Original subtitles

We want Neil! We want Neil!

We want Neil! We want Neil!

We want Neil! We want Neil!

A short time ago,

our CBS vote profile analysis

declared Bingham the winner,

and now NBC and ABC computers agree.

While Neil Atkinson has not yet conceded...

How's your sister?

She's fine, thank you.

...newly incorporated suburbs.

That's madam Sundar's.

Jerry... How you doing? I thought you were in Philly.

I came back for the victory speech.

Victory? Come on, I want you to meet somebody, Jerry.

Neil, we'd better go down now.

Let them through.

Let them through, please.

Excuse us.

Howard, get the elevator.

You got any hors d'oeuvres left?

We're with you. Don't worry about it.

They, uh...

They said when we got into this,

we didn't have a chance.

They said there was nothing we could do...

And, uh, and now, the count has gone against us.

Well, whatever that means.

Well... I'm not sorry,

and I hope you're not sorry.

No! No!

I think... I think we've proved our point.

We may have lost our personal campaign...

That's not important.

What really matters is...

A little sauce for the road.

Next time, we'll get a live one.

Well, I knew we didn't have a chance...

Your golf clubs are in my car.

Yeah. Hey, let's clear out anyway.

Let's go to the Bahamas.

Hey, big Luke, have a good night?

Yeah, we took 2 out of 3.

That's not bad for an off-year election.

Because...

You should be glad

you weren't running this campaign, huh?

It was in the cards. Hell of a guy, though.

Oh, yeah, nice guys.

He never had a chance.

Wait a minute. I want to talk to you.

...until we've licked the conditions

that brought us into this.

I...

Luke, what's your hurry? I'll walk you out.

We're supposed to have a drink with Forbes, right?

Forbes wants to talk about California.

You got something going in California?

Maybe.

Democrats should nominate Jarmon themselves out there,

they're so afraid of him. Am I right?

You never know.

What's this?

Thank you, sir.

The son, huh?

Guy I knew at Stanford.

McKay's son. Yeah, I saw all this stuff...

The legal aid bit.

Doesn't prove he's got Kishkes.

Nobody's going to beat Jarmon, Luke.

Tell me something else I don't know.

Occupation charges? Por favor, por favor.

What are these occupation charges

he keeps talking about?

He's talking about storage charges.

It's not enough to sock it to us

for 3 times what it's worth.

He wants to charge us

for not getting our car back?

You got it.

That's beautiful. Beautiful.

Bill McKay?

Marvin Lucas.

I thought a beard was taboo in politics.

It is.

I got thrown out of superior court.

He won't budge.

Ask him if knows what a license renewal hearing is.

I'll try.

What happened?

They threw me out.

He wouldn't let me start.

Told me it was a matter for the federal courts.

Go back with a petition.

Oh, Christ. We've had 3 months' worth of briefs.

The watershed thing's too important.

Anything I can help you with?

No, I'll wait for McKay.

Those courts aren't going to move.

They'll have to move.

Senator.

You have thought about it.

You know what I see?

A stampede of 18-year-old party hacks

reacting to a lot of magazine publicity.

Of course, I have talked to some people about it.

What do you think of Jarmon?

Smooth character.

You think someone ought to take him on?

Some big-time democrat.

They're all afraid of him.

I guess you're up against it, then.

Unless we find something new,

someone who has something he believes in.

Whatever that means.

Someone who can spend spend a whole year

telling people what he thinks is important.

Not that way, he doesn't.

Not in any political campaign.

Oh, it doesn't have to work that way.

Don't tell me how it works.

I watched my dad for 20 years.

That was no good, huh?

Yeah, it was good for him.

He loved it.

He got be governor John j. McKay.

What good it did for anybody else,

I don't know.

I'm not talking about him.

I'm talking about someone who can call his own shots.

This stuff you call politics?

Politics is bullshit.

I was wondering what it was.

Hey, I have to go home for about an hour.

Janice, did Nancy drop the car off?

No.

Didn't she call?

I can drive you home.

O.K.

I'll wait outside.

No. These... these have to be signed

on the bottom,

and then just give them to Donna, o.K.?

See you later.

You could go on filing lawsuits

in the sticks for a hundred years.

Or you could take a year and lay out

a real position for yourself

in this state. It's a question of...

Hi, kid.

Marvin, this is my wife Nancy.

Nancy, this is Marvin Lucas.

Don't let us interrupt.

Want a beer?

Yeah.

Here you go.

Here's some goodies.

But the contacts, for example...

You're going to meet people

who know how to get things done.

Hey, listen...

It's a matter of resources.

I just worked straight through the weekend,

20 straight hours...

And I loved every minute of it.

So why do I need what you're offering?

I'm happy.

You're happy. Yeah.

Clams are happy.

What did you accomplish?

Would you like a list?

Yeah. You saved some trees.

You got a clinic open.

That's no good?

Does that make you feel good?

Not bad.

Meanwhile, Jarmon sits on his committees

and carves up the land, the oil, and the taxes.

You ever seen him?

Have you ever seen him operate?

Marvin... Yeah.

What's in it for you?

Oh, uh...

An air card, a phone card,

1,000 bucks a week.

And that's all?

Well...

Marvin wants me to go into politics.

What else is new?

For what office?

Senator.

Well, why not?

If he really put his mind to it.

That means you'd have to register.

He never has, you know.

Hasn't been any reason.

I hope you keep that a secret.

Unless you took it seriously.

Look, the point is,

you can go with the things you believe in.

For openers, you've got credibility.

You've got the name.

What do you mean, the name?

You're not going to bring my father into this.

O.K., we won't.

He's got the looks.

Right.

And he's got the power.

What does that mean?

You know what that means.

No, I don't.

Well... If you gentlemen will excuse me,

um, I have to remove some film from the bathtub

before it rots.

You're saying I can say what I want,

do what I want,

go where I please.

Hmm?

That's right.

Here's your guarantee.

I lose?

That's it.

So what are you worried about?

You're free, McKay.

You don't have a chance, so say what you want.

It's just between you and the public.

The question is...

Whether you can put your ass on the line.

No. The question is whether it's worth it.

Well...

Thanks for the beer.

But I remember this...

I remember my mom and dad

went through the 1930s without welfare,

without poverty programs.

Why, none of us kids even had a social worker.

How did we do it?

Well, ladies, excuse me,

but we worked our butts off.

But I tell you this, good people,

that Crocker Jarmon still believes

that individuals are responsible

for themselves.

And so does the vast majority of the American people!

And that's why we're going to tell big brother

to get lost!

The solution to welfare is not more welfare.

It's more enterprise, more industry,

and more jobs.

Now, there are those who say to industry,

don't build, don't develop,

don't cut a single tree,

or you'll destroy our watershed, and so on.

But I know when the time comes for building,

we will build, because building means jobs.

And...

And...

We'll find a way to love mother nature

and preserve her...

Without going to extremes.

You think I'm mean?

No! No!

Well, if I am,

I've spent the last 18 years in the senate

being a meanie,

and if need be,

I will spend another 18 years

working to keep this country healthy and growing

and booming into the future!

Thanks for coming.

Oh, you did, huh, you old devil?

I wish I could, but you know, the old ball and chain.

How are you?

Senator, good to see you.

Harry rich.

Hello, Harry. How's business?

Fine, fine.

Good. Good, good, good.

Senator Jarmon,

remember our little toddy?

Well, hello there, toddy.

He's an ugly little cuss.

My... What's that?

My daddy thinks

you should run for vice president.

Get this child to a violin.

Remember me?

Why, sure do, son. How's the old throwing arm?

Oh, please, please. I'm a married man.

Senator!

And rolling.

Today, at 10:00, I filed the papers to enter my name

in the Democratic primary

as a candidate for the United States senate.

Any questions?

Community legal service.

Why are you doing this?

Because I don't think the incumbent

is really in touch with how people live

or what they need.

That's what I tried to do as a lawyer,

and that's what I hope to go on doing

as a candidate.

How do you feel about welfare?

We subsidize trains. We subsidize planes.

Why not subsidize people?

What about busing?

What about it?

What's your stand on it?

I'm for it.

That's a first.

What would you do about property taxes?

I don't know.

Jesus.

What is your platform?

I'm sor... what do you mean, platform?

Bill, would you mind moving over there

with your office staff?

No... Sorry. Any other questions?

Why won't you move over there

with your staff?

They're not responsible for me.

I dig it. It's raw, but I eat it up.

A lot of work to be done, my friend,

but I get the feeling

you know where you're going.

I don't.

Yeah? Ha ha.

No, no, no, honey.

I told you, 5 to the party.

One more, we got to use another car,

so we blow the whole conversation.

