Original subtitles

Converted by Paco6672 Good morning, Miss Lanier.

This early, you'll have to take the local.

All right, though.

40th floor executive, Miss Lanier.

Thank you, Bill.

Good morning, Miss Lanier.

Good morning, Martha.

I couldn't find a cab anywhere.

Such a lovely day, though.

40th floor executive, Ramsey and Co.

Miss Stevens.

I'm sorry, sir, our switch board doesn't open until 9.

You should be able to reach him shortly there after.

And-- that's correct, sir.

Mr. Staples begins with the company today.

I'll leave your message on his desk.

Ann, would you put this on Mr. Staple's desk, please?

Yes, ma'am.

Mr. Staples will be in Mr. Quinn's old office,

executive corridor.

Yes, I know.

I said deliver it, not read it.

Yes, ma'am.

Executive 40th floor, Miss Stevens.

Hi.

Good morning, madame.

Wonder if Marge is going to go to work next door?

Oh, no.

Well, I'm glad I don't.

Not there.

Maybe.

They really fixed up the new exec's office for him,

didn't they?

Very nice.

A new man right next door to your boss,

and awfully close to Mr. Ramsey.

So happens the new man-- what's his name?

Mhm.

Will be working with Mr Briggs.

That's why they have adjoining offices.

Audrey, baby, you're awfully defensive.

I guess that's 'cause you're worried about your Mr. Briggs.

Run along, will you?

May I have some more cream, please?

Next car, please.

Next car.

Next car, please.

OK.

Harry, Charlie, Joe?

Express down.

No stops for jam.

Next car, next car.

Next car, please.

Next car.

Next car.

Good morning, Mr. Ramsey.

Next car, please.

All right.

Thank you, Lenny.

Yes, sir.

MARTHA: Miss Lenier?

Miss Stevens.

He's here.

Thank you, Martha.

Chief operator, please.

Miss Phillips, you can put this morning's three long distance

calls through to Mr. Ramsey-- Portland, Dallas, St. Louis

Good morning, Mr. Ramsey.

Good morning, Miss Lanier.

Any messages?

You have calls placed for our Portland, Dallas, and St. Louis

offices.

Nothing else important, sir.

Martin Tooland you said you'd wire again.

Yes, you'll find a copy in my briefcase.

You're right as usual.

Nothing important.

I have the Portland report in my briefcase.

I want it teletyped this morning to Seattle.

Have someone there drive over to Portland

and get it to Johnson before lunch,

then run off 20 copies confidential mimeographic

and have them ready in time for the board meeting.

I want it on the agenda.

Has Mr. Staples arrived yet?

Not yet, sir.

Delay that meeting until 10:00 this morning

to give you time to get the report mimeod and distributed.

I want it read and carefully.

Get word underground of their secretaries

that no one is to count on making any early luncheon

appointments.

And make a note-- Staples is to sit one down from Vandeventer

on my left.

Yes, sir.

Let me know as soon as Mr. Staples arrives.

MISS LANIER: Yes, Mr. Ramsey.

Well, Red, here we are.

Ah, here we are.

A little different than Mansfield, isn't it?

Now I know what a mother feels like when a child goes

to school for the first time.

I'll be fine, Mother.

Definitely looks big, doesn't it?

Well, give me a chance, honey.

Maybe I can cut it down to my size.

I'm running a little late.

Shall I call you when l--

No, no, no.

You, uh, go on home after you finish shopping, and find

a garage somewhere on Midtown to park the car.

Uh, I call you on what train I'll be on, huh?

Buh-bye.

Goodbye, darling!

Ramsey and Co.

The board said--

Executive or administrator?

Uh, the executive, Mr. Ramsey.

40th floor, sir.

Thank you.

Good morning.

Oh, uh, you want the tower, sir.

The tower elevator, sir?

It'll be down in a minute.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Thank you.

My pleasure, sir.

Good morning, Ed.

Good morning.

Good morning, good morning.

Morning, Jamie.

Good morning, Bill.

Good morning, Marge.

How was the weekend?

Your letters are on your desk and the coffee pot

will be here in a minute.

I can use some coffee.

Didn't you get any rest at all?

Couldn't even take my kid to the doubleheader.

Aw, what a shame.

That planning report's going to be a real job, Marge.

This will be a big week for you, too, with that thing.

I believe we'll try a rough first draft.

No longer than the telephone directory.

Phew!

Marge, has Mr. Staples come in, yet, Marge?

No, sir.

Mr. Staples?

Yes.

I'm Margaret Lanier, Mr. Ramsey's secretary.

Oh, how do you do?

Mr. Ramsey would of course be here to welcome you himself,

but you caught him on a long distance call.

May I take you back to your office?

Well, thank you very much.

And on our way, I might show you

some of our other departments.

Have you met Miss Stevens?

I introduced myself, Miss Lanier.

Fine.

And may I bid you my own personal welcome.

We're very glad to see you.

Well, that's very nice of you.

Now if you'll just come with me, Mr. Staples.

Miss Stevens.

Marketing and sales are below here.

We have our own research department on the 40th floor.

Perhaps you'd like to see that later.

This is the executive corridor.

Mr. Ramsey's office is that one down at the end,

then Mr. Jameson, head of purchasing.

Mr. Biggs-- you'll be working closely with Mr. Briggs.

Mr. Vanderbenter, chief engineer.

And this is your office.

Isn't it nice?

I hope you like it.

Mr. Ramsey was told by someone in your old office

that you were especially fond of this period.

Wasn't your office in Mansfield furnished in early American?

MR. RAMSEY: My furniture consisted

of two filing cabinets and a surplus metal

desk off of a destroyer escort.

No, it-- it's really very attractive, very.

I appreciate it very much indeed.

Excuse me, Miss Lanier.

Ann said you wanted to see me?

Oh, yes, Marge.

Mr. Staples, this is Mrs. Fleming.

How do you do?

Marge, will you see that Mr. Staples

has everything he needs in the way of office equipment?

They've arranged for it this morning

at Mr. Briggs' suggestion.

Oh, fine.

I must rush now, Mr. Staples.

Again, a most cordial welcome.

Thank you very much.

And, uh, Marge, will you stop by at my desk when

you finish here, please?

Yes, Miss Lanier.

I think I better explain the phone system, Mr. Staples.

There are four lines.

One is your private line direct to outside,

two is for conference calls, three is for inter office,

and four, this button is for your secretary.

Oh, I'm sorry.

May I?

Oh, yes, thank you.

Yes, I think I have that-- let's see.

Outside, inter office, conference, and-- yes,

that's fine.

Thank heavens this isn't early American.

