Original subtitles

Good evening,

I hope it doesn't disillusion you to see me doing such menial labor,

but I like to demonstrate, that I’m just an ordinary person,

besides I need the money,

you see, this isn't my car, it's my brother's,

he hires me to do work of this sort,

he keeps telling me it's for my own good,

I suppose it is in a way since the car will become mine,

if anything untoward, should happen to brother,

most peculiar,

I don't believe you've met my brother,

goodness he used to drop his 'h's',

now he's dropped the entire alphabet.

I closed the trunk because I know he'd like it that way,

he always hated our stories and we have one coming up in just one minute,

MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED

Yes?

Could I please see mr Towers?

my name is Dave Sumner. I’m, an old friend of his from college.

Well,

okay, but uh,

you'd better go around, to the back entrance back.

It's not just that you spend, 10 hours a day at the office,

it's all those stupid, business dinners Stanley,

the least you could do would be take me dancing every once in a while.

Oh honey, the least you can do, is just let me finish reading this report.

Look, why don't you go, out shopping at something, huh?

- What is it Hilda? - It's for mr Towers ma'am,

there's a man at the back door, he says he knows you,

- The back door? - Yes sir, he says his name is Sumner,

says he's an old friend, of yours, from collegue.

Sumner?

ah Dave Sumner, tell him to come right here.

I don't think he wants to come in mr, Towers, he don't look like somebody who...

I mean his clothes...

oh all, right I’II, I’II go out and see him.

Dave Sumner well you're the last person in the world,

-well it's got to be 20 years, huh? - Yeah 20 years at least.

Come on in,

sit down.

I, I was over in uh Hartsdale, doing some odd jobs,

I remembered you, had a place near here I,

just thought I’d stop by,

- I hope you don't mind. - Mine? of course not.

See, you've got a great place here Stanley.

Well listen, what in the world have happened to you? since college I mean.

A lot of things I guess,

most of them bad.

Well I can't figure it out,

you were the head of our class Dave.

you were president of our senior class,

you are honor student, valedictorian,

you know I still remember the day you walked up stage at graduation,

why you had a stack of awards and honors up to here?

- Yeah it was a long time ago. - Yeah, it sure was,

listen, are you hungry?

-want something to, eat? - I wouldn't mind.

Boy I I still remember how we used to sit around and talk,

you know, in the fraternity, house, remember?

about how we felt about things,

and you know, what we what we wanted out of life,

and we we never did see things the same way, did we?

Yeah, I guess not.

Yeah, yeah I had a, different picture of the world,

nice and simple, if you didn't take he got taken, that was it,

well I saw it happen with my old man, with that extrusion machine he invented,

he sold the patent for 500 bucks to some big company,

turned around and made five million dollars with it,

well that's when I decided you take it where you can find it,

do you know how old I was, when I made my first million?

32 Dave,

but listen I’m not letting you do any talking,

what about yourself Dave? what's been happening to you?

Not much to tell,

things just didn't pan out since I graduated,

I tried all kinds of work,

lately I just been picking up jobs wherever I could get them,

listen if there's, something I could do around the place, Stanley, anything at all, huh?

Yeah, I don't know Dave, we got a pretty big staff right now,

but for old Dave well, well sure we'll find something for you to do,

hey you can help out around the house,

and you can drive my wife around when I’m using the chauffeur,

hey you can help out when I got people over I,

I got big business meetings here all the time,

you know you can't work an eight hour day,

when you're the boss, you know what I mean Dave?

well what do you say sound okay? - It sounds fine. - Okay it's a deal,

listen I’II pay you 80 bucks a week in your keep,

and uh let's let's do something about these clothes, huh,

Dave, it's good to see you.

-Do I have to sign all these? -That's right mrs Towers.

- All six copies? - Yep,

sign all six copies.

Well that's all I’ve, been doing all night long,

personally could get writer's crab.

Well it's worth it darling you are now the sole owner of a million dollar business,

oh, thanks Dave. Said, would you put something else on the phonograph?

well Stanley I just don't understand, I mean I know it's legal and all,

but you know I really don't know anything about running a factory.

But you don't have to, worry about it mrs Towers,

you'll be getting rid of yours interest in the plant in six months,

just as soon as we get rid of it at a loss.

Seems silly to me buy a whole factory just to lose money.

Well that's the way we do business these days darling. Isn't that right Jim?

Yeah that's right.

Say, what about my cousin Freddy, can't we get him that deal as plant manager?

Well if you still want him Stanley, but if you put any more relatives on the payroll,

we won't need an organization chart, just a family tree.

Well, I guess that covers, everything for this evening.

Gee thanks for coming by the house Harry, I’II see you back in town,

and uh, give my regards to the wife.

-I will. Thank you very. - Come on I’II see you to the door.

Good night mrs Towers.

Good Night.

Say, uh, what did you say your name was?

Sumner, Dave Sumner, ma'am.

