All language subtitles for Lou Grant s02e11 Conflict

Yes, I'm calling from the trip. I'd like
to confirm.

Hey, I've been getting the alarm out for
two hours. Tell me approximately how

much money was missing.

Was it over a thousand dollars?

Yes, ma 'am. Oh, what are you doing?

I know it's early and I know we're
making noise, but the whole job's going

done in one day this way.

No, no, I'm not complaining. I just want
to know what you're doing.

I'm marking the trees that are going to
come down.

Why?

You're going to have yourself a nice
wide street.

What?

Have a nice day, hon.

I don't want a nice wide street.

I want trees.

Couldn't you just spit?

Pardon my French.

Is this true? Are they going to be
chopping down these trees?

Isn't it nice how they didn't bother us
with making that decision?

How they just went ahead?

Well, I don't know about you, but...
Mildred.

Billy. Well, I don't know about you,
Mildred, but I'm calling Councilman

as soon as I get to the office.

Don't waste your time, honey.

We protested to the city council and he
voted against us. Well, what about all

this pro -environment stuff he was
promising before the election?

Are you kidding?

Don't you read the papers?

I try to, but my work gets in the way.

Well, I'm thinking of getting up some
petitions.

Would you sign one? You betcha. I'd sign
it, distribute them, paper Garber's

office with them. What do you say we go
after that turkey? It would be a

pleasure.

I don't understand, Mary Alice. You
haven't put in for any hotel expenses.

No, no, no, no. The olive people put me
up.

The olive people? Yes.

Oh, the farmers.

Yes.

I had this picture of little pimento
eyes.

Mary Alice, you and your role as food
editor, you went to Italy for nearly two

weeks at the expense of the olive
advisory board. Is that correct? Yes.

Don't you feel compromised?

Taking favors from the people that
you're writing about? Supposing that

people did that city site? Oh, come on,
Charlie. Our areas are totally

different. We don't play by the same
rules.

Meaning you take freebies and they
don't.

It sounds to me like you're questioning
my ethical judgment.

Of course we are.

No more junkets, Mary Alice. No more
freebies.

I don't think you understand how small
my operating budget is.

I want the food section above reproach.

No more pork loin weekends.

No more cottage cheese under the table.
Are we agreed?

I'll try.

Succeed.

Yes, ma 'am.

I sensed we had trouble when her recipe
for fruitcake recommended chopped olives

as an economic alternative to candied
fruit.

What did you want to talk to me about?

My people haven't taken a bribe for
weeks.

He's kidding.

We laugh.

But this disturbing episode with Mary
Alice is just one of many on this

newspaper.

I think it's time we took stock of
ourselves.

I'm clean.

How about you, Charlie?

What kind of thing are you talking
about? A code of ethics?

No, no. I want us to appoint an in
-house critic.

Someone to scrutinize the Tribune.

Point out our weak spots.

Show us our conflicts of interest.

Listen to complaints from our readers.

Like a troubleshooter?

That's not a bad idea.

Remember Alf Rogers?

Sweet old guy who wore suspenders with
horses on them?

He's up in Seattle now.

They gave him an assignment like that
media critic.

He started to call them as he saw them.

And pretty soon, he didn't have a friend
on the paper.

I'd hate for that to happen, Mr. Grant.

Maybe we can find somebody who doesn't
have any friends.

Me? She picked me?

As far as I'm concerned, you were the
only choice.

I don't know, Lou. I hate to be
critical.

On the other hand, there is a lot of
dead wood on this paper.

I suppose that may be true of most
places, but... Hold it!

He didn't give you an axe and a black
hood.

He's going to be a watchdog, someone to
look closely at the trip.

Yeah, I do that anyway.

Lou, every day, I read it all.

Write memos to the editors involved when
you think there's something wrong.

Yeah, like if a story has a wrong angle.

Constructive criticism.

I've been doing it all along. Now, maybe
someone will listen.

Lou, thanks. You won't be sorry.