Busy?

No, no, not at all.

Well, you must be--

Bill Briggs, your next door neighbor.

Yes, of course.

Well, I'm certainly glad to meet you, sir.

I think, uh, Mr. Ramsey told me you'd been sick, didn't he?

Oh, did he?

Actually, it's just a-- just a pesky stomach

that's been acting up on me.

You just came from Mansfield?

Yes, they took a house-- oh, uh, sit down, Mr. Briggs.

Settled already?

Good.

I'm not trying to set myself up as a real New Yorker.

Altoona, Pennsylvania, that's where I came from.

My first trip home I was wearing spats.

I remember my father not being able to get over it.

He says Bill-- Bill, he says-- you went to New York

to see the sights and instead you become one of them.

Well, we just got here Friday afternoon,

so this morning Nancy insisted-- my wife--

she insisted on driving me to work the first morning.

You know the way women are.

Yeah, you come out of a small town and plants,

you feel a little lost in a place like this.

I was saying, you know, we walked into our house

Friday afternoon.

We've never laid eyes on the place before, you know?

And there it was, furnished like a magazine.

Milk in the icebox, bourbon on the shelves, and I don't know.

You got to hand it to them the way they do things around here.

Yes.

Miss Lanier handles all that.

Does a fine job.

That feeling that I got driving into town this morning-- well,

I've got to admit, it's just-- it's just

a little overwhelming.

Yes, and it's a pretty wonderful thing

to be as young as you are and see it

all spread out in front of you like a-- like a Christmas tree.

You know, you think of-- you think of big business,

you always think of it as being very impersonal, you know?

But, uh, that's certainly not true with your Mr. Ramsey.

I know what you mean.

How much time did you put in in Mansfield?

Almost six years.

You must have blown a bugle in Ramsey's ear out in Ohio.

He brought you here in a hurry.

Well, actually, I wasn't at all sure

I wanted to come to New York, but this Ramsey

is a pretty dynamic man.

Yes, I know.

So you've been with the firm some time now, haven't you?

Oh, maybe 40 years or so.

I seem to recall Mr. Ramsey's talking about you

as a production man.

You're an engineer, aren't you?

Yes, but from what he told me, I

guess I'll be a little of everything

around here, mostly in industrial relations.

Industrial relations?

Matter of fact, it's been one of my specialties.

We-- we oughta get along pretty well together.

I'm sure we will.

Excuse me.

Mr. Ramsey's called a meeting in the conference

room, Mr. Briggs.

Oh?

Well, Fred, it's been a real pleasure meeting you.

Thank you.

Mr. Ramsey's expecting Mr. Staples, too.

Oh.

Well, then, I'll-- I'll go in with you, if you don't mind.

Not at all.

ljust hope Mr. Ramsey remembers hiring me.

Mr. Ramsey rarely forgets anything.

After you.

Thank you.

MR. JAMESON: Staples?

Yes.

Hello.

Fred, this is Harvey Jameson, head of purchasing.

Oh, how are you?

So they finally finished it?

What?

Oh, Fred, your office.

On Friday, the painters and all-- it was a madhouse.

Say, Bill, are you taking along Ramsey's breakdown?

Well, no, I forgot that.

There are a couple of other things I forgot, too.

Jamie, would you and Fred go along together?

I'll be in in a few minutes.

Fine.

I suppose Lanier's giving you the cook's tour.

Oh, yes.

MR. JAMESON: Did she show you the conference room?

MR. STAPLES: Oh, yes.

On the other side, yes.

Mr. Briggs?

What is it, Marge?

I don't know.

Mr. Briggs, I think I ought to resign.

Resign?

What are you talking about?

What happened?

What is it, Marge?

Mr. Briggs, I've just been ordered

to go to Mr. Staples as his new secretary.

Temporarily.

No, I don't think so.

Who gave this order?

Miss Lanier.

When?

About five minutes ago.

I'm supposed to break in your new secretary.

They picked a new secretary for me?

Yes, I think so.

It's out of the question for you to resign, Marge.

To even think of resigning.

You're a fine, wonderful woman and a great secretary.

That's the reason they want you over with Staples.

He'll need someone like you because he's new here

and they want him to get into harness fast.

Who can tell, Marge?

One of these days, that stomach of mine's

a pretty perverse organ and I'm tired.

And you know, as it must to all men.

Mr. Briggs.

Have you any idea who your successor is?

Yes, they've chosen Sylvia Trammel.

Miss Trammel?

It is so ordained.

So be it.

She's new, but she's supposed to be very good at dictation.

Well, we'll give her a chance to prove it.

Mr. Briggs, lfl could only tell you

what this job has meant to me, what working with you

has meant to me--

All right, kid.

Wash up, get your money, and get out of here,

and give Mr. Staples all the best you've got in you.

I know you will.

That's the only way you operate.

I like the guy.

I have a feeling he's going to carve out a career around here.

Yes, sir.

Everybody seems to think so.

I'm sorry to keep you waiting, gentlemen.

Mr. Ramsey will be with us in a moment.

Been away, have you?

Oh, sorry, Fred.

I was held up for a few minutes.

See you later, Fred.

Now where are we going to sit you?

Oh, here's an empty chair.

I guess you can sit right here.

Oh, uh, Mr. Staples, will you sit over there, please?

Right next to Mr. Vandeventer.

One down from Mr. Ramsey, please?

Welcome back, Bill.

Feeling better?

Much, thank you.

A little stomach--

Good.

I'm glad it's cleared up.

John, don't forget that contract.

Can we get it through tomorrow?

I think so.

First, gentlemen, I'd like you to look over

the mimeod sheet on top.

Haverford Mutual had some doctors

look into the matter of executive diets.

They finally showed incredible deficiencies

and gotten up some food tables.

I've had them mimeod.

I'd like you to look them over.

As you know, it's been my feeling

that a healthy executive is an efficient one.

I think it not amiss now to introduce the newest member

of our team, Mr. Fred Staples.

He's from Mansfield, Ohio.

As you all know, he was general manager of Queen City Tour

and Dine until we took it over.

His record there was a brilliant one.

He's a production engineer by training

and industrial relations man by instinct.

I expect good things from him.

Well, you've probably met everyone, but just

for the record, reading from left to right, Mr. Jameson,

head of purchasing.

Yes, we've met.

Mr. Grannigan, controller.

Mr. Gordon, head of sales.

How are you?

Mr. Lathan, head of service.

Nice to see you.

Mr. Portier from operations.

Nice to know you.

MR. RAMSEY: And Mr. Vandeventer, chief engineer.

How are you?

Nice to see you.

Pleasure.

