All language subtitles for Lou Grant s01e12 Take Over

Give me your proxies, go.

All right.

Proxies, Roy.

Bob, proxies.

What's any of this, Grant?

Lou, you have those proxies?

Be right in, Charlie.

Is this your first board meeting?

What's your game plan? Impress them with
your thrift?

I want to tell them I spent every dime
of last year's budget, and this year

need more.

Hmm. That's what Costello used to say.

Who's Costello?

He was the city editor about a year ago.

Let's see, three, four men before you.

He birthed into tears at the board
meeting.

Yes, it's all coming together nicely,
Mr. Pinchot.

Yeah, I'll make the motion. Norman will
second it. I got you.

We'll be right up.

I'll tell him he's here now.

Tell me what?

She'd rather you didn't cry.

I don't intend to cry.

Uh -huh. That's what Bannister said.

Was he before or after Costello?

I didn't know you knew Costello.

And by the way, did Mrs. Pinchot say
anything to you about tonight?

No. She will.

I hope you didn't make any plans.

Oh, just the usual. Preheat oven to 375,
tear back foil. You know, one kick

after another.

Well, you'll have to do that tomorrow
night.

There's a big party tonight, the
Publishers Association.

Usually I escort Mrs. Pinchot, but I
promised my wife I'd take her.

Listen, why don't you take Mrs. Pinchon
and I'll take your wife?

Oh, we don't go in for that sort of
thing.

Hey, listen, Lou, all you have to do is
to bring her and take her home. She

probably won't even talk to you.

Sounds like a fun evening.

Well, I think I have all the proxies
here. Doesn't look like much. Well, the

little bits and pieces from the staff
come to 9%. You wear that to the

percentage Mrs. Pinchon controls, and it
becomes the edge she needs in the usual

boardroom fight.

What fight?

Well, basically, we have two sides, the
good guys and the bad guys.

On one side, Mrs. Pinchon and her
faction, formidable.

Fifty -one percent of the voting stock
is on this side.

Heading the opposition, her nephews
Colin and Freddie, the Tweedledum and

Tweedledee, agree.

If Mrs. Pinchon wins, you continue as
city editor.

If, however, the nephews have their way,
you'll be managing either a string of

taco stands or dry cleaning plants,
whatever they decide to invest in when

sell the trip.

Mr. Pinchon, gentlemen, this quarter,
rather than present our annual editorial

budget in the usual way, I've invited
Lou Grant, our new city editor, to make

some prefacing remarks.

Lou? Thank you.

As you know, the newsroom financial
budget... Would you turn to page four,

please?

Thank you, Norman.

Your wealth.

Well, it is broken into 15 categories.

Wire services, salaries, mileage, in
-town expenses, travel.

Uh, speaking of travel, Mr. Grant, I'd
like to ask a question about this

disbursement. Which one?

$5 ,285 for a trip to Jamaica?

That also included three white suits.

What? Well, the suits belonged to the
company.

Is this that time you got hoaxed? Spent
$5 ,000 and came up empty? We got a

story.

Not exactly the story we wanted. To me,
this is just another example of why this

newspaper is in such a poor performance
posture.

This marks the third consecutive quarter
that we have not received a dividend on

our shares.

We have millions of dollars in assets
that aren't throwing off any income. All

we have to do is divert some of this
money that's going to editorial.

Now, there is a very attractive Mexican
fast food franchise with a spectacular

cash flow, and we have the opportunity
to get inside on the ground floor and

grab it. I will not have us known as the
Los Angeles Tribune and Enchilada

Company. May I say something?

Maybe we were hoaxed, but speaking as
the legal counsel for this newspaper,

my feeling that maybe it wasn't such a
bad... Norman, I think we

have moved beyond that.

We really should get back to the agenda.
How long is this going to go on? You're

sitting at a gold mine hatching nothing.

When are we going to get some cash out
of this paper?

I devoted my views.

How I wish Margaret Sang had gotten to
my sister in time.

I'd like to point out that all our
profits, all our profits were put...

please. Mr.

Grant, what is your proposed city room
budget for next year?

I need $246 ,000 more than last year.
What?

Are you serious?

Motion to increase the city room budget
by $246 ,000.

Second. Those in favor?

Aye. Opposed? Nay. No.

