All language subtitles for Slander (1957)

Good morning, Mr Manley.

Good morning, Miss Gregg.
Did mother have a good night?

Very good, sir. She slept right through.
- Alright.

Oh, I have a surprise for her.

I stopped in at Cunninghams and
picked out a mink stole for her.

So this afternoon, before
you go to the matinee.

Why don't you drop by and pick it up?
- I'll be glad to, Mr Manley.

And while you're about it I think it
might be nice to have lunch at Le Toro.

I'll have Miss Turner make a
reservation for one o'clock.

Miss Turner made a reservation for
us last time, Mr Manley. But ..

It will be perfectly alright. The
manager explained that it was a mistake.

It won't happen again.

Yes?

Oh. Yes, Miss Turner?

No I am not interested in speaking to
Mr Walsh. Certainly not from my home.

If he calls again, tell him
you gave me the message.

Oh and Miss Turner,
while you're on the line.

Would you make a reservation at Le Toro
for my mother and Miss Gregg?

Yes, at one o'clock. And Miss Turner.

Speak to Alfredo personally, won't you.

Yes. I'll be at the office
in about a half hour.

Thank you.

After the .. matinee.

I'll meet both of you at
Regency Park for tea at 5:30.

Then we can have an early dinner
before I have to go to the studio.

We're looking forward to seeing
you on the Alan J Frederick show.

As a matter of fact, Miss Gregg,
I'm looking forward to it too.

Good morning, mother.

Good morning.

Miss Gregg told me you had a good night.

Well, in most prisons I understand ..

The inmates are spared the guards
morning report to the warder.

Now you shouldn't speak
that way about Miss Gregg.

She is going to take you to
Le Toro for lunch this afternoon.

I don't want to go to La Toro for lunch.

Why?

The last time I was there, even though
you said we had a reservation.

They kept us waiting almost an hour.

I know, but I told you
that was a mistake.

The management called and told ..
- It was no mistake.

They made it perfectly plain.

That I was not welcome.

Well darling, will you try it once
more? I'm sure you will like it.

What make you so certain
what I'll like or dislike?

Mother.

Every morning, I try to plan
a nice pleasant day for you.

And every morning, you find objections.

I don't want my days planned for me.

I'm perfectly content to stay
here in the apartment.

But it's not good for you. You should
get out and see people and do things.

The food at La Toro is marvellous and ..

They tell me they make
the best Martini in town.

You see .. I prefer a Bloody Mary.

Well, I'll tell Miss Gregg
that you might like one.

I might even tell her
you might have two.

Good .. bye-bye.

I'll see you at Regency Park at 5:30.

Good morning, Mr Manley.
- Good morning, Miss Bingham.

Good morning, Mr Manley.
- Morning, Miss Turner.

Oh, did you take care of those
reservations for my mother?

Yes, sir. Mr Walsh called again.
He said that ..

Miss Turner .. please get
me the distributor's figures.

I must see them before
the staff conference.

Yes, sir.

Good morning, Hal.
- Hello, Homer.

When I got in a little while ago,
I found this message from Harry Walsh.

He missed out on a large block
of stock in a telephone company.

Look Hal, as the so-called legal brains
of this outfit, I'd like to point out ..

Homer, the trouble with you
is that you're a worrier.

Now if you want to get to the top of the
heap .. you'll have to learn to relax.

No, no. I prefer being
second in command.

And I'm good at it
because I am a worrier.

Right now, I'm worried about the
way you're handling Harry Walsh.

Harry Walsh has made plenty on us.

In the first two years
we've been in business.

As far as I'm concerned, that ..

The distributor's figures, Mr Manley.

Thank you Miss Turner.

A total of .. 701,000.

For the first five days of
the week, that's not bad.

Not good, either.

We're selling more news-stand copies
than any other magazine in America.

But we're down a
little from our last issue.

Not much, true. But ..

Down is down. I don't like it.

We're still five million
copies ahead of zero.

Which is where we were when
we set up shop two years ago.

When we set up shop,
we were alone in the field.

Now, we've got a dozen imitators.

The public is beginning
to think we're all alike.

Homer.

The public has about as much
brains as a halibut steak.

And don't worry. No imitator
ever gets good enough.

If we can get a really sensational
copy on the stands next month, the ..

The imitators will disappear like ..

Cold beer at a picnic.

If.

Shall we go to the staff meeting?

And Homer, don't scare at the word "if".

Look what it did for Kipling.

Morning.
- Good morning.

Now let's see what we intend
to use in our next issue. Elsie?

Rosemary Dalton, the Broadway star.

She's retired, isn't she?

Well, she hasn't been
in a play for a long time.

Uhuh. What have we on her?

Narcotics. She was an addict for years.
Had herself committed in 1933.

Here is a Photostat of the
application she signed.

She cured herself didn't she.

Well, she hasn't taken
anything for a long time.

You never know about these people.

I see. Byron?

Pop Beresford.

What you got?

Clean living old Pop himself.
- What about him?

During the coach's convention
in Chicago last year.

He was registered in
the convention hotel.

But do you know where he
was catching his shuteye?

A love nest?

On the south side.

With a little Mexican tomato.

Slings hash in a chilli
joint in The Loop.

We got some pictures.

You got pictures, but they
won't go through the mails.

Willis.

I'm rather proud of this one, Chief.

I dug down into the wilds
of the bible belt to get it.

It concerns no-one else
but H. Brockford Brown.

Holy Joe?
- The same.

What about him?

This was during the war, before he got
out of the Army to became an evangelist.

He was up on a rape charge.

A French girl is still
trying to prove that ..

Holy Joe is the father of her child.

How about those revival
meetings he conducts?

You know, with the women writhing
all over the place. Anything there?

No.

Holy Joe is too smart for that.

But heck, boss.

This French dame. That's
still a good story, isn't it?

Before I came to this meeting,
Mr Crowley and I were ..

Looking over the circulation figures.

We're down again this month.

Willis.
- Yes, sir?

When I put you on here, you'd been fired
from 8 jobs in as many months, right?

Elsie.

When you came here.

You'd been out of work for
almost two years. Am I correct?

And Byron.

Byron, when we wanted you
to work here, we had to ..

Look almost as far as
The Bowery. Didn't we?

Didn't we?

Yes, sir.

When we started two years ago ..

You were all hungry.

You all had a grudge against the world.

And wanted to get back at it.

Well, I gave you the
chance to get back at it.

And I handed you
good money for doing it.

And you did your jobs well.
You went out and dug.

You dug deep and you came
back with good stories.

Stuff so good that every month .. five
million Americans, all over the country.

Were willing to go up to
their news-stands and ..

Put down one of those.

To buy a copy of our magazine.

Now, for the last five or six months.

A few less Americans have gone
up to the news-stands. Why?

Because you're all getting fat.

Our readers want dirt.
You're not giving it to them.