MR. RAMSEY: Oh, and, of course, you've met Mr. Briggs.

He was our vice president assistant general manager

in charge of everything that everybody else

forgets to be in charge of.

Now, gentlemen, you all have before you

a copy of the Williamston Plant purchase prospectus.

Mr. Jameson, did you attach our supplements?

It's right there, Mr. Ramsey.

Page 17-R under process equipment.

And Mr. Grannigan, the stock purchase plan I outlined.

l have your comments here?

You do, Mr. Ramsey.

Good.

Feasible, is it?

Very much so, in my opinion.

Good.

Well, that about winds it up unless there are

any further points to be made.

I do think, Mr Ramsey, if we could keep the transaction

under wraps for a bit, at least during the preliminaries.

You know what'll happen to the stock quotations

if it leaks out that we've agreed to a purchase.

I've arranged it this way.

The stock quotation as of yesterday morning--

you seem to be straining at the leash, Mr. Briggs,

or am I mistaken?

You mentioned here that probable time of purchase

would be sometime in June.

Are the plants to be in receivership until then?

That seems to be what it says.

That means six months with improper maintenance

MR. VANDEVENTER: Oh, I doubt it, Bill.

I've had two of my best men out there for the last six weeks.

We had a varying voltage problem,

but that was taken care of.

Now maintenance wise, I doubt if there will be

$1,000 worth of deterioration.

How about goodwill?

What about it?

The plant employs 900 men.

That's half the working force of the village.

So?

So what do we do with these men?

Cover them with cosmoline and put them away in a drawer

until we get ready to resume production?

I thought your concern was for the plant?

And what good is the plant without the men?

You chop a village payroll in half for six months

and you might not have a plant because you might not

have a village.

Mr. Briggs, if we may be permitted

to disregard for the moment the considerations that you

have brought up, what about the rest of the plan?

I'd say it was adequate.

Adequate?

That, gentleman, is the kiss of death, believe me.

I've known Mr. Briggs for a long time.

When he says something is adequate, what he means

is that it is entirely inadequate.

I must admit to feeling a concern over some 900

men suddenly deprived of a livelihood.

Mr. Briggs, if you would do me the goodness

to look at what I consider to be a fairly elementary business

principle.

By putting 900 men out of work temporarily,

we may ultimately employ twice that number in the same town.

By cutting production costs as a result,

we will then be able to compete more favorably in the market,

thus we'll be able to sell more goods.

We're not going to ruin that town, we're going to make it.

I should think, Mr. Briggs, that after 30 years

you'd be able to think beyond the tongue-clucking stage

and come up with something resembling

an analytical point of view.

I was under the impression I'd given you a point of view.

I saw none!

I perceived what amounts to a rather emotional little tidbit

that was decidedly more charitable than cooperative

and by no means thought through.

I asked, I believe, for an objective view

of a business venture.

From you I got, and I seem constantly to be getting,

a very negative response of any at all.

Adequate, I believe you said.

Well, Mr. Briggs, this little move

will save us conservatively half a million dollars,

which we'll be able to put back into the business.

I must say you take a liberal view of adequacy.

I didn't intend to make a central issue out of this,

but I did feel it important enough to air in this meeting.

Well, you have aired it in this meeting.

MR. VANDEVENTER: And I think it's a good thing you did,

but I think, Bill, we're pretty much of one mind about it now.

And we may assume the matter is closed now, Mr. Briggs?

How about you, Mr. Staples?

Do you have an opinion?

No.

No, I think not, Mr. Ramsey.

Why not?

Well, frankly, it's a little out of my grasp at the moment.

I don't know anything about the firm, its corporative setup,

reasons for bankruptcy, or for that matter its product.

I'm afraid I'll have to pass.

Good answer.

I respect thoughtful judgment, Mr. Staples.

Congratulations.

We'll adjourn now until 2 o'clock.

I'm sorry we got started so late this morning,

but I wanted this analysis mimeod for your inspection.

After lunch, we'll take up the Portland report

which you have before you.

Mr. Grannigan attended the stockholders meeting there

on Tuesday and we'll begin our discussion with his report.

That's all.

All right, sir.

Oh, Bill?

Why don't you come and have some lunch, huh?

No, thank you.

Oh, uh, Bill, wasn't there something

you wanted to speak to me about before?

Nothing important.

Fine.

Tummy's all right, eh?

Cast iron.

Couldn't be better.

Good.

Keep it up.

Oh, uh, Staples.

Good to have you with us, Staples.

Are the arrangements satisfactory?

Oh, yes, just perfect.

I'm sure you'll be hearing from my wife very soon about that.

It's a beautiful house.

And beautiful country up there.

I'm sure you'll love it.

Oh, uh, see you later, Bill?

Oh, Fred, Briggs is working on a project now,

a comprehensive planning report.

The point is that it's very important, most important

indeed for our future program and it's

far too big ofjob for Briggs, or for any one man to handle.

Now what I want you to do is get your fingers in there.

MR. STAPLES: Certainly.

MR. RAMSEY: What I mean is more than just your fingers.

MR. STAPLES: Yes, Mr. Ramsey.

You make that quite clear.

Oh, could I see you a minute, Miss Fleming?

Yes, sir?

Oh, I wonder if you could check for me, please, as to who

is to be my secretary?

I need some notes typed up.

I'm to be your secretary, Mr. Staples.

But I thought Mr. Briggs--

It was arranged for just before the meeting, Mr. Staples.

I take it you'd rather remain with Mr. Briggs.

I was Mr. Briggs secretary for seven years, Mr. Staples.

Well, in that case, I see no reason

why I shouldn't be able to get someone else.

It was Mr. Ramsey's idea.

Do you want to give me those notes now?

No, uh, why don't you have your lunch first, Miss Fleming.

We'll take care of these when you come back.

Mr. Briggs, there are some notes here that--

Later, Marge.

I'll do it later.

Darling, you didn't say anything about my new hairdo.

Do you like it?

Yeah, it's lovely.

Wish you could see the new dresses I bought.

They're just beautiful.

Where are they?

Ah, they're still at the store having little things

done to them.

Come into the kitchen.

I'll fix you a drink.

Not the kitchen, the library.

I hope they have the dresses ready.

I'll have them sent to your office this afternoon.

I spoke to your secretary about it when I called.

That's funny.

She didn't mention it.

They didn't get the job done in time.

She had a nice voice, what's she like?

Who?

Your secretary.

Oh, what you might expect.

What's her name?

Well, to tell you the truth, I didn't get her name.

Only her dimensions.

Oh, right.

No, her name is Fleming.

So happens you don't have a thing in the world

to worry about.

