dragged

Bob outside for
some business chat?

Where we can hear
ourselves think.

Go on.

(MAN SINGING)

PAUL: We've got some real
interesting news for you.

Paul, when are they
gonna fix that
seventeenth green?

I'm tired of playing
on that temporary green.

I'm on it, I'm on it.
I took it to the board.
It'll get taken care of.

Bob,
you don't play golf, do you?

Uh, no, no.

So, Bob, we got some
really good feedback
on the feelers

we put out for
the Blinking Eye.

Yeah, it turns out
the concept isn't as
unique as we first thought.

The Big Three
have assigned their
windshield wiper teams

to come up with
an intermittent wiper.

That's what they call it.
The Intermittent Wiper.

The Intermittent Wiper.
I'll be damned.

No, it's fine.
More than anything,

now we know
there's a demand for it.

Until now, your wiper
seemed like a clever gadget.

But they want it.
And more importantly,
they haven't cracked it yet.

Mercury's been working on one
for over a year

and they still
haven't beaten it.

So we want to set
up a demonstration.

Now, Ford is very interested
in seeing what we have.

Ford?

You didn't mention
anything about...

GIL: Are you ready?

Wow, Ford. Wow.

I don't know.
I mean,
it needs some more work.

More consistency.

I can assure you
we won't sell it
if we don't show it.

Yeah, but should we
be showing them ours

if they're already working on
their own version?

GIL: Well, that's up to you.

But maybe it's a good reason
to show it sooner than later.

I don't know, Gil.

PAUL: Kearns, I'd hate
to see you if
you got bad news.

We're not gonna let
anybody take it apart,

especially after the money
we've put into the patents.

We'll just give them a peek.
Cat stays in the bag.

(INAUDIBLE)

Now, Paul's real
excited about this.

In fact, I haven't
seen him quite like
that in a long time.

Well, I got a lot to do.

No, I know, know.
By the way, this is yours.

Mine?

For now.
No more aquariums, Bob.

Just throw the unit
in here and take it to Ford.

Sal!

Sal here'll
help you put it in.

Just tell us what
you want, Mr. Kearns.

Okay.

He'll be here.

We're very busy here, Mr.
Previck.

FRANK: This is him, yeah?

GIL: Yeah.

Hey, Gil..

Frank Sertin, Vice President
of Research and Development,

meet Bob Kearns,

the inventor of
the Intermittent
Windshield Wiper.

We'll see. We'll see.

It's a real pleasure.

Good. Thank you.

FRANK: All right,
Bob, let's see what you got.

And, Bob!.

We want you to
do it with the engine running.

We've found that
the heat can play havoc

with some of
the systems we've tried.

Right now?

Right now.

(FRANK CLEARS THROAT)

(ENGINE STARTING)

FRANK: Where's he going?

GIL:
Bob's real big on security.

FRANK: Okay.

Okay, Bob!
Come on, let her rip!

What's going on?

I don't know.

Okay.

Bob?

I don't know.

(BOB GRUNTING)

BOB: Okay.

Yeah?Bob!

Oh, here! It's a fuse.

It's the fuse.

It's a fuse!

BOB: Yeah, we're good.

GIL: It'll do that all day,
engine running or not.

Well, that is...

That's good.

We call this "variable speed."

Variable speed.

"Variable dwell."

FRANK:
That is very impressive.

Gil, how about giving
us a little look
under the hood, huh?

Sorry,
Frank, we can't do that.

He's not doing
that manually, is he?

(CHUCKLES)

Bob? Bob!

Would you get out of the car?

They think you might be
manipulating the controls.

Well, I am.

(CHUCKLING) That
is very good, Bob.
That is very, very good.

I think we should
get you a copy of our specs.

But I can tell
you this, though.
At a minimum, at a minimum,

it's gonna have to
run a million
and a half cycles

under real-time conditions.

And operate... Excuse me.

What's the maximum
temperature under the hood?

It's...

Two hundred and
seventy degrees.

Mmm-hmm.

If it operates in
the field like it did here...

Where'd you get your degree?

Case Western.

I'm gonna look under the hood.

Sorry, we'd rather not.

It's nothing
against Ford, sir.

I've admired
the company my whole life.

No problem.

But I'll get to
work right away,

just as soon as
I get the specs.

Okay, good, good.

Listen, I know that
we are gonna be
in touch with you.

Very good. Gil.

Frank.

Dr. Kearns? Case Western.

That's a...
That's a good school.

Get out of the car.
Get out of the car.

You did a hell of a job, pal.

(BOB CHUCKLING)

GIL: Hell of a job.

BOB: Thank you.

GIL: I'll see you.

(WATER LAPPING)

BOB: Well,
there's a difference between

a good idea and
a good product.

I've had a lot of good ideas.

Just nothing that's
quite clicked, you know?

It makes you wonder
what it is makes
a man successful.

Brains?

Talent?

Of course,
there's a lot of
unsuccessful talents

running around out there.

Maybe this is the one.

Maybe this'll get you
where you want
to be, you know?

Yeah.

But I don't know.
I look at you and I
look at us and I just think

you're a success.
Don't you feel that way?

Maybe it's some other thing.

Like luck, timing.

Some intangible
thing like that.

It haunts me a little.

I'm gonna get some more tea.
Do you want anything?

No, I'm good.

No? Okay.

DENNIS: I explained it to her,
and then she just, like...

Patrick,
come on with that paper!

PATRICK: I'm good, I got it!

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)

Okay, it's Tuesday,
"Cold, clear and sunny.

"Wednesday,
clear and warmer."

PATRICK: Hey, give it back!

Let him have it.

Okay, "Thursday, clear.

"Friday,
partly cloudy and colder,
and a clearing on Sunday."

BOB: Well, we need some rain.

Maybe instead of grace,
we should say a prayer, Dad.

DENNIS: Didn't we
just say grace already?

PHYLLIS: Yeah.

No, no, that's okay.
That's okay.
Let's do that. Come on.

Let's do a little
prayer here, huh?

When you say a prayer,
you're supposed
to fold your hands.

BOB: Dear God, thank you
for all the sunshine
you've been sending.

We know in your
infinite wisdom,

you managed to create the
elasticity of rain
water different than tap.

If you could see it
in your good graces

to,
you know, send us some rain

so that we can test
the Blinking Eye in
real-life conditions,

we'd appreciate it.

ALL: Amen.

Do you think he
heard you, Daddy?

My luck, he's a G.M. man.

(THUNDER CLAPPING)

KIDS: Go, go, go!

BOB: Careful!
Dennis, in the back!
Maureen, be careful!

(ALL EXCLAIMING)

(ALL WHOOPING)

BOB: And it's working, too.
Watch that, watch that.

(ALL CHEERING)

I can adjust the speed, too.
I can adjust it.

DENNIS: Yeah.

PATRICK: That was awesome.

BOB: Hey, hey, hey!
Hey, you see that
car across the street?

PATRICK: Oh, yeah.

Look at the driver.
He's staring right at us.

BOB: He thinks
I'm turning
the wiper on and off here.

PHYLLIS:
You think he can tell?

BOB: Look at this.
No, no! Look here.

Look at that, mister.
No hands!

He's wondering what
the heck's going on!

How's he doing that?

PATRICK: Hi.s.

How the heck are
they doing that?

(KIDS LAUGHING)

We got ourselves
a winner here, I'd say.

RECEPTIONIST:
Ford Motor Company.
How can I help you?

What's the deal?

GORDON: Well, he's got it,
and it really seems to work.

TYLER:
And you've gone through it
completely?

As close as we
could from a distance.

He hasn't actually
let us do any surgery.

Why not?

He's nervous
about people
getting too close.

Mack,
he is a particular kinda guy.

Well, whatever.
We gotta get
this puppy moving.

The marketing
department's all over me.

