Original subtitles

Provided by explosiveskull https://twitter.com/kaboomskull

This is WPAR.

Good morning, Paradise, Pennsylvania.

Thanks to the men and women who volunteered

to fill those potholes downtown.

Great job, guys.

This town always pulls together.

Don, you okay?

Oh, hi.

- Hey, George. - Hey.

Catch any keepers up at Lake Copewell?

Oh, yeah. I caught something all right.

A good case of poison ivy.

Hi, good morning, Mary.

Morning, Don.

How's your grandson settling in to Ohio State?

I haven't heard from him in a week.

Thinks he's a bigshot now.

Morning, Fred.

Hmm, well.

Okay.

Nice job, Miss Leah.

Hey.

Hola!

Hey, Don.

How are ya?

Hey.

Steve.

Looks like that order will be shipped next Friday.

Well, aren't you the sweetest thing?

You ever been to Paradise?

Good morning, Julie.

Walter!

How are we doing today?

Good morning, Mr. Peterson.

14 billion pencils were produced throughout

the world last year,

two billion in the United States of America.

Peterson made about a billion of those.

Well!

I learn something new from you every day, Walter.

Morning, Leona.

Morning!

What's on the menu for today?

Leftover liverwurst from last night.

Well, I'll go heavy on the ketchup.

Enjoy.

Oh, I heard from Joey last night.

Oh, he couldn't tell me where he was

but he sure sounded good.

Should be home in a couple of months.

You tell Joey he has a job here when he returns home.

Oh, Don, you gonna make me cry.

Charlie.

Morning.

The morning's shit, Don.

What are you talking about?

It's a beautiful day.

Yeah, just, just beautiful.

You didn't happen to see Fred Willis

on your way in, did you?

Yeah, walked right past me without a hello.

What did he want?

He wants his money back.

What do you mean?

90 day notice.

Bank's not renewing our loan.

I thought we had a handshake on a five year extension.

We did, but now they want us off their books.

Bad credit was how he put it, nothing personal.

God, I should've seen it coming.

Steve Schmidt will fix this.

Steve retired from the bank months ago.

Fred said the decision's final.

90 days?

We owe them 10 million dollars.

We don't have 10 million dollars.

We don't have 10,000 dollars.

Merry Christmas.

I personally guaranteed that loan.

They wouldn't have given us the money without it.

And...

And it didn't tell Barbara.

What are we gonna do?

Don, you know what we have to do.

It's been under your nose the past couple months.

Charlie, this will transform the way

we've always done business.

Don, we don't have a choice!

Let's do it and in two months we'll refinance

with another bank.

It will work.

It has to.

Do you think Michael's firm could help?

You think Wannamaker's gonna throw us a life jacket?

Cement shoes is what they'll throw us.

As managing director of this firm,

let me just say thank you for that exercise in mediocrity.

Edward, what's the latest with the Sea Coast deal?

Sorry, Cameron, but I just returned from my honeymoon.

We landed an hour ago on the red eye from Hawaii.

You got married?

Yeah.

You have 15 minutes to give me

a status report on Sea Coast.

Michael.

Martin Mitt.

They make baseball gloves in Mishawaka, Indiana.

Misha-who?

Company's annual revenue's 105 million

- but its net profits- - Cut to the chase, Michael.

What have we got here?

The company's in dire straits.

We buy it for pennies on the dollar,

load it up with debt, clean out the pension fund,

move the plan to China

and we sell it all off for a big number.

Pump and dump.

I love it.

Keep me posted.

Sure.

Gentlemen.

Did you know that every partner's office

has a private bathroom outfitted

with a Butler 950 toilet?

How many of you have ever used one of those babies?

True luxury.

Personally contoured seats, adjustable temperature settings,

and you can choose just the flush you may need

for any occasion.

At the end of the year the board of directors and I

will be choosing one lucky associate

from amongst all of you to be this firm's next partner.

Soon one of you will be able to say

that you've used a Butler.

The return of Mr. Worthington.

Well.

What have you got, Edward?

It's upside down.

Who else has got something?

Dixon, I hope your day was better than mine.

American Electric Company announced today

that 500 manufacturing jobs in the United States

will be eliminated and moved offshore.

In response, many of the company's workers

protested the move, but in reality there's little,

if anything, they can do about it.

I'm Jerry Kramer.

This has been Running With the Bulls on KCNYC.

I'm going down to the floor, Leona.

Hold my calls, will ya?

I've only got two hands, Don.

The switchboard's lighting up like a pinball machine.

The best pencils in the world.

Oh, Don.

Don, Don, sit, sit.

Sit, I'm gonna get some help.

Don!

Somebody get some help!

Help!

I want this done today.

- Come on. - I know, I know.

Michael, what's up?

Um, Cameron, I just figured out that

the owner of Martin Mitt has cancer and it's serious

and maybe we should back off for now.

Are you kidding?

Now's the time to pounce.

Michael, don't go soft on me.

You're up for partner.

It's gonna be between you and Edward Worthington.

- My money's on you, but- - Edward Worthington.

Choate, Yale, and his father's the managing partner

at the city's largest law firm.

He can do a lot for us.

What's your father do again?

I'm sorry, Cameron.

I have to take this.

Yeah?

Mom, slow down.

Mom?

Mom?

Mom.

Oh, thank God you're here.