She doesn't like me worth a bit.

Why?

Well, I guess she prefers working for her former boss.

Well then, why doesn't she?

I don't know.

Some kind of strategy at the top, I guess.

That sounds funny.

Yeah.

Her ex-boss happens to be only one

of the vice presidents-- my superior--

and a very nice guy to boot.

Could that perhaps be a good sign?

You figure that left me a little up in the air.

You know, Nancy, running a plant in Ohio

is beginning to take on all the aspects

of a nice, simple, uncomplicated gravy train.

What happened today?

Oh, nothing, really.

Just an impression, I guess.

Sort of queer undercurrents and tensions.

Good luck.

Mr. Ramsey.

Good morning, Mr. Ramsey.

Thanks, Jerry.

Can I see that breakdown again?

Oh, sure.

Miss Fleming, would you step in for a minute, please?

Yes, Mr. Staples.

No, that's not the one.

Oh, sorry.

Let's see this.

Yeah.

Now this is the only one that I have cross index for division

so don't let him keep it.

I want Billy to take my letter from Henry Jacobson with him.

Oh, yes.

Now look, Billy.

Henry is a nice, sincere guy, you know?

Made out of Bessemer steel.

He hadn't been off of his duff since he learned how to walk.

He started out stoking coke furnaces when he was 14,

was mill foreman when he was 20, and then he

ended up buying the whole plant for his own 40th birthday

present.

So you know what I mean, watch out.

Now give him that report, and then remember what he says.

Make stenographic notes when you can,

and when you can't, put it all down on paper

No approximations.

I want to know how they feel about every paragraph

of that thing.

I just hope they open up more to you than they did to me.

I'll be down there sometime next week for their decision.

OK

Mention that to them, will you?

Yes, I will.

Hello?

Uh-- hold on, please.

Just a second.

Have a nice trip, Billy, and be sure and call me Sunday night.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Yes, put him on.

Don't go away, Miss Fleming, please.

Hello?

Judd.

Look, I'm sorry I meant to call you right back.

It's about that Atlantic States Nitric meeting set up

for October the third.

I'd like a delay on that.

Well, I want to walk in there sure of my ground

and October is not going to give me any ground at all.

Yeah, could you do that?

It'll be a help.

November 7th?

Fine.

Look, I'll see you in the dining room.

OK, good.

Put that on my calendar, please.

Now then, did you get those wires off?

Yes, sir.

Right after lunch, I want you to set up

a conference call with Ramsey, Jameson, myself,

with Frank Daring in Denver.

Got a minute, Fred?

Sorry, Marge, this is urgent.

It's about that NLRB vote in Portland.

Ramsey's grumbling about it.

He thinks it's premature.

Premature?

What's he talking about?

He's had that plant running on wishful thinking for 19 months

now.

We've got a labor problem out there all primed

to explode in our face.

Now look, Bill, you better walk in his office

with a great big neon sign-- strike, you know-- and tell him

I've got a little estimate worked out

that it'll cost us conservatively $4,000 a day

if that plant goes out.

Oof, you know how that'll hit him.

Yeah, well you go in there and dig up the ground

and I'll follow you with a bulldozer

and we'll plow him under.

No, we've got 800 big lumberjacks out there,

and if they go, that'll do it big, you know?

This won't be any one-week picket.

This thing could go on for a year with no strain at all.

You walk in there, set the charge,

and I'll be in to light the fuse, eh?

Fine.

I'll have to call your back.

Is 2:30 convenient for your call to Denver, Mr. Staples?

Everything else on?

I've got another problem out here if you can spare a minute.

Wow, Paul, how are you, partner?

Mr. Staples, that gun.

Ah, you got it?

You try that yet?

Try it yet?

30 seconds from the time he read "Winchester Double Barrel"

on the box, he was citing it.

Well, how about going out for a little skeet shooting

on Saturday.

Give it a try, huh?

Wonderful.

Can I, Dad?

He's all yours, Fred.

He's a little too strenuous for me.

Mr. Staples doesn't get tired like you do, Dad.

I don't get tired.

He was an All-American.

Boy, it was just terrific, sir.

I had to stop by and thank you.

You forget it.

So long.

I'll see you outside.

Real thoughtful of you, Fred.

It was my pleasure, Bill.

Hello, Mr. Ramsey.

Hi, Paul.

Still taking your vitamins, are you?

I guess so, sir.

Fine, fine.

Keep it up.

Excuse me, sir.

Oh, man, I am tired.

I made arrangements for your call to Denver, Mr. Staples.

Ifl could go over one paragraph--

No, I think I'll knock that off after lunch if you don't mind,

All right, Mr. Staples.

No, drink it here.

Relax a minute.

Thank you.

Iwill.

Would you like some of mine?

Yes, thank you.

As a matter of fact, I would.

No, that's plenty.

Thank you

Where'd you play your football, Mr. Staples?

Oh, Ohio State, but don't ask me the years.

I won't tell you.

I won't ask you.

Anyway, I feel about three times older

than when I first came here.

They kept you busy.

Yes, they sure have.

You've done very well.

You fit it in quickly.

Thank you.

You know, I think that's the first out-and-out friendly

thing you've said to me.

I think you resent me a little don't you, Miss Fleming?

I don't know why you should--

Well, it's just this feeling that I've

gotten from time to time.

You work with a man for a long time, a fine man.

You become part of him.

You identify yourself with him, and along comes a new man.

I like Bill Briggs.

I like him a lot.

I have from the first.

Ifl had done or said anything--

No, no, no, of course not.

Because I must say, you've been very fair,

but seven years isn't a day.

I owe a lot to Mr Briggs.

Mr. Briggs is the last of the original bunch

around here, the people who really started this business.

That's not easy to be the last of the original bunch.

I know.

He's not well.

He has a bad heart and an ulcer.

I guess that's just about par for the executive course,

isn't it?

Well, I guess I've always been a field man.

I haven't been an executive long enough

to find that out for myself.

But you're a good one.

I think you're a very good executive.

You admit mistakes.

You don't pass the buck.

You're a lot like Mr. Briggs that way.

I take that as a very nice compliment.

I mean it.

Mr. Briggs' only trouble is that he could never

be a yes man, not even to Mr Ramsey himself.

You always has to speak his mind,

and Mr. Ramsey doesn't like his judgment questioned.

You either go along or you get off.

Bill Briggs never got off.

No, he never did, but maybe he's about to be pushed.

He blew up at the next round, but then Howard

went right by him with a 65.

65, | ask you?

Seven birdies and he sank an 82-foot putt on the last green

for a lead.

Oh, hello, my dear.