They think they can
sell the shit out of it.

What's he want?

To build it.

He wants to manufacture it?
Himself?

Apparently,
that's his dream, yeah.

Okay,
well,
we'll deal with that later.

Right now we need
to get him on board.

FRANK: Okay.

(DOOR OPENS)

FRANK: Come on in, guys.
Bob, Dick Gordon.

There you go.

BOB: Nice to see you again.

Gil, nice to see you again.

You, too, Macklin.

This is Dr. Bob Kearns.

Bob Kearns,
winner of the wiper
competition. Congrats.

Bob, I've been
going over the reports
on your Intermittent.

It looks like you cracked it.

Have you worked up
a unit price yet?

No. Not yet. I'm hoping to...

Good. And you do
want to manufacture it?

Yes, sir.
I want to come
through for Ford.

And we like that.
So let's get
a unit price, then.

Frank, have you sent
a working unit to Washington?

No, Mack, we haven't.
Bob's... He's not
comfortable with that.

Really?

Now, Bob, you
do understand this
is a safety device.

And before we can install
any safety device
on any of our cars,

we have to submit
it to Washington for approval.

And that means we're
gonna need
a working unit from you.

I understand that.
And I understand

I'll need your
cars for my wipers.

(CHUCKLING)

But I thought that,
uh, if we had a...

We like to work closely
with our people, Bob.

That's...
That's the deal.

Nothing else would make sense.
I'm sure Gil
will tell you that

we have a very
close relationship
with Previck Automotive.

Bob knows that.
That's why we came here first.

He's right, though, Bob.
It does need to be approved.

We're interested in
offering the Intermittent
as an option on at least

one model next year.
From there,

our plan is to expand
it to the entire line.

Now, that means
we're working under
a serious deadline.

So we're gonna
need a unit from you
as fast as possible.

Okay. Yeah, I can do that.

TYLER: Great.

Let's get started
on the legal right away.

TYLER: Absolutely.

Thank you.
Thank you so much.

I'll get my demo
and research over to Mr.
Sertin.

Excellent. This is
what it's all about, Bob.
Corporate "can do."

FRANK: How about that?

Now, remember.
There's a right way

and a wrong way
to do this, okay?

Whatever you do,
don't let them
think that it's perfect.

TIM: But what if it is?

Hey,
listen to your father now.

Here, you wanna take him?
No, I'm serious about this.

Be very careful
what you say, okay?

The moment they think
they got a sucker in the line,
you're dead.

Here he comes.

Just everybody take it easy.
Let him come to us
a little bit, okay?

We'll be fine.
Let me do the talking.

DENNIS: What's new about that?

Hey! No back talk.
Come here.

Hi.hael?

Nice to meet you, Bob.s.

(KIDS CHATTERING)

PHYLLIS: How big is it?

Thirty thousand square feet.

Structurally, this is as sound
as any building
you'll find in Detroit.

The loading ramps are
more than ample for
any job you may have.

Sure looks like it
needs a lot of work.

We're concerned
about the price.
Is it the best you can do?

Well, we can probably work out

an eight cents per
foot improvement,
Mrs. Kearns.

How much is it?nk, guys?

Fifty cents a square foot.

No.

No, we were figuring
on a lot less than that.

I think the owners
might come down a bit.

Well,
we'll have to think about it.

BOB: (ECHOING) Hey!

You hear that echo?
This place is solid!

It's perfect, Michael.
Absolutely perfect! I love it.

(BOTH CHUCKLING)

SALESMAN:
It's such a simple idea.

I'm amazed no one's
cracked it before.

Where did you
do your research?

My basement.

So, these S.D.
25s are fixed costs?

Yes, we can do a discount
after 400,000 units.

I assume you'll put
the Ford contracts

up against costs.
They're backing it, right?

Oh, yeah. We're down
the road on all that.
My biggest concern is

that you'll be able
to provide us with

the necessary transistors
and circuits that we need.

Mr. Kearns,
Motorola is the biggest

electronics
manufacturer in the world.

I think if we can
supply the Pentagon,
we can supply you.

The...o?

That's a good one.

Hi.a, Bob.

The gentleman at
Motorola put me in touch
with their finance department.

Yeah. Yeah. Bob?

No, I'm serious about this.
We should talk
about cash flows...

Yes. me to take your order?

Actually, do you mind
giving us a second?

Thanks, hon.

Sorry, I'm starving.

They want out, Bob.

Ford.ants out?

What?

They're just not
interested any more.

Wait, wait, what...
What do you mean?
Well... What happened?

I'm not sure.

Well, who did you talk to?

Macklin?eah.

What did he say exactly?

Like I said, they want out.

Out?

They're not ready yet,
and they're not gonna
make a move until they are.

They gave me
a line like, you know,
"It's not the Ford style."

Out, or ready, Gil?
Which one is it?

Hang on a second.
I'm in this, too.

(SIGHING)

They have the unit.

When? get it back.

I don't know.

I closed on
the operating loan.

Well, don't forget,
I thought you
should slow down on that.

They're loading
in transistors.

We're gonna figure this out.
All we gotta do is
take it to another...

Bullshit.

Listen.
Chrysler, A.M.C., G.M...

My kids. It's my kids.

Ford was our best bet.
We both know that.
But we're not done.

Okay, but they...
They strung us along,
and they looked at my work.

I know.

I know.

We had a deal.

I think they might be
negotiating here, Gil.

No. They're not.

Yeah.ure? Because I haven't...

It's dead there, Bob.

My God.

(WORKERS CHATTERING)

WORKER: All the boxes
are going in the cage
until you know where they go!

Professor Kearns.
Find what you want?

Yes, Louis, thanks.

"State Highway System:
History and Facts."

This for one of your classes?

No, I'm just doing
some work for the state,
analyzing pavement erosion.

Nothing too exciting.

Yeah, but they're paying you
to come up with stuff.

Sounds pretty good to me.
You know,

I'm sort of
a amateur idea man myself.

A few of us even
have an inventors' club.

Maybe I can call you sometime,
ask you some questions.

Absolutely.

(GROANS)

MAN: Hey, you guys are late.
Take it around
the back entrance.

MAN 1: Have your invitations
out and ready, please.

Hey, folks, welcome to Ford.

Got your invitation, sir?

MAN 2: Yeah. Right here.

WOMAN:
There are tons of options.

Excuse me, sir.
Please don't touch the car.

(BOB CLEARS THROAT)

WOMAN: It comes with
Select Air air conditioning
in all the models,

and many
options are available.

What about the tires?

Oh, beautiful
Magnum 500 wheels...

(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)

(INAUDIBLE)

CHORUS: * Go, go, go, go!

M.C.:
* Come on and fly with me

CHORUS: * Go, go, go, go!

* And take a drive with me

CHORUS: * Go, go, go, go!

* And try a Ford with me
Don't stop! Don't stop!

* Go, go, go, go!

CHORUS: * Go, go, go, go!

M.C.: * Our Fords
are bright tonight

CHORUS: * Go, go, go, go!

* They're outta sight tonight

CHORUS: * Go, go, go, go!

* They're really right tonight
Don't stop! Don't stop!

* Go, go, go, go, go!

Ladies and gentlemen,
members of the Ford family.

Introducing the new,
the redesigned, the finest

Ford Mustang in the history
of the Ford Motor Company.

With more options
than ever before.

Stereo, rear window defroster

and the brand-new
electronic
Intermittent Windshield Wiper.

Let's give it a hand!

Ladies and gentlemen,
have you seen

anything that's
sexier than that?

And I'm talking
about the car now,
not the Mustang girls,

who, by the way, know these
automobiles inside out.

Don't hesitate to ask them
any questions you have,
and remember,

in the main auditorium
we have all of next
year's exciting buys!

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)

Excuse me, sir.
Could I see your invitation?