A proxy is representing 51 % of the
stock voting in favor. Motion is

Mr. Hill. Aunt Margaret. Move to
adjourn. Second.

There's more to do. Those in favor? Aye.

Opposed? Nay.

Motion is carried. Meeting is adjourned.
Thank you, gentlemen.

Mr. Grant.

I understand you're going to be my
escort this evening.

Oh, yeah.

What time would you like me to... I'll
pick you up at 7 .30.

Congratulations. Another stunning
victory.

Thank you, Colin.

Petulance for Conjo.

Someday you're going to ring for your
stooges on this board and no one will

answer. It'll be the best thing that
ever happened to you.

Or to us.

Hey, you think that's a nice way to talk
to your aunt?

Fred has a point.

Why don't you take some of your money
and go off and enjoy yourself?

Swing a little.

Go to Munich. Pick up a duke.

Dig into Paris.

Hmm, Aunt Maggie?

I'm tired of telling you, Colin. I do
not like to be called Maggie. I do not

want to be called Maggie. Is that clear?

Quite clear. The point is, Aunt
Margaret, we have to make a living, too.

long do you expect us to do nothing?

Quite a while, since that's what you
seem to do best.

I'd detect a couple of doses out of
joint?

I don't know them, but I don't think I
like them.

Then, Mr. Grant, you do know them.

Oh, I don't think I dressed right.

Oh, since you look terrific.

Oh, I...

I assumed you knew that this was black
tie.

I didn't.

But I am wearing one black sock.

Where's your charming wife?

She's in the ballroom having a hell of a
time. Zubin Mehta asked her to dance.

Who's leading the band?

Double scotch, over.

And I guess a glass of sherry.

Yeah, that one.

I'm terribly sorry.

The next one's on me. Oh, that's okay.
You'll forget it.

I'm Russell Granger.

I've heard about you.

I deny everything.

It's a good idea. What I've heard isn't
very flattering.

You should give me a chance to defend
myself.

Why don't you get me a drink? Let's talk
about it. I think we'd better.

What would you like? White wine.

Make mine a scotch.

That scotch? Yeah. Thanks.

Hey, buddy, that's mine. It's going for
good cause. Hey, hey, listen.

Oh.

Have you met Russell Granger? This is
Mr. Grant.

Blue Grant.

Mr. Grant brought me this evening.

Oh, I see.

I'm just your city editor.

You publish a paper?

The Los Angeles Tribune.

You're Margaret Pinchot, and I'll be
damned.

I thought you wanted the scotch for
yourself.

And I know it was for her.

Looks like you and I are the only ones
who know how to dress for these things.

Yeah, I guess the rest of these guys
didn't get the word it was brown tie.

Come on, Maggie.

We've got some things to talk about.

She doesn't like to be called that.

Well, whatever gave you that idea?

Isn't that great?

Look at her.

I am.

His name's Russell Granger. Nice guy.

Nice guy.

Russell Granger? Mm -hmm.

He has swallowed up more newspapers,
radio, and TV stations.

Oh, Russell Granger.

Oh.

I don't like it. I don't like him.

Melting his butter all over her as if
she were a pancake.

Oh, lighten up, Charlie. It's good for
her.

I can't believe that anything about him
can be good for her or the trip.

Come on. He didn't even know who she
was.

Really? I wonder.

Excuse me, Joe.

Joe Rossi. This is Russell Granger.

How do you do?

I've read your stuff, Mr. Rossi.

When are these people going to submit
your work to the Pulitzer Committee?

Beats me. I ask them that every year.

Russell, please. It's impossible now.
Don't make things more difficult.

I can't help it. I'm familiar with his
work.

How? You live in New York? I read 15
papers every day.

I'd like to know what's going on.

Oh, yeah? What's the temperature in
Karachi?

87. I'm sorry. I was kidding.

It's all right. I was guessing.

This is Billy Newman, one of our general
assignment reporters. How do you do?

How do you do?

Bet you've never heard of me.

Let's see.

You wrote the piece about the young
American nuts.

I appreciate good writers.

Who knows, someday I may have to hire
one.

They make a cute couple. How many times
do you suppose that was said at

Bluebeard's wedding?

Art Donovan, assistant city editor.

How you doing, Art?

Russell Granger.

Russell Granger?

How much did you pay for that jacket?