Did you want the job?

Oh, no.

I'm not good at criticizing people.

Even now, I can't think of a way to tell
you what a bad decision you've just

made.

What's this?

It's all that one -for -all stuff that
Pinton asked me to bring it down.

Oh. Is it one -for -all time of year
again?

And who says L .A. doesn't have seasons?

And I'm supposed to pass the collection
plate around the city room?

That's the idea.

We'll see.

Who does he think I am?

I'm the city editor.

I don't have time for this kind of
stuff.

You got it, Mr.

Grant. Good.

Well, now, I expect some impressive
contributions from Metro this year.

Do you really think it's an efficient
use of your city editor's time having

pass the collection played around like
this?

Well, I don't know.

There is certainly an argument to be
made for efficiency, Mr. Grant.

On the other hand, how can one assess in
hours the value of not ticking off

one's employer?

I take that to mean yes.

Okay.

I'll do it.

But I've got to tell you, I'm really
turned off by this guy who's running the

campaign. Ronald Ferguson.

Yeah. Little publicity conscious, isn't
he?

His face on every poster, every TV
commercial.

I know.

Don't worry, Mr. Grant.

You won't be subjected to his face for
very long.

Oh? Oh, that man.

Well, please instruct your reporters to
do what they can for one for all.

I will.

Thanks.

That's telling their kid.

Yeah, Lou, I'll give, but no moral
pressure, okay? I have a very low

pressure. No, no, I want you to do some
digging on this guy.

Who is he? Ronald Ferguson.

He's running one for all in L .A.

And something's wrong.

I have it on the best authority.

Mr. Ferguson will be right out. Thanks.

This is quite an office. Have you worked
here long?

Two years, but this is my last week.

I have to go back to school.

You're volunteering during semester
break?

Yes, but I'm not doing this out of the
goodness of my heart.

I'm planning to make fundraising my
career.

You're majoring in fundraising?

No, business administration.

But my real education has been working
for Mr. Ferguson.

He knows every angle of the business.

I keep forgetting it's a business. You
wouldn't if you were around here very

long. You want to talk about it?

This is fine, Donna.

Billy Newman?

Ronald Ferguson?

Ron. Let me take you on a tour.

Is this a record room?

I had visions of kind of a storefront
operation. I don't know.

Billy, the world has changed.

You have to spend money to make money.

Do you know, Billy, there are 35 good
-sized companies right in this building

and another 500 or so within a block?

Now, I'm in competition with other
charities for their dollars.

I keep myself near them to serve as a
kind of a reminder.

It's the only way to get the big money
that we need.

It's a dirty job, but somebody has to do
it, right?

Where'd you find that new coach, Frank?

Glendale Parks and Recreation?

Glendale College, Lou.

This guy's got plenty of experience.

That isn't what I heard.

I heard that you hired him because he
promised to let you sit on the bench.

Are you crazy?

Anybody can sit on the bench. This guy's
going to let me suit up.

I don't know, pal.

You run your basketball team like you
used to run that bunch of girl roller

skaters. Times change. That was 30 years
ago.

Are you telling me?

I could use a couple of the old
Kalamazoo kittens on the team.

Talk about somebody who could hit the
boards.

Do you remember Weeper, the enforcer?

Only her roving eye.

Yeah, she was always on the prowl.

No, I meant her roving eye.

Boy, she was spooky.

Yeah, but she could bring in the fans.

Now, those were the days when a sports
franchise could make you money.

Don't start poor -mouthing. You'll get
me believing those rumors that you're

thinking of moving the starts of San
Jose. How do those screwy stories get

started? Are they true?

If there were a story in it, wouldn't I
tell you you're my best pal?

And I know equivocation when I hear it.

Lou, forget the rumors about me moving.

That's all they are, rumors.

L .A. is home for the stars.

Okay.

It's just that it's an awfully big story
if it's true. You'll be the first to

know. Hello.

Hello. Charlie.