Everything's gonna be okay, Mom.

He wasn't feeling well all week

and I begged him to go see Dr. Berlin

but you know your dad.

Well, you look thin.

Mitch made a casserole, I'll go heat it up, okay?

Go upstairs and unpack.

Oh, it's way back.

My deepest condolences.

Anything I can do.

- Oh. - Thanks so much.

Must be 10 years since he poked his head in town.

That suit cost more than we make in a month.

Yeah.

You think Don left the company to him?

Oh.

Come on, guys.

Don wouldn't want a buncha long faces at his funeral, right?

No.

He sure loved pencil jokes.

He would say, "It's not lead, it's graphite".

oh, God.

Oh, I'm gonna miss that son of a bitch.

- Oh. - It sure won't be

the same around here without him.

To Don Peterson.

- The prince of Paradise. - The prince of Paradise.

The prince of Paradise.

Well, if it isn't Julie Barnes.

I'm sorry about your dad, Michael.

Oh, well, this is a little different than

the baggy suit you wore to the junior prom.

Yeah, that was back in the days.

You fill this one out real nice.

Well, it's my dad's suit.

Asshole.

Ouch!

Oh!

Excuse me.

I'm Walter's grandfather.

Who's Walter?

The mail boy at the plant.

You know Walter.

Everybody knows Walter.

No, I'm sorry, but...

How did you know Don?

I'm uh...

You're DJ Peterson.

I'm sorry, excuse me.

Hey, Mikey.

Charlie.

It's been awhile.

Yeah, it sure has.

So, uh, what've you been up to?

I mean, besides throwing wine in people's faces.

Yeah, he wanted me to go out

with him in exchange of a business favor.

You said no?

What, would you?

If he's paying.

So, I guess you're not married then.

Just to my work.

You were the smartest kid in the class.

Can't believe you're still in this god forsaken town.

Why?

I work...

I've worked for your father.

I'm the CFO.

Michael, I need to talk to you.

Charlie, no, I...

No, no, no, it's not about that.

Charlie, I gotta get back in there.

I'm sorry.

What? So that's it?

You're not even gonna stay for dinner?

It's been a week already, Mom.

Gotta get back to work.

What about the factory?

We've had this conversation a millions times.

Three generations, Michael, can you forgive me?

Please, I'm holding out some hope.

I'll call Charlie first thing tomorrow.

We'll figure it out.

What are you looking for?

My goddamn car keys.

Thanks.

So, I guess this is goodbye?

Until when?

I'm sorry, Mom.

Give me a minute.

It's about the company.

Who's there, Michael?

In private.

So, let me get this straight.

In 90 days the bank will not only throw

the company into bankruptcy but take everything my mother

has including this house?

Yeah, there's something else.

Your father never told your mother about any of it.

What the hell was he thinking?

You know what, Michael?

Don't even worry about it.

You just go back to New York, I'm gonna take care of it.

Peterson Pencil has been running like

a charity for the past 100 years.

Where the hell are you gonna find a bank

to loan you 10 million dollars?

Don't worry about it.

The more you say don't worry, the more I do.

Change of plans.

Excuse me.

Did you know the average pencil can draw

a line 70 miles long?

Or write 50,000 words.

That's good to know.

Thank you.

I'm so sorry about your dad, honey.

It really breaks my heart.

Thank you.

Company scholarships?

Not a pot to piss in but you're

still sending kids to college?

Come on in.

Good morning to you, too.

This will allow us to refinance with another bank.

Gets your mother off the hook.

Uh, Charlie?

I'm impressed, really, but this may get my mom

off the hook, but whatever plan I come up

with will get her off the hook.

Oh, you have a plan?

First I need to see copies of the quarterly

financial statements from the past two years.

This is the plan.

Oh, and one more thing, if you car isn't out

of the employee of the month spot in

the next 10 minutes I'll have it towed.

Uh, hey, Liana?

It's Leona.

Uh, could you do me a favor?

Move my car?

What is this?

From Charlie, Mr. Peterson.

And who are you?

I'm Walter Wilson.

Hi, I'm Michael.

You okay?

I reported the daily plant statistics

to the late Mr. Peterson every day at the close of business.

Shall I do the same with you?

Sure.

We produce 152,775 number twos,

gross margins are off 3% off from last month,

and the plant is running at 79% of capacity.

And what do you recommend we do to increase capacity?

I can't make recommendations, I'm only good at facts.

And do you have any other facts for me?

Pencils were invented in 1565 by shepherds

in the town of Cumbria, England.

The shepherds would rub wooden sticks against graphite rock

and then use them to mark their sheep.

That's a fact.

Thank you, Walter.

You ever notice that the only winners

are the ones that's willing to donate

their winnings back to the church?

What are you saying?

That Reverend Solomon puts a fix in?

Well, well, look who it is.

Do you know how he could afford that?

He bought the Plymouth Tool Company in Rhode Island.

I read about it on the web.

I think my dad used to have one of

those Plymouth toolkits.

The handles had little pilgrim hats on it.

You know, the ones with the buckles.

Let me guess, they're making power tools now, right?

No, they still make that wrench set.

In Asia.

What?

Leona, if you know something, tell us.

All I heard was that he's putting a plan together.

Kelly Lynn Williams, you touch that horn again

and you can kiss that driving permit goodbye.

I'll talk to Charlie first thing Monday morning,

see what she knows.

