All language subtitles for Power.1986.720p.WEBRip.x264.AAC-[YTS.MX].en

Gracias.

No!

Stay with us!

Keep it tight!

Stay with him.
Stay right with him.

Got a 2-shot?

Ambulancia!

Keep down the Mike.
Jesus Christ.

Keep shooting.
Bring it around.

Ambulancia!

Stay in close.
Watch out.

Una ambulancia!

Get this shot here!

Fuera! Fuera!
Fuera!

Bring it around,
bring it around.

Fuera!

Down, down.
Bring it in.

Sí, vamonos.

Vamonos.

Roberto!

Roberto!

Cut! Cut!

So who did it?
The guerrillas?

Quián lo hizo?
Las guerrillas?

Tal vez.
Maybe.

Christ,
you were terrific!

It was an incredible
moment.

Estaba UN momento
increible.

I'm gonna cut
the film

tonight in New York,

have it flown back
down tomorrow.

We're gonna
take this thing!

We're gonna take it.

Cuando vuelves?

When are you
coming back?

I don't know yet,

but I've gone
over everything

with Miguel.

He's gonna
be handling

all the print
contracts,

the billboards,
the posters.

He's also gonna be
handling

the payroll.

And that includes
the reporters,

right? I gave you
a list already.

From now until
the election...

Every speech,
every appearance,

you're gonna wear
this shirt.

All right. Now, you
keep your jacket on

till just before
the finish...

Then slowly
take it off.

And you
just stand there.

Let the whole
country see it.

They want to hurt us,
they want to destroy us,

but they'll
spill our blood

before they defeat us,

blah, blah,
blah, blah.

Nice trip,
Mr. St. John?

Tired?

I can't tell yet.

We booked
the mixing room

for the rest
of the night.

Did you bring
the film?

Yeah, I want to clean up
a little bit.

But I want you to stick around
when I do the cuts.

I'm assuming you found
some decent talent

for the voice-over.

No. I found
some great talent.

He's an actor.

He does Spanish soaps
up here.

But get this--he used
to be a radio announcer

in South America.

Mom, I hope
you didn't wait up.

God, you look
like shit.

This is
only march.

What'll you
look like

in November?

I don't know.

I had him talk to
my good friend Patricia,

and according to her,
he has a very sexy accent.

I advise you to wrap
this thing up

early tonight
because Wallace Furman

is coming
in the morning.

For how long?

Definitely no longer
than all day.

What did Ellen want?

She said some
decent information

for a change.

You're having dinner
tomorrow night

with senator Hastings
and his wife.

In Washington?

Yeah. The plane will be
00.

I figure
even with traffic,

you should
30.

You pull the file
from the last campaign?

Yeah. Also
the Stannard files.

Oh, Garber called
last week.

We pushed your meeting
up to the 12th.

You'll go to Seattle
right out of D.C.

Then I'll go there
tomorrow night,

and I'll brief them
on the new numbers.

Ahh! You did good.

Syd, you are
sensational!

No problem.

You're
my kind of guy.

What kind is that?

Temporary.

So let us move ahead

with energy,
with compassion,

and united by the vision
of what new Mexico can be

if only we dare
to make it so.

Darling,
you are so positive.

Your strength just flows
right off the screen.

Oh, no.

I'm not just
saying that.

You are so strong

in a nice,
understated way.

Now granted,

I may be a bit biased,
Mr. St. John,

but you have
got to admit

that Wallace has just
got that certain...

You know.

Mrs. Furman, Wallace,
I'll be right down.

Are you sure you want
to handle this campaign?

Why?

Why? If this guy were
out there masturbating,

his hand
would fall asleep.

We got nothing
to lose.

Anything
that gets over 39%

makes us look good.

And it pays
the overhead.

Wallace, you're
running for governor.

It's not gonna be easy.

What we're aiming for here,
the ideal,

is that you personify
the themes of the campaign,

that you make a statement
just by standing up.

Now, our themes are...

New ideas,

new directions,

change, vigor.

No offense,
but right now

you look too soft
to change a tire,

much less a state.

It's ridiculous.

What are you saying?

He's saying
you're a wimp.

What I'm saying is,

you've got to align
the perception

with the reality.

We got 2 immediate
problems.

1--you were born
into money.

2--you did it
out of state,

which wasn't too smart.
But these are turnable.

We're gonna manage
this whole thing.

All right. I want you to go
on a high protein diet

and start working out
on a nautilus,

3 times a week,
minimum.

We also gotta work
on punching up

this delivery of yours
and energize it.

Make it track with
the message. Ok?

Now I'm gonna talk
a little about color.

Syd's gonna take you to this guy
we use on 57th street

for a couple dozen shirts,

once we get set
on the shades.

I don't like you
in blue or gray,

too cold for you.

You're running
in new Mexico.

You look a little
washed out.

Don't you ever get
outside at all?

I have asked him to
stay out of the sun,

because his family
has a history

of skin cancer.

But you've never
had it.

No.

Long-term exposure,
right?

This is only gonna be
for the next 6 months.

I don't see anything
to worry about.

Yeah, but wait.
I--i am paying you.

You--you work for me.

You're trying
to run my life here.

Wallace, Wallace, Wallace.

You are paying me to
make you a new life--

politics.

And in order
for me to do that,

I gotta be in charge

of all the elements
that go into it.

It's the only way
I work.

That means framing
the overall strategy

as well as deciding
all the specifics.

The look
of the campaign,

the look of the billboards,
bumper stickers,

what colors
they're gonna be.

It means the polling,
it means the ads,

radio, TV, newspapers.

It means coordinating

every piece of information
out of this office

to make sure that it fits
with what our polling tells us

that people out there
are worrying about...

Or what they're
feeling good about.

But aside from
the campaign themes,

I want to address some
of my long-term plans.

I'm sure they're great.
But they're not important.

See, my job is
to get you in.

Once you're there,

you do whatever your
conscience tells you to do.

Before the largest
crowd of the campaign,

it now appears
the bloody terrorist attack

succeeded only
in adding momentum

and conferring legitimacy

on the one-time
underdog Cepeda.

Well, Mr. Billings,
this is not good news.

It certainly is not,
your excellency.

Do you know
how it happened?

Well, we know that none of
our people were involved.

Perhaps the guerrillas.

I'll know more tonight.

And how will the bombing
affect us?

Well,
it's hard to know.

Cepeda could gather
tremendous support.

The only thing
I know for sure

is that Pete St. John
will milk this thing

for all it's worth.

Milk it?

Exploit.

Use.

Oh.

An incident like this is
tailor-made for St. John.

He managed the cepeda campaign
brilliantly.

I think he'll probably
manipulate him

into the presidency.

That is what I fear.

We have spent considerable
amounts of money down there.

His majesty will not be
pleased, Mr. Billings.

Nor am I, excellency.

These have been
difficult years for us.

Prices keep falling.

Populists like cepeda

keep nationalizing
their oil

and entering the market.

Here we have senators
and congressmen

talking of
solar generation

and electrical
wind generators

and other such...
Impractical ideas.

Your upcoming elections

are important to us,
Mr. Billings.

We're well prepared.

I feel completely secure
about senator Hastings.

And the man who will be
replacing him in...

Oheo?

Ohio.

Ohio! Thank you,
Mr. Billings.

A superb candidate,
your excellency.

Who will be in charge
of his campaign?

Well, we have one of the top
campaign consultants.