What's up?

Listen, I've been waiting out there for
Marion. Have you seen her?

No. Oh, wait here till she comes.

Charlie Hume. It's me and my friend
Franklin Nash. Charlie.

Franklin Nash.

Gee, this is great. This is great. You
know, I have followed the stars since

days of Spud Watkins. You must be a
loyal fan.

I think this town is full of loyal fans.
Listen, I am so loyal.

I'm not even going to tell you how nuts
you were to fire Johansson. He's a great

coach. I appreciate that, Charlie.

Charlie, I'm sorry, honey.

I got tied up at the office.

I love saying that.

Lou, hi.

Hi, Marion. Meet Franklin Nash.

Marion. Oh, a pleasure.

Why did you fire Johansson? That's
crazy.

Oh, well.

Things, uh...

Pretty busy at headquarters, huh? Oh, we
had a crisis.

The group that's been most critical of
Reinhardt asked him to address them, and

we couldn't reach Reinhardt. And there
was nobody to make a decision.

What happened?

I, uh, made a decision.

Is Dr.

Reinhardt the school board guy?

Yeah, except he's running for state
superintendent of public instruction.

Maya's been doing great volunteer work
at the school board for years, so

Reinhardt grabbed her. Good for him.

You like it, huh?

Well, I keep trying to be blase.

But when that paycheck comes every week,
I can't keep myself from grinning ear

to ear.

I don't even care that it's next to
nothing. I can't believe what I'm

grateful employee.

Marion, if you can slam dunk, I think we
should talk.

How's it going, Rossi?

Oh, Lou, Lou, it's incredible.

The report is sitting on a gold mine
here. In this room alone, there are so

stories, it's like Naked City.

Do you want to try controlling the glee?

Conflict of interest, self -serving
reporting, and enough homegrown

populate the gong show for a year.

Good, Rossi, good.

Lou? Yeah?

I'm starting a memo for you, too.

Oh, I'm looking forward to it.

I'd rather not say what it is, so I can
write better than I talk.

All I can say right now is watch the
tendency to tabloid elite, okay?

Right.

Hey, Rock?

Yeah? That's your memo on how I use too
many inflammatory acids?

Oh, well... For whatever it's worth.

Right.

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

The important thing is to have a lot of
different kinds of people at the rally,

a real cross -section. That'll look good
on the tube.

What if we all wore T -shirts with trees
on them or something?

Well, I don't think so, Mildred. See,
the trick is to not look too slick or

organized. That puts people off.

We'll just let people wear whatever they
want to wear and no professionally made

signs.

But we've got a problem, Billy.

I don't think Councilman Garbers is
going to show at the rally.

He's gotten word that we're out to get
him. Now listen, I've covered Garbers a

lot. Let me call him.

Great. We'll really nail him if he
shows.

But I don't think it's going to be easy
to get him. We'll find a way.

Billy Newman.

Oh, thanks, operator.

Hi, Ike.

Yeah, have you got this stuff on the one
for all for me?

Great.

Just let me get it down.

Okay, shoot.

That's good stuff.

Also, Ferguson ran one for all in
Atlanta.

He talked them into giving him a house,
use of a car, and I love this,

membership in a country club and private
discotheque.

Maybe he took some of the
underprivileged people from the

fresh air of the country club.

Plus, my friend in Philadelphia, where
Ferguson also made his mark, said that

they've been investigating and are about
to press charges.

What'd he do?

Well, basically, he was so good at
hobnobbing with the wealthy, he forgot

only made $35 ,000 a year.

All right. Well, it wasn't enough for
the life he was leading. Mm -hmm.

So charity began at home.

Lou. Hmm? Who ticked you off to this?

A sweet, gray -haired widow who can go
for the jugular like Jack Anderson.

I kind of had the feeling last time I
was here that you hadn't told me

everything you wanted to.

Well, it was a little difficult with Mr.
Ferguson right there.

There are all these doors he's not
allowed keys to.