Well, knock them back, Charlie, when you
can get your mind off them.

No, stay. They're leaving.

Financial, Wilson.

Sure, Charlie. Right away.

Yeah, I'll tell Ross.

You're really in a sweat about them,
aren't you? I just don't like them.

And I trust them even less.

You know something?

It occurs to me that we haven't talked
seriously in a long time.

Four days?

Oh, that doesn't count. It was after the
Oakland game. We were both snockered.

Well, we talked about God, life, ethics,
the world situation.

We talked about whether or not it
mattered if Barbie Benton could sing.

Oh, yeah.

What did we decide?

That it didn't matter.

See? There was a touch of philosophy.

What is it about Granger that scares you
so much?

This.

The Atlanta Post.

This used to be a good newspaper before
Granger got his hands on it.

Let me see that.

Truth about Einstein's suicide. Einstein
didn't commit suicide.

Oh, I know. That's the truth the
newspaper reveals.

Also, who's Jackie Onassis living with
now? Answer's son, John John. This isn't

journalism. It's distortion.

It's sensationalism. It's a callous
disregard of facts and of people's right

dignity. It's innuendo. It's sex. It's
violence.

Hi, talking about me?

Hey, Anna.

You got any stock market tips for me? I
got ten bucks.

Yeah, wait.

Listen, I want the two of you to do a
little quiet digging. I mean really

Into what?

Russell Granger.

Specifically, any activity regarding the
trip.

You look pretty active out there.

No, I don't mean towards Mrs. Pinchot. I
mean towards this newspaper.

Now, get on it. Told it. I've got Rossi
on a breaking story. That murder last

night. Put Driscoll on it.

I already put Rossi on it. That's okay,
Lou. No conflict. I can handle both.

Whatever you find, bring it back to me.
Everything, no matter how trivial.

And I'd like to hear from you at least
once a day, maybe more. Well, just one

thing. What are we supposed to be
looking for?

I think you'll know it when you see it.

Okay, let's hear it.

Charlie Hume, you're a paranoid jerk.

Never a jerk, Charlie.

What paranoia?

I think it's great she's got a guy
interested in her. And that she's

in someone and something other than this
paper. I do, too.

Don't misunderstand me. It's something
all her friends have wanted for her.

I just want to make sure there are no
buts.

I love those men.

velvet carpet studded with diamonds.

Not circa.

Oh, Russell, really. I get so weary of
the tinsel image of Los Angeles.

This is my city. Don't sell it short.

Oh, I don't.

I'm changing my opinion about your city,
Maggie.

Thanks to you and its people.

It won't take much more to make me fall
in love.

Russell?

When I was just a girl, a very dear aunt
of mine told me something I've always

remembered.

I had called on her unexpectedly when
they found she'd been crying.

She was in her fifties. I expect maybe
more.

She wouldn't tell me what was wrong.

Except to say, child.

You never grow too old to be hurt.

I have a reputation as a loner.

There's a reason for that.

Which I guess is my way of saying that
men are afraid to be hurt, too.

And now I'll drive you home.

You're worth it. I believe, about to
pour me some more champagne.

Would you hold Mrs. Pinchard's cause,
please?

What's the idea of telling her that?

Sorry, but I have to talk to you about
Russell Granger.

Have you come to warn me about him, Mr.
Hill?

I've gotten some information. I think
you ought to hear.

Hold my call.

Miss Pinchot, you know that I'm a
cautious man. I'm not the type to go off

-cocked.

I was suspicious of the attention that
he's been paying you.

Mr. Hugh, you flatter me.

I'm sorry. This is so awkward.

Look, I didn't mean to imply that... I
know.

Go on.

No, I was suspicious, too, for a time.

Information has reached me that just
maybe...

His intentions.

His intentions, Mr. Hume?

Look, Mrs. Pinchot, there have been
phone calls from his company's research

section concerning the trip's financial
health.

Now, this has always been Granger's
initial move in any takeover that he's

I'm sorry, but the facts are
irrefutable.

Julie, I'll take any calls now.

Mrs. Pinchot.

The fact is, your information is
correct.

It is.

Russell and I fell to talking about the
trip.

He wanted to warn me about any weak
areas we might have to prevent any

possible takeover, so he's put his
research people on it for me.