Why not, uh...

Pete St. John?

He may be too close
to senator Hastings.

He may have
conflicting loyalties.

From what I know
of St. John,

he has no loyalties.

His candidates seem
to be on the left,

on the right,
in the center.

He seems to be loyal
only to money.

And we have money.

I want to think about it.

Is he the best?

Yes, certainly
one of the best, yes.

Then please,
billings,

do think about it.

I don't want
his majesty upset

with another
failure.

Mine...

Or yours.

I don't know if we can
afford you anymore, Pete.

You won't have to,
senator.

I'm like Mother Teresa,

my work's only for
the truly needy.

I ran into Phil Healston.
He said he saw you

at the Aspen conference
last month.

Oh. How's Phil doing?

Great,
absolutely great.

He said
he was very impressed

with the paper you gave
on solar generation.

He showed it to you?

What did you think?

Hmm. What else?

That new design works.

Shake-out will be
absolutely incredible.

I mean, if this--
it gets funded,

actually worked...

My god. We're talking
10, 15 years.

In just the sunbelt alone--

what, 30, 40%
of the population?

That's it
for the utilities. Gone.

This is the fuel oil,
electric, gas,

everything,
right down the tubes.

This must have
leaked out by now.

You and the, uh, committee

must be getting squeezed
like hell.

God...

Uh--uh...when I talked
with, uh, Syd...

Naturally,
given the timing,

she, uh...

She assumed...

I'm not running again.

I've made the decision.

It's done.

I'm not feeling well.
I'm ill.

That's, uh,
what will come out.

Sam, I didn't know.

It's over, Pete.

I'm sorry
about the campaign,

but...it's over.

Fuck the campaign.

Just tell me
how you're going to be.

I'll be all right.

Is it terminal?

No. It's, uh...

After a while,

when we have
some time,

we'll talk.

I asked you, uh,
down here,

well,
first to tell you,

then to ask you
to help me

with a statement.

I don't want to get
into specifics,

but it must be
unequivocal.

And I thought you'd be
the guy to write it.

When do you want
this thing?

I asked my press secretary

to call a news conference
10:00 in the morning.

Tomorrow?

Sam, you know,

you can postpone this
a couple of days.

No!

Ok.

There's a few calls you're
gonna have to make tonight...

So people will know before
they hear it on the news.

Yes, I forgot.
You're right.

The majority leader.

The...
State party chairman.

Sam, I'm really sorry.

You were one of
the 3 or 4 guys

who made a difference
up there.

Yeah?

Mr. St. John?

Who are you?

Arnold billings.

I'm calling on behalf
of Jerome Cade.

I never heard of him.

Yes, I know.

I'd like to arrange
an introduction.

Mr. Cade
will be running

for senator Hastings'
seat.

How did
you find out?

We just heard.

He'll be entering
the primary?

Yes, but I expect
he'll be unopposed.

I seriously doubt that,
Mr. Billings.

Well, nonetheless,
that's the opinion here.

Now, the filing
deadline's the 1st.

We're already organized
to collect signatures.

Mr. Cade is well-known
within Ohio,

and the senate seat
is something

he's given
serious thought to.

You know my price.

25,000 a month
plus expenses.

15% override on
all media buys.

Well, tell me more
about Mr. Cade.

Senator?

How are you,
sir?

Good to see you again.

Madam.

I got one for you.

Why do they put the
windshield wipers

on a Polish airline
on the inside?

Why?

Hey, how are you doing?

Wilfred,
you old reprobate.

I hear you're gonna resign
from the paper

and finally do some good
in the world.

Oh.

Good to see you.

Nice seeing you.

Good morning.

I was worried
for a while

I was gonna break
our string.

Oh, no. I got
your message.

You were in London
last week.

Yes, Leonard and I
were summoned

by our news editor

for some in-depth
pre-planning

of our, uh...

Let's see,
of our...

American election
coverage.

Wilfred.

Yes?

What have you heard
about, um...

About Sam Hastings?

Oh, nothing.

He's supposed
to be sick.

Hmm. No ideas, huh?

Are you writing this down,
Ellen, honey?

No, no, no.
I'm just curious.

All I know is--

have you
decided?

Oh. Uh, yes.
Um...Have you got

any freshly squeezed
orange juice?

You didn't have any
the last time.

We have.

Right. I'll have
a large glass

and
an English muffin.

I'll have that juice,
too, and have them put

a little vodka and
a little ice into mine.

Anything else,
Mr. Butler?

A doughnut,
plain.

All I know is,

I ran into him 3 weeks ago
at the gridiron thing,

and everything was great.

He looks great, like usual...
Uh, feels good,

just had his physical
at Walter Reed--

everything checked out
just fine,

and, uh,
all of a sudden,

he's walking away
from the U.S. senate.

Mm-hmm. This means
that Mr. St. John

loses one
of his "a" clients.

How's our boy?
Have you seen him lately?

I called him. He was
in South America.

He was, uh, he was doing
the presidential campaign

last week there.

Are you two
getting back together?

Are you?

No.

Let's get right to it,
shall we?

Did he screw you
as good as he did me?

Have you seen him?

No.

You're doing
the new Mexico

gubernatorial race,

um, Frank Mckusker,
right, hmm?

Yes.

You'll be seeing him
very soon.

He got
Wallace Furman.

I heard
he signed on.

Ah, well, why not get the best
money can buy, right?

That's what he
is, isn't he?

I mean, he is
the very best.

It doesn't matter
who or what he's hurt

in the process.

Sometimes I look at him,
and he seems the same.

You really
were married to him.

So tell me,
when did it happen?

I keep thinking back,
and I can't figure it out.

When did he start thinking
it didn't matter anymore?

I never heard
of this guy.

He's got me
on the phone

one hour, 55 minutes
after you'd made the calls.

I'm not surprised.

We knew
it would get around.

Who is he?

Billings or Cade?

Either one.

Well,
I met billings once.

He's in Washington.

I believe he has
a...

Public relations
firm.

I'm not
exactly sure.

Cade owns a number
of businesses...

Uh, trucking,

bottling...

Something
with pipelines,

mostly in the midwest.

He's made some large
contributions

to the state party.

He got a lot
of publicity last year.

He, uh, headed
a blue-ribbon commission

on governmental waste.

What do
you think?

About what?

Cade.

Should I take him on?

Well, I'd give it
some serious thought.

Is that the new draft?

Yeah...
Yeah, that's it.

Still,
you must be happy

about connecting
with mckusker.

I mean, he's the big
favorite, right?

Oh, I sure am, honey.

Gotta look out for
my batting average.

Speak of the devil!

Look at this.

As I live and breathe.

Hello.

Darling.

Sorry to hear
about Sam.

Yeah.

How's Claire
taking it?

She's doing fine.
So is he.

Uh, Pete.
Pete, um...

Is it--
is it cancer?

I know
his physical

last month
was good.

His press conference
00.

What did he say?

His press conference
00.

Thanks.

I hear we're gonna be
running into each other

around, uh, new Mexico.

How about we keep it close
till the last week?

Then we'll flip a coin.

I saw you on Brinkley.

It's incredible, but I think
you're actually more arrogant

since we got divorced.

Hey, look. Don't go
blaming yourself.

You're meeting with
30.

Tonight?

Look,
his people called.

You're going flat out
the rest of the week,

and they wanted the meeting
as soon as possible.