You know, that's some golf.

Yes, indeed.

It's wonderful.

The coffee will be ready in just a little while.

Fine.

My father's recipe for coffee was to make salt and chocolate

with the grounds.

Cook them all up together.

You'd never drink anything else.

Sounds wonderful.

MR. RAMSEY: They serve it at a small downtown restaurant

I eat at occasionally.

I must remember to mention it to Fred.

You said he was a confirmed coffee drinker?

NANCY: Dedicated.

Fine.

He's quite a young man, this husband of yours.

Have you had a chance to read much of the report?

Of course it isn't finished yet--

Thank you for letting me see this much.

Not according to Miss Post, I suppose, at the dinner party,

but it makes me extremely proud of my judgement.

I'm so happy.

He's been worried about it, and--

MR. STAPLES: Nancy?

If you'll excuse me.

Wonderful party, you two.

Makes me think I should get married.

Oh, don't do anything as drastic as that.

Wonderful having you, Ed.

Come again soon.

You try keeping me away.

I'll see you at the office tomorrow, Fred.

Bright and early, Ed.

Good night.

Ah, Jamie, you don't have to go.

You can stick around a while.

Of course I'd like to stay all night.

However--

We're going home.

Can't get him out of here, Nancy.

Usually he leaves office parties as soon

as the canapes are past.

I thought everybody behaved very well.

Is that so?

Gotta give him credit to that.

I was beginning to like all of them.

Will you come over and see us?

Come over during the day?

Nowadays Jamie never gets home at all.

I think we wives ought to form a union.

You're right, we should.

Good night, dear.

Buh-bye.

I wonder what happened to Bill Briggs tonight.

Oh, darling, I forgot to tell you.

He phoned earlier.

He said he wanted to come, but he just didn't--

Oh, Nancy, I wish you'd have called me to the phone.

I wanted to talk to him anyway.

But darling, you were busy.

Well, I know, but In what about Ramsey?

Is he planning to spend the night?

No.

He just gravitated towards the library and made himself cozy.

Sounds a little like artificial gravitation.

You didn't have anything to do with it, of course.

Well, he's really an amazing person.

You know, I expected a real tycoon,

but he's so simple, almost childlike.

Baby, ljust hope by mistake you never wander into a jungle.

Wonderful party.

MR. RAMSEY: Some interesting reading matter here, Fred.

Very interesting reading.

I took the liberty of accepting your wife's kind invitation

to look over your report.

Oh, really?

Good, heady stuff.

Good solid thinking, and some of it is better than good.

Of course, I can't say that I agree

with all your conclusions, but I listen to arguments.

It will be good to hear arguments for a change.

Good arguments.

Well, I can't tell you what a relief that is.

We really sweat that one out.

Fred, I like a man to show initiative.

I like a man who is not afraid to think a new thought.

To take a different kind of step on his own.

With your permission, I'll, uh, borrow this extra copy

of your report just overnight.

But for now, I can say I'm very impressed.

Well of course, we haven't finished this thing yet,

but Bill and I feel that another week--

MR. RAMSEY: Bill?

You mean Briggs?

Yes, sir.

Well, we work together on this.

Oh, come now, Staples.

I pride myself on my sense of style.

I can link what I see with what I

know to be peculiar to a certain individual,

and I know Bill Briggs' work.

I've been exposed to it since I was of voting age.

This-- this isn't his style.

It isn't his brand of thinking.

Well, I don't know what Nancy could have told you,

but Bill and I work--

Fred, learn to accept success.

It's tougher sometimes than learning to accept failure.

Don't take half of your accomplishment

and hand it out gratuitously to the man on your left

who hasn't the stuff to do it on his own.

That's charitable, humane, and it makes you feel good,

but it's not business.

Mr. Ramsey, I'd like to clear up one point.

There will be a meeting on Tuesday, Fred.

We can discuss the report then.

I assure you I don't want any undue credit.

I never extend undue credit.

Ask anybody.

Ask your friend, Briggs.

You think I'm tough on him, don't you?

lam tough on him.

I think Bill is-- I think he's a good man.

MR. RAMSEY: He was, and grandfather clocks

were good clocks and Stanley Steamers were good automobiles,

but you can't run them in competition today.

I must say that I like some of his ideas very much.

Very much indeed.

So do I. Some of them.

Not many.

Still, a man with Bill's experience and-- I don't know,

I think he'd be very hard to replace.

I'll see if that coffee's ready yet.

Are you serious, Fred?

Briggs would be hard to replace?

Do you honestly think that?

And why do you think I brought you out here from Mansfield

on such short notice?

Do you think that was a whim?

Is that what you think?

Fred, you're Briggs' replacement.

I thought you understood that.

I'm expecting his resignation.

I don't like to prolong these things.

They're unpleasant and personal no matter what tack you use.

And under no circumstances could I

or would I undertake to fire him.

Coffee's in the living room.

I thought perhaps you'd like to go in there.

It's quiet.

Look at the time.

I really must go.

It's been a wonderful evening.

Sorry you have to leave so soon.

I really must.

My coat I think is in the bedroom.

Oh, yes, of course.

I'll give it for you.

May I make a suggestion?

Mr. Ramsey, I don't want to seem ungrateful.

I'm not looking for gratitude.

You can't run a business on thank you notes.

That's Briggs' trouble, and God forgive me

that was my father's trouble, too.

This-- this incredible conception of a huge industry

being run like a soup kitchen.

Like a Welfare comfort station.

I know what the old timers think of me.

I've grown up getting stared at by a lot

of tongue-clucking old fogeys who find me ruthless.

Kind of people who represent everything

that might have kept our business from growing

to anything like its present size.

This, this stupid black-and-white idea

that honesty and fair profit are incompatible.

I just happen to feel that the atmosphere of a large

corporation cannot be constantly cathedral-like.

Thank you, Mr. Staples, and again,

thanks for a wonderful evening.

I'll see you in the morning, Fred.

You didn't steal that promotion.

You won it.

Remember that.

NANCY: Goodnight, Mr. Ramsey.

I hope you come see us again.

MR. RAMSEY: Thank you, Nancy.

I hope I'll be able to.

Good night.

NANCY: Good night.

What was that all about?

I'm Bill Briggs' replacement.

A vice president?

He must have really spreaded him.

Listen, a little rare roast beef and wifely pride

don't get you that kind of a promotion.

Yeah, it takes something a little more.

A little misrepresentation for one thing.

A little switch in authorship for another.

You told him I'd written that report.

I did not!

I told him Bill had helped you.

But, Nancy, this is Bill's basic idea.

Oh, the same set of ideas that he's had for years.