Don't lie to me, Charlie.

Has Michael told you anything about what his plans are?

Slow down, Mary.

And would you come to us if he did?

- I... - Look, we're all working

our asses off down there in the dark, Charlie.

And it's real hard to make pencils in the dark.

Mary!

What?

Would you please just sit down?

I don't wanna sit.

Please?

Are you trying to manage me?

You? Manage?

Right.

Look, Michael and I go way back, okay?

We have been friends since we're kids.

I will get through to him I just need some time.

Meanwhile, that line needs to keep moving.

That pencils have to get out the door

without any hiccups.

Get through to him?

In case you hadn't noticed, the days of you and him

and DJ slurping sodas at Moseley's have long since passed.

You're either with us or with him.

You can't have it both ways.

I'm with the company.

Now, I have work to do, so...

Thank you, Mary.

Hey, look.

Is that the Big Dipper?

No, idiot.

It's Uranus.

Sorry.

I know, I know.

Hey, but next year you're gonna miss my bad jokes.

And just because I'm gone doesn't mean

you can mess with my shit.

All right?

You touch my side of our room I break both your arms.

Okay.

I'll be back plenty.

Yeah, that's what Jake's brother Tony said

before he went to college.

Tony hasn't been home in four years.

Yeah, that's because Tony's a tool.

And listen to me, Jake, kid's on a fast track

to federal prison.

All right? Stay away from that kid.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Hey, do you hear me?

I'm serious.

Okay.

I may have to come back just to kick your ass.

You know, I never thought I'd say this,

but I'm actually gonna miss your burps and farts, DJ.

Look, I feel for your loss but a two month

leave of absence?

And at such a critical time?

I'm sorry, Cameron, but I have no choice.

Pencils, right?

It's a family business for over 100 years.

Just hire a broker and sell it.

It's a little more complicated than that.

Listen, Michael, I told the partners you have

an extraordinary ability to set priorities

and solve complex problems with your head, not your heart.

Don't make me look stupid.

I can still work on Martin Mitt.

Company policy: we don't do telecommuters.

I'll assign it to Edward Worthington.

I need an answer from you by five on Friday.

Understood?

Yes, sir.

You didn't even look at it.

Don't you ever knock?

No doors, just doorways.

Where'd you learn that?

At a management seminar in Altoona?

Some asshole tells you the profits will sky rocket

if you rip the doors off

- the goddamn hinges. - What is your problem?

Me?

You think I have a problem?

Take my word, Charlie.

I don't have a problem.

But them? Those people?

They have a problem.

I bet you wish there was a door there now, don't you?

Yeah, well, I have news for you.

You're one of them.

Yeah?

Feel better now?

I feel terrific.

So, what is next?

What's next?

This is.

It's all about the bottom line, isn't it?

What other line is there?

What happened to the Michael that I once knew?

People's lives are at stake.

You don't need me around here for this.

What's that mean?

Read between the lines, asshole.

You don't seem like the quitting type.

That was a thousand years ago.

It's over.

Everything up here will be remade.

We'll restructure up here.

There's another floor that isn't being used right now.

And our very own pencils so works been

part of packaging and getting the offers out.

Thank you, we'll be in touch.

Aw, shit.

So, you got time for them but no time for us?

I'm the plant manager, Mary Williams.

This is George O'Malley from maintenance and shipping.

And that's Freddy Furman from coatings.

He's been with the company 15 years.

Gladys from quality control, 17 years.

Norm from receiving, 14 years.

So, is it as bad as it looks?

I wish it didn't have to be this way.

Oh, jeez.

But I don't have a choice.

That's bullshit, man.

What do you mean you don't have a choice?

It's very complicated.

It's too difficult to explain.

We may not be big city business tycoons

like you, but try us.

We'll understand.

Do you remember when the old dock burned down?

No, probably not, you were just a kid.

Dock or no dock, we were never leaving a shipmate.

We broke down those pallets and carried

those orders to their trucks by hand.

We all came in on the weekend and rebuilt it.

You see, this company is what it is because of us

and we can do a lot more to make it even better

if you just hear us out.

Or do you just wanna let it burn?

Are we done?

Smartass.

You and me right now.

George, George, George, that's enough.

George.

All right, everybody.

Break's over.

Come on, let's go back in.

Hello?

It's Cameron.

Are you in or are you out?

Michael?

Michael, are you there?

Oh, uh.

Hey, Mom.

Look, I...

I don't know what you heard

but you don't know the whole story.

I know enough.

I know your father wasn't the greatest businessman,

I know that his heart was bigger than his wallet,

but at least he had a heart.

I didn't ask for any of this.

I know.

I know, none of this would've happened-

- If what?

I don't know, I lost my train of thought.

No, you mean it would've been better

if DJ inherited the factory instead of me.

I didn't say that, Michael.

You didn't have to.

Where you going?

I'm about to make dinner.

Yes!

You're pretty good.

A bowling lane is 60 feet long and 41 inches wide

not including gutters.

Each pin is 15 inches tall and 4.7 inches wide

at its widest point.

Those are facts.

Mind if I try?

Hey, what's so funny!

The odds of making that split are 525,750 to one.

We'll see.

Mr. Peterson.

- Yeah? - How do I put this.

Too much spin on the ball.

Don't turn your wrist so much when you release it.