Bill is concerned over what kind

of control we'll have

over which of your commercials

will go out over the tube, et cetera.

Luke knows this. He's worked with me before.

He knows I checked you out.

Bottom line is I like what you stand for.

You got balls.

Otherwise I wouldn't take you on.

We take my crew,

we get you doing your thing, and that's it.

Thanks, honey. Huh?

You just get it on with the people.

Let me worry about the cameras.

I come back in a week, I show you my stuff,

you see for yourself if I sold you out.

Yeah, but I have final say, though.

What?

I have final say.

You don't like what you see, you pull it.

It's your money, my friend. That fair?

We'll see.

But I'll tell you one thing...

Tell me one thing.

You might just make it, my friend.

People are going to take a look

at our stuff

and see a guy who's got guts.

They're going to take a look at the crock

and think maybe he can't get it up anymore.

That's what it's all about, huh?

Forget I even said it.

I want to show you one thing over there.

Keep an eye on this.

I think I got something for you.

My friends, the issue...

Is whether we are going to hold on

to the most successful philosophy

in the history of mankind

or whether we are going to trade it,

trade it in for a collectivist state.

You see that?

He works from a stage pose.

How many politicians do you know

can look straight in the camera

without coming off shifty-eyed?

This philosophy

is the work of free individuals...

Corny, right?

But watch... It's what he wants.

He's a master.

Just watch him.

...has made this nation great,

but we will not continue in greatness

unless we resolve to protect our way of life.

Crocker Jarmon...

He's been good for California.

Think about it, my friends.

The preceding has been a political message...

We'll label him "Mr. Geritol,"

and you'll do the "I'm my own man" bit.

For starters, we got to cut your hair

and 86 the sideburns.

All right, let's go.

Crocker Jarmon has spoken with you often.

Crocker Jarmon has fought

to make this country sound.

I think we must have the money

on its way in

before we start sending it out

the other end.

This was 12 years ago,

doing the man-of-the-people number.

Guy can go anywhere he wants.

Crocker Jarmon has fought

to make this country strong.

...who is one of the greatest generals

in the history of the United States...

General Eisenhower...

And no one hates war

more than a military man.

There may a day come

when China should enter the U.N.,

but I think they must earn this entrance.

Let's keep America strong and sound.

Crocker Jarmon trusts people,

and people trust...

The guy has sincerity.

There's nothing new in the world,

except maybe you.

The idea is to get you

in completely natural situations.

Honey, honey...

No, hold all my calls for 5 minutes. Yeah.

Go on, follow him.

Not too close.

Go shake some hands.

What? Just say hello.

Hello. Bill McKay... Running for U.S. senate.

Bill McKay... I'm running for U.S. senate.

Hello, I'm Bill McKay.

Hello. Bill McKay... Running for U.S. senate.

How are you?

Here, like a pamphlet, sir?

Hello, Bill mc...

Bill McKay... U.S. senate. How are you?

What are you trying to do?

I'm trying to talk to you.

What about?

About how the economy throws everything

on the backs of the working man...

Interest rates...

I don't know... Rents,

food costs...

All go up faster than your paychecks.

That's very interesting.

Most people think because you've got a union

that you've got it made.

They do?

Yeah. But you still get laid off, don't you?

Yeah, well... I got to go now.

All right.

Take it easy.

Uh, hi.

Hello. Bill McKay...

Running for U.S. senate.

Bill?

Yeah.

You better hurry,

or we'll be late for the banquet.

We don't have very much time.

Would you hand me that earring there?

Hey... Let's go for a walk on the beach.

In your tux?

No. We could talk or something.

Bill...

Come on.

We could talk on the way to the banquet.

Or we could not go to the banquet.

I just want to talk...

Bill, don't do this!

Oh... They cut your hair.

Let me see it.

Really. Turn... Let me see it.

I really like...

Bill...

Bill...

Hello. How are you?

I'm sorry. We're late.

Look, uh, I wrote down some stuff for you.

You want to go over it?

No, I got it. Here.

O.K. Then, uh, on to the ballroom.

All right, I'll do my part.

O.K.

Hey.

Bill.

What do you make of this evening?

I really can't say because I haven't...

Thank you.

Moving right along,

I see we have one more candidate,

and I happen to know this man personally.

So I welcome this opportunity

to say a few words about him.

I can say to you unequivocally

he is the only man in California

who at his age

has already had experience in higher office.

He used to have his diapers changed there.

I know he looks a little bit young

to be present tonight,

but don't worry, he's got a note from his teacher.

I don't mean that. I really don't.

He is a fresh, new talent,

because 2 weeks ago,

he was discovered on a stool in schwab's...

Seriously, folks,

you'd better watch your step when he comes out here

because he's a man who shoots from the hip,

and a man who's hip when he shoots.

Join me in welcoming.

Mr. Bill McKay!

Don't get my notes messed up.

I've got to wrap it up.

I guess...

I guess it is pretty funny.

In fact, when you think about it, the whole idea

of 2 guys making decisions

for 20 million people,

that's pretty funny.

But, still, you can't laugh too much

when you think what's at stake.

The fact is, in the next few elections,

we're going to decide just what it's going to be like

to live in this country.

O.K., cut. We got all we need.

Whether people will have more power

to shape their own lives.

Or whether we're going to lose that power.

I know that anyone can stand up

and say that much.

It's the details that's hard,

just how you get people involved.

Our lives are more and more determined

by forces that overwhelm the individual.

I don't know. Maybe...

Maybe these questions can't be raised

in a political campaign.

Maybe people aren't ready to listen.

But I'm going to try,

and I hope that you'll support that effort

and at least give me the benefit of the doubt.

Thank you.

Mr. McKay, your speech was wonderful.

I enjoyed every moment of it.

You'll be a wonderful senator.

Thank you very much.

Mrs. McKay.

Yes. Hello.

Oh, you're lovely.

Of all the candidates' wives,

you are the loveliest.

It's a pleasure to meet you.

Thank you. You look lovely, too. Thank you.

Hello, sir.

Mrs. McKay, I really enjoyed being with you

here this evening.

I'm glad you came. Thank you very much.

It's a thrill to meet you.

What's the pin?

Oh, this is our laborers international pin.

I'm sorry?

The laborers international pin.

How do you do, Mrs. McKay?

I love your dress.

Oh, thank you very much.

Mr. McKay, I've heard it all before,

but never put quite like that.

You were great.

Thank you very much.

Right. You are.

Mr... I'm sorry. I can't...

Medina.

Medina. And you were with your wife.

I remember that very well.

See, I have a terrific memory. You didn't know that.

Did you enjoy the speech?

It was terrific.

Good. Good. Mr. Hodely...

As for credibility...

As I understand it,

it depends on whether you mean what you say.

You say you wouldn't draw the line in Vietnam.

Well, then just where do you propose

to stand up against the communists,

on the beaches in Santa Monica?

I...

Well, that depends on the circumstances.

There's no set answer for that one.

Well, hold it.

There's no set answer.

Well, that's honest, all right,

but that leaves us nowhere.

But it's not a serious question.

It's exactly what you're going to get asked

tomorrow in long beach.

You got an answer for him, Corey?

Well, he could say, uh...

Japan or India

or countries with certain kinds of governments

which legitimately request our help.

You're speech-writing. This isn't the cow palace,

this is practice for a local TV interview.

A lot of people in this state

still expect an invasion in Pasadena.

Then we'll fight 'em in the rose bowl.

Frankly, I don't think

this is a gag-writer situation.

Well, I can kill myself, I suppose.

Look, he could refer them

to our foreign policy position paper.

What position paper?

We'll have it written in 2 weeks.

I'll tell you what I think...

Hold on.

Come on, what am I here for?

I've got it. I've got it.

Will you shut up?

McKay says he will not let them land

on the beaches of Santa Monica

because the parking problem is bad enough already.

O.K., that's it.

Thank God for small favors.

O.K., that's it.

It never hurts to toss one off.

But does he really want to say that?

Next question.

Mr. McKay, what do you think

about legalized abortion?

Ah, good question.

I'm for it.

I think every woman should have that right.

Wait a minute, Bill. You can't put it that way.

That's what I think.

Well, it's not going to be understood

without a hell of a long explanation,

so how about this for the time being?

Uh, just say it's worth studying.

O.K. I'll think about it.

All right.

Uh, Mr. McKay... Bill...

We notice your father hasn't said one word

about your campaign.

Is he sitting it out?

Uh, let's have that again.

Is your father sitting out your campaign?

I'm running on my own hook.

Oh, to hell with it.

Where's he going?

That's all for now.

I said that's all for now.