Like where the small cash collections
are kept. No kidding.

Listen, they don't let him near any
money.

Well, isn't that kind of standard?

This man can't even get into the box we
keep stamps in.

He needs an okay from two other people
on everything.

No credit cards, no check signing.

This ever since he got here?

Well, not for the first couple of
months.

He kids about it. Says he's always
losing keys.

Do you think he's a crook?

I couldn't say that for sure.

I will say that nobody can get blood out
of a corporate turnip like Ferguson.

I just make sure I take my purse with me
whenever I leave my desk.

He's your pal, though. What's the story
with Franklin Nash?

What about him? Is he going to move the
stars to San Jose?

That's what I guess.

Because the story I've heard is that not
only are they going to build him an

arena up there, but some businessmen are
going to cut him in on some commercial

development in the area.

Sounds like quite a story.

It would be if it were true.

An awful lot of talk.

And the more talk like that, the better
his bargaining position down here.

Finally found a use for Rossi's memos.

Is this your idea, Lou?

Setting up the watchdog position. That
came straight from the tower.

No, no, Lou. Was choosing Rossi your
idea?

Well, yeah.

Listen, he's got the best intentions.

He's second -guessing. Our leads are too
long. My leads are too short. Too many

boring stats.

Too much unnecessary color.

If we spend our time reacting to these
memos, there'll be no national or

news in the paper.

You're not behind all this, are you,
Lou?

You guys really sound bothered.

Well, aren't you, Ben? Nope.

I haven't heard from Rossi. I guess he
likes my work.

Well, he doesn't know what you do.

What do you do, Ben?

Come on, Charlie. I'm sorry I'm late.

Stop. One more time, Charlie. We'll tell
Rossi.

Throw me to the watchdog, you wouldn't.

Okay, Lou, what do you got?

Billy has worked up something very nice
on the One for All campaign.

Not only is the chief fundraiser about
to be indicted in Philadelphia, but the

local board here knows it.

They're definitely dumping him after the
current campaign.

One for all, should we check this with
Mrs. Pinchon first?

It is her charity.

But I'd rather not put her in the
awkward position of having to decide

or not to run this.

It'd be a lot easier for her if she's
able to say, I didn't know anything

it.

Well, then we'll lead with it, page one.
Tell Billy, nice work.

Mr. Rossi.

Oh, Mrs. Pinchon, hi.

Good work, truly.

Oh, thanks.

Very much.

You want to sit here?

Well, I usually make a point of avoiding
people who eat sugar puffs for dinner.

But I'd like to, yes.

Can you scoot down? Sure.

Do you bowl?

Well, I used to. But my nights are
really kind of tied up.

Oh, Mr. Rossi, I only ask for the sake
of an analogy.

Oh.

I feel that, as media critic, I have
made you number one, Ken. You're right

there in front, and as a result,
extremely vulnerable.

How rough are things for you downstairs?

Oh, it's okay.

How are the editors taking your
criticisms?

Fairly well.

Oh, Mr. Rossi.

Well...

Some of them don't read the memos, and
the rest don't take them too seriously.

Oh, I see.

Mrs. Pinchon, I've been thinking.

I love this job, but... Maybe if you
gave it to a guy who has more seniority

the paper, someone with more clout.

What if I gave you clout?

What? Now, I feel we've only taken half
measures here.

Let's go public with your memos.

Let's publish your criticisms in the
paper. I'd like to demonstrate to our

readers that we're not afraid to take a
good hard look at ourselves.

Yeah?

Mr. Rossi, if I could assure you a
column opposite the editorial page, how

soon could you have one ready? Are you
kidding? In an hour. I've got material

for 50 columns.

We've got an editor whose wife's on the
paid staff of a political campaign.

Another editor who's in the back pocket
of a local team owner.

A reporter who's using political muscle
on a city councilman and a guy who's so

close to a senator he can probably read
her mind.

Really? Yeah.