All right.

Wrist release, I got it.

Pretty good!

Hey.

Right.

You know, a long time ago I swore no matter what

I'm not standing in an unemployment line.

First the steel mill, then the lumber yard,

and the cement plant, I never thought we'd be se...

Don't you even think about touching that remote, Julie.

Come on, Mary, who wants to watch this shit?

You wanna lose that hand?

Wah, wah, wah.

I can't believe you guys are already throwing in the towel.

Well, what else is there to do, Mary?

Go on strike?

He gonna lay us all off anyway, so what's the point?

George, what is it you're always saying?

A company isn't much of a company without its customers.

Oh.

You're right, Mary.

Who wants to buy a pencil company

that can't fill its orders?

Well, every Friday night the adults would go

to Flanagan's and the kids would come here.

This was the place to be.

Yeah, um.

The place to be.

You come here when you were in high school?

I was never invited.

You didn't have to be invited, you just showed up.

I've seen that smile before.

Mandy Hudson from accounts receivable.

Works here on Tuesday and Thursday nights.

And you just happen to know her schedule?

Yeah.

And it just so happens that those are the nights you bowl?

- Yeah. - Hey!

What did we tell you last week?

We don't want you hanging out in here.

Excuse me?

Look at that, the moron's got a friend.

Who are you? His babysitter?

I'm the guy who's about to roll a strike

right through your teeth.

Go, go!

Yeah, that's right, keep running!

I better not catch you in my hood!

Where is your hood?

It's Upper East Side Manhattan.

It's only 60 days, what's the rush?

I was very clear.

The latest I can close is December 26th.

Sorry, Mr. Peterson, but I can't push any harder.

I'll get back to you.

What do I owe this pleasure?

I need your help.

Yeah, you need lots of help, mostly professional.

Way past my pay grade.

I'm serious.

All the help you need is in

that little binder on your desk.

We need to go to the bank

and ask for a two month extension.

Why?

We just do.

What's with all this we shit?

You're the CFO.

You know them.

You'll credibility to the table.

Good job, you saved your mother's house.

Too bad she's gonna live in a ghost town.

So, I take it that's a no then?

Did you know the average pencil

can be sharpened 17 times?

All right.

It's all right.

A Bushmills neat with a beer.

You ever see a zebra drink from a watering hole

full of crocodiles before?

Try, please.

I'm tired of fighting, okay?

I just wanna drink my beer in peace.

I actually came over here to tell you

I will go to the bank with you.

Why would you do that?

An extension will buy me more time to change your mind.

So you're staying.

In that case, I'll buy you lunch before we meet at the bank.

Deal.

Your dad still get a buck off his drinks

for winning that trophy?

No, he doesn't really get out that much anymore.

He got exposed to asbestos in the mines.

Didn't know that.

Yeah, how could you?

You know, um, when I saw DJ and your initials

on your dad's desk the other day, it got me thinking.

Charlie, don't.

Don't what?

Just don't.

Plain and simple.

No, it's not simple.

Not even close.

What happened that night didn't just happen

to you, you know.

Guys, this isn't right.

Charlie, follow me.

We're in search of the ghost of Henry Mortimer.

This is where it happened 50 years ago tonight.

Oooh.

Henry, good old Henry working overtime on Halloween.

Thank you.

When that machine

grabbed his left hand and mangled it.

The next morning when they found him

he was nothing but a bloody pulp

eaten alive by a pencil machine.

Look!

You can still see the blood.

I don't know, DJ, seems kinda fake.

Spookiest part?

They never found one of his hands.

Okay, very funny.

What the hell was that?

Come on, let's get the hell out of here.

Wow, you guys are a bunch of wusses.

Oh, come on, you can't be serious.

Henry.

Mikey.

Mikey, get back here.

Charlie, go talk to him.

Say something.

Henry.

Hey, Lois, this order's getting cold.

You sleepwalking or something?

Mr. Peterson?

Mr. Peterson?

Walter, hi.

This is your friend?

Gramps, he's not my friend.

This is my boss, Mr. Peterson.

Thanks for giving Walter a job.

He didn't give me the job, his father did.

I thought you said this is Don Peterson.

Don Peterson died, we went to his funeral.

Don Peterson died? When?

How sad.

He doesn't remember things too good anymore.

This is Don Peterson's son.

DJ.

Here we go again.

Gramps, this is Michael Peterson.

You're the asshole that wants to move

the company to China.

Mind if we join you for dinner?

Hoped you liked your dinner, boys.

Thank you.

I'll be right back with the check.

Me and your grandfather.

He used to say that I worked twice as hard

with half as many legs.

Blown off in Korea

trying to dismantle a bomb.

I wasn't too good at bomb dismantlement.

Anyway, when I came back your grandfather came to me

and gave me a job.

Can you believe it?

He came to me.

Restored my life, gave me back my dignity.

And with my grandson, your father did the same.

Your company is a lot more than just a pencil factory.

But you already knew that, didn't you?

You can pay when you're ready, fellas.

I'm hungry!

Let's get something to eat.

Shit.

George!

It's Friday night, I am outta here, Charlie.

Uh uh, no, don't you take another step.

What is going on?

This is our biggest customer,

the order has to get out the door today.

Bad shipping labels, Mary said it can go out on Monday.

Well, it can't.

Come on, you know better than that.