We're going to have to give a lot more consideration

to his appearance.

If that's the way he's going to be...

Lou.

We got a stand set up right over there.

Just pull up behind it.

Hey, I don't want to drive up in this tank.

Stop here.

That's a good idea. He's going on foot.

Come on.

I don't know what good this is going to do.

It's good for him.

Folks, I want you to meet Bill McKay.

He's running for the United States senate.

Would you like to step up here, please?

No, no.

Hi, red.

Hi.

Can I have a sip?

Do you do this often?

That'd be great if he were running for alderman.

I'm not running for alderman.

Well, then what are you doing down here?

Like the leaflet says,

I'm here because I'm running for senator.

I wanted to come here today

because I used to spend some time

around this place a few years ago.

In those days, you could swim here.

It was before they turned this harbor

into a chemistry set.

In those days,

there used to be a beach right there

where that parking lot is.

Anyhow, coming out here

used to be something pretty special.

Today, it wasn't. It wasn't so special.

You know, I look around this beach,

and you know what I see?

Freaks.

You know it.

I see lost people.

Ha ha. Oh, really?

Maybe I am middle-class, in a way,

but I didn't find that out today.

I found that out working with people

who are trying to make sure

their kids have enough to eat tomorrow morning.

Hey, this is good.

We can certainly use the pollution angle.

Yeah. I'll speed it up. I don't know.

Maybe we can use a line or two out of context.

Look what he says.

Instead of building atomic reactors,

you could clean up every river,

and instead of drilling for oil...

Hey, that's too much.

I got union problems already.

O.K. How fast do you need these spots?

June. He's the only name in the primary,

so we're not going to waste too much money.

And we can fire the board of regents.

How can a senator fire the board of regents?

It's meaningless.

It sounds good.

Anything else?

Don't worry. It'll cut together.

Wait till we get the stuff at watts. Trust me.

Gentlemen, this way, please. This way.

We're going to proceed 5 blocks

to our watts headquarters.

Question... could Jarmon walk through watts?

Is your father going to join the campaign?

Pardon me?

Is your father going to join the campaign?

Whether he does or not,

I can tell you what's basic

for the ghetto...

It's a scandal.

There's no hospital here.

There's no on-the-job training

for medical aides.

They have no housing program...

Excuse me just a sec.

They have no housing program.

They have no public transportation.

There's no birth-control centers.

Tell it, bro.

So what else is new?

Gentlemen, there will be a cookout

in the park at 3 P.M.

Hello.

Shake hands with me.

Gentlemen, gentlemen.

Hey, brother.

How ya doin'?

Bill McKay.

You the golden wonder of the west.

I wouldn't say that.

Well, what do you think about my dog?

Well, that's... That's a fine dog.

Gimme five!

Huh?

Hey, man. Hey, hey. Five!

That's my man.

But lookee here. Lookee here.

What about my dog?

What do you think about my dog?

That's a fine dog.

Ooh, now, what have we here?

Gentlemen, gentlemen.

Excuse us.

Why are you so eager to defeat Jarmon?

Because I think

the people should be able

to decide for themselves.

Let them make the comparison.

What does that mean?

Peace and "up yours."

Hey, look at that.

You used to play ball, didn't you, Bill?

Yeah.

Well, come on. Shoot a few.

No, look, it's just on the other side.

Come on. It's a great idea.

Be fast, Bill. Be fast.

Yay!

Come on.

It's a good idea. Great idea.

Get out of here!

Come on.

Hey, Bill, look at this.

3 calls from the chronicle.

God said it!

God means it!

Repent of all sins!

Walter, here at the McKay campaign headquarters,

they're celebrating his victory in the primary.

A winner, like his famous father.

He's assumed a strong lead

over a field of virtually unknown Democratic candidates

in the Democratic senatorial primary.

Mr. McKay...

Your victory was predicted.

Could it have been

any sort of surprise?

Everything that happens

is a complete surprise to me.

♪ The power, the glory ♪

♪ as said in the west ♪

♪ the voters are shouting ♪

McKay is the best!

♪ Win with all the... ♪

Bill, you got to get on the horn to Mrs. York.

She won't talk to anybody but you.

Is she on now?

Yes.

Bill, Natalie wood's here.

We got to get some pictures.

Oh, really?

Yes. Nancy, come on.

♪ He'll deal with issues that have weight ♪

♪ McKay's the people's candidate ♪

♪ to the senate, here we co-o-ome ♪

I'd like you to meet Bill McKay.

Hello. How are you?

And Nancy McKay.

This is my wife Nancy.

Hello.

The campaign, the dinners that you've hosted...

It's a pleasure. I admire what you stand for.

Oh. Thank you.

Mrs. Barron, have you met...

Do you like fruit?

Yes, I do. Do you?

Oh, yeah, I like strawberries.

Miss wood, I'm...

Do you like yogurt?

I'm Arthur Fleischer.

You do?

We met at the peace seminar

in Santa Barbara.

Oh, yes.

I'm on leave of absence to work

on foreign policy aspects

of this campaign.

That's... Wonderful.

It's very interesting,

you know. It's...

Arthur, you're needed over here.

You know what you should do?

Bill. Mr. McKay? Bill?

Mr. McKay?

Oh, you just throw it in?

Mr. McKay, we've got to get on the phone.

Could you move it through?

If you don't have much time...

We've got to get to the phone.

Anyway, nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you.

She's been waiting on the phone

a half an hour, Bill.

What's her name?

York.

Ah.

♪ We love him, we need him ♪

♪ we know that he'll win... ♪

I know. I know.

♪ I say, he will win ♪

♪ we're all for McKay ♪

♪ he can do it today ♪

♪ he can show you a better way... ♪

thank you. I hope so, too. Bye.

Well, that's it.

I don't know what her name is,

but she's sending a check.

Yeah. I must talk with you.

Mr. McKay? Hi.

I'm your coordinator from San Pedro.

Hi.

Hey.

Hello, Bill.

I'm really sorry. I'm very sorry.

We need the room. Bill...

Bill, can you get in here?

Honey, can you get that later?

Just wait right here.

Have you seen these?

Have you seen these figures?

You seen the breakdown?

You want me to look at these now? Oh, sorry.

Oh. Ah.

Look, you can still read...

I got it. I got it.

I'm a little disappointed.

Uh, yoo-hoo.

Why? I've got 47% of the primary field.

Yeah, but if you look

at the projection on the printout,

it adds up to 32% in the election.

So?

So if those figures hold until November,

it'll be Jarmon... 68, McKay... 32.

I thought I was supposed to lose.

Well, now I'm telling you

you'll be wiped out.

You'll be humiliated.

That wasn't part of the deal.

Somebody's in here!

Maybe I should just quit, go back...

You can't quit. Don't be ridiculous.

You can't go back.

You're the Democratic nominee for senator.

You make that sound like a death sentence.

No, no, no. All that means

is that you're just reaching the people

who agree with you already.

Now we have to go after the rest.

Yeah? And what does that mean?

Well, it means more in terms of TV,

for one thing.

Like what? I already agreed to the...

Get your ass out of here!

Look, there's a lot to be done.

We're just starting.

Such as?

Goddamn it!

I can't think.

Can't we talk about this in the morning?

All right. O.K.

I'll go along to Pasadena,

and we'll talk in the car.

O.K., but I want to work this out.

We will.

Bill McKay is one Californian

who remembers what kind of a state we had

before the polluters took over.

You can take some of the gas and the oil taxes,

and you can clean up this harbor,

and you can get some real law enforcement

on that sewage dump across the bay.

Let's put it together

and give California another chance.

For a better way, Bill McKay in the senate.

I feel that a lot of the politicians

don't talk to them.

There's no dialogue at all

whatsoever with the people.

People don't listen,

and the politicians don't talk.

They make sound.

It's just noise.

I think the government

has overlooked that one point.

Bill McKay believes in our system

and wants to make it work for all of us.

And the food costs rise.

To put some real faith and hope

back into government.

For a better way in the U.S. senate, Bill McKay.

If we're ever going to tackle the problems

of the 1970s,

we need all the strength a young man can give.

Bill McKay has it.

The conviction to push

for real solutions to the problems

of unemployment, poverty, and crime,

the determination to put some action back

into the United States senate,

the energy to fight the special interests

on behalf of all the people of California.

For a better way... Bill McKay.

I think they're awfully good, Howard.

Thanks, Howard. It comes at a good time.

Hey, just for the hell of it,

what happened to the bit about the health clinics?

You want health clinics?

I'll give you health clinics.

I'm Bill McKay.

I'm running for U.S. senate.

See? They're not responding.

What about what I'm saying?

What about it?

3 hours?