Look...

I'll call back
and postpone.

You don't need
to take this guy on.

Beside Stannard
in Seattle,

we've still got cepeda...

And Furman in new Mexico
is gonna take a lot of time.

It's all right.

All right. It boils down
to this, governor.

We don't wait for Murdoch
to bust our balls.

We jump his.

Now you've seen
how he's braked out.

You're getting killed
on the death penalty veto.

You ever wonder why
the Eastwood movies

do so good up here?

And then there is
the...The divorce.

Not so much
that you split up,

but we had been pushing
the family image

in the first campaign.

I read the report
this morning, Pete.

Not unexpected, but the fact
that the resentment

has lasted this long
was surprising.

Look, governor,

if you go over
the focus group interviews,

you'll see they keep--
keep mentioning the fact

that you married
your campaign manager.

They also keep mentioning
that campfire commercial.

Harry cooking eggs over the fire
for the kids

while you're
chopping wood?

Ha ha ha ha ha.

That was almost
4 years ago.

Hell of a spot.

The election's
this fall.

I gotta teach you
how to cook.

Governor, this is
my recommendation.

We advance the media buys
3 weeks,

shift the money from the fall
schedule if we have to,

and blow him away now.

Back him off
before he nails you

for mothering killers and
dumping Harry and the kids.

She didn't dump them.

Yeah. Anyway, that's
my recommendation.

We've leased 30 minutes
of satellite time.

They'll be beaming him in
in about 90 seconds.

So, why don't we just
move our chairs

up here a little closer.

There you go.
Charles, go ahead, sit down.

Mrs. Furman.

Keep the chairs close so we
can talk into the Mike.

Who is this guy?
Captain video?

No, he's the best
numbers cruncher

in the free world.

I'm gonna be
heading back to New York

in about 10 minutes.

But Syd is gonna stick around
for a couple of days

and make sure
everything's on line.

I thought you were
gonna be in charge.

I am, Mrs. Furman.
I am in overall charge.

Fortunately, Syd has
consented to make sure

I don't screw up
on any of those details.

St. John
to Ralph.

St. John to Ralph.

St. John
to Ralph.

There he is.

Sorry, Pete.

It's ok, Ralph.

Sorry, Pete.

It's all right. It's all right.
You're looking good, Ralph.

I try.

Ralph, I've got
Mr. and Mrs. Furman here,

and Charles whiting,
their campaign manager.

They're real excited to hear
about what you can do for them,

so why don't you just go ahead
and lay out the program,

and they'll cut in
if they have any questions.

The sound level's ok?

Yeah, it's great,
absolutely great.

The principle
is simple enough.

What we do is,
we take 1980 census data

and we match it against
all the new Mexico zip codes.

Then we combine that

with what the field research
has determined

should be the targeted
population cluster.

In your case,
we've isolated

18 neutral
or favorable clusters.

For example,
we've concluded

a high favorable is,
uh...Pools and patios,

suburban, white-collar,
married, 25-49 years old.

We tailor the mail and
the phone pitches to each group

based on what we already know
is bothering them.

But the really
exciting stuff comes

when I work out
a simulation model.

That's when you tell me what
you're thinking of saying,

and I'll tell you
how they're gonna react.

Even then, the short-range
possibilities of a simulation--

uh, excuse me, what--what is
a simulation model?

A simulation model.

It's a little complicated,
but I'll try to explain.

See you around
the block.

See you.

...can represent
a much larger number.

We start out
with the breakdown

of, oh, let's say
a city like Albuquerque.

We break it down
demographically by...

Oh!

I'm all right.

Bye!

Bye.

Hey!

Ah, yeah.

Pete!

Ho ho ho ho!

Uhh! Wallace Furman?

Oh, god.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha!

Wallace Furman?

Urp dub-dub-dub-dub-dub.

Urp dub-dub-dub-dub-dub--

you got a real
piece of work

this time, Pete.
Ho ho ho ho!

What's gonna happen
to your boy Furman

when you go home,

and he's got to stand
all by himself,

let all the folks in

on whatever he could
possibly have

on his feeble
fucking mind?

Goddamn! How could
you sell this guy?

It's just
for governor.

He doesn't have
to be perfect.

Aw. There's more
than just winning.

I told you that

the first time
you came in the door.

You used to believe in that,
too. You used to believe--

I used to believe
in tooth fairies, ok?

Oh! You want to talk
about fairies, huh?

What about Willet?

Ho ho. Shh!

The man
fucks chickens!

Yeah, this guy
goes down to Haiti,

and he gets
his rocks off

drinking blood of
fucking chickens!

Eww!

We had pictures!

Yeah.

We had pictures.

We couldn't even
use them.

You put a pervert
in the U.S. congress

who fucks chickens.

I wouldn't
be concerned.

He's probably
exaggerating.

Pete, they're backed up
at la guardia.

We'll be circling
for about 10 minutes.

Mr. Cade...

I'm sorry I'm late.

I've been
looking forward

to meeting you,
Mr. St. John.

Well, I hope you're
going into this thing

prepared to be

the official hydrant
for the state of Ohio.

I think you'll find
that I'm prepared

for whatever it takes.

Does that go for the
energy market as well?

Ahh. So you've been
making inquiries.

I'd have been concerned
if you hadn't.

John, Henry,
Mr. St. John.

Can we expedite this?

Is there something
you haven't found out yet

that you'd like to know?

What's your
biggest weakness?

You mean in running
for the senate?

Probably the fact

that I haven't held
public office yet,

although I personally
consider that a plus.

It's not critical.

I mean, you have done
some public service stuff.

Even as far as issues,

we could get you into
a Kennedy school somehow,

get your position paper

printed in the times
op-ed page.

I take it money
is not the problem?

No.

So you would start...

I haven't done
any polls yet.

I would figure
16, 17, 18 points down.

And just by getting
the nomination,

that would jump.

So, I take it

you're with me, then,
Mr. St. John?

If you've got
a couple of minutes,

I'd like
to show you something

down in the basement.

Gentlemen,
thank you.

Mr. Cade.

The senate
put in new chairs

right before Sam's
last campaign,

but I talked him into
letting me keep his old one.

I used it in 4 or 5
of his last TV spots.

Sit in it.

How does it feel?

It feels
quite comfortable.

And please don't play games
with me, Mr. St. John.

I've known what I've wanted
for a very long time.

You want one like that,

it's gonna run you...

10, 11 million bucks.

An absurd sum,
Mr. St. John.

But the real absurdity

is to spend that kind of money
and not get it.

Now, you tell me,
if I pay you what you want,

will you be able to give me
the amount of time I require,

or will you be
spread too thin

among your other candidates?

You'll get all the time
you require, Mr. Cade.

You do know that
if I take you on,

I'll be in control.

Just so we're clear.

That means strategy--

the process doesn't
interest me, Mr. St. John.

What does is that you have
an 85% success rate.

Now I'm telling you

that I will pay you
to play those percentages.

My sole concern is my work
once I'm elected.

Why should I
take you on?

Because some guy
named Arnold billings

got my phone number
and got to me first?

Because once I get in--
and I will--

with your help,
or with someone else's,

I can accomplish
what has to be done--

change the policies that
are strangling this country.

Now, I'm ready to begin.

Are you with me?

Where is billings
in all this?

Mr. Billings

is a business
associate of mine.

He handles public
relations work

for some of
my companies.