This stuff you brought in today.
It's .. they're little stories.

Alright for filler but ..

Nothing big enough or sensational enough
to make us stand out from our imitators.

And unless we stand out
from the imitators ..

They'll climb up on our
backs, higher and higher ..

Mr Walsh .. Mr Walsh!

Mr Walsh, please ..

You are interrupting a conference.
- I'm going to do a lot more than that.

Mr Walsh, please won't you ..?

Is it true what I heard last night?

You're about to sign a new printing
contract with Amos Sutter & Company?

What of it?

You and I have no contract.

What's the matter, Hal? Don't you
like Harry Walsh's printing anymore?

You are making it very
difficult for me, Harry.

Meaning what?

Meaning, your printing is excellent.

It's you whom I do not like.

Well.

You liked me fine two years ago when you
were a nickel and dime press agent ..

For a stable of beat-up strippers
and no-talent hoofers.

When you lived in a two-room dump in
Washington Heights with your old lady.

When you were so busted, you didn't have
cab fare to bring you down to my office.

So you could tell me the great
idea you had for a new magazine.

Are you suggesting it
was not a great idea?

It was nothing but a bunch
of dirty stories in your head.

Stuff those poor slobs, you call your
clients, had told you in confidence.

I'm the guy that decided
to take a chance.

I'm the guy that said "okay".

"You think your idea is so hot."

"You think people
will go for this dirt."

You sit down and write me a
first issue and I'll print it.

You can thank me for the thirty
G's we cleared on the first issue.

And you can thank me for the
dough that's been rolling in ever since.

I'm the guy that did all that.
Me. Harry Walsh. Remember?

I'm finding it more
difficult by the minute.

You don't know yet
what difficulties are.

But I'm going to see that you learn.

I moved you from baked
beans up to steak.

Well now I'm going to
move you back again.

And before I finish with you.

You'll be lucky if you can afford
ketchup to go with them.

Alright. Get out.

That's exactly what I'm doing.

And my money is getting out with me.

He's gone crazy.

No he hasn't. I was trying
to tell you this morning.

You still owe him a
hundred thousand dollars.

I thought those notes had
been paid off long ago.

We've been making money by the
bushel-full ever since the first issue.

And we've been pouring it out
at approximately the same rate.

Taxes take a huge bite.

Look at the big staff here.

We've got tipsters on our payroll
practically all over the world.

Constantly shelling out for private
detectives and wiretappers.

All that comes high, H.R.

So do Park Avenue rents and limousines.

I'm aware of that.

The fact remains you have
not answered my question.

Why was Harry Walsh not paid back?

Notes were being paid off regularly.

If you hadn't started
the Amos Sutter thing.

Harry would have waited for the $100,000
just the way he waited for the rest.

Well .. I ..

Seem to have posed quite
a problem for us, haven't I.

Not really.

He's a pretty reasonable guy.

All it takes is a nice
apologetic phone call.

I see.

All I have to do is tell Harry that ..

I'm not going to sign with Amos Sutter.

I'm perfectly happy with
Harry Walsh. Is that it?

Precisely.

Well, I'm not going to do it.

Well.

I don't see any other solution.
- I do.

One big issue. One
really sensational issue.

Will pay off Harry Walsh.

And settle the whole thing.

Would you ask our staff
to return, please?

Recess is over.

Ladies and gentlemen.

As I was saying before the
courteous Mr Walsh interrupted.

Whatever happened to the ..

Mary Sawyer story?

We may have a source.

I've been on it chief, for a month
but all I've drawn is blanks.

Mary Sawyer is probably one of the three
big box office names in America, right?

Right.

She's played everything from
Joan of Arc to the Song of Faith.

In the minds of the American public
she is practically a nun, right?

Right.

There has never been a breath of
public scandal about her. Right?

Right.

Now we all know that ..

Any boob can bring in our kind
of a story on some .. some tramp.

But when we bring in our kind
of a story on a Mary Sawyer ..

That's when we hit the
circulation bullseye.

Yes, I know, but ..

I've been digging on this for a solid
month and what have I found?

Mary Sawyer is happily
married to a doctor.

She has a little girl named
Sandy and that's it.

It's a dead-end, chief.
- I don't believe it.

There is something
dirty in everyone's past.

And Mary Sawyer is no exception.

The cleaner they are
on the surface, the ..

Dirtier they are underneath.

Well there is this guy Scott Martin.
- Who?

Scott Martin.

He's a guy around town
that works with puppets.

Puts on shows at weddings and
birthdays and small nightclubs.

A sort of second-rate vaudevillian.

What's he to do with Mary Sawyer?

I don't know.

It's just one of the tipsters I've been
using. He happened to mention the guy.

When?

Oh, about a week ago.

About a week ago. And
you've done nothing about it.

Well this isn't the only
story I've been working on.

And after all chief, it's
not much of a lead.

Bill, you've been around here
long enough to know that ..

That when you deal with
someone like .. like Mary Sawyer.

Any lead might be the
one that cracks the story.

I want everything there is to
know about this Scott Martin.

I don't mean being as clumsy as walking
up and asking him for his biography.

Get started on Scott Martin.

You've been complaining all about
your foot all morning, Arrow.

Well, it hurts.

Oh, it's probably just a sliver.

Let's take a look at it.

Oh, it's nothing.

Come on now, on your feet, over here.

Now, take it easy will you, boss.

Come on. Come on now, show me that foot.

Yep. It's a sliver alright.

Oh, I'll pull it out.

Ouch!

Tex.

Tex.

Coming, Sally.

You'd better lie down and take
it easy for a while, Arrow.

Don't hurry on my account.

Hi, Sally.

Hi, Tex.

It's wonderful to see you.

Over at the dance last Saturday night ..

All the girls were saying you could
lasso a steer with your eyes closed.

Thank you very much, Mr Martin.
That's enough for the time being.

Mind waiting outside for a few minutes?

Oh .. not at all, sir.

How did it go?
- I don't know.

They didn't give me a
chance to do the whole ..

They didn't give me a
chance to do that whole act.

Just the part with Tex and
Sally and not too much of that.

It felt sort of funny working
without the stage.

There were no kids there.
Just a few executives.

Real sourballs.

I don't know, Connie. It's a kid's act.

These guys, they never even
cracked a smile. They just sat there.

Seth is in there making with the agent.
I guess we'll all know soon enough.

You'll get the job.
I just know you will.

Let's move over here.

Mr Sterling.

A year ago my little niece told me there
was a man who did a marionette show ..

For free once a week at the
local settlement house.

He was so good every kid in
the neighborhood waited for ..

That one night a week
like farmers wait for rain.

I went out to take a look at this guy
and I knew I had found a winner.

I tell you Mr Sterling, kids would eat
carpet tacks if Scott Martin told them.

We'd do better trying to find someone
as much like Papy Parker as possible.

Don't you agree, Charlie?