Well, that's just totally unacceptable.

Oh, what do you know about it?

You don't understand...

I'll tell you what I do know...

If we can put a man on the moon,

we can put...

Oh, I don't believe it!

There's got to be more jobs, too.

We can start training people

for medical careers

right in their own communities.

Grim scene, baby. Grim scene.

Look at that. You're off into other issues now.

You look uptight and uncool.

Nobody's listening, and nobody's diggin' you.

Ha ha ha.

Ha ha ha!

Aside from that, though, it's a great bit.

Oh, yeah.

And so the money Bill now goes to committee.

Despite the continued dryness

and the threat of new fires,

it was politics as usual around the state today.

Crocker Jarmon took his campaign to long beach,

where he visited the rams on their practice field,

and he had a present for the coach.

Van, I was just presenting the coach

with a copy of life magazine

because they have it here in this issue

on the newsstands today

how much it meant

when I went down to the locker room

with my little grandson Dickie

and we saw all those big, tough guys

down on their knees...

Shooting crap.

In a simple moment of prayer.

You should get some sleep.

This TV stuff isn't working.

Give it a chance.

I'm not talking to anyone,

and I'm not saying anything.

The point is, you're showing your face.

That's what we have to sell first.

Oh! Sell.

Exposure.

You might want to take a little glance

at these polls Klein had done in key counties.

In every one, you're up 3-4 points.

You know what I'm going to do?

Learn something about economics?

I'm going to challenge Jarmon to a crapshoot.

Crapshoot is a matter of individual enterprise.

Crapshoot made this country great.

God made this country great.

God shoots crap.

My little...

Grandson's playing it.

Los Angeles international airport.

For those of you going on with us to San Diego,

our scheduled departure time will be...

Got to get off. There's been a change of plan.

Get off? What about the group in San Diego?

Never mind that.

We got a fire in Malibu. It's perfect.

Looking down at a major brush and forest...

It looks to me like about a 30-square-mile area

on both sides of the Mountain.

There's the NBC helicopter.

Yeah, that means that the wire service guys

are up there, too.

We can hit them on 3 points...

The fire-disaster insurance,

the watershed stuff,

and the fire-prevention program we talked about.

I want to do the watershed

because fires like this come from neglect.

Yeah, but disaster insurance is now.

These people are losing their homes

and their possessions,

and the companies won't underwrite them.

That damn Jarmon

is against the federal government

even getting into it.

Don't turn this into an issues thing.

It'll look like you're trying

to make political capital out of a fire.

I'm not making political capital out of it.

O.K., but don't hit them over the head with it.

Closer, will ya?

Closer!

Start with the watershed,

and then go into insurance, o.K.?

O.K. All right.

Bill wants to talk to some of the firemen.

Bill, over here.

O.K., fellas, Bill McKay here.

Bill McKay.

That's it, Bill McKay.

We've lost over 40 homes so far.

You want to make a statement?

Yes, I do.

To me, this is a result

of what we've been talking about.

That is, when you erode the watershed

with large-scale, indiscriminate road-building

and development

so that you lose the root system

that keeps the water in the ground

in the first place,

that's why this brush all dries out.

Of course, you need...

Do you know who that is?

Yeah.

Smokey the bear.

All right, gentlemen, can we have your attention?

The senator's going to make a statement.

Here. This way, please.

Hello. How are you?

I'm still hoping for a chance to debate you.

Don't blame you a bit.

Hi, Jack.

Glad to see you got your wet suit on.

All right, now...

I'm, uh...

Everybody set?

I will make this very brief.

I have been on the phone with the president,

and one hour from now,

Malibu will be declared a national disaster area,

and I am assured

that within the next 24 hours,

this fire will be checked.

Our concern is to make absolutely certain

that these disasters do not occur in the future.

That is why I am very happy to see

that Mr. McKay took the trouble

to be on hand for this announcement.

When I leave here,

I am flying back to Washington

to introduce the Jarmon watershed Bill,

which will include provisions

for federally financed disaster insurance.

I think I can guarantee swift passage of that Bill

through the senate finance committee

because I happen to be chairman of that committee.

So, we are doing all we can,

and I want to add my personal thanks

to all of the heroic volunteers

who have risked their lives

in this holocaust

to save the homes of their neighbors.

Your actions and your efforts

have been an inspiration to us all.

So I say goodbye, God bless you,

and good luck.

Thank you, senator.

Do you have a statement?

What's your reaction?

Any comments? Any comment on that?

What about the watershed Bill?

I haven't read the Bill. I, uh...

Sounds like a good proposal.

Look, it's an emergency.

I welcome any action at all.

Uh, Mr. Jarmon says that...

Says that he's taking his case, uh, to the public.

Well, then why does he refuse to meet me

in open debate?

Jarmon's the one!

Mr. Jarmon says the economy is moving again.

Then why is my office in San Diego

filled with people looking for work?

Now, I say there's got to be a better way.

We have to retool...

Some of our industry.

We have to build our strengths...

And make things that people can use.

I'm sorry.

I'll have it fixed in a second.

Here, just like this.

Thank you.

McKay...

Jarmon! This is the one you want!

Right!

Just about got it.

Jarmon!

It doesn't matter, right?

Never mind. It doesn't matter.

Bill, I'm sorry,

but this has got to be lunch.

Now, look, Jenkin's got 500 farmers

in a high school gym over in Bakersfield.

That's where we're going?

Yeah.

They're furious

about the whole farm program,

and Jarmon's the one

that got it out of committee.

A better way...

And that way is to subsidize the small farmer directly,

rather than pay the huge agricultural combine

to wipe him out.

Are there any questions?

I'd be happy to respond

to anything that's on your minds.

Any comments?

Suggestions?

Dirty jokes?

Damn that Jenkin! Why didn't he call?

Why couldn't he just pick up a phone

and say that there's no one there?

He was probably trying to get through.

Where is he now,

off with some farmer's daughter?

You hear about Evans and Novak?

I was just about to tell him.

It's going to be in every paper in the state tomorrow morning.

Just leave us alone, please?

We've got to counteract this now, or we're dead.

Now, those guys want to talk to the candidate.

They got to file in half an hour,

and they want a statement.

The statement is, it's not true.

We'll give them more tomorrow.

No. I can't go...

The candidate is not going to comment

until tomorrow.

That's it.

It's not good enough, Luke.

Look, you want me to pull the old man

out of my back pocket?

Now get out there and tell them what you can.

And don't come back.

Bill... Those giants of journalism,

Evans and Novak,

have issued a... A column...

Saying that your dad

is really for Jarmon.

You're kidding.

No. It's coming out tomorrow morning.

Uh, I'll get you more in a minute.

Tom Brokaw and his crew

have gone up to John j.'S cabin

this afternoon.

They went up to his house?

Yeah, operator?

I want to make a call to Los Angeles.

I can just see him loving it!

"Hello, boys! How are you?"

Got through to Brokaw, and he confirmed it.

We got through to Brokaw, and he confirmed it!

I'm a half hour ahead of you.

Now, will you get out of here, Wally?

Hello? Are you ready?

Are you going to put somebody on the door?

Why don't you put one of your brilliant advance men?

All the reporters are on the bus.

O.K., start the bus, then.

All right.

And drive them over a cliff.

Uh, honey, where the hell did you go?

Uh, I'm sorry.

No, I wasn't cursing you.

Excuse me.

O.K., operator, I'll wait.

Apparently, John j. Refuses to say one thing or another.

Yeah.

Well, that makes it look true.

We'll have to look at that on the 6:00 news.

David, will you go outside and watch the door, please?

Just talk to me straight, man.

O.K., honey, are you ready?

Bill, you're just going to have to go up

and talk to him. It's the only way.

Oh, no. We don't use him.

I told you that from the beginning.

O.K., uh, we'll just announce you're quitting.

Announce whatever you like.

Come on!

Operator, is the trunk busy

or a line busy?

I'm going to kick this mother to pieces!

Come on!

Operator?

Stuck!

Damn!

God!

All we need is a simple statement...

Oh, Luke, stop it! Will you get off my back?

Just a straight denial!

I'm just not going to do it, and I can't think!

Does anybody want a coke?

No!

Nice to see you.

He's in the library.

O.K.

Hello, bud. Well, what the hell?

Well... Right.

You know miss Ford, bud.

Hello, Mabel.

Hello, bud.

There's the snap...

He fades back...

He's being rushed...

You want a beer, bud?

Johnny, get this man a beer.

Yes, sir.

There's a flag on the play...

They're calling pass interference.

Well... How are you, bud?

Pass interference.

How you doing?

Oh, the old knee kicks up once in a while.