I gathered that much.

You gave it life, you made it work, you made it practical.

Even so, Nancy, I don't want any part of it.

Oh, Fred, I happen to know what you contributed to this.

I also know that you can't stand winning

if you have even a nodding acquaintance with a loser.

I don't like stepping on another human being

to get into a capital gains bracket.

Ramsey's stalking that poor guy like an animal.

He'll rip him to death if he has to to make him resign.

I didn't hear you tell Mr. Ramsey that he was mistaken.

I didn't hear any clear cut defense of Mr. Briggs.

If you don't want to be successful,

go and tell Mr. Ramsey.

He'll give you a bone--

Will you please--

And you can check in at 7 o'clock--

Now, look I don't want to argue about it--

Neither do I!

I just want you to answer me.

Did you tell him that your wife was mistaken?

Did you tell him that you were taking part

in something you did not do?

No.

No, I didn't.

Why not, Fred?

Because I want the job.

Thank you for a straight and honest answer.

Now I think we can both sleep tonight.

Hi.

Good morning, Paul.

Where's Cora?

She's late, I guess.

Aren't you going to be late for school?

It's only 8:10.

I've still got six minutes.

You've got it figured out to a science, haven't you?

I just got it figured to how far I have to go

and how long it's going to take me.

Well, if you found that out, you found out a lot.

Thanks for breakfast.

You worked late again last night.

Yeah, no rest for the weary.

You haven't got it down to a science yet, have you, Dad?

What?

How far you have to go and how long it'll take you.

What's a matter, Paul?

Here's last night's doubleheader.

The one we were going to see.

Oh, I forgot all about it, Paul.

l'm-- I'm sorry.

We didn't miss much.

I watched it on television.

Crummy doubleheader.

The Braves took both of them.

You're lucky.

The Yanks are playing tonight, aren't they?

Yeah, they play the Red Sox.

Let's start all over again.

You meet me at the office, we'll have dinner,

and then we'll go to the game together.

Sounds good.

It's a date.

We're on.

So long, Dad.

Have a good day, and, uh, if you can't make it tonight,

would you give me a call at school?

I've raised the world's worst pessimist.

At 8 o'clock in the morning you're

figuring out the worst possible thing

that could happen at 6 o'clock tonight.

Upstairs in my room I've got a drawer full of tickets

to ballgames we've never seen because of that stuff.

But call me if you can, Dad, it's important.

I'll make it this time, son.

Can't you have another glass of milk

and maybe tell me about last night's doubleheader?

I'd be late.

Wish I could.

So long, Dad.

Take it easy.

Good evening, Mr. Staples.

Good evening, Sally.

Paul?

Hi, Bill.

Hi, Fred.

I thought it was my son.

He's going to pick me up.

Got time for a cigarette?

Sure.

What are you doing here?

I thought you were going to the ballgame?

I've had a miserable headache since dinner,

so I sent Paul out to see the game alone.

He's going to pick me up.

How long you been here?

Couple of hours, I guess.

Can I get you an aspirin or something?

Oh, no, no.

It's much better now.

Anyway, it gave me a chance to look over the supplements

you did for the report.

I think Ramsey's right, Fred.

You may be an engineer by diploma,

but you're a crackerjack industrial planner

Coming from you, Bill, that sounds real good.

No question about it.

Some of your suggestions were great, Fred.

Really great.

I've incorporated them verbatim.

I like your approach, Fred.

You think of people in terms of the human factor, not just

logistically.

Something I've never been able to make Ramsey understand.

Anyway, now he can't complain I turn

in the same report every year.

He won't be able to say that this year.

Join me, Fred?

No thanks, Bill.

I've got to take Nancy out for supper and that long drive

home, you know?

I don't know, maybe I'm just getting old.

I used to be pretty tough.

Still tough, I guess.

Every now and then I get tired.

Tired of arguments, tired of battling,

tired of the whole bloody mess with all

this fancy organization and super finagling.

Oh, I know it's legal and modern and all that.

It's what they call a trend, isn't it?

In the old days things were a lot simpler.

Businesses grow, Bill.

This business didn't grow.

Not since old man Ramsey passed on.

It's been added to.

That's not growth.

Just plain acquisition of business,

of stock transfers and bank loans,

manipulated by hired shysters and their sharpshooting

accountants, and organized and controlled

by a barracuda like Walter Ramsay.

Sure you won't have a snifter, Fred?

I wish you would.

Well, times change, Bill.

You know that.

But do they always change for the better?

Old man Ramsey could walk down a production line

and call every man by his first name,

and get called by his first name in return.

Now I know that feeling, believe me.

He didn't need public relations experts.

Honor was enough, character, and he never sold a share of stock

in this company, either.

Not till the depression came along

and he had to raise cash or go under.

And do you know why?

Because he would not lay off one single man.

That's the kind of man Jim Ramsey was.

Now I sit in that fancy conference

room with Jim Ramsey's son.

I sit there and I see all the old man's principles.

All his beliefs.

Every single thing wholly to him jobbed off

by this spindly little financial wizard,

this wall-eyed, ice-coated little rooster

who knows more about debentures than he

does about the human heart.

I'm all right.

Take it easy.

I'm all right.

You'll begin to work yourself up.

I'm all right.

Sit down, Fred.

Sit down quietly and be a nice sympathetic friend

and associate.

I'm wondering if you are as good a human being as you are

an industrial relations man.

He doesn't like you, does he?

No.

Bill, has it ever occurred to you to resign?

Of course it has.

Thousands of times.

Why don't you?

What?

You can't take a chance of letting this man fire you.

On our level you don't get fired, you know that.

After 30 years of productive work,

they can't say to a man like me, all right, now get out.

They just can't do that.

So what do they do?

They create a situation.

A situation you can't work in and finally you can't live in.

Where this tension, abuse, small humiliations--

it all starts out on a scale so subtle,

so microscopic that at first you can't really believe it's

happening at all.

But gradually the thing begins to take shape.

The pieces fit together, all the little bits,

and it becomes unmistakable.

They chip away at your pride, your security,

till you begin to have doubts.

Then fears.

Ramsey-- he wants me to resign.

He wants me to get my cross so full

that I'll be miserable enough to do just that.

But you take it.

Yes, I take it.

Why?

The bigger the job, the more desperately I try to hang on.

Why?

Why?

Why do you take it?

Why don't you quit?

Quit?

Yes, quit, get out of it.

Chuck it.

You've had your pension, your peace of mind.

No!

MR. STAPLES: You know Ramsey's going to go on hounding you

until he makes you quit.

Never!

He'll never make me quit.