Well, write it up.

I'll see to it. It's in the home edition
tomorrow.

Here you go, Mrs. Pinchot.

Thank you, Leon.

Maybe now they'll see we mean business.

Oh, my Lord.

What's this?

One parole chief living high while needy
wait.

Now, there's a good example.

That's a corny headline.

That's unforgivable.

You're quite right.

Tell Mr. Grant to see me in my office
immediately.

Boss, you said you wanted to see me?

Yes, Mr. Grant.

Listen, I don't want to be coy about
this. Yes, I know it's because of the

Ferguson story.

That's right.

And I want you to know, as far as your
being our source is concerned, our lips

are sealed.

You used me to get the gospel.

I told you something in passing I had no
idea would appear on page one, and

right now I am so angry with you, I
don't think I can control myself.

Listen, I'm sorry there was a
misunderstanding.

No, I think... Get out!

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

Morning.

Morning, Nick.

Listen, I got permission to take those
carpet pieces home. I didn't do anything

wrong. What are you talking about?

Those scraps from the new offices.

I make little scratching posts for cats.

It's not really a business. I just do it
for some friends. I hardly break even

on it. Nick, why are you telling me
this?

Well, I've been reading what you did to
Mr. Hume and Donovan and Billy and all.

I figured I was next.

I just want to let you know about the
carpets. I'm clean.

Oh, thanks, Nick.

You own a cat?

No. Well, they make kind of colorful
doorstops.

Cats? The posts.

I could get you one.

Uh, thanks, Nick. No.

I'd let you pay for it.

Good morning, Donovan. Can I pour you a
cup?

In the late winter of 1972, I rode a
plane with Helen Emanuel.

She'd just decided to run for the
Senate, and she asked me to be her media

liaison.

I liked her.

I thought she'd make a good senator.

I quit work here and went with her.

We won.

I came back to the Trib having learned a
lot about politics, about the mutual

dependency of candidates in the press,
about how to shut off the air

conditioning and holiday inns.

You never asked me, but I think those
months made me a better newspaper man.

Is that a yes or a no?

That's a pour it in your shoe, Rossi.

Want in on the pool?

Still got some spots open.

What is this?

Well, there are three factors.

Time of the injury to Rossi, which limb
is involved, and which Trib employee

delivers the first punch.

What about multiple fractures?

Severest injury takes precedence.

Sounds good. I'll take Lou, two o
'clock. No, if I'll lose booked solid, I

give you Charlie.

Oh, I don't know.

Listen, the smart money's on Billy, and
there are plenty of good openings.

You're here.

Hi, Mrs. Pinchot.

I figured you'd be getting fitted for a
suit of armor.

Now you tell me.

the record, Mr. Hume.

I happen to know Rossy is dead wrong.

Morning, Mrs. Pinchot.

Thanks.

Calling you and Marion strange
bedfellows. You're one of the least

couples I know.

Oh, in print.

Does this typeface look bigger to you,
just that part, Rick?

I'm sorry for your embarrassment.

But Marion is going to have to quit her
job.

Yeah, I know.

Besides, I'm really delighted with Mr.
Rossi's work.

Oh, I'd like to see the opposition try
it.

Let's offer them Rossi.

Don't blame him, Mr. Hume.

It was my idea.

Right.

Doesn't all that diplomacy wear you down
after a while?

What do you mean?

We've known each other for 12 years.

Right now, you're probably as angry at
me as you are at Rossi.

You always know when to speak out, when
to bite your tongue.

It's a valuable gift, Mr. Hill.

I appreciate it.

I think it was dumb giving Rossi a free
hand like that.

Surprise.

Hey, Rossi.

Rossi.

Pretty good, Rossi. I'm sure all of Los
Angeles is stunned to find out I don't

like watching the trees in my
neighborhood get chopped down.

You've done a great public service. Hey,
Billy. Which is worse, Rossi, the fact

that I publicly hate what Garbers is
doing or that you keep your feelings

politics private. We'll never know how
the hell you stand on anything, will we?