Uh, I'm with, uh, Mr. Tyler.

Why don't we talk
about it outside?

No, I'm with Mr...

BOB: Mr. Tyler!

SECURITY OFFICER: Sir, please.
Right this way.

Mr. Tyler!

Right this way, sir.

Sir, outside. Thank you.

Okay. Easy.

Easy!outside.

Their story
is that they went
with another design,

one they had in
the works before ours.

Or yours. that's...

...just what it is.
It's a story.

It's a goddamn lie.

Come on.

No, no, I took apart
one of their motors, Gil.

You know what I found inside?
Transistors, capacitors,
variable resistors.

Now, that is my design!

What about the patents?
Aren't they worth anything?

Legally,
they're Previck's patents.

What is that supposed to mean?

Nothing.
It's a technical term.

Barney's putting
together another letter.
It's tougher.

You can take
a look at it
once it's drafted.

Another letter?

A letter?
Gil, they stole this from us!

Whoa! Let's be careful
with our language.

Let's not use
words like "steal."

Who the hell is this guy? Huh?

Who the hell are you?
What's your angle?

Bob! We gotta be really
strategic about this.
Methodical.

And whatever you say
reflects on all of us.

So we're gonna fight it,
but we're gonna do
it the right way.

How long is it gonna
take to get an answer?

First, this is Ford.
It won't be quick.

Second, patents.
Christ, they're a minefield.

Not to mention,
the patent courts
are totally jammed.

It's gonna take some time.

Well, whatever it takes.
The point is,
this is all gonna be okay.

Good. And in the meantime,
let's go a little
softer on the language.

So, a lot of these formulas
work in opposition
with one another.

So that
a capacitive reactance,

uh, varies
inversely with the product

of both...

Frequency?

Yeah. Did I call on you?

Sorry.

Frequency, yes.
And capacitance.
Make a note of it.

I'm gonna take a quick break.

WOMAN ON PHONE: Mr.
Previck would

appreciate your
patience in this matter.

Yes, well, I'd appreciate
it if Mr. Previck
could return my phone call.

(DOORBELL RINGS)

(BARKING)

Who is it?

BOB: It's Mr. Kearns.

Come in, Mr. Kearns.

Oh, hi, Wade.

Hi.

Wade, did you ask who it was?

He did, Jean. Hi.

Hi. Bob! What's going on?

Uh, is Gil here?

It's not really
a great time right now.
You should have called.

Jean, hon, do you mind
getting me a refill?

Sure, hon.

GIL: Thanks, hon.
I'll just be a second.

JEAN: Okay.

I'm sorry. I...

Hang on a second.

I thought we
were gonna stay in
communication here, so...

Don't you think it's
a little outta line,
you coming over like this?

Okay, well, you
haven't returned my
calls in six days.

I'm not sure I like your tone.

I'm through waiting.
I'm not gonna sit
around and do nothing.

You're not doing nothing.

You called the lawyer,
you pulled Taylor
out of a mock trial.

You're on everybody.

You even called my father,
for crying out loud.
He's sick!

Tell me one thing.
Are you backing out of this?

What I'm doing is
looking at our options

like any
sensible person would.

Of course they're
stonewalling us.
What do you expect?

So then we take them to court!

Is that right?

This is Detroit, Bob.
I did $17 million in
business last year.

You want to guess what
I'm gonna do next year

if I start taking my
customers to court?

This is not about money.
This is about

right and wrong,
and you know it.

For Christ's sake,
you're my friend!

That's right. I am.

Did you ask to be
involved in this deal?

You need some perspective.

You need to take a hard look
at reality and realize
what we're up against.

It's not your only good idea.

You've been coming up
with stuff like
this since you were 14.

Now, I need to get back
to my dinner,
so we'll continue this later.

I'll go it alone.

No. Leave it alone. Bob?

It's not over yet.

I'm not gonna
back off of this.

We don't have the money
to bring in lawyers right now,

so we're gonna have
to do the legwork ourselves,
and then...

Are you talking
about suing Gil Previck?

No. No, we're gonna
go after
the Ford Motor Company.

They're the ones
What?screwed us.

Gil just let me down.

Robert, slow down. We're...

No, no, we're gonna have
to dig up everything

that's ever
been written about me. Okay?

Character stuff, everything.

This is my number
one priority, Phyllis.
Whatever it's gonna take.

Josh, I'm gonna need
at least 10 new wiper motors.

And some of
the earlier versions, too.

JOSH: Sure, Professor.
Not a problem.

BOB: Good. And circuit boards.

JOSH: Yeah, they just trash
the test models anyway.

BOB: All right,
where are we gonna do this?

I'll meet you
at the first lab
on the second floor.

Okay.

BOB:
Where's the itemization file?

PHYLLIS: All
the files are in here, hon.

BOB: You should see a doctor.

Oh, I'm fine.
Let's keep going.

Previck
Automotive Legal Affairs.

Something to bring
to their attention

that various
automotive manufacturers

are considering
using electronic
intermittent wiper...

I don't have it yet.

Considering using
electronic
intermittent wiper control...

Yes.ou want to list who?

And that these are in
direct violation of
patents jointly held

by both Previck and
Kearns Corporation.

As the inventor of the
Intermittent Wiper,
I ask, no...

I demand that they take
immediate legal action.

"Demand" is too strong.
They're our friends.

What difference does it make?

They're not
gonna read it anyway.

Then why are we doing this?

Because it makes
me feel better.

Does it?

What is this file?
What is this?

Kathy won it in the swim meet.
She wanted you to see it.

DOCTOR: This is
a bad case of psoriasis.

Now, Phyllis, I want you
to take care of yourself.
Use the medication.

Thanks.the sample.

And I'm going to write
you a prescription.

How long do I take that for?

Well, just a month.

I don't know what's
going on with you,

Phyllis, but this is
all stress-related.

You understand me?
You have to take
the stress level way down.

I'll be fine.

Phyllis.ean.

Good.re the kids?

Phyllis.

Why is Bob doing this?

He can't stand
being called a liar.

Well,
nobody's saying that he is.

They might as well be.

Oh, for God's sake,
Phyllis, it's Ford.
He can't win.

Take care, Jean.

Oh! God!

(CHUCKLING) Yeah.
Med school gives them to us.

We use them for crash tests.

You should see it
when we drop them
down elevator shafts.

It's very instructive.

I'll try that sometime.
Did you get the boards?

What the hell is this?

I know, it's just motors.
I couldn't get
any circuit boards.

Why not?

They didn't have any extras.

Didn't have any
complete units.
I don't know.

These are nothing.

Hey, man,
this is the best I could do.

This doesn't help me, Josh!

I'm sorry.

(SIGHING) What does that mean?

Wait a minute.

Did somebody talk to you?

Did you have
a conversation about me?

What?

Are you working with them?

Huh? You even know
who they are?

Man, I gotta go.

They're the...

They're the ones
who don't give
a shit about you!

MAN: Hey! Hey!

Come on!

What the hell are you doing?
Hey! Hey!

(GLASS SHATTERING)

(SNIFFLES)

(MAN CHATTERING ON RADIO)

(SIREN WAILS)

Look at this lady.
She had five
babies at the same time.

(PHONE RINGING)

That's quintuplets,
that's what they're called.

Hello.

MAN: Is this Mrs.
Robert Kearns?

Yes.

Mrs.
Kearns, this is Trooper Dale

with the Maryland
State Police Department.

Yes.

We've located
your husband, ma'am.

Is he okay?

Well, he was found on a bus
outside of Brunswick.

A bus? Where is he?
May I speak to him, please?

Uh, no, ma'am, he's not here.

He's being transported
to a hospital
facility in Rockville.

What happened?

Sorry, I don't know exactly,
but you'll hear

from the hospital
when he arrives.