Gentlemen, the woods are full of
people who can sing like Papy Parker.

Since Papy got sick
we've hired four of them.

There are two others out there
waiting in the reception room.

And all they've done is drive our rating
down in to the ground like a tent peg.

Look, we're trying to sell to children.

They are the ones who eat
the Sterling Breakfast Foods.

They're used to Papy Parker and his
western songs. That's what they like.

Wouldn't it be so wonderful?

Just think, you'd be home
every night with me and Joey.

Instead of working in some roadhouse in
New Jersey or a lodge meet in Brooklyn.

I mean, no more going back to the shoe
shop at Hammersmiths when bookings fall.

Stop daydreaming, honey.
I haven't even got the job yet.

You'll ..

Have to go back in there and
get your things together, Scott.

They want you to go
on at 4 o'clock .. today.

No.
- Oh, Scott ..

Oh Scott, that's wonderful.

Gosh, I'd better run. I have
to pick up Joey at school.

Goodbye.

"I'll be waiting for you where
the tumbleweed is blue."

"Where you'll find
life is peaceful all day."

"I'll be heading right soon where
the prairie flowers bloom."

"Where the breeze
blows my troubles away."

"No fence to hold us in."

"Lots of sun to warm your skin."

"A river of cool water, all our own ."

"All our own, bo-bo-bo."

"I'll be waiting for you where
the tumbleweed is blue."

"I'll be a waiting for you .."

"I'll be a waiting for you .."

"Where the tumbleweed is blue."

"With a box of Korn-Krinkles
for you and you."

Thank you. Thank you very much.

Tex and Sally have been talking for a
while about getting a dog in the place.

And a kind of a problem has come up.

Now Tex, he likes this little dog.

His name is Count Raphael de
Gainsborough Marcel the 4th.

Sally, on the other hand,
she likes this little dog.

His name is Spike.

Now the Count here, he's won
enough blue ribbons to put a ..

A nice double-bow in the hair of
every little girl watching this show.

Spike .. well ..

Spike just isn't the blue-ribbon type.

And Tex and Sally just
don't know what to do.

Now, my son Joey.

He happens to like Spike.

And he wrote a letter to
Tex and Sally telling them so.

And before they make up their mind.

Tex and Sally would like to hear
from a lot of other girls and boys too.

Should they pick the Count?

Or Spike?

Betting two to one on the mutt.

Why don't you write and tell me.

I'll be glad to pass the word
along to Tex and Sally.

So long for now, boys and girls.

See you tomorrow.

They like him.

They love him.

Why shouldn't they?

Hello mother.
- Hello.

Miss Gregg.

Sorry I'm late.
- Oh, it's nothing.

Didn't you go to Cunninghams?

Yes, we did.

They told me the stole would
be ready. Did it need alterations?

Well I just felt that I didn't
need another mink stole.

Mother, you have the rare distinction ..

Of being the only woman in the western
hemisphere who doesn't like mink.

How was lunch at La Toro?
- Oh, excellent.

Did you have a good table?
- Wonderful.

Didn't we, Miss Gregg?
- Yes, it was wonderful.

Will you have tea?

No, no. We haven't time.
I want to get home.

I want you to have a
nap and before dinner.

This is my first ..

My first TV appearance and I want
you to be .. fresh when you watch me.

Excuse me.

A call for you, Mr Manley.
- Thank you.

Yes?

Mr Manley?

This is Herb Goodman, associate
producer for What Do You Read.

Hello, Mr Goodman.

"I'm afraid we've run
into a little trouble."

"One of our usual panel
members, Mr Travers."

"Just got word his father died
and he had to fly out to Tulsa."

The only person we were able to
get to replace him on short notice ..

"Is Frank Grover."

The editor of the Evening Globe?

"That's right, Mr Manley."

I've heard a great deal about Mr Grover.

Well, it's just ..

Well, Mr Grover said "nothing doing".

"If you're on the show,
he won't appear."

"It gets down to this:"

"We either do what Mr Grover wants .."

Or we say no to Mr Grover and ..

There we are, up the creek.

"I know this is a heck of a thing,
Mr Manley, but it's just that .."

That's quite alright, Mr Goodman.

As a matter of fact, I have some
out of town distributors here and ..

I was about to call you and ask if it's
possible to postpone my appearance.

Yes, Mr Goodman.
Perhaps another time. Thank you.

Give me Eldorado 56598 please.

Hello?

Miss Turner, take this down.

Frank Grover.

G R O V E R.

Yes, the editor of the Evening Globe.

Have Byron go to work on Frank Grover.

Tell him to get everything he can.
I don't care how long it takes.

I have plenty of time for Mr Grover.

And Miss Turner, while you're about it.

Put someone on Alfredo at La Toro.

That's right. Alfredo at La Toro.

We both told you that we
had an excellent table.

I know. But you were
not telling the truth.

And I should know.
I specialize in the truth.

It's very nice of you to try
to spare my feelings but ..

You did get a bad table.
- You're wrong there.

We didn't get any table.

Even though you said that
you'd made a reservation.

They kept us waiting for almost an hour.

And then we left. Come along.

It's time for my .. nap.

[ Television: ]

"Our fourth and final
panel member tonight is .."

"Frank Grover, the well-known crusading
editor of the New York Evening Globe."

"Mr Grover is filling
in for H.R. Manley."

"Editor and publisher of
Real Truth magazine who .."

"Because of sudden illness was forced to
cancel his scheduled guest appearance."

"Now then, gentlemen, I think .."
- "One moment, please."

"Yes, Mr Grover?"

"I'd like to explain
Mr Manley's sudden illness."

"In fact when asked to be on the panel
tonight I said I'd be glad to do so."

"On the condition that
Manley was replaced."

"I insisted on this for
a very simple reason."

"I am a publisher. I am proud of it."

"I won't sit on the same platform with
a man who is dirtying my profession."

"Well that sure kicks us to the subject
of tonight's discussion, doesn't it."

"Mr Grover, you've used some rather .."

"Strong language in relation to
Mr Manley and his magazine."

"Not nearly as strong as I would
like to use if we were off the air."

[ Laughter ]

"That was not intended as a joke."

"If our drinking water was being
poisoned, none would think it funny."

"Why should we laugh at something that
is doing us the same sort of damage?"

Why don't you quit, son?

Quit?

Go out of business. Stop publishing.

I don't like to hear people
saying things like that about you.

And I'm sure that you don't
enjoy hearing them yourself.

Mother .. do you realize what I've done?

Do you have any conception of
the size of my accomplishment?

In less than two short years ..

I've built up the biggest news-stand
circulation of any magazine in America.

And .. you ask me to walk
away from it because of ..

A few stupid remarks on
a television program?

You don't really think it
is only one TV program?

Why this has been going
on for almost two years.

Ever since you started the magazine.

You've been constantly rebuffed.

Constantly attacked.