He has no official position
in my campaign.

He told me you were going to
line up with Sam on the issues.

Did he get that right?

That's correct.

Except for the
solar energy bill.

I don't believe that
approach is sound.

No. No.
You explain it to me.

He's with you
except on solar energy.

That's like saying
he's with Gloria Steinem,

except on women.

I don't understand, Pete.

You were never
much interested

on how your clients stood
on the issues before.

I am now.

Why?

He'd be replacing you.

Look,
what's the big problem?

Take him on.

Oh!

Leonard...

I want to cancel
the west coast trip.

We can get a stringer
from L.A.

If we really need it,
can't we?

Ok.

I, uh,

I want to take a look
into Sam Hastings.

That's right. You're friendly
with him, aren't you?

His wife, too, right?

Have you heard anything?

Nothing special,
no, but i--

then coordinate it
with Manny.

He's pulled a couple
of people from Metro

just to chase down
the rumors.

Have you heard
the latest?

He's got aids.

Jesus.
I love Washington.

Thank you for your note,
Ellen.

It meant a great deal
to us. It really did.

I meant everything
I wrote in it.

It's a great loss
for the country.

Sam is what the senate
is all about.

Thank you.

Claire.

Claire,
your new home,

it's absolutely
beautiful.

You've never
been here before?

No.

Oh, I can't
believe it.

Oh, I feel terrible.

Oh, Claire,
it's my fault.

It's ridiculous,
but, um,

when you get divorced,

you just don't know
where you stand anymore

with your old friends.

You tend to avoid them

in case you're going to
make them feel awkward.

You just assume

that they're all going
to take sides.

And I assumed...

Well, Sam and Pete
are so close.

Oh.

I really appreciate
your decision

to keep the details
of the illness

a family matter.

Well,

it was
very hard.

Yes.

Yes,
i--i can imagine.

Is Sam being treated
here or in Ohio?

That hasn't been
determined yet.

And how are the boys
taking it?

Oh, I am so proud
of them.

They have been
so strong...So good.

I wouldn't have
gotten through this

without those guys.

And your mother.
How's she doing?

Well, this thing's
been very hard on her.

We talk to each other
every night on the phone--

she's in Charleston?

No, no.

She moved back to New Orleans
several years ago.

Oh.

Ralph, I need some help
on this billings guy.

I don't know why
it's this tough.

How many top
black lobbyists

can there be
in Washington?

Maybe his client list.

If you can take a pass

by all the probable
data banks,

I'd appreciate it.

Hmm, if they're
international,

we could try
wire transfers.

But don't hold
your breath.

Ever since those kids started
breaking into everything,

everyone's gone meshugah
on access codes.

Maybe if you
take a run by

all the standard
industry stuff.

Billings associates is a
privately held corporation.

So that don't help. Billings
is the only listed officer.

You need this by when?

As soon as possible.

I'm flying down
to South America

in 24 hours.

I'm in new Mexico
the next few days,

Ohio the rest
of the week.

Ralph, I know
you're busy as hell.

Have a safe trip.
Go.

Pete, how's the
south American guy doing?

He's gonna take it.

My husband felt
such shame, you see.

No one in his family,

not one,
with all their money,

ever offered
to help us out.

They just
washed their hands,

every single one of them.

Well, except once.

When Claire
was getting ready

to go to college,

I had a call
from her grandfather,

but he wanted to know
if Claire needed any money

for her education.

I told him what to do
with his money.

I told him that Claire
was valedictorian,

and we'd get along somehow.

Well, he passed away--

I don't remember--

I guess it was
several years later.

I did not go
to the funeral.

But i--i did say a prayer
for his soul.

You ok?

Yeah.

Go get 'em, tiger.

Ok, take him back.

Ok.

It looks good
from here.

Yeah. We can see
the whole thing.

You about 50 feet?

A little less.

Stand by. Eddie,
can you read me?

Yeah, go ahead.

You got 'em
lined up yet?

Yeah, we finally got 'em,
but you better hurry up.

Ok. I want to stay clear
on channel 1.

And I want to hear if there's
any troubles, right now.

All right. Martha, I want
to get a rough time on this

so start reading as soon
as the wagons go, ok?

Ok...roll tape.

Let me know
when you got speed.

Speed.

Background action.

Cue Wallace.

New Mexico
is a special land,

blessed with mountains,
deserts, clean air,

and pure waters.

But besides
her natural resources,

our state has been blessed
with its human resources,

from the proud apache
and navajo tribes

who first hunted
and planted here

to our long history of people
who have journeyed here.

Whether they came from Mexico
or Europe or Asia

or other parts
of this country,

they all shared
a common dream--

to live in a land
where their opportunities

were limited only
by their own vision

and to make this special place
even better

for their own children
and other generations.

We are surely blessed
by that heritage.

Wallace Furman believes

that pioneer spirit
is still alive...

...Wallace Furman,
a governor we can trust.

Back to number one.

Back to number one.
Take it back.

Eddie, take it back
to number one.

Back to number one.
Line it all up again.

It'll be close
to an hour, Pete.

I don't know if
we're gonna have

enough light left.

$50,000. We come
back tomorrow.

Also weather predictions
are bad for tomorrow.

Hold it a second,
everybody.

You want us back
at number one, Pete?

Wait a minute.

Wait a minute.

Back it up.

Move it, move it.

Back it up.

Move it on back.

Do you hear me?

Tommy, roll it up to where
the schmuck fell off.

Ok, take it back.

Back, back, back,
back, back.

Back, back.

Ok, now forward.

Slowly. Very slow...

Slow, slow.

Slow...

Slow...

Freeze!

Ok, Mark it.

Take it back to the top.

Ok, forward.

Real time.

New Mexico
is a special land,

blessed with mountains,
deserts,

clean air,
and pure waters.

But besides
her natural resources,

our state has been blessed
with its human resources--

from the proud apache
and navajo tribes

who first hunted
and planted here

to our long history of people
who have journeyed here.

Whether they came from Mexico
or Europe or Asia

or other parts
of this country,

they all shared
a common dream--

to live in a land
where their opportunities

were limited only
by their own vision

and to make this special
place even better

for their own children
and other generations.

We are surely blessed
by that heritage.

Wallace Furman believes

that pioneer spirit
is still alive.

Wallace Furman,
a governor we can trust.

Let's go home.

What's overriding

is that we pinpoint
the audience.

Tomorrow I want to go
with TV news coverage.

But every time we hit
a new media market,

we'll have live remotes set up
00.

The local anchors
don't know shit--

even less
than the reporters.

This way, we'll give
our message straight--

hold it.

On the state level,
a new entry

into the Senate Race
for the seat of Sam Hastings.

Phillip Aarons, an oberlin
college history professor

who is known
for his involvement

in antinuclear and state
environmental causes,

called a news conference
this morning

to announce his candidacy
as an independent.

I am announcing
my candidacy

as an alternative
and perhaps an answer

to the regressive,
short-sighted policies

of Mr. Westbrook
and Mr. Cade.

I, along with
many other people of Ohio,

was particularly disappointed
by Mr. Cade's decision

not to follow the example
set by senator Hastings

in the national leadership

of the development of
renewable nonpolluting energy

offered by solar generation.

I intend to use this campaign
as a sounding board

to educate
the people of Ohio,

and, more importantly,

the politicians of Ohio...

As to certain facts

having to do
with our environment.

Pardon me.