Bill, l-- I wish I could understand

why you'd go on taking it.

Because I'm weak, I guess.

Because I'm 62 years old and I don't think

I could get anotherjob.

How's that strike you?

How do you think?

Once in a while, I have a dream.

I dream I'm sitting in that conference room

and he starts working me over.

Just smiling, see.

Perfectly calm and I'm taking it.

I don't show the slightest resentment.

And then, then without any change of expression,

I get up out of my chair and I walk over to him.

And I say Ramsey--

Ramsey!

Ramsey, I say, and then I'll smash him.

And then I smash him again.

Get a hold of yourself.

And I hit him again.

And I hold him up.

And then Ramsey, I say, I'm not through yet!

It's the kid.

He's coming to pick me up.

Fred, I don't want him to see me.

You're all right, Bill.

Just sit down now.

No, he can't see me like this.

Fred, help me.

Help me.

All right, I'll take care of him.

You just lay low for a minute.

Tell him I left early to get some pills.

Hey, Paul.

Oh, hi, Mr. Staples.

Man, what a place by night.

Where do they keep the caskets?

How you doing, partner?

Dad said I should drop in and pick him up.

Oh, well, he went on home.

He needed a little rest.

Oh, good, he's under orders not to work late.

Can't seem to keep away lately.

Always work, always worrying.

No wonder he's number two man.

Suppose I drop you off at Grand Central, huh?

Swell, thanks, Mr. Staples.

Ever since I can remember he's been married to this place.

Mom used to say the same thing.

They were great together, Mr. Staples, Mom and Dad.

They used to yell and argue and carry on.

More?

There's another bundle on the truck.

Mr. Staples, you left your hat in Mr. Briggs' office.

0h, Fred, I have a Stanley complex made up

Later, please.

Bad night.

Yes, Mr. Staples?

Now this is the proposal's report.

Give that to Miss Lanier for confidential memoing.

Tell her that Mr. Briggs has the only carbon.

Is he in yet?

No, sir.

Mr. Staples?

It's not signed.

How would you like the name?

In what order?

First yours or first Mr. Briggs?

Oh, I don't care.

Makes no difference to me.

But in joint projects, Mr. Staples--

I really don't think it's too important.

Put Mr. Briggs' name first if you like.

Just give it to Miss Lanier right away.

I'd like this thing printed by afternoon if possible.

That's all, Marge.

Yes, Mr. Staples.

Yes, Marge, dear?

The proposal's report.

Would you sign it so it can be printed?

Oh, would you--

Just a moment, please.

Marge, would you please take it in to Mr. Ramsey?

He has to see it first.

Hello?

Oh, yes, good morning.

Is that the report?

Miss Lanier said you wanted to see it.

Yes, I do.

Who signed this?

I wrote the title page.

Mr. Staples suggested I sign it.

Print it.

I'm sure that if Mr. Staples--

Print it, Miss Fleming.

I can sign that report now, Marge.

Now we meet with Ramsey in 20 minutes--

Under the conditions and in the time we got left,

it's the best one I can devise.

It's the only one ready, so you fellas have got to go along.

There's nothing wrong--

MISS LANIER: Marge, I can sign that report now.

Thank you, Marge.

The major projects during the period

of aforementioned being, the Huber petroleum refinery,

the Sterling Cast Airs Refinery, the Chatham-Nickel Smelter

Company, the Henderson Valley Dam, the Swing Carbon Steam

Plant, and the New England Canadian Natural Gas Pipeline.

Good report, Dan.

Thank you.

I got a real feeling of activity during your reading.

The next item of business is the project's proposal report.

Clearly of the greatest single importance on our docket

this morning.

I must say, and I'm sure you all agree, that I am not

given to enthusiasms at the drop of a submission,

but of this I feel impelled to say

that it is unique in effort and genius and thought.

To Mr. Fred Staples of our organization goes my heartfelt

thanks and congratulations.

Besides being our newest member, he

seems to be shaping up as among our most astute.

This set of proposals is ingenious, comprehensive,

and fresh.

Congratulations.

Your success is a reaffirmation of my own judgment.

Mr. Ramsey--

Of my own good judgment, I may add.

Mr. Ramsey.

I prefer not to be drenched with modesty, Mr. Staples.

This is not modesty, just the extension of credit

where it's due.

Bill here is as responsible--

Is your name about to be used in vain?

I don't think Fred would use my name in vain.

And it's refreshing to find someone not suffering

from overmodesty.

What I was trying to say is that we worked on this project

together.

It's a combined effort.

MR. STAPLES: Well as long as that's understood.

Oh, it is, it is.

It's just that I feel reasonably competent to assess

the individual performances and to single out those

that I feel should be singled out.

With all due regard for Mr. Staples'

concern for his fellow man.

Now then, if Mr. Briggs' ego has been sufficiently nourished.

I don't think Fred brought this out to feed my ego.

Oh?

Well then, whatever it was that prompted his precipitate dash

to your defense.

There was no dash to my defense.

Why don't we drop the thing, Mr. Briggs?

I hate becoming entangled in absurd little personality

I'll put a star by your name on the front cover

if that'll make you happy.

My name is no longer on the front cover.

MR. RAMSEY: Mr. Briggs.

You're twisting the entire thing

to make it appear as if I were grubbing

for some sort of recognition.

Mr. Briggs.

I find it unfair, Mr. Ramsey.

We have a full agenda!

If you feel so bruised that you must persist

in prolonging this discussion.

Mr. Ramsey!

Let me finish, Mr. Staples, ifl may!

We have only one purpose here-- to work.

We cannot hope to accomplish this if we must be continually

subjected to these singularly unbecoming strains

and tensions.

These childish claims and counterclaims.

Mr. Briggs, I ask you a simple question.

Is it or is it not within my province

to credit a man with a job well done?

Of course it is.

Then may we drop it now?

Only if it's clearly understood that l

don't submit to any of these calculator discolorations

of a man's worth.

As to a man's worth, Mr. Briggs,

I think I've proven myself a competent judge.

I ask you to recall that I built this business from a scratch

pile of used lumber and a few machines into a giant,

and I make few mistakes in doing it.

Few mistakes in business and few mistakes in judging men.

Well you've made one this time.

This report--

I refuse to engage in a running fight

because a supposedly responsible official of this company

persists in wasting time haggling over credit.

That is not fair!

I was not haggling over credit!

This is a joint report that we worked on!

MR. STAPLES: Don't tell me what's true

and what is not true!

What am I, some kind of idiot that I can't recognize

another man's thinking?

Whatever your abilities in the past, Mr. Briggs,

your work hasn't shown this stamp of originality and talent

in 10 years.