It makes me feel ashamed.

I don't want to be ashamed of my son.

Mother, you have nothing
to be ashamed of.

I am giving the people of
this country something they ..

Something they not only want,
but something they need.

I am giving them the truth.

Every month, more than five million
of them walk up to their news-stands ..

They are not bribed,
they are not threatened.

They come because they
want what I have to sell.

The same argument could be used by those
who sell opium to Chinese peasants.

The truth is not an opiate.

The truth never really hurt anyone.

It didn't do Governor
Chetman's daughter much good.

Chetman's daughter did not try suicide
because of anything I said about her.

She did it because neurotic,
sick, weak people ..

Are always attempting
to find an excuse to ..

To dramatize themselves
in the eyes of the world.

If she hadn't used me, she
would have found another ..

Someday, she will find another excuse.

Will I be at fault then?
- I'm no prophet.

I can't predict what will happen.

But I do know .. what has happened.

Mother.

I don't care about the Grovers
or the head waiters or ..

Any of the others.

It's only a matter of time
before they come round.

But now, today, this very minute.

Is it too much to ask that
you, my own mother ..

Oh, I wish I could give
you what you want.

My approval.

My assurance that what
you are doing is right.

But I can't.

No matter how much I drink.

No .. no matter.

You see, son.

In my heart.

I agree .. with Mr Grover.

And all those head waiters.

Well, if ..

If you find the way I earn
a living so repellent.

Why don't you go out and earn your own.

I wish I could.

But I'm too old.

Too scared and .. too sick.

No, you're not too old, you're not
too scared, you're not too sick.

You're too smart.

You know as well as I that ..

Park Avenue is a lot more comfortable
than Washington Heights.

And even though it hasn't done
much for your sense of gratitude ..

Imported Scotch is a lot better for
what's left of your stomach than ..

The rot-gut you used to drink.

You've had enough.

It's time Miss Gregg put you to bed.

Come on now Joey. Stop reading your
baseball and finish your breakfast.

Morning, Sally.

Morning, Tex.

Well, how does it feel to be just about
the most popular gal in America?

Oh stop joshing, Tex.

But I'm beginning to worry about you.
- Yes?

So, I've been thinking.
- Yes?

Maybe ..

Maybe we ought to consider moving
out of this dinky little apartment.

And finding ourselves
a cute little old house.

Out in the suburbs.

Oh ..

Scott?

Scott, do you mean that?
- I don't know why not.

Seth says the response
to the Sterling show ..

Has been so terrific that Mr Sterling
wants to talk contracts.

Oh, Scott .. Scott, honey.

Pop.
- What?

If we move out to the country
can I have a baseball field?

Absolutely.

Plus a diamond-studded swimming
pool and a gold-plated Polo field.

But first ..

You still got to finish your
cereal and brush your teeth.

Or you'll miss the school bus again.

I'll see that he doesn't
miss it. Come on, Joey.

I've got to get to meet Mr Jackson.
I'll walk you to the bus.

You bet.

Oops.

They say dreams don't come true.

Aw shucks, Sally. T'weren't nothing.

Seriously though,
I still can't believe it.

I can.
- Oh.

I could believe it.
I knew it had to happen.

The first day I met you
eleven years ago.

What I felt then, what I
sensed right away ..

All the millions of kids who've watched
you on TV these last days, well they ..

Sensing it now, that's all.

Oh no, that's not all.

There is one thing more.

Without it these last eleven years
could never have happened.

And this couldn't have happened, either.

There's you.

Come on, Pop. Let's go.
- Okay.

Goodbye, angel.
- So long, Mom.

Hey .. hey, how about a kiss?

Goodbye, Mom.
- Goodbye.

Well now, I suppose it would only
be fair, when we get that house ..

To let you two have first
choice of the bedroom.

Hello?

Yes, this is Mrs Scott Martin.

What?

Yes, I can.

Four o'clock this afternoon.

I'll be there.

[ Buzzer ]

Yes?

"Mrs Martin is here."

Oh, send her in, please.

Mrs Martin, how do you do?

Won't you sit down.

It's very kind of you to come.

I didn't come out of kindness.

Not fear?

I know your magazine, Mr Manley.

And I know your reputation.
Does that answer your question?

With an intelligent grasp
of the basic realities ..

Such as I seldom encounter
in people I face in this room.

There is something I'd like you to see.

I suppose now that ..

Scott is becoming well-known it was
bound to come out sooner or later.

Then, you knew about this?

Of course I did.

My husband told me about this eleven
years ago before we were married.

Very commendable of him, I'm sure.

Then ..

We have it correct as it is?

Yes, it's correct. The facts are ..
- Facts are very important, Mrs Martin.

Our job is to tell the truth and
we all take our jobs seriously.

We intend running
this in our next issue.

I suppose you realize
that if you print this.

You'll be destroying a
decent human being.

Four years for armed robbery.

A holdup with a knife. Decent?

Yes, decent. Also, trustworthy and kind.

He's a wonderful father
and a fine husband.

And a useful citizen, too.

You'll go many a long day before you
run into a man as good as Scott Martin.

And whatever he did that was
wrong, he's more than paid for.

It was not my intention to amuse you.

I'm terribly sorry, Mrs Martin.
I didn't mean to be rude.

But as you were speaking I
couldn't help thinking that ..

I've heard these words so many
times before from other wives.

But, that's beside the point.

The fact is, that nothing you
have said alters the basic issue.

Which is .. the truth.

Mr Manley, do you have any children?

Unfortunately, no.

But I can tell you
one thing, Mrs Martin.

If I had children.

I certainly wouldn't want them
going around thinking their ..

Their current TV hero was a ..

Was a God .. when in fact is ..

He's a convicted felon.

You are an intelligent man.

You must know. I'm sure you understand
what it was like to be brought up ..

In the Brooklyn slum where my
husband was born and raised.

He didn't do this for
some vicious reason.

His mother was sick.

Doctors and medicines cost money.

He was just a desperate, frightened
kid trying to save his mother's life.

There are other kinds who
grew up with your husband.

Who are not now convicted felons.

There is nothing I can to
convince you not to print this?

Oh, you're wrong.

There is something you can do.

All you have to do is answer
a few simple questions.

Why don't you ask the
questions of my husband?

Because, experience has
taught me that I will ..

Get the answers more
correctly from the wife.

[ Door knocks ]

Open up in there. Open up.

Welcome to the upper-income bracket.

Come on Seth, cut it out.
What did Sterling say?

"Since Scott Martin has been on the
Sterling Breakfast Food show" he, said.

"We've sold more Korn-Krinkles and Wheat
Wallops than Papy Parker ever dreamed."

No.

Mind if I have a touch of old lubricant?
- Sure, sure. Help yourself.

Just tell me what Sterling said.

"Let's talk contract" he said.

"Name your own terms" he said.

"We're not difficult people to deal
with when we're happy" he said.