We can no longer...

What the hell
does that mean?

Nothing.
Not a damn thing.

He'll make a little noise,
feel real good,

then he'll get his 4%

from the veggies
and save-the-whalers.

He's not gonna hurt us.

They all hate your guts
anyway.

But...
There is something.

Our first poll
is showing a problem

with college-educated
women 21 to 35.

There's something about you
they don't trust.

How are you today,
Mr. Billings?

Just fine,
thank you.

Are you expecting
a print-out from Ralph?

Yeah, I sure am.

It must have gotten
caught in the printer.

Have Ralph
send me another one.

Now passing by
the reviewing area...

Governor.

Hello, Pete.

I think we gotta talk

about the death penalty
thing.

Absolutely not.
That is not negotiable.

I'm not talking
about backing down.

I wouldn't do that to you.

But tell me this--
where does it say

just because you gotta
follow your conscience,

we gotta stand still

and get the shit
kicked out of us?

You have some thoughts
on the subject?

Yes, I do. One. One.
Frank Coleco.

For Christ sake!

The man is
a neanderthal.

So what? He's our
neanderthal, isn't he?

He happens
to be speaking

for a constituency we
could use at the moment.

Have you ever
actually heard him?

In the state house,
on the floor,

he said he'd pull the switch

and then drive home
and eat a pizza.

Simple. This is
very, very simple.

This man
crosses the line,

endorses
the opposition,

we start to bleed.

Come on, Pete!

You got any guarantees
he won't?

I put out a wire.
What do I hear?

It turns out the senator's
next greatest passion,

next to frying convicts,

is high-school
football,

specifically
eagle lake high,

where frank Jr. happens
to be left tackle.

Now, he's so proud
of the kid,

he goes out
and buys him

a brand-new
dodge pickup.

Then, in order to
make it really special,

he calls the governor's
administrative assistant

for a little help in
getting plate number 76,

frank Jr's
football number.

This has gone way
out of line here, pal.

Coleco calls once.

He can't get through.

He leaves a message.

He calls back again.

The governor's
administrative assistant

is still in conference.

The governor's assistant

has his secretary
call back 2 days later

who says that his request

for plate number 76
will be considered!

What is the thought there?!

You're turning
a philosophical disagreement

into a vendetta?

Our office
has never delivered--

just get him the goddamn
plate, all right?

Well, as you know,

I've lived in this state
all my life,

and I've got
a lot of confidence

in the plain horse sense
of the voters of new Mexico

that they'll be able to see

the real issues
of this campaign--

who has the experience

and the proven ability
to lead,

and that we simply
cannot afford a governor

who needs
on-the-job training.

Ha ha ha ha.

Thank you very much,
ladies and gentlemen.

Pardon me.

Hi there.

Thanks.

Hey, you're looking good
over there.

I'm worried, will.

Aw, there's nothing
to worry about.

He's starting to move.

Well, of course

he's starting
to move.

He started
so far down,

he got no place
to go but up.

But still, he's
coming up in the poll.

Oh, look, if we
can't beat some geek

fixing to come in here
and buy this thing,

maybe we don't deserve
to win.

You're gonna
ice him, frank.

Hey there!
How are you?

You want him
to hold?

One minute.

What do you think of someone
coming from new Mexico

to be governor
of New York?

What's this, a joke?

You're not serious,
are you?

And what about you,
ma'am?

What do you think of someone
coming from new Mexico

to be governor
of New York?

Utterly preposterous,
young man.

Not worthy of discussion.

From new Mexico?
Is this

some kind of affirmative
action thing?

A cowboy governor
of New York?

What do I think
of a cowboy governor?

Go on, will ya?

Crazy!

Stupid!

Wilfred,
you are great.

From new Mexico,
for new Mexico.

You didn't have a date or
anything tonight, did you?

Not anymore.

Oh, wow.

Wallace,
how are you doing?

Yeah. Yeah, I just saw it.

It was terrific, huh?

Yeah, well,
Wallace, Wallace,

look.
Stop worrying, Wallace.

I'm going to be making
a rebuttal commercial tonight.

Yeah, say it again.

Listen, can I call you
right back?

Yeah, right back. Thanks.

Helen?

I want you to call
Jack Rosack.

I want him to do
a sweep of the offices.

The studios, everything.

Right away?

Right away.

I want him to do
the apartment, too.

Ok. All right.

...Wallace Furman
can give our state.

He didn't
have to come here.

He wanted to.

Wallace Furman
for governor.

A new vision
for new Mexico.

Is that
a buy, Pete?

That's it.

I can
go home now?

Let's go home.

This is the Upper East Side
of New York.

This is Monte Carlo.

This is Beverly Hills,
California.

Wallace Furman could have lived
in any of these places.

Instead, he chose
to live in new Mexico.

Not because it was
more exciting

or more luxurious,

but because,
unlike Monte Carlo

or Beverly Hills,

it was a place
that needed help,

needed the energy
and the new leadership

that Wallace Furman
can give our state.

He didn't
have to come here.

He wanted to.

Wallace Furman
for governor.

A new vision
for new Mexico.

What about
the photo session?

Syd...Syd.

I've got Pete
on the line.

The newspaper
you wanted me to research?

We just got the overnights.
We stopped the erosion.

That carpetbagger thing
is a dead issue.

I know you don't need
to hear this,

but that mansion spot
was brilliant.

Yeah.
That was great.

I'll be here maybe
2 more days,

then I'm back
in New York.

I want to go over
this stuff Mitch sent,

then we'll set rehearsal
for the debate.

Ok. Oh, wait, I forgot
the best part.

The story
going around down there

is that mckusker
got the new numbers

and he panicked.

I have it
from 2 sources

that he fired
Wilfred Buckley

and he hired
John Dietrick.

Isn't that incredible?

Jerome.

Yeah, billings?

He's doing
everything he should?

Mm-hmm.

The quality is...?

You've seen it. Polling
and ads are first-rate.

I don't know.

Baggage will arrive
on the lower level.

Buses for downtown Cleveland
available outside.

Thanks for
meeting me, Pete.

Thought you weren't
traveling this year.

So did I.

Spoken to Sam recently?

Last week.

Talk about his illness?

Off the record.

Not much.

Mostly about
whether or not

he'd stay in Washington
and practice law

or go back to Ohio.

I don't think
he's ill.

Is that so?

I'm curious.

How much do you actually
know about Sam?

Financially, I mean.

He's never had that much,
just his salary.

And Claire?

Her family's got dough.

Yes, but she
never got any.

Her father
blew his share.

She needed scholarships
for college.

You've been busy.

Look, how many times have
you been to their house?

Have you ever wondered
how they carried that place?

That house must be worth
at least 600,000.

The mortgage
is under 200,000.

They didn't clear
anything like that

from the house
in Virginia.

Have you noticed the furniture,
the antiques?

Claire paid for those
all in cash.

Are you
trying to say

Sam's on the take?

Is that
what you're writing

to win
snoop-of-the-year?

'Cause if it is,

why is he
taking a walk?

I don't have
the story yet.

I don't know
why he's leaving.

Pete,
Sam's your friend.

If you're--
any bad judgment--

you're talking to me,
remember?

You're praying so hard
he's fucked up,

you're salivating.

You're f--

you're fucked up,
not him.

You're a fuck up.

Stuff's flying
around Washington

about why
you're leaving.

About how you can afford
all those antiques,

right after buying
the new house.