Oh yeah that's right Dave,

would you get mr Towers another drink please?

-or just bring the whole bottle. - Yes ma'am.

And you know what?

my husband just loves the drink after every meeting.

Oh,

I’II try and remember that.

Yeah.

- Hey it was a good meeting. - Oh yeah?

Hey where's my drink?

What's his name's? he's getting your fresh one.

Dave, honey how many times I got to tell you his name? Is Dave,

oh, thanks thanks Dave. Listen it's, after midnight, why don't you hit the sack?

and uh, maybe you can brush up my clothes for the morning.

Yes sir.

What are you laughing at?

Oh nothing, I was, I was just thinking.

- Oh yeah? - Yeah - What were you thinking?

Thinking about college.

College?

Yeah, you know, Dave and I, went to college together. We were buddies,

as a matter of fact we were in the same fraternity.

There's only something I didn't tell you,

did you know that he was president of our senior class? Yeah,

yeah, good old Dave was top scholar in the whole school,

Him?

That's right,

yeah, Dave was always a very funny guy,

he figured all you had to have in this world,

were top grades and high scholastic honor,

he thought all you had to do was play the game right,

only he didn't know the rules, not like I did,

wait a minute,

wait a minute, I want to show you something.

Oh, a college book, I didn't know you were sentimental,

here let me see that, that's your picture.

That's not what I want to show you. Let me see,

well well it's Stanley Towers,

Stanley Towers,

business administration, vice president dance committee,

- is that all? - Oh, give me that. - You let me see.

Wait a minute,

oh here it is,

here read that.

David I. Sumner,

Phi Beta Kappa, president of the senior class,

chairman debating society,

editor-in-chief 'the lancer',

winner of Polk award for scholastic excellence,

voted most likely to succeed.

Yeah that's the part,

that's the best part of all, voted most likely to succeed.

Uh, say,

do you, have the right time?

I’m sorry I don't have a watch.

Oh, well it doesn't make any difference anyway,

Stan will come home when he gets good and ready.

-do you mind if I ask you something? - No not at all,

- Well how come? - How come what?

I mean how come a man like you...

see my husband says you've got a real brain,

how come you're doing work like this?

It's the best I could get.

I uh saw your picture in the college yearbook,

you haven't changed very much,

not like Stanley boy, he changes every year.

-hey would you mind? -What?

I mean you can fix the books later, I just kind of wanted to talk a little bit.

Oh yeah what is it you'd like to talk about?

Well you're so smart, you tell me,

no I just wanted to ask about you, maybe Stanley isn't curious but I am.

Well it's not very much to say. I, uh, do odd jobs I, try to do them well.

Was that what you call success?

Maybe it is.

Okay, if you don't want me around I’II go. No no no,

it's your house mrs Towers.

That's so, huh,

yes I suppose it is in my name,

Stanley has so many kooky deals going I,

never know what's mine and what isn't?

come on, now what about it?

was there some woman or something?

was that a stupid question?

No no no it's a very good question,

yes, there was a woman,

everything.. seemed fine,

when I graduated,

I never had a moment's doubt about my future,

the class even voted me most likely to succeed,

but I guess you know that, if you saw the yearbook.

Yeah it's all there,

would you like to have a seat?

No,

well I,

I took a job with a brokerage, firm a friend of my old man's,

that was my first mistake,

I ended up marrying the boss's daughter,

that was my second mistake. She,

she was no angel, let me put it that way,

I went along with her as long as I could,

when I couldn't take it anymore I,

I got a divorce,

from her and the job both at the same time,

that's when I discovered I wasn't much of a businessman,

I couldn't make out with any other brokerage firm,

I paid alimony for six years until she got married again,

that's when I started drinking,

I guess that's what finally did it.

And I thought I had it rough.

You?

Oh it doesn't look like it does it,

big house, a lot of money, and a lot of jewelry,

Little Louise Johnson, regular Cinderella huh,

the only thing wrong is parents charming,

well you've been around, here a couple of weeks you know what goes on,

he uses his house like a hotel,

it is in one business meeting, it's, another, if he can't do business at lunch,

he does it at dinner, he can't do it in the daytime, he does it at night.

That must be pretty rough on you.

Oh you have no idea,

do you know that even when we're alone he's thinking about business?

he's always got to come up with some smart new way to,

put something over on his competitor or the tax boys.

Now,

wouldn't you think that I could pick out the furniture for our own home?

oh no, he has his company order it,

and then he just has a truckload set up here,

-and you know that new wing we're building on the house? - Yes...

where do you think all that lumbering stuff is coming from?

He has his company out of that, and then he makes,

a deal with the contractor just to send it up here.

I don't even think that's legal, do you?

I doubt it.

He has a thousand little things like that,

like putting his family on the payroll at fancy salaries,

and then having him kick back half,

oh, he comes up to something like that every day,

and I’m just getting sick of it.

I’m just getting sick to death.