When it rains, I guess.

How's that?

Your knee... I said, your knee hurts

when it rains?

Oh, you think that's it, huh?

Yeah, well...

Thank you.

See your mother?

I saw her about a month ago.

She's started playing golf.

She has, huh?

Yeah.

How is she?

She's fine.

Ah, that woman will bury me yet.

Wouldn't be surprised.

Oh, you wouldn't, huh?

Hey, Mabel...

Did you know that old bud here

is running for the United States senate?

That's very good, bud.

Yeah.

Get him a real drink.

He'll need one.

No, thanks. No.

Oh, well, get him something.

Have Johnny fix him a sandwich or something.

Any man running for the senate

has to want something.

Right, bud?

The lineup...

There's the snap...

He hands off to the right...

It's just a matter of a statement.

You sure you don't want to get the other gun?

You don't have to do anything.

Watch that branch.

In fact, I really wish you wouldn't.

Wouldn't what?

Do anything.

Slow down, now. Slow down.

Can you feel it?

Feel what?

Tell me, bud...

What does it feel like

to run a campaign in this state these days?

I wouldn't know.

Ha ha ha!

Did you really run your own campaign?

Why, shit, yes! What do you take me for?

I don't know. I just didn't...

I hear your advance work is unbelievable.

Hold it!

Will you do it?

I don't know what you said to your dad,

but it sure was a snappy denial.

Hi. Bill McKay.

I'm running for the U.S. senate.

That's a cute kid.

Hi. Bill McKay.

I'm running for the U.S. senate.

Is this your table?

No, it isn't.

Hi, girls.

Hi.

Want to shake hands?

Ha ha.

Hey, where's the...

Hey, Corliss, where's the men's room?

Uh, this way.

Uh, hey, rich...

Huh?

Excuse me.

We got a sneak on the field poll,

and we're only 8 points behind.

8 points.

Hell, if we can just pick up one point a week...

You know, this is a heaven-sent opportunity.

There's something I've been meaning to tell you, McKay.

You're shit.

And what's more, you know you're shit.

And your father was shit before you.

Hey, hey, hey, come on, mister,

what's going on?

In fact, you come from a long line

of total shits.

Now, now, hold on...

All right, all right.

Just between the two of us, McKay...

Am I right, or am I right?

I don't believe it.

Over by the red sailboat,

you can get free McKay t-shirts,

bumper stickers, buttons.

Also meet Bill McKay.

Hey!

O.K.

No, no. Come on, let us get through.

Hi.

How are you?

Don't crowd. Everyone will get a chance.

Hi.

Easy.

Sign me! Please sign me!

Uh, that's very nice, but...

Please, for a souvenir!

I don't think...

Please!

Oh!

O.K., hi.

Oh!

Yay!

Hey.

Hey, Bill McKay.

Have a drink. And have a hot dog.

Oh, thank you...

Oh!

Grab him! Hold him!

What the hell was that?

You all right, Bill?

You all right?

Yeah.

Let us through, please.

Yeah, I'd put it right up there.

Sort of to the left. That's really good.

Hey, those books on the mantle

are going to be a problem.

Move them over a bit.

O.K.

No, all the way off would be better.

Yeah, that's fine.

What are you doing in my house?

I'm having an affair with your wife.

Huh?

Well, she said if you came in, I was to say

I was a writer from parade,

but you don't believe that, huh?

Bill?

This is Mr. Sherick, and this is Mr. Scott.

Bill.

From parade.

Yes.

I trust this is the beginning

of a lifelong affinity.

The beginning of something, anyhow.

Would you excuse me a minute?

What's going on?

They want to photograph me

in my riding outfit.

I said, would you excuse us a minute,

please, gentlemen?

All right.

Thanks.

But even more than that, I think we need...

What is this?

What?

You haven't worn that stuff in years.

You haven't worn that dark suit in years.

Just not in the house, Nancy.

Get these guys out of the house!

I was just trying to do this for you!

For me?

I'm sorry.

You don't understand.

For example, he still hasn't come out

with a welfare program.

If only he would...

You are so dense.

Don't you understand

the man cannot fake what he doesn't feel?

I am talking

about the purely political problem

of reassuring the suburban mentality.

When his instinct tells him it's time

to reveal his feelings on a subject...

Make sure that the men are there

and that they have equipment.

Shh! Hey, you want to be quiet? It's coming on now.

A television commercial is a way of selling a product.

A political candidate's bid for our votes

is supposed to be a higher order of expression

with moral implications for the kind of people we are

and the kind we want to become.

But increasingly in this country,

candidates are merging the two,

selling themselves like an underarm deodorant

in commercials just long enough

to pound in some mindless slogan

that cheapens candidate and voter alike.

But in the California Senate Race,

young Bill McKay was different.

He conspicuously rejected the machine-type politics

by which his father won office and fame

and ran a campaign

refreshing in frankness and directness.

But now, with only a month to go,

McKay's ways have visibly changed.

Those early hard statements of his

are turning into mush.

Specific policies dissolve into old generalities.

The Madison Avenue commercial has taken over...

As his standard means of persuasion.

The voters are being asked to choose McKay

the way they choose a detergent.

Socko salesmanship,

no moral considerations involved.

Once again, it appears virtue is too great a strain

for the long haul of the campaign.

I want to talk to you.

Don't take it seriously.

I do take it seriously.

Look, it won't hurt us.

Wait... wait a minute.

No one's going to listen to that.

He gives us a boost

when he says we're pulling even...

What about the people who give us money?

That's the only thing the average voter's gonna get.

Lynn, you don't understand.

I do understand.

You don't understand.

Say that again?

You shouldn't go in there!

I'll be damned.

Lynn, please.

The old coot. He did?

That's just... Ducky.

I agree. Right.

Well, let's just hope we don't get killed.

Right.

Back to you in the morning.

Jarmon's agreed to a debate.

He obviously thinks

he's going to wipe the floor with you.

What about...

On this Howard k. Smith thing,

I hope you don't think I've gone behind your back.

It's all been your decision.

Listen, I'm beginning to wonder.

Hello? Bob, would you please hold the line?

Lynn! Will you get in here?

Yes, my lord?

I don't want anything coming in here.

Jarmon's agreed to a debate.

Well, that's fantastic!

I want you to hold off everything coming in here

for 15 minutes.

But the board's plugged through

for the evening.

Find Harry and get him to replug it.

And close the curtains!

Whatever you say.

Now, I've got to go down there and negotiate tomorrow.

We've got to pick a panel to question you,

I got to make sure you're sitting down.

Find out about lighting... Panel...

Why sitting down?

Makeup...

Why sitting down?

The man comes on like your father.

To avoid another handshaking stunt

like at that damn fire.

He'll try to make you look like a kid.

Well, I don't give a damn.

And I don't want a panel, either.

I just want to get up there

and say what I came to say.

Well, we'll go over it,

but you can't say too much on TV.

I thought the point was to say what I wanted.

Well, it is,

but in the right way at the right time.

We never discussed a right time.

We never had to because you know...

Don't tell me what I know!

Don't make me. Get me...

Put that damn phone down and let's get this straight!

I want to know what the hell this campaign is!

We've come up 14 points since we began.

That's why Jarmon is debating you.

The man is scared.

For the first time in this campaign,

you're getting through.

And we're not at the beginning anymore,

and it's not my job

to explain everything to you anymore.

My job right now is to avoid having you look

like you're sitting on Jarmon's lap,

and if you don't feel I'm doing my job...

Well, then, you just tell me, and I'll shove off.

Anytime.

Did you get Spivak?

Uh... No. Hold on.

Uh, Bob, hold on.

Uh, Lynn, will you get...

Marvin...

From here on out, no promises.

I never asked you to make promises.

Lynn, will you get Fleischer

for an 11:00 briefing session?

Right. David?

You hear that, Corey?

Get Carr on the phone

and tell him to start earning his money.

Wally? Wally?

Here, here!

Oh, Wally...

Uh, yeah...

No, no, no.

What line is Spivak on?

Yeah.

I can't call from in here.

Call from the other room!

How much time do you need?

Well, we need...

Ladies and gentlemen, have a pleasant afternoon

in San Diego.

O.K., group, we're going to disembark

through the front exit.

Then we'll proceed to the South parking lot.

We'll be going out the back.

Wally, out the front!

Just a minute.

What's wrong?

It's stuck.

Is Jarmon taking unfair advantage

of backlash?

Um, yes, I think...

Excuse us, please.

Hold it! Hold it, everybody!

Bill, I've got to talk to you.

What about?

Just follow me.

Excuse me. Coming through.

Wait a minute! What is it?

I'm sorry, but you can't come in here.