As a friend, I appreciate
you telling me that, Pete.

I love my job.

A man couldn't ask
for a better one.

But it's precisely
because of crap like that

I'm glad
I'm getting out.

Those things are Claire's.
She collects them.

The money's
from her inheritance.

Here you are,
Mr. St. John.

Thanks.

You were right.
I shouldn't have done that.

It was stupid.

I just want you to know
that I recognize that.

So...

Maybe...
Buy you a drink?

How'd you know
I'd be here tonight?

The receptionist said
you hadn't checked out,

and your New York office

said you weren't
due in until tomorrow.

I saw Sam.

Oh.

You knew I would.

That's why you've
been camping out here.

It's all right.
It's ok.

You're good.
You're real good.

I mean, on that,
we've always agreed.

Let me tell you
what Sam said.

He said the money
came from her inheritance.

Christ, he lied to me.

For a politician,

you'd think
he'd be pretty good.

He was so fucking bad.

You've been
lied to before.

Oh, yeah, right.
I forgot.

Will you hold that
over me forever?

Saint Pete--never
lied to his wife.

You never asked.

Well,
I'm asking now.

How many?

Times or women?

Let's keep this to
one night. Women.

All right, let's set
the history straight here.

Towards the end,
you and I were close

if we were in
the same time zone.

You got any idea
of what it's like

spending 10 days
massaging some pol?

00
in the morning

in some bar
in Cleveland?

Notice some lady
across the room,

doesn't have a lot of hair
on her chin?

Yes, I have an idea.

It must be like
chasing a story,

doors slamming
in your face,

ending up
in the Akron Ramada

next to a guy
with a clean shirt

whose hands
don't sweat.

No.

Nothing like that
at all.

Well, they are now
in his room fucking.

So what?
They used to be married.

Look, what has
he actually done?

He went to see Hastings,
the best friend he's got.

We know he ran
a check on me.

You put him in touch with me,
so he ran a check on you.

Now he's making it
with his ex-wife.

Well, she's a problem.

Trips to New Orleans,

sessions
with Hastings' wife.

Can't help but
find that troubling.

So what are you
gonna do about it?

Yeah?

Breakfast, sir.

Didn't you order
Canadian bacon?

Uh-huh.

Didn't bring it.

Here it comes,

television's most exciting hour
of fantastic prizes!

The fabulous 60-minute
price is right!

Tammy garland!

Come on down!

Wally...

There's a tap
on the phone.

My office phone, too.
I found a bug.

Who?

I'm not sure.

Don't know.

Arnold billings.

Ever heard of him?

Works out of Washington.

Does some kind
of corporate PR.

Why?

I checked him out.

Is this connected
with Sam?

Sam says no.

Andrea's
on the line.

Today's poll
is worse.

The shift is
starting to build.

It's those
family image spots.

The last
couple of days

have been
total saturation.

Hey, mom.

Ok, get the voice.

He's doing
a new Pepsi spot.

Tell him to be
00.

Then go to the archives.

Jan shot some cover footage
sometime last year.

Somewhere in the middle,

there's about 10 seconds
of some kid

looks like Ricky Schroeder

runs up to her and hugs her.

If you have trouble
finding that, ask Phil.

Are you ok?

Yeah.

Governor, word here is
you've missed the cut

for mother of the year.

Have you seen his
latest commercial?

Not the sanctity of the family
one. This one is grotesque.

They have these kids,
who aren't that cute,

all begging for a governor
they can look up to.

You know, Andrea,

you and I have this
fantastic symbiosis,

even more than
with your husband.

You want
to stay in office.

I want to stay
in business.

I think we'll be able
to take care of it.

I want to destroy him
now. I swear I do.

Throughout her public life,

Andrea Stannard
has shown the courage

to fight for
what she believes in

and the compassion
to defend those

who can't fight
for themselves.

But lately,
Albert Murdoch

has chosen
not to attack her beliefs.

Instead, he has smeared
her personal life,

smeared her family,

smeared her name
and reputation.

Albert Murdoch thinks
that's the way

you get elected
governor of Washington.

Do you?

Andrea Stannard--
courage...Compassion.

Now more than ever.

Take it back
to the top.

Let's animate it
this time

with the paint box.

Ready, Pete.
You want the A.D.O.?

Yeah. Everything works
this time. Jackson, you too.

Right, Pete.

Ok. Hit the tape.

Throughout her public life,

Andrea Stannard
has shown the courage

to fight for
what she believes in

and the compassion
to defend those

who can't fight
for themselves.

But lately,
Albert Murdoch

has chosen
not to attack her beliefs.

Instead, he has smeared
her personal life,

smeared her family,

smeared her name
and reputation.

Albert Murdoch thinks
that's the way

you get elected
governor of Washington.

Do you?

Andrea Stannard--

courage...compassion.

Now more than ever.

All right!

Yeah.

All right.
Way to go!

How did I do?

Got me so worked up, I nearly
went out and registered.

You want me
Tuesday afternoon?

Yeah, for the 2
new Cade spots.

Good night,
people.

Thanks.

Monday,
Rosten's office called.

They said he's reconsidering
running for mayor next year.

He might take a shot
at the senate.

They want to cancel
his contract.

They even want
their retainer back.

Didn't they say
anything

about us doing
the senate campaign?

That's all
they said?

Yeah.

Wednesday,
Gazziano called.

Pretty much the same thing.
They said he's reassessing

his campaign plans
for next year?

He's out.

Santa Fe ground,

west wind-407-whiskey
to parking.

Santa Fe ground
to west wind-407. Roger.

Forget about the debate rules
you learned in school.

Gary, just keep rolling.

You can turn any question
into what you want to say.

If the questions
hit our key points,

great, fabulous.

If they don't,
just slide off.

Keep pounding away
on our themes,

which are--
integrity, new ideas,

no IOU's,
no special interests.

Bring it down
a little.

You'll find yourself
very nervous.

That's to be expected.
It's ok.

Mckusker will
be nervous, too.

If your hands
start to shake,

just rest them
on the podium.

When he hits you
with the rich boy shot

and you make your response,

don't look at him,
forget him, he's history.

Look straight ahead
into the camera.

What about
the road tax?

If we suggest
a limited increase--

no! No! No!

To win the uncommitted,
you stay uncommitted.

Ok, perfect.

Tomorrow night--
this is important--

when you and mckusker come out
for the light and sound check,

if that key light
isn't dead on you,

you walk off and don't come back
until they fix it.

Ok?
Right.

Ok, let's have the opening
statement again.

No, nothing, Ellen.

You found anything out yet?

Yeah.

Syd, come on.

Jack?

Pete, you'll have to fly back
to New York commercial.

What's wrong?

I got back from dinner,
and the airplane was gone.

The hangar guys said
someone towed it.

They thought
I knew about it.

We found it in back
by the old runway.

Somebody went through it,

but I can't find
anything gone.

I'm having it
checked out tomorrow.

Do you have any idea
what the hell's going on here?

You have a visitor--

Mr. Buckley.

Send him in, Helen.

Ohh!

I thought you never
visited these parts.

Oh, yeah.

Oh.

I read someplace,
reader's digest,

that life
is dynamic,

to keep trying
new things.

You got--
I, uh...

I couldn't believe it

when I heard about
the mckusker thing.

It wouldn't be
the first time

I had a butt-head.

What's that
over there?