Will you be at this number?

Yes, we'll be here.
Thank you so much.

Thank you, Mrs. Kearns.

Bye. you.

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)

DR. ITO: Hey, Bob.

(WOMAN CHATTERING ON PA)

Chair or couch today?

DR. ITO: Your choice.

Okay, it going?

Good.ss.

I don't feel like I need
to talk about it today.

Okay.

It is hard getting past it.

I'm sure it is.

Did you write
any of these books?

I did. There's a thesis
and several binders
full of journal articles.

How would you feel
if another doctor
took credit for those?

Just came along
and put his name on there.

I take your point.

But at the same time,
if getting my name
back on those articles

overwhelmed my
responsibilities
here at the hospital,

or kept me from
creating new work,
would that be worth it?

Would it be healthy?

I don't know.

I can't answer that.

Do you want to
continue fighting this?

No.

No, I don't.

Thank you.

Who is that?

Come on, you guys. Tim?

(ALL LAUGHING)

MAUREEN: Hi, Daddy. you doing?

KATHY:
Daddy, I made you a picture

KATHY: I'll get the bag.

PATRICK: No, I got the bag.
Tim, let go!

You look good.

Where's Dennis?

You okay?
He's coming later.
He's just late.

You okay?ou, buddy?

(BABBLING)

(BOB CHUCKLES)

(CHATTERING ON TV)

Hey.

(BOB JR. COOING)

(INDISTINCT)

What do you say we round
up the board of
directors and go for a ride?

Kearns Corporation.

(BOB SNIFFS)

No, I'm fine.

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)

Let's see here.

Mmm-hmm. Mmm-hmm.

How do you pronounce
your name? Kee-urns?

Kearns.

Mr. Kearns.

An inventor.

What have you invented?

A lot of things.

Yeah, my brother-in-law
does a lot of that.

Never sold anything, though.
He's actually in pest control.

You really a doctor?

Ph.D.

Uh-huh.

Well, Doctor, take a look
at your information.

Make sure it's correct.
Sign at the bottom.

You'll probably get
your first check
in about six weeks.

Proceed to the third
window on your left.

Thank you.

EMPLOYEE: Move forward.

BOB: Hi.

Can I talk to
you for a second?

Am I in trouble?

No.

I know you're mad at me.
Is it because I
embarrassed you?

Because I got sick?

I don't like you like this.

Okay. Well, that's why
I want to talk to you.

I didn't like it like
it was before, either.

I didn't do anything wrong.

Look, Dennis,
if I don't fight back,
if I don't do something,

I'm afraid I'm gonna
start feeling
like I did before.

And I can't handle that.

I got a lawyer.
And it's gonna be difficult.

And it's gonna be
tough on your mom.

And I may not be
around as much.
And I need your help.

You're just starting
this all over again.

No, this is different.

Is that all you have to say?

Yeah.

(DOOR CLOSES)

GREGORY:
And I'll tell you something.
Now, I'm old-fashioned.

I'm not out for
the quick score.

This firm is in
this for the long haul.

That's why I'm very glad
that you're here today, Mrs.
Kearns.

From several phone calls
with Bob,
I think I understand now

what his level
of commitment is.

But this is part
of your life, too.

I'd like to know where
you stand on this.

I want to understand
exactly what this would be.

What it would mean for us.

Well, as long as you know that

suing one of the most
powerful corporations
in the world is...

It's not something
you take on lightly.

I mean,
let's be clear about this.

Ford is just the first.

We're gonna be bringing suits
against every
automobile company

that's infringed on
your husband's patents.

But Ford's number one.

Once they decided
to put your husband's
invention on their car,

they gave a green light
to every auto
company in the world.

"To hell with your husband,"
is what they said.

Let me tell you something,
Mrs. Kearns.
I believe in what I do.

I believe in a little
thing called justice.

These bastards think
they can walk all
over anybody they want.

But we're here to tell them
that they can't,
that it stops right here.

And I don't want
you to worry that this

is gonna take over
your time or your life,
because that's my job.

All right? That's why
I went to law school.

Ian, this is Dr. Bob Kearns
and his wife, Phyllis.

How do you do?illor.

He's gonna be working
on this with me.

I just want to
thank both of you

for giving us the opportunity
to really make
a difference here.

One of the first items
on our agenda's
gonna be discovery.

Yeah, I cannot wait
to see what they've
got in those files.

We're gonna jump right
into it starting
this afternoon.

Thank you very much.

And one other thing,
I'd like to stay as
involved in this as possible.

Of course. Of course,
Dr. Kearns,
your help will be invaluable.

In fact, we have to get...
What is it?

Previck Auto.

Yeah. We have to get
them on board ASAP.

Think you can do
any good there?

I'll see.

Very good to meet you.
Thanks for coming in.

Thank you so much.
We're relieved. Thank you.

GIL:
I mean, Jesus Christ, Bob,
it's just a windshield wiper.

To you, maybe.
To that bartender up there.
But to me it's the Mona Lisa.

Well, you know what I mean.
But I just thought
that when you got back,

you'd have
a different perspective.

I do.
I'm handling it differently.

Maybe you are. I don't know.

So what are you gonna do?

I don't know.
Maybe I'm out of options.

Why don't you sue me?

Kearns versus Previck.
Got a nice sound to it.

Well, then why wouldn't you?

You've sued everybody else.
What's wrong with me?

Nothing. Other than
that I've known
you for 25 years.

Maybe you ought
to think about it.

Get your lawyer to draft
a letter
threatening to sue us.

If we're lucky,
we'll get a quick settlement.
You understand?

Then you can have
your damn patents.

Okay.

Okay, but,
Bob, you gotta forget my name
when it comes to Ford.

We're not gonna
testify against them.
We're not gonna appear.

I mean it. Well, say it.

You won't testify.
Previck won't be
involved in any way.

All right.

All right.

GIL: Dear Dr. Kearns,

Previck Automotive
has received
your demand letter

concerning
the Kearns Blinking Eye Wiper.

While Previck has
acted in accordance

with the terms
of our agreement,

in order to avoid litigation,

we have decided
to assign to you

our rights to
the registered patents.

You will now be
the sole owner of the patents.

Best regards, Gil Previck.

GREGORY: No, you had back
there a nice bread

that's all twisted up
with salt on it. I don't know.

Yeah, we could do that.

No, wait, there they are!
There they are. Phyllis, hi.

Hello, Bob. to see you.

Thank you, Jimmy.
And would you bring
us a bottle of Moet?

Sure.

Sit down, sit down.

Sounds like good news.

I'd say it is.
In fact, you could call
this a celebration dinner.

This is exciting.

Would you like to know
who called me on
the phone today?

Charlie Defao.

Well,
you may not know that name,

but he's the man
Macklin Tyler calls
when it's closing time.

And he's not a man
to waste his time
on trivial matters.

Bob, Phyllis,
I'm very pleased
to report to you

that Ford has offered
to settle for $250,000.

(PHYLLIS EXHALES)

Two hundred and
fifty thousand dollars.
Oh, my gosh.

Settle? Now, what
does that mean in
practical terms?

'Cause I thought
we weren't gonna pursue that.

No, that was our agreement.

And we didn't do anything
to seek this settlement.

This is Ford's offer.

(PHYLLIS EXHALES)

And, frankly,
we're a little surprised.

We're goddamned shocked,
excuse the language.

Happily shocked, though.

Okay, but in this offer,
do they admit it
was my invention?

That they lied about it.

In a settlement like this,

it's customary that both sides
are enjoined from commenting.

What that means is,
they don't say it
wasn't your invention.

No, absolutely not.
No. No, no, no,
no. We wouldn't allow that.

But they won't
say they stole it.

No, but if they're
offering $250,000,

I think we can see $350,000.
Maybe four.