Mm -hmm.

Mr. Pinchot, did you ever hear the old
folk story about the frog and the

scorpion?

The scorpion asked the frog to carry him
on his back across the river.

The frog was suspicious, but the
scorpion said that he wouldn't hurt him

if he did, he'd drown too.

The frog said, okay.

In mid -river, the scorpion struck and
they both went down.

And the frog, with his last breath,
said, why did you sting me?

Now we'll both die.

And the scorpion, with his last breath,
said, It's my nature.

Charlie, why does it take you so long to
make a point?

It's my nature.

Boss, he just called in. He's been
hanging around Granger's hotel and he

saw Mrs.

Pinchon's nephews go up in the elevator.

You tell her.

Gentlemen, thank you.

Mr. Granger, I'm Colin. Colin and
Freddy. Well, what can I do for you? On

phone this morning, you were kind of
vague.

We wanted to talk to you face to face.

You understand I wouldn't be seeing you
except you're Maggie Pinchon's nephews.

I don't have much patience with
vagueness.

We'll be brief and direct.

Good.

It's about your aunt and me, right? You
want to know my intentions towards her.

We're here on a business matter, Mr.
Granger. Mr. Granger, we are prepared,

under the right set of circumstances, to
deliver into your hands 49 % of the

voting stock of the Los Angeles Tribune.

You're members of the board.

Uh -huh.

And you want me to come in and take over
the newspaper your aunt publishes?

You'd breathe life into that paper.

Vitality. And if you decided you wanted
to sell it, I mean, somewhere down the

line, we'd get some meaningful return
for our interest.

Well, what about your aunt?

Well, it's not as if she wouldn't get
anything if we eased her out.

For your information, I care an awful
lot for your aunt, and I hope she

considers me a friend.

To be brief and direct.

You haul your Ivy League behinds out of
here now before I throw you out on your

buckles. Mr.

Granger. Nice talking to you. Nice
talking to you, too. Thank you for

Mr. Granger. I hope that you'll consider
what we...

Would

you rather continue this later?

No.

Where do we leave off?

The Tribune's assets approach $23
million now.

All of it's involved... No, no, I know
all that.

I promised her we'd go beyond facts and
figures to bring an answer.

Is her position vulnerable?

Yes, it is.

There's an unusual situation at the
Tribune. The stockholders seem split

down the middle.

There's 49 % in her hands, 49 % in
militant opposition, and a floating 2 %

voting with her, a lawyer on the Trib
staff.

Now, our research people feel that his
support is shaky at best.

They suggest that she buy him out,
quickly.

That lawyer, the one who holds the swing
proxies, what's his name?

Norman McAllister.

He's the key, then?

Yes. What about the research package?

Shall I send it on to Mrs. Pinchot?

Let's hold on to that for a while.

I'd like to look it over.

Oh, and Matthews, call this McAllister
quietly.

See if he'll meet me for lunch tomorrow.

Yes, sir.

Lee Grant will continue in a moment.

Year on A &E.

Rossi call in?

No, I haven't heard from him.

How can I pitch that murder for page one
when all I'm looking at is yesterday's

collecting of facts?

We've still got time.

I mean, what's Rossi working on? The
homicide?

Or Charlie's suspicions about Russell
Green?

You're convinced Charlie's wrong about
things?

Hell, I don't know about these things.

What do you think?

Do I look young for my age?

That's because I don't think.

I think.

Come on, Donovan.

We both know what you're always thinking
about.

Oh, yeah, but that's not hard thinking.
That's fun thinking.

A fine lunch. Thank you, Mr. Granger.
No, please, Russ.

You keep forgetting.

It's not that I forget, Mr. Granger.
It's that I'm not quite sure exactly why

I'm here.

I prefer to keep a little distance
between us.

Norman, I'm going to trust you with a
secret, a business secret.

And if I'm wrong about you, it could
cost me big.

You're moving to take over the trip.

I've underestimated you.

Everyone does.

Isn't that what you were saying earlier?

Norman, I've got a lock on 49 % of the
stockholders' votes.

Maggie Pynchon and her people have
another 49%. That leaves a crucial 2%.

by a strange coincidence, I control.

Exactly.

And if at the right moment I swing that
control over to you,

Then what?

I don't know.

What would you want?

I have a dream.