Nobody's allowed in here.

Jesus!

What's going on?

This isn't any cocktail lounge. You...

Look... It's not even worth mentioning

an ad like that.

As far as the shooting stuff

in Oakland goes,

you have compassion for all concerned,

but you're waiting to hear the details.

And the reason you're vulnerable

on this stuff is you haven't

established yourself on crime, right?

You're going to have to get out of here.

In a second, officer.

This is Bill McKay.

I don't care if it's Henry Fonda.

Give him the damn program.

Here it is.

This is your crime program.

You have to get this

in your lunch speech today,

and you have to get it in the debate

tomorrow night.

Whatever questions they ask,

just give them our answers.

Crime isn't an issue. It's a symptom.

Hey, that's a good line.

Yeah, for when you write your book.

The point is now to hit the 5-point

prevention and enforcement stuff.

Part of "the better way."

Right.

Better way to screw 'em all.

Lots of it. Lots of it.

Come on, fellas. Only 15 minutes to air.

Let's get to the lighting effect.

Are you sure it's o.K. On the health insurance stuff?

Terrific stuff.

Jarmon will be left no air if you say it like that.

Got the figures? Here they are.

It's number 23.

You want to check it?

Want to go over it again?

No.

Give them our answers

no matter what the questions are.

Hey... What?

Tie. Boring. Let's change ties.

Why?

Never mind.

Otherwise, you'll smudge your makeup, you get it?

When you get up there,

you're going to be sitting camera right.

All the time that Jarmon's talking,

just keep looking at Jarmon.

Jarmon talks, you look at Jarmon.

Right.

Try to keep your eyes steady. Don't blink.

Whatever you do, don't look up at all.

Don't look up.

'Cause your eyes are glazed,

then you look all cockeyed.

You look like a moron.

When you're not gesturing...

Who's that?

Keep your fingers interlaced.

Who's that?

You got that?

Yeah. O.K.

I'm just trying to help.

I can interlace my own fingers.

O.K., o.K.

5 seconds...

4 seconds...

3 seconds...

2...

1.

We're on the air, and cue van.

Tonight...

Senator Crocker Jarmon faces opponent William McKay,

his challenger in the race for the U.S. senate seat

from the state of California.

The Jarmon-McKay debate.

Good evening, I'm Van Amberg, ABC.

I'll be your moderator for tonight's debate.

We have 3 of California's

best-known broadcast journalists

on our panel tonight.

They are...

Rollin post...

Ken Jones...

And Maury green.

We'll begin our questioning now with Maury green.

Mr. McKay, at the beginning of your campaign,

you favored busing

to achieve integration in the schools.

Lately, you seem to be against it.

Which is it... For or against?

Well, we can't let a school bus

carry all the burdens of our society.

The main problem is still,

how do we get a first-rate education

for each and every child?

We can't afford

to have inferior schools anywhere,

and we... we should always try to preserve

the concept of the neighborhood school

in achieving this.

Aw, shit.

Gentlemen, is pollution a political issue

in this campaign,

or is this one subject you both can agree on?

Ha ha. Of course it's not political.

Now, let's look at that oil spill that fouled our beaches.

Now, I warned about that oil spill.

I testified, I hollered for stronger regulation.

But... We needed the oil,

and we weren't careful enough

about how we went in and got it.

So, I end up in the shower along with everybody else,

trying to scrub the oil out of my old gray hair.

Now, when it comes to smog,

we are bucking the dream of every private citizen

in his own automobile.

So... We had to take on the battle

of installing devices,

and we are gradually seeing that shift-over take effect.

In fact, I think we can now say,

as a result of our herculean labors,

that we are turning the corner on smog

here in California.

Mr. McKay.

I don't think we can see the corner,

much less turn it.

I won't say it's a matter of Republicans

or democrats,

but it's politics, all right,

when the politicians put the needs of the polluters

over the needs of the public.

We have the money to do this job.

We don't have to raise taxes one cent.

We just have to have the leadership

to get the job done.

Mr. McKay,

what do you think of legalizing abortion?

Well, this is a matter that not only concerns women,

but all of us.

We can't tolerate leadership

that shuts its eyes to the problem.

And it certainly deserves

a lot more study than it's been getting.

Senator Jarmon.

Well, I'm an old-fashioned guy when it comes to this,

and I don't care who knows it.

I say that human life is sacrosanct.

It is God given,

and we must have control

over just how and when we let people take it away.

Mr. McKay,

until recently, the public opinion polls

have shown senator Jarmon substantially ahead,

but reportedly, you are beginning to catch up,

although you're still behind.

Now, what effect will the public opinion polls

have on your campaign?

I'm the underdog, so I don't believe in polls.

I wouldn't believe in them anyhow.

I don't think you can trim what you say

to suit someone's poll.

Mr. McKay, your opponent has implied

you have nothing to say about crime.

Do you?

I have put out a 5-point program

on prevention and enforcement.

That program spells out in detail

the training and equipment

of the men who enforce the laws,

and we must give them every means

with which to handle crimes against person and property

with speed, effectiveness, and safety.

In addition, we've got to set forth

the type of system

that can stop crime

before it has a chance to start.

Senator Jarmon.

Well, of course it's very easy

for anyone to come into it at this time

and say anything

that might capitalize...

To pretend that you have all the answers

for a situation

that you... you may have helped encourage.

Indirectly, that is.

The question is, where do you draw the line?

For some people, their idea of getting tough

is longer suspended sentences.

Let's just think where crime comes from.

Studies have proved that it's this whole attitude

of permissiveness.

Well, let's face it.

That attitude has given us

some real bums to contend with.

Society has gone soft as an old banana.

Senator Jarmon,

at the beginning of your campaign,

your supporters predicted

a record-breaking victory margin.

Do you still go along with that?

Well, Ken, I've played

on too many losing football teams

where we thought we had it won...

Of course I've played in many more winning occasions.

But I have learned never to predict

whether you're going to win or lose

or what that point spread's going to be.

If the people have faith in you

and think that faith will be reflected, that's fine.

Mr. McKay...

But you don't predict.

Thank you, senator.

Gentlemen, relax for just a moment

while we pause for this message.

We'll be back with our debate in just a moment.

I told you,

you got balls in both hands.

Just wait, o.K.?

I think so.

...not the fireworks

I expected with this group.

Say something.

Yeah, probably.

Lay them right over each other.

Just a normal shot... Wider... O.K.

3, tighten up just a touch.

Get ready to fade in.

We come now to our concluding statements.

Each candidate will have one minute.

The order was picked by the flip of a coin,

and senator Jarmon will go first.

Senator Jarmon.

To me, this country was never stronger,

but the test of a strong country

is how it faces its difficulties.

And now and then,

when I hear the barking and the baying

of those who would knock our system down,

I'm reminded of the last days

of the great Roman empire.

They argued about what vices they could legalize,

and what happened was an onslaught

that nearly spelled the end of civilization.

Now, I am not suggesting

that that is what will happen

if the people do not send me back to the senate.

I just promise you this...

I will continue to stand up for the philosophy

that has made this nation great,

and is more than ever called for

if we are to face the future

with hope and confidence.

I have that hope because I believe in America.

I believe that our greatest moment

is yet to come.

Thank you.

Mr. McKay,

you now have one minute to sum up.

Mr. McKay.

In the begin... I don't... I think it's important

to note what subjects we haven't discussed.

We've completely ignored the fact

that this is a society

divided by fear, hatred, and violence.

And until we talk

about just what this society really is,

then I don't know how we're going to change it.

For example, we haven't discussed

the rot that destroys our cities.

We have all the resources we need

to check it, and we don't use them,

and we haven't discussed why not.

We haven't discussed race in this country.

We haven't discussed poverty.

In short, we haven't discussed

any of the sicknesses that may yet bl...

Send this country up in flames,

and we'd better do it.

We'd better get it out in the open

and confront it...

Before it's too late.

Gentlemen...

You had to do it, didn't you?

I never dreamed that my opponent

would stoop to encouraging violence.

I very seriously doubt...

That is not what I said.

This has been the Jarmon-McKay debate

that you've been watching tonight. Our panelists...

...tonight's news in Philadelphia,

rod Perry.

Here, let me... I can do this.

Bill, you were great.

You touched all the bases.

I thought you were splendid.

You see? That 5-point program works right in.

You liked it, huh?

Bill, your wife's waiting in the clients room.

Should she stay here or go back to the hotel?

I'll be out in a minute.

Be out in a minute?

Yeah.

That was quite a show.

What does that mean?

I don't know.

Uh, Bill, about that speech...

Bill, dandy.

Really took care of business.

Uh, that stump speech tomorrow...