That's wonderful,
I think we'd like
to think about it.

Sure, of course.

MEILLOR: Phyllis is right.
You should think it over.

It's been a rough 15 rounds.

No, there's
nothing to think about.
Tell them no.

Bob, let's take
a bird's eye view
for a moment, okay?

First off,
if you're really thinking

of turning this down
and going to court,

that's a very
expensive proposition.

It's not a good...
It's not a good play.

I'm not talking
about play, Mr. Lawson.

Let me just tell
you something for
future reference, Bob.

I don't appreciate
the way you're talking to me.

You don't have the most
charming personality.

And at least
four times a week,
I get a call from you

telling me what the law is.

You're not a lawyer, Dr.
Kearns.

Now, from a real lawyer,

from a 45-year
member of the bar,
I can tell you,

this firm has spent
more time on your case
than you can comprehend.

Maybe.
But you're getting
money for this case.

Only if we settle.

Bob, think it over.
It's essential.

Three, maybe $400,000,
it's enough to
change your whole life.

I'm sure it would.

It certainly seems like a lot.

It doesn't matter.

Look, I'm sure you men
think this is
a bunch of hogwash,

but this is about
more than money.

I always thought
I was put here on
this earth for a purpose.

I thought it was
to be an engineer.
Or maybe an inventor.

But that's not it.
And now I know what it is.

God put you here to sue
the Ford Motor Company?

Look, I brought these here,
thinking that you
had different ideas.

Edwin Armstrong
invented the FM radio.

Somehow R.C.A.
ended up with the patent.

He jumped out
a 13-story window.
This was a good man!

He was an inventor.
And, look,
I have letters from people.

People who've had
their ideas taken from them.

They've heard about us.
They're in their
backyards and their garages,

and they're counting on me.
Please, just look at this.

Thank you very much.
I really don't need to
look at these right now.

Let's just get to the point.
Okay?

This settlement offer
is very, very generous.

And if we did get
this before a jury,

if we prevailed,

if the jury gave you
the recognition you
so obviously crave...

That's insulting.

...it is doubtful that
you would do any better

than you would right now
with this settlement.

And whatever happened
to this little thing

called justice
you talked about?

This is justice, Bob.
This is how justice is
dispensed in this country.

With checkbooks.

There are no
brass bands, you know.

There are no
ticker tape parades.

The mayor doesn't
give you the key to the city

and call you a hero.
You get a check.

And that check makes the
lives of you and your
family a little easier.

A little more pleasant.
It's that simple.

Well,
I'll make it simple, too.
Forget the check.

Get an admission
that they stole it

and give me
the right to manufacture

my wipers and
this'll all be over.

Bob, since I bought
this wasted champagne,

just indulge me
for a moment, okay?

Just think
about this scenario.

Your lawsuit is over.
But you know what?

You're no longer a young man.
Why?

Because you're
fighting a corporation that,
that does not

know the meaning of years.
Or money.

They'll bury you
with motions,
injunctions, countersuits.

They'll drown you in so many
irrelevant documents
that you'll wake up,

with cold sweats.

And five years from now,
you won't be any closer

to seeing the inside
of a courtroom than
you are right now.

Your hair will turn gray.

Life will pass you by.
And for what?

Go home and talk about
this with your lovely wife.
Sleep on it.

And then make your decision.

And if you make the decision
that I hope you will,

this'll all be
over in a few days.

I'll show you what we got here
in the stacks on patent law,

but there's a load
more over at
the university library.

And here you go.

Oh, so it's all this?

Nope, and those shelves, too.

And that one there.
And half of that one, I think.

Thanks, Louis.

You're welcome.

I'm sorry it's so late.

I couldn't sleep.

Well, no turning into me.

No turning into me.

Honey, I think we
should take the deal.

Well, I know you do.
But I don't.

Robert,
it's gone on long enough now.

We could really use the money.

Since when has this
been about money?

It's not just about the money.
It's about our family.

Well, why do you
think I'm doing this?

How am I supposed to
teach my kids about
doing the right thing

if I let these guys
get away with this?

I'm not sure that's exactly
what we're teaching them.

They like this.
The kids like
being involved in it.

No, they just don't
want to let you down.
I don't want to let you down.

We're fine.

It's like he said.
They have all the time.
We don't.

We're gonna be fine.

BOB: Is that the Journal?

LOUIS: Yeah, 1949.

Gerald Reed vs. Lansing Tech.

BOB: Seems relevant, huh?

LOUIS: Seems like it to me.

Dr. Kearns,
I'm really glad
you're doing this.

The truth is, if you
don't fight, the rest of us
will never stand a chance.

Hey.

How you doing?

Good. Mr. Lawson called.

Okay. Where are the kids?

I took them to Deb's.

Okay. I'm gonna grab a...

Phyllis...

I wrote you a letter.

And I threw it away,
'cause I don't
know what to say.

It's just become
so destructive.

Okay, listen.
I heard everything
you said last week,

and I agree with it.
I'm trying to change...

No, I know.
I know you want to change.

I don't think you know how.

This is just how it has to be.

Phyllis...

No. leaving.

Because I think this
is the right thing.
Please understand.

This has overwhelmed us.

Goddamn it,
I need you right now!

You've stopped supporting me
ever since I got home!

You don't believe in
this case any more.
It's not, this isn't fair.

It's not fair!

It's not fair to me.

There are seven other
people in this house,
and you just don't get it.

We're close. We're so close.
They're calling us right now!

Honey. No.

Phyllis, no, Phyllis.

Come here. We're okay.

BOB:
I can't do it without you.

PHYLLIS: You're gonna be fine.

I can fix it.

Okay. You fix it.
And then we'll see, okay?

For now, this is best.

You still love me?

I love you.

What did Lawson say?

(PHYLLIS SIGHS)

He officially
resigned the case.

(KETTLE WHISTLING)

(DOOR OPENS)

BOY: Yeah, so, I'm going
back to my room real quick,

and then I'll meet
you at the library.

BOB: Dennis?

Dad.

I'll catch up with you guys.

GIRL: Yeah, see you later.

Hey. What's going on?

Can we get a cup of coffee?

Sure. Yeah.

DENNIS:
It's a long article, Dad.

Just keep reading.

Well, down here.

Look. Okay?

"Among other things,
the new courts are

"designed to free up
the logjam of patent cases

"that have been clogging
the federal courts."

Do you know what that means?
We can actually get to court.

They've been waiting me out.
They're waiting for
my patents to expire.

And if we can get
them to court soon,

they lose
a very big advantage.

How soon?

Months. Months, not years.

That's great, Dad.

Well, I'm not ready yet.

And I can't do this by myself.

Hey.

We used to talk
about the Kearns

Corporation.
You remember that?

That was a joke, Dad.

Not to me.
That was never a joke.

We weren't a corporation.
We were a family.

We haven't even been that.

I need help, Dennis.
I submitted a request
to Ford for one document.

They sent me back 357 pages.

I had to read through everyone
to find the relevant page.

That is all you care about.
That's all you
ever cared about, Dad.

Thanks for the coffee.
I gotta get to class.

Okay. I'm fine.

Go ahead.
Go to your class.
I don't need the help.

Can I help you?

I hope so.

Bob Kearns?
My name is Charlie Defao.

What do you want?

A conversation.

We tried calling,
but you don't answer
your phone much, do you?

Who are you?

I'm here at the request
of the Ford Motor Company.

You think we could go inside
and discuss a few things?

Discuss what?

How about putting
all this behind you?

So you can move
on with your life.

And so, frankly,
Ford can stop devoting
so much time to your concerns.

Well, they can if they want.

They want.

And to prove it,
they've authorized me

to come here and
offer you a lot of money.

On top of your legal expenses.

I accept.

Excellent.

On one condition.