And that's only the beginning.

When I got back to the office there
were four calls from manufactures.

They want the rights to
Scott Martin's Tex and Sally dolls.

A guy that makes sweaters called
all the way from Los Angeles ..

Wants to get out a line of sportswear
for kids with Tex and Sally on them.

A dame is waiting, a writer.

Her publisher wants stories about
the adventures of Tex and Sally ..

As told by Scott Martin.
And listen to this.

I can't .. I can't take it all in.

You know it's a funny thing, Seth.

You push and you push and you push, and
then one day when you're so tired and ..

And you think you can't push any more.

Suddenly it busts open.
You've made it, you're in!

We're in, we're in, we're in!

We're celebrating, Connie.
I'll make you a drink.

What's wrong?

I had a telephone call this morning
from a man named Manley.

I've just come from his office.

Manley?

H.R. Manley.

The guy who publishes that
lousy scandal magazine?

That's right.

Well, what in the world
did he want with you?

He wanted to show me something
that he plans to run in his next issue.

That isn't true, is it?

I think if it was me, I wouldn't
have kept it from a friend.

Seth, I don't blame you for
being mad. I know how you feel.

But Scott and I made each other promise
that we'd never tell anyone about this.

Why should we?

Scott paid for what he did.
He had a right to start off clean.

But I'm his agent. How can I handle him?

How can I represent you with Sterling
if you don't tell me things like this?

Since this TV break,
I knew I'd have to tell you.

But everything has
been happening so fast.

A lot of loose ends have
been left up in the air.

I guess when it comes to loose ends,
it's always the unpleasant ones ..

A guy keeps shoving aside
figuring he can tie them up later.

Try to understand.

Seth, I'm not trying to defend myself.

I've been ashamed of it
ever since it happened.

It was pretty rotten. Nobody
knows that better than I do.

I've been trying to make
up for it ever since.

I didn't ..

You don't have to explain
to me how it happened.

I wasn't raised in a convent.

A slight shift in the wind.
A bum break here or there.

When I was that age it
could have been me.

You had every right to keep your
mouth shut. I'd have done the same.

When you pay for something,
you pay for it, period.

The problem is ..

How to square it with Charlie Sterling.

Well, I ..

Guess you two have a lot to talk about.

Wait. You may not have to
see Mr Sterling about this.

What do you mean?
- Why not?

Manley doesn't really care about you.

He's after the scalp of Mary Sawyer.

The movie star?

What's she got to do with this?

I'm not sure.

Well it seems that before she became
Mary Sawyer of Hollywood, she was ..

Helen Mackenzie of Brooklyn.

Something bad happened
to her back there.

And Manley is very interested
in knowing all about it.

So?

He figures the best way to find out
is to ask somebody who knew her.

Someone who grew up on
the same street with her.

You grew up on the same block with
Mary Sawyer? You really knew her?

I knew her, I knew her.

Manley says you know about
this thing that happened to her.

Do you, Scott?

You mean to say this man
trades in these things?

He's willing to kill this story on me if
I give him some dope on Mary Sawyer?

Yes.

Sounds like a real nice guy.

What is this stuff about Mary
Sawyer that he wants to know?

It doesn't matter.
- It matters a lot to Manley.

He's in the business of
destroying people. I'm not.

Scott.

You understand that to save yourself you
must tell Manley what he wants to know.

This stuff about Mary Sawyer.

Will it hurt her badly
if you gave it to him?

You know his magazine.

You ever read anything in it that would
make you run out on the street ..

And start booming the person you
were reading about for Governor?

Who would be hurt more, Scott?

Mary Sawyer, a big star who
has already made her pile ..

Or Scott Martin, a guy who
is on the verge of making it?

If you want a fair answer you'd
better ask Mary Sawyer, too.

Yeah? A fat lot of good that will do.

How much time did he give you?
- Until Sunday.

When his next issue goes to press.

He said he wants Scott in his office by
Sunday afternoon with the information.

Or else.

I wonder if it would
help if I talked to him?

Oh, pleading with H.R. Manley
is a waste of time, Seth.

Believe me, I tried it.

Well .. I guess that
leaves it squarely ..

Where H.R. Manley put it.

In my lap.

In my lap.

Scott.

You've got a big career ahead of you.

I can walk in on Sterling
tomorrow, and ..

Walk out with a piece of paper that will
make you both financially independent.

If Manley runs this in his magazine that
piece of paper won't be worth a nickel.

Neither will you. You understand that?
- Of course I understand it.

Well?

Well, I'll have to think it over.

Don't look at me in that
tone of voice. I'm no rat.

I don't want to see anything bad
to happen to that Sawyer girl.

But you're caught in the middle
of it, and you're my friend.

You've got a wife, you've got
a son, you've got a great career.

Have you any idea what you
can do for people you love ..

If you got money to do it with?

Don't ruin your life.

Hi, Joey.
- Hello, Mr Jackson.

Time for dinner, Mom?

Yes, Joey.

Time for dinner.

Guess what, Pop?

I got three hits.
- No.

Joe Carter hit a home run.
- Did he?

We lost it though .. but
in an extra innings.

A slow day today, Pop.

Only four kids asked for your autograph.

I guess I must be slipping.
- I'm not, though.

You know what happened, Mom?
One kid even asked for my autograph.

On account of Pop, I'm a big hero.

You know, it's a funny thing.

All the kids have known me for two years
from the shows at the settlement house.

Sure, Pop. But now you're on television.
Now everything is different.

Is he asleep?

Yes, finally. Thank goodness.

I thought we'd never be alone.

Ever since Seth left, all through
dinner I've had to sit on myself ..

To keep from popping the
question in front of Joey.

Aren't you going to tell me about
this thing with Mary Sawyer?

Nothing to tell, Connie.

Manley thinks there is.
You told Seth there is.

I'm your wife. I have a right to know.
- I've never lied to you.

I'm not lying to you now. I give
you my word of honor, Connie.

There was absolutely nothing in the
information Manley wants ..

That has anything to do with you and me.

You don't believe me?

Connie, listen.

Living on my block when I was
a kid was no Technicolor picnic.

This Sawyer girl. She was
no worse than the rest of us.

One time she got in a jam.

My mother helped her.
I had nothing to do with it.

It could have been anybody that gave her
a hand but it happened to be my mother.

That's all there was to it,
Connie. I swear to you.

That's all there was to it.

If that's all there was to it, why
are you so anxious to defend her?

I'm not defending her. I haven't
seen this girl in twenty years.

She meant absolutely nothing to me
then, she means even less now.

Then why can't you tell
me what happened?

Because I'm afraid of what you might do.

I'm afraid you'll try to save me
from squealing to Manley ..

By going and doing it yourself.
- In other words, you don't trust me?

That's not what I'm saying.
- But that's what it adds up to.

If our positions were reversed
you wouldn't even have to ask.