Hey, Jaime!

How are you?

How goes... what...-

Keeps us beating our meat for a whole year,

and all the time, he's just been

waiting behind a bush to unzip himself.

He probably doesn't see it that way.

Oh, no? Well, he goddamn will

when I get through with him.

Howard, don't say a word.

No? After I bring Jarmon down

from 20 points to 4 points, huh?

He says what he wants. Now I say what I want.

Goddamn it! I feel as bad as you do.

You do, huh?

Bud? Where is that son of mine?

Hey, that's a goddamn endorsement.

Hello, son. Heh heh heh.

Well, bud, I think the old crock

looked a little sick,

except at the end when he kind of turned it on you.

I wonder if anybody understood

what I was trying to do.

Don't worry, son.

It won't make any difference.

Ha ha ha ha!

Governor!

Well, look at that gorgeous female creature.

Hello.

What do you think of our boy, huh?

Oh, I'm proud of him. Aren't you?

We're all going over to big Sullivan's.

I helped him get his liquor license.

Now he'll have to pay for it.

Governor, can we have you right here?

Did I get all this crap off?

Yeah.

Thanks.

I'll see you.

Yeah.

What the hell... Forget it.

We want Bill! We want Bill!

We want Bill! We want Bill!

Ladies and gentlemen, aren't I something?

I think I should be senator,

then this state would really be a keen place

for us kids to play.

Right, dad?

Right, son.

Yeah, we're getting to him.

Crocker's worried.

No, no. Lou...

No, we don't have any time.

We don't have any time to shoot some new...

Don't worry about it.

I got the way to handle it.

We, uh... we recut some of the old stuff,

and then I give you 30 seconds

of McKay the statesman.

If we're ever

going to tackle the problems of the 1970s,

we need all the strength a young man can give.

Bill McKay has it...

The conviction to push for real solutions

for the problems of unemployment,

poverty, and crime,

the determination to put some action

back into the United States senate...

The energy to fight the special interests

on behalf of all the people of California.

For a better way, Bill McKay.

Now, I know...

I know that it's fashionable to weep for criminals,

but sometimes,

the person who is weeping the loudest

is the one who has taken the fullest advantage

of all the system has to offer.

You know who I mean?

McKay!

Bill McKay!

I would say one thing to him

about our country...

The United States of America

is the most successful country

in the history of mankind.

Is it worth respecting?

Yes! Yes!

Is it worth defending?

Yes! Yes!

Then above all, we must obey our laws

and honor the men who enforce them.

And that's the scene here in Anaheim, Walter.

A scene of confidence and celebration

as Crocker Jarmon proves once more

that he certainly hasn't lost his velvet touch.

I'm sure Bill will be along in a minute,

Mr. Starkey.

Keep in mind that Floyd has to get to a meeting

at the local down on mission street at 7:30.

Bill was telling me how he appreciates

your being here, Mr. Starkey.

He's got a hell of a way of showing it.

He probably got held up on the freeway.

No. I saw him in the hotel.

Well, there are some things more important

than an election.

I don't know what the hell you mean by that.

John.

I'm telling you, John,

I'm just about to the point

where it's not worth it.

You think not, huh?

I think he's gonna get his ass kicked.

He's not gonna get his ass kicked.

Oh, yeah?

He's cute.

I'm sorry. Am I late?

Hello, bud. Hi.

Bill, this is Floyd j. Starkey.

He has to leave in a few minutes

because 100,000 teamsters in this state

are waiting to hear what he has to say.

Is there any cream?

Uh, here.

Bud, this is a man who can do you a lot of good.

Oh, yeah?

And you can probably do us some good,

if you get to Washington.

You didn't do much good

trying to break up the farm workers.

Oh? Yeah?

That isn't how I'd put it.

Well, there's no point

in us chewing over our differences.

When we get right down to it,

you might find we have a lot in common.

I don't think we have shit in common.

And now... The man...

The man you've all been waiting for.

Our next senator, from this great state of California,

Bill McKay!

We want Bill! We want Bill!

We want Bill! We want Bill!

We want Bill! We want Bill!

We want Bill! We want Bill!

We want Bill! We want Bill!

We want Bill! We want Bill!

We want Bill! We want Bill!

We want Bill! We want Bill...

I, um...

Just happened to be in the neighborhood.

Seriously, it's nice to be talking

to an audience of working people,

because I can congratulate you on having jobs.

You do have jobs, don't you?

How many are out of work?

Well, the unemployment figure for this state is 8%.

Think of it.

The biggest, the richest, the most powerful country

cannot keep its full job force working.

It cannot tend all its sick people.

It cannot feed all its hungry people

or decently house its poor people.

It cannot educate everyone who needs an education.

I say there has got to be a better way.

We want Bill! We want Bill!

We want Bill! We want Bill!

We want Bill! We want Bill!

We want Bill! We want Bill!

To me, that's what this election is all about...

Because the time has passed when you can turn your back

on the fundamental needs of the people.

And don't think that you can distract them anymore

by playing off the young against the old,

the black against the white,

the poor against the less poor.

I think the time has come

when the American people realize

that we're in this together...

And that we sink or swim together.

And I say to you, maybe... Just maybe...

That that's the way it should be...

A test of our courage...

Of our compassion...

Our faith in ourselves,

and our faith in our country.

No candidate can come before you

and say that he's got all the answers.

Crocker Jarmon says that he has the answers.

Does he?

No! No!

All a man can say...

Is "here I am."

And that's what I say to you tonight...

Here I am. I'm willing to give it all I've got.

Let's make a beginning!

Tell him we believe in him!

We want Bill! We want Bill!

We want Bill!

Thank you very much.

Oh, hello, Pete!

Mr. McKay!

How are...

How are things at the office?

Well, you know,

some of the guys are down on you,

but, hell, we knew that.

Look, I've been there since the beginning.

I know what this is costing you.

I saw something out there tonight.

Believe me, this is really effective.

I can feel it. You can do it.

You can go all the way.

You and I both know this is bullshit,

but the point is, they're believing it.

Bill, come on, the car's waiting!

Right. Excuse me.

It's good to see you, Pete.

Ladies... Ladies...

If we can all just simmer down now

and keep our blood pressures under control,

Mr. McKay has something very important

he wants to talk to us about.

Thank you.

First, I would like to say that...

I'm sorry I ate all the shrimp.

The unemployment figure for this state is 8%.

That's just the official figure.

Really, it's closer to 12%.

The biggest, the richest, the most powerful country

can't afford to keep its full job force working,

cannot afford to feed all of its hungry people

or decently house its poor people.

Don't think we can any longer play off the young against...

Black against the white... Rich against the poor.

It's not gonna be decided by newspapers.

It's gonna be decided by you!

I say, there's got to be a better way.

There's got to be a better way.

A better way... A better way...

Way... way... way!

Ladies and gentlemen...

The time has passed...

The time has passed...

Got to be a better way.

I say to you...

Can't any longer...

Oh, no. Can't any longer

play off black against old,

young against poor.

This country cannot house its houseless,

feed its foodless.

Lary, lary, lary, lary!...

They're demanding a government

of the people...

Peopled by people.

Our faith, our compassion...

Our courage on the gridiron.

The basic indifference

that made this country great.

And on election day...

And on election day...

We won't run away.

Vote once, vote twice...

For Bill McKay...

You middle-class honkies.

Hey!

Hey! Hello!

Oh, I shook his hand!

Girls, I'm sorry.

Hi!

I'm fine.

Uh-huh. Yeah.

Goddamn it! Losing 15 minutes

of free air time

is like throwing out $80,000...

Go on, rich! We're only 5 minutes late.

Look out for the bus!

Go ahead. I don't care what you do.

No. Cut in there.

What floor is it?

What floor is news scene on?

You can't go up there.

I have to call your name up first.

This is Bill McKay.

I don't care who he is...

Mr. McKay, you're doing a great job.

My girlfriend would kill me

if I didn't get your autograph.

We have to do an interview.

If you gentlemen will please take a chair,

we'll be happy to send your names up.

We're only doing our job.

You can't do this!

Back! Back, I say!

Hey. Aren't you a little late?

I'm sorry. We got hung up... sorry.

We'll go right on.

We are not going to reassemble. I'm sorry.

Hello, Mr. McKay.

We'll just play it as it is

if that's o.K.

It's up to you.

But we only have time for one take.

All right. Everybody off the floor now.

Clear the floor, please.

Hold it.

Ready number one.

O.K.

Is this buttoned?

Yes.

Stand by.

O.K.

Tape rolling.

This is Bill McKay.

What is that?

Cut.

Take it from the top.

Sorry.

Ready.