As long as Ford
takes out an ad in
the Detroit Free Press,

saying that they
stole Robert
Kearns' invention,

and have done everything
they can to deny
me my day in court.

The only problem with that

is that it'd be a lie. Huh?

To say they
stole your invention
would be an insult.

To every engineer,
stockholder, every single
man and woman at the company.

Bob, Ford is genuinely sorry
if you've ever
felt mistreated.

And to resolve the situation,
they're willing to
take the first step.

A big step.
Frankly, an amazing step.

A million dollar step.

I have work to do and
you're keeping me from it.

I hate to use these words,
but in this case,

this actually is
a take it or leave it offer.

Bob, you don't want
this in court, okay?

Going to the law library's
not gonna make
you a lawyer, Bob.

Look, I'm gonna
leave you my card, okay?
I've put my home number on it.

So I want you to call
me anytime. Day or night.

Doesn't matter.

Just call me. I'll be waiting
for your call, Bob, okay?

Just not for long.

Asshole.

Asshole.

There he is. Hey, Dad!

BOB: Hi, honey.

Hey, Dennis.

Hey, Dad.

You want to come in?

No, I'll see you, okay?

Okay. How are you?

Yeah?ood.

How you doing?

Dennis, hold up!

(WHISTLES)

Hey.

Thanks for
bringing Kathy over.

You're welcome.

Yeah. Thanks for bringing
her over the last time, too.

You know?

I know you've carried
a pretty big load
for the family, Dennis.

It's okay, Dad.

I just want you to know
you're pretty good at it.

You're better than
most guys I know.

Thank you.

I'll see you.

See you.

KATHY: Everything all right?

What do you want to do?

Don't you have a lot of work?
I just figured I'd help out.

Hey, you work too much.

Too much typing.
Let's, go have some fun.

I hear there's a...
There's a car show
at the Historical Museum.

We could...

Wow!
That is something different.

Oh, that's very funny.

(GRUNTS)

(OPENING DOOR)

DENNIS: Hey, Dad.

Oh!

You scared the hell out of me.

DENNIS: (CHUCKLES) Sorry.

BOB: Yeah.

I got some coffees for us.
Looks like a long night.

Thank you. Yeah, son.

BOB: Right. Okay.

FRANKS: Mr.
Finley, Dr. Kearns,
please step up into the well.

Civil action,
Robert Kearns vs.
the Ford Motor Company,

will begin on August 14th.

United States District Court
for the Eastern
District of Michigan.

So, Dr. Kearns,
I'm not sure why,
since you seem like

a reasonable man,
but I understand

you'll be
representing yourself.

Yes, sir.
My son Dennis will
be helping me out.

Okay, then if you're
up for it, let's make it

a good clean fight,
shall we, gentlemen?

Of course we will, Your Honor.

I don't understand.

It's just an expression, Dr.
Kearns.

August 14th.
We'll see you then.

Thank you very much,
Your Honor.

Thank you very much,
Your Honor.

How's Mom?

KATHY: She's fine.

You want the dates on these?

Yeah.

PATRICK: Quit your bitching.
You're only carrying one.

BOB JR.: Tough.

PATRICK: There you go.wall.

BOB JR.: Hell if I know.

Watch your language.
She'll be coming
to the trial, right?

Look, Dad, I told you not to
get your hopes up about Mom.

Well, what does that mean?

You know what that means.

No, I really don't.

She's busy.
She's doing a lot
of substituting.

Is she seeing someone?

It's been four years, Dad.

Well,
that's not an answer, Kath.

Well, anyway, it's okay.
Just let her know.
It'd be nice.

What a piece of crap.

It's perfect.

(ANSWERING MACHINE BEEPS)

Hi, Phyllis.
I know it's late.
The kids are asleep,

and I think I've been
putting off this call
hoping you would be, too.

I just wanted you to know
that the trial
starts tomorrow.

Okay. Good-bye.

KATHY: Hey, Dad!

PATRICK: Hey, Dad wait up!

Hey. How are you?

Hello, Patrick.ou?

Hey.

I'm doing pretty good.

You get some rest?

Oh, a little bit.

Most of the testimony
you'll be
hearing at this trial

will be highly
technical in nature.

Although you may have
noticed a less
technical piece of evidence

in the form of
half of an automobile.

The plaintiff in this
case is Dr. Robert Kearns.

Dr. Kearns charges
that the Ford Motor Company

infringed five
patents that he holds.

If you decide in
Dr. Kearns' favor,
you will also decide

what damages, if any,
are due to Dr. Kearns.

Dr.
Kearns has voluntarily chosen

to represent
himself at this trial.

You are not to
draw any inferences

either for or against Dr.
Kearns,

simply because he is
representing himself.
Yes, Dr. Kearns?

I just wanted to thank you
for allowing me
to represent myself

and introduce my son,
Dennis Kearns.

Is that all, Dr. Kearns?

I appreciate the jury
giving their time to
the community like this.

The jury is the conscience
of the community.

Are you finished?

You might be more
comfortable seated,
don't you think?

Please keep in mind
you're not to discuss

what you hear at this
trial with anyone else.

Not amongst yourselves,
not in the jury room,
not in the hallway...

Now, this array
of electronic parts

and this
combination of circuitry

has been used by American auto
manufacturers since the 1950s.

Obviously since Ford
engineers designed it,

they had knowledge
of it long before

their first meeting with Dr.
Kearns...

Would you agree that
Dr. Kearns was
the first person in the world,

to your knowledge,
to propose that combination?

I believe it's possible that
it was Motorola and Ranco.

BOB: The motor makes one

revolution to
get one wipe out of
360 degrees. It's very simple.

We worked on
that for two weeks.

FINLEY: Well,
certainly it is important to

understand that within
the Ford organization,

it takes some time
to get written...

BOB:
Well, when you start the car,

the transistors
come on automatically

and supply 50
times as much current.

FINLEY: To reiterate,
you've worked in the

automobile industry
for well over 20 years

and you've been an executive
at the company

for a number of
those years, correct?

TYLER: That's correct.

Mr. Tyler, to be clear,
did you ever tell Mr. Kearns

that he had, quote,
"Won the wiper competition"?

It doesn't sound
much like me, so, no,

I really don't recall
making that comment.

I mean, I certainly tried
to be encouraging to Mr.
Kearns.

I respected the man.

Hell, I still do, but to say
that there was a competition

is, I think,
a pretty big stretch.

I should also point out
that Mr.
Kearns's apparent intention

was to manufacture
his device himself.

That simply would have
been impossible for us.

FINLEY: So, to be clear,
there's no chance
that Ford would have ever

entertained the notion of Mr.
Kearns

manufacturing his
own windshield wiper?

No chance.

Ford putting its name
in the hands of
an inexperienced supplier?

That would have been
a disaster waiting to happen.

Thank you, Mr. Tyler.

Dr. Kearns? Your witness.

Mr. Tyler, did you ever
ask Dr. Kearns to

come up with a cost
unit basis for his wiper?

I don't recall specifically
everything I asked him.

I may have asked him.

Well, why would you
have asked for that?

If I did,
it would have been because

Mr. Kearns was going on and on
about manufacturing,

and I would have been
trying to point out
the impossibility.

Well, wouldn't asking
a question like that...

Unless you have
a document to hand to

the witness please
stay at the lectern.

Uh, what...

Well, wouldn't asking
a question like that
imply a contract or a,

an agreement of some sort?

No, not really.
I'd say it's no more
a commitment to buy his wipers

than I would be committed
to buy someone's tie

if I asked him
how much it cost.

Did you ever ask Dr. Kearns
how much his tie cost?

No, not that I recall,
and I'm not sure he
was even wearing one.

But you did ask him how
much his wiper cost, right?

Like I said,
in a rhetorical way,
it may have been possible.

So it's not the same
as a tie at all, is it?

I'm sorry. What?