Look, Charlie, my kids are waiting on me.

Take it up with Mary.

You gotta be kidding me.

Whatever you wanna say to me

it can wait until the next commercial.

Mary, call George, get those pallets out the door.

If Michael finds out he'll fire everyone.

Fire us now, fire us later.

What difference does it make?

You're talking like it's already over.

It's not.

Maybe not for you.

You're young, you're educated, you still have a future.

But us?

Where do we go? Who wants us?

Mary, I will get through to Michael.

But if you continue your sabotage I'll never get the chance.

You're management, why should we trust you?

Because you have no one else to turn to

and in your heart of hearts I know you don't

want to bring this company down.

And so if that line keeps moving

and the orders get out the door there is still hope.

Once that stops it's all history.

In two hours this place will be so loud

you won't even be able to think to yourself.

But right now, when it's quiet like this,

it's almost like a church.

You agree?

Mary.

Okay.

Okay, I'll call George.

How do you watch this shit?

With the sound off.

Well here, you forgot one.

Oh no, thanks.

Three's all I take.

You got a death wish?

Yeah.

You know, I could never find a good burger in London.

Thought workaholics didn't take vacations.

No, no, not vacation, I lived there five years.

Mm hmm.

I worked for a big European bank, lived with my fiance,

ex-fiance, in a Hyde Park flat.

So you just gave up all that for this?

Well, um, last year when my dad got sick

I took a leave of absence to help him out.

I didn't realize how much I missed it until I came back.

And then your dad called.

And then he just asked you nicely to be his CFO.

I'm pretty great, yeah.

No, um, back there I never really felt like

I made much of a difference, you know?

But here in Paradise I make a difference every day.

Until you showed up.

You know, you may think you know me.

Oh, but I do.

Small letters means you're a focused introvert.

No slant, methodical.

Heavy pencil pressure, intense.

Yeah, thanks, Miss Cleo, but you don't need

to see my handwriting to know that.

No, no, no, I'm not done.

Okay.

Loops in the Is and Ts.

You calling me loopy now?

Detachment, difficulty establishing relationships,

inability to access inner emotions all caused

by unresolved pain.

But you know what's more interesting than your handwriting?

What?

You wrote it in pencil.

That means it can be erased, rewritten.

Maybe with a few less loops this time.

The bank will be paid back every penny.

But first we need a three month extension.

Look, I applaud your efforts, but the answer's still no.

Michael here wants to know if that special offer

you made me is still on the table.

It was him?

Let's go.

How many employees, retirees and friends

of Peterson Pencil do business here?

What's gonna happen when they all find out

that the bank not only put Peterson out of business

but took Barbara Peterson's home?

What are you getting at?

Don't fuck with us.

- Okay. - I will make sure

that anyone that has any allegiance to this shithouse

will withdraw every penny.

Nothing personal, asshole.

Okay, okay, okay.

We'll give you an extra 60 days.

Okay, come on.

Proud of yourself, huh?

I just got us an extra 60 days.

Look, Charlie, I know you're trying to help

but what you did in there will most likely backfire.

Uh, what do you mean?

Fred's on the phone right now dialing for dollars

trying to sell our loan at a discount.

You think Fred wants to face the nightmare

you so accurately and eloquently described?

How do you know?

How do you know?

I'm the guy Fred would call.

Well, hope you're proud of yourself.

You have gotta be kidding me.

You have gotta be...

Uber?

Yeah, I don't think so.

Hey.

I'm headed to the plant, you need a lift?

You are a life saver, George.

What's wrong with your Jag?

Uh, door won't open.

Look at that, mine work just fine.

Get in.

Oh, I gotta make one quick stop at Bertie McKowski's,

it's my turn this week.

Okay.

Bertie can't run errands since her husband took the car.

So, he left the kid and took the car?

Well, after the cement plant went out of business

the closest job he could find was at the pipeline upstate.

Why don't they just,

I don't know, move upstate?

And leave Paradise?

This is their home, Michael.

Hold this for me.

All right.

Please don't touch the pie.

Comfy?

Hey!

Get off my lawn!

Does that have anything to do with this?

Yeah.

So, this is why you've stayed?

This is why you're selling the company?

Yeah.

Don't you get it now?

I am doing all of this for you.

Did you actually think I would wanna keep this house

if everyone else lost theirs?

Hey, whoa!

What's going on here?

Don't bullshit me, George.

Charlie, I swear.

That circuit breaker would trip 1,000 times in the past,

but I've always been able to reset it.

The whole plant is down.

Shit!

10 big orders are scheduled to go out this afternoon!

What? No, not now, Mandy.

George.

Is it the main circuit breaker box?

Yeah.

All right, come with me.

Slow down.

All right, can someone turn off the main power?

The power's already off.

Hey, George.

Yeah?

Can I get some gloves, a fuse puller,

and an A25 fuse?

Yeah.

Here you go.

Thanks.

Can you help me with this?

Somebody better get a first aid kit, too.

That's not funny.

Hope he knows what he's doing.

Huh.

All these years I never knew that was there.

What do you think of that?

All right, uh...

Michael, be careful!

Go up there and help him.

All right, pull the main breaker box.

Go ahead.

- Brilliant! - Well, you sure don't

see that every day.

All right, all right, show's over.

Everybody back to work.

Move, move.

Hm, unbelievable.

Surprised me.