A man slips, clutches.

He loses his grip.

He tries to hang on by someone else's.

You have no right to say that.

Bill, will you please speak up?

MR. RAMSEY: Go, by all means, Mr. Briggs.

You think I'm mistaken, do you?

Shall I go through 150 pages and point out to you line by line

where another man has taken over for you?

Has had to take over for you?

And I can point out sections of this report

that I never had to touch.

Had to, Mr. Staples?

Of course you can.

Let me show them to you.

I've seen them submitted year after year.

Principles and precepts for better business.

Mr. Briggs' yearly platitudes.

But you translated his unworkable, well-intentioned

philosophy into tough business procedure.

You make it work.

Ramsey!

MR. RAMSEY: Mr. Briggs, I will not tolerate insubordination

on any level, and if anyone else finds that intolerable,

he has the God-given right to offer his resignation.

Bill?

Please.

Mr. Ramsey, I had no intention of seeming insubordinate.

Meeting is adjourned.

MARGE: Mr. Briggs?

Mr. Briggs?

Bill?

Bill, can you hear me?

Just a little-- a little bottle of pills.

Coat pocket.

Get some water.

Yes.

Grannigan, get an ambulance.

I'll call Dr. Blake.

Don't move him.

BILL (GASPING): Fred, is still-- still giving orders?

Do me a favor, Fred.

What, Bill?

BILL: Tell him-- tell him--

Hello?

Thank you, Mr. Staples.

Five minutes ago.

Just heard word from the hospital.

He died five minutes ago.

Thank you, Mr. Vannigan.

Nancy?

What are you doing here?

I called your office, and there wasn't any train,

sol drove here.

How did you know where to find me?

They told me at the hospital.

Does Paul know?

Yes, he's with Bill's sister.

He's all right.

Care for something, Miss?

Have you had anything to eat?

Hm?

Have you eaten anything?

Fred, what happened?

Nothing.

Not a thing, except a murder.

There were witnesses, too.

Plenty of us.

And no one lifted a finger to stop it.

Oh, Fred.

Nancy, I know.

I didn't lift a finger.

You don't know.

I'm not going to have you going around in sack cloth and ashes

to something that you did everything

in your power to stop.

You begged him to resign, you know that.

What more could you have done?

What more could anyone have done?

Nancy, I think you'd better go home.

Would you take this, please?

Are you coming?

Nope.

Then I won't go.

I want you to go home and start packing.

Where are we going?

I don't know.

Somewhere, anywhere.

Just away.

There's an awful stink in this town

and we're going to get away from it.

Come on, I'll put you in the car.

No, I'm not going to leave you alone.

Nancy, I want you to go home, please.

No, I'm not going tonight.

Tomorrow I'll do anything you ask.

I'll pack, I'll go anywhere you ask, but not tonight.

Not in the state you're in.

Now look, there's something I've got to do.

Fine, then we'll do it together.

Bill was supposed to go to Lansing tomorrow

morning for a meeting with Phillips.

You'll have to take his place.

I believe I've already mentioned that.

Yeah, you mentioned it.

You leave on flight number 116, 8:32 from LaGuardia.

Miss Lanier will meet you at the airport with your reservation

and all the memoranda and correspondence

pertaining to the negotiation.

You'll have three uninterrupted hours

in the air to familiarize yourself with all the details.

I have no interest whatever in the Phillips matter.

What was that?

I'm telling you that I don't want the job.

I'm through, I'm quitting.

I resign as of now.

Why?

Because I hate your guts.

You used Bill Briggs for a whipping boy.

You made him knuckle under and then you beat him to death.

You wouldn't try anything like that with me

because I'd kill you first.

I'm not a nice human being.

What else?

MR. STAPLES: You're nothing but a freak!

You'll drive your people into peak efficiency if they can

make it or a grave if they can't.

Because Bill Briggs

lacked the strength to stand up!

He was second in command.

He had a lot of responsibility to hold

and he cracked under it.

It was his business, too!

It's no one's business!

To those who can control it, sustain it, nurture it,

keep it going.

Right now it belongs to us because we're producing.

But in the future it belongs to whoever has the brains

and the skill to take it away from us.

Well they can have my share of it

right now because I don't want any part of it.

What do you want from me?

Apologies?

I don't apologize!

What else?

A nice, unsullied conscience?

You walk out of here with a halo because you spoke your mind?

What do you do then?

Go to work for some nickel-and-dime outfit run

by nice people who won't challenge you and prod

you and goad you, and drive you to a height you never even

dreamed of?

A company where there's nothing to fight

for because you're the best and there's no competition?

When everything is handed to you and nothing

is worth fighting for?

I want you to stay!

I don't think you understand, Ramsey.

I don't like you.

I don't like anything about you.

MR. RAMSEY: I didn't hire you to like me.

All right, I'm not a nice person in your eyes.

But whatever I am, you'll learn more, grow more,

and do more here with me than anywhere else on Earth.

I want you to stay because I need help on my level

and you're the only one who is able to function there.

Be a conscience for me if you want.

Be anything you like.

And if it's something I don't like,

you will know about it soon enough.

I think you're strong enough to take it,

and if not I think you're strong enough to get out.

Name your terms.

All terms are negotiable.

I don't think so.

Not mine.

MR. RAMSEY: All right.

I just assume not waste any time doing trading.

As of now, your salary is doubled.

Your stock option is doubled right down the line.

Your expense account is whatever you make it.

Add to that a new title, vice president.

I want a lot more than that.

You're not going to take me on as just another vice

president you can push around.

You take me as someone who hates you down to the bare nerve.

Nothing in the world will ever change that.

I'll argue with you, contradict you, fight you

in every way I know how.

I'll do everything in my power to push you

out and take your place myself.

Go ahead and try.

Mr. Staples, you have yourself a deal.

Have it drawn up.

No reservations now?

Yes, one.

Bill had one pitiful little dream

that someday he'd walk in here and break your jaw.

I reserve the right to have that wish for myself.

I'll have it drawn into the contract with a little rider

giving me the same privilege.

Oh, uh, Staples, you'll be pleased to know

that Bill Brigg's boy is being taken care of.

Will that let you sleep better tonight?

It begins, huh?

It begins.

Fair enough?

Do we pack?

No, we stay.

On who's term?

Mine and his.

Are you satisfied?

Yes.

Oh, Fred.

You know, it's easy enough to check something

you think is wrong, but I don't know, this way maybe

there's a chance.

Fred, I'm so happy.

Well, we'll see.

I've got to go to Lansing.

Morning train.

When will you be back?

Tomorrow night.

I'll be late.

Aren't you always?