Thank you.

FINLEY: You have a Ph.D
in electronic engineering,
is that correct?

That's correct.
I've taught for
the past several years...

No, that's fine, sir.
Your credentials

are already
part of the record.

Now, when you said earlier
that Mr. Kearns
didn't create anything new,

could you explain
what you meant by that?

Yes. As you can see,

Dr. Kearns's basic
unit consists of a capacitor,

a variable
resistor and a transistor.

Now, these are
basic building blocks
in electronics.

You can find
them in any catalog.

All Mr. Kearns did
was to arrange them

in a new pattern,
you might say.

And that,
that's not the same thing

as inventing
something new, however.

Did Mr.
Kearns invent the transistor?

PROFESSOR:
No, sir, he did not.

FINLEY: Did Mr.
Kearns invent the capacitor?

PROFESSOR:
Again, no, he did not.

FINLEY: Did Mr. Kearns invent
the variable resistor?

FINLEY: Thank you, Professor.

FRANKS: You may step down,
Professor Chapman.

We will resume
testimony after lunch.

Dr. Kearns, your
cross-examination, please.

Dr. Kearns.

Yes, sir.

(DOOR OPENING)

Oh.

I have here a book.
It's by Charles Dickens.

It's called
A Tale of Two Cities.

Have you, have you
ever read this book?

Objection, Your Honor.
It's not relevant.

Your Honor, please,
if I could just continue?

How long will it take to
get to the point, Doctor?

Not very long at all.

Okay. Let's see what happens.

Have you ever read this?

Yes. Read it in high school.
Very good book.

Yes, it is. I'd like to
read you the first,
few words, if I may.

"It was the best of times,
it was the worst of times,

"it was the age of wisdom,
it was the age
of foolishness."

Let's start with the
first word, "It."

Did Charles Dickens
create that word?

No.

BOB: No. What about "was"?

Your Honor, is Mr. Kearns
gonna go through
the whole dictionary?

Please,
if I could just continue.
I do have a point.

You may answer the question.

No.

"The"?

"Best"?

"Times"?

Look. I got a dictionary here.

I haven't checked,
but I would guess that

every word that's in this book
can be found in
this dictionary.

Well, I suspect
that's probably true.

Okay, so then you agree
that there's not,

probably a single
new word in this book.

Well, I don't know,
but that's probably true.

All Charles Dickens
did was arrange them

into a new pattern,
isn't that right?

Well, I admit I haven't,
thought about it in that way.

But Dickens did
create something new,
didn't he?

By using words.

The only tools that
were available to him.

Just as almost all
inventors in history
have had to use the tools that

were available to them.

Telephones, space satellites
all of these were made from

parts that already existed,
correct, Professor?

Parts that you might buy
out of a catalog.

Technically that's true,
yes, but that does...

No further questions.

FRANKS: You may step down,
Professor Chapman.

(PEOPLE MURMURING)

Dad, how old do you think
that Finley guy is?

I don't know.

LOUIS: Hey, Dr. Kearns?

I brought some guys
from the inventors club.

Oh, that's great, Louis.

See you in there.

MAUREEN: Hey, Dad!

Hey.there you are.

Hey. Good. How are you doing?

Good.ad.

Hey.

How are you?

Yeah, good. Good.

I guess I should be
thinking about
going to law school.

They said it's been
going great. I'm glad.

Yeah. Thank you for coming.

Sure. Go. Go.

Yeah, I'll see you.

A minute, Dennis.

Okay. Bye, sweets. Okay.

Okay. Bye, Mom, see you later.

All right, let's go.

FRANKS: Dr.
Kearns is our next witness.

Because Dr. Kearns is
representing himself,

he is obligated to proceed
in a question and answer form.

It may seem a little odd,
but you must
carefully distinguish

between the question
being asked and
the answer being given.

Dr. Kearns?

Thank you, Your Honor.

Dad, don't forget the jury.

Could you please state
your name and tell
us where you live?

My name is Dr. Robert Kearns
and I live in Detroit,
Michigan.

Do you need my address?

(PEOPLE CHUCKLING)

No, that won't be necessary,
but we would like a...

Dr. Kearns.
Why don't you
just have a seat?

Relax and do your
examination from there.

Thank you.

Dr. Kearns, was the
Intermittent Wiper
your first invention?

No, it was not, but it
was probably my best.

Objection, Your Honor.
Counsel's leading the witness.

What? Overruled. Proceed.

Thank you.
Uh, could you describe

for the court
your first invention?

My first
invention was in college.

Back then,
uh, yellow margarine,
because of the dairy lobby,

couldn't be sold in stores,
because it would
look like, like butter.

So I came up with a bag,

basically a plastic bag,
with a little seal on the top,

and you would insert
a tab of yellow dye

in order to make the margarine
appear to look like butter.

FRANKS: Dr. Kearns.

But it wasn't.
It was margarine.

Could we move on to the reason
why we're all here? The wiper?

Yes. Yes. Yes. Could you,
Dr. Kearns,
please explain your concept

for the Intermittent Wiper?

In 1941, the Supreme Court
came up with the notion that,

somewhere in
the process of inventing,

the inventor must experience
some sort moment.

What they called
"a flash of genius,"

in order to
qualify for a patent.

And I probably owe
my flash to my honeymoon.

I was very much in love,
and my wife Phyllis
and I were at a hotel.

And I was opening
a bottle of champagne
and not paying attention.

I was probably
thinking how lucky I was.

And popped the cork
and it went off,
hit me in the eye.

This one right here.
About knocked me out.

I was bleeding everywhere
and they operated
on me that night.

And they saved my eye.
And the first thing

I saw the next
morning was Phyllis.

Yeah. I'm legally
blind in my left eye,

and I've thought about
the human eye
because of that ever since.

And years ago,
I was riding back
from church with my family and

it was drizzling outside,
and I had a thought.

Why couldn't a wiper
work like an eyelid?

Why couldn't it blink?

That's how I came up with it.

Hello, jury.

Why are you here?
What are you doing here?

What am I doing here?
What are we all doing here?

I'm here because my mother
and father and their

mother and father and
Uncle Wiggly and...

(KNOCK AT DOOR)

Good evening, Dennis.
My name is Charlie Defao.

I know who you are.

Right. May I come in?

Let him in, son.

Hello, Bob.

Mr. Defao.

Good evening.

Bob, what do you say,

we take the guesswork
and the anxiety out

of the situation,
for everybody's sake?

Can we do that?

What's going on?

No, just...

Bob, $30 million.

Yep.ty million?

I'm here tonight to
offer your father,

essentially this family,
that much money.

The trial goes away.
We don't leave this to a jury.

We settle this here tonight.

But no statement
of my invention?

Or, or the time or energy,
my ruined reputation...

And more money than you
can have ever imagined.

Bob, I am telling you,
if you trust this
to a Detroit jury,

you could walk
away with nothing.

Okay? Now, look at these guys.

Can you imagine what that
would mean for their future?

What do you kids think?
I've put you through all this.

You've certainly earned
the right to say
anything you want to say.

Timmy?

I don't know, Dad.
It's a shitload of money.

Don't do it, Dad.

Hell with it, Dad.
We've come this far.

Well, Mr. Defao,
you don't have much
luck in this house.

Bob, let me ask...

No. I'll see you tomorrow.

This is insane. I mean
20 years of litigating,
this family takes the cake.

FRANKS: Well, gentlemen,
I'm looking forward to
your final arguments.

Dr. Kearns, Mr. Finley.

FINLEY: The defense
would like to recall

a witness to the stand,
Your Honor.

Mr. Robert Kearns.

No! Is that procedure?

Is this really necessary?

FINLEY: I have to say that
I certainly think
it is, Your Honor.

We'll be brief,
but it is quite pertinent.