Mrs. Towers...

What?

is there something I can do for you?

get you a drink meaby?

You know Dave I think you're right,

success is a lousy thing it really is,

-it's better to be a bum. - I don't know about that.

No, I mean you have more fun that way,

I’m so bored here, all I can think of to do is to eat,

- hey, that's a good idea. - What's that?

Why don't you fix me a hot fudge sundae,

something real warm.

Yes ma'am.

Hello Dave, buddy boy.

Good evening.

What a head,

hey fix me something would you Dave?

a little something fizzy, huh.

-Yes sir I think there's something... - No I don't mean that Dave,

come on make me a drink give me a little scotch and soda.

Yes sir.

Boy these business meetings really take the starch out of you,

sometimes I wonder why I work so hard,

I know why, money Dave,

the lousy part is it's getting ten times as hard to make a dollar nowadays,

by the way the government's got things rigged you gotta work every minute,

you gotta try all the angles, you can't ever let down,

gotta keep going,

tote that bar, lift that bail,

you cound't get a good lawyer, you wind up in jail,

now you ain't got it so bad Dave,

what you gotta worry about's?

good meal now and then, but when you got money,

boy that's when your troubles really begin.

-Is it worth it? -Sure it's worth it,

nothing else is worth anything, haven't you learned that yet?

you and your shining lights and on a bright,

play the game according to all the rules,

ah,

you're okay Dave, you're a nice guy,

what a shame you're born a sucker.

Dave I’d like you to drive me someplace.

Oh yes ma'am where to?

Any place, New York, Boise, Idaho, just so long as it's away from here.

Something wrong?

I don't know, the same thing, that's always wrong, only this time I’ve had it,

Stan and I had a fight last night I told,

him what I thought his phony business deals,

what I thought of being nothing but a tax deduction.

Huh, where's mr Towers now?

He're probably setting up some phony corporation or I don't know,

would you take the bags out to the car there's some more in the hall.

All right.

Yeah, you don't belong in this place either.

What?

No, you're a nice guy,

but you won't be if you stay around him very long,

look, why don't we go someplace together?, just any place.

I can't do that mrs Towers.

Well it's only gonna get worse, he'll just make more and more deals.

I’m sorry I can't.

Hey,

what the heck's going on here?

Nothing I’m just going on a little trip.

Trip where?

Any place,

just so long as it's away from here.

Wait a minute, what's this all about?

I have tried to tell you a million times what it's all about,

why don't you ask your friend Dave here, maybe you'll listen to him.

Dave,

come on Dave, you're the big brain around here, tell me what's going on.

Nothing, nothing. Mrs Towers wanted me to drive her someplace that's all.

Give me the keys,

give me the car keys,

any driving to, be done around here I’II do it myself,

you take that bag and go upstairs Louise,

you go see Ever for the money I owe you.

What?

-you mean I’m fired? - I’m afraid so Dave,

I don't think this arrangement of ours is gonna work out.

Go on consider yourself, lucky to be out of this place.

I’II talk to you later.

- Well? - Well, I’m sorry,

- if that's the way you wanted. - That's the way I want it.

Well he's gone I, suppose you'd like to go with him too wouldn't you?

Leave me alone, Stanley.

You're not kidding anybody Louise, you're not going anywhere,

you like what you've got too much, you're not giving it up,

-well isn't that right? - Leave me alone.

You know, you're bread's buttered,

not with a guy like Dave Sumner, but with someone like me,

well isn't that true?

well say it,

go on say it.

It's true.

Take that bag upstairs.

Well let's get this over with as soon as possible,

I should like to sneak in a couple of holes of golf this afternoon.

That's a good idea we sure, have got the weather for it.

Figure this meeting won't last more than an hour.

Nah, we've been over all this stuff before,

hey how's your golf game Harry still shooting in the low 90s, huh?

Better not, since I’ve been working with the, pro.

Oh Stanley I’d like, to meet Frank Anderson, from our New York office,

he knows everybody down here.

I’m certainly glad to meet you Frank,

uh you think this is gonna take very long?

Well it all depends on, what kind of case they've got.

Let's all walk in and find out.

BUREAU OF INTERNAL REVENUE

Make yourselves comfortable gentlemen I’II be with you in a moment.

Tower, I believe youknow mr Sumner.

Dave?

You mean to say you know that man?

Of course I know him, we went to school together,

-he worked at my house only a month ago. - That explains it,

treasury department probably assigned, him your case because he once knew you.

Are you tell me he's one of, them?

he's a tax investigator?

More than that, he's the most successful, agent in the treasury department.

I do believe that was the most frightening story we have ever presented,

fortunately will only frighten one segment of our population,

taxpayers,

now for something equally frightening,

a commercial, after, which I shall appear.

That is all for tonight, and it was quite enough too,

next week I shall be here again,

and I know my brother will be also,

I seem to have locked the trunk key inside,

so until then, good night.