Just calm down. Oh, I hate it when
people tell me to calm down.

You think the issue is not having
opinions. That's not it.

It's not letting opinions screw up your
story.

I know what you're thinking.

You're thinking that the men's room is
not the place for this conversation.

Well, I'm sorry to have inconvenienced
you, Rossi, or anyone, but I just felt

that you should know how I felt about
this issue.

Is she gone?

Come in.

Feeling better, Mrs. Pinchot?

It's scrambled eggs again. I'm sorry.

Don't apologize, honey.

Yeah, you're right.

I'm working.

You're working.

And neither one of us wants to eat out
because we already have our shoes off.

Right. So, good for me.

Good for you.

If I got one of those slow cooking
things, you know, I could put a pot

it in the morning.

And some carrots and potatoes, and you
can have a decent meal for a change.

A decent meal?

It's just that... Eggs are great.

Oh, boy, this is a killer, Mary.

Did you see today's trip?

No, I was in Ohio all day. Oh, what a
day.

Rossi did a piece on conflict of
interest within the paper.

His lead item was the managing editor
and his wife who works for a politician.

And the possible benefits to the
candidate.

I feel terrible, Marion.

I know what the job means to you.

And I have to give it up.

Well, don't feel bad, Charlie.

I have no intention of giving it up.

So, I said, well, what kind of idiotic
question is that? My job is more

important.

I suppose once that diplomatic touch is
gone, it's gone for good.

What's going on here? I mean, she is
comparing a job that she has had for one

month with 30 years of work on
newspapers, a career.

I understand, I think, what Marion's
feeling.

Before she took that job, she wasn't
sure she could handle it.

Well, that's ridiculous. I mean, she had
been doing practically the same thing

as a volunteer for years. Oh, but
there's a tremendous difference.

Before, if she wasn't doing a good job,
she could just walk away from it.

But now suddenly she's an employee.

People could not like what she's doing.

She could be fired. She could fail.

That's frightening.

Yeah, but she didn't. That's right.
She's won.

So she's feeling strong and capable and
full of energy.

And suddenly her husband tells her she
has to give it all up.

Yeah, no wonder she came after me.

is a pinch on your very understanding.

You're welcome.

I only hope that Marion is understanding
about my position.

I cannot have a managing editor of this
newspaper whose wife is an employee of a

political candidate.

Oh.

This issue is not negotiable.

Huh.

Which am I?

Mr. Hugh, the rock or the hard place?

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

Big three is a charm.

Mr. Grant, come in.

Please.

I would like to apologize for my
behavior toward you in recent days.

It's okay, Mrs. Pinchot. No, it's not
okay.

It's out of the question for me to lose
my temper.

Why?

We ran an expose on your fundraiser and
bruised the One for All campaign. Why

shouldn't you be sore?

Because it's inefficient.

And it's often hurtful to the other
person and...

It certainly is a sign of weakness on my
part.

I've seen you mad lots of times.

You have seen out of sorts.

You have seen indignant.

What I've been feeling toward you is
more along the lines of blind rage.

Okay. Let me have it.

Unfortunately, it has passed.

Listen, I'd feel a lot better if we got
it over with. You know, got it all out.

You're taking this all very well, Mr.
Grant.

Well, after all, Mrs. Pinchot, it has
been two days.

Yes. And in less time than that, you
managed to destroy a year's hard work by

thousands of people. Mrs. Pinchot. To
say nothing of thousands of others whose

chances for therapy, three square meals
a day, counseling and rehabilitation

have been destroyed.

All for the sake of 24 Colin Minches.

Did you ever think of them?

While you were chasing after Ronald
Ferguson and one for all with your

tar? Sure I did.

Did you think about them when you found
out Ferguson was a crook? Oh, we were

handling that.

If any other organization had done that,
we'd have called it covering up.