Your Honor, I'm ready
for my summary right now.

FRANKS: Well, it'll
have to wait, Dr. Kearns.

Please take the stand.

Please keep in mind
you're still under oath, Dr.
Kearns.

Mr. Kearns, you have
testified here that Mr. Tyler

told you that you had, quote,
"won the wiper competition."

Yes.

And you firmly believe that
that's the truth, don't you?

Yes, I do.

It couldn't have been
something that you misheard?

Something that you imagined?

No.

Do you recall being
removed from a bus

in Maryland by
police four years ago?

Yes.

And do you remember
what you told
the officers at the time?

That you were on your way
to Washington, D.C. and

that it was at the request
of the White House?

Do you remember that, Mr.
Kearns?

Yes. And at that time...

FINLEY: Just answer
the questions please.

Was it at the request
of the Vice President?

No, it was not.

And were you
subsequently treated for
a nervous breakdown and

confined to the Rockville
State Mental Facility?

Yes.

And that was because
you were mentally unstable,
right?

I was seeking medical
treatment at the time.

But you were convinced
that the White House

wanted you to come to
Washington, D.C., weren't you?

Yes.

Just as you were convinced
that Mr. Tyler told you

that you won
the wiper competition.

Thank you, Mr. Kearns.
No further questions.

(DENNIS SIGHS)

I'm gonna get
a soda or something.
You guys want anything? Dad?

Fuck Charlie Defao.

I took some time off yesterday
and went to my
mother's for dinner.

On the way over there,
I thought back to

how when I was
a kid my mother used to
make lemon meringue pie.

But not just any old
lemon meringue pie.

The best lemon
meringue pie in the world.

See, she had one of
those hand squeezers,

and she would crank out that
lemon juice, all for that pie.

After I finished
school and I started making
my own way in the world,

one of the first
things I did is I went out

and I bought my
mother an electric juicer.

And you know what?

She still makes the best lemon
meringue pie in the world.

And it would
never occur to me,
to claim credit for that pie.

And that's what
this case is all about.

Who really baked
that lemon pie?

And there is no question,
what the evidence shows.

Who engineered,
designed and tested

windshield wipers with
the self-parking
features back in the 1940s?

Ford Motor Company.

Who engineered, tested,
produced and sold
windshield wipers

with what was called
"depressed park"
back in the 1940s?

Ford Motor Company.

Now, I am truly
proud of a system where

a layman,
a dedicated college professor,

who has taught for many years,
can come in here
and state his case.

Unfortunately,
as we have proven earlier,

he sometimes confuses
reality with fiction.

Fortunately, he has
sought professional
help in those cases.

But the sad fact of the matter
is that Robert Kearns,

a good and decent man,
has dragged us all
into this courtroom

over patents that have
been proven invalid.

Invalid.
And that's what
this case is all about.

Thank you,
ladies and gentlemen,
for your time and attention.

Oh, and you want to know
who really baked
that lemon meringue pie?

Ford Motor Company.
Thank you.

FRANKS: Dr. Kearns.

(PEOPLE MURMURING)

Okay, Dad, let's go.

One of Mr. Finley's
facts is undeniable,

I never baked
a lemon meringue pie
in my entire life.

(JURY LAUGHS)

Why are we here?

I am asking why
you and I are here.

Why have our lives crossed?

Well,
one thing I can tell you.

We are not here
because of anything

Ford did or didn't
do back in the 1940s.

Mr. Finley over here has
made it an art out
of talking about all

the things that
I didn't invent.

But what Mr. Finley
has a very hard time

talking about are
the things I did invent.

And why is that?
Because he can't, that is why.

But we are here because
the Ford Motor Company,

used their influence,
and their money,
and all their corporate power

to take advantage
of the situation.

Ladies and gentlemen,
what they did was
downright wrong.

They claimed
another man's work
for their own.

And now,
all these years later,
after getting caught,

they have the arrogance
to sit here and
look you in the eye

and say,
"No, no, no, the Ford Company
didn't do anything wrong."

No, they knew it all along.

They, had everything
they needed to
build this invention.

They knew it already.
But I can tell you

that they did not
know everything.

They did not know everything
on that hot summer day

that I showed up
in their parking lot
with my partner, Gil Previck,

and an early version
of what I called the
Kearns Blinking Eye Motor.

And now, with all these great
impressive lawyers over here,

they're trying to tell you
that my patents were expired.

That the patent
office made a mistake,

not one time,
not two times, but five times

when they
issued me my patents.

And now they're trying
to make you believe

that they're worthless,
that they're nothing.

That my life's
work is nothing.

They want you to believe that,
because that is
what they believe.

Well, I want you, uh...

I want you to know something.

When I walked
into this courtroom,

I was wearing
a badge right here.

You couldn't see it.
It said I was an inventor.

A contributor to society.

And I know that
you couldn't see this
when I walked in here.

And right now there are
people still in this courtroom

who can't see that badge.

Mr. Finley, well,
he can't see that badge.

None of the men
at that table can.

But I'd like to believe
that after
everything that you've heard,

and everything that
you've listened to
for these past few weeks,

that you can see it,
you can see this badge.

That's what I hope.

I can see you're tired.

And I'm tired, too.

So I'm not gonna
sit up here and
try and interpret

everything you've heard
for these past few weeks.

I'm just gonna ask you
to use your memory

and your good sense.

To do the right thing.

That's all I
could ask of anybody.

Yeah. Thank you.
Thank you.

(PEOPLE MURMURING)

FRANKS: Thank you, Dr. Kearns.
Thank you, Mr. Finley.

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)

Has the jury
reached a verdict?

We have, Your Honor.

FRANKS:
Would you please read it?

In the Robert Kearns vs.
the Ford Motor Company,

we find that
the Ford Motor Company
did infringe on...

(GAVEL POUNDING)

...did infringe on patents
held by Robert Kearns.

In consideration of these
non-willful infringements,

we award
the plaintiff $10,100,000.

DENNIS:
I can't believe we won.

We really did it.

KATHY: That's amazing!

MAUREEN: We won, Daddy.

Bob. Congratulations.

Hell, you earned it.
I'm really happy for you.

Thank you, Gil.

(REPORTERS CLAMORING)

Phyllis? Phyllis!

Congratulations, Robert.

You finally got
everything you wanted.
And you deserve it.

Well, not everything.

I don't get
the last 12 years back.

I suppose not.

But it's over.

I don't think so. No.

It'll never be over.
There'll always
be another battle.

That's just you.

Yeah,

I've been thinking about that.

I don't know if I can
go through this again.

LOUIS: Dr. Kearns? Dr. Kearns!

Wow!

Wow!s...

We just wanted to
congratulate you.

Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you.

A bunch of us,
we got together
and we got you this.

(BOB CHUCKLES)

You were just
excellent in there.
I mean, I don't think

they know what
hit them back there.
We were just talking about it.

Like, we were talking
about it as
the whole thing happened.

That was something else.
Thank you. Thank you.

It's just great. Wow!

PATRICK: There was like,
19 reporters there.

Yeah, I saw a guy from CNN.

There were some other
television studios, too.

Well, that's what I meant.

BOB JR.: I had chocolate.

MAUREEN: I had strawberry.

KATHY: We know.s, I know.

Might I be able to get
a hamburger, too?

I think we can work
on that for you, sure.

Thanks.

So, anyone see Kathy
kiss up to that guy
from the Washington Post?

Oh, yeah.

He wasn't from there.
He was from
Channel 7, actually.

DENNIS: Exactly.

Did you get your
face up in there,
big enough?

KATHY: No,
I don't think I did actually.

DENNIS:
Uh, I don't have a spoon.

TIM: Well, you could have
mine but I just used it.

(KATHY LAUGHS)

TIM: There was
a guy from England, too.

DENNIS:
The London Times, actually.

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)