Go ahead.

Oh, thank you.

It was a good lesson.
We'd lost focus.

He's crapping in his pants
all the time about you.

It got away from me.

What's that?

Whoo!

Yeah, I lost control.

Started reacting and,
sure as hell,

started losing the battle.

What now?

I'm going to be
in Ohio.

Ohio?

Mm-hmm.

Are you
with westbrook?

No, no.

I'm with the
college professor Aarons.

Why, will?

That guy's
a loser.

Well,
it's real simple.

He's smart,
and he's straight,

needs the help,
and I need the work.

I'll pull another
6 or 8 points,

double his share.

Make me look like
a miracle worker.

See?
It's real simple.

Yeah.

Well, if they're
out there.

I've seen the polling.

But we're not talking about
undecideds planning to vote.

You got 7 weeks to identify
and roust 50,000 people

about as removed
from the system as he is.

That's what I figured

that the votes wouldn't
come from Cade.

You gonna make me ask?

Ask what, will?

Your demographics,
damn it!

The polls.

You're right.
There's no time.

I need them.

Listen to me, I'm
calling everything in.

After this,
you owe me nothing.

I owe--

I don't owe you
anything now.

I left you
for an opportunity.

You didn't want
to go with the guy.

I did, so I left.

He was slime!

He didn't deserve
getting you!

I didn't deserve
being left,

not in the middle
of a campaign.

Hey, god damn it.

Are you going
to make me beg?

What in the hell
did you do?

We billed Cade
over $200,000

for those
2 polls.

That makes him
the biggest contributor

to the Phil Aarons for
U.S. senate campaign.

It's illegal.

And it's stupid.

We're running short
of time.

From now on, this campaign
frames a single question--

"is it or isn't it time
for a change?"

Now we reshape
the question.

Make the other 2 guys
part of the problem.

But don't get bogged down
trying to find the answers.

By November, they'll feel
you can find them.

I know you're--

I could squeeze you out
some bullshit here,

but we don't have time.

Everything I've learned
the last 26 years

boils down to this--

if they like you,

they're gonna vote
for you, period.

People don't vote issues,
they vote people.

Yeah--

Phillip, you're
the best guy running.

I wouldn't be here
if I didn't believe that.

That's why
you called me.

The leaves are
starting to turn.

We got a debate
coming up, Phillip,

with statewide exposure.

You got a question
you gotta answer.

Phillip!

Are you running for
office or for principle?

I hope I'm running
for both.

Ho ho ho!

Phillip, I'm personally
convinced you will do

a hell of a job
once you get in,

but you got to get
through that door.

What's the price
of admission?

Why just kiss off
the middle class?

They like
what you're saying,

but they won't
vote for you.

Why? Because they
don't really know you.

They see you without a tie,
beat-up jacket and chinos,

and they get frightened.

We end up throwing
those votes away.

On gut issues,
you're not far from them.

Ease off the others.

Look, they're scared
about the future,

whether or not they'll
have a job next year.

Make sure that they
really listen to you.

They'll turn off
when you stand up

wearing a flannel shirt
and hiking boots,

looking like you just
came off a picket line.

That's all
you got to do.

Are you through
with the file?

Yes, I think so.

I just want to
make quite sure.

If there are any
outstanding notes,

any liens
on their property,

it would be
recorded here?

Are they residents here,
and is their property here?

Yes, Georgetown.

Then it
will be here.

Ok.
Thank you.

Yeah.

Bring the boxes
in here.

What's going on
out there?

The pipes in
the basement burst.

Say it again.

Put that over there.

Don't say it
over the phone.

I'll meet you
there.

4:30.
All right?

Yeah, bye.

What time
will you be back?

It never opened.

Construction costs
went way over budget.

They couldn't get
the rents they were asking.

I don't get it.

The owner is

the Liberty mall
development corporation.

General partners...

Arnold billings
and Claire Hastings.

He advanced me some money--
a lot--

for my share
in the partnership.

And...well,
I bought this house, and...

I took a second advance
in anticipation of profits

when they sold the shares
to partners

and the rents
started coming in.

That whole neighborhood
was due for urban renewal

until it got killed
in some goddamn committee.

And ludicrous as it seems,
I still believed

everything was going
to turn out all right.

When did billings
start leaning on you?

In January.

He said he had a couple of
clients who would be hurt

by the new solar design.

He asked me
to persuade Sam

to stop pushing it.

I told him he was crazy!

Sam wouldn't even listen
to me on abortion!

He wouldn't listen
on solar generation.

This went on
for 6 weeks.

Then he brought up
a surprise--

the money.

How much money
did he give you?

$380,000,

a little more.

What was so funny was

I thought I could
handle it--and him!

Even when he started
coming to the house,

I still thought I...

It was only a little kind
of intimidation.

One day, he walked right
past me into Sam's office

and laid it
on the line.

He asked Sam to kill
the appropriation.

Sam threw him
out of the house!

And then, because of
what might happen to me,

he's walking away
from a job

he's put his life
and soul into!

Remember when
you were here last

and you spoke
about friendship?

You didn't tell me
you'd come here

to dig up
something on us.

After you left,
I knew why you had come!

That was one thing

I could figure out
for myself!

When you write this,

make sure
I am the monster.

Right, right, right.

Well,
just send it to me.

If I have
any questions,

I'll get back
to you.

Ok.

I had a long talk

with Claire Hastings
last night.

I happen to know Mrs. Hastings
quite well.

I don't know if she told you,
but we're business partners.

I'm out.

I assume that means
you are resigning

from the Cade campaign.

Is that what you mean?

The plane.
The phones.

2 clients
canceling out!

What was
the point?

The point?
To what?

The point is

look, I didn't
trust you. Ok?

I didn't want you

on this campaign
from the beginning.

You're much too close
to Hastings.

Then this Aarons
jumps in the race,

and your old pal Buckley's
calling the shots.

No, no, no.

Look, we hired you
to do a job, Mr. St. John,

and it wasn't to investigate
me and my company

and it sure wasn't to exchange
information with your ex-wife.

We just wanted you
to know

if you really did try
and screw us,

something bad
could happen to you.

That was the message
we were trying to convey.

Now the plane,
the phones...

Merely dramatic
illustrations.

Don't you walk
out on me.

You think it's all some kind
of game, don't you?

Walk in,
jerk the locals around,

put in whoever's
paying you, and leave.

Well, it is no fucking game!

Look, you are deciding
who's running this country,

who's running
other countries.

Now I care about that.

My clients deal
with the consequences.

You don't give a shit!

Look. Come on.

We're the same guys,
you and me.

Why don't you just do
what you've always done.

Just elect Cade
and get paid and leave.

What is the problem,
Peter?

I hate this.

You're gonna do good,
Phillip, real good.

I've got an idea.

Instead of me
trying

to impersonate
a statesman,

when it's my turn
to speak,

maybe we should just
turn down the lights

and run Mr. Smith
goes to Washington.

We're starting to move.

You're framing
the right message,

and it's getting through.

Will, I know
this is a bad time.

Could I have
a couple minutes?

Yes, it is bad.

Phillip,
this is Pete St. John.

I've read
about you.

Yeah. Hello.

We'll talk later.

I gave you 2 polls.
Give me 2 minutes.

What did I give you?
What did you do with it?

All right, will,
I sold out!

He thinks because
he won't work

for someone like Cade
makes everything ok.

We're the same.