People who give their money to charity
have the right to know it's not being

wasted. But what about our campaign? All
the money we stand to lose.

Won't you stand to lose a lot more if
people think the whole operation is

crooked and not just Ferguson? All
right.

What about me?

My humiliation?

The charity I represent being attacked
by the newspaper I own.

What about me?

How do you expect me as the city editor
to go after any story wherever I find

it, no holds barred, if I have to worry
that my publisher might be involved in

that story? We're talking about a
charity, Mr. Grant. I don't do this for

myself. My father helped to found one
for all.

It was my way to be of service to the
public.

I think your way to be of service to the
public is to run the best, freest, and

toughest paper in town. If you're doing
that right, that's service enough.

Mr. Grant, you are absolutely right, and
I will thank you not to rub my nose in

it. That is all. You may go now.

I thought you said your anger had
passed.

It was a lot better a couple of days
ago.

This wasn't bad.

Are we ready to go?

Where's Lou?

He's on the phone.

Well, will you go out and drag him in
here? I want to get started.

He's coming.

Sorry, I had to take a call.

Now, look, we have all been called to
task, one way or the

other, by Joe Ross's column, and I
thought that we should clear the air.

And thanks for agreeing to this, Joe.

Well, it beats not being talked to at
all. Don't count on it.

We're all here, so... I know it's going
to be tough to sort of get the ball

rolling. You know what I resent?

I resent never being asked for my side
of the story.

Well, Adam, to tell you the truth,
sometimes a record speaks for itself.

the financial editor, and you've got a
list of stock holdings as long as your

arm. First of all, I have the right to
invest my money any way I want. But to

use your position at the paper. And
second, if you'd done any checking,

see that I own one share of stock in all
those companies.

It's a good way of keeping in touch with
what they're doing.

It gives me access to meetings and
records I wouldn't otherwise have. I do

for my work. You wrote about Adam like
he was using the trip to play the

That stinks, Rossi. Look, I'm not saying
he did anything wrong. I'm just telling

you what it looks like.

In this business, even the appearance of
something wrong is enough to destroy

credibility. And credibility is all
we've got going for us. Sure. And with

column, you've done a job on everyone's
credibility.

Make it look like a normal life is
suspicious.

I've got kids. I belong to the PTA.

According to your standards, I'm
probably too involved to be handling

stories. I think so, yes.

So once we actually start caring about a
story, we've got to disqualify

ourselves. That makes no sense.

Sure it does. Sure it does.

Look, I don't belong to any
organizations, any political parties.

driver's license and a library card, and
that's it.

When Lou assigns me to a story, he knows
I don't owe anyone anything. That's

because the only thing you've got going
in your life is your clip file and your

portable typewriter.

Rossi, there's another kind of reporter.

The guy that gets a story because he
lives in this world.

He's raising a family. He's part of the
community he's covering. You may not

think so, but there are some stories
where he'd have the edge on you.

And whoever he is, he's got to be easier
to work with than you are.

Lou, you haven't said a word.

I agree that he's carrying it too far.

Plus, I'm steamed that he didn't ask me
about my friendship with Franklin Nash

before he told our readers about it.

But I'm the last one who should pop off.

Because in my case, Rossi was right.

How's that?

I was steering us away from a good
story.

Nash was just playing with our city
council to get a better deal from San

Lou, that's a good story.

I thought so, too.

So I asked him, and he assured me as a
friend that it wasn't true.

I just got a call from San Jose. The
deal's been made.

Are you going to say I told you so?

Well, not in those words.

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

8 ,000.

Want some company?

Yeah.

How you doing?

Oh, they're cutting down our trees
today.

I'm dreading going home to it.

I heard.

Sorry.

Also, the Garbers thing.

Rozzy really did a number on me.

He turned what I did into something so
sinister, and now I'm all defensive.

I know.

You go along doing what you think is
right, and then suddenly somebody points

finger at you and says, shame on you.

Instant guilt.

Exactly.