I don't think so.

Oh.

You're sitting in my seat.

I'm sorry, Julie.

Sit your pretty little ass down.

Long Island iced tea.

I'm gonna go get you one.

Well, if it isn't Mr. Fix It.

How did you ever know how to do that?

Your dad.

Yeah, you saw him do it.

So, um, 35 years old, already three ex-husbands.

Wanna know how she gets rid of 'em?

Do you have fun torturing me?

Kinda.

All right.

What do you say, hm?

No, Charlie, I'm not dancing.

Oh, yeah, yeah.

Charlie, I am not dancing.

There's quite a few single men out here.

Why don't you go get your own?

She spikes their drinks with antifreeze.

That's how she does it.

Excuse me.

Oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

That was neat.

Thanks for the dance.

Are you waiting for someone?

No.

What makes you think that?

Because you have two cups of coffee.

Normally when somebody has two cups of coffee

it's for two different people.

Yeah, well, that's not the case.

You want it, Walter?

Sure.

Black with three Sweet'n Lows.

You and Charlie take your coffee the same way.

Hey, Walter.

You think Charlie hates me?

She never told me that, but the employees-

- What?

The employees.

They hate me, right?

I never heard say anyone say they hated you.

They say that you're a heartless son of a bitch.

But Charlie says that you have a heart

but that it's buried so deep that nobody

will ever be able to find it.

What about you, Walter?

You think I have a heart?

Yeah, Mr. Peterson, you most definitely have a heart.

Thanks.

Otherwise you wouldn't be alive.

Well, there is that.

Thought I'd try one last time

to talk Michael off the ledge.

Oh, well I'm so sorry you missed him.

Truth be told, I don't know where he is.

We've kind of avoided each other this morning.

Lake Livingston.

We were 16 on summer vacation.

We caught the ugliest fish I ever saw.

Don called you guys the three musketeers.

My dad called us the three stooges.

How is Frank?

God, he looks like a different person when he smiles.

I wonder if he remembers how.

Don't give up on him, Charlie.

Please don't give up on him.

I mean, Lord knows I've been trying,

but we're running out of time.

Has he ever talked to you about DJ?

Has he ever talked to you about that night?

No.

Me neither.

Barb, we never should've been there that night.

I was the one who-

- Stop.

Don't do that to yourself.

It's like my greatest nightmare is coming true.

You know, Michael, this entire town,

it's all about to crumble away and there's nothing,

nothing I can do about it and I just...

I just feel like I let everybody down.

Charlene Clarke, you could never let us down.

Yeah?

You're kidding.

Okay, I'll be there in 10.

Michael's at Flanagan's and he's had one too many.

Wait.

I'll go get him.

Okay.

- Take care. - Thank you for the tea.

Hi.

Your mom couldn't make it.

Are you my ride?

Disappointed?

Yikes.

No.

No what?

No, I'm not disappointed.

I'm sorry I've been such an asshole.

Witty and charming.

The seventh stage of drunkenness.

Hey, let's do something crazy tonight.

Bulletproof, wasted.

No, really.

Let's do something crazy.

What the hell are we doing here?

We're gonna talk about what happened up there that night.

Oh, this is sick.

You asked for something crazy.

No, you take me home.

No, we're not going anywhere.

Who the hell do you think you are?

A friend.

Not many of us left, huh?

That's it, I'm done.

Michael!

Michael, talk to me, damn it!

Just what I need, another shrink.

Now get the hell out of my way.

Go ahead, run away!

Your specialty.

You know what?

Two Peterson boys that died night.

Problem is one of them's still breathing. Barely.

Oh, come on, you can't be serious.

Henry!

Henry!

DJ, go get your brother!

Why don't you go get him, Charlie?

I've had enough of his shit.

Come on, guys.

- Oh, come on. - Sorry, DJ,

we're outta here, man.

- Guys! - You're on your own.

Mikey, get down here!

Mikey, you okay?

Come on, Mikey!

Where are you?

Mikey, come on.

Where are you?

Mikey.

Answer me.

Please!

Please!

Michael.

It was all my fault.

No, it wasn't.

DJ was drunk and he fell.

You don't understand, that's not what happened.

Okay, then help me, help me understand.

I was the one who screamed.

I wanted to scare the hell outta him.

When he got up there, I ran right at him.

That's what really happened.

I killed my brother.

Never told that to anyone.

No, it was a mistake.

It was an accident.

It was an accident, we were all drunk, stupid teenagers.

Nobody killed anybody.

He was always looking out for me.

Yeah, because he loved you.

Attention all employees, general meeting at 10 a.m.

General meeting at 10 a.m.

When was the last time you slept?

That bad, huh?

I hope you know what you're doing, boss.

Yeah, me too.

At least smile back at her.

It's not against company policy.

Or even talk to her.

What facts do you have for me today?

Come on, Walter, I don't have all day.

I got a speech to make.

In order to offset some of the raw material cost increases

we should raise prices on our number twos by 6%.

3% this month and 3% on January 1st.

I also have some ideas on how we can buy

our cedar at a cheaper price.

These aren't facts.

No.

Those are recommendations.

Hey, Walter.

Delivering the mail's a worthy profession,

but how about doing something different?

Like what?

Something that would require a little decision making.

But what if my decisions are wrong?

Can I borrow that?

Sure.