If our positions were reversed,
I wouldn't dream of asking.

I love you.

That also happens to mean I trust you.

Alright, I'm sorry.

Of course I trust you. That's not the ..

What are you going to do?

I wish I knew.

You have to know by the time you
meet Seth for lunch tomorrow.

Let me think.

There are a couple of things I don't
want you to leave out of your thinking.

Up to now, what money we had was always
enough, so long as we had it together.

Let's keep money out of this.
- Why should we?

Most men like to do
things for their family.

I suppose I don't?
- I didn't say that.

All I'm saying is that for the
first time in our married life ..

There has been enough
money around to talk about ..

I want you to make a choice.

Between Mary Sawyer, and us.

Suppose I do what Manley wants.

What guarantee do I have that he won't
run that story sometime in the future?

At least if he does run it in
the future, Joey will be older.

We've always planned to tell
Joey about my prison record.

We planned to tell him when he was 15.
He's not old enough to handle it now.

I'm not asking you to
buy me a mink coat.

I'm asking you to buy a little time.
- Time ..

A few years. For Joey.

I want you to promise me you'll
tell Manley what he wants to know.

I can't.
- You've got to.

I've got to. That's what Manley says.
I've got to. You're no better than him.

Oh that pig.

That dirty, rotten animal.

He hasn't even printed a word yet
and look what he's done to us already.

[ Telephone ]

Hello?
- "Connie? This is Seth Jackson."

Hello, Seth.

"Connie, I've just had an idea."

"It's a longshot and I can't
to do it without your permission."

"But, I don't want you to turn me down."

"Is Joey there with you?"

Yes.

Hmm.

Well ..

Alright, bring him in.

Hello there.
- Hello, Sir.

What's the .. what's the "T" for?

The Tigers, sir.

Uhuh .. what position do you play?

Catcher.

Catcher? That's a tough
position, isn't it?

I like catching.

You .. you ever been to a World Series?

No, sir.

Well, you and I have a date.

The next Subway series, you and I
are going to the opening. Okay?

Gee, that would be swell.

Miss Turner.

Why don't you take our young friend out
and buy him a great big ice-cream soda.

Yes, sir.
- Bye now.

Bye, sir.

Okay, Joey.

That's a fine lad.

A fine boy.

This is a new wrinkle.

Never before have I had anyone bring
in a small boy to plead a case.

If you print that story on Scott Martin,
you'll be ruining a family.

I thought I'd show you a sample
of what you'll be ruining.

The truth never ruined anyone.

It's a rotten world
full of rotten people.

The sooner that boy realizes it,
the better for him.

Why should he go through life
believing his father is a Galahad?

When you and I know he's
nothing but an ex-convict.

Who cut up a defenceless, innocent
man in an attempt to rob him.

You've taken the trouble to dig
back through Scott Martin's life ..

To the place where he did
that terrible thing at nineteen.

Between then and now,
he's done a lot of other things.

And they're all pretty good.

If you set that to music I'm sure you'll
enjoy quite a sale at the record shops.

Mr Manley.

Giving this family a break can't ..

Okay, Mr Manley .. how much?

Bribery?
- Why not?

Decency doesn't seem
to have much effect.

How much?

If I were a short-tempered man ..

I would have every right to throw
you out of this office, physically.

I'm not interested in bribery.

No, I guess you don't.

Aren't you worrying
a little unnecessarily?

I know your Mr Martin is a little upset
now and he has every right to be.

It's natural .. it does him credit.

He must for a while feel
that he is Sir Galahad.

Protecting the fair name of Mary Sawyer.

But he'll snap out of it in plenty of
time to bring me the information I need.

They all do.

You'll never get it from Scott Martin.

I've made quite a study of human
nature and I can assure you that ..

Your Scott Martin will be here
in my office, noon, Sunday.

Ready to talk.

Somewhere in your family tree
Homer, I'll wager there was a ..

A minister of the gospel.
Perhaps several.

I have noticed a very strange thing.

Every time we have to come into this
office to do some work on Sunday.

You always deliver a sermon.

The Lord's day is the time for truth.

I was merely observing H.R. that
you're an extremely lucky man.

The world being what it is, a man is
better off with luck than with brains.

I'm not saying you don't have both.

Thank you.

The Scott Martin file, Mr Manley.
- Thank you, Miss Turner.

I merely said that when you started on
Scott Martin he was completely unknown.

You were interested in him only because
of what he could say about Mary Sawyer.

Thanks to this magic box, however.

In this last week, Scott Martin has
become almost as famous as Mary Sawyer.

Thanks to your .. luck.

You're wrong, Homer.
Luck had nothing to do with it.

I know that if I dig deeply enough,
no matter who the person is ..

I'll find something rotten.

Scott Martin is no exception.

Unfortunately, however.

From a circulation standpoint.

He is no Mary Sawyer. Yet.

He's like Rosemary Dalton
or Pop Beresford or ..

Holy Joe Brown.

Okay for filler but ..

Nothing big enough to
peg a whole issue on.

Nothing big enough to
pay back .. Harry Walsh.

To the tune of 100,000.

So, Homer ..

Our next issue .. the issue I'm going
to send to press this afternoon.

Will be pegged on ..

The Mary Sawyer story.

If Scott Martin shows up with it.

I've built the situation
without any "ifs".

[ Buzzer ]

Send him in.

Mr Scott Martin.

How do you do, Mr Martin?
Very happy to see you.

In a manner of speaking, you confirm
my long-held opinion of human nature.

Mr Crowley, my partner.

He keeps an eye on the legal
aspects of the enterprise.

Won't you sit down.

You look tired.

I haven't been getting much sleep.

Well, I understand that. It must have
been quite a difficult decision to make.

It wasn't easy.

No. It's never easy for any of us.

But .. the business of
day-to-day living is ..

More complicated than most of us think.

But we all have to make
difficult decisions.

Did you find it difficult to make your
decision to print this story about me?

Fortunately, you spared me the ..

Necessity of making this
particular unpleasant decision.

You have my word that once you give me
the information on Mary Sawyer, the ..

Scott Martin story will
be as dead as a flounder.

I hate to rush you Mr Martin, but
we go to press this afternoon.

Ad I have to have something in writing
to satisfy Mr Crowley's legal mind.

So, I you don't mind, I'll have
Miss Turner come in with her notebook.

That won't be necessary.

Mr Martin.

Unless you've brought me
the information I need ..

In the form of a written statement.

I haven't brought anything, Mr Manley.

I'm not giving you any information.

Well.

I admit, you surprise me.

I thought after the talk with
your wife the other day that ..

Things would work out for you.

I thought I made it quite clear.
- I know, I know.

She told me all of it.

It might interest you
to know, Mr Manley ..

That since you put that
loaded gun to my head ..

My wife and I have talked
about nothing else.

We've discussed it back
and forth, up and down.