Well, you got to put all that behind
you, Billy.

Look to the future.

Oh. Oh.

Little pine trees.

Art. They're Douglas fir, I think.

Uh -oh.

Not a word of this to Rossi, okay?

Oh, come on. I don't want to read a
headline in the Trib that says, reporter

compromised by gift of first.

I don't think we have to worry about
that.

I'm not going to get anything out of
this.

Unless you want half a cheese sandwich.

I won't tell Rossi.

Come on, Lou, don't take this so hard.

There's no way I could have leveled with
you. If word had gotten out, we would

have blown the deal. You lied to me to
take my newspaper out of the play.

Well, what else could I do? I figured as
a friend you'd understand.

Well, you figured exactly right.

I remembered I was your friend and
forgot I was a newsman.

You remembered I was a newsman and
forgot I was your friend.

Listen, send one of your boys around and
I'll give him an interview.

One -on -one.

I'll give him some great quotes.

No more favors, Frank.

Okay? You overreacting to this, Lou?

Yeah, probably.

Listen, I gotta get across town in 20
minutes. We're playing Denver.

Wanna come?

No, it's been a long day. I'm just gonna
go home.

Thanks, Tim. Right. Say hi to Laura.

What happens to newspaper guys who live
for their work?

What?

They end up with two furnished rooms in
Long Beach eating macaroni dinners,

wearing white shirts and suit pants that
are baggy in the seat.

Don't end up like that, Rossi.

Okay, Lou.

You two have a nice talk?

I suppose.

You tell him you're going to put
somebody on the basketball story?

I told him he'd been using me to kill a
story.

He said he had no choice.

I think you were right, Lou.

At the moment, I don't give a damn who
was right.

All those years.

I knew him when he was booking carnivals
in Michigan.

My little one used to call him Uncle
Frank.

Didn't take much to erase all that.

You got lots of friends, Lou.

You're not going to end up in Long
Beach.

You better write one hell of a story
about him moving the team.

Me? Really?

Yeah.

Congratulations.

Well, I am.

How was your day?

My day?

My day was less than perfect.

Mrs. Pension as much as told me to kiss
my job goodbye if you kept working for

Reinhardt.

She says, by the way, she totally
understands how you feel.

I'm sure the world is on your side over
this.

I'm clearly the villain here.

Well, you win.

I'd be happy to turn over the house
payments to you.

And how was your day?

You know, all of my adult life I've
adjusted.

Not just to you, Charlie, but to the
kids, too.

Where we live.

What I do.

Even a little bit what I look like.

And who my friends are.

I didn't know I had a choice.

Well, I do.

I don't owe it to you to give up my job.

You don't owe me anything.

But I will give up my job.

Because I love you.

Oh, boy.

Tell Joe Rossi to keep an eye on me.

I'm going to look for something else.

Okay, good.

Can you get me something at the trip?

You're kidding.

Maybe, uh, assistant managing editor.

You're kidding.

Now, this isn't funny. We're talking
about a reputation here. Rossi, what are

you saying?

It was you.

Hell hath no fury, right?

I don't know what you mean.

It could have been any one of you or it
could have been all of you. You're

crying out loud, Rossi. What's your
beef?

Membership. Someone bought me
memberships in all these organizations.

Young Socialist Alliance.

National Rifle Association.

Member in good standing.

Very sharp looking car.

I don't even belong to the auto club.

Yeah, you do.

Seems like some serious conflict, Steve.
That's not all. The Sierra Club, the

John Birch Society, Granada Hills
Hadassah, Daughters of the American

Revolution.

That's just an application for
membership. You don't have to worry

one. Sean Cassidy Fan Club. Hey, this
one's a lifetime membership.

No, no, no. How am I ever going to undo
all this?

Well, at least we know we can count on
your forgiveness.

Yeah, well, don't be so sure, Lou.

Reverend Rossi.

Oh, no.

Yep. Eternal blessings, mail order
ministry.

No one deserved it more.