He got you this suit,
right?

And haircut. Contacts.

What you're saying,
has it started to shift?

Have you softened
anything you were saying

before he came along?

Hmm? That's ok.

That's his job,
to get you in.

Once you're elected,
do anything you want.

That sound familiar?

Look, I'm not gonna hurt
your feelings, am I,

if I tell you, you
don't have a chance.

You got
a lot of gall--

no, no, no,
I want to hear this.

You're a bright guy,
you teach college.

This can't be news.

You do not
have a prayer.

Just one of those
awkward realities

we don't usually
say out loud

in front of
the paying clients.

Look, instead of just
teaching history,

why not go out there
tonight and make some?

You got nothing
to lose.

Why don't you go
out there, stand up,

and say exactly
what you think.

What you think!

Maybe even
what you feel.

Not what the polls
say or Wilfred--

are you saying I can't
handle my clients?!

Wilfred, I'm not
talking about you.

You're the best
of all of us,

it doesn't mean a damn
who's running the show.

You want to go back
to the old days,

like it was before?

Have the machines
put their boys in?

Is that what you want?
Have the papers in charge?

Have the Los Angeles times
create another Richard Nixon?

You want to walk,
just walk. Go on.

Shit on your own life,
not mine.

Come on, Phillip.

We're irrelevant.

But you're staying.

Those people out there

sure as hell
aren't going anywhere.

Can you look at 'em and
say exactly what you feel?

I'm not saying you may not
make a horse's ass of yourself.

Just a spectacle of
something human out there

may make hordes of people,
in a tidal wave of emotion,

vote for you.

You read the papers,

you gotta know, there's
a higher voter percentage

in Bolivia
than in the U.S.

I don't know.

Maybe they feel connected
to what's going on.

Maybe it takes
too much in America,

too much energy,
too much attention,

to follow it all.

Maybe that's why they like
to get the candidates

predigested, prepackaged,
like TV dinners.

I've become a very rich man
believing that.

Prove me wrong.

Hi, Pete.

Syd, come on.

We can watch
from the booth.

As president of the Ohio
league of women voters,

I wish to personally
welcome you

to the United States
senatorial debate tonight.

The order of opening
and closing statements

was determined
this afternoon by lot.

Mr. Aarons will give
the first opening statement,

followed by Mr. Westbrook
and Mr. Cade.

Mr. Aarons.

Thank you,
Mrs. Bernhardt.

For those of you who still
don't know who I am,

I'm the guy for whom
this job actually means

a raise in pay.

Ladies and gentlemen.
Ladies and gentlemen.

Ladies
and gentlemen,

I would like
to remind you

that you please refrain
from any kind

of public demonstration
during the debate.

I, uh...

Feel very uncomfortable
right now.

I feel uncomfortable
standing up here

under all these lights

trying to fit
what I believe

into 180 seconds.

But more than that,
I feel uncomfortable

with the job
of being a candidate,

with trying to convince you
that by electing me

to the United States senate,

you'll get a better job,
make more money,

that your lives are somehow
going to magically improve.

That's not going
to happen.

It's not going to happen
if you elect me

or Mr. Cade
or Mr. Westbrook.

Therefore, I won't ask you
now for your vote,

I am going to ask

that you listen to me
for the next few minutes

and during the rest
of the debate,

and then just think
about what I've said.

I think that, above all else,
our real problems,

chronic poverty,
shrinking resources,

are long-term.

The solutions
that we are being given

are designed to get
politicians elected,

not to solve
the problems.

Ladies and gentlemen!
Ladies and gentlemen!

Ladies
and gentlemen,

once more
I remind the audience

not to cheer or applaud.

You only take time away
from your candidate.

You only take time away
from your candidate.

Thank you.

Right now,
right here in Ohio,

why can't we be the first
to forget about the election,

think past November,
past next year,

maybe even beyond
our own lifetimes?

Think for the first time
about the real answers.

If there is
an early pattern

in this
off-year election,

it is that the voters

are sending
a strong signal

to the politicians

that any politician
taking them for granted

does so at his
or her own peril.

For instance,
senate races

in New York, Florida,
and Oregon

predicted by experts
as easy contests--

they're horse races.

Jim Hartz,
it's an hour or so

before the polls close
in the west,

what do our exit polls
show so far?

Roger, one contest

in which the experts
appear to be right,

although it was exceptionally
bitter and hard-fought

and closer than expected,

is the new Mexico
gubernatorial race.

Based on our numbers,

we believe congressman
frank mckusker

will wind up with
about 53% of the vote,

defeating millionaire
Wallace Furman, who spent--

pow!

Wallace,
I'm sorry.

Oh, yeah.

Wilfred called me
last week.

Yeah? How is he?

He was pretty upset
when he called.

Something about
you storming in

like the mad prophet
of doom.

That's the way
he put it.

He was pleased
you left Cade,

but he seemed upset

about something
you'd said to Aarons.

What did you say
to him, Pete?

He wouldn't be
specific.

The truth, I think.

Finally, all he had
to offer was himself.

Based on our ABC exit polls
and early results

from key precincts
in the state of Washington,

we are now projecting

that incumbent governor
Andrea Stannard

will win a second
4-year term...

Thank god.

Well done.

All right.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.
Thank you.

You having problems
with your story?

How do you mean?

It's just that
I haven't seen it yet.

I'm surprised,
that's all.

No.
No, it's fine.

Just a...

A mess.

You having trouble
finding sources?

Oh, uh...

No, no.

What is it?

I, uh...

I decided not
to do the story

about Sam and Claire.

That's all.

Why?

Well, first of all, Sam
didn't commit any crime,

didn't do anything wrong.

The only person who did
anything was Claire.

Billings tried
to influence

the senator's vote.

It's nasty and
against all the rules,

but it's a question
of degree.

That's what lobbyists
get paid for.

The real story is

foreign influence
in American elections...

That's what's going in
next week anyway.

I don't believe this.

Even I think Sam and
Claire's a terrific story.

I hate the idea of it.

You're not getting
human on me, are you?

Hey.

You're not blushing,
are you?

Hmm?

Excuse me.

One of the big surprises
of this election night,

and there have been
a lot of them,

was the apparent
second-place finish

by an independent running
for the senate in Ohio.

Phillip Aarons,
not long ago

was an unknown
college history professor.

He has been beaten
by Michael westbrook,

the republican,

but now clearly,
and some say miraculously,

he will finish ahead
of Jerome Cade

in a contest
no one predicted.

As you can hear,

the excitement at
Phil Aarons' headquarters

is running high
and wild.

You get the impression

their man won the presidency
of the United States,

when actually
he lost an election.

Phil's Phools fooled
the political experts,

catapulting their man
from a virtual unknown

to second place
in a highly contested...

We're number two!

Let's go to the podium

for what many here consider
to be a victory speech.

He's about to address
his cheering supporters

and the American public.

All right.

All right. Yeah.

Yo! Whoa!

Ok.

Something that none
of the commentators,

none of the newspapers,

none of the so-called
media wizards predicted

came into this race.

Something...

Something human came
into this race.

Some straight talk,
some honest feeling.

Something that wasn't
slick and prepackaged,

that wasn't engineered
by these media wizards.

We...

We, together, have achieved

an historic moment
in politics.

And we have come too far
to turn back now.

Phil! Phil!
Phil! Phil!

Tonight...

Phil!
Phil!

Tonight...