Like everybody.

I want to help formulate policy where it
counts.

I guess I'm talking about Charlie Hume's
job.

Managing editor.

Well, now it's you who are
underestimating both yourself and the

I am?

Yes. I think you're worth more than you
dream.

There's a gap between managing editor
and publisher that you could fill a job

I'd create.

How does senior editor sound to you?

Senior editor?

In charge of planning, development.

Senior editor.

I know how tough it's been for you
getting your ideas across. If I didn't

you had ideas, I wouldn't waste my time.

Well, I have given a lot of thought to
some of the problems on this newspaper.

I knew it.

There's too much gray on the front page.
People today don't want that.

There's not enough art. The graphics are
old -fashioned. I'd change them.

That's what I'm talking about. That's
the kind of thinking I'd need. What do

say?

Give me some time to digest this.

I'll let you know.

Quink has made his move.

What? Take us over?

This is one time I didn't want to be
right.

I don't believe it.

So help me, his team is in town. The
same team that surfaced when he took

that paper in Houston and New York and
Atlanta.

They show up like buzzards, circling,
checking out their dinner.

I believe it. You want to believe it. He
says, what makes you think he has the

votes? Granger had lunch today with
Norman McAllister.

He's got the votes.

That's the ballgame.

McAllister wouldn't sell out, not for
lunch. He's as loyal as a puppy.

A puppy isn't loyal. When I first got my
dog, she'd go to anyone who'd feed her.

There have been rumors circulating
around the building for days. You guys

helping any standing around whispering
with long faces.

I always wanted a long face.

Don't you want to hear the rumors?

We've heard them. Not this one.

Russell Granger's about to take over the
trip.

Is that dumb or isn't it?

I can't believe what you're saying.

Are we going to roll over for this guy?
No, no.

What are we? Are we sheep? He can buy
and sell?

No!

We do not have to work for Russell
Granger. I'm not going to work for him.

stuff groceries in a bag before I work
on the kind of newspaper this will

if Russell Granger owns it.

Quiet down.

Knock it off! Knock it off!

Ross, he's right. He's right.

What am I saying?

Okay, he's right.

Russell Granger is cheap in every paper
he's ever taken over.

He's a perfect example of armpit
journalism, and he ought to know.

I agree,

but there's no guarantee this takeover
will ever happen here.

Do we need a guarantee, Lou? Just the
possibility is enough for us to act.

Hey, listen, people.

We have a paper to put out. Look at
this. Look at this, everybody. Do you

this to turn into this?

Let's form a delegation and let the
board know where we stand, how we feel.

them know we're a family. What's a
delegation going to do? The problem

the same. We've got no clout. No clout?
No clout? Look at the talent in this

room. We're more than a family. We're a
talented family.

They can't put a paper out without us.

That's not clout.

Votes are clout. How many people here
have votes on the board?

Sure. Talent, integrity, reason, and not
enough votes to put in your eye.

All right, listen to me, everyone. We
have to stick together.

Let's not panic, okay?

If the time comes and Granger pulls this
off, I'll lead you out of here. I

promise.

Right now, we have a paper to put out.

Deadline is still 6 o 'clock.

That's what we're fighting for, isn't
it? Huh?

That's right.

So come on, let's get it out.

It's still our paper.

City desk, Donovan.

Yes, ma 'am.

Lou?

It's her. She wants to know where the
dummy of her front page is.

This is Ben John.

Lou Grant.

The fact is that we haven't finished the
budget meeting yet.

The fact is we haven't begun it either.

Mr. Crow, what's going on down there?

Doesn't she know? Didn't anyone tell
her?

Charlie, I'm not the one for that job,
believe me.

I tried once before.

Mr. Grant, have you fainted? Oh, sorry.

I just knocked over my coffee.

Boy,

is that a mess.

Donovan, will you hand me that towel,
please? Quickly.

Use your tie.

I'm sorry, Mrs. Binchon.

How about half an hour?

I should have something in half an hour.

Rossi, line up what you and Wilson have
as if we were going to print it.

Including Norman's lunch with Granger?
Everything.

Now, Rossi, make it tough.

Lou Grant will continue in a moment here
on A &E.

When I bite into your...

A

&E return.

A &E returns to Ubran.

What's happening?

Oh, they're still hassling. So far, it's
a typical board meeting.