Around and across until the
words stopped meaning anything.

We've talked at each other in a way
we never dreamed was possible ..

Before you entered our lives.

But it's not a dream, Mr Manley.
It's all true .. thanks to you.

This morning my wife took my boy and
they moved over to her mother's house.

So no matter what else happens here,
you already have the credit for that.

I thought I'd learnt all there was about
dirt when I was a kid back in Brooklyn.

But you're a new kind of dirt.

You came all dolled up in $300 suits.

You live in Park Avenue. You work
in an office as big a skating rink.

You don't look like dirt.

You look like someone a kid ought to
get up for when you come into a room.

You've got the whole country
sitting on the edge of a cliff.

Holding their breath, wondering who's
the next guy you decide to shove over.

Well, I don't mind being
shoved over. Not anymore.

The worst that could happen
to me has already happened.

Even before you printed a word,
I've got nothing more to lose.

Mr Martin.

I'd like to tell you how ..

Scott, what would you do
if you were in my shoes?

I don't even know what to do in my own.

Seth?

This is my day for
listening, Mr Sterling.

I wish it were mine.

As a businessman, I'm troubled.

As a human being, I'm outraged.

That doesn't male for a
comfortable frame of mind.

I am sorry, Mr Sterling.

Sorrow never solved anything.

If I manufactured row-boats or whiskey
or girdles, I could see some hope.

But breakfast foods?

With an audience of children, the show's
star is a real honest-to-goodness hero.

He must be a hero.

If all those kids become
disillusioned, we're in trouble.

If it weren't for that.

I could say to Manley, go ahead
and publish your filthy rag.

I've got a great
salesman for my product.

You can't hurt him or it.

But with kids ..

Isn't there some way we can stop this?
- No.

Mr Sterling ..
- I said "No!".

Oh.

Just a minute.

Oh, Scott.
- Hello, mother.

Come in.

I hope you don't mind
my dropping in like this.

Of course not, Scott.

But .. Connie won't be
home for more than an hour.

She said ..
- That's alright, I was ..

I was wondering if I could have
a few moments alone with Joey.

Oh Scott, of course you may.

Pop.

How are you, Joey?

Fine, Pop.

Well, I have missed you.

Me, too.

I've been sort of wondering.

Well, I ..

I've been pretty busy, Joey.
You know this TV ..

It's all so new to me. I've ..

I've had to stick pretty
close to the studio.

The show is just great, Pop.

Boy, you want to see the kids in school.

Pop.
- What?

When Mom and I came here to live ..

She said it was on account
of Grandma being sick.

But I don't think Grandma is sick.

I mean .. she doesn't look sick.

So we ought to be coming home soon.

Right, Pop?

Right, Joey. Very soon.

But first, there is something
I want to tell you.

Remember last spring when
Little League practice started?

You broke Mrs Leicester's
window and I punished you.

Oh boy .. I sure do.

Not because you broke the window.

That could happen to anybody.
It wasn't your fault.

But you lied about it.

That was your fault.

And I wanted to teach you
something very important.

That it's wrong to tell lies.

So I said you couldn't play
ball for the rest of that week.

I haven't told a lie since.
- Oh, I know you haven't, Joey.

And I'm proud of you.

All I'm saying is that when
you do something wrong.

Something that is your fault,
no matter who you are.

You have to take your punishment.

Because that's the way people learn
not to do those wrong things again.

You understand what I mean, Joey?

I think so.
- Well ..

A long time ago, when I was very young.

But not as young as you are,
Joey, but young enough.

I did something wrong.

What?

I tried to take some money
that didn't belong to me.

The person I tried to take it from ..

He got sort of excited and .. I ..

In all the excitement,
I was holding a knife.

I hurt him pretty badly.

I didn't mean to, but that
didn't make any difference.

I did something wrong.

So, I had to be punished.

How?

They sent me to prison.

Prison?

Yes, Joey. For four years.

I've always been sorry
for what I've done, Joey.

But ..

Your mother and I planned to tell you
about this when you were a little older.

Something has happened though .. that
makes it important to tell you now.

You mean, Mom knows about it, too?

I told her a long time ago,
Joey, just as I've told you.

Because, in this country.

When you do something wrong
and you take your punishment.

That ends it.

Except when something unusual happens.

Unusual?

There is a magazine, Joey.

I don't think it's a very
nice magazine, but ..

What I think doesn't matter.

And in the next issue ..

They are going to print this story.

That I just told you,
about me being in prison.

Why?

Because some people like
to read that kind of story.

They are willing to pay to read it.

Not all people, Joey. Just some.

Will it have your picture in it, too?

Yes, Joey.

All the kids, your friends in school,
those kids who asked for my autograph.

The chances are they
will see that picture.

It's not going to be easy.

As a matter of fact,
it will be sort of rough.

And that's why I came
over to talk to you, Joey.

I'm going to need your help.

Your mother is very
worried about this, Joey.

That .. that magazine will be
out in a day or two, and ..

You know how women are,
they're not as strong as men, and ..

I'm so busy at the studio, I may
not be here when she sees it.

It would help a lot Joey, if
could count on you to ..

To see to it that she doesn't worry.

Okay?

Okay, Pop.

Thanks, Joey.

I don't care what they say about you.

You're the greatest dad ..

I mean .. you're the greatest
dad anybody ever had.

You're the greatest!

Scott.

[ Buzzer ]

Yes, Jim?

"Our Cleveland office just called.
Since 9 o'clock this morning."

"They've had protests from 16 major
grocers and several smaller ones."

"Mothers and fathers coming
to the stores and saying that .."

We know what they're saying. Thanks.

If we let you stay on the show, Scott ..

It seems the only people in America who
will still buy Sterling breakfast foods.

Are the members of my own family.

He's certainly done a
good job on us, hasn't he.

The board went with me when I suggested
we keep Scott to see how this pans out.

Well .. now we've seen.

The public always calls the tune.

And the public in this case
has called it against you.

I'm sorry, Scott.

Now, dear. I know it's a terrible thing,
but we knew it was going to happen.

Try not to be too upset.

You know something, mother?

I've suddenly stopped being scared.

For the past three weeks ever
since that terrible man called me.

I've sat crouched in a corner, my face
in my hands, waiting for the explosion.

Now that it's come,
now that it's happened.

I can think again.
I can see myself again.

Mother, can you tell me something?

Why have I been so frightened
and so pig-headed and selfish?

What was I doing here when
Scott was going through this?

Wanting to do what was best for Joey.

How about what was best for Scott?

You were afraid, dear.
- Of what?

Some printed words or photographs?

Nothing is as bad as being afraid
of what is going to happen.

It's happened. They can't do
anything more to us now.

Where are you going?
- To pick up Joey at school.

Somebody is bound to have
shown him that filthy thing.

I want to be with him and I'm late.

I'll be back to pick our things.