Here's a pencil fact you're not gonna find

in any book or on the internet.

Everyone, and I mean everyone who's ever used

one of these has used both ends of it.

Hey.

Hey.

All hands on deck meeting?

I thought I'd let everyone know what's going on.

What is going on?

I have a confession to make.

When I was growing up I was jealous of all of you.

Jealous that my dad had to split his time

between his family and this company.

I wanted him to spend more time with my brother and me.

What I didn't understand is that he was spending

all of his time with his family because

you were his family too.

He was so proud of all of you.

Proud that your kids could go to college

on company scholarships.

He was proud to be from Penciltown.

But times have changed

and we haven't changed with the times.

Spit it out.

Peterson Pencil's on the verge of going bankrupt.

You see, we owe the bank a lot of money

and we have no way of paying it back right now.

What do we do?

Option number one: sell the company,

use the money from the sale to pay off the bank.

Easy and clean.

What are the chances that they're

gonna keep this plant open?

Zero.

That's why if you all agree I'm voting

for option number two.

What is that?

Charlie put this together.

It contains hundreds of ideas,

your ideas on how to bring this company

into the 21st century.

Implement these and maybe, just maybe,

we can refinance with another bank.

It is not gonna be easy

and there are gonna have to be some sacrifices.

What kinda sacrifices?

An across the board 15% pay cut,

everybody, no exceptions, everybody.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Whose idea was that?

It was mine.

Look, it was the only way to guarantee

that nobody gets laid off, nobody gets fired.

Who here wants to see this company die?

No one.

Okay, so then who is with us?

We can do this!

You will not lose your jobs.

Come on, guys.

Come on, come on.

And one more thing.

Walter Wilson will be working with us

on all our efficiency improvements.

- Aw. - Walter!

Oh.

Oh, my God.

Bravo!

- Hey! - Hey!

Hey, uh, did you call me?

Yeah, we made a profit last month

and we haven't even hit our stride yet.

Michael, Mr. Alan Knowles is here to see you.

Who?

He says he knows you.

Like you predicted?

Paradise National sold our note to Bluffton Capital

for seven million.

That's three million off of face.

Who's Bluffton Capital?

Wannamaker on steroids.

Okay, so what?

With the extension the bank gave us

and our improved profits, we will have no problem

getting another loan.

The extension was with the bank, not Bluffton.

Our loan expires in three days.

They're moving the plant to Mexico City early January.

What?

Your severance package.

Seven million dollars?

You drove all the way here to ask me that?

Sorry, Michael.

We don't give loans.

Bad business.

I thought that just this once you could make an exception.

I'll personally guarantee it.

Michael, nobody would be foolish enough

to guarantee that loan.

But I do have some really good news for you.

Ed Worthington dropped the ball on Martin Mitt,

just as you thought.

You can pick it up on the rebound

when you come back at the beginning of the year.

Maybe you know someone.

A bank or a friend.

Someone who could help us out on a temporary basis.

Haven't you learned anything from your father?

You can stick this up your ass.

No matter what your dad would've been proud of you.

Hey.

Do you remember the Christmas when you were, I don't know,

about 10 and DJ was 12?

Yeah.

When you and dad went out, DJ and I carefully unwrapped

all our gifts that were under the tree.

We opened them, we played with them,

we re-wrapped them and we put them back

in the exact same spots.

The minute you came down for Christmas

to unwrap 'em, we knew something was up.

DJ's Game Boy was on when he unwrapped it.

He forgot to take out the batteries.

No, I forgot that detail.

Oh, I just knew you knew where the good stuff was.

Lord.

How do you know all these people?

I don't, not really.

That and mostly their kids and grandkids

of people who worked at the factory.

Yep, Gertie's niece.

Graduated college in June.

Okay, what was so important that you needed

to drag me out of bed at this ungodly hour?

I didn't, I couldn't see it, but the money's

been here right in front of us this whole time.

Okay, slow down.

What money? Where?

The people on the scholarship list, our employees,

the entire town.

Sell the shares to all of them.

The town will own the company.

I don't the loss for the college graduates

have contacts with potential investors, access to capital.

Oh my God, yes.

Okay, let's get started.

What are we waiting for?

Dr. Garcia?

Michael Peterson.

Merry Christmas to you, too.

That did, that's amazing news.

Well, then congratulations, Pam,

'cause you are officially a shareholder in Peterson Pencil.

All right, you take care.

Charlie Clarke.

Good afternoon, Miss Clarke,

I see here that you're

a Peterson Pencil scholarship recipient.

Uh huh.

You are, in fact, Ivy League?

Are you surprised?

Well, no.

Get back to work.

I have something important to tell you.

Oh, God, don't tell me the plant's down again.

When were you gonna tell us?

Tell you what?

That you're looking for shareholders.

Here's a thousand dollars, I wanna be part owner.

Phil and I can go to Niagara Falls next year.

Mary.

No, no, no, no, no, no, no.

Are you serious?

Easy!

You're gonna wanna save some of that.

Merry Christmas, Charlie.

Think we got a shot now.

I've always wanted to own a pencil company.

Thank you, I don't know what to say.

Thank you so much.

Oh, wow.

There you go, that's the spirit!

Okay, I'll around and pick that up.

Oh, Steve, I knew you would come through for us.

You are our personal santa.

Yes, can I call you Santa?

Oh, I get to call you Santa.