Well, when are they going to see us?
We've been waiting out there over an

I know. They said they'd call you when
they're ready.

I can hear shouting.

Now I think you're going to hear some
screaming.

I've been instructed to have you wait,
Mr. Granger.

Fine. I can wait.

Don't you realize what you're doing?

Don't you know this will affect people
far beyond this room or this building?

You can't buy and sell people.

In America, anyone can buy or sell
anything at any time.

My God, we're not talking about a side
of beef.

Every day, this paper informs.

It alerts. It helps to fashion public
opinion. It acts as a guide for

for the environment.

The arts.

All aspects of society.

Don't any of you feel that
responsibility?

The motion before the board remains to
remove Director Johnson without cause.

Second the motion. This action is
illegal and you know it. Are we going to

There's 51 % in favor, 49 % opposed. The
motion is carried.

Mr. Johnson, I don't know what to say.

This is a very sad day for journalism in
this city.

Norman to say that I'm disappointed.

I now move that Russell Granger be
elected to the board. Second the motion.

Call for the vote, Aunt Maggie... Aunt
Margaret.

Or do you relinquish the chair?

We need legal advice. I know a lawyer
who specializes in tender offer law. We

should have called him.

It's a little late for that.

There are state takeover acts, possible
SEC violations, antitrust violations.

You forgot rape.

They'll see you now. Good luck.

I've never been at the death of a
newspaper before.

I didn't know it would feel this bad.

I just want to keep saying that what
you're doing, you, Norman,

And you, too.

And especially you, Mr. Granger.

What you're doing stinks.

You're destroying something that money
can't buy.

We're not destroying anything. It's just
some legal paper changing hands.

Of course, you can all stay.

Your jobs are safe, I guarantee it. We
won't work for you, Mr. Granger.

You ought to be ashamed of yourself.

Thanks, Mike.

It's Tim.

I don't think this is so funny. What
he's saying goes for all of us. Every

one of us. Well, it's understandable
that the people on this paper are upset

distressed over a change in ownership.

Now, I suggest that maybe we... Thank
you.

I'll handle it.

Mr. Granger, you may think you're buying
this paper.

But what this paper really is, is all
the people who work on it and run it.

And you'll find if you pull this thing
off... All you'll have is a building,

some printing presses, and a lot of
empty desks.

That's all I need to run a paper.

I'd like you all to stay, but I can fill
those desks.

Thank you, Mr. Crown.

Thank you all.

Well, we might as well get the vote over
with.

Is that the way it ends, Mr. Hume?

I would think it deserves a better
avatar.

I move that the Los Angeles Tribune
Company accept the stock offer and merge

with the corporation known as Granger
Enterprises.

Second.

Will you please pass your ballots and
proxies to Mr. Hume?

that you get my resignation.

Margaret, wait.

You never called me Margaret.

Sorry, but... There's something off
here. I'm going to have to count these

again.

What do you mean, off?

He means that the yes vote only adds up
to 49%. How do you know?

Because I voted against the merger.

He voted with us ten minutes ago. How
did I know he was going to switch his

vote?

Gentlemen,

Maggie, let me be the one to say it.

Good for you, Norman.

a long time before that shark strikes
again.

Charlie, I wonder if any of us could
accept defeat with so much

grace.

Well, what can I say except what William
Shakespeare said?

Friends, am I with you.

And love you all.

And what can we say

except what Romeo said?

Mrs. Pinchon, you're okay.

Thank you.

Each and every...

Are

you all

right? I'm fine. I'm just fine. Thank
you, Mr. Grant.

You ever go to a basketball game?

I mean, if you ever want to go to a
basketball game, maybe I can get some

tickets. Oh, Mr. Grant, thank you.

Thank you.

That's the only sport I really hate.

Norman, there's no way I can possibly
thank you.

Well, yes, there is. I just left a memo
on your desk concerning our editorial

policy, if you would read it.

Norman.

What do you know about editorial policy?

But on the other hand, we could talk
about it over a drink.

You do drink, don't you?

Well, I wouldn't be much of a newspaper
man if I didn't, would I?

It's a week of new programs and sizzling
specials. A &E's premiere week has

arrived. Don't miss it this week.

Now, a family feud turns deadly on
Columbo, next on A &E.