And I'll take Joey home where we belong,
where we should have been all this time.

Here he comes.

Here he comes!

Hey Joey, is your old man
still wearing his stripes?

Hey, where is your
old man's striped suit?

Did they call him "Champ" in prison?

Joey's old man is a jailbird.

Jailbird! Let me out of
here, let me out of here!

Scare me, killer.

Stop!
- Let me out of here.

Why can't you leave me alone?

Shut up about my dad!

[ Girl's scream! ]

Oh please, Connie .. please ..

[ Door knocks ]

Honey!

I was ..

On my way to school to get him.

I was bringing him home, Scott.

I was bringing him home.

I know. I know.

Joey.

Joey .. Joey ..

I'd better call a doctor.

He was here a little while ago.
He gave her some medicine.

She'll be alright for a while, he said.

[ Door knocks ]

I'll answer it. You take
care of her, mother.

Oh, my ..

How's Connie?

Alright for now.

I wish there was something I could say.

I know, Seth.

Scott.

You know, this guy Alan J Frederick who
has that TV show: 'What Do You Read?'.

Yeah.

Yeah.

He came over to see me.

He's a nice guy, Scott.

He really is.

He's sore about this. He's real mad.

He thinks it would do an awful lot of
good if you told people about it on ..

You mean, he wants me
to go on his program?

Yeah.

He thinks it might be the one thing
that could really hurt Manley.

Render a public service?

Yeah, sort of.

Fighting for principles,
that kind of stuff?

Okay, Scott.

I'm sorry. You're right. I'll tell him.

You tell him that I know all
about fighting for principles.

I've just taken the full course.

If I'd had the brains, Seth.

If I'd done what you wanted me to do,
what Connie wanted me to do ..

If I'd worried about my own skin,
our boy would be alive today.

You go back and tell Mister
Alan J Frederick that if he's so ..

Bloody worried about the public interest
he'd better find himself another ..

Alright, Seth.

Alright.

Mother .. I have to go out with
Mr Jackson. I won't be long.

If Connie asks for me, tell her I went
over to get the apartment ready for her.

Good evening. Is Mrs Scott Martin here?

Yes she is. Who ..?

She doesn't know me.
My name is Mrs Manley.

Manley?

Manley. I am sorry, I'm afraid my
daughter is in no condition to ..

What do you want, Mrs Manley?
- Connie.

It's alright, mother.

What do you want, Mrs Manley?

I must talk to you.

Have you come to get a statement
for Mr Manley's next issue?

What it feels like to be
written up by his magazine?

No.

I can imagine what that feels like.

I came because .. I just had to know ..

If there was any connection
between what my son printed ..

And what I ..

What I heard .. had happened.

It was silly of me.

There had to be a connection.

He couldn't keep on doing
what he's been doing.

And not cause a tragedy.

I'll tell you what the
connection is, Mrs Manley.

If it hadn't been for your son.

My son would be alive.

He'd be alive, do you hear?

Joey would be alive!

Honey.

You shouldn't be up.

I've been waiting for you.

I want to go home.

Good.

Before I take you home Connie,
there is something I have to do.

You can wait here or you can come
with me. Whichever you want.

I want to be with you.

Let's get your things, Hun.

This is Alan J Frederick bringing you
another edition of What Do You Read.

Our program tonight will be something
of a departure from our usual procedure.

In place of our regular panel,
we bring you tonight ..

Just one guest.

Scott Martin, will you
come out here, please?

Ladies and gentlemen.

This morning, my wife and I were
the parents of a ten-year-old boy.

He wasn't a genius.

But he was pretty bright in school.

And who knows?

With luck, he might have done something
that people would have found useful.

We had a certain amount of trouble
getting him to pick up his room.

And last spring, when the Little
League practice started, he ..

Broke a neighbor's window that
cost me ten dollars to replace.

But .. to my knowledge he never ..

Hurt anybody deliberately.

He wasn't particularly handsome.

But we found him .. pleasant to look at.

What I'm trying to say is
that .. to my wife and me.

Well.

He made the world .. bright for us.

For ten years, until this morning.

He was everything we had.

Tonight our son is dead.

The newspapers say he
died in an auto accident.

But actually he was poisoned.

Up until about a week or so ago,
I never thought much about poisons.

Since then however, I've been
thinking about little else.

During the past week I have become
quite an authority on poisons.

In the hope that what I have learned ..

May help prevent the same
thing from happening to you.

I would like to tell you ..

How .. why .. and by whom.

Our son was killed.

Every person in this country.

No matter how decent and honorable.

Who went to a news-stand
and put down 25 cents ..

For a copy of the latest
issue of Real Truth.

Helped spread the
poison that killed my boy.

I know they didn't mean to do it.

But Joey is just as dead as if they had.

I hope the next person you help to kill.

Won't be someone .. you love.

Homer .. have you been watching?

Did you hear?

Do you know what this means?

In the morning, news of that boy's death
and his father's talk on television ..

Will be splashed across the front page
of every newspaper in this country.

It's the biggest publicity
break we've ever had.

Do you realize what this means?

We'll be able to pay off Harry Walsh.

This is the last issue
he'll ever publish for us.

I want you get hold of him on the phone.

Tell him to get the crews
over to the plant right away.

Tell them to send them
in taxis if necessary.

We're going to work around the clock.

Homer.

Did I tell you our next issue was
going to be a sensation or did I not?

Right, Homer.

After you've talked to Walsh, grab
a cab and meet me at the office.

We've got work to do tonight.

Mother, that ..

That must have sounded a little ..

Rough.

But then .. well .. business talks.

Especially in a time of stress or ..

Often happen to sound ..

This child's death was quite upsetting.

I'm going to ask Miss
Turner to send flowers.

I believe red roses or ..

What do you think?

Perhaps white carnations ..?

Yeah, yeah. Sure. Look, look ..

I'm earmarking 100,000
copies for you boys in Detroit.

They'll be going out first
thing in the morning.

I'm in here, H.R.

Now look, you guys get on the ball.
If you need any extra copies ..

I was expecting H.R.

You were?

Haven't you heard what ..?

"The most sensational development
in a truly sensational day."

"H.R. Manley, the editor and
publisher of Real Truth magazine."

"Has been shot and killed
earlier this evening."

"The police have not yet been able to
get a statement from Mrs Manley."

"As to her motive for the murder."

"There seems to be little doubt
it's in some way connected .."

"With the sensational Telecast
made by Scott Martin earlier."

Scott!

Scott .. Connie!

I just had to tell you.

It looks like you started something.

People are sore. Real mad.

The studio is swamped with calls.

People will quit buying the magazine.
They'll tell friends to stop buying it.

l thought you'd like to know, Scott.

Thanks, Seth.
- You know ..

If enough people get to feel this way.

If enough people stop buying
those rotten rags, maybe ..

That's right, Seth .. maybe.

Maybe.

.-tg-.