- You tell Miss Jones I said hi. - Yes, all right.

- Thank you! - Bye bye.

Appreciate you, Norma Jean.

- Thank you so much. - Okay.

No, this is not a robocall.

This is Walter Wilson from Peterson Pencil.

No, no, I understand.

Thank you for your time.

Happy holidays.

We're finished.

Last count we were six and a half million short.

Do you wanna tell 'em or should I?

- I will. - Cha ching!

Hank's Garage just invested a thousand bucks.

Yes, yes, yes!

Yes!

- Yes! - I got it.

We're well on our way.

Everyone, wait, can you quiet down?

Charlie and I would like to thank

all of you for everything.

Oh no.

No.

It was a valiant effort.

This doesn't sound good.

You think we'll get our checks back?

The fact of the matter is

we haven't achieved the goals-

- Michael, Charlie, hold on one second

I got a Tommy or Thompson.

I can barely make it out.

Returning your call.

Please just tell him we'll call him back.

- Charlie very kindly- - Wait, Leona, hold on.

Hi, yes, this is Charlie Clarke.

Sorry, folks.

Everybody's gone home for the holidays.

Uh, we have an appointment with a Mr. John Thompson.

Is he here?

Uh, hold on just a minute.

My favorite.

Every year I take it down and put it up on my tree at home.

I'm John.

Oh, Charlie.

We spoke on the phone.

Oh, and you must be Don Peterson's son.

I'm Michael.

Thank you very much for seeing us tonight, sir.

Oh, please, pull up a chair.

So, you've come up short on your equity rates, huh?

We could do it if we had more time, but-

- But we all need seven million the day after Christmas.

Mr. Thompson-

- Please, call me John.

John.

I know we're not the most cutting edge company

to invest in, but please understand that

we have hard working employees and they don't deserve

to lose everything because of-

- Michael, no need to explain.

Does Harriett Moseley still run that little coffee shop

on Main Street?

Uh, no, Harriett passed away about 10 years ago.

Millie, her granddaughter, runs it now.

Stayed in the family.

That's good.

I can't tell you how many times I sat at that counter

and devoured a hot fudge sundae after school.

You know, back then there weren't many places

that would allow people like me to do that.

But good old Harriett made me feel right at home.

And then your grandfather granted me that scholarship.

You'll get every penny that you need

the day after Christmas.

How?

A bank I represent, they'll loan it to you.

Just like that?

Well, it will require my personal guarantee,

but at my age I'm willing to take the risk.

There is one condition.

I understand Paradise Elementary needs new computers.

Now, when the factory gets back on its feet,

what do you say that the three of us,

we make that happen?

Yes.

Absolutely.

John, I don't even know what to say.

Michael, when the deal is done the conversation's over.

Besides, I gotta get to my granddaughter's

Christmas Eve dinner.

Here you are, my dear.

Give her a good home.

Now you guys go have a wonderful holiday.

John.

You just made a lot of people very happy.

Merry Christmas.

Yes!

Yes!

Peterson Pencil's always belonged to this town,

and now it officially does.

Yes, yes, yes!

One more thing, one more thing.

Effective immediately, Peterson Pencil will get a new CEO.

Hold on, not so fast!

We're all shareholders now.

Tell him, Mary!

Yeah, we get a say, right?

You're right, just don't kill me.

So, by a show of hands.

It's my pleasure to submit for your consideration

my nomination for the position of CEO, Charlene Clarke.

Charlie, Charlie, Charlie, Charlie!

Charlie, Charlie, Charlie, Charlie!

At least I got my baby to come home in time.

Cheers!

Give her a kiss, Bart.

- Lucy, Lucy, heck yeah! - Hey!

I guess that little talk we had

kinda made an impression, huh?

Yeah.

Good job, DJ.

Uh, uh, yeah, thank you.

- Okay. - Thanks, Gramps.

Yeah.

Did you know that you can write with a pencil

in zero gravity, underwater and upside down?

That's a fact.

Walter, you ever try to write with a pencil underwater?

Then how do you know for sure?

Remember when I told Gramps that you weren't a friend?

Well, the fact is, I was wrong.

Thanks, buddy.

There's someone you should meet, yeah?

All right.

- I can't believe I'm saying this - Hi Walter.

You did it, kid. You did it.

Thanks.

Just a beer.

To you, the man who saved this town.

No, this town saved me.

So, um, I guess Wannamaker will be glad to get you back.

Who said anything about going back?

What? Don't tell me.

You quit Wannamaker?

You don't have a job, what are you gonna do?

I'm gonna teach small town companies how to eat,

not get eaten.

You can't make a living doing that.

You're thinking with your heart, not your head.

My father thought with his heart,

so thanks for the compliment.

And I may even have my first client.

A company that makes baseball gloves in Mishawaka, Indiana.

I can't believe it.

And get this.

I'm setting up shop right here in Paradise.

In this hick town?

You see, I'm in love with a girl here.

She's got a very important job,

lots of people depend on her.

Okay, so let me just get this straight.

You made an emotional business decision?

This girl I was telling you about,

she taught me that it could be done.

I was hoping to keep this behind closed doors

for the time being.

Yeah, no doors in Paradise, just doorways.

Right.

Kiss her already.

Okay.

Thanks.

I love you, Charlie.

I always have.

I love you, too.

Welcome home.

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