All right, keep rolling.

Tape rolling. Go.

This is Bill McKay.

I'd like to talk to you tonight

about the crisis...

I fail to see the humor.

I fail to see the humor.

Hold it just a second, o.K.?

Ha ha ha.

Relax. Take it easy.

Grim up.

This is it, gentlemen.

Stand by.

Ready?

Ho ho.

Blahh!

Tape rolling.

Ready?

Go!

This is...

I can't.

That is just about enough, gentlemen.

Look, give us 30 seconds.

There is nothing I can do.

Ha ha ha ha.

I got it. No. No, I've got it.

I want to run through

this motorcade stuff with you.

O.K.

Here we've got a 4-block area

on Montgomery street.

Now, see this...

Damn it.

Al.

Thank you.

4-block area on Montgomery street.

This is the entire run

of the whole parade, right here.

This is the only place we could find buildings

that were big enough and old enough

so that the windows still open.

O.K. Now, we come through here

at exactly 12:04.

This is the time

when everybody goes on their lunch break.

Food.

Now, when these people

pop out of those elevators,

hit the street,

you'll see a lot of activity.

In the middle of the confusion,

in the middle of the activity,

they have to see the smiling teeth

of Bill McKay bearing down on them.

Now, we ensure that 2 ways.

First, we stall cars right here...

And in the adjacent streets.

Nobody else can get through.

2... we run a sound truck in and out of there

half an hour ahead of time.

Uh, Bill McKay, a better way.

Take a day, parade today, blah, blah, blah, blah...

Half an hour before McKay ever gets there.

Somebody must have a medium-well down there.

I got a medium-rare up here.

We got to deal with the union.

We're going to start dropping leaflets

from the roofs of these buildings at...

12:15.

Oh, no, no.

That's exactly what I'm talking about.

Timing is critical. 12:05.

Uh, rye bread.

That's mine.

That's mine. It's the end cut?

I got... I got a medium-rare.

First, you've got your dixieland band

on a flatbed.

You have any a-1 sauce?

All right.

In the first car, you've got Lucas...

First car, Lucas, plus congressman...

What's his name?

Frawley or something.

The mayor's not going to be there.

What?

The mayor's not going to be there.

Beautiful.

Uh, can we get this thing straight?

Who has the medium-rare?

Your autograph?

Sign this, please.

Mr. McKay. Mr. McKay.

Just a few words.

Just that it's been fantastic.

It's a great crowd.

All right, that's enough.

Luckily for Bill,

he hasn't got to know some of you the way I have.

Otherwise he'd know what a miracle

this campaign really is.

Let's face it. What we have in this room

is essentially a bunch of lazy dilettantes.

The polls say we are within 3 points.

We haven't made many converts,

but we sure have made a lot of undecided.

One final word...

Get out the vote tomorrow.

We want one more long day's work.

Stay off the hard stuff...

And leave your number at the desk.

Hey, Luke. Hey, wait...

What's that?

Nothing.

An early return.

Yeah. Yeah.

Bill, Jenkin.

Yeah.

What are you, still in bed?

Come on. You got to vote by 7:00.

What?

You got to get out and vote by 7:00,

or you're not going to make the afternoon papers.

What time is it?

Bill, what do you think of the weather?

When are you going back up through L.A., Bill?

After lunch, I believe.

Do you think Bill will take the precinct?

Pardon, what did you say?

Walter, it's raining today on election day,

all over the state, we understand.

And here at McKay headquarters,

there's frantic concern to get out their voters.

Generally, they believe

a big turnout will favor their man.

Hundreds of volunteers are going out to knock on doors.

Crocker Jarmon has authored 76 other pieces

of major legislation.

Crocker Jarmon has done a great job for California.

What has Bill McKay done?

Nothing much, but his father was governor.

Good day. You come with me

for a minute, please?

Guess there's no point in asking who you voted for.

Oh, you wouldn't really

want me to say that, would you?

I hear it's raining

in the Southern part of the state.

It is?

It is.

How do you think this affects

your son's chances?

I would think it might help a great deal.

It'll keep the enemy indoors.

And it's going to be a great day for America.

Kiss her.

That's the best suggestion I've heard all morning.

Are those phone banks working in east L.A.?

Yeah.

You double sure?

Yes.

Well, check again.

Is everything all right at the hotel?

Don't you have anywhere to go?

Look, I have to make sure that things happen here.

You're driving everyone crazy.

Well, there are a lot of details.

Why don't you go clean your beard?

Would you mind telling us who your friends voted for?

Well, the other people on my block voted for McKay

because he was handsome.

Would you mind telling us who you voted for?

Well, I always say

handsome is as handsome does.

I'm talking with Dr. Benjamin Dwight,

who in the last 3 elections

here in the state of California

predicted every major race

hours before the polls closed.

Dr. Dwight, can you explain to us the technique you use?

We pick the key precincts in Los Angeles county,

and we interview the voters on the way from the polls.

Now, based on your interviews,

what is your projection for this Senate Race?

Crocker Jarmon by 8%.

8%? What kind of shit is this?

The polls don't close for 3 hours.

Well, that doesn't change anybody's mind.

That doesn't change their minds...

They stay home, schmuck.

Who did you vote for?

Crocker Jarmon.

Who'd you vote for? Bill McKay.

Crocker Jarmon. He takes care of me.

Bill McKay.

Crocker Jarmon.

Bill McKay.

Jarmon. McKay.

It looks like much of Los Angeles county

is still having trouble with their voting machines

down in the Southern California area.

In the state assembly race,

the democrats are still holding a slight edge.

The surprising upset is...

You can't go in there.

2, 4, 6, 8. Who do we appreciate?

The polls closed just 20 minutes ago,

but as you can see on your screen,

we already have some early returns.

As expected, the absentee ballots

heavily favored senator Jarmon.

That advantage has been offset

by early returns from the San Francisco area,

which remains a Democratic stronghold.

Of course, this is just a fraction of the total vote...

Occasionally may be something to grab and check

as more results come in.

7% of the precincts tabulated,

Bill McKay still clings to a narrow lead

in the race for the U.S. senate.

However, we still only have scattered returns

from the southland.

♪ You may stand and do it all... ♪

we want Bill. We want Bill.

We want Bill. We want Bill.

...Southern part of the state and the margin he needs

to offset McKay's surprising strength in the north.

We want Bill. We want Bill.

We want Bill. We want Bill.

We may be able to call this one any moment.

We want Bill. We want Bill.

We want Bill. We want Bill.

Rreow!

We'll have Bill stout standing by

at McKay headquarters at the regency Hyatt.

We want Bill. We want Bill.

We want Bill. We want Bill.

We want Bill. We want Bill.

We want Bill. We want Bill.

We want Bill. We want Bill.

Roger, as this tremendous upset

becomes more and more evident

with each passing minute,

people gathered here in the auditorium

are getting ready to tear the roof off.

We want Bill. We want Bill.

Our ABC computers have now declared

young Bill McKay the winner

of California's senate seat.

And now we have with us...

I don't think we're closing for a month, you know.

Where are you gonna look for a house?

I... I'd like to look in Georgetown.

Now we have word that CBS, NBC, and ABC...

Chevy Chase, you know.

That's lovely there.

Yeah. Have you lived there?

Yes. We're just across the river now.

Oh...

Congratulations.

Oh, thank you.

...and we found them favoring McKay by a solid 70%.

Please, people, please!

Clear the rooms. Clear the hall.

We'll bring him out in a second.

Mrs. Evans in here?

We did it!

Art, I told you to stay in the other room.

Have you seen dick bergoski?

No, I haven't seen dick bergoski.

Bill, we're going to clear the hall.

It'll be just a couple of minutes.

Son...

You're a politician.

Bill, we're ready.

Here he comes!

It came from the undecided.

It was a great campaign.

I understand that you were seen last night

taking your own poll.

It's a rumor. Don't believe it.

Where are you going from here, Lucas?

I'm going downstairs to have a drink

with a thousand close friends.

I heard another rumor

you were headed for a long vacation.

No, no, no.

Lucas!

Luke! Luke!

Uh, no comment.

Hi. I want to talk to you.

O.K., we'll, uh...

Now. Now. I want to talk to you.

Well...

Hey!

You guys are not supposed to be here.

O.K. We've got about 60 seconds of privacy

before they find out we're here. Now, so, uh,

what's on your mind, senator?

I don't know.

O.K. You got to get out there.

I told you they'd be here.

Marvin...

What do we do now?

Wait a minute. What?

What do we do know?

There's a big party downstairs.

Captioning made possible by Warner bros.

Captioned by the national captioning institute. Www.Ncicap.Org...